Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Sweet Ache by K. Bromberg – Driven Series – Book 6

Posted on 06/02/2015 by shellbellereads

Sweet Ache

Driven Series – Book 6

By K. Bromberg

Synopsis

The New York Times bestselling author of Slow Burn turns up the heat when a sexy bet turns into so much more….

Hawkin Play, the bad boy rock star with a good guy heart, has lived a lifetime of cleaning up after his twin brother’s mistakes. Hunter’s most recent screwup could land Hawke in jail and risk the band’s future. Hawke agrees to guest lecture at a local college to stay in the judge’s good graces—and a bet with his bandmate to seduce his sexy teaching assistant is icing on the cake.

Quinlan Westin is harder to bed than Hawke imagined. She knows his type and is determined to avoid the rocker at all costs—even if their attraction runs deeper than simple lust.

Just as Hawke might finally be winning over the girl, his brother has other plans. When Hunter realizes his twin finally has a weakness, he’ll stop at nothing to take advantage….
From the Paperback edition.

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Excerpt

Hawkin

Well, shit. Guess there’s not going to be any calm before the next storm. I look at my brother and sigh.

I hit the road, drive for what feels like hours. I don’t know where I’m going or what I’m looking to find, but as long as I keep moving, my past can’t catch up to me.

At least it’s a good idea in theory because I can’t outrun this shit. The stuff I want to and the stuff I don’t want to.

I end up the one place I used to go to be alone, to think, and as I stare at the Hollywood sign from my seat on the grass at the Griffith Park Observatory, I love the feeling that I’m this little person in this big world. The idea comforts me some. The notion that on the grand scale of things my problems are minute. Someone out there has it way worse.

And no one expects a rock star to be here so with my hat pulled low on my head, I’m able to disappear.

I stare down below to the city where as a little boy, scared and traumatized, I wondered how all of the dreams inside my head could ever see the light of day when I felt like I had the responsibility of the world on my small shoulders. But I did. And I made it.

So why do I feel like I’m still not enough? For my brother? To make my mother better? For Quinlan to even want me beyond the killer sex we have? For the fans who scream and sing my lyrics like they live them when they have no fucking clue the meaning behind the words?

I scrub my hands over my face, needing a drink, craving an ice cream cone, and wanting the feeling of Quinlan’s arms wrapped around me as she silently sits there and just is with me.

My mind veers to Hunter. I push the guilt away, hold on to my gut check rationalization that he deserved it, and realize that’s the trouble I’m having here. Going with my gut versus going with the bullshit promises I’ve lived by forever.

My stomach churns and my head feels like Gizmo’s banging the hell out of it with his sticks. I shove up off the grass, needing to get the fuck out of here, my heart and head in conflict and for the first time in forever I dare to think what could happen if my heart finally won for once.

Michel’s Review

Sweet Ache by K. Bromberg is going to be one of the hottest books of summer. It is more than a rock star romance. It has red hot romance, thrilling suspense, and scorching sex scenes. This book keeps the reader enthralled from beginning to end.

Hawkin Play has always taken the heat for his twin brother. Now that he is a successful musician and star , his brother has taken full advantage of the perks that go along with Hawkin’s career. He uses Hawkin’s fame to get him out of sticky situations and get him into places. It’s not merely him taking advantage of Hawkin’s fame, he is resentful and jealous of Hawkin.

When Hawkin is arrested for something that Hunter has done it is the straw for Hawkin. His lawyer and band want him to roll on Hunter. Hawkins is a good guy and refuses to turn on his family. He is carrying around misguided guilt and remorse for his family’s problems. He feels responsible for their well being. Hawkins has to draw the line somewhere. This should be the time.

In a strategic move to get a lesser sentence or off from the recent charges, Hawkin Play becomes a guest lecturer at the university. He has a six week course to teach students about the music industry. He’s out of his element in the academic world.

When he mistakes his TA, Quinlan, for a student it sets Quinlan on edge. She has been around bad boys and their egos all her life. She does not want to deal with it in her world. But she under estimated Hawkin Play. He has more charm in his pinky finger than most men have in their lifetime.

What starts out as a semi hostile relationship turns into a sizzling affair. Their relationship is rocky because of Hawkin’s career and his brother. His brother will do everything in his power to destroy Hawkin’s happiness.

As the story plays out it will surprise the readers at the extremes that Hunter will go to. It will break the readers hearts to see what Hawkin has been through in his life. It’s a good thing he fell in love with a strong woman like Quinlan.

K. Bromberg never fails to disappoint! I highly recommend Sweet Ache.

About K. Bromberg

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author K. Bromberg is that reserved woman sitting in the corner who has you all fooled about the wild child inside of her—the one she lets out every time her fingertips touch the computer keyboard.

K. lives in Southern California with her husband and three children. When she needs a break from the daily chaos of her life, you can most likely find her on the treadmill or with Kindle in hand, devouring the pages of a good, saucy book.

On a whim, K. Bromberg decided to try her hand at this writing thing. Her debut novels, Driven, Fueled, and Crashed of The Driven Trilogy were well received and went on to become multi-platform bestsellers as well as landing on the New York Times and USA Today lists. Her other works include a short story, UnRaveled, and a companion piece to The Driven Trilogy titled Raced. She is currently working on three stand alone Driven novels, Slow Burn, Sweet Ache, and Hard Beat. She also plans to release a novel addressing the 10 year gap at the ending of Crashed in late fall 2015

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads |

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway : Asking For It by Lilah Pace

Posted on 06/02/2015 by shellbellereads

Asking For It

Asking For It Duology- Book 1

By Lilah Pace

Synopsis

“This is who I am. This is what I want. Now I need a man dangerous enough to give it to me.”

Graduate student Vivienne Charles is afraid of her own desires—ashamed to admit that she fantasizes about being taken by force, by a man who will claim her completely and without mercy. When the magnetic, mysterious Jonah Marks learns her secret, he makes an offer that stuns her: they will remain near-strangers to each other, and meet in secret so that he can fulfill her fantasy.

Their arrangement is twisted. The sex is incredible. And—despite their attempts to stay apart—soon their emotions are bound together as tightly as the rope around Vivienne’s wrists. But the secrets in their pasts threaten to turn their affair even darker…

Reader Advisory: Asking for It deals explicitly with fantasies of non-consensual sex. Readers sensitive to portrayals of non-consensual sex should be advised.

