South Beach (Book II, The Sheridan Series)

Angeline M.
Bishop
Genre: 
Contemporary

MULTI-CULTURAL:  Rich and vain Laila Sheridan has just broken up with her long-time boy-toy Malcolm, and decides to take a vacation at a ritzy resort for the ultra-rich with her two best friends from college. Marina is about to be married, and Sofia is embroiled in a bitter divorce from a husband who keeps dropping nasty surprises on her. These women are all over thirty; but they are pampered, spoiled, and think far too highly of themselves, especially Laila. The women hit Miami Beach, and proceed to carry on like spoiled rich teens on Spring Break. Malcolm misses the high life with Laila, and decides he wants her back. He heads down to a South Beach to press his case with her, where Laila and her friends have been partying long and publicly. When some of Laila’s antics hit the entertainment news, her brother Graham sends one of his magazine executives down to keep an eye on her. After Gray Ryley arrives, he warns Malcolm off, and proceeds to romance Laila himself.

"South Beach" has a decent plot line, but is populated with unlikable characters with few redeemable qualities. Laila is a vain, egotistical know-it-all, and it is very difficult for the reader to feel any empathy with her. She jumps into her divorcing friend’s business, causing Sofia even more heartache and humiliation. Laila gets her happy ending, but by the time it comes, the reader is thoroughly disgusted with her petty exploits and massive ego. The book is full of trite brand-name dropping and tries too hard to be hip and trendy.  This is an unpleasant story about useless, distasteful, wealthy people, and the immature antics of the rich and bored.

Faith Turner