Release Day Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Chase Me by Tessa Bailey – Broke and Beautiful Series – Book 1

Posted on 03/09/2015 by shellbellereads

Chase Me

Broke and Beautiful Series – Book 1

By Tessa Bailey

Synopsis

College drop-out Roxy Cumberland moved to New York with dreams of becoming an actress, but her dwindling bank account is quickly putting the kibosh on that fantasy. To make some quick cash, she signs up to perform singing telegrams. Her first customer is a gorgeous, cocky Manhattan trust-funder if she ever laid eyes on one. And what could be more humiliating than singing an ode to his junk, courtesy of his last one night stand? Maybe the fact that she’s dressed in a giant pink bunny costume…

After a night out to celebrate winning his last case, lawyer Louis McNally the Second isn’t prepared for the pounding in his head or the rabbit serenading him from the front door. But the sassy wit and sexy voice of the girl behind the mask intrigue him, and one look at her stunning face—followed by a mind-blowing kiss against his doorjamb—leaves Louis wanting more.

Roxy doesn’t need a spoiled rich boy who’s had everything in life handed to him on a Tiffany platter. But there’s more to Louis than his sexy surface and he’s determined to make Roxy see it…even if it means chasing her all over NYC.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

Are you looking for that next book boyfriend that is dirty talking and walks the talk? A man that makes you swoon and makes your panties wet? A man that has a heart of gold, nerves of steel, and the ability to charm your socks off? If the answer is yes, yes, and yes, get your ereaders fired up and read Chase Me by Tessa Bailey.

I loved Chase Me by Tessa Bailey!

Louis and Roxy are one hot couple. The chemistry between these two could set the city on fire. From the moment they meet until the moment they finally get it together is explosive.

Roxy is a struggling actress trying to get a job in NYC. She is busting her butt to make it happen. She is taking any kind of jobs she can get. She doesn’t have the support of her family or any friends in her new town. She is on her own and determined to make her dreams come true. She is hard working, ambitious, full of spunk, and vulnerable deep down. When she takes a job to perform singing telegrams things take a new turn in her life. She has been hired to sing an ode to a guy’s penis by a recent one night stand. Can a gig get any more comical or worse? Yeah it does, she has to wear a bunny costume and sing to a rich hot shot lawyer.

Louis McNally seems to have the world in his hands. He’s from a wealthy family. He has a good career. He has women chasing him and wanting to be a significant part of his life. He doesn’t take advantage of his position and works a lot of pro bono cases. He’s basically a good guy. From the moment Louis sees Roxy in her bunny costume he is done in. He will do everything in his power to spend time with the spunky bunny. For the first time, he wants the girl and the commitment that goes with it. The bunny (whoops, I meant the girl) doesn’t want anything to do with commitment or Louis. Game on….

Chase Me is playful and fun. Louis gives Roxy a good chase. When he finally catches her the fireworks are explosive.

Chase Me was an outstanding debut in the new Broke and Beautiful series. Tessa Bailey has once again delivered a top notch red hot book!

I can’t wait to read the next book in the Broke and Beautiful series by Tessa Bailey. Need Me will be releasing in April.

Read the excerpt below….

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Chase Me Excerpt

Chapter One

Today’s weather forecast: imminent shitstorms across the Tri-State area.

Roxy Cumberland’s footsteps echoed off the smooth, cream-colored walls of the hallway, high heels clicking along the polished marble. When she caught her reflection in the pristine window overlooking Stanton Street, she winced. This pink bunny costume wasn’t doing shit for her skin tone. A withering sigh escaped her as she tugged the plastic mask back into place.

Singing telegrams still existed. Who knew? She’d actually laughed upon seeing the tiny advertisement in the Village Voice’s Help Wanted section, but curiosity had led her to dial the number. Her laughter had stopped abruptly when she’d heard exactly how much people were willing to pay in exchange for her humiliation. So here she was, one day later, preparing to sing in front of a perfect stranger for a cut of sixty bucks.

Sixty bucks might not sound like much, but when your roommate has just booted you onto your ass for failure to come through on rent—again—leaving you no place to live, and your checking account is gasping for oxygen, pink bunnies do what pink bunnies must. At least her round, fluffy tail would cushion her fall when her ass hit the sidewalk.

See? She’d already found a silver lining. Maybe the shitstorm would hold.

Or not. Over the last week, she’d been on thirteen auditions, trudging on blistered feet between callbacks and will-definitely-never-call-backs, smiling and reciting lines for bored production executives. Toothpaste commercials, walk-on rolls for daytime soaps…hell, she’d even auditioned to play a mother in a diaper rash ad. They’d all but laughed her twenty-one-year-old ass out of the building.

Too bad they couldn’t touch her. Nothing and nobody could. She was from New fucking Jersey.

While Roxy usually kept that fact to herself, she couldn’t help but admit that Jersey had prepared her for this constant rejection. It had given her the brass balls to say “their loss” every single time someone in a business suit decided her acting skills weren’t good enough. That she wasn’t good enough. One word kept her going, kept her boarding the subway to another audition. Someday. Someday she would look back at this pre-stardom experience and be grateful for it. She’d cozy up to Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet and have a damn good story to tell. Although she might just leave out the pink bunny suit.

Unfortunately, on days like today, when a shitstorm cloud was riding low above her head, following her everywhere she went, someday seemed a long way off. Sixty dollars couldn’t plug the hole in the shitcloud, it could only keep her eating properly for the next week. As far as her living situation went, she’d figure something out. If it meant taking the bus to Jersey and sneaking into her old bedroom for the night, she’d bite the bullet. The next morning, she’d slip her feet back into her heels and get back to pounding the pavement, her parents never being the wiser.

Through the eyeholes of the bunny mask, Roxy glanced down at the piece of paper in her hand. Apartment 4D. Based on the song she’d memorized on the way here and the swank interior of the building, she knew the type who would answer the door. Some too-rich, middle-aged douchebag who was so bored with his life that he needed to be entertained with novelties like singing bunny rabbits. He’d close the door when she finished, text his main squeeze some emoticon-heavy thank-you, and forget all about this little diversion on his way to play indoor tennis.

Roxy’s gaze tracked down lower on the note in her hand, and she felt an uncomfortable kick of unease in her belly. She’d met her new boss at a tiny office in Alphabet City, surprised to find a dude only slightly older than herself running the operation. Always suspicious, she’d asked him how he kept the place afloat. There couldn’t be that high a demand for singing telegrams, right? He’d laughed, explaining that singing bunnies only accounted for a tenth of their income. The rest came in the form of strip-o-grams. She’d done her best to appear flattered when he’d told her she’d be perfect for it.

Would she go that far? Taking her clothes off for strangers paid a damn sight more than sixty bucks. It would be so easy for her to take that leap. As an actress, she had the ability to detach herself and become someone else. Being the object of attention didn’t bother her; it was what she’d trained herself for. That kind of income would guarantee her a place to live, allow her to continue auditioning without worrying about her next meal. So why the hesitation?

She ran a thumb over the rates young-dude-boss had jotted down on the slip of paper. Two hundred dollars for each ten-minute performance. God, the security she would feel with that kind of money. And yet, something told her that once she took that step, once she started taking off her clothes, she would never stop. It would become a necessity instead of a temporary patch-up of her shitstorm cloud.

Think about it later. When you’re not dressed like the fucking Trix Rabbit. Roxy took a deep, fortifying breath, the same one she took before every audition. She wrapped her steady fingers around the brass door knocker and rapped it against the wood twice. A frown marred her forehead when she heard a miserable groan come from inside the apartment. It sounded like a young groan. Maybe the douchebag had a son? Oh, cool. She definitely wanted to do this in front of someone in her age group. Perfect.

Her sarcastic thought bubble burst over her head when the door swung open, revealing a guy. A hot-as-hell guy. A naked-except-for-unbuttoned-jeans guy. Being the shameless hussy she was, her gaze immediately dipped to his happy trail, although, on this guy, it really should have been called a rapture path. It started just beneath his belly button, which sat at the bottom of beautifully defined ab muscles. But they weren’t the kind of abs honed from hours in the gym. No, they were natural, I-do-sit-ups-when-I-damn-well-feel-like-it abs. Approachable abs. The kind you could either lick or snuggle up against, depending on your mood.

Roxy lassoed her rapidly dwindling focus and yanked it higher until she met his eyes. Big mistake. The abs were child’s play compared to the face. Stubbled jaw. Bed head. Big, Hershey-colored eyes outlined by dark, black lashes. His fists were planted on either side of the door frame, giving her a front-row seat to watch his chest and arms flex. A lesser woman would have applauded. As it was, Roxy was painfully aware of her bunny-costumed status, and even that came in second place to the fact that Approachable Abs was so stinking rich that he could afford to be nursing a hangover at eleven in the morning. On a Thursday.

He dragged a hand through his unkempt black hair. “Am I still drunk, or are you dressed like a rabbit?”

His voice was rough from sleep. Probably not his usual voice. That had to be the reason her tummy did a backflip. “I’m dressed like a rabbit.”

“Okay.” He tilted his head. “Should I be drunk for this?”

“If anyone should be drunk for this, it’s me.”

“Good point.” He jerked his thumb back toward his dark apartment. “I think there’s some tequila left—”

“You know what?” This is my life right now. How did I get here? “I think I’m all set.”

He nodded once, as if out of respect for her decision. “So what now?”

“Are you…” She consulted her slip of paper through the round eyeholes. “Louis McNally?”

“Yeah.” He leaned against the doorjamb and considered her. “I was named after my grandfather. So, technically, I’m Louis McNally the Second. How’s that for fancy?”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Just making small talk.”

“Is this a typical Thursday exploit for you? Get a lot of forest creatures on your doorstep?”

“You’d be the first.”

“Well, then. Call me Pink Bunny the First. How’s that for fancy?” When he laughed, she was grateful for the mask that hid her unexpected smile. Honestly, this situation was getting more ridiculous by the minute. She definitely didn’t have time for this. At one o’clock she was auditioning for a small theater company’s ironic production of Lassie. Priorities, Roxy.

“You sound cute.” He squinted at her, as if attempting to see through the plastic mask. “You cute under there, bunny?”

“Being that your one-night stand from last night sent me here to sing for you, I don’t know if that matters,” she answered sweetly.

“Cute girls trump all.” One dark eyebrow rose. “What was that about singing?”

Roxy cleared her throat, letting the horrifically stupid lyrics imprint on her brain. Lyrics she hadn’t written, thanks God. The sooner she got this over with, the sooner she could get out of the suffocating costume and forget this ever happened. Until tomorrow. When she was scheduled to dress like a giant bumble bee. For fuck sake.

