Water Dogs: A Southern Family Beach Drama

by Kalan Chapman Lloyd

On Florida's iconic 30A, mother and social worker Vinny Lillenhammer has a secret.
About the Betancourts next door.
Unrequited artist and newly widowed Lila Beckham has a secret.
About the Betancourts next door.
Thirteen-year-old left-handed tennis ace Gabe Lillenhammer has a secret.
About the Betancourts next door… but he doesn’t know it yet.

The Betancourts next door have their own secrets and have been a part of the lives of their neighbors for thirty years, but have always remained only on the vacationing peripheral, until now. As they all head toward the end of the era with their two families intertwined, none of them know they are on a crash course, with one force barreling toward them all, one that could blow apart three generations and two families, and the secrets that threaten to break the fabric they’ve woven for thirty years in the sparkling “Hamptons of the South."

369 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 23, 2023

About the author

Kalan Chapman Lloyd is an attorney and author currently residing in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She enjoys big hair, Supreme Court Decisions on Intellectual Property, hats, the sound of construction and the feel of brand new sweatshirts. Kalan grew up in the small town Tahlequah, OK where she graduated from Tahlequah Senior High School. She attended Oklahoma State University and the University of Tulsa College of Law and has been a member of the Oklahoma Bar since 2008. She and her husband enjoy parenting their left-handed, strong-willed children. She is a Junior League dropout.

Her first book, Home Is Where Your Boots Are, the first in the series, The MisAdventures of Miss Lilly was a finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards and spent several weeks at No. 1 on the Literature and Fiction list of Lulu.com. It is set for re-release in May 2015. Her second in the series, These Boots Are Made For Butt-Kickin’, is due out in June of 2015.

Kalan writes about The South and its caricatures.

Her favorite authors are Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Janet Evanovich, Mary Kay Andrews, Jen Hatmaker, Dorothea Benton Frank and Dixie Cash, along with Faulkner, Welty, and Fitzgerald.

Reviews

[Sunshine]

I gave Water Dogs 4 stars. This is a family drama filled with secrets and long buried connections between two families who have spent years sharing the same stretch of beach on Florida's 30A. The story follows Vinny Lillenhammer who is a social worker carrying a secret about the Betancourt family. Lila Beckham is a talented artist who is also dealing with the loss of her husband and her own hidden past. Gabe Lillenhammer is a young tennis player whose life becomes tied to secrets he does not even know exist yet. As the story unfolds the lives of these families become more connected and the truth slowly begins to come to light.

What I enjoyed most was how much the characters felt like real people. Vinny wants to protect the people she loves but her choices have lasting consequences. Lila was one of my favorite characters because she is trying to move forward while carrying so much grief. Gabe brought a different perspective and added heart to the story. The beach setting was beautiful and gave the book a strong sense of place. The family relationships and hidden truths kept me interested from beginning to end. This was an emotional read with plenty of drama and a satisfying story about family loyalty love and the cost of keeping secrets

[Kendra Hoey]

Deep in the recesses of our minds are daily conversations we have with ourselves. Convincing, reminding, guiding, pushing, pulling and pecking away at our confidence, self-doubt, guilt, desires and our passions. Water dogs, while being a gift wrapped appreciation for all things 30A beaches, is also an exploration into the minds of two families intertwined through years of sun-tanned memories. Each chapter dives into character development with pure soul searching honesty. The secret that binds them together is profoundly rooted in love and family.

My favorite lines.. "...allows herself to hope, but does not allow herself to want" "she had not colored a pencil daisy on her desk" "finds herself in books...but peace in music"

Kalan perfectly described the enchanting beauty, mystical magic and glory of 30A beaches. The story is detailed, funny and real.

[Julie Baker]

This story was told through different people’s perspectives. I found it interesting but hard to really follow at times due to the many perspectives. The main character, Vinny, does have depth and secrets that are large. It did have some interesting surprises.

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I love her sone

[Megan]

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. I enjoyed the plot, the book kept me interested the entire time.

[Rian Cragar]

As a self proclaimed water dog, I enjoyed this story! Part 1 was a little slow with the character building. But I really focused and got to know all of the characters and I'm so glad I did. Part 2 and 3 were where it all came together (and apart, and back together again). Gabe's story will have you pissed, heartbroken, and triumphant all in one. Merritt will make you want to do exactly what you want, when you want to, and it's always read a book on the beach. Overall, a great summer read that I will recommend to many more!