Book Freak: Blog Tour, Book Review, Giveaway | Saving Tatum by Micalea Smeltzer

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Even tough girls need saving.

Jude Brooks is bad news. He’s the kind of guy that leaves behind a string of broken hearts and Tatum O’ Connor is not about to be one of those girls, despite all of Jude’s advances. They have a past, and Tatum’s determined to make sure they don’t have a future.

Unfortunately for her, “no” isn’t a word in Jude’s vocabulary.

The more she backs away, the more he pushes.

But what if he pushes too far?

Tatum’s hiding a pain that no one sees and holding on to a hurt that may never heal. Letting Jude into her heart could shatter her completely—and what if she opens up to Jude and he can’t handle her baggage?

Love is never easy—especially when the person you’re falling for is the person you blame for the worst event in your life.

Love, heartache, and despair.

That’s the name of the game when you’re Saving Tatum.

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my review

Tatum’s life did a 180 the moment her brother died. Her father was always out and working, and her mother curled up into herself, no longer communicating to her or to anyone else. The only thing that’s normal in her life is school, her friends, and her hatred for Jude Brooks.

MEET MY NEW BOOK BOYFRIEND: JUDE BROOKS. A HOT MALE NURSE. Or soon to be that is (when he graduates). I love this guy – his outlook in life, his positivity and his passion for his work. Seldom you can find a nurse who has a great passion for his work, and most especially in helping others. He didn’t have a great childhood with his parents but he was raised well by his grandparents who made him into a man he is. Who wouldn’t fall in love with him? He can make you swoon with his words, his smile and his action… he’s the complete package.

Until when can Tatum hold that dreadful anger brewing inside of her? Her hatred for Jude is palpable, and I had the terrible urge to know the reason why. I mean – this guy is totally wonderful. He can be a man wh**e, a bit of a flirt – but he had a good head on his shoulder and even a blind man can see how much he adores Tatum.

He was doing everything to get her attention, and he was very positive, that one day he’s going to have her…. and as much as I love his positive outlook in life, with that kind of angry vibe coming off Tatum – I wonder how can he win her heart?

He is irresistible. You have to read to know him. I think he’s my favorite among the series. He’s really sweet without being cheesy, the kind of guy you wished your boyfriend is, he says things you wanted to hear without sounding forced or insincere. He does all the sweetest thing, and I wonder what could tick him off.

Because if Tatum is all anger, this guy seemed to be happy all the time. They complement each other. The moment all was cleared up, and Tatum was beginning to open up – I was so happy for the both of them, but most especially Jude. Both of them deserves to be happy, especially after what they have been through – their losses, their hurts, their pains, the issues with their parents. They seem different, but their baggage is almost the same. Life throws a lot of setbacks, it’s always up to you on how to deal with it.

Tatum is lucky not just to have Rowan, but to have Jude in her life. Finally, the moment her walls went down, she didn’t just had Jude. She had a family. There was Jerry, the reason why Jude became a nurse. The people from the nursing home, and not to mention some unexpected people who joined in the circle.

If it was easy to love Jude, it was quite a task to love Tatum. But she needs it the most, she had to be loved, to be taught on how to let go of her anger, learn to trust and to live. Jude was very patient with her, and it was greatly rewarded when Tatum starts to fall for him. Just as when you thought everything is perfect, fear creeps back to her, and all their hard work wasted. She ran away.

Will they have their happy ending?

I love how Tatum changed in this story. On how she finally managed to destroy the walls around her, and give her heart to the person she’s sure won’t break it. It took a lot of effort and hard work before it happened, but everything was worth it.

This series had just gotten better and better. Another MUST READ from Micalea Smeltzer. This time, she gave us a story filled with emotions, twists, surprises and great characters, I’m sure you can’t get enough of.

✪Complimentary Copy was given in exchange for an honest review.✪

excerpt

Happiness had been absent from my emotions for a long time. On the surface, I wore a smile and never showed the struggles I dealt with on the inside. The fact of the matter was, I’d been hurt. I was damaged goods, and I hadn’t believed I was the kind of girl worthy of love—of being saved. But I was beginning to see that everyone is worth saving. It was strangely appropriate that the man I’d let break me, was the one to put me back together.

I didn’t know what tomorrow, or next week, or even the following month might hold for us, and I wasn’t going to let myself overthink it. I was going to live in the moment.

Jude lay on his back, staring up at the clear blue sky. “Tatum?”

“Yeah,” I replied when he didn’t continue immediately.

“Can I hold your hand, or are you going to hit me for that?”

I turned my head and laughed at his serious expression. “I think that would be alright, and I really am sorry about that. It was an automatic reaction.”

“So…” He started, a slow grin appearing on his face. “Your first response to a guy kissing you, is to slap him? Interesting.”

He was never going to let me live this down. I really hadn’t meant to hit him. He knew that, but he also enjoyed my pain. Douche.

“Only one guy.”

“I’m the only guy to ever kiss you?” He brightened.

“No!” I immediately shut him down. “I’ve kissed other guys, but you’re the only one that I…you know…”

“Slapped?” He supplied. “Should I be honored that you like to hit me?” He winked.

“You make me sound like I’m abusive,” I pouted, feeling ashamed of myself and my behavior.

“Nah,” he propped his head up on his hand and stared down at me. “You’re just a tough girl.”

“Tough?” I wrinkled my nose. “That doesn’t sound very appealing.”

“Oh, trust me,” his brown eyes sparkled, “it is. It’s hot as hell actually. But you want to know a secret, Tate?”

I nodded and he lowered his head so his mouth was pressed against my ear. My body shuddered at the close proximity and the heavenly feel of his breath ghosting against my skin. “Even tough girls need saving.”

“Is that what you’re going to do Jude?” I quirked my head and squinted from the sun shining in my eyes. “Are you going to save me?”

“No,” he shook his head, his dark hair brushing my forehead. “You’re going to save yourself.”

He said the words with such surety that I couldn’t help but believe him. When I didn’t say anything he rolled onto his back and finally entwined our hands together. Peace flooded my body and I didn’t understand it. How could the man that had filled me with such torment not long ago, calm my body with a simple touch? It was mindboggling.

I rolled my head slightly to the side, studying his profile—the elegant slope of his nose and the slant of his lips. I couldn’t believe I was thinking this, and he’d probably kill me if I said it out loud, but he was beautiful—inside and out. It was a shame that I was just now noticing it. I think a lot of people never saw what a magnificent person he was. He hid his true self behind cocky smiles and flirtatious come-ons.

“You’re staring at me.”

“I’m not,” I hastily turned my head away.

“I felt your eyes,” he continued. “You were totally staring. It’s okay, look all you want. I know I’m quite the feast for your eyes.”

With my free hand I smacked his stomach. My God he had abs of steel. I think I hurt my hand more than I did any damage to him. Not that I was really trying to hurt him. Although, I thought he needed a nice blow to his ego.

I squealed as he rolled on top of me and I found my arms pinned above me, pushed into the sand. His tongue slowly snaked out between his plump lips to moisten their surface. I thought he was going to kiss me, but he didn’t. I was learning that Jude rarely did what I expected of him. In many ways he was a mystery.

His dark eyes grew serious as he stared down at me and I found myself squirming as his hips dug into mine. I felt my body responding to the position—muscles tightening, pulse racing, and an overwhelming ache building inside me.

“Are you sure about this?” He breathed softly. There was a vulnerability in his eyes that I’d only ever seen when he was around his grandpa. “About us? Or am I going to wake up in the morning and find that you’re gone?”

“You really think I’d run away?” I replied, wiggling my hips, which caused him to hiss sharply between his teeth.

“Honestly? It wouldn’t surprise me. You’re afraid of your own feelings,” he lowered his head, brushing his nose against my neck. My eyes closed and a pleased hum resounded in my throat. There was still a voice in my head telling me to push him away, but I was done listening to it. “It’s okay to be scared, Tate,” he nipped my earlobe, the heat of his body wrapping around mine like a blanket. “I’m scared too.”

“You are?” I breathed, my voice so soft the wind nearly carried it away.

I felt him nod, his hair tickling my neck. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone, but you,” he confessed. “It’s always been you.”

Meet Micalea

Micalea Smeltzer is a bestselling Young and New Adult author from Winchester, Virginia. She’s always working on her next book, and when she has spare time she loves to read and spend time with her family.