Make every performance count. Channeling Liza Minnelli, she cocked one hip and raised the opposite hand.

To my hot shot honey bunny

Last night we went places and had some fun-ny

You brought me home and we skipped the small talk

Now I’m daydreaming about your perfect—

“Stop.” Louis shook his head slowly. “Jesus, please, make it stop.”

Roxy let her hand drop to her side. “You better be complaining about the lyrics and not my singing.”

“I—sure.” He scanned the hallway, looking relieved when he saw that none of his neighbors had overheard. “Who did you say sent you?”

She stared back at him, dumbfounded. Not that he could tell with the mask hiding her face. “You had more than one girl over last night?”

“I was celebrating,” he said defensively. “Don’t be a judgmental rabbit. They’re the worst.”

“O-kay, my work is done here.” She turned tail—literally—and started walking back toward the elevator. Over her shoulder, she called, “Zoe sent me. You might want to write that down.”

“Is she the redhead?” Louis called back. When Roxy stopped in her tracks, he smiled to let her know he’d been kidding. Maybe. “Hold up. Can you just wait here a second? I should give you a tip.”

As he fumbled in his jeans pocket, Roxy smirked. “Which tip are we referring to here? I did just sing an ode to your penis.”

“Please don’t remind me.” He drew a twenty-dollar bill out of his wallet, pinching it between his fingers. “Just one request, though. I want to see your face first.”

Roxy felt a stab of irritation. What the hell did it matter what she looked like? Everywhere she went, every part she read for, critical eyes poked and prodded her. Too thin. Too curvy. Too tall. Too short. Never what they wanted. And just this morning, she’d been told she had a stripper’s body. The fact that this wealthy party guy was holding money over her head in order to judge her appearance only tripled her annoyance. “Why? If you like what you see, will you invite me inside? You haven’t even showered off the last girl yet.”

He actually had the grace to look a little ashamed. “I—”

Roxy didn’t give a shit about his answer. “Would you expect me to be flattered?” She clutched her chest dramatically. “Please, oh keeper of the golden penis, let me worship at your flawless phallus.”

“Careful.” His shame morphed into irritation. “You’re starting to sound a little jealous to me.”

“Jealous?” Oh, that did it. The shitstorm cloud above her head darkened, lightning bolts shooting through its sides. Kicked out of her apartment, not a single callback in weeks, and leaning toward stripping. He’d caught her on a bad fucking day. Honestly, good days were getting harder to come by, and right now, she could think of only one thing that would help. Wiping the smug superiority off the Penis Prince’s face.

She bit down on her lips to plump them up, then reached up and removed the mask. Satisfaction danced in her bloodstream when his jaw went slack, brown eyes melting into a deeper shade. That’s right, buddy. I ain’t half bad. As she strode toward him, he straightened from the doorjamb, a groan working its way free of his throat. He saw the intention in her expression, knew what was coming. It didn’t escape her that even though she wore a thick pink bunny suit, he was looking at her like she wore a string bikini. Louis McNally the Second was an interesting character, she’d give him that.

“Jealous?” she repeated before shoving him into the apartment, bringing his back up against the inside wall just beside the door. “Sweetheart, I would rock your world.”

Not giving him a chance to respond, she surged up on her toes and melded their mouths together. Ohhh, snap. There was zero hesitation on his part, just a long, expert pull of her lips. As if she’d let go of a trapeze and he’d caught her in midair. The kiss hit the ground running, mouths opening, tongues fighting to take the lead. One strong hand found her chin and pulled it down further, allowing him to slant his head and deepen the kiss even further. Shock exploded behind her eyes, and she swayed a little under the wave of heat. Affected. He was affecting her in a way she wasn’t familiar with. She’d kissed a lot of guys, but she’d never felt dread over the idea of stopping. Louis pushed his tongue deeper, making a hungry sound and sending it vibrating into her mouth. She echoed it. Louder. Her head fell back and he moved with her, keeping their lips locked together, as if he couldn’t allow her to get away. What was happening here? She was losing control of the situation. Get it back.

Roxy pulled back and sucked in a deep breath. His mouth was damp and parted as he tried to draw in his own oxygen, his face a mask of stunned disbelief. “Who the hell are you?”

Swallowing the odd feeling in her throat, she plucked the twenty-dollar bill out of his fingers. “I’m gone.”

She blew into the hallway, sensing him staring after her. With as much dignity as one could muster while dressed like a pink bunny, she bypassed the elevator and took the stairs, two at a time.

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Need Me

Broke and Beautiful Series – Book 2

Coming April 21, 2015

Pre Order: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Synopsis

When Honey Perribow traded in her cowboy boots for stilettos and left her small Kentucky town to attend Columbia University, she never expected to find a dirt-cheap apartment or two new best friends. No stranger to hard work, Honey’s sole focus is a medical degree…until she sees newly-minted Professor, Ben Dawson, and her concentration is hijacked. Honey is fascinated by her gorgeous, young English professor and vows to find a crack his tweed-wearing, glasses-clad exterior.

While at an off campus party, an accident lands Ben in a dark, locked closet with a sexy-sounding southern belle…and their chemistry is explosive. But when he discovers that the girl in his arms is the same beautiful student he can’t stop thinking about, he is stunned. Student-teacher relationships are strictly forbidden…yet no matter how hard he tries, Ben can’t stay away from Honey.

And when his attempts to fight their attraction nearly ruin the best thing that ever happened to him, Ben will do anything to prove how much he needs her.

About Tessa Bailey

Tessa lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and young daughter. When she isn’t writing or reading romance, Tessa enjoys a good argument and thirty-minute recipes.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Blocked by Lisa N. Paul

Posted on 03/09/2015 by shellbellereads

Blocked

By Lisa N. Paul

Happy Release Day Lisa N. Paul! Blocked is live and at a limited time price of $.99 so be sure to grab your copy today!

About Blocked

Racing hearts, Toe curling kisses, Sexy whispers…

Decker Brand has spent the past four years earning back his man-card. He’s got the calloused hands, the dirty jeans and the toned body to show for it. Now that he’s satisfied with whom he is he intends to stay true to himself even if it means remaining alone.

Lingering glances, Soft touches, Shallow Breaths…

April Maddox thought she’d lucked out when she found her prince at the early age of sixteen. Unfortunately, their kiss turned him from king to croaker right before her eyes.

Forsaken and cynical, she fears all men will leave her with warts before hopping off to another woman’s lily pad.

Smooth strokes, Light nips, Gentle tugs…

When it comes to relationships, they say timing is everything, and everything has its time.

History has played a part in Decker’s and April’s desire to give up on love. Fate will bring them together. It’s up to them to battle the outside forces, life’s interruptions, and daily dramas… together. With a little faith, they can undo everything that’s been…

Blocked

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Excerpt

HIS GRAVELLY LAUGH reverberated through the phone, making her insides clench with desire she’d never before known. April resisted lifting her lids, not wanting to end the magnificent dream he created in her mind’s eye.

“I have no idea,” he admitted, his voice sounding as rough with need as she felt.

Inhaling deeply, April forced her eyes open and looked down at her body. Her lace covered nipples stood in erect peaks, begging to be touched, while her stocking-covered feet rubbed together anxiously, like a cricket sending out a mating call. “Come on, Deck, I know you aren’t a virgin any more than I am. It’s okay. I just wanna know how you learned to have phone sex like that?”

Another deep chuckle infiltrated her ear. “Oh, sweet woman, that was not phone sex. That was… fuck.” April could hear the exasperation in his tone. “Frankly, that was something I’ve never experienced in my life. To be honest, I wasn’t certain how that was going to play out, but I just closed my eyes and pictured what you were doing and… it was like I could touch you, April. I could actually fucking taste your lips. That was phone-kissing and it was… mmm.”

The timbre of his deep voice felt like his hands, thick and calloused. She’d only felt them a couple of times at the gym when he touched her shoulder or held her hand, but when he’d caressed her cheeks while kissing her at the restaurant, she nearly melted on contact. It was the thought of his rough on her soft that swept her away in his fantasy just moments earlier.

“It was absolutely ‘mmm’,” she teased. Having never experienced phone sex before, neither the full-fledged kind nor the type they’d just engaged in, April knew without a doubt if it was something that could make her feel that good, hell, she’d do it every damn day. “Deck?” She swallowed hard, summoning the courage to say what her mind was shouting.

“What do you need, beautiful?” There was a smile in his question, nothing cocky or crude, but it was as if he asked while fully knowing what she was going to say.

“Your kisses,” she started slowly, “both in person and over the phone, made me feel things.” She brought her hand over her breast and rolled her tightened nipple between her finger and her thumb, pinching the nub until small sparks lit in her core. “Things I haven’t felt in a long, long time. I really liked it, Decker… I like you. And I need… more. I want more.” She switched to her other breast, kneading the sensitive flesh, pulling at her nipple as she continued to talk to the man who’d lit her up more than once that evening.

“Are you touching yourself, April?”

“Yes.” She heard the quiver in her voice, but she didn’t have it in her to be ashamed.

“Good. Where are you touching, honey?” There was no hiding his desire. It was clear as day in each throaty question.

“Umm—” Shit, she had to answer him. She was a grown damn woman, and she could perform without a problem, but when it came to talking about sex in a sexy way… well, apparently she was missing that quality—at least according to her ex-husband.

“Do you trust me?” Decker asked for the second time that night.

“Okay…”

Chuckling, he repeated her answer. “‘Okay’ is better than no, so we’re getting somewhere. April, feel free to stop me if I ever make you feel uncomfortable, okay?”

“That I can promise,” she answered confidently.

“Perfect. Now, where are you touching yourself, babe?”

April sighed.

“April, are you touching your breasts? Christ, I hope you are. I’ve thought about your perfect tits for months, each time I watched you on the treadmill.”

Oh my God, his words were like jolts of electricity zinging to the very center of her.

“Are you pinching your nipples, beautiful? Making them pebble beneath your long, delicate fingers? Are they begging for my mouth?”

April swallowed. Her breaths were shallow as liquid heat pooled between her thighs. “Mmm, yes, they’re so sensitive, Decker.”

She heard his muffled groan before he said, “Fuck, what I wouldn’t do to sweep my tongue over those hardened points and suck until you screamed my name. But…” His words stopped.

Confused, April pulled the phone from her ear to make sure the call hadn’t dropped. “But what? But what, Decker?” The high pitch of her voice would have been amusing had it not sounded so pathetic to her own ears.

“But…” Decker sounded strained but more composed than her. “I asked you to kiss me tonight, and you agreed. But more importantly, I asked for your trust, and you gave it to me.”

There was so much conviction in his words, so much intensity, April felt as if she could see him, touch him… trust him. She shook her head. No, not yet.

“I intend to keep that trust. So as much as it pains me to say this, this is where we need to get off.”

“That’s what I was trying to do before you so rudely interrupted me, Mr. Brand,” April needled.

“Ms. Maddox,” Decker mock-scolded, “are you trying to corrupt my morals? Because I will not allow it.”

Unable to remember the last time her cheeks ached from smiling, April giggled into the phone. “I won’t try to corrupt you, you sweet innocent man, but I will thank you for everything. I had a great time tonight, Deck.”

“Me too, April. I know our schedules are crazy, but I look forward to seeing you again, outside of the gym,” he qualified. “Sleep well, beautiful. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Michel’s Review

If you have not read any of Lisa N. Paul’s books I would highly recommend Blocked.

Lisa writes an emotional story with compelling characters that touch your heart. Her writing is smooth, has the right amount of push and pull, the right amount of heat and steam, and is well plotted story. She adds the right amount of humor and the right amount of angst. She allows her characters to come to life and take over the pages.

In her latest release Blocked, the characters have both experienced bad marriages. They have been burned. They both carry around issues from their past marriages. Although they have seen the worst of love and marriage, they have managed to pick up the pieces and move on with their lives. They don’t let their past hold them back. And because of their past, they are much better parents to their children.

Both Decker and April are strong characters. They both display different strengths and prove that they have the right kind of backbone to make a new relationship work. Although they are cautious because of their pasts and their children, they do not let their caution ruin their chance at a happy future.

I am not going to say too much more because it would leave too many spoilers. I will say that both characters will capture your heart and you will fall in love with them. Their story will pull on your heartstrings and make you rejoice in the end.

About Lisa N. Paul

Lisa N. Paul is a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, reader, writer, blogger, and self-proclaimed comedian—just not always in that order. Ever since she was a little girl, she has devoured books. Falling in love with the Sweet Valley High series at a young age drew Lisa to series books and inspired her to write her own. Thursday Nights is the first book in her Charistown series.

When not writing, Lisa can be found eating french fries and Godiva raspberry truffles, or hanging out with her husband and two sons.

Connect with her online

Website: http://lisanpaul.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LisaNPaul3

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisanpaul3

Instagram: http://instagram.com/Lisa.Spivackpaul

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5168809.Lisa_N_Paul

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lisa-N-Paul/e/B00G4KFDK

5 Star Review: Cartel by Lili St. Germain

Posted on 03/06/2015 by shellbellereads

Cartel

Cartel Series- Book 1

By Lili St. Germain

Release Date: January 27, 2015

Synopsis

The first full length Gypsy Brothers novel from the smash hit author Lili St Germain.

How much is a life worth?

I grew up in Colombia, the daughter of a wealthy drug lord. I lived a life of extravagance, until one day a drug run went horribly wrong and everything came crashing down around us.

I was given away. A payment for a debt. The Gypsy Brothers Motorcycle Club became my new owners, and I did everything I could to survive.

But falling in love with the man who owned me wasn’t part of the plan…

Pre- Order: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo / Google Play

Excerpt

His eyes lit up at that as his gaze travelled across my chest and wandered down to the most private of places. I was clothed and covered in the right places, but in front of him, I felt completely naked. The feeling was unnerving and delicious all at once, which only confused me further.

So he’s sexy as hell. It doesn’t matter. He’s the enemy.

‘It doesn’t matter anyway,’ I added hastily. ‘I’ve got a nasty case of the clap. Better not rape me or your pico might fall off.’ I thrust my chin out as I used the Spanish term for ‘small dick’, smirking at the Gypsy Brother as his warm hands continued to roam every bit of bare flesh on my arms.

Dornan laughed at my admission, a throaty noise full of gravel and insolence that made me increasingly unsteady on my feet.

‘I’m not going to rape you,’ he replied, amusement dancing in his dark eyes. ‘And you don’t have the clap. So don’t use that one on me.’

Michel’s Review

Cartel by Lili St. Germain is the first book in the Cartel Trilogy. This series is connected to the Gypsy Brothers series. It is a separate series within itself and features Dornan Ross, the VP of the Gypsy Brothers MC and son to one of the most ruthless Cartels on the west coast.

If you have read the Gypsy Brothers series you are aware of how violent and ruthless Dornan can be. He is not a good man. The Cartel series gives the readers a very vivid insight to Dornan’s life and how he came to be one of the most feared men. He was born into the violence. He was forced to embrace the life. He rebelled by forming the Gypsy Brothers MC. It would seem he is independent of his father and his Cartel but that is far from the truth. His family ties and commitments to the club have united the two. His life is not how he wanted it to be. He has done what he can to survive the life he was born into. His fate is always one second away from death.

When his father acquired the daughter of one the members of the Columbian Cartel, Dornan tried to look the other way and not become involved. His father is known for human trafficking. He’s seen women come and go, live and die. Not his problem. When he has to transport his father’s latest acquisition he finally has some remorse. Mariana Rodriquez has earned his respect and interest. She is strong, smart, beautiful, and has a strong survival instinct. Her life hangs in the balance of his father’s whims. This time he is going to step in and try to save the girl. It may cost both of their lives or it may bring the cartel more money. Either way it goes, Dornan and Mariana are not meant for happily ever afters. The only thing they can hope for is a happily right now. Right now she literally belongs to him. Moments later she could belong in the ground.

This book is intense. It sets the stage for the Gypsy Brothers involvement with the Cartel. The series clearly focuses on Dornan Ross. If you have not read the Gypsy Brothers Series you may want to begin with this series. There are some events and scenes that could be considered spoilers or deal breakers for the Cartel series. The series take place in different time periods and therefore are completely different.

I really liked how Lily developed Dornan’s character in this series. He seems a bit more human. This series is enlightening and gives the reader an understanding of how the Gypsy Brothers evolved into what they are today.

I can’t wait for the second book, Kingpin to release on September 1, 2015.

Be sure to add these books to your reading list:

Kingpin – Book 2

Release Date: September 1, 2015

The second scorching novel in the USA Today bestselling Cartel trilogy from the smash-hit author Lili St Germain.
They say love conquers all.

It’s a lie.

Five days a week, I dressed in smart business clothes. I painted my face, and went to work as an accountant. But nothing about my life was normal.

For eight years I had been the property of the Gypsy Brothers Motorcycle Club. I laundered their money so well they’d never let me leave. My only glimmer of light was the man I loved. The man who had saved me.

Dornan.

His love had been the only thing that kept the demons at bay. But he’d become so immersed in the cartel’s brutal business that I hardly knew him anymore.

Dornan had been my salvation, but he was also my undoing.

Would he pull me down into the darkness until he destroyed me? Could I save him?

Did I even want to?

Empire – Book 3

Release Date: October 1, 2015

The irresistible conclusion to the Cartel trilogy from the smash hit author Lili St Germain.

Gypsy Brothers Series

Seven Sons

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Six Brothers

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Five Miles

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Four Score

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Three Years

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Two Roads

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One Love

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Lili writes dark romance, suspense and paranormal stories. Her serial novel, Seven Sons, was released in early 2014, with the following books in the series to be released in quick succession. Lili quit corporate life to focus on writing and so far is loving every minute of it. Her other loves in life include her gorgeous husband and beautiful daughter, good coffee, Tarantino movies and spending hours on Pinterest.

She loves to read almost as much as she loves to write.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

5 Star Review: The 27 Club by Kim Karr

Posted on 03/05/2015 by shellbellereads

The 27 Club

A Stand Alone Novel

By Kim Karr

Release Date: March 3, 2015

Pre-Order: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Synopsis

You don’t know when…
You don’t get to choose if…
When it’s time to join…you’ll know.
You might think you want to be a member—but trust me, this is one club you don’t want to join. It’s not a place where people go to live out their deepest, darkest sexual desires—there are no handcuffs or blindfolds.
The 27 Club only admits those who die young and tragically. Having just lost my brother to the club, I know there is no doubt. I’m next. This is my destiny… and I was ready to yield.
But then I met Nate. He awakened a sensuality in me that had never been explored, never satisfied. I knew then I could no longer accept my destiny. Nate’s presence controls me. I’m overwhelmed by his touch, his words; my every thought is consumed by desire. I believe he was brought into my life for a reason.
Nate doesn’t believe in destiny.
But I do.
And if there’s a way to cheat it—I must.

Excerpt

The wind howls and the palm trees whip against the windows as the storm seems to make its way closer to landfall. Thunder booms and lightning lights up the room, startling me. No, not lightning—a lamp.

“Hello, Zoey.” The voice is deep and husky.

As the sound registers, I scream. I quickly sit up and scan my unfamiliar surroundings. My eyes immediately land on the silhouette of a man standing beside me, and I scream again, this time scrambling off the bed in terror.

In this moment, my heart stops beating, my lungs stop breathing, and my brain stops thinking. I’m petrified.

The man raises his palms up in surrender. “Zoey, I’m Nate, Z’s friend. You don’t have to be scared. I’m not going to hurt you.”

My fear must be evident. I stare at him for a few long moments, both alarmed and trembling. Only once realization sets in, that yes, this is Nate, my brother’s best friend, do I attempt to calm my ragged breaths.

He takes a cautious step back. “Just cover up with something so we can talk.”

Oh my God, my clothes.

Tangled sheets catch on my limbs as I climb back onto the bed and unsuccessfully try to pull the covers over my practically naked body. Before humiliation grabs complete hold of me, I give up and dive for my soaking wet shirt lying on the floor.

Sliding the cold fabric over my head, I pull it down to cover my panties and stand up, quickly crossing my arms over my chest to shield any signs of the chill I’m feeling.

Not great, but better. At least I can look at him with a little dignity.

Finally, I glance up and my gaze catches his. As soon as it does, he drops his eyes.

The photos I’ve seen of him over the years, when my brother would text me a funny shot—a selfie of him and Nate at some top chef restaurant, at the beach, or at a coffee house—didn’t nearly do him justice. Those shots were goofy poses with baseball caps turned backwards and funny faces. Not that I didn’t think he was good looking in them, because I did, but there’s just something different about him.

I blink and focus on the matter at hand. “You scared the shit out of me. What are you doing here?”

Staring at the ground, he leans against the door jam. “You beat me to the punch. I was just about to ask you the same question.”

“Why would you ask me that?”

He raises a brow. “I guess I’m just curious.”

I sigh, feeling confused.

