Blog Tour: Picture Perfect by Alessandra Thomas (Character Interview & Review & Giveaway!)

Welcome to my stop on the Picture Perfect blog tour! To see the schedule, click HERE!

 

So. What do I have for you today?

 

Um. Stuff.

 

What kind of stuff?

 

AWESOME STUFF.

 

Seriously. It's awesome. And fun. And it makes me laugh. So are you ready?!?!?!

 

First, I have a character interview. Then I have a link to my review. THEN I have a giveaway. Um, whoa. Is it just me, or is that A LOT of awesome in one little post?

 

Yeah, I know. Not just me.

 

Let's get started! I have a peanut butter sandwich to eat.

 

~Character Interview~

 

 

Hey Nate! Welcome to my little blog! I am so incredibly excited to have you stop by today. SERIOUSLY. I flailed when I found out you were going to be here. It was kind of amusing.

Well, I was happy to be invited! I really admire what you do here. I may have gotten a little excited myself.

Fun fact: did you know you are my newest addition to my imaginary list of boy toys book boyfriends? Because you are. And I should really go about making that list real instead of imaginary...

I…um…wow. I’m flattered. Oh, hey, look at that. My girlfriend just sent me a text. Let me answer her….

HA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Anyhoo, questions! Because you’re here for an interview. Yeah. So, first question. Describe yourself in five words or less. WAIT. That wasn’t a question. Describe yourself in five words or less, please?

Questions! Great idea!

Description in five words or less? Uh…how about “Trying to improve every day.”

All right, so you have a giiiiiiiiirl. Cat. She’s all nice and pretty. Now can you please describe HER in five words or less?

Oh, Cat. Calling her a girl almost feels like an understatement to me, she’s such an incredible woman. But, five words?  “So brave, and absolutely gorgeous.”

Okay, off course a little, but this is one of those questions I feel I MUST ask—if you had a pet tiger, what would you name him? (Yeah, it would be a him. Why? I don’t know. Because I say so.)

“Killer.” Because it has so many possible meanings, and all of them are powerful and intimidating. I feel like you want people to be afraid of your pet tiger, otherwise, why would you have one? Right?

 

Back to Cat! Goodness, Nate. Getting so off track. We’re here for a REASON. Geez. *giggle* When you first saw/”met” Cat when Jake dumped her like the douche freaking canoe he is, what did  you think of her?

Well, you’re asking great questions! *laughs* Every guy wants to imagine himself with a pet tiger, so that was good.

So when that dick Jake dumped Cat? Oh, man. I mean, I guess when I think back on it, I knew she was beautiful, but that’s not really the first thing that came to mind. It was really that girls have a hard enough time feeling good about themselves in college, and it’s not only cowardly but damaging for guys to treat them with anything less than respect. Especially in college. To be honest, it was probably the closest I’ve come to going Hulk in a long time.

And then when she modeled in your art class, you didn’t notice her right away? Or, I mean RECOGNIZE her? We all know you noticed her. Heh.

Name me one guy who would be focusing on a girl’s face when she has the most beautiful body you’ve ever seen and she’s naked right in front of you. I mean, that skin – all I could think about was what it would be like to get my hands on her. Twelve-year-old memories were the last thing I was thinking about – in fact, my brain wasn’t really doing the thinking at that point, to be honest.

So, no. I didn’t recognize her as hot Cat from camp. She had changed a lot.

I want to go back to YOU now. Because you seem like a mighty cool guy. Will you be my new best friend?

Of course, because you’re a cool girl. Anyone messes with you, you let me know, okay? So I guess it can be kind of like best friend/protective older brother.

The book focuses a lot around CAT’S insecurities and body issues, but it’s clear you had some, too. Where do you stand now with that? Like, how do you view yourself and how has this changed from way back when?

Oh yeah, and I definitely still have some. Basically, I guess, my life has always been shittiest when I was at one extreme or the other – pretty overweight, when I was a kid, or just very, very ripped, my first couple years of college. So extremes give me bad associations, I guess.

I think I look okay now, and really the most important things to me are that I feel good and Cat’s happy with how I look. And that I’m healthy. I’m trying to keep those three things a priority.

You mentioned that Cat’s kiss way back when—and by that I mean in camp (I just find it fun to say “way back when”)—was something awesome that happened to you. Did that kiss always mean as much to you as it does now or do you think the meaning there has changed as you grew up, and especially now that you’re with Cat?

Oh, yeah. She saved my ass that summer. *laughs* I guess, looking back on it, I knew she didn’t like me as more than a friend – or even as a friend, really. But the fact that a popular girl like that could suck it up and kiss a geeky fat kid like me just to give me a little boost in camp street cred, that really stuck with me.  When I think about what it means to me as an adult, it’s that even the smallest of actions can change things for people, for better or for worse. I want to always remember that, and she helps me do that all the time.

Whoa, last question. I’m getting good with run-on sentences, right? I NEED TO LEARN GRAMMAR. Actually, no I don’t. I know grammar. I just blame you, Nate. You’re all pretty and distracting. Which is why we must be friends.

I knew what you meant. *nervous laugh* And you’re a really good looking girl, too, you know? I mean, I’m sure your boyfriend tells you that all the time. Ahhhhh…right. Friends. Yes, we are.

Oh, yeah, the interview. So. How’s it going? The relationship with Cat going good? Your mom still with that dude?

Everything with Cat is…incredible. We just came back from Spring Break in California. I’m hoping I get to tell all of you about that really soon. She was…well, she’s the bravest, most beautiful soul I know. Really.

Mom’s still with Rich, yeah. And you know, she seems happier every day, so I’m happy for her. I guess being in love will do that to you – you want everyone else to be in love, too.

OH! How’s Cat’s leg doing?

She has a love-hate relationship with it. I’ve been pushing her to condition it more, so we’re trying new kinds of workouts. Just because I know she wants to get back in those heels – not that I care. She’ll never be a runner or anything, but I think the more she pushes herself to do with it the happier she is. So I’m trying to help her with that balance.

If you had to rate this interview on a scale from 1-10 (so far, this interview is NOT over), what would the rating be and why?

Oh, 10. Of course. Because your questions are so original, and damn, I’m still thinking about that pet tiger. Now I kind of want one.

Hehe, you’re the first one I’ve ever asked that question.

I’m glad you did.

All right, now favorites! This is kind of obvious, so I’m not even going to explain it. I trust your mental capabilities.

Food?  Italian. Any kind of pesto, specifically.

Season? Summer.

Movie? Honestly? Lately, I’ve been stuck on superhero movies. X-men: First Class is great.

Song? Anything Kravitz.

Band? Now, see, this is kind of old school. I’ve been really into U-2 lately

Book? Oh, good one! The Count of Monte Cristo.

Book blogger? You, of course.

Beverage? Fresh-squeezed orange juice. I still don’t drink much.

Color? Hmmm. Deep blue.

Okay, now just, like, one or two this or thats.

Early bird or night owl? Early bird.

Salty or sweet? Aw, can’t I have both?

Edward or Jacob? Huh?

Gale or Peeta? Peeta. Just when the brother caught a break, he lost his damn leg.

 

I am aware that I asked four this or thats instead of the one or two I originally said. But…NATE. This interview is coming to an end. This is always my least favorite part. *pouty face*

I’ll miss you. Maybe I can come back again?

Before you go, is there anything at all you want to add? It can be random or relevant to the book or whatever. Anything goes right now. And honestly, randomness is fun.

I know my author kind of obsessively watched The Bachelor (yeah, I saw your twitter feed, Aless) and I just want to publicly say that I think a respectable guy dates one girl at a time, and doesn’t tongue them all on national television. I’m looking at you, Sean, buddy. I am glad you got it together though. Cristina’s so fun and a great girl.

Thank you SO. MUCH. For stopping by and letting me verbally abuse you. But come on. You cannot honestly tell me you aren’t attractive and we weren’t made to be best friends. It was MEANT TO BE, Nate. Wow, I’m sounding obsessive. So yeah, thanks, and I honestly and truly hope you drop by again soon! *hugs everywhere!*

Abuse? Where? This was great! Can I take you out for a burger to say thanks?

Anyway, thanks so much for having me. I had a great time.

 

 

~Review~

 

Picture Perfect by Alessandra Thomas

Release Date: March 26, 2013

Format: ebook

Source: For Blog Tour

 

Description from Goodreads:

Fashion design major Cat Mitchell has a closet full of gorgeous clothes - and not a single thing fits. After two years of runway modeling for easy cash, an accident shattered her lower leg bone and her self-esteem in just one swift fall. Ten months of no exercise, prescription steroids, comfort eating and yoga pants meant returning to campus as a size twelve instead of her former size two.

When her gorgeous long-time friend with benefits sees her for the first time after her accident and snubs her in front of all her friends, Cat’s self-image hits rock bottom. Her sorority sisters all insist that she looks gorgeous, but all Cat sees is the roll of her stomach when she sits down, or the dimpling at the back of her thighs that wasn't there last year. Cat’s therapist prescribes something radical to stop the downward spiral - nude modeling for a nearby college's human form drawing classes.

When Cat faces her fears and bares it all for the class, she realizes that she's posing naked in front the most gorgeous, buffest guy she's ever seen in her life. He asks her out after the class, and after one steamy night together, Cat's absolutely smitten.

Nate’s pretty close to perfect – he takes Cat rock climbing when he discovers that it makes her feel strong and becomes a great chef after he learns that the perfect pesto sauce makes her swoon. Cat starts to feel like her old self again - confident and beautiful - as long as Nate's around. Even when he discourages her from entering the Real Woman Project, a design competition for plus-sized apparel, she reasons that he's just trying to prevent old body image wounds from splitting wide open again.

But when Cat goes home with Nate for Thanksgiving, she discovers something shocking from his recent past that proves that he hasn’t always been so encouraging of women of all shapes and sizes. Cat has no idea what to think, but she does know one thing - this might destroy their relationship before it's even had a chance to get off the ground.

Before Cat can figure out whether the real Nate is the sensitive, adoring guy she fell in love with, or an undercover asshole, she'll have to finally feel comfortable in her own skin - even if it means leaving him forever.

(This book contains sex and adult language.)

All right, peeps. Here's the deal. Since I already have a zillion other things in this post, I have my review in another post. If you're just on my blog page, it's the post right below this one. Just scroll on down to see what I have to say about this fabulous story.

 

You could also go to my Blog Archive on the right sidebar and click on the post titled "Review: Picture Perfect by Alessandra Thomas".

 

OR you could always, you know, CLICK RIGHT HERE and that will take you to see the review.

 

Your choice. ;)

 

~Giveaway~

 

A tour-wide giveaway! For two signed copies of Picture Perfect and two ebook copies of Picture Perfect. Is that cool or what?! Enter through the Rafflecopter below!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

~About the Author~

 

Alessandra Thomas is a New Adult writer who swears she was in her twenties yesterday. Since she's not, she spends her time looking back on her college years fondly, and writing sexy stories about guys and girls falling in love and really living life for the first time. When she's not writing, you can find her with a spoonful of ice cream in one hand and the newest New Adult release in the other.

 

Twitter: www.twitter.com/AuthorAless

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/alessandra.thomas.98?ref=ts&fref=ts

 

♥Jessica(: