What do you do when a nightmare threatens your dream?
In the disturbingly funny new novel from the authors of Vampire Vic, Brian Lawson receives a dread diagnosis: cancer. But he won’t spare a moment from saving his struggling coffeeshop, even if success comes with his dying breath.
Divorced and ostracized in the rural community, Andrea Goldine sets her sights on the charismatic java man. Brian’s doctors ravage him with chemo and radiation, yet the tumor on his shin grows. Brian drafts Andrea into his battle with a competing coffeeshop, desperate to tap the college campus’s retail gold mine. But Andrea yearns for a different partnership…
Passions simmer below the surface of the tight-lipped community. Fresh from prison, North Dakota’s legendary basketball goddess dangles a ticket to Brian’s campus coffee dreams, and a disgraced scientist’s toxin treatment tantalizes. Two miracles for two maladies—with one cure more deadly than the next.
Allan Harris and Jason Gray are the writing duo Harris Gray, authors of multiple novels and screenplays, a Christmas play, and a collection of stories from Jason’s younger days. An early version of JAVA MAN was a finalist in the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers contest. Allan is a former guest columnist for The Denver Post. Jason owns Crowfoot Valley Coffee and the Crowbar, land of rumor and embellishment.
The Harris Gray collaboration began in Jason’s coffee shop. Allan wrote, and eavesdropped as Jason entertained his customers. One day Allan found a little yellow notepad waiting for him, crammed to the margins with Jason’s exploits. Allan typed them, touched them up, and called it good, but Jason had other ideas. As their tales converged and became inseparable, Harris Gray took shape…the writer and the storyteller.
Allan and Jason are both married with a couple kids apiece, but many people still consider them a couple. Vampire Vic launched the VV Trilogy in March 2013; Book Three is due October 2016. Learn more on HarrisGray.com, or connect with the authors on facebook.com/harrisgrayauthor or twitter.com/HarrisandGray.
As I sit here drinking....surprise...Coffee!! I can't help but be in awe of the newest Harris Gray mind melding. It's a wonderful journey into the everyday unknown. Brian (wholly boogers!) is beyond. Yes, he has Cancer, but screw it...the Chemo may be tearing down his body, however he's gonna save his coffee shop!!! I think it's all the ups and downs that takes this book to new levels. Unlike Vampire Vic (which I loved), this book could be happening right now, maybe right there in North Dakota....which I have to say was a rather odd state to pick....I keep picturing hot cowboys...LOL As the story progresses one can't help but root for Brian (I swear if I write Brain one more time...lol). He's just that person that you want to make it, you want him to take his trials and overcome!!! It's a shame coffee just isn't a cure all.
In my truest opinion Harris Gray once again delivers a stand out story. One that has you on a coaster enjoying every single word. Well Done!!! I look forward to reading more from this duo....
Universal Trials and Tribulations meet Small Town U.S.A.: If you love a book that you can become quickly involved in and be amongst the characters - this is for you. Harris and Gray tell an everyday story in a most clever way. This story brings you into the life of small town North Dakota, which you can either relate to first hand, as in my case, or come to know in an expedient fashion. Business pressures and incurable illness strike Brian, the local coffee business guru, the same if he were in a metropolitan city. Just as you start to experience the occasional darkness in this tale, one of the numerous one-liners in here will lighten up the mood and have you in stitches! Not only are Brian's emotions felt to the core, but you will be yearning to read on for the finale of the drama surrounding the tendrils of love, murder, sex, family, and what is or isn't a scientific cure.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the main character even if he did have poor taste in women. ;-) I loved the banter between characters and reading about the quirky people you probably find in coffee shops along with the competition between shops. I found the addition of the cancer and treatment surprising and interesting. I look forward to reading more from Harris Gray.
Wow, I was really rooting for this hard working man. He had such aspirations for success and around every turn there were roadblocks. Java Man by Harris Gray is a must read for all ages. Do they have any other books? Will put them on my watch for and read list.