Put your Guard up, & get Defensive! @writerjdrivera
Synopsis
Vanessa Smith has her heart guarded. She’s been married to a man that sleeps around and has made her think she’s ugly and undeserving. Everything changes when she is knocked down by the famous basketball player, Jackson Berrios. A friendship ensues and everything she thought she knew about men turns out to be wrong.
Jackson Berrios was out for a run in a new city when he made contact with the beautiful Vanessa Smith. He instantly knew she was different from most girls but can he make her see that he’s different from her cheating husband?
Guarded is #FREE
Buy Links
Amazon/ Barnes&Noble/ iTunes
Synopsis
The follow-up novel to the novella Guarded
Once you find the love of your life, it’s all sunshine and roses, right?
Not for most relationships and definitely not for Vanessa Smith and Jackson Berrios.
Vanessa Smith is finally divorced from her awful ex-husband and is in a committed relationship with basketball star, Jackson Berrios.
Vanessa’s ex-husband has come back into her life just when she needs a friend. The friendship could complicate the relationship between her and Jackson. Will the couple be able to get through their pasts coming back to the surface? Can two different circumstances tear them apart or sear them together? Will they iron out their problems and have a happily ever after…?
Buy Links
Amazon/ Barnes&Noble/ iTunes
Chelly’s Thoughts
First off, if you haven’t read the novella Guarded, do it! What are you waiting for? In Guarded, we meet Vanessa & Jackson, and also their friends and exes, and Defensive picks up where Guarded left off. Vanessa still finds it hard to believe that the hot new star player for the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team, Jackson Berrios, chose her for his girlfriend. He could literally have any girl he wanted, but he chose her, and she couldn’t be more thankful. She’s still getting used to being in the spotlight, and with the whispers constantly surrounding her, she has trouble trusting that he actually loves her and will not leave her.
Throw in some MAJOR shockers from people in both Jackson and Vanessa’s pasts, and it seems the relationship may be doomed before it ever gets a good start. And just when you think it may be possible to handle one situation, another bombshell is dropped. When history starts to repeat itself for Vanessa, will she push Jackson away to guard her heart? Can Jackson convince her to let her defenses down and see that he truly loves her? Vanessa thinks she will never be able to give Jackson what he wants, can the couple really have their happily ever after?
Defensive is a beautiful story of love and acceptance, family and protection, forgiveness and moving forward, and I really enjoyed the journey of Jackson and Vanessa. There were bumps along the way, but what relationship doesn’t have those? I’m also glad Shane got a little redemption for himself – I still don’t like him, but at least now we sort of know why he was the way he was. I really hope we get Amanda and Landon’s story (Vanessa’s BFF and brother), I’m routing for them!
About the Author
J.D. Rivera lives in Oklahoma with her husband and two boys. Her life consists of school projects, homework, cartoon shows, and little league sports. She loves Diet Mountain Dew, the OKC Thunder, costume jewelry, the beach, and reading.
**Cover design by E.M. Tippetts**
