HELLO FRIENDS, I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT TODAY'S POST! NOT ONLY DO I GET TO BRING YOU MY RELEASE DAY REVIEW OF BETTER RED: EVER AFTER NEW YORK SERIES 1 BY TARA LAIN, BUT I ALSO HAVE A CHARACTER INTERVIEW WITH RED, MARK AND A SPECIAL GUEST! YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS IT! LET'S GET TO IT!
THIS QUOTE IS PERFECT FOR THIS STORY BECAUSE IT IS A LESSON RED HAS TO LEARN THE HARD WAY! NOW LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT MY REVIEW:
Better Red
Ever After New York Series 1
by: Tara Lain
reviewed by: Becky
Who’s afraid of the big, bad Wolfe?
Red Ridley knows he could have a happy life in Ever After, New York, waiting on tables at Mom and Pop’s, making numbers add up for clients, studying business at the junior college – and maybe, just maybe having the man of his dreams, Mark Woods, the young owner of the local garage. One problem. Red’s gorgeous. Amazing looking. Totally unique. And no one who sees him – especially his grandmother, who’s his biggest promoter -- believes he won’t end up on the cover of a magazine. Gran’s dreams come true when famous New York agency owner, Brock Wolfe, shows up in Ever After and sets his sights on Red.
Red doesn’t want to leave Mark, but Gran has given everything to raise him, and the money he could make would give her a happy, easy life. Then, the news gets worse – Gran could lose her house -- so Red breaks down and goes to New York where the Wolfe shows just how bad he can be. Faced with a fate worse than death, Red needs a hero or needs to be one. Is there any chance to live happily in Ever After?
I really enjoyed this book, as I knew I would because I love this author! Red is a very endearing character, as is Mark, the Car Repair shop owner Red has been crushing on in secret. Red lives with his Gran, who is a Granny with a blog, and only wants the best for Red, though sometimes her desire for a better life for him puts Red in an uncomfortable place.
Red loves his life in Ever After, and he loves his diner job, but money problems threaten him and Gran so Red makes a choice to go to the big city and model. Red has many challenges, most of them to do with Brock Wolfe, and he loses sight of who he can and can't trust.
Will Red be able to get out of the clutches of Brock and the big city? Will he ever get his hearts desire, which is Mark? Read this book and find out! I loved this story and I know you will too!
AMAZON LINK
NOW FOR THE PART I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR! HERE IS A CHARACTER INTERVIEW WITH RED AND MARK, WITH A QUESTION ANSWERED BY A SPECIAL GUEST!
- Red, you are as "pretty" as described in your story, does that ever color the way people interact with you? Is it hard for them to see the real you?
“Oh, totally. I’m really just a regular guy and a small-town guy at that. But ever since I was a little kid, my face kind of got between me and people. They look at me and assume things – like I must hate being in this little town and want to be some famous actor or model. But I don’t! I love it here and I love waiting tables and doing bookkeeping and, of course, there’s Mark. But honest, even if Mark didn’t exist – yeah, I’d hate that – but even if he wasn’t a factor in my being here, I’d still want to stay in Ever After.” He grins. “also, People see me and assume I’m gay. That, of course, is true, even if I didn’t exactly know it for sure until recently.”
I can totally see where people would think that you would want to make the most of your appearance, but what I have come to find is that you know what happens when you ASSume ;)
- Red, without giving anything away, you make a trip to the big city, what was your favorite food you tried while there?
He laughs. “To be honest, my favorite food was liquid. I kind of developed a taste for champagne. I know that’s not a wise favorite for a small-town guy without much money, but once you’ve had it, it’s hard not to like it.”
Oh wow, I have never had it! I will have to get your recommendation later on the best one for beginners!
- Red, what is your advice for a young person who may feel pressured into doing something they aren't comfortable with?
“Whew. That’s tough because it happens to so many kids. It sure happened to me. Sometimes it’s other kids who try to get you to do things that don’t feel right, and you go along to be part of the group. Truthfully, that’s one of the benefits of being an outsider. You don’t have as many people expecting you to do shit, excuse my language. Sometimes the people who expect you to do things are those you love, like parents, or for me, my grandmother. I think that’s even harder than peer pressure, because you don’t want to let them down. But the truth is, this is the only life you’ve got, that you know about anyway.” He flashes his dimples. “Do you really want to compromise it? When you’re forty or seventy, do you still want to remember how you did that thing that went against what you believe or what you wanted, just to make somebody else happy? I mean, they forget about it and you live with it -- forever. Bull! Me, I’d rather be able to say I made my own mistakes and went my own way. That’s what life’s about. Find out who you are – and be that.”
I agree totally! Those that truly love you will accept your choices, those that don't, well who need em anyway!
- Mark: you are a big, quiet guy, do you think that people make assumptions about you because of it?
“Well, I guess.” He smiles softly. “But I am big and I am quiet, so those things are right. They may assume I’m kind of a simple guy, and that’s not really wrong either. The thing about a small town is that people know a lot about your family. People here know about my father. I’d just as soon they don’t think I’m like him, but, whether he meant to or not, he taught me to take care of what I love and let other people worry about the rest.”
I love how you really don't care what people say or think about you, if more people were like that this world would be such a different place!
5. Mark: In this story you really prove yourself to be an all-around nice guy, what is the one thing that can make you mad as a hornet in no time?
I guess I could say check the previous answer.” He chuckles. “I’m fairly easy going, but don’t mess with what I love.”
I can't wait for people to read this story so they can see these words in action!
NOW FOR MY BONUS QUESTION WITH MY VERY SPECIAL GUEST: RED'S GRAN! THANKS FOR COMING GRAN!
- Gran: Without giving much away you have a kickass blog, is there an easy recipe or DIY project you can give us?
“Why thank you for asking. As you know, Granny in Jammies promotes healthy food and lifestyle.” She smiles. “But my grandson Redmond has taught me that health and enjoyment go hand in hand, so I think you need to have something a bit indulgent from time to time. Like a lot of people, I love my Instant Pot, and one of my favorite recipes combines arborio rice, broccoli, and chicken. I know that doesn’t sound very indulgent, but now I’m going to tell you that you also add – cheese. Lots of it gets melted into the rice at the last minute. It makes a sticky, not-too-bad-for-you, delicious risotto that will bring a smile to your face!”
I am soooo writing that down for later, it sounds amazing! Thank you Gran, and thank you Mark and Red for answering my questions, I can't wait for everyone to read your story!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME FOR MY RELEASE DAY REVIEW AND CHARACTER INTERVIEW! YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO READ THIS STORY NOW SO GRAB IT AND ENJOY!
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