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Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans

(The Seaside Saga #1)

Joanne DeMaio (Goodreads Author)

3.72 · Rating details · 2,244 ratings · 282 reviews

New York Times Bestseller

Escape to Stony Point, cuff your jeans and walk along the water's edge in this nostalgic story bringing old friends, and their lives, back to the sea.

After years of pursuing a denim design career, Maris Carrington never imagined trading her Chicago studio for a New England shingled cottage. But a forgotten home movie tucked inside a dusty attic bo ...more

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Paperback, 323 pages

Published March 11th 2013

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· 2,244 ratings · 282 reviews

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Nov 23, 2013 Judy Collins rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2013-releases, books-read-in-2014, joanne-demaio

BLUE JEANS AND COFFEE BEANS was my first read by Joanne DeMaio and loved it! Since this time I have read all her newer books, and each one is unique and engaging. The characters begin their journey here.

There are so many stories within this charming read and great takeaways. Each character brings a unique part to the novel –each of the characters is dealing with demons of their own and the soothing seas of this quaint beach town of Stony Point help them all face their fears and begin healing.

A ...more

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Jul 22, 2013 Allison rated it it was ok

I am way out of line with the rest if the reviewers it seems. I thought this is book was an easy summer read but it was very short on creativity. It was painfully predictable. I also found the characters to be cliched as well as her "come back to your roots" story unoriginally done.
There are a lot if books out there about finding oneself at the beach, dealing with past mistakes, and such. It must be hard to stand out. This book didn't.

Not a terrible summer read but not very inspiring either. ...more

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May 25, 2014 Anne (Booklady) Molinarolo rated it really liked it

Shelves: good-fiction, permanent-library, womens-fiction, summer-2014

A good book for an afternoon at the beach! I loved the characters - a group of friends that either live or summered at Stoney Point Beach with an exception of one who died a few years back. Neil Barlow still makes his presence known though. Eva is looking for her birth parents - still. Kyle and Lauren are having trouble - he's unemployed again, but finds part time work at the local diner and Lauren is unhappy in their marriage. Jason Barlow has moved back to Stoney Point and has survivor's guilt ...more

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Apr 22, 2013 Kathleen rated it it was amazing

Just like the ebb and flow of the tide, life brings issues and changes to one's life, but the bonds of friendship, sea air and salt water are cleansing, they cure what ails you.

For a group of old friends, a summer reunion spent together on the shores of Long Island Sound in the idyllic seashore town of Stony Point, Connecticut, will bring them a chance to strengthen the bonds of friendship and provide a healing balm as they each deal with a variety life issues: love, relationships, loss, secrets Just like the ebb and flow of the tide, life brings issues and changes to one's life, but the bonds of friendship, sea air and salt water are cleansing, they cure what ails you.

For a group of old friends, a summer reunion spent together on the shores of Long Island Sound in the idyllic seashore town of Stony Point, Connecticut, will bring them a chance to strengthen the bonds of friendship and provide a healing balm as they each deal with a variety life issues: love, relationships, loss, secrets, private demons, seeking redemption and second chances.

Maris Carrington is a top denim fashion designer living in Chicago, who comes back to her hometown in Connecticut to settle the estate of her late father. Old memories of summers spent in Stony Point linger, it has been twelve years since her last summer at the Connecticut shore. Maris faces an indecision of what she really wants in life: an engagement/marriage to her corporate attorney boyfriend Scott in Chicago, or the peace and tranquility of living in Stony Point. While viewing old home movies a family secret is revealed and a chance to rekindle an old love keeps Maris from wanting to return to Chicago.

Eva Gallagher is a Stony Point Realtor and is married to her childhood sweetheart Matt, a State Trooper. They have a teenage daughter named Taylor. But a happy marriage and family life isn't enough for Eva, she was adopted at the age of one and is haunted with not knowing who her birth parents are or her true identity. The wondering never goes away and her obsession with online searching of adoption websites causes issues and tension with her husband and daughter.

Jason Barlow is an architect who owns Barlow Architecture, a small design and construction business specializing in renovating beach cottages that he started with his deceased brother Neil. Seven years ago, Jason and Neil were in a motorcycle accident that took Neil's life and left Jason with a prosthetic left leg. Wracked with guilt over the loss of his brother, he is consumed with grief, Neil is now but a shadow and a whispered voice in his head. Trying to heal and move forward with his life and business, perhaps a rekindling of old friendships and an old love may be just what he needs to quiet his private demons.

Kyle Bradford is an unemployed shipbuilder who works part-time as a cook in a diner. He is married to his childhood sweetheart Lauren, and they have two children: Evan (six) and Hailey (four). Cooking is his passion, but it is also his downfall, as his continued unemployment stands in the way of maintaining a happy marriage. Lauren is unhappy with the constant financial struggle in their marriage, she longs for a lost lover and a time when she used to paint seascapes on driftwood.

For this group of old friends, a summer in Stony Point will strengthen their bonds of friendship and provide a healing solace that will help rebuild their lives.

Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans is a poignant story of rebuilding friendships and dealing with life's issues that tug at your heartstrings. In her second novel, author Joanne DeMaio weaves an emotional tale written in the third person narrative that alternates between five character perspectives, and is set in the present with flashbacks to the past. The reader is transported to the tranquil seashore town of Stony Point, Connecticut, where they follow along with Maris, Eva, Matt, Jason, Kyle and Lauren as they reconnect and deal with challenges of real life, secrets and personal demons. Each has a story to tell, they come alive as their hopes, regrets, love, loss, choices and memories are revealed to the reader.

Author Joanne DeMaio easily captivates her readers' attention with this beautifully written and emotional tale through a seamless and flowing storyline, and with a wonderful description of a tranquil beach setting that wraps itself around the reader like a sun-warmed beach towel. The characters draw you into their lives with a strong emotional pull, their complexities and flaws are true-to-life, it is easy to relate to each of their stories with compassion, empathy and hope.

Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans is an intricate story of interweaving friendships and real life challenges that is both heart wrenching and inspirational. It is a powerful and compelling story that will have you feeling the full gamut of emotions while soothing your soul, it is a story that will resonate with you long after the last word has been read.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot... ...more

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Jul 14, 2013 Tammy O rated it did not like it · review of another edition

I did not care for the writing style of this book. It jumped around, there were too many shallow characters, and far too many words for the bits and pieces of real storyline. The denim design descriptions were cheesy and based on an idealistic view of what fashion designers do--not realistic.

I agree with "Amy's" review from 7/14:
"I'm not sure what the writer was trying to achieve with this over written novel and it's easy to see why it was self published, rather than commercially published. The ...more

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May 20, 2013 Kathy Altman rated it really liked it

This latest from women's fiction author Joanne DeMaio is poetic, profound and infinitely stirring. The writing is gorgeous, the setting both soothing and provocative, the characters and their situations haunting. Believable, too. So believable you're bound to see something of yourself in one or more of the Stony Point crowd. And that familiarity is not always comforting — though it certainly does make for an alluring read.

Settling into this story is like wading into a cool ocean on a sunny day — This latest from women's fiction author Joanne DeMaio is poetic, profound and infinitely stirring. The writing is gorgeous, the setting both soothing and provocative, the characters and their situations haunting. Believable, too. So believable you're bound to see something of yourself in one or more of the Stony Point crowd. And that familiarity is not always comforting — though it certainly does make for an alluring read.

Settling into this story is like wading into a cool ocean on a sunny day — you just can't resist the invitation. Even when you discover a surprise or two underfoot, still you move on into deeper waters, not quite ready to turn back to the hot grit of summer sand. And that's the situation Maris finds herself in. She has a successful life waiting for her back in Chicago, but the Stony Point pull of memories and possibilities tug like a stubborn undertow. The most tempting of the possibilities is Jason, the friend who has changed the most since Maris moved to Chicago. Maris and Jason never shared more than a few kisses, but she has always been drawn to him. Now he's a wounded man, both physically and emotionally, but Maris envies him—why can't she be as brave as he is, doing what it takes to get the life he wants, despite the guilt he can't shake? And that's the compelling core of Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans — the choices we make (or not), and the connections we make (or break) as a result.

She walks first to the front porch doorway, sipping her coffee. Except for an early jogger passing by, the street outside looks still, yet liquid somehow, like a watercolor painting. Shadows and light softly blend in the greens of the maple trees, the blues of the sky. Summer quiet follows behind the jogger's footsteps, touching upon the porch and its comfortable old white wicker furniture. Above the windows, a high shelf holding brass hurricane lanterns and starfish and pale pink conch shells reaches around the room. Spiky cattails rise from the large clay floor vase in the corner, standing against the crisp white paneling. Outside, scarlet red geraniums and pretty petunias spill from the flower boxes Maris filled weeks ago.

But seashells and white wicker and summer flowers can't keep complications away. She sits in a chair on the porch, cupping her coffee. This complication is a new one. No man has ever kept her from her work before. Her career had become a shell, curving around her like the intricate whorls of the conch, shielding her, until now.

DeMaio tells the story through multiple points of view and with the help of an occasional flashback. I did find myself disoriented once or twice, but it didn't take me long to become thoroughly invested in every single character. The couples, too — I kept changing my mind about which was my favorite, and fretted over which pair would endure. What one husband did for his wife, to symbolize what she means to him and what he hopes their future will embrace, had me in tears and I thought, Now that's romance.

Guilt, regrets, discoveries, realizations, old wants, tragedy, forgiveness, recognition, bitterness, competition, hunger, dreams — so many layers to savor. The rhythm of DeMaio's prose echoes the cadence of the sea that inspires the story's imagery and pace and her characters' choices. Like DeMaio's debut, Whole Latte Life, this Stony Point story will entangle and entrance you.

...more

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Jul 14, 2013 PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps rated it it was ok

I'm not sure what the writer was trying to achieve with this over written novel and it's easy to see why it was self published, rather than commercially published. The bare bones of the story, protagonist Maris returning to Connecticut after her fathers death, reconnecting with old friends who are also going through mid life "crises" is a solid, albeit predictable story. Unfortunately, the writer seemed to try too hard to produce unique, literary prose that she ruined the book with superfluous a ...more

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Oct 26, 2017 Kathryn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-star, contemporary-fiction

Why? I read a review at some time on Laurel Rain's blog - one of the books Joanne DeMaio wrote and I decided to try one. Now this is the second book I have read by this author.

Plot It is set in Stony Point, New England and is the story of three women and three men. Each with their own life challenges at this point in time. Maris keeps taking on then off her engagement ring. Eva longs to know her real birth mother, Lauren doesn't want what she has. Jason is still dealing with grief, Kyle can't se ...more

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Feb 20, 2013 Literary rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: hen-lit

Upon the death of her father, Maris returns to Stony Point and the summer cottage of her childhood. More than just memories are re-hatched when she discovers evidence of a family secret and reunites with her old friends. Running back to Chicago seems like the solution until she realizes that no matter where she goes Stony Point will always have a piece of her heart.

Maris, Eva and Jason are three characters that have an overwhelming amount of emotional pain. They reach out and grab a hold of your ...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Mary rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

A perfect story for anybody who loves the beach. The Connecticut shoreline is such a beautiful place, it was great to see it on the page. Maris and her beach friends took me on a journey I won't soon forget. The characters felt real to me, and I couldn't help rooting for them. Everybody loves to come back home, especially when home is set by the sea. I also loved the denim threaded throughout the storyline, and the creative way it mirrors a casual beach life. Ready to don my blue jeans and walk ...more

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Jun 26, 2013 Janice rated it liked it

Shelves: bookclub

I ended up caring about the characters by the end, but a lot of the descriptions of jeans design was too hokey for me. And the issues with Jason dragged. It was a decent story but too sappy and I didn't care for the writing style. ...more

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Feb 27, 2016 Yvonne rated it liked it · review of another edition

Even though I read this one during the dead of winter, it makes for a nice beach read. It’s emotional with a few twists I didn’t see coming. The characters are flawed and quite realistic. I can easily picture these characters in real life. They are real people with real problems.

Overall, I thought the author did a great job in storytelling and bringing the readers right into the atmosphere of Stony Point. There were a couple of spots that seemed to move slowly for me, but I really came to care a ...more

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Aug 24, 2019 meghann rated it really liked it

Shelves: b-n-serial-reads

This was the Barnes and Noble Nook serial read for the month of August. Okay, this is kind of crazy. The third book in this series was a Nook serial read a while back. I really did not like that one. So I think it's kinda strange that I really enjoyed this. Same characters, setting, etc. There's still a bit of a rushed romance in this one (though nowhere near the level of what happened in the other book). And I knew that two of the characters would end up together since they were in the later bo ...more

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Apr 16, 2017 Dee Gurganus rated it really liked it

Such a great story. This is my first read by Ms DeMaio, but will definitely not be my last. It took me a few chapters to get all the characters straight in my mind, but then the story held my interest until I did not want to put it down. The group of high school friends all of which still live in the same community except for Maris, who has returned to attend her father's funeral & settle his estate. With Maris' return, the group of friends is faced with memories & how they effect the present. T ...more

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Apr 01, 2019 Patti Alexander rated it really liked it

Very good read

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Aug 03, 2013 Crystal rated it it was amazing

WOW! That is very first word that came to mind after I finished Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans by Joanne DeMaio. This is the second book I have had the pleasure of reading by Ms. DeMaio and let me tell you I enjoyed it just as much as the last. As I was reading this story the descriptions of the beach and the water are so detailed that I swore I heard the waves crashing on shore and felt the sand between my toes. Not only can Ms. DeMaio transport us to the beach, she has created characters that are WOW! That is very first word that came to mind after I finished Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans by Joanne DeMaio. This is the second book I have had the pleasure of reading by Ms. DeMaio and let me tell you I enjoyed it just as much as the last. As I was reading this story the descriptions of the beach and the water are so detailed that I swore I heard the waves crashing on shore and felt the sand between my toes. Not only can Ms. DeMaio transport us to the beach, she has created characters that are memorable, charismatic, compelling, and Personable. I wouldn't mind sitting down with these folks for a visit. This is another one of those very emotional books that takes you along for the ride. This story revolves around a group of friends that knew each when they were young. It is a nice story of a reunion of friends that still have a connection all these years late.

Maris Carrington has returned to her hometown to take care of her fathers estate. While she is cleaning and packing she finds questions that she has to answer before she goes home. Maris has some life decisions to make and longs for some time at the beach. She decides to extend her stay and try to work out her life. She meets up with some old friends while at the beach. She starts her search to uncover the mystery she longs to understand. I really liked Maris she is s strong, independent woman that I truly admired.

Eva is Maris best friend and has been for years, she helps Maris find a cottage by the beach to rent for a few weeks. Eva has some family problems of her own. She longs to find her birth parents. She gets so caught up in her search that it's putting a strain on her husband and daughter. Eva has a wonderful husband Matt who feels a little abandon when Eva goes on her searches. Eva has a great life but feels like she is missing something. There is a huge mystery here that unfolds that left me speechless for a few moments. I'm not going to do tell you more then that. I'll let you read this wonderful story to find out for yourself.

Jason Barlow went through a tremendous loss and is struggling to find his way back to life. He not only lost his brother but part of his leg as well. Jason is carrying a lot of emotional baggage around. Maris just may be the one person that can help him deal with his past. I really enjoyed learning Jason's story. If you have a box of kleenex handy you might want to grab it here when he's explaining what happened. I cried and hurt for him. His is a very emotional story.

Matt & Lauren's marriage is suffering the impact of financial insecurity due to job loss and the economy. Matt is doing his best to keep his family a float but feels he's losing his wife and doesn't know how to get her back. Lauren has suffered a great loss and is living in the world of "WHAT IF" things had been different. These two pulled at my heart. What they need most is each other and their children. They just have find their way back together.

Over all, this was one fabulously written story full of drama, friendship, love, a nice reunion, and lots of emotion. Ms. DeMaio has a wonderful way of telling a story that pulls you right in and touches you so deep you can feel the pain, the sorrow and the joy of each of her delightfully fascinating characters. I truly felt a bond with each character. I was so engrossed in this story that I hated to set the book down to do other things. I couldn't wait to pick it back up to see what in the world as going to happen next.

Now that I have had the pleasure of reading two sensational stories by Ms. DeMaio, I will certainly be looking forward to her next release. I enjoy her unique writing style and way of transporting you to the beach with her phenomenal details.

If you are looking for a great summer time read that you can read at the beach or just imagine you are at the beach, check this one out. But don't leave the Kleenex behind. I hope you find this book as enjoyable as I did.

I had the delightful opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review. As always it has been a great pleasure to share my thoughts on this story with you. ...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Mason rated it it was amazing

Reconnecting with childhood friends can be both life-affirming and life-altering.

Author Joanne DeMaio weaves a fascinating tale of friendship, loss, hope, loyalty, secrets, and finding one’s self in BLUE JEANS AND COFFEE BEANS. She sets the story in the beautiful New England oceanside community of Stony Point. The ocean, with its mesmerizing waves and alluring sounds, plays a major roll in the story offering its calming and cleansing properties to those returning to visit.

Maris Carrington, pursu Reconnecting with childhood friends can be both life-affirming and life-altering.

Author Joanne DeMaio weaves a fascinating tale of friendship, loss, hope, loyalty, secrets, and finding one’s self in BLUE JEANS AND COFFEE BEANS. She sets the story in the beautiful New England oceanside community of Stony Point. The ocean, with its mesmerizing waves and alluring sounds, plays a major roll in the story offering its calming and cleansing properties to those returning to visit.

Maris Carrington, pursuing a denim design career in Chicago, has to return to the Connecticut coast to settle her late father’s estate. While packing and cleaning, Maris discovers a forgotten home movie. After watching it, she decides to stay a bit long so she can reconnect with her best friend. As old memories surface, catching up with other friends from over a decade ago takes on new meaning.

Even after her boyfriend proposes, Maris isn’t ready to return to her regular life. She feels drawn to stay near the beach and see what the summer brings. Meanwhile, Maris’ friends have their own problems and worries. Each is dealing with their doubts and uncertainty in their own way, but are there for their friends when needed.

This story is set amid a backdrop that defines summer - the ocean, a sandy beach, cottages, sunshine, and good friends. DeMaio has an eye for detail as she expertly describes the setting so that you can almost feel the ocean breeze on your face and feel the sand falling through your fingers.

The story moves at a steady pace pulling readers in. The characters are well-developed and likable. They have flaws and are faced with daily challenges making them appear more realistic. While there may seem to be quite a few central characters, in reality we all tend to gather numerous friends around us instead of only one or two. The author has given each character their own problems and specific ways they contribute to the story.

With a title like BLUE JEANS AND COFFEE BEANS, one automatically thinks of comfortable clothes and relaxing with friends over a cup of coffee. DeMaio has created a story of nostalgia that will have you longing to slip into your summer clothes, call your old friends, and escape to the beach.

FTC Full Disclosure - An eBook copy of this book was gift to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

...more

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Nov 11, 2013 Denise rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-2013

Really enjoyed this book. The characters were well written and flowed thru the book with ease. Loved the twist in the story although I figured it out about halfway thru the book. The book really emphasizes that sometimes you can't see what is right in front of you. Definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a relaxing read. ...more

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Mar 29, 2014 Marisa rated it it was ok

I guess this author is just not for me. I liked the underlying story lines in this book, but the overly-descriptive way she writes just made me skip right through. You don't need to take 20 words to describe blue. ...more

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Jul 23, 2017 Tracy Fitzpatrick rated it it was ok

I couldn't wait to read this book but was sadly disappointed. There was something that really bugged me about the writer's style. I can't quite put my finger on the issue. I also found the book to be very predictable. ...more

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Jan 14, 2020 Kathleen rated it it was amazing

Glad I finally got to read book #1 of the Saga...

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Jul 15, 2019 Tiffany rated it really liked it

Loveable characters , good story line

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Apr 04, 2019 Brenda rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019

My first Joanne DeMaio book and I enjoyed it as much as I hoped I would. I am drawn to her beautiful book covers and can't wait to read more :) ...more

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Jun 11, 2013 Casee Marie rated it it was amazing

After her father’s death, Maris Carrington leaves her comfortable life in Chicago for the small Connecticut town where she grew up. The last of her family, with only an aunt living worlds away in Italy, Maris finds herself overwhelmed by the effects inherited from her father, including a plucky German Shepherd and an 8mm role of film that will change her life completely. The only appropriate place to sort through these new revelations is Stony Point, the quaint beach town where she spent her ado After her father’s death, Maris Carrington leaves her comfortable life in Chicago for the small Connecticut town where she grew up. The last of her family, with only an aunt living worlds away in Italy, Maris finds herself overwhelmed by the effects inherited from her father, including a plucky German Shepherd and an 8mm role of film that will change her life completely. The only appropriate place to sort through these new revelations is Stony Point, the quaint beach town where she spent her adolescent summers; the town full of close friends and fond memories that she left behind for the big city. Time has gone on for them all, but Stony Point remains the same: it remains the youthful dream world of Maris, Jason, Eva, Matt, Neil, Kyle, Lauren, Vinny, and Paige. As the circle of friends find themselves drawn back to the beach they realize just how much has changed between them. Maris is torn between her steady Chicago life with her steady Chicago boyfriend and the gentle magic of life in Stony Point with the one who got away, wounded architect Jason. Jason is fighting his own battle, particularly a war of demons waging within him over the death of his brother Neil. Kyle and Lauren have found their marriage on the rocks. Eva just wants to know life as anything other than an orphan, a void that even her family with Matt hasn’t filled. As they all come together at Stony Point, they’ll find in each other the strength to face their troubles and overcome their obstacles.

Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans has all the makings of a perfect summer read: the idyllic beach town, captured by beautiful descriptions; the cast of characters, each one endearing themselves to the reader; the poetic language of author Joanne DeMaio’s writing style; the truly surprising plot-twists woven throughout a fascinating story. It absolutely fits the bill, much like DeMaio’s first novel, the charming Whole Latte Life. But there’s something bigger about Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans; it feels as though the author has graduated to a different level by taking on tougher life challenges and a fuller cast. DeMaio has a particular knack for her themes – namely friendship, family, romance, and the beach; combined with her terrific storytelling ability and the certain literary glow of her writing style, the novel leaves a decidedly impressive mark on its reader.

As much as it struck me as being about a collection of deeply emotional themes, I also found it to be an interesting character study. Maris and her friends all have flaws, they’re all very human, and the exposure of their imperfections struck me as very brave. At times I felt Eva’s selfishness for not embracing the family she had, or I was exasperated with Lauren for pushing her husband away. If that were the extent of the characters’ presence it would be easy for a reader to feel irritated by them, but there’s a certain depth to them all that evokes the reader’s empathy instead. Maris, despite having plenty of things to deal with herself, is perhaps the strongest of the cast, and the most relatable; it makes her an ideal focal point amid the numerous other characters and their stories. On that subject, with a group this large and with small plot points woven between them, it would be easy for anything to go awry – the author or the reader could lose interest, and the story could falter – but I found the novel to be solid, with every element taking deep root.

A lot of things stood out to me, but especially the setting; DeMaio creates a dreamers’ Connecticut that had me wanting to take off for the coast to discover my own Stony Point. While it is the recipe for a wonderful summer read, it’s also not your average beachside book. Cozy and eloquent, Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans is a novel that truly feels like home.

(Review © Casee Marie, originally published on June 18, 2013 at LiteraryInklings.com. I received a copy of the book for the purpose of review.) ...more

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Jan 16, 2013 Susan (The Book Bag) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-read-in-2013

I read Joanne's first book, Whole Latte Life, when it came out and absolutely loved it. When I was contacted to see if I wanted to read her current one, Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans, I jumped at the chance.

Once again, Joanne has woven a wonderful story of friends, relationships, and second chances. When Maris has to go back to Stony Point to take care of things after her father passes away, she sticks around for awhile to settle the estate. She uncovers a family secret while going through some of I read Joanne's first book, Whole Latte Life, when it came out and absolutely loved it. When I was contacted to see if I wanted to read her current one, Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans, I jumped at the chance.

Once again, Joanne has woven a wonderful story of friends, relationships, and second chances. When Maris has to go back to Stony Point to take care of things after her father passes away, she sticks around for awhile to settle the estate. She uncovers a family secret while going through some of the things in the attic which really throws her for a loop and she digs until she finds some answers. While she is in Stony Point, the old group gets back together but it's really not the same. Being there makes her stop and think about what she has back home and to question if that is really what she wants or needs.

I loved the setting of this story, a wonderful beach community with good friends all around. Blue jeans and coffee beans takes on a significant meaning in the book but it also made me think of the setting; the blue of the water and the brown of the sand. What a wonderful combination - relaxing on the beach in your jeans while enjoying some great coffee. And in my case, it would also include a good book. So there you go, this book made for such a wonderful escape. It made me smile to read the quick reference to the coffee shop in town, Whole Latte Life, which was the coffee shop in Joanne's other book. I loved the connection.

Joanne has such a way with her writing, it is just beautiful. I marked several places as I was reading that were just amazing. Here is one section that really spoke to me ~~

Time moves like the sea. She always felt so. Living right at the beach, time is placid and calm, soft waves of it rolling onto the shore of her days. One day follows the other, over and over, in a comfortable and reassuring was. No matter what she is doing, at any age, that awareness of the movement of the sea, and the waves of time, keeps her grounded.

But as volatile as the sea can be, so too is any hour, any moment. Washing ashore, overtaking her very self with its insistence, with its forward movement rushing by the force of time. Waves of the past have that way of pulling at her, leaving her gasping and struggling to get her bearings, to breathe evenly.

And another ~~

Is Stony Point the place they forever return to for comfort, or is it the source of all their troubles?

There are several other beautiful passage that I would love to quote here but it would give too much of the story away. And I can't do that. Just trust me when I say that this is such a wonderful story with great prose and characters you just come to fall in love with. And again, as in Whole Latte Life, Joanne includes creative people in her story so you get a lot of art and creative imagery, which appealed to my artistic side.

I highly recommend Joanne's books and consider her one of my favorite authors now. I am excited to see what she writes next!
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Jun 13, 2021 Sarah Bachert rated it it was amazing

Amazing read!! I can't wait to start on the next book!!! ...more

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Jan 16, 2013 Valerie Hartman rated it it was amazing

“Someone once told her that the sea air and salt water are cleansing. They cure what ails you.”

Maris Carrington first met Eva Lane on vacation at Stony Point Beach as a girl. Reconnecting each summer until graduation, the women remain good friends into their thirties. Maris returns home to Connecticut following her father’s death after twelve years away chasing a denim-designing career in Chicago. When on an impulse she decides to linger at the beach a few weeks and finalize her father’s estate, “Someone once told her that the sea air and salt water are cleansing. They cure what ails you.”

Maris Carrington first met Eva Lane on vacation at Stony Point Beach as a girl. Reconnecting each summer until graduation, the women remain good friends into their thirties. Maris returns home to Connecticut following her father’s death after twelve years away chasing a denim-designing career in Chicago. When on an impulse she decides to linger at the beach a few weeks and finalize her father’s estate, Eva is thrilled. Together Maris and Eva decide to gather old beach friends for a July 4th party. Then Maris plants flower seedlings at her rented beach cottage, needing time to reflect on more than her father’s death.

Eva married Matt Gallagher and stayed close to home as a pregnant wife at eighteen. Though happy as a wife, mother and realtor, she was adopted and obsessively searches for her birth family. Local cottage renovator and architect Jason Barlow lost his brother Neil and part of his leg in a horrific motorcycle accident six years ago. Kyle Bradford struggles to keep his marriage together and his family local after another layoff in the steel industry. Meanwhile, his wife Lauren longs for a lost lover and dreams of an easier life of painting seascapes on driftwood by the beach.

Told from the perspective of five characters, their stories wind through the regrets, memories, and distant hopes by the seaside of the Long Island sound. The novel, in keeping with its seaside setting, begins with a whirlwind of characters, present and past, and easing into a comfortable, soothing rhythm. Maris, Eva, Jason, Kyle and Lauren, though flawed, are highly relatable and complex people. Each faces either long-hidden family secrets or life-altering challenges.

In both novels, DeMaio excels with themes featuring loss and redemption, lasting connections and unconditional love. In Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans, her poignantly told story weaves the power our past holds with hopeful healing by the sea. It is a sensory story where simple images spark strong memories: looking out the window in a childhood home, a weathered rowboat moored on the beach, and the train whistling past a summer hangout.

Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans reconnects the beach and the past for old friends. In coming together they each find the solace and acceptance necessary to rebuild their lives, their relationships, their careers, and their connections to each other.

“This beach has a way of casting its spell right through the windows under the guise of sea and salt, the call of the gulls, the sound of the waves.”
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Aug 24, 2019 Quinn Nicole rated it liked it

3.5 stars. I was surprised by how much I liked this book. It’s a quick beach read and a fun story to follow. Even though it was easy to guess the ending, I still enjoyed the journey to get there.

