Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Fighting Dirty by Sidney Halston – Worth The Fight Series – Book 5

Posted on 01/07/2016 by shellbellereads

Fighting Dirty

Worth The Fight Series – Book 5

By Sidney Halston

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

If you love the MMA romances of Vi Kreeland and Kendall Ryan, Sidney Halston’s Worth the Fight series will knock your socks off! In Fighting Dirty, a geek-chic cage fighter proves that appearances can be deceiving . . . and oh-so-tempting.

With his preppy clothes and horn-rimmed glasses, Enzo Silva is the last dude anyone expects to find in a mixed martial arts gym. A wealthy Brazilian banker who never had to fight for anything, Enzo’s stuck in the amateur circuit—but he burns to make the pros. Maybe that explains the heat he feels whenever he’s around Jamie Lynn Calhoun. The pint-size, magenta-haired bartender with the Texas drawl is everything he’s not . . . and everything he craves.

Tough as nails and independent to a fault, Jamie Lynn—JL to her friends—works hard to pay her bills and keep life simple. Enzo is doing his best to complicate that. Even though she likes to bust his balls, he’s got some kind of a nerdy-hot vibe that makes JL wonder if she might finally be able to let her guard down. It might do the boy some good to spend some time in her world, where blood, sweat, and victory are as sweet as the first taste of real love.

______________________________________________________

Michel’s Review

Sidney Halston has added another knock out to the Worth The Fight Series. Sexy Brazilian businessman, Enzo Silva, is gearing up for the fight of his life. This time the fight is taking place outside of the ring. It’s a lockdown match and there are no rules. He wants Jamie Lynn Calhoun and he is going to win her heart.

Jamie Lynn, JL to her friends, marches to her own beat. She is a carefree spirit that will not be pinned down. She has learned the hard way to live life to the fullest and grasp every moment. She makes no apologies for who she is.

Enzo moved to the Florida after an ugly divorce. Although he was born rich and entitled ;he has worked very hard to become the businessman he is today. He came from a wealthy background and has learned that monetary riches do not define the person you are. He has lived in a structured, loveless life with high expectations. For once he is taking control of his life and pursuing his own personal dreams. He wants to become a professional fighter and his cousin’s gym, WTF is the perfect place to pursue his goals. His move to Florida has been a very good thing for him. He has made new friends that have made his life better and he has met the woman of his dreams. A woman that would not be accepted in his former world but stirs his soul.

Enzo and JL have been playing the cat and mouse game for a year. When he finally convinces JL to go out with him they are both in for a great surprise. There is more to their relationship than steamy hot chemistry. They will learn that they have more in common than they thought. They will learn that loving someone is a choice. A choice that can make them both happier people.

Once they have fallen head over heels in love their pasts come back to haunt them in the worst possible way. Enzo will have to choose between his family and career. JL will have to choose forgiveness and acceptance of the mother that never cared. Enzo’s business dealings may take away the one dream the JL has always held close to her heart. They will have to remember that love is a choice.

Sidney Halston delivered another fantastic romance that is Worth The Fight. Enzo is Fighting Dirty for the woman he loves. Read this book … it will not disappoint!

____________________________________________________________

The Worth The Fight Series

Against The Cage – Book 1

In her Loveswept debut, Sidney Halston turns up the heat as a sexy cage fighter shows a former bookworm how delicious a few rounds between the sheets can be.

For Chrissy Martin, returning to her Florida hometown always seems to bring bad luck. The day starts with a breakup text, followed by a jailhouse phone call from her troublemaker brother. Now a routine traffic stop has ended with her accidentally punching an officer . . . in a delicate place. Then Chrissy realizes that the hot cop on the receiving end of her right hook is none other than the man from her teenage fantasies.

Jack Daniels knows how to take a hit. After all, when he’s not chasing reckless drivers, he’s kicking ass in a mixed martial arts ring. So what takes his breath away isn’t the low blow, but the woman who dealt it: a gorgeous knockout with legs Jack wouldn’t mind being pinned under—who just so happens to be his best friend’s nerdy little sister, all grown up. Soon their instant chemistry leads to a sizzling affair, but Jack and Chrissy are fighting an uphill battle if they want to make love last beyond the final bell.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Full Contact – Book 2

Sidney Halston returns to steamy Tarpon Springs, Florida, where a hell-raising bad boy prepares to get down and dirty for the woman he loves.

How could she have been so stupid? When Jessica Cross decides to give her violently jealous boyfriend—the otherwise influential and charming Dennis Stavros—a second chance, she very nearly becomes a statistic. After weeks of healing from a broken rib and collapsed lung, and with Dennis behind bars, Jessica finally feels ready to come out of hiding. But will she ever be able to take a chance on love again with someone new?

Mixed martial arts fighter Slade Martin knows he has a bad reputation. Hell, he’s probably earned it. So it won’t be easy to convince beautiful, vulnerable Jessica that she can trust him—that from the moment she walked into his life, she’s been the only one he’s wanted. Powerful and confident, Slade knows he can honor his vow to protect Jessica body and soul. Winning her heart will be another matter . . . but a woman like Jessica is worth the fight.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Below The Belt – Book 3

Once one of the most sought-after names on the mixed martial arts circuit, Antonio “Scarface” Marino watched his career go down for the count as he chased skirts and made tabloid headlines. Now he’s finally making a comeback, and it’s all thanks to Francesca Silva, a Brazilian bombshell as tough as any of her fighters. But who’s the real Francesca: the trash-talking trainer who rides him hard, or the vulnerable woman who blushes at his touch?

Francesca went to the mat to sign Tony because she believes he still has the potential to bring big success to her gym—if she can keep his head in the cage and out of her personal life. After a short-lived marriage soured her on love, a one-night stand is all she can handle. Now Tony’s kisses are stirring up complicated feelings—especially when he agrees to face her ex in the ring. Francesca’s used to freezing guys out. But Tony’s tempting her to give in to the heat.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Laid Out – Book 4

Perfect for fans of Monica Murphy and Cecy Robson, Sidney Halston’s scorching new MMA romance proves there are no holds barred when it comes to seduction.

As an Army brat, Violet Channing could never meet her dad’s high expectations. But in the eyes of her best friend, she could do no wrong. He even insisted that he should be her first kiss. Now Cain Sorensen is all grown up, hardened by years in special ops and always looking for a good fight. Tall, with striking blue eyes and impossibly blond hair, he’s a modern-day Viking warrior. Of course, Violet’s all grown up, too, and she’s ready to surrender to his every command.

Cain knows he’s bad for Violet. His work is dangerous, and his hobbies are downright deadly. As a private mercenary and a mixed martial arts fighter, he could never let such an innocent soul into his world. And yet his most grueling combat training is no match for Violet’s killer curves, hot touch, and suggestive glances. Now all of Cain’s most explosive fantasies are coming true—but once they cross the line between friends and lovers, there’s no turning back.

BUY NOW

Amazon | B& N | iTunes

Fighting Dirty – Book 5

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

______________________________________________________________________

USA Today bestselling author, Sidney Halston lives her life with one simple rule: “Just Do It” Nike, and that’s exactly what she did. After working hard as an attorney, Sidney picked up a pen for the first time at thirty years old to begin her dream of writing. Having never written anything other than very exciting legal briefs, she found an outlet for her imaginative romantic side and wrote Seeing Red, among four other novels currently in the works, including the sequel to Seeing Red. That first pen stroke sealed the deal and she fell in love with writing.

Sidney lives in South Florida with her husband and children. She loves her family above all else, and reading follows a close second. When she’s not writing you can find her reading and reading and reading… She’s a reader first and a writer second.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Excerpt Reveal… Chapter One: Defenseless by Corinne Michaels

Posted on 01/07/2016 by shellbellereads

defenseless excerpt reveal-2 defenseless cover

defenseless preorder

Coming January 19th , 2016

Defenseless

By Corinne Michaels

Pre Order:

Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

My life is a secret.

His life is dangerous.

We’re both stubborn, calculating, and controlling.

Mark Dixon doesn’t know what he’s getting into. He doesn’t know his games could cost us our lives. I have to do what is necessary to keep us alive, and that means guarding my heart.

But I know I’m defenseless against him, and in the end, he’ll force me to surrender.

defenseless teaser

Excerpt:

***Chapter One***

Chapter 1

Mark

“Everyone locked and loaded?” Liam Dempsey draws our attention. There’s a part of me that wants to slap him, but then I remember: I’m the guest. It would probably be frowned upon.

“Ready,” Jackson says and bangs the magazine into the rifle. “What’s the plan?”

“We have the location where Aaron’s being held captive. We’ll split into two teams, surround the building, and get him out. The helo will be on standby for extract. Muffin, Twilight, you guys will handle meeting with the CIA agent.” Liam lets us know how this will go down.

He’s the big cheese of our small team. Commander was fine with allowing Muff and me to go on the rescue. First, we know what the hell we’re doing; I could be the damn commander at this point. Second, if it isn’t Aaron, we have the best chance of knowing quickly. I know it is, though. The code word that the CIA agent communicated was the one we’ve used for years. She relayed his area and the best way possible to enter the compound. Of course, deciphering her instructions was difficult, and it left us to make plans for the plans.

“Let’s get this shit done and get back in one piece this time, okay Muff?” There’s no hiding the sarcasm in my voice.

“Fuck off, Dixon.”

“So touchy.” I grin and double-check my gear. As funny as it is, it’s also not funny at all. Jackson Cole was once the leader of our SEAL team when the mission we were tasked with went really wrong. We lost three teammates that day, and all of us suffered injuries both mental and physical. Then we sent Aaron to deal with a lost shipment of weapons and he was killed. Well, possibly not, but still. Each time one of our asses touches down in this fucking place, someone ends up shot or killed. I’d love to be able to forget, but the truth is, I never will. The guys I’ve lost reside in my heart. The memories take hold in all of us, and for some, they torment us. The wondering if we could’ve done something different, remembering their last moments—it’s a heavy burden to carry.

I’ve lost too many friends and too much blood to this hellhole.

“Okay,” Liam says through our earpieces. “Two minutes out.”

Everyone stands, heads toward the back of the plane, and readies for the ride. We’re parachuting in, and there’s a part of me that’s alive for the first time in a while. I live for this shit. The command of the sky, the adventure, the danger—I love it. It’s a part of who I am, and while I don’t regret leaving the Navy, I miss the fun. Being a SEAL was everything to me. I was damn good at it, too. While Aaron and Jackson had no problem getting out and starting Cole Security Forces, I would’ve been buried in my uniform. However, my arm had other ideas and made the choice for me.

Jackson slaps my shoulder. “Ready to be badass again?”

“I never lost it. Unlike you other pussy whipped assholes.”

“At least I get pussy, unlike some shithead who talks a lot of crap,” he mutters under his breath.

“Keep it up, fat boy. You’re starting to earn your call sign again, Muffin.” I pull my goggles down and watch for the light to turn green. There’s no hesitation as I jump out the hatch. The plane fades away as I plummet to, once again, do what I live for.

We all reach the ground safely a few miles from the IED site where this whole mess started.

Liam gives the hand commands as we split into teams of two. If I ever felt like a piece of shit before, it was nothing compared to now. Aaron is possibly still alive and nearby. We didn’t search before, partly because Muff got shot, but I never even considered coming back. They claimed there were no survivors, and we listened.

If it were me, would I be pissed? Fuck yeah, I would. We should’ve looked.

“See that, up on the building?” Dempsey’s voice cuts through the silence.

My eyes dart to where his hand is pointing. I can’t see it clearly, but hanging from the antenna is a red scarf, the go-ahead signal from our contact.

“Charlie better not be fucking us around,” I grumble. I’ve missed the way my body feels right now. Everything inside me is awakened. My mind knows there’s danger and my muscles are tense so I do my best to relax. I can’t be on edge or someone could get hurt. I remember how it felt to lose our teammates on that mission. I remember carrying Brian, Devon, and Fernando’s bodies out. I remember watching the life fade from their eyes. Then to think of all the other drama we’ve dealt with being in the sandbox—this place gives me anxiety.

“She’s on our side. Head in the game,” Jackson snaps as he creeps forward. He’s in the zone. I need to get there before we kick in the door.

As we approach the entrance, Liam comes through with the green light. “Petunia.” His tone is clear. This time we’re using flowers for code names. I liked it better when we used liquor or tobacco . . . more manly. Shows just how much the Navy is breeding pussies now.

Jackson braces his hand against the door, ready to push through, but someone pulls it open first. All of our guns raise, and my gaze locks on the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen.

The woman’s hands slowly raise, and she casually removes the hijab that covers her mouth and hair. “Check out the garden, boys. Petunia.” Her accent is clearly American. “He’s down the hall and knows you’re coming. There are three on guard by his cell. The others are out doing errands. I’m leaving with you, so don’t fuck this up.”

I stand there, staring, unable to form a fucking coherent thought. This is the CIA op? This five-foot-four, drop-dead gorgeous woman? No wonder she gets information. I’d sell my soul if she asked. Her hair is almost black and hangs straight, her eyes are ice blue, and don’t get me started on what I imagine her plump lips doing. I’ve never seen anyone like her. I’ve never reacted to anyone like this before. I want her—any man would—but I want to own her. Every part of my body, especially one in particular, yearns for her. I want to see if her skin is as soft as it looks, if her hair feels like silk, and her voice—I’m done for.

Jackson lowers his gun and then addresses her. “Which door, Charlie?”

“Second on the left. I need a gun.” She puts her hand out.

The need to protect her calls from deep within. “Maybe you should stay out here.”

“And watch you guys get lost? I don’t think so. Gun. Now.” She doesn’t look my way when she replies. She just waits for Jackson to hand her his pistol.

I don’t like this. She may be trained by the CIA, but that’s not saying she can handle combat. “Are you sure you know how to use it, princess?” I ask.

Her eyes meet mine and narrow. Oh, that got her attention. A storm’s raging in those baby blues. She recovers quickly, though, when Jackson places his nine mil in her delicate palm. “Thanks. I’ll let that slide since you obviously aren’t aware of who I am,” she says without taking her eyes off me. “We don’t have a lot of time. Where’s the rest of your team?”

“We are the team,” I reply. Who is this girl? Maybe the CIA needs ten people, but Jackson, Liam, and I could handle this entire thing on our own—the six-guy team we brought is more than enough.

Jackson smirks. “They’re approaching from a different entrance. Let’s go.”

“I’ll lead,” Charlie says and lifts the hijab over her hair.

“We know what we’re doing.” I speak just so she’ll look at me again.

“Wouldn’t want you to get lost or hurt. Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.” Her voice drips with sarcasm. My cock hardens. It fucking hardens on a goddamn mission. I am so fucked.

She opens the door and I push Muffin out of the way. No way is he going to be behind her. Charlie turns to relay a message, and notices he’s not the one following. Her eyes roll, she holds up two fingers, and then she points to the room. The way her ass sways is hypnotic. I lock down the sexual urges flowing through me and focus. The two men trailing me let off two silent shots and then return to following us. We slink through the dirty hallway and come face to face with another guard.

I don’t have a moment to take the sight. Charlie doesn’t hesitate. No more than a breath passes before she raises the nine and shoots him in the head.

I’m in love. It’s official. I’m going to blow my fucking load right here.

This woman is going to be mine.

She turns her head to face me and lifts her lips. The words that come from her mouth go straight to my groin. “Don’t be afraid to pull the trigger next time, princess.” Charlie’s eyes glimmer, and I know right then that this woman will not be owned, but she sure as shit will own me.

https://youtu.be/abcR3_K1tWE%20

defenseless preorder

About Corinne Michaels

Corinne Michaels is an emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun loving mom of two beautiful children. She’s happily married to the man of her dreams and is a former Navy wife. After spending months away from her husband while he was deployed, reading and writing was her escape from the loneliness.

Both her maternal and paternal grandmothers were librarians, which only intensified her love of reading. After years of writing short stories, she couldn’t ignore the call to finish her debut novel, Beloved. Her alpha Navy SEALs are broken, beautiful, and will steal your heart.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Instagram ~ Pinterest

defenseless cover

Cover Reveal: Out of Focus by L. B. Simmons

Posted on 01/07/2016 by shellbellereads

*** Upper New Adult Spinoff Standalone to the USA Today Bestselling Novel, Under the Influence***

“Shhhh, Cassandra, it’s our little secret.”

Secrets are stubborn things when they refuse to remain hidden. They tear through your soul, clawing and lashing until the pain becomes so unbearable, you’re left no choice but to silently scream your agony. No one hears you, of course. You smile on the outside and drift through life as though your mind is at peace, but all the while, you remain your own tortured prisoner. Sealed inside the darkened, soundproof room of your conscience, deafening cries echo as you plead for someone to unlock the door and release you from your nightmares. And eventually, when no one comes, you find ways to cope. To dull the suffering the only way you know how.

But what happens when you’ve become so numb, when everything around you has become so blurred, that you begin to lose focus on the saving grace standing directly in front of you? When you’ve anesthetized yourself to the point of losing consciousness, forced to watch as his once solid image fades away, lost to your reach in the haze as it smothers you?

What do you do then?

You fight. You heal. Then you bring him back.

Well, my name is Cassie Cooper, and it’s time.

No more secrets.

This is my story.

***WARNING – The subject matter of this novel centers around the psychological effects due to sexual abuse experienced during childhood. For this reason, as well as sexual situations, language, and adult themes, suggested reading age is 17+.***

ADD TO GOODREADS

PREORDER NOW

AMAZON US **** AMAZON UK

L.B. Simmons is a graduate of Texas A&M University and
holds a degree in Biomedical Science.
She has been a practicing Chemist for the last 11 years. She lives with her husband and three
daughters in Texas and writes every chance she gets.

Join her newsletter here

FACEBOOK TWITTER WEBSITE GOODREADS AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Cover Reveal: An Immortal’s Song by Carrie Ann Ryan- A Dante’s Circle Novel

Posted on 01/07/2016 by shellbellereads

An Immortal’s Song Cover Reveal

Blurb:

Humans aren’t as alone as they choose to believe. Every human possesses a trait of supernatural that lays dormant within their genetic make-up. Centuries of diluting and breeding have allowed humans to think they are alone and untouched by magic. But what happens when something changes?

Amara Young has always been on the outside looking in. She’s the one lightning-struck woman out of her group who has never felt as if she’s belonged. She lost a year of her life caring for her dying friend, but now it’s her turn to find out who she is. Only when the time comes, two men stand in her way—two men who claim her as theirs.

Tristan Archer, fae royalty and Conclave member, has waited over nine hundred years for his fate. And now he has two chances. While one knows his path, the other seems blind to what they could have. It will take more than a simple risk for Tristan to finally have what he desires…that is if Amara and Seth can overcome their own uncertainties.

While the other two in his life are fighting themselves and their futures, Seth Oceanus knows exactly what he wants. The younger brother of a Conclave member and relatively young in his realm, he knows he’ll have to prove himself so others see him for who he truly is.

As the triad succumbs to their cravings, they will have to fight more than their overwhelming feelings in order to survive.

Warning: Contains an innocent merman, a very talented fae, and a human woman who can outpace them both.

Release Date: April 5th 2016

Pre-Order Links:

Amazon http://amzn.to/1VIUaP3
iBooks http://apple.co/1IUOEjv
Barnes & Noble http://bit.ly/1EC8cOF
Kobo http://bit.ly/1Oaid5s

About Carrie Ann Ryan:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan never thought she’d be a writer. Not really. No, she loved math and science and even went on to graduate school in chemistry. Yes, she read as a kid and devoured teen fiction and Harry Potter, but it wasn’t until someone handed her a romance book in her late teens that she realized that there was something out there just for her. When another author suggested she use the voices in her head for good and not evil, The Redwood Pack and all her other stories were born.

Carrie Ann is a bestselling author of over twenty novels and novellas and has so much more on her mind (and on her spreadsheets *grins*) that she isn’t planning on giving up her dream anytime soon.

Connect with Carrie Ann:

Newsletter
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Goodreads
Pinterest
Dante Circle Series Reading Order:
Book 1: Dust of My Wings
Book 2: Her Warriors’ Three Wishes
Book 3: An Unlucky Moon
Book 3.5: His Choice
Book 4: Tangled Innocence
Book 5: Fierce Enchantment
Book 6: An Immortal’s Song
Book 7: Prowled Darkness

Happy Release Day + Review + Giveaway: Big Rock by Lauren Blakely

Posted on 01/06/2016 by Saucy Southern Readers

We are so excited to bring you the Release Week Blitz for Lauren Blakely’s BIG ROCK! A standalone sexy romantic comedy, BIG ROCK takes everything you love about a Lauren Blakely novel –witty dialogue, smoking hot sex scenes, and heartfelt moments –and puts them into one fantastic book! BIG ROCK is releasing Wednesday, January 6th! Readers can start their new year off right with Spencer! BIG ROCK is a standalone, dirty romance novel written from the guy’s POV. Come join us as we meet Spencer-parts, heart and all!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

iBooks | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Google Play

ABOUT BIG ROCK:

It’s not just the motion of the ocean, ladies. It’s definitely the SIZE of the boat too.

And I’ve got both firing on all cylinders. In fact, I have ALL the right assets. Looks, brains, my own money, and a big cock.

You might think I’m an asshole. I sound like one, don’t I? I’m hot as sin, rich as heaven, smart as hell and hung like a horse.

Guess what? You haven’t heard my story before. Sure, I might be a playboy, like the NY gossip rags call me. But I’m the playboy who’s actually a great guy. Which makes me one of a kind.

The only trouble is, my dad needs me to cool it for a bit. With conservative investors in town wanting to buy his flagship Fifth Avenue jewelry store, he needs me not only to zip it up, but to look the part of the committed guy. Fine. I can do this for Dad. After all, I’ve got him to thank for the family jewels. So I ask my best friend and business partner to be my fiancée for the next week. Charlotte’s up for it. She has her own reasons for saying yes to wearing this big rock.

And pretty soon all this playing pretend in public leads to no pretending whatsoever in the bedroom, because she just can’t fake the kind of toe-curling, window-shattering orgasmic cries she makes as I take her to new heights between the sheets.

But I can’t seem to fake that I might be feeling something real for her.

What the fuck have I gotten myself into with this…big rock?

BIG ROCK is a standalone, dirty romance novel written from the guy’s POV by NYT Bestselling author Lauren Blakely…

This hysterical and addictive standalone can be bought everywhere!! Go forth and laugh, swoon and fan yourself into the New Year with this dirty, sexy romantic comedy told from the male POV!

Kelley’s Review

Fun, flirty, and refreshing

Big Rock by Lauren Blakely is a palette cleanser. It is a read that really makes you feel good after reading those dark gritty romances and turn your insides out. It is friends to lovers romance that is laugh out loud funny and also steamy as hell. One of the things I appreciated most about this read is that there were no feelings other than friendship between Charlotte and Spencer before they made their arrangement. There was no pinning or long-lost love or angsty bullshit. They both simply appreciated each others looks. They were both sexy as sin, simple as that. They were buddies that worked together and made each other laugh all the time. When Spencer tells Charlotte what he has done all she can do is laugh. When Charlotte decides to push the envelope she has Spencer is having a “hard” time keeping it in his pants.

“I point at her midsection, then lower. “You’re really not wearing underwear?”
Her eyes sparkle with mischief. “My fiancé told me he prefers me in…” She steps closer, drops a hand to my shoulder, and brings her lips closer to my ear to whisper, “Nothing.”
And now, ladies and gentlemen, my cock is officially saluting my best friend, the Commando Temptress. She pops back into her closet, emerges with a pair of black heels, and slips them on.
Kill me now.”

The banter between these characters is witty and fun and if Charlotte ever played poker with Spencer she would clean house because he has no clue how to read her. In the end do these friends become more than just lovers? You will have to one-click Big Rock to find out for sure.

If you want to laugh and walk away with a smile on your face then take a chance with this sizzling read.

Add it to Goodreads here!

About Lauren Blakely:

Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and she has had eight books on the New York Times Bestseller list and fifteen on the USA Today Bestseller list. Like the heroine in her novel, FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. She loves hearing from readers! Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love, and Fighting Fire. She recently released SWEET SINFUL NIGHTS, the first novel in her new sexy romance series Sinful Nights that became an instant New York Times Bestseller. Her new adult forbidden romance, 21 Stolen Kisses, hit e-readers in May and landed on the USA Today Bestseller list. In January, she’ll release BIG ROCK, a standalone contemporary romance sure to make you swoon. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, text BLAKELY + your email address to 678-249-3375 (please use the actual + sign).

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Newsletter ** Goodreads

✮✮✮ Enter to win this amazing giveaway for a “Friends Make the Best Lovers Basket” including a signed copy of BIG ROCK and an Open Table Gift Card! ✮✮✮

a Rafflecopter giveaway

https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Excerpt Reveal: Indigo Nights by Louise Bay

Posted on 01/06/2016 by shellbellereads

FB Banner3

IN Amazon (1)

Indigo Nights

By Louise Bay

Release Date: February 9, 2015

Pre Order:

Amazon / Amazon UK / Amazon CA / Amazon AU / Kobo / ITunes

Synopsis

The only thing better than cake is cake with a side of orgasms.

Dylan James has no expectations when it comes to relationships. He uses women for sex and they use him for his money and power. It’s quid pro quo and he’s good with that. It works.

Beth Harrison has been burned. She’s tired of the lies and the game playing that men bring and has buried herself in her passion—baking which keeps her out of the reach of heartbreak. As she begins her career as a TV baker, a new world opens up to her.

Dylan and Beth both know that casual sex is all about giving what you need to get what you want.

Except that sometimes you give more than you need to and get everything you ever wanted.

T23

Excerpt

Beth

“As I deliberated over his age, his body, his mouth, Mr. 8A turned his head in my direction and caught me staring. I smiled, trying to cover the fact that I was thinking about him naked and between my thighs, not to mention wondering if every part of him was as solid as it seemed.”

Dylan

“I understood the dynamic between men and women. I got to sleep with hot women, and in exchange they got to fuck a rich guy in the hope that they’d become beneficiaries of my cash. I might be handsome, but I knew from bitter experience that if a richer guy came along, I’d be left in the taillights of the women I slept with. It just happened that now, there weren’t many richer men, which gave me a certain satisfaction. I’d made peace with the transactional nature of relationships between men and women and had no expectations. At some point in my past I’d thought that love was possible. Not anymore. It was all about giving to get.”

T25

______________________________________________________

Author Bio:

USA Today bestselling author, Louise Bay writes sexy, contemporary romance novels – the kind she likes to read. Her books include the novels Faithful and Hopeful and the novella series’ The Empire State Series, What the Lightning Sees and Calling Me. The novels and together each series are stand-alone although there are some overlapping characters.

Ruined by romantic mini-series of the eighties, Louise loves all things romantic. There’s not enough of it in real life so she disappears into the fictional worlds in books and films.

Louise loves the rain, the West Wing, London, days when she doesn’t have to wear make-up, being on her own, being with friends, elephants and champagne.

She loves to hear from readers so get in touch!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

IN Amazon (1)

6-Star Review + 2016 Favorites: This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

Posted on 01/05/2016 by Saucy Southern Readers

Amazon ~ B&N ~ iBooks

Synopsis

10:00 a.m.
The principal of Opportunity, Alabama’s high school finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.

10:02 a.m.
The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.

10:03 a.m.
The auditorium doors won’t open.

10:05 a.m.
Someone starts shooting.

Buy Links:

Amazon ~ B&N ~ iBooks

Robin’s Review:

This is where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

An entire student body is trapped in a high school auditorium. One teenage boy has a gun. Fifty-four minutes of terror narrated from four different points of view. This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp is so relevant to our current day and age, stirring thoughts of terrorism and violence we so often hear about while watching the national news headlines. I dare say many people will recognize this story to be their worst nightmare laid out on page. This book is heart-stopping young adult fiction that reads more like a thriller, and it’s wholly terrifying.

Nijkamp calls to mind the fear victims must have felt at Columbine High School, at Century 16 in Aurora, Colorado, at an office party in San Bernardino, at the Bataclan Theatre in Paris as the events of the morning progress at Opportunity High School. What would drive Tyler Browne to corner an entire school body in the auditorium, to right all of the wrongs, the injustices, he perceives to have been done to him? Underneath the violence of this story, the author combines points of view from Claire, Autumn, Sylvia and Tomás, four individuals who have a history with the shooter, to help us understand the “why” behind his actions – something many of us are often left wondering when we hear about real life events on the news.

Nijkamp wholeheartedly captured my attention from the get-go. The pacing of This is Where it Ends moves quickly. It’s full of non-stop action, with most of the characters facing mortal danger as the story plays out. Oh my goodness – did I ever feel anxious with this book! In fact, my adrenaline spiked like crazy as I was reading. I knew this thriller would be difficult for me to read, but I didn’t anticipate how hard it would be for me to put this book down before I had finished! Nijkamp tempers the violence in this novel with backstory, timing the reveal of pertinent information about primary and secondary characters as the violence plays out.

Although the span of this book takes place over fifty-four minutes, Nijkamp does a fantastic job of crafting a thought-provoking story. It’s not just about the violence – there’s more to it than that. It’s about perception of injustice. Bullying. Loneliness. Parental issues. I felt a varied range of emotions while reading This is Where it Ends – anger, sadness, relief, empathy, anxiety, shock – I even cried tears. Many of you know that I’ve reviewed novels for a while now. I’m aware readers can sometimes be fickle about a novel with difficult subject matter, but I was personally left with a sense of awe. Marieke Nijkamp grabs a solid 5-star rating for This is Where it Ends and earns the first spot on my list of 2016 favorites!

Author Bio:

Told over the span of 54 harrowing minutes from four different perspectives, terror reigns as one student’s calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.

Marieke Nijkamp was born and raised in the Netherlands. A lifelong student of stories, language, and ideas, she is more or less proficient in about a dozen languages and holds degrees in philosophy, history, and medieval studies. She is a storyteller, dreamer, globe-trotter, geek.

Marieke’s debut young adult novel This Is Where It Ends, a contemporary thriller that follows four teens over the course of the fifty-four minutes of a school shooting, will be published by Sourcebooks Fire in January 2016. Visit her at mariekenijkamp.com.

New Year’s Day Ch 1 Exclusive: F*ck Love by Tarryn Fisher

Posted on 01/01/2016 by Saucy Southern Readers

FL cover

F*ck Love by Tarryn Fisher

New Year’s Day Ch 1 Exclusive

Synopsis:

Helena Conway has fallen in love.

Unwillingly.

Unwittingly.

But not unprovoked. Kit Isley is everything she’s not—unstructured, untethered, and not even a little bit careful.

It could all be so beautiful…if he wasn’t dating her best friend. Helena must defy her heart, do the right thing, and think of others.

Until she doesn’t.

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25828204-f-ck-love

HNY FL

Chapter One

#wtf

“You are supposed to be with me.”

What words are these? They startle me, and at first I think I’ve heard him wrong. He’s leaning across the table while our significant others are twenty feet away, waiting in line for our food.

“You and me,” he says. “Not us and them.”

I blink at him before I realize he’s making a joke. I laugh and go back to looking at my magazine. Actually, it’s not really a magazine. It’s a math journal, because I’m super cool like that.

“Helena…” I don’t look up right away. I’m afraid to. If I look up and see that he’s not joking, everything will change.

“Helena.” He reaches out and touches my hand. I jump, pull back. My chair makes a horrid scraping sound, and Neil looks over. I pretend that I dropped something and reach under the table. Under the table are our shoes and legs. There is a blue crayon lying at my feet; I pick it up and resurface.

Neil is at the front of the line ordering our food, and my best friend’s boyfriend is waiting for my response, his eyes heavy with burden.

“Are you drunk?” I hiss. “What the fuck?”

“No,” he says. Though he doesn’t look so sure. For the first time, I notice the scruff on his face. The skin around his eyes is sallow. He’s going through something, maybe? Life is being bullshit.

“If this is a joke, you’re making me really uncomfortable,” I tell him. “Della is right there. What the hell is wrong with you?”

“I only have ten minutes, Helena.” His eyes move to the blue crayon, which is resting between our hands.

“Ten minutes for what? You’re sweating,” I say. “Did you take something, are you on the crack?” What type of drugs make you sweat like that? Crack? Heroine?

I want Neil and Della to come back. I want everything to go back to normal. I spin around to see where they are.

“Helena…”

“Stop saying my name like that.” My voice shakes. I make to stand up, but he grabs the crayon, then my hand.

“I don’t have much time. Let me show you.”

He’s sitting very still, but his eyes remind me of a cornered animal: frightened, panicked, bright. I’ve never seen that look on his face, but since Della’s only been dating him for a few months, it’s a moot point. I don’t really know this guy. He could be a druggie for all I know. He turns my hand over so it’s palm up, and I let him. I don’t know why, but I do.

He places the crayon in my palm and closes my fist around it.

“You have to say it out loud,” he says. “Show me, Kit.”

“Say it, Helena. Please. I’m afraid of what will happen if you don’t.”

Because he looks so afraid, I say it.

“Show me, Kit.” And then, “Should I know what this is?”

“No one should,” he says. And then everything goes black.

FL jacket FL teaser 2 Tarryn Fisher’s Bio

Tarryn Fisher is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of seven novels. Her newest novel, F*ck Love, will release in early 2016 and she is currently working on the third installment of Never Never. She is the co-founder of Clothed Caption, a fashion blog she runs with her friend, Madison Seidler. Tarryn resides in the Seattle area with her family. She loves rainy days, Coke, and thinks Instagram is the new Facebook. Tarryn is represented by Amy Tannenbaum of the Jane Rotrosen Agency.

Author Links:

Website: www.tarrynfisher.com

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

Instagram: https://instagram.com/tarrynfisher/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tarryn__Fisher

Saucy Southern Readers

professional, honest, and timely book reviews

Monthly Archives: January 2016

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Fighting Dirty by Sidney Halston – Worth The Fight Series – Book 5

Excerpt Reveal… Chapter One: Defenseless by Corinne Michaels

Cover Reveal: Out of Focus by L. B. Simmons

PREORDER NOW

Cover Reveal: An Immortal’s Song by Carrie Ann Ryan- A Dante’s Circle Novel

An Immortal’s Song Cover Reveal

Blurb:

Happy Release Day + Review + Giveaway: Big Rock by Lauren Blakely

iBooks | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Google Play

Add it to Goodreads here!

Excerpt Reveal: Indigo Nights by Louise Bay

6-Star Review + 2016 Favorites: This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

New Year’s Day Ch 1 Exclusive: F*ck Love by Tarryn Fisher

Share this:

Share this:

PREORDER NOW

Share this:

An Immortal’s Song Cover Reveal

Blurb:

Share this:

iBooks | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Google Play

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: