Long and Short Reviews welcomes Joe Cosentino who is visiting with us today to celebrate the release of Cozzi Cove: Happy Endings, the fifth novel in the Cozzi Cove series. Post a comment about why you love the beach. The one that floats our boat the most will win a gift audiobook of Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back, the first Cozzi Cove novel, by Joe Cosentino, published by NineStar Press, performed by Chase Johnson.
Welcome back, Joe. You have written twenty-three novels in only five years (releasing through 2020). What’s the secret to being so prolific?
Insomnia.
As a college professor/department head, how do you have the time to write?
I write at night after my spouse has gone to bed. I have a beautiful cherry wood study with a fireplace, huge desk, bookcases, and window seat overlooking the woods. I never want to leave.
How long does it generally take you to write a book?
About three months working evenings and weekends.
What is your writing process?
Jumping up awake in the middle of the night, I jot notes on my nightstand with a new book idea. The next day I begin a biography for each character and eventually a plot summary. I write the first draft, then show the second draft to my spouse. After we argue, the third draft goes to the editor.
You currently work with three different publishers. How do you find the right publisher for each book?
I search for the best publisher for the style of each book or series. I publish a book myself when I think I’m the best one to do so.
Who is your favorite author? And why?
Armistead Maupin has an amazing flair for writing eccentric, loveable characters with engaging and realistic dialogue. I am honored when readers compare the Cozzi Cove series to the Tales of the City books. I also love Agatha Christie, and I drool like a buffoon when reviews compare my mysteries to hers.
In case any newbies to Cozzi Cove are with us, tell us a bit about the series.
Cozzi Cove is a magical place on the New Jersey Shore where nothing is what it seems, anything is possible, and romance is always in the sea air. Ex-football player Cal Cozzi owns a gay resort on a gorgeous cove. In each of the novels, Cal’s storyline moves forward, and we get four additional interwoven storylines about the tantalizing guests in the bungalows. The novels are Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back, Cozzi Cove: Moving Forward, Cozzi Cove: Stepping Out, Cozzi Cove: New Beginnings, and now Cozzi Cove: Happy Endings.
Is Cozzi Cove a real place?
Though a product of my overactive imagination, Cozzi Cove is based on a spot at the New Jersey Shore that I visited every summer as a kid. My aunt and uncle had a bungalow near the beach, bay, and a private cove that formed when soft rocks were worn away by the sun and salty water faster than the harder rocks surrounding them. This created a gorgeous bay of turquoise water shielded by large rocks in the distance and smaller rocks near the water’s edge.
What’s the story in book five?
Check out the exciting blurb below!
Which character did you have the most fun writing?
Taylor of course is hysterically funny with her Wall Street mentality. But the new houseboy (on the cover) was great fun to write since he’s a nudist who believes he was famous nudists in his past lives. His relationship with Cal’s new nanny, Alfred, has lots of surprises. Oh, Gilead the matchmaker made me laugh out loud when writing him. I love his outlook on love and life.
Which character was the hardest to write?
The other-worldly romance between Nyx and Hurt was a bit challenging since those two live in their own reality. Though it’s a terrific reality.
You also write gay mysteries, adult fairytales, and coming of age stories. How can readers find out about those?
I love hearing from readers! They can go to my web site for all the dirt on me and my books.
It’s summertime, the perfect season for another trip to Cozzi Cove: the magical place where nothing is what it seems and romance is always in the sea air. Welcome back to hunky Cal Cozzi’s seven guest bungalows on the New Jersey Shore. This summer Cal is visited by Kevin Donovan, a handsome man from his past who makes Cal a tempting offer to buy Cozzi Cove and provide financial security to Cal and Michael’s baby. Cal’s Wall Street sister, Taylor, has hopped aboard Kevin’s green wagon. However, Cal’s husband, Michael, and Taylor’s wife, Carla, aren’t convinced, sensing something much deeper in Kevin’s offer than meets the roving eye. Cal’s exhibitionist new houseboy, Carlos, is smitten with Cal’s sweet-faced nanny, Alfred, who carries a shocking secret in his magic Mormon underwear. Middle-aged matchmaker Gilead has matched guests Marine Master Sergeant Matt Pummel and much younger businessman Keone Paoa to the chagrin of cute young lawyer Luis Lui. As skeletons come out of their closets, the bears and cubs search for their true honey. Woodsy guest Nyx Oberon meets a sexy werewolf at the cove and they share a howling moonlit night. Nyx believes his newfound lover could be part of a much larger plan that would change his life and the world forever. Will Cal, his family, and his guests have happy endings? It’s Cozzi Cove after all.
Praise for the COZZI COVE series:
“I loved this story. It carries you through the full range of emotions, from joy to sadness, from happiness to anger. The characters are beautifully written…I look forward to a return visit to the Cove.” TBR Pile Book of the Month
“In true Joe Cosentino style, this book is packed full of drama! This cast of characters will have you laughing out loud one minute before ripping your heart out the next.” Joyfully Jay Reviews
“Who knew that 7 bungalows set surrounding a beautiful cove, could hold so many secrets, love and intrigue?…The humour, whether subtle or not-so-subtle was superb, the timing delivered with perfection, Joe Cosentino is a natural comedian and another reason why I love reading his books. He is also very clever, he weaved moral messages throughout the entire storyline….Great fun entwined with the Cosentino romantic magic that brings his books alive, I loved it.” Three Books Over the Rainbow
“Spending a week in the sun with the permanent and transitory residents of Cozzi Cove makes for a superb, unputdownable, read. There are laugh out loud moments, lots of chuckles, some very heartwarming as well as heart wrenching moments, lots of gorgeous men and women, love, lust and even some tears. Joe Cosentino has a brilliantly unique sense of humour, and a masterful way of writing stories containing farce, larger than life men and women, and often over the top characters you’ll fall in love with. For all that his characters come across as completely relatable and realistic. His books are one of a kind and utterly addictive. I have yet to read a Joe Cosentino book that was less than 5 Stars, and this book is no exception. Do yourself a favour and grab this book with both hands. I guarantee you’ll be very glad you did.” Divine Magazine
Enjoy an Excerpt:
Cal placed the luggage on the floor next to the desk. “What do you do?”
“I’m a matchmaker.”
Cal couldn’t help smiling.
“What? Because my name isn’t Dolly or Yente?”
“What is your name?”
“Gilead Shadchan. I’m like the ‘Balm in Gilead,’ the salve to make everything all right.”
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Gilead sighed. “Nobody reads the Bible anymore, except the people who use it as a weapon to try to take away our rights.”
Cal found Gilead’s name on his computer. “Yes, you purchased four bungalows for the week.”
“They’re not all for me.” Gilead adjusted his tight powder-blue jumpsuit. “I’m not that large.” He chuckled.
There was something likeable about the guy. “Who are they for?”
“My clients. I’m the top-rated matchmaker in the gay community. Haven’t you heard of me?”
“Sorry.”
“Have you been to Commercial Street in Provincetown, Castro Street in San Francisco, Christopher Street in New York City, and Duval Street in Key West?”
“Yeah.”
“You notice the sea of gay couples holding hands as they walk down the streets?”
“Um hm.”
“I did that. And believe me I get a lot of wedding invitations from my clients. I can do the alley cat, tarantella, and Macarena in my sleep.” He sat on the desk. “I also match up guys on the down low and in the up high.”
“The up high?”
“The Vatican.” He said sotto voce, “The priests without altar boys.”
Cal couldn’t help laughing.
Gilead squinted at the tiny American flag on Cal’s shirt. “Interesting flag. Where’s the other colors of the rainbow?”
Though Cal was entertained by Gilead’s antics, he needed to get back to business. “Gilead, I have you in Bungalow Five and your guests in Bungalows Two, Three, and Four.”
He nodded. “Generally, the men I match go out to dinner to meet each other. But these guys bought my special package: a week’s vacation at a gay resort with the man of their dreams.”
“What if one of them isn’t happy with your selection for him?”
“Impossible. I have a ninety-five percent success rate in matchmaking.”
“And the other five percent?”
“They came out as straight.” He raised his eyes to his receding hairline. “For the moment.”
Cal said, “With all the hook-up web sites, I’m surprised a matchmaker still exits.”
“Those web sites are just that.” He said as if eating mud, “Places for hook-ups.” Smiling radiantly, he added, “I match people for life!”
“How do you do it?”
Gilead said with a flourish of his pudgy hand, “I meet with each applicant for three hours, where I ask him a series of questions. Then I type the data into my computer and the magic happens.”
“Hopefully the Republicans won’t work with Russia to hack in.”
Gilead paused, stared at Cal, and then burst out laughing. “I like an innkeeper with a sense of humor.” He crossed one leg over the over. “You looking for somebody?”
Cal smiled. “I’m happily married, thank you.”
“If anything changes.” Gilead handed Cal his card. “I guarantee satisfaction.”
“I don’t think I’ll be needing your services.”
“That’s what they all say.”
Cal couldn’t resist. “Are you single, Gilead?”
“As single as a Republican at a Green Peace rally.” He sighed. “To be honest, Cal, I’ve devoted my life to finding happiness for others. Now at forty-five, I’m ready for a bit of happiness myself.”
“You may find it. This is Cozzi Cove.”
About the Author: Bestselling author Joe Cosentino won Divine Magazine’s Readers Poll for Best LGBT Mystery Novel, Best LGBT Humorous Novel, and Best LGBT Contemporary Novel of the Year. He wrote the Cozzi Cove beach series: Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back (TBR Pile Book of the Month/Rainbow Award Honorable Mention), Cozzi Cove: Moving Forward, Cozzi Cove: Stepping Out, and Cozzi Cove: New Beginnings (NineStar Press); the Nicky and Noah mysteries: Drama Queen (Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Favorite), Drama Muscle (Rainbow Award Honorable Mention), Drama Cruise, Drama Luau, Drama Detective, Drama Fraternity; the Dreamspinner Press novellas: In My Heart/An Infatuation & A Shooting Star (Rainbow Award Honorable Mention), the Bobby and Paolo Holiday Stories: A Home for the Holidays and The Perfect Gift, The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland; and the Jana Lane mysteries: Paper Doll, Porcelain Doll, Satin Doll, China Doll, Rag Doll (The Wild Rose Press). He has appeared in principal acting roles in film, television, and theatre, opposite stars such as Bruce Willis, Rosie O’Donnell, Nathan Lane, Holland Taylor, and Jason Robards. Joe is currently Head of the Department/Professor at a college in upstate New York, and is happily married. Joe was voted 2nd Place Favorite LGBT Author of the Year in Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards! Upcoming novels and novellas are Drama Castle, Drama Dance, and Drama Faerie, Nicky and Noah mysteries; The First Noel, Bobby and Paolo Holiday Story Book 3 (Dreamspinner Press); and Holiday Tales from Fairyland, Tales from Fairyland Book 2.
Pre-order discount sale for Cozzi Cove: Happy Endings – ends on 8/1/18 release day! Buy the book at Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, or Kobo.
I love to go to the beach. There are people to watch and shells to find but the best is walking on the shore as the waves come in and the sand shifts and you realize it is alive.