Giveaway: Between the Notes by Sharon Huss Roat

A few weeks back I was looking for a new book to pull me out of a slump and I stumbled into BETWEEN THE NOTES, a debut by Sharon Huss Roat. And I absolutely fell in love with this story that had me grinning and laughing out loud and even misting up a little. I loved every second I spent with these characters and told the world (well, the social media world I'm part of). 

Sharon reached out to me recently and asked if I would like to host a giveaway for an ARC of BETWEEN THE NOTES (comes out June 16, 2015 from Harper Teen). She also talked a bit about her inspiration for her witty and poignant debut:

The first kernel of an idea that led me to write BETWEEN THE NOTES was a simple case of mistaken identity. I kept seeing a handsome young man in my kids' school. I had no idea who he was and never spoke to him. But I made certain assumptions based on his appearance, only to learn later that his circumstances were very different than I had imagined. It got me thinking about how we so often judge people––whether favorably or negatively––on appearance or circumstance. And how wrong we can sometimes be! I started that whole "what if" line of questioning, putting a teen girl into various situations of mistaken identity, and Ivy's story began to take shape.

I was just starting my first draft when a friend told me about a family she knew that was going through financial hardship. The parents were attempting to borrow money so they could keep their enormous house and lavish lifestyle. They didn't want their teenage children to have to make any sacrifices, or to even know that they were struggling! That gave me the idea to start Ivy's story in a similar situation, but with parents who chose to move out of their big house and live within their means. It immediately put Ivy in a difficult situation—one she makes worse by trying to hide it!

If you like contemporary with a character that grows and learns a lot, a sweet romance, and a fantastic family unit, this is your book. I can't wait for June until I own my own copy!

Synopsis:

When Ivy Emerson’s family loses their house—complete with her beloved piano—the fear of what’s to come seizes her like a bad case of stage fright. Only this isn’t one of her single, terrifying performances. It’s her life.

And it isn’t pretty.

Ivy is forced to move with her family out of their affluent neighborhood to Lakeside, also known as “the wrong side of the tracks.” Hiding the truth from her friends—and the cute new guy in school, who may have secrets of his own—seems like a good idea at first. But when a bad boy next door threatens to ruin everything, Ivy’s carefully crafted lies begin to unravel . . . and there is no way to stop them.

As things get to the breaking point, Ivy turns to her music, some unlikely new friends, and the trusting heart of her disabled little brother. She may be surprised that not everyone is who she thought they were . . . including herself.

Debut author Sharon Huss Roat crafts a charming and timely story of what happens when life as you know it flips completely upside down.

About Sharon:

Sharon Huss Roat lives in Delaware with her husband and two kids. When not writing books for young adults, you might find her reading (YA of course), planting vegetables in her backyard garden, or sewing costumes for a school musical. BETWEEN THE NOTES is her first novel.

Giveaway:

Signed ARC of BETWEEN THE NOTES

US Only (but Sharon is running an INT giveaway on Goodreads!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway