Life’s a beach… and then you meet the guy of your dreams.
Flynn Wright’s role on the upcoming teen drama Coconut Cove means a fresh start in the land of crystal water, palm trees, and gorgeous people. The move to the beautiful beaches of Key West, Florida—and away from LA and his conniving ex—is just what Flynn needs.
Meeting sexy bartender Seth is the cherry on top of Flynn’s colorful frozen drink, and he can’t wait to take a taste. But Seth isn’t impressed by Flynn’s Hollywood good looks, nor is he interested in the complications of dating an actor, no matter how hot.
Can Flynn dodge his scheming ex and the eager paparazzi while showing Seth that he is more than a pretty package?
Add two parts sass and one part sweet and you have Poppy Dennison to T—sweet tea that is. Raised by a gaggle of Southern women who love reading and have backbones of steel, Poppy was brought up to see the best in people but always speak her mind. Mix it all together, like Grandma’s famous cobbler, and you get a sassy, Southern lady with a quick wit and loads of charm, who will soften any blow with “Bless your heart.” Her books reflect her small town roots, are filled with all the comforts of home, and come with side dish of spicy, because that’s the way she likes it.
It is the 1st time I read a book by Poppy Dennison and I loved it. I have been attracted by Coconut Cove since ... so much time and when I saw the 4th on Dreamspinners' home I bought the 1st one. Yes, I am going to buy all of them.
Hot damn! *packs bag and heads to da beach* Coconut Cove here I come. Okay okay, Coconut Cove doesn’t actually exist, but I still wanna go. The backdrop for the latest and greatest TV series takes place in Key West. And if you’ve ever played on the island, you can agree it’s hot in more ways than one.
Flynn is sinking in LA. His current show is not going so well. His failed relationship with his roommate/co-star is suffocating him and when an opportunity to snag a gig out of town pops up, he’s on it. Luck is on his side, he scores the spot, and he’s hopping on a jet plane to the southernmost point in the US. Newbie to the set (he’s replacing a high maintenance queen with a drinking problem) but not a newbie to the game, he slips in without much difficulty. However, the real dilemma is his unrequited attraction to the grumpy bartender in town.
The man behind the bar is smoking but his frigid attitude keeps everyone away. Seth definitely has a story, yet no one can get close enough to discover what it is. When Flynn breezes into town Seth finds his defenses weakening. As much as he tells himself he wants nothing to do with the Hollywood star, he can’t stay away. The heat becomes sticky when Flynn’s ex shows up and attempts to sabotage his new streak of fame and good fortune.
Ooo, good drama folks, seriously good stuff!
Excellent twist with the scenes from the TV series, but a clear shift might have made those takes stronger. It was simply added in without any distinction and I believe it may have benefited from a more visible separation. But, I am just as anxious to find out what happens with the boys on Coconut Cove as I am with the boys that play the boys on Coconut Cove. *whew* Did you follow that?
Flynn and Seth are both incredible and their chemistry and sexual tension is off the charts.
Sexy, highly entertaining, and way too short.
I laughed, I smiled, and I had a fabulous time.
Kudos to the Coconut Cove crew…. they all seem to have hidden secrets and juicy stories to tell.
So stay tuned, I’ve got a strong feeling this one’s going to soar to the top!
The blurb on this one caught my interest, and it promised a fun, light read. Dennison delivers that in spades. As the first in a series, it sets things up nicely, while also focusing primarily on Flynn and Seth.
I liked both the MCs, especially Flynn. He’s got a solid head on his shoulders, knows what his job is about, and doesn’t let too much ruffle him. Of course, there are a few things that push his buttons and he doesn’t always handle it well. He was a great narrator for this story, as it was mostly his journey to tell. He was very likeable.
Flynn was a little harder to get to know, and that presented a small problem for me. I liked him, and I liked that he thought things through for the most part. He knew what he could handle and needed to work it out. But I also felt that, at times, he was two dimensional, and his backstory was revealed quickly toward the end without a lot of explanation. I would have definitely liked more from him to really flesh out his character. Together these guys had good chemistry though, and that worked to drive some of the plot.
There’s not a whole lot going on here, and I would consider it a light, fairly angst-free read. Dennison does a good job with it, even though I would have liked to see a bit more development to some parts of the plot line. If you’re looking for something quick and delightful, this might just be the one for you.
I'm a big fan of Poppy Dennison and this book didn't let me down. Lighthearted, fun and a excellent start to a new series, can't wait for the the next installment.
