Kate: Hello, Charlene! What are your favorite genres to read and write?
Charlene: To read –
I love fantasy / sci-fi and how authors can build such believable worlds and cultures.
Romance is my second choice because, if it’s written really well, you cheer the characters’ every step as they struggle through obstacle after obstacle to get what they want – each other.
Horror is my next choice–sometimes I like a good scare! I also have an active imagination. If the author does good by her/his book, I would either (a) lay awake all night, worrying about what’s under my bed or (b) sleep with the lights on. I know it sounds crazy, but it sure gets your adrenaline flowing! 🙂
To write –
Currently mysteries, whether or not they include romantic or erotic elements. I love puzzles and piecing them together.
Erotica is my next favourite! The freedom to express my desires and fantasies in graphic, no-holds barred detail is wonderful.
I’ve also tried my hand at historicals because I love researching history, but I don’t have a strong hand at it – but that might change.
The last, but not least, is comedy. I’ve always enjoyed humour in a book. I have tried writing it and couldn’t finish a story I was working on. It’s been sitting in my WIP pile and I’ll look at it from time to time, thinking “someday…”
Kate: To you what type of hero/heroine is the hottest? (tortured hero, aggressive alpha male, sweet, etc.)
Charlene: Hero –
That’s a hard one, because I like them all! But I would have to say the Alpha Male. I like a man who knows what he wants and goes after it–it shows ambition. But he also needs to know when to back off if he crosses the line – a unique combination, and one I highly desire.
Heroine –
Self-assured, confident, but not arrogant, although a little cockiness doesn’t hurt–it keeps a guy on his toes! Physical appearance plays a part too, but it’s not as important as the personality. I like a girl who can show the guy what she’s capable of without showing off.
Kate: Share one of the sexiest or most romantic lines from one of your books.
Charlene: Under Cover of Night by Charlene Roberts
http://www.jasminejade.com/pm-7337-551-under-cover-of-night.aspx
But Emma seemed pleased. “I never get the chance to show off my girly things,” she said.
Gerard wanted to see all of her girly things.
Kate: Speaking as one of your characters, describe in a sentence or two what makes your partner irresistible.
Charlene: Emma Parris, RCMP undercover police officer
Gerard McIver, MI-6 undercover agent
Under Cover of Night by Charlene Roberts
http://www.jasminejade.com/pm-7337-551-under-cover-of-night.aspx
I’ll describe Emma in this answer from Gerard’s point of view – She’s spunky, with a good dose of a sense of humour. I never know what to expect from her! She’s been through a hard childhood (her stepfather used her as his partner to steal), but instead of falling into temptation, she’s changed her life around instead. Although I have to wonder if she misses the thrill of the hunt.
Kate: Please tell us about your latest release.
Charlene: Under Cover of Night is about two undercover agents; Emma Parris, who works for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Gerard McIver, who works undercover for England’s MI-6. They’re working on the same case; apprehending an international jewel smuggler, but unknown to each other. While Gerard manages to infiltrate the smuggler’s circle by posing as his driver, Emma’s cover is unique — she poses as a thief to get the smuggler’s attention, and she can do this because she used to be a first class burglar in her own right, thanks to an abusive stepdad and his criminal antics. Of course Emma’s and Gerard’s paths eventually meet, and the sparks fly. But the two of them are doing their damnedest not to cross the line. They fail, and the results are interesting, to say the least! The book has a bit of several genres that I enjoy — erotica, romance, mystery and humour. I really enjoyed writing it.
Kate: What’s upcoming for you?
Charlene: I finished writing a paranormal / urban fantasy, and it’s one of the longest manuscripts I’ve ever written. My friend and critique partner is currently going over it, while I piece together a credible synopsis. It came together from a nugget of an idea that grew in the back of my conscience until it got to a point that I couldn’t ignore it any more, and had to get it down on paper. The fact that NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) had come around the corner just when I got stuck in the middle of the story was fortuitous, and I had finished the last touches to the manuscript a couple of months ago.
I also have an outline for a romantic comedy that I would like to start on next, but the idea for a werewolf novel has been percolating in the back of my mind. I’m trying to decide which one to write as I can’t work on two ideas at once! lol
EXCERPT FROM UNDER COVER OF NIGHT BY CHARLENE ROBERTS:
As Emma started to dance, Gerard felt heat prickle his skin. She’s going to do a striptease, he thought in wonder. His cock swelled swiftly at the image, and he reached down to adjust himself.
“No touching.”
“But darling, I can’t—“
“I can stop if you can’t handle one simple rule.”
Gerard jerked his hands away. “I’m all yours.”
“Good.” She continued her dance, her hips swaying in time to the slow beat, her arms gently rising and falling. Now and again, she’d suggestively touch her body—rubbing her hands across her breasts, spanking her ass or using her finger to trace an outline around her pussy.
He sat transfixed as Emma sashayed across the floor, tempting him with peeks of smooth flesh as she flashed a shoulder here, her waist there. She would gaze at him coyly over her shoulder as she turned, or move so seductively close that he would unconsciously reach for her, only to grab air as she danced away, her laugh low and sexy.
Her shirt inched up, her stomach taut and the color of café au lait, and Gerard suddenly realized that he had never seen Emma completely naked.
With one smooth pull, she had the shirt off and tossed it to him. He caught it. He raised the material to his nose, inhaling her fresh scent, while he kept his gaze glued on the full breasts barely contained in the lacy coral bra, the nipples just peeking over the edge.
Emma moved towards him, her hands massaging over her globes, her fingers dipping into the generous cleavage. “Like what you see so far?” she asked.
Gerard tossed her shirt aside and lunged for her, but she jumped back, laughing. “Don’t be impatient,” she scolded, wagging her finger at him. “The best part is yet to come.”
“Fine,” he growled, sitting back. “Get on with it.”
“Hmm, someone’s grumpy.”
He deliberately let his eyes travel over her until she started to fidget under his intent stare. “I want my dessert.”
The sneakers came off next. By this time, the storm was in force, and Gerard rose to shut the windows against its onslaught. He tried to pass Emma, but she figured out his plan, keeping her distance until he returned to the sofa.
The sound of the rain pattering against the windows was a romantic counterpart to the music flowing from the radio and although his lust felt as sharp as a knife, Gerard managed to relax further into the sofa, watching as Emma hooked her thumbs into the waistband of her fitted pants. With slow, deliberate movements, she eased one side down, then the other, until the material pooled at her feet. She gracefully stepped out of them, kicking them aside, and allowing Gerard to fully appreciate the lush body that stood before him.
Her lingerie was a matched set, the color glowing against the candlelight. As she turned, he drew in a sharp breath, his hands clenching into tight sweaty fists. The panties were high-cut, only covering half of her tight ass as she wriggled.
“What do you think of my underwear?” she asked matter-of-factly. She actually twirled in front of him. “Do you like the color?”
“I—” Gerard couldn’t speak. All he could think of was getting his hands on her, but it wasn’t going to be easy, if she had her way. “It’s very pretty,” he managed to say, sounding like an idiot.
But Emma seemed pleased. “I never get the chance to show off my girly things,” she said.
Gerard wanted to see all of her girly things.
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Great interview. Under Cover of Night sounds wonderful. Very sexy!
Love those alpha heroes, too! Nice dance Emma does to get Gerard all hot and bothered!
Great interview and excerpt!
But Emma seemed pleased. “I never get the chance to show off my girly things,” she said.
Gerard wanted to see all of her girly things.
Love that line:) Congrats on the new release.