Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Rebel by Callie Hart – Dead Man’s Ink Series – Book 1

Posted on 02/12/2015 by shellbellereads

Rebel

Dead Man’s Ink Series

By Callie Hart

Release Date:February 9, 2015

Synopsis

Rebel and Sophia’s story.

The first of a three part series. This novel contains a small snippet which has already been released in the Owned: An Alpha Anthology, however it is followed by a full story installment.

Sophia

Sometimes, you don’t mean to become another person. Sometimes the choice is made for you, and pretending is the only thing that keeps you going. When Alexis Romera is taken and her kidnappers find her fake ID in her purse, she must become Sophia in order to keep her family safe. Revealing her real identity to the man she’s sold to would be easy enough, but can she trust him? Hell bent on revenging the murder of his uncle, Rebel doesn’t seem all that interested in playing things safe.

In fact, nothing about the secretive, dark and brooding MC president seems safe at all.

Rebel

What do you do when the man who raised you is murdered, and the only witness is kidnapped girl who’s being sold as a sex slave? You buy her, of course. As president to the most powerful motorcycle club in America, Rebel isn’t lacking in power. There are strings the man can pull, and entire criminal organisations and corporate businesses alike would fall to their knees. However, along with such power comes intense interest. The DEA have their eye fixed solely on the MC…and they’re just waiting for Rebel to trip up.

Getting Sophia to testify is the only way to bring the Los Oscuros cartel down. The beautiful, dark haired, dark eyed woman is belligerent and uncooperative and unlikely to bend to his will, but Rebel has a few tricks up his sleeve to make her compliant–he’ll charm her until she’s bending over backwards to please him.

Of course, falling for her might cause a few hiccups along the way…

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Excerpt

“You gonna sit down or what?”

I sit down. Arguing with him would be futile. We sit there, side by side, staring off down the arrow-straight road, and for a moment I don’t hate him. He pulls a cell phone out of his pocket and taps something into it, and then he turns to face me, frowning slightly.

“You believe in vengeance?”

“You mean like revenge?”

He shakes his head. “Revenge is a selfish act. Retaliation for something. Vengeance is a different thing altogether. It’s about obtaining justice, usually for someone who can’t claim it for themselves.”

This is an odd line of questioning but I decide I’ll bite. Maybe I wouldn’t if he were being a jerk like he was a couple of hours ago, but that’s not what’s happening. He’s pensive, the live wire that apparently runs through him dulled for the moment. “I don’t know,” I say. “Probably, in that case.”

“What if I simplified the question?

What if I say, do you believe in justice?

“Then, yes, I do believe.”

Michel’s Review

OMG… I loved Rebel by Callie Hart!

From the very first paragraph I was hooked. Rebel starts with an intense beginning that builds to an explosive climax that leaves the reader biting their nails and begging for the next book. This book is intense, violent, explicit, and has the beginnings of a beautiful fierce love.

I know that there are quite a few excellent biker series on the market for readers to chose from. The Widow Makers MC is quite different from most of the series out there. It’s clear from the beginning that this club is more than outlaws defying society. Their membership is unique, they don’t have specific machine requirements, they are adaptable, and the general daily operations is ruled by who they are. Although it would seem they are a bit unstructured in many ways, it is quite the opposite. They have some very deadly alliances. They also have some powerful connections.

When Alexis is taken after witnessing a horrific crime her world is forever changed. She is taken by a gang connected with the Mexican cartel and sold into slavery. Her fake ID is the only thing she has going for her. Her true identity is hidden from her captors. Her captors have threatened retaliation on her family if she talks about anything that has happened to her. She is scared to death. It gets worse when she is sold to the Widow Makers.

The Widow Makers has used their connections to buy Sophia (aka Alexis) from Hector. She witnessed the murder of a very powerful judge. A judge that is related to Rebel, the president of the Widow Makers MC. They need her to testify to bring down Hector and his men. They have declared war.

The Widow Makers will try enlist one of their most dangerous allies, a Columbian Cartel that wants to destroy Hector also. But they have a price. It is a price that the Widow Makers are not sure they want to pay. They will have to make a choice of lying in bed with the devil or pursuing their enemies on their own. They are out gunned and will probably lose their lives.

As this story unfolds so much more happens. In the end the Widow Makers will not know who is friend or foe. Their world will be threatened from every which way. Events will take place that will send the club spiraling in all directions.

This is WAR!

Meanwhile Rebel and Sophia are engaging in a battle of their own. Not only does Rebel want to convince Sophia to testify by offering protection for her and her family, he is also attracted to her as a woman. As the two begin a rocky relationship their world spins out of control. How can Rebel guarantee protection for Sophia when he is about to engage in an all out war. There are too many enemies to kill. There are unknown enemies lurking in the background.

The ending of this book was a major OMG CLIFFHANGER. It was intense! I need the next book!

I was very impressed with Callie Hart’s writing. She built a world that drew the readers into the story from the beginning. She added intensity, action, and mystery while building a romance. I couldn’t put this book down.

Rebel is a 5 Star book!

About Callie Hart

Callie has experienced many changes throughout her life, and gone through many ups and downs that have all worked towards shaping and molding her into the person she is today: fun loving, active, social, and hard working. The only thing that has remained a constant throughout her life is writing. Creating characters who will tear your conscience in two is a favorite pastime of Callie’s. There are few real saints and sinners in her books; more often, the denizens of her stories are all very human. Broken, flawed, and always with the potential for redemption.

Despite the subject matter being markedly hot and heavy in comparison to the stories she wrote in elementary school, there will always be an element of fairytale to her work.

Stalk Her: Website – Facebook – Twitter – Goodreads – Join Callie’s Newsletter

GIVEAWAY
3 Rebel Super Swag packs
1 paperback of Rebel w/ signed bookplate
1 complete eCopy set of the Blood & Roses series
1 ARC of Callie Hart & Lili St. Germain’s upcoming collaboration, Hell’s Kitchen
(to be ready by end of February)
1 MAC “Rebel” lipstick
Gary Taylor Leather Jacket
$20 Amazon/iBooks Gift card
Kindle HD 6

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Release + Review + Giveaway: Maybe by Amber L. Johnson

Posted on 02/12/2015 by shellbellereads

Maybe

Amber L. Johnson

Release Date: February 12 , 2015

Published by The Writers Coffee Shop

Genre: FICTION / Romance / General / Contemporary / Erotica

ISBN e-book: 978-1-61213-371-3

Available from: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS PH

~~SUMMARY~~

Emily Portman loves her job. A writer for Breakout! Magazine, she shadows and showcases up-and-coming bands. When her next assignment takes her to Austin, Texas, she can’t wait to add the city to her map of places she’s visited. Places she’s left without looking back. Her plan is to keep moving on, and the last thing she needs is a man holding her back. She’s not going down that road again.

Tyler Macy is stuck in a rut. Despite his exceptional talent as a musician, he has chosen to take a backseat with his music and let others grab the limelight. Wounded and mistrustful, he doesn’t appreciate his friends’ efforts to bring him back to center stage. Emily comes onto the scene and sees his full potential, but he fights to stay in the shadows, shutting her out before she can add to the scars another woman gave him.

For Tyler to find his music again, he needs to accept the help that Emily and their friends offer. When he discovers that his muse lies underneath Emily’s skin, it is still not enough to keep her from walking away. Neither will admit what they really want until it is too late.

Emily is once again thrown in Tyler’s path when she is assigned to join them on tour. Despite the pain in his past, Tyler sees that she is worth it, even if she’s stolen both his heart and peace of mind. In order for them to be together, they both must discover whether the music and their passion are enough to overcome the obstacles that separate them.

Maybe finding love is worth the risk.

Goodreads * Add to Want To Read List

~~EXCERPT~~

Walking toward him is like trudging through the deepest mud, but I hold my head high, my hands in my pockets and strides long. When I’m less than a foot away, his head turns toward me without lifting his chin, and he looks up from under his brows. The white smoke from his cigarette causes his eyes to nearly close before he pulls it from his lips and exhales upward into the air.

I’m struck by how incredibly handsome he is in black wool and new jeans. I want to know if his skin feels hot under his clothes and if his back feels the same when I scratch fingernails across his spine. My fists clench in my coat pockets at the thought. This is going to be so much harder than I’d been prepared for.

Robin’s Review

In July of last year, I received a recommendation from a trusted friend to read Puddle Jumping. I had never heard of author Amber L. Johnson, but I decided to read Colton and Lilly’s story after reading the synopsis. I found their story so refreshing! I loved it so much that I ordered a paperback copy as soon as I finished reading it – something I only do with my very favorite novels. Puddle Jumping also made my list of ten favorite novels of 2014, and I read 125 novels last year! I was very excited to be chosen to review a copy of Maybe, the newest contemporary romance from Johnson.

Emily Portman dreamed of becoming a prima ballerina, but her dream came to an end when she blew out her knee at the age of nineteen. It was a time of great loss for Emily. She had to reconsider her career choice. Emily now travels across the United States, shadowing and writing about up and coming bands for Breakout! Magazine.

Tyler Macy is an incredible musician, a gifted song writer and, until recently, the lead singer for his band. He could sing beautifully in front of a crowd until his muse broke his heart. Now he prefers to hide behind a drum set and struggles to write new songs for the band. He’s lost his inspiration.

Emily’s newest assignment takes her to Austin, Texas, a city well-known for producing talent for the music industry. Her company places her in a temporary apartment where a mysterious drummer in her building keeps her awake at night. That drummer is Tyler Macy, and he’s her next assignment.

Tyler and Emily have both been deeply scarred by past relationships. They are both scared of commitment. Afraid of being hurt again. Neither of them is looking for a relationship, but Emily and Tyler are undoubtedly attracted to each other. And with Emily, Tyler discovers music again. He starts writing beautiful songs. Singing. Gaining confidence. Emily has become his new muse.

Amber L. Johnson is a gifted writer. She uses her creative ability to write unusual and interesting stories. Puddle Jumping was no coincidence. I have also read two other novels written by Johnson, Beatless and Eight Days a Week, and I enjoyed them both. But it saddens me to say I was disappointed with Maybe. I found this story to be less polished than other novels I had previously read by this author. Maybe held my attention, but there were many occasions where I felt the writing did not translate what the author was intending to communicate. I had a difficult time identifying which characters were speaking, especially in conversations involving more than two individuals. Sometimes I struggled because the text was not descriptive enough. This made it hard to picture what the author was attempting to convey. I found myself rereading scenes in an attempt to understand what I had already read.

It is my understanding Maybe may have been written earlier in Johnson’s writing career and is now being published several years after it was written. If this is the case, it may explain the difference in writing quality that I have grown accustomed to from Johnson. Generally speaking, writing usually improves with experience. I really do think Maybe is a sweet and sexy contemporary romance. With further editing to clarify the text, I believe Maybe could be a 4-star novel. But as the story is now, the best rating I can give Maybe is 3 stars. This definitely won’t hold me back from more from Amber L. Johnson! I’m already looking forward to her next novel, For Authentication Purposes, which will be released soon!

~~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~~

A true child of music, Amber’s parents surrounded her with the loudest beats they could find, molding her into a girl who found inspiration and meaning in lyrics and chords. Raised on John Hughes movies, Luck Dragons, and pirate ships, she dreamed of love and adventure. When Amber began to create her own world, she envisioned a place where Happy Ever Afters do exist. Since then, she has authored several romance novels, all of which focus on songs and the way they can touch people’s lives. Music may not be able to fix a broken heart, but it can provide one hell of a soundtrack for healing.A full-time wife and mother with a full-time job, Amber finds her muse in everyday life and the people who bring her inspiration.

Be sure to look for her other book!

TWCS Link Amazon Link

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR~~

Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Website

Praise for Maybe

“The characters are fun, likable, and well done. It’s such a feel good story with a wonderful romance. Honestly, if you want a good, easy read with a cast of characters that will make you laugh and cry, and a romance that will sweep you off your feet then give this book a read. You won’t regret it. ” – Jennifer

Goodreads Review

Happy Release + Review + Giveaway : Obligations by Aurora Rose Reynolds – Underground Kings Series – Book 2

Posted on 02/12/2015 by shellbellereads

Obligation

Underground Kings Series- Book 2

By Aurora Rose Reynolds

Release Date: February 12, 2015

Synopsis

[ob-li-gey-shuh n]

An obligation is a course of action that someone is required to take, whether legal or moral.

Myla was sent to a family her father and mother had chosen for her when they knew their time on earth was almost up.

Kai has been watching Myla from afar since he took over the family business from his father and inherited the responsibility of keeping her safe.

When word gets back to Kai that Myla is in danger he immediately jumps into action and does the only thing that can be done at the time by marrying her.

To Kai, Myla is an unwanted obligation, something that has to be done in order to protect the family business. And to Myla, Kai is another man who she believes will let her down. Neither Myla nor Kai would have thought that something that started off as a farce would become the most important thing either of them could’ve ever done.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Excerpt

“Everyone is looking for you.”

I turn my head, pulling my hair out of my face as I watch a boy I’ve never seen before climb up the stairs and into my tree house.

“Who are you?” I ask him as he sits across from me.

“Kai,” he smiles, looking around. He looks a lot different than the other kids I know. His hair is long, and his skin is a lot darker than mine. “Why are you hiding?”

I shrug and look away from him. Daddy was yelling earlier; he was so mad that he was turning red. Then Mommy started crying, and Daddy started yelling louder. I heard Mommy telling Daddy that he had to send me away. I don’t want to go away. I try to be good, but sometimes, I forget to listen.

“Why are you crying?”

I look up at him and wipe my face. “I’m scared,” I whisper, wiping my nose.

“Come on. I’ll protect you,” he says, holding his hand out to me.

Then my mommy calls my name again. I look at his hand, move Mr. Bear under my arm, and put my hand in his.

“Myla!” Mommy yells, running towards me.

I can tell she has been crying again.

“Where did you go?” Her hands grab my shoulders and she shakes me hard.

“It’s my fault. I asked her to show me the tree house,” Kai tells her.

She stops shaking me then looks at him. “You shouldn’t have done that. You knew we were looking for her,” she says angrily her head.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking,” Kai says softly, putting his hands in his pockets and looking at the ground.

I look back at Mommy, and she shakes her head before grabbing my hand and pulling me with her. When I look over my shoulder at Kai, he smiles, making me smile back.

Don’t Miss Out On The First Book in the Underground Kings Series

as·sump·tion:

a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof

They say when you assume that you make an ass out of you and me. Kenton Mayson learned this lesson firsthand when he made assumptions about Autumn Freeman and the kind of woman she is based on what little information he had. What he finds out is she’s not only beautiful, but also smart, funny, a fighter, and exactly the kind of woman he wants to share his life with. Autumn made assumptions of her own about Kenton, and now he needs to prove her wrong in order to protect her and their future.

Warning 18 and over due to violence and sexual encounters

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

Obligation is the second book in the Underground Kings Series by Aurora Rose Reynolds. Aurora has delivered another sexy Alpha Bad Boy that has a heart of gold and is as fierce as a lion. I fell in love with Kai just like I have with all of Aurora’s other leading Alphas.

Obligation begins with a bang. Myla has married a stranger. A man that offered her protection when her ordinary non descript life in Seattle almost comes to an explosive end. She can’t understand why someone is out to destroy her. She has married a man she doesn’t know in the name of survival.She can’t understand how Kai knew to come when she needed him the most. The one thing her instincts tell her is that she can trust Kai with her life.

Kai is the head of an organized crime family in Hawaii. His family has ties and obligations to Myla’s birth family. He has watched her from afar and stepped in when she needed his protection. He has his own problems with enemies of the family that need to be “taken” care of. The last thing he needs is to be taking care of a woman. A woman who’s past has brought trouble not only to herself but Kai’s business as well.

Myla and Kai have been destined to be together since they were children. Destiny has come knocking on the door. What starts as an obligation becomes consumption. These two were meant to love each other.

Just as they are working out the kinks and making their relationship real ,the world will implode around them. Enemies are taking control, surprises for their family are on the horizon, and life is changing at a very fast pace.

They will have to do everything in their power to keep their love strong. Kai will protect Myla at all costs. Myla will find new strengths she never knew she possessed.

At the end of the day it will be Kai’s crazy Uncle Frank that saves the day and gives them the opportunity to build their happily ever after.

I love Aurora’s writing style. Her stories have the right amount of grit and action. They also have the right amount of sexual tension and red hot love scenes. What I love best about her books is that she builds a solid relationship between her characters outside of the bedroom. Her dialogues are entertaining, witty, and emotional. By the end of each book the reader has a huge smile on their face.

Aurora Rose Reynolds is a “feel good” author that always delivers a good book. Read Obligation! It won’t disappoint.

About Aurora Rose Reynolds

Aurora Rose Reynolds is a navy brat who’s husband served in the United States Navy. She has lived all over the country but now resides in New York City with her Husband and pet fish. She’s married to an alpha male that loves her as much as the men in her books love their women. He gives her over the top inspiration everyday. In her free time she reads, writes and enjoys going to the movies with her husband and cookie. She also enjoys taking mini weekend vacations to nowhere, or spends time at home with friends and family. Last but not least she appreciates everyday and admires it’s beauty.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Giveaway

— $50 Gift Card
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Going Long by Cari Quinn – Boys of Fall Series

Posted on 02/12/2015 by shellbellereads

Going Long

Boys of Fall Series

By Cari Quinn

Synopsis

This time, he’ll need to hit all the right notes to win the woman he’s always loved…

Wade Bennett is used to coming in second to his seemingly perfect older brother. In high school, Colt was a star linebacker while Wade was the punter, an important job without all of the glory. When Charlene Martinez—the only girl Wade ever truly wanted—fell for Colt, Wade decided to take his chances with music and went on the road. Leaving behind his family, his best friend, Rafe, and Charlene, who had feelings for Wade she never allowed herself to feel.

Years in Nashville quickly hardened the dreamy guy who just wanted to sing and hang out with his dog, Melody. His success has given him more than enough money, even if he knows he’ll never be able to compete with his hometown hero big brother. But after Coach Carr’s heart attack, Wade comes home to help the man who helped him make the decision to chase his dreams all those years ago.

Now Wade wants to chase a new dream in his old hometown, especially since Charlene is single again after divorcing Colt. And Wade is no longer a boy unwilling to fight for what—and who—he needs.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Tracey’s Review

Wade Bennett has hit a dry spell in his career as one of the darlings of country music. The songs just aren’t coming, and Wade finds himself restless and in need of a change. When he gets the call that his high school football coach, the man that helped Wade become the person that is today, is ill, he’s on the road home to Texas without any further ado. Even the chance of running into Charlene Martinez, the girl that got away, and most of the reason that he left home in the first place, can’t keep him away.

I’m a big fan of second-chance romance, and Cari Quinn has written a lovely one in GOING LONG. Years apart have not diminished the feelings that Wade and Charlene have for each other. They still have a lot of unfinished business, and seeing them sort through it is hotter than hot. Wade is not a star for nothing; his charisma, his talent, and his sexiness make him one hot ticket, but Charlene is no man’s plaything. Smart and strong, she knows what she wants, and isn’t afraid to stand up for it. These two are a perfect match, and the sparks that fly between them make for a sexy, romantic, and entertaining read.

I had not read any of Cari Quinn’s books before GOING LONG, but this definitely will not be my last. She writes with heart and heat, and I’m hooked. I really enjoyed this 4.5 star read, and look forward to reading more by Cari, and more in the Boys of Fall series.

________________________________

USA Today bestselling author Cari Quinn wrote her first story—a bible parable—in 2nd grade, much to the delight of the nuns at her Catholic school. Once she saw the warm reception that first tale garnered, she was hooked. Now she gets to pen sexy romances for a living and routinely counts her lucky stars. When she’s not scribbling furiously, she can usually be found watching men’s college basketball, playing her music way too loud or causing trouble. Sometimes simultaneously.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

6 Star Review : Kyland by Mia Sheridan- A Sign Of Love Novel

Posted on 02/11/2015 by shellbellereads

Kyland

A Sign Of Love Novel – Inspired by Taurus

By Mia Sheridan

Synopsis

A full-length, standalone romance from the New York Times bestselling author of Archer’s Voice.

Dirt poor. Hillbilly. Backwoods hick. Mountain folk.

Tenleigh Falyn struggles each day to survive in a small, poverty-stricken, coal mining town where she lives with her sister and mentally ill mother. Her dream of winning the college scholarship given to one student by the local coal company and escaping the harshness of her life, keeps her going.

Kyland Barrett lives in the hills, too, and has worked tirelessly–through near starvation, through deep loneliness, against all odds–to win the Tyton Coal Scholarship and leave the town that is full of so much pain.

They’re both determined not to form any attachments, but one moment changes everything. What happens when only one person gets to win? When only one person gets to leave? And what happens to the one left behind?

Kyland is a story of desperation and hope, loss and sacrifice, pain and forgiveness, but ultimately, a story of deep and unending love.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Tracey’s Review

“I think that when enough time has passed, when you’ve survived that which you didn’t imagine you could, there’s a dignity in that. Something you can own. A pride in knowing the pain made you stronger. The pain made you fight to succeed. Someday, when I’m living my dreams, I’m going to think of all the things that broke my heart and I’m going to be thankful for them.”

Whenever I open one of Mia Sheridan’s books, it is with the knowledge that my world is about to be rocked, that this woman, this crafter of words, will utterly captivate me with her characters and their story. Even knowing this, though, I am always pleasantly reminded that Mia truly has a gift, and that the worlds that she opens will stay with me for a very long time.

The story of Kyland Barrett and Tenleigh Falyn moved me. I read this book with little pause, eager to consume the entire thing. I couldn’t NOT see how the relationship and story would unfold. And it is both beautiful and heartbreaking, this love story. It’s a story about sacrifice, about overcoming fear, of stepping outside our comfort zone to reach that place that makes us more complete. And, ultimately, it’s about hope. Despite the desperate circumstances that Kyland and Tenleigh face on a daily basis, there is still the flicker of hope that keeps them striving for more. That part of themselves, no matter how small, that allows them to keep going, to look for something more, for something better than they’ve known.

Once I finished KYLAND, I had to sit with it for a bit because I needed to process all of the emotions that it made me feel. This is the sort of story, as is true of all of Mia’s books, that stays with you, that both shatters you and restores you. If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. KYLAND is absolutely one of my favorite reads of 2015, and, as with all of Mia’s books, one that I would recommend without hesitation.

___________________________

Author Bio

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

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway : Smoke Screen by Ahren Sanders

Posted on 02/10/2015 by shellbellereads

Title: Smokescreen

Author: Ahren Sanders

Genre: Adult, Romance

Release Date: February 5, 2015

Stella Sullivan

Bright. Dedicated. Loyal.

The day I walked into his boardroom, I had no idea my life was about to change forever. It was supposed to be a simple proposal that would catapult my career. The chance to help Hurst & McCoy save one of their flailing business lines seemed simple enough. However, I never expected that one look at Maxwell McCoy would have me grasping for control. He’s demanding, charming, powerful; most of all he’s beautiful, inside and out. As hard as I fought against the attraction, he broke down my defenses. But he’s hiding things. Even when secrets, lies, and greed threaten everything I have worked so hard for, I couldn’t walk away. There’s no denying, the moment my eyes landed on Maxwell McCoy was the moment I became his.

Maxwell McCoy

Rich. Brilliant. Powerful.

People only see me as CEO of Hurst & McCoy. The ruthless businessman whose mere presence demands respect. People don’t know I chose to leave a life I loved in order to protect my father’s legacy and reputation. When my company’s future was threatened, I had no choice but to seek assistance. The day Stella Sullivan walked into my boardroom was the day my heart started beating again. One business proposal, from the topaz-eyed beauty, changed my life. She tried to deny our unyielding chemistry, but I wouldn’t. I should let her go, but I didn’t.

The smokescreen I created soon comes crashing down, forcing me to fight for everything I love.

Amazon Amazon CA Amazon UK Amazon AU B&N smashwords Kobo iTunes

Stella groans lightly and rolls over. I’ve been watching her from my desk for half an hour, trying not to wake her. But as soon as she realizes my side of the bed is empty, she sits up dazed. Her head turns toward the bathroom and then turns to me.

“What are you doing?” she asks sleepily.

“Working a bit.”

“What time is it?”

“A little after seven.”

“Why the hell are you up? Do you ever sleep?” She falls back onto my bed and the sheets slip down her naked body.

I jump to my feet and make my way to her side of the bed in a second. “Yeah, I slept, then I worked out, showered, and decided to work until you woke up.”

“You worked out? Showered? What the hell is wrong with you? I thought we weren’t going anywhere this morning.”

She throws an arm over her eyes and I take the opportunity to kiss the skin up to her elbow, then pull her arm down so she has no choice but to look at me.

“I didn’t go anywhere. I have a home gym down the hall. I showered because I was gross, and we are staying here this morning. We have a meeting at ten, but until then, it’s us.”

“You have a home gym? Where?”

“Yeah, babe, there’s about two thousand square feet you’ve not seen yet. Two more rooms and a gym.”

“What?”

“Babe, you’ve only been here a few times, I haven’t had time to show you.”

“This is a whole lot of information for me this early, without coffee. Remember I’m not a morning person.”

“So you keep saying, but I love proving you wrong.” I kiss her softly and slide my hand under the sheets and down until it reaches her pelvic bone.

My fingertips run lightly back and forth from hipbone to hipbone until her breath catches. Every time I hear that small sound, I know she’s getting turned on. Then my hand slinks lower to her slick heat and I press one finger in, sliding her wetness back and forth. “You are the best morning person I know.”

“That’s because you give me orgasms before my coffee.”

Tracey’s Review

Landing an account with Hurst & McCoy is the brass ring that Stella Sullivan has been waiting for. She knows that her small PR firm is the right fit for the job. Fortunately for her, Max McCoy is in total agreement, regardless of what others say. Little do either of them realize, though, what this partnership will mean to them.There are a lot of things that I enjoyed about Smokescreen by Ahren Sanders. Both Stella and Max are strong engaging characters. Stella is an independent woman. She owns her own business, has a strong support system of family and friends, and is not afraid to speak her mind. Max is absolutely alpha, but, immediately smitten by Stella, he is willing to be softer for her. Their chemistry is immediate and all-consuming. Max has secrets, secrets that he is afraid will drive Stella away, but she is completely supportive of him. I really enjoy the family and friend scenes; Laci, Jake, Landon, Pedro, and all of the respective Sullivans, Barnes, and McCoys are endearing, and the story definitely would not be the same without them. Add in the business intrigue that Stella and Max are drawn into, and this book makes for an action-packed adventure as well as a hot romance.

There were a couple of things that gave me pause as I was reading. I get that things tend to move quickly in romance books, but insta-love is a hard sell for me. Max was head over heels from Day 1, but, to give credit to Ahren, Stella and Max do discuss the speed with which their relationship is moving, and it does eventually work. Also, with all of the action and drama surrounding Max, and, by default, Stella, there was an awful lot to keep up with and to accept as believable.

Overall, I enjoyed Smokescreen. The plot and action kept me engaged; I was interested in seeing how everything was resolved, and am happy with the way Ahren wrapped things up. I will absolutely read other books by Ahren in the future, and give Smokescreen 4 stars.

Ahren spent her formative years living in an active volcano. There her family made collectible lava art. She studied rock collecting at the Sorbonne in France. There she met the love of her life-her pet pig Sybil. She returned to the states and started writing. She is happily married to a guy who used to live under a bridge and she met while pole-dancing. They have one amazing daughter.

Now, meet the real me. I grew up in the south and consider myself a true “Southerner”. Most of the special locations mentioned in my books are reflections of my favorite places. Living on the Florida coast, my family spends a lot time at the beach which is where I usually can be found with a book in my hand. I started writing my Surrender Series, in the spring of 2013 and have received incredible support from the Indie community. Throughout this year, I have been privileged to meet some amazing people that I am thankful to have in my life.

Join Ahren’s Mailing List

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HOSTED BY:

Cover Reveal: Unwritten by Melody Grace

Posted on 02/10/2015 by shellbellereads

We are so excited to share the cover with you for Melody Grace’s new book UNWRITTEN, releasing March 10th! Unwritten – is a Beachwood Bay love story full of romance, passion and forbidden love and can be read as a standalone.

Make sure to enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card or an ARC copy of this book – good luck!

♥PRE-ORDER UNWRITTEN♥

Amazon | iBooks

He’s my best friend’s brother – and the only boy I’ve ever loved. Movie star, manwhore, and totally off-limits.

Until now.

I told myself it was time to move on, until one epic night changed everything. Now there’s no denying the way I feel when he touches me, or the reckless desire in his eyes.

Once we cross that line, there’s no going back. But can I risk it all for him when he’s still hiding secrets of his own?

Some love stories are destiny. Ours is still unwritten.

Melody Grace is the New York Times bestselling author of the Beachwood Bay series. A small-town girl turned SoCal beach lover, after spending her life with her nose in a book, she decided it was time she wrote one herself. She loves steamy romance novels, happily-ever-afters, and lusting after fictional menfolk. She lives in LA with her two kittens, Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers.

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Blog

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Take Me With You by K.A. Linde – Take Me Duet – Book 2

Posted on 02/10/2015 by shellbellereads

Grant
All of my demons are coming to head.
I thought Ari could push them back.
I thought I could conquer my vices with her at my side.

I thought wrong.

Aribel
Fear is my new constant.
I thought I could conceal it, contain it, control it.
I thought that now that I had Grant the worst was over.

I thought wrong.

But if we’re going to survive, wherever you go…take me with you.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Grant practically bounded across the room until he was directly in front of me. Then, his hands were cupping my cheeks so tenderly that it was as if he thought I might break in half. Without a word, his mouth dropped down on mine, and the kiss was as light as a feather. It was a question, a soft and delicate question, one he had never asked before—permission.

When I didn’t pull away from him, he received his answer. The kiss deepened, and he coaxed all the anger out of me. He drew it out as if sucking venom from an open wound. He kissed me so heatedly and lovingly that not even a drop remained. All that was left was a bottomless well of emotions of how much I loved and missed him.

When I came back into the moment, I heard the catcalls and yells from the people around us. It was then I remembered that we were in a crowded room, surrounded by people, and Grant had kissed the breath out of me. I flushed from head to toe at the attention, but he wouldn’t let me pull away.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I shouldn’t have blown up on you. I shouldn’t have done anything. You’re all that matters.”

I stared up at him in confusion. “Who are you, and what have you done with Grant McDermott?”

He laughed that beautiful glorious laugh, and a smile lit up his whole face. It was that damn smile that had won me over in the first place.

“Run away with me,” he murmured.

“What?”

“Run away with me. Let’s get out of here.”

“Where are we going?”

“Anywhere. Everywhere.”

Michel’s Review

Take Me With You by K. A. Linde is the sequel to Take Me For Granted. It should not be read as a stand alone novel.

Take Me With You picks up where the first book left off. Grant and Aribel have found their way back to one another. They are determined to make their relationship work. In the short amount of time they were separated many things happened that could destroy the love they are trying to hang onto.

Aribel comes from a prominent moneyed family. They are pressuring her to date a guy that is under her father’s wing. This guy is not all he presents himself to be and Aribel’s instincts are right on mark.

Aribel is also struggling to maintain her grade point average and keep her relationship with Grant flourishing.

Grant’s band is on the road to success. They are about to embark on a tour with a highly successful band. All of Grant’s bandmates want this to happen. Grant is holding back because of the problems he has had with the front man. He has tried to come between him and Aribel. Their new manager has also managed to cause problems for them. Grant would rather be in a bar band than pay the price of success by losing Aribel.

To top it off , Grant’s past is coming back to haunt him. His father is out of prison and is being persistent about reconnecting with him. Grant is fearful for Aribel because he knows what a dangerous man his father is.

Both Grant and Aribel will have to find a happy medium where their families are concerned. They will have to find a way to cope with Grant’s career in the spotlight. They will have to find a way to be themselves and cling to the happiness they have found in one another.

Take Me With You was the perfect sequel to the first book. I loved how both Aribel and Grant grew as individuals as well as a couple. I liked the maturity they found in this book. I was very pleased with the ending and felt satisfied with the direction this book took.

I would highly recommend this series!

USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde has written the Avoiding series and the Record series as well as the new adult novels Following Me and Take Me for Granted. She grew up as a military brat traveling the United States and Australia. While studying political science and philosophy at the University of Georgia, she founded the Georgia Dance Team, which she still coaches. Post-graduation, she served as the campus campaign director for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. An avid traveler, reader, and bargain hunter, K.A. lives in Athens, Georgia, with her fiancé and two puppies, Riker and Lucy.

Facebook | Website | Twitter | Goodreads

♥READ THE SERIES♥

Book 1 – Take Me for Granted

Amazon | B&N | iTunes

Book 2 – Take Me with You

Amazon | B&N | iTunes

Release Blitz + Giveaway: Below The Belt by Sidney Halston – Worth The Fight Series – Book 3

Posted on 02/10/2015 by shellbellereads

Below The Belt

Worth The Fight Series – Book 3

By Sidney Halston

Synopsis

Once one of the most sought-after names on the mixed martial arts circuit, Antonio “Scarface” Marino watched his career go down for the count as he chased skirts and made tabloid headlines. Now he’s finally making a comeback, and it’s all thanks to Francesca Silva, a Brazilian bombshell as tough as any of her fighters. But who’s the real Francesca: the trash-talking trainer who rides him hard, or the vulnerable woman who blushes at his touch?

Francesca went to the mat to sign Tony because she believes he still has the potential to bring big success to her gym—if she can keep his head in the cage and out of her personal life. After a short-lived marriage soured her on love, a one-night stand is all she can handle. Now Tony’s kisses are stirring up complicated feelings—especially when he agrees to face her ex in the ring. Francesca’s used to freezing guys out. But Tony’s tempting her to give in to the heat.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

I love the Worth the Fight series by Sidney Halston. Each book has been fantastic. They all have very different types of characters,interesting plots, a strong foundation of friendships, a feisty menacing chihuahua that intimidates big tough men, and sizzling red hot romance.

I was really looking forward to the release of Below The Belt. We met Antonio “Scarface” Marino in the the previous book Full Contact. He is a top billed MMA fighter with a very bad reputation. He is a prima donna in the MMA world. He likes to play hard and work as little as possible. He has a tendency of being an out of control hothead. His manager is on the brink of dropping him, he’s losing sponsors left and right, and aging fast. His career is on a downward spiral when WTF Gym takes him on. For WTF it’s all about gaining the publicity and notoriety as a professional class gym.

Francesca Silva is hard as nails. She can hold her own in the professional world of fighting. She rules WTF with an iron fist. She doesn’t ever socially mingle with any of her fighters. In fact she doesn’t date period. She has a few close friends but she doesn’t let them get too close. Being brought up in the MMA world and a gym brat, she knows the score. She’s been there, done that, been destroyed, made herself stronger, moved on, and started a complete new book. She is in total control at all times. Or should I say she thinks she is until Antonio Marino starts pushing all the buttons she thought she had destroyed. He is making her feel things that she thought she buried ten years earlier.

When the red hot Cuban turns on the charm he is a force to be reckoned with. You know what they say about Latino lovers. Tony has it all in spades. He also has the Latino hot head tendencies that lead him to making the wrong assumptions, petty jealousy, and verbal diarrhea . But with Francesca he has found a woman that will stand up to him, call him out, and give it back tenfold.

Put one sexy Cuban male and one spicy Brazilian woman in a relationship and the fireworks are going to explode. It won’t take a hurricane to bring their world down, their own stubborn hot heads are doing a fine job at it.

Both have insecurities, anxieties, and vulnerabilities they hide from the world. But when these two are together the walls come down and their personal baggage starts spilling out. The funny thing is they help each other pick up the pieces and make their baggage much lighter.

Some readers may struggle with the back and forth verbal sparring and the domineering attitudes. What they must understand is that this is a part of their cultural upbringing. This is the norm for relationships. I think Sidney Halston nailed this aspect of these characters on the head.

I loved how realistic this book felt in terms of graphic locations. I am from south Florida and this book made me homesick. I loved the easy feel of Tarpon Springs to the spirited feel of Miami Beach.

I loved the resolution in the end and was quite surprised at the direction this book took the series. Sidney threw in some new blips for Dragos. He now has three princess kittens and one snooty male cat to contend with. I bet Slade and Jack are out celebrating and buying kitty treats. Antonio is buying tissues and Francesca is buying catnip.

I can’t wait for the next book in this series. I am a fan of WTF fight team!

Tina’s Review

This is a hard one for me to rate and review. It is quite obviously a later book in a series, as evidenced by most of the characters already having a history with one another, including our two main characters. It CAN stand alone and the author DOES do a pretty good job at trying to fill in some of the back stories, but it would have been greatly beneficial to read the previous books prior to this, I think. Antonio is a testosterone-laden hothead who has a few redeeming moments here and there, but I had a hard time really liking him, let alone falling for him. Francesca seems to wall herself off from others while portraying herself to be completely independent and strong, seemingly incapable of feeling emotion. The secondary characters are an interesting mixture, including the stereotypical hyper-aggressive Chihuahua. The dialogue and interaction is mostly good, but there are times that I just want to smack both of them for the crap that comes out of their mouths. It’s a bit frustrating. The flow of writing is smooth, but the plot is a bit flat. While the cover caught my eye and plot initially grabbed me, compelling me to read it, the overall journey was not as dynamic as I’d hoped it would be. The conflicts that the plot is ridden with are usually resolved in mature and timely manners. There was little predictability and the hero and heroine get a solidly concluded ending. There is a slight opening / lead-in for Cain and Violet’s story to pick up next.

The Worth The Fight Series

Against The Cage – Book 1

In her Loveswept debut, Sidney Halston turns up the heat as a sexy cage fighter shows a former bookworm how delicious a few rounds between the sheets can be.

For Chrissy Martin, returning to her Florida hometown always seems to bring bad luck. The day starts with a breakup text, followed by a jailhouse phone call from her troublemaker brother. Now a routine traffic stop has ended with her accidentally punching an officer . . . in a delicate place. Then Chrissy realizes that the hot cop on the receiving end of her right hook is none other than the man from her teenage fantasies.

Jack Daniels knows how to take a hit. After all, when he’s not chasing reckless drivers, he’s kicking ass in a mixed martial arts ring. So what takes his breath away isn’t the low blow, but the woman who dealt it: a gorgeous knockout with legs Jack wouldn’t mind being pinned under—who just so happens to be his best friend’s nerdy little sister, all grown up. Soon their instant chemistry leads to a sizzling affair, but Jack and Chrissy are fighting an uphill battle if they want to make love last beyond the final bell.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Full Contact – Book 2

Sidney Halston returns to steamy Tarpon Springs, Florida, where a hell-raising bad boy prepares to get down and dirty for the woman he loves.

How could she have been so stupid? When Jessica Cross decides to give her violently jealous boyfriend—the otherwise influential and charming Dennis Stavros—a second chance, she very nearly becomes a statistic. After weeks of healing from a broken rib and collapsed lung, and with Dennis behind bars, Jessica finally feels ready to come out of hiding. But will she ever be able to take a chance on love again with someone new?

Mixed martial arts fighter Slade Martin knows he has a bad reputation. Hell, he’s probably earned it. So it won’t be easy to convince beautiful, vulnerable Jessica that she can trust him—that from the moment she walked into his life, she’s been the only one he’s wanted. Powerful and confident, Slade knows he can honor his vow to protect Jessica body and soul. Winning her heart will be another matter . . . but a woman like Jessica is worth the fight.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

________________________________

USA Today bestselling author, Sidney Halston lives her life with one simple rule: “Just Do It” Nike, and that’s exactly what she did. After working hard as an attorney, Sidney picked up a pen for the first time at thirty years old to begin her dream of writing. Having never written anything other than very exciting legal briefs, she found an outlet for her imaginative romantic side and wrote Seeing Red, among four other novels currently in the works, including the sequel to Seeing Red. That first pen stroke sealed the deal and she fell in love with writing.

Sidney lives in South Florida with her husband and children. She loves her family above all else, and reading follows a close second. When she’s not writing you can find her reading and reading and reading… She’s a reader first and a writer second.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Day Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: The Next Sin by Georgia Cates – The Sin Trilogy

Posted on 02/09/2015 by shellbellereads

The Next Sin

The Sin Trilogy- Book 2

By Georgia Cates

Synopsis

An epic tale of revenge and love in a new romantic trilogy from the New York Times best-selling author of The Beauty Series.

Bleu MacAllister is in hiding less than three months when Sinclair Breckenridge discovers her whereabouts. Her former lover, the future leader of a criminal organization known as The Fellowship, resists the tug of his heart heartstrings in her direction. Instead, he opts to watch over his beloved from afar. And she has no idea. But Sin’s sacrifice is short-lived. His bonny lass is a hunted traitor. He fears Abram’s assassins are closing in, leaving him with one solution for saving Bleu–make her his wife. Marriage seems an easy fix for their dilemma but wedded bliss is brief when the couple finds trouble lying in wait beyond the realm of the brotherhood. Will the original revenge seeker find herself the object of collateral damage?

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

EXCERPT

I’m in the background of Bleu’s life, as I have been for weeks. I have eyes on her at all times, even when they’re not my own. I safeguard her from harm. It’s all I’ve done since tracking my lass down in a small town in Mississippi, right outside of Memphis. I act as her protector from afar and she has no idea. She believes she’s hidden from The Fellowship—and me—but she couldn’t be more wrong. I’m always here, keeping a watchful eye on her and the MacAllister family.

I often need to be reminded that this is Bleu’s world. Every person she has contact with isn’t a threat but there’s an enormous problem with that. I have no idea who’s friend or foe.

I was concerned when Bleu disappeared at the bar with a man earlier tonight. I was on the verge of barging into the back until my lass came out on stage to perform with the band. I don’t think I’ve ever been so surprised in all my life. I knew she played but I never pegged her for a public performer. That doesn’t seem like my Bonny at all.

But I guess I don’t really know the real Bleu MacAllister. I only know the woman she pretended to be.

Michel’s Review

The Next Sin is the second book in the sensational Sin Trilogy by Georgia Cates. This trilogy is one of those enthralling kinds of story. The moment I opened the book I was immersed in Sin and Bleu’s world. Their passion for one another is more important than their transgressions. Their dedication and love for one another is unbreakable. Can they survive the world that Sin was born into and the world Bleu wants to destroy?

The Next Sin opens a few months after Bleu’s abrupt departure from Scotland. Sin has come to take her back. A hit has been placed on Bleu’s head from one of the high ranking members of the Fellowship. Sin has brought Bleu into the Fellowship, he has pledged his protection, and claimed her as his. This should of kept the Fellowship away from her. But some of the Fellowship members see her as a threat. The view her relationship with Sin as a betrayal. Sin vows he will protect her at all costs. His solution is marriage. No member of the Fellowship can touch another members family. It is the ultimate sin.

As Bleu and Sin start their new lives as a married couple, it stirs up a hornets nest. While they are trying to start a family, Sin’s family members are plotting to destroy them. Sin will have to step up and take his place as the second in command of the Fellowship. He will have to exert his power. He will have to put some of the higher ranking members of the Fellowship in their place. He will have to prove his leadership to the Fellowship as well as to his enemies.

Friends and foe are pissed. They want revenge. They want to destroy Sin. They want Bleu dead.

The only thing Sin and Bleu want are the life they are building together. They want to have babies and build a happy home.

Bleu still wants vengeance for her mother’s murder. What she thought was the ultimate truth as to who did it has now become very blurred. The one suspect has turned into many suspects. As she starts investigating the hidden secrets and potential suspects, Sin’s place in the Fellowship is being tested. It is becoming a threat to her and Sin’s future dreams. It has become a threat to the babies they desperately want to have. Can she let go of this vengeance and move forward in her life with Sin.

When Sin and Bleu finally are realizing their dreams, their world comes crashing down. They are facing total destruction of their world. The could very well lose each other. They could very well lose their lives.

That destruction knocks on the door with the wrath of the devil. What happens next….CLIFFHANGER!

I am so caught up in this story. I love the characters. Sin is one of the sexiest Scotsmen I have read. What makes him so sexy is his dedication to Bleu, his acceptance of her vengeance against the Fellowship, and his unconditional love for her. This man is swoon worthy. I love Bleu as well. She is a smart woman and loves Sin with all her heart. She is willing to reason and accept the fact that her perception of what happened to her mother might be different than she thought. She is willing to work with that. She is willing to put it aside so that she and Sin can start their family. She wants to have her babies and spend a lifetime with Sin. She will have his back, cherish his love, and give it back to him tenfold.

I can’t wait for the final book in this trilogy. One Last Sin, book 3, is scheduled to release March 23, 2015.Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20623840-one-last-sin

Bleu MacAllister is consumed. A horrific childhood incident has caused every
decision in her life to revolve around bringing a monster to justice. With
years spent studying The Fellowship, an organized crime brotherhood of liars,
thieves, and killers, Bleu will rely on her skills as a special agent to cut
Thane Breckenridge off at the knees. But walking hand in hand with retribution
means risking collateral damage, in the form of Breckenridge’s son
Sinclair—until Sin becomes so much more than Bleu bargained for. She’s always
known this undertaking would place her life in danger—she never imagined her
heart would be as well.

AMAZON /Barnes & Noble/ iBooks

A Necessary Sin

Michel’s Review

Wow… what a great start to an exciting new series, The Sin Trilogy by Georgia Cates.

I was captivated the moment I opened this book. It starts out on a high level of suspense. The reader gets to witness a horrific murder that will mold and shape one woman’s life. She will become a weapon. She will destroy her enemy. She will strike unexpectedly. Her enemy won’t know what hit him until his very last breath. She is a chameleon. She is vengeance.

Bleu McAllister has trained for twenty years to execute the man that killed her mother. She has studied her enemy. She has studied the organized crime brotherhood known as the Fellowship. She knows their key players, their enemies, and their weaknesses. She also knows their lethal legacy, their strengths, and their allies. She is ready to make her move.

Bleu moves to Scotland to carry out her vengence. The only way she can get to the man that murdered her mother is through his son. She studied her foe and came prepared to seduce this man and strike quickly. What she didn’t count on was who this man really was and how he would affect her.

What starts out as a carefully planned seduction of Sin Breckenridge ends up turning the tables on her. Sin’s sexy persona, the person beneath the facade has captured her heart. He is in no way a good man but he is not a bad man either. The man behind the image has a heart of gold, a beautiful soul, and compassion. How can she hurt a man that makes her heart beat?

As Bleu falls in love with Sin, her perspective will change. She is contemplating giving up her need for vengeance in the name of love. She is willing to accept Sin’s place in the Fellowship. She is willing to accept a life within the Fellowship. She is embracing everything she has hated in the name of love.

When she finally choses love the Fellowship finds out her secrets. Her life is on the line. She will have to make choices no woman in love should make. What happens next is …CLIFFHANGER!

_______________________________

Georgia resides in rural Mississippi with her wonderful
husband, Jeff, and their two beautiful daughters. She spent fourteen years as a
labor and delivery nurse before she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an
author and hasn’t looked back yet.

When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing. When
she’s being domestic, she’s listening to her iPod and visualizing scenes for
her current work in progress. Every story coming from her always has a song to
inspire it.

Representation: All questions regarding subsidiary rights
for any of my books, inquiries regarding foreign translation and film rights
should be directed to Jane Dystel of Dystel & Goderich.

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway