Harlequin Teen Scavenger Hunt & Book Review: Another Little Piece of My Heart by Tracey Martin

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Another Little Piece of my Heart
By:  Tracey Martin
Release Date:  December 1, 2013
By: Harlequin Teen
Source:  Publisher

GR's Summary:

What if your devastating break-up became this summer’s hit single? In this rock-and-roll retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, music can either bring you together or tear you apart.

At her dying mother’s request, Claire dumps Jared, the only boy she’s ever loved. Left with a broken family and a broken heart, Claire is furious when she discovers that her biggest regret became Jared’s big break. While Jared is catapulted into rock-star status, another piece of Claire’s heart crumbles every time his song plays on the radio.

The summer after her senior year, it’s been months since the big break-up, and Claire is just trying to keep her head down and make it through a tense trip to the beach with her family. But when Jared shows up, and old feelings reignite, can Claire and Jared let go of the past? Or will they be stuck singing the same old refrain?

 

 

Welcome to A Bookish Escape's Stop of the Harlequin Teen Musical Scavenger Hunt featuring Another Little Piece of My Heart by Tracey Martin.  This YA/NA Contemporary Romance focuses on music, first love, and heartache.  Therefore, each blog stop participating in this event will focus on one song from Claire's Playlist.  Check below for details of how you can participate, and enter to win many awesome prizes!    

Our Song Title & Playlist Number Is...

Matt Nathanson, “Love Comes Tumbling Down”; Song #8 in Claire’s Summer Survival Playlist

YouTube Link | iTunes Link

Musical Scavenger Hunt Details:

In my post, you’ll notice that I’ve linked to one song from the Another Little Piece of My Heart Claire’s Summer Survival Playlist. There are 12 songs on the playlist in total, and therefore 12 stops on the scavenger hunt (posting from November 29 – December 1). Find them all, and discover 12 chances to win great Harlequin TEEN books and Another Little Piece of My Heart swag.

But there’s more! One grand-prize winner will be randomly drawn to receive a $25 iTunes gift card in addition to books and swag! To enter for the grand prize, send the complete, 12-song playlist, along with your contact information (including the address where you’d like to receive your prize) to the author by using this contact form: http://tracey-martin.com/contact/. The winner will be notified by email after the contest ends on December 5^th. 

Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the playlist using the contact form above by December 5th at noon Eastern Time. Entries sent without the correct playlist or without contact information will not be considered.

Giveaway:

Harlequin Teen is giving 1 Winner (U.S. & INTL.) 3 Harlequin Teen Backlist Titles, Bookmarks & Swag!  Enter Below! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Thoughts:

Another Little Piece of My Heart, by Tracey Martin, is a beautiful and bittersweet debut about first love, following your passion and dreams, and most importantly being true to yourself.  I became deeply drawn into Claire and Jared's story, and felt many intense and deep emotions, as I followed them on their journey.

Claire comes from a wealthy socioeconomic background.  She lives in a huge home, attends a top notch prestigious private high school, and can have any material item that she desires.  Both of her parents only care about keeping up appearances, making money, and having the best that money can buy.  Claire has had classical piano training since she was young, is very intelligent, but is not snobby like her parents.  She has a deep passion for music, plays piano beautifully, and loves writing her own music.

When Claire attends her first high school party, she meets Jared Steel.  Immediately these two click when they begin discussing their love of all of their favorite bands (especially, The Beatles), compare the talents of various musicians, debate politics, and completely become taken by one another.  Before they know it, the party ends, and from that day forward the two of them become inseparable. Jared teaches Claire how to play the guitar, she loses her virginity to him, and realizes he is the only guy that she ever wants to be with.  Unfortunately, Claire's parents do not approve of Jared.  He doesn't come from money, drives an old beat up truck, attends public school, and doesn't plan on attending college.  Jared's dream and passion is to follow music, and him and Claire have a plan to write music and sing it together.  Claire's mother finds out she is dying of Cancer, and repeatedly puts pressure on Claire to leave Jared.  Claire's father tells her that she is selfish, and is putting stress on her mother.  Claire's parents are horrible to Jared, and treat him like he is trash, and not worthy of their daughter.  Needless to say, Claire is caught in the middle of a difficult situation.  Her parents try everything to keep her from Jared, by grounding her, refusing to let her see him, and constantly making her feel guilty.  Jared refuses to go to Claire's home, and they argue about her family.  Eventually, Claire breaks down and tells Jared that they need a break from each other.  Jared leaves, and even though Claire quickly realizes that she has made a mistake, Jared refuses to answer her calls, texts, and emails.  He moves away, and they don't see each other again.

Two years later, circumstances end up bringing Claire and Jared face to face in the same small town.  They both have a lot of hurt and anger toward one another, and things become complicated when they end up sharing the same circle of friends. Every time they end up having to be around each other there is a lot of tension and animosity.  Jealousy also ends up playing a significant role in their feelings for one another, and the dynamic between Claire and Jared becomes very interesting.

I loved the main characters, Claire and Jared.  They were both very realistic, unique, complex, and dynamic.

Neither of them were perfect, but I loved the essence of who they were as individuals.  It was obvious that these two were meant to be together from the very beginning.  They were both intelligent, giving, passionate, and talented people.  However, all of the trials and tribulations that they went through were part of growing up, and maturing.  This story was character driven, and I became very attached to Claire and Jared.  I could feel their pain, and wanted them to stop being so stubborn, because it was obvious to me that they still loved one another deeply.  The pacing of the story was on the slow side, but I think that's because Ms. Martin really took the time to develop the characters, and plot.  There were no dull moments, as Another Little Piece of my Heart was filled with the innocence, excitement and anticipation of first love, as well as angst, heartache, passion, and surprises!  I loved the musical aspect in this story.  It was fun reading the lyrics that Claire and Jared wrote in their music.  Music was so intricately woven in to the story plot, was important in how Claire and Jared expressed themselves, and was an aspect that made the story really come alive and stand out for me. 

   

My Rating:

I give Another Little Piece of My Heart, by Tracey Martin, 3.5 Passionate, Path Finding, First Love Filled Stars!  This was a sweet and angst filled love story that leapt off of the pages!  If you are a music lover, and are looking for a unique, and engaging debut, read A Little Piece of My Heart!  

My Favorite Quote:

"Kissing him is better than teasing him.  This is how kisses are supposed to be.  Just like I remember them.  Just like no time has passed since our last one.  When we pull apart I'm out of breath and can barely stand."  (eARC, Loc. 2688)

~Claire

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About Tracey Martin:

Tracey Martin grew up outside of Philadelphia, the lucky recipient of a drama-free childhood, which is why she spent so much time reading about other people’s lives. It was while she was working on her doctorate in psychology that she had an epiphany–imaginary people are way more fun than real ones. And so she began writing. Never able to choose just one of anything, she currently writes both urban fantasy for adults and contemporary stories for teens.

She likes her coffee simple, her music epic, and her movies to contain explosions. A city girl at heart, she doesn’t understand how she and her husband ended up living in New Hampshire, but writing keeps her off the mean, small town streets.

Tracey is represented by Michelle Humphrey at the Martha Kaplan Agency and finds referring to herself in the third person to be very weird.

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