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.

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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.

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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.

Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Review : Beyond Limits by Laura Griffin – Tracers Series – Book 8

Posted on 02/25/2015 by shellbellereads

Beyond Limits

Tracers Series – Book 8

By Laura Griffin

Synopsis

An FBI agent and a Navy SEAL race against time in New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin’s newest Tracers novel. “Griffin delivers the goods!” (Publishers Weekly)

FBI agent Elizabeth LeBlanc is still caught in the aftermath of her last big case when she runs into the one man from her past who is sure to rock her equilibrium even more. Navy SEAL Derek Vaughn is back home from a harrowing rescue mission in which he found evidence of a secret terror cell on US soil. Elizabeth knows he’ll do anything to unravel the plot—including seducing her for information. And despite the risks involved, she’s tempted to let him. Together with the forensics experts at the Delphi Center, Derek and Elizabeth are closing in on the truth, but it may not be fast enough to avert a devastating attack…

Following in the bestselling tradition of the Tracers series, including Exposed, Scorched, and Twisted, Beyond Limits pulls out all the stops with Griffin’s most gripping thriller yet.

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Michel’s Review

What happens when you put a Navy Seal and an FBI agent together? The answer is obvious… you have another outstanding Tracer novel by Laura Griffin. Beyond Limits is the latest release in the Tracer series. It is fast paced, action packed, intriguing, sexy, and romantic. This book is a page turner. Laura Griffin is the MASTER of romantic suspense.

Navy Seal LT. Derek Vaughn’s Seal Team uncovered a terrorist plot planned on US soil while on a mission in Afghanistan. The intel that was recovered on that mission has stirred up all of the government agencies on the home front. The intel indicates that a terrorist cell has plans to attack Texas. Now he has to team up with FBI Agent Elizabeth LeBlanc to uncover the cell before the attack.

Derek and Liz have a history. They both have lingering feelings for one another. Now they will have to work together in their professional fields and in their private relationship. But before they can explore their relationship they have to find the cell that seems to be eluding all of the agencies. They are always one step ahead and beyond reach.

Both Derek and Liz approach the case differently. Derek is a man of action. He gets in and gets the job done. Liz takes the investigative approach and follows the legal avenues. As in most government agencies, there is a lot of red tape and bureaucracy procedure. Time is of the essence and Derek is ready to go after the terrorists himself. He needs the intel that Liz has access to. Liz may seem a bit timid but she knows what she has to do to get the job done. If it takes working with Derek to get it done then that is how it be.

From this point Derek and Liz are in for an intense mission that not only will save lives, it will be the factor that seals their fate.

This book was non stop action and suspense. It touched on several different subject matters. It gave the reader an understanding of government bureaucracy, FBI procedures, Seal’s code of honor, the effects of war, and the impact these careers have on their lives. The romance was not overly hot but the build up of sexual tension between the characters was enough to keep the reader satisfied. The main plot kept the reader on the edge of their seat and enthralled to the end.

I highly recommend Beyond Limits by Laura Griffin. It can be read as a stand alone novel in the Tracer Series.

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About Laura Griffin

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Laura Griffin started her career in journalism before venturing into the world of writing romantic suspense. Her books have won numerous awards, including a RITA Award (Whisper of Warning) and a Daphne du Maurier Award (Untraceable). Laura currently lives in Austin where she is working on her next book.

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Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Tempt The Night by Dixie Lee Brown – Trust No One Series – Book 5

Posted on 02/24/2015 by shellbellereads

Tempt The Night

Trust No One Series – Book 5

By Dixie Lee Brown

Synopsis

Dixie Lee Brown concludes her thrilling Trust No One series with the fast-paced tale of a damaged hero and the sexy fugitive he can’t help falling for.

Samantha “Mac” McCallister barely believes her own tale of dirty cops and murder that landed her in the hands of the sexy Jim Brady. One minute she was enjoying a ride-along in her best friend’s cruiser, the next he’s dead and she’s wanted for his murder. Mac never expected to be hiding out from the law, but with Jim by her side, maybe she can survive long enough to clear her name. The question is, can she survive the way Jim makes her feel?

Former Navy Seal Jim Brady works best under pressure. At least he used to. Now, fighting flashbacks from his time in Iraq, he has given up everything he knows in order to protect the innocent … from himself. So working with a woman on the run from the law? Not in his plans for this lifetime. Still, something about the blue-eyed beauty tells him she’s not the source of the danger—she’s running from it. Deep down he knows he’ll protect her no matter what. But his heart? That’s another story.

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Michel’s Review

Tempt The Night is the final book in the Trust No One series by Dixie Lee Brown. It can be read as a stand alone novel or in series order. This book will not disappoint. It is action packed, immersed in thrilling suspense, and has a red hot romance.

This book is well written with charismatic characters that encompass the traits readers love. Who doesn’t like an alpha man that has issues but still is able to draw upon his personal strengths ? The leading lady has strength, guts, and the right amount of softness. The pacing of this book kept the reader’s attention and never hit any bumps that made the story stall. I couldn’t put this book down. The story kept me captivated to the end.

Samantha ( Mac ) McCallister has witnessed a horrific murder committed by some Alaskan State Troopers. She is in fear for her life, accused of murder, and on the run. Jim Brady, a former Navy Seal, now working for Joe’s group of merceneries, stumbles upon Mac while doing surveillance for a case. Even though he doesn’t usually get involved in other people’s business, he can’t help but want to protect Mac. But can he protect her from himself and the mind games his PTSD plays?

