Blog Tour + 5 Star Review: Hearts Of Blue by L. H. Cosway

Posted on 11/20/2015 by shellbellereads

Hearts of Blue

Hearts Series – Book 4

By L. H. Cosway

Buy: Amazon

She upholds the law. He breaks it.

Two blue hearts, both alike in bravery
In not-so-fair London, where we lay our scene
From gun crime to petty theft
Where family is blood and survival makes hands unclean
In this place, we find two hearts who should be foes
And yet, amidst the turmoil their love still grows
Misadventure abounds and the divide will bring them strife
But with luck, death doesn’t always mean an end to life.

Hearts of Blue is a standalone contemporary romance that tells the story of star-crossed lovers Karla Sheehan and Lee Cross, a police constable and the thief who steals her heart.

Lee didn’t answer, and instead he took a step forward, forcing me to back up if I didn’t want us to collide. The problem with this meant my back hit the wall a moment later.

“You’re so pretty, Snap,” he said, voice low, as he dropped his face to my hair and breathed in.

I wasn’t wearing a hat, and my hair was tied up in a bun. My entire body trembled when he wrapped his arms around my waist, inhaled deeply and pulled me into a hug. This was a distraction, I knew it, and yet, I let him distract me. I wanted to be distracted, and I was just glad that the blinds in his office had been pulled.

Standing in his embrace for at least a minute with silence all around us, I was unable to move. I liked having Lee close, loved the feel of him and how he could make feel so…surrounded. Despite all the warning signs, my attraction to him only grew stronger. There was just something about him that called to me.

“Lee.”

His mouth moved against my hair. “What is it, Karla?”

“Why are you hugging me?”

“You looked like you needed to be held.” His response was low, and the affectionate undertone had me swallowing deeply. At long last I summoned the willpower to break the hug. His arms fell away from me easily, my stomach churning with confusion. What the hell was I doing?

I stared at the floor when I spoke. “I have to go.”

Heading for the door, I paused when he said gently, “Hey, I needed it, too.”

Robin’s Review

It’s not your typical forbidden romance, but that’s what Hearts of Blue is. Karla Sheehan is a police constable in London, firmly established in her belief of helping other people, even individuals that she doesn’t know. Lee Cross is a thief. In order to take care of his family, he does what he sees is necessary. But in the end, both Lee and Karla are selflessly trying to help other people. Lee and Karla live on opposite sides of the law, but they do have the same belief system. Together, their situation adds up to one very compelling forbidden romance.

Hearts of Blue is the fourth novel of the Hearts series written by author L. H. Cosway. It’s considered a standalone novel, so if you find the synopsis intriguing, it’s not necessary for you to read the previous novels in this series. For those who have read Six of Hearts, Hearts of Fire, and King of Hearts, you may recognize some of the secondary characters from previous novels. From the beginning, I’ve read and reviewed each of the novels in the Hearts series, giving each contemporary romance no less than a 4.5 star rating.

After a very long day at work, I took great pleasure in picking up Hearts of Blue, and this is the biggest reason why – the interaction between Lee and Karla is full of spark and chemistry. Karla has a fiery personality. Although Lee has a kind heart, he can also be bit mischievous. The interaction and snarky banter between the two of them is definitely foreplay. It creates a strong push-pull affect between Karla and Lee, only adding to the tension which comes from them falling on opposite sides of the law.

Something else that I really appreciated about Hearts of Blue is the interaction between Lee’s brothers – Stu, Trevor and Liam Cross. Their family unit really grabbed my attention. Maybe it was their closeness or loyalty – I’m not sure. But these four brothers were fun to read about, especially with a feisty red-headed police constable in the picture. When I think about Hearts of Blue as a whole, I think I simply enjoyed the characters and their dialogue. I connected with both of the main characters, Lee and Karla, and that’s important for me. I understand why they each made the choices in life that they did, even if I didn’t always agree with those choices.

How many of you have ever heard of parkour? I know that I hadn’t – until I read Hearts of Blue. Author L. H. Cosway always seems to have an artistic component to her writing, and I consider parkour a type of urban art. Parkour is a different way to move from one place to another. Sometimes considered a sport, parkour is the process of moving rapidly through an urban area, negotiating obstacles without the assistance of equipment by running, jumping and climbing. Parkour is fast and efficient, and it’s the reason Lee Cross and his three brothers are aces at escaping law enforcement! It was fascinating to read about, but it’s even more amazing to watch in action – be sure to Google it!

Hearts of Blue has a great plot. These days, it seems like every type of forbidden romance has been thoroughly explored. The book market has been overrun with teacher/student romances, love triangles, stepbrother romances and cheating, among others, so it was nice to read a forbidden romance that is not necessarily taboo. When I consider the pacing of Hearts of Blue, I can tell you that it never felt slow to me. The interaction and energy between Karla and Lee really keep the pages turning, and both characters show growth over the arc of the novel. I know there are more novels planned for the Hearts series, but I’m pretty sure 5-star Hearts of Blue is my new series favorite!

L.H. Cosway has a BA in English Literature and Greek and Roman Civilisation, and an MA in Postcolonial Literature. She lives in Dublin city. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books.

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Six of Hearts

Hearts of Fire

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King of Hearts

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Hearts of Blue

Review & Excerpt Tour: Kiss The Flame by Christopher Rice

Posted on 11/20/2015 by shellbellereads

Amazon eBook Amazon Paperback**

EXCERPT:

Michael Brouchard has staged the congratulatory dinner she never had, the one her father effectively canceled a year before when he stormed out of the house in a rage. As if the balloons weren’t enough, there’s a bottle of champagne chilling in an ice bucket next to the table. Laney hesitates behind her empty chair, grasping the back of it with one sweaty hand. She reads the champagne bottle’s label in the flickering candlelight. It’s VeuveClicquot, the vintage, her first year of high school.

They’ve only had one conversation that’s lasted longer than a few minutes, and already Michael has filled a gap in her life. Not only that, he recognized it was there in the first place, that it was pulling at the fabric of her self-worth more than she wanted to admit. She knew tonight would be full of seductive risks, but didn’t expect to start here, with an overwhelming sense of having been seen and heard and valued.

He gestures to her empty chair, waits for her to take her seat before taking his own. Only once she’s seated does she realize Michael had extended his hand toward hers and she’d been too distracted by the balloons and the champagne to notice. Now there’s no going back to rectify her rudeness without sounding like a sputtering idiot. The host, who has stood by politely throughout her hesitation, hands her a menu and departs. She’s folding her napkin across her lap when she sees a large envelope resting against the edge of her plate, as large as a wedding invite. Her name is written on the outside in precise, draftsman-like handwriting. Just her first name. Not her last name. And not Miss Foley, which they both agreed he wouldn’t call her anymore.

Laney.

Her hands shake as she tears open the envelope, as she unfolds the piece of heavy sketch paper inside of it. The breath goes out of her when she finds herself staring down at the amazingly detailed pencil sketch of—me. That’s me. That’s me holding a rosein one hand while more rose petals shower down all sides of me. Roses for the Rose Scholarship. Oh, my God. He drew me.

The card seems to waver suddenly. She’s blinking back tears.

She can’t remember the last time anyone has been this thoughtful, this kind. She’s never thought of herself as a victim of abuse. But what do you call an entire lifetime of having your own intelligence, your own competence used against you, an entire lifetime of everyone from your parents to your friends thinking they don’t really have to show up for you because you do such a good job of showing up for yourself?

Sometimes you don’t know you’ve got a shell around your heart until it cracks.

Get it together, Laney. Get it—

“Laney…are you all right?” Michael asks.

A sane and reasonable answer is right on the tip of her tongue.

About KISS THE FLAME:

In a standalone novella that combines the worlds of THE FLAME and his novel, THE SURRENDER GATE, New York Times bestselling author Christopher Rice returns you to a mysterious candle shop in the New Orleans French Quarter where the scents of passion provide the courage to embrace your heart’s desire.

Are some risks worth taking?

Laney Foley is the first woman from her hard working family to attend college. That’s why she can’t act on her powerful attraction to one of the gorgeous teaching assistants in her Introduction to Art History course. Getting involved with a man who has control over her final grade is just too risky. But ever since he first laid eyes on her, Michael Brouchard seems to think about little else but the two of them together. And it’s become harder for Laney to ignore his intelligence and his charm.

During a walk through the French Quarter, an intoxicating scent that reminds Laney of her not-so-secret admirer draws her into an elegant scented candle shop. The shop’s charming and mysterious owner seems to have stepped out of another time, and he offers Laney a gift that could break down the walls of her fear in a way that can only be described as magic. But will she accept it?

Light this flame at the scene of your greatest passion and all your desires will be yours…

Lilliane Williams is a radiant, a supernatural being with the power to make your deepest sexual fantasy take shape around you with just a gentle press of her lips to yours. But her gifts came at a price. Decades ago, she set foot inside what she thought was an ordinary scented candle shop in the French Quarter. When she resisted the magical gift offered to her inside, Lilliane was endowed with eternal youth and startling supernatural powers, but the ability to experience and receive romantic love was removed from her forever. When Lilliane meets a young woman who seems poised to make the same mistake she did years before, she becomes determined to stop her, but that will mean revealing her truth to a stranger. Will Lilliane’s story provide Laney with the courage she needs to open her heart to the kind of true love only magic can reveal?

Tracey’s Review

Laney Foley has never felt like she is enough. Not rich enough, not smart enough, not lovable enough. Michael Brouchard, though, sees Laney in a different light. And he’s more than willing to help Laney face her fears and see herself the way that he sees her.

KISS THE FLAME by author Christopher Rice is part of the 1001 Dark Nights novella series. Christopher has done a great job of painting a picture of New Orleans as a city filled with passion and sensuality, a place straddling the line between darkness and light, where even the most seemingly fanciful ideas are a possibility. Laney, who has been made to feel like less for most of her life, wants to be with Michael, but is held back by all of the ‘what ifs.’ When she’s given the opportunity to have her heart’s desire, to trust in the unknown, she’s tempted, until a very unique visitor helps her to see that the she already has the power within herself.

Maybe there was no one thing or one act that could make your fears go away forever. The best you could do was to wake up each day and make a resolution to ignore fear’s invitations to false comfort and illusory safety–its invitation to say less, risk less, to love less, to be less. It was a daily decision, being willing to fall in love, and now it was hers to make.

Ultimately, KISS THE FLAME is a story about choices, the choices that all of us face on a daily basis, that will either keep us imprisoned by our own weaknesses, or free us to live life to its fullest. I enjoyed this read very much, and am now on a mission to go back and read more of Christopher Rice’s work. 4 mysterious, passionate, empowering stars for this one. This one definitely needs to be added to your TBR.

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

About Christopher Rice:

After publishing four New York Times bestselling thrillers by the age of 30 and being declared one of People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive, award-winning writer Christopher Rice became the first author to make his erotic romance debut part of the 1,001 DARK NIGHTS series. THE FLAME: A Desire Exchange Novella kicked off a steamy new series set in New Orleans, featuring magical candles and a sexy new breed of supernatural beings, The Radiants, who are devoted to helping heroes and heroines realize their heart’s desire. THE FLAME earned accolades from some of the biggest names in erotic romance and was quickly followed up by THE SURRENDER GATE: A Desire Exchange Novel, available from Evil Eye Concepts as a Blue Box Special. Aside from authoring eight works of dark suspense, Christopher is also the co-host and executive producer of a streaming Internet radio show he launched with his best friend, New York Times bestselling author Eric Shaw Quinn. Each Sunday at 8 PM ET/ 5 PM PT, THE DINNER PARTY SHOW WITH CHRISTOPHER RICE & ERIC SHAW QUINN brings you a new episode at TheDinnerPartyShow.com.

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Release Blitz: Monster Prick by Kendall Ryan

Posted on 11/17/2015 by shellbellereads

Over my dead body.

That’s what I told Gracie when she informed me of her plan to pick some random guy she met online to get rid of her pesky virginity.

If anyone is touching her, it’s going to be me.

I shouldn’t even be considering it, but I can’t get it out of my head: her, under me, begging me.

***
Arrogant. Cocky. Prick.

Those are the words I’d use to describe my older brother’s dangerously handsome best friend.

When he learned of my plan to kick off my white cotton briefs, ditching my good girl persona once and for all by losing my virginity to the first eligible bachelor I could find, he flipped out. Said over his dead body.

He says if anyone’s going to do it, it’s going to be him.

I hate that I’m even considering his offer.

But I am … I sooo am.

Ever since he suggested it, all I can think about is his cocky smile on those full lips as he’s driving in to me.

But if we cross that line … will I ever be able to go back?

MONSTER PRICK, a sexy romantic comedy, is a spin off novella from SCREWED, but can be read as a standalone, as it features a new couple.

AMAZON **** iBooks *** B&N

EXCERPT

Hudson

“What if I could help you?”

I have no idea what the hell I was thinking. The words just
leaped out of my mouth. Listening to Gracie talk about kicking off her granny panties
and popping her cherry with some random Internet dick…I guess it drove me
temporarily insane.

But there’s no taking back the idea now. Gracie sucks in her
breath, blinking wide-eyed. “What do you mean?” she asks.

What do I mean? Here I am, sitting next to the world’s most
beautiful girl—drowning in her eyes, her scent, the gentle puff of her breath
on my mouth that begs me to close the distance. I know what I want, but I also
know what will happen if I take it. My best friend will rip off my balls and
feed them to me. And I’ll probably deserve every second.

But sweet Jesus, I’m pretty sure Gracie wants this, too, and
that’s enough to blow my better judgment to pieces. All I care about right now
is making her feel better. In as many ways as possible. And if her slightly
quickened breathing, blown pupils, and flushed cheeks are anything to go by…

As an experiment, I dart out the tip of my tongue to wet my
lips. Her darkened eyes drop like a magnet yanked them. Yeah, bingo. Having a
little black book as thick as the dictionary has its advantages. I know damn
well how to tell when a woman wants me.

A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today
bestselling author of more than 18 titles, Kendall Ryan has sold more than a
million ebooks and her books have been translated into several languages in
countries around the world. She’s a traditionally published author with Simon
& Schuster and Harper Collins UK, as well as enjoying success as an
independently published author. Since she first began self-publishing in 2012,
she’s appeared at #1 on Barnes & Noble and iBooks charts around the world.
Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller
list 23 times.

Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras.

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Release Blitz: Ignite by Kelly Elliott

Posted on 11/17/2015 by shellbellereads

There were two things Emmit Lewis loved.

Racing cars and Adaline Morgan.

Time was stolen from the two young lovers and Emmit vowed never again would he allow anything to come between the two of them.

Blurred lines both on and off the track have Emmit being tested beyond his limits. Will he reach the checkered flag and ignite Adaline’s heart, or will he be black-flagged and lose everything he has ever dreamed of?

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EXCERPT

The last time I stood in victory circle, Emmit had won his first NASCAR race and he had searched the crowd for me. This time, he went straight to the camera and began talking as he took small sips of something someone put in his hand. Robert reached over and changed out Emmit’s baseball cap to another sponsor’s hat.
My lower stomach tightened as I watched Emmit’s every move. His sweat-soaked hair peeking out from under the baseball cap lit a fire in my body that I tried desperately to ignore.
Bastard.
I wanted to be angry with him, but I couldn’t.
“He’s so damn good looking. What I wouldn’t do to spend just one hour in his bed,” some girl behind me said. Turning, I gave her a fake smile. “Tell me you don’t agree,” she said to me.
With a smirk, I said, “I’ve graced his bed plenty of times.”
With a huge smile, she said, “Lucky bitch.”
I rolled my eyes as I pushed all thoughts of Emmit and my horny body away.
The freedom of not feeling the need to have Emmit’s hands all over my body lasted for a whole minute. Once his gray eyes found mind, I held onto my breath.
There was so much more to Emmit than how he made my body feel during sex. One of my favorite things he ever did was place his hand on my lower back as he guided me through a room. Or, to a table for two in the corner of a romantic restaurant. Oh, yes … there was so much more to him.
Giving me a smile, Emmit said something else to the reporter and then nodded his head and turned to his team as they continued to celebrate. Daddy had gone up and given Emmit a quick hug and said something to him that caused Emmit to let out a laugh and agree with whatever Daddy said.
Emmit took the champagne and shook it up as he sprayed everyone. Security had allowed Ashley to go up to Emmit. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her for a good thirty seconds before pulling back and kissing the tip of her nose.
My heart dropped as I thought about how much I wished that had been me. I started making my way through the crowd. Glancing back over my shoulder, I watched as Emmit posed for pictures and continued to celebrate his win. Turning back to the front, I wondered if he would even notice I had left.

Kelly Elliott is married to a wonderful Texas cowboy who has a knack for making her laugh almost daily and supports her crazy ideas and
dreams for some unknown reason…he claims it’s because he loves her!

She’s also a mom to an amazing daughter who is constantly asking for something to eat while her fingers move like mad on her cell phone
sending out what is sure to be another very important text message.

In her spare time she loves to sit in her small corner overlooking the Texas hill country and write.

One of her favorite things to do is go for hikes around her property with Gus….her chocolate lab and the other man in her life, and Rose,
her golden retriever. When Kelly is not outside helping the hubby haul brush, move rocks or whatever fun chore he has in store for her that day, you’ll find her inside reading, writing or watching HGTV.

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Release Blitz: Just One Taste by Lexi Blake

Posted on 11/17/2015 by shellbellereads

One Hot Chef….

Eric Vail has always loved a challenge. After leaving the Navy, he mastered his passion for cooking. As the sous chef at Top, one of Dallas’s hottest restaurants, his skills are pushed to the limit every night. Unfortunately, his ultimate prize still eludes him. Server Deena Holmes is the sweetest thing he’s seen in forever, but she’s as distant as she is beautiful. When they’re put together in the same training class at the infamous club Sanctum, he knows this is his shot. And this former SEAL never misses.

A Woman Who Lost Her Taste for Love…

Deena thinks Eric is the most gorgeous man she’s ever seen, but her heart has been burned too many times before. She’s sworn off relationships for good and she can’t trust herself with a man that easy to fall in love with. She takes a spot as a trainee at Sanctum in the hopes of finding a safe place to explore and experiment. When she discovers her partner is the same chef she dreams about every night, Deena knows she may have bitten off more than she can chew.

A Perfect Recipe for Passion

While exploring the world of Sanctum, Eric and Deena find themselves learning about each other and finding an intimacy neither expected. But when the ghosts of her past resurface, old wounds are reopened. Can their newfound love survive when it’s put to the test?

AMAZON *** AMAZON UK *** iBooks *** B&N *** GOOGLE *** KOBO *** SMASHWORDS

Her first novel, Their Virgin Captive: Masters of Ménage, Book 1, was a collaboration with New York Times bestselling author Shayla Black. There are five more books available in the series: Their Virgin’s Secret, Their Virgin Concubine, Their Virgin Princess, Their Virgin Hostage, and Their Virgin Secretary. The next book in the series, Their Virgin Mistress, is coming to Amazon this April.

In addition to the Masters of Ménage series, she is the author of the Masters and Mercenaries series. The first seven novels, The Dom Who Loved Me, The Men with the Golden Cuffs, A Dom is Forever, On Her Master’s Secret Service, Love and Let Die, Dungeon Royale, and A View to a Thrill are available now, along with the novellas Sanctum, Unconditional, Dungeon Games, and Cherished. The eighth novel, You Only Love Twice, is coming in February of 2015, along with two new novellas, Luscious and Adored, coming in May of 2015.

In 2013, Lexi also began releasing her urban fantasy series, Thieves. The full series, Steal the Light, Steal the Day, Steal the Moon, Steal the Sun, and Steal the Night, are available now on Amazon. The first book in a spin-off of the series, Ripper, released in January of 2015. Look for Addict, the next book in the spin-off series, to be released in Fall of 2015.

Lexi will again collaborate with Shayla Black in a new series The Perfect Gentlemen. The first book, Scandal Never Sleeps, will release on July 7, 2015.

For more information about her books, her appearances and her wacky life visit her Facebook page http://goo.gl/q2IHnJ or her website http://www.lexiblake.net .

