Beatriz Williams’ new novel, COCOA BEACH (WilliamMorrow) is on just about every “best beach read list” this summer. It’s what we’ve come to expect of all of her novels. Once again, I have to point out the fact that not only is every book by Williams’ delicious between the pages, the covers are consistently gorgeous! COCOA BEACH takes readers to beautiful Florida. I live in Miami, so I can tell you it’s very hot now, but the beaches are always inviting!
COCOA BEACH takes place between the years of 1917 and 1922. Virginia Fortescue, sets out to uncover the secrets behind her estranged husband, Simon Fitzwilliam’s sudden death. They met during WWI when Simon was a surgeon and Virginia was a Red Cross ambulance driver. They haven’t communicated in three years, after a family falling-out with his parents. Simon has built a life in Florida hoping one day Virginia will come back to him. While in Cocoa Beach, her shady brother-in-law, Samuel and his wife, Clara urge Virginia to go back home to New York and let them deal with Simon’s estate. But she’s suspicious there is more to Simon’s death than a simple house fire. Virginia is determined to find out the truth for her sake and the sake of Evelyn, the daughter Simon never knew.
COCOA BEACH blends love, suspense, betrayal and redemption – everything we expect from a Beatrix Williams’ novel. And it’s all set among the unscrupulous rumrunners and scoundrels the of Prohibition-era in dubious Florida. In Virginia, Williams’ has created one of her most complex characters. She’s not a gal to be toyed with, especially when it comes to her family. The other characters in COCOA BEACH are well-developed and forward their storylines with more details than I could keep track of. I share that in a good way. The novel is like a huge wedding cake, with so many layers dessert never ends. For most of the novel, I wasn’t sure who was telling the truth, but I keep turning the pages until being completely satisfied with the ending.
What can I write that hasn’t been written about a Beatriz Williams’ novel? They immerse you in an interesting period of history so deeply, that you have to kind of take a moment when you finish to establish your surroundings.
*****
Beatriz Williams is the New York Times bestselling author of A Hundred Summers, The Secret Life of Violet Grant, Along the Infinite Sea, A Certain Age, and several other works of historical fiction. A graduate of Stanford University with an MBA in Finance from Columbia University, Beatriz worked as a communications and corporate strategy consultant in New York and London before she turned her attention to writing novels that combine her passion for history with an obsessive devotion to voice and characterization. Beatriz’s books have been translated into more than a dozen languages and appear regularly in bestseller lists around the world.
Born in Seattle, Washington, Beatriz now lives near the Connecticut shore with her husband and four children, where she divides her time between writing and laundry.
We’re lucky to have one copy of COCOA BEACH. Just tell us if you’re a beach or summer gal? And why? We’ll announce winner next week.
I am a total summer gal (not much a beach gal due to the sand but I enjoy the serenity of the ocean LOL)
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I am a beach gal, and I miss the sand and ocean. I grew up in Far Rockaway, where I could walk to the beach from my house. I would ride my bicycle on the boardwalk, or walk all the way down as far as I could. I would lay my blanket in the sand, and try for a tan, and always turned red.(Lots of the boardwalk was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy) ( and the sun is not supposed to be good for you). The beaches were I live now are pretty and full of of rocks.
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Definitely a Summer gal since I love to be outdoors, just soaking up the sun.
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I am a summer gal sans the direct sunshine due to Lupus disease … but I love to be outdoors, under an umbrella, reading, of course!
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I love the summer, my favorite time of the year. I always feel better in the summer with lots of energy and a bright outlook on life.
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I love summer, sunshine, heat and the beach. My favorite vacation is going to the beach, nothing is so soothing and good for me. I always tan and feel better during the summer.
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Beach all the way! Why because my soul sings at the beach. We just returned from our annual beach vacation. I could have stayed all summer. The peaceful lap of the waves compares to none other. I love the beach!Thanks cindy.
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I live in Georgia and it’s just too hot! Summer is my least favorite season! However, I do love going to the beach! 🏖 It’s the only thing that makes summer somewhat bearable! We usually visit Hilton Head Island. After vacationing there for over 20 years, it feels like home!
P.S. I’m dying to read this book!!
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I love summer.I love boating, sun bathing, swimming, hiking I love it
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I love summer, because I love hanging out in the water!!
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I am both a beach and Summer girl. Summer is my favorite season and it is so short here in New Jersey. Full of family and BBQ’s and reading by the pool and at the beach. Love the sound of the
ocean hitting the shore and the smell of the salt water.
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I don’t sun bathe or go camping or hiking nowadays; so, I’m definitely more of a beach gal. Whenever we do try to take a vacation, I go where the ocean is.
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I am a beach gal. I live at the beach. I enjoy the sunshine watching the tides come in and recede. The shorebirds keep me entertained as well as the tourists.
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The only time I love the summer is when I’m at the beach. I dream about it! I used to get to go every summer but time and money just aren’t as abundant anymore.
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I’m a summer girl – I moved to FL away from NJ (and the snow!) so I can have a pool in my backyard and visit the beaches at the Gulf whenever I want.
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I’m a beach gal at heart. Unfortunately I don’t live near the beach. We instead go camping at the lake. I bring plenty of books. It’s my favorite hobby!
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I lived in New Jersey about 25 minutes from the shore. I have always been a beach person. It’s where I took my vacations when I could afford them. Single mothers have a hard time affording them, but I scrimped and saved so we could go. I love Beatriz Williams books and I would certainly love to read this one! I can’t go to the beach anymore, but I can pretend.
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I live at the beach in Prince Edward Island and visited Cocoa Beach on my first trip to Florida so I am a beach person all year long.Also I work in a public library so am very interested in reading Beatriz Williams for the first time.
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Maybe a little bit of both? I sure love to read on the beach, but don’t have too many opportunities to do so because of work. In general I enjoy summer (ice cream, flip flops, sun dresses) although fall is definitely my favorite.
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I love summer because it’s slower at work but I do enjoy the beach even though I’m not close to one! Love all of Beatriz’s books!
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I love walking on the beach but not one for sunbathing. Summer is great!
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Definitely a summer/beach girl! Love to be under an umbrella with my feet in the sand reading a great book! Would love to win a copy of Cocoa Beach!
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I am a summer gal love to look at water but not as interested in being in the water. Thanks for this opportunity
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I love the beach and the summer but probably not as much as I love spring and fall. Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
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I am not a beach girl. I prefer the mountains. My daughters love the beach, though.
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I love both the beach and the summer – so much, even with the heat! It’s a slower time for me and when I can actually make the time to relax, so I love every minute of it.
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I used to love the beach, but now that I am older I can’t stand the heat.
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I’m definitely beach gal considering I live in a beach city. I don’t go to the beach often even though I’m only 2 miles from the Pacific Ocean, but I love that living at the beach means cooler weather. : ) Absolutely adore Beatriz and her books. Was fortunate enough to meet her in 2014. Would love be Cocoa Beach to add to my Beatriz library.
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I like the nice weather of Florida.
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I grew up near lakes for boating and skiing in summer and lived three hours from Myrtle Beach. I we is I still had those opportunities.
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Been too long for both, color me a Summer Gal ☀️😀
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Summer! Lighter clothes and less layers, languid days at the water, ice cream with rainbow sprinkles, green life in the woods!
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I dont really like the beach or the summer
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I love Florida and have traveled to a few of their beaches..cocoa beach being one of them. Love the feel of the sand on my toes!!
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Summer is my favorite season for many reasons. I love the warm sun, long days and the beautiful sunsets over the ocean. I love reading on the beach with my dog and husband next to me.
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I’m a summer gal who loves to read outdoors.
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I love the beach. I love the sound of the waves and sunsets/sunrises at the beach.
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I guess I’m a summer girl. I enjoy the warmer weather and the longer day and being able to spend more time outside.
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I’m a summer girl! I love the longer days and NO SNOW!!
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I’m definitely a beach gal considering I live in a beach city. I don’t go to the beach often even though I’m only 2 miles from the Pacific Ocean, but I love that living at the beach means cooler weather. : ) Absolutely adore Beatriz and her books. Was fortunate enough to meet her in 2014. Would love to read Cocoa Beach add it to my Beatriz library.
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I like summer and love the beach. I wish I were closer to visit the NC Outer Banks (OBX). It’s beautiful, but I don’t get to see it much. Thanks for the chance- I would LOVE to read Cocoa Beach! 🙂
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I love being AT the beach, but I don’t like going into the water.
Dianna
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I used to be a beach girl and actually lived in Cocoa Beach when I was stationed at Patrick AFB back the her late 70’s. Now, I’m more of a summer girl and like the warm weather, but not the really hot days.
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Not all beaches appeal to me….cant be crowded or too hot.
Nicaragua has beautiful beaches, and I know Greece must!
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I’m not a beach gal, except for dawns and sunsets! But I would love to read Cocoa Beach!
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Do not live near a beach so not a beach gal. I’m not much of a summer girl lately only because it gets so hot and I don’t do well in the heat anymore. 😞 I do enjoy beach reads, though. It’s a nice escape while reading in an air conditioned house!! ☺️
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I hate to be the oddball, but I live in Alabama so I am definitely not a summer gal. The heat and humidity are almost unbearable at times. I spend the summer inside where it’s cool and go to the beach in the fall.
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I’m a beach girl because I have Fibromyalgia/ME/CFS and I love the feeling of floating weightless in the salt water.
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Even though I live in land locked Minnesota with 10,000 lakes I am definitely a beach gal. When I drag my husband to the ocean he sees how happy it makes me. The beach is just so relaxing with the sound of the waves crashing the birds running and playing in the water. The beach has always been my happy place. It brings back memories of my family going to the Cape for three weeks every year and being happy. Thank you so much for the chance.
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Love pool. And love the beach
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beach
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