JAYNE ALLEN, "THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME"

Jayne Allen stops by to discuss her cozy new novel, The Most Wonderful Time

ABOUT THE BOOK:

With Christmas around the corner, Ramona Tucker is desperate to get away. She has been lying to her family about her engagement to Malik, her (ex) fiancé. But breakups are fickle, and Ramona is convinced that she can make her pretend wedding real again—but only if she can avoid everyone discovering her secret at her mother’s over-the-top Christmas Eve party.

Two-thousand miles away in sunny Malibu, Chelsea Flint needs money to hold on to the beloved beachside cottage she shared with her late parents. The taxes are expensive, and her art isn’t paying the bills. Once a glamorous star of the Los Angeles art scene, Chelsea seems to have lost the spark that vaulted her to the top. If she doesn’t rediscover that magic—and sell a painting—soon, it will be her family’s home she’s selling instead.

The two women swap homes, just in time, thanks to some careful planning by Ramona’s best friend and a sturdy nudge from Chelsea’s gallerist godmother. Ramona’s Malibu dreams of sun and surf are interrupted as her first night brings an unwelcome stranger to her door, making her question who she can trust—the meddling neighbor Joan, or Jay, the handsome beachside fitness instructor with a secret of his own. In Chicago, Chelsea, desperate for Ramona to stay in CA, hides what she knows—even if that means jeopardizing her budding connection with charming Carlos, whose dreams for his future could be the very key to unlock Chelsea from the weight of her past.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jayne Allen is a writer, producer, and entrepreneur. In the earliest years of her career, as an alumna of Harvard Law School and Duke University Pratt School of Engineering, she  worked as an entertainment attorney, including in service to the late artist Prince. Purposeful in centering and celebrating black women’s societal contributions, Allen’s writing crafts transcultural stories to explore contemporary issues such as modern relationships, workplace and career dynamics, and the complexities of race. Her common themes include mental and physical health and highlight the importance of self-love and self-care—all with a healthy dose of warmth and humor. Allen currently serves on the Diversity Committee of the Author’ Guild Council. A proud native of Detroit, she lives in Los Angeles, CA. https://www.jayneallen.com/

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