ARC Review: Sugar On The Edge by Sawyer Bennett – Last Call Series Book 3

Posted on 07/27/2014 by shellbellereads

Sugar On The Edge

Last Call Series – Book 3

Sawyer Bennett

Synopsis

He’s utterly alone…

Tortured and existing in a dark spiral of despair, bestselling British author, Gavin Cooke, has come to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to escape the seedy lifestyle he had been living in London and in a desperate attempt to regain his writing focus. He’s twisted, bitter and angry at the world. He’s a loner… needing not a single thing other than his Scotch and a laptop upon which he can bang out his next erotic, dark thriller.

She’s running in place and getting nowhere…

Savannah Shepherd’s life is falling apart. Her dream of being a wildlife photographer seems a distant memory and she’s barely able to make ends meet. Driving herself forward with no clear goals apparent, she’s about ready to pack up her bags and head home with her tail between her legs.

Two unlikely lovers…

He’s raw, forceful and a dirty talker. She’s a flowers and romance type of girl. Yet within each other, they find a mutual craving that can only be satisfied by giving in to their desires for one another.

Lust turns into something more… something they were not looking for but tentatively accept. Will it be enough to push them past the obstacles of Gavin’s bitter past?

SUGAR ON THE EDGE can be read as a stand-alone.

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Michel’s Review

ARC copy provided by author for a fair and honest review.

Sugar On The Edge is by far the best book Sawyer Bennett has written! She has proven her growth as an author, created more complex characters, gave them more of an edgy darkness, created a plot that was unique, and merged several genres together that work perfectly together.

Sugar On The Edge can be read as a stand alone novel or in the Last Call series order. The beloved characters from the previous books are present in Sugar On The Edge. They lend a strong supporting role for the characters without influencing the direction of this story or having their own stories repeated or referred to throughout the book. Sawyer Bennett allowed her leading characters, Gavin Cooke and Savannah Shepard, to take the readers away in a completely new direction.

British author Gavin Cooke has come to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to complete his book. He is on a deadline. His destructive behaviors, drinking, and disregard have left his publishers and agent in a corner. They have suggested he take himself out of the seedy streets of London and buckle down. He is an arrogant self absorbed, dirty mouthed, critical, and contemptuous arse. He knows it and makes no apologies. His crude mouth, diabolical behavior, and self destruction have just changed geographical locations.

Gavin Cooke is sex on a stick! His filthy mouth and filthy moves will have you swooning. His vulnerability and misguided guilt will have you wanting to hug him after you tie his delicious self to the bed. He is one hot alpha male. His snarly, dry British sarcasm and creative blend of words will tantalize all the senses

Savannah Shepard is a struggling photographer. After losing her job at the local newspaper she is forced to take on several jobs to make ends meet. When she takes on the job of being a temporary housekeeper for Gavin Cooke, her life has just taken on another crappy job. The man is a complete jerk. He assumes too much, sees too little, and berates everything. He may think she’s a lamb and he’s the big bad wolf . He has another thing coming, Savannah has taken on the wolves and beat them to the ground. She is a tigress in a lamb’s skin.

Gavin and Savannah’s relationship is combustible and every surface they touch goes up in flames. Gavin may be domineering and Savannah may seem submissive but all is not what it seems. Together these two will find all the right ingredients to make the perfect combination that will intoxicate the readers.

There will be explosive sexual chemistry, panty dripping scenes, dramatic tear jerking moments, swooning romance, shocking actions, and a new story with a happy ending. Their journey will keep the readers captivated. I will say this, it is a good thing that Savannah and Gavin have their own persona Yoda, Brody Markham.

Sawyer Bennett has broke the mold with Sugar On The Edge. Her star is shining bright!

Author Bio:

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

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

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ARC Review: Forever Sheltered by Deanna Roy- Forever Series Book 3

Posted on 07/23/2014 by shellbellereads

Forever Sheltered

Forever Series-Book 3

By Deanna Roy

Synopsis:

The newest book in the bestselling Forever Series is out – Forever Sheltered!

Tina would rather sew up her girl parts with dental floss than go on a second date with a man. She’s been dumped enough to know not to get attached.

So how DOES she end up half-naked in Surgical Suite B with Dr. Darion?

Dr. Darion has a lot to hide. His baby sister is the only family he has left, and he’s not leaving her treatment to some incompetent hack.

But now he’s breaking every hospital rule imaginable. He lied about his sister so he can manage her care, and now he’s banging the art therapy teacher between patient rounds like a fraternity boy at a keg party.

But Dr. Darion and Tina have one thing going for them – a fierce passion for each other that just might obliterate all their doubts, and solve all their problems.

Forever Sheltered includes many favorite characters from Forever Innocent and Forever Loved, as well as the much-anticipated wedding of Gavin and Corabelle.

It is a standalone HEA that does not require reading any other parts of the Forever series.

Excerpt:

The voice that came from the door was like an icy blast. “Do you have any more personal questions that are completely out of line for your relationship with my patient?”

I whipped around. Dr. Darion stood in the door, glowering like a gargoyle.

“I—I was just asking about a song Cynthia performed for me yesterday.”

His eyes narrowed. I wondered what I possibly saw in him before, because now he was clearly the biggest jerk in the universe.

He snatched my arm and dragged me from the room.

I tried to wrench free as he moved us down the hall. “What is going ON with you?” I asked.

“Hush,” he said.

We turned down a narrow corridor, and he buzzed us through a door with his ID. I had never been in this part of the hospital and tried to figure out where we were. The back side of ICU, maybe.

He shouldered open a door marked Surgical Suite B. The room was dim and empty. Boxes were stacked along one wall, and it had an unused smell to it, stuffy and antiseptic. A pair of gurneys were pushed together next to a line of cabinets.

“What is this about?” I asked, jerking my arm out of his grasp.

“Why were you in Cynthia’s room asking questions?”

“Why are you dragging me through the hospital like a lunatic?”

We were only inches apart, me defiantly on my toes to try to eliminate the advantage of his height.

“You have no business questioning my patients or their family.”

Oh, I wanted to punch him. My hand curled into a fist. “You are an awful man, Darion Marks.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed up, then down, like he had swallowed something nasty. “I’m sorry I dragged you down here,” he said.

I shoved at his chest. “Sorry? You just embarrassed the hell out of me! No telling who saw that.”

I pushed him again. I was really in a fury. “Are you TRYING to get me fired?”

The contact between us sparked, like a match being lit. I forgot why I was mad. He was so freaking close. He wore cologne, just a hint of it. He smelled like heaven. My heart sped up. Crap.

I tried to think how to get out of this. I needed to just walk away. We were alone in a dark room.

Shoot. I could already tell my body was getting ahead of my head. It was calculating distance. Seeing how far I could push this man. How close I could get.

Remembering how long it had been since my last tryst with anybody.

I would have to do the one-and-done with Dr. Darion after all.

I leaned in, just to see what he would do.

WHEW! See what happens in Surgical Suite B in Forever Sheltered by USA Today bestselling author Deanna Roy.

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The Forever Series:

“Our baby died on prom night, and nothing was ever the same again.”

Corabelle doesn’t feel like any of the other college girls. On what should have been one of the happiest nights of her life, she and her boyfriend Gavin watched a nurse disconnect the ventilator from their seven-day-old baby. During the funeral two days later, Gavin walked out and never returned.

Since then, her life has been a spiral of disasters. The only thing that has helped is her ability to black out whenever the pain gets too hard to bear, a habit that has become an addiction.

When Gavin shows up in her astronomy class four years later, he is hell-bent on getting her back, insisting she forgive him. Corabelle knows she can’t resist the touch that fills the empty ache that has haunted her since he left. But if he learns what she has done, if he follows the trail back through her past, her secrets will destroy their love completely. And once again, she’ll lose the only person who always believed she was innocent.

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The much-anticipated sequel to the Top 10 bestselling new adult romance Forever Innocent.

“How do I tell the woman I love that I fathered a son with a prostitute?”

After four long years of separation, Gavin has finally reunited with his childhood love Corabelle. She’s forgiven him for leaving her during the funeral of their seven-day-old baby, and also for where he ended up — in Mexico to get a vasectomy.

But a message from Rosa, a prostitute he met the day of his surgery, brings his life to a crashing halt. She claims Gavin has fathered a son, now three years old and living with her cousin in Ensenada. He doesn’t know if he can trust Rosa, who never mentioned the boy before, or if his delicate reconciliation with Corabelle can withstand the shock if it is true.

Corabelle believes their future together is the right thing despite their past. But when she learns of this other child, the one thing she lost long ago and might never have again with Gavin, Corabelle’s faith that her life will ever follow her old dream is shattered. To make things right for Gavin and his son, she just might have to let go of the only person she always believed would be her forever love.

Forever Loved is the heart-wrenching conclusion to Gavin and Corabelle’s passionate story.
HEA. 276 print pages.

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Michel’s Review

Wow! If you haven’t read the Forever Series by Deanna Roy then you need to put these books on your to be read list. Deanna Roy writes a powerful story that comes from the heart. Her stories are realistic, emotional, thought provoking, and romantic. Her characters come to life. Their story will jump off the pages and grab your heart. The writing is flawless. Her subject matter is very well researched. Not only do readers experience the emotions of the characters , they also get an insight into the medical world (in layman terms). She writes the story from alternate POV’s and gives each character, whether they are the main character or a secondary character, a very strong voice.

Forever Sheltered can be read as a stand alone novel or in series order.

The readers met Tina in the previous books. She was a public speaker for suicide awareness. She was offered a job at the hospital as an Art teacher for the patients. They wanted to install a program that would be therapy for long term patients. Art is a means of self expression and Tina has an intimate understanding of the therapeutic effects using art.

Through her group sessions, she meets Dr. Darion Marks. Dr. Marks has requested that Tina do a special favor for one of his young patients.

Tina recognizes a wounded soul that has hidden layers and secrets. She is also very attracted to the handsome Doctor. She also recognizes that this handsome doctor could be the one that can bring down all the walls she has built to protect herself from her past. She cannot date him.

But the laws of attraction don’t always follow the rules. These two are drawn to each other.

Dr. Darion Marks has his own secrets. He is treating his baby sister. He is breaking every rule to keep her alive. He could lose his career because of it. He will do anything to keep her alive. When he meets Tina, she adds another clog to the wheel in his self destruction. Not only is he jeopardizing his career with his sister, he is jeopardizing it by fraternizing with Tina.

These two can’t stay away from each other. Together they are the perfect medicine for two wounded souls. Together they will discover that “healing” comes in many different ways.

Forever Sheltered is a powerful story that will engage your heart. Make an appointment to visit Dr. Darion Marks and Tina for your next reading therapy. They have a cure for the hopeless romantic.

Author Bio:

Deanna Roy is the USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction.

She is a passionate advocate for women who have lost babies. She has several books on the subject, including her bestseller FOREVER INNOCENT, a romance about a couple whose baby is taken off life support at seven days old.

She has run the website PregnancyLoss.Info for fifteen years, including many large spin-off support groups both online and in person.

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Review: Finding Jordie by H.J. Harley

Posted on 07/22/2014 by shellbellereads

Finding Jordie

Jordan Spagnato Series-Book 1

By H.J. Harley

Synopsis

A widow of eight years, Jordie is devoted to her daughter and knows how to protect her own heart… until Nathan Harper lends a hand when she’s punched by a drunkard being forcefully removed from her NYC East Village bar.

Nathan is fascinated by the sassy bar owner, who doesn’t recognize him from the Silver Screen and who appears more interested in conversation than sex.

But when shared words spark mutual passion, the menacing phone calls begin, and a stalker, who will stop at nothing to have Jordie, turns his crosshairs on Nathan.

THE JORDAN SPAGNATO SERIES, in order

Finding Jordie

Finding Nathan

Finding Rachel

Buy- Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

Don’t you just love it when you stumble on a new author and good book?

While I was attending The Tennessee Valley Author Event , a very well known author pulled me aside. She said, “There is a book I want you to read. I want you to promise not to look at the cover. Just read the book. It’s very good.”

How could I not read this book? My curiosity was piqued.

When I opened this book, I tried very hard not to look at the cover. From the very first paragraph I was drawn into the book. I could not put this book down. This book has everything a reader looks for in a good book. The story is fast paced, loaded with humor, full of red-hot chemistry and sexual tension, romantic, and hair raising suspense. And as a bonus the author created delightful, quirky characters that wiggle their way into your heart the moment they are introduced.

When I finished this book I was very satisfied with the time I had invested in it. I was heading straight to Amazon to one click the second book in this series. Finding Jordie did not end on a cliffhanger that forced me to buy the next book. I just wanted more of these characters and more of their happily ever after story.

Jordie Spagnato is a strong woman. She is a business woman, tough bar owner, single mother, and widow. She keeps her friends close to heart and loves fiercely. She has learned to be tough when necessary, compassionate towards others, insightful to people’s needs, and gives her heart in full measures. She doesn’t let the past drag her down. She moves forward in life and makes the best of it. When she meets Nathan Harper her world she created for herself is tilted on it’s axis. Before she knows what has hit her, she is head over heels in love with the sexiest man she ever met. When she finds out that man is the hottest Hollywood star, it doesn’t change her opinion of him.

Nathan Harper is enthralled with Jordie Spagnato. She looks at him as a man and not a superstar. She treats him like she treats her friends and loved ones. How could he not fall in love with her?

Just as they are about to take the next step in their relationship a nasty stalker makes his presence known. The danger is just beginning. The suspense will escalate and keep you on the edge of your seat.

This book had every element I look for in a book. It is well written and fast paced. H.J. Harley is a new author that is going to make her mark in the romance world.

Read this book!

Author Bio:

I grew up in Bricktown New Jersey, less than an hour away from New York City. As a teenager and my early twenties, I loved hanging out in the glamor of NYC. I was a “City Brat” so it was pretty hard for me when I packed up all my crap and three cats in 2005, for a life changing road trip and moved to California. I travelled around the country until I met my other half in 2005.

After serving twelve years in the Air Force, the man of my dreams ended his military career and we moved to Georgia six years ago. Since then, we’ve settled down in Leesburg GA, and had our first child.

No place has ever come close to replacing the magic of New York City in my mind. So when I decided to try this romance writing gig out, naturally I set my first book, ‘Finding Jordie’ there.

I enjoy reading, and spending time with my family. Reality shows are my guilty pleasure. I’m a sucker for romantic comedies and Robert Pattinson. I am a pro at goofing off, I talk with my hands, (I’m Italian!) I drink way too much coffee, and get too little sleep. Oh, and I have a thing for Jackie-O sized sunglasses. I have four furry kids and most importantly, I have a beautiful daughter. I’m always striving to be the best Mom possible.

I’m very passionate about the things I love, that’s why I was outraged when they cancelled SMASH and Southland! It should be considered to be a small miracle if you ever get to see a serious or pic of me posing all nice and pretty…yeah, I’m not that girl. I’m a spontaneous goof and believe the best things in life come naturally. Yes, that includes random no make-up selfies during a 2:00a.m. writing marathon.

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Release Day Blitz: Craving Absolution by Nicole Jacquelyn -The Aces MC Book 3

Posted on 07/21/2014 by shellbellereads

Craving Absolution

The Aces, Book 3

By Nicole Jacquelyn

Synopsis

Farrah Miller and Cody “Casper” Butler have a longstanding relationship that both refuse to discuss.

It isn’t romantic.

It may not even be classified as a friendship.

Casper’s been saving Farrah from herself for longer than he’d care to admit, watching silently as she drowned herself in alcohol and bad decisions. Then when she finally got her act together, he left. He told himself he was giving her time to sort herself out. He tried to give her space.

But getting shot in the chest can change a man’s perspective, and Casper’s done waiting.

When he shows up on her doorstep one night, everything changes.

He’s the man who’s seen her at her very worst.

She’s his weakness.

He runs when things get hard.

She never lets anyone see below the surface and is terrified of being abandoned.

Casper knows it’s a long shot, that there’s a good chance she’ll never drop her guard for him- but he has to try. Because a life with Farrah is exactly what he wants…

Even if he has to fight her for it.

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Michel’s Review

I have been dying for Craving Absolution to release. Nicole Jacquelyn’s Aces MC series has made my 2014 Favorite Reads list. I cannot praise this series enough.

With the market being saturated with Biker themed series, ranging from bad boy bikers, bikers undercover, bikers down under, and lifer bikers, I have to say The Aces MC is at the tops. It is a portrayal of a club compiled of members from various walks in life that have banned together as a family. They live by their own codes, laws, and rules. They love just as fiercely as their commitments to the club. They will give their lives, serve time, turn their backs on those who betray the club, and leave their old lives behind to live by the code. In return they will be embraced by a dedicated family that will have their backs at all times.

At times they will have to hurt the ones they love the most for the for the club. There will be times that they will have to sacrifice their own personal desires for the club. It is not an easy life.

Craving Absolution is the third book in this series. We met Casper, the new prospect for the club in the first book of this series. He is young, quiet, and a bit mysterious. He can move throughout various situations like a ghost. Thus, the nickname Casper.

In the second book we get to see who Casper was before joining The Aces MC club. He was a young man with a brilliant future. He was away at a prestigious school in the east. His academic success had gained him scholarships that would eventually land him a full scholarship to Yale. When his parents are brutally murdered by a gang with a vendetta, his life is forever changed.

At the age of fifteen he has a first hand experience with the brutality of the harsh and violent world. Through his older sister Callie he is introduced to the Aces MC club and her best friend Farrah. He will witness another world he never knew existed. He will seize the opportunity to join the Aces to get retribution for the deaths of his parents. He will find a world that is a better fit for him than the perfect world at Yale. He will find the one woman that can complete him. The life he chose, the woman he claimed will be the most challenging and satisfying endeavor he will ever take. There will be good, bad, violence, love, friendship, danger, diabolical enemies, and a support system that will have his back at all times. Cody will embrace this life and he will do everything in his power to capture Farrah’s heart.

We met Farrah in the second book of this series. She is Callie’s best friend. They met in high school and become sisters by choice. Farrah has had a very rough life. Her mother is a drug addict and former club whore. She is the illegitimate child of the president of the Aces. He has abandoned her and left her to survive in the horrific word in which her mother lives. Not only has she suffered abuse from her mother, she has witnessed the violent world that comes with the members of the Aces. Her boyfriend is brutally gunned down right on her doorstep. She has watched Callie suffer from the enemies of the Aces. She has a very bitter attitude towards the Aces and everything they stand for. The one person that has always showed her pure kindness and respect has now joined with the Aces. Can she give her heart to Cody knowing that their life will be ruled by the very club that has done nothing but break her?

Craving Absolution has lived up to the high standards that the first two books in this series has set. I was addicted from page one and could not put it down. There were so many surprises, underlying plots, emotional scenes, and pure love scenes. This book played on every emotion. Nicole Jacquelyn is a talented writer that has created a world that is unforgettable.

I cannot wait for more from this author and this series!

I highly recommend this series. It is on my 2014 Favorite Reads list.

Q & A with Nicole Jacquelyn

What inspired the The Aces MC series?

I don’t know that there was any one thing that inspired the series. It started out as just one story—and even that started out as a really abstract idea. What if a woman on the run from her abusive husband ran straight to safety… with the bad guys. It was intriguing, and it wouldn’t let me go. So I sat down one day and started writing in between wiping my kids’ asses and doing massive amounts of school work. I honest to God never thought that it would get as big as it did. I just wanted to do it, just get my story down and have someone, anyone read it. After I’d finished Craving Constellations, I knew that I wasn’t done. Grease and Casper needed their stories… so I kept writing, and you guys kept reading. Pretty freaking cool.   Will there be more books in The Aces MC series?

Well… yes. But maybe not for a while. I’ve been saying that this is a trilogy, because that’s what it feels like. BUT, Poet’s story is already in my head… and so is another couple’s that I’m not going to detail here, but once you’ve read the book, you’ll know who I’m talking about.

Who is your favorite character in the series? 

This is hard to answer, it’s like picking a favorite child! But truthfully…

It’s Gram. Always Gram. She’s very very similar to my own Gram that I lost a few years ago, and she was my favorite real person.

Do you have any other new books or series in the works?

Yep! I’ve got a new series that’s in the early stages. I’m writing in a little notebook about all these different characters and how they’re connected. They’re foster kids, from two different families. Good families. Solid ones. And years after they all go their separate ways, military, college, work, they start trickling back into their hometown.

Tell us about your writing techniques, habits, and inspirations.

Hmmm… Well, I write at night mostly. It’s the only time that the house is quiet for longer than a few minutes- and I need the silence. I listen to music while I write, but only after I’m about 50% done with the story, because I feel like I need the first half to learn the characters’ voices before I can cloud my head with any external stuff. I drink RedBull Red like water (That stuff is amazing). I sleep about 3-4 hours a night when I’m working, and if the story isn’t flowing, I take a step back until it is, which makes it hard to work on a timeline!

I’m inspired by all sorts of stuff—reading, hanging with my kids, driving, showering, ironing my hair. It happens at the weirdest moments, and I don’t know how many times I’ve been so lost in my head that I’ve missed the turn for my kids’ school.

The Aces MC Series

Craving Constellations

How could someone make decision after decision attempting to get away from their past and somehow end up right back where they started?
When Brenna decided to leave the only life she’d ever known, she swore she’d never go back. Now, five years later, she’s running from her clean-cut husband straight back to the motorcycle club that raised her… and the man she left behind.
She left with a secret, and the truth will soon break her carefully constructed life wide open.

Warning: This book contains graphic sex and language, domestic abuse, and the loss of a child. It is meant for mature audiences.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Craving Redemption

Asa and Callie had nothing in common. He was an Ace, raised in the club and loyal to it above all else. She was a high school student with braces on her teeth and a narrow view of the world.
They should have never crossed paths.
But when Callie decides to defy her parents, and Asa goes on an errand for the club, their lives collide. He saves her, and she mesmerizes him.
They part believing they’ll never see each other again.
Neither could have predicted the chain of events they’d put in motion.
Now the two have to navigate the dark waters of a relationship built on tragedy and need without drowning in guilt for things outside their control.
How do you love someone when the worst decision of your life was the reason you met them?
Warning: This book contains graphic language, sex and violence. It is meant for mature audiences.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Author Bio:

Nicole Jacquelyn is the mom of two little girls and a full time college student. She hasn’t watched television in well over a year, she still does things that drive her mother crazy, and she loves to read. At eight years old, when asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she told people she wanted to be a mom. When she was twelve her answer changed- to author. By the time she was eighteen, when people asked her what she wanted to do with her life, she told them she really wanted to be a writer- but the odds of that happening were so slim that she’d get her business degree “just to be safe”. Her dreams stayed constant. First she became a mom, then she went to college, and during her senior year- with one daughter in first grade and the other in preschool, she sat down and wrote a story.

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Review: The Other Side of Someday by Carey Heywood

Posted on 07/19/2014 by shellbellereads

The Other Side of Someday

Carolina Days ~ Book 1

Carey Heywood

Synopsis

Falling in love?

Courtney Grayson has been there, done that.

Men, who needs them? Love wasn’t everything she thought it would be. This time around, she’s doing things differently. She hasn’t sworn off men for good; she just isn’t interested in settling. Trusting someone with her heart again? Someday, but not today.

Falling in love?

Sorry, Clay Bradshaw is not the guy for you.

He’s never been in love and he doesn’t see it happening. Hooking up can be fun, but more often than not, women are a distraction he doesn’t need. He’s a busy man, and doesn’t have time to date, let alone fall in love. Will someone ever change that? There’s always a chance, someday.

Life doesn’t always go as planned, and love may find them both on the other side of someday.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Michel’s Review

I loved The Other Side of Someday by Carey Heywood. It was a realistic love story most of us ordinary people experience. She showed how very real, ordinary people can have the fairytale forever love. It is all a matter of seeing the beauty of finding that one person that makes your beat to a new pace. Finding a person worthy of building a life with. A partner that will love you through the ups and downs, no matter what. I have to commend Carey for reminding us how important love is in our lives.

Courtney Grayson is having the worst day of her life. That day starts out with her fretting that she forgot to turn off the stove. The day spirals out of control from that point. She gets fired from her job, she has a flat tire in the pouring down rain, and when she goes to pay for the tire, her bank has rejected the card transaction. An act of kindness from the older mechanic that repaired her tire will send her on her way with aa better outlook. She feels like this act of kindness is the turning point in her day, that is, until she arrives home. She finds her fiancé of eight years in bed with another woman. Her day has gone from the worst day to the most devastating day of her life.

That devastating day and the one act of kindness will set Courtney Grayson on a new path in life. The path she was destined to take. A path that will teach her about herself and her deepest desires. A path that will lead her to Clay Bradshaw.

She will find her inner strength, open her eyes to new possibilities, grow as an individual, and find the inner confidence she never knew she had. She will find a love that will respect her individuality, cherish her for who she is, and love her no matter what.

Clay Bradshaw is your ordinary average Joe. Sure he’s one of the sexiest men that Courtney has ever met. But sexy guys are a dime a dozen. What makes Clay special is that he is an ordinary guy, has an ordinary job, comes from a loving middle class family, and values all those precious things in his life.

Clay has never been in love or had a steady relationship. Once he gets to know Courtney he knows that she is the girl for him. He understands that she needs to heal from her past relationship. She needs to find herself again. He will be patient, bide his time, and show her that she can always depend on him. He will show her how much he values her as an individual. He will show her how important she is. He will give her his heart.

Courtney and Clay’s relationship is a slow and beautiful build. We see this couple go from flirty attraction to friendship. Their friendship moves onto dating. From dating to becoming a couple. Once they become a couple they build a beautiful life together.

The Other Side of Someday is a story that we all want to experience. I highly recommend this book.

Author Bio:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with six books out and many more to come. She was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia. Ever the mild-mannered citizen, Carey spends her days working in the world of finance, and at night, she retreats into the lives of her fictional characters. Supporting her all the way are her husband, three sometimes-adorable children, and their nine-pound attack Yorkie.

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Review: Vipers Run by Stephanie Tyler

Posted on 07/18/2014 by shellbellereads

Vipers Run by Stephanie Tyler

Skull Creek Series ~ Book 1

Synopsis

The Vipers Motorcycle Club has strict rules for their brotherhood and the women who enter it. Now one Viper is about to find out how much trouble one woman can be…

Former Army Ranger Christian Cage Owens joined the Vipers Motorcycle Club for its sense of brotherhood. In return, he pledged to live outside the law, protecting club members and their families, as well as keeping other MCs out of Skulls Creek. But when Cage discovers that a rival MC—one Cage has an all too familiar past with—plans to push meth into his town, he calls an old Army buddy turned private investigator who’s helped the Vipers in the past. By doing so, Cage endangers both his friend and Calla Benson, a woman who works in the PI’s office. Now he’s made it his mission to track Calla down and do whatever it takes to protect her.

Thanks to the phone call with Cage, Calla knows she’s formed a deep connection to a dangerous man. She quickly discovers that although he may live by a different set of rules, Cage is an honorable man who wants to be more than her protector—if only she can accept his dangerous lifestyle. But Calla comes to Skulls Creek with her own set of secrets…secrets that threaten to tear her and Cage—and the Vipers MC—apart. As they put their newfound love to the ultimate test, Cage will risk everything he cares about to save her…

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Michel’s Review

Stephanie Tyler has done it again. The queen of romantic suspense has started a new series that is going to have the readers hooked.

This new series is called Skulls Creek and book one is titled Viper’s Run. Not only does this new series have the suspense, thrilling action, alpha men, strong women, red hot sexual chemistry, and romance that we have come to expect from Stephanie Tyler. This series features bad boy bikers from the Vipers Motorcycle Club.

What begins as a simple phone call, a plea for help, a dying man, and a woman’s need to reach out turns into an intensely dangerous situation that has the characters thrust into world of danger.

Cage has gone rogue from the Viper MC club to protect the members from a rival club. When the situation turns dire, he calls Calla, his friend and employee for help. She drops everything to come to his aid and that puts her life in danger.

Calla has her own secrets and adding Cage’s problems to the fold only makes her stronger. When the two are fighting to survive they find something that makes the costs of their plight worth more than living. They have found love. Through the midst of this danger they will build a relationship that will rock your heart.

Stephanie Tyler delivers a high octane, fast paced story that is loaded with sexual tension, through the roof chemistry, and red hot romance. Viper’s Run is the perfect start to the new Skulls Creek series.

Read this book!

Author Bio:

New York Times Bestselling author Stephanie Tyler writes what she loves to read – romantic suspense with military heroes for Bantam Dell. She lives in New York with her husband, her daughter and her weimaraner. She also writes paranormal erotic romance for Bantam Dell under the pen-name Sydney Croft.

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Review: In Your Corner by Sarah Castille – Redemption Series -Book 2

Posted on 07/18/2014 by shellbellereads

In Your Corner by Sarah Castille

Redemption Series ~ Book 2

Synopsis

A Publishers Weekly Best Summer Book 2014

“You have to go. I won’t be able to control myself. I’ve wanted you so bad for so long and after I’ve been in the cage…I can’t think straight.” He gives a guttural groan and his fist clenches on my hip.

Primitive. Primal. His need speaks to me. I tighten my grip on his neck and rock up to kiss him. He takes over. His kiss is hard and demanding.

“Mine.” His voice is raw, savage and for a moment I truly believe he may lose control.

He rules in the ring

Two years ago, Jake and Amanda were going hot and heavy. But when Jake wanted more, Amanda walked away. Jake immersed himself in mixed martial arts, living life on the edge. But that didn’t dull the pain of Amanda’s rejection-until a chance encounter throws them together.

A high-powered lawyer, Amanda was a no-strings-attached kind of girl. But two years after her breakup with Jake, she still hasn’t found anyone who gets her heart pumping the way he did. And then he shows up in her boardroom, hot as sin and needing help…

But can he rule her heart?

Jake is darker, sexier, and impossible to resist. As their chemistry builds, Amanda’s not sure if she can stay in control, or if she’s finally willing to let him claim her body and soul.

Redemption Series:

Against the Ropes

In Your Corner

Full Contact (forthcoming April 2015)

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Michel’s Review

In Your Corner is the second book in the Redemption series. Sarah Castille came back fighting with this addition in the Redemption series.

I had trouble with the first book in the series and did not give it a good review. This bothered me because I have read other books by this author that were good. I wanted to give this series another try because I just felt like the author deserved it. I can say, she won this match with a knock out! Kudo’s to Sarah Castille for proving this series was worth the fight.

As I said, this book came back fighting and won the round. Jake and Amanda had a past relationship that ended badly in the first book of this series. Amanda did quite a number on Jake and left the readers hating her guts. Jake was such a great guy, it was hard to understand why Amanda did what she did.

In Your Corner gives the readers more insight to Jake and Amanda’s previous relationship. We get a better understanding of Amanda once we know her history. She had an ugly family background, trust issues, emotional immaturity, and she was looking for love (the wrong kind) in all the wrong places. When she was showed the right kind of love and affection from Jake she just didn’t know how to accept it. She couldn’t handle the real thing. So rather than try to learn to accept all she was offered, all she deserved, she reacted the only way she knew how, she messed up their relationship.

Jake is a good man. He takes his life in stride. He takes on more burdens than he should, adds tons of stress to his life. One of those things is Amanda. When she walks back into his life, the intensity of his feelings cannot be denied.

There is a lot of healing and learning before these two can move forward. Once Amanda learns to let go of her heart and Jake learns to love Amanda the way she needs to be loved, their relationship sizzles. The sizzling sexual chemistry, the hot alpha and sexy bombshell burn up the sheets.

This book was a really good read. It went beyond my expectations. The characters grabbed my heart and held my interest. The secondary characters and their contributions to the story made this book even better. I am happy that I gave this series another chance.

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:

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Review: Straddling The Line by Jaci Burton – Play By Play Series – Book 8

Posted on 07/18/2014 by shellbellereads

Straddling The Line by Jaci Burton

Play By Play Series ~ Book 8

Synopsis

Trevor Shay has it all—a successful football and baseball career, and any woman he wants. But when he finds out his college mentor’s daughter is in trouble, he drops everything to come to her aid.

Haven Briscoe has finally landed a dream job as a sportscaster for a major network. But she hasn’t been able to move past the recent death of her beloved father, and it’s affecting her career. A plum assignment following the daily life of sports superstar Trevor Shay might be just the inspiration she needs…

Trevor will do anything to spark life back into Haven, including letting her into every aspect of his world. The chemistry between them flames higher than one of Trevor’s home runs and faster than his dashes to the end zone. But as they grow closer, Haven stumbles onto Trevor’s closely guarded secret, one he’s hidden his entire life. And despite his protests, now it’s Haven’s turn to put everything on hold to help Trevor. Will he let her in and trust her with a secret that could blow his professional and personal world apart?

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Michel’s Review

2.5 Stars

Straddling The Line is the eighth book in Jaci Burton’s red hot Play By Play series. I love this series. I love books that are based upon the professional athletic scene. But Straddling The Line fell short on the scoring.

Straddling The Line features Trevor Shay. Trevor is a dual professional athlete. He plays baseball for the St. Louis Rivers and football for Tampa. He is juggling to professional careers and trying to stay on top of his game. When the death of his suriggate dorm father brings him back into the Briscoe family fold at surrogate mother’s request, he finds that he may be adding one more thing to his list. That is Haven Briscoe.

Haven has struggled after her father’s death. She gave up a successful job in New York as a sport’s journalist to go home to Dallas. Being around Trevor again, her secret crush in college, has her reeling. But she can’t seem to get out of her funk. Trevor knows just how to get her kick started.

Trevor sets up a full tell all expose with the network with the condition that Haven is to be the interviewer. He is hoping that this will bring Haven back into the fold and back into her game.

This tell all interview ends up to be much more than Trevor and Haven planned. This lengthy interview will reveal secrets, expose feelings, and build a relationship neither anticipated. Their chemistry will escalate from hot to a scorching passionate burn.

While I love Jaci Burton and the Play By Play series, Straddling The Line just did not work for me. I felt the scenes were rushed, the chemistry between the characters pushed, the story was rushed and did not flow well. The ending and epilogue were rushed and abbreviated. The characters just did not get under my skin. I found that I was forcing myself to finish this book.

Author Bio:

Jaci Burton is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of over 60 books. She lives in Oklahoma and when she isn’t on deadline, she can usually be found trying to convince her husband to remodel some room or another in their house (she blames HGTV for this). She loves gardening, sports, casinos and getting lost in a great book. She’s a total romantic and longs for the happily ever after in every story, which you’ll find in all her books.

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Review: Jack and Djinn by Jasinda Wilder – The Houri Legends -Book 1

Posted on 07/17/2014 by shellbellereads

Jack and Djinn

Book 1 in The Houri Legends

By Jasinda Wilder

Synopsis

Miriam’s life is a hot mess. Ben won’t let her go and she knows she can’t take anymore. She simply will not and cannot withstand another insult, another drunken rage, another blow. But she has nowhere to go, no one to help her.

One night, Ben’s alcohol-fueled abuse explodes hotter than it ever has before, and Miriam isn’t sure she’ll survive it this time.

Then Miriam meets Jack. Sweet, handsome, brave, and totally unafraid of the strange and often scary things that have begun happening whenever Miriam’s emotions run high.

As things between Miriam and Jack heat up, so does Ben’s jealous rage, as well as the mysterious fire that seems to burn hotter and hotter inside Miriam. She quickly discovers two things: one, that she has a lot more power and strength hidden within herself than she’d ever imagined, and two, that Jack’s gentle, unwavering love can heal a lifetime of wounds and scars.

Will they survive to explore all that could be between them?

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Michel’s Review

Jasinda Wilder stepped out of her comfort zone and dove into the paranormal genre. She added her own special flare to make this book come alive. She chose an unusual paranormal character based on ancient Arabic legends, added a contemporary life to the character, allowed her to grow as a person as well as a paranormal entity, and gave her a chance at love that will last beyond a lifetime. Not only did Jasinda create a unique character with paranormal elements, she also tackled some very heavy and disturbing issues, added a high element of suspense, gave us a little Irish magic, and managed to give us a romantic book that evolve around paranormal chaos. To combine all these elements into one book is impressive. What is even more impressive was that she made all these elements work and wrote a story that was effortless to read and kept me captivated from beginning to end. She added enough intrigue at the ending that made the readers want more of this series.

Jasinda is one of the most gifted writers I have read. Her stories flow with ease. The reader becomes immersed into her fictional worlds and becomes captivated with every word. Her characters are very real people with very real strengths and flaws. The romance she adds to every book is heartfelt, sensual, and steamy. She challenges her writing skills with every book and does not let herself get “boxed in” to writing one type of story. That is a big plus in the competitive world of publishing where the market is saturated with so many books. This is what makes Jasinda Wilder the huge success she is today. This is what makes Jasinda one of my favorite writers.

Jack and Djinn started out with an interesting scene that drew me in immediately. It starts with two homicide detectives at a crime scene investigating a badly charred body. They have never seen a body this badly burned. What is so weird about the crime scene is the lack of evidence of a fire or accelerants. There is blood at the scene that clearly does not belong to the victim. The detectives are baffled.

Detective Carson Hale is the lead investigator to this unsolved murder. Once the body is identified as Ben Wade, Carson begins to unravel the events that lead up to the demise of the victim. As he searches for pieces of the puzzle to solve this crime, the story of Miriam and Jack begins.

Two people brought together from an horrific abusive situation. Two people finding love in a world where their lives are at stake. Two people finding their magic through their love for one another. Two people doing everything they can to survive so that they can hold onto their love and future.

As the story unfolds through the eyes of Detective Carson Hale, the reader will be immersed into a world of intrigue and suspense. And when the Detective finally solves the case not only will he be astonished, he will become a very integral part of the Houri Legends. I cannot wait for the next book.

Jack and Djinn is captivating magical book.

Author Bio:

NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, WALL STREET JOURNAL and international bestselling author Jasinda Wilder is a Michigan native with a penchant for titillating tales about sexy men and strong women. Her bestselling titles include ALPHA, STRIPPED, WOUNDED, and the #1 Amazon and international bestseller FALLING INTO YOU. You can find her on her farm in Northern Michigan with her husband, author Jack Wilder, her five children and menagerie of animals.

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Review: Come To Me Softly by A. L. Jackson- Closer To You Series- Book 2

Posted on 07/17/2014 by shellbellereads

Come To Softly

By A. L. Jackson

Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling author of Come to Me Quietly comes a scorching new adult romance in the Closer to You series.

A second chance at life…

A second chance at love…

Jared Holt never thought he deserved either—until he found both in the arms of Aly Moore. Aly has loved Jared for as long as she can remember, and she’s more than ready for the future they’re making together. But Jared can’t help remembering his own family. And he’ll never forgive himself for what happened to them. How can he allow himself the very happiness he once destroyed?

To live a life worthy of Aly, Jared knows he has to stop running and finally put his past to rest. But when he decides to face his demons head on, he encounters more than he bargained for: a dangerous mix of jealousy, lies, and dishonest intentions. When those intentions threaten Aly, Jared loses all control, giving into the rage that earned him his bad boy reputation years before. And he’ll fight to protect her no matter what it costs…even if he destroys himself in the process.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Michel’s Review

Come To Me Softly is the sequel to Come To Me Quietly by A. L. Jackson. Come To Me Softly picks up where Come To Me Quietly left off. In fact it picks up the morning after. This is not a stand alone novel. Come To Me Quietly must be read first.

Jared is still broken but has come to accept that he is important in Aly’s life. Although he still does not feel worthy of Aly’s love, he is willing to accept it and try to build a relationship that can help him move on from the past.

As these two build their relationship, the reader gets to see the importance of their connected pasts, how much they mean to each other, and learning how to love. It is learning to face your mistakes, learning to forgive yourself, learning to forgive others, and opening your heart to all possibilities.

Author Bio:

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.

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This book is a beautiful emotional journey. Jared and Aly will find peace, but best of all, they find their happily ever after.

A. L. Jackson is a powerful writer. The reader experiences every word on the page. The characters, the emotions, and their story come across as very real. Another book well done, another conclusion very satisfying.

Saucy Southern Readers

professional, honest, and timely book reviews

Category Archives: Michel

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Release Day Blitz: Craving Absolution by Nicole Jacquelyn -The Aces MC Book 3

Review: The Other Side of Someday by Carey Heywood

Review: Vipers Run by Stephanie Tyler

Review: In Your Corner by Sarah Castille – Redemption Series -Book 2

Review: Straddling The Line by Jaci Burton – Play By Play Series – Book 8

Review: Jack and Djinn by Jasinda Wilder – The Houri Legends -Book 1

Review: Come To Me Softly by A. L. Jackson- Closer To You Series- Book 2

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