His gaze lifts, and those eyes, those bewitching emerald green eyes, stare back at me. “Not that I mind that you’re here. It’s just—a little warning would have been nice. That’s all.”

His tone is more bemused than apologetic.

I’m not sure what to think.

With a straight and confident stance, I clear my throat. “I e-mailed you earlier today to let you know that I was coming for the weekend. I’m really sorry about the late notice, but I decided at the last minute.”

He reaches into the pocket of his low-slung jeans and pulls out his phone. After a few taps and scrolls he looks up at me. “I guess you did. Here it is. I’m usually on top of my e-mails but today my . . . schedule was full. Had I seen your message, I would have tried to rearrange my plans.”

“That’s fine really. I managed. It’s not a big deal.”

I steal a glance at my reliable Timex—just after midnight. What is he doing in my brother’s house in the middle of the night? Just as I’m about to ask him, my eyes catch sight of the way he predatorily walks around the room and I’m momentarily distracted. He moves like a panther— slowly circling his prey, keeping his distance, not too close, but close enough to pounce if he feels the urge. He settles back against the wall, just a little closer now. “Zoey, did you hear me?”

I swallow. “Sorry, what?”

His tone grows more insistent. “I said I would have at least sent a car for you. You shouldn’t be out in this weather on your own.”

My brow furrows. Why is he still talking about the airport?

When I don’t respond, he crosses his arms over his chest like he owns the place.

It’s then that reality sinks in. And as cliché as this sounds, I am not going to let Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome intimidate me. It’s time to take charge. “There was no need. I managed just fine. But if you didn’t know I was coming, can I ask what you’re doing here?”

Confusion seems to have taken over his thoughts as he steps even closer—moving with a lethal grace that makes my body start to hum. I can’t help but study him as his features come into clear focus. His body is long and lean. His hair is dark, the most unusual shade of brown, maybe like the color of expensive chocolate, but not exactly. His eyes are languid, watchful, and the most beautiful shade I’ve ever seen—darker than emeralds or the deepest of forest greens. His lips look full and soft. He is handsome in a way that is unlike anyone I’ve ever seen.

My mind is going haywire.

A look of realization seems to cross his face as he stares at me.

“Nate, why are you at my brother’s house in the middle of the night?” I ask him again.

With a smirk, he ignores my question. Instead of answering me, he opens the door beside him. It’s a closet, Zach’s closet to be exact, and he steps right in, again like he owns the place.

“What are you doing?” I ask impatiently.

He comes back into the bedroom with a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt in his hand. “You’re trembling. How about you get changed and we sit down to talk?”

The audacity of this man is beyond comprehension. From his e-mails he seemed nice, but then again, you never can tell what lurks behind the words on a computer screen.

He stares and his small smirk really irritates me. “Take these, they’re mine. I’ll wait downstairs while you get changed.”

If I weren’t standing here, chilled and in my underwear, I might just tell him to go to hell. But instead I reach for the clothes, and as I do, I start to wonder if he’s been squatting in my brother’s house. Once the clothes are in my hands, his mouth spreads into a slow, easy grin.

Annoyance grabs hold of me as I pivot on my bare feet and head toward the bathroom, making sure not to glance over my shoulder. When I hear heavy footsteps, I let my body fall back and shut everything out of my mind for a few short seconds.

What is going on?

When I’ve gathered my composure, I quickly strip out of my wet clothes and redress. Then I make the mistake of looking in the mirror. A wet dog would look better than I do right now. In an effort to improve the image, I grab a towel and wipe the black mascara from under my eyes. Then I use my fingers to comb through my mass of curls and try to calm them, but that’s nearly impossible.

Okay, better—but not great.

Who cares anyway?

It’s not like I’m trying to impress him. In fact, I’ve never tried to impress a man.

Ever.

Michel’s Review

Wow! Kim Karr stepped outside of her realm and wrote a dark, erotic romance. The 27 Club is unlike any of her other books. It contains intrigue, mystery, erotic romance, psychological twists, and deeply tormented characters. Although The 27 Club is somewhat dark, it ends with a light at the end of the tunnel. The book itself delivers a very powerful message. We cannot control our fate. It is up to us to live life to the fullest. It is important to grab each moment as if it is our last. Live and Love Each Moment.

Zoey Flowers has been incapacitated since the death of her brother Zach. Zach was killed in a horrific accident at the age of 27. Her family has a long history of deaths to many of their descendants at the age of 27. It is known as the The 27 Club. Zach Flowers is the most recent member of The 27 Club. Zoey Flowers has just turned 27 and fears she is the next family member to join the club. Her fear is very real and validated. Her fear has incapacitated her. She is no longer really living life. She is constantly wondering if her next moment is going to be her death. She is also suffering from the loss of her brother. They were very close.

Zoey finally gets the nerve to go to Miami to settle her brother’s estate and come to terms with his death. It is the first structured and positive action she has taken since her 27th birthday.

When she arrives in Miami she is in for some great surprises. The first surprise that she gets is that her brother had been lying to her about where he lived and how he led his life. The house she was told was his home is actually his best friend’s, Nate Hanson’s home. The Art gallery he ran was not the viable source of income he claimed it to be. There is no trace of the artwork he supposedly sold, yet his bank account says differently. Zoey will have to go through her brother’s belongings and try to piece together the life he lived rather than the one he fabricated.

His best friend, Nate Hanson, is drop dead gorgeous, smoldering sexy, and fantastically rich. He’s smart, sophisticated, and worldly. He is also personable and down to earth in a somewhat geeky way. For the first time in what seems like forever, Zoey is intensely attracted to Nate. He stirs her desires like no other man has. She figures that if her time on earth is limited, she is going to pursue her sexual desires she has towards Nate. She is finally reaching out to life.

Nate doesn’t believe in destiny. He feels that you need to live life by the moment. He believes in doing things with a full throttle at full force. No holding back. He lives his life this way with one exception. No relationships, no deep involvement with the opposite sex. He is the one night stand kind of guy. He has some real issues that hold him back from committing to love. He is intensely attracted to Zoey and wants her in his bed. He is holding himself back because he knows Zach would never have approved of him sleeping with his sister. But as he gets to know Zoey he cannot hold himself back.

Both Nate and Zoey will embark on an intense erotic affair. They will each learn new things about life and what makes it a joy to live. As they unravel the secret life that Zach was leading before his death, they will learn many different life lessons.

In the end they will have to chose how they live their lives. Do they live it alone or live it together, one moment at a time ? No one really knows their fate, but destiny will always be the master. Is their love their destiny?

Read this book!

Author Bio:

I live in Florida with my husband and four kids. I’ve always had a love for reading books and writing. Being an English major in college, I wanted to teach at the college level but that was not to be. I went on to receive an MBA and became a project manager until quitting to raise my family. I currently work part-time with my husband and full-time embracing one of my biggest passions—writing.

Stalk Her: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Happy Release + Review : Before I Fall by Jessica Scott – Falling Series – Book 1

Posted on 03/04/2015 by shellbellereads

Before I Fall

Falling Series – Book 1

Genre: New Adult

By Jessica Scott

Synopsis

Stay focused. Get a job. Save her father’s life.

Beth Lamont knows far too much about the harsh realities of life her gilded classmates have only read about in class. She’ll do whatever it takes to take care of her father, even if that means tutoring a guy like Noah – a guy who represents everything she hates about the war, soldiers and what the Army has done to her family.

Noah Warren doesn’t know how to be a student. All he knows is war. But he’s going to college now to fulfill a promise and he doesn’t break his promises. Except he doesn’t count on his tutor being drop dead gorgeous and distracting as hell. One look at Beth threatens to unravel the careful lies Noah has constructed around him.

A simple arrangement turns into something neither of them can deny. And a war that neither of them can forget could destroy them both.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Google Play / Kobo

Excerpt

Chapter One

Beth

My dad has good days and bad. The good days are awesome. When he’s awake and he’s pretending to cook and I’m pretending to eat it. It’s a joke between us that he burns water. But that’s okay.

On the good days, I humor him. Because for those brief interludes, I have my dad back.

The not so good days, like today, are more common. Days when he can’t get out of bed without my help.

I bring him his medication. I know exactly how much he takes and how often.

And I know exactly when he runs out.

I’ve gotten better at keeping up with his appointments so he doesn’t, but the faceless bastards at the VA cancel more than they keep. But what can we do? He can’t get private insurance with his health, and because someone decided that his back injury wasn’t entirely service-related, he doesn’t have a high enough disability rating to qualify for automatic care. So we wait for them to fit him in and when we can’t, we go to the emergency room and the bills pile up. Because despite him not being able to move on the bad days, his back pain treatments are elective.

So I juggle phone calls to the docs and try to keep us above water.

Bastards.

I leave his phone by his bed and make sure it’s plugged in to charge before I head to school. He’s got water and the pills he’ll need when he finally comes out of the fog. Our tiny house is only a mile from campus. Not in the best part of town but not the worst either. I’ve got an hour before class, which means I need to hustle. Thankfully, it’s not terribly hot today so I won’t arrive on campus a sweating, soggy mess. That always makes a good impression, especially at a wealthy southern school like this one.

I make it to campus with twenty minutes to spare and check my e-mail on the campus WiFi. I can’t check it at the house – Internet is a luxury we can’t afford. If I’m lucky, my neighbor’s signal sometimes bleeds over into our house. Most of the time, though, I’m not that lucky. Which is fine. Except for days like this where there’s a note from my professor asking me to come by her office before class.

Professor Blake is terrifying to those who don’t know her. She’s so damn smart it’s scary, and she doesn’t let any of us get away with not speaking up in class. Sit up straight. Speak loudly. She’s harder on the girls, too. Some of the underclassmen complain that she’s being unfair. I don’t complain, though. I know she’s doing it for a reason.

“You got my note just in time,” she says. Her tortoise-shell glasses reflect the fluorescent light, and I can’t see her eyes.

“Yes, ma’am.” She’s told me not to call her ma’am, but it slips out anyway. I can’t help it. Thankfully, she doesn’t push the issue.

“I have a job for you.”

“Sure.” A job means extra money on the side. Money that I can use to get my dad his medications. Or, you know, buy food. Little things. It’s hard as hell to do stats when your stomach is rumbling. “What does it entail?”

“Tutoring. Business statistics.”

“I hear a but in there.”

“He’s a former soldier.”

Once, when my mom first left us, I couldn’t wake my dad up. My blood pounded so loud in my ears that I could hardly hear. That’s how I feel now. My mouth is open, but no sound crosses my lips. Professor Blake knows how I feel about the war, about soldiers. I can’t deal with all the hoah chest-beating bullshit. Not with my dad and everything the war has done to him.

