Ocean Beach

Wax returns readers to characters Madeline, Avery, Nikki, and Kyra of Ten Beach Road. After their successful renovation of the dilapidated beachfront mansion Bella Flora, the four friends land a TV show focusing on the renovation of a ramshackle architectural treasure owned by a former vaudeville star with a secret past. With a few boundaries drawn (no one can film Dustin, Kyra’s son with movie star Daniel Deranian; mom and son get some private time), cameras roll. But Deranian’s return to town to shoot a movie immediately tests those boundaries, especially as his furious wife is threatening to get their show canceled if she’s not given full custody of Dustin. Meanwhile, Avery and her mother Deidre try to repair a broken relationship, and Nikki works on her matchmaking business and begins a relationship with a handsome G-man. When a client seems more interested in recovering money stolen by her brother than in Nikki’s services, however, things quickly heat up. The foursome gets fine support from a well-rounded supporting cast and just the right amount of suspense and drama for a beach read. Agent: Stephanie Rostan, Levine Greenberg Literary Agency. (July)