DREAMSPINNER PRESS IS
PUBLISHING A PAPERBACK ANTHOLOGY OF JOE COSENTINO’S TWO HIT E-BOOK NOVELLAS!
Purchase Links:
Release Date: March
21, 2016
Contemporary Romance
ISBN-13:
978-1634771030
Pages: 209
Cover Artists:
Christy Caughie & L.C. Chase
AN INFATUATION: With his ten-year high
school reunion approaching, Harold wonders whether Mario will be as muscular,
sexy, and tantalizing as he remembers. As a teenager, it was love at first
sight for Harold while tutoring football star Mario, until homophobia and
bullying drove Mario deep into the closet. Now they’re both married men. Mario,
a model, is miserable with his producer wife, while Harold, a teacher, is
perfectly content with his businessman husband, Stuart. When the two meet
again, will the old flame reignite, setting Harold’s comfortable life ablaze?
How can Harold be happy with Stuart when he is still infatuated with his
Adonis, his first love, Mario? Harold faces this seemingly impossible situation
with inimitable wit, tenderness, and humor as he attempts to reconcile the past
and the future.
story kept me turning the pages and I thoroughly enjoyed it from
start to finish.” “I love that Harold found what he was looking for in life and
in a partner and love that he has his HEA. Great read.” Up All Night, Sleep All
Day
Praise
for AN INFATUATION (Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Award for 2015: 2nd
Place Best MM Romance Novel, 1st Place Best Cover Design):
"The
author executed his storyline with a marvelous precision that would be the envy
of many authors. He draws the readers into the lives of his characters, they
become real and in turn, their emotions becomes yours." "If you can
only afford to buy one more book this year, buy this one.” Three Books Over the
Rainbow Reviews
"I
really loved this book and having an ending that made me laugh and cry at the
same time is testament to the brilliant writing." BooksLaidBareBoys
“I
think you will be left breathless with the reality and emotion behind An Infatuation.” Diverse Reader
“Don't
miss this one friends, it is a heartfelt story magical in the telling! Thanks
Joe for putting your heart on the page for us to savor!” Bike Book Reviews
“Author
Joe Cosentino brought just the right amount of humor, angst and honesty to make
this short but sweet coming of age story a success.” MM Good Book Reviews
“Joe Cosentino proves there’s more than one way
to a happy ending in An Infatuation, a story of first love and
heartbreak delivered in a fresh and funny voice.” The Novel Approach
“It’s unusual for me to get sucked
into a book in the first chapter but it grabbed me early and I read the whole
thing in one day”. Nautical
Star Books
“I recommend this book to anyone reminiscing
about that one that got away.” LoveBytes Reviews
“There were times I laughed and then there were
times I cried…unforgettable.” Multitaskingmomma Reviews
“Like an onion, Joe Cosentino's stories have layers. I would really recommend them. This is a Bittersweet novel, but it has laughs-a-plenty despite the sad and ugly lurking beneath the veneer. A truly fabulous read.” Boy Meets Boy Reviews
“The
story kept me turning the pages and I thoroughly enjoyed it from
start to finish.” “I love that Harold found what he was looking for in life and
in a partner and love that he has his HEA. Great read.” Up All Night, Sleep All
Day
“just
the right dose of humor, honesty, and of course, sweet romance” Readers’
Favorite
On the eve of the best night of his life, winning an Academy Award, Jonathan Bello thinks back to his one great love, David Star.
Flipping back the pages of time, Jonathan recalls his handsome, muscular, and charismatic college roommate. Since Jonathan was a freshman and David a senior in the Theatre Department, David took Jonathan under his wing and molded him, not only as an actor but as a lover. With every wonderful new adventure, David left his joyful mark on anyone with whom they came in contact, but Jonathan soon uncovered David’s dark past, leading to a shocking event. Undaunted, Jonathan celebrates the captivating man who will always hold a special place in his heart.
A Dreamspinner Press Bittersweet Dreams title: It's an unfortunate truth: love doesn't always conquer all. Regardless of its strength, sometimes fate intervenes, tragedy strikes, or forces conspire against it. These stories of romance do not offer a traditional happy ending, but the strong and enduring love will still touch your heart and maybe move you to tears.
Praise for A SHOOTING STAR:
“unbelievably
beautiful” “a masterpiece” Lovebytes Reviews
“heart-wrenchingly
beautiful, that no words I possess in my vocabulary would do it justice” “Again
Joe Cosentino drew me into his wonderful world of part fact/part
fiction/loosely based on his own experiences world – a world as a reader I love
to enter, time and time again.” Three Books over the Rainbow
“A Shooting Star could easily function as
a master class in how to write short fiction (or any fiction). Joe Cosentino
has provided a work that will leave you thinking and wanting to savor and
re-read it again and again.” GGR Reviews
"This
is a bittersweet love story, so don’t be surprised if you find tears running
down your face when a shining and burning star is extinguished too soon. But,
as Joe Cosentino proves time and time again, with his wonderful writing and
storytelling ability, love will prevail, and you will smile from ear to
ear." Kathy Mac Reviews
“For those readers looking for something a little bit
different - dare I say unique? For those readers who like to laugh. For those
readers who appreciate the nuances of people and the way each character is
different. For those readers who want to read a damn good story - check out
this author. I'm glad I did.” Boy Meets Boy Reviews
“Cosentino has another winning heartbreaker with A Shooting Star.” Prism Book Alliance.
“Yes,
it is a bittersweet story but it is one that still has hope and love.” Hearts
on Fire Reviews
“This story just blew
me away.” “If you like something different from time to time, a bittersweet
story, actors, college men, and a very sweet romance I highly recommend this.”
Cathy Brockman Romance/MM Good Book Reviews
“From the beginning I
was enthralled and couldn’t wait to finish the book.” Inked Rainbow Reads
“really grabs you and tugs at your emotions” “unique and
enjoyable.” Nautical Star Books
“a sophisticated, enthralling and suspenseful
tale with a gothic vibe and a multi-layered execution that will have you
sitting up and taking notice. This is polished prose at its best. Intelligent
writing, a thought-provoking plot and characters befitting the theater genre
make A Shooting Star one of my favorite reads this year.” Love’s Last Refuge Reviews
“a beautifully written story, full of life,
love, heartbreak, tragedy, and maybe most importantly, triumph.” Readers’
Favorite
A message from author Joe Cosentino
Dear Readers,I am incredibly touched by your many messages in praise of my two e-book novellas from Dreamspinner Press, AN INFATUATION and A SHOOTING STAR, including how reading them changed your lives. This is especially important to me since AN INFATUATION is loosely based on my years in high school and my ten-year high school reunion, and A SHOOTING STAR is loosely based on my time as a theatre major in college. Your support and enthusiasm helped AN INFATUATION win Favorite Book Cover and 2nd Place Favorite Romance Novel in Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Poll of 2015, and me win 2nd Place Favorite Author. Now your embracing of these two novellas has caused Dreamspinner Press to publish them together in a paperback under the title IN MY HEART, releasing March 21. I hope you will embrace the paperback anthology in the same way as you did the e-books. Thank you from--in my heart. Hugs.Joe Cosentino
About the Author
Amazon
Bestselling author Joe Cosentino wrote An Infatuation, A
Shooting Star, A Home for the
Holidays, The Naked Prince and Other
Tales from Fairyland (Dreamspinner Press), Drama Queen and Drama Muscle
Nicky and Noah mysteries (Lethe Press), Cozzi
Cove: Bouncing Back (NineStar Press), Paper
Doll (Whiskey Creek Press) and Porcelain
Doll (Wild Rose Press) Jana Lane mysteries, and The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (Eldridge Plays and Musicals). 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, Charles Keating, and Jason Robards. His one-act plays, Infatuation
and Neighbor, were performed in New York City. He wrote The Perils of
Pauline educational film (Prentice Hall Publishers). Joe is currently Head
of the Department/Professor at a college in upstate New York, and is happily
married. His upcoming releases are Satin
Doll & China Doll Jana Lane
mysteries (Wild Rose Press), Drama Cruise
Nicky and Noah mystery (Lethe Press), and Cozzi
Cove: Moving Forward (NineStar Press). Joe was voted 2nd Place
for Best MM Author of the Year in Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards for
2015.
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/JoeCosentinoauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeCosen
Amazon: Author.to/JoeCosentino
What I thought about A Shooting Star
When I started A Shooting Star, I almost didn't keep reading. It felt too 70's-ish and it deals with the world of theater. I wasn't sure that it was going to hold my interest for very long. But I stayed with it, mostly because the story wasn't very long, and I was curious about this new author I hadn't read before.
The book opens with Jonathan remembering his early days in college theater and his mentor and roommate, David Star. This novelette is mostly about David, and how he molded Jonathan's experiences as a young college student. David teaches him about watching people, and quite a bit about kindness, which was what really got my head into this story.
Jonathan falls hard for David, and David almost reciprocates, but in spite of the time they spend together, their sexual relationship doesn't quite develop the way Jonathan wants it to. The reasons why are gradually revealed and that was when the story really starts getting interesting.
There are some secondary characters that helped to support the story in Jonathan's friend Barry and a theater coach that had me smiling and shaking my head.
The ending was a bit of a shocker, and I liked that about this story too. So overall, although a little short, it was worth the read. I thought David Star a most interesting character.
ARC provided for review.
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