Tuesday, 10 July 2018

★ Sarina Bowen ♥ THE ACCIDENTALS ♥ YA ♥ Excerpt ★

© Bianca Janeane
   



• 10 July 2018
• Young Adult 
Rockstarish Dramance ☺

Note by Sarina: Readers have asked me if this story is a romance. Yes and no! There is a lovely romance and a swoony hero. But the romance is half the story, and the other half is also gripping in a different way.

★★★★★
4.75 Stars
A YA novel from USA Today bestselling author Sarina Bowen.

Never ask a question unless you’re sure you want the truth.

I’ve been listening to my father sing for my whole life. I carry him in my pocket on my mp3 player. It’s just that we’ve never met face to face.

My mother would never tell me how I came to be, or why my rock star father and I have never met. I thought it was her only secret. I was wrong.

When she dies, he finally appears. Suddenly I have a first class ticket into my father’s exclusive world. A world I don’t want any part of not at this cost.

Only three things keep me going: my a cappella singing group, a swoony blue-eyed boy named Jake, and the burning questions in my soul.

There’s a secret shame that comes from being an unwanted child. It drags me down, and puts distance between me and the boy I love.

My father is the only one alive who knows my history. I need the truth, even if it scares me.




Orlando, Florida. Rachel will be 18 in a month. A time to celebrate for most kids. But Rachel's life sucks at the moment. Her mom just died and she was put in a group home until she can go to boarding school in New Hampshire after the summer.
And then there's her father. Rockstar Freddy. Her mom never told her anything about him - how they met or what happened or why she's so mad at him. The only thing Rachel knew was that every month a check was in the mail.
Didn't he want to get to know her? She's been in love with his music and his talent ever since she knew how to use an iPod. She inherited his talent. She loves everything about music.
And now her father is suddenly here. Trying to get to know her. To be with her. But she still doesn't know anything about her parents past. And she's too chicken to ask.
And then there's Haze - her best friend since second grade - who is kind of in love with her.
And Jake. Her adorably nerdy student liaison pen pal from the new school.

What will happen with Rachel?
Will there be a HEA?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT!
 







OMG WHAT AN AMAZING BOOK!

I had no idea what kind of story I was getting when I started reading. I thought it would be a cute little young adult thingy with a bit of rockstarishness thrown in. But it was sooo much more. SO MUCH MORE!
I already fell in love with everything while reading the first few pages.
Ugh. Those first few pages made me cry already.
We meet Rachel, her best friend Haze and her dad. I felt a bit sorry for Haze immediately, because we know that Rachel's not staying in Florida. Poor guy.
Dad Frederick. He came. He didn't have to - he hadn't been here for the last 17 years, but he's just there. He came as soon as he heard that Rachel's mom died. He seems to be an amazing guy. He's here to help, to get Rachel out of the group home, to get custody, to talk. But poor Rachel doesn't know what to think about all that. He hasn't been there for 17 years and now he's suddenly here? She expects him to disappear again every second. But he's not disappearing. He's here and he's staying.
And I loved every single moment of that daddy daughter time.
He takes her with him to California until school starts. And then??? HE COMES WITH HER to New Hampshire!!!!! He even looks for a house! He tries real hard to be the dad she never had. But even he doesn't talk about the past - and Rachel never asks.
She finds a new bestie in her roommate and then things with her and Jake are getting interesting.
And dad is always there. Going back and forth to be a rockstar for a bit, but then he's back in town. And it's so adorable to watch Rachel and Frederick walk through town talking about things but never about what's really wanting to get out ... like her music and singing talent and why he never came for her.
Ugh, it was all so sweet and funny and adorable and rockstarish and frustrating and heartbreaking. But so so beautiful. I wanted at least 200 more pages. I need this to be on Netflix asap PLEASE!!!
PERFECT BOOK! NUFF SAID!
  
THE ACCIDENTALS was the most beautiful mix of young adult & rockstar & daddy/daughter & first love story! I absolutely adored every single word in this book!!! Run to your nearest amazon asap - this will be sold out in no time!


P.S. I somehow hope for more. Maybe we'll get a second book about college times? Or a book about Frederick and Norah? Or about Haze? Or all of the above? ☺ I'm not ready to let them all go yet!



ARC received for an honest review

Now, I don't read much YA - nothing against the books or the genre, however I am an old fart and these books are usually to young for me, and I feel pervy thinking the guy in it is hot, when I could be his mother.

All that up there ^^ - forget about it, as The Accidentals was so much more than just a regular YA novel.

I was expecting a cutesy high school love story, but oh was I wrong.  I should have known that Sarina Bowen would never leave me at just that.

Sure, there is some cutesy-angsty-teen-love, however Rachel's story is so, so much more.

So much loss, so much pain, so much heartache.  I was emotionally invested in this story from the first couple of chapters, and I didn't put this book down until I was finished.

Rachel's father, Frederick. I still haven't figured out if I love him or loath him.  He can be so great, but then he can also be such a d!ck that I want to throw my kindle at him!  I do adore his and Rachel's feeling each other out, trying to forge a relationship that they have never had, their walks are the best.

Sweet, tender, heartbreaking, frustrating - The Accidentals has a bit of it all, and I would love to see a bit more of Rachel and Frederick in the future.

If Ms Bowen writes more YA, I will definitely be reading it.



♥ EXCERPT ♥


After the last course—chocolate mousse—the three of us go tripping back across the cold lawn in the dark, Aurora in the lead. I’m the tiniest bit tipsy and wearing heels. So naturally I stumble on a frozen clod of snow and nearly fall. But Jake catches my hand to steady me. “Thanks,” I breathe.
Curiously, his warm fingers remain curled around mine until we reached the door of Habernacker.
I try not to feel ridiculously excited about it.
He lets go when we all reach the third floor. When Aurora opens the door, he follows us inside until we all collapse on the S.L.O., with me in the center.
“Oh! I forgot to steal my plate,” I realize.
“Me too.” Aurora sighs.
Jake reaches into his jacket and pulls out a plate.
“Well done, Mr. Jake!” Aurora laughs. “The party in the annex starts in fifteen minutes.” She heaves herself off the squishy couch. “I have time to redo my makeup.”
I watch her walk over to the stereo, where my phone is already ensconced, and turn on our Christmas playlist. Then she grabs her makeup bag off her desk and leaves the room.
When the door clicks shut, neither Jake nor I speak for a moment. The low chords of a Straight No Chaser song play through our little speakers.
Suddenly, it’s awkward. We’ve been circling each other for a while now—since the night he was trying to be nice and I wrecked it.
“You’re probably sick of a cappella by now,” I say, just to find something to talk about.
But Jake turns slowly toward me and says something unexpected. “Rachel, I need to ask you a question.”
My stomach does a little flip flop, and I turn to face those blue eyes I love so much. “What?” I whisper.
“Well…” He clears his throat. There is a very long pause, during which I hold my breath. “Will you come skiing some time?”
I exhale. “I guess so?” Another beat of silence passes. “That was your big question?” I ask, feeling like I’ve missed something.
His color deepens. “Well, no. I just…” His brow furrows, as if he’s trying to explain some point of astronomy. I love his look of concentration. I’ve missed it.
Jake’s blue eyes lock on mine, and I see how our own orbits might finally collide. This time, I will not send the moment winging back into space. Instead, I lean an almost imperceptible degree in his direction.
And that’s all it takes.
Reaching up, Jake cups his hand to the side of my face. I’m still processing the sweet touch of his fingers when he leans in farther, his lips brushing the sensitive corner of my mouth. His eyes are tentative, seeking permission. My heart thuds with expectation.
And then—finally—Jake kisses me for real. We come together the way a well-timed drummer kicks into the chorus of a song—swiftly, and without hesitation.
We broke apart a moment later, eyeing each other while I try not to smile. “Can I do that again?” he asks, his voice rough. “That was my real question.”
“Well, since you asked so nicely…”
Jake makes a low noise of approval, then draws me closer. I reach up for the back of his neck, my fingers grazing that golden patch of skin I’ve always wanted to touch. He kisses me again, his arm finding the velvet waist of my dress and encircling me.
My heart flutters, but not from fear. Warm lips tease mine gently apart. And when his tongue tangles with mine, I lose myself.
He tastes like champagne. Everything is wild and sweet, until the moment Aurora’s voice rings out. “Ay, caramba!”
I feel an unwelcome rush of cool air between us as Jake retreats.
“I did say I was going into the bathroom, right? And not on a trip to Fiji?”
Neither of us says a word; we only look sheepishly at Aurora.
“Just to be clear, now I’m ducking into the bedroom for my coat, which only takes a second.” She steps into the bedroom, and I hear the rustling of fabric. Then she peers dramatically around the door frame. “Good listening! Now I’m going to the party. Will I see you both there? Don’t answer that. We’ll speak later.”
Jake laughs. “Sorry, Aurora.”
“I’ve seen worse.” She departs, the door closing behind her.
And now I’m self-conscious. Rising, I decide to fiddle with the music playlist. “Do you want to go to the party?”
“I’ll go. But I’m not great at parties. It’s all shouting over the music, drinking warm beer out of a plastic cup.”
“Then let’s not.” My fingers shake as I adjust the volume. I go back over to the sofa and sit down.
“So.” He clears his throat. “Where are you going for break?” As he asks, he takes one of my hands in his, massaging my palm with his thumb.
His light touch is so distracting that I almost forget to answer. “Kansas City,” I manage. “To meet my grandfather for the very first time.”
“Um, what?” He squeezes my hand.
So I tell Jake the embarrassing highlights of my weird story—that I hadn’t met Frederick until this past summer.
“Wow. I’m sorry,” he says.
“Don’t be.”
“I guess I’m not that offended now that you wouldn’t introduce me. If the normal waiting period is seventeen years.”
My laugh begins with an unladylike snort. Ah, well. “With me it’s just all soap opera, all the time. Believe it or not, a year ago I was really a boring person.”
“I don’t see how.” He regards me with darting eyes. “You look beautiful tonight.”
“It’s Aurora’s dress,” I whisper.
But Jake doesn’t seem to care. He slips his arms around my waist. Scooting closer, he slides his lips from my forehead, down my nose and onto my mouth. And we begin again.

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Sarina Bowen writes steamy, angsty Contemporary Romance and New Adult fiction from the wilds of Vermont.

She is the author of The Ivy Years, an award-winning series set amid the hockey team at an elite Connecticut college.

Waiting for more Ivy Years? You can read more about upcoming volumes in the four book series at http://www.sarinabowen.com/theivyyears

Also, the Gravity series.

Sarina enjoys skiing, espresso drinks and the occasional margarita. She lives with her family, eight chickens and more ski gear and hockey equipment than seems necessary.

To be kept abreast of new releases, please feel free to sign up for the mailing list at http://www.sarinabowen.com/contact.

Or visit the her Facebook page, or tweet her @sarinabowen.