Cover Reveal: Pull by Claire Wallis- Sequel to Push-Push 6 Star Review + 2014 Favorite

Posted on 10/09/2014 by shellbellereads

Pull

Sequel to Push

Release Date: November 6, 2014

By Claire Wallis

Synopsis

***PULL is the continuation of Claire Wallis’ sharp and shocking debut novel, PUSH. It is the second book in the series and is not intended to be a standalone.***

“It is impossible for someone like me—someone with a sin-list capable of wrapping itself around the world—to find redemption. To be repaired.”

David Calgaro has secrets, and the only woman he’s ever loved is about to pay the ultimate price to protect them. He’s spent a lifetime searching for purpose and control. And the only place he’s managed to find them is in a single, perfect moment; a moment in which he has absolute control over someone else’s life.

David is unredeemable, unfixable, unsalvageable. But Emma Searfoss has forced a tiny sliver of hope to penetrate his soul. Hope that, even though redemption is impossible, maybe life isn’t. Maybe he isn’t who he thought he was. Maybe he’s meant to be more.

This is a new adult novel with mature content for readers 17 and up.

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. After 5 months 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

Release Day Blitz + Review + Giveaway: Burying Water by K.A. Tucker

Posted on 10/07/2014 by shellbellereads

Holy cannoli, y’all! It’s finally here! We are so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for K.A. Tucker’s BURYING WATER! BURYING WATER is a New Adult Romantic Suspense novel, published by Simon & Schuster and it will blow. You. Away! Check out the excerpt, teasers, and giveaway then run–don’t walk–to your nearest retailer!

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About BURYING WATER:

The top-selling, beloved indie author of Ten Tiny Breaths returns with a new romance about a young woman who loses her memory—and the man who knows that the only way to protect her is to stay away.

Left for dead in the fields of rural Oregon, a young woman defies all odds and survives—but she awakens with no idea who she is, or what happened to her. Refusing to answer to “Jane Doe” for another day, the woman renames herself “Water” for the tiny, hidden marking on her body—the only clue to her past. Taken in by old Ginny Fitzgerald, a crotchety but kind lady living on a nearby horse farm, Water slowly begins building a new life. But as she attempts to piece together the fleeting slivers of her memory, more questions emerge: Who is the next-door neighbor, quietly toiling under the hood of his Barracuda? Why won’t Ginny let him step foot on her property? And why does Water feel she recognizes him?

Twenty-four-year-old Jesse Welles doesn’t know how long it will be before Water gets her memory back. For her sake, Jesse hopes the answer is never. He knows that she’ll stay so much safer—and happier—that way. And that’s why, as hard as it is, he needs to keep his distance. Because getting too close could flood her with realities better left buried.

The trouble is, water always seems to find its way to the surface.

BURYING WATER Excerpt:

Prologue

Jesse

Now

This can’t be real . . . This can’t be real . . . This can’t be real . . .

The words cycle round and round in my mind like the wheels on my speeding ’Cuda as its ass-end slips and slides over the gravel and ice. This car is hard to handle on the best of days, built front-heavy and overloaded with horsepower. I’m going to put myself into one of these damn trees if I don’t slow down.

I jam my foot against the gas pedal.

I can’t slow down now.

Not until I know that Boone was wrong about what he claims to have overheard. His Russian is mediocre at best. I’ll giveanything for him to be wrong about this.

My gut clenches as my car skids around another turn,the cone shape of Black Butte looming like a monstrous shadow ahead of me in the pre-dawn light. The snowy tire tracks framed by my headlights might not even be the right ones, but they’re wide like Viktor’s Hummer and they’re sure as hell the only ones down this old, deserted logging road. No one comes out here in January.

The line of trees marking the dead end comes up on me before I expect it. I slam on my brakes, sending my car sliding sideways toward the old totem pole. It’s still sliding when I cut the rumbling engine, throw open the door, and jump out, fumbling with my flashlight. It takes three hard presses with my shaking hands to get the light to hold.

I begin searching the ground. The mess of tread marks tells me that someone pulled a U-turn. The footprints tell me that more than one person got out. And when I see the half-finished cigarette butt with that weird alphabet on the filter, I know Boone wasn’t wrong.

“Alex!” My echo answers once . . . twice . . . before the vast wilderness swallows up my desperate cry. With frantic passes of my flashlight, my knuckles white against its body, I search the area until I spot the sets of footprints that lead off the old, narrow road and into the trees.

Frigid fingers curl around my heart.

Darting back to my car, I snatch the old red-and-blue plaid wool blanket that she loves so much from the backseat. Ice-cold snow packs into the sides of my sneakers as I chase the trail past the line of trees and into the barren field ahead, my blood rushing through my ears the only sound I process.

The only sign of life.

Raw fear numbs my senses, the Pacific Northwest winter numbs my body, but I push forward because if . . .

The beam of light passes over a still form lying facedown in the snow. I’d recognize that pink coat and platinum-blond hair of hers anywhere; the sparkly blue dress that she hates so much looks like a heap of sapphires against a white canvas.

My heart freezes.

“Alex.” It’s barely a whisper. I’m unable to produce more, my lungs giving up on me. I run, stumbling through the foot of snow until I’m on my knees and crawling forward to close the distance. A distance of no more than ten feet and yet one that seems like miles.

There’s no mistaking the spray of crimson freckling the snow around her head. Or that most of her long hair is now dark and matted. Or that her silver stockings are torn and stained red, and a pool of blood has formed where her dress barely covers her thighs. Plenty of footprints mark the ground around her. He must have been here for a while.

I know that there are rules to follow, steps to make sure that I don’t cause her further harm. But I ignore them because the sinking feeling in my stomach tells me I can’t possibly hurt her more than he already has. I nestle her head with one hand while I slide the other under her shoulder. I roll her over.

Cold shock knocks the wind out of me.

I’ve never seen anybody look like this.

I scoop her limp body into my arms, cradling the once beautiful face that I’ve seen in every light—rage to ecstasy and the full gamut in between—yet is now unrecognizable. Placing two blood-coated fingers over her throat, I wait. Nothing.

A light pinch against her lifeless wrist.Nothing.

Maybe a pulse does exist but it’s hidden, masked by my own racing one.

Then again, by the look of her, likely not.

One . . . two . . . three . . . plump, serene snowflakes begin floating down from the unseen sky above. Soon, they will converge and cover the tracks, the blood. The evidence.Mother Nature’s own blanket to hide the unsightly blemish in her yard.

“I’m so sorry.” I don’t try to restrain the hot tears as they roll down my cheeks to land on her mangled lips—lips I had stolen plenty of kisses from, back when I was too stupid to realize how dangerous that really was. This is my fault. She had warned me. If I had just listened, had stayed away from her, had not told her how I felt . . .

. . . had not fallen wildly in love with her.

I lean down to steal a kiss even now, the coppery taste of her blood mixing with my salty tears. “I’m so damn sorry. I should never have even looked your way,” I manage to get out around my sobs, tucking the blanket she loved to curl up in over her.

An almost inaudible gasp slips out. A slight breeze against my mouth more than anything else.

My lungs freeze, my eyes glued to her, afraid to hope. “Alex?” Is it possible?

A moment later, a second gasp—a wet, rattling sound—escapes.

She’s not dead.

Not yet, anyway.

Michel’s Review

K. A. Tucker’s writing always blows me away. Her gift of story telling has readers enthralled from the very first word to the very last punctuation mark. Her characters come to life and jump off the pages. Their stories keep the reader captivated.

Unlike the Ten Tiny Breaths series, Burying Water has taken K.A. Tucker in a new direction. This gripping novel has some darker undertones. Although the darker undertones set the pace for the story, the real focus is the kind of love that will be cherished forever.

Burying Water is thrilling novel packed with mystery, intrigue, violence, romance, and the importance of family ties.

I am not going to give many more details because there would be too many spoilers.

I found the characters, Jesse and Water, compelling. The secondary cast and their contributions were an integral part of this story. Their characters stood out and made the readers take just as much notice of their part in the story as the main characters did.

Burying Water played on every emotion. One moment I was laughing, the next I was cringing, crying, or overwhelmed with excitement. It is an intense book that engages the reader’s mind as well as senses.

The romance in the story was amazing. It was almost like two romances in one. There was the before romance that was consuming and forbidding. The after romance was a deep sensual slow build that slowly kindled into a blaze.

I was blown away with this book. K. A. Tucker has become one of my all time favorite writers.

I highly recommend Burying Water!

About K.A. Tucker:

Born in small-town Ontario, K.A. Tucker published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader, and currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

Website Twitter Facebook Novel Goodreads Author Goodreads YouTube Pinterest Instagram**

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Release Day Blitz: Shame by Rachel Van Dyken- The Ruin Series- Book 3

Posted on 10/06/2014 by shellbellereads

Shame

Ruin Series- Book 3

Release Date: September 6, 2014

By Rachel Van Dyken

Synopsis

Everything done in darkness, will eventually be brought into the light.

I ran, but all it did was keep me one step ahead of my past. I tried to start over; new name, new identity. But you can’t change your soul.
A fresh start at college was just what I needed. For a while, it worked. I was the party girl, the one that seemed confident, but it was a lie.
When guys kissed me–I felt only pain.
When they touched me–Nothing but fear.

Deep inside, every girl wants to be the beauty in the story, to find someone that will see you as their world.
But the truth? I was the beast. And as much as I wanted redemption, I wasn’t fool enough to think I’d ever get it.
Until he walked into my life.

I wasn’t prepared to fall for someone. My scars were too deep, the wounds too raw. But he offered me peace, he offered me security. I should have known it was just another lie–I should have known that falling in love with my professor was a bad idea.
But I was powerless to stop myself from falling.
And he was powerless to catch me.

Because the darkness finally caught up to me, and as fate would have it, a cruel twist almost bled me dry. But I’m stronger than I knew. I’m stronger than you think.
You think you know my story, but you don’t….after all everyone has Shame in their lives– and I’m no longer afraid to show you mine.

Buy: Amazon/ Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Excerpt

It was hard to explain the way he spoke to me; at times he was flirtatious and well… happy. Other times? It seemed like he was fighting another side of himself, one that was more reserved, uptight, controlled. And if you were to ask me which side scared me the most? I’d say both. Because both sides were dangerous to me — both pushed a person like me past the point of no return. His seriousness made me curious; his flirtation made me want more.

“Just dinner?” I asked. “Isn’t that against the rules?”

“Yeah, well…” He glanced down briefly before flashing a sensual smile, his eyes dilating. “…it seems to be an impulse I can’t really control around you.”

“Control’s overrated, you label-making fool.”

At that he laughed, a rich chuckle that had my entire body relaxing and heating at the same time. I took a step toward him and smiled. “So, rule-breaker, where are we going?”

He grabbed his messenger bag and keys. “You’ll see.”

“Cryptic.” My eyebrows arched as I crossed my arms over my chest. “This isn’t going to turn into one of those six o‘clock news things where the crazy professor takes the girl out then buries her in the woods, is it?” I tried to sound like I was joking, but the minute the words left my mouth, it was no longer funny. Suddenly, I realized how stupid it would be to go with him. I knew nothing about him, nothing at all!

He smiled, tilting his head toward me. “Why am I getting the sudden urge to pull out a list of character references?”

“Because I just scared myself,” I admitted out loud.

“You want my social security number?” He winked. “Credit score? First grade class photo? Oh, and by the way, in first grade I was nominated most likely to own a pet store… so, if you aren’t okay with that, we probably shouldn’t continue this.”

“This?”

“Dinner.”

“Because you liked pets?”

“I wanted to own a lizard farm.”

I covered my mouth with my hands and nodded solemnly. “All little boys have dreams.”

“A bully crushed mine when he told me lizard farms don’t exist.” He shook his head. “In second grade I was voted least likely to succeed, on account that I didn’t speak for the entire year.”

“Why’s that?” I took another step toward him.

He took another step in my direction and shrugged. “It took me a while to get over the lizards.”

“So you stopped speaking?”

“It was more of me trying to make the public aware of my outrage.”

“Ah, like lizard strike.”

“I made shirts.”

“Tell me, professor, is that when the label-making started?”

“No.” He nodded toward the door and started walking. I followed, genuinely interested in what he was going to say and hating that it was possible he was stringing me along only to go all cold-crazy-psycho on me again. “That was an entirely different situation.” He pulled the door open.

“What? No more stories?” I asked.

“Dinner.” He shrugged, his eyes a stormy gray. “I’ll tell you at dinner.”

“Bribery.”

“My trump card. Label-maker stories. You know, I do actually know how to romance a woman.”

“Well…” I cleared my throat and broke eye contact. “…since I’m your student, I’ll just take your word for it.”

“Right,” he said quickly then repeated, “Right, shall we?”

“Lead the way.” I forced a smile and tried to remember that this was dinner, nothing romantic, just my very sexy professor once again apologizing for being a jackass during class.

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

The Ruin Series

Ruin- Book 1

I’m not your typical girl. I’ve been running away from the memories that haunt me for so long that depression has become my only comfort. I was content in the darkness…until Wes Michels offered to be my light.

I didn’t know that time wasn’t my ally — that every second that ticked past was one step closer to the end of something that was beginning to mean the end of myself. He tried to warn me. He promised me all he was able to offer–each moment as it came–but it would never be enough.

Sometimes when you think it’s the end, it’s only the beginning. Wes thought he could save me, but in giving me everything, he ruined me. Because after one kiss, one touch, I couldn’t–I wouldn’t ever be the same.

And from that moment on, his heartbeat became my own.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Toxic – Book 2

Everyone has a secret…

Gabe Hyde is on borrowed time. He’s been hiding his identity for over four years-hidden from the world that used to adore him–obsess over him–driven to the edge of insanity by one poor choice.
But that one choice, altered the course of his life forever.
Pretending isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, especially when pretending means hiding your real self from the people that care about you the most. But if anyone ever discovered the truth it wouldn’t just be his life at risk–but hers.

Saylor doesn’t hate men.
Just Gabe.
Only Gabe.
He’s a reckless, happy-go-lucky, silver spoon fed pain in her ass. Everything about him makes her more and more confused. Unfortunately they both donate time at the same Group Home. If she wasn’t afraid of flunking, she’d be long gone. She hates that she’s attracted to him almost as much as he hates that he’s attracted to her–and she can tell, especially since their first encounter ended up making her knees so weak she couldn’t form coherent sentences for weeks afterwards. But the closer she gets to him, the more confused she becomes. He isn’t who he says he is, and he’s hiding something big.

What happen when two worlds collide? Two worlds that never should have met in the first place? Some secrets are too big to be hidden forever–the only question? Will his destroy everyone he loves? Or finally bring about the redemption he’s been craving for the past four years?

Everyone has a secret…What’s yours?

Buy: Amazon/ Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Fearless- Book 2.5

When I met Kiersten, time stood still. It was as if every cell in my body screamed HER. I couldn’t look away, I couldn’t walk away, I couldn’t even move. My other half, my soul mate, was staring right at me. I had to have her. I had to make her mine. But I felt selfish doing that–knowing that I may not have endless amounts of time to give her…and even now that every things’ over with and I’ve been given that time back.
Nothing is ever certain in this life.
Which is why I’m about to do something crazy, impulsive, daring.
After all, what type of person would I be if I didn’t take my own advice?
I’m jumping off the cliff, I’m living fearlessly.

This is the continuation of Wes and Kierstens story.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

About Rachel Van Dyken:

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband and their snoring Boxer, Sir Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers! You can follow her writing journey at www.rachelvandykenauthor.com

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~Goodreads

Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway: It’s Alway’s Been You by Victoria Paige

Posted on 10/03/2014 by shellbellereads

“I’ll wait forever, sunshine. I loved you then. I love you now. I’ll always love you.”

Former Navy SEAL Travis Blake is a rising star in the security business. In two short years, Blake Security Inc. has become highly sought after by the who’s who in Washington DC.

But unbeknownst to many, Travis is haunted by the mysterious death of his wife three years before. He carries with him the guilt of not being there to protect the one person who meant everything to him. He has buried his wife, but his heart refuses to accept that the body six feet under is hers. His obsessive search for her leads him deep into the trenches of covert ops—and everything is not what it seems.

Caitlin Kincaid has been on the run for a while. The sum of her memories began three years ago when she awakened with a broken arm and leg and a severe concussion. Hunted down by a secret group within the U.S. government, her companion persuades her to stay off the grid because of the standing kill order on their heads. One night, while fleeing assassins, she is left on the side of the road with a cryptic message: “It’s time for you to stop running. I’m not the one you love.”

When Travis receives news that the woman who has turned up at the American Embassy in Berlin could be his wife, he wastes no time getting to her. He is unprepared for the devastation that shreds him when Caitlin looks at him with no recognition in her eyes. Amnesia is a challenging enough obstacle for winning the love of his life back. But with lies defining the past three years of her life, Caitlin becomes wary of anyone’s help.

Love was never the problem. A marriage cannot survive without trust. As sinister forces threaten the bond they are trying to rebuild, trust must come quickly or one of them will die.

* Strong sexual content and language. Disturbing situations.

**Amazon US * Amazon UK * Amazon AU * Amazon CA * Barnes and Noble * Smashwords**

Continue reading →

Review: Chains by Kelli Maine

Posted on 10/01/2014 by shellbellereads

Chains

An MMA Romantic Suspense

By Kelli Maine

Synopsis

Chained To The Past.

On the brink of going pro in MMA, Tyler Graves has defied his past—a past where going to jail for beating the hell out of his foster father took him away from the girl he loved and swore to protect, leaving her in the house of the man who abused them both.

Chained To Regret.

No matter how much time has passed, Danielle Debasco weighs on Ty’s mind and conscience. He was supposed to save her, instead he abandoned her.

Chained To Love.

To free Danny from the abusive man who still haunts her, Ty’s faced with sacrificing his future by finishing what he started four years ago—taking vengeance. But, this time will be different. This time he won’t stop until the horrors of their past are sealed not just in blood, but in death.

-ADULT CONTENT-
Sex, Language, Violence

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Excerpt

I grabbed a plastic cup and filled it with vodka. Weaving through a group of women who were dancing, I found myself surrounded, trapped by hungry, grinding hips, fingers that snuck up my t-shirt and lips that whispered in my ear. I couldn’t hear her words, but had enough sense to know when I was being invited into a woman’s bed.

I tipped my cup back and opened my throat, letting ounce after ounce of burning vodka slide down. When it was gone, I tossed the cup aside and grabbed the waist of the girl in front of me. I pulled her ass against me and grinded into her. She threw her head back against my chest, lifted her arms over her head and swiveled as she bent her knees, lowering herself below my waist. She turned, hooked her fingers behind my belt and looked up at me with smoldering eyes. She licked her lips. My cock twitched in anticipation. I grabbed her by the arm and pulled her up. “Outside,” I said. “Now.”

We pushed through the crowd and stepped out onto the sidewalk. Her hand squeezed my ass. I reached over and tweaked her nipple, hard through her tight, stretchy shirt.

We rounded the corner to the side of the motel. A few people stood down at the far end of the building, but it was dark enough she could blow me. She put her hands on my chest and groaned low in her throat. “God, I want this body,” she said.

“I want your mouth on me.” I squeezed her tits, and her hands ran down over my stomach. She squatted down, unbuttoning my jeans. The zipper followed, and her hand pulled me out. I leaned back against the brick wall as her lips closed around my head. Her mouth was hot, and she knew how to stroke a cock. After the day I had, coming in this chick’s mouth was about all I had the strength left in me to do.

I watched her as she sucked me in. Her hand disappeared up her skirt, getting herself off at the same time. That should’ve done it for me, but I was distracted. I wasn’t even enjoying it. I don’t know what the fuck my problem was.

“That’s enough,” I said, hauling her to her feet.

“What’s wrong?” She stumbled in her heels, and I held her up.

“Nothing. It was perfect. I’m just　 not into it tonight.”

She looked disappointed. And pissed. “Yeah. Well. Whatever. No big deal. Your dick’s not that big anyway.” It was a lie. We both knew it.

I tucked it back in my pants and watched her retreat around the corner of the building. I waited a few minutes until my cock settled down, then went back around to the sidewalk. I should’ve stayed in my room. I was in no mood for a party and all the fake bullshit that went along with it.

When I got to the door to the party, this one chick wouldn’t move to let me by. “Hey,” I said. “Excuse me. I need by you.”

She turned and locked her bloodshot blue eyes on me.

Time froze as we stared at each other.

Her blond hair was dull, her complexion sallow, her body too thin. Drugs. I’d know their effects anywhere.

“Danny,” I said, catching her by the elbows. “Do you know who I am?”

Her eyes trailed over my face. Jesus, she was rocked out of her mind. Her pupils were dilated and sweat dripped down her neck between her small breasts into her low-cut shirt.

“Danielle,” I said, leaning closer. “It’s me—Tyler.”

“Tyler,” she said, and threw her arms around my neck.

Guilt crushed against my sternum. I left her, and look what she became. “Let’s get out of here.” I turned her around and steered her down the sidewalk.

Michel’s Review

If you are looking for a short book to read you may want to consider Chains by Kelli Maine. It is a gripping story of an MMA fighter stepping outside of the ring and taking on a new fight in the real world of life.

Tyler Graves has a bright future in the world of MMA fighting. He is about to turn pro. He just needs a few more fights in the amateur circuit. While competing in one of those fights his contender starts running his mouth about Danielle Debasco. The one and only girl he ever loved. A girl that shared his abusive past. A girl that he left behind when he escaped at age eighteen. A girl that deserves more than his desertion. A girl that owns his heart.

Learning that Danny’s life has gone even farther downhill than the abusive past they shared, Tyler is determined to find her. He will have to make choices that could ruin his life now. The choices can ruin his career. But if he can save Danny, any choice he makes will be worth it.

After Tyler beat their foster father to near death and left home, Danny has been subject to harsher abuses from him. Her escape is in the world of drugs. She is an addict that will do anything for another fix. She doesn’t want Tyler to rescue her from her life.

As this story unfolds the readers will experience the horrific past that Tyler, Danny, and their foster brother endured. Each came out of those experiences scarred. Each chose a different path in life. For Tyler it was professional fighting, for Alex it was controlling his life and wealth by dealing drugs, and for Danny it was escaping in drug abuse and trying to stay one step ahead of her obsessive foster father. These three will reunite and become the family they once were.

There will be some horrific events that will shatter them all. The one thing that ties them together will be the one thing that can destroy their lives. Their foster father, Striker.

Danny and Tyler will find the lasting love they have always craved but they will have to pay a high price for that love.

Chains was a good short book. I would of liked to seen this book a bit longer. The plot was strong and held me captive, but I did feel it was rushed. The events throughout the book happened in a matter of days. To me it didn’t seem like enough time for Danny to give up her addiction, for Danny and Tyler to form a strong relationship, and to escape the clutches of Striker. I was also unclear of the background of the story, such as where they were from, how Striker could easily find them, and what happened to Alex in the in between years.

If you are looking for a short book to read , Chains by Kelli Maine will fit the bill.

Author Bio:

Kelli Maine is the erotic romance author of USA Today Bestseller and #1 Nook book, Taken, and the Give & Take series, along with the Dolls & Doms novellas and Chains. She lives in Northeast Ohio with her husband and kids. When she’s not writing, Kelli enjoys watching reality T.V., getting lost in random Wikipedia pages and searching online ads for vintage muscle cars.

Favorite Author: Diana Gabaldon
Favorite Food: Japanese
Favorite Superhero: Spiderman
Favorite Place I’ve Been: Yucatan Peninsula
Writing Must Haves: Coffee and chocolate
Plotter or Pantser: Proud Pantser

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Release Day Blitz + Giveaway: Seeds Of Iniquity by J.A. Redmerski- In Company Of Killers Series- Book 4

Posted on 10/01/2014 by shellbellereads

Seeds of Iniquity

Book #4

In the Company of Killers

Adult Crime/Suspense/Mystery

Released October 1, 2014

Victor Faust’s new Order is growing. Business is good as there is no rest for the wicked in an underground world of hardcore criminals and contract killing. Relationships among the operatives have changed little over the past year—but things are about to change now, and all six high-ranking members of the new Order will be blindsided by an unlikely enemy.

Loved ones whose only ties to Victor’s organization are their relationships with its members, are abducted. The price to get them back safely—the six must confess their deepest, darkest secret to this mysterious young woman named Nora, who is as deadly as she is beautiful, and who seems to know more about each of them than they know about each other. And although no one has any clue about who Nora really is, it becomes clear that she also isn’t who she appears to be.

So much more is at stake than secrets and the lives of innocent loved ones; with each member that Nora forces to confess, the truth about their dark pasts and their present objectives will cast suspicion, pit some against each other, and may tear others apart.

Before the game is over everyone will know who this woman is and why she is here, but the damage she will leave in her wake could be the beginning of the new Order’s destruction.

Whose dark secret will be the darkest of all? And can Victor’s Order survive any of them?

IMPORTANT NOTE: SEEDS OF INIQUITY is NOT a prequel about Fredrik Gustavsson as previously stated. It is a brand new present day book.

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Excerpt

Something inside of me snaps, and my eyes spring open wildly in my face. I scream out something I can’t even decipher and finally get my fingers between the chain and my throat. I pull it away with everything in me, spurred on by rage and vengeance and the will to live, until I overpower her and set my neck free, slamming her legs down against the floor.

She starts to crawl away on her hands and knees in the direction of my overturned chair. I leap to my feet, pulling Pearl from my boot before I’m fully upright, and I’m standing over her with the blade against her throat and the back of her hair in my fist, pulling her neck back as far as it’ll go without snapping.

“I’ll cut off more than your finger, bitch!”

She freezes; her hips and pelvis and legs pressed against the floor; the whites of her eyes visible to me as I stand over her from behind.

“Where is Dina?!” I yank on her scalp, pulling her neck back even farther; if she even flinches the wrong way the blade will break the skin and she knows it. “Fuck these games of yours! Tell me where you took her!”

“Come closer and I’ll tell you,” she says with difficulty, her voice strained.

Without even thinking about it I do, but I keep the blade against her throat as I sit down on her back.

“Try anything and I’ll kill you,” I growl, my lips next to her ear.

She doesn’t try to fight back, but I’m not feeling defeat from her. It’s something else. That confidence about her that I’ve grown to despise. Even though I’m the one sitting on top of her, the one with the knife pressed to her throat, I can’t help feel like she’s still the one in control.

“Where is she?” I whisper harshly against the side of her face.

“If you want Dina Gregory to live,” she says, still in a whisper too low for the audio to pick up, “then you and I need to have a talk about the specifics of the relationship you had with Javier Ruiz.”

It feels like an eternity that I sit on top of her, straddling her back, lost in some kind of stunned submission. I can’t find words. Or my heartbeat. And my mind is running away from me.

Then my knife hand begins to tremble and my breathing becomes unsteady.

I slide the knife away from her throat, push her head down forcibly against the tile with the other hand, shoving myself angrily to my feet and off of her. I don’t look at her when she gets up, struggling into a stand with her ankles bound. And I look only at the floor when she shuffles right past me, picking up her black heels along the way, and goes back over to her seat on the other side of the table.

I keep my back to her, unable to move; my eyes beginning to burn from the angry tears pushing their way to the surface. My knife is gripped within my hand firmly, resting down at my side. I feel like using it on myself.

“Shall we begin?” Nora says as calmly as ever, waiting for me at the table.

In The Company Of Killers Series

Killing Sarai

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The first book in the series, KILLING SARAI, will be on sale for a limited time for $1.99 (Kindle and Nook) starting October 1st.

Reviving Izabel

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The Swan and the Jackal

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GIVEAWAY

The author is giving away (3) Signed Sets of the In the Company of Killers Series! If you would like to enter, please visit AToMR’s Facebook page.

About the Author

J.A. Redmerski, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas with her three children, two cats and a Maltese. She is a lover of television and books that push boundaries and is a huge fan of AMC’s The Walking Dead.

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Release Day Blitz + Review + Exclusive Interview + Giveaway: The Night Belongs To Fireman by Jennifer Bernard -The Bachelor Firemen -Book 6

Posted on 09/30/2014 by shellbellereads

The Night Belongs to Firemen

The Bachelor Firemen – Book 6

By Jennifer Bernard

Synopsis

Daring . . . Sexy . . . Irresistible . . .
They’re the Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel

When fireman Fred Breen rescues a bachelorette party after a construction crane collapses onto their limo, the media labels him the “Bachelor Hero.” But all Fred can think about is the petite brunette with the sexy mane of dark curls who bolted away from him faster than a wildfire after he carried her to safety. And when he discovers she’s none other than Rachel Kessler, the daughter of a tech billionaire, the girl whose kidnapping riveted the nation, he intends to learn every intimate detail about this intriguing woman who sets his pulse on fire.

Rachel can’t deny the lean-muscled firefighter is smokin’ hot. But after having one too many drinks at the bar where she first meets him, Rachel knows she’s made a fool of herself. Yet when he rescues her from the limo, she feels safe for the first time since she was held for ransom as a child. Then her overprotective father insists Fred be her bodyguard—and his close presence kindles a burning desire that only he can extinguish.

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Exclusive Q & A with Jennifer Bernard

SBJ: Today, I sat down with Jennifer Bernard and talked a little bit about the end of one hot era and the beginning of a whole new ball game.
Mrs. Bernard has had a fabulous run with her “Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel” series and it’s told that her upcoming novel, THE NIGHT BELONGS TO FIREMAN, to be released on September 30, 2014 will be the FINAL novel, but there will also be a Christmas-themed novella, IT’S A WONDERFUL FIREMAN out on December 2, 2014.

Jenny: Welcome and Thank You for your time.

Thank you so very much for having me!

SBJ: What authors have left an impact on you as a reader and which have influenced you as a writer?

Jenny: The first book I remember really LOVING was Little Women. I adored that book and I think it had a huge influence on what I believe a book should deliver. I cried buckets over the death of one of the sisters. It was truly tragic for nine-year-old me. But despite that very sad event, I drew so much comfort from the book that I used it to lull myself to sleep when I was anxious. I still look for those two things in a book: emotional impact and a sense of hope. As a writer, I think it’s the same. My training as a writer comes from obsessive reading from an early age. As I got older, I wanted books that reflected the adult world. That’s when I got into romance and sexier books. The first sexy book I read was The Story of O — by mistake. Boy, did that one blow my mind!

SBJ: While we are reading the newest Jennifer Bernard book, who are you reading?

Jenny: I’m about to dive into Insurgent. Divergent wrecked me. I read it twice, watched the movie twice, read all the “Four” stories, and now I’m finally ready to approach Insurgent. These might be YA stories, but I think Veronica Roth has created such a fascinating world and characters, I get totally pulled into her work. I know once I start it I’ll lose a couple of days.

SBJ: In the past two and a half years, you’ve given us some fantastic “Bachelor Firemen” stories. The characters have been smart, heart-warming and fun, loyal and courageous, humble and brave. Where did these fantastic men and women come from? And although the series is said to be over, might we see any more of them in the future?

Jenny: Thank you, I love hearing all those kind words about my firemen and women! I like to think of them as being “everymen and women” in the sense that as human beings, we all have the capacity for amazing good. We have the opposite capacity too, of course. But when I write my heroes and heroines, I’m holding up a mirror to you and to everyone else and saying, ‘You’re beautiful and brave and down-to-earth and funny and wow, really really sexy. And you face struggles and triumph over hardship and you find strength in yourself you didn’t even know was there.” I guess I have a very hopeful view of humanity, and that’s where my characters come from. I’m not naive; I’ve seen and experienced plenty of the bad. But I believe the good is so fundamental that it will win out.

SBJ: Who was your favorite fireman? Why?

Jenny: Don’t make me choose!!! Please! I love them all too much. My favorite is always the last one I’ve written, so i suppose at the moment it’s Fred, who is the ultimate “everyman” hero. But I love them all. And back to the question of whether we’ll see them again, I would love that. I have more fireman story ideas, it’s just a matter of finding the time to write them in between contracted books. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the Bachelor Firemen made some repeat appearances. After all, there’s the whole B shift to write about!

SBJ: Now that the Bachelors are all married off, what can we look forward to next?

Jenny: I’ve got baseball players on the brain. My next series is about the Kilby Catfish, a wild and fun-loving minor league baseball team from Texas. I am loving these guys and having a lot of fun immersing myself in their world. These stories are a little edgier and sexier than the Bachelor Firemen books. The first, ALL OF ME, will be out in June 2015. I can’t wait!

SBJ: Taken from your very own Hot Readers book group, the ever-intriguing question of “You are sitting at a table with three more chairs. Who’s sitting in those chairs with you?”

Jenny: Okay, now I feel bad posing that question, because it’s such a hard one! Do the other people have to be real? I’ll go with Professor Dumbledore, Mr. Darcy, and Bette Midler. That should make for a fun conversation.

SBJ: Thank you for taking the time to visit and answer some questions, it’s been a pleasure having you here with us. We wish you the best on your upcoming releases and new projects.

Jenny: It’s my pleasure, thank you so much for having me!

The Bachelor Firemen

The Fireman Who Loved Me

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Hot For Fireman

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Sex and The Single Fireman

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How To Tame A Wild Fireman

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Four Weddings and A Fireman

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The Night Belongs To Fireman

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Novella’s

One Fine Fireman

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Desperately Seeking Fireman

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It’s A Wonderful Fireman- coming December 2, 2014

Pre-Order: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Tina’s Review

***Provided to me by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. **

To be honest? I chose it because I have really enjoyed the entire series and Mrs. Bernard’s writing syle. She quickly became one of my favorite authors, but in no way does that effect my ability to critique it honestly.

Fred aka STUD, is one of the last-standing bachelor firemen. He’s coming off a martial arts tournament and has Mulligan along playing wingman. They decide to stop into the local bar to celebrate and he soon finds his trophy pilfered by a gal in a veil with a penchant for mishaps.

Rachel leads a normally secluded and overly-protected life for a reason, but when one of her best friends is getting married, she has to celebrate with them. Right? And if that means accepting a dare of stealing Mr. Sexy’s trophy, she just has to do it! After all, it IS a dare!
Fred and Rachel have a brief few encounters at the bar, all revolving around Fred pulling her cute little butt out of harm’s way, but it’s the accident leaving the bar that draws the two closer still. With a paranoid parent, a crazy kidnapper, lingering threats from 17 years earlier and REFUGE isn’t always what it seems, this story never has a dull moment.
— Why did I choose to read this book?
To be honest? I chose it because I have really enjoyed the entire series and Mrs. Bernard’s writing syle. She quickly became one of my favorite authors, but in no way does that effect my ability to critique it honestly.

This should not be read as a stand-alone novel.
Mrs. Bernard has truly done her research when capturing the persona, demeanor and general attitude of a fireman. Her heroes have all been sexy, heartwarming and humble. This is the last full-length novel in the series and I, for one, am sad to see it end. I’ve referred to her writing style in the past as being the equivelant to the tactile sensation of sun-warmed silk sheets or a fountain of flowing, rich dark chocolate. While I found THE NIGHT BELONGS TO FIREMAN to be extremely easy to read and the flow was perfectly fluid, I did not get the same rich and seductive vibe as from her other books. I think this is because of the character persona that was built up by his colleages throughout the series. I viewed him as “the kid” or “the little brother” that the bigger boys liked to lovingly pick on.  I have truly enjoyed this series as a whole, THE NIGHT BELONGS TO FIREMAN is a wonderful concluding novel. Fred’s light and joy truly made me smile countless times. Rachel’s stubborn determination made me want to cheer for her. Fred’s interactions with Mulligan and Vader made me laugh out loud, especially the scene at Double D’s house. The neighbor kids were wonderful and thoroughly enjoyable. The blend of humor and sass are perfectly mixed with the action and intrigue.
The plot was solid. The climax was chaotic, but not in a bad way (More like “when it rains, it pours”). There were a few loose ends that I would have liked seen resolved (ie: the outcome of the refuge and escapees from THE night. Who was TREE?). I’d thought for sure I knew who “he” was, but Mrs. Bernard was NOT that predictable.

Author Bio:

Jennifer Bernard is a graduate of Harvard and a former news promo producer. The child of academics, she confounded her family by preferring romance novels to … well, any other books. She left big city life for true love in Alaska, where she now lives with her husband and stepdaughters. She’s no stranger to book success, as she also writes erotic novellas under a naughty secret name not to be mentioned at family gatherings.

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Giveaway

2 Ebooks- The Night Belongs To Fireman

1 Swag Pack

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Day Blitz + Review: Torture To Her Soul by J.M. Darhower-Monster In His Eyes- Book 2

Posted on 09/29/2014 by shellbellereads

Torture Her Soul

Monster In His Eyes- Book 2

By J. M. Darhower

Synopsis

Don’t say it unless you mean it…

It’s a simple concept, one I’ve said time and again, but something people don’t seem to comprehend. You should choose every syllable carefully, because you never know when somebody will hold you to your word.

Somebody like me.

I’m not a good man. I’m not. I know. I have enough darkness inside of me to rid the world of every stitch of light. But there’s one I could never harm, one light I couldn’t bring myself to snuff out.

Karissa.

She thinks I’m a monster, and maybe I am. I taunt her with my touch, get a thrill out of torturing her soul. But I’m not the only one. The world is full of monsters, and I’m not the most dangerous one out there.

Not even close…

God help me, I love her.

I do.

And God help anyone who tries to take her from me.

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Robin’s Review

Sometimes a story is so noteworthy, so very exceptional, that I can hardly wait to begin writing my review! I am excited to share my thoughts about the novel Torture to Her Soul, but my enthusiasm actually extends to the entire series written by author J.M. Darhower. Monster in His Eyes is a two-part series that includes Monster in His Eyes and Torture to Her Soul. If you love romantic suspense, action, drama, and dark characters, take note of this series.

Ignazio Vitale is not a good man. He admits that. Karissa Reed knows this. Even knowing this, Karissa fell right into his web. Monster in His Eyes is told from Karissa’s point of view, so we really don’t know how deep his scars run. Nor do we know what Naz is ruminating on while he lays awake at night, or what he is doing when he gets out of bed and leaves the house at 2:00 in the morning. What are his motivations? We learn all of this in Torture to Her Soul.

Powerful. Intense. Thought provoking. Dramatic. Torture to Her Soul is all of these things, but so much more. Darhower seems very familiar with the ways of criminal organizations such as the mafia and mob and uses this knowledge to her advantage. The drama is extremely realistic. The writing is crisp, creative and completely in character. This description of danger is only a small sample of the writing that left me astounded while I was reading:

“The biggest dangers have smiles on their faces and sweet words on their lips. They don’t threaten or coerce…..they entice. They have the power to make you believe whatever they want you to believe, and they do it with manipulation, through seduction.”

In my opinion, the most profound writing in Torture to Her Soul is found at the beginning of chapter 10, while Ignazio is lying in bed, reflecting on death. The introspection here was extremely dark. Darhower was so in character while writing this scene, she had me convinced I was in the head of a man who kills. Just imagining the thought process behind writing this passage has me floored. It was truly amazing writing, so be sure to watch for it if you decide to read this novel.

Character development is a strength for Darhower. I was most impressed by the character development found with Naz and Karissa, especially in the progression of their relationship and feelings towards each other. Just in this novel alone, Karissa underwent a huge transformation from beginning to the end. And the character development between Naz and many of the secondary characters was instrumental in how the events of this story played out. The schemes Darhower came up with were perfect for the mob, perfect for a killer.

As usual with novels written by J.M. Darhower, the building of suspense leading up to the conclusion is super intense! I found myself wondering how things could possibly work out between Karissa and Naz. I feel like there is so much more that I could share about Torture to Her Soul, but much of what can be shared just needs to be experienced. If you haven’t read Monster in His Eyes, I highly recommend it! And when you have finished Monster in His Eyes, be sure to read the exciting conclusion of the series, Torture to Her Soul. One of my favorites for 2014, I am giving Torture to Her Soul a rare 6-star rating!

Monster In His Eyes Series

Monster In His Eyes – Book 1

Ignazio Vitale is not a good man.

I suspect it, the first time I see him, sense the air of danger that surrounds the man. He has a way of commanding attention, of taking control, of knowing what I’m thinking before I even do.

It’s alarming and alluring. It’s dark and deadly. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted but the last thing I truly need. Obsession.

It doesn’t take him long to draw me into his web, charming me into his bed and trapping me in his life, a life I know nothing about until it’s too late. He has secrets, secrets I can’t fathom, secrets that make it so I can’t walk away, no matter how much I beg him to let me go. I see it sometimes in his eyes, a darkness that’s both terrifying and thrilling. He’s a monster, wrapped up in a pretty package, and what I find when I unmask him changes everything.

I want to hate him.

Sometimes, I do.

But it doesn’t stop me from loving him, too.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This book is intended for a mature audience only, due to some dark and erotic content.

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Author Bio:

JM Darhower is the author of countless stories and poems, most of which only she has ever read. She lives in a tiny town in rural North Carolina, where she churns out more words than will ever see the light of day. She has a deep passion for politics and speaking out against human trafficking, and when she isn’t writing she’s usually ranting about those things. Chronic crimper with a vulgar mouth, she admits to having a Twitter addiction. You can find her there.

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Release Day Blitz- Close To The Fire by Suzanne Ferrell- The Westen Series – Book 3

Posted on 09/29/2014 by shellbellereads

Close To The Fire

The Westen Series- Book 3

By Suzanne Ferrell

Synopsis

They once were lovers:

After ten years of keeping his distance to the one woman he’s always loved, Fire Chief Deke Reynolds is finally ready to set aside his grief and confess his guilt to Elizabeth “Libby” Wilson about his part in her brother’s death. Libby’s own guilty secret has kept her from sharing her life with the man who stole her heart as a teen and awakened her body as a young woman.

Danger has forced them together again:

A fire and their odd connection to a new teenager at the local half-way house have this couple finally sharing their secrets with each other. With an arsonist on the loose, threatening the town of Westen and its citizens, have Libby and Deke waited too long to find their love again?

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The Westen Series

Close To Home- Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Westen, Ohio, where small town romance meets an edge of suspense…

“Welcome to Westen. I’m Lorna Doone. Yep, spelled just like the cookie and just as sweet. I own the Peaches ‘N Cream Café, the center of all social get-togethers and gossip here in our small town. You might think nothing much happens in a small mid-western town, but as my friend Harriett says, things aren’t always what they appear. Romance and suspense can happen almost anywhere and to anyone. Take our girl Emma for example…”

Emma Lewis has a lot on her plate. As a single mother trying to raise two precocious twin boys, she works two jobs to make ends meet while also caring for an aging mother who is having trouble getting through each day. Having faced one scandal nearly seven years ago, the last thing Emma needs is adventure, romance or a man in her life, especially a wickedly sexy doctor. Been there, done that, got the tee-shirt.

So when the small town’s only doctor goes on vacation and his handsome nephew takes over, Emma is shocked to not only find the man she once had a teenage crush on standing in her bedroom, but suddenly he’s accusing her of being a neglectful parent. Despite what the arrogant man may think, she’ll do anything to protect her sons, even from his so-called good intentions.

Doctor Clint Preston came to his small town home of Westen for the year to fill in as the town doc while his uncle took a long needed vacation. Burned out by long shifts in an urban hospital’s ER and the tragic loss of a boy who was the victim of neglect, Clint also needs a sense of peace and calm to try to find his passion for his medical career once more.

In his first week back in town, he’s angered to find two boys in his clinic with broken wrists and no accompanying parent, he is determined to confront their mother to prevent further injuries to his young patients. However, the feisty redhead he meets quickly dispels his belief that she’s a neglectful mother. Despite her bravado and stubbornness, Clint can see her situation is more critical than she wishes to face. Before he can think better of it, he finds himself volunteering to help care for her sons, face the devastating news about her mother’s health and oversee the remodeling of her home.

Slowly, Emma and Clint give into their mutual attraction and begin to build a relationship with the help of the slightly off-beat characters that inhabit Westen. Then a menace from Emma’s past terrorizes her and the life she’s forged with her sons. When a murder for hire scheme threatens Emma’s life, Clint realizes how much she and her family have come to mean to him. He will do anything to protect them.

Can Clint and Emma come together to prevent losing either or both of her sons? Can their new found love survive the danger threatening them all?

Close To The Edge- Book 2- Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Westen Series #2, where small-town romance meets an edge of suspense.

After facing death as an undercover narcotics cop, Gage Justice has come home to heal. His recuperation is cut short by his father’s unexpected diagnosis of cancer and subsequent death. Now he’s honoring one of his father’s last wishes by taking over as the sheriff of his boyhood home, Westen, Ohio. Biding time until his father’s term is finished, he fights boredom more than crime in the sleepy little town—that is until one sexy little teacher-turned-Private-Investigator literally falls into his arms.

Bobby Roberts is looking for adventure. After giving up her own dreams to raise her two sisters after the death of their parents, she’s been trapped in a schoolroom for nearly two decades. The suffocating claustrophobia of the classroom has set her on a new career path. She arrives in Westen, complete with brand-spanking-new PI license, a handgun and a simple case—investigate a lien on property of a dead man.

Little does she realize her “simple little case” will lead her into the world of one sexy sheriff and the path of a murderer intent on keeping them both from discovering his secrets or stopping his plans that could destroy Westen.

Author Bio:

Suzanne discovered romance novels in her aunt’s hidden stash one summer as a teenager. From that moment on she knew two things: she loved romance stories and someday she’d be writing her own. Her love for romances has only grown over the years. It took her a number of years and a secondary career as a nurse to finally start writing her own stories. Suzanne’s sexy stories, whether they be her on the edge of your seat romantic suspense or the small town romantic suspense stories they’ll keep you thinking about her characters long after their Happy Ever After is achieved.

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Cover Reveal: Here With Me by Heidi McLaughlin

Posted on 09/26/2014 by shellbellereads

Today we are revealing the cover of the novel HERE WITH ME by New York Times Bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin. The book will be released on Thursday, October 23rd.

Synopsis for HERE WITH ME:

Ryley Clarke has grown up with the military in her blood, with both parents serving their country. Ryley knows the risks of being married to the military. But when the unthinkable happens, and her future husband is killed in action, Ryley can barely survive… until Evan’s twin brother, Nate, helps her pick up the pieces.

After serving on a special mission with the military for six years, Evan Archer returns home to find the unthinkable – the love of his life, Ryley Clarke – engaged to his brother, Nate. With Nate on deployment, Evan needs to figure out what happened in his absence, and more importantly, how to win Ryley back from the man he once considered his best friend, but now thinks of as his rival.

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18948703-here-with-me

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AUTHOR INFORMATION

BIO:

Heidi is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell and two Parakeets.

During the day Heidi is behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, she’s writing one of the many stories planned for release or sitting court-side during either daughter’s basketball games.

Author Links:
Website: http://heidimclaughlin.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeidiMcLaughlinAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeidiJoVT
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6568302.Heidi_McLaughlin

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Cover Reveal: Here With Me by Heidi McLaughlin

Today we are revealing the cover of the novel HERE WITH ME by New York Times Bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin. The book will be released on Thursday, October 23rd.

Synopsis for HERE WITH ME:

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18948703-here-with-me

AUTHOR INFORMATION

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“I’ll wait forever, sunshine. I loved you then. I love you now. I’ll always love you.”

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Today we are revealing the cover of the novel HERE WITH ME by New York Times Bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin. The book will be released on Thursday, October 23rd.

Synopsis for HERE WITH ME:

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18948703-here-with-me

AUTHOR INFORMATION

Share this:

Amazon Barnes & Noble iBooks Kobo IndieBound

Website Twitter Facebook Novel Goodreads Author Goodreads YouTube Pinterest Instagram**

**Amazon US * Amazon UK * Amazon AU * Amazon CA * Barnes and Noble * Smashwords**