Joanne DeMaio

I have not read this author before. The title of this book caught my eye (on the sale shelf at the library) and the back cover blurb sounded interesting, so it came home with me.

In many ways, it reminds me of one of the Hallmark movies:
*Journalist Vera Sterling loses her big city job just before returning home for her sister's wedding.
*The small town charms Vera and the realization that a house special to her in her childhood is up for sale seals the deal--in short order, she returns to Addison and takes up residence.
*Vera meets Derek Cooper, co-owner of Addison's hardware store.
*Vera's sister dreams of baking for a living, but works as a paralegal.
*In her barn, Vera finds stored items from her childhood memories of the place that end up sparking an idea for her new career.

I would have rated it higher if there hadn't been a scene intimating that Vera and Derek slept together.… (altro)

In The Liars, the beach friends' story continues where Stairway To The Sea left off. Author Joanne DeMaio transports the reader back to the tranquil seashore town of Stony Point, Connecticut. The story picks up in late September, where our beach friends lives are like the tides, sometimes they keep moving and changing, but they will always have the support of their friends and family.

In The Liars, Author Joanne DeMaio easily captivates her readers' attention with this beautifully written tale through a seamless and flowing storyline, and with a wonderful description of a tranquil beach setting that wraps itself around the reader like a sun-warmed beach towel. The characters draw you into their lives with a strong emotional pull, their complexities and flaws are true-to-life, it is easy to relate to them with compassion, empathy, and hope.

The Liars is an intricate story of interweaving friendships and ever changing life events. It is a wonderful story that continues to demonstrate the power of the magical sweet salt air that will cure what ails you. In this twentieth installment in The Seaside Saga Series, the author weaves a story that focuses on the beach friends guarding their secrets with subtle lies, not to deceive, but to hold onto them until it is time to reveal the truth. And if that isn't enough, the beach friends each discover how their conversations, secrets and revelations have a way of coming to the surface.

I loved how this installment's focus continues to be on how Shane, Celia, Elsa, Cliff, and Jason deal with their inner personal issues. You can't help but feel the full gamut of emotions as Shane's internal struggle pulls at your heartstrings, and how intriguing it is to see how the rest of the beach friends deal with daily and past issues that surface. The author teases her readers with another cliffhanger ending that keeps the reader waiting to see how Elsa, Cliff, Celia and Shane's relationships will turn out, and how Jason's past will surface. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what is revealed in The Mistake, the twenty-first installment of the series ... sigh.

In this installment in the series, the reader follows along with the beach friends' lives that are full of friendship, love, secrets, lies, regrets, challenges, heartbreak, grief, surprises, and second chances. As you read this installment, the beach friends continue along in their life journey in Stony Point.

So now that I have whet your interest in the beach friends latest comings and goings, drive under the railroad trestle and enter the enchanting beach town of Stony Point ... pull up a beach chair ... and visit with the close-knit longtime friends in author Joanne DeMaio's delightful novel, The Liars.

The Seaside Saga Series is a heartwarming series of stories of friendship, family, painful secrets, lies, and regrets, new beginnings and second chances. Author Joanne DeMaio weaves a wonderful tale written in the third person narrative, that is set in the present with flashbacks to the past. The reader is transported to the tranquil seashore town of Stony Point, Connecticut, where they follow along with Celia, Maris, Eva, Matt, Jason, Kyle, Lauren, Nick, Elsa, Cliff, Mitch, and Shane as their lives change like the tide's ebb and flow on their little tranquil coastal town.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-liars-by-joanne-demaio-bo...… (altro)

The Liars by Joanne DeMaio
What I like abou tthis story is that all the characters are lying, to either themselves or others. Yes they are white lies, some of them. A lot of going forward is happening as life goes on. There are tragedies and happy moments and breaking up but getting together also. Everybody is moving in their own direction and sometimes they all come together. That's the best part for me, the food! Aire and smells of the ocean are there always, calming you.
Love the scenes that are described so well, the events taking place and what everyone is up to. Love following how they've moved on during the saga from the very first book.
Can't wait to read another.… (altro)

Winter Road by Joanne DeMaio
This story starts out with Faye and she's just returned to Addision to live with her father. SHe's a silverware designer and loves showing the wares. They are attending a new years eve party at the local bar and love hearing about the traditions: trouble tree, whisk brooms and other things. They nake a list of things to do before she has her next birthday and they are things she can accomplish.
Story also follows Joel who run the Addision bar. He has his own house and decorates it with lighted bulks during the holidays and making his rock wall around the property.
Faye just wants a house of her own but it's bad times for that as she keeps getting outbidded on them.
They talk often and she gets help from Joel to complete some of the items on her list.
Love setting and the characters I am familiar with from the series of winter books. You wonder after she starts dating if they will date one another...
Great read for the holidays.
A KEEPER!… (altro)