THE VIAGRA DIARIES: A REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED 
THE VIAGRA DIARIES

BY BARBARA ROSE BROOKER

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Just because Anny Applebaum qualifies for a senior discount doesn’t mean she’s ready for retirement. But if she wants to keep her job at the San Francisco Times, she’ll have to find a way to spice up her lifestyle column. Even if it means posting her profile as an eligible single on JDate .com. Sure, Anny’s a little out of practice. She hasn’t been with a man since she found Viagra in her ex-husband’s suit pocket, and he wasn’t taking it for her. But she’s got her friends to help her fumble her way through the strange and intriguing world of online dating.

After hearing cautionary tales from the trenches—about “boomer oldies” who drag around pictures of their dead wives and fixed-income misers who wine and dine their dates at chain restaurants—Anny is relieved to meet Marv Rothstein, a charming . . . 75-year-old diamond dealer. Unfortunately, he’s also a Digital Age Don Juan who prowls singles sites for younger women. Not to be outdated by this “Serial JDater,” Anny realizes Marv is the perfect subject for her flagging column and chronicles his sexcapades for the reading public. But when the new column becomes an overnight hit, Anny can’t help but feel conflicted—because now she’s having sex with Mr. X . . . and it’s nothing less than extraordinary. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Barbara Rose Brooker is currently a teacher at San Francisco State University with a masters in creative writing. She has appeared on the Today show and The Talk and has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle, Huffington Post, and more. To read more about this author, visit her website "Bio" HERE. 

MY THOUGHTS/REVIEW:
One might say that Barbara Rose Brooker’s THE VIAGRA DIARIES is chick lit for older chicks, but also one that anyone will get a kick out of. With baby boomers living very full lives, Brooker illustrates what these golden years are like for many people. That isn’t to say that this generation is all about sex, because they are so much more than that, of course! They are vital to society in more ways than many younger people can even imagine, but THE VIAGRA DIARIES does give a bit of relevant humor to their lives.

The main character, Anny Applebaum, is a 65-year-old artist who writes a newspaper column for seniors in order to supplement her income. When she is told that the newspaper wants to discontinue her column unless her following picks up, Anny must come up with a new “hook” to draw in readers.

Nervous about losing her column, Anny, who is somewhat eccentric with a mind of her own, decides to finally follow her daughter’s never-ending “advice” and try online dating to meet someone. Anny, however, is hoping desperately for new material, not particularly new love! That new material comes in the form of Marv, a nice-looking 75-year-old diamond merchant. Marv seems interested in Anny and as we might guess, does get Anny from first kiss to bed fairly quickly.

Brooker creates a well developed, engaging character in Marv as she shows how he is interested in Anny while together and in bed, but at the same time, still is online looking for other conquests, hopefully younger ones. As their relationship goes on, Anny finds great material for her column. With the title of her column being “The Viagra Diaries”, the escapades of “Mr. X”, who is really Marv, becomes the inspiration for the columns. Soon a popular sensation, Anny turns into quite the celebrity and her column becomes nationally syndicated.

In THE VIAGRA DIARIES, readers will find Anny's perceptively witty search for a notable career, bona fide love, and a happy family to be a responsibly thought provoking narrative of an indispensable generation. On top of that, they should also find just an enjoyably fun and fast read! 

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO MELISSA AND THE GOOD FOLKS AT

GALLERY BOOKS AND SIMON & SCHUSTER,

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