Review: No In Between by Lisa Renee Jones- Inside Out Series-Book 4

Posted on 08/29/2014 by shellbellereads

No In Between

Inside Out Series- Book 4

By Lisa Renee Jones

Synopsis

The fourth in the Inside Out erotic romance series by New York Times bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones, this steamy novel resolves Chris and Sarah’s relationship and leads into Mark’s story.

“Chris and I have faced our demons and bared our souls to one another in Paris. Now that we are back home in San Francisco, I want to believe that nothing can tear us apart. Not Ava’s accusations against me to the police, or Chris’s fear that he will destroy me as he feels he did Amber. And not Mark, who was once too intimately a part of our lives, and who I can see crumbling inside out. He believes he is invincible, just as I want to believe Chris and I are invincible. We have to be invincible. We need each other too much for any other ending.

Excerpt

My fingers wrap his wrist. “I know you want to protect me, and I love you for that more than you know.”

“Yet too easily, you found a reason to shut me out tonight. Trust isn’t a fair-weather friend. It’s about a willingness to be vulnerable and exposed.”

“And I am willing to do that. That’s why I’m here now.”

He searches my face, and I don’t know what he looks for, what he needs, or what he finds. He releases me abruptly. “Hold out your hands and lace your fingers together.”

Heat rushes through me with the certainty that I’m about to fully understand the painting he’s created of me. This is him sending me a message. He’s not holding back. My confession, as incomplete as it is, has changed nothing. I offer him my arms, aware as I haven’t been in the past few minutes of my naked body, my breasts pressed together.

Chris reaches into his back pocket and produces a roll of art tape, using it to wrap my wrists. Task complete, he bends my elbows and presses my wrists to my chest, his fingers covering the bindings. He has become dark Chris, the dominant Master who never shows emotion; the Chris who arouses me in ways I would never believe a man could.

“Sit down,” he orders, and the way he manages such force with what is no more than a whisper stirs heat low in my body.

My throat is dry and my heart beats so loudly I am certain Chris can hear. I squat and he follows me down, steadying me so I don’t fall without the use of my hands. “All the way,” he murmurs, gently nudging me until my bare backside is on the floor.

He angles my knees up toward my chest, with my feet out enough to stabilize my body. His long lashes lower, half-moons on his cheeks, and I sense him struggling with what has passed between us. He knows I need to see he won’t hold back, but this isn’t just for me. I think he really needs this, too, for me to show him, not tell him, how much I trust him.

Chris tapes my ankles and then throws the roll over his shoulder. My nerve endings are so alive, so on edge that the roll hits the ground like a thundering drum that seems to radiate through the room, through my body. His hands come down on my knees and the touch sweeps over me, awakening nerve endings in the most intimate and unforgiving of places. I feel this man everywhere, I want him everywhere. But as if he knows what I feel, and he means to deny me, he withdraws. I shiver with a sudden cold certain to linger. He will torment me, make me wait for him. Make me beg.

He stands up, towering over me, and I stare up at him, trying to read him, the anticipation of what comes next tingling through me. And it’s supposed to. I see that in his eyes, and I am reminded of his words when I’d first seen the painting. It’s about trust. The kind of trust I want from you and have no right to ask for. He’s going to push me. He’s going to take me somewhere uncomfortable. Somewhere I might not want to go, but I will. With Chris, I will.

Buy : Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Tracey’s Review

Chris Merritt and and Sara McMillan have worked through all of their personal demons in Paris, and returned to San Francisco, determined to put their pasts behind them and begin their life together. Before they can move forward, though, they are faced with wading through the chaos that awaits them at home. Just when it seems that the mystery behind the disappearance and death of Rebecca Mason has been solved, new questions emerge that leave everything up in the air, and leave them wondering who, exactly, can be trusted.

Lisa Renee Jones had written another fabulous installment in the ‘Inside Out’ series, creating plot twists that leave you wondering where the heck the story is heading. When I started reading this book, I was sure that the whole mystery of what, and at whose hands, had happened to Rebecca. But, in just a few short pages, Lisa Renee managed to throw all that I thought I knew right out of the window. New evidence, less-than-honest disclosures by key players, and a case that threatens to leave everyone involved as collateral damage make for a read that I was unable to put down. Added to the main story, we’re also left asking what ever happened to Sara’s friend Ella. Did she meet the same fate as Rebecca, or is her story really the fairytale that she painted to Sara?

Lisa Renee Jones is the mistress of erotic intrigue, and writes one heck of a cliff-hanger, but the story is just so compelling that I can’t help but eagerly await ‘I Belong To You,’ the next book in the series. Five stars for this hot, sexy, and action packed read.

Author Bio:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT SERIES, and is now in development by Suzanne Todd (Alice in Wonderland) for cable TV. In addition, her Tall, Dark and Deadly series and The Secret Life of Amy Bensen series, both spent several months on a combination of the NY Times and USA Today lists.

Watch the video on casting for the INSIDE TV Show HERE

Since beginning her publishing career in 2007, Lisa has published more than 40 books translated around the world. Booklist says that Jones suspense truly sizzles with an energy similar to FBI tales with a paranormal twist by Julie Garwood or Suzanne Brockmann.

Prior to publishing, Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by Dallas Women Magazine. In 1998 LRJ was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.

Lisa loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at on her website and she is active on twitter and facebook daily.

Review + Giveaway: Only One by Tammy Falkner- The Reed Brothers Series- Book 5.5

Posted on 08/21/2014 by shellbellereads

Only One

The Reed Brothers Series- Book 5.5

By Tammy Falkner

Synopsis

He knows the value of life.

She’s still learning.

What would you do if you had one last moment to say goodbye? Would you take it?

(While this book is about Nick and Carrie, two brand new characters, the Reeds – the whole lot of them – do show up in this book. And there might even be a teeny-tiny little Reed Brothers reveal hidden in the pages. Shh! Don’t tell anyone!)

Buy Links

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes

Michel’s Review

Only One by Tammy Falkner is a novella in The Reed Brothers Series. It can be read as a stand alone novella or in the series order.

Only One is a powerful novella. It is an emotional story of life and death. It celebrates the very meaning of life, love, and family. It shows the power of forgiveness and the power of love. It also shows the beauty of hope.

Only One features the story of Nick and Carrie, two young people stepping into their new “adult” life. The summer after graduation should be one of celebration, independence, fun, and parties. For Carrie it is a summer of dread. She is forced to spend the summer at their family beach house in North Carolina with her estranged mother. Her feelings of resentment and loathing get in the way of experiencing what could be the best summer of her life. She has to learn how to forgive and cherish each moment in life.

Nick lost his parents a year before graduation. He is on his own and struggling to survive. He hangs on to the values and life lessons his parents taught him. He cherishes the examples they set for love and relationships. He would give anything to have one more moment to tell them how much they meant to him.

When Nick and Carrie re establish their friendship they will gain new outlooks on life. They will learn the true meaning of love. They will learn what is important in life. They will make new friends (The Reed Family). They will suffer hurt and loss. They will gain love and hope.

Even if you have not read the Reed Brothers series read Only One. It is a beautiful story that will bring you to tears and leave you with a strong sense of hope.

Tammy Falkner did a beautiful job telling Nick and Carrie’s story. It is obvious that this was a story that she had to write. It will touch your soul.

The Reed Brothers Series

1. Tall, Tatted, and Tempting

2. Smart, Sexy and Secretive

3. Calmly, Carefully, Completely

3.25 Finally Finding Faith

3.5 Just Jelly Beans and Jealousy

3. 75 Reagan’s Revenge

4. Maybe Matt’s Miracle

5. Proving Paul’s Promise

Giveaway

3 IBook Copies of Only One

Click the link below to enter to win

https://www.facebook.com/smutbookjunkiebookreviews/posts/815584958475804

About Tammy Falkner:

Tammy Falkner lives on a farm in a lovely, sprawling little town in rural NC with her beekeeper husband and a house full of boys, a few dogs, and a cat or two (or five – who has time to count?). As half of the Lydia Dare team, she has co-written ten books, including the Westfield Wolves series and the Gentlemen Vampyre series. A huge fan of Regency England, she wrote three books for Sourcebooks as Tammy Falkner, featuring Regency Faeries, and just began her first New Adult adult series.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Day Blitz + Review : Worth Forgiving by Vi Keeland- MMA Fighters Series- Book 3

Posted on 08/21/2014 by shellbellereads

Worth Forgiving

MMA Series~ Book 3

By Vi Keeland

Blurb

They say men like a lady in the living room and a whore in the bedroom. I never knew the sentiment was reciprocal. Until I met Jax Knight. A gentleman in public, a commanding, dirty talking rogue in the bedroom.

Daughter of legendary fighter “The Saint,” Lily St. Claire knows firsthand how fighters can be. As the owner of a chain of MMA gyms, she’s no stranger to aggressive, dominating, and possessive men. That’s why she always kept her distance. But the day Jax Knight walks through her door she’s captivated by his charm. Stunningly handsome, well mannered, Ivy League educated, and confident, he shatters all the preconceived notions she’d come to think were true about men who trained to fight.

But falling for someone so soon after her breakup wasn’t something she’d planned on. And definitely not something her ex plans to allow.

Genre: A New Adult / Adult Contemporary Romance Novel

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

Worth Forgiving by Vi Keeland is the third book in the MMA Fighter series. This book is quite different from the first two books in the series. The leading man, Jax Knight, is not a professional fighter. The heroine is no stranger to the professional world of fighting, she owns a chain of gyms that train fighters.

We met Jax Knight in the second book of this series, Worth the Chance. Jax is a professional independent broker from a prominent family. His father is a powerful Senator that has used his influence for his own personal agenda. When his father’s secrets are exposed it changes Jax. He no longer admires his father and no longer wants to please the man to keep him in good graces with his constituents. He is free to live his life as he sees fit, pursue his own career goals, and recognize the dreams he let go of because of his family life. He has also gained a brother he did know he had. One of his first pursuits is to invest in a chain of gyms that cater to his beloved sport. This is how he meets Lily St. Claire, daughter of the fighting legend “The Saint”.

Lily has been reeling from the loss of her father. She inherited his half of the chain of gyms. Now his partner wants to sell out and retire. They are looking for investors to buy out his half. Jackson Knight is the man brokering the deal. When she meets Jax she is drawn to his confident and sexy demeanor. But she cannot fall for this man. She is still dealing with a bad break up that has turned into a frightening dilemma. Her ex is still trying to control her and has stalker tendencies.

As Jax and Lily’s relationship begins to develop many things will come into play. Jax has a secret that could make Lily turn her back on him. Jax’s father is trying to manipulate Jax’s life to bring him back into the fold. Lily’s ex is becoming out of control. Their world and new found love is about to explode.

What does a man do when he loses the woman he loves. He FIGHTS !

What does a woman do when the man she loves her. She FORGIVES !

Together Jax and Lily will learn when to love and when to fight.

I really enjoyed this book and the new direction. It was highly emotional, intense, and loaded with sizzling hot romance. I would highly recommend Worth Forgiving.

About The Author: Vi Keeland

Vi Keeland is a native New Yorker with three children that occupy most of her free time, which she complains about often, but wouldn’t change for the world. She is a bookworm and has been known to read her kindle at stop lights, while styling her hair, cleaning, walking, during sporting events, and frequently while pretending to work. She is a boring attorney by day, and an exciting New York Times & USA Today Best Selling smut author by night!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway (Signed kindle cover by some amazing authros)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MDk5NjRmMDM5ZDM4YTBjYWM0YzAyYzM0NGI2ODRhOjQyOA==/

5-Star ARC Review: A View To A Thrill by Lexi Blake

Posted on 08/19/2014 by Saucy Southern Readers

A View To A Thrill, Masters & Mercenaries Book 7, Coming August 19, 2014

A Spy without a Country

Simon Weston grew up royal in a place where aristocracy still mattered. Serving Queen and country meant everything to him, until MI6 marked him as damaged goods and he left his home in disgrace. Ian Taggart showed him a better way to serve his fellow man and introduced him to Sanctum, a place to pursue his passion for Dominance and submission. Topping beautiful subs was a lovely distraction until he met Chelsea, and becoming her Master turned into Simon’s most important mission.

A Woman without Hope

Chelsea Dennis grew up a pawn to the Russian mob. Her father’s violent lessons taught her that monsters lurked inside every man and they should never be trusted. Hiding in the shadows, she became something that even the monsters would fear—an information broker who exposed their dirty secrets and toppled their empires. Everything changed when Simon Weston crossed her path. Valiant and faithful, he was everything she needed—and a risk she couldn’t afford to take.

A Force too Strong to Resist

When dark forces from her past threaten her newfound family at Sanctum, Chelsea must turn to Simon, the one man she can trust with her darkest secrets. Their only chance to survive lies in a mystery even Chelsea has been unable to solve. As they race to uncover the truth and stay one step ahead of the assassins on their heels, they will discover a love too powerful to deny. But to stop a killer, Simon just might have to sacrifice himself…

Order A View To A Thrill

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes

Excerpt

Chelsea looked at the bed that dominated the room. The only bed. Somehow she’d managed to find the shitty motel that didn’t have two queens. No. It was way worse. It was a single queen and there was no couch. And she was pretty sure the floor was covered in disease. “I think I should sleep somewhere else. We need to find another room.”

Blue eyes stared a hole through her. Somehow his eyes managed to be cold and hot given his mood. The color shifted, lighter, icier when he was angry. As warm as the Caribbean when he was happy.

They often seemed so cold when he looked at her. “Your contact said to meet here. We’re staying here.”

“He told me to meet him here. I’m sure they have another room, Weston. You don’t have to sit up all night.” Because there was no way they could share that bed. It was too small. He would take up all the space.

He locked the door and set down his duffel bag on the table. He shrugged out of his jacket because the man wore a three-piece suit on the run. She couldn’t help but stare at his broad shoulders and the way his dress shirt tapered down to perfectly pressed slacks. He tugged at the silver tie he was wearing, pulling it free and working the buttons at his throat until she could see the start of his truly impressive chest.

God, she hoped she wasn’t drooling.

The shoulder holster was the next to go in his inadvertent striptease. “You should get settled in. We have to be up early in the morning. I’ll take the side closest to the door.”

He couldn’t be serious. “Simon, there’s not enough room on that bed.”

He threw that gorgeous body down, making the springs squeak. “Of course there is, love. You Americans just like to take up an enormous amount of space. When I was a child, my brother and I slept in beds much smaller than this.”

“I’m not your brother, Simon.”

“I understand that fully. Believe me.”

She needed to take charge or she would make a complete fool of herself. “Look, Weston, you turned down my offer.”

He turned lazily, one hand coming up to balance his head. He looked like a pinup in a women’s magazine—all lean and predatory lines. She could see the write-up in her head. Simon likes tea, Scotch and eating subs for breakfast. His turn-offs include everything that comes out of Chelsea Dennis’s mouth. “Are you talking about your very charming offer to use my body to lose your virginity?”

She hadn’t put it like that. “You don’t want me. I get it. So let’s keep things simple. I hired you. I’m the boss. I’m going to see if I can rent the room next to this one and that can be yours.”

He didn’t move. He didn’t have to. She saw the way his eyes narrowed and then his voice came out, low and in that perfect upper-crust British accent that made her nipples hard. Her nipples were really stupid and she wished they didn’t like him so damn much. “You’re under a grave misapprehension, Chelsea. You are not my boss and you did not hire me. You came to me with a problem and I told you I would solve it. I believe I also mentioned that I was in charge and that was the only way I do this for you. So you will take off your clothes and you will get into this bed and you will sleep beside me tonight. I explained this to you when you signed the bloody contract. Do I need to explain what the word submissive means?”

Tears pricked her eyes. He was so damn unfair. She had to wonder if she would ever find a man who didn’t want to punish her. “You forced me to sign that contract.”

Now he moved, rolling to the side of the bed and getting to his feet with pure predatory grace. “I did nothing of the kind.”

He seemed very willing to revise history. She wasn’t about to let him forget. “If I hadn’t signed your contract, you would have let me die.”

He sighed, a long-suffering sound. “I certainly would not and if you think that’s true then you don’t know me at all. Perhaps I should do exactly what I should have done in the first place, what I would have done if you hadn’t signed the contract.”

That was worse than letting her die. “Please don’t call Ian.”

His shoulders weren’t so straight as he turned and stared at her. “You’re reckless, Chelsea. If I give up even a moment’s control, I’ll lose you and I can’t stand the thought of that. The only way to save you is to be your Master and the only Master you’ll accept is not the kind I want to be.”

“And what kind do you want to be?”

“Indulgent. Loving. Kind. I want a sub who obeys me in the field because she understands I would never let anyone hurt her. I want the play to just be play. I want a sub who trusts me with her body, who wants me and not just some faceless Dom who’ll work her over and then walk away. And I certainly don’t want to be a curiosity.”

She felt embarrassment flash through her system. If she could take back that first night’s utter idiocy she would. She should have known he wouldn’t want her. Not like that. “I get it. I got it when you turned me down the first time. I can get into bed with you because you won’t touch me.”

He was suddenly in her space. He’d moved so quickly she wasn’t sure how he’d gotten there. One minute there was a bed between them and the next she was backing up until she hit the wall because he was stalking her. She’d gone as far as she could go, but he kept coming. He loomed over her, using every one of his six feet two inches. “I’ve tried to be polite about this, but you don’t want that, do you? You don’t want me to be a gentleman about this. You want me to take you because then you’ll bloody well get it over with and you can put me in the same box with all the other men who hurt you and used you and cast you aside. I would be just one more villain who did something to you.”

“I never said that.”

“You don’t have to. I understand you, Chelsea. You can’t comprehend that, but I do. I understand you like no other man will. So I understand that I have to explain certain things to you.” He moved closer until his mouth hovered above hers, his heat sinking into her skin. “I’m going to tell you how this is going to go. We’ll get into that bed and I’m going to put my hands on you and I’m going to put my mouth on you. I’m going to taste you. I swear by the time you get out of that bed in the morning, you’re going to know what it feels like to come against my tongue. That screaming you heard as we walked in, you’re going to make that girl’s orgasm sound like the squeaking of a mouse. But the one thing you won’t get is my cock. You won’t get that because I’m not going to take your virginity because you’re curious. I’ll take it when you can’t think about anything but me. I’ll take it when you cry out my name and tell me there’s no other man you’ll ever love the way you love me. Then and only then will I take what belongs to me. Am I understood?”

She managed to nod.

He took a step back and she immediately missed his heat. His hands went to the buttons on his shirt. “Then take off those bloody clothes and get in bed.”

With shaking hands, she started to undress.

If there was ever a series that needed to be made into a movie or television show it is the Masters and Mercenaries series by Lexi Blake. The action, suspense, and intrigue will keep your knuckles white as you grip your e-reader eagerly anticipating what will happen next. Lexi is masterfully writes a new genre I call James Bond BDSM. Her heroes are sinfully sexy and hot alpha males and the women they fall for are strong, highly intelligent, and quick witted, and sexy as hell. I absolutely adore the fact that Lexi’s heroines are not skinny but are full of luscious curves that their men can’t get enough of.

I have been eagerly awaiting Simon and Chelsea’s story since Love and Let Die. Simon has been such a mystery to me and Lexi unveils so many things about him that I would have never expected he experienced in his past. I was amazed at how much in common Chelsea and Simon share with each other. All of Lexi’s books in this series can be read as a standalone, however I might suggest that you will enjoy this story much more if you pick up Love and Let Die first. That is the first book that Chelsea and Charlotte are featured in.

Chelsea narrowly escaped the Russian Mob a few years back only to find herself captured by her most unlikely enemy. Chelsea is very well known in the cyber community as the number one hacker. She can hack into any security system and for a long time she caused major chaos to several agencies just for fun. Unfortunately her ability to do this put a mark on her head and it seems that Simon may be the only man that can save her besides her brother-in-law that she adorably coins as Satan.

Simon has had it bad for Chelsea since the moment she sucker punched him. He has wanted to be her Dom and to play with her at Sanctum, but for Chelsea BDSM is all about pain relief, not love, and definitely not sex. Simon can see the emotional pain she is hiding because he knows it all too well. He just needs her to submit to him so he can show her how good things can be and that he will love her and care for her like no one ever has. Chelsea is stubborn. She has always made it on her own and does not want any help. The only reason she came to Simon is because she has nowhere else to go and well, he the sexiest man she has ever known so she is a little curious what Simon would be like as a lover. When Chelsea approaches Simon with her problem he sees it as the perfect time to get what he has always wanted. A BDSM contract with Chelsea one that includes things she would never let him give. Will she take him up on his offer or will she drag her feet to Ian and Charlotte for help?

If you like a lot of sizzle with lots of action and suspense you will love A View to a Thrill by Lexi Blake. This is a book you will not be able to put down until you have finished it. So get comfortable and enjoy this epic rollercoaster ride.

Surprise Novella Coming Soon!

Cherished, A Masters and Mercenaries Novella, October 28, 2014

A doctor living a double life

By day, Dr. Will Daley is one of Dallas’s most eligible bachelors, but every night he dons his leathers as one of Sanctum’s most desired Doms. He’s sworn off looking for a long-term relationship but is captivated by the club’s newest member, Bridget Slaten, even though they couldn’t be more different. She comes from a world of privilege and he was raised in poverty. When he discovers she needs a date to her sister’s wedding, he makes certain he’s literally the only man for the job.

A woman no longer willing to live in the shadows

For most of her life, Bridget hid herself behind her laptop. She can write romantic, sensuous lives for her characters but not herself. Having Master Will as her date to the wedding is a thrilling prospect but he has a special request. He wants her to accept two weeks of his services as a Dom, a lover, and expert in BDSM, and that is an offer she can’t refuse. Their sexual chemistry is undeniable, but it’s in the tender moments that Bridget realizes she’s falling for a man who might never trust her with his heart.

A love strong enough to cherish

Together in paradise for a week, Will realizes he can’t imagine his life without Bridget. As the wedding approaches, ghosts from their past come back to haunt them and threaten to ruin the peace they’ve found. With everything exposed, they will have to risk it all to claim the love that can set them both free.

PRE-ORDER:

eBook: Amazon | iTunes | Google

Print book: Amazon

Other Books in The Masters & Mercenaries Series

The Dom Who Loved Me (Masters & Mercenaries Book 1)

Print Book: Amazon | B&N

The Men In The Golden Cuffs (Masters & Mercenaries Book 2)

Print Book: Amazon | B&N

A Dom Is Forever (Masters & Mercenaries Book 3)

Print Book: Amazon | B&N

On Her Master’s Secret Service (Masters & Mercenaries Book 4)

Print Book: Amazon | Barnes&Noble

Sanctum (Masters & Mercenaries Book 4.5)

BUY: All Romance | Amazon | B&N

Love And Let Die (Masters & Mercenaries Book 5)

Print Book: Amazon

Unconditional (Masters & Mercenaries Book 5.5)

Dungeon Royale (Masters & Mercenaries Book 6)

Print Book: Amazon

1001 Dark Nights (Masters & Mercenaries Book 6.5)

eBook: Amazon ~

Author Bio

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

Her first novel, Their Virgin Captive: Masters of Ménage, Book 1, was a collaboration with New York Times bestselling author Shayla Black. There are four more books available in the series: Their Virgin’s Secret, Their Virgin Concubine, Their Virgin Princess and Their Virgin Hostage. The next book in the series, Their Virgin Secretary, is coming to Amazon this April.

In addition to the Masters of Ménage series, she is the author of the Masters and Mercenaries series. The first five novels, The Dom Who Loved Me, The Men with the Golden Cuffs, A Dom is Forever, On Her Master’s Secret Service, and Love and Let Die are available now, along with a novella titled Sanctum. The sixth novel, Dungeon Royale, is coming in February of 2014 along with two new novellas, Unconditional, releasing in January of 2014 and Dungeon Games, coming in May of 2014.

In 2013, Lexi also began releasing her urban fantasy series, Thieves. The first two books, Steal the Light and Steal the Day are available now on Amazon. Book 3 in the series, Steal the Moon, is coming in January of 2014.

For more information about her books, her appearances and her wacky life visit her Facebook page (http://goo.gl/q2IHnJ) or her website (http://www.lexiblake.net).

Release Day Blitz + Review + Giveaway: Seducing Lauren by Kristen Proby-Love Under the Big Sky-Book 2

Posted on 08/19/2014 by shellbellereads

We are so excited to share with you a bit of Kristen Proby’s SEDUCING LAUREN today! You can read an excerpt, read all about this new release, and enter a fantastic giveaway! SEDUCING LAUREN is the second title in Proby’s Love Under the Big Sky Series! Check out everything below and then go 1-click this amazing new title!

Synopsis
In the second book in the Love Under the Big Sky series from this New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the With Me in Seattle series, life in Montana gets spicy when a woman and her divorce lawyer sign off the papers—and sign on to love.

Now that his best friend, Josh, has happily settled down with his true love on a Montana ranch, small-town lawyer Ty Sullivan starts thinking that maybe single life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. And when Lauren Cunningham’s no-good ex-husband comes after her for an unexpected trust fund, Ty steps in to protect her. But soon he can’t help but think of her as more than a client. Lauren’s in no mood to jump into another relationship, so how can Ty convince her that her mistake wasn’t getting married, but marrying the wrong guy?

EXCERPT:

As I approach his house, I see his Jeep parked in the drive, the hood up, and a tight, jean-clad ass bent over the side.

Okay, he’s definitely home.

I tentatively wander around the other side of the Jeep and lean against the side, looking at the engine. He hasn’t noticed that I’m here yet, and I’m not even sure how he’ll react to seeing me here, but I can’t seem to stay away. His dark head is bent low, his arms buried in the engine, tinkering with something. His arms are bare as he’s pulled off his T-shirt, which is draped over the windshield. A thin sheen of sweat covers his shoulders and back, and his entire sleeve tattoo, which runs from just above his wrist all the way up to the top of his right shoulder, is on full display, making my girlie parts all tingle and come to life.

Holy Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

He’s so fucking toned it’s crazy. Jeez, his muscles bunch and stretch as he pulls on the wrench in his hand.

“Come on, you motherfucker,” he mutters. I have to bite my lips to keep from laughing out loud.

“So, what seems to be the problem?” I finally ask when he doesn’t notice me, keeping my eyes trained on the engine when his head whips up to look at me. I slowly lift my eyes to his and grin.

“I didn’t hear your car,” he murmurs with a smile.

“I walked.” I shrug and look back down into the bowels of his Jeep. “What’s wrong with your car?”

“You walked from your house?” he asks incredulously.

“No.” I shake my head and chuckle. “From Sips. I had coffee with Cara this morning.”

He stands up straight and leans his palms on the side of the Jeep, watching me. My eyes immediately fall to one drop of sweat slowly making its way down his hard chest.

“You had coffee with Cara?” He smiles.

“Yeah.” I shrug shyly. “I’m sorry to just stop by like this. I was out for a walk and just sort of found myself here.” I feel my cheeks heat and I back away, but he shakes his head and smiles widely.

“I’m glad you came by.” He raises his brows as I continue to stare.

I shake my head and raise my eyes to his, then bust out laughing.

“Why are you laughing?” he asks with a wide grin.

“Because I don’t think I’ve ever seen you without a shirt. I didn’t realize the tats went all the way up your arm. Who would have thought that under it all you’re just a bad boy?”

His eyes flash with heat as he narrows them on my face, watching me. He pulls a rag out of his back pocket and begins wiping off his hands, but his gray eyes stay on mine. Did I offend him?

“I’m not such a bad boy. Looks can be deceiving, Lauren.” He smirks as he lowers the hood on his Jeep. “But from the look of you right now, you don’t seem to mind the tats.”

“I don’t mind.” I shrug nonchalantly and try to ignore the way my heart picks up speed as he slowly saunters around the hood of the vehicle.

“Do you have any tats?”

“Yeah.”

His eyes widen in surprise and then rake over me from head to toe.

“Where?”

I grin, enjoying this flirtatious banter. “Here and there.”

“I have ways of making people talk, you know.”

“Bright lights and rubber hoses?” I ask with a raised brow.

He tosses his head back and laughs, an all-out belly laugh. “I’m not a cop,” he smirks.

“You might get to see them. Someday.”

He closes the gap between us and kisses me gently on the forehead, not touching me anywhere else.

“I hope someday comes sooner rather than later,” he whispers before pulling back and smiling softly down at me. “I would hug you, but I’m dirty.”

I wave him off, as if it’s no biggie, although I don’t mind so much that he’s a bit dirty and sweaty. “What were you doing?” I gesture to the car.

“Changing the oil.”

“There are places you can go,” I inform him with a perfectly straight face, “where you pull into this big garage, and then you leave your car and go into this small room with five-year-old magazines and stale coffee, and the people there will change your oil for you.”

“Or, smart-ass, I can do it myself in my own driveway.”

“Suit yourself.” I shrug.

“Did you sleep okay on the couch?” he asks, changing the subject.

“Yeah, actually, I did. But I could always sleep just about anywhere.”

“Hence the chaise in your office.” He chuckles.

I nod and stuff my hands in my pockets. “I’m sorry that I interrupted your morning. I was just out for a walk and found myself here.”

“I’m glad you did.” He scratches his stomach, and my eyes follow the movement. His abs are just delicious. For being so dark haired, he has little hair on his chest and stomach, but a light trail of hair falls from his navel and disappears into his jeans. He’s also sporting a V in the muscles on his hips that the heroes in my novels would covet.

“Lo?” he asks with a wide grin.

“Yeah?” I drag my eyes up to his again.

“I lost you for a second.”

I blink rapidly and feel heat fill my cheeks. Jesus, get a grip! You’ve seen hot men before, Lauren. “Sorry, my mind wandered.”

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Kelley’s Review

This read was scorching hot. Ty is a man who knows a thing or two about how to please a woman in bed. I mean a hot tattooed lawyer, need I say more. The man is as fierce in the courtroom as he is in the bedroom.

I absolutely love it when an author takes a series and just when you think you know what book is coming next she throws you a curve ball. I thought for sure after Loving Cara we would get Jillian and Zach’s story, but instead Kristen gave us an amazing treat with Lauren (Lo) and Ty. I knew I wanted Ty’s story from the get go but Lauren, not so much. She was friends with Misty and Misty is Satan’s mistress in my opinion. She is pure evil and you get a taste of her again in Seducing Lauren. I love to hate the villains. Kristen once again does an excellent job developing her characters. Just going through a divorce myself I can appreciate what Lo is going through with Jack. This storyline truly portrays the difficulties that can occur when a divorce goes seriously bad.

I really do enjoy a good friends to lovers story. Ty is an amazing book boyfriend as he takes care of Lo while she is in her writing cave. He makes sure she eats and checks in on her to make sure she is sleeping as well. The more Ty and Lo get to know each other the faster they fall Lo fits in with Ty’s friends like she always belonged there and it does not take Ty long to figure out that she is it for him.

The chemistry between Ty and Lo is smoldering. The shower scene, the pool scene, the kitchen scene, the office scene…the list of sexy rendezvous goes on and one and if you asked me to pick my favorite I don’t know if I could. *Ladies this is most definitely a B.O.B. read where you will want to make sure your Duracells are up to date. I would have never expected something scandalously sexy from Kristen Proby.

If you like alpha male heros that have hearts of gold and sexy and intelligent women who love their men with all their heart you will love Seducing Lauren.

And don’t forget to read the first book in the Love Under the Big Sky Series…

Loving Cara

Synopsis

CHEMISTRY WAS NEVER THIS SEXY IN HIGH SCHOOL.

In her sizzling new series, USA Today bestselling author Kristen Proby sets the stage for a passionate reunion under the breathtaking Montana sky.

Cara Donovan’s summer tutoring job is turning out to be a challenge—and not just because of her troubled twelve-year-old student. It’s his uncle Josh who’s the real problem. If problem is the word for an irresistibly cocky, muscle-bound rancher with a taste for tight Levi’s and shameless flirtation. . . .

Cara is nothing like the wallflower Josh King remembers good-naturedly teasing in high school. This Cara is gorgeous, confident, fun. From the moment the fiery teacher steps foot on his family’s Lazy K Ranch, the stubborn playboy is determined to corral her. So what happens when his luscious lover takes over the reins?

The first in a steamy trilogy, Kristen Proby’s enthralling novel is filled to the brim with one hardworking family’s triumphs and challenges, all the wild adventure of the modern West, and a whole lot of titillating fun.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

About Kristen Proby:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kristen Proby is the author of the bestselling With Me In Seattle series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong characters who love humor and have a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type; fiercely protective and a bit bossy, and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves.

Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys coffee, chocolate and sunshine. And naps.

Links:

Website: http://www.kristenproby.com/

Twitter: @handbagjunkie

Facebook: www.facebook.com/booksbykristenproby

Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/kristenproby

SEDUCING LAUREN

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Release Blitz: Indiscretion:Volume 2 by Elisabeth Grace- Indiscretion Serial

Posted on 08/18/2014 by shellbellereads

Indiscretion: Volume 2

By Elisabeth Grace

Synopsis

Fraternizing with the competition? Check.

Risking everything I’d worked so hard for? Check.

Mind-shattering orgasms? Double check.

Max Richfield made me forget myself. Forget all the reasons why I’d chosen to be alone for so long. I had goals. I needed stability. He brought chaos. I’d taken years erecting my walls. And with good reason, I would soon discover.

Now my inability to see beyond Max’s charm could cost me everything.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

Wow… I am hooked on the Indiscretion Serial by Elisabeth Grace!

Indiscretion Volume 2 picks up where the first volume left off. The cliffhanger crisis is dealt with and Chloe and Max have moved on.

What started as an agreement for a purely sexual relationship is evolving into more. Chloe and Max are finding that they genuinely enjoying each others company outside of the bedroom. They are starting to have feelings for one another. That does not fit into the “summer fling” scenario. It is too bad that their careers are about to conflict with their personal relationship.

Max’s father owns the company that Max works for. His mortal enemy is Chloe’s boss. The two have a vendetta against each other. Max’s father has an agenda and Max wants to keep his relationship with Chloe a secret. Chloe’s boss finds out about the relationship and lays down an ultimatum that Chloe cannot ignore.

The cliffhanger at the end of this will have the readers begging for the next volume. Indiscretion: Volume Three will release September 1, 2014.

This serial is sizzling hot. The erotic encounters, the passionate moments, and sexual tension between Max and Chloe will have readers fanning themselves. Add witty dialogue, strong characters, a tension building plot, and a beautiful budding romance and the readers really have a great serial to read.

Elisabeth Grace has done a wonderful job. I can’t wait for more!

Welcome! I’m Elisabeth Grace, or El if you prefer, and I write New Adult Contemporary Romance.

I’d been an avid reader my entire life, but when I discovered romance novels during my first pregnancy I was hooked! Not sure if it was the hormones or the lack of a life that was headed my way once my daughter was born, but since then I’ve been devouring several romance books a week. I love nothing more than reading about some serious alpha males and a happily ever after.

Things you should know about me…

I live outside Toronto, Canada…eh. (Yes, it’s true. We Canadians say ‘eh’ A LOT.)

I’m a wife and mommy to two small children which I refer to as Little Miss and Mr. Magoo.

I own one cat spawned by the devil. Seriously. He’s as cute as they come but you’ve never met a meaner feline. In retrospect we should have named him, Lucifer. I have the scars to prove it.

I believe there’s no such thing as too much chocolate. Or popcorn. Or bread. Or potatoes. Yes, you guessed it…I’m a sugar and carb addict.

I hate running. Always have, always will. Unless David Gandy’s in the vicinity you won’t find me doing it. Ever. Not sure who David Gandy is and think you might want to become a Gandy Girl like me? Google him. You can thank me later.

I’m a LOVER of all music. The 1200+ songs on my IPod can attest to the variety of my musical tastes. Hubby and I try to travel to a different music festival every year and are regular concert goers.

My name is Elisabeth and I like reality TV. There I admitted it and that’s the first step, right? Yes, I’m a writer and I see the need for scripted shows, but sometimes there’s just something so entertaining about watching one Real Housewife lose it on another one. I could listen to Cochran’s diatribe on his fellow castaways for hours.

Of the four of us that make up my family, three of us are Leo’s. Let’s say it together…DRAMA!

I may be the world’s worst cook. My poor children. Unless Daddy’s cooking they know not to expect much.

I write every night after my kids are in bed until the wee hours of the morning. This wouldn’t be a problem except for the fact that I have always been an early-bird-catches-the-worm kind-of girl, so 5:00am comes early. Sleep is over-rated, I say.

If you are a lover of romance novels, steamy bedroom scenes and alpha males than you may enjoy my stories! 🙂

I LOVE talking with fellow readers about books! There’s nothing better than discovering your next favorite read because someone recommended it to you! If you’re the same I’d encourage you to reach out to me via one of my social media links so we can chat!

Happy Reading!

Best, El

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

If you’re US based and you want to receive a text message when Elisabeth has a new book go LIVE, text ROMANCE to 313131!

ARC Review: Secrets and Sins: Chayot: A Secrets and Sins Novel

Posted on 08/15/2014 by shellbellereads

Secrets and Sins

Chayot: A Secrets and Sins Novel

By Naima Simone

Synopsis:

A thrilling suspense from Entangled’s Ignite imprint…

Some sins refuse to let go.

Six months after concert pianist Aslyn Jericho survives an attack at the hands of an obsessed fan, she is still trying to resume a normal life, despite the paralyzing fears that have stolen her ability to play and perform. Enter her gorgeous and mysterious neighbor with news that threatens to send her spiraling back into her nightmares. Her stalker has returned. And he wants Aslyn.

Months after security specialist Chayot Gray’s darkest secret was exposed to the world, he’s struggling to cope with the fallout. Shame and guilt threaten to consume him, and he longs for the anonymous, numb existence he’s known for two decades. Then he discovers a masked figure lurking outside his neighbor’s home. The pain-filled shadows darkening Aslyn’s eyes call to him, and her loveliness stirs a desire he didn’t know existed. Now Chay must conquer his inner-demons in order to save her from a madman determined to finish the job he started…

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Kelley’s Review

This read gripped me from the very beginning. I actually dreamt about Chayot Grey.

Aslyn Jericho is an amazing concert pianist that has survivied a terrible attack by a stalker and is trying to recover while hidden away Massachusetts. When a mysterious man shows up lurking around the condo she is staying in, it shakes her to the core. Luckly for Aslyn Jericho her sexy neighbor is the one and only Chayot Grey owner of Liberty Security Services.

The sparks fly immediately between Chay and Aslyn. Aslyn has never felt that sizzle when being around a man before and Chay seems to get her panties drenched with just one look. Chay is seriously attracted to Aslyn. He is a big fan of her music but knows that he is not the committment type and he believes that is what Aslyn deserves.

However, when Aslyn’s life is put in danger, and Chay is the only one who can protect her, all bets are off and Chayot finds himself falling hard and fast, but will it be all for naught? When Aslyn finds out the secret that Chay has kept burried for all of these years will she find him revolting or return the love that he desperately deserves.

Naima did a great job with character development and the plot twists and turns kept flipping the pages. This book is sinfully sexy with the just the right amount of suspense to keep you on your toes.

Author Bio:

I was born the daughter of a sharecropper… Okay, maybe not. But I am the daughter of a pastor from whom I inherited my love of romance. The man can preach a mean Song of Solomon! (There’s that plug, Daddy! You can pay me later!)

Although my first book starred a cucumber named Fred, my first romance came several years later in the seventh grade, when I wrote myself as a heroine opposite Ralph Tresvant from New Edition. Through the power of my pen and imagination, Ralph took one look across a crowded stadium, met my dark, mysterious gaze, fell passionately in love, and serenaded me in front of millions of fans. Out of all the girls in the world, he chose me! And of course, we lived happily ever after–once we had the inevitable fight, aka black moment, and made up with a passionate declaration of love and fidelity. This same story reincarnated itself many times over the years: with Donnie Wahlberg from New Kids on the Block, Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington, and as recently as last night, Vin Diesel.

Though the characters have changed, my love of love has endured. Shaping the lives of unique men and women who experience the first hungry bites of lust, the dizzying heights of passion, and the tender, healing heat of love–nothing compares to it. Except maybe discovering new material for love scenes with my husband, the head of Research & Development!

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

ARC Review: The Troublemaker Next Door and How To Handle a Heartbreaker by Marie Harte-The McCauley Brothers Series- Books 1 and 2

Posted on 08/14/2014 by shellbellereads

The Troublemaker Next Door

The McCauley Brothers Series- Book 1

By Marie Harte

Synopsis

He can fix her sink, but can he wrench his way into her heart?

Flynn McCauley never thought he’d be so cliché as to fall for the girl next door. But when Maddie calls him over to help fix her faulty sink, he’s a goner. Too bad the fiercely independent interior designer wants nothing to do with him. Even worse, he’s forced to rely on the advice of his nosy brothers—and his five-year-old nephew!—to figure out how to make her give him a shot.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

I have been reading books by Marie Harte for quite a few years . Marie has written several erotic contemporary romances, erotic paranormal romances, erotica, and erotic science fi romance. She has written for many different smaller publishers with an astounding success. She is one of the pioneers in the digital book industry. I remember back before ereaders were available, purchasing her books and reading on my computer. I was thrilled when the contemporary romance series , The McCauley Brothers was released by Sourcebooks (a large publisher). Hopefully more readers will read the fantastic books by Marie Harte.

I absolutely loved The Troublemaker Next Door. It was fun, snarky, steamy, and delivered a heartwarming romance.

Meet Flynn McCauley, the deliciously hot plumber. Flynn is your ordinary guy that likes to hang with his brothers, enjoy a few beers with the guys, and co- owns his own business with his best friend Brody . He is dedicated to his family. He loves being single and appreciates a sexy woman but has no intentions of settling down anytime soon.

While playing cards and drinking with the guys at his brother Mike’s house, he meets the new neighbors that rented the house next door owned by Flynn’s folks. The new neighbors knock on the door because they are having some plumbing issues. Seeing that these new neighbors are extremely beautiful and sexy, Flynn quickly volunteers to be the man to fix their problems. Three beautiful women and a plumbing issue, no problem!

While Flynn is finishing up, he hears ranting and shouting. Immediately he has to find out what is wrong. There he meets Maddie, one pissed off woman. It seems Maddie just had a run in with her boss because he tried to get her to have sex with him. It’s unfortunate that Flynn is a man at that moment. Maddie lights into him, berates him and his gender, and takes her anger out on him.

The next day Maddie is feeling a bit of guilt for chewing her new neighbor out and sets out to apologize. Things quickly take a turning point from there. To her great surprise the house is loaded with hot men. But the one man she is there to see is quite a sight. He has just woken up from a drunken stupor, in his underwear, and looking downright delicious.

Flynn and Maddie hit it off and are soon burning up the sheets. Neither wants a relationship or commitment. They make an arrangement to be “bumping” buddies. But the heart doesn’t always listen to the brain. No matter how many issues and insecurities it has. The heart always knows what is best.

Maddie will have to get over her commitment issues, her mistrust, and believe in herself. Flynn will have to show her how to do it.

The Troublemaker Next Door is sizzling hot. Flynn and Maddie will take you on a fun adventure. The McCauley brothers, friends, and roommates lend a fun hand in this romp and I am sure we will be seeing more of them in the upcoming books in The McCauley Brother series.

The ending, the hustling prank, and the carrots being dangled has me anticipating the next book.

I highly recommend The Troublemaker Next Door.

How To Handle a Heartbreaker

The McCauley Brothers Series- Book 2

By Marie Harte

Synopsis

HE CAN’T GET HER OUT OF HIS HEAD It’s lust at first sight when Brody Singer first lays eyes on Abby Dunn. The dark-haired beauty looks a lot like a woman he once knew, who died years ago. At first Brody fears his attraction is a holdover from that secret crush, but Abby’s definitely different. She’s a lot shyer, a lot sexier and, despite her attempts to dissuade his interest, absolutely mesmerizing.

SHE CAN’T GET HIM OUT OF HER BOOKS Abby isn’t having it. She’s still trying to put her last disastrous relationship behind her and overcome the flaws her ex wouldn’t let her forget. But somehow Brody isn’t getting the hint. It doesn’t help that when writing her steamy novels, she keeps casting Brody as the hero.

Brody is more than happy to serve as her muse and eager to help make sure her “research” is authentic. But when their research turns into something real…will she choose her own happily ever after?

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

How To Handle A Heartbreaker by Marie Harte is the second book in the McCauley Brothers series. It was fantastic.

Warning readers, break out your fans, sit on a bucket of ice, and be ready for a very hot, steamy book.

Brody Singer is the blonde McCauley, the brother adopted by the McCauley family. He is Flynn’s best friend and dubbed the blonde twin. He is a jokester of the group and always has something up his sleeve. Whether it is cheating at cards or teaching Mike’s young son to be like him, he is always ready for a good laugh. But underneath all of his silliness is a wounded man with scars that run deep. His family life, before the McCauley’s came into his life, was horrific and abusive. He uses his humor to hide these emotional scars.

Abby Dunn is shy, introverted, and quiet kind of girl. She is an erotic romance writer. After a really bad relationship with an ex that made her feel depraved and dirty, she quickly learned to put her deepest desires on the page instead of experiencing them herself.

Abby and Brody are thrown together repeatedly. Their attraction for one another escalates. When Abby dons her Goddess of Love costume at a Halloween Party and partakes in some liquid courage, she finally opens the gate to all her pent up desires. Brody is there to help her unleash all that pent up passion. After all , he is a great guy to help her with research for her work.

These two quickly become involved in a purely analytical relationship. Abby needs to research the facts for her erotic romances and apply them to her characters. But as their research progresses they soon have new results to further investigate.

Abby and Brody are finding a deeper meaning to their research encounters. Abby is finding confidence and is owning her sexuality. She doesn’t need to hide behind a pen name. Brody is learning to share his issues with someone without hiding behind his humor.

Just when things are going great and both are learning to open up, accept themselves, and share their hearts, Brody’s past will come banging at the door with a vengeance.

Brody will have to meet his past head on. Abby will have to be secure enough to wait for Brody to battle his demons. Their research was not done in vain, it made them both stronger people with a bright and shiny future.

I loved Brody and Abby. Their relationship was fun, inspirational, and passionate. They played well together and had some great laughs. Their mutual trusts in one another led to some beautiful moments.

I can’t wait for the next McCauley Brothers book to release on October 7, 2014. I wonder what Marie Harte is going to stir up with Cameron McCauley and the sexy girl next door, Vanessa Campbell. I’m sure it is going to be a sizzling book.

Coming October 7, 2014

Ruining Mr. Perfect

McCauley Brothers Series- Book 3

by Marie Harte

Preorder: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Author Bio:

Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Harte has over 100 books published with more constantly on the way. She’s a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

ARC Review: Truly: The New York Series by Ruthie Knox- Book 1

Posted on 08/12/2014 by shellbellereads

Truly

The New York Series – Book 1

By Ruthie Knox

Synopsis

RITA finalist and New York Times bestselling author Ruthie Knox kicks off a steamy new series set in the city that never sleeps—alone, at least.

May Fredericks hates New York. Which is fair enough, since New York seems to hate her back. After relocating to Manhattan from the Midwest to be with her long-distance boyfriend, NFL quarterback Thor Einarsson, May receives the world’s worst marriage proposal, stabs the jerk with a shrimp fork, and storms off alone—only to get mugged. Now she’s got no phone, no cash, and no friends. How’s a nice girl supposed to get back to safe, sensible Wisconsin?

Frankly, Ben Hausman couldn’t care less. Sure, it’s not every day he meets a genuine, down-to-earth woman like May—especially in a dive in the Village—but he’s recovering from an ugly divorce that cost him his restaurant. He wants to be left alone to start over and become a better man. Then again, playing the white knight to May’s sexy damsel in distress would be an excellent place to start—if only he can give her one very good reason to love New York.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

Ruthie Knox is an incredible writer. She has the gift of making ordinary people larger than life. She adds a special blend of humor, creative dialogue, unique characters, and an interesting plot with it’s own magical flare. It is a pure joy to read her books.

I have been looking forward to the release of Truly after following Ruthie’s fascination with the naked beekeeper in New York City. Only Ruthie could find an unusual subject to mold her leading male character after.

Meet Ben Hausman, a cranky former chef. He’s a major egotistical chef that has a stick up his butt in the kitchen. Add a very bitter divorce that forces him to sell his restaurant and ties his hands to opening a new restaurant for a year; he’s beyond angry. He has tried cooking shows and reality t.v., but it is just not him. His life is a mess. He deliberately pushes people away. He has anger issues and is struggling to keep them in check.

After a friend calls him on his behavior he decides to conduct an experiment. The experiment is to be nice to a stranger.

May Fredericks has been having a very bad day. She is a small town girl from Wisconsin that finds herself stranded in New York City after she dumps her NFL boyfriend on live TV. After the live breakup, she is mugged. Finding herself with only her metro card and $5.00 in her pocket, she does what every smart girl would do. She decides to go to the bar, get a drink, and plan her return to Wisconsin. There she meets the cranky chef, Ben Hausman.

When Ben offers to help her out, show her the city, and offers her a place to stay.

There the magic begins. These two vastly different people will discover the magic of life, love, and happiness in a new way. They will make discoveries about themselves that will enlighten them both. They will console each other about their past failures, cheer each other on, and find their chemistry is much more than sexual.

I absolutely loved this book. The chemistry between this couple was hot! The wooing through culinary skills to beekeeping will dazzle the reader.

I highly recommend this book.

Author Bio:

New York Times bestselling author Ruthie Knox writes contemporary romance that’s sexy, witty, and angsty–sometimes all three at once. After training to be a British historian, she became an academic editor instead. Then she got really deeply into knitting, as one does, followed by motherhood and romance novel writing.

Her debut novel, Ride with Me, is probably the only existing cross-country bicycling love story. She followed it up with About Last Night, a London-set romance whose hero has the unlikely name of Neville, and then Room at the Inn, a Christmas novella–both of which were finalists for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award. Her four-book series about the Clark family of Camelot, Ohio, has won accolades for its fresh, funny portrayal of small-town Midwestern life. She also writes New Adult romance as Robin York.

Ruthie moonlights as a mother, Tweets incessantly, and bakes a mean focaccia.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Day Blitz + Review- Dust To Dust by Karina Halle- The Experiment In Terror Series-Book 9- 6 Stars

Posted on 08/11/2014 by shellbellereads

Dust To Dust

Experiment In Terror Series- Book 9

By Karina Halle

Synopsis:

The dramatic conclusion to the Experiment in Terror Series.

Perry Palomino and Dex Foray.

On their own, they’re uniquely brilliant. Together, they’re an unstoppable team.

Until now.

Because after everything the duo has encountered, they haven’t come across an evil quite like this. An evil that has been years in the making, an evil that will stop at nothing until they, and everyone they care for, are destroyed.

Dex and Perry’s love has survived a multitude of sins.

But can it survive the end?

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

The Experiment In Terror Series

1. Darkhouse – Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

2. Red Fox – Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

2.5. The Benson – Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

3. Dead Sky Morning– Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

4. Lying Season– Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

5. On Demon Wings– Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

5.5. Old Blood– Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

5.7. The Dex Files– Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

6. Into The Hollow– Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

6.5. And With Madness Comes The Light– Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

7. Come Alive– Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

8. Ashes To Ashes– Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

9. Dust To Dust– Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

At long last the highly anticipated grand finale in The Experiment In Terror series is released!

Dust To Dust by Karina Halle is brilliant! It is the perfect ending for the enthralling, bone chilling, hair raising, frightful Experiment In Terror series. This series has taken the readers on an unforgettable journey. The adventures and perils that Dex Foray and Perry Polomino have faced, battled, and survived have astounded every reader. Not only have Dex and Perry faced off every kind of evil and supernatural being, they have made self discoveries, acknowledged their weaknesses, faced their fears, become stronger individuals, accepted their gifts, and valued every moment, good and bad. Their adventure has made them both better people.

We have witnessed Perry Palomino go from an introverted, self doubting, somewhat delusional girl to a strong woman willing to fight for those she loves. She has become a powerhouse within herself.

We have watched Dex Foray change from a crass, thoughtless, self serving jerk into an honorable man. He has accepted his gifts, opened his heart, let go of his past, and learned to love deeply.

The Experiment In Terror series is not just a series in the horror genre. It is a romance series.
We have witnessed Dex and Perry go from strangers to reluctant partners that led to a strong friendship with mutual respect. Along the way they found a deep love that will exist in life and death. No one can tear them apart, not even the supernatural.

Dex and Perry have survived evil in many forms. They have traveled many miles. They thought they had faced the worst kind of terror and made their peace. But like everything in life, their fortitude will be tested once again. They will have to go full circle, back to the beginning where everything began.

Dust To Dust brings Dex and Perry to New York City. This is where it all began for Dex. This is where the Palomino women became connected with the O’Shea clan. This is where the ultimate evil has touched all of their lives. They will have to face off this ultimate evil. It is war.

Every war has casualties. Every war has fatalities. Every war leaves wounds and scars that remain long after the battle is fought. But for the ones that survive the war , they will carry these scars and the memories very close to the heart.

Dust To Dust is a frightful battle for life and love.

I am very sad to see The Experiment In Terror series end but am also very satisfied on how the ending played out.

Karina Halle is a brilliant writer. Her stories draw the reader into the characters world. We experience every adventure, every physical feeling, every emotional reaction, and every moment. Our sensory system goes into overload while reading these books. Our emotional side sympathizes with each of the characters emotions. The reader truly becomes completely involved. I can easily see The Experiment In Terror being made into a mini TV series like American Horror Story or Supernatural. It would stand out among these types of shows because of the powerful romance between Dex Foray and Perry Palomino.

Karina Halle I applaud you for the excellent delivery of The Experiment In Terror series. It is one of my all time favorite series.

Dex and Perry will haunt my dreams and everyday life. They will live on long after the final eulogy in Dust To Dust.

*** The Experiment In Terror Series is a 6 STAR Series***

Robin’s Review

The ninth and final novel of the Experiment in Terror series is Dust to Dust. It’s been a long and crazy ride for author Karina Halle. She has done a remarkable job keeping this lengthy series fresh and exciting when many authors would have struggled to do the same. Halle is wonderfully creative when it comes to writing in the horror romance genre. She has one hell of a vivid imagination and crazy talent for putting her horror scenes to paper. Ghosts. Demons. Haunted houses. Spooky sanatoriums. Zombies. Halle has written about all of these, but nothing can prepare readers for what she has planned in Dust to Dust. If you are a fan of the Experiment in Terror series, you are in for a real treat!

Throughout this series, Halle has taken readers to an abundance of haunted locations. Dex Foray and Perry Palomino have paired up to film episodes for their internet show Experiment in Terror at the following locations: a lighthouse on the Pacific coast of Oregon; the deserts of Red Fox, New Mexico; deserted D’Arcy Island, located just off the coast of Vancouver, British Columbia; Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; the wilds of the Canadian Rockies; the haunted French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana; and the creepy Sea Crest Sanatorium in Gary, Oregon. In Dust to Dust, Halle brings her series to a conclusion where it all began for Dex Foray – in a brownstone townhouse located in New York City.

Dex and Perry have been in many frightening and dangerous situations, always managing to escape by the skin of their teeth. Everything they have experienced since meeting each other in that lighthouse has lead up to the dramatic conclusion of this series. In Dust to Dust, they each find themselves racing against time, fighting the ultimate evil in the battle of their lives. Dex’s long, lost brother Michael has been very busy planning to exploit their weaknesses, and this time the stakes are much higher with Maximus Jacobs and the entire Palomino family directly involved. Evil is found in many forms in this series, but expect the worst in Dust to Dust.

If you follow the writing of Karina Halle and think you may have seen it all, just wait until you see what she has in store for you in Dust to Dust. Expect gnawing worry. Tears of sadness. Interesting revelations. Unimaginable monsters. Heart palpitations. Fear and shock. Devastation. Repaired relationships. Love and tenderness. Expect the unexpected! And look for plenty of new “Dexisms” – hilarious, laugh out loud quotes which could only come from the mouth of Dex Foray!

In summary, I found this concluding novel informative, frightening, sad, but full of love. I found myself glued to the pages as I learned more about Dex Foray and his family history. Karina Halle lays the truth out for her readers, so be sure to pay attention. And frightening? Two things had me full of anxiety: a cloven-hoof demon with a busy agenda and the brownstone townhouse where Dex lived as a child. I wouldn’t want to spoil the fun for readers with anything more than that. I was full of sadness at times while reading Dust to Dust, and not just because this is the final novel of this beloved series. There are moments you will feel sadness, too. And there is so much love between Dex and Perry that it will fill your heart with happiness – just wait until you read the epilogue.

In short, Karina Halle has wonderfully brought her series full-circle with this concluding novel. Her writing is sensational and full of descriptive details which make you feel as if you are participating in the story. If you have never read, or even heard of, the Experiment in Terror series, please do yourself a favor and consider reading Darkhouse. This series is strangely addictive, and the novels only get better as the series progresses. As for Dust to Dust? Karina Halle has earned my 5-star rating!

Author Bio:

With her USA Today Bestselling The Artists Trilogy published by Grand Central Publishing, numerous foreign publication deals, and self-publishing success with her Experiment in Terror series, Vancouver-born Karina Halle is a true example of the term “Hybrid Author.” Though her books showcase her love of all things dark, sexy and edgy, she’s a closet romantic at heart and strives to give her characters a HEA…whenever possible.

Karina holds a screenwriting degree from Vancouver Film School and a Bachelor of Journalism from TRU. Her travel writing, music reviews/interviews and photography have appeared in publications such as Consequence of Sound, Mxdwn and GoNomad Travel Guides. She currently lives on an island on the coast of British Columbia where she’s preparing for the zombie apocalypse with her fiancé and rescue pup.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Saucy Southern Readers

professional, honest, and timely book reviews

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