I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

A Tale of Two Centuries by Rachel Harris
Series: My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century #2
Published by Entangled Teen on August 6, 2013
Pages: 320
Format: eBook
Source: the publisher
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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?

Rachel Harris has written a touching and heartwarming love story with this sequel to My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century. It is beautifully written, both vivid and descriptive. Alessandra’s voice feels authentic, making the reader feel as if they truly have time-traveled to the sixteenth century.

Alessandra is everything you can possibly want in a main character. She is a proper young lady who yearns for more, but feels trapped in her own time. She wants “passion, equality and freedom,” all the things women in her time period cannot have. All she has to look forward to is a loveless marriage and a life of propriety and society rules. Until fate intervenes and sends her to the twenty-first century, where her distant cousin, Cat, lives.

There’s definitely an adjustment period for Alessandra. Her exploits in the twenty-first century were hilarious. My favorite moment was when she identified a Hooters as an owl shop. It’s amusing seeing how Alessandra’s sixteenth century mind views the twenty-first century technology, dress and ideals. She’s adorably clueless, and so fascinated by simple things – it makes her seem humble and lovable.

So… Austin. Ahhh, Austin. Normally, male characters as cocky as Austin would turn me off. He’s just so full of himself in the beginning, thinking he’s some kind of bad-boy rebel. But, he’s so adorable while teasing Alessandra and her absolute cluelessness makes it that much funnier. So, despite my reservations, Austin won my heart almost immediately. Alessandra’s outrage over Austin (she call’s him the “embodiment of evil” and likens time with him to the symptoms of an illness) only make you root for Austin even more. He takes the prim and proper lady and turns her into a typical outraged teenager.

The whole time I was reading, I pretty much alternated between laughing hysterically and crying (Sometimes just a few tears, and sometimes lip-trembling sniffles). Honestly, I wish I could go into greater detail here, but I don’t want to accidentally go into spoiler territory. Just trust me and make sure you have tissues by your side at all times!

The other couple to take note of in this book is Cat and Lucas. I know you Cat and Lorenzo fans are probably ready to egg my blog for this, but trust me, you’ll love how it all turns out for Cat!

The ending was absolutely perfect. My heart was in my throat for most of it, and I was pretty much close to tears the whole time, as well. But it was awesome, amazing, and perfect. Overall (if you couldn’t tell from my gushing review), I loved this book so much and I would highly recommend it.

Honestly, before I began reading Rachel Harris’ books, I wasn’t a huge romance fan. It kinda bugged me… It was too mushy and rainbows and kittens for me – I prefer science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, etc. I liked romance that had vampires in it… Does that count at all? Anyway, I won an advanced eBook of Taste the Heat, Harris’ adult romance (published July 8, 2013) from Foreward Lit. Not only is she an amazing and talented writer, but she really pulls you into a world with characters you care about, who feel real and relatable. The romances are always genuine, and the plots are well thought-out. For those reasons, among others, I would recommend Rachel Harris to anyone and everyone – especially to those who want to read romance, but aren’t sure where to start.