Until You Find Me by Amber Hart…On Sale for Limited Time

Posted on 04/02/2015 by shellbellereads

Until You Find Me

Untamed Series- Book 1

By Amber Hart

UNTIL YOU FIND ME by Amber Hart is on sale for a limited time only – be sure to grab Raven & Jospin’s story now for just .99c!

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes | Kobo

About UNTIL YOU FIND ME:

In this steamy, electrifying novel, Amber Hart pushes contemporary romance to its wildest limits as a young woman travels halfway across the globe—and discovers the place where her heart belongs.

Raven has no idea what to expect when she travels to Africa in search of answers about her family’s past. A twenty-year-old college student from Michigan, she’s never seen anything like the beautiful, treacherous jungles of Cameroon. But nothing takes her breath away like Jospin. As soon as Raven meets the charismatic and intense young hunter, she’s instantly hooked.

Clever, rugged, and fearless, Jospin makes his living from the perils of the jungle. But falling in love with Raven could be the most dangerous thing he’s ever done. The heir to a powerful poaching empire, he holds the key to unlocking the secrets of Raven’s legacy. If she asks the wrong questions, his answers could get them both killed. And yet each and every moment spent holding Raven in his arms is worth the risk.

Raven’s getting closer to the truth. Jospin’s at the point of no return. Their chemistry is out of control, and when they forge a bond that goes beyond blood, desire will take them into uncharted territory.

Author Bio:

Amber Hart grew up in Orlando, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia. She now resides on the Florida coastline with family. When unable to find a book, she can be found writing, daydreaming, or with her toes in the sand. She’s the author of the Before & After series (BEFORE YOU; AFTER US), and the Until You Find Me series (UNTIL YOU FIND ME; CAPTURED BY YOU). Rep’d by Beth Miller of Writers House.

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Happy Release + Giveaway: Against Me by Freya Barker- Cedar Tree Series – Book 3

Posted on 04/01/2015 by shellbellereads

It’s release day for Freya Barker’s Against Me and I am so excited to share this fantastic new romantic suspense with you. Freya is sharing an excerpt with us to celebrate her two day release day launch, as well as her playlist and an amazing giveaway!!

Exclusive Excerpt:

The sound of voices gets louder as I make my way through the now dark guesthouse to the bedroom. Leaning against the doorway into the room, I can just catch the last few sentences exchanged between the women sitting on the big bed. It’s obvious from the tearstained faces that some emotional stuff has gone down and I feel guilt eating at my insides. But then I hear Katie say that me walking out earlier meant I must have regretted what happened between us, I have to set her straight. She can’t be further from the truth and it’s time she knows it.

The moment her head swings around and her eyes meet mine, everything else disappears. I barely notice Emma leaving. In a few steps I reach the bed, lean in and pick Katie up.

“Whoa!” she calls out, scrambling to hold onto my neck. “Whatcha doing?”

“You in my bed means I can’t think, and I’m having a hard enough time thinking around you. We need to set some things straight.” I tell her, trying not to get lost in the feel of her soft body against mine, her subtle scent teasing me and her restless fingers playing against the short bristles in my neck. My dick, however, is a goner, and there is no way to hide it when I sit down on the couch with Katie in my lap.

“Stop squirming, you’re making it worse,”

When she throws me an irritated look I’m glad to see the fire back in her eyes. There she is.

“Okay, enough of the manhandling, Caleb,” Katie bats at my hands as I shift her around so she faces me. The old tank top and shorts she wears as PJs aren’t doing much to cover her and I can’t help the tortured groan that slips from me. Fucking hell, this is gonna be torture, with her nipples poking through the threadbare material. Right in my face.

“What the hell is this? I honestly don’t know whether I’m coming or going with you.”

“Shhhhh, don’t get upset,” I try to settle her before the tears I hear wobbling in her voice start flowing. “I just needed a minute.”

Cupping her face between my hands, I tilt her head so I can look her in the eye. “This I have wanted and waited to do for so long, I need to make sure I don’t miss a thing.”

Her eyes are big and a little uncertain and her lips are perfectly parted when I brush my nose along hers, breathing in the soft pants of her breath. A light brush of my mouth over hers, barely skimming, and then I taste the length of her full bottom lip with my tongue before sucking its plumpness in my mouth. Fucking heaven. Her taste is heaven and I need more. Katie’s fingers rubbing against my scalp is all the encouragement I need and I finally let go of my hunger for her and take her mouth. Jesus. Delicious wet heat meets me when my tongue plunges between her lips. Someone groans… and in the now furious tangle of lips and tongues I can’t tell anymore. I want inside her. In one twist and without my mouth ever leaving hers, I have her below me on the couch, and I’m grinding my painfully throbbing cock between her legs. It isn’t until she wrenches her lips from mine and murmurs, “Caleb…” that I realize I am fucking humping her like some deranged rutting animal. I shoot back upright and move to sit on the coffee table, my head in my hands.

“Fuck!”

Why? Why does she make me lose all control when control has always come so easy?

“Are you gonna walk out of here again?” The amused tone of Katie’s voice tells me she may be a little more attuned to the struggle I’m waging than she was before. “Because, that would seriously mess with my self-esteem, you know; getting rejected based on my abilities for giving head and kissing?”

I throw my head back and laugh. “Oh sweetheart, you couldn’t be further from the truth if you tried.”

Against Me Playlist

Against Me Synopsis:

Patience has always been Caleb Whitetail’s strength. Quiet and unassuming is what you see with the GFI investigator, but the blood boils hot right under the surface. He kept his distance for years only to see the woman who has held his attention almost lose her life not just once, but twice. He is done standing in the shadows.

Katie Acker, once a tough and athletic security specialist now struggles daily to walk. The closest to family she has are her colleagues at GFI. Especially the man who saved her life and always has her back. So when she unwittingly becomes the focus of a Mexican cartel, it’s no big surprise she finds him right by her side.

With the combustive change in their deepening bond, Katie and Caleb do not see the oncoming danger – until it surrounds them.

Buy Links

Against Me:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

Hundred to One:

Slim to None:

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK |Amazon AUS

Freya Barker Bio:

Freya Barker has always loved being creative. From an early age on she danced and sang, doodled, created, cooked, baked, quilted and crafted. Her latest creative outlets were influenced by an ever-present love for reading. First through blogging, then cover art and design, and finally writing.

Born and raised in the Netherlands, she packed her two toddlers, and eight suitcases filled with toys to move to Canada. No stranger to new beginnings, she thrives on them.

With the kids grown and out in the world, Freya is at the ‘prime’ of her life. The body might be a bit ramshackle, but the spirit is high and as adventurous as ever. Something you may see reflected here and there in some of her heroines…. none of who will likely be wilting flowers.

Freya craved reading about ‘real’ people, those who are perhaps less than perfect, but just as deserving of romance, hot monkey sex and some thrills and chills in their lives – So she decided to write about them.

Links:

Enter Freya’s fantastic giveaway!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Release + Two 5 Star Reviews + 2015 Favorite : Where Sea Meets Sky by Karina Halle

Posted on 03/31/2015 by shellbellereads

Where Sea Meets Sky

By Karina Halle

Release Date: March 31, 2015

Publisher: Atria Books

Genre: New Adult

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Synopsis

A new adult novel that perfectly captures the existential angst of your early twenties with raw wit, fresh insight, and true feeling from a critically adored USA TODAY bestselling author.

Joshua Miles has spent his early twenties spinning his wheels. Working dead-end jobs and living at home has left him exhausted and uninspired, with little energy to pursue his passion for graphic art. Until he meets Gemma Henare, a vivacious out-of-towner from New Zealand. What begins as a one-night stand soon becomes a turning point for Josh. He can’t get Gemma out of his head, even after she has left for home, and finds himself throwing caution to the wind for the first time in his life.

It’s not long before Josh is headed to New Zealand with only a backpack, some cash, and Gemma’s name to go on. But when he finally tracks her down, he finds his adventure is only just beginning. Equally infatuated, Gemma leads him on a whirlwind tour across the beautiful country, opening Josh up to life, lust, love, and all the messy heartache in between. Because, when love drags you somewhere, it might never let go—even when you know you have to say goodbye.

Excerpt

“Gemma,” I whisper softly. Before I know what I’m doing, I’m raising her palm to my lips and kissing along her scar. She smells so good, feels even better.

She lets me do it for a moment then she awkwardly clears her throat.

Don’t make me let go, I think. Please don’t make me let go.

The rustle in the bushes is back again. Gemma jerks her hand away, as if we’re about to be caught by Nick the Peeping Tom, as if we’re doing something wrong.

Are we doing something wrong?

Suddenly the air around us fills with squeals, and the rustling increases. The nearest bush to us at the base of the yard, near the fence, starts to move back and forth.

I stand up out of my chair to get a better look and see what looks to be little creatures waddling out of the bushes and heading for the side of the house. Once they hit a patch of light coming from the house, I can see what they are.

Little blue penguins.

“What the fuck?” I say softly, feeling like my mind has just imploded. “What the hell are those?”

“Little blue penguins,” she says proudly.

I turn to her in disbelief. “Are you serious?” I thought I was making that up. In my head.

She nods. “Yup. Little blue penguins.”

And she’s right. They’re about a foot high, miniature versions of the ones I’ve seen on TV, and they’re entirely blue in color. I thought it was just the darkness playing tricks on me but no, once they hit the light, you can see the color on their oily feathers.

“I don’t get it,” I say, watching as the last of their group quickly scampers out of sight. That might have been the cutest and weirdest thing I have ever seen.

“You never head of them?” she asks. “They probably have a burrow under the house. It’s actually quite common for beach houses.”

“Look, I wasn’t lying when I said I didn’t do a whole lot of research about the country.”

“I can see that,” she says. “Well, how about that, then.”

“How about that,” I say, sitting back down. The penguins’ magical appearance has somehow taken Gemma’s heartbreaking story to another place, and she’s quick to jump on the transition. She tells me all about the interesting birdlife in New Zealand, from yellow-eyed penguins on the Otago Peninsula down south, to the Kea—cheeky green parrots that live in the snow-covered Alps. She’s animated as she tells me all she knows, and I absorb it like a sponge.

I drink my beer and she goes back to drinking hers, and before Nick, Amber, and the Irish show up all sloshed, she’s painted a beautiful picture of what’s to come. I can only hope I’ll continue to be part of the picture.

Robin’s Review

I would like to express my appreciation to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review Where Sea Meets Sky.

I am thrilled to be able to share with you about the latest novel from author Karina Halle. It’s called Where Sea Meets Sky, and it’s her first foray into the New Adult genre. Before I even begin discussing the plot or characters, I need discuss the writing. Imagine taking a tour around the country of New Zealand in an orange Volkswagen Bus. Picture the gorgeous Southern Alps and volcanos. Clear blue lakes and white beaches. Glaciers. Unique foliage and wildlife. The sights. Sounds. Smells. Maori culture and language. Where Sea Meets Sky is one of the finest examples of descriptive writing I have ever had the pleasure of reading!

The narrative. This is where Halle blends a beautiful story about two people on the journey of their life with her descriptive style of writing. Halle is unusually creative when she develops a story. Her imagination seems boundless. Whether it be a paranormal horror romance or contemporary romance or romantic suspense, Halle knows how to blend the perfect amount of drama and tension with her trademark descriptive writing which makes her stories so vivid and authentic.

Where Sea Meets Sky is told in first person opposing points of view. Josh Miles is in his twenties. He’s been living with his mother in Vancouver and working dead-end jobs. Josh lacks motivation or energy, and he longs for something he doesn’t understand. Gemma Henare is at the end of a backpacking tour that has taken her across Canada and the United States. She is invited to attend a traditional Halloween party in Vancouver where she meets Josh. Josh and Gemma are naturally comfortable around each other. They have an instant connection when they meet, but Gemma has to return to her native New Zealand following their one-night stand.

After Gemma returns to New Zealand, Josh can’t seem to get her out of his head. She is exotic and full of life. Josh is an aspiring graphic artist. He learns he has been accepted to the art school where he applied, but Josh is also deeply intrigued by the adventure and freedom Gemma experienced on her backpacking trip. Weighing the circumstances of his life, Josh makes an impulsive decision. He quits his job and catches a plane for New Zealand to seek adventure, to search for Gemma, armed with a backpack of his belongings, cash and Gemma’s first name.

This isn’t your typical romance novel. Josh and Gemma are both in the midst of self-discovery as they tour the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Gemma has experienced great loss in her life, and her sense of self-worth is low. She has very low expectations of the people in her life. Josh is completely uninspired until he meets Gemma. He sees something very special in her, so he decides to place his heart in her hands, even when he knows Gemma could destroy him. Where Sea Meets Sky is about taking risks. Self-discovery. Putting your heart on the line.

New Zealand is such an unusual setting for a romance novel. It’s different from the typical settings of Europe or the United States. When I finished reading Where Sea Meets Sky, I was left with a longing to travel to New Zealand. I want to zip-line into the mouth of Waitomo Caves and ride inner tubes on the underground river. I want to hike the Routeburn Track in the Southern Alps. Dive with dolphins. See Franz Josef glacier. Witness the first sunrise of the world at the remote East Cape. If you pick up a copy of Where Sea Meets Sky and begin reading, I can promise you will embark on a journey which will not only appeal to your senses, but will take you far away from the reality of your life. I have read at least twenty-four novels written by Karina Halle, and Where Sea Meets Sky is decidedly one of my favorites. The writing is impeccable, and I absolutely loved this 5-star novel!

Michel’s Review

It is no secret that Karina Halle is one of my favorite authors. She is one of my go to authors and I never miss a book. She is known for her edgy characters, her graphic descriptions that bring her stories to life, her unique plots, perfect sense of timing & delivery, adrenalized action scenes, and red hot romance. Her characters and their stories come to life and jump off the pages. Each and every novel is fresh and unpredictable.The reader lives and breaths the story right along with the characters. It is an incredible gift for a writer to evoke this kind of reading experience. The reader always walks away from a Karina Halle novel with a sense of overwhelming satisfaction. My expectations for Where Sea Meets Sky were very high. I was anxious to see how Karina would deliver a New Adult genre novel when she was well known for romantic suspense and paranormal/ horror romance. I may have set my expectations and hopes too low. Where Sea Meets Sky blew me away. It is Karina’s best writing to date. She reached deep within herself and tapped into an emotional vault that had me floored. She took two ordinary people that had very ordinary issues that they would face at their age and made their story epic. I think every reader will be able to identify with each of these characters on some level that makes it very personal.

We have all reached that path in the road where we question what we are doing with our lives. Is this direction we want to go or is there something else? We have questioned our choices, reflected on our actions, changed our dreams, and struggled along the way. There comes a point where we have to stop the path we are on and look for something different. We have to face our realities, dig deep for our true desires, and then have the courage to change. This is something that every person will experience. It is a natural part of life. It is the one gift as humans that we have. We have the power of choice. We have the opportunity to learn from mistakes. We have the power to change. We have the power to grow mentally and emotionally.

This is where Joshua Miles and Gemma Henare’s story begins. An accidental meeting and one night hook up will lead both of these people down a new road in life. Gemma has been touring the United States and Canada, living moment to moment, searching for the next path to take in her life. She meets Joshua the night before she is going home to New Zealand. Even though they have an incredible night together they both accept the reality of their meeting. For Joshua it is the moment that makes him start to take inventory of his life. He admires Gemma’s bravery to step outside of her life and do something that is just for her. He has never done that. He has always just muddled along and accepted what came his way. He never reached out for something he wanted or had the courage to change the life he was living. This meeting was the kick start to Josh’s road of self discovery. He quits his job, drains his savings account, buys a plane ticket, and heads for New Zealand. He isn’t really looking for Gemma, he is looking for himself. He knows this trip is going to be the defining factor that changes his life.

When Gemma returned to New Zealand she fell into the same rut she was in before she left. She didn’t allow her new experiences to shape and mold her into something different. She doesn’t have the guts to let go of the familiar and grab onto something new. Part of it is her self esteem and the other is the fear of the unknown. When she runs into the sexy Canadian she spent her last night abroad with, a yearning is kick started once again. But what exactly is she yearning?

A road trip through New Zealand in an old VW bus with Josh, her American cousin, Amber, and convient boyfriend Nick will be an adventure of a lifetime and eye opening experience for them all. They will discover their true colors. They will tap into hidden dreams and desires. They will get to know the people that they are. And they will get to experience the natural and beauty of New Zealand.

At the end of the trip, each of these people will be affected in some way. For some it will be life changing, for others it will be the stepping stone, and for some it will be clarification.

I will say that Where Sea Meets Sky is a passionate love story. Although there is a bit of a love triangle, it does not have a sense of betrayal or cheating. It is a discovery of the heart.

Karina’s writing was phenomenal. I felt like I was in the VW bus right along with all the characters. I experienced the beauty of New Zealand in my mind. The emotional journey that this book took touched my soul. I could easily empathize with the characters. I felt the passion and sense of wonder at discovering what true love really is. I laughed, cried , and fretted right along with Josh and Gemma. I sympathized with Amber’s plight.

Where Sea Meets Sky was a rich reading experience. I highly recommend this book.

I am looking forward to Amber’s next fork in the road. Racing The Sun is Amber’s story. It will release on July 28, 2015.

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Racing The Sun

Release Date: July 28, 2015

From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Where Sea Meets Sky comes a new adult novel about a young woman who becomes a nanny in Capri and falls for her charges’ bad-boy brother.

It’s time for twenty-four-year-old Amber MacLean to face the music. After a frivolous six months of backpacking through New Zealand, Australia, and Southeast Asia, she finds herself broke on the Mediterranean without enough money for a plane ticket home to California. There are worse places to be stuck than the gorgeous coastline of southern Italy, but the only job she manages to secure involves teaching English to two of the brattiest children she’s ever met.

It doesn’t help that the children are under the care of their brooding older brother, Italian ex-motorcycle racer Desiderio Larosa. Darkly handsome and oh-so-mysterious, Derio tests Amber’s patience and will at every turn—not to mention her hormones.

But when her position as teacher turns into one as full-time nanny at the crumbling old villa, Amber finds herself growing closer to the enigmatic recluse and soon has to choose between the safety of her life back in the States and the uncertainty of Derio’s closely guarded heart.

Pre Order: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

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Author Bio:

Karina Halle is the New York Times bestselling author of Where Sea Meets Sky, The Pact,Love in English, and other wild and romantic reads. A former travel writer and music journalist, 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.
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + Review : Captive Films: 2.2 – Season Two:Volume 2

Posted on 03/31/2015 by shellbellereads

Captive Films 2.2

Captive Films Serial- Season 2 : Volume 2

Includes Episodes 3 and 4

By Jillian Dodd

Synopsis

In reality TV form, this series follows the lives and loves of those who work at Captive Films.

Hot, successful, playboy Riley Johnson, whose business success far exceeds his success in love.
Movie star, Keatyn Douglas, whose epic love story has spawned a series of books and movies.
And Dawson Johnson, who joins Captive with a tragic past.
Expect lots of drama, sex, and tabloid-worthy events.

Fans of the USA TODAY bestselling series, The Keatyn Chronicles®, will love reconnecting with their favorite characters as adults.

Each Captive Films season contains six episodes, two in each volume.
Think of it as a TV show you hold in your hands!

So tune in and enjoy this week’s drama.

Please note that as the characters have grown up, so have their stories. This contemporary romance is intended for readers 18+.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Captive Films: Season Two- Volume One

Captive Films Serial- Book 2.1

Includes Episodes 1 & 2

By Jillian Dodd

Synopsis

In reality TV form, this series follows the lives and loves of those who work at Captive Films.
Hot, successful, playboy Riley Johnson, whose business success far exceeds his success in love.
Movie star, Keatyn Douglas, whose epic love story has spawned a series of books and movies.
And Dawson Johnson, who joins Captive with a tragic past.
Expect lots of drama, sex, and tabloid-worthy events.

Fans of the USA TODAY bestselling series, The Keatyn Chronicles, will love reconnecting with their favorite characters as adults.
This series is meant for readers 18+.

Buy: Amazon / B &N / ITunes / Google Play

Michel’s Review

Wow… things are heating up for the cast of Captive Films series.

What happened in Vegas did not stay in Vegas. Jobs are on the line. Careers are threatened. Stars are falling. Divorce Papers are in the works. Revelations are being made.

In the middle of it all is Riley Johnson, the sexy hot Captive Films executive. His job is on the line. His career is about to be destroyed because he can’t let go of the past. Rather than face it, move on, and begin a new, he attempts to hide it away with parties, numerous women, and Vegas. Well now it’s time for him to face the music and face himself.

Meanwhile his brother is finally coming out of his rut and beginning to live again. He has found a new purpose and possibly a new love.

Keatyn is the glue holding them all together, but she has her own things going on in her life. She wants to stop the fast lane life and demanding career. She is pregnant and wants to devote her time to her family. But first she has to get her team at Captive Films in order. Not an easy feat.

Again this episode ends on a cliffhanger…but not overly angsty. I think that is coming next.

I am enjoying the Captive Films series and look forward to the next episodes.

Captive Films: Season One

Episodes 1-6

Captive Films Series

By Jillian Dodd

Synopsis

In reality TV form, this series follows the lives and loves of those who work at Captive Films.

Fans of the USA TODAY bestselling series, The Keatyn Chronicles®, will love reconnecting with their favorite characters as adults.

Each Captive Films season contains six episodes, two in each volume.
Think of it as a TV show you hold in your hands!

So tune in and enjoy this week’s drama.

Please note that as the characters have grown up, so have their stories. This contemporary romance is intended for readers 18+.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

—————————————————————————–

Jillian Dodd grew up on a farm in Nebraska, where she developed a love for Midwestern boys and Nebraska football. She has drank from a keg in a cornfield, attended the University of Nebraska, got to pass her candle, and did have a boy ask her to marry him in a bar. She met her own prince in college, and they have two amazing children, a Maltese named Sugar Bear, and two Labrador puppies named Camber Lacy and Cali Lucy. She is the author of the That Boy Trilogy and The Keatyn Chronicles Series.

Stalk Her: Website |Facebook | Twitter |Instagram | Goodreads Pinterest

Happy Release + 5 Star Review : Taz by Andrea Smith – The G-Men Series- Book 4

Posted on 03/31/2015 by shellbellereads

Taz

G Man Series – Book 4

By Andrea Smith

Release Date: March 31, 2015

Buy: Amazon

Synopsis

Taz:

My life is finally perfect. My dreams have all come true. I’m where I want to be with the bureau; having the career I’ve been planning since I did my stint in the military. I’m married to the one and only woman I’ve ever loved; my heart beats for her alone. Together we’ve made beautiful babies that I adore. I’m thirty-three years old and I’m complete.

Then one day, it all changes. Slate recruits me for a temporary assignment that is underneath the radar for a reason. The bureau hasn’t sanctioned it as a priority, but Slate feels it is because of who is involved: Sue Ellen Reynard. Yeah, remember her?

Lindsey:

Our lives were perfect. Taz and I had everything we’d ever hoped for: family, careers and an everlasting devotion to one another. Suddenly nothing is the same. In a single moment, my biggest fear is realized by one phone call from Slate: an ‘agent is missing’.

My agent; my Taz . . .

This is just the beginning of our long journey. Will things ever be the same again?

Buy: Amazon

Excerpt

As soon as the nurse left, I had another visitor.

My wife.

Lindsey.

I hadn’t seen her since the day she’d left in tears and my alleged younger sister had chewed my ass out for my boorish behavior.

“Hey,” I said softly, giving her a smile. Hell, if I could choose only one thing from my past to resurface in my memory it would be anything or everything having to do with her. She was beautiful and it wasn’t hard to see why I’d been drawn to her.

“Trace,” she said, coming over to take a seat in the chair closest to my hospital bed. “You look better than you did the last time I was here.”

Yeah. Trace is my real name. Learned that a week or two ago.

“It’s been awhile,” I replied. “I’m sorry if I scared you off, Lindsey. I’m trying like hell to remember.”

“It’s nothing you can help,” she replied quickly, giving me a weak smile. “All we can do is work with what we have, I suppose.”

She’d brought some photo albums with her. “I thought maybe we could look at some pictures together, that is, if you feel like it.”

“Sure,” I said, “My doctor recommended doing just that.”

“Okay, well let’s start with this one then,” she said, pulling the one from the bottom. “We’ll take this in chronological order, how’s that?”

And she opened the album and began showing me pictures that had been taken five years prior. She pointed out my mother and father, her best friend Darcy who I recognized from her earlier visit with her husband–and my half-brother, Easton. I saw Slate in many of the pictures, along with his wife who was also Lindsey’s mother. Very pretty. I could picture Slate with her.

“How did we meet?” I asked, and noticed a blush cross over her face.

“Well, I knew you because of Mom and Slate–but we actually didn’t get involved with one another until after they got married. I…uh, I kind of got toasted at their reception. You were nice enough to offer me a ride home, and well…I threw up all over your truck.”

I laughed at this and, for some reason, I loved the fact that given the choice, Lindsey could have provided a much more appealing story of how we met and I wouldn’t have known the difference. Yet she put the truth out there, no matter how disgusting it was. “God, I hope I wasn’t an ass about it.”

She laughed too and it was music to my ears. “Not at all. You were actually very sweet about it. You took me back to your place, put me in the shower, gave me some of your clean clothes to wear, insisted I brush my teeth and gargle, and then put me to bed.”

Michel’s Review

Taz is the latest release in the G-Men series by Andrea Smith. I have to say this book took me completely by surprised and rendered me speechless. Andrea did something gutsy, unheard of , and risky. She took this couple to a complete new level. They were already living their HEA. Readers were happy with their story. They were invested in this couple’s journey. This couple built a solid foundation and were living the dream. Then with one stroke of the pen ( or should I say keyboard) Andrea brought their world crumbling down. It was like a tornado whooshing through their life and leaving despair and devastation. The only thing they had to hang onto was the solid foundation they had worked so diligently to build.

The book starts out with Taz going about his normal day. He is reveling in the family he and Lindsey have created. He adores his wife and loves his children. Life is good until he gets one phone call. A phone call that makes him meet Slate for a beer. One sip of beer and his life is changed. He is recruited for a sensitive mission because of his background, his expertise, and the person the FBI is hunting. It will be the beginning of the storm that will tear his life apart. It could ruin his relationship with Lindsey and destroy his family.

Without saying too much more and giving a ton of spoilers away I will say this. Taz said he would of never taken this mission if he knew what was going to happen to his life. He would of walked away. Hindsight is definitely not conducive in this situation. The moment he took this mission the reader had a sense that something was going to go very wrong.

The emotional trauma that all the characters go through is devastating. The destruction of Taz and Lindsey’s life broke my heart. Andrea had the guts to break these very strong people. But they reared their heads and proved to her that they were stronger than what she originally created. They were not going to let her take away their HEA. Instead they redefined the meaning and made it more. They rebuilt their love, reassembled their life, and made their own destiny.

I have to commend Andrea for the bold writing. It takes a talented author to pull this off. I was truly amazed.

I highly recommend Taz by Andrea Smith. Although it is part of the G-Men series, I think a reader new to this series could easily pick this book up and become as involved in the story as the seasoned reader of this series.

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G- Men The Series

Box Set

Buy: Amazon

_____________________________________

About Andrea Smith

I was born and raised in southern Ohio, and with the exception of a brief stint in Dallas, TX, have been an Ohioan most of my life. My dream has always been to write a novel, and back in the early eighties I tried to do just that, having been influenced by authors such as Kathleen Woodiwiss, Johanna Lindsey, Rosemary Rogers and Laurie McBain. I remember writing to all of them through their listed publishers, and the only response I received was from Johanna Lindsey (who lived in Hawaii at the time.

Ms. Lindsey advised me to continue with my dream; and to submit to various publishers again and again. Of course, at that time, publishing e-books yourself was not on the horizon; there were vanity publishing houses of course, but she advised me to avoid those.

So my dream was put on the back-burner for more than 25 years until June of 2012 when suddenly I no longer had a reason not to write a novel. My sons were grown; I found myself without a career (blessedly) and the creative juices flowed once again.

I finished my first novel, “Maybe Baby” in September of 2012; the next two books in the “Baby Series” titled “Baby Love” and “Be My Baby” were published in early 2013. I learned a lot in my first endeavor with self-publishing. I’ve made so many friends as a result that it is over-whelming.

In the spring of 2013, I had an idea for a different type of Alpha, and wrote Book #1 of the “G-Man” Series, titled “Diamond Girl.” This book was well-received, and I followed it with Book #2, “Love Plus One.” These are stand-alone books.

I am finally doing what I love and I sincerely appreciate the wonderful readers who provide feedback and take the time to comment. I hope that with each book, my writing has grown and improved as I strive to publish quality fiction..

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Happy Release + 6 Star Review: The Virgin by Tiffany Reisz – The Original Sinners: White Years – Book 3

Posted on 03/31/2015 by shellbellereads

The Virgin

The Original Sinners Series -The White Years – Book 3

By Tiffany Reisz

Synopsis

The provocative story before the story continues in the critically acclaimed and award-winning series The Original Sinners

For years, Kingsley Edge warned Eleanor the day would come when she, the mistress of a well-respected Catholic priest, would have to run. She always imagined if that day came, she’d be running with Søren. Instead, she’s running from him.

Fearing Søren and Kingsley will use their power and influence to bring her back, Eleanor takes refuge at the one place the men in her life cannot follow. Behind the cloistered gates of the convent where her mother has taken orders, Eleanor hides from the man she loves and hates in equal measure.

With Eleanor gone, the lights have gone out in Kingsley’s kingdom. When he learns the reason she left, he, too, turns his back on Søren and runs. On a beach in Haiti, Kingsley meets Juliette, the one woman who could save him from his sorrows. But only if he can save her first.

Eleanor can hide from Søren but she can’t hide from her true nature. A virginal novice at the abbey sends Eleanor down a path of sexual awakening, but to follow this path means leaving her lover behind, a sacrifice Eleanor refuses to make.

The lure of the forbidden, the temptation to sin and the price of passion have never been higher, and Eleanor and Kingsley will have to pay it if they ever want to go home again.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Kobo / Google Play

Robin’s Review

I would like to express my appreciation to NetGalley and MIRA Books for the opportunity to read and review The Virgin.

When I turned on my Kindle to begin reading The Virgin, I expected a great novel. Tiffany Reisz always writes in a solid and dependable fashion. I agree some of her novels are more enjoyable than others, but I have always found them entertaining. Reisz wholeheartedly captured my attention with this story. My eyes were glued to the pages, and when I finished reading, I couldn’t wait to sit down and begin writing my review. The Virgin has the same magic of The Siren and The Angel, and I absolutely loved it!

For all intents and purposes, I began reading this story blind. I knew we would learn about the year Nora spent at her mother’s convent. I also knew Nora had an affair with a nun while she was staying at the convent, so I expected some sexy time between the two of them. This was, however, the limit to my knowledge of the plot.

If you follow The Original Sinners series, you may have noticed we are missing an important piece to the puzzle. I have read each of the novels in this series, and I have patiently waited for an explanation why Nora would walk away from Soren and Kingsley. Prepare yourself because it’s not just an explanation. You are able to experience what happened between these characters. Tiffany Reisz drops us right into an emotionally charged situation. It could possibly be the crowning moment of this series because what happened between them certainly changed the direction of each of their lives.

Nora and Kingsley and Soren. They have such a rich history together. Throughout the previous six novels of this series, Reisz has sprinkled bits and pieces and segments of their lives, but not necessarily in chronological order. We’ve seen Nora at many different stages of her life. Elle Schreiber in her teenage years. Eleanor as Soren’s submissive. Author of erotic novels, Nora Sutherlin. Professional Dominatrix of the Underground, Mistress Nora. We’ve read about the period of time Kingsley and Soren were lovers in boarding school. We’ve also met Kingsley Edge, the King of the Underground. And my personal favorite is Father Marcus Stearns, Catholic Jesuit Priest.

But in The Virgin, Reisz writes about a period of time we have not yet had the privilege to read about – the events which take place just before The Siren. I finally understand Nora’s state of mind during the early stages of her writing career – when Wes Railey was living with Nora, and she was working for Kingsley as a professional Dominatrix. Nora’s disposition towards Soren during that period of time has always been a mystery to me. And now that I have read The Virgin, everything has become so much clearer. I want to pick up my copy of The Siren and begin rereading the series!

I love Kingsley Edge, but his character has always been more interesting to me when he is with Nora and Soren. So I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reading about Kingsley and Juliette. We have never had the opportunity to read how Kingsley met Juliette before now. We’ve never heard how she became such an important part of his life. The only thing I can tell you is it all goes back to Soren and Eleanor. Kingsley would have never had the opportunity to meet Juliette if the events between him, Nora and Soren had not occurred as they did. Their story is unusual, but I found it lovely.

The Virgin is the seventh novel of The Original Sinners series, and I’m awarding it a 6-star rating. If you have never had the opportunity to read The Siren, the first novel of this series, I highly recommend it. The characters are so compelling, and they each have intriguing backstories. The Original Sinners series is definitely untraditional and erotica at its finest!

________________________________

Author Bio:

Tiffany Reisz lives in Portland, Oregon with her boyfriend (a reformed book reviewer) and two cats (one good, one evil). She graduated with a B.A. in English from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky and is making both her parents and her professors proud by writing BDSM erotica under her real name.

When not under arrest, Tiffany enjoys Latin Dance, Latin Men, and Latin Verbs. She dropped out of a conservative southern seminary in order to pursue her dream of becoming a smut peddler. Johnny Depp’s aunt was her fourth grade teacher. Her first full-length novel THE SIREN was inspired by a desire to tie up actor Jason Isaacs (on paper). She hopes someday life will imitate art (in bed).

THE SIREN was awarded the RT Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Erotic Romance 2012.

If she couldn’t write, she would die.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + 5 Star Review : The Closer You Come by Gena Showalter – The Original Heartbreakers Series – Book 1

Posted on 03/31/2015 by shellbellereads

The Close You Come

The Original Heartbreakers – Book 1

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: March 31, 2015

By Gena Showalter

Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter introduces the Original Heartbreakers, where three not-quite-reformed bad boys are about to meet the women who will bring them to their knees.

Just released from prison, Jase Hollister has only one goal: stay out of trouble. Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma, sounds like the perfect place for him and his two brothers-by-circumstance to settle down and live a nice, simple life. Model citizen isn’t exactly this rugged bachelor’s default setting—especially when it comes to a certain hot-blooded Southern beauty—but he’s determined to play by the rules.

Brook Lynn Dillon has always been the responsible type. Not that it’s done her much good. The down-on-her-luck waitress is broke, single and wouldn’t know fun if it bit her. Or so she thinks. Jase makes bad look oh, so good. Dangerous, sexy and tempting as sin, he is everything she never knew she wanted. Passion sizzles between them, but is it enough to melt his resistance? After all, the right kind of trouble might be just what he needs…

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Google Play / Kobo

Michel’s Review

Wow, I loved the first book in the new contemporary series by Gena Showalter. It is fresh, sexy, emotional, and has a cast of unique characters that are all screaming for their own stories. The Original Heartbreakers Series is set in the small town of Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma. It is your typical mid-west small town. The residents are quick to judge, have long memories, and are a tight knit group. Although they may have the negative traits that most small towns have, they also have the charming traits and quirky characters that make this place a home.

The Closer You Come is the first book in the Original Heartbreakers series. It is one red hot book.

Jase Hollister has come to Strawberry Valley with his friends Lincoln West and Beck Oakley. They are brothers by choice. He has just gotten out of prison after serving for nine years. He wants to find a nice quiet small town where he can live in peace and mind his own business. But minding your own business is not a small town characteristic. You are the town’s business.

While Beck is a renowned ladies man ( man whore) and West is a known party animal, Jase is the recluse. Each of them hides behind an exterior that covers the pain and sorrow they have experienced in life. Strawberry Valley is a good place to hide it away.

When Jase meets Brook Lynn Dillion, it is not in a good way. He is bed with her wild sister Jessie Kay. Brook Lynn is known for her temper. Jessie Kay is known for her wild ways and disregard for convention. Brook Lynn is always bailing Jessie out of trouble, covering for her job, and paying her bills. She is working two jobs and not making ends meet. When she catches Jessie Kay in bed with Jase, her temper breaks loose. Letting go and losing it is going to cost her more than a bit of embarrassment, it is going to cost her her jobs and her heart.

Jase picked the wrong sister to sleep with. He feels guilty that Brook Lynn is paying for Jessie Kay’s sins. He offers her a job as his assistant.

Yeah, I think you can figure out where the job will lead. The exciting thing is the adventure along the way. Brook Lynn not only has to deal with Jase’s attitude, she has to handle West and Beck. She has to learn how to deal with Jase’s issues & secrets, Jessie Kay’s irresponsibility, Beck’s women, West’s meltdown, and find her place in her world.

Just as things are finally going in the right direction for Jase and Brook Lynn, the Strawberry Valley world spins out of control. There is a stalker in the midst, an old lover staking her claim, a secret love child, a wedding in the works, a party for a dead girl, and a whole lot of crazy coming out of the woodwork. Brook Lynn is just going to have to show Jase and Strawberry Valley that she is the one to be reckoned with. For once Brook Lynn is putting her happiness first.

I absolutely loved this book. The characters are not your run of the mill characters. They are seriously flawed and it’s okay. Gena did not try to fix them in order to have their happily ever after. She allowed them to be perfectly human. The results were perfect for Jase and Brook Lynn. They found a way to work around the flaws, accept one another, and allow peace & love into their lives. She built a great cast of characters, set the stage for their stories, and made the town of Strawberry Valley come to life.

The Closer You Come by Gena Showalter is her newest scorching hot romance. As I read this book I was going up in flames.

About Gena Showalter

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty books in paranormal and contemporary romances, as well as young adult novels. Her series include White Rabbit Chronicles, Angels of the Dark, Otherworld Assassins, Lords of the Underworld, Alien Huntress and Intertwined.

Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine, and Seventeen Magazine, and have been translated all over the world. The critics have called her books “sizzling page-turners” and “utterly spellbinding stories”, while Showalter herself has been called “a star on the rise”.

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Release Day Blitz + 5 Star Review + 2015 Favorite + Giveaway: Deep by Kylie Scott – Stage Dive Series – Book 4

Posted on 03/31/2015 by shellbellereads

Deep

Stage Dive Series – Book 4

By Kylie Scott

Release Date: March 31, 2015

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

Don’t miss a beat with the fourth and final novel in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Stage Dive series from Kylie Scott.
Positive. With two little lines on a pregnancy test, everything in Lizzy Rollins’ ordinary life is about to change forever. And all because of one big mistake in Vegas with Ben Nicholson, the irresistibly sexy bass player for Stage Dive. So what if Ben’s the only man she’s ever met who can make her feel completely safe, cherished, and out of control with desire at the same time? Lizzy knows the gorgeous rock star isn’t looking for anything more permanent than a good time, no matter how much she wishes differently.

Ben knows Lizzy is off limits. Completely and utterly. She’s his best friend’s little sister now, and no matter how hot the chemistry is between them, no matter how sweet and sexy she is, he’s not going to go there. But when Ben is forced to keep the one girl he’s always had a weakness for out of trouble in Sin City, he quickly learns that what happens in Vegas, doesn’t always stay there. Now he and Lizzie are connected in the deepest way possible…but will it lead to a connection of the heart?

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Excerpt

His laughter, it didn’t really sound the smallest bit amused. “Christ. You’re done here.”

“Ah, no. I’m actually not. Now see, this is where we have a problem.” I folded my arms. Then unfolded them because like fuck I’d look defensive. He was the one in the wrong, not me. “You’re not prepared to take me, or my feelings, seriously. What you want is to hide away in Mr. Too Cool for Commitment land and just play with my affections when it suits you. Okay, I’ve accepted that. But none of that means it’s okay for you to come in here and act like you’re the boss of me. None of it.”

“That so?” he asked, leaning down so that we were almost nose to nose.

“That’s so, baby.” I play-punched him in the shoulder, which it should be noted, I barely came up to. Okay, so maybe the alcohol on a mostly empty stomach had made me slightly/lots braver/sillier. “So why don’t you take your little caveman jealous tantrum bullshit somewhere else. See, I do this funny thing I like to refer to as whatever the fuck I want. Understand?”

He just stared.

“And as pretty as you are with your beard and your muscles, you are too damn tricky and . . . complicated and shit for me.”

“I am?”

“Yes, you are. Are you finally seeing my point here?”

“You bet.”

“Excellent. So take your hotness elsewhere, kind sir. I want no part of it!” Huh. I had so told him. Drunken bravado was the best.

Michel’s Review

This is a bittersweet moment writing the final review for the Stage Dive Series by Kylie Scott. Readers have been sitting on pins and needles waiting for Ben’s book to arrive. At the same time I think they were dreading the release day because we knew this was the last book in this phenomenal series.

I can honestly say that Deep was the perfect ending for our favorite band, Stage Dive, and the final tour. We’ve witnessed a deep feeling poet & lead guitarist shed the strings that held him back to find what true love is really about. We’ve rode the ADHD ,fueled my pure sugar hyped up on steroids crazy train, otherwise known as Mal Ericsson, the highly adrenalized drummer for Stage Dive ( still my all time favorite book boyfriend). We’ve gave the finger and the hi ho to the egotistical, self centered lead singer and forgave his transgressions. Yes, we wanted the jerk to find happiness and love. Through it all has been the quiet, strong and steady bass player. He rolls with the punches, lends a hand when necessary, never rocks the boat, and always plays with perfection. He is easy going, mild mannered, and a carefree spirit. He has a bit of wanderlust, a big dose of commitment issues, and no clue how to be in a relationship. He has quite a mystery throughout the series and peaked the reader’s interest.

Ben is going to steal the readers hearts. This man is a swoon worthy rock- n- roll fantasy wrapped up pure hunkiness and manly hair. As we all know, he is the beat and rhythm that keeps the band’s music flowing to perfection. His perfect beat and timing is going to rock the readers hearts.

As we have all suspected, Ben and Lizzy were definitely attracted to one another. All those text messages Ben seemed to be wrapped up in, you can only guess who he was texting. When the Elvis Vegas Wedding binds another Stage Dive couple, Ben and Lizzy make their own coupling. A one night stand results in the appearance of Little Bean, otherwise known as baby on the way. What happened in Vegas did not stay in Vegas.

Ben’s not ready to settle down. He doesn’t want commitment. He does want to be a stand up guy. He respects Lizzy and wants to be the friend she needs. But is he really ready to be a father?

Meanwhile backstage, other members of the band are up to all kinds of good & bad things. Jimmy and Lena are also expecting. Jimmy wants to railroad Lena and take care of her. Lena just wants to kill Jimmy ( not really), Could another wedding be in the near future? And Mal, well besides teaching Killer (the puppy) how to kiss with his tongue, he wants to kill Ben. Trouble is brewing between the band members and it is not pretty. All of this is happening just as they are starting a sixteen week world wide tour. This is a tour to go down in Stage Dive history.

The romance between Ben and Lizzy is a slow build that becomes something absolutely beautiful. It is a wonder to watch them both change for the better. It is a wonder getting to know who Ben really is beneath his easy going exterior.

Just as it looks like Ben and Lizzy are going to have their perfect Stage Dive Happily Ever After, the story will take another turn. An old nemesis will pop up with her claws sharpened and ruin the perfect tour. The Stage Dive series will go full circle and it will be up to Ben to stop the vicious cycle.

The Stage Dive Series is one of my all time favorite series. Kylie Scott has created magic with these colorful musicians and their leading ladies. She has given us humor, heartbreak, witty dialogue, interesting strong leading ladies, a tight knit family, and romance that makes the heart beat out of control. Each and every book is a 5+ Star Book.

Don’t miss out on the final show for Stage Dive. Read Deep…it will rock your soul.

The Stage Dive Series

Lick- Book 1

Waking up in Vegas was never meant to be like this.

Evelyn Thomas’s plans for celebrating her twenty-first birthday in Las Vegas were big. Huge. But she sure never meant to wake up on the bathroom floor with a hangover to rival the black plague, a very attractive half-naked tattooed man in her room, and a diamond on her finger large enough to scare King Kong. Now if she could just remember how it all happened.
One thing is certain, being married to one of the hottest rock stars on the planet is sure to be a wild ride.

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Play- Book 2

Kylie Scott returns with the highly anticipated follow-up to international bestseller Lick.

Mal Ericson, drummer for the world famous rock band Stage Dive, needs to clean up his image fast–at least for a little while. Having a good girl on his arm should do the job just fine. Mal doesn’t plan on this temporary fix becoming permanent, but he didn’t count on finding the one right girl.

Anne Rollins never thought she’d ever meet the rock god who plastered her teenage bedroom walls–especially not under these circumstances. Anne has money problems. Big ones. But being paid to play the pretend girlfriend to a wild life-of-the-party drummer couldn’t end well. No matter how hot he is. Or could it?

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Lead – Book 3

Stay up all night with the sexy rockers in Stage Dive, the epic New Adult series from New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott, author of Lick and Play.

Can rock n’ roll’s most notorious bad boy be tamed by love?
As the lead singer of Stage Dive, Jimmy is used to getting whatever he wants, whenever he wants it–now he’s caught up in a life of hard partying and fast women. When a PR disaster serves as a wake-up call and lands him in rehab, he finds himself with Lena, a new assistant hired to keep him out of trouble.
Lena’s not willing to take any crap from her sexy boss and is determined to keep their relationship completely professional, despite their sizzling chemistry. But when Jimmy pushes her too far, he just might lose the best thing that’s ever happened to him. Can he convince his stubborn assistant to risk it all and let her heart take the lead?

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

Deep – Book 4

Positive. With two little lines on a pregnancy test, everything in Lizzy Rollins’ ordinary life is about to change forever. And all because of one big mistake in Vegas with Ben Nicholson, the irresistibly sexy bass player for Stage Dive. So what if Ben’s the only man she’s ever met who can make her feel completely safe, cherished, and out of control with desire at the same time? Lizzy knows the gorgeous rock star isn’t looking for anything more permanent than a good time, no matter how much she wishes differently.

Pre Order: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

About the Author:

Kylie is a long time fan of erotic love stories and B-grade horror films. She demands a happy ending and if blood and carnage occur along the way then all the better. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and one delightful husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet.

Kylie is represented by Amy Tannenbaum at the Jane Rotrosen Agency, New York.

Stalk Kylie Scott: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Happy Release + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: It’s Always Been You by Jessica Scott

Posted on 03/31/2015 by shellbellereads

It’s Always Been You

Coming Home Series – Book 5

By Jessica Scott

Now Available in Mass Market Paperback

Synopsis

“Jessica Scott is an exciting new voice in romantic fiction who bursts upon the scene with an unputdownable debut novel!”
–Robyn Carr, New York Times bestselling author on Because of You

She plays by the rules . . .

Captain Ben Teague is many things: a tough soldier, a loyal friend, and a bona fide smart-ass. He doesn’t have much tolerance for BS, which is why he’s mad as hell when a trusted colleague and mentor is brought up on charges that can’t possibly be true. He’s even more frustrated with by-the-book lawyer Major Olivia Hale. But there’s something simmering beneath her icy reserve–and Ben just can’t resist turning up the heat . . .

. . . and he’s determined to break them

The only thing riskier than mixing business with pleasure is enjoying it . . . and Olivia can’t resist locking horns–and lips–with Ben. He’s got more compassion in his little finger than any commander she’s ever met, a fact that makes him a better leader than he realizes. But when the case that brought them together awakens demons from Olivia’s past, she will have to choose between following orders–or her heart . . .

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

Paperback: Amazon / B & N / Books A Million

Excerpt

“You don’t like being in command, do you, Ben?” she whispered. The air was thick between them, heavy with unsaid things.

He shook his head. “It’s too much responsibility for other people’s problems. I’m not qualified to judge someone else’s screw ups,” he said.

He shifted so he could face her, his body angled toward hers. A shadow partially concealed his face, casting it in hard lines and a dozen shades of grey.

“You’re not supposed to be perfect to be a leader,” she whispered. Her voice cracked, hung on the tension in her neck from sitting a little too close.

Silence filled the space between them. Heavy and warm and crackling with latent energy.

He licked his bottom lip, his gaze locked with hers. “I don’t want to be either,” he said. His voice was a husky whisper filled with need.

Her breath caught in her throat. A hesitant movement. A breath closer. This was monumentally stupid. Infinitely so.

And yet she parted her lips, her entire body trembling in anticipation of the faintest touch of his. He was there, just there. A breath separated them. Nothing more.

It was a hesitant kiss. A light, teasing brush of his top lip against hers. Her breath mingled with his, threading between them and urging her closer. She met his eyes, waiting. Wanting. Needing more of this deeply sensual man who made her feel so many writhing, hungry things.

It was forever before either of them moved. Her breath was locked in her throat. Then she felt it. His palm slid over her cheek, his fingers rough on her skin. Warmth penetrated her, wound its way over the surface to slide beneath her skin and stroke something long dormant to life.

Need. It was need that made her lean toward him. Need that made her part her lips and trace his mouth with her tongue. Need that made her nip his bottom lip and thread her fingers in the short hair on the back of his neck.

Need that made her gasp in pleasure as his tongue slid against hers, twining in that sensuous dance that brought her blood to life. Heat pounded between her thighs, an aching, pulsing want that scorched her like nothing she’d ever felt.

She gave herself over to the sensation, to the pleasure of his touch. Knowing it was a mistake and far past caring as her breath finally released, mixing with the heated strokes of his tongue.

She eased back after a moment, before she did something monumentally stupid, like crawling into his lap in broad daylight.

“We really should talk about those legal packets,” she said against his mouth.

His smile was unexpected. “Wow, you are hell on a man’s ego,” he said.

The laugh caught her off guard and she rested her forehead against his as she struggled to regain her composure. Something opened against her heart, something unexpected and warm.

Something complicated.

For a brief moment, it was tempting to throw caution to the curb, to nuzzle his mouth with hers, to absorb his taste andwarmth.

And then reality kicked in.

“We really should head back. We’ve got that meeting in two hours,” she said.

He smiled. “Always responsible and focused.”

He brushed his thumb over her lip as he said it. This was something nice.

Unexpected.

It was going to be an interesting legal briefing, that was for damn sure.

Michel’s Review

I cannot praise Jessica Scott’s Coming Home series enough. I have raved about each book in this series. Jessica Scott combines military careers, civilian life, people with very real problems, and trying to build happy lives in situations that are very hard for those they love. This series has brought me to tears, opened my eyes to the problems the modern army faces, made me see a soldier as an individual person, and has delivered very real relationships. Each and every story is emotional. Each book addresses difficult situations that affect these courageous men and women. In the end, there is always the underlying message of hope and true love.

It’s Always Been You is Captain Ben Teague’s story. He is a stand up guy, always has your back, and has an understanding of human nature. He is a strong leader and recognizes each and every soldier under his command as an individual.

This story begins where All For You left off. The battalion has cleaned house and new commands are assigned. The objective is to clean up their newly assigned companies. Captain Ben Teague does not want the new Bandit Company he has been assigned to. He does not want to be a commander.

Overseeing the clean up is Major Olivia Hale, a lawyer whose sole purpose is to make sure this happens. Captain Teague is on her radar. This reluctant leader seems to want to protect his men rather than the true victims. His casual regard for the rules, his soft heart, and closed lip are not helping matters. One of his men, Escoberra, is under suspect for abuse of his child. She wants his family to be safe . Due to her past, her views, opinions, and drive are very influential in her actions. After she meets Ben, she will learn everything is not as black and white as they seem.

Ben and Olivia are drawn to one another even though they are on opposing sides of the fence. Both will have to learn from the other. Both will have to open their minds and hearts to the new dilemma’s this new Company faces. They will have to learn to combine their working relationship with their personal relationship. They will have to learn how to deal with mental health issues and legal issues their battelian will face. But together they will both become stronger individuals. They will learn from each other and they will teach each other very different things about life.

I loved Ben and Olivia’s relationship. It was tough, mature, compassionate, heart wrenching, and empowering.

It’s Always Been You by Jessica Scott is another powerful book in the Coming Home series. It can be read as a stand alone or in series order.

The Coming Home Series

Because Of You

From the war-torn streets of Baghdad to the bittersweet comforts of the home front, two wounded hearts navigate the battlefield of coming home from war in this explosive eBook original from newcomer Jessica Scott.

Keeping his men alive is all that matters to Sergeant First Class Shane Garrison. But meeting Jen St. James the night before his latest deployment makes Shane wonder if there’s more to life than war. He leaves for Iraq remembering a single kiss with a woman he’ll never see again- until a near fatal attack lands him back at home and in her care. Jen has survived her own brush with death and endured its scars. And yet there’s a fire in Shane that makes Jen forget all about her past. He may be her patient, but when this warrior looks her in the eyes, she feels – for the first time in a long time – like a woman. Shane is too proud to ask for help, but for Jen, caring for him is more than a duty -it’s a need. And as Jen guides Shane through the fires of healing, she finds something she never expected – her deepest desire.

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Anything For You

From the USA Today Bestselling author of Because of You comes an all new Coming Home short story.

Sergeant First Class Shane Garrison has spent a year recovering from his combat injuries. A year spent in the arms of the woman of his dreams. But loving Jen comes with a price: every time he touches her, he faces the uncertain fear that loving her might mean losing her forever.

Jen is a breast cancer survivor and with Shane, she’s found a man who loves her despite her scars. But her scars may be too much for their love to survive.

As their love grows, so does the risk to Jen’s life. And Shane must make the toughest decision any man can make to save the woman he loves.

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Until There Was You

From the author of Because of You comes an all-new contemporary eBook romance. He plays by the rules, she’s not afraid to break them. Now these two strong-willed Army captains will prove that opposites attract . . .

A by-the-book captain with a West Point background, Captain Evan Loehr refuses to mix business with pleasure–except for an unguarded instance years ago when he succumbed to the deep sensuality of redheaded beauty Claire Montoya. From that moment on, though, Evan has been at odds with her, through two deployments to Iraq and back again. But when he is asked to train a team prepping for combat alongside Claire, battle-worn Evan is in for the fight of his life.

Strong, gutsy, and loyal, Captain Claire Montoya has worked hard to earn the rank on her chest. In Evan, Claire sees a rigid officer who puts the rules before everything else–including his people. When the mission forces them together, Claire soon discovers that there is more to Evan than meets the eye. He’s more than the rank on his chest; he’s a man with dark secrets and deep longings. For all their differences, Evan and Claire share two crucial passions: their country and each other.

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I’ll Be Home For Christmas

There’s nothing in the world Army Sergeant Vic Carponti loves more than his wife and his country. Smart-mouthed and easy tempered, he takes everything as a joke . . . except his promise to come home to his wife, Nicole, for Christmas. As he prepares to leave for his latest deployment into Iraq, Vic will do everything he can to shield his beautiful, supportive wife from the realities of war . . . and from his own darkest fears.

As a career army wife, Nicole Carponti knows just what to expect from her husband’s tour of duty: loneliness, relentless worry, and a seemingly endless countdown until the moment Vic walks through the door again. But when the unthinkable happens, Nicole and Vic’s bond is tested like never before and changes everything they believe to be true about the power of love and the simple beauty of being home for the holidays.

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Back To You

He’s in for the fight of his life . . .

Army captain Trent Davila loved his wife, Laura, and their two beautiful children. But when he almost lost his life in combat, something inside him died. He couldn’t explain the emptiness he felt or bridge the growing distance between him and his family-so he deployed again. And again. And again…until his marriage reached its breaking point. Now, with everything on the line, Trent has one last chance to prove to his wife that he can be the man she needs …if she’ll have him

. . . to win back his only love.

Laura is blindsided when Trent returns home. Time and again, he chose his men over his family, and she’s just beginning to put the pieces of her shattered heart back together. But when Trent faces a court martial on false charges, only Laura can save him. What begins as an act of kindness to protect his career inflames a desire she thought long buried-and a love that won’t be denied. But can she trust that this time he’s back to stay?

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All For You

Can a battle-scarred warrior . . .

Stay sober. Get deployed. Lead his platoon. Those are the only things that matter to Sergeant First Class Reza Iaconelli. What he wants is for everyone to stay out of his way; what he gets is Captain Emily Lindberg telling him how to deal with his men. Fort Hood’s newest shrink is smart as a whip and sexy as hell. She’s also full of questions-about the army, its soldiers, and the agony etched on Reza’s body and soul.

. . . open his heart to love?

Emily has devoted her life to giving soldiers the care they need-and deserve. Little does she know that means facing down the fierce wall of muscle that is Sergeant Iaconelli like it’s just another day at the office. When Reza agrees to help her understand what makes a soldier tick, she’s thrilled. Too bad it doesn’t help her unravel the sexy warrior in front of her who stokes her desire and touches a part of her she thought long dead. He’s the man who thinks combat is the only escape from the demons that haunt him. The man who needs her most of all . . .

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It’s Always Been You

She plays by the rules . . .

. . . and he’s determined to break them

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All I Want For Christmas

From USA Today Bestselling author Jessica Scott comes an all new novella about a woman who came back from war changed and the man who loves her enough not to let her go.

All Major Patrick MacLean wanted was Christmas with the woman and child who were his family in everything but name. But Captain Samantha Egan has come back from the war a different woman than the one who left – and she doesn’t know if she can love him anymore.

But neither of them counted on the determination of a little girl they both call daughter and if Natalie has her wish, her parents may have no idea what’s coming for them. It’s going to take Christmas miracle to bring these two wounded warriors back from the edge of a broken heart.

This story has been featured in Home For Christmas: A Holiday Duet with JoAnn Ross.

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About Jessica Scott

USA Today Bestselling author Jessica Scott is a career army officer, mother of two daughters, three cats and three dogs, wife to a career NCO and wrangler of all things stuffed and fluffy. She is a terrible cook and even worse housekeeper, but she’s a pretty good shot with her assigned weapon and someone liked some of the stuff she wrote. Somehow, her children are pretty well adjusted and her husband still loves her, despite burned water and a messy house.

She’s also written for the New York Times At War Blog, PBS Point of View Regarding War, and IAVA. She deployed to Iraq in 2009 as part of OIF/New Dawn and has had the honor of serving as a company commander at Fort Hood, Texas twice.

Most recently, she’s been featured as one of Esquire Magazine’s Americans of the Year for 2012. Learn More at http://www.jessicascott.net

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Happy Release: Fall With Me by Jennifer L. Armentrout- Wait For You Series – Book 4

Posted on 03/31/2015 by shellbellereads

Fall With Me

Wait For You Series – Book 4

By Jennifer L. Armentrout

Synopsis

Jennifer L. Armentrout, New York Times bestselling author of the Wait for You series, delivers a new novel of first love, second chances, and scorching chemistry.

Eleven months ago, bartender and weird-shirt-wearing extraordinaire
Roxy and Officer Reece Anders had a one night stand. Well, kind of.
She’s been in love with him since she was fifteen, and he wishes that
night they shared never happened. She’s sworn him off forever, but the
past and future collide, forcing her to rely on the one man who broke
her heart not once, but twice.
Her best friend since birth has been in a long-term care facility
since he became a victim of a hate crime years ago, and the person who
put him in there is out of prison and wanting to make amends with him
and Roxy. She’s not sure she has room for forgiveness in her and when
she begins to receive frightening messages and is on the receiving end
of escalating violence, she thinks she knows who is to blame. The man
who already destroyed one life already.

But Reece isn’t convinced. The threats are too personal, and even if
Roxy doesn’t believe him, he’s not willing to let anyone hurt her.
Including himself. He’s already messed up more than once when it comes
to Roxy and he’s not going to let history repeat itself.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo / Google Play

________________________
About Jennifer L. Armentrout:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Saucy Southern Readers

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Category Archives: Book Review

Until You Find Me by Amber Hart…On Sale for Limited Time

Until You Find Me

Untamed Series- Book 1

By Amber Hart

UNTIL YOU FIND ME by Amber Hart is on sale for a limited time only – be sure to grab Raven & Jospin’s story now for just .99c!

Happy Release + Giveaway: Against Me by Freya Barker- Cedar Tree Series – Book 3

Happy Release + Two 5 Star Reviews + 2015 Favorite : Where Sea Meets Sky by Karina Halle

Happy Release + Review : Captive Films: 2.2 – Season Two:Volume 2

Happy Release + 5 Star Review : Taz by Andrea Smith – The G-Men Series- Book 4

Happy Release + 6 Star Review: The Virgin by Tiffany Reisz – The Original Sinners: White Years – Book 3

Happy Release + 5 Star Review : The Closer You Come by Gena Showalter – The Original Heartbreakers Series – Book 1

Release Day Blitz + 5 Star Review + 2015 Favorite + Giveaway: Deep by Kylie Scott – Stage Dive Series – Book 4

Happy Release + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: It’s Always Been You by Jessica Scott

Happy Release: Fall With Me by Jennifer L. Armentrout- Wait For You Series – Book 4

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Until You Find Me

Untamed Series- Book 1

By Amber Hart

UNTIL YOU FIND ME by Amber Hart is on sale for a limited time only – be sure to grab Raven & Jospin’s story now for just .99c!

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