Tuesday, August 6, 2013

A Review and Deleted scene from A Tale of Two Centuries by Rachel Harris


Allessandra D'Angeli is in need of an adventure. Tired of her sixteenth-century life in Italy and homesick for her time-traveling cousin, Cat, who visited her for a magical week and dazzled her with tales of the future, alessandra is lost. Until stars hear her plea. One magical spell later, Alessandra appears on Cat's Beverly Hills doorstep five hundred years in the future. surrounded by confusing gadgets, scary transportation, and scandalous clothing, Less is hesitated to live the life of a twenty-first century teen...until she meets the infuriating-and infuriatingly handsome-surfer Austin Michaels. austin challenges everthing she believes in...and introduces to a world filled with possibility. Whith the clock ticking, Less knows she must live every moment of her modern life while she can. but how will she return to the drab life of her past when the future is what holds everything she's come to love?    

About the Author 
As a teen Rachel Harris threw ragging 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 versions 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. A Tale of Two Centuries is her second novel. 


Ciara Said: 

A Tale of Two Centuries is like experiencing the twenty first century from a whole new perspective. This amazing tale was written by Rachel Harris, who is an amazing YA and adult romance author.  When I heard about this new book I knew it was going to be fantastic and a great addition to the series. Before I got my ARC, being apart of the Flirt Squad, I got to see snippets and teasers of the book before the release, every time I read one it left me wanting more.

In the first book they introduced you to Cat who is still a big apart in this book and Alessandra a.k.a Less whom is the main point of view in this book. Cat who is Less’ great, great, great...cousin from the twenty first century met a gypsy who sent her back to the 16th century renaissance period. There she spent a week getting to know Less’, finding who she is, and falling in love. She told Less magical stories about the future that Less wished she could see and experience.

In this book we time travel with Less to the future after the man she thought she was going to marry married someone else leaving Alessandra heart broken and lost. Until she the gypsy girl found her again telling her she was going to go on a trip of wonder with many adventures. Of course Less was excited but once she cot to the twenty first century she was lost she didn’t know where to find Cat or how to get there. Threw the story you see how Less learns the simple things we do or say everyday, struggling with who she is and what her time wants her to be.

Now for love interests Rachel Harris does it again with her swoontastic and flirtatious book boyfriends. First up is Austin he is first introduced as the bad boy in school who really pushes Less’ buttons. He “challenges” her in this new world, and they bring out the best in each other. As the story goes on the two fall in love, Less helps Austin break down his walls and find his true self again. Now for Lucas he is a sweet and sensitive guy who is crazy in love for Cat. He sticks by her and keeps trying even though she keeps pushing him away, so she doesn’t get hurt again like she did with Lorenzo. With Lucas’ persistence and determination Cat may finally open her heart and let him in.

I love how this book is about following your dreams and finding who you are and what you are supposed to be. Less is a big example for that theme as she dreams of being an actress, this book opens up opportunities she can only imagine for her natural talents in acting. Who knows I think she would make a great Juliet.

Will Alessandra and Austin be together forever? Will Less get to follow her dream as an actress? What will happen with Lucas and Cat? - This is a book you don’t want to miss.  


                 Now for a Deleted scene:


“Anything with you is exciting, Princess.” He moves his hand beneath my thick hair and plays with the wisps at the nape of my neck. Brushing his lips against mine, just a tease, he then lifts his head and grins. “And, it just so happens I like pizza”—another light brush—“and movies.” His mouth presses more firmly this time for a prolonged, lingering touch, and then he shrugs. “And I guess the company is decent enough.”
“Oh, is that right?” I ask, trying to feign insult, but mostly succeeding in sounding breathless. “Only decent?”
He glides the tip of his nose against mine. “Mmm hmm.”
I pinch the taut skin at his waist and he chuckles. The sound does glorious things to my insides. Then, finally, Austin strengthens his hold around me, crushing me to his chest, and tilts his head, capturing my lips in a long, searing kiss that has me clinging to his shoulders.
“Oh yuck,” a disgusted voice says a little later. “No offense, Alessandra, but I really don’t want to see my brother doing that.”
With an abrupt laugh of embarrassment, I pull away and bury my head in the crook between Austin’s neck and shoulder.
He sighs. “Jamie, your timing is excellent as always.”
“Hey, it’s a gift.” At the spirited tone in her voice, I look up. Jamie scrunches her nose. “But seriously, it should be illegal for big brothers to make out in public. It’s traumatizing.”
A ghost of a smile plays on Austin’s slightly kiss-swollen lips. “Well, you know, next time you could just walk away and not interrupt.”
“But where’s the fun in that?” she asks with a mock-frown. Then she grabs my hand and tugs me away from Austin’s arms and into her own—the enthusiasm of her hug nearly knocking me over. “And dude, why didn’t you tell me the two of you were hooking up? You do realize we’re practically sisters now. Sisters spill the deets.”
“Uh,” I say intelligently, more than a little confused on how to proceed. I lean back and look at Austin. “Well—”
“Because maybe some people have class?” Austin softens his words by rubbing the top of his sister’s head. Jamie rolls her eyes and slaps his hand away, but the apparent affection between them makes me smile despite my previous mortification.
“Whatever,” she says. “For real, I’m just glad you finally wised up. You’re lucky my girl put up with you until you did. Are you done with rehearsal?” This last part she directs at me, swinging her eyes back to me as swiftly as the topic change.
“Just finished,” I confirm. Though my head still spins from her chaotic way of speaking, I can’t help feeling proud of my ability to keep up. If I can navigate the muddy waters of Jamie’s conversation with ease, there’s no doubt I’ve become fully acclimated to this world. “And my driver is waiting outside, or else I’d stay for yours. I am sure you’ll be wonderful.”
She licks her finger and makes a sizzling noise as she touches her shoulder. “You know it.” She laughs again and gently shoves my shoulder toward Austin. “I’m gonna let you two say your mushy good-byes in private, ’cause seeing that once in a lifetime is more than enough.” Wiggling her fingers in a wave she says, “Laters, bro.”
I watch Jamie walk away and turn to find Austin doing the same with a tender smile on his face. Something in my chest squeezes and I fall for him all the more.
When the stage door closes shut behind her, he turns and locks his hands around my waist. “My sister’s nuts, but she was right about one thing.”
“And what is that?”
His forehead dips down to mine. “I am lucky you hung around until I wised up.”
“Well, it certainly took you long enough.”
I loop my arms around his neck with a grin, and Austin laughs. “What can I say? Guys aren’t exactly known for being quick on the uptake.” On the stage behind us, the shuffling sounds of the crew laying out another scene hints at the busyness to come and I exhale a frustrated breath, knowing it’s time to go. Austin rubs his hands up and down my arms, almost as if he’s hesitant to let me. “I have to stay and bring Jamie home after her scene, but I’ll come by your house after.” His eyes grow serious. “And you better save me some pizza, woman.”
I shrug. “I shall try. But I am feeling awfully hungry. Rehearsals take a lot out of a girl.”
He gives me one of his devilish grins and kisses me again, and a minute later I walk away with my own wide smile, backside tingling from the playful swat he gave it for daring to tease him about something as important as food. As my driver closes the door behind me and takes off for home, I watch the theatre grow smaller through my back window and decide that Jamie was wrong. I am the one who is lucky. Thanks to Signore and a little gypsy magic, I’m experiencing an opportunity of a lifetime. I have a cousin who is more like a sister to share it with, a handful of caring friends, and a boy who makes me feel more special and loved than I ever have before.
Regardless of what the future holds for me, Fate has been unbelievably kind.

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