5 Star Review : Words Left Unsaid by Missy Johnson

Posted on 06/17/2015 by shellbellereads

Words Left Unsaid

By Missy Johnson

Synopsis

At 8:28 I was the girl who had everything.

At 8:29 my whole world fell apart.

A split second can change your life. I learned this the hard way. I wasn’t ready to let him go. Even when the terms “vegetative state” and “will never recover” were thrown around I held onto hope. I mean, miracles happen, right?

We deserved our happy ending.

Three years later and I’m still hoping. In my heart I know I have to let him go but how can I? He’s the only man I’ve ever loved. He”s my soul mate. My life.

Then I meet Max. He’s everything Aiden isn’t and as much as I’m trying to fight my feelings, I’m losing. I don’t want to fight anymore.

I need to live my life.

I need to move on.

But in order to move forward I need to let go of the past.

Buy: Amazon

Tina’s Review

Judging a Book by it’s Cover:
This is one where the title was enough to catch my eye, made more intriguing by the synopsis. The cover at the time of interest was a temporary placeholder, so I was unable to judge this book by it’s cover.
Looking Deeper:
Alternating first-person POV, clearly marked and easy to follow.
Not long after kissing goodbye and exchanging “I love you”s as Aiden leaves for work does Kiara receive word that he’s been in a horrific accident that leaves him in a come. Three years have passed and the young mother struggles and fights daily to remain loyal all while needing to move forward with their daughter, especially when new opportunities arise for Kiara. Outside forces push and pull her in many directions. As she battles them, she also battles with her own feelings and guilt all while trying to raise their daughter in the best way possible. Outstanding cast of characters, with natural and believable dialogue and interaction. The plot is full, rich, emotional and engrossing. The pace flows smoothly, moving at a comfortable pace. The conflicts are met in a mature, realistic manner. There is little to no predictability. The conclusion is solid, satisfying and complete with no holes or loose ends anywhere. Words Left Unsaid is a powerfully emotional story that plays on our worst “what if” fears and Ms. Johnson created a perfectly balanced range of emotions throughout.

______________________________________

Author Bios:

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

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

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Review : My Mind’s Eye by Gillian Jones

Posted on 06/10/2015 by shellbellereads

My Mind’s Eye

By Gillian Jones

Synopsis

Ryker
She is the epitome of the girl next door, but with a feistiness that makes my dick throb.
I’m drawn to her like no other. She stirs things in me I have no desire to feel, makes me long for things I shouldn’t.
This is my game. I choose the players, and I never play for keeps.
I don’t believe in fate. I make my own destiny. I work hard and play harder. Luck is for pussies, karma for idiots. Me, I make shit happen.
Meeting her fucked up my plan. Threw me off my game.
I’m now face to face with my karma. Her name is Kat Rollins.
Kat
Ryker Eddison is the epitome of a player. You know the type: Mr. Get In and Get Out.
He’s all about the chase, wanting just one night. Everyone knows this—I know this. Still, I find myself craving him, my greedy body betraying what my heart and mind already know: he will only bring me pain.
He’s the guy who girls like me should avoid. I’m smart; I know better. But when I’m with him, I feel things I’ve never felt before. Things I never knew I wanted.
I can’t deny it … I like the chase. The high is explosive, but I’m afraid if I give in, I may end up losing more than I can handle: my heart.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / Kobo

Tina’s Review

Judging a Book by it’s Cover:
Eye-catching cover, nice coloration. Very visually appealing. Synopsis sounds like the usual angst-y New Adult drama, but with a splash of humor and fun.
Looking Deeper:
Alternating first-person POV, clearly defined and easy to follow. Love the Cassia Brightmore “Malevolent” name-drop. Sweet. There were surprise LOL moments (particularly the first Friday night that Kat covers for Claire) that I honestly enjoyed. Ryker kind of comes off as a jerk to Kat, but his mental monologues are endearing. Kat is a bit insecure, she’s a stressor and panicker, but trying to work through it. Their interactions make for a fun ride, whereas the conversations I was not a huge fan of. When holding a conversation, it’s just not normal and natural to continually use their name, addressing them, each time. The only time this is widely used is if it’s in a large group setting and you need to indicate who you are addressing or you are trying to catch their individual attention. It may be a minor pet peeve of mine, but it did trigger a low-level yellow flag for me. But, as stated, the mental asides are great and manage to capture each character’s unique personality and essence much more effectively. While the plot progresses smoothly and the interactions are laden with sexual tension, it’s nice to see that the buildup to them hooking up takes over 2/3 the story before the deed is finally done. It’s a refreshing change of pace while still packed with some fun heat prior to that pivotal point. The conflicts are often minor and resolved in manners that are typical of real college-aged people. Predictability was fairly low, I mean, we all knew “he” would show up eventually but not the when and where. The conclusion following the apex was a little longer than most, but it was solid and strong. I’d love to know what became of Claire and some of the other secondary characters, however. Overall, this was a very enjoyable read once I looked past the constant addressing during dialogue issue. I really did love Ryker’s inability to act like a normal human being when in the same building as Kat, it made me smile always and laugh often.

_______________________________________

I’m a wife, and mother. My Mind’s Eye is my first book writing adventure! Eeeeek! I’m Canadian so I might spell things a little odd once in a while wink emoticon I love red wine, adore my friends and I’m so completely in love with my hubby and little boy. I’m addicted to shoe shopping! But my biggest addiction however is reading. That shit runs deep in my veins, I’m a lover of alpha males, hot sex, with a side of angst all topped off with the happy ever after. I’m a new indie author and I can’t wait to start this journey.

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Summer Reads: All Of Me by Jennifer Bernard – Love Between The Bases Series – Book 1

Posted on 06/04/2015 by shellbellereads

All Of Me

Love Between The Bases Series – Book 1

By Jennifer Bernard

Synopsis

Jennifer Bernard, the USA Today bestselling author of the Bachelor Firemen series, scores another homerun with a brand-new series about sexy, single baseball players.

Playing for the Kilby Catfish is hotshot pitcher Caleb Hart’s last chance to salvage his career after a major league meltdown. But the day of his opener with the minor league team, Caleb strikes out with the gorgeous woman who is delivering a petition to run the unruly Catfish out of town. Now, to stay in the lineup, Caleb will need to score big with the feisty brunette he can’t keep out of his thoughts.

After the nasty lies Sadie Merritt’s rich ex-boyfriend spread about her all over town, she’s lucky to have a job at all. She can’t afford to screw it up by falling for the player who is supposed to be helping her change the image of the fun-loving Catfish. But that’s easier said than done when Caleb’s voice alone is enough to make her pulse race. And when he surprises her with a mind-blowing kiss, she knows there’s no turning back.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Tina’s Review

Judging a Book by it’s Cover —
Nice colors. But I’m not a big fan. Both models on the cover poorly depict the characters as described in the book. The male model looks older and “softer”, at the same time the pose makes him look like he’s one of those grabby PitA guys who think they’re cute but they’re not. Sadie also looks older and way more “buttoned up” than described. The model’s got that look like “Oh yeah? I don’t think so buddy”. It seems more playful and cheeky, but you really do not sense any romantic connection from the cover.
Synopsis sounds okay, not like something I’d pick up on my own though. I’m not a huge fan of baseball and it sounds a little too redneck as well. But, as a favor to a friend, I’ve agreed to read it. I have liked the author’s firemen series, so I’m hoping the writing style will transfer over to this new series as well.
Looking Deeper —
Caleb is a great brother. But, the way he approaches Sadie? I’m surprised the guy hasn’t been charged with sexual assault. He’s always pawing at her, and more! And, maybe it’s some sort of hole-in-the-wall small-town mentality, but if Sadie’s so dang shook up over what Ham did to her, without looking into the violation of privacy laws and reporting the photos and video to the proper channels, how did she expect to ever become a successful lawyer? I get the familial tie in the law enforcement thing, but once it hit the web, it became Federal and she would not have had to deal with Ham’s podunk father. Their parents were a damn mess, both of them. The cast of secondary characters were enjoyable, but are currently little more than filler… only one or two actually contributed to the plot. The whole slug cause seemed like an unusual mockery. The conflicts were rather plentiful and, with better communication, could have been resolved much more smoothly and efficiently. The plot, as a whole, was good. There was some predictability, but not enough to be off-putting. The conclusion was solid, with a completed HEA and hints of others to come.
I found it difficult to connect to the characters. Caleb and Sadie seemed to have some trouble connecting as well… almost like an engine with one cylinder misfiring. The dialogue was still classic Jennifer Bernard, however. Smart, sassy and fun. Maybe it’s because this is the series’ debut and a whole new world needs building, but I’m not really a fan of the small-town busybody mentality in Kilby and hope like hell that future books in the series will focus less on the narrow-minded, nosy inhabitants. Fans of Jennifer Bernard will also note that this book is quite a bit steamier than her Bachelor Firemen books ever were. I have a pet peeve about “boner” being used in adult plots, my opinion is that it’s a term used by children, teens, and up into college. It is suitable for Young Adult and New Adult, but I don’t feel it is a mature word for mature adults. Unfortunately, the terminology had made an appearance a few times throughout the book. I felt as though maybe Jennifer’s alter-ego had a more predominant hand in writing this book, expecially the sexy scenes.

Michel’s Review

Baseball and romance… the perfect way to welcome in the summer season. Jennifer Bernard has given the readers some new Boys of Summer to fall in love with. The great thing about a baseball romance is that at the end of the book the readers know that there is more coming. After all a baseball team consists of nine players.

All of Me is the first book in the new series Love Between The Bases by Jennifer Bernard. It is a good mix of romance, angst, humor, small town quirkiness, and baseball. One bad boy baseball player and one good girl with a bad reputation is the perfect blend. Both have made mistakes that they need to right. Both need second chances. Both need each other whether they know it or not. The chemistry between Caleb and Sadie is sizzling hot and could melt a popsicle in a flash.

All of Me was a very good book to start the summer.

Author Bio:

Jennifer Bernard is a graduate of Harvard and a former news promo producer. The child of academics, she confounded her family by preferring romance novels to … well, any other books. She left big city life for true love in Alaska, where she now lives with her husband and stepdaughters. She’s no stranger to book success, as she also writes erotic novellas under a naughty secret name not to be mentioned at family gatherings.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + Review : Delivered Fast by Annabeth Albert – Portland Heat Series – Book 3

Posted on 05/26/2015 by shellbellereads

Delivered Fast

Portland Heat Series – Book 3

By Annabeth Albert

Synopsis

Portland, Oregon, aka Hotlandia, where the coffee shops, restaurants, and bakeries are ready to serve everything piping hot, fresh, and ready to go—like the hard-working, hard-bodied men behind the counters—with no reservations…
Sure, Chris O’Neal has problems. His restaurant is still co-owned by his ex. His flannel-and-tattoos style is making him accidentally trendy. He can’t remember the last time he went out and had fun. But he’s not lonely, he’s driven. And the hot bakery delivery boy is not his problem, no matter how sweet his buns.

Chris is old enough to know Lance Degrassi’s sculpted good looks and clever double entendres spell nothing but trouble. Lance is still in college—he should be hitting the clubs and the books, chasing guys his own age, not pursuing some gruff motorcycle-riding workaholic. Especially when he’ll be leaving for grad school in a few months. But Lance keeps hanging around, lending a hand, charming Chris to distraction. Maybe some steaming hot no-strings indulgence won’t hurt.

Then again, maybe it will…

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Tina’s Review

Judging a Book by it’s Cover:
I’m undecided on the cover. I’ve liked the torso shots from the previous installments to the series, so this unclothed close-up seems unnecessary to me. The synopsis was, honestly, not important to me, I was looking forward to reading Lance’s story.
Looking Deeper:
First Person POV from Chris’s perspective. Chris has been solo and celibate since breaking off a not-great relationship with his ex-, who also unfortunately is half-owner of the coffee shop he runs. Lance is a vibrant and intelligent young man, preparing to start graduate school in the fall after his current semester of college is over. Lance has his eye on Chris and although Chris is mutually attracted, he fights it because of their age difference and how it reminds him of the damaging relationship he had with Randy.
In many ways, Lance came off more mature than Chris, maybe because of the support network Lance had and/or the lack of for Chris. Both characters were well-written, but I think I liked Lance’s vitality over Chris’s curmudgeonly ways. The secondary characters were just enough to add a little fun to the mix. Dialogue was great, the interactions were good. Most felt natural and believable. The plot was good, but it felt a little thin, like something was missing. The previous stories seemed fuller, but always, the flow of writing was smooth as melting butter on a biscuit. The conflict was resolved in a great way, not rushed or belittled. I did predict the outcome, but that did not detract from the story and the conclusion was fantastic. I hope there will be more books in this series. Although this novella can easily stand on it’s own, Lance’s cousin Vic is mentioned often and has a cameo or two. He’s one part of BAKED FRESH’s couple, so I’d recommend starting the series from the beginning, because even Robby (SERVED HOT) is given a quick nod in here.

_________________________________________________

The Portland Heat Series

Served Hot

Portland Heat Series – Book 1

Genre: GLBT, M/M, Gay

By Annabeth Albert

Synopsis

In Portland, Oregon, the only thing hotter than the coffee shops, restaurants, and bakeries are the hard-working men who serve it up—hot, fresh, and ready to go—with no reservations…

Robby is a self-employed barista with a busy coffee cart, a warm smile, and a major crush on one of his customers. David is a handsome finance director who works nearby, eats lunch by himself, and expects nothing but “the usual”—small vanilla latte—from the cute guy in the cart. But when David shows up for his first Portland Pride festival, Robby works up the nerve to take their slow-brewing relationship to the next level. David, however, is newly out and single, still grieving the loss of his longtime lover, and unsure if he’s ready to date again. Yet with every fresh latte, sweet exchange—and near hook-up—David and Robby go from simmering to steaming to piping hot. The question is: Will someone get burned?

First in the new Portland Heat series!

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

Baked Fresh

Portland Heat Series – Book 2

By Annabeth Albert

Synopsis

From its famous coffee to the mouthwatering fare at its cafés, restaurants, and bakeries, Portland, Oregon, has a lot to whet the appetite, including the hard-working men who serve it all up—hot, fresh, and ready to go—with no reservations…

Vic Degrassi is a baker on the rise, and it’s all thanks to his rare ability to make—and keep—his New Year’s resolutions. Whether it’s losing weight, giving up smoking, or graduating from culinary school, Vic goes after what he wants—and gets it. This year? He wants Robin Dawson, the sweet-hearted hottie who volunteers with him at the local homeless shelter. When he learns that Robin is suddenly single after being unceremoniously dumped, Vic is more than happy to offer a shoulder to cry on—or at least a fresh-baked pastry to bite into. But it’s been a long time since Vic’s gone on a date, and he’s nervous about risking his friendship with Robin. So when their flirtation turns into a steamy night together, Vic and Robin have to figure out if they’re friends with benefits or lovers in the making, and if Robin is ready for something more than just a rebound. There’s only one way to find out: turn up the heat…

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Delivered Fast

Portland Heat Series – Book 3

By Annabeth Albert

Synopsis

Then again, maybe it will…

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

________________________________________________

Author Bio:

Frequent tweeter, professional grammar nerd, and obsessive reader, Annabeth Albert is also a Pacific Northwest romance writer in a variety of subgenres.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two toddlers.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Blitz + Giveaway: Falling For His Best Friend by Katee Robert

Posted on 05/19/2015 by shellbellereads

Falling For His Best Friend

Out of Uniform Series – Book 2

By Katee Robert

Synopsis

Avery Yeung’s biological clock just went off early. Thanks to her family’s medical history, she’s running out of time to get knocked up. And the only guy within donating distance? Her overprotective—and irritatingly hot—best friend. So clearly she needs an anonymous donor…

Anonymous donor? Over Sheriff Drew Flannery’s dead body. While daddyhood will never be in the cards for a man with his past, Drew won’t let Avery shop for a “popsicle pop.” He’ll do what’s right for his best friend by doing his best friend. But only if they do it properly.

But there’s nothing “proper” about it. Between the bed, the kitchen counter, and against his squad car, Avery and Drew are having the hottest sex ever. They can’t get enough of it—or each other. And without knowing it, they’ve crossed the one line that could ruin their friendship forever…

See where it all began with book 1 of the Out of Uniform series, In Bed with Mr. Wrong.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Photo of sensual kissing young couple

Excerpt

He jumped, and then climbed to his feet when Avery did, and followed her to the plump older nurse. She smiled at them, making him wonder if she were someone’s grandmother—the kind who made cookies and read bedtime stories and…

What the hell was he even thinking?

As soon as they turned the corner from the waiting room, she handed him a small clear cup that had a sticker with his information on it. “You’ll put the specimen in here, please.”

The nurse opened a door. “You can leave the cup in the room when you’re done.” She smiled at Avery. “You’re welcome to go into the room with him, but we ask that you ensure there’s no saliva or other fluids involved so you don’t contaminate the specimen.”

Avery made a choked noise. “That’s so not going to be a problem.”

The nurse laughed and patted her shoulder. “I’ve heard that one before, honey. I’ll just leave you to it.”

He barely waited for her to disappear back around the corner before he turned to examine the room. It looked like an entire frat house’s stash of porn had exploded in there. “Isn’t this a little much for a few tests?”

She looked at him like he was an idiot. “How else are you going to get your engine running?

Besides, this isn’t about tests—though I’m sure they’ll run a few. You wanted to help me make a baby, so let’s make a baby. Now go get ‘em, Champ.”

Jesus Christ. She expected him to leave a specimen so the doctor could shoot it up her…

Apparently when they’d talked about making a baby, something had gotten lost in translation.

“You’re shitting me.”

“Nope.” She slid past him into the room and meandered around, stopping in front of the television and eyeing the collection of DVDs on the shelf next to it. “Oh, look, they have Busty Blondes #37. I seem to remember you having one of these videos back in high school.”

He grabbed her shoulders and tried to steer her away from the shelf. “Not interested.”

Truth was, his inspiration for self sessions had migrated toward pretty Asian women who looked a whole lot like the one standing in the room with him.

“If you’re not into the DVDs, they have magazines, too.” She poked one with her finger. “Though this one appears a bit crusty.”

“Christ, stop touching things. Do you know what men do in here?”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, Drew, that’s kind of the point. They come in here, watch or read whatever tickles their fancy, and then masturbate into that sanitary little cup right there.”

When she said ‘masturbate’ he thought his head might actually explode. “Avery—”

“Are you worried about hitting your mark? That is kind of a small cup. Want me to go find something bigger?”

God, she was killing him. It would have been so much more bearable if he thought she was kidding, but Avery was drop dead serious. It was a sign of her nervousness that she hadn’t cracked a joke since he got into her Jeep.

He couldn’t do it.

Tina’s Review

Judging a Book by it’s Cover: The colors and cover design attract the eye. The synopsis sounds like it will be a fun friends-to-lovers story with a healthy dose of trouble-making.
Looking Deeper:
Alternating third-person POV’s. Drew and Avery have been each others best friends since childhood; each being the other’s source of comfort, confidante, and solace. They learned the one another’s nuances and knew how to support the other in any given mood. But now, it seems things may be shifting in a different direction. She’s fast approaching 28, the age both her mother and sister were diagnosed with cancer and could not have children after, she’s in a race to get pregnant. Drew refuses to let his best friend go at it solo with some random baby daddy’s swimmers, so he volunteers for the job.
I’m guessing by the plot drops that Drew’s brother, Ryan, and Avery’s best friend, Bri, are the couple from book one. There’s enough of a background given on it to make me want to go back at a later time and read it. That said, this book can and does stand very well on it’s own. The characters are thoroughly enjoyable and completely likable. The dialogue is natural and interactions are believable. The plot is a whole lot of fun, while sprinkled with some highs and lows and the story line progressed smoothly at a perfect pace. The conflicts were resolved well in a timely manner as they arose. Predictability was virtually non-existent. The conclusion was good, but it felt cut short. The epilogue felt like a jump time jump, leaving the final conclusion a bit open ended; making you wonder about the pink or blue, a wedding, the crotchety grandparents, the heartsick sister… even still, I enjoyed the heck out of this one & would recommend the series to anyone who enjoys a bit of smart and sassy with their steamy, sexy.

About Katee Robert

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. She found romance novels at age twelve and it changed her life. When not writing sexy contemporary and speculative fiction romance novels, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her wee ones, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.

Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Breaking Noah by Missy Johnson and Ashley Suzanne

Posted on 05/15/2015 by shellbellereads

Breaking Noah

By Missy Johnson and Ashley Suzanne

Synopsis

What happens when you start falling for your worst enemy? Fans of Abbi Glines and Monica Murphy will relish this addictive novel of smoking-hot seduction—and revenge gone so wrong, it’s right.

I wasn’t always this jaded. I had a clear head, things I wanted out of life, and a concise plan on how to get there. For being only twenty-one, I pretty much had it all figured out. Until the day my cousin died.

I spent months going over all the details surrounding her death, trying to figure out how I missed the signs, and the only thing I could come up with was she would still be alive if it wasn’t for one person: her professor. So I transferred to his college, enrolled in his class, and set my new plan in motion.

First I’ll seduce him. Then I’ll ruin him. I’ve just got to stay strong and not let his charm and my emotions get the best of me. Because someone has to pay for her death. If it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to break Noah.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Tina’s Review

Judging a Book by it’s Cover:
Seductive pose. Subtle color palate. Great use of light and shadow. The synopsis sounds ruthless, yet intriguing.
Looking Deeper:
Written in a first person POV, alternating between Zara and Noah, all clearly defined for easier comprehension.
Wow…. that’s all I can say at first. Within the first few chapters, this seems like a pretty straight-forward cut-and-dry story line. I’ve never been happier to be wrong. The synopsis does a rather good job at setting up the plot, so I’ll not go into that any further at the risk of revealing spoilers. Instead, I’ll get straight to the breakdown. Noah is an awesome lead male. Kind, caring, compassionate. Zara is fiercely loyal to her beliefs, smart, and strong. Together, they have the makings of a power couple. The magnetic pull and chemistry is continuously at war with her thoughts and beliefs making their connection all the more a force of nature. The secondary characters were an interesting blend of wonderfully supportive to love-to-hate-them. They full the full spectrum for a nice variety. The dialogue and interaction was, most of the time, believable and natural, there were a few instances that were eye-roll worthy, but then maybe that’s par for the college-age course. The plot is complex, much more so than I’d expected it to be. It is written very well and flowed quite smoothly. The conflicts are not handled well in some instances, but that lends to the plot more buildup and drama for later. The final conflict is truly fantastic and leaves the reader feeling vindicated and free of the oppressing weight that hung in the shadows. There’s virtually no predictability, in fact there were a few things that surprised me. The conclusion is fantastic. This is, by far, one of the better New Adult / College sub-genre books that I’ve read this year.

____________________________________________

Author Bios:

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

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

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

_______________________________________

Ashley Suzanne has been writing as long as she can remember. As a youngster, she was always creating stories and talking to her imaginary friends. Thankfully, her parents also carried this love of fiction, and helped her grow into the writer she is today.

Ashley is a bestselling author and spends equal amounts of time writing and reading. Being the true book whore she is, Ashley would rather dive into a good book before going out of her house. Giving up her career in Real Estate, Ashley has officially moved to hermit status.

When Ashley isn’t coming up with her next story, you’ll most likely find her on the couch with a kindle in her hand (probably watching some crappy reality show while , annoying her husband by telling him all about her new book boyfriend or spending quality time with her two gremlins … Sorry, I mean adorable children.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + Reviews : Lawless In Leather by Melanie Scott- New York Saints Series – Book 3

Posted on 05/05/2015 by shellbellereads

Lawless In Leather

New York Saints Series – Book 3

By Melanie Scott

Synopsis

SHE’S GOOD AT HER GAME.
Raina Easton never dreamed she’d end up playing ring master to a bunch of baseball cheerleaders. But when the New York Saints offers her a job to coach its new squad–the Fallen Angels–Raina can’t refuse. As the owner of a burlesque club, she can certainly show the girls more than a few good moves. But as for her new boss? That is, as they say, a whole ‘nother story. . .

AND HE’S GOT IT BAD.
Army veteran, biker, and all-around tough guy, Malachi Coulter isn’t your typical sports-team owner. For one thing, he doesn’t think cheerleaders belong on the baseball field. Another: he can’t seem to separate business and pleasure when he meets his somewhat scandalous new employee. Seems the major-league bad boy has met his match in the gorgeous, feisty Raina. All’s fair in love and baseball…could it be that, after all this time, Malachi is playing to win? Kobo

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Tina’s Review

Judging a Book by it’s Cover:
Cover design’s first impression is HOT, immediately followed by the question of who would want to wear a leather jacket with nothing underneath? The synopsis sounds like a lot of fun trouble and chemistry about to happen!
Looking Deeper:
It may be petty, but it throws me off that this is a New York team, with American owners, players and other cast members; however, the author often is noticed using terms not utilized in America (ie: Lift for elevator, Stag night for Bachelor party, Braces for suspenders). That said… Raina is a dancer, formerly of Broadway and currently the owner of a Burlesque club. She’s been hired by Alex to train the new Fallen Angels dance troupe (aka cheerleaders) for the Saints. Mal is the third of the trio that bought the Saints. Former special forces and now a security specialist, he’s trained to detect the slightest oddities. Both characters are strong, smart leads with not-so great pasts. The secondary characters consist of the couples from THE DEVIL IN DENIM and ANGEL IN ARMANI and a few minor characters from the previous installments as well as several new minor characters. All played the supporting role well, whether as plot filler or more significant support assistance. The plot had plenty of excitement and conflicts. Many of the conflicts were only vaguely resolved but the overall effect worked well. The story kept a steady pace and easy flow with little to no predictability. The conclusion was alright, but the big finale conflict was rather anti-climactic and simplistic. Overall, it was not a bad story. In fact, it was quite exciting and enjoyable. I only wish it had a stronger and more clearly defined conclusion, the epilogue was more of a wasted-potential piece of fluff catering more towards the other couples that of Raina and Mal.

Michel’s Review

Mal and his best friends have bought the worst baseball team in history. They need to get fans in the stands and behind the team. When one of them comes up with hairbrained idea to have cheerleaders to lure spectators into the stadium, Mal is purely capitol N..O..! Baseball does not have cheerleaders, period! He may be changing his mind when they bring in the burlesque dancer, Reina Easton. The attraction is undeniable.

Mal and Reina will butt heads, drive each other crazy, play the push and pull dance, but in the end both have been speared by cupid’s arrow.

The banter between these two is witty, the chemistry is sizzling, and the plot is well developed. Between the romance and suspense the story moves along at a quick pace and keeps the reader captivated.

I do have to agree with my blogmate Tina. Some of the word selections are not what Americans would use in their slang. I think the author needs to work on this and the publisher editors should of pointed this out. After all the book is a baseball themed romance. You don’t get more American than baseball.

Overall Lawless In Leather by Melanie Scott was a very good book.

The New York Saints Series

The Devil In Denim – Book 1

LIFE JUST THREW HER A CURVEBALL.

As the team-owner’s daughter, Maggie Jameson grew up in the New York Saints’ stadium–glove, cap, hot dogs, and all. Baseball’s in her blood, and she’s always dreamed of the day when she would lead the Saints to victory herself. That was before her dad had to sell the team to Alex Winters. The fast-talking, fiercely attractive businessman has a baseball pedigree that’s distinctly minor league. Maggie wants to hate him but his skills of seduction, however, are off the charts.

WILL LOVE BE A HOME RUN?

Alex could never have imagined how much this team means to Maggie. He needs her to help show the players that they’re still a family…even if he and Maggie are at the verge of exchanging blows. But her fiery determination and gorgeous looks prove irresistible to Alex. And much as he wants to relegate their relationship to the playing field–and get the Saints back in the game–Alex just can’t help himself: What he wants to win most is Maggie’s heart…in The Devil in Denim by Melanie Scott.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Angel In Armani – Book 2

WILL A LOVE OF THE GAME
Sara Charles is striking out on her own. With her dad out of commission, Charles Air has only one helicopter left–and only Sara to fly charters. With the family business in jeopardy, Sara needs all the clients she can get and the newest one is New York Saints team surgeon, Lucas Angelo. When an unexpected flirtation escalates into a night of pure blind passion, Sara is in agony over what she believes was extremely poor judgment on her part. She wants nothing more than to avoid Lucas. And keep her business her business. But she needs him–in more ways than one.

LEAD TO A FIELD OF DREAMS?But there is a catch: Lucas also needs Sara. Spring training is upon him, and his schedule is madness. So he asks Sara to be his personal pilot. It’s an offer she can’t refuse. She intends to keep him at arm’s length–especially when she discovers just what different lives they have. Little does Sara know that, for Lucas, the only thing more important than business is pleasure. He only plays to win. And he intends to hit it out of the park…

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Lawless In Leather – Book 3

Author Bio:

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Melanie Scott is an unrepentant bookworm. Luckily she grew up in a family that fed her a properly varied diet of books and these days is surrounded by people who are understanding of her story addiction. When not wrestling one of her own stories to the ground, she can generally be found reading someone else’s. Her other distractions include yarn, cat butlering, dark chocolate and fabric. She lives in Melbourne, Australia. To keep in touch, sign up for her newsletter at http://www.melanie-scott.net.

She also writes fantasy and urban fantasy as M.J. Scott To find out more about M.J’s books, check out her website or sign up for her newsletter at http://www.mjscott.net.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + Review: Getting Lucky Number Seven by Cindi Madsen

Posted on 04/28/2015 by shellbellereads

Getting Lucky Number Seven

By Cindi Madsen

Synopsis

What’s your lucky number?

Lyla Wilder is done being the shy, chemistry nerd extraordinaire. While every other college student is out having fun, Lyla is studying. With her cat. Well, she’s played it “safe” quite enough, thank you. So she creates a “College Bucket List”?with item #7 being a night of uninhibited, mind-blowing sex…

But she needs some help from her man-whore best friend.

Hockey player Beck Davenport thought Lyla’s transformation would be subtle. Man, was he wrong. With every item she ticks off, Beck finds himself growing seriously hot for his sweet, brainiac best friend. And if he’s not careful, he’ll end up risking their friendship in order to convince Lyla that he might just be her lucky #7…

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Tina’s Review

Judging a Book by it’s Cover:
The cover design is a nice monochromatic red/brown. Subtle and appealing. Add just a few touches of black to the font and it takes on an almost classic, old-school Hollywood vibe. The synopsis sounds like yet another college friends-to-lovers story with plenty of drama and fun antics.
Looking Deeper:
First thought: Similar plot to “She’s All That” (1999, Freddie Prinze Jr, Rachel Leigh Cook) Alternating first-person POV’s, clearly defined and easy to follow.
Short and extremely curvaceous, Lyla was taught easy on to hide her curves under layers of boho chic clothing. Studious and nerdy, she’s socially awkward. When the buddy of her roommate’s boyfriend is overheard referring to her as “fugly and boring”, she makes it a point to makes some changes – not for him, but for her. Recruiting the help of her hockey-jock and chem lab partner, Beck, is just the icing on the cake.
The lead characters are easily likable. The secondary characters add a nice filling layer. The dialogue and interaction is believable and natural. The plot has it’s moments of fun, seriousness, and emotional ups and downs all while reading with a smoothness that’s rare to find. There were enough conflicts and challenges to keep things interesting and enough humor to balance the more serious issues. There was not a whole lot of predictability, but I did feel that the conclusion was left a bit rushed and open-ended. This does not mean that there were cliffhangers, but I think it could have benefited from an Epilogue 6, 12 or even further into the future. Overall, it was a fun read, lighter on the angst, heavier on comedic drama.

_________________

Cindi Madsen is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance and young adult novels. She sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway : There You Stand by Christina Lee – Between Breaths Series – Book 5

Posted on 04/21/2015 by shellbellereads

There You Stand

Between Breaths Series – Book 5

By Christina Lee

Synopsis

From the author of All of You and Before You Break comes a new Between Breaths male/male romance about the silent, inked up skateboarder and the tattoo artist who unravels him piece by piece…

Tattoo artist Cory Easton has worked long enough at Raw Ink to know, just by looking at a dude, what his body art reveals, what makes him tick, what even makes him scared. Until he meets the quiet and remote Jude York–so unreadable, so unreachable, and so unlike anyone else, he can’t help but arouse Cory’s curiosity.

As captivating and complex as his ink, Jude is a mystery–and Cory’s falling fast and hard under his spell. Against his better judgment to steer clear.

The rumors of Jude’s past overshadow him–whispers of prison and an unmentionable secret that’s kept him in the protective shadows of a local motorcycle club. As Cory probes deeper, he wonders how much he really wants to know. Especially since Jude has awakened something inside him that has been buried too long–and has him feeling completely alive for the first time in forever…

Includes a preview of Christina Lee’s upcoming adult romance Two of Hearts.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo / Google Play

Excerpt

Chopper, get your ass back here!”

While he was distracted, I silently moved toward him, hoping to grab hold of that leash. But just as I approached, he took off again, following that same squirrel who’d taken a leap to the next large maple.

I was out of breath and now beyond frustrated. I shoved my hand in my hoodie, my fingers closing on a sturdy dog cookie.

When I looked up again, Chopper was headed straight for the skate park. Shit.

“Chopper, goddamn it,” I called in some last-ditch effort. “You don’t listen for shit.”

Unexpectedly, Jude York neared the cement barrier at the entrance to the bowl. His board clenched in his fist, he seemed to be assessing the situation as the large dog charged nearer.

He left his skateboard on the concrete walkway and stepped into the lawn. He squatted down in the grass, made eye contact with Chopper, and the dog changed course to sail directly toward him. What the hell was that about?

Some type of deep whistle emitted from Jude’s lips and instead of slamming into his chest, Chopper came to a sudden halt beside him. Like Jude was a damn dog whisperer or something. His strong fingers grabbed hold of his collar and he reached down to mutter something in the dog’s ear. Chopper sat down in the grass. Actually fucking sat down—I had never been able to get him to do that.

I became motionless as I watched them, even though Ace was eager to inch closer. At least one animal heeded my command. I wondered what it was about Jude that compelled Chopper to run toward him. I mean, I got the appeal, so maybe it was just pure animal instinct.

The muscles in Jude’s forearm flexed as he stroked Chopper’s head and the dog’s tongue hung out in a happy pant. The little fucker.

As I walked closer to Chopper, Jude’s eyes lifted to mine. And for the first time I saw an array of other emotions alight in them. The most blatant being amusement, as if his irises contained a flicker of light. His lips tilted at the corners in an almost imperceptible smile and he looked so dazzling right then. As he held my gaze for the first time ever, something tightened like a fist inside my chest.

Shit, he was stunning. In that exotic kind of way. His hair was a mass of short blond dreadlocks, his skin inked mainly in black, and his eyes were the most gorgeous light green I’d ever seen—almost like cellophane. And now those same eyes locked on mine and held steady.

Michel’s Review

There You Stand by Christina Lee is the fifth book in the Between Breaths Series. I have read and reviewed each book in this series. Each book in this series has received a 5 Star Review. Christina Lee has a unique writing style that delivers fresh plots, strong characters; both leading and secondary , emotional depth, smooth flow, and perfectly timed pacing. I have fallen for all of the characters in this series. I want all of the characters to have their own book.

There You Stand features Cory Easton, one of the artist at Raw Ink. He is known for his easy going nature and dedicated friendship. He is also openly gay. Although he is committed to his job and friends, he is a free agent in the dating world. He has had some bad experiences with former love interests and has been left with some emotional scars.

When a new skateboarder blows into town and frequents the park where Cory walks his dogs, Cory is mesmerized by this alluring young man. He is secretly attracted to the blond skater boy with a headful of dreadlocks and graceful moves.

Jude York is a man with secrets. He keeps a low profile and has some powerful connections with the local MC. He aims to keep to himself and live very quietly. His past can cause harm to anyone who is in contact with him. When he meets Cory Easton, the talented and gay tattoo artist from Raw Ink, he is intrigued with him. He has been attracted to both men and women in the past, but never with the hunger he has for Cory.

With Jude’s dangerous past and Cory’s emotional scars, these two young men will have to overcome the obstacles that hold them back. Both men will have to learn to let go and move forward.

Cory and Jude’s story is a beautiful story of learning to surrender, learning to communicate, and learning to trust. The end result is the perfect love story that has a happy ending for both men.

There You Stand can be read as a stand alone novel or in series order.

Tina’s Review

Judging a Book by it’s Cover:
Cover design- Overly blended, monochomatic design with inverted title. Kind of bland, not very eye-catching.
Synopsis – Mysterious and intriguing with a healthy dose of a couple hot guys? Sounded good to me!
Looking Deeper:
It’s quickly noted that although this is the fifth book in the series, there’s enough information given to the reader to allow them to read this book without feeling the *need* to read the others, but I suspect that it would be more beneficial and fulfilling if you did.
Cory’s poor judgement in men has left him nothing but a guarded heart and an unruly dog. Jude’s past is dark and mysterious. Both carry scars of the past, yet only only one’s is visible on the outside. Add a few dogs and a MC with a dubious record and there’s bound to be excitement.
Both Cory and Jude are very likable characters with past tragedies, guarded hearts and longing souls. The secondary characters are solid and supportive without being spotlighted too much. Dialogue and interaction between the cast feels natural and believable throughout. The plot is exciting, mysterious, and emotional in turns. It is written extremely well, making for a smooth, addictive read. There were several conflicts throughout the story that added more dimension and dynamics to the plot. A moderate level of predictability sadly took away a bit of the drama and suspense element, but did not detract from the overall experience. The climax and conclusion were completed in a timely manner, leaving no cliffhangers. Overall, it was a very good read that can definitely stand alone.

The Between Breaths Series

All of You- Book 1

In this powerfully emotional debut New Adult novel, Avery has just met her hot upstairs neighbor. He’s irresistible. Tattooed. And a virgin.

Nursing student Avery Michaels wants nothing to do with dating–she’s perfectly happy single. Privy to too many of her mother’s bad decisions and even worse taste in boyfriends, all Avery can handle is a string of uncomplicated hookups whenever the mood strikes.

When she meets smoking hot tattoo artist Bennett, she wants him–for just one night. But he won’t accept a no-strings-attached arrangement. He lives by a straight-laced code of values based on his own troubled upbringing.

Bennett sees something special in Avery and he wants more from her. Way more. As Avery wrestles with her emotions for Bennett, danger and tragedy force them to open up to each other. And Avery must face the terrifying realization that she wants more from him, too.

So she needs to make a choice–let Bennett go or finally let him in.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo / Google Play

Before You Break – Book 2

A sexy, emotional New Adult romance about a bad boy on the edge and a good girl about to lose control…

A college baseball star isn’t supposed to have skeletons in his closet. But Daniel Quinn is hiding a guilty past so dark he refuses to let anyone get close. Except there’s something about gorgeous, studious Ella Abrams that goes beyond the electric attraction between them–something that makes him want to open up.

Ella has suffered enough heartache and guilt to fill one of her psychology textbooks, but she keeps that part of herself hidden behind a bubbly exterior. Until she receives an anonymous call while working a suicide helpline and the voice on the other end touches something inside of her that she can’t ignore.

Soon Ella and Quinn’s physical connection heats up, even as their deep and revealing hotline talks intensify. But by the time Ella realizes that her seductive jock and her sensitive caller are the same guy, it might be too late to save him–or to stop herself from falling too far…

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo / Google Play

Whisper To Me – Book 3

A hot and consuming New Adult romance about a wayward musician and the one girl who keeps him grounded…

At college, Rachel has a reputation for being a sarcastic flirt with a thing for star athletes. No one at school knows that she’d had her heart ripped to shreds by her high school sweetheart, who’d driven them both off the side of the road on a borrowed motorcycle, and then abandoned her. No one knows the real Rachel Mattson–except one person…

Ever since he helped nurse his sister’s feisty best friend back to health, pierced bass player Kai Nakos has been head over heels in love. But the supposed bad boy can’t risk letting Rachel know the truth–especially now that the two of them are back in their hometown for the summer, together for the first time since the months following that fateful night. Never mind that Rachel’s ex is back, groveling for her forgiveness.

Shaken by her ex’s return, Rachel finds herself turning to the one guy she knows she can trust. Kai is willing to hide his feelings for her, just to have Rachel touch him again. After all, this is only a temporary fling. Until it becomes something more. But maybe it had been more all along…

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo / Google Play

Promis Me This – Book 4

A new love will test the boundaries of passion between a privileged boy next door and the tattooed, blue-haired girl who helps him embrace his wild side…

Nate has developed quite a playboy reputation around campus. It’s not that he doesn’t respect or trust women; he doesn’t trust himself. The men in Nate’s family are prone to abusive behavior—a dirty secret that Nate’s been running from his entire life—so Nate doesn’t do relationships. But he can’t help himself around one girl…

Jessie is strong, independent, and works at a tattoo parlor. Nate can’t resist getting close to her, even if it’s strictly a friendship. But it doesn’t take long for Nate to admit that what he wants with Jessie is more than just friendly.

With Jessie, he can be himself and explore what he’s always felt was a terrifying darkness inside him. Even when Nate begins to crave her in a way that both shocks and horrifies him, Jessie still wants to know every part of him. Testing their boundaries together will take a trust that could render them inseparable… or tear them apart.

INCLUDES A PREVIEW OF TWO OF HEARTS.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo / Google Play

There You Stand – Book 5

From the author of All of You and Before You Break comes a new Between Breaths male/male romance about the silent, inked up skateboarder and the tattoo artist who unravels him piece by piece…

As captivating and complex as his ink, Jude is a mystery–and Cory’s falling fast and hard under his spell. Against his better judgment to steer clear.

Includes a preview of Christina Lee’s upcoming adult romance Two of Hearts.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo / Google Play

Two Of Hearts – Book 6

Release Date: May 5, 2015

A gripping standalone adult contemporary romance about finding yourself while taking a second chance at your first love…

Dakota Nakos was always the resilient, strong-willed achiever. But when her father dies and she’s entrusted with the family’s casino, she feels vulnerable, scared, and more than a little emotional –not exactly the best time to see an old lover she’s never really gotten over.

Dakota once meant the world to Shane Garrity. Then suddenly he left town to train as a U.S. Marshal, and their love for each other crashed into a memory. Now he’s come home for her father’s funeral, and one look at the girl he left behind stirs up both memories and regrets, and reignites a fire he feared he’d lost forever.

Dakota may be the same driven girl she always was, but she’s also changed in ways neither could have anticipated. She’s not just a young woman searching for own identity in the Native American community in which she was raised, but one questioning her new life outside her father’s shadow. Above all she wonders if Shane can push past her weakened defenses to rekindle what they once had, or whether the intense blaze between them will ultimately reduce her heart to ashes.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo / Google Play

______________________________________

Author Bio:

Mother, wife, reader, dreamer. Christina lives in the Midwest with her husband and son–her two favorite guys. She’s addicted to lip gloss, salted caramel everything, and believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

GIVEAWAY

One Winner to receive the following: $10 gift card to the book retailer of their choice = An ARC of my adult romance releasing May 5th, TWO OF HEARTS,
and some Between Breaths swag mailed

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Baked Fresh by Annabeth Albert- Portland Heat Series – Book 2

Posted on 04/17/2015 by shellbellereads

Baked Fresh

Portland Heat Series – Book 2

By Annabeth Albert

Synopsis

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Tina’s Review

Judging a Book by it’s Cover:
Cover art is visually appealing. I do like the more translucent title banner of SERVED HOT a little better than this one. This one is a bit too opague, obscuring the view and hindering the emotional effect portrayed in the fisting of the clothing. The synopsis is flirty and teasing without giving it all away. It intrigues and pulls you in. The story is much more complex, however.
Looking Deeper:
First-person POV, Vic’s perspective. Note: Do not get Robby from book one confused with Robin here. 😉
Vic and Robin both suffer their own demons and insecurities, but a fake relationship and growing attraction bring them together, at least for now. Vic wants to be more than just the rebound guy though, he wants to be Robin’s everything. These characters have such heartwarming, endearing characters, even flawed as they are. The secondary characters add depth and provide good support to an already sturdy lead couple. The plot itself was a bit thin, but that’s often the case with shorter stories. The overall feel was fairly light even though much of the book revolved around “issues” they each were trying to work through. The conflicts were resolved well and the conclusion was solid, leaving no cliffhangers. This story CAN stand on it’s own, there’s only the briefest mention/scene from the SERVED HOT couple and can easily be read through without having read the first book. Another great story from Ms. Albert regarding hope, trust and second chances.

The Portland Heat Series

Served Hot

Portland Heat Series – Book 1

Genre: GLBT, M/M, Gay

By Annabeth Albert

Synopsis

In Portland, Oregon, the only thing hotter than the coffee shops, restaurants, and bakeries are the hard-working men who serve it up—hot, fresh, and ready to go—with no reservations…

First in the new Portland Heat series!

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

Author Bio:

Frequent tweeter, professional grammar nerd, and obsessive reader, Annabeth Albert is also a Pacific Northwest romance writer in a variety of subgenres.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two toddlers.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Saucy Southern Readers

professional, honest, and timely book reviews

Category Archives: Tina

5 Star Review : Words Left Unsaid by Missy Johnson

Review : My Mind’s Eye by Gillian Jones

Summer Reads: All Of Me by Jennifer Bernard – Love Between The Bases Series – Book 1

Happy Release + Review : Delivered Fast by Annabeth Albert – Portland Heat Series – Book 3

Release Blitz + Giveaway: Falling For His Best Friend by Katee Robert

Review: Breaking Noah by Missy Johnson and Ashley Suzanne

Happy Release + Reviews : Lawless In Leather by Melanie Scott- New York Saints Series – Book 3

Happy Release + Review: Getting Lucky Number Seven by Cindi Madsen

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway : There You Stand by Christina Lee – Between Breaths Series – Book 5

Review: Baked Fresh by Annabeth Albert- Portland Heat Series – Book 2

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: