5 Star Review: The Friend Zone by Kristen Callahan – The Game On Series – Book 2

Posted on 05/24/2015 by shellbellereads

The Friend Zone

Game On Series – Book 2

By Kristen Callihan

Synopsis

USA TODAY BEST-SELLING SERIES
Gray doesn’t make friends with women. He has sex with them. Until Ivy.

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

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

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

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

New Adult/Contemporary Romance with a HEA – Recommended for readers 18 and older.
Book 2 in the Game On series.

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Michel’s Review

The Friend Zone is the second book in the Game On Series by Kristen Callahan.

It’s a fun romance that started as friendship and turned into a beautiful love story.

Gray Greyson is at the top of his game. He has scouts looking at him. He has agents vying for him to sign with him. He can get any woman he wants. He’s smart and doesn’t have to worry about football as his only career. His life is golden.

When his best friend breaks his leg he lends him his truck. The agent he’s looking to sign with lends him his daughter’s pink car. The hottest player on the field is cruising around town in powder puff car. Gray is okay with that. He’s comfortable in his own skin. He doesn’t need props to make him look better.

When he gets a text from Ivy MacKenzie telling him how to drive her car, the game is on. Through snarky texts Gray and Ivy become fast friends. When she finally arrives back in the States Gray is ready to pick up their friendship in person. Ivy has become one of the most important persons in his life.

These two were made for one another. They both have a quirky sense of humor. They are both compassionate towards others. They both love sports. They both love food. They are the ying and yang to one another.

Both Ivy and Gray are falling in love with one another. They are afraid to take it to the next level because of the fear of ruining their friendship. When they finally surrender to their feelings it is explosive.

These two will have their ups and downs throughout their relationship. The gel that holds them together is their deep friendship.

Gray Greyson is one of my favorite male heroes. He is the real deal, the full package.

Kristen Callihan has written another fantastic book that will leave your heart swooning. I can’t wait for more in this series.

Game On Series

The Hook Up – Book 1

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

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

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

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

All’s fair in love and football…Game on

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The Friend Zone – Book 2

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

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

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

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Author Bio:

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

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

5 Star Review: Dragon’s Lair by Chantal Fernando – Wind Dragons MC Series – Book 1

Posted on 05/24/2015 by shellbellereads

Dragon’s Lair

Wind Dragons MC Series – Book 1

By Chantal Fernando

Synopsis

The first in a new sexy romance series from bestselling author Chantal Fernando about the bad boys of the Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club and the women who fall in love with them.

When I found my boyfriend cheating on me, I did something stupid.

Or should I say, someone?

Because of that mistake, I’m now stuck in a world I don’t belong in.

I’m a law student. They’re criminals. He’s the vice president of a motorcycle club. I’m a good girl with a strict upbringing. He’s my ex-boyfriend’s brother.

And I’m screwed.

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Michel’s Review

I have been looking for a MC series to sink into. The Wind Dragon MC Series by Chantal Fernando is off to a very good start with the release of Dragon’s Lair. I could not put the book down and finished it in one sitting. It kept me mesmerized. The characters came to life, the Dragon MC brothers captured my attention. The club dynamics were interesting. This brotherhood had a combination of diverse men that made their own laws in life. The women that were important to these men were strong, self sufficient, and had an important place in the club, whether they were a club whore or an old lady.

Dex and Faye have known each other all their lives. They came from prominent families that placed an importance on their status in the community. Dex has always been the older brother Faye needed. He sensed her loneliness as a child. He made sure she knew she was an important part of his life. As they grew older, Dex moved on. Faye became her own woman. She was an intelligent law student with the perfect boyfriend. She focused on her achievements and tried to move past her family’s expectations. When she catches her perfect boyfriend cheating on her something snaps inside. She is no longer content being the perfect girlfriend, the perfect daughter, and perfect student. She wants to experience life outside of her small world. She makes the decision to step out of her comfort zone and begin living. One night out and a one night stand will change everything in her life. She hooked up with a biker. That biker was the man she had built her childhood dreams around. The man she no longer really knows. That one night leads to her being pregnant.

When Dex catches wind that Faye is pregnant the rules of the game change. He takes her into his protection. He makes her a part of his life. He installs her in the Wind Dragon’s clubhouse. He wants to make sure their child is brought into the world safely. He would do anything for Faye and his child except make her his old lady. He has his reasons and he’s not sharing them with Faye.

Faye will flounder around in her new world. She is exposed to a lifestyle she never knew existed. She will have to turn a blind eye on the shenanigans that are going on daily. She will have to learn to turn the other cheek. She will have to learn not to have expectations as far as Dex is concerned. She will have to draw on her wits and inner strength to survive in Dex’s world.

Faye will find new strengths she never knew she had. She will find a new family that values her. She will make new friends and new enemies. She will become a woman to be reckoned with. She will learn how to handle Dex. She will show him that her love is more than an old childhood friendship. She will show him what a true partner is. She will earn his respect and the respect from the brothers.

I absolutely loved this book. Not only were the leading characters powerful, the secondary characters also demanded my attention. The club dynamics and comradery was enthralling. The entire story kept my full attention. When I finished the book I was dying for Arrow’s book to release. I am invested in the Wind Dragons MC series.

The Wind Dragons MC Series

Dragon’s Lair – Book 1

The first in a new sexy romance series from bestselling author Chantal Fernando about the bad boys of the Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club and the women who fall in love with them.

When I found my boyfriend cheating on me, I did something stupid.

Or should I say, someone?

Because of that mistake, I’m now stuck in a world I don’t belong in.

I’m a law student. They’re criminals. He’s the vice president of a motorcycle club. I’m a good girl with a strict upbringing. He’s my ex-boyfriend’s brother.

And I’m screwed.

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Arrow’s Hell – Book 2

Release Date: June 16, 2015

From bestselling author Chantal Fernando, the second book in a sexy romance series featuring the bad boys of the Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club and the women who fall in love with them.

Being the younger sister of a Wind Dragons MC member isn’t as great as you’d think it would be.

I can’t escape the details of my brother’s exploits. No one tells me anything. Men who know who I am tend to stay away from me.

And worst of all: the members of the MC are off-limits.

When Arrow catches my eye, I make it my mission to make him happy again.

When I fall head over heels in love with him, I just hope he will be there to catch me. And that my brother doesn’t kill him…

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Tracker’s End – Book 3

Release Date: August 11, 2015

The third in a sexy romance series from the bestselling author of Saxon and Toxic Girl about the bad boys of the Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club and the women who fall in love with them.

Tracker is everything I’ve ever wanted.

I see him. I’ve watched time change him.

I’ve been patient, but he still hasn’t noticed me. Not the way I want him to. The more time I spend with the MC, the more I understand.

When you want something, you have to take it. You have to fight for it.

And Tracker is more than worth fighting for…

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

_____________________

Author Bio:

New York Times, Amazon & USA Today Bestselling Author Chantal Fernando is twenty seven years old and lives in Western Australia.

