Book Review: The Shameless Hour

The Shameless Hour

Author: Sarina Bowen

Publisher: Rennie Road Books

Genre: New Adult Romance

Synopsis: From Sarina Bowen For Bella,  the sweet-talking, free-loving, hip-checking student manager of the Harkness men’s hockey team, sex is a second language. She’s used to being fluent where others stutter, and the things people say behind her back don’t (often) bother her. So she can’t understand why her smoking hot downstairs neighbor has so much trouble staying friends after their spontaneous night together. She knows better than to worry about it, but there’s something in those espresso eyes that makes her second guess herself.

Rafe is appalled with himself for losing his virginity in a drunken hookup. His strict Catholic upbringing always emphasized loving thy neighbor—but not with a bottle of wine and a box of condoms. The result is an Ivy League bout of awkwardness. But when Bella is leveled by a little bad luck and a downright sinister fraternity stunt, it’s Rafe who is there to pick up the pieces.
Bella doesn’t want Rafe's help, and she’s through with men. Too bad the undeniable spark that crackles between the two of them just can't be extinguished.

Thoughts: Ahhh happiness. I do so love going back to a bookish world I love and this book was filled with the old characters I fell in love with, and added new ones that made me want to hound the author to write already, WRITE!

This book tackled some really important issues in a great way. The treatment of Bella by the fraternity is so far from acceptable that I wanted to go out and hurt people, unfortunately it isn't exactly uncommon. What they did to Bella was extreme but the double standard that it shows is awful and all to common. I can totally understand why Bella* didn't want to report it but the feminist in me wants to shake her. There are so very many reasons why things like this need to be reported and when strong individuals don't then we all lose. But yeah I understand it.

Part of me wanted to see more of the characters I've come to love, especially Graham and Rikker. I just adore those two so much. I wanted a conversation between Graham and Bella about the previous year. Bella seems to understand but I get the feeling she hasn't quite forgiven.

I loved how Rafe was a friend to Bella first and foremost. He definitely wanted more but he understood that it was friendship that she really needed at times. I also liked how he was so protective over her. It was sweet. I also think that the friendship came across very well on the page. That said I also really enjoyed how they they then became a couple. I think Bella's realizations and growth throughout the book were great. Senior year in both high school and college are SCARY, you don't know what the future holds and everything is done for the last time. It is enough to make anyone neurotic even without all that Bella had going on.

Despite the book tackling some really big issues there was also a great deal of humour in it. Most of it came from Lianne who I am really looking forward to reading more about (with DJ maybe?) The "prank" not to mention when she told Bella "Once more with feeling". HILARIOUS.

Overall I really enjoyed this book because it was sweet and funny and serious and sexy. One cannot go wrong with that mix.

I received a review copy of this book from the author but all thoughts and opinions are my own and I plan on buying a copy as well, 'cause I'm like that.

*I know Bella is fictional but...

Copyright ©2015 Zee from A Tea Stained Page. This post was originally posted by Zee from A Tea Stained Page. It should not be reproduced without express written permission

What I've Been Listening To: We Are Young

Actually this week I've been listening to a lot of 60s music thanks to the 60s channel on Spotify but last night I was re-reading some of my favourite parts of The Understatement of the Year by Sarina Bowen, and at one point in the book Graham and Rikker are going into a club and the music playing is Fun, so instead I wanted to give you "We Are Young" ft. Janelle Monáe with Fun. So I guess this is another music/book mash-up.

Copyright ©2015 Zee from A Tea Stained Page. This post was originally posted by Zee from A Tea Stained Page. It should not be reproduced without express written permission

Excerpt: The Shameless Hour by Sarina Bowen

As promised, here is the excerpt from The Shameless Hour by Sarina Bowen. I can't wait to read the whole book. See yesterday's post for ordering information

I heard the band start to play the classic one-two Merengue rhythm that I’d heard my whole life. On the dance floor, the energy picked up as the geezers began to move to the faster beat.

“Let’s go,” I said, standing up. I offered Bella my hand.

But Bella shook her head. Even worse, she scooted her chair toward the wall.

“Don’t leave me hanging,” I said, my hand still waiting in the air. “Come on now. Nobody puts Bella in a corner.”

On the other side of the table, Bella’s sister snorted into her white wine.

Bella rolled her eyes. Hard. “You did not just quote Dirty Dancing.”

I leaned down near Bella’s ear. “I did. Now get your ass out of that chair, like the girl in the movie, or I’ll have to put you in a fireman’s hold.”

Her mouth tight, Bella stood up. Not one to waste an opportunity, I clasped her hand, tugging her onto the dance floor. When we were right in the center, I put one hand onto Bella’s waist and took her opposite hand in mine. She was as stiff as a piece of wood. “Shake it off, chica. This is supposed to be fun.”

“Your job tonight was to make my life less embarrassing. Not more.”

“I am doing that. We’re going to be the best looking dancers on this floor, and everyone in this mausoleum is going to wonder how I got so lucky as to be here with you. Now listen to this rhythm, okay? Just step to the beat. And let your hips absorb the motion.” I began to move to the music. The merengue is a Dominican dance, and every kid in my neighborhood can merengue before his fifth birthday. It’s just not that complicated.

With nervous eyes, Bella began to move.

“Use these hips,” I prompted, touching the silky fabric of her dress. As I watched, she loosened up a tiny fraction. “Yes! But even more. You look great. I wouldn’t steer you wrong. And think of pressing the balls of your feet into the floor.”

Biting her lip, Bella moved with me.

“That’s it! See? Nothing to it.” Just like that, we had a proper merengue going on.

“Can I sit down yet?” Bella asked.

“Not even close,” I laughed. “See, I knew you could move.”

Bella pouted. “We’ve seen each other’s moves, Rafe.”

She lifted her eyes, and the heat in them went straight to my dick.

Jesucristo. That was the trouble with getting so close to Bella. I was always going to be susceptible to her. Anything she did to remind me of that night was always going to knock me right over.

“Ha.” She said. “I finally found a way to shut you up.” Bella put a little more effort into her merengue then, looking smug.

Copyright ©2015 Zee from A Tea Stained Page. This post was originally posted by Zee from A Tea Stained Page. It should not be reproduced without express written permission

Cover Reveal: The Shameless Hour by Sarina Bowen

It's here! It's here!!!

Without further ado...

The cover to Sarina Bowen's next installment in the Ivy Years Series

This book features Bella whom we first met in The Understatement of the Year (my favourite book so far this year all categories).

Here is the book blurb plus some ordering information

The girl who’s had everyone meets the boy who has no one.

For Bella, the sweet-talking, free-loving, hip-checking student manager of the Harkness men’s hockey team, sex is a second language. She’s used to being fluent where others stutter, and the things people say behind her back don’t (often) bother her. So she can’t understand why her smoking hot downstairs neighbor has so much trouble staying friends after their spontaneous night together. She knows better than to worry about it, but there’s something in those espresso eyes that makes her second-guess herself.

Rafe is appalled with himself for losing his virginity in a drunken hookup. His strict Catholic upbringing always emphasized loving thy neighbor—but not with a bottle of wine and a box of condoms. The result is an Ivy League bout of awkwardness. But when Bella is leveled by a little bad luck and a downright nasty fraternity stunt, it’s Rafe who is there to pick up the pieces.

Bella doesn’t want Rafe's help, and she’s through with men. Too bad the undeniable spark that crackles between the two of them just can’t be extinguished.

Pre-order The Shameless Hour at iBooks

Add The Shameless Hour to your Goodreads Shelf

Follow Sarina Bowen on Amazon.com

or order it through my Amazon affiliate (link coming soon)

Sign up for Sarina’s Mailing List

Don't forget to check back here tomorrow (Thursday) for an excerpt from the book!

Copyright ©2015 Zee from A Tea Stained Page. This post was originally posted by Zee from A Tea Stained Page. It should not be reproduced without express written permission

 

Sneek Peak: The Shameless Hour Cover Reveal

A little sneak peak for all of you of the cover for Sarina Bowen's new book The Shameless Hour

Come back tomorrow for the Cover reveal and a summary of the book and on Thursday for an excerpt from the book. I am so very excited for this book!

Copyright ©2015 Zee from A Tea Stained Page. This post was originally posted by Zee from A Tea Stained Page. It should not be reproduced without express written permission

What I've Been Listening To: Perfect (Music and Book Mash Up)

I've been listening to this song a great deal this past week and when I do I think of a scene in The Year We Fell Down by Sarina Bowen:

"I was perfect," I said. "And I didn't even know."
"No," he whispered into my ear. "No, no. Perfect isn't real." I took a deep, shaky breath, and the feel of his strong arms around me began to feel steadying. "There's no more perfect, Callahan. Now there is only really damned good" (212).

Copyright ©2015 Zee from A Tea Stained Page. This post was originally posted by Zee from A Tea Stained Page. It should not be reproduced without express written permission

Book Review: With Every Letter

With Every Letter (Wings of the Nightingale Book #1)

Author: Sarah Sundin

Publisher: Revell

Genre: Historical Romance

Synopsis: They know everything about each other--except their real names.

Lt. Mellie Blake is looking forward to beginning her training as a flight nurse. She is not looking forward to writing a letter to a man she's never met--even if it is anonymous and part of a morale-building program. Lt. Tom MacGilliver, an officer stationed in North Africa, welcomes the idea of an anonymous correspondence--he's been trying to escape his infamous name for years.

As their letters crisscross the Atlantic, Tom and Mellie develop a unique friendship despite not knowing the other's true identity. When both are transferred to Algeria, the two are poised to meet face-to-face for the first time. Will they overcome their fears and reveal who they are, or will their future be held hostage by their pasts?

Thoughts: The romance and history in this book were very satisfying but the characters drove me bonkers.

Both the male and female lead repeatedly remark that their desired spouse HAS to be Christian and it is heavily implied that non-Christians cannot be good people. This type of thinking is very insulting and I have to admit that it really took away from my enjoyment of the book. I didn't mind that they talked about their beliefs but the overt non-believers are bad was really off-putting.

One of the things I liked about the book was that like Somewhere in France it looked at the role of women during the war. Unlike Somewhere in France this book is set during the Second World War but even here women were seen as less and they had to fight for the right to do even try things they knew they were qualified for.

Another aspect that I enjoyed and that kept me reading was the focus on the fighting in Africa. Although I have read a great deal about ww2 most of my reading has been focused on Europe and so this meant I got a new perspective on the war. I hadn't realized that it was quite so muddy (which tells you about my preconceived ideas.

One thing I did find interesting as well was how Mellie and Tom helped each other out with their problems. Tom needed to learn how to become a better leader, something I've struggled with at times. He wanted, because of his background, to be everyone's friend but friends don't always make good leaders. Mellie on the other hand needed to learn to be a good friend. I thought this dynamic was quite effective and I think that much of Tom's advice to Mellie was good. I also liked Mellie's advice to Tom. Although, because of the religious aspect of it it wasn't advice I would offer as is, but looking at other strong/good leaders is good advice.

Although I liked the book, it is a book I would be quite careful in whom I recommended it to because of the overt religious message in it.

Copyright ©2015 Zee from A Tea Stained Page. This post was originally posted by Zee from A Tea Stained Page. It should not be reproduced without express written permission

Book Review: Falling from the Sky

Falling From the Sky 

Author: Sarina Bowen

Publisher: Rennie Road Books

Genre: Romance

Series: Gravity

Synopsis: Hank "Hazardous" has had his whole world turned upside down. An injury has left this previous elite athlete in a wheelchair.

Callie has plans and goals. However she is also a very lonely workaholic.

Can these two people heal each other?


Thoughts: Most of this book takes place roughly the same time as Shooting for the Stars. Shooting for the Stars begins 24 hours before the events of this book, and ends about a year an a half after this one and many of the characters overlap (Hank is Stella's older brother). However, the books can be read as stand alones.

I felt a certain kinship with Callie. I too am a planner. I like things being predictable. And like her I don't really have any experience of downhill skiing or snowboarding (I've stood on downhill skis three times and I've skied into a tree twice, I do however love watching downhill skiing and snowboarding). I think this affinity was what really drew me in.

I also liked how Callie tells Hank how his reaction affected her. We rarely seem to talk about how actions that are really not about you can affect you. The reader knows that Hank's seeming rejection of Callie isn't about her, but for Callie, even when she finds out otherwise, it is about her, because of what has happened to her.

The relationships in this book were very satisfying. They felt grown-up but still filled with the angst that apparently we don't get away from even when we leave our teen years behind. The characters were real and often quite funny (loved Tiny). And the reactions also felt believable and real.

Copyright ©2015 Zee from A Tea Stained Page. This post was originally posted by Zee from A Tea Stained Page. It should not be reproduced without express written permission

Book Review: Shooting for the Stars

Shooting For the Stars

Author: Sarina Bowen

Publisher: Rennie Road Books

Genre: Romance

Series: Gravity

Synopsis: Bear has been Stella's favourite person for a very long time. Why can't he see her as anything other than a little sister?

Bear loves his best friends little sister, but with out real prospects he doesn't believe he has any right to make a move on her. 

Thoughts: I loved loved loved this book. It was funny, it was sweet, it made me cry. It was a perfect romance book.

One of the things I liked about this book was that it was about friendships as much as it was about romantic love. Bear and Stella have always been friends, as have Bear and Hank. But it is also about the friendships we THINK we make with those with whom we spend our days, and how when our days change it becomes clear that they aren't necessarily our friends. Not that they are bad people, it is just that your lives are no longer similar and it was that one thing that held you together. However, it also shows who your true friends are and what makes them true friends. I loved this quote:

Hank put a hand on his shoulder. "Not nearly as good as you've been to me. I don't think I would have made it through the last year and a half without you. Felt like the whole world forgot about me. But not you, man. You kept showing up. So I kept getting out of bed in the morning and putting a brave face on it. Because I knew I was going to hear your tires in my driveway eventually, and you'd knock on the door and hold me accountable. That's all that kept me going for a while, until I got over the hump. Maybe I should have said this before, okay. But I notice that shit. Thank you."

I think this quote resonated with me as I went through a major depression when I was in my mid-twenties. I had two groups of friends who simply DID NOT give up on me. In some respects I owe them my life. They also kept showing up, although in most cases virtually, but still. And they expected me to show up. I think this shows how important it is to not give up on friends even when they pull away.

One of the things that is hardest about being an adult is that life does not always turn out the way you dreamed or planned for. Bear and Stella keep saying that they aren't planners, but I disagree with them. They might not have the five year plan of Callie but what they have is dreams. They dream of the snow. They dream of the next trick, the most awesome slope, that big win. And like most of us they realise that those dreams might not come true, but that sometimes you have to modify your dream. Bear modifies his dream and discovers that it is better than his original dream.

There is of course a romantic story to this and I found it very satisfying. I liked that they had so much history together, it added a nice dimension to their interaction. It also added to the tension in the novel because if things didn't work out (which of course they would but still...) they would lose both a friend and the person they loved.

Highly recommend this book.

Out today!

Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC from the author, however the thoughts are all my own, and the love is real.

Copyright ©2015 Zee from A Tea Stained Page. This post was originally posted by Zee from A Tea Stained Page. It should not be reproduced without express written permission

In Remembrance: Terry Pratchett

For me Terry Pratchett was an integral part of my teen years. The amount of times my friends and I uttered the words "I WAS AT A PARTY" from The Light Fantastic or giggled about Death in general. The discussions we had about Wizards with cork hats or the turtle. I suppose it is fitting though that I found out about his passing from my best friend in high school, Mel, with whom most of those discussions to place, often over a cup of tea and our favourite cafe.

Those teenage years are the years when one tries to make sense of the world, only to realise that the world does not make sense, and never will. One of the most influential people in my coming to realise that was Sir Terry Pratchett. His books were filled with great wisdom and I was an eager student. One of the things that has staid with me is the following quote from Interesting Times:

“Chaos is found in greatest abundance wherever order is being sought. It always defeats order, because it is better organized.”

As I grew older I discovered the Tiffany Aching series and I was once again hooked. However my favourite character will always be, rather ironically, Death, with the Grim Squeaker in second place.

And now I am sad.

My reviews of several Pratchett books on my old site (I'll be moving them over here shortly)

Hogfather Reaper Man The Last Hero Unseen Academicals
 
Tiffany Aching Series
Wee Free Men
A Hat Full of Sky
Wintersmith 
I Shall Wear Midnight

Copyright ©2015 Zee from A Tea Stained Page. This post was originally posted by Zee from A Tea Stained Page. It should not be reproduced without express written permission

Book Review: Än finns Det Hopp

Än Finns Det Hopp (There is Still Hope)

Author: Karin Wahlberg

Publisher: Wahlström Widstrand

Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: This book tells the story of several inhabitants of a small Swedish town in the 1950s. All of the characters are in some way connected to the local hospital.

Thoughts: This was a very quiet book. No real big revelations. No big, climactic events. But rather a gentle wave of events that climaxed at different times. Each of the characters had their own climactic event, often including the others in some way.

This book tells the story of when the polio epidemic was at its height in Sweden, before the vaccine becomes available. Considering the current debate about vaccines in the world I think books like this one are important because they tell the story of how it was before. Before we had easily available, safe vaccines.

Of the different stories told and the different characters some get more space. Nancy, the doctors wife feels like she doesn't quite fit in to her own social sphere. She grew up in the working classes and "married up" and has problems fitting in with the other doctors wives...or well she doesn't really want to fit in, it is hard to define. She just doesn't fit.

Carl, the young doctor who works on the infectious disease ward has his own problems. He is the low man on the totem pole as he isn't quite qualified. In addition he has to worry about his fiances family, she is fine and does not care about class, but her parents are a different story.

The different stories are weaved together in a great way, with the different characters coming in and out of each others lives at different times in the story. This weaving means that at no point does the story feel disjointed. It flows along nicely. This flow is aided by the fact that you never know how much time has passed between the different events. The story starts with the first day of school in the fall and ends in November, but that is the only fixed times you get. At first I found this a bit annoying but then I really came to appreciate it. It means you focus more on the relationships and less on time. I also think that in some ways it mirrors the days in a hospital where they can float together so that in some respects you lose track of time. I base this on my own work at a nursing home.

The next book in the series is due out later this month and I shall be stalking the library's e-book site.

Although this is a good book, it isn't a book I think will be translated to English. It is a bit to Swedish in its subject matter. Although the fear of polio is universal it isn't universal enough that the setting will fit readers in other countries.

Copyright ©2015 Zee from A Tea Stained Page. This post was originally posted by Zee from A Tea Stained Page. It should not be reproduced without express written permission

Book Review: Blond Date

Blonde Date: An Ivy Years Novella

Author: Sarina Bowen

Publisher: Rennie Road Books

Genre: New Adult Romance

Synopsis: In The Year We Hid Away we meet Blond Katie and Andy and we know how the date ended but what actually happened on the date? This novella tells their story

Thoughts: I really enjoyed this novella, the characters were relatable and funny. Katie is an outwardly beautiful and assured character but she shows that even those people can be unsecure and scared. Andy is calm but still has his insecurities. However he reminds me of a lot of my guy friends. Guys who are simply good guys. Guys who make you feel comfortable. All of Bowen's male characters have been generally good guys, only Bridger has been somewhat of a player and this is one of the aspects of her books that I really appreciate. Although the romantic lead is generally never actually an asshole, he is often portrayed as a bit dangerous. In this series this is never the case. These are regular guys (maybe a bit book smarter than average but I spend a great deal of time with people like that so...) and I appreciate that.

I also like that Katie gets to be the one who is sexually experienced and the one who takes initiative sexually. Neither of the other female leads so far in the Ivy series have been scared or scarred sexually but they are inexperienced, Katie has plenty of experience and expresses a general love for sex. This is freeing. 

As stated earlier they are both funny as well, and I love Andy's way of making the party more comfortable for Katie, so much so that I am stealing it for my English students. It is really hard to get them to talk and I think this game could work on them (I won't tell you what the game is, trust me you want to read about it).

I was actually sad when the story ended, I want to spend a lot more time with Katie and Andy!.,

Copyright ©2015 Zee from A Tea Stained Page. This post was originally posted by Zee from A Tea Stained Page. It should not be reproduced without express written permission  

Bookish Thoughts: The Past is Past and the Future is the Future Except When it is The Past

This is an old post from Notes from the North but I wanted to re-publish it here as it pertains  to a book I will be reviewing soon.

Writing about the future is a tricky thing, as has become abundantly clear in the past few years. The technological developments have come quicker than anyone could predict. At the same time, some of the predictions that were made have been shown to be beyond us still.

I've been thinking a lot about this in the past month, as I have been binging on the In Death series by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts). The first book was published in 1995. In 1995 mobile phones were not as ubiquitous as they are today, I got my first one in 1998 and I was one of the first in my class (that said I AM only on my fifth mobile). Naked in Death (the first in the In Death Series) is set in 2058, which I am sure seemed very far in the future in 1995, but, this side of the turn of the century feels very close by. In the books there are several technological devices mentioned, "link" = mobile phones; "PPC" = Pocket PC; "disks" = storage devices for computer files; "laser fax". 18 years ago all these things probably seemed to be on the technological forefront. Today, with little kids with smartphones (you should see my niece, 2 and a half, with her mothers iPhone (this post was written in 2012, niece is now 4 and a half but still a wizard with the iPhone (as is her little sister at age 2)) these things seem positively antiquated. I mean , when was the last time you used a disk, even a CD to save documents on? I barely use a USB drive to save information on now, much more convenient to use the cloud, especially when I can have the same document appear instantly on all my different computers (I am definitely partially responsible for the average number of electronic devices being above one :D).

At the same time, these books have technology that we have yet to invent or perfect. Some of it would be nice (I would LOVE my own autochef). Other things would freak me out (cars that can fly! I have enough problems keeping track of what's in front, behind and to either side of me, I would NOT want to add above and below).

This balance between what is fantasy and what is reality and what may become reality is a very delicate one. How do you signal that this is the future without it being over the top? How do you deal with things becoming obsolete during the course of a series (Roberts is still publishing in this series)?

To my mind the best way is to create what you could call an alternate universe. Make it clear that it isn't an alien place (I don't mind aliens but others do). Roberts does this by creating a world where yes some events do mirror our world but others don't. For example September 11th is referenced in one of the books I recently listened to. However, Roberts has added "The Urban Wars". A war that is referenced as taking place in both the US and Europe but never quite explained. Although it isn't hard to see an uprising in our cities today, calling them The Urban wars and placing them before the adulthood of the main character in the series adds to the feel of an alternative or perhaps parallel universe. This helps me, as a reader, to "cover" the obvious technical differences, the differences where we are more advanced than what this future society is.

Copyright ©2014 Zee from Notes from the North.This post was originally posted by Zee from Notes from the North. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.