Release Blitz + Review : Wicked Fall by Sawyer Bennett – The Wicked Horse Series – Book 1

Posted on 07/28/2015 by shellbellereads

Never in your wildest dreams could you begin to imagine all the filthy and depraved things that go on inside The Wicked Horse. Step inside and Woolf Jennings will make every one of your dirty fantasies come true.

He’s covered in a facade of deception. An enticing blend of multi-millionaire and hot-as-hell Wyoming rancher, those that think they know Woolf Jennings admire his abilities to preside as CEO of his family’s cattle and oil empire. But only a privileged few truly understand what fuels the glitter of depravity in those gorgeous blue eyes. Only a few know he’s opened up a sinfully erotic and private sex club named The Wicked Horse right at the base of the beautiful Teton Mountain range.

Sweet Callie Hayes has returned home to Wyoming and is looking forward to starting her life over again. After a night of impetuosity, she’s managed to put herself right in Woolf’s line of sight… the man who she foolishly offered up her virginity to years ago and was flatly turned down.

Now Woolf is seeing that Callie is all grown up and has a kinky side to her that leaves him as confused as it does turned on. Worse yet, both Callie’s dirty desires and sweet heart are getting under his skin, and making Woolf question everything he’s ever believed about himself.

Michel’s Review

Sawyer Bennett is becoming the queen of erotic romance. Her new series is going to take the reader on a whole new kind of western adventure. These red hot cowboys are going to make your panties melt off. They are going to show you a whole new rodeo. Their rodeo is at the Wicked Horse, an exclusive sex club. They will redefine the definition of bull riding, bucking broncos, and roping. They will show you their expertise in tag team riding.

Wicked Fall is the first book in the Wild Horse series. It features Wolff Jennings and Callie Hayes. These two are unforgettable. Their passion for each other is timeless.

Wolff Jennings is going to show the readers that big brother is not the only Jennings with sex appeal. He is taking his appeal on a sexier and kinkier level. He and his best friend are going to open the Silo at the Wicked Horse and tame their fillies by their own terms one touch at a time. Wolff is all about the wild ride. He’s out to make his own mark in the world by one or more sexy brands at a time.

Wolff has finally built a place where he can live out his wildest fantasies, embrace his sexual escapades on his own terms. He has created a club where others like him can express their sexuality without judgement or fear. It is a place that will cater to their needs and fulfill them all.

When Callie Hayes returns to town it is a whole new rodeo. Callie wants to explore her sexuality and find what her true desires are. She has fumbled in an unfullfilling relationship. She has faced rejection from Wolff in previous years. She wants to define her own sexuality on her own terms. When Wolff Jennings steps in and she discovers the Silo, they are both in for a wild ride.

Callie will find herself. Wolff will find out that there is more to life than great kinky sex. Both will face choices and life changes.

It all started at the Wild Horse and ended up down home on the range.

Sawyer Bennett delivered a sizzling hot book. This book had a lot of kink and dirty sex. This book also had a story with grit. When it came down to it, Callie and Wolff did more than scorch the sheets. They found a love that would last a lifetime. They also found their true selves along the way.

Wicked Fall is very explicit. It is not a light fluffy romance. It is an erotic adventure with the bonus of a touching romance.

Coming in 2016

Cain Murphy is as big and bad as they come. After serving in the Marines, he’s returned home to Wyoming and now works as head of security at the exclusive sex club, The Wicked Horse. His job is to protect not only the patrons, but to zealously guard the secret existence of the club itself.

Sloane Preston is all about discovering secrets. As an undercover reporter, she’s determined to reveal the truth behind the facade of The Wicked Horse and expose it for all the world to see. She just didn’t count on her pathway into the club coming at the hands of one gorgeously scarred and bad ass bouncer who manages to easily possess her body and soul.

While Cain’s not looking for anyone to catch his eye, Sloane did it all the same, and he’s not bemoaning the fact that she’s as wickedly kinky as he is. As both get caught up in the sinful fantasies that only The Wicked Horse can create, secrets and loyalties will be tested and hearts will risk being broken.

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Sawyer Bennett is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. Her husband works for a Fortune 100 company which lets him fly all over the world while she stays at home with their daughter and three big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

Sawyer is the author of several contemporary romances including the popular Off Series, the Legal Affairs Series, the Last Call Series and the Carolina Cold Fury Hockey Series.

FACEBOOK / GOODREADS / WEBSITE / TWITTER

Release Blitz + Review: Just One Lie by Kyra Davis – Just One Night Series – Book 2

Posted on 07/28/2015 by shellbellereads

Just One Lie

Just One Night Series – Book 2

By Kyra Davis

Release Date: July 28, 2015

Synopsis

In the instant international sensation Just One Night, sensible Kasie Fitzgerald unleashed her passions—and found herself—through an explosive affair. In Just One Lie, we meet Kasie’s wild and tortured sister, whose impulsivity and lack of self-control has set off a chain of events that changes her family forever.

Melody Fitzgerald is the opposite of the “perfect” daughter. The lead singer of an indie rock band, she is impulsive and creative, with a rebellious streak that both defines her and becomes her greatest enemy. Her lover, the enticing and unpredictable Ash, shares her free spirit and penchant for trouble. On the face of it, he seems to be her perfect match.

So why is she so drawn to her soft spoken, reliable drummer, Brad Witmer? How can a man who wears polo shirts and reads the financial section of the paper be of any interest to her at all? And why on earth does someone like that appear to be so captivated by her?

Before she knows it, Melody finds herself on a path of self-discovery, passion, and affairs of the heart. But will a dark secret from her past derail it all? Or will its exposure be the very thing that unburdens her heart and allows her to seek a future with the one man who loves her completely?