Lover of all things romance, Chantal is the author of the best selling books Dragon’s Lair, Maybe This Time and many more.

When not reading, writing or daydreaming she can be found enjoying life with her three sons and family.

Chantal loves to hear from readers and can be found here:

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter~ Goodreads

Series Review: When You’re Gone Trilogy by Taryn Elliott – Rock Star Romance

Posted on 05/20/2015 by shellbellereads

When You’re Gone Series

By Taryn Elliott

Anything But Mine – Book 1

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Bulletproof Weeks – Book 2

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Edge of Forever – Book 3

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Reviews by Tracey

Anything But Mine – Book 1

Rock star Logan King has come home to Winchester Falls for the annual Summer Festival. Only this time he’s hauling a helluva lot more baggage than a few suitcases and vintage guitars. His closet contains more than the usual skeletons…and if he doesn’t keep the door firmly locked, someone might get harmed. The specter of what haunts him forces him to turn away from anything more than one-night-stands.

Until Izzy and her topaz eyes finally give him a reason to try again.

Since moving to town Isabella Grace has found friends and a place to belong for the first time in her life. Running the Summer Festival is the perfect way to show how important her new community is. She just never planned on a whirlwind fling with a man too used to saying goodbye. Or to fall for a guy who has as many secrets as he does hit songs.

Logan is used to protecting himself, but protecting Izzy is all new territory. With everything that matters to him at risk, he refuses to let her get hurt—even if that means he has to walk away. For her own good.

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Review

For Logan King, rock star and frontman for All the King’s Men, Winchester Falls, VA, represents home, a safe place away from the frenetic pace that is his life. When Logan returns to Winchester Falls to head up the annual summer festival, he’s not prepared for Isabella Grace. Isabella has made Winchester Falls her home, and herself a valued part of the community. In an effort to give back, she’s taken on the job of putting together the summer festival. When she and Logan meet, there are sparks and then some.

When I open a Taryn Elliot book, I know a few things for sure: I will be hooked immediately, I will fall in love with the characters, and I will love every single minute of the story. Every single one of these things is true of Anything But Mine, the first book in the When You’re Gone series. I started reading, and I could NOT put this book down. From the minute that I met Logan and Izzy, along with all the other great residents of Winchester Falls, I could not flip the pages quickly enough. I mean, hello, REALLY hot rock star. And, smart, strong, self-assured woman. This is a match made in heaven, and the heat between them is palpable. Taryn writes so realistically, and with such passion, that I could literally feel the chemistry between Logan and Izzy. Add in the back story of Logan’s and Izzy’s pasts, and the angst that still fuels him, and this is one heck of a read.

Anything But Mine is part of a trilogy, so, yes, there is a cliffhanger. And it’s one that will grab you and send you running for Bulletproof Weeks, the second book in the series, so that you can pick up right after the action in this book. I cannot recommend this book, or this series, or Taryn Elliot, strongly enough. She and her characters have quickly become some of my go-tos, and I happily give Logan, Izzy, and the gang 5+ ‘steamy, swoony, oh, my gosh, this book is on fire’ stars. Add it to your TBR and fall in love.

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Bulletproof Weeks – Book 2

Being a famous rock star for almost two decades means putting his life on display. But for the last two years Logan King has dealt with the uglier side of fame. When his stalker escalates to issuing veiled threats against the first woman he’s allowed in his life, Logan locks down and shuts Izzy out. His stalker isn’t just anyone—she’s as famous as he is with a financial reach that makes her infinitely more treacherous.

Falling for Logan King wasn’t part of Isabella Grace’s plans and their spectacular public breakup didn’t make it easy to move on. Whispers and pitying looks from people in her small town send her fleeing from the first place that finally feels like home. Her solace becomes her travel for work, but the niggling sense that someone is watching her follows her from city to city. When she begins to unravel the secrets that surround the man she still loves, she discovers her personal security detail and demands answers. And they all point to Logan.

Letting him back into her life comes with many more challenges–and rewards–than she could’ve ever dreamed. But loving a man like Logan comes at a dangerous cost. One that has a lasting effect that could echo into all their tomorrows.

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Review

Following her very public break-up with Logan King, Isabella Grace has thrown herself into doing what she does best. Immersing herself in her business, Between the Lines, she doesn’t have the time to think about Logan and what they had. Although he’s left Winchester Falls for New York City, Logan hasn’t stopped making Izzy’s safety his top priority. Knowing how dangerous his ex can be, he will never stop protecting the woman that he loves.

After picking my jaw up off the floor at the end of Anything But Mine (When You’re Gone Book 1), I lit into this book like it was my job. I NEEDED to see how Taryn would resolve the way things broke down between Logan and Izzy. And, as ever, our lady does not disappoint. These two are just as magnetic as ever, just as hot as ever, and just as all-consuming as ever. I regularly fall in love with my book boyfriends, but, let me tell you, Logan is in a league of his own. Everything about him, especially the way that he loves Izzy, is swoony, sexy, and just, mmmmm….And Isabella is perfect for him, loving all of him, even the stuff that isn’t so easy to deal with.

As she does, Taryn leaves us with a heart-stopping cliffy, one that left me thinking, ‘Are you KIDDING me?!’ and hyperventilating. Even knowing that things could not be as easy as they appeared, the way that this one ends just wrecked me. Even so, I cannot wait for Edge of Forever, the third and final book of this trilogy. In the meantime, Bulletproof Weeks is a must-read, and gets 5+ ‘I’m still fanning myself, I have to have the next one!’ stars. Read these books now!

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Edge of Forever – Book 3

One night gave her everything. One night almost took it all away.

Isabella Grace never had a place she could call home until she moved to Winchester Falls. When a romantic moment ends in pain and horror, Isabella must deal with the aftermath of one woman’s vengeance.

After tragedy rocks the small town, the people rally around its newest member, and Logan King, Bella’s rockstar boyfriend, is doing his best to help her pick up the pieces of her shattered life. In spite of the secrets and suspicion that have dogged their every step since the beginning, he helps her find her way back to herself in the midst of her heartbreak over all she has lost. But his unrelenting need for revenge is shaking the bedrock of the foundation of the love they’d only begun to build—and Bella isn’t at all sure they’ll get through it unscathed.

Or alive.

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Review

I went into this book with my heart hurting, scared to see what the fallout would be following the devastating end of Bulletproof Weeks (Book 2). Tears, absolutely. This final book is the culmination of the build-up in the previous two, and Taryn does it masterfully. This is a true love story, a story of the constancy of love, of the refusal to give up when things get tough. Logan and Izzy are dealing with issues that would break other people, but Logan, especially, proves that he, that they, are stronger than the people that would drive them apart and bring them down. If possible, I love him even more. And Izzy, broken and bereft, rises to his challenge, and comes out of her heartbreak stronger than ever.

