Today my Features blog extends a huge welcome to my Wild Rose Press friend - Christine Warner. We've got lots in store for you including an interview, an excerpt for your coffee-break read and my review of her very entertaining romance - Two Timing the Boss.
My questions for Christine:
Take yourself back 20 years and tell us if you had any
aspirations to become an author at that time.
Most definitely. I
knew I wanted to write when I won an essay contest in elementary school and
then a couple of years after that I won a young authors contest. I was hooked J
What were you mainly doing as a daily occupation at that
time?
I was a starry-eyed
elementary student who entertained her classmates at recess with made up
stories that featured them as the main characters. Lol Oh, the fun!
And today? How do you mainly spend an average day?
I’m lucky that I work
my 30 hours per week on Saturday and Sunday. I know, you’re thinking that
doesn’t sound lucky—but it affords me plenty of time during the week to tend to
my real passion—writing romance.
Now jump forward 20 years from today. What do you think
you’d like to be doing then?
Definitely still
writing romance, but I’d like to be doing it on my own little tropical island
surrounded by my close friends and family and pets J
That sounds like heaven doesn’t it?
What’s your preferred genre for reading material?
I love to read
contemporary romance, which is probably why I love to write it so much. But I
did promise myself in 2012 that I’d expand my horizons and have read some
wonderful historicals and paranormals.
I also love to read
true crime, especially if it was written by Ann Rule. I’ve had a fascination
with true crime since the early 90’s. You’d think I’d write suspense wouldn’t
you, but for some reason I can’t stop my humor from coming through on the pages
and that doesn’t always mix well.
What genre/ sub-genre do you feel comfortable writing in?
Contemporary romance
all the way. I’d love to branch out eventually, but I’m in no rush.
My first book, Some
Like it in Handcuffs, is actually a light hearted romantic suspense…but with
humor. I had a great time with that story and the characters, but I still crave
contemporary for the most part.
What do you think will be the main reading materials within
the next decade? Books, some form of portable tablets?
Truthfully I think
there will be a mixture. There are some books that I don’t mind reading on my Nook
and am happy to add them to my virtual library. But then there are those books
that I just have to hold in my hand. An old favourite, or a new favourite that
I know I want to display proudly on my bookshelves for all to see.
In recent years there’s been a movement towards popular
cult-type stories- sometimes driven by what’s been popular on TV and the
cinema, like Vampire, shifter, time-shift sub-genres. What do you see as being
the ideal focus to capture the imagination in 5 years time?
I like that there is
a mixture so that everyone can find what they enjoy. If you enjoy vampires,
then I hope there are many books and movies and television series to fill your
spare time. And that goes along with wishing all historical fans find what they
are looking for as well as lovers of contemporaries, steam-punk, westerns…well,
you get the picture. There’s room enough for all genres.
Can you give us an idea of what your writing schedules might
be like during the remainder of 2013 and on to 2014?
I actually have decided to devote 2013 to “me time”—does that sound
greedy? Lol By “me time” I am referring to writing time. I’d like to write and
submit at least 3 books in 2013 and then add maybe one or two more to that
schedule for 2014. I want to focus on what I love—and that love is writing.
Fast and furious:
Ice cream or chocolate cake?
Uh-oh, I’m going to
show my greed again. I’m thinking chocolate cake with ice cream..vanilla works
for me.
Home made lemonade or rum cocktails?
I’m really a bit
water and tea drinker, but if I had to choose from these two, I’d go with home
made lemonade.
Cycling tour of France
or a beach holiday in the Caribbean?
Definitely a beach
holiday in the Caribbean…I might even ride a
bike while I’m there, but I don’t want it to be a competition…lol
A date with a politician (you can name if you choose this
one), or a date with Gerard Butler?
Hands down (or
wrapped around his delish body) I’d go with Gerard Butler. YUM!
Children or pets?
I love my kids beyond
words, and I love my pets as well because they are also like my kids. How about
we give me a twofer here? lol
Great answers Christine! It's good to get to know you that little bit more.
And... before my review which I thoroughly enjoyed writing, we'll read the blurb to get the jist of it...
Farah Smith is on a mission:
secure the funds for her twin sister’s surgery. She’ll do whatever it takes to
succeed. Even if that means putting her values aside to work for a man she
finds morally bankrupt. But when the real Farah meets her new boss, she wonders
if she’ll be able to resist his sexy advances long enough to help her
sister.
From the blonde wig, to the stilettos strapped
around her ankles, Farah’s a clone of Keller Donovan’s harem of past
assistants. She can’t believe she’s let herself be talked into the disguise,
let alone working for the man planning to demolish the hospital her sister so
desperately needs, but the salary he offers is the only way she’ll be able to
afford her sister’s surgery. The moment Farah meets Keller she realizes her
most daunting task isn’t typing, spreadsheets or organizing travel
arrangements, but fighting the growing attraction toward a man whose
ruthlessness is legendary in the boardroom as well as the bedroom.
Determined not to end up in a disastrous
marriage like his divorced parents, Keller believes all relationships should
have a shelf life of sixth months or less. But when he meets Farah, all bets
are off. He not only wants her to continue as his personal assistant, but his
own private bed warmer. Unfortunately, his offer of an affair doesn’t sit well
with her fairytale dreams or the strangled hold gripping his heart.
My review:
Two Timing the Boss by Christine Warner
Another highly entertaining read from Christine Warner! What
lengths will one twin go to, to ensure the health and wellbeing of the other?
At first I wasn’t too enamoured with the seemingly selfish Karah, but she
eventually grew on me. On the other hand, it’s very easy to empathise with
Farah since she’s willing to do so much for her sister. The deception Farah
practices to gain the job with Keller Donovan proves to be much more arduous
than she may have imagined when the idea was mooted – and maintaining the
disguise provides plenty of instances for humour in the novel. I definitely
wouldn’t have liked to be ‘in her shoes’! I liked it that Keller may have been
a guy with a ‘tainted’ reputation but that he really is a man with a big heart.
This was an easy read with a good pace which kept me interested from start to
finish.
I award it a 5***** read.
Christine Warner is living her dream in Michigan along with her
husband, three children, one laptop and a much loved assortment of furry
friends. Besides laughing and a good round of humor, she enjoys spending time
with her family, cooking, reading, writing but no arithmetic. A confessed
people watcher, she finds inspiration for her stories in everyday activities.
She loves to read and write about strong heroes and determined, sometimes
sassy, heroines. A girl gone wild, at least where social media is concerned,
she enjoys meeting other avid readers and writers on Facebook, Twitter and her
Website.
Excerpt:
These damn shoes would be the
death of her. She could read the headlines now: Penniless P.A. Falls
to her Death while on Job Interview.
Almost to her destination, with no more mishaps, her confidence surfaced. Okay,
maybe mastering this heel thing wouldn’t be such a big deal. Her steps became
light, almost bouncy. Although she sensed Keller Donovan behind her, she didn’t
let it deter her feeling of success. She stepped onto the large black and red
area rug, less than ten feet from her target. The leather chairs.
“Oh!” Farah’s spiky heel caught on the edge of the expensive rug. Her legs
shook and she shot her arms out from her sides, circling them like a bird about
to take flight. She fought to regain balance inside the ridiculous stilts
strapped to her feet. A brawl to the death. Over when she looked down to see
the rug coming up to kiss her face. She threw out her hands, sucked in a breath
and closed her eyes, scrunching her face as she prepared for impact.
But nothing happened. There were stars all right, and a blazing jolt of
electricity shot from her toes, up her legs, through her body and exited with
the small gasp which escaped her lips. Somehow Keller Donovan had grabbed her
around the waist before she met the floor.
Heat burned her cheeks. He may have saved her body from bruises, but her ego,
and whatever confidence she’d walked in with had shattered.
“Let’s not have an accident before your health benefits kick in.” His breath
tickled her ear from behind. Chills hugged her backbone.
His touch released an unsettling flutter in her abdomen. She sucked in her
stomach from the pressure of his strong arms wrapped around her middle, afraid
to breathe.
Thanks for visiting today, Christine. Best wishes with Two Timing the Boss- it was a very entertaining read.
Slainthe!
I'm delighted to welcome Tara Mills to Familiarise Friday today. 
