Scandalous in Huntington Beach (Love is a Beach Book 3) Heartfelt Contemporary Romance by Melody DeBlois Book Tour with Guest Post & Author Interview

 

Synopsis:

Bennett Browning has spent his life planning for success, but nothing prepares him for fatherhood—especially when he learns of his daughter’s existence only after his ex’s tragic passing. A politician on the rise, Bennett’s carefully curated life is thrown into chaos as he struggles to care for an infant he never knew existed.

 

Emma Kuan is no stranger to secrets, but discovering her late sister had a baby she kept hidden even from her is a devastating blow. Determined to step in, Emma offers to become her niece’s nanny, even if it means moving in with the enigmatic and ambitious Bennett.

 

As they navigate sleepless nights, unexpected chemistry, and the looming threat of political scandal, Bennett and Emma find themselves drawn together in ways neither anticipated. But when heartbreaking news about the baby forces them to make impossible choices, they’ll have to decide whether love can truly heal the wounds of the past—or if some secrets are too big to overcome.

 Book three in the Love is a Beach series but can be read as a standalone.

 Excerpt:

Heavy rain allowed Bennett’s anonymity as he kept his distance from the mourners beneath the tent at Rachel’s graveside service, his emotions a tight ball in his chest. When the service concluded, the mourners dispersed through the soaked cemetery, leaving him alone at the casket with a woman. Her resemblance to Rachel drew him. Was this the older sister he’d heard about? She was shivering, so he edged closer to share his umbrella.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” he said and, against his will, found himself intrigued by the face she directed at him—the faint, upward slant of her eyes, the slash of high cheekbones.

“Thank you for coming.”

He caught himself then. “I’m Bennett Browning.”

“I know,” she responded with quiet emphasis. “You’re the senate hopeful.”

“And you must be Emma?”

She raised her chin, luminous mahogany hair blowing back from her exotic features. “Emma Kuan. Rachel and I had different fathers.”

“Emma, like in the Jane Austen novel.”

“Right,” she said with a trace of sarcasm.

Had she detected his unease? Appalled, he dropped his stare to his wristwatch. “I’ve got an” “appointment with Child—”

“Child Protective Services,” she finished for him after he’d tactlessly dropped that bombshell. “The judge awarded you Rachel’s baby.”

“I didn’t know—before, I mean.” The words came out gruffer than he intended. “I didn’t know she was pregnant. She never said.” And he believed she had taken precautions.

“If it makes you feel any better, my sister didn’t tell me either.”

***

Bennett had that do-gooder thing going for him—she’d give him that. His kindness at her sister’s burial service wasn’t lost on her. She’d noticed, too, that he was handsome, but he seemed unaware of it. His dark hair went all curly in the rain, and his sultry brown eyes were at once sympathetic and then suddenly full of something she couldn’t quite name.

She respected him for all he’d done for LA’s troubled youth. He’d built a rec center, organized youth sports teams, and for a short time practiced law—working mostly pro bono. Before he became a senatorial nominee, he’d mentored small businesses. True, his accomplishments impressed her. Who wouldn’t be? But all this didn’t mean he welcomed becoming a single dad.

Then, unexpectedly, he pulled something from a shopping bag.

“Aww,” she couldn’t help but say at the sight of the snuggly teddy bear.

“I had a moment this morning and saw this in a shop window.” A helpless expression spread over his face. “Do you think Madelynn will like it?”

Emma’s chest felt as if it would burst. Still, she’d just composed herself when someone knocked at the door. A thick-figured woman introduced herself as Riley Morgan while trying to contain the squirming baby in her arms.”

Emma’s heart melted at the sight of her niece.

“Fingers that reminded Emma of her sister’s extended from the sleeves of a ruffly pink dress. Eyes, the same chocolate brown as her daddy’s, thickly lashed and alert, took in her new surroundings, her thumb in her mouth.”

***

“Bennett was having a hard time believing any of this was real. But it was, and his baby girl would depend on him for everything. He leaned against the chair and did what Emma told him. “Better?”

She nodded and handed over the wiggly Madelynn Grace. Bennett tried his hardest to hold on, afraid he’d drop her. With that in mind, he let Emma readjust his position with a nudge of his arms that had been too far apart and a lift of his right elbow to tilt her head a little. He intuitively lowered his face and sweet-talked the baby. In turn, she blew bubbles at him.

“I think she likes me.” He allowed her to poke him in the nose.

“Looks that way.”

His heart swelled. “I promise to give you the best life I can.”

When he glanced up, all smiles, he noted Emma’s quivering lower lip. Was she thinking of Rachel? Something in the hunch of her shoulders and lowered chin made him realize he knew so little about her.”

Trigger Warning: This novel explores themes of mental health and suicide.

Praise:

“If you enjoy romantic women’s fiction with solid, realistic characters and an emotional core, I highly recommend Scandalous in Huntington Beach. It’s a story that reminds us of the importance of love, family, and resilience.” – N.N. Light’s Book Heaven

“Scandalous in Huntington Beach is a tender story of finding hope in loss and building a future against the odds. It is a deeply moving, must-read romance.” – Gina Rae Mitchell

Author bio:

Melody DeBlois writes heartfelt romance that explores love, redemption, and second chances. Inspired by her love for the ocean and her time spent in picturesque coastal towns, she brings warmth and emotional depth to every story. When she’s not writing, Melody enjoys poetry, coffee, and the simple joys of life that make each day special.

 

Website: https://melodydeblois.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melodydebloisbooks/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melody.deblois/

Amazon:  https://tinyurl.com/scandaloushuntingtonbeach

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/221237484-scandalous-in-huntington-beach

 

Guest Post:

Those March Women: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy

The day I eased Louisa May Alcott’s book, Little Women from the shelf, little did I know, I’d entered a rite of passage. Transcendent and timeless, its pages spoke about love, friendship, and independence in a way that would lend itself to the stage and screen for generations to come.  

Altogether, I counted fourteen adaptations of Little Women. Plays, musicals, films, and a ballet launched the story anew to people all around the globe. Marian de Forest wrote the first production in October 1912. Like Alcott, de Forest excelled at being lightyears ahead of her time. As an accomplished playwright, she supported women’s role in the theater.

I knew none of this when I returned from school to find my mother watching George Cukor’s 1933 movie version on Channel 3’s Valley Playhouse. There, Katherine Hepburn, bigger than life, burst across the TV screen. She represented my Jo, full of moxie. The lines proved moral and sincere, but not hokey. I adored it. Later, I discovered the film had been created in the Depression era, and that like Jo, Hepburn became an icon for the independent women.

My elementary school classmates, having also read the book and seen the movie, became March women. My friend who wanted to run off to Paris to paint was Amy. Another who loved beautiful dresses claimed Meg’s role. Still another wanted to be the otherworldly Beth. I patterned myself after Jo, and that’s when I decided I wanted, more than anything, to be a writer. 

In 1994, Gillian Anderson’s Little Women made my favorite book come alive and imparted a delight and a comfort at a time when I was trying to make it as a writer. Winona Ryder’s interpretation of Jo presented the dreamer as well as the pirate. This adaption gave the picture of a writer’s struggle. I could easily identify with this Jo March. She hit home. Watching the interaction between the March girls was like being invited into the family with open arms. I didn’t want to leave.

 That’s why when asked if I planned to see Greta Gerwig’s 2019 film adaptation of the book, I said, “No.” I didn’t want it to tarnish the last version. But I changed my mind and went to the theater. I laughed, I cried, and thoroughly appreciated the performances by the all-star cast. This Jo, played by Saoirse Ronan, came across as spunky and self-reliant.

Afterward, it dawned on me that not only had the March girls evolved, but I had changed too with each new incarnation. The times we live in require us not to rewrite Little Women, but to see new facets to an ageless story. Needless to say, the March women have come a long way, baby. And I’ve traveled the road right there with them. That’s what makes them special, resilient, and keeps them forever young.  

Author Q & A

On writing:

How did you do research for your book?

I started by creating the characters. For instance, Bennett was a politician in book two, Undercover in Venice Beach, so for my current read, Scandalous in Huntington Beach, I read articles such as “The Day in the Life of Senator So-and-So.” I read books, a good one being Senator Marian Walsh’s book “Run.” 

Which was the hardest character to write? 

The sister who died, Rachel. I had written a couple rotten drafts when I sought out one of my author friends. I told her I couldn’t get a clear picture of Rachel. She suggested I sit down with pen and paper and listen to Rachel talk. I did that and it worked. 

In your book you make a reference to mental illness and suicide. How did you come up with this idea? 

It was during the talk I had with Rachel that I realized that she and the heroine, Emma, had spent part of their childhood living on the streets. I wrote a short backstory that showed how tough things had gotten for them. I also show Rachel’s father suffering from depression later in the book. 

Where do you get inspiration for your stories? 

The idea for my first book, That April in Santa Monica, came from a reality TV program I used to watch. Yogi Cameron was a young, good-looking former model who taught yoga and Ayurveda. I asked myself, what if he fell in love with a woman who was totally opposite of him? The plot thickened as I came up with scene after scene.  

There are many books out there with the Secret Baby trope. What makes yours different? 

I read many books with secret babies, and although I liked them, the babies didn’t have any personality. I wanted my girl to sparkle. That’s why I had to smile when a reviewer said, “Little Madelynn stole every scene.”

What advice would you give budding writers? 

Never give up. I started writing at 29 and didn’t get my first book published until I was 69. The difference between me and all of my writing buddies is they threw in the towel. I didn’t.

Your book is set in Huntington Beach. Have you ever been there?

No, I haven’t been there, but I researched the setting like crazy. For me, the more I research, the more my mind takes off with imagery and ideas for scenes. An example is the dog park. As I read about it, I started picturing a tiny fluff ball of a dog. When Rosie entered the picture, the story went from “You and me and baby makes three,” to “The dog makes four.” 

In your book you have a trigger warning. Why is that?

I learned about trigger warnings on Facebook of all places. Some authors were discussing how you had to have one if the material in your book could offend or “trigger” unhappy memories to the reader. Even though you don’t see Rachel committing suicide, I felt I should mention it. A few days before the book went to print, my publisher very graciously slipped the words “This novel explores aspects of mental health and suicide” across from page one. Now, I’ve noticed trigger warnings everywhere.

If you could put yourself as a character in your book, who would you be? 

I think Emma’s determination and gumption are admirable, but I wouldn’t have wanted her past. I had a really happy childhood.

Do you have another profession besides writing?

I worked in independent bookstores for years and closed down three of them due to the changing times. It was kind of like You’ve Got Mail. Only triple it. After I lost my first husband to cancer, I worked in a funeral home for ten years. It helped me to help others who were suffering from the loss of a loved one.

How long have you been writing?

Forty years.

Do you ever get writer’s block? What helps you overcome it?

Yes, I do. When I am forced to be away from my writing for long periods of time. For example: when I have to market a book, the process takes over until that’s all I’m doing. Getting back to my writing is tough. To conquer the problem, I have to persist and show up every morning.

What is your next project?

I’m polishing a Gothic paranormal I’ve been rewriting on and off for fifteen years. I don’t want to die without finishing this novel. I know I can’t make it perfect. Still, I love the story, love working on it, and I can’t take it with me. My second husband told me he believed it was the book I’d be remembered for. I want to finish it for him.

What genre do you write and why?

Mostly Women’s Fiction with Romantic Elements. 

What is the last great book you’ve read?

I just finished The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand, and I thought it was very clever. Before that, I read The Wedding People by Alison Espach. It made me laugh out loud. A couple months back, I read Gone With the Wind. Now that epic novel was great—Pulitzer Prize great. 

What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?

The best compliment I’ve had was from a reviewer about That April in Santa Monica. She said the book changed her for the better. I can’t think of any review I valued more than that. Isn’t it what every writer strives for? 

What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing your book? 

I’ve received an award, and that filled me with joy. The challenge of writing this book came when I lost my second husband, again to cancer—melanoma to be exact. My grief made it difficult to stay on track. I couldn’t think or even eat. As I said, it was a difficult time.

What was the road to publishing this book like? 

Scandalous in Huntington Beach was rejected twice by my editor. That’s after having two books accepted for publication. In my first attempt, I tried to be funny. A big mistake, although I think there are some really comical scenes in the final version. My second attempt turned out to be too political. The senior editor suggested that Bennett quit running for the senate in the beginning of the story. That meant another complete rewrite.

Which author inspired you to write?

Susan Wiggs. I’d gone to a conference and gave the details of my story to a guest speaker, who told me to scrap it, saying, “Time Travel doesn’t sell.” Later that night, Susan encouraged me to keep writing the manuscript. She had heard the speaker and thought she was wrong. Susan liked the idea for the book, and that made all the difference. Eventually, I turned the novel into a contemporary romance, and it sold as Undercover in Venice Beach. 

What is something you had to cut from your book that you wish you could have kept?

Honestly, all the cuts and changes that were made through the two years of rejection made Scandalous in Huntington Beach a hundred percent better. 

On rituals:

Do you snack while writing? Favorite snack?

I eat a sliced apple mid-afternoon at my desk.

 

Where do you write?

I write in my study surrounded by books, and I work at my regular desk and a treadmill desk. 

Do you write every day?

Yes, even on Christmas.

What is your writing schedule?

I write from 4 AM to 9 or 10AM.  I often write more in the afternoon.

Is there a specific ritualistic thing you do during your writing time?

Before I write each day, I pray. Writing, for me, is a sacred act.

In today’s tech savvy world, most writers use a computer or laptop. Have you ever written parts of your book on paper?

Sometimes, I write with pen and paper because of the flow it allows.

How do you balance your time?

Every day at 3 PM I go to the park and walk 10,000 steps. During the summer, I swim laps for a half hour in a swim-team sized pool. 

Fun stuff:

Favorite travel spot?

Sedona in Arizona and Depoe Bay in Oregon. 

What is something you've learned about yourself during the pandemic?

I could work more when I didn’t have distractions.

What TV series are you currently binge watching?

Nobody Wants This, and I’m enjoying it a lot.

What is your theme song? 

“The Climb” by Miley Cyrus. The words to this song reflect my journey to getting published. It’s an ageless and inspiring tune, especially the YouTube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG2zyeVRcbs 

What is your favorite thing to do for Valentine’s Day?

I dress up my house for the season. Red and white and pink are everywhere, along with romantic pictures—Vettriano’s painting called The Singing Butler, a photograph of a woman and man during World War II awaiting a train, and Charlie Chaplin in black and white, holding a little red heart to his heart.

What is a favorite Valentine’s Day tradition (or memory)?

I also dress in colors that show off the season. My wardrobe for these beautiful weeks in February are adorned with ruffles, hearts, and fun. An example: Tonight a board meeting will gather here at the house, and I’m wearing a sweatshirt that’s a vibrant pink with some well-placed, red-beaded hearts. Yesterday, my grandson gave me a lovely white-gold bracelet with a tiny heart for my birthday, which is tomorrow. 

What is the oldest item of clothing you own?

I have a jean skirt that I made in 1969. It’s composed of an old pair of jeans with a placket added to turn it into a skirt. I had sewed on many, many patches with sayings that were popular in the late sixties, such as The Age of Aquarius and God Save the Trees. I still wear the skirt when the occasion calls for it. 

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