Blog Tour: The Best Laid Plans by Tamara Mataya

Jayne Griffin isn’t looking for Mr. Right. She’s looking for Mr. RTFN and a toe-curling good time. She’s got the brains, the powerful job as a futures broker, and thanks to a makeover and a thin book of dating advice, the confidence to turn any man’s head.

Malcolm Black notices his high school crush, Jayne, from the stage of her company’s work party. His adolescent feelings for her died beneath months of abuse at the hands of bullies. Abuse that was Jayne’s fault. Though this scorching hot studio musician is unrecognizable as the band geek he used to be, the hurt still lives inside him, and he hatches a plan: Seduce Jayne into falling in love with him, and then shatter her heart.

The white-hot chemistry between them is a pleasant surprise. It all goes so smoothly until Feelings start to develop... and that invitation to their ten year high school reunion lands in their inboxes.

Jayne wants the perfect lover. Malcolm wants revenge. But you know what they say about The Best Laid Plans...

I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by The Best Laid Plans by Tamara Mataya. This was an ultimate modern tale of an ugly duckling or Cygnet turning into a beautiful swan for both Malcolm (Dylan Black) and Jayne (Jane Griffith). Malcolm has always had a crush on Jayne since middle school but after a tragic incident of bullying he began to blame her for all of his pain and humiliation that ultimately caused him to leave school. Malcolm worked hard over the years to not be the scared little boy he was and has transformed himself in to a guitar yielding hottie. On the other hand there is Jayne, who is an investment banker is competing against her teenage self to be better, prettier, and the most desired over anyone else because of her high school tormenters that made her feel so un-pretty.

As both of these characters become bored with their current lives, Malcolm sees the “new” Jayne, but she has no idea of his identity. So because Jayne is looking for her next conquest and she had heard of Malcolm’s “talents” she needed him to want her, thus igniting the flame of their very steamy affair.

Now this is not the usual alpha male finds submissive female and all is well. No-sir-ree-bob, in this novel you have two very strong characters that feeds on control and usually gets what and who they want. But in the mix of the power exchanges, or lack there of, they begin to feel something more and want something more, but this is very unfamiliar territory for these two unlikely lovers.

 

I, digress. I really liked this novel, because some parts of it were really relatable. Rather or not you were bullied or was a bully there was a message in here for you. The novel was well written and refreshing to read something in this genre that was a tad different. However, I have one negative, I felt it was rushed at the end. I really loved these characters and wanted to read just a little bit more about them. 

 

 

From bullying to Synaethesia, what typically comes first, the character development or the idea for your novels?

I've had both come to me first, but usually the characters come first. TBLP, the first scene I wrote was Malcolm and Jayne's first experience in Jayne's hallway. And I thought, why did he do that? What's the story? And it came from that. (Trying not to be spoilery for those who haven't read!)

  

What was your inspiration for writing The Best Laid Plans?

I wanted a hot story, but with some serious issues in there as well. I also wanted an alpha male who wasn't a complete asshole, and I wanted an alpha female as well - someone strong who knows what she wants and goes for it!

  

What was your favorite part of The Best Laid Plans?

 The balcony scene. ;)

  

What was the hardest part for you to write in The Best Laid Plans? 

The bullying. All of those things in the book happened either directly to me, or people I know. I caught some flak for not having Malcolm's parents press charges - but that didn't happen in my life. I'm not writing how to manuals - we don't always make the best choices. Sometimes we downright fuck up, but I wanted it to be real - mistakes and all. 

  
Is there anything differently you would have done to this book?  

I could tinker with things forever, and still never be happy with them. Sometimes you just have to let things be what they are, and be fine with that. 

What’s next for you?

Next from Swoon is a woman caught in a flashflood with her high school crush - the sexy fireman she had a scorching hot one night stand with the night before. 

  

What is your 6-word memoir to describe who you are?

 I am doing it my way.

Tamara Mataya is currently a librarian; she lurked there for so long recommending books to patrons and shushing people, that she suspects they only hired her so it would be less creepy. Now she’s armed with a name tag, and a thin veneer of credibility. She’s also a musician with synaesthesia – which isn't an issue until someone plays a wrong note, which makes her want to squirm inside out. It makes for a good live show.

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