As the story plays out there will be many twists and turns that keep the reader guessing to the end. Amidst the twists and turns Mac and Brady will find a smoldering hot attraction that cannot be denied.

Tempt The Night was thrilling. This is the kind of book I love to curl up with and lose myself.

Author Bio:

Dixie has been writing stories for years, storing ideas and first drafts of manuscripts in every spare closet and drawer. Then one day she decided she wanted to be an author more than anything, pulled out one of those story ideas and got serious!

Her romantic suspense novels are great for curling up and losing yourself in the story. Dixie’s first novel in the Trust No One series, All or Nothing, placed 3rd in the romantic suspense category of the 2011 TARA (Tampa Area Romance Authors) Contest. The second, When I Find You, has just been released. The third book in the series – If You Only Knew – is coming soon!

Dixie moved from Montana to a small town in Central Oregon in 1972, married and raised two daughters. Today her two small dogs hold down the back of the couch and watch for intruders as she works on another novel.

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Happy Release + 5 Star Review : Only For Him by Cristin Harber – Only Series – Book 1

Posted on 02/24/2015 by shellbellereads

Only For Him

Only Series – Book 1

Genre – New Adult

By Cristin Harber

Synopsis

Grayson Ford and Emma Kinglsey–close since they were kids, opposites in every way. He’s the stuff high school crushes are made of, Mister Popular, and captain of every team. She’s artsy, cute, and not in his league, though fully aware of Summerland’s “I Dream of Dating Grayson Ford” support group.

I can’t say no. The girl’s had my heart since before I knew it went missing.

He hides a life of hell. His father hates him, his mother’s gone. Emma is his only savior, yet she doesn’t know her power over him. She’s the only girl he wants, the only one he could ever tell–though he won’t.

I’m stronger, bigger, more of a man than he’ll ever be, but because I ruined his life, I’ve taken his crap, his attacks, the vulgar nature of his existence.

Until she discovers Gray’s embarrassment, his humiliation. Emma fights for him and for a chance. Theirs is a Cinderella story that she believes impossible. But as the layers peel back, it’s just a guy who needs a girl in order to keep breathing.

My mind is already doodling Mrs. Grayson Ford in imaginary notebooks. He has no clue where my head is at… But, given that I didn’t see what just happened coming, maybe I have no clue where his head is at either.

Only for Him. Only series, Volume One.
All novellas will release Spring 2015.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

Only For Him by Cristin Harber is the first book I have read by this author. Although this was a novella, it packed a punch. I didn’t feel like the story was rushed or the plot was abbreviated. The characters were very well developed and easy to relate to. The emotional impact this book delivered pulled on all of my heart strings. The friendship between the characters was endearing. There was never a question of the bond between them. When their friendship began to evolve in something more it was quite clear that it was not going to be easy. The love between the two is full of heartbreak, turmoil, happiness, and hopes of a forever kind of love. The obstacles and impossibilities that keep these two from developing a real relationship is valid. The girl is pushing for more and the boy is holding back.

Emma and Grayson are very close friends. It would seem like this friendship would be impossible because Grayson is the golden boy and Emma is the artsy nerd. These differences are what makes their friendship work.

Grayson is the boy girls fantasize about. On the surface he is perfection. Beneath the surface he is hiding a lot of insecurities, hurt, and horrific secrets. His home life is abusive. The only moments of serenity he gets is when he is with Emma. She is his safe place. She doesn’t know the secrets he is hiding.

Emma wants more than a friendship with Grayson. She has always loved him. She knows that she is not the type of girl that Gray is attracted to. She hides her feelings well and settles for friendship. When she discovers some of the secrets Grayson has been hiding she no longer wants to settle. She is going to fight for Gray. She is going to prove that her love is worth the it all. She is going to prove that he is worthy of love.

This book’s emotional journey escalates as the secrets begin to surface. As the secrets surface it is clear that their world may implode.

The ending was a cliffhanger that has readers anxiously awaiting for the next book.

Cristin Harber is an amazing writer. The book is well written. The emotions portrayed throughout the story touch your soul. The characters are full of life and come across as very real people. The pacing of this story blew me away. This novella felt like a full length novel.

I highly recommend Only For Him.

ABOUT CRISTIN HARBER

Cristin Harber is a USA Today bestselling romantic suspense and military romance author. Fans voted her onto Amazon’s Top Picks for Debut Romance Authors in 2013, and her debut Titan series was #1 romantic suspense, #1 military romance, and a USA Today Top 100 bestseller.

She lives outside Washington, DC with her family and English Bulldog.

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Happy Release + Review + Exclusive Interview : Broken Honor by Tonya Burrows – Hornet Series – Book 3

Posted on 02/24/2015 by shellbellereads

Broken Honor

Hornet Series – Book 3

By Tonya Burrows

Synopsis

Ice-cold and unbreakable, Travis Quinn is the HORNET team’s hard-ass. No weaknesses. Except, of course, for the accident that not only destroyed his career as a Navy SEAL, but left terrifying blanks in his memory. But Travis remembers everything about Mara Escareno–the curve of her lips, the feel of her body…and how he walked out on her suddenly six weeks ago.
Mara could never resist the dangerously sexy Travis, which is probably how she ended up pregnant and disowned by her family. But before Travis can fully process the news, Mara is kidnapped by his enemies and plunged into the violent, merciless world of human trafficking. They want Travis–and the information locked within his damaged memory–no matter the cost. And now Travis’s enemies have discovered his only weakness…Mara.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

The Hornet Series

Seal of Honor – Book 1

It’s a good thing Gabe Bristow lives and breathes the Navy SEAL credo, “the only easy day was yesterday,” because today, his life is unrecognizable. When his prestigious career comes to a crashing halt, he’s left with a bum leg and few prospects for employment that don’t include a desk.

