The Perfect Gift (Bobby and Paolo’s Holiday Stories Book 2) by Joe Cosentino | Cat's Release day Review, Excerpt & #giveaway @Dreamspinners @JoeCosen

Bobby and Paolo’s Holiday Stories: Book Two

Back in America after finding “A Home for the Holidays” and each other in Capri, new couple Bobby McGrath and Paolo Mascobello are ready to tie the knot during the winter holidays. Their families, friends, and pastor offer more advice than sages on speed. So, young lawyer Bobby and fashion designer Paolo are caught in the matrimonial holiday circus. Will a shocking turn of events somehow lead to the perfect wedding for the December grooms?

The following Christmas, Bobby and Paolo aren’t feeling the holiday spirit. They have a nice apartment, designer clothes, entertaining and supportive friends and family, but little time for each other. While out shopping in their quaint local holiday village, Bobby and Paolo encounter Gregory, an adorable seven-year-old who changes their lives forever, offering them a true holiday miracle… if they’re willing to accept it.

Buy links: Dreamspinner | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Cat gives this one 5 Meows with a 1 Purr heat index...

The Perfect gift is two books in one. First, we get Bobby and Paolo's first Christmas in the United States and see how their relationship is faring. It's a sweet story with lots of imagery.

Next, we get tier second Christmas. They've been married almost a year and feel something is missing but can't figure out what. They both work a lot of hours and hardly see each other, then Santa makes a magical appearance and fills that emptiness with a third (it's not what you think) LOL!

Joe Cosentino has a way with his stories with a touch of humor, great descriptions and he grabs your attention, making you turn the page. If you like sweet romance, holiday stories, Christmas magic and cute kids you will love this one!

Excerpt...

“HI, MOM. What are you doing?”
“Sitting home alone like a dog.”
That’s Mom’s logic. If their house isn’t full of people eating and carrying on, she’s alone. “Where’s Dad?”
“In his den, watching the game on TV as usual.”
I’m Bobby McGrath. Since this is my story, I should tell you more about myself. I have frizzy red hair, green eyes, and a swimmer’s body, thanks to the pool at my gym. The swimmer’s body is thanks to the pool. The red hair and green eyes are courtesy of my dad’s side of the family, which my mom calls the Bad Seed. And I passed the bar. I don’t mean I’m a recovering alcoholic. I aced my bar exam, and I’ve been a junior lawyer for nearly a year now.
“Bobby, are you listening to me or thinking about one of your cases?”
“I’m listening, Mom.” I sat on the window seat in my Victorian apartment’s turret and gazed out at the carolers appropriately dressed in Victorian garb as they sang in front of the department store across the street. That’s the department store where my father is manager and plays Santa every December. “How did Dad’s physical go with Dr. Sherman?”
“He said Dad’s overweight. Like we didn’t know. For that we shelled out a thirty-dollar co-pay.”
“Did you mention how Dad’s been forgetting a few things lately?”
“I told him how your father forgot to take out the garbage, sweep out the garage, and chase the squirrels out of our summerhouse in the backyard.”
I couldn’t help thinking Dad’s memory lapses were intentional.
“Dr. Sherman asked Dad some questions, like Dad’s birthdate and our anniversary.”
“And?”
“Your father never remembers things like that, so I answered for him.”
“Mom, you shouldn’t have—”
“Your father’s fine, except for an enlarged prostrate.”
“That’s prostate.”
“Don’t correct your mother, especially now.”
“What’s wrong?”
“You know I don’t like to burden you with my problems.”
“All right. I should get on my laptop to do some research for a—”
“I’m worried about your sister.”
“Which one?”
“Both of them.”
I took a sip of Lemon Zinger tea and braced myself for a long story.
“They work so hard at their jobs and taking care of the kids, they never see their husbands.”
My sisters’ know-it-all spouses? “Is that a bad thing?”
“Watch your mouth, mister. I’m your mother. In my day we never disrespected our parents, no matter how wrong they were about everything. And we never took drugs.”
“I don’t take drugs, Mom; neither does Paolo.”
“But plenty of young people today are drug addicts, Bobby. They say they’re nervous. If young people are nervous, they should do what I do, and take a Prozac.”

Joe Cosentino was voted Second Place Favorite LGBT Romance author of 2015 for AN INFATUATION in Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Poll of 2015. So he tries harder. He began as an actor appearing in principal acting roles in film, television, and theatre, opposite stars such as Bruce Willis, Rosie O’Donnell, Nathan Lane, Holland Taylor, and Jason Robards. Watching him on YouTube, his students said, “You were cute when you were young.” He moved on to playwriting and directing, where his plays were published and produced in NYC, regionally, and on tour. Upon writing fiction, his mother said, “Don’t you have anything better to do than write books?” He replied, “I wonder if Shakespeare’s mother said that to him?” All’s well that ends well, as his mother, other family members, and friends love his published books. He hopes AN INFATUATION, A SHOOTING STAR, and THE NAKED PRINCE AND OTHER TALES FROM FAIRYLAND will be made into movies, so he can play Principal Ringwood, Professor Katzer, and Mortimer, bringing his career full circle. It’s all in the family since his spouse is an audio book performer. Joe received his MFA from Goddard College in Vermont, and MA from SUNY New Paltz. He is currently Head of the Department/Professor of Theatre at a college in upstate New York, where he and his spouse designed and had built an environmentally friendly home. Joe is a member of an open and affirming church, and does fundraising for GLSEN. He hopes people young and old will be infatuated with AN INFATUATION, wish upon A SHOOTING STAR, find A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, and believe in THE NAKED PRINCE AND OTHER TALES FROM FAIRYLAND. He loves to hear from readers.

• Joe Cosentino: http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com

Please read as the entry process has changed

Monthly giftcard giveaway: The monthly giftcard giveaway has changed slightly, it will now be done via Rafflecopter. Simply complete all the entries below which includes a “comment” entry. You will leave a comment on this post, then copy the URL address above and copy that into the comment entry in the space provided. Then at the end of the month I will chose the winner via RC, pop back over to the blog to verify their comment, then announce the winner!

a Rafflecopter giveaway