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Excerpt

It is the perfect moment…until I spot him standing near the corner of the room. He’s almost entirely in the shadows, his features barely visible, but still, I recognize him. There’s something about the way that man holds himself. Right now he’s leaning against a beam, his arms crossed over his chest, chin up. Like with a lion, it’s difficult to tell if he’s on the verge of sleeping or attacking. The first time I saw him-when was that, a year ago? No, over thirteen months since we met-I couldn’t stop staring. I loved his high, chiseled cheekbones and his lightly tanned skin that hinted at a possible Native American heritage, or maybe Latino. But then his bright green eyes insisted that the story wasn’t so straightforward. Oh, and I loved his tribal tattoos and the way his full lips curved into a slow, sensual smile when he saw me for the first time at that club in Seattle. An aspiring musician is how he described himself, but that night, when he sang to me, I could see that his talent was a lot more than aspirational.
His first name is Ash-maybe it’s short for Asher or Ashley, I don’t know, and at the time I didn’t care. I just recall thinking that a man with a name like that had to have a story to tell, one that involved passion and adventure and yeah, okay, maybe a little destruction. We talked for hours and I had felt like I understood him in a way that I had never understood anyone else. And then, later, I realized I didn’t know a thing about him. All our words and intimacies had left us strangers.
Ash is the stranger who took my life.
One night with him, one night of rapture. That’s all it took to put an end to Melody Fitzgerald.
And as if killing me wasn’t enough, this son of a bitch has reappeared and he’s fucking with my moment!
I pull my eyes away and find Rick, the owner of the club, standing at the edge of the bar. Next to him is a couple. A man with light brown hair and chiseled chin with his arm wrapped around an ironed-straight blonde with the sinuous figure of a runway model. All these beautiful people are here to see me! That’s what I have to focus on. Not him. Never, ever him.
And yet, even as I refuse to bring my eyes back to Ash, my mind can’t seem to leave him.
The music pushes me forward, forcing me to continue even as I feel my chest tighten. There’s not enough air in here for this. How could I have not noticed that before? Tonio jumps into his guitar solo and I use the opportunity to take a deep breath, inadvertently inhaling the unmistakable scent of marijuana floating up from somewhere on the dance floor. Doesn’t matter, doesn’t matter. None of this can matter, nothing but the music and what it can do. With new resolve I fall back into the song, attacking it with even more ferocity than before. The crowd hears it and loves it.
And now it’s me that’s moving, across the stage and back again, running, screaming, and the crowd screams right back. This is everything. But then there he is, leaning against that beamn, just…watching me. Has he followed me? Isn’t one death enough for him? The question stirs up some rage I’ve been trying to set aside since our last meeting. Impulsively I knock the microphone stand to the ground with the smack of my open palm. The crowd thinks it’s part of the act and so I go on, finding that I can rejoice in anger as much as any other emotion. As we reach the last stanza, Traci’s and Tonio’s voices join mine, and the sound is an assult on anyone who would ever dream of challenging us. Maybe tomorrow they’ll say I’m a cross between Courtney Love and Fiona Apple. Maybe they’ll say the whole band is destined for fame and greatness. Yeah, that’s what they’ll say, those who are sober enough to remember. But right now they just cheer as our song comes to an end.
“Thank you,” I whisper into the mic. I look back at Ash. Even from here I cans see that he’s clapping, but it’s a slow, purposeful movement. He puts his hand to his mouth, kisses his palm, and then extends his arm leisurely toward me. It’s not so much that he’s blowing me a kiss as he is offering it to me. Inviting me to climb down from my pedestal and take it from him. Again I inhale deeply. “So, I gotta ask you guys something,” I continue. “It’s the end of an era and you’re bringing in the new millennium at Apocalypse listening to a band called fucking Resurrection. Is that tripping anyone else out?” There were yells of approval and at least one person cries hell yes! “By the way,” I add, “it’s really just Resurrection, only our parents call us fucking Resurrection.” General laughter and one woman screams out, “Parents suck!”
Ooh, if these guys only knew how much I agree with that one. “Incase you missed it, this stud on the guitar is Tonio.” Tonio strums out a few wrenching chords as the crowd cheers. “The hot chick in the leather mini is Traci.” Traci plays the opening piano notes of “Sympathy for the Devil.” It’s doubtful that this crowd recognizes it even as they whistle and scream for her, but I do, and the reference makes me laugh. “And allow me to introduce our new drummer! Brad’s only been with us for a week and he’s killing it, am I right?” The crowd roars as Brad launches into a drum solo that is so intense, so aggressive, and so beautiful I turn my back on the audience, momentarily forgetting all of them, even my killer, as I lock eyes with this man who must have sold his soul for this kind of talent. His lips curve into a little half smile as his sticks fly across the stretched membrane surfaces. Physically he doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of the group-too athletic, too clean cut, too aristocratic-but the rest of his viciously beautiful rhythm is downright sinful.
When he ends with a perfectly executed clash, I realize for the first time that I’ve been holding my breath. The crowd cries out, solidifying the triumph as I match his smile with my own and slowly pivot back to the room. “And of course, I’m Mercy. I…” but I give up on continuing as the crowd erupts again, drowning me out with their cheers, chanting my name.
My new name, a choice I made for myself only months ago, now reverberating through the room: Mercy, Mercy, Mercy. It’s on the lips and tongues of everyone in this room…except for his. Beneath the harmonious hum of voices, like an insidious undercurrent, I can hear his silent accusations: That is not who you are. You are not Mercy.
I swallow and look into the spotlight, letting the light assault my vision, temporarily turning the entire club into a murky blur as the crowd quiets enough for me to speak again. “So we got”-I turn and point to the large red numbers projected by a laser clock onto the wall behind my head-“fifteen minutes until the four horsemen arrive. I’m thinking we better stop wasting time and get back into this!”
The crowd cheers again. I spot Rick giving me a thumbs-up as the rugby guy next to him pumps his fist in the air. And again Tonio strums the strings of his guitar. And again my voice rises high then low, elating the crowd and giving me the fortitude to turn my thoughts away from the beast who watches me from the shadows.
And when it’s 11:59 we stop midsong. I hold my hands up in the air and point to the numbers. “It’s almost Y2K time, people!” I cry and glance back at Rick, who is staring intently at his watch. And then he lifts his hand and begins to tick off the seconds with his fingers as I count them down into the mic, “Ten, nine, eight…”
The crowd’s counting with me. “…seven, six…” The beautiful black man has raised his glass in the air; a young woman behind him scrambles on top of the bar with a small video camera in her hand. “…three…” The muscle boy is bounding his fist against the stage. “…two, one!”
And the room erupts. Confetti flies everywhere and the kind of fragmented light that comes from a disco ball splashes across the celebrants. Tonio pops a bottle of cheap champagne he’d been hiding in the wings and douses everyone in the band with it before passing it around. I let the bubbles tickle my tongue, then turn back to the microphone and launch into a happier, more celebratory tune. The people standing beneath us have woven together like vines against the wall, limbs tangled with limbs, lips against lips. There is no separation, no individual distinctions. They all have become a snarled mass of exhilaration and lust.
Except for Ash. He continues to just stand there, apart from all of it. He’s simply watching me. Waiting for me to come to him and claim my kiss.

Tracey’s Review

Doing everything she can to bury her past, Mercy Raye is on a quest to find herself, to define who she truly is. Because her old self is dead, but Mercy is alive, and taking no prisoners.

I am a fan of angsty books. I mean, I really like a book that’s not necessarily a straight shot to the HEA. Let me tell you, JUST ONE LIE by Kyra Davis fills the bill and then some.

Mercy is all about the now. She has been through more than any 22-year-old should have to, but she’s determined to completely reinvent her life. Self-destructive by nature, Mercy is quick to slide back into old bad habits in her desire to love and be loved. The beginning of this book was slow going for me. It took me a while to both appreciate Mercy and to get into the story, but, at the same time, I could not put it down. It was sort of like watching a train wreck, because the choices that Mercy continued to make often led to heartbreak. Ultimately, though, what I really liked about JUST ONE LIE is that Kyra Davis has written a book where redemption is ultimately attainable, available if we’re willing to do the work to get there. When Mercy has finally hit bottom, when she realizes that life is hard as hell, but that it’s worth fighting for, she’s able to make the changes that she needs to to really turn her life around.

And, despite all of the drama and angst, JUST ONE LIE is absolutely a love story. The men in Mercy’s life mark her evolution and growth, and, when she’s finally at a place where she’s who she wants to be, when she loves the person that she is and the life she’s living, she’s able to finally lay her ghosts to rest and find the love she’s looked for her whole life.

I have to admit that I wasn’t sure what my final feelings would be for a good deal of this book, but I can honestly say that JUST ONE LIE is a must-read. I give it 4.5 well-earned stars, and a definite recommendation to add it to your TBR.

Michel’s Review

When I first started this book I really didn’t know what to expect having not read the previous books in this series. I have read other books by Kyra Davis and thoroughly enjoyed them.

Just One Lie was completely different and pulled many reactions from me. At first I wasn’t sure what to think. I was not connecting with the characters. I felt like I wanted to throttle Mercy and was not sympathetic to her plights. But then the story began to unfold. Mercy began to come to life. I began to understand her and her motivations in life.

As the story unfolded I was hooked. It was like driving by a car accident and trying not to rubber neck. Of course that is impossible. But after seeing the horrific accident , you begin to see the victims heal and come to life once again. This time they are making better choices for themselves, they are accepting their flaws, and they are learning how to become whole.

The men in Mercy’s life served a purpose and made her a better woman in the end. The love she chose was more than choosing a man but choosing to love herself.

Kyra Davis once again delivered a heart wrenching story that touched me in many ways. Read Just One Lie!

About Kyra Davis

Kyra Davis is the New York Times bestselling author of the the JUST ONE NIGHT trilogy, SO MUCH FOR MY HAPPY ENDING and the Sophie Katz mysteries. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and is currently living in Southern California with her son and his charming, albeit moody leopard gecko. You can learn more about Kyra Davis and her books by visiting: http://www.kyradavis.com

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Amazon Author Page

Release Blitz + Reviews: Racing The Sun by Karina Halle

Posted on 07/28/2015 by shellbellereads

From the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of Where Sea Meets Sky comes a new adult novel about a young woman who becomes a nanny in Capri and falls for her charges’ bad-boy brother.

When I’m traveling, I feel like the secret to my life, to myself, to really becoming, is one step ahead. It’s in the next destination, the next town I get lost in, the next stranger I talk to. It’s always next but never here . . .

After six months of backpacking and soul-searching across the world, Amber MacLean is flat broke. There are worse places for a twentysomething to be stuck than the Amalfi Coast, but the only way she can earn enough money for a plane ticket home to California is to teach English to two of the brattiest children she has ever met.

It doesn’t help that the children are under the care of their brooding older brother, ex-motorcycle racer Desiderio Larosa. Darkly handsome and oh-so-mysterious, the young master of the crumbling villa tests Amber’s patience and will at every turn—not to mention her hormones.

When her position turns into a full-time nanny gig, Amber grows dangerously closer to the enigmatic recluse. But can she give up the certainty of home for someone whose closely guarded heart feels a world apart from her own?

Robin’s Review

Racing the Sun is set on the Amalfi Coast of Italy, and most of the story takes place on the Island of Capri. Karina Halle toured these locations just before she wrote this novel, so she wrote from experience. I did internet searches of many of the locations named in Racing the Sun. Her descriptions are accurate. Landscapes. Sounds. Colors. Foliage. Ruins. Halle did an amazing job translating her experiences to page. Racing the Sun was a pleasure to read. Just as she did with Where Sea Meets Sky, Halle carried me away from real life to an adventure in a land far away.

Racing the Sun is a new adult/contemporary romance featuring twenty-four-year-old Amber MacLean from San Jose, California. Halle first introduces us to Amber as a secondary character in Where Sea Meet Sky, a story in which she backpacks around New Zealand with Josh Miles and Gemma Henare as part of her worldwide travels. After six months of backpacking through New Zealand, Australia, Southeast Asia and Europe, Amber has now come to the end of the line in Positano, Italy. She has enough money to stay at a hostel for a week and only two months until her visa runs out. It’s time for Amber to get a job and save money, so she can buy a plane ticket to return to the United States. It’s time for Amber to quit running and face her fears.

Twenty-nine-year-old Desiderio Larosa hasn’t left the Island of Capri since his accident. The retired motorcycle racing great lives a solitary life. He’s confined to the island by his fears, left only with memories of how his life used to be. Derio is the guardian to his seven-year-old brother and sister, Alfonso and Annabella. He resides in the crumbling family villa, The House of Sad Lemons, with the twins and their nanny. Derio hires Amber, an American with an English degree, to work two hours every evening teaching the children English.

It takes some time to reach the meat of this story with the world-building, but Halle does a fantastic job of countering this with her descriptions of Positano, the Amalfi coast and Capri. Nobody drops you down into a scene like Karina Halle. Nobody. It felt like I had been transported to Italy. The attention to detail, down to the description of a typical Italian breakfast of cheese, bread and cold cuts, and how Italians drink their espresso, is spot on. The writing feels impressively authentic, and not just with her descriptions of places. When Amber feels panic, Halle conveys this anxiety through her words. I felt a whole gamut of emotions while reading this novel. It was very realistic.

Racing the Sun feels more like a grand adventure to me than a romance. Please don’t misunderstand. The romance is there, but I never quite felt an undeniable attraction between Derio and Amber – the push-pull you should feel between two characters who are falling in love. More specifically, with the standoffish, dark and brooding Derio. It also felt like the pacing of their romance is a bit delayed, but when they finally declare their love for each other, I found it to be very heartfelt and full of emotion! Overall, Racing the Sun is a wonderful story, a great summer read, and Karina Halle should be very proud of this 4-star novel!

Michel’s Review

Wow…Racing The Sun by Karina Halle is one of the most descriptive novels I have read. It took me on an adventure beyond my imagination. I became a part of this book. I was experiencing the Amalfi Coast and Capri for the first time right along with Amber MacLean. I could feel the salt in the air, smell the citrusy scents, taste the distinct flavors of the food, and feel the kick of expresso in my blood. I literally became a part of this book.

Amber MacLean has spent the past few months backpacking across Europe, Asia, and New Zealand. She is escaping her reality and life at home in California. She is searching for her destiny and place in life. She is avoiding her reality and expectations of her family. She is at personal crossroads in her life. Although she has had a grand adventure and experienced many international customs, her journey is coming to an end. She is out of money and her parents are no longer willing to finance her adventure. The problem is she is so broke that she can’t even purchase a plane ticket home. Her visa is running out, her wallet is empty, and she still hasn’t found what she was been searching for. When a job opportunity arises to teach English to the children of a prominent family in Capri , she jumps at the chance. She can experience the Amalfi Coast, make the money she needs to go home, and it buys her a bit more time abroad. What she didn’t expect was a life changing experience.

Desiderio Larosa is the guardian of his young twin siblings. Their parents were killed in boating accident. Desiderio was the only survivor. Since the accident his life has taken a very dark path. He has survivors guilt, PTSD, and has lost his confidence in life. He has let his fears take over his life and his grief rule his heart. He has become a prisoner of his life and has not left the island in over a year. His self imposed isolation and self disgust has made him impossible to be around. His younger siblings are also suffering the loss. Their behaviors are out of control, their grief is hard for them to deal with because of their young age, and the nurturing they once had is no longer there. The Larosa family is falling apart. Their home is gloom and doom. Amber has walked into a living nightmare.

Eventually you have to wake up and face your nightmares. Amber is the one that will wake up the Larosa family and teach them how to dream once again. She will also learn about herself and what her place is in the world. She will learn that she is made of more than what she ever dreamed she could be. She will find the love she never anticipated having. It is not going to be an easy journey for any of them. They will all have to face their fears and let the sun shine in their souls once again.

Racing The Sun was a profound book on so many levels. I loved the self discovery and facing what life throws at you. What I didn’t feel was the intense romance on many levels. The relationship lacked the intense chemistry that romance readers have come to expect. I also struggled with the sibling relationships and hoped they would become more personal once the story began to unfold.

RacingThe Sun felt more like life journey rather than a romance. It felt like a life adventure. That is okay because Racing The Sun was still a brilliant novel and an enriching reading experience. I would highly recommend this book.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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.

LINKS: FACEBOOK TWITTER GOODREADS AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Review: True Devotion by Liora Blake – True Series – Book 2

Posted on 07/22/2015 by shellbellereads

True Devotion

True Series – Book 2

Rock Star Romance

By Liora Blake

Synopsis

Find out if rock sensation Simon can break through tough-girl Devon’s steely exterior—if he can keep his head on straight, that is—in this second sizzling romance in the True series!

Devon Jenkins is a feisty blonde, and Simon Cole is the arrogant, sexy guitarist playing in her brother’s band. When they met for the first time, it went something like this: He hit on her, she shot him down, he made a lewd joke, she told him he was an idiot.

In the two years since then, not much has changed. From the way Simon flirts shamelessly with any set of ovaries within a 100-mile radius, Devon knows the smartest thing she can do is keep an impenetrable wall between them.

But sometimes the smart choice isn’t necessarily the right one…

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Michel’s Review

True Devotion by Liora Blake is the second book in the True series. I have not read the first book or any other book by this author. I have to say I am impressed with Liora’s writing. I found True Devotion very refreshing, especially in the Rock Star romance category. It stood out as being unique. The hero was not a tortured rock star. He didn’t have groupies following him around or plotting to become his main squeeze. There were no drug addictions, no overly wild antics, or horrific hidden secrets. This hero was multi layered in a wonderful kind of way. He was an up front good guy. I fell head over heels for him.

This book is told through the heroine, Devon, point of view. She is the one with issues and misconceptions. Once she lets go and opens her heart and mind, she is in for something wonderful.

Simon was swoon worthy. He was laid back but very intense at the same time. I loved how he was so in tune to Devon. He called her out when necessary and praised her when it wasn’t necessary. He made her feel important, loved, needed, and respected.

Liora Blake did a fabulous job with this story. I want to read the first book in this series. I will definitely be reading more of her works.

_____________________________________

Author Bio:

Liora Blake is a contemporary romance author living in Colorado. When she isn’t writing, she’s likely baking cookies she shouldn’t eat, inventing elaborate excuses to avoid going for a run, or asking the nice barista to sell her another quad-shot Americano.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Review: Manwhore + 1 by Katy Evans – Manwhore Series – Book 2

Posted on 07/22/2015 by shellbellereads

Manwhore + 1

Manwhore Series- Book 2

By Katy Evans

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

The unexpected love story that began in MANWHORE continues heating up the pages in MANWHORE +1 by New York Times bestselling author Katy Evans…

Billionaire playboy? Check.

Ruthless businessman? Check.

Absolutely sinful? Check.

Malcolm Saint was an assignment. A story. A beautiful, difficult man I was supposed to uncover for a racy exposé.

I intended to reveal him, his secrets, his lifestyle–not let him reveal me. But my head was overtaken by my heart and suddenly nothing could stop me from falling. I fell for him, and I fell hard.

Malcolm Saint is absolute Sin, and I’ve become a hopeless Sinner.

Now that the assignment is over, Saint wants something from me–something unexpected–and I want this wicked playboy’s heart. But how can I prove to the man who trusts no one that I’m worthy of becoming his plus one?

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Excerpt

FOUR WEEKS

I’ve never been so hopeful as when I board the pristine glass elevator at the M4 corporate building. A handful of employees ride along with me, murmuring perfunctory greetings to each other and to me. I think my mouth must be on vacation because I can’t seem to force it to speak. But I smile in reply—my smile nervous, nervous but hopeful, definitely hopeful. My riding companions step out on their floors one by one until I’m alone, riding up to the executive floor on my own.

Toward him.

Toward the man I love.

My body is raging. My blood is pumping—my blood is storming—my thighs are shaking. My stomach feels filled with little earthquakes that just won’t quit, then they turn into a full-fledged roil when I hear the elevator ting at his floor.

Stepping out, I’m in corporate nirvana, surrounded by sleek chrome and pristine glass, marble and limestone floors. But I hardly have eyes for anything except the tall and imposing frosted glass doors at the far end of the room.

Framing those doors to each side is a pair of sleek designer desks, for a total of four.

Behind these desks are four women in identical black-and-white suits, sitting behind their gleaming dark-oak desks, working quietly behind their flat-screen computers.

One of them, the forty-year-old Catherine H. Ulysses—right hand of the man who owns every inch of this building—stops what she’s doing when she sees me. She arches her brow, then seems both tense and relieved as she lifts the receiver on her desk and murmurs my name into it.

Am. Not. Breathing.

But Catherine doesn’t miss a beat as she motions me toward the huge frosted doors—those intimidating doors—that lead into the lair of the most powerful man in Chicago.

The human being with the most powerful effect on me.

This is what I’ve been waiting for, for four weeks. This is what I wanted when I left a thousand messages on his phones and what I wanted when I wrote a thousand others that I left unsent. To see him.

For him to want to see me.

But as I force myself to step forward, I don’t even know if I’ll have the strength to stand before him and look him in the eye after what I did.

I’m wracked so hard with nervousness and anticipation and hope—yes hope, small but bright, even as I shake like a leaf.

Catherine holds the door open, and I struggle to hold my head high and walk into his office.

Two steps inside I hear the swoosh of the glass door shutting behind me and my systems halt at the familiar sight of the most beautiful office I’ve ever been in.

His office is all vast marble and chrome, twelve-foot ceilings, and endless floor-to-ceiling windows.

And there he is. The center of its axis. The center of my world.

He’s pacing by the window, speaking into a headset in a low, low voice—the kind he uses when he’s pissed. All I can make out are the words have to be dead to let her fall into his clutches …

He hangs up, and as if he feels me in the room, he turns his head. His eyes flare when he sees me. His green eyes.

His achingly familiar, beautiful green eyes.

He inhales, very slowly, his chest expanding, his hands curling a little at his sides as he looks at me.

I look back at him.

Malcolm Kyle Preston Logan Saint.

I just walked into the eye of the most powerful storm of my life. No. Not a storm. A hurricane.

Four weeks, I haven’t seen him. And he still looks exactly as I remember. Larger than life, and more irresistible than ever.

His striking face is perfectly shaven today, and his sensual lips look so achingly full I can almost feel them against mine. Six-feet-plus of perfectly controlled male power stand before me, in a perfect black suit and a killer tie. He’s the very devil in Armani; strong-boned, square-jawed, gleaming dark hair and those penetrating eyes.

He’s got the best eyes.

They twinkle mercilessly when he teases me, and when he doesn’t tease me, they’re mysterious and unreadable, assessing and intelligent, keeping me guessing about his thoughts.

But I had forgotten how cold those eyes used to be. Green arctic ice looks back at me now. Every fleck of ice in those eyes gleaming like diamond shards.

He clenches his jaw and tosses the headset aside.

He looks as approachable as a wall, his shoulders stretching his white shirt, which clings to his skin like a groupie. But I know he’s not a wall; I’ve never wanted to throw myself at a wall like this.

He’s walking towards me. Every step he takes makes my heart pound as he moves with that quiet and confident own-the-world stride of his.

He stops a few feet away and shoves his hands into his pants pockets; and he seems so big all of a sudden, and he smells so utterly good. I drop my eyes to his tie as the little candle of hope I walked in with starts to flicker with doubt.

Michel’s Review

After the major cliffhanger in the first book I was very anxious to get my hands on Manwhore + 1. This book did not disappoint and delivered a fast paced, over the top sexy continuation of Rachel and Saints turbulent romance.

Rachel has her hands full trying to win Malcolm Saint back after her betrayal was revealed. She hurt this man beyond devastation. His heart was truly broken. His trust was shattered. After a month of trying to reach this man’s heart once again she is about to throw in the towel. She’s willing to own her mistakes but doesn’t think she can rectify them at this point. But Malcolm Saint isn’t one to roll over and play dead. He didn’t get to where he was for no apparent reason. Malcolm Saint can be ruthless, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. He is taking control. He has a new proposition for Rachel. One she cannot refuse.

Rachel is now going to have to make some hard choices. Does she choose love or her career. Her job may be in jeopardy but more importantly her heart is on the line.

I loved this book. Katy Evans has a gift of creating heroes that are strong yet completely vulnerable. They love fiercely and you feel it with every passage throughout the book.

Manwhore + 1 is a great followup that will not disappoint. It ends with a solid resolution and no cliffhanger. The secondary characters are screaming for their own stories. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

I highly recommend the Manwhore series.

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The Manwhore Series

Manwhore

Manwhore Series – Book 1

By Katy Evans

Release Date: March 24, 2015

Synopsis

Is it possible to expose Chicago’s hottest player—without getting played?

This is the story I’ve been waiting for all my life, and its name is Malcolm Kyle Preston Logan Saint. Don’t be fooled by that last name though. There’s nothing holy about the man except the hell his parties raise. The hottest entrepreneur Chicago has ever known, he’s a man’s man with too much money to spend and too many women vying for his attention.

Mysterious. Privileged. Legendary. His entire life he’s been surrounded by the press as they dig for tidbits to see if his fairytale life is for real or all mirrors and social media lies. Since he hit the scene, his secrets have been his and his alone to keep. And that’s where I come in.

Assigned to investigate Saint and reveal his elusive personality, I’m determined to make him the story that will change my career.

But I never imagined he would change my life. Bit by bit, I start to wonder if I’m the one discovering him…or if he’s uncovering me.

What happens when the man they call Saint, makes you want to sin?

Buy : Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Google

Manwhore + 1

Manwhore Series- Book 2

By Katy Evans

Pre Order: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

The unexpected love story that began in MANWHORE continues heating up the pages in MANWHORE +1 by New York Times bestselling author Katy Evans…

Billionaire playboy? Check.

Ruthless businessman? Check.

Absolutely sinful? Check.

Malcolm Saint was an assignment. A story. A beautiful, difficult man I was supposed to uncover for a racy exposé.

I intended to reveal him, his secrets, his lifestyle–not let him reveal me. But my head was overtaken by my heart and suddenly nothing could stop me from falling. I fell for him, and I fell hard.

Malcolm Saint is absolute Sin, and I’ve become a hopeless Sinner.

Pre Order: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

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About Katy Evans

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 + Review: Broken Oaths by V.L. Moon & J.T. Cheyenne

Posted on 07/22/2015 by shellbellereads

Broken Oaths

By V. L. Moon & J. T. Cheyanne

Synopsis

Betrayed by his peers and slandered as a traitor, Commander Thierry Donovan has nothing left. Locked away and targeted by the very men responsible for his incarceration, Thierry defies the odds and fights for the fundamental right to survive the hell-hole of his imprisonment. With no one to trust, Thierry finds solace in the last place he imagines…

The church is Ryan Flynn’s sanctuary. He craves the solitude and peace he finds in the hallowed halls. His oath to serve God is a calling Ryan has hidden behind all of his adult life; until his past catches up with him in the form of his foster brother, Special Agent Orrin Hunt…

Submerging himself within a world of danger, violence and corruption is the only way Orrin can cope with life. Rejected and tormented by the bitter remorse of unrequited love, Orrin is oblivious to the beauty of what life can offer him. If he’d only open his eyes, and maybe his heart….

Jaydan Callahan’s life is a wreck. Gangs, drugs and violence are a part of his normal day to day routine. For one so young, he’s seen it, been there, done it and gotten more than enough tee shirts as proof. Capable of smelling a cop from a mile away, it comes as no surprise to Jay when the guy he has the hots for is actually working under cover to bring down the town’s notoriously dangerous king pin.

Four men, four lives, each one of them stained by lies, corruption and doubt. Can love show them the path to redemption, or will broken oaths, fear and grief make the crosses they bear too heavy a mantle to carry.

Love is Love

Buy: Amazon

Lis’ Review

The authors of “Crimson Reign” and “Love, Life and Circumstance” have never been ones to shy away from digging deep to give their readers a story that pushes boundaries, makes the readers think and feel and clamor for more. Crimson Reign gave us the wickedly sexy vampire king and his angel in a paranormal world in upheavel. LLC gave us two men with a baby to care for in the South with all its prejudices. And now “Broken Oaths” gives us Ryan and Thierry, pushing the limits again with the story of a priest and a Navy Commander.

Thierry Donovan is a former Navy Commander falsely accused of treason and jailed in a super secure facility in solitary confinement. The only other people he sees are the guards who watch over him, including his friend A.J. who goes easy on the rules for the prisoner. Thierry has no outside contact until he asks for, and is sent, a priest, Father Ryan Flynn. Their connection is instant, but like anyone else whose life is tied up in the rules and restrictions of their chosen profession or current fall from grace, both try to deny what they feel.

We learn of their pasts right away. The opening chapters tell us why these men chose the path they did, and give us a glimpse of the obstacles they faced along the way. Thierry’s career and life have been destroyed by his imprisonment. Father Flynn’s profession is an effort to get rid of the sinner label he brought down on himself because of his and his foster brother’s teenage exploration of their growing attraction. Both hide behind these shields they use so effectively – for a while. Thrown together in the priest and penitent roles, they soon acknowledge that there is something more between them as they work to bring justice to Thierry and bring down the one who used him as a scapegoat in a treasonous plot. Their story is about learning to trust in themselves and in each other, never giving up on love no matter how hard the fight.

Orrin Hunt, Flynn’s foster brother, has loved Ryan since they were wayward teens who helped each other cope through the difficult nightmares they faced. He’s involved behind the scenes trying to find the truth behind Thierry’s imprisonment and as such, is the one who brings Father Flynn into Thierry’s life. Orrin’s love for Ryan has endured all these years, until he goes undercover in a local street gang and meets Jay Callahan, the young, smart mouthed leader of the group. Jay falls hard for Orrin, but Ryan is the white elephant in the room, the love Orrin has for Ryan a wall that blinds him to what’s staring him in the face. Their story is about letting go of the past and embracing the future, daring to take the risk for love.

And tying these two couples together is the intrigue, a plot very carefully constructed that makes the reader anxious to find out just exactly how the whole thing will be revealed. It builds like the walls of Thierry’s prison cell, brick by brick. And with four strong-willed characters, there is no doubt they will figure it out.

Unfortunately, the villains were the one area that let me down. Characterization and angst is definitely these authors’ strong suit and in this book the whole mystery was right up there with it. The plot was complex and excellently crafted, with all the characters’ actions and reactions to each other and to their situation adding to the edge of the seat reading experience. Until one particular scene that made me stop and go “Really?” I just didn’t buy it. With that one scene the villains, who up until then were wonderfully evil, became caricatures of themselves. That one scene weakened the intrigue, pushing it into campiness instead of suspense.
Everyday struggles for love, for recognition, for redemption made this book a winner, overcoming the problem with the villains. The love stories of Ryan and Thierry and of Orrin and Jay are well written and very realistic. They struggle with their feelings, each one questioning his worth, his actions, his heart. As they work through all the machinations of being together, we as readers realize right along with them that outer trappings don’t matter. It’s what’s in the heart that rules.

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About the authors

Laz and Lachi Publications is the combined writing team of J.T. Cheyanne and V.L. Moon. The two met in 2010, fell hard and fast for each other and married in April 2014. They write both independently and together in the gay erotica and gay paranormal genres. They also have a couple of contemporary romance novels under their belt.

Social media links

Our joint page

https://www.facebook.com/LazLachibooks

Website

http://www.lazandlachi.com/

JT Cheyanne

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JTCheyanne

VL Moon

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VenusMoon5

Happy Release + Review : Breaking Her Rules by Jennifer Snow – Beyond The Cage Series – Book 1

Posted on 07/21/2015 by shellbellereads

Breaking Her Rules

Beyond The Cage Series – Book 1

By Jennifer Snow

Synopsis

MMA fighters go the distance in this all-new series from Jennifer Snow, author of the Brookhollow novels.

Walker Adams was supposed to follow in his lawyer father’s footsteps, but instead he’s training to be an MMA fighter. And while he works for his chance to make it in the Maximum Fight League, he’s bunking on his baby sister’s best friend’s couch. Gracie Andrews is all grown up—in all the right places. But she’s engaged to the fight match-maker who holds Walker’s career in his hands…

Gracie had almost convinced herself that she’d put her silly childhood crush on Walker to rest. But the sight of him sleeping in only a pair of boxer briefs makes it clear that some things never change. And as old sparks turn to flames, Gracie is forced to decide between the future she thought she wanted or the man she’s never stopped loving…

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Michel’s Review

Breaking Her Rules by Jennifer Snow is the debut book in her new series Beyond The Cage. This is a promising MMA Romance series that I think readers are going to embrace whole heartedly.

Walker and Gracie are from the same small town. Adam is the older brother to Gracie’s best friend. During her teen years Gracie crushed on Adam but he was out of her league. He was a super star jock, popular, and privileged. Now the tables are turned. Adam is down and out, homeless. He dropped out of law school to pursue his dreams of being a professional MMA Fighter. His family cut him off but he is still determined to make a go of it. When Gracie offers her couch he is grateful.

Adam is breaking into the fighting world at a late age. Luckily Gracie has connections that help him get a fight that could make or break his career. The fight is in three weeks. Is he ready?

Adam has too many distractions. He has to work. He has a popular female journalist sinking her claws into him. He also has Gracie. Suddenly he knows she’s alive and he wants her. The problem is her boyfriend. The man that is controlling his career.

Adam is in for the fight of his life and it may not be in the cage.

Gracie has rules. She is determined not to be like her flighty mother. Her world was going perfect until Adam showed up on her couch. He is making her want to break her own rules. Can she stay true or is her destiny to be ruled by her emotions?

Breaking Her Rules was a solid start to the Beyond The Cage series. The leading characters were well developed and the secondary characters were interesting enough for readers to want more from this series. The book was well written although very predictable. It seemed a bit like a cookie cutter romance. I would of liked to see more grit. The sex and steaminess was moderate. Again I would of liked to see more sexual tension and chemistry.

Overall Breaking Her Rules by Jennifer Snow was fun and entertaining. It’s the perfect kind of book for escaping. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

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Beyond The Cage Series

Breaking Her Rules – Book 1

MMA fighters go the distance in this all-new series from Jennifer Snow, author of the Brookhollow novels.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Fighting The Fall – Book 2

Release Date: October 20, 2015

MMA fighters go Beyond the Cage in the new series by the author of Breaking Her Rules. This time, it’ll take some fancy footwork for a gym owner to keep from falling in love…

Hollywood actress Parker Hamilton will do anything to get back in the spotlight. Since breaking up with one of the industry’s most successful directors, she’s been in a string of box office busts. Now, she’s found the role of a lifetime in a film about a female MMA fighter and she knows exactly who to ask for help learning the ropes…

When Tyson Reed sees a blonde bombshell walk into his gym looking for training, he wants to refuse. He knows her type and he doesn’t need any unwanted distractions while preparing for his upcoming title fight. But if he can’t pay off his brother’s debts, Tyson could lose his gym… and the reputation his family has had in the MMA world for three generations.

Tyson never thought he’d be going one-on-one with a spoiled, out-of-shape Hollywood actress. But this is one bout he just may not win—or want to…

Pre Order : Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

___________________________________

Author Bio:

Jennifer Snow lives in Edmonton, Alberta with her husband and four year old son. She is a member of the Writers Guild of Alberta, the Romance Writers of America, the Canadian Author Association, and SheWrites.org. She is also a regular blogger on the Heartwarming Authors site and is a contributing author to Mslexia Magazine, WestWord Magazine and RWR. She has also taught RWA Chapters courses online. Her 2013 Holiday Romance-The Trouble With Mistletoe was a finalist in the 2014 Golden Quill Contest and the Heart of Denver Aspen Gold Contest.
Her publishing credits include two holiday novellas, previously published by The Wild Rose Press, now re-released or being re-released as self-published editions through Amazon. The Mistletoe Fever was an Amazon bestseller for two weeks in the category of Kindle Short Reads. Her six book small town, Brookhollow series is published through Harlequin Heartwarming and she has a new MMA sports romance series releasing through Berkley/NAL Intermix in 2015. RT Reviews has given each of her Brookhollow series books 4 stars.
She also hosts an annual SnowGlobe Award contest in recognition of holiday themed romance stories, with over forty entries each year. More information about the contest can be found at http://www.snowglobeawardcontest.vpweb.ca
She is active on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and various blog sites and has a monthly author newsletter.
More information can be found at www.jennifersnowauthor.com

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Review + Giveaway : King Of Hearts by L. H. Cosway

Posted on 07/20/2015 by shellbellereads

Happy Release Day to L.H. Cosway and her new book King of Hearts! The King of Hearts release week event begins tomorrow. Be on the lookout for what the blogs have to say about Oliver King’s story! Take a sneak peek into the book below and make sure to enter the giveaway! Good luck!

Welcome to the City, London’s most prestigious square mile, where finance reigns and Oliver King is a rising prince.

I used to rule the world.

There might be wolves on Wall Street, but there were crocodiles in Canary Wharf. Some of us craved money. Some of us craved power.

I liked money, and power had its advantages, but what I really wanted was to excel, to surpass the men who came before me. I never cared much for love and romance until I met Alexis.

I could feel it the very moment she walked into the interview, with her outspoken charm and vivacious personality. She cast all the others in shadow, made me laugh when life held no humour. Our friendship should have remained professional, but it wasn’t long before the lines started to blur.

You know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men? Well, I never foresaw where my plans would lead, and only in my darkest hour did I finally see the light…

You can have all the money and prestige in the world and still be the poorest man alive. And love, well, I hate to use a tired old cliché, but love can be the thing that truly sets you free.

Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | iTunes | Smashwords

What he said made me curious, so I went on, “What do you do to deal with the stress?”

He gave me a wan smile, and there was something in his expression that struck me as sad somehow. Rubbing at his chin, he answered, “Hmmm, when I’m stressed out…a nice glass of top shelf whiskey usually does the trick.”

“That makes sense,” I said and walked around his desk before taking a seat in front of him. “You know, I always thought it was poor people who did drugs, to escape the bleakness of their realities. Now I’m thinking maybe the practice is most common at the top and the bottom of the ladder. Perhaps the best place to be is somewhere in the middle.”

“Not necessarily. I’m at the top. Do I look high to you?”

The deadpan way in which he said it made me laugh. I leaned forward and teased, “I’m not sure. Let me have a look at your pupils.” Surprising me, King rose from his seat, walked around his desk and came to kneel in front of me. Before I knew it his face was mere inches from mine.

“Go ahead,” he said, voice low.

Whoa, Oliver King’s face right up close…I wasn’t sure what to do with that. I guess he didn’t realise the effect he had on this very non-gay lady, because he seemed entirely unselfconscious. His eyes were beautiful, his lashes long and golden, his skin smooth with a hint of stubble around his jaw, and his lips were just…I had no words. Sculpted and masculine was probably the only way I could think to describe them.

I realised I was staring at those lips a little too closely when my eyes flicked back to his. A moment ago he was smiling, but now that smile was transforming into a thoughtful frown.

I cleared my throat. “Your pupils look fine.”

King exhaled a small breath and I watched as his attention went from my eyes to my cheeks, nose, chin, and then finally to my lips. He looked like he was about to say something when suddenly Gillian’s voice filled the room.

“Mr King, Jenson Gellar is on the phone. Shall I put him through?”

Robin’s Review

Author L. H. Cosway introduces readers to Oliver King in Hearts of Fire, a contemporary romance written with the colorful backdrop of a traveling circus. He’s more specifically known as King in Hearts of Fire, the bad-tempered drunk of Circus Spektakulӓr. We are told King carries a photograph of a woman with him at all times. He guards this photo like his life depends on it, so protagonist Lille Baker decides to do some digging. If she can figure out who this woman is and what she means to King, maybe she can help him sober up. Lille has a heart of gold, and before the end of the novel, she writes a letter to a woman named Alexis Clark.

King of Hearts is the newest contemporary novel from L. H. Cosway. It’s the third novel of the Hearts series, and it focuses on Oliver King and Alexis Clark. It’s their story – their mysterious past is fully revealed to those of us who have a soft spot for King. King of Hearts can be read as a standalone. It’s not necessary to read Six of Hearts or Hearts of Fire before reading King of Hearts, but I think you will add to your reading experience by doing so. King of Hearts is divided into “before” and “after” by a series of events which cause King and Alexis to part ways.

We meet twenty-seven-year-old Alexis Clark as she prepares to interview for the executive assistant position to Oliver King at Johnson-Pearse Bank, an investment bank located in the major business district of Canary Wharf in London. Alexis is not the most qualified applicant. She’s a former bartender at a pub. She doesn’t even have a university degree, but Oliver King gives her the position based on her quick-thinking, vibrant personality and wit.

By the second chapter, I already knew that I really liked both protagonists. Alexis is quirky, funny and charming. She’s smart and to the point with her opinion. She also has no filter – she opens her mouth and speaks her mind. Those who have read Hearts of Fire will barely recognize King early in this novel. He is charming, extremely handsome and very well-spoken.

The entire novel is great, but my favorite part of King of Hearts is the first half! I absolutely loved it from the beginning! King and Alexis settle into an easy working relationship, and they quickly become friends. Their flirting, banter and interactions made me smile. The pages were flying by because it was so much fun to read! But King of Hearts is not without an underlying tone of foreboding, and it’s for good reason. Those of us who have read Hearts of Fire know what’s in store for King’s future. Expect a very powerful conclusion to the first half of King of Hearts.

The second half of this story takes place six years later. I love second chance romances, and King of Hearts is essentially two love stories. While I thoroughly enjoyed this couple falling in love when they were younger, it is also very sweet to see them come together after a six year separation.

Cosway shows an immense amount of growth and change in each of these characters. Alexis is a milder version of her younger self. She has matured, and her priorities have changed. King is completely different because of his years of alcohol abuse, neglect and living the circus lifestyle. He’s harder – more feral and skittish. But we are able to see real growth in King by the end of the novel. He’s not the man he used to be, but something new and different.

One thing I notice about Cosway’s writing is that it really flows nicely. She’s a fantastic writer. It’s also apparent L. H. Cosway has put a considerable amount of planning into writing the Hearts series. Each story is unique compared to the others, but they are also connected by the characters. Overall, I think King of Hearts is an enjoyable, easy read! I’m giving King of Hearts a 4.5 star rating and adding it to my list of 2015 favorites!

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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♥ READ THE BOOKS ♥

Six of Hearts

Hearts of Fire

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King of Hearts

Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | iTunes | Smashwords

L.H. Cosway KING OF HEARTS Release Week Event

Summer Reads: Ride Steady by Kristen Ashley

Posted on 07/18/2015 by shellbellereads

Ride Steady

The Chaos Series – Book 3

A Biker MC Romance

By Kristen Ashley

Synopsis

The ride of her life . . .
Once upon a time, Carissa Teodoro believed in happy endings. Money, marriage, motherhood: everything came easy—until she woke up to the ugly truth about her Prince Charming. Now a struggling, single mom and stranded by a flat tire, Carissa’s pondering her mistakes when a vaguely familiar knight rides to her rescue on a ton of horsepower.

Climb on and hold tight . . .
In high school, Carson Steele was a bad boy loner who put Carissa on a pedestal where she stayed far beyond his reach. Today, he’s the hard-bodied biker known only as Joker, and from the way Carissa’s acting, it’s clear she’s falling fast. While catching her is irresistible, knowing what to do with her is a different story. A good girl like Carissa is the least likely fit with the Chaos Motorcycle Club. Too bad holding back is so damned hard. Now, as Joker’s secrets are revealed and an outside threat endangers the club, Joker must decide whether to ride steady with Carissa—or ride away forever . . .

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Robin’s Review

During the summer of 2012, I found myself on a serious Kristen Ashley reading marathon. I read at least twenty-five of her novels over a three-month period. I was addicted. Plain and simple. Kristen Ashley is incredibly witty. She has a knack for writing the best alpha male characters. She has her own, unique writing style. So, when presented with the opportunity to read Ride Steady: A Chaos Novel, I didn’t hesitate.

It began with a wildly popular novel titled Motorcycle Man of the Dream Man series. We now have the Chaos series, a well-received spinoff of Motorcycle Man. Kristen Ashley absolutely nails writing a contemporary romance/romantic suspense novel set within a motorcycle club! The Chaos MC of Denver, Colorado is her baby. Her creation. It’s a very realistic look into the world of a motorcycle club. Brotherhood, comradery, danger and suspense are all prevalent in each novel. You’ll find all of this and more in Ride Steady.

Carissa Teodoro was the height of popularity in high school. Not only was she a cheerleader, but she dated the quarterback of the football team. Carson Steele couldn’t figure out why she would want to date the likes of Aaron Neiland. She was perfect for Carson, everything he could ever dream of. She was beautiful and sweet and kind to Carson. Carissa was the light of his world – a sixteen-year-old boy who had been abandoned by his mother and abused by his father – and she didn’t even know it.

It’s now been seven long years since high school. Carissa is a single mom who has recently been through a divorce. She finds herself stranded on the side of a highway with a toddler in her arms, when a biker named Joker pulls up to assist her with a flat tire. Joker is sort of scary. He’s dressed in leathers and is hiding behind a beard and sunglasses, but he is nothing but kind to Carissa. She doesn’t realize it, but she knows this man. His name is Carson Steele, and she’s about to get to know him a whole lot better.

Ride Steady absorbed my interest. I’m not really sure why, but I was especially taken with what Carissa has experienced at the hands of her ex-husband. She’s a victim, and her story called out to me. Scenes involving Carissa’s ex-husband are very tense; however, Kristen Ashley adds humor at just the right moments to balance out the seriousness of the plot. In fact, there are moments when Ride Steady is super funny!

I noticed a few passages where the writing wasn’t as polished as it could be, and I struggled to understand what was being communicated. That being said, I want to emphasize this was not a widespread issue. Most of Ride Steady is well-written. I love Kristen Ashley’s writing style. Conversations between her characters feel authentic, heartfelt and full of emotion. Consider how a biker might speak to his woman. Think attitude. Bossiness. Slang. Kristen Ashley does a fantastic job of communicating the authenticity of the character with her written words.

It’s always entertaining when the Chaos MC family gets behind a person who is unsuspecting! The Chaos MC is a family unit that reaches far and wide. It always includes Elvira and her posse, but characters from the Dream Man, Chaos, Unfinished Hero and Rock Chick series all play a role in Ride Steady. I probably left some out, but you get the picture. Kirsten Ashley ties in characters from her other novels, which only adds to the fun. It was such a joy to read another Kristen Ashley novel! She earns 4.5 stars for Ride Steady: A Chaos Novel, and I am definitely adding to my list of 2015 favorites!

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Author Bio:

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn’t taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen’s Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning.

Nothing’s changed.

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she’s blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better.

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Release Blitz + Review : Inspiring You by Jessica Sorensen – Unraveling You Series – Book 4

Posted on 07/15/2015 by shellbellereads

Happy Release Day to Jessica Sorensen and her new book INSPIRING YOU! This is the final book in the Unraveling You series about Lyric Scott and Ayden Gregory! Take a sneak peek below!

Ayden knows it’s time to remember what really happened four years ago, so he can help save his sister. With the help of Lyric, he faces his past head on.

But dealing with the truth is difficult.

Will Ayden finally be free of his past so he can move forward to his future?

Michel’s Review

Inspiring You by Jessica Sorensen is the final book in the Unraveling You series. This epic series has had readers biting their nails to see the final results of Aiden’s haunting past.

Aiden has taken the final steps to regain his memory. He is trying the experimental hypnosis therapy. Although this therapy could be very dangerous to Aiden , he feels like this is his only option.

The revelations are frightening. Aides now knows the truth. But is the truth in time to save his missing sister.

This final installment is astounding. The reader’s are finally getting the answers to Aiden’s past and present danger.

I have loved this series from beginning to end. It was great to have a satisfying resolution.

Read the Unraveling You series by Jessica Sorensen. It is outstanding.

Jessica Sorensen is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author from the snowy mountains of Wyoming. When she’s not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.

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♥ READ THE SERIES ♥

Book 1 – Unraveling You

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / ITUNES

Book 2 – Raveling You

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / ITUNES

Book 3 – Awakening You

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / ITUNES

Book 4 – Inspiring You

AMAZON / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

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