The Autumn Review: SHARK BAIT (Grab Your Pole 1) by Jenn Cooksey: Top Ten with Tristan & Giveaway

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Not only do I love this book, but Jenn is one of the best authors I've gotten to know. This interview with Tristan CRACKED me up! I've read it like 3 or 4 times. Seriously. Thanks Jenn & Tristan ( I guess I should thank Jeff too, since he HAD to add his two cents)!

Previously homeschooled Camie Ramsey is being shoved into the shark-infested waters of public high school, where even helium filled, penguin bespeckled arm floaties likely won’t help keep her inexperienced, fifteen-year old head above water in that rip current of hormones and emotions.
Camie’s worldly wisdom might be severely lacking (i.e., the closest she’s come to being kissed was sitting too close to the TV whilst Jake Ryan leaned in to give Samantha that fateful 16th birthday kiss), but she does understand her only hope for survival is if she’s thrown some kind of “social” life preserver before she sinks like a freaking rock. However, what will her fate be when she endeavors to flag down the only lifeguard on duty, the enormously popular and ridiculously beautiful Tristan Daniels? The most sought after and virtually most unattainable guy in school who not only makes Camie’s heart flatline on a recurring basis, he’s also the one guy who seemingly doesn’t know she exists.
Feeling like an inept piece of chum that could ultimately be swallowed by Jaws, can Camie get Tristan to rescue her from floundering in the treacherous deep, or is she destined to be Shark Bait?

Hi gang, Jenn Cooksey here. Real quick before we get started with Tristan, I just wanted to say thank you all for stopping by, and an especially big thanks goes to Autumn for hosting this stop on the Shark Bait Back to School Blog Hop. This is a big first for me and I’m just so appreciative of her and all the help and support she’s given me. Truly, Autumn, you’re simply amazing and I’ve had such a great time working with you and getting to know you better! And speaking of firsts, this is a big one for Tristan as well, and although he’s a pretty confident guy, talking about himself does actually make him a little uncomfortable, so if he clams up or smarts off, I wanted you all to know that’s why.

I also wanted to explain how this is going to go... I’ve printed out the Top 10 questions Autumn has for Tristan and he’s going to record his answers with a microphone that I have plugged into my laptop so that I can transcribe what he says later on. I’m doing it this way for a couple of reasons, but basically, I don’t think it would be the best idea to just give him free reign to write whatever he wants and have him send it off without umm...”moderating” his responses in some way, you know? And it’s not that I don’t trust him, but being that he has quite the imagination and would prefer not to disclose actual information about himself...well, if he thinks he can get away with it, I wouldn’t be surprised if he figured out how to get through the entire guest post while avoiding giving real answers. In addition to transcribing, I’m also going to be making notes as he does his thing so that I can attempt to give you a play by play of sorts in the transcription of his post. You know, like describing his tone or facial expression.

I just thought it might be more fun that wa—Oh, here we go, folks; Tristan just showed up, looking as cocky and as swoon-worthy as he usually does. He gave me a hug and a quick “son-like” peck on the cheek—I had to stand on my tip-toes because the guy is seriously tall—then he took the questions, sat down in a chair next to my desk and tapped the microphone to test if it’s working. He’s such a ham sometimes...

“So this is pretty cool... I guess I should first thank Autumn for having me on her blog to do a guest post, or whatever you call this, and then I...what? Introduce myself? Hell if I know, but whatever. Okay, so my name is Tristan Daniels and I’m the guy in a book called Shark Bait, which is the first book in the Grab Your Pole series written by Jenn Cooksey. And so you know, I’m recording this whole thing and then Jenn is gonna type it up ‘cause none of us are allowed to touch her computer.” (<--- That’s one of the other reasons why I’m transcribing.) “But she’s sitting here watching me like she doesn’t quite trust me or something, which is sorta getting on my damned nerves, but she’s the boss so I just have to deal.” (He stopped and flashed me a grin.)

(I have no idea why he dropped his voice to say this next part because he knows I’m listening and he’s being recorded...the big dork.) “However, the guy she really should be watching is my best friend, Jeff—he’s an ass-monkey and he’s always getting me into all kinds of [REDACTED] trouble. If you wanna know what kind of [REDACTED] I’m talking about, you gotta read the books, ‘cause I’m a pretty private person and I don’t really like sharing details about my personal life.” (I told you...) “Which is sort of ironic since I’m here today on this blog hop because Autumn wants my answers to this Top 10 thing. I have no clue what a blog hop is but, it doesn’t matter; I’m pumped and ready to answer some questions so let’s get this show on the road!” (Huh. He’s actually excited about this...interesting.) (Oh and he just cleared his throat, snapped the paper with the questions on it and stretched his legs out to get more comfortable.)

1. Favorite moment of this school year so far?
(One side of his mouth just lifted into one of his trademark half-smiles, like the question sparked a really great memory for him.) “That would be a single Sunday afternoon that I spent at the beach and took a late afternoon nap. Not that I really slept, but what happened in the moments after that nap was EPIC.”

2. Favorite song/singer?
“Until recently I wouldn’t have been able to choose, but now I’d say my favorite song would be ‘Learning to Fly’ by Pink Floyd.” (He just winked at me and went back to reading the questions.)

3. Favorite place you would love to visit?
“Well, I’m sorta fond of the zip code I live in at the moment, but I’d dig surfing in Australia.” (I got another wink. I’m not sure if he thinks he knows something about what I have in store for him and the rest of the GYP gang, or if he’s flirting with me. You know because the latter would be sort of awkward since I’m practically like his mom, so, I’m hoping for the first one...)

4. One item you cannot live without?
(Um, his eyebrows are all knitted together like he’s confused...) “Water. No, Cam—wait... Yeah, Ca—I mean water. No. Surfboard? Damnit! AIR!! Done.”

5. Who would you like to meet? (dead or alive)
“Jesus Christ. And no, I’m not taking his name in vain—I wanna meet the guy. I’ve got some questions for him and there are a few things I have to say that I’d like him to relay to his dad...” (Okay, well there was no hesitation with that answer whatsoever, but it was accompanied by a decisive head nod as his eyes lifted to the heavens in accusation, like he has a bone to pick with God or something. I wonder if I should tell him that as far as he and the rest of the GYP gang goes, I’m God...) (Nah.)

6. Favorite thing to do with Camie?
(Uh-oh. He chuckled and shifted slightly, and now his eyes are like dark sapphires.) “Well, I really enjoy [REDACTED] her as well as when we [REDACTED], but there was one time that I [REDACTED] and when I looked into her eyes and [REDACTED] while she [REDACTED]...well, I’ve never experienced anything like that before with anyone except her, so yeah, my favorite thing to do with Camie would have to be that.” (Oh for the love of God... You guys don’t even want to know what he actually said. Not to mention that none of it was anything he’s actually done with her—he just really wants to.) (And see? I knew he’d lie about something...)

7. Twizzlers or Twix?
“So you think you’re funny, huh? Twix.” (Just so you know, he said that like he was saying “F*** you.”)

8. Favorite author and/book?
“Would it be completely narcissistic of me to say Shark Bait by Jenn Cooksey? You know what, never mind. I don’t give a [REDACTED] if it is or not; that’s my answer.” (*giggle* I love him.)

9. Baseball (wink) or Surfng ?
“Yeah, I see what you did there, Autumn... Surfing is my all-time favorite thing to do aside from my answer to number 6, so it would have to depend on who’s pitching.” :-p (Yes, he literally stuck his tongue out at the paper he’s holding that has the questions on it.)

10. Favorite color?
(He read the question, looked at me, and then threw his hands in the air in resignation.) “I don’t [REDACTED] know! Vermillion?” (Well that was a nice display of sarcasm... Now he’s shaking his head and crumpling the paper into a ball with one hand.) “I’m a guy. I don’t play favorites with colors and [REDACTED] like that.”

(I just watched the balled-up paper sail across the room to hit Jeff in the head as he walked in and Tristan’s standing up now...) (Wait, he’s bending back down to the microphone.) “Alright, I answered ‘em all, and now I’m out. Thanks again for having me and don’t forget to check me out on Twitter and Faceb—” (Jeff just shoved him out of the way of the microphone.) “Hey guys! Like me, Jeff-I’m a sexy mother [REDACTED]-Larson on Facebook!” (<--- That was Jeff. Clearly.)

Well everyone, I guess that’s it for Tristan, seeing as how he and Jeff are wrestling on the floor now—and making a mess of my family room while trying to smother each other with the couch cushions I might add.

*sigh* Boys...

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GIVEAWAY

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for your shot at an e-copy of Shark Bait, but for a chance at the grand prize, the Ultimate Shark Bait Swag Bag, make sure you travel to every blog on the hop and jot down the highlighted letters and what blog you found them at in order to answer the scavenger hunt question! The grand prize giveaway will be at the final stop of the hop over on Jenn Cooksey's Blog on September 21st!!