Review: 6 STAR Reviews for Insidious by Aleatha Romig- Tales From The Dark Side Series- Book 1

Posted on 10/24/2014 by shellbellereads

Insidious

Tales From The Darkside

Release Date : October 21, 2014

By Aleatha Romig

Synopsis

Dark desires…Deadly secrets…Devious deceptions…Nothing is exactly as it seems in INSIDIOUS, the new erotic thriller from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author ALEATHA ROMIG!

When a powerful man is willing to risk everything for his own satisfaction, only one woman can beat him at his own game: his wife. Or so she thinks…

“Let’s start with you calling me Stewart. Formalities seem unnecessary.”

Stewart Harrington is rich, gorgeous, and one of the most powerful men in Miami. He always gets what he wants. Anything is available to him for the right price.

Even me.

Being the wife of a mogul comes with all the perks, but being Mrs. Stewart Harrington comes with a few special requirements. I’ve learned to keep a part of myself locked away as my husband watches me submit to his needs. But the more he demands of me, the more beguiled he becomes and that’s to my advantage. So I keep fulfilling his fantasies and following his rules because he doesn’t know that what he’s playing is really my game. And winning is everything, right?

INSIDIOUS is a stand-alone novel and the first Tales from the Dark Side title by ALEATHA ROMIG.

**Due to the dark and explicit nature of this book, it is recommended for mature audiences only. **

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Robin’s Review

Aleatha Romig has a new series. It’s called Tales from the Dark Side. Romig explains we should expect each tale to be a dark erotic thriller – each with its own unique story, world and characters. If you have read her Consequences series, you are acquainted with Romig’s style of writing. Layers, layers and more layers. Mystery. Clues. Plotline twists. I’ve come to expect nothing less than a mind-blowing reading experience with each novel written by Aleatha Romig. And I have really been anticipating a fresh, new story from this author!

The debut novel of the Tales from the Dark Side series is titled Insidious. I admit that I was intrigued with the synopsis. One of the most powerful men in Miami, Stewart Harrington, is married to his nemesis, and he doesn’t even know it. Stewart is wealthy, demanding and has peculiar requirements which he expects Victoria to satisfy. She plays her role well, submits to his needs, all the while biding her time as he plays into her game. After reading Insidious, I know without a doubt in my mind that the plot should not be spoiled. Insidious is just one of those novels that needs to be experienced!

Here is what I can share. There is so much more to this story than you can possibly imagine! The plot of Insidious unfolds in layers. The writing keeps you guessing, questioning and wanting more information. The writing is also clever and witty, even humorous at times! The entire novel is written in true Aleatha Romig fashion. Early ratings are extremely high. It’s really no wonder because Insidious is just a creative and brilliant story! If you can handle reading stories that are dark and edgy, put Insidious down on your list of novels to read. I am giving Insidious one of Smut Book Junkie Book Reviews rare 6-star ratings!

Michel’s Review

Insidious by Aleatha Romig is the first book in the new Tales From The Dark Side series. Each book in this series is a stand alone novel with completely different characters, complex plots, and intricate elements that will take the reader on complex psychological journey. These books are fully intended to engage the readers completely. With each passage weaving a tale that changes the readers reactions as the novels progress. In the end the reader will be left contemplating the entire book, the characters motivations, actions, and results of those actions. These books will engage the reader’s imagination and will bring out the ‘Dark’ side of their psyche to create their own ending.
For a writer to pull off this kind of novel is quite difficult. It requires creating characters that the reader can fully embrace and feel some kind of connection to. It requires creating a world that the characters can fit into with ease in throughout every passage. The continuous plot twists and turns have to be delivered in the right moment that will keep the readers from becoming confused. The twists have to be shocking enough for the reader to react without getting frustrated with the book altogether. The writer has to add an entertaining quality to the story to keep the readers engaged. There has to be the right amount of angst, humor, astonishment, and credibility to create the perfect balance. Finally the writer must give the characters very real personalities and portray their emotions so that the reader is experiencing the same emotions. It takes a very talented author to write this kind of novel. That author is Aleatha Romig. Her writing is brilliant. She delivers a story that leaves the reader astonished and dumbfounded. Her writing is pure PERFECTION!
I cannot say too much about the plot for Insidious. It is a book that the reader must experience personally. I will say that the plot twist and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. There were no moments of predictability. All of the characters throughout this book were both good and bad. Aleatha showed both sides of their persona. There was no hero or heroine to save the day. It is up to the characters to resolve the story in whatever manner possible. The possibilities were endless.
Insidious is going to create crazy reader reactions. I foresee many reader discussion groups, social media threads, and author stalking. Readers are going to be deliberating the ending for quite some time. The thing is , no matter how much deliberating is done, in the end it is up the individual reader to create their own ending.
Aleatha Romig….you are a twisted genius! Thank you for writing a book that completely screwed with my mind in a very good way.
Read Insidious! It will not disappoint!

About Aleatha Romig

Aleatha Romig is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Together with her high-school sweetheart and husband of twenty-eight years, they’ve raised three children. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she’s not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time with her family and friends. Her pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams!

INSIDIOUS is Aleatha’s seventh novel. It is her first time to delve into the world of erotic thrillers. The Consequences Series, her first series has been categorized as psychological thriller and dark romance. With INSIDIOUS, Aleatha took the twists and turns of CONSEQUENCES and turned up the heat.

CONSEQUENCES, her first novel, was released August 2011, by Xlibris Publishing. Then in October of 2012, Ms. Romig re-released CONSEQUENCES as an indie author. TRUTH, the sequel, was released October 30, 2012, and CONVICTED, the third in the series, was released October 8, 2013. Unexpectedly, the fourth book of the Consequences series came to life with REVEALED: THE MISSING YEARS. It is the fourth full-length novel in the series. It explores the years in CONVICTED that previously were only mentioned, as well as a complete character glossary and timeline. REVEALED was released May 20, 2014.

INSIDIOUS, the first released book from TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE was released in October of 2014. TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE will be a series of standalone, dark, erotic thrillers guaranteed to take you on a wild, hot, and dark ride. Each novel in the series will be independent of the next. The characters from one book will never be revisited. Instead, Aleatha leaves it up to her readers to imagine how each story ends while remembering it is the journey that is the most fun.

Aleatha is a “Published Author’s Network” member of the Romance Writers of America and represented by Danielle Egan-Miller of Brown and Miller Literary Associates.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

6-Star ARC Review + Giveaway: Merciless Ride by Chelsea Camaron- The Hellions Ride Series- Book 3

Posted on 10/12/2014 by shellbellereads

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Smashwords / ITunes

Title: Merciless Ride (The Hellions Ride, #3)

Author: Chelsea Camaron

Release Date: October 10, 2014

Model Photo by Scott Hoover Photography

Model: Jacob Sones (Thanks to EllieLoveNBooksBoys!)

Motorcycle photo by Magnolia Ridge Photography

Cover Design byAuthor Jessie Lane

Mercy is no friend of mine. Karma, she has yet to show kindness to me.

Her childhood aspirations to be a nurse long since disappeared after a college spring fling both blessed and cursed her with a baby boy. Dropping out of school, she returns to her hometown and begins to settle in. Getting the only job she could as a bartender she spends her days caring for her son and nights serving the Hellions Motorcycle Club and their affiliates.

Andy ‘Shooter’ Jenkins has always been around. Too wrapped in Rex she’s never really noticed him before. He has never been loud or known to have the girls hanging all over him. He is a mystery. A chance encounter brings him to her rescue not once but twice.

Secrets revealed putting two brothers in the Hellions Motorcycle Club at a serious crossroads in their lives.

This book contains strong language, strong sexual situations, violence and is not suitable for readers under the age of 18. Please do not buy if any of this offends you. This is a work of fiction and is not meant to be a true or exact depiction of a motorcycle club but rather a book meant to entertain.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Smashwords / ITunes

Kelley’s Review

Merciless ride will take out an emotional joyride that will stick with you for a while.

Merciless ride earned a 6-star review from me because I read it from cover to cover, stayed up until 2:00 am to finish and had to be up for work the next morning at 6:00 am. The character development was superb and I am glad that Chelsea took a chance to write about such a damaged female heroine. This is the darkest of the Hellions Ride series so far. Chelsea tackles some dark subject matter that is not for the faint of heart. Tessie is so much stronger than I ever thought she would be.

Andy ‘Shooter’ Jenkins is my hero. Chelsea created such a stong and selfless man who does what is best for others even if it is not best for him. Shooter is the perfect match for Tessie. Chelsea also gives us more of the man I love to hate Drexel “Rex” Crews. What he does is abominable. He knows he screwed up badly after the fact but it is too late and when Tessie’s secret is revealed he kicks himself in the ass for not doing what he should have.

The characters in this story are battling several demons. Chelsea reveals the secrets that Shooter has been hiding from the world and Tessie gives him some good advice about letting go.

“Depression can easily consume someone. It’s the darkness you can’t escape, the silence that is so deafening. You can’t pull someone out if they don’t grab on to the hand being extended.”

This story like the others in Hellion’s series deals with club life and what goes on when a rival club attacks one of the clubs own. The retaliatioin is brutal but much deserved.

If you want a peek into what a Motorcycle Club is really like pick up the Hellions Ride Series. Chelsea writes from experience and these books will take you on an amazing ride that you will not soon forget.

The Hellions Ride Series

One Ride (The Hellions Ride, #1)

Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N

Forever Ride (Hellions Ride, #2)

Amazon US| Amazon UK | B&N | Smashwords

About the Author

Chelsea always wanted to be a writer, but like most of us, let fear of the unknown grab a hold of her dream; she realized that if she was going to tell her daughter to go for her dreams, that it was time to follow her own advice.

When she is not spending her days writing you can find her playing with her kids, attending car shows, going on motorcycle rides on the back of her husband’s Harley, snuggling down with her new favorite book or watching any movie that Vin Diesel might happen to be in.

She hates being serious and is still a big kid at heart. She is a small town country girl enjoying life and, Chelsea hopes that her readers remember not to take life too seriously and to embrace your inner five year old, because five year olds know how to enjoy the simple things in life and how to always have fun.

Facebook | Goodreads | Website | Twitter

Giveaway!
Two – $25.00 Amazon Gift Cards

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Cover Reveal: Pull by Claire Wallis- Sequel to Push-Push 6 Star Review + 2014 Favorite

Posted on 10/09/2014 by shellbellereads

Pull

Sequel to Push

Release Date: November 6, 2014

By Claire Wallis

Synopsis

***PULL is the continuation of Claire Wallis’ sharp and shocking debut novel, PUSH. It is the second book in the series and is not intended to be a standalone.***

“It is impossible for someone like me—someone with a sin-list capable of wrapping itself around the world—to find redemption. To be repaired.”

David Calgaro has secrets, and the only woman he’s ever loved is about to pay the ultimate price to protect them. He’s spent a lifetime searching for purpose and control. And the only place he’s managed to find them is in a single, perfect moment; a moment in which he has absolute control over someone else’s life.

David is unredeemable, unfixable, unsalvageable. But Emma Searfoss has forced a tiny sliver of hope to penetrate his soul. Hope that, even though redemption is impossible, maybe life isn’t. Maybe he isn’t who he thought he was. Maybe he’s meant to be more.

This is a new adult novel with mature content for readers 17 and up.

Push

Book 1

By Claire Wallis

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Synopsis

I feel like I am wrapped in a cyclone. Everything is whirling around me, drawing the air out of my lungs and filling me with the best kind of turmoil. Every time his tongue slides against mine, a prickle in my gut tells me how right we are together. How much I need David. How much I need us.

I hope the cyclone never stops.

Emma Searfoss has spent a lifetime trying to escape her abusive stepfather. It’s why she moved far away from home. It’s why she’s kept no ties with her remaining family. And it’s why she’s got a major rage problem. When her neighbor shows up to fix the kitchen in her new apartment, his enigmatic charm calms the fire in her. David is cool and collected, and he makes Emma feel safe for the first time ever. But David has his own chilling past—his six previous girlfriends have all disappeared without a trace. Emma’s walking a dangerous line, but David’s pull is intoxicating. And impossible to resist…

Michel’s Review

*** I wrote this review in May 2014 when Push was first released. After 5 months and several books reviewed, I have not been able to forget this book. I am still blown away by the intensity and the emotional impact this book had on me. I have recommended this book to several of my seasoned reader friends and they have had the same kind of reactions. Claire Wallis delivered a unique story with a very untraditional writing style. There were two prologues and two epilogues are written from each character’s POV. The content of the book is mostly written in third person but has chapters throughout the book written in first person POV from supporting characters. It is choreographed in a very deliberate manner that stuns the readers. The writing is absolutely brilliant! ***

Push by Claire Wallis is getting a lot of attention in the reader world. There are discussion groups dedicated to this book. All the major review sites and bloggers are blowing up over this book. It has every reader reacting! How could I not read this book? I had to know what was causing this kind of hysteria.

Now that I have finished this book, I completely understand all the reactions and sensation this book is generating.

Everything about Push is completely original. The plot is intricately woven. The reader gets a look at both the characters pasts as well as their present. The book is mostly written from Emma’s point of view. We get to know David through their conversations, Emma’s point of view, past girlfriends’ point of views, the prologue and epilogue. The author brilliantly takes the reader into the complicated worlds these characters evolved from. She develops a story that will keep the reader consumed to the very last word. When all is said and done, all the reader can think is WTF! I had to peel my jaw off the ground. I felt like I needed a shot of whiskey to calm me down. I felt like I needed a whole bottle of antacid to get my stomach out of knots. I needed the next book….. like YESTERDAY!

Push is exhilarating, chilling, horrific, distressing, anguishing, tormenting and heartbreaking. At the same time, the reader experiences an unusual but beautiful relationship. A relationship that goes beyond the kind of love most relationships are based on. Everything about this couple worked. They were exactly what each other needed. But sometimes having that perfection is not enough. This is the case with David and Emma.

When I started this book I was immediately drawn in. There are two prologues, one from Emma’s point of view and the other from David’s point of view. The prologues made it very clear what was going to happen at the end of the book. I was flabbergasted! I had to know more. I had to find out how they came to this point. I was hoping that the ending would turn out differently.

Emma was a very impressive heroine. She had a horrible childhood. She was mentally and verbally abused by her stepfather. Her stepfather ruined her family. But despite her ugly past, she didn’t let it drag her down. She is feisty, independent, self sufficient, aggressive, tough, and hard. She doesn’t believe in love. She doesn’t trust easily. She never gives anyone a piece of her heart. She’s okay with who she is. When she meets David, pieces of herself that she locked away begin to surface. He accepts her for who she is. He wants to protect her and take care of her. He is tender, caring, and supportive. He is everything she never knew she needed. He is perfect for her even though he has a slew of hidden secrets. She is okay with that. She accepts him for who he is because like her he has been to hell and back.

David is one of the most complicated characters I have ever experienced. On one hand I absolutely loved him. He is compassionate, giving, tender, and loving in his own unique way. He has a mesmerizing personality that is hard not to love. On the other hand, deep down he is a monster. He is your worst nightmare. Your heart breaks when you find out how he evolved into this horrific person. You are hoping that his relationship with Emma will somehow change him. Some people are not fixable.

Somehow these two messed up souls are beautiful together. They give each other what they need. They bring out the very best and the very worst in each other. They embrace it all. They are chaotic perfection together.

When you reach the end, there are two epilogues. One epilogue is from Emma’s point of view and the other is from David’s point of view. The ending will leave you with your heart in your feet, stomach in knots, and ugly tears running down your face. It ends on a major CLIFFHANGER!

Push by Claire Wallis blew my mind! I cannot wait for the sequel. I hope the publisher does not leave us readers hanging for long. I don’t think I can get this book out of my head.

Push by Claire Wallis is clearly the book that is going to soar to the top of 2014 Book of the Year list.

Note: This review is based on my reactions and emotions. The writing was flawless. The plot was brilliant. The overall story to this point is heart wrenching.

Robin’s Review

It has been three weeks since I finished reading Push by Claire Wallis, and I still think about this novel. Or should I say obsess? This is the exception. Generally, my head shifts focus with each novel that I begin reading. Reviewing novels is hard. Sometimes it takes all of the fun out of reading when you have to focus on what you want to say when you write the review. When I read Push, I knew our blog had already covered this story. So, I read it for sheer enjoyment. And I can’t forget it. I can’t escape this story. Have you read the synopsis? Push is dark romance at its finest. Go read this thriller now because the sequel Pull is being published soon! 6 stars to Claire Wallis for her debut novel!

Author Bio:

Enamored with the process of creating messy characters filled with imperfections and wicked inclinations, Claire believes that you don’t actually have to like a character to fall in love with them – a good story, after all, is best served with a hearty side of evil (just ask Disney). Claire’s first New Adult novel, Push, was released by MIRA Books on May 1st 2014. The story speaks to her appreciation of enigmatic male characters, perfectly capable of charming themselves straight into your unwilling heart. She enjoys writing about characters that are, at any given moment, both loathed and loved. You know, the ones that refuse to be forgotten.

Claire Wallis has penned hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles over the last ten years, with science playing the lead role in almost all of them. Though non-fiction writing will forever be her first love, fiction has unexpectedly swooped in, hooked her by the soul, and become her true love. As a result of this coup d’état, Claire’s writing career has made a complete U-turn, and instead of rocks, plants, insects, and microbes, she is now putting human characters in the lead.

Claire’s previous jobs include working at a limestone quarry, hawking vegetables at a farmer’s market, clerking at the dollar store, and convincing new mothers that they need to renew their subscription to that parenting magazine in order for their child to survive. She lives in Pennsylvania with her amazingly awesome husband and son.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Day Blitz + 6 Star Reviews: Becoming Calder and Finding Eden by Mia Sheridan- Sign of Love Series- Inspired by Aquarius- Book 1 and Book 2

Posted on 10/05/2014 by shellbellereads

Becoming Calder

Book 1

Sign Of Love Series- Inspired by Aquarius

By Mia Sheridan

Synopsis

There is a place in modern day America with no electricity, no plumbing, and no modern conveniences. In this place, there is no room for dreams, no space for self-expression, and no tolerance for ambition.

In this place, there is a boy with the body of a god and the heart of a warrior. He is strong and faithful and serves his family honorably. But he dares to dream of more.

In this place, there is a girl with the face of an angel and a heart full of courage. To her family, she is the vision of obedient perfection. But she dares to want that which she has been told can never be hers.

Becoming Calder is the story of good versus evil, fear versus bravery, and the truth that the light of love has always found its way into even the darkest of places . . . From the beginning of time, to the end of the world.

THIS IS THE FIRST PART IN A TWO-PART SIGN OF LOVE SERIES INSPIRED BY AQUARIUS. THE SECOND PART, FINDING EDEN, RELEASES SIMULTANEOUSLY. New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and graphic sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Buy: Amazon

Finding Eden

Book 2

Sign of Love Series- Inspired by Aquarius

By Mia Sheridan

Synopsis

Finding Eden is the continuation, and conclusion, to Becoming Calder.

When the world as you know it has ended, when all that you love has been washed away, where do you find strength?

When the new world you’ve stepped into is as isolating as the last, when your heart is broken, and your future is unclear, where do you find hope?

Finding Eden is a story of strength, discovery, forgiveness, and undying love. It is about believing in your destiny and following the path that leads to peace.

THIS IS THE SECOND PART, AND CONCLUSION, IN A TWO-PART SIGN OF LOVE SERIES INSPIRED BY AQUARIUS (BECOMING CALDER SHOULD BE READ FIRST). New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and graphic sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Buy: Amazon

Tracey’s Review

When I was given the chance to read BECOMING CALDER and FINDING EDEN by Mia Sheridan, I was excited. I mean, first off, it’s Mia Sheridan, and, secondly, the synopses for these books drew me in from the very beginning. I was intrigued, and couldn’t wait to find out more about Calder Raynes and Eden Everson, and Acadia, the community that they lived in. And, so, lucky enough to have these books in my hands, I began. And once I did, I just could not put them down. I could not stop for anything. Because I was captivated, completely won over, in every way possible.

Calder Raynes has lived at Acadia his entire life, surrounded by family and friends. From the moment of Eden’s arrival, the two are drawn to each other, and over the years, their relationship changes from friendship to desire to love, even as Eden’s eighteenth birthday, her appointed wedding day to Hector, grows ever closer.

Eden Everson was brought as a child to Acadia, a community set apart from society in anticipation of the end of the world. Remembering only snippets of her earlier life, she has been groomed since her arrival to be the bride of Hector, Acadia’s dynamic leader, and to help lead their people to Elysium, the promised land. But Hector never figured on Eden finding a real and forbidden love within Acadia.

Eden’s and Calder’s love story unfolds beautifully in BECOMING CALDER, but as in all epic love stories, tragedy accompanies joy, and events transpire that force Eden and Calder apart. As FINDING EDEN begins, we know that Eden has survived the events of the first book, but are left, along with Eden, to mourn the loss of her love and accompany her as she learns to live in society, to make a place for herself in the world outside Acadia.

“It was true what I’d once said about the stars—some things are seen more clearly in light…and some things are seen more clearly in darkness. Because somewhere in the dark of the night, Calder pulled me close to him and we agreed in ways both spoken and unspoken that the world was ugly and broken and love was ridiculously dangerous and absurdly unsafe…and that we would love anyway. We would keep our fierce and tender hearts open. It felt foolish and ridiculous and right. It felt like the bravest thing in the whole world.”

BECOMING CALDER and FINDING EDEN are two of the best books that I have had the pleasure of reading. It is impossible not to fall in love with these characters, to rejoice in their love, and mourn their losses. I was so emotionally invested in Eden and Calder and their stories that I couldn’t stop thinking of them long after I’d finished the books. Although I wanted to enjoy these books at a leisurely pace, and just soak up the story, I could not help but speed through them, because I just could not wait to see what happened next.

If we’re lucky, we come across a handful of books that really resonate for us. They are beautifully crafted, ripe with wonderful plot, dialogue, and characters that, during the course of the story, prove themselves to be so much more. I can honestly say that BECOMING CALDER and FINDING EDEN are all of this and more for me. Mia Sheridan, by the blessing that is her creativity, birthed Calder, this beautiful, strong, loving man, and Eden, Calder’s Morning Glory, a girl that refused to give up in the face of enormous obstacles, and allowed us to be part of it. I savored these books, soaked in every part of them, wanting to reach the culmination, but yet not wanting it to end. And then I had to sit with the story for a few days, to revisit and replay every bit of it: Calder, Xander, Eden, and the entire experience that was Acadia, and what came after. Only then could I sit down and share my thoughts, that BECOMING CALDER and FINDING EDEN are absolutely two of my favorite books, not just of this year, but ever. And to let everyone know that 6+ stars doesn’t seem like enough for these books, this beautiful and touching story, with characters that evoked emotion upon emotion. Thank you, Mia, for sharing this truly beautiful story of overcoming life’s obstacles and belief in the power of love with us, and for bringing such a beautiful love story to life.

Individual Goodread Review links:

Becoming Calder-

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/920258280?book_show_action=false

Finding Eden

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1034919949?book_show_action=false

Author Bio

Mia Sheridan is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. Her passion is weaving true love stories about people destined to be together. Mia lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband. They have four children here on earth and one in heaven.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Review: Chasing Abby by Cassia Leo- Shattered Hearts Series- Book 4

Posted on 10/05/2014 by shellbellereads

Chasing Abby

Shattered Heart Series- Book 4

By Cassia Leo

Synopsis

The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Shattered Hearts series.

Five years, six months, eight days…

It’s been eighteen years since Abigail was born with a hole in her heart. Five years since she collapsed on the soccer field. Five years, six months, eight days since she found out she was adopted.

Abby has spent five years wondering about the family she never knew and waiting for her eighteenth birthday.When Abby shows up on the doorstep of Chris and Claire Knight, her birth parents are overjoyed to see the little girl they lost eighteen years ago.

One summer is all they have to make up for the years they lost. But a summer of love soon turns into a summer of heartache.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

Chasing Abby is the conclusion to the highly acclaimed Shattered Hearts series by Cassia Leo. Readers have been waiting for this book since the series began.

Chris and Claire Knight have waited eighteen years for this moment. The moment to meet the daughter they gave up for adoption because of their mistakes in their youth. The regret has weighed on their souls for the last eighteen years. They have moved on in life and made a beautiful family. They have become huge successes in their careers. They have become parents of three more children. The one thing missing in their lives has been their first born child, Abby.

Abby has had a loving life with her adoptive parents. Although she has had a happy life, her life experiences have been very limited and controlled because of her severe heart condition. Her health issues have caused her adoptive parents to become obsessively over protective of her. They have kept her adoption a secret all her life. When a life threatening hospital stay reveals the truth about her adoption, she will have to wait until her eighteenth birthday to find out who her real birth parents are.

Her life in general has been very happy. Her adoptive parents love her. She has great friends. She even has a phenomenal boyfriend, Caleb Everett, that whole heartedly supports her and takes great care ensuring her good health and happiness.

The moment she has waited for is finally here. Through years of pictures in a bank safety deposit box, Abby finally finds out who her biological parents are. She is stunned. Through Caleb’s support and encouragement she finally gets up the nerve to meet them face to face.

The reunion is emotional on so many levels. Chris and Claire are finally meeting their long lost daughter. Their fears of acceptance are heartfelt. Their joy of finally being able to openly love their child is exalting. Now they want Abby to become part of their family. They want her to get to know her two brothers and sister. They want her in their lives. But with Abby’s serious health issues their future is not guaranteed. Time isn’t on their side.

They have one summer to love and become the family they always wanted to be. It will be a summer filled with wonder and hope. It will also be a summer of adjustment, building relationships, dealing with sibling rivalry, and facing shattering heartbreak.

This book had me an emotional wreck. When I finished this book I was sitting in a pile of kleenex. It is one of the best UGLY cries I have had. I felt every emotion each of these characters felt. I was proud of the kind of woman Abby turned out to be. I was elated for Chris and Claire to finally mend the hole in their hearts they had for eighteen years. I broke right along with Abby when her heart took away the very life of her soul. This book has the same kind of emotional impact as Fault In Our Stars did.

Cassia Leo did a magnificent job with this book. Everything about this book was complete perfection. Read the Shattered Hearts series.

This is the last published book from Cassia Leo. This book will be her blaze of glory.

Cassia will continue writing under a new pen name. I look forward to her new direction and new persona. I want to thank her for giving the readers so many fabulous books.

Author Bio:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cassia Leo grew up in California and has lived in three different countries. She loves to travel and her dream is to one day score a record deal based on her awesome shower singing skills. She is the author of the Shattered Hearts series (Relentless, Pieces of You, Bring Me Home). She is also the author of the popular Luke and Chase series.

Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway: It’s Alway’s Been You by Victoria Paige

Posted on 10/03/2014 by shellbellereads

“I’ll wait forever, sunshine. I loved you then. I love you now. I’ll always love you.”

Former Navy SEAL Travis Blake is a rising star in the security business. In two short years, Blake Security Inc. has become highly sought after by the who’s who in Washington DC.

But unbeknownst to many, Travis is haunted by the mysterious death of his wife three years before. He carries with him the guilt of not being there to protect the one person who meant everything to him. He has buried his wife, but his heart refuses to accept that the body six feet under is hers. His obsessive search for her leads him deep into the trenches of covert ops—and everything is not what it seems.

Caitlin Kincaid has been on the run for a while. The sum of her memories began three years ago when she awakened with a broken arm and leg and a severe concussion. Hunted down by a secret group within the U.S. government, her companion persuades her to stay off the grid because of the standing kill order on their heads. One night, while fleeing assassins, she is left on the side of the road with a cryptic message: “It’s time for you to stop running. I’m not the one you love.”

When Travis receives news that the woman who has turned up at the American Embassy in Berlin could be his wife, he wastes no time getting to her. He is unprepared for the devastation that shreds him when Caitlin looks at him with no recognition in her eyes. Amnesia is a challenging enough obstacle for winning the love of his life back. But with lies defining the past three years of her life, Caitlin becomes wary of anyone’s help.

Love was never the problem. A marriage cannot survive without trust. As sinister forces threaten the bond they are trying to rebuild, trust must come quickly or one of them will die.

* Strong sexual content and language. Disturbing situations.

**Amazon US * Amazon UK * Amazon AU * Amazon CA * Barnes and Noble * Smashwords**

Continue reading →

Blog Tour + 6-Star Review: Filthy Beautiful Love by Kendall Ryan

Posted on 10/01/2014 by Saucy Southern Readers

Filthy Beautiful Love – Book 2

By Kendall Ryan

Synopsis

**Warning: this book contains an addictively filthy alpha male who will dampen your panties and own your days and nights. Proceed at your own risk.**

Book 2 in the Filthy Beautiful Lies series.

I never expected to watch Sophie walk away. She was mine. I would own her. She just didn’t know it yet. New goal: Seal the deal and rock her world so thoroughly she never wanted to leave again.

Highly sexual and emotionally charged, Filthy Beautiful Love is the provocative conclusion to Filthy Beautiful Lies.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Kelley’s Review

I fell in love with Sophie and Colton all over again! Grab some Ben and Jerry’s ice cream and some tissues and get ready for an epic emotional journey that you never saw coming.

I loved Filthy Beautiful Lies. It had the perfect amount of angst, drama, and sexual chemistry. Kendall left it on a note that had me counting the days until Filthy Beautiful Love came out. I started Filthy Beautiful Love and thought wow things are really working out for Colton and Sophie. Everything is falling into place so easily. Colton has been up front and honest with Sophie about everything and Sophie is madly in love with Colton and can see what is really in his heart so she is very forgiving. Things were looking really good for the two of them. I thought to myself this is so different from Filthy Beautiful Lies and I put the book down for the night. What I am trying to say is hang on a minute. It’s coming. The plot twist that will turn your world upside down and inside out and have you crying those big crocodile tears. Colton and Sophie do indeed have to fight for their happily ever after and this time it is up to Colton to bring Sophie back into the light.

Kendall does an amazing job developing her characters all the way down to their deepest darkest fears. Colton is afraid to love again after being seriously burned. He has a ton of trust issues and Sophie has never lived for herself before, only for her sister. She has never done anything for herself. We really see Sophie’s fears come to life when Kendall throws in a heart-wrenching plot twist that had me crying no, no, no, this can’t be happening. We also get a really good look at Pace and Kylie in this read. Kylie is a single super hero mom who amazingly juggles it all. She can care for a teething infant and work on a multi-million dollar project at the same time. Pace has some serious soothing magic when it comes to babies and has his eyes on Kylie. It dumbfounded both Colton and Sophie that such a player and ladies man can be so suave with a crying baby.

This book is a six star read because of the amount of emotion that she evoked in me. I was hot and bothered one minute because of the insane sexual chemistry between Colton and Sophie and the next minute I was crying like a baby. I love my reads to take me on a full circle emotional rollercoaster and Kendall delivers.

If you like your romance to grip your heart and at the same time heat up your sheets you will love Filthy Beautiful Love. I can’t wait for Pace and Kylie’s story.

Excerpt

“What’s so funny?” he looks down at his penis and back up at me with a frown.

“Nothing.” I straighten my mouth, losing the smile.

“Sophie,” he chastises. “You were looking down at my dick and laughing.”

“I didn’t laugh,” I correct him.

“Fine, then you were smiling at him like the two of you were sharing some inside joke.

Everything good between the two of you?”

**Warning: this book contains an addictively filthy alpha male who will dampen your panties and own your days and nights. Proceed at your own risk.**

Meet Colton Drake…

I have no idea why she auctioned off her virginity for a cool mill. Regardless, I’m now the proud new owner of a perfectly intact hymen. A lot of good that will do me. I have certain tastes, certain sexual proclivities. My cock is a bit more discriminatory than most. And training a virgin takes finesse and patience – both of which I lack.

Sophie Evans has been backed into a corner. With her sister’s life hanging in the balance, the only choice is to claw her way out, even if that means selling her virginity to the highest bidder at an exclusive erotic club. When Colton Drake takes her home, she quickly learns nothing is as it seems with this beautifully troubled man. Being with him poses challenges she never expected, and pushes her to want things she never anticipated.

A sinfully seductive erotic romance where everything has a price and the cost of love is the highest of all from New York Times & USA Today bestselling author, Kendall Ryan

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Pace Drake loves sex. He knows where get it, what to say, what to do, and he makes no apologies for satisfying his needs. But when he meets single mom, Kylie Sloan, he’s enthralled by her, and begins to question his standard operating procedure. After all, there’s no chase, no mystery when banging a woman in a nightclub bathroom. Kylie’s depth and determination make the sloppy, drunken hookups that fill his weekends seem empty and shallow. She’s the opposite of the desperate, clingy women he’s used to. She doesn’t want or need anyone to take care of her and that only makes him want to care for her more.

Kylie’s trust in men has vanished. The last guy she was with played ding-dong-ditch-it with her uterus and left her with a baby to raise. Now her infant son is the only man she has time for, even if she misses sex and intimacy more than she’d ever admit. Opening her heart up to a younger man who’s best known for no-strings-attached sex and his casual lifestyle is probably the worst idea she’s ever had. But Pace wants to prove to her there are still a few good guys left, and watching the sweet way he interacts with her baby makes her want to try…but she can really trust that his days of hitting it and quitting it are in his past?

Filthy Beautiful Lust is the third book in the Filthy Beautiful Lies series, however it can be read as a standalone novel (no cliffhanger). To understand the full growth and development of the characters, it is recommended that you begin with book 1, Filthy Beautiful Lies.

Pre-order on Amazon

Author Bio

Kendall Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the contemporary romance novels HARD TO LOVE, RESISTING HER, UNRAVEL ME and MAKE ME YOURS.

She’s a sassy, yet polite Midwestern girl with a deep love of books, and a slight addiction to lipgloss! She lives in Minneapolis with an adorable husband and two naughty puppies, one of which may be part monkey.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Day Blitz + Review : Stepbrother Dearest by Penelope Ward

Posted on 09/29/2014 by shellbellereads

Stepbrother Dearest

By Penelope Ward

Synopsis

You’re not supposed to want the one who torments you.

When my stepbrother, Elec, came to live with us my senior year, I wasn’t prepared for how much of a jerk he’d be.

I hated that he took it out on me because he didn’t want to be here.

I hated that he brought girls from our high school back to his room.

But what I hated the most was the unwanted way my body reacted to him.

At first, I thought all he had going for him were his rock-hard tattooed abs and chiseled face. Then, things started changing between us, and it all came to a head one night.

Just as quickly as he’d come into my life, he was gone back to California.

It had been years since I’d seen Elec.

When tragedy struck our family, I’d have to face him again.

And holy hell, the teenager who made me crazy was now a man that drove me insane.

I had a feeling my heart was about to get broken again.

Stepbrother Dearest is a standalone novel.

**Contains graphic sexual content and harsh language. It is only appropriate for adult readers age 18+

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Stepbrother Dearest by Penelope Ward will be on sale for $2.99 Release Day Only

Michel’s Review

Wow! Stepbrother Dearest is one of those books that held me prisoner from the very first word to the end. I was captivated by the story and felt like I knew Greta and Elec personally. Their story seemed very real and touched my heart.

We meet Greta and Elec when they are both teenagers. Greta’s mother married Elec’s father. Do to circumstances in Elec’s home life, he is forced to go stay with his father. He’s an angry young man with a chip that is larger than a boulder on his shoulder. He’s prepared to be hostile and belligerent. He’s prepared to share his misery with every member in the family, including his stepsister Greta. On the surface we see a very angry young man, but under the nasty exterior, there is a boy that is hurting very deeply.

Greta is a happy, go lucky, naïve teenage girl. She’s excited to finally have a sibling to share her life with. What she gets instead of a brother is a bully. A brother that fully intends on making her life miserable. She has a hard time understanding Elec’s monstrous behavior. That is until she looks beneath the surface. Once she begins to see the real Elec, her opinion changes drastically. Once he knows he can trust Greta, Elec begins to show her the real Elec that hides beneath the sneers and smart mouthed punk.

Greta and Elec become close. They realize they have feelings that go beyond brotherly sisterly love. One forbidden night will change their lives forever. One forbidden night will never be forgotten. One forbidden night is the end of their time together.

As the years go by, neither Greta or Elec has forgotten that forbidden love. Life has taken them in different directions. Both have moved on in their lives. They are pursuing careers and building lives of their own. All seems well until there is a family tragedy that brings them together once again. Now they are adults that can make their own destinies. They will have to chose between the new lives they have built for themselves or chose to pursue their forbidden love.

I can’t say too much more about this book without giving spoilers. I will say Penelope Ward wrote a powerful story of love and redemption. The story was written from duo POV’s and was easy to get inside the characters minds. She portrayed the characters maturity and emotional levels with perfection. The teenage Elec and Greta were exactly as teenagers should be. The adult Elec and Greta had matured gracefully and became strong individuals with a great sense of self. They had become the children most parents want their kids to become in their adult lives. How they handled their reunion was with the utmost care and consideration for those in their lives. The love they shared was a powerful once in a lifetime love that time could not take away.

Penelope Ward is a talented writer. She creates characters that are very real and memorable. Their stories are emotional with a strong dose of reality. Stepbrother Dearest deserves a 6 Star Review!

I highly recommend this book.

Tracey’s Review

Greta is seventeen when her stepbrother, Elec, comes to live with her family for the year.Not quite sure what to expect, Greta is hopeful that Elec will be the brother she never had.

‘I had a stepbrother.

That was a weird thought. I hoped we would get along. As an only child, I had always wanted a sibling. I laughed at how stupid this was, fantasizing that this was going to be some kind of fairytale relationship overnight, like friggin’ Donny and Marie Osmond or Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal.’

But paradise it isn’t. Elec’s arrival is less than friendly, and he is very clear about not wanting to have any kind of relationship with Greta or her parents.

‘He wouldn’t look at me, so I used the opportunity to continue examining him as he dumped his bag on the floor.

Thud.

Was that my heart or the bag?’

With his dark good looks and bad boy demeanor, Elec inspires thoughts that are anything but sisterly in Greta. Sibling rivalry just got a lot sexier.

I was absolutely hooked from the first page of Stepbrother Dearest. There was no way that I was going to be able to put this book down without finding out exactly what was going to transpire between Greta and Elec. There was some serious sexual tension going on; the smolder between these two had me fanning myself, and waiting for the moment when the spark became full-on combustion. But this is not just a hot and sexy read. There is so much more to Elec than is apparent at first glance. His painful past has shaped him completely, and there are secrets that he refuses to share, even as he and Greta grow closer. When events arise that cause Elec and Greta to go their separate ways, Greta knows that she will never be the same. And, when the find themselves together again, it’s clear that she is not alone in her feelings.

I am personally a fan of stories where we, as readers, get to see the perspective of each of the main characters, so I was not disappointed that there was dual POV in Stepbrother Dearest. Reading about how Elec felt, in his own words, allowed us to see the issues that had driven him from the first time he met Greta, and gave him much more depth. And, even seven years later, the chemistry between Greta and Elec was off the charts hot, and seeing how both of them felt made it a much more satisfying read for me.

Penelope Ward has done another fantastic job with Stepbrother Dearest. I absolutely cannot recommend this book enough, and give it 5.5 deeply satisfying stars.

Author Bio:

Penelope Ward is a USA Today Bestselling author.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers. She spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor, before switching to a more family-friendly career.

Penelope lives for reading books in the new adult genre, coffee and hanging out with her friends and family on weekends.

She is the proud mother of a beautiful 10-year-old girl with autism (the inspiration for the character Callie in Gemini) and a 8-year-old boy, both of whom are the lights of her life.

Penelope, her husband and kids reside in Rhode Island.

She is currently working on her fifth novel, Jake Understood. She is the author of Gemini, Jake Undone, My Skylar and Stepbrother Dearest.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Be sure to connect with Penelope Ward on Facebook During Stepbrother Dearest release week for prizes and more….

Release Day Blitz + Review: Torture To Her Soul by J.M. Darhower-Monster In His Eyes- Book 2

Posted on 09/29/2014 by shellbellereads

Torture Her Soul

Monster In His Eyes- Book 2

By J. M. Darhower

Synopsis

Don’t say it unless you mean it…

It’s a simple concept, one I’ve said time and again, but something people don’t seem to comprehend. You should choose every syllable carefully, because you never know when somebody will hold you to your word.

Somebody like me.

I’m not a good man. I’m not. I know. I have enough darkness inside of me to rid the world of every stitch of light. But there’s one I could never harm, one light I couldn’t bring myself to snuff out.

Karissa.

She thinks I’m a monster, and maybe I am. I taunt her with my touch, get a thrill out of torturing her soul. But I’m not the only one. The world is full of monsters, and I’m not the most dangerous one out there.

Not even close…

God help me, I love her.

I do.

And God help anyone who tries to take her from me.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Robin’s Review

Sometimes a story is so noteworthy, so very exceptional, that I can hardly wait to begin writing my review! I am excited to share my thoughts about the novel Torture to Her Soul, but my enthusiasm actually extends to the entire series written by author J.M. Darhower. Monster in His Eyes is a two-part series that includes Monster in His Eyes and Torture to Her Soul. If you love romantic suspense, action, drama, and dark characters, take note of this series.

Ignazio Vitale is not a good man. He admits that. Karissa Reed knows this. Even knowing this, Karissa fell right into his web. Monster in His Eyes is told from Karissa’s point of view, so we really don’t know how deep his scars run. Nor do we know what Naz is ruminating on while he lays awake at night, or what he is doing when he gets out of bed and leaves the house at 2:00 in the morning. What are his motivations? We learn all of this in Torture to Her Soul.

Powerful. Intense. Thought provoking. Dramatic. Torture to Her Soul is all of these things, but so much more. Darhower seems very familiar with the ways of criminal organizations such as the mafia and mob and uses this knowledge to her advantage. The drama is extremely realistic. The writing is crisp, creative and completely in character. This description of danger is only a small sample of the writing that left me astounded while I was reading:

“The biggest dangers have smiles on their faces and sweet words on their lips. They don’t threaten or coerce…..they entice. They have the power to make you believe whatever they want you to believe, and they do it with manipulation, through seduction.”

In my opinion, the most profound writing in Torture to Her Soul is found at the beginning of chapter 10, while Ignazio is lying in bed, reflecting on death. The introspection here was extremely dark. Darhower was so in character while writing this scene, she had me convinced I was in the head of a man who kills. Just imagining the thought process behind writing this passage has me floored. It was truly amazing writing, so be sure to watch for it if you decide to read this novel.

Character development is a strength for Darhower. I was most impressed by the character development found with Naz and Karissa, especially in the progression of their relationship and feelings towards each other. Just in this novel alone, Karissa underwent a huge transformation from beginning to the end. And the character development between Naz and many of the secondary characters was instrumental in how the events of this story played out. The schemes Darhower came up with were perfect for the mob, perfect for a killer.

As usual with novels written by J.M. Darhower, the building of suspense leading up to the conclusion is super intense! I found myself wondering how things could possibly work out between Karissa and Naz. I feel like there is so much more that I could share about Torture to Her Soul, but much of what can be shared just needs to be experienced. If you haven’t read Monster in His Eyes, I highly recommend it! And when you have finished Monster in His Eyes, be sure to read the exciting conclusion of the series, Torture to Her Soul. One of my favorites for 2014, I am giving Torture to Her Soul a rare 6-star rating!

Monster In His Eyes Series

Monster In His Eyes – Book 1

Ignazio Vitale is not a good man.

I suspect it, the first time I see him, sense the air of danger that surrounds the man. He has a way of commanding attention, of taking control, of knowing what I’m thinking before I even do.

It’s alarming and alluring. It’s dark and deadly. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted but the last thing I truly need. Obsession.

It doesn’t take him long to draw me into his web, charming me into his bed and trapping me in his life, a life I know nothing about until it’s too late. He has secrets, secrets I can’t fathom, secrets that make it so I can’t walk away, no matter how much I beg him to let me go. I see it sometimes in his eyes, a darkness that’s both terrifying and thrilling. He’s a monster, wrapped up in a pretty package, and what I find when I unmask him changes everything.

I want to hate him.

Sometimes, I do.

But it doesn’t stop me from loving him, too.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This book is intended for a mature audience only, due to some dark and erotic content.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Author Bio:

JM Darhower is the author of countless stories and poems, most of which only she has ever read. She lives in a tiny town in rural North Carolina, where she churns out more words than will ever see the light of day. She has a deep passion for politics and speaking out against human trafficking, and when she isn’t writing she’s usually ranting about those things. Chronic crimper with a vulgar mouth, she admits to having a Twitter addiction. You can find her there.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Day Blitz: Understatement Of The Year by Sarina Bowen- The Ivy Years-Book 3

Posted on 09/29/2014 by shellbellereads

The Understatement of the Year

The Ivy Years Series- Book 3

Release Date: September 29, 2014

By Sarina Bowen

Synopsis:

What happened in high school stayed in high school. Until now.

Five years ago, Michael Graham betrayed the only person who ever really knew him. Since then, he’s made an art of hiding his sexual preference from everyone. Including himself.

So it’s a shock when his past strolls right into the Harkness College locker room, sporting a bag of hockey gear and the same slow smile that had always rendered Graham defenseless. For Graham, there is only one possible reaction: total, debilitating panic. With one loose word, the team’s new left wing could destroy Graham’s life as he knows it.

John Rikker is stuck being the new guy. Again. And it’s worse than usual, because the media has latched onto the story of the only “out” player in Division One hockey. As the satellite trucks line the sidewalk outside the rink, his new teammates are not amused.

And one player in particular looks sick every time he enters the room.

Rikker didn’t exactly expect a warm welcome from Graham. But the guy won’t even meet his eyes. From the looks of it, his former… best friend / boyfriend / whatever isn’t doing so well. He drinks too much and can’t focus during practice.

Either the two loneliest guys on the team will self destruct from all the new pressures in their lives, or they can navigate the pain to find a way back to one another. To say that it won’t be easy is the Understatement of the Year.

Warning: unlike the other books in this series, this heartbreaking love story is about two guys. Contains sexual situations, dance music, snarky t-shirts and a poker-playing grandmother.

Buy: Amazon/ Kobo

Michel’s Review

The Ivy Years series by Sarina Bowen has been phenomenal. Each book has addressed some very different and difficult subject matters. They were written with compassion and great care. The characters are larger than life and jump off the pages. The reader’s completely connect with their stories, their emotions, and their lives. The Understatement Of The Year has followed in the same excellent standard that the previous books in the Ivy Years has set.

The Understatement Of The Year approaches the very difficult subject of homosexuality in the world of sports. Not only did it lay out the difficulties of a college athlete being gay, it also showed the difficulties of “coming out of the closet”.

John Rikker was kicked out of his former college and kicked off the hockey team because his homosexuality was exposed. Harkness College, known for being a liberal school, accepted John Rikker in the middle of hockey season. Not only is John a very gifted athlete, he is the first athlete to be outed in college hockey. This has put him on the media’s radar. It has also put in him a position where he has to prove himself as an all-star athlete to his teammates. It’s hard enough being the new guy on the team, add being gay and it makes the welcoming committee very sparse. To add ugly to ugly, Michael Graham is on his new team.

Michael and John have a history. They were best friends in middle school and high school. They also discovered their sexuality together. A very bad incident separated the two of them. John was sent away to live with his grandmother. There he was able to become open about his sexuality. For Michael Graham it was quite a different story. He denied his homosexuality to himself and all those around him. Now he’s threatened that John is going to expose his secret.

This book not only focused on the discrimination of being gay, it also showed a very emotional side side of being a homosexual. The emotions from hiding your secrets, denying yourself love, and fighting the very person you are is gut wrenching. Also the emotions that go along with being the odd man out, having your life on display, and having to go far and beyond to prove your worth as a player, friend, and human being will tear the reader up. Add a secret affair, an emotional romance, and self discovery and you have the perfect book.

The Understatement Of The Year is one of those “must read” books. I absolutely loved this book and can honestly say is my favorite in The Ivy Years series.

Sarina Bowen is a gifted writer. Her writing is not only romantic, it is highly emotional. Each story reflects the glory of the human spirit. She tackles some very difficult and unique subject matter and gives her characters a life that jumps off the pages. Her delivery of an emotional romance is phenomenal.

Author Bio:

Sarina Bowen writes steamy, angsty Contemporary Romance and New Adult fiction from the wilds of Vermont.

The Year We Fell Down, Book #1 in The Ivy Years series, began breaking hearts in March 2014. Book #2, The Year We Hid Away, is brand new.

For Harlequin-E, Sarina writes the Gravity series. Coming in From the Cold features an angsty downhill ski racer and one of the most unique plot conflicts in contemporary romance today.

Sarina enjoys skiing, coffee products and a nice glass of wine. She lives with her family, eight chickens and more ski gear and hockey equipment than seems necessary.

She would be honored to connect with you at http://www.sarinabowen.com.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter~ Goodreads

Saucy Southern Readers

professional, honest, and timely book reviews

Category Archives: 6-Star

Review: 6 STAR Reviews for Insidious by Aleatha Romig- Tales From The Dark Side Series- Book 1

6-Star ARC Review + Giveaway: Merciless Ride by Chelsea Camaron- The Hellions Ride Series- Book 3

Cover Reveal: Pull by Claire Wallis- Sequel to Push-Push 6 Star Review + 2014 Favorite

Release Day Blitz + 6 Star Reviews: Becoming Calder and Finding Eden by Mia Sheridan- Sign of Love Series- Inspired by Aquarius- Book 1 and Book 2

Review: Chasing Abby by Cassia Leo- Shattered Hearts Series- Book 4

Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway: It’s Alway’s Been You by Victoria Paige

“I’ll wait forever, sunshine. I loved you then. I love you now. I’ll always love you.”

**Amazon US * Amazon UK * Amazon AU * Amazon CA * Barnes and Noble * Smashwords**

Blog Tour + 6-Star Review: Filthy Beautiful Love by Kendall Ryan

Release Day Blitz + Review : Stepbrother Dearest by Penelope Ward

Release Day Blitz + Review: Torture To Her Soul by J.M. Darhower-Monster In His Eyes- Book 2

Release Day Blitz: Understatement Of The Year by Sarina Bowen- The Ivy Years-Book 3

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“I’ll wait forever, sunshine. I loved you then. I love you now. I’ll always love you.”

Amazon US * Amazon UK * Amazon AU * Amazon CA * Barnes and Noble * Smashwords

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