Saturday 25 August 2012

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century BLOG TOUR: Review + Giveaway



MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY BLOG TOUR

Blurb
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?
Release: Sept. 11, 2012 | Publisher: Entangled Publishing | Purchase: Amazon | BookDepository


My Review

 My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century  was a 'super sweet', light, summery read that I enjoyed very much.

Cat Crawford is just a normal teenage girl...apart from the fact that her dad is a well-known film director and her mum is infamously known for the long trail of broken-hearted men that she has left behind in her lifetime, Cat's dad being one of them. I liked Cat very much as a main character - she was fun, witty and down-to-earth, despite her famous parents, and the kind of girl that I would have liked to be friends with if I knew her in real life.

Cat's magical trip to sixteenth century Italy was very interesting, and quite amusing at times - 21st century girl Cat attempting to behave according to the very different customs and etiquette of 16th century Italians made for some funny moments indeed! It was fun to see her try to adapt to the situations she found herself thrust into, and fun to see the reactions that the people around her had to her 'odd' behaviour. Luckily, she had a cover that saved her a little bit - in this world that she has found herself in, she is 'Patience D'Angeli,' a girl who has recently moved all the way from London to live with her Italian cousins.

Said cousins were very nice characters - Cipriano, or 'Cip' was very big-brotherly and protective of his cousin, and Alessandra, or 'Less', was very kind and sweet.

One of the best things about this book was the feeling that I had been whisked away to Italy right along with Cat. Rachel Harris' writing was so vivid and colourful, painting me a bright, warm, sunny picture that made me wish I was actually there in Italy with Cat.

However, Cat's trip to the 16th century was not purely for leisure - she was also meant to get something valuable out of it. 'Keep your mind open to the lessons ahead,' were the words of Reyna, the gyspy girl who made this trip happen for Cat. And I do think it worked - Cat comes back from her trip a happier, more carefree person, more willing to open up, let go, and take a chance once in a while.

 I really loved the ending of My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century - there are a few nice surprises in store for Cat that I thought were really sweet. And if you want to find out what they are...? Well, I guess you'll have to go and read the book! 

Author Bio (Spotlight)


As a teen, Rachel Harris threw raging parties that shook her parents’ walls and created embarrassing fodder for future YA novels.
As an adult, she reads and writes obsessively, rehashes said embarrassing fodder, and dreams up characters who become her own grown up version of imaginary friends.
When she's not typing furiously or flipping pages in an enthralling romance, you can find her homeschooling her two beautiful princesses, hanging out with her amazing husband, or taking a hot bubble bath…next to a pile of chocolate.
MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY is her debut novel.  She did have her own fantabulous Sweet Sixteen in high school. Sadly, it wasn't televised.
http://www.rachelharriswrites.com | @RachelHarrisYA | facebook.com/RachelHarrisYA

Giveaway

Enter below to be in with a chance of winning your very own copy of My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century (US only) or some My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century goodies! (INTL) Good Luck :D

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

14 comments:

  1. I sooooooo want to read this! Great review, youve persuaded me even more. Thank you for posting, and thanks for the giveaway! :D xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Brilliant review! I'm sure I'd love this as it's such an interesting era and I'd love to go to Italy! :D

    Ahh, it sucks that I'm not from America - this looks amazing! Maybe I'll win the swag instead *crosses fingers* :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great review! This book sounds pretty cute!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love the whole idea of going back in time. And not anyone can actually make it work yet it seems like Rachel has with all these excellent reviews. I want this book asap!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm apart of this blog tour as well, and I really ended up enjoying the book! It was so cute and it was really fun being whisked back to Italy, as you said. =) The setting had to be my favorite part! I loved Cat's cousins too, it was great reading about them as well.

    Fabulous review! <3

    ReplyDelete
  6. awesome review... :) so my book will be pre ordered by 28th so i want to win the swag...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great Review!
    I so want to read it now. :D

    ReplyDelete
  8. Awesome review! I totally agree Rachel is an awesome writer the setting was so vivid and just *eyes glaze over at the thought of Lorenzo* I'm so glad you liked this one! :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great review! I loved the setting also and I also really liked the cousins :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I've heard so many good things about this title, which is interesting because it didn't really catch my attention before; lovely review.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ah, Cat sounds so amazing! I loe the sound of her, and I can't wait to read about her and see how she progresses throughout the novel. I've also seen quite a few people comment on how real the time travel seemed, so that's got me excited, too. :D

    Lovely review, Catherine!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Aww, this book sounds so adorable! I have been wanting to go visit Europe so badly recently, and Italy sounds fantastic, so I can't wait to read about Rachel Harris's vivid description! I love when settings are described well. Great review! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Catherine!!! My copy of the book just arrived this morning and I can't wait to delve into it, especially after your praise for it!

    Cat sounds so awesome, I like how she's still down-to-earth despite her famous parents and she seems really fun and witty!

    I'm eager to experience Rachel's writing style - it seems beautiful and I want to be whisked to Italy too!

    Lovely review, Catherine <3

    ReplyDelete

Hiya there! Thanks for dropping by The Book Parade!

***N.B. This is now an award-free zone. I'm honoured if you consider me, but people taking the time to read my posts and comment is the most valuable award I could receive. Thanks! :D