Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: After The Game by Abbi Glines – The Field Party Series – Book 3

Posted on 08/22/2017 by shellbellereads

After The Game

Field Party Series – Book 3

Genre: Mature Young Adult

By Abbi Glines

Blurb

Two years ago, Riley Young fled from Lawton, Alabama. After accusing the oldest Lawton son, Rhett, of rape, everyone called her a liar and she had no option but to leave. Now she’s back, but she’s not at Lawton High finishing up her senior year. She’s at home raising the little girl that no one believed was Rhett’s.

Rhett is off at college living the life he was afraid he’d lose with Riley’s accusation, so Riley agrees to move back to Lawton so she and her parents could take care of her grandmother, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. But the town still hasn’t forgotten their hate for her, and she hasn’t forgotten the way they turned on her when she needed them most.

When town golden boy Brady Higgens finds Riley and her daughter, Bryony, stranded on the side of the road in a storm, he pulls over and gives them a ride. Not because he cares about Riley, of course, but because of the kid.

But after the simple car ride, he begins to question everything he thought he knew. Could Brady believe Riley and risk losing everything?

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Michel’s Review

After The Game is the third book in the Field Party Series by Abbi Glines. If you are a fan of high school football, small southern towns, and teenage angst, this is the perfect book to read. It reminds of the popular television series Friday Night Lights. This book can be read as a stand alone but I think it’s better in series order.

The town pariah, Riley Young, has returned home with her family. She came back a different girl than the one who fled in shame. She’s returned home a mother of an eighteen month old baby. She’s not happy with her return but her family needs her there to help take care of her grandmother who is suffering from Alzheimers. She can survive the hostility, nasty looks, and cold shoulders for her family. She’s not returning to the hostile school environment. That ended when she gave birth. She’s home schooled and the only thing that matters is her precious daughter. She has plans for her life and hopes for a better future with her daughter.

Getting caught in a rain storm once again changes her life in Lawton, Alabama. Brody Higgins, the town’s golden boy and star quarterback stops to give her a ride. Rather than make her daughter suffer, she accepts the ride. Thus begins an unlikely friendship. She never knew how lonely and isolated she was until Brody became determined to be her friend.

Brody Higgens regrets the way he treated Riley Young a few years ago. It’s looking like she was telling the truth all along and now she’s the one paying the price for a crime committed against her. He’s no longer a follower, he’s a leader. He’s going to change everyone’s perceptions of Riley. First he has to deal with the explosion in his personal life. He’s falling apart and he may need a friend more than Riley does.

Spending time with Riley is soothing and feels right. Putting his life back together seems easier with her in the picture. The question is will it still seem right when they embark on their future lives as adults rather than high school teenagers?

Abbi Glines once again captured the high school spirit and teenage angst . I loved every moment of this book.

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The Field Party Series

Until Friday Night

The Field Party Series – Book 1

Buy: Amazon

Blurb

To everyone who knows him, West Ashby has always been that guy: the cocky, popular, way-too-handsome-for-his-own-good football god who led Lawton High to the state championships. But while West may be Big Man on Campus on the outside, on the inside he’s battling the grief that comes with watching his father slowly die of cancer.

Two years ago, Maggie Carleton’s life fell apart when her father murdered her mother. And after she told the police what happened, she stopped speaking and hasn’t spoken since. Even the move to Lawton, Alabama, couldn’t draw Maggie back out. So she stayed quiet, keeping her sorrow and her fractured heart hidden away.

As West’s pain becomes too much to handle, he knows he needs to talk to someone about his father—so in the dark shadows of a post-game party, he opens up to the one girl who he knows won’t tell anyone else.

West expected that talking about his dad would bring some relief, or at least a flood of emotions he couldn’t control. But he never expected the quiet new girl to reply, to reveal a pain even deeper than his own—or for them to form a connection so strong that he couldn’t ever let her go…

***

Under The Lights

The Field Party Series – Book 2

Buy: Amazon

Blurb

Willa can’t erase the bad decisions of her past that led her down the path she’s on now. But she can fight for forgiveness from her family. And she can protect herself by refusing to let anyone else get close to her.

High school quarterback and town golden boy Brady used to be the best of friends with Willa—she even had a crush on him when they were kids. But that’s all changed now: her life choices have made her a different person from the girl he used to know.

Gunner used to be friends with Willa and Brady, too. He too is larger than life and a high school football star—not to mention that his family basically owns the town of Lawton. He loves his life, and doesn’t care about anyone except himself. But Willa is the exception—and he understands the girl she’s become in a way no one else can.

As secrets come to light and hearts are broken, these former childhood friends must face the truth about growing up and falling in love…even if it means losing each other forever.

_____________________________________________

Abbi Glines is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Rosemary Beach, Sea Breeze, Vincent Boys, Field Party and Existence series. She never cooks unless baking during the Christmas holiday counts. She believes in ghosts and has a habit of asking people if their house is haunted before she goes in it. She drinks afternoon tea because she wants to be British but alas she was born in Alabama. When asked how many books she has written she has to stop and count on her fingers. When she’s not locked away writing, she is reading, shopping (major shoe and purse addiction), sneaking off to the movies alone, and listening to the drama in her teenagers lives while making mental notes on the good stuff to use later. Don’t judge.

You can connect with Abbi online in several different ways. She uses social media to procrastinate.

Release Blitz + Excerpt + Review + Giveaway: Chasing A Legend – Kavanaugh Legend Series – Book 4

Posted on 08/22/2017 by shellbellereads

**Today we have the release day blitz of Chasing a Legend by Sarah Robinson! Check out the release day festivities and grab your copy today!!**

Title: Chasing a Legend

Author: Sarah Robinson

Genre: August 22^nd

About Chasing a Legend:

The most soulful Kavanagh brother tackles the challenge of a lifetime—with a little help from the girl of his dreams.

“Fans of Lori Foster’s SBC Fighters series will love the MMA atmosphere of [Sarah] Robinson’s Legends.”—Library Journal

A topnotch manager and agent, Quinn Kavanagh pictures a life outside of his family’s renowned MMA gym. Beneath his sleek exterior, Quinn has a secret passion for sculpting. But after a nearly fatal motorcycle accident, he’s struggling just to walk again, let alone get back to the studio—and it doesn’t help that the doctor in charge of his physical therapy is his childhood crush. Quinn’s always ready for a fight, but the bittersweet sting of unrequited love has him begging for mercy.

Dr. Kiera Finley is determined to make her medical residency a success. Six years ago, she gave in and shared a single passionate night with Quinn. Now she’s just hoping the cocky lover from her past doesn’t derail her plans for the future. Little by little, though, Kiera gets to know another side of Quinn. She knew he was a family man, devoted to his parents and brothers, but he’s also a free spirit trapped in a cage—and only she has the key. To heal both Quinn’s body and soul, Kiera’s tempted to give him a special kind of medicine.

Get Your Copy Today!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Books a Million | Google Play | Penguin Random House

Read the Free Short Story Set Between Becoming a Legend and Chasing a Legend!

Catch up on the Series Today:

BREAKING A LEGEND:

Amazon | Audio | Other Retailers

SAVING A LEGEND:

Amazon | Audio | Other Retailers

BECOMING A LEGEND:

Amazon | Audio | Other Retailers

Advance Praise:

“Robinson concludes her Kavanagh Legends contemporary quartet (after Becoming a Legend) with a perfect blend of smoldering heat and gentle tenderness. After an accident, mixed martial arts fighter Quinn Kavanagh is placed under the care of physical therapist Keira Finley, his first and only love. She has no idea that she broke his heart when she left for college six years earlier. They’d been best friends since they were kids and never experienced life without each other’s unwavering support, but when Quinn didn’t ask her to stay, Keira needed to prove to herself that she could make it on her own. Quinn’s emotional scars run a lot deeper than the physical ones. He’s afraid to open himself up to Keira again, but with the encouragement of his boisterous, fun-loving family, he learns to give to himself as freely as he’s always given to others. This endearing story showcases Keira and Quinn’s easy banter, familiar warmth, and unquenchable heat. Quinn is the last Kavanagh brother to meet his mate, but subtle mentions of potential future love matches among their friends will leave readers eager for spin-offs.” – Publisher’s Weekly

Exclusive Excerpt:

“I’m leaving Legends now. My bags are packed, so be ready to go as soon as I get there,” Quinn said into the phone, his thick arm flexing as he twisted it to look at his watch.
“UK, here we come!” his older brother Kane shouted through the line. Quinn could practically see him fist-pumping the air. “You’re the best manager ever, Q!”
“Better believe it, Killer.” Quinn laughed before disconnecting the call and pushing his phone into a small interior pocket of the leather jacket that fit snugly over his chiseled back and broad shoulders.
Straddling his prized possession, a classic Ducati he’d kept in pristine condition for years, Quinn pulled on his helmet and gloves. His shaggy black hair peeked out from under the edges of the helmet, framing his face. Though covered in leather, glimpses of his love of ink showed on his neck and hands. What could not be seen was how the tattoos continued onto his chest and back as well. He loved the images, and each one had a special meaning to him—a falcon across his chest in midflight to symbolize his yearning for freedom, a dragon wrapping his arm to mark the fire in his blood, the Kavanagh family crest and motto in Gaelic on his back to represent family pride, along with phrases and names of people and moments that had made him who he was.
But the small metal bar through his eyebrow, or the piercings in his ear? Those were just for fun.
The motorcycle roared to life beneath him, easily heard from blocks away, as he pulled out onto the main street and headed for his parents’ house to meet his brother. He might not live there any longer, but he’d grown up in that house, and it would always feel like home. The whole neighborhood was his home; he knew everyone there, and everyone knew the Kavanaghs—for better or worse.
Quinn rode past the quaint houses in the Woodlawn area of the Bronx, going through a mental checklist of everything he needed to do before Kane competed next week. The International MMA Championship, held in London this year, was the biggest mixed martial arts competition in the world. Kane had won that championship the last two years, giving him the title of World’s Greatest MMA Fighter. Kane planned to win a third time next week and Quinn was eager to stand by his side when he did.
It’d been three short years since his brother had been thrust into the public spotlight after winning his first U.S. National Championship in Vegas. Quinn beamed proudly at the memory. Even though he wasn’t the one in the cage, he still felt a part of his brother’s success, having managed his entire career from the beginning. Kane’s win was Quinn’s win. It was a win for all the Kavanaghs—something they each really needed after everything the family had been through.
As he approached his parents’ street, he signaled with both his right hand and turn signal that he was switching lanes. A large truck whistled past, completely ignoring his signal. Quinn yanked the bike to the left, narrowly escaping a collision as his heart leapt into his throat.
Asshole.
Taking a deep breath to calm the adrenaline shooting through his body at the close call, Quinn carefully looked around, and once he’d confirmed that the right lane was clear, he again signaled his intentions. Sliding the bike into the right lane, he accelerated, eager to get to his childhood home.
That was his last thought before it happened.
His family.
How happy he was.
How much he loved his life.
A silver sedan parallel-parked against the curb nosed out into the right lane, directly in front of Quinn’s bike. His eyes widened as the air left his lungs, and he attempted to swerve around the sudden obstacle.
But there was no time. There was no space.
The front wheel of his bike slammed into the front wheel well of the sedan, and Quinn was weightless. He barely had a moment to blink before he was twisting through the air—over the handlebars, over his bike, over the sedan.
He heard the impact before he felt it.
His body skidding over the unforgiving pavement as wind rushed past him—a crunching, tumbling screech. Car horns firing, people screaming—or was he screaming? The echoes inside his helmet both muted and deafened.
But then he felt it, and it was fucking hell.
The crack of bones, a searing pain shooting through him. Every nerve ending in his body set on fire at the force of impact, consuming him till he was certain he couldn’t stand another second of it. Sliding across the pavement, his skin burned against the grating asphalt, his leather gear no match for the unforgiving surface.
And then it was quiet.
So fucking quiet as he stared up at the sun and waited . . . for what, he didn’t know.
He wasn’t connected to his body, but somehow trapped inside it. Quinn tried to call for help, tried to get up, but his lungs and limbs ignored his commands.
Just as his eyes began to flutter closed, the pain overtaking him, pushing him beyond what he could ever handle . . . he saw her. Her strawberry-blond hair falling down past her soft pink cheeks, the sun creating a halo behind her. Her fingertips grazed his face, and she whispered to him so softly he barely made out what she said. Light blue eyes, nearly translucent in their brightness, told him to just hold on . . . don’t let go . . . don’t give up.
And then she was gone.
And so was he.

___________________________________

Michel’s Review

I can’t tell you how excited I was anticipating Chasing A Legend by Sarah Robinson. The Kavanaugh Legend Series has become one of my favorite family series. I love the family dynamics of the Kavanaugh family and how they stick together through thick and thin. Chasing A Legend is Quinn Kavanaugh’s book and it was quite unexpected.

My impressions of Quinn Kavanaugh were quite different than what was revealed in this novel. I believed he was the tattooed bad boy of the family who chose not to become a fighter because he was a bit defiant of the family reputation. He chose the business aspect of the fighting world so that he could have an independent life away from the family. In a sense this was true but he wasn’t being defiant and he wasn’t quite the bad boy. He was just himself and didn’t believe he fit in the family dynamics because he had other passions in life away from the ring. When a severe motorcycle accident takes him away from the fighting world and makes him more dependent on his family is when the true Quinn Kavanaugh begins to surface. I fell head over heels in love with this sensitive man who had a hidden passion.

Quinn Kavanaugh has been in love with the Kiera Finley since he was a six year old boy. At twenty one she rejected his love and moved onto better things. She left his bed and life long friendship to pursue her dreams of becoming something more than her mother ever was. She became a doctor and now she has returned home to do her residency. Her first patient is Quinn Kavanaugh. Quinn is not the same friend she left behind nor is he open to renewing their friendship. It hurts and she doesn’t understand his rejection.

As Quinn and Kiera work towards his rehabilitation, the passion between them sparks but Quinn is holding back. Quinn is protecting his heart and hiding his secrets.

Kiera is not only going to have to win back his trust, she is going to have to get to know the dynamic man he has become. His family is also going to meet a very different Quinn when all his secrets come to light.

Be prepared for an emotional novel and make sure you have a box of tissues close by. Chapter eight is going to pull the heartstrings hard.

What I liked best about this novel was not the love story but the Kavanaugh family dynamics. The Kavanaugh’s stick together through thick and thin. They pulled through for Quinn in a spectacular way.

Two more Kavanaugh siblings are left and screaming for their stories to be told. I can’t wait!

__________________________________

About the Author:

Aside from being a Top 10 Barnes & Noble and Amazon Bestseller, Sarah Robinson is a native of the Washington, DC area and has both her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in forensic and clinical psychology. She is newly married to a wonderful man who is just as much of an animal rescue enthusiasts as she is. Together, they own a zoo of rescues including everything from mammals to reptiles to marsupials, as well as volunteering and fostering for multiple animal shelters. Subscribe to her newsletter at http://www.subscribepage.com/sarahrobinsonnewsletter Visit the author’s website for more information about Sarah and her books: http://booksbysarahrobinson.net/

Connect with Sarah:

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |

Enter Sarah’s Giveaway:

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Crazy Love by Jane Harvey-Berrick – A New Adult Boxed Set

Posted on 08/21/2017 by shellbellereads

Crazy Love

By Jane Harvey-Berrick

Release Date: August 21, 2017

A New Adult Bundle Boxed Set… Includes…

*** Dazzled ***

*** Summer of Seventeen ***

*** Playing In The Rain ***

Buy : Amazon

Three stories of love and longing for New Adult readers by bestselling romance author Jane Harvey-Berrick
♥ ♥ ♥DAZZLED
Miles Stephens is a young actor from London. Out of work, unemployable, and fired from his last job, he unexpectedly gets the chance to star in a big-time Hollywood movie.The film is a great success, propelling him to worldwide fame – but when the dream doesn’t match the reality, he turns to Clare, lifelong friend and girl next door.Clare knows two important facts: when you break chocolate, the calories fall out; and that she’s totally in love with clueless Miles.PLAYING IN THE RAIN – A NOVELLA
Ava Lawton can’t believe her run of bad luck. It’s supposed to be an exciting time in her life: fresh out of college, living in a new state, with a new job, and away from her family at last.
But when she’s forced to quit her job, everything falls apart quickly. Suddenly, she’s alone in a crowd, with no one to turn to.
At her lowest point, a stranger gives her a message that brings her hope.
Now is the time to live life her own way.
Now is the time to choose to be happy.
And maybe it’s time to let a beautiful stranger be part of her life.
Can summer love last a lifetime?Listed in Huffington Post’s Best Ugly Cry readsSUMMER OF SEVENTEEN
It was supposed to be the endless summer of sand, sea, and surf. Supposed to be. But, Nick’s life is crashing out of control. His girlfriend and his best friend have declared war, his sister’s constant interference in his life is driving him insane, and there are money problems that won’t go away. Being seventeen isn’t supposed to be this hard.

When cool surfer Marcus arrives in town with a string of women following, Nick sees that there are easier ways to live. But with his life falling to pieces around him, it’s hard to know who to trust.

As the scorching heat of summer grows, events begin to unravel, reaching a shattering conclusion—and a summer he’ll never forget.

****

______________________________________

Dazzled by Jane Harvey- Berrick is a charming friends to lovers and Hollywood romance. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was not the standard Hollywood type romance because this book starts at the beginning of stardom and how difficult the climb to the top is.

Miles and Clare have been friends all of their lives. They are completely different types of personalities. The yin and yang to one another. When Miles has a downfall in the London Theater scene it looks like his acting career is at an end. As the old saying goes, when one door closes another one opens, applies to Miles acting career. He is offered to read for a part in an upcoming Hollywood teen movie.

Miles lands the part and has to leave London and Clare behind. He’s sucked into the Hollywood world and is trying not to drown in a world of sharks. When he brings Clare across the pond to help him maneuver his way in the new world, the dynamics of their relationship begins to change. When Miles finally opens his eyes and sees Clare as a woman rather than his best bud, it may be too late.

Clare has finally taken her blinders off where Miles is concerned. Going to Hollywood as his assistant was a huge mistake. It’s not her world. Miles is no longer her Miles. She has finally realized it’s time to wrap it up and head back to London to build her own life.

It takes a huge Hollywood scandal and two meddling mothers to bring these two back where they belong.

I thoroughly enjoyed Dazzled. It was a fun, witty, and sexy Hollywood romance. I loved the English charm and dry humor that was prevalent throughout the book.

Jane Harvey-Berrick always delivers a good romance book.

Although Playing In The Rain by Jane Harvey-Berrick is considered a novella, the content and emotional renderings pack more of a punch than most full length novels. Grab a bottle of wine, a big box of chocolate, and a super size box of tissues before opening this novel. Be ready to be wrecked in the best possible way.

I was instantly charmed when I first started reading this book until the bucket list came out. My alarm bells started going off but as the story progressed I was deluding myself I was under the wrong impression, I grossly misconceived the reasoning. It was the perfect love story with beautiful moments in spite of the outcome. It was a happily ever after story in every aspect. The message was quite clear… live life to the fullest and love with everything you have.

Jane Harvey-Berrick wrecked me in the best possible way and I will never forget Playing In The Rain.

Summer of Seventeen by Jane Harvey-Berrick is my favorite novel in the Crazy Love Anthology. I connected with this novel because I am a native of coastal Florida and spent my teenage years exactly like Nick and his friends did. The ocean was our playground and life revolved around the beach. Another reason I connected with this novel is because I am the mother of a seventeen year old young man embarking on his senior year of high school and becoming an adult man.

Jane Harvey-Berrick captured the pure essence of a teenage boy struggling to become an independent man. She captured the turmoil of teenager vs. adulthood, the hardship of becoming a responsible individual rather than a carefree kid, finding one’s place in the family structure as an adult rather than a child, the disappointment of realizing role models may not be what they were perceived to be, and lastly the realities of life in every aspect.

I loved how Nick had to overcome personal and financial obstacles but stayed true to himself. He strived to become better even though his choices weren’t always the right ones. That’s what growing up was about and Jane Harvey-Berrick captured that summer that led Nick on a new journey.

I absolutely loved this story and gave my seventeen year old son an extra hug because this story reminded me how difficult growing up can be no matter what the circumstance in life is.

Jane is a writer of contemporary romance fiction, known for thoughtful stories, often touching on difficult subjects: disability (DANGEROUS TO KNOW & LOVE, SLAVE TO THE RHYTHM); mental illness (THE EDUCATION OF CAROLINE, SEMPER FI); life after prison (LIFERS); dyslexia (THE TRAVELING MAN, THE TRAVELING WOMAN).

She is also a campaigner for former military personnel to receive the support they need on leaving the services. She wrote the well-received play LATER, AFTER with former veteran Mike Speirs. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk1CyB8c0xA )

Author Links

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Drunk Dial by Penelope Ward

Posted on 08/21/2017 by shellbellereads

Drunk Dial

By Penelope Ward

Release Date: August 21, 2017

Buy: Amazon / B & N / IBooks / Kobo / Audio / Paperback

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward, comes a new, sexy standalone novel.

It seemed like a good idea at the time. Look up Landon Roderick, that boy from childhood whom I’d never been able to forget—even though he so easily forgot about me—and call him.

Then again, anything sounds like a good idea when you’ve had a little too much wine before bed, right? It was supposed to be just a quick, meaningless, prank call. Instead, I went off on him—unloading thirteen years of pent-up emotions.

I didn’t think he’d call me back.

I certainly could never have anticipated the weeks of sexually tense phone conversations that followed as I got to know the man he’d become.

Turned out, Landon had never really forgotten me, either. That special connection we had was still there. I opened up to him, but there were also things about me he didn’t know. And he had his own secrets.

Over the countless hours we talked on the phone, I wondered what would happen if we actually saw each other. One night, I did something impulsive again. Only this time, I went to the airport and booked a ticket to California. We were about to find out if one phone call could bring two lost souls together or if my drunk dial really was all just a big mistake.

A complete STANDALONE.

Excerpt

By Penelope Ward

After that evening, I hadn’t heard back from him for a few days.

Then, one night, a text came in from the same phone number I recognized as Landon’s. It was the first time he’d texted me.

I looked down to find he’d sent a photo.

I gasped.

It was a heavily tatted man set against the backdrop of the ocean at sunset. Oh, my. It was him—a selfie.

Fuck. Me. He was beautiful.

I wouldn’t have even known it was Landon were it not for the blue eyes I recognized instantly. The shaggy, caramel hair I remembered from the past was now a darker shade of brown and shorter, cropped closer to his head. His arms and his chest were inked, his body so perfect that if I squinted, it almost resembled carved stone.

I couldn’t stop looking at him. My eyes wanted nothing more than to explore the ridges and valleys of his stunning body.

Was this a cruel joke?

This was not Landon!

But, it was.

With my thumb and middle finger, I kept zooming in and out, examining the details of the ink across his chest and on his arms. There was really nothing sexier than a guy with perfect arms and a full sleeve tattoo.

Even though his lips seemed fuller than I recalled, they still curved into a familiar grin that oozed confidence. The eyes and that smile were the only traces of the boy I remembered. I wished I could’ve leapt through the screen to smell him, touch him.

“Hi, Landon,” I whispered, for a brief moment talking to the boy inside, not the man in front of me.

This Landon was the polar opposite of the Ivy League yuppie image previously in my head. The only thing the man pictured might have majored in was badassery. He looked like a rockstar, a rule breaker, displaying a sense of arousing danger—someone who must have had women from all walks of life drooling over him for the sheer fact that either they couldn’t have him or shouldn’t have him. It suddenly became clear why, as he’d alluded to, a woman might have been begging him for sex. That made me wonder if he had any secret tattoos in spots I wasn’t allowed to see.

God.

A fire was burning inside of me, and I knew it was my crush exploding into a full-blown obsession.

A self-conscious feeling came over me. If I was scared to show him a picture of myself before, now I was really hesitant.

The message that went along with the photo simply read:

Now show me you.

_________________________________________

Michel’s Review

Expect the unexpected in Drunk Dial by Penelope Ward. It’s not the usual second chance romance or a friends to lovers romance. It’s a story of self redemption and forgiveness that finds itself in the middle of a love story.

Rana Banana Saloomi has a moment of drunken inspiration or should I say insanity and drunk dials a childhood friend who meant the world to her when her world was anything from perfect. She hung onto those wonderful childhood moments, as well as all the hurt that came along with it. She’s harbored some resentments and misconceptions of the truth and in a drunken moment she decides to confront her past. What started as a drunken conversation with her childhood friend, Landon Roderick, quickly escalates into a meaningful long distance friendship/ possible romance. Those late night conversations and little confessions are something all together different when they finally meet face to face after thirteen years.

Growing up has been a painful experience for them both in very different ways. Both are carrying scars and harboring secrets that could crush their budding adult relationship. They are both holding back because they are fearful of facing the realities of their past lives. They are fearful of losing each other. The one thing neither of them realized is the friendship they formed as kids was strong enough to withstand them as adults. After all they are still the same people … just a little altered and scarred from life.

I won’t say more because of spoilers but I will say Penelope Ward once again delivered an unforgettable romance that touches the heart in so many ways. Drunk Dial is more than a phone call that went out of control, it’s Rana and Landon’s chance to become complete and comfortable with the life they are living now.

I absolutely loved this book!

____________________________________________

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling author of thirteen novels. With over a million books sold, her titles have placed on the New York Times Bestseller list sixteen times. She is the proud mother of a beautiful 12-year-old girl with autism (the inspiration for the character Callie in Gemini) and a 10-year-old boy. Penelope, her husband, and kids reside in Rhode Island.

Connect with Penelope Ward

Facebook Fan Group | Facebook | Website |Twitter | Instagram

*****

Additional Books by Penelope Ward

Mack Daddy

Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo

Neighbor Dearest

Amazon / Amazon UK / B & N / IBooks / Kobo

Roomhate

Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Sevin

Amazon / Amazon UK / ITunes / B & N / Kobo/

Stepbrother Dearest

Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

My Skylar

Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Gemini

Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Jake Undone

Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Jake Understood

Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

*****

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Mercy by Debra Anastasia

Posted on 08/21/2017 by shellbellereads

Title: Mercy

Author: Debra Anastasia

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: August 21, 2017

Blurb

He taught me to kill. Murder is in my blood now. It runs
through my veins and though I hide the monster I see in the mirror with ink, it
doesn’t keep him from coming out.

My street name is Mercy, but I never show any. Except
for her. I watch Becca, though she doesn’t know. She saved
me a long time ago; the day my father killed my mother. Her bravery turned her
into a target.

My father holds a grudge and knife with the same
proficiency, and Becca is the focus of his hatred. And I’m the only monster who
can save her.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Purchase Links

$2.99 for a limited time

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

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Trailer

Michel’s Review

It doesn’t matter if you are a long time fan of Debra Anastasia or new to her novels, read her author bio first. The first sentence of her bio states she writes from her heart, her soul, or her butt. The genres she dabbles in are examples of that. This bio clearly illustrates who Debra Anastasia is. She is an author who follows her heart, explores new venues, and never writes the same kind of novel. She’s known for her originality, humor, emotional renderings, and compassionate humanity. Each novel stands on it’s own merit and cannot be compared to her previous novels. Her writing voice changes with each novel like her storylines and characters. The only thing her novels have in common is excellent writing, creative storytelling that is compassionate and showcases matters of the heart. She taps into the basic values on which humanity thrives and lets those values explode within the pages. This makes her characters within each story become extraordinary. It doesn’t matter if they are a homeless man, an avenger mommy, a late night show host, a heavenly angel, a heroic ghost, or a criminal, they all have one thing in common, they are beautifully imperfect beings striving to become a better version of themselves. They love with true hearts but also make mistakes along the way which makes them endearing to the readers hearts.

Mercy by Debra Anastasia is unlike any other novel I have read. Mercy is a damaged soul who is in a sense a very unbalanced individual. His concepts of right and wrong are molded from his childhood experiences. Those horrific experiences have left him seriously twisted and flawed but at the same time naïve and vulnerable. A simple act of kindness, a childhood incident that went from good to bad within moments has left a lasting lifetime impression. Everything he has done in his life evolved from that one moment in time. He molded himself into a terror to protect an innocent girl from his father. He knew his father would seek revenge and he’s ready to deliver his own brand of justice. He’s been watching Rebecca Stiles all his life. He has loved her since the moment she stood up to his father. He will make sure his father never darkens her beautiful soul. He is Mercy and he’s not going to show any to his enemies.

OMG… I can’t even begin to say anything more about this exceptional novel except be ready to ride an emotional rollercoaster that has a whole lot of crazy and a whole lot of pure sanity in an obscure way. Not only is this an intense novel loaded with emotions, it is also a thriller that will keep the reader on the edge of their seats.

I cannot praise Debra Anastasia enough with her delivery of this novel. It is a unique love story that touches the heart in many ways!

Author Bio

Debra Anastasia likes to write from her heart, her soul or
her butt. The genres she dabbles in are examples of that. There are two
paranormal romances in the Seraphim Series and now four contemporary romances
in the Poughkeepsie Brotherhood Series and a stand alone in the same genre,
Mercy. Fire Down Below and Fire in the Hole, Booty Camp Dating Service and
Beast complete her comedy repertoire. The Revenger, a dark paranormal romance,
is finally in the light, and the last, a novella called Late Night with Andres,
is special because 100% of the proceeds go to breast cancer research.

Debra lives in Maryland with her two kids, husband of twenty
years and two dogs. The king of the house is clearly the tuxedo cat that is the
size of a small donkey. Find about her latest adventures on DebraAnastasia.com

Author Links

WEBSITE

TWITTER

FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM

AMAZON

GOODREADS

Release Boost + 5 Star Review: Crave Part One by E. K. Blair – The Crave Duet – Book 1

Posted on 08/18/2017 by shellbellereads

Title: Crave: Part One
Series: Crave Duet #1

Author: E.K. Blair

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Release Date: August 14, 2017

***

Blurb

***

Kason and Adaline.

From the moment
they met, they started to fall. Neither of them predicted just how far the drop
would be, though.

Loving Adaline was
all Kason had ever wanted to do. But layer by layer, he started to unravel,
forcing Adaline to face an addiction she never could’ve imagined.

This is what
happens when one person loves beyond the craving and the other craves beyond
the loving.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

Michel’s Review

***

Spoiler Free Review

***

I have been a huge fan of E.K. Blair’s novels since the beginning when she released the Fading Series in 2013. Her novels range from angsty new adult novels which consist of emotional subject matter to dark twisted romance loaded with suspense, intrigue, and dark subject matters. No matter what genre or subject matter she chooses, her gift of story telling shines brightly and keeps her readers glued to the pages. The one thing all of her novels have in common is to expect the unexpected.

***

As I began reading Crave- Part One it became clear that this book was not what I was expecting. In fact it begins as a Mature Young Adult novel touching upon subject matter that is very rarely written in any romance novel let alone in the Mature Young Adult / New Adult genres. How she handled the subject matter impressed me because it was delivered without the usual preconceived notions or any form of judgement. She clearly gave her readers an honest view of how this type of addiction affects a person physically and emotionally, She also gives the reader the perspective from the other side, from the person closest to them and how they deal with someone affected by this problem.

***

The pleasant surprise is that it is not all there is to this story. Crave Part One is a beautiful love story filled with those special wonders of first love. From the insecurities to the consuming passion, she reminds readers how wonderful first love is. She captured the true teenage spirit, with all the inexperience of mature relationships to the naivety that love can fix it all. It’s something none of us ever forget and will always cherish.

***

Once again that is not all there is to the story but rather a fragment of it. Crave- Part One is the first part of a duet and is going to span the college years and adult years. It’s only the beginning.

***

I fell in love with Kason and Adeline. They were both bright young people with good heads on their shoulders. They both were surviving the lives they were born into and suffered from some form of parental neglect. Although their lives were vastly different and their reactions were different, they found a common ground that brought them together. Adeline was lucky because she had one supportive parent that was a positive influence on them both. Aside from their homelife, they built a solid, normal teenage relationship that was pretty healthy until it wasn’t. Where these two wonderful kids go from here is the beginning of their life journey that tests their inner strengths and need to hang onto each other no matter what. Their stormy journey is just beginning. Their lives are just beginning to shatter. Their hearts are going to be shredded into a billion pieces. I have complete faith in E.K. Blair, I know she will rebuild these two into strong adults with hearts made of steel but full of love.

***

This title is so appropriate for this duet. The moment a reader begins the first book they will CRAVE more. I can’t wait for Crave- Part 2 to release in October.

__________________________________

Coming Soon

Crave: Part Two releases October 16

***

Blurb

***

Weeks became months, and months became years. Each day, nudged Kason deeper into his addiction. Each memory of the girl destroyed fed the craving for what he could never have again.

Leaving a life-altering first love behind, Adaline tried moving forward to find love and trust and happiness. Pain eventually faded, wounds slowly healed, yet scars were forever left behind.

But some scars feel like kisses.

When the shattered pieces of their hearts are forced to meet again, the two of them must decide how much pain their love is worth enduring.

This is what happens when one person loves beyond the craving and the other craves beyond the loving.

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

______________________________________________

Author Bio

E.K. Blair,
takes her readers on an emotional roller coaster with her dynamic and intense
writing style. Noted for her ability to create fleshed-out characters that will
evoke a realm of reactions, you can be assured that her stories will linger
with you far beyond the last word.

A former first grade
teacher with an imagination that runs wild. Daydreaming and zoning out is
how she was often found in high school. Blair tends to drift towards everything
dark and moody. Give her a character and she will take pleasure in breaking
them down, digging into their core to find what lies underneath.

Aside from writing,
E.K. Blair finds pleasure in music, drinking her Starbucks in peace, and
spending time with her friends. She’s a thinker, an artist, a wife, a mom, and
everything in between.

Author Links

WEBSITE
FACEBOOK

TWITTER
INSTAGRAM
BOOKBUB

Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: Crazy Girl by B N Toler

Posted on 08/16/2017 by shellbellereads

Crazy Girl

By B N Toler

Buy: Amazon / Amazon UK / B & N / ITunes / Kobo / Smashwords

BLURB

Romance author Hannah Bircham had made it. She was living the dream; a successful writing career, a loving husband, and dream home. Life couldn’t get better.
But it could get worse.
And it did.
The dream ended. And life as she knew it took a turn into Destitute City, party of one. Divorced, lost, and worst of all, a neurotic anxiety-ridden mess, Hannah’s focus and admirations disappeared. Feeling down on her luck, Hannah lost her mojo, her gift of writing.
How did one write about love when they’d stopped believing in it?
Hannah could either make up the perfect muse, or make it her mission to meet him. She just needed a little push. With encouragement from her best friend, Hannah decided to join a dating app, convinced she wouldn’t find Mr. Forever, but maybe, at the very least, she’d find her inspiration.
A muse.
Enter Wren Marner.
The complicated, sexy alpha veteran with his trunk of accomplishments and adventures walked, talked, and looked as if he’d just stepped out of a sultry romance novel. He was every woman’s fantasy and at the same time, the man one knew they should stay away from.
Filled with equal parts fear and fascination, Hannah threw caution to the wind, but what she experienced terrified her like never before.
Still, she forged forward.
But with all the wonder of Wren also came a reality Hannah didn’t know how to handle. She told herself he was merely work, but the truth was she was falling for him. And that couldn’t happen. But walking away from him wasn’t possible either, when he was her muse.
With her future on the line, she had to decide: As she entered the next chapter in her life, did she delve deeper with Wren in hopes of saving her career, or run in hopes of saving her heart?

EXCERPT

Sipping my coffee, I grinned as Wren and Kegs debated about which female superhero would win if they faced off, She-Ra or Wonder Woman. They seemed to like the same kind of things, but not when it came down to the specifics.
“Wonder Woman can fly,” Kegs argued.
“She-Ra has the sword of protection and He-Man is her brother.” Wren shook his head, his face twisted as he raised a hand in confusion—like how could Kegs not see how obvious it was? “Dude, it’s a no-brainer,” he added.
Kegs scoffed, making me chuckle. They were really into this debate. Raising his hand, Kegs began ticking off a list of Wonder Woman’s advantages, “Bro, Wonder Woman is skilled in hand-to-hand combat, she has longevity, and super-human strength.” He flopped back in his seat as if he’d just put the whole thing to rest, but then popped back up, widening his eyes. “The lasso of truth, dude. Boom!” He laughed and pretended like he was dropping a mic on the ground. Wren chuckled as he stared down at his phone, his thumb moving over the screen appearing to be texting. Dropping his phone in his lap, he turned his head and looked at Kegs who was grinning, waiting for Wren to admit defeat.
“She-Ra was the alter ego of Princess Adora, which means she had multiple personalities, which means she was crazy,” Wren pointed out with an air of profoundness. “Crazy is a superpower.” Kegs laughed as Wren cut his gaze to me, a smirk on his face. I glared at him, pretending to be insulted by his comment since he constantly told me I was crazy, even though I thought he was somewhat amusing.
“You have a point, man,” Kegs agreed. I rolled my eyes. Men.
I opened my mouth to say something snarky when my phone vibrated. Taking it out, I was surprised to see I had a text from Wren.
Wren: You look gorgeous today.

I couldn’t stop the grin that exploded across my face after reading it. Ugh, what was wrong with me? I was such a girl. I was being one of those women…the ones that acted like little school girls when a boy said something nice to them. Tucking my phone back in my purse, I glanced up at him, the same dumb grin still on my face because it just wouldn’t go away, no matter how hard I tried to make it.
His gaze was fixed on mine. I rolled my eyes at him. Eye rolling was my forte.
He tilted his head, smirking. Don’t roll your eyes at me, woman.
I bit my lip, trying to stop myself from laughing. I shimmied my head in a talk-to-the-hand way. Don’t tell me what to do. We had a conversation without saying a word.
Kegs was oblivious to all of this because he admitted defeat in the She-Ra vs. Wonder Woman debate. “Okay, man. She-Ra might have the slightest advantage.”
We couldn’t help it. Wren and I chuckled because he had completely missed the moment that transpired between us.

_______________________________________

Michel’s Review

B N Toler has a knack for bringing something different to the romance world. Her main characters are mature with some life experience under their belts. They’ve had a chance to establish careers and begin molding their futures. Along the way they have had successes and failures, made mistakes and forged forward. They’ve had obstacles as well as open doors. But something happens in their lives to throw them off course causing them to question everything about their lives. They start molding new perspectives, reaching for new goals, and learn that love is more than what you read in romance novels. Crazy Girl is the perfect example of this kind of back.

Hannah Bircham is a woman down on her luck and stalled in her current life situation. Rather than embracing her successes and forging forward she has allowed her mistakes and failures to mire her down. She thinks she’s lost her creativity and is experiencing writers block until she meets Wren Marner. Wren Marner is an alpha male confident in his life style and isn’t one to waste time or effort on the trivial things. It doesn’t hurt that he is drop dead sexy and charming in his own way. Hannah’s time with Wren inspires her to start writing again. She thinks he has become her muse. Everything is perfect until it isn’t. Life once again rears it’s ugly head but opens Hannah’s eyes. Wren wasn’t her muse after all, he was something altogether more.

I won’t say much more except this book was fantastic. B N Toler once again delivered a novel that can stand in a class by itself.

______________________________________

Author

Words.
Books.
Reading.
Writing.

These are a few of my favorite things.

You can find me under B N Toler or
Author B N Toler most places.

Thank You

Release Blitz & Excerpt & 6+ Star Review & 2017 Favorite: Wish You Were Here by Renee Carlino

Posted on 08/15/2017 by shellbellereads

Wish You Were Here

By Renee Carlino

Buy: Amazon

You know when you’re looking at someone and you can’t help but smile at how oblivious they are to their own charm? That’s what was happening to me, and it was making me feel…happy. Euphoric. Something indescribable. It was like we already knew each other, like we had met in a previous life. Memories that didn’t exist began exploding in my mind like fireworks.

Charlotte has spent her twenties adrift, searching for a spark to jump-start her life and give her a sense of purpose. She’s had as many jobs as she’s had bad relationships, and now she’s feeling especially lost in her less-than-glamorous gig at a pie-and-fry joint in Los Angeles, where the uniforms are bad and the tips are even worse.

Then she collides—literally—with Adam, an intriguing, handsome, and mysterious painter. Their serendipitous meeting on the street turns into a whirlwind one-night stand that has Charlotte feeling enchanted by Adam’s spontaneity and joy for life. There’s promise in both his words and actions, but in the harsh light of morning, Adam’s tune changes, leaving Charlotte to wonder if her notorious bad luck with men is really just her own bad judgment.

Months later, a new relationship with Seth, a charming baseball player, is turning into something more meaningful, but Charlotte’s still having trouble moving past her one enthralling night with Adam. Why? When she searches for answers, she finds the situation with Adam is far more complicated than she ever imagined. Faced with the decision to write a new story with Seth or finish the one started with Adam, Charlotte embarks on a life-altering journey, one that takes her across the world and back again, bringing a lifetime’s worth of pain, joy, and wisdom.

AMAZON | B&N | iBooks

Excerpt

“You’re making love sound tragic,” I said.

“No”—he shook his head—“I wouldn’t want it any other way. Tell me about us. What do we like to do?”

“Paint and sail and eat and drink. Just simple things.” “Don’t forget about sex,” he said.
“Yeah, lots of sex. Before the children were born we

“We were practically naked every second of the day.”

“I like that.”

“When they got older, we’d sneak away for weekends and leave them at my mom’s.”

“What are they like? Our children.”

“Happy. That’s all we wished for. We put our love first and it just spilled over into them and now they’re happy.”

Tears sprang from my eyes and ran down my cheeks. Isn’t that what we all hope for when it comes to our children?

His tone suddenly changed. “That’s beautiful, Char- lotte.” It was like he was waking up from the dream. I didn’t want to go back to reality yet, but I knew these fantasies were just to help Adam get his mind off things.

“I can imagine a long life with you,” he said. “I can imagine what a great wife you’d be.”

I pulled my hand out of his. “The story is about you and me.” He didn’t say anything; he just nodded and then continued to stare out the window. I bent and kissed the top of his head again, and whispered, “It’s about us. Don’t take that away from me.”

Michel’s Review

Wow! Renee Carlino astounded me and left me emotionally floored in a very good way. It took a lot of ugly tears and emotional hiccups along the way but the end result was so worth the emotional journey. The epilogue validated every single reason I believe in love.

I can honestly say that I suffered a very serious book hangover for days after reading this book.

The first chapter introduces the reader to Charlotte, a twenty seven year old woman still struggling to find her niche in life. She’s had as many bad jobs as she’s had bad relationships. She’s educated and has tried many different types of jobs. Nothing seems to stick. She’s still working a crappy waitress job with crappy uniforms, crappy tips, and a crappier boss. She’s become perpetually stuck in life. Even though her life is less than stellar, she is eternally optimistic and is still searching for the right fit. She’s constantly comparing her non achievements in life to her over achieving, younger brother who’s on the road to success. Her parents are bewildered by her life choices. Her best friend, who is also perpetually stuck in her twenties, is her biggest cheerleader and lifetime roommate in their crappy apartment. One bad breakup ( the BFF) leads to a night that changes the course of her life. She meets a random stranger on the street and immediately makes a connection that leads to the most unusual but very memorable one night stand.

An adventurous one night stand that is filled with spontaneity, maple donuts, and forgotten Chinese food leads to a confusing and somewhat degrading walk of shame the next morning. Charlotte can’t seem to forget the night she spent with Adam, the vivacious artist with a thirst for life. His spontaneity and pure joy marked her soul.

Months later, she’s finally ready to move on when she meets a sexy baseball player, Seth, on an online dating site. What begins as a fun flirtation starts developing into a real relationship that has potential of being the very thing she’s been searching for. Everything is perfect until it’s not. There’s something holding her back and that something is her one night stand with Adam. From that point on everything begins to change and spiral out of control. Her best friend is moving on in life and grasping the adulting concept. Her successful baby brother has become her new life coach and roommate. Seth has made it to the major leagues and wants her along for the ride. The problem is that Charlotte is still stuck in her life. Maybe she needs to go back to the beginning or back to the one night that still haunts her thoughts. She needs some kind of closure from the disastrous one night stand that muddled her direction in life. The answers aren’t what she was expecting nor are they black and white. Adam’s life is anything but carefree and spontaneous. He’s a different man than the one she met on the street. Now that she has the answers, the choices are hers to make. Does she let go of Seth, the man who offers her everything she’s looking for in life or does she take the risk and follow Adam on a spontaneous adventure that has no guarantees of a future?

Choices are never easy and many times they aren’t right or wrong. They are merely stepping stones in the journey of life. The most important thing is accepting that choice and letting it become part of life’s compass. Eventually it will lead Charlotte to the place she was meant to be.

I’m usually not a fan of love triangle themed romances but this novel was an unusual triangle that had all the “feels” from every angle. I loved both men equally and swooned over them both. What I loved most is how they both loved Charlotte. They both loved her unconditionally, without measure, or expectations. They accepted her as she was. They both encouraged her to become something better for herself rather than for them. They wanted her to have everything she deserved in life. Most of all, they wanted her to know she was loved no matter what happened in her life. They both gave her pure unconditional love.

I’m choking up with tears as I write this review. Thinking about all that Charlotte experienced, the pain, joy, and rebirth, was phenomenal. This novel gave Charlotte the potential to experience all of the possibilites offered in life. I think we all strive to experience the pure love Charlotte received.

Wish You Were Here by Renee Carlino is more than a romance novel, it is an amazing reading adventure. It has become one of my all time favorite books.

___________________________________________________________

Renée Carlino is a screenwriter and bestselling author of contemporary women’s novels and new adult fiction. Her books have been featured in national publications, including USA TODAY, Huffington Post, Latina magazine, and Publisher’s Weekly. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog June. When she’s not at the beach with her boys or working on her next project, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate. Learn more at www.reneecarlino.com

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Release Blitz + Excerpt + Review: Royally Endowed by Emma Chase – The Royally Series – Book 3

Posted on 08/14/2017 by shellbellereads

Royally Endowed

The Royally Series – Book 3

By Emma Chase

Buy: Amazon

Logan St. James is a smoldering, sexy beast. Sure, he can be a little broody at times—but Ellie Hammond’s willing to overlook that. Because, have you seen him??

Sexy. As. Hell.

And Ellie’s perky enough for both of them.

For years, she’s had a crush on the intense, protective royal security guard—but she doesn’t think he ever saw her, not really.

To Logan, Ellie was just part of the job—a relative of the royal family he’d sworn to protect. Now, at 22 years old and fresh out of college, she’s determined to put aside her X-rated dreams of pat-downs and pillow talk, and find a real life happily ever after.

The Queen of Wessco encourages Ellie to follow in her sister’s footsteps and settle down with a prince of her own. Or a duke, a marquis…a viscount would also do nicely.

But in the pursuit of a fairy tale ending, Ellie learns that the sweetest crushes can be the hardest to let go.
***
Logan St. James grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, in a family on the wrong side of the law. But these days, he covers his tattoos and scars with a respectable suit. He’s handsome, loyal, brave, skilled with his hands and…other body parts.

Any woman would be proud to bring him home to her family.

But there’s only one woman he wants.

For years he’s watched over her, protected her, held her hair back when she was sick, taught her how to throw a punch, and spot a liar.

He dreams of her. Would lay down his life for her.

But beautiful Ellie Hammond’s off-limits.

Everybody knows the bodyguard rules: Never lose focus, never let them out of your sight, and never, ever fall in love.

AMAZON | AMAZON UK | AMAZON AU | iBooks | B&N

Excerpt

Ellie

But then the mood shifts, as if the air becomes thicker, weighted, more . . . sultry.

Because slowly, Logan sinks down to one knee in front of me—looking in my eyes the whole time. In this position, I could touch his shoulders, comb my fingers through his thick, dark hair. He’s the perfect height for me to bend down and kiss his mouth—the perfect height for him to kiss me back . . . in a lot of places.

My breath hitches. And I wonder he feels it too.

There’s a sound of tearing Velcro, and Logan takes something off his ankle—a holster, with a small silver knife, about three inches long.

“Keep this on you all the time,” he says seriously. “Just in case. If you wear a skirt, the strap will fit around your thigh.”

And I almost laugh. Most girls get a ring from a guy on his knees. I get a murder weapon. But still, it makes me feel safe . . . watched over. Like I’m something precious that deserves to be protected.

I take the knife from him, testing the surprisingly solid, heavy weight of it in my hand. I press my index finger to the tip.

Logan grabs my wrist tightly. “Careful. It’s sharp.”

There’s a small, painless nick, a tiny bead of blood, so I put my finger in my mouth, sucking.

And Logan’s watching me again.

Watching my mouth.

His chest seems to rise just a little faster, and his throat ripples when he swallows. He bends his head, curves his strong back, and then I feel his hands on my ankle, securing the strap. His touch is warm and self-assured. It’s the way he always moves—confident and experienced. Logan knows his body and he knows how to use it, in every way possible.

I almost moan. The sound is in the back of my throat, but I keep it trapped. I never knew the ankle was an erogenous zone, but it sure as hell is now. A hot pulse of pleasure streaks from Logan’s fingers on my bare skin, up my thigh, between my legs.

And I throb there, growing swollen and heavy as he keeps his hands on me.

Can he tell? Does he know? He’s so aware of everything, always so attuned, I wonder if he can sense my arousal . . . feel it in the air that clings between us.

__________________________________

Michel’s Review

Logan St. James has dedicated his life to guarding the Royal Family of Wessco. He was a member of Prince Nicholas personal guard. He’s witnessed the prince fall in love in New York City, abdicate his position on the throne, marry the woman he loves, and now becoming a father. When the Prince left New York City, he left Logan St. James and a few of his personal team to protect Ellie Hammond, his love’s younger teenage sister. Logan has watched Ellie grow from a delightful curious teenager chasing her dreams to a vibrant woman with a passionate personality and strong will. He’s loved her from the beginning and loves her more with each moment. She’s his forbidden fruit, the one thing that can make him give up the job he has dedicated his life to. She’s worth every sacrifice. Is he ready to give up his job and become a royal? When the shoe is on the other foot life isn’t quite as easy as he thought it would be. Loving Ellie is more rewarding than protecting the throne.

Readers will once again socialize with all the royals and their stuffy traditions. The new generation is making traditions of their own, traditions from the heart. Ellie and Logan are part of those new traditions.

Once again Emma Chase delivered another delightfully royal romance that had my heart swooning. I loved this series!

_______________________________________

Emma Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the hot and hilarious Tangled series and The Legal Briefs series. Emma lives in New Jersey with her husband, two children and two naughty (but really cute) dogs. She has a long-standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.

Release Blitz and 5+ Star Review: Crave Part One by E.K. Blair – The Crave Duet-Book 1

Posted on 08/14/2017 by shellbellereads

Title: Crave: Part One
Series: Crave Duet #1

Author: E.K. Blair

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Release Date: August 14, 2017

***

Blurb

***

Kason and Adaline.

From the moment
they met, they started to fall. Neither of them predicted just how far the drop
would be, though.

Loving Adaline was
all Kason had ever wanted to do. But layer by layer, he started to unravel,
forcing Adaline to face an addiction she never could’ve imagined.

This is what
happens when one person loves beyond the craving and the other craves beyond
the loving.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

Michel’s Review

***

Spoiler Free Review

***

This title is so appropriate for this duet. The moment a reader begins the first book they will CRAVE more. I can’t wait for Crave- Part 2 to release in October.

__________________________________

Coming Soon

Crave: Part Two releases October 16

***

Blurb

***

Weeks became months, and months became years. Each day, nudged Kason deeper into his addiction. Each memory of the girl destroyed fed the craving for what he could never have again.

Leaving a life-altering first love behind, Adaline tried moving forward to find love and trust and happiness. Pain eventually faded, wounds slowly healed, yet scars were forever left behind.

But some scars feel like kisses.

When the shattered pieces of their hearts are forced to meet again, the two of them must decide how much pain their love is worth enduring.

This is what happens when one person loves beyond the craving and the other craves beyond the loving.

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

______________________________________________

Author Bio

Aside from writing,
E.K. Blair finds pleasure in music, drinking her Starbucks in peace, and
spending time with her friends. She’s a thinker, an artist, a wife, a mom, and
everything in between.

Author Links

WEBSITE
FACEBOOK

TWITTER
INSTAGRAM
BOOKBUB

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Today we have the release day blitz of Chasing a Legend by Sarah Robinson! Check out the release day festivities and grab your copy today!!

Title: Chasing a Legend

Author: Sarah Robinson

Genre: August 22nd

About Chasing a Legend:

Get Your Copy Today!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Books a Million | Google Play | Penguin Random House

Catch up on the Series Today:

BREAKING A LEGEND:

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SAVING A LEGEND:

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BECOMING A LEGEND:

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Exclusive Excerpt:

About the Author:

Connect with Sarah:

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |

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Logan St. James is a smoldering, sexy beast. Sure, he can be a little broody at times—but Ellie Hammond’s willing to overlook that. Because, have you seen him??

Sexy. As. Hell.

And Ellie’s perky enough for both of them.

For years, she’s had a crush on the intense, protective royal security guard—but she doesn’t think he ever saw her, not really.

To Logan, Ellie was just part of the job—a relative of the royal family he’d sworn to protect. Now, at 22 years old and fresh out of college, she’s determined to put aside her X-rated dreams of pat-downs and pillow talk, and find a real life happily ever after.

The Queen of Wessco encourages Ellie to follow in her sister’s footsteps and settle down with a prince of her own. Or a duke, a marquis…a viscount would also do nicely.

Any woman would be proud to bring him home to her family.

But there’s only one woman he wants.

For years he’s watched over her, protected her, held her hair back when she was sick, taught her how to throw a punch, and spot a liar.

He dreams of her. Would lay down his life for her.

But beautiful Ellie Hammond’s off-limits.

Everybody knows the bodyguard rules: Never lose focus, never let them out of your sight, and never, ever fall in love.

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**Today we have the release day blitz of Chasing a Legend by Sarah Robinson! Check out the release day festivities and grab your copy today!!**

Genre: August 22^nd