I had the pleasure of reading an advance copy of Temporary by Sarina Bowen and Sarah Mayberry, and I had the opportunity to ask them a few questions as well. Read on for my review and interview.
Temporary by Sarina Bowen, Sarah Mayberry
Published by Rennie Road Books on September 12th 2017
Pages: 302 
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The most beautiful man I've ever seen is the one who can ruin everything...
The first time I lay eyes on Callan Walker, I know he’ll be trouble. With his smug grin, hot Aussie accent and thousand dollar shoes, he’s just the kind of rich guy who always gets what he wants.
And he wants two things: a night of sin, and my cooperation as he outmaneuvers his powerful mother to take control of his uncle’s estate.
I can’t afford either one. I’m the only thing standing between my little sister and the foster care system. He may have money and charm on his side, but I have something even more powerful -- pure desperation. This temp job at his mother’s company can become a full time job for me. It has to.
But when Callan’s eyes rake over my body, sometimes I forget my obligations. His piercing gaze finds the fun, optimistic girl I used to be and not the tired person I’ve become.
And it works--if only for a moment. Our night together was a mistake. I can't afford to get sucked into his high-powered family’s treachery. But the closer I get to Callan, the more layers I find beneath those expensive clothes. Though I can’t forget this is temporary. He’s temporary. I have too much to lose.
Too bad my foolish heart didn’t get the memo...
Temporary is a somewhat different take on the office romance trope, and a refreshing one at that.
Grace is a poor New Yorker with a temp job at a billion dollar family-owned company. Callan is a wealthy Australian playboy and the family’s black sheep. Funny enough, this is an office romance where their interactions don’t actually take place in an office, and while the affair doesn’t occur between boss and employee, it’s still forbidden. Callan’s cold, ruthless mother is the CEO, and Grace reports to her. If Callan and his mom were close, a relationship between him and Grace probably wouldn’t be off limits. However, her need for job security requires Grace to keep things professional.
I loved Grace’s huge heart and selfless care of others. Callan is a welcome surprise. With his devotion to his late uncle and gentle care for Grace, he is nothing like your typical rich man ho. I love a good villain, and Callan’s mother is evil incarnate. Having a common enemy creates some wonderfully warm dynamics and clever maneuvering.
Collaborative writing can be tricky, and I think Sarina Bowen and Sarah Mayberry are successful in meshing their writing styles. Temporary is an entertaining story with just the right amount of romance.
Recommended for fans of:
Office romance
Aussies
Espressos and lattes
Poodles
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**
Interview with Sarina Bowen and Sarah Mayberry
RFBB: How did you wind up collaborating on Temporary?
Sarina: When I was planning my year, I thought about the things that had given me the most joy, and collaborating was definitely one of them. I’d been reading Sarah for years, and thought our writing styles would suit.
Sarah: So she asked, and I pinched myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming, then immediately said yes.
RFBB: Who came up with the concept?
Sarina: I lived in New York for many years and thought that would make a great setting. And I had an idea about who Grace was.
Sarah: We basically spitballed from there, adding layers to complicate things for Grace and Callan. We knew we wanted to do the Australian/US clash of cultures thing, and we had a lot of fun with it.
RFBB: Have you met each other in person?
Sarah: No, but it has to happen. My plan is to lure Sarina to Australia somehow. Maybe bait a trap with Chris Hemsworth…
Sarina: I’m in!
RFBB: How was the work divided? Did you each write for a particular character?
Sarah: We both wrote both parts, passing the baton back and forth as we finished scenes.
Sarina: It’s much more fun that way.
RFBB: Grace and Callan have a thing for good coffee and red wine. What are your drinks of choice?
Sarah: Coffee. French Champagne. Water.
Sarina: Coffee and red wine!
RFBB: Some people, like Grace and her sister, are addicted to reality TV. Some people stalk Instagram for photos of hot celebrities such as Callan. What’s your guilty pleasure?
Sarah: At the moment it’s episodes of the plastic surgery show Botched. I don’t know why, since I am squeamish, but I find it fascinating.
Sarina: Salted caramel anything, take out Indian food, the secret baby trope. Oh, and forgotten 80s tunes.
Sarah: Yes!! I am also obsessed with 80s tunes, mostly electronic dance music. New Order, anyone?
RFBB: What projects are on the horizon for each of you?
Sarah: Finishing book three in my Brothers Ink series.
Sarina: Finishing book four in my True North series.
About Sarah Mayberry
Sarah Mayberry lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her partner of nearly twenty years (who has recently become her husband!). When she’s not in her pajamas eating peanut butter sandwiches and typing away madly on her latest story, she enjoys reading, cooking, sleeping, Pilates, going to the movies and shopping. Not necessarily in that order!
Some of Sarah’s favorite authors are Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Rachel Gibson, Karina Bliss, Mary Balogh, Julie James, Sherry Thomas, Meredith Duran, and Loretta Chase. Her favorite movie is When Harry Met Sally, although she is also very fond of His Girl Friday and Something About Mary.
About Sarina Bowen
Sarina Bowen is the award-winning author of more than thirty contemporary novels. She has hit the USA Today bestseller’s list nineteen times and counting. Formerly a derivatives trader on Wall Street, Sarina holds a BA in economics from Yale University.
Sarina is a New Englander whose Vermont ancestors cut timber and farmed the north country since the 1760s. Sarina is grateful for the invention of indoor plumbing and wi-fi during the intervening 250 years. She lives with her family on a few wooded acres in New Hampshire.
Sarina’s books are published in over a dozen languages on five continents.
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