Holiday Review: Home For Christmas by Lily Everett – Sanctuary Island Series

Posted on 11/30/2015 by shellbellereads

Home For The Christmas

Sanctuary Island Series – Book 4

By Lily Everett

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

Tis the season for family and love…
At least it’s supposed to be. For Libby Leeds, however, the holiday season is just another reminder of things she’d rather forget. When she left Sanctuary Island as an orphaned child, she never thought she’d go back except in her dreams, dreams she’s kept alive by writing monthly column of her fictional small-town life, until her publisher sends her back home for the holidays.
Owen Shepard is a fallen hero, wounded in action rescuing three of his fellow soldiers, but after a whirlwind of media attention, all this charismatic Army Ranger wants is to get back on his feet and make it to Sanctuary Island to be with his daughter in time for Christmas. What he didn’t expect was to be put on a crash course with a columnist hiding her past. Will the magic of Sanctuary Island at Christmastime allow them to find healing together?

Tina’s Review

** Provided by Publisher in Exchange for an Honest Review **

Judging a Book by it’s Cover:
Cover depicts a classic winter-y Christmas scene with horse-drawn sleigh, snow-covered cabin in the woods, and surrounding pines wrapped in lights. Synopsis sounds warm and filled with love, healing, and second-chances – a theme that Ms. Everett is well-versed in.
Looking Deeper:
Third person POV. For the past several years, Libby’s been living a lie – or perhaps more like wistful thinking. But the daydreams and make-believe life is shattered when her boss commits her to a task that can expose her to all as a fraud. Given an ultimatum, present the perfect life she always writes about or lose your job and risk prison, how is she going to pull this off? Owen’s broken, in more ways than one, and all he wants is to find his way home to his daughter and try to make her holidays something truly memorable and special, but will be able to connect to a child that knows he only plans on leaving her again? Ms. Everett never fails to infuse family values with hope and heart-warming second chances. The Hero and heroine in this story are both very well-written. There are a handful of secondary characters present or mentioned from previous installments of this series, and other tied-in series’, however, this story can and does stand strongly on it’s own. There are also a few new characters introduced into the mix, each providing another layer or filler to the plot. The chemistry between Libby and Owen is fantastic, even (or, maybe, especially) when Owen thought Libby was married to Nash – which provided a few smiles and giggles along the way. The interaction between the characters is authentic and the dialogue felt spot-on. There were several conflicts along the way, especially given the premise of the plot, that were handled in the best way they were able. The lies and secrets were getting a little tedious and thick however, seems everyone had something to hide, or at least omit. The plot is extremely well-written with an easy flow with characters that you feel like you truly are getting to know on a personal level. There were only a few small spots that I’d say predictability made itself present (the Christmas Present in the epilogue, for one). The conclusion felt solid and sturdy with an epilogue that covered all the key elements. Overall, HOME FOR CHRISTMAS was an endearing Holiday read.

______________________________

Author Bio:

Lily Everett grew up in a small town in central Virginia, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Although she’s lived many other places since, from college in Philadelphia to her first publishing job in New York City and her current home in Austin, Texas, she never forgot the beauty and warmth of her little hometown. She is thrilled to be writing the Sanctuary Island series full time because it allows her to combine her longstanding love of romance with the memories of her childhood home.

Lily’s alter ego is Louisa Edwards. Under that name, she is the author of the Recipe for Love series, sexy contemporary romances with hot chef heroes set in the high-stakes, fast-paced world of professional restaurants.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Pre Release Blitz + Review: Ready To Rock by Cara Connelly

Posted on 11/30/2015 by shellbellereads

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Ready To Rock

By Cara Connelly

Release Date: December 1, 2015

Buy: Amazon

Synopsis

His name is on everyone’s lips–sexy rock star Jack McCabe

Jack’s gritty New York City band is red hot, almost as hot as his fiery romance with college student Lil Marchone, the girl from his past, now the woman he loves.

The problem is, Lil’s controlling ex wants her back. Rich, powerful, and ruthless, he’ll stop at nothing–including murder–to get Jack out of her life.

But Jack’s a badass himself, always up for a fight. And with the stakes this high, he’ll risk everything for Lil, even his band. Even his life.

ReadytoRock1

Excerpt

“Honey, you have to get help.” Mama’s tone was calm but urgent.

“Me? How?” I was frozen in place. I needed her to tell me what to do.

“Just open the door,” she said quietly, “and climb up to the road. Wave at the first car you see and tell them to call an ambulance.”

It sounded simple, but I was trapped in one of those dreams where you desperately want to run but your legs won’t move.

Then flames licked out from under the hood. Mama quit feigning calm. “Get out of the car!”

Galvanized, I yanked on the door handle. But the frame had bent. The door wouldn’t budge. “Mama, help me!”

“I can’t!” she shouted. And that’s when I noticed the dashboard sitting in her lap. Her legs were crushed, she was pinned to her seat. It was up to me to help her.

Unlocking my seatbelt, I leaned across to the other door. The car was tilted that way, so the door swung open when I touched the handle. But before I could bring my legs around, fire belched up from underneath. I leapt back, singed. Flames curled into the car. Mama was yelling. “Get out the back! Go! Go!” I yanked down the seat. The trunk was jammed with suitcases. I clawed at them. But Daddy had loaded the largest first, wedging it tight against the seat, braced by the smaller bags.

“I can’t,” I wailed. “I can’t move them!” And it was too late anyway. The flames were all around the car, the air inside so hot it seared my lungs. Reaching forward, I wrapped my arms around Mama’s neck; she clawed at my shoulders, trying to pull me between the seats, into her lap, to shield me with her body.

And then my door flew open, and a man thrust his shoulders right into that furnace. Mama saw him, and with all the strength she’d been using to pull me forward, she pushed me back toward him. “Take her! Take my daughter!” His arms locked around my waist and he hauled me backwards. Insanely, I clung to Mama, trying to bring her with me. She batted at my grasping hands. “Go with him!” And though I struggled at first, I had no choice. He was big and strong. He threw me over his shoulder and ran.

At the roadside, he set me down in the grass. The car was a fireball, the cottonwood jutting above it, burning like a torch against the dusky sky. “Mama!” I screamed, trying to get up.

The man pushed me down. Holding my face between his hands, he forced me to look into his eyes. “I’ll get them out, but you have to wait here. Promise me.” He seemed so steady and sure. I didn’t know what else to do, so I nodded. And without another word, he stood up and ran straight toward the car.

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5Star

Tracey’s Review

The last person that Liliane Marchone expects to see in the middle of New York City is the guardian angel that saved her life years ago. But when she and Jack McCabe meet up again, neither one could have known that they were meeting their other half.

Jack is not your typical rock god. Drawn to sing as an artistic escape, he’d rather do a hard day’s work at his day job than go ‘big’ with his band, the Devils. He’s a very complex character, and it doesn’t take Lil long to see that there is much more to him than meets the eye. For her part, Lil has suffered a lot of loss in her life, so finding Jack, who understands what she’s been through, answers a need that she didn’t realize she had. They truly are like two halves of a whole, and it isn’t long before these two are everything to each other. But their growing relationship doesn’t please everyone, and the road to happiness is not without its detours.

I love it when a book becomes one of those happy surprises, giving me more than I was expecting. READY TO ROCK by author Cara Connelly is one of these reads. I went in expecting a hot rocker story, and it is, but it’s much more, as well. Cara has crafted a story around the hot relationship between Jack and Lil, and woven in intrigue, jealousy, and a healthy dose of political drama to round things out. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and raced through, because it was just that engrossing.

Creative plot line aside, the characters really make READY TO ROCK the read that it is. Family plays a big part in this book, and the supporting characters add so much to the story, especially Isabelle and Ty, and I really look forward to seeing more of them. 4.5 compelling, easy to read, totally sucked me in stars for this one. Add it to your TBR, and enjoy.

***ARC generously provided by the publisher for an honest review.***

___________________________________

Cara Connelly is the author of the Save the Date series of contemporary romances published by Avon Romance. The latest book in the series, The Wedding Gift, was released in May 2015. Cara’s smart and sexy stories have won several awards, including the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart, the Valley Forge Romance Writers’ Sheila, and the Music City Romance Writers’ Melody of Love. A former attorney and law professor, she lives with her husband Billy in the woods of upstate New York.

Connect with Cara at: Website | Facebook | Twitter| GoodReads |

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Release Blitz + Excerpt + 6 Star Review + 2015 Favorite + Giveaway: Final Debt and Indebted Epilogue by Pepper Winters – Indebted Series – Book 6

Posted on 11/30/2015 by shellbellereads

Final Debt

Indebted Series – Book 6

By Pepper Winters

Buy: Amazon /Amazon UK / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

The Last Book in the New York Times Bestselling Dark Romance Series.

Where love tries to triumph and darkness continues to reign….

“I’m in love with her, but it might not be enough to stop her from becoming the latest victim of the Debt Inheritance. I know who I am now. I know what I must do. We will be together–I just hope it’s on Earth rather than in heaven.”

It all comes down to this.

Love versus life.

Debts versus death.

Who will win?

There is also a BONUS BOOK: Indebted Epilogue OUT NOW.

Indebted Epilogue

Buy: Amazon / Amazon UK / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Excerpt

“READY TO DIE, Nila?”

Cut’s voice physically hurt me as he forced me to my knees. The ballroom splendour mocked me as I bowed unwillingly at the feet of my executioner.

Velvet and hand-stitched crewel on the walls glittered like the diamonds the Hawks smuggled—a direct contrast to the roughly sawn wood and crude craftsmanship of the guillotine dais. No finesse. No pride. Just a raised podium, framework cushioning a large tarnished blade, and a rope dangling to the side.

“Don’t do this. Cut…think about what you’ve become. You can stop this.” My voice mimicked a beg but I’d vowed not to beg. I’d seen things, understood things, and suffered things I never thought I would be able to endure. I refused to cry or grovel. I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.

“In five minutes, this will all be over, Weaver.” Cut bent to the side and collected a wicker basket.

The wicker basket.

I didn’t want to think about what its contents would be.

He placed it on the other side of the wooden block.

My lungs demanded more oxygen. My brain demanded more time. And my heart…it demanded more hope, more life, more love.

I’m not ready.

Not like this.

“Cut—”

“No. No more talking. Not after everything you’ve done.” Ripping a black hood from his pocket, he didn’t hesitate. No fanfare. No second guesses.

I cried out as the scratchy blackness engulfed my face, tightening by a cord around my throat.

The Weaver Wailer chilled me. The diamond collar that’d seen what I’d seen and whispered with phantoms of my slain family prepared to revoke its claim and detach from around my neck.

This was it.

The Final Debt.

Cut pushed my shoulders forward.

A heavy yoke settled over the top of my spine.

I closed my eyes.

I said goodbye.

…

I waited to die.

Michel’s Review

Final Debt & Indebted Epilogue

Spoiler Free Review

********

Excerpt From My Original Indebted Review- Book 1 on 8/22/2014

The Plot

A Family Feud between the Hawks and The Weavers

A Royal Proclamation

A 600 Year Debt

The Debt Will Be Paid In Full

The Families

The Hawks are one of the most influential families in England. Their influence has a strong reach internationally. They are the world’s leading diamond dealers. They are also the leaders of one of the most powerful motorcycle clubs in the world. They are powerful, ruthless, violent, and unyielding. They will come out on top at all costs.

The Weavers are world renowned for their influence in the fashion industry. They have clothed royalty. They are masters at their trade. Unlike the Hawks, they are not a powerful family. They have impeccable lineage that they value. The only mark on that lineage is their debt to the Hawks.

The Main Characters

Jethro Hawk is the 29 year old, first born son in the Hawk family. At age thirty he will take over the reigns of the Hawk Empire. As part of that legacy, being the first born son, he gets the Indebted Inheritance. He gets the first born daughter of the Weavers. He fully intends to collect his inheritance, carry out his family’s vendetta, and claim the legacy he has been born into. He is cunning, calculating, ruthless, uncaring, controlling, manipulative, and downright terrifying. He is a villain in the darkest way. He will claim his inheritance at all costs.

Nila Weaver is a young, naïve, and innocent 24 year old woman. Like her fore fathers she has taken her place in the fashion industry. Her designs are innovative, sexy, and flawless. She has just made her mark in the Haute couture world. What should have been a celebration has turned into a nightmare. Jethro Hawk has come to collect the debt her family owes. A debt she never knew existed. A debt she will have to pay.

The collection has begun… payment is due……

*****

Final Debt & Indebted Epilogue Review

For one year, three months, and fourteen days I have been a prisoner of the Indebted Series by Pepper Winters. I have stalked social media, Facebook, and the author’s website, anxiously awaiting release dates, teasers, and excerpts on each book in this series. The moment each book went live I was devouring it. I could not pull myself away until the last word was read. When I finished each book I was right back to my previous dilemma and craving more. I was left anxious, horrified, fearful, and hopeful for Nila’s fate. I admired her strength and fortitude. I admired her commitment to those she loved. At times I felt her loyalty was misplaced but understood her convictions. Jethro Hawk mystified me. He was like a seesaw on the playground, up and down, never the same throughout the series. One moment I was passionately in love with him and the next moment I wanted to administer all the debts Nila had to pay. He was one of the most complex characters that I have encountered in fiction. I hated the Hawk family and everything that they stood for. I could not understand their greed, their convictions, and their disregard towards humanity. It was hard to understand the atrocities they were delivering in the name of the law and an age old contract. I also was on the fence with the Weaver family throughout this series. I couldn’t understand how they could allow this to continue throughout the generations. Their daughters should of been more important than the family honor and their royal legacy. As the story unfolded throughout the books I became more perplexed and more horrified. At the same time a beautiful and passionate love affair began and became stronger as the events of their situation worsened. I wanted Jethro and Nila to have their impossible happily ever after. I continued to hope…and bought each book.

Final Debt is the conclusion to this all encompassing series. It was superbly delivered in true Pepper Winters fashion. The reader didn’t know Nila’s and Jethro’s fate until the very end. Throughout the book there were revelations made that answered all of the readers questions. The age old contract was finally completely revealed. Readers were given an understanding of where it began and how it evolved into what it was in today’s time. The revelations also gave the readers a true understanding of the Hawks and the Weavers. As each revelation was revealed it made Nila’s and Jethro’s situation more dire. When it came time for the final debt to be delivered, it was paid. The reader will walk away from this story breathless and exhausted. The emotional rollercoaster, the immense danger, and the horrific revelations will sear the soul. The heartbreak and loss along the horrific journey will leave each character scarred for eternity. Neither family will be untouched in the end. What matters most is the the passionate love story that will define both families. A passionate love story that transcends time will make the heart race.

Pepper Winters did a brilliant job with the Indebted series. The Final Debt has been delivered and there is a surprise Indebted Epilogue that will justify the one year, three months, and fourteen days of waiting for this series to reach completion.

The Indebted Series by Pepper Winters is a truly epic dark love story!

Indebted

Indebted Series -Book 1

Synopsis

“I own you. I have the piece of paper to prove it. It’s undeniable and unbreakable. You belong to me until you’ve paid off your debts.”

Nila Weaver’s family is indebted. Being the first born daughter, her life is forfeit to the first born son of the Hawks to pay for sins of ancestors past. The dark ages might have come and gone, but debts never leave. She has no choice in the matter.

She is no longer free.

Jethro Hawk receives Nila as an inheritance present on his twenty-ninth birthday. Her life is his until she’s paid off a debt that’s centuries old. He can do what he likes with her—nothing is out of bounds—she has to obey.

There are no rules. Only payments.

A modern day Dark Erotic Romance

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

First Debt

Indebted #2

Synopsis

“You say I’ll never own you. If I win—you willingly give me that right. You sign not only the debt agreement, but another—one that makes me your master until your last breath is taken. You do that, and I’ll give you this.”

Nila Weaver’s family is indebted. Stolen, taken, and bound not by monsters but by an agreement written over six hundred years ago, she has no way out.

She belongs to Jethro as much as she denies it.

Jethro Hawk’s patience is running out. His inheritance gift tests, challenges, and surprises him—and not in good ways. He hasn’t leashed her but he thinks he might’ve found a way to bind her forever.

Debts are mounting. Payment waiting.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Second Debt

Indebted Series – Book 3

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / IBooks / Kobo

Synopsis

“I tried to play a game. I tried to wield deceit as perfectly as the Hawks. But when I thought I was winning, I wasn’t. Jethro isn’t what he seems—he’s the master of duplicity. However, I refuse to let him annihilate me further.”

Nila Weaver has grown from naïve seamstress to full-blown fighter. Every humdrum object is her arsenal, and sex…sex is her greatest weapon of all.

She’s paid the First Debt. She’ll probably pay more.

But she has no intention of letting the Hawks win.

Jethro Hawk has found more than a worthy adversary in Nila—he’s found the woman who could destroy him. There’s a fine line between hatred and love, and an even finer path between fear and respect.

The fate of his house rests on his shoulders, but no matter how much ice lives inside his heart, Nila flames too bright to be extinguished.

Third Debt – Indebted # 4

Indebted Series – Book 4

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

Synopsis

Fourth Book in the New York Times Bestselling Indebted Series.

“She healed me. She broke me. I set her free. But we are in this together. We will end this together. The rules of this ancient game can’t be broken.”

Nila Weaver no longer recognises herself. She’s left her lover, her courage, and her promise. Two debts down. Too many to go.

Jethro Hawk no longer recognises himself. He’s embraced what he always ran from, and now faces punishment far greater than he feared.

It’s almost time. It’s demanding to be paid.

The Third Debt will be the ultimate test…

Fourth Debt – Indebted # 5

Indebted Series – Book 5

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

Synopsis

“We’d won. We’d cut through the lies and treachery and promised an alliance that would free us both. But even as we won, we lost. We didn’t see what was coming. We didn’t know we had to plan a resurrection.”

Nila Weaver fell in love. She gifted her entire soul to a man she believed was worthy. And in the process, she destroyed herself. Three debts paid, the fourth only days away. The Debt Inheritance has almost claimed another victim.

Jethro Hawk fell in love. He let down his walls to a woman he believed was his cure. For a moment, he was free. But then he paid the ultimate price.

There is no more love. Only war. Hope is dead. Now, there is only death all around them.

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

Final Debt

Indebted Series – Book 6

Buy: Amazon /Amazon UK / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

The Last Book in the New York Times Bestselling Dark Romance Series.

Where love tries to triumph and darkness continues to reign….

It all comes down to this.

Love versus life.

Debts versus death.

Who will win?

There is also a BONUS BOOK: Indebted Epilogue OUT NOW.

Indebted Epilogue

Buy: Amazon / Amazon UK / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

—–

Pepper Winters wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero, the better, and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex… her books have sex.

She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends.

GIVEAWAY
$50.00 Amazon Card
Signed Copy of Indebted Epilogue

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Re Launch: Pulled by A. L. Jackson

Posted on 11/30/2015 by shellbellereads

Pulled

By A. L. Jackson

Amazon ** iBooks ** Kobo ** Google Play ** Barnes & Noble

Synopsis

Melanie Winters and Daniel Montgomery shared a love most only dream of, a love they believed bonded them together for life.

When their world is shattered by the tragic loss of their daughter, overwhelming grief and misguided guilt distorts the truth, and their relationship ends in uncertainty and unanswered questions.

For nine years, they drift through life, each unable to forget the one who holds the strings to their heart. In an attempt to escape the pain of her past, Melanie finds herself trapped in a loveless marriage, while Daniel loses himself in a career that means nothing without Melanie by his side.

Now, when their lives again intersect, neither can deny the connection they felt so long ago. But will the power that drew them together be enough to heal the wounds from their past, and will they have the courage to overcome the insecurities and fears that threaten to keep them apart?

Pulled is a story of attraction and separation, of destiny and duty, of a love so strong it refuses to give up even when all others have.

“Okay, this one did it for me in a big way. I’m an angst-lover. And by that I mean, I’m a Thoughtless, Beautiful Disaster, Love Unscripted, Slammed, Fifty Shades of Everything, kind of reader. But there’s gotta be an HEA. And not a half-done HEA but a real yeah-this-story-has-been-agonizing-but-look-it-was-all-worth-it HEA. So, that said, I earnestly recommend this book. If you’re like me, you’ll like this. Enjoy!” LitJunkie

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary and new adult romance.

She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student. She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.

Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children.

Connect with A.L. Jackson online:www.aljacksonauthor.com

To stay up to date with important news on A.L. Jackson, including new releases, sales, and exclusive specials and excerpts, text “jackson” to 96000 to subscribe!

FACEBOOK TWITTER GOODREADS AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Cover Reveal: On Solid Ground by K. L. Grayson – A Touch of Fate Novella

Posted on 11/30/2015 by shellbellereads

Today we’re revealing the cover of K.L. Grayson’s On Solid Ground! I am so excited to share this gorgeous new cover with you! On Solid Ground is a novella in the Touch of Fate series and will be releasing Janurary 5^th!

About On Solid Ground:

June 5, 2008 I made a mistake of epic proportions. Moving home was an easy choice because I knew that I had to make things right. I had hoped to win back Harley’s friendship, but I never imagined that I’d win her heart … or the heart of her son. Now that I have, I’m never letting them go. They’re my life, the reason I breathe. We’ve worked hard to get where we are, and we’re finally standing on solid ground.

Or so I thought …

***

Tyson’s ex-fiancé wasn’t supposed to move back to St. Louis … that wasn’t part of the plan. And she sure as hell wasn’t supposed to start working with him. I trust him—at least I think I do—but when secrets are being kept and things start to unravel, I’m left wondering if I made a mistake. I allowed myself to fall in love with the only man to ever break my heart.

And now I’m afraid he might break it again …

This is a Harley and Tyson Touch of Fate Novella and can be read after book #1 or book #2 but should not be read as a standalone.

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada

Read the series now!

Where We Belong | Pretty Pink Ribbons

About K.L. Grayson:

K.L. Grayson resides in a small town outside of St. Louis, MO. She is entertained daily by her extraordinary husband, who will forever inspire every good quality she writes in a man. Her entire life rests in the palms of six dirty little hands, and when the day is over and those pint-sized cherubs have been washed and tucked into bed, you can find her typing away furiously on her computer. She has a love for alpha-males, brownies, reading, tattoos, sunglasses, and happy endings…and not particularly in that order.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/KL-Grayson/1403900879892076?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorklgrayson

IG: @booksbyklgrayson

Surprise Cover Reveal + Giveaway : Merry Blissmas by Jamie Begley – Last Riders Holiday Novella

Posted on 11/30/2015 by shellbellereads

We Wish You A

Merry Blissmas…

MERRY BLISSMAS

A Last Riders Holiday Novella

Jamie Begley

Releasing Dec 11th, 2015

Young Ink Press

Naughty

What can I say? I’m not a nice person. When I walk by, people call me a slut, and I’m okay with that. I believe in calling a spade a spade. I am a slut.
With the holidays approaching, I miss belonging to The Last Riders. Drake’s keeping me warm, but he wants more than I can give. He wants me to trust him, to believe he can protect me. Doesn’t he know Santa put me on the Naughty List long ago?Nice

What can I say? I’m a nice guy and have always done the responsible thing.
Bliss is everything I shouldn’t want, but it’s hard to resist a woman who stopped believing in miracles. She wants to be back with The Last Riders, whom she considers her true family. Doesn’t she know it’s Christmas, and miracles do happen?

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“I
was born in a small town in Kentucky. My family began poor, but worked their
way to owning a restaurant. My mother was one of the best cooks I have ever
known, and she instilled in all her children the value of hard work, and
education.

Taking
after my mother, I’ve always love to cook, and became pretty good if I do say
so myself. I love to experiment and my unfortunate family has suffered through
many. They now have learned to steer clear of those dishes. I absolutely love
the holidays and my family puts up with my zany decorations.

For
now, my days are spent writing, writing, and writing. I have two children who
both graduated this year from college. My daughter does my book covers, and my
son just tries not to blush when someone asks him about my books.

Currently
I am writing five series of books- The Last Riders, The VIP Room, Predators MC,
Biker Bitches, and The Dark Souls.

All
my books are written for one purpose- the enjoyment others find in them, and
the expectations of my fans that inspire me to give it my best.”

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Release Blitz: Safe In His Arms by Melody Anne

Posted on 11/30/2015 by shellbellereads

Safe In His Arms by Melody Anne

Release Day Launch

Synopsis

Can a California transplant survive Montana’s deep snows? New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Melody Anne breaks the ice between a sexy fireman and a brand-new teacher in this steamy holiday tale—originally published in the sizzling anthology Baby, It’s Cold Outside—which launched her popular Unexpected Heroes series.

Natalie Duncan is thrilled to get her first teaching job, but southern California didn’t prepare her for winter in Montana—or for gorgeous fire chief Hawk Winchester. For a man dedicated to putting out fires, Hawk really knows how to add heat to Natalie’s life, especially when he’s rescuing her from compromising situations. A man this strong and capable should know exactly what to do when a lady is trapped under the mistletoe. Suddenly Natalie’s blue Christmas is glowing red-hot…

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

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Review: Punished by Samantha Stone – Crescent City Creatures Series – Book 1

Posted on 11/29/2015 by shellbellereads

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Punished

Crescent City Creatures – Book 1

NA / YA Paranormal

Buy: Amazon

By Samantha Stone

Synopsis

Mary just wants to get away from her boss, but quitting her job would leave her and her sister homeless. Raphael is a criminal living with the never-ending guilt of the crimes he committed centuries ago. Punished brings them together in a romance filled with lore, laugher, and love. Samantha Stone is pleased to present Book 1 of her new paranormal romance series, Crescent City Creatures.

Raphael Saar is an exiled werewolf, a convict on the direct path to a death sentence—for a crime he didn’t commit. He doesn’t care, so long as he can end the human trafficking ring kidnapping women across New Orleans.

Recovering from a horrific tragedy, one particularly bad day for Mary Newman has stretched into months. A nanny for a wealthy family in New Orleans, she can’t understand why she’s being constantly humiliated by her boss until the night she learns that he’s not human—and neither is she.

Only Raphael can save her from the monster feeding from her misery, but will Mary be able to stop his execution?

Punished teams up werewolves, banshees, a wompus cat and a haint in order to rid New Orleans of a group of immortals determined to hurt the city’s women and kill Raphael’s pack.

Content Notes: Spicy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Suspense, Shifters, Wolves, Other Weres, Magic, Ghosts

3.5Star jpg

Lis’ Review

Samantha Stone is a new author with a new voice in paranormal fiction. This is her debut novel, and what a story it tells. Mary Newman is the heroine, forced to take a job as nanny to a wealthy family whose only ray of sunshine is their little daughter. Mary has a sister Leila who doesn’t speak for reasons known only to her. Mary thinks it has to do with her witnessing the deaths of their parents but Leila refuses to discuss it. Ever since that death, Mary has been the caretaker for her sister and this nanny job provides a settled place for them to live as well as a full scholarship for her sister to attend university. However, as Mary realizes, nothing comes without a price.

Raphael is a werewolf who’s been banished to a pack in New Orleans for crimes against humanity – literally. Weres are not allowed to harm humans, and Raphael’s punishment stems from killing two humans over 500 years ago. But in present day NOLA he uncovers a human trafficking ring which targets young females and he is determined to save them and eliminate the ring. Which brings him to Thump (which in my opinion is the best name I’ve seen lately for a dance club), a nightclub in the heart of the French Quarter, where he meets Mary and Leila.

We soon learn how Mary gets caught up in the human trafficking ring, and about her unusual ability to avoid being taken prisoner by her wicked boss, the villain in this book. Richard is the epitome of the eeew factor for a villain. Slimy doesn’t even begin to describe this guy. Fortunately, Mary and Raphael team up to combat the evil that Richard is part of, a group of river dolphin shapeshifters known as botos or encantados.

It takes a pack of werewolves, a banshee, a panther shifter and a haint – I really loved Wish, a secondary character so interesting I hope he gets his own story some day – to discover the importance of working together, of forming a family-type bond that strengthens them in order to bring down the trafficking ring and expose the insider who enables the whole thing to prosper in the first place. In this book, the streets of New Orleans are packed with otherworldly creatures who actually try to protect the humans around them.

The author obviously researched her mythology and gives us a decent explanation of the creatures we meet. The book is a good debut, the author telling a good story with interesting characters. I longed for a little more depth of emotion and more seamless transitions, but realizing this is a first novel, I’m sure that will come in future books. The genre is NA, which fits, and might even be suitable for mature YA readers.

_________________________________________

About this author
I write these tales of long swords, hot heroes, and warrior women. My nine Celtic/ Paranormal/ Romance books are set mainly in the dark ages and ancient times. I also write Steampunk/Romances under the name of Maeve Alpin.

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Cover Reveal: Remembering Everly by J. L. Berg

Posted on 11/29/2015 by shellbellereads

With the release of FORGETTING AUGUST just around the corner (quite literally – it releases December 1st!), we’re thrilled to be able to share a look at the gorgeous cover of REMEMBERING EVERLY, the second and final book in the Lost & Found duet.

(Click the cover to view the full size image.)

Isn’t it absolutely stunning? We’re in love with these covers – and the books! Find out more about them below.

Here’s a note for you from J.L. Berg!

Dear Readers,

I am SO excited to share the second and final cover of the Lost & Found series with you! This cover captures the tone of Remembering Everly perfectly. Fear, desire and so much conflict and tension between Everly and August. I can’t wait for you to read the thrilling conclusion to this beautiful duet!

– J.L. Berg

About FORGETTING AUGUST

She can forgive, but can she forget?
Some days, Everly still thinks she sees him. In the food court at the mall, or in a car speeding past as the light changes. It only lasts a second, but when it happens, she slips back to a time when she was ruled-and nearly ruined-by August Kincaid. And it doesn’t matter that she’s moved on, that she’s about to marry another man. In those moments the only thing she can do to regain control is take a deep breath and remind herself that August can’t hurt her-because he’s in a coma. Except that he’s not anymore.

August is awake. With no memories, he sets out to solve the mystery of his lost life. He unearths a photograph of a beautiful redhead named Everly and knows instinctively that she’s the key. But when he finds her, the August she describes is more monster than man.

Tortured by the thought of having hurt her, August wants only to become the man Everly deserves. As the new August emerges, Everly glimpses the person she first fell in love with. But can she trust that this August is real? When the final secret of their shared past is revealed, one of them will make a choice that changes their future forever . . .

FORGETTING AUGUST releases December 1st. Add it to Goodreads here!

About REMEMBERING EVERLY

After a stunning cliffhanger ending in Forgetting August, USA Today bestselling author J.L. Berg delivers the happily ever after that fans have been waiting for in the sequel, REMEMBERING EVERLY, on sale March 1.

He’s forgotten his past, but it hasn’t forgotten him. After losing two years of his life trapped in a coma, August Kincaid will do anything to win back the love of his life. But his past threatens to destroy his second chance at happiness, it’s Everly who is in danger of paying for his crimes.

Add it to Goodreads here!

Preorder REMEMBERING EVERLY: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | BAM

Join us for the FORGETTING AUGUST Release Party!

Forever Romance and J.L. Berg invite readers to join them for a Facebook party on December 9 from 7 – 10 PM EST to celebrate FORGETTING AUGUST, on sale December 1. In addition to fun guests and giveaways, there will be a great discussion about the book as J.L. Berg takes fan questions. RSVP here.

About J.L. Berg

Author J.L. Berg is a California native living in the South. She is the author of the self-pubbed Ready series, which has sold over 100,000 copies. Married to her high school sweetheart. She and her husband have two beautiful girls that drive them batty on a daily basis. When she’s not writing, you can find her with her nose stuck in a romance book, in a yoga studio or devouring anything chocolate.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter

Series Spotlight + Giveaway: Night’s Templar A Vampire Queen Novel by Joey Hill

Posted on 11/29/2015 by Saucy Southern Readers

RELEASED HALLOWEEN DAY!! NIGHT’S TEMPLAR BY JOEY W. HILL

(Book XIII of the Vampire Queen series / BDSM paranormal romance / Male-male)

Blurb: Lord Uthe, a member of the Vampire Council, was a Templar Knight centuries ago. Even up to the present day, he has attempted to honor the spirit of the Rule, despite the volatile and highly sexual nature of the vampire world. Yet now he’s caught the attention of the Fae Lord Keldwyn, liaison between the Council and Fae Court. Keldwyn challenges Uthe’s emotional isolation and dominant nature. When a quest from Uthe’s past requires Keldwyn’s help to protect both their worlds, Uthe will have to decide whether the Fae male is a gift from God to be cherished and trusted, or a curse that will make Uthe fail the Order he promised to serve all his life.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1WT9WpG
B&N: http://bit.ly/1SKnEdX
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1NMb0er
iBooks: http://apple.co/1WT9LKZ
ARe: http://bit.ly/1GXPv9n

VQS-NT-PromoUthe-Medium

HAVEN’T READ ANY OF JOEY’S VAMPIRE QUEEN SERIES? This is a great time to start. Joey did mention this is the 13^th book, right? You have plenty to read! Since Keldwyn and Uthe’s story is pretty deeply entrenched in the culture of her vampires, she wouldn’t recommend reading it first. However, you don’t have to read ALL of the twelve preceding books to enjoy it; you just need more familiarity with the Vampire Queen’s world. According to her, Beloved Vampire (Book 4) is a standalone and a GREAT gateway book into the series with the sexy Lord Mason. Or you can read the first two in the series, Vampire Queen’s Servant and Mark of the Vampire Queen, because Lady Lyssa and Jacob started it all. Excerpts and blurbs for the whole series are here – http://www.storywitch.com/series-vqs. Each book comes with a recommendation on whether it can be read as a standalone or which books should be read as prequels for it.

She thanks you all for considering her vampires! Look below for a teaser from the book, as well as a link to read a full Chapter One excerpt.

excerpt 2

“What does subjugated to your will mean, Lord Keldwyn?” Uthe demanded. “I have a goal to accomplish. It does me no good to go to your world if that mission will be hampered by your demands.”

“I will not get in the way of that, never fear. Until your task in the Fae world is done, you will lie with me when I desire it.”

For a moment, Uthe thought he’d misheard him. The request was so banal, at odds with the complexity that he normally associated with Keldwyn’s motives. He blinked. “Your price for being my tour guide is that I be your whore?”

“I will not be paying for your services, my lord. Your payment to me, for my sponsorship, is your body.” Keldwyn swept his gaze over it, lingering on the columns of Uthe’s thighs, the way the cotton shirt stretched over his shoulders. Muscles tightened under his regard, and Uthe had to quell the desire to shift again. “You have compromised your chastity over the years to prove yourself vampire rather than Templar,” the Fae said. “And to protect your mission and secrets. You deemed them far more vital to your charge than your personal pride in keeping your vows.”

Uthe templed his fingers. He would treat this as a debate, like the many topics they’d dissected and argued over chess. That would calm the nerves jumping in his belly, as ridiculous as those experienced by a virgin bride on her wedding night.

“I wonder how many of your Templars preserved their ideals as faithfully as you have,” Keldwyn mused. “They had to do it only for a mortal life span, or until the Order ended. Whereas you have clung to them for centuries. Is it hubris, a fear of having no faith, or something else that makes you that stubborn?”

“To believe in nothing is no better than to believe in too much,” Uthe said between his teeth.

“A sentiment on coffee mugs and T-shirts. It is cliché and old, unoriginal.”

“Just as you putting a sexual price on your patronage is.”

“Careful,” Keldwyn said. Uthe felt that thrum of energy again as the Fae Lord’s gaze flashed with heat. “I will have your oath on bended knee that you offer yourself to me willingly. If you do not, your mission cannot proceed.”

Uthe met the onyx and moonstone gaze. “You weary me,” he said. “Whatever it is you hope to gain with your torment, Lord Keldwyn, I wish you well of it. If it is my body you desire, it is yours. It is merely future ashes and dust.”

Keldwyn straightened in the chair, uncrossing his ankles. His elegant hands dangled loosely on the end of either chair arm as he looked pointedly at the floor between his braced feet. It drew Uthe’s gaze to the columns of his thighs, the spread of his legs making it impossible not to note the impressive evidence of his virility under the molded fabric. He forced his gaze upward, but refused to look at Keldwyn’s face to see if he’d noticed him looking.

“Your oath,” Keldwyn repeated. “I am waiting, Lord Uthe. Unless you have decided your quest is not as important as your virtue.”

“Perhaps your revulsion for sharing your blood with a vampire is only matched by my distaste for sharing your bed.”

“If that was the case, you would not be aroused now.”

Uthe bared his fangs in a dangerous smile. He’d hung his sword on the back of the chair. Rising, he drew the blade from the scabbard in one swift movement, a whisper of menace. Let the bastard think he might try to skewer him, regardless of the consequences.

Keldwyn did not move, though Uthe had the satisfaction of seeing the sensual mouth thin, the eyes rivet on him in that cool, watchful way that suggested he might be close to inciting the Fae’s temper. He liked the idea too much. There was more at stake here than a pissing match, and he was channeling desire into aggression to deny his need. He ignored the faint tremor in his hands, the tightness in his chest as he teetered on the precipice of doing the unthinkable.

Planting the tip of the blade in a groove of the oak flooring, he dropped to one knee.

“Speak your oath, and I will repeat it in good faith, my lord,” he said, a growl. “You have my promise to adhere to it, unless it countermands God’s will.”

“I have noticed you still speak like a Templar, vampire. After all these decades.”

“In this modern world, promises are broken for convenience or comfort. I will not use casual words to speak a true oath.”

“Very well.” Keldwyn stood, moving the chair back and putting his hand on the pommel, curling his fingers over Uthe’s. His touch was cool, his palm smooth against Uthe’s knuckles. “Swear to be bound to me, offering your body willingly to my desires and demands, no reservations, until your quest is done. In God’s name.”

“I think God has little to do with this,” Uthe said, but he repeated it, his gaze lifting to meet the Fae’s. “I swear myself bound to you, the Fae Lord Keldwyn, liaison of the Unseelie and Seelie Courts, liaison for the Vampire Council. I will offer my body willingly to your desires and demands, until my quest is done.”

“With no reservations,” Keldwyn prompted. “You will not hold your mind apart from me, Lord Uthe. I will not consider the oath served if you lie like a board while I fuck you.” He slid a curled hand along Uthe’s cheek, so Uthe felt the rough edges of the ring resting above Keldwyn’s knuckle. “Say it.”

“With no reservations,” Uthe said, hearing the harsh rasp of his voice, a reaction to Keldwyn speaking his intentions so baldly. His hand was clenched on the pommel, and Keldwyn’s, still upon his, would feel it. “I swear.”

Keldwyn removed his hand, giving him a speculative look. “Access to our world must mean a great deal to you, Lord Uthe. I did not expect to win your agreement so easily.”

“Accomplishing my quest is all that matters. The rest does not.”

“Clever. You imply my demands do not matter, that they are as nothing to you. I am glad you are so unaffected. Because I require a demonstration of your oath, right now.”

FREE CHAPTER ONE EXCERPT – http://www.storywitch.com/book-vqs-nt

Author Bio

joey hill

Winner of the RT Book Reviews Career Achievement award, Joey W. Hill has published over forty contemporary and paranormal BDSM erotic romances, including six series. Her emotionally-intense love stories offer everything from vampires, mermaids, witches and angels, to boardroom executives, cops and simple housemaids.

Free excerpts from all her works are available at her website, www.storywitch.com. Additional vignettes, character interviews and graphics inspired by the work are at the fan forum site, accessible through www.storywitch.com/community.Twitter: JoeyWHill Facebook: www.facebook.com/JoeyWHillAuthor

Giveaway

Joey is giving away a $50 Gift Card (Readers Choice) and readers choice of two signed books or e-books, and a jewelry box.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Saucy Southern Readers

professional, honest, and timely book reviews

Monthly Archives: November 2015

Holiday Review: Home For Christmas by Lily Everett – Sanctuary Island Series

Pre Release Blitz + Review: Ready To Rock by Cara Connelly

Release Blitz + Excerpt + 6 Star Review + 2015 Favorite + Giveaway: Final Debt and Indebted Epilogue by Pepper Winters – Indebted Series – Book 6

Cover Reveal: On Solid Ground by K. L. Grayson – A Touch of Fate Novella

Surprise Cover Reveal + Giveaway : Merry Blissmas by Jamie Begley – Last Riders Holiday Novella

Release Blitz: Safe In His Arms by Melody Anne

Safe In His Arms by Melody Anne

Release Day Launch

Review: Punished by Samantha Stone – Crescent City Creatures Series – Book 1

Cover Reveal: Remembering Everly by J. L. Berg

With the release of FORGETTING AUGUST just around the corner (quite literally – it releases December 1st!), we’re thrilled to be able to share a look at the gorgeous cover of REMEMBERING EVERLY, the second and final book in the Lost & Found duet.

Isn’t it absolutely stunning? We’re in love with these covers – and the books! Find out more about them below.

Here’s a note for you from J.L. Berg!

About FORGETTING AUGUST

About REMEMBERING EVERLY

Join us for the FORGETTING AUGUST Release Party!

About J.L. Berg

Series Spotlight + Giveaway: Night’s Templar A Vampire Queen Novel by Joey Hill

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Safe In His Arms by Melody Anne

Release Day Launch

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With the release of FORGETTING AUGUST just around the corner (quite literally – it releases December 1st!), we’re thrilled to be able to share a look at the gorgeous cover of REMEMBERING EVERLY, the second and final book in the Lost & Found duet.

Isn’t it absolutely stunning? We’re in love with these covers – and the books! Find out more about them below.

Here’s a note for you from J.L. Berg!

About FORGETTING AUGUST

About REMEMBERING EVERLY

Join us for the FORGETTING AUGUST Release Party!

About J.L. Berg

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