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.

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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.

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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♥

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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.

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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.

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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.

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♥READ THE SERIES♥

Book 1 – Take Me for Granted

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Book 2 – Take Me with You

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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.

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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.

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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.

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________________________________

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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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Happy Release: Tight by Alessandra Torre

Posted on 02/07/2015 by shellbellereads

Tight

Erotic Romance

By Alessandra Torre

Release Date: February 7, 2015

Synopsis

Tight – Standalone

I was happy in my small town. In my life as a single, thirty-two year old woman. I had a good job, wonderful friends, my independence.

I also hadn’t been laid in three years. Hadn’t been on a date in two. Had stopped counting calories and wearing makeup… a while ago.

Then Brett Jacobs waltzed in. Caressed my thigh, dug rough fingers into my hair, lowered his soft mouth to my skin, took sexual control of my mind and stirred it all around with what he packed in his pants. He flipped my quiet life upside down and crawled into a place in my heart I thought was dead.

The issues?

His secret.

Her.

The fact that I don’t even know she exists, and he thinks she’s dead.

Everything is about to hit the fan and I can’t hold on to him tight enough.

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Michel’ Review

Alessandra Torre stepped out of her comfort zone and wrote a book that has elements of a dark thriller. Tight is word that holds many definitions. In this novel Alessandra Torre portrayed several different meanings through the passages that take this story in a chilling direction.

Readers are once again reunited with Riley and Brett. They were featured in the Bend collection. In Tight we see a complete different type of story. Rather than focusing on their sexual attraction, Tight focuses on their relationship and the progression of their lives as a couple from the beginning.

Riley and Brett met in the Bahama’s while Riley was attending a bachelorette party. Their attraction leads to a long distance relationship. Their romantic weekend getaways to exotic locations throughout the Caribbean and other resort type areas is like a fantasy come true. Everything seems like a fairytale. Brett is successful, rich, and appears to be the kind of man every woman dreams of. He is attentive, generous, and romantic. It seems too good to be true. He is mysterious about his business transactions on their getaways which leads Riley to become suspicious of how he really makes his money. Each trip, each conversation, and each romantic moment leads to more suspicion. Their relationship seems to heading towards a serious committed kind of love. Before Riley can completely surrender her heart to Brett, she has to know the truth.

Searching for the truth will lead Riley into a very dark and dangerous predicament. What happens next will lead to the point of no return. It could possibly lead to death.

Will Brett find Riley in time? Will the truth be Brett’s redemption or his fall from Riley’s heart?

I really enjoyed this book and found the story enthralling. I loved how the author built a relationship while adding moments of doubt that left the reader with questions. I loved the strength Riley displayed throughout the book. I also loved the psychological elements that gave the reader an inkling of what was happening without becoming too graphic. I liked that this book had multiple POV’s.

The only thing that I struggled a bit with was the transgression in POV’s and passages. I felt the flow of the story was a bit off. At times I had to turn back a few pages and reread them to catch up with the present POV and time.

Overall Tight was a very good book.

About Alessandra Torre

A New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Alessandra Torre has written seven novels, four of which became #1 Erotic Bestsellers.

Her first book, Blindfolded Innocence, became a breakout hit, rising to the top of the charts on Kindle and Amazon where it attracted the interest of major publishing houses and garnered Torre her first print deal with Harlequin HQN. Less than twelve months later, Torre signed a second print deal, this time with Redhook (Hachette) for her erotic thriller The Girl in 6E.

From her home near the warm waters of the Emerald Coast in Florida, she devotes several hours each day to various writing projects and interacting with her fans on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Happily married and with one son, she loves watching SEC football games, horseback riding, reading and watching movies.

Torre has four books slated for release in 2015. To stay informed, consider subscribing to her popular monthly newsletter.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

5 Star Review: Hero By Night by Sara Jane Stone – Independence Falls Series- Book 3

Posted on 02/06/2015 by shellbellereads

Book Three: Independence Falls

January 20, 2015

Synopsis

He was nobody’s hero until he landed in the wrong bed …

Armed with a golden retriever and a concealed weapons permit, Lena Clark is fighting for normal. She served her country, but the experience left her emotionally numb and estranged from her career-military family. Staying in Independence Falls seems like the first step to reclaiming her life until the town playboy stumbles into her bed …

Chad Summers is living his dream—helicopter logging by day and slipping between the sheets with Mrs. Right Now by night. Until his wild nights threaten his day job, leaving Chad with a choice: prove he can settle down or kiss his dream goodbye. But when he ends up in the wrong bed, the one woman in Independence Falls he can’t touch offers a tempting proposition. Chad is ready and willing to give in to the primal desire to make Lena his at night—on one condition. By day, they pretend their relationship is real.

But their connection extends beyond the bedroom, threatening to turn their sham into reality if Chad can prove he’s the hero Lena needs night and day … forever.

Buy: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iBooks ~ Google ~ Kobo

Michel’s Review

Lena Clark is a war hero. When she came home from war she was no longer the same person. She suffers from PTSD. Her anxiety levels have caused her to have panic attacks, nightmares, and paranoid tendencies. She can’t stand to be touched by other people. Although she is no longer a soldier, she is still fighting battles on a daily basis. The only thing that has helped control her PTSD is her therapy dog, Hero. She is trying to adjust to civilian life and learn how to tolerate normal every day life. She has moved to Independence Falls to heal and work her way back to real world.

Lena’s good friend offers her an apartment on her family’s property. Lena takes her up on the offer with hopes of staying in Independence and rebuilding her life.

Chad Summer’s is the town player and local bad boy. He is known for his charm and reputation with the ladies. His reputation and nightlife escapades have trickled into his day life. His job is on the line unless he can settle down and prove he is responsible and steadfast. Chad’s job as a helicopter pilot is his passion. He will do what is necessary to keep his job.

When Chad ends up in Lena’s bed by mistake it is a win win situation for both of them. Lena offers to be Chad’s fake girlfriend by day. In return Chad can help her with some of her problems. He is hers by night.

Although this is an unconventional path to healing it works. Chad’s intuitions, patience, sense of humor, and insight are just what Lena needs.

Love can be the healing touch. Together these two will find just what they really need in life. Together they will find peace, love , and happiness.

Sara Jane Stone delivers a well written heartfelt book. Her characters capture the reader’s attention. The story is well paced, realistic, sexy, and convincing. I enjoyed every moment reading Hero By Night.

Read Hero By Night and the Independence Falls Series. It will not disappoint!

Other Books By Sara Jane Stone

Full Exposure

No touching allowed …

After serving her country, Georgia Trulane craves adventure—and sex. She’s set her sights on her brother’s best friend—now her boss, since she took a temporary job as his nephew’s live-in nanny. Only problem? Eric refuses to touch her. That doesn’t stop Georgia from seducing him. But an earth-shattering encounter leaves her fully exposed, body and soul.

Eric has a long list of reasons to steer clear of the woman he has wanted for as long as he can remember. For one, he refuses to be her next thrill ride. When he claims her, it will be for good. But the attraction is undeniable, and the more they fight it, the stronger it pulls. But will it be enough to conquer their obstacles?

Links to Buy: Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ iBooks ~ Google Play ~ Kobo

Caught in the Act

Falling for his rivals’ little sister could cost him everything …

For Liam Trulane, failure is not an option. He is determined to win a place in Katie Summers’ life before she leaves Independence Falls for good. But first, he needs to make amends for the last time they got down and dirty.

Only problem?

His professional success hinges on striking a deal to buy Katie’s family business. And after Liam’s relationship with their Katie went south years ago, the Summers brothers are more enemy than friend. If both parties agree to set the past aside, they can reach an understanding. But when Katie welcomes him back into her bed, Liam risks everything to make her his.

