Review: Rekindled by C. J. McKella

Posted on 05/18/2016 by shellbellereads

About Rekindled:

Callie

When I left, I never planned on looking back.
Walking away from the only boy I’d ever loved,
I thought I was making the right decision.
For me.
For us.
I was wrong.
Now I’m back, and the past is too much.
Tate Corbin is no longer the sweet boy next door,
But rather a man who hates me.

Tate

When she left, she took a piece of me.
A piece that had always belonged to her, and I knew—
I knew I’d never get over losing her, never get through the pain alone.
But I moved on—never thought I’d care again,
About her.
About us.
I was wrong.
Now, Callie Winters is back
And I can’t let go, I can’t step away.

Now only one question remains:
Will our love be rekindled? Or will it go down in flames?

Amazon

Barnes&Noble

Kobo

iBooks

teaser1

Exclusive Excerpt:

He grins at me and takes a step closer, reaching out for my hand and pulling it to his lips, kissing my knuckles. “Callie, I’m sorry,” he says, his breath feathering across my skin. “I didn’t mean what I said that day, back at the stadium.”

“Then why did you say it?”

He sighs and closes his eyes. “Because I’m an idiot. I saw that guy in his fancy suit with his expensive watch and gelled hair, and I was jealous. I looked at him and all I could see was Zach, and I panicked. You deserve the moon and the stars, and I’m never going to be that guy who can give you all those things.”

“Tate, I don’t need someone to buy me pretty things. I had that, and you know what I learned? That it’s a very lonely existence. I had more jewelry than I knew what to do with, more shoes than I could wear in a month, but you know what I didn’t have? I didn’t have someone to share my day with as we lay in bed. I didn’t have someone whose kisses breathed life into my soul, and who made me feel alive.”

“And do you have that now?” he asks as he leans forward and rests his forehead against mine, his lips just millimeters away from my own. “Do you have someone who makes your heart want to keep beating?”

“I think I’m getting there. This guy I’m sort of dating is pretty incredible. You’d like him, he’s a smokejumper and a mechanic, and a pretty damn good kisser.”

“Only pretty good?”

“Eh, I’ve had better.”

“Is that so? We’ll see about that.”

His fingers fly out and grip the edges of my robe, pulling me closer to him as his lips press into mine. He nips at my bottom lip with his teeth and a moan slips out as my lips part, letting his tongue tease mine. Our tongues move against each other as my hands rake through his hair while pressing myself against his body, needing to be close to him. He smells like smoke and aftershave and it’s taking all my resolve not to rip off all this clothes and straddle him here on the kitchen floor. He pulls my bottom lip into his mouth and sucks on it making my head dizzy with need. When he pulls away, I whimper and I see a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes. His kisses set my heart on fire, and it’s the most delicious burn I’ve ever known.

Tracey’s Review

Once upon a time, Callie Winters and Tate Corbin were inseparable. Best friends forever, they were two halves of a whole. But life happened, and drove a wedge between them, and words spoken in anger led to broken hearts and years apart. But when Callie’s happily every after ended up being not quite what she was expecting, she returns to the one place that truly feels like home, hoping to clear her mind and heal her heart. When the person that still holds the key to her heart makes a reappearance, Callie will learn that some flames never go out.

I’m always pleasantly surprised when an author’s debut novel ends up being a book that is engaging and well-written. REKINDLED is C.J. McKella’s first book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. As a fan of the second-chance love story, I was hooked on Callie’s and Tate’s story from the first chapter. Not only was there a great back story between the two of them, but both Callie and Tate were well-developed characters, with stories of their own that had evolved over the seven-year period that they had been apart. C.J. also does a nice job with the supporting characters, and with the suspense that builds during the course of the book, making sure that everything is resolved in a realistic and satisfying way.

When you take on an author that you’ve never read, there is always the risk of the unknown, but C.J. has made her mark with REKINDLED, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future (I wouldn’t mind seeing Caleb, Callie’s brother, get a book of his own, maybe with Mari, so, C.J., if you’re reading this, help a girl out.). 4 stars for this suspenseful, romantic, plenty steamy read, one that you should definitely add to your TBR.

***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***
About Author:

C.J. McKella is a romance writer living beneath the hot Arizona sun with her husband and their cat, Kaylie. She devotes her days to working, and her nights writing, allowing the characters in her head to come to life. When not working or writing, she can be found reading, binge-watching Netflix, or playing video games. A romantic at heart, she has a love for stories, and all things ending in happily ever after.

C.J. McKella loves to meet new people. Stop by and say hello!

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/authorcjmckella

Goodreads Link for Rekindled: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29564641

Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: Wicked Heart by Leisa Raven – StarCrossed Series

Posted on 05/18/2016 by shellbellereads

Wicked Heart

StarCrossed Series

By Leisa Rayven

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

The one guy she can’t have is the one she can’t forget.

Liam Quinn is one of the biggest movie stars in the world…and the only man Elissa Holt has ever truly loved.

After being out of her life for six years, he and his gorgeous fiancé are set to star in the new Broadway show Elissa is stage managing. The only trouble is, when late night rehearsals bring Elissa and Liam together, the line between what is and what could have been gets blurred. Now one moment of weakness is about to create a scandal that will echo around the world.

Elissa knows that falling for Liam again would be a tragedy in the making, but as any good romantic knows, love doesn’t always follow the script.

_____________________________

Excerpt

FOOL ME ONCE

Present Day

Pier 23 Rehearsal Rooms

New York City

Tingles up my spine. Blood hot and fast beneath my skin.

Goddammit. This isn’t good.

Why is this still happening to me after all these years?

I’m not a girl who swoons easily. I’m really not. If I were to describe myself I’d say I was passionate but logical, fiery but methodical, spontaneous but organized. All of these traits might seem like contradictions, but they make me a damn good stage manager, and I’m not too humble to say that at the age of twenty-five, I’m one of the most respected show runners on Broadway. Producers know they can depend on me to stay calm in a crisis. I run my shows with military precision, and I demand strict professionalism from everyone, especially myself.

My rules for a stress-free work environment are nonnegotiable: Treat everyone with respect, be firm but fair, and do not ever get romantically involved with someone in the show I’m running. For most of my career, I’ve had no problem following my own rules, but there is one thing that can derail my equilibrium in one fell swoop.

Well, not so much one thing as one person.

Liam Quinn.

As I sit in the private cinema with my production team and watch the shirtless man on the screen take down an overwhelming number of enemies, I’m embarrassed by how hot my skin feels. How my breathing is shallow, and my thighs are pressed together. How I drink in every angle of his face and body. How I thrill to the flex of every perfect muscle.

But even more than that, I’m embarrassed how the passion of his performance makes me fantasize about doing passionate things to him. Not just sexual things, but they’re certainly high on the list.

To put it simply, he makes me swoon like it’s his damn job.

He’s the only man who’s ever affected me like this, and it’s safe to say I hold it against him. It’s inconvenient and rude.

He runs toward the gorgeous redhead on the screen and pulls her into a passionate embrace. The redhead is Angel Bell—recent cover model for People’s “Most Beautiful Women in the Known Universe” and basic all-round Goddess. Perfect body. Perfect boobs. Perfect face. She’s playing a seraph princess. Liam is her scorching-hot demon slave. They’ve just about destroyed the world trying to be together, and now Liam’s kissing her like he’ll die if he doesn’t.

Goddamn, that man can kiss.

I cross my legs and sigh. This is insane.

I’m not against being aroused in general, but being aroused by this particular man is a recipe for disaster. The last time I let myself have these feelings for him, it didn’t end well.

I feel a hand on my arm and turn to see one of Broadway’s most respected directors, Marco Fiori, leaning over. His eyes are bright with excitement, and it’s clear I’m not the only one who’s noticed Liam’s … assets.

“Quite the specimen, isn’t he?” Marco whispers.

I shrug. “If you like that sort of thing, I suppose.” My raging hormones scream that we do like that sort of thing. We like it a whole helluva lot.

The only trouble is, we can’t like it, because Liam’s an actor, and we don’t date actors. Also, in a few weeks, I’ll be his stage manager. Also, he’s engaged to his gorgeous costar.

Oh, and perhaps the most important reason is, once upon a time, we had a short but passionate-as-hell relationship and I’ve never recovered.

Somehow, I’ve managed to lock away the heartache he caused, possibly because I blame myself as much as I blame him. But the desire? That’s still roaming free, storming through my composure like a bull in a china shop.

Yep.

This is going to be an interesting project. It will be a miracle if my professionalism and I make it out alive.

______________________________

Robin’s Review

It’s been awhile – a year, in fact – since I immersed myself into the theatrical world of the Starcrossed series. For an author so new to publishing, Leisa Rayven REALLY impressed me with her debut novel, Bad Romeo! Along with writing that was exceptional, what I remember the most about reading Bad Romeo and Broken Juliet is the passion – how the energy between Ethan Holt and Cassie Taylor seemed to leap off of the page. Rayven is now releasing Wicked Heart, the third novel of her Starcrossed series, with the primary characters of this contemporary romance being Elissa Holt, sister of Ethan Holt, and Hollywood actor Liam Quinn.

Liam Quinn has his own Hollywood success story – a superstar who seemed to turn up out of nowhere, but Elissa Holt is all too aware of his humble beginnings. That’s because Liam’s acting career began on Broadway with a theatre production of Romeo and Juliet. When they met, Liam told Elissa he worked in construction, but then he showed up at tryouts for Romeo. Although it was Liam’s first audition to be an actor, his was the best by far, and he was given the role.

From the beginning, Elissa warned Liam that she doesn’t date actors – they have a bad habit of leaving her for the costar – but her warning didn’t discourage him. Liam relentlessly pursued Elissa for the duration of the show, then left for Hollywood to pursue an acting career, leaving Elissa with a broken heart.

Fast forward six years to the present, where Liam and his fiancé, actress Angel Bell, are cast in the Broadway production of Taming of the Shrew, a production where Elissa just so happens to be the stage manager. She now has to endure the daily presence of Hollywood’s golden couple, and Liam is the only man Elissa has ever loved. Oh, how the wicked heart wants what it wants.

Just as she did in Bad Romeo, Rayven was outstanding in translating the attraction, the sexual tension between Liam and Elissa, to page. His relentless pursuit. Her steadfast denial of something she knows will hurt her in the end. The buildup of their attraction is steady and full of angst. But when Elissa finally relents, gives in to what her heart really desires, Liam and Elissa share something special that will mark them both forever. THIS SCENE. I felt the intense power of their connection in this scene – a testiment to great writing. And because Wicked Heart is narrated from Elissa’s first person point of view, we are able experience her heartbreak over their separation. Although the flashback chapters are minimal, they really are key in driving this story forward.

Although Wicked Heart is the third book of a series, it can definitely be read as a standalone. I know love triangles are not a popular theme among readers of contemporary romance, but EVERYONE should give Wicked Heart a chance. There is so much more to this story than what you see on the surface, and it’s worth it. I promise. Wicked Heart is dramatic, sexy, and somewhat humorous. The friendships, the interactions between characters are entertaining. Rayven keeps the dialogue light in places, and although Wicked Heart can be angsty at times, I found myself laughing out loud on many occasions! In summary, Wicked Heart is another quality, 5-star novel from Leisa Rayven. I absolutely enjoyed this 2016 favorite, and I’m already looking forward to her next novel!

_________________________________

About Leisa Rayven

Writing has always been a passion for Leisa, and even though she originally intended to be an actress, it wasn’t long into her time at drama school that she began writing plays.

Those plays were bad. Very bad. Well, her friends thought they were good, but that’s because they were always cast in them and any opportunity to be on stage was met with an obnoxious amount of enthusiasm.

Since then, she’s honed her craft, and several of her plays have been produced and toured throughout Australia.

These days, playwriting has given way to fiction writing, and Leisa’s debut novel, BAD ROMEO, will be available in a worldwide release through Macmillan Publishing in December 2014.

Leisa lives in Australia with her husband, two little boys, three cats, and a kangaroo named Howard.

(Howard may or may not be her imaginary marsupial friend. Everyone should have one.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Blitz + Review: Heartbreaker by Erin McCarthy – Nashville Nights – Book 1

Posted on 05/17/2016 by shellbellereads

Title: Heart Breaker
Series: Nashville Nights #1

Author: Erin McCarthy

Publisher: Loveswept
Genre: Contemporary Western Romance

Release
Date: May 17, 2016

Blurb

They’re perfectly in tune—but only when it comes to their music. This sizzling romance from New York Times bestselling author Erin McCarthy follows Nashville’s hottest country music duo as they fight for love in a city where dreams often cost a broken heart. Self-made singer/songwriter Jolene Hart loves everything about being on top in Nashville. Well, everything except her very public breakup with Chance Rivers, her sexy masculine other half. Once the hottest duo on the scene, they turned Music City on its ear. Now their careers are as cold as their relationship. Which is why their manager has practically locked them in a remote cabin with nothing but a guitar, a bed, and time to do what they do best: make some beautiful music together. As Nashville royalty, Chance has big boots to fill—and the pressure that comes with ’em. He fell hard for Jolene, but he couldn’t handle the spotlight, the crowds, and the fights that made headlines and killed any notion that love and success could go hand-in-hand. Still, Chance is more than willing to rekindle the one thing that worked: the wild passion behind their hit songs. Soon they’re making up for lost time, in the steamiest ways possible. But Chance finds himself wishing for the impossible: that their intimate hideaway could last forever.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK

B&N / iBOOKS / KOBO

GOOGLE PLAY / BAM

___________________________________

Michel’s Review

There’s nothing like a good ole country song that doesn’t touch the heart in some way. The lyrics emote feelings of love, loss, struggling relationships, and family ties. Add the truck, the dog, and beer and it becomes an instant hit.

Erin McCarthy’s latest release, Heartbreaker, is the epitome of country music. Chance and Jolene are a wreck waiting to happen. Their love/ hate relationship ties into the country music business. With a grammy behind them and a guitar in the swimming pool, their musical and romantic relationship is in the outhouse. The dynamic duo is quickly becoming a has been in Nashville before their careers actually had more than one album behind them. Neither of their solo musical careers are catching radio attention. Their manager is forcing them back together to create the magic their music had together. Sending them to a remote cabin could be the right formula or a disaster in the making.

This is Chance and Jolene’s second chance for their musical careers. It is also their second chance at love. First they must put aside their anger and pride before their hearts can make the love song they were intended to create.

I have to be honest and say that I really had trouble connecting with Chance and Jolene. They were both bull headed, immature, and selfish. Their volatile relationship had me reeling. The on again, off again twists and turns had me irritated. In the end they finally got it together and found a way to love each other. The thing is the journey there had me more irritated than enjoying the ride.

I’m sure there are a lot of readers that will enjoy this kind of angst. For me I wanted more emotion and soul bearing moments.

_______________________________________

Author Bio

USA Today bestselling author Erin McCarthy sold her first book in 2002 and has gone on to pen more than 44 novels and novellas in the paranormal, contemporary romance, and young adult genres. A RITA award finalist and an American Library Association winner of the Reluctant Young Reader award, Erin is a member of Romance Writers of America, Horror Writers Association, and Ohioana.

Author Links

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER
GOODREADS

Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: Smut by Karina Halle

Posted on 05/16/2016 by shellbellereads

What happens when the kink between the pages leads to heat between the sheets?

All Blake Crawford wants is to pass his creative writing course, get his university degree and take over his dad’s ailing family business. What Amanda Newland wants is to graduate at the top of her class, as well as finally finish her novel and prove to her family that writing is a respectful career.

What Blake and Amanda don’t want is to be paired up with each other for their final project but that’s exactly what they both get when they’re forced to collaborate on a writing piece. Since Amanda thinks Blake is a pushy asshole (with a panty-melting smirk and British accent) and Blake thinks Amanda has a stick up her ass (though it’s brilliant ass), they fight tooth and nail until they discover they write well together. They also might find each other really attractive, but that’s neither here nor there.

When their writing project turns out to be a success, the two of them decide to start up a secret partnership together using a pen name, infiltrating the self-publishing market in the lucrative genre of erotica. Naturally, with so much heat and passion between the pages, it’s not long before their dirty words become a dirty reality. Sure, they still fight a lot but at least there’s make-up sex now.

But even as they start to fall hard for each other, will their burgeoning relationship survive if their scandalous secret is exposed or are happily-ever-afters just a work of fiction?

iTunes | Nook | Kobo

She holds my gaze for a moment and something passes over her. Regret, maybe. Then she nods. “Sit down. Let’s work.”
And so we do. And for the first time in a long time, it’s strained. I’m about to suggest maybe we need the Estonian vodka anyway when she lets out an exasperated sigh over something she’s reading.
It happens to be something I wrote.
“What?” I ask, wondering what I did wrong.
She gives me the the ‘are you kidding me?’look. “Okay, I was ignoring it earlier but I think you need to get a grip on some of this shit. This simply does not happen.”
“Explain, please.”
“I just think it’s unrealistic for there to be so much talking, let alone the fact that the first time they do it it’s in a public place.”
“Too much talking?”
“Yeah.” she scans over the document. “You know, give me your cock, oh you feel so good, harder, harder, you’re so big, fuck me harder big boy.”
“Have you even had good sex?” I ask incredulously.
She flinches. “Of course I have. And it’s none of your business.”
“We’re writing about sex. It’s completely my business. I’m not letting you interject your edits based on your personal experiences about sex because believe me, if the sex is good, you’re moaning my name.”
She raises her chin. “Maybe all those girls were faking it.”
Oh, brilliant.
“Excuse me?” I say, hands pressed against the table, nearly getting out of my chair. “You have no idea. I pride myself in giving a girl as many bloody orgasms as she can handle.”
“Bloody orgasms don’t sound like fun,” she jokes softly.
“They can be if you’re into knife play,” I tell her, even though that’s not exactly what I meant. Still, she scrunches up her nose. “Don’t knock it until you try it, but that’s neither here nor there. When you were with Alan, he must have made you come at least a few times.”
If he didn’t, I feel like finding the guy and showing him a thing or two for wasting four years of her life.
“Yeah,” she says flatly.
“And in the middle of that orgasm, didn’t you want to yell a few things?”
“Sometimes.”
“And why didn’t you?”
She looks at her nails as if they’re suddenly fascinating. “It didn’t seem right. It was…too intimate. I would have felt dumb. He didn’t like any of that stuff.”
The plot thickens. “Any of what stuff?”
“Sex that didn’t involve the missionary position or the bed.”
My mouth drops open. My brain and penis can’t compute this. “I feel so sorry for you.”
We must remedy this.
She glares at me. “It’s not like I didn’t want to do it. I did. And he did try it. Most of it. But it always went back to the same old.”
I knew it. She’s a nerd on the streets and a freak in the sheets.
“I don’t mean to brag,” I tell her in all seriousness. “But you do realize that I could give you an orgasm in thirty seconds.”
Her eyes widen. I can’t tell if she’s horrified or intrigued. “I don’t believe you and I don’t want you to try.”
She’s not getting it. I frown, trying to explain. “If you’re having good sex and it’s with someone you’re comfortable with, you won’t worry about holding back. You’ll cry out all the nonsense you want, you’ll make noises like a pig and scream like you’re on fire because you truly can’t have a good orgasm unless you’re letting go on all accounts.” I lean back in my chair and study her, running my fingers along my jaw. “I would venture that every time you came with your ex, you were only experiencing half of what you should have been. How is it with your vibrators?”
I expect her to tell me to fuck off, that I’m getting too personal but to my surprise she gives me a small smile. “It’s better. But I do have a roommate with exceptionally good hearing.” She clears her throat. “Anyway, so I guess I’m wrong. The heroine can make all the noise she wants.”
“And have first time sex in public.”
“I don’t know…”
“Believe me, when you finally get a chance to fuck, you don’t care where it is. That’s why I always have a condom in my pocket. And the more public the sex, the sneakier you have to be, the hotter it is.”
“But in the book you would never get caught.”
“You don’t always get caught in real life too.”
I can see she wants to ask me where I’ve done it but she loses her nerve. “Okay.” She looks back to the document. “I accept defeat.”
But I don’t want her to. I want to prove to her I’m right and not have her take my word.
Is there a non-creepy way to show her just how amazing good sex can feel? I’m thinking not.
Or…maybe there is.

Michel’s Review

In Karina Halle’s latest release, Smut,the readers get to experience the behind the scenes (or should I say pages) how a novel comes to life on the pages. From character development to plot development and getting the right words takes more than most people would think. In the novel Smut, Karina Halle created the dynamic writing team of Blake Crawford and Amanda Newland. What started out as a final assignment in their creative writing turned into a lucrative indie writing team. First they had to get past the hate and misconceptions about one another. Next they had to reveal their inner most thoughts and learn how to put them in words that blended both of their creative minds. Next they had to have the courage to take the next step. The next step is to take their writing team to another level and become paid authors. The most lucrative genre in the indie ebook publishing is erotica. Erotica is neither of their choices in writing but they want to make money and become published authors. It’s a step towards their true writing aspirations. Finding the courage to become successful authors in a field outside of their interest takes a multitude of compromise and beers. Becoming a successful selling author becomes more than a business plan and pushing the publish button. It takes research, research, and more research. Together Blake and Amanda take on the challenge. They do hands on research and write one of the hottest eroitca novel on Amazon. Who knew research was so much fun? Who knew it would lead to friendship and a love beyond their imaginations.

I thoroughly enjoyed Smut by Karina Halle. It was a fun, witty, and sexy book that was extremely entertaining. Karina delivered a light hearted read that any reader of any genre would thoroughly enjoye.

Go and read Smut by Karina Halle!

Karina Halle is a former travel writer and music journalist and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author of The Pact, Racing the Sun, Sins & Needles and over 25 other wild and romantic reads. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and her rescue pup, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.

Halle is represented by the Waxman Leavell Agency and is both self-published and published by Simon & Schuster and Hachette in North America and in the UK.

Hit her up on Instagram at @authorHalle, on Twitter at @MetalBlonde and on Facebook. You can also visit http://www.authorkarinahalle.com and sign up for the newsletter for news, excerpts, previews, private book signing sales and more.

FACEBOOK TWITTER GOODREADS AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Release Blitz + Excerpt + Review + Giveaway: Showmance by L. H. Cosway

Posted on 05/16/2016 by shellbellereads

Showmance by L.H Cosway is LIVE!!! #DamonAndRose

♥ BUY THE BOOK ♥

Damon Atwood was Hollywood’s golden boy. Having won an Oscar at the tender age of thirteen, he had the life many could only dream about. But his success came at a price, and after a short but fruitful film career, he chose to live a life of obscurity on a remote Scottish island. Almost a decade later he’s finally ready to make his return, starting with a lead role in a musical on London’s West End.

As a choreographer’s assistant, Rose Taylor has always faded into the background. She watches shows come to life from the side lines, but has never craved the attention of stardom. When rumours begin circulating of Damon’s involvement in her latest gig, she doesn’t predict how she will be thrust into the limelight, nor how the mysterious and strangely introverted man will need her to teach him how to be a star again.

Rose knows that show crushes don’t last. Actors fall for each other during the intensity of a production, often losing themselves in their roles. These kinds of affairs burn bright and then they fade. The question is, should Rose let herself shine with Damon, or guard her heart from being broken after the final curtain call?

“Well now, who’s this?” Julian asked as he slid up off the couch, where he’d been lazily scrolling through his tablet.

I chanced a quick, reassuring peek at Damon before answering my friend. “This is Damon. He’s in the cast.”

Julian groaned as he approached, his chestnut hair sitting messily atop his head. “Oh please, Rose, not another actor.”

I glared at him, trying to channel as much ‘shut the hell up’ into my eyes as possible. My flatmate didn’t really have a censor. A moment of quiet ensued while Julian circled Damon, taking his measure. “You don’t look like an actor.”

The edges of Damon’s mouth twitched for the briefest second. “Thanks.”

“He’s got a sense of humour, too. He’ll go far,” Julian grinned in my direction then sauntered into the kitchen. “I’m starving. Are you cooking dinner?”

“Aren’t I always,” I sighed and then asked Damon if I could take his coat. He shrugged out of it, his eyes not leaving me all the while, and then I went to hang it on the rack by the door. On my return he bent to ask curiously, “Another actor?”

I took a moment to absorb the sensation of his breath hitting my skin. It was…not unpleasant. Julian, who I swear had the hearing of a bat, didn’t miss a beat as he let out an amused chuckle. “Rose has a weakness for those in your profession.”

Damon looked at me in question. I strode over to the breakfast bar, again glaring at my friend. “Yes, well, I’ve sworn off all thespians after the last disaster, so Damon here is safe.”

“What disaster?”

For someone who claimed not to be a big talker, he sure had a lot of questions.

“Ever heard of Blake Winters?” Julian chirped, plucking an apple from the fruit bowl and taking a big bite.

Damon shook his head. Julian scrunched his brows.

“Have you been living under a rock?”

“No, I’ve been living on an island,” said Damon.

Julian cocked his head to the side, as though trying to figure out if he was being sarcastic. “Well, he’s an actor, like you, and he sleeps around. Rose had the great misfortune to have her head turned by the young Mr Winters. He seduced her and then left her in the lurch, the swine,” Julian pouted his lips, effecting a disapproving expression.

“Sounds like an arse,” Damon put in and both Julian and I began laughing.

“I like this one,” said Julian.

I grinned as I thought, yeah, me too, and found myself suddenly blushing.

Robin’s Review

One thing I know I can always count on with author L. H. Cosway: a colorful story with phenomenal characters. Her writing is artistic. Creative. She writes with flair. Once again, Cosway has impressed me with these elements of her writing in her newest novel titled Showmance – a contemporary romance pairing a choreographer’s assistant named Rose Taylor with Damon Atwood, the male lead of a musical production of Moulin Rouge. Showmance is told from alternating first person points of view of both of these characters, as their friendship slowly builds into a sweet and passionate love story.

Like many of this author’s female characters, Rose Taylor is quirky, clever and kind. She lives in London, works as a choreographer’s assistant, teaching dance routines for plays and shows on London’s West End. Rose has always been eager to fall in love – and has a bad tendency to fall for actors. Blake Winters is her most recent love interest, someone she thought she could really trust, but Blake traded her in for someone else after they had sex. He broke her heart, and because of Blake, Rose has sworn off all actors, even opting to take a break from relationships altogether.

Damon Atwood was a childhood actor who has now been absent from Hollywood radar for years. It’s been nearly a decade since Damon disappeared to the Scottish Isle of Skye, but now he’s ready make his return to acting on London’s famed West End. He shows up on the set of Moulin Rouge, where he wows everyone with his singing ability and is cast as the male lead. Right away, Rose can tell Damon is different. Although extremely handsome, Damon is shy, socially awkward, and in desperate need of a friend.

Cosway spices things up with characters Alicia Davidson and Blake Winters. Alicia is the gorgeous, red-headed actress from Los Angeles who is cast to play the role opposite of Damon’s character, and from the beginning, Alicia has her eyes set on Damon. Then, Blake Winters becomes a late addition to the cast, and he feels that he and Rose have unfinished business. The addition of these two characters adds just the right amount of tension to Showmance.

Cosway’s writing is indicative of her experience as an author. It’s excellent in Showmance, flowing nicely from one sentence to the next. She excels in the area of descriptive writing – she has the ability to describe or portray a scene that helps a reader feel he or she is a participant in the story. Just like so many other novels written by this author, there is an undeniable artsy feel to Showmance. Cosway writes with knowledge about dance, music and theater. And finally, one of the things I love to see when I read fiction is character development, and we get plenty of this in Showmance. Damon and Rose – even our secondary characters – show plenty of growth as individuals in this story.

Overall, I feel Showmance earns a 4.5 star rating. Although it’s not my favorite of her many novels, Showmance is entertaining, passionate and enjoyable. L. H. Cosway piqued my interest in Rose’s roommate Julian, and I’m already looking forward to reading his story, hopefully in the near future!

_____________________________

Listen to the amazing playlist on Spotify HERE

L.H. Cosway has a BA in English Literature and Greek and Roman Civilisation, and an MA in Postcolonial Literature. She lives in Dublin city. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books.

She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.

Facebook | Twitter | Mailing List | Pinterest | Website

L.H. Cosway’s SHOWMANCE Release Week Blitz Giveaway

https://js.gleam.io/e.js

Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Sway by Adriana Locke

Posted on 05/16/2016 by shellbellereads

Title: Sway

Series: Landry Family #1

Author: Adriana Locke

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: May 16, 2016

Blurb

BARRETT LANDRY has it all.
Power, prestige, and plenty of women, the dapper politician’s life is pretty phenomenal. But in the midst of the biggest campaign of his life, he needs to focus. The last thing he can afford is a distraction. ALISON BAKER is a work-in-progress.
As a single mother to HUXLEY, she’s rebuilding life on her terms. She’s focused on family, faith, and a future for her son that can’t be taken away. Putting her child first means not being careless, no matter what.A chance encounter forces Barrett and Alison to redefine what they really want out of life. But everything comes at a cost … and sometimes, even for love, it’s a price too steep to pay.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK

Excerpt

“I want a chance to win you over,” he breathes, peering at me. The way his eyes search mine make it seem like time stands still. “Will you let me try?”

He forces a swallow and the look of hesitation, the internal fight he’s having, isn’t lost on me. It’s there, right beneath the surface, and when I add my concerns to the mix, it’s enough to make me balk. Just a bit.

“I’ll think about it,” I whisper, holding on to the little strand of courage I have left.

“Say yes.”

Instead of responding, I ask, “Where’d you get that scar over your right eye?” I reach out and press gently on the raised skin. I expect him to pull back, but he doesn’t.

My hand shakes as I touch his warmed skin. His forehead is silky and smooth. I’d like to run my hands over every inch of it, feel it ripple beneath my fingertips.

The corner of his lips twitch. “Lincoln hit me in the head with a baseball.”

“Bad reflexes on your part?”

“Wicked curveball on his,” he says, his face breaking out into a full smile.

“I thought he played center field?”

“He does. But he pitched some growing up.”

We stand inches apart, my hand gently brushing down the side of his face. Although I feel like he’d stand here all night and talk to me, it’s not possible.

“I really need to get back to work,” I say, trying to unlock my eyes from his.

“Dinner? This week?”

I can barely resist the look in his eye, the one that implores me to say yes. The one that makes me believe he really does want to have dinner and spend a few hours with me.

I need to get away, put some space between us while I can.

“We ran into each other tonight,” I shrug. “If we’re supposed to see each other again, then I guess we will.” I start to turn away before I completely buckle under his gaze.

“How am I supposed to get ahold of you? I don’t have your number,” he calls after me.

Heading up the steps to the Savannah Room, I glance at him over my shoulder. “You’re the Mayor. Figure it out.”

Tracey’s Review

Well, Adriana Locke has gone and done it again, written a book that I have fallen completely in love with. Every time she releases a new book, I think, ‘Oh, my gosh, this is my favorite, I just love it so much!’ And then, she writes another one, and it happens all over again.

I have to say that Max Quinn from THE PERCEPTION held my heart for a very long time, with his constancy, and his sweet Southern sexiness. What wasn’t to like? But, folks, I’ve gotta tell you, Adriana has written a man that will completely give Max a run for his money, because Barrett Landry is here, and, oh, my word.

Barrett Landry, mayor of Savannah, GA, is everything you’d expect a successful Southern politico to be. Rich, sexy, a true ladies’ man, he’s enjoying all of the perks of his position, and living a pretty sweet life. Alison Baker, once married to a powerful man herself, knows what a life in the spotlight is like, and has come away with less-than-positive experience. Now all she wants is to make a good life for her son and herself, far from the notoriety that once followed her. When a chance encounter brings Barrett and Alison into each others’ sphere, life as they each know it takes an unexpected turn.

SWAY is thoughtfully crafted, and instilled with Adriana’s signature focus on family. Each member of the Landry family, along with Alison’s family and friends, bring personality, humor, and, most importantly, unswerving support, to both Barrett and Alison, and Huxley, Ali’s son, had my heart from his first scene. There are plenty of distinctly unlikable characters, as well, which just adds to the political intrigue that runs throughout the story.

I am absolutely in love with this story, and with the relationship between Barrett and Ali. He is completely swoon-worthy, made even more so by his utter commitment to making things work with Ali. Although the differences between them say that they shouldn’t, the two of them just work, and it’s pure pleasure experiencing it along with them.

“What if this is all wrong?” I ask.
“What if it’s all right?”
“What if we mess this up a million different ways?”
“What if we nail it every way we go at it?” he smirks.
“What if you decide you hate me?”
He laughs, kissing me on the nose.
“What if you decide you’re going to love me forever? Because that, Ms. Baker, is what I’m going to make sure happens.”

Seeing Barrett aspire to become the man that he truly is at heart, and watching the relationship between the two of them unfold, moved SWAY firmly into one of the top spots of my favorite Adriana books, and one of the most enjoyable I’ve read recently. 5 sweet, sexy, ‘I love a man that knows what he wants’ stars for this one. I cannot wait for the rest of the Landrys to get their turn, and will have each book at the top of my TBR.

***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***

____________________________________________

Author Bio

USA Today Bestselling author Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, Adriana has created her own.

She resides in the Midwest with her husband, sons, and two dogs. She spends a large amount of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. You can find her outside if the weather’s nice and there’s always a piece of candy in her pocket.

For sneak peeks, giveaways, and more, please join Adriana’s Facebook Group, Books by Adriana Locke, or her Goodreads group, All Locked Up.

Author Links

WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER

GOODREADS / INSTAGRAM / NEWSLETTER

PINTEREST / SPOTIFY / AMAZON
FACEBOOK GROUP / GOODREADS GROUP

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Review: Dirty Little Rendezvous by Emma Hart

Posted on 05/14/2016 by shellbellereads

Sometimes the past becomes the present… And he’s hot, cocky, and British.

Leila Burke expected a lot of things when she joined her brothers on tour in Europe. He wasn’t one of them.

Jase Masters had no idea what to expect when he agreed to support Dirty B. on tour. She definitely wasn’t it.

It’s been eighteen months.

He remembers that night a little too well.

She insists she has no idea who he is.

He’s rugged and determined.

She’s wild and free.

Together, they’re a tornado.

Keeping it from touching down is the least of their worries.

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

He’s so close that my eyes shut, but I force them open again, only because I want to see how green his eyes really are when the sun glances over them.
“The British are idiots,” I mumble, unable to form any further words—or any that are more coherent than those.
“Truth. If only because I can taste your lips and I haven’t touched them yet.”
“I think that makes you real—”
He cuts me off by doing exactly what he just mentioned—touching my lips with his. It’s the exact same as this morning, just fresher, almost. Realer. They’re heated from the sun, chilled from the wine we had at the bar around the corner not thirty minutes ago, and…softer.
Softer—yeah.
Hesitant yet somehow forceful.
Unsure yet oddly certain.
Mesmerizing. Consuming.
I grasp his shirt in my hand, wrapping my fingers in the soft material, as he moves closer to me and his other arm snakes around my body. He pulls me against him, and I slide along the wooden seat, my heart thundering in my chest.
I’ve been here for twenty-four hours.
I don’t want to stop.
I don’t want to change this.
I don’t know what’s happening.
I can’t feel my toes because they’re curled so hard. I can’t feel my fingers because they’re gripping him so tight. I can’t feel my lips because I’m kissing him so firmly.
I can’t feel my heart’s beats.
It’s beating too solidly, too firmly, too quickly, too erratically, for me to get a handle on it. My stomach is flipping and my lungs tightening and I swear to god, I’m consumed.
Jase.
Twenty-four hours.
A guy I’ve met once before last night.
And I’m consumed.
I’m scared.
I pull back from him, just our mouths, for just a second, before he pulls me right back in. I’m compelled to continue kissing him, and I wish I weren’t, but it’s as though a year never passed and I’m right back in London with the boy from the coffee shop.
I feel the way I did then. Racing heart when he kisses me, tingling skin when he touches me, butterflying stomach when he looks at me…
Except this is no coffee shop.
This isn’t London.
A year has passed.
And he’s not just a guy trying to figure out lyrics.
Not anymore.
He’s a potential international superstar, loved by possibly millions, obsessed over by far more. His lyrics could be written for him. His music produced for him. His schedule organized for him.
And I’m just a girl living in the shadows of her famous brothers, happy for a quiet life by the beach, where the loudest scream is that of the ocean crashing against the rocks that dare break the perfection of the sand.

Tracey’s Review

Leila Burke knows what it’s like to live in the limelight. As the younger sister of the four members of the Dirty B.’s, she’s seen her brothers and the women in their lives deal with fame, and knows that she wants none of it. Deciding to tag along on the European leg of their latest tour, Leila wants nothing more than to shake up her life a little bit, to revisit the places that she knows and loves. The last thing she’s looking for is to reconnect with the hot British guy that she met on her last trip.

Being asked to open for the Dirty B.’s is no small thing, and Jase Masters doesn’t want to do anything to mess it up. Figuring out that the girl that he, erm, met last year is their younger sister is one heck of a surprise. Figuring out how to keep himself from wanting her is going to be one heck of a job.

I’m fairly new to the Burke Brothers series by author Emma Hart, but I have fallen completely in love with all of the Burkes. Four hot protective older brothers, their girls, who just happen to all be best friends with Leila, the youngest Burke, and each other, and a funny as heck three-year-old make these books a pleasure.

All of the Burkes have gotten their stories in previous books, and now it’s time for Leila to get hers. At twenty-three, she’s fresh out of a boring relationship, has recently parted ways with her employer, and is looking for a change of scenery. Tagging along with her brothers on their tour of France and England seems like just the ticket, until her brothers bring it with their list of ground rules, which promise to make this trip feel sort of like being in prison.

Leila is feisty, sassy, snarky, and so awesome. She knows that reconnecting with Jase will only serve to bring the wrath of the B.’s down upon her, protective guys that they are. But once Leila and Jase begin to spend time together, to really get to know each other, once they’re managing to evade the all-seeing eyes of the Brothers Burke, all bets are off. And, before they know it, their hearts are involved.

It’s not supposed to be this way. It’s supposed to be a chain of late-night dirty little rendezvous after dirty little rendezvous. Secret, forbidden, hidden. Life-changing, earth-shattering, heart-thumping, but in the dirtiest, most delicious, most provocative way.
Not secret, forbidden, or hidden because there’s more to it.
Not life-changing, earth-shattering, or heart-thumping because he’s someone so much more than just a person to warm my bed for an evening.

DIRTY LITTLE RENDEZVOUS is the perfect wrap-up to this series. Sexy, sassy, steamy, with a heavy dose of family, I couldn’t put it down. I happily give this read 4.5 stars, and, if hot rockers and the women that love and handle them expertly are your thing, recommend that you add this one, and the rest of the series, to your TBR.

_________________________________

By day, New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Adult author Emma Hart dons a cape and calls herself Super Mum to two beautiful little monsters. By night, she drops the cape, pours a glass of whatever she fancies – usually wine – and writes books.

Emma is working on Top Secret projects she will share with her followers and fans at every available opportunity. Naturally, all Top Secret projects involve a dashingly hot guy who likes to forget to wear a shirt, a sprinkling (or several) of hold-onto-your-panties hot scenes, and a whole lotta love.

She likes to be busy – unless busy involves doing the dishes, but that seems to be when all the ideas come to life.

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | NEWSLETTER

Blog Tour + Review: Karma by Nadine Nightingale – Drag.Me.To.Hell. Series

Posted on 05/13/2016 by shellbellereads

Title: Karma

Author: Nadine Nightingale

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Buy: Amazon
About Karma:

People call me all sorts of names—bad girl, black sheep, and my all-time favorite…Satan’s bride. I could blame the fact I’m a witch for my behavior, but the truth is I’m infuriating, arrogant, and stab-worthy.

Alex Remington is a hunter and everything I’m not—righteous, honest, caring. We used to have a thing, but that was before he learned I’m a witch and tried to kill me.

Eighteen months later, he’s back in my life and we have a deal; I’ll help him save his brother and he’ll disappear from my life for good. But karma can be a real bitch…

Buy:

Exclusive Excerpt:

“Alex?” My voice echoes through the electrified air, as the clock above the sliding door blinks into existence. The watch hands move way too slowly. Shivers roll down my spine. “Dr. DaSilva?” I croak.

White noise pulsates in my ears. From the corner of my eye, I see shadows dancing through the fey room. “Alex, where the fuck are you?” I don’t mean to sound hysterical, but I do.

The static sound decomposes into terrifying voices. “Who are you?”

“Can you help us?” “I need to pick up my daughter.” “Where are we?” “D is going to kill me.” They all speak at once. That’s it! I’m outta here. Pressing my hands against my ears, I head for the door. Out of nowhere, white mist appears. What the—

Like a mad swarm of bees, it rushes toward me, knocking the standing scale over and sending the organ on it flying.

“Where do you think you’re going?” a bloodcurdling voice thunders.

I look from the mist to the heart. If this is a nightmare, I should write this shit down and send it to Stephen King. If not, well, then I’m totally screwed. “Who the fuck are you?” I shout, heart leaping inside my chest.

The autopsy saw on the metal table springs to life, and shrill laughter penetrates the dull air. Carried by an invisible hand, the lethal saw flies at me, stopping only inches from my neck. “I,” the white mist says, “am the spirit you called.”

Awesome. Just awesome. A crazy-ass, Goethe- quoting spirit points a saw at my neck. Shadows lurk in every corner, and Alex is freaking gone. Could this day get any better?

Actually, it could. Look around. Don’t you know what this place is?

The morgue?

Really? Then where the hell is Alex? Think, Amanda.

I hold my breath and scan the room. Distinctive echoes, ghostly lightning, and clocks that count seconds as minutes. Ring a bell?

No way. This is crazy.

Crazier than white mist that holds you at saw- point?

“Shut the fuck up,” I order the voice in my head.

This can’t be happening. I mean, there’s no freaking way I’m in—

Limbo? Hate to break the bad news, but that’s exactly where you are.

But you have to be—

Dead? Congratulations, Amanda. You’ve just won a ticket to Disney World. Too bad you won’t need it anymore.

I know spells can backfire, but this is madness. I’m twenty for Christ’s sake. There’s no way I’m dead.

Fear corrupts my voice. “What the fuck did you do to me?”

The air sizzles as the mist takes on human form, and not just any human form but Isobelle’s. Her otherwise blue eyes are charcoal, and she looks furious. “This is your fault,” she screams, bringing the saw closer to my neck. “You should have left me alone.”

Tracey’s Review

Amanda Bishop is a witch. The card-carrying, tarot-dealing, aura-reading sort. She’s ready to put all of it aside to settle into her new life as a college student, until Alex Remington, Amanda’s former flame, and, ironically, a witch hunter, makes her an offer that she can’t refuse.

I like to mix things up when I’m reading, so some paranormal romance sounded like just the thing. KARMA by Nadine Nightingale definitely fills the bill, full as it is of witches and hunters and voodoo, oh, my…Seriously, though, I had to like Amanda. She’s no one’s patsy, and is not afraid to kick butt and take names. When Alex comes striding back into her life and demands her aid in finding his brother, Jesse, Amanda’s plans to settle into her new life at NYU are put on hold.

Nadine’s incorporation of witchcraft, voodoo, and some heavy subject matter worthy of an episode of Criminal Intent, all with a side of snark, sass, and some steamy moments, makes for an interesting read. I did get a little, erm, frustrated with the back and forth between Amanda and Alex, who obviously still have some unfinished business, as well as some secrets that they’re holding close to their vests, but, all in all, KARMA is an interesting take on the PNR genre, paired with romantic suspense. I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series, so that I can find out more about what each of the characters is hiding (yep, brother Jesse, too), and whether Amanda and Alex can work past their differences and give in to the feelings that they still have for each other. 4 stars for this one. If the grittier side of PNR is your cup of tea, you’ll want to check it out.

***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***

_________________________________________

About the Author:

Nadine aka Dini is a traveler at heart. She considers the world her home and practically lives out of her suitcases. When she’s not glaring at a blank page or abusing her poor keyboard, she spends her time reading, watching movies (preferably horror), pretends to work out, and hangs out with friends and family. Poor girl also suffers from a serious Marvel superhero addiction. So, if you run into her at night, wearing black, know she’s secretly dreaming of being the infamous Black Widow.

Her love for writing started in the sixth grade where she annoyed her classmates with a short story featuring Sailor Moon characters, a cemetery, and creepy ghosts. Yes, she’s always been addicted to the dark side. Nadine writes paranormal romance. Her debut novel “Karma” the first book in her paranormal romance series Drag.Me.To.Hell. is published by the Wild Rose Press and will be out in May 2016. She has a serious girl crush on her protagonist Amanda Bishop.

Nadine has a BA in Comparative Religions and studied Creative Writing at the University of Oxford.

Connect with Nadine:

https://www.nadinenightingale.com

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNadineNightingale/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

https://twitter.com/dini_caroline

https://www.instagram.com/therealnadinenightingale/

https://uk.pinterest.com/dininightingale/

Release Blitz + Review: Heartbeats by Melody Grace – A Heartbreaker Prequel Story

Posted on 05/11/2016 by shellbellereads

Title: Heartbeats

A Heartbreaker Prequel Story

Author: Melody Grace

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: May 11, 2016

Blurb

One moment can change your life forever… For Eva Carmichael, it’s the second she lays eyes on Oak Harbor’s troubled bad boy, Finn McKay. He’s bold and reckless, and leaves a trail of broken hearts in his wake. She should stay away, but she soon discovers they have more in common than she ever dreamed. They’re both living with painful secrets, and a true self they keep hidden, not letting anyone in – until she takes a leap and risks it all…Finn knows Eva is too good to be true. He’s been counting down to the day he can turn his back on Oak Harbor for good, and finally escape all the dark, painful shadows of his past. But this girl is impossible to ignore. Her smile makes him forget himself, and just one kiss could redeem it all. He’s determined not to fall, but then one night changes everything…

Two unlikely hearts. One intoxicating romance. This epic love story is only just beginning.

** Heartbeats is a novella story set before the events of Heartbreaker. Both books are written as stand-alone stories, so you can enjoy them in whichever order you like. **

ADD TO GOODREADS

Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK
iBOOKS

Also Available

AMAZON US / UK
B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS
GOOGLE PLAY

______________________

Tracey’s Review

The moments that change our lives arrive just like any other: stunning in their ordinariness, a second ticking on by, blink and you miss them spinning past. But they shiver through our lives like an earthquake, radiating out from that single heartbeat, shaking our very foundations, and revealing cracks and deep crevices that, in time, will fill up our lives with a future we could never dream of.

Having read and loved HEARTBREAKER by Melody Grace, I was excited to see that Melody had written HEARTBEATS, a novella that gives the backstory of Eva Carmichael and Finn McKay. Because, really, when you’re reading a sort of second-chance epic love story, who wouldn’t want a snapshot into the past to see where everything started?

I’ll be honest, there isn’t one book that Melody has written that I haven’t adored, and HEARTBEATS is no different. I fell in love with Eva and Finn in HEARTBREAKER, so I couldn’t wait to see how their story started.

Eva and Finn couldn’t have been more different. He, wildly popular, the sexy high school senior with the mysterious demeanor and sex appeal for days. She, the shy girl, happy to stay under the radar and keep to herself.

…I was just sixteen, still locked tight in a cage of my own making, moving through the world at a whisper even as my voice inside was crying out to be heard. I didn’t know what it felt like to live out loud, to leap without looking, love without fear. To feel a passion so wild and out of control it scared and thrilled me in equal measure. To have my heart broken so thoroughly, I thought I’d never piece the shattered pieces of myself back together again.

The two of them shouldn’t have worked as a couple, but opposites, as we know, attract like mad, and neither Finn nor Eva could escape each others’ pull, falling for each other against all odds. But the road to love is often filled with twists and turns, and takes a lot of effort to get to an even place, something that these two find out very quickly.

I thought that the hard part was over, that now that we’d found each other, everything else would fall into place. But sometimes, those moments that change everything take a darker turn too…I couldn’t begin to imagine the desperation that would drive us apart, heartbreak that would take years to heal. A love that would somehow find a way to bring us back to ourselves, rebuild everything we’d lost, and make us whole again…Finn was right. It was only just the beginning.

HEARTBEATS is a perfect introduction to Finn’s and Eva’s story, told with all of Melody’s usual passion and angst. It’s meant to be, and is, a snapshot into their past, and is like a delectable appetizer that leaves you wanting more. 4.5 delicious stars for Finn, Eva, and the beginning of their unbreakable bond.

***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***__

______________________________

Author Bio

Melody Grace is the New York Times bestselling author of the
Beachwood Bay series. A small-town girl turned SoCal beach lover, after
spending her life with her nose in a book, she decided it was time she wrote
one herself. She loves steamy romance novels, happily-ever-afters, and lusting
after fictional menfolk. She lives in LA with her two kittens, Bucky Barnes and
Steve Rogers.

Author Links

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER
AMAZON

NEWSLETTER
GOODREADS

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

New Release + 5 Star Review: Stout by Georgia Cates – Lovibond Series – Book 2

Posted on 05/11/2016 by shellbellereads

Craft beer and the sexy men who brew it.

A beautiful neighbor. A complete stranger. That’s all she was when I moved in next door.

Adelyn Maxwell is my neighbor but she’s no girl next door. The more I come to know her, the more I discover she’s a good girl with a lovely dark side. And maybe I don’t want her to stay on her side of the fence.

I want to disturb the rhythm of her pulse.

I want to see the way her hair spills on the bed when she lies beneath me.

I want her to teach me the dirty pretty things she desires behind closed doors. And she does.

But mostly I want to leave my mark on the most intimate, untouched part of her body. Her heart.

A seemingly insignificant intersection of our lives neither of us recalls suddenly becomes a pivotal moment in our future. We aren’t strangers at all. And our paths aren’t crossing for the first time.

These twists and turns of fate will become one of two things: a wrecking ball to tear us apart or the connection to bond us together forever.

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo

Oliver Thorn’s POV

“Control. And how I feel when you exert your strength over me. Domination. Power. Control. All of it turns me the fuck on.”
“Why?”
“There’s something primal and exhilarating about a man who takes complete control in the bedroom. That’s what it’s about for me. I want to feel desire. Real desire. I need a man who will grab me and make me feel small and vulnerable and feminine. Without hurting me.”
She releases my hands and sits upright, still mounted on top of me. “Outside of the bedroom, it’s all a level playing field. I’m an independent woman, and I control everything in my life. But in the bedroom . . . I want to be controlled by a strong man.”
“And choked.”
“I need an alpha male. I crave the dominance and show of strength he has over me.” She reaches for my hands and intertwines our fingers. “You’re the first man I’ve trusted in years. I couldn’t have let anyone else put their hands on me that way. It had to be you.” She releases my hands and leans over me, propping on her lower arms, but her hands grasp my face. She presses a soft, closemouthed kiss on my lips. “Only you, Thorn.”
She wants an alpha. A controller. A choker.
God help me, I like what I just did to her. I want to do it again. And that’s totally fucked up.
I spent my childhood being controlled, dominated, choked. What kind of person does it make me if I do those things to her? Even if it’s what she wants?
“I can’t, Max.”
She presses her forehead to mine. “You can. You did.” I did. And it was wrong.
So. Fucking. Wrong.
“But not again.”
“I saw your face. You liked my submission. You liked putting your hand on me like that. You weren’t repulsed. And in those few moments when you held my life in your hands, I belonged to you. I knew it. You knew it. And you liked it.”

Michel’s Review

Readers favorite brewery, The Lovibond Brewery, has a new flavor …or should I say a new book in the series. Readers met the crew in Tap, the first book in the series. Next on tap is the brewer behind the beers, Oliver Thorn.

***

Oliver has moved into the perfect dream house. He and his sister had an abusive childhood in their earlier years in life. Even though they were adopted and raised by the amazing Thorn couple, Oliver still carries the scars. He has become a successful man and strives to be a better person. Like most people he has had his ups and downs in life. He has learned to pick himself up, adapt, and move on. When he meets his sexy neighbor Adelyn Maxwell, he’s ready for a new beginning.

***

Adelyn and Oliver are extremely compatible. They are perfect for one another except for the one area that is important in a couple’s relationship. They are not on the same page in the bedroom. Adelyn wants a dominate man. Oliver fears her desires because he never wants to be put in a situation where he feels like an abuser. Together the two have to find mutual ground or move on from something that could make their lives better. A life with with love, passion, and respect.

***

They find a way to work out their sexual problems but there are other roadblocks that could tear their fragile relationship apart.

***

Life isn’t black and white, right or wrong, or good and bad. There are many gray areas with valid points. They will have to learn to compromise and respect each others beliefs and choices.

***

Georgia Cates once again wrote an original love story that features the basic struggle most couples have. Compromise is one of the hardest things to do in a relationship. It takes work.

***

Stout was well written and loaded with sizzling hot moments. The characters came to life and jumped off the pages. It was refreshing to read a mature and intelligent love story.

***

I highly recommend reading Stout. It can be read as a stand alone novel or in series order.

_______________________________________

Georgia resides in rural Mississippi with her wonderful husband, Jeff, and their two beautiful daughters. She spent fourteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an author and hasn’t looked back yet.

When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing. When she’s being domestic, she’s listening to her iPod and visualizing scenes for her current work in progress. Every story coming from her always has a song to inspire it.

Representation: All questions regarding subsidiary rights for any of my books, inquiries regarding foreign translation and film rights should be directed to Jane Dystel of Dystel & Goderich.

FACEBOOK | NEWSLETTER | TWITTER | WEBSITE | GOODREADS

Saucy Southern Readers

professional, honest, and timely book reviews

Category Archives: Reviewers

Review: Rekindled by C. J. McKella

Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: Wicked Heart by Leisa Raven – StarCrossed Series

Release Blitz + Review: Heartbreaker by Erin McCarthy – Nashville Nights – Book 1

Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: Smut by Karina Halle

What happens when the kink between the pages leads to heat between the sheets?

But even as they start to fall hard for each other, will their burgeoning relationship survive if their scandalous secret is exposed or are happily-ever-afters just a work of fiction?

iTunes | Nook | Kobo

Release Blitz + Excerpt + Review + Giveaway: Showmance by L. H. Cosway

Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Sway by Adriana Locke

Review: Dirty Little Rendezvous by Emma Hart

Sometimes the past becomes the present… And he’s hot, cocky, and British.

Leila Burke expected a lot of things when she joined her brothers on tour in Europe. He wasn’t one of them.

Jase Masters had no idea what to expect when he agreed to support Dirty B. on tour. She definitely wasn’t it.

It’s been eighteen months.

He remembers that night a little too well.

She insists she has no idea who he is.

He’s rugged and determined.

She’s wild and free.

Together, they’re a tornado.

Keeping it from touching down is the least of their worries.

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | NEWSLETTER

Blog Tour + Review: Karma by Nadine Nightingale – Drag.Me.To.Hell. Series

Release Blitz + Review: Heartbeats by Melody Grace – A Heartbreaker Prequel Story

New Release + 5 Star Review: Stout by Georgia Cates – Lovibond Series – Book 2

Craft beer and the sexy men who brew it.

A beautiful neighbor. A complete stranger. That’s all she was when I moved in next door.

Adelyn Maxwell is my neighbor but she’s no girl next door. The more I come to know her, the more I discover she’s a good girl with a lovely dark side. And maybe I don’t want her to stay on her side of the fence.

I want to disturb the rhythm of her pulse.

I want to see the way her hair spills on the bed when she lies beneath me.

I want her to teach me the dirty pretty things she desires behind closed doors. And she does.

But mostly I want to leave my mark on the most intimate, untouched part of her body. Her heart.

A seemingly insignificant intersection of our lives neither of us recalls suddenly becomes a pivotal moment in our future. We aren’t strangers at all. And our paths aren’t crossing for the first time.

These twists and turns of fate will become one of two things: a wrecking ball to tear us apart or the connection to bond us together forever.

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo

Oliver Thorn’s POV

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

What happens when the kink between the pages leads to heat between the sheets?

But even as they start to fall hard for each other, will their burgeoning relationship survive if their scandalous secret is exposed or are happily-ever-afters just a work of fiction?

iTunes | Nook | Kobo

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Sometimes the past becomes the present… And he’s hot, cocky, and British.

Leila Burke expected a lot of things when she joined her brothers on tour in Europe. He wasn’t one of them.

Jase Masters had no idea what to expect when he agreed to support Dirty B. on tour. She definitely wasn’t it.

It’s been eighteen months.

He remembers that night a little too well.

She insists she has no idea who he is.

He’s rugged and determined.

She’s wild and free.

Together, they’re a tornado.

Keeping it from touching down is the least of their worries.

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | NEWSLETTER

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Craft beer and the sexy men who brew it.

A beautiful neighbor. A complete stranger. That’s all she was when I moved in next door.

Adelyn Maxwell is my neighbor but she’s no girl next door. The more I come to know her, the more I discover she’s a good girl with a lovely dark side. And maybe I don’t want her to stay on her side of the fence.

I want to disturb the rhythm of her pulse.

I want to see the way her hair spills on the bed when she lies beneath me.

I want her to teach me the dirty pretty things she desires behind closed doors. And she does.

But mostly I want to leave my mark on the most intimate, untouched part of her body. Her heart.

A seemingly insignificant intersection of our lives neither of us recalls suddenly becomes a pivotal moment in our future. We aren’t strangers at all. And our paths aren’t crossing for the first time.

These twists and turns of fate will become one of two things: a wrecking ball to tear us apart or the connection to bond us together forever.

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo

Oliver Thorn’s POV

Share this: