Review: All Broke Down by Cora Carmack- The Rusk University Series- Book 2

Posted on 10/30/2014 by shellbellereads

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About ALL BROKE DOWN:

In this second book in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack’s New Adult, Texas-set Rusk University series, which began with All Lined Up, a young woman discovers that you can’t only fight for what you believe in . . . sometimes you have to fight for what you love.

Dylan fights for lost causes. Probably because she used to be one.

Environmental issues, civil rights, corrupt corporations, and politicians—you name it, she’s probably been involved in a protest. When her latest cause lands her in jail overnight, she meets Silas Moore. He’s in for a different kind of fighting. And though he’s arrogant and infuriating, she can’t help being fascinated with him. Yet another lost cause.

Football and trouble are the only things that have ever come naturally to Silas. And it’s trouble that lands him in a cell next to do-gooder Dylan. He’s met girls like her before—fixers, he calls them, desperate to heal the damage and make him into their ideal boyfriend. But he doesn’t think he’s broken, and he definitely doesn’t need a girlfriend trying to change him. Until, that is, his anger issues and rash decisions threaten the only thing he really cares about, his spot on the Rusk University football team. Dylan might just be the perfect girl to help.

Because Silas Moore needs some fixing after all.

Excerpt:

I think I get it then. That decision I saw in her eyes back in the kitchen. That’s what this, what I’m about for her, too. I’m just another part of whatever rebellion she started earlier today. About doing what she wants, not what’s expected of her.

“We’re not talking about me, though,” she says. “So you went to meet your friend, and then what happened?”

She keeps her eyes down as she picks up the gauze and begins winding it snugly around the knuckles of one hand, and then the other.

“He said the wrong thing.”

“Which was?”

“Dylan.” Now it’s her that’s pushing too hard. I didn’t want to talk about things with my friends, and I won’t talk about them with her, either, no matter how gorgeous she is.

“I’ll guess. You were mad about what he did, and he wasn’t sorry.”

“This isn’t middle school, Pickle. He didn’t hurt my feelings. He said some shit he had no business saying, and it pissed me off. The end.”

“But you don’t think some of that anger stems from what you feel is a betrayal of your friendship?”

She finishes taping down the last of the gauze, but doesn’t let go of my hand.

“I think you’re analyzing me again. Making things more complicated than they are.”

“And I think you’re just a guy who doesn’t like to admit he has feelings.” She drags out the word, teasing me with some goofy smile on her face. I turn my hand over so I can clutch her wrist. I curlmy other bandaged hand around her waist and pull her closer.

“I feel plenty of things.”

The teasing stops. She swallows.

“I wasn’t talking about that kind of feeling.”

With her standing and me sitting, I’m eye level with her chest. I see the sharp rise and fall as she sucks in a breath. I want her in my lap again, straddling me this time.

“Doesn’t mean we can’t talk about that kind of feeling. Or experiment with it.”

“Is that Stella girl an ex?”

I cough, surprised. My throat twists uncomfortably, and it takes me a couple of solid breaths to get a hold on myself.

“Ah, no. Stella and I have never dated.”

“Have you—”

“Do you ever run out of questions?”

“Not ever.” She turns playful again, and I’m done doing this the careful way. If she wants a rebellion, I’ll be the one to give it to her. I want her against me, and I’m tired of waiting.

I pull her forward, insinuating my knees between hers, and her body naturally follows, settling across my thighs. Her lips part, but she catches herself before she gasps this time. I keep her steady with my hands at her waist and say, “I’ll make you a deal. A question for a kiss.”

Tentatively, she lays her palms against my shoulders. They rest there, her grip light and casual. She ponders my offer for a moment, and it drives me mad that she can do that while our hips are inches away from alignment.

“Okay then. Are you—”

I cut her off. “Not so fast, Dylan Brenner. I’ve already answered one question. We’ve got to settle up first.”

I wrap her braid around my hand like I’ve been waiting to do all night, and I use it to pull her head back just enough that I can crush my mouth against hers.

And don’t forget to grab your copy of ALL LINED UP Today!

Michel’s Review

I have to say that I absolutely loved All Broke Down by Cora Carmack. It was filled with humor, sarcasm, emotional angst, a sense of comradery, self discovery, compassion, and sizzling hot romance. Cora’s bubbly personality was reflected throughout this book. Both of the main characters had their own issues that affected their lives.These issues never weighed the book down. There was always a sense of optimism throughout this book.

Dylan and Silas meet in a holding jail cell. Dylan has been arrested for a protest. Silas was arrested for fighting. They are both intrigued with one another even though they come from completely different worlds. Dylan lives for her causes and Silas lives for football.

After the trouble the Rusk Football team encountered in the previous year, Silas is walking a fine line with the coach. The coach has placed new guidelines and behavioral rules in place. Three strikes and you are off the team. Silas is walking a fine line after his arrest. He has to get his anger issues under control and display leadership qualities to remain on the team. Silas convinces Dylan to help him with his behavior issues. In other words, Dylan is in charge of “BAD BOY REHAB”.

What starts out as a fun friendship turns into something more when Dylan and Silas get to know one another. They see each other for who they really are rather than what people see on the surface. As they both get to the root of their issues they will experience hurt and pain. But they will also find new ways to deal with the pain. Their newfound relationship will not only lead into the love of a lifetime, it will make them both better people. They will bring out the best in one another. But letting go of the negative traits for more positive traits is not an easy task. Both Dylan and Silas will struggle and make mistakes along the way. The final quarter will bring out the outstanding qualities and positive actions that will make them both shine. Together they will win the game in life.

Add some sizzling hot chemistry, emotional moments, and romance to the mix . It makes All Broke Down even hotter. The chemistry between Dylan and Sylas is through the roof.

All the characters in this series are larger than life and make this series a champion.

The Rusk University Series

Book 1

All Lined Up

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About Cora Carmack:

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She’s done a multitude of things in her life– boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

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Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway: When We Met by A.L. Jackson, Molly McAdams, Tiffany King, and Christina Lee- New Adult Anthology Romance

Posted on 10/30/2014 by shellbellereads

When We Met

New Adult Anthology

Release Date: November 4, 2014

By: A. L. Jackson, Molly McAdams, Tiffany King, and Christina Lee

Pre-Order: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

Today’s premiere New Adult authors combine their talents to tell four original stories from inside one house.

When four girls decide to live off campus together as juniors at a college in Michigan, they expect it to be their best year yet. Little do they know, it’s a year that will change the rest of their lives.

BEHIND HER EYES by A.L. Jackson
Unable to live down her ex-boyfriend’s deception, Misha is determined to avoid betrayal. When, the new guy next door, Darryn starts to get under her skin, her defenses start to crumble. But trusting Darryn seems impossible, especially if he’s not sure he can trust himself.

SAVING ME by Molly McAdams
On the outside, Indy is always ready for a party—but inside she’s breaking. Kier makes a weekly routine of saving the girl next door from herself on Saturday nights… but when will she be ready to remember him on Sunday morning?

FOULING OUT by Tiffany King
Working at a sports bar, Courtney has become a pro at sidestepping propositions from arrogant jocks—which makes her a more elusive catch for campus basketball star Dalton than he expected. But when he falls for the saucy waitress, Dalton will have to rethink his game plan to prove he’s not the jerk Courtney expects.

BENEATH YOUR LAYERS by Christina Lee
In order to ace her fashion internship, Chloe must team up with local college dropout and set builder, Blake—much to her chagrin. But after some “hands-on” experience, Chloe will have to ask herself if Blake factors into her carefully laid plans…

EXCERPTS:

Behind Her Eyes by A.L. Jackson

Now I could feel him, his eyes all over me, caressing me slowly, up and down.

I let all my insecurities drift away as I swayed in time to the music, in sync with the throb of the crowd and the intermittent lights that glowed against my lids.

A charged moment passed, before strong hands found my hips and gripped them from behind. For a beat, I stiffened, before I again gave in to this sublime release. And again, he felt good. Right. All this intense energy that ricocheted between us wrapped me up in a frenzy of nerves, alight and alive. The smell of him took me whole, all soap and man and sex.

Oh God.

My heart beat frantically, racing to keep up with my thoughts that were spiraling out of control.

A shimmer of fear slithered through me, before he pulled my back into the safety of his firm chest.

And that was what I felt.

Safe.

With him, and I didn’t know why, and I was searching inside myself for resolve, for the commitment I’d made to never allow myself to be so easily played again.

But it was just out of my reach.

Darryn held me close, our bodies moving in time, like we shared the same breath, the same space.

I leaned back, my head on his shoulder as his face found the curve of my neck. Chills sped, spinning my body into a violent cataclysm of need. He let his hands roam, palms pressing hard as he ran them down the front of my legs, spanning them wide as he trailed them back up to my hips and over my stomach.

Fingertips dipped into my ribs as he slid them up the curve of my sides, and he lifted my arms as he went, in the same fluid motion fastening my hands around the back of his neck.

All those butterflies scattered, a clash of discordant wings that fluttered haphazardly through my insides, leaving my stomach in a coiled mess of confusion and need.

Why him? Why now?

Holding me close, he brushed his mouth over the shell of my ear, his whispered words injected directly to my manic heart. “Goddamn, Misha. What are you trying to do to me?”

I suddenly found it impossible to breathe, because it was him who was slowly undoing all the fibers of reservation woven through my weakened spirit.

“Can’t get you off my mind.” He leaned in closer, his hand sweeping up my stomach. Fingers brushed between my breasts, and I released a sharp gasp.

“Been dying to touch you,” he murmured low.

SAVING ME – MOLLY McADAMS

“I’m about to embarrass the hell out of myself, but I don’t care anymore. I feel like when I’m near you, I’m safe, and it makes no sense to me. It is the weirdest feeling to have with someone I only know three things about.”

My eyebrows rose at that and I turned to fully face her. “Three?”

“Yes. Three things. Your name is Kier, you’re extremely quiet, and you are the biggest puzzle I’ve ever tried to figure out.”

“I’m the puzzle?”

“Yes!” she said in exasperation.

That had to have been the most backward statement I’d ever heard. “And why am I a puzzle?”

“Because of what I just told you. I don’t know you, you don’t even talk to anyone, and I feel safe when you’re near me! Why is that? I feel like I’m going crazy because all I’ve been able to think about for these past two weeks is you, and how every time you open your mouth it’s like déjà vu, and I just—I don’t know what’s happening.” Her green eyes were massive and she looked like she was on the edge of losing her shit.

I took a few steps toward her and lowered my voice. “Calm down, Indy. You’re fine.”

“I just don’t understand,” she said loudly, the pitch of her voice rising. “Do you believe in past lives?” she asked suddenly.

I paused, a laugh slipping past my lips. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Past lives? Like that whole stupid YOLO saying is really just bullshit, because we’re about to get another shot down the road?”

I tried to contain my smile, but she was really fucking adorable when she was like this. “What does that have to do with what you’re freaking out over?”

“In stories with soul mates they find each other no matter what in every life. And it’s like they have a weird connection they can’t explain.”

I closed the distance between us and dropped my head so I was looking directly into her eyes. “Are you saying we’re soul mates?”

“No!” she said, horror lacing her voice, her cheeks filling with heat.

“I think you were,” I teased.

“I wasn’t, I was just saying that in stories . . . I don’t know what I’m saying, okay? But I don’t get what’s going on with us!”

“So now there’s an us?”

“Oh my God,” she whispered. “I need to stop talking.”

I laughed and took a step back. “I’m teasing you, Indy. And no, I don’t believe in past lives. I think we have this one, and that’s it.”

She sighed, and her body visibly relaxed. When she spoke again, she sounded exhausted—and in a way, defeated. “I don’t, either, but I can’t figure out how to explain this feeling like I know you.”

I ground my jaw for a few seconds as her green eyes held mine. “Because maybe you do know me. You’re just not ready to remember why.”

Beneath Your Layers- Christina Lee

I motioned for the bar. “Want me to get you a soda or a water?”

Chloe stared at me for another long moment before she said, “No, thanks.”

We listened to the next song quietly standing beside each other, lost in our own thoughts. Until she turned to me and said, “Truth or dare?”

“Dare,” I said, almost breathless. Given her mood, maybe she’d give me something good this time.

“Your turn, Blake,” she said. “Do something spontaneous.”

My fingers trembled from wanting to touch her so badly and all I could think about was doing just that.

“You sure that’s what you want?” I said, turning and backing her against the wall.

“Yes,” she breathed out.

“Something spontaneous or something I’ve been thinking about doing for days?” I said, my lips coming closer to hers. “Maybe weeks?”

Her breath caught. “It . . . it’s your call.”

My head swung forward, our foreheads practically touching. Fluttery breaths were escaping her lips. I place my arms on either side of her head and she bit down on her lip.

My heart thrashed in my chest and all I could think about was how desperate I was to kiss her, but how nervous I was to blow this opportunity.

So I attempted to read her signals and they were definitely mixed. Her eyes flitted between panic and lust.

When I pinned my hip against hers, I could’ve sworn I heard a low moan in the back of her throat.

“Please,” she rasped out. “Please . . . don’t . . . Blake.”

My stomach was in my throat. Fuck, either I’d scared her or I’d been reading her wrong.

I leaned back to give her space, but her fingers suddenly skimmed across my waist, clenching my shirt and drawing me nearer.

“Don’t what?” I asked in confusion. She was so fucking messing with my head.

“Don’t . . .” She was panting now. “Don’t stop.”

Fouling Out- Tiffany King

The warmth inside the building was soothing after walking from the car outside. I felt mildly disappointed when Dalton dropped his arm from my shoulders, until he reached for my hand. As we strolled along, I became hyperaware of how something as innocent as handholding could become somewhat erotic while sipping wine together. Dalton slid his thumb across the top of my hand in slow methodical strokes before gently caressing my pulse point. The hairs on the back of my neck felt as if they were standing on end. Each sweep of his thumb was a sensual dance with my sensitive skin, making it tingle.

It was becoming apparent to me that it might have been a bad call on my part to skip lunch. Between the scent of Dalton’s cologne and the alcohol I was consuming, I was already feeling slightly intoxicated. I nibbled on a few cubes of cheese to attempt to alleviate the buzzing in my head. Dalton’s breath teased my neck, making me shiver in a good way. I should have put some distance between us so I could regain my bearings, but instead I snuggled closer to him, wishing we were somewhere else with a lot fewer people around.

All the air escaped my lungs as Dalton slowly captured a bead of wine from my bottom lip with his finger. I watched with bated breath as he moved the finger to his own mouth, sucking the drop of wine. It was all I could do not to moan as my insides turned to putty.

“You need to stop looking at me like that,” Dalton murmured in my ear.

“Like what?” I licked the rest of the wine off my lip with the tip of my tongue.

This time it was Dalton who groaned softly. Placing his hands on my hips, he slowly backed me into a dim corner, away from prying eyes. “Like you’re thinking how great it would feel if I hoisted you up on that wine barrel table over there with your legs wrapped around my waist.”

“Are you sure that’s not you thinking that?” My hips responded almost instinctively as he pulled me snugly against his body. I could feel him, rock hard, pressed to my stomach. The wanting desire I had been keeping at bay from the moment he showed up at my house looking practically delectable with low-riding jeans and a black V-neck sweater that accentuated his well-toned chest was threatening to explode.

Michel’s Review

When We Met is a New Adult anthology written by some of the most popular authors in this genre. The anthology is based around four women that are roommates in college. Each of these girls has an unique personality and individual life circumstances. Each one has their own insecurities, their own strengths, and a lot of love to offer once they can get past the barriers holding them back.

Each one of these stories is outstanding and has a completely different plot. Each author breathes life into their characters and makes their lives easy for the reader to embrace whole heartedly.

What I loved about this anthology is that it focused on the beginning of a relationship. We see the mutual attraction, the sizzling hot chemistry, and the wooing factor that brings couples together.

I would highly recommend this anthology. The stories do not have to be read in order. Each one stands on it’s own merits. Each story is novella length and can be read in a short amount of time.

It was fun reading When We Met. It reminded me of my younger days and the courtship between me and my husband. These stories are the kind of memories all of us want to have.

About The Authors

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

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

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads
Molly McAdams grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband and furry daughter. Her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling and long walks on the beach, which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes. When she’s not at work, she can be found hiding out in her bedroom surrounded by her laptop, cell, Kindle and fighting over the TV remote. She has a weakness for crude-humored movies, fried pickles and loves curling up in a fluffy comforter during a thunderstorm…or under one in a bathtub if there are tornados. That way she can pretend they aren’t really happening.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
USA Today Bestselling author Tiffany King is a lifelong reading fanatic who is now living her dream as a writer, weaving Young Adult and New Adult romance tales for others to enjoy. She has a loving husband and two wonderful kids. (Five, if you count her three spoiled cats). Her addictions include: Her iphone and ipad, chocolate, Diet Coke, chocolate, Harry Potter, chocolate, zombies and her favorite TV shows. Want to know what they are? Just ask.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Mother, wife, reader, dreamer. Christina lives in the Midwest with her husband and son–her two favorite guys. She’s addicted to lip gloss, salted caramel everything, and believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Giveaway

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/ZTQyZDZiNDFkNzRhMjJmZWYzMGFkNDU0Yzg0N2UwOjM3/

Blog Tour + ARC Review: The Redemption by S. L. Scott

Posted on 10/29/2014 by shellbellereads

The Redemption

By S. L. Scott

Release Date: November 3, 2014

Synopsis:

He was everything she never wanted. Yet, she couldn’t stop thinking about him.

Soulful, amber eyes

A sex, drugs, and rock n’roll reputation

A body that beckoned for sin

Three years ago Rochelle Floros was living her dream come true… then lost it all. On the worst day of her life, the last person she expected to be there for her was a rock star and tabloid favorite. Now, she’s trying to rebuild her life after the tragedy that destroyed her fairytale. Slowly, she found herself captivated by a sexy, bad boy drummer she had known for years.

Rochelle was caught between the grief that shrouded her heart and the charismatic man that made it race. What she didn’t know is if he was being sincere or toying with her heart. The Redemption is about finding the pulse of your soul in the most unlikely places and giving love a chance to grow.

Can what she wants really be what she needs? With his rhythm and her passion, can they make music together? Or will their harmony be lost forever?

Pre Order : ITunes

Excerpt

I pull my hand away slowly, leaving all the feelings we were developing behind in

the palm of his hand. “The timing is wrong.”

“Bullshit!”

Startled, I jump in my seat.

Lowering his voice, he says, “That’s a cop out. I know you feel something for me.

I see how you react because I also feel it when I’m around you. There’s something here

and you’re just scared.”

“Scared of what?”

“Scared to have a life without Cory and thinking you have to justify it to others.

The problem with that is that when you start justifying it, it will make you feel like your

love for Cory was less. It wasn’t. It’s just different. He’s not here, Rochelle.”

“Stop it. Stop talking about Cory and take me home.”

“Now you want to stop talking about him?” He looks surprised. “I can’t win with

you when it comes to him.” He shifts the car into drive.

“This is not a competition, Dex.”

Disappointment slides onto his face. “Then why is he being shoved in my face

every time we make a move?”

“This is one of the reasons why we won’t work. We see things very differently.”

“One of the reasons? Name another because from where I sit, we fit like two

puzzle pieces clicking together.”

“You’re a supposed recovering addict. You have sex with anyone who offers.

“That’s it. Right there. You play like you know who I am, but you don’t. That’s

why the lies are so easily believed. I can tell what you’re doing. You’re giving me an out

that I don’t want. You’re allowing yourself to believe the worst about me to ease your

conscience, but it won’t—”

“You know what? Not everything is about you and your past. You lost a band

mate and friend, but I lost my soulmate!”

The Resistance

By S. L. Scott

Buy: Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ ITunes

You don’t choose when.

You don’t choose where.

And you don’t get to choose who you fall in love with.

The minute he opened his sexy mouth, Holliday Hughes should have known Jack Dalton was trouble. His smooth pickup lines, broad shoulders, and ridiculously handsome face charmed her right out of her clothes. She gave into her desires, the instant attraction blinding her to the obvious.

One night. That was all it took for Holliday’s world to be flipped on its axis. Jack Dalton was cocky. Smug. Volatile. Demanding. He ignited something deep inside her like no other, but there was something more to this brooding bad boy. There was a dark side to him she couldn’t help but be drawn to.

Torn between what she knew about him and a mysterious side he tried to hide, could she walk away or was he simply too hard to resist?

Michel’s Review

The Redemption by S.L. Scott is a spinoff of The Resistance. It features two of the supporting characters from that book. Readers were begging for their stories. The readers got a bonus. S.L. Scott gave these two dynamic characters their story. She gave them each other. Woohoo! The Redemption was everything I hoped for and more.

We met Rochelle Floros in the previous book, The Resistance. She has been a part of the Resistance from the beginning. She was one of the co founders of the band. She helped put the group together, help write the music, taught them expertise with their guitars, and found the right members to add to the group. She chose not to be a performing member of the band. She chose to work in the background managing their business affairs, coordinating tours, and helping in the studios. She is a master musician in her own right. She is the glue that keeps the band successful. When the devastating loss of one of the members, her soulmate, happens, Rochelle has to face a new reality in life. She is a single mother now and raising two young boys. Every choice she will make in life will have to alter around what is best for her sons. Yet she is still a young woman with a lot of life and love ahead of her. Once she is past the initial pain and grieving, she is finding that she has needs that don’t include her sons. She also wants companionship that will blend into her life with her boys. She is managing a fast paced stressful career, learning to be a mother and father, and finding the new woman she is becoming. She’s learning to live with her loss and learning to live again.

Dex Caggiano is the bad boy drummer from the Resistance. He is known for his partying, womanizing, and drug addictions. He has walked a very fine line with the band for the past few years. He has lost their respect and trust. He is slowly earning it back one step at a time, just like beating his addictions. The one thing that has been solid since the beginning of the band is his love and respect for Rochelle Floros. She brought him into The Resistance. She shared his love for music. She saw the side of him that most people never would believe was beneath the surface. Now that Cory is gone, he wants to give Rochelle and her boys the happiness they deserve.

These two people will come together is a very special way. They will find a love that is just as special as the once in a lifetime love Rochelle thought she experienced. They will help each other grieve and begin to live again. They will help each other find themselves again. They will find their family bonds go beyond the bonds from the Resistance.

I loved this book. It is a beautiful story of healing and learning how to live life to the fullest . It is about reaching out and taking someone’s hand. It is about friendship, passion, and trust. Two unlikely people will find a love that is beyond special.

About S.L. Scott:

S.L. Scott is a former high-tech account manager with a journalism degree pursuing her passion for telling stories. She spends her days escaping into her characters and letting them lead her on their adventures.

Live music shows, harvesting jalapenos and eating homemade guacamole are her obsessions she calls hobbies.

Scott lives in the beautiful Texas hill country of Austin with her husband, two young sons, two Papillons and a bowl full of Sea Monkeys.

Her novels include Naturally, Charlie, Good Vibrations, and A Prior Engagement.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon

ARC Reviews: Hot & Nerdy Series by Shannyn Schroeder-Her Best Shot- Book 1, Her Perfect Game- Book 2, and Her Winning Formula

Posted on 10/28/2014 by shellbellereads

Her Best Shot

Hot & Nerdy Series

By Shannyn Schroeder

Synopsis

With college graduation looming, three childhood friends vow to make spring break their last blast of pure fun. But at least one of them didn’t count on such incredible heat…

Layla Sharpe is definitely more math ninja than bikini babe, and her future has been calculated with razor precision. Convinced to let loose over spring break, Layla is finally ready to party—until her car breaks down halfway to her destination, leaving her stranded in Georgia with a mouthwateringly hot pool shark. She knows more than enough about angles to learn the game, but this week she wants him to appreciate her curves…

Phin Marks has never met a girl like Layla. She’s more Star Wars geek than seductress, and when he offers her a place to stay while her car is in the shop, he’s counting on the attraction between them to set the nights ablaze, no strings attached. But every moment he spends with Layla makes it harder to let her go. Can he persuade her to gamble in the most dangerous way possible…on forever?

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Reviews

Layla is celebrating landing a great job and finishing school by having a wild and carefree spring break with her best girlfriends. She has spent the four years dedicated to her studies and future career. She is a bit apprehensive of what her future has in store for her. She has never been a spur of the moment or fly by the seat of your pants kind of person. Everything in her life has been planned out step by step. With the upcoming graduation and future job, Layla is fearful of getting stuck in a rut going to a 9 to 5 job and not experiencing any spontaneity in her life. Spring Bread is her last chance at life on the wild side. Her plans for spring break get derailed when she has car trouble in a small town outside of Atlanta. While she is waitng for her car to be repaired she decides to hit the bar.

She finds herself captivated by a pool player in the bar. He keeps winning game after game. Not only is he a hot shot pool player, he is one of the sexiest guys she has met. What starts as a fun way to pass the time ends up being a night that will change her life. Between the dancing, the flirting, and fiery kiss, Layla and Phinn are winning a game with higher stakes than a friendly pool game.

Phin is also captivated by Layla. He has never had that much fun and an immediate connection with a woman. His carefree lifestyle, moving from one pool tournament to another has started to wear on his soul. He is tired of the gypsy lifestyle and life without roots. He’s been saving to have that life.

These two will be thrown together and find that they are the perfect balance for one another. These two will have to overcome the hurdles that separate their lifestyles. They may go about it the wrong way but when they finally get on the same page it is sizzling hot.

I loved this novella and am looking forward to Layla’s girlfriends getting derailed on spring break as well.

Her Perfect Game

Hot & Nerdy Series- Book 2

Release Date: October 27, 2014

By Shannyn Schroeder

Synopsis

Spring break is supposed to be a week of fun in the sun for three childhood friends about to graduate from college. But one of them is ready to get her game on somewhere else…

Charlie Castle is an expert archer and a fierce warrior—in her favorite video game, anyway. But college life was a program she couldn’t quite master. To land a cybertech job without a degree, she’s entering a “hackfest” over spring break—where she also hopes to meet the sweet gamer who’s been flirting with her online. Instead, she runs into the hot guy who walked away years ago, and can’t fight the desire that comes rushing back.

Jonah Best has never gotten over Charlie, whose kisses were always as deliciously creative as her coding. But now that they’re face to face again, he doesn’t know how to admit that her online admirer is really him—or how to convince her that he’s offering her a job for her incredible skills, not her sex appeal. Can Jonah cut through their communication glitches and persuade Charlie that the next level up for them should be forever?

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Charlie should be partying with her friends on their last spring break before they graduate college. Charlie has been keeping a secret from her friends. She dropped out of college when she realized she had trouble focusing in class. She is now trying to get a spot in the HackCon to showcase her abilities and land her a good job without a degree.

Charlie has to prove her hacking abilities and computer skills. When she enters the hackfest , she comes face to face with the guy that broke her heart and sent her college career to the pits. Jonah Best taught Charlie everything she knows about computers and hacking. Now she will have to go against Jonah, one of the convention facilitators. Jonah knows her secrets and knows that she can use her skills for the wrong reasons. That is the reason he left her in the first place. They have more than their past in common, they are both members of the same guild in an online role-playing game. The flirty alliance they have formed in the game proves that the chemistry still runs deep for these two.

I loved the gaming aspect of this game. It allowed Charlie and Jonah to show all of their redeeming qualities by role playing and working as a team. It opened their hearts to let the possibilities of a happy future.

The Perfect Game was a smart, witty, and fun book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Her Winning Formula

Hot & Nerdy Series- Book 3

Release Date: November 24, 2014

By Shannyn Schroeder

Synopsis

Spring break was supposed to be a last blast of fun for three friends before the reality of adulthood set in. But for the trio’s science whiz, it’s an education in instant attraction…

Chemistry major Felicity Stone can tell you everything about the way chemicals interact, but when it comes to social interaction, she needs schooling. Abandoned by her friends, Felicity is faced with spending spring break alone—unless she accepts a gorgeous stranger’s invitation to pose as his girlfriend at a family wedding. Not one to turn down a research opportunity, Felicity never expected it to produce such breathtaking results…

Teacher and baseball coach Lucas Tanner is fascinated by Felicity’s potent mix of spirit and scientist, not to mention her delicious curves. When Felicity asks him to return the favor by teaching her how to pick up guys, he can’t refuse—but he’s not at all happy with the idea of her using a formula for flirting on anyone but him. Can he convince her that together they have the perfect chemistry?

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Felicity was the only one to make it to their spring break destination. Nervous about being alone on spring break with no plans, she is fretting about spring break. She meets Lucas on the plane and he gives her a winning formula for spring break.

Lucas is a nervous flyer. Felicity is an introvert and has trouble making conversations. When the two sit near each other on the plane they find a winning formula. Lucas is able to draw Felicity out of her shell. Felicity makes Lucas forget about his fear of flying. But they will also find a partnership in their upcoming vacation that will make it much more enjoyable.

Lucas is attending his brother’s wedding. He does not want to deal with his ex while attending the wedding. When he meets Felicity on the plane, he has the perfect solution to both their problems.

These two have chemistry. The compliment each other in the perfect way.

I highly recommend this novella and The Hot & Nerdy trilogy. It will not disappoint.

Author Bio

Shannyn is a former English teacher, who now works as a part-time editor while raising her three kids.

Even though she wrote from high school through college (mostly poetry), she’d never considered a career as an author. Writing fell by the wayside as she focused her energy on creating lesson plans and new and fabulous ways to torment her teen students. One group in particular dubbed her “The Torture Master,” a title she carried into motherhood.

After the birth of baby number two, Shannyn resigned from teaching and fell in love with reading romance novels. She read so many books so quickly that her husband teased, “If you’re going to read so many damn books, why don’t you just write one?

So she did. And she hasn’t looked back since.

She is recovering from her Diet Coke addiction, fears putting her foot in her mouth on social media, and has a renewed appreciation for the bad girls of the world.

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Release Day Blitz + Giveaway + Review: Last Light by M. Pierce- Night Owl Trilogy- Book 2

Posted on 10/28/2014 by shellbellereads

Last Light

Night Owl Trilogy- Book 2

By M. Pierce

Synopsis

Tensions rise, secrets grow bigger, and passions run deeper—and hotter—in Last Light, the second novel of the Night Owl Trilogy from bestselling author M. Pierce.

Matt Sky is missing. After a solo ascent of Longs Peak that left only a large blood stain, tatters of climbing clothing, and the tracks of an animal in the snow, he is presumed dead.

Hannah Catalano is guarding a secret: she knows Matt is alive. After Matt’s memorial service, she lingers on the East Coast with his family, but it soon becomes clear that his brothers’ motives are less than gracious. Nate Sky is bent on tracking down the author of Night Owl, a book that charts the last days of Matt’s life with uncanny and scandalous accuracy, and which appeared only after his death. Seth Sky is bent on getting Hannah into his bed.

Hidden away in the woods, Matt and Hannah strive desperately to maintain their ruse and their relationship—but their web of lies only tightens as Matt struggles with the consequences of his decision, and Hannah tries to escape Nate’s libel suit and fend off Seth’s advances…until Hannah is put in danger, and Matt must make a life or death choice.

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Excerpt

Matt insisted on carrying me to the bathroom. I hugged his neck.

“Matt, you realize I can walk with a black eye, right?”

“I’ll be the judge of that.” He set me on the counter and I squeaked; the marble was frigid under my bare bottom. He dropped one of my bath bombs in the tub and watched it fizz and color the water purple.

Once, I managed to convince Matt to use a bath bomb with me. It was called a “sex bomb” and it was supposed to “put us in the mood” with “exciting scents” and “natural pheromones.” I grinned at the memory. As soon as Matt realized the bomb was coating his skin in sparkles, he leapt out of the tub ranting about “looking Twilighty” and “smelling like a girl.”

“What’re you grinning at?”

“You.” I smiled. “And this bath, which is such a transparent effort to avoid saying goodbye. Sweet… but transparent.”

Matt frowned and paced the small space of the bathroom. Ha! I was right. Matt planned to leave me in the tub and slip away.

My poor, adorable night owl—he really had issues with goodbyes.

“No,” he mumbled. “Maybe…”

“Can I induce you to stay a little longer?” I uncrossed my legs deliberately and spread them. Matt watched. He folded his arms and tilted his head.

“How does your cheek feel?”

“They’re cold.” I grinned.

“And you say I’m bad.” He slid me off the sink and turned me. I watched our reflection through the patchy steam on the mirror. Matt—God, he was so tall, and the look on his face was arresting. He wanted me. I knew that look.

Night Owl

Night Owl Trilogy-Book 1

By M. Pierce

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“Tautly written, complex, and vibrating with a dark sensuality that will have you at once blushing and anxious. You’ll think you have this book pegged . . . but you’ll be wrong.”—Christina Lauren, New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling authors of The Beautiful Bastard series

From bestselling ebook author M. Pierce comes the first novel in a provocative erotic trilogy where an anonymous online writing partnership turns into an uncontrollable, passionate obsession

At twenty-eight, Matt Sky has the perfect life. He has a beautiful girlfriend, a massive inheritance, and four national bestsellers — all penned under his airtight alias, M. Pierce.

At twenty-seven, Hannah Catalano is a train wreck. Her boyfriend is a deadbeat and her job is abysmal.

Matt and Hannah meet online as writing partners. Their relationship is safe, anonymous, and innocent…

Until Matt sees a picture of Hannah. Hannah’s picture sparks an attraction Matt is powerless to ignore. When circumstance brings Matt and Hannah together, the strangers begin a love story that’s passionate, poignant, unforgettable, and unstoppable.

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Coming 2015

After Dark

Night Owl Trilogy- Book 3

By M. Pierce

Pre-Order: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

In the final novel of the Night Owl Trilogy from bestselling author M. Pierce, can a passion that has withstood many ordeals become a love strong enough to last a lifetime?

At twenty-nine, Matt Sky is trying to return to normal, having faked his death and come back to life. He and Hannah move to a simple house in the suburbs, and strive to grow their relationship into something durable and honest. They become more and more entangled, in the best ways possible.

At twenty-eight, Hannah finally has the life she’s always wanted: she’s pursuing her career as a literary agent at Granite Wing Agency, she is writing her first solo novel, and she is living with her hot, passionate lover. For the first time, Matt and Hannah are able to explore intimacy without inhibitions—without lies, secrets, or jealousy—and the results are explosive.

Still life together is not as easy as it seems. Matt is estranged from his brothers in the wake of his cruel stunt; Seth Sky, embittered by his failed pursuit of Hannah, makes a play for Hannah’s sister; and the topic of Hannah’s novel—her relationship with Matt and the Sky family—is driving a wedge between her and Matt. The lovers are devoted to one another, having come through many ordeals, but is their bond strong enough to last a lifetime?

Kelley’s Review

Michel and I had the pleasure of reading the Night Owl and Last Light back to back. I think that plays a very large role in both of our reviews. Last Light is just as sexy as the Night Owl and Matthew and Hannah will continue to steam up eReaders everywhere. She is a dirty little slut just for him. The hard part of this story is dealing with and processing Matthew Sky’s character. It is really hard to find redemption in Matthew. I am a person that likes a solid hero that might be an asshole in the beginning but finds his way and acknowledges that he is difficult and makes an attempt to change. You don’t get that from Matthew. I guess I am holding out for After Dark to see if he truly changes who he is for himself, his family, and Hannah.

The brilliance of this story is that it feels like a story within a story within a story. What does that mean exactly? Let’s start with Night Owl. Night Owl is a story about a shut-in author named M. Pierce who writes bestselling novels. In reality we know nothing about M. Pierce. Is he a man or a woman? M. Pierce has not been to any book signings that I know of and as far as I can tell there are no pictures of M. Pierce online. Everyone that is a fan of this series communicates via Facebook or e-mail with Matthew Sky the main character in the Night Owl series. To take things one step further we learn in Last Light that M. Pierce authors the Night Owl and posts it in an online writers forum for people to read. Night Owl is essentially a diary of the private affairs of Matthew Sky and Hannah. I was quite upset at the fact that Matthew had betrayed Hannah by posting their private affairs online for everyone and anyone to read. It made me think of Night Owl again in a different light knowing that it was written while Matthew was living alone in the cabin after he supposedly died in a mountain climbing accident. This story takes a path in the beginning that makes you think that Matthew is going to do the unforgivable. He at least has some dignity after what he has done to Hannah not to drag her through the mud again. He is a very difficult man to love. Hannah almost makes her way out of his life only to get dragged back in. Do I think he is worthy of Hannah’s love? No I don’t. This book contains lots of lies, deception, manipulation, and enabling.

After reading this I found myself questioning who really is M. Pierce. Are people drawn to this series because of the mystery of who M. Pierce really is? Do people believe that this story is actually an auto-biography of the affairs of Matthew and Hannah? The genius of this read is that we are left with these questions that I am pretty sure will go unanswered.

Can Matthew and Hannah get a healthy happily ever after? I don’t know. After the rollercoaster ride of faking Matthew’s death and him coming back to life I think that it would be fair to say that Matthew and Hannah can handle most anything that is thrown at them because Hannah is a strong, capable, beautiful, and intelligent woman who can help them stop the rollercoaster. I really am looking forward to seeing Matthews redemption in After Dark.

Michel’s Review

ARC copy provided by publisher, via NetGalley, for a fair and honest review.

We all have books on our ereader that we have purchased and fully intend on reading. Somehow these books get put on the to be read list and put on the back burner. That was the case with Night Owl by M. Pierce. I fully intended on reading this book at some point. I saw all the raving reviews, followed the many different groups dedicated to this book and author on Facebook. I knew this book had to be special because of the huge reaction. Still I held off reading it because I knew there was a cliffhanger. I wanted to wait until the next book came out before committing myself to another series that would leave me dying for the next book. When I was offered an ARC copy of Last Light, I jumped at the opportunity. It prompted me to read Night Owl asap. Therefore I am going into this review with a completely neutral and unbiased opinion. I have not had a year to theorize about what would happen next or try to predict the outcome of this couple’s story.

Matt and Hannah have an obsessive and very sexual relationship. This relationship but most standards should not work. Somehow they have managed to make it work for them in light of their surroundings and dealings in the real world. When Matt’s author pseudonym is exposed to the world it sends their relationship into a tailspin. Matt can’t handle the exposure.

Matt fakes his death and lives as a recluse in a cabin in the mountains. Hannah is fully aware of his deception and is in fact helping him hide from the world. Hannah cannot give up her life in the real world to live with Matt. Their affair takes a new turn with stolen weekends and secret phone calls. Hannah is under scrutiny because of the release of Night Owl. An explicit diary written by Matt about their affair has been published and causing a huge sensation. No one knows who published the book. This causes more sensation and problems for Hannah. Not only is she supposedly grieving Matt’s death, she is fending off accusations about Night Owl, and having to deal with her most private moments being exposed to the world. Hannah is dealing with so many deceptions in the real world plus trying to placate a very needy, self absorbed Matt. The pressure is about to blow them apart.

To top this off, Matt is deceiving Hannah as well. He has his own agenda.

Matt’s family plays a huge role in how Hannah deals with the real world. Not all of it is positive. We learn things about Matt that did not come to light in Night Owl.

When the truth finally comes out it about tears Matt and Hannah apart. Somehow they manage to piece their relationship together. It ends with the readers wondering where this couple can go. Their relationship is not a healthy one. The only way their relationship can survive is if they get the kind of help they need.

My thoughts on this series and book are that the overall story is unique. The characters are not your typical hero and heroine. Matt is more than an alcoholic. My impression is that he is extremely bi polar. Everything about Matt and Hannah’s relationship is about his needs and his needs alone. He is self absorbed. Hannah has problems as well, she is an enabler and a bit obsessive about Matt.

I am hoping that the final book, After Dark, will get Matt the help he needs to be a healthy and better functioning person. I hope he’s medicated. I am also hoping that Hannah gets some help as well. She needs to learn her self worth is much higher than Matt’s obsessive love. I am hoping that they will find their happiness together in a healthy way.

Author Bio:

About the Author

M. Pierce is the bestselling author of Night Owl, book one in the erotic Night Owl Trilogy. The author lives in Colorado and owns a rabbit named Laurence.
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Release Day Blitz + Review + Giveaway: Baby, It’ Cold Outside Anthology- Kristen Proby, Jennifer Probst, Emma Chase, Melody Anne, and Kate Meader

Posted on 10/28/2014 by shellbellereads

Simon & Schuster Amazon Barnes & Noble iTunes BAM IndieBound**

About BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE Anthology:

Outside it may be frosty, so turn the heat way up with these stories of desire!

Can a determined woman executive and a playboy billionaire survive being stranded together in a snowstorm? Jennifer Probst depicts an encounter almost too hot to handle…

Drew and Kate play an encore to Tangled in this sexy take on a “Christmas Carol” by Emma Chase. When a Christmas Eve argument condemns Drew to a troubled night, three dream women teach him that no gift could be more tantalizing than Kate…

With Kristen Proby, ski slopes are quite delightful. Grace Douglas is sure she’ll never learn to ski, but instructor Jacob Baxter could teach her lessons of a different kind…

Can a southern California transplant survive Montana’s deep snows? Melody Anne, author of the bestselling Andersons series,melts the icy drifts completely away with the heat between sexy Hawk Winchester and brand-new teacher Natalie Duncan…

What could be hotter than a firefighter? Kate Meader shows how hot it can get as Beck Rivera and heiress-turned-tattoo-artist Darcy Cochrane discover that nothing ignites holiday flames like rekindling a lost love…

Michel’s Review

Winter is right around the corner. The busy holiday season is sneaking up on us. Baby, It’s Cold Outside anthology is the perfect book to put on the to be read list. It offers five novella’s from five popular authors. These novella’s range from holiday romances and to sizzling hot winter romances. Each story is very good and can be read within a short amount of time. It is perfect for the lunch hour or when you need a short reprise from your busy day. These stories will not disappoint. Each story has a sizzling hot romance, is highly entertaining, and leaves the reader with a feel good tingle.

Each book has a sizzling hot romance. The readers will experience second chance love, finding love when least expected, remembering all the reasons for truly loving someone, and opposites are even better together.

The all-star cast of writers has given the readers a splendid way to celebrate the holidays.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside anthology is a great way to bring in the holiday season and warmth to the winter.

About The Authors:Jennifer Probst’s New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels, novellas, and ebooks include the acclaimed Marriage to a Billionaire series, as well as Searching for Someday and Searching for Perfect. She lives in upstate New York. Visit her at www.jenniferprobst.com.

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Emma Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Tangles, Twisted, Tamed, and Tied. She lives in a small town in rural New Jersey with her husband and children. Follow Emma on Twitter and Facebook, or visit her atwww.emmachase.net.

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Kristen Proby is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Loving Cara and Seducing Lauren, as well as the popular With Me in Seattle series. Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. Visit her atkristenproby.com.

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Melody Anne is the New York Times bestselling author of the indie published Billionaire Bachelors series, the Baby for the Billionaire series, and the Surrender series, and she has a new series coming soon from Pocket Books. She lives in the Pacific Northwest. Visit her at www.melodyanne.com.

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Kate Meader is the author of the sexy new series Hot in Chicago, coming soon from Pocket Books. When not writing she works in an academic library in Chicago. Visit her at www.katemeader.com.

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Blog Tour + Review + Excerpt + Giveaway: Here With Me by Heidi McLaughlin- The Archer Brothers Series- Book 1

Posted on 10/24/2014 by shellbellereads

Here With Me

The Archer Brothers- Book 1

By Heidin McLaughlin

Synopsis

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

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

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Excerpt

“Evan, sometimes love has an odd way of working around pain.”

I lean forward and look her square in the eye. “What about my pain? What about my agony? Who’s going to nurse my heartbreak? How come these weren’t thoughts going through either of their heads when they started betraying me like this? How come he wasn’t scouring the ends of the earth looking for me? Someone knew we were alive out there and no one came.”

She picks up her pen and scribbles on her notepad. I don’t even care what she’s writing. I just want to be done so I can go drown my sorrows at Magoo’s. At least my favorite bartender is still working, Slick Rick. Thank God some things never change.

“Do you feel like Ryley betrayed you?”

“Yes.” My words sting, but they’re the truth.

Michel’s Review

Here With Me by Heidi McLaughlin is the first book in her new series. This series is called The Archer Brothers. Being a huge Heidi McLaughlin fan, I had to one click this book the moment it went live. I devoured the book and am experiencing the ultimate reading hangover.

Wow! Here With Me by Heidi McLaughlin is her best book yet. The writing was superb! Heidi reached deep within the realm of emotions and executed them flawlessly throughout the book. The reader instantly becomes invested in the characters and feels every emotion they are experiencing. The characters are larger than life and jump off the pages. The secondary characters are an all-star supporting cast that completely makes this story surreal. The plot has been intricately woven into a book that reaches far beyond a second chance romance. Heidi adds suspense, drama, and an impossible love triangle. She adds the important elements that make these characters lives become even more real. Their families, their friends, and their support networks validate their lives. What holds all these characters together and makes them work harder to accept the unacceptable is a young boy. The five year old son that loves unconditionally. The book is written from duel POV ‘s. It flashes from past to present. The reader gets a strong sense of what brought this young couple together. They share their young love, their passion for one another, and their growth as a couple. We see them grow from teenagers to mature adults. We see their strengths and weaknesses. The one thing the reader can count on is their love for another. It is unquestionable. Their love is not the problem, it is their lives in the present, and their futures. There are difficult choices to make. Not only will these choices determine the future, they will destroy the fragile lives they have built. There is no winner. Each person will walk away hurt in some way.

Evan Archer was a Navy Seal. His last assignment should have been easy. An in and out. That mission stretched into six long years. When his team is finally able to come home they are in for a complete surprise. There are no welcoming committees, no military personal, and no transports home. Why? Because they are dead! They have been dead and buried for over five years. The lives they once had are gone. Their loved ones have moved on in life. Imagine the shock.

The only thing Evan wants is to return home to the love of his life and meet his son face to face. Riley Clarke has held his heart since he was a teenager. Imagine his shock when he finally meets up with Riley and she is not happy to see him. Imagine finding out that she is now engaged to another man. Imagine finding out that man is your twin brother. Imagine your son calling that man daddy.

Riley Clarke lost the love of her life when Evan was killed in action. She has spent the last six years moving on from that devastating loss. She had to give birth to her son alone. She has watched him grow alone. The only thing that held her together was the support of her family and Evan’s twin brother Nate. The two of them have mourned together, supported each other, and built a strong friendship that led to a loving relationship. When the man that owned her heart rises up from the grave she is once again devastated. She is angry with the world. She feels powerless and out of control. How can she choose between the man that owned her heart and the man that brought her heart back to life. Any choice she makes will destroy one of these men. Any choice she makes is going to forever break their brotherly bonds. It is going to destroy them all.

On top of all the emotional turmoil are the underlying facts about the mission. Clearly something went wrong. As the story unfolds it will raise many more questions.

I loved all the characters in this book. I am definitely rooting for Evan. I loved how he not only loved Riley as a teenager and grown woman, but how he respected her feelings and emotions at all times. He is truly a very good man. The readers did not get know much about Nate in the present times. We got to know him through memories and passages of the present. I think we will get to know his character in the next book. I think he is going to be more complex than we are anticipating.

This book ended on an emotional cliffhanger. It left the readers with so many questions. It also left the readers wanting to know Nate’s POV. I cannot wait for the next book, Choose Me by Heidi McLaughlin. I need it now!

AUTHOR INFORMATION

BIO:

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

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

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

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Review: Fight For Her Vol. 2 by JJ Knight- Book 2 in Fight For Her Saga- Uncaged Love Series – Book 7

Posted on 10/24/2014 by shellbellereads

Fight For Her Vol. 2

Book 2 in Fight For Her Saga

Book 7 in Uncaged Love Series

By JJ Knight

Synopsis

Only one person in the world could get me and Maddie back together.

Our little girl.

But just when I feel like we’ve got it made, I lose an MMA fight, a big one. I take a blow that might have killed anyone else.

For a while, we don’t even know if I’ll be able to fight again.

But the bone-crunching footage goes viral, and the world is calling for a rematch.

Surely one more fight will be enough. The money means Maddie and I can make a new start.

But my old enemies have noticed my sudden fame. And they want to make sure my career, and maybe even my life, goes nowhere.

Whether I fight them in the cage or in the street, this time I have everything to lose.

FIGHT FOR HER #2 is the second part of a four-part series on Parker and Maddie.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

JJ Knight is the queen of serial romance. She combines an explosive romance, suspense, and the ultimate cliffhanger. With each installment in the serial, she quickly concludes the major cliffhanger from the previous installment and starts escalating a new twist in the plot. The volume is fast paced, entertaining, and keeps the reader glued to the pages. Her characters are well developed and very easy to like.

Fight For Her Vol. 2 eased the readers minds when we saw that Parker was okay after his last fight. Although he had some medical issues, it was not enough to keep him out of the cage.

After losing the fight, Parker is really questioning his MMA career. Maddie is not on board with his career. His fighting credentials are on the west coast and far away from his family. His reputation as a fighter has plummeted to rock bottom. Everything he has worked so hard to achieve is ruined by one defeat in the cage. Or is it?

A video of the fight goes viral and soon fans a screaming for a rematch. This could be the fight of his career. This could be the one fight that puts him in the big leagues. He will have to choose between Maddie and his career.

Parker and Maddie find a way to work through the issues of his career and their future. Things are finally looking positive for their relationship, family, and careers. Things are starting to work. It seems perfect until Parker’s past sins come back to haunt them in a very threatening and dangerous way. You know what comes next. Cliffhanger!

I can’t wait for Fight For Her Vol. 3! It will be released on November 7, 2014.

Fight For Her Vol. 3 will release on November 7, 2014

Pre-Order: Amazon / ITunes

About JJ Knight:

JJ KNIGHT is currently releasing BLUE SHOES, a follow-up to her popular REVENGE series.

New reader? You can start with BLUE SHOES #1, or with REVENGE #1. Both series are set at Morris Music and follow the same characters.

Also available: UNCAGED LOVE. New readers start with UNCAGED LOVE #1. This series features Colt, a pro MMA fighter, and Jo, the girl he rescues. This series is close to JJ’s heart, and she’s taken a number of bruises and sore muscles with a personal trainer to research the roles.

Come chat with JJ and other fans on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jjknightauthor

New books mailing list: www.jjknight.com/p/newsletter.html

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ARC Review: Down and Dirty by Crystal Green- Rough and Tumble Series- Book 2

Posted on 10/23/2014 by shellbellereads

Down and Dirty

Rough and Tumble Series- Book 2

By Crystal Green

Synopsis

On the outskirts of Sin City there’s a rough and tumble saloon where the women who are brave enough to enter can mingle with men that are equally magnetic and dangerous. And in this town, no one’s afraid to get a little dirty…

Billionaire playboy Bennett Hughes’ black sheep reputation is well-earned, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting the respect of his family—even if it means tracking down his brother’s gold-digging one-night-stand to earn it. But when Ben finds his intended target to be the opposite of what he expected, his chance at redemption ends in an accidental quickie marriage.

Despite her history, ex-showgirl Liz Palazzo believes in love at first sight, something she thought she experienced with Ben. Determined to put her party-girl reputation behind her, Liz vows to be the best wife ever—even if her husband seems set on keeping their union a marriage of convenience.

But as the sparks fly and their connection grows, Ben starts to wonder if Liz might be the one person who can make him a better man—or if the former bad girl just wants him for his money…

Includes a preview of Rough and Tumble.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

ARC provided by Publishe, via NetGalley , for a fair and honest review.

Down and Dirty by Crystal Green, book two in the Rough and Tumble series was an entertaining and delightful read. The romance was sizzling hot. The story was fast paced, entertaining, and sexy.

Ben Hughes is the black sheep of his family. He wants to get in good graces with his family and earn their respect. To accomplish this he has to track down his brother’s gold digging one night stand. What he finds is more than he bargained for and is definitely not going to earn him brownie points with his family.

What happens next will delight the readers. Ben has a heart of gold that has been guarded for too long. Liz has a problem with falling in love instantly. When the real deal happens, she will be knocked for a loop. The chemistry between Liz and Ben is explosive. Is it lust or love?

I would recommend this book to readers looking for a light hearted and fun romance.

Author Bio:

Pseudonym for Chris Marie Green and Christine Cody

A long time ago, in a land far, far away (Milwaukee , WI , St. Luke’s Hospital), Chris Marie Green (also writing as Crystal Green) joined the world. While moving to Southern California, Kentucky , then back to California , she amused herself by writing poetry and short stories featuring the ultimate Alpha males–Superman and Indiana Jones. Later, after graduating with a B.A. in English from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo , Chris decided to become a professional writer.

While she wrote, Chris worked as an eighth-grade teacher, but resigned in 2002 to pursue writing full time. Her critique partners, Sheri WhiteFeather and Judy Duarte are instrumental in her endeavors. Without these talented authors, writing would be a lonely road.

Chris is pumped about her Vampire Babylon series for Ace, which is best described as “noir fantasy-mysteries” featuring a vamp hunter. The first five books, NIGHT RISING, MIDNIGHT REIGN, BREAK OF DAWN (which compose the first trilogy), plus A DROP OF RED and THE PATH OF RAZORS (the first two books in the second trilogy) have already been released. The sixth, DEEP IN THE WOODS, will be on shelves on March 2, 2010. A Vampire Babylon-related novella was released in an anthology entitled FIRST BLOOD. (Note: The Vampire Babylon series uses trilogy arcs to tell one basic story, much like the way JK Rowling used seven books that didn’t solve every plot thread book-by-book to tell Harry Potter’s story. While each individual novel focuses on a central mystery that’s solved by the end, the three books together build character and mythology arcs/mysteries until everything culminates in the third book. Each trilogy repeats this pattern.)

Chris is also writes Silhouette Special Editions (“home and hearth” tales of redemption and community) and Harlequin Blazes (steamy fantasies), and whenever she can, she travels, including backpacking trips in Europe and road trips in America . She also enjoys yoga, hiking, and way too much movie-watching.

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Review + Giveaway: Alex by Sawyer Bennett-Cold Fury Hockey Series- Book 1

Posted on 10/22/2014 by shellbellereads

Cold Fury Hockey Series

New Adult Contemporary

Released October 14, 2014

Published by LoveSwept (Random House)

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iBooks

Hockey star Alexander Crossman has a reputation as a cold-hearted player on and off the rink. Pushed into the sport by an alcoholic father, Alex isn’t afraid to give fans the proverbial middle finger, relishing his role as the MVP they love to hate. Management, however, isn’t so amused. Now Alex has a choice: fix his public image through community service or ride the bench. But Alex refuses to be molded into the Carolina Cold Fury poster boy . . . not even by a tempting redhead with killer curves.

As a social worker, Sutton Price is accustomed to difficult people—like Alex, who’s been assigned to help her create a drug-abuse awareness program for at-risk youth as part of the team’s effort to clean up his image. What she doesn’t expect is the arrogant smirk from his perfect lips to stir her most heated fantasies. But Sutton isn’t one to cross professional boundaries—and besides, Alex doesn’t do relationships . . . or does he? The more she sees behind Alex’s bad-boy façade, the more Sutton craves the man she uncovers.

Michel’s Review

Sawyer Bennett has a fabulous new series featuring hot hockey players. The Cold Fury series is a Stanley Cup win! I am addicted to the Cold Fury icemen.

Alex is book one in the Cold Fury series. He is a superstar player on the ice with a very nasty attitude. He is not a team player. He has anger issues that follow him outside of the rink. He is the most hated player in the league and on his team. Does he care? Hell no! He is biding his time, playing the game as long as he can, socking his money away, and looking forward to giving the sport his preverbal finger when he no longer has to play. But until that time he has to jump through the hoops and learn to play nice. Management has ordered him to fix his public image and do community service.

What starts out as a mandatory visit to help social worker Sutton Price with her anti drug project turns into more than wanting to get into her pants. She has a way of drawing people in with an understanding smile, a non judgmental attitude, and actions that speak louder than words. Not only is Sutton teaching Alex how to love himself, she is teaching him to love the game he clearly detests.

Alex is an emotional story that will take the reader by complete surprise. This book is not about your typical bad ass hockey player with an ego larger than life. This story is about a man that has been severely abused and wounded in the harshest way. It is a story of healing, acceptance, and love.

Sutton and Alex are magical together. They share a passion that is timeless. Together they find the perfect balance in life.

The secondary characters in this story will steal your heart as well. Alex by Sawyer Bennett has earned it’s name in the winner’s circle. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Garrett, coming February 17, 2015. This man stood behind Alex when no other teammates would. He has a story that is going to steal our hearts.

I highly recommend Alex by Sawyer Bennett.

About the Author

USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

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