Push by Claire Wallis….6 Star Reviews- Smut Book Junkie Reviews Favorite + Giveaway

Posted on 04/08/2015 by shellbellereads

Push

Book 1

By Claire Wallis

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Synopsis

I feel like I am wrapped in a cyclone. Everything is whirling around me, drawing the air out of my lungs and filling me with the best kind of turmoil. Every time his tongue slides against mine, a prickle in my gut tells me how right we are together. How much I need David. How much I need us.

I hope the cyclone never stops.

Emma Searfoss has spent a lifetime trying to escape her abusive stepfather. It’s why she moved far away from home. It’s why she’s kept no ties with her remaining family. And it’s why she’s got a major rage problem. When her neighbor shows up to fix the kitchen in her new apartment, his enigmatic charm calms the fire in her. David is cool and collected, and he makes Emma feel safe for the first time ever. But David has his own chilling past—his six previous girlfriends have all disappeared without a trace. Emma’s walking a dangerous line, but David’s pull is intoxicating. And impossible to resist…

Michel’s Review

*** I wrote this review in May 2014 when Push was first released. Almost one year later and several books reviewed, I have not been able to forget this book. I am still blown away by the intensity and the emotional impact this book had on me. I have recommended this book to several of my seasoned reader friends and they have had the same kind of reactions. Claire Wallis delivered a unique story with a very untraditional writing style. There were two prologues and two epilogues are written from each character’s POV. The content of the book is mostly written in third person but has chapters throughout the book written in first person POV from supporting characters. It is choreographed in a very deliberate manner that stuns the readers. The writing is absolutely brilliant! ***

Push by Claire Wallis is getting a lot of attention in the reader world. There are discussion groups dedicated to this book. All the major review sites and bloggers are blowing up over this book. It has every reader reacting! How could I not read this book? I had to know what was causing this kind of hysteria.

Now that I have finished this book, I completely understand all the reactions and sensation this book is generating.

Everything about Push is completely original. The plot is intricately woven. The reader gets a look at both the characters pasts as well as their present. The book is mostly written from Emma’s point of view. We get to know David through their conversations, Emma’s point of view, past girlfriends’ point of views, the prologue and epilogue. The author brilliantly takes the reader into the complicated worlds these characters evolved from. She develops a story that will keep the reader consumed to the very last word. When all is said and done, all the reader can think is WTF! I had to peel my jaw off the ground. I felt like I needed a shot of whiskey to calm me down. I felt like I needed a whole bottle of antacid to get my stomach out of knots. I needed the next book….. like YESTERDAY!

Push is exhilarating, chilling, horrific, distressing, anguishing, tormenting and heartbreaking. At the same time, the reader experiences an unusual but beautiful relationship. A relationship that goes beyond the kind of love most relationships are based on. Everything about this couple worked. They were exactly what each other needed. But sometimes having that perfection is not enough. This is the case with David and Emma.

When I started this book I was immediately drawn in. There are two prologues, one from Emma’s point of view and the other from David’s point of view. The prologues made it very clear what was going to happen at the end of the book. I was flabbergasted! I had to know more. I had to find out how they came to this point. I was hoping that the ending would turn out differently.

Emma was a very impressive heroine. She had a horrible childhood. She was mentally and verbally abused by her stepfather. Her stepfather ruined her family. But despite her ugly past, she didn’t let it drag her down. She is feisty, independent, self sufficient, aggressive, tough, and hard. She doesn’t believe in love. She doesn’t trust easily. She never gives anyone a piece of her heart. She’s okay with who she is. When she meets David, pieces of herself that she locked away begin to surface. He accepts her for who she is. He wants to protect her and take care of her. He is tender, caring, and supportive. He is everything she never knew she needed. He is perfect for her even though he has a slew of hidden secrets. She is okay with that. She accepts him for who he is because like her he has been to hell and back.

David is one of the most complicated characters I have ever experienced. On one hand I absolutely loved him. He is compassionate, giving, tender, and loving in his own unique way. He has a mesmerizing personality that is hard not to love. On the other hand, deep down he is a monster. He is your worst nightmare. Your heart breaks when you find out how he evolved into this horrific person. You are hoping that his relationship with Emma will somehow change him. Some people are not fixable.

Somehow these two messed up souls are beautiful together. They give each other what they need. They bring out the very best and the very worst in each other. They embrace it all. They are chaotic perfection together.

When you reach the end, there are two epilogues. One epilogue is from Emma’s point of view and the other is from David’s point of view. The ending will leave you with your heart in your feet, stomach in knots, and ugly tears running down your face. It ends on a major CLIFFHANGER!

Push by Claire Wallis blew my mind! I cannot wait for the sequel. I hope the publisher does not leave us readers hanging for long. I don’t think I can get this book out of my head.

Push by Claire Wallis is clearly the book that is going to soar to the top of 2014 Book of the Year list.

Note: This review is based on my reactions and emotions. The writing was flawless. The plot was brilliant. The overall story to this point is heart wrenching.

Robin’s Review

It has been three weeks since I finished reading Push by Claire Wallis, and I still think about this novel. Or should I say obsess? This is the exception. Generally, my head shifts focus with each novel that I begin reading. Reviewing novels is hard. Sometimes it takes all of the fun out of reading when you have to focus on what you want to say when you write the review. When I read Push, I knew our blog had already covered this story. So, I read it for sheer enjoyment. And I can’t forget it. I can’t escape this story. Have you read the synopsis? Push is dark romance at its finest. Go read this thriller now because the sequel Pull is being published soon! 6 stars to Claire Wallis for her debut novel!

Author Bio:

Enamored with the process of creating messy characters filled with imperfections and wicked inclinations, Claire believes that you don’t actually have to like a character to fall in love with them – a good story, after all, is best served with a hearty side of evil (just ask Disney). Claire’s first New Adult novel, Push, was released by MIRA Books on May 1st 2014. The story speaks to her appreciation of enigmatic male characters, perfectly capable of charming themselves straight into your unwilling heart. She enjoys writing about characters that are, at any given moment, both loathed and loved. You know, the ones that refuse to be forgotten.

Claire Wallis has penned hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles over the last ten years, with science playing the lead role in almost all of them. Though non-fiction writing will forever be her first love, fiction has unexpectedly swooped in, hooked her by the soul, and become her true love. As a result of this coup d’état, Claire’s writing career has made a complete U-turn, and instead of rocks, plants, insects, and microbes, she is now putting human characters in the lead.

Claire’s previous jobs include working at a limestone quarry, hawking vegetables at a farmer’s market, clerking at the dollar store, and convincing new mothers that they need to renew their subscription to that parenting magazine in order for their child to survive. She lives in Pennsylvania with her amazingly awesome husband and son.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Giveaway

Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)
$25 Amazon Gift Card
One digital copy of PUSH via Amazon
One audiobook of PUSH via Audible Studios

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Release Day Blitz + 6 Star Review + 2015 Favorite + Giveaway: Traveling Woman by Jane Harvey-Berrick- The Traveling Series – Book 2

Posted on 04/07/2015 by shellbellereads

The Traveling Woman

The Traveling Series – Book 2

By Jane Harvey-Berrick

Release Date: April 7, 2015

Synopsis

THE CONCLUDING STORY of Aimee and Kestrel, begun in THE TRAVELING MAN
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

How many times do you gamble on love? When love has knocked you down, should you give it another chance? When does optimism become stupidity?

And what happens when the man you’re in love with is never still, always moving, always traveling? Do you say goodbye, or do you leave behind everything that you’ve worked for, everything that you’ve ever known? Can a traveling carnival be my home?

Oh. You thought I had the answers. No, sorry. No answers, just a lot of questions—and a heart that wants to rule my head.

Can one person be my home?

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

Excerpt

I saw the Ferris wheel first, lit up in the twilight, the simple white lights making the huge steel structure seem almost ethereal. Without conscious thought, I touched the necklace that I never took off, my fingers stroking the tiny Ferris wheel set with a diamond at the center.

As I sat up straighter in my seat, I saw Kes’s lips curve upwards, although whether that was because he could sense my excitement, or because he was in a place that felt like home, I couldn’t say.

The fair wasn’t open yet; instead it lay dormant, the wide avenue of the midway with its silent stalls and unplayed games, its tricks and delights, waiting to unleash its pleasure on the paying public. It was a world within a world, a community of others, where being different was celebrated, expected, valued. It was also painted with a new face, hiding a darker history behind arcade games, glitz and glamor.

I rolled down the window and imagined that I could smell the faint scent of the fair: hotdogs, onions, cotton candy. I was transported back over a decade, to the first time I’d visited the carnival, the first year I’d met Kes. It was magical to me then, and even though Kes had been the one to show me the puppet’s strings behind the illusion, the magic had not lost its power. I was home.

Kes steered the car around to the staff area, and I realized for the first time how vast this fairground was.

“Kes,” I breathed. “This place is huge!”

“Yeah, one of the bigger ones,” he said nonchalantly.

We were still driving around the perimeter.

“How big are we talking?”

He shrugged. “Uh, 550 acres, give or take. Almost a square mile.”

“Wow! And the arena where you’re performing?”

He looked at me sideways. “Ten thousand people.”

My jaw dropped open, and it took me several tries before I could get the words out.

“Ten thousand?”

He scratched his thumb over his eyebrow. “It’s not sold out. So, maybe eight or nine thousand.”

“Oh my God! Ten thousand people are coming to see you? That’s crazy!”

He gave me a wry smile as I babbled.

“I mean, not crazy! Of course not! That’s great! In fact, it’s freakin’ awesome. Ten thousand people.” I couldn’t get my head around it.

“Yeah, it usually gets sold out on the last day.”

I gulped. “How … how many days are you doing the show?”

Kes grinned at me. “Three days.”

I stopped speaking. I literally stopped speaking.

“I never thought I’d live to see this day,” he laughed. “Aimee Andersen is speechless.”

Michel’s Review

The Traveling Duet series by Jane Harvey-Berrick is one of the most powerful and beautiful love stories I have ever read. Aimee and Kes captured my heart. These two extroardinary people found a love that only happens once in a lifetime. They overcame so many obstacles throughout their relationship and came out stronger. They grew as individuals. They became a stronger devoted couple. Their devotion to one another is the glue that held them together.

Traveling Man blew me away. I was anxious for the sequel to the story, Traveling Woman to release. I wanted Aimee and Kes to find a way to make their own happily ever after. I was afraid that the author was going to take the easy way out, find an easy solution, and make the magic in their lives look easy. I was afraid that the story was going to end on a predictable happily ever after note ( which still would of been an excellent ending for this couple ), but I wanted to see more of who they were and how they were going to make this impossible relationship work. I wanted more for them than the ordinary ending. I wanted SPECTACULAR! Readers I can honestly say that Traveling Woman was….

SPECTACULAR

BRILLIANT

PERFECT

WONDROUS

MAGICAL

BREATHTAKING

PHENOMENAL

ABSOLUTELY RIGHT FOR AIMEE AND KES

I am not going to give too many details for this book. It is a love story that every reader should experience.

I will say this, Aimee and Kes proved there was magic as long as they loved each other.

Kes truly amazed me. Not only was he a phenomenal showman, he was a phenomenal individual. He went after what he wanted. He held onto it tightly. He learned from his mistakes. He always strived to be better. He always loved Aimee with a true heart. He shared his world with Aimee, she held onto it with all of her being.

Aimee was incredible. She recognized what truly made Kes tick. She embraced his world and stood by his side at all times. She took the good with the bad. She made the bad good. She fought for their love. She nurtured it and made it unbreakable.

Together Aimee and Kes will take a journey that isn’t always easy. They will pave their path the best way they know how. They will always hold onto each other while venturing forward. At the end of the road they will realize they have always made the magic by loving one another.

Jane Harvey-Berrick has given readers an unforgettable love story. She gave us magic! She gave us Kes and Aimee. She gave us the Traveling Duet.

READ THESE BOOKS!

____________________________________

The Traveling Series

Traveling Man

The Traveling Duet Series – Book 1

By Jane Harvey-Berrick

Synopsis

I was ordinary. Nice.

He was extraordinary. And he wasn’t always nice.

Moody and difficult, brilliant and beautiful, Kes scared me and he protected me. He could be incredibly hurtful and incredibly thoughtful. He wasn’t perfect, but he was perfect for me. He challenged me, he took me out of my safe little box and showed me the world could be magnificent. He was everything I wasn’t.”

* * * *

Aimee Anderson is ten when the traveling carnival first comes to her nice little town. She doesn’t expect her world to change so completely. But meeting Kestrel Donohue puts her life on a different path.

Even though she only sees him for the two weeks of the year when he passes through her home town, his friendship is the most important of her life. As a child’s friendship grows to adult love, the choices become harder, and both Kes and Aimee realize that two weeks a year will never be enough…

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

6 Star Review: http://smutbookjunkie.com/2015/01/28/traveling-man-by-jane-harvey-berrick-2015-favorite-6-star-review-giveaway/

About Jane Harvey- Berrick

I lived in London for over 10 years and have a love affair with New York. It’s only since I have moved to the countryside, that the words have really begun to flow.

I live in a small village by the ocean and walk my little dog, Pip, every day. It’s on those beachside walks that I have all my best ideas.

Writing has become a way of life – and one that I love to share.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Giveaway

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Happy Release + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Still The One by Jill Shalvis- Animal Magnetism Series- Book 6

Posted on 04/07/2015 by shellbellereads

Still The One

Animal Magnetism Series- Book 6

By Jill Shalvis

Synopsis

Darcy Stone is game for anything—except sexy Navy vet and physical therapist AJ Colten, the guy who’d rejected her when she’d needed him most. Now the shoe is on the other foot and he needs her to play nice and help him secure grants for his patients. Unfortunately Darcy can’t refuse. She needs the money to fund her passion project: rescuing S&R dogs and placing them with emotionally wounded soldiers.

AJ admits it—Darcy is irresistible. But he’s already been battle-scarred by a strong-willed, vivacious, adventurous woman like Darcy, and he’s not making the same mistake twice—until he and Darcy are forced to fake a relationship. Growing closer than they’d ever imagined possible, Darcy and AJ have to ask themselves: how much between them is pretend? What’s the real thing? And where does it go from here?

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Excerpt

AJ held the door open for Darcy, doing his best to keep his tongue in his mouth, but he wasn’t sure he quite managed.

“Thanks,” she said, brushing up against his arm and shoulder as she stepped into the elevator.

His free hand came out to stabilize her, a purely instinctual move. He didn’t give a thought to the fact that she hated to be helped because he couldn’t give a thought to anything.

Holy. Shit. Hotness.

Her little black dress—emphasis on little—just about killed him.. The bodice was short, snug, and, at first glance, modest.

Second glance, not so much.

She bent over and fiddled with her heels, which had a strap around her ankle and screamed SEX. So did the way the hem of her dress rose up on her thighs, high enough that his eyes nearly popped right out of his head. “What are you doing?” he managed.

“Nothing.” Still bent at the waist, she shifted to her other heel, during which time he pressed his fingers into his eye sockets to keep his eyes in his head.

She was all leg and silken skin and crazy gorgeous hair, and he attempted to steel himself against her but he failed. He’d been wrong, oh so very wrong when he said he’d be able to handle her. He couldn’t, not in her yoga pants, not in a sexy little black dress, not at work, not in his truck, not in an elevator, not in anything anywhere—he couldn’t do it, Sam I Am.

She straightened and sent him a searching look. She’d piled all that long curly hair on top of her head but several silky strands had escaped, brushing her temples and shoulders, giving her a just-got-laid look. Her lips were siren red and he knew it made him a pig, but all he could think about was her mouth and how her lips would looked stretched around his—

“We’re on time still, right?” she asked.

He had to clear his throat to answer. “Yeah.” Jesus.

The door slid shut and silence filled the elevator while they stared at each other. To keep his hands to himself, he backed to the wall.

“So,” she said, looking like she was mentally cracking her knuckles. “What are the rules here? Kiss ass? Sit, shake, and roll over on command? Tell everyone how you saved my life? Obey your every order?”

Her sarcasm helped him roll his tongue back into his mouth. “I will ask you to kiss someone’s ass never,” he said. “Same for sit and shake and roll over. And you know damn well I didn’t save your life. But as for the obeying me? That. Lots of that would be great.”

Tracey’s Review

Darcy Stone is what some might refer to as ‘prickly.’ Having made a long and difficult recovery from a horrific accident, she’s just beginning to accept her current life as the new normal. Once a globe-trotting journalist, Darcy is back home in Sunshine, ID, splitting her time between saving retired rescue animals and working as a receptionist at the Sunshine Wellness Center. Well, that and trying to avoid AJ Colten, physical therapist and bane of Darcy’s existence. Because AJ has known Darcy and her family for a very long time, and can call her on her stuff like no one else. Add to that the fact that just his being nearby makes Darcy’s hormones go haywire, and it makes perfect sense that he’s her Public Enemy Number One and one of the three things topping her list of ‘never evers.’

It takes a very special author to write a romance series that readers are invested in, that keep them coming back, eager for the next book. Jill Shalvis continually creates stories and characters that do just this. In Still the One, the six book in her Animal Magnetism series, Jill has given us characters that are real, who are dealing with all the curveballs life throws at them and making their way through. I love AJ and Darcy, both separately and as a couple. Having dealt with pain and loss in their pasts, they are afraid to let love in, to surrender control. They both possess such strength, though, and bring out the best in each other, and watching them work their way around the obstacles is by turn poignant and amusing. The snarky back-and-forth and sizzling chemistry add to their appeal, and make for an absolutely heartwarming read. Throw in the hominess of small-town community and old friends from earlier books, and you’ve got a thoroughly enjoyable read, easily earning 5 sassy, swoony stars that will keep you reading until the very end.

_______________________________

Author Bio

New York Times Bestselling author Jill Shalvis wrote RESCUE MY HEART and FOREVER AND A DAY, along with many other romance novels including her acclaimed Lucky Harbor series. The Rita winner and 3-time National Readers Choice winner makes her home near Lake Tahoe. Visit her website at http://www.jillshalvis.com for a complete book list and daily blog, and http://www.facebook.com/jillshalvis for other news.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Giveaway

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Happy Release: Say My Name by J. Kenner- Stark International Trilogy – Book 1

Posted on 04/07/2015 by shellbellereads

Say My Name

Stark International Trilogy- Book 1

By J. Kenner

Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author J. Kenner kicks off a smoking hot, emotionally compelling new trilogy that returns to the world of her beloved Stark novels: Release Me, Claim Me, and Complete Me. Say My Name features Jackson Steele, a strong-willed man who goes after what he wants, and Sylvia Brooks, a disciplined woman who’s hard to get—and exactly who Jackson needs.

I never let anyone get too close—but he’s the only man who’s ever made me feel alive.

Meeting Jackson Steele was a shock to my senses. Confident and commanding, he could take charge of any room . . . or any woman. And Jackson wanted me. The mere sight of him took my breath away, and his touch made me break all my rules.

Our bond was immediate, our passion untamed. I wanted to surrender completely to his kiss, but I couldn’t risk his knowing the truth about my past. Yet Jackson carried secrets too, and in our desire we found our escape, pushing our boundaries as far as they could go.

Learning to trust is never easy. In my mind, I knew I should run. But in my heart, I never felt a fire this strong—and it could either save me or scorch me forever.

Say My Name is intended for mature audiences.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo / Google Play

Michel’s Review

Say My Name by J. Kenner is a spinoff of the Stark Trilogy featuring Damien Stark’s PA, Sylvia Brooks.

Sylvia has always been interested in real estate. When an opportunity to purchase an island off the California coast becomes available, she presents it to her boss, Damien Stark. Stark tells her to run with it and makes her head of the project. The project would include purchasing the island and developing it into an exclusive family resort. Sylvia has worked her tail off and wants this project more than anything. That includes finding the right investors, the right architect, the right kind of promotions, and all the t’s crossed & i’s dotted. Everything seems to be falling into place until the architect pulls out of the project because of a zen moment. If she does not find the perfect architect for this project it will all go down the drain. She has one architect in mind but it is almost impossible to obtain him on this project. Jackson Steele hates the Stark Industry. He hates Damien Stark. He refuses to work with them. There is a bigger reason why he won’t take the project. Sylvia.

Sylvia and Jackson have a past that ended on a bad note five years ago. She asked him to walk away from her and never look back. Jackson Steele is a man of his word and did what Sylvia asked of him. He walked away with a million regrets and a heart full of hurt. Five years later, the only thing he wants from Sylvia is to see her suffer the way he did after he walked away.

Sylvia will do everything in her power to get Jackson Steele on board with the project. She will swallow her pride. She will surrender her body. The one thing she will not do is lose herself to Jackson Steele. She will not let him know the secrets from her past that made her the woman she is today. Can she keep Jackson distant enough not to destroy her heart?

Jackson and Sylvia both have secrets. They both are harboring some bad memories of the past. Their secrets could destroy each other as well as the new project. The one thing they are learning is that five years didn’t make one difference as far as their hearts are concerned. Maybe it’s time to reveal the secrets and move forward.

Jackson and Sylvia are coming to solutions that will work for both of them. Solutions that will also make the project a success. Someone knows their secrets. Someone is out to destroy the Stark Resort project. Who is it and how far will they go? Cliffhanger!

The second book in the Stark International Trilogy, On My Knees, will release June 23, 2015. I am looking forward to this sensual intrically woven suspense trilogy.

Read Say My Name by J. Kenner. It will not disappoint!

Author Bio:

J. Kenner spent more than ten years as a litigator in Southern California and Central Texas, using her rare free time to indulge her passion for writing. California born, she now lives—and writes—in Texas, with her husband and daughters.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Blitz + 6 Star Review + 2015 Favorite: Come To Me Recklessly by A. L. Jackson

Posted on 04/07/2015 by shellbellereads

Come To Me Recklessly

The Closer To You Series – Book 3

By A. L. Jackson

AMAZON / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

His heart was turned off…

Until she turned him on…

Christopher Moore gave up on the idea of love years ago. Now, his life is an endless string of parties and an even longer string of girls. Enjoying the physical perks with none of the emotional mess, hes convinced everyone that hes satisfied—everyone but himself.

Samantha Schultz has moved on with her life. Finishing her student teaching and living with her boyfriend, shes deluded herself into believing shes content. But there is one boy she never forgot—her first love—and she keeps the memory of him locked up tight. She will never allow any man to break her the way Christopher did.

When Christopher’s sister and her family move into a new neighborhood, Christopher is completely unprepared to find Samantha living at the end of the street. Memories and unspent desires send them on collision course of sex, lies, and lust. But when guilt and fear send Samantha running, Christopher will have to fight for what has always been his.

She lowered herself, gave a little shove, and slid down. I stopped her
descent at the bottom, her back pressed into the metal. I grasped the sides,
holding myself up, my nose an inch from hers as I hovered in her space. Her
eyes were doing that wild thing again, a raging sea that churned with all that
shyness, but flamed with bold strikes of courage, a storm that didn’t know which way to turn.

“Anyone ever kiss you before, Samantha?”I murmured low,
letting my nose do a little exploring along her jaw.

She shook her head no.

“Didn’t think so,”I whispered, before
I took a chance I was pretty damned sure was worth taking, and brushed my mouth
against hers. And was I ever right. She tasted like sugar and all things sweet,
like a spoonful of pure honey. A remedy.

Her kiss was every kind of timid, cautious in her inexperience, but it
didn’t take a whole lot to convince me that this kind of kiss was my
favorite.

_____________________

Tracey’s Review

“From the moment we met, he always had the power to bring me to my knees. I should have known his control over me would never diminish or dim. I should have known it would only intensify. Maybe I should have run. But somewhere inside, I knew he’d never let me get far.”Samantha Schultz, the daughter of a pastor, and Christopher Moore, wild child and bad boy, were never supposed to be together. When he rescued Samantha from the girls that were making her life a living hell in high school, neither one of them could have know what they were setting in motion.”He was gorgeous. Beautiful. And a little bit terrifying. He was trouble with a capital T. And I didn’t do trouble.””You don’t even know me.”
“I know your name is Samantha Schultz. I know you sit one row over and two seats in front of me in English Literature because I can’t stop watching you.”Once sure that they would be together forever, life as they knew it had changed, seemingly overnight, ripping Christopher and Samantha apart, and sending them on separate paths in life. Still reeling from those events of the past, Christopher has chosen to numb his pain by losing himself in meaningless hook-ups, going through the motions of life, refusing to allow himself to love again. Having been completely broken by Christopher, Samantha now finds herself in a safe but passionless relationship. A chance encounter with Christopher’s sister Aly, now married to Christopher’s best friend Jared, brings the past flooding back, and Samantha can no longer deny that she is settling for something less than she wants.Good Lord, the things that I felt while reading this story. A.L. Jackson is a master of writing the kind of book that evokes every possible emotion. Joy, sorrow, anger, edge-of-your seat, nail-biting angst, I experienced every one of these while reading Come To Me Recklessly.I absolutely love this story. Samantha and Christopher are inextricably bound together, unable to move on from their intense first love, even over the intervening years. Their love is truly like a force of nature. Tragedy, broken trust, distance, none of these has dimmed the power that each of them holds over the other, try as they may to forget.

“God, how many times had I imagined this? Seeing him again. What it would feel like, if it’d feel the same or less or more, if I’d burn up with desire or if I’d realize the years had only exaggerated the memories of him, building him up into something he was not. What I never imagined was he would crush me anew. As much as I wanted to look away, my gaze was locked on the boy who held every piece of my heart.”

I really appreciated having the past interspersed with the present and the alternating POVs between Samantha and Christopher. It brought their story full circle, while filling in the gaps, and allowed me to understand all of the circumstances that have brought them to their current place. Come To Me Recklessly is a book that I cannot recommend enough, and unequivocally give it and A.L. Jackson 5+ stars. If I could rate this read any higher, I would. Add this one to your TBR, because it is an absolute must-read, and you will not be sorry.

“What is this?” I forced out, the words shaky.
He grasped both sides of my face, bringing us nose to nose. “This is unstoppable.”

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of Take This Regret and Lost to You, as well as other contemporary romance titles, including Come to Me Quietly, Come to Me Softly, Pulled, When We Collide, and If Forever Comes.

She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student. She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.

Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children. Her favorite pastime is spending time with the ones she loves.

To stay up to date with important news on A.L. Jackson, including new releases, sales, and exclusive specials and excerpts, text “jackson” to 96000 to subscribe!

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Silver Bastard by Joanna Wylde- Silver Valley Series – Book 1

Posted on 04/07/2015 by shellbellereads

Silver Bastard

The Silver Valley Series – Book 1

By Joanna Wylde

Release Date: April 7, 2015

Buy : Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

First in the new Silver Valley series from the New York Times bestselling author of the Reapers Motorcycle Club Novels

Fourteen months. For fourteen months, Puck Redhouse sat in a cell and kept his mouth shut, protecting the Silver Bastards MC from their enemies. Then he was free and it was time for his reward—full membership in the club, along with a party to celebrate. That’s when he saw Becca Jones for the first time and set everything in motion. Before the night ended he’d violated his parole and stolen her away from everything she knew.

Five years. It was five years ago that Puck destroyed Becca and saved her all in one night. She’s been terrified of him ever since, but she’s even more terrified of the monsters he still protects her from… But Becca refuses to let fear control her. She’s living her life and moving forward, until she gets a phone call from the past she can’t ignore. She has to go back, and there’s only one man she can trust to go with her—the ex-con biker who rescued her once before.

Puck will help her again, but this time it’ll be on his terms. No more lies, no more tears, and no more holding back what he really wants…

Buy : Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Excerpt

“What the fuck happened out here?” Danielle asked, her arm suddenly around my shoulders. I immediately felt better. Danielle and I balanced each other out perfectly—she was batshit crazy and insanely optimistic. Make that dangerously, recklessly optimistic. As for me, I spent nearly all my time focused on staying sane and getting ahead. That didn’t leave much time for things like actually living my life.

We’d met each other our senior year of high school, when she’d offered to drive me back and forth to town in her shiny new Jeep Wrangler. This spared me from the horror of sharing a battered school bus with every hormonal teen living in the greater Callup metropolitan area. After a particularly harrowing ride home in her car one night (long story short, it took us six hours to travel thirty miles and by the time we pulled into town, we had matching tattoos of chipmunks wearing scarves) I decided it was my job to keep her from accidentally killing herself.

In return, she pushed me to do fun things, reminding me at least once a week that I was only twenty-one and perhaps the fate of the universe didn’t literally rest on whether or not I balanced my checkbook to the penny. Along the way, she taught me how to do smoky eye makeup, how not to freak out when a guy asked me to dance, and how to “borrow” music off the Internet. (When I pointed out that “borrowing” music was stealing, she agreed and started using iTunes for her downloads. To finance this, she “borrowed” her dad’s credit card.)

“Well, apparently me and Blake no longer work here,” I said, leaning my head against her. “I don’t know if you’re fired or not.”

“Fuck that,” Danielle declared. “Eva can kiss my ass. If you’re out, I’m out.”

“You weren’t even part of it,” I protested.

“I don’t care. You’re a much better waitress than I am. If she fired you, no way I’d last there anyway. Let’s go get drunk!”

Michel’s Review

The Reapers aren’t the only MC that is ruling in Idaho. The Silver Bastards are ruling the Silver Valley area and they protect what is theirs. We have met a few of the members of the Silver Bastards in various Reaper books. The Silver Bastards are friends and allies with the Reapers. They have each others backs.

Puck Redhouse was a recruit in the last Reaper book, Reaper’s Stand. He is a hard young man that was raised in the club life. He knows the ins and outs, do’s and don’ts, and the code to live by. He has served time to protect his brothers and the club. He has made long term friendships and lifetime enemies. He wouldn’t change a thing except the night he almost ruined not only his own life but the life of Becca Jones.

That one night formed a bond between Becca and Puck that could not be broken. In fact, five years later, even though they have avoided one another, the bond is stronger than both care to admit.

Becca was also raised in the MC world. Her experiences were quite different than Puck’s. The club she grew up in was not like the Silver Bastards or the Reapers. She has witnessed the worst of the worst. She escaped that life and no longer wants any part of that world. But that is the world in Silver Valley.

As Becca builds a new life she grows as an individual. She has dreams, goals, and determination. She is going to school and working full time. She has made her small cheap apartment a home. She has made friends that will stand by her no matter what. She has a good life. She tries very hard not to look back. She will never allow herself to live like she was raised. The only thing she can’t put behind her is Puck. She is still deeply attracted to him. At the same time she is fearful of him. He lives the life that she ran from.

It will take the past coming back to haunt her to make her open her eyes to the reality of what her life really is. It will open her eyes and make her see the man Puck has always been. It will take a man like Puck to show her that her demons will never touch her life again. But demons are not easily slayed. The devil himself is on her tail. Her life is crumbling and Puck can’t change that.

At the same time, Silver Valley has it’s own problems brewing. It will be up to the Silver Bastards and the Reapers to protect their beloved town and area. The Irish mob is moving in. The Silver Bastards are not welcoming them. Trouble is brewing.

Through it all, Becca and Puck will find each other again. They will learn that there are two sides to every coin. They will learn to give and take. They will learn the true meaning of love.

Joanna Wylde has another sensational series that will take readers by storm.

I can’t wait for the next book.

I highly recommend Silver Bastard. It can be read without reading the Reapers MC series. There is also a bonus novella that will give the readers insight to the Silver Bastard’s president, Boonie. I absolutely loved it!

About Joanna Wylde

Joanna is a freelance writer living in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She started writing fiction in 2002, then took a long hiatus to explore other writing opportunities. She returned to fiction in January 2013 with ‘Reaper’s Property’, the first book in the Reapers Motorcycle Club series, and has recently released ‘Reapers Legacy’, the second of the series.

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GIVEAWAY
Signed Paperback of Silver Bastard (3 copies)

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: When I’m Gone by Abbi Glines- Rosemary Beach Series – Book 11

Posted on 04/07/2015 by shellbellereads

When I’m Gone

Rosemary Beach Series – Book 11

By Abbi Glines

Synopsis

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines comes the next new adult novel in the Rosemary Beach series, in which we meet Mase, a Texas heartthrob first introduced in Take a Chance who comes to Rosemary Beach to stir things up.

I had an urge to fix all her problems. Which was stupid. She was doing fine without me. But something about those big eyes…

Mase Colt-Manning has always preferred his humble life as a Texas rancher to his birthright as the son of a legendary rock star. In fact, he rarely visits his father’s rarefied world in Rosemary Beach, especially if it means bunking at his vile half-sister Nan’s house—until one visit leads to a chance encounter with a young, gorgeous house maid who awakens him with her off-key but spirited imitation of a country music star…

Reese Ellis finally has her freedom. After escaping a lifetime of abuse from her parents and classmates for an undiagnosed learning disorder, she seizes the opportunity to be a house maid to some of the richest families in Rosemary Beach. But her job is in jeopardy when she causes an accident at the home of her most important client, Nan Dillon. When a hot, half-naked stranger with a cowboy’s swagger comes to her rescue, she’s intrigued—then afraid once he shows his own interest. Reese has never met a trustworthy man in her life. Will Mase be any different?

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Michel’s Review

It’s hard to believe that this is the eleventh book in the Rosemary Beach series by Abbi Glines. This series has captured the readers hearts. The dynamic characters from this series not only find their happily ever after, they have formed a deep bond of friendship and family. They look out for one another, protect the ones they love, and always have each others backs.

Mase Colt Manning may not be from Rosemary Beach, but he has a very important part in the lives of those that are. He is the illegitimate son of Kiro Manning, the lead singer of Slacker Demon. He is very close with his half sister Harlow. He has grown up with Rush Finlay and become very good friends. He has been around Grant and Nan all his life. He is a Texan that can fit in with country club gang at Rosemary Beach as easily as he fits in at his ranch.

While visiting his sister Harlow in Rosemary Beach, he meets Reese Ellis. She is his other half sister, Nan’s, maid. When an accident occurs in Nan’s home, it brings Reese to Mase’s attention. He’s determined to get to know her.

Reese is unlike any girl that Mase has met. She’s kind, witty, shy, and beautiful. She seems to be harboring a lot of insecurities and secrets. When Mase finds out one of her secrets, he’s determined to help her overcome it. He wants her to realize that she is just as good as any of the other people from Rosemary Beach.

They form a close friendship that is evolving into a relationship. Life has a way of throwing obstacles that can destroy their new found love. One of those obstacles is his sister Nan. She has a way of poisoning everything that comes into her path.

Reese will have to overcome her fears, her insecurities, and her past. If she can do this she will be able to experience the love of a lifetime with Mase.

As always, Abbi Glines wrote another fantastic book that made not only Rosemary Beach crew come to life, but also those quirky relatives in Texas. I absolutely loved Mase. He is the kind of man every woman can fall in love with.

When I’m Gone by Abbi Glines was a fantastic addition to the Rosemary Beach series. I am looking forward to seeing who is up next on the Rosemary Beach roster. And yes…I am still a Nan hater!

______________________

Author Bio:

Since publishing her first novel Breathe in May of 2011, Abbi has also released The New York Times bestselling Seabreeze Series which includes Breathe, Because of Low, While It Lasts, Just For Now and Sometimes It Last, The Existence Trilogy that includes the USA Today Bestseller Ceaseless. New York Times and USA TODAY bestsellers The Vincent Boys and The Vincent Brothers. Last but not least her most popular series to date, Rosemary Beach which includes The New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers Fallen Too Far, Never Too Far, Forever Too Far, Twisted Perfection and Simple Perfection. Her newest book scheduled to be released on December 17th, 2013 is Misbehaving (Seabreeze).

When Abbi isn’t locked away in her office typing away she is hauling her kids to and from their many social activities. You could say her second job is the Glines Kids personal chauffeur. It’s a rather illustrious job.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release: Homefront by Jessica Scott – Homefront Series- Book 1

Posted on 04/07/2015 by shellbellereads

Homefront

Homefront Series – Book 1

By Jessica Scott

Synopsis

“Beautifully Written” JoAnn Ross – New York Times Bestselling author of the Shelter Bay series

He’s always loved her…

First Sergeant Gale Sorren waited a war and half a lifetime for a chance to get stationed near the ex-wife who left him years ago. When he finally musters the courage to see her, the life he imagined she was living was nothing close to the reality.

She’s never stopped loving him…

Melanie never stopped worrying about Gale each time he headed off to war. But he’s never been there when she needed him and she’s had fifteen years to steel her heart against him.

But when Gale moves to Fort Hood, he finally has a chance to make things right with Melanie and the daughter she raised without him.

Can Mel trust her heart to a man who has always let her down?

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

About Jessica Scott

USA Today Bestselling author Jessica Scott is a career army officer, mother of two daughters, three cats and three dogs, wife to a career NCO and wrangler of all things stuffed and fluffy. She is a terrible cook and even worse housekeeper, but she’s a pretty good shot with her assigned weapon and someone liked some of the stuff she wrote. Somehow, her children are pretty well adjusted and her husband still loves her, despite burned water and a messy house.

She’s also written for the New York Times At War Blog, PBS Point of View Regarding War, and IAVA. She deployed to Iraq in 2009 as part of OIF/New Dawn and has had the honor of serving as a company commander at Fort Hood, Texas twice.

Most recently, she’s been featured as one of Esquire Magazine’s Americans of the Year for 2012. Learn More at http://www.jessicascott.net

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Release Blitz + Review: Clash: A Legal Affairs Story by Sawyer Bennett – Book # 1 of Cal and Macy’s Story

Posted on 04/07/2015 by shellbellereads

Clash: A Legal Affairs Story

Book # 1 of Cal and Macy’s Story

By Sawyer Bennett

Synopsis

Clash (verb): to conflict, disagree.

It might be fair to say that I despise Macy Carrington. She slings insults with precision, not caring about the destruction she leaves in her wake. We clash in a battle of wills every time we’re around each other, and yet… I still fantasize about being lodged deep within her body.

Clash (verb): to come together or collide.

I have never encountered someone that grates me the way Cal Carson does. His pompous, arrogant demeanor. A holier-than-thou attitude. Any interaction with “Saint Cal” ends in a verbal clash of epic proportions, and yet… there’s no one I’d rather have in my bed than him.

Clash (noun): a battle, fight or skirmish.

Her breathy moans mingle with the sound of our flesh coming together, clashing with the silence that surrounds us, dispelling any notions I once had about Macy Carrington.

Maybe I can break down her walls if we can call a truce to this battle.

He whispers filthy words in my ear, provoking feelings I never knew were possible. The burning desire in his touch clashes with everything I once believed about Cal Carson.

Maybe he can be the balm I need to soothe my broken soul, if only temporarily.

**Clash is the first book in this Legal Affairs trilogy and is releasing on 4/7/15. Grind will be released on 4/21/15 and Yield will be released on 5/5/15.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Google Play

Michel’s Review

Clash: A Legal Affairs Story by Sawyer Bennett is a spin off of the best selling Legal Affairs Serial. The characters were secondary characters in the Legal Affairs Serial. Macy Carrington and Cal Carson are starring in their own story. It is going to be a wild ride in and out of the bedroom.

Cal Carson is Mac’s law partner. They formed a close friendship as well as a successful law practice. Although Mac really likes Cal, the jury is out as far Matt Conniver is concerned. He still has trust issues over their former friendship. Macy Carrington has reached her verdict, she cannot stand the self righteous, strait laced, stick up his butt Cal Carson. She thinks he is the biggest jerk she has ever met. But she tries to stay civil for her best friend Mac’s sake.

Although Cal Carson values his friendship with Mac, he has deep reservations about her best friend Macy Carrington. Macy is a spoiled rotten rich princess. He assumes that she is self entitled and can’t understand how Mac can tolerate her. She is known for her loose morals and vicarious sexual appetite. She has no qualms about her sexual activity. It’s hard for Cal to understand because most of his experiences with women revolve around them wanting a committed relationship. He has reached the point in his life where he wants to be settled and start a family. So he is looking at Macy through rose colored glasses.

Needless to say, these two clash. It is like trying to mix oil & vinegar. But one encounter in the pantry of a kitchen will result in some down and dirty angry sex. Both will walk away with battlescars. Both will be surprised by their opponent. Both will be desiring more of the “angry” sex. Can they still be adversaries and still screw like bunnies? Or was the kitchen incident a one time thing? Stay tuned in for the next installment….Grind.

Sawyer Bennett has done it again. The latest in the Legal Affairs world is a red hot and sensual. Cal and Macy’s story is completely different from Mac and Matt’s story. Their erotic journey is going to be full of some wild monkey sex and more. I have a feeling that Cal Carson has some delicious surprises under his Armani suit. Macy Carrington has met her match!

Author Bio:
USA Today Best-Selling Author, Sawyer Bennett is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. Her husband works for a Fortune 100 company which lets him fly all over the world while she stays at home with their daughter and three big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

Sawyer is the author of several contemporary romances including the popular Off Series, the Legal Affairs Series and the Last Call Series.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + Giveaway: Once Upon A Dare by Jennifer Bonds- Risky Business Novel

Posted on 04/07/2015 by shellbellereads

It’s release day for Jennifer Bonds’ Once Upon a Dare. I am so excited for this sexy new contemporary romance. Jennifer is sharing an excerpt with us and a fantastic giveaway, so be sure to check out all the release day festivities!

Exclusive Excerpt:

“Look, the other night was fun, but it had nothing to do with this place, right? We both got what we wanted. Now we forget about it and move on.”

“You can’t seriously expect me to act like it never happened.” Cole’s words were carefully measured, his playful smile nowhere to be seen. If she didn’t know better, she would have thought he was offended. His words flowed like silk, but his gray eyes held a different emotion as he pinned her with his gaze. Was she imagining it or did he look… disappointed?

Shifting in her seat, she tried to quell her own warring emotions. They needed to be able to work together, at least until she could figure things out. And despite her racing pulse, she didn’t want him to know how hard this was for her. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. Was it her fault she couldn’t look at him without her blood pressure spiking? Or that she couldn’t stop thinking about the smoking hot kisses he’d lavished upon her body?

“And it would be so easy for you to forget?” he challenged, forcing her to remember the feel of his sinful hands claiming her body and the way he’d made her come over and over again. Damn him!

“Yes,” she lied, struggling to keep her tone light. She stood and moved to the window. It was a desperate attempt to put more space between them. The room had grown insufferably hot, a fact that had little to do with the temperature and a lot to do with the way his gaze lingered on her mouth, like he was imagining all the dirty things she could do with it. Only he didn’t have to imagine, did he? He had firsthand knowledge.

“Olivia.”

She froze at the feel of his breath on her neck. With the protection of the desk gone, she was defenseless. His hand snaked around her waist, crushing her body to his. He leaned in, his breath hot on her cheek as he pressed her body to the cool glass of the window with his massive weight. His arousal found the swell of her ass and she melted against the hard muscles of his chest, an unexpected gasp escaping her lips as desire ripped through her.

It was all the invitation he needed.

About Once Upon a Dare:

The first night was a dare. The second night was trouble…

Advertising guru Olivia Masterson is all work and no play. But on the eve of earning her dream promotion, her best friend dares her to drop her ice queen façade for one night and seduce a sexy stranger. Olivia’s worked her ass off to get where she is-why the hell not?

Cole Bennett never thought he’d run into his feisty one-night stand at the office, furious that he stole her promotion. No matter how hard she tries to ice him out, they can’t seem to keep their hands to themselves…or their clothes on.

Olivia’s talented-maybe even more than Cole-so when his dropped hints to the boss net her a promotion of her own, he’s ready to celebrate…until she accuses him of fueling office rumors that she slept her way to the top. She wants to earn her own way? Fine. So what the hell does a guy have to do to permanently melt an ice queen?

Buy Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | KOBO | iTunes | Goodreads

Jennifer Bonds Bio:

Jennifer Bonds writes sizzling contemporary romance with sassy heroines, sexy heroes, and a whole lot of mischief. When she’s not writing or wrangling toddlers, she can be found curled up with a good book and a bottle of wine. Jennifer lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where her overactive imagination and weakness for reality TV keep life interesting. She’s lucky enough to live with her own real life hero, two adorable children, and a pair of rambunctious dogs. Loves Buffy, Mexican food, the Winchester brothers, and all things zombie. Sings off-key.

Twitter | Facebook | Website | GoodReads | Pinterest

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Category Archives: Genre

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Happy Release: Say My Name by J. Kenner- Stark International Trilogy – Book 1

Release Blitz + 6 Star Review + 2015 Favorite: Come To Me Recklessly by A. L. Jackson

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Silver Bastard by Joanna Wylde- Silver Valley Series – Book 1

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: When I’m Gone by Abbi Glines- Rosemary Beach Series – Book 11

Happy Release: Homefront by Jessica Scott – Homefront Series- Book 1

Release Blitz + Review: Clash: A Legal Affairs Story by Sawyer Bennett – Book # 1 of Cal and Macy’s Story

Happy Release + Giveaway: Once Upon A Dare by Jennifer Bonds- Risky Business Novel

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