Occupation: Owner of Danger Cove Finials and Facades Renovation and Restoration Services
I would guess my work day begins a little different than most women’s. Instead of business casual dress and snappy heels, my uniform is a t-shirt, jeans and a pair of well-worn steel-toed work boots. Why the less than glamorous attire? I’m a general contractor. I buy dilapidated Victorian-style homes and breath new life into their tired, but gorgeous, old bones.
A day in my life isn’t usually very exciting. But you wouldn’t know that from reading about my latest adventure in Secret of the Painted Lady. Most days I’m up to my elbows in saw dust and plaster. There’s a lot of demo work that goes along with the finer restoration work that I love. Some days are more of a grind than others. Until recently the most exciting thing that had happened on a job site was finding original 24-carat gold-leaf paint on a mantle. That was until I found a body in the bathtub of my latest flip, Marlton House. Yep, not your everyday occurrence. And take it from me, dead bodies and job sites do not go well together. Give me roaches or a termite invasion any day. Nothing faster than a dead body to turn your flip into a FLOP!
My home life isn’t exactly typical either. I live in our restored family Victorian called Rockgrove with my grandmother and her potty-mouth parrot, Smitty. It’s no treat to be greeted by a parrot screaming “Lazy wench!” at you every morning before you’ve had your first cup of coffee—trust me. Gram and I get on well as long as she’s not in matchmaking mode. Her latest pick for me was the new town florist, George Fontaine. Although I had my doubts, I have to admit that this time Gram might just have gotten it right. George really came through for me during the Marlton House incident. He may not be able to swing a hammer, but he knows a thing or two about solving a murder.
Well, daylight’s wasting and I’ve got tile to grout, a leaky roof to repair, and a work crew waiting for direction. Just another day at the office for me and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Except maybe for those pesky bodies. Unfortunately, I have a feeling I haven’t seen the last of those. The town isn’t called Danger Cove for nothing.
You can read more about Alex in Secret of the Painted Lady, the first book in the NEW “Danger Cove” mystery series, published by Gemma Halliday Publishing.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on June 8 for the chance to win a signed copy of Secret of the Painted Lady. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your SPAM folder.
Meet the author
Christina wrote her first novel, a time-travel romance, more than twenty years ago. Writing fell by the wayside as 
family and career obligations took over. She earned advanced degrees in business, taught for colleges, managed staffing agencies, and started several entrepreneurial ventures, until she found her way back to fiction writing through the unlikely avenue of metastatic breast cancer. She believes laughter is the best medicine and hopes her readers find a cure for what ails them following the wacky antics of the characters she creates. Christina, her husband, Jim, and their two children live in Dover, Delaware with the family sidekick, a shitzu-poodle mix named Max.
Sounds like a fun read! I don’t think I would like the parrot before I had my coffee either. Thanks for the chance!
I will not be teaching my parrot to say lazy wench. I know without being reminded.
Yes please Dru, I love home repair mysteries. Please enter me in the giveaway.
It’s always fun to see a new series. I love reading your posts.
Sounds like a fun and exciting mystery! Thank you fro the giveaway.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
I have not heard of this series. It sounds great. Thank you for the chance.
Thank you for the chance to win. Through you, I have been introduced to many a great unknown to me authors.
Home repair mysteries seem to be the thing. Sounds like a good one.
Looks like an interesting read. Thanks for the opportunity!
sharonbabyme@yahoo.com
Looks good, new author for me, thanks for the chance
I love the cover and the title that harks back to Nancy Drew, etc. I would love to read this book!
Happy Monday Morning! Thanks for stopping by everybody.
Looks like a fun read, love the cover
Sounds good – can’t wait to read!
A fab day! Absolutely loved the book, and I’m so happy to be part of the Danger Cove series authors. 🙂 xx
Thanks for stopping by Sibel! Sibel’s the author of Murder and Mai Tais: a Danger Cove Cocktail Mystery. This is the next book in the Danger Cove series.
This book sounds great. Maybe I’ll pick up some DIY tips. 🙂
New author, new series for me. Sounds exciting!
New author to me. Thanks for the chance.
Having just gone through a big renovation at my house – I’d enjoy reading about somebody else putting up with dust and mess.
thanks.
Painted Ladies are such beautiful houses. It’s wonderful to see a book with one written into it. robeader53@yahoo.com
I used to live in a “painted lady”. Thankfully it was rented so I didn’t have to do the upkeep myself. It was fun, always made me smile when I came home.
I would love to live in a painted lady. Despite writing the book, I’ve never lived in one.
Thanks for this great feature and giveaway.
I love stories about “painted ladies” and would love a start in this new series.
I bought and read Secret of the Painted Lady on the day it was released. I loved it!!! Such an enjoyable read. Ms. Burke has a very humorous voice. I would love to win a signed copy for my “keeper” shelf. I’m hoping there is another Alex/George story in the works. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
This book sounds like fun. I can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of it.
Sounds like a great cozy, would love to win
Love these books!
Loved it! Can’t wait to see what happens next with the characters and this exciting town.
I’ve already read it, and it’s a great introduction to the whole Danger Cove series.
Hi Gin!! Gin is another author in the Danger Cove series. Her book Four-Patch of Trouble (A Danger Cove Quilting Mystery) will be released June 16.
I can tell this is an engrossing and enjoyable book. Please enter me in the drawing, Dru. Thanks!
Terrific!! I’d love to win – I’ve put the book in my Wish List as well.
I love this series and would be thrilled to win a copy! Thank you for the opportunity.
This sounds like a fun book and I might actually learn something about home renovation or at least repair. Thanks for the giveaway!
The term “painted lady” is such a marvelous one.
Love Victorian homes and a good mystery. Sounds like a fun book to read.
Just having gone through major renovations as a result of a failed sump pump, I have recent first-hand experience of dealing with dust and dirt, and the disruption of moving everything from our basement. What a pain. So I can appreciate the level of detail that your character faces, and the problem you have in balancing how much of that to include in your book. A real challenge. I look forward to reading “Painted Lady.”
Oh, this sounds fun, I have found that I love renovation cozies and with a parrot calling you names, this has to be good. Thanks for the chance to win.
I’ve already read this, but I just have to say how much I loved The Thin Man theme and, of course, that foul-mouthed parrot. LOL
I’m with you 100%; I love that parrot!
I want to know more about the body in the tub!
New to me author and series.
This sounds like a fascinating character and an interesting story. Definitely adding to my collection soon whether I win or not.
First, I’m a total Queenie Baby fan & I love everything Christina Burke writes. I’d bet I’d be fascinated by her grocery lists even. The Danger Cove series has me in a tizzie waiting for new issues to come out. If everybody read the Queenie Baby & Danger Cove series, I’m pretty sure world peace would follow. #fangirlolderwoman
Love your books. Thanks for the chance
Sounds funny and I love a good mystery.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
I like renovation mysteries. Thank you for the chance to win this one.
Sounds like a fun read! Thanks for the chance 🙂
A new series, YEAH!!! Thank you for this giveaway. Love to read new series.
I love Victorian houses—but the upkeep must be murder. I’d like to win this book. Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Wow miss seeing the Victorian houses in SF. Thank you for the giveaway I always love a fun good mystery.
Sounds like wonderful fun.
What a fun looking cover! I like the idea of this character renovating Victorian homes. They had beautiful architecture in that era. I wonder what type of parrot Smitty is?
Lots of books with this theme lately. Like to read about it, not the fixer-upper type myself though.
Gotta love a new series!!!
Count me in on this giveaway…
Lovely cover and perfectly matches the titled painted lady in two of my fave colors. Love architecture and decorating and debut series. All the best with its release. Judy D.
Thanks for commenting Christina.
Contest is closed.