Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Promo Post: Cozzi Cove: Happy Endings, the fifth Cozzi Cove novel by Joe Cosentino (Interview)



About The Book:


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.


Buy The Book:


http://mybook.to/CozziCove_HE



Welcome, Joe Cosentino. What led you to write a fifth novel in the series?

Joe: The readers! I received messages on Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, and via my web site begging me to write another Cozzi Cove novel. One reader wrote that she needs a Cozzi Cove fix now! They said they missed the quirky characters, mystery, drama, sweet romance, plot twists and turns, beautiful locations, and happily ever after endings. I missed them too!

Are you glad you did?

Joe: As my college students say, “Totally.” It was a true joy taking another trip to Cozzi Cove and revisiting with ex-professional football player Cal, his young husband Michael, Cal’s legend in her own mind sister Taylor, Taylor’s wife Carla from the restaurant in town, and bald and muscular tattooed Tommy from the bar. It was also great fun meeting the new guests this summer and telling their stories. As usual, their stories are rife with humor, secrets, and shocking surprises. And of course, lots of romance!

In case any newbies to Cozzi Cove are with us, tell us a bit about the series.

Joe: Cozzi Cove is a magical place on the New Jersey Shore where nothing is what it seems, and romance is always in the sea air. 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, and Cozzi Cove: New Beginnings, and now Cozzi Cove: Happy Endings.

Is Cozzi Cove a real place?

Joe: 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. Every summer my sister and I swam and made sandcastles at the beach, waded in the bay, played miniature golf, ate salt water taffy, and jumped up and down on trampolines until we (literally) saw green. The characters in Cozzi Cove get to do the same.

What’s the story in book five?

Joe: In Cozzi Cove: Happy Endings, hunky Cal Cozzi is thirty-four years old. He and his husband Michael enjoy sharing the cove with their one-year old son. When Cal worries about their financial future, Kevin Donovan, who Cal had a crush on in high school, appears at Cozzi Cove offering to buy the resort for a hefty fee. Of course, Cal’s top one-percenter sister, Taylor, is ready to rejoice. However, Michael does some investigating and finds out Kevin’s offer isn’t exactly what it seems. Cal hires a new houseboy and nanny and romantic sparks fly. Carlos is an exhibitionist who believes he is the reincarnation of Adam, the first man. Alfred has Mormon paraphernalia is his bureau. However, this is Cozzi Cove. Nothing is actually what meets the eye. A professional matchmaker, Gilead, checks in with his clients: Marine Master Sergeant Matt Pummel, young businessman from Hawaii Keone Paoa, and young writer Luis Lui. Two matches are made, but who ends up with whom will surprise you. Nyx believes he was abducted by aliens in the woods. When he meets Kurt, who believes he is a sexy werewolf, the two share many tantalizing moonlit nights leading to a shocking climax that could save the planet.

Will each couple have a HEA?

Joe: Of course! This is Cozzi Cove.
What is the moral of this story?

Joe: We all need to feel special, love, and be loved.

Why do you think the readers love the Cozzi Cove beach series so much?

Joe: Cozzi Cove is a magical place, where anything can happen.

Who was the most fun character to write in book five?

Joe: That’s like asking a parent the name of their favorite child. Though my parents would have no problem answering my sister the accountant, who has a “real job.”

You have a real job. You’re a college theatre professor.

Joe: The theatre part makes it not so real for my parents.

Before that you were an actor.

Joe: Yes, I acted in film, television, and theatre, working opposite stars like Bruce Willis, Nathan Lane, Rosie O’Donnell, Holland Taylor, and Jason Robards.

Do any of them read your books?

Joe: I sure hope so.

Do your family members and friends read your books?

Joe: Yes. My sister and niece are my biggest fans. Taylor is loosely based on my sister, and Carla is loosely based on my niece.

Who are you?

Joe: A mixture of Sean Guile, the MM romance novelist, in book one and Jonathan Harper, the vampire enthusiast, in book four. I want to play them in the television series.

Who do you see as Cal?

Joe: Matt Bomer. I see him as everything.

You didn’t answer my question about the character you had the most fun writing.

Joe: You noticed, huh? Okay, I love all the characters equally. 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?

Joe: 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.

Your books are quite cinematic.

Joe: I’ve written teleplay pilots and screenplays of them. Hear that, producers! Make me an offer!

Will there be more Cozzi Cove novels?

Joe: Never say never.

How can your readers contact you?

Joe: I love hearing from readers! They can contact me at: http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com
So grab your Speedos, suntan lotion, and shades and head back to Cozzi Cove. Cal Cozzi has a bungalow waiting just for you. I hope to see you there!



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

“Joe Cosentino has the amazing ability to combine heartwarming, feel good moments with droll, sometimes biting humor, along with insights into the frailties and peccadillos of being human….Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back is the very finest in literary fiction with a romance theme, yet it’s more than just that—it’s about human connections and empathy and finding a way out of the fear and inertia faced by so many. It’s also about courage and strength, about respect and coming to terms with all that life has to offer, and it’s about letting go. I loved this book and look forward to the next in the series. This is a highly recommended read, well-deserving of Five Stars.” GGR 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

“Oh, Cozzi Cove, you are fast becoming a favorite vacation destination with your action and excitement! Joe Cosentino once again wins his way into your heart and soul with this fun, flirtatious romance. Love, laughter and smoldering intimacy await all who dare to venture to the clear blue waters of the Cove.” 3 Chicks After Dark

“Imagine a beautiful getaway where the hot, sexy, and wealthy gay men go...it's a place where there's never a dull moment. Every page of this new title brings readers nothing but excitement, intrigue, and an intensity that will burn away the night's quiet. Most novels offer readers one journey in which readers travel upon, however, readers are brought not one but several journeys that will leave them breathless and hooked. As with all of Joe Cosentino's novels, humor comes in abundance and fits in perfectly with all of his stunning characters….Joe sweeps his readers into his characters’ lives by creating realistic characters with real issues. The book automatically captures your heart from page one and forever holds it. After reading the story, readers will be begging for the next grand adventure. Funny, heart melting, and swoon worthy, readers will finish reading this in one sitting. I loved reading this riveting tale, and I highly recommend it to readers everywhere.” Urban Book Reviews

“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

“There is plenty to feast upon within each sudsy storyline, including intrigue, deception, desire, romance, and sex….As the pages turn quickly and events unfold, the ensuing antics are irresistibly entertaining, but more importantly the characters are likeable and deserve our genuine interest and concern as some of their relationships are put to the test. Cozzi Cove: New Beginnings is clearly just that -- the beginning -- for Cal and Michael, and this highly engaging, enjoyable novel examines both their past and present history as proof that they were destined to be together.” Edge Media Network

“I adore this series so much. I adore it partly because of the setting, the writing, the romance, but also because each one of the guests at Cozzi Cove has a story beyond their face value….There is so much packed into this book's short 174 pages and I loved every single one of them!” Alpha Book Club


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 ForwardCozzi 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 CruiseDrama LuauDrama 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 GiftThe Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland; and the Jana Lane mysteries: Paper Doll, Porcelain Doll, Satin Doll, China DollRag 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 CastleDrama 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.


No comments:

Post a Comment