TSK, TSK, What to Read?: KISS ME BLOG TOUR: Stalk Me by Jillian Dodd

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

KISS ME BLOG TOUR: Stalk Me by Jillian Dodd

Gossip girl meets Hollywood in this new series by That Boy author, Jillian Dodd.

Keatyn has everything she ever dreamed of. Her life is following the script she wrote for the perfect high school experience. She’s popular, goes to the best parties, dates the hottest guy, and sits at the most coveted lunch table.
She’s just not sure she wants it anymore.
Because really, things aren’t all that perfect.
Her best friend is threatening to tell everyone her perfect relationship is a scam.
Her perfect boyfriend gets drunk at every party they go to.
It’s exhausting always trying to look and act perfect.
And deep down, she isn’t sure if she has any true friends. To add to the drama, her movie star mom’s long-time fan has turned stalker.
An older man is flirting with her and telling her they should make a movie together.
And she’s crushing on an adorable surfer. Dating a guy like him would mean committing social suicide.So she writes a new script. One where all the pieces of her life will come together in perfect harmony.
But little does she know, there’s someone who will do anything to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Jillian Dodd grew up on a farm in Nebraska, where she developed a love for Midwestern boys and Nebraska football. She has drank from a keg in a cornfield, attended the University of Nebraska, got to pass her candle, and did have a boy ask her to marry him in a bar. She met her own prince in college, and they have two amazing children, a Maltese named Sugar Bear, and two Labrador puppies named Camber Lacy and Cali Lucy.

She is the author of the That Boy Trilogy and The Keatyn Chronicles Series.

Jillian Dodd | Facebook | Twitter

Social Media links:

Website

Twitter

Facebook fan page

Goodreads

Amazon author page

Keatyn Chronicles fan page

Keatyn Chronicles on Twitter

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

As I write this I'm still trying to sort out my thoughts about this story. I have so many conflicting emotions. It's hard for me to break it down and put into coherent words. So I hope I can accomplish what I want to convey.

What is for the most part a typical Hollywood superficial teenage lifestyle turns out to be a life filled with self doubt and confusion. Despite Keatyn's loving family she's most often left to her own devices and indulges in all that her mother's fame and fortune provides and allows. She's feeling unfulfilled and disingenuous and begins to question everything about her life and relationships. She makes some big changes and a lot of mistakes along her path to self discovery. It's a crazy ride complete with secrets, lies, scheming, conspiring, excess and obsession.

While I couldn't relate to most of Keatyn's problems or situations, I could relate to her wanting real friendships and a more goal oriented life. She's tired of the superficial and wants to be a better person. Unfortunately not everyone is onboard for her transformation.

Without giving any of the story away I want to say I struggled a good while before I connected with Keatyn. Once I did my empathy grew. Her yearning for solid, meaningful relationships tugged my heartstrings. When she fought to be herself and still be accepted- and failed- I was torn up. When she thought she'd found what she was looking for again and again. I cried. And I raged. And when she made mistakes I scolded and sometimes felt disappointed.

I ended up getting completely caught up in her story. That's not to say it's an easy story to read. It's very involved and complicated. There are people that you'll love, people you will absolutely hate, and people you will constantly question and feel like you should fear. Despite the fact that Keatyn's world is so unlike the lives we lead, Jillian Dodd does a wonderful job of making you feel like your in the story. I really felt like I experienced everything right along with Keatyn. I grew attached to several people like Brooklyn- the introspective surfer, and the triplets. Keatyn's half-sisters are just too freaking adorable.

I don't want to mention anyone else. I want you to meet them and experience them yourself. With no expectations or assumptions. A few will completely surprise you.

What else can I say? Don't expect to agree with everything you read. Don't expect it all to be realistic. And don't expect it to be all fun and games.

What should you expect? Games, games and more games. Not fun games. Lots and lots of mind games. Expect to have your emotions run the full spectrum of happy highs to extreme pain and disappointment. Expect to be shocked and pleasantly surprised. And expect to be entertained.

I'm not too sure about the ending or the path that Keatyn finds herself on, but I can tell you I'm moving on to the next book and continuing to live vicariously through this strong, dynamic and very adventurous girl.