Blog Tour Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway: Rewind to You by Laura Johnston

Rewind to You Tour

Rewind to You CoverRewind to You
by Laura Johnston
Clean Contemporary YA Romance
Paperback, 266 Pages
September 15, 2014 by Kensington Publishing Corp.


Summary

One last summer before college on beautiful Tybee Island is supposed to help Sienna forget. But how can she? This is where her family spent every summer before everything changed, before the world as she knew it was ripped away.

But the past isn’t easily left behind. Especially when Sienna keeps having episodes that take her back to the night she wants to forget. Even when she meets the mysterious Austin Dobbs, the guy with the intense blue eyes, athlete’s body, and weakness for pralines who scooped her out of trouble when she blacked out on River Street.

When she’s with Austin, Sienna feels a whole new world opening up to her. Austin has secrets, and she has history. But caught between the past and the future, Sienna can still choose what happens now…
  
Praise for the Book

“Johnston’s debut spotlights romance and familial relationships, including themes like grief and self-sacrifice. It’s an ideal story for readers looking for a deep-rooted YA love story with the emotional ups and downs and poignancy of a Nicholas Sparks contemporary. There’s also a touch of wit and a sigh-worthy hero – a definite on your TBR list.” – RT Book Reviews

“This is contemporary YA fiction at its best! –Kay Lynn Mangum, author of The Secret Journal of Brett Colton

Rewind to You will steal your hear away.” –Kelly Nelson, author of The Keeper’s Saga

My Review

I began Rewind to You with no real expectations, but was hoping that it would fit my craving for a good YA romance. Happily, it did! The story included characters that I connected with, plenty of sweet romance, some depth, and an engaging plot. It definitely hit the spot for me.

I loved how we don't get all of Sienna's or Austin's backgrounds right away. Instead we get pieces as the story unfolds. I also liked that there was plenty of attraction between these two, but that they began as friends and developed their relationship before moving it to the next level. These characters and their families had plenty of imperfections. It made them feel real. I loved Austin's aunt and uncle and Sienna's brother. I didn't like that Sienna had a boyfriend that she kept separate nor that her anxiety/stress-related issues were resolved so easily, but those were the only things that weren't perfect for me and even then, they didn't affect the story enough for me to still not completely love this.

I enjoyed the pacing of the story. There were sweet moments mixed with bitter ones. There were charged moments, conflicted ones, and parts that were sad. The story constantly moved. I liked that the story also showed a side of Sienna's mother and family friends that wasn't all pretty, where there were certain societal expectations put on her regardless that they were wrong. There were also plenty of emotions drawn out in this one, which made it all so much better. Then that almost ending! It was a little tense.

I'd recommend Rewind to You to those who enjoy contemporary YA and those who are looking for a good and clean romance. I really loved it! I'm definitely looking forward to reading Johnston's next book.

Content: Clean

Source: From the tour host, which did not affect my review in any way.

Excerpt

Dad shifts his gaze to the sunset just visible above the thick trees. “You know, Sienna, there aren’t too many moments quite like this.”
I nod, because whatever is happening right now is definitely not normal. It feels so real. I wish it would last forever.
Let’s make a pact,” he says and I feel seven again, making a promise with a best friend. “Let’s remember it, okay? This moment. And when times get rough, we can rewind to this moment and remember the taste of a job well done. We can remember how great this day was.”

A lump swells in my throat as I recall who was behind the wheel that night: me. “Okay, it’s a pact.”

Laura Rewind to You AuthorAbout the Author

Laura Johnston lives in Utah with her husband and two children. Growing up with five siblings, a few horses, peach trees, beehives and gardens, she developed an active imagination and always loved a good story. She fell in love with the young adult genre both through her experience in high school as well as her job later as a high school teacher. Laura enjoys running, playing tennis, sewing, traveling, writing, and above all, spending time with her husband and kids. REWIND TO YOU is her debut novel.


Tour-Wide Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 10/13/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an iTunes Gift Code or River Street Sweets Gift Card. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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