Welcome to Caribbean Accent Book Reviews, Bronwen Evans. It’s fun getting to know more about new-to-me authors like yourself.

Readers, Bronwen has included a GIVEAWAY that’s tied into the excerpt from “The Reluctant Wife“.

Once you’ve read the excerpt, post your answer to her question in the Comments section.

Bronwen, let’s get right into things. 😀

• CABR: “The Reluctant Wife” is definitely not a Regency romance. What led you to write a contemporary romance and is this your first?

BE: Hi Sasha – Waving from New Zealand. I have been to your part of the world once. I spent 3 weeks in Turks and Caicos which was heaven on earth!

“The Reluctant Wife” is my first contemporary romance. I wrote the story because Dante and Abby popped into my head one afternoon when I was feeling a bit sorry for myself (part of the story I can relate to very well). Once there, they would not leave. It just seemed to be one of those stories I had to tell. A girl who married too young, a man who felt the weight of duty, and what happens when life throws you a curve ball.

I enjoyed writing a contemporary for a change. I think it will keep my historical romances fresher. I’m hoping there will be more contemporaries for me. I suppose it will depend on how this does. I’m working on another now called “The Nanny Trap“.

CABR: That’s great news 🙂 D

• escribe Taylor and her estranged husband Dante in 10 words each.

BE: Abby – contained, warm, friendly, strong, determined, loyal, beautiful, sexy, loveable, empathetic

Dante – handsome, witty, ruthless, stubborn, loyal, responsible, leader, arrogant, humble, loveable

CABR: 

• Did you have a special song/s that you listened to while writing “The Reluctant Wife”?

BE: Yes – I played Keith Urban’s, Days Go By

CABR: I’ll have to check that out. So, w

• hat are you working on this year?

BE: I’ve got loads on this year. I’m writing two Regency romances, one, “Invitation to Passion“, I’m self-publishing April 2013, and other is book two, “A Touch of Marriage“, book two in my Disgraced Lords series for my contract with Random House Loveswept. I’m hoping to publish one contemporary romance, “The Nanny Trap“, and three long Regency novellas to self-publish. I may not get all of the novellas finished but I’ll try….

CABR: Wow. Best of luck with all that Bronwen 🙂

TRIVIA

CABR: 

• Which character from fiction, yours or another author’s, would you like to spend time with and why?

BE: I spend time with my characters every day, and I can talk to them whenever I like, so, I’d probably want to meet another author’s characters.

Then I could delve deeper and ask more questions. The one I’d really like to grill and probably kick him up the backside is Mac Mackenzie from Jennifer Ashley’s “Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage“. What was he thinking…

CABR: 

• Coffee or Tea?

BE: Tea. Coffee is not good for anyone suffering from Endometriosis.

CABR: I did not know that. Good info.

Dogs or Cats?

BE: I’m a definite dog person but I get terrible hay fever so they have to be dogs with wool coats not fur, like a poodle.

CABR: Beach or spa vacation?

BE: Spa vacation. I love the water but prefer lakes, rivers or the best swimming pools. I can’t be dealing with all the sand…However; I would make an exception for the fine sandy white beaches of the Caribbean. We don’t have those in NZ, only coarse grey sand.

CABR: You’re welcome in my neck of the Caribbean anytime. 🙂

Excerpt from “The Reluctant Wife“:

Abby took a step back. “No. I listened enough for the first twelve months of my marriage. Not this time. This time you listen. Don’t expect me to be a doormat. I came here thinking you’d do the decent thing and help me. I thought you’d do anything for your family. I thought, for old times’ sake, that vow might extend to me and my grandmother.”

Her words needled him until his temper rose.

“One favor deserves another. It’s not as if I’m asking for anything you did not stand in a church and vow to give me. Besides, having you back in my bed would be a pleasure—for us both.” Her face flooded with color at her words.

The corners of her lips turned down. “Sex. You’re all about sex. But not because you want me, but because you crave a child.”

“You’re wrong. You don’t understand. You think you know me, mio fiore, but you don’t.”

She raised her head high. “I’m pretty sure you no longer know me at all. I want and deserve more from a marriage. My answer is no. Categorically no. I’ll find another way to get the money.”

“You and I were married. You are still my wife.”

Abby’s eyes glittered with distaste. “Your problem, not mine. I have no intention of marrying again so I’m more than happy to wait the three years for a divorce. Screw your business deal. Isn’t the Lombardi Group big enough as it is? Why do you want more?” She looked at her watch. “It’s late. I’m tired. As it appears you haven’t changed one bit, I’ll take my leave.”

Abby turned and started toward the door.

“Va bene. Do what you do so well—run away again, Abby.”

She hesitated with her hand on the door handle.

She threw a look over her shoulder. “Good-bye, Dante. Have a nice life. I’m sure you’ll have no problem replacing me. You’ve made it perfectly clear I am not, and never was, important to you.”

I hope you enjoy THE RELUCTANT WIFE. Feel free to email me and let me know.

Giveaway: Now, tell me what “Va bene” means in Italian and I’ll draw one lucky winner who’ll receive a copy of my May 2012 Regency historical, Invitation to Scandal, in book or eBook format.

Bronwen loves hearing from avid romance readers at romance@bronwenevans.com

You can keep up with Bronwen’s news by visiting her website www.bronwenevans.com

BUY Links for “The Reluctant Bride”:

Amazon http://amzn.to/VdnXzK

B&N http://bit.ly/UCy4Rp

About Bronwen:

New Zealander Bronwen Evans grew up loving books. She’s always indulged her love for story-telling, and is constantly gobbling up movies, books and theatre. Her head is filled with characters and stories, particularly lovers in angst. Is it any wonder she’s a proud romance writer?

She writes both historical and contemporary sexy romances for the modern woman who likes intelligent, spirited heroines, and compassionate alpha heroes. Her debut Regency romance, Invitation to Ruin won the RomCon 2012 Readers Crown Best Historical and was an RT Reviewers’ Choice Nominee Best First Historical 2011. To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield was a FINALIST in the Kindle Book Review Indie Romance Book of the Year 2012. Look out for her first Entangled Publishing Indulgence released Dec 2012, “The Reluctant Wife”.