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Cherokee Summer by @SusanAntonyCS is a Binge-Worthy Book Festival Pick #yalit #YARomance #giveaway


Title: Cherokee Summer

Author: Susan Antony

Genre: YA Romance

Book Blurb:

When Ace leaves home to spend the summer in Cherokee, North Carolina the last thing she expects to find is a boyfriend—until she meets Cherokee Tribe member John Spears. As Ace and John's friendship blossoms, they find their life experiences mirror each other and they fall in love. Despite hurdles thrown by well-meaning family members and jealous frenemies, the star-crossed lovers remain committed to their mutual belief that the universe has drawn them together. However, when Ace sends John a strange text and then suddenly disappears, the two must rely on their trust in each other to save both their lives and their love.

Excerpt:

I invite her into the circle of my arms. She leans

against me and rests her head on my shoulder. Above

us, the moon is nearly full, casting bluish light across

the river. The sky is a starry mess. “Look.” I point to

the sky. “There’s Ursa Major.”

“What?” she asks.

“The bear constellation.”

“Where is it? Show me.”

I raise her hand and trace the starry image like I’m

doing a dot-to-dot picture. “There’s the head.” I swoop

her hand left. “And there’s the tail.” I finish by pointing

out the bear’s front and rear legs.

“The way you do it makes it look like a skinny,

headless dog,” she says.

I laugh. “Where’s your imagination?”

“Let me try.” She lifts my hand and traces a

detailed shape of a bear, describing the air-drawing

from ear to toe. “Is that better?”

“Perfect,” I say. “Like you.”

She laces her fingers through mine.

I rub tiny circles on her palm with my thumb as I

speak. “When I was a kid, I used to fear the bear would

swoop down from the sky and eat me alive.”

“That’s horrible.” She presses her lips together, and

her ribs shake in suppressed mirth.

“I wouldn’t laugh if I were you,” I say. “Elisi says

that bear is pretty bad.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you from Starbear.” She

makes a muscle, flexing and releasing her cute bicep.

“You will, huh?” I tickle her side.

She squeals, wiggles around, and digs her fingers

into my ribs. We engage in a full out tickle-war. In the

middle of our battle, the wind shifts and the earth

rotates, and soon we’re on the ground with her

straddling me, both of us panting.

Our eyes lock, and I brush a strand of hair behind her ear.

She leans over inch at a time until her nose

touches mine. She kisses me, only a peck, then runs the tip of her tongue around lightly around my lips. Unable to resist any longer, I pull her to me and crush my mouth into hers.

Buy Links:

What’s the first binge-worthy book you read and why was it a must-read?

I would have to say the Twilight Saga. I read all four books in less than a week. I read on my lunch hour, at stop lights, and at the table during dinner. There has to be some sort of magic on the pages. Seriously, Stephenie Meyer’s concept was brilliant. Vampires that don’t kill people. But it was more than that, I believe. The story dug up long forgotten feelings I’d had as a youth. Like Bella, I fell head over heals in love at seventeen, left home, got married, and started a family of my own. I’m also a sucker for happily ever after.

What makes this a binge-worthy book?

For one, the story is heartfelt and is told in first person alternating point of view allowing the reader get deep into the protagonist’s heads. And for two, there is a plot twist that sets this story apart from a typical YA romance genre. The reader will find themselves rooting for John and Ace whose love is sometimes encouraged but often challenged by an array of well-rounded supporting characters.

Giveaway:

Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Enter to win a $25 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Enter to win a $15 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Enter to win a $10 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Open internationally

Runs August 1 – 31

Drawing will be held on September 1.

Author Biography:

I work for the IT department in a hospital by day. I’m a hip-shaker and writer by night, artist whenever possible, and an Internet addict. I lives in the sunny South Carolina with my teenaged son and two naughty but adorable Cairn Terriers.

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