New Release + 5 Star Review: Some Kind Of Hero by Suzanne Brockmann – The Troubleshooters Series – Book 19

Posted on 07/13/2017 by shellbellereads

Some Kind Of Hero

Troubleshooters Series – Book 19

By Suzanne Brockmann

Synopsis

The Troubleshooters return in the latest thriller from New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann! Some Kind of Hero showcases Brockmann’s signature white-knuckle suspense, romantic twists, and sexy Navy SEALs.

Navy men don’t come tougher than Lieutenant Peter Greene. Every day he whips hotshot SEAL wannabes into elite fighters. So why can’t he handle one fifteen-year-old girl? His ex’s death left him a single dad overnight, and very unprepared. Though he can’t relate to an angsty teen, he can at least keep Maddie safe—until the day she disappears. Though Pete’s lacking in fatherly intuition, his instinct for detecting danger is razor sharp. Maddie’s in trouble. Now he needs the Troubleshooters team at his back, along with an unconventional ally.

Romance writer Shayla Whitman never expected to be drawn into a real-world thriller—or to meet a hero who makes her pulse pound. Action on the page is one thing. Actually living it is another story. Shay’s not as bold as her heroines, but she’s a mother. She sees the panic in her new neighbor’s usually fearless blue eyes—and knows there’s no greater terror for a parent than having a child at risk. It’s an ordeal Shay won’t let Pete face alone. She’s no highly trained operative, but she’s smart, resourceful, and knows what makes teenagers tick.

Still, working alongside Pete has its own perils—like letting the heat between them rise out of control. Intimate emotions could mean dangerous, even deadly, consequences for their mission. No matter what, they must be on top of their game, and playing for keeps . . . or else Pete’s daughter may be gone for good.

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Michel’s Review

It’s hard to believe that the nineteenth book in the Troubleshooters Series by Suzanne Brockmann has released. I can remember reading the first Troubleshooters book in June of 2000 while awaiting the birth of my youngest child. As I sat by the swimming pool reading Unsung Hero, hopelessly trying to avoid my three year old splashing water on the pages, I fell head over heels in love with Tom Paoletti like I did with Joe Catalanotto in Prince Joe in 1996. I was already addicted to the Tall, Dark & Dangerous series and loved her style of writing. Her fast paced, high octane Navy Seals characters captured my attention and are still holding me captive twenty years later. Suzanne Brockmann is the queen of romantic suspense.

Lieutenant Peter Greene may be one of the toughest Seals in the Navy. He has faced some of the most dangerous, life threatening situations and not broke a sweat. He instills fear in the recruits at BUDD training and commands them with an iron fist. When it comes to his fifteen year old daughter, he’s clueless. He hasn’t figured out the parenting job or the teenage drama and angst. Being a single father is harder than going through BUDD’s training. Learning to communicate rather than command is like translating an encrypted code. What makes it all the more difficult is he’s doing it alone without any guides or manuals. He’s suddenly thrust into the parenting role after the sudden death of his ex wife (and yes… there’s a whole other story there that will put at your heartstrings). When his defiant daughter turns up missing from school the only thing he can do is go in Navy Seal mode and treat it like a mission. He doesn’t have a clue where to start or what to look for until he meets his sexy neighbor, Shayla Whitman. Shayla Whitman is going to teach him a new way to approach the mission, she’s going to teach him the romantic suspense writer way and the seasoned teenage parent way. Lieutenant Peter Greene is on more than a mission against the bad guys, he’s finally learning about life, love, family, and parenting.

Shayla Whitman is a New York Times bestselling romantic suspense writer who has been suffering from writers block for the past two years. When she stumbles upon her sexy Navy Seal neighbor wandering the high school street little does she know her offer to give him a ride is going to take her on a real adventure like her novels. Lt. Peter Greene may be a real life hero but he is clueless when it comes to teenagers, social media, and matters of the heart. Being a mother of two teenage boys, she understands his panic and fears. She will do anything to help him. Even though she has no clue how to handle the dangers, her characters are helping her out, they are talking to her in her head and making the whole situation comical.

Shayla and Peter are on a mission against time. His daughter is a target for one of the biggest drug dealers in the area. With the help of some of Peter’s Troubleshooter pals, the John Squad, Shayla’s outspoken characters, and good old fashion parenting instincts, Peter and Shayla are going to find more than a missing teenage daughter. They are both going to find the happiness they never thought they could have.

Suzanne Brockmann once again had me on the edge of my seat with this sexy, intense thriller. Being a parent of two teenagers I could easily relate to all the emotions and angst delivered in this book. Being a long time fan of this series, I was thrilled to see many of the beloved characters grace the pages once again. The Troubleshooters Series will never become obsolete or outdated because Suzanne Brockmann captures the very essence and heart of the true Navy Seals. She gives these extraordinary heroes ordinary flaws and emotional situations that make them true heroes of the heart.

I highly recommend reading Some Kind Of Hero by Suzanne Brockmann. It can be read as a stand alone novel or in series order, either way the reader is in for an action packed, romantic adventure.

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After childhood plans to become the captain of a starship didn’t pan out, Suzanne Brockmann took her fascination with military history, her respect for the men and women who serve, her reverence for diversity, and her love of storytelling, and explored brave new worlds as a bestselling romance author. Over the past twenty-five years she has written more than fifty-five novels, including her award-winning Troubleshooters series about Navy SEAL heroes and the women—and sometimes men—who win their hearts.

Her personal favorite is the one where her most popular character, gay FBI agent Jules Cassidy, wins his happily-ever-after and marries the man of his dreams. Called All Through the Night, this was the first mainstream romance novel with a hero and a hero to hit the New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list. In 2007, Suz donated all of her earnings from this book, in perpetuity, to MassEquality, to help win and preserve equal marriage rights in Massachusetts.

Since her explosion onto the publishing scene all those years ago, Suz has become widely recognized as one of the leading voices in romantic suspense. Her work has earned her repeated appearances on the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists, as well as numerous awards, including Romance Writers of America’s #1 Favorite Book of the Year (three years running), two RITA Awards, and many Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Awards.

Married to author and screenwriter Ed Gaffney, Suz divides her time between Framingham, Massachusetts and Sarasota, Florida.

She has two grown children, Melanie, who is a personal trainer and novelist, and Jason, who is an actor, producer, screenwriter and novelist. Suz also has two miniature schnauzers, C.K. Dexter-Haven and Little Joe, both of whom (unlike Mel and Jason) still live at home.

In addition to writing books, Suz has co-produced several feature-length indie movies, the rom-com The Perfect Wedding, which she co-wrote with Ed and Jason, and the upcoming thriller Russian Doll. She has also co-written the Night Sky series of YA paranormals with Melanie, and created a line of m/m category romantic comedy novellas called Suzanne Brockmann Presents.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: The Darkest Sunrise by Aly Martinez – Book 1 in The Darkest Sunrise Duet

Posted on 07/13/2017 by shellbellereads

The Darkest Sunrise

The Darkest Sunrise Duet – Book 1

By Aly Martinez

Buy: Amazon

Synopsis:

Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.

Whoever coined that phrase is a bald-faced liar. Words are often the sharpest weapon of all, triggering some of the most powerful emotions a human can experience.

“You’re pregnant.”

“It’s a boy.”

“Your son needs a heart transplant.”

Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.

Lies.

Syllables and letters may not be tangible, but they can still destroy your entire life faster than a bullet from a gun.

Two words—that was all it took to extinguish the sun from my sky.

“He’s gone.”

For ten years, the darkness consumed me.

In the end, it was four deep, gravelly words that gave me hope of another sunrise.

“Hi. I’m Porter Reese.”

Michel’s Review

After reading the synopsis for The Darkest Sunrise by Aly Martinez, I knew this was a book I must read. I fully understood that it would end in a cliffhanger because it was clearly promoted as a duet. I also knew that my past reading experiences with Aly Martinez novels were emotional and entertaining. I always experienced her stories rather than just reading them. I connected with the characters on every level. I embraced their stories as if they were my own. The Darkest Sunrise was a much more personal reading experience for me because I am a mother. I would be completely lost if my children weren’t in my life. The moment a woman becomes a mother she becomes complete, she has a real purpose that goes beyond career, notoriety, and monetary success. The same goes for men when they become fathers. They become nurturers, protectors, and giants in the hearts of their children. I clearly had a feeling that this would be a difficult duet to read but also have a feeling it will be rewarding. Aly Martinez eloquently defined the emotional depths of parenting, good and bad, heartwarming and heartbreaking.

The day Charlotte Mills found out she was pregnant her life changed. She was starting her first year of medical school and becoming a mother. She accepted her fate and fell hopelessly in love with her son. She managed her hectic schedule with pure grace. When her baby is diagnosed with a heart condition that would require a heart transplant, she’s heartbroken. She understands the diagnosis and treatments because she is becoming a doctor. She thought she could handle it. When she loses her baby, she submerges herself into darkness and has become emotionally lost. Ten years later she’s trapped in the darkness without hope of ever seeing the light.

Porter Reese is a single father of two children after he lost his wife in a car accident. He’s struggling to manage his restaurant business, take care of his children, and manage his son’s serious pulmonary illness. His son is getting worse and he needs the best doctor to treat him. Dr. Charlotte Mills is the best Pulmonary Specialist in the Atlanta area. He has desperately tried to get his son an appointment with her but she doesn’t treat children. He’s determined to get her to treat his son. When he manipulates her office manager and arranges a “chance” meeting, rather than finding a specialist to treat his son, he finds a woman living in the same kind of darkness he’s living in. He’s found someone to share the darkness with and make it stand still in those stolen moments.

Charlotte and Porter both know the light in their darkness is only temporary. Life has a way of extinguishing the light without warning. No matter what they do, it’s beyond their control. Those precious moments spent together in the darkness isn’t going to prepare either of them for the darkness that is going to swallow them whole. CLIFFHANGER!

The Brightest Sunrise can’t release fast enough! Aly Martinez has taken my heart hostage once again!

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**The Brightest Sunset (The Darkest Sunrise Duet, #2)**

Coming July 27th

Pre Order: Amazon

Synopsis

Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.
Lies.
Words destroyed me.
“I’m sorry. She didn’t make it.”
“Daddy, he can’t breathe!”
“There’s nothing more we can do for your son.”
Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.
More lies.
Those syllables and letters became my executioner. I told myself that, if I didn’t acknowledge the pain and the fear, they would have no power over me. But, as the years passed, the hate and the anger left behind began to control me.
Two words—that was all it took to plunge my life into darkness.
“He’s gone.”
In the end, it was four soft, silky words that gave me hope of another sunrise.
“Hi. I’m Charlotte Mills.”

———————

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Originally from Savannah, Georgia, USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez now lives in South Carolina with her four young children.

Never one to take herself too seriously, she enjoys cheap wine, mystery leggings, and baked feta. It should be known, however, that she hates pizza and ice cream, almost as much as writing her bio in the third person.

She passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a super-sized tumbler of wine by her side.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Wicked Grind by J. Kenner – Stark World Series – Book 1

Posted on 07/11/2017 by shellbellereads

Wicked Grind

Stark World – Book 1

By J. Kenner

Amazon | Print | Audible | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | iBooks | iBooks UK | Kobo |

Kobo UK | B&N | Google Play | Google Play UK

Sometimes, it feels so damn good to be bad …

Photographer Wyatt Royce’s career is on the verge of exploding. All he needs is one perfect model to be the centerpiece of his sexy, controversial show. Find her, and Wyatt is sure to have a winner.

Then Kelsey Draper walks in. Stunning. Vibrant. And far too fragile for a project like this. Wyatt should know—after all, he remembers only too well how their relationship ended all those years ago.

Desperate for cash and frustrated with her good girl persona, Kelsey sets her sights on Wyatt’s show. But only the show. Because she knows too well that Wyatt Royce is a danger to her heart.

But when Wyatt agrees to give her the job only if he has complete control—on camera and in his bed—Kelsey can’t help but wonder if she’s in too deep. Because how can a good girl like her ever be enough for a man like Wyatt?

All Wicked novels stand alone

Excerpt

She was driving him crazy.

The way she held his eyes while she moved, so bold and flirtatious, as if she was just daring him to pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless.

Daring him? No, strike that. She wasn’t just daring him, she was throwing down a goddamned gauntlet. But was she challenging him to claim her? Or was she goading him that he couldn’t have her?

Damned if he knew. Right then, Wyatt was certain of only one thing—his body was tight, his cock was hard, and he wanted to be somewhere other than here. Someplace without other people.

Someplace with a bed.

It was the dancing that did it. Because Kelsey Draper and her dancing had always been his downfall. After all, that was what had started everything all those years ago. He’d seen her dancing to a bouncy pop song, her interpretation elevating the music and lyrics. He’d seen passion and precision, sensuality and seduction. She’d enchanted him. Cast a spell over him.

He’d seen the magic in her, so much larger than the quiet, subdued girl he’d met before. The Kelsey he’d watched dancing had surprised him. She was vibrant. Alive. Unexpected.

He’d fallen hard, and then she’d broken his heart.

He wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

He might want her—hell, he did want her. For his bed. For his show.

But he damn sure wasn’t going to trust her. He’d already learned that lesson, and he really didn’t need a refresher course.

As he watched, she dropped to the floor, then used one hand to rip open her shirt before letting it fall down her arms. She writhed on stage, her seductive movements making him ache inside, all the more when he imagined taking it further. Her wrists bound not with a tattered blouse, but with silk ropes. And not just her wrists, but her legs as well. Red ropes, the only color in an otherwise black and white image. Her body twisting, and the audience unsure if she was fighting the bonds or reveling in her own rising passion.

She was exactly what he needed for the show. The complete package. Hell, he’d known that from the moment she’d walked into his studio.

So why was he hesitating?

Because he wanted her?

Or was it because he wanted to punish her?

Or maybe it was even more insidious than that. Maybe it came down to how much was riding on this show. It was his shot, after all. The apex of all his work and sacrifice. The chance to escape from under the black cloud his father had left hanging over him.

The chance to prove himself to his family.

To live up to the goddamn Segel name.

But that would only happen if the show was a success.

So maybe that was why he was hesitating. Because the moment he committed was the moment the truth crept toward him on little cat paws, and it would either curl up and purr, or rip his heart out.

On stage, Kelsey rose, then did some sort of pirouette, twirling as she pulled off one of those transparent, colored scarves that served as a barely-there skirt. Wyatt imagined his hands on her waist, the brush of her skin against his palms as she spun. He could imagine her heat. The way she shivered under his touch.

So help him, he wanted that. Wanted to hear her sighs. Those little moans he remembered.

Another scarf went flying, and he straightened so that he was no longer leaning against the pillar. Instead, he shifted his weight from foot to foot as he tried to tamp down the rising lust. The violent need. To not only have her, but to have her in his show.

He wanted her, yes. But she was an indulgence he couldn’t justify. An indulgence and a risk, because he knew damn well that she’d run if things got too intense.

And damn but his show was intense. That was the point, after all.

He couldn’t take a chance on her, no matter how much he might want to. Couldn’t even bring her in only long enough to test her out. Not on such a tight schedule. Not when there was no way to ensure that she wouldn’t bolt.

Kelsey was a risk he simply couldn’t take. He had to get it right. There was too much at stake for him to be wrong about her.

The final scarf fluttered to the ground, and Wyatt’s pulse pounded in his throat as he moved closer, his mouth going dry as she reached for her bra, pulled it over her head, then tossed it aside.

The music faded out, and the dim, colored stage lights made the flesh-colored G-string blend into her pale skin, enhancing the illusion that she now stood before the entire room not just topless, but one hundred percent, birthday-suit naked.

She took a bow as the lights came up, and the men in the audience actually stood to applaud her. She’d blown away the competition, and even though Wyatt wanted to rush the stage and wrap his jacket around her, he couldn’t deny the swell of pride he felt for her victory.

Michel’s Review

If you are familiar with The Stark Trilogy and The Stark International series you will recognize the name Wyatt Royce. Wyatt has been a part of the Stark world since the beginning. He’s an intriguing photographer that has captured the readers attention in a quiet manner. His character is a bit mysterious but quite likable. He’s finally getting his story told in Wicked Grind by J. Kenner.

Wyatt is working on his first gallery show and wants it to be perfect. The theme of the show is to showcase the erotic beauty of women in every manner, whether it be fully clothed or completely nude. He wants to tease, tantalite, and astonish the viewers with the simple beauty and nature of every woman. He has one woman in mind but hasn’t found her in any of his subjects or models. He’s weeks away from the show opening and getting desperate until Kelsey Draper walks into his study. The last woman he ever expected to see cross his studio doors. Kelsey is the girl from his past that left him completely heartbroken. She was “the one” then and apparently “the one” now. The problem is her heart isn’t into the modeling position even though she desperately needs the money. She has more to lose than her clothing and good reputation. She’s afraid of losing her heart once again.

Like most stories, one should never assume anything. There are always two sides to every story. There are valid explanations and reasons. There are circumstances that teenage hearts can’t comprehend or deal with.

As it turns out… Kelsey is “the only one” for Wyatt. This time he has the choice to control the situation and hang onto what’s his.

I absolutely loved this book because I am a sucker for second chance romances. That’s not the only reason why I loved it. Kelsey and Wyatt’s personalities were captivating and easy to connect with. I also liked that their story could thrive outside of the Stark World. Damien and Nikki Stark didn’t take over or distract the reader from the main characters story. They only made a very brief appearance towards the end. Wyatt and Kelsey were able to stand out on their own merits ( like they wanted to in the book). Their love for one another drove this story. The bonus was this book didn’t end on a cliffhanger. Wyatt and Kelsey got their happily ever after in one novel.

J. Kenner once again gave the readers another sexy, emotional romance. I would highly recommend this book!

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J.Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and #1 International bestselling author of over seventy novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.

Though known primarily for her award-winning and international bestselling erotic romances (including the Stark and Most Wanted series) that have reached as high as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list, JK has been writing full time for over a decade in a variety of genres including paranormal and contemporary romance, “chicklit” suspense, urban fantasy, and paranormal mommy lit.

JK has been praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations” and by RT Bookclub for having “cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swoon for them.” A five time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award, JK took home the first RITA trophy awarded in the category of erotic romance in 2014 for her novel, Claim Me (book 2 of her Stark Trilogy). Her Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series (as Julie Kenner) is currently in development with AwesomenessTV/Awestruck.

Her books have sold over three million copies and are published in over twenty languages.

In her previous career as an attorney, JK worked as a clerk on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and practiced primarily civil, entertainment and First Amendment litigation in Los Angeles and Irvine, California, as well as in Austin, Texas. She currently lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and two rather spastic cats.

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Jilted by Sawyer Bennett – The Love Hurts Series – Book 2

Posted on 07/11/2017 by shellbellereads

Jilted

Love Hurts Series- Book 2

By Sawyer Bennett

BUY NOW

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo

Hollywood hath no fury like a woman scorned. In this fun, flirty second-chance romance from New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett, an aspiring starlet reconnects with her first love.

“Sawyer Bennett never fails to deliver heroes I fall hard for and heroines I adore.”—Violet Duke

Eden Goodnight went to Los Angeles to make it big, not to be publicly humiliated by her cheating fiancé at a red-carpet premiere. But when Eden returns to her hometown to put the scandal behind her, she can barely find a sympathetic shoulder to cry on. Turns out the locals are worse than the paparazzi, and they all think she’s turned into a spoiled brat. But in a strange twist of fate, the one person who seems to understand what Eden’s going through is Cooper Mayfield . . . the boy she left behind.

Small-town charm is no match for the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. At least that’s what Coop’s been telling himself all these years. As Eden’s old flame—and the landscaper for her family’s historic home—Coop feels some responsibility for getting her out of her funk. But as soon as he sees that million-dollar smile, he’s a goner. Soon they’re making out like teenagers again. But when a life-changing role falls into Eden’s lap, Coop just hopes she doesn’t give up on a love that’s meant to be.

BUY NOW

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo

Michel’s Review

I know… every time I pick up a Sawyer Bennett book and review it I always give it a 5 Star Review. It’s not because Sawyer Bennett is one of my favorite authors or because of a particular series I am deeply involved in. It’s because of her gift of storytelling. The moment I read the first paragraph I am sucked right into the story and am held captive until the very end. The characters come to life on the pages and their lives become a vivid motion picture in my mind. I’m entertained by the humor,completely invested in the characters because of the witty dialogue, overheated by the steamy sex scenes, and charmed by the pure romance. Her leading men don’t have to be billionaires, rock stars, or cowboys to make me fall head over heels in love with them because she has captured the one thing every woman looks for in a man. She has captured their heart, the very essence of who they are inside and out. She also creates strong women that own their strengths, flaws, and embrace their femininity.

Jilted by Sawyer Bennett is the second book in the Love Hurts series. The Love Hurts series is unlike any of the other series she has written. The books are not connected in anyway at all, they are complete stand alone novels. What ties these books together is the difficulties that come with finding true love after experiencing different types of disappointing circumstances that have left a bad taste where romance is concerned. Finding “The One” is never easy and it always takes hard work that includes the willingness to compromise. On the other hand, she clearly shows how easy it can be when it’s the right “one”. This series is a true romance series with the perfect happily ever after.

Eden Goodnight and Cooper Mayfield were high school sweethearts. They were each other’s first everything. They thought they would be together forever until they went to college and their paths went in different directions. They both walked away broken hearted but didn’t harbor resentments towards one another. Eden moved onto Hollywood and superstardom. Cooper went back to Newberry,GA and built his family lawn maintenance business into a thriving Landscape Design Company. They both found satisfaction in the success of their careers. They both moved on in life. Fourteen years later their lives cross paths when Eden returns home to very different Newberry than she remembered,

When Eden returned home not only was her family home taken over by Cooper Mayfield but she was also not welcomed by her community with happiness and joy. She was treated with disdain, animosity, and hostility by the entire community. The only person that is not overly hostile is Cooper. Cooper has some hostility but it’s within reason and the worst of it is fighting over rights to the master bedroom. He’s the only person in the town willing to talk to her and set her straight.

After all these years both Eden and Cooper still have an undeniable attraction for one another. Can they mold their lives together and make it work or will Cooper end being another Hollywood casualty? Will Eden be able to survive losing Cooper again?

Read the book… it won’t disappoint!

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists on multiple occasions.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.

Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: His Turn by JA Huss – The Turning Series – Book 3

Posted on 07/10/2017 by shellbellereads

His Turn

The Turning Series – Book 3

By JA Huss

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

I look her body up and down as I circle her.
Mine?
I smile A devious, deviant, I’m gonna make you sorry you ever started playing this game with me smile.
And then I take her hand.
I lead her to the elevator.
We go up to my apartment.
I tie her wrists together with rope.
Raise her arms above her head.
And chain her to the ceiling.
It’s my turn.

Excerpt

I spend the whole day stewing about Nadia and her covert attempt to take back control. I have gone through every emotion. Anger came first. Bitch. Why is she even playing if it’s just gonna be a mind fuck?

But then I got to thinking about that. The mind fuck part. Because I’m kind of an excellent mind-fucker. I mean, shit. I went to school to be a psychiatrist. I got pretty far into it before I dropped out. I have a medical degree. I run a sex club. I’ve been playing this goddamned game for more than a decade. And even though I’ve been on a losing streak for a while now, I’m damn good. I’m due for a win. I will win this.

The key to a proper mind fuck is the element of surprise. The target thinks they’re ready for the unexpected, until they’re not.

Nadia was probably pretty pleased with herself last night. She probably ended that call with a huge smile on her face. One hundred percent satisfied.

And she’s expecting retaliation. She had to know I’d tell Jordan about it. She had to know I’d find out she never called him. She had to know I’d be pissed off today.

When I realized that… well, that’s when I calmed down and started piecing together a psychological profile on her.

Nadia Wolfe. Twenty-something. Beautiful. Talented. Ballerina. Control freak. New in town. Rising star. Player of games.

She’s so stupidly simple to figure out, I almost feel sad that she’s not more of a challenge.

I decide the ballerina aspect is my best first move. They are a different sort of person, so most of what I just described probably stems from her choice of occupation. She likes control because she’s forced herself to be in control of things to get where she is in her art.

Think about it. Ballerinas, right? They get up early to go to class or rehearsal or whatever the fuck it is they do first thing in the morning. They have to control themselves in very specific ways. They have to control their muscles, their emotions, their pain threshold, and the pleasure center in their brains. They have to psych themselves up to fit their bodies into the mold of dancer.

They have to conform in many ways. Deviation from the standard is unacceptable, even though they are expected to excel and stand out.

They must look a certain way, behave a certain way, and submit to the whims of those who control their future.

Success, therefore, is not defined by their own perceptions of themselves, but by the perceptions of others. And those perceptions are directly related to athletic skill, beauty, and youth.

It’s a trifecta of psychological disorders waiting to happen.

I smile.

I’ve got you, Nadia Wolfe. I have your ticket, darling. I know what drives you now.

Michel’s Review

Spoiler Free Review

I am not sure if I was dreading reading this book or anticipating the breaking of player number three, Elias Bricman. Throughout this series Elias Bricman has been the master manipulator controlling all the players with mind games. On the surface he is an impeccable, wealthy gentleman but beneath the surface lies a deviant, kinky control freak. Who the real Elias Bricman is has been a complete mystery to the readers. JA Huss gave readers a small glimpse of the human side of Elias in the previous book but she also gave us a disturbing view of the man known as Bric. I was holding my breath going into this book.

In typical JA Huss style I think she shocked the readers and took this book in a completely different direction than most readers anticipated. The first thing she did was change the rules of the game. She added two new players who in turn changed the game into something else all together. Elias was the player being manipulated even though he thought he was in complete control. He was the one who was broken down and carefully put back together one piece at a time. The end result was a new and improved Elias Bricman who accepted what he couldn’t control and opened his heart for all the possibilities of love, friendship, and complete happiness.

Once again JA Huss delivered a sizzling hot but very complex story that ended the game and opened new doors. The Turning Series ended with all the players winning the game. It also promised a new game with a new game master in control. I am looking forward to being a spectator in this upcoming game.

The Turning Series

Taking Turns – Book 1

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

Synopsis

I’ve never been afraid of the dark…but that doesn’t mean I wanted to live in it. And maybe everyone wants what they can’t have, but I should’ve thought it over before I accepted the key and unlocked the door to their forbidden world.

Number One is mostly silent. He watches me with them very carefully. His gaze never wanders. His interest never wanes.

Number Two is mostly gentle. But it’s the other side of him I like best. The wild side.

Number Three is mostly reserved. He refuses to cross the line. Even when I beg.

It was carnal, it was sensual, and it was erotic. That’s it. That’s all it was supposed to be. A trip into the dark. A peek into the forbidden.

I just didn’t expect to like them.

*****

Turning Back – Book 2

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

Synopsis

I lived in the dark for three years. My whole world revolved around the whims and happiness of three men. It was just a trip into the forbidden. A way out of a bad situation and forward into nothingness.

Quin, with his easy smile and charming good looks. He was always there for me… Until he wasn’t.

Smith, and his dispassionate attention. He was never there for me and he never regretted it.

Bric, the one who listened, but only to himself. Self-absorbed, self-obsessed, and self-serving. He was never the one I wanted.

And now he might be the only one I have left.

It was good while it lasted, I guess. But it could’ve been so much more. It could’ve been so much better.

And that’s why I’m turning back.

*****

His Turn – Book 3

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

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There is a giveaway for a Superfan Gift Pack including a $100 Amazon gift card and signed books

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Author Bio

JA Huss is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty romances. She likes stories about family, loyalty, and extraordinary characters who struggle with basic human emotions while dealing with bigger than life problems. JA loves writing heroes who make you swoon, heroines who makes you jealous, and the perfect Happily Ever After ending.

Author Links

NEWSLETTER
PRIVATE FAN GROUP
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New Release + 5 Star Review: His Turn by JA Huss – The Turning Series – Book 3

Posted on 07/05/2017 by shellbellereads

His Turn

The Turning Series – Book 3

By JA Huss

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

Michel’s Review

Spoiler Free Review

The Turning Series

Taking Turns – Book 1

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

Synopsis

Number One is mostly silent. He watches me with them very carefully. His gaze never wanders. His interest never wanes.

Number Two is mostly gentle. But it’s the other side of him I like best. The wild side.

Number Three is mostly reserved. He refuses to cross the line. Even when I beg.

It was carnal, it was sensual, and it was erotic. That’s it. That’s all it was supposed to be. A trip into the dark. A peek into the forbidden.

I just didn’t expect to like them.

*****

Turning Back – Book 2

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

Synopsis

Quin, with his easy smile and charming good looks. He was always there for me… Until he wasn’t.

Smith, and his dispassionate attention. He was never there for me and he never regretted it.

Bric, the one who listened, but only to himself. Self-absorbed, self-obsessed, and self-serving. He was never the one I wanted.

And now he might be the only one I have left.

It was good while it lasted, I guess. But it could’ve been so much more. It could’ve been so much better.

And that’s why I’m turning back.

*****

His Turn – Book 3

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

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Author Bio

Author Links

NEWSLETTER
PRIVATE FAN GROUP
BLOG / AMAZON / TWITTER

Surprise Release + 6 Star Review + 2017 Favorite…. Undeserving by Madeline Sheehan – Undeniable Series – Book 5

Posted on 07/03/2017 by shellbellereads

Undeserving

Undeniable Series – Book 5

By Madeline Sheehan

Buy: Amazon / B & N

Synopsis

Warning: This isn’t a romance, but instead a tale of love between two despairing people, from two different worlds, both aching for something more.

Debbie Reynolds is a runaway, New York City-bound. Living on the road comes with many challenges—fighting for her next meal, seeking safe places to sleep, and dodging men with less than honorable intentions, all while searching for meaning in a life she finds painful and pointless.

Damon “Preacher” Fox, vice president of the Silver Demons Motorcycle Club, has been in prison for club-related crimes. As his release draws near, he begins to reevaluate his choices in life, realizing that if he stays with the club, this won’t be his last stint behind bars. Suddenly Preacher finds himself doubting everything he’s ever known, wishing for a life beyond the club.

When Preacher and Debbie’s paths cross, they find in each other a sense of peace they had been lacking. But life is about to catch up with Preacher, and Debbie, desperate to keep the one person who’s ever shown her any kindness, finds herself caught between forces far deadlier and more powerful than she could have ever imagined.

This is Debbie and Preacher’s story.

At the end, we should all go back to the beginning,
if only to remind ourselves that we once lived.

Michel’s Review

OMG!!!

I am sure most of Madeline Sheehan fans and MC Romance fans are reeling with shock by the surprise release of Undeserving, the fifth book in the Undeniable series. Fans of this series have been waiting almost three years for this book to release and I can honestly say the wait was worth it.

For those of readers who have not read this series or are new to the Undeniable series, Madeline Sheehan is the reigning queen of MC romance. Back in 2013 she released the first book in the Undeniable series and brought something fresh, new, exciting, different, dark, and lawless. She gave a vivid portrayal of a lawless world where the men made their own rules. She set the new emerging world of self publishing on a tailspin where the normal rules of romance could no longer apply. She broke all the rules and created characters who were not necessarily good men, in fact they were criminals that banded together with a true sense of family, and gave the readers a new kind of hero to fall hopelessly in love with. Even though these violent hardened men were lawless, they were still ordinary men who were capable of loving with their whole hearts. These hardened men were seriously flawed, extremely violent, and immoral,but they were also strong, charismatic, loyal, and stayed true to their hearts.

Madeline Sheehan is the author who paved the way for other authors and opened the door for the sub genre of MC Romance. Readers were hungry for this kind of story. I remember standing in for over an hour line at Book Bash 2013 in Orlando,FL to get my copy of Undeniable signed. Not only did I get to meet this lovely author, I also scored the last ” Duece’s Babe” t-shirt, which I still treasure today. Every person in that line was fangirling Madeline Sheehan. To this day I am still fangirling Madeline Sheehan and am still floored by her incredible writing.

Undeserving is the book that brings the Undeniable series full circle, a chance to revisit the beginning of the Undeniable series and what happened before the great love affair of Duece and Eva. It’s Damon “Preacher” Fox’s story, the beloved father of Eva West and ruthless president of the Silver Demons MC. He’s the one man Duece West feared but respected more than any other man. He’s the man who raised his only daughter in a violent world with a pure heart and unquestionable love. He was feared by his enemies and loved by his family. He created one of the most powerful MC’s that ruled the dark underworld of crime. He wasn’t always the hardened, ruthless man who ruled with an iron fist. He once was a young man with a pure heart hoping for a different kind of destiny in life. He had his own dreams and desires that didn’t include the Silver Demons but a series of violent events and a sixteen year old girl who was a junkie changed his destiny forever. On his deathbed, he finally reveals who Damon Fox, aka Preacher, really was and how his life became what it was.

” At the end, we should all go back to the beginning, if only to remind ourselves that we once lived.”

– Damon ” Preacher ” Fox –

At twenty four, Damon Fox had just been released from serving two years in prison. Doing time has a way of changing a man. He no longer wanted the life that he had come from but didn’t know exactly what he wanted. He knew he wanted more. He knew he wanted something good, something real, and something that was his and his alone. Rather than returning home to take his place in the Silver Demons MC, he choose to take a road trip to find himself. What he found was a roaming sixteen year old girl named Debbie Reynolds trying to steal his wallet at a run down, off the beaten path truck stop. He could see she was running from her past as well. He could also see that she was naive, innocent, and not the typical runaway. Rather than giving her a few bucks and sending her on her way, he chose to take her home to his family, who were at a rally in Four Points. What starts out as a tentative friendship that is a buffer with his troubled reunion with his family turns into a life changing experience, good and bad. He found that once in a lifetime love in the middle of a violent, ruthless massacre that forever changed his destiny. It forced him to accept his place with the Silver Demons. The only thing that kept him anchored and gave him peace was his girl Wheels (Debbie). Together they found happiness in a violent world that he thought he had complete control over. They a had their beautiful baby daughter,Eva, and they were muddling their way through the world of parenting when life once again reared it’s ugly head and betrayal spun his life beyond his control. Debbie had secrets and those secrets could destroy Damon and the Silver Demons. She was more than a worthless, sixteen year old junkie girl, she was Damon’s everything. When she left she took his soul. The only thing good left was his daughter Eva. When her secrets were finally and completely exposed, it left a hollowed man with a hardened, broken heart.

There is so much more to this story that leads to explanations of circumstances in the Hell’s Horsemen World. The readers get to see “Duece” Cole West as a teenager defying his ruthless father. They also get more insight to Frankie Deluva’s madness. Readers also get to meet some of the dynamic people in the Silver Demons MC such as Tiny, One Eyed Joe, Hightower, and Aunt Sylvia. Tiny will melt your heart. Readers will also get a better sense of Eva with all her strengths and weaknesses. But the most important thing is readers will get to see is the legacy of Preacher through his daughter, grandchildren, and MC family.

” At the end, we should all go back to the beginning, if only to remind ourselves that we once lived.”

– Damon ” Preacher ” Fox –

Madeline Sheehan has once again delivered a beautiful, stunning, shocking novel that will bring the readers to tears. She is still the ruling Queen of MC Romance! RIP “Preacher” Damon Fox.

Damon Fox

“Preacher”

Beloved Brother and Father

“Ride Forever Free”

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Undeniable – Book 1

Amazon

Warning: This is not a typical, sappy, love story. This is an all-consuming, soul-crushing, tear-your-heart-into-pieces story. It’s intense, gritty and raw, dark and disturbing, and it doesn’t happen overnight. This is an epic love story that knows no boundaries and has no time limits. It grows and develops—with hurt, sacrifice, and heartache—over the span of a lifetime.

Eva Fox is the princess of the Silver Demons Motorcycle Club. Growing up with bikers in the club lifestyle is all that she knows. When she’s a young girl, Eva meets the reason for her existence. Deuce West is the sexy, biker bad-ass of the Hell’s Horsemen Motorcycle Club. Like Eva, he was born and raised in the club—but that’s where the similarities end. Their first meeting is innocent, but as Eva matures into a woman, their chance reunions evolve into a fit of lust and love. Fate continues to bring them together time and time again, but their twisted journey is filled with pain, betrayal, and bloodshed that could tear them apart. Eva sees in Deuce what he cannot see in himself—a man worthy of love—and Eva spends her lifetime proving to him that her undeniable love is the one thing he can’t live without.

This is Eva and Deuce’s story.

It wasn’t easy.
Nothing worth doing ever is.
And love is worth everything.

Unbeautifully – Book 2

Amazon

Warning: This is not a story about fate or destiny. This is a story about pain, sorrow, and suffering. This is an impulsive whirlwind romance between two lovers that are not meant to be together. Theirs is not a world with sunshine and roses. Instead, their love blossoms in a secret world full of crime, violence, and death. Their story is about what can be born from nightmares.

Danielle “Danny” West is the daughter of Deuce West, President of the Hell’s Horsemen Motorcycle Club. A sweet and beautiful girl, she loses her way, searching for things that are always out of her reach. Erik “Ripper” Jacobs is the Sergeant at Arms in the Hell’s Horsemen. Once a man who always had a smile on his face, his life takes a turn for the worst when a tragedy befalls him, leaving him scarred and broken. During a midsummer night, Danny and Ripper’s paths cross, forever changing their lives. Hastily, their lust turns to love until another tragedy forces them apart. On a journey that is marred with ugliness and chaos, Danny and Ripper must discover if their unforeseen connection can find the beauty in their world.

This is Danny and Ripper’s story.

Everything has beauty. Even the ugly. Especially the ugly.
Because without ugly, there would be no beauty.

Unattainable – Book 3

Amazon

Warning: This is not a virtuous and tender love story. It’s chaotic, ruthless, and tragic. This story takes love and kills its innocence, steals away the pure moments, and crushes the hearts of the broken. A story born in childhood, tying one girl to one boy, leads to a destructive path—that hurts more than it doesn’t, that shatters more than it heals—testing the love that binds the two through a lifetime.

Tegen Matthews is the daughter of Dorothy Kelley, a club whore in the Hell’s Horsemen. A plain little girl, Tegen falls into the gritty world of the motorcycle club. When she meets a sweet, caring boy, she embraces the warmth and affection he shows her. Cage West is the son of the president of the Hell’s Horsemen. Tall and blond with deep brown eyes, as he grows up Cage realizes the power of his dimpled smile and smooth drawl. With one chance encounter, Tegen becomes forever tied to Cage. Following is a wayward journey that is filled with regrets, mistakes, and heartache, pulling at the threads that hold them together. Cage and Tegen fight hard but love harder, and in the end, what matters is where the journey takes one girl and one boy, who have been twined with one another since the beginning.

This is Tegen and Cage’s story.

Love doesn’t erase a broken heart, and it sure doesn’t change people. But no matter how old, how flimsy, how frayed the rope of love is, it keeps you tethered to the people you love.

Unbeloved- Book 4

Amazon

Warning: This is not a conventional or predictable love story. It involves one woman and two men bound by a love so destructive it spans two decades, pitting brother against brother, and shattering the lives of those touched by it.

Dorothy Kelley is a born romantic, searching for her prince. Instead she finds herself pregnant at fifteen, and in a loveless marriage by the tender age of eighteen. Then hope comes riding into her life on a motorcycle and within weeks, Jason “Jase” Brady, a member of the Hell’s Horsemen motorcycle club, sweeps Dorothy off her feet.

But nothing is ever simple for Dorothy. Jase is married with children. And as Dorothy patiently waits for Jase to give her the happily-ever-after she’s been dreaming about, James “Hawk” Young, a member of the Hell’s Horsemen with secrets of his own, sees an opening into Dorothy’s life and takes it. What follows is a long and painful journey of self-discovery and forgiveness, as Dorothy comes to realize that home was exactly where she’d left it, and the love she’d forever craved had always been within her reach.

This is the story of Dorothy, Jase, and Hawk.

We are all born pure; it is our journey that burdens us and leads us astray. Our mistakes that beat us down and cover us in guilt and shame, burying us a little more with each passing hardship. It is up to us to dig ourselves out, to come to terms with our faults, to embrace not only our imperfections but those of the ones we love, and to once again find the path we strayed from.

Undeserving- Book 5

Amazon

Warning: This isn’t a romance, but instead a tale of love between two despairing people, from two different worlds, both aching for something more.

This is Debbie and Preacher’s story.

At the end, we should all go back to the beginning,
if only to remind ourselves that we once lived.

________________________________________________

Author Bio

USA Today Bestseller, Madeline Sheehan, is the author of the Holy Trinity Trilogy and the Undeniable Series. Homegrown in Buffalo, New York, Madeline resides there with her husband and son.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Release Blitz + Review : Steal by Rachel Van Dyken – Seaside Pictures Series – Book 3

Posted on 07/03/2017 by shellbellereads

Steal, an all-new sexy standalone from #1 New York Times Bestseller Rachel Van Dyken is LIVE!!

Steal by Rachel Van Dyken
Release Date: July 3rd

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Steal, the follow-up standalone rockstar romance to the #1 NYT Bestseller Keep…

It’s easy to lose yourself in someone you love.

Easier to lose yourself in someone you hate…

I didn’t think it could get any worse than having to babysit a bunch of spoiled musicians on set — keeping them out of trouble is a cakewalk compared to seeing my ex every day.

Seaside, Oregon isn’t big enough for the both of us.

She hates me.

I loathe her.

The plan was simple — stay the hell away and make sure she gets to set on time.

What I didn’t expect was to be faced with our past in front of an audience — and be forced to face it again.

It’s torture.

The way she looks at me.

The way I try to look through her.

Words left unsaid.

The lingering aftermath still as powerful as ever.

I feed the chasm between us, for fear that she’ll make me feel again — and steal the last shred of heart I have left.

We have everything but each other.

It’s not enough.

Not when you’ve lost love.

And replaced it with the only thing left — hate.

Read Today!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2tBIhFZ

iBooks: http://apple.co/2rNyrfM

B&N: http://bit.ly/2tB0HpT

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2sfUImP

Add to GoodReads: https://goo.gl/DESeiW

Michel’s Review

Rachel Van Dyken has taken the readers back to Seaside and the beloved crew that has stolen readers hearts in the Seaside and Seaside Pictures series with her latest release of Steal. Steal can be read as a stand alone or in series order. If you are new to the series it won’t be a problem connecting the dots and relationship of the characters. Rachel Van Dyken delivers another story that showcases what she does best, creating a solid group of friends who become family and always have each’s others backs even if it is in the quirkiest ways. She also adds an angsty love story that is lightened by laugh out loud humor.

Will and Angelica have a history that is muddled, dirty, and heartbreaking. Their past included that once in a lifetime love that was torn apart by drug abuse. They both walked away with shattered souls. They both walked away broken. How they moved forward in life was vastly different from the world in which they loved. It is going to take a miracle, the willingness to forgive, a little push from their friends, and a very persuasive meddling director to make these two realize they were meant for one another. Love always prevails at Seaside.

Once again Rachel Van Dyken proved that true love always comes out on top and that friendships are valuable. If you are looking for a fun and angsty romance that is loaded with emotional angst and laugh out loud humor, Steal is the book to read.

*****

Meet the Author:

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, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!

Connect with the Author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelVanDyken

Website: http://rachelvandykenauthor.com

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/RVDNewsletter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachvd

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachVD

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2cNVwL9

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/RVDGR

Rachel’s Rockin’ Readers: http://bit.ly/RachelsRockinReaders

Release Blitz + 6 Star Review + 2017 Favorite + Giveaway: The Long Way Home by Jasinda Wilder

Posted on 06/30/2017 by shellbellereads

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The Long Way Home

The One Series – Book One

By Jasinda Wilder

Synopsis:

I need you, Ava.

I am desperate. For you. For touch. For a kiss. For the scrape of your hand down my stomach. For the slide of your lips across my hipbone. The sweep of your thigh against mine in the dulcet, drowning darkness. For the warm huff of your breath on my skin and the wet suck of your mouth around me and the building pressure of need reaching release…I am mad with need.

Wild with it.

I cannot have you. I have lost you, as I have lost myself.

And so I go in search. Of myself, and thus the man who might return to you, and take you in his arms.

I loathe each of the thousands of miles between us, but I cannot wish them away, for I hope at the end of my journey I shall find you. Or rather, find myself, and thus…you. Myself, and thus us.

I am taking the long way home, Ava.

* * *

Christian,

I’m losing my mind, and I don’t know how to stop it. I shouldn’t be writing to you, but I am. I’m friendless, loveless, and lifeless. You’re out there somewhere, and still you’re all I really have. I hate my reliance and dependence on you, emotionally and otherwise, and that reliance is something I’m coming to recognize. I hate that I can’t hate you as much as I want to. I hate that I still love you so much.

I hate that there’s no clear solution to our conundrum. Even if we could forgive each other, what then?

I hate you, Christian. I really do.

But most of all, I don’t.

It’s complicated.

Complicatedly (still) yours,

Ava

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Michel’s Review

Spoiler Free Review

This is a spoiler free review and I will not talk about anything that happens in this book. I will say that it is a story about a marriage that fell apart after the couple faced the worst thing that could happen to anyone. Rather than coming together to get through their trying times, they both withdrew within themselves. Neither one of them was right or wrong, they were both severely damaged and surviving the only way they could. Marriage is hard in any circumstance because it’s about compromising, giving rather than taking, and communicating. Ava and Christian were thrown into life changes that spiraled out of their control. They didn’t have time to adjust to one change before the repercussions of that change evolved into another change that could not be managed or fixed. The outcome left them devastated and forever changed as individuals as well as a couple.

I remember the first time I picked up a Jasinda Wilder novel and fell hopelessly in love with her writing. It was when Falling Into Your released in 2013. I was blown away by this novel and quickly downloaded her previous books. Throughout the past four years Jasinda has grown as a writer and branched out into many other genres besides New Adult romance. She has published The Big Girls Do It Running, healthy lifestyle non fiction books, and has even become a national figure with her diet and healthy living program. Her program is successful because she tackles the real eating and exercise issues most people face daily and offers guides that are practical, sensible, and easy to follow. With her latest release, A Long Way Home, she’s back to the kind of novel that made me fall in love with her writing. The difference is that she has grown as writer and has found more compelling ways to take the readers on an emotional journey that is unforgettable. I was wrecked in a way that only Jasinda can do to me as a reader.

The moment I picked up The Long Way Home I was drawn into the story and could not put this book down until I finished it. While reading this book I experienced an array of emotions that changed with each passage. One moment I was sympathizing with Ava and literally hating Christian’s actions and then the next moment I thought Ava was the most selfish, uncaring person and Christian was justified by his actions. My heart broke for both of them and I felt their despair in the depths of my soul. I felt their pain as well as their lost identities. Through their letters to one another the reader got to experience their pre marriage relationship, their early marriage relationship, and the catalyst that tore them apart.

There was something else that made this novel more unique and more compelling than any other novel I have read. The novel was driven by Christian’s and Ava’s letters to each other but the reader was experiencing the separate lives they were living at that moment. The book focused on their relationship from the early beginnings to the present day. Christian and Ava were the main focus of the book even though there were a few other supporting characters that helped propel their story. And then the book takes a completely different direction and the supporting characters take over and completely wrap the reader up in their lives. This novel took a completely different direction and by the end of the book the reader is almost more involved with what is going to happen in their lives rather than Ava’s and Christian’s lives. It ended on two big monumental cliffhangers.

The writing was absolutely brilliant and very well thought out. After talking to Jasinda herself at UtopiaCon 2017, she gave me a little insight of what is to come next. This series was intended to take the reader’s on several emotional journeys and there are more characters with their own stories making an entrance. By the end of the series all of their stories will be wrapped up and deeply connected with one another. In many ways it’s like the real journeys we take through life. People come and go in our lives and leave their mark on us forever.

I highly recommend reading The Long Way Home by Jasinda Wilder.

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Enter to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card and a Signed Paperback of The Long Way Home!
Enter Here >>> a Rafflecopter giveaway

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New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and internationally bestselling author Jasinda Wilder is a Michigan native with a penchant for titillating tales about sexy men and strong women. Her bestselling titles include Alpha, Stripped, Wounded, and the #1 Amazon.com and international bestseller Falling into You. You can find her on her farm in northern Michigan with her husband, author Jack Wilder, her six children, and a menagerie of animals.

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Duo 5+ Reviews and 2017 Favorite : The Player Duet by K. Bromberg – The Player… Book 1 and The Catch … Book 2

Posted on 06/30/2017 by shellbellereads

The Catch

The Player Duet – Book 2

By K. Bromberg

Buy: Amazon

After an unexpected twist of fate, All-Star catcher Easton Wylder is left questioning the loyalty of everyone around him.

Even the woman who shares his bed, Scout Dalton.

But if Easton thought being uprooted to the last place he expected was the only challenge life had to throw at him, he was dead wrong.

With an ailing shoulder and his career in limbo, his decision to make an unexpected change leads him to question everything – Scout’s love, family loyalties, and whether he can conquer the one obstacle he’s never been able to overcome. The secret he’s never shared with anyone.

He may be a man pushed to his limits, but he’s hell-bent on proving his worth no matter the cost.

Amazon | iBooks | B&N | Kobo | Paperback

Michel’s Review

The Player

The Player Duet – Book 1

When The Player released in April I was unable to read it because my personal life was out of control. I knew that it was going to be a part of a duet and decided to wait to read it closer to the second book’s release. I read this book days before the second book released and was completely mesmerized with this story. I was counting down the days for the second book to release.

The Player by K. Bromberg is very different from any sports romance I have read. She took a different approach with the characters personalities as well as the plot. It was not your typical sports romance where the player is a player and his lady is oblivious to the professional sports world. K. Bromberg flipped the switch and threw some fast balls that most readers wouldn’t see coming. She also created complex and compelling characters who were intelligent, responsible, and attuned to their world. She added extra layers by giving them both very different kinds of daddy issues, career goals, and personal issues. She added the competitive side of the professional athlete and business practices in professional sports. Then she added the most important element of all, the sizzling hot romance that would make any reader feel like they were scoring a home run.

Easton Wylder is baseball royalty. He has been a part of the Aces since he was a kid watching his father, Cal Wylder make major league records. He’s followed in his father’s footsteps and is quickly building record breaking stats when a deliberate and illegal play results in an injury that could end his career. He’s still in the rehab process weeks after his surgery and management is not happy. He’s signed a contract to be back on the field within months rather than letting nature take it’s course in healing properly. His career is on the line and the management has brought in the best physical therapist in the sport to rehab him. Rather than Doc Dalton showing up for therapy sessions, his daughter Scout Dalton has been assigned to him. He’s reluctant to put his trust in her until she finally proves she is just as good as her father is at her job. She earns his respect and in the process wins his heart.

Scout Dalton is determined to get Easton back on the diamond in the allotted time even though she thinks it’s a ludicrous demand by management. She’s a professional and very good at what she does. She’s determined to gain the season contract as the lead physical therapist for the Aces for her father’s practice. It all depends on Easton getting back in the game. The last thing she needs is to fall in love with Easton when her professional ethics are on the line.

At this point I’m sure you are thinking that this plot has been covered before and you would be right. The difference is the layers and the complexities that K. Bromberg brings to the game. Both Easton and Scout have their own secrets and insecurities. They are both drowning because of their father’s professional reputations. Add a competitive enemy determined to ruin Easton’s career, it puts both their careers on the line. Then the unthinkable happens and you guessed it…CLIFFHANGER!

The cliffhanger was shocking! It had me counting down the days for The Catch to release.

K. Bromberg brought her A Game in this book!

Michel’s Review

The Catch

The Player Duet – Book 2

I downloaded The Catch the moment it went live and started reading it immediately . I did not put this book down until I finished it. As soon as it was finished I was texting my friend, who also read the first book in this duet, raving about the book!

OMG… K. Bromberg scored big with The Catch!

So without giving away spoilers, K. Bromberg resolved the shocking cliffhanger right off the bat but not without a lot of tension and unease. That part of the story becomes less important as the rest of the story begins to play out. Both Easton and Scout’s secrets are exposed. Both of their father’s ulterior motives and ruthless control over them becomes even more complex. The result is both of their careers at this point in time are ruined. The expectations of the management, the league, and the fans is beyond their control. The only thing they have is each other and their relationship is strained.

They are both going to have to re-evalute their professional goals, their family responsibilities, and their relationship with one another. Once their secrets are out they are going to be fighting to save their relationship and careers. They may find that they are their own worst enemy. Can these two look beyond what’s on the surface and look at what’s in their hearts.

Of course K. Bromberg is going to give them their happily ever after but she is going to make them work for it. In the end it’s better than winning the World Series.

_____________________________________

Baseball has never been sexier in an all-new novel by New York Times Bestselling Author, K. Bromberg.

Easton Wylder is baseball royalty. The game is his life. His passion. His everything.

So, when an injury threatens to end Easton’s season early, the team calls in renowned physical therapist, Doc Dalton, to oversee his recovery. Except it’s not Doc who greets Easton for his first session, but rather, his daughter, Scout. She may be feisty, athletic, defiant, and gorgeous, but Easton is left questioning whether she has what it takes to help him.

Scout Dalton’s out to prove a female can handle the pressure of running the physical therapy regimen of an MLB club. And that proof comes in the form of getting phenom Easton Wylder back on the field. But getting him healthy means being hands-on.

And with a man as irresistible as Easton, being hands-on can only lead to one thing, trouble. Because the more she touches him, the more she wants him, and she can’t want him. Not when it’s her job to maintain the club’s best interest, in regards to whether he’s ready to play.

But when sparks fly and fine lines are crossed, can they withstand the heat, or is one of them bound to get burned?

AMAZON | iBooks | B&N | Kobo | Paperback

New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines, and damaged heroes who we love to hate and hate to love.

A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow.

Since publishing her first book in 2013, K. has sold over one million copies of her books and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over twenty-five times.

In April, she’ll release The Player, the first in a two-book sports romance series (The Catch, book 2, will be released late June), with many more already outlined and ready to be written.

She loves to hear from her readers so make sure you check her out on social media or sign up for her newsletter to stay up to date on all her latest releases and sales HERE

Saucy Southern Readers

professional, honest, and timely book reviews

Category Archives: Michel

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