Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the Redesigned Blog Tour! This tour is being hosted by InkSlinger PR. My stop includes a review, guest post, and tour giveaway.
Series: Off the Subject #2Category/Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: 6/10/13
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.
I recently read the first book in the Off the Subject series, After Math, and enjoyed the story and the characters, one of whom was Caroline Hunter. Caroline shared a disadvantaged upbringing with that book's heroine, Scarlett, and she was intriguing. When I learned that the second book in the series centered around Caroline, I knew that I would want to read it, and to learn her story. Redesigned was her story, and it was so good.
I found Caroline to be an immediately likable character. She came from a really poor background, with a family that was not supportive of her bettering herself by attending university. Caroline's memories of hunger and being bullied because of her shabby clothing have led her to strive for a good career, and a man with enough money and opportunities to ensure she and her future children would always be well cared for. To those who know Caroline, with the exception of Scarlett, this search for the security money brings makes her seem like a gold-digger. Caroline wasn't deceitful or manipulative, and she's not out to latch onto any rich guy who will have her. Caroline wants love as well.
This leads us to Reed Pendergraft. When he and Caroline meet, the attraction is intense and instantaneous. Reed is handsome, but a bit different than the guys Caroline is used to. But when she learns that Reed isn't on the fast track to wealth, she sadly writes him off as a potential love match. Assumptions are (wrongly) made, mostly on Caroline's part. I spent most of the book trying to figure out exactly what was going on with Reed. He was hot-and-cold with Caroline, and yes, it confused and made me wonder what the heck his problem was. I just kept hoping there was a good explanation for Reed. It definitely helped Reed's case that he was a lot like Scarlett from After Math, brilliant, but not exactly having a knack for conversation.
As Redesigned progressed, it was so great to see Caroline and Reed slowly open their world and hearts to each other. Both held their emotions and pasts so tightly in check, and to see the levels of trust and honesty grow felt true to the characters. For those who've read After Math, we do get Scarlett in this book, and Tucker even more. Yay! I have to say, I really liked After Math, but enjoyed Redesigned even more. The next book in the Off the Subject series will be Business As Usual. And though I'm not sure whom this book will be about (I have a good suspicion), I know that I will without a doubt be reading it.
If you love New Adult with well-rounded, thoughtful characters and stories, I definitely recommend the Off the Subject series.
Favorite Quotes ~
"I'll make sure you work on your project. You know how bossy I can be."
I laugh. "So if you agree to this, you think this gives you permission to boss me around?"
"You'll like it when I boss you around in bed." ~eARC, 55%
They say it's better to have loved and lost than never loved at all. Whoever made that shit up obviously never loved Reed Pendergraft. ~eARC, 74%
Home. I've only thought of two places as home. The first was when I lived with Scarlett, the second is in Reed's arms. ~eARC, 80%
Purchase Redesigned at:
GUEST POST
When I first met Reed, he definitely didn’t give a good impression. Granted, he was frustrated with just about everything at the time, but the snobbish East Coast vibe he gave off isn’t that different than his usual first impression with everyone else. He’s a left-brained math geek, and after growing up with my best friend Scarlett--also a math geek--I’ve learned to look past the social ineptness of math and science majors. Unfortunately, not everyone does. I want people to see past Reed’s stuffiness and his tie (even though, he looks hot in a tie) and see what an amazing guy he is.
Five things most people probably don’t know about Reed:
1) He’s incredibly loyal and protective, in fact, probably overly so. But bad things have happened to people he loves so I try to be understanding, even when he’s protectiveness drives me crazy. He’s begun to realize he’s just a little too protective, so he’s trying to back off, not an easy task for him. It’s probably our biggest source of fights, but making up is always incredible.
2) Reed likes to lie in bed on Sunday mornings and read the newspaper—like actual print newspaper. You’d think a guy who spends all his time on computers writing and studying algorithms would read the paper online. He says that’s the reason he wants to hold one in his hand. In a lot of ways, he’s kind of old fashioned, which is odd, given his graduate work.
3) Flying in an airplane makes him nervous. Especially take offs. He’d never admit it, especially after all the flying he has done and he is knowledge of physics. He’ll even spout off statistics about how it’s the safest way to travel, but I think he’s really trying to convince himself. Every time he gets on a plane, he gets really still and a fine sweat breaks out on his upper lip. I’ve found a way to distract him though. I think it’s only fair after the way he’s tortured me in public. J
4) Back in high school before Reed grew into his looks and had a math geek reputation, there was a girl he liked who had a thing for guys in bands. So Reed taught himself to play the acoustic guitar to try to get her attention. The stupid girl broke his heart—lucky for me—but he realized he really liked playing, not surprising since music is so math based. He thinks he’s terrible at it, but he’s really good. He refuses play for anyone but me. It’s kind of like our little secret… oops.
5) Reed loves kids, especially babies. Kids flock to him and have a way of making him lose the wariness he wears around most people. He’s not afraid to get goofy, or maybe he likes them so much because he can lose his stuffy façade and let the real him out. But when I see him with a baby, my insides melt into a puddle of goo. He’s so sweet and gentle. I think about having a baby with him and my heart fills so joy. We’re too young to think about kids, but I can tell Reed is going to be an awesome father someday.
GIVEAWAY
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.
Connect with Denise at:
Website | Facebook | Facebook | Twitter
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.Connect with Denise at:
Website | Facebook | Facebook | Twitter