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Jan 16, 2013 Laurel-Rain rated it it was amazing

Designer Maris Carrington has returned to Connecticut to close up her family home after her father's death. Immersed in the memories that intrude as she searches boxes and watches an old home movie, she is reluctant to go back home to Chicago. And even though her boyfriend, Scott, has proposed marriage, she hasn't accepted; and while she knows that her "real life" is on hold, the pull of memories, her old friends at Stony Point, and the seduction of the beach life seem more real to her as time g Designer Maris Carrington has returned to Connecticut to close up her family home after her father's death. Immersed in the memories that intrude as she searches boxes and watches an old home movie, she is reluctant to go back home to Chicago. And even though her boyfriend, Scott, has proposed marriage, she hasn't accepted; and while she knows that her "real life" is on hold, the pull of memories, her old friends at Stony Point, and the seduction of the beach life seem more real to her as time goes by.

Eva, her oldest friend, is someone to whom she feels a very close connection. The others, like Lauren, Kyle, and especially Jason Barlow, whose life has tragically taken its toll on him....their connection also tugs at her, and as she extends her time at the beach, she begins to believe that there is more than nostalgia that is gripping her.

Why do fleeting memories lull her away and threaten to change everything about her "life sketch"? What is the secret that seems to elude her, yet cannot be resolved? And while Maris is searching for more clues, Eva is also on her own quest. Adopted as a young child, she is now looking for her biological mother. Her search seemingly takes over her life, threatening her emotional well-being. How will the answers to these mysteries finally reveal themselves, and what ultimately astounding truths will change everything?

Each character in "Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans" brought something special to the canvas, showing us the challenges of real life and the connections between friends, against the backdrop of a beautiful setting that called out to me as I read. There is so much more I could say, but lest I spoil the read, I will conclude with thoughts from the book, as Maris reflects on her love of the sea:

"Time moves like the sea. She always felt so. Living right at the beach, time is placid and calm, soft waves of it rolling onto the shore of her days. One day follows the other, over and over, in a comfortable and reassuring way. No matter what she is doing, at any age, that awareness of the movement of the sea, and of waves of time, keeps her grounded."

A wonderfully captivating tale that kept me reading eagerly until the final page, this story of friendship, loss, secrets, and the regrets that can come with poor choices, is one that I won't soon forget. Five stars.
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Jan 22, 2013 Carol rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary

Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans by Joanne Demaio is another winner like her first book, The Whole Latte Life. Think about how wearing your favorite blue jeans makes you feel. When I put my favorite blue denim jacket it on it, I enjoy its softness and how soothing it feels. Places can be like that too. What places make you refreshed and comfortable? For Maris Carrington, it is a special beach on coastline of Connecticut, Stoney Point. She loves the ocean breezes and the sand that you can wriggle you Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans by Joanne Demaio is another winner like her first book, The Whole Latte Life. Think about how wearing your favorite blue jeans makes you feel. When I put my favorite blue denim jacket it on it, I enjoy its softness and how soothing it feels. Places can be like that too. What places make you refreshed and comfortable? For Maris Carrington, it is a special beach on coastline of Connecticut, Stoney Point. She loves the ocean breezes and the sand that you can wriggle your toes in. Memories of bonfires on the beach, dancing to favorite tunes from an old jukebox and old friends all pull her there.

Maris, a successful fashion designer has to return to her parents’ house after her dad’s death. She needs to get it ready to sell. Sorting through the items in the house starts to bring back so many family memories. Her fiancé, Scott is still in Chicago. She finds that Scott had tucked an engagement ring in with her traveling things. Yet, she puts the ring on and pulls it off so many times.

Maris finds something very troubling in the parent’s attic when she was cleaning it out. It doesn’t make sense to her and she is compelled to get more information on a secret that her family harbored. She it shocked and very troubled and even angry.

Does she really want to go back to their townhouse in Chicago and her demanding job? She meets with an old friend, Eva. Together they decide on having a get together of all her beach friends before she has to go back to Chicago.

Each of her beach friends is struggling with serious problems that won’t let them go. Their stories are revealed separately through their own eyes. There was a horrific motorcycle accident in the past. The details slowly are revealed. All her friends desperately need healing.

This is a terrific book that takes you to the beach and into a group of friends with tormented souls. You will really care about the characters. They will feel like people you know.

I highly recommend this book to everyone.

I received this book from the Digital Media Publicist for Blue Jeans With Coffee Beans but that in no way influenced my review, my thoughts and opinions are my own.

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About Joanne DeMaio

Joanne DeMaio

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Joanne DeMaio is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary fiction. She lives with her family in Connecticut and is currently at work on her next novel.

Joanne enjoys hearing from readers at Facebook.com/JoanneDeMaioAuthor. ...more