Happy Release + Review: The Hotter You Burn by Gena Showalter – The Original Heartbreakers Series – Book 2

Posted on 07/29/2015 by shellbellereads

The Hotter You Burn

The Original Heartbreakers Series – Book 2

By Gena Showalter

Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter is back with a sizzling Original Heartbreakers story featuring a troubled playboy and the woman he can’t resist…

Beck O’ckley is ruthless in the boardroom…and the bedroom. He’s never been with the same woman twice, and vows he never will. With a past as twisted as his, meaningless sex keeps the demons at bay. His motto: One and done. No harm, no foul.

Harlow Glass is the most hated girl in town. The beautiful artist is penniless, jobless and homeless. When she sneaks into Beck’s home—her ancestral estate—for food, she’s shocked by his early return…and her immediate, sizzling and intense attraction to him.

For the first time in Beck’s life, he can’t get a woman out of his mind. All too soon, friendship blooms into obsession and he’ll have to break her heart…or surrender his own.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Excerpt

“I’d like to hire you to paint my portrait.”

Harlow almost bounced out of her seat, but caught herself with a single thought. Can’t appear too hasty. “Okay,” she said, playing with the edge of a piece of paper. “If you insist. And if the price is right.” She’d drawn countless images of Beck, but the thought of painting him to scale and seeing him in full color intoxicated her. She could play with different shades of gold, brown and bronze, and even a wealth of greens to get the emerald flecks hidden so deeply in his eyes just right.

Maybe Kimberly had nailed it. Maybe Harlow had stared at Beck for reasons that had nothing to do with the job.

“Name a figure.” He slowly, leisurely, walked back to the couch and eased down, the whiskey in hand. “Whatever it is, lollipop, I’ll pay it.”

The new endearment startled her, considering he hadn’t used one these past three weeks. The fact that he’d gone with lollipop, something sweet and edible he’d never called the others…

I’m special to him.

Oh, no, no, no. Red alert! Red alert! That was the true danger of him. Somehow, he made everyone feel special.

“That’s a daring thing to say,” she stated quietly.

“But true nonetheless.”

She placed her elbows on the desk and leaned forward. “Very well. The price is…” Inspiration struck, and she smiled evilly. “You can’t have sex for a week.”

His eyes narrowed to tiny slits, but he appeared far from angry. “Why do you care about my sex life?”

“I care about you, and I think abstinence will help build character.”

He didn’t miss a beat. “You care? Very well, I accept.” No time to celebrate. “With two caveats,” he added. “The week won’t start until the painting is done.” He smiled now, and it was a wicked one. “Also, I want the painting to be a nude.”

Her breath caught in her throat, only to exit on a gust. “I…you…excuse me?”

“A nude. Meaning I won’t be wearing any clothing. If you want to strip down, that’ll be okay too.”

This was punishment for daring to impede his sex life, wasn’t it? “I’ve never actually painted or even drawn what you’re suggesting, and I’m not sure I have the skill.” Or if she would survive.

“I have complete faith in your ability. And as an artist, a professional, I’ll expect you to view me strictly through objective eyes. You can do that, can’t you?”

“Of course,” she said. She could absolutely, one hundred percent view him through objective eyes…if he wore a cloak of invisibility. But even then it would be iffy. “Why do you want a nude?” she demanded, hoping to shame him into retracting his request.

“Maybe I enjoy the thought of disrobing for you.” His voice had gone low and husky, a caress of unfettered temptation, making her shiver. “Maybe I like the thought of your eyes on my bare skin and your hands forming the shapes of my body.”

She gulped. Having only ever dealt with boys, never with men, she had no idea how to respond to so blatant a statement.

“Or,” he said, his voice returning to its normal fun, flirty tone. “Maybe I’m narcissistic and want to immortalize every inch of myself. How is one to know?”

How indeed. “When would you like to start?”

“Tonight.”

I’m going to hate myself for reminding him of this, but… “What about your date? I can’t—won’t—hurt Kimberly.”

“I think we both know she was about to cancel on me. Which makes me wonder what the two of you were discussing.”

Shifting uncomfortably, she said, “I will never betray a confidence.”

“I could change your mind, but I won’t. I admire your mindset.” His gaze dropped to the pulse fluttering in her neck. “I’ll arrive at seven, and I’ll bring dinner.”

“Yes. I’d like that.” A lot. And it wasn’t the thought of food that made her heart race, but the thought of having him in her space. Alone…naked. Within reach.

She sucked in a breath. Oh…crap. The worst had happened, hadn’t it?

Kimberly had figured it out, but Harlow had done her best to deny it until the truth practically vibrated in her bones. How had she ever fooled herself into thinking she could fall for West…when she’d already fallen for Beck?

“What’s wrong, dove?” he asked gently. He came around the desk and sat at the edge, turning her chair to trap her between his legs. “You were twinkles one moment, sullen the next.”

He always read her so well, while she always struggled to make sense of his moods. Life wasn’t fair. “It’s nothing I want to discuss right now,” she said, refusing to lie to him. But she had to talk to someone about this.

Who? She had no confidants, and any secrets she revealed to others could be used as a weapon against her. A game of “humiliate Harlow for sport.”

“What will it take to get you to trust me, hmm?”

Was he serious? “Beck, for the past three weeks you’ve treated me like I’m a carrier of cholera. Why do you want my trust?”

“You’re my friend.”

But I want to be more. “Yes,” she said, and cleared her throat. “You’re right. I am.”

“So talk to me like a friend. Share your past with me. Tell me what changed you in high school.”

Her mouth went dry. Always they circled back to this. “Forget I agreed to be your friend. We’re enemies.”

“You’ll tell me what’s easy, but nothing that’s hard.”

“I don’t like to think about what changed me. It hurts.”

“Pain fades. Rip off the bandage and give the wound a chance to heal.”

“No.” If she told him, she’d have to show him. If she showed him, he’d never want her again. And right now he wanted her. He had to. The way he was looking at her…

He leaned down until his nose almost brushed against hers. “One day, Harlow, you’ll open up to me.”

“One day,” she whispered. “Maybe. But probably not.”

He cupped her nape, the heat of him making her gasp. “Definitely. And in more ways than one. I’ll make sure of it.”

Michel’s Review

The Hotter You Burn by Gena Showalter is the second book in the sizzling hot contempory series, The Original Heartbreakers. These bad boys are going to burn up the pages and smolder your heart.

Beck Ockley is the womanizer of their family. He goes through women like water. His only rules are one night only and no repeats. He’s not interested in relationships. He just wants to have a little fun. His womanizing ways are a deflection of what is really below the surface of Beck Ockley. Being a product of the foster care system has left a negative effect on his heart. He has a jaded view of love. When he catches Harlow Glass, the town pariah, he is in for a change of heart. Can he handle it?

Harlow Glass is the true definition of “mean girl”. Her heartless antics and cruel behaviors in her youth have made her the town pariah. She was truly a horrible person, that is until something happened when she was a teenager. Since that time she has become a recluse. She withdrew from high school and was not seen again by the townsfolk. In the past ten years her mother has died, she lost her beloved home, and has become a homeless recluse. She can’t get a job in town because of her past behaviors. She is the most hated person in the area. She is now homeless and close to starving. When she is caught stealing a pie from her former home by Beck Oakley it is a blessing and curse at the same time.

Beck is touched by Harlow. He understands what it feels like to be down and out. He understands that mistakes can haunt a person for their entire life. He respects the fact that Harlow owns her mistakes and misdeeds. He admires her strengths as well as her vulnerabilities. What he doesn’t realize is that he has fallen head over heels for Harlow Glass.

Harlow is grateful for Beck’s help. She is grateful for her new job. She is grateful for new home. She strives to make amends to all those she has hurt. She has regrets. She also has dreams. She wants to be truly loved. She wants a solid relationship that leads to commitment and family. Beck’s flirtations and advances are thrilling but not enough. He can’t give her what she wants most.

Both are falling in love and changing. What is it going to take for Beck to surrender his heart completely? Will it take a terrible life threatening event to wake Beck up?

This book was loaded with angst and passion. I absolutely loved Harlow. She owned her past and never tried to flinch away from it. Beck was a bit wishy washy when it came to matters of the heart but after what he went through as a child it was valid.

I love this series and am looking forward to the final book. These heartbreakers have stolen my heart.

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About Gena Showalter

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty books in paranormal and contemporary romances, as well as young adult novels. Her series include White Rabbit Chronicles, Angels of the Dark, Otherworld Assassins, Lords of the Underworld, Alien Huntress and Intertwined.

Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine, and Seventeen Magazine, and have been translated all over the world. The critics have called her books “sizzling page-turners” and “utterly spellbinding stories”, while Showalter herself has been called “a star on the rise”.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + 5 Star Review : Eight Second Angel by Jessie Evans – Lonesome Point,Texas Series – Book 7

Posted on 07/29/2015 by shellbellereads

Eight Second Angel: The Ballad of Lily Grace (Lonesome Point, Texas Book 7)

Jessie Evans

Releases July 28th

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Love is heaven that hurts like hell…

Rodeo cowboy Canyon O’Donnell is a champion with more national titles than any pro bull rider in history. He’s also one week away from ending his own life. Haunted by mistakes from his past, Canyon isn’t looking for redemption, let alone love. But when a beautiful girl with her own tragic past practically falls into his lap, he can’t resist taking her under his wing. He can’t promise her forever, but maybe he can help ease her pain.

A little over a year ago, Lily Lawson was murdered. Now she’s back on earth in a new body, sent to redeem a lost soul before it’s too late. But her first good will mission is complicated by a powerful attraction to the tortured cowboy she’s been sent to save. Soon she wishes she could promise Canyon forever, but she only has a few days and time is running out.

Lily’s willing to do whatever it takes to save Canyon’s life. But what if the one thing he needs—her love—is the one thing she can never give?

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Thoughts of tomorrow’s encounter should have filled her head too full to dwell on the pretty cowboy splashing around in the water below, but her brain had other ideas. Her sleep-deprived synapses were weary of stressful thoughts and eager for something to take her mind off heavier issues. Consequently, she had a hard time keeping her eyes from Canyon’s muscled back as he swam to the far bank and an even harder time controlling her response to the moment he emerged from the river, his soaked shorts clinging to the curves of his ass. The man had one phenomenal backside. No doubt about it. Swallowing hard, Lily wrenched her gaze from the swimming hole, taking her time spreading her towel out on the rocks near the bend in the river, doing her best to pull herself together. She wished Canyon hadn’t known about this particular spot. All the other tourists were down at the well-marked river beach with the manned lifeguard stand, which meant they were alone here, with nothing to distract Canyon from noticing that she was practically drooling all over herself. She’d never been ruled by lust before—she’d only slept with two men, though she’d certainly been attracted to others—but a bear claw had never tasted as delicious as the one at the donut shop last night, either. Time away from a human body had sharpened her senses, making her a slave to every sweet-smelling scent on the breeze, each bite of suddenly magical-tasting food, and the hunger to feel another body warm against hers. Preferably Canyon’s, the way it had been last night. It was all sorts of wrong, probably akin to a nurse lusting after her patient. She’d been sent here to help this man, not think about how good he looked in a swimsuit. She was ashamed of herself, but not so ashamed that she could keep her eyes from drifting from the romance novel she’d purchased last night to where Canyon frolicked in the water. Romance had clearly been a bad choice. She should have brought poor Grace’s well-worn copy of The Bell Jar and spent an hour inside the mind of a depressed genius, instead. But she was tired of sad, depressing things. She didn’t want to think about being in a body her sons wouldn’t recognize or that the man she would always love like a piece of her own soul was married to someone else. She didn’t want to think about only having a week to save a good man’s life or what waited for her on the other side of this brief return to earth.

Tracey’s Review

After so many months wandering the world in-between, light and weightless as a feather, coming back into a human body hurt like hell.

And so begins the story of Lily Grace Lawson and Canyon O’Donnell in EIGHT SECOND ANGEL, the follow-up novella to ROPES AND REVENGE in the Lonesome Point, Texas, series by Jessie Evans.

Lily Grace, wife of John Lawson, was killed in ROPES AND REVENGE, and, feeling that she still has unfinished business in the here and now, has been in the ‘in-between,’ unwilling to cross over. Canyon O’Donnell has suffered great loss himself, and, feeling that this world would be better without him, has decided to take matters into his own hands. It’s up to Lily Grace to show him just how precious life is.

Jessie is one of my go-to authors. I just love the way that she writes, her words, her characters, the love that she infuses into each of her stories. Jessie’s Lonesome Point, Texas, series is one of my favorites, full of strong sexy cowboys, women full of sass and strength, and tales of overcoming odds that sometimes seem impossible.

EIGHT SECOND ANGEL is a true second-chance romance, of sorts. Both Lily Grace and Canyon are living in the past, and it isn’t until the possibility of losing each other in the now arises that each are able to let go of what was and find the redemption that they seek.

This story may be one of my absolute favorites in the series. It’s full of love, loss, tears, smiles, and, yes, plenty of steamy sexy time, too. Canyon and Lily Grace touched my heart, making me want their HEA from early on. I happily recommend this book, and the whole Lonesome Point series, with 5+ ‘I’m crying, I’m smiling, life IS good and beautiful’ stars.

The Lonesome Point Series:

Leather and Lace

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Saddles and Sin

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Diamonds and Dust

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12 Dates of Christmas

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Glitter and Grit

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Sunny with a Chance of True Love: The Ballad of Ugly Ross

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Chaps and Chance

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Ropes and Revenge

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Googleplay: http://bit.ly/1GTIHEk
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iBooks: http://bit.ly/1uO3BUF

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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Jessie Evans, gave up a career as an international woman of mystery to write the sexy, contemporary Southern romances she loves to read.

She’s married to the man of her dreams, and together they’re raising a few adorable, mischievous children in a cottage in the jungle. She grew up in rural Arkansas, spending summers running wild, being chewed by chiggers, and now appreciates her home in a chigger-free part of the world even more.

When she’s not writing, Jessie enjoys playing her dulcimer (badly), sewing the worlds ugliest quilts to give to her friends, going for bike rides with her house full of boys, and drifting in and out on the waves, feeling thankful for sun, surf, and lovely people to share them with.

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Forever Bound: A Not Yet Rock Star by Deanna Roy – The Forever Series – Book 4

Posted on 07/28/2015 by shellbellereads

Forever Bound: A Not Yet Rock Star

Forever Series – Book 4

By Deanna Roy

Synopsis

Jenny is a girlfriend-for-hire, the platonic kind.

While under contract with her movie director boyfriend, glamour has ruled. Designer gowns. Red-carpet premieres. And, of course, seeing her face in the tabloids.

She loves tabloids.

But her reign has come to an end. Her sugar daddy has fallen in love — with someone else. Her contract is over and tonight she has to end it publicly by making sure the paparazzi “catches” her with another man.

She just has to find the man.

Chance has been hitchhiking across the US, playing and singing for tips. This is the life he’s always imagined, and the farther he gets from his disastrous family in Tennessee, the better he feels.

An unexpected invitation to sing with an indie blues group at a movie premiere party gives him a sweet taste of fame. As a bonus, a beautiful girl with pink dreadlocks only has eyes for him.

But the collision between Jenny and Chance is more emotional and intense than either of them expected. When the scandal hits the news, Chance’s family finds him, pushing him to come home and face his demons.

The night has even more consequences for Jenny. She needs to find Chance, but nobody knows anything about him, not even his last name.

Her journey takes her across the country and into the disaster Chance is running from. But she can’t give up on him, because what neither of them realized is that sometimes a single night can be the beginning of forever.

–Full length standalone HEA.
–Includes characters from Forever Innocent and Forever Sheltered and even *surprise* — singer Dylan Wolf from JJ Knight’s Revenge and Blue Shoes series.
–May require tissues.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Michel’s Review

Forever Bound by Deanna Roy is the fourth book in the Forever series. The Forever series is one of the most emotional and touching series that I have read. Each of the characters in this series is unique, charming, and faced some harsh realities in life. Their strength and perseverance has been admiral. Their dedication their friends and those they love is commendable. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series. Forever Bound came as a complete surprise to me. It was unpredictable and quite unexpected.

Jenny has been a key secondary character throughout the Forever series. She has come across as a delightful free spirit that loves her friends fiercely. She helps them through all their ups and downs and is their biggest cheerleader. On the surface she comes across as an easy going yet colorful spirit. Beneath the surface, she has her own insecurities and a past she hides behind with her rainbows. Jenny is a positive person despite her past.

When she has to stage a public scene/ break up with her fake boyfriend, a famous Hollywood director, she is feeling a loss. Even though he was a fake boyfriend, he was her security blanket and close friend.

When she meets the sexy singer of the band at the party where her break up is to be staged, he is the perfect candidate. With his good looks and sex appeal, it is going to be a pleasure staging the scene. What she didn’t count on was the intense attraction to Chance. What starts as a staged scene turns into a sizzling hot one night stand. Sex on the beach takes on a whole new definition.

That one hot encounter will take on a whole new life once the paparazzi exposes her escapades on the beach. Her life is turned upside down.

Chance is a drifter. He moves from town to town, playing his music, and making enough money to move on. His one night stand with Jenny on the beach has left a lasting impression he can’t forget. It also exposed him. He walked away from his family in Chattanooga, TN. He’s left behind the mess of his life and refuses to return home.

That one night stand will change both Jenny and Chance’s life. It will make them both face their pasts. It will bring something they never knew they wanted or needed. It will bound them together forever.

Not only was Forever Bound a touching, emotional romance; it literally hit close to home for me. I was amazed at the accuracy of the locations throughout the book. Everything about Chattanooga was pin point accurate. I live in this area. The descriptions, names of various places, and street locations was dead on. She captured the feel of the town. She captured the Bible Belt mentality.

Another thing I liked about Forever Bound was the musical references. Dylan Wolf, a rock star character, from the Blue Shoes series by JJ Knight (aka Deanna Roy) made some strong cameo appearances. It was great to see these two series tied together.

Forever Bound can be read as a stand alone romance or in series order. I highly recommend this book. It will touch your heart.

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The Forever Series Box Set

Books 1-3

By Deanna Roy

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Steamy. Emotional. And now, all in one boxed set.

The fist three standalone novels in the USA Today bestselling Forever series is available in one volume!
“One of my favorite love stories, ever.” — Brittany and Biana Blab Books
“A love you wish everyone could experience.” — Book Drunk Blog

BOOK 1: FOREVER INNOCENT
A Top 100 Book on Amazon

“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.

BOOK 2: FOREVER LOVED

“Delivered with sensitivity, brutal honesty, emotional scenes, and an everlasting hope that love can conquer all.” — Hesperia Loves Books
“Did I cry? Oh yeah, but not for the same reasons as before. Will this book stay on my shelf for years to come! You betcha!” — 2 Bookaholics

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.

But a message from Rosa, a prostitute he met during their time apart, brings his life to a crashing halt. She claims Gavin has fathered a son. He doesn’t know if he can trust Rosa, 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.

BOOK 3: FOREVER SHELTERED

“Hooked me from Chapter 1.” — Fire and Ice Book Reviews
“Put this on your TBR list and bump it to the top.” — Eat Sleep Read Blog

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.

But when Dr. Darion Marks comes into her art therapy room to ask a favor for a special patient, Tina recognizes the haunted look he buries beneath his stoic professionalism. So rather than be forced to ditch the handsome doctor after a single night, she decides not to date him at all.

So how exactly DO they end up half-naked in Surgical Suite B?

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.

Nobody believes this can end well, but Dr. Darion and Tina have one thing going for them – a fierce passion for each other that just might solve all their problems.

THREE COMPLETE FULL-LENGTH NOVELS.
Catch up on the series for one discounted price.
There will be five books in the series.
Book Four, FOREVER BOUND, is now available.

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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.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Giveaway

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Happy Release + Review: The Bourbon Kings by J. R. Ward

Posted on 07/28/2015 by shellbellereads

The Bourbon Kings

New Contemporary Series: The Bourbon Kings

Release Date: July 28, 2015

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood delivers the first novel in an enthralling new series set amid the shifting dynamics of a Southern family defined by wealth and privilege—and compromised by secrets, deceit, and scandal….

For generations, the Bradford family has worn the mantle of kings of the bourbon capital of the world. Their sustained wealth has afforded them prestige and privilege—as well as a hard-won division of class on their sprawling estate, Easterly. Upstairs, a dynasty that by all appearances plays by the rules of good fortune and good taste. Downstairs, the staff who work tirelessly to maintain the impeccable Bradford facade. And never the twain shall meet.

For Lizzie King, Easterly’s head gardener, crossing that divide nearly ruined her life. Falling in love with Tulane, the prodigal son of the bourbon dynasty, was nothing that she intended or wanted—and their bitter breakup only served to prove her instincts were right. Now, after two years of staying away, Tulane is finally coming home again, and he is bringing the past with him. No one will be left unmarked: not Tulane’s beautiful and ruthless wife; not his older brother, whose bitterness and bad blood know no bounds; and especially not the ironfisted Bradford patriarch, a man with few morals, fewer scruples, and many, many terrible secrets.

As family tensions—professional and intimately private—ignite, Easterly and all its inhabitants are thrown into the grips of an irrevocable transformation, and only the cunning will survive.

Michel’s Review

Fans of J. R. Ward are in for a treat with the release of her new contemporary series , The Bourbon Kings. This new series has been optioned for television.

The Bourbon Kings series is quite different from the previous series by J. R. Ward. The writing and tone is in a class by itself that follows along the lines of contemporary fiction rather than romance fiction. It does not have the fast paced, intense action that readers are used to in the Black Dagger Brotherhood or Fallen Angels series. The characters are not the hard core alphas with loads of attitude to back them up. This series is based upon a prestigious family and their elite world. The characters are elitist that have been raised with entitlement and vast wealth.

The first half of the book revolves around world building and character introductions. It is very wordy and overly descriptive. The pacing is slow and tedious. I found myself getting bored and quickly losing interest and then the J. R. Ward magic happened. The second half of the book was enthralling. I could not put the book down. The characters came to life. The family dynamics became complex and mystifying. The plot clearly started to unfold and set their world into play. The mystery and intrigue as well as the inner workings of the family kept me captivated. In the end there was a cliffhanger that had me interested in what was going to come next. The cliffhanger was not angsty or a do or die moment but an integral part of the story that is beginning to unfold.

After I finished the book and tried to formulate my thoughts I could clearly see how this is written for television. I think that this series is going to be a very entertaining television series that will have the same kind of effect on viewers that Dallas and Dynasty had.

I can’t wait to see what happens next in The Bourbon Kings series.

# # #

Jessica Rowley Pell Bird was born on 1969 in Massachusetts, USA. She is the daughter of Maxine F. and W. Gillette Bird, Jr. She began writing as a child, penning her thoughts in diaries as well as inventing short stories. She read her first Harlequin Presents novel in a rose garden when she was in her teens. She was hooked immediately. By the time she went to college, she had boxes and boxes of Harlequins and Silhouettes. Every year, her mother would ask why all those books had to live in the house and Jess would reply that if even one of them disappeared she would know. (She’d catalogued them.)

Jess finished her first romance manuscript the summer before her freshman year of college. She attended Smith College and graduated with a double major in history and art history. She then received a law degree from Albany Law School. Shortly after that, she began working in the healthcare industry in Boston. She spent many years as one of the premier medical center’s Chief of Staff. While working as a lawyer in Boston, she completed two novels more and started a number of partials. In 2001, Bird married John Neville Blakemore III. Both her mother and her new husband kept telling her to send something in to an agent, a publisher, the Tooth Fairy, anyone. She thought they were nuts, but eventually got her nerve up and bought a lot of stamps. Since getting published, she has written contemporary romances as Jessica Bird and paranormal romances as J. R. Ward. She has been a Rita Award finalist, received two Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice nominations and has been a HOLT medallion finalist.

New England born and bred, Jess is surprised to find herself living south of the Mason Dixon line. (But that’s what happens when you marry a Southern gentleman.) She and her husband live with their golden retriever, who oversees her writing in a supervisory role.

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Release Blitz + Review + Giveaway: Frisk Me by Lauren Layne – New York’s Finest Series – Book 1

Posted on 07/28/2015 by shellbellereads

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FRISK ME

New York’s Finest #1

Lauren Layne

Releasing July 28th,2015

Forever Romance

After a photograph of Luc Moretti saving a tourist hits social media, he instantly becomes New York’s most famous and beloved cop. When a major network decides to run a special on the “American Hero,” Luc’s boss gives him no choice but to cooperate in the name of good exposure for the department. Luc doesn’t mind the celebrity status-what he does mind is the gorgeous brunette journalist who’s been assigned to follow his every move. Especially since she also happens to be the same knockout that rejected him rather publicly the week before.

Ava Sims is a woman who gets what she wants. And what she wants is to be CBC’s lead anchor-but to get there, she’ll need to nail the fluff piece on the playboy cop. Luc Moretti is everything Ava knows to stay away from: a stubborn charmer with a hero-complex. But the more Ava gets to know Luc and his oddball family, the more she realizes that beneath the swagger and the blue uniform is a complex man who makes her heart beat too fast. Soon, Ava’s doing the unthinkable, and falling for the best of New York’s finest …

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Michel’s Review

Frisk Me by Lauren Layne is the first book in the New York’s Finest series. This series features the Moretti family. The Moretti’s are New York law enforcement royalty. Their family has a law enforcement legacy serving the citizens of New York City.

Luc Moretti is the youngest of the Moretti clan. Like his father and brothers, he knew his destiny was in law enforcement. He takes his job seriously. He strives to be the best police officer he can be. At the same time he is also frustrated with having to go by the book and follow step by step procedures. By doing so, he has had to deal with an incident that will haunt him for the rest of his life.

When Luc performs a heroic deed that ends up on social media it puts him on the radar of a television network. He is forced to work with Ava Sims, an annoying reporter. He is on guard and livid that he has to deal with her while trying to do his job. Dealing with her on a daily basis is even worse.

Ava Sims is an ambitious reporter. Her segment on Luc Moretti , An American Hero, is the story that is going to land her the lead anchor position on her network. She won’t let anything stand in her way. What she didn’t count on was falling for Luc Moretti. She didn’t count on the American Hero, Luc Moretti having dark secrets. Secrets he holds close to his heart. Exposing his secrets will land her the job. Exposing his secrets will surely make her lose his love. The ball is in her court. Her choices could destroy them both.

I enjoyed the Moretti family dynamics. I loved Luc Moretti. He was a sincere man that valued the law. I did not like Ava Sims at all. She was a bit too harsh and self centered even when she finally surrendered to her feelings for Luc. She never came across as sincere.

Overall Frisk Me was a good book. I am looking forward to the next books in this series featuring the other Moretti brothers. They are a dynamic family.

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Lauren
Layne is the USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance.

Prior
to becoming an author, Lauren worked in e-commerce and web-marketing. In 2011,
she and her husband moved from Seattle to New York City, where Lauren decided
to pursue a full-time writing career. It took six months to get her first book
deal (despite ardent assurances to her husband that it would only take three).
Since then, Lauren’s gone on to publish ten books, including the bestselling
Stiletto series, with several more on the way in 2015.

Lauren
currently lives in Chicago with her husband and spoiled Pomeranian. When not
writing, you’ll find her at happy hour, running at a doggedly slow pace, or
trying to straighten her naturally curly hair.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Release Blitz + Review : Wicked Fall by Sawyer Bennett – The Wicked Horse Series – Book 1

Posted on 07/28/2015 by shellbellereads

Never in your wildest dreams could you begin to imagine all the filthy and depraved things that go on inside The Wicked Horse. Step inside and Woolf Jennings will make every one of your dirty fantasies come true.

He’s covered in a facade of deception. An enticing blend of multi-millionaire and hot-as-hell Wyoming rancher, those that think they know Woolf Jennings admire his abilities to preside as CEO of his family’s cattle and oil empire. But only a privileged few truly understand what fuels the glitter of depravity in those gorgeous blue eyes. Only a few know he’s opened up a sinfully erotic and private sex club named The Wicked Horse right at the base of the beautiful Teton Mountain range.

Sweet Callie Hayes has returned home to Wyoming and is looking forward to starting her life over again. After a night of impetuosity, she’s managed to put herself right in Woolf’s line of sight… the man who she foolishly offered up her virginity to years ago and was flatly turned down.

Now Woolf is seeing that Callie is all grown up and has a kinky side to her that leaves him as confused as it does turned on. Worse yet, both Callie’s dirty desires and sweet heart are getting under his skin, and making Woolf question everything he’s ever believed about himself.

Michel’s Review

Sawyer Bennett is becoming the queen of erotic romance. Her new series is going to take the reader on a whole new kind of western adventure. These red hot cowboys are going to make your panties melt off. They are going to show you a whole new rodeo. Their rodeo is at the Wicked Horse, an exclusive sex club. They will redefine the definition of bull riding, bucking broncos, and roping. They will show you their expertise in tag team riding.

Wicked Fall is the first book in the Wild Horse series. It features Wolff Jennings and Callie Hayes. These two are unforgettable. Their passion for each other is timeless.

Wolff Jennings is going to show the readers that big brother is not the only Jennings with sex appeal. He is taking his appeal on a sexier and kinkier level. He and his best friend are going to open the Silo at the Wicked Horse and tame their fillies by their own terms one touch at a time. Wolff is all about the wild ride. He’s out to make his own mark in the world by one or more sexy brands at a time.

Wolff has finally built a place where he can live out his wildest fantasies, embrace his sexual escapades on his own terms. He has created a club where others like him can express their sexuality without judgement or fear. It is a place that will cater to their needs and fulfill them all.

When Callie Hayes returns to town it is a whole new rodeo. Callie wants to explore her sexuality and find what her true desires are. She has fumbled in an unfullfilling relationship. She has faced rejection from Wolff in previous years. She wants to define her own sexuality on her own terms. When Wolff Jennings steps in and she discovers the Silo, they are both in for a wild ride.

Callie will find herself. Wolff will find out that there is more to life than great kinky sex. Both will face choices and life changes.

It all started at the Wild Horse and ended up down home on the range.

Sawyer Bennett delivered a sizzling hot book. This book had a lot of kink and dirty sex. This book also had a story with grit. When it came down to it, Callie and Wolff did more than scorch the sheets. They found a love that would last a lifetime. They also found their true selves along the way.

Wicked Fall is very explicit. It is not a light fluffy romance. It is an erotic adventure with the bonus of a touching romance.

Coming in 2016

Cain Murphy is as big and bad as they come. After serving in the Marines, he’s returned home to Wyoming and now works as head of security at the exclusive sex club, The Wicked Horse. His job is to protect not only the patrons, but to zealously guard the secret existence of the club itself.

Sloane Preston is all about discovering secrets. As an undercover reporter, she’s determined to reveal the truth behind the facade of The Wicked Horse and expose it for all the world to see. She just didn’t count on her pathway into the club coming at the hands of one gorgeously scarred and bad ass bouncer who manages to easily possess her body and soul.

While Cain’s not looking for anyone to catch his eye, Sloane did it all the same, and he’s not bemoaning the fact that she’s as wickedly kinky as he is. As both get caught up in the sinful fantasies that only The Wicked Horse can create, secrets and loyalties will be tested and hearts will risk being broken.

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling 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, the Last Call Series and the Carolina Cold Fury Hockey Series.

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Release Blitz + 6 Star Review + 2015 Favorite : Him by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

Posted on 07/28/2015 by shellbellereads

Profile portrait of businessman working on laptop in black suit at studio

Him

By Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy

Release Date: July 28, 2015

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

Jamie Canning has never been able to figure out how he lost his closest friend. Four years ago, his tattooed, wise-cracking, rule-breaking roommate cut him off without an explanation. So what if things got a little weird on the last night of hockey camp the summer they were eighteen? It was just a little drunken foolishness. Nobody died.

Ryan Wesley’s biggest regret is coaxing his very straight friend into a bet that pushed the boundaries of their relationship. Now, with their college teams set to face off at the national championship, he’ll finally get a chance to apologize. But all it takes is one look at his longtime crush, and the ache is stronger than ever.

Jamie has waited a long time for answers, but walks away with only more questions—can one night of sex ruin a friendship? If not, how about six more weeks of it? When Wesley turns up to coach alongside Jamie for one more hot summer at camp, Jamie has a few things to discover about his old friend…and a big one to learn about himself.

Warning: contains sexual situations, skinnydipping, shenanigans in an SUV and proof that coming out to your family on social media is a dicey proposition.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Michel’s Review

I am a huge fan of both Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy. Both of these authors are extremely gifted. They both create dynamic characters that come to life. They both have their own unique writing styles that when blended together is magnificent. Elle is known for creating passionate, sexy loves scenes that leave the readers panting. Sarina is known for giving her characters vulnerabilities as well as strengths that make them very real to the readers. Together they created a story that is not only passionate but also very endearing.

Him has the WOW factor in every aspect. The characters shine. Their story is captivating. This is not your typical gay romance. This is a story of two beautiful people finding a loving relationship that will last beyond time. It is a story of acceptance, self respect, overcoming obstacles, and being the person you were meant to be. It is a story of becoming the best of what you can possibly be.

The chemistry and passion between Ryan and Jamie is red hot. It is clearly one of the most passionate and sexiest books I have read. The romance is touching and will pull your heart strings. The friendship is endearing, fun, and respectful.

Two friends that become lovers. Two boys growing into men exploring their sexuality. Two men finding out more about themselves and accepting who they are. Two men surrendering their hearts to one another and giving their souls. Two men building a relationship that will make them both happy for many years. Two men building a beautiful life. The added bonus… they are Hockey Players! All written with perfection.

I loved Him by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy. It was a love story beyond perfection. Not to mention hot…hot…hot !

About The Authors

Sarina Bowen

Sarina Bowen writes steamy, angsty Contemporary Romance and New Adult fiction from the wilds of Vermont.

The Year We Fell Down, Book #1 in The Ivy Years series, began breaking hearts in March 2014. Book #2, The Year We Hid Away, is brand new.

For Harlequin-E, Sarina writes the Gravity series. Coming in From the Cold features an angsty downhill ski racer and one of the most unique plot conflicts in contemporary romance today.

Sarina enjoys skiing, coffee products and a nice glass of wine. She lives with her family, eight chickens and more ski gear and hockey equipment than seems necessary.

She would be honored to connect with you at http://www.sarinabowen.com.

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Elle Kennedy

A USA Today bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a BA in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Newsletter

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Release Blitz + Review: Just One Lie by Kyra Davis – Just One Night Series – Book 2

Posted on 07/28/2015 by shellbellereads

Just One Lie

Just One Night Series – Book 2

By Kyra Davis

Release Date: July 28, 2015

Synopsis

In the instant international sensation Just One Night, sensible Kasie Fitzgerald unleashed her passions—and found herself—through an explosive affair. In Just One Lie, we meet Kasie’s wild and tortured sister, whose impulsivity and lack of self-control has set off a chain of events that changes her family forever.

Melody Fitzgerald is the opposite of the “perfect” daughter. The lead singer of an indie rock band, she is impulsive and creative, with a rebellious streak that both defines her and becomes her greatest enemy. Her lover, the enticing and unpredictable Ash, shares her free spirit and penchant for trouble. On the face of it, he seems to be her perfect match.

So why is she so drawn to her soft spoken, reliable drummer, Brad Witmer? How can a man who wears polo shirts and reads the financial section of the paper be of any interest to her at all? And why on earth does someone like that appear to be so captivated by her?

Before she knows it, Melody finds herself on a path of self-discovery, passion, and affairs of the heart. But will a dark secret from her past derail it all? Or will its exposure be the very thing that unburdens her heart and allows her to seek a future with the one man who loves her completely?

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Excerpt

It is the perfect moment…until I spot him standing near the corner of the room. He’s almost entirely in the shadows, his features barely visible, but still, I recognize him. There’s something about the way that man holds himself. Right now he’s leaning against a beam, his arms crossed over his chest, chin up. Like with a lion, it’s difficult to tell if he’s on the verge of sleeping or attacking. The first time I saw him-when was that, a year ago? No, over thirteen months since we met-I couldn’t stop staring. I loved his high, chiseled cheekbones and his lightly tanned skin that hinted at a possible Native American heritage, or maybe Latino. But then his bright green eyes insisted that the story wasn’t so straightforward. Oh, and I loved his tribal tattoos and the way his full lips curved into a slow, sensual smile when he saw me for the first time at that club in Seattle. An aspiring musician is how he described himself, but that night, when he sang to me, I could see that his talent was a lot more than aspirational.
His first name is Ash-maybe it’s short for Asher or Ashley, I don’t know, and at the time I didn’t care. I just recall thinking that a man with a name like that had to have a story to tell, one that involved passion and adventure and yeah, okay, maybe a little destruction. We talked for hours and I had felt like I understood him in a way that I had never understood anyone else. And then, later, I realized I didn’t know a thing about him. All our words and intimacies had left us strangers.
Ash is the stranger who took my life.
One night with him, one night of rapture. That’s all it took to put an end to Melody Fitzgerald.
And as if killing me wasn’t enough, this son of a bitch has reappeared and he’s fucking with my moment!
I pull my eyes away and find Rick, the owner of the club, standing at the edge of the bar. Next to him is a couple. A man with light brown hair and chiseled chin with his arm wrapped around an ironed-straight blonde with the sinuous figure of a runway model. All these beautiful people are here to see me! That’s what I have to focus on. Not him. Never, ever him.
And yet, even as I refuse to bring my eyes back to Ash, my mind can’t seem to leave him.
The music pushes me forward, forcing me to continue even as I feel my chest tighten. There’s not enough air in here for this. How could I have not noticed that before? Tonio jumps into his guitar solo and I use the opportunity to take a deep breath, inadvertently inhaling the unmistakable scent of marijuana floating up from somewhere on the dance floor. Doesn’t matter, doesn’t matter. None of this can matter, nothing but the music and what it can do. With new resolve I fall back into the song, attacking it with even more ferocity than before. The crowd hears it and loves it.
And now it’s me that’s moving, across the stage and back again, running, screaming, and the crowd screams right back. This is everything. But then there he is, leaning against that beamn, just…watching me. Has he followed me? Isn’t one death enough for him? The question stirs up some rage I’ve been trying to set aside since our last meeting. Impulsively I knock the microphone stand to the ground with the smack of my open palm. The crowd thinks it’s part of the act and so I go on, finding that I can rejoice in anger as much as any other emotion. As we reach the last stanza, Traci’s and Tonio’s voices join mine, and the sound is an assult on anyone who would ever dream of challenging us. Maybe tomorrow they’ll say I’m a cross between Courtney Love and Fiona Apple. Maybe they’ll say the whole band is destined for fame and greatness. Yeah, that’s what they’ll say, those who are sober enough to remember. But right now they just cheer as our song comes to an end.
“Thank you,” I whisper into the mic. I look back at Ash. Even from here I cans see that he’s clapping, but it’s a slow, purposeful movement. He puts his hand to his mouth, kisses his palm, and then extends his arm leisurely toward me. It’s not so much that he’s blowing me a kiss as he is offering it to me. Inviting me to climb down from my pedestal and take it from him. Again I inhale deeply. “So, I gotta ask you guys something,” I continue. “It’s the end of an era and you’re bringing in the new millennium at Apocalypse listening to a band called fucking Resurrection. Is that tripping anyone else out?” There were yells of approval and at least one person cries hell yes! “By the way,” I add, “it’s really just Resurrection, only our parents call us fucking Resurrection.” General laughter and one woman screams out, “Parents suck!”
Ooh, if these guys only knew how much I agree with that one. “Incase you missed it, this stud on the guitar is Tonio.” Tonio strums out a few wrenching chords as the crowd cheers. “The hot chick in the leather mini is Traci.” Traci plays the opening piano notes of “Sympathy for the Devil.” It’s doubtful that this crowd recognizes it even as they whistle and scream for her, but I do, and the reference makes me laugh. “And allow me to introduce our new drummer! Brad’s only been with us for a week and he’s killing it, am I right?” The crowd roars as Brad launches into a drum solo that is so intense, so aggressive, and so beautiful I turn my back on the audience, momentarily forgetting all of them, even my killer, as I lock eyes with this man who must have sold his soul for this kind of talent. His lips curve into a little half smile as his sticks fly across the stretched membrane surfaces. Physically he doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of the group-too athletic, too clean cut, too aristocratic-but the rest of his viciously beautiful rhythm is downright sinful.
When he ends with a perfectly executed clash, I realize for the first time that I’ve been holding my breath. The crowd cries out, solidifying the triumph as I match his smile with my own and slowly pivot back to the room. “And of course, I’m Mercy. I…” but I give up on continuing as the crowd erupts again, drowning me out with their cheers, chanting my name.
My new name, a choice I made for myself only months ago, now reverberating through the room: Mercy, Mercy, Mercy. It’s on the lips and tongues of everyone in this room…except for his. Beneath the harmonious hum of voices, like an insidious undercurrent, I can hear his silent accusations: That is not who you are. You are not Mercy.
I swallow and look into the spotlight, letting the light assault my vision, temporarily turning the entire club into a murky blur as the crowd quiets enough for me to speak again. “So we got”-I turn and point to the large red numbers projected by a laser clock onto the wall behind my head-“fifteen minutes until the four horsemen arrive. I’m thinking we better stop wasting time and get back into this!”
The crowd cheers again. I spot Rick giving me a thumbs-up as the rugby guy next to him pumps his fist in the air. And again Tonio strums the strings of his guitar. And again my voice rises high then low, elating the crowd and giving me the fortitude to turn my thoughts away from the beast who watches me from the shadows.
And when it’s 11:59 we stop midsong. I hold my hands up in the air and point to the numbers. “It’s almost Y2K time, people!” I cry and glance back at Rick, who is staring intently at his watch. And then he lifts his hand and begins to tick off the seconds with his fingers as I count them down into the mic, “Ten, nine, eight…”
The crowd’s counting with me. “…seven, six…” The beautiful black man has raised his glass in the air; a young woman behind him scrambles on top of the bar with a small video camera in her hand. “…three…” The muscle boy is bounding his fist against the stage. “…two, one!”
And the room erupts. Confetti flies everywhere and the kind of fragmented light that comes from a disco ball splashes across the celebrants. Tonio pops a bottle of cheap champagne he’d been hiding in the wings and douses everyone in the band with it before passing it around. I let the bubbles tickle my tongue, then turn back to the microphone and launch into a happier, more celebratory tune. The people standing beneath us have woven together like vines against the wall, limbs tangled with limbs, lips against lips. There is no separation, no individual distinctions. They all have become a snarled mass of exhilaration and lust.
Except for Ash. He continues to just stand there, apart from all of it. He’s simply watching me. Waiting for me to come to him and claim my kiss.

Tracey’s Review

Doing everything she can to bury her past, Mercy Raye is on a quest to find herself, to define who she truly is. Because her old self is dead, but Mercy is alive, and taking no prisoners.

I am a fan of angsty books. I mean, I really like a book that’s not necessarily a straight shot to the HEA. Let me tell you, JUST ONE LIE by Kyra Davis fills the bill and then some.

Mercy is all about the now. She has been through more than any 22-year-old should have to, but she’s determined to completely reinvent her life. Self-destructive by nature, Mercy is quick to slide back into old bad habits in her desire to love and be loved. The beginning of this book was slow going for me. It took me a while to both appreciate Mercy and to get into the story, but, at the same time, I could not put it down. It was sort of like watching a train wreck, because the choices that Mercy continued to make often led to heartbreak. Ultimately, though, what I really liked about JUST ONE LIE is that Kyra Davis has written a book where redemption is ultimately attainable, available if we’re willing to do the work to get there. When Mercy has finally hit bottom, when she realizes that life is hard as hell, but that it’s worth fighting for, she’s able to make the changes that she needs to to really turn her life around.

And, despite all of the drama and angst, JUST ONE LIE is absolutely a love story. The men in Mercy’s life mark her evolution and growth, and, when she’s finally at a place where she’s who she wants to be, when she loves the person that she is and the life she’s living, she’s able to finally lay her ghosts to rest and find the love she’s looked for her whole life.

I have to admit that I wasn’t sure what my final feelings would be for a good deal of this book, but I can honestly say that JUST ONE LIE is a must-read. I give it 4.5 well-earned stars, and a definite recommendation to add it to your TBR.

Michel’s Review

When I first started this book I really didn’t know what to expect having not read the previous books in this series. I have read other books by Kyra Davis and thoroughly enjoyed them.

Just One Lie was completely different and pulled many reactions from me. At first I wasn’t sure what to think. I was not connecting with the characters. I felt like I wanted to throttle Mercy and was not sympathetic to her plights. But then the story began to unfold. Mercy began to come to life. I began to understand her and her motivations in life.

As the story unfolded I was hooked. It was like driving by a car accident and trying not to rubber neck. Of course that is impossible. But after seeing the horrific accident , you begin to see the victims heal and come to life once again. This time they are making better choices for themselves, they are accepting their flaws, and they are learning how to become whole.

The men in Mercy’s life served a purpose and made her a better woman in the end. The love she chose was more than choosing a man but choosing to love herself.

Kyra Davis once again delivered a heart wrenching story that touched me in many ways. Read Just One Lie!

About Kyra Davis

Kyra Davis is the New York Times bestselling author of the the JUST ONE NIGHT trilogy, SO MUCH FOR MY HAPPY ENDING and the Sophie Katz mysteries. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and is currently living in Southern California with her son and his charming, albeit moody leopard gecko. You can learn more about Kyra Davis and her books by visiting: http://www.kyradavis.com

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Amazon Author Page

Release Blitz + Reviews: Racing The Sun by Karina Halle

Posted on 07/28/2015 by shellbellereads

From the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of Where Sea Meets Sky comes a new adult novel about a young woman who becomes a nanny in Capri and falls for her charges’ bad-boy brother.

When I’m traveling, I feel like the secret to my life, to myself, to really becoming, is one step ahead. It’s in the next destination, the next town I get lost in, the next stranger I talk to. It’s always next but never here . . .

After six months of backpacking and soul-searching across the world, Amber MacLean is flat broke. There are worse places for a twentysomething to be stuck than the Amalfi Coast, but the only way she can earn enough money for a plane ticket home to California is to teach English to two of the brattiest children she has ever met.

It doesn’t help that the children are under the care of their brooding older brother, ex-motorcycle racer Desiderio Larosa. Darkly handsome and oh-so-mysterious, the young master of the crumbling villa tests Amber’s patience and will at every turn—not to mention her hormones.

When her position turns into a full-time nanny gig, Amber grows dangerously closer to the enigmatic recluse. But can she give up the certainty of home for someone whose closely guarded heart feels a world apart from her own?

Robin’s Review

Racing the Sun is set on the Amalfi Coast of Italy, and most of the story takes place on the Island of Capri. Karina Halle toured these locations just before she wrote this novel, so she wrote from experience. I did internet searches of many of the locations named in Racing the Sun. Her descriptions are accurate. Landscapes. Sounds. Colors. Foliage. Ruins. Halle did an amazing job translating her experiences to page. Racing the Sun was a pleasure to read. Just as she did with Where Sea Meets Sky, Halle carried me away from real life to an adventure in a land far away.

Racing the Sun is a new adult/contemporary romance featuring twenty-four-year-old Amber MacLean from San Jose, California. Halle first introduces us to Amber as a secondary character in Where Sea Meet Sky, a story in which she backpacks around New Zealand with Josh Miles and Gemma Henare as part of her worldwide travels. After six months of backpacking through New Zealand, Australia, Southeast Asia and Europe, Amber has now come to the end of the line in Positano, Italy. She has enough money to stay at a hostel for a week and only two months until her visa runs out. It’s time for Amber to get a job and save money, so she can buy a plane ticket to return to the United States. It’s time for Amber to quit running and face her fears.

Twenty-nine-year-old Desiderio Larosa hasn’t left the Island of Capri since his accident. The retired motorcycle racing great lives a solitary life. He’s confined to the island by his fears, left only with memories of how his life used to be. Derio is the guardian to his seven-year-old brother and sister, Alfonso and Annabella. He resides in the crumbling family villa, The House of Sad Lemons, with the twins and their nanny. Derio hires Amber, an American with an English degree, to work two hours every evening teaching the children English.

It takes some time to reach the meat of this story with the world-building, but Halle does a fantastic job of countering this with her descriptions of Positano, the Amalfi coast and Capri. Nobody drops you down into a scene like Karina Halle. Nobody. It felt like I had been transported to Italy. The attention to detail, down to the description of a typical Italian breakfast of cheese, bread and cold cuts, and how Italians drink their espresso, is spot on. The writing feels impressively authentic, and not just with her descriptions of places. When Amber feels panic, Halle conveys this anxiety through her words. I felt a whole gamut of emotions while reading this novel. It was very realistic.

Racing the Sun feels more like a grand adventure to me than a romance. Please don’t misunderstand. The romance is there, but I never quite felt an undeniable attraction between Derio and Amber – the push-pull you should feel between two characters who are falling in love. More specifically, with the standoffish, dark and brooding Derio. It also felt like the pacing of their romance is a bit delayed, but when they finally declare their love for each other, I found it to be very heartfelt and full of emotion! Overall, Racing the Sun is a wonderful story, a great summer read, and Karina Halle should be very proud of this 4-star novel!

Michel’s Review

Wow…Racing The Sun by Karina Halle is one of the most descriptive novels I have read. It took me on an adventure beyond my imagination. I became a part of this book. I was experiencing the Amalfi Coast and Capri for the first time right along with Amber MacLean. I could feel the salt in the air, smell the citrusy scents, taste the distinct flavors of the food, and feel the kick of expresso in my blood. I literally became a part of this book.

Amber MacLean has spent the past few months backpacking across Europe, Asia, and New Zealand. She is escaping her reality and life at home in California. She is searching for her destiny and place in life. She is avoiding her reality and expectations of her family. She is at personal crossroads in her life. Although she has had a grand adventure and experienced many international customs, her journey is coming to an end. She is out of money and her parents are no longer willing to finance her adventure. The problem is she is so broke that she can’t even purchase a plane ticket home. Her visa is running out, her wallet is empty, and she still hasn’t found what she was been searching for. When a job opportunity arises to teach English to the children of a prominent family in Capri , she jumps at the chance. She can experience the Amalfi Coast, make the money she needs to go home, and it buys her a bit more time abroad. What she didn’t expect was a life changing experience.

Desiderio Larosa is the guardian of his young twin siblings. Their parents were killed in boating accident. Desiderio was the only survivor. Since the accident his life has taken a very dark path. He has survivors guilt, PTSD, and has lost his confidence in life. He has let his fears take over his life and his grief rule his heart. He has become a prisoner of his life and has not left the island in over a year. His self imposed isolation and self disgust has made him impossible to be around. His younger siblings are also suffering the loss. Their behaviors are out of control, their grief is hard for them to deal with because of their young age, and the nurturing they once had is no longer there. The Larosa family is falling apart. Their home is gloom and doom. Amber has walked into a living nightmare.

Eventually you have to wake up and face your nightmares. Amber is the one that will wake up the Larosa family and teach them how to dream once again. She will also learn about herself and what her place is in the world. She will learn that she is made of more than what she ever dreamed she could be. She will find the love she never anticipated having. It is not going to be an easy journey for any of them. They will all have to face their fears and let the sun shine in their souls once again.

Racing The Sun was a profound book on so many levels. I loved the self discovery and facing what life throws at you. What I didn’t feel was the intense romance on many levels. The relationship lacked the intense chemistry that romance readers have come to expect. I also struggled with the sibling relationships and hoped they would become more personal once the story began to unfold.

RacingThe Sun felt more like life journey rather than a romance. It felt like a life adventure. That is okay because Racing The Sun was still a brilliant novel and an enriching reading experience. I would highly recommend this book.

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With her USA Today Bestselling The Artists Trilogy published by Grand Central Publishing, numerous foreign publication deals, and self-publishing success with her Experiment in Terror series, Vancouver-born Karina Halle is a true example of the term “Hybrid Author.” Though her books showcase her love of all things dark, sexy and edgy, she’s a closet romantic at heart and strives to give her characters a HEA…whenever possible.

Karina holds a screenwriting degree from Vancouver Film School and a Bachelor of Journalism from TRU. Her travel writing, music reviews/interviews and photography have appeared in publications such as Consequence of Sound, Mxdwn and GoNomad Travel Guides. She currently lives on an island on the coast of British Columbia where she’s preparing for the zombie apocalypse with her fiancé and rescue pup.

LINKS: FACEBOOK TWITTER GOODREADS AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

5-Star Review: Taming of the Billionaire By Jessica Clare

Posted on 07/23/2015 by Saucy Southern Readers

The Taming of the Billionaire

(Billionaires and Bridesmaids #2)

By Jessica Clare

Blurb:

The New York Times bestselling author of The Billionaire and the Virgin returns with a tale of Shakespearean-style seduction…

Edie’s an overbearing cat behaviorist who’s not big on people. Magnus is a newly-rich game developer who likes to be in control. When the two of them meet at Gretchen and Hunter’s masquerade engagement party, the loathing is mutual. Unfortunately for them—and everyone else—they’re in the wedding party together and must deal with each other for the next few months.

But when Magnus’s younger brother falls for Edie’s sister, he begs for his brother’s help in concocting a plan to win her over. If Magnus can keep the prickly Edie occupied, his brother will have time to woo Edie’s sister. Of course, Magnus isn’t interested in the slightest, but Edie is…intriguing. And stubborn. And smart. And sexy. And they might have more in common than they thought.

Before long, it becomes a challenge between the two of them to see who will be tamed first. But how’s Edie going to react when she finds out that Magnus is using her? And how’s Magnus going to handle the fact that he’s fallen for a cat lady?

Available for purchase at

Excerpt

“If I didn’t like you, would I do this?”

And he leaned forward, put his hands on the sides of her face, and pressed his mouth to those full, red lips.

She stiffened underneath him, clearly surprised. Hell, that made two of them. Magnus hadn’t expected to kiss her. But when she’d pursed that pretty mouth in a sarcastic expression, he felt determined to prove her wrong. To show her that yes, he could like someone like her, and here was what he had to offer.

So he kissed her.

It was a quick kiss, his mouth simply pressing against hers for a moment, and Edie too startled to part her lips under his. Out of habit, his tongue grazed the seam of her mouth before he pulled away, and then they were both left blinking and staring at each other.

“You kissed me,” she said softly, and she sounded shocked.

“I know. I . . . kind of want to do it again.”

“Okay.” She blinked up at him.

Good enough. He pulled her close again and this time, when he pressed his mouth to hers, those lush lips parted for his tongue. He wanted to groan when he felt her tongue brush along his, a hot snake of desire ripping through him. Then her mouth opened wider for him and they were locked together, tongues melding as the kiss grew deeper and more passionate, and she was clinging to his shirt and he was holding her and slanting his mouth against hers over and over again, licking her like he would if he was between her legs and she had her thighs on his shoulders and—

Magnus pulled away again, and Edie gazed up at him, completely dazed. “Go out on a date with me,” he pressed again. He released her.

She wobbled and took a step backward to regain her balance. He almost reached out to catch her—almost—but he stopped himself. Edie hated being treated like she needed help. So he watched while she straightened her jacket and smoothed her hair, noticing her lipstick was smeared on that pretty, pretty mouth. He wanted to reach out and fix it with his fingers, but he was afraid if he touched her again, he’d grab her by the hips and fling her down on his bed.

Date. That was what they needed. Just a date.

“Date?” he asked again when she remained silent.

Her fingers fluttered to her mouth. “I . . . I’ll think about it.”

Magnus grinned, because that wasn’t a no. In his book, that was as good as a yes. “You do that.”

Kelley’s Review

Sexy, funny, and intelligent!

I am a glutton for Billionaire stories. Who does not want to be rescued by a billionaire? Edie could care less. She was known as the crazy cat lady. She always showed up to functions with some sort of cat hair on her clothes. When she over hears a bunch of groomsmen talking about banging bridesmaids and joking around about who is going to bang the crazy cat lady she is infuriated.

When Edie barges in to the kitchen and it is obvious she overheard their discussion Magnus has his curiosity peaked. He is all about firey women and Edie speaks her mind and then some.

I really enjoyed this story. It was a bit different than Jessica’s other Billionaire stories in that the heroine really has no interest in the hero at all. Edie is happy to help Magnus with his cat but does not have very much interest in him until she ends up under him.

Magnus is torn. His brother Levi is interested in Edie’s sister Bianca and when he is asked to distract Edie long enough for Bianca to have time with Levi he goes along with it…that is until Edie becomes more to him than just a distraction.

What happens when Magnus finally confesses to Edie that their relationship started as a lie? Will she ever be able to believe that he truly loves her? Or will she walk away forever?

Billionaires and Bridesmaids Series

About The Author

Jessica Clare is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author who writes under three different names. As Jill Myles, she writes a little bit of everything, from sexy, comedic urban fantasy to zombie fairy tales. As Jessica Clare, she writes erotic contemporary romance.

She also has a third pen name (because why stop at two?). As Jessica Sims, she writes fun, sexy shifter paranormals. She lives in Texas with her husband, cats, and too many dust-bunnies. Jill spends her time writing, reading, writing, playing video games, and doing even more writing.

You can find Jessica at