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Excerpt

“Enough about me,” I say as the weekend-night bustle flows around us – college kids heading to bars, stores open late to take advantage of the foot traffic, guitar music and drumbeats audible from the door of every club. “What about you? What made you decide to study earthquakes?”

“And volcanoes,” he adds.

“Can’t leave out the volcanoes,” I say, and am rewarded with a small smile.

“Well, when I was about ten years old, my mother and stepfather took the whole family to Hawaii.”

Stepfather, I note. Jonah could have no memory of his real father, and Carter Hale’s been married to Jonah’s mother for almost three decades. Most kids in that situation would wind up calling their stepfathers Dad. Not Jonah.

He continues, “Like most tourists in Hawaii, we went out to see the volcanoes. I hadn’t imagined you could get that close to the lava flow. When I saw it – glowing orange with heat, pure liquid stone –” To my surprise, he grins. “I was ten, so I thought it was totally cool.”

I laugh out loud. “So that’s how you picked your scientific specialty? Because it was cool?”

“Any scientist who tells you something different is lying. If you’re going to spend your entire life studying something, it needs to thrill you. Volcanoes and earthquakes thrilled me when I was a kid, and they still do. Even after all the studies and the dissertation and months of looking at nothing but seismograph readings. I get a charge out of it every time.”

“Hey, they always say that if you do what you love, it doesn’t feel like work,” I say.

“Which is a crock.” When I raise an eyebrow at Jonah, his smile regains some of the fierceness I know so well. “If you spend twelve hours in a row doing something – anything – it feels like work.”

Laughing, I admit, “Okay, yes. The studio’s my favorite place to be, but there are times when I feel like if I go in there one more time, I’ll tear my hair out. Still, I’d rather go crazy making art than do anything else.”

Jonah nods. “That’s it exactly.”

“So you get to spend your whole life chasing lava.”

“And you’ll spend yours making art.”

“Yes and no,” I say. “After graduation I’m hoping to go into museum work. Preserving old etchings, curating important pieces, even using original plates from centuries ago to make new prints.”

He gives me a look. “You should do your own work. Not worry about taking care of someone else’s.”

“It’s not either/or. I’ll never stop creating my own work. But even if I set the entire art world on fire, it’ll be years before I can support myself through my etchings alone – if ever. So there’s going to be a day job for a while, probably a long while. Should I do something boring that sucks my soul away one day at a time? Or should I surround myself with some of the greatest etchings of all time, and help other people understand how amazing they are?”

After a moment, Jonah nods. “When you put it that way, okay. I see it.”

Then his hand brushes against mine. At first I think he’s drawing me aside as we go past a group of college kids drunkenly weaving along the sidewalk. After they pass, though, he adjusts his grip, twining our fingers together.

Jonah Marks has screwed me hotter and dirtier than any other man ever has – and yet my heart flutters like a girl’s as he holds my hand for the first time.

Tracey’s Review

I have to admit that, given the clearly stated warnings about the presence of serious emotional triggers, I was hesitant about reading this book. Even given all of this, I am glad that I took the risk, because Asking For It is one of the best books that I’ve read this year. It is tightly written and well-crafted, has a plot that immediately hooked me, has great character progression, and ends in such a way that ensures I am absolutely going to read Begging For It (Book 2).

While I can’t claim to understand what drives Vivienne in her needs, I can appreciate that both she and Jonah approach their relationship with very clearly defined rules, if not complete openness and honesty. And, while what they are doing is by no means romantic, it is most assuredly hot. Disturbing at times, to be sure, but these two make twisted look intriguing, if that’s possible. And, of course, given the intimacy required in this sort of set-up, feelings can’t but evolve to include more than passion and filling a very specific need. I am very interested to see where Lilah takes us in Begging For It, but, in the meantime, give Asking For It 5 ‘thought-provoking, takes me out of my comfort zone, can’t wait for the next one’ stars.

*** ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for honest review ***

Asking For It Duology

Asking For It – Book 1

“This is who I am. This is what I want. Now I need a man dangerous enough to give it to me.”

Reader Advisory: Asking for It deals explicitly with fantasies of non-consensual sex. Readers sensitive to portrayals of non-consensual sex should be advised.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Begging For It – Book 2

Release Date – September 1, 2015

The provocative author of Asking for It once again explores the dark side of erotic obsession, and the secrets that make it as dangerous as it is irresistible.

Some secrets should only be shared in the dark.

Jonah and Vivienne’s erotic bond—living out raw scenarios of captivity and force—began as no-strings sex between strangers who shared the same desires. Now the intimacy between them is turning into love, but it’s a love built on fantasies so extreme that exploring them makes guilt inescapable. But the risks they’re taking are far more dangerous than they’d imagined.

A stalker is terrorizing the city, and one of Jonah’s ex-lovers names him as a potential suspect to the police. Standing by a man under suspicion could cost Vivienne everything. But when Jonah’s stepfather takes advantage of the scandal to seize control of the Marks family fortune, Vivienne is drawn into her lover’s broken family and twisted past. Only then will she learn how dark the truth really is…

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

_______________________________________________

Author Bio:

Glamorous Woman Celebrating New Year With Champagne

Lilah Pace is a pseudonym for a New York Times bestselling author, so she can’t give away too much about herself here, but she has lived everywhere from Italy to the United Kingdom before putting down roots in the American South.

She’s addicted to Diet Coke, loves her dog, and daydreams about several British movie stars (though usually no more than two at a time).

And while it took her a long while to get up the courage to write books, now she hopes she’ll never stop.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Release Blitz + Review : Beyond The Cut by Sarah Castille – The Sinner’s Tribe Motorcycle Club Series – Book 2

Posted on 06/02/2015 by shellbellereads

Beyond The Cut

Sinner’s Tribe Motorcycle Club – Book 2

Release Date: June 2, 2015

By Sarah Castille

Synopsis

SHE’S HOLDING ON TIGHT.
As a teen, Dawn ran from a life on the streets straight into the arms of Jimmy “Mad Dog” Sanchez, a biker who promised to be her knight in shining armor. But his love was just another cage. Years later, Dawn’s former life still has its hooks in her and she’ll do whatever it takes to break free. When Cade “Ryder” O’Connor, a member of a rival club, makes her an offer, Dawn finds herself in a different, hotter kind of trouble with one irresistible Sinner…

WILL HE GIVE HER THE RIDE OF HER LIFE?
Cade is an outlaw biker with allegiance to one thing and one thing only: The Sinner’s Tribe Motorcycle Club. But when it comes to the stunningly sexy, fiercely independent Dawn Delgado, Cade finds himself…hungrier for more. Trouble is on Dawn’s heels and he wants to be the answer to her prayers, whether she wants him to be or not. What can’t be denied is the red-hot attraction between them. However, as they fall deeper, the danger rises and Cade may have to sacrifice it all…in Beyond the Cut by New York Times bestselling author Sarah Castille.

Buy : Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Excerpt

“You’re here.” His voice cracked and in that moment she knew this wasn’t meant to be a good-bye. But knowing where he’d spent the night, she wasn’t about to jump into his arms.

“You summoned me so nicely, I couldn’t say no.”

Seemingly oblivious to her sarcasm, he gave an almost imperceptible nod and then his face tightened. “No strippers.”

Dawn swallowed hard. Well versed in biker politics, she knew she couldn’t challenge him in front of his brothers. Not even a lady could do that. But despite her lack of status, this was their first public interaction and everyone was watching. She couldn’t disrespect him, but she didn’t have to toe the line either, especially if this was their last time together. Arianne would never have tolerated Jagger sleeping with anyone else.

“I don’t go to watch. I’m just there to drink and talk with the girls.” She threw his words back at him, then stood and closed the distance between them, working her dress like she just couldn’t wait to get him into bed. “Watching all those sweaty, ripped guys, dancing and showing off their tackle, makes a girl all kinds of hot.” She breathed out the last word and ran her hands along her curves, then looked up at him through the thicket of her lashes. “We wouldn’t want that, now, would we?”

Cade’s heated gaze drifted down her body, then up again. He licked his lips and beckoned her toward him, his voice dropping to a husky growl. “How hot?”

She slid one hand over her hip, her fingertips dangling suggestively over her mound, and trailed her free hand down the vee of her dress to the crescents of her breasts. “Ditch the panties and take care of business in the restroom hot.”

Tank and T-Rex whooped in delight. Arianne snorted a laugh. Cade choked back a grunt, and then his lips thinned. “You wanna go see strippers, I go with you.”

“What are you going to do in a bar full of male strippers?” she teased, stopping close enough for him to appreciate the low-cut neckline, but not close enough for him to touch.

“I’m gonna be there to fucking take care of business.” He reached for her and she turned out of his grasp, giving him a naughty glimpse of her bare back before facing him again.

“So does that mean when you go to Peelers, I can come, too?” She met his smoldering gaze and licked her lips. “Just in case there’s business that needs to be taken care of?”

Cade growled low in his throat and then he pounced, yanking her against his chest. “You got business to take care of right fucking now.”

Dawn pressed her hips against the bulge in his jeans. “If you’re wanting something,” she said softly, “and I feel you are, maybe you should have turned down the hospitality last night.”

She heard murmurs of appreciation from behind her, male and female, and her lips quivered with a repressed smile. Damn this was fun, but she had a point to make, too. She might not be an old lady, but she wasn’t a sweet butt, either, willing to sleep with any of the bikers in exchange for their protection and a place to stay. And if they were to have any sort of future together, which it sounded like he wanted, but which she still hadn’t decided was a good idea, she wanted the kind of respect she hadn’t had with Jimmy. And that respect wouldn’t come if he thought it was okay to spend the night in another woman’s bed.

Cade’s arm tightened around her, almost cutting off her air. “What happens on the road, sweetheart . . .”

“Isn’t anywhere near as good as what could have happened upstairs in your room, honey.” She arched her back and hooked one arm around his neck, her breasts lifting for his viewing pleasure, and then she lowered her voice to a soft whisper only he could hear. “But maybe you weren’t interested in seeing what’s under this dress. I love lingerie, but some men just don’t get off on red lace garter belts—”

“I didn’t fucking touch her.”

Yes!

“I’m happy to hear that.” Dawn leaned up to kiss him, but as soon as her lips brushed over his, he lifted her and threw her over his shoulder.

“Time to take care of business.”

Michel’s Review

Beyond The Cut by Sarah Castille is the second book in The Sinner’s Tribe MC series. It is a gritty, sexy, and intense story that I would recommend to MC Romance fans. It is not a light and censored romance. Sarah Castille paints a very vivid picture of the MC world and their rivals.

Dawn has dealt with the MC world most of her adult life. She married a biker at the age of sixteen. She thought she was building a strong family unit. Instead she is in an abusive relationship and fears not only for her life but the life of her twin girls. When she tries to flee her husband and start a new life , the power of MC rules over her life. She loses custody of her children and has limited visitation. Her ex husband refuses to let go of her.

Dawn moved to a town where her husband’s rival MC resides. He can’t get her in this territory. She is done with the MC world. The only problem is her attraction to Cade “Ryder” O’Connor. He is a lifer in the Sinner’s Tribe MC. He is an outlaw like her ex husband. The only difference between the two in her mind is the patches on their cut. That is until she gets to know Ryder. He is everything her ex husband is not. She can’t stay away from him. But she knows she has to if she wants to get her daughters back.

The more Dawn gets involved with Ryder the deeper the cesspool of her life gets. She is being blackmailed to ensure she can see her daughters. She is being stalked and threatened by her ex husband. There is a war brewing in the Sinner’s Tribe world. Dawn may get caught up in it or become a causality of the war. Can Ryder protect his club and his woman?

I enjoyed Beyond The Cut but I found a few things that didn’t quite sit right with me. This book did not seem to have the comadery and brotherhood unity that most MC Romances have. I didn’t really feel like the club was backing Ryder and that they were more concerned with the politics of the MC world. They didn’t seem to care that women and children could be causalities. I also felt like Dawn spent more angsting over Ryder rather than her children. When the danger prevailed it seemed like the children were an afterthought. Otherwise Beyond The Cut was a good biker romance. I would recommend this book and the Sinner’s Tribe Motorcycle Club series.

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The Sinner’s Tribe Motorcycle Club Series

Rough Justice – Book 1

From New York Times bestselling author Sarah Castille comes Rough Justice, a scorching new series featuring red-hot, hard-riding bikers and the women who can’t help but love them…
IT TAKES A GOOD, STRONG WOMAN
Raised in a motorcycle gang, tough, beautiful Arianne Wilder has always dreamed of a normal life. But no sooner does she escape her father’s domineering grasp than she wakes up to find herself in a rival gang’s clubhouse—at the mercy of the dangerously sexy Jagger Knight.
TO TAME A MAN WHO’S HELL ON WHEELS.
The alpha leader of the notorious Sinner’s Tribe, Jagger Knight is all muscle, all biker, and all man. But somewhere inside this hard, tattooed outlaw, Arianne senses a kindred spirit—and she can’t ignore their tempestuous attraction. Can she beat him at his own game in a revved-up blaze of glory? Or will their passion spark a war that’s the end of the road for them both?

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Beyond The Cut – Book 2

Release Date: June 2, 2015

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Sinner’s Steel – Book 3

Release Date: October 6, 2015

HE’S HELL ON WHEELS.
Tall, dark, and dangerously handsome, Zane “Tracker” Colter is the strong, silent type of tattooed muscle biker who drives women wild. But as a master of strategy for the outlaw MC club, Sinner’s Tribe, he doesn’t have time to play around with groupies and biker chicks-especially when he can’t stop thinking about Evie, the girl who got away…

SHE’S PLAYING WITH FIRE.
Evie’s been in love with Zane ever since they were children-until he broke her heart and disappeared. Now he’s back in her life, bigger and badder than ever. Zane is stunned by how beautiful and confident Evie’s become, using her artistic talent to customize motorcycles. He wants her so bad, he’d ride through fire to win her back. There’s one problem: Evie is dating his deadliest rival-the leader of the Black Jacks-and if Evie and Zane hook up, there’ll be hell to pay… in Sinner’s Steel.
Sarah Castille’s Sinner’s Tribe series is:

“Raw, rugged, and romantic.” -Eden Bradley, New York Times bestselling author
“A sexy and dangerous ride!”-Roni Loren, New York Times bestselling author

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

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Author Bio:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Sarah Castille, writes contemporary erotic romance and romantic suspense featuring blazingly hot alpha males and the women who tame them. A recovering lawyer and caffeine addict, she worked and travelled abroad before trading in her briefcase and stilettos for a handful of magic beans and a home in shadow of the Rocky Mountains.

Sarah loves to connect with readers. Sign up for her newsletter to hear about new releases:

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + Review + Giveaway: Falling Hard by Helenkay Dimon- Bad Boys Undercover Series – Book 2

Posted on 05/29/2015 by shellbellereads

Falling Hard

Bad Boys Undercover – Book 2

By Helenkay Dimon

Synopsis

After a grueling assignment with the black ops force known as the Alliance, Weston Brown is craving downtime. Instead, he’s pulled into his deadliest operation, in the one place he never wanted to see again. No-nonsense and so damn hot, Lexi Turner lied to get him to her mountain clinic in Pakistan. But the threat is terrifyingly real.

Lexi has been asking too many questions, drawing the wrong kind of attention. As soon as she lays eyes on West, she can tell he’s quiet—yet tough—and has a rescue complex which will come in handy for going up against the world’s most ruthless gunrunners.

Cut off from the rest of the Alliance, Lexi and West navigate the brutal terrain and a primal sexual attraction. Sticking around has never been West’s way, but now he’ll use every resource to keep Lexi by his side, safe from a killer who leaves no loose ends behind.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

Excerpt

Breathing in, forcing the adrenaline buzzing through him to slow, West eased his grip on his gun.

The whole attack probably took less than two minutes, but it dragged in West’s head. He lived every second in slow motion. Always did.

Suddenly he was facing down the barrel of a nasty assault weapon. An AK-103 or something similarly problematic in the hands of someone aiming it at his head. To add to the fun, this one had a grenade launcher attached to it. Which was just fucking fabulous.

West’s gaze traveled over the shaking arms to the white-knuckle grip on the plastic. Then to her face. A brunette of the shockingly hot variety. Not that he cared about that on a job.

He didn’t like shooting women, but he would. He had. An enemy was an enemy, and he waited to see if that’s the tack the victim-turned-potential-attacker took.

“Two roads diverged.” She spit out the not-so-random sentence, and the dark energy spinning around the room eased.

“Well, damn,” West whispered, stunned to hear the code from her.

Josiah lowered his gun as he finished the agreed-upon signal. The one the doctor provided and insisted on, citing faulty short-term memory and a love or Robert Frost. “Sorry I could not travel both.”

She blew out a long breath as the stiffness across her shoulders eased. “Thank God you’re here.”

West tagged her as American but definitely not male, which made little sense under the circumstances. But she wasn’t firing at random, so he considered that a bit of good luck.

Still, a potential novice with a weapon was an invitation to get his nuts blown off, and he sure as hell didn’t agree to that when he signed Alliance’s employment contract. “Ma’am, I need to you put that gun down.”

She blinked a few times before her gaze went to her hands. It was as if she forgot she took it off the dead guy when he dropped it. “Why?”

West chalked the confusion up to the chaos of the last few minutes. Still, shock and bullets rarely mixed well. “I don’t want to be shot.”

Her chin came up as she nodded at him. “That makes two of us, so you lower your weapon first.”

Okay, chaos or not, her attempt to order him around was pretty fucking hot. Kind of brave, too. “No.”

Not dropping his guard, West took a second to study her. Long hair, half in and half out of a ponytail, huge whiskey brown eyes, and the sexiest pouty mouth he’d ever seen. He couldn’t make out her frame under the olive pants and oversized long-sleeve tee but he guessed curvy.

Not just pretty but lose-the-ability-to-spell sexy. Of course that could be the gun. Something about a woman holding a weapon turned him on, sick twist that he was.

“I’m not really giving you a choice,” he said, more to stall than anything else.

Josiah moved in, step by small step, as if not to scare or rattle her. Pretty soon two trained men would almost be on top of her, and then it was just a matter of time until one of them wrestled the weapon away from her.

And that’s how it would end because there was no way West was heading back home after this and listening to the shit he would get from Bravo if he let a hot brunette get the jump on him and take a shot. He had a badass shoot-anything reputation to uphold.

“At this distance I can blow your balls off,” she said,

looking ready to do just that.

