Greene, Jennifer 1948- [A pseudonym] (Jeanne Grant, Alison Hart, Jessica Massey)

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Greene, Jennifer 1948- [A pseudonym] (Jeanne Grant, Alison Hart, Jessica Massey)

PERSONAL:

Born 1948, in MI; married; husband's name Lar; children: two. Education: Michigan State University, received degrees in English and psychology.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Benton Harbor, MI. E-mail—jennifer@jennifergreene.com.

CAREER:

Author, 1980—. Also worked as a teacher, counselor, and personnel manager.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Silver Medallion, Romance Writers of America, 1984, for Silver and Spice; RITA Awards, Romance Writers of America, 1996 and 1998; also recipient of outstanding woman graduate award, Michigan State University, Best Series Author citation, Reviewers Choice, and Career Achievement and Lifetime Achievement awards from Romantic Times, 1998; inducted into Romance Writers of America's Hall of Fame, 1998.

WRITINGS:

ROMANCE NOVELS

(Under pseudonym Jessica Massey) Stormy Surrender, Avon (New York, NY), 1984.

Madam's Room, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1986.

Body and Soul, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1986.

Foolish Pleasure, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1986.

Lady Be Good, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1987.

Secrets, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1987.

Dear Reader, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1987.

Minx, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1987.

The Castle Keep, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1988.

Lady of the Island, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1988.

Love Potion, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1988.

Night of the Hunter, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1989.

Dancing in the Dark, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1989.

Devil's Night, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1989.

Broken Blossom, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1990.

Heat Wave, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1990.

Slow Dance, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1990.

Falconer, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1991.

Night Light, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1991.

It Had to Be You, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1992.

Pink Topaz, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1992.

Just Like Old Times, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1992.

Quicksand, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1993.

A Groom for Red Riding Hood, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1994.

Bewitched, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1994.

Bothered, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1994.

Bewildered, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1995.

Arizona Heat, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1995.

Single Dad Seeks …, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1995.

Riley's Baby, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1996.

Bachelor Mum, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1996.

The Unwilling Bride, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1996.

Nobody's Princess, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1997.

200 Per Cent Wife, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1997.

A Baby in His In-box, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Her Holiday Secret, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1998.

Kiss Your Prince Charming, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1999.

Prince Charming's Child, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 1999.

Millionaire M.D., Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2001.

Rock Solid, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2001.

The Woman Most Likely To …, Avon Books (New York, N.Y.), 2002.

Where Is He Now?, Avon Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Wild in the Field, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Wild in the Moment, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Wild in the Moonlight, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Hot to the Touch, Silhouette Books (New York, NY), 2005.

Lucky, Harlequin (Dons Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2005.

Blame It on Chocolate, HQN (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2006.

The Soon-to-Be-Disinherited Wife, Harlequin (New York, NY), 2006.

Sparkle, Harlequin (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2006.

Blame It on Cupid, HQN (Don Mills, Ontario, Canada), 2007.

ROMANCE NOVELS; UNDER PSEUDONYM JEANNE GRANT

Man from Tennessee, Avon (New York, NY), 1983.

A Daring Proposition, Avon (New York, NY), 1983.

Kisses from Heaven, Avon (New York, NY), 1984.

Sunburst, Avon (New York, NY), 1984.

Wintergreen, Avon (New York, NY), 1984.

Trouble in Paradise, Avon (New York, NY), 1984.

Sugar and Spice, Avon (New York, NY), 1984.

Conquer the Memories, Avon (New York, NY), 1984.

Ain't Misbehaving, Avon (New York, NY), 1985.

Can't Say No, Avon (New York, NY), 1985.

Pink Satin, Avon (New York, NY), 1985.

Sweets to the Sweet, Avon (New York, NY), 1986.

No More Mr. Nice Guy, Avon (New York, NY), 1986.

Tender Loving Care, Avon (New York, NY), 1987.

SIDELIGHTS:

Best known as Jennifer Greene, romance novelist Alison Hart also writes under the pseudonyms Jeanne Greant and Jessica Massey. In Sparkle, wrote Kassia Krozser on the Paperback Reader Web site, "Jennifer Greene took a lot of the elements that make me cranky about romance—overly saccharine scenarios, too much simpatico between female characters, glorified small town setting—and made them both familiar and unique." Jennifer Greene is a pen name of Alison Hart, who has been writing romances since 1980. She has earned numerous awards for her approach to the genre, including career achievement and lifetime achievement awards from the Romantic Times, and a place in the Romance Writers of America's Hall of Fame. "Jennifer Greene," stated Romance Reader Web site contributor Mary Benn in her review of Blame It on Cupid, "gives us characters we really care about." "Greene isn't writing satire," concluded Krozser; "she's writing about the world people inhabit."

Sparkle tells the story of two women: a dog groomer named Poppy Thompson, who works for the local veterinarian, and Bren Price, the wife of the minister. The two women receive a bequest in the will of a local woman, who leaves them what was popularly thought to be costume jewelry—but which turns out, on closer inspection, to be real. Both women are confronted with an unusual question: what will they do with the incredible legacy of wealth they have received? For Greene, however, the developing friendship between the two women is at least as important as the money they have to spend. "With tart wit, a gift for crafting compelling characters, and writing that delivers a strong emotional punch," John Charles declared in Booklist, "Greene constructs a superb story." "Sparkle," Krozser stated, "is about good things happening to people who don't expect them."

In Blame It on Cupid, Greene takes an equally unlikely plot (an unmarried woman is charged with the guardianship of a young girl, the daughter of a passing acquaintance) and explores its potential for comic and romantic possibilities. Merry Olsen takes responsibility for her friend's daughter, Charlie—but she also has to convince both the court that oversees her ward, and Charlie herself, that she is a responsible adult able to cope with the stresses imposed on her. Complicating Merry's relationship with Charlie is the fact that her new home is right next door to the home of an attractive divorced father of two. "All in all," Benn concluded, "Greene avoids the mawkish, the tragic and the saccharin. She does an outstanding job creating something real and multidimensional out of what is essentially category romance material. If you like character-driven, feel-good stories, this one is definitely a must read." "Sharply drawn characters," Kristin Ramsdall declared in Library Journal, "add depth to this well-written, emotionally rich story that explores some serious issues (e.g., grief, adoption) with humor and sensitivity." Greene, said Booklist reviewer John Charles, "demonstrate[s] a rare gift for crafting emotionally satisfying contemporary romances."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, December 15, 2003, John Charles, review of Where Is He Now?, p. 733; August 1, 2005, John Charles, review of Lucky, p. 2005; January 1, 2006, John Charles, review of Blame It on Chocolate, p. 71; July 1, 2006, John Charles, review of Sparkle, p. 40; February 1, 2007, John Charles, review of Blame It on Cupid, p. 37.

Books, January 14, 2007, John Charles, review of Blame It on Cupid, p. 10.

Library Journal, December 1, 2006, Kristin Ramsdell, "Romance," p. 102.

Publishers Weekly, September 2, 2002, review of The Woman Most Likely To …, p. 61; November 3, 2003, review of Where Is He Now?, p. 59.