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Mayhem in Myrtle Beach
Sherwood, a recent college grad with an accounting degree, is desperate for a job. But she hates numbers and wants to do anything but accounting. After moving to Virginia, she applies for an activities job at the Great Wings retirement community – even though her qualifications are nonexistent. Against all logic, the director hires Sherwood, pending a week-long trial period. Jane Sullivan has a group of forty-six seniors heading to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for a bus tour and they need a group leader. Sherwood happily accepts, thinking that it will be like a free vacation. After all, she told the director, seniors are no different than anyone else. They’re just older. But Sherwood’s visions of bliss vanish when she realizes she’s in over her head. Her group is eccentric and demanding. One of them goes missing. And to complicate things, the bus driver turns out to be a college study buddy who has lost the nerdy glasses and now looks totally hot in his uniform.
- GenresAmazon
182 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 22, 2014
175 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
About the author
T. Lynn Ocean
10 books40 followersT. Lynn Ocean was first published in the 'North Myrtle Beach Times' (a small town weekly) but only after getting on one knee to beg the editor and offering to write for free. That was in 1995 and T. Lynn wrote the 'Humor Me' column for a year.
She went on to write freelance for various magazines and newspapers but her passion has always been fiction. Her first book, 'Fool Me Once', was published by St. Martin's Press in 2005. The best thing about writing fiction, T. Lynn will tell you, is that you get to make everything up. (Although some would argue that much of what they read in the newspaper is pure fiction, too.)
Between extended visits with her computer keyboard, she enjoys impromptu road trips (in the name of research, of course), brainstorming with friends, and eating great food anywhere with a view.
An outdoor enthusiast, T. Lynn Ocean lives in Little River, SC, with her husband and a few furry critters.
She went on to write freelance for various magazines and newspapers but her passion has always been fiction. Her first book, 'Fool Me Once', was published by St. Martin's Press in 2005. The best thing about writing fiction, T. Lynn will tell you, is that you get to make everything up. (Although some would argue that much of what they read in the newspaper is pure fiction, too.)
Between extended visits with her computer keyboard, she enjoys impromptu road trips (in the name of research, of course), brainstorming with friends, and eating great food anywhere with a view.
An outdoor enthusiast, T. Lynn Ocean lives in Little River, SC, with her husband and a few furry critters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 23, 2019
Some books will excite you, provoke you, and make you think, or at least give you a little something to ponder at the end of the day. "Mayhem in Myrtle Beach" is not one of those books. It's cute and fluffy and even has some comedic moments, but ultimately it's a beach read -- mindless and entertaining, but ultimately forgettable. Which isn't to say it can't be enjoyable, or even cute and funny... it's just not particularly memorable.
Sherwood is a college graduate in desperate need of a job and reeling from being dumped by her fiance. She ends up taking a job as the entertainment director at the Great Wings Retirement Home... only to discover her one-week trial will consist of taking a group of retirees on a bus trip to Myrtle Beach! And it doesn't help that said bus is being driven by Freddie, her old geeky college friend who's much less geeky and much more drool-worthy than she remembered. As she juggles the trip itinerary, the needs of the cranky retirees, budding romance (both hers and her charges'), and an unexpected tragedy in the hotel room, she encounters much-needed laughs, some self-realization... and maybe a dash of true love...
The writing in this book isn't anything to write home about. It's workable, but not masterful, and can even be bland at times. Ocean does a lot of "tell don't show," info-dumping about characters and settings instead of incorporating them into the story proper and expecting us to take certain things about certain characters for granted -- one character is supposed to be a prankster, for example, but we see no evidence of this outside of people accusing him of being a prankster. And some of the romantic bits felt heavy-handed... though at least she's mostly tasteful in the actual romance scenes instead of going into point-by-point detail.
That said... this book is still enjoyable to read. It's cute, with some great comedic moments, and the group of seniors are an eclectic and colorful bunch I enjoyed getting to know. It also deals with some more serious moments that I won't spoil here, and handles it in a way that, I admit, annoyed me at first but made sense the more I read. I'd explain further, but that'd be a bit too spoiler-heavy...
While probably not a book I'll revisit in the future or rank among my favorites, "Mayhem in Myrtle Beach" was still a cute read, a good beach book for those times you don't want to think to hard and just want something sweet and funny. Good for fans of light reading and sweet romance.
Sherwood is a college graduate in desperate need of a job and reeling from being dumped by her fiance. She ends up taking a job as the entertainment director at the Great Wings Retirement Home... only to discover her one-week trial will consist of taking a group of retirees on a bus trip to Myrtle Beach! And it doesn't help that said bus is being driven by Freddie, her old geeky college friend who's much less geeky and much more drool-worthy than she remembered. As she juggles the trip itinerary, the needs of the cranky retirees, budding romance (both hers and her charges'), and an unexpected tragedy in the hotel room, she encounters much-needed laughs, some self-realization... and maybe a dash of true love...
The writing in this book isn't anything to write home about. It's workable, but not masterful, and can even be bland at times. Ocean does a lot of "tell don't show," info-dumping about characters and settings instead of incorporating them into the story proper and expecting us to take certain things about certain characters for granted -- one character is supposed to be a prankster, for example, but we see no evidence of this outside of people accusing him of being a prankster. And some of the romantic bits felt heavy-handed... though at least she's mostly tasteful in the actual romance scenes instead of going into point-by-point detail.
That said... this book is still enjoyable to read. It's cute, with some great comedic moments, and the group of seniors are an eclectic and colorful bunch I enjoyed getting to know. It also deals with some more serious moments that I won't spoil here, and handles it in a way that, I admit, annoyed me at first but made sense the more I read. I'd explain further, but that'd be a bit too spoiler-heavy...
While probably not a book I'll revisit in the future or rank among my favorites, "Mayhem in Myrtle Beach" was still a cute read, a good beach book for those times you don't want to think to hard and just want something sweet and funny. Good for fans of light reading and sweet romance.
December 9, 2017
This book was just ok to me. It was a little boring in a few spots. It's about a girl applying for a job at the Great Wingers retirement home, and she has to go on a trial run, a trip to Myrtle Beach with a bus load of residents. One of the residents die while on the trip, and everyone realized they didn't know him. They all go on a mission to help get to know each other, and a few fall in love, including the girl (Sherwood) and the bus driver.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2021
This is one of the worst stories I've ever read.
I mean... lighthearted romance story? Sure, that's one way to put it. Here's another.
Sherwood's okay but the dialogue is grating, same with all of the characters.
There's a character that's meant to be a prankster and always telling jokes. There is no actual sign in this story of any funny pranks he pulls or funny jokes, and the few times he might have said something a bit humourous, depending on the mood of those around him, the characters reacted with uproariously laughter. Everything!! Is so!! Over exaggerated!!
I don't have much to say about the elderly couple romance. It's like something out of the 90s. I'm sure the Golden Girls showed something like it.
But then we have Freddy. Freddy is a $%^&* creep. He salivates over Sherwood and you get his Nice Guy/Self Pity shtick everytime he waxes lyrical about Sherwood. Near the end, in his POV narrative, it says about the time he signed up for a university class (module I think we'd call it here) with no interest in the subject, just because Sherwood was taking it, and it meant they'd sit next to each other. And then they have sex, in a gazebo, on a beach. The "climax" of their budding romance, for lack of a better word.
Publically funded cleaners are not paid to clean up after people having sex in a public area, in a family friendly public location. Gross!! The hotel was half a mile away, they had rooms they could have used.
And then there's just some casual animal abuse with hermit crabs being thrown, put in a wire cage for transport, painted on with nail polish, fountain pens and tipex, with plans to race them at a later date, no big deal...
I know it's fiction, but it's lackadaisical attitude to everything which makes me think, this is what the author thinks is romantic and funny. And it isn't. So I won't be reading this again and I certainly won't be recommending it to anyone. I only completed this because i'm a stubburn twit who didn't want another unfinished read to my name.
I mean... lighthearted romance story? Sure, that's one way to put it. Here's another.
