Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Full Package by Lauren Blakely

Posted on 01/09/2017 by shellbellereads

FULL PACKAGE by Lauren Blakely is Here!

A sexy and funny friends-to-lovers standalone romantic comedy, FULL PACKAGE is about a sexy, witty man as he falls head over heels for a woman, who just happens to be his roommate. It takes everything you love about a Lauren Blakely novel –witty dialogue, smoking hot sex scenes, and heartfelt moments –and puts them into one fantastic book! Told in the guy’s POV, with a creative look into Josie’s POV as well, FULL PACKAGE is the laugh-out-loud and insanely hot story of what happens when a sexy ER doc falls madly in love with his gorgeous roommate…and they’re forced to deal with all that simmering desire in a mere six hundred square feet of living space.

“Lauren Blakely has mastered the recipe for delightful and delicious. It’s called Full Package. I can’t find words to tell you how much I enjoyed this friends to lovers romance with enough sweet to melt in your mouth and enough spice to melt your panties.”

“Lauren Blakely nailed it AGAIN. This man man is perfection! HOT, SWEET, FUNNY, SMART.”

You can find this sexy standalone romantic comedy across all retailers!

✦Amazon US ✦Amazon UK ✦Amazon CA ✦Amazon AU ✦iBooks

✦Barnes & Noble ✦Kobo ✦Google Play ✦Amazon Paperback

✦Audio (Sebastian York!) ✦or via Audible

“Fresh, fun, flirty, and fabulous.”

~ Karen at Bookalicious Babes Blog

Add it to Goodreads here!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30283662-full-package

Tracey’s Review

Oh, Lauren Blakely, you enchantress, you. You’ve teased us, you’ve given us hints, and, finally, here we are, the FULL PACKAGE. Chase Summers, aka Dr. McHottie, and Josie Hammer, the sweetest baker in all of the land, have made appearances in the earlier books in Lauren’s romantic comedy series of reads that have become some of my absolute favorite reads. We’ve heard tell of Chase’s problem finding his own digs now that he’s back stateside after serving in Doctors Without Borders. He’s looked high and low, and still no joy. Living single since her roomie left to marry Josie’s older brother, Wyatt, Josie’s looking for a roommate that won’t drive her crazy, and luck has not been on her side. But, wait, was that Fate’s tinkling laughter that I heard?

“Bouncing around from place to place is wearing on me…It’s like I have some sort of curse when it comes to finding a decent rental. And you have a curse when it comes to finding…”
“A decent roommate.” Her voice trails off as she stares at me. Really stares. And as she seems to study me, the answer clicks. The lightbulb literally goes off at the same time for both of us.

And so it begins, or continues, really. Because, determined as they are to keep things friends only, let’s just say that, where there’s a spark, generally follows a flame, and in this case, the flame is hot enough to heat the entire city of Manhattan.

Like the other books in this ‘series,’ FULL PACKAGE is an absolute delight. Chase and Josie have serious chemistry, and what I love about this relationship is that they’ve known each other for quite a while. While insta-love has a time and a place (yes, yes, it really does, come on now), there is none of that here. What there is, is complete trust, shared interests, and all of the elements of a really solid friendship. These two just enjoy each other, love spending time together, and are, in fact, a great couple before they are a couple. This is not to say that there isn’t plenty of heat simmering between Chase and Josie, just that that isn’t all that there is, and it’s endearing and refreshing, and made them one of my favorite LB couples.

…We’ll need a code word. A heads-up. I’ll text you, or you’ll text me with that word.”
“Like aardvark? I’ve always thought that aardvark would be an awesome code word because it’s completely obvious it’s a code word.”
She calls me on my bluff, narrowing her eyes as we reach the block with her building. “Aardvark it is. But what if things get awkward between us?”
“What would be awkward between us?”
“…I guess I was just thinking…if anything felt awkward between us…” She waves her hand from her to me and back.
Ohhhhhh.
I get it now.
I pretend to whisper. “You mean,” I say, taking my time to drawl out each syllable, “sex-u-al ten-sion?”
Her cheeks flush. “No. I just mean awkward. I don’t mean that. Just that we’re a man and a woman living together. It’s just smart to be prepared for any…weirdness.”
“Just kidding, Josie,” I say, and drape an arm around her. “Things will never be awkward between us. But if they ever get that way, just say ‘Swedish Fish.’ That will be our safe word.”

I mean, how could you not love these two? They’re just so easy together, and able to talk about anything. Anything, that is, except the elephant in the room, the one holding the sign saying ‘Sexual Tension Be Here.’ Because, yes, good intentions and the bro-code are all well and good, but, when it comes down to it, Love will find a way, and that She does. Soon enough, Chase and Josie are both feeling those feelings, and, next thing you know, there aren’t enough fans or Swedish fish to be found.

