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?
Good points:
I REALLY love time travel books. You learn, while having fun!
This is my second series that I've read, that includes girls going back in time to Italy, and meeting super cute guys, and making awesome friends. And I loved it!! I was hooked from the very beginning.
I love how old Cat is....she's only fifteen, going on sixteen. And I think it's good to have more YA books with girls who are younger than 17 and 18 and up. Because sometimes, I think some authors don't remember they're earlier teen years, and forget that they "fell in love" as well. ;) I mean, crushes start as early as 11. (this is from experience) and I think it's good to give the early teens a chance.
I love history, and I had the chance to learn even more about Italy in a new time period. Even though I had read a book similar to this one before, I'm not going to compare this one with that one. This is a new idea, and with new characters.
I loved how Cat had to go back in time, and learn some lessons, before she could return back to her time. I wish I could learn my lessons that way. lol.
Cat knew how to act around people. She knew what they expected, and what they wanted. She had the whole "My dad's famous, and I need to act just right" act and look going. But she wasn't really....happy. She didn't have any friends, and her future step mom is very annoying to her. But when she travels back in time to Italy, her perfect look disappears, and she can let herself out, make friends and possibly fall in love. ;)
Alessandra was awesome. I loved her name. So old fashioned, yet, someone in our time could totally rock the name as well.
Even though she knew how to act as a lady of her time, she still let loose some times, and tolerated Cat's weird way of doing things.
And her brother, Cipriono was cool too. He was a great older brother, and something I wish I could have. And even though he was in his 20's, he still enjoyed the company of his sister and Cat.
Now....Lorenzo, at first, I though that Alessandra was right, that he wasn't someone you should get involved with. But....of course, Cat did anyway. And proved Alessandra wrong. hehe. He was so kind and sweet, but funny and sarcastic at the same time. Which makes the perfect guy.
I liked how loving her "aunt and uncle" were towards Patience aka Cat. Even though they didn't even know her. I would have a hard time letting a stranger, even if family, into my house.
Negative points:
There was some language, but it was good. It was a "typical" vocab for a girl Cat's age. It wasn't swearing all over the place and all that.
I was a bit skeptical on the romance, Cat seemed to fall in love pretty quick. It seems like that in all YA books, but it seemed extra fast here. But maybe that's how love really works. :)
Also, I found Cat's way of talking a "little" annoying. Sure, it would be very hard to keep up the normal Italy dialogue of that day, but I don't think she was trying very hard to blend in. But I also loved her cover up: "how we talk in "London"." hehe.
Rating: 4.5 stars!!
This book was AWESOME. It had great lessons, great romance, and a great plot. And the cliffhanger will haunt me until 2013....O.o Also, even though it was an ARC, the writing was good, it was fresh, sort of right off the first batch of editing kind of book. And that's real writing, without all the fancy editing and such. :)
And now....a giveaway!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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.
-Madison
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