Joanne DeMaioBlue Jeans and Coffee Beans (The Seaside Saga)

Blue Jeans and Coffee BeansBlue Jeans and Coffee Beans is a book to read in one or two sittings. It would be disrespectful to the history, quandaries, questions, mysteries and dreams of the characters Joanne has created. It would be a travesty to let this book languish for days or weeks between short reading sessions. My advice: don't begin unless you have the time to read this novel in no more than two sittings.Joanne leaves nothing to our imagination except picturing ourselves walking the beach, gazing at the stars, contemplating designing or redecorating a beach cottage, wearing Maris' designs, falling in love under the summer sky, battling real-life demons and hungering for our deepest dreams.In true "show and tell" format, Joanne paints a striking picture of life in Stony Point. And though writing a novel is no day at the beach, Joanne's writing seems effortless and seamless. She sets the background for each scene and each phase for the complex but interesting lives of her true-to-life characters.At a glance we may think that their lives are far removed from ours. Yet, as we wade into the complex story of each character, elements of our own life stories wash ashore. Their lives: love, loss, joy, pain, troubles, questions, revelations, dreams could easily be ours. In fact, on some level, they reflect our lives: love, loss, joy, pain, troubles, questions, revelations, dreams.Yes, Joanne DeMaio has created a work of fiction but what she also did is prove that art imitates life. In real life, it takes more than 314 pages to find answers to our questions, to allay our fears, to men broken hearts, to heal our long-festering wounds, to achieve our dreams. But Joanne gives us hope that if we open our hearts, ask the difficult questions, face the harsh truths and don't give up on our dreams, we too can find love, joy and fulfillment in our own version of the Stony Point experience - the short version of real life.

I've stated before in my reviews, I judge a book by it's cover, then the title then I read what it is about. I liked the cover and the title of this book and I really liked the story. The characters were well written so you moved through the story with them and felt their emotions. My favorite characters in this particular story were Kyle and Jason, I think of all the characters they were the most dimensional, with Eve being the least fleshed out, but it as a testament to how well this book is written, Neil who was dead at the beginning of the story was so much a part of the other characters' lives that when Jason talked about the day Neil died you had to cry because even though Neil wasn't one of the living characters you were very attached to him based on the tidbits of his life you were given. I always love books with a water setting and this book gives you the beachy descriptions that I enjoy. This was a very good read to me and I look forward to more of Ms. Demaio's books.

Need to order 2nd Book etc.

I’ve had this book for a while & decided it was time to read it. Initially I was confused because new characters were introduced really without a transition. But after the introductions, the story developed & I didn’t want to stop reading. The primary characters is Maris & Eva, childhood friends. Eva is a real estate agent who lives in Stoneybrook with her husband, Matt & daughter Taylor. Eva is also adopted so she spends endless hours on her computer hoping to find her birth parents. Maris has her own design clothing line she can do anywhere. Maris decides after splitting with her long-term boyfriend & dealing with her recently deceased Father’s estate to spend a few weeks with Eva to clear her head. After one evening with the gang of high school friends get together, Maris wants to stay longer so Eva helps to find a rental on the beach. Each friend has their own issues they are dealing with such as Jason who is an architect & trying to cope with the loss of his brother, Neil. Lauren who was planning to marry Neil & after his death married Kyle is dealing with her own loss. Lauren & Kyle have two young children & financial issues which are tearing them apart. But the gang knows no matter what, their friendship will help to get them through. I dream of being in a place like the setting in the book except for me I would not like the cold. The storyline reminds me a little of the movie, “The Big Chill” & I definitely recommend reading it. The only issue, although it didn’t leave a major cliffhanger, it is an ongoing series, so a person has to get the other books to find out how this story continues.

Maris returns home upon her fathers passing. When there, she reconnects with her childhood friends. Everyone is going through different issues, but hopefully together they can work to move past what is holding each of them back.I really wanted to love this book. I mean, I did like the story. It was cute, very heart warming at times, and the characters were pretty interesting. But it was just too wordy. So many times the descriptions seemed to go on and on, making moments in the story really drag on. If the descriptive language had been simpler, I think the book easily would have been a 4-star rating for me.

I love fiction about love and friends

This book is written in a very annoying style. I quit after 50 pages, which doesnt happen a lot with me.

I enjoyed it

It was pretty good - I liked the setting and the characters. OK story.