I’m super excited hosting the “Home Run” Tour featuring Stealing Parker and Miranda Kenneally. We have a great Guest Post from Miranda, my review and a Giveaway!!
Now first, let’s welcome Miranda!
Curveball Dodging by Miranda Kenneally
Miranda explores the importance of recognizing your own self-worth instead of placing value on other’s opinions.
This is a topic that’s super important to me.
When I was seventeen years old, I decided to apply for colleges outside of Tennessee. I wanted to try new things and see the world. I’d felt like that since I had gone to France when I was fourteen.
I applied to American University in Washington, D.C., and I was ecstatic when I got in. In high school, I had a 3.9 GPA and I made mostly As. Sure, I partied some and didn’t take school all that seriously, but I had drive and I knew I wanted to attend a great school so I would have great opportunities later in life.
After I received my acceptance letter to American University, the school guidance counselor called me into her office. She suggested that I go to the community college in the next town over, because I would probably fail in Washington, D.C. She thought I wouldn’t make it at a big school.
I went home, brokenhearted that she didn’t believe in me. But then I realized it didn’t matter what the stupid guidance counselor said. I wanted to go to D.C., so I was going there. End of story.
In my book STEALING PARKER, Parker places way too much emphasis on what other people think. She lets the prejudices of others determine her behavior. People think Parker’s a lesbian just like her mother, so Parker decides to show them she’s not. She quits the softball team, loses 30 pounds, and makes out with lots of guys. Instead of people thinking, “Oh, Parker’s not a lesbian like her mom,” they think, “Oh, Parker’s kind of slutty.”
You can’t do something you don’t want to do in hopes of making people think a certain way about you, because nobody thinks the same way.
During the book, Parker learns what she thinks about herself is what’s important. She realizes that until she does what she wants to do, she’s never going to be happy and people aren’t going to know who the “real” Parker is.
Who is the real you? Have you ever let someone else decide your path?
Find Miranda Kenneally:
Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally
Red-hot author Miranda Kenneally hits one out of the park in this return to Catching Jordan’s Hundred Oaks High.
After her family’s scandal rocks their conservative small town, 17-year-old Parker Shelton goes overboard trying to prove that she won’t turn out like her mother: a lesbian. The all-star third-baseman quits the softball team, drops 20 pounds and starts making out with guys–a lot. But hitting on the hot new assistant baseball coach might be taking it a step too far…especially when he starts flirting back.
You know that there are some books that keep you up all night? The books that capture you so much that you can’t stop even though you know you have to get up early the next morning? Well, Stealing Parker was such a book for me!…
Similar emotionally – yet totally different storyline!!!
Although rather late, I read Miranda Kenneally’s first book “Catching Jordan” earlier this year and I fell so in love with her characters and the wonderful story. Stealing Parker is set in the same town and school, yet with different characters. I was actually afraid that Stealing Parker might be too similar to Catching Jordan but I shouldn’t have been afraid. Stealing Parker was perfectly different on the one hand comes with just the same amount of emotional story that captured my heard.
“teacher – student” – forbidden and wrong??
The storyline is so incredibly touching and emotional that I was left in tears at many points during the book! It deals with a powerful story about a girl who falls in love with a much older boy. While a few years might make no difference when you are older, when you are 17 – a few years means the world. The “teacher – student” issue was described with care and addressed all the right questions.
How far to go, even though it doesn’t feel perfectly right for you yet? How can something be forbidden if it’s just a few years?
The way Miranda dealt with these questions was touching, emotional and it just felt perfectly right for me. We get the perfect amount of raw emotional scenes as well as touching and questioning scenes!
Bewitched Rating
Bottom Line:
Stealing Parker deals with forbidden love and how to find yourself when someone else tries to push you into a direction you might not feel comfortable… . It was an incredible emotional, touching and powerful book I cannot recommend often enough!
So, let me close this post by asking again Miranda’s Question:
Who is the real you? Have you ever let someone else decide your path?
Much love!
And now, we have one copy of Stealing Parker for one lucky winner!
US only…
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I cannot wait to read this book! I adored Catching Jordan.
Alison (AlisonCanRead) recently posted..UPDATED! Final Contest for Top Reason I’m Addicted to Books! Finally!
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Awesome Giveaway!!
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I can’t wait to read this after I read the first one of Miranda’s!
Amber recently posted..Waiting on Wednesday (1)
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I am anxious to read this book. I loved Catching Jordan. Great guest post!
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Great post! Loved reading about how she didn’t let her guidance counselor tell her she couldn’t go to the school she wanted to. Can’t wait to read Stealing Parker!
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I loved Catching Jordan. I’m lolling forward to more of your books. And I loved Henry. He’s hilarious. And awesome review.
TayteH recently posted..Killing Two Birds with One Stone #31
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Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to read this book. It sounds really good. Tore923@aol.com
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I am really looking forward to this one. I loved Catching Jordan so I can’t wait to read this.
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Very great guest post from Miranda! I actually haven’t read either book, but after reading that, it definitely sounds like something I want to pick up! Thanks so much
Brittany @ The Book Addict’s Guide recently posted..Series Catch-Up 2012: Intro Post/Goals
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I can’t believe a guidance counselor would be so discouraging. I am glad Miranda proved them wrong ! I am dying to read this! It is will be on my blog soon!
Heidi recently posted..Something Wicked Comes: Day 24 Demons at Deadnight by A & E Kirk Guest Post, Giveaway and Review!
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Thanks for the great guest post! I’m definitely looking forward to reading Stealing Parker : )
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I CAN’T WAIT TO READ THIS BOOOOKK!
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So bloody eager to read this sequel!!!
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Thanks for the chance to win! Sounds really good!
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I loved Catching Jordan and can’t wait to read Stealing Parker!
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I read this recently too and my own tour stop is coming up on Saturday. I read Catching Jordan just before it (and my review of it goes up Friday). I liked Catching Jordan a bit more, but they were both absolutely fantastic! And I’m not a sports kind of girl, but it really didn’t matter, it was fabulous read!
Candace recently posted..Review: The Warlock’s Curse by M.K. Hobson
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Adored this story! I think I liked it even better than Catching Jordan!
Great guest post. I think it’s easy to let people “guide” you down a path, especially when you’re younger or overwhelmed by the choices. I know it’s happened to me and it always takes a while to get back on track after something like that.
Mary @ BookSwarm recently posted..Waiting on…ICONS by Margaret Stohl
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I’ve been seeing these books all over the place suddenly and am intrigued but not sure if I could get into the student-teacher thing, even if there’s only a few years difference it kind of creeps me out and I don’t see how it could end well. However, so many people seem to love these books, so I may have to pick up the first one and check it out.
Miranda’s guidance counselor deserves an F, by the way.
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I have been dying to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway!!
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I haven’t read Catching Jordan yet, but I keep hearing amazing things about this series and am dying to give it a try!! Thanks for the giveaway
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I love Catching Jordan! I can’t wait to read about the cameo with Henry and Jordan!
Thanks,
Leanne
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Nice post. The book sounds good.
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Awesome giveaway!!
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I loved the story about Miranda Kenneally’s guidance counselor suggesting she go to another college in the next town over, as opposed to her dream college because the counselor thought she wouldn’t succeed in a large university, and Miranda realizing it doesn’t matter what others think of you, but what you think of yourself. I find stories like that to be inspirational. Growing up, I have constantly battled letting others opinions effect me so much. As I’ve gotten older, I have realized that in order to be truly happy, we must disregard others opinions of us, and form our own. It is something that I still struggle with, and I think Miranda is amazing to address it in her writing. Especially, because teenagers tend to be most effected by what others think of them.
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This sounds really good! Can’t wait to read it!
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I am so ecited to read this! I can’t wait!
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It’s strange, because I haven’t read Catching Jordan, but both of these books are at the very top of my list for what I need to read next. I’ve heard that many good things about Miranda Kenneally and her books. Also, I’m really enjoying following her on twitter.
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I have been really looking forward to reading this book. I hope I win!
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I absolutely loved Catching Jordan so I can’t wait to get my hands on this one.
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I am super excited to read this…can’t wait.
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Thanks for the giveaway and chance to win! This sounds like such a great read!
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I love stories like this
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I would never let anyone decipher which path my life should lead – granted, there are always people and things that can influence your decisions. So its all about believing in ourselves and doing what we think is right.. right?!
Oh my, I need a copy of this for my shelf! Thanks for the chance
The Bumble Girl recently posted..A “Buzz Worthy” Review AND Giveaway: Mystic City by Theo Lawrence (YA)
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Stupid guidance counselor! Nothing irritates me more than educators who do not encourage kids to be their best and challenge themselves.
I loved Catching Jordan so much, and I’m dying to read Stealing Parker. I want it!
Jenny @ Mimosa Stimulus recently posted..Retellings for Halloween Reading
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I have been dying to read this book!!!!!!! =]
Kirsten recently posted..From beginning to finish, year to year, memory after memory,…
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I cannot wait to read Stealing Parker! I loved Catching Jordan!
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Very nice guest post. I really would love to read this book it sounds amazing!
Thank you for this great giveaway
Beckie recently posted..Blog Tour: Middle Ground by Katie Kacvinsky / Review + Giveaway
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