Then again . . . “Okay, that’s a solid argument.”

Michel’s Review

Wow… what a great release for summer. Falling Hard by Helenkay Dimon is sizzling! This book is packed full of action, adventure, suspense, and romance. It can be read as a stand alone novel or in series order. I would highly recommend reading the previous books because this series is exciting.

Weston Brown swore he would never go back to Skardu, Pakistan after his stint over there in the Marines. He experienced one of the worst missions in his career. Now he is forced to go back on a voluntary mission to rescue a valuable asset. He is supposed to get in, obtain asset, get out, and debrief asset. It should be a simple mission. Nothing is simple when it comes to Skardu, Pakistan. The asset he is sent for is not what he expected. It is a woman. This woman is the assets daughter and has used his code for rescue.

Lexi Turner stumbled upon an illegal weapons ring while working in her father’s clinic in the mountains of Pakistan. She uses her father’s codes to contact US intelligence. Lexi has set a very deadly game in motion that could cost more than her life.

Weston and Lexi will be on the run and trying to get out of Skardu in one piece. There is a master plot with deadly actions in place. They need to find the mastermind behind this evil game before he makes his final move. The game has never been more dangerous.

Falling Hard will keep the reader on the edge of their seats. The non stop action and hair raising suspense will keep the readers glued to the pages. The romance is an added bonus that will make the readers swoon and become more invested in both of the characters.

Helenkay Dimon has once again wrote another thrilling book! Read Falling Hard.

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Bad Boys Undercover Series

Running Hot – Intro Novella

HelenKay Dimon kicks off her hot new romantic suspense series, Bad Boys Undercover, featuring the fierce men of Alliance— and the only women capable of taming their hearts

Camped out at a resort bar in Fiji, CIA operative Ward Bennett may look like he’s on vacation but he’s really deep undercover, hunting a dictator on the run. Ward may be on the job, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t time for the sexy female bartender. That is, until she drugs him.

When Tasha Gregory discovers the hottie on the barstool isn’t who he pretends to be, her MI6 training kicks into gear, and she has no choice but to take him out. Problem is, Ward’s not an easy man to put down for long. More than once, his interference almost blows her surveillance operation—and her ability to keep her heart to herself.

As the situation heats up, these two must decide whether they can trust one another—and quick. Working together might just make everyone safer, but getting close enough for comfort … might just get them killed.

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Playing Dirty – Book 1

As an elite Alliance agent—the joint undercover operation of MI6, the British Secret Intelligence Service, and the CIA—Ford Decker lives for the adrenaline. But when he befriends sexy property manager Shay Alexander in hopes of finding her cousin, a known national security threat, Ford crosses the line, getting to know her better . . . in bed.

After being burned by her last relationship, Shay wants to take things slow. Yet she can’t keep her hands off the drop-dead gorgeous hottie who’s moved into her apartment building. So when Ford’s identity as an undercover agent is exposed, his betrayal cuts deep. Shay never wants to see him again, but Ford can’t let her go, not when her life is still in danger. He will sacrifice everything to protect her, then be prepared to walk away from the only woman he’s ever loved, even if it breaks him.

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Falling Hard – Book 2

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About Helenkay Dimon

HelenKay Dimon is a former divorce attorney turned full-time romance author. Odd transition, right? She has sold over thirty novels, novellas and shorts to numerous publishers, including Kensington, Harlequin and Penguin, Samhain, Carina Press, and HarperCollins. Her nationally bestselling and award-winning books have been showcased in numerous venues and her books have twice been named “Red-Hot Reads” and excerpted in Cosmopolitan magazine. But the best part of the job is never having to wear pantyhose.

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Release Blitz + Review: Hades by Larissa Ione – A Demonica Novella

Posted on 05/28/2015 by shellbellereads

We are so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Larissa Ione’s HADES! HADES is a novella in Larissa’s Demonica Series and part of the 1001 Dark Nights Collection. It is exclusively available as Amazon Kindle and Paperback. Grab the latest installment in this sexy series!

Hades

A Demonica Novella

By Larissa Ione

Synopsis

A fallen angel with a mean streak and a mohawk, Hades has spent thousands of years serving as Jailor of the Underworld. The souls he guards are as evil as they come, but few dare to cross him. All of that changes when a sexy fallen angel infiltrates his prison and unintentionally starts a riot. It’s easy enough to quell an uprising, but for the first time, Hades is torn between delivering justice — or bestowing mercy — on the beautiful female who could be his salvation…or his undoing.

Thanks to her unwitting participation in another angel’s plot to start Armageddon, Cataclysm was kicked out of Heaven and is now a fallen angel in service of Hades’s boss, Azagoth. All she wants is to redeem herself and get back where she belongs. But when she gets trapped in Hades’s prison domain with only the cocky but irresistible Hades to help her, Cat finds that where she belongs might be in the place she least expected…

Excerpt:

Her luxurious mink-brown wings were gone, sliced off in a brutal ceremony, and with them, her source of power. She totally understood why an Unfallen would cross the barrier between the human and demon realms to turn themselves into True Fallen and gain new wings and new powers. But was the evil upgrade worth it? Cat didn’t think so.

“Cat!” Azagoth’s voice startled her out of her thoughts, and she nearly dropped the tray of dirty dishes as she looked up to see him striding down the hallway from his office.

In the flickering light cast by the iron wall sconces, he didn’t look happy. He also wasn’t alone.

Hades, Azagoth’s second-in-command and the designated Jailor of the Dead, was walking next to him. No, not walking. With the way his thigh muscles flexed in those form-fitting black pants with every silent step, it was more like prowling. His body sang with barely-leashed power, and she shivered in primal, feminine response.

Son of a bitch, Hades was hot. Hard-cut cheekbones and a firm, square jaw gave him a rugged appearance that bordered on sinister, especially when paired with a blue Mohawk she’d kill to run her palm over. But then, she’d kill to run her palms over all of him, and she’d start with his muscular chest, which was usually, temptingly, bare. Not that she’d complain about what he was wearing now, a sleeveless, color-shifting top that clung to his rock-hard abs.

She tried not to stare, but really, even if she’d stood in the middle of the hall with her tongue hanging out, it wouldn’t have mattered. He never looked her way. He never noticed her. She was nothing to him. Not even worth a glance. Those cold, ice-blue eyes looked right through her. And yet, this was a guy who laughed with Lilliana, pulled pranks on the other Unfallen who lived here, and played with hellhounds as if they were giant puppies. Giant, man-eating puppies.

Azagoth stopped in front of her. “Cat? You okay?”

She blinked, realized she’d been lost in a world of Hades. “Ah, yes. Sorry, sir. What is it?”

Michel’s Review

Holy Hades… the latest installment in the Demonica Series, Hades by Larissa Ione is scorching hot. This novella is exactly what the readers have been wishing for.

Throughout the Demonica series Hades has made some very memorable appearances. He has captured the readers attention with his skin tight leather pants and blue mohawk. He comes across as a frightening enigma that no one wants to piss off. At the same time we get a glimpse that he can be a jovial kind of guy. So what is his real story? Who is Hades?

Hades is the jailor of the Underworld. He is a ruthless warden that answers to no one except his boss Azagoth ( the Grim Reaper). He is as much a prisoner of his world as he is a Warden. His only reprieves are his regular check ins with the boss or the sporadic time off hours he is granted on rare occasions. He’s learn to live with hellish world he commands. He’s adjusted to the discomforts that only can be found in hell. The only thing he looks forward to is the weekly episodes of The Walking Dead or the glimpses he catches of the fallen angel Cat when he visits his boss. This fallen angel fuels the fires of his soul and ignites all of his fantasies.

Cat is a fallen angel. She was sent to Sheoul-gra for her punishment for conspiring with Gethel to bring the Apocalypse forth. She is the servant to Azagoth and his lady love Lilliana. Her new world isn’t too bad but it isn’t too good either. She is a bit of a klutz and seems to make mistakes no matter what realm she is in. She is constantly making blunders that even Azagoth notices. It’s a good thing that Lilliana really likes her a lot.

When Cat makes the biggest blunder of all and accidentally lets some souls into Sheoul-gra all hell breaks loose ( literally). She must enter Sheoul-gra and right her wrong before Azagoth finds out. Fallen angels are not permitted in Sheoul-gra. She has not only blundered by letting undesignated souls in, she has turned hell into an even more dangerous place.

Together Hades and Cat will have to battle the 5 rings of hell and save the world. They have to win this battle before Azagoth finds out. Their lives are on the line. To make matters worse, Hades and Cat are falling in love with each other. This relationship is forbidden. It is worse than Adam and Eve eating the apple in the Garden of Eden. The Grim Reaper is not going to be happy.

Once again Larissa Ione added another exciting red hot romance in the Demonica world. It was fun, entertaining, action packed, and romantic. I would highly recommend this book.

I highly recommend reading the entire Demonica series before embarking on this book. The dynamics of this fictional world are multi dimensional. Many of the characters in this book are a bit hard to grasp if you are new to the series. The glossary at the front of this book does help the reader understand the Demonica world a little better but does not give enough of this series background. Even though I am a seasoned reader of this series and have read every book, I still had to reference the glossary while reading this novella.

About Larissa Ione:

Larissa Ione is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. An Air Force veteran, she traded in a career as a meteorologist to pursue her passion of writing. She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her U.S. Coast Guard husband, her teenage son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhound, a King Shepherd named Hexe.

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Happy Release + Review : Under The Lights by Shannon Stacey – Boys of Fall Series – Book 1

Posted on 05/27/2015 by shellbellereads

Under The Lights

Boys of Fall Series- Book 1

By Shannon Stacey

Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Kowalski Family novels, a sweet, sexy new series about taking hits, making second chances, and finding love…

They were the golden boys of fall: Stewart Mills High School’s legendary championship winning football team. Fourteen years later, they’re back to relive their glory, save the team—and find themselves again…

Chase Sanders’s life has taken a lot of crazy turns lately. But returning to his hometown to help his old coach keep his high school football team afloat might be the craziest thing to happen to him yet. That is, until he starts falling for the last person he should—Coach’s gorgeous daughter…

Kelly McDonnell learned the hard way that cocky, charming men are nothing but trouble, so she knows Chase is bad news. Still, she can’t resist his smile—or the rest of him. But when his loyalty to her father conflicts with their growing attraction, any hope for a relationship might be blocked before it can even begin…

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Michel’s Review

Shannon Stacey has a new series out that blends the magic of small town romance she is well known for writing. In her new series Boys of Fall, she is featuring guys that played for the high school champion team fourteen years prior. They were legends in their home town. Like most small town youth, these guys moved on to bigger and better things after high school. They moved as far away as they could. Fourteen years later they are brought back home to help out their coach raise money so that the high school can keep their football team.

Chase Sanders was the running back for the champion Stuart Mills High School team. He is now in the construction business in New Jersey. His life is falling apart. His girlfriend has cheated on him and dumped him. His business partner has ran off with all his company’s money. He is losing jobs and his good reputation. He broke and broken.

One phone call gives him a reprieve from the disaster his life has become. He is summoned back to Stuart Mills to help raise money for the high school football team. His old coach was his mentor and gave him more in life than his family did. He would do anything to help him.

When he gets to Stuart Mills his life will change drastically. He forgot how small town life was. People were invested in one another for all the right reasons. Sure they may know each others business but it is still a far cry from city life.

Chase will once again get acquainted with his coaches daughter Kelly. Kelly has become a strong beautiful woman with a sense of integrity, compassion, and strength. He is attracted to her. He can only let the attraction go as far as a vacation affair. He has nothing to offer Kelly with his life being in shambles.

After reconnecting with his old football buddies, the town members, the high school ball players, his coach’s family, and Kelly; Chase will begin to see things in a different light. Kelly may be the new beginning he needs. Stuart Mills may be the place he can once again call home.

I enjoyed the first book in the Boys of Fall series. All of the characters and town members came to life. Shannon Stacey weaves magic in small town romance. I look forward to the next books in this series.

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Shannon Stacey married her Prince Charming in 1993 and is the proud mother of two incredible sons. She lives in New England, where her two favorite activities are trying to stay warm and writing stories of happily ever after. Her two cats refuse to curl up on her lap and keep it warm while she writes, but her Shih Tzu is never far away.

When she’s not writing, she’s indulging in her other passion—four wheeling! From May to November, the Stacey family spends their weekends on their ATVs, making loads of muddy laundry to keep Shannon busy when she’s not at her computer.

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Happy Release: Back To You by Lauren Dane – Hurley Boys Series – Book 3

Posted on 05/27/2015 by shellbellereads

Back To You

Hurley Boys Series – Book 3

By Lauren Dane

Synopsis

What won’t he do for a second chance?

Former model Kelly Hurley has finally put the ashes of the past behind her. After a passionate but turbulent marriage to rock star Vaughan Hurley that ended in heartbreak and divorce, Kelly rebuilt her life in Portland, where she settled so their two young daughters could be close to their father. Just not so close Kelly couldn’t truly make her own way without interference from the man who shattered her heart. Now Kelly’s finally ready to move on, and she’s planning to marry another man.

But not if Vaughan has anything to say about it.

Vaughan knows he was a fool all those years ago. A young, selfish—and prideful—fool. Even as he buried himself in the fast, decadent rock-star lifestyle, he could never drown out the memory of Kelly’s beauty and love. Or the sweet, searing heat whenever they touched. For years, he’s had to deal with the pain of seeing her only because of their daughters, but it was never enough. Now Vaughan must prove that he’s the only man Kelly needs, before he loses her for good. And there’s only one way to do it…

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Michel’s Review

Back To You by Lauren Dane is the third book in the Hurley Boys series. It is a second chance romance. It is also a romance that shows the importance of family dynamics. It can be read as a stand alone novel or in series order.

Vaughan Hurley has been a spoiled rockstar until he gets a wake up call that makes him re evaluate his life and previous actions. His ex wife has announced that she is getting remarried after eight years of being single. Eight years ago he didn’t value the love and relationship he had with her. He always figured that she would always be around when he was finally ready to settle down. It was never a question of loving her. It was about his freedom and pursuit of his rock n roll career. Now he is singing a different tune and it may be too late.

When their oldest daughter is admitted to the hospital for emergency surgery, Vaughn is determined to be around for his daughters. He’s determined to be a better parent. He’s determined to be partner with Kelley where his daughters are concerned. He’s going to prove that he has grown up and changed. He’s ready to put his family first.

Vaughan will have to prove himself over and over before Kelley begins to trust him once again. After all she caught him cheating on her when she was pregnant with their second child. He let her take the blame for their failed marriage. He allowed his family to treat her badly for years. Through it all Kelley persevered. She put her daughters first. She gave them a stable home and dependable parent. She allowed them to have a relationship with Vaughan and his family without clouding her children’s judgement of them. She wants Vaughn to be more in their lives but is she willing to risk her heart once again?

Kelley and Vaughan will have a tough journey in front of them. They will have to learn to live together as a family. Vaughn will have to learn the skills of daily parenting. They will have to learn to communicate as lovers as well as parents.

I have to say I admired Kelley’s strength of character. She never once allowed Vaughn to walk all over her. She recognized her weaknesses and strengths. I admired how she was able to move past the terrible treatment she has endured from Vaughan’s family for years. She never allowed her personal feelings interfere with her childrens relationship with Vaughan’s family

Lauren Dane has a gift with expressing family dynamics in her books. She shows the importance of these relationships while adding a beautiful romance.

I would highly recommend reading Back To You by Lauren Dane.

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The Hurley Boys Series

She has complete control…and he’s determined to take it away

A librarian in the small town of Hood River, Natalie Clayton’s world is very nearly perfect. After a turbulent childhood and her once-wild ways, life is now under control. But trouble has a way of turning up unexpectedly—especially in the tall, charismatically sexy form of Paddy Hurley….

And Paddy is the kind of trouble that Natalie has a taste for.

Even after years of the rock-and-roll lifestyle, Paddy never forgot the two wickedly hot weeks he once shared with Natalie. Now he wants more…even if it means tempting Natalie and her iron-grip control. But there’s a fine line between well-behaved and misbehaved—and the only compromise is between the sheets!

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Broken Open – Book 2

Beyond passion. And beyond their control…

Five years ago, Tuesday Eastwood’s life collapsed and left her devastated. After an empty, nomadic existence, she’s finally pieced her life back together in the small Oregon town of Hood River. Now Tuesday has everything sorted out. Just so long as men are kept for sex, and only sex…

Then she met him.

Musician and rancher Ezra Hurley isn’t the man of Tuesday’s dreams. He’s a verboten fantasy—a man tortured by past addictions whose dark charisma and long, lean body promise delicious carnality. But this craving goes far beyond chemistry. It’s primal. It’s insatiable. And it won’t be satisfied until they’re both consumed, body and soul…

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Back To You – Book 3

What won’t he do for a second chance?

But not if Vaughan has anything to say about it.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

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About Lauren Dane

Lauren Dane has been writing stories since she was able to use a pencil, and before that she used to tell them to people. Of course, she still talks nonstop, and through wonderful fate and good fortune, she’s now able to share what she writes with others. It’s a wonderful life!

The basics: Lauren is a mom, a partner, a best friend and a daughter. Living in the rainy but beautiful Pacific Northwest, she spends her late evenings writing like a fiend when she finally wrestles all of her kids to bed.

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Pre Release Blitz …2015 Favorite… 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot – Princess Diaries Series – Book 11

Posted on 05/26/2015 by shellbellereads

Royal Wedding

Princess Diaries – Book 11

Genre: New Adult / Contemporary Romance

By Meg Cabot

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

Synopsis

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Princess Diaries series, comes the very first adult installment, which follows Princess Mia and her Prince Charming as they plan their fairy tale wedding–but a few poisoned apples could turn this happily-ever-after into a royal nightmare.

For Princess Mia, the past five years since college graduation have been a whirlwind of activity, what with living in New York City, running her new teen community center, being madly in love, and attending royal engagements. And speaking of engagements. Mia’s gorgeous longtime boyfriend Michael managed to clear both their schedules just long enough for an exotic (and very private) Caribbean island interlude where he popped the question! Of course Mia didn’t need to consult her diary to know that her answer was a royal oui.

But now Mia has a scandal of majestic proportions to contend with: Her grandmother’s leaked “fake” wedding plans to the press that could cause even normally calm Michael to become a runaway groom. Worse, a scheming politico is trying to force Mia’s father from the throne, all because of a royal secret that could leave Genovia without a monarch. Can Mia prove to everyone–especially herself–that she’s not only ready to wed, but ready to rule as well?

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

Michel’s Review

I still believe in Fairy Tales. I still want the Princess to find her Prince Charming and live happily ever after. I think most females, young and old, appreciate this kind of fairy tale. We don’t care if the Princess may not be perfect, we might want our Prince Charming to be a little bit of a rebel, and we don’t care if their romance is a little rocky at times. We want the magic of the romance.

I began reading this series many years ago with my daughter right before she began middle school. Together we have followed Mia’s journey from a awkward tween to a confident young woman. We’ve watched her experience all the growing pains that go along with becoming a woman. We’ve also watched her go from your average American girl to royal princess. She has had many blunders but also had many triumphs. And like the country of Genovia, we have fallen in love with Princess Mia Thermopolis.

The Princess Diaries started out as YA and progressed to mature YA. The latest release, Royal Wedding, is New Adult romance.

Princess Mia Thermopolis is now 26. She has found her place in the world. She has embraced her royalty with grace (most of the time). She has gone from an awkward quiet girl to a woman with a voice. She has learned to step up and make decisions. She has learned that life isn’t a strait line. She has struggled along the way. She has learned life lessons. She has experienced heartbreak as well as joy. She has held onto her childhood friends and made new ones along the way. Through it all she has remained true to herself. She is still the same Mia Thermopolis we have always loved.

Princess Mia is marrying her first love Michael Moscovitz.

The events that lead up to the royal wedding will have the readers laughing, crying, and swooning. Michael will steal your heart. He makes Prince Charming pale in comparison. He has been dubbed “The World’s Greatest Lover” and his dad has dozens of magazines to prove it. The best part about Michael is that he loves Mia just as she is. He doesn’t care if she is a princess or a regular woman. She is his heart.

Whether you are a long time fan of the Princess Diaries series or have only seen the movie, you can easily pick this book up and become immersed in Mia’s story. This book is magical.

Once again Meg Cabot has charmed the readers with her beautiful, funny, wonderful Princess Diaries. Be sure not to miss the Royal Wedding.

The Princess Diaries will always be one of my all time favorite series.

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About Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of books for both adults and tweens/teens. There have been over 25 million copies of Meg’s nearly 80 published books sold in 38 countries. Her last name rhymes with habit, as in “her books can be habit forming.” She currently lives in Key West, Florida with her husband and various cats.

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Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Color Me Crazy by Carol Pavliska

Posted on 05/26/2015 by shellbellereads

Color Me Crazy

By Carol Pavliska

Synopsis

Never fall for a rockstar…

Julian Wheaton views the world through a kaleidoscope of synesthesia, seeing the colors of every sound he hears. His life as an iconic rock guitarist was a stressful psychedelic trip that nearly destroyed him. Now he’s abandoned the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle for the peaceful sanctity of his recording studio, but when fiery Cleo Compton comes to work for him, she brings chaos with her.

Cleo Compton has had her flings with rockstars – and it’s left her wary and bruised. Julian may have those sexy bedroom eyes and drool-worthy tattoos, but Cleo is determined to keep things strictly professional – until Julian turns out to be every dream she’s ever chased. When he risks it all to hit the road with a band again, Cleo fears he’ll return as the one thing she can no longer abide – a rockstar.

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Tina’s Review

Judging a Book by it’s Cover —
Catches the eye. Clever concept. Synopsis sounds interesting. I’m normally not an avid fan of Rockstar romances, but as a favor to a friend, I agreed to read this one. The fact that he sees sound as colors is what mostly intrigued me.
Looking Deeper —
Third-person POV. Imagine going through life hearing the world’s sounds in 3D HD living color. From the effervescent bubbly laughs to the annoying buzz of a fluorescent tube light, everything coming at you in color… now imagine the crippling effects it would have on a musical prodigy. That’s Julian’s lot in life.
Cleo’s hopelessly attracted to musicians. She left a great job to follow one. Took a dead-end job to be near one. When she finds herself unemployed and evicted, Julian’s sister steps in and announces her to be Julian’s new studio manager and loft-mate. She’s already drawn blood on Julian a few times, and worse, so HOW can this possibly be a GOOD thing?
I caught myself laughing out loud, literally, in several places in this book. Julian and Cleo’s conversations and interactions were priceless entertainment. He’s not your stereotypical rocker bad boy. She’s not the stereotypical country club snob.
“If you can get your big toe in front of the camera in that bunk, then we seriously have some new positions to try when you get home.” — Cleo, in Color Me Crazy by Carol Pavliska
Both are wonderful characters. The secondary characters are enjoyable add-ins as well, each adding another dimension to the story to create a lush and rich world. At about 75%, my opinions were drastically altered and I felt an overwhelming need to kick some teeth in, but… when it was all said and done, they managed to get their heads on straight and find their path to a wonderfully concluded HEA. Yes, the conflicts grew to epic proportions, but they forged their way through it all to find eventual resolutions, albeit not always in the best manner. There was little to no predictability. Overall, I am thrilled to have taken a chance on this novel. Congratulation, Ms. Pavliska, on a Debut Novel very well done.

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Carol Pavliska began her writing career as a family humor columnist and blogger, a pursuit she abandoned when her children grew old enough to realize they were being exploited. To save them from further embarrassment, she turned to writing fiction. Her debut novel is a steamy contemporary romance so, unfortunately, the children are still embarrassed.
Carol and her husband, both diehard Red Hot Chili Peppers fans, raise their vegan brood of mortified offspring on a cattle ranch in south Texas. No lie.

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

Posted on 05/26/2015 by shellbellereads

Getting Played

Jail Bait Series – Book 2

By Mia Storm

Synopsis

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

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

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

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

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

Excerpt

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

“What else is on your list?” I ask.

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

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

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

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

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

“Haven’t thought about it.”

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

“Then make one.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Michel’s Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Jail Bait Series

Getting Dirty – Book 1

Dirty
A poem by Blaire Leon

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

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

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

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

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

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

Getting Played – Book 2

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

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

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

________________________

Author Bio:

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

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Saucy Southern Readers

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We are so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Larissa Ione’s HADES! HADES is a novella in Larissa’s Demonica Series and part of the 1001 Dark Nights Collection. It is exclusively available as Amazon Kindle and Paperback. Grab the latest installment in this sexy series!

Hades

A Demonica Novella

By Larissa Ione

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