A Tea Stained Page: April 2015

Sunday 26 April 2015

What I've Been Listening To: Caledonia

I'm missing Scotland today so...

Tuesday 14 April 2015

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...

Friday 10 April 2015

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.

Thursday 2 April 2015

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.

Wednesday 1 April 2015

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)

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