{BLOG TOUR} GOING UNDER SERIES by GEORGIA CATES

 

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the Going Under Series Tour! This tour is spotlighting both books in the series, Going Under and Shallow. The tour is being hosted by the ladies at AToMR Tours. You can find the complete tour schedule here.  Today's stop includes my review of Going Under, an interview with Georgia Cates, and a tour giveaway.

Series: Going Under #1
Publisher: Georgia Cates
Publication Date: Mar. 10, 2012
Format: ebook (Kindle)
Pages: 222
Source: Personal Purchase

Jessie Boone is a self proclaimed bad boy and doesn’t march to the beat of anyone’s drum, but his own. Growing up in less than desirable circumstances has made him no stranger to the hard knock life and his determination to leave it behind is fierce. When he finds himself transferred to East Franklin High School, he sees his opportunity to use his athletic ability to snag a college football scholarship, but Forbes Henderson, the player Jessie means to replace isn’t giving up his spot willingly. In fact, Forbes is willing to go to extreme measures to retain his place as first string quarterback. When Forbes’ malicious plan to injure his replacement fails, Jessie is furious and determined to show him he messed with the wrong person; not only is he going to take the position of first string quarterback, he’s going to take his girl, too.

Claire Deveraux is perfection at it’s best. She is beautiful, intelligent and unaware she just became Jessie Boone’s conquest as revenge against her boyfriend, Forbes Henderson. Like her flawless performance as the perfect daughter and student, Claire’s production of being the perfect girlfriend has everyone fooled, except Jessie Boone, and she fears this tattooed bad boy will see her secret desire to explore his crude threats and promises to rock her perfect world. If she decides to give in to one uninhibited moment with Jessie, will she learn too late that it was all an act of vengeance or will Jessie learn the taste of first love is sweeter than that of revenge?

 

A heart-wrenching story of a love that can overcome all obstacles, Going Under will leave you believing love can conquer all.

For quite some time now, my friend Autumn has been insisting that I read Going Under. She's quite the persistent book pimp because I bought Going Under even though I'm buried in books. I was really excited when the tour came up because it gave me the extra incentive to read this book sooner rather than later.

Going Under is the classic story of a boy from the wrong side of town and the perfect, priviledged girl falling in love and fighting the odds. It's a fairly common story scenario in YA, and one that I happen to love more than most. What did make Going Under stand out, for me, was the characters.

Jessie is a reluctant bad boy who transfer to a school in the affluent part of town. He is smart, athletic, caring towards his siblings. His past, though, is a tragic story; one that will have you falling in love with this boy who only wants to improve his life and provide for those he loves.

Claire is the perfect daughter, student, girlfriend...at least on the outside. She feels constricted by what is expected of her, and is instantly drawn to the seductive Jessie. Claire was a trickier because too often characters like her, those who have it all and seem too perfect, can quickly become annoying. By giving her depth, in making mistakes and having a surprising past of her own, Cates made Claire a character to root for.

My favorite character was Claire's best friend, Payton. Ohmygosh, this girl was insane! Payton is a girl who made me laugh out loud, cringe with her honesty and in general just brought enjoyment of Going Under to a new level.

I will say that the ending of Going Under felt a bit rushed. It's not that all the plot threads didn't get wrapped up, because they did. It's just that I wanted more. When you read as much as I do, that's a Good Thing. I can't wait to read more about these characters in book two, Shallow.


Favorite Quote:

  "I watched the other players as they lined up to turn in their physicals and thought about how some things never changed for me. I had spent my entire life raising my hand to tell someone I didn't have the things I needed and here I stood, eighteen years old, still doing the same thing." (1%)


  "When you look back on this moment months from now, don't forget the one word I'm about to say to you, Claire Deveraux. Foreplay." <----Payton! (8%)


  "I won't disagree with you about Forbes and his skills, but I'm calling bullshit. I know the game like your crotch knows the palm of your hand and I definitely saw a move, so I'm giving you the luxury of a warning."  <----I love Payton! (9%)

You can purchase Going Under at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Smashwords 

INTERVIEW WITH GEORGIA CATES

Love and revenge seem to be themes of this book. What inspired this particular plot?

Georgia: I’m not sure I was inspired by anything. The idea just came to me out of the clear blue and once I started writing it, it was more like the book wrote itself and my fingers obeyed.

What makes this book stand apart from your other work?

Georgia: My other works are paranormal and this was my first contemporary work. It was an idea that came to me while I was writing my second Agape book and I couldn’t shake the need to write it.

What was the most difficult part in writing this story?

Georgia: I was used to writing paranormal, so I found it difficult to write “normal” things. With paranormal, some things simply don’t have to have a rationale and that’s not the case with contemporary. It has to be logical and realistic.

What was the most fun?

Georgia: I loved writing from the male POV. It was fun to get into Jessie’s head and try to connect with the things a guy might think and say, but I had to be careful. I couldn’t go “all out guy” with it because I had to keep it YA.

What is your favorite scene in GOING UNDER?

Georgia: The Epilogue is my favorite part, but I can’t tell you about it or I’ll give the best part away. I can say that it wraps the whole story up in a nice little package.

Is there anything you would like readers to take away after reading the book they may miss that you want to point out?

Georgia: There is one line in the book that I wouldn’t want readers to miss. It’s in Chapter 21 and the line solidifies the cover with the title.

"I leaned closer and pressed a light kiss on his lips and whispered, “I feel myself...going under. I’m drowning in you because I am so hopelessly in love with you. You’re the only one I want.”

Meet Georgia Cates -

I am a wife, mother of two daughters and a labor and delivery nurse. I have recently added Paranormal Romance Writer to my list of things to keep be busy, but I am ecstatic to release my debut novel, Blood of Anteros, the first book in The Vampire Agápe Series. Like others that enjoy a great story of paranormal romance, I am easily bored by the tale of an obtainable, ordinary romance and was inspired to create The Vampire Agápe Series. When I am not tied up with my family or delivering babies, I am working feverishly on the second book in The Vampire Agápe Series.(from Georgia Cates.com)

Connect with Georgia Cates at:
GoodReads | her website | Twitter | Facebook
 

 

TOUR GIVEAWAYS

 

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