Recent Release + 5 Star Review: Deadly Silence by Rebecca Zanetti – The Blood Brothers Series – Book 1

Posted on 10/14/2016 by shellbellereads

Deadly Silence

Blood Brothers- Book 1

By Rebecca Zanetti

Synopsis

DON’T LOOK BACK

Under siege. That’s how Ryker Jones feels. The Lost Bastards Investigative Agency he opened up with his blood brothers has lost a client in a brutal way. The past he can’t outrun is resurfacing, threatening to drag him down in the undertow. And the beautiful woman he’s been trying to keep at arm’s length is in danger…and he’ll destroy anything and anyone to keep her safe.

Paralegal Zara Remington is in over her head. She’s making risky moves at work by day and indulging in an affair with a darkly dangerous PI by night. There’s a lot Ryker isn’t telling her and the more she uncovers, the less she wants to know. But when all hell breaks loose, Ryker may be the only one to save her. If his past doesn’t catch up to them first…

Full of twists and turns you won’t see coming, DEADLY SILENCE is New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti at her suspenseful best.

A Blood Brothers Novel

_____________________________________

Michel’s Review

Deadly Silence by Rebecca Zanetti is the first book in the Blood Brothers series. It is a spin off of the Sin Brothers series with a different twist. The Blood Brothers are the secret project hidden from the government. They have no idea of their real identities and family backgrounds. Their family bonds are through their childhood experiences in the foster care system. They have suffered abuse at the hands of their caretakers and are bound together by a murder they committed years ago. They are now bonded together by their secret company, The Lost Bastards Investigative Agency. Their agency works behind the scenes and specializes in extractions. They find those who are lost. Their latest case has led them to a serial killer who is targeting women connected with law enforcement personnel. They are trying to get one step ahead rather than one step behind. They want to catch him before he strikes again. The FBI is somewhat collaborating with them in hopes the exchanges will lead to the killer. They have relocated the agency to Cisco, Wyoming for a legit cover.

Ryker Jones has been having a no ties affair with Paralegal Zara Remington. They met through the law firm Zara works for. Ryker has done work for the firm. Now he is living in town permanently and wants more from their affair than a bedroom romp. Zara’s not quite sure how to take that because Ryker has way too many secrets. The thing is Zara also has a secret, a secret that has put her in danger, jeopardized her job, and just may get her killed. Ryker and his brothers are determined to protect Zara and keep her under the radar of the serial killer they are chasing. Dealing with two very different deadly situations has their plates full when their past comes back to haunt them in another very deadly way.

There are too many secrets and each one ends in Deadly Silence.

I was glued to the pages and on the edge of my seat. Rebecca Zanetti is the queen of writing sexy romantic suspense. The ending was just the beginning for the Blood Brothers. Their secrets are getting exposed and the revelations behind the secrets are riveting.

I highly recommend reading Deadly Silence by Rebecca Zanetti!

_______________________________

About Rebecca Zanetti:

New York Times Bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti is the author of over twenty-five dark paranormals, romantic suspense, and contemporary romances, and her books have appeared multiple times on the USA Today, NY Times, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooksbestseller lists. She lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her own Alpha hero, two kids, a couple of dogs, a crazy cat…and a huge extended family. She believes strongly in luck, karma, and working her butt off…and she thinks one of the best things about being an author, unlike the lawyer she used to be, is that she can let the crazy out. Her current series are: The Scorpius Syndrome, The Dark Protectors, The Realm Enforcers, The Maverick Montana Cowboys, and the Sin Brothers series.

***Rising StormWebsite | Facebook |Twitter | 1001 Dark Nights | Rising Storm* on Goodreads**

New Release + 5 Star Review: Savage Mafia Prince by Annika Martin – Dangerous Royals Series – Book 3

Posted on 10/13/2016 by shellbellereads

THE SAVAGE IS HERE.
“I LOVE this book. One of my absolute favorite reads of 2016. I want…no, I NEED my own savage!!!” ~USA Today bestselling author Natasha Knight

BUY Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/29TwIBb
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2a5ADpy

iBooks:http://apple.co/2cs5GiV
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2c1EfA1
Nook: http://bit.ly/2e617xv

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2cEULl6

Synopsis:

Where is Kiro?

He’s the lost Dragusha brother, heir to a vast mafia empire—brilliant, violent, and utterly savage…and he’s been missing for years.

Ann

I’m supposed to be doing simple undercover research at the Fancher Institute for the Mentally Ill & Dangerous, but I can’t keep my mind off Patient 34. He’s startlingly young and gorgeous, but it’s not just that. He’s strapped way too tightly to that bed. And there’s no name or criminal history on his chart. What are these people hiding? My reporter’s instincts are screaming.

Here’s the other thing: the staffers here believe he’s so sedated that there’s not a thought in his head, but I catch him watching me when nobody’s looking. Our connection sizzles when I enter the room. When our eyes meet, I know he understands me in a way nobody else ever has.

I’m supposed to follow my editor’s orders—I have secrets, too—but everything about Patient 34 is suspicious. How can I not investigate?

Michel’s Review

This is the first book I have read by Annika Martin. I didn’t realize that it was the third book in the Dangerous Royals series. Although I haven’t read the first two books I was easily drawn into Savage Mafia Prince and picked up the back story of the series right away.

Patient 34 is in the Fancher Institute, a hospital for the criminally insane. These patients are an absolute danger to society and beyond treatment. A Fancher patient will never gain their freedom or their sanity. They are a lost cause. When a ruined investigative journalist is planted within the Fancher Institute as a nurse to uncover a drug operation, she discovers something else. A patient that is not what he seems. He has managed to control his reactions to the intense drug regimen to control his violent actions. There’s a real person locked behind the blank stare and zombie like presence. She intends to find out more about Patient 34.

Patient 34 is the Dragusha son that has been missing for years. He is also the Savage Adonis that surfaced two years earlier and violently murdered the professor studying his savage behavior.

Kiro Dragusha was kidnapped as a baby. He was abandoned in the wilderness as a child. He was raised by wolves until he was discovered by civilization. Now he is a prisoner chained to a hospital bed. He is waiting for the moment to escape and return to the wilderness. The kind nurse may be his only chance for escape or the final lock on the chains that hold him to the bed.

Nurse Ann is more than a kind nurse. She is his salvation, she is his mate. When he escapes barely with his life, he takes Nurse Ann with him. Unbeknownst to him, Nurse Ann is his enemy, she is a journalist. The enemy that landed him in the Fancher Institute.

Kiro and Ann’s journey is more than an escape to the wilderness. It is a discovery of who they both are as individuals. It is also a discovery of who Kiro really is. Only Ann can help him. What he doesn’t realize is his real family has been searching for him. Is it the wolves or the Dragusha brothers that will claim their long lost brother?

This book had me glued to the pages. After reading this book I had to go back and read the first two books in the Dangerous Royals series. This series is captivating.

Start the series now!

Dark Mafia Prince – now available!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2934GBU
iBooks: http://apple.co/28WBWJe
Google: http://bit.ly/2962PLk
Kobo: http://annikamartinbooks.com/dark-mafia-prince/
Nook: http://annikamartinbooks.com/dark-mafia-prince/

Synopsis:

They destroyed his family, stole his kingdom, hunted him to the ends of the earth.

Now the beautiful prince is back as a dark killer, ready to take everything.
And it starts with her.

Aleksio
Don’t look at me like that. So trusting.
Like you think I’m not a monster.
Like I won’t wrap your hair in my fist and bend you to my will.
Like I won’t sacrifice you, piece by bloody piece, to save my brother.

I’m the most dangerous enemy you’ll ever have.
Because every time you look at me, you see somebody good. That friend who died.

And when you look at me like that, I die again.

Mira
I spent years making myself invisible. A good girl, apart from the noise.
Then you returned, beautiful and deadly in your Armani suit.
Don’t look at me like you still know me, you say.
But I remember your smile. And I remember those sunny days.

Before they lowered your small casket into the ground.
Before they told us the prince was dead.

—————————————————

Wicked Mafia Prince – now available!

Amazon US : http://amzn.to/2aiG6gW
Google: http://bit.ly/2a8SoZy
iBooks: http://apple.co/29EIuyY
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/ebook/wicked-mafia-prince

Nook: http://bit.ly/2cwfqaX

Synopsis:

Who is the nun who never shows her face?

She’s trapped in twisted brothel, stuck behind a webcam…or is she? Viktor doesn’t need to see this mysterious nun’s face to know she’s the woman he once loved…the assassin he once killed.

Viktor

You were the love of my life, beautiful and deadly.
Then you betrayed our mafiya family—the only family either of us ever knew.
Heartbroken, I did the honor killing. I threw you off a cliff.
When I learned you were innocent, it ripped me apart.Now, years later—somehow, impossibly—there you are, alive.
The nun who never shows her face, trapped on the other side of a computer screen.
How can it be? My brothers think I’m obsessed. Imagining ghosts. But I’ll always know you. And I’m coming for you.

Author Bio:

Annika Martin is a NYT bestselling author who enjoys writing dirty stories about dangerous criminals! She loves helping animals and kicking snow clumps off the bottom of cars around the streets of Minneapolis, and in her spare time she writes as the RITA award-winning author Carolyn Crane.

Author Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter | Dirty quote newsletter

Blog Tour + 5 Star Reviews : Careless Whispers Series by Lisa Renee Jones

Posted on 10/12/2016 by shellbellereads

Today we have the blog tour for The Careless Whisper Series by Lisa Renee Jones. Check out this fantastic series, and grab your copy before the final book, Surrender, releases this December!

About The Careless Whisper Series:

From New York Times bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones, the CARELESS WHISPERS series. This is a spin-off of the INSIDE OUT series (in development for TV) that follows Ella Ferguson, Sara McMillan’s best friend.

Ella Ferguson awakes alone in Italy, unsure of who she is, and a gorgeous man has claimed her as his own. He’s tall, dark, and sexy, with money and power, the kind of man who makes a girl want to be possessed. And he does possess her, whispering wicked wonderful promises to her, stealing her trust and her heart. Soon though, the past finds her, yanking her from a cocoon of passion and safety. Everything is not how it seems. The truth will shatter her world, but it can set her free, if it doesn’t destroy her first.

****

Denial

Careless Whispers – Book 1

Buy : Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

From New York Times bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones, the first book in the CARELESS WHISPERS series.

Please note: This is the standalone spinoff of the INSIDE OUT series. New readers can enjoy this without reading INSIDE OUT but those who love INSIDE OUT will FINALLY find out what happened to Ella!

Michel’s Review

Lisa Renee Jones is the master at creating stories shrouded in mystery, intrigue, and erotic suspense. She takes the reader on a crazy rollercoaster ride that has many twists, turns, ups, and downs. All is not what is seems and changes with each passage. By the end of the book the reader is left with a big cliffhanger that leaves them with too many questions and too many theories.

Imagine waking up in a hospital in a foreign land not knowing who you are. Imagine being in a strange world and not being able to communicate because you don’t understand the language. You have small snippets of random moments in your life but none of it makes sense. You don’t know who you are or who to trust. At the same time there is this gorgeous, mysterious man offering his compassion, care, and protection. He is the only hope in your lost and misplaced life. He can be your savior or he can be the devil. At this point you don’t have a choice in the matter. He is the only thing you can grasp onto at the moment. This is Ella Ferguson’s life. She has chosen to take Kayden’s hand and let him lead her to heaven or hell.

Kayden is shrouded in mystery. On one hand he’s the sexiest and most compassionate man. On the other hand you get a sense that he is a self serving person that has an agenda. His good will has a price.

The chemistry between Ella and Kayden is sizzling hot. There is no denying the heat between them. But … sometimes that is not enough.

I was drawn into Ella and Kayden’s world. I can’t wait to see how their story evolves.

Lisa Renee Jones has once again delivered a gripping tale.

****

Demand

Careless Whispers – Book 2

Buy: Amazon / Amazon UK / B & N / ITunes / Kobo / Audible

Synopsis

The sexy, breathtaking mystery continues in New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones’s stunning second novel in the suspenseful Careless Whispers series–where shocking revelations will reveal themselves and nothing, and no one, will ever be the same.

Still struggling with amnesia, Ella questions everything she’s known about Kayden Wilkens–the alluring stranger who claims to have found her unconscious in an alleyway. But was he truly a stranger–or did Kayden know her before his supposed rescue? Tormented by the potential betrayal he denies, with fleeting memories of a bombshell in her recent past, Ella must face a hard reality. Every action has consequences . . . and trusting Kayden, the one thing she most desires, might result in the direst consequences of all.

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones, whose searing novels generate “enough heat . . . to start a fire” (RT Book Reviews), dares you to fall in love with her irresistibly surprising and sexy new series.

Tracey’s Review

I am absolutely loving the Careless Whispers series by Lisa Renee Jones HARD! It has captivated me from the first page of the first book, DENIAL, and just keeps getting better. DEMAND picks up immediately following the OMGoodness ending of DENIAL, Book 1 in the series, and, oh, how this book continues to deliver. The intrigue, the delicious tension, the hotter-than-all-heck sexiness, Lisa Renee just keeps it all coming.

As Ella becomes more involved with Kayden and the Underground, her memories, although still sketchy, continue to return, revealing more of her past, while leaving many questions unanswered. And, as the pieces in the mystery surrounding the necklace that plays such a big part of Ella’s forgotten past begin to come together, the players in the dangerous race to find it are revealed.

As a note, the books in the Careless Whispers series build on each other, so it is important to read them in order, because you will have missed out on all the backstory if DENIAL isn’t read first. The great news there is that these books are such great reads, that you’ll devour them and be left wanting more.

DEMAND is part steamy romance, part political intrigue, and all riveting, an action-packed thrill ride that does disappoint. I did have that moment of, ‘Are you KIDDING me?!’ when I got to the end of the big reveal, only to find that I’m going to be waiting for the rest of the pieces to come together. Why? Because SURRENDER, the third book in the series, is still to come, but that just means more Kayden and Ella goodness, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. As with all of Lisa Renee’s books, DEMAND is an easy 5-star read for me, and I can’t wait to get my hands on SURRENDER come December. You’ll want to add this series to your TBR, because it is not to be missed.

***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***

****

Behind Closed Doors

Careless Whispers- Book 3

Buy: Amazon / B & N / IBooks / Kobo

Synopsis

From New York Times bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones comes a brand new gripping and provocative novel that ties into her bestselling Careless Whispers and Inside Out series. You can enjoy this as a standalone, but fans of Careless Whispers and Inside Out will get an exciting glimpse of who Ella really is and some of the secrets she’s been hiding from everyone she knows.

Desperate to pay for law school, Skye tries her hand at auction hunting with her friend Ella, only to find a poker chip and a note leading to an offsite locker. The next thing she knows, Jason “Red Bull” Wise–a famous, millionaire poker player–is at her door, accusing her of blackmail. Innocent, she swears he’s wrong. He rolls the dice and believes her, impulsively inviting her along to Las Vegas. And remarkably, cautious Skye takes a risk, finding herself seduced by this dangerously alluring man, on his private jet, and finally living life to the fullest. But there is more than passion waiting for Skye and Jason in Vegas when blackmail takes a deadly turn.

Tracey’s Review

I first discovered Lisa Renee Jones by ‘accident,’ stumbling upon her Inside Out series when it first released. Hooked, and a fan ever since, I’ve been looking forward to BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, a sort of ‘bridge’ book between the Inside Out and Careless Whispers books.

Let me tell you, I LOVED this book. Yes, things happen fairly quickly, but I happily invoke my suspension of disbelief in insta-love for this one, folks, because Jason and Skye were one of my favorite couples lately. (It didn’t hurt that I kept seeing a certain brother from a current television show as Jason. Okay, twist my arm, it’s Jared Padalecki…)

Skye obviously has things in her past that cause her to be wary, to seek control and ensure that she never finds herself put into the role of victim ever again. When you pair that with Jason’s determination and prowess as one of the top poker players in the world, you’ve got two very strong-willed people. The rapport between Skye and Jason is instantaneous, even if it takes them a minute to figure it out. Does Skye take chances that I, or most any woman I know, would balk at? Yes. But it works here, and the chemistry, the story, the characters, I just thoroughly enjoyed it all. The action is non-stop, the storyline engaging, if not what we “regular” folks would experience, and the mystery of the person blackmailing Jason keeps things interesting.

I have to admit that, while I love the Inside Out series, I have become a more recent and instant fan of Lisa’s Careless Whispers series. BEHIND CLOSED DOORS offers us a little bit more insight into Ella, the female lead in the Careless Whispers books, before the action in DENIAL (Careless Whispers Book 1) starts up. Her scenes in BEHIND CLOSED DOORS were so crazy that I found myself literally laughing out loud; she’s one kick-butt chick, and she is awesome.

Jason is actually one of my favorite of Lisa’s men to date, and I could have kept reading more about him and Skye (Lisa, is you’re reading this, well, you know what I’m saying…). I’m telling you, you’ll want to grab this 4.5-star read, and the first two in the Careless Whispers series, too, and get caught up, because SURRENDER, the third book in the series releases in January, and you’ll want to be ready for it. You’re welcome.

***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***

Preorder Surrender: Amazon / B & N / IBooks / Kobo

About Lisa Renee Jones:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT series, which is now in development for a television show to be produced by Suzanne Todd of Team Todd (Alice in Wonderland). Suzanne Todd on the INSIDE OUT series: Lisa has created a beautiful, complicated, and sensual world that is filled with intrigue and suspense. Sara’s character is strong, flawed, complex, and sexy – a modern girl we all can identify with. I’m thrilled to develop a television show that will tell Sara’s whole story – her life, her work, her friends, and her sexuality.

In addition to the success of Lisa’s INSIDE OUT series, she has published many successful titles. The TALL, DARK AND DEADLY series and THE SECRET LIFE OF AMY BENSEN series, both spent several months on a combination of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling lists. Lisa is presently working on a dark, edgy new series, Dirty Money, for St. Martin’s Press.

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

Lisa loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at www.lisareneejones.com and she is active on Twitter and Facebook daily.

Connect with Lisa:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLisaReneeJones

Twitter – https://twitter.com/LisaReneeJones

Instagram – http://instagram.com/lisareneejones

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/LisaReneeJones

Text List and Newsletter: http://bit.ly/LRJTextList

Enter Lisa’s Giveaway:
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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + 2016 Favorite: Sugar Free by Sawyer Bennett – Sugar Bowl Series – Book 3

Posted on 10/11/2016 by shellbellereads

Sugar Free

Sugar Bowl Series – Book 3

By Sawyer Bennett

Release Date: October 11, 2016

Buy : Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

Sela and Beck’s deliciously sinful tale of sex, lies, and vengeance reaches its explosive conclusion in the final chapter of Sawyer Bennett’s Sugar Bowl trilogy, which began with the novels Sugar Daddy and Sugar Rush.

For years Sela Halstead dreamed of revenge, but the quest for payback has been anything but sweet. Now, once again, she finds herself at the mercy of Jonathon Townsend, his hands crushing the very breath from her body. And even though she escapes with her life, Sela fears she may never recover. In desperate need of shelter and comfort, she runs to the one man she can trust. Beckett North has stood by Sela since the beginning. But can he handle the brutal truth?

Beck will do anything to protect what is his—and make no mistake, Sela belongs to him, heart and soul. The passion between them runs hot, even as their world begins to unravel. With the legacy of his ruthless business partner hanging in the balance, Beck stands to lose everything: his fortune, his family, his freedom. But each touch of Sela’s mouth on his skin, her nails down his back, makes it harder to let her go—and it might not even be his choice to make.

________________________________

Michel’s Review

The Powerful Conclusion in the Sugar Bowl series by Sawyer Bennett has released!

Thrilling… Chilling… Edge Of The Seat Suspense… Erotic Romance with a twist…

Be Careful what you wish for… it may come true!

Sela Halstead had a mission.

Infiltrate

Murder

Repeat

Beckett North will do anything to protect the woman he loves.

Lie

Destroy

Sacrifice

Jonathon Townsend is dead… his secrets did not die with him… his secrets will destroy everything Beckett North loves.

I could not put this book down! The twists and turns kept me enthralled. The shocking revelations stunned me. Sawyer Bennett has outdone herself and delivered one of the most chilling and suspenseful erotic romances I have read. The Sugar Bowl series is by far one of 2016’s best series published.

Read the Sugar Bowl Series!

_________________________________

Releasing May 24, 2016

Sugar Daddy

Book One in Sugar Bowl Series

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

Sela Halstead lost her innocence in a way that no sixteen-year-old should ever have to endure. She’s spent years trying to forget that night even while wondering about the identities of the monsters who brutalized her—until a telltale tattoo flashes across Sela’s TV screen. The incriminating ink belongs to Jonathon Townsend, the millionaire founder of The Sugar Bowl, a website that matches rich older men with impressionable young women. Obsessed with revenge, Sela infiltrates Townsend’s world, only to come face-to-face with a tantalizing complication: Beckett North, his charismatic business partner.

The tech mastermind behind The Sugar Bowl, Beck always gets what he wants, in business and in bed. And yet, for a man who’s done every dirty thing imaginable, there’s something about the naïve, fresh-faced Sela that sparks his hottest fantasies. Because with her, it’s not just about sex. Beck opens up to her in ways he never has with other girls. So why does he get the feeling that she’s hiding something? In a world of pleasure and power, the shocking truth could turn them against each other—or bind them forever.

Note: Sugar Daddy ends on a cliffhanger. Sela and Beck’s story continues in Sugar Rush and Sugar Free!

*****

Sugar Rush

Sugar Bowl Series – Book 2

By Sawyer Bennett

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

Synopsis

In the steamy and suspenseful sequel to Sugar Daddy (“A totally gripping take on romance and revenge!”—Lauren Blakely), a heartbreaking rift threatens to unravel a dangerous alliance . . . and a fragile new love.

After posing as an escort for the Sugar Bowl online dating service, Sela Halstead is looking for one thing: payback. She’s closing in on the site’s heartless founder, Jonathon Townsend, and she needs Beckett North, Townsend’s business partner and her lover, by her side. She’d thought that their intimate nights together had forged an unbreakable bond, but after a shocking betrayal, Sela begins to doubt the brilliant bad boy. When push comes to shove, can she trust Beck to do the right thing?

Now that he understands the truth, Beck will stop at nothing to secure the reckoning Sela deserves. But between his desire for her and his disgust for JT, Beck doesn’t exactly have a lot of control over his emotional state. Left with no other choice, he must summon all his discipline to maintain JT’s trust and pretend that they’re still friends. But how far will Beck go to prove his loyalty to Sela? He nearly lost her once. To keep her, Beck might have to kill for her.

Note: Sugar Rush ends on a cliffhanger. Sela and Beck’s story concludes in Sugar Free!

*****

Sugar Free

Sugar Bowl Series – Book 3

By Sawyer Bennett

Release Date: October 11, 2016

Pre Order: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

Sela and Beck’s dark, riveting love story reaches its epic conclusion in the final chapter of Sawyer Bennett’s Sugar Bowl trilogy that began with the novels Sugar Daddy and Sugar Rush.

__________________________________

About the Author

USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Release Blitz + Review: Going Down Fast by Carly Phillips – Billionaire Bad Boys Series – Book 2

Posted on 10/11/2016 by shellbellereads

Going Down Fast (Billionaire Bad Boys Book 2) by Carly Phillips

Date of Publication: October 11, 2016

Blurb

A stand-alone Billionaire Bad Boys novel.

Billionaire Bad Boys: Rich, Powerful and sexy as hell.

Lucas Monroe dropped out of college only to become a multi-billionaire and tech world God. He can have any woman he desires in his bed, but the only woman he’s ever wanted is off limits and always has been. When Maxie Sullivan finds herself in dire straits, the only man she can turn to is the one she’s always secretly loved: her childhood best friend. Can they trust their hearts and make a future, or will their complicated pasts stand in the way?

This bad boy is going down fast …

And going down fast has never felt so right.

Available From

Amazon (Kindle)
B&N (Nook)
Kobo
iBooks
Google Play

_______________________________

Tracey’s Review

Lucas Monroe and Maxie Sullivan have always had some unfinished business. The friendship that they shared as children has stood the test of time, but Lucas’ competitive and vindictive brother saw to it that their relationship never went any further. When unexpected changes throw Lucas and Maxie together again, neither one is willing to hide their feelings any longer.

Man, this series! Carly Phillips and her new bunch of characters are winning me over, one sexy book at a time. I knew that I was going to love Lucas just from meeting him in GOING DOWN EASY, but I didn’t know how much. Lucas resonates with the late bloomer in me, the nerdy gamer boy that has turned into one of the über-successful owners of a hot cyber business. But one thing hasn’t ever changed for Lucas, and that’s the way that he feels about Maxie. His childhood best friend, he’s always wanted more, but never acted on it, and then it was too late.

I adore Maxie. She’s always looked to Lucas as her port in the storm, calling on him to help her through the rough times in her life. Maxie has always wanted more than friendship with Lucas, too, but life just didn’t give them that opportunity. When Maxie’s life is turned upside down, she does what her heart has always called her to do, and goes right to Lucas. Determined now to be the strong, self-sufficient person that she was before her life took a detour, Maxie is single-minded in her intention to live her life on her terms, and that life includes Lucas in a big way.

The backstory involving Lucas’ brother is a nice counterpoint to the relationship between Lucas and Maxie, and makes GOING DOWN FAST that much more engaging. This story is just as sexy, just as appealing, and just as romantic a read as GOING DOWN EASY, and I enjoyed every bit of it. An easy 4.5 stars, I highly recommend this book and this series, and am looking forward to Derek’s book, GOING DOWN HARD, which can’t get here quickly enough. Grab these now; you’ll be so glad that you did!

***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***

About Carly Phillips

After a successful fifteen-year career with various New York publishing houses, and over 40 sexy contemporary romance novels published, N.Y. Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carly Phillips is now an Indie author who writes to her own expectations and that of her readers. She continues the tradition of hot men and strong women and plans to publish many more sizzling stories. Carly lives in Purchase, NY with her family, two nearly adult daughters and two crazy dogs who star on her Facebook Fan Page and website. She’s a writer, a knitter of sorts, a wife, and a mom. In addition, she’s a Twitter and Internet junkie and is always around to interact with her readers. You can find out more about Carly at http://www.carlyphillips.com.

Find Carly Phillips Online

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Release Day Blitz + 5 Star Review: Bound To Submit by Laura Kaye – Blasphemy Series – Book 1

Posted on 10/11/2016 by shellbellereads

Decadent… Sensual… Forbidden…

12 Masters. 12 Desires. 12 Fantasies Come to Life.
Meet the Masters of Blasphemy…

About Bound to Submit:

From the ruins of an abandoned church comes Baltimore’s hottest and most exclusive BDSM club. Twelve Masters. Infinite fantasies. Welcome to Blasphemy…

He thinks he caused her pain, but she knows he’s the only one who can heal her…

Kenna Sloane lost her career and her arm in the Marines, and now she feels like she’s losing herself. Submission is the only thing that ever freed her from pain and made her feel secure, and Kenna needs to serve again. Bad. The only problem is the Dom she wants once refused her submission and broke her heart, but, scarred on the inside and out, she’s not looking for love this time. She’s not even sure she’s capable.

Griffin Hudson is haunted by the mistakes that cost him the only woman he ever loved. Now she’s back at his BDSM club, Blasphemy, and more beautiful than ever, and she’s asking for his help with the pain he knows he caused. Even though he’s scared to hurt her again, he can’t refuse her, because he’d give anything to earn a second chance. And this time, he’ll hold on forever.

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Excerpt

Griffin stood in front of her. “We’re practicing Sunday night’s demonstration position. I want to make sure you’re comfortable with it and that it’s not too taxing before we do it in front of an audience, especially since the demos always run a little longer.”

“Yes, Sir,” Kenna said, kneeling naked at his feet.

“I’m going to tie you up. Flog you until your skin is hot and pink. And make you come you until you’re mindless. Understand?” His voice was like gravel, and the bulge in the front of his jeans told her that he was as turned on as she was.

“Yes, Master Griffin. I’m ready.” She shivered.

“Then let’s begin. I want you to sit on your bottom, back straight, knees bent.”

Moving as quickly and gracefully as she could, Kenna got into position. He never revealed what the position would be or exactly how she would be bound, so there was always a thrill of discovery about his bondage that she loved. She took a deep breath as the twine fell against her skin. First, he wrapped a long length around her breasts, squeezing them and making them sensitive, and then he had her sit forward so that her upper body was against the fronts of her thighs.

Each brush of his fingers aroused her. Each wrap of the rope excited her. Each pressing knot pushed her into that place she loved to be.

Next, Master Griffin worked loop after loop around her lower back and the backs of her thighs, holding her in a folded position. His hands moved in what felt like intricate patterns against her spine as he connected those ropes to the ones around her breasts in what felt like some sort of erotic harness.

And then he came around the front of her. “How are you?”

“All Green, Sir.”

He nodded, and then he worked the twine in a stunning pattern down each arm before binding her arms flat against the fronts of her shins, folding her tighter over her legs. It was as he worked on her front that she noticed that he used black rope that matched her prosthetic—had he planned it that way? She wouldn’t put it past him, because the effect was absolutely beautiful against her skin. And part of the point of Shibari was the artist quality of the bondage.

She moaned at how good it felt and looked, and at the fact that Master Griffin was the one who made her feel this way—the only one who had ever made her feel this way.

“You look so fucking beautiful, Kenna,” he ground out as he secured her wrists to her ankles, and then her elbows to the soft spots behind her knees. “There.” He rose and walked around her, and just his observation made her breathe harder, faster. What did he see when he looked at her? Did he see the beauty of his work? Or did he see the damaged woman who’d come home from war?

Focus.

“Now it’s time for the suspension, little one. Once I start lifting you, just give in to the motion.”

“Yes, Sir,” she said, her voice breathy, her pussy already wet with her need.

She concentrated on her breathing and the music and the sounds Master Griffin was making. She couldn’t see what he was doing with the ropes behind her back and the pulley system he’d lowered from the ceiling, so she didn’t concern herself with it, she just gave herself over to what was about to happen, even though she didn’t know exactly what that was.

And then she rose into the air…

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Michel’s Review

Laura Kaye’s new series, Blasphemy, is more than BDSM romance. It’s a true emotional experience. Laura has created dynamic characters that touch the readers hearts. She delves into their psyche, as well as their emotional conditions and delivers an honest insight into their motivations for choosing a lifestyle in the Blasphemy series. This series is not about a BDSM sex , it’s about the members searching for completion within themselves. They are surrendering more than their bodies and controlling more than sexual needs. They are gaining control of their lives outside of their club roles.

Bound To Submit is a second chance romance for Master Griffin and Kenna Sloane. In their previous relationship mistakes were made that left them both with regrets. As they moved forward in their individual lives their personal experiences molded them into different people. Now they are in each others lives for very different reasons. For Kenna it’s gaining control in her life. Being a submissive isn’t completely about giving control to someone else with complete trust, it is a total exercise of complete control that allows the individual to completely let go and find release in the mind as well as the body. For Kenna it is therapeutic and healing.

Master Griffin had regrets when he let Kenna go. Now that Kenna is back in his life, he sees the differences in her entire being and is completely in tune with what she needs. What he realizes is that he needs her as much as she needs him.

Kenna and Griffin’s relationship is sizzling hot. I felt every moment this couple experienced together.

Although I am not a fan of BDSM romance, I felt Laura Kaye did a wonderful job writing Bound To Submit. She packed a powerful and emotional story in a BDSM club setting that showcased the characters rather than the scenes.

I can’t wait to see what’s next in the Blasphemy series.

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“A searingly sexy story with some of the hottest scenes I’ve read in a long, long time. Laura Kaye shows her mastery of the BDSM world. I’m eagerly anticipating more in this bold new series!“

~ Cherise Sinclair, NYT Bestselling Author of the Masters of the Shadowlands Series

“Smoldering and sexy, Laura Kaye’s Blasphemy series is everything I look for in a romance. Haunted heroes and strong heroines populate this one of a kind club and I can’t wait to see the big bad Doms fall one by one.”

~ Lexi Blake, NYT Bestselling Author of the Masters and Mercenaries Series

Meet the Masters of Blasphemy in Hard to Serve, now available in paperback and ebook

About Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty-five books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense, including the Hard Ink and Raven Riders series. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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New Release + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: The Bachelor Auction by Rachel Van Dyken – The Bachelors of Arizona Series – Book 1

Posted on 10/11/2016 by shellbellereads

Are you ready to Meet Brock Wellington?

*****

The Bachelor Auction

The Bachelors of Arizona Series- Book 1

By Rachel Van Dyken

Release Date: October 4, 2016

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

Synopsis

Jane isn’t entirely sure that Cinderella got such a raw deal. Sure, she had a rough start, but didn’t she eventually land a prince and a happily-ever-after? Meanwhile, Jane is busy waiting on her demanding, entitled sisters, running her cleaning business, and . . . yep, not a prince in sight. Until a party and a broken shoe incident leave Jane wondering if princes—or at least, a certain deliciously hunky billionaire—maybe do exist.

Except Brock Wellington isn’t anyone’s dream guy. Hell, a prince would never agree to be auctioned off in marriage to the highest bidder. Or act like an arrogant jerk—even if it was just a façade. Now, as Brock is waiting for the auction chopping block, he figures it’s karmic retribution that he’s tempted by a sexy, sassy woman he can’t have. But while they can’t have a fairy-tale ending, maybe they can indulge in a little bit of fantasy . .

Excerpt

“Bentley!” Brock barked and shook his head.

“What?” Bentley shrugged then smoothly walked over to Jane and pulled out a box of black high-heeled pumps in a size eight and a half. “Your foot, milady?”

Brock rolled his eyes. “Give it a rest, Bentley. She can put on her own damn shoes.”

Bentley completely ignored him. “I love a woman’s foot.” He grabbed Jane’s broken shoe and tossed it to the side while his hands danced along the arch of her foot. His fingertips danced along her skin. Seduction by foot rub? That was new.

“It’s sexy, the arch.” He leaned over her, his lips parting just enough to give her the impression he was thinking about kissing her. “The curve of a woman’s foot reminds me of her body…see? Sexy.” He slid the shoe on a very terrified looking Jane and stood. “Perfect fit.”

Jane’s mouth opened then closed as a rosy flush crept over her face. “Th-thank you.”

“I bought you my favorite brand.”

Her eyebrows arched. How did he know about Manolo Blahnik? “Oh.” And then she nodded and said loudly, “Ohhhh! That makes sense!”

Bentley’s eyes narrowed. “Me buying women’s shoes?”

“You wearing them,” she explained. “That’s great. I mean, good for you. I’m sorry I’m so awkward at things like this, but it’s good you’re…you know…” She bobbed her head and sputtered. “Out and…comfortable with it.”

“Out?” Bentley repeated. “I’m confused.”

“Of the closet,” she said slowly then saw the scowl on Bentley’s face. “Or maybe you just like to dress like a woman?” She straightened her shoulders and tried again. “In either case, congratulations on your choice to wear women’s clothing!”

Brock about died laughing as Bentley’s horrified expression went from stunned to genuine confusion.

“You heard her.” Brock held his laughter in check. “Congratulations, brother. I’ll take care of the press release: Bachelor Playboy Bentley Wellington and his private women’s shoe collection.”

Bentley let out a strangled laugh. “Yes, and while we’re at it why don’t we remind the press that the clock is ticking on that auction of yours? Hmm?”

“Auction?” Jane asked.

“Don’t.” Brock shook his head. “You don’t want to know.”

“But she probably already does.” Bentley pointed out. “Unless she doesn’t read the news…?”

They both stared at her, waiting for an answer.

“I, uh…” She ducked her head, blushing again. “I read books.”

“How pure.” Bentley smiled and sat down next to her. “And just so we’re clear.” He leaned in as though he was going to kiss her. “My bat only swings one way…and I can assure you, every time I get thrown a pitch, I hit it out of the park.”

Michel’s Review

Looking for a fun loving, romp roaring fun fairy tale? Do you love Cinderella? Would you like to see Prince Charming a little bit flawed with a set of younger, crazy twin brothers that make his life more difficult. Rather than having the kingdom handed to him, he has to be auctioned off the highest bidding princess. Yet when he meets his Cinderella not only does she come with two evil sisters but also an evil Cock and a magical mule.

Brock Wellington has always been the yes man in his family. His grandfather has decided that it is time for him to marry and show the board members and investors that the Wellingtons are stable businessmen. His other two grandsons are not ready to take on the responsibility. Brock is ready but doesn’t want a woman changing his life. When he’s forced to become the hottest item on a charity bachelor auction, the press is having a field day. The only thing he can do is hide out at the family ranch.

Jane was hired to get the Wellington ranch in order for the upcoming marriage of the oldest grandson. This is a golden opportunity to make some good money and get away from her spoiled, demanding sisters. It’s like a working vacation until Brock Wellington shows up and interferes with her job. The only thing she can do is work around him. She doesn’t count on him being so charming yet beautifully flawed. Nor did she count on his brothers showing up and playing cupid. Dealing with three Wellington men can make a woman crazy. Their crazy pets are much easier to deal with.

Jane and Brock find love in a hopeless situation. She is a real life Cinderella, the poor girl without a chance. He is the determined Prince Charming. He is going to find Jane her own fairy godmother to help her win him fair and square.

Jane and Brock never realized that Brock’s grandfather was the author of their fairytale romance. He has his own fairy godmother doing her what she does best, meddling in the love lives of the next upcoming generations in the Titus & Wellington families. Grandma Nadine ( from The Bet series) is on the job and working her magic.

This isn’t a Disney movie… it’s Grandpa Wellington’s and Grandma Nadine’s script. Let the fun begin. Look out Wellington twins, the fairy godparents have already waved their wands and set the world into a spin.

Rachel Van Dyken has once again made me laugh and swoon at the same time. This book may not be overly angsty or dramatic, it is a purely delightful romance to lighten your day.

_______________________________________________________

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

*****

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Excerpt Reveal: Between Here And The Horizon by Callie Hart

Posted on 10/10/2016 by shellbellereads

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between-here

Between Here And The Horizon

By Callie Hart

Release Date: October 18 ,2016

Pre Order: Amazon / Amazon UK / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis:

“You think you know me. You think you want to know me. But trust me, Miss Lang. Pursuing me will be the worst mistake you ever make. I’m broken beyond repair…

…and I take great pleasure in breaking everyone else around me.”
Ophelia Lang needs money, and she needs it bad. Her parent’s restaurant is going under, and ever since she lost her job teaching third grade elementary, scraping enough cash together to pay the bills has proven almost impossible. Her parents are on the brink of losing their home. The vultures are circling overhead. So when Ophelia is offered an interview for a well-paid private tutoring gig in New York, how can she possibly say no?

Ronan Fletcher is far from the overweight, balding businessman Ophelia expected him to be. He’s young, handsome, and wealthy beyond all reason. He’s also perhaps the coldest, rudest person she’s ever met, and has a mean streak in him a mile and a half wide. A hundred grand is a lot of money, however, and if tolerating his frosty temperament, his erratic mood swings and whatever else he throws at her means she’ll get paid, then that is what Ophelia will do.

Her new boss is keeping secrets, though. Awful, terrible secrets.

The ghosts of Ronan Fletcher’s past are about to turn Ophelia’s future upside down, and she can’t even see it coming.

between-here-and-the-horizon-teaser-excerpt

Excerpt

The door flew open before I’d even had a chance to climb out of the car, and he stood there, one hand resting on his stomach, the other braced against the door jamb, staring at me with the wide-eyed look of someone about to encounter aliens for the first time.

“What the fuck?” he mouthed.

“You tell me,” I mouthed back. I didn’t want to get out of the car now that I’d seen the shitty expression on his face. His hair was crazy, standing on end, and his jaw was marked with dark stubble that made him look both unkempt and well put together at the same time somehow. He was wearing a tight, gray, long-sleeved shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and yet another pair of scruffy black jeans. He was pale and there were shadows under his eyes, which made him look haunted.

Slowly, still pressing one hand to his stomach, he hobbled out of the doorway and came and stood in front of the driver’s side door, looking at me through the window. When I didn’t buzz down the window, he lifted his hand and rapped a knuckle against the glass.

Didn’t really seem like I had much of a choice after that. Down the window went. He considered me for a moment, considered the car in general, then said, “I don’t suppose…that this is a coincidence?”

“You left your meds at the center.”

He turned and walked away. “I’m not taking that shit.”

“It’s pain medication, Fletcher. They wouldn’t have prescribed it to you if they didn’t think you needed it.”

“I don’t need it. How do you know they’re pain meds anyway?” Slowing, he looked back over his shoulder, frowning. “You been snooping in my shit?”

“I was surprised they weren’t anti-psychotics actually,” I snapped. “And no, I wasn’t snooping in your shit. Gale offered up the information before she handed over the bag.”

“Ha! Gale.”

“Yeah. Your girlfriend isn’t the brightest bulb in the box, huh?” I got out of the car and followed after him.

“You know all too well she isn’t my girlfriend.”

“You implied it.”

“Which doesn’t mean anything, really, does it?”

“Why are those signs stacked up by the side of the house, Fletcher?”

“To stop nosy busybodies from showing up at my place, unannounced.” Stopping at his front door, he turned and barred the entrance with one arm. “Shame. Didn’t seem to work in this particular instance, did it?”

“I’m just trying to do the Good Samaritan bit, you asshole.”

“I’m not a Christian.”

“What?”

“The Good Samaritan. He was from the bible, right?”

“You don’t need to be a Christian to be a good person.”

“I’m sure it helps. Look, it’s fucking freezing and I have four cracked ribs. Can we please do this some other time?”

Over his shoulder, I could see a room in disarray, and a television on a stack of books, its screen turned to static. White noise popped and crackled, rustling low. I should have just left. I shouldn’t have come in the first place; as soon as I’d found out he’d refused treatment at the medical center and gone home, I should have left him to his own devices. But he looked terrible. A clammy looking sweat had broken out across his forehead, and his hands were shaking. He hadn’t taken any of his damn pain medication, and now he was telling me he had four broken ribs. God, how the hell was I meant to just drive away now? It would be easy enough to do. It’d feel great slamming the car door and speeding off, leaving him behind in the dust. I wouldn’t get further than a mile before the guilt set in, and I had to turn back, though.

“Damn it, Sully. Just let me inside so I can fix you up with something to eat and something warm to drink. Set my mind at ease. Then I’ll be on my way, I promise.”

Sully cocked his head to one side. His breathing was shallow. Shallower than it should have been. “You’re quite the little do-gooder, aren’t you? What was the chick’s name from The Sound of Music again? The nun that wouldn’t quit that infernal singing? You know, the one who saved those children from the Nazis? You’re just like her. So…sunny.” He used the word as if it were an insult.

I folded my arms across my chest. “I’m nothing like her. Can we please just go inside? You’re right, it is freezing, and I don’t feel like catching hypothermia right now.”

Both his eyebrows lifted at once. “That’s funny.”

Okay, so that was a pretty dumb thing to say on my part, but there was no need for him to be such an ass. “Fletcher. Come on. Please.” Lord, I was begging him to let me inside his house so I could take care of him? How had this come about? Really, it categorically, absolutely made zero sense.

He sighed, allowing his arm to fall. “All right. You can come in. On two conditions.”

“Which are?”

“If you step foot inside my house, do not even think about trying to tidy anything. Move one book, one plate, one mug, and you’ll be back out of the door quicker than you can say supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”

He looked so damned pleased with himself that I couldn’t help wipe the smile from his face. “That’s from Mary Poppins, not The Sound of Music.”

“I don’t care what it’s from. You mess with my shit, you’re gone. Copy?”

I held my hands up. “Fine. I won’t tidy.”

“Second condition. There won’t be any of that hot tea bullshit. If you’re coming in here, you’re drinking whiskey.”

“What? Why am I drinking whiskey?”

“Because I’m drinking whiskey. And that’s just the way it is.”

“I have to drive.”

He shrugged. “Take it or leave it, Lang.”

How much would it hurt him if I jabbed him in the ribcage right now? A lot, probably. Enough to make him behave himself? I wasn’t going to hold my breath. “Okay. Fine. Whatever. Just let me inside already. My feet are going numb.”

This was going to be a disaster.

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_________________________________

Meet Callie Hart:

Callie Hart.jpg
Callie Hart is an obsessive romantic who loves throwing a dark twist into her stories. Her characters are imperfect, flawed individuals who dictate when she eats, sleeps and breathes. Callie’s Internationally Bestselling Blood & Roses series has garnered well over 1000 5 star reviews.

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between-here

Release Blitz + Review: Touching Down by Nicole Williams

Posted on 10/10/2016 by shellbellereads

Touching Down

By Nicole Williams

Release Date: October 9, 2016

Buy: Amazon / Amazon UK /Amazon CA / Amazon AU

Synopsis

The whole world might be in love with him. But all he’s ever loved is her.

Grant Turner’s name is synonymous with football. The fans and media can’t get enough of the player known as The Invincible Man, a nickname he earned while growing up in one of the toughest neighborhoods in the country and the nickname he’s kept by being one of the best players in professional football today. No one can take him down. He’s unstoppable.

But even a suit of armor has its weak point, and Grant’s has always been Ryan Hale.
They were a couple of kids when they fell in love, and just when it looked like the happy ending neither expected was within reach, Ryan disappeared. No explanations. No good-byes.

Grant coped by throwing himself into the game for seven years, and he’s finally moved on. Or so he thinks.

When she walks back into his life, all of those feelings come crashing back, despite the warnings in his head that tell him she’ll leave him again. Grant can withstand the league’s toughest defensive line, but he’s always been weak where she’s concerned.

No man can take Grant Turner down.

But one woman certainly can.

One woman will.

_____________________________________

Excerpt

How had I gotten here?
That was the question still cycling through my head when I heard the shower turn off. In the minute that followed, I did everything I could not to think about what was behind that closed bathroom door. What being a wet and naked Grant Turner.
What being the only man I’d ever loved and the only man I ever would. My life felt like it was ending, but his was only really getting started. There’d be more for him, despite whatever he said or thought. There’d be love, heartache, and more love. For Grant, I would be one of the many. For me, he was the one of them all.
When the bathroom door opened, a fog of steam burst into the bedroom. It wasn’t a plume; it was a thick fog.
“Do you have any skin left after that scalding shower?” I asked, turning toward the dresser so my back was to the bathroom. Grant fresh from a shower had always been a weakness for me, and I guessed nothing about that had changed.
“I don’t know. What do you think?”
I saw him from the corner of my eyes, standing beside me. When my gaze shifted to confirm whether he had or had not scalded off his skin, my breath caught.
“Why are you naked?” I blinked a few times to keep my eyes facing north. It was a chore though. I felt as though two metal weights dangled from my eyeballs and were trying to draw them downward.
Grant chuckled, pulling open the bottom drawer. “I’m not naked.”
“Why are you mostly naked?” When the fight against gravity became too much and my eyes dropped below his navel, I literally felt flames licking up my throat. Fuck me. That man had always had an amazing body, but now . . . I knew women who’d auction off their souls for a chance to be entertained by a body like that for a night.
“Because I figured you wouldn’t prefer the alternative of me being fully naked.” Grant pinched at the white towel tied around his waist as he pulled a pair of light grey sweats from the drawer. “But since I can tell from your shock I was wrong, what the hell.” In one flick of a finger, the towel fell to the floor.
“Grant!” It came out as more of a shriek than I’d intended, but he was standing two feet in front of me, fully naked.
“What?” His voice was innocent, but his smirk was the opposite. “Nothing you haven’t seen before.” His muscles rippled when he shrugged, tugging on his sweats. “Just seven years older is all.”
When he turned to pick up his abandoned towel, I got the full view of his back which, like this, looked as wide as the span of my arms.
“And seven years bigger,” I muttered, still unable to believe he’d just bared it all like that. Actually, the more I thought about it, I shouldn’t have been so shocked. Grant wasn’t exactly modest.
Glancing back at me, he winked. “Why thank you. Glad you noticed.”
When I caught what he was getting at, heat settled beneath my cheeks. “That’s not what I was talking about.”
“Maybe. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t what you were thinking about.” He slid the waistband of his sweats around until he found a comfortable spot. Which happened to be a good half foot below his navel.
“In your hurry to make me uncomfortable, you forgot to put on underwear.” I flattened my expression to give the impression that I was not half as shook up as he thought I was.
The truth was, I was probably twice as shook up as he thought.
“I don’t believe in them,” he said simply.
“You don’t believe in what? Underwear?” I felt my forehead crease.
“I’m anti-underwear.”
“Anti-underwear?”
“You know how some people are anti-gun or anti-abortion? Well, I’m anti-underwear,” he explained with a shrug. “But are you?”
My arms folded and I looked across the room. “Am I what?”
“Uncomfortable?” He moved a step closer, when he’d already been five steps too close.
Now, it wasn’t just the image of him clouding my mind. It was the way he smelled. The sound of his breath. The feel of the warmth cascading off of his body.
Sealing my eyes closed, I focused. I imagined the most Zen, peaceful place on the planet. “No,” I said as firmly as I was capable.
“Liar.” I heard the twisted smile in his voice. After a moment, I felt him move closer. “Why do I make you uncomfortable? I never used to.”
My eyes opened right into his. As dark as Grant’s eyes were, a person would never notice the flecks of light in them if they didn’t get close enough to see them. Up close, his eyes were more light than dark.
“You don’t make me uncomfortable.” I could hear the lie in my voice like it was a shout.
One by one, Grant’s hands formed around the outsides of my elbows, his fingers circling around my arms. His body pressed closer until his chest touched mine each time he inhaled. “Then why are you trembling?” His head dropped, his mouth moving just outside of my ear. “Why do I make you uncomfortable, Ryan?”
His voice, his body. His words, his touch. He was wrecking my resolve, one moment at a time, until I could feel the last of it about to crumble.
“It’s been a long day, Grant.”
“It has.” His head nodded beside mine. “Let’s keep up this trend and make it a long night too.”
My heart started to echo in my eardrums as a growing ache pulsed inside me.
“We should get to bed.” My voice was trembling now too.
“We should.” His head dropped lower to my neck. He took in a long breath, like he was trying to take me inside him. “Yours or mine?”
Despite my resolve, I smiled. “They’re all yours technically.”
“They’re whatever you want them to be just as long a you say which one you want me to carry you into. Or feel free to point in the general area too. I can figure it out.”

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Michel’s Review

Nicole Williams is one of those authors that has a gift of delivering an emotional story with complete compassion. She gives the readers the right kinds of information that validates the characters emotional journey. Once again she has written a story that touches the heart.

Without giving too many spoilers I will give a brief review. Grant and Ryan came from a horrendous background. They grew up in a violent and dangerous world. Their only reprieve was each other. Just as they are on the brink of their adult future Ryan disappears without a trace. Seven years later she is back but it may be too late.

From the bitterness to the passion, Grant and Ryan will fight for their love. Their lives are on the line this time and there is someone else depending on them.

I highly recommend reading Touching Down by Nicole Williams.

Nicole Williams is the New York Times and USATODAY bestselling author of contemporary and young adult romance, including the Crash and Lost & Found series. Her books have been published by HarperTeen and Simon & Schuster in both domestic and foreign markets, while she continues to self-publish additional titles. She is working on a new YA series with Crown Books (a division of Random House) as well. She loves romance, from the sweet to the steamy, and writes stories about characters in search of their happily even after. She grew up surrounded by books and plans on writing until the day she dies, even if it’s just for her own personal enjoyment. She still buys paperbacks because she’s all nostalgic like that, but her kindle never goes neglected for too long. When not writing, she spends her time with her husband and daughter, and whatever time’s left over she’s forced to fit too many hobbies into too little time.

Nicole is represented by Jane Dystel, of Dystel and Goderich Literary Agency.

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Excerpt Reveal: Better Love by Daisy Prescott – Wingmen Series- Book 4

Posted on 10/10/2016 by shellbellereads

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Today we are revealing an excerpt for BETTER LOVE by Daisy Prescott that is releasing on November 1st. This book is a standalone, romantic comedy, and it is the 4th book in the Wingmen series. Check out the exclusive pre-order link on iBooks for BETTER LOVE and links for the previous books in the series!

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BETTER LOVE by Daisy Prescott
Releasing November 1, 2016 (Wingmen, #4)

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BOOK BLURB:

Maybe that old song got it right.

Maybe love can be better the second time around.

When one of my wingmen needs help, I’ll do anything for him, including calling in a favor with the one person I swore I’d never speak to again.

Not after I walked away from that life five years ago and ditched the trappings of my success. The keyword being trap.

I left it all behind.

Including her.

Now the ambitious, brilliant, talented, and undeniably beautiful Roslyn Porter is back in my life. I’m not the same person she knew. I’m trying to be a better man.

No man is an island, but Dan Ashland comes close. He’s content with his quiet life on Whidbey, a world away from the rat race on the other side of the ferry.

Dan has three great loves in his life: solitude, pizza, and Roslyn Porter.

Better Love is a standalone second chance romance featuring Dan Ashland and the fourth book in the Wingmen series.

——–

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In the end, I agreed to help out with the Naked Whidbey calendar.

For a good cause. How could I say no?

I lied to myself it wasn’t to see Roslyn again.

Most definitely wasn’t motivated by testing her reactions to me being naked.

Not that I’d be full frontal in front of Cari or anyone else.

Unlike a few of the other “models,” I wasn’t an exhibitionist.

Still.

I wanted to know if she’d show up.

If she’d ogle or look away.

I needed to know if I could get a reaction out of her.

If I could crack her professional facade.

I had to know if somewhere beneath her armor, I could still make her heart beat a little faster.

We scheduled the shoot for early on a Sunday when the restaurant would be closed. Cari kept talking about the morning light and a golden hour. Whatever that meant. All I knew was Erik promised to bring coffee. Lots of coffee.

Once the lighting and her camera had been set up, Cari shooed everyone from the kitchen before instructing me to disrobe. The heat from the brick oven warmed my chest and arms. I’d suggested the apron around my waist for the “more is less” approach.

When I fired up the oven, I’d made a few prop pizzas, not knowing how much of the pizza man persona Cari wanted or needed for the photo.

I stood with the pizza peel in one hand and my back to the camera, following her commands to shift and change my position for maximum… something.

I felt the cold air hit my backside when the door opened.

“Sorry, I’m late! I missed the ferry by three cars and had to wait for the next … bo …oat.” Roslyn’s voice sputtered out on the last word, turning it into two syllables. “Ohmygod. I didn’t mean to walk in on the shoot. I—“

A loud crash followed her words then a few soft bumps of a body hitting a chair and possibly a wall. Metal screeching from chair legs scraping across the cement floor and the soft splash of liquid hitting the ground rounded out the symphony of sounds before I turned around.

Beyond the bright studio lights set up behind me, I couldn’t make out more than silhouettes. Shading my eyes, I blinked into the dimmer light beyond the camera.

“Everything okay back there?”

Cari let loose a loud cackle. “That’s what happens when you show up late.”

Muffled words barely carried to where I stood, thankful for the apron slung low around my waist.

I waited for a sign nothing had been broken or damaged in the tornado of Roslyn’s arrival.

“It’s fine. We’re all fine. Everything’s okay,” Roslyn’s shaky and definitely not normal voice called out. “Carry on with what you were doing. I’m going to crawl outside and find a quiet place to die.”

“Don’t go on my account.” I stepped away from the oven, feeling a little bit like a hospital patient whose gown didn’t close in the back. “Don’t hurt yourself. I’m not even naked. More like pantsless and breaking a slew of health codes.”

————–

PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES

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CONFESSIONS OF A REFORMED TOM CAT (Wingmen, #2)

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ANYTHING BUT LOVE (Wingmen, #3)

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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

USA Today Bestselling Author Daisy Prescott writes romantic comedies about real love.

Her Modern Love Stories feature characters in their thirties and forties finding and rediscovering love in unexpected and humorous ways. Her Wingmen books star regular guys who often have beards, drive trucks, and love deeply once they fall.

Born and raised in San Diego, Daisy currently lives in a real life Stars Hollow in the Boston suburbs with her husband and an imaginary house goat. When not writing about herself in the third person, Daisy can be found traveling, gardening, baking, or lost in a good book.

To learn more about Daisy and her writing, sign up for her mailing list here (copy and paste this link): http://smarturl.it/daisysignup . Send her an email at: daisyauthor AT gmail DOT com Or chat with her on Twitter (@daisy_prescott) and Facebook: /daisyprescottauthorpage, and follow her on Instagram: /daisyprescott

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Going Down Fast (Billionaire Bad Boys Book 2) by Carly Phillips

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Decadent… Sensual… Forbidden…

12 Masters. 12 Desires. 12 Fantasies Come to Life. Meet the Masters of Blasphemy…

About Bound to Submit:

From the ruins of an abandoned church comes Baltimore’s hottest and most exclusive BDSM club. Twelve Masters. Infinite fantasies. Welcome to Blasphemy…

He thinks he caused her pain, but she knows he’s the only one who can heal her…

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“A searingly sexy story with some of the hottest scenes I’ve read in a long, long time. Laura Kaye shows her mastery of the BDSM world. I’m eagerly anticipating more in this bold new series!“

~ Cherise Sinclair, NYT Bestselling Author of the Masters of the Shadowlands Series

“Smoldering and sexy, Laura Kaye’s Blasphemy series is everything I look for in a romance. Haunted heroes and strong heroines populate this one of a kind club and I can’t wait to see the big bad Doms fall one by one.”

~ Lexi Blake, NYT Bestselling Author of the Masters and Mercenaries Series

Meet the Masters of Blasphemy in Hard to Serve, now available in paperback and ebook

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BETTER LOVE by Daisy Prescott Releasing November 1, 2016 (Wingmen, #4)

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——–

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PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES

Get READY TO FALL (Wingmen #1) for FREE!

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | B&N

CONFESSIONS OF A REFORMED TOM CAT (Wingmen, #2)

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ANYTHING BUT LOVE (Wingmen, #3)

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***Rising StormWebsite | Facebook |Twitter | 1001 Dark Nights | Rising Storm* on Goodreads**

12 Masters. 12 Desires. 12 Fantasies Come to Life.
Meet the Masters of Blasphemy…

BETTER LOVE by Daisy Prescott
Releasing November 1, 2016 (Wingmen, #4)

AUTHOR LINKS:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Newsletter