Sandy M’s review of Making Waves (Beach Lane, Book 1) by Laura Moore
Contemporary Romance published by Ballantine Books 25 Apr 17
Because I’ve been a bit disillusioned by a couple of my favorite authors lately, I thought it’s time to try someone new. So when the blurb for Making Waves intrigued me, I decided to give it a try. Laura Moore is now on my list of authors to read more of and to keep an eye on in the future.
Max and Dakota are perfect examples of those tortured characters I enjoy reading. Instead of wallowing in their years of heartache and rejection, though, they’ve made something of themselves, but they’ve taken very different paths to get where they are in life. Dakota is the illegitimate child of a Hamptons socialite who has no nurturing characteristics whatsoever. This is a dysfunctional family on steriods. So Dakota has gone her own way, building her concierge business that caters to the rich from the ground up – sans a trust fund. She’s happy and successful and has a number of true and good friends. Max, on the other hand, though successful and on the fast track in an equity firm, sticks with making money however he can, has few friends, and is definitely a playboy. Isolation and keeping his nose to the grindstone works best for him.
When Dakota’s uncle has to sell the family home, it’s Max who buys it to wine and dine his clients and maybe make inroads with his estranged father. He hires Dakota, and while he’s impressed with her professionalism, he’s also attracted to her. However, she rebuffs him at every turn, which Max is not used to and it spurs him on to break through her walls. They begin a hot and sizzling affair, both keeping their growing feelings buried deep. It’s Dakota who walks away to guard her heart, before things get more intense, when it seems Max has reached his emotional limit. But the result of that affair brings them back together, turning their lives upside down in ways they never imagined.
As love grows between them and secrets are kept on both sides, you see slow but positive changes in them as they become more secure in the relationship. Max especially begins to view life and his outlook on issues differently. I really enjoyed that transformation in him when it comes to business. Dakota too has decisions to make, mostly in relation to her family, and though they make it easy for her, it’s still difficult. It’s not hard at all to dislike those related to her. Thank goodness for her family of friends, all of whom I like a lot.
This is a wonderful story with a fun and lovely romance guiding these characters along to their happily ever after. As lovely as it all is, of course there are rough patches. Both Max and Dakota have deep, heartrending secrets, but I like that they eventually talk to one another and allow some healing to begin. I will be looking into Laura Moore’s backlist while I anxiously await the next book in this series. I have a feeling she’s going to become a favorite very quickly.
Grade: A
Summary:
A successful woman with a sweet life discovers even the best laid plans are no match for unexpected passion—as award-winning author Laura Moore kicks off a captivating new series set in New York’s hottest seaside paradise.
As the overly responsible daughter of an irresponsible socialite, Dakota Hale practically raised herself. Now she’s turned her talent for placating the whims of the rich and spoiled into a lucrative concierge business in the swanky Hamptons. Meticulous and determined, Dakota has her life mapped out with one goal uppermost in mind: never, ever be like her mother. Surfing the waves of the Atlantic keeps Dakota steady when the drama on land gets too outrageous. But when sexy mogul Max Carr hires her, it rocks her balance in a big way. When Max makes it clear that he’s interested in more than just her organizational skills, Dakota is flattered – and attracted – but she refuses to allow an avowed playboy to interfere with her life plans.
Max works hard, but he’s never had to put any effort into winning over a woman—until now. With her stunning beauty and keen intelligence, Dakota is worth the effort. But it’s plain she has no interest in a casual fling, and that’s all Max with his grief-stricken heart can offer.
An emotionally charged night changes everything, with consequences neither Dakota nor Max anticipated. Now they must navigate the rough waters of society gossip and devastating secrets that threaten their fragile relationship. If they can trust in the strength of their growing feelings, they’ll find the dreams they’ve been chasing are close enough to embrace . . . together.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
