Nancy would love to spend Christmas at the Beach, but will instead be at home in snowy Colorado. The Christmas at the Beach novella also includes a preview of The House on Mermaid Point, as well as the first two chapters from While We Were Watching Downton Abbey, Wax’s most recent novel. Kyra is young and naive, even after all she’s been through, but at heart wants what’s best for her son and her family. Her point of view is not one we’ve heard before and it’s a nice twist for this story that bridges the gap between the second and third novel. Kyra spends most of the holiday wondering what’s going on with her parents, hiding from the paparazzi and obsessing over some information she doesn’t want to share with the rest of the group concerning Bella Flora’s new owners. Close on Kyra’s heels are the paparazzi, clamoring for a shot of Dustin, who is the son of a famous movie star that Kyra had an affair with while on the set of her first movie. They’re joined by Avery’s mother Deirdre, who’s trying hard to earn back Avery’s trust while rubbing in the fact that she took a bullet for her daughter, and boyfriend Chase, the contractor who helped renovate the house and is also part-owner, Maddie’s husband, who oddly will be staying in the guest house, and son Andrew, home from college, and the cameraman from “Do Over” who will be presenting them with the location of their next house to be renovated for the show.

Kyra and her 1 year old son Dustin arrive at Bella Flora for their first – and last – Christmas at the house that started it all when Nicole, Avery and Maddie ended up as owners of the run-down mansion after finding out they’re victims of a Ponzi scheme. Fortunately Christmas at the Beach, a novella available only for Kindle, will satisfy the craving for the girls of “Do Over” and their renovations and love lives. Fans of Wendy Wax’s Ten Beach Road series (read my reviews of Ten Beach Road and Ocean Beach) have a while to wait before the next book, The House on Mermaid Point, is in their hot little hands, as it’s not due to publish until July 2014.

Wendy wax ocean beach series