Today I'm turning my blog over to C. J. Duggan, who is discussing the parallels between her life and that of "The Boys of Summer". [Blog Tour will run from April 15 - 21, 2013]ALSO -- Be sure to follow the tour around the other blog sites!
Does "The Boys Of Summer" have any parallels that could be drawn from your life? :
I grew up in a small country town in Australia so I am well aware of what it’s like to have to make your own fun. Unfortunately our town wasn’t set on the banks of Lake Onslow but it was still a nice place to live. My first job was working as a barmaid at the local hotel and I remember the fear of my first shift and learning the ropes. The one thing I do love hearing is when a reader connects with my characters, I think there are parallels in not only my life when growing up but for many others too.
- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Paperback - Pages: 320; Kindle Edition - File Size: 498 KB | Release Date: December 19, 2012 | Publisher: Self-Published | Obtained: IMR Blog Tours"The Boys of Summer" [Summer Series, Book 1] by C. J. Duggan
My Book Summary : Seventeen-year-old Tess is just happy that her school year is over and summer time is beginning. All she wants to do is spend lazy days and fun nights with her two best friends, Ellie & Adam, around Lake Onslow. However, that doesn't seem to be on her friends’ game plan because as the last few days of school descend they finally convince her to help out at Adam's Uncle Eric's hotel as waitresses for the summer. Definitely not what she had hoped to do but enjoying a little spending money wouldn't hurt either.
Yet during the last day of school party Adam accidentally break his arm, which gets him grounded by his parents and sent away to his grandmother's in the city for the summer.
Now with one friend gone and the other boy crazy, Tess doesn't have the best hopes for the summer. That all changes once Ellie and her meet and become friends with 'The Onslow Boys,' four twenty-two-year-old guys who hang out in the poolroom section of the bar a lot after work one of whom just happens to be Tess' long-time crush Tobias (Toby)! Tess' summer starts to really look up ...
That is if Tess can get over the fact that Toby has a mean/gorgeous girlfriend whom she’s is jealous of, as well as getting over her own anxiety from lying to her parents so much about her late night activities, and see if she can use this summer to finally get out of her shell and have some fun!!
My Book Review : 5 out of 5 stars--a teenage girl grows up and comes into her own during the summer before her Year Twelve begins because of good friends, forbidden love, and a whole lot of fun late night activities!
I fell in love with this novel, mostly because of how Tess blooms throughout it and because of her unique and growing relationship with Toby. They were so sweet together. Plus, I loved how she seemed to make him a better version of himself too.
The Onslow Boys, especially Sean & Toby, along with Adam & Chris were a fun bunch to read about! I enjoyed reading about the antics they got into, while all of them being great friends and a nice sounding board for Tess throughout this novel. Also, the staff at the hotel was fun too from their rowdy ways to their unusual styles!
It made me wish, at times, that the novel would never end! Therefore, I now can't wait to read Sean & Amy's story in "An Endless Summer," book 2 in this series, coming out in July 2013! They seem like an interesting pair but I liked them as individual characters so I hope it'll be as good as I hope!
I recommend this novel to anyone who likes YA/NA romances!
My Previous Mention(s) of this Author's Books/Characters : Spreading the Word: The Boys of Summer | Spreading the Word: An Endless Summer
Author's Novel Extras : The Boys of Summer - Overview | NaNo. How I wrote 40k in 6 days. And survived! | Some Crazy Cool News! | Cover Reveal. The Boys of Summer | Honey, I'm Home! | Music Soothes the Editing Beast | Do a girl a favour? | Would you look at that! | A Taste Test Blog Tour | A Taste Test Blog Tour- CJ Duggan | Moving Heads. | Living A Lie. | Exciting Times! | You like me, you really like me! | Indie Revolution Day Six - C.J. Duggan | WHAT was I thinking? | AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: C.J. Duggan | No Time For Love :( | Calm Before the Storm. | The Boys of Summer RELEASE date! | One WEEK till 'The Boys of Summer' release! | The Boys of Summer is finally HERE! | There Are No Words. | Paperbacks Now Available. Lets Rock it Old School. | Release Week in Review. | Look Whats on iTunes! | The Boys of Summer hits Number One! | A Barnes and Noble Bargain!
Author's Series Extras : An Endless Summer - Overview | Summer Series Music | A MASSIVE Decision. | My New Years Resolution. | I think I'm in trouble. | COVER REVEAL: An Endless Summer.
Book Teaser(s) :
"Toby has a girlfriend?" Ellie asked. "No, he doesn't. Who?"
I sighed. "Yeah, perfect Angela."
"Oh yeah, we hate her," Ellie said.
For the smallest of moments, I had forgotten. Like when he stepped out of the darkness at the party, or the way he looked at me when I brought the meals into the bar, or the feel of his hand touching mine. No doubt I had over-analysed his every moment, his every facial expression, but I'm allowed to. That's what girls do. For those fleeting moments, however, I had managed to forget all about Angela Vickers.
"So they're still together?" Ellie asked.
"I see her car parked at his place all the time," I said.
Ellie gasped. "What are you doing outside his house? You total stalker!"
"Shut up!" I said, blushing. ~ within Chapter 7
"So I have to ask. Did you happen to receive a pie this week?"For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by C. J., then please check out her website.
Sean looked at me blankly.
"A Summer Berry pie?"
Still nothing. I shook my head. "Unbelievable, you wait 'til I see that Toby Morrison."
A spark of recognition flickered in his grey-blue eyes.
"If you are referring to a parcel I received at work containing a crust of a pie with a note saying, 'Tess made us pie. It was delicious', then, yes, I received a secondhand portion of pie."
My jaw fell open. "That is so mean. The pies were meant to be for all of you."
"Pies? Plural?" ~ within Chapter 26
About the Author :C.J Duggan is an Australian author who lives with her husband in a rural border town of New South Wales, Australia.
"The Boys Of Summer" is Book One in her Mature Young Adult Romance Series.
For more on C.J and ‘The Summer Series’, visit www.cjdugganbooks.com.
Find C. J. Duggan :
- C. J. Duggan - Website
- C. J. Duggan - Blog
- Facebook Page
- Goodreads
- The Boys of Summer [Summer Series, Book 1] : Amazon.com - U.S. (Paperback) | Amazon.com - U.S. (Ebook) | Amazon.com - U.K. (Paperback) | Amazon.com - U.K. (Ebook) | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Smashwords