A storyteller to the very end, Taryn does a fantastic job of keeping up the mystery, and, I have to admit that I did not guess beforehand ‘whodunit.’ I could not have asked for a more satisfying wrap-up to this series, nor recommend it any more strongly. Five beautiful, rewarding, heartwarming stars for this book. If you haven’t done it already (what are you WAITING for?!), read these books!

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About Taryn Elliott

TARYN ELLIOTT comes from the great state of New York—upstate, thank you very much. She’s usually busy making up stories with her best friend until the wee hours of the morning, or fangirling over her favorite TV show. She falls in love with each and every one of her leading men as she writes their book, and there’s always a soundtrack to match.

She loves talking to readers, so if you’d like to reach her, please visit her website: tarynelliott.com and sign up for her newsletter, or drop her a line at: taryn@tarynelliott.com.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + Review: Game Changer by Melissa Cutler – Bomb Squad Series – Book 3

Posted on 05/19/2015 by shellbellereads

Game Changer

Bomb Squad Series – Book 3

By Melissa Cutler

Synopsis

Welcome to Destiny Falls, New York, home of Bomb Squad–an ice hockey team full of rugged military heroes. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has the team captain packing his bags for greener pastures, but saying good-bye to the woman who’d captured his heart is easier said than done…

After being wounded in combat, Brandon Theroux lives every day like it’s his last. He never could have imagined that the sleek mechanics of his prosthetic leg would open so many doors, including minor celebrity status as a fitness model and a well-earned reputation as a rakish playboy. The only door it hasn’t opened is the one to Harper Johnson’s bedroom.

Harper has too much self-respect to join the ranks of Brandon’s “carpe diem” conquests, but when she needs someone to keep the peace in the tavern she owns, Brandon offers his help–as long as she agrees to a very tempting trade. It isn’t long before the two realize that a deal struck between friends who can’t keep their hands off each other has the potential to be a whole lot hotter than either of them is prepared to handle…

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Tracey’s Review

Harper Johnson and Brandon Theroux have what you might call a ‘complicated’ relationship. Harper, local bar owner, and Brandon, decorated war veteran and captain of the local hockey team, have spent years dancing around each other, constantly fanning the flame of their attraction to each other. When life-changing events arise in each of their lives, will the spark grow or quietly go out?

I started reading this book and I could NOT put it down. Melissa Cutler has taken a very real, very sobering subject, and woven it into a story about love, passion, and finding that person inside yourself that you’re truly destined to be. I absolutely felt that the ‘heavy’ subject matter only made Harper and Brandon and their relationship more real. They are working through things that many of us face, and their long journey to a place of self-acceptance, finding their bliss, and opening themselves to the reality that has been a long time coming is well worth the read. I am a sucker for a friends to lovers read, and when there is enough angst and growth to make it a little harder to get to that place, even better. The chemistry between Harper and Brandon is white-hot, but it’s the evolution of their relationship, the blossoming of a true friendship, that had my heart. And, I’m not gonna lie, the sexy time here, oh, my goodness, break out the fan! Saying that the love scenes are steamy is not doing this book justice, and Brandon might just be one of my new favorite BBFs. I loved seeing his growth as he realizes what will truly make him happy. And Harper’s strength, her journey to a place of true peace, is so uplifting, and a lesson in a follow-your-bliss, take no prisoners approach to life. The addition of a quirky, loveable, unique cast of supporting characters make for a group of folks that seem like a lot of fun to be around, and make me eager to read more about them all.

Game Changer is a book with plenty of heart, passion, and soul, and turned out to be a gem of a read that I couldn’t recommend more. I easily give it 5 stars, and look forward to reading more books by Melissa Cutler.

***ARC Received from Penguin Group via NetGalley for an honest review***

Michel’s Review

I absolutely love the Bomb Squad series. This series not only gives the reader a sizzling hot romance, it also gives the reader a deep and meaningful story that is realistic. It touches on many emotions and insecurities that we all possess. It taps into their greatest fears as well as their greatest triumphs. This series features the wounded heroes that sacrificed a part of themselves for our country. Now they are home and learning to live with their losses. They are trying to make a new “normal” in their lives. They are trying to put the war in the past and move forward. Each character has a story that is going to win the readers over.

Game Changer is a friends to lovers kind of romance. Both Harper and Brandon fought hard to overcome their issues. Their love for one another was astounding.

Once again Melissa Cutler has delivered another fantastic book!

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The Bomb Squad Series

Risky Business – Book 1

Welcome to Destiny Falls, New York, home of Bomb Squad–an ice hockey team full of rugged military heroes. But the season’s biggest match-up isn’t on the ice as one of their own prepares to go head to head with his new boss…

Allison Whitely’s ex left her with a mountain of debt and Cloud Nine, a struggling boat rental business. With zero job skills, her only hope of getting back in the black lies in a brooding ex-soldier who has her seeing red…

Theo Lacroix’s teammates are counting on their star player to help them win an upcoming high profile hockey game. But when a sexy tornado of a woman sweeps into Destiny Falls and expects him to help her with Cloud Nine, Theo is tempted to skate away from it all.

Theo vowed never again to be someone’s knight in shining armor, but his feelings–and desire–for Allison are becoming harder to ignore. He longs to save her, but to win Allison’s love, he’ll have to throw out his old playbook and take the ultimate risk…playing from the heart.

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Undefeated – Book 2

Welcome to Destiny Falls, New York, home of Bomb Squad—an ice hockey team full of rugged military heroes. The team’s battling a losing streak, but the season’s biggest game changer is one player’s second chance with the one who got away…

Yoga instructor Marlena Brodie is always up for a challenge, and her new job of snapping Bomb Squad out of their rut is definitely that, even though it means being in close contact with Liam McAllister, her high school crush gone bad. She can feel the damage pouring off of him—but also a wild and sexy strength that calls to her.

The Army turned Liam McAllister into a man, but as a combat medic, he saw far too much to ever be whole again. He’s not interested in the civilian world beyond his job as a carpenter, but he never stopped wondering what might have been with Marlena—and it isn’t long before she’s crashed through his carefully constructed walls. He longs for a new beginning with her, but to be the man she deserves, he’ll have to step out of his defensive zone and score the most important play of his life…

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Game Changer – Book 3

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Author Bio:

Melissa Cutler knows she has the best job in the world, dividing her time between her dual passions for writing sexy contemporary romances and edge-of-your-seat romantic suspense for Harlequin, Penguin, and Kensington Books.

She was struck at an early age by an unrelenting travel bug and is probably planning her next vacation as you read this. When she’s not globetrotting, she’s enjoying Southern California’s flip-flop wearing weather and wrangling two rambunctious kids.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

5-Star Review: One To Save by Tia Louise

Posted on 05/15/2015 by Saucy Southern Readers

One To Save

One To Hold Series – Book 6

Release Date : March 26, 2015

By Tia Louise

Synopsis

Some threats come at you as friendly fire.

Some threats take away everything.

Family won’t let you go down without a fight.