With a backdrop of white sand beaches, blue water, and palm trees, Life's a Beach seemed like it would be the perfect Saturday afternoon read ... and it definitely was. I really enjoy Poppy Dennison's writing -- it's fast paced, full of flirty, swoony moments, and characters you can't help but really like. This is a re-release and part of the Coconut Cove series, and I can say I'm looking forward to more. The premise is a television series full of gorgeous twenty-somethings that focuses on teen drama. Heck yes and please!
Flynn Wright needs a break, both for his acting career and from his ex-boyfriend. When his agent lands him a starring role on the upcoming series, Coconut Cove, Flynn jumps at the chance, especially since he needs to move to Key West. The farther away he can get from his ex the better and he's excited about what the television series can do for his career. When he meets sexy local bartender, Seth, well, things are certainly looking up, especially since their chemistry sparks right away. I enjoyed their interactions, they were sexy and flirty and fun.
There's really not a whole lot of depth or background ... and it's not a bad thing. This is a novella after all, and it's only the first book in the series. Things move quickly as they're apt to do in a book of this length --about 85 pages--so there's not a lot of time and space to explore and develop. For that reason, with exception of a few moments of drama that you'd expect with nefarious exes and stalking paparazzi, Life's a Beach is a lighthearted, fun romp and it's a nice beginning for what I hope is a series full of the cast of characters introduced in the first book. I'm definitely looking forward to more and you will be too once you check this one out.
I love the title of this book. Life’s a beach…. It is just perfect. It really starts out this book in the right way. And of course you get a good sense of how Flynn Wright’s life is going. Coconut Cove is new opportunity and a new location and a new bartender.
Overall this is a sweet book, with a little bit of angst but mostly good story line about ex-boyfriends, new hope and new opportunities. I enjoyed Seth, the surly bartender the most. He was really a good well rounded character who added charm, humour and interest to the story.
The actors in the story where all fine. But mostly I felt like they were pretty faces, without a whole bunch else. They do have some good and bad characteristics to help them out as characters. But a lot is said about their looks.
Poppy Dennison has a very natural writing style that means you don’t even notice the passing of words because you are in the story, travelling along with those characters who inhabit the pages. I have always enjoyed the way she crafts words.
Overall this book was great for a quiet evening, with a glass of wine. I enjoyed the evening I spent with Flynn and Seth. I went away smiling and feeling happy. And I think that is a great way to leave a book.
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After breaking up with his boyfriend and co-star, Bennett, Flynn takes a part in the new series, Coconut Cove, filming on location in Key West, Florida. There he meets bartender Seth. The two hit it off, but Seth isn’t sure he wants to live his life in the spotlight, no matter how much he likes Flynn.
This was a cute story and I absolutely loved Flynn. He was sweet, funny and down to earth. I liked Seth, well, what I got to know of him. I really wish the author had developed Seth better. I wanted more interaction between Flynn and Seth, so I could get to know Seth better. I also wish the romance portion of the story had gotten more focus. While Seth and Flynn were hot together, their relationship needed to be explored more. I found Flynn had more scenes with some of the other guys and gals on set, and while entertaining, maybe a few of those could have included Seth as well, to make the progression of their relationship more natural.
The fact that the story focused not only on Flynn and Seth’s story, but that we also got to see the plot of the tv series unfold as well, was unique and interesting. I just have one question, what channel is Coconut Cove on? I’ve looked at my local tv listings, and I can’t find it. This makes me really sad. 😞
Overall, this was an enjoyable start to the series, and I’m looking forward to seeing what book two has in store. Recommendable!
*copy provided for my reading pleasure a review was not a requirement*
A wonderful book to take to the beach or coffee shop for an undisturbed read – it feels like being part of the crew in Key West. It’s fun, light-hearted, no angst. Only criticism would be that it ended very abruptly – I felt like I was missing the last chapter or epilogue.
Flynn Wright needs to get out of LA. When the opportunity to star in an up and coming gay teen drama called Coconut Cove, he jumps at the chance to finally get a lead on a show and leave Los Angeles behind him. Coconut Cove is all that he hopes it’ll be. With an instant connection between his co-stars, Flynn can finally breathe again. While filming the show he meets local bartender, Seth, but while the attraction between them is strong, Seth doesn’t know if he’s up to dating someone famous. When Flynn’s ex makes an appearance, Seth’s forced to make a decision – deal with the limelight or give up on Flynn.
Omg, I ADORED these two! For such a short story, this book definitely had a lot to it. I loved that Flynn, while famous, was still considerate and nice. He had none of the entitled, arrogant attitude that some of his other co-stars had. At the same time, Seth was more arrogant and rude than Flynn, although that had more to do with Seth not liking his bar being taken over by fans and groupies. Still, I loved Seth because he was so complex. He hated that Flynn was famous but he couldn’t stop wanting Flynn and all that meant. The two together are sweet, hot and definitely have potential.
This story is a bit different than other books I’ve read with actors. In this one, it’s a telling of two stories – the ‘real’ story and romance between Seth and Flynn and the telling of the TV show Coconut Cove, that Flynn was cast for. At first, I was very surprised when I realized I was reading a passage from Mack, the 16-year old that Flynn plays on Coconut Cove. However, after my shock, I was very intrigued with the storyline of Coconut Cove to the point that I even want to read a FULL story of the show! Hell, I really want it as a TV show!
My only complaint with this one is that it’s TOO SHORT! OMG, I was sooooo engrossed in the story that I may have possibly sobbed when I realized I read the last word. I WANT MORE! Plus, it would have been great to see more of Flynn and Seth together once all the dust settled, so to speak.
In the end, this was a fast-paced, engaging and hella entertaining story! I loved the mix of real life and Coconut Cove storytelling. It definitely made things interesting and I know I was wondering what would happen in BOTH worlds. I adored both Seth and Flynn and while I really wish it had been a 100 pages longer, I still loved it.
Reading this book was one of the best hours of my week! I’m really looking forward to the rest of the episodes in this series and seeing all the other endearing (and not so endearing!) characters get their own story (and hopefully see more of Flynn and Seth). If you’re looking for something short, entertaining and a bit different, give this one a try!
Coconut Cove is a new teen drama television show, featuring primarily gay characters. It is filmed in Key West, the gay mecca of Florida. The newest star to join the cast is 28 year old Flynn Wright, who plays 16 year old Mack. Flynn’s agent has landed him this job at the perfect time. He’s just finished his role on a show, and ended his sort of relationship with his costar Bennett, in LA and is so ready for a change. Off the Florida and a new show he goes!
What follows is a very soap opera-ish story, I found it light and fluffy, and a fun story to read, but it was lacking in depth and drama. Flynn seems like a good guy, trying to stay out of the Hollywood gossip scene, and find a show he can be at home on. Flynn meets Seth, a local bartender, and has a nice little flirt with him. We never really get to know Seth, he doesn’t spend nearly as much time on screen as Flynn. This was Flynn’s story, and he met a guy named Seth, but I didn’t find it as much of a romance story, as a story about the production of a TV show. Flynn spends way more time with his co-stars than he does with Seth, and there was an odd bit about his ex-boyfriend, the closeted Bennett that didn’t quite work for me. I couldn’t figure out Bennett’s motivation for his behavior. But the other cast members are fun, especially since Poppy used authors names as character names. There are scenes from Coconut Cove thrown in that I enjoyed, it sounds like a good show. Flynn’s costars and crew were fun, I liked the interaction between them all. There were also bits of Hollywood style gossip shows occasionally that added to the feeling of this really being a TV show.
Overall I liked it, but there wasn’t enough romance for me. Flynn and Seth don’t spend much time together and don’t have much sex. This felt like the beginning of their story, but they didn’t have much time to develop as a couple. No dating, no bonding, not even much talking. Seth comes and goes, giving off mixed messages and confusing Flynn. I see this is book one, I’m curious to see where Poppy is going with this. I don’t know if the other books will be about other cast members or not, but personally I’d like to see more of Flynn and Seth and have them actually become a couple. I liked it, just wish it had had more romance!
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I first read this author’s work as part of an anthology. I enjoyed her bright style, quick tempo, and upbeat dialogue, and was eager to read more by her. When I saw Life’s a Beach was being rereleased, I jumped at the chance to read another of Miss Dennison’s shorts. The blurb sounded fun and flirty, which it definitely was. Life’s a Beach is part of the Coconut Cove series, a collection of shorts that centers on a teen drama filmed in Key West.
This one was a little up and down for me. I really liked both main characters, and I thought they were a nicely balanced couple. Flynn is an actor starring in Coconut Cove and Seth is the bartender at a local bar and restaurant the cast and crew frequents. The sparks flew quickly between these two, and though I felt like we got some insight into both men, I would have liked a little more. The plot and conflicts weren’t overly complicated for a short story and they did reach a satisfying resolution, but it felt a tad glazed over in the end. Additionally, there was a lot of information about secondary characters, other actors, and even the TV show’s plotline that detracted from the main story. I assume those details will be pertinent in the subsequent stories (which may mean they won’t work well as standalones), and I did like many of the secondary characters…I just didn’t want Seth and Flynn’s story to suffer those inclusions. Overall, the premise of Coconut Cove is promising. Unfortunately, this one didn’t quite hook me enough to continue the series as this point, but I think readers looking for some quick, sexy fun may enjoy it.
This is the first book that I have read by Poppy Dennison. It was a decent read but I felt that it ended abruptly and I felt like all the drama that was going on in this book just disappeared at the blink of an eye. Did not feel that this story was over in my opinion.
Flynn is excited about getting a lead role in a new series called Coconut Cove. Not only is this an incredible opportunity for him as an actor but it also gets him away from his ex best friend and lover Bennett. Things did not end well between them and the fact that they was roommates as well made things even harder. So being able to start over in Key West with such an amazing opportunity is exactly what Flynn needed.
What Flynn did not expect was to meet a bartender named Seth and to be so attracted to him. But that is what happens when fate steps in.
Seth is not happy about all the actors and actresses disturbing his barbut when he meets Flynn, he may of just found a little bit of good out of all the craziness. The only problem is S th knows he does not want to get caught up in the everything and thrust into the lime light because of who he is attracted too. So Seth does he one thing he knows to do and pushes Flynn away.
That is a losing battle though because Seth cannot seem to stay away from Flynn and he is not so sure that he wants too either. When Flynn’s ex shows up in town, that is when everything hits the fan.
Now there may be no chance for Seth and Flynn after all. Can these two figure out a way to work things out after everything or is it better to just walk away before someone ends up really hurt?
This was a decent read but like I said it ended so quickly that I felt that there was more to his story that did not get told. I enjoyed the read, just wish it felt like a complete story for these two men.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
Flynn Wright is pretty sure he’s lost his job on The Presidio thanks to his nasty ex who wasn’t thrilled with him when he ended their relationship. But his agent, Mary, has gotten him a job on the new teen drama Coconut Cove and that’s good news for Flynn. Now, he can get out of LA and get away from his ex, Bennett.
Flynn is set to play a gay sixteen year old named Mack who moves to Coconut Cove with his fathers. Let the drama of teenagers commence. On his first night in Key West him and some of the cast head over to the Pirate’s Booty for dinner and drinks. This is where Flynn meets the rude but sexy bartender Seth.
Now, I really can’t say to much more. I don’t want to spoil the story for anyone. It’s not a long book so if I give away too many details you wouldn’t want or have to read it, and I really want you to read it. So, how bout I just say that Bennett starts some drama, Seth adds fuel to the drama, and in the middle of all that drama we have some more drama. UGH! I hate not being able to say more. Just know that it was really good. Loved it in fact. It had some great secondary characters and I truly cannot wait to read the next episode.
Flynn is an actor and after a bad breakup he finds his contract on his job not renewed but gets an offer to play a gay high-school boy on a new show called Coconut Cove. He moves from Hollywood to Florida and embarks on a new lifestyle.
Flynn meets a sexy bartender at the Pirate's Booty, a quirky bar close to the set that the cast and crew frequent. The sparks flew quickly between these two.
I liked the premise of the series and there was a lot of set up of other characters and the setting. I liked the laid-back lifestyle and ow Flynn reacts to his fans always signing autographs and such. I also loved how Seth flew in to save the day when Flynn's past comes to bite him in the butt.
I would have liked a little more of Seth's past earlier on to show why he was so broody and reluctant for a relationship, but we eventually find that out.
The story is short, sweet, fun and sexy. If your lucky for a hot summer read this is for you!
I liked the characters of this new series I am looking forward to more a nice comfortable story :)
There is not that much interaction between mc Seth and Flynn I would have liked a bit more and the scene's from the soap itself can be distracting but is also renewing
For me I am looking forward to more of this series but I do hope to see more of the main characters in the other stories
I really like the idea of series of having a backstage story of a gay tv series. And I really like Flyn lots, Seth too even tho he's really confusing at times. Really want to keep reading this series.
New to me author and I enjoyed the writing style. Cute book premise, but kind of distracting too, going back and forth between the show and the actual story. I am looking forward to the next one, though.