Review and Interview - Two Timing the Boss and Christine Warner

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. 

Christine's Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodread

Two Timing the Boss on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Wild Rose Press

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.

 

Christine's Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads 

Two Timing the Boss on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Wild Rose Press

Thanks for visiting today, Christine. Best wishes with Two Timing the Boss- it was a very entertaining read. 

Slainthe!