Blog Tour + 5 Star Review : Under My Skin by J. Kenner – The Stark International Trilogy – Book 3

Posted on 09/14/2015 by shellbellereads

Under My Skin

Stark International Trilogy – Book 3

By J. Kenner

Synopsis

Jackson Steele and Sylvia Brooks are back in the powerful finale of a provocative, sizzling-hot new erotic trilogy set in the world of J. Kenner’s beloved Stark novels: Release Me, Claim Me, and Complete Me.

He’s the only man I’ve ever loved, and the one man I can’t bear to lose.

Jackson Steele is my light in this world. Charismatic, bold, and always in control, he knows what he wants and how to get it—and absolutely nothing stands in his way. His hold on me is magnetic, his claim on me complete, his kiss my ultimate escape.

We both harbor dark secrets that could tear our lives apart. Though we’ve tried to bury our pasts, there are certain people who won’t let us forget. But the closer danger comes, the brighter the fire between us burns—our ecstasy consuming and soothing us both.

There’s no telling what lies ahead, but I know that Jackson never gives in without a fight. I’d do anything he wants to keep him safe, give him anything he needs. And now that we’re in deep, nothing can make me run.

Under My Skin is intended for mature audiences.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Excerpt

“Take off your clothes.”

I shake my head.

His brow quirks just slightly. “Take off your clothes.” This time, each word is stressed.

I lick my lips. “No.”

The corner of his mouth twitches, and he stands up slowly. “No?”

I meet his eyes defiantly. “I thought you were taking what you wanted.”

“I am,” he says. “What I want is your submission.”

“Oh.”

I see a flash of victory in his eyes before he starts to walk away. “Decide how you want to play the game, sweetheart. But know that I’m only willing to play by my rules.”

He is almost to the steps that lead back to the deck when I call out to him. He turns, his brow raised in silent query.

I slip off my ballet flats. And then, as he slowly walks back toward me, I peel myself out of my jeans, taking my underwear with them. He reaches down, then uses the tip of his finger to lift them off the deck of the boat. “Lace. Very nice.”

“I’m glad you approve.” My voice sounds breathy. I’m standing there in only a T-shirt and bra. The window facing the ocean is open, and the cool night air teases me until I am right there on the edge, waiting to go over, and wanting that push so badly that I’m not sure I can survive the anticipation.

Michel’s Review

Under My Skin by J. Kenner is the third and final book in The Stark International Trilogy. It should not be read as a stand alone novel and should be read in series order.

The Stark International Trilogy has been captivating. This trilogy has everything readers look for in a series. It has a powerful erotic romance between two strong characters. It’s loaded with intrigue, mystery, conflict, and a powerful cast of supporting characters. At the same time it is a tender beautiful romance between two people that have struggled with their pasts.

Under My Skin is the powerful conclusion. On My Knees left off with a doozy of a cliffhanger. Jackson Steele was facing arrest for the murder of Robert Cabot Reed. He was also trying to get full custody of his young daughter. The impending arrest could affect the outcome of his parental rights. The arrest could alert the media of the reasons behind his extreme protests against the movie being made about a painful part of his past. If this is exposed not only will it hurt his daughter but will also make him look all the more guilty for the murder of Robert Cabot Reed. It could also expose Sylvia’s dark secrets and her connection to Robert Cabot Reed. It may very well be the final straw that destroys the Cortez Project. His house is of cards is falling down. His life is falling apart and he’s fighting to save the two most important people in his life.

This book was intense, heart breaking, emotional, and a page turner. It kept the reader on the edge of their seats. When all the revelations are made and all of the emotional battles are hard won, Jackson and Sylvia are finally going to get their happily ever after.

J. Kenner did a magnificent job with her delivery of The Stark International trilogy. She created a story and charismatic characters that left the readers wanting more. She gave a final resolution that will leave the readers more than satisfied.

I highly recommend The Stark International Trilogy. Under My Skin is the powerful conclusion.

_______________________________________________

The Stark International Trilogy

Say My Name – Book 1

“>New York Times bestselling author J. Kenner kicks off a smoking hot, emotionally compelling new trilogy that returns to the world of her beloved Stark novels: Release Me, Claim Me, and Complete Me. Say My Name features Jackson Steele, a strong-willed man who goes after what he wants, and Sylvia Brooks, a disciplined woman who’s hard to get—and exactly who Jackson needs.

I never let anyone get too close—but he’s the only man who’s ever made me feel alive.

Meeting Jackson Steele was a shock to my senses. Confident and commanding, he could take charge of any room . . . or any woman. And Jackson wanted me. The mere sight of him took my breath away, and his touch made me break all my rules.

Our bond was immediate, our passion untamed. I wanted to surrender completely to his kiss, but I couldn’t risk his knowing the truth about my past. Yet Jackson carried secrets too, and in our desire we found our escape, pushing our boundaries as far as they could go.

Learning to trust is never easy. In my mind, I knew I should run. But in my heart, I never felt a fire this strong—and it could either save me or scorch me forever.

Say My Name is intended for mature audiences.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo / Google Play

On My Knees – Book 2

Jackson Steele and Sylvia Brooks continue to thrill in the second novel of a scintillating, emotionally charged new trilogy that returns to the world of J. Kenner’s beloved Stark novels: Release Me, Claim Me, and Complete Me.

I never thought I’d lose control, but his desire took me right to the edge.

Powerful, ambitious, and devastatingly sexy, Jackson Steele was unlike any other man I’d ever known. He went after what he wanted with his whole mind, body, and soul—and I was the woman in his sights. One touch and I surrendered, one night together and I was undone.

Jackson and I had secrets, dark pieces of our pasts that threatened to swallow us both. We couldn’t outrun our demons, or the people trying to tear us apart. But in our passion we found salvation, and in each other’s arms we found release.

I was scared to trust Jackson fully, to finally let go. Yet no matter the dangers that lay ahead, I knew I was his—and now that we’ve laid claim, there’s no more holding back.

On My Knees is intended for mature audiences.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Under My Skin – Book 3

He’s the only man I’ve ever loved, and the one man I can’t bear to lose.

Under My Skin is intended for mature audiences.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

__________________________________________

Author Bio:

J. Kenner spent more than ten years as a litigator in Southern California and Central Texas, using her rare free time to indulge her passion for writing. California born, she now lives—and writes—in Texas, with her husband and daughters.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Excerpt Reveal : Sins of Sevin by Penelope Ward

Posted on 09/14/2015 by shellbellereads

Sins of Sevin

By Penelope Ward

Release Date: September 21, 2015

Pre Order – ITunes / B & N / Kobo

Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling author of Stepbrother Dearest, comes a new forbidden STANDALONE romance.

What happens when the one you want is the only one you can’t have?

My name is Sevin.

Homeschooled and sheltered by my ultra-religious family, I was always taught that lust was a sin.

Elle was the girl who’d been carefully chosen for me.

After a long-distance courtship, I’d be moving into her family’s guesthouse so that we could get to know each other in the months before the wedding.

Boundaries were set: no inappropriate touching, no kissing, no sex before marriage.

I’d accepted those rules and my fate.

Until I met the one I wanted to sin with.

That was when restraint became a problem…especially since the one wasn’t Elle.

It was her sister, Evangeline.

You know what they say about best laid plans.

My name is Sevin, and I have sinned.

Told in alternating points of view, Sins of Sevin is a full-length standalone novel. Contains graphic sexual content and harsh language. Only appropriate for adult readers age 18+.

Excerpt

As he gulped down the water, I watched his Adam’s apple moving up and down. I used the opportunity to glance over his sweaty body up close. The top of his underwear was sticking out of his jeans. The smell of him was intoxicating, a mix of cut wood, sweat and cologne. I thought about our talk the other night, how he’d confessed his sexual history. As much as it disturbed me, knowing he’d used that body to give a woman pleasure made me weak with desire. I could only imagine what that would feel like with him.

Elle would find out.

I was still looking down at his abs when he said, “Thank you.” My eyes immediately shot up to meet his incendiary stare.

He’d caught me checking him out.

“You’re welcome.”

His mouth curved into a smile as he handed me back the glass. “How have you been? I haven’t seen you much this week.”

“Yeah. I’ve been busy.”

“I have something for you,” he blurted out in a way that indicated he was anxiously waiting to say it.

“For me?”

“Yeah. Wait here, okay?”

Sevin ran over to where his truck was parked and grabbed something out of the open window.

He returned to where I was standing and handed me a CD.

“What is it?”

“If you like the Smiths, you’ll like some of the songs on here. I included a few Smiths songs—the ones from your favorite album, but there’s also The Lemonheads, The Pixies…and Pulp.”

“You made this?”

“Yeah. I made it for myself and burned you a copy.”

“Thanks.”

He looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Number ten is my favorite.” Then, he walked away.

I immediately took it back to my room and dusted off my old portable CD player.

Lying down on my bed with the sun streaming in, I drowned out the world and listened to every song. When it got to number ten, I paid special attention, knowing he’d specifically called that one out.

The name of the song was Like a Friend. I later found out it was by Pulp. With each lyric, my eyes became heavier until they welled up in tears. The words described to a tee exactly how I’d been feeling about him. The singer was shouting out all his feelings about his friend, that she was everything he shouldn’t want, everything that was bad for him, but yet he couldn’t stop wanting her. He’d take what he could get even if that just meant being friends. Every single line spoke to me. It was the first time I realized that maybe I wasn’t alone in my torment. This situation—whatever was happening between us—was taking a toll on him, too.

I must have listened to the song five times before I went over to the window and looked down at him. At one point, he finally looked up and noticed me. He squinted his eyes to see me through the glare of the sun. I still had my headphones on. He knew I had heard number ten. The look on his face when our eyes locked only confirmed that number ten wasn’t just a song. It was his way of speaking to me.

********************

Penelope Ward is a USA Today Bestselling author.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers. She spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor, before switching to a more family-friendly career.

Penelope lives for reading books in the new adult genre, coffee and hanging out with her friends and family on weekends.

She is the proud mother of a beautiful 10-year-old girl with autism (the inspiration for the character Callie in Gemini) and a 8-year-old boy, both of whom are the lights of her life.

Penelope, her husband and kids reside in Rhode Island.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Additional Books by Penelope Ward

Cocky Bastard– Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Stepbrother Dearest – Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

My Skylar – Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Gemini –Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Jake Undone –Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Jake Understood –Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Release Blitz + Giveaway : Jokers Wrath MC Boxed Set by Bella Jewel

Posted on 09/14/2015 by shellbellereads

Title: Jokers’ Wrath MC Boxed Set

Series: Jokers’ Wrath MC #1-4

Author: Bella Jewel

Release Date: September 14, 2015

BLURB

From USA Today, International and Amazon bestselling author comes the complete Jokers’ Wrath series – four novels for only 99c!Fall in love with them the same way the world did.

PRECARIOUS

In darkness, we find danger. In danger, I find Beau. Ash is a prison guard, she’s tough, she’s strong and she never backs away from a fight. She takes her job seriously, she takes her training seriously, and everything in her life goes as planned. Until the day he is brought into the prison. She’ll never forget meeting Beau ‘Krypt’ Dawson for the first time. He’s a member of the Jokers’ Wrath MC and it is said he killed an innocent family in the middle of a cafe, in cold blood. Deranged. Crazy. Psychotic. All those words describe the infamous Krypt, but Ash suspects there’s far more to the quiet man than meets the eye. Secrets are being hidden by the club, information is being kept under wraps. Krypt is silent for a reason. Ash is desperate to know that reason. Continually fighting, Krypt is transferred to a high security prison. Ash is in charge. She’s always prepared, always alert. Not even her skills will stop the club from ambushing them and taking back Krypt. Only Ash ends up right in the middle of it. They take her, too. Now she’s stuck with a Motorcycle Club who are determined not to let her go. She’s too much of a risk. Until the situation can be sorted, they send her and Krypt into the mountains together….alone. The dark, sexy, handsome biker will crawl into her soul and embed himself there. Changing her life forever. An epic, dangerous love will be built on the foundations of darkness.

MELANCHOLY

“There’s never been a time I’ve cared about anything more than my club. Today that all changed. Today I got you.” Maddox is the President of the Jokers’ Wrath MC. He’s hard, he’s determined and he’s never had to give his heart over…until the day he found and saved Santana. Sassy and head-strong, she’s given him a run for his money for a solid five years. Their tension has built and both of them have danced around a passion that’s burning so deep in their souls, it’s all-consuming. They want each other – they’re just too stubborn to admit it. Heat, lust and sassy natures will have them fighting against what’s real. She’s feisty, he’s stubborn. But everything will change the moment she gets her first taste of the rugged, broody biker. There’s one problem with this story…Maddox has a secret. A secret he knows will crush Santana. It will take her life and spiral it out of control, sending them into a world of danger that will risk not only their lives, but everyone in the clubs, too. Will their love withstand the battle? Or will Maddox lose the only girl he’s loved, forever?

ANGUISH

There are a lot of things in this world that are easy to escape from. Having a son you didn’t ask for isn’t one of them. Mack is a nomad. He likes his own space and he struggles with emotion. His past is grey and his future looks about the same. That is until his ex-girlfriend dies and his son is handed over to him. A two month old baby he didn’t know existed. Until now. His world comes crashing down around him.

Desperate, he hires a nanny. Jaylah has gotten herself into some serious trouble, so when she sees the job opening for a nanny pop up, she jumps on it. Of course she’s not a nanny, but she figures she can pull it off. I mean, how hard can it be? She’s thrown into a world of diapers, hourly feedings and a whole lot of laundry. She’s also introduced to the most rugged, gorgeous man she’s ever had the pleasure of meeting. The best part, he’s the baby’s father. The worst part, he’s a biker. Their sexual tension is huge, but he’s a hard nut to crack. She’ll get in, though. She makes it her mission to break through the wall Mack has built so high around himself. Her world is about to spiral out of control, and she’s taking Mack along for the ride.

DESOLATION

Pippa.

The girl you all know as damaged. Quiet. Broken. She doesn’t fit in. Nothing in her world feels right. She’s trapped in a spiral of darkness that seems to be consuming her day by day, until she sees nothing but an empty, black hole. Her world is a broken place she can’t escape. She has people around her who matter. Who love her. But it’s not enough. Not enough to break her out of the bitter despair she lives in. Until Tyke.

He knows pain. He knows darkness. He’s sweet. He’s kind. But most of all…

He understands her. Combining their demons doesn’t seem like the best plan. Everyone is against them. He deserves better. She deserves better. They’ll never work. They’re too broken. Too damaged. It’s a destructive combination that will only end in heartbreak. He’s a biker. She’s a broken angel. But in their desolation, they will find peace. With each other.

Add to Goodreads

PURCHASE Links

99c

AMAZON US / UK

Author Bio

Bella Jewel is a self published, USA
Today bestselling author. She’s been publishing since 2013. Her first release
was a contemporary romance, Hell’s Knights which topped the charts upon
release. Since that time, she has published over five novels, gaining a
bestseller status on numerous platforms. She lives in North Queensland and is
currently studying editing and proofreading to further expand her career. Bella
has been writing since she was just shy of fifteen years old. In Summer 2013
she was offered an ebook deal through Montlake Romance for her bestselling
modern day pirate series, Enslaved By The Ocean. She plans to expand her
writing career, planning many new releases for the future.

Author Links

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
GOODREADS
TWITTER

Giveaway

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Release Blitz: Breathe by CD Reiss

Posted on 09/14/2015 by shellbellereads

DISCOVER JONATHAN IN THIS HOT STANDALONE

If you haven’t fallen in love with Jonathan yet, or you have friends who have yet to discover him, this is the book to try.

AVAILABLE NOW

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Blurb

He was the dream I never knew I had until he claimed me. The kinky billionaire who wanted to give pain as much as I wanted to receive it. He’d marked me as his own and I accepted him. I trust him completely. I swear I do.

But, now things are getting complicated. I have a career, and he has his claim. How far is he going to go to mark me? And am I going to run or stay?

WARNING: This novella has some of Jonathan and Monica’s roughest encounters. That’s how they like it!

*This takes place after he reclaims her in the studio, and before the second wedding. If you already love them, they’re hotter than ever!

______________________________________________________

About CD Reiss

CD Reiss is a USA Today and Amazon bestseller. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn’t pick up, she’s at the well, hauling buckets.

Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master’s degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere, but it did embed TV story structure in her head well enough for her to take a big risk on a TV series structured erotic series called Songs of Submission. It’s about a kinky billionaire hung up on his ex-wife, an ingenue singer with a wisecracking mouth; art, music and sin in the city of Los Angeles.

Critics have dubbed the books “poetic,” “literary,” and “hauntingly atmospheric,” which is flattering enough for her to put it in a bio, but embarrassing enough for her not to tell her husband, or he might think she’s some sort of braggart who’s too good to give the toilets a once-over every couple of weeks or chop a cord of wood.

If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.

Stalk Her: Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads |

Release Blitz: Contrite Duet by Kathy Coopmans

Posted on 09/14/2015 by shellbellereads

What happens when the man you’re married to

isn’t the man you married anymore?

Find out in Kathy Coopman’s Contrite series! This Duet has been bundled into one complete set for ONLY $0.99!

Buy: Amazon / B & N / Kobo

Blurb

CONTRITE BOOK ONE

What happens when the man you’re married to isn’t the man you married anymore? Clove Calloway knows within an hour of picking up her husband Turner from the airport that something is different. Yet she can’t pin point what. Together since College, they know everything about each other. So why has she spent the last few days watching everything he does, hoping for a clue? What could have happened within that week he was gone?

One way or another she’s going to find out.

When Clove invests in the help of her brother Zack, a police detective, she’s afraid her suspicions of infidelity will be confirmed. Terrified that such news will crush her heart, she sets about preparing for the worst.

Only to find it’s much more than she could have imagined—there is no other woman.

Clove’s life is about to descend into a web of deceit, lies and betrayal.

Appearances can be deceiving… and only the Master Manipulator will be left standing.

“The eyes only see what the mind is prepared to comprehend.” – Henri Bergson

REPRISAL BOOK TWO

Clove Calloway thought she ended her nightmare life when she stabbed herself.

When the darkness took over, she thought she’d find peace. Seeing her husband die by the hands of his traitorous brother, Trent, destroyed her. Little did she know, her dreadful life without Turner is just the beginning. She awakens from one nightmare right into another, confined in a house with the Master Manipulator of them all.

Now, she’s fighting for her life instead of trying to end it. As the truth unfolds, layer upon layer of deceit could suffocate her. How many times and in how many way can she be betrayed? But Clove refuses to lose. Just how she’s going to win is a plan she’s yet to determine…

Zack is determined to find his sister Clove, he knows she is out there somewhere. He can feel it. He wants her home. And he is going to find her! He’s ready to take down the evil that has her in his clutches. Only he’s just as shocked as Clove when the truth unfolds…

There’s more…. So much more. Are you ready?

Revenge.

Excerpt

I look at the clock and realize I still have an hour left. Turner is on a conference call, therefore I can’t ask him if he wants to skip out a little early and get to the bar for happy hour. Reaching for my phone, I decide to kick back and relax and maybe download some new songs. I plug in my phone to keep it charged and start listening to some music as I browse through the new selections.

“Clove?”

I jump, catching sight of Zack out of my peripheral vision.

“Christ, you scared the shit out of me!”

I sit back in my chair with a smile on my face, placing my hand over my heart as I slump back in my seat. I laugh, finding the situation funny. Pulling my ear buds out, I watch my brother as he strolls in and sits across from me at my desk. But he’s not laughing or smiling.

“There’s something wrong,” I say in a strangled voice.

“Yeah, there is.”

“Is . . .?”

I start crying and can’t seem to get any words to come out. My chest starts heaving and I hold onto the edge of my desk, my knuckles snow white from my tight grip.

“Is he cheating on me?”

“It’s worse. Much worse.”

The way he looks at me tells me whatever his news is, it’s going to rip me to shreds.

“Wha-what is it?” I can barely choke the words out.

__________________________________________________________

Meet Kathy Coopmans!

Amazon Best Selling Author Kathy Coopmans, lives in Michigan with her husband Tony where they have two grown sons.
After raising her children she decided to publish her first book and retiring from being a hairstylist.
She now writes full time.
She’s a huge sports fan with her favorite being Football and Tennis.
She’s a giver and will do anything she can to help another person succeed!

Use whichever one of these you would like babe.

Stalk Her: Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads

Teaser & Excerpt: She Writes Love by Sandi Lynn

Posted on 09/14/2015 by shellbellereads

Today we are revealing some teasers for SHE WRITES LOVE by Sandi Lynn. This book was released earlier this year. A review tour for this title kicks off on Monday. Check out the blurb and teasers for the title below.

BOOK BLURB:

I’d never lost anyone before. I’d never experienced death. I felt like God was playing a cruel joke on me. How could he bring her into my life and then take her away so young. Even the best laid plans in life get altered. Mine did. Everyone kept telling me that time would heal all wounds, but this was a wound that would never fully be healed. Trying to get back to the normalcy of life was exhausting, so I didn’t try anymore. My name is Ben Preston and this is my story.

Excerpt

The circle of life. It’s something we all know about but are never truly prepared for the unexpected. The unexpected that comes out of nowhere. No warning, no heads up, nothing. Just God giving us pure bliss and happiness and then taking it away in the blink of an eye. When you think of people dying, you think of the old who have fully lived their lives. You don’t think about the younger people who have just begun to build their futures, nor do you think about the children that have just begun to live. It’s cruel and it’s unwanted. It leaves us devastated and to the point where we feel we can’t go on. It leaves a hole, an empty space in our hearts that stays with us until we heal. We all heal eventually, right? As the days go on and the years pass by, we never forget the ones we lost and we never forget the pain they left behind. But we do manage to feel somewhat normal again – maybe not completely – but we have no choice. For me, losing my husband to a massive heart attack on our one-year wedding anniversary, and at the age of twenty-seven, was something I didn’t think I could ever heal from. The emptiness, the loneliness, the numbness, and the need just to get through the day was overwhelming. My name is Paisley Logan and this is my story.

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

CLICK HERE TO ADD SHE WRITES LOVE TO GOODREADS.

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Sandi Lynn, A New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, spends her days writing full-time to provide her readers romance novels that will whisk them away to another world. She has a severe coffee addiction and can usually be found hanging out at the local Starbucks with her laptop, sipping lattes, and writing her books.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Google+ | Instagram

Release Boost… The End Game by Kate McCarthy

Posted on 09/12/2015 by shellbellereads

Title: The End Game

Author: Kate McCarthy

Release Date: September 8, 2015

Blurb

“Professional athletes are pillars of their respective communities. They are heroes in the eyes of boys and girls and are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that positively represents their community.”

The public loves a good scandal. Seeing someone fall from the pinnacle of success makes a great headline. No one knows that better than I do. What started out as a promising career in college football, spiralled into scandal and shame.

But being a hero is easier said then done. Especially when there are those who expected to see the great Brody Madden fail. I craved nothing except being the best—willing to do anything to prove them wrong. But I went too far, and I tried too hard, and it broke me.

“At the time of going to print, Jordan Elliott was unavailable for comment.”

I met Brody Madden in my senior year of college. An Australian native on an international scholarship, I was the female soccer sensation with stars in her eyes and no room for a hotshot wide receiver with a chip on his shoulder.

But a heart bursting with ambition and a driving fire to succeed isn’t made of stone. I became his strength, his obsession, and the greatest love of his life. Only I wasn’t there when he needed me most.

This is a story about love and a game that takes everything. Where the path to glory is paved with sacrifice. Where pressure makes you, or breaks you, and triumph is born in the ashes of failure. Where two people’s end game will change everything.

*** 18+ recommended. Contains adult language and adult themes.

ADD TO GOODREADS

READ THE PROLOGUE NOW

Purchase Links AMAZON US / UK / AU
B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS
SMASHWORDS

Excerpt

Shutting the door, I walk up the slight incline behind Brody. He sits down at the top of the crest and pats the grassy spot beside him.

“You didn’t mention this part when you explained our date.”

“I can’t give away all my secrets now, can I?”

The grass is a thick blanket on the ground and when I stretch out flat, the rich, earthy scent of soil sweeps over me. My eyes lift to the sky and that’s when I get it. It’s perfectly clear and millions of stars are scattered diamonds twinkling above us—bright and magical.

“Besides,” Brody adds as he lies down beside me and sweeps out his arm, encompassing all of it. “How do you explain that?”

He’s right. You can’t. “It’s beautiful.”

“Is this what the stars are like for you back home?”

“No. Back home it’s different.”

“Different how?”

Homesickness swamps me. As beautiful as Texas is, it’s not Australia. Somehow the stars are always brighter where you belong. “Because there’s no place like home.”

“You’re wrong.”

I turn my head and stare at Brody. He’s not looking at me. His head is tilted toward the sky, eyes riveted on the beauty above him. My gaze follows the line of his profile. From the curl of his hair to the perfect line of his nose, down to the mouth I want kissing me right this very instant.

“Home’s not a place where you live. It’s a feeling.” His hand nudges my own. An invitation. I twine my fingers with his and he squeezes them lightly. “Whether it’s where you are, like the football field, or who you’re with.” Brody turns his head, looking at me when he says that. It’s comforting because it unites us somehow, like it’s slowly becoming us against the world. “You can be anywhere, Jordan. Home will follow you if you follow your heart.”

My breath hitches from the beautiful simplicity of his words. Before I can talk myself out of it, I roll over and straddle him. My knees hug his hips, and he stares up at me from my seated position. My pulse pounds a heavy beat in the silence. Thump, thump, thump. It’s so loud in my ears I’m sure he can hear it.

“Show me,” I breathe. A gleam lights his dark eyes, and he sucks his lower lip inside his mouth. He knows what I’m asking, but I spell it out anyway. “Show me one of those wicked things.”

In a move that steals the air from my lungs, he takes both my hands and pulls me down against the broad width of his chest. I’m rolled over and underneath him before I can blink. The squirm in my hips is instinctive, the ache between my thighs relentless.

“Careful what you ask for,” Brody says roughly, every exquisite inch of his body pressing down on mine.

“Why?”

His lips curve. “Because when I give it to you, it won’t be enough.”

My fingers trail down the side of his face, grazing the firm jaw, cupping his cheek in my palm. Foreboding swamps me. I’m falling hard into uncharted territory, and all I see is a broken mess at the end. How is this going to end well for either of us?

“You’re an arrogant man, Brody Madden,” I whisper.

He brings his face to mine, so close I see the brilliant gold in his eyes, like flecks of light in the dark. “And you, Jordan Elliott, will be the woman who brings me to my knees,” he whispers against my lips.

“Show me,” I beg on a shaky breath.

Brody’s lashes lower and he presses a kiss to the corner of my mouth. I tilt my chin upwards, inviting more. Rather than take my lips like I ache for him to do, he shifts sideways and begins nipping at my jaw. His breath is a rasp when he reaches my earlobe, taking it between his teeth. A sharp pinch from his bite forces a whimper from my throat.

“More?” he asks, drawing back to look at me.

“Is that even a real question?”

Brody chuckles as I slide my hand up and around his nape, dragging his mouth down to mine. He groans and kisses me gently, once, and then twice.

“Brody,” I whisper, and he kisses me again, forcing my mouth open hard like he can’t hold himself in check anymore. My hair is loose and he fists chunks of it in both hands while his tongue rubs against mine, hot and aggressive. It’s almost too much, and when I jerk away I’m left gasping.

Brody doesn’t pause. He ducks his head to my neck, his tongue tasting its way down. He finds my pulse point and sucks. It’s fierce and my back arches involuntarily. His mouth shifts further down, moving on before he leaves a mark.

Sitting up, he takes the neckline of my dress in both hands. Five dainty buttons hold it together. A single wrench will rip the flimsy fabric in two. He pauses and looks at me, inhaling raggedly. “Jordan … I don’t want to ruin it.”

My brow furrows. I glance to the hands poised on my dress. They’re tense, veins straining under his skin. My head is lost in a fog when my gaze returns to his face. “Ruin my dress?”

Brody groans, a deep sound of regret and frustration. “Us.”

“You don’t want to ruin us?”

He draws his hands away from the neckline of my dress. “No.”

“How would you do that?”

“I don’t know. I just get this feeling I’m going to.” He shifts away, moving off me and rolling to his back. I turn my head. Brody’s gaze is back on the stars. I watch his throat work as he swallows, the pulse in his neck pounding visibly. “All I’ve ever wanted is to be the best. Whatever it takes. I’ll do anything. That’s how I’ll ruin us, Jordan. How can something so sweet survive a sentiment so dark?”

I roll to my side, holding my head in my hand. Cupping his face with the other, I nudge gently until he’s looking at me. “I won’t let you.”

Brody’s voice is urgent, his eyes fierce. “Promise me.”I can’t shake the apprehension. It’s set in my bones and when I speak it feels like a lie. “I promise.”

Author Bio

Kate McCarthy is an Australian, living in the pretty sunshine state of
Queensland with her two kids and two dogs, Rufus and Pete.

She
loves to bake sweet stuff and eat it too. With an exciting degree in business,
she works as an accountant by day, and an author by night. In between family
life, she is most often found in bed reading, or at the beach, still reading.

Author Links

FACEBOOK
TWITTER
WEBSITE
GOODREADS

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Secret Backstage Confessions Series… Review for … Josh by Eden Summers – Book One

Posted on 09/12/2015 by shellbellereads

Eden Summers is part of amazing and sizzling new book series with 5 other Authors. Join them all as they take you in a journey right past the bouncers and backstage doors…

Secret Backstage Confessions Series

An All-Access pass to Sex, Love,
and Rock ‘N Roll. Because what happens on tour doesn’t always stay on tour…

From Australia to the World…

Chicago. The last stop of their wildly successful US tour sees Australia’s
biggest rock band, The Screaming Tuesdays, in sultry, summer-time Chicago to
play two sold-out shows. But the stage is not where the action is, and no one
knows what goes on behind the scenes…

************

Book One

Josh

By Eden Summers

Buy: Amazon

Josh

by Eden Summers

Release Day September 10th

There are implied benefits to the
security manager role, but Josh has been on the job a long time, and fangirls
willing to do whatever it takes to get backstage just don’t do it for him
anymore. Except tonight. And that one brunette. She probably wants nothing more
than to bang a drummer, but Josh can’t seem to find it in himself to care. He’s
going to take whatever it is that she offers, for as long as she’s offering,
and he’s not going to let his pride get in the way…

Tracey’s Review

JOSH by Eden Summers is part of SECRET CONFESSIONS: BACKSTAGE, a collection of short stories by some fabulous Australian authors. These stories all revolve around the group Screaming Tuesdays, and, rather than focus on the band itself, deal with what goes on around and behind the scenes.

Josh is the security manager for the band. Responsible for making sure that things stay safe and somewhat sane, he’s also part of the group that decides who gets backstage to see the band. Being the head honcho definitely has some perks, but having a conscience makes for an interesting situation. Lori, a sexy brunette who knows just what she wants, makes all the difference, and what began as just another night turns into one of the best that Josh has had in a very long time.

While these hot little stories are short, they’re easy to read and very satisfying, although I would love to see more about Josh and Lori down the road. Eden Summers has done her usual great job of writing about the rockstar way, and I thoroughly enjoyed this one. 4 stars and recommendation to add this one to your TBR.

*** ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review ***

_____________________________________________________________

Author Eden Summers

Eden Summers is a true blue Aussie, living in regional New South Wales with her two energetic young boys and a quick witted husband.
In late 2010, Eden’s romance obsession could no longer be sated by reading alone, so she decided to give voice to the sexy men and sassy women in her mind.
Eden can’t resist alpha dominance, dark features and sarcasm in her fictional heroes and loves a strong heroine who knows when to bite her tongue but also serves retribution with a feminine smile on her face.

Stalk Eden Summers Here

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Eden
Summers
Author of Contemporary and Erotic Romance

Happy Release + 6 Star Review + 2015 Favorite: Grayson’s Vow by Mia Sheridan

Posted on 09/11/2015 by shellbellereads

Grayson’s Vow

A Sign of Love Novel – Inspired by Libra

By Mia Sheridan

Synopsis

A standalone romance from the New York Times bestselling author of Archer’s Voice.

Kira Dallaire is desperate.

Some challenges in life seem too hard to overcome. With little money, and even fewer options, the quick-witted and vibrant twenty-two-year-old needs to reinvent herself. Known for her generous heart and impulsive personality, she devises a survival plan, possibly her most outrageous idea yet.

Grayson Hawthorn is losing hope.

Some obstacles in life seem too hard to overcome. Betrayal definitely being one of them. With limited capital, and dwindling resources, he is attempting to resurrect his failing family vineyard, a self-imposed vow seemingly destined to fail. That is until a young woman enters his office with an outlandish, unexpected proposition impossible to refuse.

What begins as a temporary business arrangement, soon evolves into more as vivacious, spirited Kira challenges detached, arrogant Grayson to want more from life. To want more for himself. But as their wills clash and fiery passion ignites, they’ll realize that sometimes the past creates walls too difficult to climb, and that lies and deception rarely precede a happily every after.

As Kira and Grayson race toward their destiny, they will discover that some vows are meant to be broken, and others are worth risking everything for . . . even your very own heart.

THIS IS A STAND-ALONE SIGN OF LOVE NOVEL, INSPIRED BY LIBRA. New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Tracey’s Review

Once upon a time, a witch met a dragon…

When Fate brings Grayson Hawthorne into Kira Dallaire’s life, she is desperate. Hopeless and almost penniless, she’s about to launch her biggest Very Bad Idea yet, and Grayson is key to its success. But Grayson, bitter and empty, figures Kira for a scheming princess, and is less than interested. Kira is nothing if not persuasive, though, and thus begins GRAYSON’S VOW, the latest in Mia Sheridan’s Sign Of Love series.

I love every single book that Mia writes. She is absolutely one of my go-to authors, and she has outdone herself with this book. Both Kira and Grayson know what it’s like to long for the love and approval of the most important people in their lives. While Grayson is defined by his past, Kira’s answer is to overcome the sadness to create a better reality, something that she is determined to share with him.

“Listen to me, Grayson…There is always pain in this life. Not just for me, not just for you–for everyone. You can’t avoid it. And sometimes the pain is so great, it feels as if it carves out the very essence of who you are. But it doesn’t, not if you don’t allow it to. It carves out a place in you, yes, but love is meant to fill that space. If you let it, pain makes more space for love within you. And the love we carry inside makes us strong when nothing else can.”

Mia’s writing is beautiful, symbolic and full of emotion, and I could not stop reading once I began. From the first page through the epilogue, GRAYSON’S VOW is absolutely one of my favorites of hers, and of 2015. And, speaking of the epilogue, it’s always one of my favorite parts of Mia’s books, and this one does not disappoint, as it is truly one of the highlights for me. If I could give this book any more stars, I would, as it is just wonderful. You do not want to miss out on this 6-star heartbreaking, renewing, love-affirming read, so add it now. You will not be sorry.

Gratitude and love overwhelmed me…in that moment, I knew I would never again believe life didn’t hold miracles.With her love, my beautiful little witch had transformed a place once filled with joy and dreams. As we held each other, the age-old phrase whispered through the trees, the roses, and the grapevines beyond: In Vino Veritas. In wine there is truth. But the greater knowledge that now lived in the peaceful silence of my heart was: in love there is truth.

_________________________________________

Author Bio

Mia Sheridan is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. Her passion is weaving true love stories about people destined to be together. Mia lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband. They have four children here on earth and one in heaven.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + Review: Closet Confession by Kindle Alexander

Posted on 09/11/2015 by shellbellereads

Closet Confession

By Kindle Alexander

Synopsis

Dr. Derek Babineaux is intelligent, dedicated, and one of the best ER physicians in the fast-paced world of critical care at Tulane Medical in New Orleans. Always on top of his game, he’s thrown off balance when the newest medical staff member finally unleashes his hidden desires.
Justin Delacroix’s job at the inner city’s busiest hospital might be just what he needs to ease back into civilian life after a long stint in the military. High-performing shifts make working as a trauma nurse at TMC the perfect way to utilize his skills and quick reaction times. There’s only one problem, his attraction for one sexy ER doctor is off the charts, but he has his reasons for not returning Dr. Baby’s night shift advances. Or maybe he doesn’t.

Buy: Amazon

Tina’s Review

** Provided by Author, via Promoter, in Exchange for an Honest Review **

— MY THOUGHTS >
Judging a Book by it’s Cover:
Yet another naked torso, this one having a stethoscope draped over his shoulders and… is that a towel wrapped around his hips? Leads me to hope he’s not on duty! I opted to read this title based solely on the author and my previous enjoyment of her work.
Looking Deeper:
The main story, originally published in the Night Shift anthology, is just a steamy hot glimpse into the workday of two men that work together. At one NOLA hospital, you’ll find Derek, an ER doctor. Justin, a former soldier, now also works there. They’ve been attracted to one another since day one, but neither made a move toward the other for various reasons. Until now. Without warning, and nevermind any sort of romance of softer emotions, they hook up in one of the closets in a mostly-abandoned part of the hospital. It’s all rather grunt, hiss and caveman-speak at that point; no emotion other than primal urge. But, things aren’t always as they first seem. With a nice little quickie twist, revelations are made. Their shift at the hospital ends on a “Happily Ever After” noted milestone, but it’s the Bonus Content that Ms. Alexander has released with it that truly unfolds the shift into the couples’ lives. These endearing bonus scenes take you from the day they meet to Forever After and grant you the opportunity to see more of the emotional content missing in the original quickie short story.
Both men are very likable. Their chemistry and compatibility is more evident in the bonus content than the original part, but it all does begin to make sense in a clever way towards the last third of the short. There are very few supporting secondaries, most only providing a bit of enrichment filler. Aunt Vera is a riot. The dialogue is fun, smart, and natural. The plot – as a whole -is entertaining, enjoyable, and emotional. There’s just enough content to have some dimension and given this is a novella under 100 pages, even with the added content, it fell like a full and complete story. The overall flow is smooth and a pleasure to read. There is a wonderful twist that I did not see coming and took me a minute to “get”… (in fact, I even read back a few paragraphs to make sure I did not miss something before my brain caught up to the “aha moment) and the conflicts faced were minor and met maturely. The conclusion, with the newly added content, is sound and solid.
If you are looking for a light, fun, and fast male/male romantic read, I’d highly suggest this one.

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Author Bio:

Best Selling and award winning Author Kindle Alexander is an innovative writer who writes classic fantasy, romance, suspense, and erotica in the gay fiction genre. It’s always a surprise to see what’s coming next!

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Saucy Southern Readers

professional, honest, and timely book reviews

Monthly Archives: September 2015

Blog Tour + 5 Star Review : Under My Skin by J. Kenner – The Stark International Trilogy – Book 3

Excerpt Reveal : Sins of Sevin by Penelope Ward

Release Blitz + Giveaway : Jokers Wrath MC Boxed Set by Bella Jewel

Release Blitz: Breathe by CD Reiss

CD Reiss is a USA Today and Amazon bestseller. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn’t pick up, she’s at the well, hauling buckets.

If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.

Stalk Her: Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads |

Release Blitz: Contrite Duet by Kathy Coopmans

Teaser & Excerpt: She Writes Love by Sandi Lynn