Monday, June 30, 2014

Coming Soon: What's Done in the Dark by ReShonda Tate Billingsley

ReShonda is the national bestselling author of 30 books. Her sophomore novel, Let the Church Say Amen, has been made into a movie, directed by actress Regina King and produced by Queen Latifah’s Flava Unit Productions. The movie was released in spring 2014. (ReShonda, who served as a consultant, makes a cameo in the movie). Her entire Amen series, as well as the novel I Know I’ve Been Changed has been optioned by BET. ReShonda also makes her on-screen acting debut in the movie, which aired in 2013 as part of BET’s new original programming lineup. Several of her faith-based books have become a sought-after property in Hollywood.

A much sought-after public speaker, ReShonda recently won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literature for her book Say Amen, Again and was nominated again in 2013 for her book The Secret She Kept. She has won numerous awards for her journalism, fiction and poetry writing skills. She is a five-time winner of the National Association of Black Journalists Spirit in the Words competition. Considered one of the top Inspirational Fiction authors in the country, her books remain a staple on the Bestseller’s list and have been featured in USA Today and Ebony Magazine as Summer Sizzlers. She was recently inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.

On February 3, 2014, ReShonda Tate Billingsley along with National Best Selling author, Victoria Christopher Murray launched Brown Girls Publishing, their new boutique publishing company. Visit www.browngirlspublishing.com.

Reshonda’s current novel, What’s Done in the Dark, will be released July 16, 2014.





Felise is not the kind of woman to cheat on her husband—especially with her best friend’s man. But after one perfect storm of a night, it happened…and she can hardly believe it herself. To top it off, when she woke up in the morning, she found that the man to whom she guiltily made passionate love died of a heart attack overnight. Felise, who is a nurse and a good citizen at that, leaves the hotel room without reporting his death.

When her best friend, Paula, finds out about her husband’s sudden death a day later, Felise is overcome with guilt and grief. She must be there for her friend and her family, but when her husband repeatedly tries to apologize for his absentminded behavior and Paula starts investigating who Stephen was with the night he died, Felise finds it hard to hold herself together. Should she come clean and tell everyone what she did? Or should she just let it go and move past the mistake on her own?



What's Done in the Dark is available for pre-order from Amazon [Kindle / Paperback] and Barnes & Noble. Be sure to check out ReShonda's website to be kept updated on the novel's release!

Monday, June 23, 2014

Book Release: A Secret Worth Keeping 2 by LaKisha Johnson

LaKisha Johnson is a girl after God’s own heart; doing what she believes to be her purpose..writing. In addition to being a self-published author, she’s also a wife of 15 years, mother of 2 and native of Memphis, TN. She comes from a huge family and has always been the go to girl whenever someone needed a poem written or read, an acknowledgement that would convey just what they were thinking or even an occasion written for that special day. She’s an all-around talented lady that makes everything she touch turn to gold. She has 2 degrees from Southwest TN Community College both in Information Technology and has worked in the corporate field for over 15 years. She is also a dedicated blogger, delivering a devotional blog 5 days per week entitled “Kisha’s Daily Devotionals.”

LaKisha wants readers of her books to step outside the box and read with imagination. She wants them reeled in from the front cover to the last word, enjoying every second in between, asking for more. She doesn’t proclaim to be the best writer or even author in the world..she just proclaims to be blessed because her motto is “God’s purpose is bigger than any problem!”

You can visit her on her website, and at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.



These Damn Divas are back and the drama is unfolding. Shelby is in the midst of some major mess with her husband, Chloe is pregnant and confused, Kerri seems to be mending fences with her husband, Lyn doesn’t know what she wants, Ray wants happiness with Anthony but his wife has other plans and Cam that damn Cam; God only knows what she has in store. Will their marriages survive or will they even care? Will they place their secrets in a box to never open again or are the secrets worth all the hell they produce? Is it a lesson learned, lights out and game over or are these secrets just worthy enough to be kept? Find out …

You can order A Secret Worth Keeping 2 at Amazon!








EXCERPT

Chapter 2
Ray

By the time I walked in the house, Justin was again on my heels. “Ray, what the fuck was that? How long have you been sleeping with your boss?” he screamed.

“The same amount of time you’ve been sleeping with yours!” I countered.

He was stunned and couldn’t say a word. His eyes looked like a deer caught in headlights.

“What, uh, what the hell are you talking about, Ray?” He stuttered.

“Man, stop acting brand new. Oh, you thought I didn’t I know?” I smiled. “You didn’t think I would find out that you were having an affair with your boss, being fucked in the ass when you had a wife at home? Yea, I know. I’ve known boo!” I said walking over to the cabinet to get a glass for wine.

“How long have you known, Ray?” he asked almost whispering.

“Well, let’s see,” I said, facing him. “You’ve barely touched me in two years. You undress me and your dick doesn’t even get hard. I can walk past you naked and you don’t blink an eye. You—,”

“I get it! I get it, please stop,” he yelled.

“Why should I? Were you telling Travis to stop when he was banging his nuts against your ass? Were you telling him to stop so that you could be honest with your wife? Were you telling him to stop when you thought about how this would affect our children?”

“Ray, please! I’m sorry,” he cried. “I didn’t mean for this to happen, but you have no right to get in my ass when you’ve been cheating too.”

“Yea, you got that right, you are most definitely sorry! How could you not mean for this to happen? You had to bend over to take it, so how could you not? Boy, please, save that shit for someone who cares. You got one week to tell the kids and find somewhere to stay because I’ve already started the divorce.” I grabbed my keys to walk out. “And by the way, I’m not getting in your ass because apparently I’m not your type.”






Saturday, June 21, 2014

Celebrate the Summer with Two New June Releases from Stacy-Deanne!

Stacy-Deanne is dropping two releases this month, and she's offering tasty excerpts to whet your appetite and to buy, buy, buy!

Chasing the Devil (Book #2 in the Devil Series) coming from Amira Press June 20

Tate Valley, California Detectives Alexis Adams and her partner Penelope Dao embark on the most bizarre murder case of their careers when rich boy Donovan McCoy is shot to death while trying to rape 18 year-old Rose Malone on the beach just blocks away from Alexis’ home.

The investigation quickly spirals out of control when Donovan’s father Benson vows to take matters into his own hands if Alexis and Penelope don’t deliver results. Soon the detectives find themselves in a web of confusion and lies, and they wonder if they’ll ever get to the truth.

Meanwhile, Kevin and Alexis’ relationship turns hotter and heavier, yet the closer they get, trust continues to be an issue. Kevin wants to give Alexis the world, but she has to trust him enough to give him her heart in return.

Kevin promises to stand by Alexis’ side with her plan to expose Grant Copeland. But, chasing the devil could be hazardous to her health.


EXCERPT

Alexis walked down the dark halls of Copeland Enterprises later that night. She turned the corner, smiled at the maintenance man, and stopped at the parted door of Kevin Reed’s office.

There were no words for how crazy he made her lately. She’d be on a murder case, questioning a witness, yet all she could think about was being in his arms.

She closed her eyes and imagined smelling his cologne and getting lost in his captivating kisses.

They’d only made love six times and just when she thought she couldn’t come harder the next time or that she couldn’t get any wetter, her body proved her wrong.

Mmm.

She grabbed her breast.

She’d had desire for men before, but none satisfied that emotional and physical ache the way Kevin did. She’d never experienced this type of need or hunger for a man before.

She let go of her tingling breast.

Maybe Penelope was right. Maybe Kevin Reed was her soul mate.

“You just gonna stand there all night?” Kevin sat at his desk in another one of his famous designer shirts and ties. His shiny dark hair complimented the gray of his eyes.

His intoxicating cologne grabbed her from across the room.

Clive Christian 1872.

He loved that cologne and she loved it on him.

She could die in that scent.

“To what do I owe this pleasure?” He leaned back in the chair with his diamond watch catching the light.
She walked inside and closed the door. “I figured you were working late again.” She glanced around his office.

