Not My Type: A Single Girl's Guide to Doing it All Wrong by Melanie Jacobson

Not My Type by Melanie Jacobson

Twenty-three-year-old Pepper Spicer is not living the dream. She ended her engagement at the last minute because her fiancé -- a musician and soon-to-be reality TV star -- wanted her to sacrifice her own career ambitions for his.

Now she's stuck at home sharing a room with her little sister, trying to pay off massive debt for a wedding that didn't happen, and spending Friday nights Facebook-stalking everyone who has a better life. Her therapist father urges her to choose her career dreams and count her blessings by writing weekly thank you notes, but gratitude is a tall order when she botches an important job interview and has to settle for writing an undercover dating web-zine column -- the last thing in the world she wants to do. Still, as Pepper (byline: Indie Girl) chronicles her bizarre and hilarious blind dates, she gives her father's challenge a try and slowly finds herself leaving self-pity behind. Life takes a major upswing as Pepper's column hits the big time and she tastes the exhilarating thrill of success. But there's one tiny problem: the intensely hot man she's falling for is having issues with her job (again). Will Pepper trade her personal ambition for another chance at love?

~Paperback, 257 pages Published September 2011 by Covenant Communications

Food to Eat While Reading: Rosemary and Cracked Pepper Bread

Read my interview with Melanie Jacobson here.

Pepper Spicer is like her name--saucy and independent.  She is reeling from a bad break. Her personality is so fun, and I had a great time experiencing her story.

The dynamic between Pepper, who is freelancing an online dating column, and Tanner, who is a seasoned reporter, is original and enticing. I so wanted the two of them to get together, and that's always a good thing in a romantic comedy.

Usually when the protagonist starts acting stupid and mistreats her guy, I get upset. But Pepper had some serious issues to work through, and even though I knew she should treat Tanner better, I was interested in how she would get through it.

My favorite part of the book is when Pepper realized she may be guilty of mistreating Tanner in the same way that she was mistreated.

I love how all of the threads of the book come together in the end.

Not My Type is a fun romp through the modern online dating scene.

Interview with author Melanie Jacobson

Melanie Jacobson, author
Photo: courtesy Melanie Jacobson

Please welcome Melanie Jacobson, author of Not My Type, a super fun book about romance, being a writer, and understanding yourself. You can read my review here, and don't forget to try out the Rosemary Cracked Pepper Bread!

Christy:  Pepper is such a fun character. Is she based on someone you know in real life?

Melanie:  Pepper is pretty much made up out of thin air, I think. She's one of my favorite characters, and she came to me out of nowhere, but she was so fun to write. I basically had to think of who would go on a crazy series of Internet dates, and why she would do it, and then Pepper appeared.

Christy:  What is your favorite scene in Not My Type?

Melanie:  I love it when Tanner drives Pepper to the temple and freaks her out. 

Christy:  What advice would you give authors who are just starting on their journey to publication? 

Melanie:  Read so much in your genre and go to every writing conference you can. You'll learn so much from those two things.

Christy:  Great advice. Can you share with us any projects or books that you are working on?

Melanie:  I have a brand new book coming out this month called SMART MOVE, about a redhead with a temper to match, and I'm about to turn in a contemporary young adult novel to my agent soon. 

Christy:  What do you eat while you are writing/reading?

Melanie:  EVERYTHING. But it's about even amounts of raw almonds and Sees candies, a custom mix I reward myself with when I meet my daily writing goal.

Christy:  Sounds like my kind of snack!  Thanks so much for the interview, and happy writing.

Rosemary and Cracked Pepper Bread

Rosemary and Cracked Pepper Bread
for Not My Type by Melanie Jacobsen 

Rosemary and Cracked Pepper Bread

I couldn't resist using pepper and spices to go with Pepper Spicer's story in Not My Type by Melanie Jacobson. The subtle blend of rosemary and pepper are perfect in this easy-to-make artisan bread. Pepper's parents named her and her siblings after spices, a twist on their last name. They got it right with Pepper--she's saucy, independent and doesn't quite know her own strength. This bread is great with other add ins; try cheese, lemon, or even dried fruit combinations. 

3 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon yeast

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons chopped, fresh rosemary

1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper

1 2/3 cups water

cornmeal as needed

Combine the flour, yeast, salt, rosemary, and cracked pepper in a large bowl. Add the water and stir until it is blended.  The dough will be sticky. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rest at room temperature until bubbles form on top, about 12-18 hours. 

Lightly flour a surface and turn the dough onto the flour. Fold the dough over a few times. Cover with plastic wrap and let is rest for15 minutes. 

Sprinkle a cotton towel with cornmeal. Quickly form the dough into a ball, using only as much flour as needed to keep the dough from sticking. Put the dough on the towel and dust it with more flour or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let the dough rise until it is more than double, about 2 hours. 

Thirty minutes before the dough is ready, put a cast iron pot or dutch oven in the oven and preheat it to 450'.

Carefully take the pot from the oven. Slide your hand under the towel and dough, and turn the dough over into the pot. It's alright if it looks funny. Cover with the lid and back for 30 minutes. Uncover and continue baking until the loaf is browned, about 10 minutes. 

Cool the bread on a wire rack. Makes one 1 1/2 pound loaf. 

*Tip: to make cracked pepper flakes, crush peppercorns with a mortar and pestle, or use the back of a large spoon.