OCEANSIDE, a captivating fictional tale, draws inspiration from the devastating Florida condo disaster that occurred in Surfside in June 2021. This gripping thriller novel intricately features three narratives, spanning the entire 40-year existence of the building. Brimming with vivid details, heartfelt emotions, and romance, each story adds depth to the reader’s comprehension of the impending tragedy.
Jensen Beach, Florida – March 19, 2024 – Larry Terhaar has proven himself a master wordsmith with the release of his debut novel – OCEANSIDE. During the summer of 2021, when darkness engulfed the night, Lieutenant Dan Crawford and his team of firefighters embarked on a race against time. Their mission? To swiftly respond to the catastrophic collapse of the Oceanside Condominiums in Miami Beach, Florida, at 88th Street and Collins Avenue.
Readers take a leap back in time to 1979, when Jack Brooks, a real estate developer hailing from New York, takes a life-altering step by relocating to Florida. His success hinges on one crucial factor—the construction of a new condominium complex named Oceanside. Here, readers also meet Michelle and witness a romance unfold.
Fast forward to the winter of 2018, where readers encounter Hannah and Bob, who have become Snowbirds, escaping the cold and snow of Westchester County, NY, to bask in the sun and sand of Florida. Embracing their retirement, they venture into the alluring realm of Florida real estate and find their dream abode – a condominium that perfectly aligns with their criteria.
Coincidentally, it is situated on the very same 88th Street and Collins Avenue. Here, through Hannah and Bob, readers witness the struggles and infighting of the condo association. Finally, the story circles back to the present, where Dan Crawford and his team of courageous first responders find themselves grappling with an environmental catastrophe, striving heroically to save lives amidst this Florida condo disaster that could have been prevented, where nearly 100 people lost their precious lives.
Tragically, this story repeats itself as builders focus solely on profit, engineers and city inspectors miss the construction errors, and the condo association fails to maintain the structure in an effort to save money. Either way, it is always the innocent residents who must pay the price with their lives.
Larry Terhaar, a retired real estate developer from southern Florida, brings us his first novel, OCEANSIDE. He was uniquely qualified to write this book with his experience in building a condominium complex and serving on a high-rise condominium’s board of directors. His storytelling prowess shines as he unfolds a multi-layered tale filled with romance and captivating characters. Through this captivating journey, Terhaar reveals the underlying cause of the tragic Florida Condo Disaster.
Reader Testimonials always tell the story. This is what Dana, a Verified Reader, had to say, “5.0 out of 5 stars Recommend Reading. Oceanside is a fast read that immediately gets your attention with a behind-the-scenes perspective of an event that made headlines around the world. While this well-told story is fictional, one can believe the story most likely parallels events that actually occurred prior to this tragedy.”
About the Author:
Larry Terhaar grew up in Westport, CT, where he met Beth, his high school sweetheart. They were married in 1973 and just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. After a few different work experiences in his twenties, he started a new career as a home builder in his thirties. This business grew into real estate development; by 2005, he was building condominiums.
Beth and Larry had two boys in the 80s and raised them in Fairfield County, CT, primarily in Danbury and Newtown. Their sons are now married and have been blessed with two wonderful grandsons.
He retired from the building/development business in 2016 and purchased a beachfront condominium in Jensen Beach, FL. They are now “snowbirds,” spending their summers in Danbury, CT and winters in FL. In 2018, he was recruited to join the Board of Directors of the condominium association in Florida, where he has served for six years.
To quote Terhaar, “In 2021, when the Champlain Towers in Surfside, FL. collapsed, killing 98 people, I felt compelled to write about it. At first, when I started researching the tragedy, I thought I’d be writing a non-fiction account. But soon, my imagination took over, resulting in my first novel, OCEANSIDE.”
Available at bookstores and libraries everywhere. (ISBN# 979-8-9900362-0-8)
For complete information, visit: https://www.larryterhaar.com/book
Media Contact
Company Name: Larry Terhaar
Contact Person: Media Relations
Email: Send Email
City: Jensen Beach
State: FL
Country: United States
Website: www.larryterhaar.com/book
