Thursday, June 23, 2016

Someone Like Him by Ann Herrick (Review, excerpt and GIVEAWAY) GFT




by Ann Herrick



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GENRE: Teen Romance

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BLURB:


When New-York-City girl Emily visits her cousin Janelle in Oregon, Emily wonders how she'll survive the wilderness. Janelle wonders if the wilderness will survive Emily's visit—and if she can convince her cousin to help save part of an old-growth forest.

Meanwhile, Emily also wonders if a big-city girl can get along with a county guy—named Bret. Under forest canopies and by crystal-clear waters she struggles with her growing attraction to him. But they're so different. Whoever thought she'd fall for someone like him?

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EXCERPT


It wasn't easy trying to fit all my stuff into one small suitcase and an overnight bag. But Dad said that was the limit. I wished I had room to pack my old scout manual. I vaguely remembered there was a section about survival in the wilderness. I figured I might need that.

"Now, Cheryl," Dad said to Mom. "Don't start getting teary-eyed."

"But Richard, we're sending our only daughter off to Oregon." Mom sniffled.

A fine time for Mom to have second thoughts—just as I was about to board the plane. I let out a long sigh and tried to look really sad. Maybe she'd give in to her misgivings and let me stay.

"She'll be in good hands," Dad said reassuringly.

"We'll be in Europe, six thousand miles from my baby!"

Ordinarily I would have moaned and declared that I was not a baby. Now, however, I worked at getting my lower lip to tremble.

"Everything will be fine!" Dad's voice was getting high and squeaky, a sure sign that he'd had it. "Emily will love Oregon. It'll be an educational trip. It's time she sees something besides the cities of the world. Now let's say good-bye before she misses the plane!"

Dad hit just the right combination of panic, annoyance, and determination.

"You're right, dear." Mom kissed me goodbye.

Dad gave me a hug and kiss, then stepped back and put his arm around Mom. They both stood there with smiles on their faces.

"Bye," I said as cheerfully as possible. I could tell there was no point in any last-minute hysterics. I squared my shoulders and headed toward the plane.

I thought there could at least have been some appropriately dreary background music as I marched off to my doom.



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AUTHOR Bio and Links:


Ann Herrick is the award-winning author of several books and short stories for kids and teens. Included in the awards her books have won are the ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Readers, IRA/CBC Children’s Choice and EPIC Best YA Novel Finalist.

Ann grew up in Connecticut, where she graduated from The Morgan School and Quinnipiac University.  She now lives in Oregon with her husband, who was her high-school sweetheart.  Their wonderful daughter is grown, married and gainfully employed, and has given Ann her only grand-dog, Puff, a bloodhound-Rottweiler-beagle mix and six grand-kitties.  While she misses the East Coast, especially houses built before 1900, she enjoys the green valleys, fresh air and low humidity in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.  Ann loves cats, walking, the Oregon Ducks and working in her back yard.  In addition to stories and books for children and young adults, Ann also writes copy for humorous and conventional greeting cards. She loves to hear from her readers and can be contacted through her website  



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GIVEWAY



a Rafflecopter giveaway

The tour dates can be found here





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My review:


3.75 stars

Someone Like Him by Ann Herrick is a teen story about Emily, a fifteen-year-old New Yorker whose summer plans to visit L.A. have been disrupted, with the result that she is going to visit her relatives in Oregon.  Emily had been looking forward to a makeover during the summer to shed her Honor-Roll but dateless status, but she doesn’t think enjoying the Great Outdoors with her aunt, uncle, and cousin is going to achieve that.  Then she meets Bret, who tries to help her to see the beauty in the forest and wilderness around her.  Is this going to be a summer to remember or not?

This sweet story has a slight twist on the city mouse vs. country mouse theme as only a teen can experience it. The drama and angst of trying to fit in is touched upon and there are fun vignettes of Emily’s experiences with hiking, fishing, interacting with wildlife, and the challenges of camping without all of the luxuries. I like the different scrapes that she gets into and her gradual investment in both the appreciation for nature and reciprocating Bret’s interest but some things are a little strange for me, such as her vacillation between being whiny and not being forthcoming about her opinions or experience (especially when she meets one very large creature) and the awkwardness of her interactions with the boys, although I guess that it reflects challenge of teen relationships. It would be nice to get a little more depth for all of the characters as I don’t feel that I really got to know them very well. There are lovely descriptions of the beauty of nature and the impact of humans upon the delicate ecosystem and I enjoyed seeing the forest through Emily’s eyes. I think this would be a fun story for those who appreciate nature and enjoy watching love bloom.
 
A copy of this title was provided to me for review


78 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Wow, can't believe how behind I am! As always, you are quite welcome.

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  2. Looks like an interesting book ;)

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    1. Happy you think so, Simon. Thanks for taking the time to pop in and take a look!

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  3. Congrats on the Blog Tour; the novel looks great, and thanks for the chance to win :)

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  4. Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?

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    1. The book is currently available only in eBook format.

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    2. Personally, I far prefer print books, Mai, but if a hardback becomes a very thick paperback, I prefer the hardback so that it is not so stressful on my wrists, lol. Thanks for visiting!

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  5. Thank you for hosting the blog tour!

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    1. Ann, my sincere apologies for not having greeted you prior to now. Thank you for the opportunity to read your sweet story and good luck on the tour!

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  6. Who are some of your favorite authors; what strikes you about their work?

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    1. Hi Peggy! I don't think that Ann saw your question...but for me, I have multiple authors that I adore in each genre that I read, and I think that those I love the most have characters who stay with me for a long time after I have read their story, whose tale enraptures me again each time I pick up the book. Thanks for visiting!

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  7. Great review, I love a book with some angst and drama so I'm looking forward to reading this one. Thanks for sharing :)

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    1. Thanks for the compliment, Victoria! Great to see you and sorry it's taken me so long to wave back.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by and checking it out, Rita!

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    2. Glad you enjoyed it, Rita. Thanks for visiting!

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  9. What comes first for you--the story or the characters?

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    1. Becky, a vague notion of the story comes first, then the characters. I really learn who the characters are as I write the first draft. Then I can flesh them out in subsequent drafts.

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    2. Thanks for taking the time to ask a question, Becky!

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  10. Thanks for both the excerpt and great giveaway

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  11. Thanks for the giveaway; I like the excerpt. :)

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    1. Thank you, Cali. Thanks for stopping by.

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    2. Great to hear, Cali. Thanks for popping in!

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  12. The girl looks a lot older on the cover.

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    1. Thanks for the comment and your interest, Mary.

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    2. Naturally, different folks mature at different rates, Mary, but there is also the fact that sometimes cover artists have to use the resources they have around. I think the cover captures the atmosphere evoked by the story. (0;

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  13. E.L.F., thanks again for hosting the review blog tour!

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  14. And thanks to all who stopped by and left comments. :)

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  15. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR BOOK AND THANKS FOR THE GIVEAWAY! SHELLEY S. calicolady60@hotmail.com

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    1. Thanks, and thanks for commenting!

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    2. Thanks for visiting, Shelley, and good luck!

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  16. Congrats on the new book and good luck on the book tour!

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    1. Thanks, Ally! And thanks for stopping by. :)

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    2. Great to see you, Ally! Thanks for dropping in!

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  17. This book sounds like something I'd really enjoy reading, thank you for sharing!

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    1. Thank you, Nikolina! And thanks for stopping by. :)

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    2. I hope you get a chance to read it, Nikolina. Thanks for popping in!

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  18. I've read the book and recommend it to both teens and adults! Good luck, Ann.

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    1. Thanks so much, Sydell! Glad you enjoyed the story. :)O

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    2. Wonderful of you to take the time to endorse it, Sydell. Thank you for visiting!

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  19. Good Afternoon! I appreciate all the work you have put into bringing us this giveaway, thank you

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  20. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

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    1. Yes. To learn to appreciate people and places who are different from what we've already experienced.

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    2. Great question as usual, Mai. And wonderful lesson, Ann. We truly need to all learn that!

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  21. Hope you are having a fabulous weekend! Looking forward to reading this book!

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  22. Thanks, Ally! Hope you have a great weekend too!

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  23. Hello! I am helping my brother out entering his giveaways for a bit while he is camping with his kids and having a fun weekend. Thank you for the chance to win, I know he enjoys entering and following some terrific blogs. He enters many books for me and my other sister so we all appreciate it.

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    1. What a wonderful sister, and how fun that he is also enjoying nature just as they do in this book. Thanks for visiting!

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  24. Most books seem to be better than the movie; is there a movie that you think was better than the book?

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    1. Giant! The movie was much better. The book read like a travel guide of Texas. zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

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    2. Great question, Ally! I understand your sentiment, Ann, although I did enjoy some of Ms. Ferber's books!

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  25. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  26. Replies
    1. Hi Samantha! Sorry that Blogger was giving you trouble, I deleted your duplicate comment. Thanks so much for dropping in!

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  27. Have a terrific weekend and thanks so much for this giveaway

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  28. Happy 4th of July! Hope you have a fantastic day! Looking forward to checking out this book!

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  29. Happy Friday! Hope it's a good one for you I appreciate your offering us such a great giveaway and thanking you for all you put into this for us.

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    1. Hi, J.R.! I'm sorry I have been so remiss in responding to you, I truly appreciate all who visit my blog and take the time to comment. I am a bit overwhelmed both in terms of the events in the world around us and in things that affect me directly, so I have been a bit behind in everything. Thank you for your wonderful cheerful messages and I wish you a lovely weekend filled with lots of delicious books and luck with the giveaways!

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  30. Have a great weekend and thanks for all you do amd hard work you put into offering us the great giveaways

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  31. Enjoy this beautiful Sunday and thank you for this chance to win

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  32. Happy Monday and thanks again for the chance to win

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  33. I'm back and thanking you once again for the opportunity at winning your great giveaway

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  34. Thank you for offering us this giveaway, have an enjoyable Wednesday!

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