Review: Amber To Ashes by Gail McHugh – Torn Hearts Series – Book 1

Posted on 06/11/2015 by shellbellereads

Amber To Ashes

Torn Hearts Series – Book 1

Release Date: June 9, 2015

By Gail McHugh

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

Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling author of Collide and Pulse comes a gritty new novel about a shattered young woman who unexpectedly falls for two best friends.

They were a storm I never saw coming, an unforeseen heartbreak on the edge of a dangerous cliff.

Amber Moretti’s life changes in the span of minutes. An orphaned outsider, she is desperate to start fresh the moment she walks onto campus. In the time it takes to cross the university’s dining hall, she meets two men who bring color, air, and light to her darkened world.

They became my addiction, each a needle to my next hit, my high.

Brock Cunningham’s appeal is dizzying, a potent force Amber can’t deny. A green-eyed smooth talker, he instantly attracts Amber. It doesn’t take long for him to consume her every thought, her every breath.

Ryder Ashcroft, a blue-eyed, tattooed, and pierced bad boy, turns Amber off immediately—that is, until he kisses her, stealing a piece of her heart, her soul.

They were as opposite as fire and ice, yet I ached for them equally.

Never knowing she could be broken down in so many unexpectedly beautiful yet petrifying ways, Amber finds herself falling for both men.

Immoral? Maybe. I say undeniable. Uncontained.

But one devastating event changes everything, shattering each of their lives…and Amber isn’t sure she can recover from it.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Excerpt

“What are you, Casey?” Ryder asks over his shoulder as he scrubs his hands with antibacterial soap.

“Your little cancer warrior,” she answers with a small smile.

“That’s right.” He dries his hands and turns, a proud grin cracking his mouth. “The bravest one ever.”

I grab Casey’s hand and hold it tight, knowing nothing I’ve ever seen, heard, or felt compares to what she’s facing. This child’s living with a fear I can’t comprehend. One that’d slay all of my fears put together.

“Ready?” Ryder asks, his tone soft and caring, everything it should be.

Casey nods, clenching my hand. My heart swells, anxiety building thick in my throat as Ryder slips on a pair of medical gloves and cleans the area around her port with Betadine swabs.

Casey looks at me, the cool blue of her eyes misting over. “Are you scared of needles?”

“No,” I say, running my free hand along the back of her neck. “Are you?”

“I used to be.” She sighs, a single tear slipping down her face. “But not so much anymore.”

It takes everything in me not to drag her little body off the table and run out of the apartment with her. I wipe the tear from her cheek, my need to hide her away, sheltering her from the sinister storm she’s in the middle of, growing with each unsteady breath.

“A little cold,” Ryder warns before spraying the anesthetic on her skin.

“Hurry, Ry,” Casey pleads, her voice weak yet panicked. “It doesn’t last that long.”

“I have to make sure you’re numb, Case.” Ryder ducks his head and stares into her eyes, trying to keep her focused on the silly faces he’s making.

His tactic works.

Casey’s tiny giggles bounce around the kitchen, their musical notes blocking out the sound of Ryder popping the cap off a weird-looking needle. With a small, clear tube like a tail—and plastic wings stretched out on either side—it reminds me of a dragonfly. Ryder presses his gloved finger against Casey’s port a few times, his attention honed in on her face as he says, “Knock, knock.”

“Who’s there?” Casey smiles at me, completely unaware that Ryder’s pricked her skin with the needle.

“Aardvark.” Ryder pushes the medicine through the syringe, his attention cutting between Casey’s face and the needle.

“Aardvark who?” she manages, a thin sheen of sweat dotting her upper lip.

“Aardvark a hundred miles for one of your pretty smiles.” Ryder pulls the needle from her chest, and before she can blink, he rests his lips against her forehead, kissing away her remaining fear.

Close to immobile, my heart tugs, the magnitude of what this man means to this little girl—what they mean to each other—scraping tears up my dry throat. I swallow the sound before it can leave me, warmth pinching my stomach into a beautiful knot as I observe them.

“It’s over?” Casey asks, uncertainty flashing in her eyes.

“Yeah, kiddo. It’s over,” Ryder answers, his voice heavy with relief as he applies a small piece of gauze over her port. “You’re all set, warrior. Go get cleaned up, and we’ll get ready to leave.”

With Ryder’s aid, Casey slides off the table and heads for the bathroom, the bounce in her step less tangible as she slips around the corner. Quiet reigns, the events from the last few minutes whispering across my mind as Ryder looks at me with exhausted eyes. Stress lines cut across his forehead, wariness drowning his beautiful features. Overcome, I watch him swipe a tired hand over his face and turn, resting his palms against the counter. As though having no control over my body—a magnet pulling in my gut—I stand and move toward him, each tentative step I take carried out with shallow, quick breaths. I come up behind him, lift a shaky hand and tap his shoulder, my pulse lurching as he turns and meets my gaze. Our connection strikes, a bolt of emotions paralyzing us as we stare at each other.

I touch my fingers to his stubbled cheek, my conscience crying out that my actions are wrong, so very wrong, but my heart mutes the warning as I move my palm to the back of his neck.

His muscles go taut, restraint lighting the fiery blue of his eyes. “Amber, don’t.” The words come out not as a rough warning but a soft plea. “Don’t do this.”

“I have to,” I whisper, trembling. “You’re . . . amazing, Ryder. What you did for her, everything you do for her . . . I just . . .” I drop my eyes to his chest, my heart galloping as I register his hands gripping my waist. Their heat sears through me, a thrill jumping from cell to cell. “You’re tender, cocky, gentle, and an asshole all at the same time. You’re kind, giving, nurturing. You’re . . . everything.”

My lips find his, testing, teasing, barely touching. Our breathing comes faster, harder as I pull him down, our foreheads pressed together as we stare into each other’s eyes. “Please . . . I just . . . Just once more. That’s all I need.”

I think . . . hope.

With hunger demolishing all traces of restraint from his gaze, Ryder buries his hands in my wavy curls and looks at me a beat before capturing my lips in a slow, passionate kiss. I sigh into his mouth, my senses drowning in his familiar flavor as I fall in step with his calculated strokes. On a deep groan, he draws me closer, his tongue dipping in and out, out and in. Still, nothing about his touch is rough, yet everything in it screams that he needs me in this moment.

In this wicked space and time of his life.

Every lick and nip is a soft caress, like he’s trying to burn the sensation of my lips into his memory. My pulse hammers in staccato mode as I melt the full weight of my body into his. With my blood swimming through my veins, and sinking further into everything that is Ryder, I feel the emptiness of his soul slice through me. A dull ache pinches my heart, spreading its misery through my muscles as he cups my cheeks and deepens the kiss with a gentleness I never knew he possessed. My breath catches, wiped from my lungs as he glides his lips along my jaw, down the base of my throat. The cadence of his exotic growl slips through my ears, dizzying my head in the sweetest way.

“Christ, I fucking want you so bad,” Ryder whispers hoarsely. He drags his lips back to mine, his kiss urgent, greedy. However, he brings it down a notch, his movements revisiting slow, sensual, worshipping this moment for everything it is. Worshipping me for all I am. “So badly, peach. More than I’ve ever wanted anything or anyone. You drive me crazy. Your smell, skin, eyes.” He sucks my lip between his teeth, a groan punching from his chest as he runs his fingertips along my bare arms.

Goose bumps pop, deliciously pricking my skin as I tighten my grip in his hair.

“Your little giggles, pouts, personality. Every single fucked-up scar you own in and out. All of it. All of you.” He licks into my mouth, his tongue exploring mine with precision as his hands find my nape, their hold possessive. “Fuck. It should’ve been me. Not him. Me.”

And just like that, our moral compasses spring due north, Brock the center of its attention—our attention. We slowly break the kiss, our breathing choppy from the loss.

Michel’s Review

Wow… what a great book for Summer 2015. Amber To Ashes by Gail McHugh is the first book in the Torn Heart Series. This book has all the right ingredients to make your reading experience wickedly scorching. This book is not your ordinary love triangle. It is more of a dark erotic thriller. When you reach the end of this book you will be left with chills. The suspense will leave you hanging on the edge of your seat. You will begin to formulate many different scenarios and theories on what is going to happen next and how the story is going to finally play out.

Gail McHugh crafted a very complex story. The characters are not what they seem to be. At the beginning of the story you get very distinct impressions on both Brock and Ryder’s personalities. As the story unfolds the reader begins to see subtle changes and by the end of the book both guys are completely different from the early impressions. Neither one is really good or really bad. The one thing they both have in common is their feelings for Amber. Both are at the point that they will do anything to make her completely theirs. The choice may be taken out of all of their hands. Brock and Ryder’s illegal activities may cost them all their lives.

Amber is a very damaged girl. Her childhood experiences have left her scarred and emotionally damaged. She has never had a successful relationship whether it be romantic or platonic. She has kept herself emotionally closed off. Now that she has met both Brock and Ryder, she is wanting more out of life. The problem is that she doesn’t know what or who she wants.

Like I said this love triangle is unusual. It does not have the predictable angst like readers have experienced in other New Adult books. The interactions between the these three characters has an unusual element that keeps the readers bouncing back and forth.

The dark elements in this story come from outside the love triangle relationship. Brock and Ryder have been living a duel life that is catching up to them. This duel life is deadly. This element is what really fuels this book more so than the love triangle.

Both Brock and Ryder wanted Amber to be completely happy. I think one wanted to be the one to fix her. I got the impression that the other one wanted Amber to fix herself by giving her love and support.

It’s hard to say whether I am team Brock or team Ryder. Both guys were easy to love. They were both good and bad. They both had redeeming qualities. I wouldn’t want to be in Amber’s shoes.

I would love to give this book 5 Stars but there were a few things that kept me from giving that rating.

*** Brock’s motivations were never very clear. We were told why but the explanation was so brief that it really didn’t convince me.

***Brock and Ryder were supposedly best friends since childhood. I never felt that deep bond that they supposedly had. The book lacked interaction between Brock and Ryder that would convince the reader of this friendship. There were very few interactions with the two of them together. The friendship was more of a suggestion from each character when dealing with Amber.

*** Amber’s problems with Hailey kind of popped out of the blue. When I reached the scene where Amber and Hailey have a confrontation in Starbuck’s I was totally confused. I went back several chapters to see if I missed something, which I did not.

*** Lastly, I found it hard to connect with Amber’s character completely. We only got to see one facet of Amber’s true personality. We only saw what damaged her and left her emotionally scarred. Every once in a while we would get a glimpse of something else like her love for writing. Most of the time her personality came off as an insecure girl rather than a young woman that was strong enough to survive the crap hand life dealt her.

Overall Amber To Ashes was a fantastic book and I cannot wait for the sequel!

__________________________________

A self-proclaimed chocoholic, married mother of three, and a lover of writing for as far back as she can remember, Gail McHugh is the author of two New York Times bestselling novels. The COLLIDE series (which includes COLLIDE and PULSE), was acquired by Atria Books on September 17th, 2013.

“The first of two sexy contemporary romances about a woman torn between her seemingly perfect boyfriend and a dark, mysterious stranger who will stop at nothing to have her.” – Publishers Weekly on COLLIDE, a Top 10 Romance pick!

You can follow Gail on the below social media sites:

Stalk Her: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and Goodreads.

Review : My Mind’s Eye by Gillian Jones

Posted on 06/10/2015 by shellbellereads

My Mind’s Eye

By Gillian Jones

Synopsis

Ryker
She is the epitome of the girl next door, but with a feistiness that makes my dick throb.
I’m drawn to her like no other. She stirs things in me I have no desire to feel, makes me long for things I shouldn’t.
This is my game. I choose the players, and I never play for keeps.
I don’t believe in fate. I make my own destiny. I work hard and play harder. Luck is for pussies, karma for idiots. Me, I make shit happen.
Meeting her fucked up my plan. Threw me off my game.
I’m now face to face with my karma. Her name is Kat Rollins.
Kat
Ryker Eddison is the epitome of a player. You know the type: Mr. Get In and Get Out.
He’s all about the chase, wanting just one night. Everyone knows this—I know this. Still, I find myself craving him, my greedy body betraying what my heart and mind already know: he will only bring me pain.
He’s the guy who girls like me should avoid. I’m smart; I know better. But when I’m with him, I feel things I’ve never felt before. Things I never knew I wanted.
I can’t deny it … I like the chase. The high is explosive, but I’m afraid if I give in, I may end up losing more than I can handle: my heart.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / Kobo

Tina’s Review

Judging a Book by it’s Cover:
Eye-catching cover, nice coloration. Very visually appealing. Synopsis sounds like the usual angst-y New Adult drama, but with a splash of humor and fun.
Looking Deeper:
Alternating first-person POV, clearly defined and easy to follow. Love the Cassia Brightmore “Malevolent” name-drop. Sweet. There were surprise LOL moments (particularly the first Friday night that Kat covers for Claire) that I honestly enjoyed. Ryker kind of comes off as a jerk to Kat, but his mental monologues are endearing. Kat is a bit insecure, she’s a stressor and panicker, but trying to work through it. Their interactions make for a fun ride, whereas the conversations I was not a huge fan of. When holding a conversation, it’s just not normal and natural to continually use their name, addressing them, each time. The only time this is widely used is if it’s in a large group setting and you need to indicate who you are addressing or you are trying to catch their individual attention. It may be a minor pet peeve of mine, but it did trigger a low-level yellow flag for me. But, as stated, the mental asides are great and manage to capture each character’s unique personality and essence much more effectively. While the plot progresses smoothly and the interactions are laden with sexual tension, it’s nice to see that the buildup to them hooking up takes over 2/3 the story before the deed is finally done. It’s a refreshing change of pace while still packed with some fun heat prior to that pivotal point. The conflicts are often minor and resolved in manners that are typical of real college-aged people. Predictability was fairly low, I mean, we all knew “he” would show up eventually but not the when and where. The conclusion following the apex was a little longer than most, but it was solid and strong. I’d love to know what became of Claire and some of the other secondary characters, however. Overall, this was a very enjoyable read once I looked past the constant addressing during dialogue issue. I really did love Ryker’s inability to act like a normal human being when in the same building as Kat, it made me smile always and laugh often.

_______________________________________

I’m a wife, and mother. My Mind’s Eye is my first book writing adventure! Eeeeek! I’m Canadian so I might spell things a little odd once in a while wink emoticon I love red wine, adore my friends and I’m so completely in love with my hubby and little boy. I’m addicted to shoe shopping! But my biggest addiction however is reading. That shit runs deep in my veins, I’m a lover of alpha males, hot sex, with a side of angst all topped off with the happy ever after. I’m a new indie author and I can’t wait to start this journey.

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Dark Domination by Lili Valente – Bought By The Billionaire Series – Book 1

Posted on 06/10/2015 by shellbellereads

Dark Domination

Bought by the Billionaire, Book 1

Lili Valente

Releases June 9th

WARNING: Dark, dirty, forbidden, and hot as hell.

Marine turned billionaire arms dealer Jackson Hawke has one goal–to have the woman who ruined his life at his mercy. He’ll see her on her knees, even if he has to pay for the privilege.

Six years ago, Hannah buried her twin sister. Now, with her family in jeopardy, Hannah must sell herself to a wealthy stranger in order to save their home.

She expects to be scarred by the experience. She doesn’t expect to pay penance for her sister’s sins or to meet a man who brings her body savagely to life.

Now Hannah must choose–confess to Jackson that she’s not the twin he’s looking for and forfeit the money she needs to survive, or submit to a man whose dark domination may be the end of them both.

* *CLIFFHANGER ALERT: Dark Domination ends in a cliffhanger. It is the 1st in the Bought by the Billionaire serial romance series. The entire series will release summer 2015* *

Tracey’s Review

Jackson Hawke is a man bent on revenge. It’s taken years, but he is ready to show the woman that he once loved the consequences of her betrayal. Following a wild night of passion with a mysterious stranger and the suspect death of her twin sister, Hannah North has spent the past six years hidden away from the world. When circumstances arise that force her to offer herself as an escort to an unknown benefactor, she has no idea that her two worlds are about to collide.

Since her arrival on the scene, Lili Valente has quickly proven herself as one of the fresh voices in erotic fiction. Über-alpha men, fast-paced and intriguing plots, and, oh, yes, hotter than hot sex, make her books go-to reads for me. Dark Domination is the first in Lili’s new Bought By the Billionaire series, and it is on fire. Jackson Hawke is as alpha as they come, and, even hellbent on retribution, he’s one of the sexiest leading men I’ve read lately. And Hannah has been through a lot, but she’s willing to do what she has to to save her family, even if it means submitting to an unknown man, and moving far beyond her comfort zone. This book needs to come with a fan and an extra set of panties, because the sexy scenes are seriously molten. And, holy cliffhanger, Batman, Lili knows how to leave us cursing and ready to throw our e-readers. Waiting for Deep Domination (Book 2) will be no easy feat, but I’m all in. In the meantime, Dark Domination gets 5+ ‘hot, hot, did I say hot, give me a fan, because it’s HOT’ stars. Read it. You know you want to.

*** ARC provided for an honest review *** 5

Amazon:http://amzn.to/1Fhz8h3

Nook: http://bit.ly/1GnTnj9
Googleplay: http://bit.ly/1eOlgo1
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1FrBdGc
iBooks: http://apple.co/1IeDoUN

Hannah’s eyes flew open and her lips parted in a scream, but the enormous man straddling her pressed his hand tighter to her lips, muffling the sound.

She jerked her arms downward, ready to fight him off, only to discover that her wrists were tied to the headboard. Terror rushed through her and her pulse sped, setting her heart to slamming against her ribs as she tugged harder on her bonds. But the rope biting into her wrists assured her she wouldn’t be able to fight her way free.

She was bound tight, powerless to protect herself from whatever this man intended to do to her.

“Relax, princess. It’s just me.” The man leaned down, the water dripping from the end of his nose, landing on Hannah’s cheek, making her flinch. “I came in through the window. I thought I’d make that fantasy you were telling me about a reality.”

Hannah swallowed, her thundering heartbeat slowing a bit as she understood what was happening.

She wasn’t being attacked by an intruder. This man must be Harley’s guy of the moment, and he clearly thought he was straddling her sister. Once she cleared up the misunderstanding, he’d untie her and she could show him to the door. They’d both be embarrassed, no doubt, but she wasn’t about to be raped or murdered.

The realization made her whip-tight muscles sag with relief, an action she realized too late that the man took as an invitation to continue living out Harley’s bondage fantasy.

“I’ve been dying to touch you all day,” he said, his dry palm moving from her mouth to her breast, teasing her nipple through her thin tee shirt, drawing a gasp from her throat.

She expected his touch to feel foreign and unwelcome, but his fingers were gentle, teasing her with a sweetness that made her arch into his warm hand. Electricity shot from her breast to coil between her legs, the sensation intensified by the feel of the rope digging into her wrists as her biceps tightened reflexively in response to the stranger’s confident touch.

“God, the sounds you make drive me crazy,” the man said, pinching her nipple tight enough to make her gasp again.

“No, please, I’m not—” Hannah’s words ended in a moan as he pushed her shirt up and bent lower, tugging her nipple into the warm, wet heat of his mouth. His tongue flicked and teased, flooding her body with pleasure and longing so intense she was panting by the time he transferred his mouth to her other breast, sucking and nibbling at the aroused skin as his big hand slipped down the front of her panties, finding where she was already wet.

Wet, from her sister’s boyfriend’s mouth on her breasts. And now his fingers were sliding into where she ached, making her shudder.

If she didn’t stop this soon, it would be too late. There would be no avoiding tragedy, there would be only shame and the nightmare of confessing to her sister and this innocent man that she’d done something unforgivable.

“Stop, I’m not Harley.” She tensed her thighs only to relax them a second later when she realized her locked muscles were trapping his fingers inside her embarrassingly slick sex.

“No, you’re not,” he said, driving his fingers in and out of her as he trapped her nipple between his teeth and bit down, making her cry out in pain before he soothed away the hurt with his tongue.

“You’re my little slut,” he continued in his deep, sexy rumble of a voice, his fingers still busy between her legs, making the tension coiling low in her body fist even tighter. “And I’m going to fuck you until you scream.”

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lili Valente has slept under the stars in Greece, eaten dinner at midnight with French men who couldn’t be trusted to keep their mouths on their food, and walked alone through Munich’s red light district after dark and lived to tell the tale.

These days you can find her writing in a tent beside the sea, drinking coconut water and thinking delightfully dirty thoughts.

Lili loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her via email at lili.valente.romance@gmail.com

Facebook | Goodreads

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review : The Consequence of Revenge by Rachel Van Dyken…. #SAVEMAX

Posted on 06/09/2015 by shellbellereads

After losing his best friend to another guy, the notoriously
too-confident Max Emory suddenly feels lost. He may have devastatingly good
looks, an abundance of charm, and a claim to one of the biggest hotel empires
around, but he has no ambition anymore. So when his fed-up friends decide
they’ve had enough of his moping, they sign him up to be the next bachelor on
the reality series Love Island. And between his pride and his forged signature
on an ironclad contract, Max just can’t say no.

Now he’s stranded in paradise with twenty-four women, oneterrifying goat, and Becca, the breathtaking barista who already turned him down back home. The closer Max gets to Becca, the more determined he becomes to win her over. As she gets to know him better, things start heating up. But is Becca really after Max’s heart—or is she after the cash prize she could claim once the cameras stop rolling?

Buy: Amazon / B & N

AMAZON PRE-ORDER PaperbackAUDIO

GOODREADS

EXCERPT

“And . . .” She held up her hand like she was doing a damn countdown! “You’re kind of, like . . .” She leaned forward and whispered, “A bit . . .” Her eyes teased. “Metro.”

“As in . . . ,” I baited her.

“Feminine,” she snapped. “Yup, that’s the word. And Max, I mean that in the nicest way possible.”

“You mean . . .” I licked my lips, then slapped the water. “In the kindest way you can possibly say it, ‘Oh, look, Max has boobs’? Or you mean it in the way that says I lack the proper sexual magnetism to get your engine going?”

Becca rolled her eyes. “Hey, I didn’t come here to fight. I was just going to go over our date for tomorrow without the watchful eyes of Big Brother.”

“Hmm.” She was looking down at her feet. So I did what any desperate man who’d just been insulted in the worst way possible would do. I grabbed her feet, dragged her into the water, creating a huge splash, and then, when her head popped up for air, I gave her something else.

My tongue.

Kissing Becca could become a very nice, very addicting . . . pastime. Her lips were soft, pliant, but her hands were beating against my chest. Ah, classic move. Listen up, men: women fight us because they’re expected to. They have to put up the fight so they don’t come off as easy. So the next time a girl hits you in the chest, go with it, kiss her harder. It just means she wants more, especially when her chest is heaving and her tongue is doing . . . that. Yeah, exactly. Oh. Hell. Damn. Kill me now. When her tongue is doing that? Becca’s tongue pushed against mine and then she sucked.

I felt said sucking all the way through my body.

When she stopped fighting me, I wrapped my arms around her neck, pulling her as close against me as I could, and then pulled away.

Her eyes furrowed with confusion as she tried to lean forward.

I pulled back again, and swam her over to the ladder.

“Thanks, Becca,” I whispered. “I needed a little motivation.”

“M-motivation?”

“Game on.” I helped her up and followed. “And by the way . . .” I grabbed her hands and moved her flat palms from my chest all the way down to my waist. “I’m anything but feminine. Have a good night.” As I walked away, I did what any sane man would do. I paused so she could get her fill and realize that yes, I was, in fact, still naked. And when I heard her gasp, I turned around and saluted her in more ways than one.

Point. Max.

Michel’s Review

Get Ready To

#SAVEMAX

LOAD UP ON COFFEE

GRAB SOME CHOCOLATE

MAYBE WEAR SOME DEPENDS BECAUSE YOU MAY PEE YOUR PANTIES

AND WHATEVER YOU DO

DO NOT EAT SUGAR FREE GUMMIE BEARS

THE gang is back and they are out to get Max. After his colorful shenanigans that may have saved Jason from Bridezilla but permanently scarred Reed, the gang feels Max may need an intervention. They need to save him from himself. They have found the perfect way to save Max from his disastrous one liners. He needs a new direction. They have found the perfect thing that can straighten Max. They have entered him to become the next bachelor on a reality series.

But as we know, Max is a very good sport. Even when he has to endure the worst kind of physical known to mankind.

Even though Max is a metro man, he firmly believes he can survive on a deserted island with 25 eligible females looking to catch Max hook line and sinker.

Max is a superior man. He is fearless, well mostly fearless, unless there is a goat in the vicinity. He can handle a snake in his pants. He can handle being mauled by a pine nut eating Amazon. What he can’t handle is goats, cats, and his brother.

But Max is resourceful. He enlist one of the contestants, Becca, to be his partner in crime. He’s determined to come out of this 21 day fallacy on top. It’s a win win situation for both of them.

Max’s adventure will have you rolling on the ground holding your stomach because it hurts so bad from laughing.

Reed is going to infiltrate the enemy camp to help bring his brother down. After all Max did sic granny on him. Max deserves payback.

The gang will show up in the final episodes to help Max pick the perfect date. What happens next will have all of them trying to #SAVEMAX.

The grand finale will shock Max just as much as it does the readers. But like I said, Max is a resourceful kind of guy. Max always wins in the end.

Yes… Reed is still reliving the trauma from the first book. Jason may have gotten free from Bridezilla but he’s still getting bruises left and right. I think these two guys need their own kind of “Consequence” therapy.

Rachel Van Dyken has proved that she is a multi talented writer. She has given readers intensity, dark thrillers, emotional angst, and now romantic comedy.

Don’t miss out on The Consequence of Revenge!

Remember it is up to you to …………………

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!

Want to be kept up to date on new releases? Text MAFIA to 66866!
You can connect with her on
Facebook www.facebook.com/rachelvandyken
or join her fan group Rachel’s New
Rockin Readers. Her website is www.rachelvandykenauthor.com

NEWSLETTER FACEBOOK TWITTER GOODREADS AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Zack by Sawyer Bennett – Cold Fury Hockey Series – Book 3

Posted on 06/09/2015 by shellbellereads

Zack

Cold Fury Hockey Series – Book 3

By Sawyer Bennett

Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett goes for a hat trick with the latest romance in a sexy series about cool-as-ice hockey players and the women heating up their lives.

Warning: The following contains spoilers from a cliffhanger in Garrett.

Rising star Zack Grantham has been stuck in a downward spiral of grief that has put his career on hold. Back on the road with the Carolina Cold Fury, still crippled by emotional baggage, and now a single dad, he’s in need of some serious help with his son. But while the nerdy new nanny wins his son’s heart, Zack isn’t sure he’s ready for a woman’s touch—even after getting a glimpse of the killer curves she’s hiding under those baggy clothes.

Kate Francis usually keeps men like Zack at a distance. Though his athlete’s body is honed to perfection, he refuses to move on with his life—and besides, he’s her boss. Still, the sparks between them are undeniable, tempting Kate to turn their professional relationship into a personal one. But before she makes a power play for Zack’s wounded heart, Kate will have to open him up again and show him that love is worth the fight.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Excerpt

The doorbell rings just as I’m trying to simultaneously flip a pancake with one hand and pull bacon off the griddle with another. The pancake ends up sticking, then folding in half, and my forearm hits the edge of the griddle. I swear I can hear my skin sizzle from the contact.

“Fuck!” I jerk backward, dropping both the fork in one hand and the spatula in the other, thankful that Ben is in his room playing and didn’t hear me say that. It’s a constant battle sometimes to watch my language around the kid.

Slapping at the control knobs, I turn the heat completely off the large electric griddle I had been struggling with and rub gently the burn on my arm as I head toward the front door. As I round the corner from the kitchen into the living room, I slam my bare foot into Ben’s large dump-truck toy, causing a string of curses to come out of my mouth now as I hobble onward to the door.

My front door is honey-colored oak and has a large oval glass inset with a beveled flower design. Gina had picked it out and had it installed, claiming that it allowed more light into the front entranceway. I thought it was a little too girly, but I didn’t argue with her. The house was her domain.

The glass lets me see my visitor on the other side, but provides no details because of the beveled cuts and partial frosting, which distort the person. But I know who it is.

Ben’s new nanny.

Roberta Francis.

She was Delaney’s top choice, and after I briefly scanned her application I had to sit and listen to my sister rave about her. Delaney felt she was perfect for the job in all respects. She was fantastic with children, having helped raise her three nephews for a period of time. She was also a student with a flexible schedule. Delaney actually droned on and on about this particular situation, but I tuned her out and started thinking about everything I’d need to do to get the house ready to put on the market. I was seriously considering selling it. Maybe move farther out into the country, where we could have some land and Ben could have a dog.

Finally, I just cut Delaney off and said, “She sounds perfect. Let’s go with her.”

And now, as I’m about to open the door to let a woman into my house who will have the most important of responsibilities in helping me care for my son, I’m suddenly realizing I don’t know anything about her other than her name and a vague recollection that she’s a student who helped raise her nephews.

Just fucking great. Way to be an involved and responsible parent, Zack.

The only saving grace at this moment is that Delaney thoroughly interviewed this girl, checked out her references, and was absolutely enchanted with her. I trust Delaney, so this will be fine. She’ll be great, in fact.

I wish I believed myself.

I swing the door open and get my first look at the woman who will be moving into my house and caring for my son. I’m not sure what I expected, but this wasn’t it.

Based on Delaney’s assessment, I expected her to have a superhero’s cape on, or at the very least a shiny gold halo and massive angel wings sprouting out of her back.

Instead…she’s sort of unremarkable.

She stares up at me with round, crystal-blue eyes that are devoid of any makeup and surrounded by brown plastic-framed glasses. Her hair is dark, held back with a headband and twisted up behind her so I have no clue how long it is. She’s small, barely coming up to my shoulder, and swimming in an oversized, extremely faded red NC State sweatshirt and baggy jeans that look about two sizes too big for her. An old backpack slung over her shoulder and a pair of well-worn tennis shoes complete her outfit.

“Roberta?” I ask hesitantly, because suddenly I’m thinking this may be someone soliciting something…or maybe even a homeless person looking for a meal. The way those clothes completely swallow her makes me think she’s starving underneath all that material.

She gives me an outwardly bright smile and sticks a delicate hand out toward me. Her sweatshirt is so big, her sleeves are rolled up around her wrists. “Actually…I go by Kate. Roberta’s my first name, which I was named after my daddy, Robert, but seriously…who wouldn’t hate that name? So I go by my middle name, which is Kathryn, actually. So I shorted it down to Kate, because Kathryn sounds just so…I don’t know…like a Catholic saint or something, and I’m not Catholic. I was raised Southern Baptist, but I really don’t go to church anymore, so—”

She pauses …finally, and takes a deep breath. Her smile goes from politely earnest to a sheepish grin, and she gives an apologetic shrug. “Sorry…I’m nervous and I tend to prattle when I’m nervous.”

I just blink at her, completely shocked silent. I have no clue what to think about this strange woman…no, girl, I think, because she looks so fucking young.

“How old are you?” I ask, my eyes glancing suspiciously at her hand still extended toward me.

“Twenty-three,” she says. “Didn’t Delaney tell you about me? You knew I was coming today, right?”

“Um…yeah, she did. I guess I didn’t hear her mention your age,” I mutter.

Kate takes a small step forward and pushes her hand farther toward me, giving me a pointed look. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Her voice is soft, with a moderate southern twang. I can’t remember if Delaney told me where she was from or not. Fuck…I can’t remember anything she said.

I reach out hesitantly and shake her hand. It’s tiny and her bones feel small, but she grips me surely. “Yeah…uh, nice to meet you too,” I say absently.

Our hands break apart and we just stare at each other.

Michel’s Review

I was dreading this book as much as I was anticipating this book. At the end of the second book, Garrett, Zack experienced an extreme tragedy in his life. I knew this book was going to be one that made me an emotional wreck. So I went into this book loaded with a box of tissue and chocolate within reach.

Sawyer Bennett wove her special story telling magic and delivered a story that not only was emotional but completely unexpected. The book starts with Zack in a strip bar trying to experience some kind of physical feeling. He has been numb since the car accident that took his long time live in girlfriend, Gina’s life. He has been with Gina since high school. They had a strong loving relationship. Their relationship was a role model for many of the other players on the team. They seemed perfect. They had a beautiful home, a beautiful son, and a close relationship. Zack is lost without Gina. The only thing holding him together is his young son, Ben.

His injuries are healing. He’s ready to get back on the ice. He has to find a caretaker for Ben before he can return to the team. When his sister hires the oddest nanny for Ben, it is a blessing and a curse. Although she’s good for Ben she may not be good for Zack. I am not talking about the kind of good or bad in a sexual manner. Kate’s easy going manner, great quirky sense of humor, and genuine honesty may be Zack’s undoing. She will touch places in his soul that he long forgot he buried. He will face truths about his and Gina’s relationship. He will face truths about himself. Most of all , he will have to deal with the guilt that is related to Gina’s death.

Zack will learn to live again. He will find a new man beneath the surface. His hopes and dreams will change. Kate will be the one to bring Zack back to the land of the living. But is he strong enough to live for a new life with Kate and give it everything he’s got inside? Is there room in his heart for anyone else other than Ben?

This book came as a great surprise. I was not a blubbering mess. I didn’t even cry. Sawyer Bennett focused on life rather than death. She gave an honest portrayal on how life goes on and no matter how hard we try to fight it. we do have room for more love. What surprised me the most was Zack. I was under the impression that he was a certain kind of guy from the previous books and he ended up being altogether different in a very good way.

This was not a story of loss and heartbreak, it was a story of hope and love.

Once again Sawyer Bennett delivered an outstanding book that touched my heart. I am looking forward to Ryker’s book. That man is drool worthy goalie that is begging for his story and happily ever after.

Sawyer Bennett has made me a Cold Fury Puck Bunny! I love those mighty men on the ice.

____________________________________

The Cold Fury Series

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

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

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iBooks

New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett hits the ice with the story of a playboy athlete whose winning ways lead him to a beautiful woman with a lot to lose.

Carolina Cold Fury star Garrett Samuelson never wants to miss out on a single minute of fun. Whether he’s playing hockey, hanging out with friends, or walking the red carpet with a new date on his arm, he lives every day to the fullest. When he meets Olivia Case, he sees someone who’s exactly his type—confident, sexy, smart . . . his next fling. But the more he pursues her, the more Garrett shares a side of himself that other women don’t normally get to see.

Olivia has been keeping a secret. While Garrett lives for the next thrill, Olivia’s not sure she’ll live to see the next day. She’s undergoing treatment for some serious medical issues, and she doesn’t have time for a relationship with no guarantees—especially one with a hot-as-sin womanizer who won’t take no for an answer. But as she gets to know the real Garrett, Olivia can’t help falling for him . . . hard. To reveal the truth would mean risking everything—but you can’t score without taking the tough shots.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Ryker – Book 4

Release Date: September 8 , 2015

The rugged men of the Carolina Cold Fury hockey team are winning hearts once again in another scorching novel from New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett.

The stakes have never been higher for Carolina Cold Fury goalie Ryker Evans. With his contract running out, he’s got a year left to prove he’s still at the top of his game. And since his wife left him, Ryker has been balancing life as a pro-hockey star and a single parent to two daughters. Management is waiting for him to screw up. The fans are ready to pounce. Everybody’s taking dirty shots—except for the fiery redhead whose faith in Ryker gives him a fresh start.

As the league’s only female general manager, Gray Brannon has learned not to mix business with pleasure. And yet even this tough, talented career woman can’t help breaking her own rules as she gives Ryker everything she’s got. She hopes their hot streak will last forever, but with Ryker’s conniving ex plotting to reclaim her man, the pressure’s on Gray to step up and save a tender new love before it’s too late.

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

______________________________________

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

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

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Giveaway

Rafflecopter Giveaway

(Loveswept & FLIRT Mugs and Select Ebook Bundle)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Blitz + Review + Giveaway : Trusting Liam by Molly McAdams

Posted on 06/09/2015 by shellbellereads

Trusting Liam

A Taking Chance and Forgiving Lies Novel

Release Date: June 9, 2014

By Molly McAdams

Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling author of Taking Chances, From Ashes, and Stealing Harper, comes the new unforgettable adult romance Molly McAdams’ fans have been waiting for—the sizzling story of a young woman who must place her trust in the one man who can break through her defenses.

A night they will always remember…a connection neither can deny…a secret that could destroy it all…

When Kennedy Ryan moves to California, she never expects to come face-to-face with Liam Taylor—the intriguing man who has haunted her thoughts for a year. A man who led her to breaking every one of her rules for a single night of passion that ended up meaning more than it was ever supposed to. Accustomed to disastrous experiences with men, Kennedy shields herself before he can break down more of the carefully built control she’s clung to for the last four years. But every time she sees Liam, she feels her resolve weakening.

Liam Taylor has been asked to help socialize his boss’s nieces. But what he thinks sounds more like a babysitting job ends up leading him to the only girl who ever slipped away before morning—a girl he thought he’d never find again. And now that she’s within reach, Liam’s determined to never let her go.

But when a secret from her past tests their relationship, will they be able to cling to the trust Liam has worked so hard to build?

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Excerpt

Trying not to wake him, I slowly slid out from under his arm and off the bed to search for my clothes. Once I was dressed, I told myself to just leave, but I couldn’t help it—I turned to look at him in the light. I needed to be sure I hadn’t made him up.

The images from last night tore through my mind again when I saw the large, tattooed arm resting where my body had just been. The muscles were well defined even relaxed, and the face had a boyish charm now that he was asleep. Such a difference from the predatory stare and knowing smirk I kept seeing in my mind. Before I could stop myself, I gently ran my fingers through his dirty-blond hair that, now in the sunlight, I could see had a red tint to it. And I knew if he opened them, those arctic blue eyes would once again captivate me.

But I couldn’t risk that.

I’d already stayed too long; I’d already made a mistake with him. Drunken one-night stands weren’t my thing. Drunken one-night stands with strangers in Vegas were even worse.

Straightening, I turned and walked quietly from the room.

Michel’s Review

Fans of the Taking Chances Series and Forgiving Lies Series by Molly McAdams are in for a real treat. The babies of these series are all grown up and giving their parents a run for their money. It’s a good thing the parents have dealt with all the good and bad crap life can throw along the way. They are getting a taste of their own medicine.

When Kennedy Ryan and her twin sister are forced to move to California because of their father. Logan “Kash” Ryan has old enemies being released from prison. Kash is fearful that his daughters are going to pay a high price. Thankfully their Uncle Eli (Changing Everything) is there to help them get situated in their new lives. One of the ways he intends to help is by getting his best employee, Liam Taylor (son from Taking Chances), to introduce them to other people their age. Little does Uncle Eli know but Liam already knows Kennedy Ryan. They had an anonymous one night stand in Vegas a year ago.

When Kennedy and Liam come face to face it’s a total shock.

Liam wants to pursue Kennedy because he never forgot the girl he called Moon.

Kennedy doesn’t want a relationship with Liam because of her secret past. Even though she has moved on from the past, the scars run deep.

Just when Liam convinces her to give their relationship a shot, the past will come knocking on the door for both of them. Kennedy will have to face her past. Liam will have to force his family to let go of his biological father (Chase) memory and let him live his own life.

Meanwhile Daddy Kash and the uncles will have to get to the bottom of the danger that threatens the precious Ryan twins.

Molly McAdams tied both series together beautifully. I loved how our favorite characters from the past series became the wise adults that guided these great young adults. I loved how she handled the memory of Chase and showed what a wonderful father Brandon was to Liam. It was a very happy transition for both series and gave the new generation something of their very own.

All of these characters will remain dear to my heart.

_____________________________________________________________

Author’s Bio

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

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter – Goodreads

____________________________

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review : Amber To Ashes by Gail McHugh – Torn Hearts Series – Book 1