Blog Tour & Giveaway~My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century

Alright guys, I am STOKED to host a guest post on the

 My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century Blog Tour!

This book is amazing and you can read my full review here. Enjoy the blurb and the amazing guest post by Cat!

Blurb: On the precipice of her
sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an
extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So
even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace
offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her
curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into
Renaissance Firenze.


Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband
future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and
protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo.
But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an
unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of
creeptastic amore.


Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns
into an Italian forever?

And now....In Cat's own words:

A Lesson in Renaissance Social Graces….From the very UN-Graceful Cat Crawford

Okay, I admit it. I’m not exactly an expert on the subject.

In fact, I turned screwing up during my Renaissance vacay into an art form.

But the upside is I learned from my one or two (okay, maybe more like a bazillion) mistakes, and I’m here today to share my wealth of knowledge in the hopes I’ll spare you the drama I went through… you know, just in case you find yourself breezing through the flaps of a certain green gypsy tent.

So here my compiled list of handy-dandy tips—with possibly the world’s longest title ever:

Cat Crawford’s List of Traits Any Self-Respecting 16^th Century Chica Should Know to NOT Look Like A Cultural Ignoramus:

·         Sharpen That Tongue. Get your mind out of the gutter, people… I’m talking speech. Turns out, the art of flinging the right word or taunt at just the right time was a skill peeps respected back in the day. (Explains why Antonia thought she was all that.) They also liked cleverness, wit, good story-telling, and clever jokes, so maybe I don’t totally fail in this category—I have been told I’m quite humorous at times.

·         Study Up. Did you know that the upper class actually had books they studied on how to act, what clothes to wear, and even how to stand properly? Yeah, me neither. And you better believe they used the info they gained to scrutinize everyone around them—even time-traveling chicas not exactly up on the latest intel. Just one example of a book to grab during your own adventure through time is The Book of the Courtier by Baldassare Castiglione, but there’s several out there. It’s almost too bad we don’t use these today. Like, How to NOT Act Like Snookie. Oh, and while you’re studying,  be sure to brush up on your art and music knowledge. There may be a quiz later.

·         Unleash The Voice. Christina Aguilera you may not be, but that won’t matter. Without the modern conveniences of television, radio, or video games, people amused themselves by entertaining others, and that includes singing. If the very thought of singing in front of more than your favorite stuffed animal or toothbrush terrifies you, I’m right there with you...but there’s no getting out of this one. YIKES! All I can suggest is close your eyes, think a happy thought (such as a sexy pair of chocolate eyes), and belt it out, sister.

·         Lose That Tan. Yep, it’s true. Those paintings you’ve seen with the uber-white faces are for real. People believed that pale skin made women look more prestigious because women with tanned skin often worked lowly jobs outdoors. The upper class women stayed inside all day. Can you imagine all the money we’d save if this was still the trend? Goodbye spray-tans and tanning beds, hello Snow White.

·         Embrace Your Inner Rhythm. Dancing was a big thing back then, and we’re not talking those ‘drop it like it’s hot’ or grope and sway moves so popular on the dance floors today. These things had steps, lots of them, and everyone knew them. Luckily, the steps repeat after a while so you can pick it up pretty quickly. Or you can always make a break for it with a certain hottie and teach him a modern-day dance like me… (*grin*)

And finally,

·         Get Your Swoon On. This one is really just for fun and is all about the boys, but it’s good to know what sixteenth-century women want. Chivalry and knowledge of hunting, horses, and fighting were all very important qualities in any suitor, as well as knowing how to work a sword. Don’t believe me? Think about Heath Ledger in A Knight’s Tale. Yeah, it’s the wrong century, but still H-O-T. And hey, it’s an excuse to watch a movie with a cute boy. Enough said.

So there you have it, my quick list of must-know traits to blend in with the well-to-do of Renaissance society. Of course, there’s more to it then this short list, but if you can manage these things, you’re well ahead of where I was. Oh, and don’t forget to pack this handy-dandy list in your extra handy-dandy backpack, and keep that baby with you at all times. Trust me, it’ll be worth it.

So how do YOU measure up on this list? Are you a natural Sixteenth-Century Chica, or a Cultural Ignoramus like me? Let us know in the comments! And thank you, Staci!

{sigh} {rolls eyes back to the front of her face and wakes from a dreamy stupor}

No, Cat....thank you! I am sure every teenage girl can relate to your (ahem) mess ups. I know I had many myself during my teenage years. Thank you for sharing your hilarious insights and knowledge. I feel completely prepared to enter that gypsy tent.....just as soon as I find Reyna ;)

Thank you, Shane, at Itching for Books for hosting this awesome blog tour.
Follow the rest of the tour by clicking on the banner below.

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About the author:  Rachel Harris

As a teen, I threw raging parties that shook my parents’ walls and created embarrassing fodder for future YA novels.

As an adult, I read and write obsessively, rehash said embarrassing fodder, and dream up characters who become my imaginary friends.

When I'm not typing furiously or flipping pages in an enthralling romance, you can find me homeschooling my two beautiful princesses, hanging out with my amazing husband, or taking a hot bubble bath…next to a pile of chocolate.


MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY is my first novel. I did have my own fantabulous Sweet Sixteen in high school. Sadly, it wasn’t televised.

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