Still the Best Woman For the Job

Familiarise Friday on Features welcomes Sharon C. Cooper who has brought her novel  - Still the Best Woman For The Job - to share with us. Read on to find out about Sharon, and get a great idea from the excerpt about why ...'Toni's the best Woman For the Job'.

Bestselling author, Sharon C. Cooper, lives in Atlanta with her husband and enjoys reading, writing, and rainy days. She writes sweet and contemporary romance, as well as romantic suspense. Sharon is a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), member of Georgia Romance Writers (GRW), and a member of the Page a Day Writers Group. To read more about Sharon and her novels, visit www.sharoncooper.net

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Joint heir to the largest construction company in the state of Ohio, master plumber, Toni (TJ) Jenkins has been groomed to behave in a way that is befitting of the respected Jenkins’ family name. But after she breaks up with the only man she’s ever loved, to protect a secret she holds close to her heart, poor decisions lead her down a path of destruction that risks ruining the reputation of the company her family has worked hard to build.
Cincinnati police officer, Craig Logan, knows Toni is the woman for him. They’ve been apart for months, but when they run into each other at a party, the passion between them sizzles stronger than ever. She says she can’t handle dating a cop, but he senses that something else keeps her from rushing back into his arms. Craig wants her to be his wife, and he’ll do whatever it takes to prove no matter what she’s hiding, she’s still the best woman for the job.

Contemporary Romance

Still the Best Woman for the Job on Amazon

Publication Date: September 25, 2013

And now Sharon is sharing a great little excerpt with us: 
A wave of giddiness gripped Toni the moment she pulled up to Craig’s house. She wasn’t sure what had come over her. She grinned like she’d just learned the secret to keeping a manicure fresh for a month. It wasn’t like she hadn’t seen Craig every day for the past week and a half. Maybe the joy flowing through her veins had something to do with the fact that they were meeting for their first afternoon rendezvous at his place.
She climbed out of her work van and practically floated to the door, and then rang the doorbell.
“Who is it?” Craig asked through the closed door.
“It’s the plumber. I’ve come to fix the sink.”
She heard him laugh before he pulled open the door. “You’re crazy. Get in here.” He tugged her inside and into his arms. Toni couldn’t think of any other place she’d rather be than right there molded against his lean body.  “Well hello,” he mumbled, his lips brushed against hers as he spoke. “I have to admit, you’re the finest plumber I’ve ever laid eyes on. But,” he broke off the kiss suddenly and released her, “you have to hurry and take care of that sink problem before my woman gets here. She’s the jealous type and doesn’t like fine-ass plumbers hanging out in my house.”
“Ha, ha, ha, very funny. I see you’ve got jokes.” Toni took off her work boots and followed him into the kitchen.
“So do you use that ‘I’m here to fix the sink’, line often?” He glanced over his shoulder as he removed a long pan from the oven. “Maybe to pick up unsuspecting men like me?”
“Actually my dear, you’re the only man I’ve used that line on.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him and grinned.
He flashed a goofy I’m-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world smile that lit up his hazel eyes and jump-started the giddiness that swirled around inside her body. When he turned back to his delicious smelling dish and sprinkled additional cheese across the top, Toni couldn’t help but recall the first plumbing job she did for him, he was cooking then too. A small smile tilted her lips as she admired how easily he moved around the kitchen. Unlike the first time they met, today he didn’t have his police uniform on and didn’t look as intimidating. She loved a man in uniform, but Craig’s tall figure in blue jeans hanging low on his hips and a white tank top showing off thick muscular arms and washboard abs were just as sizzling.
“Ahem.”
Toni’s gaze shot up to find Craig checking her out and wearing a crooked grin. She swallowed hard and rubbed her sweaty palms down the thighs of her jeans. Hopefully he couldn’t read minds. If he could, he would know that she was now imagining him naked.
“Uhh … so what’s for lunch?”
Craig sauntered across the room. He pulled her close and nuzzled the side of her neck, his hands easily sliding underneath her T-shirt. “My version of baked Ziti, but now I’m thinking that maybe I should have you for lunch, and we save the Ziti for dessert,” he mumbled against her burning skin. “We have about fifteen minutes before I have to take it out of the oven. Just enough time for a quickie.”
He backed her up to the granite countertop and her entire body went liquid with anticipation when he lifted her shirt over her head and cupped her breasts, sending a spark of desire straight to her midsection. His mouth covered hers in a deep penetrating kiss as he skimmed his skillful fingers over her lace bra, tweaking her nipples, immediately making them rise to attention. All thoughts of food flew out of Toni’s mind and was replaced with a yearning desire to have their bodies joined as one when he paid her other breast the same attention as the first.
Craig lifted his head. “I have to get you out of these clothes,” he said, his gruff voice turning her on almost as much as the quick work he did in stripping her out of her jeans, leaving her with only her bra and bikini panties on. He stood back, his hungry gaze raked over her body and lingered on her breast. “Damn, girl, you’re sexy with or without clothes, but right now I need you up higher. Sometimes I forget how short you are without your heels on.”
“Craig!” she yelped when, without warning, he lifted her and placed her on the cool granite countertop. “My grandmother would have a fit if she saw me sitting on a kitchen counter. Especially if she knew what we were about to do.”
“Well, it’s a good thing she’s not here.”

Sharon - Thank you for visiting my features blog and my very best wishes to you for a great launch tour for 'Still the Best Woman For the Job'. 

Slainthe!

 

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!