Blog Tour: Play On by Michelle Smith (Top Ten)
Title: Play On
Author: Michelle Smith
Pages: 258
Genre: YA
Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary
Release Date: April 21, 2015
In the small town of Lewis Creek, baseball is everything. Especially for all-star pitcher Austin Braxton, who has a one-way ticket out of town with his scholarship to a top university. All that stands between him and a new start is one final season. But when Austin starts flunking Chemistry, his picture-perfect future is in jeopardy. A failing grade means zero playing time, and zero playing time means no scholarship.
Enter Marisa Marlowe, the new girl in town who gets a job at his momma's flower shop. Not only is Marisa some home-schooled super-genius; she's also a baseball fanatic and more than willing to help Austin study. As the two grow closer, there's something about Marisa that makes Austin want more than just baseball and out of Lewis Creek -- he wants a future with her. But Marisa has a past that still haunts her, one that she ran all the way to South Carolina to escape.
As Austin starts to peel back the layers of Marisa’s pain, it forces him to look beyond the façade of himself and everyone he thought he knew in his town. What he sees instead is that in a small town like Lewis Creek, maybe baseball isn’t everything—maybe it is just the thing that ties them all together.
Enter Marisa Marlowe, the new girl in town who gets a job at his momma's flower shop. Not only is Marisa some home-schooled super-genius; she's also a baseball fanatic and more than willing to help Austin study. As the two grow closer, there's something about Marisa that makes Austin want more than just baseball and out of Lewis Creek -- he wants a future with her. But Marisa has a past that still haunts her, one that she ran all the way to South Carolina to escape.
As Austin starts to peel back the layers of Marisa’s pain, it forces him to look beyond the façade of himself and everyone he thought he knew in his town. What he sees instead is that in a small town like Lewis Creek, maybe baseball isn’t everything—maybe it is just the thing that ties them all together.
Top Ten Songs for PLAY ON
Link to the playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/125689678/playlist/0JRJydXdtivcQF3i6qbjGF
“We Run This Town” by Luke Bryan
“From crazy kids to dirt-road kings.”
In Lewis Creek, baseball is everything. And the players? They’re treated like gods. When I hear this song, I immediately think of the team because they do pretty much run their town.
“We Rode In Trucks” by Luke Bryan
Austin was born and raised in a tiny town, where everybody knows everybody. Lewis Creek is full of dirt roads and open fields and pick-up trucks. The guys Austin played tee ball with are the same ones who’ll stand beside him at graduation. For him, this song could absolutely be a dedication to Lewis Creek.
“The Outsiders” by Eric Church
I listened to this one a lot while writing game scenes. The guys shift into a different mode when it’s game time: They’re focused. Pumped. And they’re ready to have each other’s backs (which comes in handy at one point—WAIT I’VE SAID TOO MUCH.).
“Young, Dumb, and In Love” by Matt Kearney
Austin and Marisa are goofy, and they’re fun, and they’re slightly dorky and cheesy at times, which I love. This song is pure FUN and just makes me smile.
“Kiss Me Slowly” by Parachute
Yes, there is a first kiss in Play On. Yes, I listened to this song over, and over, and over again while writing that scene. And yes, I really, really love it.
“Say Something” by A Great Big World
Ohhh, yeah—I went there. While Play On has plenty of fun moments, it also hits on some tough ones. This song came into play for one of those tough moments.
“Counting Stars” by Augustana
“’Til you’re back in my arms, I’ll be waiting up, counting the stars.”
BUT. Then we go into this song, which is an absolutely, positively perfect follow-up.
“Play On” by Carrie Underwood
You will never, ever, ever guess where the title came from. EVER. It did come from this song, and for good reason. Just…listen. Because it’s perfect.
“I Want Crazy” by Hunter Hayes
This. Song. I wrote an entire chapter to it. Like the Matt Kearney song above, it’s SO much fun.
“We Are Tonight” by Billy Currington
This is another song that makes me think of the guys.Austin has such an awesome relationship with his friends, and I love their bond just as much as I love the relationship between him and Marisa. They have SUCH a blast whenever they’re together, and this song encompasses that perfectly.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Author Bio
Michelle
Smith was born and raised in North Carolina, where she developed a healthy
appreciation for college football, sweet tea, front porches, and a well-placed
“y’all.” She’s a lover of all things happy, laughs way too much, and fully
believes that a little bit of kindness goes a long way.
Michelle
lives near the Carolina coast with her family.
Author Social Media Links:
Website:
http://msmithbooks.com/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MichelleA_Smith
I LOVE baseball romances! I can't wait to read this one!!!
ReplyDelete