Friday, February 06, 2009

Take the Reins Giveaway!

I’m happy to announce a giveaway of Jessica Burkhart’s novel, Take The Reins, the first in her Canterwood Crest middle grade series.

All you have to do is leave a comment telling us YOUR favorite lip gloss flavor (real or imaginary).

And why lip gloss flavor, you ask? Because the main character of Take The Reins, Sasha Silver, is delightfully lip-glossed obsessed, and with all our recent talk here on YA FRESH about lipsticks and glosses, it’s just the thing to do!


I pre-ordered this book, especially excited to read it because my daughter was a horse-obsessed tween reader not so long ago, devouring The Saddle Club books, and wanting more/more/more about horseback riders. Occasionally, I’d picked one up, too, so I knew it would be fun to feed my own tween horseback riding fix!

Accordingly, I found that I read this book as a reader, a mother and a writer, pausing to appreciate elements like the pure love that Sasha feels for her horse, Charm, and the thorough details of his grooming, training and showing. I smiled at the little touches like aforementioned lip gloss collection, Sasha’s roommate’s love of cooking, and the occasional, heart-pounding appearances of a Zac Efron look-alike cutie.

Overall, I felt the theme of this book was about the value of friendship--making the right ones, and learning to deal with the wrong ones--which is something most every tween reader has either gone through or will go through.

So if there’s a tween reader in your life who likes horses and lip gloss and chocolate chip pancakes and cute boys, this book is for her! But it’s by no means “restricted” to that demographic...I mean, we’re all just tweens who got a little older, right?

So go ahead and leave a comment! I’ll choose a random winner, to be announced after the contest closes at 7:00 pm PST on Sunday.

17 fresh comments:

Jessica Burkhart said...

OMG, Tina! You're so, so sweet and thank you! :)

I can't wait to hear everyone's fave flavors.

Jennifer Rummel said...

so looking forward to reading this book. I LOVE lipgloss. My faves are vanilla, vanilla frosting, and the skittles (regular flavor)

GirlforChrist said...

My favorite is Water-shimmer clear.
Very pretty with a blue tint!

TinaFerraro said...

You're welcome, Jessica! And just to join in the fun, I'm in an peachy phase right now, wearing the color, painting it on my nails, and I'm presently in love with a peachy smelling hand cream. So that's my answer: peach!

Anonymous said...

Is there a kind that tastes just like a watermelon Jolly Rancher? Yummm...

I also like Juicy Tubes by Lancome which are the lipgloss alternative for the 30-something crowd.

Liviania said...

Like yabooknerd, I love vanilla - simple and sweet. I'm also fond of minty lipglosses because they tingle. My fave is rootbeer mint . . . sounds out, feels awesome.

Kelly (Lynn) Parra said...

I love the dark fruity ones like grape or raspberry! :) :)

Thao said...

I want to read this one ^^ thanks for the giveaway.

Paradox said...

I don't know if it exists, but if it does, my choice for favorite lip gloss flavor would be rose or lilac.

Diana Dang said...

I love vanilla and chocolate. Haha, I'm thinking of ice cream but I love to have those lipstick flavours also.

Kiki said...

Oooh, I just bought some lip gloss from Crazy Rumors. They have the best flavours, like candy canes, or coffees!
my favourite right now is a toss-up between Amaretto and Spicy Chai.

Readingjunky said...

I'm entering this contest because one of my 8th graders (a slow and quite reluctant reader) is a horse fanatic. If I win, she'll be the first to want to read this book. (Fingers crossed.)

As for lip gloss - don't really wear it, but my favorite flavor of anything is GRAPE!!!

The Golfing Librarian said...

Is tamale a flavor? My 9 yr. old would love this sort of book. I am constantly trying to find new and different material for her to read.

Marjolein Reads said...

My favorite is the California Kissing lip glos by Benefit Cosmetics. It has a fresh minty flavour!

kaymf said...

My favorite lip glosses are some type of minty flavor.

Erika Powell said...

I may be 22 but I still love Dr. Pepper lip smackers like I am 14. At least I don't still wear it around my neck.
But when I am feeling a little more grown up I love the rose salve from bath and body works

TinaFerraro said...

Contest closed!