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.
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.
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.
Links:
Website: www.denisegroverswank.com
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/
Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/
Excerpt One
The band switches to a ballad. Dylan leans his mouth in to
my ear, his lips brushing my earlobe. “Do you want to dance?”
Not really, but I can’t sit here much longer or I’ll drink
myself senseless. I’m now trying to pace myself as it is. “Sure.”
My response is less than enthusiastic, but Dylan doesn’t
seem to notice as he pulls me to the dance floor, then settles my chest against
his. His arms encircle my waist, his hands resting on the rise of my ass.
Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.
Dylan presses his body flush to mine and leans into my ear.
“I’ve wanted you all night.”
I can honestly say I don’t feel the same. If someone had
told me a week ago this would be my response, I would have called them crazy.
The only thing I feel at the moment is disgust. Disgust with Dylan but also
with myself. I let Dylan’s family money and status fool me. I try not to let my
body stiffen as Dylan’s hand begins to slide up the curve of my waist, inching
higher. I reach for his hand and pull it down. I just need to make it through
this dance and then I’m going home. Who the hell cares what Reed Pendergraft
thinks?
But Dylan doesn’t like my redirection and pins my hand
between his chest and mine. When I try to pull back, his grip around my back
tightens and he looks down at me with a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes.
“Where’re you goin’, Caroline? I thought you wanted to be with me. Isn’t that
why you had Tucker set us up?”
I’m livid with Tucker, but then I realize Tucker would never
tell Dylan what he’d done. He might tease me, but he respects me too much to
betray my trust. Not to mention that he’d never risk Scarlett’s wrath.
Dylan must have read my mind. “Fuck no, Tucker didn’t tell
me. I overheard you, baby. But not to worry. You’ve got me now. I’m all yours.”
He grinds his pelvis into mine to show me how much of him I get.
His hold on me tightens enough that I’ll have to make a
scene to get away from him. It’s not ideal, but I’ll do it before I let this
shithead get away with molesting me any more than he already has. I’m about to
forcefully insist he release me when someone interrupts.
“I’d like to have this dance.” Reed stands to my right and
it’s not a question. It’s an order.
Dylan stops swaying. “Can’t you see we’re busy?”
Reed stares at Dylan, and I’m surprised Dylan hasn’t curled
up into the fetal position under his scrutiny. “I spoke to Caroline, not you.”
His gaze turns to me. His eyes are deadly cold, but I know his anger isn’t
directed at me. Well, most of it. “Caroline, would you like to dance?”
I nod, shocked into silence.
Reed pushes Dylan’s hand off my waist and takes me into his
arms. Dylan stares, probably wondering what in the hell happened.
I’m wondering the same thing.
The raw power rolling off Reed’s body makes my knees weak
and I stumble, but Reed’s arm tightens around my waist until I’m steady on my feet.
Reed lowers his face next to mine. “Did he hurt you?”
I shake my head. “No, of course not.”
“Are you saying he didn’t have you trapped against him when
I showed up?”
“Well yes,” I say in annoyance. “But the only thing hurt is
my pride. I’m embarrassed, although I’m not sure why. I didn’t do anything
wrong.”
He leans his head back to look at my face and relief mixes
with something that looks like respect. “You’re right. I’ve never understood a
misogynistic society that shames the woman for a man’s boorish behavior.”
His speech is the first sign I’ve seen tonight to remind me
that he’s really a nerd at heart. Moments ago, he was anything but. My pulse
pounds in my temple, and my skin tingles where we touch. I’ve never wanted a
man to touch me as much as I want to be in Reed’s arms right now. I look into
his face and wonder why I’m wasting time fighting this reaction to him.
And then he speaks.
“Although, I’m not sure you’re one hundred percent
inculpable here. You seem experienced enough to recognize an asshole like
Dylan.”
I’m not sure what to be most outraged about: that he finds
me partially responsible for what happened or his slam against my reputation. “Excuse me?”
“When you play with fire, you’re liable to get burned. Even
children know this platitude.”
Just when I think he can’t get worse, he proves me wrong.
I try to break free of his hold but his arm keeps me in
place.
“Aren’t you doing the same thing you just called Dylan out
for?” I seethe.
His eyes darken. “The difference is you want to be here with
me.”
I want to call him a liar, but I’m too busy staring at his
lips and wishing they’d do something else other than talk.
His arm falls from my waist and he lifts his hand to my
face, tilting my head back so he has full access to my mouth. He stares into my
eyes, his own a blaze of desire.
My breath comes in short pants as my stomach tightens and
other parts of me throb. I want him to kiss me, more than I’ve ever wanted anything.
Ever.
He leans down, his lips inches from mine, and his hands drop
so that the only thing holding us together is pure want.
“I think I’ve proved my point,” he murmurs into my ear.
It takes me a full two seconds to figure out what point he
just made.
Reed Pendergraft has just made a fool out of me.
Source: eARC for Honest Review
Genre: New Adult
My Review...
Let's start with I absolutely loved After Math with Scarlett and Tucker and I was not sure if it was going to be as good but it was. In Afer Math Caroline was meh! for me but in Redesigned her character shone through.
Caroline is a gorgeous superficial gold digger fashion designer. Or so we think...
Reid is a cranky, yet good looking struggling math nerd. Or so we think...
Everyone has secrets and these two have secrets that will either destroy them or bring them closer.
Tucker be still my heart is still super awesome as well as Scarlett. You can't ask for a better BFF's boyfriend.
Even though Reed and Caroline fight the inevitable. Fate and love pull them together.
I love this series and can't wait for more.
4.5 Loving Thumbs Up!
. 5
Lauren
I want to read Redesigned by Denise Grover Swank because I really enjoy reading stories where the characters are attending university.
ReplyDeleteAlso, this book sounds like it's really entertaining.
Thank you for the giveaway!
Thanks for the comment. I loved this story and after math as well. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
DeleteThank you for taking part in my blog tour! I LOVE your review!
ReplyDeleteYou are so very welcome. Thanks for the opportunity and the amazing story. L
DeleteI really want to read this book :)
ReplyDeleteI soooooo recommend it and I hope you like it as much as I did. :)
DeleteI'd like to see the background on Caroline to see how she ticks. Also I love the whole beauty and the geek, but are they really, story line.
ReplyDeleteI loved the book and the beauty and gorgeous geek theme. Thanks for stopping by.
Delete