Ocean Beach

PRAISE FOR THE NOVELS OF WENDY WAX

TEN BEACH ROAD

“Showcases three women who rise above their shattered realities with grace, determination, and a little elbow grease.”

—Publishers Weekly

“If you loved Jennifer Weiner’s
Fly Away Home
for its wise and witty look at the lives of people grappling with personal setbacks…then try
Ten Beach Road
…[a] warm, wry novel.”

—St. Petersburg Times

“A lovely story that recognizes the power of the female spirit, while being fun, emotional, and a little romantic.”

—Fresh Fiction

“Fun…heartwarming…[this] dynamic, fast-paced story is a loving tribute to friendship and the power of the female spirit.”

—Las Vegas Review-Journal

“A near-perfect summertime read…beautiful setting and lovable characters…full of laughter, heartache, secrets, loyalty, and courage.”

—Night Owl Reviews

“Funny, heartbreaking, romantic, and so much more…This story about recovery and restoration on so many levels is just delightful!”

—The Best Reviews

“Wax keeps the plot twists coming…Great escape reading, perfect for the beach.”

—Library Journal

MAGNOLIA WEDNESDAYS

“Wax, the author of
The Accidental Bestseller
, writes with breezy wit and keen insight into family relations.”

—
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“An honest, realistic story of family, love, and priorities, with genuine characters.”

—
Booklist

“Bittersweet…Vivien’s an easy protagonist to love; she’s plucky, resourceful, and witty.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“Atlanta-based novelist Wendy Wax spins yet another captivating tale of life and love in this wonderfully entertaining book.”

—
Southern Seasons Magazine

THE ACCIDENTAL BESTSELLER

“It’s a definite must for any beach bag this summer…Wax does a fantastic job giving readers an insight into the cutthroat world of New York publishing, and the story provides inspiration to budding novelists.”

—Sacramento Book Review

“A wise and witty foray into the hearts of four amazing women and the publishing world they inhabit. This is a beautiful book about loyalty, courage, and pursuing your dreams with a little help from your friends. I loved this book!”

—Karen White,
New York Times
bestselling author of
Sea Change

“A warm, triumphant tale of female friendship and the lessons learned when life doesn’t turn out as planned…Sure to appeal.”

—
Library Journal

“A terrific story brimming with wit, warmth, and good humor. I loved it!”

—Jane Porter, author of
She’s Gone Country

“A wry, revealing tell-all about friendship and surviving the world of publishing.”

—Haywood Smith,
New York Times
bestselling author

“Entertaining…Provides a lot of insight into the book business, collected, no doubt, from Wax’s own experiences.”

—
St. Petersburg Times

Titles by Wendy Wax

OCEAN BEACH

TEN BEACH ROAD

MAGNOLIA WEDNESDAYS

THE ACCIDENTAL BESTSELLER

SINGLE IN SUBURBIA

HOSTILE MAKEOVER

LEAVE IT TO CLEAVAGE

7 DAYS AND 7 NIGHTS

ALWAYS LEARNING

PEARSON

No book springs completely from the imagination. There are always so many things to learn and understand before, during, and after the writing has begun. Although the Internet is a great tool, for me there’s nothing as satisfying as talking to people willing to share their knowledge and expertise.

This time out I’d like to thank Jeff Donelly, Public Historian, Miami Design Preservation League, for that first phone conversation and for pointing me in the right direction as I considered where on South Beach my story should be set.

Thank, you, too, to Sharon Hartley, author and tour guide, for that first personal tour and Amanda Bush at the MDPL for funneling me to the right people.

Eternal gratitude goes to Lori Bakkum and Nate Miller of Retro Home Miami, who shared their knowledge and passion for the area, got me into some incredible homes, and answered every question I threw their way, sometimes more than once. Thanks also go to Julien Bergier of DN’A Design & Architecture. I knew as soon as we drove up to the Lenox house that I’d found The Millicent. Who knew that a day that began with a seagull treating me like its personal port-a-let could turn out so well?

A special thank you to Karen Kendall and Don Moser for
helping me experience the location more fully. I’m still smiling about our adventures, but my lips are sealed. “What happens in South Beach stays in South Beach.”

Thanks to Tito Vargas and Rob Griffin for sharing their knowledge of construction and to Rebecca Ritchie, interior designer extraordinaire, for her contributions to the look and feel of The Millicent.

Thanks are also owed to Sergeant Andres Varela, Special Victims Bureau, Miami-Dade Police Department, Debra Weierman of the FBI, as well as to the ever knowledgeable and always generous members of crimescenewriters.

Any and all mistakes are my own.

My thanks also go to charitable donors Lisa Hogan and Pamela Gentry who won the right to lend their names to characters in this book. I’m not sure why such generous people tend to end up as such unpleasant characters—I can’t seem to help it. Just ask Tonja Kay.

As always, I’m greatly indebted to authors Karen White and Susan Crandall for their friendship and insights. And for always taking my calls. (I think.)

Thanks also go to my agent Stephanie Kip Rostan for being the calm voice of reason and for always having—or finding—an answer.

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-one

Chapter Twenty-two

Chapter Twenty-three

Chapter Twenty-four

Chapter Twenty-five

Chapter Twenty-six

Chapter Twenty-seven

Chapter Twenty-eight

Chapter Twenty-nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-one

Chapter Thirty-two

Chapter Thirty-three

Chapter Thirty-four

Chapter Thirty-five

Chapter Thirty-six

Epilogue

Ocean Beach