While fashion design major Caroline Hunter may have been born economically unlucky, in college, she’s been lucky in love. Until her senior year at Southern University. She’s gone from a serious long term boyfriend to a string of crappy dates.
Then she meets mathematics grad student Reed Pendergraft.
Reed is everything she’s not looking for. Serious. Headed for a low paying university job. Boring. Caroline spent the first eighteen years of her life wondering where her next meal was coming from. She sure wasn’t getting trapped in that life again with a man living on a professor’s salary.
An encounter with Reed in a club proves she might have pegged him wrong. He brings out a lusty side she never knew she had. But just when she’s about to give in to her hormones, Reed makes a fool out of her.When she shows up for the first committee meeting for Southern University’s Fall fashion show, a fundraiser for underprivileged kids, Caroline’s horrified to discover the insufferable Reed is the committee chairman. While she refuses to tolerate his totalitarian rule of the committee, she’s not sure she’ll survive the month with her heart—and her pride—intact. Just when she thinks she has everything figured out, she finds that her entire life has been redesigned, thanks to Reed Pendergraft.
1- When did you begin writing? Why did you decide to become a writer?I began to write in grade school—I seriously started writing a novel, which I didn’t finish. I think it shall remain a trunk novel. ;) I wrote in high school and my English teacher strongly encouraged me to continue to pursue writing. I tried writing in my 20’s but life got in the way and I never finished a novel. And then in 2009, I heard about NaNoWriMo and decided it was now or never. I wrote my first completed novel, chained it to my hard drive, then wrote Chosen, my best selling book to date (80K copies sold in a year and a half) I’ve since written eleven novels—all published except for The Curse Keepers which 47North will release on November 19, 2013.2- What was your inspiration for Redesigned?The Lizzie Bennett Diaries was a huge inspiration for Reed. The rest was just my desire to show a girl who thought she knew was was best for her struggle with the idea of going a different path.3- What books or authors have influenced you the most in life?I loved the Little House on the Prairie series when I was a kid. Stephen King, Sarah Addison Allen. A very eclectic mix.4- What was the hardest part in writing Redesigned?I thought the hardest part of writing Redesigned would be the sex scenes. Some are unconventional and these are my raciest to date. It turned out the hardest part was writing THE END. I loved Reed and Caroline as a couple. But I told myself, I’d write more about them as secondary characters in Business as Usual, just like there’s plenty of Scarlett and Tucker as secondary characters in Redesigned.5- How do you begin to organize your writing process when you are starting a new project?In my head? I used to used white boards more, writing character names and plots. Now I might write a blurb or a synopsis. Redesigned had a 4000 word synopsis, even though I strayed from it a bit at the end. I’ve found every book is different, but I always spend time with the characters in my head, watching then in scenes, getting to know them.6- Are any of your character's traits similar to you or to people you know?In Redesigned, no. But I have a few characters in other books that I’ve been inspired by other people. The first that comes to mind is Rose’s cranky elderly neighbor in the Rose Gardner Mysteries. I’m sure it’s self-explanatory. LOL7- What advice would you give to inspiring writers?Write, write, and write some more. They say it takes 10,000 hours to become proficient at something, and I believe that’s true. The more you write, the better and faster you will get. The more it become second nature. My second piece of advice (and I know you only asked for one) is to get critique of your work. You’ll never grow as a writer without it.This or That:1- Peeta or Gale? Is this really a question? Peeta.2- Ron or Harry? Wow. That’s kind of tough, but I have to go with Harry.3- Physical book or e-copy? It’s more and more becoming e-copy. If I have my phone (and I always do) I have my book with me. Print books are for special books now.4- Pen and paper or computer? Computer. If I tried to hand write my books, I’d never know what I wrote.5- Jock or nerd? Give me a book smart nerd any day.6- Beach or mountains? Beach. I love the ocean.7- Cookies or brownies? Brownies. No cookies. Wait. Brownies.
As soon as I read the synopsis, I knew I wanted to be on the
blog tour. I heart me some nerdy guys, and Reed fit the bill perfectly!
Caroline is a fashion design major, and she’s come a long
way from where she grew up. She constantly tries to forget her past, and when
she meets Reed Pendergraft, her perfectly constructed life becomes a complete
mess. Reed is her absolute opposite, and when he is assigned to be chairman of
the fashion show committee, they are forced to be together all the time, butting
heads. She soon realizes that he is more than she pegged him for, and maybe she
realizes he’s all she’s ever needed.
Caroline was a really interesting character to read about. I
completely understood her reserves about wanting to have a comfortable life. I
am SO GLAD she finally realized money isn’t everything, but it was still kind
of hard to understand her thoughts before she had her epiphany. She was
definitely feisty and gave Reed a tough time when he was being a jerk. She was
so kind to the adorable little kids in her fashion show because she knew what
they went through.
Reed, my new adorkable love, really is like a sex panther in
bed. I don’t have really any other way to describe it. When I first started
reading, I was totally shocked by Reed and his snarky, sexy side. Oh goodness
he was amazing when he was being bossy and all. At first, he was a jerk face to
Caroline, but it was just a defense mechanism. He eventually showed his sweet
side, and I really loved sweet Reed.
I totally loved that Scarlett and Tucker, from After
Math the first book, made appearance. Tucker was definitely overprotective of
Caroline since she’s Scarlett’s best friend, and it was funny how he threatened
to beat up anyone who hurt her, and he maybe came through on that promise.
Possibly. Lexi, Reed’s sister, was so nice and bubbly all the time, despite all
she’s been through. Tina, their mutual friend, is still annoying.
I appreciated the way Swank involved the charities and
foundations dealing with children who don’t have a lot. I liked how Caroline
dealt with the cute kids to make sure they had a great day. The romance was so
amazing. I am such a sucker for hate turned to lust turned to love stories.
Why? I have no idea, but keep ‘em coming. They had some serious sexy scenes,
but also some really sweet scenes. Yay for nerdy boys!
There is a third book coming out in the series, and I am so
curious as to whose story it will be. Lexi’s perhaps? I hope so. :)
Favorite Swoon-worthy Quote: A low growl escapes into my mouth, and his tongue follows it. His arms
wrap around my back and pull me to his chest, crushing my hand between us as he
takes control. His mouth is punishing as he claims mine. Simmering anger
ignites my desire, a strange mixture of hate and lust. The concoction makes me
so hot I want to strip off my clothes. And strip off his. I want to see what’s
under his shirt. I want to feel his skin under my fingertips.
Rating: 4.5/5 Tar Heels!
About the Author:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Denise Grover Swank was born in Kansas City, Missouri and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a nomadic gypsy, living in five cities, four states and ten houses over the course of ten years before she moved back to her roots. She speaks English and smattering of Spanish and Chinese which she learned through an intensive Nick Jr. immersion period. Her hobbies include witty Facebook comments (in own her mind) and dancing in her kitchen with her children. (Quite badly if you believe her offspring.) Hidden talents include the gift of justification and the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to perform many unspeakable tasks. She has six children and hasn’t lost her sanity. Or so she leads you to believe.Find Denise at:
Thanks so much Denise for stopping by Tar Heel Bibliobabe today!
0 comments:
Post a Comment