Every once in a while an author comes along who weaves stories that simply pulls at the heartstrings and stirs the soul, for me, this author is Joanne DeMaio.

In Beach Breeze, author Joanne DeMaio transports the reader back to the tranquil seashore town of Stony Point, Connecticut, where the reader catches up with the lives of friends: Maris, Eva, Matt, Jason, Kyle, Lauren, Elsa, Cliff, and Celia after the sudden death of Elsa's son and Celia's fiance, Salvatore DeLuca.

Just like the ebb and flow of the tide, life brings issues and changes to one's life, but the bonds of friendship, sea air and salt water are cleansing, they cure what ails you. For this group of old friends, the summer's end and the heart wrenching death of Sal will bring them together, but the bonds of friendship and personal relationships will be tested with personal secrets and life issues that surface and swirl around in the shimmering denim blue sea, yet its calming effect will offer them another chance of hope, love, family, friendship, forgiveness, and redemption.

So 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, Beach Breeze.

Beach Breeze is a poignant story of friendship and family, dealing with heartbreak, death, grief, life's experiences and personal issues that will tug at your heartstrings. Author Joanne DeMaio weaves an emotional 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, Elsa, and Cliff as they each deal with challenges of real life, loss, love, heartbreak, secrets, and personal demons.

Author Joanne DeMaio easily captivates her readers' attention with this beautifully written and emotional 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. With a mixture of intrigue, suspense, drama, humor, heartache, hidden secrets, romance, and a strong bond of friendship, this story takes you on an emotional roller coaster ride that will keep you turning the pages until the satisfying conclusion.

Beach Breeze is an intricate story of interweaving friendships and real life challenges that is both heart wrenching and inspirational. It is a powerful and compelling story that will have you feeling the full gamut of emotions while soothing your soul. It is a wonderful story that demonstrates the power of the magical sweet salt air that will cure what ails you, and it will resonate with you long after the last word has been read.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour hosted by author Joanne DeMaio.

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Carol Wong's Reviews > Beach Breeze

Beach Breeze by Joanne DeMaio
Beach Breeze
by Joanne DeMaio (Goodreads Author)
3356446
Carol Wong's review Mar 30, 2017 · edit
it was amazing
bookshelves: 2017, contemporary

We return to Stoney Point, Connecticut with its familiar friends and relatives in Joanne De Maio's Breeze Breeze. The story picks up right after Beach Blues with the shock of losing Salvatore DeLuca. I remember sobbing when I read the end of the latter book and know another emotional storm would be driving this story. There was some tearful reading during this book.

Salvatore DeLuca's mother had planned on having a few more years together with her son. They were going to renovate her house that to be wonderful inn, marrying gifts from the sea and a sense of Italian together. But now that his operation had failed, he was no longer and Elsa could not imagine her life without him. She does not even want to go forward with the plans for the inn, she has lost so much, she cannot deal with it and just wants to escape.

Jason Barlow, is also deeply upset by the passing of Salvatore. He had lost his dad, and later his brother who he felt so close to in a terrible accident. He always felt guilt for his brother's death and would have rather had it reversed that he would be the one who died instead of his brother.

Ceclia, who was engaged to Salvatore was another one of the hardest hit by his death. He had taught her to love again after her divorce. They were to get married after the operation. She left Stoney Point with a grieving heart.

There many friends and relatives in this series. They have stayed together, supported and challenged each other. I am eager to read the next book in this series, The Beach Inn. I invite you to read this wonderful series.

I received an advance reading copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review, my thoughts and feelings are all my own. ( )

Blog Tour, Coming March 28.

A long time favorite New England author, Joanne DeMaio returns following Wishing on Snowflakes and Beach Blues (2016) 2016 Best New England Summer & Holiday Reads with her latest BEACH BREEZE, as we continue the journey with the memorable characters of charming Stony Point, a beach town on the coast of Connecticut.

Having read all DeMaio’s books, was anxious to catch up with the characters we have come to love and care about, as family and close friends. There has been a lot of tragedy and some of the characters (more than others), are having a very difficult time with their grief and loss.

An entire community has been shaken to the core, with the loss of a dear friend, Salvatore Deluca. He came into their lives and brought second chances to many. He made a huge impact (larger than life attitude, touching many), and his presence will not soon be forgotten.

Jason is having a particularly hard time. He had a second chance to live when his brother Neil died nine years earlier in an accident. He was able, to walk away after the wreck with the help of a prosthetic leg, below the knee. He also was given a chance at love two years earlier when Maris unexpectedly returned to Stony Point and his life. They married a year earlier.

Then Sal came into their lives like a breath of fresh air. Someone for Jason to fish with. Someone to talk with about construction, design, his father’s Vietnam war stories, and his brother. It felt as though Neil had returned in the guise of Sal. He had just given the eulogy and left shortly afterward.

He was asking himself if he had run out of chances. Everyone was concerned about him but he was not ready to face everyone and his grief. He is not sure he will be anytime soon. He did not get to say good-bye to his friend. He feels cheated. Jason feels as though he has lost his brother all over again.

. . . “In his happiness, he’d been foolish enough to forget one important lesson: On any given day, hour, or minute, life can spin out from under you. It happened nine years ago, when he lost his brother, and Jason nearly didn’t survive the day. So it’s important to be wary and not trust happiness, not too much.”

In addition, Sal’s mom Elsa is also making some drastic decisions, since the passing of her son. She had planned to renovate the Bed and Breakfast Inn (the old Foley’s cottage) and Jason was the architect. However, now she is putting a stop to the project and putting it up for sale; ready to return to Italy.

Celia is also filled with sadness over the life she and Sal will never have. She is also considering going back to Addison. Their engagement only last two days before Sal’s heart surgery. Sal, age 36, would be dearly missed by everyone. Even though his visit to their town this past summer was brief.

Maris is also making changes in her life. She had returned to Stony Point from a Chicago fashion career to settle her father’s estate and reunited with her sister Eva. Now Maris is considering quitting her job since it appears the people in town need her more now than ever.

Everyone was supposed to make a pack not to make any sudden grief-motivated decision that they would regret in time. Not until at least six months had passed. There were many who wanted to pack up and leave their paradise to escape their loss and pain.

Michael, Sal’s friend from New York is back in town to deliver all of Sal’s messages and letters, as well as few surprises for those he left behind. Emotions run high. Jason is out of control and pushing everyone away.

Cliff and the entire community hold an inn-intervention. The entire family is in crisis. They try and stop the tag sale. Elsa does not want to think about the business team: Jason, Celia, and Lauren. It was to be the future Ocean Star Inn, and now Sal was gone, Celia has left, and her dream had evaporated into the sea’s midst.

Jason is also upset thinking he no longer hears his brother for inspiration. Now Elsa DeLuca no longer needs his service. He had been so excited about the plans.

Everyone is concerned about the Inn and their loss. A place that holds all their friend’s history. However, will Jason and Elsa be able to bond and carry on with their dreams in Sal’s loving memory as well as the rest of their friends and community?

“It’s never the end, even when we really believe it is.”

Just when Jason thinks he has reached his lowest, Sal has a surprise for him to honor his brother. He had written special notes for everyone. Where second chances happen in the most unexpected ways. New beginnings.

From sadness, love, loss, friends, and special memories of the sea, we get a sneak peak (excerpt) from Joanne’s upcoming book, THE BEACH INN, coming May 16. Where we continue with the special friends of this charming seaside community. Coming up is "Operation, Heal Jason’s heart."

Appears there are some big changes coming. The toughest challenge―learning to heal, love and trust again. Looking forward to seeing what lies ahead.

"A new season of love, adventure, and heart-healing awaits in the quaint seaside village of Stony Point. So pull up a sand chair and book your stay for a page-turning getaway in The Beach Inn."

If you have not read Joanne Demaio’s books, you are missing a rare treat. Full of emotion, heart, and soul, with vivid descriptions and settings, memorable characters and sea breezes which transport you.

Highly recommend reading in order, to enhance your overall reading experience. Still hoping for a Hallmark TV series.

JDCMustReadBooks ( )

Beach Breeze by Joanne DeMaio
Have read all the authors works and have loved the style of writing she does along the CT shoreline.
This one is part of the series but there are enough references so it can be read as a standalone and you'd not be in the dark.
This story encompasses the night Jason left, after the funeral after they had all lost a friend, brother, son and a fiance.
It doesn't get to some of them til later in the book and as this is a close knit beach community they are there for one another, helping each other out in the time of need.
That is what I really look forward to as they each have problems with things going on in their lives. Some just take off, others are pained for months later.
So many changes to the community as the summer has now ended and things really slow down for some, workwise, but in other areas, they pick up and move forward-renovating houses now that the hammer law is done for the summer season.
Like how this book deals with people from all ages and problems. Love hearing all about the past and how things effected others to this day as the story comes full circle. Love hearing about the direction they are each taking in their lives as time goes on. Never get tired of the author's book, you can rely on them, always a super read
Excerpt from the next book is included-can't wait to read this one.
I received this book from the author and this is my honest review. ( )