2015 Favorite + 6 Star Review: Hawthorne & Heathcliff by R.K. Ryals

Posted on 08/23/2015 by shellbellereads

Hawthorne & Heathcliff

By R.K. Ryals

Genre: Mature YA / New Adult / Coming of Age

Synopsis

Two names that didn’t belong to us. Two shoes that did.

Intense and introspective, seventeen-year-old Hawthorne Macy knows all about being abandoned. She’s felt the stark pain of being left behind by the people who are supposed to love her the most; her parents. Raised by her caring uncle on an old plantation, Hawthorne lives her life on the fringes of her small Southern town.

Until she meets his shoe.

Senior year, last period English class, and a pair of silent tennis shoes resting next to hers in the back of the room throws Hawthorne into a world she’d learned to stay outside of.

His name is Max Vincent, but in her mind, he’s Heathcliff. The handsome eighteen-year-old boy behind the shoes will pull Hawthorne into a passionate and unforgettable adventure of self-discovery during a time when love seems impossible.

Shoes can tell a lot about a person. The journey they take you on can tell a lot about how they’ll hold up.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Michel’s Review

Hawthorne & Heathcliff by R.K. Royals was recommended to me when it first released. I read the synopsis and thought this book sounded good. I purposely stayed away from Goodreads and Amazon reviews because I did not want to open this book with expectations or pre-formed opinions. I wanted to experience this book for myself.

I opened this book with an open mind and clear head. The very first page drew me in and I could not put the book down until the very last word was read. I read the book almost two weeks ago and could not think of how to write a review for this book. There are no words that can describe the beauty of this book. On the surface it is a coming of age romance that is beautiful within itself. But between the lines is where this book shines and makes an impact that will not be forgotten long after the last page has been read. It touches the very core of the human spirit. It shows how resilient the human spirit can be once we open our hearts & minds and allow life to happen. Life is messy. Life is chaotic. Life is unpredictable. It can also be beautiful and exalting. It’s how we process it all and allow it into our souls. We need to open our hearts and let life in with all it’s messy glory. To accept it and make it our own. Allow it to shape us to become a stronger and better person. To become the person we were meant to be rather than being the person we thought we should be.

This book was an emotional journey. I laughed, cried, ached,and rejoiced. My heart was engaged with every single word.

The writing in this book was brilliant. R.K. Ryals based part of the book on the poem Mirror by Sylvia Plath. It made the leading characters reflect about how they saw themselves and their lives. But that is only the beginning, she used shoes as a prop on how they saw other people and how those people fit into their lives. She also used classic literature by Jane Austin to showcase the leading characters. She added all of these elements to bring Max and Claire to life without letting them overshadow their own unique personalities. The subtle messages and examples the secondary characters delivered in this book is astounding. Their characters became just as important as the leading characters in a very different way. All of these elements make the characters and their romance shine. It is one of the most beautiful romances that I have read because it was honest and realistic.

Hawthorne & Heathcliff is a book for all ages. Whether you are a teenager experiencing first love or a senior citizen experiencing your last days, this book will touch your soul. It’s a celebration of the human spirit in all it’s glory.

Read Hawthorne & Heathcliff by R.K. Royals.

______________________________________

Author Bio:

R.K. Ryals is the author of emotional and gripping young adult and new adult paranormal romance, contemporary romance, and fantasy. With a strong passion for charity and literacy, she works as a full time writer encouraging people to “share the love of reading one book at a time.” An avid animal lover and self-proclaimed coffee-holic, R.K. Ryals was born in Jackson, Mississippi and makes her home in the Southern U.S. with her husband, her three daughters, a rescue dog named Oscar the Grouch, A Shitzsu named Tinkerbell, an OCD cat, and a coffee pot she honestly couldn’t live without. Should she ever become the owner of a fire-breathing dragon (tame of course), her life would be complete.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + 5 Star Review + 2015 Favorite : Pucked by Helena Hunting

Posted on 05/06/2015 by shellbellereads

Pucked

By Helena Hunting

Release Date: May 3, 2015

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

Synopsis

With a famous NHL player for a stepbrother, Violet Hall is well acquainted with the playboy reputation of many a hockey star. So of course she isn’t interested in legendary team captain Alex Waters or his pretty, beat-up face and rock-hard six-pack abs. When Alex inadvertently obliterates Violet’s misapprehension regarding the inferior intellect of hockey players, he becomes much more than just a hot body with the face to match.

Suffering from a complete lapse in judgment, Violet discovers just how good Alex is with the hockey stick in his pants. Violet believes her night of orgasmic magic with Alex is just that: one night. But Alex starts to call. And text. And email and send extravagant—and quirky—gifts. Suddenly, he’s too difficult to ignore, and nearly impossible not to like.

The problem is, the media portrays Alex as a total player, and Violet doesn’t want to be part of the game.

Michel’s Review

I want to get PUCKED! I absolutely loved Helena Hunting’s latest release PUCKED. It was a truly pleasurable reading experience that had me laughing my a## off. It was a scorcher! Alex Waters is the new upcoming Super Hero ( when you read the book you will understand what I mean). He has super powers that will make women swoon, drench their panties, and sets their Beaver’s on fire! He is even willing to date the tata’s. He will worship them, give them equal opportunity, and send them gift cards. Oh and did I forget to mention that Alex is smart? The man knows his literature, he’s an expert of the English language, and he wrote the textbook on How To Talk Dirty.

Violet Hall is her own very unique individual. She has quick witt, a dirty mind, and a very vivid imagination. Even though she doesn’t date hockey players she is going to make the exception for Alex Waters. After all the man can read. What starts out as a fun interlude turns into a full blown out PUCK fest that leads to a more committed pucking relationship. But is Alex Waters ready for Violet Hall and her smart mouth. Is he ready to lay down his stick and become a one pucking kind of guy?

Both Violet and Alex are going to SCORE big. They are PUCKED!

Read the book. It is humerotica at it’s finest!

Helena Hunting …. you rock!

Author Bio:

Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She’s putting her English degree to good use by writing popular fiction. She is the author of Clipped Wings, her debut novel, and Inked Armor.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + 5 Star Review + 2015 Favorite: The Mistake by Elle Kennedy – Off Campus Series – Book 2

Posted on 04/28/2015 by shellbellereads

The Mistake

Off-Campus Series – Book 2

By Elle Kennedy

Synopsis

He’s a player in more ways than one…

College junior John Logan can get any girl he wants. For this hockey star, life is a parade of parties and hook-ups, but behind his killer grins and easygoing charm, he hides growing despair about the dead-end road he’ll be forced to walk after graduation. A sexy encounter with freshman Grace Ivers is just the distraction he needs, but when a thoughtless mistake pushes her away, Logan plans to spend his final year proving to her that he’s worth a second chance.

Now he’s going to need to up his game…

After a less than stellar freshman year, Grace is back at Briar University, older, wiser, and so over the arrogant hockey player she nearly handed her V-card to. She’s not a charity case, and she’s not the quiet butterfly she was when they first hooked up. If Logan expects her to roll over and beg like all his other puck bunnies, he can think again. He wants her back? He’ll have to work for it. This time around, she’ll be the one in the driver’s seat…and she plans on driving him wild.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Michel’s Review

It’s official…. I am a self declared PUCK BUNNY ! Elle Kennedy has delivered another fantastic book in her highly acclaimed Off-Campus series. Her latest release, The Mistake, features hockey player John Logan. John Logan is the latest college hockey legend to Grace the pages and make the readers swoon. This guy has it all… he’s a gifted athlete, he is hotter than hades, he’s a dirty talker that definitely can back up his banter, he’s a nice guy beneath the whorish reputation he carries, he’s dedicated to his family beyond expectations, and when he falls in love- he falls hard and takes everything down with him.

John Logan has been pining for his best friend Garrett’s girlfriend, Hannah. Hannah is everything he wants in a girlfriend. Logically he knows that she is off limits but he can’t help the way he feels. While trying to deal with his unrequited feelings he leans on his players reputation and sexual prowess for self therapy. He’s banging a different coed nightly and using frat parties as his playground. It may look like he is at the top of his game but deep down he is coming in last. Something has to give.

An accidental meeting with a freshman changes everything. When Logan meets Grace Ivers, he shares more than her gummy bears. The two start fooling around in a casual manner. He really doesn’t know much about Grace. He’s only interested in the distraction she provides him. But when the regular Puck Bunnies pull out their claws and start attacking Grace he steps in for the rescue. This leads to a huge mistake and wrong assumptions. When all is said and done, he has carelessly used Grace, led her on, and threw her away. When he realizes the consequences of his mistake he is full of regret. He wants a chance to rectify his mistake. He wants Grace. He wants another chance.

After numerous rejections, a long summer with his miserable family, and a harsh dose of reality, Logan is back at Briar ready to finish his senior year. He knows he has to make the most of the this year because it is his last chance before his future reality crushes him. The top of his list is making peace with Grace Ivers. He wants the opportunity to prove that he is a good guy and boyfriend material. But Grace has different ideas. She is going to put John Logan through the hoops. She’s going to make him dance to a new tune. She has a list. It’s a good thing that John Logan is a competitive athlete. He is going to get the workout and game that most players could never endure. John plans to win this game. This game is the only thing that matters in his miserable life. His future is riding on this game. He made have made the biggest mistake in his life but he learned a very value lesson. He learned the true meaning of love.

I absolutely loved this book as much as I loved the first book in the series. The tone of the story, the plot, the dialogue, and the characters are captivating. The Mistake is packed with humor, angst, heartbreak, redemption, and hope. Once again Elle Kennedy showcased her superb writing talent.

I am looking forward to the next books in this series. There are two hockey roommates screaming for a book. The very spoiled rich player Dean needs to be brought down a notch. Babyfaced Tuck needs someone to wrap him up in hugs & kisses and make sure he doesn’t forget to shave.

Each book can be read as a stand alone novel or in series order.

Read The Mistake by Elle Kennedy. It will not disappoint.

The Off-Campus Series

The Deal

Off-Campus Series – Book 1

By Elle Kennedy

Synopsis

USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

She’s about to make a deal with the college bad boy…

Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she’s carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush’s attention, she’ll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice…even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date.

…and it’s going to be oh so good

All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he’s worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he’s all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn’t take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn’t going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.

***New Adult/Contemporary Romance. First of a series, but each book will be a standalone***

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

_____________________

About Elle Kennedy

A USA Today bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a BA in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Newsletter

Release Blitz + 6 Star Review + 2015 Favorite: Interim by S. Walden

Posted on 04/14/2015 by shellbellereads

Interim

Genre: YA/ NA Crossover Suspense/Psychological Thriller

By S. Walden

Synopsis

Book Description:

~A lot can change in the space between devising a plan and carrying it out. That space is called the Interim.~

High school seniors Jeremy Stahl and Regan Walters aren’t friends. Not even close. He’s a picked-on, picked-apart loser outcast. She’s a cool kid running with the popular crowd. It’s unlikely they’d ever speak to one another. Too bad he’s madly in love with her. But what does it matter, anyway? He’s got no time for love. Only revenge.

Meticulously detailed in the pages of his battered red notebook is his master plan: April 14, 9:30 A.M., two guns, eighty rounds of ammo, backup knives, eleven victims. He’s finally ready to answer every single taunt, jeer, and flying fist—unwarranted abuse that’s spanned six years of his lonely life. He’s justified. He’s ready. But he never readied himself for her.

Regan finds his journal. She reads it, and when he discovers her intrusion, he has to switch tactics. She’s a liability now.

Better fix that.

(WARNING: This is a New Adult standalone that contains graphic language and violence, including gun violence. If school shootings are an especially sensitive subject for you, then I urge you to refrain from reading this book.)

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Smashwords

Letter to the Reader:

Dear Reader,

Not many authors will discourage you from reading their work. After all, the goal of our stories is to grow our readership, not diminish it. I’m well aware of that, but when I first became inspired with Jeremy’s story, I knew I would have to go about promoting it in an entirely different way—something far removed from my past marketing campaigns. I knew I would have to hide the book, stamp disclaimers all over it, plant seeds of doubt in your minds, decline requests for advanced reviews—in essence, all the things an author SHOULD NOT do when marketing her book. That’s why it took me so long to write the damn thing—over a year of worrying, second-guessing, flip-flopping, arguing. Jeremy sat waiting patiently, and I stared back at him wondering just how much he would destroy my career.

Then I remembered that his story is exactly the type of controversial social issue I enjoy tackling. I knew I had to write it because I could. I could be sensitive to the subject matter without being PC. I could leave my political and moral opinions out of it. I could make it a human story, not a gun story. I could do all these things if I worked very hard—if I was diligent and faithful to my characters and their experiences. Once I realized these things, I stopped fretting and just started writing, careful to keep all the details private and sacred. That’s how writing should be: private and sacred.

Now Jeremy’s story is no longer private, but I hope you will find it sacred. I hope you will throw off your preconceptions and bury your social and political views, your moral judgments. It’s too easy to go into a story like this already angry, especially if you or someone you love has experienced gun violence. I urge you to think long and hard before starting Interim if you are especially sensitive to the topic of school shootings. There are extremely violent, descriptive scenes, and I do not wish for my book to be a trigger for you.

I am well aware of the social debate a book like this may provoke. I did not write it for debate. I did not write it to make a statement about guns, gun control, gun access, Constitutional rights, etc. I am not interested in comparing my story to the horrific school shootings that have taken place in the United States. I have no motive other than to tell a story about an abused boy who felt he deserved justice. What you take away from the novel is entirely up to you.

Love,

Summer

Excerpt

Who was he? What was his purpose? He knew it once. Once, a long time ago, he decided to be a hero. He decided to avenge himself and all the other kids who were helpless against abuse. Once, a long time ago, he learned the difference between justice and mercy. He learned when justice was required. He learned when mercy was allowed. Once, a long time ago, he faced himself in the mirror and saw a stranger—a better boy than he could ever be. A boy with a mission. A boy with convictions. And he reached out to take hold of that boy, through the looking-glass, falling into a wonderland where righteousness ruled supreme and evil was destroyed with the pop pop! of a gun. The world made sense to him. Then.

