Release Blitz + Review: Shadow of Doubt by P. A. DePaul – SBG Series – Book 2

Posted on 04/21/2015 by shellbellereads

The new SBG novel from the author of Exchange of Fire.

When her secretly filmed tryst shows up on the internet, Michelle Alger goes on the run. She has no choice. Not only was her one-night stand the son of a US senator, but he’s been murdered—and she’s the number one suspect. With both the senator and an avenging drug lord on her trail, her life is in danger. There’s only man she can trust. He saved her once, but will he still be her hero six years later?

Captain Jeremy Malone and the rest of Delta Squad have the senator’s order: find the mystery woman who killed my son. But to Jeremy, she’s no mystery. Six years ago his team of Green Berets rescued her from the torturous clutches of a Colombian cartel, and he’s never forgotten her. His personal and covert mission: find Michelle before anyone else. When he and Michelle do meet again, the sparks are explosive and consuming. They’re also dangerous as hell.

Because with each new bit of evidence, Jeremy suspects that Michelle’s innocence may be a ruse—a beautiful trap set by a woman who has even more secrets yet to bare.

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Michel’s Review

If you are looking for a fast paced and thrilling romantic suspense try out the SBG series by P. A. DePaul. The latest release, Shadow of Doubt, will keep you on the edge of your seat furiously turning the pages.

After Captain Jeremy Malone (aka Cappy) and his team rescued Michelle Alger from the Cartel, life should of been good after they went their separate ways. Cappy’s team experienced a great loss in the operation and Michelle walked away with internal scars that will last a lifetime. Their paths are destined to cross once again when a senator’s son is murdered and Michelle is at the center of the scandal.

Cappy is the leader of the Delta Squad that has been enlisted to help the Senator find the murderer. Cappy refuses to believe that Michelle is the murderer. Somehow she has been set up in a complicated quest for revenge. Solving this crime is like unraveling a tight knit blanket. It will unravel one thread at a time, piece by piece. In the process Cappy and Michelle will find a love that will last beyond a lifetime.

Can Cappy and Michelle find happiness together? Cappy’s career will hold him back. Michelle will have to convince this strong warrior that love makes him stronger.

Shadow of Doubt is the second book in the exciting SGB Series by P.A. DePaul. Although it is not an overly erotic romance, the sexual tension between Cappy and Michelle is heated enough to keep the readers enthralled. The fast paced action and suspense is exciting. I highly recommend Shadow of Doubt.

Shadow of Doubt can be read as a stand alone novel or in series order.

** BOOKS FROM THE SBG NOVEL SERIES **

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Since P.A. DePaul first sounded out the words “See Spot run” and “See Jane walk,” she was hooked. Couple that with weekly trips to the library where she usually tried to get the maximum amount of books allowed, and watching both parents get lost in a book, you would think she’d get a clue that writing might be something she should investigate. But sadly, no. (She’s a little slow on the uptake.)

After years of escaping into fantastical worlds in books, P.A. DePaul started to get an inkling in the back of her mind that she could probably create something fun too. But again, as she was slow to move on to anything concrete, the idea just continued to fester until she picked up J.R. Ward’s compendium, The Black Dagger Brotherhood: An Insider’s Guide. Eureka! The three-way bulb in her brain finally clicked higher than the dim-watt. When she finished reading the “Advice and FAQs” section, her hands shook and her palms got sweaty. After she blinked away the lightheaded feeling, she thought to herself, “I can do this. I’ve read enough books to know what’s out there and what’s popular. I’m gonna give it a try.” Then she sat in front of her computer, chin in her hand, and drummed her fingers. What to write about? Even though she loved reading about vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters, and witches, she realized she had nothing new to offer. Frustrated, but not daunted, she went to bed and woke up the next morning with an idea; a concept that refused to go away. A couple of failed manuscripts and storylines later, she finally got it right. (Though, in her mind, those first couple of manuscripts weren’t failures. They were learning tools to help her hone her writing and learn how to construct a storyline. Some of the characters you’ll come to love in the Guardian Security and Investigations series started in those original pages and she just couldn’t part with them. Don’t be surprised if one day, she dusts one of those off and works it so they’ll finally be in print.)

Knowing she had a novel worth fighting for, she joined the Romance Writers of America (RWA) and entered it in four contests. She won third place in Utah Chapter’s Heart of the West Contest! Woohoo! Confirmation she was on to something.

P.A. DePaul originally hails from Carroll County and Baltimore County, Maryland, but also lived in Macon and Warner Robins, Georgia. She currently resides in a beautiful community just outside Philadelphia.

When her head is not completely absorbed with listening to her very demanding Guardians tell their stories, she can be found with her head in a book—not only enjoying the story but studying what makes the novel work for her or not. She loves action-adventure movies (if it blows up spectacularly, she’s there) and watching way too much TV. (Can everybody say “Procrastination?” To which she usually replies, “But it’s research!” Yeah, they don’t believe her either.). Her husband and three-year-old Shi Tzu, Montgomery, sometimes stand outside her closed office door and wonder, “Is she still alive? Do we dare bother her? What if she’s on a roll?” Monty usually answers by scratching on the wood anyway. Gotta love a dog who doesn’t care about boundaries! Good thing he’s so cute! – See more at: http://padepaul.com/author-bio/#sthash.fwVCht7f.dpuf

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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

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

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…

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

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

Review: Stupid Boy by Cindy Miles- Stupid In Love Series- Book 2

Posted on 04/16/2015 by shellbellereads

Stupid Boy

Stupid In Love Series- Book 2

Genre: New Adult

By Cindy Miles

Synopsis

From Cindy Miles, bestselling new adult author of STUPID GIRL, comes the next installment of her blockbuster Stupid in Love series – STUPID BOY.

“Stupid Boy by Cindy Miles is everything I love about a new adult romance– angsty, emotional and sexy. I couldn’t stop reading!”
– NYT and USA Today bestselling author Lauren Hawkeye

Brax Jenkins and Olivia Beaumont are the most envied couple at Winston University—but the so-called “virginity dare,” orchestrated by Brax’s old fraternity, almost tore them apart. Now, a new dare is taking shape, and it’s sure to set emotions ablaze—more than ever before.

Winston’s “It Girl” Harper Belle isn’t just president of the Deltas—she’s also a master at keeping her ugly past a secret. So, when the Kappas’ dare hits closer to home for her more than anyone realizes, she devises a competition of her own as payback. Three sorority sisters will seek out a notorious womanizer on campus and—unbeknownst their “mark”—secretly train him to be the perfect boyfriend. Always up for a challenge, Harper targets the biggest player she can find: Brax’s wickedly handsome foster brother Kane McCarthy.

But, Harper discovers there’s much more to Kane than girls, games, and partying. His easy smile belies the quiet, old soul reflected in his deep brown eyes. All it takes is one night, one secret laid bare, and one kiss from Kane to shift Harper’s world on its axis. Suddenly, the girl who’s always walked a straight and narrow path can’t think of anything else except losing control.

“A raw, beautiful, poignant story about pain, heartache and first love. I couldn’t put it down.”
– Carly Phillips, NYT bestselling author, on STUPID GIRL

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Michel’s Review

*** Arc provided by publisher, via Net Galley, for a fair and honest review. ***

When I saw Stupid Boy by Cindy Miles on Net Galley, I had to request a copy for review. I have read all of Cindy Miles paranormal books and absolutely loved them. I was intrigued to see that she had released some books in the New Adult genre. And once again she delivered a fantastic book with solid emotional writing.

Harper Belle is the perfect girl. She makes good grades, she is in one of the most prestigious sorority, her appearance is perfect, and her behavior is perfect. She was appalled by the rush stunt the Kappa’s pulled the previous year. She has devised a full proof plan for her sorority to put the Kappa’s in their place and make them model students. She and her sorority sisters are going to make these bad boy frat boys into the perfect boyfriends and model students. They are going to prove that with positive reinforcement that even the baddest of bad boys can be reformed. Her plan is not going to hurt anyone, it is going to make the Kappa’s better men.

Like most plans go, they have hiccups and fall off track. When she meets Brax Jenkins best friend from Boston, bad boy Kane McCarthy, she has found the perfect bad boy. He has come to Texas to “run the numbers”. He’s good at what he does and makes no apology for it. He is the perfect candidate for Harper to reform.

Appearances aren’t everything. Harper soon finds out that there is more to Kane than meets the eye. He is a smart, intelligent, and caring person. Somehow he looks beneath Harper’s perfect facade and sees a kindred spirit. He recognizes a wounded soul. He sees the beauty she has hid behind the perfection.

Both Kane and Harper will learn there are many sides to a person. There is a fine line between good and bad, right and wrong, and everything in between. What is important is to be honest with oneself. Also to give with a pure heart.

Stupid Boy was a very emotional book. Both Harper and Kane have survived horrific childhoods. Their coping mechanisms may be different but in the end they both need the same thing. They both need unconditional love.

Cindy Miles did an excellent job. I enjoyed Stupid Boy so much that I had to download the first book in the series, Stupid Girl. Let me tell you, Stupid Girl was another fantastic book. Each book in the series can be read as a stand alone romance or in series order.

I highly recommend the Stupid In Love series!

The Stupid In Love Series

Stupid Girl – Book 1

Only fools fall in love…

After her senior year of high school leaves behind nothing but heartache, Olivia Beaumont is sure of this: She’s no stupid girl. She sets out for Winston University, promising herself that she will remain focused on her first and only love – astronomy. But all it takes is cocky sophomore Brax Jenkins and an accidental collision with a football, to throw her entire year off course.

A quick-tempered Southie who escaped the inner city streets of Boston to pitch for Winston, Brax is known to play way more fields than just the baseball diamond. So, when his name is drawn to take part in his fraternity’s hazing dare, Brax eagerly accepts the mission to take Olivia’s virginity. But he doesn’t plan on falling hard for the sweet and sassy Texas girl who sees right through his bad-boy persona.

As Olivia and Brax battle their feelings for each other, echoes of the past year begin to surface. A boy who once turned Olivia’s whole world upside down reappears, and “harmless” pranks wreak havoc. Pretty soon the aspiring astronomer is on the verge of revealing her most difficult, heartbreaking secret. All the while, Brax must wrestle with the irrevocable dare, and Olivia struggles against all logic as she does the one thing only a stupid girl would do: fall in love.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Stupid Boy – Book 2

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Author Bio:

Cindy Miles is the best-selling author of twelve novels, one anthology and three short stories. She also writes as Elle Jasper, and grew up on the salt marshes of the Vernon River in Savannah, Georgia.

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Review: Love After All by Jaci Burton – Hope Series – Book 4

Posted on 04/16/2015 by shellbellereads

Love After All

Hope Series – Book 4

By Jaci Burton

Synopsis

In the latest novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Hope Burns, a woman discovers that the man she least expects is exactly what she needs…

High school math teacher Chelsea Gardner has the perfect plan. She’s tired of dating all the wrong men, and after years of frustration, she’s developed a foolproof list of requirements for finding “The One.”

Bar owner Sebastian “Bash” Palmer finds Chelsea beautiful, smart and fun, but he thinks her list is ridiculous and unnecessary. Intent on proving Chelsea is looking for love in all the wrong ways, he offers to help her find the “perfect” man.

Chelsea knows Bash isn’t the right guy for her—he barely meets one of her criteria—but there’s something about the charismatic man that has her yearning for things that are most definitely not list approved.

Because sometimes, a relationship that looks totally wrong on paper can turn out incredibly right…

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Michel’s Review

If you are looking for a light hearted book with very little angst and drama then Love After All by Jaci Burton is the perfect book to curl up with. It is the fourth book in the Hope Series and delivers a very satisfying story.

Chelsea is sick of dating the wrong men and decides that she is going to change up her dating techniques. She is going to make up a list of the kind of man that would be perfect for her. Her list includes a man that has a 9 to 5 job, does not like sports, prefers fine dining over fast food, and no crazy exes. She wants a man that wants a relationship and plans to make it stick.

Chelsea has been friends with Sebastian “Bash” Palmer, the owner of the bar she frequents. When she shows him the list he thinks she’s off her rocker. No man can live up to her list. He plans to show her that the list requirements are not what makes the difference but it is the man. He decides to help her with the list.

Chelsea and Bash form a solid friendship. Even though Bash does not want a relationship due to a bad marriage, he finds himself falling for Chelsea. Chelsea’s list does not intimidate him at all.

When it comes to matters of the heart both Bash and Chelsea will learn that expectations don’t factor in. What matters is giving the other person your love and the best of yourself. It’s about being honest with yourself as well as the one you love.

Jaci Burton penned another feel good romance that will not disappoint.

;Author Bio:

Jaci Burton is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of over 60 books. She lives in Oklahoma and when she isn’t on deadline, she can usually be found trying to convince her husband to remodel some room or another in their house (she blames HGTV for this). She loves gardening, sports, casinos and getting lost in a great book. She’s a total romantic and longs for the happily ever after in every story, which you’ll find in all her books.

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Review: The Truth About Jack by Jody Gehrman

Posted on 04/16/2015 by shellbellereads

The Truth About Jack

By Jody Gehrman

Mature YA

Synopsis

This Entangled Teen Crush book contains references to missed connections, mistaken identities, and lots of misbehavior. It may give you all the swoony feels.
Can the write guy be the right guy?
Dakota McCloud has just been accepted into a prestigious art school. Soon she’ll leave behind the artists’ colony where she grew up-hippie dad, tofu since birth, yurt-and join her boyfriend and best friend on the East Coast. It was the plan…until Dakota finds out her boyfriend and best friend hooked up behind her back.
Hurt and viciously betrayed, Dakota pours out her heart on a piece of paper, places it in a bottle, and hurls it into the ocean. But it doesn’t quite go where she expects…Jack Sauvage finds the bottle washed up on the shore and responds to Dakota’s letter. Except what if his straight-laced life doesn’t jive with the free-spirited girl he’s only seen from afar? As Jack creates a persona he believes she’ll love, they slowly fall for each other with each new letter. Now Jack is trying to find a way to make this delicate, on-paper romance happen in real life…without revealing his deception.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

Tina’s Review

Judging a Book by it’s Cover:
Cute cover with a light-hearted feel. Synopsis reads like a typical YA/NA feel-good drama.
And Beyond:
First-person alternating POV in present tense. Dakota grew up in a hippie community. She’s vibrant, caring and not as naive as one would imagine her to be. Jack comes from money. His mother shelters and represses him due to a past tragedy she’d never gotten over. Both characters are young, barely old enough to start college in the fall, but he’s already lost his best friend to suicide and she’s suffered the ultimate betrayal from her boyfriend and best friend.
Dakota composes a message in a bottle and tosses into the ocean, only unbeknownst to her, it is found only moments later by Jack. Jack first caught sight of Dakota earlier that day and was immediately drawn to her. When he spots her bottle churning in the tide, he takes it as fate. However, he replies to her message under false pretenses and begins a pen pal-ship that is based only on half-truths. Now he needs to figure out how to transition from his pen pal character to the real Jack without ruining everything.
The characters are young. They both have some maturing and learning to do, especially Jack – but I blame a lot of that on his mother, too. There are several secondary characters in this story, all which seem to benefit the plot in one way or another without threatening to steal the spotlight. There’s a natural and easy way about the dialogue and interaction that was nice, even the intentional awkwardness was conveyed well. While the plot progresses slow and steady, the writing style is fluid and easy to read. There were a handful of conflicts that were resolved in timely and age-appropriate manners. Predictability was low. The conclusion included a solid epilogue that added to the story nicely. Overall, a it was a fun, light read catering more to the teen and young adult crowd.

Author Bio:

Jody Gehrman is a native of Northern California, where she can be found writing, teaching, reading, or obsessing over her three cats most days. She is also the author of ten novels and numerous award-winning plays. Her Young Adult novels include The Truth About Jack, Audrey’s Guide to Black Magic, Audrey’s Guide to Witchcraft, Babe in Boyland, Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty, and Triple Shot Bettys in Love. Babe in Boyland was optioned by the Disney Channel and won the International Reading Association’s Teen Choice Award. Her adult novels are Bombshell, Notes from the Backseat, Tart, and Summer in the Land of Skin. Her plays have been produced in Ashland, New York, San Francisco, Chicago and L.A. She and her partner David Wolf won the New Generation Playwrights Award for their one-act, Jake Savage, Jungle P.I. She is a professor of English and Communication Studies at Mendocino College.

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Review: Maverick by Chelsea Camaron- Roughneck Shorts- Book 1

Posted on 04/16/2015 by shellbellereads

Maverick

Roughnect Shorts – Book 1

By Chelsea Camaron

Synopsis

Invisible – Unseen

He was the high school crush who never knew I existed. I am still the girl hiding against the wall.
Life for Kenzy Davis is far from easy right now. After ending a long term relationship, she is back in her hometown, starting over.
Maverick Collins works hard and plays even harder. An invisible illness shakes his world at its core as his father fights for his life. Everything he ever took for granted stares him in the face, including the shy girl from his past.
Watching someone you love battle an illness is never easy. When the ICU nurse caring for his dad is the one girl from his past he saw around but overlooked, does Maverick find comfort in her embrace? Does Kenzy find a new calm in the chaos of her life? Or do their feelings remain invisible yet again?

Intended for mature audiences only. This book contains strong language and strong sexual situations. Please do not buy if any of this offends you.

Buy: Amazon

Tina’s Review

Novella-length. Alternating, clearly-defined, first person POV – extremely easy to follow along.
I feel the cover is not as attention-grabbing as it could be, but it does have it’s appeal. The synopsis reads a bit “fluffier” that I felt the story was. There was depth of emotion and hardships, some heavy topics to work around in there that are not indicated in the blurb.
Mackenzy leaves her boyfriend of five or so years, with whom she shares home-ownership with, after several co-workers become pregnant by him and returns to her hometown where she becomes an intensive care nurse at the hospital.
Maverick is a roughneck, working in the Permian basin. He lost his mom to cancer a few years back and a part of his dad went with her. When he gets the call at work that his father’s been taken to the hospital because of severe complications from his diabetes, he panics. But his father lands in Mackenzie’s care.
* be prepared for some raw emotions here to emerge from this sexy roughneck*
The characters are well-written. Kenzy is smart and independent. She’s not one to rush into things because she likes what she sees – and she’s nurturing and patient. Maverick, or “Tapper” as his friend have nicknamed him, is cocky and had a bit of a man-whore reputation until Mackenzy moved back to town. But he’s also reliable, dependable, and honest. The secondary characters add dimension to the plot with supportive, fun roles that create beneficial purposes. The interaction and dialogue occur naturally and is believable. The plot is not very full, mostly due to the story length, but it has enough dynamics to hold strong. There are only a few minor conflicts throughout that are handled in a timely and mature manner. The plot was pretty straight forward, not leaving a lot of room for surprises or predictability. The conclusion is wrapped up neatly with no cliffhangers.
This was an enjoyable opening to the Roughnecks trilogy and look forward to Heath and Lance’s books. I hope Jessika finds her match… maybe in Heath? Hmm… we’ll see!

Author Bio

Chelsea Camaron was born and raised in Coastal North Carolina. She currently resides in Southern Louisiana with her husband and two children but her heart is always Carolina day dreaming.

Chelsea always wanted to be a writer, but like most of us, let fear of the unknown grab a hold of her dream; she realized that if she was going to tell her daughter to go for her dreams, that it was time to follow her own advice.

Chelsea grew up turning wrenches alongside her father, and from that grew her love for old muscle cars and Harley Davidson motorcycles, which just so happened to inspired her ‘Daddy’s Girls’ series. Her love for reading has sparked a new love for writing and she currently has a few more projects in the works.

When she is not spending her days writing you can find her playing with her kids, attending car shows, going on motorcycle rides on the back of her husband’s Harley, snuggling down with her new favorite book or watching any movie that Vin Diesel might happen to be in.

She hates being serious and is still a big kid at heart. She is a small town country girl enjoying life and, Chelsea hopes that her readers remember not to take life too seriously and to embrace your inner five year old, because five year olds know how to enjoy the simple things in life and how to always have fun.

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Happy Release + Review + Giveaway: Only For Us by Cristin Harber- The Only Series – Book 3

Posted on 04/14/2015 by shellbellereads

Only For Us

The Only Series – Book 3

By Cristin Harber

Synopsis

The third installment of the Only series. Must be read in order.

Grayson and Emma. First love. True love. And… they have a daughter. Abandonment is his curse. He left his woman, survived his team, and missed the moment most precious to a father. Until now.

I didn’t know you were killing yourself with work. I didn’t know you’re raising our daughter. So help me God, had I known, there is no military force on earth that would’ve kept me from you.

Love needs to heal all, or they won’t survive the collision of their separate lives. Emma must reach deep into her heart that is barely hanging on and find forgiveness. Grayson, wrecked with PTSD-filled nightmares, must prove that he’s here to stay and able to rebuild his family against all odds.

I need to say I love you. But what I mean is I love you–in a way that defies definition and exists only in a world that you and I are in.

Only for Us is the third installment in the Only series. All novellas will release Spring 2015.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Exceprt

“I’ve done nothing for you to give me that trust, but I need you to anyway.”

I’m not pressed against his chest anymore. The warmth that encapsulated me moments ago is gone, but I feel different. Life’s shifted—I’ve been hanging on this roller coaster for years, and now it’s as if we’re cautiously slipping toward smooth sailing. The lump in my throat eases, and my eyelids lift, my gaze falling on the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.

“What do you say?” He inches closer.

“I love you, Grayson.” Deep breath. “When it comes to us, I’m all in.”

Michel’s Review

Grayson and Emma have found their way back to one another. Their separation was the catalyst to a very hard journey for both of them. For Grayson it was turning his back on the only thing he loved to serve in the military. For Emma it was mission of daily survival after the only man she ever loved left her without a word. The only thing that has made this betrayal easier is the beautiful baby he doesn’t know he has left behind. Their daughter is the only thing that came out good and pure.

Now Grayson is back and wants to reclaim the future he and Emma should of had. The separation has left a lot of mistrust and emotional scars. He vows he has become a better man. A man that will honor the woman he loves and cherish the daughter they created.

Emma and Grayson want to put their lives back together. They want to hang onto the love they have for one another. Although they have accepted and forgave each other, their path still will not be easy. They will have to win over Emma’s family, put Grayson’s childhood in the past, and find a new path to travel. First on the agenda is for Grayson to find a job in the civilian world. Lucky that Titan has their eyes on him. He may find a job that suits his skill set and will keep him close to home with Emma. It may be dangerous but not as bad as his job in the military. Emma will have to come clean to Grayson on how she has been supporting her daughter while going to college. It could be a deal breaker for them.

Just as things look like they are going to work out, Emma’s secret will be exposed in the worst possible way. What happens next? Cliffhanger. The final installment in the Only series, Only Forever, will release soon.

The Only Series is addicting. Cristin Harber has written an emotional story of first love and true love that will forever stay true. Read this series!

Only Series

Only For Him

Only Series – Book 1

Genre – New Adult

By Cristin Harber

Synopsis

Grayson Ford and Emma Kinglsey–close since they were kids, opposites in every way. He’s the stuff high school crushes are made of, Mister Popular, and captain of every team. She’s artsy, cute, and not in his league, though fully aware of Summerland’s “I Dream of Dating Grayson Ford” support group.

I can’t say no. The girl’s had my heart since before I knew it went missing.

He hides a life of hell. His father hates him, his mother’s gone. Emma is his only savior, yet she doesn’t know her power over him. She’s the only girl he wants, the only one he could ever tell–though he won’t.

I’m stronger, bigger, more of a man than he’ll ever be, but because I ruined his life, I’ve taken his crap, his attacks, the vulgar nature of his existence.

Until she discovers Gray’s embarrassment, his humiliation. Emma fights for him and for a chance. Theirs is a Cinderella story that she believes impossible. But as the layers peel back, it’s just a guy who needs a girl in order to keep breathing.

My mind is already doodling Mrs. Grayson Ford in imaginary notebooks. He has no clue where my head is at… But, given that I didn’t see what just happened coming, maybe I have no clue where his head is at either.

Only for Him. Only series, Volume One.
All novellas will release Spring 2015.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Only For Her

Only Series – Book 2

Sequel To Only For Him

By Cristin Harber

Synopsis

The second installment in the Only series. Must read book one first!!

First loves never die but Grayson Ford comes close. Bleeding out in a war zone, he barters with God. Bring him back alive, and he’ll make it right with his girl.

All I want is Emma. I need her, and I fight for her memory. A story. A smile. Anything. But it’s all blank.

Emma is not his girl anymore. Time has skipped by and life’s been hard. She strips to pay the bills, waitresses to fill the hours between classes and her third job. All while working to be the best mama she can be to the little girl who will never know her daddy. Even though Grayson abandoned her, she mourned his death. Until he calls, and everything she knew was wrong.

It’s him. The him that ruined my life. That made my life. That confused my mind to the point that I can’t figure out if I’ve been destroyed or set free. The him that… is… dead.

He’s back with one objective–Emma Kingsley–and she never sees it coming.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

Only For Us – Book 3

Only For Us

Only Series – Book 3

Release Date: April 14, 2015

The third installment of the Only series. Must be read in order.

Grayson and Emma. First love. True love. And… they have a daughter. Abandonment is his curse. He left his woman, survived his team, and missed the moment most precious to a father. Until now.

I need to say I love you. But what I mean is I love you–in a way that defies definition and exists only in a world that you and I are in.

Only for Us is the third installment in the Only series. All novellas will release Spring 2015.

The third installment of the Only series. Must be read in order.

Grayson and Emma. First love. True love. And… they have a daughter. Abandonment is his curse. He left his woman, survived his team, and missed the moments most precious to a father. Until now.

I didn’t know you were killing yourself with work. I didn’t know you’re raising our daughter. So help me God, had I known, there is no military force on earth that would’ve kept me from you.

I need to say I love you. But what I mean is I love you–in a way that defies definition and exists only in a world that you and I are in.

Only for Us is the third installment in the Only series. All novellas will release Spring 2015.

ABOUT CRISTIN HARBER

Cristin Harber is a USA Today bestselling romantic suspense and military romance author. Fans voted her onto Amazon’s Top Picks for Debut Romance Authors in 2013, and her debut Titan series was #1 romantic suspense, #1 military romance, and a USA Today Top 100 bestseller.

She lives outside Washington, DC with her family and English Bulldog.

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

You can become a Titan Agent for exclusive scenes, details, and more! Visit the official Titan website here!

Text TITAN to 66866 to sign up for exclusive emails!

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Happy Release + Review: Crushed by Lauren Layne- A Redemption Novel

Posted on 04/14/2015 by shellbellereads

Crushed

A Redemption Novel

By Lauren Layne

Synopsis

Lauren Layne’s latest novel about the healing power of redemption tells the story of a crush gone wickedly wrong, proving that what you want isn’t always what you need.

Growing up in New York, Michael St. Claire never expected to spend his twenties wearing cowboy boots. But that was before he learned about his real father, a total stranger with a family in Cedar Grove, Texas. Once in the Lone Star State, Michael meets Kristin Bellamy, who is exquisitely refined and everything Michael always thought he wanted in a woman. The only problem is that Kristin is dating Michael’s new half brother, Devon.

Kristin’s mouthy, curvy sister Chloe has always been in love with Devon Patterson. So when Michael offers to help Chloe break up Devon and Kristin, Chloe agrees to a deal that seems too good to be true. Before long, Chloe finally gets her man, only to make a startling discovery: She no longer wants the guy she had to fight for—she wants the one who stood by her side.

After all he and Chloe have been through, Michael swears he’s damaged goods. Can Chloe convince him that love is worth the risk?

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Tina’s Review

Judging a Book by it’s cover: The cover is sweet, soft, and inviting – a bit misleading when considering the drama and angst inside. The synopsis is a little busy and chaotic, but captures the general essence of the book.
Looking Deeper: The beginning starts out with a bang… pun intended. There are several important characters and key factors introduced within the first chapter, so make sure you’re paying attention -oh, and, keep your hand and feet inside the car at all times – it promises to be a crazy ride! It’s hard to break this one down purely by Lead male, lead female, and secondary characters because of the relationship dynamics. We know Michael *is* the lead male, but from there, it’s mix-and-match drama for a bit. Unrequited lust, drama, angst, chaos, jealousy, spite… oh, it’s got it all. The characters are all unique in personality and attitude, which provides some entertaining moments. Dialogue and interaction range from a bit awkward to natural and believable. The plot is solid with a steady and progressive flow. As you could imagine when a several love triangles intertwine, there is plenty of conflict. Add in there the parental and sibling drama and it’s truly a drama of epic proportions, but the conflicts are handled in realistic, age-appropriate ways. There was not a lot of predictability. The conclusion was rather solid, but the epilogue felt like an afterthought without a significant, defined purpose. Overall, it was a good read for those who enjoy the angsty, dramatic plots of the NA genre.

____________________________

Author Bio:

Lauren Layne is the USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance.
Prior to becoming an author, Lauren worked in e-commerce and web-marketing. In 2011, she and her husband moved from Seattle to New York City, where Lauren decided to pursue a full-time writing career. It took six months to get her first book deal (despite ardent assurances to her husband that it would only take three). Since then, Lauren’s gone on to publish ten books, including the bestselling Stiletto series, with several more on the way in 2015.
Lauren currently lives in Chicago with her husband and spoiled Pomeranian. When not writing, you’ll find her at happy hour, running at a doggedly slow pace, or trying to straighten her naturally curly hair.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + Review: Captive Films Season Two -Volume Three by Jillian Dodd

Posted on 04/14/2015 by shellbellereads

Captive Films 2.3

Captive Films Serial- Season 2 : Volume 3

Includes Episodes 5 and 6

By Jillian Dodd

Synopsis

In reality TV form, this series follows the lives and loves of those who work at Captive Films.

Hot, successful, playboy Riley Johnson, whose business success far exceeds his success in love.
Movie star, Keatyn Douglas, whose epic love story has spawned a series of books and movies.
And Dawson Johnson, who joins Captive with a tragic past.
Expect lots of drama, sex, and tabloid-worthy events.

Fans of the USA TODAY bestselling series, The Keatyn Chronicles®, will love reconnecting with their favorite characters as adults.

Each Captive Films season contains six episodes, two in each volume.
Think of it as a TV show you hold in your hands!

So tune in and enjoy this week’s drama.

Please note that as the characters have grown up, so have their stories. This contemporary romance is intended for readers 18+.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Captive Films: Season Two- Volume One

Captive Films Serial- Book 2.1

Includes Episodes 1 & 2

By Jillian Dodd

Synopsis

In reality TV form, this series follows the lives and loves of those who work at Captive Films.
Hot, successful, playboy Riley Johnson, whose business success far exceeds his success in love.
Movie star, Keatyn Douglas, whose epic love story has spawned a series of books and movies.
And Dawson Johnson, who joins Captive with a tragic past.
Expect lots of drama, sex, and tabloid-worthy events.

Fans of the USA TODAY bestselling series, The Keatyn Chronicles, will love reconnecting with their favorite characters as adults.
This series is meant for readers 18+.

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

Captive Films 2.2

Captive Films Serial- Season 2 : Volume 2

Includes Episodes 3 and 4

By Jillian Dodd

Synopsis

In reality TV form, this series follows the lives and loves of those who work at Captive Films.

Fans of the USA TODAY bestselling series, The Keatyn Chronicles®, will love reconnecting with their favorite characters as adults.

Each Captive Films season contains six episodes, two in each volume.
Think of it as a TV show you hold in your hands!

So tune in and enjoy this week’s drama.

Please note that as the characters have grown up, so have their stories. This contemporary romance is intended for readers 18+.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Captive Films: Season One

Episodes 1-6

Captive Films Series

By Jillian Dodd

Synopsis

In reality TV form, this series follows the lives and loves of those who work at Captive Films.

Fans of the USA TODAY bestselling series, The Keatyn Chronicles®, will love reconnecting with their favorite characters as adults.

Each Captive Films season contains six episodes, two in each volume.
Think of it as a TV show you hold in your hands!

So tune in and enjoy this week’s drama.

Please note that as the characters have grown up, so have their stories. This contemporary romance is intended for readers 18+.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Excerpt

I stand in front of her. “Take your clothes off.”

She looks surprised by this.

And normally, I’d want to undress her, but not now.

She needs this.

“Um,” she says, looking puzzled.

“I’m taking my clothes off,” I say as I strip them off and throw them into a chaise. “Get naked with me.”

Her eyes trail hungrily down my body. I love the desire I see in them, but that’s not what this is about.

If it were, I’d have her stripped and pinned under me in about two seconds flat.

I walk down the steps and into the pool, the water the perfect soothing temperature.

She takes her clothes off and joins me in the center.

“I don’t like being told what to do,” she says softly.

“I know you don’t, but sometimes you need it.” I give her a long, sweet kiss. Then I hold her shoulders, keeping her away from me. “You’re naked,” I state.

“Yeah, I am,” she flirts.

“That means right here, in this pool, it’s just us. Naked.”

“You’ve said the word naked like four times. I get it. We’re naked.”

“We are physically, but I want you naked emotionally.”

Michel’s Review

Captive Films: Season Two – Volume 3 by Jillian Dodd has taken the characters full circle. For Riley he will have to go full circle and accept the past before he can really move forward and have the ADULT life he dreamed of having. Some of his issues will be solved. He will have something to look forward to. All the characters will find something they lost in past and use it in their future lives.

Riley has finally found what he wants and where he wants to go in life. He has put the past to rest. He is moving forward from his mistakes. All is looking bright and shiny until one of those mistakes drops the bomb that could make Riley’s World explode into pieces. Can you guess what happens next? Cliffhanger!

Now readers will have to anxiously await to see how Riley is going to pick up the pieces of this latest explosion. Captive Films: Season Three cannot get here soon enough!

—————————————————————————–

Jillian Dodd grew up on a farm in Nebraska, where she developed a love for Midwestern boys and Nebraska football. She has drank from a keg in a cornfield, attended the University of Nebraska, got to pass her candle, and did have a boy ask her to marry him in a bar. She met her own prince in college, and they have two amazing children, a Maltese named Sugar Bear, and two Labrador puppies named Camber Lacy and Cali Lucy. She is the author of the That Boy Trilogy and The Keatyn Chronicles Series.

Stalk Her: Website |Facebook | Twitter |Instagram | Goodreads Pinterest

Happy Release + Review + Giveaway: Ricochet:Extraction Point by Heather C. Leigh- Ricochet Series- Book 3

Posted on 04/13/2015 by shellbellereads

Richochet: Extraction Point

Richochet Series- Book 3

By Heather C. Leigh

Synopsis

Rick “Ricochet” Brennan served eight years as an elite Marine special ops Force Recon soldier. After an injury, and the terrible memories from that night, he retires and goes to work for his former Command Officer, Howard “Mack” McEvoy, at his training center in Atlanta.

Sanctum MMA appears on the surface to be a normal gym, training elite fighters to be the best. Except each trainer, hand-picked by Mack, possesses a special background that allows Mack to run one of the best-kept secrets in the country.

When twenty-three year old Quinn Wallace finally escapes her abusive husband, she turns to her father’s old Marine Corps buddy, Mack, for help. Broken and skittish, Quinn finds herself surrounded by large, intimidating men— men who could easily overpower her. She avoids them the best she can, but when Rick turns out to be more than just a rough fighter with bruised knuckles, she finds herself wondering if she can allow herself to trust again.

Buy: Amazon

Excerpt

“Hey,” he said calmly. “Why aren’t you resting?” Rick put his hands on her shoulders, gently massaging her arms.

Quinn’s eyes grew large and went to his gloved hands.

Fuck, she hates fighting. Now I know why she looks freaked out.

Rick yanked his hands away and took a step back. “I didn’t mean for you to see me fight, Quinn. I’m sorry.”

To his surprise, Quinn stepped forward, closing the distance Rick had put between them. He watched as she hesitantly lifted her arms, placing her hands on his sweat-slicked chest. Her eyes met his and his breath left in a sharp huff. The fear he had expected to see wasn’t there. No… Quinn’s eyes were dark and glistening with lust.

“I didn’t know that watching you fight would be so comforting. It makes me feel safe, and… turned on,” she murmured. Rick shivered as her hands ran down his torso, moving over each defined muscle until they were resting on either side of his waist.

“Turned on?” Rick swallowed, barely able to speak with Quinn touching him like that. She was only just about healed from the attack. He figured it would be months, if not longer before she’d be interested in pursuing anything physical.

“Yes, turned on.” Quinn’s fingers dug into Rick’s waist, her thumbs making small circles on the ‘v’ shaped ridges of his lower abs. Scorching waves of pleasure rippled down his spine, instantly making his cock come to life.

“Jesus,” he muttered softly. Using every last bit of willpower he had, Rick captured Quinn’s wrists, removing her hands from his body. “Not here, doll.” He glanced around, but none of the other fighters were looking their way. Still, he’d kill them if they saw the lust in Quinn’s eyes. That was for him, and him alone.

Quinn pouted, crossing her arms and glaring like a kid denied her favorite candy.

He couldn’t help himself. The sight of this tiny thing trying to look intimidating was funny. Rick laughed. “You’re too much, doll.” The corner of her mouth twitched up—it was just a hint of a smile, but it made Rick’s day. Quinn hadn’t smiled once since his team rescued her. Seeing some of her personality coming back flooded him with emotion.

Michel’s Review

Richochet: Extraction Point is the third and final book in the Ricochet Series. This book had my heart racing, my stomach rolling, and my fear for Quinn escalating. The abuse she endured during her marriage was bad but nothing compared to what is in store for her now since she defied her husband. The one thing she has going for her now is her new family at Sanctum MMA Gym and Rick Ricochet Brennan’s love. Even though she has not revealed her secrets to these men and her lover, these men are resourceful enough to find her and rescue her.

Rick is out of his mind with Quinn missing. He never told her how he felt about her. He never really made her believe she was his. He is going to rectify that and claim his woman.

When they finally rescue Quinn she begs Rick to let it go and not seek retribution. Can he do that?

Like the old saying goes…what goes around comes around… karma can be your friend or your worst enemy. It looks like Karma smiled on Rick and Quinn and shook her fist at their enemies.

I loved this final book in the series. It was intense and gave the reader a better insight into the members of the exclusive Sanctum MMA gym. These men are fighters…these men are warriors.

I hope they all get their own mini series or books.

Read the Ricochet Series, it will not disappoint!

Ricochet: Locked & Loaded

Ricochet Series – Book 1

By Heather C. Leigh

Synopsis

When twenty-four year old Quinn Wallace finally escapes her abusive husband, she turns to her father’s old Marine Corps buddy, Mack, for help. Broken and skittish, Quinn finds herself surrounded by large, intimidating men— men who could easily overpower her. She avoids them the best she can, but when Rick turns out to be more than just a rough fighter with bruised knuckles, she finds herself wondering if she can allow herself to trust again.

Ricochet is a full-length novel to be released as three parts.

***This book contains hot sweaty men, sexy scenes for those over 18, and uncomfortable, sometimes violent scenes.***

Buy: Amazon

Ricochet : Friendly Fire

Ricochet Series – Book 2

Release Date: April 5, 2015

By Heather C. Leigh

Synopsis

Ricochet is a full-length novel to be released as three parts. Friendly Fire is part 2.

Buy: Amazon

Ricochet : Extraction Point

Ricochet Series : Book 3

Release Date: April 12, 2015

By Heather C. Leigh

Synopsis

Ricochet is a full-length novel to be released as three parts. Extraction Point is part 3.

Buy: Amazon

___________________

About Heather C. Leigh

I’m the author of the Amazon best selling Famous series. I like to write about the ‘dark’ side of fame. The part that the public doesn’t get to see, how difficult it is to live in a fishbowl and how that affects relationships.

I was born and raised in New England and currently live outside Atlanta, GA.

I love the Red Sox, the Patriots, and anything made of chocolate (but not white chocolate, that doesn’t count).

My favorite authors are Dan Wells, Tina Reber, Ken Follett, and Stephen King. Happy reading!

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Tag Archives: 4 Star Review

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Happy Release + Review + Giveaway: Only For Us by Cristin Harber- The Only Series – Book 3

Happy Release + Review: Crushed by Lauren Layne- A Redemption Novel

Happy Release + Review: Captive Films Season Two -Volume Three by Jillian Dodd

Happy Release + Review + Giveaway: Ricochet:Extraction Point by Heather C. Leigh- Ricochet Series- Book 3

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