Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Hard by Cheryl McIntyre

Posted on 03/22/2015 by shellbellereads

Hard

An Erotic Romance

By Cheryl McIntyre

Synopsis

I have been staring at her for three months. Watching her. Memorizing her.

For ninety-two days, I’ve looked into those lifeless green eyes.

And for ninety-two days she has inspired me in ways I never knew possible. A muse, unbeknownst to her. Motivating me. Encouraging my darkest desires.

I’m a man who knows what he wants. And what I want is the beautiful and broken Holland Howard.

My name is Jensen Payne—photographer, autocrat, lecher, Scopophiliac. I am who I am and I will not—cannot—change.

*This is an Erotic Romance. Recommended for readers 18+ ONLY.

WARNING: This book contains possible emotional triggers.

HARD is a full-length stand-alone erotic romance novel (approximately 50,000 words).

Buy: Amazon / B & Nt / ITunes / Kobo / Smashwords

Excerpt

I have been watching her for three months.

For ninety-two days, I’ve looked into those lifeless green eyes. Let my gaze slide over her flawless, pale skin. Fantasized about her luscious lips.

For ninety-two days she has inspired me in ways I never knew possible. A muse, unbeknownst to her. Motivating me. Encouraging my darkest desires to life through my work. Just when I was so close to giving up, surrendering to my unchangeable fate, I spotted her, and haven’t been able to look away since.

I don’t think she has a clue that my eyes find her the moment I step into this establishment. She’s oblivious to the way I always sit at the same table—the one with the best view of the bar. Of her. Unaware I spend my evenings watching her.

Memorizing her. Inch by exquisite inch.

Her soft beauty and innocent naivety keeps me coming back. Over and over, since the day she first served me. My cock grows hard beneath the shelter of the table as she strides toward me, her breasts bouncing lightly with each step. My arousal has nothing to do with sexual gratification. Though she has a beautiful body, curvy in all the places a man’s hands like to grip, and hold, and conquer, I’m turned on by the way she makes me feel inside. By the strength and craving and ambition she has unknowingly restored in me.

A man’s wet fantasy. A woman’s aspiration. My divine intervention.

Michel’s Review

I was really excited when I received an ARC copy of Hard by Cheryl McIntyre. If you have not read any books by Cheryl McIntyre, Hard may be the book that makes you a die hard Cheryl McIntyre fan. Her writing is edgy, emotional, honest, and captivating. I have not picked up one book by Cheryl and not been able to put it down. When I finally got Hard downloaded on my kindle, I stayed up until the wee hours of the night because I could not walk away from this story until it was finished.

Hard is more than a dark erotic romance. It is more than an insight to the kinkier side of life. It is about dealing with the harsh realities of life and learning to cope any way possible. It is a story of acceptance and finding peace. It is a story of learning how to love after life has dealt you a very bad hand. It is a story of healing.

The first few chapters of Hard are devastating. Holland Howard has experienced the worst that life could deliver. She is beyond broken. She has lost everything she cared about in life. She has lost herself. Her only way to cope is to leave everything she knows behind. She is no longer a functioning person. She is like a robot, existing one moment to the next. She ends up across the country, in a state where she knows absolutely no one. She is managing to exist by working as a cocktail waitress in a non descript bar. That is okay with her, she only has to interact with people to do her job. She doesn’t have to personable, she doesn’t have to expose herself, and she can keep her pain to herself.

One man, Jensen Payne, takes notice of Holland in a very odd way. He has been watching her day and day out. He has become obsessed with her beauty. He wants to own her beauty. He wants to own her pain.

When Jensen propositions Holland it will lead them both on an erotic journey that is beyond the imagination. It will also lead them to accept the people they are underneath the surface. They will have to face the past, accept their lives, and find something that makes them want to look to the future. They will find the peace they didn’t know they were searching for.

I am not going to say any more about this book other than it is beyond excellent. This book evoked so many emotions. One moment I was crying my eyes out and the next moment I was totally creeped out. Then a few chapters later I was falling in love and praying these characters would find happiness.

Hard was meticulously written. It had the perfect flow and right amount of pacing. The aha moments were delivered with surprise and satisfaction. The characters were complex and their back stories were heartbreaking. The journey the characters traveled was hard but also freeing.

I cannot praise this book enough. It is a dark book that has a bright light at the end of the journey. There are no cliffhangers and definitely satisfying resolutions.

Hard by Cheryl McIntyre is a 5 Star book.

About Cheryl McIntyre

Cheryl McIntyre is the author of the bestselling Sometimes Never series, as well as the Dirty series, Infinitely, and Dark Calling.

She calls Ohio home, though she secretly dreams of living somewhere much warmer–preferably near a beach. She is a mother, author, and insomniac, as well as a reader, self-proclaimed movie critic, and incredibly bad singer. Her life revolves around four things: family, music, books, and really bad scary movies.

You can follow her author page on Facebook where she lives part time. On Goodreads—which is like crack for avid readers. On Twitter, though she has still not yet mastered the art of tweeting. On tsū. Or on her website.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Tsu ~Amazon Author Page

Stay up to date on all of Cheryl’s new releases by joining her newsletter here: http://bit.ly/1C2azm3

Happy Release: Katie In Love by Chloe Thurlow

Posted on 03/21/2015 by shellbellereads

Katie In Love

An Erotic Romance

By Chloe Thurlow

Synopsis

atie Boyd has nothing in common with Tom Bridge, the volunteer doctor she meets at a party – except in bed she finds a passion to match her own. Tom is intense, puzzling, a man who cares about others and compels Katie to question her own life drifting through the hip clubs and London party scene.

When Tom returns to his post in a Sri Lanka orphanage, Katie isn’t sure if their passion was lit by its brevity, or if love, unexpected and not entirely wanted, has edged its way into her life. Should she go back to being who she always was? Or follow Tom into the unknown?

Katie in Love is a compelling erotic-romance that will grip readers as they follow Katie’s journey to an ending they may have expected – but not in the way they expected it.

Brilliantly written and coolly self-aware, Chloe Thurlow was described by KM Dylan on Amazon as “…the Anaïs Nin of our times.” With Katie in Love – her sixth novel – Thurlow reveals a writer at the height of her powers.

Buy: Amazon / B & N

Tina’s Review

First-person female POV. Warning: The journey through Katie’s thoughts can be chaotic and unfiltered. 😉
Ms. Thurlow has an erratically whimsical writing style that is abundantly descriptive. The characters are well-written, each with their own very distinctive personalities and quirks. The dialogue is believable, the interaction is good. There are only a few places where things feel a bit disjointed and awkward, but it’s difficult to tell if perhaps it weren’t intentional. The plot holds the reader’s interest and flows smoothly most of the time. On occasion, I found myself re-reading parts due to the overly-descriptive style but it was not so much that it detracts from the story’s quality. In fact, I find that many books by Nora Roberts effect me in the same manner. The conflicts throughout the books are maturely resolved with little to no predictability. The conclusion is solid and welcoming, with no cliffhangers.

Author Bio:

After uni, I started working in PR and got bored to tears. It was more fun being a waitress and writing in the dark silent hours from 2am to 6. I managed to complete a novel I called “Being A Girl” and fell over in the street after Nexus published it and the editor gave me a bottle of champagne I drank too quickly. Now, here we are, penning away night and day, five novels and three naughty-shorties on the shelf with a study of EL James called “The Fifty Shades of Grey Phenomena” just out.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Blog Tour + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Part Time Cowboy by Maisey Yates – Copper Ridge Series – Book 1

Posted on 03/20/2015 by shellbellereads

Part Time Cowboy

Copper Ridge Series – Book 1

By Maisey Yates

Synopsis

A onetime bad girl comes home to small-town Oregon in the first in a sexy, heartfelt new series from USA TODAY bestselling author Maisey Yates

Sadie Miller isn’t expecting any welcome-home parades on her return to Copper Ridge. Least of all from part-time rancher, full-time lawman Eli Garrett. The straitlaced, impossibly hot deputy sheriff glares at her as if she’s the same teenage hoodlum who fled town ten years ago. But running from her demons has brought Sadie full circle, ready to make a commitment at last. Not to a man, but to a bed-and-breakfast. On Garrett land. Okay, so her plan has a tiny flaw…

Eli works too hard to let a blonde ball of trouble mess up his town. But keeping an eye on Sadie makes it tough to keep his hands off her. And if she’s so wrong for him, why does being with her feel so right?

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

Tracey’s Review

Sadie Miller has come home to Copper Ridge, Oregon, to put a past of running away far behind her. A decade of moving from one place to the next has left her rootless and without any real sense of self. By coming back to the place that she’s always seen as the start of all of her problems, she hopes that she will finally be able to lay old ghosts to rest. Eli Garrett is the poster boy for stability. As both deputy sheriff and part owner of the family ranch, he’s been the glue that holds his family together, following one tragedy after another. He likes order and rules, and is not ready for the changes that Sadie brings with her.

I am a big fan of the Copper Ridge series by Maisey Yates. The small-town community, the richly drawn characters, and the absolutely wonderful dialogue all come together to make these books immensely readable. I fell in love with Eli from the minute he stepped into the story, with his stoicism and order. It was just a matter of time before Sadie, with her quirkiness and her ideas for change snapped him right out of any sense of complacency and rocked his world. These two could not be more different, and have little in common other than a white-hot desire for each other. Until, that is, they begin to spend time together, and to reveal pieces of themselves that show that they are more than they appear to be. Both have very real shadows coloring their pasts, things that have molded them into the people that they are. It is being with each other that allows them to face their demons and evolve into stronger people, both separately and together.

While Maisey covers some serious subject matter, there are also plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. Maisey has a real gift for writing dialogue, both internal and between her characters, and I spent much of the book giggling to myself. And sexy time, Maisey has that down. The heat between Eli and Sadie is palpable, and their growing emotional connection heartfelt. And Connor, Kate, Liss, Jack, and all of the citizens of Copper Ridge make this a cast of folks worth getting to know. 5 stars for Part Time Cowboy, a book that shows that you really can go home again.

Author Bio:
USA Today Bestselling romance writer with a penchant for coffee, sugared cereal, and alpha males. Three children, one husband, and too many dresses for my closet.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Giveaway

One Grand Prize: An eBook of Shoulda Been a Cowboy by Maisey Yates and an Amazon Gift Card for $25

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2015 Favorite…6 Star Review…Pocketful Of Sand by M. Leighton

Posted on 03/20/2015 by shellbellereads

A story of heartbreak, loss, redemption and second chances: Pocketful of Sand from New York Times bestselling author M. Leighton

Get it on Amazon | iBooks | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Google Play

Add it on Goodreads

ìSheís beauty for my ashes. And Iím hope for her heartache.îóCole Danzer

I donít know what makes a great love story. Is it that instant attraction when boy meets girl? The passionate kisses and the fairy-tale ending? Or is it a lifetime of tragedy, paid in advance, for a few stolen moments of pure bliss? The pain and the suffering that, in the end, you can say are worth it for having found the missing piece of your soul?

The answer is: I donít know. I donít know what makes a great love story. I only know what makes my love story. I only know that finding Cole when I did, when Emmy and I were running from a nightmare, was the only thing that saved me. That saved us. He was more broken than I was, but somehow we took each otherís shattered pieces and made a whole. If that is what makes a great love story, if that is what makes an epic romance, then mineÖours is the greatest of them all.

Contains material that some may find disturbing. Not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Get it on Amazon | iBooks | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Google Play

Add it on Goodreads

Tracey’s Review

There are books that just absolutely sweep you away, that touch you so completely that you have to sit with it once you’re done and just be. To say that I think this book is amazing would be an understatement. There are not enough ways for me to express just how much this book affected me, and how wonderful I think it is.

I have long been an avid fan of Michelle Leighton. Her stories are always full: love, joy, angst, and, yes, pain, Michelle writes all of these emotions so very well. Her characters most often have pasts that have left them not quite whole.

“Sometimes I think broken people gravitate toward one another, like our shattered pieces connect on a level that unscarred people never know.”

Both Eden and Cole have faced things in their pasts that would have leveled lesser people. That they are able to find in each other, brokenness and all, a connection and a safe place is a testament to love and healing. This is not a simple love story, though, and Cole’s and Eden’s journey to each other is not without challenges. I think that this is part of what makes Pocketful of Sand so powerful, because the characters and their story are more real.

“I’ve been alone a long time, and not once have I ever felt lonely. Bereft, yes. Angry, hell yes. Bitter, remorseful, hopeless, yes, but never lonely. Not until you. You changed everything…And I wasn’t prepared for that. I wasn’t prepared for you…

I hear him shift and then I feel the feather-light brush of his lips on my forehead, the tip of my nose, the curve of my cheek.

‘I know you’re awake. And I love you,’ he says quietly, his mouth near my ear.”

Michelle has captivated me with Cole, with his anguish, his self-imposed solitude, and with his heart. And Eden, fighter that she is, overcomer that she is, along with little Emmy, deserve every single bit of happiness that comes their way.

I can’t say enough times that Pocketful of Sand should be on your must-read list. It is certainly one of my favorites of 2015, and if I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. Thank you, Michelle Leighton, for this heartbreakingly beautiful book.

About M. Leighton

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author M. Leighton is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you’ll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren’t roaming in that direction, she’ll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

Happy Release + Review: Consolation by Corinne Michaels – The Consolation Duet – Book 1

Posted on 03/19/2015 by shellbellereads

Consolation

The Consolation Duet – Book 1

Release Date : March 18, 2015

Synopsis

Liam wasn’t supposed to be my happily ever after.

He wasn’t even on my radar.

He was my husband’s best friend—forbidden.

But my husband is dead and I’m alone. I ache for him and I reach for Liam.

One night with Liam changed everything. Now I have to decide if I truly love him or if he’s just the consolation prize.

Buy: Amazon/ B & N / ITunes

Excerpt

Aarabelle sits in her highchair as I feed her dinner. She’s growing so fast. Already she’s eating cereal and a little baby food. Soon she’ll be crawling and I have no one to celebrate with. Her father will never see these milestones and it breaks me apart.

“You should really lock the door,” Liam huffs as he throws his coat over the chair.

“But then I’d have to get up to let you in,” I state matter-of-factly and go back to feeding the baby, trying to put aside my worries. The fact is…this is reality. I have to deal with it.

“Uh huh. Hey, Pumpkin,” his eyes alight as he crouches down by Aara. It’s adorable hearing grown men use a baby voice. It gets a little softer and higher pitched.

The corners of her mouth lift and she throws her arms in the air when he gets close. My heart sputters seeing how happy she gets seeing him. Liam kisses her head and she giggles.

“At least someone is happy to see me,” he says playfully.

“I’d be happy if you brought me a present,” I joke.

He laughs and goes into the pocket of his coat. “Just so happens I did, but since that’s the only way you’ll be nice, I’ll hold on to this until you’ve earned it.”

Practically leaping out of my chair, I rush over. “What is it?” I try to peer around his back as he holds the mystery item.

Liam’s lips curl as he sees how much I want this. I don’t even know what it is. Jeez, I’m an idiot. “Nope. We eat first, then maybe you’ll get it.”

“Watch, it’s a freaking Pez dispenser or something stupid.”

“Guess you’ll have to be nice to find out.” He shoves the item into his back pocket and I fight the urge to reach and get it. “How was work?”

We spend the next thirty minutes going over my day and Jackson’s return. Liam never mentioned that they spoke, but he’s surprised to hear he’s in Virginia. After we finish the pizza, Liam somehow convinces me we should watch a movie. I get Aarabelle to bed and come down to find him sprawled out on the couch.

“By all means, make yourself comfortable.”

Liam pulls his beanie higher on his forehead and his eyes glimmer with amusement. He sits up and puts the TV on. “I picked the movie.”

“What?” I ask with mock incredulity. “It’s my house. Why do you get to pick the movie?”

“Ummm, I’m the guest.” He shrugs as if this should be an obvious answer.

I groan and lean back. “What crappy, shoot-‘em-up movie do I have to endure?”

“You’ll see. It’s a classic.”

Michel’s Review

Consolation is the first book I have read by Corinne Michaels. I have heard so many outstanding positive remarks about her books. When this blog tour came across my desk, I knew I wanted to read this book. Consultation lived up to every expectation I had. It was an emotionally riveting book that touched my heart.

The first few chapters of Consolation will gut you. Lee Gilcher is expecting her first child. She is weeks away from giving birth. Her husband, Aaron Gilcher, has left the military and his position as a Navy Seal. He has taken a job on the private sector for a specialized security agency. When she hears the knocks on her door she thinks nothing of it. She no longer has to worry about the dreaded knocks. How wrong she is. One moment she is a wife and soon to be mother, the next moment she is a widow and giving birth to a daughter that will never know her father.

Lee is devastated. The only thing that keeps her going is her infant daughter, Aarabelle. She can’t move forward and she can’t go back in time. She’s stuck in heartbreak.

Being a former military wife is like being a member of an exclusive tight knit family. Her husband’s former teammates, employers, military friends, and military wives are there to support Lee in her time of need. They would do anything for her. But grief takes time. She has to learn to let go and move forward.

Aaron’s best friend and swim buddy, Liam Dempsey is just as torn as Lee is. He lost his best friend and man he trusted with his life. He has transferred to the east coast. The one thing he intends to do is take care of Lee and help her move on. He made a promise to his best friend. He is a man of honor. He is a Seal.

What starts out as a stilted friendship turns into a deeply bonded friendship. Both Lee and Liam will grieve their loss together. They will learn to look forward. They will remember and honor Aaron’s life. Their bonds move to deeper feelings. Feelings of attraction, lust, and love. Are these feelings wrong or are they right? Are they betraying the man they both loved or are they honoring his wishes?

Aaron was the only man Lee ever loved. She grew from a girl to a woman with Aaron. She experienced all of her firsts with Aaron. She became the kind of wife Aaron needed. She never had time to explore who she was as an adult woman. She has never had to look beyond her dreams with Aaron. Can she let go of that dream and become the woman Liam needs by his side? Just when she thinks that she can let go, she will learn secrets about her husband that alter his memory and their life together. These secrets will cause her to grieve her husband in a completely different way. It will change the way she looks at life.

As Liam and Lee struggle to make their relationship work, the military will once again dictate their lives. Liam is still an active Seal and duty calls. As he leaves for another mission, Lee will experience her fears more deeply. She has lost one man she loves and doesn’t want to lose another. She will have to dig deep within herself to be the woman Liam needs at home. Just as she finds that strength… the military will come knocking on her door once again…..Cliffhanger.

I have to say I could not put this book down. I cried and ached for the characters. I mourned along with them. I rejoiced with them when they learned to let go and live once again. I was right along with them reaching for happiness. I was breathless when they celebrated their passion. I was in complete shock right along with Lee at the end of the book. I need to find out what happens next.

I highly recommend Consolation by Corinne Michaels.

Conviction

The Consolation Duet – Book 2

Release Date: May 27, 2015

By Corinne Michaels

Synopsis

I fell in love with Liam only to be left shattered into a million pieces. Again. The idea of being without him cripples me but the reality is, he’s gone.

He doesn’t understand and I can’t make him.

If only he’d see the conviction behind my words—then Liam would still be here.

Pre Order : ITunes

_______________________________________________________________________

About Corinne Michaels

Corinne Michaels is an emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun loving mom of two beautiful children. She’s happily married to the man of her dreams and is a former Navy wife. After spending months away from her husband while he was deployed, reading and writing was her escape from the loneliness.

Both her maternal and paternal grandmothers were librarians, which only intensified her love of reading. After years of writing short stories, she couldn’t ignore the call to finish her debut novel, Beloved. Her alpha Navy SEALs are broken, beautiful, and will steal your heart.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Instagram ~ Pinterest

5 Star Review of #Player by Cambria Hebert – #Hashtag Series – Book 3

Posted on 03/19/2015 by shellbellereads

# Player

#Hashtag Series – Book 3

Release Date: March 9 , 2015

By Cambria Hebert

Synopsis

Players gotta play.

Hate is like a poison. It contaminates everything.

So does doubt.

Even though I deny what I overheard, even though I insist it isn’t true, the seed of doubt has been planted. I can’t help but be tormented with the endless what-if’s that have taken over our lives.

Romeo and I were happy in love. The future stretched before us brighter than any star in the darkest sky. Now everything is broken. Literally broken. Romeo’s entire career is at stake, my entire future is threatened… and my past?

It’s coming back to haunt me.

To haunt us.

Romeo says we’re in this together and right now the only sure thing is us. But how far can a love so new be pushed? The lengths we will have to go to save each other puts everything at risk.

Romeo is a #player but how much of the game can one person play?

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

The Hashtag Series by Cambria Hebert has taken readers by storm. This series is more than your typical romance. Although it is like a modern day Cinderella story, there is much more to this series. There is a high element of suspense that keeps the reader on the edge of their seats. The conflicts between Rimmel and Romeo’s relationship are more than opposites attract and the world is against them. They both have some very real enemies that could destroy them no matter how hard they fight against them.

Player opens up where Hater left off. Romeo is waiting for the diagnosis on his arm. The break could ruin his future career in the NFL. During the time they were waiting for the diagnosis, there were some ugly accusations made against Rimmel and her family. She is devastated, confused, and frightened that they may be true.

As the story unfolds and Romeo’s recovery is looking positive, both Rimmel and Romeo will have to face what is in their future. Zach is facing charges for the assault against them. He is not going to get off. Romeo is working hard to rehabilitate his arm and learn to throw with his other arm. Rimmel is getting her scholarship reinstated. Everything is starting to look positive. But their life together is never going to be perfect and easy. A new enemy has surfaced. This enemy is far more dangerous than Zach. This enemy could end up destroying their lives.

Enemies can destroy their lives but they cannot destroy their love. It is only going to make it stronger.

This is the final episode in Rimmel and Romeo’s story. It is not the end of the Hashtag series. Romeo and Rimmel’s friends are in the line up. I can’t wait to see what comes next. Be watching for Selfie by Cambria Hebert.

Author Bio:

Cambria Hebert is a bestselling novelist of more than twenty books. She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair. She currently resides in North Carolina with her children (human and furry) and her husband, who is a United States Marine.

Besides writing, Cambria loves a caramel latte, staying up late, sleeping in, and watching movies. She considers math human torture and has an irrational fear of chickens (yes, chickens). You can often find her running on the treadmill (she’d rather be eating a donut), painting her toenails (because she bites her fingernails), or walking her chorkie (the real boss of the house).

Cambria has written within the young adult and new adult genres, penning many paranormal and contemporary titles. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense. A few of her most recognized titles are: Text, Torch, Tryst, Masquerade, and Recalled.

Cambria Hebert owns and operates Cambria Hebert Books, LLC.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Blog Tour + Review + Givaway: Hearts of Fire by L. H. Cosway

Posted on 03/19/2015 by shellbellereads

Hearts of Fire

A Spinoff of Six of Hearts

By L. H. Cosway

Synopsis

***A contemporary romance***

The Circus Spektakulär is proud to present Jack McCabe: Fire-breather, knife-thrower, risk-taker.

My house burned down when I was just a boy, robbing me of both my parents.

Now I breathe fire, eat the poison that almost killed me.

Crowds come to see me night after night. Men for the spectacle, women for the thrill. I’m an oddity to be stared at and desired. With each flame I spit, I risk my life.

I wear scars on my body that will never go away, but the scars inside my head are far more difficult to overlook.

My brother doesn’t know me, and if I have it my way he never will.

Life was going exactly the way I’d planned until Lille came along. She wanted to run away with the circus, have an adventure, but this world was never meant for her.

I try to keep her safe, because she doesn’t know the dangers that are out here on the road. She doesn’t know the monsters that lurk behind the bright lights of the ring. In truth, I could be considered one of them.

We were fashioned from different cloths, never intended to mix. So I watch her. I try not to touch, even when her eyes invite me.

Join us in the Spiegeltent and let us give you a show. Allow my Lille to draw a picture for you in paint and sweat and skin.

The truest love is always the hardest to let in.

**This is a standalone romance that tells the story of Jack McCabe, Jay Fields’ long lost, presumed dead brother. It is not necessary to have read Six of Hearts in order to enjoy Hearts of Fire.**

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Smashwords

https://vimeo.com/121182628

Excerpt

“Oh,” I said and tightened the towel around me again. When I turned, Jack’s gaze wandered from my wet temples, along the side of my cheek, and down my neck before finally settling in the region of my chest. I felt touched. Hot and flushed. I looked up at him from under my lashes and he met my eyes then. There was something intense about the way he looked at me, but again, it could have all been my active and fatally hopeful imagination.

“Got a nice little look at you earlier,” he said and I seriously thought I might die of mortification. My skin prickled with awareness.

“What?” I replied, my voice so, so quiet.

He didn’t say anything for a second, just hummed low in his throat and it was the sexiest sound I’d heard, possibly ever. Then he took my hand into his. I’d taken the bandage off, but I still had a red burn mark down the centre of my palm. Holding it up, he seemed fascinated as he ran a finger down it gently. It only stung a tiny bit, and the combination of him touching me and the sting caused a strange tingling between my legs. Yep, my vagina was definitely on Team McCabe, even if my brain was waving around big red BEWARE signs like a maniac.

His mouth moved and there was something intrigued in his expression, like he just figured out he’d aroused me and it both interested and surprised him. He moved closer, eating up my space…and just stared at me.

And man, could he stare. I felt like he was telling me a silent story and it was captivating.

“Could I get by you, please? I need to go get dressed,” I said, breaking the quiet. It could have been minutes or hours that I was standing there, but I’d never know. Time moved in strange patterns when I was around this man.

Robin’s Review

Author L. H. Cosway thrilled me with magical illusions performed by Jay Fields in her novel Six of Hearts. Jay is charismatic. Descriptions of his performances are colorful and energetic. Full of electricity. The writing in Six of Hearts was so realistic that I felt like I was sitting in the audience during his performances. It was such a unique novel, and I enjoyed the chemistry between Jay Fields and Mathilda Brandon. When I wrote my review for Six of Hearts, I was completely unaware it was the first novel of a series. I was pleasantly surprised to learn Cosway has now written a novel about the brother of Jay Fields. Although it may be read as a standalone novel, Hearts of Fire is the second contemporary romance in the Hearts series.

Jack McCabe is just as charismatic as his older brother. He lost his family to a house fire when he was a child. Jack was abandoned by his uncle because he was so badly burned. He grew up in foster care. Now he throws knives and breathes fire for a circus that travels across Europe. He is handsome. Dark. Mysterious. And Jack is the exact opposite of Lille Baker. Lille is twenty-one-years-old. She’s kind. Craves adventure. She has a bucket list of things she would love to do. But more than anything, Lille is desperate to get away from her controlling and abusive mother who dictates her life with rules.

Marina is the owner of Circus Spektakulӓr. She and Jack visit the small diner where Lille works as a waitress. On the last day the circus is in town, Marina invites Lille to come see their show. She notices just how much Lille enjoys painting faces on children who come to eat at the diner, and she makes Lille an offer she can’t refuse – “come to France with us.” Marina offers Lille a job to paint the faces of the children who visit the circus.

How often have you read a novel where the characters never truly grab your attention? Or the characters are dull or lifeless? Cosway gives her characters plenty of personality – they practically leap off the page! Jack McCabe is intriguing. Mysterious. Broody. He’s full of energy. Darkness. He loves fire. I was definitely drawn to Jack, and I couldn’t wait to find out more about him. Lille is finally experiencing adventure. She is quirky and so easy to love. It didn’t take long for me to connect emotionally with her character. I thought Marina and Lola were full of vitality, and they each added to the quality of the story. Even King, the circus alcoholic, was intriguing.

Hearts of Fire has an artistic feel to it. It’s suspenseful. Sexy. Romantic. It’s a story about forgiveness and healing. Reconciliation. You will find darkness in Hearts of Fire. Crime. I love mysteries, and my favorite scene in Hearts of Fire is how the crime is solved. I feel the writing is solid throughout the entire story. It flows extremely well, which makes Hearts of Fire a quick and entertaining read. And if you loved Jay Fields and Mathilda Brandon in Six of Hearts, you will be excited to learn they are guest stars in Hearts of Fire! I am delighted to give L. H. Cosway a 4.5 star rating!

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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Giveaway

The author is giving away (open internatonally):

1st prize: Hearts of Fire tote bag

Signed copy of Six of Hearts

Signed copy of Hearts of Fire

Hearts of Fire pocket mirror

2nd prize: Signed copy of Hearts of Fire

Hearts of Fire pocket mirror

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Review: Throttle by Sassie Lewis

Posted on 03/19/2015 by shellbellereads

Throttle

By Sassie Lewis

Synopsis

No Surrender…

Sin is a man who lives by his own rules. Large and in charge, he takes what he wants and makes no apologies about it. Running his custom bike shop and raising his son are the only things he’s ever cared about. That is, until a full-bodied goddess crosses his path.

No Regrets…

Georgia’s the forbidden fruit custom built for temptation. He knew she was off limits, for more than one reason, but there’s only so long he can fight his desires. When he ignores the rules and claims her, what price will he pay for that one taste of perfection?

Buy: Amazon

Tina’s Review

Novella: about 100 pages. A RARE first-person (MALE) POV.
The cover is mildly misleading, allows you to believe this may be a MC book. Not really. He’s a gear head… owns THROTTLE (garage/shop) and builds, rebuilds, customizes, and fixes bikes. He’s got an “in” with the bikers, but it’s NOT a MC book. Synopsis: Again, a little misleading. You’d think his son is a young child as opposed to a college graduate.
Cynfor (Sin) was a little hellion growing up; always in trouble and pushing the limits. That is, until a newborn is dropped at his parents’ doorstep when he’s only 17 years old. From then, his son, Tyson, had been his sole focus. Now, as a 38-yr old single dad, he finds his son’s college graduate status delivers mixed emotions. He’s hot for the girl on Ty’s arm. Georgia lives a pretty solitary existence with no parents or siblings and only an elderly unwell foster mother. She works numerous jobs to make ends meet and wears baggy second-hand clothes that Sin manages to easily see past which is good because she’s seriously attracted to Sin, despite the fact that he’s Ty’s dad and 14 yrs her senior.
The characters were well created and enjoyable. Dialogue was good, interaction felt natural. The plot flowed well, but was not as full and dynamic as it could have been if it were a full novel length. There’s plenty of sex, mostly Neanderthal worthy. Ms. Lewis is rather descriptive and often remarks on the audible elements of the deed, other than that, it was not overly graphic nor clinical. There were a few issues that were resolved in very human fashion. The characters were allowed to make mistakes, learn from them, and try to earn a second chance. I had Tyson figured out almost immediately, but that did not – in any way – detract from the story. The conclusion was solid, with no cliffhangers. There’s just enough going on at the end of this story that if there were another novel(la) written to follow this one, I’d not be surprised.
Only one spelling error noted, but it was easily over-looked. Overall, it was an enjoyable, quick read.

Author Bio

Sassie Lewis is a born and bred Australian. She lives on the outskirts of Brisbane Queensland, with her husband, two daughters, one son and a dog that hates having a bath.
She swears like a sailor, and blames her ability to over share personal matters – matters that fall into that TMI category – on a faulty brain to mouth filter, that forgets to tell her “This isn’t appropriate dinner conversation”.
An avid reader since childhood. Sassie came across erotic romance in her mid-twenties, falling deeply, madly in lust with the genre instantly. And has had wet panties ever since.
With her somewhat skewed and unique view of the world, along with a little encouragement from her father, she thought what the heck! and she penned her first erotic romance.
She hopes to drag you into the world she’s created, and leave you as breathless and wanting, for her fictional friends, as she became, while writing them.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + Review: Naughty King by Michelle A. Valentine – A Sexy Manhattan Fairytale – Part One

Posted on 03/19/2015 by shellbellereads

Naughty King

A Sexy Manhatten Fairytale : Part One

By Michelle A. Valentine

Synopsis

The King Always Gets His Way.

Women, business, pleasure: When I want it, I get it.
I’m never denied.
Including her.
I will break her.
I will show her who the king of this city really is.
The Feisty Princess of Manhattan will learn I am not a man that can be tempted.
No matter how damn bad I want her in my bed.

Book one in a three part erotic romance series from NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Michelle A. Valentine (Rock the Heart, Phenomenal X, Wicked White, Demon at My Door).

Naughty King (A Sexy Manhattan Fairytale: Part One)
Feisty Princess (A Sexy Manhattan Fairytale: Part Two) — Coming Soon
Dirty Royals (A Sexy Manhattan Fairylate: Part Three) — Coming Soon

Buy: Amazon / B & N / Kobo / Google Play

____________________________________

Tracey’s Review

Alexander King is one super-fine hot alpha male, a force to be reckoned with, both in the boardroom and the bedroom. Used to taking what he wants, Alexander has set his sights on a hostile takeover of Dan Buchanan’s business. Dan’s daughter Margo has been sent to work for Alexander as part of the deal, and to spy on him. Things are about to get very interesting, because Margo is not at all what King is used to dealing with, and he won’t give up without a fight.

I have been waiting for Naughty King since I read the first blurb about it, and I was not disappointed. Michelle Valentine has written a sassy sexy read that is the perfect introduction to her Sexy Manhattan Fairytale series. Alexander may come across as a jerk, but he’s hiding a sensitive side behind his hot-as-heck swagger. And Margo, well, she can more than keep up with him. Seeing the two of them go at it is sexy as all get-out, and the steamy scenes, well, I am still fanning myself. These two are the perfect foil for each other, and I look forward to seeing where their story goes. I also absolutely loved Yamada; he had me laughing out loud, and Michelle nailed him, without making him seem like a caricature. He definitely lends some comic relief, while also helping Margo hold her own.

Naughty King is short, but totally hot, and well worth a read. And, while it ends on a cliffy, it’s the perfect set-up for the second book, Feisty Princess (Margo’s nickname), so grab this 4-star read and enjoy!

About Michelle

Michelle A. Valentine is a Central Ohio nurse turned New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of erotic and New Adult romance. Her love of hard-rock music, tattoos, and sexy musicians inspired her erotic BLACK FALCON series.

Find Her Online

Review: The Witch of Painted Sorrows by M. J. Rose

Posted on 03/19/2015 by shellbellereads

The Witch of Painted Sorrows

Historical Romance

By M.J. Rose

Synopsis

Possession. Power. Passion. New York Times bestselling novelist M. J. Rose creates her most provocative and magical spellbinder yet in this gothic novel set against the lavish spectacle of 1890s Belle Époque Paris.

Sandrine Salome flees New York for her grandmother’s Paris mansion to escape her dangerous husband, but what she finds there is even more menacing. The house, famous for its lavish art collection and elegant salons, is mysteriously closed up. Although her grandmother insists it’s dangerous for Sandrine to visit, she defies her and meets Julien Duplessi, a mesmerizing young architect. Together they explore the hidden night world of Paris, the forbidden occult underground and Sandrine’s deepest desires.

Among the bohemians and the demi-monde, Sandrine discovers her erotic nature as a lover and painter. Then darker influences threaten—her cold and cruel husband is tracking her down and something sinister is taking hold, changing Sandrine, altering her. She’s become possessed by La Lune: A witch, a legend, and a sixteenth-century courtesan, who opens up her life to a darkness that may become a gift or a curse.

This is Sandrine’s “wild night of the soul,” her odyssey in the magnificent city of Paris, of art, love, and witchery.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

Robin’s Review

I would like to express my appreciation to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review The Witch of Painted Sorrows.

It’s not often I venture down the path of reading historical fiction, but I can genuinely admit my all-time favorite novel falls in this genre. Choosing my next read usually involves a recommendation from a person whose opinion I trust, or I’ll choose a novel written by an author I am familiar with. I decided to read The Witch of Painted Sorrows by M. J. Rose because I was intrigued by the synopsis, and I liked the idea of the supernatural mixed in with historical fiction. I also thought the cover of this novel was beautiful. Really beautiful.

The setting for The Witch of Painted Sorrows is 1890s Belle Époque Paris. Sandrine Salome fears her husband. She runs away from her home in New York to seek sanctuary at the home of her grandmother in Paris, France. We learn Sandrine is descended from a long line of courtesans, the most famous being a sixteenth century painter and witch known as La Lune. When Sandrine arrives at Maison de la Lune, she learns her grandmother has closed up the opulent mansion for renovations.

Sandrine meets the architect her grandmother has hired to renovate the mansion. She sneaks away every day to visit Julien Duplessi at Maison de la Lune. She repeatedly ignores warnings from her grandmother that she is in danger. She pursues painting, explores her sensuality and falls in love with Julien. She dabbles in the occult. Sandrine is in the midst of self-discovery and is undergoing change – she’s becoming something new. But at what cost?

I have nothing but praise for the world-building in this novel. It is very apparent M. J. Rose did an extraordinary amount of research about Belle Époque Paris. The occult movement was very popular in Paris during this era, so mention of mysticism and witchcraft and alchemy was historically accurate. Paris landmarks. Names of streets. Businesses. The École des Beaux-Arts – one of the finest art schools in France – is still in operation today. Moreau and Matisse are names of actual painters who lived in Paris during the late 1890’s. Even the frequent use of French names and the French language lent to the authentic feel of this historical novel.

I would love to share with readers how much I enjoyed reading The Witch of Painted Sorrows, but unfortunately, I just didn’t enjoy it. There were scenes in this story that I feel did not advance the plot. I never felt an emotional connection to Sandrine, who is the main character of this novel, or either of the secondary characters. The ending of this novel is very abrupt, which left me with plenty of questions when I was finished reading. There doesn’t appear to be a sequel. I struggled to maintain interest, and to be quite honest, it was very hard for me to finish reading The Witch of Painted Sorrows. I am certain individuals who love historical fiction will love Rose’s attention to detail, but I can only give The Witch of Painted Sorrows a 2-star rating.

_______________________________________________________________

M.J. Rose grew up in New York City mostly in the labyrinthine galleries of the Metropolitan Museum, the dark tunnels and lush gardens of Central Park and reading her mother’s favorite books before she was allowed. She believes mystery and magic are all around us but we are too often too busy to notice… books that exaggerate mystery and magic draw attention to it and remind us to look for it and revel in it.

Please visit her blog, Museum of Mysteries at http://www.mjrose.com/blog/

Her photo was taken by Judith Pushett utilizing an old relic: a turn-of-the-century 11 x 14 inch wood camera.

Rose lives in CT with her husband the musician and composer, Doug Scofield, and their very spoiled and often photographed dog, Winka.

Her most recent novel THE COLLECTOR OF DYING BREATHS (Atria/S&S) was chosen as an Indie Next Pick and her next novel, THE WITCH OF PAINTED SORROWS will be released March 2015.

Rose is a New York Times and USAToday bestseller whose work has appeared in many magazines including Oprah Magazine and she has been featured in the New York Times, Newsweek, WSJ, Time, USA Today and on the Today Show, and NPR radio. Rose graduated from Syracuse University, spent the ’80s in advertising, has a commercial in the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and since 2005 has run the first marketing company for authors – Authorbuzz.com

The television series PAST LIFE, was based on Rose’s novels in the Reincarnationist series. She is one of the founding board members of International Thriller Writers and currently serves, with Lee Child, as the organization’s co-president.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Saucy Southern Readers

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Review: Throttle by Sassie Lewis

Happy Release + Review: Naughty King by Michelle A. Valentine – A Sexy Manhattan Fairytale – Part One

Review: The Witch of Painted Sorrows by M. J. Rose

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