Soundtrack: https://open.spotify.com/user/summerwalden/playlist/7I0P4NnU5bCiRzqMTapGEM

Robin’s Review

Twenty-three years ago, Pearl Jam released the alternative rock single named Jeremy. Jeremy is one of the most widely-recognized songs performed by Pearl Jam and is based on two different true stories. The main inspiration for Jeremy was a newspaper article about Jeremy Wade Delle of Richardson, Texas. On the morning of January 8, 1991, Jeremy Delle shot himself in front of his second-period English class. This song is also inspired by a student songwriter Eddie Vedder knew when he was in junior high school in San Diego. Instead of taking his own life, this student decided to gun down his classmates.

Now that you know the story behind the song, have you ever taken a moment to focus on the words of Jeremy? Go on…..pull out your iPod or do a search of YouTube videos and listen. It’s a very deep and dark song about a troubled teenager who decides to take control of his life and fight back on his own terms. It didn’t take long for me to recall Pearl Jam’s Jeremy once I began reading Interim, and the song will forever mean more to me now that I have read this novel.

It wasn’t easy for S. Walden to write her story about Jeremy Stahl. It took her a long time to come to terms with what was bouncing around in her head. Walden wants readers to know she is not speaking to a point. She has no agenda. She just has a story. Knowing Walden’s proclivity to write about dark and controversial subjects, I was nervous about reading Interim. In fact, I have never feared the content of a novel like I did with Interim. I had a healthy respect for this story based on the synopsis and personal discussion with the author before I began reading.

Walden truly agonized over writing Interim. Bullying. Parental neglect and abuse. Gun violence in schools. When you combine controversial subjects with violence, you have a recipe for something dark and scary. Something to be feared. This is the truth of the matter – the events that take place in Interim could happen at any school or shopping mall or workplace on any given day. So before you begin reading Interim, please be sure to read the letter from S. Walden at the beginning of the novel and be very sure you can handle the content.

I’m going to get straight to the point. Interim is a 6-star novel. It’s everything I could have hoped for in a thriller. Intense emotions, anger and panic. Darkness. Suspense. Graphic violence. Young adult romance. The authentic feel of the high school social scene. Issues teenagers deal with on daily basis. Walden was a teacher for several years, and she’s acquainted with the age group. She’s familiar with bullying. The dialogue, conversations between Jeremy and Regan, Hannah and other secondary characters, kept me on the edge of my seat. Interim completely held my interest. It’s one of the finest examples of character development that I can recall. It may have taken a long time for Walden to write this story, but I applaud the amount of time and thought she put into writing it. There is nothing rushed or sloppy about Interim. It’s one of the best novels I have read this year, and it has definitely earned a place on my list of 2015 favorites!

________________________________________________________________

S.Walden used to teach English before making the best decision of her life by becoming a full-time writer. She lives in Georgia with her very supportive husband who prefers physics textbooks over fiction and has a difficult time understanding why her characters must have personality flaws. She is wary of small children, so she has a Westie instead. She is the USA Today bestselling author of Going Under. When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about it.

She loves her fans and loves to hear from them. Email her at swaldenauthor@hotmail.com and follow her twitter feed at @swaldenauthor.

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

Facebook Giveaway

https://www.facebook.com/swaldenauthor/photos/p.888883921174916/888883921174916/?type=1

Release Day Blitz + 6 Star Review + 2015 Favorite + Giveaway: Traveling Woman by Jane Harvey-Berrick- The Traveling Series – Book 2

Posted on 04/07/2015 by shellbellereads

The Traveling Woman

The Traveling Series – Book 2

By Jane Harvey-Berrick

Release Date: April 7, 2015

Synopsis

THE CONCLUDING STORY of Aimee and Kestrel, begun in THE TRAVELING MAN
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

How many times do you gamble on love? When love has knocked you down, should you give it another chance? When does optimism become stupidity?

And what happens when the man you’re in love with is never still, always moving, always traveling? Do you say goodbye, or do you leave behind everything that you’ve worked for, everything that you’ve ever known? Can a traveling carnival be my home?

Oh. You thought I had the answers. No, sorry. No answers, just a lot of questions—and a heart that wants to rule my head.

Can one person be my home?

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

Excerpt

I saw the Ferris wheel first, lit up in the twilight, the simple white lights making the huge steel structure seem almost ethereal. Without conscious thought, I touched the necklace that I never took off, my fingers stroking the tiny Ferris wheel set with a diamond at the center.

As I sat up straighter in my seat, I saw Kes’s lips curve upwards, although whether that was because he could sense my excitement, or because he was in a place that felt like home, I couldn’t say.

The fair wasn’t open yet; instead it lay dormant, the wide avenue of the midway with its silent stalls and unplayed games, its tricks and delights, waiting to unleash its pleasure on the paying public. It was a world within a world, a community of others, where being different was celebrated, expected, valued. It was also painted with a new face, hiding a darker history behind arcade games, glitz and glamor.

I rolled down the window and imagined that I could smell the faint scent of the fair: hotdogs, onions, cotton candy. I was transported back over a decade, to the first time I’d visited the carnival, the first year I’d met Kes. It was magical to me then, and even though Kes had been the one to show me the puppet’s strings behind the illusion, the magic had not lost its power. I was home.

Kes steered the car around to the staff area, and I realized for the first time how vast this fairground was.

“Kes,” I breathed. “This place is huge!”

“Yeah, one of the bigger ones,” he said nonchalantly.

We were still driving around the perimeter.

“How big are we talking?”

He shrugged. “Uh, 550 acres, give or take. Almost a square mile.”

“Wow! And the arena where you’re performing?”

He looked at me sideways. “Ten thousand people.”

My jaw dropped open, and it took me several tries before I could get the words out.

“Ten thousand?”

He scratched his thumb over his eyebrow. “It’s not sold out. So, maybe eight or nine thousand.”

“Oh my God! Ten thousand people are coming to see you? That’s crazy!”

He gave me a wry smile as I babbled.

“I mean, not crazy! Of course not! That’s great! In fact, it’s freakin’ awesome. Ten thousand people.” I couldn’t get my head around it.

“Yeah, it usually gets sold out on the last day.”

I gulped. “How … how many days are you doing the show?”

Kes grinned at me. “Three days.”

I stopped speaking. I literally stopped speaking.

“I never thought I’d live to see this day,” he laughed. “Aimee Andersen is speechless.”

Michel’s Review

The Traveling Duet series by Jane Harvey-Berrick is one of the most powerful and beautiful love stories I have ever read. Aimee and Kes captured my heart. These two extroardinary people found a love that only happens once in a lifetime. They overcame so many obstacles throughout their relationship and came out stronger. They grew as individuals. They became a stronger devoted couple. Their devotion to one another is the glue that held them together.

Traveling Man blew me away. I was anxious for the sequel to the story, Traveling Woman to release. I wanted Aimee and Kes to find a way to make their own happily ever after. I was afraid that the author was going to take the easy way out, find an easy solution, and make the magic in their lives look easy. I was afraid that the story was going to end on a predictable happily ever after note ( which still would of been an excellent ending for this couple ), but I wanted to see more of who they were and how they were going to make this impossible relationship work. I wanted more for them than the ordinary ending. I wanted SPECTACULAR! Readers I can honestly say that Traveling Woman was….