The Secret isn’t as secure as Derek’s team originally thought it was, and a person on the inside of Alexander-Knight is set on exposing him, breaking him, and taking away all he holds dear.

Refusing to let anyone suffer for his crimes, Derek takes matters into his own hands. He’s exposed, he’s defenseless, but his friends are determined to save him.

A STAND-ALONE, ONE TO HOLD NOVEL. Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

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Excerpt

Derek

The muscle in my jaw clenches hard, but my voice stays calm. “Open the door, Melissa.”

“No.”

I step back ready to snap that chain with a swift kick, when she pushes it closed and the noise of that f**king deadbolt sounds again.

“God dammit!” I shout as I shove my key back into the lock. I’m turning it open when I hear scraping noises on the other side. This time when I push against the wood, it doesn’t move at all.

Resting my forehead against the door, I take another deep breath, fighting for control. “Please let me in.”

“You promised!” She yells from the other side. “You looked in my eyes and promised.”

“Baby, I didn’t know how serious this was.”

“I won’t hear any more lies from you. Take your shit and leave. It’s over.”

She’s crying now, and all semblance of control I had is gone. This is not happening. Stepping back, I hit the door with my shoulder as hard as I can. A low growl escapes my throat on impact. The door doesn’t budge.

“Open the door,” I repeat.

Again, she says, “No.”

Stepping back, I kick it with the sole of my foot. The doorjamb shudders, but it doesn’t give.

“Don’t make me call the police,” she shouts from the other side.

That nearly sends me into a rage. My shoulders are rapidly rising and falling as I step back and survey this situation. The woman I love has thrown me out and is now threatening the cops on me. Am I having some kind of f**king bad dream?

The only possible way I might get in the house comes to mind. “I want to see Dex.”

She’s angry, yes, but if we can look at each other, talk it out… Maybe she needs to yell at me. I can listen, hear what she needs to say, and everything can go back to normal.

“I’ll talk to my mom. We’ll work out a schedule for you to visit him.”

My fist is pounding on the wood before I even realize what I’m doing. This is f**king idiotic, and I need to get on the other side of this f**king door and hold Melissa in my arms.

“Stop it!” I can hear the break in her voice, and it rips me apart. “You’re scaring Dex.”

Breathing hard, I rest my head against the wood again. Looking to the side, I can see the cracks that have formed around the doorjamb from my attempts to break it down. Sound filters through the spaces easily. The noise of my Melissa crying is just on the other side. I can’t take this.

“Melissa.” This time I’m pleading with her. “Please open the door.”

“No.” She says softly, between sniffles.

My heart is twisting in my chest. “What do you want me to do, baby? Just tell me what to do.”

“I want you to go away.” Her voice shakes as she says the words.

“I can’t do that.” I’m breathing hard now. “I love you.”

“Not enough to keep your promise.”

“I love you more than enough.” Gripping the wooden frame, I fight my emotions. “Let me in.”

“I’m done talking. Take your bags and go.”

Noises on the other side sound like Dex whining. I hear her go to him and attempt to soothe him. Stepping back, I look at the windows and consider breaking one of them. For several long seconds, I visualize myself doing it. I look around the perimeter and see every place I can force my way inside, go in there and gather her in my arms, make her stop saying these things.

But I don’t. It would scare Dex, it would anger Mel… It would only make things harder for me.

Instead I do what she asks. Ice is in the pit of my stomach as I pick up my duffel and the largest suitcase and carry them to my car. Popping the trunk, I put them inside and go back for the remaining two.

#SaveDerek

Kelley’s Review

Sexy and suspenseful…

I am going to be honest and tell you that I was afraid to read this book. When a couple you have fallen in love with is in jeopardy of losing their happily ever after it makes you a little nervous. I knew Melissa was going to be so angry that Derek kept what he did a secret from her. She made it very clear that she would not live with a man who kept things from her.

Tia really had me on the edge of my seat with this read just waiting to see if Melissa was going to forgive Derek and if Derek was going to be sent to jail. I am so thankful that Tia brought back Laney and Patrick along with Stuart and Mariska. Derek would have had plenty of time to confess his sins to Melissa if he had not been blackmailed. Things just begin to spiral once Derek and Patrick know that someone saw what Derek did.

The character development is fantastic. The plot is twisty turny and kept me on edge. The ending and resolution to the story was realistic. I love this series. To really enjoy this read you will want to read One To Hold and One To Protect. I am looking forward to what Tia has in store for us next.

One To Hold Series

One To Hold- Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

One To Keep- Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

One To Protect- Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

One To Love- Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

One To Leave- Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

SIGNED COPIES: http://smarturl.it/SignedPBs

Author Bio:

Tia Louise is a former journalist, world-traveler, and collector of beautiful men (who inspire ALL of her stories… *wink*)—turned wife, mommy, and novelist.

It’s possible she has a slight truffle addiction. And she will never look at a family restroom the same way again.

Website ~Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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5 Star Review: Retribution by Katie Reus

Posted on 05/14/2015 by shellbellereads

Retribution

Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense

By Katie Reus

Synopsis

She sees brief glimpses of the future…

Nika and Alena Brennan will do anything to kill a vicious Russian crime boss and they’re using his only son to get to him. Yet when the time comes to execute their plan, psychic Nika hesitates due to an unexpected entanglement with sexy security expert Declan Gallagher. When her sister is kidnapped and all their carefully laid plans go awry, Nika must depend on Declan and her mortal enemy’s son to get her sister back.

He invades her dreams and teases her with sensual pleasures…

As a dream walker, Declan is capable of seeing anyone’s innermost thoughts as they sleep. With Nika, however, he finds himself playing a deadly, seductive game. He knows she’s not who she says she is and he’s determined to find out the real reason she’s in Miami before she gets herself or someone else killed.

Time is running out…

Nika’s window of opportunity is closing to save her sister and find a way to protect their secrets without landing them both in jail. With innocent lives at stake, Nika must decide if the retribution she’s waited a lifetime for is worth losing the man who has won her heart.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Michel’s Review

If you are looking for a fast paced, high octane romantic suspense book mixed with a hint of the paranormal, Retribution is the book you want to pick up. Both of the leading characters have physic kind of gifts. How they use they gifts will have the reader chilled to the bone one moment and fanning themselves the next moment.

Nika and Alena Brennan are on a mission. They are out for retribution for their parents deaths when they were young children. Although they witnessed the murders, they have been in protective custody most of their lives. Their identities have changed. Their history has been changed. One has developed a physic gift. Now the sisters are out for revenge. They will use their brains, their knowledge of the spy world, and the physic gifts to kill the three men that ruined their lives. Two down and one to go. They are after the Russian crime boss that is responsible for it all. They will use his son and his connections to complete their final execution. One sister is completely driven and the other sister is trying to protect her.

Declan Gallagher has been secretly hired by the FBI director to stop the Brennan sisters from their final murder. If these sisters murder this man the FBI will lose vital information on world wide organizations known for drug trafficking, illegal gun trade, and human trafficking. Declan has to go undercover and protect the son that has been targeted as a means to their intended victim. Declan has a special gift. He has the ability to enter peoples dreams and obtain information. He will use his ability to stop the Brennan sisters.

When Declan and Nika meet in the dream world the sexual sparks ignite. Their erotic encounters are sizzling hot. They can communicate with their bodies in their dreams. What Declan didn’t count on was how powerful Nika’s physic abilities are. No one should remember when he invades their dreams. Nika not only remembers their encounters, she questions his motivations and abilities.

The mission the Brennan sisters embarked on will change. Their lives will be the ones in danger. There are traitors in the midst of them. There are unseen enemies. There are opportunities to find something better in life than revenge. There are new ways to use their talents. If they can stay alive long enough to find out what direction their lives should go.

I could not put this book down. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. The erotic dreams between Nika and Declan had me swooning. The build up of their relationship and revelations kept me guessing. Their physic gifts had me in awe.

Read Retribution. It will not disappoint!

______________________________________

About Katie Reus

Katie Reus is the New York Times, USA Today, & IndieReader bestselling author of the Red Stone Security series, the Moon Shifter series and the Deadly Ops series. She fell in love with romance at a young age thanks to books she pilfered from her mom’s stash. Years later she loves reading romance almost as much as she loves writing it. However, she didn’t always know she wanted to be a writer. After changing majors many times, she finally graduated with a degree in psychology. Not long after that she discovered a new love. Writing. She now spends her days writing dark paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

5 Star Review : Overruled by Emma Chase – The Legal Briefs Series – Book 1

Posted on 05/13/2015 by shellbellereads

Overruled

The Legal Briefs Series – Book 1

By Emma Chase

Synopsis

Emma Chase, New York Times bestselling author of the Tangled series, returns with the first installment of the Legal Briefs series!

A Washington, DC, defense attorney, Stanton Shaw keeps his head cool, his questions sharp, and his arguments irrefutable. They don’t call him the Jury Charmer for nothing—with his southern drawl, disarming smile, and captivating green eyes, he’s a hard man to say no to. Men want to be him, and women want to be thoroughly cross examined by him.

Stanton’s a man with a plan. And for a while, life was going according to that plan.

Until the day he receives an invitation to the wedding of his high school sweetheart, the mother of his beloved ten-year-old daughter. Jenny is getting married—to someone who isn’t him.

That’s definitely not part of the plan.

***

Sofia Santos is a city-raised, no-nonsense litigator who plans to become the most revered criminal defense attorney in the country. She doesn’t have time for relationships or distractions.

But when Stanton, her “friend with mind-blowing benefits,” begs her for help, she finds herself out of her element, out of her depth, and obviously out of her mind. Because she agrees to go with him to The-Middle-Of-Nowhere, Mississippi, to do all she can to help Stanton win back the woman he loves. Her head tells her she’s crazy…and her heart says something else entirely.

What happens when you mix a one-stop-light town, two professional arguers, a homecoming queen, four big brothers, some Jimmy Dean sausage, and a gun-toting Nana?

The Bourbon flows, passions rise, and even the best-laid plans get overruled by the desires of the heart.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / Kobo / ITunes

Michel’s Review

Overruled by Emma Chase is the first book in the Legal Briefs series. Once again Emma Chase has delivered a fun ,sexy romance that will keep the readers glued to the pages. The quirky characters, the southern charm, and fumbled romantic expectations are guaranteed to keep readers laughing out loud.

Stanton Shaw is a successful upcoming defense attorney. He is working at one of Washington D.C. s most prestigious law firms. He’s on fast track to making partner. His life is quite different from his simple southern roots in Sunshine, Mississippi.

Stanton couldn’t wait to get out of Sunshine. Although he was the star football player and offered a full ride at Ole Miss, he chose a different route. He accepted a full scholarship to Columbia in New York. But there is a hiccup in his plans. His cheerleader girlfriend , Jenny is pregnant. He is about to become a father before he graduates from high school.

Both Jenny and Stanton realize that Stanton needs to go to Columbia for their future. She is going to stay home in Sunshine and attend nursing school while he gets his degree in pre law.

What starts out as a temporary separation turns into more of a permanent one. Ten years later, one law degree later, and a different city has put Stanton Shaw on a different path in life. He is still planning on returning to Jenny to spend the rest of his life, just not at this time. He still has to make partner. He still has things to accomplish before he can pursue his life with Jenny. When he gets a wedding invitation everything changes. He has been invited to Jenny’s wedding in Sunshine, MS. It looks like he is going to lose his lifetime love. Stanton is finally going home and claiming his woman.

Stanton and Jenny had an open relationship. When he was home in Sunshine she was exclusively his. While he was away they were both free to date. Stanton has become involved in a friends with benefits relationship with his co council, Sophia Santos. Sophia is beautiful, brilliant, and the very definition of red hot sexy. She is his confidant and helps keep him focused. He is going to need Sophia with him to help win Jenny back. She will keep him on track, keep him from going off the deep end, and keep him focused on the prize. She has to go with him to Sunshine.

Once Stanton and Sophia hit the Sunshine city limits ( or should I say the one red light in town) the adventure begins. From the gun toting Nana on the front porch aiming at Stanton’s balls to the new age free love older brother that seems to frequently lose his clothes, Sunshine is at it’s finest. Everyone is ready for a wedding. Who will be the groom? A tractor race may decide the outcome.

Meanwhile Sophia is learning that she may fit into the Sunshine community. She also realizes that she wants to fit into Stanton Shaw’s heart. How can she help him land the bride when she wants to capture his heart? A tractor race won’t do the trick. It’s going to take a tornado to make Stanton sit up and take notice.

You can take Stanton Shaw out of Sunshine, MS. but you can’t take Sunshine out of Stanton Shaw. He may be able to charm the jurors but can he use his southern charm to win the case of a lifetime? Can he win the woman he was meant to love for the rest of his life?

Stanton Shaw has been Overruled.

Emma Chase delivered another fantastic book. I cannot wait to read the next two books in the Legal Briefs series.

The Legal Briefs Series

Overruled – Book 1

Buy: Amazon

Stanton’s a man with a plan. And for a while, life was going according to that plan.

Until the day he receives an invitation to the wedding of his high school sweetheart, the mother of his beloved ten-year-old daughter. Jenny is getting married—to someone who isn’t him.

That’s definitely not part of the plan.

***

Sofia Santos is a city-raised, no-nonsense litigator who plans to become the most revered criminal defense attorney in the country. She doesn’t have time for relationships or distractions.

What happens when you mix a one-stop-light town, two professional arguers, a homecoming queen, four big brothers, some Jimmy Dean sausage, and a gun-toting Nana?

The Bourbon flows, passions rise, and even the best-laid plans get overruled by the desires of the heart.

Sustained – Book Two

Coming August 25, 2015

Pre-Order: Amazon

A knight in tarnished armor is still a knight.

When you’re a defense attorney in Washington, DC, you see firsthand how hard life can be, and that sometimes the only way to survive is to be harder. I, Jake Becker, have a reputation for being cold, callous, and intimidating—and that suits me just fine. In fact, it’s necessary when I’m breaking down a witness on the stand.

Complications don’t work for me—I’m a “need-to-know” type of man. If you’re my client, tell me the basic facts. If you’re my date, stick to what will get you off. I’m not a therapist or Prince Charming—and I don’t pretend to be.

Then Chelsea McQuaid and her six orphaned nieces and nephews came along and complicated the ever-loving hell out of my life. Now I’m going to Mommy & Me classes, One Direction concerts, the emergency room, and am knee deep in a damn compost pit.

Chelsea’s too sweet, too innocent, and too gorgeous for her own good. She tries to be tough, but she’s not. She needs someone to help her, and defend her…and the kids.

And that—that, I know how to do.

Appealed – Book Three

Coming November 17, 2015

Pre- Order : Amazon

When Brent Mason looks at Kennedy Randolph, he doesn’t see the awkward, sweet girl who grew up next door. He sees a self-assured, stunning woman…who wants to crush the most intimate—and prized—parts of his anatomy beneath the heels of her Louboutins.

When Kennedy looks at Brent, all she sees is the selfish, Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue–worthy teenager who humiliated her in high school in order to join the popular crowd. A crowd that made those years a living hell for her.

But she’s not a lovesick social outcast anymore—she’s a Washington, DC, prosecutor with a long winning streak. Brent is the opposing attorney in her next case, and Kennedy thinks it’s time to put him through a little hell of his own.

But things aren’t exactly working out the way she planned. Brent has his sights set on Kennedy, and every fiery exchange only makes him want her more—and makes her wonder if he’s as passionate in the bedroom as he is in the courtroom. In the end, they may just find themselves in love…or in contempt of court.

Author Bio:

By day, Emma Chase is a devoted wife and mother who resides in a small, rural town in New Jersey. By night she toils away the hours bringing her colorful characters and their endless antics to life. She has a long standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.

Emma is an avid reader. Before her children were born she was known to consume whole books in a single day. Writing has also always been a passion and with the 2013 release of her debut romantic comedy, Tangled, the ability to now call herself an author is nothing less than a dream come true.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + 5 Star Reviews: Under The Influence by L. B. Simmons

Posted on 05/12/2015 by shellbellereads

Under The Influence

By L. B. Simmons

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Dalton,

I loved you once. A love I thought irrevocable. A love I mistakenly believed could transcend both time and circumstance. Under the influence of my dimwitted, naïve, traitorous heart, I became intoxicated with what I now know was simply a figment of my self-indulgent imagination. So drunk on the feeling, I couldn’t see what was right in front of my face. So foolishly enamored, I blindly followed my heart into the depths of an emotion that would ravage me.

Years later, I know now what I wish I knew then. I am stronger. Smarter. Tougher. I will not allow myself to be broken again.

I loved you.

I raged for you.

I wept for you.

And now, I’m letting you go.

Author’s Note: Under the Influence is the journey of two childhood friends that spans the course of five pivotal years in their lives. It is a story about their discovery of true friendship as it blossoms into first love, their experience of crucial sacrifice and ultimate betrayal, and their endurance of agonizing heartbreak on the way to finding lasting redemption.

Dalton POV:

All that remains is the orange in the sky and the sweet scent of the angel lying next to me. Nothing else.

We watch in silence as we always do until the sun finally sets, then both breathe out a long sigh before I turn to face her. “I have something for you. It’s not much, but I saw it and thought of you.”

Her eyes widen with excitement as an equally joyful smile spreads across her beautiful features. I reach into my pocket and pull out the item I spied just a couple of days ago, buying it as a gift for her birthday, but it turns out I really suck at surprises. Who knew?

Dangling the long strand of black beads in her face, an unexpected rush of anxiety races through my system. I’ve never given anyone anything. Ever. I find it extremely unnerving.

Her grin widens further as she extends her hand, uncurling her fingers and exposing her palm. I lower the bracelet and watch as it coils into her grasp. My eyes rise to meet hers and I swallow deeply, trying to rid the nerves constricting my throat. “It’s uh …They’re onyx—the beads. I read that they offer protection for the person who wears them. I just…”I clear my throat. “I wanted you to be protected even when I’m not around.”

Her smile is hindered as her teeth graze her bottom lip. I fight the urge to take that pouty lip in between mine, breaking my stare from her mouth and bringing it back to the bracelet before glancing back to her sky blue eyes.

She turns to fully face me, the bracelet still secure in her clenched hand. Her expression timid, she inquires, “Put it on me?”

I nod and slowly uncurl her grip, allowing my touch to linger on the soft pads of her fingers with each one drawn away. She shivers in response and I breathe a light chuckle through my nose, still amazed each time I elicit those involuntary reactions from her. Once the bracelet is pinched between my fingers, she turns her wrist and waits patiently as I hook the ends together. Releasing it, I watch as it slides gracefully along the skin of her arm to land across the bones of her wrist. My hand instinctively rises and my fingers trace its traveled path, raking over the bracelet as I clench her hand in mine and press a soft kiss in the center of her palm.

Her breath shudders before she whispers, “I love it, Dalton. It’s…perfect. Thank you.”

I feel my face warm with her compliment, so break my eyes away from her to focus on the stars. After a couple of moments of peace-filled silence, I inquire, “If you were a color, what color would you be?”

Taking her eyes away from the bracelet, she giggles and twists to look at me. “What color would I be?”

I nod. “Yeah…”I stall, stunned with my need for honesty. “It’s just, sometimes I feel like a chameleon, you know? Forced to change my colors based on where I am in my life.”

I release a weighted breath. “Lately it feels as though I change them so often, I’m nothing more than a fucked-up version of an impressionist painting.”

Glancing to the side, my heart lurches as she crinkles her nose in confusion, my absolute favorite of her expressions. My eyes linger the light scattering of freckles on the bridge of her nose before once again seeking comfort in the obscurity of the night sky. “To those far away, I project a solid, recognizable image. But in reality, I’m comprised of nothing but a series of angry, incoherent brush strokes in every color imaginable. Disjointed.”

I twist my neck and pin her with my stare. “Broken.”

Her mouth dips at the corners before she turns on her side and tucks her hands under her cheek, her blue eyes sincere. “Do you think Renoir and Monet didn’t know what they were doing? That they didn’t purposely place each stroke of their paintbrush in order to create their envisioned masterpiece?”

She tightens her gaze. “You are a work of art, Dalton. Your own masterpiece, regardless if you choose to acknowledge it or not. Every experience that paints your picture is a stroke made just for you. Each one of them is essential in order for you to grow, to learn, and to teach.”

She shrugs her shoulders. “You ask me what color I would be? Well, I would be every single color I could because to me, those colors are emotions. Feelings. And life would mean absolutely nothing without the many colors that surround us. The many … experiences we live through that propel us forward into the people we are meant to become.”

Tracey’s Review

Dalton Greer and Spencer Locke have been best friends since they were very young, seeing in each other a safe place, the other half to each other. But Dalton is hiding the truth of his life from Spencer, a life that will ultimately bring devastation and division in its wake, and will test the love that has grown between them.

What makes a book a 5-star read for me? It has to grab me from the minute I start reading, to be a read that I can’t put down, that keeps me from doing anything else until I finish. And it will be the book that evokes emotion, that brings out all of the feels, running the gamut from joy to tears to angst. Under the Influence has all of this and more.

OMGoodness, L.B. Simmons, you’ve gone and done it. Nine percent into this book, and I was crying. You had me for the duration, and I had only made it through the first couple of chapters. I was hooked on Spencer’s and Dalton’s story from the very beginning, and it just never stopped. Both Dalton and Spencer have experienced the worst that life has to offer a child, and so find themselves irrevocably drawn to each other. But while Spencer has been able to move forward, Dalton has hardened himself, not allowing himself to love anyone.

“I find myself utterly fascinated, awestruck even, that there are people actually capable of truly loving someone without wondering when and how they will be betrayed. However, the knowledge of their existence also saddens me because the cold reality is, I will never know that type of love.”

Dalton breaks my heart. Capable of so much more than he has allowed his circumstance to dictate, he has closed himself off from feeling anything for anyone, except for Spencer, and for his friend, Rat. Just as he allows himself to admit his feelings for Spencer, he is faced with the ultimate loss, a loss that will completely alter the course of his, and Spencer’s, life. And Spencer shines, just beautifully exemplifies what true love is all about, in accepting Dalton, with all of his flaws, and loving him, perhaps more, because of them.

Under the Influence is ultimately a story about facing our demons and emerging stronger on the other side. L.B. Simmons has done an amazing job of crafting a book filled with characters that are flawed, yet redeemable, capable of love even when they don’t realize it, and stronger than the sum of their fears. This is absolutely one of the best books that I have read this year, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Filled with joy, pain, intrigue, and a healthy dose of passion, Under the Influence gets 5+ ‘I can’t put this book down to save my life’ stars from me. Do yourself a favor and add this to your TBR.

Michel’s Review

Once again L. B. Simmons has surprised me. After reading the synopsis for Under The Influence, I had formulated an idea of what this book was going to be about. When I dove into the story I quickly realized that this story was much more than I expected. It was a complete surprise!

One choice, one decision, one moment in time can forever change your life. It can send your life into a new direction. It can lead to new opportunities or it can hold you imprisoned in a world you didn’t understand.

Dalton and Spencer have been friends since their early teens. The two have a deep connection to one another. Spencer is everything good. Dalton needs her goodness. But he made choices at an early age that guarantee that his life is going to be anything but good. To protect Spencer from his ugly life he will make choices that will break both of their hearts.

Dalton made that choice. He never knew that choice would keep him from the woman that is the light in his world. He never knew that he needed someone when the sun set at the end of the day. He never knew he could love. He never knew what it felt like to be loved. That one choice could destroy everything.

I am not going to say much more about the book because this is one each reader needs to experience themselves. The story is captivating, emotional, and fast paced. L.B. Simmons has once again delivered a beautiful story of love and redemption.

I highly recommend Under The Influence by L. B. Simmons

Make sure to sign-up HERE for L. B Simmons newsletter for exclusive teasers.

L.B. Simmons is a graduate of Texas A&M University and
holds a degree in Biomedical Science.
She has been a practicing Chemist for the last 11 years. She lives with her husband and three
daughters in Texas and writes every chance she gets.

FACEBOOK TWITTER TSU WEBSITE GOODREADS AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Under The Influence by L. B. Simmons

Posted on 05/11/2015 by shellbellereads

Under The Influence

By L. B. Simmons

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Dalton,

Years later, I know now what I wish I knew then. I am stronger. Smarter. Tougher. I will not allow myself to be broken again.

I loved you.

I raged for you.

I wept for you.

And now, I’m letting you go.

Dalton POV:

All that remains is the orange in the sky and the sweet scent of the angel lying next to me. Nothing else.

Dangling the long strand of black beads in her face, an unexpected rush of anxiety races through my system. I’ve never given anyone anything. Ever. I find it extremely unnerving.

She turns to fully face me, the bracelet still secure in her clenched hand. Her expression timid, she inquires, “Put it on me?”

Her breath shudders before she whispers, “I love it, Dalton. It’s…perfect. Thank you.”

Taking her eyes away from the bracelet, she giggles and twists to look at me. “What color would I be?”

I nod. “Yeah…”I stall, stunned with my need for honesty. “It’s just, sometimes I feel like a chameleon, you know? Forced to change my colors based on where I am in my life.”

I release a weighted breath. “Lately it feels as though I change them so often, I’m nothing more than a fucked-up version of an impressionist painting.”

I twist my neck and pin her with my stare. “Broken.”

Michel’s Review

I highly recommend Under The Influence by L. B. Simmons

Make sure to sign-up HERE for L. B Simmons newsletter for exclusive teasers.

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Henry’s End by Julie A. Richman

Posted on 05/11/2015 by shellbellereads

Henry’s End

Release Date: May 11, 2015

By Julie A. Richman

Synopsis

Dreams.

I used to have them—before the nightmares started.

I dreamed of nice guys, love…normalcy.

Things like reading the Sunday paper in bed with my

lover.

But who needs dreams when your reality is filled with a string of faceless dominating men in uniform? Men that pack a thick bulge and are only too happy to satisfy my deviant sexual cravings.

Me. That’s who.

And then HE walked through the door and shared with me, a total stranger, his intimate dream of love. Damn him for verbalizing every single detail of the dream I buried long ago.

And now I don’t know how I’m going to live without that dream.

Or him.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Paperback: Amazon

Excerpt

Holding eye contact with the man, meeting the challenge head on, Henry didn’t flinch. He wanted him to know that he was aware that he was being watched. The energy between the two was sharp and direct. There was no mistaking that contact had been made, and Henry could feel his stomach cramping with excitement, and his balls tightening with desire. This was a man he had dreamed about his whole life. He exuded absolute power. Envisioning him in uniform made Henry inexplicably ache even more.

Definitely a Marine, he thought. A lieutenant? A captain? This man gave orders and expected them to be followed. He commanded. Demanded. And received.

Turning away, Henry made his way through the crowd in search of the bathroom. Mostly he needed his air back and a moment to process what had transpired. He knew that wasn’t all in his head.

The man hadn’t just cruised him.

He’d claimed him.

Heading into the bathroom, the site of an open stall door felt like an immediate godsend and he needed to get behind it, alone. Quickly.

It happened so fast, he wasn’t quite sure how it occurred. Entering the stall, he turned to close the door but was propelled against the metal stall wall to his right, knocking the air out of him. He heard the muffled sound of the stall door latch being locked. The larger man pinned him with his body, his muscular chest pressing Henry flush against the cold metal. The cool smooth surface felt good against his hot, sunburned cheek. Henry could feel the man’s cock pressed against his ass crack on the outside of his bike shorts and wondered if the guy’s cock was still in his pants or not. It wasn’t until that moment that he realized the man had him in a loose choke hold. He didn’t feel fear, and somehow instinctually knew this guy wasn’t going to hurt him. He was establishing his control and position.

With lips next to Henry’s ear, his voice was little more than a growl. “Is that what you want? Little boys? Little boys that will never satisfy you? Is that what you want?” His sizable cock pressed harder against Henry’s ass. With his free hand, the man reached around to the front of Henry’s bike shorts and found exactly what he was looking for – a hard, excited cock. Giving it a squeeze through the slippery material of his bike shorts, Henry hardened immediately to the man’s touch. Continuing to fondle him through the thin fabric, while simultaneously pressing him from behind, the Marine hissed into Henry’s ear, “I asked you a question.”

Brain cells blown away by the physical assault both front and rear, for the life of him, Henry could not remember the man’s question and answered by pressing his junk harder into the guy’s hand, needing to feel possessed by his grasp. He did not disappoint Henry as he squeezed his balls tighter.

“You still want little boys?” he growled, his arm tightening around Henry’s neck.

The moment Henry felt the crook of his arm squeeze his neck, he began to pump himself into the man’s hand, “No. I don’t want little boys.”

“Then what is it you want?” The man had Henry by his cock and was pressing him firmly against his own hard-on, grinding harshly against his ass.

“I want you.”

“Good. And I don’t want you dancing with those boys. Do you understand that?”

Henry nodded his head, yes.

With his hand firmly encasing Henry’s privates, the Marine pressed the smaller man against him and continued to let Henry feel the pressure of his cock against his ass.

Henry leaned his weight back into him, eyes closed. There was nothing in the world except the guy’s hand kneading and pressing his balls. He wanted to stay in the moment forever. Submit to whatever the man wanted from him.

And then he was gone. Leaving Henry against the wall with a raging hard-on and a need to feel the Marine’s hands and cock again, hear his voice, low and raspy, in his ear. Without removing an article of clothing or coming, he had never had a sexual experience that excited him as much, and he knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he would always remember the sublime feeling of being restrained by this man.

He wanted more.

Michel’s Review

Julie A. Richman has written another fantastic book for the Needing Moore series. Henry’s End is one of the most emotional MM romances I have read. Julie gave the readers an honest insight about the gay community, their struggles, their triumphs, and their lifestyle.

Henry’s End features Henry Clarke. Readers first met Henry in the first novel, Searching For Moore. Henry Clarke was close friends with Mia and Schooner in college. After Mia’s disappearance, Henry and Schooner became closer friends. They became brothers by choice. Like the previous books in the Needing Moore series, Henry’s story spans over a twenty year period.

The reader gets to experience Henry Clarke’s life journey. It starts out watching a very optimistic young man embarking on his new adult life. He is optimistic, free spirited, fun loving, and very openly gay. His new job has placed him in an area that has a strong gay community. A community that supports their members. It is a dream come true for Henry. Not only can he pursue his ambitions in his career as a pharmaceutical salesman but also the single life in a place where he belongs.

When he meets a sexy marine , his life is looking even brighter. He has met a man that fulfills his desires and dreams. Although they have to keep their relationship a secret because of the military, Henry is all in. What evolves from this relationship will affect Henry’s life in so many ways. It will mold him into the man he is now. It will make him stronger. It will define how he lives his life.

Henry will experience heartbreak, rebirth, lasting friendships, true love, and second chances. One love will destroy him. One love will complete him. One love will be his happily ever after.

Julie has written another beautiful book about the journey in life. Every experience a person has makes them into something more. Her books are character driven and the reader instantly becomes connected with the leading characters. The reader experiences the ups and downs, highs and lows, and tears and smiles. Julie brings them all to life.

Read Henry’s End. It will touch your heart.

Author Julie A. Richman is a native New Yorker living deep in the heart of Texas. A creative writing major in college, reading and writing fiction has always been a passion. Julie began her corporate career in publishing in NYC and writing played a major role throughout her career as she created and wrote marketing, advertising, direct mail and fundraising materials for Fortune 500 corporations, advertising agencies and non-profit organizations. She is an award winning nature photographer plagued with insatiable wanderlust. Julie and her husband have one son and a white German Shepherd named Juneau.

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Needing Moore Box Set

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / ITunes / Kobo

THE NEEDING MOORE SERIES – SEARCHING FOR MOORE, MOORE TO LOSE & MOORE THAN FOREVER + Bonus Chapters!

All three Bestselling, Top-Rated Books from The Needing Moore Series by USA Today Bestseller Julie A. Richman, PLUS never before seen BONUS CHAPTERS for each book.

SEARCHING FOR MOORE – Book 1

I lost the love of my life when she disappeared without even a goodbye.

It was the 80’s – there was no internet, no Google, no cell phones.

If you wanted to disappear, you could.

And she did.

She crushed my soul.

A friend just told me he saw her on Facebook.

And now I’m a keystroke away from asking her the question that’s haunted me for two decades.

“Why did you leave me?”

Two decades after she broke his heart, sexy entrepreneur Schooner Moore uncovers the truth and betrayal his life has been built on when he Facebook friend requests college love, Mia Silver. Determined to win Mia’s love once again, Schooner embarks on a life-altering journey that could cost him everything.

MOORE TO LOSE – Book 2

Continuing the fight for their happily ever after that began in Searching for Moore, Schooner Moore and Mia Silver struggle to overcome the ghosts and baggage they accumulated during their time apart.

Exploring the missing 24 years when they were separated, Moore to Lose follows Mia’s journey from heartbroken teen to kickass businesswoman to her emotional reunion with Schooner and the exploration of the love that was ripped from them.

But is their love really strong enough to overcome the damage of those missing 24 years or will they continue to be ripped apart by pasts that can’t be changed?

MOORE THAN FOREVER – Book 3

Is the love they always dreamed of enough?

Continuing the emotional journey of love and betrayal that began on a college campus in Searching for Moore and turned their worlds upside down in Moore to Lose, handsome, California entrepreneur Schooner Moore and sharp and sassy, New York advertising agency owner Mia Silver continue to be confronted with the harsh reality of the remnants from the lives they lived apart for 24 years.

Now, Schooner Moore and Mia Silver face the ultimate challenge – were they really meant to be together or will their pasts continue to tear them apart?

On the heels of the birth of their newborn son, Nathaniel, Schooner and Mia must decide if their love and loyalty to one another is strong enough to learn to grow together as a couple or if the life they always dreamed of sharing was better left as a teenage fantasy.

Bad Son Rising

A Needing Moore Novel

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Giveaway

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Saucy Southern Readers

professional, honest, and timely book reviews

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Henry’s End by Julie A. Richman

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