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Sunday, September 16, 2012

BLOG TOUR ~ MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY by RACHEL HARRIS {REVIEW, GUEST POST, and GIVEAWAY}

Stops by Sept 17th!
 
Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century Blog Tour. I'm super excited! My stop includes my review of the book, a guest post from author Rachel Harris, and a tour giveaway.
 
My Super Sweet Sixteenth CenturySeries: My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century #1
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Publication Date: September 11, 2012
Format: eARC
Pages:
Source: Received from publisher for review.






On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze.

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore.

Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?
Full of charm and heart, My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century is one girl's magical journey towards finding herself.

My Super Sweet is a book that I had been looking forward to since I first read the synopsis, and I'll admit it, the cover totally hooked me. I'm so happy that I got the chance to read it early because I simply adored it.

Author Rachel Harris did a phenomenal job of recreating Sixteenth Century Florence. So many details that could have been easily overlooked, such as the silverware and plumbing used, helped lend a nice touch of authenticity. The manners and speech of the Sixteenth century felt real. I loved that Cat continually struggled throughout the story to behave in a manner that reflected that era.

The characters in My Super Sweet all hit the right notes. Cat was lovable, awkward, funny and charming. Alessandra was a doll. I love that she openly embraced Cat and gave her no choice but to love her. Lorenz was super swoony, everything you expect in an Italian gentleman, without coming on too strong.

I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of the story. Cat's journey towards trust, being open to love was one any of us can learn from. But besides the lesson, My Super Sweet was fun! The setting provided the perfect opportunity for an escape. In fact, it's the best Italian getaway you can hope for,short of actually going there. The ending was absolutely perfect. I think I may have even cackled with glee. I can't wait for the next adventure!

Whether you're looking for a story with depth, a sweet escape, or better yet, both, My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century is a book that will find your sweet spot.

Favorite Quote:

  "Standing up, I cup my hands around my shrunken waist. It has to be at least three inches smaller, and my boobs are pressed flat, creating mounds of cleavage where there never was any before.
 At least I can look like a Kardashian while hyperventilating all over the dance floor." (eARC, pg 163)



Guest Post with Author Rachel Harris
You’re in a gypsy tent. The eerie, cool girl standing opposite you is casting some kind of hocus pocus spell, and you don’t know how but you know that soon you’ll be transported to another country, another time. You close your eyes and picture the exact moment and place you want to go.
Where is it?
In My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century, that’s not exactly what happens. Cat Crawford doesn’t believe in all the magic nonsense, and frankly thinks the chick in the veil is a little whacked. But when she exits the tattered green tent in what she believes is modern day Florence, she discovers she’s no longer in Kansas—err, I mean, the twenty-first century. She’s in the sixteenth.
But if Cat did have a choice, I think she would’ve chosen exactly that. See, she’s been obsessed with the Renaissance and her Italian heritage all of her life (it’s the one good thing about her birthmother), so while she certainly turned making cultural missteps into an art form, she wasn’t as unprepared as many of us would be.
Cat pretty much got her wish, had she known to make one. So I ask you, dear blog reader, where would you wish to go?
I admit my own fascination with Renaissance Italy is one of the reasons I wrote this story, so it would definitely be at the top of my short list. I tell my husband all the time that when we hit the lottery, we’re buying a house in Tuscany, and I’ve loved the Renaissance since freshman year in high school when I read Romeo and Juliet.
But ultimately, if I really had to choose only one place to go, I think it would probably have to be Regency London.
Why Regency London?
Well, because I’m a book addict (can I get an Amen from the house?), and I love me some historical romance, and most of my all-time favorites are set during this time. The world is familiar, the language understandable, and the pageantry of it all touched with magic.
And let’s not forget…it’s also the land of Mr. Darcy.
Ahh, Mr. Darcy. You will always be my ultimate book boyfriend.
Besides the men, and their yummy English accents, I love the clothing and style of the Regency period. It’s in the past and a different world, yet not so long ago that all of their ideas are completely foreign.
And did I mention it’s the land of Mr. Darcy???
So that’s where I’d go if Reyna, Cat’s gypsy girl, suddenly landed on my doorstep, whispering a mystical chant. And now I turn it on you….where would YOU go?


Let Andrea and I know in the comments!

 Tour Giveaway


You can purchase My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository




Rachel  HarrisAs a teen, I threw raging parties that shook my parents’ walls and created embarrassing fodder for future YA novels.

As an adult, I read and write obsessively, rehash said embarrassing fodder, and dream up characters who become my imaginary friends.

When I'm not typing furiously or flipping pages in an enthralling romance, you can find me homeschooling my two beautiful princesses, hanging out with my amazing husband, or taking a hot bubble bath…next to a pile of chocolate.


MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY is my first novel. I did have my own fantabulous Sweet Sixteen in high school. Sadly, it wasn’t televised.
Connect with Rachel at: Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads



16 comments:

  1. This book just sounds so fun! I forgot about this one. Will have to buy it next week. Great post! Love the backpack on the cover.

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  2. Awesome review and guest post! I think that if I could go somewhere it would be 1920's New York City!! OMG that seems like such a fun time and place to be. And the clothes rocked!!!

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  3. This looks so cute and I love the cover too! Great review lovie. :)

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  4. Love this guest post! If I could go somewhere I'd probably pick the Renaissance Florence just because I read this book and now I kinda want to go there too LOL :) This book was just adorbs! :)

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  5. This sounds fantastic!!! Definitely on my TBR for soon!! You're right, the cover is gorgeous and that synopsis! I want to dive right in. Great review! :D

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  6. I'm glad you got a chance to read this! I have an e-ARC, but I haven't gotten to it, yet. Good to know you liked it!

    Jennifer
    YA Sisterhood
    http://ya-sisterhood.blogspot.com/

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  7. This books sounds very unique and pretty cool :) !! I really look forward to read it .. Thank you Andrea for the awesome international giveaway !!

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  8. Great review and guest post. I really enjoyed this book to. I love the quote you chose. I am also looking forward to seeing where the book goes from here.

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  9. This sounds really cute! I love time travel but I'm not too into historical reading. But an Italian journey sounds fun! Always been dying to go there. Lorenzo sounds like a sweetie.

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  10. Girl! I love the new look! You and Autumn both revamped and I've been so absentee that this is the first time I'm seeing it. I miss you hookers.

    I've been on the fence about this book but I think since it gets the BB seal of approval I'll put it in the tbr.

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  11. I love that quote you picked! I really cannot wait to read this book, it sounds simply adorable! Great review!

    Teresa @ Readers Live A Thousand Lives

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  12. Love that Lorenzo charm!!!

    Valerie

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  13. Ah, I'd probably go back to Victorian England. I love that time period and am particularly interested in books and clothes of and inspired by that time.

    This book sounds like so much fun! Thanks for hosting this post. :)

    Wendy @ The Midnight Garden

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  14. Because of all the great reviews (including yours) I've read; I'm already in love with this book. It sounds so wonderful. I'm glad you said it was authenticate. It sounds like Harris did a wonderful job with the detail to the point in which it's easy to fully immerse yourself in the story. Lorenzo of course sounds completely dreamy. I'm very eager to read this book mainly because of him. Haha.

    If I could go back in time I think I'd like to go back to Victorian time. That whole era just fascinates me.

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  15. Brilliant review! I really can't to read the book myself now that it is out :) And awesome guest post Rachel!
    xoxo, Mariam
    Book-A-Holic

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  16. Great info about-- "Barcelona Apartmentos ".I’ll be back soon. Thanks!

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