Review: Schooled by Lorelei James – The Mastered Series – Book 3

Posted on 12/10/2014 by shellbellereads

Schooled

The Mastered Series- Novella- Book 3

By Lorelei James

Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling “master of erotic romance”* and author of Unraveled, Bound and Unwound comes the all-new novella in the Mastered series.
When Amery Hardwick first met martial arts master Ronin Black, she wasn’t ready for the primal urges his sensual rope artistry released in her. As it turned out Amery and Ronin were made for each other. But when they head to Japan for a delayed honeymoon and Ronin’s annual training with his sensei, Amery struggles to adapt to the foreign customs as well as running her burgeoning business from afar. But culture shock is the least of her worries when faced with the changes in Ronin—it feels as if she’s married a stranger. Caught between his sensei’s demands and pleasing his wife, Ronin is at war with himself over choosing advancement in his jujitsu training, or staying at home with the woman who owns his heart and soul. As the limits of their relationship are tested once again, Ronin and Amery discover that they both have a lot to learn about each other….and what it takes to build a love that’ll pass all life’s little tests.
Includes a preview of the new Mastered series novel, Unraveled.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

Schooled was the perfect addition to the Mastered Series. This novella picks up months after Unwound takes place. Ronin and Amery are now married. Due to his previous injuries and new endeavors at the Dojo, they did not get to take a honeymoon.

Ronin is going to Japan for his yearly training with his sensei. He has decided to incorporate his honeymoon with Amery into his training schedule. Amery will also have a chance to meet his grandfather and get a chance to see his family background.

Once they get to Japan, Ronin and Amery will experience many different lessons. This trip will strengthen their already strong relationship. It will give them a better understanding of each other as individuals as well as a couple. Both of them will learn new lesson’s from Ronin’s sensei training. They will also earn the respect from Ronin’s family.

Ronin and Amery have been schooled. They have learned their lessons well. Now they can truly become masters of their lives.

I absolutely loved this novella as much as I loved the two full length novels in the Mastered Series. Lorelei James is a very talented writer that brings her couples to life. She isn’t afraid to take them past their initial happily ever after. She makes them work to keep their hearts pure towards one another. She allows them to grow as individuals and as a couple. She makes the reader love the couple even more.

I highly recommend the Mastered Series. I would not recommend reading Schooled as a stand alone book. Amery and Ronin have experienced too much to have their relationship summed up in one novella. Their experience will capture the heart.

The Mastered Series

Bound

In the new Mastered series by New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James, a woman’s desire to shatter her inhibitions leaves her unprepared for where that erotic journey will take her….

Former small-town girl Amery Hardwick is living her dream as a graphic designer in Denver, Colorado. She’s focused on building her business, which leaves little time for dating—not that she needs a romantic entanglement to fulfill her. When her friend signs up for a self-defense class as part of her recovery after an attack, Amery joins her for support. That’s where she meets him.

Ronin Black, owner of the dojo, is so drawn to Amery that he takes over her training—in public and in private. The enigmatic Ronin pushes Amery’s boundaries from the start, and with each new tryst, Amery becomes addicted to the pleasure and to him. But when Amery senses Ronin is hiding something, she questions her total trust in him, despite the undeniable thrill of his possession….

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Unwound

n the continuation to the Mastered series by New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James, a man’s need for control is tested by the one woman he’ll risk everything for…

When sensei Ronin Black first encounters Amery Hardwick, the fire in her eyes ignites a sexual spark a thousand times better than the primal rush he used to get from mixed martial arts matches. She accepts his darker edges and admits to him that her desires aren’t as wholesome as he believed. And before long Ronin is grappling with emotions he’s never felt before….

Yet despite demanding Amery bare her body and soul to him, Ronin holds a part of himself back. When she learns Ronin’s secret and walks out, his life begins to unravel. To regain her trust he must let go of his pride and prove to her that it’s more than passion binding them together.

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Author Bio:

Lorelei James is the NY Times and USA Today Bestselling author of erotic westerns: the Rough Riders series, the Blacktop Cowboys series, and the erotic romances in the Mastered series. Lorelei lives in western South Dakota.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Giveaway

A Martial Arts Pack

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal & Pre Order: Verum by Courtney Cole- The Nocte Trilogy- Book 2

Posted on 12/10/2014 by shellbellereads

You loved Courtney Cole’s†NOCTE in all it’s dark, twisted, spellbinding, messed-up awesomeness. You can’t wait until VERUM (Nocte Trilogy Book 2) releases in February 2015. And now Courtney Cole is going to release an exclusive VERUM excerpt…but only if we can get it to the top 1000 on Amazon!

All you have to do is go to Amazon and pre-order VERUM†right now.†Go, pre-order, and get all your NOCTE-obsessed friends to pre-order, too. If enough people do it, VERUM will climb up the ranks, and we’ll get a sneak peek at the follow-up to what’s being called “a haunting psychological suspense” and “the rare kind of story that leaves permanent marks on your heart and your soul.”

>>†PRE-ORDER VERUM ON AMAZON RIGHT HERE†<<

About NOCTE

SAVE ME AND I’LL SAVE YOU….

My name is Calla Price. Iím eighteen years old, and Iím one half of a whole. My other half– my twin brother, my Finn–is crazy.

I love him. More than life, more than anything. And even though Iím terrified heíll suck me down with him, no one can save him but me.

Iím doing all I can to stay afloat in a sea of insanity, but Iím drowning more and more each day. So I reach out for a lifeline.

Dare DuBray.

Heís my savior and my anti-Christ. His arms are where I feel safe, where Iím afraid, where I belong, where Iím lost. He will heal me, break me, love me and hate me.

He has the power to destroy me.

Maybe thatís ok. Because I canít seem to save Finn and love Dare without everyone getting hurt.

Why? Because of a secret.

A secret Iím so busy trying to figure out, that I never see it coming.

You wonít either.

>>†GET†NOCTE†ON AMAZON RIGHT HERE†<<

>> JOIN THE NOCTE TRILOGY TEASER AND CLUE LIST RIGHT HERE <<

About VERUM

THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE.

My name is Calla Price and I’m drowning.

My new world is a dark, dark ocean and I’m being pulled under by secrets.

Can I trust anyone? I don’t know anymore.

The lies are spirals. They twist and turn, binding me with their thorns and serpentine tongues. And just when I think I have it figured out, everything is pulled out from under me.

I’m entangled in the darkness.

But the truth will set me free.

It’s just ahead of me, so close I can touch it. But even though it shines and glimmers, it has glistening fangs and I know it will shred me.

Are you scared?

I am.

>>†PRE-ORDER VERUM ON AMAZON RIGHT HERE†<<

>> JOIN THE NOCTE TRILOGY TEASER AND CLUE LIST RIGHT HERE <<

Review: Dirty Secret by Emma Hart – The Burke Brothers Series- Book 1

Posted on 12/08/2014 by shellbellereads

Dirty Secret

The Burke Brothers Series – Book 1

By Emma Hart

Synopsis

Conner Burke never expected Sofie Callahan to come back.

Where she’s been for the last two and half years is a mystery, and so is the reason she left in the first place. Now, though, she’s back in their hometown of Shelton Bay, South Carolina, at the same time Conner’s band Dirty B is home on a tour break.

Sofie Callahan has spent the months since her father’s death avoiding anything to do with her home town. But with her brother in Afghanistan, she has no choice but to return and sort out her father’s house, even if it means facing the boy she fell in love with and revealing the reason she left.

Conner has questions, and when his broken heart and her guilty one collide, Sofie has to start answering them. Their present is rocky, their future unknown. Only one thing is certain:

Sofie’s daughter will change everything.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Excerpt

That kid that could be mine.

I get up and let the empty bottle drop to the floor. The woods are eerily quiet, as if it can sense my anger. As if it knows the bitterness that lingers in my veins, as if it knows the burn of not knowing anything.

Like the woods, I’m left in the dark. Completely.

Branches and twigs crunch under my feet as I increase my pace to a gentle jog. And again, to a slow run. Then to a sprint.

The need to know increases with every footstep, as evenly paced as the ticking of the clock. It doesn’t matter that I’ve probably drunk too much beer to be here or that we’ve only been back for a matter of days.

I can’t be in this shithole full of memories without knowing. I can’t move on until I know. I can’t forgive her for a single fucking thing until I know—and even then, maybe I won’t be able to.

Maybe she’s unforgivable.

Instead of knocking on the back door like I did yesterday, I round the side of the house to the front door. The front room light glows softly through the curtains, but the rest of the house is dark.

My chest heaves with the exertion of my run here and I grab the doorframe to balance myself. I’m definitely too fucking drunk for this conversation, but what the hell.

I bang on the door, once, twice, again and again and again. “Sofie! Open the fuckin’ door!”

“Shut up!” she hisses, yanking it open. “The hell’re you doing here?”

I smirk, leaning against the wall. “Shouldn’t I be askin’ you that, princess?”

“Are you drunk?” Her voice rises a little at the end, and her eyes widen.

Those eyes. Fuck, those baby blues that have always undone me.

“Drunk? No. If I was drunk I’d be sitting at home like a miserable bastard and not here facing the cause of my misery.”

“You’re being an asshole. I don’t have to listen to this.”

She pushes on the door, but I wedge my foot in front of it. I let go of the wall and grab the edge of the door.

“Actually, you do.”

She can’t overpower me, and she knows it, because she lets up and the door swings open. “Why are you here, Conner?”

“You have a kid.”

She smacks her lips together. “Yep.”

“When? When did you have her?”

Sofie takes a deep breath in and presses her hands to her stomach. They’re shaking, even as she links her fingers to hide it. I can see that fucking tremble.

She whispers something but I’m too pre-occupied by her hands to hear it.

“What?”

“August last year,” she repeats, still a whisper.

August. Last year. My stomach clenches as I meet her eyes. “When? When in fuckin’ August, Sofie?”

“August fifteenth.” Her voice hitches halfway through the ‘fifteenth.’

Almost seven months to the day she walked out on me and the rest of Shelton Bay.

Adrenaline hums through my body, and I stare at her. At the tears building in her eyes, the quiver of her lips, the bob of her throat as she swallows harshly.

It’s no different from the burn in my chest, the twisting of my stomach.

“Is she mine?”

She shudders and a tear drips from her eye.

“Sofie. Is. She. Mine?!”

Michel’s Review

Wow! What a great start to a new series. The Burke Brothers Series has a little bit of every type of sub genre romance readers desperately crave. First and foremost, the series is about the four Burke Brothers and their family. Not only are these brothers sizzling hot, they are sizzling hot rockstars in the chart topping band Dirty B. They are the tattooed heart throbs every woman wants rocking their world. This series also has a small town romance feel to it. The Burke’s are from a small South Carolina coastal town that is still their home although they are big stars. They come home on every tour break to spend time with family and friends. The first book, Dirty Secret is a second chance romance. This book not only has the second chance romance it also has two very distinct genres blending together. Those genres would be New Adult and Erotic Romance. The passionate love scenes will leave the readers fanning themselves.

Dirty Secret featured the youngest brother and lead singer, Connor Burke. Sophie Callahan was Conner’s childhood sweetheart and once in a lifetime love. She walked away from him without an explanation or single clue as to why. They had the perfect relationship. His band was on the brink of making it big. Everything they had worked and sacrificed for was finally becoming a reality for them. So why would Sophie walk away when he is finally becoming a true success?

Sophie Callahan found out she was pregnant just as Conner’s band was about to make it big. She left Connor without a word. She never told him about the baby. She disappeared without a trace. Two years later she is back in the small town she grew up in. She is ready to face the music. She is ready for Conner to know his little girl. She knows her decisions are unforgivable. She doesn’t expect Conner to forgive her or repair their relationship. She knows she made mistakes and she owns the responsibility of her choices. She just wants Conner to be a part of Mila’s life. They need each other.

There are other reasons she left Conner. She will have to face n the truth she has been hiding from herself and Conner. Is it too late for them? She seems to think so. Conner has a different opinion.

They will have to deal with their past. The will have to deal with the fame. They will have to learn to be parents together. They will have to reach deep within their hearts to find out what is the most important thing for their daughter and themselves.

The chemistry between Conner and Sophie is steamy. They have a passion that will last until the end of time.

I loved all the characters in this book. I felt like I knew them personally. I can’t wait for the next book in the Burke Brothers Series.

Author Bio:

By day, New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Adult author Emma Hart dons a cape and calls herself Super Mum to two beautiful little monsters. By night, she drops the cape, pours a glass of whatever she fancies – usually wine – and writes books.

Emma is working on Top Secret projects she will share with her followers and fans at every available opportunity. Naturally, all Top Secret projects involve a dashingly hot guy who likes to forget to wear a shirt, a sprinkling (or several) of hold-onto-your-panties hot scenes, and a whole lotta love.

She likes to be busy – unless busy involves doing the dishes, but that seems to be when all the ideas come to life.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Sneak Peek Excerpt: Ripped by Katy Evans- The Real Series

Posted on 12/08/2014 by shellbellereads

Ripped

By Katy Evans

Release Date: December 9, 2014

Pre- Order: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Synopsis

The fifth book in the New York Times new adult series that began with Real.

A ripped rock star with attitude.
An ex-girlfriend with a reckless plan.

Pandora assumed getting her heart broken by her bad boy ex could only happen once–until Mackenna Jones comes back to town for the biggest concert of his career. They say girls are getting pregnant just thinking about the Crack Bikini tour and it’s destined to be a huge hit.

Oh, it’ll be a hit alright–when Pandora comes out swinging. She and her friend Melanie are determined to humiliate him onstage. But when they’re caught by security and her ex is
summoned, Mackenna decides not to press charges if she’ll join him on tour and follow certain conditions–rules designed to give him the upper hand and keep her in close contact with him once again. Soon, the passion they once shared is reignited, and no matter how much Pandora wants to hate him, her hard exterior starts to crack.

And worse: Mackenna knows it, too. But he hasn’t uncovered all her secrets…

Sneak Peek Excerpt

The big dose of reality hits me when I wake up and he is sprawled, in all his muscular glory, across my hotel bed. It takes a second for me to remember that I, uh . . . I let Mackenna stay over?

I groan and slap my palm against my forehead. Fuck. Why why why does he weaken my willpower? The mattress squeaks as he shifts in bed, one arm reaching out as he groans in his sleep and seems to search for me. I roll away quickly and watch his hand settle on a pillow.

“Mackenna,” I say, toeing his side with my foot. “Mackenna!” I hiss.

He rolls around and sits up, and thank god the covers are halfway around his waist, because if I see one more inch of bare flesh I might explode from the heat spreading through me. I feel myself blush even deeper when his muscles bulge as he pushes himself up with his arms. His eyes adorably heavy, he blinks to adjust to the light, his mouth as perfect and generous as it was yesterday. And then he looks at me. That gaze is softer silver in the morning, not as sharp or as intimidating, almost . . . intimate when he sees me. Glimmering playfully.

And too late, I realize why he’s fucking grinning. My T-shirt got caught on the waistband of my panties. And he’s taking me in, in one quick sweep. “Well, fuck, someone woke hungry this morning,” he says, his voice bedroom sleepy as he looks at me, and I grab the pillow to cover myself.

“I’m not hungry,” I say.

“I was talking about me. Come over here.”

“No, Mackenna! Come on. Get out of my room already. I told you to leave!”

He grins and gets up, and I toss the pillow and flush as I pull down my T-shirt while he heads to the bathroom. It only takes him a minute to come out. Not enough to comb all my fingers through the tangles in my hair. If I were into that and cared what the asshole thought. Which I don’t.

His eyes run up the length of my legs, continue from the hem of my T-shirt to my neck, then land on my head. “Leave your hair, it looks all right,” he says huskily, stopping to loom before me.

Heat flows through my body as he looks down at me with blatant need. What is wrong with him? With us?

“Nothing’s wrong,” he murmurs.

“I said that out loud?” I groan.

“You’ve been . . . vocal, all night. I like it.”

God. I dreamed. I dreamed . . . I’m not even sure what. I dreamed about the closet again. I dreamed we were in bed. I dreamed he tried to kiss me, and when I turned away, he set a thousand shivery kisses up and down my neck.

The memory makes me flush cherry red. Did that happen during the night? By the intimate way he looks at me, I think he wanted inside me real bad. I didn’t let him, thank god. He fingers the collar of my tee, then watches me as he slowly drags his finger up my neck, his thumb caressing my bottom and top lip. Even though his hold is loose and he’s not physically holding me down, I feel trapped. His gaze alone holds me motionless.

He used to look at me with this same proprietary gleam when he was my boyfriend. My secret boyfriend, who nobody knew about . . . except me. I guess, in the end, my mom knew.

But while the secret lasted, we hid in the janitor’s closet in school and made out until I could hardly walk, my legs unsteady as I headed for class with his taste in my mouth, the scent of his soap clinging to my clothes.

I’m fighting the urge to smell his neck now. It’s a war to just stand here motionless, tracing every inch of his masculine face with my eyes when I want my fingers to do the same. The years become nothing.

The hum between us is just like in the old days, when I was the center of his galaxy. When the girls in school would stare longingly at him when he walked past my locker, having eyes only for me. Sometimes, when the halls were vacant enough, he quickly leaned over me and kissed the back of my ear and every part of my body, from my toes up to the back of my ear. I’d grow hot, and the place between my legs would start pulsing.

Too easily I remember coming home and squealing.

Me—squealing.

I would play love songs, only to replay the words he said to me and the ways he touched me. I would shower, eat, and sleep Mackenna Jones. . . .

But deep down, my mother’s bitterness and my father’s infidelity poisoned me. I kept all these feelings to myself—kept them from my mother so she wouldn’t take Mackenna from me. But because I didn’t want to lose him, because I feared it wasn’t real, I also kept my feelings from him, and now I’m used to saying nothing. Keeping it bottled up.

Why do I feel like I’m about to burst now?

“Don’t, Kenna,” I say when he uses his thumb to open my lips. He stands dangerously close—his height, his breadth, his size, his do-me-now-woman sex appeal intimidating the hell out of me.

He grins wickedly and strokes a hand over my hip.

“Why not?”

“Because it’s not going to happen,” I say breathlessly.

“Yeah, it will.” His smirk says, It definitely will.

He pats my butt slowly, and the familiar way he brushes his lips over mine brings my temper to a boil. Who does he think he is? Does he think because we made out by mistake he gets to play my boyfriend? When I growl and slap his hand away, he chuckles and heads back to the bathroom.

Soon I hear the shower, the sound of the water slapping his delicious man-flesh. Then I hear him hum a tune, a tune I’ve never heard before. My chest moves when I remember he used to do that when we were teens. God, no, stop thinking of those moments. It hurts. Truly it does. Think of the bad ones. When he left. When he left me on my own after making me need him and believe I couldn’t live without him.

Refusing to get all sappy with memories, I grab my phone and think of Melanie.

She’s probably at the office, missing the delightfully bitter morning company that is me.

I quickly text, I kissed him

Every second I wait for her answer, I feel worse and worse, not only about the closet incident but also about falling asleep with him around. When I woke up, the bastard was almost spooning me.

Melanie: What?

Me: I kissed the bastard! He spent the night. Oh god!!!!! This is suicide!

Melanie: Why? Was he into it? You know what they say about where there was once fire . . .

Me: He was into the kissing, into using me for his selfish reasons and I was selfish too.

Melanie: So what’s the problem?

Me: The problem is he’s going to think he WON!

And he will. He really, really will, because he’s so full of himself I’m surprised he fits inside this building.

Author Bio:

Katy Evans grew up with books and book-boyfriends until she found a real sexy boyfriend to love. They married and are now hard at work on their own happily ever after. Katy loves her family and friends, and she also loves reading, walking, baking, and being consumed by her characters until she reaches “The End.” Which is, hopefully, only the beginning…

Katy Evans is the NYT and USA Today bestselling author of the Real series.

To find more about her, look her up on her website, Twitter, or Facebook, she’d also love to hear from you!

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release Day + Giveaway: Ice ~Regulators MC by Chelsea Camaron and Jessie Lane

Posted on 12/08/2014 by shellbellereads

Ice

Regulators MC Series- Book 1

Release Date: November 8, 2014

By: Chelsea Camaron & Jessie Lane

Synopsis

She’s an investment banker.

He’s an outlaw biker.

A little bit of heaven is about to meet a whole lot of hell.

Morgan Powell was raised to be perfect, to set an example for her sisters to follow. Her life has been dedicated to making something of her career, so she wouldn’t know what to do with a man even if you gave her an instruction manual.

Brett ‘Ice’ Grady spends his days trying to keep up with his teenage daughter, his nights consumed in Regulators’ MC business. He has no time for anything more than a casual hookup.

Two worlds collide when the dangers of his life crash into the calm of hers.

Can she go beyond her own boundaries and chip her way through to the man known to be as cold as ice?

Loosely attached to Chelsea Camaron’s Hellions Series and Jessie Lane’s Ex Ops Series.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Smashwords / All Romance Ebooks

Guest Post

It Started Like This

By Jessie Lane

(A Chelsea Camaron approved message)

Chelsea Camaron and I do a lot of plotting together. In fact, she’s the person I call to help me through my writer’s blocks. For me, the Regulators MC was an idea I thought up shortly after writing Secret Maneuvers. In depth, the Regulators MC is quite a bit different from what I’ve seen concept wise. However, I was intimidated by the idea of stepping into the biker romance arena. So, I put the idea on the back burner although CC said she thought it would totally kick ass.

Time passed, and then I started writing Stripping Her Defenses. This was where I knew the Regulators MC would make an entrance into my writing world. They were always involved in Riley Sullivan’s story line and how he finds his ex-wife after their divorce. But the more I thought about them, the more I loved the idea of them. Still, I didn’t think I could do it on my own. I, admittedly, am not the expert at that sort of alpha man.

Then it hit me. I needed my best friend. She writes an alpha man like nobody’s business!

So I called CC and I laid it all out for her, positively sure I was going to have to beg. And I would have too. I would have begged and pleaded and even shed crocodile tears to talk her into the Regulators MC project. Luckily, she didn’t make me do all that. She immediately started spouting ideas for the series and I asked her if she would marry me and have little author babies with me.

She told me our husband’s probably wouldn’t like that idea but we could totally write those books.

So, I gave up the idea of running away and marrying my bestie and settled for writing the Regulators MC instead. I’m SO glad she said yes. She’s breathed this amazing, unbelievable life into characters in a way I never could have accomplished. I’m a lucky, lucky woman to have a friend who balances me so beautifully. She’s my ying to her yang.

In closing, I can’t wait for everyone to read Ice. It already blows me away and it’s not even done yet. These characters… AHHH I love these characters. I can honestly say I couldn’t have done it without the fabulous, incredible, marvelous (I’m kissing my best friend’s ass here, bear with me) stunning, phenomenal friend. Hopefully, after you read Ice, you’ll love it as much as we both do.

Thanks for having me here today! Happy reading everyone!

Excerpt

~Morgan~

Looking at my phone screen, I smile at the text in front of me.

I’m off 2nite. Movie @ ur house or mine?

Texting back, I tell my best friend I will be at her house after work with takeout. Working in a bank, I have every weekend off. Casey’s career path is far different than mine, though, and it is one that requires weekend time; as a result, this is the first Friday she has had off in a while.

My day drags on as I review current investment portfolios and market changes. I have the best job ever. I get paid to spend other people’s money as an investment broker here in South Beach. My life is sun, sand, and dollar bills.

Before going to Casey’s, I stop by my condo and change clothes. The down side to my job is the stuffy suits I have to wear: reasonable, past knee-length skirts, reasonable women’s dress pants, and reasonable button up shirts. I might hate them; yet, in a sad way, the dress code fits my life—reasonable.

It is not long into girl’s night before the difference in our lifestyle’s show.

“Damn, we’re not even halfway through the first movie, and you’re ready for bed? What the hell? Grandparents stay up later than you,” My best friend wakes me out of my doze.

“Sorry, some of us keep normal business hours.”

“Yeah, your hours scream forty-two, not twenty-four, as does everything else in your life.”

“I’m not that bad,” I protest half-heartedly. However, that voice of doubt says “maybe I am.” Maybe my stiff upbringing has rubbed off on me more than I care to admit.

My parents raised me to be an example. As the oldest of three, I had to be the light to guide my younger sisters, Madyson and Mallory. Everything with my parents was about fitting the mold, keeping up appearances. Their brainwashing worked to some degree. Going away to college did nothing for me in my attempt to escape my overbearing parents, either. No, they live in my head, every rule engraved into my brain matter. Too bad no one warned me there is no cure and no escape once they get those rules engrained into my very being.

Morgan Ann Powell: pathetic, stiff, borderline pseudo-old lady, and a college educated, suit wearing, have my shit together prude—that is me. I am, quite possibly, the only woman in her twenties who can count on one hand how many guys she has kissed. I am also a twenty-four-year-old virgin. I wouldn’t know what to do with a penis if it was given to me gift wrapped in Christmas paper and topped with a bow. I am not cut out for parties, guys, or any wild times, either. My destiny is to be the old lady who lives alone, feeding all the stray cats in the neighborhood.

Author Bios

Chelsea Camaron

Chelsea Camaron was born and raised in Coastal North Carolina. She currently resides in Southern Louisiana with her husband and two children but her heart is always Carolina day dreaming.

Chelsea always wanted to be a writer, but like most of us, let fear of the unknown grab a hold of her dream; she realized that if she was going to tell her daughter to go for her dreams, that it was time to follow her own advice.

Chelsea grew up turning wrenches alongside her father, and from that grew her love for old muscle cars and Harley Davidson motorcycles, which just so happened to inspired her ‘Daddy’s Girls’ series. Her love for reading has sparked a new love for writing and she currently has a few more projects in the works.

When she is not spending her days writing you can find her playing with her kids, attending car shows, going on motorcycle rides on the back of her husband’s Harley, snuggling down with her new favorite book or watching any movie that Vin Diesel might happen to be in.

She hates being serious and is still a big kid at heart. She is a small town country girl enjoying life and, Chelsea hopes that her readers remember not to take life too seriously and to embrace your inner five year old, because five year olds know how to enjoy the simple things in life and how to always have fun.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Jessie Lane

Jessie Lane is the best selling author of The Star Series, Big Bad Bite Series and the Ex Ops Series.

She lives in Kentucky with her two little Rock Chicks in the making and her over protective alpha husband. She has a passionate love for reading and writing naughty romance, cliff hanging suspense, and out-of-this-world characters that demand your attention, or threaten to slap you around until you do pay attention to them.

Jessie writes Adult Paranormal and Contemporary Romance & Upper YA Fantasy/Paranormal Romance.

Website ~Newsletter~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Giveaway

Signed paperbacks & swag of Ex Ops Series (Secret Maneuvers & Stripping Her Defenses) and the Hellions Series (One Ride, Forever Ride & Merciless Ride)

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Happy Release: Foreplay by Six New York Times Bestselling Authors – Lauren Blakely, Vi Keeland, Aurora Rose Reynolds, Victoria Ashley, Tijan,and Penelope Ward

Posted on 12/08/2014 by shellbellereads

Foreplay

Six Stand Alone Novels

Release Date: December 8, 2014

By New York Times Best Selling Authors

Tijan, Penelope Ward, Vi Keeland , Victoria Ashley, Aurora Rose Reynolds, and Lauren Blakely

Synopsis

SIX New York Times Bestselling Authors

SIX Standalone novels

SIX Steaming hot stories

Because who doesn’t like a whole lot of FOREPLAY…

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

___________________________________________________________________

Carter Reed from New York Times Bestseller Tijan

Emma decided to skip the gym and went home early. It was the last easy decision she made because she found her roommate being raped by the boyfriend. She had two choices. Call the cops and be killed by his family’s mafia connections or kill him first and hope to survive. There was no choice to her. She killed the bastard first and went to the one person who could protect her. Carter Reed. He’s a weapon for the rivaling mafia family, but he’s also Emma’s secret. Not only was he best friends with her brother, but she’s the reason he became that weapon in the first place.

Jake Undone from New York Times Bestseller Penelope Ward

Nina Kennedy led a sheltered life ruled by phobias. When she moves to Brooklyn, that life is turned upside down as she develops an intense attraction to her gorgeous roommate.

Behind Jake Green’s rough exterior, lies a heart of gold. He makes it his mission to change Nina’s outlook on life. Jake becomes her tutor, forcing Nina to face her demons. He just wasn’t expecting to fall hard for her.

But Jake has been living his own private hell. Once he drops a bombshell, will their love survive it?

Worth the Fight from New York Times Bestseller Vi Keeland

It didn’t matter that the ref called it a clean hit. Nico Hunter would never be the same.

Elle has a good life. A job she loves, a great apartment, and the guy she’s been dating for more than two years is a catch and a half. But it’s boring…and she strives to keep it that way. Too many emotions are dangerous. Her own past is living proof of what can happen when you lose control.

Then Nico walks into Elle’s office and everything changes…for both of them. But what can the tattooed, hard-bodied MMA fighter and the beautiful and always steady attorney have in common? A lot more than they bargained for.

This Regret from New York Times Bestseller Victoria Ashley

Phoenix has been stumbling through life since her brother Adric’s tragic death but after eight years, she is finally piecing what remains together.

When walking into the tattoo shop one day, the last thing she’s expecting to see is Kellan Haze, Adric’s best friend no one has seen or heard from since the day they found her brother’s body. He’s nothing as she remembers him as a child, with his wild messy hair, tattoos that cover most of his undeniably sexy body and eyes so intense it makes her legs quiver with one look. The one thing even she can’t deny is the instant rush she feels just by being in his presence. But . . .

Kellan is sexy, daring and possibly . . . dangerous.

This Regret is a story of love, lust, betrayal and danger with an ending that no one saw coming.

Until Nico from New York Times Bestseller Aurora Rose Reynolds

Nico Mayson knew the moment he saw Sophie Grates that she was the one. His whole life, he has been judged by what’s on the outside, so finding a beautiful woman who sees the real him only makes his feelings that much stronger.

Nico knows the kind of man he is, and the things he is capable of, and he will do everything in his power to help Sophie fight her demons so they can have their happily ever after. Everything in life worth having is worth fighting for.

Playing with Her Heart from New York Times Bestseller Lauren Blakely

A sizzling and addictive story of a woman with a broken past and the man who can’t fight his desire for her…

When you’re acting the role of a lifetime, how can you know if love is real—or all just a part of the show? Twenty-three year old rising theatre star Jill McCormick finds it nearly impossible to resist the director of her first Broadway play – sexy, sophisticated, possessive, all-alpha Davis Milo. The attraction between them is too powerful, and soon their private rehearsals spiral into new, forbidden territory…but will the past stand in the way of a future together?

ARC Review: Idle Bloom by Jewel E. Ann

Posted on 12/05/2014 by shellbellereads

Idle Bloom

By Jewel E. Ann

Synopsis

“What lies beneath my veiled perfection is the ugly truth—my truth, my reality, my destiny.”

Vivian Graham has an acceptance letter into Harvard, a badass tattoo, loyal friends, ties to marijuana, a penchant for Dunkin’ Donuts, and her pesky V-card.

Everyday she takes the Red Line to her job at The Green Pot in Boston while her friends enter the coveted, black iron gates to higher learning. The ramifications from a tragic accident have put her life on hold while time marches on for everyone around her.

After graduating from Harvard Law, Boston native, Oliver Konrad, moves to Portland to start his career and his life. Three years later, after a horrific discovery, he returns home to trade in his three-piece suit for leather work boots and his suburban home for a condo in Cambridge.

All he brought back to the East Coast was an aversion to pillows and secrets he keeps hidden behind a mysterious locked door. Oliver’s days are predictable and his nights are lonely until he meets Vivian on the subway. Her long raven hair, green eyes, and mile-long legs are achingly sexy, but the way she “innocently” fingers and licks her Boston Kreme doughnut can only be described in two words—complete torture.

When their paths cross at every turn, laughter is abundant, friendship is easy, and love is unintentional. However, their future seems improbable.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

Wow! Idle Bloom by Jewel E. Ann was a very pleasant surprise. I have never read any of her other books and she is a fairly new author. The synopsis of Idle Bloom sounded intriguing and I was looking forward to reading this book. Let me tell you this, Idle Bloom was outstanding! I love everything about this book!

Idle Bloom had a very unique story line. It was so unique that it is hard to determine what genre it should fall in. It had a mixture of new adult romance, contemporary romance, romantic comedy, and fictional drama. The book was so well written and flowed with ease. It captured my attention from the very first sentence until the very last word. It had the perfect blend of comedic scenes, sensual scenes, emotional scenes, and downright heart wrenching scenes. The characters were in a class by themselves. Their personalities were unique and endearing. The secondary characters were just as promising and gave the book a richer reading experience.

The dialogue was enchanting. It was creative,witty, fun, and made the characters come to life. I loved the snakiness, the sarcasm , and creative analogies.

Although this story was mostly upbeat there was also some very serious issues that molded these characters into the people they were. Their past experiences have broken their lives. They are both learning to live new lives and move on from the past the only way they possibly can manage. When they are together, they are truly inspirational for one another. The love they build is strong, supporting, and unconditional. Sometimes love isn’t the complete answer for healing. They will have to dig deep within their souls to find that answer.

Vivian and Oliver are complete opposites but fate throws them together one doughnut at a time. That one doughnut leads to an entertaining sexy relationship. That one doughnut gives them a second chance at finding the love of a lifetime. That one doughnut provides multiple orgasims in every place imaginable, including the doughnut shop. Boston Cremes have never been sexier. Most of all that one doughnut will lead them on a path to finding the peace within themselves. That one doughnut is going to go down in history as the greatest thing created by mankind. At least that is what Vivian and Oli declare.

Vivian and Oli have become one of my favorite couples. They grabbed my heart in so many ways and made me crave a trip to my favorite doughnut shop.

Idle Bloom by Jewel E. Ann is a must read book! It is an emotional rainbow! It’s better than your favorite doughnut!

Author Bio

Jewel is a free-spirited romance junkie with a quirky sense of humor.

With 10 years of flossing lectures under her belt, she took early retirement from her dental hygiene career to stay home with her three awesome boys and manage the family business.

After her best friend of nearly 30 years suggested a few books from the Contemporary Romance genre, Jewel was hooked. Devouring two and three books a week but still craving more, she decided to practice sustainable reading, AKA writing.

When she’s not donning her cape and saving the planet one tree at a time, she enjoys yoga with friends, good food with family, rock climbing with her kids, watching How I Met Your Mother reruns, and of course…heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, panty-scorching novels.

Release Blitz + Review: Autumn In London by Louise Bay – The Empire State Trilogy- Book 2

Posted on 12/05/2014 by shellbellereads

Autumn In London

The Empire State Trilogy – Book 2

By Louise Bay

Synopsis

Anna Kirby went to New York to escape heartbreak and have some fun. She wasn’t meant to meet someone . . . someone like Ethan. Now, back in London, she’s faced with another man to get over.

Ethan Scott broke every one of his rules during his week with Anna and now he can’t seem to go back to life before her. A business trip to London gives him the opportunity to change his rules for good. Will he take it?

Autumn in London is the second part of The Empire State Series, a series of three novellas.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Tracey’s Review

Life post-Ethan Scott is less than perfect for Anna Kirby. Their week in New York was supposed to be about just sex, but became much more. Scared by her past failed relationships, Anna has made sure that she wouldn’t be able to prolong her experience with Ethan, and stepped right back into business as usual at home in London, doing her best to forget him.

Headed to London to spearhead the takeover of a rival law firm, all Ethan can think about is that he and Anna will be in the same city once again. He’s been unable to forget her or the way that she made him feel during their week together, and it’s been a game-changer for him. But, in a city of eight million people, with no way to contact her, what are the chances that their paths will cross again?

My first experience of Louise’s writing was her book HOPEFUL, and I have been a fan ever since. I have been waiting for AUTUMN IN LONDON since absolutely devouring A WEEK IN NEW YORK when it came out, and have to admit to being completely enamored by Anna and Ethan. These two characters, with pasts that spell relationship failure, are defying odds all around, capturing each others’ hearts, as well as mine. Watching them figure out that some rules are meant to be broken, and that taking a leap of faith is sometimes all that it takes (well, that and some super-HOT sexy time!) made this second book in the series a wonderful continuation of the story. Louise’s great dialogue and her mastery of the art of the supporting characters (I love the repartee between Ethan and his sister Jessica), are the icing on the cake, making her books all the more enjoyable. Now, the hard part: waiting until January to see how this story plays out. Five-plus stars for this hot, sexy, and romantic read.

The Empire State Trilogy

A Week In New York – Book 1

Anna Kirby is sick of dating. She’s tired of heartbreak. Despite being smart, sexy, and funny, she’s a magnet for men who don’t deserve her.

A week’s vacation in New York is the ultimate distraction from her most recent break-up, as well as a great place to meet a stranger and have some summer fun. But to protect her still-bruised heart, fun comes with rules. There will be no sharing stories, no swapping numbers, and no real names. Just one night of uncomplicated fun.

Super-successful serial seducer Ethan Scott has some rules of his own. He doesn’t date, he doesn’t stay the night, and he doesn’t make any promises.

It should be a match made in heaven. But rules are made to be broken.

A Week in New York is the first part of The Empire State Series, a series of three novellas.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Author Bio:

Ruined by romantic mini-series of the seventies and eighties, I love all things romantic. There’s not enough of it in real life so I’ll settle for books and films.

I love the rain, the West Wing, London, days when you don’t have to wear make-up, being alone, being with friends, elephants and champagne.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Cover Reveal: Something Amazing by M. Clarke (aka Mary Ting)- A Spinoff of the Something Great Series

Posted on 12/04/2014 by shellbellereads

Something Amazing

By M. Clarke

A Spinoff of the Something Great Series

Release Date: January 12, 2015

Synopsis

Some nights have passion, some waves leave you wet, but everything is sexy at Knight Fashion Magazine…

From the International Bestselling, Reader’s Favorite Award winning author of My Clarity; M. Clarke has readers plunge into the depths of romance and desire with Rachel and Jackson’s story.

No one said breaking up was easy, but escaping to Kauai only adds to Rachel Miller’s confusion when fate collides her with Jackson Clark. He’s everything Rachel wants—confident, charismatic, and in charge—but his past catches up to them, creating rough waves that seems impossible to calm. Will their love for each other be strong enough or will it crash against the shore?

Pre-Order Sale $2.99…. $3.99 on Release Date

Pre-Order: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

View the Book Trailer to Something Amazing HERE

Something Great Series

Something Great – Book 1

Free for limited time

* This is a New Adult romance novel recommended for ages 18+ due to sexual content and mature subject matter.

She didn’t know what she was missing…until he found her.

Maxwell Knight was dangerously good-looking, seductively charming, and definitely
trouble. He was everything Jeanella Mefferd did NOT need now.

Fresh out of college, life was predictable and comfortable for Jeanella. She had the
strength of her friends, the security of her job, and she was dating a reliable
man; it was all smooth sailing. That was until one night, when she met someone
who made her feel things she’d never felt before–dangerous, heart pounding,
breathless heat. Never imagining she would see him again, Jeanella has no idea what to do when fate steps in and thrusts Maxwell Knight into her life, just as things were
beginning to change around her. When she lands her dream job and travels to New
York for Fashion Week, can she focus on her career instead of on Maxwell?

Will she ignore all the danger signs and jump straight into his arms; or would she
miss out on the chance of finding something great?

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ ITunes

Something Wonderful- Book 2

Jeanella’s confidence and trust in Max continues to grow, and life seems to be on track. Then Crystal decides to pursue a sexual harassment lawsuit, and Jeanella’s world turns upside down. Once again, she wonders if she will ever be enough for Max. Jeanella is forced to make a decision; stay and fight for her man or leave him for good.

Becky’s unexpected friendship with Matthew continues to blossom, as they try to define the boundaries of their relationship; but a one-night stand threatens to ruin it all. As Matthew’s feelings for Becky grow, he’s torn between guilt and heartache over his deceased fiancée. Can Becky break through his wall and help him heal?

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ ITunes

Something Forever- Book 3

A heated moment.

Desperate decision.

Life altering choices.

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ ITunes

Author Bio:

Mary Ting resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads Saga, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl. When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one-Something Great. Why the pen name, M Clarke? She tours with Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children’s chapter book-No Bullies Allowed

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Happy Release: The Accidental Assassin by Nichole Chase

Posted on 12/04/2014 by shellbellereads

We are so incredibly excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Nichole Chase’s THE ACCIDENTAL ASSASSIN! THE ACCIDENTAL ASSASSIN is a New Adult contemporary romantic suspense novel and it was so worth the wait!! Read the excerpt, enter to win, then go grab your copy today!

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On Sale For $2.99 ….Release Week Only

About THE ACCIDENTAL ASSASSIN:

Ava McKenzie is a creature of habit. Life is passing her by and she has nothing to show for it. She’s had the same job since she started college, she orders the same dish every time she goes to her favorite restaurant, and only reads books from authors she knows. There is nothing new or surprising in her life… until her best friend marries a man from London. When her newlywed friend asks her to house-sit while she honeymoons, Ava jumps at the chance. She thinks this could be the very thing she needs to shake up her life. Ava throws herself head first into her new lifestyle; she wants to try everything, go everywhere, and never get stuck in a rut again. Of course, offing a man in a car garage hadn’t been one of the things on her list to try.

Owen Walker spends every day in a new place with a new case. As one of the most renowned assassins in the world, he has his choice of marks—and he’s never failed in a mission. When a new hit takes him back to his hometown, he looks forward to spending time somewhere familiar. What he isn’t expecting is to help an attractive, confused American woman find out how she’s ended up on a hit man’s list.

As Ava and Owen dodge bullets, will they be able to escape their undeniable attraction to each other? Or will all of that chemistry blow up in a shower of hot and dangerous sparks?

Excerpt:

I twisted the steering wheel sharply as I exited the garage and almost knocked over the doorman. But he was holding a large gun in one hand and to my shock he fired directly at my window. The glass shattered, but I didn’t feel any pain, which I hoped meant I wasn’t hit. I ducked in a belated reaction and the car swerved wildly, but the gun-toting hottie next to me steadied the wheel.

“I knew that doorman didn’t like me.” I gritted my teeth. “What an asshole. He’s almost as bad as you are.”

“I’ll drive now, if you’d like.” He said it like we were taking turns on a road trip, not running for our lives. Maybe he wasn’t running for his life. But I was still running for mine. I didn’t know what this guy wanted with me. Was I supposed to just let him drive me to some creepy kill room? An image of walls draped in plastic, knives on a table, and a bed with chains filled my mind. I didn’t think so.

“Now? You want to drive now?” My voice rose with each word. “Sure, I’ll pull over at the corner for a snack and let you take over. Holy shit! Are you crazy?”

“Has anyone ever told you that for such a beautiful woman you have a very dirty mouth?” He smiled at me as my mouth worked silently. “I think I like the odd combination.”

“Fuck you.” I glared at the road.

“So does that mean you don’t want me to drive?” He nodded toward the traffic that was growing thicker. “Do you have a plan for where to go?”

“The cops.” I didn’t mention that I had no idea where they would be located. I’d just stop the first one I saw. “And you told me to get in the driver seat.”

“You’re sure you want to go to the police?” He leaned back into his seat, getting comfortable. He looked, for all the world, as if riding around in a car with a bomb attached to it was normal. “You killed a man and fled the scene in his stolen car—which has a bomb attached to it. Oh, and someone was trying to kill you. I’m sure being locked in a tiny room with nowhere to run will make their job much more difficult.”

“Maybe they were trying to kill you. I can imagine why they’d want to.” I growled and turned down a street that was one way only. And I was going the wrong way. I muttered under my breath as I dodged cars and people honked at me. “I should’ve stayed in bed today.”

“Possibly. They were very sloppy.” He pointed to a street. “You should turn here and take the roundabout.”

“Roundabout?” My heart dropped into my stomach and I broke into a cold sweat. “That seems like a bad idea.”

Roundabouts were the devil. If you’ve ever tried to drive through a roundabout after years of driving in America, you’d understand. Everything was completely backward to how you instinctually drove. It gave me an ulcer just thinking about it.

“We’re being followed. We need to lose them.” He looked at me with serious eyes. “If you want to live, we need to put distance between us and the people in the black sedan.”

“Oh, Jesus.” I jerked the wheel and our car shot down the road toward the evil traffic circle of death.

Nichole Chase Bio:

Nichole Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Suddenly Royal, Flukes, The Dark Betrayal Trilogy, and several short stories. She is also the instructor of Say What? a dialogue class at the Romance Academy.

Nichole lives in Georgia with her husband, energetic daughter, superhero dog, Sulcata tortoise, and two cats. When not writing, you may find her reading, painting, crafting, or chasing her daughter around the house while making monster noises.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Author Goodreads | THE ACCIDENTAL ASSASSIN Goodreads

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Category Archives: Blog Tour

Review: Schooled by Lorelei James – The Mastered Series – Book 3

Cover Reveal & Pre Order: Verum by Courtney Cole- The Nocte Trilogy- Book 2

About NOCTE

About VERUM

Review: Dirty Secret by Emma Hart – The Burke Brothers Series- Book 1

Sneak Peek Excerpt: Ripped by Katy Evans- The Real Series

Happy Release Day + Giveaway: Ice ~Regulators MC by Chelsea Camaron and Jessie Lane

Happy Release: Foreplay by Six New York Times Bestselling Authors – Lauren Blakely, Vi Keeland, Aurora Rose Reynolds, Victoria Ashley, Tijan,and Penelope Ward

ARC Review: Idle Bloom by Jewel E. Ann

Release Blitz + Review: Autumn In London by Louise Bay – The Empire State Trilogy- Book 2

Cover Reveal: Something Amazing by M. Clarke (aka Mary Ting)- A Spinoff of the Something Great Series

Happy Release: The Accidental Assassin by Nichole Chase

We are so incredibly excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Nichole Chase’s THE ACCIDENTAL ASSASSIN! THE ACCIDENTAL ASSASSIN is a New Adult contemporary romantic suspense novel and it was so worth the wait!! Read the excerpt, enter to win, then go grab your copy today!

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We are so incredibly excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Nichole Chase’s THE ACCIDENTAL ASSASSIN! THE ACCIDENTAL ASSASSIN is a New Adult contemporary romantic suspense novel and it was so worth the wait!! Read the excerpt, enter to win, then go grab your copy today!

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** iBooks

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