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Happy Release + Review + Exclusive Interview : Broken Honor by Tonya Burrows – Hornet Series – Book 3

Posted on 02/24/2015 by shellbellereads

Broken Honor

Hornet Series – Book 3

By Tonya Burrows

Synopsis

Ice-cold and unbreakable, Travis Quinn is the HORNET team’s hard-ass. No weaknesses. Except, of course, for the accident that not only destroyed his career as a Navy SEAL, but left terrifying blanks in his memory. But Travis remembers everything about Mara Escareno–the curve of her lips, the feel of her body…and how he walked out on her suddenly six weeks ago.
Mara could never resist the dangerously sexy Travis, which is probably how she ended up pregnant and disowned by her family. But before Travis can fully process the news, Mara is kidnapped by his enemies and plunged into the violent, merciless world of human trafficking. They want Travis–and the information locked within his damaged memory–no matter the cost. And now Travis’s enemies have discovered his only weakness…Mara.

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The Hornet Series

Seal of Honor – Book 1

It’s a good thing Gabe Bristow lives and breathes the Navy SEAL credo, “the only easy day was yesterday,” because today, his life is unrecognizable. When his prestigious career comes to a crashing halt, he’s left with a bum leg and few prospects for employment that don’t include a desk.

That is, until he’s offered the chance to command a private hostage rescue team and free a wealthy American businessman from Colombian paramilitary rebels. It seems like a good deal—until he meets his new team: a drunk Cajun linguist, a boy-genius CIA threat analyst, an FBI negotiator with mob ties, a cowboy medic, and an EOD expert as volatile as the bombs he defuses. Oh, and who could forget the sexy, frustratingly impulsive Audrey Van Amee? She’s determined to help rescue her brother—or drive Gabe crazy. Whichever comes first.

As the death toll rises, Gabe’s team of delinquents must figure out how to work together long enough to save the day. Or, at least, not get themselves killed. Because Gabe’s finally found something worth living for, and God help him if he can’t bring her brother back alive.

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Honor Reclaimed – Book 2

Former Marine sniper Seth Harlan is determined to prove that he can still do his job despite his ongoing battle with PTSD. When an old friend contacts HORNET to rescue a black ops soldier, Seth’s stability is strained. He knows all too well what it’s like to rot inside an enemy camp, praying for rescue and waiting for death. And he’s not about to leave a man behind.

Photojournalist Phoebe Leighton just stumbled into the middle of an arms deal. Teaming up with a ragtag team of mercenaries is the last thing she wants to do–especially when she realizes Seth Harlan is assigned to the mission. He may ignite a passion in her she thought long dead, but Phoebe’s hiding a secret that could destroy him.

With a bomb in the mix, HORNET’s mission is suddenly about a lot more than an abandoned soldier. Racing against the clock, Seth, Phoebe, and the rest of the team struggle to stop a ruthless warlord bent on power, revenge…and death.

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Tina’s Review

The men of HORNET are back! Although Ms. Burrows does a wonderful job at writing this so it may stand on it’s own, I feel it would be most beneficial and enjoyable if the reader reads SEAL of Honor and Honor Reclaimed prior to this to appreciate the supporting characters to their fullest value. I’m always nervous to review a book by one of my favorite authors. I worry it won’t live up to my lofty expectations and I also worry that the author may not like my review… because, regardless of who the author is, I took a vow to read and review each book fairly and honestly.
That said, here I go… although Quinn has been an important member of HORNET, his character never left a strong, positive impression with me. He knew he was suffering side effects from the brain injury, but kept playing it off as no big deal. It’s irresponsible, reckless and selfish to do, especially as the commanding officer of the team. But, this book redeems him. Mara’s kind of a more obscure character, meaning though they have history and she’s been introduced in a previous storyline, she played more of a cameo than a minor role. Her character is quite enjoyable and I find her blend of vulnerability and feistiness to be refreshing. The dialogue and interaction between characters can easily be envisioned playing out in front of you, it’s very believable and feels feel. The plot is darker than the others of this series, it is dynamic and exciting, providing thrills and laughs and tears all while flowing with the smoothness of a decadent chocolate fountain. I’ll never be able to look at a Whac-a-Mole game again without thinking of Jean-Luc… priceless! There were plenty of conflicts being tossed at them from many different directions, all of which seem to have been resolved quite neatly. I had some speculations early on about “Captain Cold” and was oh-so close to being right, but I was just wrong enough for it to still be have that “whoa” factor upon the big reveal. Glad Tank made it back from London, he had me worried for a bit. The conclusion was solid and there’s just enough of a slight tease to whet the appetite for what might be the next book in the series. I really enjoy this series. If you like Maya Banks’ KGI series, you will love Tonya Burrows’ HORNET series.

Interview With Tonya Burrows

The third book in the HORNET series, BROKEN HONOR, by Tonya Burrows is about to release. Congratulations & Happy Release! She was kind enough to take time out of her super busy schedule to sit down with me long enough to conduct a short Q & A session.
Thank you, Tonya.

Tina:
Hi, Tonya. Thank you for taking time out to answer a few question for me.
Let’s start at the beginning… When did you know you wanted to become a professional writer/author and who were your influences and role models at that time? And now, what author(s) do you admire most?
Tonya:
Hi, Tina! Glad to be here!
I’ve always known I wanted to be an author. I remember telling my first grade teacher I would be an author someday, but it wasn’t until I was in 8th grade that the idea really took hold. I have my literature teacher to thank for that. She read everything I wrote, no matter how horrible it was, and encouraged me to keep writing. And I did.
There are two big-name authors I admire. Nora Roberts because she always manages to suck me into her stories, and J.R. Ward because her Black Dagger Brotherhood series inspires such a huge fandom. Those are two things I aspire to with my books.

Tina:
Your heroes are all kick-ass, uber-macho Alpha men. Is there any correlation between the fictional heroes and a real, live Alpha muse or muses?
Tonya:
Nope. I wish, but my heroes are complete fantasies.

Tina:
For those who follow the HORNET series, we have come to expect some pretty controversial plot locations. SEAL of Honor taking place in Columbia, Honor Reclaimed set in Afghanistan, and now Broken Honor is in… Transnistria? Can you tell us how you FOUND and decided on this obscure location?
Tonya:
Well, I knew I wanted Broken Honor to take place in a country that has problems with human trafficking, so that’s where I started with my research. When I came across Transnistria, a small breakaway republic of Moldova, I found the idea of an unrecognized country so interesting, I knew I had to set the book there.

Tina:
It sounds like Quinn’s story will be a little darker and/or edgier than the others with having to take on Human Traffickers in some unrecognized Eastern European country. How difficult was getting his story put into written words? It all sounds pretty foreign and complex; how deep did you need to research the topics and location for this book?
Tonya:
I do so much more research than what makes it into the actual book. Human trafficking is a very dark topic and I wanted to make sure I did it justice and had my facts right. Same with the setting—I read and watched everything I could find about Transnistria and Moldova because I wanted to make sure to do the countries justice. No place is all bad and I really try to show some of the good with the bad in these books.

Tina:
I understand that you are planning to donate a portion of your first month’s proceeds. NOT FOR SALE (notforsalecampaign.org)’s goal is to protect people and communities around the world from Human Trafficking. What was it about this cause and this organization that made you choose it over so many other charities?
Tonya:
After researching Broken Honor, I felt like I had to do something to help combat human trafficking, so when it was mentioned in passing that I could donate a portion of my proceeds, I jumped on the idea. I researched several organizations and decided I wanted to donate to a smaller, more “grassroots” effort. Not for Sale appealed to me for many reasons, but I made sure to get a second opinion by posing the question to my street team.

Tina:
You have two other series ongoing, WILDE SECURITY and D.I.E. SQUADRON. Can you tell us what’s happening with those? Any more New Releases we should be watching for in the near future?
Tonya:
Yes, I hope to finish the Wilde Security series this year. I don’t have release dates for any of them yet, but I hope to soon!
As for D.I.E. Squadron, I’m going to have to put that series on hold. Vision of Darkness was my first self-published effort and unfortunately, it didn’t sell well. So as much as I want to tell D.I.E. Squadron’s stories, I can’t justify spending the time or money to continue it at the moment. Hopefully I’ll be able to do it sometime in the future!

Tina:
With writing books for three series at a time, how do you keep all of your characters and plots organized and/or separated?
Tonya:
I have notebooks, my “bibles” for each book, but as I get farther into the series, I’m starting to realize that isn’t working anymore. I really need to take the time to put all the information into one binder for each series. And, I’m not gonna lie, the character profiles on my website have saved me from giving the characters the wrong colored eyes more than once.

Tina:
Finish these sentences:
“I’m going to celebrate my New Release by___” … work. I don’t usually do anything fun on release days. I’ll having marketing stuff to do and I’ll be working on the 4th Wilde Security book. I might indulge in a margarita that night, though.
“My ideal way to chill and relax is to ______” … veg out with Netflix. I’ll fully admit to being addicted to TV.

Tina: Could you describe a typical day in the life of Tonya Burrows? What do you enjoy doing when you’re not trying to meet deadlines?
Tonya:
My days are pretty uneventful. I walk my dogs, then have my coffee and catch up on emails, social media, and other online stuff. That usually takes me until lunchtime. I walk the dogs again, catch up on my TV shows while I eat and if I have any errands to do, I’ll do them in the afternoon. I do almost all of my writing in the evenings and at night. I’m a night owl. When I’m not writing, I like to spend time outside with my dogs at the park or beach. And, like I said, I’m addicted to TV so Netflix usually plays a big part in my days off. 🙂

Tina:
Lastly, I’d love to learn a little more about YOUR reading preferences.
What book did you just finish reading? What are you currently reading? What 2015 New Release are you looking most forward to?
Tonya:
I am most looking forward to J.R. Ward’s new releases. The Shadows, The Bourbon Kings, and the first book in the new series she just announced. I’m also looking forward to the next book in Cindy Gerard’s One-Eyed Jacks series and the next J.D. Robb book.
Right now, I’m listening to Rebecca Zanetti’s Blind Faith on audio, but I can’t share with you what I’m reading because I’m currently judging books for the RITA awards.

Tina:
Again, I’d like to thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to sit down and answer my questions. I enjoyed it. Best wishes on BROKEN HONOR!
Tonya:
You’re welcome! Thanks for having me!

Author Bio:

Tonya Burrows wrote her first romance in 8th grade and hasn’t put down her pen since. Originally from a small town in Western New York, she’s currently soaking up the sun as a Florida girl. She suffers from a bad case of wanderlust and usually ends up moving someplace new every few years. Luckily, her two dogs and ginormous cat are excellent travel buddies.

When she’s not writing about hunky military heroes, Tonya can usually be found at a bookstore or the dog park. She also enjoys painting, watching movies, and her daily barre workouts. A geek at heart, she pledges her TV fandom to Supernatural and Dr. Who.

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Happy Release + Review + Giveaway: Killian by Brenda Rothert – On The Line Series – Book 1

Posted on 02/24/2015 by shellbellereads

Happy Release Day to Brenda Rothert and her new book KILLIAN! Read a sneak peek into the book below and make sure to enter the giveaway! Good luck!

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Killian Bosch knows he’s his own worst enemy – he just doesn’t give a damn. The star forward of a minor league hockey team, he’s unstoppable on the ice. His reckless behavior, devil-may-care attitude and complete disregard for consequences have made him a major source of headaches for the Fenway Flyers’ brass.
But the new Flyers owner is more steel than brass. Sidney Stahl is a disciplined woman who parlayed earnings from a college job into a real estate empire. She’s determined to transform the Flyers from marketing nightmare to hockey powerhouse. Once she gets Killian in line, she knows the rest of the team will follow his lead.

The seduction of his sexy new team owner is a challenge too forbidden for Killian to resist. Sidney plays into his attraction as a means of controlling him, but soon finds that she’s the one surrendering. It’s all on the line as Killian and Sidney are forced to choose – business or pleasure?

My mind was jerked back to the present when I became aware the coach had moved on from his teaching lesson. “The new owner’s upstairs watching practice,” Orion announced, giving us the evil eye. We all looked up in the direction of the owner’s box, but I couldn’t see anyone standing inside.

Orion turned to Bruce, the Flyers assistant coach, and spoke in a voice loud enough that no one could miss what he was saying, “Bruce, did we not have a meeting with the new owner before practice this morning?”

Bruce nodded his agreement.

“Tell me if I remember this right, Bruce.” Orion continued. “Did she tell us this team will be undergoing some major changes? That we’ll be making cuts and bringing in new talent?”

“That’s right, Coach,” Bruce said in an even tone.

Sighs and shuffling from around me indicated nervousness. I had nothing to worry about. I was the captain of the team and probably the best player here, though Bennett was a very close second. But the idea of cutting the dead weight got my attention. I was as disgusted as Orion with the record of our team. It was fucking embarrassing. He’d been brought in by the new ownership to turn things around and it sounded like that was about to happen.

“I’ve been here two weeks,” he said. “I’ve given all of you a chance to show me you want to be on this team. Starting today, there’ll be one on one meetings between some of you and the new owner. Later on, Bruce and I will talk to each of you individually to let you know who’s staying and who’s going. Now back to the fucking play, boys.”

As we turned to get back in line, Orion called Liam’s name. “You’re up first with the owner,” he said. “You know where her office is?”

My head swiveled to look at Orion. Her? The new owner was a woman? Fucking hell. A woman wouldn’t be able to make the tough decisions this team needed to recover from its place at the bottom of the league.

And what about Liam? He was a quiet, solid player on the first line. What the hell did the new ownership want with him? I wanted to go with him to that meeting, but that was never going to happen.

Liam skated over to the bench and I glanced back up at the owner’s box, glowering. Anybody who fucked with Liam was also fucking with me. I had nothing to lose, and a man with nothing to lose was never someone you wanted to fuck with. Especially not by some woman who thought she could overhaul this team and turn things around. Others had tried and failed. She would be no different.

______________________________________

Tracey’s Review

As the new owner of the Fenway Flyers, businesswoman Sidney Stahl has got her work cut out for her. Her only goal is to get her hockey team in fighting form, and to convince team captain Killian Bosch to set a good example for his teammates. Killian is anything but sedate. Working and playing hard, the last thing he’s looking for is to settle down and tow the line, but saying no to Sidney might not be as easy as he thinks.

KILLIAN is the first in a new series by author Brenda Rothert. Brenda is no stranger to delivering stories about hot hockey players. Her Fire On Ice series features some of the hottest pro players out there, and Killian and his friends are right in line to continue the trend. Killian is passionate, dedicated to the game and to his brothers on the team. Inspired to play his best by his new coach, Orion Caldwell, he finds himself drawn to Sidney, the new owner of the Flyers. Sidney knows that she should stay away from Killian, that getting involved with him is not the professional thing to do, but the heart wants what it wants, and these two definitely want each other.

I very much enjoyed reading KILLIAN. As always, Brenda has written a love story between characters with a lot of heart, but which is also absolutely full of passion and heat. Sidney and Killian are great foils for each other, each inspiring the other to evolve into better versions of themselves. Although their story is mostly wrapped up in this book, I look forward to seeing more of them in future books in the On the Line series, and to reading both Liam’s and Bennett’s stories.

Author Bio:

Brenda Rothert lives in Central Illinois with her husband and three sons. She was a daily print journalist for nine years, during which time she enjoyed writing a wide range of stories.

These days Brenda writes New Adult Romance in the Contemporary and Dystopian genres. She loves to hear from readers by email at bjrothert@sbcglobal.net.

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Happy Release + 5 Star Review – 2015 Favorite : Thoughtful by S. C. Stephens- A Thoughtless Series Novel

Posted on 02/24/2015 by shellbellereads

Thoughtful

Thoughtless Series – Book 4

By S. C. Stephens

Synopsis

In Thoughtless, Kiera told her story. Now it’s time to hear from the sexy rock star who captivated us all . . .

THOUGHTFUL

The only place Kellan Kyle has ever felt at home is onstage. Gripping his guitar in a darkened bar, he can forget his painful past. These days his life revolves around three things: music, his bandmates, and hot hookups. Until one woman changes everything . . .

Kiera is the kind of girl Kellan has no business wanting-smart, sweet, and dating his best friend. Certain he could never be worthy of her love, he hides his growing attraction . . . until Kiera’s own tormented heart hints that his feelings might not be one-sided. Now, no matter the consequences, Kellan is sure of one thing-he won’t let Kiera go without a fight.

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Michel’s Review

Our favorite rock star is back! Kellan Kyle stole our hearts in the Thoughtless trilogy. The latest release, Thoughtful is Kellan’s POV from Thoughtless, the book that began it all.

I have to admit I was a bit nervous about this book. I was fearful it was going to be the exact same book as Thoughtless with the same character motivations. I was also fearful that Kellan’s voice was going to come across more like a female POV. Many writers have attempted to retell a story from a different character’s POV and had epic fails. S. C. Stephens knocked Thoughtful out of the park. This book made me fall in love with Kellan Kyle’s character all over again. It actually endeared him to my heart more so than he already was. I closed this book with a happy heart and a satisfied mind.

S. C. Stephens has grown as a writer and mastered her craft. It is quite evident when you compare Thoughtless to Thoughtful. The writing has matured. This book clearly showcased the characters personalities with more depth and realism.

Thoughtful begins when Kellan first meets Kiera. His reaction to her was more than we were led to believe. It was beyond a physical reaction. I felt the intensity of his emotions and his deep need for her. I felt the longing he had deep in his soul.

As Kiera’s and Kellan’s relationship begins to progress the reader gets a better understanding of Kellan’s obsession for his best friend’s girl. Her rejections hurt more than his male pride and ego. They added more wounds to his deeply scarred soul. Her indecisiveness broke his heart. He wanted her to find him worthy of her love. He wanted to be her “one” that captured her heart.

Thoughtful gives the reader more insight to Kellan’s abusive childhood and a better understanding of his adult behaviors. The reader got to see where his insecurities developed and drove him to his manwhore obsessions. It validated the behaviors that led to Kellan being a manwhore. He was never shown love or affection. He never had any kind of healthy relationship whether it be a platonic , romantic, or family.

The reader got to experience all the swoon worthy love scenes, forbidden moments, and sneaking around in a whole new light. These moments affected Kellan just as deeply as they did Kiera if not more so. It seemed Kellan had more at stake because he allowed himself to become vulnerable. He never allowed himself hope.

The best part of Thoughtful was how it portrayed Kellan and Kiera’s love for each other. This book validated every action they were driven to take. They did it all for the possibility of a love that would last a lifetime. They did it because it was what their hearts needed to survive.

The moments of love, heartbreak, betrayal, and hope made this book a solid 5 Star book and 2015 Favorite. It made Kellan Kyle the man we love so dearly.

Kellan Kyle owns me!

The Thoughtless Series

Thoughtless – Book 1

For almost two years now, Kiera’s boyfriend, Denny, has been everything she’s ever wanted: loving, tender, and endlessly devoted to her. When they head off to a new city to start their lives together—Denny at his dream job and Kiera at a top-notch university—everything seems perfect. Then an unforeseen obligation forces the happy couple apart. Feeling lonely, confused, and in need of comfort, Kiera turns to an unexpected source—a local rock star named Kellan Kyle. At first, he’s purely a friend she can lean on, but as her loneliness grows, so does their relationship. And then one night everything changes…and none of them will ever be the same.

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Effortless – Book 2

After being caught in the middle of a love triangle that led to a devastating betrayal, Kiera pledged to learn from the mistakes she’d made. She was determined to never again inflict that kind of pain on anyone, especially the soulful, talented man who held her heart. But life offers new challenges for every relationship, and when Kiera’s love is put to the ultimate test, will it survive? Love is easy…trust is hard.

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Reckless – Book 3

Can love survive when life gets Reckless?

When the band hits it big, Kiera and Kellan must ask themselves: Can their love for each other withstand the constant pressures of superstardom? The friendships they’ve formed, the new family they’ve found, and the history they’ve forged will all play a part in helping them navigate the turbulent waters of the band’s exploding popularity. A greedy executive hell-bent on success, a declining pop star looking for an edge, and a media circus that twists lies into truths are just some of the obstacles the lovers will have to overcome if they are going to remain together. Fame comes with a price—but will it cost Kiera and Kellan everything?

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Thoughtful – Book 4

In Thoughtless, Kiera told her story. Now it’s time to hear from the sexy rock star who captivated us all . . .

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

About S. C. Stephens

S.C. Stephens is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who enjoys spending every free moment she has creating stories that are packed with emotion and heavy on romance.

Her debut novel, Thoughtless, an angst-filled love triangle charged with insurmountable passion and the unforgettable Kellan Kyle, took the literary world by storm. Amazed and surprised by the response to the release of Thoughtless in 2009, more stories were quick to follow. Stephens has been writing nonstop ever since.

In addition to writing, Stephens enjoys spending lazy afternoons in the sun reading fabulous novels, loading up her iPod with writer’s block reducing music, heading out to the movies, and spending quality time with her friends and family. She currently resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her two equally beautiful children.

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Happy Release + Review + Giveaway: When Joss Met Matt by Ellie Cahill

Posted on 02/24/2015 by shellbellereads

When Joss Met Matt

By Ellie Cahill

Synopsis

In the tradition of New Adult superstar Jessica Sorensen, Ellie Cahill’s debut novel is a charming friends-with-benefits story . . . with a twist!

What if after every bad breakup, there was someone to help “cleanse your palate”—someone who wouldn’t judge you, who was great in bed, someone you were sure not to fall in love with? “Sorbet sex” could solve everything—as long as it never got too sweet.

Joss and Matt have been friends since freshman year of college, meeting one night after Joss is dumped by her boyfriend. After a few drinks, Matt humors her with a proposition: that he’ll become her go-to guy whenever she needs to heal a broken heart. In return, she’ll do the same for him. The #1 Rule: They’ll never fall in love with each other. People scoff at the arrangement. But six years later, Joss and Matt are still the best of friends . . . with benefits.

Through a string of boyfriends and girlfriends—some almost perfect, some downright wrong—Joss and Matt are always there for each other when the going gets tough. No strings. No attachments. Piece of cake. No problem. After all, since they wrote the rules, surely they can play by them. Or can they?

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Advance praise for When Joss Met Matt:

“Hands down, one of my favorite New Adult reads . . . Ellie Cahill is definitely one to watch!”—New York Times bestselling author Cora Carmack

“This is one of those books that make you forget everything around you. Prepare to be consumed by this story.”—Sophie Jordan, New York Times bestselling author of Wild

“Fun, sexy, and full of amazing chemistry, When Joss Met Matt is an entertaining escape that will leave you smiling with every turn of the page.”—Cassie Mae, author of The Real Thing

Tina’s Review

Alternating timelines, clearly defined and spanning seven years. First person (Joss’s) POV.
They met as freshmen in college and fast became friends. After Joss suffers the breakup of a long-tern relationship, Joss and Matt agree that what is really needed is a “palate cleanser” aka Sorbet Sex, to get over the lingering “taste” of the cheating ex. From there, they build an impromptu “contract” of “DO’s and DON’T for Sorbet Sex” and kind of mutually agree to be each other’s unconventional Sorbet Sex partner of choice. The characters are very well portrayed as new adults, suffering from growing pains and new-found independence. They are witty and smart yet flawed and still learning. The secondary characters add fun, enjoyable layers with both their positive and negative contributions to the story. Some of their dates made me cringe & others (T.J.) had me laughing ’til I cried. Priceless stuff, that was! It was easy to buy into the dialogue and character interaction as the plot progressed smoothly, back and forth, from the past to the present unlike many books have been capable of doing. Kudos to Ms. Cahill for creating such seamless transitions. The conflict was subtly hidden in the background of the “NOW” while you read through short moments of the present and catching up with lengthier snippets of the past seven years. There was some minor predictability, as would be given for most feel-good rom-coms. The conclusion was strong and solid. If you are looking for a fun, romantic comedy that has the quality of “the big screen”, this is one to look at. I truly enjoyed this book, the characters and all the antics in between.

Author Bio

Ellie Cahill is a freelance writer and also writes books for young adults under the name Liz Czukas. She lives outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her husband, son, and the world’s loudest cat.

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Giveaway

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Cover Reveal : Revved by Samantha Towle

Posted on 02/24/2015 by shellbellereads

Samantha Towle has been working on a secret project and we are SO excited to be sharing the cover with you! Revved is releasing on March 24th! Make sure to add it to your TBR. Check out a sneak peek excerpt below.

Race car mechanic Andressa “Andi” Amaro has one rule—no dating drivers. With a good reason behind the rule, she has no plans on breaking it.

Carrick Ryan is the bad boy of Formula One. With a face and body that melts panties on sight, and an Irish lilt that leaves women on their knees, begging for more. He races hard and parties harder. The youngest driver to ever sign with F1, he’s still at the top of his game five years later, breaking hearts on and off the tracks.

When Andi is offered her dream job working in the glamorous world of F1, she leaves her home in Brazil, positive she can handle working for Carrick. But she’s not prepared for the off-the-chart sparks that fly the moment they meet.

Now, Andi has a crush on the one man she can’t have, and her resolve is about to be put to the test, because Carrick has decided he wants Andi, and he plans on testing her to the very limit…

Cover Designed by: Najla Qamber Designs

“Come on…just one piece of bacon.”
“No.” I move my plate toward me, and away from him.
“Aww, come on, baby. You know you wanna give me some.”
Baby?
I feel that word wash through me like an erotic cleansing.
Pressing my thighs and lips together, I shake my head. “Nope. Your smooth Irish charm won’t work on me.”
Grinning, he gives me a look straight from the sex devil. “Aww, Andressa. Baby. If you give me some…I’ll make it worth your while. It can be our little secret. I won’t tell anyone, I promise.”
“How do you manage to make a conversation about bacon sound dirty?”
“I’d say it’s a talent…but maybe it’s not me that’s dirty and it’s you. After all, you are the one interpreting it that way.”

New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and international bestselling author Samantha Towle began her first novel in 2008 while on maternity leave. She completed the manuscript five months later and hasn’t stopped writing since.

She has written contemporary romances, THE MIGHTY STORM, WETHERING THE STORM, TAMING THE STORM and TROUBLE.

She has also written paranormal romances, THE BRINGER and the ALEXANDRA JONES SERIES, all penned to tunes of The Killers, Kings of Leon, Adele, The Doors, Oasis, Fleetwood Mac, and more of her favourite musicians.

A native of Hull and a graduate of Salford University, she lives with her husband, Craig, in East Yorkshire with their son and daughter.

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Happy Release: Losing At Love by Jennifer Iacopelli – Outer Banks Tennis Academy Series – Book 2

Posted on 02/24/2015 by shellbellereads

It’s release day for Jennifer Iacopelli’s Losing at Love. This is the second book in Jennifer’s Outer Banks Tennis Academy series, and I am so excited to be sharing it with you!! Check out all the fantastic release day info, and be sure to enter Jennifer’s giveaway!!

Exclusive Excerpt:

La Metropolian Hotel

Paris, France

Indiana Gaffney gasped, her eyes flying open and locking on the glistening object across the hotel room. It reflected the muted television behind her, the French Open final, the red of the court, blurry in the polished silver. A large, round plate, innocuous to the untrained eye, with the sizeable laser carved logo of Roland Garros at the center, was braced against the mirror hanging on the hotel room wall. The mirror reflected the match clearly, the broad steps and fierce rallies of two men battling it out for the French Open Men’s title. But those men were mere afterthoughts as her eye caught a set of shoulders stretching the material of his t-shirt thin, not a mere image from the television, but broad and warm and real. Strong hands slid down her back, fingers twining into the ends of her long blonde hair, tugging on it gently, drawing her gaze away from the mirror and back to the green eyes of the man in her bed.

He kissed her soundly, sending shivers down her spine and making her hips rock against his and her legs tighten around his waist. “It’s not gonna disappear if you take your eyes off it,” Jack Harrison muttered into the skin of her neck, nipping at it lightly with his teeth.

“Feels like it will,” she whispered back, tilting her head to give him better access. Most of her mind was focused on what he was doing with his hands and mouth, but that plate, the one that declared in no uncertain terms that she was the new French Open junior champion, would not be ignored. Not even for the guy who made her heart pound like no one else ever had before, the guy who, up until a few days ago, could barely look at her without his shoulders slumping with guilt. Their age gap hadn’t shrunk in the days full of soft kisses and nights far more intense — though perhaps not as intense as she’d like — but he wasn’t fighting their attraction anymore. She hadn’t chased him, not really, but he’d known she wanted him, almost from the moment they first met. Then he’d found out how old she was and he started treating her like a flashing red SEVENTEEN was stamped across her forehead, every year between them creating an accompanying foot of distance. In the end, the attraction had been too much, even for someone as painfully good as Jack Harrison.

“Hey, Champ, you in there?” Jack’s voice brought her back, his lips spelling out the words against her shoulder.

“Champ?” Indy hummed and smiled. “I like the sound of that.” In fact, she liked the sound of it so much she planned on winning again the next chance she got, on the grass courts at Wimbledon.

“I bet you do. Get used to it, baby,” Jack said, his whole face lighting up as he shifted his weight forward, tilting her back onto the bed. A shriek bubbled up through her throat and the giggles followed as he leaned over her, bracing himself on his elbows and then smothering her laughter with the press of his mouth. As his tongue slid against hers, she turned herself over to it, letting herself revel in the dreams of future victories and the celebrations that would follow.

Losing At Love Synopsis:

Grass courts, tennis whites and the fiercest competition in the world. Wimbledon. After two crazy weeks in Paris, the girls of the Outer Banks Tennis Academy are headed to London with just one thing on their minds: winning.

Indiana Gaffney is fresh off a surprise win at the French Open junior tournament. Sponsors are clamoring for her attention, but what she wants more than anything—aside from a wild card to Wimbledon—is to be with Jack Harrison, but international fame and a secret relationship rarely mix well.

When Penny Harrison dreamed of playing at Wimbledon she never imagined agonizing pain shooting through her ankle with every step. With just a month until the tournament and the whole world expecting her to win, she’s determined to play, with or without the support of her coach or the love of her life, Alex Russell.

For the first time ever, no one expects anything from Jasmine Randazzo. After a crushing first-round defeat in the French Open juniors, the tennis world has given up on her, but worse than that, so have her parents, her best friend Teddy and maybe even her coach. With everyone writing her off, can she find it within herself to go after her dreams?

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Catch up on the series now with Game. Set. Match:

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About Jennifer Iacopelli:

Jennifer Iacopelli was born in New York and has no plans to leave…ever. Growing up, she read everything she could get her hands on, but her favorite authors were Laura Ingalls Wilder, L.M. Montgomery and Frances Hodgson Burnett all of whom wrote about kick-ass girls before it was cool for girls to be kick-ass. She got a Bachelor’s degree in Adolescence Education and English Literature quickly followed up by a Master’s in Library Science, which lets her frolic all day with her books and computers, leaving plenty of time in the evenings to write and yell at the Yankees, Giants and her favorite tennis players through the TV.

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5 Star Review : Try With Me by Elyssa Patrick – With Me Series – Book 3

Posted on 02/23/2015 by shellbellereads

Try With Me

With Me Series – Book 3

By Elyssa Patrick

Synopsis

There is nothing happily ever after about my life. My mom is dying of breast cancer. I work four jobs just to keep us going.

What I don’t need to deal with?

Jamie McAlister.

Yeah. Him. Blond, tall, gorgeous. I had a crush on him throughout high school, but he never knew I existed. I don’t even think he knows my name. I was too shy to say a word to him. It seems that everywhere I go, he’s there. And now? He’s kissed me–a lot. And those hot kisses have led to even hotter nights.

I’m falling for him, head over heels. But I don’t know how to fit Jamie into my life. I only know I need him. Which means I have to try for something I never thought was possible. I have to fight for him and a forever kind of love.

THE WITH ME SERIES IN ORDER:
Stay With Me ~ available now (Hailey & Caleb)
Go With Me ~ available now (Daphne & Nick)
Try With Me ~ available now (Zelda & Jamie)
Dream With Me ~ Fall 2015 (Esmé & Griff)

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

I first stumbled across Elyssa Patrick when I saw a post by Maya Banks on Facebook praising her first book. I figured if Maya Banks was singing her praises that this new author had to good. I downloaded that first book and have become a devout Elyssa Patrick fan. Every single book she has published has been a 5 Star Book. She has ventured from the New Adult genre to Contemporary Romance and Erotic Romance. Each and every book has a fresh voice and a gripping romance. Her characters come to life. The sexual tension, romantic tension, and character tension is a slow build that becomes explosive. The emotional and romantic moments pull at the heart strings. Each and every book has a lively cast of secondary characters that not only supports the leading characters but also finds a place in the reader’s heart. By the end of the book, the reader is not only happy with the outcome of the story, they are also hoping that one of these secondary characters will get their own moment to shine in a future book.

Try With Me is the third book in the With Me series. This series revolves around four sexy college roommates and the women that become a part of their “family”. Try With Me features the Jamie McAlister. Out of the four guys , Jamie is the jokester and easy going one of the group. Not only is he drop dead gorgeous, he is also smart, hard working, loyal, and dependable. It would seem he has everything going for him. He wants to have a steady relationship like his two other roommates have. There is only one girl he wants to have that relationship with. A girl he knew in high school. A girl that was out of his league. He wants Zelda.

Zelda’s life didn’t go as she planned after she graduated high school. She didn’t go to Harvard. In fact she didn’t go to college at all. Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has spent the last three years taking care of her mother, searching for new treatments to help her mother, and working four jobs to make ends meet. She does’t have time for a social life. She doesn’t have time for herself. Her mother has reached the end of her treatments and has about six weeks to live. Zelda wants to bring her home and spend the rest of her time with her. Zelda’s life is in complete chaos. When she runs into Jamie McAlister, the one boy she had a crush on in high school, she doesn’t have time for love. How can she resist the one man she has always wanted?

Zelda and Jamie will find the love they always wanted but never thought they could have. Zelda will gain a new group of friends that will be there when she needs them the most. Zelda will learn life to live life to the fullest. She will be able to go on after a devastating loss.

Try With Me was my favorite book in this series. It was emotional, heartbreaking, uplifting, and humorous. It portrayed real life. I loved Jamie. His quirky humor and steadfast personality made it easy to fall in love with him.

Read Try With Me by Elyssa Patrick. Read the With Me Series.

With Me Series

Stay With Me – Book 1

‘ve been famous since I can remember. Singing, acting, dancing–I’ve done it all. The tabloids cover my every move, but I don’t want that anymore. I want to be normal, whatever that is.

When I leave Hollywood for college in Vermont, I’m on my own for the first time in my life. This is my chance to figure out who I am and what I want in life.

But it’s a lot harder than I expected. I can’t escape my image. Classes are difficult, and I’m struggling. And then there’s Caleb Fox.

Sexy, intriguing Caleb Fox.

Caleb is the one man who doesn’t want to use me. He breaks down my walls. He challenges me. He wants me. And I just don’t know if I can give him the same–or if he’ll stick around when he finds out my shameful secret that the tabloids haven’t managed to uncover.

Dating him is risky enough, but loving him could break me.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Go With Me – Book 2

I, Daphne Fox, have a few things to confess:

1. I hate Nick Brady. Loathe. Abhor. Can’t stand him 95% of the time.
2. That other 5%? I’m not talking about that at all.
3. People think I’m lucky for surviving the car crash. I disagree.
4. Nick is the only guy who makes my nightmares go away.
5. I won’t love him, though. Love is not worth the pain.

I, Nick Brady, have a few confessions of my own:

1. I don’t hate Daphne Fox. At all.
2. I find her scar sexy. Just like the rest of her.
3. I may be her older brother’s best friend, but that’s not going to stop me.
4. I love her.
5. And I’m going to do everything I can to have her.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

About Elyssa Patrick

Elyssa Patrick is a former high school English teacher who left the classroom to write sexy, funny, emotional contemporary romances. She is currently hard at work on her next novel.

She loves to hear from her readers!

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + Review: By Any Other Name by J.M. Darhower – Forbidden Series – Book 1

Posted on 02/23/2015 by shellbellereads

By Any Other Name

Forbidden Series – Book 1

Release Date: February 23, 2015

By J.M. Darhower

Synopsis

Genevieve “Genna” Galante knows a thing or two about causing trouble. After all, it’s engrained in her DNA. As the only daughter of Primo Galante, notorious boss of the Galante crime family, her life is dictated by a certain set of rules… rules Genna was never very good at following.

Matteo “Matty” Barsanti never wanted anything to do with the family business, but as the first-born Barsanti son, certain things are expected of him. It’s his duty, according to his father, to help take down the enemy… even if that enemy means something to him.

A chance encounter on an elevator changes the course of lives, causing the biggest trouble of Genna’s young life. The only good Barsanti is a dead Barsanti. She’s heard it said time and time again. So what happens when she falls in love with one of them?

The story of star-crossed lovers caught in the middle of the biggest rivalry New York has ever seen, determined to make it… if only they can survive their parents’ feud.

Teaser

“A Roman Coke,” Genna mused. “What’s that?”

“It’s rum and Coke. We just call it a Roman Coke around here.”

“Because you’re Italian?”

“And because when you get drunk enough, it all just slurs together anyway.”

“Ah.” Genna picked hers up, motioning toward him with it. “So what are we drinking to?”

“Today.”

“Today?”

He nodded. “Right now, this moment. Let’s drink to it.”

Smiling, she clinked her glass with his. “Today, then.”

They threw them back at the same time. The liquor hit Genna’s taste buds and she grimaced, the vicious burn seeping down her throat and settling deep in her chest. “Ugh, is there even any Coke in this damn thing?”

Matty laughed, setting his empty glass down. “Just a splash.”

“I couldn’t tell.”

“That’s because I prefer it that way,” he responded. “Strong and rough, enough to leave a lingering ache. I like it to hurt just a bit.”

Oh good God. Those words sent a chill down Genna’s spine, one she couldn’t hide, as Matty waved for the waitress. Eyes never leaving Genna, he ordered another round of drinks.

“Another?” she asked, picking up the water to take another sip, this one to soothe the sting in her chest. “You said one drink.”

A sly smile curved his lips. “I like to keep them coming.”

“Is that right?”

“Absolutely.” Matty stood, leaning across the table, his lips near her ear. “Maybe you’ll let me show you later.”

Robin’s Review

Two Mafia families at war. Close friends who are now bitter enemies. Family loyalty before love. Two children – a Galante daughter and a Barsanti son – have fallen in love. One romance destined for tragedy.

By Any Other Name is the first novel of the Forbidden series. It’s a modern-day version of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet from author J. M. Darhower, and I am extremely impressed with her interpretation of this famous star-crossed tragedy.

In New York City, there are five major crime families that control the underworld: the Galantes, the Barsantis, the Amaros, the Genevas and the Calabreses. While the Galantes and the Barsantis are at war with each other, the other three crime families attempt to remain neutral.

Matteo Barsanti is the oldest son of Roberto Barsanti. Matteo disappeared from society as a child. Hidden away by his father, his existence has largely become an urban legend. Matteo returns to his family in New York City only when he learns his mother has become critically ill.

Genevieve Galante is the only daughter of Primo Galante. Because she has been extremely sheltered by her family, Genna is naturally inclined to fight any and every rule. And fight the rules she does! Genna has been in trouble with the police “for everything from underage drinking to trespassing to vandalism,” but it’s her arrest for grand theft auto which lands her in criminal court.

Here is where the story gets interesting. When Genna leaves court, she has a chance encounter with a family enemy. She unknowingly steps onto an elevator with Matteo Barsanti……and then the elevator breaks down. Since Matteo has been missing from the circles of the New York City underworld, neither of them recognize who the other is. Stuck between floors of the criminal court building, Genna and Matty get to know each other, which leads to him asking her if she would like to go get a drink.

“If an eye is injured, injure the eye of the person who did it. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the person who did it. Similarly, the payment must be hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.” Exodus 21:24 Old Testament Bible

Darhower is consummate when she writes about the Mafia. These stories are always packed full of intrigue, nail-biting action and romantic suspense. By Any Other Name no different. It was completely intense! And I just fell in love with Matty and Genna – I couldn’t help but pull for these star-crossed lovers. Of course, this had me unsettled because it felt as if I was waiting for a train wreck to happen! Remember Romeo and Juliet?

My mind is having trouble letting go of this story. Darhower states in her acknowledgments that By Any Other Name was her National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) novel of 2013. She also mentions she wrote By Any Other Name in thirty days. Thirty days! Honestly, the more I think about this novel, the more impressed with it that I am. If you are looking for an exciting new novel, I recommend By Any Other Name by J. M. Darhower. My rating is 4.5 stars.

_________________________________________________________________

About the Author:

JM Darhower is the author of countless stories and poems, most of which only she has ever read. She lives in a tiny town in rural North Carolina, where she churns out more words than will ever see the light of day. She has a deep passion for politics and speaking out against human trafficking, and when she isn’t writing she’s usually ranting about those things. Chronic crimper with a vulgar mouth, she admits to having a Twitter addiction. You can find her there.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Review: Snowed In by Sarah Title – Southern Comfort Series – Book 3

Posted on 02/23/2015 by shellbellereads

Snowed In

Southern Comfort Series – Book 3

By Sarah Title

Synopsis

There’s nothing like a hot kiss on a cold day…

Librarian Maureen O’Connell might have predicted she’d find herself crying into the ice cream case at the supermarket after a bad breakup—but she definitely never imagined that a guy hot enough to melt the Rocky Road would flirt with her right there in the freezer aisle. Only Gavin Fraser isn’t a fantasy, he’s a mouth-watering new flavor…

When a freak snowstorm strands Maureen at Gavin’s after just one date, it’s a perfect excuse for something a lot steamier than hot chocolate in front of the fire. It’s definitely lust. Can it also be love?

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Tracey’s Review

After being jilted by her boyfriend of two years, Maureen O’Connell finds herself in a, well, strange position. Considering drowning her woes in a pint of ice cream, Maureen’s encounter with a mystery man amidst the frozen foods is completely out of character, but does the trick of snapping her out of her misery. And when fate brings them together again, she’s in for quite a surprise.

Snowed In by Sarah Title was a pleasant surprise for me. I’d never read any of Sarah’s books, but this one looked cute (I’m a sucker for a story involving a librarian, being the book lover that I am), so I picked it up. This is a shorter read, but no less engaging for not being longer. Maureen’s inner dialogue had me laughing, and Gavin is an absolute sweetheart, being just what Maureen needs to get over her ex. Their interactions are sweet, humorous, and pretty darned sexy, and I enjoyed reading their story. Sarah writes character and dialogue in a way that drew me right in and kept me reading straight through to see how things finished up. The secondary characters are great, too. I absolutely adored Pippa and Marv; they are a hoot, and we should all be so lucky to have neighbors like them.

The only thing that gave me pause with Snowed In was the darned insta-love aspect between Maureen and Gavin. It’s fairly common in romances, especially if the story is shorter, but I have a hard time buying into the idea. Given the quirky way that they met, though, and the chemistry between them, I was willing to go along with the story and see how it played out, and Sarah did a nice job of tying things together in the end. I will happily read more books by Sarah, and would recommend Snowed In for fans of the genre.

The Southern Comfort Series

Kentucky Home – Book 1

In this warm and witty new series, author Sarah Title introduces readers to the down home Kentucky hospitality of the Carson family and their Wild Rose Farm and Stables. It’s a place where love is always possible—and sweeter than ever the second time around…

Mallory Thompson and Keith Carson are far from impressed with each other when she arrives at his family’s horse farm, fleeing an abusive marriage. Mallory sees nothing but a gruff man who’s as patronizing as her soon-to-be ex-husband, and Keith has no time for a city girl who’s afraid of dogs. But the struggling Wild Rose is too small to allow anyone to keep their distance…

As one by one, Mallory wins the hearts of his family, from his cranky father to his headstrong younger sister and three-legged dog, Keith finds himself more than a little attracted to her stubborn charm. And the longer Mallory stays, the more she realizes Keith is nothing like the overbearing bully she married—and the more she fantasizes about being in his strong, loving arms. Maybe some folks get a second chance to make a first impression after all…

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Home Sweet Home – Book 2

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman in possession of a ramshackle house must be in want of a handyman.”

Just because English professor Grace Williams is a woman whose “new” house is crumbling around her doesn’t mean she needs an arrogant, condescending man’s help, even if he does look gorgeous in faded jeans and a tool belt. What she needs is a working bathroom, not a ridiculous crush.

Jake Burdette has no use for the university types who stumble around Willow Springs, with their noses in the air whenever they’re not in a book. He may not be a scholar, but he’s proud of the hard, honest work he does—even if he would appreciate a little more of it. He doesn’t need Grace’s pity, even if he does wish she wasn’t so adorably sexy.

They’re all wrong for each other. But Grace’s troublesome house seems to feel differently…

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Sarah Title has worked as a barista, a secretary, a furniture painter, and once managed a team of giant walking beans. She currently leads a much more normal life as a librarian in West Virginia. Kentucky Home is her first novel.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Sneak Peek + Giveaway – Very Twisted Things by Ilsa Madden- Mills

Posted on 02/23/2015 by shellbellereads

Very Twisted Things

A Standalone Briarcrest Academy Novel – Book 3

By Ilsa Madden-Mills

Release Date: March 1, 2015

This is a standalone New Adult novel with graphic sex and language.

Introductory price of $2.99 on release day for 24 hours only!

Synopsis

Vital Rejects front guy Sebastian Tate never imagined his YouTube music video would go viral, sky-rocketing him to acting success in Hollywood. Okay, maybe he did. After all, he’s a cocky dude who knows he’s hot-as-hell, and it was only a matter of time before his stars aligned.

But life in Tinseltown is never what it seems.

After being cheated on by his ex-lover, his only rule to falling in love is simple: Keep Calm and Don’t Do It. So, spying on his mysterious new neighbor with binoculars seems innocent enough, but quickly escalates into an erotic game between two very unlikely people.

Twenty-year-old Violet St. Lyons is a world-renowned violinist who’s lost her mojo on stage. She hides away in a Hollywood mansion, trying to find her way through her twisted past in order to make her future.

He’s the life of the party with girls chasing him down for his autograph. She’s the introvert with a potty mouth who doesn’t even know who he is.

When they meet, stars collide, sparks fly, and clothes come off. Yet, giving his heart to a girl isn’t Sebastian’s plan; falling for a guy who craves attention isn’t Violet’s.

Welcome to Briarcrest Academy—Hollywood style—where sometimes the best things in life are VERY TWISTED THINGS.

This book is a standalone even though it’s part of a series. Everything you need to know is in this book. Genre: 18+ Hot New Adult Romance.

Prologue

Violet

“Fairy dust is not real. This I know.” —from the journal of Violet St. Lyons

Boom!

I, Violet St. Lyons, who once believed herself the luckiest girl in the world, was born on the same day that the Violette–Sells comet was discovered. My parents, two avid stargazers, said it was a sign of how special I was and promptly named me Violet. They claimed my life had been blessed with fairy dust.

At the very least, comet residue.

I’d foolishly believed it for eighteen years, until the moment of my death.

Which was now.

Boom! Another explosion rocked the plane and metal ripped away as a section of the aircraft to my right vanished. Luggage flew through the air. People disappeared. The mom with the baby who’d sat in the aisle across from us—gone. The redheaded flight attendant who’d been collecting trash—gone. Disembodied screams echoed from the surrounding passengers as my own scream took up most of the space in my head. Air sucked at us viciously from the outside as a tornado of people banged around the space and one by one got pulled out into the swirling abyss.

I watched, helplessly transfixed, as I sat between my parents, gripping each of their hands as the plane we’d boarded six hours earlier for Dublin spiraled toward the Atlantic Ocean. I was going to die. My mother was already dead, a twisted piece of shrapnel sticking grotesquely from her chest as her head lolled around her neck. Blood had already soaked her shirt, yet I refused to let go of her hand. She’d be okay. We were always okay. We were the St. Lyons family of Manhattan, an icon of old money wealth with deep political ties. Page six of the New York Times featured pictures of us on a monthly basis. We couldn’t die on a plane.

Reality dawned as we plummeted. The yellow breathing apparatus dropped and dangled in my face, taunting me with its pointlessness. Fire and black smoke boiled in front of us where the cockpit had been, and my mind recognized that the pilots had to be dead. Just a few minutes ago, they’d come over the intercom and announced that the plane was making its descent into Dublin Airport exactly on schedule.

Then the first explosion had gone off.

Bits of debris flew around, narrowly missing me. My elderly father grabbed my hand and squeezed, his face drawn back in a horrible grimace. Fear and then horror flickered across his face as he saw Mother, but there was no time to comfort him.

Paralyzed in my seat, we spun like a drunken top, and a part of my brain noticed the sun was rising, its pink tinge lending a soft glow, catching the reflection of clouds and making them silver-lined. The rocky coast of Ireland glittered in the distance. Mocking me. We’d been headed there to celebrate my eighteenth birthday.

Just then my violin case flew past my head from the overhead compartment and crashed against the wall of the plane. Shards flew. I shuddered and wanted to vomit. God, help us. We were here because of me. Our deaths were my fault. I spared a glance at the diamond promise ring Geoff had given me before we’d left. Would the Mayor of New York’s son go on without me?

The air was turbulent yet thin, and my chest tightened as dizziness pulled at me. I resisted. Had to stay awake. Had to be with my dad. I was younger, stronger, faster. My eyes went to the gaping hole in the plane. Had to think ahead. Plan. Water would fill up the plane on impact, ensuring we’d sink rapidly.

My fear escalated as the ocean rushed at us, its surface choppy and ominous. I took in a giant breath and braced myself. We hit at an angle, the plane a torpedo as it sliced into the sea. Daddy disappeared, ejected by the impact, and I yanked on my seat belt, unclicking it to go after him. Heart thundering, I sent a final look at my mother. I wanted to take her with me, but she was gone.

Water everywhere, bubbling and gurgling as it filled up the plane. Salt water stung my eyes. People floated by, some alive as they floundered for the opening. I kept my gaze off the dead ones. Focus. Get out. Only seconds left.

I swam from my seat and fought my way out of the large hole in the plane, lungs exploding. Burning. I’d been under too long.

Daddy! I caught a glimpse of his red shirt above me and kicked harder.

Up, up, up. Must get up. My arms moved. My legs kicked. Excruciating pain. Ignore it. Almost there. So close that I could see the daylight breaking through the water.

The hottest fire I’ve ever known lit in my chest. Scorching.

Air. Just want to breathe. Just get to the top. Please.

My body rebelled and I inhaled and swallowed water, the burn racing down my throat making it spasm as I tried to cough it out. I struggled but took in more and more, the cold liquid filling my lungs.

Dark spots filled my eyes. This was drowning.

Exhausted.

Done.

My body twitched. I grew disoriented.

I let go of the fight. My hands floated in front of me.

Oblivion.

Darkness.

No bright lights, no tunnel.

No heaven, no mother, no father.

No comets.

No fairy dust.

Chapter 1

Sebastian

Two years later

“She was music with skin.” —Sebastian Tate

I tapped my foot.

What was taking her so long?

From my backyard patio in the Hollywood Hills, I watched the odd girl next door with a pair of high-powered binoculars. She flicked on her porch lights, and a low whistle came out of me at the sexy red-as-sin robe she wore, its silky material flashing around her long legs as she moved around her patio. Her hair was down, too.

This was new. Where were the usual yoga pants? The ponytail?

She looked like she knew someone watched, but that was impossible since our outside lights were off. Even the light from the moon hit our house at such an angle that she shouldn’t be able to see us just by glancing over. She’d need a high-powered lens to know I was here.

Usually she played facing her rose garden, but this time she walked to the right side of her patio, which faced us. Weird. But she didn’t play. She just stood there without moving. Staring toward our house. Uneasiness went over me.

What was she doing?

Could she see me?

As if it were a fragile bird, she positioned the violin under her chin and began playing, arms bent and wrist poised, making the most exquisite sounds. And I don’t mean classical like Beethoven or Mozart; I mean body-thrashing, blood-thumping, hard-as-hell music that had me rooted to the ground, like she’d slapped iron chains on me.

Dark and seductive notes rose up in the air, and I got jacked up, recognizing a Led Zeppelin song, only she’d ripped its guts out and twisted it into something electric. She pushed the bow hard, upping the tempo abruptly, her movements controlled yet wild. My pulse kicked up and my eyes lingered, taking in the slightly parted toned legs and the way her breasts bounced as she jerked her arms to manipulate the strings.

Her body arched forward in a curve, seeming as if she might break into a million pieces before she finished the piece or climaxed first. Then, her robe slipped off her right shoulder, exposing part of her breast. Creamy and full, it quivered, vibrating as she moved her arms. Her rosy nipple teased me, slipping in and out of the folds of the material, erect from the cool mountain air and deliciously bitable. I pictured my mouth there, sucking, my fingers plucking, strumming her like my guitar until she begged me to—

Stop, I told myself just as an appreciative groan came out. Whoever Violin Girl was, she didn’t deserve me lusting after her while she was pouring her heart out with music.

I zoomed in as far as the binoculars would go, watching her surrender to the music as she bent and swayed from side to side with her eyes closed, black lashes like fans on her cheeks. Every molecule in my body focused on her, hanging on to each note she pulled from her instrument.

She finished and kept her head bowed for the longest time, perhaps letting the emotion wash over her like it had me. Then, she bowed to the banana trees and gnomes in her garden, waving her hands in a flourish as she rose.

The entire event was surreal, yet poignant as fucking poetry.

I let out a deep breath I didn’t even realize I’d been holding.

Who the hell plays Stairway to Heaven with a violin? She did.

Bam! She snapped her head up, her eyes lasering in on mine, making every hair on my body stand at attention.

And then …

Standing there in the moonlight, she untied her robe and spread apart the sides ever so slightly, her movements seeming almost hesitant, as if she’d had to work herself up. Unfamiliar jealousy hit me and I panned out and checked the rest of the patio, expecting to see a lover. Whoever it was, I wanted to rip him apart piece by piece.

And didn’t that thought surprise me.

My gaze searched her patio, the backyard, her upstairs balcony. Nothing. No one.

She flicked her dark hair back and stroked the lapels of the robe, her fingers lingering over the lacy material. Suddenly the evening smacked of something more than just music. Her arms moved back and forth across the front, opening the robe halfway and then closing it as if she couldn’t make up her mind.

My eyes went up, trying to read her face. Still as a statue, the only movement was her mouth as it trembled, her full upper lip resting against the pouty lower one. Tears ran down her face, but they seemed more of a defiant act, her jaw tightly set, her shoulders hunched inward as if she’d held it in too long and was giving in, but not without a fight.

Violin Girl was trapped in a cage of darkness.

It still didn’t stop me from holding my breath, silently begging her to bare herself to me. She’d already laid bare her music. Part of me needed the rest of her.

She jerked the robe closed, making me groan in disappointment.

And then she did something completely crazy.

The lonely girl next door flipped me the bird.

Author Bio

New York Times and USA Today best selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills writes about strong heroines and sexy alpha males that sometimes you just want to slap.

She spends her days with two small kids, one neurotic cat, and one husband. She collects magnets and rarely cooks except to bake her own pretzels.

When she’s not crafting a story, you can find her drinking too much Diet Coke, jamming out to Pink, or checking on her carefully maintained chocolate stash.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Instagram ~ Amazon Author Page

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