Lauren has done her usual magical thing here, and written a book that was impossible to put down, that had me laughing, and smiling, and fanning myself, and saying “Awww,” all the marks of a fantastic read for me. 5+ sexy roomies, all bets are off, Swedish fish filled stars for FULL PACKAGE. Do not miss this one, guys, because it’s a keeper.

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

And don’t miss Lauren Blakely’s other standalone Romantic Comedies!

BIG ROCK
MISTER O
WELL HUNG

*✮✮✮ Enter to win this amazing FULL PACKAGE GIVEAWAY!✮✮✮***

Josie and Chase put together some of their favorite things just for you to celebrate the release of FULL PACKAGE!

The FULL PACKAGE is filled with:

✮ $50 Gift Card to Lush: Fresh Handmade Cosmetics for fruity scented bath products that Chase loves so much.

✮ $50 Gift Card to Sugarfina: A Luxury Candy Boutique where you can sample some of Josie’s favorite gourmet candy.

✮ A lovely Coach Wristlet containing a $50 Amazon Gift Card for you to spend on whatever your heart desires.

✮ And last but not least, my entire Audiobook Collection minus Full Package on Audible. It is aurally delicious!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

http://laurenblakely.com/full-package-giveaway/

About Lauren Blakely:

Since self-publishing her debut romance novel CAUGHT UP IN US over three years ago, Lauren Blakely has sold more than 1.5 million books. She is known for her sexy contemporary romance style that’s full of heat, heart and humor. A devout fan of cake and canines, Lauren has plotted entire novels while walking her four-legged friends. She lives in California with her family. With thirteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than seventy times. Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love, and Fighting Fire as well as standalone hit romances like BIG ROCK, MISTER O, WELL HUNG, and THE SEXY ONE which were all instant New York Times Bestsellers. In January she’ll release FULL PACKAGE, a standalone romantic comedy. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter! laurenblakely.com/newsletter.

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Excerpt Reveal: Accidentally On Purpose by Jill Shelves – Heartbreaker Bay Series

Posted on 01/09/2017 by shellbellereads

From New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis comes the next sexy, standalone novel in the Heartbreaker Bay series…

accidentally-on-purpose-cover

About ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE:

There’s no such thing as a little in love . . .

Elle Wheaton’s priorities: friends, career, and kick-ass shoes. Then there’s the muscular wall of stubbornness that’s security expert Archer Hunt—who comes before everything else. No point in telling Mr. “Feels-Free Zone” that, though. Elle will just see other men until she gets over Archer . . . which should only take a lifetime . . .

There’s no such thing as a little in lust . . .

Archer’s wanted the best for Elle ever since he sacrificed his law-enforcement career to save her. Their chemistry could start the next San Francisco earthquake and he craves her 24/7, but Archer doesn’t want to be responsible for the damage. The alternative? Watch her go out with guys who aren’t him . . .

There is such a thing as . . .

As far as Archer’s concerned, nobody is good enough for Elle. But when he sets out to prove it by sabotaging her dates, she gets mad—and things get hot as hell. Now Archer has a new mission: prove to Elle that her perfect man has been here all along . . .

Pre-Order ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE in ebook or paperback, releasing 1/24/17

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo| Barnes & Noble

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Add to your Goodreads

EXCERPT

“Hey, honey,” Trudy said in her been-smoking-for-three-decades voice. “Need anything?”

“Nope, I’m good.” Good plus mad, but although she adored Trudy, the woman couldn’t keep a secret to save her life. “Just taking in the nice morning.”

“Oh, that’s a disappointment,” Trudy said. “I thought maybe you were looking for that hottie with the nice package, the one who runs the investigation firm down the hall.”

Elle nearly choked on her tea. “Nice package?”

“Well I’m old, not dead.” And with a wink, Trudy pushed her cart down the hall.

It was true that Archer was annoyingly hot, not that she cared. Hot was useless to her. She’d much rather have the things that had eluded her for most of her life—safety, security…stability.

Three things Archer had never been accused of.

At the other end of the hall, she stopped in front of the door with a discreet sign: HUNT INVESTIGATIONS.

The investigative and elite security firm was carried on Archer’s reputation alone, no ads or marketing required. Basically Archer and the men he employed were finders and fixers, independent contractors for hire, and not necessarily tied by the same red tape as the law.

Which worked for Archer. Rules had never been his thing.

She opened the door and let herself into the reception area, which was much bigger than hers. Clean, masculine lines. Large furniture. Wide open space. A glass partition separated the front from the inner offices.

The check-in counter was empty. The receptionist wasn’t in yet—it was too early for Mollie. But not for the other employees. Past the glass Elle could see part of the inner office. A group of men, five of them, entered by a private door. They’d clearly just come back from some sort of job that had required them to be locked and loaded since they currently looked like a SWAT team.

Elle literally stopped short. And if she was being honest, her heart stopped too because sweet baby Jesus. The lot of them stood there stripping off weapons and shirts so that all she could see was a mass of mind-blowing bodies, sweaty and tatted and in all varieties of skin colors.

It was a cornucopia of smutty goodness and she couldn’t tear her eyes away. In fact, she couldn’t speak either, mostly because her tongue had hit the floor. Her feet took advantage of her frozen brain, taking her to the interior door, where she wanted to press her face up against the glass.

Luckily, someone buzzed her in before she could. They all knew her. After all, her job required her to work closely with the security firm, and therein lay her deepest, darkest problem.

Working closely with Archer Hunt was dangerous in oh so many, many ways, not the least of which was their history, something she did her best to never think about.

She was greeted with variations on “Hey, Elle” and “Mornin’” and then they all went their separate ways, leaving her alone with their fearless leader.

Archer.

Pre-order ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE and FILL OUT THIS FORM and enter to receive an exclusive bonus scene from her Heartbreaker Bay series!

heartbreaker-bay-graphic

And don’t miss the previous books in Jill Shalvis’s Heartbreaker Bay Series, SWEET LITTLE LIES, THE TROUBLE WITH MISTLETOE and ONE SNOWY NIGHT, now available! Grab your copies HERE!

About Jill Shalvis:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s sexy contemporary and award-winning books wherever romances are sold and click on the blog button above for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

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Excerpt Reveal: Egomaniac by Vi Keeland

Posted on 01/09/2017 by shellbellereads

egomaniac_frontcover_lores

Ego Maniac

By Vi Keeland

Release Date: January 16, 2017

Pre Order: B & N / IBooks / Kobo / Google Play

Amazon Paperback

***

No pre-order is available but signup to receive notice when the book goes live! ➜

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Join Vi’s Violets for early news of books, fun chats and giveaways!

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Blurb

The night I met Drew Jagger, he’d just broken into my new Park Avenue office.

I dialed 9-1-1 before proceeding to attack him with my fancy new Krav Maga skills.

He quickly restrained me, then chuckled, finding my attempted assault amusing.

Of course, my intruder had to be arrogant.

Only, turned out, he wasn’t an intruder at all.

Drew was the rightful occupant of my new office. He’d been on vacation while his posh space was renovated.

Which was how a scammer got away with leasing me office space that wasn’t really available for rent.

I was swindled out of ten grand.

The next day, after hours at the police station, Drew took pity on me and made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. In exchange for answering his phones while his secretary was out, he’d let me stay until I found a new place.

I probably should have acted grateful and kept my mouth shut when I overheard the advice he was spewing to his clients. But I couldn’t help giving him a piece of my mind.

I never expected my body to react every time we argued. Especially when that was all we seemed to be able to do.

The two of us were complete opposites. Drew was a bitter, angry, gorgeous-as-all-hell, destroyer of relationships. And my job was to help people save their marriages.

The only thing the two of us had in common was the space we were sharing.

And an attraction that was getting harder to deny by the day.

excerpt-teaser

Excerpt

Drew

I hate New Year’s Eve.

Two hours in traffic to make it not even the nine miles home from LaGuardia. It was after ten o’clock at night. Why weren’t all these people at a party by now? Whatever tension two weeks in Hawaii had relieved was already back to coiling tighter and tighter inside me as the town car inched its way uptown.

I tried not to think about all the work I was coming back to—the endless string of other people’s problems to compound my own:

She cheated.

He cheated.

Get me full custody of the kids.

She can’t have the house in Vail.

All she wants is my money.

She hasn’t given me a blowjob in three years. Listen, asshole, you’re fifty, bald, pompous, and shaped like an egg. She’s twenty-three, hot, and has tits so young they almost reach up to her chin. You want to fix this marriage? Come home with ten Gs in fresh, crisp bills, and tell her to get on her knees. You’ll get your blowjob. She’ll get her spending money. Let’s not pretend it was ever more than it really was. That doesn’t work for you? Unlike your soon-to-be ex-wife, I’ll take a check. Make that out to Drew M. Jagger, Attorney at Law.

I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling slightly claustrophobic in the back of the Uber, and looked out the window. An old lady with a walker passed us.

“I’ll get out here,” I barked at the driver.

“But you have luggage?”

I was already exiting the back of the car. “Pop the trunk. It’s not like we’re moving anyway.”

Traffic was at a dead stop, and it was only two blocks to my building. Tossing a hundred-dollar tip at the driver, I grabbed my suitcase from the trunk and took in a deep breath of Manhattan.

I loved this city as much as I hated it.

575 Park Avenue was a restored pre-war on the southeast corner of Sixty-Third Street—it was an address that gave people preconceived notions about you. Someone with my last name had occupied the building since before the place was converted into overpriced co-ops. Which is why my office was allowed to remain on the ground floor when other commercial tenants were tossed out years ago. I also lived on the top floor.

“Welcome back, Mr. Jagger.” The uniformed doorman greeted me as he swung open the lobby door.

“Thanks, Ed. I miss anything while I was gone?”

“Nah. Same old, same old. Peeked in on your construction the other day, though. Looking good.”

“They use the service entrance down Sixty-Third like they were supposed to?”

Ed nodded. “Sure did. Barely heard them the last few days.”

I dropped my luggage inside my apartment, then headed back downstairs in the elevator to check things out. For the last two weeks, while I was screwing off in Honolulu, my office space had been getting a total renovation. Cracks in the high, plastered ceilings were to be patched and painted, and new floors installed to replace the old, worn parquet.

Thick plastic remained taped over all of the interior doorways when I walked in. The little furniture I hadn’t put in storage was also still covered with tarps. Shit. They aren’t done yet. The contractor had assured me there would only be finish work left by the time I returned. I was right to be skeptical.

Flicking on the lights, I was happy to find the lobby completely done, though. Finally, a New Year’s Eve with no horrible surprises for a change.

I took a quick look around, pleased with what I found, and was just about to leave when I noticed a light streaming from under the door of a small file room at the end of the hallway.

Thinking nothing of it, I headed to turn it off.

Now, I’m six foot two and a half, two hundred and five pounds, and maybe it was just my frame of mind, my not expecting to see anyone, but when I opened the door to the file room, finding her there scared the living crap out of me.

She screamed.

I took a step back through the door.

She got up, stood on the chair, and began yelling at me, waving her cell phone in the air.

“I’ll call the police!” Her fingers shook as she dialed nine, then one, and hovered over the last one. “Get out now, and I won’t call!”

I could have lunged for her, and the phone would have been out of her hand before she realized she hadn’t dialed the final digit. But she looked terrified, so I retreated another step and put my hands up in surrender.

“I’m not going to hurt you.” I used my best soothing, calm voice. “You don’t need to call the police. This is my office.”

“Do I look stupid to you? You just broke into my office.”

“Your office? I think you took a wrong turn at the corner of Crazy and Nutjob.”

She wobbled atop the chair, holding both arms out to regain her balance, and then…her skirt fell to her feet.

“Get out!” She crouched down and grabbed her skirt, tugging it up to her waist as she turned her back to me.

“Do you take medication, ma’am?”

“Medication? Ma’am? Are you joking?”

“You know what?” I motioned to the phone she was still holding. “Why don’t you push that last one and get the police over here. They can drive you back to whatever loony bin you escaped from.”

Her eyes widened.

For a crazy person—now that I was really looking—she was pretty damn cute. Fiery red hair piled on top of her head seemed to match her firecracker personality. Although from the looks of her blazing blue eyes, I was glad I’d held off on telling her that.

She pushed one and proceeded to report the crime of entering one’s own office. “I’d like to report a robbery.”

“Robbery?” I arched an eyebrow and looked around. A lone folding chair and crappy metal folding table were the only furniture in the entire space. “What exactly am I stealing? Your winning personality?”

She amended her complaint to the police. “A breaking and entering. I’d like to report a breaking and entering at 575 Park Avenue.” She paused and listened. “No, I don’t think he’s armed. But he’s big. Really big. At least six feet. Maybe bigger.”

I smirked. “And strong. Don’t forget to tell them I’m strong, too. Want me to flex for you? And maybe you should tell them I have green eyes. Wouldn’t want the police to confuse me with all the other really big thieves hanging out in my office.”

After she hung up, she stayed standing on the chair, still glaring at me.

“Was there also a mouse?” I asked.

“A mouse?”

“Considering you jumped up on that chair.” I chuckled.

“You find this funny?”

“Oddly, I do. And I have no fucking idea why. It should annoy the crap out of me that I come home from a two-week vacation and find a squatter in my office.”

“Squatter? I’m no squatter. This is my office. I moved in a week ago.”

She bobbled again while standing on her chair.

“Why don’t you get down? You’re going to fall off that thing and get hurt.”

“How do I know you’re not going to hurt me when I get down?”

I shook my head and contained my laugh. “Sweetheart, look at the size of me. Look at the size of you. Standing on that chair isn’t doing jack shit to keep you safe. If I wanted to hurt you, you’d be out cold on the floor already.”

“I take Krav Maga classes twice a week.”

“Twice a week? Really? Thanks for the warning.”

“You don’t have to ridicule me. Maybe I could hurt you. For an intruder, you’re really kind of rude, you know.”

“Get down.”

After a full minute stare-off, she climbed off the chair.

“See? You’re as safe on the ground as you were up there.”

“What do you want from here?”

“You didn’t call the police, did you? You almost had me there for a second.”

“I didn’t. But I can.”

“Now why would you go and do that? So they can arrest you for breaking and entering?”

She pointed down at her makeshift desk. For the first time, I noticed papers all over the place. “I told you. This is my office. I’m working late tonight because the construction crew was so loud today that I couldn’t get done what I needed to. Why would anyone break and enter to work at ten-thirty at night on New Year’s Eve?”

Construction crew? My construction crew? Something was going on here. “You were here with the construction crew today?”

“Yes.”

I scratched my chin, half believing her. “What’s the foreman’s name?”

“Tommy.”

Shit. She was telling the truth. Well, at least some of it had to be the truth. “You said you moved in a week ago?”

“That’s right.”

“And you rented the space from whom, exactly?”

“John Cougar.”

Both my brows shot up this time. “John Cougar? Did he drop the Mellencamp, by chance?”

“How should I know?”

This wasn’t sounding good. “And you paid this John Cougar?”

“Of course. That’s how renting an office suite works. Two months’ security, first and last month’s rent.”

I shut my eyes and shook my head. “Shit.”

“What?”

“You got conned. How much did all of that cost you? Two months’ security, first and last month? Four months in total?”

“Ten thousand dollars.”

“Please tell me you didn’t pay cash.”

Something finally clicked, and the color drained from her pretty face. “He said his bank was closed in the evening, and he couldn’t give me the keys until my check cleared. If I gave him cash, I could move in right away.”

“You paid John Cougar forty thousand dollars in cash?”

“No!”

“Thank God.”

“I paid him ten thousand in cash.”

“I thought you said you paid four months.”

“I did. It was twenty-five hundred a month.”

That did it. Of all the crazy shit I’d heard so far, thinking she could get space on Park Avenue for twenty-five hundred a month took the cake. I broke out in a fit of laughter.

“What’s so funny?”

“You’re not from New York, are you?”

“No. I just moved here from Oklahoma. What does that have to do with anything?”

I took a step closer. “I hate to break the news to you, Oklahoma, but you got ripped off. This is my office. I’ve been here for three years. My father the thirty before that. I was on vacation the last two weeks and had the office remodeled while I was gone. Someone named after a singer scammed you into giving him cash to rent an office he had no right to rent. Doorman’s name is Ed. Walk through the main building entrance, and he’ll verify everything I just said.”

“That can’t be.”

“What do you do that you need office space?”

“I’m a psychologist.”

I held out my hand. “I’m an attorney. Let me see your contract.”

Her face fell. “He hasn’t brought it by yet. He said the landlord was in Brazil on vacation, and I could move in, and he would come back on the first to collect the rent and bring me the contract to sign.”

“You’ve been scammed.”

“But I paid him ten thousand dollars!”

“Which is another thing that should have tipped you off. You couldn’t rent a closet on Park Avenue for twenty-five hundred a month. Didn’t you find it strange that you were getting a place like this for next to nothing?”

“I thought I was getting a deal.”

I shook my head. “You got a deal alright. A raw deal.”

She covered her mouth. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

★★★★

________________________________________

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About The Author: Vi Keeland

vi keeland

Vi Keeland is a native New Yorker with three children that occupy most of her free time, which she complains about often, but wouldn’t change for the world. She is a bookworm and has been known to read her kindle at stop lights, while styling her hair, cleaning, walking, during sporting events, and frequently while pretending to work. She is a boring attorney by day, and an exciting New York Times & USA Today Best Selling smut author by night!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Additional Books by Vi Keeland

Baller

Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Life On Stage Series

Throb – Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

Beat –Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

MMA Fighter Series

Worth The Fight – Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Worth The Chance – Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Worth Forgiving –Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Cole Series

Belong To You – Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Made For You – Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Stand Alone Novels

First Thing I See– Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Left Behind – Amazon / Barnes and Noble

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Excerpt Reveal: Safe Bet by Monica Murphy – The Rules Series – Book 4

Posted on 01/08/2017 by shellbellereads

Safe Bet

The Rules Series – Book 4

By Monica Murphy

Release Date: January 10, 2017

Pre Order: Amazon / Amazon UK / Amazon CA / Amazon AU / B & N / IBooks

Synopsis

Sydney Walker’s new job is perfect. As the live-in nanny to the most famous quarterback in the NFL and his beautiful wife, she couldn’t have it any better. Their kids are adorable. Her bosses are more than generous. Plus, there are hot football players at the house all the time. Life can’t get much better than this.

Until her life turns into an absolute nightmare. The media is abuzz with rumors that she and her boss Drew Callahan are having a torrid affair. Everyone knows the truth–except the public. So Drew’s wife Fable comes up with the perfect idea.

She creates a fake relationship between Sydney and one of the rookie players on Drew’s team. Wade Knox is forever indebted to Drew and Fable and readily agrees to the set up. Pretending to be in a romantic relationship with the hot nanny for a week–how hard can it be?

Crazy how it only takes one week for two people to fall head over heels in love…

(This mash-up new adult romance features characters from both the One Week Girlfriend series and The Rules series.)

Excerpt:

“Drew!” Fable
calls, waving him over. “Come meet Sydney.”

He starts to head
over there and when he sends me a look over his shoulder, I reluctantly follow
him. I really don’t need to be involved in this scenario, but I just can’t tell
him that, can I? It would be rude. And I’m never rude to Drew and Fable.

Ever.

“Sydney, this is
my husband, Drew. Drew, this is Sydney Walker. She’s going to be our new
nanny,” Fable says, sounding pleased. She looks over at her husband with a
little wince. “I hope you don’t mind that I went ahead and hired her.”

“Of course I don’t
mind. I trust your judgment.” Drew turns to greet Sydney. “Good to meet you,”
he says as he gives Sydney a firm handshake. She’s staring up at him, her lips
slightly parted, her eyes wide. Full on awestruck, which is typical. He’s a
superstar. That’s how most people look at Drew when they first meet him.

“Hi,” she squeaks,
her cheeks going pink as she releases Drew’s hand. Her gaze slips to mine, and
then flitters away. But that one quick glance was like a sucker punch to my
gut.

The nanny is
beautiful.

I take a deep
breath, shoving my hands in my jeans’ pockets so I won’t do something
stupid—like try to grab her. She has pretty blue eyes and a full mouth that’s
made for kissing. Her curves are even lusher than I first realized. She has
full hips and a tiny waist and shapely legs. But I can’t worry about pretty
nannies right now. I have to concentrate on work.

It still blows my
mind that I might play for the NFL. That football is my job. I’m a lucky son-of-a-bitch.

“Sydney, this is
Wade Knox. He’s an old family friend,” Fable says, knocking me from my
thoughts. I blink and look down to find Sydney smiling up at me, interest
clearly showing in her gaze. Hmm. “Wade, this is Sydney.”

“Hey Sydney.” I
shake her hand, electricity pulsing between us the moment our palms touch. She
jerks her hand away from mine as if I burned her. Guess she felt it too.

Interesting.

“Nice to meet
you,” she murmurs as she takes a step back. Like she needs the distance.

Even more interesting.

We make small talk
for a few minutes before Fable takes Sydney back to the house, and the moment
the door shuts behind them, Drew’s talking.

“The nanny’s
cute,” he observes, his voice way too nonchalant.

“Uh huh.”

“She looked at you
like she thought you were cute, too.”

I roll my eyes. He
never says stuff like this, so what’s his deal? “Cute? What are you doing?
Trying to play matchmaker?” I send him a pointed look. “Give me a break. I
don’t need the distraction.”

__________________________________________________

p style=”text-align: left;”>I write books. I have the best job ever. New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Writer of new adult contemporary romance-ish stuff. Published with Avon and Bantam. Mom and wife. Native Californian.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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2017 Favorite + 6 Star Review: Rock Chick ReAwakening by Kristen Ashley

Posted on 01/06/2017 by shellbellereads

From New York Times Bestselling author Kristen Ashley, comes ROCK CHICK REAWAKENING, the long awaited story of Daisy and Marcus, brought to you by 1,001 Dark Nights! Be sure you grab your copy today!

*****

Rock Chick ReAwakening

Rock Chick Novella – Prequel To Rock Chick Series

By Kristen Ashley

Buy: Amazon / Amazon Paperback

Synopsis

From New York Times bestselling author, Kristen Ashley, comes the long-awaited story of Daisy and Marcus, Rock Chick Reawakening. A prequel to Kristen’s Rock Chick series, Rock Chick Reawakening shares the tale of the devastating event that nearly broke Daisy, an event that set Marcus Sloan—one of Denver’s most respected businessmen and one of the Denver underground’s most feared crime bosses—into finally making his move to win the heart of the woman who stole his.

Excerpt

Obviously, I’d decided to go out with Marcus.

He wanted to convince me we were meant to be together, he’d been kind enough to me he’d earned that shot.

But he was going to know what he was getting.

To this end, I was wearing my leopard print (or one of them). A skintight mini-dress that only went down to there. The back was scooped all the way out and the front was scooped to maximum cleavage potential (and with the maximums of my cleavage, this might be awe-inspiring to some; heck, it was my cleavage and it was still that to me).

I was going to pair this with my sky-high platform sandals with the black patent across the balls of my feet, open toes to show off the new fire-engine-red pedicure I’d given myself (along with the same in a manicure, but on my long talons, I’d added a curve of amber rhinestones all along one side of the outer edge of each ring finger). The platform and heel of the shoes were covered in leopard.

My hair was even more sky-high than my platforms. Teased to mammoth proportions at the top and sides, I’d smoothed that back and then curled the hell out of the rest of my tresses so they fell in soft, defined swirls from a high-rise at the crown all the way down my back (the bangs were blown out straight and brushing my forehead).

My makeup was how I’d do it if I was stripping, which was how I’d do it when I wasn’t stripping. My eyes weren’t smoky. They were smoke. My skin bronzed. The sides of my nose and under my cheekbones shaded. My cheeks a dewy tangerine. My lips a nude-y, super-glossed, glittering peach.

I had in bronze chandelier earrings that nearly swept my shoulders and were liberally dosed with black and amber beads. A bronze statement necklace practically covered my upper chest and I had so many dangly bracelets on, if Marcus got through the night without the noise of them tinkling driving him to murder me, he’d definitely pass an important test.

Baseball on the Infield Chalk Line with the Base in the distance

Michel’s Review

Readers have waited a long time for the beloved King and Queen of the Rock Chick Series story. They are the couple that has been the foundation of the series from the very beginning. Now it’s time to find out where fairytales are created and why happily ever afters really exist. It’s time for the Rock Chick Royalty to open their castle doors and let the readers experience their charming beginnings in the Rock Chick Kingdom.

Daisy and Marcus both had very rough beginnings in life. Their childhoods where horrific in very different ways. They are both survivors and found a way to escape their horrific past. For Marcus it was building an empire in the crime infested world in Denver. For Daisy it was becoming a high commodity in one of the classier strip clubs in Denver. A club that Marcus Sloan was silent partner in. The moment Marcus laid eyes on Daisy he knew he would make her his. He would give her the world. He saw beyond the beauty and fantastic body that enthralled the men of Denver. He saw a beautiful soul that had the strength of warrior, the compassion of a true humanitarian, and the loyalty that would never be severed no matter what the circumstances where. He saw a refined lady in outrageously sexy clothing. He saw his queen.

Daisy knew Marcus Sloan was a dangerous man that could either ruin her life or steal her heart. She has never experienced a good relationship or a good man. Daisy is an optimist and knows that they do exist. Upon meeting Marcus Sloan, she is convinced there really are prince charmings waiting for their princesses.

Just as the fairytale begins, the evil foe enters the fold and destroys the kingdom. Daisy has been violated and Marcus is going to kill the man who dared to destroy his princess. He will slay every dragon, destroy every enemy to put a smile back on Daisy’s face and joy in her heart.

He is going to give her his world. He’s going to build her castle and make her his queen. He is giving her his complete heart.

The only thing I can say about Rock Chick Awakening is …. WOW!

Although Rock Chick ReAwakening can be considered the prequel for the Rock Chick series, I honestly believe Kristen Ashley did the right thing by releasing it after the series was completed. Readers were already enchanted with Daisy and Marcus. They knew what spectacular people they were. Learning their story was a true fairytale that touched the heart. It reminded me of children learning about their parents love story for the first time. Kristen wisely waited to give us readers this charming tale. What I loved most is that it was strictly Daisy and Marcus’s story. The Rock Chick posse, the Nightingale hotties, and the crazy barista didn’t take over their story. They were the icing on the cake at the end of the story.

I think Rock Chick ReAwakening is my favorite out of all the Kristen Ashley books. It was a true fairytale.

Praise for Kristen Ashley and ROCK CHICK REAWAKENING:

“OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!! I FREAKING LOVED IT!!!!!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVED IT!!! This was pure Old School Vintage KA GOLD!!!”

~Aestas Book Blog

“This novella is like the key to all the locked doors in this series.”

~Angie’s Dreamy Reads

“We inhaled Marcus and Daisy’s story, how could we not. It was everything to us and we cannot thank Kristen Ashley enough for writing it, in her much loved unique manner. The queen of epilogues struck once more and we smiled through copious tears of happiness, our hearts feeling full and complete. Whilst sad that it’s over we just can’t feel anything but happiness and love right now. It was Aces! Rock on…and be prepared to be swept of off your feet.”

~Totally Booked Blog

“[Kristen] Ashley captivates.”

~Publisher’s Weekly

“There is something about them [Ashley’s books] that I find crackalicious.”

~DearAuthor.com,Kati Brown

“I felt all of the rushes, the adrenaline surges, the anger spikes… my heart pumping in fury. My eyes tearing up when my heart (I mean… her heart) would break.”

~Maryse’s Book Blog

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 accessorize and 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.

WEBSITE * FACEBOOK * TWITTER * NEWSLETTER * GOODREADS * PINTEREST * INSTAGRAM

Excerpt Reveal: Break Point by Rachel Blaufeld

Posted on 01/05/2017 by shellbellereads

break-point-cover

It’s reckless and hot until one of them taps out.

Break Point by Rachel Blaufeld releasing January 2017!

***

Break Point

By Rachel Blaufeld

Release Date: January 9, 2017

Pre Order: ITunes

Blurb

Juliette Smith, star tennis player, is starting over at a new university. Traumatized by hazing at her last school, all she wants is to attend classes, win tennis matches, and be left the hell alone.

She should have known her coach, Drew King, would be a problem from the moment he flexed his sexy-as-hell forearms.

What happens when you mix a pissed-off woman with a bunch of snooty teammates and a hot coach?

A heated match, complete with team politics and a forbidden game of singles with the coach.

It’s reckless and hot until one of them taps out.

Unable to admit she may be better off as a double, Jules is convinced she needs to play the game of life alone. Then life throws her a lob and she runs smack into her past.

Coach King is back, and he wants to take control of the game. But she’s not certain she wants his advice when it comes to the life she’s built.

The power struggle is on, but this time off the court.

break-point_12-13-16

Excerpt

I remained still, my arms wrapped around my knees, my jean shorts digging into the space where thigh met crotch as my red hair was whipped around my face by a passing breeze. I breathed in and out, counting backward from a hundred. Taking deep breaths and closing my eyes, I allowed positive energy to burn through me and eat away at the bad.

Giggles wafted from the benches below, near the fountain, and then drifted off as the other girls made their way out of the sports complex. Reality returned. It was present day, not back then when I was helpless.

Today I was in control.

Only after the others left—not that it mattered, I was invisible to them—did the coach nod in my direction and motion for me to come down.

That simple gesture felt like something more. Like I meant more to him than was appropriate for a coach and his student. His head tilted to the side for a beat too long, his gaze rested on me more thoughtfully than it had on the others, and he squinted at me in a way I liked very, very much.

“Think you can keep up with them?” He jerked his head back toward the gymnasium, a smirk twisting his mouth.

I zoned in on his lips and became a sailboat slicing through the sea, jumping into the blue ocean that was his eyes as I made my way down the stairs.

That’s your coach, Juliette. Let it be.

“I play singles, so I’m pretty sure I’ll hold my own with or without them,” I said from the bottom step, allowing my natural confidence to make an appearance. Hello, ego, my good friend.

“Yeah, I know. I meant, think you can hold your own with that crowd? In general?”

“I’ll be fine. I’m looking forward to it,” I lied. I wasn’t looking forward to dealing with them. Not today. Not tomorrow.

Though, now that I was in the presence of Coach King—up close and personal, outside, shouting, coaching, wearing shorts—I was more excited than before. His forearms fascinated me all over again. They rippled with strength when he moved, making me wonder what they would look like braced over me.

I pulled my hair back into a messy knot at my nape, allowing the breeze to hit my heated neck. “Thanks for asking me to come and watch.”

break-point-teaser-2

______________________________________________

rachel-blaufeld Rachel Blaufeld is a social worker/entrepreneur/blogger turned author. Fearless about sharing her opinion, Rachel captured the ear of stay-at-home and working moms on her blog,BacknGrooveMom, chronicling her adventures in parenting tweens and inventing a product, often at the same time. She has also blogged for The Huffington Post, Modern Mom, and StartupNation.

Turning her focus on her sometimes wild-and-crazy creative side, it only took Rachel two decades to do exactly what she wanted to do—write a fiction novel. Now she spends way too many hours in local coffee shops plotting her ideas. Her tales may all come with a side of angst and naughtiness, but end lusciously.

Rachel lives around the corner from her childhood home in Pennsylvania with her family and two dogs. Her obsessions include running, coffee, icing-filled doughnuts, anti-heroes, and mighty fine epilogues.

Stalk Rachel at: website / Twitter / Facebook

2017 Favorite + 6 Star Review + Excerpt: Rock Chick Awakening by Kristen Ashley – A Rock Chick Prequel Novella

Posted on 01/05/2017 by shellbellereads

From New York Times Bestselling author Kristen Ashley, comes ROCK CHICK REAWAKENING, the long awaited story of Daisy and Marcus, brought to you by 1,001 Dark Nights! Be sure you grab your copy today!

*****

Rock Chick Awakening

Rock Chick Novella – Prequel To Rock Chick Series

By Kristen Ashley

Buy: Amazon / Amazon Paperback

Synopsis

Excerpt

Obviously, I’d decided to go out with Marcus.

He wanted to convince me we were meant to be together, he’d been kind enough to me he’d earned that shot.

But he was going to know what he was getting.

Michel’s Review

He is going to give her his world. He’s going to build her castle and make her his queen. He is giving her his complete heart.

The only thing I can say about Rock Chick Awakening is …. WOW!

I think Rock Chick ReAwakening is my favorite out of all the Kristen Ashley books. It was a true fairytale.

Praise for Kristen Ashley and ROCK CHICK REAWAKENING: