Review: Wicked Innocence by Missy Johnson

Posted on 08/20/2014 by shellbellereads

Wicked Innocence

By Missy Johnson

Synopsis

Don’t let my petite and innocent appearance fool you, because I’m one person you don’t want to cross. I’m Micah, the youngest member of Resurrection…If only they knew how young.

My fake ID says I’m twenty-one. And I will be…in four years.

What can I say? I blossomed early. Home sucked, so I left, determined to do something with my life.

Landing the gig as lead vocalist in the band was a dream come true. I’ve worked hard to make something of myself and nothing is going to ruin that for me.

Then He showed up. Saxon Waite, ex bad boy of rock.

He’s hot as hell and so into me.

But he’s also twenty-five.

I don’t want to lie to him, but if the truth comes out I’ll lose everything. Including him.

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Tracey’s Review

Mikayla Hale has been through a lot in her young life. With an absent father and a mother that favored addiction over her two children, Mikayla learned early on to take care of herself. Determined to live on her own terms, Mikayla becomes Micah and leaves everything behind, getting down to the business of creating the life that she wants.

Saxon Waite had it all. As the singer of the rock group Savage, he was the at the top of the world, complete with money, women, and success. But his fast living caught up with him, resulting in tragedy, and his abrupt departure from the limelight.

When Micah answers an ad to audition as vocalist for the band Resurrection, she is stunned to find that Saxon is the band’s manager. Their attraction is immediate and mutual, and it isn’t long before all the time that they’re spending together on the road leads to something more than a professional relationship. The real problem, though? Micah has a souped-up birth certificate that says she’s three years older than her real age of seventeen. Sax is twenty-five, and has a hard enough time with their supposed four-year age difference. Even knowing that Saxon will be less than thrilled if he finds out her secret, Micah is unable to stop herself from falling more and more in love with him.

‘Wicked Innocence’ is more than a story about a rock band. Both Micah and Sax have their share of personal demons, and Missy has written a story that shows their growth, and the forgiveness that each must both give and receive. I always enjoy reading Missy’s books, and would love to see a continuation of this story, especially for Sax.

Author Bio

Missy lives in a small town in Central Victoria with her husband, and her confused pets (a dog who think she’s a cat, a cat who thinks he’s a dog…you get the picture).

When she’s not writing, she can usually be found looking for something to read.

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Review: Tell Me Something Good by Jamie Wesley

Posted on 08/19/2014 by shellbellereads

Tell Me Something Good

By Jamie Wesley

Synopsis

A satisfying category romance from Entangled’s brand new Lovestruck imprint…

Two radio show hosts. One show. Who will come out on top?

In a moment of restlessness, Tate Grayson sold his multimillion-dollar company and spun his love of sports into a radio talk show. Life, and love, is too short to take seriously—a fact he enjoys rubbing in uptight radio host Noelle Butler’s face.

After the death of her parents, a tragedy she blamed on herself, Noelle vowed to live a controlled, focused life. Now a psychologist, she channels her need for connection into her radio show. But when the arrogant sportscaster next door tells listeners men shouldn’t get married, she’s all too happy to yank the silver spoon out of his overprivileged mouth.

Their heated on-air arguments are a hit, but when the station director forces them to do a joint show for two weeks, Tate and Noelle object. They can’t stand each other, despite the attraction sizzling beneath every interaction. But if they can’t pull the struggling radio station back from the brink, they’ll lose their jobs. Or worse, their hearts.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Tracey’s Review

He said, she said. A problem as old as time, and one not easily solved. Can two people with completely different ideas about how relationships should work ever come to an understanding?

Noelle Butler is the host of Noelle Knows, the ‘premiere relationship/love advice talk show in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.’ She believes in forever love, the kind of romantic love that sweeps you off your feet and only gets better with time. Tate Grayson hosts a sports show, and is of the mind that true love does not exist, and that commitment is something to be avoided at all costs. When the two radio personalities are forced to share airtime and work together in an effort to boost station ratings, they decide on a little friendly competition designed to show which attitude is correct. But as they spend more time together working on their ‘experiment,’ something happens, something that neither one expects. Combativeness gives way to friendship, which, in turn, gives way to attraction and, yes, love. But will Tate, who is bound and determined that he is right, and that love can’t last, be able to admit that he’s been proved wrong and give in to that love?

The plot of ‘Tell Me Something Good’ is entertaining and well-written, and move along nicely. Noelle and Tate made good foils for each other, and their banter was both feisty and endearing. I very much enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading more from Jamie Wesley.

Author Bio

Jamie Wesley has been reading romance novels since she was about 12 when her mother left a romance novel, which a friend had given her, on the nightstand. Jamie read it instead, and the rest is history.

She started her first manuscript, a contemporary romance, after she graduated from Northwestern University in 2002 and couldn’t find a job. Life got in the way as it often does, i.e. she found a job, and she didn’t finish the story. However, she never forgot about it and finally got serious about completing it in 2009. And then she finished a few more stories. In 2012, her manuscript, TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD was named a finalist in RWA’s Golden Heart competition and will be published by Entangled Publishing in 2014.

Jamie holds a master’s degree in sport management (yes, that’s a real thing 🙂 ) from the University of Texas at Austin, so it probably comes as no surprise that she loves sports and spends an inordinate amount of time rooting for her hometown Dallas’s pro sports teams and her alma maters.

She also adores Walt Disney World, shopping, and pop culture. Want to know if your favorite TV show is going to be canceled or what the newest Disney attraction is? Ask Jamie. She’ll probably know the answer.

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ARC Review: Dear Jon by Lori L. Otto- Choisie Series- Book 3

Posted on 08/19/2014 by shellbellereads

Dear Jon

Choisie Series- Book 3

By Lori L. Otto

Synopsis

A summer with his family in Utah is all Jon Scott needs to pull himself together. It’s time to focus on his mom’s sobriety and the continuing education of his two younger brothers, Will and Max. For once, things seem to be on track with that part of his life. For the first time, he sees real hope for his family.

This family time is a much-needed distraction from the relationship he walked away from in Manhattan. Livvy Holland, the girl he’s loved since they were children, has let him down for the last time. He doesn’t want to waste his time dwelling on the fight they had, or the shocking incident that happened the next day, after her graduation. It’s something he’ll never forget, or forgive.

Things never go as Jon plans, though. Despite her actions and a distance of two thousand miles, Livvy has every intention of keeping Jon’s attention throughout the summer with a series of 30 letters: three a week for every week he’s gone. He doesn’t have to read them; there are times when he simply doesn’t want to. He has plenty of things keeping him busy: a job that requires long hours, family friends that come over for parties, brothers that ask too many questions, and a girl that’s very unlike anyone Jon’s dated before.

But there’s something about Livvy Holland that keeps drawing him back to her. Reading the letters will either break the ties, or eventually reunite them. His brain wants one thing; his heart wants another.

By the end of the summer, Jon will return to Manhattan. He’s come to terms with his past. He has a bright future. Back at Columbia, though, he must accept choices Livvy has made without him that will change his present plans.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

The Choisie Series

Contessa – Book 1

Book one of the YA/New Adult Choisie series by the author of Emi Lost & Found!   When she was four, a generous couple welcomed orphan Olivia Sophia into their lives. As she grew up, her parents made good decisions for her, raising “Livvy” to be an intelligent and creative young girl. Now sixteen, three people influence many of her choices: her first love, her second father, and a third man who speaks to her through his artwork.   Livvy’s father is practical and steadfast; even-tempered and quietly observant. She’s an artist who acts on her emotions and thrives on attention. Unhappy with their differences– and misunderstanding her father’s methods– Livvy chooses to focus on the similarities she shares with an enigmatic painter from her mother’s past. Her overactive imagination leads her down an obsessive path– one that only stands to hurt everyone around her.   The distraction of a new boyfriend has the potential to end her search and reunite her family, but his involvement in her life could be just as devastating, taking Livvy away from her father for good.   Mature YA for limited sensual content.

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Olivia- Book 2

When devastating news brings an abrupt end to a romantic rendezvous, Livvy Holland struggles to accept the death of one of her closest mentors. Livvy’s artwork has always been an expression of her emotions, and avoiding the pain she feels from her recent loss makes painting seem impossible. Her inspiration gone, she devotes her attention to the future she’s planning with Jon Scott.   Blissfully happy in her own denial, all of Livvy’s free time has been given to the boy she’s always loved. Facing grown up decisions, she finds it hard to live up to her parents’ expectations of her as a daughter and an artist. Under her father’s constant scrutiny and persistent surveillance from curious paparazzi, Livvy finds it difficult to maintain the adult relationship she’s begun with Jon.   The changes in Livvy are evident to those closest to her, and a few that were once her allies begin to interfere with her personal life. This newfound attention – along with distractions that take Jon’s attention elsewhere – cause Livvy to question all the choices she’s made: what college she’ll attend, what man she should be with, and what she thought was her life’s purpose.   Livvy faces her greatest challenge when Jon’s unanticipated plans derail her own. Overwhelmed, confused, and longing to satisfy her own wants and needs, Livvy must endure more heartache before finding herself.   This book is intended for mature teens and adults.

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Robin’s Review

“****If you have not read Olivia or the synopsis for Dear Jon, this review will contain spoilers.****

“While Olivia was in the process of being written and published, I was intrigued to discover Lori Otto had plans to add an additional novel to her Choisie series titled Dear Jon. After reading Olivia – after reading Jon Scott had walked away from his relationship with Olivia Holland – I was immediately eager beyond words to read the coming novel to be written from Jon’s point of view. Two short months later, I am eager to share with readers that Dear Jon was absolutely worth the wait! I am overjoyed by these emotions, thoughts and feelings dancing around in my head! I hope I am able to write a review which will properly convey my thoughts and feelings, a review that is worthy of Dear Jon.

Before discussing the content of this novel, I should mention Dear Jon has a different format from previous novels written by Lori Otto. It consists of a prologue and thirty-one chapters, with each chapter representing a letter written to Jon by Livvy Holland. Each letter begins with the same four words. Each letter ends with the same three-word sentence. And each of the thirty-one letters has its own theme. We are able to enjoy the experience of Jon reading Olivia’s letters, and we know his thoughts, feelings and emotions as he reads each of them! With respect to time, the events of Dear Jon take place over the summer months following Olivia’s high school graduation. Jon spends the summer in Utah with his Aunt Patty, mother and two brothers, Will and Max. While enjoying some quality family time, Jon also gets a much needed break from his relationship with Olivia. But he has plenty of time to reflect on the content of the letters being mailed from Manhattan.

The outpouring of love and emotion Livvy has written in each letter to Jon breaks my heart, while also filling me full of hope. In each letter, Livvy reflects on moments of importance shared between the two them – decisions about their relationship, struggles dealing with family, moments full of love and happiness, and even the low points of their relationship. She shares her private thoughts and feelings with Jon about each of these past experiences, and how they relate to what she is presently feeling. Livvy takes an honest look at her life. She opens up about her own faults, how she wants to change, how she is changing. With each letter, Jon is able to notice a palpable change in Olivia. She is maturing and becoming more selfless. She understands how her actions have affected those that she loves. She continues to mature as an individual, while her doubt about any reconciliation with Jon continues to grow. This made me feel so sad, but in the overall process, Olivia Holland does grow up. She takes responsibility for her actions, becomes more confident in her individuality, and accepts that she may have to move on from her hope for a future with Jon.

For the most part, I was delighted for Jon throughout this novel. Spending the summer in Utah was the very best decision he could have made for himself. He recognizes that he needs quality time with both brothers. Long ago, Jon accepted the responsibility as a role model and father figure to them both. He knows he will not be around for them when he returns to Manhattan for his fall semester at Columbia. Jon discusses some very relevant topics with Will, and impresses upon him the importance of being a positive role model for Max. Jon encourages Will to participate in school, sports and social events for his younger brother. He emphasizes the importance of keeping a watchful eye on their mother, a recovering alcoholic, and to encourage her stay focused on her recovery. Jon gains valuable experience with his summer job, as he assists building new homes. Jon also meets Audrey, and she becomes a very important part of his life. Jon Scott is one of the very best characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading about. Although forced to grow up at a very young age, he stays focused on school and goals, hoping to provide a positive future for his brothers and himself.

Dear Jon was everything I had hoped it would be, but it was so much more! Knowing how heartbroken Olivia was after Jon walked away from their relationship, I was thrilled with the opportunity to read each letter she addressed to Jon. I was captivated by his emotions, thoughts and feelings as he read what was spilling from her heart. Jon was such a pleasant surprise! Jon feels so much, and he loves hard. Olivia and Jon fell in love at such a young age, and we all know it is very hard for first love to last. Lori Otto has a special talent for writing stories that feel authentic. I learned early on that you can never know what future to expect for her characters. Her outcomes are not predictable. Olivia and Jon have grown so much as individuals. Their character growth feels realistic. They have each faced hardships, even though they come from completely different backgrounds. My love for Olivia Holland and Jon Scott has grown exponentially since I first read Contessa. I have no idea what the future may hold for this young couple, but I am excited to find out! I am giving a rare 6-star review to Lori Otto for Dear Jon!

Author Bio:

After graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1997 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Lori Otto worked in the billboard industry for ten years. Frustrated with trying to communicate entire messages in “seven seconds or less,” she decided to leave outdoor advertising and return to her love of creative writing.

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5-Star ARC Review: A View To A Thrill by Lexi Blake

Posted on 08/19/2014 by Saucy Southern Readers

A View To A Thrill, Masters & Mercenaries Book 7, Coming August 19, 2014

A Spy without a Country

Simon Weston grew up royal in a place where aristocracy still mattered. Serving Queen and country meant everything to him, until MI6 marked him as damaged goods and he left his home in disgrace. Ian Taggart showed him a better way to serve his fellow man and introduced him to Sanctum, a place to pursue his passion for Dominance and submission. Topping beautiful subs was a lovely distraction until he met Chelsea, and becoming her Master turned into Simon’s most important mission.

A Woman without Hope

Chelsea Dennis grew up a pawn to the Russian mob. Her father’s violent lessons taught her that monsters lurked inside every man and they should never be trusted. Hiding in the shadows, she became something that even the monsters would fear—an information broker who exposed their dirty secrets and toppled their empires. Everything changed when Simon Weston crossed her path. Valiant and faithful, he was everything she needed—and a risk she couldn’t afford to take.

A Force too Strong to Resist

When dark forces from her past threaten her newfound family at Sanctum, Chelsea must turn to Simon, the one man she can trust with her darkest secrets. Their only chance to survive lies in a mystery even Chelsea has been unable to solve. As they race to uncover the truth and stay one step ahead of the assassins on their heels, they will discover a love too powerful to deny. But to stop a killer, Simon just might have to sacrifice himself…

Order A View To A Thrill

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Excerpt

Chelsea looked at the bed that dominated the room. The only bed. Somehow she’d managed to find the shitty motel that didn’t have two queens. No. It was way worse. It was a single queen and there was no couch. And she was pretty sure the floor was covered in disease. “I think I should sleep somewhere else. We need to find another room.”

Blue eyes stared a hole through her. Somehow his eyes managed to be cold and hot given his mood. The color shifted, lighter, icier when he was angry. As warm as the Caribbean when he was happy.

They often seemed so cold when he looked at her. “Your contact said to meet here. We’re staying here.”

“He told me to meet him here. I’m sure they have another room, Weston. You don’t have to sit up all night.” Because there was no way they could share that bed. It was too small. He would take up all the space.

He locked the door and set down his duffel bag on the table. He shrugged out of his jacket because the man wore a three-piece suit on the run. She couldn’t help but stare at his broad shoulders and the way his dress shirt tapered down to perfectly pressed slacks. He tugged at the silver tie he was wearing, pulling it free and working the buttons at his throat until she could see the start of his truly impressive chest.

God, she hoped she wasn’t drooling.

The shoulder holster was the next to go in his inadvertent striptease. “You should get settled in. We have to be up early in the morning. I’ll take the side closest to the door.”

He couldn’t be serious. “Simon, there’s not enough room on that bed.”

He threw that gorgeous body down, making the springs squeak. “Of course there is, love. You Americans just like to take up an enormous amount of space. When I was a child, my brother and I slept in beds much smaller than this.”

“I’m not your brother, Simon.”

“I understand that fully. Believe me.”

She needed to take charge or she would make a complete fool of herself. “Look, Weston, you turned down my offer.”

He turned lazily, one hand coming up to balance his head. He looked like a pinup in a women’s magazine—all lean and predatory lines. She could see the write-up in her head. Simon likes tea, Scotch and eating subs for breakfast. His turn-offs include everything that comes out of Chelsea Dennis’s mouth. “Are you talking about your very charming offer to use my body to lose your virginity?”

She hadn’t put it like that. “You don’t want me. I get it. So let’s keep things simple. I hired you. I’m the boss. I’m going to see if I can rent the room next to this one and that can be yours.”

He didn’t move. He didn’t have to. She saw the way his eyes narrowed and then his voice came out, low and in that perfect upper-crust British accent that made her nipples hard. Her nipples were really stupid and she wished they didn’t like him so damn much. “You’re under a grave misapprehension, Chelsea. You are not my boss and you did not hire me. You came to me with a problem and I told you I would solve it. I believe I also mentioned that I was in charge and that was the only way I do this for you. So you will take off your clothes and you will get into this bed and you will sleep beside me tonight. I explained this to you when you signed the bloody contract. Do I need to explain what the word submissive means?”

Tears pricked her eyes. He was so damn unfair. She had to wonder if she would ever find a man who didn’t want to punish her. “You forced me to sign that contract.”

Now he moved, rolling to the side of the bed and getting to his feet with pure predatory grace. “I did nothing of the kind.”

He seemed very willing to revise history. She wasn’t about to let him forget. “If I hadn’t signed your contract, you would have let me die.”

He sighed, a long-suffering sound. “I certainly would not and if you think that’s true then you don’t know me at all. Perhaps I should do exactly what I should have done in the first place, what I would have done if you hadn’t signed the contract.”

That was worse than letting her die. “Please don’t call Ian.”

His shoulders weren’t so straight as he turned and stared at her. “You’re reckless, Chelsea. If I give up even a moment’s control, I’ll lose you and I can’t stand the thought of that. The only way to save you is to be your Master and the only Master you’ll accept is not the kind I want to be.”

“And what kind do you want to be?”

“Indulgent. Loving. Kind. I want a sub who obeys me in the field because she understands I would never let anyone hurt her. I want the play to just be play. I want a sub who trusts me with her body, who wants me and not just some faceless Dom who’ll work her over and then walk away. And I certainly don’t want to be a curiosity.”

She felt embarrassment flash through her system. If she could take back that first night’s utter idiocy she would. She should have known he wouldn’t want her. Not like that. “I get it. I got it when you turned me down the first time. I can get into bed with you because you won’t touch me.”

He was suddenly in her space. He’d moved so quickly she wasn’t sure how he’d gotten there. One minute there was a bed between them and the next she was backing up until she hit the wall because he was stalking her. She’d gone as far as she could go, but he kept coming. He loomed over her, using every one of his six feet two inches. “I’ve tried to be polite about this, but you don’t want that, do you? You don’t want me to be a gentleman about this. You want me to take you because then you’ll bloody well get it over with and you can put me in the same box with all the other men who hurt you and used you and cast you aside. I would be just one more villain who did something to you.”

“I never said that.”

“You don’t have to. I understand you, Chelsea. You can’t comprehend that, but I do. I understand you like no other man will. So I understand that I have to explain certain things to you.” He moved closer until his mouth hovered above hers, his heat sinking into her skin. “I’m going to tell you how this is going to go. We’ll get into that bed and I’m going to put my hands on you and I’m going to put my mouth on you. I’m going to taste you. I swear by the time you get out of that bed in the morning, you’re going to know what it feels like to come against my tongue. That screaming you heard as we walked in, you’re going to make that girl’s orgasm sound like the squeaking of a mouse. But the one thing you won’t get is my cock. You won’t get that because I’m not going to take your virginity because you’re curious. I’ll take it when you can’t think about anything but me. I’ll take it when you cry out my name and tell me there’s no other man you’ll ever love the way you love me. Then and only then will I take what belongs to me. Am I understood?”

She managed to nod.

He took a step back and she immediately missed his heat. His hands went to the buttons on his shirt. “Then take off those bloody clothes and get in bed.”

With shaking hands, she started to undress.

If there was ever a series that needed to be made into a movie or television show it is the Masters and Mercenaries series by Lexi Blake. The action, suspense, and intrigue will keep your knuckles white as you grip your e-reader eagerly anticipating what will happen next. Lexi is masterfully writes a new genre I call James Bond BDSM. Her heroes are sinfully sexy and hot alpha males and the women they fall for are strong, highly intelligent, and quick witted, and sexy as hell. I absolutely adore the fact that Lexi’s heroines are not skinny but are full of luscious curves that their men can’t get enough of.

I have been eagerly awaiting Simon and Chelsea’s story since Love and Let Die. Simon has been such a mystery to me and Lexi unveils so many things about him that I would have never expected he experienced in his past. I was amazed at how much in common Chelsea and Simon share with each other. All of Lexi’s books in this series can be read as a standalone, however I might suggest that you will enjoy this story much more if you pick up Love and Let Die first. That is the first book that Chelsea and Charlotte are featured in.

Chelsea narrowly escaped the Russian Mob a few years back only to find herself captured by her most unlikely enemy. Chelsea is very well known in the cyber community as the number one hacker. She can hack into any security system and for a long time she caused major chaos to several agencies just for fun. Unfortunately her ability to do this put a mark on her head and it seems that Simon may be the only man that can save her besides her brother-in-law that she adorably coins as Satan.

Simon has had it bad for Chelsea since the moment she sucker punched him. He has wanted to be her Dom and to play with her at Sanctum, but for Chelsea BDSM is all about pain relief, not love, and definitely not sex. Simon can see the emotional pain she is hiding because he knows it all too well. He just needs her to submit to him so he can show her how good things can be and that he will love her and care for her like no one ever has. Chelsea is stubborn. She has always made it on her own and does not want any help. The only reason she came to Simon is because she has nowhere else to go and well, he the sexiest man she has ever known so she is a little curious what Simon would be like as a lover. When Chelsea approaches Simon with her problem he sees it as the perfect time to get what he has always wanted. A BDSM contract with Chelsea one that includes things she would never let him give. Will she take him up on his offer or will she drag her feet to Ian and Charlotte for help?

If you like a lot of sizzle with lots of action and suspense you will love A View to a Thrill by Lexi Blake. This is a book you will not be able to put down until you have finished it. So get comfortable and enjoy this epic rollercoaster ride.

Surprise Novella Coming Soon!

Cherished, A Masters and Mercenaries Novella, October 28, 2014

A doctor living a double life

By day, Dr. Will Daley is one of Dallas’s most eligible bachelors, but every night he dons his leathers as one of Sanctum’s most desired Doms. He’s sworn off looking for a long-term relationship but is captivated by the club’s newest member, Bridget Slaten, even though they couldn’t be more different. She comes from a world of privilege and he was raised in poverty. When he discovers she needs a date to her sister’s wedding, he makes certain he’s literally the only man for the job.

A woman no longer willing to live in the shadows

For most of her life, Bridget hid herself behind her laptop. She can write romantic, sensuous lives for her characters but not herself. Having Master Will as her date to the wedding is a thrilling prospect but he has a special request. He wants her to accept two weeks of his services as a Dom, a lover, and expert in BDSM, and that is an offer she can’t refuse. Their sexual chemistry is undeniable, but it’s in the tender moments that Bridget realizes she’s falling for a man who might never trust her with his heart.

A love strong enough to cherish

Together in paradise for a week, Will realizes he can’t imagine his life without Bridget. As the wedding approaches, ghosts from their past come back to haunt them and threaten to ruin the peace they’ve found. With everything exposed, they will have to risk it all to claim the love that can set them both free.

PRE-ORDER:

eBook: Amazon | iTunes | Google

Print book: Amazon

Other Books in The Masters & Mercenaries Series

The Dom Who Loved Me (Masters & Mercenaries Book 1)

Print Book: Amazon | B&N

The Men In The Golden Cuffs (Masters & Mercenaries Book 2)

Print Book: Amazon | B&N

A Dom Is Forever (Masters & Mercenaries Book 3)

Print Book: Amazon | B&N

On Her Master’s Secret Service (Masters & Mercenaries Book 4)

Print Book: Amazon | Barnes&Noble

Sanctum (Masters & Mercenaries Book 4.5)

BUY: All Romance | Amazon | B&N

Love And Let Die (Masters & Mercenaries Book 5)

Print Book: Amazon

Unconditional (Masters & Mercenaries Book 5.5)

Dungeon Royale (Masters & Mercenaries Book 6)

Print Book: Amazon

1001 Dark Nights (Masters & Mercenaries Book 6.5)

eBook: Amazon ~

Author Bio

NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.

Her first novel, Their Virgin Captive: Masters of Ménage, Book 1, was a collaboration with New York Times bestselling author Shayla Black. There are four more books available in the series: Their Virgin’s Secret, Their Virgin Concubine, Their Virgin Princess and Their Virgin Hostage. The next book in the series, Their Virgin Secretary, is coming to Amazon this April.

In addition to the Masters of Ménage series, she is the author of the Masters and Mercenaries series. The first five novels, The Dom Who Loved Me, The Men with the Golden Cuffs, A Dom is Forever, On Her Master’s Secret Service, and Love and Let Die are available now, along with a novella titled Sanctum. The sixth novel, Dungeon Royale, is coming in February of 2014 along with two new novellas, Unconditional, releasing in January of 2014 and Dungeon Games, coming in May of 2014.

In 2013, Lexi also began releasing her urban fantasy series, Thieves. The first two books, Steal the Light and Steal the Day are available now on Amazon. Book 3 in the series, Steal the Moon, is coming in January of 2014.

For more information about her books, her appearances and her wacky life visit her Facebook page (http://goo.gl/q2IHnJ) or her website (http://www.lexiblake.net).

Release Day Blitz + Review: Hard To Hold On To by Laura Kaye- Hard Ink Series-Book 2.5

Posted on 08/19/2014 by shellbellereads

We are so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Laura Kaye’s HARD TO HOLD ON TO! HARD TO HOLD ON TO is a Contemporary Romance filled with suspense and is a novella in the Hard Ink Series, published by Avon Impulse (an imprint of HarperCollins). And if this novella weren’t hot enough on its own, Laura is donating 100% of her proceeds from the first two weeks’ sales to a national non-profit organization that assists veterans transitioning back to civilian life!!

Amazon | Amazon.ca | Amazon UK | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

EXCERPT:

Easy tugged down the covers and gestured for Jenna to get in. She chose the side that would allow her to lie on the uninjured side of her face.

“After what you’ve been through, I don’t want to do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable,” Easy said.

Propping herself on an elbow, Jenna shook her head. “You won’t. You’re the—” She blanched as if she hadn’t meant to say whatever she’d nearly said.

Which made Easy need to know. He crawled on the bed as if lured by the words. “Finish. That. Sentence.”

She eased back onto the pillow, red hair sprawling around her shoulders like silk, and stared up at him. And it took everything Easy had not to settle himself on top of her and tease the words out with his hands and tongue.

“The only one who makes me feel safe,” she whispered.

Satisfaction humming through him, Easy turned and stretched out on his back. Because if he kept looking at her while she was looking at him like that, he might not be able to restrain himself from having what he wanted. A taste. A chance.

None of which she was in any shape for. And given the shitstorm in his head, probably neither was he.

“Good. That’s good,” he murmured, blowing out a long breath. Damn, he was tired. Not just because he hadn’t slept much the night before. But because of the size of the load he’d been shouldering for the past twelve-plus months. If he could only figure out how to put it down. He scrubbed his hands over his face, wishing he could shake himself out of this fucking slump.

If Rimes were here, he’d kick Easy’s ass for being such a morose motherfucker.

But he wasn’t here. Which was the damn problem in a nutshell.

He dropped his arms to the bed and peered over at Jenna.

She lay on her side facing him, hand tucked under her chin, not looking the least bit settled or relaxed.

“Whatchu need?”

“You.” She spoke the word without any hesitation, any doubt, any seeming self-consciousness.

“Have me, Jenna. Whatever you want,” he said, his cock stirring no matter how hard he reined himself in.

Holding his gaze, she moved closer until her head rested on his shoulder and her body trapped his arm between them. And, suddenly, she wasn’t fucking close enough.

“Here,” he whispered, lifting his arm and inviting her closer. And damn if his heart didn’t soar when she fitted herself the rest of the way against him, her face against his throat, her breasts against his ribs, her leg curling up onto his thigh.

He wasn’t sure whose sigh was louder. All Easy knew was that this was the first time in more than a year he didn’t feel alone. Wrapping his arm around her, he couldn’t resist squeezing her in just a little closer.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her breath ticklish against his neck.

He laced his fingers between hers where they rested on his chest. “I gotchu. You just close your eyes and know I’m here.”

Did you have a favorite line? Thanks for reading!

About Hard To Hold On To:

Edward “Easy” Cantrell knows better than most the pain of not being able to save those he loves—which is why he is not going to let Jenna Dean out of his sight. He may have just met her, but Jenna’s the first person to make him feel alive since that devastating day in the desert more than a year ago.

Jenna has never met anyone like Easy. She can’t describe how he makes her feel–and not just because he saved her life. No, the stirrings inside her reach far beyond gratitude.

As the pair are thrust together while chaos reigns around them, they both know one thing: the things in life most worth having are the hardest to hold on to.

Hard to Hold On To on Goodreads

Michel’s Review

Hard To Hold On To by Laura Kaye is a novella in the highly acclaimed Hard Ink series. This novella picks up where Hard As You Can ended. It is the story that plays on the connection between Jenna Dean and Edward ‘Easy’ Cantrell established in the previous book. Both are damaged souls that understand the pain that their past experiences have left very deep emotional scars. For Easy, it is his survivor guilt and the anguish that goes along with that guilt. For Jenna it was the kidnapping.

Together they help each other through the pain. They learn to climb out of the darkness together. The give each other the emotional security each one needs individually. Easy will learn to reach out to others and share his feelings that darken his soul.

Together Jenna and Easy find a love that is stronger than their demons. They find friendship, self worth, and the importance of leaning on others in their darkest days.

Laura Kaye delivered a highly emotional novella that packed more of a punch than most full length novels do. She handled some very dark issues with the great care.

The proceeds from the first two weeks of sales for this novella will go to the Wounded Warrior project. Not only will you get an unforgettable story, you will also be contributing to a great cause.

** Thank you to the men and women that serve in the U.S. military. Thank you for protecting our nation and sacrificing your personal needs and family so that we can embrace the freedoms our nation upholds. **

Other Books in the Hard Ink Series:

Hard As It Gets

Hard As You Can

Hard to Come By (11/25/14)

Hard to Be Good (3/10/15)

Untitled (7/28/15)

Praise for the Hard Ink Series:

For Hard As You Can:

“TOP PICK! There is a sinister and desperate edge to this tale that will keep readers glued to their seats. Kaye has dark romantic suspense nailed!” ~ RT Book Reviews Magazine

“Hard As You Can is another five star read. The characters Ms. Kaye has created are wonderfully broken and the drama is gritty, but the burgeoning romance and the tight-knitted relationship of the team leaves you with a sense of redemption. A must read series!” ~San Francisco Book Review

For Hard As It Gets:

“Edgy, sexy and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!” ~ #1 NYT Bestselling Author J.R. Ward

“Sizzling romance… The intriguing tattoo parlor and military background will appeal to fans of Suzanne Brockmann and Lindsay McKenna.” ~Publishers Weekly Review

“Kaye’s depiction of sexual tension and her sex scenes are masterful and this will appeal to fans of Maya Banks’ KGI and Julia Ann Walker’s Black Knight’s series.” ~Booklist

About Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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Release Blitz: Indiscretion:Volume 2 by Elisabeth Grace- Indiscretion Serial

Posted on 08/18/2014 by shellbellereads

Indiscretion: Volume 2

By Elisabeth Grace

Synopsis

Fraternizing with the competition? Check.

Risking everything I’d worked so hard for? Check.

Mind-shattering orgasms? Double check.

Max Richfield made me forget myself. Forget all the reasons why I’d chosen to be alone for so long. I had goals. I needed stability. He brought chaos. I’d taken years erecting my walls. And with good reason, I would soon discover.

Now my inability to see beyond Max’s charm could cost me everything.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

Wow… I am hooked on the Indiscretion Serial by Elisabeth Grace!

Indiscretion Volume 2 picks up where the first volume left off. The cliffhanger crisis is dealt with and Chloe and Max have moved on.

What started as an agreement for a purely sexual relationship is evolving into more. Chloe and Max are finding that they genuinely enjoying each others company outside of the bedroom. They are starting to have feelings for one another. That does not fit into the “summer fling” scenario. It is too bad that their careers are about to conflict with their personal relationship.

Max’s father owns the company that Max works for. His mortal enemy is Chloe’s boss. The two have a vendetta against each other. Max’s father has an agenda and Max wants to keep his relationship with Chloe a secret. Chloe’s boss finds out about the relationship and lays down an ultimatum that Chloe cannot ignore.

The cliffhanger at the end of this will have the readers begging for the next volume. Indiscretion: Volume Three will release September 1, 2014.

This serial is sizzling hot. The erotic encounters, the passionate moments, and sexual tension between Max and Chloe will have readers fanning themselves. Add witty dialogue, strong characters, a tension building plot, and a beautiful budding romance and the readers really have a great serial to read.

Elisabeth Grace has done a wonderful job. I can’t wait for more!

Welcome! I’m Elisabeth Grace, or El if you prefer, and I write New Adult Contemporary Romance.

I’d been an avid reader my entire life, but when I discovered romance novels during my first pregnancy I was hooked! Not sure if it was the hormones or the lack of a life that was headed my way once my daughter was born, but since then I’ve been devouring several romance books a week. I love nothing more than reading about some serious alpha males and a happily ever after.

Things you should know about me…

I live outside Toronto, Canada…eh. (Yes, it’s true. We Canadians say ‘eh’ A LOT.)

I’m a wife and mommy to two small children which I refer to as Little Miss and Mr. Magoo.

I own one cat spawned by the devil. Seriously. He’s as cute as they come but you’ve never met a meaner feline. In retrospect we should have named him, Lucifer. I have the scars to prove it.

I believe there’s no such thing as too much chocolate. Or popcorn. Or bread. Or potatoes. Yes, you guessed it…I’m a sugar and carb addict.

I hate running. Always have, always will. Unless David Gandy’s in the vicinity you won’t find me doing it. Ever. Not sure who David Gandy is and think you might want to become a Gandy Girl like me? Google him. You can thank me later.

I’m a LOVER of all music. The 1200+ songs on my IPod can attest to the variety of my musical tastes. Hubby and I try to travel to a different music festival every year and are regular concert goers.

My name is Elisabeth and I like reality TV. There I admitted it and that’s the first step, right? Yes, I’m a writer and I see the need for scripted shows, but sometimes there’s just something so entertaining about watching one Real Housewife lose it on another one. I could listen to Cochran’s diatribe on his fellow castaways for hours.

Of the four of us that make up my family, three of us are Leo’s. Let’s say it together…DRAMA!

I may be the world’s worst cook. My poor children. Unless Daddy’s cooking they know not to expect much.

I write every night after my kids are in bed until the wee hours of the morning. This wouldn’t be a problem except for the fact that I have always been an early-bird-catches-the-worm kind-of girl, so 5:00am comes early. Sleep is over-rated, I say.

If you are a lover of romance novels, steamy bedroom scenes and alpha males than you may enjoy my stories! 🙂

I LOVE talking with fellow readers about books! There’s nothing better than discovering your next favorite read because someone recommended it to you! If you’re the same I’d encourage you to reach out to me via one of my social media links so we can chat!

Happy Reading!

Best, El

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

If you’re US based and you want to receive a text message when Elisabeth has a new book go LIVE, text ROMANCE to 313131!

ARC Review: Secrets and Sins: Chayot: A Secrets and Sins Novel

Posted on 08/15/2014 by shellbellereads

Secrets and Sins

Chayot: A Secrets and Sins Novel

By Naima Simone

Synopsis:

A thrilling suspense from Entangled’s Ignite imprint…

Some sins refuse to let go.

Six months after concert pianist Aslyn Jericho survives an attack at the hands of an obsessed fan, she is still trying to resume a normal life, despite the paralyzing fears that have stolen her ability to play and perform. Enter her gorgeous and mysterious neighbor with news that threatens to send her spiraling back into her nightmares. Her stalker has returned. And he wants Aslyn.

Months after security specialist Chayot Gray’s darkest secret was exposed to the world, he’s struggling to cope with the fallout. Shame and guilt threaten to consume him, and he longs for the anonymous, numb existence he’s known for two decades. Then he discovers a masked figure lurking outside his neighbor’s home. The pain-filled shadows darkening Aslyn’s eyes call to him, and her loveliness stirs a desire he didn’t know existed. Now Chay must conquer his inner-demons in order to save her from a madman determined to finish the job he started…

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Kelley’s Review

This read gripped me from the very beginning. I actually dreamt about Chayot Grey.

Aslyn Jericho is an amazing concert pianist that has survivied a terrible attack by a stalker and is trying to recover while hidden away Massachusetts. When a mysterious man shows up lurking around the condo she is staying in, it shakes her to the core. Luckly for Aslyn Jericho her sexy neighbor is the one and only Chayot Grey owner of Liberty Security Services.

The sparks fly immediately between Chay and Aslyn. Aslyn has never felt that sizzle when being around a man before and Chay seems to get her panties drenched with just one look. Chay is seriously attracted to Aslyn. He is a big fan of her music but knows that he is not the committment type and he believes that is what Aslyn deserves.

However, when Aslyn’s life is put in danger, and Chay is the only one who can protect her, all bets are off and Chayot finds himself falling hard and fast, but will it be all for naught? When Aslyn finds out the secret that Chay has kept burried for all of these years will she find him revolting or return the love that he desperately deserves.

Naima did a great job with character development and the plot twists and turns kept flipping the pages. This book is sinfully sexy with the just the right amount of suspense to keep you on your toes.

Author Bio:

I was born the daughter of a sharecropper… Okay, maybe not. But I am the daughter of a pastor from whom I inherited my love of romance. The man can preach a mean Song of Solomon! (There’s that plug, Daddy! You can pay me later!)

Although my first book starred a cucumber named Fred, my first romance came several years later in the seventh grade, when I wrote myself as a heroine opposite Ralph Tresvant from New Edition. Through the power of my pen and imagination, Ralph took one look across a crowded stadium, met my dark, mysterious gaze, fell passionately in love, and serenaded me in front of millions of fans. Out of all the girls in the world, he chose me! And of course, we lived happily ever after–once we had the inevitable fight, aka black moment, and made up with a passionate declaration of love and fidelity. This same story reincarnated itself many times over the years: with Donnie Wahlberg from New Kids on the Block, Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington, and as recently as last night, Vin Diesel.

Though the characters have changed, my love of love has endured. Shaping the lives of unique men and women who experience the first hungry bites of lust, the dizzying heights of passion, and the tender, healing heat of love–nothing compares to it. Except maybe discovering new material for love scenes with my husband, the head of Research & Development!

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

ARC Review: Taking It All by Maya Banks- The Surrender Trilogy-Book 3

Posted on 08/15/2014 by shellbellereads

Taking It All

The Surrender Trilogy- Book 3

By Maya Banks

Synopsis

In her sensational Breathless Trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Maya Banks tested the boundaries of desire. In her new trilogy, there’s only one thing left to do: cross them. And for a married couple taking steps to renew their marriage, the consequences of one single moment of inattention may come at a price the husband never expects…

Chessy and Tate have been married for several years. In the beginning, their relationship was everything she wanted. Passionate. All-consuming. She offered her submission freely and Tate cherished her gift with a tenderness that made her feel safe. Content. Wanted. Loved beyond all measure. But as the years have gone by, Tate has become more immersed in making his business a success, and Chessy has taken a back seat to his business obligations. Growing unhappy with the status of their once blissful marriage, Chessy knows that something has to give, or they stand to lose it all.

Tate loves his wife. Has always loved her. Providing for her has always been his number-one priority. But lately she’s seemed unhappy, and he’s worried. Worried enough that he arranges for a night together that he hopes will reignite the fire that once burned like an inferno between them.

But a business call at the wrong time threatens everything. Chessy’s safety, his concentration, his wife’s faith in him as her husband—a man sworn to love and protect her above all else. Gutted with the realization that he’s going to lose her—has already lost her—he readies for the fight of his life. Whatever it takes, he’ll get her back, show her that nothing is more important than her love. And that if she’ll allow him to prove himself one more time, he’ll take it all. Everything. But he’ll give back far more: Himself. His undying love.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Kelley’s Review

3 Stars

I was really excited to get the opportunity to review this book. There had been so much chatter about this series and I was excited to see how this book stood up as a standalone read and as the last book in the series. I am a huge fan of Maya Banks and love the KGI Series as well as the Breathless Trilogy.

Tate and Chessy have basically fallen into a routine where they barely see each other anymore and the love and excitement of their marriage has all but withered and died. Tate is starting his own business and is putting all of his blood, sweat, tears, and time into it and has seriously neglected his husbandly duties. Chessy is a housewife who is miserable because her husband never comes home from work to time with her. She wants to start a family and feels very alone with Tate being constantly at work.

Unfortunately this book just did not do it for me. I felt like Tate and Chessy’s relationship was very immature. That may be because I read a lot of BDSM novels. I just really love the dominant and submissive relationship dynamic. The idea of a man truly loving and caring for a woman so much that he is in-tune with her every want, need, and desire is quite intriguing to me. Tate would have never fallen out of tune with Chessy for such a long period of time if they were in a true D/S relationship. She also would not go whining to her friends and their spouses about it without one of them saying something to Tate at least once in two years. Chessy finally lays it all on the line and tells him how she feels and he tries to plan an amazing weekend for them only to walk out during an extremely intimate moment to take a phone call. I so wanted to love this book and it just killed me to see a D/S scene get so completely out of control because of an event that would have never ever happened. How Chessy could ever find a way to forgive Tate after that was really inconceivable for me.

For those of you that have adored this series there is a happily ever after I assure you. You also get to see a happily ever after for Kylie and Jensen as well. Even though Taking It All was not my cup of tea, I still love Maya Banks and look forward to seeing what she has in store for us next.

Author Bio:
&nbsp:Maya Banks lives in Texas with her husband, three children and assortment of pets. When she’s not writing, she can be found hunting, fishing or playing poker.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Day Blitz + 6- Star Review + Giveaway: Captured by Jasinda and Jack Wilder

Posted on 08/12/2014 by shellbellereads

Captured

World of Wounded Novels

By Jasinda and Jack Wilder

Synopsis:

You go into combat, you fear death. It’s what keeps you careful, keeps you alive. I’ve faced death more times than I can count. I’ve taken bullets. I’ve taken lives.

But nothing can prepare me for the soul-crushing terror of being captured.

***

I married a Marine. I knew the risks. Every time my husband shipped out, I knew there was a chance he wouldn’t come back. But Thomas always did. Always. Then one day two officers in full dress uniform knocked on my door and shattered my world.

How do you keep going when you lose what made life worth living?

***This is a full length, stand-alone contemporary romance, set in the world of WOUNDED**

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

***6 STAR SALUTE ***

*** 2014 FAVORITE READ ***

*** Captured is a POWERFUL Book ***

Jack and Jasinda Wilder deserve a standing ovation for Captured ! It is a phenomenal reading experience!

Captured is one of those books that will engage all of your sensory factors, emotionally and physically. This book renders every emotion with a poignant, brutally honest insight into the human psyche. The explicit descriptions throughout the book will have the readers feeling the physical pain, the adrenaline highs and lows, the surreal feel of the environmental surroundings from the temperature to the geographical elements, the smells and tastes from those surroundings, and the pure physical joy of the ‘feel good’ moments.

Captured is written from duo POV’s throughout a three-year period. The reader experiences Derek West’s traumatic experience in the war arena and his re- introduction back into society. His journey will touch your soul.

From Reagan Barrett’s POV the readers will experience the emotional chaos that comes from loving a career Marine. They will see the strengths, weaknesses, and heartrending trials loved ones go through on the home front.

Derek and Reagan have traveled an emotionally tortuous road. Their journey is heartbreaking with a multitude of trials and tribulations. Along the journey they will discover the true meaning of love. Their final destination is one of peace and pure happiness.

Captured not only highlights the horrors of the war front, it also spotlights the pure joy of finding love. The sexual chemistry and romance between Derek and Reagan is smoldering.

From the war arena to the home front….one letter will touch the soul.

This one letter will

Give Hope
Give Peace In Death
Motivate one to Live
Bring the dawning of new life
Evoke guilt
Demonstrate the power of forgiveness
Bring people together to form a new family unit
Give second chances
Reconnect old friendships
Reaffirm Life

One letter will touch many lives.

The written word is powerful!

Captured showcases just how powerful the written word is!

Jack and Jasinda Wilder have Captured that power!

Kelley’s Review

Your heart, mind, body, and soul will be Captured…

Wow! What an amazing read. I could not put it down. Jasinda and Jack truely captured what life is like after love, loss, heartache, and pain. The lives that Marine Corps families live are not easy. Marines are deployed everyday and their wives do everything they can to show them the love and support they need, while keeping themselves so busy that they don’t have to think about the dangers their husbands are facing. I know what this feels like because I was the wife of a Marine and it is the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my entire life. He was deployed for 6-months while I went to school and worked three jobs to keep my mind off of what he was facing. The letters are the one thing that kept me going. I wrote to him every other day and when I would get a letter back it would be like time stood still and I would read those letters over and over again until the ink began to fade. Every night before I went to bed I read the letters and every morning when I woke up. I needed him with me and that is how I made it work. The letters in this story are heart-wrenching and full of love and devotion. Jasinda and Jack did their research and gave us something so beautiful, and so real that is brought tears to my eyes. It took me back 20 years ago when I was writing those letters. But, enough about me.

Reagan and Derek are two lonely souls that have been ravaged by war and loss. Both are dealing with shell shock. Reagan just can’t do it again. She can’t take the risk that her heart with be irrevocably broken and Derek is seriously wounded mentally after being a prisoner of war. He is skittish and easily startled. The journey to recovery for Derek is painful, emotionally and physically. His return to civilian life is toilsome as he has to conquer his demons everyday.

Reagan Barrett is tough. She is a widow and has been running her husband’s family farm on her own for the past ten years, all while being a single mom. She has the amazing support of her neighbors Hank and Ida who have become her extended family. Reagan has buried the idea that she will ever fall in love again.

When Derek West shows up on her doorstep all of the feelings she has buried start to come to life and Derek ignites a passion in her that she never knew existed. The chemistry between Derek and Reagan is off the charts, HOT.

Will these two broken souls be able to recover from all the wounds that war has inflicted upon them and find their happlily ever after? You will have to read Captured to find out.

Thank you Jasinda and Jack for a truly amazing story full of love, and loss and giving others a glimpse into the life of a Marine Corps family. Marines go in first and are the last to leave. They are tough and strong and their wives are amazing women who are selfless and give love easily to their husbands and others around them. Captured is a must read for anyone that wants to know what it is like to be a Marine Corps wife.

CAPTURED will show you:

Courage
Amazing Grace
Perseverance
Turmoil
Unity
Return
Everlasting Love
Determination

*** On a personal note, We want to thank the men and women of the Armed Forces for serving and protecting our nation. We would also like to thank their families and loved ones for enduring life on the home front while their loved ones selflessly serve and protect our country. You are all true heroes in every way.

Author Bio:

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

Jasinda and Jack have generously gifted our blog a signed copy of Captured to give away.

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ARC Review: Truly: The New York Series by Ruthie Knox- Book 1

Posted on 08/12/2014 by shellbellereads

Truly

The New York Series – Book 1

By Ruthie Knox

Synopsis

RITA finalist and New York Times bestselling author Ruthie Knox kicks off a steamy new series set in the city that never sleeps—alone, at least.

May Fredericks hates New York. Which is fair enough, since New York seems to hate her back. After relocating to Manhattan from the Midwest to be with her long-distance boyfriend, NFL quarterback Thor Einarsson, May receives the world’s worst marriage proposal, stabs the jerk with a shrimp fork, and storms off alone—only to get mugged. Now she’s got no phone, no cash, and no friends. How’s a nice girl supposed to get back to safe, sensible Wisconsin?

Frankly, Ben Hausman couldn’t care less. Sure, it’s not every day he meets a genuine, down-to-earth woman like May—especially in a dive in the Village—but he’s recovering from an ugly divorce that cost him his restaurant. He wants to be left alone to start over and become a better man. Then again, playing the white knight to May’s sexy damsel in distress would be an excellent place to start—if only he can give her one very good reason to love New York.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

Ruthie Knox is an incredible writer. She has the gift of making ordinary people larger than life. She adds a special blend of humor, creative dialogue, unique characters, and an interesting plot with it’s own magical flare. It is a pure joy to read her books.

I have been looking forward to the release of Truly after following Ruthie’s fascination with the naked beekeeper in New York City. Only Ruthie could find an unusual subject to mold her leading male character after.

Meet Ben Hausman, a cranky former chef. He’s a major egotistical chef that has a stick up his butt in the kitchen. Add a very bitter divorce that forces him to sell his restaurant and ties his hands to opening a new restaurant for a year; he’s beyond angry. He has tried cooking shows and reality t.v., but it is just not him. His life is a mess. He deliberately pushes people away. He has anger issues and is struggling to keep them in check.

After a friend calls him on his behavior he decides to conduct an experiment. The experiment is to be nice to a stranger.

May Fredericks has been having a very bad day. She is a small town girl from Wisconsin that finds herself stranded in New York City after she dumps her NFL boyfriend on live TV. After the live breakup, she is mugged. Finding herself with only her metro card and $5.00 in her pocket, she does what every smart girl would do. She decides to go to the bar, get a drink, and plan her return to Wisconsin. There she meets the cranky chef, Ben Hausman.

When Ben offers to help her out, show her the city, and offers her a place to stay.

There the magic begins. These two vastly different people will discover the magic of life, love, and happiness in a new way. They will make discoveries about themselves that will enlighten them both. They will console each other about their past failures, cheer each other on, and find their chemistry is much more than sexual.

I absolutely loved this book. The chemistry between this couple was hot! The wooing through culinary skills to beekeeping will dazzle the reader.

I highly recommend this book.

Author Bio:

New York Times bestselling author Ruthie Knox writes contemporary romance that’s sexy, witty, and angsty–sometimes all three at once. After training to be a British historian, she became an academic editor instead. Then she got really deeply into knitting, as one does, followed by motherhood and romance novel writing.

Her debut novel, Ride with Me, is probably the only existing cross-country bicycling love story. She followed it up with About Last Night, a London-set romance whose hero has the unlikely name of Neville, and then Room at the Inn, a Christmas novella–both of which were finalists for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award. Her four-book series about the Clark family of Camelot, Ohio, has won accolades for its fresh, funny portrayal of small-town Midwestern life. She also writes New Adult romance as Robin York.

Ruthie moonlights as a mother, Tweets incessantly, and bakes a mean focaccia.

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Category Archives: Reviewers

Review: Wicked Innocence by Missy Johnson

Review: Tell Me Something Good by Jamie Wesley

ARC Review: Dear Jon by Lori L. Otto- Choisie Series- Book 3

5-Star ARC Review: A View To A Thrill by Lexi Blake

Release Day Blitz + Review: Hard To Hold On To by Laura Kaye- Hard Ink Series-Book 2.5

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Did you have a favorite line? Thanks for reading!

Hard to Hold On To on Goodreads

Release Blitz: Indiscretion:Volume 2 by Elisabeth Grace- Indiscretion Serial

ARC Review: Secrets and Sins: Chayot: A Secrets and Sins Novel

ARC Review: Taking It All by Maya Banks- The Surrender Trilogy-Book 3

Release Day Blitz + 6- Star Review + Giveaway: Captured by Jasinda and Jack Wilder

ARC Review: Truly: The New York Series by Ruthie Knox- Book 1

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