J.J. Murray – författare

Peter Underhill was smitten by Ebony Mills the moment she joined his street hockey team--a coal-eyed, tomboy goddess, as dark and dazzling as he was pale and awkward. That she returned his affection was a boy''s dream come true. But despite a bond that grew into their teens, Peter''s intolerant father and Ebony''s meddling family finally forced them apart. That was twenty years ago--and Peter has been trying to find his way back to his first and true love ever since. . . When she was a kid, Ebony feared no one, not even Peter''s violent, bigoted father. Back then, Ebony said she''d love Peter forever, and she meant it. It didn''t matter that they couldn''t share milestones like the high school prom together--what they had was the real thing, and nobody could take it away. . .or could they? Even now, Ebony doesn''t quite understand how she and Peter disappeared from each other''s lives. Has the hatred that surrounded them finally won? Ebony doesn''t want to believe that, but she knows one thing: if she ever has the chance to reunite with Peter, she''ll never let him go. Because you don''t throw away something that only comes along once in a lifetime. You don''t mess with original love. . .

For public library clerk Diane Anderson, reading romance novels and living vicariously is far easier than attracting a flesh-and-blood man of her own. It seems she''s too voluptuous in the wrong places to attract the kind of black man her mama requires as a son-in-law. . .and just exotic enough to attract the kind of white man Mama forbids. But there''s something about that lost-looking guy who comes into the library one afternoon. And when he reveals that Diane is his muse, well, she can''t help being intrigued. . .After months spent mourning a personal tragedy, novelist Jack Browning is struggling to get back to work. Under pressure to write his second novel, Jack hits the library for ideas. The clerk who helps him is smart, sassy--and curvy in all the right places. He finds himself thinking of Diane as he creates the heroine of his book. And soon, she''s knocking down the wall he''d built around himself, becoming the inspiration for his art. . .and maybe even for his life. . . "Murray writes a gentle romance about cultural differences and deep commonalities in a unique tale about white-black relationships." --Booklist

Sometimes A Girl Likes To Keep Her Options Open In her search for Mr. Right, Erlana Joy Cole has met lots of prospects, but she''s never been able to narrow it down to just one. And why should she? After all, you can''t ask a woman to have only one pair of shoes, right? So why settle for just one man? Instead, she''s got herself her own "Earth, Wind, and Fire" of men. There''s her "Earth," Roger, a white soul brother with a sweet mind and a wicked touch. There''s "Wind," Karl, a tattooed entrepreneur who''s straight out of Erlana''s roots. And as for Juan, well, he''s pure "Fire," fierce and passionate and hot as they come. Put them all together and a sister''s got everything she could ever want--not that she would ever put them all together. Huh-uh, no way. That can NOT happen. But now, Erlana''s juggling act is getting too hot to handle. And sooner or later, a girl''s gotta make a choice while she''s still got a choice to make. . . Praise for Original Love"Full of interesting characters . . . a true standout." --Booklist"Engaging . . . a warm and interesting story. . .not the same old, same old." --Romantic Times"Thoughtful and well-done" --Library Journal J. J. Murray was born in Abington, Pennsylvania, and now lives in Roanoke in southwest Virginia. When he isn''t teaching high school English, chasing his two sons, romancing his wife, or writing, he dreams of bowling his weight every Wednesday night. . .and he is rapidly losing weight to make that dream a reality.

Featured as an Editor’s Pick for Summer Must Reads 2015 in Ebony magazine!At Smith’s Sweet Treats and Coffee, you’ll find Brooklyn’s best house blend and the freshest homemade pastries. It’s more than a business to owner Angela Smith. It’s her home and her refuge—one she stands to lose thanks to her gouging landlord. Then a new regular offers to cover her rent increase if Angela lets him meet his clients there. If Matthew McConnell weren’t such a persuasive lawyer—and so sweet, funny, and sexy—she wouldn’t dream of letting him in.Since he left a high-paying, soul-sucking legal firm to go solo, Matthew has been striking out, professionally and personally. The best part of his love life is regaling Angela with date-from-hell stories over steaming, fragrant coffee. Behind her captivating smile is a smart, sensual woman he’d love to get close to. And when a secret from her past is suddenly exposed, he gets a chance to prove he’s the man she needs, in every way that matters…“An endearing journey of heartfelt love…Unusual characters will inspire readers of this emotional yet joyful story.” --Publishers Weekly

Two single parents find a chance for a new future in a delightfully uplifting romance by the acclaimed author of The Real Thing . . .   When recently widowed Joe Murphy meets Shawna Mitchell in an online forum, all he’s seeking is advice on keeping his home and his family together. Shawna’s compassionate e-mails become his lifeline, and as months pass their correspondence grows deep and warm. Discovering that Shawna lives only blocks away…well, it feels like more than luck. It feels a lot like hope.   With three children to raise, Shawna has no interest in getting close to another man, let alone one who’s got three kids of his own. And the fact that Joe’s white can only complicate matters more. But now, as they navigate family dates and vacations and their own doubts and fears, Joe and Shawna find themselves moving toward a future that’s bright, new, and totally unexpected . . .Praise for the writing of J.J. Murray “Hilarious . . . Murray’s dialog sparkles and the characters are witty and fun.” —Booklist on She’s The One “Thoughtful and well done.” —Library Journal on Original Love

Former boxing champion Dante "Blood and Guts" Lattanza is being featured in Personality magazine''s "Sexiest Men Alive" issue, and reporter Christiana Artis has the scoop. There''s just one hitch: she''ll have to fly to her elusive subject''s home in Canada. But once she lays eyes on Dante''s chiseled physique and sultry Italian looks, she decides it was worth every mile. Too bad his icy demeanor doesn''t match his hot body. Since he lost his last fight ten years ago, Dante never gives interviews. But now he''s ready to prove to the world--and his ex-wife--that he can still win a championship. He gives Christiana an ultimatum: if she can perform five tasks, she can ask him five questions. And then she can be on her way. Yet Dante''s always had a weakness for beautiful black women, and seeing Christiana everyday is enough to melt his defenses. Soon she''s an intimate part of the very story she came to write. But when the line between personal and professional gets blurred, it can be difficult to see when you''ve found the real thing. . .. "A sexy story of interracial love that''s long on charm, romance and humor." --Booklist

At twenty-one, Katharina Minola had an Oscar, adoring critics and fans, and was on track to be the most successful black actress of all time. Bad luck, bad choices, and a reputation for being a world-class diva stripped her of everything. But her new role for Lucentio Pictures could be the comeback she''s waited for.Pietro Lucentio knows how much fire Katharina possesses. It''s why he fell in love with her years ago--and why he''s agreed to his movie mogul brother Vincenzo''s crazy scheme. By luring her into the Canadian wilderness and secretly filming her every word and gesture, they plan to recapture the Katharina of old and make her a star all over again. But reviving Katharina''s career won''t be enough for Pietro. She''s the one--the only one who''s ever been able to tame his heart. And it''s time he returned the favor. . ."Hilarious. . .Murray''s dialog sparkles and the characters are witty and fun. Readers won''t want to miss this." --Booklist

There are worse places a saucy single gal could be stranded in the biggest winter storm to hit southwestern Virginia in years. Here at Luchesi''s restaurant, Renee can fill up on hot breadsticks and spiked mocha cappuccino—and she can check out Giovanni Anthony Luchesi, the finest man this side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. But damn, if it doesn''t stop snowing soon, she''s gonna wind up in big trouble, what with all the amaretto and candlelight.Days later, the ice isn''t all that''s melting in Roanoke. Renee''s gone and fallen for the whitest white boy she''s ever met. Now she feels like she''s living a Julia Roberts movie with an interracial twist and gentle Giovanni, with his slow, seductive hands and spicy kisses, as her leading man. Renee always was a sucker for happy endings. Now, with a make-do ring from Giovanni on her finger, her own seems guaranteed. What can possibly go wrong?Riotous, ardent, and packed with surprises, RENEE AND JAY is Romeo and Juliet for the millennium—a tale that proves true love can turn up in the last place—and face—where you''d ever expect to find it. . ."An update of Shakespeare''s Romeo and Juliet, with a twist."—Essence"Deeply explores the problems confronting interracial couples from within and from loving relatives who genuinely want the best for their beloved."—The Midwest Book Review

Thanks to her black mother and her Irish father, Ruth "Penny" Borum is the color of a new penny. Big-boned and notoriously sassy, Ruth is nonetheless the organist and a member in good standing of Antioch, Virginia''s most prominent black church--or at least she was until she dragged the popular Reverend Jonas Borum into an ugly divorce.Having lost everything in the divorce, Ruth scrapes by on what she can make as a hairdresser at Diana''s, a tiny two-seat salon. Alone at night, in her basement apartment, she indulges in ice cream and argues with the Almighty. Did He have to take everything away? And when is He going to give something back? The Good Lord must have a sense of humor. That''s the only conclusion Ruth can reach when He makes her fall head over heels in love. . .with a white man. Her friends are appalled, and Antioch, her spiritual home since birth, is ready to throw her out on her ear. Still, with the help of jump rope rhymes, a homeless man who hears God''s voice in a mason jar, and two children who want a Mama as much as she wants them, Ruth''s determined to prove anything is possible--even love between two people who couldn''t be more mismatched.  .  . "Delightful! Sexy! Something Real is like a burst of sunshine." --Romance in Color "J. J. Murray has outdone himself with his latest work. He has written a realistic story that could happen to anyone."--RAWSistaz

It’s been eight years since Hope Warren had her heart broken on Christmas Eve, but she still detests the holiday, and celebrations in general. Wasting her time, and her art degree, at a job she clearly hates, the only thing she’s longing for is a dream home way out of reach. So when outgoing Irishman Dylan Healy keeps getting in her face, she’s sure there’s a catch. He’s kind, charismatic—and challenging her idle creativity. It may be her least favorite time of year, but suddenly she’s willing to try everything and anything—especially Dylan himself. Dylan has enough on his plate between launching his online greeting card company at the height of the season and starting an art-themed daycare center. But he can’t resist teasing Hope out of her holiday cynicism, turning her ideas into crazy profits—or wanting more of the vibrant, sensual woman she truly is. And with the days counting down to Christmas Eve, he’s willing to put everything on the line to convince her that what they have is the gift of a lifetime…

"A sexy story of love, romance and getting even." –Upscale magazine Meet executive assistant Shari Nance: She''s smart, sexy, talented--and excitingly fed up. . .Shari is past done with letting her uber-incompetent boss, Corinne, steal her ideas and get the big bucks and promotions. So, why not pose as Corinne, work a major ad account, and prove who''s the real talent? And if that means competing with a rival agency''s top executive, well, Shari can''t wait to take him on. But when the man turns out to be Tom Sexton, her boss'' ruggedly-sexy boyfriend, his agenda has the kind of sizzling moves Shari can''t trust or resist . . ."Fast moving, laugh-out loud funny and smart." --RT Book Reviews

Lauren Short dumped her cheating mega-star fiancé amid major viral media fallout. That was the easy part. Restarting her stalled career as a thirty-something actress. . .not so much. What she needs is advice from someone non-Hollywood. Someone like her surprising new online pen pal. He''s a Brooklyn handyman who''s understanding, honest--and daring Lauren to do one risky, sizzling reboot of her glamorous life. . .Lauren is the one woman Patrick Esposito has crushed on forever. He never dreamed they''d meet--much less that she could use his help. Or that she would be even more down-to-earth in person. But now their offline romance is making them the hot new celebrity couple. And between the secrets they didn''t expect and the trouble they didn''t see coming, Patrick and Lauren will need all the right moves to stay real, keep it together, and script their own happily-ever-after. . .

Nurse Trina Woods never really expected to make the reality-show cut for Rich Man, Lucky Lady. She''s used to losing in love, and past believing in fairy tales. So she''s sure the handsome plain-talking man she encounters on her lunch break is just a shy eccentric…Until he turns out to be reclusive award-winning musician “Art E.”  Soon his unique sensitivity and gentle ways are inspiring her to stand up for herself, take risks, and try one last time for her happy ending. Tony Santangelo''s special way of seeing the world helps him make connections others don''t—and turn them into mega-hit songs. But he never realized how lonely he was until he got a glimpse of Trina''s honesty and caring nature—and went way out of his comfort zone to find her.  Suddenly they’re the media''s hottest new Cinderella story. And coping with his overprotective brother and overwhelming celebrity means he and Trina must face trouble head on, insist on their dreams, and write their own one-of-a-kind forever-after song…