“Did you know I’m psychic?” His handsome face lit up. “I bet I can tell you what’s gonna happen in here.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. We’re gonna have the best…” He threw his pen down. “Sex you’ve ever had in your life.”

“Oh?” She tilted her head. “You think so?”

“Yep.” He stood. “First we’ll start on the desk, then we’ll end up against the wall.” He pointed to that empty space between the window and bookshelf. “And then we’ll end up on the floor.” He walked from behind the desk. “Tell me I’m not psychic.”

Alexis took her blazer off and laid it on one of the chairs in front of his desk. “Just because we can’t seem to be in the same room five minutes together without getting it on doesn’t mean the same thing’s gonna happen tonight.”

He leaned against the front of the desk with that devilish stare. “All I have to do is look at you and your clothes fall off.”

Oh.” She laughed. “So it’s like that?”

“Oh yeah, it’s like that.”

That mesmerizing tingle hit her between the legs.

Jesus.

“So why don’t you come over here?” He held out his arms. “Or do I have to chase you around this room?”

“I have to tell you something. It’s serious.”

Kevin put his arms down.

“Donovan McCoy, Benson’s son, was killed a few hours ago.”

What?”

“I just came from the McCoys’.” She walked around. “I don’t know what I hate about being a homicide detective more, finding someone dead or telling the loved ones.”

“What the hell happened?”

“It happened on the beach down from my place. Donovan tried to rape Rose Malone.”

“What?” He breathed into his palm. “That’s horrible. Rose is such a sweet girl. How old is she now?”

“Eighteen.”

Kevin grimaced and shook his head. “This might be fucked up to say, but Donovan was an asshole just like his dad is.”

“What do you mean?” She walked back over to him.

“He was one of those guys who thought because his parents were rich that he could treat people like shit. Benson’s the same way. He’s always thought his money made him invincible or better than everyone.”

“You mean like Grant?”

Kevin leaned to one side. “It’s horrible that Donovan would do something like that to someone as sweet as Rose. She didn’t deserve that.”

No one deserves to be raped.”

He clasped his hands. “So did she kill him in self-defense?”

“She says she didn’t kill him and all we have is her word for now.” Alexis took her hands out of her pockets. “You won’t believe what happened. As long as I’ve been a detective I’ve never heard shit like this.” She touched the side of her head. “While Donovan was trying to rape Rose, she said someone else shot him from down the beach.”

Kevin gaped.

“Donovan fell over and the person ran down the beach. “Now have you ever heard something that damn bizarre?”

“It’s obviously not random.” Kevin got off the desk. “I doubt someone was just strolling on the beach, came across Rose and Donovan, and shot him.”

“Penelope and I wondered if it was just some innocent bystander who saw Donovan trying to rape Rose, shot him, and ran off in fear.”

Kevin scrunched up his face. “I’d think a Good Samaritan would’ve stayed with Rose and told the cops the truth.”

“I agree.” She bit her lip. “This person knew Donovan or Rose, I just have that feeling.”

“So do you have any leads?”

She ran her fingers through her hair. “We found a shell casing for a thirty-eight, so I guess that’s the weapon we’re looking for.”

“I don’t suppose Rose had any idea who would do this?”

Alexis shook her head. “Poor thing was shaking out of her skin.”

“Aw.” He walked up to her and caressed her arms. “Sounds like you had a rough night, hmm?” He unbuttoned her blouse.

“Kevin.” She grinned. “What are you doing?”

“You know how it is when we get together.” He slipped her blouse off her shoulders and threw it to the floor. “We just can’t seem to keep our hands off of each other.” He sucked her neck.

Oh.” She melted when his warm tongue touched her skin. “This is crazy.” She shoved her fingers in his hair.

“Then be crazy, Lexi.” He unbuckled her belt. “Be crazy.”

She pulled him to the floor.



Entangled (Book #4 in the Bruised Series) coming from Sugar and Spice Press June 21
Book will also be available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance, and Bookstrand. Check out Stacy-Deanne's website to be kept abreast of purchase availability.

When local mystery author Grayson Paul’s ex-wife is murdered, Baltimore detectives Lisa Swanson and Dee Quarter are thrown into the most complicated case of their careers. When the officers first meet Grayson, Lisa is convinced he’s hiding something while Dee, who happens to be one of Grayson’s biggest fans, is immediately taken in by the older gentleman’s good looks and charm.

What starts off as innocent flirtation between Grayson and Dee turns into a steamy affair which leaves Dee torn between guilt for sleeping with a man she doesn’t love and her torturous infatuation for Detective Winston Lewis. Winston, who’s deeply in love with Lisa, refuses to accept Lisa’s decision to be with Jake Jenson. Meanwhile Jake’s jealousy of Winston becomes so out of hand that it threatens to destroy his relationship with Lisa forever.

Between forbidden attractions, self-destructive decisions, and determined suitors, Lisa and Dee manage to solve the case. Before it’s over they’ll both get a crucial lesson in life and love that they will never forget.



EXCERPT

“Ah, jeez.” Dee stopped and turned around when she saw Winston in the station workout room.

“Hey.” He finished the sit-up then jumped to his feet. “What’s your problem, Dee?” He yanked a towel off the shelf.

She faced him. “What are you talking about?”

He grabbed his water bottle from the mat. “Why did you turn around when you saw me?” He opened the bottle and sipped.

“It’s just that I didn’t expect to see you in here.”

“And why not?” Sweat ran down the tight, black tank that hugged his scrumptious pecks.

“Oh I don’t know.” She swung her hand. “I thought you’d be somewhere running after Lisa, like always.”

He scoffed. “And why are you mean? Well, I mean today?”

“Honestly?” She straightened the towel on her shoulder. “Because you’re the last person I wanna see right now.”

“And what did I do to you?” He dabbed his face.

“You exist.” She yanked the towel off her shoulder.

“You’re such a bitch.” He wiped his forehead. “You think you can just say whatever you want to people and that they don’t have any feelings.”

She put her hand in his face. “Did I give you any indication that I wanna hear your whining right now?”

He gaped.

“In case you’ve been living in a box somewhere, I’ve had the day from hell.” She stomped toward the exercise bike. “All day Connie-big-mouth Allison, and that fat ass Belinda have been snickering and laughing behind my back and I’ve had it.” She threw the towel on the floor and got on the bike. “I thought this was a police station and not high school.”

“So why take it out on me?”

“Because it’s because of you that they’re doing this.” She pedaled. “God, Winston, you’re a cop. You should be able to get a clue.”

“Hey, I haven’t exactly had the best day either.” He stood beside the bike. “As for Connie, I know exactly what you mean. Every time I turn around someone is giggling in my face and whispering.”

“And you brought it on yourself.” She pedaled faster. “I told you people were talking about you and Lisa but you took it as a big joke.” She gripped the handlebars. “What I can’t understand is why are they acting so weird with me?”

“Hey.” He laid his hand on hers.

She trembled from his touch but she sure as hell wouldn’t let him know it.

“We need to settle this,” he said. “What’s going on? If I did something to you please tell me what.”

She sighed and stopped pedaling. “You didn’t do anything. I apologize for taking my frustrations out on you.”

“But why are you so frustrated? Is there something I can do?”

You can throw me down on the mat and make love to me as if we’re the last two people on earth. That’s what you can do.

“No.” She slipped her hand from under his. “I’m fine.”

“Dee.” He put his finger under her chin and turned her face until their eyes met. “I’m your friend. You know that, right?”

Friend!

“Now I know we get into it with each other from time to time, but you know I care about you.” He stroked her ponytail. “You know if you need to talk about anything then I’m here.”

She got off the bike. “Winston. I have to…” She lost herself in his stare. “I have to tell you something.”

“What?” He moved closer.

“It’s…” She stared at his chest. “It’s hard to explain.”

“I’m here for you, Dee.” He took her hand. “Just tell me.”

“Oh…” Butterflies filled her stomach.

Don’t do it, Dee.

She stared at his lips. “I…”

Don’t you dare do it.

“Oh.” She exhaled.

“Dee?” He moved closer.

Friday, June 20, 2014

4 Latte Review of Lisa Y. Sparrow's HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW


Lisa Sparrow has never felt loved or wanted. Born into a family that she never quite fit into, her childhood was spent alternating between the foster care system and various mental health institutions. How could the very people charged to protect her make her feel so worthless?

From the agony of multiple miscarriages to the pain of never feeling love from anyone, Lisa Y. Sparrow reveals the most intimate of details of her life in the hopes that someone is freed from their own prison of mental illness.

You can purchase His Eye Is on the Sparrow at Amazon: Paperback | Ebook




4 out of 5 lattes


Lisa Y. Sparrow deserves much credit for 100% baring her soul in the pages of His Eye Is on the Sparrow as she walks you through her raw emotions of feeling unwanted and unloved from the very start of her life and the negativity that festered within her, developing along with her growth into adulthood.

The pain she felt is so clear on every page, and if you have ever felt just a modicum of what she reveals in the book, I will be honest: this will be painful to read. But as Sparrow said, this story was told so that others who have suffered like her would realize that they are not alone and that they, too, can overcome.

Aside from a few spots where the storytelling feels jumbled with the author jumping from idea to idea, often leaving me wanting to know more or wanting to know how she jumped from one idea to the next, I would recommend this book not only to readers who are interested in seeing Sparrow's journey of mental illness to help themselves, but also to readers who want to be made aware of mental illness and its effects so that they can help those they love.


I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Enter Author Julia Press Simmons' Kindle Fire Giveaway

One of my favorite people (and writers), Julia Press Simmons, is offering a special gift as her way of saying THANK YOU to her awesome readers.


As she told me, "Every now and again, I have a reader appreciation month on my fan page. This time I'd thought I'd do a sweepstakes. Powered by Movement Strategy Promotions, the sweepstakes is pretty simple, and there is no purchase necessary. You just click the link, fill out the form, and your name is entered in the drawing on the 30th."

So, if you're interested in winning a Kindle Fire, you know what to do.

You can head here to fill out the form to enter the sweepstakes.

Rules and regulations regarding the giveaway can be found here.

Good Luck!

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

4 Latte Review for Stacy-Deanne's CAPTIVATED

[Purchase CAPTIVATED from Amazon and Barnes and Noble!]

When she first lays eyes on Mya Riley’s slashed up body, Baltimore Detective Lisa Swanson is certain that the Sandman, a ruthless serial killer from her past has reemerged. Lisa dives headfirst into the case with her partner Dee, and lovesick Winston Lewis, a detective who grows more captivated with Lisa by the day.

The Sandman wreaks bloodthirsty havoc throughout the city, and this time he is determined to make Lisa his victim.

Armed with intense hatred for the Sandman and a stifling fear of who might end up dead next, Lisa struggles to solve the case by the book. But when the Sandman switches up his plan and goes after her lover Jake…Lisa ignores all the rules.



4 out of 5 lattes


Captivated, right out the gate, is a great story.

Stacy-Deanne delivers a fast-paced thriller with strong characters, intense plot, and wicked twists. I was engrossed with the story's dialogue and the friendship between main characters, Baltimore detectives Lisa Swanson and Dee Quarter, almost as much as I enjoyed the hum of romantic and suspenseful tension that thrummed throughout the story.

Another PLUS to this story? It's the second book in Stacy-Deanne's Bruised series; however, I never felt lost like I needed to read the first book to understand the second. Now, with that said, I'm already on board to head to book one and then check out books three and four. Check out Stacy-Deanne's website to learn more about them yourself!

If you're in need of a quick, engaging thriller that will probably have you dropping your jaw at least once, look no further.


I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Monday, June 16, 2014

4.5 Latte Review of S.D. Everington's BOY RED

[Purchase BOY RED from Musa Publishing and Amazon!]

Boy Red is a story about identity, about where you come from and where you belong.

The day after his sixteenth birthday, Red discovers that the man he calls ‘Dad’ is not his biological father. Will Red be able to track down the anonymous sperm donor who gave him life? What will he learn about himself along the way? And just what else are his parents hiding?



4.5 out of 5 lattes


First, let me say that I could not stop reading this book.

From beginning to end, I was engrossed with the story of our main character, Red. I found the story full of drama, love, angst, all of the things that would occupy the mind of a young teenage boy when the life he's led for sixteen years disintegrates right before his eyes.

I was a big fan of the minor characters and the other major characters in the story, too. Everington does a wonderful job in giving us enough development of all of the characters--from the way they talk, to how they talk, to how they think, to how they move.

At the core, however, is Red, and Everington developed a character that I quickly latched onto and cared about, and because I cared so much for him, I had to read this book in one sitting so I could see how his story fared.

I wasn't disappointed.

This is a great book not just for young adults but for adults as well.


I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

The Passion for Writing Series: Author Marissa Tejada

Marissa Tejada is the author of the chick-lit/women’s fiction novel, Chasing Athens which was recently released as part of the Terpsichore contemporary romance imprint from award-winning digital romance publisher, Musa Publishing. Marissa, an American expat, found herself inspired to write the romantic comedy as she lived abroad.

Born and raised in New York, Marissa now calls Athens, Greece home where she is a full-time freelance writer specializing in food and wine, technology and travel writing. She contributes to numerous publications including Fodor's Travel, Forbes Travel, Wine Enthusiast, Urban Travel Blog, IBM Midsize Insider- Reuters and more. She also enjoys blogging for her travel photography blog, my Greece, my travels.

As an award-winning journalist, Marissa has worked across the United States as a television reporter and anchor in Florida, Washington State and Upstate New York. She has also worked in newsrooms in Los Angeles and London and managed high tech PR in San Francisco. Marissa graduated cum laude from the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College in Upstate New York.

Her novel is set in Athens, Greece, the Greek Islands and Ithaca, New York, and follows Ava Martin, a heartbroken American expat, whose new husband unexpectedly ditches her after their move abroad. Instead of returning to the States, she makes an abrupt decision to stay. Despite pressure from her mother, uncertainty over her divorce, and issues with her long-estranged father, she’s determined to make it on her own. With her Greek friends, she laughs and learns while facing culture shock, language barriers and the charm of Mediterranean men, until a life-threatening emergency back home in sleepy Ithaca, N.Y., forces her to confront her disappointing past, and forces her to redefine the meaning of home.

You can learn more about Marissa at/on:




The Passion for Writing - From Marissa's Pen

Where does your passion for writing come from?
My passion for writing comes from this love I have to tell stories. I’ve done it one way or another throughout my decade plus career as a journalist and reporter. I’ve learned to tell those stories through various media including newspapers, television and magazines. Each way has its own craft but it starts with my love of meeting people and learning about them.

The process of writing my first novel was one of the best experiences I’ve had to tell a story. You create a whole new world along the way. However, passion for writing, for me, stems from the need to convey a message, a theme, and a feeling about something that others can learn from or relate to. I think that’s what makes women’s fiction so amazing and why I have a passion for it!


If your passion for writing was a color, what color would it be and why?
Red and yellow. These are my two favorite colors and I think they represent my passion for writing because sometimes I feel incredibly excited and fueled about getting my thoughts out. Other times, I am calm and mellow and can’t bear to think about what’s wrong or what’s next in my story.


How do you keep the passion burning in your relationship with storytelling?
I think the passion will always be there because as a writer you can’t help but be observant around you. As an expat and a journalist and travel writer there’s so much to discover all the time, so many notes to write down, and thoughts to convey. For me, my outlet of expression is writing. So as long as I am out there writing, working, traveling and basically living and breathing I believe that passion for storytelling will remain strong.


Buy your copy of Chasing Athens today from one of the following locations: Amazon, BN, and Musa Publishing!


Excerpt from Chasing Athens

Within a minute, I found myself face-to-face with the Greek police. I raised an eyebrow noticing that they also happened to be three handsome twenty-something rookies, each sporting the typical young Greek masculine look: short, dark brown hair, and scruffy, day-old facial hair. Dressed alike in crisp, navy blue uniforms and black combat boots, they stood up at the sight of us. Two had stopped swinging their koumbolois, a string of rosary- like beads that Greek men carry around, oftentimes clicking and petting out of habit. The third police officer put down his iced coffee, which Greeks called a frappe.

The officers eyed me up and down as the ticket officer caught them up on the story of my transgressions. I yearned to catch some meaning, but the Greek sounded like Greek to me and too fast.

“Mr. Panos say you left your wallet at home,” one officer said in perfectly clear English. Finally, there was someone who spoke my language well. Perhaps, there was hope. “You walk in Greece with no diavatirio.” He cleared his throat before he corrected himself. “Passport?”

“All of my ID cards were in my wallet and I was in a rush,” I said, wide- eyed. “Besides, I’ve been living here for seven months now.”

He looked unimpressed. “Name?”

“Ava Martin.”

“Age?”

“Um, thirty.” I bit my lip wondering why that mattered.

“Really?” He narrowed his eyes at me. In my rush out the door, I threw on a pair of baggy jeans, a green T-shirt, and my blue Converse. I looked like a college student; adults my age usually dressed to impress. But I hadn’t been feeling very adult lately, to be honest. It was clear that this officer thought I was a complete liar. My hopes sank.

“Thirty, yes,” I confirmed.

The officer glanced at his two co-workers who gave him a look I didn’t understand. He composed himself to return his attention to me.

“Married?” he asked quite professionally.

Silly question but it was a common inquiry even among Greek strangers, so why not from a police officer?

“Yes, my husband isn’t in Athens this week.” I resisted the urge to add something about the fact that Greg was never home lately. But I had enough sense to realize that airing my marriage’s dirty laundry probably wasn’t going to make the situation any better.

The officer lifted his dark brows with interest. “He is a Greek?” “No, we’re both American. I’m from New York and I’m here with Greg Brown, my husband.” The officer shot me a glance, his lips pressed flat. Did he not believe me?

Then it came to me. “Oh, I never changed my last name. He’s Brown and I’m Martin, but we’re together…together forever,” I heard myself say in a singsongy voice.

He looked at the bus officer then back at me, his face emotionless. I cupped my hands together in front of me. “He’s in Rome, I think.” My voice began to crack. Why did I have to say his name? Why did I have to talk about us? Maybe, I just gave up too much information. I talked too much sometimes. In any case, Greg and I had hardly talked, Skyped, Facebooked, Vibered, Whatsapped, or even e-mailed for the past two weeks. I wished he could’ve helped me but he wouldn’t have even answered his phone if I had called.

“How we know you say the truth?” The officer’s blunt question jolted me back to reality. “I promise,” I said, realizing that it sounded entirely lame. “I swear. I’m American, and lately, I’m behaving like a total moron.” As if promising and swearing to be an American moron could be a legitimate argument. I flinched. Gosh, I’d put me in jail.


Buy your copy of Chasing Athens today from one of the following locations: Amazon, BN, and Musa Publishing!

Wednesday, June 04, 2014

Front Page News: Brenda Janowitz and The Lonely Hearts Club






Brenda is the author of RECIPE FOR A HAPPY LIFE, JACK WITH A TWIST and SCOT ON THE ROCKS. Her fourth novel, THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB, was published by Polis Books on May 6th. Her work has also also appeared in the New York Post and Publisher’s Weekly. You can learn more about Brenda at her website and follow her on Twitter and Facebook.









Jo Waldman lives life to her own soundtrack—working for her father by day while pursuing her music career in NYC’s downtown clubs at night. Music is her passion, along with her boyfriend, Jesse, who shares her dreams of making it big. Jo's old band, The Lonely Hearts Club, came thisclose to getting a huge recording contract, and she’s just biding her time, waiting for lightning to strike twice. The music business is tough, but so is Jo.

So when Jo's father fires her and Jesse breaks up with her, Jo doesn’t get upset—she just wants to rage. Dusting off her computer, and typing in the familiar address for the Lonely Hearts Club's old blog, Jo writes an entry, pouring her heart out about the shortcomings of love. Nobody visits the site anymore, so it's a safe place for Jo to vent. Except that the site sends a mass e-mail to the entire Lonely Hearts mailing list, notifying them that there's a fresh message on the site, so now everybody she's ever met knows that Jo has been brutally dumped. All Jo wants to do is hide under the covers, but to her surprise, supportive comments start flowing in—most from screen names she doesn't even recognize. Jo soon becomes an icon for all things “anti-love.”

There's only one problem: the web programmer helping Jo with her anti-love site is too damned cute! Jo's never been very good at depriving herself of anything, but if the budding relationship with her web programmer is exposed, she'll be revealed as a total fraud and risk losing all of the people who have grown to love and trust her. So is it time to start singing love songs, or time to pick up the guitar and return to the hard rock that almost got The Lonely Hearts signed in the first place? Jo's got some big decisions to make, and it looks like she's going to have to take one step closer to doing something she never thought she'd do--becoming a grownup.

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Also, check out the awesome "soundtrack" to The Lonely Hearts Club on Spotify! Click the image below.



The 5WH with Brenda Janowitz

WHO is Brenda Janowitz? Don't give us the typical author bio spiel. Give us something unique, different, something we might not know!
Ha! I love that. I’m so many different things to so many different people: I’m a wife, a mom, and a writer. I’m really just your typical working mom—trying to juggle the demands of a career with little ones and a relationship. (But I do get to run around in yoga pants a lot of the time, which my friends who work in offices don’t get to do.)

A little known fact about me: I’ve always wanted to be in a band. Lifelong dream. I’d love to be on a stage, belting my heart out, rocking a guitar. Too bad I have no musical talent at all. Seriously, none. Nada. Zilch.


WHEN did you know you wanted to make a living from writing?
I always wanted to be a writer. I became a lawyer to combine my love of writing with a profession, something that would always pay the bills.

I started writing in my (extremely limited) free time when I was a lawyer, thinking that the goal was just to see if I could write a full-length novel. But then, being the Type A person that I am, once I finished, I wanted to sell it. I got my first book deal, and the rest, as they say, is history!


WHAT are three things you cannot live without as a writer?
Coffee, my computer, and other books. Reading the work of other writers is as important to me as a writer than the actual writing.


WHERE does your inspiration for writing come from?
Anywhere and everywhere! Everything inspires me—a perfect summer day, traffic on the Long Island Expressway, overhearing a conversation on the checkout line at CVS. I think the better question would be: what doesn’t inspire me?!

I’ve always got tons of stories running through my head. It’s usually just a matter of writing them down, figuring which the best ones are. Figuring out which stories merit a whole book.


WHY did you choose to write THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB?
I came up with the idea after I finished my first novel. I love NYC’s downtown music scene, and I always wanted to be a part of it. BUT, as I mentioned before, I’ve got no musical talent. You know that expression: those who can’t do, teach? I guess for me, it would be: those who can’t do, write about it!


HOW does THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB add to the Brenda Janowitz's canon of books you've written thus far?
Hmmm, that’s a good one! I tend to write coming of age stories, so in that way, this one’s no different. I like exploring what’s holding us back, the things we can’t get over. Why our own worst enemy is sometimes ourselves.

I also loved the idea of writing a younger protagonist—Jo Waldman is just 22 years old—and I loved re-connecting with that part of my life. When everything is out there, ahead of you. When you have to figure out who you are, what you want to do.


Order your copy of The Lonely Hearts Club today - Kindle | Nook | Apple | Kobo Books