That is, until he’s offered the chance to command a private hostage rescue team and free a wealthy American businessman from Colombian paramilitary rebels. It seems like a good deal—until he meets his new team: a drunk Cajun linguist, a boy-genius CIA threat analyst, an FBI negotiator with mob ties, a cowboy medic, and an EOD expert as volatile as the bombs he defuses. Oh, and who could forget the sexy, frustratingly impulsive Audrey Van Amee? She’s determined to help rescue her brother—or drive Gabe crazy. Whichever comes first.

As the death toll rises, Gabe’s team of delinquents must figure out how to work together long enough to save the day. Or, at least, not get themselves killed. Because Gabe’s finally found something worth living for, and God help him if he can’t bring her brother back alive.

Buy Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Honor Reclaimed – Book 2

Former Marine sniper Seth Harlan is determined to prove that he can still do his job despite his ongoing battle with PTSD. When an old friend contacts HORNET to rescue a black ops soldier, Seth’s stability is strained. He knows all too well what it’s like to rot inside an enemy camp, praying for rescue and waiting for death. And he’s not about to leave a man behind.

Photojournalist Phoebe Leighton just stumbled into the middle of an arms deal. Teaming up with a ragtag team of mercenaries is the last thing she wants to do–especially when she realizes Seth Harlan is assigned to the mission. He may ignite a passion in her she thought long dead, but Phoebe’s hiding a secret that could destroy him.

With a bomb in the mix, HORNET’s mission is suddenly about a lot more than an abandoned soldier. Racing against the clock, Seth, Phoebe, and the rest of the team struggle to stop a ruthless warlord bent on power, revenge…and death.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Tina’s Review

The men of HORNET are back! Although Ms. Burrows does a wonderful job at writing this so it may stand on it’s own, I feel it would be most beneficial and enjoyable if the reader reads SEAL of Honor and Honor Reclaimed prior to this to appreciate the supporting characters to their fullest value. I’m always nervous to review a book by one of my favorite authors. I worry it won’t live up to my lofty expectations and I also worry that the author may not like my review… because, regardless of who the author is, I took a vow to read and review each book fairly and honestly.
That said, here I go… although Quinn has been an important member of HORNET, his character never left a strong, positive impression with me. He knew he was suffering side effects from the brain injury, but kept playing it off as no big deal. It’s irresponsible, reckless and selfish to do, especially as the commanding officer of the team. But, this book redeems him. Mara’s kind of a more obscure character, meaning though they have history and she’s been introduced in a previous storyline, she played more of a cameo than a minor role. Her character is quite enjoyable and I find her blend of vulnerability and feistiness to be refreshing. The dialogue and interaction between characters can easily be envisioned playing out in front of you, it’s very believable and feels feel. The plot is darker than the others of this series, it is dynamic and exciting, providing thrills and laughs and tears all while flowing with the smoothness of a decadent chocolate fountain. I’ll never be able to look at a Whac-a-Mole game again without thinking of Jean-Luc… priceless! There were plenty of conflicts being tossed at them from many different directions, all of which seem to have been resolved quite neatly. I had some speculations early on about “Captain Cold” and was oh-so close to being right, but I was just wrong enough for it to still be have that “whoa” factor upon the big reveal. Glad Tank made it back from London, he had me worried for a bit. The conclusion was solid and there’s just enough of a slight tease to whet the appetite for what might be the next book in the series. I really enjoy this series. If you like Maya Banks’ KGI series, you will love Tonya Burrows’ HORNET series.

Interview With Tonya Burrows

The third book in the HORNET series, BROKEN HONOR, by Tonya Burrows is about to release. Congratulations & Happy Release! She was kind enough to take time out of her super busy schedule to sit down with me long enough to conduct a short Q & A session.
Thank you, Tonya.

Tina:
Hi, Tonya. Thank you for taking time out to answer a few question for me.
Let’s start at the beginning… When did you know you wanted to become a professional writer/author and who were your influences and role models at that time? And now, what author(s) do you admire most?
Tonya:
Hi, Tina! Glad to be here!
I’ve always known I wanted to be an author. I remember telling my first grade teacher I would be an author someday, but it wasn’t until I was in 8th grade that the idea really took hold. I have my literature teacher to thank for that. She read everything I wrote, no matter how horrible it was, and encouraged me to keep writing. And I did.
There are two big-name authors I admire. Nora Roberts because she always manages to suck me into her stories, and J.R. Ward because her Black Dagger Brotherhood series inspires such a huge fandom. Those are two things I aspire to with my books.

Tina:
Your heroes are all kick-ass, uber-macho Alpha men. Is there any correlation between the fictional heroes and a real, live Alpha muse or muses?
Tonya:
Nope. I wish, but my heroes are complete fantasies.

Tina:
For those who follow the HORNET series, we have come to expect some pretty controversial plot locations. SEAL of Honor taking place in Columbia, Honor Reclaimed set in Afghanistan, and now Broken Honor is in… Transnistria? Can you tell us how you FOUND and decided on this obscure location?
Tonya:
Well, I knew I wanted Broken Honor to take place in a country that has problems with human trafficking, so that’s where I started with my research. When I came across Transnistria, a small breakaway republic of Moldova, I found the idea of an unrecognized country so interesting, I knew I had to set the book there.

Tina:
It sounds like Quinn’s story will be a little darker and/or edgier than the others with having to take on Human Traffickers in some unrecognized Eastern European country. How difficult was getting his story put into written words? It all sounds pretty foreign and complex; how deep did you need to research the topics and location for this book?
Tonya:
I do so much more research than what makes it into the actual book. Human trafficking is a very dark topic and I wanted to make sure I did it justice and had my facts right. Same with the setting—I read and watched everything I could find about Transnistria and Moldova because I wanted to make sure to do the countries justice. No place is all bad and I really try to show some of the good with the bad in these books.

Tina:
I understand that you are planning to donate a portion of your first month’s proceeds. NOT FOR SALE (notforsalecampaign.org)’s goal is to protect people and communities around the world from Human Trafficking. What was it about this cause and this organization that made you choose it over so many other charities?
Tonya:
After researching Broken Honor, I felt like I had to do something to help combat human trafficking, so when it was mentioned in passing that I could donate a portion of my proceeds, I jumped on the idea. I researched several organizations and decided I wanted to donate to a smaller, more “grassroots” effort. Not for Sale appealed to me for many reasons, but I made sure to get a second opinion by posing the question to my street team.

Tina:
You have two other series ongoing, WILDE SECURITY and D.I.E. SQUADRON. Can you tell us what’s happening with those? Any more New Releases we should be watching for in the near future?
Tonya:
Yes, I hope to finish the Wilde Security series this year. I don’t have release dates for any of them yet, but I hope to soon!
As for D.I.E. Squadron, I’m going to have to put that series on hold. Vision of Darkness was my first self-published effort and unfortunately, it didn’t sell well. So as much as I want to tell D.I.E. Squadron’s stories, I can’t justify spending the time or money to continue it at the moment. Hopefully I’ll be able to do it sometime in the future!

Tina:
With writing books for three series at a time, how do you keep all of your characters and plots organized and/or separated?
Tonya:
I have notebooks, my “bibles” for each book, but as I get farther into the series, I’m starting to realize that isn’t working anymore. I really need to take the time to put all the information into one binder for each series. And, I’m not gonna lie, the character profiles on my website have saved me from giving the characters the wrong colored eyes more than once.

Tina:
Finish these sentences:
“I’m going to celebrate my New Release by___” … work. I don’t usually do anything fun on release days. I’ll having marketing stuff to do and I’ll be working on the 4th Wilde Security book. I might indulge in a margarita that night, though.
“My ideal way to chill and relax is to ______” … veg out with Netflix. I’ll fully admit to being addicted to TV.

Tina: Could you describe a typical day in the life of Tonya Burrows? What do you enjoy doing when you’re not trying to meet deadlines?
Tonya:
My days are pretty uneventful. I walk my dogs, then have my coffee and catch up on emails, social media, and other online stuff. That usually takes me until lunchtime. I walk the dogs again, catch up on my TV shows while I eat and if I have any errands to do, I’ll do them in the afternoon. I do almost all of my writing in the evenings and at night. I’m a night owl. When I’m not writing, I like to spend time outside with my dogs at the park or beach. And, like I said, I’m addicted to TV so Netflix usually plays a big part in my days off. 🙂

Tina:
Lastly, I’d love to learn a little more about YOUR reading preferences.
What book did you just finish reading? What are you currently reading? What 2015 New Release are you looking most forward to?
Tonya:
I am most looking forward to J.R. Ward’s new releases. The Shadows, The Bourbon Kings, and the first book in the new series she just announced. I’m also looking forward to the next book in Cindy Gerard’s One-Eyed Jacks series and the next J.D. Robb book.
Right now, I’m listening to Rebecca Zanetti’s Blind Faith on audio, but I can’t share with you what I’m reading because I’m currently judging books for the RITA awards.

Tina:
Again, I’d like to thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to sit down and answer my questions. I enjoyed it. Best wishes on BROKEN HONOR!
Tonya:
You’re welcome! Thanks for having me!

Author Bio:

Tonya Burrows wrote her first romance in 8th grade and hasn’t put down her pen since. Originally from a small town in Western New York, she’s currently soaking up the sun as a Florida girl. She suffers from a bad case of wanderlust and usually ends up moving someplace new every few years. Luckily, her two dogs and ginormous cat are excellent travel buddies.

When she’s not writing about hunky military heroes, Tonya can usually be found at a bookstore or the dog park. She also enjoys painting, watching movies, and her daily barre workouts. A geek at heart, she pledges her TV fandom to Supernatural and Dr. Who.

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5 Star Review : Try With Me by Elyssa Patrick – With Me Series – Book 3

Posted on 02/23/2015 by shellbellereads

Try With Me

With Me Series – Book 3

By Elyssa Patrick

Synopsis

There is nothing happily ever after about my life. My mom is dying of breast cancer. I work four jobs just to keep us going.

What I don’t need to deal with?

Jamie McAlister.

Yeah. Him. Blond, tall, gorgeous. I had a crush on him throughout high school, but he never knew I existed. I don’t even think he knows my name. I was too shy to say a word to him. It seems that everywhere I go, he’s there. And now? He’s kissed me–a lot. And those hot kisses have led to even hotter nights.

I’m falling for him, head over heels. But I don’t know how to fit Jamie into my life. I only know I need him. Which means I have to try for something I never thought was possible. I have to fight for him and a forever kind of love.

THE WITH ME SERIES IN ORDER:
Stay With Me ~ available now (Hailey & Caleb)
Go With Me ~ available now (Daphne & Nick)
Try With Me ~ available now (Zelda & Jamie)
Dream With Me ~ Fall 2015 (Esmé & Griff)

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

I first stumbled across Elyssa Patrick when I saw a post by Maya Banks on Facebook praising her first book. I figured if Maya Banks was singing her praises that this new author had to good. I downloaded that first book and have become a devout Elyssa Patrick fan. Every single book she has published has been a 5 Star Book. She has ventured from the New Adult genre to Contemporary Romance and Erotic Romance. Each and every book has a fresh voice and a gripping romance. Her characters come to life. The sexual tension, romantic tension, and character tension is a slow build that becomes explosive. The emotional and romantic moments pull at the heart strings. Each and every book has a lively cast of secondary characters that not only supports the leading characters but also finds a place in the reader’s heart. By the end of the book, the reader is not only happy with the outcome of the story, they are also hoping that one of these secondary characters will get their own moment to shine in a future book.

Try With Me is the third book in the With Me series. This series revolves around four sexy college roommates and the women that become a part of their “family”. Try With Me features the Jamie McAlister. Out of the four guys , Jamie is the jokester and easy going one of the group. Not only is he drop dead gorgeous, he is also smart, hard working, loyal, and dependable. It would seem he has everything going for him. He wants to have a steady relationship like his two other roommates have. There is only one girl he wants to have that relationship with. A girl he knew in high school. A girl that was out of his league. He wants Zelda.

Zelda’s life didn’t go as she planned after she graduated high school. She didn’t go to Harvard. In fact she didn’t go to college at all. Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has spent the last three years taking care of her mother, searching for new treatments to help her mother, and working four jobs to make ends meet. She does’t have time for a social life. She doesn’t have time for herself. Her mother has reached the end of her treatments and has about six weeks to live. Zelda wants to bring her home and spend the rest of her time with her. Zelda’s life is in complete chaos. When she runs into Jamie McAlister, the one boy she had a crush on in high school, she doesn’t have time for love. How can she resist the one man she has always wanted?

Zelda and Jamie will find the love they always wanted but never thought they could have. Zelda will gain a new group of friends that will be there when she needs them the most. Zelda will learn life to live life to the fullest. She will be able to go on after a devastating loss.

Try With Me was my favorite book in this series. It was emotional, heartbreaking, uplifting, and humorous. It portrayed real life. I loved Jamie. His quirky humor and steadfast personality made it easy to fall in love with him.

Read Try With Me by Elyssa Patrick. Read the With Me Series.

With Me Series

Stay With Me – Book 1

‘ve been famous since I can remember. Singing, acting, dancing–I’ve done it all. The tabloids cover my every move, but I don’t want that anymore. I want to be normal, whatever that is.

When I leave Hollywood for college in Vermont, I’m on my own for the first time in my life. This is my chance to figure out who I am and what I want in life.

But it’s a lot harder than I expected. I can’t escape my image. Classes are difficult, and I’m struggling. And then there’s Caleb Fox.

Sexy, intriguing Caleb Fox.

Caleb is the one man who doesn’t want to use me. He breaks down my walls. He challenges me. He wants me. And I just don’t know if I can give him the same–or if he’ll stick around when he finds out my shameful secret that the tabloids haven’t managed to uncover.

Dating him is risky enough, but loving him could break me.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Go With Me – Book 2

I, Daphne Fox, have a few things to confess:

1. I hate Nick Brady. Loathe. Abhor. Can’t stand him 95% of the time.
2. That other 5%? I’m not talking about that at all.
3. People think I’m lucky for surviving the car crash. I disagree.
4. Nick is the only guy who makes my nightmares go away.
5. I won’t love him, though. Love is not worth the pain.

I, Nick Brady, have a few confessions of my own:

1. I don’t hate Daphne Fox. At all.
2. I find her scar sexy. Just like the rest of her.
3. I may be her older brother’s best friend, but that’s not going to stop me.
4. I love her.
5. And I’m going to do everything I can to have her.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

About Elyssa Patrick

Elyssa Patrick is a former high school English teacher who left the classroom to write sexy, funny, emotional contemporary romances. She is currently hard at work on her next novel.

She loves to hear from her readers!

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

5 Star Review : The Hermit and The Hooker by L.H. Cosway and Penny Reid

Posted on 02/18/2015 by shellbellereads

The Hermit and The Hooker

By L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid

Synopsis

New York’s Finest
Blogging as *The Socialmedialite*
April 22
LADIES AND GENTS! I have an announcement!
You know that guy I featured on my blog a few months ago? The really, really hot Irish rugby player who plays the position of ‘hooker’ in the RLI (Rugby League International)? The one with the anger management issues, the body of a gladiator and the face of a movie star? The one with the questionable fashion choices leading me to ask whether he was the lovechild of a leprechaun and a hobbit? Ronan Fitzpatrick? Yeah, that guy. Well, I have a confession to make…

THE HERMIT
Annie Catrel, social media expert extraordinaire at Davidson & Croft Media and clandestine celebrity blogger, can make anyone shine in the court of public opinion. She is the Socialmedialite, anonymous creator of New York’s Finest and the internet’s darling. Virtual reality is Annie’s forte, but actual reality? Not so much.

THE HOOKER
Ronan Fitzpatrick, aka the best hooker the world of rugby has seen in decades, despises the media—social or otherwise. The press has spun a web of lies depicting him as rugby’s wild and reckless bad boy. Suspended from his team, Ronan has come to Manhattan to escape the drama, lay low, fly under the radar. Only, Ronan isn’t easy to overlook, and he can’t escape the notice of the Socialmedialite…

THE PLAN
When Ronan is sent to Davidson & Croft Media to reshape his public image, he never expects to cross paths with shy but beautiful Annie, nor does he expect his fierce attraction to her. He couldn’t be happier when her boss suggests pairing them together.
What lengths will Annie take to keep her virtual identity concealed? And what happens when the hooker discovers who the hermit really is?

The Hooker and the Hermit is a collaboration between authors L.H. Cosway and Penny Reid, is a full length 110k word novel, and is a standalone.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

The Hermit and The Hooker by L.H. Cosway and Penny Reid has taken the romance reading world by surprise. The title alone is catchy enough to intrigue readers to download this book. The cover with the player wearing spandex and bright green with strategically drawn circles catches undivided attention. The synopsis demands that this book must be read. Top off all of the those great qualities with the fact that two outstanding authors, L.H. Conway and Penny Reid, teamed up to write this book!

All of the social media platforms are blowing up about this book. It is giving Ronin Fitzpatrick the positive attention he desperately needs. It is bringing Annie Catrel out of her cave and into the limelight.

Ronin Fitzpatrick has come to New York to escape the negative media exposure he has been receiving since he was suspended from his team in Ireland. His temper and rash actions have earned him the “bad boy” reputation. He needs to lay low, stay off the media’s radar, and chill out. He hates being away from his team, away from Ireland, and desperately misses his family. He has only one friend in New York. He has nothing but time on his hands. He choses to use this time to extensively train. He wants to be in top shape when he can finally return to the team. When a popular blogger posts a picture of him on their blog with derogatory remarks, he blows his gasket. He quickly begins to spar with the Socialmedialite through emails. Once again he is in the limelight of the media’s ridiculous circus. Not good!

Annie Catrel is a brilliant social media expert. She can work wonders and make Satan look like a boy scout. Her skills are highly sought after and any celebrity that is assigned to her will shine brightly. Annie is great with social media platforms but she is horrible with one on one interaction with people. She is a self imposed hermit and only interacts when she absolutely has to because of her job at Davidson & Croft Media. Behind the scenes she is secretly a popular celebrity blogger. Online she can be herself, speak her mind, and interact with people.

When Ronin is sent to Davidson & Croft for a media makeover, he is in for so much more. When he first lays eyes on Annie, he is a goner. He wants her in his life, in his bed, and wrapped around him. Luck is on his side, Annie has been exclusively assigned to his profile. She will be his handler.

As these two get to know one another they quickly realize that there is more than meets the eye. Ronin is quite the different man than the media portrays. Annie is slowly learning to come out her shell and show Ronin some of her personal brilliance that only shines in her blog.

When these two finally get their relationship on track, the media world will tear them apart. Ronin has bones in his closet. Ronin has enemies that will stop at nothing to destroy his reputation. Annie has a secret as well, a secret that will make Ronin despise her. Although her blog has been the one thing that brings her self respect, it is also the one thing that will destroy her relationship with Ronin.

Can these two find a way to love each other in spite of everything?

The Hermit and The Hooker was brilliantly written and executed. It was entertaining, humorous, witty, emotional, and sexy. Both characters were brilliant. They both had many unique qualities that endeared them to the readers. The dialogue and perfect timing made this book stand out. The romance was realistic, believable, and red hot. Everything about this book was excellent.

I highly recommend The Hermit and The Hooker.

About The Authors

L.H. Cosway has a BA in English Literature and Greek and Roman Civilisation, and an MA in Postcolonial Literature. She lives in Dublin city. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books.

She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

ABOUT PENNY:
Penny Reid is a part time author of romantic fiction. When she is not immersed in penning smart romances she works full time in the biotech industry as a researcher. She’s also a full time mom to two diminutive adults (boy-7 and girl-5), wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought hijacker.

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5 Star Review : Crossroads by Lori L. Otto – A Post Choisie Novella

Posted on 02/18/2015 by shellbellereads

Crossroads

A Post Choisie Series Novella

By Lori L. Otto

Synopsis

Will Rosser is smart.
Will Rosser is creative.
Will Rosser is driven.

Will Rosser is no Jon Scott.

This novella is a tie-in to the Choisie series. CROSSROADS takes place the summer after Livvy’s first year of College. This should be read after completing the Choisie series.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Robin’s Review

*** If you have not read the Choisie series, this review may contain mild spoilers.

Lori Otto recently set a goal for herself. She wanted to write and publish a short story about Will Rosser in just two weeks. It’s a goal she not only met, but even surpassed! Crossroads is a 22,000-word post-Choisie series novella about the older of Jon Scott’s two half-brothers. Many of the characters you already know and love from the Choisie series star in this mature young adult novella because it ties in with the series.

For those who have not already read Lori Otto’s Choisie series, I’ll share some background information about Will and his family. Will has an older half-brother named Jon Scott and a younger brother named Max. Their single mother is an alcoholic. Because the three brothers don’t have a father figure in their life, Jon took on the role as man of the house. Jon has made an effort to be available for his brothers over the years and, more recently, in between college classes and his internship. Jon attended baseball games and provided advice for his siblings. He encouraged them to watch over their mother and to study hard so they will be successful in life. As Jon grew older, he groomed Will to take over his role as the man of the house.

After their mother was arrested, she was forced to face her alcoholism. She moved their family from Manhattan to Utah so they could all be together while she was able to get the help she needed. Will lived in Utah for a year and a half, including his entire sophomore year of high school. At the end of the school year, Will had to leave his best friend and his first love behind to move back to Manhattan with his family.

In Crossroads, we learn that Will has planned a weekend trip to Utah over the summer break to visit his girlfriend, Laila and his best friend, Landry. It’s a trip he has planned so that he can say goodbye to Laila. Will is at a crossroads in his life. He is very much in love with Laila, but he knows he needs to say goodbye. Will and Laila both understand this visit will be the end of their relationship, and, although Will doesn’t realize it, his life will be changed in more ways than one.

Although Will’s character does play more of a role in Dear Jon, he really doesn’t get a lot of page time in the rest of the Choisie series. What I enjoyed the most about Crossroads is getting to know Will as a character and seeing his character develop throughout the novella. Crossroads is not a long story, but readers will definitely see him experience some changes in his life. Like his brother Jon, I just fell in love with his character. Will is smart. He loves physics. He has an extreme passion for music. Not only does he love music, but we are able to see the beginnings of something special. Will just might be a musical prodigy.

I don’t think it is absolutely necessary for someone to have read the Choisie series before reading this novella. If you have not read any novels by Lori Otto, Crossroads might be a great introduction to her writing. I found Crossroads intriguing, and I absolutely want to read more about Will Rosser! In my opinion, Crossroads is a solid 5-star novella!

Author Bio:

After graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1997 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Lori Otto worked in the billboard industry for ten years. Frustrated with trying to communicate entire messages in “seven seconds or less,” she decided to leave outdoor advertising and return to her love of creative writing.

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Happy Release + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Unexpected Fate by Harper Sloan – Hope Town Series – Book 1 – A Spin off of Corp Security Series

Posted on 02/17/2015 by shellbellereads

Unexpected Fate

By Harper Sloan

Release Date: February 17, 2015

Synopsis

Have you ever felt like you were living your life for a future that was predetermined? Like there was some bigger picture you just prayed you would someday see clearly? That picture has been crystal clear to me since I was old enough to recognize it for just what it was.

Or I should say recognize him for who he was.

I’ve loved Cohen Cage since I was a small child. He’s been my everything for the last twenty-two years. I’ve loved him through every girlfriend he’s ever brought home. Through his college years and then mine. I’ve loved him through two deployments. And ever since the day I told him how I felt, he’s acted like I’m a stranger.

My name is Danielle Reid, and it’s time for me to get my man.

Our future is an unexpected fate, and no matter what our parents, siblings, and friends say…it’s going to be worth every second of the fight to make it happen.

**This book is a standalone, HEA, with mature themes and sexual situations**

Buy : Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Unexpected Fate by Harper Sloan

Excerpt

“Dani-girl.” His voice, that rich rumble of masculine excellence, washes over me and I shiver again before cursing under my breath. The rumble of his low laughter tells me that he definitely didn’t miss that little move.

Kill me now.

“Hey, Coh,” I say with a smile. “What brings you in? Last minute, I might add.” I pat the chair before walking around and holding the back while he sits down.

When his scent hits my nose, I almost come on the spot. Lord, he smells good. I wonder what he would smell like while his body covered mine, all sweaty from hours of good lovemaking. I run my fingers through the longer lengths on the top and feel my cheeks heat slightly, thinking about doing the same when his face is buried between my legs.

“…needed a trim.”

Shit. I missed what he said because, naturally, I was thinking about him naked. Naked and thrusting into my body. Naked and feasting between my spread thighs.

“You feeling okay? I thought Nate said you were better?”

“Uh, I’m fine. Just—is it hot in here?” I fan my face and avoid his eyes.

He’s silent, so I take that as a sign that it’s safe to bring my attention back to him.

Big mistake there. His knowing eyes are boring right into mine. The chocolate depths sparkling in a way that makes it clear he has a good idea about where my mind was going.

“Did you hear what I said, Dani-girl?”

“Of course I did, Cohen. What, did you think I was standing here daydreaming?” I joke.

“Well, yeah, that’s exactly what I think.” His eyes darken and he smirks a devilish grin. “Did you know you talk in your sleep, Dani?” he asks, and I drop my comb.

Oh, God. Shut up, shut up, shut up. This is not happening. No way.

“No, I don’t,” I childishly snap.

“Dani, you do. So, yeah, I do think you were standing there daydreaming. Want to know why?” He uses his booted foot to move his chair so that he’s facing me, and then he leans in so that his face is dangerously close to mine. Even when he’s seated, his head is almost level with my own. Curse my horizontally challenged self. “While you were zoning off into space with your fingers running through my hair, you had this smile on your lips. The same smile you had the other day when you were dreaming. About me, Dani. And don’t deny it, because you don’t moan my name if you’re dreaming about another man. Yes, Dani, you very much do talk in your sleep.” He smiles again before leaning back and looking down to his phone. “Clean up my neck please, cut the length off the top, and give me a buzz on the sides. Other than that, you’re clear to continue with your thoughts.”

I must have been standing there like an idiot because he looks up from his phone, laughs to himself, and, with one tan hand, reaches out and pushes my mouth closed.

“You’re going to catch flies that way, Dani-girl. One day, maybe you can clue me in on what those dreams are about.”

Drives me insane, the control he has over me. There isn’t a single person in the world, other than Cohen, who can turn me into a ridiculously stupid, sputtering fool. My normal confidence disappears. And clearly, he isn’t as oblivious to my feelings as I originally thought.

How in the hell am I supposed to handle this?

Wait a minute. Cohen or not, I’m not going to let him pull my strings when I know he is just doing this to make me feel uncomfortable.

So, time to call his bluff.

“Why? You planning on doing something about it?”

He looks up sharply, clearly not having expected me to actually say something in return since he was going for shock value.

“Try me,” he demands, his voice thick and even deeper than normal.

I throw my head back and reach out to run my fingers thought his hair again, just barely suppressing the shivers. Curling my fingers slightly so that I can grab a good hold, I lean in and pull his head back at the same time. With my nose just a hair away from his and our breaths mingling together, I say, “Cohen, you couldn’t handle the truth of my thoughts when it comes to you and we both know it. So how about you let me know when you’re ready for me to clue you in.” I give his hair a light tug and smile when he swallows loudly and shifts in his seat. “Ready for that trim?” I ask with a wink, and I’m rewarded with his groan.

I have no idea how I do it, but I manage to get through his cut without coming unglued. I can see Lyn trying to get my attention from across the room. Stella had to leave after she overheard my words to Cohen because her giggles were getting the best of her. Cohen has remained silent the whole time. His eyes though… They’re speaking louder than his words ever could.

They haven’t left my reflection in the mirror since I started. I can feel them every time I shift. When I stopped to go grab another comb after I dropped my fourth one, I felt his gaze follow me across the room to Stella’s station. The few times I stopped cutting to meet his eyes, the heated promise written all over his face almost did me in. I almost just said ‘fuck it’ and climbed on his lap to have a go regardless of the people watching our every move.

I finish the last buzz of my clippers around his right ear and move to brush all the stray hair off. “All done,” I say softly and unclip his cape.

He stands, shoving his phone in the back pocket of his jeans, and walks over to stand in front of me. I continue to pretend I’m busy with the cape I just removed, brushing stray hairs off here and there, when his hand comes up, his finger and thumb hitting my chin, and my face is lifted until I have no choice but to look in his eyes.

“Do not tease me, Dani. It’s not a game you want to play if you don’t intend to follow through.”

“I-I wasn’t… I wouldn’t,” I stammer.

“You did, and I have no doubt you’ll have the brilliant idea to do it again. The next time you allude to those dirty thoughts I know you have about me, don’t think for a second that I won’t drag you to the closest bed to show you just how fucking dirty they’ll get.” He leans close, his scent hitting my nostrils, and I involuntarily inhale deeply, earning me a rumbled chuckle. “What you don’t know, Dani—because contrary to what you think, you don’t know me well enough to assume what having me would really be like. But I promise you this: every little thought that you have had that causes you to moan my name while scissoring those perfect legs back and forth, praying for completion—it would be so much hotter than you could ever imagine.” He gives me a soft, sweet kiss against my temple that has fire racing from that spot all over my body until it ends in the awareness that I’m pretty sure I just came in my pants.

Michel’s Review

If you are a fan of Harper Sloan’s Corp Security Series you are going to love Unexpected Fate. If you have not read any of Harper Sloan’s books or the Corp Security Series, Unexpected Fate, book one in the new series Hope Town, is a good place to start. I can guarantee you will want to go back and read Axel, the book that started it all.

Unexpected Fate is the first book in the Hope Town series. It is a spin off from Corp Security series. It is a very mature, graphic New Adult series that features the children of the Corp Security clan and their world.

Unexpected Fate features Cohen Cage, the adorable three year boy that always wore a cape. We met him in Cage (book 2) and he stole our hearts. Now he is all grown up and living up to his legacy, Alpha Male the Corp Security way. He has bided his time and waited for the one woman that has been his soulmate all his life. He has been waiting for Danielle Reid, daughter of EXTREME Alpha Male, Axel Reid (book one-the Alpha that started it all). The timing has never been right. Their five year age difference set their lives on different paths. Now their paths are finally colliding and destiny is taking control.

Dani and Cohen will have to overcome a lot of hurdles before they can finally declare their love to the world and become the couple they were meant to be. They will have to conquer ALPHA-DADDY Axel, who will keep his “little princess” locked in a tower forever. They will have to keep a lid on their relationship so that the other Alpha Princes and “Little Princesses” don’t spill the beans. They will have to deal with reality tv that is “All Glitter and Gold” Sway Style. They will have to slay a Stalker Dragon. What happens next…besides ALPHA DADDY Axel having a coronary ?

The Alpha kingdom is being taken over by the Alpha Princes. The Little Princesses are stepping out and shaking their money makers. They are going to shake the Alpha Corp Security Kingdom and make it their world. We are going to see Alpha granddaddies, Queen-nannas, and a new dynasty to rule the Corp Security Kingdom. Our new Alpha Knights in shining armor will slay any dragon that threatens their Beautiful Princesses. New royalty will be introduced and their world will live on….

As our favorite magical Fairy Sway would say ” There’s new love that’s pure Glitter and Gold”.

I loved how Harper Sloan has added a new dynasty to the Corps Security world. I love how she is giving these seasoned Alpha’s a new foe to conquer….AGE! I love how she’s breathing new life into one of our favorite fictional worlds. I love that she is letting Sway wave his magic wand and giving us more Golden characters to love with all of our hearts. He has spun a road of Glitter & Gold for the Corp Security to have a new Hope Town.

Read Unexpected Fate… it will not disappoint!

About Harper Sloan

Harper lives in small town Georgia just a short drive from her hometown of Peachtree City. She (and her 3 daughters) enjoy ruling the house they dubbed ‘Estrogen Ocean’, much to her husbands chagrin. Harper has a borderline unhealthy obsession with books; you can almost ALWAYS find her with her eReader attached. She enjoys bad reality TV and cheesy romantic flicks. Her favorite kind of hero–the super alpha kind!

Harper started using writing as a way to unwind when the house went to sleep at night; and with a house full of crazy it was the perfect way to just relax. It didn’t take long before a head full of very demanding alphas would stop at nothing to have their story told.

told.Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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