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Three Waves, One Ocean: Book 1
Lauren MacMillan has always found comfort in the rhythm of the Southern California surf and the quiet satisfaction of helping others. Her life is a careful the beach for peace, a 'project person' for purpose. When she meets Taylor
Montgomery—a medical student with a stubborn streak and no interest in being fixed—Lauren expects nothing more than friendship. Their bond, forged over sandy afternoons and honest conversation, becomes her anchor. But as Lauren’s feelings shift, she faces a truth she can’t Taylor’s ambition leaves no room for romance, and his heart is walled off by the demands of his future.
Just as Lauren begins to question how long she can wait on the sidelines, a Texas cop enters her life, offering the kind of open-hearted pursuit she’s never known. Suddenly, Lauren must choose between the comfort of what’s familiar and the risk of something new. Is loving someone who won’t let you in an act of hope—or self-betrayal? And what does it mean to stop trying to fix others and start healing yourself?
Set against the sunlit coast, "Three Waves, One Ocean" is a story of friendship, ambition, and the courage it takes to choose your own happiness—even when every option is hard.
Montgomery—a medical student with a stubborn streak and no interest in being fixed—Lauren expects nothing more than friendship. Their bond, forged over sandy afternoons and honest conversation, becomes her anchor. But as Lauren’s feelings shift, she faces a truth she can’t Taylor’s ambition leaves no room for romance, and his heart is walled off by the demands of his future.
Just as Lauren begins to question how long she can wait on the sidelines, a Texas cop enters her life, offering the kind of open-hearted pursuit she’s never known. Suddenly, Lauren must choose between the comfort of what’s familiar and the risk of something new. Is loving someone who won’t let you in an act of hope—or self-betrayal? And what does it mean to stop trying to fix others and start healing yourself?
Set against the sunlit coast, "Three Waves, One Ocean" is a story of friendship, ambition, and the courage it takes to choose your own happiness—even when every option is hard.
421 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2025
35 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 13, 2025
Kathryn Beck has written a love story that defies the genre. It’s not just the story of two individuals who fall in love. It’s a complex tale that involves friends, family, and true love. Its storyline sweeps through decades, chronicling deaths, births, friendship tested, and learning how to love again.
Her characters are uniquely developed. We meet Lauren and Taylor in 1985 as friends in California. Close friends. And we travel with them as they navigate their lives, beginning with their careers.
Lauren moves to Texas for her career, meets a handsome police officer, and gets married and has children. Taylor becomes a doctor. But he can’t bring himself to date. His friendship with Lauren not only moves to another level, it gets complicated for him. Very complicated.
Three Waves, One Ocean is a story that covers the gamut of emotions—some raw—of life. It’s an amazing chronicle of life that will have you laughing one moment, crying the next. And yelling. I did a lot of yelling at some of the characters.
I wasn’t prepared for some of the twists and turns the plot takes. You may want to have a tissue—or two or three—handy. Three Waves, One Ocean is a serpentine path I highly recommend you follow.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Terry
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
Her characters are uniquely developed. We meet Lauren and Taylor in 1985 as friends in California. Close friends. And we travel with them as they navigate their lives, beginning with their careers.
Lauren moves to Texas for her career, meets a handsome police officer, and gets married and has children. Taylor becomes a doctor. But he can’t bring himself to date. His friendship with Lauren not only moves to another level, it gets complicated for him. Very complicated.
Three Waves, One Ocean is a story that covers the gamut of emotions—some raw—of life. It’s an amazing chronicle of life that will have you laughing one moment, crying the next. And yelling. I did a lot of yelling at some of the characters.
I wasn’t prepared for some of the twists and turns the plot takes. You may want to have a tissue—or two or three—handy. Three Waves, One Ocean is a serpentine path I highly recommend you follow.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Terry
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
October 3, 2025
Lauren and Taylor meet when they’re teenagers and form a strong friendship, but life and goals pull them in different directions. Lauren later marries and has children while Taylor builds his career as a doctor. As the years pass, their friendship ebbs and flows until suddenly they have a chance for something more. But will heartache and too much lost time destroy the happiness they could find in each other’s arms?
This kind of love story isn’t what I typically read. In fact, it felt like women’s fiction to me, like a Hallmark or made-for-TV movie. It was actually refreshing to read something different from my norm. Lauren and Taylor are wonderful characters, each flawed in their own way. Lauren’s husband, Trent, was a great guy, and with him, various family members, friends, and lots of other secondary characters, the book was very fleshed out. I didn’t notice any typos, so I’m always amazed and pleased by a properly edited story.
Readers, if you’re looking for a tearjerker romance story that you can’t put down, “Three Waves, One Ocean” is the book for you.
5 Stars
This kind of love story isn’t what I typically read. In fact, it felt like women’s fiction to me, like a Hallmark or made-for-TV movie. It was actually refreshing to read something different from my norm. Lauren and Taylor are wonderful characters, each flawed in their own way. Lauren’s husband, Trent, was a great guy, and with him, various family members, friends, and lots of other secondary characters, the book was very fleshed out. I didn’t notice any typos, so I’m always amazed and pleased by a properly edited story.
Readers, if you’re looking for a tearjerker romance story that you can’t put down, “Three Waves, One Ocean” is the book for you.
5 Stars
August 21, 2025
Three Waves One Ocean is such a beautiful romance story that weaves together themes of love, grief, birth, and truly understanding oneself. I loved following Taylor and Lauren’s relationship from their younger years all the way into adulthood.. it was very real and heartfelt.
The author does an incredible job of showing the ups and downs of their lives, and there were definitely twists I didn’t see coming that brought tears to my eyes. It was especially moving to learn about Taylor’s family history, and the moment where he explains his feelings for Lauren to his dad absolutely got me.
What made this book so enjoyable was how easy it was to read while still being packed with emotion. I loved getting to see different parts of both Taylor’s and Lauren’s journeys and how they navigated grief and love together. It’s definitely one of those books si am glad I read.
The author does an incredible job of showing the ups and downs of their lives, and there were definitely twists I didn’t see coming that brought tears to my eyes. It was especially moving to learn about Taylor’s family history, and the moment where he explains his feelings for Lauren to his dad absolutely got me.
What made this book so enjoyable was how easy it was to read while still being packed with emotion. I loved getting to see different parts of both Taylor’s and Lauren’s journeys and how they navigated grief and love together. It’s definitely one of those books si am glad I read.
May 14, 2025
Lauren and Taylor are best friends, whose enduring bond others struggle to comprehend. This is a saga of friendship, woven over decades. Lauren, blessed with a grandfather's wisdom, embraces the present, while Taylor's ambition often obscures his true emotions. Through the joys and sorrows of life, their connection provides a constant anchor. This story delves into the complexities of love, birth, and death and the possibility of friendship blossoming into something more.
April 29, 2025
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This book felt like summer, salty air, 80s vibes, and all the heartache of falling for the one who might not be ready. Lauren and Taylor’s friendship-to-maybe-more had me hooked from page one. I laughed, I sighed, I rooted hard.
Sometimes the best love stories are the messy, complicated ones, and this one hit just right.
This book felt like summer, salty air, 80s vibes, and all the heartache of falling for the one who might not be ready. Lauren and Taylor’s friendship-to-maybe-more had me hooked from page one. I laughed, I sighed, I rooted hard.
Sometimes the best love stories are the messy, complicated ones, and this one hit just right.
June 9, 2025
She is looking for a good time on the beach and she is about to meet him. He is training to be a doctor and does not need romance in his life. A friendship starts and then they appear in the picture so see where it will all go
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a lovely tale
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a lovely tale
January 2, 2026
intense
Lauren and Taylor´s story is not one of the usual love stories, it´s full of complications, unexpected twists and turns just as life is for all of us. It took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride but still I couldn´t put the book down.
Lauren and Taylor´s story is not one of the usual love stories, it´s full of complications, unexpected twists and turns just as life is for all of us. It took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride but still I couldn´t put the book down.
June 10, 2025
So good I love this book. I was given an arc and i choose to give a honest review.
June 10, 2025
what a book!
I loved it. I cried, with them,I rejoiced with them.
Beautifully written,so much feeling in this book! I loved every bit of it!
I loved it. I cried, with them,I rejoiced with them.
Beautifully written,so much feeling in this book! I loved every bit of it!
June 16, 2025
Great story
I could not put this book down. I kept needing to know what would happen next. Well written. Loved it!
I could not put this book down. I kept needing to know what would happen next. Well written. Loved it!
February 23, 2026
Three waves, one ocean was Lauren and Taylor’s story. It was a heartwarming tale about real life. And voluntarily leaving this review.
September 2, 2025
three waves
Such a good read. I didn’t want to put it down. I can’t wait for the next book of the trilogy.
Such a good read. I didn’t want to put it down. I can’t wait for the next book of the trilogy.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews