*Review* A Tale of Two Centuries by Rachel Harris March 23, 2014

Rating: 4 stars
Pub date: 6 August2013
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Historical Fiction
Format: ebook, won in giveaway
Status: Book two My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century companion series

Summary:

Alessandra 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 the stars hear her plea.

One mystical 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 hesitant to live the life of a twenty-first century teen…until she meets the infuriating—and infuriatingly handsome—surfer Austin Michaels. Austin challenges everything she believes in…and introduces her to a world filled with possibility.

With the clock ticking, Less knows she must live every moment of her modern life while she still 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?

My thoughts:

I’ve been dying to get my hands on this ever since I finished My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century in the fall. My library didn’t have a copy and we’ve been on a tight budget, so I’ve been waiting impatiently. The book gods then smiled down on me and I won an e-book copy. YAY! Commence reading, flailing, and fangirling!

I love Rachel. She’s such a sweetheart and an incredible writer. She’s firmly on my read everything she ever writes list. For reals.

Rachel does a fantastic job with characters. She creates such believable and loveable characters. I haven’t had trouble relating to a single character yet!

After the spunky Cat returns from Italy, she leaves behind her 16^th century ancestor, Alessandra in a world she feels even more disconnected from. She’s everything her time calls for – polite, demure, proper, etc. She’s also everything her time isn’t ready for in a young woman – equality driven, passionate, and outspoken (even if only in her mind). She wants more than her time can offer – a loveless marriage. She misses her cousin and wants more adventure in her life.

As luck would have it, once again, fate intervenes in the Angeli family, and Alessandra is thrust into the 21^st century. Talk about a culture shock! Alessandra is at an utter loss and it’s hysterical watching prim and proper Alessandra navigate our world that is chock full of impropriety.

Alessandra has two wonderful people to come to her rescue. Dear cousin Cat schools her on the 21^st century world at home and yummy Austin makes it a challenge to bring her out of her shell.

First impressions prove to be wrong between Alessandra and Austin and it was fun to read their banter and watch their relationship blossom. Things also blossom between heartbroken Cat and new guy Lucas. I can’t wait to see how things continue to develop in My Not So Super Sweet Life!

Alessandra gets her wish to act on stage and she does a fantastic job at it. She gets the star role of Juliet in an acting showcase. Time is running out, but she asks for more time so she can have her chance to shine on stage. After she completes her stellar performance, she realises she doesn’t want to go back to a joyless boring life. Alessandra is faced with a choice. Leave her 16^th century family behind or leave Cat, Austin, and the 21^st century behind. Whichever she chooses, she will never see the other again.

The ending is superb. I really don’t know how Rachel continues to deliver so completely time and time again. I’ve never been a big romance/contemporary reader, but if it comes from Rachel, I’ll read it AND recommend it like crazy! I really can’t wait to get my hands on the third companion of this series, My Not So Super Sweet Life! I need it NOW!

About the author

Author of fun & flirty romance about sassy girls-next-door and the hot guys that make them swoon. Vibrant settings and strong families are a staple of all my books…and kissing. Lots of kissing.

I homeschool my two beautiful girls and watch countless hours of reality television with my amazing husband. I write YA, NA, and Adult romance and LOVE talking with readers!