“Before you say no, hear me out. Noah has some very well-placed friends that want him very much to succeed here. He’s got a ticket into the business school graduate program, but only if he gets through Stats.”

I’m having a hard time breathing. I can’t do this. Just thinking about what the war has done to my dad makes it difficult to breathe. But the idea of extra money, just a little, is a strong motivator when you don’t have it. Principles are for people who can afford them.

I take a deep, cleansing breath. “So why me?”

“Because you’ve got the best head for stats I’ve seen in a long time, and I’ve seen you explain things to the underclassmen in ways that make sense to them. You can translate.”

“There’s no one else?” I hate that I need this job.

Professor Blake removes her glasses with a quiet sigh. “Our school is very pro-military, Beth. And I would consider it a personal favor if you’d help him.”

She’s right. That’s the only reason I was able to get in. This is one of the Southern Ivies. A top school in the southeast that I have no business being at except for my dad, who knew the dean of the law school from his time in the army. I hate the war and everything it’s done to my family. But I wouldn’t be where I am today if my dad hadn’t gone to war and sacrificed everything to make sure I had a future outside of our crappy little place outside of Fort Benning. There are things worse than death and my dad lives with them every day because he had done what he had to do to provide for me.

I will not let him down.

“Okay. When do I start?”

She hands me a slip of paper. It’s yellow and has her letterhead at the top in neat, formal block letters. “Here’s his information. Make contact and see what his schedule is.” She places her glasses back on and just like that, I’m dismissed.

Professor Blake is not a warm woman, but I wouldn’t have made it through my first semester at this school without her mentorship. If not for her and my friend Abby, I would have left from the sheer overwhelming force of being surrounded by money and wealth and all the intangibles that came along with it. I did not belong here, but because of Professor Blake, I hadn’t quit.

So if I need to tutor some blockhead soldier to repay her kindness, then so be it. Graduating from this program is my one chance to take care of my dad and I will not fail.

Michel’s Review

Before I Fall by Jessica Scott is the first book in the Falling Series. It is quite different from the past books by Jessica Scott. It is her first New Adult book. The new series is focused on college students in civilian life after they have served in the ARMY. It is an interesting combination that brings two different kinds of worlds together. Jessica Scott did an amazing job of bringing these worlds together and setting up the series. Not only did the reader get to experience a quality New Adult romance, they were also introduced to other characters that will be in future stories. She built a world where veterans, newly released from the military, are trying to build a new life in the civilian world. They are dealing with their past experiences in the military, trying to acclimate to college life, and facing their new futures. These students are not your average coed nor will they ever be. The first book, Before I Fall was an outstanding debut in this series.

Noah Warren has enrolled in the business program after serving five years in the military. He was injured in his last tour of duty which led to his release. He is trying to rebuild his life and make a future for himself. It is a big adjustment to civilian life. He doesn’t feel like he fits in with the college way of life after the experiences he had in the ARMY. To top it off, he is suffering from PTSD and pain from his injuries. He is trying to take one day at time. He is trying to make the most of his opportunity for a college education. His one road block is Statistics. He needs a tutor to help him pass the class. Acquiring a tutor is how he meets Beth Lemont.

Beth Lemont has her hands full. She is attending college, working full-time, taking care of her father, and tutoring to make ends meet. She doesn’t have time for a social life or the coed life. Forget dating. Her father was injured while serving in the military. His injuries have caused chronic pain and suffering. His condition is worse. Now that he is a civilian, he no longer falls completely under the military umbrella of benefits. The treatments for his condition are questionable according the VA. He has had too many run arounds, cancellations, and different treatments. The results are the same and his condition keeps getting worse. As his health benefits are declined or postponed, he is forced to self medicate. Beth is struggling to take care of her father, manage his doctor appointments, manage his health care benefits, and make enough money to keep them going as well as paying for his medications. It is a no win situation. When she picks up a tutoring job she meets Noah Warren. He is different from the usual college guys she meets. He understands the difficulties in her personal life. He touches something deep in her soul and makes her want a normal relationship like most girls her age have.

These two seem to be perfect for one another. They get along great, they have sexual chemistry, and their lives have been affected by the military. Can these two come together and build a normal kind of life?

Just when things are looking positive for their relationship, their lives will spiral out of control. Beth’s father takes a turn for the worse. Beth will be forced to make decisions that a young woman should not make. Noah’s PTSD will roar it’s ugly head and he will have to face some ugly truths about himself. These truths are not something any woman should have to deal with.

Is there a future for Beth and Noah? Read Before I Fall by Jessica Scott.

About Jessica Scott

USA Today Bestselling author Jessica Scott is a career army officer, mother of two daughters, three cats and three dogs, wife to a career NCO and wrangler of all things stuffed and fluffy. She is a terrible cook and even worse housekeeper, but she’s a pretty good shot with her assigned weapon and someone liked some of the stuff she wrote. Somehow, her children are pretty well adjusted and her husband still loves her, despite burned water and a messy house.

She’s also written for the New York Times At War Blog, PBS Point of View Regarding War, and IAVA. She deployed to Iraq in 2009 as part of OIF/New Dawn and has had the honor of serving as a company commander at Fort Hood, Texas twice.

Most recently, she’s been featured as one of Esquire Magazine’s Americans of the Year for 2012. Learn More at http://www.jessicascott.net

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Commanding Her Trust by Lili Valente – Under His Command Series – Book 2

Posted on 03/04/2015 by shellbellereads

Commanding Her Trust

Under His Command Series – Book 2

By Lili Valente

Synopsis

**Warning: This book features a Dominant alpha man who will push your boundaries until you beg for more. Read at your own risk.**

Blake Roberts is falling hard for his old flame and won’t stop until Erin is his. He doesn’t simply want her body; he wants her submission, her abandon, and the wounded heart she’s trying so hard to hide.

He wants all of her and he’s pulling out all the stops–in the bedroom and out–until she surrenders.

For Erin, what started as a charade has become all too real. She’s never experienced anything like the savage bliss she’s discovered in Blake’s arms. He tests her, dominates her, and if she doesn’t gain her freedom, soon he’ll own her–body and soul.

She has to escape even if running from Blake feels like running from the only home she’s ever known.

Cliffhanger Alert: This steamy read ends in a cliffhanger. If you don’t like being teased, steer clear. The entire UNDER HIS COMMAND series, Erin and Blake’s complete love story, will publish in February and March of 2015.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Tracey’s Review

Holy hot cliffhanger, book lovers! After reading Controlling Her Pleasure by Lili Valente, I could not WAIT to get my hands on Commanding Her Trust, the second book in Lili’s Under His Command series. Let me tell you, this book did not disappoint. Talk about off-the-charts hot, this book absolutely scorches. Every single scene is alive with the passion that Blake and Erin have for each other.

Blake and Erin have moved forward in this book. Although their desire for each other is always simmering just below each interaction, each of them knows that their relationship cannot move forward without inspiring trust in the other. If they are to get past the events that have brought them to Blake’s remote cabin, they have to start being honest with each other. But when Blake takes his role as Dom to a level that has Erin retreating, it’s going to take a lot more than passion and the love that hasn’t gotten any less powerful to make a go of it.

I am on the edge of my seat waiting to see what Lili has in store for Blake and Erin. Claiming Her Heart (Book 3) can’t get here quickly enough, but, in the meantime, another 5+ smoldery stars for Commanding Her Trust.

Under His Command Series

Controlling Her Pleasure – Book 1

Blake Roberts has everything he’s ever wanted—fame, money, and ownership of the hottest chain of tattoo parlors in the country. But he’s haunted by his first love, the matching tattoo they share a constant reminder of who he was before he learned how to control his emotions, his desire, and a woman’s pleasure.

He needs to purge her from his heart, and he’ll do whatever it takes to be free.

Erin Perry’s been burned by love and she’s not ready to put her body under a man’s control, let alone her heart. But then Blake shows up, the only man she ever truly loved. Blake is ruthlessly handsome, and seething commanding energy that has her aching to submit.

To be pleasured, tamed, owned, and put under His control.

Warning: This book features a big, tattooed, Dominant alpha male—give him your trust and he’ll command your pleasure. All. Night. Long. Cliffhanger Alert: This steamy read ends in a cliffhanger. If you don’t like being teased, steer clear. The entire Under His Command series, Erin and Blake’s complete love story, will publish in February and March of 2015.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Commanding Her Trust – Book 2

March 2, 2015

He wants all of her and he’s pulling out all the stops–in the bedroom and out–until she surrenders.

She has to escape even if running from Blake feels like running from the only home she’s ever known.

Claiming Her Heart – Book 3

March 16, 2015

Blake has what he thought he wanted–Erin’s submission, her trust, and the woman he loves back in his bed. But with her submission comes protection of her secrets. Erin is in trouble and an innocent life hangs in the balance.

Blake knows he can help her break free of the past, but he doesn’t know if a man like himself belongs in her future.

How can he swear to protect her from danger when he has a dark side of his own?

Pre Oder: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes
About Author

Lili Valente has slept under the stars in Greece, eaten dinner at midnight with French men who couldn’t be trusted to keep their mouths on their food, and walked alone through Munich’s red light district after dark and lived to tell the tale.

These days you can find her writing in a tent beside the sea, drinking coconut water and thinking delightfully dirty thoughts.

Lili loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her via email at lili.valente.romance@gmail.com

Website ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

5 Star Review + Giveaway: Very Twisted Things by Ilsa Madden-Mills – The Briarcrest Academy Series – Book 3

Posted on 03/04/2015 by shellbellereads

Very Twisted Things

A Standalone Briarcrest Academy Novel – Book 3

By Ilsa Madden-Mills

Release Date: March 1, 2015

A sassy violinist who lives next door…

The rock star who spies on her…

And the one night she bares it all.

Life will never be the same in Tinseltown.

Synopsis

Vital Rejects front guy Sebastian Tate never imagined his YouTube music video would go viral, sky-rocketing him to acting success in Hollywood. Okay, maybe he did. After all, he’s a cocky dude who knows he’s hot-as-hell, and it was only a matter of time before his stars aligned.

But life in Tinseltown is never what it seems.

After being cheated on by his ex-lover, his only rule to falling in love is simple: Keep Calm and Don’t Do It. So, spying on his mysterious new neighbor with binoculars seems innocent enough, but quickly escalates into an erotic game between two very unlikely people.

Twenty-year-old Violet St. Lyons is a world-renowned violinist who’s lost her mojo on stage. She hides away in a Hollywood mansion, trying to find her way through her twisted past in order to make her future.

He’s the life of the party with girls chasing him down for his autograph. She’s the introvert with a potty mouth who doesn’t even know who he is.

When they meet, stars collide, sparks fly, and clothes come off. Yet, giving his heart to a girl isn’t Sebastian’s plan; falling for a guy who craves attention isn’t Violet’s.

Welcome to Briarcrest Academy—Hollywood style—where sometimes the best things in life are VERY TWISTED THINGS.

This book is a standalone even though it’s part of a series. Everything you need to know is in this book. Genre: 18+ Hot New Adult Romance.

Buy: Amazon

Prologue

Violet

“Fairy dust is not real. This I know.” —from the journal of Violet St. Lyons

Boom!

I, Violet St. Lyons, who once believed herself the luckiest girl in the world, was born on the same day that the Violette–Sells comet was discovered. My parents, two avid stargazers, said it was a sign of how special I was and promptly named me Violet. They claimed my life had been blessed with fairy dust.

At the very least, comet residue.

I’d foolishly believed it for eighteen years, until the moment of my death.

Which was now.

Boom! Another explosion rocked the plane and metal ripped away as a section of the aircraft to my right vanished. Luggage flew through the air. People disappeared. The mom with the baby who’d sat in the aisle across from us—gone. The redheaded flight attendant who’d been collecting trash—gone. Disembodied screams echoed from the surrounding passengers as my own scream took up most of the space in my head. Air sucked at us viciously from the outside as a tornado of people banged around the space and one by one got pulled out into the swirling abyss.

I watched, helplessly transfixed, as I sat between my parents, gripping each of their hands as the plane we’d boarded six hours earlier for Dublin spiraled toward the Atlantic Ocean. I was going to die. My mother was already dead, a twisted piece of shrapnel sticking grotesquely from her chest as her head lolled around her neck. Blood had already soaked her shirt, yet I refused to let go of her hand. She’d be okay. We were always okay. We were the St. Lyons family of Manhattan, an icon of old money wealth with deep political ties. Page six of the New York Times featured pictures of us on a monthly basis. We couldn’t die on a plane.

Reality dawned as we plummeted. The yellow breathing apparatus dropped and dangled in my face, taunting me with its pointlessness. Fire and black smoke boiled in front of us where the cockpit had been, and my mind recognized that the pilots had to be dead. Just a few minutes ago, they’d come over the intercom and announced that the plane was making its descent into Dublin Airport exactly on schedule.

Then the first explosion had gone off.

Bits of debris flew around, narrowly missing me. My elderly father grabbed my hand and squeezed, his face drawn back in a horrible grimace. Fear and then horror flickered across his face as he saw Mother, but there was no time to comfort him.

Paralyzed in my seat, we spun like a drunken top, and a part of my brain noticed the sun was rising, its pink tinge lending a soft glow, catching the reflection of clouds and making them silver-lined. The rocky coast of Ireland glittered in the distance. Mocking me. We’d been headed there to celebrate my eighteenth birthday.

Just then my violin case flew past my head from the overhead compartment and crashed against the wall of the plane. Shards flew. I shuddered and wanted to vomit. God, help us. We were here because of me. Our deaths were my fault. I spared a glance at the diamond promise ring Geoff had given me before we’d left. Would the Mayor of New York’s son go on without me?

The air was turbulent yet thin, and my chest tightened as dizziness pulled at me. I resisted. Had to stay awake. Had to be with my dad. I was younger, stronger, faster. My eyes went to the gaping hole in the plane. Had to think ahead. Plan. Water would fill up the plane on impact, ensuring we’d sink rapidly.

My fear escalated as the ocean rushed at us, its surface choppy and ominous. I took in a giant breath and braced myself. We hit at an angle, the plane a torpedo as it sliced into the sea. Daddy disappeared, ejected by the impact, and I yanked on my seat belt, unclicking it to go after him. Heart thundering, I sent a final look at my mother. I wanted to take her with me, but she was gone.

Water everywhere, bubbling and gurgling as it filled up the plane. Salt water stung my eyes. People floated by, some alive as they floundered for the opening. I kept my gaze off the dead ones. Focus. Get out. Only seconds left.

I swam from my seat and fought my way out of the large hole in the plane, lungs exploding. Burning. I’d been under too long.

Daddy! I caught a glimpse of his red shirt above me and kicked harder.

Up, up, up. Must get up. My arms moved. My legs kicked. Excruciating pain. Ignore it. Almost there. So close that I could see the daylight breaking through the water.

The hottest fire I’ve ever known lit in my chest. Scorching.

Air. Just want to breathe. Just get to the top. Please.

My body rebelled and I inhaled and swallowed water, the burn racing down my throat making it spasm as I tried to cough it out. I struggled but took in more and more, the cold liquid filling my lungs.

Dark spots filled my eyes. This was drowning.

Exhausted.

Done.

My body twitched. I grew disoriented.

I let go of the fight. My hands floated in front of me.

Oblivion.

Darkness.

No bright lights, no tunnel.

No heaven, no mother, no father.

No comets.

No fairy dust.

Michel’s Review

Very Twisted Things by Ilsa Madden- Mills is the third full length novel in the Briarcrest Academy Series. It can be read as a stand alone novel or in series order. Either way, it is a book that will keep the reader glued to the pages.

Violet St. Lyons is not your ordinary young woman. She is a prodigy. She has also lived through one of the most horrific tragedies to happen in the world. She was the sole survivor of a plane crash caused by a terrorist bombing. She lost her family and her fairytale life. She may have been the only survivor but she is not really living. The emotional and mental scars have inconpacitated her life. She is no longer attending college, no longer performing, and no longer interacting with others. She left her home in New York and moved to LA to escape the memories. She has closed herself off and become a recluse.

Sebastian Tate has moved to LA. His huge success with his band, Vital Rejects, has put him in the limelight. He wants to further his career and pursue an acting career. Moving to LA, being seen with the right people, and being a part of tinsel town is exactly what he needs to land the coveted role for an upcoming movie project. He has to tone down his rock star reputation and prove that he is a stable person.

When he spies his beautiful neighbor playing her violin in the moonlight he is mesmerized. Her moonlight serenades have captivated a part of his soul that he locked away. She is bringing his soul back to life.

When these two finally meet, the one on one interaction is intense. Their attraction for one another is undeniable.

Their lives are on very different paths. Violet has to learn to live in the real world again. She will have to chose how she wants to live the new life she is building. Will Sebastian be her future or will she go back and claim the stardom she left behind. Sebastian will have to figure out what is more important in his life, his career or a chance with Violet.

The sparks fly. The passion is intense. Their worlds are tilted on an axis. Will these moonlight serenades make them or break them?

Ilsa Madden-Mills has delivered another fantastic book to her highly successful Briarcrest Series. She has created characters that pull at your heart strings. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had the right amount of angst, emotional moments, humor, and romance. The love scenes were smoldering. The book was fantastic.

Read Very Twisted Things.

Author Bio

New York Times and USA Today best selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills writes about strong heroines and sexy alpha males that sometimes you just want to slap.

She spends her days with two small kids, one neurotic cat, and one husband. She collects magnets and rarely cooks except to bake her own pretzels.

When she’s not crafting a story, you can find her drinking too much Diet Coke, jamming out to Pink, or checking on her carefully maintained chocolate stash.

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Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Becoming Rain by K. A. Tucker – Burying Water Series – Book 2

Posted on 03/03/2015 by shellbellereads

Becoming Rain

Burying Water Series- Book 2

By K. A. Tucker

Release Date: March 2015

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About BECOMING RAIN:

Luke Boone doesn’t know exactly what his uncle Rust is involved in but he wants in on it-the cars, the money, the women. And it looks like he’s finally getting his wish. When Rust hands him the managerial keys to the garage, they come with a second set-one that opens up the door to tons of cash and opportunity. Though it’s not exactly legal, Luke’s never been one to worry about that sort of thing. Especially when it puts him behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 and onto the radar of gorgeous socialite named Rain.

Clara Bertelli is at the top of her game-at only twenty-six years old, she’s one of the most successful undercover officers in the Washington D.C. major crime unit, and she’s just been handed a case that could catapult her career and expose one of the west coast’s most notorious car theft rings. But, in order to do it, she’ll need to go deep undercover as Rain Martines. Her target? The twenty-four-year old nephew of a key player who appears ready to follow in his uncle’s footsteps.

As Clara drifts deeper into the luxurious lifestyle of Rain, and further into the arms of her very attractive and charming target, the lines between right and wrong start to blur, making her wonder if she’ll be able to leave it all behind. Or if she’ll even want to.

Michel’s Review

Becoming Rain was fantastic. It is the second book in the Burying Water Series. We met Luke Boone in Burying Water. He was Jesse’s roommate and worked with him in the garage. The garage is owned by Luke’s Uncle Rust. Uncle Rust is more than a suave business man in the car export business and car repair business. He is involved in an international car theft ring that is mainly operated by the Russian Mafia.

Luke grew up fatherless and his Uncle Rust stepped up to the father role. Luke wants to be like his Uncle. He wants the clout, the luxuries, and the exalted business reputation his Uncle has. He is willing to overlook the fact that his Uncle has some illegal underground operations. He is willing to become a part of that underground world. He has been blinded by greed. On the other hand, Luke is a good guy. He has compassion for those who are down and out. He is a loyal friend. He is a family oriented guy. He loves as hard as he plays.

It would seem that Luke Boone has the world in his hands. Life is sunshine and roses. His world is about to crash. His illegal activities are about to rain on his ideal world.

Clara Bertelli has joined forces with the FBI to go undercover. Her job is to infiltrate the car theft ring and bring them down. Her mark and way in is through Luke Boone. Her new alias is Rain Martines. She is going to bring Luke’s world to the ground. She is the rain.

Like the old saying goes, “look beyond the surface”, applies ten fold. When Rain gets to know Luke, she sees a very different man than she was led to believe. She sees the goodness in him. She is hoping that his goodness will win over his greed. She does not want to bring him down. She has fallen in love with her target.

Just as the case begins to escalate and Rain is getting close to the real players in the car theft ring, the game changes course. It has become dangerous. It has become more than car thefts, it has now become murderous. She fears for Luke’s life. It may threaten her life as well. Can she bring them down before more violence occurs?

Luke and Rain have developed a very real and solid relationship even though Rain is keeping secrets. There is no way their relationship can survive?

There may be Rain but the sun always comes out afterwards. Hopefully Luke and Rain can bask in the sun.

Becoming Rain was an intense, emotional, and thrilling book. K. A. Tucker did a phenomenal job portraying the dark underworld of international crime. Her characters were very compelling. Their story was exciting and passionate. I loved that their four legged friends were an important part of their world.

I highly recommend Becoming Rain. It will keep you captivated.

**And don’t miss the first book in this thrilling series BURYING WATER…**

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About BURYING WATER:

The top-selling, beloved indie author of Ten Tiny Breaths returns with a new romance about a young woman who loses her memory—and the man who knows that the only way to protect her is to stay away.

Left for dead in the fields of rural Oregon, a young woman defies all odds and survives—but she awakens with no idea who she is, or what happened to her. Refusing to answer to “Jane Doe” for another day, the woman renames herself “Water” for the tiny, hidden marking on her body—the only clue to her past. Taken in by old Ginny Fitzgerald, a crotchety but kind lady living on a nearby horse farm, Water slowly begins building a new life. But as she attempts to piece together the fleeting slivers of her memory, more questions emerge: Who is the next-door neighbor, quietly toiling under the hood of his Barracuda? Why won’t Ginny let him step foot on her property? And why does Water feel she recognizes him?

Twenty-four-year-old Jesse Welles doesn’t know how long it will be before Water gets her memory back. For her sake, Jesse hopes the answer is never. He knows that she’ll stay so much safer—and happier—that way. And that’s why, as hard as it is, he needs to keep his distance. Because getting too close could flood her with realities better left buried.

The trouble is, water always seems to find its way to the surface.

About K.A. Tucker:

Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

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Review + Giveaway : When Fate Isn’t Enough by Isabelle Richards – When Fates Collide Series – Book 2

Posted on 02/28/2015 by shellbellereads

Can a romance that was written in the stars survive real life? Lily Clark and Gavin Edwards met when their lives collided in a crazy twist of fate. Their relationship started amidst chaos, fraught with lust, passion, and love. Building a life together will take more than destiny, especially when ghosts from their past try to tear them apart.

Needing a fresh start, Lily decides to escape her life in Washington, DC to join Gavin in London. Trust and faith have never come easily to Lily. She’ll be put to the test now that she and Gavin are living under the same roof.

To make matters worse, trouble finds Lily wherever she goes. She thought she’d rid herself of her late husband’s demons, but she soon learns that when you make a deal with the devil, he often comes back to up the ante. Can she learn to let Gavin in or will she continue to fight her battles alone? Find out what happens When Fate Isn’t Enough.

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Exclusive Excerpt:

Oxford in a suit… hot damn. It’s obviously a custom job because it fits him perfectly, showing off his broad shoulders and tight, toned torso. The allure of the suit is more than just the way it highlights his ridiculous body. His commanding presence while wearing it, the air of confidence that surrounds him. Everything about him screams “power”. Or more accurately it screams, “Don’t fuck with me or I’ll destroy you.” I may not give a shit about his money but power seems to be a bigger turn on than I would have expected.

“What? What’s wrong?” He looks in the mirror, trying to figure out what isn’t working.

“Your ass in those pants! I can hardly contain myself. How does anyone get any work done? All your female employees must just swoon with you strutting around like that. I bet you actually stop traffic. You do, don’t you?”

A sexy smirk spreads across his face. “Trousers, Lily. They’re called trousers. I can assure you I’m a slave driver. My employees are too busy to notice me.” He straightens his tie and looks back at me. “And only occasionally.”

“Occasionally what?”

He winks. “Occasionally I stop traffic.”

I throw a pillow at him. “You’re an arrogant bastard, you know that?”

He sits on the edge of the bed and slips his shoes on. “Hey, you asked! Don’t ask a question unless you can handle the answer.”

I scoot down on the bed and wrap my arms around his stomach. I rest my chin on his shoulder and say, “You’re just lucky I’m prohibited from attacking you, or there’s no way in hell you would be leaving this bedroom. Not for a good long while anyway.”

He peels my arms off of him, stands, and then kisses each of my hands. “I’m going to hold you to that after the doctor clears you.” He walks to his dresser and puts his watch on.

I smirk. “Oh, you’ll be holding something to me all right.”

Gavin closes his eyes and leans against the wall. “You’ll be the death of me, woman. Can’t you talk about football or skiing or carpentry? Anything other than… this?”

“You want to show me what you can do with a hammer, Gavin?” I bat my eyes at him.

He glares at me.

I cock my head and flash him a coy smile. “What? You said carpentry,” I say innocently. “Fine, soccer? You want to come over here so I can show you how to score? I’m sure you’re amazing at getting it in the goal! No? Not better?” I explode into laughter as he storms out of the room.

“Goodbye, Lily,” he yells from the hallway.

I don’t know what he’s so pissy about. I’m just as sex starved as he is! I lie down and close my eyes for a few moments, mentally calming my libido. Suddenly, I feel his weight on me, and he kisses me with a passion that literally takes my breath away. I feel my heart pounding as if it’s going to fly out of my chest.

I pull back. “You change your mind about staying in bed with me all day?”

“If only, Lily. If only. I couldn’t leave without a proper goodbye.”

“Well that was one hell of a sendoff. You’d better go. Don’t want to be late. I hear your boss is a real bastard.”

He kisses my forehead and walks out the door. Damn, that man knows how to make an exit.

Michel’s Review

When Fate Isn’t Enough by Isabelle Richards is the second book in the When Fates Collide Series. It should not be read as a stand alone novel. The first book When Fate Collides establishes the characters personalities along with situations that bring them together as a couple. The reader gets an understanding of their motivations and choices that will be made in the second book.

Lily and Gavin have been through hell. Their relationship came to be after they suffered dearly from their exes. Now they are starting a new life together. The book starts with them going to London.

Gavin is one of those men that draws women to him without even trying. He is dedicated to Lily heart and soul. Their relationship is the most important thing to him. He cannot help that his looks attract women. It is one of the things that Lily is going to have accept. She needs to be secure about his love for her. She needs to feel secure about their relationship. Lily knows that Gavin’s past with his ex Brooke still haunts him. At times Lily feels like she can’t compete with their history.

Not only will they have to deal with their pasts to move forward, they will have new road blocks keeping their relationship on rocky ground. Lily made a deal with the cartel that is going to come back and smack her with a force. Olivia, the wicked woman from the first book, is back as well. She is going to test every bond that holds Lily and Gavin together.

This book takes a bit of a different course than book one. This book is more of a relationship driven book. It is emotional, heartbreaking, enraging, humorous, sexy, and romantic. It had every combination a reader wants in a book. The pacing in this story was perfect. I never felt like scenes were being drawn out or abbreviated. The book ended on a shocking cliffhanger that has me anxious for the third book, When Fates Align, on May 6, 2015.

Isabelle Richards has given the readers a couple that started as complete strangers entangled in a world of treacherous danger to a passionate relationship that only happens once in a lifetime. Are they strong enough to fight for that love and hang onto it no matter what the cost is? I sure hope so. I can’t wait to see what happens with Lily and Gavin next.

When Fates Collide

Fates Series – Book 1

Sometimes everything needs to crash and burn before life can begin again.

Life can change in the blink of an eye. One moment, Lily is trapped in a loveless marriage. In a split second she is free, but at what cost? Her mundane life is set into a freefall of tragedy and terror. Her husband may be out of her life, but he left a storm of collateral damage behind and the burden is on Lily to sort it out.
Fate connects Lily with Gavin, a charmingly handsome British gentleman that has been drawn into her tangled circumstance. Gavin is everything Lily’s husband wasn’t and gives her hope that love really does exist. Gavin wants nothing more than to sweep Lily up and carry her off into the sunset, far away from the devastation left behind by her husband. Gavin has been the first breath of fresh air in her life, but she isn’t looking to be saved. She needs to clean up her husband’s mess and find a way to save herself in the process.
Does she throw caution to the wind and open her heart? Or listen to her head that tells her and go it alone until she’s found herself again?

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When Fates Align

Book 3

Coming May 6, 2015

PreOrder: Amazon

Why would fate bring them together only to tear them apart?
Lily and Gavin were brought together in a clash of tragedy and chaos. Amid the ashes of lives gone wrong, they thought they found a second chance at love. With trouble from their previous lives lurking around every corner, they quickly learned that love from a star-crossed romance isn’t enough to survive.
Lily has slipped through Gavin’s fingers, and he feels as though he’s been sentenced to an eternity in hell. But if he’s going to perish in the ninth circle, everyone responsible for coming between him and Lily will go down with him.
Perhaps their love was never meant to be. But, if he’s learned anything from his time with Lily, it’s that sometimes everything has to crash and burn before life can begin again.

Isabelle Richards Bio:

Isabelle Richards spent years as a speech writer before tackling fiction. An avid reader of all genres, Isabelle is drawn to romance novels as they provide an escape from daily life. Through her complex cast of characters, Isabelle creates a sanctuary for readers to dive into for a break from reality.

When she is not writing, Isabelle works as an advocate for persons with disabilities in Washington, DC. Her two yellow labs are her writing partners, although they frequently sleep on the job.

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Happy Release + Giveaway + 5 Star Series Review : Untamed by Jessica Sorensen – Unbeautiful Series – Book 2 : Review for Unbeautiful and Untamed

Posted on 02/27/2015 by shellbellereads

Happy Release Day to Jessica Sorensen and her new book UNTAMED! This is book 2 in the Unbeautiful Series following the story of Emery and Ryler. Make sure to enter the giveaway below for a chance to win an ebook copy of this book. Good luck!

Emery
No matter how hard I try, I never seem to be able to escape my family’s world. Their madness controls my life, just like insanity consumes my mind.
Sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s real.
Sometimes it’s hard to tell who I really am. The person everyone sees? Or the one I keep trapped inside?
I wonder which person Ryler sees. Just like I wonder who I can trust.
Wonder. Wonder. Wonder.
I wonder too much.
I wish I could just find a way to escape it all and finally be free.

Ryler
I live a double life and sometimes I hate myself for it. Watching Emery fall apart—pretending I don’t care—is killing me inside.
I want to tell her the truth, but I also want a new life.
Want. Want. Want.
I want too much. Sometimes it’s hard to tell what I really desire.
I wish I could be free from the confusion, free from this life.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

“If you want to dance, dance. There’s no judgment at these things, which makes them pretty awesome.”

She smiles, and then threads her fingers through mine. “Okay, let’s dance, then.”

I don’t bother mentioning that dancing can be extremely sexy when done under the right circumstances—circumstances that usually include alcohol and sexual tension.

At first, Emery is cautious, keeping her distance from me as she rocks her hips to the music. I move with her. I’ve never really been into dancing, but I can rock out to a little garage rock any day. The longer the song goes on, the more into it she gets, until she finally spins around and presses her back against my chest. That’s when the two of us decide to start playing a dangerous game of Want But Can’t Have. A very, very dangerous game that is really fucking tortuous to play yet impossible to give up.

Emery starts grinding her hips to the sultry beat of the song. With each movement, her ass brushes against my cock, making me go rock hard. I grip the curves of her hips and my hands unnecessarily slip underneath the bottom of her shirt. My fingers delve into her soft flesh, and I bite back a moan. Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve forgotten just how soft her skin is, how amazing she smells, how incredible she feels against me.

She shivers from my touch and presses closer, rolling her hips and driving my body absolutely mad. She repeats the movement over and over again, until finally, I damn near lose my mind.

Gripping her waist, I spin her around to face me. “I thought you didn’t know how to dance?”

Michel’s Review

The Unbeautiful Series is a spin off from the Violet & Luke books. It is separate from the Violet & Luke books and can be read without reading the Violet & Luke books. The Unbeautiful Series has to be read in order.

The Unbeautiful Series is unlike the previous books that Jessica Sorensen has written. Jessica is known for her dark characters that are struggling with issues from their past that has led to present day problems. Her books usually focus on the characters dealing with these issues and overcoming them to the best of their abilities. The Unbeautiful series does have a taste of this but also adds something more. It adds mystery, intrigue, and suspense. The focus is on two characters equally struggling with their past and present. Their life situations put them in very real danger for different reasons. Both of their reasons are life threatening. The one thing that they have in common is the enemy.

The Unbeautiful Series will keep you glued to the pages. It will keep you wrapped up in the mystery that unfolds. It will have you biting your nails, hoping that Ryler and Emery make it out alive and have a chance of a normal happy life.

The Unbeautiful Series will not disappoint.

————————————————————————————-

In the first book, Unbeautiful, the reader gets an introduction to the characters. Ryler was introduced in the Violet & Luke books. Ryler is Luke’s cousin from Las Vegas. Ryler was brought up in foster homes his entire life. His father was a shady professional gambler that couldn’t be bothered with raising a child. Ryler was abandoned until he turned eighteen and could be a useful asset to his father’s shady dealings.

While living in the foster homes throughout his childhood, Ryler experienced abuse, violence, neglect, and rejection. He became a juvenile delinquent. At age sixteen he landed in some very serious trouble with the law for aggravated assault. He was protecting another foster kid from abuse. In the alteration he was seriously injured and lost his voice. Once he turned eighteen his father finally decided to claim him and take him under his dirty wings. This leads to more trouble with the law. It puts the final mark on Ryler’s criminal record that will destroy his hopes for a future life away from darkness and crime. After meeting his cousin Luke and his girlfriend Violet, Ryler wants a normal life. He wants to attend college, make something of himself, and escape the ugly world he has lived in. His only hope comes from the FBI. The FBI is willing to relocate Ryler and erase his criminal record. This opportunity comes with a high price. Ryler will have to infiltrate the underworld as an informant in Laramie, Idaho. The FBI has been trying to build a case against known Mafia Kingpin leader, Donny Elderman. The FBI wants Ryler to infiltrate his network and find the location of the elusive warehouse where Donny’s operations take place. It is a very dangerous job that could cost Ryler his life. Is it worth risking his life for a chance at a normal life?

Emery has come to Laramie to attend the university. It took a miracle to convince her parents to allow her to leave home. She has had a condition of psychosis and hallucinations her entire life. Her parents have been abusive in horrific ways using her psychosis as the reason. She has had to hide her condition beneath the facade of perfection all of her life. She has had to become a person that doesn’t really exist. Her parents have plotted and planned her entire existence . She is forced to be the perfect girl. She is forced to date the perfect boy. She is forced to live the perfect life. It is expected of her to marry the perfect boy and become the perfect wife. She does not want this even if it means going completely insane. She wants to have control of her life.

Her parents have been hiding many secrets. She is forced to hide them as well. When she finally is able to convince them to allow her to attend the university it is with conditions. They are still controlling her life from afar. She is willing to concede to these conditions in order to escape her life. She figures she can take control one moment at a time. What she doesn’t realize is that they are still watching. She is also in danger because she rebelled against them.

When she meets the mysterious boy that lives in her apartment building, she is hopeful of starting a normal life with normal friends. She is intrigued with Ryler.

Just as it looks like both are heading towards friendship and possibly more, their lives will spiral out of control. Ryler’s job with the FBI will escalate into a dangerous situation. He will become part of the underworld. His new boss will force him to do things he would never do. To make matters worse, his new boss is Emery’s father.

Emery will start getting threatening letters. Strange and dangerous things will start happening to her. Her parents know all about these things before she has a chance to tell them. The one person she has come to trust is now working for her father. Ryler has been assigned to protect her. To make matters worse, her perfect boyfriend, who is not so perfect, has showed up on the scene.

Life is spiraling out of control. Who can Emery trust? She no longer feels safe with Ryler even though he still stirs desires within her.

This book has so many things happening. There are two storylines that spin a web of deceit and danger. By the end of the book these two storylines begin to merge together and becomes a dark mystery with danger hanging over them all.

—————————————————————————————–

Untamed is the conclusion in the Unbeautiful series. It cannot be read as a stand alone novel.

The danger has escalated. Ryler is in deep with Donny Elderman’s crew. He has been taken under Doc’s (Emery’s father) wing and is being molded into his soldier. Doc is exposing Ryler to more and more of the operations. At the same time he is forcing Ryler to keep Emery in line.

Not only is Ryler frightened for his own life, he is also frightened for Emery’s life as well. Things are not adding up. Other informants are disappearing. The FBI is forcing Ryler to participate in the underground world until he can find the location of the warehouse. Ryler fears that his cover is being blown and that he is going to end up in a shallow grave.

The threats against Emery are escalating. It has become clear that her nice boyfriend, the one she is forced to date, is abusive. She has begun to have hallucinations again. Her parents are threatening to take her home. Her secrets are starting to surface. She is frightened and has no one to trust. The one person she thought she could trust works for her father. But at the same time, Ryler seems different than the men that have worked for her father. He seems to care about how she feels and what she wants.

The life threatening situations escalate into dark danger. So many REVELATIONS come into play. The suspense and danger comes from many directions. The REVELATIONS are shocking. It has readers fearing for both Ryler and Emery’s life. They are just pawns in the overall game.

It will be up to Ryler and Emery to figure out how to survive. The world of good and evil is colliding and they are stuck in the middle. The only thing that is pure and abundantly clear is their feelings for each other. Can they both survive and find the normal kind of life they both desperately crave?

Untamed does not end on a cliffhanger. Reader’s will be very satisfied with the outcome. Ryler and Emery will find their “normal”.

I highly recommend the Unbeautiful Series. It is intense, frightening, emotional, and has a pure romance that will make your heart race.

Jessica Sorensen went beyond her excellent writing standards and delivered a powerful story.

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

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♥SERIES READING ORDER♥

Book 1 – Unbeautiful

Emery
You want to know my secrets? What lies beneath the pretty? The scars I can’t let anyone see? The scars tied to my secrets?
On the outside I appear normal. Some might even say perfect.
They say that I’m a pretty girl. They say I should be happy. They say that I have nothing to be angry about. That I’m popular. A cheerleader. That I’m perfect.
Perfect. Perfect. Perfect.
But all they see is what’s on the outside.
On the inside I’m raw, open, bleeding. Scars that can’t seem to heal the wounds.
Carrying dark secrets about who I really am.
How afraid I am to tell the truth.
And it’s slowly killing me.

Ryler
Tattoos. Piercing. Scars. The guy who can’t speak.
Gothic freak. Mute. Punk. I’ve heard it all.
They say that I’m probably dangerous. They say people should stay away from me.
They say. They say. They say.
But who are they anyway?
To decide what I am.
They don’t know what’s hidden beneath the scars. Beneath the piercings and tattoos.
The secrets I keep hidden beneath the silence.
Maybe if they knew, they wouldn’t fear me so much.
Then again, maybe they’d fear me more.

Unbeautiful: A Novella Series (Part One)

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Book 2 – Untamed

Emery
No matter how hard I try, I never seem to be able to escape my family’s world. Their madness controls my life, just like insanity consumes my mind.
Sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s real.
Sometimes it’s hard to tell who I really am. The person everyone sees? Or the one I keep trapped inside?
I wonder which person Ryler sees. Just like I wonder who I can trust.
Wonder. Wonder. Wonder.
I wonder too much.
I wish I could just find a way to escape it all and finally be free.

Ryler
I live a double life and sometimes I hate myself for it. Watching Emery fall apart—pretending I don’t care—is killing me inside.
I want to tell her the truth, but I also want a new life.
Want. Want. Want.
I want too much. Sometimes it’s hard to tell what I really desire.
I wish I could be free from the confusion, free from this life.

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Saucy Southern Readers

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Category Archives: 5-Star

Release Day Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Chase Me by Tessa Bailey – Broke and Beautiful Series – Book 1

Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Blocked by Lisa N. Paul

5 Star Review: Cartel by Lili St. Germain

5 Star Review: The 27 Club by Kim Karr

Happy Release + Review : Before I Fall by Jessica Scott – Falling Series – Book 1

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Commanding Her Trust by Lili Valente – Under His Command Series – Book 2

5 Star Review + Giveaway: Very Twisted Things by Ilsa Madden-Mills – The Briarcrest Academy Series – Book 3

Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Becoming Rain by K. A. Tucker – Burying Water Series – Book 2

Becoming Rain

Release Date: March 2015

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**And don’t miss the first book in this thrilling series BURYING WATER…**

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Review + Giveaway : When Fate Isn’t Enough by Isabelle Richards – When Fates Collide Series – Book 2

Happy Release + Giveaway + 5 Star Series Review : Untamed by Jessica Sorensen – Unbeautiful Series – Book 2 : Review for Unbeautiful and Untamed

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Becoming Rain

Release Date: March 2015

US BUY LINKS:

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** Books-a-Million ** IndieBound ** Apple ** Blio ** Books-a-Million ** Google

UK BUY LINKS

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** Apple ** Google ** Waterstones ** Foyles

And don’t miss the first book in this thrilling series BURYING WATER…

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** iBooks ** Kobo ** IndieBound

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Amazon Barnes & Noble Books-a-Million IndieBound Apple Blio Books-a-Million ** Google

Amazon Barnes & Noble Apple Google Waterstones ** Foyles

**And don’t miss the first book in this thrilling series BURYING WATER…**

Amazon Barnes & Noble iBooks Kobo IndieBound