Release Blitz: Always Mine by Ruth Cardello

Posted on 11/16/2015 by shellbellereads

Synopsis

When it comes to getting what he wants, Asher Barrington is a hammer who is known for crushing his opponents. From the moment Emily walks into his office and challenges him, winning takes on a whole new meaning. The only thing standing between Emily Harris and her goal to open a museum for the blind is an arrogant, sexy as hell billionaire, who thinks sleeping with her will not complicate the situation. He won’t change. She won’t back down. But together they sizzle.

**This is book one of a spin off series from The Legacy Collection and The Andrades. You fell in love with Dominic Corisi and Gio Andrade—come meet the rest of the family. All new couples with cameos from many of your favorite characters.

Love reading books set in the same world? Watch for Jeannette Winters release, One White Lie. Her series will mirror this series time line. It won’t be necessary to read hers to enjoy mine, but it sure will enhance the fun

Purchase Links
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Always-Mine-Barrington-Billionaires-Book-ebook/dp/B013GZOXPS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447262915&sr=8-1&keywords=always+mine

Amazon UK – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Always-Mine-Barrington-Billionaires-Book-ebook/dp/B013GZOXPS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447262720&sr=8-1&keywords=always+mine

ITunes – https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/always-mine/id1027509670?mt=11

About Ruth Cardello

Ruth Cardello was born the youngest of 11 children in a small city
in northern Rhode Island. She spent her young adult years moving as far
away as she could from her large extended family. She lived in Boston,
Paris, Orlando, New York–then came full circle and moved back to Rhode
Island. She now happily lives one town over from the one she was born
in. For her, family trumped the warmer weather and international scene.

She
was an educator for 20 years, the last 11 as a kindergarten teacher.
When her school district began cutting jobs, Ruth turned a serious eye
toward her second love- writing and has never been happier. When she’s
not writing, you can find her chasing her children around her small
farm, riding her horses, or connecting with her readers online.

Her fourth book in the Andrade Series, Somewhere Along the Way is now available for pre-order!

Email Notice of New Releases: http://www.RuthCardello.com/Signup

You can find her on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/RuthCardello

Follow her at Twitter @RuthieCardello

If you’d like to email her directly, you may contact her at Minouri@aol.com

Lone Star Burn Series (Montlake Romance)

Book 1: Taken, Not Spurred

Book 2: Tycoon Takedown

Want to hear the song Charles proposed to Melanie with? https://youtu.be/SGZT5nVKfMs

The Legacy Collection

Book 1: Maid for the Billionaire (FREE on Amazon!)

Book 2: For Love or Legacy

Book 3: Bedding the Billionaire

Book 4: Saving the Sheikh

Book 5: Rise of the Billionaire

Book 6: Breaching the Billionaire: Alethea’s Redemption

The Andrades:

Book 1: Come Away With Me (FREE on Amazon)

Book 2: Home to Me

Book 3: Maximum Risk

Book 4: Somewhere Along the Way

Book 5: Loving Gigi

The Temptation Series:
Book 1: Twelve Days of Temptation
Book 2: Be My TemptationOther Works:
Taken By a Trillionaire

Release Week Blitz: Emeralds by K. A. Linde

Posted on 11/15/2015 by shellbellereads

We are so excited to be participating in the Release Week Event for Emeralds by K.A. Linde. Take a sneak peek into the book below and make sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a signed set of the entire series (Diamonds, Gold and Emeralds)!

Walking away from him was easy.

The first time at least.

Then he shows up late one night at Trihn’s ballet company, and all bets are off. Trihn knows that she should be careful. But when it comes to Preston Whitehall, she throws all her carefully constructed reasons for not dating out the window.

He’s cunning, charming, and hot as sin. And he knows exactly how to use those qualities to get what he wants. Soon, Trihn is dragged deeper and deeper into his rapidly intensifying whirlwind.

But where a storm is brewing…destruction and devastation follow.

Find out how Trihn goes from prodigy to party girl in this sexy full-length prequel to Platinum in the USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde’s All That Glitters series.

FIVE FUN FACTS ABOUT EMERALDS

Emeralds is primarily set in New York City. I went there for a weekend to do research for this book, and all of the places they go to (even if not specifically named) are real!
Trihn is a ballerina at a dance studio in the city. Name changed from what it is in real life, but based off of the New York City ballet.
I danced all forms of dance growing up and recently took up pole dancing. These are all centered around Trihn as she is a very accomplished dancer. All the moves she does in ballet or otherwise are real choreographed steps!
This is the first book I’ve ever written in romance where the main character has an older sister.
Trihn is basically the polar opposite of Bryna, the main character from Diamonds and Gold. She was really fun and difficult to write, because she is incredibly nuanced and has a personality that compartmentalizes her feelings and relationships depending on who she is with. I think that’s why Bryna and Trihn work as friends. Bryna holds Trihn up, and Trihn holds Bryna back. You’ll get to know Trihn so much more in this book and come to love her!

USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde has written the Avoiding series and the Record series as well as the new adult novels Following Me and Take Me for Granted. She grew up as a military brat traveling the United States and Australia. While studying political science and philosophy at the University of Georgia, she founded the Georgia Dance Team, which she still coaches. Post-graduation, she served as the campus campaign director for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. An avid traveler, reader, and bargain hunter, K.A. lives in Athens, Georgia, with her husband and two puppies, Riker and Lucy.

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♥READ THE SERIES♥

Diamonds

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Gold

*Gold is on SALE for a week for $.99!*

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Pre-Order Emeralds

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Release Blitz : Cam Girl by Leah Raeder

Posted on 11/03/2015 by shellbellereads

Cam Girl

By Leah Raeder

Release Date : November 3, 2015

Synopsis

Vada Bergen is broke, the black sheep of her family, and moving a thousand miles away from home for grad school, but she’s got the two things she loves most: her art, and her best friend and soulmate, Ellis Carraway. Elle and Vada have a friendship so consuming it’s hard to tell where one girl ends and the other begins. It’s intense. It’s a little codependent. And nothing can tear them apart.

Until an accident on an icy winter road changes everything.

Vada is left deeply scarred, both emotionally and physically. Her once-promising art career is cut short. And Ellis pulls away, unwilling to talk about that night. Everything Vada loved is gone.

She’s got nothing left to lose.

So when she meets a smooth-talking lothario who offers to set her up as a cam girl, she can’t say no. All Vada has to do is spend a couple hours each night taking off her clothes on webcam, and the “tips” come pouring in.

It’s all just kinky fun till a client gets serious. “Blue” is mysterious, alluring, and more interested in Vada’s life than her body. Online, they open up to each other intimately. Blue helps her heal. And he pays well, but he wants her all to himself. No more cam shows. She agrees, because she’s starting to fall for him. And when he asks to meet, she says yes. Because she’s dying to know the real man behind the keyboard.

Even if one of his conditions is to bring Ellis. The girl who wants nothing to do with her anymore.

Now Vada must confront the past she’s been running from. A past full of devastating secrets—those of others, and those she’s been keeping from herself.

Buy Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

_________________________________________

Author Bio:

LEAH RAEDER is a writer and unabashed nerd. Aside from reading her brains out, she enjoys graphic design, video games, fine whiskey, and the art of self-deprecation. She lives with her very own manic pixie dream boy in Chicago.

(And she still writes pretentiously lyrical fiction.)

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Blitz: The Play by Karina Halle

Posted on 11/03/2015 by shellbellereads

A troubled Scottish rugby player who doesn’t play by the rules.
A vivacious man-eater who’s given up on love.
When it comes to Lachlan and Kayla, opposites don’t just attract – they explode.

Kayla Moore has always been comfortable with her feisty, maneating reputation. At least it was fine until she hit her thirties and saw her best friends Stephanie and Nicola settle down with Linden and Bram McGregor, leaving Kayla to be the odd one out. Tired of being the third wheel with nothing but one-night stands and dead-end dates in San Francisco, Kayla decides to take a vow of celibacy and put men on the backburner.

That is until she lays her eyes on Linden and Bram’s cousin, hot Scot Lachlan McGregor. Lachlan is her sexual fantasy come to life – tall, tatted, and built like a Mack truck. With a steely gaze and successful rugby career back in Edinburgh, he’s the kind of man that makes her want to throw her vow right out the window. But Lachlan’s quiet and intense demeanor makes him a hard man to get to know, let alone get close to.

It isn’t until the two of them are thrown together one long, unforgettable night that Kayla realizes there is so much more to this brooding macho man than what meets the eye. But even with sparks flying between the two, Lachlan can’t stay in America forever. Now, Kayla has to decide whether to uproot her whole life and chance it all on someone she barely knows or risk getting burned once again.
Sometimes love is a game that just needs to be played.

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With her USA Today Bestselling The Artists Trilogy published by Grand Central Publishing, numerous foreign publication deals, and self-publishing success with her Experiment in Terror series, Vancouver-born Karina Halle is a true example of the term “Hybrid Author.” Though her books showcase her love of all things dark, sexy and edgy, she’s a closet romantic at heart and strives to give her characters a HEA…whenever possible.

Karina holds a screenwriting degree from Vancouver Film School and a Bachelor of Journalism from TRU. Her travel writing, music reviews/interviews and photography have appeared in publications such as Consequence of Sound, Mxdwn and GoNomad Travel Guides. She currently lives on an island on the coast of British Columbia where she’s preparing for the zombie apocalypse with her fiancé and rescue pup.

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Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review : The Game Plan by Kristen Callahan – Game On Series – Book 3

Posted on 11/02/2015 by shellbellereads

The Game Plan

Game On Series – Book 3

By Kristen Callihan

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Synopsis

A beard-related dare and one hot-as-hell kiss changes everything.

NFL center Ethan Dexter’s focus has always been on playing football and little else. Except when it comes to one particular woman. The lovely Fiona Mackenzie might not care about his fame, but she’s also never looked at him as anything more than one of her brother-in-law’s best friends. That ends now.

Fi doesn’t know what to make of Dex. The bearded, tattooed, mountain of man-muscle looks more like a biker than a football player. Rumor has it he’s a virgin, but she finds that hard to believe. Because from the moment he decides to turn his quiet intensity on her she’s left weak at the knees and aching to see his famous control fully unleashed.

Fi ought to guard her heart and walk away; they live vastly different lives in separate cities. And Dex is looking for a forever girl. But Dex has upped his game and is using all his considerable charm to convince Fi he’s her forever man.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

Muscular man with tattos undressing. Isolated on white

Excerpt

I grin up at him. “You know, before this, I’d have taken you for a hard rock, or maybe even a bluegrass fan.”
“It’s the beard, isn’t it,” he asks.
“And the man-bun.”
He laughs, a short rumble of sound. “Want me to let it down?”
Yes. Maybe.
“Not necessary. Man-buns are hot. I blame Jason Momoa. There was only so much watching him bang Khaleesi the female population could take before they wanted their own Khal Drogo.”
Shit. I really don’t know what the hell I’m doing. Because it sounds a lot like flirting to me. Instinct tells me flirting with Ethan Dexter isn’t something to do lightly. And there’s the fact that I don’t go for athletes. At all. I don’t care how fit they are. Or how confident. I don’t like sports. Football bores me. Oh, I know tons about the sport—kind of impossible not to in my family—but I don’t want to pretend that I care when I’d rather talk about other things.
Dex’s eyes crinkle again, and he turns toward me, leaning an elbow on the table. “Doesn’t Momoa have a beard?”
I wave my hand. “Who has time to look at his beard when his muscles are on display?”
I most certainly do not look at Dex’s phenomenal arms.
“So your stance on beards is?” His gaze so strong I feel it in my toes.
My breathing picks up. “Don’t particularly like them.”
It’s the truth. And yet I can’t help but look at his. It’s dark, framing his mouth, which should be a turnoff for me. Only it draws all my attention there. To the shape of his mouth—the upper lip a gentle curve, the lower lip fuller, almost a pout. There’s something slightly illicit about the whole effect.
I clear my throat, glance up, and find him watching me through lowered lids. He doesn’t seem particularly put out by my frankness.
“What don’t you like about them?”
Is he serious?
He stares at me.
I guess he is.
Taking a quick sip of my drink, I search for an answer. “They’re just so…fuzzy. Prickly.”
He moves in, not crowding me, but putting himself at arms’ reach. He smells faintly of cloves and oranges. It must be his aftershave or cologne, but it works for me.
I’m distracted by it and almost jump when he speaks again. “Do you know this based on experience, or are you making an assumption?”
My gaze narrows. “Aren’t you the philosopher.”
“You didn’t answer the question.”
“Fine. Assumption.”
His lips quirk. “You should find out if your assumption is true before you condemn the beard.”
“Is this some sort of creepy way to get me to touch your beard?”
A challenge flashes in his eyes. “There are a few guys at the bar sporting beards. You could go ask them. But I figure since we know each other…”
“Not that well.”
“You’d rather ask a stranger?”
“You’re assuming I care enough to ask, Slick.”
His teeth shine white in the shadows of the club. “I know you’re curious. You’re fairly twitching with wanting to know.”
I flatten my hands against the table and glare. Is it just me, or is he closer? Close enough that I can see his eyes are hazel, lighter around his cornea with a starburst pattern. I wish I could see the colors, but he’s painted in shades of blue and gray right now.
And he’s watching me. Patient. Calculating. Tempting.
“It’s always the quiet ones,” I mutter before taking a breath. “Okay, I’ll pet your fuzzy face.”
“Hold up.” Without hesitation, he reaches for my drink and takes a sip. “Liquid courage.”
A strangled laugh leaves me. “Because I’m sooo scary.”
“You have no idea, Cherry.”
I think I growl at him. I definitely want to give his precious beard a good, hard tug. But he simply lifts his brows at me. “Get on with it, then.”
This cheeky bastard is totally playing me. And here I am falling into his trap. Because I cannot look away from his beard now. More specifically, his lips, which are parted just slightly. An invitation. A dare.
Shit. I’ve never been very good at ignoring a dare.
I hate that my hand trembles as I reach up to touch him. He stays perfectly still, his arm casually slung on the edge of the booth behind me, his body turned toward mine. But I don’t miss the way his breathing has kicked up just slightly.
I hesitate, shy almost. Hells bells, I’m only going to touch a bit of facial hair. Why does it feel like we’re two kids tucked in a dark corner, playing a game of “I’ll show you mine”?
Annoyed with myself, I close the distance between us.

____________________________________________________

Michel’s Review

The Game Plan by Kristen Callihan is the third book in the Game On Series. This latest addition to the series is a winner.

The Game Plan can be read as a stand alone novel or in series order.

Readers previously met Ethan Dexter and Fiona MacKenzie in the previous books. The old saying that opposites attract definitely applies to these two characters. Dex is the strong, steady, silent type of man. He may be a quiet man, his sex appeal and charisma are bold and dynamic. The beard , man bun, and athletic body will have the readers swooning, but what had me swooning was the man himself. This quiet self assured man that is compassionate, patient, sensitive, and romantic stole my heart. When he picked up the new baby and knew exactly what to do, I was a goner. When he went after Fiona and showed her the man behind the surface, I was hopelessly in love.

Fiona and Dex have been casual acquaintances through family and friends. Fiona is Ivy’s younger sister and wants nothing to do with athletes. She has pursued her career in an artistic field rather than following in her family’s footsteps. When she takes a trip to visit her sister in San Francisco, she is once again reacquainted with Gray’s quiet friend, Ethan Dexter.

On the surface Fiona and Dex do not fit. But once the layers are pealed away and their eyes are opened, they are each other’s yin and yang. Dex has wanted Fiona for years and now he’s ready to go after what he wants. It doesn’t matter that he is a virgin and inexperienced where women are concerned. He has intelligence, imagination, and creativity and he is going to show Fiona it all.

Dex and Fiona are very good together. They will have to learn to handle a long distance relationship. Fiona will have to deal with some very ugly issues where her career is concerned. They will have to learn to handle the notoriety, fame, and paparazzi that goes along with Dex’s career as a pro football player.

They will hit some bumps in the road but together they will figure out how to keep their happily ever after.

Kristen Callihan once again delivered an emotional heartwarming romance that will keep the readers glued to the pages.

____________________________________________

Game On Series

The Hook Up – Book 1

The rules: no kissing on the mouth, no staying the night, no telling anyone, and above all… No falling in love

Anna Jones just wants to finish college and figure out her life. Falling for star quarterback Drew Baylor is certainly not on her to do list. Confident and charming, he lives in the limelight and is way too gorgeous for his own good. If only she could ignore his heated stares and stop thinking about doing hot and dirty things with him. Easy right?

Too bad he’s committed to making her break every rule…

Football has been good to Drew. It’s given him recognition, two National Championships, and the Heisman. But what he really craves is sexy yet prickly Anna Jones. Her cutting humor and blatant disregard for his fame turns him on like nothing else. But there’s one problem: she’s shut him down. Completely.
That is until a chance encounter leads to the hottest sex of their lives, along with the possibility of something great. Unfortunately, Anna wants it to remain a hook up. Now it’s up to Drew to tempt her with more: more sex, more satisfaction, more time with him. Until she’s truly hooked. It’s a good thing Drew knows all about winning.

All’s fair in love and football…Game on

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

The Friend Zone – Book 2

Gray doesn’t make friends with women. He has sex with them. Until Ivy.

The last thing star tight-end Gray Grayson wants to do is drive his agent’s daughter’s bubblegum pink car. But he needs the wheels and she’s studying abroad. Something he explains when she sends him an irate text to let him know exactly how much pain she’ll put him in if he crashes her beloved ride. Before he knows it, Ivy Mackenzie has become his best texting bud. But then Ivy comes home and everything goes haywire. Because the only thing Gray can think of is being with Ivy.

Ivy doesn’t have sex with friends. Especially not with a certain football player. No matter how hot he makes her…

Gray drives Ivy crazy. He’s irreverent, sex on a stick, and completely off limits. Because, Ivy has one golden rule: never get involved with one of her father’s clients. A rule that’s proving harder to keep now that Gray is doing his best to seduce her. Her best friend is fast becoming the most irresistible guy she’s ever met.

Which means Gray is going to have to use all his skills to win Ivy’s heart. Game on.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

The Game Plan – Book 3

A beard-related dare and one hot-as-hell kiss changes everything.

Game On

Contemporary Romance with a HEA – Recommended for readers 18 and older.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

_______________________________________________

Author Bio:

Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather be. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

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Category Archives: Blog Tour

Blog Tour + 5 Star Review: Hearts Of Blue by L. H. Cosway

Review & Excerpt Tour: Kiss The Flame by Christopher Rice

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Release Blitz: Monster Prick by Kendall Ryan

Release Blitz: Ignite by Kelly Elliott

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EXCERPT

Kelly Elliott is married to a wonderful Texas cowboy who has a knack for making her laugh almost daily and supports her crazy ideas and
dreams for some unknown reason…he claims it’s because he loves her!

She’s also a mom to an amazing daughter who is constantly asking for something to eat while her fingers move like mad on her cell phone
sending out what is sure to be another very important text message.

In her spare time she loves to sit in her small corner overlooking the Texas hill country and write.

Release Blitz: Just One Taste by Lexi Blake

Release Blitz: Always Mine by Ruth Cardello

Release Week Blitz: Emeralds by K. A. Linde

Release Blitz : Cam Girl by Leah Raeder

Release Blitz: The Play by Karina Halle

Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review : The Game Plan by Kristen Callahan – Game On Series – Book 3

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EXCERPT

Kelly Elliott is married to a wonderful Texas cowboy who has a knack for making her laugh almost daily and supports her crazy ideas and dreams for some unknown reason…he claims it’s because he loves her!

She’s also a mom to an amazing daughter who is constantly asking for something to eat while her fingers move like mad on her cell phone sending out what is sure to be another very important text message.

In her spare time she loves to sit in her small corner overlooking the Texas hill country and write.

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Amazon eBook Amazon Paperback**

AMAZON * iBooks * B&N *** KOBO

Kelly Elliott is married to a wonderful Texas cowboy who has a knack for making her laugh almost daily and supports her crazy ideas and
dreams for some unknown reason…he claims it’s because he loves her!

She’s also a mom to an amazing daughter who is constantly asking for something to eat while her fingers move like mad on her cell phone
sending out what is sure to be another very important text message.