After Liam betrayed her trust, Katie Summers will do anything to keep him from walking away with the family business. She decides to seduce him, knowing that when her brothers find out, they will back off from the deal. And she’ll finally have her revenge. But when her plan spirals out of control, Katie learns that payback may come at too high a price …

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ iBooks ~ Google Play ~ Kobo

Author Bio
After several years on the other side of the publishing industry, Sara Jane Stone bid goodbye to her sales career to pursue her dream—writing romance novels. Sara Jane currently resides in Brooklyn, New York with her very supportive real-life hero, two lively young children and a lazy Burmese cat. Visit her online at http://www.sarajanestone.com or find her on Facebook at Sara Jane Stone.

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website ~ Goodreads

Verum by Courtney Cole : 5 + Star Reviews and 2015 Favorite

Posted on 02/05/2015 by shellbellereads

Verum

The Nocte Trilogy – Book 2

By Courtney Cole

Synopsis

THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE.

My name is Calla Price and I’m drowning.

My new world is a dark, dark ocean and I’m being pulled under by secrets.

Can I trust anyone? I don’t know anymore.

The lies are spirals. They twist and turn, binding me with their thorns and serpentine tongues. And just when I think I have it figured out, everything is pulled out from under me.

I’m entangled in the darkness.

But the truth will set me free.

It’s just ahead of me, so close I can touch it. But even though it shines and glimmers, it has glistening fangs and I know it will shred me.

Are you scared?

I am.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

Verum , the second book in the Nocte Trilogy, by Courtney Cole released this week. The moment it went live I had to download it and begin reading it. Nocte, the first book in this trilogy, left readers with so many questions. It left our mind boggled. It left the reader with residual emotions that could not be put into perspective. The desperate anxious feelings have been festering.

The teasers that were put out before the release of Verum had readers theorizing and speculating where the this book would lead. The more readers formulated theories, the more confused I became. Each theory I read seemed credible and valid. They made sense. But… here is the thing… one part or two parts of a story are not a whole. They are building blocks that lead to the eventual outcome. It is a journey that takes many twists and turns. It was meant to engage the readers imagination, stimulate their sense of reasoning, test their patience, and induce every emotional response intended.

Verum takes a completely different direction from the previous book. The setting has changed. The circumstances revolving around the characters have morphed into something more complex. The potential danger and conflict has changed. New characters are introduced. There is a deeper and darker sense of despair. The twists and turns throughout the story have the reader’s mind whirling. Although the overall sense of the story has changed, the original plot is still driving this story. Each time the reader feels they have formulated pieces of the puzzle, the story shakes it up and the pieces fall into a new pattern. In the end, there is a huge revelation that makes this story make sense. This huge revelation is a relief. It also raises more questions.

Verum consumed me. It was a reading experience that left me drained (in a good way). Courtney Cole did an outstanding job with this book. She took the reader hostage, tortured their senses, engaged their minds, and led them on a very gothic journey. She meticulously chose each word to convey this story. Each passage was methodically placed to keep the reader on their toes and searching for clues. The writing was brilliant!

I am look forward to the final book in the Nocte Trilogy. I think the outcome is going to shock the reader to the core. I’m ready!

Robin’s Review

If you have already read Nocte by Courtney Cole, you know exactly what to expect with Verum. Unforeseen plot twists. Clues. Phrases and pieces of sentences which will have you scratching your head. Sentences consisting of nonsensical gibberish. Dreams? Visions? Hallucinations? Or truth?

The Nocte Trilogy is a literary jigsaw puzzle. It’s an intriguing mystery that will challenge your intelligence. Courtney Cole wants you to be confused. And if you are? She has succeeded with what she set out to do. In my case, Cole was successful. After I had finished reading Verum, everything I previously understood about Calla and Dare had been altered. I honestly have no idea what to think! One thing is for certain, I am desperate for the final novel of this trilogy! I cannot wait until the puzzle pieces finally fit together! Lux is expected to be released later in 2015. Courtney Cole has most definitely earned 5 stars and a place on my list of 2015 favorites with Verum!

ABOUT COURTNEY COLE:

Courtney Cole is a novelist who would eat mythology for breakfast if she could. She has a degree in Business, but has since discovered that corporate America is not nearly as fun to live in as fictional worlds. She loves chocolate and roller coasters and hates waiting and rude people.

Courtney lives in quiet suburbia, close to Lake Michigan, with her real-life Prince Charming, her ornery kids (there is a small chance that they get their orneriness from their mother) and a small domestic zoo.

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ARC Review: Give It All by Cara McKenna – Desert Dogs Series – Book 2

Posted on 02/05/2015 by shellbellereads

Give It All

Desert Dogs Series – Book 2

By Cara McKenna

Synopsis

A hot new Desert Dogs novel from the author of Lay It Down

Keep your friends close—and your enemies closer….

Bar owner Raina Harper can’t say for sure what Duncan Welch is to her. With her small Nevada town under siege by a ruthless casino development and still reeling from a spate of murders, she knows that trusting the public face of the corporate invaders is risky to say the least. Though, damn, it’s one fine-looking face.…

Duncan may be a mercenary when it comes to getting the job done, but he’s no villain. In fact, the calculating fixer soon finds himself in the bad guys’ crosshairs, framed and facing professional ruin. To clear his name, he’ll need help from Raina and her roughneck motorcycle club, the Desert Dogs. Gaining their trust won’t be easy, and the molten sexual tension between Raina and Duncan only makes things more complicated—especially since Miah Church, Raina’s friend and ex-lover, would sooner strangle Duncan than shake his hand.

One thing’s certain, though: If they don’t deal with their incendiary attraction soon, the whole damn town might go up in flames.…

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

Are you looking for a book that has strong characters, great dialogue, a plot that is well executed, snarky banter, and tons of action ? Look no more…. Give It All by Cara McKenna has all this and more. I could not put the book down.

Cara McKenna took a character that most readers hated in the first book and had him capturing the reader’s interest within the first part of the book. She made us fall in love with this jerk.

Raina Harper is a tough bar owner in a small town in Nevada that is being taken over by casino development. She’s tough as nails and can handle her clientele, The Desert Dogs MC. When the investigation of the missing bones takes on twists and turns, it brings Duncan Welsh into the spotlight. He is the kind of man Raina hates to love. He is quirky, has a touch of OCD, has anxiety issues, and is a powerful attorney. He is one hot mess. The exact kind of hot mess that Raina can’t help but want to clean up.

Duncan Welch, the rich corporate lawyer finds himself a target after he pushes the bad guys buttons. He has been framed and is facing ruin. The only way to clear his name is to engage the help of the motorcycle club, The Desert Dogs. He will have to earn their trust and earn their assistance. The sexual tension and mutual attraction between him and Raina only makes matters worse. Miah Church is Raina’s best friend, ex lover, and self proclaimed protector. He would rather kill Duncan than help him.

Raina and Duncan could not be more different than night and day. Opposites do attract. These two bring out the very best and worst in each other. They also give each other the support and strength the other needs. They grow as individuals and they grow as a couple.

As the story unfolds, the suspense builds, and the town is on an explosive path. Raina and Duncan’s passion is heating up more than the town’s eminent demise. Sparks are flying everywhere and everyone is getting burned. Raina and Duncan’s passion is going to explode.

There is so much more to this ongoing story. Each book unravels another piece of the overall plot. I would highly recommend reading Lay It Down by Cara McKenna, book one in this series. I can’t wait for the next book.

____________________________________
Author Bio:

Cara McKenna writes contemporary romance and smart erotica, sometimes under the name Meg Maguire, and has sold more than thirty-five novels and novellas to Ellora’s Cave, Penguin, Harlequin Blaze, Samhain, and Signet Eclipse. She’s known for writing no-nonsense, working-class heroes with capable hands and lousy grammar. She was a 2010 Golden Heart finalist, and a two-time Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award nominee. Cara writes full-time and lives in the Pacific Northwest with her own bearded hero.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

ARC Review: Drawing The Devil by Jon Keys

Posted on 02/05/2015 by shellbellereads

Drawing The Devil

By Jon Keys

Genre: LGBT, M/M Romance

Synopsis

A heart can live a lifetime in eight seconds.

Ever since his father caught him with another boy and threw him out at the tender age of sixteen, Dustin Lewis has been fighting his way up the national bull-riding rankings. He’s on the brink of qualifying for the National Finals when he draws Diablo, a notoriously rank bull—and the ride goes bad.

When bullfighter Shane Rees frees Dustin from the rigging of the same bull that nearly destroyed his face, he comes dangerously close to dropping his guard. Shane knows the potential consequences of being gay in a sport loaded with testosterone-overdosed cowboys, and the resulting scars of mind and body have left him with little self-worth.

Their near-death-by-bull first meeting sparks an attraction that awakens every last one of their personal demons. Yet as the National Finals draws closer, so do they. But they’ll have to overcome emotional highs, near-tragic lows, and bone-crushing danger before love can bust out of the chute.

Warning: Contains man-on-man boot knocking, rawhide and raw emotions, badass cowboys and even badder-ass bulls. This ain’t your old man’s rodeo.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Tina’s Review

The story starts off a little roughly written with short, choppy and stiff narration. Although the plot describes an exciting moment, the elementary style of writing detracted from the enjoyment. Thankfully, it starts to smooth out a little after only 10-15 %. Shane seems like a pretty solid character, if a bit insecure. Dustin is written in a way that more often than not, he comes off as a kid in his mid-teens as opposed to a young man starting his twenties. Maybe it’s his supposed ADHD, but I don’t buy that, being the parent of an ADHD pre-teen. Worse, I had to continually remind myself that Dustin is over twenty years old because, too often, the dynamics between him and Shane felt more like older man and early high school kid. The few secondary characters add good dimension. Dialogue and interaction are passable most of the time. The plot’s synopsis caught my attention immediately as I am a huge fan of bull riding and it sounded intriguing. I have to state that reading that Bushwhacker was some aggressive beast kind of threw me for a loop because the reality of it is quite the opposite, whereas Modified Clyde or David’s Dream would have been a more likely candidate. The plot, in writing, was pretty good and it flows a little better than average. There were numerous conflicts throughout the book, most of which were resolved well. It does, sadly, bring light to the fact that gay men face hate crimes still to this day. Predictability was not too much of an issue. The ending was concluded in a way where all the loose ends were tied and tucked away, but there was enough vagueness in it that there could later be a follow-up book or one featuring Todd and his barrel-racer crush.

Author Bio

My earliest memories revolve around books; with the first ones I can recall reading being “The Warlord of Mars” and anything with Tarzan. (The local library wasn’t particularly up to date.) But as puberty set in I started sneaking my mother’s romance magazines and added the world of romance and erotica to the mix of science fiction, fantasy and comic books.

A voracious reader for almost half a century, I’ve only recently begun creating my own flights of fiction for the entertainment of others. Born in the Southwest and now living in the Midwest, I’ve worked as a ranch hand, teacher, computer tech, roughneck, designer, retail clerk, welder, artist, and, yes, pool boy; with interests ranging from kayaking and hunting to painting and cooking, I draw from a wide range of life experiences to create written works that draw the reader in and wrap them in a good story.

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Saucy Southern Readers

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Category Archives: Book Review

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

Cover Reveal: Unwritten by Melody Grace

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

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

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

Happy Release: Tight by Alessandra Torre

Tight – Standalone

A New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Alessandra Torre has written seven novels, four of which became #1 Erotic Bestsellers.

Torre has four books slated for release in 2015. To stay informed, consider subscribing to her popular monthly newsletter.

5 Star Review: Hero By Night by Sara Jane Stone – Independence Falls Series- Book 3

Verum by Courtney Cole : 5 + Star Reviews and 2015 Favorite

ARC Review: Give It All by Cara McKenna – Desert Dogs Series – Book 2

ARC Review: Drawing The Devil by Jon Keys

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Tight – Standalone

A New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Alessandra Torre has written seven novels, four of which became #1 Erotic Bestsellers.

Torre has four books slated for release in 2015. To stay informed, consider subscribing to her popular monthly newsletter.

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