Book Tour + 5 Star Review + Giveaway : 9 Letters by Blake Austin

Posted on 02/24/2016 by shellbellereads

9 Letters

By Blake Austin

Synopsis

Luke Cawley is a broken man. After his wife’s tragic death, he lost everything that mattered in the world. Now, his life is filled with hard days, harder nights, and a steady stream of alcohol and the wrong kind of women. Nothing helps.

Until the letters arrive on Luke’s doorstep.

Nine envelopes. Nine messages. Nine chances to find his way back.

Rae Goode is looking for the real thing. After fighting her way out of a string of bad relationships, she’s ready for something different–something true.

She meets Luke while piecing her life together, and right away she can tell that he’s different. Drawn together by fate and the desire to heal, Rae and Luke discover new ways to mend their broken hearts–one letter at a time.

Discover Blake Austin’s debut novel of loss, redemption, and ever-enduring love.

Excerpt

I was about twenty minutes early for my shift, but I got up to the bar, grabbed a rag, started wiping it down, bussing some dishes.

“Damn, Luke,” Jake said, watching me work. “You win the lotto or something? Royals win the pennant last night and I forgot to watch?”

“I’m just in a good mood, that’s all,” I said.

I thought about it a moment longer, decided I should tell him more. Impart some wisdom learned from my not-particularly-advanced years.

“When everything’s dark for so damn long and your eyes get used to it,” I said, “just a little glimmer of sunshine lights up the whole world.”

He nodded, then grabbed a bus bin and headed back into the kitchen.

Warren though, Warren wasn’t impressed. He was sitting by one of the daytime barflies, but he’d stopped talking and was just watching me. I was on thin ice, and I knew it. I couldn’t afford to lose my job. A heartbroken, drunk, angry widower is probably as unemployable as the average ex-con.

I came on at the end of the day shift. Warren liked tending bar during the day, because it meant just shooting the shit with the regulars. That day I had a smile for every customer, sparse words of wisdom like day drunks want to hear. Tending bar wasn’t my dream. But to hell with letting that make me lazy. I kept the place clean, I poured drinks like I cared.

I was getting into the swing of it when happy hour kicked in and a few more people filtered through the door. Couple of middle-aged bikers, a retired couple that parked their RV out front.

The door swung open again, letting in a little bit of that early-evening cold, and I glanced up to see a crowd of three women, with two men. One of the women was a reddish blonde, radiant. Sort of stole the light out of the room. It was Rae. Our eyes met and her smile gave the room back its light.

She’d been in jeans at the shelter, but she was in a blue dress now and she looked damn fine in either. Took my mind right off Maggie, faster than I thought it would be possible. I met her eyes, and she gave out a little gasp and giggle. I was probably smiling in surprise myself.

The crowd came over to the bar. I’d thought the other four were two couples, but I realized pretty quick that the black girl with the afro was dating the quiet white guy in a beard and glasses and tattoos, and that the other guy was trying to impress Rae. He had a John Deere hat, but his clothes were way too clean for me to buy it that he worked on a farm. I hated him, right off. I probably would have hated him if he was the best guy in the world, though. The other girl, she was tall, latina, and for some indiscernible reason was interested in the poser farmer.

Most of the time, I’m awful at reading people. But for some reason, at work I can tell you everything about everyone who walks in the door. About who’s into who, about who had a bad day at work. Who wants to get drunk and miserable, who wants to get drunk and happy, who wants to get drunk and start trouble. Maybe it’s some magic of the job, maybe it’s just how people carry themselves at a bar. Helps with tips, that’s for certain. You wingman right, and the money flows in.

Warren, he likes to upsell them drinks when he’s doing that. Get them excited about the top shelf. Not me.

“Hey, Rae,” I said.

“Luke,” she said.

John Deere looked at me like I was the scum of the earth. And maybe I was, but if I was the scum then he was… I don’t know, something worse than scum. Wannabe scum.

She introduced me to her friends. Nicole had the afro, her boyfriend was Eric. The girl with bad taste was Irina, and John Deere had some name but honestly it went in one ear and out the other. He was John Deere to me. Yeah, maybe I’m an asshole.

“So, how do you know this guy?” Deere asked, tossing me a look that said I clearly wasn’t good enough to be friend with someone like Rae.

“Oh, he came in just the other day. Adopted the sweetest dog, a bloodhound.” She turned to me, flashing that dimple high on her cheek. “How is he? You guys call a truce yet?”

“King’s great,” I said. “I mean, he’s probably at home right now, eating everything I’ve ever owned, but I figure I was due for a purge anyway, right?”

It was a lame attempt at humor, but Rae laughed.

“What can I get you all? Friend of Rae’s is a friend of mine.”

Michel’s Review

Imagine finding the love of your life when you’re in high school. A love so pure and whole. Taking the next step is only natural. Marriage, careers, and maybe kids. But what happens when fate steps in and takes it all away before it could blossom to it’s full potential. It’s pure devastation, heartbreak, and loss. Not only have you lost the one person that means the most to you, you have lost the other half of your self. You are left to navigate through life without purpose or hope.

One year after Emily’s death, Luke is still reeling from the loss. He has pulled away from his family, friends, and business. He’s barely surviving his grief. The loss, guilt, and loneliness are just a few of the side effects he’s feeling. Then one day a package is on his doorstep. The package contains nine letters from his wife Emily. These letters has specific tasks and instructions that he must follow before opening the next letter.

Opening the first letter is like ripping his heart out. He’s shocked when he reads the instructions. Get A Dog. Thus begins Luke’s journey to becoming the man he was meant to be. Each letter is more than a task, it is a revelation.

Blake Austin delivered an emotional story that is more than an epic love story. It was a story of hope and redemption. I could not put this book down and blew through an entire box of tissues while reading 9 Letters.

Follow Blake Austin…

Facebook ~ Goodreads

GIVEAWAY
$20 Winner’s Choice Book Retailer Gift Card & Signed Paperback (1 Winner)

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

New Release + 5 Star Review + 2016 Favorite: Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes … A Dark Thriller

Posted on 02/23/2016 by shellbellereads

Hidden Bodies

By Caroline Kepnes

A Dark Thriller

Sequel to You

Buy : Amazon / B & N / ITunes

Synopsis

In the compulsively readable follow-up to her widely acclaimed debut novel, You, Caroline Kepnes weaves a tale that Booklist calls “the love child of Holden Caulfield and Patrick Bateman.”

Hidden Bodies marks the return of a voice that Stephen King described as original and hypnotic, and through the divisive and charmingly sociopathic character of Joe Goldberg, Kepnes satirizes and dissects our culture, blending suspense with scathing wit.

Joe Goldberg is no stranger to hiding bodies. In the past ten years, this thirty-something has buried four of them, collateral damage in his quest for love. Now he’s heading west to Los Angeles, the city of second chances, determined to put his past behind him.

In Hollywood, Joe blends in effortlessly with the other young upstarts. He eats guac, works in a bookstore, and flirts with a journalist neighbor. But while others seem fixated on their own reflections, Joe can’t stop looking over his shoulder. The problem with hidden bodies is that they don’t always stay that way. They re-emerge, like dark thoughts, multiplying and threatening to destroy what Joe wants most: truelove. And when he finds it in a darkened room in Soho House, he’s more desperate than ever to keep his secrets buried. He doesn’t want to hurt his new girlfriend—he wants to be with her forever. But if she ever finds out what he’s done, he may not have a choice…

________________________________________

Robin’s Review

We first meet Joe Goldberg in You, the debut novel from author Caroline Kepnes. An irresistible page-turner, You has been compared to some of the great dark thrillers and has even received praise from author Stephen King. Joe is clever, humorous and quite sociopathic in his quest to find love. He’s a stalker and a murderer, but Joe is also a strangely loveable character. His character has even acquired a dedicated following. Now the adventures of Joe Goldberg resume in the latest novel from Kepnes titled Hidden Bodies.

As the synopsis says, “Joe Goldberg is no stranger to hiding bodies. In the past ten years, this thirty-something has buried four of them, collateral damage in his quest for love.” Joe heads west in Hidden Bodies, from New York to Los Angeles, in search of his most recent girlfriend. Although Joe arrives in Los Angeles with an agenda, his plans are soon derailed when he meets Love Quinn and her brother, Forty. Joe is witty and smart, and he quickly blends in with the Hollywood crowd. Love is the perfect woman for Joe, and he is desperate to make her his forever girl. But Joe is haunted by hidden bodies and a mugofurine, and they threaten to derail his plans for a future with Love.

Caroline Kepnes must be one clever author to develop a character such as Joe Goldberg. He is one of the most interesting characters I have EVER come across. Since Hidden Bodies is written in Joe’s point of view, we are given a glimpse into his motivations. Joe is brilliant and quick on his feet when making decisions, but he still becomes entangled in web of lies and deceit as he searches for Amy Adam. He becomes more sidetracked by each new person that he meets. When Joe gets out of one jam, he finds himself in another. It’s controlled chaos.

Kepnes has a special sense of humor embedded in her writing. Hidden Bodies is a dark thriller about a serial killer! You might be thinking to yourself, how could this possibly be funny? There is more irony than I can express in Hidden Bodies. Imagine a serial killer/stalker complaining about people who are mentally ill, violent and crazy! Or grumbling about the lack of safety in the world! Joe is paranoid, as he should be. He attempts to continue a charade of normalcy with Love, while at the same time, he’s stressing out about hidden bodies from his past and plotting another murder!

Hidden Bodies is entertaining, addictive, and at times, had me laughing out loud! Joe is a strangely likeable character, and just as I did when I read You, I couldn’t help pulling for Joe to get the girl. If you haven’t had a chance to read You, I highly recommend it! You will definitely want to read You before you begin reading Hidden Bodies. Both books are excellent choices. I am so excited to share that I’m giving a 5-star rating to Hidden Bodies, and I have added it to my list of 2016 favorites!

_____________________________________________________

You

By Caroline Kepnes

A Dark Thriller

Buy : Amazon / B & N / ITunes

Synopsis

From debut author Caroline Kepnes comes You, one of Suspense Magazine’s Best Books of 2014, and a brilliant and terrifying novel for the social media age.

When a beautiful, aspiring writer strides into the East Village bookstore where Joe Goldberg works, he does what anyone would do: he Googles the name on her credit card.

There is only one Guinevere Beck in New York City. She has a public Facebook account and Tweets incessantly, telling Joe everything he needs to know: she is simply Beck to her friends, she went to Brown University, she lives on Bank Street, and she’ll be at a bar in Brooklyn tonight—the perfect place for a “chance” meeting.

As Joe invisibly and obsessively takes control of Beck’s life, he orchestrates a series of events to ensure Beck finds herself in his waiting arms. Moving from stalker to boyfriend, Joe transforms himself into Beck’s perfect man, all while quietly removing the obstacles that stand in their way—even if it means murder.

A terrifying exploration of how vulnerable we all are to stalking and manipulation, debut author Caroline Kepnes delivers a razor-sharp novel for our hyper-connected digital age. You is a compulsively readable page-turner that’s being compared to Gone Girl, American Psycho, and Stephen King’s Misery.

__________________________________________________

Author Bio

Caroline Kepnes is the author of You and Hidden Bodies. She splits her time between Los Angeles, California and Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

She would love to hear from you over on Facebook.

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Blitz + Review: We Were Here by Daisy Prescott

Posted on 02/23/2016 by shellbellereads

We Were Here by Daisy Prescott Review and Excerpt Blog Tour- Feb 23-26

In the 90s …

texting involved paper and a pen …

… our selfies were Polaroids …

… our favorite music was on mix tapes.

Sex was dangerous, music was raw, and falling in love felt nostalgic.

We were friends and lovers.

We thought we knew everything.

We knew nothing.

We were here.

Set in the early 1990s, a time before the internet, social media, and smart phones, We Were Here is the prequel to Geoducks Are For Lovers. This book can be read as a standalone.

“This story has it all! Just like a mixed tape; we get a dose of steamy romance, angsty ballads and sweet love songs woven together in a compelling, heartwarming and sometimes heartwrenching journey of self-exploration.” Helena Hunting, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author

Buy : Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Excerpt

Maggie, Freshmen year

After being quizzed about the Dewey Decimal system, and failing, I returned to my room in shame. At this rate, if I wanted to work on campus, I’d be washing dishes in the dining hall. Nothing could be grosser than the used food and unclean dishes of thousands of college students. I gagged at the thought as I opened our door.
Inside, Jennifer—my perfectly nice and perfectly normal roommate—was straddling a guy on my desk chair, making out.

She might have been trying to eat his face. I couldn’t really tell in the two seconds I stared at them before clamping my eyes shut. I know I spied her tongue. Outside of her mouth. All I could see of him were his dark hair, long legs, and brown Wallabee boots.

Panicked about interrupting something, and simultaneously feeling like a prude, I backed my way through the open door. After it quietly clicked close, I pressed my head against the cool metal.

I could go back to the library, except I left there ten minutes ago. The dorm lounge was an option, but this time of day meant it would be filled with some random club. I couldn’t remember if Thursday’s meeting was German Lovers or Save the Geoducks—our school mascot. Neither appealed to me.

I stared harder at the painted metal, wishing the make-out session on the other side would end sooner rather than later.

“Are you locked out?” The blond guy from down the hall rested his head on the bulletin board next to my room.

“Or are you praying?”

Pressing my cheek on the door, I twisted to see him more clearly.

“It’s okay if you are. Pray if you’ve got to.”

“I’m not. Just thinking.”

A loud moan sounded from inside the room. “Oh, oh, oh God.”

“Sounds like someone in there is praying.” His lips curled into a smile. “You might want to step away, lest someone think you’re a pervert for eavesdropping.”

I jumped away from the door. “I wasn’t listening!”

Chuckling, he held up his hands in defense. “Not judging you. Praying and voyeurism both have their places, usually in Madonna videos.”

Another not so soft groan carried from my room. I took a step farther away. My favorite black on black Swatch showed the time as four o’clock. Too early to go to dinner. Looks like I’ll be going to the lounge after all.

“You want to come hang out in my room until they finish whatever they’re doing in there?” His offer sounded genuine and his smile was more than friendly. He gestured over his shoulder to the open door across the hall and down a few rooms. “I can promise you my roommate isn’t in there making out with anyone. We should be safe.”

Selah, Freshman Year

“Miss Elmore.”

Great. Despite most definitely being outside of class and off campus, he’d reverted to formal names.

“Mr. Vincent.”

“I’m surprised to see you here.” He ignored introductions to his friend.

“I could say the same. I didn’t realize you lived in Olympia.”

“I don’t.”

Geez, this conversation couldn’t be more boring. Maybe his companion was friendly. I stuck out my hand. “Hi, I’m Selah, one of Mr. Vincent’s students at Evergreen.”

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Kevin.” If someone could be described as beige, he was that person. Nothing remarkable about him except how unremarkable he looked. “Are you taking Jason’s sex class?”

Thankfully, I remained composed enough not to swallow my tongue. “Is that how he’s describing it? Professor?” I held my gaze steady on Jason’s face. I swore I saw his cheeks color with pink.

“Kevin.” His voice lowered, stern and threatening.

Kevin’s grin told me he enjoyed teasing Jason. They must have been old friends. “Fine, are you in Professor Vincent’s biology class?”

“I am. I’m hoping for an A.”

Kevin’s clever eyes swept over me. “What year are you?”

“First.”

Jason groaned while Kevin nodded and asked, “Tell me, Selah, has anyone ever called you Lolita before?”

Now my own cheeks heated. My skirt suddenly felt too short—the gap between it and my boots exposing a lot of fishnet covered skin. Or it could have been my short pigtails. I realized all I needed was a lollipop.

“Can’t say it’s happened before, Kevin.”

Clearly, Kevin knew my game. Or maybe Jason’s. I’d never thought he could be the type to seduce his students. As far as I knew, this class was his first teaching job.

“How did you get in here?” Jason changed the subject. “Fake ID?”

Busted. “No one carded us.”

“Doesn’t make you legal.”

“Are you going to call the police? Have us arrested and handcuffed?” It might have been the vodka, but I decided to be bold and push him. “Are you into handcuffs, Professor?”

Jason choked on his beer, coughing to clear his throat.

After making sure his friend wasn’t dying, Kevin laughed. “This is more entertaining than I imagined a college dive bar could be.”

I focused my attention on the non-choking friend. “What brings you to Olympia, Kevin?”

“I’m in politics.”

Jason found his voice again. “He’s an assistant to an assistant to a state senator.”

“Then you know all about impropriety.” I gave him a sweet smile.

“It’s been a political tradition since the Founding Fathers.” Kevin raised his glass. “I like you. Care to join us?”

Jason set his beer on the table. “I can’t be seen drinking with students. Kevin, shut up.” He pointed at me. “You return to your booth and your friends, and we’ll pretend we never ran into each other.”

“Yes, sir.” I saluted him. “Can I ask one question first?”

“If he doesn’t answer, I will.” Kevin gave me a wicked grin like a wolf in beige clothing.

__________________________________

Michel’s Review

We Were Here by Daisy Prescott is a delightful story that takes readers back to the beginning. Seven young people beginning their lives as adults. These kids head off to college with big dreams. It’s their chance to finally make choices for themselves and live by their own rules. There’s a bit of fear and excitement.

Readers have met some of these characters in Geoducks Are For Lovers or in the Modern Love Story series. It’s not necessary to read any of those books before reading We Were Here. This is the perfect book to start.

Daisy captured the joy of youth and the lifetime bonds of friendship that were forged. We Were Here was a fun, delightful book that will leave the reader with a big smile. It triggered memories of years gone by that shaped the people they are today.

Read We Were Here by Daisy Prescott!

_________________________________________________

About Daisy Prescott:

USA Today Bestselling Author Daisy Prescott writes romantic comedies with heart.
Her Modern Love Stories feature characters in their thirties and forties finding and rediscovering love in unexpected and humorous ways. Her Wingmen books star regular guys who often have beards, drive trucks, and love deeply once they fall.
Born and raised in San Diego, Daisy currently lives in a real life Stars Hollow in the Boston suburbs with her husband and an imaginary house goat. When not writing about herself in the third person, Daisy can be found traveling, gardening, baking, or lost in a good book.
To learn more about Daisy and her writing, sign up for her mailing list here (copy and paste this link): eepurl.com/xhXb5. Send her an email at: daisyauthor@gmail.com Or chat with her on Twitter (@daisy_prescott) and Facebook: /daisyprescottauthorpage, and follow her on Instagram: /daisyprescott

Release Blitz + Review: Dance Of Desire by Christopher Rice

Posted on 02/23/2016 by shellbellereads

We are thrilled to bring you the Release Day Launch for DANCE OF DESIRE by Christopher Rice! DANCE OF DESIRE is a novella brought to you by 1001 Dark Nights. DANCE OF DESIRE is the first contemporary romance told with the author’s trademark humor and heart. It also introduces readers to a quirky and beautiful town in the Texas Hill Country called Chapel Springs. Grab your copy of this sexy novella today!

Amazon eBook Amazon Paperback**

EXCERPT:

“What time was it last night when you saw the moon?”she’d asked him.

“Past midnight.”

“But you only went to bed at eleven.”

“I couldn’t sleep.”

They both knew what thoughts were keeping him awake, thoughts of his father’s drinking and of how crazy his mother was going trying to rein it all in.

“Wake me up next time,” she’d told him. “I’ll keep you company.”

Such simple words, but she’d felt like she was jumping off the edge of a cliff when she’d said them. Instead of answering, Caleb gave her a long look as he fiddled with the leg of his shorts. She’d silently cursed herself, called herself an idiot and worse.

Caleb was just a friend. Honestly, he wasn’t even that, was he? Circumstances had thrown them together, that was all. He was the son of her father’s best friend, so they were basically like distant cousins, only with no shared blood in their veins. Crazy of her to think there might be more there.

If her friends could see her now, they’d probably laugh at her; the same friends who’d swooned that day her father had picked her up from school with Caleb in the passenger seat of his truck, and Caleb, wearing a Stetson that was about a half-size too big for his head, had given them a cocky grin, looked right into her eyes and said, Afternoon, pretty lady. Not afternoon pretty ladies, even though she’d had about four other girls standing on the curb next to her when he’d said it.

Clearly she’d made way too much of that moment. Sometimes afternoon just meant, afternoonand pretty lady was what a guy called you when he was trying to look cool.

Or so she’d thought earlier that day. Before he took her up on her offer and woke her up in the middle of the night so they could look at the moon together.

Which they do.

Because it’s beautiful.

When he lowers his right hand, the same hand with which he was just pointing to the night sky, her breath catches. Every muscle in her body tenses in anticipation.

Where will it land?

Dance of Desire - RWB Teaser 2

About DANCE OF DESIRE:

When Amber Watson walks in on her husband in the throes of extramarital passion with one of his employees, her comfortable, passion-free life is shattered in an instant. Worse, the fate of the successful country music bar that bears her family’s name suddenly hangs in the balance. Her soon to be ex-husband is one of the bar’s official owners; his mistress, one of its employees. Will her divorce destroy her late father’s legacy?

Not if Amber’s adopted brother Caleb has anything to do with it. The wandering cowboy has picked the perfect time for a homecoming. Better yet, he’s determined to use his brains and his fists to put Amber’s ex in his place and keep the family business intact. But Caleb’s long absence has done nothing to dim the forbidden desire between him and the woman the State of Texas considers to be his sister.

Years ago, when they were just teenagers, Caleb and Amber shared a passionate first kiss beside a moonlit lake. But that same night, tragedy claimed the life of Caleb’s parents and the handsome young man went from being a family friend to Amber’s adopted brother. Has enough time passed for the two of them to throw off the roles Amber’s father picked for them all those years ago? Will their desire for each other save the family business or put it in greater danger?

DANCE OF DESIRE is the first contemporary romance from award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Christopher Rice, told with the author’s trademark humor and heart. It also introduces readers to a quirky and beautiful town in the Texas Hill Country called Chapel Springs.

READER ADVISORY. DANCE OF DESIRE contains fantasies of dubious consent, acted on by consenting adults. Readers with sensitivities to those issues should be advised.

Dance of Desire - RWB Teaser 1

Tracey’s Review

Telling her how he really felt should have been the last option. The absolutely dead-last, nuclear apocalypse option. And touching her? Well, that was beyond the nuclear option. That was a “zombies are breaking down the front door and the only way out is through the nearest window” kind of option.

Amber and Caleb have known forever that their feelings for each other were something special. But just when they were beginning to let each other know, life events changed everything, making anything other than a platonic kind of love unacceptable. True love, though, cannot be denied, and sometimes the heavens smile down on lovers after all.

I was lucky to happen upon one of Christopher’s earlier books in the 1001 Dark Nights series, and really enjoyed it, so when DANCE OF DESIRE came along, I put it right at the top of my TBR list. This little book was a true delight to read. Christopher’s combination of humor, steamy sexiness, and heartfelt emotions, along with great characters and a realistic story line made this one of the most enjoyable, feel-good books I’ve had the opportunity to read lately. The relationship between Amber and her mother had me laughing out loud, and Belinda, Dora, Amanda, and all of the supporting characters are just great. I enjoyed every single bit of this book, and would be happy to see more of these folks in future. 4.5 stars for DANCE OF DESIRE; add this one to your reading list, because you will thoroughly enjoy it.

***ARC generously provided by the publisher for an honest review.***

_________________________________________________

About Christopher Rice:

After publishing four New York Times bestselling thrillers by the age of 30 and being declared one of People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive, award-winning writer Christopher Rice became the first author to make his erotic romance debut part of the 1,001 DARK NIGHTS series. THE FLAME: A Desire Exchange Novella kicked off a steamy new series set in New Orleans, featuring magical candles and a sexy new breed of supernatural beings, The Radiants, who are devoted to helping heroes and heroines realize their heart’s desire. THE FLAME earned accolades from some of the biggest names in erotic romance and was quickly followed up by THE SURRENDER GATE: A Desire Exchange Novel, available from Evil Eye Concepts as a Blue Box Special. Aside from authoring eight works of dark suspense, Christopher is also the co-host and executive producer of THE DINNER PARTY SHOW WITH CHRISTOPHER RICE & ERIC SHAW QUINN, all the episodes of which can be downloaded at TheDinnerPartyShow.com and from iTunes. Make sure you’re subscribed to The Dinner Party Show’s You Tube channel to receive their newest content in 2016.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | DANCE OF DESIRE on Goodreads

Dance of Desire - Now Available

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review : Soulless by T. M. Frazier – The King Series – Book 4

Posted on 02/23/2016 by shellbellereads

Soulless

Lawless Part 2

King Series – Book 4

By T.M. Frazier

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

Synopsis

The finale to Bear and Thia’s epic love story.

Excerpt

“I’ll deal with you when we get back to the house,” Bear snapped, his words loaded with so many different meanings I trembled with both fear and anticipation.

“You’re going to deal with me?” I asked. “How are you going to deal with me?” My attitude and confidence faded with each word until the last was merely a whisper.

“Yes, DEAL with you,” Bear warned, suddenly pausing to take in my appearance. Slowly, from top to bottom, like he’d only just realized I was standing there. His eyelids hung heavy over his sapphire blues as he licked my body with his eyes, drinking me in like he was thirsty.

No, not thirsty.

Hungry.

When he licked his lips I could have sworn he was about to eat me alive. I tingled all over. The awareness of him in such close proximity after so long washed over me. Angry or not, my body didn’t care. I didn’t care. I wanted to reach out and touch his face, reassure him that he had no reason to be angry, but part of me liked that I could draw that kind of reaction from him. He came alive when he was pissed, and something inside me loved that he became this primal possessive beast out to remind me who it was I belonged to.

Bear clenched his jaw and the muscles in his neck tensed and strained. He looked as if he were ready to either kill or fuck. All I knew was that, one way or another, I was about to de devoured.

I pressed my thighs together, trying to manage the pulsing between my legs, but the contact only ignited it further. Bear chuckled and glanced down to where my ankles were crossed. He closed the gap between us in two short strides, taking me off guard. I stumbled backward, tripping over a lose rock in the road. he reached out and roughly grabbed my arm before I could fall, pulling me flush into his hard chest. His warm skin radiated through my thin dress. I bit my lip, suppressing a moan. My legs grew weaker and weaker as he lowered his head, inching closer and closer, until I was sure his lips were going to meet mine, when without warning he released my arm and spun away. “Get in the fucking truck, Ti,” he called back to me.

I stood there, unable to move, and trying to catch my breath while he headed over to King’s truck like that moment never passed between us. When he noticed I wasn’t behind him he growled and stalked back over to me. He grabbed me by the waist, his fingers digging into my skin. He lifted me up, my short dress bunching up over my butt cheeks and slung me over his shoulder like I was a rolled up rug.

Wack.

He slapped my ass with his open palm. Hard. The bite of the smack stung where I was sure he’d left his mark. He tossed me into the truck with a caveman grunt and slammed the door behind me.

I was confused as all hell.

I was so angry.

I was also elated.

I was in lust so hard that I was in physical pain.

I was really fucking angry.

I was head over heels in love.

Motherfucker.

__________________________

Michel’s Review

Lawless ended on a huge cliffhanger. I could not wait for Soulless by T. M. Frazier to release. I needed to read the rest of Bear and Thia’s story. I had high hopes and developed some theories as to what would happen next. I could of never predicted the riveting story that unfolded. There were many new directions, new revelations, and one hell of surprise ending that left me hungering for more.

Bear will do anything to keep Thia safe, including going to prison for her crimes. He has a better chance of surviving inside than she does. His enemies are powerful and his father is a raving lunatic using his power as the Beach Bastards MC president. He’s turned the club on his only son, the heir to the gavel. He’s changed the club from a brotherhood to band of soulless murderers. The question is why? Even Bear doesn’t understand his father’s actions.

As the story unfolds in Lawless, the readers get insight to Bear’s background. His father brutally murdered his mother right in front of him. From that day forward Bear became a soldier rather than a son. As the years progress, his father’s hatred towards him grows to the point of ordering his execution in prison. Bear manages to survive his execution and prison sentence. He has some powerful people on his side to help him with the legal semantics. Now he’s gunning for his father. It’s time for a confrontation and time to end this once and for all. Bear is declaring war on his father.

Bear and Thia have declared their love. They are now declaring war so that they can live their lives as they choose.

I won’t say too much more because it would spoil the heart of the story. It’s not just a war or an epic love story that unfolds in this book. It’s a story that defines the true meaning of family.

The ending left me without words other than…OMG…OMG…OMG!!! Another epic story is coming!

I cannot express how much I love T. M. Frazier’s King Series. I am invested in the characters, their lives, and their stories. They are living on the darker side of life but finding their own slice of happiness in their violent world.

_________________________________________________

Haven’t read this series yet?

Meet King & Pup in King (Book One)

The King

By T. M. Frazier

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

Synopsis

Homeless. Hungry. Desperate.

Doe has no memories of who she is or where she comes from.

A notorious career criminal just released from prison, King is someone you don’t want to cross unless you’re prepared to pay him back in blood, sweat, sex or a combination of all three.

King’s future hangs in the balance. Doe’s is written in her past. When they come crashing together, they will have to learn that sometimes in order to hold on, you have to first let go.

King is the first book in a two part series. Tyrant is the name of the second book due out August 2015.

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

*****
k Tour” width=”584″ height=”216″ />

Tyrant

King Series – Book 2

Conclusion to King

Amazon / Amazon UK

Synopsis

I.Remember. Everything.

Only now I wish I didn’t.

When the fog is sucked away from my mind like smoke through a vacuum, the truth that has been beyond my reach for months finally reveals itself.

But the relief I thought I would feel never comes, and I’m more afraid now than I was the morning I woke up handcuffed in King’s bed.

Because with the truth comes dark secrets I was never meant to know.

I will put the lives of those I love most at risk if I let on that my memory has returned, or if I seek help from the heavily tattooed felon who owns me body and soul.

I don’t know if I’m strong enough to resist the magnetic pull toward King that grows stronger every day.

He’s already saved me in more ways than one. Now it’s my turn to do whatever it takes to save him.

Even if that means marrying someone else

Lawless

King Series – Book 3

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

Blurb

Thia is prim and proper.
Bear is leather and lawless.
It will never work between them.
It’s a lie they almost believe.

_________________________________________________

Author Bio:

T.M. (Tracey Marie) Frazier resides in sunny Southwest Florida with her husband and three feisty fur kids.

She attended Florida Gulf Coast University where she specialized in public speaking. After years working in real estate and new home construction, she decided it was finally time to stop pushing her dreams to the back burner and pursue writing seriously.

In the third grade she wrote her very first story about a lost hamster. It earned rave reviews from both her teacher and her parents.

It only took her twenty years to start the next one.

It will not be about hamsters.

Stalk Her: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and Goodreads.

Release Blitz + Review: The Hunted by H.J. Bells

Posted on 02/22/2016 by shellbellereads

Title: The Hunted
Author: H.J. Bellus
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: Feb 22nd

Revenge. Blood. Lies. Hate.

The good guy is the bad guy and the bad guy is the good guy.

Or is that what they want you to believe?

In a city where crime is at an all time high and new mutilated bodies are showing up every day, who do you trust?

He’s the silent neighbor who vanishes at night and reappears when the morning news is reporting on the latest victim.

How do you know this?

You watch him through the curtains as his silent stalker. Everything about him is twisted, but you can’t get past his stare. It’s hypnotizing and the hardest pull you’ve ever experienced…you know it’s all wrong.

Then he walks through your front door covered in blood.

Who will you trust?

“You’ve been fucking that blond all American kid,” he adds.

“I haven’t fucked him.”

“Has he tasted you?”

I slowly nod, feeling ashamed.

“Like I said, you’ve been fucking around with him.”

I scramble to tell him everything and how he’s held this power over me. “It’s your face I see when I’m with him. It’s your face I see when I go to bed. It’s you who I want.” I clutch the sides of his face. “But you won’t give me all of you.”

“Van!” Stew yells, followed by a shit ton of ruckus out in the club.

He sets me down and is gone within seconds. My hands cover my thumping chest as I realize what just happened. My tongue darts out, licking up the little bit of his taste that he left behind on my swollen lips.

Glass crashes in the far off distance as I hear bones breaking and screams soon fill the air over the commotion. I remain frozen to the wall, paralyzed by what just happened. The violence outside doesn’t even rattle me because there’s nothing left to stir up. He’s taken all of me.

Shaking the nonsense from my head, I peek out the end of the hallway and see utter destruction and chaos filling the club and Van is right in the middle of it.

His shirt is ripped once again and this time all the way off as he tries to take down two large men who clearly pissed him off. He gains the upper hand as Stew joins him and helps usher the men to the door.

A few dancers huddled together join me in the dark hall.

“What happened?” I inquire.

“I don’t know. The men just started beating the shit out of each other.”

A petite blonde who is newer and I only know by her stage name Sweet Cheeks speaks up, “I think they may have been exchanging drugs…”

Honey interrupts her, “You saw nothing and will repeat nothing. It’s the only way to stay safe around here.”

Honey stares me down with disgust. “And this bitch deserves no fucking answers.”

I feel the need to defend myself but the venom streaming from her warns me it’s not worth the fucking fight. Pushing out my chest, I ignore her ass. I guarantee she knows exactly what just went down between Van and me. He doesn’t want a stripper whore, he wants me. That’s prize enough.

The front doors to the club slam shut, shattering some glass. When we peek around the corner, Stew and Van make their way back into the club and Van roars, “Closed for the night! Get the fuck out!”

Bodies scatter in every direction. The dancers ditch me to go get dressed–I guess you don’t have to tell them twice about going home early. The large digital clock on the wall reads ten thirty.

Holy shit, Stew is closing down four hours early. Something must be seriously wrong. My legs quake underneath me from the shit storm that just attacked my world. Once they steady up a bit, I walk out into the bar and spot Van down on his knees, examining a little baggy of white powder.

“Bay, head home. The lunch crew can clean up.” Stew’s slumped over on a stool with a whiskey in his hand.

“I can stay and help out.” My voice is feeble as my legs tremble.

“Get your ass home,” Stew grits out.

It’s with dread that I go for my purse and hoodie. Van doesn’t look up as he’s intent on whatever he’s studying. It’s a white powdery substance sprinkled across the floor. My body hungers to go to him, but I know whatever we just shared has been bottled back and locked tightly within him.

“I’ll be back.” I turn to see Van following me out of the club.

Focusing forward, my feet pound the pavement and I hear Van meeting me step for step. My hands fumble with the keys and finally unlock the door, flipping on the porch light quickly. I look back to see Van standing on the sidewalk and then he fades away into the darkness of the night going the opposite way to his place.

**AMAZON * AMAZON UK**

**AMAZON AU * AMAZON CA**

Michel’s Review

The Hunted was the first book that I have read by H. J. Bellus. I enjoyed this love story. It had the perfect combination of romance and red hot sex! The characters were the perfect balance for one another. Their relationship had me swooning, sighing, and falling in love right along with them. They were both dynamic in very different ways that worked well together. I absolutely loved this romance.

On the other hand, this is a dark gritty story that takes place in a violent part of the city. Van Hollis has just been released from prison for a crime he didn’t commit. He was set up and he’s gunning for the one responsible. The one responsible for his demise is none other than his identical twin brother, that happens to be a corrupt police officer. To top it off, women are being murdered and all the evidence points to Van. Van is determined to get his revenge on his brother and not end up back in prison. Now is not the time for relationships or love. Van can’t stay away from Basil, the sexy, innocent cocktail waitress. As their relationship blossoms, the danger for Basil and Van’s lives escalates.

Their world is spinning out of control. Girls are dying. Van is keeping secrets. And Basil is caught in the middle.

As I said the characters and the romance were wonderful. The problem is that although the characters were well developed in relationship to one another, they kind of fell short when placed within their dangerous world. There were not enough details, in depth revelations, and aha moments. The readers understood the intense hate between Van and his twin brother, but never got an in depth explanation as to why. The explanation given was not enough to give this story a credible base. I’m one of those people that is detail oriented, I want thorough explanations for every action and reaction. The family history seemed a bit abbreviated. The wrap up was quick. The overall plot to this book had potential of being so much more. The one thing I will say is that it had a good love story that kept me invested in the book.

I’m just a simple girl who loves the country life… oh yeah! & a good corn dog! Throw in a little Vanilla Ice, and shits bound to get crazy! Be brave…

-Loves country life & music

-Gets the case of the “eff-its” often

-Loves Big

-Hurts Big

-love corn dogs & candy…. & (sex & candaaay)

-My heart is happy writing!!!

Website * Facebook * Twitter

Hosted By:

Release Blitz + Excerpt: The Revenger by Debra Anastasia

Posted on 02/22/2016 by shellbellereads

The Revenger

By Debra Anastasia

Release Date: February 22, 2016

Buy: Amazon / Amazon UK / Amazon CA / Amazon AU /Amazon FR

Synopsis:

The real hero of this story is dead. You should have met him. He was a beautiful man. The love of my life. I didn’t deserve him.

Now what’s left are the jagged edges of the person I am without him, and what I have to do to get by. This isn’t even a story about love. Not really. It’s a twisted tale of revenge and hate—a happily never after.

The only man in my life now is the one I have to kill.
I’m Savvy Raine.
I used to be a wife.
I used to be a mother.
Now I am the Revenger.

Abstract vintage background

Excerpt

There was very little chatter after the alarming phone call. Savvy looked at the clock. It was only five, but the extra help Tallow had enlisted acted like she was about to disintegrate. When they were finally done, they hung Savvy’s costume from a door, fully expecting her to drop trou in front of all the strangers.
She looked at the silver outfit meant to demean her and classify her as his, just like all his other favorites.
“Yeah, I’m not actually going to be wearing that.” She looked from one shocked person to the other.
Tallow recovered first. “But this is what he told you to wear!”
Savvy laughed hollowly. “Yeah, he can suck his own d*ck for all I care.”
The atmosphere changed. The others now realized Savvy didn’t think it was a huge honor to be a f*ckhole.
“That’s not acceptable. I’ll put you in it myself if I have to, but you’re leaving here in that outfit.” Tallow bravely gathered up the skirt and came into Savvy’s personal space. He obviously thought she was just a regular girl.
In an instant she’d lifted Tallow into the air by his neck. “I’m not wearing it.” She stared him down until he began to turn blue. Then she set him back on his feet.
Tallow was a quick learner and smoothed his fancy shirt. “Okay then, let me see what else we have.”

Michel’s Review

Looking for something different to read? The Revenger by Debra Anastasia is the perfect choice. It’s not the typical fictional story or a typical romance. In fact I would say it is not a romance novel at all. But it is a love story… a story about a mothers love. A mother’s greatest gift is nurturing, teaching, sacrificing, and loving unconditionally.

Without giving away spoilers, I will say that Savvy Raine is an extraordinary character. She is a hero, a villain,a teacher,a friend, and your worst enemy. Her motivating factor is her love for her family. She has lost her sense of self and is consumed by her need for vengeance. As the story unfolds Savvy Raine gives more than most people only hope to give.

The Revenger is an unusual story that is emotional and entertaining. I highly recommend this book.

___________________________________________

There are a lot of eyes in Debra Anastasia’s house in Maryland. First, her own creepy peepers are there, staring at her computer screen. She’s made two more sets of eyes with her body, and the kids they belong to are amazing. The poor husband is still looking at her after 17 years of marriage. At least he likes to laugh. Then the freaking dogs are looking at her—six eyeballs altogether, though the old dog is blind. And the cat watches her too, mostly while knocking stuff off the counter and doing that internal kitty laugh when Deb can’t catch the items fast enough.

In between taking care of everything those eyes involve, Debra creates pretend people in her head and paints them on the giant, beautiful canvas of your imagination. What an amazing job that is. The stories hit her hard while driving the minivan or shaving her legs, especially when there’s no paper and pen around. In all of the lies she writes hides her heart, so thank you for letting it play in your mind.

Debra is eternally grateful to Omnific Publishing, which has now published five of her books: two in the Seraphim Series and three in the Poughkeepsie Brotherhood Series, as well as her novella, Late Night with Andres. That one is special because 100% of the proceeds go to breast cancer research. (So go get it right now, please!)

You can find her at DebraAnastasia.com and on Twitter @Debra_Anastasia. But be prepared…

Release Blitz + Review: One To Take by Tia Louise – One To Hold Series- Book 8

Posted on 02/22/2016 by shellbellereads

One To Take

One To Hold Series – Book 8

By Tia Louise

Release Date: February 22, 2016

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo / ARe

*******

Synopsis

Life is never simple.

Even perfect couples face storms.

The question is whether our love is strong enough to survive.

I believe it is.

She told me to leave.

If I leave, I take her with me.

~Stuart Knight

Taken

A One To Take Primer

By Tia Louise

Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo / ARe

Blurb

“Taken”: A One to Take Primer

by Tia Louise

“Taken” is the specially packaged “primer” for ONE TO TAKE, coming Feb. 22. It contains key scenes, smoking-hot sexytimes, and everything you need to know to be ready to head back to Big Sky country. Due to strong sexual content and language, readers 18 and older, please.

Stuart Knight is an injured Marine turned angry cowboy.

Mariska Heron is a beautiful young artist with vivid dreams and a healing touch.

When the two cross paths, their chemistry is explosive, their attraction undeniable. But Stuart has one thing on his mind–returning to active duty.

He says he’s leaving. She walks away first. Still, neither of them can deny their hearts are taken.

****

Tracey’s Review

Stuart Knight and Mariska Heron have gone through a lot to get to where they are now. Having finally overcome the obstacles standing in their way, the life ahead of them should be smooth, problem-free, and nothing short of joyful. Life, though, doesn’t always go as planned, and getting to their happily ever after will prove more challenging than either of them could have imagined.

After getting the first part of Stuart’s and Mariska’s story in ONE TO LEAVE, I was excited to see this special couple get the future that seemed set in stone. Part of the beauty of meeting and falling in love with characters is seeing them down the road, finding out what’s gone on for them, and, hopefully, seeing them with the hoped-for resolution. But life is not so tidy, and so it is a nice change to see book characters deal with bumps in the road that, we hope, make them stronger in the end. And so it is with Stuart and Mariska. There is, of course, no shortage of happiness, of steamy times, of humor for them in ONE TO TAKE. But I was not expecting the things that they find themselves dealing with, and found myself crying right along with them as they experienced them.

I love that Tia Louise continues to imbue her stories with the mystical, the magical side of life, that the greater world never sees. Mariska is a special character, and it’s the mystical qualities that make up such a large part of who she is that make her so. These qualities, along with pure unfettered, unconditional love, are also what reaffirm her faith, when life and the unexpected take their toll.

For his part, Stuart is one of my favorite of Tia’s men. Oh, the things he’s dealt with. He’s found, through the love of family, a very special woman, and the place that calls to him, exactly who and where he needs to be. I thought that Tia did a great job of showing his further growth in this book, and, if possible, I love him even more.

As always, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Seeing the rest of the gang from the series, Stuart’s family, even memories of Mariska’s Yaya, made this a very special read. ONE TO TAKE is an easy 4.5 stars for me, and I highly recommend both this book, and the series.

***ARC generously provided by the author for an honest review.***

___________________________________________________________

One To Hold Series

One To Hold- Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

One To Keep- Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

One To Protect- Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

One To Love- Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

One To Leave- Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

One To Save- Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

SIGNED COPIES: http://smarturl.it/SignedPBs

Paranormal Romance

One Immortal (Derek & Melissa, #SexyVampires)

One Insatiable ( Koa & Mercy, #SexyShifters)

_______________________________________________________

Author Bio:

Tia Louise is a former journalist, world-traveler, and collector of beautiful men (who inspire ALL of her stories… *wink*)—turned wife, mommy, and novelist.

It’s possible she has a slight truffle addiction. And she will never look at a family restroom the same way again.

Website ~Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

*******

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Out Of Focus by L. B. Simmons – Chosen Paths Series – Book 2

Posted on 02/19/2016 by shellbellereads

Out of Focus

Chosen Paths Series – Book 2

By L. B. Simmons

*** Upper New Adult Spinoff Standalone to the USA Today Bestselling Novel, Under the Influence***

“Shhhh, Cassandra, it’s our little secret.”

Secrets are stubborn things when they refuse to remain hidden. They tear through your soul, clawing and lashing until the pain becomes so unbearable, you’re left no choice but to silently scream your agony. No one hears you, of course. You smile on the outside and drift through life as though your mind is at peace, but all the while, you remain your own tortured prisoner. Sealed inside the darkened, soundproof room of your conscience, deafening cries echo as you plead for someone to unlock the door and release you from your nightmares. And eventually, when no one comes, you find ways to cope. To dull the suffering the only way you know how.

But what happens when you’ve become so numb, when everything around you has become so blurred, that you begin to lose focus on the saving grace standing directly in front of you? When you’ve anesthetized yourself to the point of losing consciousness, forced to watch as his once solid image fades away, lost to your reach in the haze as it smothers you?

What do you do then?

You fight. You heal. Then you bring him back.

Well, my name is Cassie Cooper, and it’s time.

No more secrets.

This is my story.

***WARNING – The subject matter of this novel centers around the psychological effects due to sexual abuse experienced during childhood. For this reason, as well as sexual situations, language, and adult themes, suggested reading age is 17+.***

AMAZON US **** AMAZON UK

Only twenty-three years old, and I’m so goddamn tired.

I used to be so much stronger. I somehow kept the voices at bay, the memories locked away safely, contained within the confines of my mind. But with each passing day, I feel the glow of my once-luminous strength fading. Darkness encases me now, bowing the walls of protection I put into place years ago. My past is an ever-present nightmare, repeatedly tapping, slowly fracturing the window of my sanity.

I have no doubt that it’s only a matter of time before the glass finally breaks. Blackness will eventually seep through its cracks and deliver me from the safety of my façade into a reality that will destroy me.

My reality.

I’ve done my part. I’ve kept the secrets thrust upon me with dedicated believability. My portrayal of who I am has become a blurred, hazy version of the once very distinct Cassie Cooper.

I read an ungodly amount of trashy romance novels.

I’m the overtly sexual and foul-mouthed friend who will say anything to get a laugh.

And I have exactly zero fucks to give to what anyone else thinks about my actions.

But the reality, the actuality, is this:

I read obsessively to escape my own world. To live the dreams of others when, for so long, the reoccurrence of my nightmares has been my reality. I read to fall in love and find a happily ever after, even if it is purely imagined. With each story I read, I’m able to live and love vicariously through the characters in my books. It’s the only plausible way for me to survive.

I threw away my virginity at the age of thirteen just to prove something. And when I found that proof, that vindication I was looking for, I sought it every chance I could. Sex is about control for me. Nothing more. The act will never be about making love, like it is for the heroines in my books. I will never be granted the beauty of that gift.

I use humor as a form of avoidance. I draw upon laughter to block the pain. And I smile to mask the agony of the eight-year-old soul who weeps within me.

And the fucks . . . well, that’s not entirely accurate either.

I have given two to be exact: One to my best friend of seventeen years. She knows nothing of my past, and although she so willingly disclosed the horrors of hers, mine remains hidden for no other reason than to avoid the pity she would undoubtedly cast my way if I were to ever tell her. I don’t want her pity. I would sooner die than have her look at me in any other way than with pride.

The other died with the person to whom it was given. Anthony “Rat” Marchione. He was my one allowance of naïveté. The one person I actually wanted to touch me, to hold me, to love me. He was going to rescue me from my brokenness as though I were a character in one of my books. Young and senseless, I thought he was to be my eventual happily ever after, but tragically, he was murdered five years ago.

Black coldness waits in vain to leech the void where his once beautiful existence filled the pieces of my irrevocably shattered heart. Where he temporarily healed the hurt of the innocent child and quieted the voices that tormented her.

He’s gone now. I’ve accepted that. And in turn, I have relinquished all dreams associated with finding the light at the end of this miserable tunnel.

I will keep trudging through this life . . . this sentence handed to me for someone else’s crime, my payment shackled by secrets and weighted with lies. I will continue to do so with the same fraudulent smile on my lips and play the part of the strong heroine so convincingly, that even I believe it.

It’s only a matter of time before my fictional strength wears out—when I’m no longer hidden safely inside my protective blur—and I have to face the very real and lucid image of my past.

But until that time comes, I’ll do all I can do.

All I have ever done.

I will pretend.

Michel’s Review

I was quite surprised when L. B. Simmons announced the upcoming release of Out of Focus. After reading Under The Influence, I was under the impression it was a stand alone novel. Cassie Cooper was Spencer’s crazy BFF. She was wild, loose, and free spirited. The perfect supporting character in Spencer’s story. I never thought twice about her. But like most people, Cassie has a story. Her story is dark and unexpected.

Cassie has always had a secret to hide. A secret that has tormented her since she was a young girl. A secret that has molded her into the woman she is today. Most people look at Cassie as the life of the party. An easy lay. And she is all that but beneath the surface is a very frightened little girl that can’t face herself in the mirror.

When she joins Spencer in a Krav Maga self defense class, it ends up opening the door for her self awareness. Grady Bennett, the sexy instructor, sees beyond Cassie’s facade. He sees the little girl hiding behind the harlot. His main goal is to make Cassie smile for herself not for others. He wants her to see the dynamic woman she is beneath the facade. He wants that little girl that got imprisoned in Cassie’s mind to be set free.

Cassie has a hard road ahead of her. She wants to have a relationship with Grady but before she can do that she has to learn how to fall and let someone catch her. She has to learn to love the image she sees in the mirror. She has to let go of the past and run towards the future. She needs to be whole.

Cassie’s story is heartbreaking. She experienced horrific abuse as a child. The kind of abuse that no one ever really walks away from. With the support of Grady, she may be able to face her demons. But first she has to be ready to open the door and let them out.

L. B. Simmons wrote an emotional story about a very damaged women. It’s not pretty and it’s not an easy fix. She allowed Cassie to reach rock bottom before she could climb back up. Along the way she was lucky enough to find the kind of love that will always be there for her.

I highly recommend reading Out of Focus by L. B. Simmons

________________________________________________

L.B. Simmons is a graduate of Texas A&M University and
holds a degree in Biomedical Science.
She has been a practicing Chemist for the last 11 years. She lives with her husband and three
daughters in Texas and writes every chance she gets.

Join her newsletter here

FACEBOOK TWITTER WEBSITE GOODREADS AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Forever Family by Deanna Roy – The Forever Series – Book 5

Posted on 02/19/2016 by shellbellereads

Forever Family

The Forever Series – Book 5

By Deanna Roy

Buy : Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

Happily Ever After isn’t a destination.
It’s a journey.

The FINAL book in the emotional USA Today bestselling Forever series.

CORABELLE
Most days, I’m fine. I’m married to a hunk. Seriously. He rides a motorcycle, works in a garage, then studies for college on the side. And makes my toes curl, well, you know how.

But a long time ago, when we were young, something really bad happened to us. Bad enough to break us up.

I thought marriage would make things right. And it’s been happy. But something’s missing. The one thing we always wanted, but lost.

And my best friend just got it.

JENNY
I know everybody envies my life. I’m a little wild. I hang with celebrities. I got married in the back of an ambulance by a rock star. And the baby girl who arrived at the end of that lights-and-siren ride is definitely a bundle of joy.

But my life isn’t as easy as it looks. With my husband about to hit big with his first album, and every two-bit floozy in the music industry hanging on him, I really need my best friends. I can’t get through this without them.

TINA
There is entirely too much misery in the world to manage the sparkly pink explosion that is Jenny and her baby. I’ve got so much on my hands already with my art mentor so close to the end. And Darion expecting our wedding to actually, well…happen.

I know the stories tell you that happily ever after is what comes when he pops the question and you say yes.

But life is really messy. And sometimes your horse-drawn pumpkin takes off at full gallop for a cliff.

That’s where I am. And that’s why I had to leave. Because before I can get to the big finish, I have something else I have to do. A bit of business I should have taken care of long ago, but I was only a teenager then.

I can only hope that by the time I get it done, I haven’t lost everyone I care about. Because when you’ve spent your whole life running, you forget that what really matters is your family.

FOREVER FAMILY can be read as a standalone novel, although it is best after learning the history of the girls in the other four books of the Forever series.

Michel’s Review

Wow! Forever Family was an epic ending to the Forever Series. The Forever Series looks at real life with an honest view. Deanna Roy allowed all of the characters to take the next step in their journey to complete fulfillment. She allowed them to stumble along the way, face their fears, evolve into stronger people, and fully appreciate all the gifts in life.

Forever Family should not be read as a stand alone romance. This book picks up where the fourth book left off. Three couples are moving forward in very different ways. Through it all their friendship makes them family.

Without giving away too many spoilers, I will say that this book felt real. The emotions that each of these women experienced hit very close to home. How they dealt with their lives was admirable, frustrating, and at times heartbreaking. They each had to come full circle to find their happiness.

The birth of a baby.

The heartbreak of losing parental visitation rights.

The fear of being a mother.

The fear of never being a mother.

Financial Issues.

A funeral for a friend.

Two weddings.

Facing those they left behind.

The courage of letting go of the past.

The courage to move forward in life.

Accepting the gift of life.

Forever Family was a beautiful ending to an epic series.

______________________________________

The Forever Series

The Forever Series Box Set

Books 1-3

By Deanna Roy

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Steamy. Emotional. And now, all in one boxed set.

The fist three standalone novels in the USA Today bestselling Forever series is available in one volume!
“One of my favorite love stories, ever.” — Brittany and Biana Blab Books
“A love you wish everyone could experience.” — Book Drunk Blog

BOOK 1: FOREVER INNOCENT
A Top 100 Book on Amazon

“Our baby died on prom night, and nothing was ever the same again.”

Corabelle doesn’t feel like any of the other college girls. On what should have been one of the happiest nights of her life, she and her boyfriend Gavin watched a nurse disconnect the ventilator from their seven-day-old baby. During the funeral two days later, Gavin walked out and never returned.

Since then, her life has been a spiral of disasters. The only thing that has helped is her ability to black out whenever the pain gets too hard to bear, a habit that has become an addiction.

When Gavin shows up in her astronomy class four years later, he is hell-bent on getting her back, insisting she forgive him. Corabelle knows she can’t resist the touch that fills the empty ache that has haunted her since he left. But if he learns what she has done, if he follows the trail back through her past, her secrets will destroy their love completely. And once again, she’ll lose the only person who always believed she was innocent.

BOOK 2: FOREVER LOVED

“Delivered with sensitivity, brutal honesty, emotional scenes, and an everlasting hope that love can conquer all.” — Hesperia Loves Books
“Did I cry? Oh yeah, but not for the same reasons as before. Will this book stay on my shelf for years to come! You betcha!” — 2 Bookaholics

After four long years of separation, Gavin has finally reunited with his childhood love Corabelle. She’s forgiven him for leaving her during the funeral of their seven-day-old baby.

But a message from Rosa, a prostitute he met during their time apart, brings his life to a crashing halt. She claims Gavin has fathered a son. He doesn’t know if he can trust Rosa, or if his delicate reconciliation with Corabelle can withstand the shock if it is true.

Corabelle believes their future together is the right thing despite their past. But when she learns of this other child, the one thing she lost long ago and might never have again with Gavin, Corabelle’s faith that her life will ever follow her old dream is shattered. To make things right for Gavin and his son, she just might have to let go of the only person she always believed would be her forever love.

BOOK 3: FOREVER SHELTERED

“Hooked me from Chapter 1.” — Fire and Ice Book Reviews
“Put this on your TBR list and bump it to the top.” — Eat Sleep Read Blog

Tina would rather sew up her girl parts with dental floss than go on a second date with a man. She’s been dumped enough to know not to get attached.

But when Dr. Darion Marks comes into her art therapy room to ask a favor for a special patient, Tina recognizes the haunted look he buries beneath his stoic professionalism. So rather than be forced to ditch the handsome doctor after a single night, she decides not to date him at all.

So how exactly DO they end up half-naked in Surgical Suite B?

Dr. Darion has a lot to hide. His baby sister is the only family he has left, and he’s not leaving her treatment to some incompetent hack.

But now he’s breaking every hospital rule imaginable. He lied about his sister so he can manage her care, and now he’s banging the art therapy teacher between patient rounds like a fraternity boy at a keg party.

Nobody believes this can end well, but Dr. Darion and Tina have one thing going for them – a fierce passion for each other that just might solve all their problems.

THREE COMPLETE FULL-LENGTH NOVELS.
Catch up on the series for one discounted price.
There will be five books in the series.
Book Four, FOREVER BOUND, is now available.

Forever Bound: A Not Yet Rock Star

Forever Series – Book 4

By Deanna Roy

Synopsis

Jenny is a girlfriend-for-hire, the platonic kind.

While under contract with her movie director boyfriend, glamour has ruled. Designer gowns. Red-carpet premieres. And, of course, seeing her face in the tabloids.

She loves tabloids.

But her reign has come to an end. Her sugar daddy has fallen in love — with someone else. Her contract is over and tonight she has to end it publicly by making sure the paparazzi “catches” her with another man.

She just has to find the man.

Chance has been hitchhiking across the US, playing and singing for tips. This is the life he’s always imagined, and the farther he gets from his disastrous family in Tennessee, the better he feels.

An unexpected invitation to sing with an indie blues group at a movie premiere party gives him a sweet taste of fame. As a bonus, a beautiful girl with pink dreadlocks only has eyes for him.

But the collision between Jenny and Chance is more emotional and intense than either of them expected. When the scandal hits the news, Chance’s family finds him, pushing him to come home and face his demons.

The night has even more consequences for Jenny. She needs to find Chance, but nobody knows anything about him, not even his last name.

Her journey takes her across the country and into the disaster Chance is running from. But she can’t give up on him, because what neither of them realized is that sometimes a single night can be the beginning of forever.

–Full length standalone HEA.
–Includes characters from Forever Innocent and Forever Sheltered and even *surprise* — singer Dylan Wolf from JJ Knight’s Revenge and Blue Shoes series.
–May require tissues.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Forever Family

The Forever Series – Book 5

By Deanna Roy

Buy : Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

Happily Ever After isn’t a destination.
It’s a journey.

The FINAL book in the emotional USA Today bestselling Forever series.

CORABELLE
Most days, I’m fine. I’m married to a hunk. Seriously. He rides a motorcycle, works in a garage, then studies for college on the side. And makes my toes curl, well, you know how.

But a long time ago, when we were young, something really bad happened to us. Bad enough to break us up.

I thought marriage would make things right. And it’s been happy. But something’s missing. The one thing we always wanted, but lost.

And my best friend just got it.

I know the stories tell you that happily ever after is what comes when he pops the question and you say yes.

But life is really messy. And sometimes your horse-drawn pumpkin takes off at full gallop for a cliff.

I can only hope that by the time I get it done, I haven’t lost everyone I care about. Because when you’ve spent your whole life running, you forget that what really matters is your family.

FOREVER FAMILY can be read as a standalone novel, although it is best after learning the history of the girls in the other four books of the Forever series.

___________________________________________

Author Bio:

Deanna Roy is the USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction.

She is a passionate advocate for women who have lost babies. She has several books on the subject, including her bestseller FOREVER INNOCENT, a romance about a couple whose baby is taken off life support at seven days old.

She has run the website PregnancyLoss.Info for fifteen years, including many large spin-off support groups both online and in person.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Saucy Southern Readers

professional, honest, and timely book reviews

Category Archives: Reviewers

Book Tour + 5 Star Review + Giveaway : 9 Letters by Blake Austin

New Release + 5 Star Review + 2016 Favorite: Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes … A Dark Thriller

Release Blitz + Review: We Were Here by Daisy Prescott

We Were Here by Daisy Prescott Review and Excerpt Blog Tour- Feb 23-26

Release Blitz + Review: Dance Of Desire by Christopher Rice

Amazon eBook Amazon Paperback**

Website | Facebook | Twitter | DANCE OF DESIRE on Goodreads

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review : Soulless by T. M. Frazier – The King Series – Book 4

Release Blitz + Review: The Hunted by H.J. Bells

**AMAZON * AMAZON UK**

**AMAZON AU * AMAZON CA**

Release Blitz + Excerpt: The Revenger by Debra Anastasia

Release Blitz + Review: One To Take by Tia Louise – One To Hold Series- Book 8

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Out Of Focus by L. B. Simmons – Chosen Paths Series – Book 2

AMAZON US **** AMAZON UK

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Forever Family by Deanna Roy – The Forever Series – Book 5

Share this:

Share this:

We Were Here by Daisy Prescott Review and Excerpt Blog Tour- Feb 23-26

Share this:

Amazon eBook ** Amazon Paperback

Website | Facebook | Twitter | DANCE OF DESIRE on Goodreads

Share this:

Share this:

AMAZON * AMAZON UK

AMAZON AU * AMAZON CA

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

AMAZON US **** AMAZON UK

Share this:

Share this:

Amazon eBook Amazon Paperback**

**AMAZON * AMAZON UK**

**AMAZON AU * AMAZON CA**