SPECTACULAR

BRILLIANT

PERFECT

WONDROUS

MAGICAL

BREATHTAKING

PHENOMENAL

ABSOLUTELY RIGHT FOR AIMEE AND KES

I am not going to give too many details for this book. It is a love story that every reader should experience.

I will say this, Aimee and Kes proved there was magic as long as they loved each other.

Kes truly amazed me. Not only was he a phenomenal showman, he was a phenomenal individual. He went after what he wanted. He held onto it tightly. He learned from his mistakes. He always strived to be better. He always loved Aimee with a true heart. He shared his world with Aimee, she held onto it with all of her being.

Aimee was incredible. She recognized what truly made Kes tick. She embraced his world and stood by his side at all times. She took the good with the bad. She made the bad good. She fought for their love. She nurtured it and made it unbreakable.

Together Aimee and Kes will take a journey that isn’t always easy. They will pave their path the best way they know how. They will always hold onto each other while venturing forward. At the end of the road they will realize they have always made the magic by loving one another.

Jane Harvey-Berrick has given readers an unforgettable love story. She gave us magic! She gave us Kes and Aimee. She gave us the Traveling Duet.

READ THESE BOOKS!

____________________________________

The Traveling Series

Traveling Man

The Traveling Duet Series – Book 1

By Jane Harvey-Berrick

Synopsis

I was ordinary. Nice.

He was extraordinary. And he wasn’t always nice.

Moody and difficult, brilliant and beautiful, Kes scared me and he protected me. He could be incredibly hurtful and incredibly thoughtful. He wasn’t perfect, but he was perfect for me. He challenged me, he took me out of my safe little box and showed me the world could be magnificent. He was everything I wasn’t.”

* * * *

Aimee Anderson is ten when the traveling carnival first comes to her nice little town. She doesn’t expect her world to change so completely. But meeting Kestrel Donohue puts her life on a different path.

Even though she only sees him for the two weeks of the year when he passes through her home town, his friendship is the most important of her life. As a child’s friendship grows to adult love, the choices become harder, and both Kes and Aimee realize that two weeks a year will never be enough…

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

6 Star Review: http://smutbookjunkie.com/2015/01/28/traveling-man-by-jane-harvey-berrick-2015-favorite-6-star-review-giveaway/

About Jane Harvey- Berrick

I lived in London for over 10 years and have a love affair with New York. It’s only since I have moved to the countryside, that the words have really begun to flow.

I live in a small village by the ocean and walk my little dog, Pip, every day. It’s on those beachside walks that I have all my best ideas.

Writing has become a way of life – and one that I love to share.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Blitz + 6 Star Review + 2015 Favorite: Come To Me Recklessly by A. L. Jackson

Posted on 04/07/2015 by shellbellereads

Come To Me Recklessly

The Closer To You Series – Book 3

By A. L. Jackson

AMAZON / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

His heart was turned off…

Until she turned him on…

Christopher Moore gave up on the idea of love years ago. Now, his life is an endless string of parties and an even longer string of girls. Enjoying the physical perks with none of the emotional mess, hes convinced everyone that hes satisfied—everyone but himself.

Samantha Schultz has moved on with her life. Finishing her student teaching and living with her boyfriend, shes deluded herself into believing shes content. But there is one boy she never forgot—her first love—and she keeps the memory of him locked up tight. She will never allow any man to break her the way Christopher did.

When Christopher’s sister and her family move into a new neighborhood, Christopher is completely unprepared to find Samantha living at the end of the street. Memories and unspent desires send them on collision course of sex, lies, and lust. But when guilt and fear send Samantha running, Christopher will have to fight for what has always been his.

She lowered herself, gave a little shove, and slid down. I stopped her
descent at the bottom, her back pressed into the metal. I grasped the sides,
holding myself up, my nose an inch from hers as I hovered in her space. Her
eyes were doing that wild thing again, a raging sea that churned with all that
shyness, but flamed with bold strikes of courage, a storm that didn’t know which way to turn.

“Anyone ever kiss you before, Samantha?”I murmured low,
letting my nose do a little exploring along her jaw.

She shook her head no.

“Didn’t think so,”I whispered, before
I took a chance I was pretty damned sure was worth taking, and brushed my mouth
against hers. And was I ever right. She tasted like sugar and all things sweet,
like a spoonful of pure honey. A remedy.

Her kiss was every kind of timid, cautious in her inexperience, but it
didn’t take a whole lot to convince me that this kind of kiss was my
favorite.

_____________________

Tracey’s Review

“From the moment we met, he always had the power to bring me to my knees. I should have known his control over me would never diminish or dim. I should have known it would only intensify. Maybe I should have run. But somewhere inside, I knew he’d never let me get far.”Samantha Schultz, the daughter of a pastor, and Christopher Moore, wild child and bad boy, were never supposed to be together. When he rescued Samantha from the girls that were making her life a living hell in high school, neither one of them could have know what they were setting in motion.”He was gorgeous. Beautiful. And a little bit terrifying. He was trouble with a capital T. And I didn’t do trouble.””You don’t even know me.”
“I know your name is Samantha Schultz. I know you sit one row over and two seats in front of me in English Literature because I can’t stop watching you.”Once sure that they would be together forever, life as they knew it had changed, seemingly overnight, ripping Christopher and Samantha apart, and sending them on separate paths in life. Still reeling from those events of the past, Christopher has chosen to numb his pain by losing himself in meaningless hook-ups, going through the motions of life, refusing to allow himself to love again. Having been completely broken by Christopher, Samantha now finds herself in a safe but passionless relationship. A chance encounter with Christopher’s sister Aly, now married to Christopher’s best friend Jared, brings the past flooding back, and Samantha can no longer deny that she is settling for something less than she wants.Good Lord, the things that I felt while reading this story. A.L. Jackson is a master of writing the kind of book that evokes every possible emotion. Joy, sorrow, anger, edge-of-your seat, nail-biting angst, I experienced every one of these while reading Come To Me Recklessly.I absolutely love this story. Samantha and Christopher are inextricably bound together, unable to move on from their intense first love, even over the intervening years. Their love is truly like a force of nature. Tragedy, broken trust, distance, none of these has dimmed the power that each of them holds over the other, try as they may to forget.

“God, how many times had I imagined this? Seeing him again. What it would feel like, if it’d feel the same or less or more, if I’d burn up with desire or if I’d realize the years had only exaggerated the memories of him, building him up into something he was not. What I never imagined was he would crush me anew. As much as I wanted to look away, my gaze was locked on the boy who held every piece of my heart.”

I really appreciated having the past interspersed with the present and the alternating POVs between Samantha and Christopher. It brought their story full circle, while filling in the gaps, and allowed me to understand all of the circumstances that have brought them to their current place. Come To Me Recklessly is a book that I cannot recommend enough, and unequivocally give it and A.L. Jackson 5+ stars. If I could rate this read any higher, I would. Add this one to your TBR, because it is an absolute must-read, and you will not be sorry.

“What is this?” I forced out, the words shaky.
He grasped both sides of my face, bringing us nose to nose. “This is unstoppable.”

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of Take This Regret and Lost to You, as well as other contemporary romance titles, including Come to Me Quietly, Come to Me Softly, Pulled, When We Collide, and If Forever Comes.

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

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

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

FACEBOOK TWITTER GOODREADS AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE WEBSITE PINTEREST TSU

Happy Release + 6 Star Review + 2015 Favorite: Choose Me by Heidi McLaughlin- The Archer Brothers Series- Book 2

Posted on 04/02/2015 by shellbellereads

We are so excited to share with you the cover for CHOOSE ME, book 2 in The Archer Brothers Series by Heidi McLaughlin releasing on April 1st. This is a MUST READ series – make sure to add it to your TBR! Isn’t the cover gorgeous?!?!?!

Choose Me

The Archer Brothers Series- Book 2

Release Date: April 1, 2015

By Heidi McLaughlin

Buy: Amazon / B & N / Kobo

Two brothers.

One woman.

One son.

One choice.

Lives ripped apart, shattered and rebuilt.

Evan and Nate Archer: Brothers, best friends, warriors and now enemies. Both in love with the same woman. Both determined to fight for what they want.

Nate Archer promised to protect Ryley Clarke in the event Evan didn’t make it back. It’s a promise between brothers since the early days of basic training. Nate never considered that his feelings, long buried since high school, would resurface and grow stronger.

Evan Archer wants answers. He wants someone to pay. After being gone for an unprecedented amount of time, nothing is making sense now that he’s home. Most of all, he can’t understand how his brother ended up engaged to his fiancée. Evan is determined to uncover the mystery, and win back his family.

The Archers are about to fight dirty.

Cover Designed by Sarah at Okay Creations

Michel’s Review

The moment I woke up on April 1, 2015 the first thing I had to do was check my kindle. I was anxiously awaiting for Choose Me by Heidi McLaughlin. It is the sequel to Here With Me, the first book in the Archer Brothers series. Low and behold it was there on my kindle just waiting for me to read. After I rushed my kids off to school and shoo’d husband out the door, I sat down to read. I could not put this book down until it was finished. Hours later as I read the last word, I realized I had not gotten out of my pj’s, had not showered, and had not ate a thing. I was captivated by The Archer Brothers story and how it ended.

As I expected, it was another 6 + Star book that would go on my 2015 Favorites list.

Choose Me cannot be read as a stand alone novel. It is the sequel to Here With Me.

Here With Me ended on a major cliffhanger. Nate Archer had returned home from training exercises to find his dead twin brother, Evan Archer, alive and well. Not only was he alive and well, he was also with his fiance and son. He was a threat to his family, his life, and his happiness. It was hard to overjoyed to see his brother alive and well. Where had he been for the last six years? Was it really him or an imposter? What would this mean to his life as he knew it? Would he have to give up the woman he loved and the son he raised because his brother was the biological father? What had the Navy done to their lives?

As this emotional story unfolds, it will pull at all of your heartstrings. Nate Archer is not a bad guy, in fact he is a very honorable good man. He stepped up to plate when his brother lost his life. He was there when his brother’s son came into the world. He has raised the boy as his own. He didn’t purposely set out to fall in love with Ryley, he just wanted to take care of her like he promised his brother he would. He has made sacrifices so that his brother’s memory would be honored. He has everything to lose and nothing to gain except a shattered heart.

Evan Archer has lost everything he loved including his twin brother. He has had to fight for every moment with his family since his ascension from the grave. His own son, flesh and blood, is calling his brother daddy. His woman is wearing his brother’s ring. His brother may be responsible for his demise. He wants his life back. He has nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Ryley is in a situation that no woman would ever want to be in. She is in love with two brothers. One was her first love. He was her once in a lifetime kind of love. He captured her heart and gave her a son. He was her first for every emotional experience she would encounter, including grief. The other brother was there to pick up the shattered pieces. He shared her grief and experienced the same loss. He supported her, he nurtured her, he gave her friendship, and finally gave her a new love to look forward to. He has been a father to her son. How can she chose between two extraordinary men? Both have important places in her heart. How will this affect her son? He is the one innocent victim that is going to suffer from the decisions the adults make in his life.

Not only are there decisions about life to be made. There are still questions about the mission that destroyed all their lives. This mission did not only affect the Archer family, it affected and destroyed the lives of the three other men on this six year mission. Why would the Navy do this and cover it up?

As they start to question all the facts, the danger begins to escalate. Their lives are being threatened. The more they uncover, the more dangerous it becomes. When they finally get the truth of what happened it will be devastating for all that are involved.

In the end they will have the answers they needed but their lives will be forever changed. There were no victors in this story. Each person walked away scarred in some way. They will all find the peace they need to move forward in life. They will find that love comes in many ways. It’s not always what we thought it was.

Heidi McLaughlin has written a story that readers will never forget. It digs deep and touches your soul. The reader will experience every single emotion a person can experience throughout this book. Each of the characters is equally important. There are no heroes or heroines. They are real people trying to survive their lives.

Everyone may not get the happy ending they were hoping for. That is the way life is. When one door opens another one closes. Sometimes what we want is not what really need. In the end the most important thing is to love to the best of our ability. Give the best of ourselves. Give respect to the other people in our lives. Always put family first.

This is one the most emotional series I have read. Heidi McLaughlin has risen above her high standards and went beyond excellence with her Archer Brothers Series.

See the review for Here With Me, the book that started it all below……

Don’t Miss Out on book one in The Archer Brothers Series

Here With Me

A Smut Book Junkie Reviews 2014 Favorite & 6 Star Review

Michel’s Review

October 24, 2014

Here With Me by Heidi McLaughlin is the first book in her new series. This series is called The Archer Brothers. Being a huge Heidi McLaughlin fan, I had to one click this book the moment it went live. I devoured the book and am experiencing the ultimate reading hangover.

Wow! Here With Me by Heidi McLaughlin is her best book yet. The writing was superb! Heidi reached deep within the realm of emotions and executed them flawlessly throughout the book. The reader instantly becomes invested in the characters and feels every emotion they are experiencing. The characters are larger than life and jump off the pages. The secondary characters are an all-star supporting cast that completely makes this story surreal. The plot has been intricately woven into a book that reaches far beyond a second chance romance. Heidi adds suspense, drama, and an impossible love triangle. She adds the important elements that make these characters lives become even more real. Their families, their friends, and their support networks validate their lives. What holds all these characters together and makes them work harder to accept the unacceptable is a young boy. The five year old son that loves unconditionally. The book is written from duel POV ‘s. It flashes from past to present. The reader gets a strong sense of what brought this young couple together. They share their young love, their passion for one another, and their growth as a couple. We see them grow from teenagers to mature adults. We see their strengths and weaknesses. The one thing the reader can count on is their love for another. It is unquestionable. Their love is not the problem, it is their lives in the present, and their futures. There are difficult choices to make. Not only will these choices determine the future, they will destroy the fragile lives they have built. There is no winner. Each person will walk away hurt in some way.

Evan Archer was a Navy Seal. His last assignment should have been easy. An in and out. That mission stretched into six long years. When his team is finally able to come home they are in for a complete surprise. There are no welcoming committees, no military personal, and no transports home. Why? Because they are dead! They have been dead and buried for over five years. The lives they once had are gone. Their loved ones have moved on in life. Imagine the shock.

The only thing Evan wants is to return home to the love of his life and meet his son face to face. Riley Clarke has held his heart since he was a teenager. Imagine his shock when he finally meets up with Riley and she is not happy to see him. Imagine finding out that she is now engaged to another man. Imagine finding out that man is your twin brother. Imagine your son calling that man daddy.

Riley Clarke lost the love of her life when Evan was killed in action. She has spent the last six years moving on from that devastating loss. She had to give birth to her son alone. She has watched him grow alone. The only thing that held her together was the support of her family and Evan’s twin brother Nate. The two of them have mourned together, supported each other, and built a strong friendship that led to a loving relationship. When the man that owned her heart rises up from the grave she is once again devastated. She is angry with the world. She feels powerless and out of control. How can she choose between the man that owned her heart and the man that brought her heart back to life. Any choice she makes will destroy one of these men. Any choice she makes is going to forever break their brotherly bonds. It is going to destroy them all.

On top of all the emotional turmoil are the underlying facts about the mission. Clearly something went wrong. As the story unfolds it will raise many more questions.

I loved all the characters in this book. I am definitely rooting for Evan. I loved how he not only loved Riley as a teenager and grown woman, but how he respected her feelings and emotions at all times. He is truly a very good man. The readers did not get know much about Nate in the present times. We got to know him through memories and passages of the present. I think we will get to know his character in the next book. I think he is going to be more complex than we are anticipating.

This book ended on an emotional cliffhanger. It left the readers with so many questions. It also left the readers wanting to know Nate’s POV. I cannot wait for the next book, Choose Me by Heidi McLaughlin. I need it now!

Ryley Clarke has grown up with the military in her blood, with both parents serving their country. Ryley knows the risks of being married to the military. But when the unthinkable happens, and her future husband is killed in action, Ryley can barely survive… until Evan’s twin brother, Nate, helps her pick up the pieces.

After serving on a special mission with the military for six years, Evan Archer returns home to find the unthinkable – the love of his life, Ryley Clarke – engaged to his brother, Nate. With Nate on deployment, Evan needs to figure out what happened in his absence, and more importantly, how to win Ryley back from the man he once considered his best friend, but now thinks of as his rival.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / Kobo

Heidi is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup, two Parakeets, Gonzo & Hedwig, and their newest addition of a Highland West/Mini Schnauzer, Jill.

During the day Heidi is behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, she’s writing one of the many stories planned for release or sitting court-side during either daughter’s basketball games.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

♥ Books by Heidi McLaughlin ♥

Forever My Girl – The Beaumont Series #1

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

My Unexpected Forever – The Beaumont Series #2

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Finding My Forever – The Beaumont Series #3

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Finding My Way – The Beaumont Series #4

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

My Everything – A Beaumont Series Novella

Amazon

12 Days of Forever – A Beaumont Series Novella

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Lost in You

Amazon

Lost in Us – A Lost in You Novella

Amazon

The Archer Brothers

Here with Me

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Choose Me

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

Release Day Blitz + 5 Star Review + 2015 Favorite + Giveaway: Deep by Kylie Scott – Stage Dive Series – Book 4

Posted on 03/31/2015 by shellbellereads

Deep

Stage Dive Series – Book 4

By Kylie Scott

Release Date: March 31, 2015

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

Don’t miss a beat with the fourth and final novel in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Stage Dive series from Kylie Scott.
Positive. With two little lines on a pregnancy test, everything in Lizzy Rollins’ ordinary life is about to change forever. And all because of one big mistake in Vegas with Ben Nicholson, the irresistibly sexy bass player for Stage Dive. So what if Ben’s the only man she’s ever met who can make her feel completely safe, cherished, and out of control with desire at the same time? Lizzy knows the gorgeous rock star isn’t looking for anything more permanent than a good time, no matter how much she wishes differently.

Ben knows Lizzy is off limits. Completely and utterly. She’s his best friend’s little sister now, and no matter how hot the chemistry is between them, no matter how sweet and sexy she is, he’s not going to go there. But when Ben is forced to keep the one girl he’s always had a weakness for out of trouble in Sin City, he quickly learns that what happens in Vegas, doesn’t always stay there. Now he and Lizzie are connected in the deepest way possible…but will it lead to a connection of the heart?

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

Excerpt

His laughter, it didn’t really sound the smallest bit amused. “Christ. You’re done here.”

“Ah, no. I’m actually not. Now see, this is where we have a problem.” I folded my arms. Then unfolded them because like fuck I’d look defensive. He was the one in the wrong, not me. “You’re not prepared to take me, or my feelings, seriously. What you want is to hide away in Mr. Too Cool for Commitment land and just play with my affections when it suits you. Okay, I’ve accepted that. But none of that means it’s okay for you to come in here and act like you’re the boss of me. None of it.”

“That so?” he asked, leaning down so that we were almost nose to nose.

“That’s so, baby.” I play-punched him in the shoulder, which it should be noted, I barely came up to. Okay, so maybe the alcohol on a mostly empty stomach had made me slightly/lots braver/sillier. “So why don’t you take your little caveman jealous tantrum bullshit somewhere else. See, I do this funny thing I like to refer to as whatever the fuck I want. Understand?”

He just stared.

“And as pretty as you are with your beard and your muscles, you are too damn tricky and . . . complicated and shit for me.”

“I am?”

“Yes, you are. Are you finally seeing my point here?”

“You bet.”

“Excellent. So take your hotness elsewhere, kind sir. I want no part of it!” Huh. I had so told him. Drunken bravado was the best.

Michel’s Review

This is a bittersweet moment writing the final review for the Stage Dive Series by Kylie Scott. Readers have been sitting on pins and needles waiting for Ben’s book to arrive. At the same time I think they were dreading the release day because we knew this was the last book in this phenomenal series.

I can honestly say that Deep was the perfect ending for our favorite band, Stage Dive, and the final tour. We’ve witnessed a deep feeling poet & lead guitarist shed the strings that held him back to find what true love is really about. We’ve rode the ADHD ,fueled my pure sugar hyped up on steroids crazy train, otherwise known as Mal Ericsson, the highly adrenalized drummer for Stage Dive ( still my all time favorite book boyfriend). We’ve gave the finger and the hi ho to the egotistical, self centered lead singer and forgave his transgressions. Yes, we wanted the jerk to find happiness and love. Through it all has been the quiet, strong and steady bass player. He rolls with the punches, lends a hand when necessary, never rocks the boat, and always plays with perfection. He is easy going, mild mannered, and a carefree spirit. He has a bit of wanderlust, a big dose of commitment issues, and no clue how to be in a relationship. He has quite a mystery throughout the series and peaked the reader’s interest.

Ben is going to steal the readers hearts. This man is a swoon worthy rock- n- roll fantasy wrapped up pure hunkiness and manly hair. As we all know, he is the beat and rhythm that keeps the band’s music flowing to perfection. His perfect beat and timing is going to rock the readers hearts.

As we have all suspected, Ben and Lizzy were definitely attracted to one another. All those text messages Ben seemed to be wrapped up in, you can only guess who he was texting. When the Elvis Vegas Wedding binds another Stage Dive couple, Ben and Lizzy make their own coupling. A one night stand results in the appearance of Little Bean, otherwise known as baby on the way. What happened in Vegas did not stay in Vegas.

Ben’s not ready to settle down. He doesn’t want commitment. He does want to be a stand up guy. He respects Lizzy and wants to be the friend she needs. But is he really ready to be a father?

Meanwhile backstage, other members of the band are up to all kinds of good & bad things. Jimmy and Lena are also expecting. Jimmy wants to railroad Lena and take care of her. Lena just wants to kill Jimmy ( not really), Could another wedding be in the near future? And Mal, well besides teaching Killer (the puppy) how to kiss with his tongue, he wants to kill Ben. Trouble is brewing between the band members and it is not pretty. All of this is happening just as they are starting a sixteen week world wide tour. This is a tour to go down in Stage Dive history.

The romance between Ben and Lizzy is a slow build that becomes something absolutely beautiful. It is a wonder to watch them both change for the better. It is a wonder getting to know who Ben really is beneath his easy going exterior.

Just as it looks like Ben and Lizzy are going to have their perfect Stage Dive Happily Ever After, the story will take another turn. An old nemesis will pop up with her claws sharpened and ruin the perfect tour. The Stage Dive series will go full circle and it will be up to Ben to stop the vicious cycle.

The Stage Dive Series is one of my all time favorite series. Kylie Scott has created magic with these colorful musicians and their leading ladies. She has given us humor, heartbreak, witty dialogue, interesting strong leading ladies, a tight knit family, and romance that makes the heart beat out of control. Each and every book is a 5+ Star Book.

Don’t miss out on the final show for Stage Dive. Read Deep…it will rock your soul.

The Stage Dive Series

Lick- Book 1

Waking up in Vegas was never meant to be like this.

Evelyn Thomas’s plans for celebrating her twenty-first birthday in Las Vegas were big. Huge. But she sure never meant to wake up on the bathroom floor with a hangover to rival the black plague, a very attractive half-naked tattooed man in her room, and a diamond on her finger large enough to scare King Kong. Now if she could just remember how it all happened.
One thing is certain, being married to one of the hottest rock stars on the planet is sure to be a wild ride.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

Play- Book 2

Kylie Scott returns with the highly anticipated follow-up to international bestseller Lick.

Mal Ericson, drummer for the world famous rock band Stage Dive, needs to clean up his image fast–at least for a little while. Having a good girl on his arm should do the job just fine. Mal doesn’t plan on this temporary fix becoming permanent, but he didn’t count on finding the one right girl.

Anne Rollins never thought she’d ever meet the rock god who plastered her teenage bedroom walls–especially not under these circumstances. Anne has money problems. Big ones. But being paid to play the pretend girlfriend to a wild life-of-the-party drummer couldn’t end well. No matter how hot he is. Or could it?

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

Lead – Book 3

Stay up all night with the sexy rockers in Stage Dive, the epic New Adult series from New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott, author of Lick and Play.

Can rock n’ roll’s most notorious bad boy be tamed by love?
As the lead singer of Stage Dive, Jimmy is used to getting whatever he wants, whenever he wants it–now he’s caught up in a life of hard partying and fast women. When a PR disaster serves as a wake-up call and lands him in rehab, he finds himself with Lena, a new assistant hired to keep him out of trouble.
Lena’s not willing to take any crap from her sexy boss and is determined to keep their relationship completely professional, despite their sizzling chemistry. But when Jimmy pushes her too far, he just might lose the best thing that’s ever happened to him. Can he convince his stubborn assistant to risk it all and let her heart take the lead?

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

Deep – Book 4

Positive. With two little lines on a pregnancy test, everything in Lizzy Rollins’ ordinary life is about to change forever. And all because of one big mistake in Vegas with Ben Nicholson, the irresistibly sexy bass player for Stage Dive. So what if Ben’s the only man she’s ever met who can make her feel completely safe, cherished, and out of control with desire at the same time? Lizzy knows the gorgeous rock star isn’t looking for anything more permanent than a good time, no matter how much she wishes differently.

Pre Order: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

About the Author:

Kylie is a long time fan of erotic love stories and B-grade horror films. She demands a happy ending and if blood and carnage occur along the way then all the better. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and one delightful husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet.

Kylie is represented by Amy Tannenbaum at the Jane Rotrosen Agency, New York.

Stalk Kylie Scott: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY
Win a SIGNED SET of the Stage Dive Series

a Rafflecopter giveaway

6-Star Review: Consolation by Corinne Michaels

Posted on 03/26/2015 by Saucy Southern Readers

Consolation

The Consolation Duet – Book 1

Release Date : March 18, 2015

Synopsis

Liam wasn’t supposed to be my happily ever after.

He wasn’t even on my radar.

He was my husband’s best friend—forbidden.

But my husband is dead and I’m alone. I ache for him and I reach for Liam.

One night with Liam changed everything. Now I have to decide if I truly love him or if he’s just the consolation prize.

Buy: Amazon/ B & N / ITunes

Excerpt

Aarabelle sits in her high chair as I feed her dinner. She’s growing so fast. Already she’s eating cereal and a little baby food. Soon she’ll be crawling and I have no one to celebrate with. Her father will never see these milestones and it breaks me apart.

“You should really lock the door,” Liam huffs as he throws his coat over the chair.

“But then I’d have to get up to let you in,” I state matter-of-factly and go back to feeding the baby, trying to put aside my worries. The fact is…this is reality. I have to deal with it.

“Uh huh. Hey, Pumpkin,” his eyes alight as he crouches down by Aara. It’s adorable hearing grown men use a baby voice. It gets a little softer and higher pitched.

The corners of her mouth lift and she throws her arms in the air when he gets close. My heart sputters seeing how happy she gets seeing him. Liam kisses her head and she giggles.

“At least someone is happy to see me,” he says playfully.

“I’d be happy if you brought me a present,” I joke.

He laughs and goes into the pocket of his coat. “Just so happens I did, but since that’s the only way you’ll be nice, I’ll hold on to this until you’ve earned it.”

Practically leaping out of my chair, I rush over. “What is it?” I try to peer around his back as he holds the mystery item.

Liam’s lips curl as he sees how much I want this. I don’t even know what it is. Jeez, I’m an idiot. “Nope. We eat first, then maybe you’ll get it.”

“Watch, it’s a freaking Pez dispenser or something stupid.”

“Guess you’ll have to be nice to find out.” He shoves the item into his back pocket and I fight the urge to reach and get it. “How was work?”

We spend the next thirty minutes going over my day and Jackson’s return. Liam never mentioned that they spoke, but he’s surprised to hear he’s in Virginia. After we finish the pizza, Liam somehow convinces me we should watch a movie. I get Aarabelle to bed and come down to find him sprawled out on the couch.

“By all means, make yourself comfortable.”

Liam pulls his beanie higher on his forehead and his eyes glimmer with amusement. He sits up and puts the TV on. “I picked the movie.”

“What?” I ask with mock incredulity. “It’s my house. Why do you get to pick the movie?”

“Ummm, I’m the guest.” He shrugs as if this should be an obvious answer.

I groan and lean back. “What crappy, shoot-‘em-up movie do I have to endure?”

“You’ll see. It’s a classic.”

Kelley’s Review

Holy Helluva Cliffhanger!!!

I am a huge fan of this series. I went through a whole box of tissues when I read Beloved and Beholden and my dishes and laundry piled up for several days. Consolation was another emotional rollercoaster of a read that trapped me from the very first chapter. There was no putting this book down. I was on a flight to Charleston for work and started bawling my eyes out. The passengers looked at me like I was crazy. All I could say was “really good book”.

At the end of Beholden we are given the news that Aaron has lost his life in battle. His friends and his pregnant wife are devastated. You get to see the story unfold from Natalie’s point of view and you can feel deep down in your body and soul the anguish she feels after answering that knock on the door. The knock that knocked the breath out of her.

It is a miracle when Liam shows up in Natalie’s life when she is in her darkest hour. He becomes her light and her truth and puts a smile on her face again. He truly cares for her and wants to see her happy again. He also falls in love with her little girl who looks so much like the best friend he lost. We get to see Liam’s point of view feel as well and what he is battling as he begins to have feelings for his best friends widow.

Corinne does an excellent job developing her characters. I could feel the pain that these two lost souls were harboring. I consider myself a seasoned reader and can usually predict what happens and this time I was left with my jaw dropped and mouth open going what the heck just happened. I did not see the plot twist Corinne had in store. Wow! I can’t wait to read Conviction in May. Thank you Corinne for another amazing read!!

Conviction

The Consolation Duet – Book 2

Release Date: May 27, 2015

By Corinne Michaels

Synopsis

I fell in love with Liam only to be left shattered into a million pieces. Again. The idea of being without him cripples me but the reality is, he’s gone.

He doesn’t understand and I can’t make him.

If only he’d see the conviction behind my words—then Liam would still be here.

Pre Order : ITunes

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

5 Star Review + 2015 Favorite : The Deal by Elle Kennedy – Off Campus Series – Book 1

Posted on 03/23/2015 by shellbellereads

The Deal

Off-Campus Series – Book 1

By Elle Kennedy

Synopsis

USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

She’s about to make a deal with the college bad boy…

…and it’s going to be oh so good

***New Adult/Contemporary Romance. First of a series, but each book will be a standalone***

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

Michel’s Review

I have been a huge fan of Elle Kennedy’s writing for years. I loved her Out of Uniform series and Killer Instincts series. Her After Hours series is sizzling hot. She has a way of bringing her characters to life and making them demand your absolute attention. Her books have a combination of witty dialogue, dynamic characters, a well developed plot, and pacing that keeps the reader enthralled. Most of her books have either been erotic romance or romantic suspense. I was wondering how she would pull off a New Adult romance. New Adult romance is a generalized genre that can contain sweet & sexy, dark & intense, angsty & anxious, or exciting & erotic. The Deal has all of these elements and more. It is one of the most enjoyable and entertaining New Adult romances that I have read. I connected with the main characters as well as the secondary characters. They were all larger than life in their own way. The one thing that stood out besides the main characters romance was Elle’s portrayal of college life. She portrayed a very realistic look at life on the college campus and how it relates to their courses as well as social life.

Garrett Graham is the bad boy of the college hockey team. He makes panties melt and owns his man whore reputation with relish. He has an overinflated ego that matches his cocky attitude. He is a star player and lives for playing hockey. He is diligent with his grades, practices, and performance. When he fails his philosophy mid term, it could not only ruin his GPA, it will affect his position on the team. He could lose the one thing he lives for. He is going to have to retake his philosophy mid term and ace it in order to remain on the team. He needs help. Who better to help him than one of the few students that managed not only to pass the mid term but ace it. He never really noticed Hannah Wells before until she accidentally dropped her exam and he saw her A. Now he is on a mission to get Hannah to tutor him. He will try to bribe her, entice her, and woo her. When he discovers the golden carrot that will make her give in, he will dangle it in every way he can. His life is counting on that golden carrot.

Hannah Wells is a music major. She is a pretty confident and outgoing girl with her friends and peers. She is smart, personable, and resilient. She is dedicated to her craft. The one area she lacks in is her confidence with the opposite sex. She has finally found a guy that she is interested in and she has no clue how to deal with her attraction. Not only is he out of her league, he is also the star quarterback on the football team. Not the type of guy she would normally take an in interest in. She has had some very bad experiences with the opposite sex. Although she has mostly overcome her issues, she is still a bit leery and scared. If she can get past her fears, she may be able to approach him.

When the ego maniac sex god, Garrett Grant, approaches her to tutor him in philosophy, she thinks he is out of his ever loving mind. There is no way she is going to tutor the self absorbed jock. That is until he finds out her ultimate weakness and offers her a guaranteed solution. His persistence and golden carrot are enough to make her cave. It’s time to make a deal with the Devil.

Hannah and Garrett are in for some big surprises. They are both quite different than they appear on the surface. Hannah may have the upper hand when the tutoring begins but Garrett will quickly take control of the situation. Both will be in for a great learning experience. Both will come out winners in the end. Their Deal will seal both their fates.

I loved the banter between Garrett and Hannah. The snarky sarcasm, witty comebacks, and dirty talking are beyond clever and entertaining. The heated bedroom scenes make your temperature burn out of control. The emotional and intimate moments will have you swooning. What I loved best is how they formed a deep respect and friendship with one another. They were able to honestly confide in one another and know that their trust was not misplaced.

I loved everything about this book! Read The Deal by Elle Kennedy.

I am looking forward to the next book in the Off-Campus series. The Mistake will release in June of 2015. It is a complete mystery of who this book will feature or what their story is about.

Saucy Southern Readers

professional, honest, and timely book reviews

Category Archives: 2015 Top Pick

2015 Favorite + 6 Star Review: Hawthorne & Heathcliff by R.K. Ryals

Happy Release + 5 Star Review + 2015 Favorite : Pucked by Helena Hunting

Happy Release + 5 Star Review + 2015 Favorite: The Mistake by Elle Kennedy – Off Campus Series – Book 2

Release Blitz + 6 Star Review + 2015 Favorite: Interim by S. Walden

Release Day Blitz + 6 Star Review + 2015 Favorite + Giveaway: Traveling Woman by Jane Harvey-Berrick- The Traveling Series – Book 2

Release Blitz + 6 Star Review + 2015 Favorite: Come To Me Recklessly by A. L. Jackson

Happy Release + 6 Star Review + 2015 Favorite: Choose Me by Heidi McLaughlin- The Archer Brothers Series- Book 2

Release Day Blitz + 5 Star Review + 2015 Favorite + Giveaway: Deep by Kylie Scott – Stage Dive Series – Book 4

6-Star Review: Consolation by Corinne Michaels

5 Star Review + 2015 Favorite : The Deal by Elle Kennedy – Off Campus Series – Book 1

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: