Hello friends! Today, I’ve got a book feature for you and an author Q&A! I haven’t done one of those in a while, and I think they’re kind of fun. Today’s post is dedicated to The Marriage Pass by Briana Cole. It’s a steamy romance perfect for the Valentine’s Day season. Romance fans, definitely keep this on your radar!
First, a bit of information about the book. Here’s the jacket summary:
He’s rich, successful—and has been faithfully married to his longtime girlfriend for nearly one grueling year. Because for Dr. Dorian Graham, too many women is never too much. No matter how loyal his wife, Shantae, has been since their college days. So when she proposes they celebrate their first anniversary by each spending a no-questions-asked, no-consequences night with their greatest temptation, Dorian is shocked. But he can’t resist. Especially since Shantae’s wild-card younger sister, Reagan, is gorgeous, uninhibited—and the one who got away…
It turns out one sizzling night with Reagan isn’t enough. Yet the more Dorian takes, the more she demands—and the more he suddenly has to lose. Soon, with his mind games being used against him and his every move checkmated, Dorian will be forced to go all-in on one last desperate play to win. But winning might just be another way to crash and burn…
It officially comes out next week, February 23rd. Check out these links to pre-order!
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org | Book Depository
Briana Cole Q&A
To celebrate the release of this book next week, we’ve got a short Q&A from the author, Briana Cole! A little about Briana, first:
Briana Cole is an acclaimed author, motivational speaker, sex educator and actress. Her novels are known for exploring unconventional relationships and making readers question all expectations about love, lust, and monogamy. An Atlanta native, she graduated cum laude from Georgia Southern University. She is a proud member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Her motto and ultimate drive toward success is a famous quote from Mae West: “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” Connect with Briana online at BrianaCole.com, and on Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram, and Twitter @BColeAuthor.
Where did you get your inspiration for this book?
The inspiration for The Marriage Pass originally came in the form of a book cover I saw someone selling on Facebook. On the cover, the woman had her finger over her lips, and it was something about the cover that grabbed my attention. My mind started working on a series of ‘what-if’ questions, trying to figure out what secrets the woman was keeping and why. Infidelity is a common concept but the scandal behind a hall pass and giving permission to step outside of a relationship crossed my mind and I knew that would be something worth reading.
You are an author as well as an actress – do you feel like your skills in one area develop talents in the other and vice versa?
Absolutely! Being an author and actress allows me to merge my two passions; it’s like two sides of the same creative coin. With writing, I am bringing my characters to life through my words and with acting, I’m bringing my characters to life through my performance. I find that my talent with both ventures influence each other because I write and develop my characters as if I were acting them out. This makes them authentic and engaging. In addition, with my experience in the television and film industry, I am able to write my books so they can easily cross into those mediums. It really is a fun process and adds a deeper layer to my books. The same goes for my acting.
Part of the reason you started writing these because you wanted to fill a hole in urban fiction – what do your books offer that other books in this genre don’t?
I like to step outside of the norm when it comes to the “common” attributions to relationships. I explore taboo topics and provide a voice to certain communities that aren’t widely spotlighted in the literary industry. My books offer entertainment and education through more unconventional means, and it keeps my stories fresh and unique with very twisted plots.
What are some of your relationship pet peeves?
Definitely inconsistency. Treat me the way you have always treated me. For example, if you were romantic and affectionate when I first met you, be romantic and affectionate 5 or 10 years later. Also, make sure your words are consistent with your actions. One thing I’ve mentioned in previous relationships is, “I can’t hear what you’re saying because I’m watching what you’re doing.” Actions are speaking louder than words and they contradict. So make sure actions and words align. Another pet peeve of mine is inconsideration. In a relationship, I hate when I do everything in my power to be considerate of the other person, their time and their wellbeing, and it is not reciprocated.
What do you want your readers to take away from The Marriage Pass?
I want my readers to take away the lesson that “all that glitters isn’t gold.” Sometimes we may want certain things and it looks attractive, but it can be deceptive. I also want to expose my readers to unconventional relationships that are prevalent in today’s society. Above all, I hope my readers get whiplash from all the twists in this book. I write with them in mind and I want to put them on a rollercoaster ride of emotions that will have them devouring each page until the very end.