Happy Release + 6 Star Review + 2015 Favorite + Giveaway : Unraveled by Lorelei James – The Mastered Series – Book 3

Posted on 03/03/2015 by shellbellereads

Unraveled

The Mastered Series – Book 3

By Lorelei James

Synopsis

In this sizzling continuation of the Mastered series by New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James, a man will find the domination he’s always craved…

Shiori Hirano and Knox Lofgren are left to run the martial arts program at Black Arts while Ronin Black travels. On the surface, the two highest ranked belts appear to cooperate—but in private, they butt heads constantly, despite the undeniable attraction between them. Soon their power exchanges start to make for a sweltering dynamic in the bedroom…

At first Knox is shocked to be living out his submissive desires, but Shiori sets out to prove that embracing his true sexual nature doesn’t make him a weak man. But even while their sexual relationship grants him a power and fulfillment he finds surprising, there’s no training regimen for the fight that comes with loving a strong woman…

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Excerpt

Shiori moved to his other ear. One hand gripped his hair while

the other clamped onto his ass cheek. “The other choice is you on

your knees with that pouty mouth all over my pussy.”

“Look at me,” she said softly.

His lust-clouded

eyes met hers.

“Make me come so hard my knees give out. Then pick me up

and do it again.”

“A man like you?”

“A man who finds beauty in a woman secondary to her strength.

You have both in equal measure. So you tempt me beyond anything

I’ve ever experienced.”

“I changed my mind. I don’t give a damn about your sexual

past when you’re responding to my touch so beautifully.” She blew

in his ear. “A cliché for sure, but your body is my wonderland.”.

Shiori’s palms smoothed over his cheeks, and she tipped his

head back to look at him. “You did well.”

“It was all for you.”

“Now it’s your turn.” She brushed her lips across his. “Ask me.”

“Please, Nushi, let me come.”

“Come for me now.”

I’ve never craved a woman like I do you.” He groaned

and briefly closed his eyes. “I’m sitting here on my knees, my ass

stinging, knowing I’ve got more punishment in store, and my dick

is getting hard just imagining being with you again.”

The man worshipped her body with every caress, every

kiss, every stuttered breath. And yet he gave her total control. He

didn’t rock his hips or thrust up into her. He let her fuck him. That

surrender made this connection all the more powerful.

Warm lips trailed down her spine, and strong hands dug into

her hips. “One of these days I’m gonna map every muscle in your

back with my mouth. You’re so strong, and that is so fucking sexy.”

Lightning fast she wrapped her hand beneath his jaw and jerked

his face up. “Taking care of you is my responsibility, Knox. That

includes commanding you to get turned on, getting you off, cleaning

you up, and making sure you don’t do something stupid in the

aftermath.”

“Come into my lair, my sweet,” she murmured

against his lips, “and we’ll have us some kinky fun.”

You are alive and here with me, and

there’s no way I’ll ever be able to let you go. Not because you’re my

Mistress, but because you’re the woman I love. The woman I’ve

waited for my entire life.”

Shiori trapped his face in her hands and kissed him. “I didn’t

think I could love you more than I already do, but I was wrong.”

Another kiss. “Please get off your knees and hold me.”

Michel’s Review

The Mastered Series by Lorelei James is sensational! The latest release, Unraveled, blew me away. This book was emotional, raw, gritty, and very complex. It had an intense love story that was very realistic. The push and pull of their relationship in and out of the bedroom kept the reader glued to the pages. Their story is more than your typical BDSM romance. It was a story of pure passion. Both Shiori and Knox were learning more about themselves as individuals, as sexual partners, as lovers, as professionals, and social status. They were learning to satisfy their needs, feed their desires, and how to succeed in a romantic relationship.

I have read many BDSM books, long before Fifty Shades of Grey hit the scene. I have found that this romance theme borders the line with a love/ hate reactions. Most of these themed type of books have one extremely strong character and one character that appears to be strong but can be easily manipulated. I have read some that come across as harsh and somewhat abusive. Others I have read I found to only dabble in the BDSM world.

The one thing should be clear in all of these books based upon this romantic theme is the roles in the relationship. The dominant may be the one that controls the relationship, but it is with permission from the submissive. It is their responsibility to fulfill their needs, satisfy their desires, reward with their directives, and physically care for them at all times. They are responsible for reading their submissive’s feelings and reactions at all times. They have been given a great deal of power and trust. The submissive is the one that truly holds the power. They are the ones that are surrendering their trust and lack of power. They are the ones that can stop the exchange at any time, no matter how the dominant is feeling. They are the ones that are strong enough to let go of complete control and step outside of their ego.

As in most of the books, the female takes the submissive role and the male takes the dominant role. After all most romance readers want an Alpha male as the leading man in the story. It is unusual for the male to be the submissive. In most of the books with the male being the sub, it failed i epic proportions. The man appeared to be weak and wishy -washy outside of the bedroom. He didn’t have the backbone that was needed to be convincing in a romantic relationship. Lorelei James took a huge risk making her leading man a submissive and her leading lady a dominatrix. Knox was a pure alpha male that was strong willed, extremely protective, and in control at all times. Shiori is a strong, smart woman that grew up in a powerful world where strength of character is the most important value one can possess. She did not come across as an emotional female with power issues. She did not have gender issues.

Unraveling was exactly as the title implied. Both Knox and Shiori are at crossroads in their lives. When they first met, they seemed to but heads. It was more than their rankings within the Dojo that spurred their hostilities. It was the sense of change, the intrigue of something forbidden, and the overwhelming attraction to one another. When they finally come together it is explosive. They are both learning to open their hearts. They are learning new things about themselves that makes them stronger. They are learning that there is more than a sub and dom relationship at hand. They are learning that a real relationship is give and take. It is about learning when to let go and when to hang on. One is not stronger than the other. The true strength lies in being together.

This series is more than a Dojo full of characters with kinky preferences. The dynamics of this Dojo world intermixing with the MMA fighting world moves this series along. The relationships among all the characters makes their world a family. This family is larger than life and captures the reader’s heart.

Lorelei James wrote a powerful story with complex characters. Both of these characters stood out and were easy to embrace. Their relationship in the bedroom and outside of the bedroom was explosive. Their story was anything but predictable. The surprises that came at the end shook the series world without leaving it with a cliffhanger. It left the reader eager for the next book. Deacon has a story and a place in the Mastered world.

Unraveled truly earned a six star rating. It is my favorite release in the Mastered Series, It has become a 2015 Favorite.

The Mastered Series

Bound

In the new Mastered series by New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James, a woman’s desire to shatter her inhibitions leaves her unprepared for where that erotic journey will take her….

Former small-town girl Amery Hardwick is living her dream as a graphic designer in Denver, Colorado. She’s focused on building her business, which leaves little time for dating—not that she needs a romantic entanglement to fulfill her. When her friend signs up for a self-defense class as part of her recovery after an attack, Amery joins her for support. That’s where she meets him.

Ronin Black, owner of the dojo, is so drawn to Amery that he takes over her training—in public and in private. The enigmatic Ronin pushes Amery’s boundaries from the start, and with each new tryst, Amery becomes addicted to the pleasure and to him. But when Amery senses Ronin is hiding something, she questions her total trust in him, despite the undeniable thrill of his possession….

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Unwound

n the continuation to the Mastered series by New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James, a man’s need for control is tested by the one woman he’ll risk everything for…

When sensei Ronin Black first encounters Amery Hardwick, the fire in her eyes ignites a sexual spark a thousand times better than the primal rush he used to get from mixed martial arts matches. She accepts his darker edges and admits to him that her desires aren’t as wholesome as he believed. And before long Ronin is grappling with emotions he’s never felt before….

Yet despite demanding Amery bare her body and soul to him, Ronin holds a part of himself back. When she learns Ronin’s secret and walks out, his life begins to unravel. To regain her trust he must let go of his pride and prove to her that it’s more than passion binding them together.

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Schooled

The Mastered Series- Novella- Book 3

From the New York Times bestselling “master of erotic romance”* and author of Unraveled, Bound and Unwound comes the all-new novella in the Mastered series.
When Amery Hardwick first met martial arts master Ronin Black, she wasn’t ready for the primal urges his sensual rope artistry released in her. As it turned out Amery and Ronin were made for each other. But when they head to Japan for a delayed honeymoon and Ronin’s annual training with his sensei, Amery struggles to adapt to the foreign customs as well as running her burgeoning business from afar. But culture shock is the least of her worries when faced with the changes in Ronin—it feels as if she’s married a stranger. Caught between his sensei’s demands and pleasing his wife, Ronin is at war with himself over choosing advancement in his jujitsu training, or staying at home with the woman who owns his heart and soul. As the limits of their relationship are tested once again, Ronin and Amery discover that they both have a lot to learn about each other….and what it takes to build a love that’ll pass all life’s little tests.
Includes a preview of the new Mastered series novel, Unraveled.

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Author Bio:

Lorelei James is the NY Times and USA Today Bestselling author of erotic westerns: the Rough Riders series, the Blacktop Cowboys series, and the erotic romances in the Mastered series. Lorelei lives in western South Dakota.

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Giveaway

Contest: $25 Gift Card for the online retailer of your choice, Print editions of the first three books in The Mastered Series

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Happy Release + Review + Giveaway: Cowboy Heaven by Cheryl Brooks

Posted on 03/03/2015 by shellbellereads

Cowboy Heaven

By Cheryl Brooks

Synopsis

When you find yourself in cowboy heaven…
When lonely widow Angela McClure hires a gorgeous hitchhiking cowboy with an affair in mind, she knows they’ll have to be discreet: her old-fashioned father and the stern ranch foreman adamantly discourage any interaction between her and the ranch hands.

Things can get hot as hell…
Despite their attempts at secrecy, the heat between them is undeniable. To divert suspicion, Angela forms a new plan: she’ll flirt with all of the ranch hands. Suddenly Angela has a whole stable full of sexy-as-sin cowboys to play with, but only one can win her heart.

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Excerpt

There he was again. That same cowboy I’d seen on the drive into town, still walking, still carrying a big green duffel bag on one shoulder and a saddle slung over the other. He’d been traveling in the opposite direction and hadn’t bothered to look up as I’d passed him earlier. I’d barely glimpsed his face then, but I saw it quite clearly now. A glance over his shoulder revealed his bleak, exhausted expression. He might have been near the point of collapse, but he obviously wasn’t prepared to admit defeat.

Not yet, anyway.

I couldn’t believe no one had picked him up in the three hours since I’d last seen him. He hadn’t looked very fresh even then. I had no idea where he was headed, but in the middle of Wyoming, there wasn’t much within walking distance, no matter where you were going.

He turned toward me, sticking out a halfhearted thumb as I came closer, his face streaked with dirt and sweat and what might have been tears. A black Stetson shadowed his eyes, and his boots and jeans were dusty and worn. His sweat-soaked denim shirt clung to his chest, unbuttoned halfway to his waist, the sleeves ripped out. He probably wasn’t trying to look cool, even though he did. No, he was likely trying to get cool, in any way he possibly could. My truck was air-conditioned and comfortable, and there was plenty of room for him and his meager belongings. I could no more have left him there than I could have ignored a starving child.

As I pulled over to stop, his eyes closed and his lips moved as though uttering a prayer of thanks. His knees buckled slightly, and for a moment, I thought he truly would collapse. Instead, he took a deep breath and stood up straight. Lifting his chin, he aimed luminous blue eyes at me and flashed a dazzling smile. His silver belt buckle suggested this man was no ordinary ranch hand but a down-on-his-luck rodeo cowboy who, unless I missed my guess, was heading for Jackson Hole.

A real heartbreaker of a rodeo cowboy, too. Up close, he was even more handsome than he’d been from a distance. Long and lean with tanned, muscular arms, dimples creased his cheeks and black hair curled enticingly from the open edges of his shirt. Several days’ growth of dark beard surrounded full, sensuous lips, darkening a jaw that my fingertips ached to caress. More ebony curls peeked from beneath his hat, making me long to yank off that Stetson to discover what else it was hiding. Oh yes, there was enough gorgeous cowboy to sway a much stronger woman than I ever claimed to be. Tears stung my eyes as something in his expression reminded me of Cody.

My dear, sweet Cody… He’d been gone for two years now, but I hadn’t forgotten that look, and I doubted I ever would.

Determined to mask my roiling emotions, I searched for something amusing to say as I rolled down my window. “Lost your horse?”

My clever tongue was rewarded with another heart-stopping smile. Cody used to say funny things just to make me giggle—which wasn’t difficult since I tend to find humor in nearly any situation—but brushing up on my own repertoire of one-liners to keep this guy smiling seemed like an excellent idea.

His grin was sheepish as he tipped up the brim of his hat. “He sort of drove off without me.”

“Drove off?” I scoffed. “Somehow I doubt that. Seems like he would’ve needed help.”

My handsome cowboy gave me a grim nod. “Oh, he had help all right. My girlfriend dumped me on the highway and took off with the truck, the trailer, and the horse—all of which were actually hers, by the way. She was kind enough to leave me my saddle and my clothes, although a cell phone would’ve been nice.”

I shook my head. “Nice, yes. Helpful, no. They don’t work very well around here. Which kinda makes me mad—I mean, where would you need a phone more than if you were stranded out in the middle of nowhere?”

He glanced around at the vast expanse of sunbaked rangeland. “Is that the name of this place? Nowhere?”

“Sure is.” I couldn’t help giggling. “Want to get out of nowhere?”

“Yes, please,” he replied. “And as quickly as possible.”

“Throw your stuff in the back and hop in,” I said. “We’ll leave nowhere and go…somewhere.”

He did as I suggested, and suddenly the interior of my truck was filled with the pungent aroma of hot, sweaty, dusty—but cologned—cowboy. He’d most likely showered that morning, but it had been one helluva day. The forecast called for the upper nineties—quite a heat wave even for mid-August—and though the humidity was low, some temperatures are best avoided no matter how dry the air.

“You’re a lifesaver,” he said. “I thought that sun was gonna roast me alive.”

“As hot as it gets in these parts, I never go anywhere without water, enough food for a couple of meals, and an umbrella in case I’m ever forced to hike. Want a sandwich?”

“You bet.”

I tossed a nod over my shoulder. “The cooler’s on the backseat. Help yourself. There’s plenty of water.” Although, at that point, a cold beer probably would have been his first choice.

He pulled out two bottles of water and a sandwich, downing the first bottle in three swallows.

“Better now?”

“Much.”

“Let’s see now…” I said as he unwrapped the sandwich. “A cowboy dumped in the middle of nowhere with a saddle and no horse. There’s got to be a country song in that.”

“If you mean a song about a guy bein’ picked up by a girl in a flatbed Ford, I think the Eagles already did that one.”

“I love that song,” I said wistfully. “Guess I always wanted to be that girl.”

“Well, now you are.” He took a bite of the sandwich, chewing it quickly. “How does it feel?”

“Not much different.” This wasn’t entirely true. I wasn’t in the habit of picking up gorgeous cowboys—and this particular cowboy’s presence had me feeling strangely excited. Oh yes, I was very aware of him, and if my brain hadn’t noticed him, my erogenous zones were there to remind me. “For one thing, this isn’t a flatbed Ford, and I’m not what anyone would call a girl anymore.”

He paused in mid-bite. “Why? Have you had a sex-change operation?”

“Nope,” I replied with another giggle. “You can’t call a forty-two-year-old a girl. Well, maybe you could if you happened to be eighty-two yourself, but I’m pretty sure I outgrew the girl category a long time ago—about the time that song was popular.”

Despite the fact that I never once took my eyes off the road, I was aware of his prolonged scrutiny—an assessing gaze that left delightful tingles in its wake.

“Some things improve with age.” He turned toward the window. “You don’t seem like the type to dump a guy in the middle of nowhere.”

Having heard the catch in his voice, I did my best to keep my tone light. Bursting into tears in front of a perfect stranger probably wasn’t on his bucket list. “True—unless he was really obnoxious.”

This particular cowboy would have to have been homicidal or, at the very least, abusive for me to throw him out. He was the most adorable cowboy I’d ever laid eyes on, including the one I’d married.

“I wasn’t being obnoxious.” He fairly bristled with indignation, which seemed to have won out over heartbreak. “I was asleep. I thought she was stopping for gas when I felt the truck slow down. She asked me to take a look at the tires on the trailer, said she thought one had gone flat. While I was checking the tires, she dumped my saddle and duffel bag on the side of the road and drove off. I found this tucked into the saddle.” Reaching into his shirt pocket, he handed me a torn, sweat-soaked scrap of paper.

It’s not working out. Sorry.

“Ouch,” I said with a sympathetic wince. “That’s pretty hard.”

“Yeah.” With an absent nod, he stuffed the note back into his pocket. “I don’t even know what I did wrong. Don’t guess I ever will.”

He seemed nice enough, and he certainly wasn’t ugly. Maybe his girl had breakup issues. As irresistible as he was, I couldn’t imagine breaking his heart while gazing into those eyes of his, and I didn’t even know his name.

She’d probably gone about it the best way possible—a quick, clean break before losing her nerve completely. One glance, one smile, and she’d have forgotten why their relationship wasn’t working. I wasn’t looking forward to dropping him off at the crossroad to the ranch, myself. I had a sudden, overwhelming urge to take him home and wash him, feed him, and tuck him into bed—my bed, to be precise.

I had my doubts about that part. He couldn’t have been more than thirty, and young men generally didn’t seek solace from older women—not that kind of solace, anyway. Consoling him seemed impossible, so I changed the subject.

“Where were you headed?”

“The rodeo in Jackson Hole,” he replied. “I’m a rodeo cowboy.”

“No shit,” I drawled. “I’d never have guessed that. I don’t suppose your girl left you with any money, did she? I mean, I’m not going to charge you for the ride or the lunch, but I’m not going all the way to Jackson Hole, either.”

“I didn’t figure you were.” His downcast expression suggested his hope that he’d been wrong about that. “But at the time, I didn’t really care.”

“Neither did I. I wouldn’t have left you there no matter where you were going. It was…well, let’s just say it was something I couldn’t bring myself to do.”

“Pick up lots of strays, do you?” Turning sideways, he leaned back against the door, a move that not only drew my eye, but also gave me a full-frontal view that made my breath catch in my throat. Oh yes, I’d taken in lots of strays, but none that were anywhere near as attractive.

I shook my head. “Actually picking them up usually isn’t necessary. They all seem to know where I live.”

“If you don’t mind my asking, where do you live? I mean, are we close?”

Obviously, he hoped I lived somewhere near Jackson Hole. I hated to disappoint him. “It’s about another twenty miles—most of which are not on the main highway. I’ll let you out at the turnoff, if that’s okay with you.”

His face fell, but he nodded, apparently resigned to the fact that this ride wasn’t going to be more than a brief respite. “Not much choice, is there?” He gave a fatalistic shrug. “I don’t have enough money on me to pay you to take me to Jackson Hole. I really should pay you for what you’ve already done.”

I caught myself wishing that he did have enough money—or that he would ask me to run off with him and follow the rodeo circuit, never going home at all. I would have loved to throw caution to the wind and do just that, but I had too many responsibilities. Not only did I have a ranch to run, but I also had my father and my kids to look after.

No, scratch that. Chris and Will were both in college. I had a hard time remembering that except when confronted with the sight of their empty rooms as I passed by them every day. Out on the highway I could pretend they were both there at home waiting for me—and Cody, too.

No, regardless of how much money this man might offer to pay me, I couldn’t shirk my duties and simply up and disappear. Nor would I accept his money. He obviously needed to hold on to what little he had stashed in those jeans.

“I couldn’t possibly take money from you,” I protested. “I wouldn’t be much of a Good Samaritan if I did, would I?”

“I suppose not.”

He shrugged again and we drove on in silence. Remaining slouched against the door, he draped his left arm across the headrest and bent up one knee, stretching his legs apart enough that my eyes were continually landing on that section of blue jeans due south of that big, silver belt buckle. From time to time he shifted his hips as though my glances made him uncomfortable, and while I did try to keep my eyes on the road, every once in a while they would stray back to him—and that enticing bulge in his jeans…

“What would it take to get you to drive me all the way to Jackson Hole?” The hint of suggestion in his voice startled me almost as much as the abrupt nature of his query.

Suddenly, my mouth was as dry as a gulch. Reaching for my bottle of water, I took a sip and stole another peek at him. Those luminous eyes peered at me from beneath lids that were heavy with sensuous intent.

His lips curled into a provocative smile. “I’d be willing to bet there’s something I could do for you that would pay you back—or at least make it worth your while.”

Michel’s Review

Cowboy Heaven by Cheryl Brooks is the perfect book if you are looking for a fun, extremely erotic,humorous, and entertaining. The title is perfect for the book. The sexy cowboys are coming out of the woodwork and showing their riding abilities. A fantasy come true?

When middle aged Angela McClure picks up a gorgeous hitchhiking cowboy the fun begins. Her fantasies take over. When she takes him home to the ranch it triggers a stampede. All the ranch hands and cowboys that were oblivious to Angela are now paying attention. But it’s the sexy young one, cowboy Troy, that has hers until Dusty Jackson makes his move.

The fantasies have began to jump out of her head and into her bed. Let the fun begin.

Cowboy Heaven was sizzling hot. The sex scenes were hotter than a branding iron. The story itself was not deep, not overly romantic, and overly emotional. It was just good reading entertainment.

The one impression this book left me with was how our inner feelings about ourselves reflect what people are seeing on the outside. Angela was feeling like an undesirable middle aged woman without much hope in the romance department. Once the young cowboy Troy paid attention and made her feel desirable once again, her inner beauty began to shine. When she began to shine, others took notice.

—————————————

About Cheryl Brooks

Cheryl Brooks is a former critical care nurse turned romance writer. Previously published works in her Cat Star Chronicles series include Slave, Warrior, Rogue, Outcast, Fugitive, Hero, Virgin, Stud, and Wildcat. Look for book 10 in July 2014. Her newest series is Unlikely Lovers, including Unbridled, Uninhibited, Undeniable, and Unrivaled. Other self pubs include Midnight in Reno and Sex, Love, and a Purple Bikini and If You Could Read My Mind (writing as Samantha R. Michaels).
She also has several erotic novellas published with Siren/Bookstrand
She is a member of the RWA and lives with her husband, two sons, two horses, four cats, and one dog in rural Indiana.

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Giveaway

3 Copies of Cowboy Heaven

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Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Becoming Rain by K. A. Tucker – Burying Water Series – Book 2

Posted on 03/03/2015 by shellbellereads

Becoming Rain

Burying Water Series- Book 2

By K. A. Tucker

Release Date: March 2015

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UK BUY LINKS

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About BECOMING RAIN:

Luke Boone doesn’t know exactly what his uncle Rust is involved in but he wants in on it-the cars, the money, the women. And it looks like he’s finally getting his wish. When Rust hands him the managerial keys to the garage, they come with a second set-one that opens up the door to tons of cash and opportunity. Though it’s not exactly legal, Luke’s never been one to worry about that sort of thing. Especially when it puts him behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 and onto the radar of gorgeous socialite named Rain.

Clara Bertelli is at the top of her game-at only twenty-six years old, she’s one of the most successful undercover officers in the Washington D.C. major crime unit, and she’s just been handed a case that could catapult her career and expose one of the west coast’s most notorious car theft rings. But, in order to do it, she’ll need to go deep undercover as Rain Martines. Her target? The twenty-four-year old nephew of a key player who appears ready to follow in his uncle’s footsteps.

As Clara drifts deeper into the luxurious lifestyle of Rain, and further into the arms of her very attractive and charming target, the lines between right and wrong start to blur, making her wonder if she’ll be able to leave it all behind. Or if she’ll even want to.

Michel’s Review

Becoming Rain was fantastic. It is the second book in the Burying Water Series. We met Luke Boone in Burying Water. He was Jesse’s roommate and worked with him in the garage. The garage is owned by Luke’s Uncle Rust. Uncle Rust is more than a suave business man in the car export business and car repair business. He is involved in an international car theft ring that is mainly operated by the Russian Mafia.

Luke grew up fatherless and his Uncle Rust stepped up to the father role. Luke wants to be like his Uncle. He wants the clout, the luxuries, and the exalted business reputation his Uncle has. He is willing to overlook the fact that his Uncle has some illegal underground operations. He is willing to become a part of that underground world. He has been blinded by greed. On the other hand, Luke is a good guy. He has compassion for those who are down and out. He is a loyal friend. He is a family oriented guy. He loves as hard as he plays.

It would seem that Luke Boone has the world in his hands. Life is sunshine and roses. His world is about to crash. His illegal activities are about to rain on his ideal world.

Clara Bertelli has joined forces with the FBI to go undercover. Her job is to infiltrate the car theft ring and bring them down. Her mark and way in is through Luke Boone. Her new alias is Rain Martines. She is going to bring Luke’s world to the ground. She is the rain.

Like the old saying goes, “look beyond the surface”, applies ten fold. When Rain gets to know Luke, she sees a very different man than she was led to believe. She sees the goodness in him. She is hoping that his goodness will win over his greed. She does not want to bring him down. She has fallen in love with her target.

Just as the case begins to escalate and Rain is getting close to the real players in the car theft ring, the game changes course. It has become dangerous. It has become more than car thefts, it has now become murderous. She fears for Luke’s life. It may threaten her life as well. Can she bring them down before more violence occurs?

Luke and Rain have developed a very real and solid relationship even though Rain is keeping secrets. There is no way their relationship can survive?

There may be Rain but the sun always comes out afterwards. Hopefully Luke and Rain can bask in the sun.

Becoming Rain was an intense, emotional, and thrilling book. K. A. Tucker did a phenomenal job portraying the dark underworld of international crime. Her characters were very compelling. Their story was exciting and passionate. I loved that their four legged friends were an important part of their world.

I highly recommend Becoming Rain. It will keep you captivated.

**And don’t miss the first book in this thrilling series BURYING WATER…**

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About BURYING WATER:

The top-selling, beloved indie author of Ten Tiny Breaths returns with a new romance about a young woman who loses her memory—and the man who knows that the only way to protect her is to stay away.

Left for dead in the fields of rural Oregon, a young woman defies all odds and survives—but she awakens with no idea who she is, or what happened to her. Refusing to answer to “Jane Doe” for another day, the woman renames herself “Water” for the tiny, hidden marking on her body—the only clue to her past. Taken in by old Ginny Fitzgerald, a crotchety but kind lady living on a nearby horse farm, Water slowly begins building a new life. But as she attempts to piece together the fleeting slivers of her memory, more questions emerge: Who is the next-door neighbor, quietly toiling under the hood of his Barracuda? Why won’t Ginny let him step foot on her property? And why does Water feel she recognizes him?

Twenty-four-year-old Jesse Welles doesn’t know how long it will be before Water gets her memory back. For her sake, Jesse hopes the answer is never. He knows that she’ll stay so much safer—and happier—that way. And that’s why, as hard as it is, he needs to keep his distance. Because getting too close could flood her with realities better left buried.

The trouble is, water always seems to find its way to the surface.

About K.A. Tucker:

Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Novel Goodreads ** Author Goodreads ** YouTube ** Pinterest ** Instagram

Happy Release + Review: Stealing Rose by Monica Murphy – The Fowler Sisters Series – Book 2

Posted on 03/03/2015 by shellbellereads

Stealing Rose

The Fowler Sisters Series – Book 2

By Monica Murphy

Buy

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / IBooks / Kobo

Synopsis

People say the youngest child has it easy, but nothing can be further from the truth. Unlike my two sisters, Violet and Lily, I’m never in the limelight. I just work my butt off for Fleur Cosmetics and get little to no thanks for it. I’ve been pushed too far one too many times, and I’m finally brave enough to do something about it.

Maybe my newfound courage has something to do with the amazing pink and white diamond necklace I wear to the party in Cannes. The instant those dazzling heirloom jewels touch my skin, they excite some deep, aching need inside. And when that guy—that totally gorgeous guy—locks eyes with me, I know this nice girl is going to be naughty.

For once it’s my turn. My turn to say no to my father, to outshine my sisters, to walk away from it all—straight into the arms of a mysterious stranger. But what if Caden is much more than I bargained for? Sure, he makes me feel sexy and free in a way I never have before, but there’s something else I can’t quite place—something dangerous. Maybe our “chance” meeting wasn’t so random. Maybe he was looking for me for a reason. Whatever his motive, there’s no going back now.

And maybe I don’t want to.

Excerpt

I sit on the edge of the mattress, not about to give up. I need to get closer to her and eventually get closer to that damn neck- lace she wore. Dexter wants it. He’s been hounding my ass for it. And I’ll get it.

Eventually.

I’d rather focus on her first. Earn her trust. So I’m not casing out her hotel room. I’m not looking for any stray jewelry lying around.

Hell, I’m in too deep now.

I’m here with Rose because I want to be, not because I want to steal something from her.

Yet. Don’t forget the “yet” part at the end of that last thought.

Yeah. Who wants to focus on trying to steal a necklace when I could be sliding back into bed with her? I want to feel the hot, tight clasp of her pussy milking my cock again. I want to feel her touch me, feel her lips on my skin, hear her moan when I hit a spot that feels particularly good. I want to learn all of those spots, memorize them for later. Because there will be a later for Rose and me. I plan on that. And she’d better plan on it too, no matter how much in denial she is.

“Rose.” She turns to look at me, her expression wary. Guarded. I know the feeling. More than anything, I know that look. I’ve been wearing the same guarded expression pretty much all my life. I trust no one. They’re all out to screw me over; it doesn’t matter who they are. I’ve become so good at playing the part, of being whoever I need to be at any given moment, I have no idea who the real me is anymore.

Being with Rose is the closest I’ve felt to myself since I don’t know when. I want to explore this. Explore what we share, what she makes me feel, what we are when we’re together.

She’s ready to kick me out and I’m ready to cling. Talk about a total role reversal. I need to get my head back on straight and focus.

“Caden.” She matches my tone, watching me expectantly. When I don’t say anything she rolls her eyes. “Do you realize I don’t even know your last name? What does that say about me, that I’d let you into my room and—fool around with you for hours and I don’t know your last name? It’s appalling behavior.”

“Appalling behavior? You sound like a crabby old school- teacher.” I want to laugh but I don’t. She’s dead serious. I think she’s just shocked herself with what we’ve done.

I’ve shocked myself too, but in a good way. While she acts like we’ve committed the ultimate sin.

“You wouldn’t understand.” She averts her head as if it pains her to look at me and I move closer to her, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

“It’s Kingsley,” I murmur, wishing I could kiss her. Comfort her. But that’s not happening, not yet. I’ve got to take it slow.

She turns, a little gasp escaping her when she discovers how close I am. “What?”

“My last name. It’s Kingsley.”

Michel’s Review

If you are looking for a book with steamy erotic romance , Stealing Rose will not disappoint. If you are looking for an emotional, angsty book that pulls at your heart strings then Stealing Rose may come up a bit short. If you are just looking for a good book that doesn’t make you think too hard then Stealing Rose is the ticket. It is entertaining romance that is easy to escape in.

Stealing Rose is the second book in the Fowler Sisters Series by Monica Murphy. It features the youngest Fowler sister. Rose feels slighted, overlooked, and overshadowed by her older sisters. Her one sister is an overachiever and her other sister is an absolute mess. Rose is the steady, hard working younger sister. When she is overlooked for a promotion at work because of her father’s younger girlfriend, she decides it’s time for some changes. Rose is going to sing a new tune and march to a new beat . She is questioning her future options.

She meets Caden while in Cannes for the debut documentary featuring her family and Fleur Cosmetics. Caden comes across as a suave wordly gentleman. Caden is far from what he appears to be. He is a thief that steals from the uber rich.

These too have an instant attraction that leads into a steamy affair. It was a little too instant but very hot. This attraction is leading to more. Caden has issues and secrets. He will have to give up his life of crime, reveal his secrets, and deal with his issues if he wants to have a future with Rose.

Rose is struggling to find herself and her place within the family. I felt like her issues were abbreviated and never really explained. At times she came across as a whiny teenager. In reality it’s not far off the mark. She is only 22 years old. Her expectations in her career are not really logical for someone as young as her. She has not had enough work or life experience.

The overall romance between Caden and Rose was sweet, steamy, and sincere.

I think the next book in the Fowler Sisters series is going to be the book that makes this series. Lily is going to give them all a run for their money and sanity. Pilar , the father’s young girlfriend, has her own agenda. I think that is going to come to a climax.

Overall the Fowler Sisters series is entertaining. Monica Murphy writes a good story. It won’t be a waste of time or disappointment. It is just not as emotional and gritty as her One Week Girlfriend series. It is a series that has a completely different theme. Monica has done a good job creating the Fleur Cosmetics world.

The Fowler Sisters Series

Owning Violet

The Fowler Sisters Series- Book 1

By Monica Murphy

Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy begins a sexy new contemporary romance series—perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Emma Chase—that introduces three sisters born to wealth, raised to succeed, ready to love, destined to make waves.

I’ve moved through life doing what’s expected of me. I’m the middle daughter, the dutiful daughter. The one who braved a vicious attack and survived. The one who devoted herself to her family’s business empire. The one who met an ambitious man and fell in love. We were going to run Fleur Cosmetics together, Zachary and I.

Until he got a promotion and left me in the dust. Maybe it’s for the best, between his disloyalty and his wandering eye. But another man was waiting for me. Wanting me. He too has an overwhelming thirst for success, just like Zachary—perhaps even more so. He’s also ruthless. And mysterious. I know nothing about Ryder McKay beyond that he makes me feel things I’ve never felt before.

One stolen moment, a kiss, a touch . . . and I’m hooked. Ryder’s like a powerful drug, and I’m an addict who doesn’t want to be cured. He tells me his intentions aren’t pure, and I believe him. For once, I don’t care. I’m willing to risk everything just to be with him. Including my heart. My soul.

My everything.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Taming Lily

The Fowler Sisters – Book 3

By Monica Murphy

Release Date: July 7, 2015

Pre- Order: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / IBooks

Synopsis

Perfect for fans of Christina Lauren, Emma Chase, and Maya Banks, the anticipated finale in New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy’s sexy contemporary romance series about three fiery and determined sisters with their own ideas about life and love.

I’m in trouble. Again. And instead of facing my problems head on, I’ve run away. Far away this time, and no one can catch me—not my two younger sisters, Violet and Rose, not my father, my grandmother, or that witch Pilar who wants to take control of my family’s cosmetics company. Now I’m in Hawaii, enjoying the sun and the sand and water, where nobody knows the hot mess known as Lily Fowler. And I’m loving every minute of it.

But someone is watching me. Following me. He’s gorgeous. And soon we’re talking, and against all my instincts, I reveal bits and pieces of myself to Max. It feels good, though I know he can’t be the man for me. These sudden feelings we share are way too complicated, too fraught, too intense.

Then everything explodes and I’m forced to return home. My intentions have always been true, but now everyone’s mad at me. I don’t know who to turn to anymore . . . except to Max. He’s who I want to trust. But I’m not so sure I should. Maybe it’s worth the risk—and what-ifs be damned. . . .

______________________________________________

I write books. I have the best job ever. New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Writer of new adult contemporary romance-ish stuff. Published with Avon and Bantam. Mom and wife. Native Californian.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + 5 Star Review : Hell’s Kitchen – Book 1

Posted on 03/03/2015 by shellbellereads

Hell’s Kitchen

Hell’s Kitchen- Book #1

by Hart Saint Germain

Release Date: March 3, 2015

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

**The Hell’s Kitchen series will be available on Amazon on release day. No pre-order option.

The NEW Blurb

Hell’s Kitchen (Hell’s Kitchen #1)

*From International Bestselling authors Callie Hart and Lili St. Germain comes a tale of two families co-existing in a melting pot of violence, murder and drugs in the seedy underbelly of New York City*

Hell’s Kitchen

Theo and Sal Barbieri are brothers, tasked by their Mafioso father Roberto with a very clear purpose: kidnap Kaitlin McLaughlin. The beautiful daughter of Roberto’s Irish enemy. It’s high time Kaitlin was punished for her father’s sins—not to mention, her own.

And Operation: Kidnap Kaitlin is a roaring success… until it isn’t. When Kaitlin escapes into the busy streets of New York City, it’s a race against the clock to find her before Sal and Theo become the hunted.

Zeth Mayfair has traded his life as a hitman for a quieter existence, but it isn’t long before the past catches up with him in the form of Roberto Barbieri. Will he succumb to the lure of power that Roberto is offering? Or will he retaliate by killing every last Barbieri in New York to get them off his back?

Jason Ross is running. Woken in the night by a tip that the Gypsy Brothers are coming for him, he packs a bag and gets his girlfriend the hell out of dodge. Arriving in New York City in the midst of a heatwave is one thing, but being tailed by an entire drug cartel is another.

Worlds collide in Hell’s Kitchen as secrets come to light and sins are punished. Because we might be different in the light of day, but in the darkness, we’re all connected somehow.

Hell’s Kitchen is a serial comprising three volumes: Hell’s Kitchen, Tribeca and Bleecker Street. Volume One releases on March 3rd with a limited-time sale price of 99 cents

Teasers- Meet some of the players…

Excerpt

“What time they due to land?” Sal asks. He loops a tie, pre-knotted and ready to go, over his head.
“Twenty minutes.” With traffic the way it is, we’ll be there in ten.

Sal tightens the tie around his neck, placing the ridiculous fucking chauffeur’s hat on his head. He tucks his hair back behind his ears. He needs to cut it, but will the bastard listen? Hell, no. He never listens to a word I say. “Are you ready?” he asks.

I take my eyes off the road, arching an eyebrow at him. Who the hell does he think he’s talking to? I’ve been doing this job longer than him, after all. I’ve never blinked. Never not been ready. He gets the point pretty damn quickly.

“All right, man, I’m sorry.”

When we arrive at the airfield, we’re directed to hangar twelve, no questions asked. Paddy McLaughlin’s own men would have arrived around now—if we hadn’t already beaten the shit out of them and handcuffed them to a pillar inside an old cardboard factory down on the wharf—so we’re expected. Kaitlin McLaughlin’s plane is delayed. I’m already bored and itching to go by the time the private jet touches down. Sal climbs out of the car and leans against the front passenger door, waiting for the prissy Irish princess and her entourage to exit the plane. When she does, we’re in luck.

Normally, Paddy doesn’t send his little girl anywhere without two personal bodyguards. Today, she’s only accompanied by one. Sal taps the hood of the car as he goes out to take her bags. I have the engine purring in anticipation as he opens the back passenger side door for her and she climbs inside.

Huge sunglasses cover her eyes. That full mouth of hers is perfectly visible in the rearview, though. “Where the fuck is Ray?” she asks. Her father may be first generation Irish, but Kaitlin was born and raised in the States—she sounds like a spoiled little Yank bitch.

“Mr. McLaughlin needed him for something else. He sent us instead.”
She slides the sunglasses down the bridge of her nose, peering at me over the car’s half-raised privacy screen. “And who are you?”
I give her a tight-lipped smile, doing my best to keep my tongue in my head. We need the bodyguard to get in the car, and then we’re golden. Until then, I’m Jerry, the friendly town car driver. “Jerry. My buddy there, that’s Gareth. We’re new.”

“I can see that.” She makes a low, humming sound at the back of her throat. She sounds like she approves. Sorry, sweetheart. I don’t touch crazy pussy. But I will introduce you to my old man, all the same. He just can’t wait to fucking meet you.

The door behind me opens and I feel the car dip as someone gets in—I didn’t notice before, but the lone bodyguard with Kaitlin is a woman. Must be the chick Roberto was talking about. I get a good look at her in the rearview and find myself taking a second one for good measure. She’s blisteringly hot. Maybe in her mid-twenties? Long dark hair, tied back into a braid. High cheekbones. A mouth to rival Kaitlin’s. Her tits strain against her tight black shirt as she twists to put on her seatbelt. You can tell she works out; her clothes fit her far too well for her not to know she looks good in them, too.

Just like Kaitlin, she asks, “Where’s Ray?”

“Busy doing something for Daddy,” Kaitlin informs her, which saves me from spinning the lie again.
“Okay. Straight to the bar, then.” The body guard’s head doesn’t even lift, but she’s a professional. She assesses me in the mirror just as I’ve assessed her. I pretend not to notice as Sal folds himself into the passenger seat.

“Of course.” I press the button for the privacy screen, raising it the rest of the way, blocking out all sound from the back of the car. Sal turns and gives me one of his wicked, crazy-ass grins. He’s enjoying this already. “All right, then, big brother. Let’s do this.” He leans forward and hits a button on the dash—and every single door on the town car automatically locks. “No backing out now.”

I burn out of the hangar to the sounds of muffled thuds from the back of the car. The bodyguard’s not stupid. She’s heard the doors locking and knows something isn’t right. “Motherfucker! Open this up right now!”

Normally there’s an intercom in these cars, but this one’s different. Sal and I smashed the shit out of this car’s intercom with two lump hammers and ripped out the wiring. We also lined the roof with lead. The girls in the back aren’t striking up a conversation with us any time soon. And they aren’t making any phone calls to dear old Papa McLaughlin, either.

As I head back toward the city, the shouting from the back gets louder. It’s accompanied by the dull thudding of feet trying to smash out the privacy screen. Sal raps his knuckles against the glass, grinning again. “Bitch sounds crazy back there. I don’t think she likes the modifications we’ve made.”
I allow myself a small smile as we hit the George Washington Bridge, heading back toward North Manhattan. So far Operation: Kidnap Kaitlin has been a roaring success. Sal pulls out his cell and starts tapping into it with quick fingers. “Telling the old man we’re on our way?”

He nods. “Bastard better give us credit where credit’s due. He’s probably still organising his own fucking birthday party. Meanwhile, we have just successfully taken our mark hostage. We’re on the homeward stretch.”

The fucking homeward stretch.

The thing about saying you’re on the homeward stretch is that often it’s like waving a red flag at a bull. Fate must hear that phrase and decide to fuck over the poor schmuck who was dumb enough to utter it every single fucking time. It’s only seconds after Sal’s parted with those words that the electric window behind me—the bodyguard’s side window—shatters. We knew the bodyguard would be armed, but we didn’t expect anyone to be shooting out the damn side windows. An eruption of fragmented diamonds explodes sideways, spraying a bright yellow smart car with a million shards of glass. The sound of the firing gun is almost deafening.

“What the fuck?”

The smart car veers sideways, smashing into us; I press my foot to the floor, grinding my teeth at the sound of screeching metal and more hammering from the back as I swerve through the traffic. Sal twists in his seat, pulling his gun and pressing it to the glass of the privacy screen. His finger’s on the trigger. “She’s going fucking crazy. I’m gonna shoot the bitch.”

Michel’s Review

Are you ready for a dark, erotic, action packed new series? Do you want to meet some mafia bad boys in too deep? Do you want to experience an all out war between the Irish and Italian mafia’s in New York? Callie Hart and Lili Saint Germain have teamed up to bring Hell’s Kitchen alive.

The first book in the Hell’s Kitchen Trilogy introduces the players, their world, and the stakes. It is an intense introduction that will leave the reader reeling.

Hell’s Kitchen- Book 1 starts with a bang. The Barbieri Brothers have been given the task of kidnapping Paddy McLaughlin’s teenage daughter, Kaitlin McLaughlin. Their father, Roberto Barbieri, is a ruthless and violent Mafioso Kingpin. He wants his enemy’s daughter to punish Paddy for crossing the line into his territory.

What starts out as a seemingly simple kidnapping will turn into a disaster of epic proportions that is going to turn this series explosive. At the same time the authors are bringing characters from their other series into the master plan. How this story is going to play out is anyone’s guess.

The authors created some very interesting characters for this series.

The Barbieri Brothers-

Theo Barbieri – older Barbieri brother. He is the more rational of the two brothers. He carefully plans and plots his every move. He is ruthless. He also has a very healthy fear of his father. He is also stuck with Kaitlin McLaughlin’s beautiful but lethal, bodyguard.

Sal Barbieri is the younger brother. He has a more carefree spirit but is just as lethal as his older brother. He has lost their hostage. Now he has a new hostage. He is forced to take Scarlett, the waitress that helped Kaitlin escape.

Gracie is the lethal bodyguard to Irish princess Kaitlin McLaughlin. Her life is worthless without Kaitlin. She has lost her charge and now she’s Theo Barieri’s hostage.

Kaitlin McLaughlin is a spoiled Irish mafia princess. She is the reason the war has begun in Hell’s Kitchen. Her careless actions are causing more than a war. It is a death sentence to all that are involved. She may have escaped her captors but she has landed herself in another kind of trouble. It is the kind of trouble no woman wants to be in.

Roberto Barbieri is a monster. He is the Kingpin of the Italian Mafia. He has more on his agenda than killing Kaitlin McLaughlin. He will kill anyone that gets in his way, including his own flesh in blood, his sons.

The interesting mix of players, along with two individual stories ( the Barbieri Brothers) combined into one plot is a difficult task. Callie and Lili have proved their pure genius by the delivery of this first book in the series. They are creating a complex story that in no way is predictable. What impressed me the most is how they integrating characters from their own series. They are taking a huge risk but at the same time allowing these characters more life.

Who are these characters?

* Zeth Mayfair – Blood & Roses Series by Callie Hart

*Sloane Romera – Zeth’s girlfriend and sister to Alexis Romera (Dead Man’s Ink Series) – Blood & Roses Series by Callie Hart

* Jason Ross – Gypsy Brothers Series by Lili Saint Germain… his involvement in this series has spoilers from the Gypsy Brothers Series and possibly the Cartel Series.

Hell’s Kitchen, Tribeca and Bleeker Street is explosive. I can’t wait to see where it will lead.

About the Authors

Callie Hart

Callie has experienced many changes throughout her life, and gone through many ups and downs that have all worked towards shaping and molding her into the person she is today: fun loving, active, social, and hard working. The only thing that has remained a constant throughout her life is writing. Creating characters who will tear your conscience in two is a favorite pastime of Callie’s. There are few real saints and sinners in her books; more often, the denizens of her stories are all very human. Broken, flawed, and always with the potential for redemption.

Despite the subject matter being markedly hot and heavy in comparison to the stories she wrote in elementary school, there will always be an element of fairytale to her work.

Stalk Her: Website –Facebook – Twitter – Goodreads –Join Callie’s Newsletter

Lili Saint Germain

Lili writes dark romance, suspense and paranormal stories. Her serial novel, Seven Sons, was released in early 2014, with the following books in the series to be released in quick succession. Lili quit corporate life to focus on writing and so far is loving every minute of it. Her other loves in life include her gorgeous husband and beautiful daughter, good coffee, Tarantino movies and spending hours on Pinterest.

She loves to read almost as much as she loves to write.

Website |Facebook |Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

Leather & Lace – Las Vegas

BUY TICKETS HERE:http://bit.ly/LLLasVegas

Callie Hart & Lili St. Germain are coming back to the US! Just in time for the release of their joint projectHell’s Kitchen. Join Callie and Lili, Saturday March 14th, at the super cool Inspire News Cafe from 5-7 for a special printing and signing of their newest book and a Q& A session.

Then, come upstairs to the Wayfarer Bar, from 7-9 for cocktails (cash bar) and laughs. It’ll be a fun evening with Hell’s Kitchen chatter, some themed cocktails, light bites and a chance to spend some more time talking about all things Hart St Germain.

**Books that are printed will be available for purchase for around $10. Exact price to be confirmed closer to event date. This is pretty awesome! The machine that prints books while you watch is one of only 30 in the world! You’ll be able to take away your unique, limited edition of Hell’s Kitchen, signed by both authors – There will never be others that look like the ones printed in Vegas.

**Snack foods will be provided.
**All drinks are your responsibility

The Venues

Inspire News Cafe (downstairs) and Wayfarer Bar (upstairs) are both gorgeous, hip venues with kick ass atmosphere! The Wayfarer bar is where we’ll finish the night and is a gorgeous, mad-men inspired bar that will be closed just for attendees!

BUY TICKETS HERE:http://bit.ly/LLLasVegas

Happy Release: Something Real by Lexi Ryan – Reckless & Real Series – Book 2

Posted on 03/03/2015 by shellbellereads

Something Real

Reckless & Real Series – Book #2

By Lexi Ryan

Adult Contemporary

Release: March 3, 2015

After everything blew up on Christmas, Liz walked away from me, and I let her. She said she needed space and a chance to pursue her dreams. But we both knew she was running from the mess she made. Now the political campaign she used as an ex- cuse to leave is bringing us back together and I’m proving to her what she really needs—not just the hot nights, greedy hands, and undeniable physical chemistry. What she really needs is something real. What she really needs…is me.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo / Google Play

Excerpt

Sam

Security had better not have let one of those asshole journalists from downstairs up to my floor. I swear, those soul suckers would do anything to get a new detail to add to their nothing stories. I open the door without removing the chain and feel as if I’ve been punched in the gut when I see the woman on the other side.

Liz is worrying her lower lip between her teeth and watching down the hall. Is she looking for Sabrina or trying to make sure no one sees her coming to my room? My insides twist at the sight of her—an internal tug-of-war between conflicting emotions. I want to pull her into my room and kiss her until she can’t see straight, touch her until she promises never to leave me again, and at the same time, I want to demand that she go back to her room because having her close makes me hope for things I can’t have.

I remove the chain and tug her inside by the arm before closing the door behind her.

“No one saw me,” she says, her eyes locked on the floor. “I made sure.”

“I saw you,” I growl. It’s painful to be this close—to breathe her air, to smell her perfume. I never knew how much it could hurt to want and be denied.

She swallows and avoids my eyes. “Is she here?”

“What do you want, Liz?”

She lifts her head and stares at me. “Is she here?”

“Sabrina’s on her way to meet her mom in South Dakota for a campaign stop.”

Her gaze dips to my bare chest and back up. “I’m surprised they didn’t ask you to go with them.”

“They did. I declined.” I sound like a fucking dickhead, and I make myself take two steps back so I don’t do something equally dickish. Like kiss her until she melts in my arms and forgets about the other guy, until we both forget that this is hopeless.

“I’m sorry that video was leaked. You didn’t deserve that invasion of your privacy.”

She has red lipstick on, and it matches her shoes. Ever since I saw her tonight, I’ve been picturing her on her knees in nothing but those shoes, those red lips stretched around my cock. I can’t help myself, and I skim my thumb over her bottom lip.

The second I touch her, she draws in a ragged breath. “You came to my apartment yesterday.”

“I did.”

“Why?”

I trail my thumb down her neck and over the red strap of her dress. “Probably for the same reason you came here tonight.”

“To talk about Sabrina?”

“You knocked on my door in the middle of the night to talk about Sabrina?” I follow the strap down and graze my fingers across her cleavage. “Is this about her, or is it about you and me?”

“There is no you and me,” she says. “We both know that.”

“There’s so much you and me, there’s no air left when we share a room. There’s always you and me.”

“Even when you’re making sex tapes with someone else?”

“And even when you’re keeping warm in another man’s arms.”

Something Real Playlist

From Lexi:

Because I so frequently have to switch gears at the drop of a hat—from Mom to writer, from the business side of writing to drafting an intensely emotional scene—I rely on music to quickly plant me in the zone for any given book. Every time I start to write a book, I create a playlist that makes me think of the characters and I listen to it and add to it as I write. Here’s what I was listening to while I was writing Something Real. I hope you like it!

Amnesia—5 Seconds of Summer

Over You—Ingrid Michaelson (feat. A Great Big World)

How Long Will I Love You—Ellie Goulding

You Ruin Me—The Veronicas

Don’t—Ed Sheeran

All You Had to Do Was Stay—Taylor Swift

Changed by You—Between the Trees

Thinking Out Loud—Ed Sheeran

Crazy in Love—Sofia Karlberg

Love Me Like You Do—Ellie Goulding

SOMETHING RECKLESS is on sale for .99 cents until March 14!

Something Reckless

Reckless & Real Series – Book #1

Release: December 22, 2014

He talks dirty to me, but I don’t know his name.
He wants to tie me up, but I don’t know his face.
He turns me on, but I couldn’t point him out in a crowd.
I’ve fallen for an anonymous stranger, and tonight the anonymity ends. Tonight I want more than typed secrets and texted promises. I want something reckless. Heat. Passion. The thrill of being entirely possessed.
Because I suspect this anonymous stranger isn’t a stranger at all.

Lizzy Thompson met riverrat69 online through Something Real, a service promising to deliver meaningful relationships by forbidding its users to share names or photos until they’ve reached a certain benchmark. She was looking for love. He was researching an investment. They hit it off. Talked and flirted, hid behind screen names and cartoon avatars.
Now they’re breaking the rules and meeting in person. But Liz is prepared. She’s picked up hints and followed clues.
She’s ninety-percent convinced she’s discovered the identity of her dirty-talking online friend.
She wonders if her ex-lover Sam Bradshaw knows her identity too.
When she rolls the dice on one reckless night, her chance at something real could crumble.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo / Google Play

About the Author

Once a college English professor, I now write full time. I live in rural Indiana, where, when I’m not writing, I get to hang out with my husband and two kids–a six-year-old boy and

a two-year-old hellion, er, girl. Not surprisingly, reading and writing remain my favorite activities, though both come in bits and pieces these days, not the big hunks of time I en- joyed before I had children. When I’m feeling virtuous, I like to go running (I use that word liberally. I’m really, really slow) or do yoga. Don’t worry, I’m always careful to balance out such activities with a hearty serving of ice cream or a chocolate martini.

Website: http://lexiryan.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexiryan

Twitter: @writerlexiryan; https://twitter.com/writerlexiryan

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review : The Perception by Adriana Locke

Posted on 03/03/2015 by shellbellereads

The Perception

By Adriana Locke

Synopsis

There is no greater burden than a secret, and Kari Stanley has been carrying one alone for a long time. But fate intervenes in the form of a broken down car and the kind offer of assistance from a handsome stranger with a sweet, southern drawl. In exchange, all she has to do is go to dinner with him. Temptation was never so sweet.

Max Quinn has secrets of his own. His good deeds aren’t just a product of his southern upbringing; they’re his atonement. As one dinner turns into two, he realizes that Kari just might be his salvation.

As they struggle to find their path together, their secrets weigh heavier on them. Will they be able to trust one another with the truth, or will their secrets keep them apart forever?

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Prologue

Max

Well, well, well. What do we have here?

I spotted a woman standing in front of her car a few spots from mine in the parking lot. Her head in her hands, she stared at the front of her vehicle. I just finished my meeting and really wanted to go back home, but I couldn’t leave a woman stranded in the heat.

Not with a clear conscience.

And not with an ass like that.

“Somethin’ wrong?” I asked, shutting my truck door behind me and walking slowly towards the brunette.

She turned her head and a smile slowly spread across her pretty face. She stood, wiping her hands down the sides of her green workout shorts. Her body was lean and tight and I wanted to run my hands all over it.

She was little as hell, probably a good foot shorter than my 6’2” frame. Her tight white tank top showcased her breasts in the best way possible. Her hair was piled on top of her head, strands sticking to the back of her neck.

Her smile grew wider as I made my way across the parking lot. Sweat dotted her smooth, tanned skin and she wiped her brow with the back of one hand.

The beauty raised her eyebrows, her green eyes lighting up. “My car won’t start.” She ran her gaze down my body, making little effort to conceal the fact that she liked what she saw.

That makes two of us.

I flashed her a smile and cleared my throat. I needed to focus, but that was easier said than done. The last thing I wanted to do was come across like Cane, my friend with no couth.

“What seems to be the problem?” I unlatched the hood and raised it open.

“I turned the key and got nothing but a buzzing sound,” she huffed, crossing her arms in front of her.

I looked up, the movement catching my attention, and my gaze landed right on her chest.

“What are you looking at?” she asked cheekily.

“Nothin’ you shouldn’t be proud of.” I blew out a breath and laughed.

She giggled and I immediately wanted to hear it again. I wanted to make her giggle, to see that smile, over and over.

Trying to put some distance between us, I made my way to the side of the car. I felt her eyes on me, the smell of her coconut perfume messing with my mind. I needed to focus on the task at hand and not on the thing I wanted to be handling.

Damn, I’d love to handle that little body.

I checked the battery and saw the problem right away. I tightened the loose cable and checked the other before standing back up. I leaned against the car and folded my hands in front of me. I had to figure out how to play this to my advantage. My mind raced through possibilities and I shot her a serious look.

“This is just my luck,” she said, reading way too much into my expression. “And I thought this week couldn’t get any worse.”

“Wanna talk about it?” I grinned, watching her cute-as-hell act. I didn’t know what her week had been like, but I knew I was more than willing to take her mind off of it for a couple of hours.

“So you’re a mechanic and a counselor?”

“I can be whatever you want me to be.”

Her mouth twisted in amusement, her eyes lighting up. “Is that so? You’re a jack-of-all trades then, Mr.—”

“I’m Max Quinn, the man that can service any and all of your needs.”

She laughed, her cheeks blushing. “Okay, Max. The first need I have is getting this car running.”

“The first need, huh? Does that imply that there may be more needs that require my services?”

She pressed her lips together, obviously enjoying the innuendos. “It’s a possibility. You know how things go—you take care of one thing and then suddenly something else, you know, pops up.”

“Pops up? Interesting choice of words…”

She laughed again, tossing her head back. Drops of sweat rolled down her neck and it took everything I had to not leap across the car, throw her over my shoulder, and into the back of my truck. I could imagine that little body wrapped around mine, that giggle piercing the air as I had my way with her.

“If I can get this car running, and that’s a big ‘if’, what do you think is a fair price for my time and effort?”

I figured I’d give her a chance to either play along or opt out. As much as I’d like to get to know this little beauty, I wasn’t going to press myself. It wasn’t my style.

“I’m not sure,” she smiled. “What are you thinking?”

“Well, I don’t really have anything else to do today. But it could take hours.”

“Really?” She looked alarmed. “I don’t want you—”

“It might take minutes,” I cut her off, shrugging.

She tossed me a flirty smile, one hand on her narrow hip. “Are you sure you’re up for the challenge?”

“Ah, sweetheart. You have no idea.”

Biting her bottom lip, her eyes sparkling, she ran a hand down the side of her neck. She knew exactly what she was doing to me. “Fair enough. What’s it going to cost me?”

“It’s going to cost you two things.” I tapped my fingers against the hood of the car and waited for her response.

“Two things?” She sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes for effect. “Well, my options seem pretty limited, so let’s hear it.”

“The first thing is your name. Only seems fair that I know whose car I’m fixin’.”

The gorgeous girl in front of me cocked her head to the side. She was smarter than I gave her credit for. I knew she was attracted to me and I knew she’d give me her name, but she was smart enough to consider it first.

“Kari Stanley,” she said finally.

“Alright, Kari Stanley. The second thing you need to do before I fix your car is say yes.”

“Say yes?”

“Say yes to having dinner with me tonight. I think that’s totally fair. If I get this fixed, the least you can do is share a meal with me.”

She pretended to consider my proposal, her tongue darting out to lick her bottom lip.

“How do I know you’re not a serial killer?” she asked playfully.

I grinned mischievously. “I never said I didn’t bite.”

Her jaw dropped. She started to speak but nothing came out but another laugh.

“But I promise you’d like it if I did.” I narrowed my eyes, fighting the grin on my face, too.

She looked shocked for a split second and then regained her composure, trying to play it cool. “Okay. If you can get this started, I’ll go to dinner with you. But I have to say—I’m a little disappointed in your creativity. For some reason, I expected you to want more than a meal.”

I tossed her the keys and a wink. “Don’t be. You don’t know what all dinner entails.”

She caught her key ring with a grin. “Fair enough.”

“It’ll be better than fair, I promise. Now quit wastin’ time and use those,” I said, nodding to the keys in the palm of her hand.

“What do you want me to do with them?”

“I want you to start the car.”

She stared at me blankly. “What part of ‘this car doesn’t start’ don’t you understand?”

“What part of ‘start the damn car’ don’t you understand?”

She eyed me curiously before climbing into the driver’s seat. A look of disbelief crossed her face as the engine roared to life. “What the…”

I shut the hood of her car.

“Meet me at Maisano’s on Scottsdale Road at six, sweetheart.”

“Wait. How did you…”

I laughed, starting towards my truck. “Maisano’s at six—be there.”

Tracey’s Review

Max Quinn is many things. Smart, loyal, honorable, a family man, and absolutely head over heels in love with Kari Stanley, Max will do whatever he has to to let Kari know how much she means to him. Kari is broken yet resilient, capable of standing on her own, but fearful of losing Max if he should find out the secrets that she is hiding.

After meeting Max and Kari in THE EXCEPTION by Adriana Locke, I was thrilled that they would be getting their own story in THE PERCEPTION. Let me tell you, it was well worth the wait, because Adriana has delivered in a big way. Max is the whole package. He’s super-swoony, sweet, loves his mama, and is hot and sexy to boot. He’s found the woman of his dreams in Kari, but is beginning to wonder what it will take to make her realize that he’s in their relationship for keeps. I love the way that Adriana has written Kari. She has dealt with some serious loss, but is living her life in spite of it. My only wish is that she had seen earlier just how very deserving she is of having a life with Max.

THE PERCEPTION had me from the first page, the kind of book that I just didn’t want to put down. There was intrigue, drama, lots and lots of feels, and good old sexy time, and it made for a really great read. Seeing Jada and Cane again was like visiting old friends, and Adriana did a wonderful job of fleshing out all the characters so that they became even more real, and their stories resonated even more. Also, when I read a book, and get to know and love everyone in it, I enjoy seeing how things are once the story has ended, so having the epilogue to wrap things up really was the perfect way to leave things. Five sweet and sexy stars for Max and Kari and their Post-It notes; grab this one, you’ll love it.

Also By Adriana Locke

The Exception

Release Date: September 18, 2014

By Adriana Locke

Synopsis:

They say there is an exception to every rule…

Jada Stanley is starting over, refusing to repeat her past mistakes. Everything is going great until she meets Cane Alexander. He is gorgeous, cocky, and everything she needs to avoid.

Cane lives within a set of carefully constructed guidelines to ensure his life remains uncomplicated. When he sets his eyes on Jada, all of his rules are called into question.

As their worlds become intertwined, they find it impossible to stay away from each other. Will they be able to maintain the rules they’ve created to protect their hearts? Or will they make an exception?

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Author Bio:

Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, she has created her own.

The Exception was Adriana’s debut novel and released late last year. The Perception is a stand-alone that follows two secondary characters from The Exception. Her third novel, Sacrifice, will be released Summer 2015.

Adriana lives in the Midwest with her family. She spends copious amounts of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. Her favorite things include sunshine, candy, and random quotes.

She loves to hear from readers. You can find her:

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + Review: Served Hot by Annabeth Albert – Portland Heat Series – Book 1

Posted on 03/03/2015 by shellbellereads

Served Hot

Portland Heat Series – Book 1

Genre: GLBT, M/M, Gay

By Annabeth Albert

Synopsis

In Portland, Oregon, the only thing hotter than the coffee shops, restaurants, and bakeries are the hard-working men who serve it up—hot, fresh, and ready to go—with no reservations…

Robby is a self-employed barista with a busy coffee cart, a warm smile, and a major crush on one of his customers. David is a handsome finance director who works nearby, eats lunch by himself, and expects nothing but “the usual”—small vanilla latte—from the cute guy in the cart. But when David shows up for his first Portland Pride festival, Robby works up the nerve to take their slow-brewing relationship to the next level. David, however, is newly out and single, still grieving the loss of his longtime lover, and unsure if he’s ready to date again. Yet with every fresh latte, sweet exchange—and near hook-up—David and Robby go from simmering to steaming to piping hot. The question is: Will someone get burned?

First in the new Portland Heat series!

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

Tina’s Review

Novella length, about 100 pages. The synopsis provided really does capture the essence of the book quite nicely. Well-written, very likable character each individually charming and with their own flaws. There are very few secondary characters & even then, they only minute supporting roles. The dialogue and interaction is believable in it’s initial awkwardness and progression as the relationship progresses. My heart breaks a little for these two guys here and there, throughout the book, because of the doubts and insecurities brought on my poor past experiences. There’s enough emotion conveyed to connect you to the story and it’s characters and the sexy scenes were sweet and hot. Plot is a hard element to score on novellas, they often lack the depth and dimension of a full-length novel. This one makes a valid attempt, but lacks the fullness I’d prefer to see. That said, it is still a nice story that flows very well, it just fell a little dynamically flat is all. There are conflicts throughout that are resolved in mostly-mature and timely manners. Predictability was pleasantly low. The conclusion is solid and nicely wrapped up. Overall, I’d say this was a quick, but enjoyable read.

Author Bio:

Frequent tweeter, professional grammar nerd, and obsessive reader, Annabeth Albert is also a Pacific Northwest romance writer in a variety of subgenres.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two toddlers.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release: A Love Called Simon by Sandi Lynn

Posted on 03/03/2015 by shellbellereads

No more men.
No more rich men.

That was what I vowed when I left New York and moved to Seattle until I met Simon Young, CEO of Young International, one of the largest luxury hotel chains in the world. He desired me and I let him. I was fully aware of his love for women and his hatred for relationship but I decided to play his game. I had a void that needed to be fulfilled and Simon Young was the man who could do it. Entering into a physical relationship only was the plan. No strings and no emotions allowed. But plans are made to be changed and rules are meant to be broken. We grew closer and I was falling in love, but Simon had a secret. A secret that would destroy everything. He was about to lose me and I was willing to walk away.

AMAZON * iBOOKS * BARNES & NOBLE * KOBO

NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY & WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR

Sandi Lynn is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who spends her days writing. She has a severe coffee addiction and can usually be found hanging out at the local Starbucks with her laptop, sipping lattes, and writing novels.

FACEBOOK * TWITTER * WEBSITE

Happy Release + Giveaway: His To Take by Shayla Black – Wicked Lovers Series – Book 9

Posted on 03/03/2015 by shellbellereads

Racing against time, NSA Agent Joaquin Muñoz is searching for a little girl who vanished twenty years ago with a dangerous secret. Since Bailey Benson fits the profile, Joaquin abducts the beauty and whisks her to the safety of Club Dominion—before anyone can silence her for good.

At first, Bailey is terrified, but when her captor demands information about her past, she’s stunned. Are her horrific visions actually distant memories that imperil all she holds dear? Confined with Joaquin in a place that echoes with moans and breathes passion, he proves himself a fierce protector, as well as a sensual Master who’s slowly crawling deeper in her head…and heart. But giving in to him might be the most delicious danger of all.

Because Bailey soon learns that her past isn’t the only mystery. Joaquin has a secret of his own—a burning vengeance in his soul. The exposed truth leaves her vulnerable and wondering how much about the man she loves is a lie, how much more is at risk than her heart. And if she can trust him to protect her long enough to learn the truth.

Kindle * Kindle UK * Nook * iBooks * Kobo * Google Play * All Romance

**** WICKED LOVES SERIES ****

Kindle * Kindle UK * Nook * iBooks * Kobo * Google Play * All Romance

Kindle * Kindle UK * Nook * iBooks * Kobo * Google Play * All Romance

Kindle * Kindle UK * Nook * iBooks * Kobo * Google Play * All Romance

Kindle * Kindle UK * Nook * iBooks * Kobo * Google Play * All Romance

Kindle * Kindle UK * Nook * iBooks * Kobo * Google Play * All Romance

Kindle * Kindle UK * Nook * iBooks * Kobo * All Romance * Smashwords

Kindle * Kindle UK * Nook * iBooks * Kobo * Google Play * All Romance

Kindle * Kindle UK * Nook * iBooks * Kobo * All Romance * Smashwords

Kindle * Kindle UK * Nook * iBooks * Kobo * Google Play * All Romance

Kindle * Kindle UK * Nook * iBooks * Kobo * Google Play * All Romance

Kindle * Kindle UK * Nook * iBooks * Kobo * Google Play * All Romance

Kindle * Kindle UK * Nook * iBooks * Kobo * Google Play * All Romance

* A *Signed* Copy of Forever Wicked & A *Signed* Copy of Theirs to Cherish by Shayla Black*

RAFFLECOPTER LINK

You know what they say about curiosity and the cat…but if you still want to know, read below.

Shayla Black (aka Shelley Bradley) is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 40 sizzling contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances produced via traditional, small press, independent, and audio publishing. She lives in Texas with her husband, munchkin, and one very spoiled cat. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading and listening to an eclectic blend of music.

Shayla’s books have been translated in about a dozen languages. She has also received or been nominated for The Passionate Plume, The Holt Medallion, Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, and the National Reader’s Choice Awards. RT Bookclub has twice nominated her for Best Erotic Romance of the year, as well as awarded her several Top Picks, and a KISS Hero Award.

A writing risk-taker, Shayla enjoys tackling writing challenges with every new book.

Have something to say? Contact Shayla or visit her on her Facebook page.

WEBSITE * FACEBOOK * TWITTER

Saucy Southern Readers

professional, honest, and timely book reviews

Monthly Archives: March 2015

Happy Release + 6 Star Review + 2015 Favorite + Giveaway : Unraveled by Lorelei James – The Mastered Series – Book 3

Happy Release + Review + Giveaway: Cowboy Heaven by Cheryl Brooks

Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Becoming Rain by K. A. Tucker – Burying Water Series – Book 2

Becoming Rain

Release Date: March 2015

US BUY LINKS:

Amazon Barnes & Noble Books-a-Million IndieBound Apple Blio Books-a-Million ** Google

UK BUY LINKS

Amazon Barnes & Noble Apple Google Waterstones ** Foyles

**And don’t miss the first book in this thrilling series BURYING WATER…**

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Happy Release + Review: Stealing Rose by Monica Murphy – The Fowler Sisters Series – Book 2

Happy Release + 5 Star Review : Hell’s Kitchen – Book 1

The NEW Blurb

Teasers- Meet some of the players…

Excerpt

Happy Release: Something Real by Lexi Ryan – Reckless & Real Series – Book 2

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review : The Perception by Adriana Locke

Happy Release + Review: Served Hot by Annabeth Albert – Portland Heat Series – Book 1

Happy Release: A Love Called Simon by Sandi Lynn

Happy Release + Giveaway: His To Take by Shayla Black – Wicked Lovers Series – Book 9

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Becoming Rain

Release Date: March 2015

US BUY LINKS:

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** Books-a-Million ** IndieBound ** Apple ** Blio ** Books-a-Million ** Google

UK BUY LINKS

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** Apple ** Google ** Waterstones ** Foyles

And don’t miss the first book in this thrilling series BURYING WATER…

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** iBooks ** Kobo ** IndieBound

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The *NEW* Blurb

Teasers- Meet some of the players…

Excerpt

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Amazon Barnes & Noble Books-a-Million IndieBound Apple Blio Books-a-Million ** Google

Amazon Barnes & Noble Apple Google Waterstones ** Foyles

**And don’t miss the first book in this thrilling series BURYING WATER…**

Amazon Barnes & Noble iBooks Kobo IndieBound

The NEW Blurb