Blog Tour: Pinned Up by C. Michelle

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Pinned Up by C. Michelle
Release Date: June 2013
Source: eARC provided by GCR Promotions
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon / B&N

The pumps are red satin with a peep toe, a shiny black contrast heel, and a ruffle detail at the vamp. The cat eyeliner with exaggerated lashes and the red lipstick on my porcelain face make the forties inspired look reach perfection.
I enjoy being a pin-up model…

C. Michelle’s vibrant debut novel, Pinned Up is full of snappy dialogue, edgy humor, and a lot of heart. This fun look into the world of a modern-day pin-up model is one wild ride!

Twenty-five-year-old Nina Moretti lives a double life of sorts. She’s a victim advocate during the day and as a side gig, lives out her 1940s fetish as a pin-up model in San Francisco, California. While she may not “do” serious relationships, she has fulfillment in her work and hanging out with her best friend, Kade—the greatest sidekick any woman could possibly want. All is well in Nina’s hectic, but satisfying life…

That is, until she meets Josh, a stunningly handsome man who has a notorious reputation as a ladies’ man. For his part, Josh is reluctant to commit to any woman, largely due to his loving, yet overbearing mother. Nina, however, sparks his interest in a way that no other woman has before. As they navigate the pitfalls of romantic entanglement, both come to realize their pasts are intertwined in ways they could never imagine. Perhaps, they have more in common than just their fear of relationships. What are two people afraid of commitment supposed to do?

My thoughts, feelings and reactions

Pinned Up by C. Michelle was fantastic! This book had loads of humor, romance, and sexy times. I lost track of how much I laughed like a lunatic or grinned like a fool! C. Michelle weaves in witty lines and heart stopping moments with her more than sizzling romance to bring in a novel that is completely full of entertainment. 


Nina and Josh were a super sexy couple I couldn’t get enough of!

• 
Both had some reluctance with commitment, relationships, and love. They had unique personalities, especially Nina. She was snarky, fabulous, and passionate. Her love for forties/fifties fashion was awesome. Her job working with crime victims along with her pin-up modeling on the side was impressive. She overcame a difficult experience, loved her mother fiercely, was loyal to the core and feisty like no other. She came out on top with her strength and determination. Josh was charming and adorable. He took pride in his eco-friendly construction company, cared for his mother deeply, and wasn’t just delicious, but fuckalicious. His understanding, patience and supportive nature knew no bounds. These two had excellent chemistry, insurmountable sexual tension, and playfulness that could make anyone giddy inside. 

Unforgettable secondary character: Kade.


• I have to mention him because he was truly a one of a kind character. He was loud, proud, unabashed, and not afraid to say whatever the hell he wanted to say whether it was appropriate, inappropriate, perverted, or sexual in any nature. He was vulgar and had no filter and I didn’t care because I loved him and I want one of him now! His friendship with Nina went beyond that to a deep brother/sister bond. Like Nina, he was loyal and he treated Nina and her mother like family. I loved Kade because he totally brought in 75% of the humor in this book. Kade and Nina’s banter were laugh out loud hilarious and some of the best parts of this book. I adored him.

The writing was stupendous! 


• This whole book had personality; a whole life of its own. It was descriptive and visual, especially with Nina’s clothes, her home along with Josh’s home and so was the bakery with all the mouth watering pastries. To me, Pinned Up was original and so out there. I thought the writing was clever, cute, and so funny! It was filthy good because C. Michelle didn’t hold back. It was ballsy, not for the faint heart and there was more F bombs and sex to go around. It was tasteful, but never offensive. I was in love. There was even a Twilight and Fifty Shades of Grey reference that was to die for! It was simply a fun book and one that is sure to give readers a really good time. And while this book was fun and flirty, it was not without darkness, betrayal, twists, and shocking revelations. 

Overall Pinned Up by C. Michelle was a book that was more delectable than Mama V’s cannoli treats. It was edgy, alluring, and amusing all wrapped up in such a novel that leaves more to the imagination. 

*Thanks to GCR Promotions & C. Michelle for sending a copy for review purposes

I was not compensated for my opinion.

Favorite Quotes

“Who the hell brings their mom to the gym? For your sake, I hope he’s not a big momma’s boy. That’s a major turn off. Being close with one’s mom is great, being a momma’s boy who is still sucking on that titty is a whole other story.”

“Cheesecake, have you waxed recently? I don’t want the poor guy to have to feel the cactuses you call legs or deal with a hairy beaver. Usually you let the hair reach a fur coat by mid December, but right now, I just don’t know about you.”

“You think of me as eye candy and want to see how many licks it takes to get to the center of my lollipop? Wow! You don’t beat around the bush, do you?”

“What? You want to know if I’m delicious? No need to beg, you can taste me anytime.”

“Valentina...can I have...something...to eat?. 
I don’t need you to cook. Just lay back and allow me to feed myself.”

“Baby, you truly are cuckoo, you know that, right? I don’t care if you do have a few screws loose, I still like you, and think you’re sexy.”

“She’s my breath of fresh air.”

About the Author

C. Michelle earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a Master of Business Administration degree while working as a probation officer and counselor. She has also served her community as a Victim Awareness Program instructor and an Aggression Replacement Training (ART) facilitator. Her love of all things funny and romantic led to the writing of her debut novel, Pinned Up.
C. Michelle is currently writing her second novel and resides in northern California with her husband and three children.

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