Happy Release + ARC Review: Beyond The Consequences by Aleatha Romig- The Consequences Series – Book 5

Posted on 01/15/2015 by shellbellereads

Beyond The Consequences

The Consequences Series- Book 5

By Aleatha Romig

Synopsis

BEYOND THE CONSEQUENCES

Book #5 of the bestselling Consequences series

From New York Times bestselling author Aleatha Romig comes more of the suspenseful romantic thriller about secrets and deception, passion and love, choices and consequences.

Secrets and deception

As the pieces of their puzzle come together, Anthony and Claire Rawlings continue to defy the odds. Together they overcame an incomprehensible beginning. Apart they endured unimaginable heartache. Reunited with family and friends, their journey continues as they navigate a dangerous world where secrets threaten to destroy what they hold the most dear.

Passion and love

Tony and Claire turn up the heat as sparks fly, passion rages, and love prevails. With only a dark glance or devilish grin, the fire that sparked in an isolated suite, continues to burn. Though no longer willing to be less than Tony’s equal in life, behind closed doors only one man makes the rules.

Choices and consequences

The safety of the Rawlings family is not debatable, and only Phillip Roach can assure that they are not disappointed. Learn how he leads old friends and new associates through the dangerous world of delusion and revenge. The choices he makes for both the family and his personal life will have consequences.

Beyond the Consequences is a novel that began as the novella, A Peek Beyond the Consequences, in a limited-release anthology, Breathless. Since its publication in 2014, Beyond the Consequences has more than tripled in length with more action, heat, and secrets to reveal. Learn once and for all the identity and fate of the sender of the Rawls-Nichols letters as you join the Rawlings for a special surprise!

Theirs was a long, complicated story with a monster and a knight. What made their story unique was that these two players were the same person.—Aleatha Romig, CONVICTED

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Robin’s Review

Back in September of 2014, Aleatha Romig published a novella that was included with 11 other stories in Breathless: an Anthology. A Peek Beyond the Consequences was unexpected and a welcomed surprise for fans of the Consequences series! We were given a glimpse of the future as it relates to Anthony, Claire and Nichol Rawlings, their extended family and employees. Romig has now expanded this novella to a full-length novel titled Beyond the Consequences. Her new novel is now almost three-times longer than its original size!

Up until now, I have considered the novels of the Consequences series to be dark psychological thrillers, but Beyond the Consequences seems to fall into the contemporary romance or romantic suspense genres. Yes, there are some elements of darkness, suspense and intrigue in this novel, but overall, I felt a sense of peace and happiness within the Rawlings family while I was reading. If my memory serves me correct, the first five chapters of Beyond the Consequences are the original novella found in Breathless: an Anthology. Just like me, there may be readers who realize they have already read the beginning of Beyond the Consequences. If you have not, please know these five chapters are excellent! They have their own story arc, complete with an entertaining mystery which is resolved.

Most of Beyond the Consequences takes place after the events of Convicted and Revealed. According to Romig, “It’s meant as a fun glimpse into the future of a family that had a very dark and unusual beginning.” Claire is now involved in the day-to-day running of the estate. Tony has resumed his position as the CEO of Rawlings Industries after a two-year absence, but he has also decided to share this position with Tim Bronson, who ran the company in his absence. Tony works from home quite often so that he can spend more time with his family. There are some very touching moments between Claire, Tony and Nichol in Beyond the Consequences. There are moments between the Rawlings, their family and friends which made me smile.

A good portion of this novel centers on Phillip Roach. Phil struggles with the decision to add a woman named Taylor Walters to the security team. He knows she is more than capable of doing her job, but he is very protective of the Rawlings family. After all, Phil considers them his family. There is less darkness in this novel, but don’t let that fool you. The security team continues to be concerned about packages and letters from an unknown individual that continue to arrive at the estate. Phil, Eric and Taylor are involved in an ongoing investigation that is one of the more interesting parts of this novel. If you enjoyed the mystery in Consequences, Truth, Convicted and Revealed, you won’t want to miss reading this.

The only negative criticism I have for Beyond the Consequences is that this story is missing the spine-tingling drama – something Aleatha Romig is well- known for – that is found in the earlier novels of the Consequences series. As I mentioned earlier, expect some elements of suspense and intrigue, but overall the darkness of the vendetta has played itself out. I consider this novel to be a contemporary romance or even a romantic suspense novel. Beyond the Consequences is actually a more realistic portrayal of life. The Rawlings family is now dealing with real life issues such as mental health, continued therapy sessions, medications, and the possibility of having more children. Family is a huge theme in this story. And, as always, Aleatha Romig’s writing style is beautiful. Please know that I enjoyed Beyond the Consequences. It was refreshing to see Tony and Claire continue to move forward in their relationship! Beyond the Consequence earns a solid 4 stars!

About Aleatha Romig

Aleatha Romig is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Together with her high-school sweetheart and husband of twenty-eight years, they’ve raised three children. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she’s not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time with her family and friends. Her pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams!

CONSEQUENCES, her first novel, was released August 2011, by Xlibris Publishing. Then in October of 2012, Ms. Romig re-released CONSEQUENCES as an indie author. TRUTH, the sequel, was released October 30, 2012, and CONVICTED, the third in the series, was released October 8, 2013. Unexpectedly, the fourth book of the Consequences series came to life with REVEALED: THE MISSING YEARS. It is the fourth full-length novel in the series. It explores the years in CONVICTED that previously were only mentioned, as well as a complete character glossary and timeline. REVEALED was released May 20, 2014. BEYOND THE CONSEQUENCES, book #5, will be released in 2015. Yes…MORE Tony and Claire.

Aleatha also wrote reading companions for the Consequences Series. BEHIND HIS EYES CONSEQUENCES (Book 1.5) and BEHIND HIS EYES TRUTH (Book 2.5) are currently available for those times and scenes when the readers asked, “What was he thinking?” These companions also contain never before released behind-the-scenes scenes.

INSIDIOUS, the first released book from TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE was be released October 21, 2014. TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE will be a series of standalone, dark, erotic thrillers guaranteed to take you on a wild, hot, and dark ride. Each novel in the series will be independent of the next. The characters from one book will never be revisited. Instead, Aleatha leaves it up to her readers to imagine how each story will end while remembering that it is the journey that is the most fun. DUPLICITY, book #2, will be released in 2015.

Aleatha is a “Published Author’s Network” member of the Romance Writers of America and represented by Danielle Egan-Miller of Brown and Miller Literary Associates.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ TSU ~ Amazon Page

::::SECRET CONSEQUENCE AUTHOR HOP::::

YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS!!

Starting TODAY, Aleatha Romig will be having a Secret Consequence Author Hop in honor of the release of Beyond The Consequences (Consequences Book #5). More than 30 prizes, More than 30 authors, 1 amazingly epic love story! Make sure to follow Aleatha Romig’s Author Page for details.

Cover Reveal: Obligations by Aurora Rose Reynolds- Underground Kings Series- Book 2

Posted on 01/14/2015 by shellbellereads

Obligation

Underground Kings Series- Book 2

By Aurora Rose Reynolds

Release Date: February 12, 2015

Synopsis

[ob-li-gey-shuh n]

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

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

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

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

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

About Aurora Rose Reynolds

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

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5-Star ARC Review: Filthy Beautiful Forever by Kendall Ryan

Posted on 01/14/2015 by Saucy Southern Readers

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Filthy Beautiful Forever

Filthy Beautiful Series- Book 4

Release Date : January 12, 2015

By Kendall Ryan

Synopsis

Collins Drake exercises control over all facets of his life. From his business, to satisfying his physical needs … it all happens on his command.

So when a woman shows up at his door and reminds him of a promise they made each other when they were just ten years old, it shouldn’t have the ability to rock his entire world.

Yet it does.

Because Mia Monroe wasn’t just his childhood best friend, she wasn’t just the girl he lost his virginity to and hasn’t seen since, she’s the one exception to his perfect control. And piece by piece, she’s about to tear apart his carefully laid plans.

Excerpt

“You’re not getting off that easily, brother,” Colton says, turning toward me. The douche is going to make me talk about Mia.

I try to take another sip of my drink and realize I’ve downed the entire glass. Shit.
Colton smirks at me and holds up the decanter of scotch. “You want some more of this?”

I narrow my eyes.

“Then you’re going to have to actually talk to us. Like a grown up. No more of this grunting and evading caveman bullshit. Tell us what’s going on,” Colton says.

“Give me the damn scotch,” I bark.

He hands it over and I pour myself a healthy measure while deciding exactly what I’m going to tell them.

Pace leans back in his seat, crossing his feet at his ankles, and Colton settles in, getting comfortable too. Here we go, it’s fucking sharing time, apparently.

“When Mia and I were kids, we sort of promised each other that if neither of us was married by the time we were thirty, we’d marry each other.”

Colton chokes on his liquor, coughing and sputtering loudly. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Pace chuckles to himself. “That’s fucking brilliant. You should totally do that.”

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / iBooks

Kelley’s Review

This sexy and swoony series is one of my absolute favorites. I can’t wait to read the next filthy installment. Yes I noticed that Kendall called Filthy Beautiful Forever Book 4 in the Filthy Beautiful Series and did not market it as the final book in the series so she must have another story up her sleeve… Kendall takes the reader on a sexy ride where the reader experiences an all-encompassing series of emotions.

I cried at the end of Filthy Beautiful Lies
Colton Drake became my new book boyfriend in Filthy Beautiful Love
As a single mom my favorite book in this series is Filthy Beautiful Lust because Kendall gives all of us hope for a Happily Ever After
Filthy Beautiful Forever took me back to my childhood and the promises we make as we are growing up. I adored this flirty read.

Kids make all kinds of statements and promises with no thought as to how things would really work in the future if those promises were to hold true. As we grow older lots of those promises are forgotten. Mia never forgot the promise she and Collins made when they were kids that when they turned 30 if neither of them were married that they would marry each other. When Mia shows up on Collin’s doorstep he cannot believe his eyes. It had been years since they last saw one another and yet Collins felt something come alive inside of him the moment she walked in the door. Mia knows she is taking a huge risk but her live lately has her at rock bottom with nowhere else to go. She is holding on to the hope of a childhood promise until she meets Collins stunning supermodel girlfriend Tatianna. One look at Tatianna and Mia realizes she is way out of her league. However, looks can be deceiving and one outing on Collins yacht shows Collins that his dream life may not be all that it is cracked up to be…

Kendall does an excellent job with developing the complex characters in this read. Collins is just going through the motions each day and does not realize that his life is empty until Mia shows up. Mia is the perfect girl next door. She is sweet, kind, caring, and smart. She knows Collins so well that she can tell when he is upset even when he puts on his mask. Tatianna is your typical spoiled supermodel. She likes the lifestyle Collins provides and she enjoys being with him between the sheets but there is no emotional bond between the two of them. She makes for a nice piece of eye candy when Collins has business meetings. I love that we get a gimpse into family life with Sophie and Colton along with Pace and Kylie.

Filthy Beautiful Forever is a great HEA read and if you are jonesing for a good solid HEA with no cliffhangers this is the read for you. At the end you will have a smile on your face and your heart will be filled with love and contentment. Bravo Kendall on another excellent Filthy read.

**Warning: this book contains an addictively filthy alpha male who will dampen your panties and own your days and nights. Proceed at your own risk.**

Meet Colton Drake…

I have no idea why she auctioned off her virginity for a cool mill. Regardless, I’m now the proud new owner of a perfectly intact hymen. A lot of good that will do me. I have certain tastes, certain sexual proclivities. My cock is a bit more discriminatory than most. And training a virgin takes finesse and patience – both of which I lack.

Sophie Evans has been backed into a corner. With her sister’s life hanging in the balance, the only choice is to claw her way out, even if that means selling her virginity to the highest bidder at an exclusive erotic club. When Colton Drake takes her home, she quickly learns nothing is as it seems with this beautifully troubled man. Being with him poses challenges she never expected, and pushes her to want things she never anticipated.

A sinfully seductive erotic romance where everything has a price and the cost of love is the highest of all from New York Times & USA Today bestselling author, Kendall Ryan

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Book 2 in the Filthy Beautiful Lies series.

I never expected to watch Sophie walk away. She was mine. I would own her. She just didn’t know it yet. New goal: Seal the deal and rock her world so thoroughly she never wanted to leave again.

Highly sexual and emotionally charged, Filthy Beautiful Love is the provocative conclusion to Filthy Beautiful Lies.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Book 3 in the Filthy Beautiful Series

Pace Drake loves sex. He knows where get it, what to say, what to do, and he makes no apologies for satisfying his needs. But when he meets single mom, Kylie Sloan, he’s enthralled by her, and begins to question his standard operating procedure. After all, there’s no chase, no mystery when banging a woman in a nightclub bathroom. Kylie’s depth and determination make the sloppy, drunken hookups that fill his weekends seem empty and shallow. She’s the opposite of the desperate, clingy women he’s used to. She doesn’t want or need anyone to take care of her and that only makes him want to care for her more.

Kylie’s trust in men has vanished. The last guy she was with played ding-dong-ditch-it with her uterus and left her with a baby to raise. Now her infant son is the only man she has time for, even if she misses sex and intimacy more than she’d ever admit. Opening her heart up to a younger man who’s best known for no-strings-attached sex and his casual lifestyle is probably the worst idea she’s ever had. But Pace wants to prove to her there are still a few good guys left, and watching the sweet way he interacts with her baby makes her want to try…but she can really trust that his days of hitting it and quitting it are in his past?

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / iBooks

Bio

Kendall Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the contemporary romance novels HARD TO LOVE, RESISTING HER, UNRAVEL ME and MAKE ME YOURS.

She’s a sassy, yet polite Midwestern girl with a deep love of books, and a slight addiction to lipgloss! She lives in Minneapolis with an adorable husband and two naughty puppies, one of which may be part monkey.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Cover Reveal: Kaleidoscope Hearts by Claire Contreras

Posted on 01/14/2015 by shellbellereads

Kaleidoscope Hearts

By Claire Contreras

Release Date: January 22, 2015

Synopsis

He was my older brother’s best friend.
He was never supposed to be mine.
I thought we would get it out of our system and move on.

One of us did.
One of us left.

Now he’s back, looking at me like he wants to devour me. And all those feelings I’d turned into anger are brewing into something else, something that terrifies me.
He broke my heart last time. This time he’ll obliterate it.

Author Bio:

Claire Contreras graduated with her BA in Psychology from Florida International University. She lives in Miami, FL with her husband, two little boys, and three dogs.

Her favorite past times are: daydreaming, writing, and reading. She has been described as a random, sarcastic, crazy girl with no filter. Life is short, and it’s more bitter than sweet, so she tries to smile as often as her face allows. She enjoys stories with happy endings, because life is full of way too many unhappy ones.

She is currently working on the second novel in her series.

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Cover Reveal: Dangerous Temptations by Brooke Cumberland

Posted on 01/14/2015 by shellbellereads

Dangerous Temptations

By Brooke Cumberland

Release Date: Late February 2015

Synopsis

One night was all it took…

One night to ruin everything I thought I knew.

From the outside, I had the perfect lifestyle.

Wealthy fiancé, blossoming career, amazing friends.

I wasn’t looking to get married yet, but when William—“Manhattan’s royalty”—charmed his way into my life, I couldn’t deny the security and comfort that overcame me.

To society, I was the girl only after his money. I was the party-goer who managed to seduce a man twice my age to have the lifestyle some could only dream of. I was every magazine’s cliché of what a gold-digging whore was.

I wanted to prove them wrong—that our love was real and that I wasn’t that girl.

But then everything changed.

One wrong decision. One unfaithful night. One haunting reality.

Perhaps they were right.

The media didn’t see it coming…and neither did I.

**This is a stand alone romance suspense novel with no cliffhanger. HEA depends on who you ask.**

Recommended for readers 18 and up due to strong language and explicit sexual content.

Excerpt

Oh god.

My head was pounding. Or wait, was someone at the door?

There’s no way I was this hung over. Or was I? Shit, I didn’t know. It was pitch black but then I realized I hadn’t opened my eyes yet, but the pounding was definitely apparent.

I rolled over, feeling the weight shift around on the mattress. The light, fluffy comforter felt great on my hot skin. The rest of me felt like I’d been hit by a truck.

My body jerked. Something was wrong.

I don’t have a light, fluffy comforter.

I opened my eyes, blinking several times to get used to the bright light. The sun was shining in, and I silently cursed that damn window for not shielding the sunlight out.

I sucked in a breath as I tried to remember the events from last night.

I couldn’t. Not much after dinner anyway. I knew I went out for Brittainy’s bachelorette party. The girls and I took a limo all over the city, taking us to dinner at (restaurant name here) and then we ended up at Le Bain for dancing and drinks.

The rest was kind of fuzzy.

I squinted, arching my back to stretch out the kinks. Good lord it felt like my body had been folded in half and beaten all night long.

I roamed my hands down my body, feeling for any kind of evidence. I was naked, completely naked, and I never slept naked unless…

I brought my fingers down in between my legs. It ached, badly. I could tell I had a full body work out last night.

I felt sick, like I was going to throw up, but I continued lying straight, hoping it’d pass.

I breathed in and out, slowly. Once my stomach calmed down, I attempted to move. A firm hand grabbed around my waist, pulling me back before I had the chance to get up.

“Don’t move,” a low, deep gravelly voice growled. It was a voice of a man who’d just woken up. Next to me.

Once I let it sink it, it rang a bell, but I couldn’t quite place it. He pulled my body to his, my back to his chest as he gripped my hip with one of his hands. He dipped his chin onto my shoulder and whispered over my ear, “I still have the taste of you on my lips.” I could feel his hot breath on me, the scent of alcohol apparent as I inhaled against him.

Holy shit.

I tried and racked my brain of any memory of last night. Who the hell was this guy? What was his name? Crap, I didn’t even know his name!

His hand squeezed my hip before trailing down my stomach, slowly going down in between my thighs.

“Stop,” I blurted out, sucking in another breath. His hand halted, but I still didn’t know who the hell this guy was. He could be into domination for all I know.

“Hung over?” he questioned, amusement laced in his tone. His breath tickled over my ear again, sending shivers down my spine unwillingly.

I cursed my traitorous body. It obviously remembered last night, yet nothing was coming to me.

“Yeah, I seem to have a case of the ‘I don’t remember what the hell happened last night,’” I said honestly. He removed his hand. I felt his body shift slightly as he put space in between us.

“Turn around,” he ordered. “Maybe you’ll remember my face.” I could hear the hopefulness in his tone, but I knew a visual wasn’t going to help any. I’d blacked out and nothing from last night was coming to me.

I didn’t hesitate though. I grabbed the sheet to conceal myself as I turned around to face him.

Well now at least I understood my body’s reaction. He was all messy hair with light stubble on his face. His eyes were dark, chocolate brown I’d say. He was looking at me intently, waiting for me to say I remembered him. But I didn’t.

I swallowed as I looked down the length of his body to see him completely naked, not at all covered up.

“Sorry,” I choked out, forcing my eyes to look back up at him. “I have no memory of you.” I blushed, seriously embarrassed. He looked good enough to eat and here I was not remembering any of it.

“That’s okay,” he finally said, his lips curving up slightly. “I’d be glad to help you remember…perhaps a fourth time would jolt your memory.”

My eyes widened in shocked. “A…fourth time?” I clenched the sheet tighter to my chest. No wonder my body felt bruised and broken.

“Wow…” He grinned playfully. “No memory even after three times is kind of an ego killer.” He brushed a hand through his messy locks, taking my attention away from his eyes. I imagined I was to blame for his hair looking like that—as if I had raked my hands through it over and over—squeezing, pulling.

Stay focused, Mac.

I blinked, seriously frustrated I couldn’t remember anything.

“I’m s-so sorry,” I rambled. “I can usually hold my liquor, but last night was a girl’s night…”

“I know,” he cut me off. “Bachelorette party if memory serves me correct. You were out with some girlfriends.”

“Right…oh god, did they see me leave with you? I need to get dressed. I should leave. Where are my clothes?” I started to sit up and quickly realized that wasn’t going to happen. “Shit.”

“Sit back, Mac.” It wasn’t a suggestion. He pulled me back lightly, dropping my head to the pillow. “I’ll grab you some juice and pills.”

“Okay. Thank you…” I lingered, still not knowing his name.

He sat up, searching the floor for his shorts. He pulled them on and spun around with a huge grin on his face. “Alex.”

Ho-ly panty dropper.

Which explains why I’m not wearing any.

About Brooke Cumberland:

Brooke Cumberland is a USA Today Bestselling author who’s a stay-at-home mom and writes full-time. She lives in the frozen tundra of Packer Nation with her husband, 4 year old wild child, and two teenage stepsons. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading love stories, listening to music that inspires her, and laughing with her family. Brooke is addicted to Starbucks coffee, leggings, and anything sweet. She found her passion for telling stories during winter break one year in grad school–and she hasn’t stopped since.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Review: Angel In Armani by Melanie Scott- New York Saints Series- Book 2

Posted on 01/13/2015 by shellbellereads

Angel In Armani

New York Saints Series- Book 2

By Melanie Scott

Synopsis

WILL A LOVE OF THE GAME
Sara Charles is striking out on her own. With her dad out of commission, Charles Air has only one helicopter left—and only Sara to fly charters. With the family business in jeopardy, Sara needs all the clients she can get and the newest one is New York Saints team surgeon, Lucas Angelo. When an unexpected flirtation escalates into a night of pure blind passion, Sara is in agony over what she believes was extremely poor judgment on her part. She wants nothing more than to avoid Lucas. And keep her business her business. But she needs him—in more ways than one.
LEAD TO A FIELD OF DREAMS?But there is a catch: Lucas also needs Sara. Spring training is upon him, and his schedule is madness. So he asks Sara to be his personal pilot. It’s an offer she can’t refuse. She intends to keep him at arm’s length—especially when she discovers just what different lives they have. Little does Sara know that, for Lucas, the only thing more important than business is pleasure. He only plays to win. And he intends to hit it out of the park…

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / IBooks

Tina’s Review

She needs a miracle to save the family business
.
Sara resigned from the military to help her father after her father’s helo crash leaves him severely injured. With no other pilots on the roster, Charles Air is in jeopardy of closing their business. She still suffers some battle stress effects and has been left opinionated of the rich and elite because of a tragic loss too close to home that never truly met justice.

He needs someone he can trust to guide him through the hell of flying.

Lucas still, after nearly twenty years, suffers blank spots of lost time from the explosion that forever altered his life in college. He remembers running into the stadium to help trapped victims – then nothing – until he was being lifted into a medevac helicopter, strapped to a gurney. Since then, he’s had a hellava time flying. He’s pretty much the black sheep in his socialite family and often is made to suffer the fallout for his freedoms.

The characters are well-written with good dimension. Their interaction and dialogue is believable and their conflicts are real and not over-the-top. I feel we get a better and more rounded back story on Sara than we do Lucas, but given what we are shown of Lucas’s past, there may not be too much that is desirable to share. The secondary characters add a vibrant fullness to the cast; I love Dougal. The plot is very good, if you can overlook Sara’s reversed snobbery. The story flows very well, however I did seem to notice several words used that conflict with American terminology (ie: lift for elevator, flock for dress / gown, car park for parking lot). The conflicts are finally all sorted out, leaving a satisfactory and solid conclusion.

————————

Author Bio:

Melanie Scott is an unrepentant bookworm. Luckily she grew up in a family that fed her a properly varied diet of books and these days is surrounded by people who are understanding of her story addiction. When not wrestling one of her own stories to the ground, she can generally be found reading someone else’s. Her other distractions include yarn, cat butlering, dark chocolate and fabric. She lives in Melbourne, Australia. To keep in touch, sign up for her newsletter at http://www.melanie-scott.net.

She also writes fantasy and urban fantasy as M.J. Scott To find out more about M.J’s books, check out her website or sign up for her newsletter at http://www.mjscott.net.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Held Against You by Season Vining

Posted on 01/13/2015 by shellbellereads

Held Against You

New Adult / Romantic Suspense

By Season Vining

Synopsis

A gorgeous bounty hunter. A wanted woman. A passion they can’t deny.
Accused of a horrific crime and on the run, Kat has been rejected by everyone she loves. She’s a fugitive from her past, flitting from town to town with nothing but the clothes on her back—until she meets a man who literally stops her in her tracks.
A notorious bounty hunter with powerful instincts, he never fails to capture his prey. But there’s something about Kat that gets under his skin–and it’s not just the naked innocence he sees in her pretty eyes. Behind his ice cold demeanor, he has his own darkness… and now his lively, vulnerable mark is about to crack him wide open.
As they travel across the country together, both captor and captive are unable to deny the spark of attraction between them. Will their journey bring them together…or will their dangerous secrets tear them apart?

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / IBooks

Michel’s Review

I am always on the look out for new authors to read. Held Against You by Season Vining was brought to Smut Book Junkie Reviews attention through publisher/ publicist outreach months before the actual book was released. When I read the synopsis I was intrigued. It was a combination of two of my favorite genres, New Adult and Romantic Suspense. I took this generous offer to read the ARC copy for review.

I LOVED Held Against You! It was witty, entertaining, adventurous, gritty, and a very sexy read. The characters were larger than life. They had personality in spades. The dialogue was creative, snarky, and intuitive. The pacing of the story was perfect. The suspense and high octane was consistent throughout the story and had readers guessing the outcome to the very end. It had the right amount of sexual tension, emotional passages, and passionate moments. This book was a little less graphic in the bedroom scenes but was not lacking in projecting the red hot passion and chemistry between the characters. The entire plot to this story was unique and fresh. When I finished this book I was amazed at how much I enjoyed it. It was a page turner that kept my attention to the very last page.

Held Against You was not your typical angsty New Adult book. It may have been classified in this genre because of the characters age and general life experience, but they were not tormented angsty souls. They had a very defined situation that they had to deal with. They dealt with this situation to the best of personal abilities ( I say this loosely, because both characters fall in opposite sides of the spectrum, therefore they dealt with things to their individual ability). Somehow, even though they had opposing roles in their situation, they were able to merge and find a solution that worked for both of them.

Held Against You is not your typical romantic suspense either. There are several players in the story and at times the reader is not sure who the bad guy is. The danger and fear does escalate to an explosive ending, but the journey getting there is full high octane explosions that have the reader wondering where this is leading. It was not predictable.

Held Against You starts out with a fast paced heart racing moment. The reader gets to meet Kat. She is on the run. She committed murder and is trying to get to the Canadian border. She is penniless and without means for survival. Through sheer wit she manages to elude the authorities. Little does she know that a bounty hunter has been sent to collect her. Her determination and wit has kept her out of his grasp for over a month. He is tired, cranky, and pissed off that one little woman could elude him in the flash of an eye. But luck is on his side and he finally is able to capture her. Bringing her back is going to turn out to be an even bigger nuisance than capturing her was. It is going to be the road trip from hell. Kat is more than a murderer, she is a snarky pain in the butt. She doesn’t know when to shut up and she doesn’t know how to obey. What seems like easy money is going to make him earn every penny. It may make him grow a conscience and change his profession, or it may make him change his profession for peace and quiet.

All is not what it seems. As the story unfolds it becomes quite clear that there really isn’t a right and wrong, black and white. Kat’s life is every shade of grey. Is her head worth the money it is going to bring? Or is there a sinister motive for the hunt?

Read this book! It will not disappoint! I loved every word!

I was so impressed with Season Vining’s writing. I had to go and download her previous book, Beautiful Addictions. I think that she is going to make her mark in the book lovers world.

Author Bio:

SEASON VINING is an author, a designer, a philanthropist, a bookworm, a cook, inked, and a night owl. She loves John Hughes films, tattooed boys, and celebrating anniversaries of her 29th birthday. She lives in Louisiana, where she likes to spend time with her corgi, Chap.

Season is a graphic designer by trade and adores all form of art. She’s a fan of live music, vintage cars, and people who know the difference between their, there, and they’re.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Don’t Deny Me by Megan Hart- Part One of a Novel in Three Parts

Posted on 01/13/2015 by shellbellereads

Don’t Deny Me

Part One- A Full Length Novel in Three Parts

By Megan Hart

Synopsis

He’s back, and the heat between them cannot be denied…
Part One of Don’t Deny Me, the passionate new e-serial novel from bestselling author Megan Hart.
Alice and Mick had it all: the happy days, the heartfelt evenings, the hot, slow nights. But Mick couldn’t give her what she needed, and in a moment of crisis, they lost everything. Torn apart, Alice tries to pry him out of her life and move on—until a not-so-chance meeting at an old friend’s party brings them face-to-face once more. Now they’re talking again, Alice can’t escape the burning in her chest whenever he’s near, the way his eyes still follow her around the room…but she won’t repeat the mistakes of her past. Passion alone is nothing to build a life on. Or is it?

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / IBooks

Michel’s Review

Don’t Deny Me Serial- a novel split in three parts by Megan Hart is one of those serials you don’t want to miss. It is a story of uninhibited passion, emotional depth, honest insights into the human psyche, and the perfect portrayal of what the true meaning of love is.

I have read all three parts to the Don’t Deny Me serial and can honestly say it was quite an emotional reading experience. Megan Hart has a true gift of creating characters that are very real and easy for the reader to relate to. Her writing is flawless and flows with a very effortless smooth transition in each passage. She has the gift of digging deep into the minds and emotions of her characters and presents their whole persona to the readers without causing the reader to instant love or hate them. She gives them a natural balance that all readers can understand and grasp.

Megan Hart is a pioneer author in angsty, emotional, and extremely erotic books. She was giving us the “true grit” , “emotional angst”, and “sinfully steamy romances” long before the 50 Shades of Grey frenzy took readers by storm and made them want more than a fluffy romance. Megan Hart is a superb writer and a master of her craft.

Don’t Deny Me- Part One begins with Alice going for a weekend anniversary party of old time friends. She has not seen her friends in ten years. After her toxic breakup with Mick, she couldn’t bear to be around their old friends or him. She dropped out of their social circles and moved on in her life. She figures that ten years has gone by and she has come to terms with how her life has progressed. She has led a pretty fulfilling and happy life. She has had more than enough time to heal and forgive. She’s ready to reconnect with her old friends once again. A weekend anniversary party is the perfect way to reconnect. She knows that Mick will be attending the party as well. She feels that time has given her maturity, wisdom, self respect, insightfulness, compassion, and the gift of learning how to forgive. She will never forget the emotional roller coaster relationship she once had with Mick. She will also never forget the toxic ending. But she can forgive Mick because she now realizes that she is just as responsible for the hurt and pain their relationship caused.

The one thing Alice didn’t count on was the immediate and irresistible attraction she still feels towards Mick. She realizes that although their relationship ended, she is still very much in love with Mick. Mick also has the same reactions to Alice.

Can these two forgive each other, learn from the past to move forward? Is there a second chance for their love to fully bloom or will it end in brutal emotional destruction? Or do they have a weekend fling and remember the best parts of their relationship?

Don’t Deny Me – Part One reveals the emotional devastation that both Alice and Mick went through when their relationship ended. It also shows that very clearly that Mick and Alice are still deeply in love with another. Through letters from their breakup to the present day weekend affair , the readers quickly become invested in Alice and Mick’s relationship.

Don’t Deny Me- Part One ends on a cliffhanger that is about to reveal their complete past. It has readers anxious to see where they started and how they ended up in the situation they are now living.

This was a very raw and emotional read. Don’t Deny Me – Part Two will be out in one week. There is not a long wait for the next part of Alice and Mick’s story.

About Megan Hart

Megan Hart has written in almost every genre of romantic fiction, including historical, contemporary, romantic suspense, romantic comedy, futuristic, fantasy and perhaps most notably, erotic. She also writes non-erotic fantasy and science fiction, as well as continuing to occasionally dabble in horror.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + Review: You Can’t Always Get What You Want by Chelsey Krause

Posted on 01/13/2015 by shellbellereads

You Can’t Always Get What You Want

By Chelsey Krause

Synopsis

Fans of Jill Shalvis and Molly O’Keefe will love this deeply romantic and uplifting debut novel about losing everything you thought you wanted—and getting exactly what you need.

Sophie Richards has been looking forward to a much-needed girls’ night out: a Rolling Stones tribute-band concert, a few drinks, a distraction from her grueling nursing shifts in acute care. But when her best friend bails, Sophie gets stuck with a blind date.

Although Brett Nicholson may be the hottest carpenter alive, and Sophie may technically be single, she isn’t exactly on the market. Six years ago she found The One. He was everything Sophie dreamed a man could be—and then she lost him. In an instant, her whole life changed, and she forgot all about happily ever after.

But as she gets to know Brett, Sophie starts to wonder about the future for the first time. With a broken heart still clouding her mind, jumping into a new relationship feels impossible. When she’s in his arms, walking away feels even harder. Now Sophie faces an impossible choice: living in the past or choosing love in the here and now.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / IBooks

Tina’s Review

:: DEBUT NOVEL :: First-person, present tense narrative with some flashback windows into the past.
Two not-so social people with common friends agree to go together to a concert. Neither have really dated in years. She’s experienced a tragedy, he grew tired of casual dating. They defy the odds and find they have an easy, immediate connection and chemistry. The reader is provided ample backstory on Sophie, but not a lot on Brett, it’s almost like he’s a secondary character rather than a lead male. The characters are very feel-good and well-written. They are all very likable and the interaction is good. I just really wish there was more depth and background for Brett’s character. The plot is sweet and flows nicely. The main conflict runs through the length of the book and is finally resolved in the last few chapters, which provides enough time to tie all loose ends and provide a solid and satisfactory conclusion. Predictability is virtually non-existent. Overall, this was quite a pleasant debut novel.

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Author Bio:

Chelsey is a Canadian nurse. She lives with her husband and two children.

She loves thrift shops and musty old books stores, DIY projects, and has a serious Starbucks addiction.

She has recently published her first novel with Random House. Check out Chelsey’s thoughts on reading and writing at: http://www.chelseykrause.com

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + 5 Star Review : New Year In Manhattan by Louise Bay – The Empire State Trilogy – Book 3

Posted on 01/13/2015 by shellbellereads

New Year In Manhatten

The Empire State Trilogy- Book 3

By Louise Bay

Synopsis

The Empire State Series concludes in New Year in Manhattan.

Anna and Ethan are separated by the Atlantic Ocean. Their previous rules no longer apply.

In order to make things work, Anna needs to let go of her past and take a risk with Ethan. Ethan needs to learn how to deal with the ambiguity of a relationship.

Long-distance relationships are never easy and their relationship is fragile. For how long can it survive under the pressure of separation? Are either of them prepared to give up what they have for the other?

But distance isn’t the only obstacle Anna and Ethan face. Ultimately they have to decide whether they want to share a future together.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Tracey’s Review

Although they’ve agreed to a long-distance relationship, Anna Kirby and Ethan Scott are finding it harder than they’d thought to deal with being separated by 3,000 miles. Having fallen hard and fast for each other, they’re beginning to wonder whether their love will survive the separation. But, where there’s a will, there’s a way, and these two are nothing if not strong-willed…

Oh, yeah, game, set, and match to Louise Bay. If I thought that I could not love Ethan Scott one bit more, well, I was wrong. With NEW YEAR IN MANHATTAN, the third and final installment in the Empire State series, Louise has managed to make me fall in love with these characters all over again. I have so thoroughly enjoyed these books, and could not be happier with this one. Ethan and Anna and their story are delectable; one bit, and I was in for the long haul, unable to stop once I’d begun, until I’d finished each book, and sat waiting impatiently for the next. Their commitment to each other, the absolutely sizzling connection that they have, and their willingness to do whatever it takes to make things work kept me turning the pages, because I was not stopping until I’d finished. With NEW YEAR IN MANHATTAN, Louise continues to write characters that I would absolutely want to hang out with, conversations that had me laughing, worrying a bit, and fanning myself in turn, and sexy scenes that deliver in all the best ways. While I’m sorry that the series has reached its conclusion, I am so glad that I had the chance to read it. These characters and their story are ones that I will happily revisit, and couldn’t recommend more highly. 5.5 swoony and super-satisfied stars for this one.

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Author Bio:

I write sexy, contemporary romance novels – the kind I like to read. My books Faithful and Hopeful are stand-alone novels although there are some overlapping characters. The Empire State Series of novellas starts with A Week in New York.

Ruined by romantic mini-series of the eighties, I love all things romantic. There’s not enough of it in real life so I’ll settle for books and films.

I love the rain, the West Wing, London, days when you don’t have to wear make-up, being alone, being with friends, elephants and champagne.

Hearing from readers is the best thing in the world so get in touch!
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Saucy Southern Readers

professional, honest, and timely book reviews

Category Archives: Contemporary

Happy Release + ARC Review: Beyond The Consequences by Aleatha Romig- The Consequences Series – Book 5

Aleatha is a “Published Author’s Network” member of the Romance Writers of America and represented by Danielle Egan-Miller of Brown and Miller Literary Associates.

YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS!!

Starting TODAY, Aleatha Romig will be having a Secret Consequence Author Hop in honor of the release of Beyond The Consequences (Consequences Book #5). More than 30 prizes, More than 30 authors, 1 amazingly epic love story! Make sure to follow Aleatha Romig’s Author Page for details.

Cover Reveal: Obligations by Aurora Rose Reynolds- Underground Kings Series- Book 2

5-Star ARC Review: Filthy Beautiful Forever by Kendall Ryan

Cover Reveal: Kaleidoscope Hearts by Claire Contreras

Cover Reveal: Dangerous Temptations by Brooke Cumberland

Review: Angel In Armani by Melanie Scott- New York Saints Series- Book 2

Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Held Against You by Season Vining

Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Don’t Deny Me by Megan Hart- Part One of a Novel in Three Parts

Happy Release + Review: You Can’t Always Get What You Want by Chelsey Krause

Happy Release + 5 Star Review : New Year In Manhattan by Louise Bay – The Empire State Trilogy – Book 3

Aleatha is a “Published Author’s Network” member of the Romance Writers of America and represented by Danielle Egan-Miller of Brown and Miller Literary Associates.

YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS!!

Starting TODAY, Aleatha Romig will be having a Secret Consequence Author Hop in honor of the release of Beyond The Consequences (Consequences Book #5). More than 30 prizes, More than 30 authors, 1 amazingly epic love story! Make sure to follow Aleatha Romig’s Author Page for details.

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