6 Star ARC Review + Giveaway: The Law of Moses by Amy Harmon

Posted on 12/03/2014 by shellbellereads

The Law Of Moses

By Amy Harmon

Release Date: November 27, 2014

Synopsis

If I tell you right up front, right in the beginning that I lost him, it will be easier for you to bear. You will know it’s coming, and it will hurt. But you’ll be able to prepare.

Someone found him in a laundry basket at the Quick Wash, wrapped in a towel, a few hours old and close to death. They called him Baby Moses when they shared his story on the ten o’clock news – the little baby left in a basket at a dingy Laundromat, born to a crack addict and expected to have all sorts of problems. I imagined the crack baby, Moses, having a giant crack that ran down his body, like he’d been broken at birth. I knew that wasn’t what the term meant, but the image stuck in my mind. Maybe the fact that he was broken drew me to him from the start.

It all happened before I was born, and by the time I met Moses and my mom told me all about him, the story was old news and nobody wanted anything to do with him. People love babies, even sick babies. Even crack babies. But babies grow up to be kids, and kids grow up to be teenagers. Nobody wants a messed up teenager.

And Moses was messed up. Moses was a law unto himself. But he was also strange and exotic and beautiful. To be with him would change my life in ways I could never have imagined. Maybe I should have stayed away. Maybe I should have listened. My mother warned me. Even Moses warned me. But I didn’t stay away.

And so begins a story of pain and promise, of heartache and healing, of life and death. A story of before and after, of new beginnings and never-endings. But most of all…a love story.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Excerpt

“You still talk to your horses.”

I jerked and Sackett shifted, not liking the spike of energy that shot through me or the fact that my fingers had yanked at his mane.

Moses stood silhouetted in the barn door, holding what looked to be a large canvas in his hand.

I hadn’t realized I was still talking to Sackett, and I did a quick examination of what I’d just said. I believe I had just uttered an embarrassing rant on people named Moses not being allowed in Georgia. “Oh, Lord,” I prayed silently but fervently, “you can make the blind man see and the deaf man hear so it shouldn’t be too much to ask to make this man forget everything he’s just seen and heard.”

“What does Sackett think about those new, stricter laws in Georgia?”

I looked up at the rafters, “Hey, thanks for comin’ through for me, Lord.”

I loosened the cinch that secured the saddle around Sackett’s middle and pulled the saddle from his back, hoisting it onto the saddle horse and removing the blanket beneath without looking at Moses. I was kind of surprised that he remembered Sackett’s name.

Moses took a few steps inside the barn and I could see a small smile playing around his lips. I gave Sackett a firm pat on his rump signaling I was done, and he trotted off, clearly eager to go.

“You’re back.” I said, refusing to embarrass myself further by getting angry.

“I took Tag home. He had big plans to train for his next fight old school, like Rocky, but discovered that it’s a little more appealing in the movies. Plus, I don’t do a very good Apollo Creed.”

“Tag’s a fighter?”

“Yeah. Mixed martial arts stuff. He’s pretty good.”

“Huh.” I didn’t know what else to say. I didn’t know anything about the sport. “Didn’t Apollo Creed die in one of the movies?”

“Yeah. The black guy always dies at the hands of the white man.”

I rolled my eyes, and he grinned, making me grin with him before I remembered that I was embarrassed and ticked off that he had kissed me and left town. It felt a little too much like the past. The grin slipped from my face and I turned away, busying myself shaking out the saddle blankets.

“So why did you come back?” I kept my eyes averted. He was quiet for a minute, and I bit my lips so I wouldn’t start to babble into the awkward silence.

“The house needs more work,” he replied at last. “And I’m thinking of changing my name.”

My head shot up, and I met his smirk with confusion.

“Huh?”

“I heard there was this new law in Georgia. Nobody named Moses can even visit. So I’m thinking a name change is in order.”

I just shook my head and laughed, both and embarrassed and pleased at his underlying meaning. “Shut up, Apollo,” I said, and it was his turn to laugh.

Robin’s Review

The Law of Moses begins with a word of caution to the reader. From the first words of the prologue, Amy Harmon’s consummate writing demanded my full attention. Perhaps the prologue is a bit of foreshadowing, but I truly had no idea what it meant. How it would relate to the story? When I finished reading The Law of Moses, I was emotionally spent, but I finally understood. I truly admire Amy Harmon’s talent and creativity. The Law of Moses is her seventh novel. I have read each of them, and her ability to tell a story just keeps getting better.

Our protagonist, Georgia Shepherd, begins the story by telling us about Moses Wright. He was born a crack baby. Baby Moses was placed in a laundry basket and abandoned at the Quick Wash. Employees from the hospital named him baby Moses because he was found lying in a basket. Crack babies are known to have all kinds of problems throughout their lives – ADHD, impulse control, seizures, mental disorders, hallucinations and hypersensitivity. Authorities were able to identify his mother three days after he was found because his mother died of an overdose. Moses was raised by family, but he never spent very long in one place because he was hard to manage. When the story begins, Moses moves in with his great grandmother, Kathleen Wright, just before he turns eighteen.

It’s the summer before her senior year in high school, and seventeen year-old Georgia Shepherd dreams of barrel racing on the rodeo circuit. Her father is a veterinarian, but her parents also have several horses they use for equine therapy with foster kids. Georgia assists with equine therapy, but she is better known for her ability for breaking in and training horses in Levan, Utah. Kathleen Wright asks the Shepherd family to put Moses to work on their farm. Georgia describes Moses as tall, with broad shoulders, defined muscles and light, funky-colored eyes. She compares him to a dangerous jungle cat. He is messed up, cracked in the head, emotional and extremely artistic. And Georgia is attracted to Moses.

Did I mention Moses was artistic? He paints beautiful, gigantic murals whenever the inclination occurs. He paints on walls and buildings or anywhere else that seems appropriate at the time. He paints wherever he wants without questions and remorse. But it’s what Moses paints that is highly unusual. Moses paints pictures of people who are dead, and this could be a problem for him because several young women have disappeared in central Utah over the past few years.

Okay. Here are my thoughts. Amy Harmon has written a very intriguing coming of age novel. It’s also a beautiful love story involving two unlikely characters. If you love a great mystery, you will find mystery in spades in The Law of Moses. It’s one of those novels you will not want to put down. I mentioned at the beginning of my review that the writing in this story is consummate. I absolutely meant that. The writing in The Law of Moses is above average in creativity, proficiency and in the manner that it flows. There have been so many wonderful novels released this year, but I can honestly say that The Law of Moses is one of the very best that I have read. Congratulations to Amy Harmon on this 6 star novel!

Robin’s 5 Greats

1) Consummate writing
2) Uniquely creative
3) Intriguing characters
4) Gripping mystery
5) One of my 2014 favorites

Author Bio:

Amy Harmon is a USA Today and New York Times Bestselling author. Amy knew at an early age that writing was something she wanted to do, and she divided her time between writing songs and stories as she grew. Having grown up in the middle of wheat fields without a television, with only her books and her siblings to entertain her, she developed a strong sense of what made a good story. Her books are now being published in several countries, truly a dream come true for a little country girl from Levan, Utah.

Amy Harmon has written five novels – the USA Today Bestsellers, Making Faces and Running Barefoot, as well as Slow Dance in Purgatory, Prom Night in Purgatory, and the New York Times Bestseller, A Different Blue.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Giveaway
1 Kindle Paperwhite
1 $50 Amazon giftcard
3 signed copies of The Law of Moses

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ARC Review: Full Throttle by Julie Ann Walker- Black Knights, Inc. Series- Book 7

Posted on 12/02/2014 by shellbellereads

Full Throttle

Black Knight, Inc. Series- Book 7

By Julie Ann Walker

Synopsis

She Needs a Hero…

Abby Thompson didn’t sign up to be the daughter of the President of the United States. The position was forced on her by the small matter of her birth. Preferring a quiet life of study, she’s content to leave the politics and the international intrigue to her father. Unfortunately, the most powerful man on the planet is sure to make enemies. When a group of armed thugs takes her hostage half a world away, demanding the U.S. government release prisoners in exchange for her safe return, she fears her father’s policy of “not negotiating with terrorists” means she’ll never see the shores of the Potomac again. Luckily, there’s one glimmer of hope. His name is Carlos Soto. And though she abruptly ended things with him years ago, she knows now he’s the only man who can save her…

Black Knights, Inc. to the Rescue…

Carlos “Steady” Soto has taken part in his fair share of dangerous missions working at the covert government defense firm of Black Knights Inc. But nothing prepared him for the emotional rollercoaster he faces when he’s tasked with rescuing the only woman he ever loved—who also broke his heart. Racing against time and outmaneuvering a group of trained terrorists will take everything he’s got. Plus there’s the heat simmering between them which is threatening to ignite into an inferno. While ruthless enemies stalk them, they must learn to trust each other again. Even if they do make it out alive, will Abby turn her back on him…for the second time?

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Tina’s Review

*** ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ***

Abby Thompson was the youngest daughter of the POTUS front-runner eight years ago and a student at Georgetown, studying pre-med when an explosion on campus rocked everything and everyone near to her and subsequently she ended up having to give up pre-med and took up botany instead. Currently, as the President’s daughter, she is protected more heavily than even before, especially when she leaves the country and there’s inconclusive buzz and murmurs of kidnapping one of the President’s daughters.
Carlos “Steady ” Sotos was studying to become a General Surgeon in college, claiming he enjoyed the thrill and challenge of not knowing what would come through the ER doors next. But, that was then… before that tragic day eight years ago. After that day, he signed up and joined the military. Now he’s a member of Black Knights, Inc., a covert government defense firm that operates under the cover of being a custom motorcycle shop, and finds himself on Abby’s supplemental BKI security detail in Malaysia.

As a fan of Ms. Walker’s BKI series, I was very grateful and appreciative to have been approved to receive an ARC of this book. My fandom will not reflect in the ratings or review, as you will see.
The Prologue starts you out eight years ago when Abby was in college with Carlos and his twin, Rosa, all of which were studying medicine in one form or another. Then, tragedy strikes and forever changes their lives. Chapter One flashes you forward to present day. Carlos is, hands-down, front and center from page one. He is an extremely Hot Alpha Male. Muy Caliente! I feel that most of the focus of the book was on him, overshadowing Abby. I could not connect with her as much as I’d have liked to. The secondary characters, both good and bad, were very well-written. I had to wonder if, in Ms. Walker’s extensive travels, she’d ever been to Malaysia. The descriptions of the sights and sounds transported me to that Hotel with them. Perfectly executed. There’s a secondary relationship building between Dan and Penni that I am guessing we’ll see further develop in a later book. The plot itself was excellent, I really enjoyed the story line. It was a silky, smooth read with great character interaction and dialogue. There was a lot of conflict that carried on throughout the entire book that was not fully confronted and resolved until the very end. There was very little predictability. The conclusion felt a bit rough; it seemed rushed and there were questions left. Where do they go from here, with her in D.C. and him in Chicago? If it would have had an Epilogue with a more solid ending, this would have definitely been a five-star book. As is, it was VERY close.

Michel’s Review

I am a huge fan of the Black Knights, Inc. series by Julie Ann Walker. This is one of the best romantic suspense series out there. Add the biker element and special ops background to the characters of this series to make the formula even more enticing.

Full Throttle is the seventh book in the series. It was a steamy and suspenseful book. The characters captured the readers attention. Carlos Soto is one hot alpha man that had me swooning. Abby was a strong woman with a personality that made readers empathize with her. The plot, the use of words, the flow of the story, and suspenseful plot were masterfully executed.

I highly recommend reading Full Throttle. It can be read as a stand alone book or in series order.

Author Bio:

Julie Ann Walker is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of award-winning romantic suspense. She has won the Book Buyers Best Award, been nominated for the National Readers Choice Award, the Australian Romance Reader Awards, and the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award. Her latest release was named a Top Ten Romance of 2014 by Booklist. Her books have been described as “alpha, edgy, and downright hot.” Most days you can find her on her bicycle along the lake shore in Chicago or blasting away at her keyboard, trying to wrangle her capricious imagination into submission.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Day Blitz + Review: You Were Mine by Abbi Glines- Rosemary Beach Series- Book 9

Posted on 12/02/2014 by shellbellereads

You Were Mine

Rosemary Beach Series- Book 9

By Abbi Glines

Synopsis

Gossip is the ultimate currency in Rosemary Beach, but Bethy and Tripp have managed to keep one big secret to themselves.

Eight years ago, Tripp Newark was dating a rich girl he didn’t like and was on his way to Yale—and a future he didn’t want. The only way he could escape his predictable life would be to give up the money and power that came with his family’s name. And that’s exactly what he planned to do. At the end of the summer, he was going to ride off on his Harley and never look back.

That was before he met Beth Lowry.

It was only supposed to be a summer fling. She was a sixteen-year-old trailer-park girl who served drinks to his friends at Kerrington Country Club. They didn’t run in the same social circles. No one even knew they were friends, let alone lovers. Yet, for one summer, Bethy became his entire world.

But he couldn’t give up on his plan. He needed to leave Rosemary Beach, but he vowed he would come back for her.

Problem was, by the time he came back—years later than promised—it was too late. His cousin, Jace, had already claimed the woman he loved. . . .

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

Fans of the Rosemary Beach series have been biting at the bits for If You Were Mine to release. It was well worth the wait and I know readers are going to be thrilled with this book.

From the very beginning of the Rosemary Beach series, Bethy Lowry has been a very prominent character throughout the series. She is the happy go lucky, party girl, that works at the Kerrington Country Club. She has befriended the staff members, become a part of the elite crowd, and proved her loyalty to all those she loves. Her outgoing personality has captivated the readers. We have watched her go from a wild girl to a mature young woman madly in love with one of the golden members, Jace Newark. Her relationship with Jace went from carefree hookups to a serious committed relationship. They were very happy until Tripp Newark, Jace’s cousin came back to Rosemary Beach. Bethy’s behavior begins to spiral out of control. She is reverting back to her irresponsible ways and her drinking is out of control. When tragedy strikes and Jace loses his life trying to save Bethy’s life it sends her into a very dark place. She has lost the love of her life and feels responsible. She feels like she betrayed Jace and her friends. She has withdrawn from life and seperated herself from her friends. She doesn’t feel like she deserves their friendship. She doesn’t feel she deserves love or redemption from her mistakes. She is haunted by the past and has condemned herself to being it’s prisoner. What caused her behavior to spiral out of control? What secrets was she hiding. Only Tripp Newark knows. Now he is back in Rosemary Beach and determined to make Bethy whole once again.

Tripp Newark was a golden son of the Rosemary Beach elite. He had the perfect future planned out by his family. His wealth, prestigous family, education, and social standings guaranteed he would live the golden life. But those were not his dreams, they were expectations that he could not live up to. Eight years ago he had to choose between his family and his dreams for the future. The one thing he didn’t count on was meeting a girl that would capture his heart completely. When he made his decision to leave Rosemary Beach behind, he had to leave the love of his life. The damage and scars he left behind are beyond repair.

Tripp returned to Rosemary Beach to find the one woman he has always loved is engaged to his cousin. To make matters worse his cousin loses his life trying to save that girl. Tripp wants Bethy to heal and come back to the world of living. It doesn’t matter that she no longer loves him. He just wants her to be a whole person again.

As Tripp and Bethy’s past is revealed and a hidden secrets are unraveled, they will both be shattered. They will also find their way back to one another. They will find that love never really dies. Love comes in many different forms. They will find there is room in their hearts for love once again.

This time around Tripp is going to do everything right. This time around Bethy is going to forgive herself and learn her self worth. This time around they are going to do things the right way. This time around is forever.

The Rosemary Beach series has been building up to this moment, this couple, and their secrets. The big revelation at the end of the previous books left readers dying to know the whole story. This book was emotional and grabbed my heart in so many ways. It was the perfect story for these two charismatic characters.

The readers will get more of all the beloved characters from this series. They will see our favorite little ones growing into charming little people. They will see the Rock God Grandpa wrapped around a toddlers finger and loving every moment. They will see Grant flourish with fatherhood. They will get to know Thad a little better. Best of all, they will get to witness the wedding vows between Della and Woods. The one thing that was glorious in all this was that “Nasty Nan” was completely absent from this book. We didn’t have to deal her rotten attitude. We got to see all our beloved characters from Rosemary Beach have a wonderful time without her spoiling the moment.

I absolutely love the Rosemary Beach series. I cannot wait for the next book. I think Abbi Glines has some great surprises for fans of this series.

I highly recommend If You Were Mine. If you have not read the Rosemary Beach series, don’t put it off. It is a guaranteed fantastic reading experience.

Author Bio:

Since publishing her first novel Breathe in May of 2011, Abbi has also released The New York Times bestselling Seabreeze Series which includes Breathe, Because of Low, While It Lasts, Just For Now and Sometimes It Last, The Existence Trilogy that includes the USA Today Bestseller Ceaseless. New York Times and USA TODAY bestsellers The Vincent Boys and The Vincent Brothers. Last but not least her most popular series to date, Rosemary Beach which includes The New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers Fallen Too Far, Never Too Far, Forever Too Far, Twisted Perfection and Simple Perfection. Her newest book scheduled to be released on December 17th, 2013 is Misbehaving (Seabreeze).

When Abbi isn’t locked away in her office typing away she is hauling her kids to and from their many social activities. You could say her second job is the Glines Kids personal chauffeur. It’s a rather illustrious job.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Blitz + Review: Elect by Rachel Van Dyken- Eagle Elite Series- Book 2

Posted on 12/02/2014 by shellbellereads

Elect

Eagle Elite Series – Book 2

By Rachel Van Dyken

Synopsis

Would you die for the one you love?
Nixon Abandonato made his choice. And now he has to pay the price. Tracey is the love of his life, but being with him has made her a target of his family’s enemies. The only way to keep Trace alive is convince the world she means nothing to him.

Trace Rooks has fallen irrevocably in love with the son of her family’s sworn rival, and she knows in her bones nothing can tear them apart. Until Nix suddenly pushes her away and into the arms of his best friend… But Trace isn’t ready to give up on a future with Nix–and if he won’t fight for them, she will.
In the end, a sacrifice must be made. A life for a life. For what better way to cover a multitude of sins than with the blood of a sinner . . .

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Excerpt

“Let’s make a pact.” Chase put his hand on my shoulder.

“A pact?” I sniffled and turned to him. “What kind of pact?”

“One that’s forever. One that protects people rather than hurts them.”

“How do we do that?” I was suddenly interested. What if I could make all the hurt go away? What if I could save everyone!

“We do this.” Chase pulled out his pocketknife and cut open his hand, then nodded to me to do the same thing. Without pausing I cut open my hand and handed back the knife. “Blood brothers. We’re never gonna hurt each other and we’re gonna save those like your ma, Nixon. Ones who can’t save themselves. We’re going to protect them.”

“How?” I watched as the blood dripped from my open palm.

“Rules.” Chase shrugged. “They keep people safe, right? At least that’s what my mom says.” He smiled. “We make rules and we start our own club. That way, we don’t have to listen to anyone but us.”

I liked it. I chewed on my lower lip. “What do we call ourselves?”

“The chosen?” Chase offered.

“No, that sounds lame. We have to sound… more powerful than that.”

My eyes flickered to the road, and a sign poked into the ground. It said election. “Elect.” I pointed. “Let’s call ourselves The Elect.” It made sense; after all, the president was elected, wasn’t he? We weren’t exactly chosen, but we were making the choice, we were electing ourselves protectors. That’s what we were.

“Who else can join?” Chase asked.

“Tex and Phoenix. They’ll want to.” A weight suddenly felt like it was being lifted off my twelve-year-old shoulders. “Should we shake on it?”

“Yeah.” Chase smashed his hand against mine as our blood mixed. “No going back, Nixon.”

“No.” I shook my head. “No going back.”

I pressed my fingers to my temples and watched, replaying that moment over and over again in my head as the outline of Chase and Tracey flickered in the moonlight. Would he really do this to me? After all the shit we’d been through?

I gauged her reaction, hoping that I would be wrong. Praying to God that Trace would just this once listen to me. Her eyes flickered with interest for a few brief seconds before she looked down at the ground.

“Shit.” I waited in the shadows. A part of me knew this would happen. The part that told me to damn my feelings to hell and ignore all the warning signs that I’d been seeing. But now it seemed like it was too late. I stayed, planted where I was, watching, waiting.

“Chase, you can’t…” Trace shook her head. “You can’t be like this. We can’t do this!”

“We aren’t doing anything,” Chase said in low tones, reaching for Trace’s hand. “Don’t you?” He looked directly at me, although all he saw was a shadow. I knew I was well hidden. “Don’t you feel the same way?”

Trace jerked her hand away from Chase’s. “It doesn’t matter what I feel. It’s not about me, Chase.”

“But it is.” Chase reached for her again. This time her hand grasped his in such an intimate embrace I thought I was going to vomit all over the ground. The outside air was cold as hell as little pieces of ice tried to find their way into my wool coat.

“It isn’t.” Trace sighed. “It never was.”

Chase jerked her toward him. She fell against his chest and looked up into his eyes. “What are you doing?”

Chase sighed. “What I should have done a long time ago.” He grabbed the back of her head and pulled her in for a kiss. Their lips touched.

I had to look away.

The only sound in the night was that of my soft footsteps as I walked away… leaving my heart in broken pieces where I’d last stood. She was lost to me; it wasn’t even the Sicilians that had taken her, but my best friend.

A gunshot rang out loud and clear in the night air. I turned back around just in time to see Trace collapse into Chase’s arms.

Michel’s Review

The Eagle Elite series by Rachel Van Dyken is one of the most intense and riveting series I have read. This series portrays the life in the Mafia hierarchy. The new generation is taking over. They are determined to carry on the family legacy but also change the way things are done. It is their time to rule. Their legacy is about Family. Family always comes first no matter what. This new generation will pay the costs, sacrifice their own happiness, and turn their backs on the possibility of that once in a lifetime love. Family comes first.

Elect is the sequel to Elite. It is not a stand alone novel. I can guarantee once you have read Elite you will be opening Elect to find out what happens next. This intense story of Nixon Abandonato’s rise to power. He has taken over the Abandonato’s leadership over the five families. He has inherited his father’s enemies. He has made enemies of his own. He has fallen in love with his family’s number one rival. The granddaughter on one of the most powerful families.

Nixon inherited an old family rivalry that somehow does not add up. He has fallen in love with the enemy’s golden princess, Tracey Rooks. The corruption and struggle for power among the families has made Tracey a target. He will have to sacrifice their relationship to appease his enemies and keep her safe. He willingly hands her over to his most trusted confidant, his best friend and cousin. He trusts Chase Winters to keep Tracey safe and take care of her as he would. He wants him to pretend to be in a romantic relationship with her. He purposely pushes Tracey into Chase’s arms.

Chase Winters has been secretly in love with Tracey since the moment he met her. When Nixon hands her over on a silver platter he tries to honor Nixon’s feelings. Chase has always made sacrifices for his family. He has always been second in the family. Now that he has Tracey in his care, he may take this opportunity to finally be the one who comes first. He may betray the man he loves like a brother for the woman that makes him feel alive.

Nixon plans to get to the bottom of this treachery and punish his enemies. It may cost him his life. It has already cost him the woman he loves. It’s the price he will have to pay because family comes first. He will destroy his enemies but he may make some new ones in the process. He may lose his most trusted friend. He may lose the woman he loves. He may have to kill them both.

Elect is steamy, heart wrenching, and intense. It keeps the reader’s on the edge of their seats. The Eagle Elite series is one of my all time favorite series. How can one not like men who have guns with their Wheaties, women that can throw a knife as fast as they can find a sale in Nordstroms, and love with an intensity that is just as gentle as it is fierce ? This series is hot and I highly recommend these books.

EAGLE ELITE SERIES

Elite

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Elect

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Entice

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Elicit

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Bang Bang

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

About Rachel Van Dyken:

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 and their snoring Boxer, Sir Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers! You can follow her writing journey at www.rachelvandykenauthor.com

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Blitz : Autumn In London by Louise Bay – The Empire State Trilogy- Book 2

Posted on 12/02/2014 by shellbellereads

Autumn In London

The Empire State Trilogy – Book 2

By Louise Bay

Synopsis

Anna Kirby went to New York to escape heartbreak and have some fun. She wasn’t meant to meet someone . . . someone like Ethan. Now, back in London, she’s faced with another man to get over.

Ethan Scott broke every one of his rules during his week with Anna and now he can’t seem to go back to life before her. A business trip to London gives him the opportunity to change his rules for good. Will he take it?

Autumn in London is the second part of The Empire State Series, a series of three novellas.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Playlist

Good Morning Heartache

Ella Fitzgerald

I Wish You Would

Taylor Swift

Don’t You Remember

Adele

I’ve Got You Under My Skin

Diana Krall

King of Wishful Thinking

Go West

Life is Good

Brittini Black

Quitter

Carrie Underwood

The Empire State Trilogy

A Week In New York – Book 1

Anna Kirby is sick of dating. She’s tired of heartbreak. Despite being smart, sexy, and funny, she’s a magnet for men who don’t deserve her.

A week’s vacation in New York is the ultimate distraction from her most recent break-up, as well as a great place to meet a stranger and have some summer fun. But to protect her still-bruised heart, fun comes with rules. There will be no sharing stories, no swapping numbers, and no real names. Just one night of uncomplicated fun.

Super-successful serial seducer Ethan Scott has some rules of his own. He doesn’t date, he doesn’t stay the night, and he doesn’t make any promises.

It should be a match made in heaven. But rules are made to be broken.

A Week in New York is the first part of The Empire State Series, a series of three novellas.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Author Bio:

Ruined by romantic mini-series of the seventies and eighties, I love all things romantic. There’s not enough of it in real life so I’ll settle for books and films.

I love the rain, the West Wing, London, days when you don’t have to wear make-up, being alone, being with friends, elephants and champagne.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Holiday Review: Cowboys For Christmas by Liz Talley, Kim Law, and Terri Osburn

Posted on 12/01/2014 by shellbellereads

Cowboys For Christmas

A Holiday Romance Anthology

By Liz Talley, Terri Osburn, Kim Law

Synopsis

3 cowboys…2 weeks…1 wedding!
Three all-new stories by Kim Law, Terri Osburn, and Liz Talley
Claire, Georgia, and Mary Catherine couldn’t be more different, but they promised they would be there for one another no matter what. And when they all gather in Holly Hills, Texas, for Mary Catherine’s Christmas wedding, they’ll find they have one thing in common: hearts that are about to be branded—by unforgettable cowboys.
In “Love Me, Cowboy” by Terri Osburn, wallflower Claire would be more excited about the wedding if it didn’t mean running into Mary Catherine’s brother—the bull rider she once had a scorching one-night stand with…
Ivy League volleyball coach Georgia never wanted to see Holly Hills—or another cowboy—again. But a sexy veterinarian is making her rethink her vow to never marry a Texas man in “Kiss Me, Cowboy” by Liz Talley.
Claire and Georgia both think that Mary Catherine is getting hitched to the wrong man, despite how perfect he is. And in “Marry Me, Cowboy” by Kim Law, a local rancher with a wild reputation gives Mary Catherine a glimpse of what might have been—and what could still be…

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

Cowboys For Christmas was a fantastic anthology. The authors did a wonderful job of tying their individual story with those of the other authors. The plotting was precise throughout the three stories. The individual plots of each story focused on one of the leading female characters and their personal trials and tribulations. Each of these stories not only gave the readers insight to their individual leading character but also stayed very true to other characters and the personalities the other co authors created. Throughout each book there are some of the same scenes, with the same tone, but delivered from their characters perspective of that moment. The flow of each story was in perfect timing with the other two stories and made the overall story seem effortless. To deliver this kind of book with three different stories, the same characters, and the same overall plot takes a lot of work and collaboration between the authors. This was done with supreme care and made this anthology an excellent read.

We meet three women that have been friends since childhood. They grew up in Holly Hills, Texas. Holly Hills, Texas is a small ranching community that is basically defined by two prominent families. The Holly Family and the Campbell Family.

Love Me, Cowboy by Terri Osburn

Claire Campbell was the fat girl that was ruled by her mother’s commands. Her mother cared more about the family’s social status and position in Holly Hills. Claire was always insecure and fed her emotions. Now at twenty eight, she has returned to Holly Hills to teach elementary school. She is no longer the “fat” girl and “weak” girl that her mother once controlled. She has started to develop a backbone. The one thing that haunts her from her past is Tyler Holly. Tyler Holly is the younger brother of her best friend and the one boy she always had a crush on. A high school one night stand that didn’t turn out so well has always haunted her.

Tyler has returned to Holly Hills as well after a serious rodeo injury. He is looking to recuperate and get back on the rodeo circuit. With his sister’s upcoming wedding, he is bound to run into the one woman that could hold him in Holly Hills. Claire Campbell has always been the girl his heart has wanted.

Can these two find happiness together with their futures going in different directions?

Kiss Me, Cowboy by Liz Talley

Georgia Hightower left Holly Hills, Texas as soon as she could. She was the poor trailer trash of the community. The only people that saw the girl that hid beneath the surface were her best friends, Claire Campbell and Mary Catherine Holly. She vowed to never return to Holly Hills unless she was successful and had money to prove her self worth.

She is dreading returning to Holly Hills. She is dreading attending Mary Catherine’s wedding. She feels Mary Catherine is selling herself short. But because she is a loyal friend she returns to the one place that has horrible memories for her. Not only is she dreading the return to Holly Hills, she is also dealing with some problems in her life she has established in Boston.

When she meets Reed McCormick, the new vet in town, Holly Hills doesn’t look so bad. She will see the town through new eyes and come to appreciate everything the sexy vet can show her.

As her problems come to a head in Boston, she will have to choose a lonely successful life or a life filled with love in Holly Hills? Is Reed McCormick enough to make Georgia stay in Holly Hills.

Marry Me, Cowboy by Kim Law

Mary Catherine Holly has come home to Holly Hills to get married on Christmas Eve. She is marrying the town’s golden boy who is now a successful doctor in Dallas. The two were high school sweethearts until Mary Catherine exhibited an independent wild streak.

Her wild streak included dating a boy from the wrong side of town. Jax Tipton was the very definition of trouble and wild. The two had a wild teenage affair that ended badly.

Now she is a mature adult woman. She has a successful career and good social standing in the community. She would prefer to be married in Dallas but because of her family’s social status in Holly Hills she is getting married there.

Her step mother is planning the entire wedding. The wedding must be perfect and meet the expectations of their social status. Mary Catherine is fine with her step mother taking over all the wedding planning. She is fine with someone else choosing her dress, choosing her bridesmaid dresses, and choosing the venue. She just wants to get the wedding over with and get out of town before she runs into Jax Tipton.

Betweem the bridezilla step monster and a sexy boyfriend from the past, Mary Catherine’s world is spiraling out of control. Her friends know she isn’t happy. Jax Tipton knows she isn’t happy. Will Mary Catherine recognize it before it’s too late? Is Jax the man that can put a smile back on her face?

I absolutely loved this anthology. I would of given this book a 5 Star Rating but there was one thing that held me back. This book was supposed to be a Holiday Romance. It was not. There was very little mention of the holidays. The few scenes that revolved around some kind of holiday event where more focused on the upcoming wedding rather than the upcoming holiday. I never felt the holiday spirit. This book focused more on the wedding theme rather than the holiday theme. This was a great disappointment to me.

I would highly recommend Cowboys For Christmas. It is well written, highly entertaining, and loaded with small town romance.

About the Authors:

Terri Osburn is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Anchor Island series. She makes her home along the coast of Virginia with an eye-rolling teenager, three fat tabbies, and a hyper yorkiepoo.
Liz Talley is a former English teacher who lives in North Louisiana with her high school sweetheart, two rough and tumble boys, and a gaggle of pets.
RITA-nominated and Golden Heart winner Kim Law is a former computer programmer, now spending her days writing happily ever afters. A native of Kentucky, she lives with her husband and a passel of animals in Middle Tennessee.

Release Blitz + Giveaway +Review: Trashed by Jasinda Wilder – A Stripped World Novel- Book 2

Posted on 12/01/2014 by shellbellereads

Trashed

A Stripped World Novel- Book 2

By Jasinda Wilder

Synopsis

I’m nobody. I’m an orphan. A janitor. A college student. A virgin.
And him? He’s a god. One of the hottest action stars to ever grace the silver screen, huge and muscular and gorgeous and famous. He could have anyone in the world.
Yet, despite the chasm separating my world from his, I find myself in his hotel room, and he’s acting like I’m the most beautiful girl in the world. I’m not. He’s everything every woman could ever want, and I’m just…me.

***

She doesn’t know how sexy she is, and that’s it’s own kind of beauty. But for real, she’s gorgeous. I’ve met some of the hottest women in Hollywood, and none of them can hold a candle to this girl. I want her. And the fact that she’s closed off and impossible to figure out only makes the pursuit that much more intriguing.
The last thing I expect is for one night of pleasure to turn into something I’m unable to forget, even after she’s gone her way and I’ve gone mine. I can’t forget her, no matter how I try. And the next time we run into each other, I know there’s no way I can let her go again. No matter what it takes.
***This is a full length, stand-alone contemporary romance, set in the world of STRIPPED***

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Kelley’s Review

I abosultely adored this modern day Cinderella story! This is an amazing HEA for you HEA junkies. Sometimes you just need a feel good story and Jasinda delivers with a hot hollywood hunk and trash collecting former foster child. She once again keeps her characters true to who they are. Destiny Ross has not had an easy life. She was tossed around in the foster care system in Detroit until she was old enough to stand on her own. Some places she lived were good and others were not. She has learned that you have to put up walls in order to survive and is not interested in letting them down for anyone. Torrence Adam Trenton is a hollywood action star. He is on Mackinac Island for a special red carpet event and finds himself bored out of his mind on a tour bus until he sees Destiny on the side of the road picking up trash. He is mesmorised by her beauty and before he can think he is jumping off the bus and heading towards her.

I love how Jasinda makes Adam a very down to earth character true to his roots. He puts on a persona for the cameras and does an excellent job catering to his fans. Seeing Destiny and Adam come together is pure magic. She is so closed off but Adam will do anything he can to break down her walls. Their chemistry is purely erotic. Yes this book has a lot of hot sex in it and Jasinda is the queen of smutty sex scenes. She will have readers crossing their legs and looking for BOB for relief. Jasinda has a talent for making us all believe in fairytales with this one.

Michel’s Review

Trashed is another Hollywood Romance smash hit. It is a light hearted and supremely sexy romance. It was a highly entertaining book that left the reader with a gooey & tingly feeling.

The characters, Adam and Des, are absolutely charming. Adam may be a big Hollywood Action Star, but he is down to earth. His fame has not ruined him. He is good about managing his life as a star. When he sees Des, it is love at first sight. He will do anything to get to know her. He does not expect her to meet his celebrity life style. He just wants her love.

Des, has had a rough life. She was in the foster care system and has never had anyone to call her own. She has quite a few issues and recognizes the fact that she does. She is not in any way allowing her issues to hold her back from having a happy and successful life. When she meets Adam, she is not star struck. She treats Adam as a regular guy. When a celebrity fundraiser puts her in the spotlight, she will have to decide if she can handle that life style.

Both Adam and Des will have to go through some trying moments and a separation before they find that their destinies are tied together.

I loved that Adam stayed true and consistent throughout this book. I loved watching Des expand her world. I loved how she accepted her weaknesses and was willing to overcome them with work.

Everything about Trashed fantastic. It was a charming story that didn’t weigh the reader down with angst and emotional duress. It is the perfect book to read when you need something to warm your heart and a lighten your world. It is guaranteed to make you smile.

I highly recommend Trashed.

About Jasinda Wilder

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

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Giveaway
A Pink Kindle
Signed Paperback copies of Stripped and Trashed

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ARC Review: Vision of Darkness by Tonya Burrows- D. I. E. Squadron – Book 1

Posted on 12/01/2014 by shellbellereads

Vision Of Darkness

D. I. E. Squadron Series- Book 1

By Tonya Burrows

Synopsis

A beacon of light…

Undercover DEA agent Alex Brennan doesn’t believe in the paranormal, despite the exhausting nightmares that reveal things he shouldn’t know. When sleep deprivation causes him to make a horrible mistake on the job, he is driven to find answers. Dreams guide him to a lighthouse in Three Churches, Maine, where he finds an inexplicable and comforting familiarity in the arms of the lighthouse’s beautiful keeper, Pru Maddox.

A whisper of memory…

Deadly misfortune has long plagued Pru’s family, the result of a curse “The Green Lady” placed on the lighthouse. Skeptical, Alex searches for less ghostly explanations, though he can’t deny that the town has had more than its fair share of disappearances, suicides, and accidents. As their passion simmers, Alex digs deeper, and his dreams turn violent, frightening, and very real.

A vision of darkness…

To keep Pru safe, Alex must embrace his abilities and unravel the lighthouse’s mystery. Except someone—or something—wants the past to stay buried…and will do anything to keep it that way.

Buy: Amazon

Tina’s Review

*** eBook ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review. ***

Character Introductions-
Alex Brennan had just endured two years undercover for the DEA and now has been ordered some indefinite downtime. He needs this time to reacquaint himself with, well… himself and find his direction again. In doing so, he’d planned to head out West to visit a friend, but found himself going North into Maine. Stopping to eat at a diner, he encounters Pru. She sparks his interest with an intensity he’s never felt before.
Waitressing at her grandmother’s diner in Three Churches, Maine, Pru Maddox sees a lot of road-weary travelers and hears a lot of gossip from the locals. She’s been divorced for six months, practically runs the diner when her grandmother’s off on an adventure, and she most recently purchased the lighthouse, it’s outbuildings and the property around it with the dream of turning it into a Bed and Breakfast – if only The Green Lady would cooperate.

~ Debut book in Tonya Burrows’s NEW series! Paranormal Romance Genre! ~
From the moment Alex and Pru meet, they feel an intense draw toward one another but she’s recently divorced and guy shy. He’s not in the greatest position at the moment either, in part due to an on-the-job incident. Alex “knows” when things are about to get ugly; he “feels it”, but chalks it up to gut-instinct or good intuition. He does not believe in any of the “woo-woo” that his squadron or his institutionalized brother does. He’s extremely stubborn and cynical whereas Pru is still very naive and trusting, even after a traumatic experience caused a chain of events that eventually tore her world apart. The secondary characters are solid and support the story well, good and bad. This series promises to be edgier and darker than Ms. Burrows’s other two series, but still holds enough HEAT to burn up the pages. The flow is smooth, the dynamics are present and plentiful, the conflicts are layered and interwoven. How do I approach the predictability without spoilers? Before the twenty percent mark, I thought I figured out the “woo-woo” of the relationship, but was only partially right. The same goes for the ship and crew. There were a few plot points that were not fully addressed, but they were not key points. Alex and Pru receive a solid ending, but the Epilogue provides a healthy lead-in to the next potential book.

Author Bio:

Tonya Burrows wrote her first romance in 8th grade and hasn’t put down her pen since. Originally from a small town in Western New York, she’s currently soaking up the sun as a Florida girl. She suffers from a bad case of wanderlust and usually ends up moving someplace new every few years. Luckily, her two dogs and ginormous cat are excellent travel buddies.

When she’s not writing about hunky military heroes, Tonya can usually be found at a bookstore or the dog park. She also enjoys painting, watching movies, and her daily barre workouts. A geek at heart, she pledges her TV fandom to Supernatural and Dr. Who.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Blitz + Review: Third Position by Melody Grace- Dirty Dancing Series – Book 3

Posted on 12/01/2014 by shellbellereads

Third Position

Dirty Dancing Series – Book 3

By Melody Grace

Synopsis

He taught me a dance beyond passion. He showed me the pleasure my body was made to create.
Now I have to choose.
Raphael or my future?
My passion or my one true love?
There’s no hiding from the truth any longer.
Everything changes tonight.

*The third and final part of the sexy, seductive romance serial*

Buy: Amazon

Tracey’s Review

THIRD POSITION by Melody Grace picks up directly following SECOND POSITION. This is the last installment in Melody’s DIRTY DANCING series, and, oh, my goodness, it is HOT. Melody has definitely saved the best for last, and ended the series with a panty-melting, swoon-inducing, feel-good finale.

Raised to follow in her mother’s prima ballerina footsteps, perfecting her craft has been the focus of Annalise’s whole life. But Raphael brings out Annalise’s inner passion, awakening desires in her that she didn’t even know she had, and making her question her dedication to the troupe and to a life centered solely around ballet. Her mother’s unexpected arrival in Rome, coupled with the jealousy of Raphael’s former partner, threaten the new relationship developing between Annalise and Raphael, forcing her to make a decision about how she will live her life.

I enjoyed this whole series very much, but this third book really cemented my feelings. Seeing Annalise come into her own, and become the person that SHE wants to be made for a nice wrap-up, and the hotness factor in the relationship between her and Raphael was off the charts. Melody does sexy time excellently, and she absolutely delivered here; the heat between these two was sizzling, and had me fanning myself and blushing at the same time.

The fact that these books are serial-length should not keep anyone from reading them, because, when put together, they add up to one big thumbs-up, and definite additions to my ‘recommends’ list.

Author Bio

Melody Grace is a small-town girl turned SoCal beach lover. After spending her life with her nose in a book, she decided it was time she wrote one herself. She loves steamy romance novels, happily-ever-afters, and lusting after fictional menfolk.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

ARC Review: Ryley’s Revenge by L. P. Dover – Gloves Off Series- Book 4

Posted on 11/30/2014 by shellbellereads

Ryley’s Revenge

Gloves Off Series- Book 4

Release Date: December 1, 2014

By L. P. Dover

Synopsis

UFC Middleweight fighter, Ryley Jameson, swore it would never happen again. He was done with his ex, and over the pain she’d inflicted when she left him. At least, that’s what he tells people. Maybe if he says it enough, he’ll begin to believe it himself.

Regretting her decision to let Ryley go, Ashleigh Warren comes back into town and confronts him. Holding only one secret back, she puts the rest on the line and asks for a second chance. Too bad he’s not going to let her off easy.

Camden Jameson loves his twin brother, but his jealousy runs deep. They may be identical in looks, but that’s where the similarities end. When Ashleigh comes back into Ryley’s life, Camden has the perfect opportunity for revenge. Two birds, one stone.

A journey to the Dark Side affects them all, but only one feels the true sting of revenge.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

Ryley’s Revenge was a complete unexpected surprise. We met Ryley Jameson and Ashleigh Warren in A Fighter’s Desire Part 1. This couple captured our attention along with Ryley’s twin brother Camden. When all was said and done, no one really got their happily ever after. Ashley had left Ryley and went back to her college sweetheart , Collin. After a pregnancy scare that could have been Ryley’s child, Ashleigh realizes she has made a mistake leaving Ryley for Collin. Now she is back and ready to fight for Ryley’s love.

Ryley was heartbroken when Ashleigh left him for Collin. He was also hurt by his twin brother’s actions and reactions to his relationship with Ashleigh. Ryley has been betrayed by the two people he loves the most. When Ashleigh comes back from Aspen wanting to rekindle their relationship, he’s still angry over her betrayal. He almost lets her go a second time but realizes that love is more important than pride. He mans up, swallows his pride, and sets his focus on restoring his relationship with Ashleigh.

His twin brother Camden is harboring an unhealthy dose of jealousy. He and Ryley are scheduled to fight one another for the championship title. Camden wants to destroy Ryley in and outside of the ring. He will stop at nothing to destroy his brother.

Camden has joined “the dark side”. He is fighting in the illegal underground fighting arena where anything goes, including death. He has enlisted Collin to help him destroy Ryley and Ashleigh for good. He is determined to destroy Ryley’s fighting career as well as his future happiness. His actions force Ryley to join the “dark side” to defend his honor, fight for his relationship with Ashleigh, and seek revenge against those that have tried to hurt them. Ryley will have to choose between love and blood. Ryley has more on the line than losing his brother, he could lose the Ashleigh and his future family.

Ryley’s Revenge was much more than a romance that revolves around the MMA fighting world. It is about making choices that will define the kind of person you are at the end of the day. It’s about learning to love despite all of the opposition standing in the way. It is about sacrificing oneself for the one you love with all your heart. It shows the importance of family and friendship in life.

I cannot wait for the next book in the series. We got a taste of what’s to come with Paxton and Gabriella. I am also hoping somewhere along the way Camden is going to be redeemed.

I highly recommend the Gloves Off Series by L. P. Dover.

The Gloves Off Series

A Fighter’s Desire Part 1

Amazon

A Fighter’s Desire Part 2

Amazon

Tyler’s Undoing

Amazon

Ryley’s Revenge

Amazon

Paxton’s Promise

Coming December 29, 2014

Pre-Order- Amazon

Author Bio:

USA Today Bestselling author, L.P. Dover, is a southern belle residing in North Carolina along with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she even began her literary journey she worked in Periodontics enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.

Not only does she love to write, but she loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes, white water rafting, and you can’t forget the passion for singing. Her two number one fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime and those songs usually consist of Christmas carols.

Aside from being a wife and mother, L.P. Dover has written over nine novels including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, and her standalone novel, Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read is romantic suspense and she also loves writing it. However, if she had to choose a setting to live in it would have to be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Saucy Southern Readers

professional, honest, and timely book reviews

Category Archives: Reviewers

6 Star ARC Review + Giveaway: The Law of Moses by Amy Harmon

ARC Review: Full Throttle by Julie Ann Walker- Black Knights, Inc. Series- Book 7

Release Day Blitz + Review: You Were Mine by Abbi Glines- Rosemary Beach Series- Book 9

Release Blitz + Review: Elect by Rachel Van Dyken- Eagle Elite Series- Book 2

Release Blitz : Autumn In London by Louise Bay – The Empire State Trilogy- Book 2

Holiday Review: Cowboys For Christmas by Liz Talley, Kim Law, and Terri Osburn

Release Blitz + Giveaway +Review: Trashed by Jasinda Wilder – A Stripped World Novel- Book 2

ARC Review: Vision of Darkness by Tonya Burrows- D. I. E. Squadron – Book 1

Release Blitz + Review: Third Position by Melody Grace- Dirty Dancing Series – Book 3

ARC Review: Ryley’s Revenge by L. P. Dover – Gloves Off Series- Book 4

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: