Latest Release + 5 Star Review + Giveaway : The Dance by Alison G. Bailey

Posted on 05/19/2016 by shellbellereads

Photographer: Abigail Marie, Non Pa’Reil Photography

The Dance is the story of what happens after the happily ever.

Bryson Walker stumbled heart first into the steady rhythm of her life, never questioning whether other possibilities existed. She had been Will’s girl since their junior year in high school, followed him to college, and married him soon after graduation.

In every respect, they were a loving and successful couple, until a series of missteps shattered all of Bryson’s truths. Maybe their life was nothing more than smoke and mirrors. A performance that was never based in reality.

Hart was barely an acquaintance. He and Bryson shared one brief moment during senior prom, full of friction and heat that ignited a spark. But that night Bryson walked away and Hart let her go.

Years later, twisted fate brings Bryson and Hart together again, causing her to wonder if this is her second chance at once in a lifetime.

Buy : Amazon

Robin’s Review

I have enjoyed reading novels written by Alison G. Bailey since the day I picked up Present Perfect back in 2013. Although Bailey writes contemporary romance and new adult novels, her writing has recently taken on a multifaceted aspect. Bailey has been tackling some difficult topics, and she seems to do it with grace. Part women’s fiction, part contemporary romance, The Dance is a story about what occurs after Bryson Forsyth has her happily ever after. I should also note that Will Forsyth and Hart Mitchell each play a huge role in The Dance, and it’s just as much their story as it is Bryson’s.

We are introduced to Bryson when she is in high school. She’s been dating Will for a couple of years, and although he’s not the most attentive boyfriend, she just assumes Will is her future. It doesn’t even occur to Bryson that there might be someone better for her. While Will is hanging out with his friends at Prom, Bryson is alone, wandering the halls of the aquarium. Hart finds Bryson alone in a dark room, where the two of them share a quiet, romantic dance before her best friend steals her away. In the end, Bryson settles for Will, although she never forgets the dance she shared with Hart.

Character growth is one of the very best features of The Dance. Alison Bailey REALLY excelled in this area! Bryson, Will, and even Hart – each of these characters grow by leaps and bounds! Early in this story, I struggled with Bryson and Will. Bryson came across as weak – someone who allows her spouse to dictate her life. Will demeans Bryson without recourse. He is controlling and unsupportive of Bryson’s dreams. BUT, Bryson’s relationship with Will is very important to this story. Bailey wants us to see these characters at their low points, to understand just how bad things are in their marriage, so we can really see them grow as individuals.

Bailey starts to work her magic, and it begins with Hart! I was very intrigued by Hart and Bryson’s attraction to him. What a fantastic character! I soaked up every moment they spent together. I loved their honesty with one another, Hart’s support of Bryson, his patience with Bryson. Their relationship is so special – it was a joy for me to read their dialogue!

Slowly Bryson comes out of her shell. She grows as an individual, gains self-confidence, stands up for herself, and dares to chase her dreams! I was pleasantly surprised by the turn of this story – I ended up LOVING Bryson, Hart is a fantastic book boyfriend, and I found forgiveness in my heart for Will! The development of these characters felt completely natural with the events that transpired. The Dance is one of the best overall examples of character development that I can remember.

I experienced a wide range of emotions while reading The Dance. I felt joy, I smiled and laughed. I cried tears of sadness, felt extreme anger and frustration. I found myself completely absorbed in this story. The Dance was an extremely vivid reading experience for me! My heart felt incredibly full after finishing this 2016 favorite, and when the last page was turned, I still wanted more! Alison G. Bailey earns a 5-star rating from me for The Dance!

the Dance

Prologue

I stood in front of the glass wall, mesmerized. The fake sunlight shimmered down through the water, bouncing off the yellow, green, and pink coral. The blue glow of the tank gave the dimly lit nook a mystical dreamy feel.

The prom committee had pulled off an epic feat this year. Instead of having the dance in our gross school gym it was being held at the new state-of-the-art aquarium downtown. Once the student committee agreed, Megan Sims, head cheerleader and overly developed youth, was given the task of presenting the new location idea to the faculty advisor, Mr. Hall. During the meeting, as Megan waxed poetic about riding the waves of hope out into the ocean of the future, she hoisted her massive boobs up to meet Mr. Hall’s sightline. Three seconds into Megan’s spiel the dude was so titnotized that he would have offered up his first born in order to pay the rental fee.

At first, I had my doubts about spending my final prom at the aquarium. The fishy décor didn’t exactly scream romance, but I had to admit, it was pretty cool. The dance was in Ballroom A, which opened up onto a huge deck facing the Charleston harbor. Inside three giant purple octopus chandeliers hung down from the ceiling, casting cool shadows on the walls covered in varying shades of blue. Big white coral sculptures were at the four corners of the room. Tables draped in white linen with candles and seashell centerpieces outlined the room, leaving a huge space in the middle for dancing.

I was born and raised in Charleston, SC. I attended Winthrop University and graduated with a major in Theater. While at school I began writing one-act plays, which I later produced. My debut novel, Present Perfect, landed on Amazon’s Best Seller List and appeared on many “Best Reads of 2013” Book Blogs. The novel won Best Book at the 2014 Indie Romance Convention Awards. My second novel, Past Imperfect, was published in February of 2014 and appeared on several best books of 2014 lists as well. Presently Perfect, the third and final book in The “Perfect” series was released in Dec 2014 to rave reviews. In March 2015 all the love, swoon, heat, and angst were combined into the Perfect Series Box Set. My fourth novel, Stop!, released in June 2015, becoming a bestseller in YA/Teen category.

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Latest Release and 5 Star Review : Sway by Adriana Locke

Posted on 05/19/2016 by shellbellereads

Title: Sway

Series: Landry Family #1

Author: Adriana Locke

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: May 16, 2016

Blurb

BARRETT LANDRY has it all.
Power, prestige, and plenty of women, the dapper politician’s life is pretty phenomenal. But in the midst of the biggest campaign of his life, he needs to focus. The last thing he can afford is a distraction. ALISON BAKER is a work-in-progress.
As a single mother to HUXLEY, she’s rebuilding life on her terms. She’s focused on family, faith, and a future for her son that can’t be taken away. Putting her child first means not being careless, no matter what.A chance encounter forces Barrett and Alison to redefine what they really want out of life. But everything comes at a cost … and sometimes, even for love, it’s a price too steep to pay.

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Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK

Excerpt

“I want a chance to win you over,” he breathes, peering at me. The way his eyes search mine make it seem like time stands still. “Will you let me try?”

He forces a swallow and the look of hesitation, the internal fight he’s having, isn’t lost on me. It’s there, right beneath the surface, and when I add my concerns to the mix, it’s enough to make me balk. Just a bit.

“I’ll think about it,” I whisper, holding on to the little strand of courage I have left.

“Say yes.”

Instead of responding, I ask, “Where’d you get that scar over your right eye?” I reach out and press gently on the raised skin. I expect him to pull back, but he doesn’t.

My hand shakes as I touch his warmed skin. His forehead is silky and smooth. I’d like to run my hands over every inch of it, feel it ripple beneath my fingertips.

The corner of his lips twitch. “Lincoln hit me in the head with a baseball.”

“Bad reflexes on your part?”

“Wicked curveball on his,” he says, his face breaking out into a full smile.

“I thought he played center field?”

“He does. But he pitched some growing up.”

We stand inches apart, my hand gently brushing down the side of his face. Although I feel like he’d stand here all night and talk to me, it’s not possible.

“I really need to get back to work,” I say, trying to unlock my eyes from his.

“Dinner? This week?”

I can barely resist the look in his eye, the one that implores me to say yes. The one that makes me believe he really does want to have dinner and spend a few hours with me.

I need to get away, put some space between us while I can.

“We ran into each other tonight,” I shrug. “If we’re supposed to see each other again, then I guess we will.” I start to turn away before I completely buckle under his gaze.

“How am I supposed to get ahold of you? I don’t have your number,” he calls after me.

Heading up the steps to the Savannah Room, I glance at him over my shoulder. “You’re the Mayor. Figure it out.”

5Star

Tracey’s Review

Well, Adriana Locke has gone and done it again, written a book that I have fallen completely in love with. Every time she releases a new book, I think, ‘Oh, my gosh, this is my favorite, I just love it so much!’ And then, she writes another one, and it happens all over again.

I have to say that Max Quinn from THE PERCEPTION held my heart for a very long time, with his constancy, and his sweet Southern sexiness. What wasn’t to like? But, folks, I’ve gotta tell you, Adriana has written a man that will completely give Max a run for his money, because Barrett Landry is here, and, oh, my word.

Barrett Landry, mayor of Savannah, GA, is everything you’d expect a successful Southern politico to be. Rich, sexy, a true ladies’ man, he’s enjoying all of the perks of his position, and living a pretty sweet life. Alison Baker, once married to a powerful man herself, knows what a life in the spotlight is like, and has come away with less-than-positive experience. Now all she wants is to make a good life for her son and herself, far from the notoriety that once followed her. When a chance encounter brings Barrett and Alison into each others’ sphere, life as they each know it takes an unexpected turn.

SWAY is thoughtfully crafted, and instilled with Adriana’s signature focus on family. Each member of the Landry family, along with Alison’s family and friends, bring personality, humor, and, most importantly, unswerving support, to both Barrett and Alison, and Huxley, Ali’s son, had my heart from his first scene. There are plenty of distinctly unlikable characters, as well, which just adds to the political intrigue that runs throughout the story.

I am absolutely in love with this story, and with the relationship between Barrett and Ali. He is completely swoon-worthy, made even more so by his utter commitment to making things work with Ali. Although the differences between them say that they shouldn’t, the two of them just work, and it’s pure pleasure experiencing it along with them.

“What if this is all wrong?” I ask.
“What if it’s all right?”
“What if we mess this up a million different ways?”
“What if we nail it every way we go at it?” he smirks.
“What if you decide you hate me?”
He laughs, kissing me on the nose.
“What if you decide you’re going to love me forever? Because that, Ms. Baker, is what I’m going to make sure happens.”

Seeing Barrett aspire to become the man that he truly is at heart, and watching the relationship between the two of them unfold, moved SWAY firmly into one of the top spots of my favorite Adriana books, and one of the most enjoyable I’ve read recently. 5 sweet, sexy, ‘I love a man that knows what he wants’ stars for this one. I cannot wait for the rest of the Landrys to get their turn, and will have each book at the top of my TBR.

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

____________________________________________

Author Bio

USA Today Bestselling author Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, Adriana has created her own.

She resides in the Midwest with her husband, sons, and two dogs. She spends a large amount of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. You can find her outside if the weather’s nice and there’s always a piece of candy in her pocket.

For sneak peeks, giveaways, and more, please join Adriana’s Facebook Group, Books by Adriana Locke, or her Goodreads group, All Locked Up.

Author Links

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Review: Rekindled by C. J. McKella

Posted on 05/18/2016 by shellbellereads

About Rekindled:

Callie

When I left, I never planned on looking back.
Walking away from the only boy I’d ever loved,
I thought I was making the right decision.
For me.
For us.
I was wrong.
Now I’m back, and the past is too much.
Tate Corbin is no longer the sweet boy next door,
But rather a man who hates me.

Tate

When she left, she took a piece of me.
A piece that had always belonged to her, and I knew—
I knew I’d never get over losing her, never get through the pain alone.
But I moved on—never thought I’d care again,
About her.
About us.
I was wrong.
Now, Callie Winters is back
And I can’t let go, I can’t step away.

Now only one question remains:
Will our love be rekindled? Or will it go down in flames?

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Exclusive Excerpt:

He grins at me and takes a step closer, reaching out for my hand and pulling it to his lips, kissing my knuckles. “Callie, I’m sorry,” he says, his breath feathering across my skin. “I didn’t mean what I said that day, back at the stadium.”

“Then why did you say it?”

He sighs and closes his eyes. “Because I’m an idiot. I saw that guy in his fancy suit with his expensive watch and gelled hair, and I was jealous. I looked at him and all I could see was Zach, and I panicked. You deserve the moon and the stars, and I’m never going to be that guy who can give you all those things.”

“Tate, I don’t need someone to buy me pretty things. I had that, and you know what I learned? That it’s a very lonely existence. I had more jewelry than I knew what to do with, more shoes than I could wear in a month, but you know what I didn’t have? I didn’t have someone to share my day with as we lay in bed. I didn’t have someone whose kisses breathed life into my soul, and who made me feel alive.”

“And do you have that now?” he asks as he leans forward and rests his forehead against mine, his lips just millimeters away from my own. “Do you have someone who makes your heart want to keep beating?”

“I think I’m getting there. This guy I’m sort of dating is pretty incredible. You’d like him, he’s a smokejumper and a mechanic, and a pretty damn good kisser.”

“Only pretty good?”

“Eh, I’ve had better.”

“Is that so? We’ll see about that.”

His fingers fly out and grip the edges of my robe, pulling me closer to him as his lips press into mine. He nips at my bottom lip with his teeth and a moan slips out as my lips part, letting his tongue tease mine. Our tongues move against each other as my hands rake through his hair while pressing myself against his body, needing to be close to him. He smells like smoke and aftershave and it’s taking all my resolve not to rip off all this clothes and straddle him here on the kitchen floor. He pulls my bottom lip into his mouth and sucks on it making my head dizzy with need. When he pulls away, I whimper and I see a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes. His kisses set my heart on fire, and it’s the most delicious burn I’ve ever known.

Tracey’s Review

Once upon a time, Callie Winters and Tate Corbin were inseparable. Best friends forever, they were two halves of a whole. But life happened, and drove a wedge between them, and words spoken in anger led to broken hearts and years apart. But when Callie’s happily every after ended up being not quite what she was expecting, she returns to the one place that truly feels like home, hoping to clear her mind and heal her heart. When the person that still holds the key to her heart makes a reappearance, Callie will learn that some flames never go out.

I’m always pleasantly surprised when an author’s debut novel ends up being a book that is engaging and well-written. REKINDLED is C.J. McKella’s first book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. As a fan of the second-chance love story, I was hooked on Callie’s and Tate’s story from the first chapter. Not only was there a great back story between the two of them, but both Callie and Tate were well-developed characters, with stories of their own that had evolved over the seven-year period that they had been apart. C.J. also does a nice job with the supporting characters, and with the suspense that builds during the course of the book, making sure that everything is resolved in a realistic and satisfying way.

When you take on an author that you’ve never read, there is always the risk of the unknown, but C.J. has made her mark with REKINDLED, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future (I wouldn’t mind seeing Caleb, Callie’s brother, get a book of his own, maybe with Mari, so, C.J., if you’re reading this, help a girl out.). 4 stars for this suspenseful, romantic, plenty steamy read, one that you should definitely add to your TBR.

***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***
About Author:

C.J. McKella is a romance writer living beneath the hot Arizona sun with her husband and their cat, Kaylie. She devotes her days to working, and her nights writing, allowing the characters in her head to come to life. When not working or writing, she can be found reading, binge-watching Netflix, or playing video games. A romantic at heart, she has a love for stories, and all things ending in happily ever after.

C.J. McKella loves to meet new people. Stop by and say hello!

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/authorcjmckella

Goodreads Link for Rekindled: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29564641

Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: Wicked Heart by Leisa Raven – StarCrossed Series

Posted on 05/18/2016 by shellbellereads

Wicked Heart

StarCrossed Series

By Leisa Rayven

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

The one guy she can’t have is the one she can’t forget.

Liam Quinn is one of the biggest movie stars in the world…and the only man Elissa Holt has ever truly loved.

After being out of her life for six years, he and his gorgeous fiancé are set to star in the new Broadway show Elissa is stage managing. The only trouble is, when late night rehearsals bring Elissa and Liam together, the line between what is and what could have been gets blurred. Now one moment of weakness is about to create a scandal that will echo around the world.

Elissa knows that falling for Liam again would be a tragedy in the making, but as any good romantic knows, love doesn’t always follow the script.

_____________________________

Excerpt

FOOL ME ONCE

Present Day

Pier 23 Rehearsal Rooms

New York City

Tingles up my spine. Blood hot and fast beneath my skin.

Goddammit. This isn’t good.

Why is this still happening to me after all these years?

I’m not a girl who swoons easily. I’m really not. If I were to describe myself I’d say I was passionate but logical, fiery but methodical, spontaneous but organized. All of these traits might seem like contradictions, but they make me a damn good stage manager, and I’m not too humble to say that at the age of twenty-five, I’m one of the most respected show runners on Broadway. Producers know they can depend on me to stay calm in a crisis. I run my shows with military precision, and I demand strict professionalism from everyone, especially myself.

My rules for a stress-free work environment are nonnegotiable: Treat everyone with respect, be firm but fair, and do not ever get romantically involved with someone in the show I’m running. For most of my career, I’ve had no problem following my own rules, but there is one thing that can derail my equilibrium in one fell swoop.

Well, not so much one thing as one person.

Liam Quinn.

As I sit in the private cinema with my production team and watch the shirtless man on the screen take down an overwhelming number of enemies, I’m embarrassed by how hot my skin feels. How my breathing is shallow, and my thighs are pressed together. How I drink in every angle of his face and body. How I thrill to the flex of every perfect muscle.

But even more than that, I’m embarrassed how the passion of his performance makes me fantasize about doing passionate things to him. Not just sexual things, but they’re certainly high on the list.

To put it simply, he makes me swoon like it’s his damn job.

He’s the only man who’s ever affected me like this, and it’s safe to say I hold it against him. It’s inconvenient and rude.

He runs toward the gorgeous redhead on the screen and pulls her into a passionate embrace. The redhead is Angel Bell—recent cover model for People’s “Most Beautiful Women in the Known Universe” and basic all-round Goddess. Perfect body. Perfect boobs. Perfect face. She’s playing a seraph princess. Liam is her scorching-hot demon slave. They’ve just about destroyed the world trying to be together, and now Liam’s kissing her like he’ll die if he doesn’t.

Goddamn, that man can kiss.

I cross my legs and sigh. This is insane.

I’m not against being aroused in general, but being aroused by this particular man is a recipe for disaster. The last time I let myself have these feelings for him, it didn’t end well.

I feel a hand on my arm and turn to see one of Broadway’s most respected directors, Marco Fiori, leaning over. His eyes are bright with excitement, and it’s clear I’m not the only one who’s noticed Liam’s … assets.

“Quite the specimen, isn’t he?” Marco whispers.

I shrug. “If you like that sort of thing, I suppose.” My raging hormones scream that we do like that sort of thing. We like it a whole helluva lot.

The only trouble is, we can’t like it, because Liam’s an actor, and we don’t date actors. Also, in a few weeks, I’ll be his stage manager. Also, he’s engaged to his gorgeous costar.

Oh, and perhaps the most important reason is, once upon a time, we had a short but passionate-as-hell relationship and I’ve never recovered.

Somehow, I’ve managed to lock away the heartache he caused, possibly because I blame myself as much as I blame him. But the desire? That’s still roaming free, storming through my composure like a bull in a china shop.

Yep.

This is going to be an interesting project. It will be a miracle if my professionalism and I make it out alive.

______________________________

Robin’s Review

It’s been awhile – a year, in fact – since I immersed myself into the theatrical world of the Starcrossed series. For an author so new to publishing, Leisa Rayven REALLY impressed me with her debut novel, Bad Romeo! Along with writing that was exceptional, what I remember the most about reading Bad Romeo and Broken Juliet is the passion – how the energy between Ethan Holt and Cassie Taylor seemed to leap off of the page. Rayven is now releasing Wicked Heart, the third novel of her Starcrossed series, with the primary characters of this contemporary romance being Elissa Holt, sister of Ethan Holt, and Hollywood actor Liam Quinn.

Liam Quinn has his own Hollywood success story – a superstar who seemed to turn up out of nowhere, but Elissa Holt is all too aware of his humble beginnings. That’s because Liam’s acting career began on Broadway with a theatre production of Romeo and Juliet. When they met, Liam told Elissa he worked in construction, but then he showed up at tryouts for Romeo. Although it was Liam’s first audition to be an actor, his was the best by far, and he was given the role.

From the beginning, Elissa warned Liam that she doesn’t date actors – they have a bad habit of leaving her for the costar – but her warning didn’t discourage him. Liam relentlessly pursued Elissa for the duration of the show, then left for Hollywood to pursue an acting career, leaving Elissa with a broken heart.

Fast forward six years to the present, where Liam and his fiancé, actress Angel Bell, are cast in the Broadway production of Taming of the Shrew, a production where Elissa just so happens to be the stage manager. She now has to endure the daily presence of Hollywood’s golden couple, and Liam is the only man Elissa has ever loved. Oh, how the wicked heart wants what it wants.

Just as she did in Bad Romeo, Rayven was outstanding in translating the attraction, the sexual tension between Liam and Elissa, to page. His relentless pursuit. Her steadfast denial of something she knows will hurt her in the end. The buildup of their attraction is steady and full of angst. But when Elissa finally relents, gives in to what her heart really desires, Liam and Elissa share something special that will mark them both forever. THIS SCENE. I felt the intense power of their connection in this scene – a testiment to great writing. And because Wicked Heart is narrated from Elissa’s first person point of view, we are able experience her heartbreak over their separation. Although the flashback chapters are minimal, they really are key in driving this story forward.

Although Wicked Heart is the third book of a series, it can definitely be read as a standalone. I know love triangles are not a popular theme among readers of contemporary romance, but EVERYONE should give Wicked Heart a chance. There is so much more to this story than what you see on the surface, and it’s worth it. I promise. Wicked Heart is dramatic, sexy, and somewhat humorous. The friendships, the interactions between characters are entertaining. Rayven keeps the dialogue light in places, and although Wicked Heart can be angsty at times, I found myself laughing out loud on many occasions! In summary, Wicked Heart is another quality, 5-star novel from Leisa Rayven. I absolutely enjoyed this 2016 favorite, and I’m already looking forward to her next novel!

_________________________________

About Leisa Rayven

Writing has always been a passion for Leisa, and even though she originally intended to be an actress, it wasn’t long into her time at drama school that she began writing plays.

Those plays were bad. Very bad. Well, her friends thought they were good, but that’s because they were always cast in them and any opportunity to be on stage was met with an obnoxious amount of enthusiasm.

Since then, she’s honed her craft, and several of her plays have been produced and toured throughout Australia.

These days, playwriting has given way to fiction writing, and Leisa’s debut novel, BAD ROMEO, will be available in a worldwide release through Macmillan Publishing in December 2014.

Leisa lives in Australia with her husband, two little boys, three cats, and a kangaroo named Howard.

(Howard may or may not be her imaginary marsupial friend. Everyone should have one.

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Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: Smut by Karina Halle

Posted on 05/16/2016 by shellbellereads

What happens when the kink between the pages leads to heat between the sheets?

All Blake Crawford wants is to pass his creative writing course, get his university degree and take over his dad’s ailing family business. What Amanda Newland wants is to graduate at the top of her class, as well as finally finish her novel and prove to her family that writing is a respectful career.

What Blake and Amanda don’t want is to be paired up with each other for their final project but that’s exactly what they both get when they’re forced to collaborate on a writing piece. Since Amanda thinks Blake is a pushy asshole (with a panty-melting smirk and British accent) and Blake thinks Amanda has a stick up her ass (though it’s brilliant ass), they fight tooth and nail until they discover they write well together. They also might find each other really attractive, but that’s neither here nor there.

When their writing project turns out to be a success, the two of them decide to start up a secret partnership together using a pen name, infiltrating the self-publishing market in the lucrative genre of erotica. Naturally, with so much heat and passion between the pages, it’s not long before their dirty words become a dirty reality. Sure, they still fight a lot but at least there’s make-up sex now.

But even as they start to fall hard for each other, will their burgeoning relationship survive if their scandalous secret is exposed or are happily-ever-afters just a work of fiction?

iTunes | Nook | Kobo

She holds my gaze for a moment and something passes over her. Regret, maybe. Then she nods. “Sit down. Let’s work.”
And so we do. And for the first time in a long time, it’s strained. I’m about to suggest maybe we need the Estonian vodka anyway when she lets out an exasperated sigh over something she’s reading.
It happens to be something I wrote.
“What?” I ask, wondering what I did wrong.
She gives me the the ‘are you kidding me?’look. “Okay, I was ignoring it earlier but I think you need to get a grip on some of this shit. This simply does not happen.”
“Explain, please.”
“I just think it’s unrealistic for there to be so much talking, let alone the fact that the first time they do it it’s in a public place.”
“Too much talking?”
“Yeah.” she scans over the document. “You know, give me your cock, oh you feel so good, harder, harder, you’re so big, fuck me harder big boy.”
“Have you even had good sex?” I ask incredulously.
She flinches. “Of course I have. And it’s none of your business.”
“We’re writing about sex. It’s completely my business. I’m not letting you interject your edits based on your personal experiences about sex because believe me, if the sex is good, you’re moaning my name.”
She raises her chin. “Maybe all those girls were faking it.”
Oh, brilliant.
“Excuse me?” I say, hands pressed against the table, nearly getting out of my chair. “You have no idea. I pride myself in giving a girl as many bloody orgasms as she can handle.”
“Bloody orgasms don’t sound like fun,” she jokes softly.
“They can be if you’re into knife play,” I tell her, even though that’s not exactly what I meant. Still, she scrunches up her nose. “Don’t knock it until you try it, but that’s neither here nor there. When you were with Alan, he must have made you come at least a few times.”
If he didn’t, I feel like finding the guy and showing him a thing or two for wasting four years of her life.
“Yeah,” she says flatly.
“And in the middle of that orgasm, didn’t you want to yell a few things?”
“Sometimes.”
“And why didn’t you?”
She looks at her nails as if they’re suddenly fascinating. “It didn’t seem right. It was…too intimate. I would have felt dumb. He didn’t like any of that stuff.”
The plot thickens. “Any of what stuff?”
“Sex that didn’t involve the missionary position or the bed.”
My mouth drops open. My brain and penis can’t compute this. “I feel so sorry for you.”
We must remedy this.
She glares at me. “It’s not like I didn’t want to do it. I did. And he did try it. Most of it. But it always went back to the same old.”
I knew it. She’s a nerd on the streets and a freak in the sheets.
“I don’t mean to brag,” I tell her in all seriousness. “But you do realize that I could give you an orgasm in thirty seconds.”
Her eyes widen. I can’t tell if she’s horrified or intrigued. “I don’t believe you and I don’t want you to try.”
She’s not getting it. I frown, trying to explain. “If you’re having good sex and it’s with someone you’re comfortable with, you won’t worry about holding back. You’ll cry out all the nonsense you want, you’ll make noises like a pig and scream like you’re on fire because you truly can’t have a good orgasm unless you’re letting go on all accounts.” I lean back in my chair and study her, running my fingers along my jaw. “I would venture that every time you came with your ex, you were only experiencing half of what you should have been. How is it with your vibrators?”
I expect her to tell me to fuck off, that I’m getting too personal but to my surprise she gives me a small smile. “It’s better. But I do have a roommate with exceptionally good hearing.” She clears her throat. “Anyway, so I guess I’m wrong. The heroine can make all the noise she wants.”
“And have first time sex in public.”
“I don’t know…”
“Believe me, when you finally get a chance to fuck, you don’t care where it is. That’s why I always have a condom in my pocket. And the more public the sex, the sneakier you have to be, the hotter it is.”
“But in the book you would never get caught.”
“You don’t always get caught in real life too.”
I can see she wants to ask me where I’ve done it but she loses her nerve. “Okay.” She looks back to the document. “I accept defeat.”
But I don’t want her to. I want to prove to her I’m right and not have her take my word.
Is there a non-creepy way to show her just how amazing good sex can feel? I’m thinking not.
Or…maybe there is.

Michel’s Review

In Karina Halle’s latest release, Smut,the readers get to experience the behind the scenes (or should I say pages) how a novel comes to life on the pages. From character development to plot development and getting the right words takes more than most people would think. In the novel Smut, Karina Halle created the dynamic writing team of Blake Crawford and Amanda Newland. What started out as a final assignment in their creative writing turned into a lucrative indie writing team. First they had to get past the hate and misconceptions about one another. Next they had to reveal their inner most thoughts and learn how to put them in words that blended both of their creative minds. Next they had to have the courage to take the next step. The next step is to take their writing team to another level and become paid authors. The most lucrative genre in the indie ebook publishing is erotica. Erotica is neither of their choices in writing but they want to make money and become published authors. It’s a step towards their true writing aspirations. Finding the courage to become successful authors in a field outside of their interest takes a multitude of compromise and beers. Becoming a successful selling author becomes more than a business plan and pushing the publish button. It takes research, research, and more research. Together Blake and Amanda take on the challenge. They do hands on research and write one of the hottest eroitca novel on Amazon. Who knew research was so much fun? Who knew it would lead to friendship and a love beyond their imaginations.

I thoroughly enjoyed Smut by Karina Halle. It was a fun, witty, and sexy book that was extremely entertaining. Karina delivered a light hearted read that any reader of any genre would thoroughly enjoye.

Go and read Smut by Karina Halle!

Karina Halle is a former travel writer and music journalist and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author of The Pact, Racing the Sun, Sins & Needles and over 25 other wild and romantic reads. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and her rescue pup, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.

Halle is represented by the Waxman Leavell Agency and is both self-published and published by Simon & Schuster and Hachette in North America and in the UK.

Hit her up on Instagram at @authorHalle, on Twitter at @MetalBlonde and on Facebook. You can also visit http://www.authorkarinahalle.com and sign up for the newsletter for news, excerpts, previews, private book signing sales and more.

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Release Blitz + Excerpt + Review + Giveaway: Showmance by L. H. Cosway

Posted on 05/16/2016 by shellbellereads

Showmance by L.H Cosway is LIVE!!! #DamonAndRose

♥ BUY THE BOOK ♥

Damon Atwood was Hollywood’s golden boy. Having won an Oscar at the tender age of thirteen, he had the life many could only dream about. But his success came at a price, and after a short but fruitful film career, he chose to live a life of obscurity on a remote Scottish island. Almost a decade later he’s finally ready to make his return, starting with a lead role in a musical on London’s West End.

As a choreographer’s assistant, Rose Taylor has always faded into the background. She watches shows come to life from the side lines, but has never craved the attention of stardom. When rumours begin circulating of Damon’s involvement in her latest gig, she doesn’t predict how she will be thrust into the limelight, nor how the mysterious and strangely introverted man will need her to teach him how to be a star again.

Rose knows that show crushes don’t last. Actors fall for each other during the intensity of a production, often losing themselves in their roles. These kinds of affairs burn bright and then they fade. The question is, should Rose let herself shine with Damon, or guard her heart from being broken after the final curtain call?

“Well now, who’s this?” Julian asked as he slid up off the couch, where he’d been lazily scrolling through his tablet.

I chanced a quick, reassuring peek at Damon before answering my friend. “This is Damon. He’s in the cast.”

Julian groaned as he approached, his chestnut hair sitting messily atop his head. “Oh please, Rose, not another actor.”

I glared at him, trying to channel as much ‘shut the hell up’ into my eyes as possible. My flatmate didn’t really have a censor. A moment of quiet ensued while Julian circled Damon, taking his measure. “You don’t look like an actor.”

The edges of Damon’s mouth twitched for the briefest second. “Thanks.”

“He’s got a sense of humour, too. He’ll go far,” Julian grinned in my direction then sauntered into the kitchen. “I’m starving. Are you cooking dinner?”

“Aren’t I always,” I sighed and then asked Damon if I could take his coat. He shrugged out of it, his eyes not leaving me all the while, and then I went to hang it on the rack by the door. On my return he bent to ask curiously, “Another actor?”

I took a moment to absorb the sensation of his breath hitting my skin. It was…not unpleasant. Julian, who I swear had the hearing of a bat, didn’t miss a beat as he let out an amused chuckle. “Rose has a weakness for those in your profession.”

Damon looked at me in question. I strode over to the breakfast bar, again glaring at my friend. “Yes, well, I’ve sworn off all thespians after the last disaster, so Damon here is safe.”

“What disaster?”

For someone who claimed not to be a big talker, he sure had a lot of questions.

“Ever heard of Blake Winters?” Julian chirped, plucking an apple from the fruit bowl and taking a big bite.

Damon shook his head. Julian scrunched his brows.

“Have you been living under a rock?”

“No, I’ve been living on an island,” said Damon.

Julian cocked his head to the side, as though trying to figure out if he was being sarcastic. “Well, he’s an actor, like you, and he sleeps around. Rose had the great misfortune to have her head turned by the young Mr Winters. He seduced her and then left her in the lurch, the swine,” Julian pouted his lips, effecting a disapproving expression.

“Sounds like an arse,” Damon put in and both Julian and I began laughing.

“I like this one,” said Julian.

I grinned as I thought, yeah, me too, and found myself suddenly blushing.

Robin’s Review

One thing I know I can always count on with author L. H. Cosway: a colorful story with phenomenal characters. Her writing is artistic. Creative. She writes with flair. Once again, Cosway has impressed me with these elements of her writing in her newest novel titled Showmance – a contemporary romance pairing a choreographer’s assistant named Rose Taylor with Damon Atwood, the male lead of a musical production of Moulin Rouge. Showmance is told from alternating first person points of view of both of these characters, as their friendship slowly builds into a sweet and passionate love story.

Like many of this author’s female characters, Rose Taylor is quirky, clever and kind. She lives in London, works as a choreographer’s assistant, teaching dance routines for plays and shows on London’s West End. Rose has always been eager to fall in love – and has a bad tendency to fall for actors. Blake Winters is her most recent love interest, someone she thought she could really trust, but Blake traded her in for someone else after they had sex. He broke her heart, and because of Blake, Rose has sworn off all actors, even opting to take a break from relationships altogether.

Damon Atwood was a childhood actor who has now been absent from Hollywood radar for years. It’s been nearly a decade since Damon disappeared to the Scottish Isle of Skye, but now he’s ready make his return to acting on London’s famed West End. He shows up on the set of Moulin Rouge, where he wows everyone with his singing ability and is cast as the male lead. Right away, Rose can tell Damon is different. Although extremely handsome, Damon is shy, socially awkward, and in desperate need of a friend.

Cosway spices things up with characters Alicia Davidson and Blake Winters. Alicia is the gorgeous, red-headed actress from Los Angeles who is cast to play the role opposite of Damon’s character, and from the beginning, Alicia has her eyes set on Damon. Then, Blake Winters becomes a late addition to the cast, and he feels that he and Rose have unfinished business. The addition of these two characters adds just the right amount of tension to Showmance.

Cosway’s writing is indicative of her experience as an author. It’s excellent in Showmance, flowing nicely from one sentence to the next. She excels in the area of descriptive writing – she has the ability to describe or portray a scene that helps a reader feel he or she is a participant in the story. Just like so many other novels written by this author, there is an undeniable artsy feel to Showmance. Cosway writes with knowledge about dance, music and theater. And finally, one of the things I love to see when I read fiction is character development, and we get plenty of this in Showmance. Damon and Rose – even our secondary characters – show plenty of growth as individuals in this story.

Overall, I feel Showmance earns a 4.5 star rating. Although it’s not my favorite of her many novels, Showmance is entertaining, passionate and enjoyable. L. H. Cosway piqued my interest in Rose’s roommate Julian, and I’m already looking forward to reading his story, hopefully in the near future!

_____________________________

Listen to the amazing playlist on Spotify HERE

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

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

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L.H. Cosway’s SHOWMANCE Release Week Blitz Giveaway

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Surprise Announcement…Coming Soon…A Wildly Seductive Night by Lauren Blakely

Posted on 05/16/2016 by shellbellereads

Lauren’s sexiest couple ever, Julia and Clay, are back!

That’s right! Fans asked and Lauren is delivering!

The one question Lauren has received regularly in the last two years since the publication of ONE MORE NIGHT, the final novel in the Julia and Clay story in the Seductive Nights series, is “Can you please tell us what Julia and Clay are up to now?”

A WILDLY SEDUCTIVE NIGHT is the answer to that reader request!

Lauren’s hottest and most passionate couple ever, Julia and Clay, return in this brand new novella! Set a few years after the end of ONE MORE NIGHT, this new novella answers the question of what if your fantasy becomes your reality?

What if all your nights were seductive?

What if your life with that sexy, handsome man turned into one deliciously dirty fairytale?

Cocktails, dirty talk and one fantastically filthy fairytale in a brand new novella for Lauren Blakely’s sexiest couple ever, Julia and Clay, in A Wildly Seductive Night.

Come inside the world of Seductive Nights for a glimpse at a dirty, naughty, seductive happily ever after in A WILDLY SEDUCTIVE NIGHT on June 14^th!

A WILDLY SEDUCTIVE NIGHT - cover

Once upon a time there was a very happy couple who had wild, hot, passionate, seductive nights every day, and every night. But that’s not all they had between them. They had love, and trust, and respect. He adored her and treated her like a queen, and he also f*&ked her like a porn star. She was so very good to him, and made his life complete. Their sexy marriage was the stuff dirty fairytales were made of. But there was one thing they didn’t have. One thing they both secretly wanted. One thing better than pearls…

A WILDLY SEDUCTIVE NIGHT is 99 cents to preorder across all retailers, but this price WILL GO UP to $2.99 on release day, June 14th!

So snap up this sexy novella on preorder everywhere now!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | iBooks | Barnes & Noble

Kobo | Google Play | Paperback | Amazon CA

**And be sure to check out the new look for the Julia and Clay books in the NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SEDUCTIVE NIGHTS SERIES…**

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NIGHT AFTER NIGHT

AFTER THIS NIGHT - cover

AFTER THIS NIGHT

ONE MORE NIGHT - cover

ONE MORE NIGHT

If you’re new to the Julia and Clay books, you can find NIGHT AFTER NIGHT, AFTER THIS NIGHT, and ONE MORE NIGHT here.

ABOUT LAUREN BLAKELY:

Since self-publishing her debut romance novel CAUGHT UP IN US three years ago, Lauren Blakely has sold more than 1 million books. She is known for her sexy contemporary romance style that’s full of heat, heart and humor. A devout fan of cake and canines, Lauren has plotted entire novels while walking her four-legged friends. She lives in California with her family. With ten New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than forty times. Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love, and Fighting Fire as well as standalone romantic comedies like BIG ROCK and MISTER O, which were both instant New York Times Bestsellers. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter at laurenblakely.com/newsletter.

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Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: Turn It Up by Kim Karr – The Detroit Love Duet – Book 2

Posted on 05/16/2016 by shellbellereads

Turn It Up

The Detroit Love Duet – Book 2

By Kim Karr

Release Date: May 16,2016

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

Synopsis

Charlotte Lane was the tomboy who lived next door.

Eyes the color of the summer sky.

Mounds of curly blond hair.

A little bit of sassy and a whole lot of sweet.

She was my best friend. My confidant. My salvation.

But when circumstances tore us apart, it put more than just miles between us. I hated her. Blamed her for my worst nightmare. And I never wanted to see her again.

Then one wrong turn brought her back into my life and now she’s under my skin. In the midst of all the chaos surrounding us, she’s what’s changing me. Practically bringing me to my knees. Driving me to want to be a better man.

But nothing is ever easy.

And as our worlds begin to crumble…so do we.

Our bond withstood the test of time, but when the future brings the unexpected, it will either draw us closer or tear us apart.

Can we weather the storm?

Excerpt

Jasper Storm

What kind of person willingly drives a thirty-six-foot racing machine at breakneck speed through ten-foot waves?

The kind that isn’t put off by the possibility of smashing his nose against the steering wheel if he has to come to an abrupt stop when racing around the track—that’s who.

Today though, Lake St. Clair tops out with uninhibiting two-foot waves at the most, and my speed is tempered by the amount of passengers on board.

Classic Beatles is playing from the speakers on deck. Drew is leaning back in the cushions of the wraparound benches behind me with a beer in his hand. Jake and Shannon are sitting up in the sun loungers on the bow, both also with brews in hand.

Sitting at the helm, Charlotte is standing next to me in a simple black bikini that shows so much skin it is driving me crazy, her mounds of blond curls blowing in the wind making my fingers itch to run through them, and her sunglasses preventing me from seeing her blue eyes. I wrap my arm around her and guide her to stand in front of me. “You take the wheel.”

“I haven’t driven a boat in years.”

Standing, I pull her even closer. My board shorts feeling tighter by the second. “It’s like riding a bike.”

Looking over her shoulder at me, she gives me a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’ll give it a try,” she says.

Just that slight touch of her lips ignites a fire that starts to flame through my veins. When she takes the wheel, my body is ablaze. Unable to keep my hands off her, I compromise my need to touch her by covering my hands over hers. The cast prohibiting me from making the full connection I’m craving. I hate that she still bears the mark of her attack. I shove that thought away.

It’s a beautiful day, sunny as fuck and not a cloud in sight. The wind has picked up a little the further out we go, and when the softness of her hair brushes against my neck, it sends a shiver racing down my spine.

Taking a seat in the captain’s chair, I pull her onto my lap. The slight curves of her body fit me perfectly. Unable to compromise any longer, discreetly, my hands roam her body. Sliding down her thighs, up her arms, tucking under the small fabric at her hips. I can’t help myself.

Ten minutes or so goes by as we pass over the water like it’s a sheet of glass. I kiss her—her neck, her throat, her jaw. Take a little nip at her shoulder and then soothe it with my tongue.

Concentrating on driving, I’m surprised when she unexpectedly tips her head back so we can kiss.

The instant douse of arousal I feel is unlike that from the small flirtatious moves I’ve been making. This is full-out sexuality. Our lips meet, softly, gingerly. She’s sitting on my thigh, and her ass is against my cock. She shifts a little and I groan softly against the wet slide of her tongue, and all the muscles in my body knot in sweet tension. The fire in my veins bursts into flames from the slight friction, and all I want is more. The pull and push of the connection we share seems to be growing stronger every time we’re together.

Unlatching her lips from mine, she turns back and focuses on the open water.

She feels it too.

The tightening in my cock, the rapid beat of my pulse, and the taste of her left on my tongue puts me into a state of overdrive. I hold onto her fingers, squeeze them, press my naked chest to her bare back, and try to temper my need for her.

Taking what I can, I then inhale a deep breath. Unable to calm the storm raging inside me, I know I have to take action. This isn’t a storm of conflict, this is one of pure male need. “You have to stand up,” I murmur into her ear.

Again, she tips her head back. “Why?”

“You know why.”

The little vixen shifts a little more and grinds a little harder against my cock.

“Behave,” I growl and quickly stand up, bringing her with me, and then I ease up on the throttle and put the cabin cruiser in neutral.

“What’s going on? Jake asks.

I switch the engine off. “Taking a quick dip,” I tell him as I narrow my eyes at Charlotte.

She shrugs all innocent like.

“Remind me to spank you later,” I whisper in her ear.

Surprisingly, I see a thrill in her eyes.

Waggling my brows at her, my little problem is only growing, so I quickly hop up to the side of the boat and dive into the lake. The water is fucking freezing out this far and just what I need. For now anyway.

Splash. Splash.

Michel’s Review

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Turn It Up by Kim Karr. Set The Pace, the first book in the Detroit Love Duet ended on a huge cliffhanger. I was dying to finish the rest of the story.

Turn It Up should not be read as a stand alone novel. It picks up where Set The Pace left off.

I am not going to go into great detail about Turn It Up because I don’t want to give the readers spoilers for either book. I will say that the Detroit Love duet is a complex romantic suspense that revolves around Detroit and the car industry. It is a murder mystery that spans a 20 year period which includes deaths in the past and deaths in the presence. The mystery of the past was the first negative step in the decline of Detroit City. The recent deaths revolve around the horrific incidents in the past and may affect the future of the City.

Storm Motors is bringing life back to Detroit City. It is the only hope the bankrupt city has. It could bring new industry back to the city. It could revive the declining auto industry. Someone wants to stop Storm Motors from opening it’s doors. Someone wants the secrets to remain buried.

One generation destroyed the city. It destroyed their children. The new generation is living in the aftermath of the destruction. They want to rebuild their city and finally find healing from the past. When bodies start dropping the past is rearing it’s ugly head.

In the midst of all the chaos and excitement, Jasper Storm and Charlotte Lane find each other again. This time around they are adults in control of their own lives. This time around nothing can tear them apart. They will face the monster together and build a strong and hopeful future.

Kim Karr outdid herself with the Detroit Love Duet. I was glued to the pages and deeply invested in the story. The plot was complex, witty, and kept the readers guessing. When all the final revelations are revealed, it leaves the reader reeling.

I highly recommend the Detroit Love Duet by Kim Karr.

_________________________________

The Detroit Love Duet

Set The Pace

The Detroit Love Duet – Book 1

By Kim Karr

Buy : Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Every city needs a hero, but Detroit’s white knight just might be a villain.

A rough childhood branded Jasper Storm trouble. A bad boy. Not worth a damn. His love of cars was the only thing that could battle his delinquency. With the need for speed in his blood, he overcame his wayward ways. Mostly. Now the broken city of Detroit hails him their shining star. And the man behind a new cutting-edge automobile is ready to turn this bankrupt town around.

Charlotte Lane was the tomboy who lived next door. She was his best friend. He was her protector. Then tragedy struck and she disappeared, forever—or so he thought.

Everything Jasper does in life is fast. He talks fast, f*cks fast, and drives fast. But when one reckless turn brings him face-to-face with the childhood he has tried very hard to forget, he finds himself on the edge of wondering if he shouldn’t slow down.

Time hasn’t erased who they are though. Jasper has many reasons to hate Charlotte and keep his distance, which is easier said than done. Soon she’s infiltrating his every thought and he can’t stay away. Back in town with an agenda of her own, she should push him aside. Make him turn around. Walk away herself. Yet she can’t.

With the past lurking between them, they proceed with caution. That is until one sex-filled night leads to murder, and things are forced to change. Now that Detroit’s biggest ally has suddenly become suspect number one, will Charlotte—the girl Jasper once kept safe—be the one to save him?

***

Turn It Up

The Detroit Love Duet – Book 2

By Kim Karr

Release Date: May 16,2016

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

Synopsis

Charlotte Lane was the tomboy who lived next door.

Eyes the color of the summer sky.

Mounds of curly blond hair.

A little bit of sassy and a whole lot of sweet.

She was my best friend. My confidant. My salvation.

But when circumstances tore us apart, it put more than just miles between us. I hated her. Blamed her for my worst nightmare. And I never wanted to see her again.

But nothing is ever easy.

And as our worlds begin to crumble…so do we.

Our bond withstood the test of time, but when the future brings the unexpected, it will either draw us closer or tear us apart.

Can we weather the storm?

********************

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

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Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Sway by Adriana Locke

Posted on 05/16/2016 by shellbellereads

Title: Sway

Series: Landry Family #1

Author: Adriana Locke

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: May 16, 2016

Blurb

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Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK

Excerpt

“I want a chance to win you over,” he breathes, peering at me. The way his eyes search mine make it seem like time stands still. “Will you let me try?”

“I’ll think about it,” I whisper, holding on to the little strand of courage I have left.

“Say yes.”

Instead of responding, I ask, “Where’d you get that scar over your right eye?” I reach out and press gently on the raised skin. I expect him to pull back, but he doesn’t.

My hand shakes as I touch his warmed skin. His forehead is silky and smooth. I’d like to run my hands over every inch of it, feel it ripple beneath my fingertips.

The corner of his lips twitch. “Lincoln hit me in the head with a baseball.”

“Bad reflexes on your part?”

“Wicked curveball on his,” he says, his face breaking out into a full smile.

“I thought he played center field?”

“He does. But he pitched some growing up.”

We stand inches apart, my hand gently brushing down the side of his face. Although I feel like he’d stand here all night and talk to me, it’s not possible.

“I really need to get back to work,” I say, trying to unlock my eyes from his.

“Dinner? This week?”

I can barely resist the look in his eye, the one that implores me to say yes. The one that makes me believe he really does want to have dinner and spend a few hours with me.

I need to get away, put some space between us while I can.

“We ran into each other tonight,” I shrug. “If we’re supposed to see each other again, then I guess we will.” I start to turn away before I completely buckle under his gaze.

“How am I supposed to get ahold of you? I don’t have your number,” he calls after me.

Heading up the steps to the Savannah Room, I glance at him over my shoulder. “You’re the Mayor. Figure it out.”

Tracey’s Review

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

____________________________________________

Author Bio

USA Today Bestselling author Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, Adriana has created her own.

For sneak peeks, giveaways, and more, please join Adriana’s Facebook Group, Books by Adriana Locke, or her Goodreads group, All Locked Up.

Author Links

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Review: Dirty Little Rendezvous by Emma Hart

Posted on 05/14/2016 by shellbellereads

Sometimes the past becomes the present… And he’s hot, cocky, and British.

Leila Burke expected a lot of things when she joined her brothers on tour in Europe. He wasn’t one of them.

Jase Masters had no idea what to expect when he agreed to support Dirty B. on tour. She definitely wasn’t it.

It’s been eighteen months.

He remembers that night a little too well.

She insists she has no idea who he is.

He’s rugged and determined.

She’s wild and free.

Together, they’re a tornado.

Keeping it from touching down is the least of their worries.

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

He’s so close that my eyes shut, but I force them open again, only because I want to see how green his eyes really are when the sun glances over them.
“The British are idiots,” I mumble, unable to form any further words—or any that are more coherent than those.
“Truth. If only because I can taste your lips and I haven’t touched them yet.”
“I think that makes you real—”
He cuts me off by doing exactly what he just mentioned—touching my lips with his. It’s the exact same as this morning, just fresher, almost. Realer. They’re heated from the sun, chilled from the wine we had at the bar around the corner not thirty minutes ago, and…softer.
Softer—yeah.
Hesitant yet somehow forceful.
Unsure yet oddly certain.
Mesmerizing. Consuming.
I grasp his shirt in my hand, wrapping my fingers in the soft material, as he moves closer to me and his other arm snakes around my body. He pulls me against him, and I slide along the wooden seat, my heart thundering in my chest.
I’ve been here for twenty-four hours.
I don’t want to stop.
I don’t want to change this.
I don’t know what’s happening.
I can’t feel my toes because they’re curled so hard. I can’t feel my fingers because they’re gripping him so tight. I can’t feel my lips because I’m kissing him so firmly.
I can’t feel my heart’s beats.
It’s beating too solidly, too firmly, too quickly, too erratically, for me to get a handle on it. My stomach is flipping and my lungs tightening and I swear to god, I’m consumed.
Jase.
Twenty-four hours.
A guy I’ve met once before last night.
And I’m consumed.
I’m scared.
I pull back from him, just our mouths, for just a second, before he pulls me right back in. I’m compelled to continue kissing him, and I wish I weren’t, but it’s as though a year never passed and I’m right back in London with the boy from the coffee shop.
I feel the way I did then. Racing heart when he kisses me, tingling skin when he touches me, butterflying stomach when he looks at me…
Except this is no coffee shop.
This isn’t London.
A year has passed.
And he’s not just a guy trying to figure out lyrics.
Not anymore.
He’s a potential international superstar, loved by possibly millions, obsessed over by far more. His lyrics could be written for him. His music produced for him. His schedule organized for him.
And I’m just a girl living in the shadows of her famous brothers, happy for a quiet life by the beach, where the loudest scream is that of the ocean crashing against the rocks that dare break the perfection of the sand.

Tracey’s Review

Leila Burke knows what it’s like to live in the limelight. As the younger sister of the four members of the Dirty B.’s, she’s seen her brothers and the women in their lives deal with fame, and knows that she wants none of it. Deciding to tag along on the European leg of their latest tour, Leila wants nothing more than to shake up her life a little bit, to revisit the places that she knows and loves. The last thing she’s looking for is to reconnect with the hot British guy that she met on her last trip.

Being asked to open for the Dirty B.’s is no small thing, and Jase Masters doesn’t want to do anything to mess it up. Figuring out that the girl that he, erm, met last year is their younger sister is one heck of a surprise. Figuring out how to keep himself from wanting her is going to be one heck of a job.

I’m fairly new to the Burke Brothers series by author Emma Hart, but I have fallen completely in love with all of the Burkes. Four hot protective older brothers, their girls, who just happen to all be best friends with Leila, the youngest Burke, and each other, and a funny as heck three-year-old make these books a pleasure.

All of the Burkes have gotten their stories in previous books, and now it’s time for Leila to get hers. At twenty-three, she’s fresh out of a boring relationship, has recently parted ways with her employer, and is looking for a change of scenery. Tagging along with her brothers on their tour of France and England seems like just the ticket, until her brothers bring it with their list of ground rules, which promise to make this trip feel sort of like being in prison.

Leila is feisty, sassy, snarky, and so awesome. She knows that reconnecting with Jase will only serve to bring the wrath of the B.’s down upon her, protective guys that they are. But once Leila and Jase begin to spend time together, to really get to know each other, once they’re managing to evade the all-seeing eyes of the Brothers Burke, all bets are off. And, before they know it, their hearts are involved.

It’s not supposed to be this way. It’s supposed to be a chain of late-night dirty little rendezvous after dirty little rendezvous. Secret, forbidden, hidden. Life-changing, earth-shattering, heart-thumping, but in the dirtiest, most delicious, most provocative way.
Not secret, forbidden, or hidden because there’s more to it.
Not life-changing, earth-shattering, or heart-thumping because he’s someone so much more than just a person to warm my bed for an evening.

DIRTY LITTLE RENDEZVOUS is the perfect wrap-up to this series. Sexy, sassy, steamy, with a heavy dose of family, I couldn’t put it down. I happily give this read 4.5 stars, and, if hot rockers and the women that love and handle them expertly are your thing, recommend that you add this one, and the rest of the series, to your TBR.

_________________________________

By day, New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Adult author Emma Hart dons a cape and calls herself Super Mum to two beautiful little monsters. By night, she drops the cape, pours a glass of whatever she fancies – usually wine – and writes books.

Emma is working on Top Secret projects she will share with her followers and fans at every available opportunity. Naturally, all Top Secret projects involve a dashingly hot guy who likes to forget to wear a shirt, a sprinkling (or several) of hold-onto-your-panties hot scenes, and a whole lotta love.

She likes to be busy – unless busy involves doing the dishes, but that seems to be when all the ideas come to life.

the Dance

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What happens when the kink between the pages leads to heat between the sheets?

But even as they start to fall hard for each other, will their burgeoning relationship survive if their scandalous secret is exposed or are happily-ever-afters just a work of fiction?

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Lauren’s sexiest couple ever, Julia and Clay, are back!

That’s right! Fans asked and Lauren is delivering!

The one question Lauren has received regularly in the last two years since the publication of ONE MORE NIGHT, the final novel in the Julia and Clay story in the Seductive Nights series, is “Can you please tell us what Julia and Clay are up to now?”

A WILDLY SEDUCTIVE NIGHT is the answer to that reader request!

Lauren’s hottest and most passionate couple ever, Julia and Clay, return in this brand new novella! Set a few years after the end of ONE MORE NIGHT, this new novella answers the question of what if your fantasy becomes your reality?

What if all your nights were seductive?

What if your life with that sexy, handsome man turned into one deliciously dirty fairytale?

Cocktails, dirty talk and one fantastically filthy fairytale in a brand new novella for Lauren Blakely’s sexiest couple ever, Julia and Clay, in A Wildly Seductive Night.

Come inside the world of Seductive Nights for a glimpse at a dirty, naughty, seductive happily ever after in A WILDLY SEDUCTIVE NIGHT on June 14th!

A WILDLY SEDUCTIVE NIGHT is 99 cents to preorder across all retailers, but this price WILL GO UP to $2.99 on release day, June 14th!

So snap up this sexy novella on preorder everywhere now!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | iBooks | Barnes & Noble

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And be sure to check out the new look for the Julia and Clay books in the NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SEDUCTIVE NIGHTS SERIES…

If you’re new to the Julia and Clay books, you can find NIGHT AFTER NIGHT, AFTER THIS NIGHT, and ONE MORE NIGHT here.

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Sometimes the past becomes the present… And he’s hot, cocky, and British.

Leila Burke expected a lot of things when she joined her brothers on tour in Europe. He wasn’t one of them.

Jase Masters had no idea what to expect when he agreed to support Dirty B. on tour. She definitely wasn’t it.

It’s been eighteen months.

He remembers that night a little too well.

She insists she has no idea who he is.

He’s rugged and determined.

She’s wild and free.

Together, they’re a tornado.

Keeping it from touching down is the least of their worries.

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Come inside the world of Seductive Nights for a glimpse at a dirty, naughty, seductive happily ever after in A WILDLY SEDUCTIVE NIGHT on June 14^th!

**And be sure to check out the new look for the Julia and Clay books in the NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SEDUCTIVE NIGHTS SERIES…**

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