Pretty Sassy Cool All Things Pretty, Sassy, and Cool.
We’re so excited to talk about A Friendly Arrangement, the hot followup to A Friendly Engagement by Christine Warner. We’ve got a fun excerpt to share with you as well as our thoughts on the book, but first we’re in for a real treat! Christine sat down and chatted with us about A Friendly Arrangement:
***INTERVIEW***
Thank you! That just made my day
What happens when your plus one becomes the one? Find out with #AFriendlyArrangement #FriendsFirst #2 #entangledpub http://tinyurl.com/q5cqtw7
LOL…nope, I haven’t been thinking about that for a while at all. And, if you want to copy and paste and retweet, I won’t complain.
I love—and I mean LOVE—friends to lovers’ stories. So, basically I knew first off that I wanted to write that type of book, then the idea of having it revolve around three brothers hit me, and everything just kind of flew from there.
Book 1 is A Friendly Engagement and the hero Omar has two brothers—Roth and Jared. Omar and Roth—the hero in A Friendly Arrangement—have had a tense past. There’s glimpses into each brother’s pasts, but the meat of the stories show how each brother manages to let go of their past regrets and issues to become successful men. Although they don’t think they could find love, or even deserve it in some cases, deep down it’s their saving grace. Each woman in their lives—who are friends first—help them in ways they never imagined, and at the same time they help them, too. I wanted the books to be fun and lighthearted, because reading is an escape from everyday life, so I didn’t want to make the story lines to heavy.
I sweat and write and rewrite and add and delete and make my sister look things over. Lol
Truthfully I let the characters lead me. I don’t like to get to descriptive, but I also like it to be hot and steamy and sexy. I hope I’m hitting the mark without going over it.
Holly is an independent woman who is self employed as a virtual assistant. She loves the freedom of working her own schedule, whenever and wherever she is. She’s trying to prove to her family that she can run her own life on her own terms, but deep down—although she is strong—the main thing she says she doesn’t want is what will make her happiest.
OMG!! Roth is so hot, at least in my mind’s eye and hopefully reader’s eyes as well. He’s one of those guys who look great in faded jeans worn low on the hip and a faded concert tee. He’s a big guy with a large tattoo covering his back, he has long dark hair that he pulls back into a ponytail when he’s working. Oh, and his work—he’s a well-known jewelry designer. What girl wouldn’t like a plus one who designs jewelry? She might just get some of his rejects. Lol
When Holly first met him her first thought was “biker-dude”, but he has a soft side—especially when it comes to Holly.
LOL. That’d be fun. I would introduce Devi Boss—who is the heroine in A Friendly Engagement—to Sunny Kennedy from Some Like it in Handcuffs. They are both free spirits that like to live life in the moment and I think they’d have a great time together. They might even get into some trouble.
Loyal. Compassionate. Funny. (at least I think I’m funny…lol)
Hmm…that I’m not funny? Lol. Just kidding. That I own two classic cars and I know nothing about cars. I actually co-own the cars with my brother and sister. We are very close. We share the pink slips on a 1960 t-bird and a 1960 Ford Sunliner. Most people haven’t heard of the second one. The cars were my dad’s and my grandfathers. They bought them on the same day and before my grandfather passed away he gave his to my dad, and when my dad passed away my siblings and I decided to keep them.
Too much info, right? lol
I’m kind of boring. I write best in the morning and I prefer it to be quiet. I wish I could write to music or something fun, but it’s not meant to be. I think I get distracted to easily and if a song I like is playing I’ll want to sing along, which makes it difficult to write.
When I’m writing a character that is the one who makes me swoon the most. Lol
Sounds like I have commitment issues doesn’t it?
I have so many projects in my head and partially started that I should be working on books until 2025 with no room for a break. I have a cowboy series I’m working on and hope to submit a proposal soon. I also have a half written novella for my Sweet Fifties series that takes place in the 50s, and a few other ideas simmering on the back burner that I jot down notes on as they come to me. I’m hoping to write a fun little series with some humor—if I can pull it off. And, if that isn’t enough, I’d like to write a New Adult book. I have two ideas for a story, and like the idea of challenging myself by writing in first person.
How do you manage to have the skin and figure of a 25 year old? Lol
Other than that, not really. I hope that I’m approachable and so far anything I’ve been asked hasn’t offended me or shocked me, so ask away!
Woohoo…that was fun. Thank you so much for having me, and I hope you enjoy Roth and Holly’s story.
***About Christine Warner***
Christine Warner is living her dream in Michigan along with her family, three laptops (she might have a slight addiction, or maybe it’s a fear of one imploding from overuse) 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, Instagram, Goodreads, and her website at christine-warner.com.
***About the Book***
A Friendly Arrangement by Christine Warner Series: Friends First #2
Published by Entangled: Select on October 26, 2015
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Fake Relationship to More, Friends to More
Pages: 200
Goodreads Buy the Book
What happens when your plus one becomes "the one"?
Holly Haggerty and Roth Esterly are two besties with everything in common--they're neighbors, career-driven, and commitment-phobes. Tired of always being set up on dates by well-meaning friends and family, they take matters into their own hands: they will be the other's plus one--a little friendly arrangement between friends.
Easy…until a steamy night where they cross the line. But that's okay, they'll add an addendum--one that includes a little action between the sheets…on top of the sheets…and without the sheets. But there are rules. Dating and sex are exclusive until one of them decides to terminate the agreement. No slumber parties. And if either party becomes emotionally involved they will break things off with no hard feelings.
When unexpected news changes their plans and turns their fun arrangement into something more serious, Holly and Roth must come to terms with what's more important--what they thought they wanted, or what they really need.
***Our Review***
Kassiah: This book was fun. I love friends-to-more stories and fake-boyfriend/girlfriend-to-real relationships, so this one should have been right up my alley. Unfortunately, though I really enjoyed Holly and Roth’s banter and thought they were cute together, I am tired of one particular trope that I can’t tell you about without giving this story away. I wish that part hadn’t happened, because I think they would have gotten there on their own.
I know, cryptic-not-so-cryptic.
Holly needs a date to a party when she loses a client due to a breakup. She enlists the help of neighbor and friend, Roth, to accompany her. He agrees on the the condition that she return the favor the following weekend. Perfect compromise with friends helping each other out, right? Right. Except they realize they have a thing for each other and since they can’t commit to a real relationship, they enter into the FWB zone.
I really loved their chemistry and the way their relationship developed, though it was a little fast for me. But what am I saying? I totally believe in love at first sight. I guess I just didn’t love the whole “we’re best friends but don’t know anything about each other” aspect. The pacing of the story was good and I enjoyed the writing.
If you didn’t read A Friendly Engagement, you can totally read this as a standalone. A Friendly Arrangement is a quick read with great chemistry and a predictable storyline that turned out to be a little too cliché.
- {Review} Heartland by Sarina Bowen (with Excerpt) - January 31, 2020
- {Cover Reveal} Moonlighter by Sarina Bowen (with Giveaway) - September 26, 2019
- {Spotlight} The DNA of You and Me by Andrea Rothman - March 26, 2019
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| Overall: | 3 |
***EXCERPT***
Holly pushed herself up so that her back rested against the headboard and glanced around Roth’s room. Every nook and cranny whispered his name. The modern lines of the furniture, the suede-brown colored walls, the sparse decorations, and the neatly arranged pictures and books on the shelf filling the wall across from the bed.
She closed her eyes and breathed in. And the spicy smell. He definitely filled the space, and she felt like and intruder in his area.
Of course, she’d been in his room before, but she’d never spent the night. Never saw the first light of day reflecting off the Grand River and breaking through the windows, or the soft sounds of Roth in the kitchen.
She liked it, but hated herself at the same time.
They’d broken another rule. No slumber parties.
Keep Reading the Excerpt for A Friendly Arrangement
Keep Reading the Excerpt for A Friendly Arrangement
Her chest tightened as realization sank in. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She hadn’t planned on letting their sex play move into the bedroom. From there, pillow talk had followed, he’d wrapped her in his strong arms, and she’d turned to liquid, dozing off into such a deep sleep she hadn’t woken until the smell of bacon tickled her nose.
Soft footsteps approached the door, and a sudden rise of panic filled her lungs, taking her breath.
He’d cooked her breakfast.
You’re walking a slippery slope.
Things were spiraling out of control. This shouldn’t be happening.
Their friendship shouldn’t have gone in this direction, because this was no longer a friendship.
Their sex was hotter than Hades, but sharing the morning with him over eggs and toast would be a mistake.
A domestic mistake.
And she didn’t do domestic. Or commitment. Or relationships. Or…
But you want to. You want to with Roth.
The sudden realization hit her like a slap across the face on a cold winter’s day just as Roth entered the room.
What do you think, Pretties? Are you as excited to check out this series as we were?
Thank you so much Kassiah for taking the time to read and review A FRIENDLY ARRANGEMENT! Also, thank you for having me on your amazing blog. I enjoyed our interview 🙂