Life's A Beach (Coconut Cove book 1) by Poppy Dennison | Cat's ARC Review, Excerpt & #giveaway @Dreamspinners @PoppyDennison ~ '

Coconut Cove: Book One

Life’s a beach… and then you meet the guy of your dreams.

Flynn Wright’s role on the upcoming teen drama Coconut Cove means a fresh start in the land of crystal water, palm trees, and gorgeous people. The move to the beautiful beaches of Key West, Florida—and away from LA and his conniving ex—is just what Flynn needs.

Meeting sexy bartender Seth is the cherry on top of Flynn’s colorful frozen drink, and he can’t wait to take a taste. But Seth isn’t impressed by Flynn’s Hollywood good looks, nor is he interested in the complications of dating an actor, no matter how hot.

Can Flynn dodge his scheming ex and the eager paparazzi while showing Seth that he is more than a pretty package?

Second Edition

First Edition published by Wilde City Press, August 2014.

Buy links: Dreamspinner | Amazon

Cat gives this one 4 Meows...

Flynn is an actor and after a bad breakup he finds his contract on his job not renewed but gets an offer to play a gay high-school boy on a new show called Coconut Cove. He moves from Hollywood to Florida and embarks on a new lifestyle.

Flynn meets a sexy bartender at the Pirate's Booty, a quirky bar close to the set that the cast and crew frequent. The sparks flew quickly between these two.

I liked the premise of the series and there was a lot of set up of other characters and the setting. I liked the laid-back lifestyle and ow Flynn reacts to his fans always signing autographs and such. I also loved how Seth flew in to save the day when Flynn's past comes to bite him in the butt.

I would have liked a little more of Seth's past earlier on to show why he was so broody and reluctant for a relationship, but we eventually find that out.

The story is short, sweet, fun and sexy. If your lucky for a hot summer read this is for you!

Excerpt...

“YOU’RE NOT going to believe this.”
Flynn’s agent, Mary, rarely sounded excited. In fact, he’d never heard her voice at quite that high an octave. He was certain dogs would start howling any second.
“What?” Flynn tried not to sound too eager. Negotiations on his current contract with The Presidio had stalled. If they didn’t get something worked out, he’d be another out-of-work actor. “Tell me. Please God, let it be good news.”
“Well, you heard the buzz about Coconut Cove?”
“No. I mean, yeah. I heard they’re having trouble with… what’s his name again—the lead? Crap, what is his name?”
“Just never mind. The important part for you to know is that he just got sent to rehab, so they’re looking for an immediate replacement!”
“No.” Flynn was stunned.
“Yes!” Mary cackled. “And guess what amazing agent is in discussions with them for you to get the part?”
Flynn was surprised. Replacing one of the leads on a show was a big deal, not something done with a simple flick of a pen. Even though Coconut Cove hadn’t aired yet, whatever had been going on was more than they had all heard.
“Hello?” He could hear the annoyance in her voice at his lack of immediate response. “Where’s the boot-kissing? Where’s the promise of lavish gifts and your firstborn?”
“What? No, sorry,” he blurted, chuckling. “Yes, thank you. I was gonna be eating ramen again, and you know the sodium is no good for me. And the day I give birth, the kid is yours.”
She started laughing.
“But you’re sure they want me?”
“Yes, bunny. Would I do that to you? Now, just so you know, you’d be playing Mack. He’s sixteen.”
“I don’t care, Mare. I’m playing eighteen right now. What’s going back a couple more years? What do we need to do?”
She huffed out a breath. “Must be nice to be twenty-eight and look sixteen. Just sayin’. But all I need is the okay to officially put your name in the hat.”
“You’ve got it. This is exactly what I need, Mary.”
“I know, bunny.”
Flynn snorted. “You know, just because you’ve known me since I was a teenager doesn’t mean you get to call me pet names.”
“That’s exactly what it means. Now shush and let me get to work. This could be it, Flynn. A lead role with a well-developed ensemble cast. This is the opportunity we’ve been looking for.”
Flynn’s stomach flipped, and he clenched the phone tightly. “Work your magic.”
“You know I will,” she said sweetly before the call ended.
“Who was that?” Bennett, Flynn’s ex-boyfriend and current roommate, walked into their shared living room and crossed his arms over his chest.
“My agent.”
Bennett glared. Things between them had soured over the past couple of months. What had started as a casual fling had developed into something more—for Bennett. When they first started fooling around, they’d both agreed that they wouldn’t get serious. Flynn hadn’t wanted a serious relationship and had hoped Bennett could go back to being just friends, but Bennett wasn’t interested.
In fact, Flynn had a sneaking suspicion that the reason his contract negotiations weren’t going well had something to do with Bennett’s interference. When the star of the show had it in for the actor playing a recurring role, like Bennett apparently did for him, Flynn didn’t stand a chance. How Flynn hadn’t seen Bennett’s true nature before now—well, he had seen it, if he was honest with himself. He just hadn’t wanted to believe Bennett would ever turn on him.
Coconut Cove was his chance. A fresh start. And the show was being filmed on location in Key West. A location shoot would be perfect for him right now. He needed to get away, get out of LA and away from Bennett, be somewhere else for a while and hope his absence settled things between them before it got uglier.
Please, God, let me get this role.

Southern Sass & Southern Comfort

Add two parts sass and one part sweet and you have Poppy Dennison to a T—sweet tea that is. Raised by a gaggle of Southern women who love reading and have backbones of steel, Poppy was brought up to see the best in people but always speak her mind. Mix it all together, like Grandma’s famous cobbler, and you get a sassy, Southern lady with a quick wit and loads of charm, who will soften any blow with “Bless your heart.”

Her books reflect her small town roots, are filled with all the comforts of home, and come with side dish of spicy, because that’s the way she likes it.