Giveaway, Review, and Character Interview for, My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris!

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 date: September 11, 2012

Publisher; Entangled Publishing

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

 Stick around to the end of this post for your chance to win one of two copies of this fabulous book!

My review:

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century.

I first started reading this book when the awesome Rachel Harris was just a few chapters in and I was lucky enough to meet her. I read it, all mouth gaping and sighing... then told my husband, “This book is amazing and will be published for sure!” *true story.*

So when it was picked up super-fast, I wasn’t surprised, of course. That’s how good My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century, really is.

So let’s get to my review. This is a book about a girl named Cat who’s about to turn sixteen and is desperately trying to avoid a big MTV birthday bash planned by the, oh too giddy stepmom, Jenna. I mean, really, Cat gets enough unwanted attention from the paparazzi that fills the gossip pages about her starlet birth-mom’s latest trysts. (The mom that left her and her father).

Before the big 16^th birthday bash, Cat’s dad and Jenna take her on a trip to Italy—a vacation spot of Cat’s dreams—and there she gets a much bigger adventure than she bargained for. One gypsy tent holding one mysterious gypsy later, Cat winds up in 16^th century Florence!

This book is super imaginative, fun, cute, and so funny. Trust me when I tell you that you will be laughing out loud. Add to that the swoony and sexy Lorenzo. Yes, I love him. He’s one of my favorite book boys. Ever.

Can Cat convince her 16^th century family that she’s really their relative from England? Or will her funny lingo, strange ways (at least in that era), give her away? Will she fall for the boy that she’s been warned is a ladies man, and what about the plans her aunt and uncle have for her…very unwanted plans. And will Cat be able to unravel Reyna’s code and make it home again? Does she want to?

Read to find out, and be prepared to laugh, swoon, and at times, worry right along with Cat. Rachel’s (and Cat’s) voice is fresh, unique, and super cute.

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century is endearing, captivating, and a must-read for people who love to read historical stories with magic. It will have you wishing for your own gypsy adventure and eagerly awaiting the next story from the very talented Rachel Harris.

Okay, so I've got something really exciting to share with you today. For part of this blog tour, I got to interview the main character, Cat!! Very cool. Check out what she has to say about time travel, her favorite things, and well--kissing Lorenzo...

Me: Hi, Cat! I’m so excited to meet you!

Cat: Thanks for having me. I’m stoked to be here.

Me: I know your awesome book, My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century is coming out next month because I had a chance to read it! Your author, Rachel Harris, who helped you document your journey, is my friend, so I had a sneak peek. Lucky me!

Cat: Rachel is made of awesome…

Me: Okay, so, I’m going to try to not act all crazy and stalker fan-like, but I think you’re nice…cool…amazing—and did I mention funny? You’re freaking hilarious! Ahem, okay I’m stopping now. I’ll stick to the plan and ask you some questions.

Cat: Ha! Well good to know someone gets my wit (*grin*). Seriously, I appreciate the compliment…and no worries, I’ve seen stalker paparazzi in action. You’re totally cool.

Me: Thanks! So, first of all, seriously, how much fun did you have in the sixteenth century?

Cat:Well, you know the whole story (~winks~), so you know that not all of it was fun, but yeah, most of it was amazing. Once I got used to the sheer amount of clothes (and, ahem, the lack of certain undergarments) and I figured out the food situation (lots of weird stuff, check, and no water), I think I handled things pretty well. I never got used to the lingo, but hey, at least my verbal craziness kept life interesting. Oh, and meeting Lorenzo didn’t exactly suck either. (~lowers her eyelashes and fluffs her hair~)

Me: Yes, your lingo, mixed in with the 16^th century formal talk cracked me up, along with many other things.

What was the hardest thing to adjust to way back in time?

Cat: There were a lot to get used to, that’s for sure. And like I said before, I never adjusted to the whole speaking thing. But if I had to pick one thing, I’d say—without giving too much away—that their view on relationships was definitely the trickiest to adjust to. But as for everyday life, the hardest thing would definitely be the whole bathing thing.

Me: Yeah, I hear you on that. I couldn’t imagine not having a proper bath. J

What do you wish you had taken in that trusty backpack of yours that would have made it easier?

Cat: Man, if there’d been a way to sneak a whole shower in that thing, I would’ve done it. I think my trusty backpack came through for the most part—it had all the essentials for when I did finally get that bath. Too bad I forgot to bring it with me that day in the country, but hey, I took what I could get! (~grins~)

Me: Yes…that day in the country. *Swooning over Lorenzo.*

Best moment while there?

Cat: I have two favorites actually. The stolen moments with Lorenzo the night of the ball teaching him the waltz, and my first girl’s night since I was eight with Less. I finally got to see what I’d been missing all these years. And her face while she watched Dad’s movie on my iPhone was priceless.

Me: *Smiles.* Yes it was. Good choices. Do you think those corsets should come back in style?

Cat: Um, hell no. I’m telling ya, those things were invented by men.

Me: I knew you’d say that, but had to ask. *laughs.*

Can you tell us what it was like to kiss the swoony Lorenzo? Because, you know, as readers we are living vicariously through your journey.

Cat: (~bites lower lip~) Well, as you know (~clears throat~) that was my first ever kiss, so I don’t have much to compare it to, but….yeah, it was everything I had built up in my head and more. The first one was amazing, and the second and third were even better…..

Me: Awesome! Lucky you!

If you could time travel again, would you go back to the same place? Or would you like to travel somewhere else?

Cat: (~blinks out of her kiss-dazed stare~) If I could go back and be with my Renaissance family again—if I could see Lorenzo again, explain everything that happened—I would do it in a heartbeat. (~swallows and looks away for a moment~) But leaving them the first time was hard enough. (~takes a breath and forces a smile~) As for anywhere else I’d go, I’d love to travel to Romania and meet Reyna when she was first getting her visions. My gypsy girl’s a mystery and it would be cool to get inside her head a bit, get to know her better. She certainly figured me out.

Me: She is a mystery, isn’t she?  I wonder how all of that gypsy mojo magic started? But I’m definitely glad she chose you for that journey.

Favorite snackage?

Cat: After my trip to Florence, biscotti for sure.

Me: Favorite color?

Cat: Purple…always purple.

Me: Favorite past time?

Cat: Sketching. And when I can’t do that, filling my camera with inspiration.

Me: Do you miss your cousin Alessandra? Any news to share there? Because, she is pretty awesome, too.

Cat: Less is made of awesome all right. Actually, I do have some news—I can't really go into much detail right now, but let's just say Less has an adventure of her own in store!

Me: I bet that’s another fabulous adventure to read about.

You know I have to ask…any chance of hooking a girl up? I’d like my own time traveling adventure. Got any in’s with Reyna per chance?? *Casts pleading eyes.*

Cat: I wish! I seriously need to get that gypsy a cellphone. She doesn’t seem to follow anyone’s schedule or ideas but her own though, sorry. (~shakes her head and laughs~) Kinda makes her cool, though.

Me: Yes, that’s true. Okay, just one more thing. Describe Lorenzo in three words. (I know that’s difficult because there are just so many adjectives to describe his lusciousness, but please try).

Cat: Lorenzo….artistic, flirtatious, gorgeous.

Me: Yes, yes, and yes. J

Thanks so much, Cat for visiting my blog today!

Cat: And thank YOU for having me, Shannon!

I hope you find all the happiness in the world, and thanks for sharing your exciting story with the world.

Author Bio (Spotlight)

As a teen, Rachel threw raging parties that shook her parents’ walls and created embarrassing fodder for future YA novels.
As an adult, she read and wrote obsessively, rehash said embarrassing fodder, and dreamt up characters who become her imaginary friends. 
When she's not typing furiously or flipping pages in an enthralling romance, you can find Rachel 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 first novel. She did have her own fantabulous Sweet Sixteen in high school. Sadly, it wasn't televised.  

Official links: www.rachelharriswrites.com |Twitter.comRachelHarrisYA/

So, now that y'all are dying to get your hands on a copy, you have two chances to win. I'll announce the winners as soon as the book releases. Leave a comment below with your thoughts along with your email to contact you if you're the lucky winner! Good luck to all!