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Cozzi Cove #1
Bouncing Back
On Cozzi Cove at the New Jersey shore, handsome Cal Cozzi’s seven bungalows are open for summer and love.
Mario and Harold are brothers and college students who happen to look alike, but couldn’t be more Mario is searching for love, and Harold is searching for lust. Josh and Greg, a wealthy older couple, are matchmakers for their son, Christopher.
When it comes to Connor, the maid, packed with muscles and a roving sponge, anything can happen. Opposites attract as wild Tim with the secret past meets shy Mark, and porn star Chuck Caliber connects with Sean, a virgin romance novelist.
And what will happen when computer-game designer Arthur has a midnight sea rendezvous with a merman? Even married Cal faces an emotional upheaval when a gay bashing turns into something quite unexpected.
What secrets and passions lie in magical Cozzi Cove?
Mario and Harold are brothers and college students who happen to look alike, but couldn’t be more Mario is searching for love, and Harold is searching for lust. Josh and Greg, a wealthy older couple, are matchmakers for their son, Christopher.
When it comes to Connor, the maid, packed with muscles and a roving sponge, anything can happen. Opposites attract as wild Tim with the secret past meets shy Mark, and porn star Chuck Caliber connects with Sean, a virgin romance novelist.
And what will happen when computer-game designer Arthur has a midnight sea rendezvous with a merman? Even married Cal faces an emotional upheaval when a gay bashing turns into something quite unexpected.
What secrets and passions lie in magical Cozzi Cove?
213 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 21, 2016
4 people are currently reading
317 people want to read
About the author
Joe Cosentino
45 books192 followersJOE COSENTINO was voted Favorite MM Mystery, Humorous, and Contemporary Author of the Year by the readers of Divine Magazine for Drama Queen, the first Nicky and Noah mystery novel. He is also the author of the remaining Nicky and Noah mysteries: Drama Muscle, Drama Cruise, Drama Luau, Drama Detective, Drama Fraternity, Drama Castle, Drama Dance, Drama Faerie, Drama Runway, Drama Christmas, Drama Pan, Drama TV, Drama Oz, Drama Prince, Drama Merry, Drama Daddy, Drama King; the Player Piano Mysteries: The Player and The Player’s Encore; the Jana Lane Mysteries: Paper Doll, Porcelain Doll, Satin Doll, China Doll, Rag Doll; the Cozzi Cove series: Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back, Moving Forward, Stepping Out, New Beginnings, Happy Endings; the In My Heart Anthology: An Infatuation & A Shooting Star; the Tales from Fairyland Anthology: The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland and Holiday Tales from Fairyland; the Bobby and Paolo Holiday Stories Anthology: A Home for the Holidays, The Perfect Gift, The First Noel; and the Found At Last Anthology: Finding Giorgio and Finding Armando. His books have won numerous Book of the Month awards and Rainbow Award Honorable Mentions. As an actor, Joe appeared in principal roles in film, television, and theatre, opposite stars such as Bruce Willis, Rosie O’Donnell, Nathan Lane, Jason Robards, and Holland Taylor. He received his Master of Fine Arts degree from Goddard College, Master’s degree from SUNY New Paltz, and is currently a happily married emeritus college theatre professor residing in New York State.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 12, 2017
*** DNF @ 7% ***
I'm sure that there will be those out there that enjoy this book. Unfortunately, I am not one of them.
From what I could gather, Cozzi Cove is a contemporary AU (that's Alternative Universe for those of you out there that don't enjoy your Sterek fanfic like I do) romance novel set in an imaginary world where everyone is presumed gay until they come out as straight.
The author is clearly trying to play on all of the annoying/patronizing/ridiculous platitudes and assumptions that members of the LGBTQ community in the real world face today. Take this exchange for example:
"Greg took in a deep breath to clear his head. "We've been wondering. I guess now we know. Christopher is straight. Which is fine. We have straight friends."
"It's different when it's your own son." Josh unpacked their things, putting them away in the closet and bureau.
"How did this happen?" Greg followed him around the room.
Josh threw a hanger at his husband. "You played football with him in the backyard when he was a kid. And you bought him a GI Joe doll for Christmas."
I suppose moments like these were supposed to make me laugh or smile or at least think the author is clever and snarky, but I didn't. I also didn't chuckle any of the times that the characters did. I know it's difficult to write comedic books and characters, but it drives me absolutely batty when characters are supposedly cracking each other up and I'm fighting boredom.
The final nail in the coffin of this book, however, was being introduced to the seventh or eighth character in the span of as many pages, each of them given the same page time and importance. I've tried, but I am just not a fan of ensemble stories. I want to pour my time and energy and emotions into ONE main couple, not have it torn away from them every few pages to bore me with the story of a different couple I couldn't care less about.
So this one isn't for me and that's fine. Onwards and upwards!
I'm sure that there will be those out there that enjoy this book. Unfortunately, I am not one of them.
From what I could gather, Cozzi Cove is a contemporary AU (that's Alternative Universe for those of you out there that don't enjoy your Sterek fanfic like I do) romance novel set in an imaginary world where everyone is presumed gay until they come out as straight.
The author is clearly trying to play on all of the annoying/patronizing/ridiculous platitudes and assumptions that members of the LGBTQ community in the real world face today. Take this exchange for example:
"Greg took in a deep breath to clear his head. "We've been wondering. I guess now we know. Christopher is straight. Which is fine. We have straight friends."
"It's different when it's your own son." Josh unpacked their things, putting them away in the closet and bureau.
"How did this happen?" Greg followed him around the room.
Josh threw a hanger at his husband. "You played football with him in the backyard when he was a kid. And you bought him a GI Joe doll for Christmas."
I suppose moments like these were supposed to make me laugh or smile or at least think the author is clever and snarky, but I didn't. I also didn't chuckle any of the times that the characters did. I know it's difficult to write comedic books and characters, but it drives me absolutely batty when characters are supposedly cracking each other up and I'm fighting boredom.
The final nail in the coffin of this book, however, was being introduced to the seventh or eighth character in the span of as many pages, each of them given the same page time and importance. I've tried, but I am just not a fan of ensemble stories. I want to pour my time and energy and emotions into ONE main couple, not have it torn away from them every few pages to bore me with the story of a different couple I couldn't care less about.
So this one isn't for me and that's fine. Onwards and upwards!
February 8, 2017
Book – Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back (Cozzi Cove #1)
Author – Joe Cosentino
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages - 213
Movie Potential – ★★★★★
Ease of reading – very easy to read
Would I read it again – Yes!
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
Themes that may be triggers – cancer, child abuse, suicide, death, homophobia
~
“Cozzi Cove must be a magical place where opposites attract, people fall in love, and last wishes are granted.”
~
Cozzi Cove is that fantasy place where everything is kind of perfect, without being unbelievable. But, behind the scenes of his perfect location lie dark secrets, dark pasts and heavy burdens. The story is about how a group of eight men deal with the darker aspects of their lives finally being confronted.
Think the ultimate holiday romance, that doesn't have to end when the week is over. Though it might normally seem extreme to think that two men could fall in love with each other after only a week, the setting, description and chemistry between all couples really works in this story. Not one relationship seems ridiculous or rushed.
Potential couples are:
Cal and Lance – Cal, as the manager for Cozzi Cove, is pretty much the man who makes it all happen for everyone else. Cozzi Cove is his dream, with his husband Lance, until things begin to crumble as the story progresses. When new kid Michael comes into the picture, things begin to make sense again.
Tim and Mark – Tim is one of those tortured souls, who lives life to the full but keeps his past well guarded. Mark, on the other hand, is this beautiful, gentle soul, who has come to Cozzi Cove to make peace with his life. The two together are sweetness personified, despite their outlooks on life.
Sean and Chuck – Sean and Chuck are wildly different personalities. Sean, a writer stuck in a fantasy world, and Chuck a porn star looking to retire and settle down. Due to recognising each other for who they really are, the two hit it off and come to some uncomfortable conclusions about their own lives and futures.
Connor and Harold – Connor is the 'houseboy' employee of Cozzi Cove. Kind of a slut, he's happy to lay his hat wherever it might land. ;) Harold, as Mario's twin brother, is only too happy to take advantage of that, while causing a little havoc of his own.
Christopher and Mario – Christopher is the son of Greg and Josh, while Mario is at Cozzi Cove to spend more time with his brother, Harold, to mend old wounds. From their first awkward meeting, nothing goes right for these two and it borders between hilarious moments of weirdness and really uncomfortable misunderstandings.
Arthur and the Merman – Arthur is a lone-soul, with porphyria, who writes video game software and likes to be by himself. When he meets the mysterious “merman” at the cove, he suddenly realises that his life is more empty than he thought. And the same can be said for his merman.
Greg and Josh – These are the only established couple at Cozzi Cove. Already married, their bubbly attitudes are matched by their elitist personalities and they become a fun interlude for all the dark stuff that goes on behind the scenes. As an established couple, however, they don't really have a big slot in the story. That's for their son, Christopher.
To go into any more detail than that would ruin the story for you and I really don't want to do that. This is such a poignant tale that you really have to read it for yourself, to get the feeling of Cozzi Cove and the magic that it creates for its visitors.
For a story that is all about love and magic, it covers some very dark topics, as mentioned in my warning above. It also covers twin betrayal, inter-racial romance, may-december romance, outdoor sex, exhibitionism and a lot of pain. But, it's through that pain that the members of Cozzi Cove find their strength and, often, each other.
The only clear things I'll say about the plot are this:
I loved flirty, slutty Connor from the start. Cal was the sweet, tortured soul. Mark and Tim broke my heart. Michael was a ray of light. Harold is a shit-stirrer and revels in making Mario's life a misery.
The scene between Michael and Cal, after they met in the alley, was beautiful and poignant. I loved that Greg and Josh freaked the hell out at the thought of their son, Christopher, possibly being straight. Though, I'm disappointed to see that poor Julie was completely ignored for most of the story.
The only negatives are that the formatting issues were minimal until the 5% mark, then they got messy for a while and again later in the book. This is an un-edited, un-formatted ARC so I absolutely don't mind or care about that, but I always mention it, just because it's in my copy. The only real problems were a few missing quotation marks and sentences being copped in half between two lines/paragraphs. Nothing really.
Oh, one other thing I didn't really like, that isn't formatting/grammar related. The sex. Sadly, for me, the sex wasn't really necessary, but it kept cropping up for each couple. It felt generic and second-rate to the fantastic writing of the rest of the story. I would have been happy to have it all behind closed doors, but it wasn't, so that is my issue. Most of the characters never talk about sex, all make presumptions on who is doing what to the point of putting in the position and actually getting on with it, before making sure it's okay. It just seems to happen, flawlessly, despite some characters being total virgins and there being no indication that sex was going to happen until it's actually happening.
~
Overall, this whole story was poignant and full of beautiful imagery. It's one crazy mix of characters, all weird and wonderful in their own way, but also carrying around these heavy burdens that they don't share until they meet someone at Cozzi Cove, who can coax them out of their hiding places.
Despite my misgivings about the sex, it's really such a minor part of the story that I couldn't penalise my rating because of it. It's a solid 5 stars for me. It made me laugh out loud, cry and want to snuggle up with someone I loved.
I couldn't have asked for more.
~
Favourite Quote:
““I never cared what you were. You'll always be in my heart.””
“Mark coughed some more. “Tim, I'm afraid.”
“Me too.” Tears rolled down Tim's cheeks.”
Author – Joe Cosentino
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages - 213
Movie Potential – ★★★★★
Ease of reading – very easy to read
Would I read it again – Yes!
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
Themes that may be triggers – cancer, child abuse, suicide, death, homophobia
~
“Cozzi Cove must be a magical place where opposites attract, people fall in love, and last wishes are granted.”
~
Cozzi Cove is that fantasy place where everything is kind of perfect, without being unbelievable. But, behind the scenes of his perfect location lie dark secrets, dark pasts and heavy burdens. The story is about how a group of eight men deal with the darker aspects of their lives finally being confronted.
Think the ultimate holiday romance, that doesn't have to end when the week is over. Though it might normally seem extreme to think that two men could fall in love with each other after only a week, the setting, description and chemistry between all couples really works in this story. Not one relationship seems ridiculous or rushed.
Potential couples are:
Cal and Lance – Cal, as the manager for Cozzi Cove, is pretty much the man who makes it all happen for everyone else. Cozzi Cove is his dream, with his husband Lance, until things begin to crumble as the story progresses. When new kid Michael comes into the picture, things begin to make sense again.
Tim and Mark – Tim is one of those tortured souls, who lives life to the full but keeps his past well guarded. Mark, on the other hand, is this beautiful, gentle soul, who has come to Cozzi Cove to make peace with his life. The two together are sweetness personified, despite their outlooks on life.
Sean and Chuck – Sean and Chuck are wildly different personalities. Sean, a writer stuck in a fantasy world, and Chuck a porn star looking to retire and settle down. Due to recognising each other for who they really are, the two hit it off and come to some uncomfortable conclusions about their own lives and futures.
Connor and Harold – Connor is the 'houseboy' employee of Cozzi Cove. Kind of a slut, he's happy to lay his hat wherever it might land. ;) Harold, as Mario's twin brother, is only too happy to take advantage of that, while causing a little havoc of his own.
Christopher and Mario – Christopher is the son of Greg and Josh, while Mario is at Cozzi Cove to spend more time with his brother, Harold, to mend old wounds. From their first awkward meeting, nothing goes right for these two and it borders between hilarious moments of weirdness and really uncomfortable misunderstandings.
Arthur and the Merman – Arthur is a lone-soul, with porphyria, who writes video game software and likes to be by himself. When he meets the mysterious “merman” at the cove, he suddenly realises that his life is more empty than he thought. And the same can be said for his merman.
Greg and Josh – These are the only established couple at Cozzi Cove. Already married, their bubbly attitudes are matched by their elitist personalities and they become a fun interlude for all the dark stuff that goes on behind the scenes. As an established couple, however, they don't really have a big slot in the story. That's for their son, Christopher.
To go into any more detail than that would ruin the story for you and I really don't want to do that. This is such a poignant tale that you really have to read it for yourself, to get the feeling of Cozzi Cove and the magic that it creates for its visitors.
For a story that is all about love and magic, it covers some very dark topics, as mentioned in my warning above. It also covers twin betrayal, inter-racial romance, may-december romance, outdoor sex, exhibitionism and a lot of pain. But, it's through that pain that the members of Cozzi Cove find their strength and, often, each other.
The only clear things I'll say about the plot are this:
I loved flirty, slutty Connor from the start. Cal was the sweet, tortured soul. Mark and Tim broke my heart. Michael was a ray of light. Harold is a shit-stirrer and revels in making Mario's life a misery.
The scene between Michael and Cal, after they met in the alley, was beautiful and poignant. I loved that Greg and Josh freaked the hell out at the thought of their son, Christopher, possibly being straight. Though, I'm disappointed to see that poor Julie was completely ignored for most of the story.
The only negatives are that the formatting issues were minimal until the 5% mark, then they got messy for a while and again later in the book. This is an un-edited, un-formatted ARC so I absolutely don't mind or care about that, but I always mention it, just because it's in my copy. The only real problems were a few missing quotation marks and sentences being copped in half between two lines/paragraphs. Nothing really.
Oh, one other thing I didn't really like, that isn't formatting/grammar related. The sex. Sadly, for me, the sex wasn't really necessary, but it kept cropping up for each couple. It felt generic and second-rate to the fantastic writing of the rest of the story. I would have been happy to have it all behind closed doors, but it wasn't, so that is my issue. Most of the characters never talk about sex, all make presumptions on who is doing what to the point of putting in the position and actually getting on with it, before making sure it's okay. It just seems to happen, flawlessly, despite some characters being total virgins and there being no indication that sex was going to happen until it's actually happening.
~
Overall, this whole story was poignant and full of beautiful imagery. It's one crazy mix of characters, all weird and wonderful in their own way, but also carrying around these heavy burdens that they don't share until they meet someone at Cozzi Cove, who can coax them out of their hiding places.
Despite my misgivings about the sex, it's really such a minor part of the story that I couldn't penalise my rating because of it. It's a solid 5 stars for me. It made me laugh out loud, cry and want to snuggle up with someone I loved.
I couldn't have asked for more.
~
Favourite Quote:
““I never cared what you were. You'll always be in my heart.””
“Mark coughed some more. “Tim, I'm afraid.”
“Me too.” Tears rolled down Tim's cheeks.”
March 10, 2017
Okay, wow... what a book. For the start of the series its certainly exciting and holds a major surprise in the story line. The story starts of being set in a resort called Cozzi Cove where its has a main bungalow and 7 bungalows that are rented out during the holiday season. Calvin and his sister inherited it from their great grandparents. This week the rooms are full of exciting guests as they relax and enjoy the beach. The guest's are a different bunch from, students, twins, a writer, an actor, even the accident prone gamer. The Cove is known for being place where people find piece and love and renewal and a little bit of mystery too. This book has a lot going on at the same time but it all works in the story as the author has beautifully written it. I can say if you are intending to read this want til the 30% mark and hold on to your chair cause the surprise will blow you away. I had to put my kindle down to absorb it all. I loved all of the characters and their stories, but one couple didn't turn out like I wanted it too, poor Tommy. A great book to read for your libraries.
April 6, 2016
I'm starting to wonder if Joe Cosentino is a literary chameleon. He's got comedy-murder romps down, and I'm currently really enjoying his bittersweet portrayal of teenage love in An Infatuation. In Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back, Joe has somehow managed to distil a soap-opera into a book. Really curious as to what he will do next!
September 15, 2016
2016 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Bouncing Back by Joe Cosentino
As a whole the story shines, but individual characters and their arcs sometimes border on cliche. The large cast of characters occasionally overwhelms, but the story is never dull and ends satisfyingly.
As a whole the story shines, but individual characters and their arcs sometimes border on cliche. The large cast of characters occasionally overwhelms, but the story is never dull and ends satisfyingly.
March 2, 2016
I loved this story! http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/reviews/...
March 12, 2018
Great Romance with a little bit of heartbreak (an audio review)
I loved the premise of this book – a group of seven cabins on the Jersey Shore, LGBT-friendly. This particular week, all seven cabins are filled with an eclectic group of gay men. The operation is overseen by Cal Cozzi, assisted by his able and horny assistant, college student Connor.
While listening, it was hard to keep track of all the new arrivals and I found it easier to write them down. If you can’t, though, no worries. At the end of the first chapter, Connor and Cal review all seven cabins and their inhabitants.
Eclectic is the perfect word for these men and as they form acquaintanceships, friendships, and even romantic relationships, I found depth in these characters.
There were over-the-top moments, such as when the married couple freak out because their son is bringing home Julie (who, for the record, disappears completely without another mention).
The four-way (not in the way you think) between the college students was cringe-worthy. Way over the top in the silliness and miscommunications. I get it – trust is an issue. It got to be a bit much.
Another thing that niggled was how Cal met Michael. Michael shouldn’t have been walking around less than an hour after the ‘incident’. I’m not saying every law enforcement procedure needs to be followed, but the lack of care in applying them was glaring.
Finally, the physical descriptions of the men. Sure, it’s fun to hear every piece of clothing they are wearing – colour and all. It was the physicality of the men. I didn’t count, but I think ‘pectoral’ was used at least 10 times in the first two chapters. I get it – most of the men are buff. I don’t need the constant repetition.
Okay, on to what I loved.
Cal. All is not as it seems, but his desire to create a safe space for his guests is admirable. For him, meeting the young Michael is a turning point, and I love the growth in his character.
The mysterious hunk and Sean the novelist. They both have significant insecurities and huge baggage, and yet they work through it.
I adored Arthur the clumsy trainwreck. Anyone who has stumbled – physically or emotionally – through life – can relate to him. His story was unusual, his happy ending uncertain, but wow, when it came? Blew me away.
Finally, there are Mark and Tim. I don’t want to ruin their story, but by the time Mark is introduced in the first chapter, it is clear what his destiny is. And I’m tearing up now as I write this, even more than a week after listening to it. Be prepared – it’s an emotional wallop and a reminder of the power of love when all else is lost.
Chase Johnson is an amazing narrator. There are more than thirteen male voices and he made each distinct. This was important because there were many, many changes in point-of-view. Without the visual of a page break, it was sometimes difficult to orient myself. The cute transitions when one person saw another and the POV shifted is something I haven’t seen very often.
I went back and forth between a 3 or an 4. 3 because of all the irritations which often pulled me out of the story. In the end, I settled for an 4. Between Mark & Tim’s tale and Cal & Michael’s, there was some great storytelling, and providing so many happy and satisfying endings must have been a challenge.
But I got what I had hoped for – a special romance.
I loved the premise of this book – a group of seven cabins on the Jersey Shore, LGBT-friendly. This particular week, all seven cabins are filled with an eclectic group of gay men. The operation is overseen by Cal Cozzi, assisted by his able and horny assistant, college student Connor.
While listening, it was hard to keep track of all the new arrivals and I found it easier to write them down. If you can’t, though, no worries. At the end of the first chapter, Connor and Cal review all seven cabins and their inhabitants.
Eclectic is the perfect word for these men and as they form acquaintanceships, friendships, and even romantic relationships, I found depth in these characters.
There were over-the-top moments, such as when the married couple freak out because their son is bringing home Julie (who, for the record, disappears completely without another mention).
The four-way (not in the way you think) between the college students was cringe-worthy. Way over the top in the silliness and miscommunications. I get it – trust is an issue. It got to be a bit much.
Another thing that niggled was how Cal met Michael. Michael shouldn’t have been walking around less than an hour after the ‘incident’. I’m not saying every law enforcement procedure needs to be followed, but the lack of care in applying them was glaring.
Finally, the physical descriptions of the men. Sure, it’s fun to hear every piece of clothing they are wearing – colour and all. It was the physicality of the men. I didn’t count, but I think ‘pectoral’ was used at least 10 times in the first two chapters. I get it – most of the men are buff. I don’t need the constant repetition.
Okay, on to what I loved.
Cal. All is not as it seems, but his desire to create a safe space for his guests is admirable. For him, meeting the young Michael is a turning point, and I love the growth in his character.
The mysterious hunk and Sean the novelist. They both have significant insecurities and huge baggage, and yet they work through it.
I adored Arthur the clumsy trainwreck. Anyone who has stumbled – physically or emotionally – through life – can relate to him. His story was unusual, his happy ending uncertain, but wow, when it came? Blew me away.
Finally, there are Mark and Tim. I don’t want to ruin their story, but by the time Mark is introduced in the first chapter, it is clear what his destiny is. And I’m tearing up now as I write this, even more than a week after listening to it. Be prepared – it’s an emotional wallop and a reminder of the power of love when all else is lost.
Chase Johnson is an amazing narrator. There are more than thirteen male voices and he made each distinct. This was important because there were many, many changes in point-of-view. Without the visual of a page break, it was sometimes difficult to orient myself. The cute transitions when one person saw another and the POV shifted is something I haven’t seen very often.
I went back and forth between a 3 or an 4. 3 because of all the irritations which often pulled me out of the story. In the end, I settled for an 4. Between Mark & Tim’s tale and Cal & Michael’s, there was some great storytelling, and providing so many happy and satisfying endings must have been a challenge.
But I got what I had hoped for – a special romance.
January 19, 2017
Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back, by Joe Cosentino entices the reader into a myriad of stories woven around seven holiday bungalows, owned by Cal Cozzi. This book tells the stories of the guests staying at the resort for the week. Cozzi Cove turns out to be the best gay friendly place to spend a quiet week!
There's a lot going on in this book, both characters and action, and at times it can be hard to keep up with where each story is, but trust me it's well worth it. This book is extremely well written and all the stories are equally compelling and cleverly crafted. There are moments when, just as you think you know what’s going on, the truth emerges and turns out to be something quite different. Each resident, including Cal and his friends, has their story told and new relationships are forged from old fears and past troubles.
Cal’s guests are an amusing and heart wrenching mixed bag of people, all of whom I found irresistible in their own way. They include a discouraged porn star who falls for a virgin author, twenty years his senior, and who suffers from OCD. That particular partnership leads to a hilarious gym scene! There are the identical twins who have issues with each other, particularly when twin Mario meets Chris who's holidaying with his gay dads. There is the heartbreaking story of a dying man, Mark, who finds comfort with Tim, who himself has a tragic past he can’t let go of. Then there is Arthur who has a condition which means he can only go out at night. In the darkness of the cove, he meets a 'merman' who is not all he seems and who shares a similar affliction among other things.
Even the 'maid' Connor has his story as he tries to bed anyone who'll have him, in particular Mario's twin, Harold. Cal himself is struggling to let go of the memory of his late husband, Lance, despite the obvious affection of local barkeeper and old school friend Tommy. As his story unfolds Cal helps a young man, Michael, to get back on his feet. Michael's brother has just committed suicide because he thinks being gay is wrong and Cal finds out Michael is also struggling to come to terms with his sexuality.
We are also introduced briefly to Cal's, often absent, sister who has a past with the local cafe owner Carla. So many wonderful, poignant and often funny stories are told here. There is tragedy and emotion in this book, and at times I wanted to cry or shout, but there is also a whole lot of love and plenty of humour. It's a real roller coaster of a ride that’s finished off perfectly as the guests spend their last day at Cozzi Cove then check out to move on with their lives.
To quote Cal, "Cozzi Cove has always been a place of love and rejuvenation..."
I'm hoping that ethos is continued in book two Cozzi Cove: Moving Forward!
****I would like to thank the author for the privilege and opportunity of reading this ARC. My review is an honest opinion of the book****
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There's a lot going on in this book, both characters and action, and at times it can be hard to keep up with where each story is, but trust me it's well worth it. This book is extremely well written and all the stories are equally compelling and cleverly crafted. There are moments when, just as you think you know what’s going on, the truth emerges and turns out to be something quite different. Each resident, including Cal and his friends, has their story told and new relationships are forged from old fears and past troubles.
Cal’s guests are an amusing and heart wrenching mixed bag of people, all of whom I found irresistible in their own way. They include a discouraged porn star who falls for a virgin author, twenty years his senior, and who suffers from OCD. That particular partnership leads to a hilarious gym scene! There are the identical twins who have issues with each other, particularly when twin Mario meets Chris who's holidaying with his gay dads. There is the heartbreaking story of a dying man, Mark, who finds comfort with Tim, who himself has a tragic past he can’t let go of. Then there is Arthur who has a condition which means he can only go out at night. In the darkness of the cove, he meets a 'merman' who is not all he seems and who shares a similar affliction among other things.
Even the 'maid' Connor has his story as he tries to bed anyone who'll have him, in particular Mario's twin, Harold. Cal himself is struggling to let go of the memory of his late husband, Lance, despite the obvious affection of local barkeeper and old school friend Tommy. As his story unfolds Cal helps a young man, Michael, to get back on his feet. Michael's brother has just committed suicide because he thinks being gay is wrong and Cal finds out Michael is also struggling to come to terms with his sexuality.
We are also introduced briefly to Cal's, often absent, sister who has a past with the local cafe owner Carla. So many wonderful, poignant and often funny stories are told here. There is tragedy and emotion in this book, and at times I wanted to cry or shout, but there is also a whole lot of love and plenty of humour. It's a real roller coaster of a ride that’s finished off perfectly as the guests spend their last day at Cozzi Cove then check out to move on with their lives.
To quote Cal, "Cozzi Cove has always been a place of love and rejuvenation..."
I'm hoping that ethos is continued in book two Cozzi Cove: Moving Forward!
****I would like to thank the author for the privilege and opportunity of reading this ARC. My review is an honest opinion of the book****
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April 18, 2016
"Greg took in a deep breath to clear his head. "We've been wondering. I guess now we know. Christopher is straight. Which is fine. We have straight friends."
"It's different when it's your own son." Josh unpacked their things, putting them away in the closet and bureau.
"How did this happen?" Greg followed him around the room.
Josh threw a hanger at his husband. "You played football with him in the backyard when he was a kid. And you bought him a GI Joe doll for Christmas."
Greg smiled in recollection. "The GI Joe doll was hot.""
This. This is why I love Joe Cosentino's words. This author has a unique writing style that falls within the boundaries of satire and parody. I think I've compared its essence before to the Carry On films, and as I read this story I was once again reminded of this comparison. The humour is full of double entendres and tongue in cheek wit. I can't help but grin my way through his novels.
But.
But.
Beneath the comings and goings and toings and froings and sex and arguments and innuendo are real issues. Coping with the death or illness or betrayal. Learning to love. Hoping. Yearning. Becoming different. Growing. Accepting.
Joe Cosentino writes a novel that could be taken at surface value. It could be read as a humorous story and totally enjoyed in that way. When I read his stories though I see more.
""This isn't Peter Pan," Josh replied, squeezing his husband's hand. "We don't need anyone to believe in us, except us.""
I see a truth not to be ignored. Experience and understanding. Whilst at first glance it easy to see the parody, the rest is there, squeezing its way in under the guise of humour, sex and innuendo. There is not another writer of which I can think of offhand who can have several couples all declaring love after knowing each other for a week without rolling my eyes. Joe Cosentino gets away with it though. Somehow it just fits - kinda like a puzzle I guess, all the parts slot together to make the whole, no matter how obscure they may appear individually.
Though I happen to have chosen two quotes from the same couple, this book is about Cal Cozzi and the holiday bungalows he owns in Cozzi Cove. It's about the guests and locals over a one week period - and if I took it apart and inspected each individual element I would be the first to say Nope, no Siree, this story will not work. And yet it does. This author is yet to disappoint me with his stories. I think he is a Marmite author, you'll either love or hate his writing style. For me it's love all the way.
A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.
Review previously on BMBR.
"It's different when it's your own son." Josh unpacked their things, putting them away in the closet and bureau.
"How did this happen?" Greg followed him around the room.
Josh threw a hanger at his husband. "You played football with him in the backyard when he was a kid. And you bought him a GI Joe doll for Christmas."
Greg smiled in recollection. "The GI Joe doll was hot.""
This. This is why I love Joe Cosentino's words. This author has a unique writing style that falls within the boundaries of satire and parody. I think I've compared its essence before to the Carry On films, and as I read this story I was once again reminded of this comparison. The humour is full of double entendres and tongue in cheek wit. I can't help but grin my way through his novels.
But.
But.
Beneath the comings and goings and toings and froings and sex and arguments and innuendo are real issues. Coping with the death or illness or betrayal. Learning to love. Hoping. Yearning. Becoming different. Growing. Accepting.
Joe Cosentino writes a novel that could be taken at surface value. It could be read as a humorous story and totally enjoyed in that way. When I read his stories though I see more.
""This isn't Peter Pan," Josh replied, squeezing his husband's hand. "We don't need anyone to believe in us, except us.""
I see a truth not to be ignored. Experience and understanding. Whilst at first glance it easy to see the parody, the rest is there, squeezing its way in under the guise of humour, sex and innuendo. There is not another writer of which I can think of offhand who can have several couples all declaring love after knowing each other for a week without rolling my eyes. Joe Cosentino gets away with it though. Somehow it just fits - kinda like a puzzle I guess, all the parts slot together to make the whole, no matter how obscure they may appear individually.
Though I happen to have chosen two quotes from the same couple, this book is about Cal Cozzi and the holiday bungalows he owns in Cozzi Cove. It's about the guests and locals over a one week period - and if I took it apart and inspected each individual element I would be the first to say Nope, no Siree, this story will not work. And yet it does. This author is yet to disappoint me with his stories. I think he is a Marmite author, you'll either love or hate his writing style. For me it's love all the way.
A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.
Review previously on BMBR.
April 28, 2016
Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back
Joe Cosentino
Cozzi was a fun read. It reminded me of a sitcom. Cozzi Cove is a vacation destination that is 7 bungalows. You get an insight into Cal's life, who runs the resort and all of the vacationers. There lighthearted funny times and some serious heartbreaking moments. Each guest, mostly couples, are dealing with different issues in their relationship and we are a like a fly on the wall watching inside each bungalow.
I felt particularly connected to Cal. There were some beautiful poignant moments with him. Cal is clever, sweet, funny and loyal.
"In those stories, Jesus love, ate with, and served everyone. He defended the downtrodden, and was a hero to the poor and the misfits. Using those stories to try to take away someone's humanity and civil rights is the sin, not being born gay."
Joe Cosentino hits all the feels in Bouncing Back, even though most of them are short lived since the story jumps from bungalow to bungalow. You won't sit and bawl but will definitely feel a stir in your heart region.
Cosentino's writing is well done and clever, if a bit dated at times. I enjoyed this story and all the characters involved. There are sex scenes but they are secondary and not the focus of the story.
Reviewed by Becky for Jo&IsaLoveBooks
http://joandisalovebooks.com/
http://joandisalovebooks.blogspot.co.uk/
Joe Cosentino
Cozzi was a fun read. It reminded me of a sitcom. Cozzi Cove is a vacation destination that is 7 bungalows. You get an insight into Cal's life, who runs the resort and all of the vacationers. There lighthearted funny times and some serious heartbreaking moments. Each guest, mostly couples, are dealing with different issues in their relationship and we are a like a fly on the wall watching inside each bungalow.
I felt particularly connected to Cal. There were some beautiful poignant moments with him. Cal is clever, sweet, funny and loyal.
"In those stories, Jesus love, ate with, and served everyone. He defended the downtrodden, and was a hero to the poor and the misfits. Using those stories to try to take away someone's humanity and civil rights is the sin, not being born gay."
Joe Cosentino hits all the feels in Bouncing Back, even though most of them are short lived since the story jumps from bungalow to bungalow. You won't sit and bawl but will definitely feel a stir in your heart region.
Cosentino's writing is well done and clever, if a bit dated at times. I enjoyed this story and all the characters involved. There are sex scenes but they are secondary and not the focus of the story.
Reviewed by Becky for Jo&IsaLoveBooks
http://joandisalovebooks.com/
http://joandisalovebooks.blogspot.co.uk/
February 14, 2018
Audio review Chase Johnson is new to me narrator, but I loved this performance. I loved all the different voices for each character and the emotion he brings forth.
Where do I even begin? Bouncing back is the story of a resort called Cozzi Cove, run by Cal Cozzi. It Is also about the guests for this summer's season as well. In one Cabin we have Mario( remember him from infatuation?) and his twin Harold. We have a wealthy Gay couple whose son is coming for a visit as well. We have an OCD writer, a porn star, A man on his deathbed, a young waiter on vacation and a reclusive middle-aged gamer and a mermaid. ( I will let you read and see if the Mermaid is real.) And we have some regulars as well. Cal's sister Taylor, Carla, who runs the seafood restaurant in town and Tommy that owns the bar. Quite a cast of characters. The story is like love boat on land. There is a lot of different things happening and each romance is either funny or serious or a bit sad. I will warn you there will be tears so grab some tissue.
I'm not going into detail about any coupling as that would be spoilers so I will let you grab a copy to see what all goes on. I will say each storyline is fabulous. Though this isn't a mystery, I sat on the edge of my chair wondering who was going to fall for who and if it was all going to be happy endings.
If you like a lot of angst, some humor, love, sadness,(be sure to have a couple of boxes of tissue handy and some hot sensual man-sex I highly, highly recommend this book. I loved all of the Joe Cosentino's books, but I think this is my favorite to date! I am ready for book 2!
Where do I even begin? Bouncing back is the story of a resort called Cozzi Cove, run by Cal Cozzi. It Is also about the guests for this summer's season as well. In one Cabin we have Mario( remember him from infatuation?) and his twin Harold. We have a wealthy Gay couple whose son is coming for a visit as well. We have an OCD writer, a porn star, A man on his deathbed, a young waiter on vacation and a reclusive middle-aged gamer and a mermaid. ( I will let you read and see if the Mermaid is real.) And we have some regulars as well. Cal's sister Taylor, Carla, who runs the seafood restaurant in town and Tommy that owns the bar. Quite a cast of characters. The story is like love boat on land. There is a lot of different things happening and each romance is either funny or serious or a bit sad. I will warn you there will be tears so grab some tissue.
I'm not going into detail about any coupling as that would be spoilers so I will let you grab a copy to see what all goes on. I will say each storyline is fabulous. Though this isn't a mystery, I sat on the edge of my chair wondering who was going to fall for who and if it was all going to be happy endings.
If you like a lot of angst, some humor, love, sadness,(be sure to have a couple of boxes of tissue handy and some hot sensual man-sex I highly, highly recommend this book. I loved all of the Joe Cosentino's books, but I think this is my favorite to date! I am ready for book 2!
March 22, 2016
Welcome to Cozzi Cove, New Jersey, a place where men fall in love. In true Joe Cosentino style, this book is packed full of drama! This cast of characters will have laughing out loud one minute before ripping your heart out the next. Unlike some previous stories written by this author, there are multiple main characters here, each with their own story to tell.
The story starts off with Cal and Lance greeting this week’s guests to Cozzi Cove’s seven rental cabins. Cal’s great-grandfather built eight cabins on the New Jersey cove and nowadays, Cal is the caretaker and is helped by Conner, his nephew. The guests include identical twin brothers Mario and Harold, who may look alike on the outside but are as opposite as can be on the inside; Tim, a young man who struggles with the aftermath of abuse; Sean Guile, a romance novelist who can’t write a sex scene to save his life; Chuck Caliber, who is vacationing under the pseudonym John Johnson to hide his real identity as a porn star; Greg and Josh, an older married couple and their son Christopher; Mark, who is dying of lymphoma; and a computer geek named Arthur who falls for a merman named Larry. There is one special guest – Michael – who Cal rescues and brings home with him.
Read Wendy’s review in its entirety here.
The story starts off with Cal and Lance greeting this week’s guests to Cozzi Cove’s seven rental cabins. Cal’s great-grandfather built eight cabins on the New Jersey cove and nowadays, Cal is the caretaker and is helped by Conner, his nephew. The guests include identical twin brothers Mario and Harold, who may look alike on the outside but are as opposite as can be on the inside; Tim, a young man who struggles with the aftermath of abuse; Sean Guile, a romance novelist who can’t write a sex scene to save his life; Chuck Caliber, who is vacationing under the pseudonym John Johnson to hide his real identity as a porn star; Greg and Josh, an older married couple and their son Christopher; Mark, who is dying of lymphoma; and a computer geek named Arthur who falls for a merman named Larry. There is one special guest – Michael – who Cal rescues and brings home with him.
Read Wendy’s review in its entirety here.
May 3, 2016
Joe Cosentino has a reputation among his readers as the best novelist. Every book of his that I have read thus far...is outstanding. Inside this particular novel, readers will meet a variety of characters that creates a soap opera intrigue, unlike any other novel read. This story will definitely keep readers guessing with every page. Only when readers reach the last page does everything become know. It's addictive. Cozzi Cove is a brand new series that will keep Joe Cosentino's readers on their toes and begging for more. I laughed, cried, and fell in love with this latest novel.
Readers can easily loose themselves within Cozzi Cove. Suspense, adventure, and an intensity that will drive readers with insane as well as keeping them hooked. The characters are well-developed. The romance is created to a perfection as always. I don't believe Joe Cosentino is capable of writing a bad novel. This novel just proves his raw beautiful talent for writing stories that will knock readers off their feet and deep into the plot. Cozzi Cove is full of characters, that comes, to life, and each has a personality so completely different from the others that it will indeed be very hard to put the book down once readers begin reading it. Overall, I highly recommend Cozzi Cove by Joe Cosentino to readers everywhere.
Readers can easily loose themselves within Cozzi Cove. Suspense, adventure, and an intensity that will drive readers with insane as well as keeping them hooked. The characters are well-developed. The romance is created to a perfection as always. I don't believe Joe Cosentino is capable of writing a bad novel. This novel just proves his raw beautiful talent for writing stories that will knock readers off their feet and deep into the plot. Cozzi Cove is full of characters, that comes, to life, and each has a personality so completely different from the others that it will indeed be very hard to put the book down once readers begin reading it. Overall, I highly recommend Cozzi Cove by Joe Cosentino to readers everywhere.
March 14, 2018
Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back was different than what I've read in this genre. Instead of following one static couple, this story revolves around several guests staying in beachside bungalows. The stories are all stand alone plot lines contained within Cozzi Cove.
I was wondering how Cosentino was going to manage to keep the stories from getting confusing or overlapping to the reader, but they're written very well and easy to follow. Cosentino isn't afraid to dish out some heavy topics and really go for the heartstrings when it comes to his character's backstories, and it adds a layer of depth to each character and their romances. The plot of each romance is different from one another, and Cosentino shines in his ability to throw in some unseen curveballs. If I didn't already know that the author writes mysteries I would have assumed as much with the twists and turns.
The dialogue between Chris's parents was definitely my favorite.
I recommend this book for fans of witty dialogue and "Love Boat" style romance with a dash of unconventional plot twists tossed in for good measure.
I was wondering how Cosentino was going to manage to keep the stories from getting confusing or overlapping to the reader, but they're written very well and easy to follow. Cosentino isn't afraid to dish out some heavy topics and really go for the heartstrings when it comes to his character's backstories, and it adds a layer of depth to each character and their romances. The plot of each romance is different from one another, and Cosentino shines in his ability to throw in some unseen curveballs. If I didn't already know that the author writes mysteries I would have assumed as much with the twists and turns.
The dialogue between Chris's parents was definitely my favorite.
I recommend this book for fans of witty dialogue and "Love Boat" style romance with a dash of unconventional plot twists tossed in for good measure.
March 22, 2016
Joe Cosentino has created a gay fantasy island on the Jersey shore. Every summer, gay men from all walks of life vacation in Cal Cozzi’s bungalows for fun, romance, and self-discovery. Cozzi Cove has a magical influence on all the guests, and even on Cal himself. This book is full of humor, pathos, intrigue, and fantasy. The intertwining storylines move along in a cinematic fashion, and keep things moving to a satisfying ending. I felt like I have had the vacation of our life on the beautiful beach that is Cozzi Cove.
August 30, 2016
This story made me laugh and cry.
Joe Cosentino spun a complex yet simple handful of romances that were fun and emotional. It is rare when an author can make me forget what time it is, but Joe did that for me with Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back.
If you like lush descriptions, delightful characterization, humor and emotion, you will love this book.
Joe Cosentino spun a complex yet simple handful of romances that were fun and emotional. It is rare when an author can make me forget what time it is, but Joe did that for me with Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back.
If you like lush descriptions, delightful characterization, humor and emotion, you will love this book.
October 7, 2016
Mr. Cosentino has done it again! He creates such fun characters that you NEED to find out where their lives will go. This felt like a gay Fantasy Island episode which is meant as a compliment! Set in a beautiful beach resort, I wanted to stay forever, but since it was a fast read, I'll have to wait impatiently for my copy of Book 2 to arrive! I can wait 3 days, right?
March 23, 2016
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE
3.5 Stars
It’s not often I finish a book and end up completely stumped as to what to say about it. This was the first time reading Joe Cosentino and also a first time for the type of story Cozzi Cove turned out to be.
First of all this story is fun. It’s also full of humour, bad one liners, insta love, crazy situations, memorable yet improbable characters and it all takes place in a kind of fantasy wonderland. Cozzi Cove, or at least the seven bungalow’s that Cal Cozzi owns, are a kind of gay man’s utopia where literally anything happens, no matter how unlikely, and all within your one weeks’ vacation.
It takes a little while to get into the rhythm of the story as it flips through the various characters from each bungalow. For such a small resort there are a lot of characters and they have big personalities alongside their everyday problems, some of which are quite serious. To list a few – there are porn stars, merman and ghosts. There are two men who are on the verge of a nervous breakdown believing their son is straight. There is the owner whose love life is not all it seems. There is death and there is grief. There is undying love after only 2 days. There are men with blue beards and there is so much more. There is mainly humour alongside a few tender moments but everything happens at break neck speed, so much so that if you blink you will miss it.
Most of the characters are likeable, a few of them aren’t but the stories are so combined and constantly evolving that you don’t get much time to dislike anyone before you are moving along – again and again and again.
This story was a trip and ended up being a lot of fun.
3.5 Stars
It’s not often I finish a book and end up completely stumped as to what to say about it. This was the first time reading Joe Cosentino and also a first time for the type of story Cozzi Cove turned out to be.
First of all this story is fun. It’s also full of humour, bad one liners, insta love, crazy situations, memorable yet improbable characters and it all takes place in a kind of fantasy wonderland. Cozzi Cove, or at least the seven bungalow’s that Cal Cozzi owns, are a kind of gay man’s utopia where literally anything happens, no matter how unlikely, and all within your one weeks’ vacation.
It takes a little while to get into the rhythm of the story as it flips through the various characters from each bungalow. For such a small resort there are a lot of characters and they have big personalities alongside their everyday problems, some of which are quite serious. To list a few – there are porn stars, merman and ghosts. There are two men who are on the verge of a nervous breakdown believing their son is straight. There is the owner whose love life is not all it seems. There is death and there is grief. There is undying love after only 2 days. There are men with blue beards and there is so much more. There is mainly humour alongside a few tender moments but everything happens at break neck speed, so much so that if you blink you will miss it.
Most of the characters are likeable, a few of them aren’t but the stories are so combined and constantly evolving that you don’t get much time to dislike anyone before you are moving along – again and again and again.
This story was a trip and ended up being a lot of fun.
April 11, 2016
Cozzi Cove in my opinion is a book about moving on, letting go of past hurt, finding a new love, forgiving but leaving behind a dead weight, getting over anxiety, moving on to the next step in ones life, choosing to live instead of exist, and spending time with the one you grow to love even though it may not be long that you get to spend with them.
This book is about many different people. All of these men come together and get to know one another because of Cal Cozzi. He owns a bungalow resort and is gay friendly and advertises that his resort is. Many different people come to stay at the resort for a vacation and most leave their with a completely different life. It is as if the place is magical. People have the tendency of coming there and falling in love. Whether the love is short lived or lasts a lifetime.
These different groups of people are so different from one another it is like looking and seeing night and day. But regardless they all mesh well together. Even the couples that come together are the exact opposite of one another but that makes the story that much sweeter.
I really enjoyed this book. There was surprises that I did not see coming. There were parts that were hilarious, parts that were serious, parts that were happy and parts that were sad. Regardless of the emotion that the character was portraying at that moment I was able to feel it myself. So if for no other reason that made this an amazing book. I also truly loved the story line and the diverting the people in it. It made it seem so much more realistic. So job well done Joe.
Was given this book by inked rainbow reads for an honest review
April 18, 2016
This is only my second book by this author and it was really good. It was very easy to read and the writing was excellent. I would consider this a fantasy type book because of this happening in it (sorry just can’t say, you’ll have to read it) and it is clearly a story about accepting loss and moving on. This book clearly showed the author’s imagination and I loved how he introduced each of the characters into the story. Although the story centers on Cal Cozzi there are many different characters in this book. At first I had trouble keeping up because the characters where introduced all at the very beginning and not throughout the book. In fact I was thinking I might have to make a chart to be able to remember them all. As the story went on I was able to keep all the different characters straight which made it much more enjoyable. I’m looking forward to the next book and would recommend this book to anyone who wishes to spend time on the beach (even virtually).
I was given this book by Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.
I was given this book by Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.
April 15, 2016
Written too much like an old soap opera that my grandmother would watch. The characters, while interesting as they were checking into the resort, never developed much and stayed fairly one dimensional.
February 1, 2019
Story & Narration Rating: 3.75 Stars
Cozzi Cove, a beach property of bungalows on the Jersey shores, will see several different couples fall in love in the course of a week. The cast includes Cal Cozzi, a man whose marriage to the love of his life, Lance, is not all that it appears; Tim, a waiter/failed actor with a mysterious past, who finds himself immediately charmed by Mark, a man with lymphoma, who has come to enjoy the beach one last time; Harold and Mario, twin brothers, whose bonds of brotherhood will be tested; Sean, a germophobic, virgin romance writer, who ends up running into the porn star who has made his lonely life bearable; Chuck Caliber, a burnt out porn star trying to find a new path; Josh and Greg, a well-to-do married couple whose son, Chris, finds himself on an emotional roller-coaster; and Michael, a young man whose recent tragedy strikes a chord with Cal.
Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back is one of the most eclectic romance novels I’ve listened to or read in a while. Bouncing from romantic comedy to grief/tragedy and back again, it took me a while to get the feel of the book, and the best way I can describe it is as a soap-opera style collection of vignettes connected by falling in love and overcoming barriers that have kept the characters from living full lives, be they externally or internally imposed. This story definitely hits many of the favorite tropes of a TV soap: a built, perpetually horny, cockhound maid/valet/handyman, identical twins, incongruous situations/characters, ghosts, comedies of errors, a dying lover, mistaken identities, dramatics, and even a cute puppy that is basically there for the payoff for a joke that disappears as quickly as it shows up.
On the whole, the story manages to give each couple enough attention to make their journey complete, although, even as rushed as falling in love within seven days implies, some stories manage to compress their HEA into even shorter spans. While the story could be charming and funny (I particularly enjoyed the “straight panic” Greg and Josh experience), the dialogue, scenes and backstories sometimes came across as overly-dramatic and trite, making moments that should carry some emotional heft leaving me rolling my eyes, no matter how hard the narrator, Chase Johnson, tried to make them work. There are also characters and details inserted with no payoff, which made the already bloated-feeling story seem a bit tedious. For the most part, the individual couples are interesting, although I will say that one pairing was eyebrow-raising in more ways than one—from the way they met to the fact that the love interest is basically a replacement for the other guy’s dead partner despite a line tossed in about not only being drawn to him because of the similarities.
As for the the narration, I haven’t listened to anything by Chase Johnson before, so I can’t tell if this book and his narration are a match made in heaven because of Johnson’s natural narration style, or if he, too, caught the telenovela vibe of the script and structured his delivery accordingly. Johnson’s voice is reminiscent of the barrel-chested Superman radio actor/old-style game show host, and fits the soap opera air to a tee. Sometimes he is delightfully hammy and other times, doing his best to convey the emotionality of a scene despite the overwrought dialogue. Johnson’s pacing is also so slow and deliberate I had to increase the listening speed to 1.5x (which I RARELY do) to keep the story from feeling even more like it was dragging.
Also, I’m not going to lie, I can’t tell if it’s the delivery or the writing in the sex scenes that struck my funny bone, but for whatever reason, they did (probably mostly the writing, because manhood is used a lot, and I’ve yet to hear it spoken aloud without it making me think of “throbbing manhoods” and Victorian fainting couches). Overall, Johnson does well with the material (though I did get the impression that he was struggling with some of the character voices), and while this particular style of writing and story is not my favorite, Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back is still an enjoyable listen that I can see being an insta-love fun fest for others.
Reviewed by Jovan for The Novel Approach
Cozzi Cove, a beach property of bungalows on the Jersey shores, will see several different couples fall in love in the course of a week. The cast includes Cal Cozzi, a man whose marriage to the love of his life, Lance, is not all that it appears; Tim, a waiter/failed actor with a mysterious past, who finds himself immediately charmed by Mark, a man with lymphoma, who has come to enjoy the beach one last time; Harold and Mario, twin brothers, whose bonds of brotherhood will be tested; Sean, a germophobic, virgin romance writer, who ends up running into the porn star who has made his lonely life bearable; Chuck Caliber, a burnt out porn star trying to find a new path; Josh and Greg, a well-to-do married couple whose son, Chris, finds himself on an emotional roller-coaster; and Michael, a young man whose recent tragedy strikes a chord with Cal.
Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back is one of the most eclectic romance novels I’ve listened to or read in a while. Bouncing from romantic comedy to grief/tragedy and back again, it took me a while to get the feel of the book, and the best way I can describe it is as a soap-opera style collection of vignettes connected by falling in love and overcoming barriers that have kept the characters from living full lives, be they externally or internally imposed. This story definitely hits many of the favorite tropes of a TV soap: a built, perpetually horny, cockhound maid/valet/handyman, identical twins, incongruous situations/characters, ghosts, comedies of errors, a dying lover, mistaken identities, dramatics, and even a cute puppy that is basically there for the payoff for a joke that disappears as quickly as it shows up.
On the whole, the story manages to give each couple enough attention to make their journey complete, although, even as rushed as falling in love within seven days implies, some stories manage to compress their HEA into even shorter spans. While the story could be charming and funny (I particularly enjoyed the “straight panic” Greg and Josh experience), the dialogue, scenes and backstories sometimes came across as overly-dramatic and trite, making moments that should carry some emotional heft leaving me rolling my eyes, no matter how hard the narrator, Chase Johnson, tried to make them work. There are also characters and details inserted with no payoff, which made the already bloated-feeling story seem a bit tedious. For the most part, the individual couples are interesting, although I will say that one pairing was eyebrow-raising in more ways than one—from the way they met to the fact that the love interest is basically a replacement for the other guy’s dead partner despite a line tossed in about not only being drawn to him because of the similarities.
As for the the narration, I haven’t listened to anything by Chase Johnson before, so I can’t tell if this book and his narration are a match made in heaven because of Johnson’s natural narration style, or if he, too, caught the telenovela vibe of the script and structured his delivery accordingly. Johnson’s voice is reminiscent of the barrel-chested Superman radio actor/old-style game show host, and fits the soap opera air to a tee. Sometimes he is delightfully hammy and other times, doing his best to convey the emotionality of a scene despite the overwrought dialogue. Johnson’s pacing is also so slow and deliberate I had to increase the listening speed to 1.5x (which I RARELY do) to keep the story from feeling even more like it was dragging.
Also, I’m not going to lie, I can’t tell if it’s the delivery or the writing in the sex scenes that struck my funny bone, but for whatever reason, they did (probably mostly the writing, because manhood is used a lot, and I’ve yet to hear it spoken aloud without it making me think of “throbbing manhoods” and Victorian fainting couches). Overall, Johnson does well with the material (though I did get the impression that he was struggling with some of the character voices), and while this particular style of writing and story is not my favorite, Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back is still an enjoyable listen that I can see being an insta-love fun fest for others.
Reviewed by Jovan for The Novel Approach
September 4, 2018
DNF @ 9 minutes
Nope. Couldn't even last 10 minutes. I could not stand the voice the narrator used for Connor. If I had to listen to another second of him, I would scream.
So nope. Can't do it.
Might read this one. But I'm definitely not able to continue with the audiobook.
Nope. Couldn't even last 10 minutes. I could not stand the voice the narrator used for Connor. If I had to listen to another second of him, I would scream.
So nope. Can't do it.
Might read this one. But I'm definitely not able to continue with the audiobook.
February 13, 2019
Story & Narration Rating: 3.75 Stars
Cozzi Cove, a beach property of bungalows on the Jersey shores, will see several different couples fall in love in the course of a week. The cast includes Cal Cozzi, a man whose marriage to the love of his life, Lance, is not all that it appears; Tim, a waiter/failed actor with a mysterious past, who finds himself immediately charmed by Mark, a man with lymphoma, who has come to enjoy the beach one last time; Harold and Mario, twin brothers, whose bonds of brotherhood will be tested; Sean, a germophobic, virgin romance writer, who ends up running into the porn star who has made his lonely life bearable; Chuck Caliber, a burnt out porn star trying to find a new path; Josh and Greg, a well-to-do married couple whose son, Chris, finds himself on an emotional roller-coaster; and Michael, a young man whose recent tragedy strikes a chord with Cal.
Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back is one of the most eclectic romance novels I’ve listened to or read in a while. Bouncing from romantic comedy to grief/tragedy and back again, it took me a while to get the feel of the book, and the best way I can describe it is as a soap-opera style collection of vignettes connected by falling in love and overcoming barriers that have kept the characters from living full lives, be they externally or internally imposed. This story definitely hits many of the favorite tropes of a TV soap: a built, perpetually horny, cockhound maid/valet/handyman, identical twins, incongruous situations/characters, ghosts, comedies of errors, a dying lover, mistaken identities, dramatics, and even a cute puppy that is basically there for the payoff for a joke that disappears as quickly as it shows up.
On the whole, the story manages to give each couple enough attention to make their journey complete, although, even as rushed as falling in love within seven days implies, some stories manage to compress their HEA into even shorter spans. While the story could be charming and funny (I particularly enjoyed the “straight panic” Greg and Josh experience), the dialogue, scenes and backstories sometimes came across as overly-dramatic and trite, making moments that should carry some emotional heft leaving me rolling my eyes, no matter how hard the narrator, Chase Johnson, tried to make them work. There are also characters and details inserted with no payoff, which made the already bloated-feeling story seem a bit tedious. For the most part, the individual couples are interesting, although I will say that one pairing was eyebrow-raising in more ways than one—from the way they met to the fact that the love interest is basically a replacement for the other guy’s dead partner despite a line tossed in about not only being drawn to him because of the similarities.
As for the the narration, I haven’t listened to anything by Chase Johnson before, so I can’t tell if this book and his narration are a match made in heaven because of Johnson’s natural narration style, or if he, too, caught the telenovela vibe of the script and structured his delivery accordingly. Johnson’s voice is reminiscent of the barrel-chested Superman radio actor/old-style game show host, and fits the soap opera air to a tee. Sometimes he is delightfully hammy and other times, doing his best to convey the emotionality of a scene despite the overwrought dialogue. Johnson’s pacing is also so slow and deliberate I had to increase the listening speed to 1.5x (which I RARELY do) to keep the story from feeling even more like it was dragging.
Also, I’m not going to lie, I can’t tell if it’s the delivery or the writing in the sex scenes that struck my funny bone, but for whatever reason, they did (probably mostly the writing, because manhood is used a lot, and I’ve yet to hear it spoken aloud without it making me think of “throbbing manhoods” and Victorian fainting couches). Overall, Johnson does well with the material (though I did get the impression that he was struggling with some of the character voices), and while this particular style of writing and story is not my favorite, Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back is still an enjoyable listen that I can see being an insta-love fun fest for others.
Reviewed for The Novel Approach Reviews
Cozzi Cove, a beach property of bungalows on the Jersey shores, will see several different couples fall in love in the course of a week. The cast includes Cal Cozzi, a man whose marriage to the love of his life, Lance, is not all that it appears; Tim, a waiter/failed actor with a mysterious past, who finds himself immediately charmed by Mark, a man with lymphoma, who has come to enjoy the beach one last time; Harold and Mario, twin brothers, whose bonds of brotherhood will be tested; Sean, a germophobic, virgin romance writer, who ends up running into the porn star who has made his lonely life bearable; Chuck Caliber, a burnt out porn star trying to find a new path; Josh and Greg, a well-to-do married couple whose son, Chris, finds himself on an emotional roller-coaster; and Michael, a young man whose recent tragedy strikes a chord with Cal.
Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back is one of the most eclectic romance novels I’ve listened to or read in a while. Bouncing from romantic comedy to grief/tragedy and back again, it took me a while to get the feel of the book, and the best way I can describe it is as a soap-opera style collection of vignettes connected by falling in love and overcoming barriers that have kept the characters from living full lives, be they externally or internally imposed. This story definitely hits many of the favorite tropes of a TV soap: a built, perpetually horny, cockhound maid/valet/handyman, identical twins, incongruous situations/characters, ghosts, comedies of errors, a dying lover, mistaken identities, dramatics, and even a cute puppy that is basically there for the payoff for a joke that disappears as quickly as it shows up.
On the whole, the story manages to give each couple enough attention to make their journey complete, although, even as rushed as falling in love within seven days implies, some stories manage to compress their HEA into even shorter spans. While the story could be charming and funny (I particularly enjoyed the “straight panic” Greg and Josh experience), the dialogue, scenes and backstories sometimes came across as overly-dramatic and trite, making moments that should carry some emotional heft leaving me rolling my eyes, no matter how hard the narrator, Chase Johnson, tried to make them work. There are also characters and details inserted with no payoff, which made the already bloated-feeling story seem a bit tedious. For the most part, the individual couples are interesting, although I will say that one pairing was eyebrow-raising in more ways than one—from the way they met to the fact that the love interest is basically a replacement for the other guy’s dead partner despite a line tossed in about not only being drawn to him because of the similarities.
As for the the narration, I haven’t listened to anything by Chase Johnson before, so I can’t tell if this book and his narration are a match made in heaven because of Johnson’s natural narration style, or if he, too, caught the telenovela vibe of the script and structured his delivery accordingly. Johnson’s voice is reminiscent of the barrel-chested Superman radio actor/old-style game show host, and fits the soap opera air to a tee. Sometimes he is delightfully hammy and other times, doing his best to convey the emotionality of a scene despite the overwrought dialogue. Johnson’s pacing is also so slow and deliberate I had to increase the listening speed to 1.5x (which I RARELY do) to keep the story from feeling even more like it was dragging.
Also, I’m not going to lie, I can’t tell if it’s the delivery or the writing in the sex scenes that struck my funny bone, but for whatever reason, they did (probably mostly the writing, because manhood is used a lot, and I’ve yet to hear it spoken aloud without it making me think of “throbbing manhoods” and Victorian fainting couches). Overall, Johnson does well with the material (though I did get the impression that he was struggling with some of the character voices), and while this particular style of writing and story is not my favorite, Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back is still an enjoyable listen that I can see being an insta-love fun fest for others.
Reviewed for The Novel Approach Reviews
April 12, 2016
If Mauve Binchy wrote a book about a gay American beach resort, this would be it. This is the story of Cozzi Cove and the escapades of the residents during one hot summer week. While I loved the premise of this story, I wasn’t completely charmed by the execution.
The cast is quirky. While this is a fun summer beach read, there are some very serious moments. Some of the stories are heart wrenching, others are moving and a few are just silly. I bristled at some of the cliches and felt that some of the attitudes and language felt quite dated. I have to wonder how old the author is because I’m not sure how many Millennial readers would even recognise some of the antiquated gay stereotypes present in this book.
This is very much a “telling” not “showing” style of writing and I found the slightly camp, at times slightly bitchy narration grating. While I connected with several of the characters’ stories, none of the characters ever felt very three dimensional to me.
There is a little bit of sex in this story, and the antiquated language makes some of the descriptions brilliantly amusing.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review for Inked Rainbow Reads.
The cast is quirky. While this is a fun summer beach read, there are some very serious moments. Some of the stories are heart wrenching, others are moving and a few are just silly. I bristled at some of the cliches and felt that some of the attitudes and language felt quite dated. I have to wonder how old the author is because I’m not sure how many Millennial readers would even recognise some of the antiquated gay stereotypes present in this book.
This is very much a “telling” not “showing” style of writing and I found the slightly camp, at times slightly bitchy narration grating. While I connected with several of the characters’ stories, none of the characters ever felt very three dimensional to me.
There is a little bit of sex in this story, and the antiquated language makes some of the descriptions brilliantly amusing.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review for Inked Rainbow Reads.
April 20, 2016
I must admit that although interesting, Cozzi Cove never really caught my attention as it flipped back and forth from one couple to another and never really allowed the characters to develop to the point where I felt that I could identify with them. In part this may stem from the easy casual sex described in the book, the quick summer romances, are just not my cup of tea. It looks like the relationship between Cal and Michael could further develop over time in the second book in the series and I would hope that the relationship between Mario and Chris would also develop with the hope of saving the familial relationship between Mario and his twin Harrold. So much of the different relationships seemed fleeting that they never engaged me in a way that I would have like to have been.
April 17, 2016
Oh the irony. A romantic novel, partly about a romantic novelist who can't write realistic sex scenes, that doesn't have any realistic sex scenes. I know short simple sentences are the preferred mode in creative writing classes, but sex scenes need more than Hemingwayesque sex by numbers to work, 'then he licked his ... then he put his tongue........ it felt warm and moist" or words to that effect just don't work.
Despite the three stars I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It only rated three stars because, of the bad sex, the story was great and I liked the style. I don't mean to sound harsh but I couldn't let that past, sorry.
Despite the three stars I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It only rated three stars because, of the bad sex, the story was great and I liked the style. I don't mean to sound harsh but I couldn't let that past, sorry.
November 1, 2016
Rainbow Award Honorable Mention
“Heartbreaking and heartwarming, sweet beginnings for some, sour endings for others, emotions jumping off the page as you turn eagerly to read more, welcome to Cozzi Cove. The author measured his scales to perfection in delivering the perfect balance of love, laughter and tears in this sexy, fun filled holiday romance entwined with some sadness. Summer magic waved its wand at all who visited and stayed at Cozzi Cove and I was one of those who wanted to stay.” Three Books Over the Rainbow
“Heartbreaking and heartwarming, sweet beginnings for some, sour endings for others, emotions jumping off the page as you turn eagerly to read more, welcome to Cozzi Cove. The author measured his scales to perfection in delivering the perfect balance of love, laughter and tears in this sexy, fun filled holiday romance entwined with some sadness. Summer magic waved its wand at all who visited and stayed at Cozzi Cove and I was one of those who wanted to stay.” Three Books Over the Rainbow
June 21, 2024
Truly a story well worth the read.
As I started reading this story, I was wondering how good it was going to be. And then I found out...WOW! A beautiful story that enter each guests' life and how they left fed their life and how they reconciled their life to live. There is some sadness in the story but the joy and love overtakes the sadness.
As I started reading this story, I was wondering how good it was going to be. And then I found out...WOW! A beautiful story that enter each guests' life and how they left fed their life and how they reconciled their life to live. There is some sadness in the story but the joy and love overtakes the sadness.
November 30, 2016
3.5 rounded up
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