Review + Giveaway : King Of Hearts by L. H. Cosway

Posted on 07/20/2015 by shellbellereads

Happy Release Day to L.H. Cosway and her new book King of Hearts! The King of Hearts release week event begins tomorrow. Be on the lookout for what the blogs have to say about Oliver King’s story! Take a sneak peek into the book below and make sure to enter the giveaway! Good luck!

Welcome to the City, London’s most prestigious square mile, where finance reigns and Oliver King is a rising prince.

I used to rule the world.

There might be wolves on Wall Street, but there were crocodiles in Canary Wharf. Some of us craved money. Some of us craved power.

I liked money, and power had its advantages, but what I really wanted was to excel, to surpass the men who came before me. I never cared much for love and romance until I met Alexis.

I could feel it the very moment she walked into the interview, with her outspoken charm and vivacious personality. She cast all the others in shadow, made me laugh when life held no humour. Our friendship should have remained professional, but it wasn’t long before the lines started to blur.

You know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men? Well, I never foresaw where my plans would lead, and only in my darkest hour did I finally see the light…

You can have all the money and prestige in the world and still be the poorest man alive. And love, well, I hate to use a tired old cliché, but love can be the thing that truly sets you free.

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What he said made me curious, so I went on, “What do you do to deal with the stress?”

He gave me a wan smile, and there was something in his expression that struck me as sad somehow. Rubbing at his chin, he answered, “Hmmm, when I’m stressed out…a nice glass of top shelf whiskey usually does the trick.”

“That makes sense,” I said and walked around his desk before taking a seat in front of him. “You know, I always thought it was poor people who did drugs, to escape the bleakness of their realities. Now I’m thinking maybe the practice is most common at the top and the bottom of the ladder. Perhaps the best place to be is somewhere in the middle.”

“Not necessarily. I’m at the top. Do I look high to you?”

The deadpan way in which he said it made me laugh. I leaned forward and teased, “I’m not sure. Let me have a look at your pupils.” Surprising me, King rose from his seat, walked around his desk and came to kneel in front of me. Before I knew it his face was mere inches from mine.

“Go ahead,” he said, voice low.

Whoa, Oliver King’s face right up close…I wasn’t sure what to do with that. I guess he didn’t realise the effect he had on this very non-gay lady, because he seemed entirely unselfconscious. His eyes were beautiful, his lashes long and golden, his skin smooth with a hint of stubble around his jaw, and his lips were just…I had no words. Sculpted and masculine was probably the only way I could think to describe them.

I realised I was staring at those lips a little too closely when my eyes flicked back to his. A moment ago he was smiling, but now that smile was transforming into a thoughtful frown.

I cleared my throat. “Your pupils look fine.”

King exhaled a small breath and I watched as his attention went from my eyes to my cheeks, nose, chin, and then finally to my lips. He looked like he was about to say something when suddenly Gillian’s voice filled the room.

“Mr King, Jenson Gellar is on the phone. Shall I put him through?”

Robin’s Review

Author L. H. Cosway introduces readers to Oliver King in Hearts of Fire, a contemporary romance written with the colorful backdrop of a traveling circus. He’s more specifically known as King in Hearts of Fire, the bad-tempered drunk of Circus Spektakulӓr. We are told King carries a photograph of a woman with him at all times. He guards this photo like his life depends on it, so protagonist Lille Baker decides to do some digging. If she can figure out who this woman is and what she means to King, maybe she can help him sober up. Lille has a heart of gold, and before the end of the novel, she writes a letter to a woman named Alexis Clark.

King of Hearts is the newest contemporary novel from L. H. Cosway. It’s the third novel of the Hearts series, and it focuses on Oliver King and Alexis Clark. It’s their story – their mysterious past is fully revealed to those of us who have a soft spot for King. King of Hearts can be read as a standalone. It’s not necessary to read Six of Hearts or Hearts of Fire before reading King of Hearts, but I think you will add to your reading experience by doing so. King of Hearts is divided into “before” and “after” by a series of events which cause King and Alexis to part ways.

We meet twenty-seven-year-old Alexis Clark as she prepares to interview for the executive assistant position to Oliver King at Johnson-Pearse Bank, an investment bank located in the major business district of Canary Wharf in London. Alexis is not the most qualified applicant. She’s a former bartender at a pub. She doesn’t even have a university degree, but Oliver King gives her the position based on her quick-thinking, vibrant personality and wit.

By the second chapter, I already knew that I really liked both protagonists. Alexis is quirky, funny and charming. She’s smart and to the point with her opinion. She also has no filter – she opens her mouth and speaks her mind. Those who have read Hearts of Fire will barely recognize King early in this novel. He is charming, extremely handsome and very well-spoken.

The entire novel is great, but my favorite part of King of Hearts is the first half! I absolutely loved it from the beginning! King and Alexis settle into an easy working relationship, and they quickly become friends. Their flirting, banter and interactions made me smile. The pages were flying by because it was so much fun to read! But King of Hearts is not without an underlying tone of foreboding, and it’s for good reason. Those of us who have read Hearts of Fire know what’s in store for King’s future. Expect a very powerful conclusion to the first half of King of Hearts.

The second half of this story takes place six years later. I love second chance romances, and King of Hearts is essentially two love stories. While I thoroughly enjoyed this couple falling in love when they were younger, it is also very sweet to see them come together after a six year separation.

Cosway shows an immense amount of growth and change in each of these characters. Alexis is a milder version of her younger self. She has matured, and her priorities have changed. King is completely different because of his years of alcohol abuse, neglect and living the circus lifestyle. He’s harder – more feral and skittish. But we are able to see real growth in King by the end of the novel. He’s not the man he used to be, but something new and different.

One thing I notice about Cosway’s writing is that it really flows nicely. She’s a fantastic writer. It’s also apparent L. H. Cosway has put a considerable amount of planning into writing the Hearts series. Each story is unique compared to the others, but they are also connected by the characters. Overall, I think King of Hearts is an enjoyable, easy read! I’m giving King of Hearts a 4.5 star rating and adding it to my list of 2015 favorites!

L.H. Cosway has a BA in English Literature and Greek and Roman Civilisation, and an MA in Postcolonial Literature. She lives in Dublin city. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books.

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♥ READ THE BOOKS ♥

Six of Hearts

Hearts of Fire

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King of Hearts

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L.H. Cosway KING OF HEARTS Release Week Event

Summer Reads: Ride Steady by Kristen Ashley

Posted on 07/18/2015 by shellbellereads

Ride Steady

The Chaos Series – Book 3

A Biker MC Romance

By Kristen Ashley

Synopsis

The ride of her life . . .
Once upon a time, Carissa Teodoro believed in happy endings. Money, marriage, motherhood: everything came easy—until she woke up to the ugly truth about her Prince Charming. Now a struggling, single mom and stranded by a flat tire, Carissa’s pondering her mistakes when a vaguely familiar knight rides to her rescue on a ton of horsepower.

Climb on and hold tight . . .
In high school, Carson Steele was a bad boy loner who put Carissa on a pedestal where she stayed far beyond his reach. Today, he’s the hard-bodied biker known only as Joker, and from the way Carissa’s acting, it’s clear she’s falling fast. While catching her is irresistible, knowing what to do with her is a different story. A good girl like Carissa is the least likely fit with the Chaos Motorcycle Club. Too bad holding back is so damned hard. Now, as Joker’s secrets are revealed and an outside threat endangers the club, Joker must decide whether to ride steady with Carissa—or ride away forever . . .

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Robin’s Review

During the summer of 2012, I found myself on a serious Kristen Ashley reading marathon. I read at least twenty-five of her novels over a three-month period. I was addicted. Plain and simple. Kristen Ashley is incredibly witty. She has a knack for writing the best alpha male characters. She has her own, unique writing style. So, when presented with the opportunity to read Ride Steady: A Chaos Novel, I didn’t hesitate.

It began with a wildly popular novel titled Motorcycle Man of the Dream Man series. We now have the Chaos series, a well-received spinoff of Motorcycle Man. Kristen Ashley absolutely nails writing a contemporary romance/romantic suspense novel set within a motorcycle club! The Chaos MC of Denver, Colorado is her baby. Her creation. It’s a very realistic look into the world of a motorcycle club. Brotherhood, comradery, danger and suspense are all prevalent in each novel. You’ll find all of this and more in Ride Steady.

Carissa Teodoro was the height of popularity in high school. Not only was she a cheerleader, but she dated the quarterback of the football team. Carson Steele couldn’t figure out why she would want to date the likes of Aaron Neiland. She was perfect for Carson, everything he could ever dream of. She was beautiful and sweet and kind to Carson. Carissa was the light of his world – a sixteen-year-old boy who had been abandoned by his mother and abused by his father – and she didn’t even know it.

It’s now been seven long years since high school. Carissa is a single mom who has recently been through a divorce. She finds herself stranded on the side of a highway with a toddler in her arms, when a biker named Joker pulls up to assist her with a flat tire. Joker is sort of scary. He’s dressed in leathers and is hiding behind a beard and sunglasses, but he is nothing but kind to Carissa. She doesn’t realize it, but she knows this man. His name is Carson Steele, and she’s about to get to know him a whole lot better.

Ride Steady absorbed my interest. I’m not really sure why, but I was especially taken with what Carissa has experienced at the hands of her ex-husband. She’s a victim, and her story called out to me. Scenes involving Carissa’s ex-husband are very tense; however, Kristen Ashley adds humor at just the right moments to balance out the seriousness of the plot. In fact, there are moments when Ride Steady is super funny!

I noticed a few passages where the writing wasn’t as polished as it could be, and I struggled to understand what was being communicated. That being said, I want to emphasize this was not a widespread issue. Most of Ride Steady is well-written. I love Kristen Ashley’s writing style. Conversations between her characters feel authentic, heartfelt and full of emotion. Consider how a biker might speak to his woman. Think attitude. Bossiness. Slang. Kristen Ashley does a fantastic job of communicating the authenticity of the character with her written words.

It’s always entertaining when the Chaos MC family gets behind a person who is unsuspecting! The Chaos MC is a family unit that reaches far and wide. It always includes Elvira and her posse, but characters from the Dream Man, Chaos, Unfinished Hero and Rock Chick series all play a role in Ride Steady. I probably left some out, but you get the picture. Kirsten Ashley ties in characters from her other novels, which only adds to the fun. It was such a joy to read another Kristen Ashley novel! She earns 4.5 stars for Ride Steady: A Chaos Novel, and I am definitely adding to my list of 2015 favorites!

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Author Bio:

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn’t taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen’s Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning.

Nothing’s changed.

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she’s blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better.

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5 Star Review…2015 Favorite : Craving Trix by Nicole Jacquelyn – The Aces Sons – Book 1

Posted on 07/15/2015 by shellbellereads

Craving Trix

Ace’s Sons Series – Book 1

Spinoff of Aces MC Series

By Nicole Jacquelyn

Release Date : July 13, 2015

Synopsis

Bellatrix White had loved Cameron Harrison for as long as she could remember. He was her best friend and her closest confidant, and she knew one day he’d be her forever.

Then he broke her heart.

After five years of complete silence between them, the motorcycle club they grew up in comes under attack, giving Cam the opportunity he needs to work his way back into Trix’s life.

Because while Trix was nursing her broken heart, Cam was realizing exactly what he’d given up.

They fall into a relationship easily, but when new tragedies mix with old memories, neither of the lovers are prepared for the fallout.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Michel’s Review

The Aces MC series by Nicole Jacquelyn is one of my all time favorite series. The moment a book releases I am devouring it. The characters in this series have captured my complete attention. I am connected to every character in the series and feel like they are a part of my own personal inner circle.

Nicole Jacquelyn is an extremely talented writer. Her characters come to life on the pages. The reader feels every emotion they experience. Her vivid descriptions and expressive words bring the Aces world to life. I always feel like I am a part of the story.

Each book in this series has gotten a 5 + Star Rating and has made the Smut Book Junkie Reviews 2015 Favorite List and 2014 Favorite List.

Her latest release is the start of a new series. The Aces Sons. This new series features the children of the Aces MC. They are now older and making a place in their fathers world. The have been loved hard, taught well, and are warriors.

The series starts off with Craving Trix. Trix is the daughter of Dragon and Brenna. She is now an independent young woman attending her final year of college. She has worshipped Cameron “Hulk” Harrison , the son of Casper and Farrah, since she was a six year old girl. Because of their six year age difference they matured at different paces. Trix ended up with a broken heart during her teenage years. Cam ended up clueless as to why he lost his closest friend. Time has caught up with them and now they are on an even playing ground.

When the Aces MC starts noticing hidden threats and unknown sources cutting into a part of their world they decide to go on high alert. This is Cam’s opportunity to win Trix’s heart once again. He moves in with her for protection. He steals her heart with his overbearing biker ways. But can he hang onto it?

Trix is a complex woman. She is fiercely independent and strong willed. She is also vulnerable in many ways. She has a truck load of issues that she was unaware of . Her childhood affected her in many ways. When a mistake happens that tears her and Cam apart, her life spirals out of control. She is striking out at the person she loves the most. She is destroying Cam’s love.

Cam has loved Trix all his life. When she does the unforgivable, he is shattered. He never thought he could hate a person more than he does Trix. He has lost his family once, learned to love again, but Trix’s betrayal is too much. There is no turning back until… the ultimate devastation happens to the Aces MC. It’s time to dig in, hang onto the ones you love, and fight for your family.

This book was shocking. It devastated me. I had to put the book down and walk away because I was so torn up. My emotions were wrecked! After a much needed break and time to reflect I went back to reading Craving Trix with HOPE that their world would be okay.

I finished the book on a happy note but was still devastated in my heart.

Trix was not an easy heroine to like. I still don’t know if I really like her but I do understand her. I understand where she was coming from and why she felt the way she did. This girl had her demons that nobody could fix for her. She had to work through them on her own. I never questioned her love for Cam, only her selfishness.

I fell in love with Cam. He was the best of Casper and Farrah. He bent over backwards for Trix. He fought for her until he was blue in the face. He could not slay her demons. He could only love her.

Cam and Trix’s relationship may drive some readers crazy but keep in mind we all know people with relationships like this. They were lucky to have a strong supportive family and good friends to have their back when times were low. Their families did not coddle them, they made them open their eyes to their flaws and weaknesses. They helped them utilize their strengths to see it through. They made them live up to their full potential.

As for the rest of the Aces and the Aces Sons. They have a long hard road to travel. Their world is in their hands and it’s up to them to conquer it.

Nicole Jacquelyn was very bold with her delivery of this story. She took calculated risks that were necessary for this story/ series to unfold. She kept the Aces world from becoming stagnant and predictable. I am anxious for the next book. Readers are going to experience life in the Aces MC through Will Hawthorne’s ( Grease and Callie’s son) eyes.

These kids are going to make their parents proud and build the same kind of legacy their parents laid out for them. They are going to give their parents gray hairs but also make them beam with pride. They are The Aces Sons.

The Complete Aces MC Series

Over 400,000 words.

Four complete novels.

Four never before seen bonus scenes.

Four protective men.

Four strong women.

Four stories that will break your heart and then piece it back together again.

Craving Constellations- Dragon and Brenna
Craving Redemption- Callie and Grease
Craving Absolution- Casper and Farrah
Craving Resurrection- Poet and Amy

Come meet the Aces MC, the loyal men who carry its banner and the women who love them.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

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About Nicole Jacquelyn

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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Release Blitz + Review : Inspiring You by Jessica Sorensen – Unraveling You Series – Book 4

Posted on 07/15/2015 by shellbellereads

Happy Release Day to Jessica Sorensen and her new book INSPIRING YOU! This is the final book in the Unraveling You series about Lyric Scott and Ayden Gregory! Take a sneak peek below!

Ayden knows it’s time to remember what really happened four years ago, so he can help save his sister. With the help of Lyric, he faces his past head on.

But dealing with the truth is difficult.

Will Ayden finally be free of his past so he can move forward to his future?

Michel’s Review

Inspiring You by Jessica Sorensen is the final book in the Unraveling You series. This epic series has had readers biting their nails to see the final results of Aiden’s haunting past.

Aiden has taken the final steps to regain his memory. He is trying the experimental hypnosis therapy. Although this therapy could be very dangerous to Aiden , he feels like this is his only option.

The revelations are frightening. Aides now knows the truth. But is the truth in time to save his missing sister.

This final installment is astounding. The reader’s are finally getting the answers to Aiden’s past and present danger.

I have loved this series from beginning to end. It was great to have a satisfying resolution.

Read the Unraveling You series by Jessica Sorensen. It is outstanding.

Jessica Sorensen is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author from the snowy mountains of Wyoming. When she’s not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.

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♥ READ THE SERIES ♥

Book 1 – Unraveling You

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / ITUNES

Book 2 – Raveling You

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / ITUNES

Book 3 – Awakening You

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / ITUNES

Book 4 – Inspiring You

AMAZON / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

ARC Review: The Luckiest by Mila McWarren – M/M Romance

Posted on 07/15/2015 by shellbellereads

The Luckiest

Contemporary M/M Romance

By Mila McWarren

Synopsis

When New York-based memoirist Aaron Wilkinson gathers with his high school friends to marry off two of their own, he is forced to spend a week with Nik, the boy who broke his heart.
As they settle into the Texas beach house where the nuptials will be performed, Nik quickly makes his intentions clear: he wants Aaron back. “He’s coming hard, baby,” a friend warns, setting the tone for a week of transition where Aaron and Nik must decide if they are playing for keeps.

Amazon

Tina’s Review

** Provided by Author via Promotion in Exchange for an Honest Review. **
Judging a Book by it’s Cover:
Sketch effect and sun drenched, it’s not vibrant and eye-catching like many book covers on the market today, but it is simple and whispers of a warm contemporary. The synopsis backs the idea of this.
Looking Deeper:
Give this format points for uniqueness, although it makes the story a little more difficult to follow for it; it’s comprised of text messages, emails, and blog posts – as well as a third-person narrative from Aaron’s perspective. Most of it centers, day by day, on the week leading up to one of Aaron’s best friend’s wedding. The whole group of high school friends, including his ex that he still has feelings for despite the years apart, are there to help Alex and David prepare for their big day. Nik still has feelings for Aaron and he knows he’s going to have to work hard and long to make up for the hurt he’s caused Aaron. It’s a sweet and touching story of second chances. After about four years with only sporadic and awkward “same place, same time” situations , Aaron and Nik find themselves face-to-face, together again. Now both single, Nik is on a mission to right the wrongs and clear the miscommunications between them, which were many. The conflicts were more of the old and festering type than the current time and place type. The now older, more mature young men were able to resolve their conflicts and the secondary conflicts easily and efficiently. Predictability was not really an issue, nor were there any fun surprises. The conclusion is solid, there’s a series of quickie wrap-ups in an epilogue that provide closure to several of the the characters outside of Aaron and Nik as well. It was a nice read, I enjoyed it.

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Author Bio:

Mila McWarren grew up in Texas, but has happily made her home on the East Coast for the last decade. In her day job she works as a social scientist and has spent the last 10 years developing her fiction writing online. She lives with her husband and their two kids. When she isn’t using working, writing, or hanging out with her family, she likes knitting and watching television, because they go together like peanut butter and chocolate, two of her other great loves.
@milamcwarren
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www.milamcwarren.com

Release Blitz + Review + Giveaway: Sweet As Sin by J. T. Geissinger – Bad Habit Series- Book 1

Posted on 07/14/2015 by shellbellereads

Sweet as Sin by J.T. Geissinger
Bad Habit Series – Book #1
Publication date: July 14th 2015
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:
Twentysomething Kat Reid is loving life as an in-demand Hollywood makeup artist. She has absolutely no interest in rock ’n’ roll, but in order to pay the mortgage, she agrees to work on the set of a rock video for the world-famous rockers known as Bad Habit…which brings her face-to-face with Nico Nyx, lead singer of Bad Habit and Adonis in the flesh.

However, the fiercely independent Kat isn’t impressed by the hard-living, womanizing rock star. But when Nico’s model girlfriend shows up to the set drunk and Kat is tapped to replace her as the video’s sexy bride, her combustible chemistry with Nico suddenly threatens to consume the set. Nico feels it, too—and becomes determined to win Kat over, body and soul. Yet behind his rock god swagger, Nico hides a dark secret. Can he rock Kat’s world forever, or will he just break her heart?

Buy: Amazon / B & N

“Here’s the thing, Nico—”

“Don’t overthink it, Kat. You wanna see me or not?”

My pulse was all over the place. I sat up, then regretted that move as the room began to wobble. “I do.”

“What’s the address?”

“I wasn’t done talking.”

He cursed. I ignored it. “I do want to see you, but I just want to lay a few ground rules before we start this whole . . . whatever this whole thing is.”

I waited for him to respond. He sounded like he was listening hard, and he didn’t answer, so I plunged ahead. “I don’t want to just . . . um . . . ”

“You got a three-date rule, sweetheart?”

I was relieved that he sounded amused. Thank God he had a sense of humor.

“Because I can respect that. But you should realize that when you see me today, it’ll be the third date. So the next time you see me, all bets are off.” His voice dropped. “And I wanna see you again tomorrow.”

“We haven’t even had one date yet!”

“The shoot, then the restaurant. That’s two.”

His idea of what comprised a date was seriously impaired.

“Those don’t count as dates! We were working on the shoot, and you were only at the restaurant for like five seconds. If I see you today, this will be our first date.”

I didn’t mention that he’d gotten the details of the three-date rule wrong. It was sex on the third date, not after. I was trying to buy myself as much time as possible, because he was moving at the speed of a rocket.

“Okay. I’ll give you the shoot. But the restaurant should count. Being with someone at a restaurant is textbook definition of a date. No matter how long it lasted.”

I could not believe we were actually having this conversation. I sighed.

“I’ll take that as a yes. Now give me the fuckin’ address, Kat, before I wear a hole in the damn rug.”

He was pacing?

“What part of town are you coming from? Because I need, like, a half hour to get cleaned up.”

Nico’s response was a growl. I gave him the address.

“You’re in luck. I’m comin’ from the Hollywood Hills. It’ll take me at least forty-five minutes to get to Venice in traffic.” He paused. “Or I could take the bike. That’ll get me there in thirty.”

Was he screwing with me right now?

“You still there, Kat?”

“I’m still here.”

“I’m gonna be there in thirty minutes. You gonna be ready for me?”

Oh, the dark promise in that tone. I felt like I was standing at the edge of a cliff, looking down. I already knew I was going to fall. The only question now was, how far?

And how hard?

And would the fall break me?

“I’ll be ready,” I whispered.

Nico’s voice was almost a purr. “Darlin’, that’s exactly what I’ve been waitin’ to hear.”

Before I could say another word, Nico hung up.

Michel’s Review

If you are looking for an intense rock star romance look no further. Sweet As Sin by J.T. Geissinger is just the ticket.

This book has a brooding rock star with personal issues. A heroine that is strong but also plagued by her past. Both characters have issues that make it almost impossible to come together. Their worlds collide in so many ways but somehow they find the strength to let it go. They find the strength in one another through love.

This book is intense and seems to be on the darker side. If you have issues with violent tempers and domestic abuse this may not be the book for you. It is a truthful look into the darker side. For me it was a hard book to read because of it.

The romance was intensely sexy and had me swooning.

Sweet As Sin is well written and well plotted.

Overall the book was very good. I am looking forward to more books in this series.

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AUTHOR BIO:
J.T. Geissinger is an award-winning author of paranormal and contemporary romance featuring dark and twisted plots, kick-ass heroines, and alpha heroes whose hearts are even bigger than their muscles. An entrepreneur since she began hand-addressing envelopes for a local beauty pageant when she was 14, she has owned businesses as diverse as a temporary employment agency to a flower shop. It wasn’t until hitting a significant birthday that she became motivated to realize her life-long dream of writing a novel.

Her debut novel, Shadow’s Edge, was a #1 Amazon domestic and international bestseller, and won the Prism award for Best First Book. Her follow-up book, Edge of Oblivion, was a RITA© Award finalist for Best Paranormal Romance from the Romance Writers of America. Book 6 in the Night Prowler series, Into Darkness, won the Golden Quill award for Best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy. Her work has also finaled in the Booksellers’ Best, National Readers’ Choice, and Daphne du Maurier Awards.

Foodie, wine enthusiast, and nap connoisseur, she lives in California with her husband, on whom all her heroes are based.

To receive notification of new releases, contests, and giveaways, sign up for her newsletter at www.jtgeissinger.com

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Giveaway

Kindle Paperwhite (US only)
3 eBook copies of Sweet as Sin (INTL)

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Happy Release + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: Caged by Lorelei James – The Mastered Series – Book 4

Posted on 07/14/2015 by shellbellereads

Caged

The Mastered Series – Book 4

By Lorelei James

Synopsis

In the searing fourth novel in the Mastered Series, following Unraveled, only one woman can set a hardened fighter free from his past.…

In order to survive a life of tragedy, Deacon McConnell embraced his roughest edges and learned to fight on the streets. Then a life-changing jujitsu seminar led by Sensei Ronin Black led Deacon to become a professional fighter. With his muscular physique and his body covered in tattoos and scars, the MMA fighter defines mean, both on and off the mat.

But everything changes when innocent Molly Calloway signs up for his kickboxing class. Molly is Deacon’s opposite in every way: She’s kind, sweet, thoughtful, and educated. After a heated argument between them turns into a passionate encounter, Deacon realizes Molly is eager to experience more, and she looks to him to take her to the darker edge of lust….

The last thing either of them expects is how deeply their lives will be thrown upside down by the passion they find together.

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Excerpt

Molly had reached the bottom step when she glanced up and saw Deacon leaning against her car.

It took every bit of resolve not to break into a run.

When she reached him, he pulled her into his arms and softly kissed her lips. “Hey.”

“Hey. How’d you know where I was?”

“Only so many churches in this town, babe.” His gaze searched hers. “You okay?”

“Not really. This sucks. But I’m better now that you’re here.”

“You ready to hit the grocery store?”

“I’m ready to hit something,” she muttered.

Footsteps sounded behind them, and Deacon’s gaze moved over her shoulder.

“Who’s your friend, Molly?”

Molly turned, and Deacon stood beside her, keeping his left hand on the small of her back. “This is my boyfriend, Deacon McConnell. Deacon, this is my uncle, Bob Calloway.”

Deacon offered his hand and Bob shook it.

Jennifer slunk forward. “Molly didn’t tell us she had a boyfriend.” She held out her hand. “Jennifer Calloway. Molly’s cousin.”

He lifted his chin and ignored her outstretched hand.

Then Brandi horned her way between her father and sister. “Molly did mention a boyfriend, but I didn’t take her seriously.”

Deacon cocked an eyebrow at Brandi. “Why not?”

“Because she was flirting her ass off at the bar last night.” Brandi sent her a triumphant look.

“I let you outta my sight one day and other guys are already sniffing around you. Will I have to bust some heads?”

“You know you have nothing to worry about. Save your head busting for the ring.”

Her uncle had been watching the exchange. “Ring? What do you do for a living, Deacon?”

“I compete as a mixed martial artist.”

“You don’t say. Karate and such?”

From the corner of her eye, Molly saw her cousins exchange a look and then give Deacon a slow perusal.

Each your hearts out, bitches. He’s mine.

“Not karate. I’m a jujitsu instructor at Black Arts in Denver.” He pulled Molly more firmly to his side. “We met in my kickboxing class.”

“So that’s where Molly has tried to lose some of her weight,” Brandi said.

“I’d watch the insults or you might be tasting blood,” Deacon warned.

Brandi’s mouth dropped open. “Are you threatening me?”

“Not me. Molly. The woman’s got a mean right hook. And I oughta know, since she learned how to throw a punch from me.”

Molly sent Deacon a look of adoration. “Of course I’d never hit someone out of anger.” Then she looked at Brandi. “Besides, if I used my fists on you every time you insulted me, you’d be black-and-blue from head to toe.”

Without another word, Deacon opened the passenger door for her.

Then he skirted the front end and climbed in the driver’s seat. “Keys.”

She dropped them in his hand. “Thank you.”

“For?”

“Showing up.”

Michel’s Review

Fans of the Mastered Series have been waiting for this book. Deacon and Molly have been engaging in the cat and mouse chase and verbal foreplay from the very beginning of this series. Their coming together is long over due. Their relationship is explosive and quite a surprise. Unlike the former books, their relationship does not revolve around the Dojo and the club. It stands on it’s own merits, two dynamic people coming together and blending their lives together to make a strong loving relationship.

When reader’s first met Molly she was a shy, easily intimidated kind of girl. She had enrolled in self defense classes after an attack that left her afraid of her own shadow. Rather than let the fear of her own shadow take over her life she was brave enough to do something about it. Deacon was her instructor and he was very hard on her. He wouldn’t allow her to withdraw or quit. As the series grew so did Molly. Throughout the books we watched her grow and become a strong confident woman.

Throughout the series Deacon has been a bit of a mystery. He has secrets that he holds close to his chest. Although he is a champion amateur MMA fighter about to go into the pro circuit, he is still a part of the Dojo. His fighting career is taking on a new path. Embarking on a new relationship could hinder his career. He has come to the realization that he wants Molly more than he wants the career title.

These two will muddle through their relationship. Both have family histories that are ugly. Neither one has been in a committed relationship so they are both clueless. Molly has romantic notions but at the same time wants her independence and individuality. Deacon is pure alpha male and assumes Molly knows where his head is at. He has problems, like most men, communicating and expressing his feelings. Then the conflicts with his family make their relationship all the more difficult. Add a hard driven trainer that sees their relationship as a road block, the Dojo politics, meddling friends, and a championship fight and it looks as if they are doomed. Deacon has the fight of his life on his hands .He is fighting for his heart. Molly has to be confident enough to take Deacon’s hand and fight for their relationship.

I loved watching these characters grow as individuals and as a couple. They didn’t need the kink that we have experienced in the prior books of this series. Their passion for one another is so hot it will burn the house down. Together they are unbeatable.

I am looking forward to more books in this series. There are so many dynamic secondary characters that are screaming for Lorelei James attention. They want their stories told.

I highly recommend reading the entire Mastered series. It is fantastic. Caged is another outstanding addition to this series.

________________________________________

The Mastered Series

Bound

In the new Mastered series by New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James, a woman’s desire to shatter her inhibitions leaves her unprepared for where that erotic journey will take her….

Former small-town girl Amery Hardwick is living her dream as a graphic designer in Denver, Colorado. She’s focused on building her business, which leaves little time for dating—not that she needs a romantic entanglement to fulfill her. When her friend signs up for a self-defense class as part of her recovery after an attack, Amery joins her for support. That’s where she meets him.

Ronin Black, owner of the dojo, is so drawn to Amery that he takes over her training—in public and in private. The enigmatic Ronin pushes Amery’s boundaries from the start, and with each new tryst, Amery becomes addicted to the pleasure and to him. But when Amery senses Ronin is hiding something, she questions her total trust in him, despite the undeniable thrill of his possession….

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Unwound

n the continuation to the Mastered series by New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James, a man’s need for control is tested by the one woman he’ll risk everything for…

When sensei Ronin Black first encounters Amery Hardwick, the fire in her eyes ignites a sexual spark a thousand times better than the primal rush he used to get from mixed martial arts matches. She accepts his darker edges and admits to him that her desires aren’t as wholesome as he believed. And before long Ronin is grappling with emotions he’s never felt before….

Yet despite demanding Amery bare her body and soul to him, Ronin holds a part of himself back. When she learns Ronin’s secret and walks out, his life begins to unravel. To regain her trust he must let go of his pride and prove to her that it’s more than passion binding them together.

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Schooled

The Mastered Series- Novella- Book 3

From the New York Times bestselling “master of erotic romance”* and author of Unraveled, Bound and Unwound comes the all-new novella in the Mastered series.
When Amery Hardwick first met martial arts master Ronin Black, she wasn’t ready for the primal urges his sensual rope artistry released in her. As it turned out Amery and Ronin were made for each other. But when they head to Japan for a delayed honeymoon and Ronin’s annual training with his sensei, Amery struggles to adapt to the foreign customs as well as running her burgeoning business from afar. But culture shock is the least of her worries when faced with the changes in Ronin—it feels as if she’s married a stranger. Caught between his sensei’s demands and pleasing his wife, Ronin is at war with himself over choosing advancement in his jujitsu training, or staying at home with the woman who owns his heart and soul. As the limits of their relationship are tested once again, Ronin and Amery discover that they both have a lot to learn about each other….and what it takes to build a love that’ll pass all life’s little tests.
Includes a preview of the new Mastered series novel, Unraveled.

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Unraveled – Book 3

In this sizzling continuation of the Mastered series by New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James, a man will find the domination he’s always craved…

Shiori Hirano and Knox Lofgren are left to run the martial arts program at Black Arts while Ronin Black travels. On the surface, the two highest ranked belts appear to cooperate—but in private, they butt heads constantly, despite the undeniable attraction between them. Soon their power exchanges start to make for a sweltering dynamic in the bedroom…

At first Knox is shocked to be living out his submissive desires, but Shiori sets out to prove that embracing his true sexual nature doesn’t make him a weak man. But even while their sexual relationship grants him a power and fulfillment he finds surprising, there’s no training regimen for the fight that comes with loving a strong woman…

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Caged – Book 4

In the searing fourth novel in the Mastered Series, following Unraveled, only one woman can set a hardened fighter free from his past.…

The last thing either of them expects is how deeply their lives will be thrown upside down by the passion they find together.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

____________________________________

Author Bio:

Lorelei James is the NY Times and USA Today Bestselling author of erotic westerns: the Rough Riders series, the Blacktop Cowboys series, and the erotic romances in the Mastered series. Lorelei lives in western South Dakota.

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Release Blitz + Excerpt + Review + Giveaway: Bleeding Love by Harper Sloan -Hope Town Series – Book 2

Posted on 07/14/2015 by shellbellereads

Bleeding Love

Hope Town Series – Book 2

By Harper Sloan

Release Date: July 14, 2015

Buy: Amazon / B & N

Synopsis:

I’ve loved once. I gave everything that I had to that love. Blindly believing that nothing could ever take that feeling away from me. Away from us. And when my little world of happiness was ripped from my fingers, I felt a loss that still haunts me to this day.

Now I use that lingering grief as a shield to keep my heart from loving again. It’s that fear that keeps me from letting anyone, except my daughter, get close enough to make it hurt. To make my heart bleed when I inevitably lose again.

Until the day I met Liam Beckett and everything I thought I had protected myself from was shoved back in my face.

He’s on a mission to prove to me that a love worth having is a love worth fighting for.

*Bleeding Love is the second book in the Hope Town series. Each book in the series is a HEA and can be read as a standalone.*

Buy: Amazon / B & N

Excerpt

His mouth leaves mine and with his hand still on my leg, he demands, “Dig your heels in deep, baby.”

I give him what he wants, but not because he told me to. I give him what he wants because when his hand leaves my leg and pushes into the mattress, bringing his body up he goes even deeper into my body and those heels push hard.

Just as he demanded earlier, my hands go to his shoulders on my own accord and as he takes my body hard, my nails dig in with my heels still pushing hard against the small of his back. Our eyes never leave each other’s probing gaze. Never once do I take my eyes away from his, so full of lust that I know there isn’t an ounce of control left in his body.

He drops his head and I lift up to meet him in a kiss so sweet it doesn’t match the powerful way that he’s taking my body. A kiss that gives me more than words ever could at this moment. His hips slow and as his tongue rolls against mine, his hips start to take me in slow, deep rolls. He doesn’t pull back, just rocks his hips against mine.

I push up and cry out when he slips even deeper.

His lips come from mine and his hooded eyes open a sliver. “Feels like heaven,” he says softly. “Everything, darlin’. Feels like everything.”

Michel’s Review

Bleeding Love by Harper Sloan is the second book in the Hope Town series. It is a spin off of the Corps Security series and features the children of the charismatic characters readers have grown to love whole heartedly. Their children are just as charismatic and have inherited the very best from their parents. Each book in the Hope Town series can be read as a stand alone or in series order. It is not necessary to read the Corps Security series to begin the Hope Town series. I would highly recommend the Corps Security. It is a delightful series you don’t want to miss.

We met Megan in Unexpected Fate. She is the young widow of one Cohen’s teammates in his unit. She is a widow and single mother. She is struggling to get by each day and get past her sorrow and grief. For three years she has grieved the loss of her husband, her only love and best friend. The only bright spot in her life is her five year old daughter Molly.

When Cohen brought her into his family circle she not only gained new friends but also people that she knew she could depend upon. Slowly her new inner circle is drawing her out and offering her a chance to live again. Liam Beckett has not only become a good friend, he wants to become something more. Megan doesn’t know if she can let go of the grief and move on. She feels guilty that her husband lost his life and moving on seems to be betraying his memory. She is intensely attracted to Liam. But is attraction enough? Can she risk her heart again?

The moment Liam Beckett laid eyes on Megan he knew he had to make her his. She was the “one” he could see sharing his life with. He knew she was grieving and vowed to be patient. It seems that instead of processing her grief she is sinking further into it. It seems she has died right along with her husband . The only thing that brings life to her eyes is her young daughter Molly. He is determined to bring Megan back to life. He wants to show her how much she has to live for. He is going to do it one moment at a time. He is going to show her how to live and love again.

This was a beautiful story of coming to life . It is a story of acceptance. It is a story of friendship and family at it’s finest. It is a sexy red hot romance that will have the readers swooning. And precious Molly will steal the readers hearts just like she did to the families and tough alpha men at Corps Security. She is the princess of the kingdom that not one of these men can resist.

Bleeding Love was a delightful romance that not only touches the families of Corps Security but also the hearts of the readers.

The Hope Town Series

Unexpected Fate

Hope Town Series – Book 1

By Harper Sloan

Release Date: February 17, 2015

Synopsis

Have you ever felt like you were living your life for a future that was predetermined? Like there was some bigger picture you just prayed you would someday see clearly? That picture has been crystal clear to me since I was old enough to recognize it for just what it was.

Or I should say recognize him for who he was.

I’ve loved Cohen Cage since I was a small child. He’s been my everything for the last twenty-two years. I’ve loved him through every girlfriend he’s ever brought home. Through his college years and then mine. I’ve loved him through two deployments. And ever since the day I told him how I felt, he’s acted like I’m a stranger.

My name is Danielle Reid, and it’s time for me to get my man.

Our future is an unexpected fate, and no matter what our parents, siblings, and friends say…it’s going to be worth every second of the fight to make it happen.

**This book is a standalone, HEA, with mature themes and sexual situations**

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About Harper Sloan

Harper lives in small town Georgia just a short drive from her hometown of Peachtree City. She (and her 3 daughters) enjoy ruling the house they dubbed ‘Estrogen Ocean’, much to her husbands chagrin. Harper has a borderline unhealthy obsession with books; you can almost ALWAYS find her with her eReader attached. She enjoys bad reality TV and cheesy romantic flicks. Her favorite kind of hero–the super alpha kind!

Harper started using writing as a way to unwind when the house went to sleep at night; and with a house full of crazy it was the perfect way to just relax. It didn’t take long before a head full of very demanding alphas would stop at nothing to have their story told.

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review : Revived by Samantha Towle – Revved Series – Book 2

Posted on 07/14/2015 by shellbellereads

India Harris didn’t have the best start in life. Abandoned as a baby, she and her twin brother, Kit, spent their lives in foster care, only having each other to rely on. Then, at a young age, a relationship with the wrong man left India pregnant. Wanting to give her son the life she never had, she put herself through school and graduated with honors.

Now, at the age of thirty, she’s a highly respected therapist.

At the top of his game as a Formula One driver, Leandro Silva had everything—until an accident on the track left him staring death in the face. After enduring twelve months of physical therapy, Leandro is now physically able to race, but his mind is keeping him from the track. Frustrated and angry, Leandro’s days and nights are filled with limitless alcohol and faceless women.

Entering the last year of his contract, he knows he has to race again, or he’ll lose everything he spent his life working for. Forced into therapy to get his life back, Leandro finds himself in the office of Dr. India Harris.

Falling for his uptight therapist is not part of Leandro’s plan.

Having unethical feelings for her patient, the angry Brazilian race car driver, is not part of India’s plan.

But what if the wrong person is the only person who is right?

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Leandro

My eyes move to the magazines on the table. There’s a sports mag peeking out from under the fashion mags.

Leaning forward, I pull it out, instantly wishing I hadn’t.

Top of the magazine is a picture of me, with the caption ‘What the bad side of Formula 1 looks like’.

Nice.

So, now I’m the bad side of F1. Good to know.

I already know what the media say about me. How I’ve turned from a great racer into a drunk, and a whore.

They’re not wrong on the whore part – well, whore is a bit harsh, I don’t charge for my services. And I wouldn’t say I’m a drunk. I just like to drink, a lot.

I shouldn’t read the article, I know this, but the sadistic part of me has me turning those pages.

Finding the article, eyes scanning the text, I pick out the usual shit.

Why is Silva no longer racing? Physically he’s healthy. Is it mental problems? Fear over racing because of his accident. Is that why he drinks – drowning his misery in alcohol? Such a shame to see, a once great driver, fall from grace so dramatically.

Frustration and rage grip my chest like a vice.

Fuck this. I don’t need this shit.

Even though I can’t race, it’s not like I actually need to.

I don’t need to race. I just need to drink and fuck. That’s all I need now. All I’ll ever need.

Liar.

I am a liar, and a chicken shit. And that’s why I’m sitting in the waiting room of a therapist.

Maybe I’m beyond help.

Tossing the magazine back on the table, I get to my feet ready to leave this place, just as the door opens, revealing the epitome of what I could really do with screwing right now.

My eyes trail up the toned, tanned legs, to the fitted pencil skirt that I would happily hitch up to see the magnificent pussy that I bet lies beneath. A pale pink blouse is tucked into that skirt, covering what look like a fantastically sized pair of tits. Silky blonde hair sits on her shoulders. Hair that I would enjoy getting my hands all tangled in, while I fuck those bright red lips of hers, enjoying seeing that lipstick smeared all over my cock.

My dick pulses in my jeans, more than ready to proposition her with the offer.

“Mr. Silva.” She steps forward. “I’m Dr. Harris. But please call me India.”

She’s Dr. Harris?

This, hitch-your-skirt-up-and-let-me-fuck-you-right-now, woman is my new therapist.

Well that’s just fucking great. It’s not like I can bang my therapist.

I put my cock on hold, and giving her my best smile, the one that always has panties dropping to the floor, I say, “And you can call me Leandro.”

Michel’s Review

Revived by Samantha Towle is the second book in the Revved Series. I absolutely loved this book! I could not put it down.

We met Leandro Silva in Revved. At the end of Revved Leandro was in a near fatal accident in one of the most important races of the Formula One circuit. He died and was brought back to life. His life was saved but not without a price. One year later he has recovered from his injuries but is still unable to race. He can’t get behind the wheel of any car. He can barely ride in car let alone drive one. Not good for a man that has a career that depends on his ability to drive. Rather than facing his problem he hides behind booze and women. He needs to overcome this inability before he loses his sponsors and his position on the racing team.

He decides to go to therapy to overcome his inabilities. There he meets Dr. India Harris. The beautiful doctor not only has a solution to help him overcome his inabilities but she has also sparked his interest. Her genuine compassion and honest insights make Leandro not only want to get back to being a Formula One Driver, he truly wants to become a better man. She ignites his heart and soul. But Dr. India Harris is a woman he cannot have. It is unethical to pursue a relationship with his doctor. She could lose her career.

Dr. India Harris is attracted to her patient, Leandro Silva. She cannot succumb to this attraction. She could lose her practicing license and ruin her reputation as a doctor. She has a pre teen son that she needs to take care of. She has been on the other end of being taken advantage of by a licensed professional. She could never do this to another person. It would be wrong.

The heart wants what the heart wants. India and Leandro will have to choose between their love or their careers. It is going to break their hearts, devastate their lives, and change their worlds. Just as they have figured it all out the past will come back to haunt them both and tear their world apart.

This story was so touching. I love how strong India was as a woman and as a professional. She truly cared about her patients. She loved her son beyond measure. She rose above the ruin and became a beautiful strong woman. When she gave her heart , she gave it completely.

Aleandro Silva stole my heart. This man was vulnerable and not afraid to show his vulnerabilities. He proved he was more than a champion in the Formula One world. He was a champion of the heart.

The chemistry between India and Leandro was sizzling hot but it was their communications with one another that really captures the story. Both were beautiful souls.

Revived can be read as a stand alone romance or in series order.

New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and international bestselling author Samantha Towle began her first novel in 2008 while on maternity leave. She completed the manuscript five months later and hasn’t stopped writing since.

She has written contemporary romances, THE MIGHTY STORM, WETHERING THE STORM, TAMING THE STORM and TROUBLE.

She has also written paranormal romances, THE BRINGER and the ALEXANDRA JONES SERIES, all penned to tunes of The Killers, Kings of Leon, Adele, The Doors, Oasis, Fleetwood Mac, and more of her favourite musicians.

A native of Hull and a graduate of Salford University, she lives with her husband, Craig, in East Yorkshire with their son and daughter.

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♥ READ THE SERIES ♥

Book 1 – Revved

Race car mechanic Andressa “Andi” Amaro has one rule—no dating drivers. With a good reason behind the rule, she has no plans on breaking it.

Carrick Ryan is the bad boy of Formula One. With a face and body that melts panties on sight, and an Irish lilt that leaves women on their knees, begging for more. He races hard and parties harder. The youngest driver to ever sign with F1, he’s still at the top of his game five years later, breaking hearts on and off the tracks.

When Andi is offered her dream job working in the glamorous world of F1, she leaves her home in Brazil, positive she can handle working for Carrick. But she’s not prepared for the off-the-chart sparks that fly the moment they meet.

Now, Andi has a crush on the one man she can’t have, and her resolve is about to be put to the test, because Carrick has decided he wants Andi, and he plans on testing her to the very limit…

Available NOW

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Sacrifice by Adriana Locke

Posted on 07/13/2015 by shellbellereads

Title: Sacrifice

Author: Adriana Locke

Release Date: July 13, 2015

Buy: Amazon

Blurb

My life changed forever the night my husband died. I was left with a shattered heart, a heap of bills, and our daughter, EVERLEIGH. I don’t want to rely on anyone, least of all CREW GENTRY. He’s my first love and the man who almost destroyed me, the man who has let me down every time I’ve needed him.

But when tragedy strikes a second time, Crew just might be my only hope.

My life changed forever the night my brother died.

I was left with a guilty conscience, a pile of mistakes, and little else. I take care of JULIA GENTRY, my brother’s widow and the love of my life, and their daughter. I know she doesn’t want my help, but she gets it anyway. I owe her that. When another disaster hits, I’m given the opportunity to make things right. I’m taking it. I’m willing to sacrifice it all.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Links to Buy

AMAZON US / UK

Excerpt

“She’s been missing him a lot lately.” Julia’s voice is barely a whisper and my chest constricts. Our conversations don’t normally make it to discussing Gage unless we’re already arguing. The fact that she just brought it up shocks me and I’m not comfortable with it. I don’t know how to take it. I feel my jaw pulse with frustration and scramble to change the subject again. “Why is it so chilly in here?”

Her smile disappears and she tugs her sweatshirt nervously. “I didn’t know it was.”

“How can you possibly not know?” I start to the thermostat across the room when she clears her throat.

“The heater isn’t working right. I asked Lane to come by and look at it earlier this week.”

“And he hasn’t been here yet?” I shoot her a look and she shakes her head. “He’ll be here tonight.” I dig my cell outta my pocket.

“Crew, don’t. Please. The last time you called my landlord he was a complete jerk to me for a couple of months. I just got on good terms with him again.”

I scroll through my contacts list, looking for his name.

“Crew …” I know her doe-eyes are pleading with me. I also know if I look up at her, I’ll be somewhat inclined to give in. So I don’t.

Tracey’s Review

“I hope you’re listening to me right now…I’m not praying for a victory…All I ask of you is that you do with me whatever you need to in order to clear my girls of any more harm.”
I slam my fist into the bag hanging in the corner.
“Did you hear me!? Do you? Take me! I’ll be your sacrifice!”Oh, my goodness, Adriana Locke has knocked it out of the proverbial park with this book. I loved both The Exception and The Perception, but she has completely won my heart with Sacrifice. The depth and emotion in this book, the amount of love, had me smiling and crying by turn. So many types and levels of love here: Julia’s complete and utter love for Everleigh, her constant love for Gage, her rediscovered love for Crew. And Crew, his commitment to Ever and Julia, his growth as a son, a father, a lover, and a brother. Adriana has crafted a cast of characters that touched me deeply, and I know that I will be thinking about them and their story for a very long time.

The Sacrifice is easily one of my favorite reads of this year. It touched me that much, because it is so much more than a love story, although it is that, too. It is the evolution and unfolding of lives that are inextricably woven together, a story of growth and completion, of truly knowing that to love is to give of oneself completely, with no expectations for personal gain. 5+ stars just doesn’t seem like enough; I cannot recommend more that you read this beautiful, heartbreaking, joyful, life-affirming book. It is absolutely not to be missed.

_________________________________

Author Bio:

Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, she has created her own.

The Exception was Adriana’s debut novel and released late last year. The Perception is a stand-alone that follows two secondary characters from The Exception. Her third novel, Sacrifice, will be released Summer 2015.

Adriana lives in the Midwest with her family. She spends copious amounts of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. Her favorite things include sunshine, candy, and random quotes.

She loves to hear from readers. You can find her:

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Category Archives: Reviewers

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Release Blitz + Excerpt + Review + Giveaway: Bleeding Love by Harper Sloan -Hope Town Series – Book 2

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review : Revived by Samantha Towle – Revved Series – Book 2

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Sacrifice by Adriana Locke

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