BLOG TOUR: Defending Taylor (Hundreds Oaks) by Miranda Kenneally

 
~ About the Book ~

Author: Miranda Kenneally
Series: Hundred Oaks 
Publication: July 5, 2016
By: SourcebooksFire
Amazon | B&N | Goodreads | Apple | BooksAMillion | Indigo | Indiebound

Captain of the soccer team, president of the Debate Club, contender for valedictorian: Taylor’s always pushed herself to be perfect. After all, that’s what is expected of a senator’s daughter. But one impulsive decision—one lie to cover for her boyfriend—and Taylor’s kicked out of private school. Everything she’s worked so hard for is gone, and now she’s starting over at Hundred Oaks High.

Soccer has always been Taylor’s escape from the pressures of school and family, but it’s hard to fit in and play on a team that used to be her rival. The only person who seems to understand all that she’s going through is her older brother’s best friend, Ezra. Taylor’s had a crush on him for as long as she can remember. But it’s hard to trust after having been betrayed. Will Taylor repeat her past mistakes or can she score a fresh start?

*A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review* 

 ~ My Thoughts ~

I had a chance to read an early draft of this and I loved it: the characters, the family dynamic, the political aspect, and of course, Ezra! *Brb, fanning my face*

Sometimes people do the wrong things for the rights reason, but that doesn't guarantee a positive outcome. No one understands that better than Taylor. The mistake she made had a ripple effect, one with no clear way out, and rebuilding trust with her family and her friends isn't easy. Good thing she has Ezra to help her figure it all out. ;)

The return of previous characters is always a plus for me, (It lets me know they're happy and doing OK. I know, I'm weird.) but it's also fun to see how the entire series is connected.

Fans of The Hundreds Oaks series will not be disappointed! Read it. 

~ Excerpt ~

Before

When I was a little girl, Dad installed a gumball machine in our house. But instead of just giving me the candy, I had to pay for it by doing chores.
Now I’m seventeen, and Dad hasn’t changed one bit. If I want a new purse, I start saving my allowance. My father made his own way in life and expects the same of me. He loves drilling mantras into my head: I will work hard at everything I do. I will model integrity and compassion. I will lead by example.
I will fully support his Senate reelection campaign.
To be honest, I don’t see him much. Only on parents’ weekend and holidays. His secretary schedules his rare visits to St. Andrew’s, my boarding school, so I know when my parents will be rolling onto campus. I know in advance to yank my plaid uniform skirt down a few inches and pull my sock up over my bluebird ankle tattoo.
I tell Ben not to hang around.
He is here on scholarship, and my mother never hesitates to let me know I can do better. Taylor, why don’t you spend time with Charles Harrington? The governor speaks highly of his nephew.
Mom wants me to date somebody with “proper breeding,” as if I’m a horse or we live in Regency England.
But it doesn’t matter what she thinks. I adore the boy who came over to congratulate me after I scored the winning goal against Winchester and then asked me to homecoming.
I love my school in the mountains surrounded by thick green trees and blue skies. I love Card House—­the dorm I share with the fourteen other girls on my soccer team—­where every night, I sit down to lasagna or beef stew with a black lab named Oscar curled up at my feet.
I won’t lie—­this school is tough. It kicks everybody’s ass. I study and study and study. I probably spend more time on homework than sleeping.
But who cares? St. Andrew’s is my favorite place in the world.

Praise for Defending Taylor

“I can’t quite put my finger on what is so enthralling about Kenneally’s newest novel, but it totally sucked me in. I loved that Kenneally didn’t go with an easy, traditional happy-go-lucky ending. I also enjoyed the flawed nature of the characters, which made them feel more relatable. This is a great summer read and my favorite novel by Kenneally so far!” –RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

 

~ About The Author ~

Growing up in Tennessee, Miranda Kenneally dreamed of becoming an Atlanta Brave, a country singer (cliché!), or a UN interpreter. Instead she writes, and works for the State Department in Washington, D.C., where George W. Bush once used her shoulder as an armrest. Miranda loves Twitter, Star Trek and her husband.
 

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Tour Schedule:
Week 1:
6/27: Bookiemoji
6/28: YA Bibliophile
6/29: Lost In Lit
6/30: A Backwards Story
7/1: Swoony Boys Podcast
 
Week 2:
7/4: Andi's ABCs
7/5: Undeniably Book Nerdy
7/6: Jenuine Cupcakes
7/7: Who R U Blog
7/8: Stuck In Books

~ Giveaway ~  

3 Finished Copies of DEFENDING TAYLOR (US/Canada Only)