Chasing June by Shannen Crane Camp -- Blog Tour/Giveaway

Chasing June

Author: Shannen Crane Camp

Publisher: Sugar Coated Press

Publish Date: December 14th, 2013

ISBN13: 9781484191262

Genre: YA contemporary

FTC FYI: Received a PDF copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Goodreads Summary

June Laurie has it all—a budding career on the hit crime drama Forensic Faculty, a supportive and perfect boyfriend in her best friend Joseph Cleveland, and hopes of transferring her acting skills to the stage at college. But in a series of plot twists as dramatic as any Hollywood storyline, June's dreams dim with a heavy dose of grown-up reality. Once she starts school at BYU, June's days become filled with classes and the new challenge of dealing with jealous theatre majors who seem determined to give her the cold shoulder. Her happy plans for a future with "the one" take a turn, too, when Joseph dumps her to focus on preparing for his two-year LDS mission. Casting directors and the siren call of stardom beckon her back to California, while an old co-star appears on the scene to confuse things even more. Caught up in the drama of life—the type that has more intrigue, subplots, and unexpected romance than a murder mystery game—June starts to wonder if maybe her life's script might end with a grand finale she never saw coming.

My Review

June is an absolute doll.  She is an easy character to love and cheer for.  June is quirky and fun.  Joseph is a doll too, but things are different between them this time around.  June and Joseph do love each other, but Joseph is going to leave on his mission soon and doesn't want to hold June back.  This confuses June because she sees him flirting and hanging out with other girls at school.  Not only does it confuse her, she's not happy about it.  She tries making friends with her vain roommates, but there isn't really a friendship connection there.  Her friends from Forensic Faculty pay her a visit and Ryan especially is happy to see her.  Which makes things even more complicated between June and Joseph.

4 out of 5 stars.  Another great book from Shannen.  I can always count on her books to be funny, clean, and well-written.  Shannen's writing is fun and solid, and I can see the darling gal she is in the stories she writes.  I really liked the relationship between Ryan and June.  It really conflicts me, because I love Joseph, but Ryan is likable and a great guy, too.  But, he's not LDS and June has told him he wants to marry in the temple.  Joseph does go on his mission, and June's career takes off as does Ryan's.  The ending definitely sets up another book, which I can't wait to read!

Shannen is the author of many fabulous books.  Her book Finding June, was a Whitney Award finalist in 2012.

Author Links

Goodreads / Blog / Twitter / Facebook

Purchase Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Chasing June

by Shannen Crane Camp

Giveaway ends December 08, 2013.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Becoming Bayley by Susan Auten

Becoming Bayley

Author: Susan Auten

Publisher: Deseret Book

Published: May 2012

eBook

ASIN: B008224CBQ

FTC FYI: Review copy

Partial Goodreads Summary:  Bayley Albrecht's dream is to play soccer on BYU's South Field. When she is invited to soccer camp the summer before her senior year in high school, she just knows she's one step closer to her dream. Things get even better when she meets Matt Macauley, the star of the men's soccer team. When they decide to write each other while Matt is on his mission, Bayley figures her life can't get any better. But it certainly can get worse...

Becoming Bayley is the story of one girl's journey through self-discovery, of the definition of true love, and of the realization that as a daughter of God, she is of infinite worth.

My Review:

Bayley is a tom boy.  Her sister is always teasing her because Bayley doesn't like to wear make-up, and Bayley is always teasing Fin, saying she won't walk down the driveway with out it.  When we meet Bayley she is packing up for soccer camp at BYU.  All Bayley wants is for the girls coach to see her play.  As Bayley soon realizes, life doesn't turn out how you want it to.  The coach is called away for a death in her family, and Bayley is bothered by a rival's little brother.  At a devotional, she listens to fellow soccer player's testimony on how he decided to go on a mission.  Immediately she is attracted to him.  With the help of her roommates, she gets a makeover and is ready to meet Matt after the last big game.  Only one problem, will Matt even be there?

I was lucky enough to read this for the author last year.  I was immediately drawn in to the story, I read it in one day.  I was so thrilled for Susan when she told me Deseret Book was publishing it as an eBook.  Bayley is a great character to read about.  All of her life she wanted to play soccer, and during a practice, something happens to her that could change all of that if she lets it.  One character that really surprised me throughout was Fin.  She really helped Bayley through her trials.  Fin does something for Bayley that had tears flowing.  Matt was also a favorite.  I loved the letters they would write to each other while he was on his mission.  This book is a perfect example of how we need our Heavenly Father's strength and guidance through our lives.  There were so many parts of the book where there was a big smile on my face.  Especially when Matt and Bayley are at the South field at BYU.  Many times there were tears also.  The author does a great job of character development.  Each character was important and was written well.

4 out of 5 stars.  Very enjoyable read, and make sure a kleenex is handy too.  This is the author's first published novel.  Read more about Susan here.

DESERET BOOK / AMAZON