Friends or Lovers – Could You Resist the Temptation?

Every once in a while, I have the pleasure of having coffee with the ultra-talented Mika Jolie. We talk about work, food, book cover designs and the art of balancing family life with writing. MJ has become a dear friend and mentor. So I’m honored to feature her on my blog today.

Her newest release, The Boy Friend, is lighter than her previous books, but every bit as enjoyable. You’ll fall in love with the humorously candid hero, Dean, and find yourself rooting for him to have his happily ever after.

Enjoy!

According to the law of attraction, women and men can’t be friends.

Contrary to this myth, my friendship with Coriander Phillips does not rest on unrequited love or un-actualized lust. We’ve been inseparable since the day I pulled one of her pigtails and she punched me in the gut.
She’s hilarious, fun to hang out with. Together, we’re like peanut butter and jelly, spaghetti and meatballs, wings and beer. A match made in heaven.
She’s the bomb.
Did I mention she’s smokin’ hot? I’ve checked her out…maybe once or twice. Hey, I’m a guy.
Seriously, no awkwardness, no secret yearning for our relationship to escalate beyond the purely platonic. I’m the boy friend—the loyal shoulder she cries on, the dispenser of coffee, sympathy, hugs, advice, and affection with no expectations.
Until the invisible line between friends and lovers became blurry.
Now I want more. I want her.
All I have to do is convince her we can be more than friends.
Right?
If only it were that easy.

An excerpt from The Boy Friend

I want her.
She wants me.
Just not enough. Actually, she’s smart. We’re a bad idea. I’m well aware of that, except I like bad ideas. Exhaling, I scrub a hand over my face. This unrequited desire needs to be tucked away. I should have put an end to these crazy thoughts from the beginning, but I entertained them . . . like a playful pet. Now, my desire has grown into a ferocious animal.
Acceptance is key here. I need to accept that I’m the boy friend, without the perks, and move on. No need for unnecessary tension. Our circle is tight. Attraction, lust, are part of the human flesh. These wild horses of my mind must be tracked down, captured, and tucked away in the Do-Not-Touch Cori file.

Get your copy of The Boy Friend here

Or here

The Boy Friend Book Trailer

The Boy Friend Spotify Playlist

Meet Dean Conrad Morello

What would you like it to say on your tombstone?
Life is a one time offer, use it well.

What is your favorite drink?
Scotch – neat.

What was your first impression of Coriander Phillips?
Feisty. We met over twenty years ago. (Laughs) She did punch me in the gut.

If we could only hear your voice (but not see you) what characteristic would identify you?
Dean Martin singing Sway.

Are you close to family?
Very much so, and my friends.

Do you see morality as black-and-white, or with shades of gray?
(Laughs) Definitely shades of gray.

Do you care about what others assume about you?
Not particularly. I care about my family, friends, and Coriander’s opinion. After that (shrugs) yeah that’s about it.

Who in your life has the power to hurt you the most and why?
Coriander. She knows a side of me that I didn’t know existed until recently. She makes me feel vulnerable.

Describe a typical Friday night.
(Smiles) Cori and I go to this bar/restaurant called Une Pression every Friday. I think we’ll keep that tradition until we can’t walk anymore.

Other titles by Mika Jolie

All of Mika’s novels are standalone and can be read in any order.

Poison & Wine Series

Somewhere to Begin

Martha’s Way Series

The Scale
Need You Now
Tattooed Hearts
Wrapped in Red

About the Author

Mika Jolie lives in New Jersey with her Happy Chaos—her husband and their energizer bunnies. A sports fanatic and a wine aficionado, she’s determined to balance it all and still write about life experiences and matters of the heart. Let’s face it, people are complicated and love can be messy. When she’s not weaving life and romance into evocative tales, you can find her on a hiking adventure, apple picking, or whatever her three men can conjure up.