Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + 2017 Favorite: The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo

Posted on 06/13/2017 by shellbellereads

The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo

By Taylor Jenkins Reid

Synopsis:

In this entrancing novel “that speaks to the Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor in us all” (Kirkus Reviews), a legendary film actress reflects on her relentless rise to the top and the risks she took, the loves she lost, and the long-held secrets the public could never imagine.

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

“Heartbreaking, yet beautiful” (Jamie Blynn, Us Weekly), The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is “Tinseltown drama at its finest” (Redbook): a mesmerizing journey through the splendor of old Hollywood into the harsh realities of the present day as two women struggle with what it means—and what it costs—to face the truth.

Robin’s Review

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Whereas a romance novel focuses solely on a romantic relationship and the happily ever after, women’s fiction tends to focus more on a woman’s journey. I’ve personally found women’s fiction to be a more diverse and unique genre. Consider, for example, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I’ve honestly never read anything like it! The latest novel from Taylor Jenkins Reid is a fascinating glimpse of Old Hollywood and the sacrifices required to become a movie star.

With one phone call, Monique Grant receives the opportunity of a lifetime. Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo plans to auction off 12 of her most memorable gowns to raise money for a cause, and she specifically requests an interview with Monique, a no-name journalist with Vivant magazine. Monique hopes this interview will boost her career, but she soon discovers Evelyn wants more than just a single interview. The aging, reclusive actress is finally ready to open up about her glamorous career – the sacrifices that she made and the secrets that she kept on her way to super-stardom.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is told from dual points of view, alternating between characters Monique Grant and Evelyn Hugo. For the most part, Evelyn’s point of view consists of the retelling of her life’s story. I found Evelyn’s story fascinating! Her life was dramatic, glamorous and even scandalous at times. Now in her late 70’s, Evelyn shares how a teenager from Hell’s Kitchen in New York City became a successful actress in Hollywood, the story behind each of her seven husbands, and the cunning and cutthroat sacrifices she made on behalf of herself and others.

A good portion of Monique’s point of view involves the process of interviewing Evelyn Hugo. Monique listens to what Evelyn has to say, but she also asks her good questions – questions I might ask if I was the person doing the interview. From the beginning of the novel, we are aware of events going on in Monique’s day-to-day life. Readers who love a little mystery in their novels will find it in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. As the story begins to unwind, it becomes more and more obvious Monique and Evelyn are connected in some mysterious way. Reid certainly had my curiosity piqued with hints of intrigue!

The author reeled me in with great descriptive writing – including lifelike descriptions of Evelyn, the movie star’s unique beauty, even descriptions of photographs taken of Evelyn throughout the years. I was impressed with Reid’s writing because I found I could picture things in my mind throughout the novel. The character dialogue in this novel is outstanding! Sometimes eye-opening, always clever, the dialogue captivated me and kept me glued to the pages of the book. An interesting feature of this novel are the articles written about Evelyn that are placed between each chapter. These articles are an ingenious way to let readers know what Hollywood reporters think about events going in Evelyn’s life.

Although I enjoyed Monique’s role in this story, it’s Evelyn Hugo who really steals the show! Evelyn is an extraordinary character who experiences all kinds of character growth! The author depicts this aspiring movie star perfectly – alluring, wealthy, charming, and ruthless in the pursuit of fame and fortune. I was also entertained by the stories behind each of Evelyn’s seven husbands – Ernie, Don, Mick, Rex, Harry, Max and Robert.

Readers who are familiar with Taylor Jenkins Reid will probably find The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo unlike any other book the author has written to date. But, just as I did, I hope those who read this novel will find it equally delightful! Taylor Jenkins Reid has earned my 5 star rating for The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and I count this novel one of my 2017 favorites!

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Author Bio

Taylor Jenkins Reid lives in Los Angeles and is the acclaimed author of One True Loves, Maybe in Another Life, After I Do, and Forever, Interrupted. Her books have been named a “Best Book of Summer” by People, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, InStyle, Good Housekeeping, USA TODAY, Redbook, Us Weekly, Parade, PopSugar, Buzzfeed, Bustle, Brit+Co, Goodreads, and others.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Release Day Launch: My Kinda Night by Lacey Black

Posted on 06/13/2017 by cafemamanc7

**Today we have the release day blitz for My Kinda Night by Lacey Black! Grab your copy today!**

**Title: My Kinda Night (Summer Sisters, Book 2)**

Author: Lacey Black

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Photographer & Cover Design: Sara Eirew

About My Kinda Night:

Payton Summer doesn’t have time for love. Between running her own business in her hometown of Jupiter Bay and her monthly night out with her sisters, Payton has no room for men, dating, or the drama that it entails. Her life is fine just the way it is. Yet, her attraction to the one man she shouldn’t want can’t be ignored.

Dean McIntire has one rule: don’t date clients. It’s a lesson he learned the hard way, and sees the consequence every day when he looks at his five-year-old daughter. It’s not a rule he’d break again. Until he meets the gorgeous Payton Summer, and suddenly, Dean finds himself ready to throw the rule book right out the window.

What happens when the sparks of lust can’t be denied? One night turns in to two, and two turns in to more. Payton and Dean find themselves unable to stay away, but can they survive when their secrets are exposed?

*Though part of a series, this book can be read as a standalone. It is intended for those 18 and over due to graphic language, descriptive sex, and the world’s most inappropriate grandparents.

Get your Copy Today!

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Catch up on the series today!

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Exclusive Excerpt:

It’s a Summer sister tradition that on the first Saturday of each month, the six of us get together. We take turns picking the location or activity, anything from margaritas and a movie to wine and painting classes at the small gallery uptown. One thing, though, is as certain as the sun rising over the Chesapeake Bay every morning; there will be alcohol involved.

Always.

Tonight, it’s another stupid painting class. Create and Paint, that’s what this class is called. I prefer to call it “Painting sucks, let’s get drunk!” while I chug my fruity Moscato because that’s the only wine worth drinking. Abby whips out red every once in a while and I swear to God Almighty that I’m going to shrivel up and die like those nasty, sour grapes used to create red wine.

I’m the oldest of six Summer girls. Of course, I’m the boss, the leader, and the best at everything (except painting, obviously). As I approach my thirty-third birthday in a couple of weeks at the end of January, I also realize that spending time with my sisters as much as I do is going to become more of a challenge.

Jaime is three years younger than me. She’s the sister who ran away to college and never came back. Well, at least until her fiancé left her the week before the wedding. She moved home, had to move in with our dad and grandparents, and worked for me at Blossoms and Blooms for a short period of time.

Then she met Ryan. Watching those two discover their love for each other was like watching soft porn. Sparks and hormones flew like fireworks every time those two were within a fifty-foot radius of each other.

AJ is the third sister at twenty-eight, or Alison Jane as her birth certificate states. Though, we’ve called her by her nickname for as long as I can remember. She’s the eighth grade math teacher at Jupiter Bay Junior High, home of the Hawks, where she’s taught ever since receiving her teaching degree. She has also enrolled in online classes for her Master’s degree. As of January twentieth, AJ will be a night student.

After AJ comes Meghan. She’s twenty-six and a hygienist at the local dental office. How someone can work inside another’s mouth all day and not get grossed out is beyond me. But she does it. Daily. Meg is also engaged to Josh, a man who treats her like the princess she is. Meg and Josh became engaged in December during a romantic trip to New York City for their anniversary. He went all out: Empire State Building, fancy dinner, down on one knee. It was perfect, just like they are.

Rounding out the Summer sisters are the twins, Lexi and Abby. Lexi, short for Alexis, gives me a run for my money in the boss department and is a hairdresser uptown. She’s married to her high school sweetheart, Chris, who rarely attends any of our family functions. He’s busy trying to take over the financial world, and believes that the only way to achieve that is to work nonstop. I don’t think it’s all roses and fairytales at the Jacobson house.

Abby, or Abigail, was born mere minutes before Lexi, but is as different as can be. She’s reserved, quiet, and shy in ways that the rest of us aren’t. Abby is an English Literature major and works as an editor for a major publishing house out of California. She’s on her computer all day, and rarely ventures out of her little apartment. It’s my goal in this new year to get her out and into the dating world, especially in light of the fact that her love for her best friend is unrequited. Levi is a great friend, but doesn’t see the wonderful woman before him. He’s too busy sticking his penis inside of every woman in the state of Virginia. (I say that lovingly.)

Let’s not forget our father, Brian, and our grandparents, Orval and Emma. Inappropriate doesn’t quite adequately describe the older couple who helped raise all six of us after our mom died. I was seventeen when she succumbed to ovarian cancer, leaving my father behind to get six girls through the teenage years. Enter the grandparents. I’ve got stories for miles, but we’ll get to those later.

Born and raised in Jupiter Bay, a small town of about eight thousand along the Chesapeake Bay, I’ve become accustomed to the small town lifestyle. I own the local flower shop, where I devote every ounce of my soul to making it a success. I’m not gonna lie, I had my doubts there at the beginning. I didn’t know anything about running a business, but was determined to make it work. It’s a lot of work, especially with a small staff of one other employee to keep overhead down, but I’m successful. And proud of it!

And that brings us to tonight. It’s the first Saturday of the New Year and we’re busy celebrating with sandcastles and wine. Hops and Grapes, a local retailer for microbrews and wines made on the east coast, is the place for tonight’s Paint and Create class. Right now, my beach scene resembles something a kindergartener would draw with finger paints.

“Mix together a little white with the brown until you get the light sandy color you’re looking for. Dab your brush in the water and then in the paint, and make long strokes across the canvas.”

Giggles erupt beside me. “She said long strokes,” Lexi whispers not so quietly.

“I get to make long strokes. Ryan is impressively large in the man-junk area,” Jaime says, gulping the last of her wine.

“Yes, we know. You tell us every chance you get.” This from Abby.

“Yeah, it’s starting to get annoying. If I had an impressive man-sword waiting for me at home every night, I’d never leave the house,” AJ adds.

“Not worth it. I’ll take my rabbit over a man any day. That baby has seven speeds and a rotating head,” I grumble, making a mess out of my sandy beach.

“Stop being so grumpy. Maybe if you actually had the real deal for a while, you wouldn’t be so damn cynical all the time,” Jaime says from across the table. She never takes her eyes off her canvas as she makes smooth, straight brushstrokes.

My face burns and I pray the vultures I share genes with don’t notice. Of course I don’t get so lucky. I’ve always said if it weren’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all. Trying to concentrate on my masterpiece, I keep my eyes down and focused on the sandcastle in the corner of the scene.

“I think there’s more to the story! Do you see her blushing?” Meghan’s laughter flits from the opposite end of the table. How in the hell she can see my face is beyond me. It’s probably that sister-radar all of us possess. It’s so damn annoying.

“I am not.” It’s a weak defense, I know, but it’s all I’ve got.

“Deny it all you want, big sister, but your face is definitely blushing,” Lexi adds.

“Ladies, when you get your sandcastle the way you want it, we’ll add a few details and highlights before moving on to the water.” The woman instructing our class has worn a constant smile the entire hour we’ve been here, and frankly, I’m starting to think she hit the sauce way before our arrival tonight.

“Why does my sand look like cellulite?” AJ asks. “I give up. I’m just drinking from here on out.”

Jaime glances over at our sister’s painting. “My God, that’s horrible. Thank God you’re not the art teacher!”

“Cheers,” AJ replies, raising her glass and tapping it against Jaime’s.

“Any wedding plans yet, Meg?” Abby asks, wetting her brush before swiping it through the paint. Always the perfect student, that one.

“Not yet. We’re thinking fall, though.” Meghan’s face lights up at the mere thought of her pending nuptials to Josh.

“That’ll be the perfect time.” Abby’s able to keep her smile happy when she’s in discussion, but I’ve seen the desolation in it too. Even tonight, I see something in her eyes that makes me sad. I’m sure her best friend is the root of her anguish, but I won’t call her out on it tonight. That’s a conversation to have at another time (with less alcohol).

By the time our three-hour torture session is up, each of us has painted waves rolling onto the beach, with a shovel, pail, and sandcastle. We pose as a group for pictures, each of us proudly displaying the fruits of our labor. My sisters each discuss where they’re going to hang their newest creation, while I contemplate which closet I’ll throw it in.

“Yours is great,” Abby says with a big smile.

“Helen Keller could have done a better job,” I retort with a snort of laughter.

As we say good night and thank the instructor, we all walk out together into the crisp early-January night. Not surprisingly, Josh and Ryan are waiting. Jaime and Meg practically run towards their men, each one jumping into their arms as if it’s been days since they’ve seen each other instead of a few hours. Longing rips through my chest and settles into my stomach, heavy and unrelenting. I try to push those pesky feelings aside, but sometimes, it’s just no use. They plant in my chest and brain and dig in deep.

“Good night,” Abby says, pulling me into a hug.

“You going out tonight?” I ask, recalling her mention of Levi’s gig earlier in the evening.

“No, I’m going to take my new painting home and hang it on the wall.”

“Wow, don’t overdo it now on a Saturday night, Abs. Too much excitement will cause wrinkles.”

“I just, I don’t really go to his gigs anymore.”

“Why?” I ask, though already knowing the answer.

She shrugs her shoulders and gives me a small smile. “Just not feeling up to it.”

I let it go. I already know she doesn’t go anymore is because it’s too painful to watch him leave with some skanky bimbo with a dress size bigger than her IQ. Levi may very well never know what he’s missing with Abby, but the romantic in me is still hopeful of him getting his shit together and realizing he loves her.

Hey, I may be cynical as hell in the love department, but I’m still a woman. And this woman wants only the best and a happily ever after for every one of her sisters.

As for me? Well, I’ve decided that my happily ever after will be in the form of cats. I’ll be the little old lady wearing hair curlers and her bathrobe around town, picking up every stray feline she can find.

And you know what? That’s okay. Not everyone is cut out for the spouse, house, and perfect postcard life. Despite what they tell you in the romance novels or in Disney movies, there isn’t someone out there for everyone. Sometimes, a person is just supposed to be alone.

That’s my destiny.

About Lacey Black:

Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading, writing, and shopping. She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her husband, two children, and a chocolate lab. Lacey loves watching NASCAR races, shooting guns, and should only consume one mixed drink because she’s a lightweight.

Lacey’s debut novel, Trust Me, was released in August 2014 and has been an Amazon Bestseller twice for Free e-books, as well as #1 for Contemporary Romance. All of the Rivers Edge books have been bestsellers in the Romance and Contemporary Romance categories.

Connect with Lacey:

Email: laceyblackwrites@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlaceyblack

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthLaceyBlack

Blog: https://laceyblack.wordpress.com

Enter Lacey’s Giveaway:

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Release Day Launch + Excerpt + 5+-Star Review: Too Close To Call by Tessa Bailey

Posted on 06/13/2017 by cafemamanc7

From New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey comes TOO CLOSE TO CALL, a novella in her Romancing the Clarksons Series published by 1001 Dark Nights! Grab your copy today!

About TOO CLOSE TO CALL:

All-American wide receiver Kyler Tate’s life is about to change. A fairytale college career skyrocketed him to the NFL draft. Adoration and opportunity are thrown in his direction wherever he goes, thanks to being chosen in the first round by the Los Angeles Rage.

None of the accolades mean anything, though, without his high school sweetheart, Bree Justice, by his side. Four years ago, she walked away from Kyler, choosing a quiet life over the flash and notoriety his career would someday bring.

Now he’s back in their Indiana hometown, refusing to leave for Los Angeles without her. Demanding she give their life together a shot. Her heart never stopped bleeding for the love of her life, but Bree’s decision was final. Too bad their wild attraction has only been amplified by their separation, and Kyler won’t quit until Bree is wearing his ring.

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CAN | Amazon AU

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EXCERPT:

Draft Day was nothing like Kyler had pictured.

“With the ninth pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rage select…” Kyler Tate’s parents sucked in breaths on either side of him. “Kyler Tate, receiver, University of Cincinnati.”

The tense atmosphere inside the event hall exploded with wild cheers, exclamations, and boos. His shoulders were slapped by thousands of hands, kisses landing on his cheeks. Like falling out of a kayak into a rushing current, bashing into rocks on the way toward a waterfall, Kyler stood, put his head down, and proceeded toward the stage. Cell phones rang at every table he passed, terse conversations taking place as the deadline timer for the next announcement started. Players he’d faced on the gridiron sweated in their suits, mothers fussed, water glasses were refilled.

This was it. Years of training, icing down injuries, two-a-day practices, glory, pain, and mental fatigue. All for this moment.

And it was…utterly fucking incomplete.

Before he could reach the stage, panic set in. Set in real good, like claws digging into fertile ground. A moment earlier, everyone in the room had looked familiar, but they were strangers now, spinning in a kaleidoscope. Sweat popped up on his forehead. His shoulder blades tightened, a harsh sound puffed from between his lips. From behind the podium, the announcer gave him a strange look, the Rage jersey lowering in his grip. Are you okay?

The man’s mouthed words barely penetrated over the sudden rushing stream of images. Of her. Bree Justice.

Tracey’s Review

So, author Tessa Bailey is already a favorite of mine, and her Keeping Up With the Clarksons series are right at the top of my list. When I heard that Kyler Tate was getting his very own story, and in an installment of the 1001 Dark Nights series, of all things, yep, I was doing the happy dance.

Fans of the Clarksons already know Kyler. The star of his college football team, Kyler has been drafted by the pros, and the world is about to open up in all sorts of ways for him. But one thing that we know about Kyler from his appearance in TOO HARD TO FORGET is that he is nothing if not determined, and oh, so committed. That commitment to his team, to his family, and to his heart is what makes this man so absolutely wonderful. And that commitment is what brings him back to his hometown, and figuring out the way to make sure that his future is full of Bree Sutton, his high school love, and the other half of his heart.

Bree has missed Kyler every single day since he left home, but she’s content to stay where she is, to make a life in the town that she loves, with the people that she loves. But resisting the Kyler of today is no easier than giving him up all those years ago, because the heart wants what the heart wants, and Bree’s heart wants Kyler.

As part of the 1001 Dark Nights series, TOO CLOSE TO CALL is short and sweet, and lacks nothing for being a novella. I don’t gift the title of ‘favorite’ easily, but this steamy, sexy, intense read has more heart than books double the size, and is indisputably one of my favorite romance reads this year. Tessa has scored a touchdown with this one, and left me wanting much more of Kyler and his supergirl, Bree. 5+ stars for this one. Romance fans should absolutely add this to their ‘I must read this immediately!’ TBR, along with the rest of this series. And, Tessa, if you’re reading this, more Kyler and Bree, please!

About Tessa Bailey:

Tessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans and laptop, driving cross-country to New York City in under four days.

Her most valuable life experiences were learned thereafter while waitressing at K-Dees, a Manhattan pub owned by her uncle. Inside those four walls, she met her husband, best friend and discovered the magic of classic rock, managing to put herself through Kingsborough Community College and the English program at Pace University at the same time. Several stunted attempts to enter the work force as a journalist followed, but romance writing continued to demand her attention.

She now lives in Long Island, New York with her husband of eight years and four-year-old daughter. Although she is severely sleep-deprived, she is incredibly happy to be living her dream of writing about people falling in love.

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Release Blitz: The Last Guy by Ilsa Madden-Mills & Tia Louise

Posted on 06/12/2017 by shellbellereads

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“The best and only way to kick off summer, devouring The Last Guy and then doing it all over again because it’s just that good.”

— #1New York Times Bestselling Author Rachel Van Dyken

TLG PB wrap

THE LAST GUY

By Ilsa Madden-Mills and Tia Louise

Publication Date: June 12th

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Comedy

Synopsis:

The first rule of office romance is don’t do it—especially if your dream is to hold the anchor spot on the nightly news and your boss is trying to get you fired.

But one look at Cade Hill, the sexy new sports director, and uptight reporter Rebecca Fieldstone is daydreaming about other things.

Sex in his office…

Sex in the on-set kitchen…

Sex in the supply closet…

She can’t stop thinking about the former NFL quarterback and how perfect he’d look between her sheets—except he’s an arrogant jerk with a huge… ego.

He’s the last guy she’d ever have a one-night stand with.

Cade Hill draws a thick professional line on office romance—until it comes to the hyper-focused Rebecca. He wants her, and he gets his wish when a chance encounter has them having the hottest sex of their lives.

It’s just a hook-up, she says.

When can we do it again? he says.

With Rebecca determined to keep Cade in the friend zone, it’s going to be an uphill battle for Cade to convince her he’s the last guy she’ll ever want.

THE LAST GUY is the first white-hot CONTEMPORARY ROMANTIC COMEDY from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills and Tia Louise. It features Fireball-fueled hookups, Doritos Locos Tacos, attack monkeys, toddlers in tiaras, and one fabulous drag queen. Prepare for frantic clicking (or page flipping!) and smoking-hot sexytimes all the way to the out-of-this-world happily-ever-after.

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Read THE LAST GUY today:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2s3NWRX

Amazon UK: http://smarturl.it/TLGamzi

PAPERBACK

Amazon: http://smarturl.it/TLGamzp

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Michel’s Review

Ilsa Madden- Mills and Tia Louise have teamed up to deliver a delightful and entertaining contemporary romance.

Rebecca Fieldstone has worked her rear end off at KHOT news as a field reporter. The position of weekend anchor is becoming available and she desperately wants that position. She has worked hard for several years and deserves her shot. The moment she has her eye on the prize everything begins to go wrong, from melted make up to wardrobe malfunctions. Rebecca is fighting to save her career. An inexperienced, younger female reporter is competing for the job. The station director has it out for her even though she can’t imagine why. Her immediate boss, the news director, isn’t backing her up. Should she lay down the gauntlet and settle for a job behind the scenes or fight for the position she wants. To make matters worse, NFL superstar Cade Hill has joined the KHOT team and taken over the sports news department. He gets to witness all of her humiliating live moments as well as her inter- office turmoils. His opinions and comments seem to have an impact on her position at the station even though he is in the sports department. She can’t help but hate him. At the same time she’s intensely attracted to him.

Cade Hill has a multitude of respect for Rebecca Fieldstone. Not only is she smart, sexy, and dynamic; she has integrity. He can’t understand why she’s being overlooked by her superiors nor can he understand why she thinks he is responsible for it.

As the story plays out, Rebecca and Cade find more there is more to life than KHOT News. Sometimes a person has to take a stand and reach out for the impossible. Their relationship proves that opposites attract and all the impossibilities are possible.

The Last Guy was a charming contemporary romance. It was very hard to tell which author wrote certain characters or scenes. The writing was solid and flowed beautifully. I would highly recommend this book.

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About the Authors:

Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills and the “Queen of Hot Romance” Tia Louise are not a secret duo, but simply themselves.

Great friends, former English teachers, and southern gals in real life, they’ve teamed up to bring you laugh-out-loud naughty romances with strong leading ladies and sexy alpha males who know how to please their women… and who sometimes you just want to slap.

Connect with Tia:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTiaLouise/

Twitter: @AuthorTLouise

Stay up to date with Tia Louise by signing up for her newsletter:

http://smarturl.it/TLMnews

https://authortialouise.com/dirtyplayers/

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Connect with Ilsa:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorilsamaddenmills/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ilsamaddenmills
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2k6L96J
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2jjRzlD
Website: http://www.ilsamaddenmills.com/

2017 Favorite …Release Blitz + 6 Star Review: When Life Happened by Jewel E. Ann

Posted on 06/06/2017 by shellbellereads

When Life Happened, an all-new standalone romance from

Jewel E. Ann is now LIVE!

When Life Happened

By Jewel E. Ann

Buy: Amazon / Amazon UK / B & N / IBooks

Synopsis

Parker Cruse despises cheaters. It might have something to do with her boyfriend sleeping with her twin sister.

After a wedding day prank involving a strong laxative, that ends the already severed relationship between the twins, Parker decides to grow up and act twenty-six.

Step One: Move out of her parents’ house.

Step Two: Find a job.

Opportunity strikes when she meets her new neighbor, Gus Westman. He’s an electrician with Iowa farm-boy values and a gift for saying her name like it’s a dirty word.

He also has a wife.

Sabrina Westman, head of a successful engineering firm, hires Parker as her personal assistant. Driven to be the best assistant ever, Parker vows to stay focused, walk the dog, go to the dry cleaners, and not kiss Gus—again.

Step Three: Don’t judge.

Step Four: Remember— when life happens, it does it in a heartbeat.

Read Today!

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Buy: Amazon / Amazon UK / B & N / IBooks

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Michel’s Review

The one thing I have discovered is that when I open a Jewel E. Ann novel I am in for a great surprise and an all consuming reading experience. Her writing is charismatic, engaging, and real. She delivers a very entertaining story with a sense of humor while slamming the reader with a raw emotional experience. Not only does she create an entertaining romance, the one thing that stands out is the story itself is completely original. Of course we all know that there really aren’t too many plots that are original, especially this day in age where the publishing world doesn’t have specific guidelines and rules. What makes Jewel E. Ann stand out is her gift to tap into several plot ideas and combine them to make them completely her own and completely different from the other million books out there. She adds her magical touch of creating dynamic characters that are charmingly imperfect but very endearingly human.

The first thing I want to say about this book is no matter what your reading tastes are just KEEP READING! I know many of the romance genre readers have hard limits with books about cheating and will not read a book where the synopsis indicates this may happen. Again I say KEEP READING! This book is exactly what the title is. It’s a messy, emotional, delightful story about When Life Happened.

As I began reading When Life Happened I immediately connected with Parker Cruse. Parker was betrayed by her twin sister Piper. Parker caught Piper cheating with her fiancé/ high school sweetheart Caleb. Weeks later her sister her sister walked down the aisle Parker should of been walking. Parker made sure her walk of shame was done in style with a huge dose of laxatives resembling the scarlet letter on the train of her wedding gown. Revenge was sweet but it would never heal the wounds of a broken heart. Two years later and still emotionally paralyzed, Parker is moving on with her life. She’s taking on the world of adulting. She’s moving out of her parents house, she’s going to get a real job, and she’s going to be an independent grown up. It doesn’t matter that she’s moving across the street into her grandparents old farmhouse. It’s far enough away from her parents. It’s also far enough away from conniving twin sister and despicable husband that are returning to town in a month. What she didn’t anticipate is a grubby sheepdog and sexy neighbor intruding in her space. She didn’t count on the sexy neighbor, Gus Westman, making her feel things she hadn’t felt in years. She didn’t count on her neighbor making her feel like a woman. She also didn’t count on him being married. She can overlook his ordinary wardrobe and baseball caps, she can deal with his adorable mangy dog and give it a haircut, she can hold herself back from swooning at his bad jokes and quirky grins. Being around him on a hourly basis isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. What she cannot overlook is his wife. The wife who becomes her boss and meal ticket. It doesn’t matter if she’s the world’s worst human being and wife. Gus belongs to that despicable woman, her boss. Gus wants to save his marriage until he doesn’t. Parker despises cheaters. She has taken back control of her life and learned to love herself. Who does Gus Westman think he is to take that away from her? He’s the man who loves her exactly for who she is until When Life Happened.

Sounds like a love story gone wrong? That’s absolutely correct but … KEEP READING… life happens and Parker is in the middle of all it’s beautiful mess. She’s going to find that life isn’t black and white. There are two sides to every story and her story is just beginning. She’s going to learn about forgiveness, acceptance, and love.

Jewel E. Ann had me with the first page. I could not put this book down and was completely surprised by the outcome because yes I am one of those readers that absolutely hates cheating. I am hopeless romantic that believes in true love and happily ever afters. I am also a human being that understands life can spin out of control and sometimes bad things happen before the good things can be appreciated. Life is messy but it is also beautiful. Parker experienced it all. Jewel E. Ann created a beautiful reading experience that left me with the warm and fuzzies!

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About Jewel:

Jewel is a free-spirited romance junkie with a quirky sense of humor.

With 10 years of flossing lectures under her belt, she took early retirement from her dental hygiene career to stay home with her three awesome boys and manage the family business.

After her best friend of nearly 30 years suggested a few books from the Contemporary Romance genre, Jewel was hooked. Devouring two and three books a week but still craving more, she decided to practice sustainable reading, AKA writing.

When she’s not donning her cape and saving the planet one tree at a time, she enjoys yoga with friends, good food with family, rock climbing with her kids, watching How I Met Your Mother reruns, and of course…heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, panty-scorching novels.

Connect with Jewel:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjeweleann/

Twitter: @JewelE_Ann

Stay up to date with Jewel by signing up for her newsletter:

http://www.jeweleann.com/free-booksubscribe/

http://www.jeweleann.com

Pre Release + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: The Farthest Edge by Kristen Ashley – The Honey Series – Book 2

Posted on 06/05/2017 by shellbellereads

✮✮✮A delicious world of erotica, BDSM with alpha-subs and their Dommes, and a gripping love story…Welcome to The Bee’s Honey! The second standalone title in New York Times bestselling author Kristen Ashley’s Honey Series, THE FARTHEST EDGE is a seductive and rich love story releasing June 6, 2017! Order your copy today! ✮✮✮

Go to THE FARTHEST EDGE and order your copy today!

About THE FARTHEST EDGE (Erotic Romance Releasing June 6, 2017):

Step into the Honey Club, where every sensual boundary will be tested in search of the ultimate pleasure…

Branch doesn’t exist. Living off the grid, he’s looking for a way to forget his past and the guilt that plagues him. But no woman has ever been able to bring him to the edge he craves.

After a traumatic experience of her own, Evangeline stepped away from the decadent world of the Honey Club. But when she gets Branch’s offer—to play without boundaries or commitments—it’s too tempting for her to refuse.

As their passion ignites, Evangeline and Branch push each other to their farthest limit, fulfilling their darkest desires while falling harder and deeper than they ever imagined.

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

GooglePlay | Kobo | IndieBound | BAM

And don’t miss the first standalone title in the Honey Series,

THE DEEP END!

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GooglePlay | Kobo | IndieBound | BAM

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt

Aryas knew her.

He knew what she liked.

He knew how she played.

He knew exactly what would make her squirm in her seat.

And he knew precisely how long it had been since she’d had her kink.

“You’re throwing down the gauntlet,” she accused quietly.

“You feel like picking up the glove?” he shot back, shaking the piece of paper at her.

She stared into Aryas’s eyes.

No strings.

Anything she wanted to do to get him off.

When he was done with her, he’d vanish from her life.

Her gaze dropped to the paper.

“Be you, and we’ll make it interesting, lay five grand on that fucker, he’ll give you one go and then he’ll move on,” Aryas pushed, but it was a dare.

She looked back at him.

A dare.

Yes, he knew her.

“No reflection on you and your skills, which are sublime, my beautiful baby.” He grinned wicked grin. “Just that this guy is unbreakable. There’s no edge for him any Domme can get anywhere near to push him off and that’s what he’s looking for. Being taken to the farthest edge and shoved right the fuck over.”

Taken to the farthest edge.

Evangeline was not into that. She wasn’t into extreme. Not like many who were into that in the life.

No, the edges she coasted were exactly what Aryas wasn’t quite saying, but she read this guy couldn’t handle.

Unless he had the right Mistress to lead the way.

Damn it all, she was getting wet.

“Five grand?” she snapped.

Aryas pressed his lips together and she was too peeved to get more peeved that he did it to suppress his amusement.

He unpressed them to confirm, “Five grand. But Leenie, babe, just to get it straight, he walks away from you at first meet, we’re even. It’s only if you get a crack at him the bet is on.”

She lifted her nose at the same time she snatched the paper from his hand, declaring, “He won’t walk away.”

“He might,” Aryas said gently, and his sudden loss of humor and careful tone made her focus on him again. “Beware of that. He’s done it before. In some ways, he doesn’t give a shit about anything. In some ways, he can be frustratingly choosy.”

“If I want him, he walks away, I’ll still get him,” she announced.

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Michel’s Review

The first thing I want to say is that when Kristen Ashley picks up a pen or strokes a keyboard complete magic happens.

An alpha sub and a soft hearted woman who is a hardcore Domme shouldn’t work, right? Most alpha men are pure Doms at heart and want total control in every aspect of their lives. But think about the BDSM world, it’s all about control and trust. The real power lays in the hands of the sub and how far they are willing to go. It’s a Dom’s or Domme’s responsibility to handle that trust with complete competent care. With that thought in mind, Kristen Ashley really tapped into the real idealism behind BDSM as well as the real kink.

Branch was a ghost long before he actually died. He’s been living off the grid of humanity for years waiting to take his final revenge for the death of his last drop of humanity he still possessed. He has lived under the radar and gone through countless Domme’s because none of them can take him to the farthest edge, the edge he desperately needs to fall over. It’s not about sexual satisfaction but rather about validating that he is still physically alive even though he is emotionally dead. When the owner of the Honey Club offers up his Queen Bee Dominatrix, he’s leary. He’s seen Evangeline in action. He respects her work but even she can’t take him where he needs to go. She’s experienced the bad side of a scene gone wrong and is damaged. She’s been out of the world for over a year. How can a tiny snippet of a damaged woman break the unbreakable?

Everyone thought Evangeline was broken, completely damaged after a scene went violently wrong. They underestimated her willpower, her strength, and her courage. She has been biding her time, healing her wounds and broken heart, and concentrating on building her life outside of the club. Even though she hasn’t stepped foot in the Honey Club in over a year, she’s ready to become who she was before it went terribly wrong. When her friend and owner of the Honey Club offers her the perfect sub, she’s ready to crack her whip. When she meets the unbreakable sub, she’s even more determined. He may walk out on her but she is going to have the last word.

What begins as a battle of wills and excessive need turns into something neither one of them anticipated. It’s more than achieving the ultimate sexual satisfaction, it’s about learning to live a complete satisfying life. Pushing Brock to the furthest edge is bringing him back to the land of the living. Accepting an alpha sub in her heart is more than accepting who she is, it’s about accepting a whole life instead of a fractured one.

With the stroke of the pen or keyboard, Kristen Ashley brought her magic. She made a hardcore BDSM book a beautiful romantic experience. It brought all the kink a book like this needs while also bringing all the heart a romance reader expects. I am amazed by this woman’s ability to create magic on the pages.

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About Kristen Ashley:

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorizeand she hadn’t taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen’s Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning.

Nothing’s changed.

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she’s blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better.

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Release Blitz + Excerpt + Review: Wicked Favor by Sawyer Bennett – The Wicked Horse Vegas Series

Posted on 06/05/2017 by shellbellereads

Wicked Favor

The Wicked Horse Vegas Series – Book 1

By Sawyer Bennett

Buy

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo

New York Times bestselling author, Sawyer Bennett, is happy to introduce a new Wicked Horse club in Las Vegas and you’re cordially invited to attend the grand opening…

As the owner of The Wicked Horse, an elite sex club located along the Vegas Strip, Jerico Jameson never spends the night alone. Gorgeous, ripped, and totally alpha, Jerico doesn’t grant favors and will rarely give you the time of day—unless he wants you in his bed. So when the sister of his sworn enemy shows up asking for help, saying no should be easy. But when Jerico takes one look at her and sees an opportunity to help this beautiful woman while exacting revenge on her brother, he’s not about to pass that up.

Beaten and bruised, Trista Barnes is running out of options, and Jerico is her last chance to get out of the mess she’s in. She doesn’t know why Jerico despises her brother so much, but as long as he can help her, she doesn’t care. Jerico offers her safety while opening her up to a sinful world she never knew existed.

As she succumbs to Jerico’s erotic charm, Trista lets herself fall into the wicked world of guilt free pleasure with no regrets. Under his strong alpha hand, she blooms, and so does Jerico’s possessiveness. But what happens when Trista finds out she was a pawn in Jerico’s game all along, and that the price for his favor was steeper than she ever imagined – her heart.

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo

Excerpt

Jerico

For three nights, I’ve watched her.

By any definition, I’d totally be considered a stalker.

But from the comfort of my office, I can pull up the security feeds on my monitor and take note of the subtle changes in Trista as she works the condiment tray. Truth be told, I don’t need her working that job and have a much greater need for her to go back to cleaning, but fuck if she doesn’t look a hell of a lot sexier in a thong than a turtleneck and pants.

Part of my training in the military was gathering intelligence, so I can pick up on the slightest of details that could tell me a very important story, and there were a lot of changes I noticed over the last three days with Trista as she settled into her job routine.

The most important and pleasing thing was that Trista’s stopped hiding her sexual curiosity. When she first started working here, she looked around a room in a vague way, not taking in too many details. I think she was afraid to watch.

Afraid of what it would do to her body.

But that has definitely changed.

Now, Trista watches what the patrons are doing. Sometimes, she stares for long moments and much to my delight, the kinkier the acts, the longer she stares. My trained eyes take in her chest rising and falling to keep up with what I’m sure was a racing pulse. She’d adjust the straps covering her breasts in a very minute way either because the pressure on her nipples was too much, or because she wanted to create some friction.

Naughty, naughty girl.

My favorite though was when she would cross one long leg over the other and squeeze her thighs together as she watched, and I had no doubt her clit was probably pulsing with desire.

Trista was getting braver too. She never once took any man up on an offer to join, and there had been some I’d seen. I had told her she could if business was slow, but I also made a spectacle in front of Willis that she was off limits. Perhaps Trista thinks she’s off limits to everyone, and it’s fine by me if she wants to think that.

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Michel’s Review

I was surprised when Sawyer Bennett announced that the Wicked Horse series had branched out Vegas style. This compelling erotica romance series captured the readers attention with it’s blend of erotica and western romance combined with some romantic suspense. She built up the series by introducing a few characters in the last book of her highly popular Last Call Series. Readers were chomping at the bits to get their hands on the Wicked Horse series and visit the kinky Silo. The Vegas crew seemed to come out of no where but thrilled the fans of this series. Readers can once again visit the Silo Vegas style.

It all begins with a forgotten favor and a need for revenge. Jerico Jameson is a man of honor who repays his debts but he is also a man of his word and punishes those who have wronged him. When Trista Barnes shows up at his sex club, The Wicked Horse Vegas, collecting a favor he owes, he sees this as an opportunity for revenge. It doesn’t matter if Trista is completely innocent and will be collateral damage. It doesn’t matter if she is too vanilla and too pure for his methods of revenge. What matters is she’s his weapon of choice. It doesn’t hurt that she’s beautiful and drop dead sexy. It just makes the revenge all the sweeter.

Trista Barnes needs money and she needs it yesterday. She owes a loan shark a large sum of money. She’s on the brink of losing her home and that is the least of her problems. She will do anything to get the money and put this debt behind her so that she can build the life she desperately needs to build. Working at a sex club isn’t beneath her standards. She can suck it up for one month and give into every one of Jerico’s demands. What she didn’t realize is how intriguing the Wicked Horse would be. Repaying Jerico’s loan may not be a hardship after all.

Trista has secrets. Secrets she wants to keep. Jerico has needs. Needs that do not include revenge. Trista’s and Jerico’s worlds are colliding at the Wicked Horse in the sexiest way. Both are going to walk away different people.

Once again Sawyer Bennett had me fanning myself with this sizzling erotica romance. The Wicked Horse is still just as taboo and dirty in a new location with a new cast of interesting characters. While each of the books in the original series had a stand alone plot, they all built towards a pretty big climax in the last book. Wicked Favor is the first book in the Wicked Horse Vegas Series and just began to introduce the new cast of characters and feel for the new club. I can’t wait to see where this series leads.

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Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists on multiple occasions.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.

Release Blitz + 6 Star Review + 2017 Favorite: When Life Happened by Jewel E. Ann

Posted on 06/05/2017 by shellbellereads

When Life Happened, an all-new standalone romance from

Jewel E. Ann is now LIVE!

When Life Happened

By Jewel E. Ann

Buy: Amazon / Amazon UK / B & N / IBooks

Synopsis

Parker Cruse despises cheaters. It might have something to do with her boyfriend sleeping with her twin sister.

After a wedding day prank involving a strong laxative, that ends the already severed relationship between the twins, Parker decides to grow up and act twenty-six.

Step One: Move out of her parents’ house.

Step Two: Find a job.

Opportunity strikes when she meets her new neighbor, Gus Westman. He’s an electrician with Iowa farm-boy values and a gift for saying her name like it’s a dirty word.

He also has a wife.

Step Three: Don’t judge.

Step Four: Remember— when life happens, it does it in a heartbeat.