Release Blitz + Review + Giveaway : Trusting Liam by Molly McAdams

Posted on 06/09/2015 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?

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Excerpt

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.

Michel’s Review

Fans of the Taking Chances Series and Forgiving Lies Series by Molly McAdams are in for a real treat. The babies of these series are all grown up and giving their parents a run for their money. It’s a good thing the parents have dealt with all the good and bad crap life can throw along the way. They are getting a taste of their own medicine.

When Kennedy Ryan and her twin sister are forced to move to California because of their father. Logan “Kash” Ryan has old enemies being released from prison. Kash is fearful that his daughters are going to pay a high price. Thankfully their Uncle Eli (Changing Everything) is there to help them get situated in their new lives. One of the ways he intends to help is by getting his best employee, Liam Taylor (son from Taking Chances), to introduce them to other people their age. Little does Uncle Eli know but Liam already knows Kennedy Ryan. They had an anonymous one night stand in Vegas a year ago.

When Kennedy and Liam come face to face it’s a total shock.

Liam wants to pursue Kennedy because he never forgot the girl he called Moon.

Kennedy doesn’t want a relationship with Liam because of her secret past. Even though she has moved on from the past, the scars run deep.

Just when Liam convinces her to give their relationship a shot, the past will come knocking on the door for both of them. Kennedy will have to face her past. Liam will have to force his family to let go of his biological father (Chase) memory and let him live his own life.

Meanwhile Daddy Kash and the uncles will have to get to the bottom of the danger that threatens the precious Ryan twins.

Molly McAdams tied both series together beautifully. I loved how our favorite characters from the past series became the wise adults that guided these great young adults. I loved how she handled the memory of Chase and showed what a wonderful father Brandon was to Liam. It was a very happy transition for both series and gave the new generation something of their very own.

All of these characters will remain dear to my heart.

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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

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Giveaway

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review : Amber To Ashes by Gail McHugh – Torn Hearts Series – Book 1

Posted on 06/09/2015 by shellbellereads

Amber To Ashes

Torn Hearts Series – Book 1

Release Date: June 9, 2015

By Gail McHugh

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

Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling author of Collide and Pulse comes a gritty new novel about a shattered young woman who unexpectedly falls for two best friends.

They were a storm I never saw coming, an unforeseen heartbreak on the edge of a dangerous cliff.

Amber Moretti’s life changes in the span of minutes. An orphaned outsider, she is desperate to start fresh the moment she walks onto campus. In the time it takes to cross the university’s dining hall, she meets two men who bring color, air, and light to her darkened world.

They became my addiction, each a needle to my next hit, my high.

Brock Cunningham’s appeal is dizzying, a potent force Amber can’t deny. A green-eyed smooth talker, he instantly attracts Amber. It doesn’t take long for him to consume her every thought, her every breath.

Ryder Ashcroft, a blue-eyed, tattooed, and pierced bad boy, turns Amber off immediately—that is, until he kisses her, stealing a piece of her heart, her soul.

They were as opposite as fire and ice, yet I ached for them equally.

Never knowing she could be broken down in so many unexpectedly beautiful yet petrifying ways, Amber finds herself falling for both men.

Immoral? Maybe. I say undeniable. Uncontained.

But one devastating event changes everything, shattering each of their lives…and Amber isn’t sure she can recover from it.

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

Excerpt

“What are you, Casey?” Ryder asks over his shoulder as he scrubs his hands with antibacterial soap.

“Your little cancer warrior,” she answers with a small smile.

“That’s right.” He dries his hands and turns, a proud grin cracking his mouth. “The bravest one ever.”

I grab Casey’s hand and hold it tight, knowing nothing I’ve ever seen, heard, or felt compares to what she’s facing. This child’s living with a fear I can’t comprehend. One that’d slay all of my fears put together.

“Ready?” Ryder asks, his tone soft and caring, everything it should be.

Casey nods, clenching my hand. My heart swells, anxiety building thick in my throat as Ryder slips on a pair of medical gloves and cleans the area around her port with Betadine swabs.

Casey looks at me, the cool blue of her eyes misting over. “Are you scared of needles?”

“No,” I say, running my free hand along the back of her neck. “Are you?”

“I used to be.” She sighs, a single tear slipping down her face. “But not so much anymore.”

It takes everything in me not to drag her little body off the table and run out of the apartment with her. I wipe the tear from her cheek, my need to hide her away, sheltering her from the sinister storm she’s in the middle of, growing with each unsteady breath.

“A little cold,” Ryder warns before spraying the anesthetic on her skin.

“Hurry, Ry,” Casey pleads, her voice weak yet panicked. “It doesn’t last that long.”

“I have to make sure you’re numb, Case.” Ryder ducks his head and stares into her eyes, trying to keep her focused on the silly faces he’s making.

His tactic works.

Casey’s tiny giggles bounce around the kitchen, their musical notes blocking out the sound of Ryder popping the cap off a weird-looking needle. With a small, clear tube like a tail—and plastic wings stretched out on either side—it reminds me of a dragonfly. Ryder presses his gloved finger against Casey’s port a few times, his attention honed in on her face as he says, “Knock, knock.”

“Who’s there?” Casey smiles at me, completely unaware that Ryder’s pricked her skin with the needle.

“Aardvark.” Ryder pushes the medicine through the syringe, his attention cutting between Casey’s face and the needle.

“Aardvark who?” she manages, a thin sheen of sweat dotting her upper lip.

“Aardvark a hundred miles for one of your pretty smiles.” Ryder pulls the needle from her chest, and before she can blink, he rests his lips against her forehead, kissing away her remaining fear.

Close to immobile, my heart tugs, the magnitude of what this man means to this little girl—what they mean to each other—scraping tears up my dry throat. I swallow the sound before it can leave me, warmth pinching my stomach into a beautiful knot as I observe them.

“It’s over?” Casey asks, uncertainty flashing in her eyes.

“Yeah, kiddo. It’s over,” Ryder answers, his voice heavy with relief as he applies a small piece of gauze over her port. “You’re all set, warrior. Go get cleaned up, and we’ll get ready to leave.”

With Ryder’s aid, Casey slides off the table and heads for the bathroom, the bounce in her step less tangible as she slips around the corner. Quiet reigns, the events from the last few minutes whispering across my mind as Ryder looks at me with exhausted eyes. Stress lines cut across his forehead, wariness drowning his beautiful features. Overcome, I watch him swipe a tired hand over his face and turn, resting his palms against the counter. As though having no control over my body—a magnet pulling in my gut—I stand and move toward him, each tentative step I take carried out with shallow, quick breaths. I come up behind him, lift a shaky hand and tap his shoulder, my pulse lurching as he turns and meets my gaze. Our connection strikes, a bolt of emotions paralyzing us as we stare at each other.

I touch my fingers to his stubbled cheek, my conscience crying out that my actions are wrong, so very wrong, but my heart mutes the warning as I move my palm to the back of his neck.

His muscles go taut, restraint lighting the fiery blue of his eyes. “Amber, don’t.” The words come out not as a rough warning but a soft plea. “Don’t do this.”

“I have to,” I whisper, trembling. “You’re . . . amazing, Ryder. What you did for her, everything you do for her . . . I just . . .” I drop my eyes to his chest, my heart galloping as I register his hands gripping my waist. Their heat sears through me, a thrill jumping from cell to cell. “You’re tender, cocky, gentle, and an asshole all at the same time. You’re kind, giving, nurturing. You’re . . . everything.”

My lips find his, testing, teasing, barely touching. Our breathing comes faster, harder as I pull him down, our foreheads pressed together as we stare into each other’s eyes. “Please . . . I just . . . Just once more. That’s all I need.”

I think . . . hope.

With hunger demolishing all traces of restraint from his gaze, Ryder buries his hands in my wavy curls and looks at me a beat before capturing my lips in a slow, passionate kiss. I sigh into his mouth, my senses drowning in his familiar flavor as I fall in step with his calculated strokes. On a deep groan, he draws me closer, his tongue dipping in and out, out and in. Still, nothing about his touch is rough, yet everything in it screams that he needs me in this moment.

In this wicked space and time of his life.

Every lick and nip is a soft caress, like he’s trying to burn the sensation of my lips into his memory. My pulse hammers in staccato mode as I melt the full weight of my body into his. With my blood swimming through my veins, and sinking further into everything that is Ryder, I feel the emptiness of his soul slice through me. A dull ache pinches my heart, spreading its misery through my muscles as he cups my cheeks and deepens the kiss with a gentleness I never knew he possessed. My breath catches, wiped from my lungs as he glides his lips along my jaw, down the base of my throat. The cadence of his exotic growl slips through my ears, dizzying my head in the sweetest way.

“Christ, I fucking want you so bad,” Ryder whispers hoarsely. He drags his lips back to mine, his kiss urgent, greedy. However, he brings it down a notch, his movements revisiting slow, sensual, worshipping this moment for everything it is. Worshipping me for all I am. “So badly, peach. More than I’ve ever wanted anything or anyone. You drive me crazy. Your smell, skin, eyes.” He sucks my lip between his teeth, a groan punching from his chest as he runs his fingertips along my bare arms.

Goose bumps pop, deliciously pricking my skin as I tighten my grip in his hair.

“Your little giggles, pouts, personality. Every single fucked-up scar you own in and out. All of it. All of you.” He licks into my mouth, his tongue exploring mine with precision as his hands find my nape, their hold possessive. “Fuck. It should’ve been me. Not him. Me.”

And just like that, our moral compasses spring due north, Brock the center of its attention—our attention. We slowly break the kiss, our breathing choppy from the loss.

Robin’s Review

I recently had a very unusual reading experience. The novel that I read is Amber to Ashes, Part One of the Torn Hearts series. This new adult/dark erotic thriller is my first novel written by Gail McHugh. Amber to Ashes is the first novel of a brand new series. When I read the synopsis, it piqued my curiosity. McHugh’s previous novels, Collide and Pulse, are both very successful. For all of these reasons, I decided to try out a new author.

The plot of Amber to Ashes revolves primarily around three characters. I guess you could classify this story as a love triangle, but McHugh has put her own twist on the typical love triangle situation. Amber to Ashes is narrated from a first person point of view, told from the perspectives of Amber Moretti, Brock Cunningham and Ryder Ashcroft.

Amber Moretti witnessed the deaths of the only people she ever loved when she was a child. She is an orphan who has been shuffled between different foster families since the death of her parents. Now Amber is looking for a fresh start as she begins her freshman year at Hadley University.

Bad boy Ryder Ashcroft has blue eyes, jet-black hair, body piercings, and tattoos. He’s attractive, but completely annoying. Arrogant and argumentative. Amber lands face-first in Ryder’s lap on her first day at Hadley University, and he knows just how to push her buttons from the get-go.

Just minutes after landing in Ryder’s lap, Amber meets the handsome Hadley University football captain, and then she knows she’s in trouble! Brock Cunningham is the green-eyed, smooth-talking, best friend of Ryder Ashcroft. Brock is flirtatious, charming and says all of the right things. By the time she walks out of the cafeteria, Amber is giddy and high over meeting these two boys.

It’s not often when a situation like this presents itself to me. After four chapters, I stopped reading Amber to Ashes to consider what I was feeling: I was really struggling with this story. I already disliked the main characters, and I felt the story was lacking substance. I honestly wondered how I was going to finish reading Amber to Ashes. But, I also knew that I was still at a point very early in the book, and so much can change in a matter of a few chapters. I decided to plow ahead. Well, thank goodness that I did! Once I picked Amber to Ashes back up, I never looked back! McHugh begins to peel back the layers of her characters and steadily builds in to the meat of the story. Each of these characters has demons. Each are damaged. We are shown characters who are complex and very likable. I found myself sympathetic to each character for different reasons and increasingly fascinated by what was unfolding!

I mentioned earlier in my review that Brock and Ryder are best friends, so I wasn’t surprised they each expressed an interest for dating Amber. What transpires between these three individuals is not what I would consider typical for a love triangle. It’s a different spin on the love triangle, and not nearly as angsty in that sense. What I also found interesting are the darker elements to this story and how this plays into the relationships which develop between these characters. Remember, I consider this a dark erotic thriller, and Amber to Ashes certainly lives up to this classification. Dark. Erotic. Thriller.

I’ll sum up my thoughts with this: Amber to Ashes is one of my favorite novels for 2015! The story ends in a cliffhanger, but it’s a novel well worth reading. In fact, I’m dying to chat with other readers about this story! If you love dark erotic thrillers, you’ll definitely want to pick up a copy of 5-star Amber to Ashes! Congratulations to author Gail McHugh!

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A self-proclaimed chocoholic, married mother of three, and a lover of writing for as far back as she can remember, Gail McHugh is the author of two New York Times bestselling novels. The COLLIDE series (which includes COLLIDE and PULSE), was acquired by Atria Books on September 17th, 2013.

“The first of two sexy contemporary romances about a woman torn between her seemingly perfect boyfriend and a dark, mysterious stranger who will stop at nothing to have her.” – Publishers Weekly on COLLIDE, a Top 10 Romance pick!

You can follow Gail on the below social media sites:

Stalk Her: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and Goodreads.

Release Blitz + Giveaway : Dark Domination by Lili Valente – Bought By The Billionaire Series – Book 1

Posted on 06/09/2015 by shellbellereads

Dark Domination

Bought by the Billionaire, Book 1

Lili Valente

Releases June 9th

WARNING: Dark, dirty, forbidden, and hot as hell.

Marine turned billionaire arms dealer Jackson Hawke has one goal–to have the woman who ruined his life at his mercy. He’ll see her on her knees, even if he has to pay for the privilege.

Six years ago, Hannah buried her twin sister. Now, with her family in jeopardy, Hannah must sell herself to a wealthy stranger in order to save their home.

She expects to be scarred by the experience. She doesn’t expect to pay penance for her sister’s sins or to meet a man who brings her body savagely to life.

Now Hannah must choose–confess to Jackson that she’s not the twin he’s looking for and forfeit the money she needs to survive, or submit to a man whose dark domination may be the end of them both.

* *CLIFFHANGER ALERT: Dark Domination ends in a cliffhanger. It is the 1st in the Bought by the Billionaire serial romance series. The entire series will release summer 2015* *

Amazon:http://amzn.to/1Fhz8h3

Nook: http://bit.ly/1GnTnj9
Googleplay: http://bit.ly/1eOlgo1
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1FrBdGc
iBooks: http://apple.co/1IeDoUN

Hannah’s eyes flew open and her lips parted in a scream, but the enormous man straddling her pressed his hand tighter to her lips, muffling the sound.

She jerked her arms downward, ready to fight him off, only to discover that her wrists were tied to the headboard. Terror rushed through her and her pulse sped, setting her heart to slamming against her ribs as she tugged harder on her bonds. But the rope biting into her wrists assured her she wouldn’t be able to fight her way free.

She was bound tight, powerless to protect herself from whatever this man intended to do to her.

“Relax, princess. It’s just me.” The man leaned down, the water dripping from the end of his nose, landing on Hannah’s cheek, making her flinch. “I came in through the window. I thought I’d make that fantasy you were telling me about a reality.”

Hannah swallowed, her thundering heartbeat slowing a bit as she understood what was happening.

She wasn’t being attacked by an intruder. This man must be Harley’s guy of the moment, and he clearly thought he was straddling her sister. Once she cleared up the misunderstanding, he’d untie her and she could show him to the door. They’d both be embarrassed, no doubt, but she wasn’t about to be raped or murdered.

The realization made her whip-tight muscles sag with relief, an action she realized too late that the man took as an invitation to continue living out Harley’s bondage fantasy.

“I’ve been dying to touch you all day,” he said, his dry palm moving from her mouth to her breast, teasing her nipple through her thin tee shirt, drawing a gasp from her throat.

She expected his touch to feel foreign and unwelcome, but his fingers were gentle, teasing her with a sweetness that made her arch into his warm hand. Electricity shot from her breast to coil between her legs, the sensation intensified by the feel of the rope digging into her wrists as her biceps tightened reflexively in response to the stranger’s confident touch.

“God, the sounds you make drive me crazy,” the man said, pinching her nipple tight enough to make her gasp again.

“No, please, I’m not—” Hannah’s words ended in a moan as he pushed her shirt up and bent lower, tugging her nipple into the warm, wet heat of his mouth. His tongue flicked and teased, flooding her body with pleasure and longing so intense she was panting by the time he transferred his mouth to her other breast, sucking and nibbling at the aroused skin as his big hand slipped down the front of her panties, finding where she was already wet.

Wet, from her sister’s boyfriend’s mouth on her breasts. And now his fingers were sliding into where she ached, making her shudder.

If she didn’t stop this soon, it would be too late. There would be no avoiding tragedy, there would be only shame and the nightmare of confessing to her sister and this innocent man that she’d done something unforgivable.

“Stop, I’m not Harley.” She tensed her thighs only to relax them a second later when she realized her locked muscles were trapping his fingers inside her embarrassingly slick sex.

“No, you’re not,” he said, driving his fingers in and out of her as he trapped her nipple between his teeth and bit down, making her cry out in pain before he soothed away the hurt with his tongue.

“You’re my little slut,” he continued in his deep, sexy rumble of a voice, his fingers still busy between her legs, making the tension coiling low in her body fist even tighter. “And I’m going to fuck you until you scream.”

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Lili Valente has slept under the stars in Greece, eaten dinner at midnight with French men who couldn’t be trusted to keep their mouths on their food, and walked alone through Munich’s red light district after dark and lived to tell the tale.

These days you can find her writing in a tent beside the sea, drinking coconut water and thinking delightfully dirty thoughts.

Lili loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her via email at lili.valente.romance@gmail.com

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5 Star Review : Happily Ever Never by Jennifer Foor

Posted on 06/09/2015 by shellbellereads

I was about to marry the man of my dreams.

We had it all; a life that most could only wish for. I felt like
the luckiest woman in the world.

Then, in the blink of an eye, it was taken from me.

Now I can’t grasp how to move forward.

I don’t even think I want to.

Whether I’m dead or alive, my happily ever after is NEVER going
to happen.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Michel’s Review

Happily Ever Never by Jennifer Foor is my favorite book that she has written. As I sat reading this emotional book I was choking on my tears. This book wrecked me. But it also made me smile in the end. Happily Ever Never is not necessarily never.

This is a story of life, love, and the once in a lifetime love that touches the root of your soul. It is also a story of the gift of life. The renewed hope that comes with time. The hope that comes with a new life.

It is also a story of hate and mistrust that evolves into a deep rooted friendship. A deep rooted friendship that gives another kind of love that is equally important.

It is also a story of fear. The fear of death and the fear of life.

I am not going to say too much more because it would give too many spoilers. All of the characters in this story will touch your soul.

Jennifer dug deep and gave the readers an experience of life, love, and the hope of happiness.

I highly recommend Happily Never Ever.

Jennifer Foor is an award winning Contemporary Romance Author. She’s best known for the Mitchell Family Series, which includes ten books.

She is married with two children and spends most of her time behind a keyboard, writing stories that come from her heart.

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5 Star ARC Review: Reaching Rose by J. P. Grider – Hunter Hill University Series – Book 3

Posted on 06/08/2015 by shellbellereads

Reaching Rose

Hunter Hill University Series – Book 3

By J. P. Grider

Synopsis

Rose Duncan is dancing on Broadway. She’s spent hours a day for the last two decades to get there, and now she’s living the dream. She’s happy, she’s driven, and life couldn’t get any better.

Ben Falco is a pitcher whose only goal is to make it to the Major Leagues. He keeps his grades up, he doesn’t party, and he stays away from committed relationships – they’ll only distract him.

But when Ben meets Rose, she’s no dancer, and she’s certainly not happy. In fact, she doesn’t seem to be living at all. Yet something about her makes him want to know what’s turned her into this shell of a person, and if he can be the one to reach inside her mind and pull her out.

Ben doesn’t want a relationship. Rose doesn’t want to get better. But once their hearts collide, it’s a whole new ballgame.

Reaching Rose is a story about Rose and Ben, and a little about their friend Johnny Gleason – a genius who has plans of his own until they too slip from his grasp. This is a tale about love, loss, and guts, and the ability to play hardball when life throws you a curve.

Buy: Amazon / B & N

Michel’s Review

Reaching Rose by J. P. Grider is the first book I have read by this author When I saw this book on Net Galley the synopsis intrigued me. I decided to give this author a go. I have to say I am very impressed with this author’s writing.

Reaching Rose is quite different from most books in the New Adult genre. It has all of the elements that readers expect in a New Adult romance. There is heart wrenching angst and an almost impossible romance. It also has so much more. It deals with real life issues that many people go through. It shows the pain of loss, the change in one’s self image, the loss of dreams, and the rebuilding of one’s life in all aspects.

Rose Duncan has been a dancer all of her life. She has finally gotten her big break and landed a part in a broadway show. Three weeks before the show opens, Rose is in a horrific accident. This accident causes her to lose one of her legs. The devastation of losing a limb along with the devastation of losing her life long dream is more than she can handle. Her road to recovery is a long and very painful journey. She no longer knows who she is or what she wants in life. The one thing that helps her move forward is her new friendship with Ben Falco.

Ben met Rose when he entered a specialized rehab facility for a knee injury. He is intrigued with the silent troubled girl he sees daily in the rec room. This girl is lifeless. He wants to reach her and let her know there is hope. What starts as a tentative friendship will turn into so much more. In the end this relationship with Rose will help him face the truth about his injury and future as a professional baseball player.

Both Rose and Ben will learn many life lessons. They will also learn that there is more than one dream in the journey of life. They will both find new realities. They will conquer their fears. Rose will learn that her disability is not the end of her dancing career. Ben will learn that life is more important than a career.

This book touched me in so many ways. I admired both of the characters. Ben captured my heart with his positive outlook and persistence. I loved how patient he was with Rose.

I will definitely be reading more from this author.

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The Hunter Hill University Series

Calling California – Book 1

Disclaimer : This is a story about money – the lack of it vs. having plenty. Money WILL be mentioned – it is essential to the story and essential to the growth of the lead female character, who WILL eventually learn that money does NOT make the world go ’round. And neither do the people who have it.

Cali Parker is poor. She has a lot on her plate – her father is dying, she’s working to help pay the rent, and she’s two-years behind in college.

Griffin Brooks is rich. He has not a care in the world – he’s acing his engineering courses, his hobby is restoring his fifty-thousand dollar classic car, and he has a different girl on his arm every week.

When Cali sees Griffin on her first day of class, she’s immediately smitten and thinks she’s found the perfect guy. When Griffin sees Cali at the bank, he immediately forgets the blonde he was with that morning. Then they meet, and their worlds collide.

Cali doesn’t belong in Griffin’s world, and he doesn’t understand hers. But just when Griffin convinces Cali that their two different worlds can blend, a secret is revealed that tears them apart.

Is their love strong enough to bring them back together, or will their worlds drift further apart?

Buy: Amazon / B & N

Mending Michael – Book 2

There is a fine line between love and hate.

When bartender Mick Ross first sees Holly Buchanan walk into Donny’s Bar, his heart comes to a halt. That is, until she serves him her fake ID and reveals her true nature when she’s declined her drink.

Holly thinks Mick is an ass, and she has no clue why he can’t stand her. Though, she does enjoy looking at his ass.

So, when Donny hires Holly to waitress at his bar, she must either deal with Mick’s hatred toward her or give him a taste of his own medicine.

Tensions are high.
Comments are made.
Hearts are hurt.
But if there really is a fine line between love and hate, then Mick and Holly must decide on which side they stand.

Buy: Amazon / B & N

Reaching Rose – Book 3

Ben Falco is a pitcher whose only goal is to make it to the Major Leagues. He keeps his grades up, he doesn’t party, and he stays away from committed relationships – they’ll only distract him.

Ben doesn’t want a relationship. Rose doesn’t want to get better. But once their hearts collide, it’s a whole new ballgame.

Buy: Amazon / B & N

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Author Bio:

J.P. Grider is a New Adult and Young Adult author. She is the author of seven novels. Her young adult series The Honor Trilogy consists of A Touch of Honor, A Man of Honor, and A Heart of Honor, while her first two novels – Unplugged (A Portrait of a Rock Star) and Maybe This Life – are standalone adult contemporary novels. Her most recent release is the new adult romance Mending Michael, which is the second in her Hunter Hill University series. The next book in the series – Reaching Rose – will be released in May, 2015. All the books in the Hunter Hill University series are standalone books and can be read in any order.

You can follow J.P. on Facebook at J.P. Grider, Author, on Instagram and Twitter @JPGrider1, and on her blog at jpgrider.com

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + Review : Masquerade by J. S. Cooper – The Swept Away Series – Book 2.5

Posted on 06/08/2015 by shellbellereads

Masquerade

Swept Away Series – Book 2.5

By J. S. Cooper

Synopsis

We first met Bianca and Jakob in Illusion, stranded on a desert island and thrown into one another’s arms. But each of them has dark secrets yet to be uncovered… In this new e-novella tied to the Swept Away series, New York Times bestselling author J.S. Cooper reveals even more surprises about the dangerous Bradley family…

Jakob knows Bianca’s appearance at the Bradley, Inc. stockholders meeting was no accident. He knows her family ruined his mother’s life. And he knows that he can’t keep his hands off her. But it’s what he doesn’t know that might put both of them in deadly danger.

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Michel’s Review

Masquerade is the second prequel novella in the Swept Away series. This novella is from Jakob Bradley’s POV. In the previous books and novella in this series, most of the ongoing story is from Bianca’s POV or perceptions. This novella sheds some light on Jakob’s motivations and how he got from point A to point B.

Jakob has the need to uncover the secrecy of who and what Bianca London is. He needs to know her ties to his family and the family’s corporation. He is convinced that Bianca’s family is tied to his mother’s death. He’s convinced that Bianca is out to destroy the corporation. His half brother David is under the same assumption. The two come up with a plan to extract all of the information that Bianca has acquired after her father’s death. They concoct an elaborate plan that involves kidnapping, seduction, and betrayal.

The interesting thing is that Jakob and David each have their own personal motivations. David is not all he portrays himself to be. Jakob has his own agenda that may not be true to the Bradley family interests.

There are other players in this game of greed and deception. Jakob may end up being a victim as well. Bianca is not the only one trying to seek the truth. Jakob is not the only one trying to manipulate the truth.

How it all plays out is going to be a surprise to us all. The next book , Resolution, will release on December 1st, 2015. I can’t wait.

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The Swept Away Series

Illusion – Book 1

Illusion is the book readers are calling a roller coaster ride of emotions. It’s achingly sexy, steaming hot, full of romance and has suspense that will keep you guessing until the last page.

Indie sensation and New York Times bestselling author of the Ex Games series and the Private Club series, J.S. Cooper introduces the Swept Away series–three new, dark and sexy romances about a woman marooned on a desert island with a mysterious stranger–but is he friend or foe?

The day started like every other day…

Bianca finds herself kidnapped and locked up in a van with a strange man. Ten hours later, they’re dumped on a deserted island. Bianca has no idea what’s going on and her attraction to this stranger is the only thing keeping her fear at bay.

Jakob wants only to figure out why they’ve been left on the island and how they can get off. But as the days go by, he can’t ignore his growing fascination with Bianca.

In order to survive, Bianca and Jakob must figure out how they’re connected, but as they grow closer, secrets are revealed that may destroy everything they thought they knew about each other.

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Disillusioned – Book 2

Following on the heels of Illusion, indie sensation and New York Times bestselling author J.S. Cooper brings us the second novel in the Swept Away series, a trilogy of dark and sexy romances about a woman marooned on a desert island with a sexy stranger—but is he friend or foe?

When Bianca and Jakob awake on a sandy shore in the middle of nowhere, their first thoughts are of survival. But as they explore their surroundings and try to discover who stranded them on the island, they can’t deny the electricity surging between them. Soon it’s more than just a campfire keeping them warm…

But just as Bianca is starting to trust Jakob, she uncovers a clue to their abduction—and he may know more than he’s letting on. Was Jakob just as surprised as she to find himself alone with her…or could the man she’s fallen for be her captor?

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Masquerade – Book 2.5

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Resolution – Book 3

Coming – December 1, 2015

Indie sensation and New York Times bestselling author J.S. Cooper brings us the final novel in the Swept Away series, a trilogy of heart-pounding romances about a woman marooned on a desert island with a sexy stranger—but is he friend or foe?

When Bianca and Jakob first awoke on a sandy shore in the middle of nowhere, their thoughts were only concerned with survival. But as they explored their surroundings and tried to find out who left them stranded on the island, electricity surged between them. Soon after, Bianca uncovered clues to her abduction, but was left with even more unanswered questions, especially about Jakob’s true motives…

Now, Bianca just wants the truth. Nothing was as it seemed, especially with Jakob. As she discovers cross upon double cross, all she can trust is her instinct, her connection with him. So they decide to return to the island in hopes of finally learning the truth. Bianca and Jakob have been thrown together and torn apart by their secrets—but can she trust him enough to rescue her at last?

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About J. S. Cooper

Cooper is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She is a true romantic that is in love with love. The J. S. stands for Jaimie Suzi. She just thought J. S. sounded cooler! J. S. was born in London, England and moved to the States at age 17. She studied history in college and then went to law school and then decided to follow her writing dreams. J. S. writes ‘New Adult’ contemporary romance books because that is what she also loves to read.

Please join J. S. Cooper on her facebook page if you enjoy her books here: https://www.facebook.com/J.S.Cooperauthor. If you wish to get in contact, please email her at Jscooperauthor@gmail.com.

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Release Day Blitz + Review + Giveaway: Strike by Heather C. Leigh – Sphere of Irony Series – Dax: Book 2

Posted on 06/08/2015 by shellbellereads

Strike

A Sphere of Irony Series – Book 2

Release Date: June 7, 2015

By Heather C. Leigh

Synopsis

Dax Davies has one job to fulfill in the Davies household. Earn money at the family business. The problem is that the family business was illegal underground fighting.

From a young age, Dax and his brothers are groomed to become money earners in their father’s club. Broken bones and bruises are commonplace. Their father pits the brothers against each other to ‘toughen them up’ for the ring, using his rules to bend his sons to his will. His future is in the cage, not on stage where he dreams of making music.

Kate Campbell loves one thing in life. Well, two. Soccer and Dax Davies. Growing up in the poorest part of London, soccer is her personal escape from reality and from the fact that Dax doesn’t seem to know she exists. She figures if she can be good enough at soccer, maybe she can get away from Hackney, and leave the poverty behind.

Kate doesn’t plan on ever getting to know Dax as more than a passing acquaintance. In fact, she isn’t meant to go with her friend to Dax’s father’s business, but that one night changes everything.

***This is book 2 in the Sphere of Irony Series. It can be read as a standalone. This is a spin-off of the Famous Series***

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Excerpt

Before I can blink, Dax’s huge, calloused hands are framing my face and his mouth brushes across mine. At first it’s just a whisper, a tease, the contact barely there. Then, I hear him inhale sharply and his lips press down forcefully, melding with mine, urging me to open up with quick flicks of his tongue. I melt against his solid body as he dominates the kiss, completely under his spell to do with as he wishes. It seems to go on and on—a small slice of paradise in this blighted spot of East London.

When he finally pulls back, greedily stealing a few more nips at my mouth, he closes his eyes and moans. “I knew you’d taste like heaven. You’re an angel, I just knew it.” His voice is so quiet I wonder if he meant to say it out loud.

Naturally, I stand there like an idiot, saying nothing… doing nothing. I’ve been kissed into complete stupidity.

Dax swipes the pad of his thumb over my damp lips. “See you at school tomorrow.” Without giving me a single hint of what he’s thinking, he turns and leaves. I touch my mouth, running a finger over the same spot Dax touched. My heart leaps into my throat, fluttering so fast I fear it may explode.

Great. I’m ruined. My first kiss and it was nothing less than brilliant. Dax Davies just ruined me for every other man from now until the day I die.

Michel’s Review

The Sphere of Irony series by Heather C. Leigh is a unique rock star series. This series features two British members and two American members. The first two books in the series cover the British members. Their stories span from their youth in the ghetto’s of London to the glamourous life in LA. Both of the British members could not wait to escape their lives in England but paid a high price to do so. They left behind the most important things in their lives. They left the women that owned their hearts. Both Dax and Adam have completely different circumstances and situations that led them to their present lives in the Sphere of Irony. Their friendship is the only thing that keeps them going and connected to their pasts. Strike is Dax Davies story.

Dax was raised with very strict rules.

The Rules

1. Family First

2. Never Let Your Emotions Show

3. No fucking, shagging, wanking, sucking, or getting off for seven days leading up to a fight. You win, you get your reward.

4. Women who act like slags can be treated like slags, but never disrespect a proper lady.

5. Defend what’s yours.

Those rules dictated every moment of his young life. He was forced into the world of underground fighting by his father. The fights were more important than school, social life, and personal life. His only solace is his music. He and his best friend Adam have formed a band and are performing in local pubs when he has a night off from the fighting.

When Dax begins falling for his classmate Kate Campbell, it’s very hard to stray from the rules and get to know the girl that has captured his attention. When Dax finally gives in to his desires rather than following the rules it ends in disaster. His father and family is going to make sure that family comes first.

Dax finally escapes his family and the band heads to LA, Dax finally is feeling free. He is finally free to pursue Kate.

Kate Campbell has come to LA on a soccer scholarship. It is her ticket out of the ghetto and into a successful life. After Dax crushed her young heart, she wants nothing to do with him here in America.

The disappearance and reappearance of their friend Ellie will bring Dax and Kate together once again. They are finally going to explore the feelings they have for one another. They are building a life lasting relationship. But life has a way of butting it’s ugly head. Fame, stalkers, athletic careers, and “the rules” will tear them apart once again.

Dax will have to learn to let go of “the rules” and learn to show his real emotions. He will have to put “the rules” into a new perspective. He will find a whole new meaning to “Defend what’s yours”.

Heather C. Leigh wrote another fantastic book in the Sphere of Irony series. I liked that the book was connected to the first book Incite but was also completely different. The connections kept the Sphere of Irony intertwined without giving spoilers to the first book. Each of the characters in the Sphere of Irony are completely different and each one has an interesting story. I really liked Dax’s story. He had life lessons that he had to learn to deal with and make his own. The one thing readers would never question is his love for Kate.

I highly recommend Strike and Incite, the first book in the Sphere of Irony series.

A Sphere Of Irony Series

Incite – Book 1

Privilege, poverty, death, and self-loathing; these are the backgrounds of the men of the internationally famous rock band, Sphere of Irony.

Adam Reynolds is an impoverished teen raised by neglectful parents in one of London’s most dangerous boroughs. He turns to his love of music and countless girls to escape his sad reality.

Beautiful and naïve Ellie Palmer comes from a well-off family that suddenly finds themselves living in one of the poorest neighborhoods in London. Alone in a frightening new place, Ellie is afraid to leave the safety of her home, only going out to walk to school and back.

When Adam prevents Ellie from becoming the victim of a horrific sexual assault, they discover something that two teenagers never thought they would find in such a depressing place. Each other.

After tragedy, lies, and distance tear their future away from them; they each wander through life empty and hopeless no matter who or what they use to replace the feelings of loss.

From the crime-ridden streets of London’s East End to the over-the-top display of wealth in L.A. Can two broken souls must conquer their demons in order to find true happiness?

*This is book 1 in a 4 part series. It is a spin-off of the Famous Series. These can be read as standalones.*

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About Heather C. Leigh

I’m the author of the Amazon best selling Famous series. I like to write about the ‘dark’ side of fame. The part that the public doesn’t get to see, how difficult it is to live in a fishbowl and how that affects relationships.

I was born and raised in New England and currently live outside Atlanta, GA.

I love the Red Sox, the Patriots, and anything made of chocolate (but not white chocolate, that doesn’t count).

My favorite authors are Dan Wells, Tina Reber, Ken Follett, and Stephen King. Happy reading!

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Release Blitz + Review + Giveaway : Unforgettable by Melody Grace – Beachwood Bay Series

Posted on 06/08/2015 by shellbellereads

Title: Unwritten

Series: Beachwood Bay #8

Author: Melody Grace

Release Date: June 8, 2015

“Sizzling hot and super emotional – the perfect combo!”
– NYT and USA Today bestselling Lauren Blakely“Sexy, sweet, and swoon-worthy.”
– NYT Bestselling Emily Snow, author of the Devoured series.

An Unforgettable series ending …

Blurb

“My dearest grand-daughter, Listen to your heart, believe in a brighter tomorrow, and always, always leave room for dessert.”

Noelle Olsen has never been impulsive, but when she inherits the old family bed and breakfast, she surprises everyone by quitting her corporate job and starting over in Beachwood Bay: the sleepy coastal town that’s home to old memories, new friends — and the one man she never saw coming.

Ash Callahan isn’t looking for love. He’s built his real-estate empire out of discipline, control, and cool logic — so why does one kiss from a carefree stranger send his world tilting off its axis?

Their connection is undeniable; the chemistry, impossible to ignore. But just as Noelle considers opening her heart again, the pair find themselves facing off over the town’s future — and their own. With so much as stake, will they find a way to bridge the divide, and build a love that’s unforgettable?

ADD TO GOODREADS

Links to Buy

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Also Available

“One night can change everything …”

UNMASKED IS AVAILABLE NOW AND FREE!

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Excerpt

“Watch out!”

The packed crowd in Jimmy’s bar suddenly shifts, and I go slamming into someone.

“Sorry!” I put my hands out to keep from falling, and a pair of strong arms grip me tightly, keeping me on my feet. “I didn’t see you—”

I look up, and the words fade on my lips. The room disappears—all the noise and jostling crowd blurring into background static.

It’s him.

Ash. The man from the masquerade party. The one who led me on a wild night of adventure—and never called me the next morning. He should be five hundred miles away, but he’s here, in the middle of the crowded bar in Beachwood Bay, looking at me like I’m a ghost.

I know how he feels. It’s impossible, it has to be. But I can feel his hands, gripping me tightly; feel the warm, solid muscle of his body against mine.

I know those hands. I’ve explored that body. There would be no mistaking them, even if I wasn’t gazing into his piercing dark eyes, the ones branded on my memory.

Oh my God.

The moment stretches, electric. Then someone slams into me again, and Ash yanks me back. Suddenly, the world rushes in again.

“What are you…?” I whisper, still not able to believe it. “I mean…”

I fight to collect myself, but before I can form a coherent sentence, Ash grabs my hand and pulls me across the room. He’s moving so fast, I can barely keep up: I hurry after him, through the crowd and down a back hallway.

“Where are we going?” I gulp, my heart racing. “Slow down. Ash!”

He ignores me, pulling me after him, up a flight of stairs, and through another door. We emerge on the rooftop, a flat expanse decorated with string lights and a view of the whole bay. I barely have time to catch my breath before Ash brings his hands to my face, pushes me back against the wall and kisses me so hard I forget my own name.

Yes.

Just like before, the chemical reaction is instant: a flare of heat surging through me, so bright it blots the world, like staring straight into the sun. I part my lips, greedy for the taste of him, loving the sensual caress of his tongue as he slides it deep into my mouth.

Ash groans against me, and I arch up, wrapping my arms around his neck to pull him closer. He’s gripping me so tightly, my body is crushed against him; my back hard against the wall. He threads the fingers on one hand roughly through my hair, pinning me in place as his mouth continues its devastating exploration.

There’s no way to explain it, how my body responds to his touch. Touch-paper to a flame; igniting like never before. I run my hands through his dark hair, slide across the muscular contours of his back, gripping at his shirt and kissing him with everything I have. I can’t think, I can’t breathe, I just fall deeper into the kiss, our passion obliterating every last thought from my mind.

It’s a rush of glitter in my veins, of soaring fever and a low, aching need. Desire consumes me, hot and demanding, until suddenly, Ash wrenches free.

I gasp for air, sinking back against the wall. My legs go weak as his eyes rake over me, blazing darkly with lust. “What are you doing here?” he whispers harshly.

“I…” I can’t find the words, I’m still reeling with shock—and desire.

A shadow crosses his face. He shakes his head, looking dazed. “No,” he mutters, cutting me off. “This isn’t happening.” Before I can say another word, he turns and strides away from me, slamming the exit door with a crash. I’m left alone on the rooftop with nothing but the sound of my own beating heart.

Tracey’s Review

“How about you and I make a deal?…Just for tonight, the real world doesn’t exist. It’s just me and you, and whatever happens next.”Ash Callahan is always in control. Since having to step in as the head of his family at a young age, he has made it his business to keep everything professional, nice and tidy, with no time for letting things get personal. Noelle Olsen is a free spirit wrapped in a businesslike shell. Following her dream of being a lawyer, she should be loving the life she’s created, but the rat-race is beginning to chafe. Meeting Ash may be just the thing to open her eyes…I am a serious fan of Melody Grace and her Beachwood Bay series. I love every single character, every single story, every single book. I was super-excited when I read the blurb for Ash’s story, and couldn’t wait to get my hands on the book when it became available. From the first time he was mentioned in Unrequited/Uninhibited, Dex’s and Alicia’s story, I wanted to know more about him. Ash has had to give up so much to make sure that his siblings were taken care of. His whole business empire is a testament to his commitment to providing for those that he loves, but, in putting them first, he has closed himself off. Meeting Noelle, and giving in to the spontaneity of their first night together, has pretty much thrown him for a loop.

“I can’t…I can’t be that guy you want. Spontaneous and thrill-seeking. I know I made you believe it’s who I really am, but that night, it wasn’t me. I was playing pretend with you, and it wouldn’t have been fair to keep pretending.”

I love Noelle. She has this zest for life that is completely at odds with her buttoned-down job. I was cheering for her to shake off the doubts that were keeping her tied down in a career that she did not love, and step out into the unknown. She knows that there is more to life, more to what is going on between Ash and her, and she’s willing to grab it with both hands.

“I don’t want to fight this…I’m finished with doing what I’m supposed to, what I think is the sensible thing. We both know there’s something real here between us. So now it’s your turn to choose…Are you going to keep lying to yourself, or will you trust your instincts?”

Knowing that Unforgettable is the last in the Beachwood Bay series is bittersweet. It’s hard to say goodbye to characters that feel like one big extended family, and to a place that feels so much like home. The epilogue at the end of this book makes all the difference for me, because I am unabashedly a lover of the HEA. Being able to see how things wrap up for each of the couples in the series is just the perfect way to end things. While I will miss visiting Beachwood Bay and all of the folks that I have come to know and love, I can say that Unforgettable is just that, and I happily give it 5+ ‘romantic, sexy, yes, the love scenes are super-hot, happily-ever-after’ stars. Add this series to your TBR, and enjoy.

____________________________________________________________________________

Author Bio

Melody Grace is the New York Times bestselling author of the
Beachwood Bay series. A small-town girl turned SoCal beach lover, after
spending her life with her nose in a book, she decided it was time she wrote
one herself. She loves steamy romance novels, happily-ever-afters, and lusting
after fictional menfolk. She lives in LA with her two kittens, Bucky Barnes and
Steve Rogers.

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Excerpt Reveal: Amber To Ashes by Gail McHugh – Torn Hearts Series – Book 1

Posted on 06/08/2015 by shellbellereads