Business As Usual by Denise Grover Swank ~ Review

Source: Received an eBook copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Lexi Pendergraft has given up on finding love after a disastrous encounter with her last boyfriend. Instead, she focuses on two things: One, setting up a summer program for underprivileged middle-school aged students. And the second, getting to the bottom of her brother Reed’s recent strange behavior. His secret is destroying his relationship with his fiancée Caroline, and Lexi will do anything to help him save it. Especially after he gave up his dream to give Lexi a chance at a semi-normal college experience, something her parents threatened to steal from her after her rape a year ago.

Ben Masterson is determined to make it through his final semester of his senior year at Southern University. After recently losing his full ride scholarship, he’s suffering from sleep deprivation while trying to keep up with his mechanical engineering courses and working three part time jobs. He thinks he’s lucked out getting a job in the university math lab. The only problem is his boss—Reed Pendergraft.

As part of a role in a community theater play, Lexi wears a black wig and feels a confidence she hasn’t experienced in over a year. When she wears it to a bar close to the theater, she doesn’t think Ben, a bartender there, recognizes her. While Ben’s intrigued about what she’s up to, he’s smart enough to stay far away from his overprotective boss’s sister. Until fate forces him to help her, but why won’t she tell him her real identity?

My Thoughts:

 

5 stars - I love this series!

First Impressions...

I loved After Math and Redesigned so much.  I was so excited to jump into this third book in the series.  I had pretty high expectations and I wasn't disappointed at all.

While I loved seeing all the characters from the previous books, this one certainly can be read Stand Alone.

The Characters...

I am completely in love with Ben.  He lost his full scholarship when he was falsely accused of rape by his ex-girlfriend.  Now he works 3 jobs and takes 15 credit hours of classes so he can graduate in three months.  He so doesn't want a girlfriend.  Not after the last one.  That changes when he meets Alexa.  He's drawn to her and he's so sweet.  He's supportive and caring.  He protects her even when he first meets her.  But once he learns her secrets he may be even more caveman about his protective ways.  He's sweet and adorable, giving up things to help her and understanding some strange behavior on her part.  I just love him.

I love Alexa or Lexi.  Ben calls her Alexa so that how I think of her now too.  She's experienced some really bad days and with the terribly uncomfortable night with her last boyfriend she doesn't want a new one.  But she can't resist the yummy bartender, Ben.  He bails her out one night and his kiss has her wanting more.  But it's more than his help that she loves.  They are perfect for each other.

The Story...

I love how these two characters have very different experiences in their past around a common theme.  It has the potential to draw them together or bust them apart.  It was so nice to watch them drawn together and then to see what the result would be when they both learned the truth.  (Though it may have stressed me some).

I also loved that the this storyline drew in a previous couple and let us see how they dealt with more drama.  It wasn't a side story but very much part of the action between Ben and Alexa.  We saw the couple from the first book as well but they were more in the background.  It's nice to see them again and know they are still together.

I really enjoyed Ben and Alexa's story.

Could I Put It Down...

The deal is that I had to put it down for stress relief.  A couple of times, I was wanting to read faster and afraid to read on.  I needed someone to talk to about the book but didn't have that.  It's okay, cause now I can be that person for someone else.  If you're reading this one and need some virtual hand holding, send me tweet and I'm there.

In The End...

All three books in this series were 5 stars for me.  They are what makes New Adult good.  They have the perfect balance of yummy sexy scenes combined with serious real issues.  Anyone who loves NA will want to read not just Business as Usual but the whole series.  If you haven't fallen in love with this genre yet, then this is a great series to make that happen.  

Quotes can be seen on my Book Boyfriend post.

About Denise Grover Swank: 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.

The Off Subject Series...

Prologue Reveal ~ Business As Usual by Denise Grover Swank

We are extremely excited to share the Cover and Prologue Reveal for BUSINESS AS USUAL by Denise Grover Swank! BUSINESS AS USUAL is the third book in her Off The Subject Series. BUSINESS AS USUAL releases April 10th! Add it to your TBR pile ASAP!

   

PROLOGUE: Business as Usual Prologue by Denise Grover Swank  

BUSINESS AS USUAL Synopsis: Lexi Pendergraft has given up on finding love after a disastrous encounter with her last boyfriend. Instead, she focuses on two things: One, setting up a summer program for underprivileged middle-school aged students. And the second, getting to the bottom of her brother Reed’s recent strange behavior. His secret is destroying his relationship with his fiancée Caroline, and Lexi will do anything to help him save it. Especially after he gave up his dream to give Lexi a chance at a semi-normal college experience, something her parents threatened to steal from her after her rape a year ago. Ben Masterson is determined to make it through his final semester of his senior year at Southern University. After recently losing his full ride scholarship, he’s suffering from sleep deprivation while trying to keep up with his mechanical engineering courses and working three part time jobs. He thinks he’s lucked out getting a job in the university math lab. The only problem is his boss—Reed Pendergraft. As part of a role in a community theater play, Lexi wears a black wig and feels a confidence she hasn’t experienced in over a year. When she wears it to a bar close to the theater, she doesn’t think Ben, a bartender there, recognizes her. While Ben’s intrigued about what she’s up to, he’s smart enough to stay far away from his overprotective boss’s sister. Until fate forces him to help her, but why won’t she tell him her real identity?  

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About Denise Grover Swank: 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. You can find out more about Denise and her other books at: www.denisegroverswank.com.    

Blog ~ Website ~ Author Facebook ~ Twitter ~  Novel Goodreads ~ Author Goodreads

 

Redesigned by Denise Grover Swank ~ Tour stop, Review & Giveway

Source: Received eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

REDESIGNED Synopsis:

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.

My Thoughts:

 

5 stars - Stayed up late for this one and so worth it!

When I read a "new to me" author and love the book, I'm always excited to read the next book of theirs.  Sometimes, I disappointed when I find out the fabulousness was only one book long.  Such is NOT the case with Denise Grover Swank.  I'm thinking she needs to be moved to auto-buy and one click status.  Redesigned rocked as much as After Math.


Should I remind you that I'm a math teacher?  Maybe I should.  After all both of the books in this series have to do with math majors and well that's what I am.  Does that make me biased?  Hmmm...I'm thinking no.  See math people get math people but I'm also a professional reader.  I get good books.  So no biased here.  This series just rocks even though it's got some rockin' math in it too.  Wait. Don't worry.  The only math problems discussed are simple subtraction with a 2nd grader.  Really.  It's all good.


You know I'm starting with Reed, right?  You should.  I was worried about Reed.  He's the math geek and I worried I wouldn't like him.  He does kinda have the socially inept thing when they first meet.  I cringed and thought....NO.  I want to love Reed.  Well, let me just say that I freakin' LOVE Reed.  Yeah he has his "ass moments" at first but as those chip away and the reasons for them become clear, it's all I can do not to crawl in the book and cuddle the boy.  And what a sexy boy he is! Damn.  He has that dirty mouth thing going in the moment and asks her to strip for him.  Yeah, he can be bossy in bed, too.  Love it.  But he's protective and sweet.  He's caring and cuddleworthy.  When he makes the "agreement" with her, I can already see his feelings.  The boy has it bad for Caroline.  Love it.


Now Caroline.  Okay, she was harder for me but I'm going with yeah I get it in the end.  But, girl. NOTHING is worth losing Reed over...nothing.  Her fear of living poor is totally understandable considering her background.  I get that it's anxiety and all but I wanted to slap her a few times.  Maybe that just means I was invested in the characters and was so dang pissed that she even considered...right you should read this yourself and decide and I should shut up now.

This book is just as good as After Math.  Loved seeing Tucker and Scarlet again.  Can't wait to read the next one, Business as Usual.  If you love these fabulous New Adults kinda books, then pick this one up. Wait...read After Math first then pick this one up.  Really.  Do. It.

I wonder if writing reviews at 1:30AM right after I stay up late to finish a great book is really such a great idea - snarky much?  You get my point though, right? 

Author Bio:

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.

Denise Grover Swank | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads 

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Redesigned by Denise Grover Swank ~ Release Day & Giveaway

Now Available 

Book Description:

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.

Totally LOVED the first book in this series! 

Check out my review here!

About Denise Grover Swank:

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.

Denise Grover Swank | Blog | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook  Amazon 

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After Math by Denise Grover Swank ~ Tour Stop & Giveaway

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  Title: After Math (Off the Subject, #1)
Author: Denise Grover Swank
Release date: March 12, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tour organized by: AToMR Tours
 

Math smart girl? Hot bad boy soccer player? Yes, please! 

Read it in a few hours! Couldn't put it down!

Source:  Received an eBook copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Book Description:

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?

My Thoughts:

5 stars - You will fall in love with Tucker!

If you follow my blog, you probably know that I'm a middle school math/computer teacher.  When I saw this book about a college math student, I had to read it.  AND I am so glad I did.  The only regret is that I read it Sunday after RT and so I didn't know just how fabulous this book is.  I passed up meeting the author at the book fair.  *hangs head* So sorry about that!  This is definitely a keeper kinda book and I wish I had got the signed paperback.

MUST start with Tucker.  I love Tucker.  He's my favorite kinda bad boy.  He's the man whore of campus, never staying with one girl beyond a hook-up.  Been in a few fights.  Fighting to keep his soccer scholarship because of discipline and grades.  A gifted star on the soccer fields, this boy is rough but he has some reasons. Not telling his secrets very easily, I fell totally in love with him, hard.  His reaction to Scarlett is unique.  He sees she's different.  He trusts her, some, well enough to be himself around her instead of the cocky bad boy everyone else gets.  He needs Scarlett and not just for math tutoring.  I loved that.

Scarlett is right up my alley.  I loved her immediately.  One of the few girls tackling the math major, she doesn't really date.  Her past still haunts her, causing her anxiety and stress.  She finds relief working the math problems in her homework.  Her friends protect her but they think she should break out of her shell.   It takes alcohol to calm her enough to go to a party.  Meeting Tucker cracks that shell, though, as she learns that being around him calms her more than working math problems.  But both are broken.  It's a rough ride.

I started this thinking I'd just check it out while I had some extra time.  I planned on reading something else first.  That went by the way, as I looked down and was 1/3 of the way through without even noticing.  The pages were a blur.  Loved it so much.

It's new adult and sexy as hell.  It's broken souls healing each other.  It's a perfect distraction.  If those things appeal to you, then run and grab this one!  It's only $.99 as an eBook!

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