Sherwood's okay but the dialogue is grating, same with all of the characters.
There's a character that's meant to be a prankster and always telling jokes. There is no actual sign in this story of any funny pranks he pulls or funny jokes, and the few times he might have said something a bit humourous, depending on the mood of those around him, the characters reacted with uproariously laughter. Everything!! Is so!! Over exaggerated!!
I don't have much to say about the elderly couple romance. It's like something out of the 90s. I'm sure the Golden Girls showed something like it.
But then we have Freddy. Freddy is a $%^&* creep. He salivates over Sherwood and you get his Nice Guy/Self Pity shtick everytime he waxes lyrical about Sherwood. Near the end, in his POV narrative, it says about the time he signed up for a university class (module I think we'd call it here) with no interest in the subject, just because Sherwood was taking it, and it meant they'd sit next to each other. And then they have sex, in a gazebo, on a beach. The "climax" of their budding romance, for lack of a better word.
Publically funded cleaners are not paid to clean up after people having sex in a public area, in a family friendly public location. Gross!! The hotel was half a mile away, they had rooms they could have used.
And then there's just some casual animal abuse with hermit crabs being thrown, put in a wire cage for transport, painted on with nail polish, fountain pens and tipex, with plans to race them at a later date, no big deal...
I know it's fiction, but it's lackadaisical attitude to everything which makes me think, this is what the author thinks is romantic and funny. And it isn't. So I won't be reading this again and I certainly won't be recommending it to anyone. I only completed this because i'm a stubburn twit who didn't want another unfinished read to my name.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2017
When Sherwood agrees to accompany a group of 46 seniors to Myrtle Beach as an audition for a job at the Great Wings retirement community, she thinks it will be like going on a free vacation, only with a lot of grandma and grandpa types. She is desperate for a job, and more than likely that fact has helped her create this benevolent illusion. Fortunately, the bus driver is a college friend who tutored her in a couple classes and is easy to talk to...and look at as well! (He must have gotten hotter after she was dumped by her fiance!) What happens on the trip is a series of amusing exploits and adventures that turn out mostly all right. Plenty of humor and giggles as we follow the established boundaries of geriatric friendships that expand into romantic relationships. I especially liked the way the group could be compared to youngsters in that they would talk about anything-including the lack of movement in one member's constitution!
The book is not all giggles and laughs, and addresses some serious issues as well. However the underlying friendships and desire to be good people make even the difficult times go better.
And of course, it doesn't hurt that the hot bus driver has his eye on Sherwood, either!
I enjoy multi-generational stories, and feel this one had a lot to offer. I have to recommend it for an enjoyable read that will stay with you after the last page is read.
The book is not all giggles and laughs, and addresses some serious issues as well. However the underlying friendships and desire to be good people make even the difficult times go better.
And of course, it doesn't hurt that the hot bus driver has his eye on Sherwood, either!
I enjoy multi-generational stories, and feel this one had a lot to offer. I have to recommend it for an enjoyable read that will stay with you after the last page is read.
August 1, 2017
Myrtle Beach
This is the story of a man who moves into a retirement community to make friends. He agrees to take a bus trip with the other residents to Myrtle Beach. The bus group is led by Sherwood who is leading the group as a trial run to see if she gets the job as activities director. The bus driver turns out to be her friend from college. I urge you to read this book to find out what happens. A great read, entertaining and funny.
This is the story of a man who moves into a retirement community to make friends. He agrees to take a bus trip with the other residents to Myrtle Beach. The bus group is led by Sherwood who is leading the group as a trial run to see if she gets the job as activities director. The bus driver turns out to be her friend from college. I urge you to read this book to find out what happens. A great read, entertaining and funny.
August 25, 2017
A lovely light hearted romance
This is a nice light read which has a great sense of humour and an interesting mix of characters, although I do think they could have gotten into more humorous scrapes. It makes for a nice gentle romance which is mixed in with a lot of laughs and some life lessons.
This is a nice light read which has a great sense of humour and an interesting mix of characters, although I do think they could have gotten into more humorous scrapes. It makes for a nice gentle romance which is mixed in with a lot of laughs and some life lessons.
April 18, 2023
Surprisingly, this book turned out to be a charming read. I didn’t have any big expectations before starting this book, but after having read murder mysteries, I wanted something lighter. This was it, a story of learning what is most important in life through conflict, comedy and drama with lots of quirkiness along the way!
June 12, 2017
Great Book
After down loading mysteries that looked interesting but ended up full of sex and coarse language, this book was a breath of fresh air. Its characters had interesting personalities and, by the end of the book, seemed like old friends.
After down loading mysteries that looked interesting but ended up full of sex and coarse language, this book was a breath of fresh air. Its characters had interesting personalities and, by the end of the book, seemed like old friends.
July 11, 2017
Enjoyed this book very much. The author has a free flow writing style, easy read. The story is about Sherwood a college grad looking for a job and is hired to travel by bus with a group of senior citizens to Myrtle Beach. Entertaining and humorous. Recommend this book.
August 3, 2017
Motorcoach trips can have strange consequences.
Fun summer read about generations, love, death. Reclaiming family, finding love, learning how to care for your fellow neighbors. Community.
Fun summer read about generations, love, death. Reclaiming family, finding love, learning how to care for your fellow neighbors. Community.
July 7, 2017
Lovely Book
I chose this book by mistake, I usually go for thrillers but I'm so glad I read it I enjoyed it so much it's a feel good read which I read with a smile on my face.
I chose this book by mistake, I usually go for thrillers but I'm so glad I read it I enjoyed it so much it's a feel good read which I read with a smile on my face.
July 9, 2017
Excellent, easy summer read.
July 23, 2017
Mayhem
This story was decent. It dragged sometimes and I would struggle to continue. There were also many instances of missing or incorrect words. It got to be a little frustrating.
This story was decent. It dragged sometimes and I would struggle to continue. There were also many instances of missing or incorrect words. It got to be a little frustrating.
August 6, 2017
The story started cute and sweet..but then it veered towards the fluffy pink marshmallow road. There was so much saccharine I was drowning in sugar overload. Such a shame :(
August 12, 2017
Friends
This book was a good book to read when you are in a downtime. It lifted my spirit and made me realize how much it means to care about those around you.
This book was a good book to read when you are in a downtime. It lifted my spirit and made me realize how much it means to care about those around you.
August 13, 2017
A feel good story
A light read but thought provoking as well . Could have been improved by proof reading. Enjoyed it none the less.
A light read but thought provoking as well . Could have been improved by proof reading. Enjoyed it none the less.
October 26, 2017
Enjoyable read
Would have given a higher rating if not for the editing mistakes scattered throughout the book. They were quite off putting.
Would have given a higher rating if not for the editing mistakes scattered throughout the book. They were quite off putting.
January 3, 2018
Cute, funny
Great beach read. Great character development. I actually felt like I was there in Myrtle Beach with them. Great attention to detail.
Great beach read. Great character development. I actually felt like I was there in Myrtle Beach with them. Great attention to detail.
December 27, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It was light reading but very amusing at times. Set in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and mentions many of the places I knew from vAcations there.
February 7, 2021
Good book...nothing too exciting. Great for mindless reading, but predictable.
January 9, 2026
Good Read
Not an exciting book, but enough interest to keep you going. I really liked the twist and the end. Can’t wait for the sequel.
Not an exciting book, but enough interest to keep you going. I really liked the twist and the end. Can’t wait for the sequel.
February 22, 2017
Funny situation with life.
May 13, 2015
Mayhem in Myrtle Beach mixes a newly single, fresh college graduate with forty-six young at heart senior citizens and places them all on a charted bus headed to Myrtle Beach. What could possibly go wrong? Sherwood accepts a week-long probationary offer at a retirement community, in hopes that the time in the sun will not only give her a new perspective on life, but also a paying job when she returns. However, when her old study partner turns out to be the driver, who is more handsome than she recalls, and the elderly group doesn’t welcome her with open arms, Sherwood begins to think she may be in over her head.
Beautiful Myrtle Beach is the setting for the majority of the story. The author shows her love and knowledge of the area, by filling the book with details known by locals and yearly vacationers. T. Lynn Ocean tells this story in an omniscient point of view, which allows readers to get to know each of these eclectic cast members better. Each character brings with them their own baggage and stereotype, which provides opportunities for growth and healing throughout their adventures. This romance book includes some spicier chapters. However at its heart, it is the story of friendship, family, love, life and laughter. We all carry our past with us, but it is how we chose to live our present that will determine our future.
Notes:
This review was written for Sasee Magazine.
This review appeared on the Ariesgrl Book Reviews website.
Beautiful Myrtle Beach is the setting for the majority of the story. The author shows her love and knowledge of the area, by filling the book with details known by locals and yearly vacationers. T. Lynn Ocean tells this story in an omniscient point of view, which allows readers to get to know each of these eclectic cast members better. Each character brings with them their own baggage and stereotype, which provides opportunities for growth and healing throughout their adventures. This romance book includes some spicier chapters. However at its heart, it is the story of friendship, family, love, life and laughter. We all carry our past with us, but it is how we chose to live our present that will determine our future.
Notes:
This review was written for Sasee Magazine.
This review appeared on the Ariesgrl Book Reviews website.
April 4, 2015
Cute story---young, sweet, rejected-at-the-altar woman looks for a job as an activities director at an old age home. She is hired as the acting AD for a senior trip to Myrtle Beach, America's eastern ocean playground. This group of seniors though create more headache and havoc than a bunch of high school seniors on spring break!
What made me really like this book: One of the group members died, alone, in his hotel room. No one knew who he was. The seniors, as well as Sherwood the AD and Freddy the hunky-bus-driver-who-tutored-her-in-college-and-secretly-loved-her, realized that they missed out on getting to know someone who was genuinely a nice person and had much to offer. They are now determined to make sure there are "Less Willies in the world."
What made me really like this book: One of the group members died, alone, in his hotel room. No one knew who he was. The seniors, as well as Sherwood the AD and Freddy the hunky-bus-driver-who-tutored-her-in-college-and-secretly-loved-her, realized that they missed out on getting to know someone who was genuinely a nice person and had much to offer. They are now determined to make sure there are "Less Willies in the world."
January 9, 2016
This was a delightful and heartwarming book. Sherwood is on a one week trial for a job working as an activity director for a senior residence. The word "trial" takes on new meaning with a bus trip to Myrtle Beach with almost 50 senior citizens. Her initial thought was that it would be a beach vacation with a bunch of sweet grandparents; she quickly learns otherwise and along the way finds a new appreciation for an old school friend. The seniors do and say some LOL things throughout the book.
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August 21, 2015
My Favorite Place!
I loved this book-many tears but a lesson was taught!Also it was fun knowing where everything was taking place!Also no matter how old u are u can have a great life!!
I loved this book-many tears but a lesson was taught!Also it was fun knowing where everything was taking place!Also no matter how old u are u can have a great life!!
January 17, 2017
So sorry I can't loan it!
This is the third book of Ms. Ocean's I have read, they have all been filled with delightful characters and both humorous and heartwarming events. There are realistic comic situations, witty conversations, and colorful locations. A fun read.
This is the third book of Ms. Ocean's I have read, they have all been filled with delightful characters and both humorous and heartwarming events. There are realistic comic situations, witty conversations, and colorful locations. A fun read.
March 20, 2016
Page turner
Great read! I have never read any of T Lynn Oceans work before, but she is a great author. I look forward to reading more of her work.
Great read! I have never read any of T Lynn Oceans work before, but she is a great author. I look forward to reading more of her work.
March 21, 2016
Story a bit disjointed
This book seemed to have too many moving parts. Plus it seriously needs to have sentence structure and grammar editing.
This book seemed to have too many moving parts. Plus it seriously needs to have sentence structure and grammar editing.
June 30, 2016
Fun reading.
I like the stories she writes. A little intrigue and a little romance. Easy reads. Look forward to the next one.
I like the stories she writes. A little intrigue and a little romance. Easy reads. Look forward to the next one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews