Jerk of My Dreams #12

Jerk. Asshole. Douchenozzle. Admit it- you hate to love the jerks. That alpha male character who is so arrogant and rude but sexy as hell. That foul mouthed douche bag of a man who rocks your traitorous heart. We've all read them and we've all liked them to some extent. In real life you wouldn't touch the man with a ten foot pole. But in the fictional world? Nothing can stand in the way! Everyone would be lying to themselves if they didn't admit that the meaner the man, the further we run... Towards them! *sigh*

That's what this weekly meme is about- those jerky delicious men! Each Friday this meme will go up, and you can share your jerk anyway you want: review, interview, lines and quotes, giveaway of a book. However you want! All you have to do is sign up HERE and follow the linky. Any time you comment on someones post, leave your link so that person can comment back.

So, I’m in a serious conundrum. I really unsure what to do.  I just finished reading WalkingDisaster. It’s exactly what I was promised, it’s the retelling of BeautifulDisaster (which I loved) but from Travis Maddox’s point of view.

So, why the conundrum?

There were parts I loved. Parts I devoured. There points where I couldn’t put it down. Then there were parts where I was bored. Why was I bored? I already knew the story. Ms. McGuire did exactly what she promised. She DELIVERED on that promise. But, for some strange reason I wanted something a little different.

So, the problem is mine, not Ms. McGuire’s. I cannot hold it against Jamie McGuire for giving me EXACTLY what I was promised.

It was interesting to see things from Travis’ point of view. It was very emotional to watch him fall apart over Abby. To watch him get tied up in knots as he tried to hard to be what she needed, what she wanted. It was amazing to see him become the man he was supposed to be.

As crazy as this sounds, I think the best part was the prologue where we saw Travis with his mother. It explained so much about Travis. It gave me a deeper understanding of Travis.

Since this is Travis' story, I'll focus on him. Travis is a jerk. A nice jerk, but still a jerk. He's a reputation on campus as being a manwhore. He picks up women, takes them home, does them on the couch (they don't even warrant a bed), then sends them home. Amazingly enough, the women often get mad at him for this, even though everyone on campus knows how he is! While he would never lay a hand on a woman in anger, he will get in the face of any man that pisses him off!

When he's with Abby, OMFG! Everything he says is wrong. He just keeps pissing her off. However, she does give as good as she gets when it comes to Travis! Jerk of My Dreams moment for me? When he picked her up, threw her over his shoulder and carried her home from the Valentine Party. Totally jerky, but at the same time, so romantic.

Abby and Travis are a strange couple. They were so bad for each other and yet so good for each other. It’s one of those bizarre situations. Travis is an amazing character. He’s flawed in so many ways, but he’s perfect in others.

I’m glad I read this. I enjoyed getting Travis’s side of things. In many ways, his was far more emotional than Abby’s side of things.

Find it on GoodReads!

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Fierce by Ginger Voight

Expected Release date: June 4, 2013

Goodreads: Goodreads

In the first book in a spin-off series to her best-selling and highly rated 'GROUPIE' trilogy, author Ginger Voight introduces us to a new character named Jordi Hemphill.

All her life, Jordi Hemphill was told that she needed to change to fit in and be accepted. She talked too much, laughed too loud, and most definitely, indisputably and inexcusably weighed too much. In fact, she wore her size-20+ clothes without so much as an apology. She didn’t care to fit in. She didn’t want to be beautiful. Instead, she wanted to wear her hair in funky colors, she itched for tattoos and piercings, and dreamed of a life much bigger than working at the local Burger Palace for minimum wage. She had been born with the voice of a superstar, and something inside her told her it was OK to dream big, even if she had to do it in secret.

On her eighteenth birthday, she takes every last cent she has and buys a one-way ticket for Los Angeles. She is sure her talent will get her noticed by those more open-minded to see it. Then and only then will she show all the naysayers in her hometown that she was a somebody no matter what they say.

Unfortunately Los Angeles wasn't any more welcoming. Jordi didn't fit into their pop machine no matter how well she sang. Other pop princess had the "full package," whereas Jordi still needed to change if she wanted her dreams to come true. It took a plus-size TV producer to take a chance on her, casting her for a reality talent show called "Fierce," which put attitude and talent far above the traditional pop star image.

Thanks to Giovanni Carnevale, the lead singer of "Dreaming in Blue" and “Fierce’s” rock star judge, Jordi gets a chance to fight for her place on a national stage.

But will America embrace this alternative diva? Or will they too expect her to conform in order to be accepted... to be loved? Despite the acceptance of new friends and supporters, old ghosts continue to haunt Jordi on her new journey. It will take handsome fellow contestant, Jace Riga, to finally help expose and exorcise the demons that drive her self-destruction.

"Fierce" continues the story introduced in the Ginger Voight novel, "Mogul," where Jordi joins a hodge-podge of other contestants to battle for the championship that dares every single hopeful to live large, to be FIERCE.

Ginger Voight, the author of the best-selling "Groupie" series, brings fame once again to the forefront with her new adult series, beginning with the novel, "Fierce." The characters you grew to love in the "Groupie" trilogy and "Love Plus One" are back to help the incomparable Jordi Hemphill carve a place for her as a pop princess despite the odds in this coming-of-age Rubenesque romance.

Bio: 
Ginger Voight is prolific author, freelance writer and optioned screenwriter. Her fiction is diverse, with novels like the edgy, coming-of-age drama DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS, and the fun family adventure for kids of all ages, COMIC SQUAD. Having grown up reading different authors like Danielle Steel and Stephen King, Ginger has always been drawn more to story than to genre. This shows up in her various stories. Titles such as MY IMMORTAL and TASTE OF BLOOD are a delicious, heady mix of horror, suspense, and romance. Genre romance, however, has held a special place in her heart, ever since she read her first Harlequin novel when she was only eleven. As a result, Ginger is making a name for herself writing romances of her own, starring women who look more like the average American woman rather than those traditionally represented in the size-biased American media. Her Rubenesque romances were created especially for those heroines with fuller figures, who can still get the man of their dreams if only they believe they can. Such titles include UNDER TEXAS SKIES, LOVE PLUS ONE, GROUPIE and PICTURE POSTCARDS. Ginger was included in the best-selling book by Smith Magazine NOT QUITE WHAT I WAS PLANNING, featuring her six-word memoir.

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Blog Tour & Giveaway: Because of You by T.E. Sivec

Brady Marshall has made a career of playing it safe. When he decides to do something rash and becomes a Navy SEAL, he thinks he's finally escaped the rigid structure of the high society life his parents forced down his throat. All he does is trade in one set of rules for another. He follows military protocol to a T, but it still results in the death of an entire team of Navy SEALS and puts his best friends directly in harm's way. He’s struggled to stay afloat and not drown in grief, guilt, and booze, but he's losing that battle quickly. When his baby sister flees her abusive husband and shows up on his doorstep with his young niece in tow, he has no choice but to clean up his act. He will stop at nothing to protect them and never let them down again, even if it means taking a job that goes against everything he believes in. If protecting a pop star princess who thinks she's better than everyone means he can keep a roof over their head, what other choice does he have?

Layla Carlysle has lived a life of luxury. She's been a star since the young age of fifteen, and every record she releases shoots straight to the top of the charts. She has people surrounding her every single day telling her how amazing she is, how beautiful she is, and how lucky she is, but she’s never felt more alone in her entire life. She wants nothing more than to break free and do what she really wants to do: write her own music, sing her own songs, and find a way to finally be happy with her life. The only thing standing in her way is her mother, Eve Carlysle. Eve has controlled every single aspect of her daughter’s life and will stop at nothing to achieve fame and fortune, even if that means using her daughter to get there. When an overly-amorous fan’s letters become increasingly more sinister, Brady will have to suck up his opinion of how the other half lives to take the job seriously. The pair will need to learn to trust each other and put aside their differences before the letters become a reality and someone’s life is in jeopardy.

Brady has been to hell and back, and he refuses to let anyone else get close to him again. Layla has never lived her life for herself, and the emptiness is threatening to break her for good.

Sometimes our lives are already planned for us, but because of you, all of that could change in an instant.



Excerpt:
Feeling in the mood to play with her a little to gauge just how many buttons of hers I can push without even trying, I lean my head down until my mouth is close to her ear, breathing in the soft, floral scent, from what I assume is expensive-ass perfume probably harvested from diamonds and shit.

“I’m sure you can help me with a lot of things, Miss Carlysle. But for right now, you can get me a list of everyone you know who doesn’t like you.”

I move back away from her a few inches and watch as the breath she’d been holding slowly leaves her lungs.

Well isn’t that cute. Little princess is affected by my close proximity. Good to know.

I look down at her and smirk, totally enjoying the movement at the corners of her mouth as her full lips began to form a small, friendly smile, and she lets down her guard just a little bit.

Perfect. A little bit is all I need to make her realize she isn’t running this show anymore.

“I’m sure that list is pretty fucking long, so you might want to get busy,” I finish with a wink.


Bio: 
T.E. Sivec is the pen name for Tara Sivec. Under T.E. Sivec, she delves into a more serious genre that is her absolute favorite to read ­ romantic suspense.  She loves reading a book and feeling her heart speed up with anticipation and wanted to be able to give that feeling to her fans. T.E. lives in Ohio with her husband and two children, living the dream of being a full­time writer.
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Blog Tour & Giveaway: Promise Harbor series

The Promise Harbor Wedding, Book 4

And she thought the bridesmaids dresses were her biggest problem...

Allison Ralston would rather be anywhere other than this wedding. Even if the wedding is hers. Especially since the wedding is hers.

But Allie's determined to restore her family's happiness, and if tying the knot with longtime family friend, Josh Brewster, is the way to do it, then she'll walk down that aisle, toss that bouquet and drink that champagne.

Oh, she'll definitely drink the champagne.

There’s only one thing that could get Gavin Montgomery back to Promise Harbor. And she’s about to say I do to another man. Now he’s back to claim what’s his—even if he has to do it in the middle of her wedding.

Allie is shocked—and okay, a little turned on—when Gavin literally sweeps her off her feet. Safe in his arms, she succumbs to fatigue, stress, and yes, the champagne, only to wake up in his bed. In Alaska.

Now that he’s put four thousand miles between Allie and all her responsibilities, Gavin’s determined to show her that they can make a life together. If he has his way, the next wedding Allie will be planning will be theirs.

Warning: Contains a guy so in love he’s willing to break up the wedding of the season, a bride who just needs to get to, well, anywhere else, and enough hot sex to take them from New England to Alaska and back again.

The Cleanup Hitter for Promise Harbor

The Promise Harbor Series is finally fully out! Jilted (Kelly Jamieson) came out on March 19th, Bolted (Meg Benjamin) came out on April 2nd, Busted (Sydney Somers) was released on April 16th and Hitched (me! J) was released on April 30th!

Yep, that’s right. I’m the last one. The finale. The big finish. The one in charge of wrap-up. The… cleanup hitter!

I love baseball and the season’s just getting started so I thought this was a fun and appropriate analogy.

Everything in quotes is word for word from Wikipedia (hey, this isn’t a school term paper, so I can cite Wikipedia!)

“In baseball, the cleanup hitter is the hitter who bats fourth in the lineup.” Okay so far, so good. I’m fourth in our line up. I hate cleaning (just ask the multitude of dust bunnies who have made themselves at home in my house) but let’s just go with this for now. It made sense for us to put me last because of the story I was writing—the bride’s story. I was intrigued with the idea of a guy storming into a wedding to steal the bride because he’d realized he couldn’t let her say I do to another man without professing his own love first. So, I wanted to write Hitched for sure. We started the series off with our jilted groom, Josh, and we had to eventually find out what was going on with the runaway bride… but thought it would be fun to make the groom and bride the bookends to the series. So, I was number four.


“The theory behind the cleanup hitter concept is that at the beginning of the game, the first three batters will reach base with a single-base hit, walk, or equivalent, thereby loading the bases”. Okay, granted, we start to lose some of the analogy here already. As far as I’m concerned, each one of the girls has hit a home run so it doesn’t work that they’re still standing on base when I get up to bat. In fact, they’ve rounded the bases and are back in the dugout cheering me on from there. I imagine that Kelly has a big foam finger she’s waving around, Meg’s razzing the umpire and Syd’s got a giant bottle of Gatorade (with maybe a little something added ;)) waiting for me when I’m done.

But here’s how the definition continues-- “enabling the cleanup hitter a chance to hit a grand slam home run.” Now this I like. Not because it makes me look good but because a grand slam home run is a team effort. It takes all four people doing their job, doing what they suited up for, and the score on the scoreboard is for all of them. I’m pretty happy with where I am in the lineup because I can count on the hitters in front of me to really lead things off right.

And to finish the analogy… (okay, wait for it, this is my favorite part…) “This, however, is a rare occurrence.” Ha! Well, maybe in baseball it’s a rare occurrence but we’re hoping that the Promise Harbor wedding series is a big hit and that the fans go wild. :)

Yes, I had to wrap things up, but not without a little help from my friends. This series needed all of us and my book needed all of us. Every character we created, every bit of history we dreamed up, every backstory we invented— all came together to make this series what it is and the last book had to tie everything up in a neat bow.

In writing the end of Hitched, all the girls told me where their characters were and what they were doing. I didn’t make anything up here J. And there were a few joint scenes. When Allie and Devon have their reunion moment, Kelly helped me write that scene. When Gavin needed his BFF, Hayley, Sydney helped me make sure it was true to who Hayley is.

Creating the Promise Harbor Wedding series was definitely a group effort and I couldn’t have asked for a better group of girls to take the field with!

Now hand me some of that Gatorade…

 Excerpt:

“Allie,” he said, stepping forward.

“You’re too late,” she whispered.  A tear slipped down her cheek.

“Bullshit,” he said.  She hadn’t said, ‘I do’ yet.

He strode forward, bent and scooped her into his arms, then headed for the side door.

“Gavin!” She kicked and he tightened his hold.

“Just a damn minute—” Josh started.

Gavin turned.  Several people were on their feet, including Allie’s dad.  All of the groomsmen had stepped forward.  He picked Hayley out, also on her feet, in one of the front pews on Josh’s side of the church.  She looked concerned, but she didn’t move to stop him.  No one came any closer.  At the moment.

 “Give me a chance,” Gavin said. “Let me talk to her.  Let me tell her what I came here to say.  Then if she wants to come back, I’ll walk her down the aisle myself.”

It was crazy to ask Josh to do that.  But he didn’t wait to hear the other man’s response.  He started toward the door again.

Cover Reveal: Destined to Succeed by Lisa M. Harley

What would you do if what you worked your entire life to build was suddenly destroyed?

Cade Walker is a cowboy Casanova. He’s cocky and he doesn’t care who knows it. He was raised on Walker Ranch and was destined to one day take it over. What he didn’t know was how soon that would happen. After his parents are killed in a car accident he is thrust into becoming a responsible adult. Well, sort of. Cade is always responsible when it comes to business, but pleasure, now that’s a whole other story.

Suzanna Mallory is a red-headed spitfire, who also happens to be Cade’s best friend. She has loved Cade since they met when they were nine years old, but Cade just isn’t the type to get married and settle down. Suzanna finds herself in an abusive marriage and the only thing that keeps her sane is her daughter, Isabella, and working with Cade at Walker Ranch.

When a fire threatens to destroy the future of Walker Ranch, Cade and Suzanna have to work together to save it.

What will this mean for her marriage or to the feelings that she has for Cade?

And now that Cade thought he found love with Loralei Harper, only to realize she didn’t feel the same way, is he ready to settle down?

Is Cade Walker Destined to Succeed?

Destined to Succeed Excerpt:

Cade walked up behind me and pulled my hand with the shot glass up to his mouth. He had me press it to his lips as he slammed it back. He was standing so close to me. His chest was pressed against my shoulder.

“You havin’ a party without me, hon?” I could feel his breath against my neck.

“A party just ain’t a party without Cade Walker, right?” I was trying to be funny, but my voice was shaky because he was just too close for me to think straight. He gently turned me around to face him. I felt his finger under my chin as he tilted my head up to look at him. His eyes were smoldering and this might have been the shots talking, but he was totally kissing me with those eyes.



Bio:
I grew up in a really small town in Missouri. Very similar to the fictional town I wrote about in my novel. I moved to the big city right after I graduated. I work full-time and I am mom to a beautiful little girl. I started writing in October when a group I am in had a prologue contest. I didn't win the contest, but everyone who read my prologue asked for more of my story. I decided I had to finish it and get these characters that were in my head out on paper. During the writing process it became clear that this was going to be more than one novel. It had to be a series. I have at least 2 more novels planned for the Destined Series. I also have an idea for a YA novel that stems from one of the characters in Destined to Change...hint, hint. When I was asked to write this bio I explained that I am really boring and it would be really short...so, that's about all there is to know about me. I love music and honestly couldn't have written this book without my Spotify playlist. I am kinda obsessed with frogs (not real ones) and office supplies are my downfall! I could spend my whole paycheck at the stationery store...boring, didn't I already say that? lol Also, I am slightly addicted to Facebook and Voxer. Please message me on either one...I would love to hear from all of you.

Author Links:

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Review: Sweetest Taboo by Eva Marquez

★★★★ 4 Big Stars! ★★★★


This book seriously sucked me in from the first page to the last. I’m a huge fan of taboo themed books so it’s no secret that I would practically be drooling over a book revolving around a fifteen year old girl having an affair with an older man… Who happened to be her teacher… And who also happened to be married with kids.



Be still my heart.

Isabel Cruz is a fifteen year old high school student who fell head over heels for her high school swim coach, Tom Stevens. The entire story is told through her point of view which is something that I appreciated so much because I felt like it allowed readers the chance to understand that love can truly be found in this type of forbidden relationship as well as at such a young age. What may have started off as your standard crush quickly developed into so much more. I really have to commend Isabel’s maturity here… Sure, there were times when she acted like your typical teenager and made some pretty dumb decisions, but over-all she handled her relationship with Tom extremely well considering everything that they had to go through. Their entire relationship was a struggle and had I been in her shoes, I don’t know if I would have been able to handle all of the jealousy and secrecy that they both had to experience day in and day out.

Tom on the other hand, was extremely sweet. …And let’s be honest here- There’s no doubt in my mind, that had he been my swim coach I probably would have tried to start my own affair with him...

Call me a home wrecker if you must, but my God it’s the truth. The man had some serious feelings for Isabel and he always treated her with the utmost respect. That, along with his extreme patience were both such endearing qualities which made me love and appreciate his character all the more.

This book will definitely show you that love doesn’t always come easy. Their relationship is very illegal… Not only because of the student/teacher factor, but the age difference. Isabel was barely into her mid-teens before she began her love affair with Tom who just so happened to be in his late thirties. Yet, never once did I find any of those things to be what some would call “disgusting” or “gross” and I certainly never thought of Tom as some kind of pedophile. I felt like the love they had for each other was truly genuine, which for me just seemed to push all of thewrong that was in the midst of their relationship to the side and put what truly mattered in the forefront... True love.

I really felt for both characters on such an emotional level- Tom had a wife and children which really put a damper on things between him and Isabel. Despite the fact that Tom openly admits to Isabel that his wife was nothing but a glorified roommate whom he’s not even in love with, she still struggles to come to terms with the fact that he still continues to return to that home life night after night. To make matters worse, he never gives any indication that he plans to one day leave his family for her despite all of his proclamations of being head-over-heels in love with only her.

Beyond that, they both had to consistently be on guard and watch their backs on a 24/7 basis to make sure that their relationship stayed hidden from family, the public and especially authorities. …They both knew that they were taking the risk of a lifetime if they ever became exposed for there would have been dire consequences to be had, but the fact that they were both willing to risk so much time and time again, really showed the depth of their feelings for one another.

The only few negative aspects about this book for me was the minor lack of character development when it came to Tom’s character. To be fair though, the story was told strictly in Isabel’s point of view which could be a big reason why I didn’t feel like I really got to know Tom on the personal level that I did with Isabel. Anyone who knows me though, knows how big of an importance character development is for me and I’m happy to say that while this book lacked a little bit in that department, over-all it wasn’t enough to make me change my feelings about the story as a whole. I also felt like there could have been just a tad bit more length and depth to the details of their relationship as well- Amping up the steam factor would have definitely made a difference when it came to certain scenes, that’s for sure. I know, I know... Books don't always need graphic sex scenes... But the pervy side of me just missed the lack of it in this story. *hangs head in shame*

Over-all though, the author truly did an amazing job writing this story and addressing such a taboo topic- We’re able to see the hidden feelings and issues that both Isabel and Tom faced and dealt with in the years that they struggled to make their relationship work as best as they could. The thing I loved most about this book was that Eva Márquez created a world where the lines between fantasy and reality became extremely blurred. It takes true talent to be able to bring such extreme emotion out of readers... An emotion so great that you actually question yourself on whether something that's deemed socially unacceptable to society is really all that wrong. Without a doubt, this is one author to look out for in the future and one book that is definitely worth the read.

PS: …After finishing this book there’s no way you won’t be dying to see what’s in store next for this couple and if their love truly is strong enough for them both to get that much deserved fairy-tale ending. …Now I’m off to read Tainted Love!

Review: Playing Patience by Tabatha Vargo

I need to be totally honest here... While this book wasn't horrible, it was definitely a far cry from being good. I'll admit, the synopsis reeled me in- It sounded just like my type of book: Dark... Emotional... And featuring a broken bad-boy who doesn't want to be fixed. What's not to love? Unfortunately though, this book is a perfect example of a story that held potential but couldn't quite live up to the expectation.

For starters, the writing really turned me off. I'm all about hearing both the hero and the heroine's point of view, and it's not something that I typically have a problem with... Unless it's gone about in the wrong way. Every chapter in this book was just a re-write of the previous chapter- The only difference was, it was written in a different point of view. It was enough in itself to just read a scene once... But to go back and have to read it again... And again... And again? It was just too much and didn't help with the fluency of the story. Not to mention, the consistent back-tracking just bore the ever loving hell out of me.

As for the characters... I couldn't connect with any of them. Oh, and a little word of warning to all of you jerk-lovers out there: Zeke may fall under the "asshole" category, but if you're looking for the drool-worthy factor to come into play, then you may be thoroughly disappointed. His character did absolutely nothing for me. Yes, he had his noble moments... But for the most part he just came across as an immature child with very little respect for the heroine.

Zeke was numb to everything, aside from drinking, sleeping around, getting high and playing with his band. When the heroine comes into the picture, he begins to show a different side; A more caring side... It's just a shame that I could never see past his immaturity and child-like behavior to really notice. It was obvious he was a very broken soul and while I felt for him because of all the heartache and pain he dealt with on a daily basis, in the end he never did win me over. On the other hand, I'd say the heroine Patience was a likable character- The poor girl literally lived through her own personal hell and I commend her for being as strong as she was. She did what she had to do in order to keep those she loved safe, even if that meant taking abuse from the one person who should have protected her.

One good thing I can say about the relationship between these two characters is that the whole "insta-love" crap never came into play. I don't think I would have been able to handle reading the book any further had that happened. The build-up was definitely there which I think was necessary in order for them both to be able to overcome their pasts and heal each other. With that being said though, this story just ended with so many loose ends and it felt extremely rushed. I felt like so many things were just left unresolved- The book went through so much elaboration when it came to the heartache that these two went through in their personal lives as well as their relationship, yet I'm supposed to believe that they both found their happily-ever-after because of a two page epilogue? I call bullshit- I needed more. Not that it even really mattered to me one way or another whether these two even got their happy ending anyway. Harsh? Maybe. But over-all, I'd just like to say: