Callie Jacobsen isn't about to open her heart to just anyone. Not so very long ago, trusting someone changed her life forever—and not in a fun way. Now she's better off focusing on her career, her friends, and her dog. So when former Marine Everett Silverton takes an interest in her, Callie's more than a little wary. No matter how charming he is, men are a bad idea. In fact, she's got the scars to prove it.
But Everett isn't convinced Callie should shut everyone out—especially not him. He may be a hero to the people of Rock Canyon, but he's got his own demons, and he bets they're not that different from Callie's. Still, he knows it's going to take more than chemistry to get her to let her guard down. Everett will do whatever it takes to show her she's safe with him. All she has to do is take a chance, take a step … and take his hand.
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Hi Codi. Welcome back to Read Your Writes Book Reviews.
Hey Kim! It’s good to “see” you again! Thanks for having me!
You’re welcome. Can you please tell me about your Rock Canyon Series? Is there a certain theme associated with the series?
So, the premise of Rock Canyon is navigating small town life while people always seem to have a preconceived perception of who you are. For instance, the super nice girl who has never had an unkind word to say about anyone can’t possibly go skinny dipping or enter into a casual sexual relationship. And the new guy in town who rides a motorcycle and owns a tattoo shop can’t be anything more than a hoodlum who will cause nothing but trouble. We all do it; judge someone based on their looks, occupation, etc. (or have done it at one time) but when you have known everyone around you your whole life, it’s hard to break out of the mold they made for you.
Callie Jacbosen and Marine Everett Silverton are the heroine and hero of Bad for Me. Can you tell me about them?
Well, Callie is a Nor Cal native who moved to Rock Canyon five years ago to take over the morning show slot. She is quiet and keeps to herself, although she is boisterous and fun on the air. She lives alone with a giant dog the town thinks is named “Killer” and overall they find her a bit…peculiar. Everett Silverton, on the other hand, is a hero in his town’s eyes and grew up in Idaho. After coming home scarred from a roadside bomb attack, Everett has been trying to make a life for himself, but it’s hard to get close to anyone because he has trouble relating his troubles to people who can’t possibly understand.
What makes their relationship complicated?
Callie is escaping a violent past, and used pills and alcohol to cope. Now a recovering alcoholic, she has a hard time trusting people. Everett, who has dealt with his PTSD, isn’t sure he wants to get involved with Callie after everything he went through with his alcoholic father. Once they move on from that, Callie’s trust and unresolved issues with her past get in their way.
Bad for Me is the fifth book in the series. To date, which heroine would you most like to be and why? Also, which hero would you like to have as your own and why?
Actually, she isn’t a heroine (yet), she is just a supporting character, but I would love to be Gracie McAllister. She’s sassy with a great sense of style and I love her love/hate relationship with Eric Henderson. Which hero do I want all for myself? So hard! I love all my guys! But, if I had to pick, I fell pretty hard for Gabe Moriarty, my hero from Book #4, Return of the Bad Girl.
What’s next for you?
Actually, I am working on a few special projects to be announced, but I’ll let you know as soon as I get the green light! (wink)
Thanks for taking the time to stop by. Congratulations on Bad for Me.
Thank you so much!
“I’ve almost got it.”
“Thank you. This was really nice of you, especially when I haven’t given you a reason to be.”
Everett looked up at her, wiping the rain off his face so he could meet her gaze. “You seem to assume that just because people are kind to you, they want something. Sometimes people help because it’s the right thing to do.”
Her gaze shifted away, and he went back to tightening the nuts on the wheel. He’d said his piece, but knew he wasn’t going to convince Callie with words that his intentions were honorable.
He had to prove it to her.
When he finished, he released the jack and gathered up all the tools, sliding them back in the spare tire kit. “I’ll put this and the new tire in the back, and you’ll be good to go. I’ll haul this one off to the dump for you.”
She knelt down next to him and took the kit from him, their fingers brushing. Despite the chill of their skin, heat sizzled between them, sending a shot of awareness down his throat. Her blonde curls were wet and falling out of her messy top knot, and drops of rain were clinging to her cheeks. Before he could stop himself, he traced the pad of his thumb across one, catching the cool droplet on his skin. Her amber eyes widened, and he dropped his hand, cursing his impulse.
“Sorry. You had something on your cheek.”
Callie cleared her throat and stood up. “It’s okay.”
He climbed to his feet and couldn’t help wondering if she’d felt something too. Was that why she kept pulling away?
But if she didn’t want him, why was he pushing?
Because she doesn’t treat you like a defective puppy she’d have to fix.
Grabbing her spare tire from the back of his truck, he slid it into the back of her Jeep. She stood back as he closed the door, and he could tell she was nervous—her hands kept twisting.
“Well, you’re all set. You should get home and change out of those wet clothes. If you get sick, I’ll have to listen to one of those ridiculous weekend deejays, and they play nothing but crap.”
Everett started to head back to his truck, but she caught his hand. “Hey.”
Just the touch of her hand sent his heart from a trot to a gallop. He loved the way her soft skin wrapped around his.
Facing her, he waited, afraid to move a muscle and scare her off.
But she moved so fast, he wasn’t prepared when her lips brushed the scarred side of his face. He stiffened as the warmth seeped through his cheek, his stomach twisting up as a thousand thoughts and insecurities made him wince. Had the roughness repelled her? Why hadn’t she picked the untouched side?
“Thank you. For being kind.”
Callie dropped his hand and ran to her car, as if afraid he would come after her. As she started it and pulled forward, he was finally able to move again, backing up a ways to watch her disappear down the road.
Everett’s hand came up to rest against his cheek, and he realized that he’d lied to Callie when he said he didn’t want anything from her.
He wanted everything.
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Thank you for hosting BAD FOR ME!
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