Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: Hit The Spot by J. Daniels – Dirty Deeds Series – Book 2

Posted on 12/06/2016 by shellbellereads

Hit The Spot

Dirty Deeds Series – Book 2

By J. Daniels

Is this love or just a game?

Tori Rivera thinks Jamie McCade is rude, arrogant, and worst of all . . . the sexiest man she’s ever laid eyes on. His reputation as a player is almost as legendary as his surfing skills. No matter how her body heats up when he’s around, she’s determined not to be another meaningless hookup.

Jamie McCade always gets what he wants. The sickest wave. The hottest women. And Tori, with her long legs and smart mouth, is definitely the hottest one. He knows Tori wants him-hell, most women do-but she won’t admit it. After months of chasing and one unforgettable kiss, it’s time for Jamie to raise the stakes.

Jamie promises that soon Tori won’t just want him in her bed, she’ll be begging for it-and he might be right. Somehow he’s found the spot in her heart that makes her open up like never before. But with all she knows about his past, can she really trust what’s happening between them? Is Jamie playing for keeps or just playing to win?

This book can be read as a stand-alone.

Book 1–Four Letter Word

AMAZON US | AMAZON UK | AMAZON AU | B&N | KOBO | KOBO UK | iBOOKS

iBOOKS UK | iBOOKS AU | Audio

EXCERPT

Hammerjacks was dimly lit and packed with bodies, some dancing together and others crowding the bar, waiting to get served. I started scanning the room as I came up beside Tori, who was doing the same even though she had no idea who she was looking for.

I saw Quinn almost instantly. She wasn’t hard to spot.

The bright pink spiked-out hair helped with that.

“There,” I said, pointing in the direction of the bar where my sister was sitting on a stool, head turned away from the group of shitheads swarming her.

She was alone. That pissed me off.

She was here, in town visiting, and she was looking for ass. That pissed me off, too.

Not much I could do about the second thing, I understood it, but she was gonna hear my feelings toward the other whether she wanted to hear them or not.

“What’s her name again?” Tori asked as we made our way over.

“Quinn,” I said.

She nodded, face serious. Then she tucked stray pieces of hair behind her ears and smoothed out the rest of her pony, pulled the one sleeve of her shirt down so it exposed her shoulder and bra strap, straightened her spine, tipped her chin up, and put on a smile before rushing ahead.

“Hey, sweetie. Sorry I’m late,” Tori chirped, squeezing in between my sister and the shitheads as if they weren’t standing there. She grabbed Quinn’s face, bent down, and kissed her cheek. “I missed you. Did you miss me?” she asked, bringing both hands to Quinn’s neck and holding there while standing between her bent knees.

Tori was smiling and playing the part, leaning close and making it seem like they were really together, or at least really feeling each other. My sister was blinking up at Tori, looking baffled but also looking like she was wanting to buy everything Legs was selling.

I wasn’t surprised. Quinn shared my taste in women. And I definitely had a taste for Legs.

“Whoa, are you two…damn. Is this your girl?” one of the shitheads asked from behind Tori, pointing at the back of her.

“Jesus,” another one chimed in, looking his fill. “What are the chances of me watchin’ you two go at it? This is fuckin’ hot.”

I stepped up then, not liking the tone of this guy and the shit coming out of his mouth, and wanting to make my presence known.

He saw me approach and shot me a hard look, asking, “You gotta problem?”

“Jamie.”

Teeth clenched and fists forming, I looked to Quinn, not taking the bait he was throwing out.

She was watching me, eyes serious and mouth tight, subtly shaking her head in warning ’cause she knew I couldn’t be fighting or doing anything that could draw negative attention. Then she turned her attention onto Tori when she twisted and slid into Quinn’s lap.

“Fishing in the wrong pond, boys,” Tori informed them, sweeping her gaze over the three while putting her arm around Quinn’s shoulders and pressing close. “Get lost. We’re not interested.” Then she turned all of her attention onto my sister and amped up her game, giggling as she kept her face close to hers and running her fingers through her hair, smiling, whispering, really flirting and looking into it, all while blocking the view of the shitheads so they couldn’t watch.

And everything Legs was doing, my sister was eating up.

Wrapping her arms around Tori and holding on to her, smiling back, laughing, looking like she was falling in love and thinking this was real and something sustainable.

I was starting to regret incorporating Tori into this plan. She was a little too good at her game. Straight up. Maybe the best at it.

I was also starting to get mildly jealous watching my sister getting attention from the one woman who was hell-bent on ignoring my ass.

“Man, whatever,” the one guy said, grabbing his beer and looking to his friends. “Come on. I’m not wastin’ my time on lesbian pussy.”

His friends murmured their agreement, mentioned something about hitting up Roy’s, a bar down the street, then grabbed their beers and stepped away.

When they were out of earshot, I shifted my eyes to Legs, telling her, “Think you sold it. You can get off my sister now.”

Tori smiled proudly, lifting her shoulders with a little dance. Then she looked to Quinn, keeping the smile, and said, “Hey, I’m Tori. Your brother dragged me here, so I figured I’d offer my assistance instead of letting him handle it, since he can’t fight and all.”

“Can fight, just shouldn’t,” I corrected her. I jerked my chin. “Hop off.”

Quinn moved her hands up Tori’s back and licked her lips. “Wicked plan,” my sister told her. “I was totally into that.”

“I think it got the point across,” Tori replied. “I really like your hair, by the way.” She ran her fingers through it again. “The color looks great on you.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely. It really makes your eyes pop.”

“I was thinking about going purple…”

“Have you tried bleaching the roots and just painting the color on the ends? I think that would look amazing with purple.”

Jesus.

“Legs,” I barked.

Both of their heads whipped around and faced my direction.

“You feelin’ like gettin’ up so we can get the fuck outta here?” I asked, thinking only about the food back at her place I was wanting to eat and not about how comfortable my sister’s hands looked gripping on to Tori’s body.

“She’s fine,” Quinn offered, keeping her hands locked around Legs. “Really. She doesn’t have to move.”

I shot a glare at Quinn, communicating how I felt about that suggestion, then shifted that glare to Tori.

“I was getting up. Relax. We were just talking,” she huffed, moving off Quinn’s lap and coming to stand beside me. “You’re welcome, by the way,” she murmured.

Michel’s Review

This is my second book by J. Daniels and I can easily see why readers love her books. She has made my must read author list.

Hit The Spot is the second book in the Dirty Deeds series. Each book can be read as a stand alone novel or in series order. Either way the reading experience is a pure delight.

Jamie McCade is a persistent, dirty mouthed, professional surfing champion. He has a reputation with the ladies that he has rightfully earned. He uses his charm to get the ladies in bed and makes no apologies for his actions. He didn’t become a world surfing champion because of his charm. He is a champion because he is persistent, dedicated, and refuses to lose at anything. He is very dedicated to his family and friends. He would do anything for them. He has set his sights on Tori Riveria, the woman with legs a mile long and an extreme dislike for him. He’s determined to win her over. He’s a patient man and he always wins.

Tori Rivera is a woman that knows what she wants. After a bad relationship with a married man she is very wary of men in general. She doesn’t want a certified player that has no respect for relationships and love. The next man she becomes involved with has to be dedicated, sincere, and must respect her. Jamie McCade is not that man. She detests him. She also secretly swoons over him, which in turn makes her angry with herself.

Nine months of a delightful game of cat and mouse takes Jamie and Tori in unchartered waters. The creative verbal sparring and the sizzling sex does more than burn the sheets, it burns down the house. Both Tori and Jamie have more at stake than scorched sheets, their hearts are at stake. Beneath the surface, they both have big hearts that were meant for each other.

Hit The Spot by J. Daniels was a pure delight to read. I loved Tori and Jamie. I would highly recommend this book.

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J.Daniels is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Sweet Addiction series, the Alabama Summer series, and the Dirty Deeds series.

She would rather bake than cook, she listens to music entirely too loud, and loves writing stories her children will never read. Her husband and children are her greatest loves, with cupcakes coming in at a close second.

J grew up in Baltimore and resides in Maryland with her family.

Sign up to receive her newsletter and get special offers and exclusive release info: http://authorjdaniels.com/newsletter/

Holiday Release Blitz: Dashing Through the Snow by M. Leighton – A Sexy, Snowy Christmas Tale

Posted on 12/05/2016 by shellbellereads

Need some fun to brighten up the holidays? Need some heat to warm up the cold nights? Well,this is just the thing. DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW, a sexy, snowy Christmas story by M. Leighton is LIVE!

Dashing Through The Snow

A Sexy, Snowy Christmas Tale

By M. Leighton

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

A dash of perfect for the holidays!

Dilyn Hart hates Christmas, so when her boss (and ex-boyfriend) hands her an assignment to interview champion snowboarder and gorgeous playboy extraordinaire, Dash Grainger, on Christmas Eve, she takes it. There are several things she doesn’t plan for—a surly driver, a chalet in the middle of nowhere, a freak snowstorm—but the biggest surprise of all is Dash himself.

Dash Grainger lives for the high, and so far in his twenty-six years, he’s never met anyone or anything he loves more. Nothing has ever thrilled him as much as slick snow, cold air, and breakneck speed.

Until he meets Dilyn.

But one perfect night doesn’t mean clear, blue skies the next day. Some storms can’t be weathered.

Christmas might just be one of them.

Tracey’s Review

Christmas is no time of joy for reporter Dilyn Hart, so when she catches a story that will take her away from the hustle and bustle of holiday time, she’s all in. Off to Colorado she goes, ready to go head to head with snowboarding’s golden boy, Dash Grainger. Who knew what 24 hours, a whopper of a snowstorm, and s’mores like Dilyn’s never had them could bring?

If Michelle Leighton writes it, it’s a foregone conclusion that it’ll be at the top of my reading list. I’m a fan of everything that she does, but her sexy, light-hearted reads really make me smile, so I knew that DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW was going to be a win for me. No disappointment here, because I loved, loved, loved this sexy, sassy little book, and zipped right through it like it was my favorite chocolate.

Dilyn and Dash have an immediate connection, and, while I scoff at insta-love with the best of them, I was all in here. Because the heat, y’all, the absolute sizzle sparking between the two of them was practically jumping off the page. You know, the kind that sort of makes you blush, giggle, and look over your shoulder to see who’s around while you fan yourself? Yeah, that. Miss Michelle writes love scenes like nobody’s business, and, man, was she ever on point here.

Beyond the, you know, sexy times, Dilyn and Dash immediately share something that is really special. Dash is definitely much more than Dilyn was expecting, and the reality of him is eye-opening. They bring out things in each other and just round each other out in ways that they didn’t expect. Fast? Yes, but totally believable, and I loved every minute of it.

I mean, I just had no idea he’d be this…this…much. This gorgeous. This charismatic. This charming and fun and sexy and…That he’d have this way of stealing time and reason, and making me feel so much in such a short period of time.

Although Dilyn may have started out a humbug, she’ll never look at Christmas the same way again, and what a wonderful thing. Thank you, Michelle, for 5 stars worth of love, laughter, sizzle, and pop. What a nice present for this holiday season.

***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***

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CONNECT WITH MICHELLE

FB: http://smarturl.it/MLeightonFBPage

FB Group: http://smarturl.it/MLeightonFBGroup

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Blog Tour + Excerpt + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: A Veil Of Vines by Tillie Cole

Posted on 12/02/2016 by shellbellereads

A Veil Of Vines

By Tillie Cole

Synopsis

To most people, princes, princesses, counts and dukes are found only in the pages of the most famous of fairytales. Crowns, priceless jewels and gilded thrones belong only in childhood dreams.
But for some, these frivolous fancies are truth.
For some, they are real life.
On Manhattan’s Upper East Side, people have always treated me as someone special. All because of my ancestral name and legacy. All because of a connection I share to our home country’s most important family of all.
I am Caresa Acardi, the Duchessa di Parma. A blue blood of Italy. I was born to marry well. And now the marriage date is set.
I am to marry into House Savona. The family that would have been the royals had Italy not abolished the monarchy in 1946. But to the aristocrats of my home, the abolition means nothing at all.
The Savonas still hold power where it counts most.
In our tight-knit world of money, status and masked balls, they are everything and more.
And I am soon to become one of them.
I am soon to become Prince Zeno Savona’s wife…
… or at least I was, until I met Achille.
And everything changed.

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Caresa

As my papa’s G5 began its descent, I looked out of the window beside me and waited for the plane to break through the clouds. I held my breath, body tense, then suddenly the burnt-orange remnants of daylight flooded the plane, bathing the interior with a soft, golden glow. I inhaled deeply. Italia.
Fields and fields of green and yellow created a patchwork quilt below, rolling hills and crystal-blue lakes stretching as far the eye could see. I smiled as a sense of warmth ran through me.
It was the most beautiful place on earth.
Sitting back in my wide cream leather chair, I closed my eyes and tried to prepare myself for what was coming. I was flying to Florence airport, from where I would be swiftly taken to the Palazzo Savona estate just outside of the city.
I would meet Prince Zeno.
I had met him twice before—once when I was four, of which I had no memory, and again when I was ten. The interaction we’d had as children had been brief. If I was being honest, I had found Zeno to be arrogant and rude. He had been thirteen at the time and not at all interested in meeting a ten-year-old girl from America.
Neither of us had known at the time that that our betrothal had been agreed upon two years prior. It turned out that the trip my papa had taken to Umbria when I was eight was to secure a forever-bond between the Savonas and the Acardis. King Santo and my father had planned for their only children to marry. They were already joined in business; Zeno’s arranged marriage to me would also strengthen both families’ place in society.
I thought back on my New York farewell of nine hours ago and sighed. My parents had driven me to the private hangar and said their goodbyes. My mama cried—her only child was leaving her for a new life. My papa, although sad to see me go, beamed at me with the utmost pride. He had held me close and whispered, “I have never been more proud of you than I am right now, Caresa. Savona Wines’ stock has plummeted since Santo’s death. This union will reassure all the shareholders that our business is still strong. That we are still a stable company with Zeno at the helm.”
I had given him a tight smile and boarded the plane with a promise that they would see me before the wedding. And that had been that.
I was to marry Zeno, and I hadn’t protested even once. I imagined to most modern-day women living in New York, the process of arranged marriages sounded positively medieval, even barbaric. For a blue blood, it was simply a part of life.
King Santo Savona died two months ago. The shareholders of his many Italian vineyards, the stakeholders in Savona Wines, had expected his son, Zeno, to immediately step up and take charge. Instead, Zeno had plunged himself into the party scene even harder than before—and that was quite a feat. Within weeks my papa had flown out to Umbria to see what could be done.
The answer: our imminent union.

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Michel’s Review

A Veil of Vines by Tillie Cole is a must read. I could not put this book down. It was a beautiful romance that blossomed in a world where neither of them fit.

A Veil of Vines is heaped with Italian traditions and royal hierarchy. Although Italy no longer recognizes the royal family as a ruling class, they are still prominent in the traditional customs of the Italian people.

Duchess Caresa Acardi has come to Italy to marry the heir to the Italian throne. By blood she is bound to the life long traditions of the people of Italy. She is to become their queen. Being raised in America has altered her views of love and marriage. Tradition and the family winery are at stake. In order to save the winery, the royal family has to show solidity and stability. The soon to be king has a notorious playboy reputation. He is a spoiled prince living off his family legacy. She is conflicted about her upcoming marriage to a man that she met briefly as a child. Her love for her family and their deeply tied roots is the only reasoning she can abide by. Once she arrives in Italy she finds that her heart may not be tied to the future king but is tied to the land itself.

Achille is the winemaker for the royal winery. His deep ties to the land and his innate sense of taste has made his wines beyond excellent. He will always be tied to the land. It’s his life force until he meets Caresa, his future queen.

Achille and Caresa were meant to be together. They are true soulmates. Their blood ties will never allow them to together. Achille has secrets that will always keep him bound to the land. The royal family also has secrets that will keep Achille tied to their land and their winery.

I won’t say much more except Tillie Cole did a phenomenal job writing this book. The beautiful descriptions brings the reader to Italy. This emotional story is more than a royal romance. It is a book of deep abiding love for tradition and love for the land. It is a special love story that truly shows what matters most in the heart.

I highly recommend A Veil Of Vines by Tillie Cole.

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Giveaway

One winner gets a Signed Copy of A Veil of Vines + Limited-Edition The Future Mrs. Marchesi T-Shirt

Enter HERE

_____________________________________________________________

Tillie Cole hails from a small town in the North-East of England. She grew up on a farm with her English mother, Scottish father and older sister and a multitude of rescue animals. As soon as she could, Tillie left her rural roots for the bright lights of the big city.

After graduating from Newcastle University with a BA Hons in Religious Studies, Tillie followed her Professional Rugby player husband around the world for a decade, becoming a teacher in between and thoroughly enjoyed teaching High School students Social Studies before putting pen to paper, and finishing her first novel.

Tillie has now settled in Austin, Texas, where she is finally able to sit down and write, throwing herself into fantasy worlds and the fabulous minds of her characters.

Tillie is both an independent and traditionally published author, and writes many genres including: Contemporary Romance, Dark Romance, Young Adult and New Adult novels.

When she is not writing, Tillie enjoys nothing more than curling up on her couch watching movies, drinking far too much coffee, while convincing herself that she really doesn’t need that extra square of chocolate.

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Downed by Jen Frederick – Gridiron Series – Book 3

Posted on 12/01/2016 by shellbellereads

Downed

Gridiron Series – Book 3

By Jen Frederick

Buy: Amazon / Amazon UK / Amazon CA

Synopsis

He’s the guy no one likes…

Despite winning two national championships, JR “Ace” Anderson was sent packing from his old school after losing the trust of his coach. At Southern U, he has a second chance to prove that his college legacy isn’t endless debauchery and selfishness. But his reputation precedes him, and his teammates offer a chilly welcome in the locker room. The one person who is willing to accept him is the very woman he should stay away from—his new coach’s daughter.

She’s the girl everyone loves…

Bryant Johnson’s only goal in life is to make others happy, even at her own expense. One look at her father’s new star quarterback, and she knows that Ace is her next project. With a reputation for being a “jerk whisperer”, Bryant has spent her last three years at college reforming sorry behavior and turning bad boys into the best boyfriends ever. In Ace, though, she’s met with surly resistance and a sizzling attraction she doesn’t expect. Fixing this wounded warrior will be her biggest challenge yet. Not falling for him will be even harder.

Between her big heart and his damaged one, a battle is ensuing. In this game of love, every defense will crumble.

Michel’s Review

Downed by Jen Frederick is the book fans of the Gridiron series have been waiting for. JR “Ace” Anderson has been a prominent player in the first two books of the Gridiron series. He’s one of those characters that readers either hate or love, depending upon the situation at hand. The one thing that stands out is no one really knows who Ace really is. He doesn’t allow anyone close enough to see below the surface. His choices seem self serving at most times, but they are not for the assumed reasons readers are led to believe. Readers got to see a vulnerable side to Ace in Jockblocked and they also got to see his egotistical side in full mode.

Ace Anderson was run out of his old school, Western U. It wasn’t because of his performance as a quarterback on the field. He delivered two championships for the team. It was because the coach hated him with a passion for dating his daughter. It didn’t matter that his daughter was a willing participant or that she was just as wild as Ace. Ace committed the worst sin a player could commit. The coach’s vendetta not only hurt Ace’s pride but also his potential for playing his senior year of college. Ace was being forced to give up his position as quarterback to a future freshman hotshot for another offensive position or sit the bench. This vendetta not only cost him the respect of his teammates but also added to the divide with his best friend Lucy Washington. The only choice he could make was transferring to Southern U for his senior year of college.

New beginnings aren’t always what they are cracked up to be. He is having trouble bonding with his new team. On the field they are a solid unit but off the field he is the odd man out. They have heard the rumors of his past experiences. They are going to make him earn their respect. Ace is going to have to change his ways if he wants to become a true member of the team. Bryant Johnson knows a project when she sees one. Ace Anderson needs her help and he needs it fast if they are going to become a championship team.

Bryant Johnson is the coach’s daughter. A big red flag for Ace Anderson. His past experiences have left him charred. Here at Southern U attitudes are quite different. His teammates and his coach are encouraging him to date Bryant.

Bryant is known for her dating projects. Her objective to make her boyfriends better men. She prepares them to be better boyfriends, better teammates, and better individuals. After she fixes her project she moves onto the next one. Ace Anderson is proving to be much more difficult than she thought. Her intentions for Ace are changing as she gets to know the man beneath the surface. He still needs a lot of work but he is a keeper.

Bryant is known for her generous heart and selfless giving. She takes care of others. Who takes care of her? Ace sees the vulnerable woman beneath the shiny surface. That’s the woman that has his heart. This time he wants to win the girl’s heart. He wants to take care of her and share his life.

Jen Frederick scored big with Downed. This book was a true game changer for Ace Anderson. Ace won more than his third college championship. He won my heart.

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Author Bio:

Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog. She’s been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

New Release + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: Fire In You by Jennifer L. Armentrout writing as J. Lynn- Wait For You Series – Book 6

Posted on 12/01/2016 by shellbellereads

Some are born with fire in them.

✮✮✮SECOND CHANCES, HOPE, &RED-HOT CHEMISTRY…FIRE IN YOU, the final book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Wait For You World is here! Don’t Miss Brock and Jillian’s passionate and richly moving story in this standalone contemporary romance! And check out each stop on the FIRE IN YOU Review & Excerpt Tour taking place November 29-December 10!✮✮✮

Let the FIRE IN YOU burn and grab your copy today!

About FIRE IN YOU:

From the # 1 New York Times and International bestselling author comes a richly moving story about heartbreak and guilt, second chances and hope. Full of familiar, fan-favorite characters and no two people more deserving of a happy ending, Fire In You will burn bright beyond the last page…

Jillian Lima’s whole world was destroyed in a span of a few hours. The same night her childhood love, Brock ‘the Beast’ Mitchell, broke her heart, her life was irrevocably altered by the hand of a stranger with a gun. It takes six years to slowly glue together the shattered pieces of her life, but Jillian is finally ready to stop existing in a past full of pain and regret. She takes a job at her father’s martial arts Academy and she’s going out on her first date since a failed relationship that was more yuck than yum. Jillian is determined to start living.

She just never expected Brock to be a part of her life again. But he’s firmly back in her life before she knows it, and not only is he older, he’s impossibly more handsome, more teasing and more everything. And when he sees Jillian, he’s no longer capable of thinking of her as the little girl who was his shadow growing up or the daughter of the man who gave him a second chance at life. He sees the woman who’d always been there for him, the one person who believed in him no matter what.

Brock knows she’s the one he should’ve made his, and what begins as a tentative friendship quickly turns to red-hot chemistry that sparks a flame that burns brighter than lust. Falling for Brock again risks more than her heart, because when the sorrow-filled and guilt-ridden past resurfaces, and a web of lies threatens to rip them apart, the fallout could lay waste to everything they’ve fought to build together, and destroy the dreams of those they care most about.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

Excerpt

Brock dropped his hand and walked inside, his head turning as his gaze swept over me. I closed the door.

“Nice socks,” he commented. “You know, it’s like you’re recognizing two seasons right now—summer and winter.”

I glanced down at myself. Oh crap! I’d forgotten I was wearing cotton sleep shorts paired with knee-high socks. And these were short shorts. Grateful that I was wearing a long cardigan over the shirt, I self-consciously tugged on the hem of my shorts while he looked around the apartment. I saw he had a little brown bag dangling from his fingertips.

“So,” I said, fiddling with the sleeves on my cardigan, “what did you bring me?”

“Oh, so now you’re curious about what’s in the bag?”

Crossing my arms, I stared at him while I hoped it wasn’t obvious that I wasn’t wearing a bra, because I could feel my nipples pressing against the shirt I wore.

Brock chuckled as he lifted the bag and reached inside, pulling out a small white carton. He then turned, spying the small kitchen. “So, how long have you lived here?”

“Um, I don’t know.” I watched him walk over to the island and place the carton and bag on it. “I think I moved in here about four years ago.”

“Nice place.” His gaze strayed to the stack of books on the other end of the island, and a fond smile appeared as he started to open the carton. “It’s safe here?”

“Yeah. There have never been any problems here.” I crept closer. “Most of the people who live here are married or work in D.C and commute.” My gaze dropped to his back. Did he ever get the large phoenix tattoo colored and filled in? I bet he did and it looked amazing. Then again, his back with all those ropey muscles always looked amazing. “So, where…where do you live now?”

“I bought a house outside of Shepherdstown,” he told me. “Got an amazing view of the river. You need to see it.”

I stopped walking, thinking his fiancée might not be too keen on that. Then again, I doubted she would see me as a threat.

Brock turned sideways, sliding the carton toward where I stood. I glanced over, and I stopped thinking when I saw what he’d brought.

“Glazed doughnuts,” Brock said. “Just glazed. Nothing weird hidden inside them. I know how much you used to hate biting into something and having no idea it’s filled with cream or fruit. They’re fresh, too. Picked them up at the bakery in Shepherdstown that makes them all day.”

I did hate biting into any food and having something unexpectedly squirt into my mouth. It was freaking gross, but I wasn’t focused on that aversion.

Sitting atop wax paper really were large glazed doughnuts.

It was so simple. Just glazed doughnuts. Nothing fancy or spectacular. But he remembered, and I didn’t know why that meant anything to me. I was sure serial killers remembered things about their victims, but I felt some of the tension easing out of my stiff muscles as I blinked back sudden hot tears.

Gah, I was so over-emotional. It was just doughnuts. “Thank you.” I cleared my throat. “That’s really nice.”

His gaze flew to mine, and I hastily lowered my chin, walking past him into the kitchen. “Jillian—”

“You’re eating one if I am,” I said, snatching several sheets off the paper-towel roll. God, I was such a damn mess, but I…I missed this—missed having someone in my life who knew me inside and out, because no one, no one knew me like Brock had. I turned around only when I was sure I didn’t look like I was seconds from exploding into tears, and went to the island, placing the towels on the counter. “I mean, I’m not going to eat three gigantic doughnuts.”

“Since when?”

A strangled laugh escaped me. “Well, I’m not seventeen anymore.”

“I can see that.”

A fine shiver coursed over my skin as I looked up. There was an intense, almost predatory glint to his stare, one I didn’t understand. And it suddenly struck me, really hit me, that after six years, Brock Mitchell was standing in my apartment, in my world, and I would never in a hundred years have expected this.

But there he was, larger than life itself, turning what was a roomy apartment into something that now felt entirely too small. He was one hundred percent grown man who was not just breathtaking to behold, but a walking legend in the world of mixed martial arts. More than that, though, he was a man who overcame such a terrible childhood, beating statistics and naysayers. Demolishing everyone’s doubt as he rose through the ranks, suffering a career-threatening injury to come back and win it all, over and over.

Brock had fire in him.

He always had.

TRAILER: https://youtu.be/fDn7F_mJuok

Michel’s Review

The Wait For You Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout ( aka J. Lynn) is one of my favorite new adult romance series. Each book has a very unique story with dynamic characters that are ordinary people dealing with life. This series takes the reader on the journey of real life. The journey starts in college and progresses into their adult lives establishing careers and families. Each book features a different couple in different phases of life dealing with different situations. All the characters are tied together through family and friendships. The reader not only gets to experience the featured couples lives but also gets more of the couples featured in previous books. That also includes the precious pet turtles from their college days. Every time I open a new book in the Wait For You series it’s like attending a reunion.

Fire In You was an even more special reading experience for me because of some of the content. A few years ago I attended a J. R. Ward release event in Cincinnati for the latest Black Dagger Brotherhood novel. These release events have become a yearly ritual for me and my girls. It’s our girls weekend, our escape from the world. This particular event was even more special than the ones before because Laura Kaye and Jennifer Armentrout attended the event and sat right near us. Talk about a fan girl dream come true. I met two of my favorite authors in a more intimate setting. Afterwards our group of girls went to dinner with Laura and Jennifer. I was lucky enough to sit at the same table with these lovely ladies and get to know them personally. As I read the Fire In You, there were many moments from that day and those conversations that came to life in Jillian’s personality. She is a side a Jennifer coming to life on the pages. I love her just as much as I do Jennifer.

Jillian LIma and Brock “the Beast” Mitchell have a long history. Jillian’s family embraced Brock as their own when he was a young troubled boy. Jillian developed an unrequited crush on Brock. As the years progressed and they grew into adults, their friendship became deeply bonded until one night changed it all and made them strangers.

Jillian had finally gained the courage to tell Brock how she felt about him. Brock was oblivious to Jillian’s feelings. They were supposed to have a dinner date but Brock changed the plan. Instead of going to dinner, they went to a bar. Brock more or less ignored Jillian and flirted with another woman, who later became his fiance. Rather than suffer more humiliation, Jillian left the bar alone. In the parking lot she was held up and shot. That night changed both of their lives and severed their friendship.

Six years later Jillian is still struggling with the aftermath of that night. She still carries both mental and physical scars from that night. Those scars have kept her from living her life. She has chosen to hide away in a non descript office job, a limited social life, and a non existent love life. She hides away in her apartment with her cat and her books. After six years she is ready to start living her life once again. The first step is take her place in the family business and become a manager of one of their gyms. The second step is to begin socializing with her friends more. The third step is to begin dating again. It’s time for Jillian to live her life.

Brock Mitchell once again throws another hitch in Jillian’s life. After six years, he’s back. He’s her new boss at the gym. He’s interfering with her dating life. He’s inserting himself in her social life and becoming a part of her social circle. He’s determined to rebuild their friendship, but this time he wants more. He wants her love, the love he carelessly threw away.

This time around Jillian gets to make the choices. She has gotten over the starry eyed crush she once had. She gets to choose what kind of relationship she has with Brock.

Jennifer Armentrout once again delivered an emotional story that kept me glued to the pages. It was truly an amazing reading experience.

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Giveaway

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About Jennifer L. Armentrout:

# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. She spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA.

She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

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Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: A Veil Of Vines by Tillie Cole

Posted on 11/29/2016 by shellbellereads

A Veil Of Vines

By Tillie Cole

Synopsis

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I opened the window beside me and stared at the illuminated entrance. I swallowed hard and placed my empty glass on the bar. Metal groaned, breaking through the twilight, as the massive black wrought-iron gates began to open. The limo slowly pulled onto the property’s lane, and I drank in the thick forest that shielded the estate. I inhaled the freshness of the lush green trees. The unpolluted sky was thick with stars—not a single cloud in sight.
A few minutes later, the thick woods cleared, and I gasped. Acres and acres of gold and green vineyards covered the landscape. The scents of plump grapes and damp soil permeated the warm air. I closed my eyes. It reminded me of being a child. It brought me back to the days before I was taken to New York. I could still feel the heat of the Emilia-Romagna sun on my face, the deep smell of olives, grapes and flowers drifting in the breeze as I ran around our Parma estate.
I smiled a nostalgic smile and allowed my eyes to drift open again. I rested my arms on the window and leaned my chin on them as the limo drove on. There were several small villas peppered over the landscape, their lights twinkling in the distance. They must have been the winemakers’ residences. It was not only the Bella Collina merlot that was made on this land; other reds were too—particularly the Chianti from the region’s finest Sangiovese grapes. The Bella Collina olive oil was also up there with the best. But nothing compared to the famed merlot.
The limo turned right, and my breath caught in my throat. I lifted my head and stared disbelievingly at the property ahead. Bella Collina was a veritable Palace of Versailles tucked away in the Umbrian wilderness.
“Mio Dio,” I whispered as I took in the imposing stone structure, the sweeping steps and the vast number of windows set in the building’s walls. Large pillars of red-veined marble flanked the entrance. Cypress trees framed the estate as if it were the shining star of a fine Renaissance painting. Sculptures of famed Savona monarchs of old stood proudly on the manicured lawns, and strategically placed lighting illuminated the sheer perfection of every piece of topiary.
As a child, I had been to the Palazzo Savona in Florence. It was widely regarded to be one of the finest estates in all of Italy, if not western Europe. But this . . . this . . . there were no words. It was perfectly placed, as if it had always been there. As if it had grown naturally from the Umbrian earth just as sure as the vines and woods that kept this architectural treasure hidden from view.

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Michel’s Review

A Veil of Vines by Tillie Cole is a must read. I could not put this book down. It was a beautiful romance that blossomed in a world where neither of them fit.

I highly recommend A Veil Of Vines by Tillie Cole.

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Tillie has now settled in Austin, Texas, where she is finally able to sit down and write, throwing herself into fantasy worlds and the fabulous minds of her characters.

Tillie is both an independent and traditionally published author, and writes many genres including: Contemporary Romance, Dark Romance, Young Adult and New Adult novels.

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Blog Tour + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: Crown Jewels by Ella James

Posted on 11/28/2016 by shellbellereads

Crown Jewels

An Off-Limits Romance

By Ella James

Buy: Amazon / Amazon UK

Synopsis

From USA Today bestseller Ella James…

After that close-up of his package on the sailboat in Morocco, TMZ started calling him Crown Jewels.
Not that I keep track of Prince Liam. Definitely don’t stalk him online like my friends do.
I’m out of that scene now. My family’s reality show might still be running, but I’ve been off-screen for a while. When people pass me on the sidewalk, they might squint, but most of them don’t scream “Lucy Rhodes” and ask about my love of Lucky Charms or how my broken toe healed.
Prince Liam—my stalking his Instagram—that’s just for fun. It’s my dirty little secret. Trust me, I’m the only woman in the world who doesn’t actually want him.
Except I’m back in the Hamptons for the first time in two years. I’m at a party, and Prince Manwhore is here as well. I tell myself that smile has no effect on me. That his ridiculous charisma is a parlor trick I see right through.
After our one night together, no one knows that I succumbed.
It doesn’t matter. It meant nothing.
Not until I see those two pink lines.
**
Crown Jewels is an 80,000-word contemporary romance novel with no cliffhanger ending. It is being offered at a reduced price for a limited time during release week only.

Excerpt

LUCY

I awaken in darkness.

The room is pitch black, and someone’s arm is locked around me. For a blind, horrific second, fear grips my heart, so hard and painful that I gasp.

And then I smell him. I’m not sure exactly where I am right at his moment. But I smell aftershave and soap, a little bit of sunscreen and a little bit of sweat, and my body knows it’s him.

Prince Liam.

Liam, prince of the Isle of Gael, is lying in this bed behind me. A few careful, quiet breaths and I’m pretty sure…he’s sleeping.

Holy Hello Kitty. Prince Liam is sleeping next to me. My body flushes, bliss and horror.

How’d we get here? What the hell is going on? And then I feel his fingers in my hair. His hand is in my hair—right now! He fell asleep rubbing my hair.

My eyes fly to the windows: dark. What time is it? My clutch is somewhere in this room. I’m not sure where.

I shut my eyes and try to keep my breathing even as I run the night’s events back through my mind. Downstairs, talking to the Playmate. Bryce. My body jerks at the memory, and I can feel Prince Liam’s body rock a little bit against mine. Big and wide and hard. He’s bowed around me like a shield.

Heat blooms in between my legs.

I freaked out, and he saw me. I embarrassed myself, walked in on some kind of threesome.

Why did he come back?

It’s his room, you moron. I’m probably in his guest room. I draw a deep breath in and feel his sturdy arm tighten around me. I feel his face against my neck, the roughness of his scruffy beard. Warmth spreads through me. Then he stirs some more and makes a low sound in his throat. And then I feel his mouth against my neck. His lips—

He’s kissing me.

I don’t mean to make a sound, but then I feel him press himself against my backside. Terror bubbles in me.

“Stop!”

I pull away, and he’s awake. His eyes, I see them in the dark. They’re wide. He pushes up on his arm and holds his big hand up.

I watch him rub his eyes. He looks around. He looks confused.

“You fell asleep,” I offer.

He blinks at me as if he didn’t understand my words. Then he reaches for me. He takes my hand and cradles it in his two hands. He looks into my eyes.

“Are you all right?” he asks me, voice low, words rolling with that Scottish-sounding accent of his.

“I’m fine.”

He shakes his head slowly, at least I think I see him do that. Then he’s simply staring at me. With those hazel eyes.

Dear God, he’s gorgeous.

His hand traces mine. Then he lies back down and pulls me down beside him. He wraps me up against his body, and I notice he’s not pushing his dick against me anymore.

“You smell good,” he murmurs. “You have pretty hair.”

“Are you drunk?”

I think I see his lips twitch. “I don’t get drunk.”

I turn around to face him. He pushes some hair off my forehead. Then he kisses me. It’s so gentle, so careful, I can’t help responding. He tastes like cinnamon, like liquor. His mouth explores mine, his tongue gliding past my own, his big hand in my hair again.

He kisses me until I can’t breathe, and then he pulls away. “Tá tú álainn.”

I frown.

He smiles, that gentle, gorgeous smile. “Gaelic.” He tips his forehead to mine. He says something else I don’t understand, then kisses the side of my mouth, his lips feathering gently over mine.

I feel his knee move, as if he’s shifting his hips, and I can’t help pulling him closer for another kiss.

I touch his shoulders as I kiss him, and I can feel his body tense under my hands. His tongue glides back into my mouth, and he moans.

Holy shit. I kiss him deeper and his body rocks against mine. His hands are on my head; he pulls me closer, till we’re pressed together, chest to hips.

He says something low and very soft, something that sounds like, “On all that is holy…”

Then his hand is on my shoulder, squeezing. His hand is squeezing, then he’s grasping my breast.

I grind myself against him, gasping between kisses. My body burns with heat and fear. My heart riots. Adrenaline almost overcomes me at the feel of his hard body up against mine, his chest pumping, his breath warm. I’m losing it when his hand leaves my breast and slides around my hip to cradle me against his body.

God, I’ve never been handled this way, as if…I’m everything. He’s rough then gentle, firm then tender, desperate all the while. I can feel the warmth of his breath, can hear the pattern of his ragged inhalations.

His scratchy cheek presses against mine, and I can feel his body heat. He leans away, his chest still pumping. I put my hand between his pecs. I can’t help it. He’s so…perfect. My fingertips wander to the seal above his heart, the royal tattoo he got when he was younger.

I trace my finger down his chest, and the prince’s abs harden. “Christ.” That was a flinch, I think.

I swear to God, I can feel the heat pulse in between my legs. Something overtakes me, something big and brash and heady: power.

I rub my fingertip over the hair that trails down toward his pants, and that’s when I see his stiff erection.

My brain explodes with memories of perfection wrapped in wet boxer-briefs. I’m not thinking. I just touch.

He sucks back a sharp breath. I trace the plump, perfect head, hating the fabric barrier between my hand and his skin. Liam groans, his length jutting toward me.

I look into his eyes and find them hazy. “Lucy…”

“You want me to touch it?” My voice is sultry, not my voice at all.

I’m rubbing him before he has the chance to answer. His breath catches. Then he moans low in his throat and starts to pant. His eyes are shut, I find as I rub his thick cock through his pants. His hand hovers over my mine as if he wants to grab me. His long fingers curl into a fist.

I drag my fingers down the length of him, surprised to find he’s even bigger than I thought. His heavy eyelids lift a little. My Lord, he’s fucking gorgeous. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more perfect male, and this one, shirtless, panting as he presses up against my hand—he turns me on so much I want to screw him.

Holy hell, I want to screw Prince Liam.

I try to grip him through his pants, fondle his balls, waiting for him to jump up and throw me on the bed. Waiting for him to scare me.

But he doesn’t.

He just locks his big fist up over my arm and leans his head back on the pillow, groaning through his locked jaw as I unbutton his pants and come to his black boxer-briefs. I can see his head so well. I see the rim of it. I rub a fingertip over it and he mutters a curse.

His hand uncurls, the side of his fingers touching my wrist. I reach inside his boxer-briefs and wrap my hand around him. Still, he doesn’t grab my arm. I watch his face as I firm up my grip and stroke him. I can feel his hips tremble. I fold his fly back, try to pull his briefs down. He lifts his hips and pulls them down himself. I look with wide eyes at what has got to be an eight-inch dick and the weighty balls below. Crown Jewels.

I touch his balls and watch them draw up underneath my fingertips. I run my hand from the base of his cock back up toward the tip. His eyes open on a deep breath.

“Fuck…”

Oh my God, is that a little bit of precum? I feel a rush of heat between my own legs as I blink at it. For the first time in two years, I clench. I feel greedy. Needy.

Holy hell, I have to have him.

My head spins as I climb on top of him, straddling his hips as his eyes rise to meet mine. He flexes beneath me, and a zip of fear streaks through me. That he’ll throw me off and get on top of me. That he’ll grab my wrists and squeeze. Instead, Prince Liam peers up at me with hooded eyes, smiling a pirate’s smile as his hand rubs my knee.

I pull my dress up and struggle with my thong. My hands are shaking too hard to pull it off. I rub myself against him, panting. Liam groans.

“Christ almighty…” His jaw is locked as he rasps, “Lucy.” Then he rips my thong.

He says something else in what I realize must be Gaelic. Then he’s reaching down, stroking himself. With the fingers of his other hand, he parts my lips. He rubs a finger over me, making me tremble.

“Fuck, you’re beautiful…”

I don’t know how he knows because his eyes are shut, but I love the way his face looks. Suddenly it’s all I can do to stay still. And then I can’t. I’m shaking as I pull his cock away from his amazing abs. My legs quiver as I rise up, holding his shaft, pushing his thick head against my entrance.

His lips are parted now, his eyes still shut. I sink down on him inch by slow, amazing inch and watch him writhe, knees coming up around me as I take him deep—so deep I can’t help crying out.

His hands squeeze my hips, not to hard. And then he’s lifting me off him, his muscular arms straining so my legs don’t have to. His powerful abs ripple with each thrust: he rises just a little, letting me sink down on him. I put my hands over his and use my legs to rise and fall, taking control of things. Taking control because I have to.

He doesn’t let me fully. Liam sets the pace, his big breaths punctuating the rhythm of our thrusting. I’m rising up, using the well-honed muscles of my thighs, but his hands around my hips are lifting, too.

When I sink, I lean over, pinching his nipples sometimes, reaching around behind myself to cup his balls. His groans are loud and ragged. His face is tense, almost pained, and I love it when I feel the goose-bumps on his diamond-chiseled hips.

Then he changes something up… Changes the angle. When he fills me up…I lose control. I can’t stop the sounds from pouring from my throat. Can’t stop the way I lean sideways against his raised knee, gripping it with my arm. I hear a whimper, and it’s mine.

“Oh God!” I’m so full. I don’t think I’ve ever been this full before…

“That’s right,” he murmurs, thrusting harder.

When he pulls out and lifts me up, I’m desperate for him, scrambling to get back on that huge cock. My skin tingles with sweat. My mouth is open; I can’t breathe—

I feel him harden, swell and tighten, stretching me. When I’m filled with him, I grind around.

“Oh my God!”

I’m right there on the edge. He draws me off him, and I fumble to grab onto his arms and press myself back down. My fingers graze his hips, and then he pushes me down hard. I’m filled so deep and full, my body starts to quake. My stomach quivers, and my eyes flip open just in time to find he’s watching me.

His lips are curved, his eyes lust-hazed.

I do the only thing I can think of to equalize the situation, reaching around behind myself again to roll his big balls in my shaking fingers. One roll, followed by a gentle tug. I feel his cock thump hard inside me, causing me to lean down on him. That’s where I lie as heat fills me: there across his flawless chest.

For just a second, his hands cup my face. His eyes linger on mine, his mouth still open with pleasure, his thick pecs rising under me.

“Luce. Goddamn.”

It’s an exultation.

I feel so good there on him, I can’t move for a long moment. He just came inside me, and it feels so right.

I marvel at how…fine I feel. How tired and good and…good.

I stroke my nails up his side. “Mmm.” I grin.

Liam laughs, a throaty sound.

I feel his lips on my forehead as he leans up, the quick swipe of his palm over my hair. “You are fucking perfect, Lucy Rhodes.”

He pushes up on one elbow, holding me against him for a moment, one big arm around me.

Then I’m easing off him, and he’s moving lithely off the bed. “Let me get you something.”

I sink into the covers, waiting for the fallout: for a shudder, for a sob. But nothing comes.

He returns smirking, and grins broadly when our eyes meet. Instead of handing me the warm, wet cloth, he delves under the covers, his knuckles grazing my belly as he spreads the cloth over me and lays his hand there, as if offering some wordless blessing over my vagina.

I start laughing, and he laughs with me.

“You’re a real prince, Liam.”

He grins. “I’ve been told.”

And it’s so natural, I don’t feel funny cleaning up under the covers with him there beside me.

I stretch out on my back, catching my breath. I’m thinking how sad I’ll be to get up when he lies beside me, his big shoulder bumping mine.

“You were incredible,” he says in a gravelly voice. And somehow, it’s not patronizing or weird. Just very, very genuine.

I giggle like a dumb teenager.

He turns over on his side, propping his head in his hand as he looks down on me. Then he lies back flat, wraps an arm around me, pulls me close, and kisses just under my ear. One of his legs rubs mine. He makes a soft, male sound, then falls asleep as if we do this every night.

I lie awake staring at him in the darkness. Who is this man? I run my open palm over his hair, which he let down sometime when I wasn’t looking. He relaxes just a little more against me, and I like it. That’s the last thought that I have before I wake up to an empty bed.

Michel’s Review

The one thing I have come to realize is that Ella James is one of those authors that can write any kind of sub genre romance and is guaranteed to be page turner. She has once again held me captive with her story.

I am not a huge fan of royal romances. Crown Jewels is not the typical royal romance. It’s a story of two very real people struggling within their elite world. They are struggling to maintain a normal existence where they are seen as individuals rather than an image. Both of these beautiful people are hiding secrets, trying to stay one step ahead of the press and social media, while trying to find a healthy balance within their own personal lives.

Prince Liam is not your ordinary prince. He’s a certified playboy that’s known for partying and womanizing. He doesn’t have the usual royal duties most princes in line to become king have. He won’t become king until he is forty. His country is small and very self sufficient. There are some political differences with the royals and the parliament but on the most part those issues are not the problem. He spent his childhood in American boarding schools. The American influence has shaped his views, behaviors, and future desires.

Lucy Rhodes is the youngest child in the famous Reality Royal Family of the Hamptons. Her family’s prime time reality show gives the Kardashians a run for their money. Lucy left the family show and has chosen to live out of the spotlight for the last two years. After a disastrous relationship she’s been licking her wounds and finding herself on horse ranch in Colorado.

A summer visit to the Hamptons to catch up with her childhood friends turns out to be a life changing event for Lucy. She meets the despicable Prince Liam, who she secretly follows on instagram and snap chat, and ends up having a memorable one night stand. A one night stand that leaves her pregnant. Now she has to tell Prince Liam about the RBB, the royal bastard baby. She’s prepared to raise the baby by herself. What she wasn’t prepared for is the real man that Prince Liam is.

As Lucy and Liam form a beautiful friendship that is leading to a romantic relationship, their secrets could destroy a beautiful beginning. Lucy has to tell Liam about the baby. Liam is hiding his own secrets that could destroy both Lucy and the baby.

As for the rest…. READ IT YOURSELF! CROWN JEWELS BY ELLA JAMES is outstanding!

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About Ella James

Ella James is the USA Today bestselling author of fifteen teen and adult love stories. She’s an angst-a-holic who loves exploring difficult situations and the emotions of the people caught up in them. Also, smut. But always, always romance.

Ella’s obsessions include vanilla cream soda, hiking, other obscure, crunchy stuff like rock collecting, and the antics of her 2.5 little monsters. (Monsters 1 and 2 will meet Monster 3 in November).

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Out Of Bounds by Lauren Blakely

Posted on 11/22/2016 by shellbellereads

From NYT Bestselling author Lauren Blakely, comes a sexy new standalone sports romance…

OUT OF BOUNDS!

Ready to be swept off your feet? Meet the witty, sexy, dirty-talking quarterback Drew in OUT OF BOUNDS! Grab your copy today!

“Out of Bounds smolders with heat, desire, and wicked swoon-worthy excitement!”

~Beneath the Covers Book Blog

“So much passion and intensity that you wouldn’t expect in a sports romance, but once again, Lauren Blakely BRINGS IT”

~Shayna Renee Spicy Reads

The first rule of football–don’t screw with a streak.

My career is finally looking up, and I’m leading a new pro team down the field every Sunday. No way will I mess with that. But when I meet the most stunning and captivating woman I’ve ever seen, I tell myself one night will have to be enough.

But it’s not. And now I can’t get her out of my mind. Even when I’m playing. Even when I need to focus. Even when I’m on the hottest streak of my life.

And it turns out, she’s not just some random woman I met. She works for the team. My team.

*******

I only have one goal this season–do my part as the team’s lawyer to keep them out of trouble. Help rebuild their reputation on and off the field. There’s no room for error and certainly no room for a secret tryst with a player . . . even if he’s the quarterback.

Right?

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play

“The perfect mix of sexiness, laughter, and sweetness.”

~Two Book Pushers

Add it to Goodreads here!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32319429-out-of-bounds

✮✮✮Celebrate the release of OUT OF BOUNDS! ✮✮✮

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Tracey’s Review

I’ll admit it. I’ve been ogling today in the ocean. I’ve been checking someone out in the water. But, in my defense, anyone would.

And so it begins. The last thing that Dani Paige expects to find in the water during a day of surfing is the quarterback of the Anaheim Devil Sharks. But, there he is, Drew Erickson, in all of his hot glory. When a wipeout in the waves leads to lunch, which leads to a walk home, which leads to the promise of more, things have only just begun to heat up.

Proving once again that she’s no one-trick pony, Lauren Blakely, one of my favorite authors in the romance genre, scores a major win with her latest novella, OUT OF BOUNDS. I swear, Lauren cannot write a book that I don’t love. Like, adore. As ever, it would seem that the word fairy has definitely bestowed her most favored status, because, the plot, the dialogue, the characters, all of them come together to create an infinitely readable morsel of feel-good storytelling.

With their shared love of movies, surfing, and, well, each other, Dani and Drew seem like a match made in rom-com heaven, and, while there are bumps along the way, seeing them get to their happy place is one of the more enjoyable journeys I’ve made lately. As usual, Lauren has written characters that seem like they’d be as much fun to spend time with as to read about. Dani and Drew, as well as Dani’s little sister, Abby, and Drew’s bestie, Jason, make romance with a little bit of the forbidden seem much more fun. As a matter of fact, I’m going to bet that we see more of these guys, because, Abby and Jason, well, they have their own story to tell. In the meantime, 5 sunny, sexy, surf-loving stars. You know that you want to add this to your TBR, guys. Just do it, and enjoy.

***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***

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About Lauren Blakely:

Since self-publishing her debut romance novel CAUGHT UP IN US over three years ago, Lauren Blakely has sold more than 1.5 million books. She is known for her sexy contemporary romance style that’s full of heat, heart and humor. A devout fan of cake and canines, Lauren has plotted entire novels while walking her four-legged friends. She lives in California with her family. With twelve New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than seventy times. Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love, and Fighting Fire as well as standalone hit romances like BIG ROCK, MISTER O, WELL HUNG, and THE SEXY ONE which were all instant New York Times Bestsellers. In January she’ll release FULL PACKAGE, a standalone romantic comedy. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter! laurenblakely.com/newsletter.

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Crown Jewels by Ella James

Posted on 11/21/2016 by shellbellereads

Crown Jewels

An Off-Limits Romance

By Ella James

Buy: Amazon / Amazon UK

Synopsis

From USA Today bestseller Ella James…

Michel’s Review

As for the rest…. READ IT YOURSELF! CROWN JEWELS BY ELLA JAMES is outstanding!

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About Ella James

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Newsletter

New Release + Complete Series Review: More Than Friends by Monica Murphy – The Friends Series

Posted on 11/18/2016 by shellbellereads

More Than Friends

Friends Series – Book 2

Mature YA Romance

By Monica Murphy

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Paperback: Amazon

Synopsis:

He’s not perfect, but he’s all I want…

I’m your average girl at your average high school, trying to figure out my place in life. After catching my now ex-boyfriend messing around with my now ex-best friend, I’ve made some big changes. No more band, no more backstabbing friends and no more boring old life. Now I have new friends, a new job and new interests.

But there’s a certain someone who’s interested in me, and I don’t get it. Jordan Tuttle could have anyone he wants. He’s the most popular boy in school. Rich, gorgeous, smart and the star quarterback, he’s perfect. Yet he acts like he wants no one else but…me.

So despite my fears and doubt, I let him get close. Probably too close. I discover that he’s not so perfect after all, but it doesn’t matter. I’m falling for him, even though he runs so hot and cold. I know someday he’s going to break my heart.

And I’m going to let him.

Michel’s Review

Series Review

The Friends Series by Monica Murphy is Mature YA. There is some sexual content. I would recommend this series to ages sixteen or older…..

Welcome to the world of the new breed of teenagers. While this new breed of teenagers seems a little more worldly, completely jaded, conscientiously immoral, and emotionally stunted, they are still normal teenagers in regards to emotional maturity and growth development. What has changed is the world in which they are becoming adults in. As a mother of two teenagers, one a junior in high school and the other a freshman in college; I have witnessed and dealt with very similar situations that come about within this series. Monica Murphy has captured today’s new teenager and put their teen drama in words that keep the reader captivated in their world.

Today’s new breed of teenagers differs from our generation because of the technology and social media age. They have access to too much information through technology. Because of social media they no longer have to take responsibility of their actions and comments. They can hide behind hashtags. It’s a new form of bullying and self importance.

Their world is fast paced. Most parents are busy working and tending responsibilities. Others are self absorbed and leave their children to tend their own business. They rely on technology as a source of keeping their children occupied outside of school. Parents have been taught to give their children better lives than they had themselves when they were younger. The result has become astonishing. Kids today have everything from phones, computers, tablets, gaming systems, and every other conceivable gadget on the market. They are given cars the moment they become licensed to drive because it makes life more convenient for all of the family members.

These kids have not been taught to earn their way except for the grades they earn in school. When they struggle with school, we become helicopter parents and make their way easier. We expect them to excel but don’t allow them to fail. Some parents take the other route and treat their children as business transaction. They pay them to excel, they give them money to entertain themselves, they use money as a motivator for obtaining success. They do not allow them to fail.

The result is the new breed of teenagers trying to grow up too fast. They are still not emotionally mature enough to handle a lot of situations they get themselves into. Their world depends upon social media to validate them as individuals. Somewhere along the way these kids have a crash and burn crisis they can’t handle.

I know I am not the perfect parent. My kids are not the perfect teenagers. We have had our own very real teenage dramas in the family. I am sure there are more to come. The one thing I have learned along the way is to take everything in moderation, set better examples, and communicate better.

They will become adults. They will learn how to deal with real life. They will go through the same journey to maturing and becoming emotionally stronger. They too will become parents of teenagers.

Monica Murphy has captured the heart of the teenage world. She brings their dramas to life and portrays them with complete realism. She also brings the modern day family dynamics into the mix which makes this series become more than a young adult romance. Each of the characters within this series has a story to tell, lessons to be learned, and maturity to be developed. They are very real teenagers. I could easily see this series becoming a television series or movie.

The series begins with One Night. This novella introduces the characters in this series. It begins at a early summer party at Jordan Tuttle’s house. What happens at the party changes the direction of every one of the characters lives in their senior year of high school. Friendships are broken. Lives are going in different directions. New relationships begin to develop. Social statuses are changing. Individuality is starting to emerge.

One Night is the perfect opening to the Friends series.

***

Just Friends is the first book in the series. It is loaded with drama. A love triangle that tears apart three life long friends. Each of these three people go separate directions in their senior year. They are all struggling with the loss of their tight knit friendship as well as dealing with emotional feelings. Their behaviors are destructive in many ways. Their use of social media becomes a battle ground for bullying. Rather than dealing with the situation that tore their friendships apart and their own emotional deficiencies, they make poor choices that could hurt them more. They also begin to become individuals rather than molding themselves to fit within the friendship trio.

The end result has not played out.

One has chosen a new love interest that may not be the right person for her. His lack of commitment and notorious reputation are questionable. On one hand he seems perfect but not quite right. She is still pining for the boy that betrayed her. On a positive note, She has also developed a new friendship that is a good influence in her life.

The other girl has gone off the deep end and into the wild zone. She is starving for attention. She feels she has to be competitive with her former best friend. At the same time she is reeling from the loss of the two friends that always cared about her. She’s become the girl with the worst reputation in school. She has isolated herself by her actions.

The boy in the middle has made very poor choices that led to losing a friend and losing the girl he has always wanted. He let his hormones make his decisions. Now he’s going through his senior year without his two best friends and is dating a girl he really doesn’t like.

The teenage drama was in full motion. Where it will lead is questionable. The semester has barely begun.

***

More Than Friends goes in another direction and focuses on two other characters within the Friends series. This one features the popular football star that everyone wants to know and the shy band girl that was betrayed by her boyfriend and best friend.

They have both existed in different social worlds within high school. While one has been the center of attention the other has content in her own social circle. One seems like he has everything because he’s rich, popular, and has parental freedom. The other seems like she has nothing because she’s smart, middle class, and a band geek. The truth of the matter is she is more emotionally stable than he is. She has a more rounded life.

After catching her boyfriend with her best friend, she is tossed into a new direction her senior year. She has left band and is determined to become involved in other school activities. The most popular boy in school wants to date her. He is out of her social realm and has a very questionable reputation. He’s determined to win her heart. She’s afraid of giving him too much of herself. She’s been hurt before and doesn’t know how to deal with his social status.

He has always kept himself separate from the school population. Sure he’s the most popular guy but that is because he plays football and throws epic parties every week. He’s never allowed anyone to get close to him. Girls are expendable. The guys from the team are just people he has to play nice with. One girl has always had his attention and now she’s on his playing ground. He is going to get the girl. The problem is once he gets her can he keep her? He doesn’t know how to play well with others.

I absolutely loved this book. Both of these teenagers were dealing with very real issues in their lives. They both lacked confidence within themselves. They both had emotional maturing to do. They both were perfect for one another but didn’t know how to open themselves up and become vulnerable.

Their story is unresolved…

I can’t wait to see what direction their lives go as the school year progresses.

_______________________________________________

The Friends Series

One Night

Prequel To Friends Series

Free: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

ONE NIGHT is a FREE prequel to my new YA novel JUST FRIENDS, available now!

There’s a party over at Jordan Tuttle’s house tonight and everyone is there. Including…

Olivia: Who’s leaving for her dad’s house in Oregon tomorrow. So she plans on having the time of her life tonight with her best friends.

Dustin: Who wishes Livvy could see just how much she means to him.

Emily: Who’s trying her to best to get with someone. Anyone.

Cannon: Who has an encounter with Em he won’t be able to forget.

Amanda: Who’s finally ready to go all the way with her boyfriend.

Tuttle: Who discovers the girl he’s always secretly liked just might like him back.

Warning: This story contains mature sexual situations and is suited for a 17+ audience.

(ONE NIGHT is also published on Wattpad)

Just Friends

Friends Series – Book 1

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

“Drama, drama, drama – you know you love it! And Monica brings it in this super sexy and refreshing, un-put-down-able YA!!” Rachel Van Dyken, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

With friends like these…

It’s the end of summer. Just before I start senior year with my two best friends in the whole world. Dustin and Emily are everything to me. We’ve been inseparable since middle school, and when we’re together, nothing can go wrong.

But things aren’t always what they seem. Em’s turned into a drunken mess who parties too much. Dustin and I have hooked up a few times—and now he’s ready to take our relationship to the next level. Yet I’m not sure I want things to change. I’m scared if I take it any further with Dustin, our friendship will be ruined forever. Then there’s Ryan. The new guy. He’s hot. He flirts way too much. And Em has totally set her sights on him.

So when my best friend betrays me in the worst possible way, guess who’s there to help me pick up the pieces of my broken heart? Ryan. But he’s so confusing. Annoying. Sweet. Sexy. I want to trust him, yet he makes it so hard. What I really want is for everything to go back to the way it was before.

Before I found out that best friends make the worst kind of enemies.

________________________________________________

I write books. I have the best job ever. New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Writer of new adult contemporary romance-ish stuff. Published with Avon and Bantam. Mom and wife. Native Californian.

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Some are born with fire in them.

Let the FIRE IN YOU burn and grab your copy today!

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From NYT Bestselling author Lauren Blakely, comes a sexy new standalone sports romance…

OUT OF BOUNDS!

Ready to be swept off your feet? Meet the witty, sexy, dirty-talking quarterback Drew in OUT OF BOUNDS! Grab your copy today!

“Out of Bounds smolders with heat, desire, and wicked swoon-worthy excitement!”

~Beneath the Covers Book Blog

“So much passion and intensity that you wouldn’t expect in a sports romance, but once again, Lauren Blakely BRINGS IT”

~Shayna Renee Spicy Reads

The first rule of football–don’t screw with a streak.

My career is finally looking up, and I’m leading a new pro team down the field every Sunday. No way will I mess with that. But when I meet the most stunning and captivating woman I’ve ever seen, I tell myself one night will have to be enough.

But it’s not. And now I can’t get her out of my mind. Even when I’m playing. Even when I need to focus. Even when I’m on the hottest streak of my life.

And it turns out, she’s not just some random woman I met. She works for the team. My team.

***

I only have one goal this season–do my part as the team’s lawyer to keep them out of trouble. Help rebuild their reputation on and off the field. There’s no room for error and certainly no room for a secret tryst with a player . . . even if he’s the quarterback.

Right?

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“The perfect mix of sexiness, laughter, and sweetness.”

~Two Book Pushers

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✮✮✮Celebrate the release of OUT OF BOUNDS! ✮✮✮

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