Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Getting Played by Mia Storm – Jail Bait Series – Book 2

Posted on 05/26/2015 by shellbellereads

Getting Played

Jail Bait Series – Book 2

By Mia Storm

Synopsis

Rules of the game:
1) Never underestimate your opponent
2) Avoid personal fouls
3) Score early and often
4) Play or get played

Coach Marcus Leon has always played by the rules…until he meets Addaline Grace, the seventeen-year-old senior transfer on his Oak Crest High water polo team. Addie changes all the rules, mostly because she doesn’t play any games. But as off limits as she is, the more Marcus discovers about Addie, the more he finds himself…and the more he questions whether Addie Grace might just be worth risking everything for.

For Addie, water polo is anger management. She’s driven and focused because it keeps her mind off other things…like the fact she destroyed her family. Her game plan is to keep her head down and graduate so she can leave her father and the crappy town he dragged her to in her wake. But when what starts as friendly completion with Marcus turns into more than a game, Addie has to decided if she’s willing to face down her demons…and possibly ruin the man she may or may not be falling in love with in the process.

What happens when the only thing you need is the one thing you can’t have?

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

Excerpt

“One more thing I can check off my bucket list,” he says with a grin, then shoves half the slice into his mouth.

“What else is on your list?” I ask.

He gives me a long look as he chews. “I don’t really have one, now that you mention it.”

“They’re stupid anyway,” I say with a shrug. “It’s a waste of time thinking about all the things you want to do before you die. You could die tomorrow and a bucket list isn’t going to mean squat.”

I only realize how bitter that sounded when his gaze locks on mine and sharpens, as if he’s lasering in on my thoughts.

I shake myself loose from those eyes that could compel me to spill my darkest secrets if I were to gaze into them too long and take a bite of pizza. “But whatever. If you want a bucket list, go for it.”

“You don’t have anything you want to do before you check out?” he asks with raised eyebrows.

“Haven’t thought about it.”

“Well you should,” he says, going for another slice. “I want a bucket list.”

“Then make one.”

He leans back and takes a bite. “So where should we start?”

“You already have,” I say with a wave of my slice toward his.

He holds his up. “And you’ve gotten me off to a fine one. So now we need something to top anchovies.”

“We?” I ask. “I told you I don’t want any part of this.”

“Tough, because what if your idea turns out the be the Best Thing Ever and I would have missed it because I never thought of it.” He tears off a hunk of pizza with his teeth. “Like anchovies.”

I look at him a long second as he chews and a hot tingle runs under my skin. “So we’d do stuff from the list together?”

He nods as he swallows. “That would be the general plan. Call it moral support, call it peer pressure, all I know is we’re more likely to check stuff off the list if we’re both doing it.”

My heart starts to pound as the possibilities scroll in my head. “How are we going to do this?”

“A collaboration. We’ll each throw ideas out until we have a list, then we can rank them together.”

“How do you know I won’t put something like ‘lose my virginity’ on the list?” Heat radiates from my face, but I force myself to hold his gaze.

There’s a second that he just stares at me, but then his eyes grows softer. “I’d expect you would.”

For several beats of my racing heart, we sit here staring at each other, then he clears his throat. “I want to try one new food a week. And I’m open to suggestions.” He says with a nod at the pizza box. “Your turn.”

“I have to come up with another one right here on the spot?” I say.

He cocks his head in a question, but then the light dawns in his eyes. “Ah…virginity. Right…” He pulls out his phone and starts typing it like it’s no big thing, then shifts and hooks an elbow over the back of the bench as he thinks. “Swim with dolphins.”

I nod. “That’s a good one. Put that on top.”

He raises his eyebrows as she shoots me a glance out from under those long, thick lashes. “Above virginity?”

All the muscles south of my waist contract. “I guess I’ll leave that up to you, since I’ve never done either.”

Michel’s Review

When I started reading Getting Played by Mia Storm, I was thinking uh uh…this is not a book I am going to like. The reason why I thought I would not like it is because of the heroine’s and hero’s ages. I have a daughter that is 17 years old. I don’t want to read about a young girl getting involved with an older experienced guy, that is her teacher and mentor. I put the book down and moved on to another book. But then I got to thinking about it. I thought about my daughter and her friends. I thought about their maturity levels. I thought about how the social media has made them much more savvy than I was at that age. I thought about their social network, the small community we live in, and the higher educational routes they are experiencing in high school. Girls this age have a more adult outlook on life. They are embracing adult responsibilities, a broader level of worldly knowledge, and a more knowledgable concept of one’s sexuality. They are more informed and open minded. Taking all of this into consideration, I began reading this book again with an open mind and unbiased opinion.

A random meeting on a park bench sets the stage for Getting Played. An intellectual conversation that is loaded with snarky wit and banter leaves Marcus Leon intrigued. He asks this captivating woman, Addie, out on a date. When Monday rolls around Marcus is in for a shock. Addie is one of the seniors on the high school water polo team he coaches. He knows first hand what the ramifications can be for fraternizing with someone under the legal age. He watched his sister and brother in law almost be destroyed by this. He is trying to find a full time teaching job in a profession that is overloaded with qualified professionals. Addie is strictly off limits.

Although Marcus knows that Addie is off limits, he can’t help but be drawn to her. She is different from the other girls on his team. She is clearly a dedicated athlete and leader. She has a sense of maturity most women don’t have at the age of thirty. When he finds out what her home life situation is it makes staying away even harder. He knows what it’s like to have a drunken father. He knows what it’s like to be responsible for more than the usual demands made on teenagers. He genuinely wants to help Addie out. He wants her to be able to remain on the water polo team without having her home life drag her down. He wants her to have the opportunity to receive scholarships so that she can have a better opportunity in life. He wants to be her friend. He wants her to have someone she can trust and turn to when she needs help.

Addie’s family has been torn to shreds. After her mother died in a car accident when she was fifteen, their life spiraled out of control. Her father got lost in his grief and became an alcoholic. They lost their home and life they once had. They were forced to move in with her aunt in a small community hours away from the only home she knew. Her aunt travels quite a bit with her job but has opened her home to them until her father can get back on his feet. It is an uphill battle. Both are lost in their grief, their guilt, and their new place in life. Addie is forced to become an adult. When she meets Marcus she realizes that she has met someone that can understand her life situation. Their friendship is her life line.

Marcus and Addie fight their attraction for one another. Even though there is only five years difference in their ages they both clearly have a lot in common. Even though Addie will be eighteen within a few months she is still underage. Those few months will make a huge difference on how their relationship plays out. Marcus will be under the microscope by the community, his water polo team, and Addie’s father. Addie will be forced to face her guilt and grief. Addie’s father will have to own up to his failures and mistakes. It will take a miracle for all of them to come out as whole people in the months leading up to Addie’s eighteenth birthday.

Mia Storm did an eloquent job creating a story of forbidden love in a very taboo situation. She handled the socially unacceptable dilemma in a heart felt responsible way. The reader does not walk away with a feeling like they were reading about a pedophile. Both Addie and Marcus were young people that met at the wrong time in their lives. How they handled the situation was remarkable. The love they found in each other was beautiful.

The Jail Bait Series

Getting Dirty – Book 1

Dirty
A poem by Blaire Leon

If sex is dirty, why would I do it with someone I love?
If sex is dirty, then didn’t we all come from the dirt?
What if I like the dirt?
What if I want to get dirty?
What if I want to roll in the mud until I’m so fucking filthy that I’ll never be clean again?

When twenty-five-year-old graduate assistant Caiden Brenner asked Blaire Leon how old she was, she said she was a senior. He chose to believe she meant in college. They connect over Lord Byron’s Don Juan and, as their conversations become increasingly thicker with sexual innuendo, Caiden finds himself obsessing over a totally off-limits undergrad who’s bold, beautiful, brilliant, and one of the most passionate poets he’s ever met.

But it turns out Blaire hasn’t been totally honest. She’s the seventeen-year-old valedictorian of her high school class, taking courses at Sierra State while awaiting her acceptance to Stanford.

Will Caiden get too deeply into Blaire to back away before he finds out the truth? Or will their connection be enough to seduce him into risking his entire future on Jail Bait?

“A thousand and one feels….Getting Dirty is a thrilling, tantalizing forbidden romance you do not want to miss! I not only devoured this book, it devoured me right back!”–Katy Evans, New York Times Bestselling author of REAL.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

Getting Played – Book 2

Rules of the game:
1) Never underestimate your opponent
2) Avoid personal fouls
3) Score early and often
4) Play or get played

What happens when the only thing you need is the one thing you can’t have?

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

________________________

Author Bio:

Mia Storm is a hopeless romantic who is always searching for her happy ending. Sometimes she’s forced to make one up. When that happens, she’s thrilled to be able to share those stories with her readers. She lives in California and spends much of her time in the sun with a book in one hand and a mug of black coffee in the other, or hiking the trails in Yosemite. Connect with her online at MiaStormAuthor.blogspot.com , on Twitter at @MiaStormAuthor, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MiaStormAuthor

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Sneak Peek …. Prologue and Chapter One… Giveaway….Trusting Liam by Molly McAdams

Posted on 05/25/2015 by shellbellereads

Trusting Liam

A Taking Chance and Forgiving Lies Novel

Release Date: June 9, 2014

By Molly McAdams

Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling author of Taking Chances, From Ashes, and Stealing Harper, comes the new unforgettable adult romance Molly McAdams’ fans have been waiting for—the sizzling story of a young woman who must place her trust in the one man who can break through her defenses.

A night they will always remember…a connection neither can deny…a secret that could destroy it all…

When Kennedy Ryan moves to California, she never expects to come face-to-face with Liam Taylor—the intriguing man who has haunted her thoughts for a year. A man who led her to breaking every one of her rules for a single night of passion that ended up meaning more than it was ever supposed to. Accustomed to disastrous experiences with men, Kennedy shields herself before he can break down more of the carefully built control she’s clung to for the last four years. But every time she sees Liam, she feels her resolve weakening.

Liam Taylor has been asked to help socialize his boss’s nieces. But what he thinks sounds more like a babysitting job ends up leading him to the only girl who ever slipped away before morning—a girl he thought he’d never find again. And now that she’s within reach, Liam’s determined to never let her go.

But when a secret from her past tests their relationship, will they be able to cling to the trust Liam has worked so hard to build?

Pre Order: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Prologue and Chapter One

Prologue

May 15

Kennedy

Cracking an eye open, I immediately shut it against the harsh light coming into the room and bit back a groan from the pounding in my head. Making another attempt—this time with both eyes—I squinted at the unfamiliar hotel room and blinked a few times before letting my eyes open all the way as I took in my surroundings. Well, as much of them as I could without moving.

There was a heavy arm draped uncomfortably over my waist, a forehead pressed to the back of my head, a nose to the back of my neck, and an erection to my butt. What. The. Hell. I was naked; he was naked. Why are we naked, and who is behind me? If I wasn’t seconds from screaming for someone to help me, I might have snorted. The why was obvious, there was a familiar ache between my legs, and my lips felt puffy from kissing and where he’d bitten down on them.

I inhaled softly. He. Him. Oh God.

Flashes from last night took turns assaulting me with the pounding in my head. Impromptu trip to Vegas with the girls after finals ended. Dancing. Club. Drinks. Arctic blue eyes captivating me. More drinks and dancing. Him holding me close, and not close enough. Lips against mine. Stumbling into a room. Hands searching. His tall, hard body pressing mine against the bed—still not close enough.

My eyes immediately went to my left hand, and I exhaled slowly in relief when I didn’t find a ring there. Thank God, the last thing I need is a marriage as result of a drunken night in Vegas. I rolled my eyes. The last thing I needed was a man in my life, period. And if my family didn’t kill me for it, I would have died from embarrassment if I had ended up with a ring on my finger after last night. Because unlike what everyone loves to believe so they can feel better about their dirty deeds while in Sin City, what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas.

Trying not to wake him, I slowly slid out from under his arm and off the bed to search for my clothes. Once I was dressed, I told myself to just leave, but I couldn’t help it—I turned to look at him in the light. I needed to be sure I hadn’t made him up.

The images from last night tore through my mind again when I saw the large, tattooed arm resting where my body had just been. The muscles were well defined even relaxed, and the face had a boyish charm now that he was asleep. Such a difference from the predatory stare and knowing smirk I kept seeing in my mind. Before I could stop myself, I gently ran my fingers through his dirty-blond hair that, now in the sunlight, I could see had a red tint to it. And I knew if he opened them, those arctic blue eyes would once again captivate me.

But I couldn’t risk that.

I’d already stayed too long; I’d already made a mistake with him. Drunken one-night stands weren’t my thing. Drunken one-night stands with strangers in Vegas were even worse.

Straightening, I turned and walked quietly from the room.

Chapter 1

May 21 … One year later

Kennedy

“Why are you trying to doing this to me?” Kira yelled as she stood from where she’d been sitting on the couch.

I looked over at my identical twin to see a look of horror on her face, and waited for the freak-out that I knew was only seconds away. Shifting my attention back to our parents, I mumbled, “Told you it wouldn’t go over well.”

“But—you can’t—Kennedy, why—Zane’s in Florida,” Kira sputtered out, and I rolled my eyes at the same time as my dad.

“Is that supposed to mean something to me?” Dad asked as he crossed his large tattooed arms over his chest.

Not willing to give Kira time to respond to that kind of question, I started talking over Dad before he could finish. “Did you ever think that maybe a little distance might be a good thing for the two of you? And did you not hear Dad? These guys are out of prison, Kira!” I shouted, punctuating the last few words in case she’d missed the memo the first time around.

“Maybe Zane will go with you,” Mom offered with a sympathetic look on her face that I knew was as well practiced as it was a lie. The worry was still there in her eyes, as was the eagerness to get us away from Florida … and it wasn’t exactly a secret that we all wanted Kira to get space from Zane.

They’d been together since we were fifteen, and the more time went on, the more Kira’s world revolved around only him. It was annoying.

“And leave his job?” Kira countered.

“Well, then maybe this will be good for you, like Kennedy said. Get a break from Zane so you can see other options. You girls are only twenty-two, you just graduated from college, and you’re too young to be getting serious anyway, Kira, just ask Kennedy. You’ll regret not enjoying life first.”

“Wow, thanks for that, Mom. What’s that supposed to mean?”

Before she could respond to me, my dad’s head jerked back and he sent Mom a look. “What the hell is that supposed to mean? You were twenty-one when we got engaged.”

“Do I look like I’m not enjoying life suddenly? What did I miss?” I asked Kira as Dad spoke, but she didn’t make any indication that she’d even heard me.

“Seriously, Kash?” Mom shot Dad a look that even I was impressed by. “That was different. We were different. She’s only dated Zane.”

“Can we get back to the more important discussion?” I cut in before Dad could respond, and looked back to Kira. “I’m going to California. You’re going with me. Zane can deal with it.”

“You can’t do this! I’m not going!” Kira shrieked as the tears started.

“You act like I’m giving either of you a choice. Both of you need to start accepting this.”

My eyes widened at my dad’s dark tone, and I shot right back, “You act like you still have a say in our lives. You haven’t for four years. And if you remember, I’m going along with what you want without complaint. So don’t throw me into the same category as Kira when she’s the only one fighting you on this.”

One dark eyebrow rose, and I saw Kira sink back onto the couch from the look he was giving. Too bad I was just like him: hardheaded and stubborn. I might be my sister’s mirror image, but I was nothing like her. I raised one eyebrow back at him, and Mom sighed.

“I don’t know how I put up with you two sometimes,” she groaned, rubbing her hand over her forehead. Looking at Kira, she said, “You’re going to California, no more discussion. This is for your safety, why can’t you see that?”

“I’m not going!” Kira sobbed. “Who cares if some guys Dad put away years ago are out of prison?”

I snorted, but before I could respond, Uncle Mason’s deep voice sounded directly behind us. “These men do.”

I turned quickly to look at him, and tried not to laugh when he gave Dad a questioning look and mouthed, “Zane?” as he gestured to Kira.

“Is there any other reason she would be freaking out like this?” I asked as I stood to go give him a hug.

“Are you both packed?” he asked.

“Packed?” Kira yelled again. “They just told us! I haven’t even called Zane!”

“Oh my God, no one cares.”

“Kennedy,” Mom chastised, but I knew she was thinking the same thing.

As soon as Kira was out of the room, I sighed and headed to my room to pack as much as I could. Kira was already packing and sobbing into her phone when I passed her room, and I somehow managed to hold back an eye roll. Never mind that our parents had just told us that our family was being threatened by members of a gang our dad and uncle Mason had put away over twenty years ago. A gang whose members had kidnapped our mom before we were born and held her for over a month in an attempt to free their main members from prison. Or that a chunk of them were getting out of prison within the next handful of months. Or that Kira and I were the main targets in their threats. Nope … none of that mattered to Kira right now. What mattered was that we were going to be living in California for the time being—close to our mom’s side of the family—and Zane wouldn’t be going with us. No Zane meant devastation in Kira’s world. She couldn’t even get dressed without telling everyone about a memory with Zane in that outfit, or that it was one of his many favorites.

Snatching a hairband off my desk, I pulled my thick, black hair into a messy bun on the top of my head and started packing. I didn’t turn to face Kira when she came into my room ten minutes later, but I knew she was there.

“How could you do this to me?” she asked quietly, her words breaking with emotion. “You’re supposed to be on my side, you’re always supposed to be on my side. And you went behind my back and planned this with Mom and Dad without even warning me?”

I glanced over my shoulder, my eyebrows rising at her assumption. “I didn’t plan shit, Kira. They told me while you were talking to Zane right before they asked you to get off the phone. They just wanted me to know because they thought you would freak out and they needed me to be able to try to talk you into it calmly—rather than hitting us both with the news at the same time. The only difference between you and me is I have no problem with this move because I’m not stupid enough to think that the gang won’t actually make good on their threats if we stay here. Or try to.”

I went back to packing, and there was a couple minutes of silence before she said, “I know why you’re all really doing this. Don’t think for a second that I’m stupid enough not to realize this is about Zane.”

I released a heavy breath and shook my head. “Despite what you think, this has nothing to do with you and your boyfriend. But I do think that this is something we need to do, and I think it will be good for us.”

“I won’t forgive you for this. You of all people should realize how much this is going to kill me.”

My breath caught, but I didn’t reply. I knew I couldn’t without lashing out at her. Without another word, she left my room. The only sounds were her soft cries and her feet on the hardwood as she walked away.

“So now that you have us on a private jet—which just makes this all the more weird, by the way—do you mind telling us details about where we’ll be spending the next however long?” I asked Uncle Mason a few hours later.

“Didn’t your mom and dad tell you everything?”

I gave him a look that he immediately laughed at.

“Okay, tell me what you know, and I’ll fill in the blanks.”

“Basically, all I know is that Juarez and a handful of others from his crew are up for probation within a few months of each other starting next week. They’re somehow threatening us—but more specifically, Kira and me—and Mom and Dad think it would be best if we weren’t near Tampa. Since we just graduated and don’t have a reason to stay up in Tallahassee anymore, the only other place to go is California near Mom’s family, and we’ll be there for an undetermined amount of time.”

“I wasn’t told most of that,” Kira muttered from where she was sulking across the aisle.

“You were told that,” I shot back. “All of that. You just couldn’t get past the California-equals-no-Zane part, and flipped while they told you the rest!”

Before we could start on another war, Uncle Mason spoke up. “You’ll be just North of San Diego, near your Uncle Eli. He’s already been looking into places for you to live, and your parents are working something out with them for a car.”

“Lovely. Sounds like everyone is already completely filled in,” Kira sneered.

Uncle Mason didn’t respond for a long time, he just sat there staring at Kira with a somber expression. It was so unlike him. “I don’t want you two to have to do this any more than you do, trust me. Your dad and I know better than anyone what it’s like to pick up and move at a moment’s notice and not be able to have a say in it, so we know what you’re going through.”

Kira mumbled something too low for me to hear, but it was obvious in her expression that she didn’t agree with him.

After a subtle shake of my head, I looked back at Uncle Mason and tapped his leg with my foot to get his attention again. “Okay, so we’ve heard about Juarez’s gang and what happened with Mom being taken. But here’s what I don’t understand and am having a little bit of trouble with. Why after so much time has passed do you think it’s them threatening us? Wouldn’t they be over it by now? I mean, couldn’t it just as easily be someone you’ve arrested recently, and you’re just jumping ahead and thinking its Juarez?”

Uncle Mason was already shaking his head before I even finished asking my questions. “No. It may have been twenty-three years ago, but we haven’t forgotten what happened, and we know for a fact they haven’t and are still holding a grudge because there have been letters delivered to your dad.”

“What did they say?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“What did they say?” I asked louder, and Kira leaned toward us in her seat to hear his response.

“I said it doesn’t—”

“We deserve to know!” I snapped.

After a beat of silence, he admitted, “They’ve said, ‘Can’t wait to meet the rest of your family’, or ‘How are those daughters of yours?’” Uncle Mason sighed heavily and looked out the window for a few seconds.

“That’s it?” I asked when he didn’t continue. “I mean, that’s really creepy but it doesn’t prove much of anything.”

“It does, because at the bottom it had the gang’s symbol. A symbol your dad and I used to have tattooed on us when we were undercover. A symbol they left spray-painted on your parents’ wall after kidnapping your mom.”

“Oh,” I breathed, and Uncle Mason sent me a look.

“Yeah. ‘Oh.’”

May 27

Liam

Squeezing Cecily’s waist once, I deepened the kiss for a few seconds before pulling away. A smirk crossed my face when she tried to follow me. “I gotta go.”

“Just a little longer?” she asked huskily as she pulled on my tie, bringing us closer together.

“I can’t. You know I have to get to that meeting.” Grabbing her slender wrist in my hand, I took my tie from her firm grip and sent her a look.

“Of course, the so-called ‘meeting’ that no one else in the office seems to know about.” Her full lips pouted, and I exhaled slowly at the annoying look.

“You know about it.”

Cecily smacked my arm and huffed. “Only because you told me.”

“That’s not my problem. Besides, it might be a bad thing that I’m the only one. Who knows? You may get your wish, I might be getting fired.”

She smiled wryly and wrapped her arms around my neck before pressing her mouth to mine. “Now that definitely sounds like a meeting I want to happen,” she murmured against my lips.

“Power-hungry bitch,” I growled, and kissed her hard once more before backing away.

“Manwhore.”

“Hasn’t stopped you.”

Her gaze raked over me as I backed up toward the door before snapping up to my face. “No, it hasn’t.”

I grinned and nodded in her direction. “Are you going to leave my office?”

She slid off the desk and walked around to sit in my chair. “I don’t know, maybe I’ll sit in here a while to get used to what my new office feels like.”

“I haven’t gotten fired yet.” Not bothering to wait, I walked out of my office and left Cecily in there. I looked behind me to watch the door shut as I fixed my tie, a soft smile tugged at my lips as I thought about the girl in there.

There was no bullshit when it came to Cecily and me. I didn’t like relationships, labels, or being tied down to any one girl; and she liked guys who demanded control. It was the complete opposite of who she was, but I wasn’t going to question it. She wasn’t shy about her need to be at the top of everything—including a company—nor was she shy about her willingness to step on any and everyone to get there.

She wanted my job, I’d known that before we started sleeping together, but she couldn’t have it. And despite our current status and her greed-filled eyes, she wasn’t one to sleep her way to the top—we just happened to be a nice distraction for each other at work.

I looked up just in time to stop myself from running into the man standing in the hallway. He hadn’t been moving; he was just standing there with his arms crossed over his chest, one eyebrow raised as he studied me.

“Excuse me,” I said, and moved to walk around him—he moved with me. My eyebrows slanted down, and I looked up at him. Yeah. Up. I was six-two. To have to look up at someone was saying something. “Can I help you?” I asked when I noticed his mirrored-movement hadn’t been a mistake; he was still staring down at me with a calculating expression.

The man didn’t move, and he didn’t say anything. With a huff, I gave him a once over and smirked. My dad owned a boxing gym, meaning I’d grown up around some of the leanest, deadliest fighters, as well as some of the biggest meatheads. But this fucker was massive. “If you don’t mind, I have somewhere to be. And lay off the steroids, old man.”

When I went to move around him this time, he let me pass; but when I looked over my shoulder, he was turned around and glaring at me with that same expression before he glanced behind him toward my office.

My footsteps faltered and I racked my brain trying to think of any mention of another guy Cecily might be seeing—one who would come looking for her at work—but I came up with nothing. And somehow I knew in the way he was glaring at me again, that he wasn’t looking at me like he was ready to fight. He looked like he was frustrated with what he was seeing in me.

Shaking my head as if to clear it, I looked ahead of me and continued down the halls to my boss’ office. Before I got there, I stopped at his secretary’s desk. “Hey, call security. There’s a guy in here I’ve never seen before, and I don’t think he’s supposed to be here. Height is probably six-five. Weight is around two seventy or two eighty. The guy is solid muscle, tan, Caucasian, black hair.” I watched as she jotted everything down. “Got it?”

“Yeah,” she said as she grabbed the phone, but I didn’t wait to hear the conversation.

Walking toward the office beside her, I knocked on the door as I opened it, and flashed a smile at my boss, Eli Jenkins.

“Hey, Liam, come in and have a seat.”

I sat in one of the two chairs on the other side of his desk, and waited for whatever he had to say as he sat directly next to me. Despite what I’d told Cecily, I wasn’t worried about losing my job. I knew Eli liked me and my work, and I was on the same path he’d taken in this industry. But that didn’t mean he didn’t know about Cecily and me, and our interoffice relationship wasn’t exactly allowed.

Before he could say anything else, his eyes snapped up when the door to his office quickly opened.

“Two hundred and seventy, to two hundred and eighty pounds? Hardly.”

I turned quickly at the deep voice, and my eyes widened at the roided-out guy from the hall.

“Two hundred eighty five, actually. I’m proud of those extra five pounds.”

“Who the fuck are you?” I asked, standing up from the chair. Turning to look at Eli, I pointed at the guy. “I had security called on him.”

“He called me, ‘old man’, can you believe that?” The guy snorted. “At least you were right about the height. Good one, kid.” He walked around to sit in Eli’s desk chair, and I looked back and forth between him and where Eli was sitting next to me.

Eli rolled his eyes. “Liam Taylor, it’s not exactly a pleasure to introduce you, but this is Mason Gates. He’s a close friend of my sister and her husband.”

“You still don’t like me?” Mason asked Eli. “It was twenty-three years ago.”

Eli shot him a hard look. “She’s my sister. No, I still don’t like you.” Glancing over to me, Eli explained, “He also dated my other sister.”

Mason snorted a laugh at the word “dated”, but didn’t say anything else to piss off Eli. Nodding in my direction, he said, “He’s good. Probably dumb as shit, but he’s funny, and he was pretty spot-on about me. Minus the steroids.”

“I’m lost,” I whispered to the room, and then looked at Mason. “What was your deal in the hall?”

“I already knew I wasn’t going to like you. Any other questions?”

“Mason,” Eli barked, then looked at me. “Act like he’s not here. For whatever reason, he felt the need to be here when I talked with you.”

“Okay…” I said, drawing out the word. “Talk to me about what?”

“Mason just brought my nieces to California from Florida so they could get away from a situation going on back home, and they’re not exactly happy about being here. They know they need to be here, and that’s all that’s keeping them from going back to Florida, but they need something to do to keep them busy. A job, friends … anything. And I was hoping that you would be able to help with that.”

I waited to see if he would add anything, and when he didn’t, I shrugged. “I—sure. I mean, I don’t know how much I can do for them to find friends, but if they’re old enough for the gym, I know my dad is looking for a few people.”

Mason cleared his throat, and Eli gave him an annoyed look before saying, “We also need to make sure that one of them, Kira, doesn’t try to run back home. She has a boyfriend and is taking the separation harder than her sister. My sister and brother-in-law trust my judgment to find someone who can do that. I trust you as much as I trust my own son, and I think you and your connections will be exactly what they need to settle in here.”

I laughed hesitantly and looked at both of them for a few seconds. “Are you serious? I’m not a babysitter, Eli; we work in advertising. Besides that, I’m twenty-four, what do you expect me to do with these girls that will make it seem okay for me to even act like their friend?”

“I knew I didn’t like him,” Mason blurted out and stood. “Meeting over.”

“Sit down,” Eli ordered, but didn’t look to make sure he did. “Liam, my nieces just turned twenty-two, they’re close to your age. And no one is asking you to babysit them.”

“You want me to make sure one of them doesn’t run back to her boyfriend! That sounds like babysitting,” I argued.

“Still don’t like him,” Mason chimed in, but Eli and I didn’t bother responding to him.

“I don’t need you to watch her every move, I was just hoping that you could maybe include them in whatever you and your friends are doing one or two times over the weekends. See if the girls get along with you or your friends, try to get them to have a good time so they won’t focus on how much they don’t want to be here. You don’t have to give up your life for them, Liam. And if you aren’t willing to do that, and if your dad does have space at the gym for them, that would be more than enough. I won’t ask you for anything else.” When I just sat there staring at him, Eli leaned closer. “Please. I’d have my son do this, but you know he’s backpacking through Europe this summer with his friends.”

If it had been something as simple as inviting his nieces to a party, I would do it in a heartbeat. But with Mason there—whatever his real reasons—and with the part that still sounded like I’d be babysitting them, I knew there was something else behind this than the girls just needing to be introduced to a few people. The fact that there was a “situation” back in Florida, and that they didn’t want to be here, only confirmed that thought. But Eli was my mentor. I’d interned for him in college, and he’d hired me on after the internship had ended. He’d continued helping me throughout the last couple years of college, always pushing me to work harder and be better, and then did the same so I would work my way up in his company after I’d graduated. He’d done more than I could’ve ever asked for, and this was the first thing he’d asked of me. No matter how odd it seemed, I knew I couldn’t tell him no.

“Okay,” I finally agreed. “I’ll call my dad. I know for a fact that he needs new people for the drink station in the gym. I’ll see if he can interview them and let you know when.”

“Perfect,” Eli said on a relieved sigh. “They’ve already been here a week, I know they need to get out of their condo.”

I nodded and reluctantly said, “And I’ll make sure whichever one you mentioned won’t go running back to her boyfriend. I’m sure a bunch of us will end up at the beach this weekend, at least. I’ll let you know when I do.”

“Still don’t like him,” Mason said again. “I vote we find someone else.”

I rolled my eyes and looked over at him. “Why did you even need to be here?”

“A question I’ve already asked a few times,” Eli mumbled.

Mason’s teasing tone and expression quickly left, leaving him looking at me the exact way he had been in the hallway. “I’m here because someone needs to tell you that you aren’t to touch either of them. Rachel and Kash may trust Eli’s choice in you being the one to help them out, that doesn’t mean I do. No one chose you so you would have another girl to fuck.”

“Mason,” Eli snapped, but Mason’s gaze never left me.

One eyebrow rose, and a short laugh burst from my chest. “Excuse me?”

“You didn’t try to hide the girl who was in your office earlier, and that already makes me not like you as much as I could. You see an opportunity in a girl, and you take it. Trust me, I get it. I was the same way when I was your age, which is why Eli still hates me. But those girls mean the world to Eli, to me, and to their parents. This is me warning you now, if you touch one of those girls, you will have all three of us on you. And their dad is the last person you want to piss off. Your job is to be their friend. Nothing more.”

“Noted,” I huffed as I stood to leave the office. “Anything else, Eli?”

He shook his head at Mason, and sighed when he looked back at me. “Just remind Cecily that I don’t want her in your office.”

The corner of my mouth tilted up and I nodded as I turned to leave. “I’ll call my dad and let you know what he says.”

“I appreciate it, Liam. Really,” he called out as I reached the door.

Mason snorted. “Still don’t like him.”

The feeling was mutual.

Author’s Bio

Molly McAdams grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband and furry daughter. Her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling and long walks on the beach, which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes. When she’s not at work, she can be found hiding out in her bedroom surrounded by her laptop, cell, Kindle and fighting over the TV remote. She has a weakness for crude-humored movies, fried pickles and loves curling up in a fluffy comforter during a thunderstorm…or under one in a bathtub if there are tornados. That way she can pretend they aren’t really happening.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter – Goodreads

____________________________

Giveaway

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Summer Reads… Five Days Until You by Monica Murphy- A One Week Girlfriend Novella

Posted on 05/24/2015 by shellbellereads

Five Days Until You

One Week Girlfriend Series- Book 4.5

By Monica Murphy

Synopsis

Unsure. That’s how I’m feeling about my entire life. Just when everything’s good and I have it all under control, my girl Chelsea decides she’s going to leave me for the summer. Despite my disappointment, I have to support her. It’s what she wants, an opportunity she can’t say no to and no way will I be the one to stop her. I love her too much to hold her back.

Opportunities are happening for me too, though. A big one that my brother-in-law Drew says I can’t pass up. I’m working extra hard. So is Chelsea. It’s like we don’t have any time to get together. We keep making the same promise–only five more days until we see each other again. But we keep breaking that promise. Is our relationship strong enough to survive all of these changes?

**FIVE DAYS UNTIL YOU continues the story of Owen & Chelsea from FOUR YEARS LATER. Plus includes a BONUS holiday story featuring Drew + Fable! Also, read chapter one of FAIR GAME, the first book in Monica’s new NA series The Rules coming May 12th!**

Buy: Amazon / B & N

Michel’s Review

The One Week Girlfriend Series is one of my all time favorite series. I fell in love with all of the characters in the series. I thought the series was finished but Monica Murphy releases these wonderful novellas that give us a snippet of the characters lives after the book is finished.

Owen and Chelsea are going strong. Summer is approaching and they are debating what to do with their time. Chelsea has been offered an internship at a university a few hours away. Owen doesn’t want to hold her back. He knows this could be a huge factor in her choosing where to go for her masters degree. He reluctantly encourages her to take the position. He plans on going up every weekend to see her. Their separation will only be 5 days at a time. But life has a way of interfering with the best laid plans.

Owen is presented with an opportunity he cannot pass up. He is a contender to be scouted for Pro Football. He will have to buckle down and get serious about his game. His brother in law Drew and his coach have placed him on a rigorous training schedule. Between the little time he has and the sheer exhaustion he is unable to keep his promises to Chelsea.

Their separation begins to wear on their relationship. Things are getting tense. Chelsea is making new friends and a life without him. Owen needs to make Chelsea understand that she is his world.

Misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and anger will get in their way. In the end Chelsea and Owen will have to choose whether their relationship has run it’s course.

Once again Monica delivered another fantastic story. This couple went through the trials that many couples face. I love both Owen and Chelsea. I am so happy that I got to experience another slice of their lives.

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

2015 Favorite…. 6 + Reviews: Never Never 2 by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

Posted on 05/22/2015 by shellbellereads

Never Never Part Two

Never Never Trilogy – Book 2

By Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

Synopsis

*Part two of the Never, Never novella series.

New York Times bestselling authors Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher are back with the much-anticipated, nail-biting sequel to the New York Times bestseller, Never, Never.

“Never forget that I was your first real kiss. Never forget that you’ll be my last.

And never stop loving me between all of them.

Never stop, Charlie.

Never forget.”

Silas races against time as more truths unravel, while others twist tighter together. And now, the stakes are higher as Silas’ control slips and others begin to point fingers. Charlie is in trouble and he must be the one to bridge the chasm between their past and their present. Because somewhere between I love yous and Never Nevers and Never Agains, a truth they can’t imagine, beckons to be found.

“Where are you, Charlie?”

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo / Smashwords

beautiful young couple in the sunlight

Michel’s Review

I have been counting down the months, days , and minutes for Never Never 2 by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher to release. The moment it released I devoured this book. I am so invested in Silas and Charlie’s story.

Never Never 2 picks up where Never Never left off. Silas and Charlie have gone through another reset. Silas is in his car. Charlie is missing. Once again Silas has to figure out who he is, what his past is, and what is going on in his present. Luckily he had the letter and clues that he left himself to unravel the mystery.

Meanwhile Charlie is in a very strange place after the reset. She doesn’t have any clues as to who she is and how she came to be where she is. She has to rely on her wits to survive. She is piecing some of her past together through her dreams.

Silas is on the search for Charlie and time is running out. Charlie is trying to escape but has no idea where to go once she does.

Never Never 2 progresses the story of Charlie and Silas along. The reader is given a glimpse of what might have led to the dilemma they are in. There are revelations about both of their families, friends, and their relationship. There are revelations as to why they may be in the predicament they are in.

Both Silas and Charlie are smart. They have the intelligence to reason through their predicament. They have the inner strength to survive where their lives are at. They have their love to get them to the place they need to be. They need to find each other.

Once again Colleen and Tarryn kept the readers captivated with Silas and Charlie’s story. This installment to the story gave readers a lot of information and hidden clues. It also contained enough information to give the readers hope. In the end the reader is left puzzling over their dilemma but not torn to shreds about it. It left the readers with faith in Silas and Charlie. It also left the readers with some solid clues that they could formulate into solid theories.

I can’t wait for the final book. I have my theories!

one sad woman sitting on the floor near a wall and holding her head in her hands

Robin’s Review

Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher ended Never Never with a killer cliffhanger that left thousands of readers desperate for more of Charlie and Silas. If you are anything like me, you’ve probably been wondering, “Where is Charlie?” Never Never: Part 2 is very satisfying, and although it’s not the conclusion to the series, I’m delighted to share it completely surpassed my expectations!

Once again, we find Colleen Hoover writing the chapters for Silas Nash. Sigh. Out of all of her male characters, Silas Nash is my favorite. I love his passion. His intensity and determination. His fierce love for Charlie. “Never forget that I was your first real kiss. Never forget that you’ll be my last. And never stop loving me between all of them. Never stop, Charlie. Never forget.” Silas is a young man who will not be deterred. He’s smart. Determined to find Charlie. Determined to find out why he and Charlie continue to lose their memory.

Tarryn Fisher continues to be the voice of Charlie Wynwood. Even with no memories, Charlie is a very perceptive young lady. She’s a strong protagonist who – underneath all of her bravado – can also be a little vulnerable. Readers, like myself, who are somewhat familiar with Tarryn Fisher? I think we all see a little bit of Tarryn in Charlie. Just like Silas, we were all left scratching our head, wondering what could have happened to Charlie at the end of Never Never. Since we begin Part 2 with a reset, Charlie has no real answers. It was a brilliant way to keep the mystery of “Where is Charlie?” alive.

Plain and simple – I absolutely loved Never Never: Part 2. This story is everything I had hoped for. Everything I had been anticipating. More often than not, the second novel of a trilogy is the weakest installment. Not with Never Never: Part 2. It’s honestly one of the best middle books that I have ever read. It appears to be well thought out. It’s full of classic writing from Hoover and Fisher. Really – anytime you read a story written by either of these authors, you can expect the writing to be exemplary, but it’s also seamless. The story is narrated by Silas and Charlie, the authors choosing to alternate points of view by chapter. The difference in writing styles feels completely natural because each protagonist has a unique personality.

My emotions were all over the place while I was reading Never Never: Part 2. It was thrilling. I was anxious and confused. It even had me in tears. From beginning to end, the story is creative and dramatic. Mysterious. Intriguing. Romantic. Part 1 of Never Never left my mind in a whirlwind – I had questions on top of questions after I finished reading. Have you ever been subjected to information overload? We are given a boatload of information in Never Never: Part 2. Theories are laid to rest. Questions are answered. Never Never: Part 2 has a satisfying conclusion that left my mind at ease, and I am nothing but hopeful for Silas and Charlie in the final book of the trilogy.

Lots of novels receive a 5-star rating. When I review a novel, I sometimes do something a little more. If a 5-star novel deserves more than that rating, if I feel it has something extra-special, I give it a bonus star. Never Never: Part 2 falls directly into this category. 6 stars for Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher!

gentle embrace of beautiful young lovers in the sunlight

About The Authors

Colleen’s Bio

Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Slammed, Point of Retreat, This Girl, Hopeless, Losing Hope, Maybe Someday, Finding Cinderella, and Ugly Love. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Tarryn’s Bio

Tarryn Fisher is the New York Times bestselling author of Mud Vein. She was born in South Africa, and lived there for most of her childhood. She moved to Seattle just for the rain. She reads and writes more than she sleep. She spends way too much time on Facebook and Instagram and drinks sick amounts of Starbucks.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Cover Reveal: Flame by Erin Noelle – Fire On The Mountain Series – Book 2

Posted on 05/21/2015 by shellbellereads

RELEASING ON AUGUST 6, 2015

I’m soaring.

After years of hard work and determination, I am exactly where I want to be in life. As the top ranked Freestyle Motocross rider in the world, I have more money than I could ever dream of spending and gorgeous women throwing themselves at me in every city I land. I have everything I could ever want.

Everything except her.

While in Breckenridge for my best friend’s wedding, I was introduced to Dakota Shavell, a friend of the bride-to-be, and from the moment our blue gazes met, sparks flew.
What I initially intended to be a single steamy night together turned into a scorching two week road trip to New Orleans with a sassy-mouthed blonde. Being between her legs gave me a bigger adrenaline rush than I’d ever gotten from flying through the air while straddling a bike.

It was supposed to just be fun, a good time. I planned to walk away unchanged.

But it was more. Feelings I never intended to have got involved, and I’ll never be the same.

Yet, I still walked away.

Except now I’m injured and my outlook has changed. Priorities have become clear.

And I’m going back to reclaim her…to show her that together we can make the fire between us burst into flames.

Cover Design: by Hang Le

Photographer: Golden Czermak with Furious Fotog

Cover Model: Brendon Charles

ADD TO GOODREADS

prologue

Levi

The bright lights blind me to everything except the dirt track laid out in front of me. The energetic, bustling noise from the crowd feeds the adrenaline buzzing at the speed of light through my veins. The familiar vibration of the bike’s engine securely tucked between my legs locks me into that special frame of mind where things move in slow motion, allowing me to do what it is that I do best.

This is it.
Why I’ve busted my ass every day for the last decade.
The final tour stop of the year.
Winner takes all.
Me or him.
Do or die.

Tightly wrapping my fingers around the throttle, I coast down the ramp, picking up speed as I go. By the time the tires hit the clay-colored earth, I envision myself executing the trick—my trick—flawlessly from take-off to landing, exactly like I do each and every time I nail the 501 Double Back flip.
Moments later, I’m soaring through the air, my body somersaulting forward over the handle bars as I whip the bike into two full backward rotations. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a flash of yellow and twist my head instinctively, wondering if it was her. If she came to watch. A collective gasp from the packed crowd can be heard a split-second before I look away from the multitude of camera flashes around the arena and glance down below.
Something’s wrong.

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SPARK

BOOK 1 in the series

I’m failing.
My younger brother is getting worse, and my job – my duty – is to help him at all costs. We’ve tried everything modern medicine has to offer and nothing works.
Nothing.
Deciding to turn to unconventional treatments, we end up at Fire-on-the-Mountain, a holistic resort deep in the Rockies.
In our search for medical marijuana, I find beautiful, free-spirited Hudson Shavell – a girl who may not only hold the key to heal my brother, but to fix me as well. Even though I can’t afford distractions right now, she’s all I can think about. All that I want.

It’s funny how everything can change with one little SPARK.

***Though Spark is the first book in the Fire on the Mountain Series, it is a stand alone novel***

***Intended for mature audiences only***

AMAZON

Erin Noelle is a Texas native, where she lives with her husband and two young daughters. While earning her degree in History at the University of Houston, she rediscovered her love for reading that was first instilled by her grandmother when she was a young child.
A lover of happily-ever-afters, both historical and current, Erin is an avid reader of all romance novels. Her titles published include the Book Boyfriend Series, the Dusk ‘Til Dawn Series, Translucent, Conspire — co-authored with SE Hall, Surviving Us, MILF: Wrong Kind of Love and Spark.
Her books have been a part of the USA Today Bestselling list and the Amazon and Barnes & Noble overall Top 100.

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Release Blitz + Review + Giveaway: Only Forever by Cristin Harber – Only Series – Book 4

Posted on 05/19/2015 by shellbellereads

The final part in Grayson and Emma’s epic love story is available now! Grab ONLY FOREVER by Cristin Harber today! And if you missed the first part of their story, you can read ONLY FOR HIM here!

About ONLY FOREVER

The fourth and final installment of the Only series. Must be read in order.

There comes a time when Emma must face the secret she kept from Grayson. But she never thought it would be while she stood on stage at Emerald’s. The seconds she has to convey that her life is in danger are lost in the devastation that she sees rip through him.

She pinches her eyes closed. “Don’t leave me. No matter how mad you are, please, please don’t leave me here alone.”

But there’s more on the line than just Emma’s safety. There’s the danger that brought Titan’s Delta team in to the strip club in the first place. A threat that’s too close to home, too close to the family, the daughter and woman Grayson plans to claim.

I push away the sudden spring of fear. Life’s too unknown, with hidden enemies and unseen terrors. The idea that I could lose her again… it’s unbearable.

A love story like Grayson and Emma needs a forever love, and somehow they’ll find their way to her fairytale.

Amazon / B & N /iBooks

EXCERPT

“You’ve always been by my side. From the day we met. And God knows there were years of secrets and storms and pain and tears, until I came out the other side.”

“Gray…”

“I’m a better man, and I exist for you, for us.” I hold my breath and watch her silence. My chest hurts; my lungs burn. My throat is tight as I choke on the decades’ worth of sentiment. “I love both of you so deeply that my survival, my sanity, would be gone if I couldn’t be yours.”

My voice cracks, and her lips find mine. It’s a soft kiss but packs a powerful punch. She whispers, “We’re yours forever.”

Michel’s Review

Only Forever is the final book in the Only Series. It was the perfect ending for Emma and Grayson. Their secrets were revealed. Some of Grayson’s haunted past is put to rest, the other parts are managable. Emma’s secrets are exposed and it doesn’t tear their relationship apart. They have both made things right with their family and their young daughter. Now they have Only Forever.

Cristin Harber has once again given the readers a series that is easy to love. I look forward to what she has lined up next.

GIVEAWAY

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ABOUT CRISTIN HARBER

Cristin Harber is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author. She writes sexy, steamy romantic suspense and military romance. Readers voted her onto Amazon’s Top Picks for Debut Romance Authors in 2013, and her debut Titan series was both a #1 romantic suspense and #1 military romance bestseller.

You can become a Titan Agent for exclusive scenes, details, and more! Visit the official Titan website here!

Text TITAN to 66866 to sign up for exclusive emails!

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: #Selfie by Cambria Hebert – #Hashtag Series – Book 4

Posted on 05/18/2015 by shellbellereads

#Selfie

#Hashtag Series – Book 4

By Cambria Hebert

Synopsis

It’s all about the #Selfie.

She was the one girl I never wanted.

Until I had her.

One night.

One mistake.

Something we both wanted to forget.

I got rid of the proof. The one piece of evidence that could remind us both.

At least, I thought I did.

When it shows up on the school Buzzfeed, rumors fly. Friendships are tested and the feels get real.

I don’t do relationships. I don’t open my heart.

Especially for a girl everyone knows I hate.

What happens during spring break, stays in spring break.

Until it follows you home.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

Excerpt

I didn’t think. I just reacted.

I leapt over the railing with ease. The distance down and the uneven sand I would be landing on didn’t even cross my mind.

It didn’t matter.

I landed like a cat, no trouble at all, and the second my feet hit the sand, I moved forward. Ivy was almost beneath the deck, but not quite. Her back was to me and she was sitting up, hunched forward over part of herself.

She was muttering some pretty damn colorful curse words beneath her breath, and my face split into a smile. “Another angry crab attack you?”

She stiffened and looked over her shoulder. Long blond hair cascaded down her back and partially over her shoulder, creating a waterfall around her.

God, she was beautiful.

Wait. No. No, she wasn’t.

I cleared my throat.

“Braeden?” She glanced up, surprised. “Did you jump down here?”

“Well, you screamed like you might be dying,” I quipped.

“Hardly.” She tried to roll her eyes, but it turned into a grimace. “I need a Band-Aid,” she said pathetically.

I bit back a smile and crouched down beside her. “Let me see.”

She leaned back a little so her body wasn’t blocking my view. The movement brought her closer against me, and the scent of cinnamon wrapped around me. My stomach muscles tightened and I jerked slightly. There was no way she could have noticed, but her head tilted back and her eyes found mine.

We stared at each other for the span of a few heartbeats, neither of us moving or saying a word until someone called down from above, wanting to know if we were okay.

I blinked, bringing myself back from the edge—the edge I always seemed perched on around her—and motioned for her to show me what was wrong.

She lifted her foot into her lap, and I looked down.

I heard myself mutter something, but I was back to not thinking again.

She had the cap of a beer bottle sticking out of the bottom of her foot. Blood oozed out around it and dripped into the sand.

I cradled her foot in my hand and gently stroked my thumb along her heel. A shudder moved through her, and I glanced up.

“Hurts, huh?” I murmured.

She blinked. “Uh…” She blinked again. “Yeah.”

Using one hand, I reached around to the base of my neck and pulled my T-shirt up over my head. I didn’t say anything when I reached for her again, and without any warning, I yanked the cap free.

Her breath hissed between her teeth and she smacked my arm.

“Hey!” I snapped.

“That hurt!” she yelled, but it came out more like a whimper.

I tossed the cap over my shoulder and glanced back down. Fresh blood welled. “It’s over now,” I said gently and used my shirt to wrap around her foot.

Once the shirt was in place, I pressed her foot between my hands, applying a little pressure.

Really, I just wasn’t ready to let go.

“Braeden?” Her voice caressed me. Being down here mostly concealed by the deck in the cool sand and low lighting brought back last night. It reminded me of the undeniable electricity between us.

I thought for sure it would be gone.

It was still there.

Michel’s Review

I was so excited when #Selfie by Cambria Hebert went live early. I dropped everything I was doing to read the latest book in the #Hashtag series. It was well worth the effort. I devoured this book! It is another #5 Star book in this series!

While reading the synopsis it became very clear that the author wanted the characters to remain a mystery to the readers until they opened the book and read it for themselves. So I am going to do this review a bit different than I do for most books….

#5 Star Review #Selfie #Hashtag Series #Cambria Hebert

#NeverTake Selfie For One Night Stand

#Hate Sex Is Phenomenal

#Collected More Than Seashells On Spring Break

#Player In A New Game

#Never Lose Phone

#Never Do Relationships

#Never Fall In Love

#Never Say Never

#Keep Your Secrets Close

#13 Is New Alpha Hottie To Watch

#Discover Who #BuzzBoss Is

#BuzzBoss Revelation

#Zack Still Haunts AlphaU

#13 New Dragon Slayer

#Love Is In The Air

#HEA

#Maybe?

#Cambria Hebert Nailed It

#Selfie # 5 Stars

Once again Cambria Hebert has given the readers an exceptional book. Her characters come to life and steal the readers hearts.

#Read #Selfie!

#Read#HashTag Series

The Hashtag Series

# Nerd – Book 1

Two people from completely different worlds are about to be thrown together…

In more ways than one.

She wants to keep her scholarship. He wants to stay on the team. An awkward alliance doesn’t even begin to cover Rimmel and Romeo’s relationship.

But that’s about to change.

It starts with a dare. An initiation. A challenge.

Quickly, it turns into more. But when you’re a victim of your status, there is no room for anything real. The rules are clear and simple.

Stick to your circle.

And never fall in love with anyone on the outside.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

#Hater – Book 2

The effect of that look lingered, like an unspoken promise, long after it was gone.

Becoming a couple – becoming the other half of a campus celebrity wasn’t easy. I let down walls guarding my heart and he looked past my glasses and accident prone tendencies. Romeo and I are an unlikely match, a #nerd and a jock. But we made it.

And we’re happy.

Zach doesn’t want us to be happy. He wants Romeo to pay for getting him kicked out of Omega and for the night he spent in jail. He’s going to use anything and everything he can to get his revenge. Including me.

As the weather on campus grows cold and the days become dark, revenge becomes the center of someone’s life and the happiness Romeo and I worked so hard for is threatened.

I can’t help but worry that our love is going to be overshadowed by hate.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

# Player-Book 3

Synopsis

Players gotta play.

Hate is like a poison. It contaminates everything.

So does doubt.

Even though I deny what I overheard, even though I insist it isn’t true, the seed of doubt has been planted. I can’t help but be tormented with the endless what-if’s that have taken over our lives.

Romeo and I were happy in love. The future stretched before us brighter than any star in the darkest sky. Now everything is broken. Literally broken. Romeo’s entire career is at stake, my entire future is threatened… and my past?

It’s coming back to haunt me.

To haunt us.

Romeo says we’re in this together and right now the only sure thing is us. But how far can a love so new be pushed? The lengths we will have to go to save each other puts everything at risk.

Romeo is a #player but how much of the game can one person play?

#About Cambria Hebert

Author Bio:

Cambria Hebert is a bestselling novelist of more than twenty books. She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair. She currently resides in North Carolina with her children (human and furry) and her husband, who is a United States Marine.

Besides writing, Cambria loves a caramel latte, staying up late, sleeping in, and watching movies. She considers math human torture and has an irrational fear of chickens (yes, chickens). You can often find her running on the treadmill (she’d rather be eating a donut), painting her toenails (because she bites her fingernails), or walking her chorkie (the real boss of the house).

Cambria has written within the young adult and new adult genres, penning many paranormal and contemporary titles. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense. A few of her most recognized titles are: Text, Torch, Tryst, Masquerade, and Recalled.

Cambria Hebert owns and operates Cambria Hebert Books, LLC.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

#Giveaway

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Review: Breaking Noah by Missy Johnson and Ashley Suzanne

Posted on 05/15/2015 by shellbellereads

Breaking Noah

By Missy Johnson and Ashley Suzanne

Synopsis

What happens when you start falling for your worst enemy? Fans of Abbi Glines and Monica Murphy will relish this addictive novel of smoking-hot seduction—and revenge gone so wrong, it’s right.

I wasn’t always this jaded. I had a clear head, things I wanted out of life, and a concise plan on how to get there. For being only twenty-one, I pretty much had it all figured out. Until the day my cousin died.

I spent months going over all the details surrounding her death, trying to figure out how I missed the signs, and the only thing I could come up with was she would still be alive if it wasn’t for one person: her professor. So I transferred to his college, enrolled in his class, and set my new plan in motion.

First I’ll seduce him. Then I’ll ruin him. I’ve just got to stay strong and not let his charm and my emotions get the best of me. Because someone has to pay for her death. If it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to break Noah.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Tina’s Review

Judging a Book by it’s Cover:
Seductive pose. Subtle color palate. Great use of light and shadow. The synopsis sounds ruthless, yet intriguing.
Looking Deeper:
Written in a first person POV, alternating between Zara and Noah, all clearly defined for easier comprehension.
Wow…. that’s all I can say at first. Within the first few chapters, this seems like a pretty straight-forward cut-and-dry story line. I’ve never been happier to be wrong. The synopsis does a rather good job at setting up the plot, so I’ll not go into that any further at the risk of revealing spoilers. Instead, I’ll get straight to the breakdown. Noah is an awesome lead male. Kind, caring, compassionate. Zara is fiercely loyal to her beliefs, smart, and strong. Together, they have the makings of a power couple. The magnetic pull and chemistry is continuously at war with her thoughts and beliefs making their connection all the more a force of nature. The secondary characters were an interesting blend of wonderfully supportive to love-to-hate-them. They full the full spectrum for a nice variety. The dialogue and interaction was, most of the time, believable and natural, there were a few instances that were eye-roll worthy, but then maybe that’s par for the college-age course. The plot is complex, much more so than I’d expected it to be. It is written very well and flowed quite smoothly. The conflicts are not handled well in some instances, but that lends to the plot more buildup and drama for later. The final conflict is truly fantastic and leaves the reader feeling vindicated and free of the oppressing weight that hung in the shadows. There’s virtually no predictability, in fact there were a few things that surprised me. The conclusion is fantastic. This is, by far, one of the better New Adult / College sub-genre books that I’ve read this year.

____________________________________________

Author Bios:

Missy lives in a small town in Central Victoria with her husband, and her confused pets (a dog who think she’s a cat, a cat who thinks he’s a dog…you get the picture).

When she’s not writing, she can usually be found looking for something to read.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

_______________________________________

Ashley Suzanne has been writing as long as she can remember. As a youngster, she was always creating stories and talking to her imaginary friends. Thankfully, her parents also carried this love of fiction, and helped her grow into the writer she is today.

Ashley is a bestselling author and spends equal amounts of time writing and reading. Being the true book whore she is, Ashley would rather dive into a good book before going out of her house. Giving up her career in Real Estate, Ashley has officially moved to hermit status.

When Ashley isn’t coming up with her next story, you’ll most likely find her on the couch with a kindle in her hand (probably watching some crappy reality show while , annoying her husband by telling him all about her new book boyfriend or spending quality time with her two gremlins … Sorry, I mean adorable children.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + 5 Star Review + 2015 Favorite : Salvation by Robin Covington – Nashville Nights Series – Book 2

Posted on 05/15/2015 by shellbellereads

Salvation

Nashville Nights Series – Book 2

By Robin Covington

Synopsis

Letting go never felt so good.

Carlisle Queen is dying and no one knows it.

Burying the pain of losing her friends and her professional swimming career in a terrorist attack, America’s former sweetheart dulls her pain with drugs, pills and parties. The bomb left her with more than nightmares; shrapnel is lodged in her back and inching closer to her spinal cord. When the doctors tell her paralysis is inevitable, she decides to take her own life rather than face a lifetime in a wheelchair.

Mateo Butler isn’t anyone’s hero.

Reeling from the death of his little sister and his own cowardice, he spends his nights partying and his days ignoring the medical school acceptance letters and his parents’ concerned phone calls. Just a couple of months from graduation, he’s facing a future filled with shame and regret. The last thing he needs is to meet the woman who compels him to be a better man.

Can they save each other?

When Carlisle and Mateo meet, the chemistry between them is combustible. They play, party and hide their true selves until one night turns their lust into something more…something real. As secrets are revealed and walls collapse, what they were and what they might become doesn’t matter as much as who they are together. When the choice comes down to life or death, can love be their salvation?

**A portion of the royalties from this book will be donated to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation**

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Excerpt

His phone vibrates in his hand and we both look down at the screen. Zane has responded and Mateo quickly presses the screen, both of us relieved to move on from the awkwardness that was creeping into our night.

Zane’s sent a selfie, the stage with the current performers in the background of the picture. “Ariel! Glad you could make it even if you have to hang out with that loser. I’ll come find you after the show and rescue you.”

“He calls me Ariel?” I ask.

Mateo glances at me, his expression a little bit confused. “Yeah. You know the whole red hair and mermaid thing. The swimming¼” His words drift off when I don’t respond, his expression telling me that he’s worried about my taking offense. I let the silence drag out a little bit longer before I let him off the hook and smile. His obvious relief makes me laugh out loud.

“Newsflash braintrust, you two aren’t the first to think that up.” I gesture towards the phone. “Hand it over.”

I type onto the screen. “If we fuck, you’ll write a song about me. It will go viral. I will have to listen to it for the rest of my life. No thanks. Ariel.”

I hand the phone back to Mateo, noticing for the first time the dark expression on his face. Not anger. Something deeper. Carnal. Something that gets me wet and makes my body flash hot all over.

“I rescind my offer of a threesome. You know this, right?” Mateo pulls me in tight against him, his breath hot against my cheek. “There’s no fucking way I can share you with anybody. There would be bloodshed. Prison for me.” He punctuates the next few words with a series of small nips against the skin of my neck. “Very. Bad. Idea.”

“Well, then you better make my sacrifice worth it. ” I snake my hand backwards between us, touching as much of his hard abdomen and even harder crotch as I can from my awkward angle.

“You already know I’m worth it. I bet you’re already wet for me. Dying for it.” He keeps one arm looped around my waist ensuring that I stay where he wants me while the other wanders, skimming over my bare thighs and then inching up under the hem of my denim skirt to trace the bottom curve of an ass cheek. He groans against my ear. “Fuck, I love the fact that you hate underwear.”

I lick my lips. “I don’t like anything to get in between me and what I want.”

He laughs, the sound dark and sensual and the perfect thing to crank me up one notch higher.

“Well, you can’t have what you want right now.” The tips of his fingers trace the curve of my ass and I hold my breath as he makes a shallow dip into the wet, slick place between my legs. My body sags but he holds me in place in the right spot for him to make me crazy with that dirty mouth. “If you’re a good girl and enjoy Zane’s set, later tonight I’ll bury my cock in your pussy as deep as you want, for as long as you want, as often as you want. Sound good?”

Michel’s Review

Wow! Salvation by Robin Covington blew me away! It is one of the most emotional books I have read in 2015. This is a story of despair, hope, redemption, and unconditional love. Both of the leading characters are emotionally damaged in very different ways but their inner turmoils collide in a life altering way. They are faced with decisions that go beyond choosing each other as their one and only love. They are forced to face mortality. They are forced to chose life or death. They are forced to face the fact that if they survive the grim reaper their lives are still going to be changed drastically. They are facing very controversial decisions that are both right and wrong. In the end the one thing that matters most in their lives is their love for one another. Whether their time is limited or extended, their love is a once in a lifetime gift.

Carlisle Queen is living life with a deadline. She was an Olympic champion and international competitor. When a terrorist attack destroys her life she no longer has the same kind of drive she once had. Her injuries from the bombing have left her beyond broken. She is living in constant pain and the knowledge that her injuries are going to eventually kill her. Her only hope for survival is a very risky surgery that could leave her completely paralyzed. She is not even a candidate for the surgery at this time. She has seen every specialist there is to see. Her prognosis is not looking good. She also has very strong feelings about the surgery. She does not want to go through life in a wheel chair. She has consciously chosen to take her own life when her health and pain can no longer be managed. With this resolution, she is living life on the edge. She manages her pain with pills and drugs. She has random hookups. She limits her friendships and relationships because she knows she is a ticking time bomb.

On the surface Mateo Butler is the perfect guy. He is drop dead gorgeous, has a great personality, and is extremely intelligent. He has a bright future and has been accepted into medical school. He is the guy that every girl wants. His confidence and charming personality has earned him quite a reputation with the ladies. He is a genuinely good guy. Beneath the surface he has his own demons. He is haunted by his sister’s death. He turned his back on his sister when she chose to take her own life rather than fight the disease that was taking her life. He could not forgive her for actions. He regrets turning his back on her and now he can’t make it right. He’s not sure if he really wants to become a doctor. He is beginning to think that it may have been his sister’s dream and not his. He is at crossroads on what direction he is going to take after college graduation.

When Mateo and Carlisle meet it is instant attraction. What starts out as a one night stand hook up turns into a solid friendship. The friendship leads them both into a sizzling hot relationship that neither of them wanted or expected. But the heart wants what it needs. In many ways their relationship is perfect. They enjoy each other’s company, they are extremely compatible, they bring out the best in each other, and their sexual relationship is sizzling hot. The only problem is that they are both keeping their secrets close. They are hiding the demons that chase them. When reality smacks them in the face they will have to face choices that most couples will never have to face. Can their love survive these choices?

Salvation was an incredible story. It was gut wrenching and emotional. At the same time it showed how important it is to share your love with someone. It showed how important it is to live life to the fullest no matter what lays ahead.

Read this book!

The Nashville Night Series

Temptation – Book 1

She needs to be good.

At sixteen, Kit ditched her crappy life and moved to Nashville with only $200, her guitar, and a notebook full of songs. She hit it big, but five years of living like a rock star plus a stint in rehab has killed any good will she had with her label. The suits have ordered Kit to shape up or ship out of the limelight. The last thing she needs is a hot, sexy distraction with a sinful smile.

He doesn’t know the meaning of the word.

Max Butler is as far from a celebrity as you can get and he likes it that way. A Nashville firefighter, he’s living the single life with a revolving door of parties, friends, and a different woman in his bed every night. When his normal life suddenly collides with the girl on his favorite Rolling Stone cover, he sees the perfect chance to fulfill his ultimate fantasy and see just how bad Kit can be.

Sometimes bad is so very good.

With three weeks until Kit leaves for her big tour, Max promises to give her a break from being the good girl–no strings attached. But when hot days lead to sultry nights, the lines get blurred and suddenly three weeks of bad might not be good enough.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Salvation – Book 2

Letting go never felt so good.

Carlisle Queen is dying and no one knows it.

Mateo Butler isn’t anyone’s hero.

Can they save each other?

**A portion of the royalties from this book will be donated to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation**

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Redemption – Book 3

Release Date: June 15, 2015

Holding on never felt so good.

Emory Cabell is leaving the lies behind her.

Finding out that you’re the half-sister to America’s country music queen is game changer. Determined to meet the sibling she never knew and compelled to pursue the music career she’s always wanted, Emory leaves her small town and heads to Nashville. Thrown by the bustle of Music City and the cutthroat dealing of the business, she finds unexpected shelter in a musical partnership with country music’s notorious bad boy.

Zane Wyatt has his eyes set on the prize.

Known as a man who never stays the night, Zane is reliable only when it comes to his music. Years of paying his dues has gained him the coveted lead guitarist spot on the hottest music tour of the year. Hoping this gig will lead to his own recording contract, he agrees to write a few songs with Emory but he’s blown away by the sexual chemistry sizzling between them and leveled by his feelings for this quiet woman with the beautiful soul.

Can love be more than just a line in a song?

Darkness and light…they should not work. But one night in her bed proves they’re hotter than the number one single they wrote together. Things get complicated when the spotlight sheds light on all of Zane’s past sins and Emory struggles with trusting him with her heart. When the sought after recording contract stipulates they remain a duet, it threatens everything Zane has worked towards and challenges everything he thought he knew about himself. With his life at a crossroads, will he choose the music or the future with a woman whose love might just be his redemption?

Pre Order: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

About Robin Covington

Robin Covington loves to explore the theme of fooling around and falling in love in her bestselling books. A Night of Southern Comfort, her debut novel was nominated for the RT Book Reviewers Choice Awards for Small Press and was touted by RT Book Reviews as bringing a “fresh, modern feel to the genre while still sticking to the things that get our adrenaline pumping — sex and danger”

When she’s not writing sexy, sizzling romance she’s collecting tasty man candy, indulging in a little comic book geek love, and stalking Dean winchester. You can find Robin at her website (robincovingtonromance.com), Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Don’t send chocolate . . . send eye candy!

Robin lives in Maryland with her hilarious husband, brilliant children (they get it from her, of course!) and her beloved furbabies.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Saucy Southern Readers

professional, honest, and timely book reviews

Category Archives: New Adult

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Getting Played by Mia Storm – Jail Bait Series – Book 2

Sneak Peek …. Prologue and Chapter One… Giveaway….Trusting Liam by Molly McAdams

Summer Reads… Five Days Until You by Monica Murphy- A One Week Girlfriend Novella

2015 Favorite…. 6 + Reviews: Never Never 2 by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

Cover Reveal: Flame by Erin Noelle – Fire On The Mountain Series – Book 2

I’m soaring.

After years of hard work and determination, I am exactly where I want to be in life. As the top ranked Freestyle Motocross rider in the world, I have more money than I could ever dream of spending and gorgeous women throwing themselves at me in every city I land. I have everything I could ever want.

Everything except her.

It was supposed to just be fun, a good time. I planned to walk away unchanged.

But it was more. Feelings I never intended to have got involved, and I’ll never be the same.

Yet, I still walked away.

Except now I’m injured and my outlook has changed. Priorities have become clear.

And I’m going back to reclaim her…to show her that together we can make the fire between us burst into flames.

Release Blitz + Review + Giveaway: Only Forever by Cristin Harber – Only Series – Book 4

The final part in Grayson and Emma’s epic love story is available now! Grab ONLY FOREVER by Cristin Harber today! And if you missed the first part of their story, you can read ONLY FOR HIM here!

About ONLY FOREVER

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: #Selfie by Cambria Hebert – #Hashtag Series – Book 4

Review: Breaking Noah by Missy Johnson and Ashley Suzanne

Happy Release + 5 Star Review + 2015 Favorite : Salvation by Robin Covington – Nashville Nights Series – Book 2

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I’m soaring.

Everything except her.

It was supposed to just be fun, a good time. I planned to walk away unchanged.

But it was more. Feelings I never intended to have got involved, and I’ll never be the same.

Yet, I still walked away.

Except now I’m injured and my outlook has changed. Priorities have become clear.

And I’m going back to reclaim her…to show her that together we can make the fire between us burst into flames.

Share this:

The final part in Grayson and Emma’s epic love story is available now! Grab ONLY FOREVER by Cristin Harber today! And if you missed the first part of their story, you can read ONLY FOR HIM here!

About ONLY FOREVER

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