Wednesday, May 8, 2013

BLOG TOUR: AFTER MATH (OFF THE SUBJECT #1) by DENISE GROVER SWANK ~ REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

 
Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the After Math Blog Tour! The tour is being hosted by AToMR Tours; find the complete schedule here. My stop includes a review and giveaway!
 
 
After Math (Off the Subject, #1)Series: Off the Subject #1
Category/Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: 3/12/13
Format: eARC
Pages: 250
Source: Received from author for review
 

Scarlett Goodwin’s world is divided into Before and After.

Before she agreed to tutor Tucker price, college junior Scarlett was introvert, struggling with her social anxiety and determined to not end up living in a trailer park like her mother and her younger sister. A mathematics major, she goes to her classes, to her job in the tutoring lab, and then hides in the apartment she shares with her friend, Caroline.

After junior Tucker Price, Southern University’s star soccer player enters the equation, her carefully plotted life is thrown off its axis. Tucker’s failing his required College Algebra class. With his eligibility is at risk, the university chancellor dangles an expensive piece of computer software for the math department if Scarlett agrees to privately tutor him.Tucker’s bad boy, womanizer reputation makes Scarlett wary of any contact, let alone spending several hours a week in close proximity.

But from her first encounter, she realizes Tucker isn’t the person everyone else sees. He carries a mountain of secrets which she suspects hold the reason to his self-destructive behavior. But the deeper she delves into the cause of his pain, the deeper she gets sucked into his chaos. Will Scarlett find the happiness she’s looking for, or will she be caught in Tucker’s aftermath?

  


With a shy and reluctant heroine falling in love with the college bad boy, After Math may seem like the usual New Adult story. But don't let that fool you, this story manages to claim it's own spot.
 
After Math is a story I wanted to read pretty much as soon as I saw it. I've read another of Denise Grover Swank's books, and really enjoyed it, so I assumed the writing style would again suit me. It did, but I admit to having a bit of a challenge really connecting to the story. It wasn't exactly due to the writing, though, but the character. And in this instance, that's not a bad thing. Confused? Let me explain.
 
Our heroine Scarlett has a difficult past. I know that's not surprising in itself, but Scarlett was. Scarlett grew up with no emotional connection to anyone in her family. Her mother was not emotionally or physically present in her life. Her dad ran off when she was a child. Her sister is on the same sad road as her mom. Scarlett found a way out of the cycle: Math. Math is logical, safe, and if you follow the rules, you'll always get the same results. Now, math and I, we were never on speaking terms, unless it was me cursing the fact I had to take it year after year. Despite my hatred, I get Scarlett's logic. In a world that didn't make sense, math always stayed the same. My point is, Scarlett goes through life somewhat detached, her only passion is the equations that soothe her. So therefore, the detached tone that's given to her in the story makes perfect sense.
 
The wild card in After Math is Tucker Price. At first glance, Tucker seems like the usual "I have issues so therefore it is okay for me to treat girls like my own personal objects" bad boy. I assumed that he was going to be a huge pain in my rear, but it didn't take long to see that Tucker's public personal was a very weak façade, and it took almost no time for Scarlett to see through to the boy beneath. Now I'm not saying that he is broken and Scarlett wants to fix him no matter what he'll do or say to her, I'm saying that Tucker wasn't actually that guy at all. For some reason, one which I never truly determined other than fate or chemistry, Tucker drops the act with Scarlett almost from the word go. So those who hate guys like him in books should not avoid After Math for that reason. Tucker was complicated, yes, but he was also sincere and sweet and wanted the best for Scarlett, even if that meant breaking his own heart.
 
While I was slow to really becoming truly engaged throughout the first half of the story, the second half really had me pulled in. And though the ending seemed a tad rushed, I loved it and felt completely happy with the way it wrapped up. It's safe to say that After Math is more of a character driven story than plot driven. The story doesn't revolve around large events, but more of the growth and development of Scarlett and Tucker from two damaged - I refuse to say broken - halves into a stronger whole. Scarlett's best friend Caroline gets her own story in the next book in the Off the Subject series, Redesigned, and based on the synopsis, it looks to be another good story from Denise Grover Swank.

 
 
Favorite Quote:
 
  "Scarlett, open your eyes."
  I do as he says, looking up at him with confusion.
  His eyes burn bright with desire. "I want you to see me when I come into you. I want you to know I'm here. I want you to know I see you."  ~68%


  Tucker smiles. "But you need rules to make you feel safe and protected. So I'll give you rules, even though I've always hated them in the past. Then again, maybe that's my problem." He gives me an ornery grin. "First rule. No saying goodbye, never goodbye. Especially with you." He leans over and kisses me, long and slow. "Goodbye is too permanent. Goodbye has the risk of never seeing each other again. But good morning is full of possibilities."  ~69%
 
 
Purchase After Math at:
 
 
GIVEAWAY
 
 
 
About the author

PodcastSepiaDenise Grover Swank lives in Lee's Summit, Missouri. She’s a gypsy who can’t live in one place too long or stay in one genre. She writes contemporary romance, urban fantasies without vampires and werewolves, young adult science fiction, and romantic comedy mysteries set in the south. Denise has six children, three dogs, and an overactive imagination. She can be found dancing in her kitchen with her children, reading, or writing her next book. You will rarely find her cleaning.

Connect with Denise at:
Website  |  Facebook   |  Facebook  |  Twitter



 
 
 
 



 
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28 comments:

  1. I like how After Math is a character driven story, when I first read the blurb I thought that this story would go down its typical path. But I'm glad Tucker drops his bad boy reputation as soon as he's with Scarlett. I'm always looking for something different in the New Adult genre and I think After Math maybe it. Great review Andrea!

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  2. I actually tried reading it. Um.. I wasn't a huge fan of the first two-three chapters so I gave up. I will finish it someday though, but at that certain time it wasn't for me. I do agree that characters are what make or break a story so since you found the characters really good, I'm not surprised you liked it so much. Btw, I love Math. I don't know.. I just like it. It's easy for me so maybe that's the reason. Heh. Anyhow, lovely review as always:-)

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  3. I love character driven books when they are done right.I also like the premise that she finds comfort in math. Great review!

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  4. I think I could love this! I remember in school I always LOVED math because with math there is a right and wrong answer. In social and english you could bullshit your way around in circles and never really get anywhere, you know? I think I disliked those subjects for the reason most people liked them! LOL I am definitely curious about Tucker and happy to see that he wasn't your typical NA guy. SPeaking of typical, I guess that font on the cover is kind of the NA fon these days hey? I like it!

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  5. This book sounds nice, can't wait to read it!

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  6. Great review, I've added this to my TBR pile. Thank you for sharing!

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  7. I have this one and I am looking forward to it. Great review love dove.

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  8. I have looked at this book so many times on Amazon. I keep going back & forth on whether I want to read it or not. Your review has me leaning back towards yes again. It sounds like it would be good, I'm just not sure because lately its like all New Adult is the same. I slowed down on how much I've been reading it lately. I may finally try this one though. Great review!

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  9. This looks like a book I'd like to try. I love a good character driven story. Thanks!

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  10. Great review. I'd love to read this book. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

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  11. This sounds like an engrossing read--thanks for bringing this to my attention, Andrea, I hadn't heard of it! That cover is seriously awesome, too.

    Sorry I've been MIA, btw, my usual once-a-week blog reading got seriously thrown off because I was sick for two weeks and am still recovering. xo

    Wendy @ The Midnight Garden

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  12. This book sound really good! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  13. I'm really looking forward to reading After Math now, Andrea. Even though it was slow to start for you, that you were moved so much says something. You always write such great reviews! Thanks!

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  14. I don't think this one would be something I would enjoy, plus Math and I = YUCK! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, doll!!

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  15. I love hearing this kind of plot line and know I need to read more NA. Her history/past really intrigues me

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  16. Great review Andrea! I love character driven stories. I wasn't much of a Math person in H.S, and still dislike it! I hadn't heard about this book before, but now I must check it out-especially after reading your review!

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

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  17. I got a copy of this book in Boston. I will be reading it soon. Great review, Andrea!

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  18. See I love characters like Tucker, most people who act a certain way aren't at all what they seem and its cool that he showed his true self to Scarlet from the beginning, adding to my list. Of course I like fixing a bad boy too!

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  19. Great review, Andrea! I generally enjoy character-drive plots so this sounds like it's up my alley!

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  20. Thanks for the review. This sounds like a book I would try. Also she is an author I haven't heard of until today.
    Thanks :)

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  21. Awesome review! I just bought this a few minutes ago actually after reading Val's review for it. I think I will really love this.

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  22. This sounds great, Andrea! And you always pick the most teasalicious quotes! :P I would have thought this was a post-apocalyptic book based on the title, but now I know better, thanks to you! :D

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  23. I have been wondering what you would think about this book. You review is wonderful. I did like it, though the beginning felt kind of like Wait for You, but ended up turning into it's own story. It is character driven as you said. Math makes my brain hurt, so it isn't my friend either. The only way I passed Algebra II in high school was because the smart boy next to me liked me and would give me the answers. Needless to say, that didn't help me much in college :)

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  24. Not sure about this one. Especially if Ellen says it felt like Wait For You since I thought that book already sounded like a lot of other NA books. I'm curious about Tucker though :)

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  25. I'm always looking for a new good book.

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  26. After reading your review, I think this would definitely be a story worth reading and I'm looking forward to it.

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  27. You know I loved this book! Great review pal.

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  28. AWESOME review.... I can't wait to read the book.... This cover made me move it up my TBR list.

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