Release Blitz + 2016 Favorite + Excerpt + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Worth Fighting For by Kirsty Moseley – Fighting To Be Free – Book 2

Posted on 12/06/2016 by shellbellereads

Worth Fighting For

Fighting To Be Free – Book 2

By Kirsty Moseley

Synopsis

Kirsty Moseley brings us the sequel to Fighting to be Free.

Sometimes in life you have to walk away . . .

Leaving Jamie Cole was the hardest thing Ellie Pearce ever had to do. Somehow, she moved on. She made a new life in a new city with a new man. So when a family tragedy calls Ellie back home, she believes all her old feelings for Jamie-the hunger, the heat, the heartbreak-are safely behind her. But the second she lays eyes on him, the intensity of their connection is as strong as ever.

Sometimes you stay and fight . . .

Jamie knows pain. He’s felt it fighting in the streets, and he felt it fighting to survive in prison. Yet nothing he’s experienced has been as painful as the day Ellie left-until the moment she came back. This time Jamie is determined to hold on to Ellie forever. But as much as she still loves him, she can’t ignore the dark world he’s now a part of. Jamie has enemies. Dangerous ones. And after seeing Jamie with Ellie, they know exactly how to take him out . . .

Excerpt

“’Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” Alfred, Lord Tennyson, said that in some poem in the 1800s. In my opinion, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, was full of shit.

Maybe Lord Tennyson had never truly loved someone; maybe he’d never cared for someone else more than he cared for himself, because if he had, if he’d loved someone so deeply he’d been willing to die for them, how could he have written such a horseshit line? I’m merely speculating, of course. I’m no academic, so I know nothing about the guy other than that one quote. So how then, you may ask, does my opinion so vehemently disagree with his?

Because I was in love once.

Only once.

And I lost her.

And I would give any fucking thing in the world to have never loved her at all. No, it most definitely is not better to have loved and lost..

Fuck love. And fuck Lord Tennyson.

Michel’s Review

After the highly emotional cliffhanger in Fighting To Be Free by Kirsty Moseley, I have been sitting on pins and needles for this book to release. I was dying for the conclusion to Jamie and Ellie’s story. Worth Fighting For was well worth the wait. It went beyond my expectations and delivered a very emotional and realistic conclusion. Kirsty Moseley took great care with delivering this story. She paid attention to details, allowed the characters to realistically mature, she allowed them to develop as individuals with embracing both the good and the bad, and she gave them new emotional hurdles to jump. I was glued to the pages as the rest of their story began to unfold.

Worth The Fight is not a stand alone novel. It is the sequel to Fighting To Be Free.

I wasn’t prepared for the sequel to be as heartbreaking as the first book. The first chapter delivers a devastating tragedy that sets the course for the rest of this book. At the end of the first book Jamie was serving time in prison. He set Ellie free to pursue her dreams of traveling Europe. Three years later Jamie is out of prison and now a crime boss. He embraced the life he desperately tried to be free of. His life is emotionless until Ellie returns home. He has to face the heartbreak and his past mistakes. He has to make choices that could affect Ellie’s life as well. He also wants to win her love but knows it’s impossible.

Ellie spent a year traveling through Europe trying to heal from the devastating heartbreak of losing Jamie. After the year was up she chose to stay in London. She has finally moved on in life. She is engaged and happy in London. Or so she thought until tragedy struck and she was forced to return home. Upon returning home she realizes that she has been running and avoiding her emotions.

I won’t say much more because this is a story the reader needs to experience for themselves. The one thing that stayed true was the matters of the heart. Jamie and Ellie had a deep abiding love for one another. They truly needed the time apart to learn what matters most in life. They both needed to grow up. Ellie needed a doses of reality because she had viewed the world through rose colored glasses. Jamie needed to become a independent man and make his own choices. He needed to find his own footing whether it was good or bad. The people of his past no longer controlled his life or future, only he had that power now.

The one thing that was evidently clear was they were both Fighting To Be Free. They had to learn that love is Worth Fighting For.

Kirsty Moseley’s writing was flawless. She delivered perfection in this powerful conclusion to the Fighting To Be Free story.

_________________________________

Fighting To Be Free

Fighting To Be Free Series – Book 1

By Kirsty Moseley

Buy: Amazon / B & N / IBooks / Kobo

Synopsis

FIGHTING TO BE FREE

All his life, people have told Jamie Cole that he was born bad. Maybe it’s true, maybe it’s not. But that doesn’t matter now. Because after a lifetime of demons, Jamie has finally found an angel.

Ellie Pearce learned the hard way that boys can’t be trusted. But the night she meets Jamie, something shifts. He’s different: brooding, a bit dark, determined to change. The connection they share is intense, compelling. Ellie tries to resist, but with each breathtaking kiss, she can’t help falling deeper.

Things between Ellie and Jamie are perfect-and perfection can’t last. When fate goes horribly wrong, Jamie’s only hope of saving his family is to strike a deal with the devil. Most of all, Jamie wants to prove he’s the person Ellie believes him to be. But if she learns just how much he’s been hiding, Ellie won’t be able to believe anything Jamie has ever told her . . .

____________________________________________________________

Kirsty Moseley has always been a passionate reader with stories brewing in her head. Once she discovered Wattpad, she finally posted a story. Seven million reads later, she self-published her debut novel, The Boy who Sneaks in my Bedroom Window, which later became a finalists for the 2012 Goodreads’ Choice Awards. Kirsty lives in Norfolk, England with her husband and son.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Pinterest ~ Goodreads

**********

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Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Going Under by Lexi Ryan – The Blackhawk Boys Series – Book 3

Posted on 12/06/2016 by shellbellereads

Going Under

The Blackhawk Boys – Book 3

By Lexi Ryan

Blurb

If I met Alexandra DeLuca for the first time today, I would only need one word to describe her:

MINE. She’s everything she was when we said goodbye. Beautiful, stubborn, sweet…and off-limits.

After two years leading separate lives, our worlds have collided. Now that she’s back home working and taking classes beside me, she’s bound to make me lose my mind.

She’s all I’ve ever wanted, all I’ve ever dreamed of, and the one thing I can never have.

Not because she’s my best friend’s sister.
Not because all four DeLuca brothers would come at me with fists swinging if I hurt her.
Not even because she’s way better than I will ever deserve.

I keep my distance because we didn’t meet for the first time today. We met five years ago when I was a different person. When my demons ruled me. Even though I’ve changed–even though I’ve gotten my life together and become a better man–I can’t change the past. And the secrets that haunt me would destroy her.

But I’m not the only one with secrets, and when the truth comes out, I don’t know where to turn. What do you do when your world washes away beneath your feet and you feel like you’re drowning? What do you do when the woman you promised yourself you’d never touch is the only thing that can keep you from going under?

GOING UNDER is a standalone novel and the third set in the world of The Blackhawk Boys series.

Football. Secrets. Lies. Passion. These boys don’t play fair. Which Blackhawk Boy will steal your heart?

ADD TO GOODREADS

Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
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Excerpt

He steps forward, close enough that I can feel his heat. “Do what?”

“Spend time with me. Come to my rescue. Make sure I make it home safely.” I wave a hand. “All of it. You don’t owe me anything.”

“You think I’m here out of a sense of obligation?” He laughs. “Fuck, that’s insane.”

“Is it? Can we just talk about the elephant in the room?” I ask him.

He’s staring at me, and it takes a few beats for him to process that I’ve spoken. I’d laugh if seeing him drunk didn’t also unsettle something deep inside me, some old part of me that still wants Sebastian to be my rock. But I’m not the girl recovering in the hospital anymore. I’m not the girl crying at her sister’s grave. Those experiences are part of who I am now, but I’m more, too. I’m stronger. I don’t need Sebastian’s strength to hold me steady. Or I shouldn’t.

I tuck my hands into my pockets. “Two years ago, the night before I left for Colorado…” He goes still, and I can’t make myself finish the sentence.

“I crossed a line,” he says.

I snort. God, the problem isn’t that he crossed a line—it’s that he didn’t. “Are you serious right now?”

He cuts his eyes to me again, the muscle ticking in his jaw. “It was a mistake, and you’re obviously still angry with me about it.”

I step away from him and wrap my hands around the porch rail. If I let myself look at him, I’ll overanalyze every expression that crosses his face. I realize I’m holding my breath and exhale. “It was a shitty thing for you to do.”

He’s silent for several heavy beats of my heart. When I can’t stand the silence anymore, I release the railing and turn to face him. “Let me make sure I understand,” he says. “Since I almost kissed you two years ago, I can’t walk you home anymore?”

“I don’t want…” I take a breath as I search for the words to explain how this makes me feel. “I don’t want a pity friendship.”

“What the fuck is a pity friendship?”

“It’s when you spend time with someone because you don’t want them to be alone.”

“You’re an expert on what I want now?”

“I think you made it perfectly clear what you do and don’t want from me two years ago.”

He takes half a step forward, and his gaze drops to my mouth. Can you feel someone looking at your lips? Because his gaze is so intense on my mouth right now that I’m sure I could close my eyes and still feel it as distinctly as a touch. “Dammit, Alex, if I’d have known you’d hold such a grudge for thirty seconds of weakness, I would have kissed you that night. Fuck my better judgment. At least then I’d know how you taste.”

I swallow hard and tell my pounding heart not to make more of this than it is. “You’re drunk, Sebastian.”

Stepping back, he drags a hand over his face. “Yeah.” He takes another step back. “Good night, Alex.”

I unlock the door and go inside, shutting it behind me without looking at him again. Slowly, I take the stairs up to my old room, close the door behind me, and lean against it. Only then do I allow myself to squeeze my eyes shut and take a long, deep breath to calm my racing heart.

His words replay in my head, making the muscles in my stomach grow tight. Just once I’d like Sebastian Crowe to make good on one of the fantasies he inspires. Just once I’d like him to follow me into this room and lock the door before pushing me against it and lowering his mouth to mine. I’d like to feel those rough hands slide under my shirt to unbutton my jeans…

I pull out my phone and text Bailey, letting her know I made it home okay. Then, without washing my face or changing my clothes, I fall into bed, close my eyes, and break a promise to myself by fantasizing about Sebastian Crowe.

“At least then I’d know how you taste.”

___________________________________

Michel’s Review

The Blackhawk Boys are back! Going Under by Lexi Ryan is the third release in this dynamic new adult series. This series is a combination of new adult romance loaded with emotional angst and sports romance featuring the college gridiron heroes. The dynamic cast of characters is diverse in personalities and life circumstances. The one thing they have in common is their deep abiding friendships with one another.

***

Going Under is my favorite book in the series. This book was a complex and very emotional story from beginning to end. My heart broke for both of these characters.

Sebastian Crowe has loved Alexandra Deluca for years. She is the one girl that is off limits because she is his best friend’s sister. Not only is she off limits, she’s too good for him. His past history is not a good one. He could of easily ended up on the wrong side of the law. Instead he has spent the past few years changing his ways after a tragedy happened. That night forever changed both him and Alexandra.

***

Alexandra is back in town after being away for years. She has been living in her dead twin sister’s shadow. She’s filled with guilt and remorse. She has returned home to start her own life and let go of the past. It’s time to start learning to love herself. One of the things she has to let go of is her attraction to Sebastian Crowe.

***

Alexandra is working in Sebastian’s family garage as well as going to the same school. They are thrown together at work and school. Both are trying to resist their attraction to one another for very different reasons.

****

As the truths come out and the layers are peeled away, these two people deserve happiness together. Sebastian will have to overcome his self loathing and embrace the goodness in his soul. Alexandra will have to learn to accept and love herself before she can truly love Sebastian.

***

I loved the emotional growth in both the characters. They both had to get past their painful pasts and learn how to move on. They both had to accept their pain as well as their personal victories.

***

Lexi Ryan delivered a truly emotional story.

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Also Available

Football. Secrets. Lies. Passion.

These boys don’t play fair.

Which Blackhawk Boy will steal your heart?

To celebrate the release of GOING UNDER, the first book in The Blackhawk Boys series is on sale for $0.99 (regularly $4.99 USD). All the books in the series can be read as standalones!

99c SALE

AMAZON US / UK

B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

GOOGLEPLAY

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS

GOOGLE PLAY

COMING IN 2017

#4 Falling Hard – Keegan’s story

iBOOKS PRE-ORDER#5 In Too Deep – Mason’s story

iBOOKS PRE-ORDER

Author Bio

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of emotional romance that sizzles, Lexi enjoys reading, sunshine, a good glass of wine, and rare trips to the beach.Lexi lives in Indiana with her husband, two children, and neurotic dog. You can find her at her website: http://www.lexiryan.com/

Author Links

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FACEBOOK
TWITTER

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Holiday Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Christmas On Crimson Mountain by Michelle Major

Posted on 12/06/2016 by shellbellereads

Christmas On Crimson Mountain

By Michelle Major

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

LOVE ON THE MOUNTAIN

Peace and quiet—that’s all Connor Pierce wanted from the rented cabin on Crimson Mountain. Yet the caretaker turned out to be lovely April Sanders—a total distraction. As were the two little girls she was caring for. Connor’s plan to forget his painful past soon detoured into giving the ladies a Christmas to remember.

Being named guardian of two motherless girls has upended April’s world. Add to the mix a mysterious, brooding writer claiming he wanted to be left alone while going out of his way to bring a little joy to the girls, and she has quite the quandary. April had counted herself out of a happy ending. But maybe Santa still had a few surprises up his merry old sleeve…

____________________________________

Excerpt

“Thank you for taking care of me these past couple of days.”

She sniffed. “It’s my job.”

He acknowledged her words with a small nod, or maybe it was the bitterness creeping into her tone that he recognized. “How are Ranie and Shay?”

“Do you really care?”

“Yes.” He sighed. “Even though I don’t want to care. The other night…on the highway…it affected me. Hearing that scream when the car slid on the road and the headlights moving closer.” He paused and a shudder ran through him. “I’m sorry I disappeared, but I wasn’t fit company for anyone after that.”

“It’s fine.” She tried to hold on to her anger even as it slipped through her body like grains of sand through her fingers. She needed that anger. It was safer with this man. Safer for her heart. “You don’t owe me an explanation.”

“I want to give you one anyway.” His hold on her gentled and he rubbed his thumb over the sensitive flesh on the inside of her wrist. “I’ve missed you, April. I’ve spent the past three years alone, and suddenly I’m lonely without you. I stopped caring. I didn’t think I had it in me to care, and I’m still so turned around. Every little thing sets me off and I can’t stop it. But I also can’t stop wanting to be near you. It doesn’t make sense.”

She closed her eyes against the onslaught of emotions that poured through her at his words and the gentle pressure to her skin.

“Do you know,” he asked, shifting so close now that she could feel his breath against her hair, “that I listen for the door to close after you leave and rush down to the kitchen because your scent lingers after you’re gone?”

She huffed out a laugh that sounded breathless to her own ears. “Are you saying I smell?”

“Like lavender and vanilla. I’ve made an idiot of myself the past two days following traces of you around the house.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I want you to know what you do to me, even if I should stay away. It’s better for both of us if I turn around and walk back to my bedroom until you’re gone.”

She waited a moment, but he didn’t move. “You’re not walking.”

“Hell if I can make myself go.”

“Don’t go,” she whispered. Slowly, as if she were gentling a stray animal, she lifted her hand. Her finger brushed the prickly strands of his dark beard, and his lips parted.

“I forgot to shave,” he muttered.

“Too busy?”

He took a breath, released it and then nodded. “Writing.”

“Connor,” April whispered. “That’s wonderful.”

He shrugged and looked away. “Who knows how long it will last. But the words are coming. So damn many, drowning me with their force. It’s like…”

She pressed her palm to his cheek, gratified when he leaned into it. “Like what?”

“Like it used to be.” He said the words softly, as if they were an apology. April could feel the tension in his body and wished, just for a moment, she could transfer his pain to herself. Give him a few seconds of remembering what it was like to live without the weight of guilt and sorrow bearing down on him.

“Look at me,” she said, moving closer to him, pressing into his warmth. His arms came around her waist, his hands splayed open against her back. She could feel their heat and strength through the thin cotton of her pajama shirt. So much talent flowed out of those hands. The worlds he created within his imagination and put on paper for readers to discover. “You have a gift, Connor Pierce.”

“It’s not—”

“Don’t say it. Whatever you’re thinking.” She brushed her lips over his. “Those words are in you. The stories you write are part of you.”

“How can they still be there when I’m dead inside, April? They were part of my life before, but now I’m—”

“You’re here,” she told him, and held her hand to his chest. His heartbeat was strong and sure under her palm. “With me. Now.”

“You make me feel things I’d thought I lost the capacity to feel. You make me want things—” His voice broke off as he drew in another deep breath. He leaned down until their foreheads touched. They stood that way for several long moments, her lips just grazing his. She breathed him in and it felt like she was pulling his essence into her lungs. Like he was part of her. A part she thought she’d lost after the illness and heartbreak that had changed who she was inside.

“I’m sorry I can’t be the man you deserve,” he whispered. “I’ll hurt you and girls. I hurt everyone—”

“Not now.” She pressed her mouth to the base of his neck, tasted the salt on his skin and wanted more. “This moment is ours.”

He claimed her mouth then, kissed her until the feel and taste of him was all she knew. Everything else burned away in the flame that was her need for him. He pulled her closer, if that was possible. Their tongues tangled and his hands skimmed under the shirt and up her spine, sending tingles as they moved. His kiss was demanding and consuming, and every inch of her body burned for him. For more.

His lips trailed over her jaw and he nipped at the sensitive flesh of her earlobe. “Will you stay?”

The simple question rocked her. How was it that such a longing could have been buried inside her and she’d never guessed? Even at her most in-love-and-alive, she’d never felt anything quite like the force of her desire for Connor. Still, she shook her head. “I have to go back in case the girls need me. If Shay wakes up…”

________________________________________

Tracey’s Review

What makes a holiday read a winner for me? Beyond the snow, the caroling, and the cookies, there has to be that extra something, that bit that hits me in the heart and leaves me feeling uplifted and renewed. CHRISTMAS ON CRIMSON MOUNTAIN by author Michelle Major hits the marks in every way, and left me feeling just like I’d hoped.

Each of the main characters in this book have suffered loss at a significant level. Sickness, disease, death, all have made their mark on April, Connor, Shay, and Ranie. They have been left the worse for their experiences, and there are so many barriers to break down, but what makes this book a good holiday read is the prospect of hope that it delivers.

Author Connor Pierce has put himself on permanent shutdown since the tragic death of his wife and son. Hoping that the solitude of Crimson, CO, will help him break through a bad case of writer’s block, he is less than pleased that the woman acting as caretaker during his visit is also taking care of two young girls. Connor is the epitome of broken, unwilling and unable to connect with people since the loss of his family. Having had a rough time of things themselves, April Sanders and her two young charges need love and compassion more than anything else. In a lovely and heartwarming way, these four broken people find a safe place in each other, and, ultimately, find themselves.

I especially love Ranie and Shay, the young girls in April’s care. They are great examples of the resilience of youth, and just blossom under Connor’s and April’s attention. Ranie is everything you’d expect in a snarky 12-year-old, but, beneath the sass and prickliness, she’s just a girl that’s had to deal with far too much in her young life. And, Shay, sweet Shay, is like a true ray of sunshine, even having lost so much. These girls do so much to bring Connor and April together, and to make the story that much more lovely.

CHRISTMAS ON CRIMSON MOUNTAIN was my first of Michelle’s books, but it will not be my last. If you’re having a hard time getting into the spirit of the season, pour yourself some eggnog and snuggle up with this 4.5 ‘heartwarming, feels like home’ star read and prepare to fall in love.

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

___________________________________________

About Michelle Major:

Michelle Major grew up in Ohio but dreamed of living in the mountains. Soon after graduating with a degree in Journalism, she pointed her car west and settled in Colorado. Her life and house are filled with one great husband, two beautiful kids, a few furry pets and several well-behaved reptiles. She’s grateful to have found her passion writing stories with happy endings. Michelle loves to hear from her readers at http://www.michellemajor.com.

Connect with Michelle: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Nico by Sarah Castille – Ruin & Revenge Series – Book 1

Posted on 12/06/2016 by shellbellereads

Nico

Ruin & Revenge Series – Book 1

By Sarah Castille

Release Date: December 6, 2016

Pre Order: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Google Play

Synopsis

Las Vegas Mafia boss Nico Toscani is used to getting what he wants, whether it is having the City of Sin under his rule or a beautiful woman in his bed. But when he meets his match in the gorgeous, headstrong Mia Cordano, the daughter of a rival crime lord, all bets are off . . . Sexy computer hacker Mia struggles to break free of her ruthless father’s Mafia ties . . . but she can’t resist the powerful and seductive Nico, who will stop at nothing to possess her. With their families locked in a brutal war for control of the city, Mia and Nico enter into a forbidden game. Will they surrender to the passion that burns between them and risk tearing apart their families? Or will Nico be forced to betray the only woman who sets his blood on fire?

Excerpt

He sensed her before he saw her. The soft thud of her boots, whispers in the air, the intoxicating scent of her perfume. Not wanting to ruin the moment, he kept his eyes averted until he finished his call. When he finally looked up, he saw an angel, dressed as the devil, to tempt him beyond original sin.

“Hello, Mr. Mob Boss.”

Hunger like he’d never known before took over him at the sound of her voice—husky and throaty in a way that made him think about pushing her to places where they would both lose their self-control.

She tapped her foot, and his gaze dropped to her boots. Cristo! She rocked her sexy punk clothes like no other woman he’d met, and more than anything he wanted to get under her skin. He wanted to know what made her tick, what music she listened to, what she liked to eat, and whether her apartment was as offbeat as her clothes. He wanted to know what it was about her that made a powerful Toscani capo with an empire to run want to spend the evening in a pool hall waiting for her to appear.

“Mia.” Her name on his lips was a sensual treat. “You’re lucky I’m a patient man.”

She snorted a laugh. “You are not a patient man. A patient man would have waited to bump into me on the street or at a wedding or a funeral, of which I expect there will be many after people see you here with me. An impatient man lays siege until he gets what he wants.”

“Do I get what I want?” He leaned forward and licked his lips, his entire being focused on her. An entire SWAT team could have run into the building throwing grenades and shooting machine guns, and he would have been totally unable to drag his gaze away.

“Depends what it is.”

“How about you in my bed?” He wasn’t usually so direct with the women he was trying to seduce, but playing it safe wasn’t going to work with a strong woman like Mia. He had to prove himself worthy and he could only do that by taking risk. Although he tried to convince himself he had come to honor a debt, the reality was he couldn’t stay away.

“You’ve wasted one of your three wishes. Try again.”

Nico frowned. “I thought I was forgiven.”

“Because I accepted a ride from you, and you fixed my car? Because I gave you a little thank-you kiss? Gratitude for a kind deed doesn’t equal forgiveness. And forgiveness doesn’t equal sex.”

Sex.

His assessing gaze drifted down her body, taking in the quick flutter of the pulse in her neck, the slight flush on her cheeks, and the bead of her nipples pressed against her thin tank top. He felt the impact of her desire deep in his groin. Fuck. Thirty seconds with her and he was perilously close to losing his self-control. Again.

“Are you done checking me out, Mr. Mob Boss?”

Cristo. Every word from her mouth went straight to his cock. Women didn’t talk to Nico with amused disdain. They didn’t accept his gifts and walk away. They didn’t make him wait three hours in a pool hall for the honor of their presence.

“You are a beautiful woman,” he said honestly. “You deserve a man who knows how to please a woman in bed.”

Her lips tipped at the corners, and she walked without hesitation between his parted legs sending all the wrong messages to the right part of his body. “And that would be you?”

“Yes.”

Heat sizzled in the air between them, and she dropped her gaze but, not before he saw the truth in her eyes. Yes, she wanted him. But she was going to make him work damn hard for the privilege of finding out what she hid beneath those badass punk clothes.

Boldly, he smoothed his hand up her thigh to curve around her hip. Pulling her closer, he gestured her down, pressed his lips to her ear. “You are wet for me, bella. Hot. I hear your need in the quickness of your breath, see it the flush in your cheeks, your nipples tight and begging for my touch, and if I stroked you, gently rubbed my thumb over your clit, you would come for me, and you would scream my name.”

Her breath hitched, ever so softly, and then she pulled away. “Save the sweet words for the women who are awed by your mobster charm.”

_________________________________________

Tracey’s Review

“I’m not afraid of girls with guns, bella. They either don’t know how to shoot or they don’t have what it takes to pull the trigger.
“Then you’ve never met a woman like me.”
“No, but I’m looking forward to our acquaintance.”

Nico Toscani is all about control. Casino owner, made man, member of the Cosa Nostra, he’s a man of many faces, and is used to calling the shots. Having decided long ago that the life of a mafia princess was not for her, Mia Cordano happily left behind a world where she was not in control to make her own way, and she’s not about to answer to anyone now, not even an ultra-sexy mob boss.

As a fan of the mobster read, I can happily say that author Sarah Castille has nailed it with NICO, the first book in her new Ruin & Revenge series. It’s everything dark, sexy, and dangerous, full of characters with as much to lose as to gain, and a storyline that just doesn’t quit, and I could not put it down.

As the bastard son of a former capo in the Las Vegas arm of the Sicilian mob, Nico Toscani has had to work harder than others to prove himself. But he’s finally at a place where he is a man of means, a man to be obeyed. When Mia Cordano walks in to his casino, though, able to take care of herself, and not at all interested in doing as she’s told, life as he’s known it changes.

Cosa Nostra came before blood family, and blood family came before the man. With his succession hanging in the balance and an agreement with the Sicilian Scozzaris to be honored, Nico had no place chasing after a beautiful, sexy hacker in crazy boots and punk clothes with dubious taste in music, who made him so damn hard when she refused to do his bidding, he couldn’t think straight.

These two drive each other crazy from the first minute that they reenter each others’ worlds, and it’s all sizzle and heat and all kinds of sexy. Even knowing that there is no way that their respective families, sworn enemies, will allow them to be together, Nico and Mia cannot stay away from each other. The magnetic pull between them keeps them coming together again and again, even as chaos erupts around them, and the players in each family stake their claims on the territory of Las Vegas.

I’m no stranger to Sarah and her hot as heck men, but Nico is a delicious departure, and I enjoyed him very much. Mia, too, is a breath of fresh air, every single punk rock hacker chick bit of her, and watching her hold her own and rock Nico’s world is fantastic.

There is action aplenty, dark, bloody, and fast-paced, along with so much passion, angst, and betrayal in this book. My take? NICO is 4.5 gritty, sexy, breathtaking stars, and I can’t wait to see what Sarah does in her next book, LUCA. Ruin & Revenge is a series to take note of, because these books are going to grab you, draw you in, and not let go, and you’ll love every minute of it.

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

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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Sarah Castille, writes contemporary erotic romance and romantic suspense featuring blazingly hot alpha males and the women who tame them. A recovering lawyer and caffeine addict, she worked and travelled abroad before trading in her briefcase and stilettos for a handful of magic beans and a home in shadow of the Rocky Mountains.

Sarah loves to connect with readers. Sign up for her newsletter to hear about new releases:

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Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: Hit The Spot by J. Daniels – Dirty Deeds Series – Book 2

Posted on 12/06/2016 by shellbellereads

Hit The Spot

Dirty Deeds Series – Book 2

By J. Daniels

Is this love or just a game?

Tori Rivera thinks Jamie McCade is rude, arrogant, and worst of all . . . the sexiest man she’s ever laid eyes on. His reputation as a player is almost as legendary as his surfing skills. No matter how her body heats up when he’s around, she’s determined not to be another meaningless hookup.

Jamie McCade always gets what he wants. The sickest wave. The hottest women. And Tori, with her long legs and smart mouth, is definitely the hottest one. He knows Tori wants him-hell, most women do-but she won’t admit it. After months of chasing and one unforgettable kiss, it’s time for Jamie to raise the stakes.

Jamie promises that soon Tori won’t just want him in her bed, she’ll be begging for it-and he might be right. Somehow he’s found the spot in her heart that makes her open up like never before. But with all she knows about his past, can she really trust what’s happening between them? Is Jamie playing for keeps or just playing to win?

This book can be read as a stand-alone.

Book 1–Four Letter Word

AMAZON US | AMAZON UK | AMAZON AU | B&N | KOBO | KOBO UK | iBOOKS

iBOOKS UK | iBOOKS AU | Audio

EXCERPT

Hammerjacks was dimly lit and packed with bodies, some dancing together and others crowding the bar, waiting to get served. I started scanning the room as I came up beside Tori, who was doing the same even though she had no idea who she was looking for.

I saw Quinn almost instantly. She wasn’t hard to spot.

The bright pink spiked-out hair helped with that.

“There,” I said, pointing in the direction of the bar where my sister was sitting on a stool, head turned away from the group of shitheads swarming her.

She was alone. That pissed me off.

She was here, in town visiting, and she was looking for ass. That pissed me off, too.

Not much I could do about the second thing, I understood it, but she was gonna hear my feelings toward the other whether she wanted to hear them or not.

“What’s her name again?” Tori asked as we made our way over.

“Quinn,” I said.

She nodded, face serious. Then she tucked stray pieces of hair behind her ears and smoothed out the rest of her pony, pulled the one sleeve of her shirt down so it exposed her shoulder and bra strap, straightened her spine, tipped her chin up, and put on a smile before rushing ahead.

“Hey, sweetie. Sorry I’m late,” Tori chirped, squeezing in between my sister and the shitheads as if they weren’t standing there. She grabbed Quinn’s face, bent down, and kissed her cheek. “I missed you. Did you miss me?” she asked, bringing both hands to Quinn’s neck and holding there while standing between her bent knees.

Tori was smiling and playing the part, leaning close and making it seem like they were really together, or at least really feeling each other. My sister was blinking up at Tori, looking baffled but also looking like she was wanting to buy everything Legs was selling.

I wasn’t surprised. Quinn shared my taste in women. And I definitely had a taste for Legs.

“Whoa, are you two…damn. Is this your girl?” one of the shitheads asked from behind Tori, pointing at the back of her.

“Jesus,” another one chimed in, looking his fill. “What are the chances of me watchin’ you two go at it? This is fuckin’ hot.”

I stepped up then, not liking the tone of this guy and the shit coming out of his mouth, and wanting to make my presence known.

He saw me approach and shot me a hard look, asking, “You gotta problem?”

“Jamie.”

Teeth clenched and fists forming, I looked to Quinn, not taking the bait he was throwing out.

She was watching me, eyes serious and mouth tight, subtly shaking her head in warning ’cause she knew I couldn’t be fighting or doing anything that could draw negative attention. Then she turned her attention onto Tori when she twisted and slid into Quinn’s lap.

“Fishing in the wrong pond, boys,” Tori informed them, sweeping her gaze over the three while putting her arm around Quinn’s shoulders and pressing close. “Get lost. We’re not interested.” Then she turned all of her attention onto my sister and amped up her game, giggling as she kept her face close to hers and running her fingers through her hair, smiling, whispering, really flirting and looking into it, all while blocking the view of the shitheads so they couldn’t watch.

And everything Legs was doing, my sister was eating up.

Wrapping her arms around Tori and holding on to her, smiling back, laughing, looking like she was falling in love and thinking this was real and something sustainable.

I was starting to regret incorporating Tori into this plan. She was a little too good at her game. Straight up. Maybe the best at it.

I was also starting to get mildly jealous watching my sister getting attention from the one woman who was hell-bent on ignoring my ass.

“Man, whatever,” the one guy said, grabbing his beer and looking to his friends. “Come on. I’m not wastin’ my time on lesbian pussy.”

His friends murmured their agreement, mentioned something about hitting up Roy’s, a bar down the street, then grabbed their beers and stepped away.

When they were out of earshot, I shifted my eyes to Legs, telling her, “Think you sold it. You can get off my sister now.”

Tori smiled proudly, lifting her shoulders with a little dance. Then she looked to Quinn, keeping the smile, and said, “Hey, I’m Tori. Your brother dragged me here, so I figured I’d offer my assistance instead of letting him handle it, since he can’t fight and all.”

“Can fight, just shouldn’t,” I corrected her. I jerked my chin. “Hop off.”

Quinn moved her hands up Tori’s back and licked her lips. “Wicked plan,” my sister told her. “I was totally into that.”

“I think it got the point across,” Tori replied. “I really like your hair, by the way.” She ran her fingers through it again. “The color looks great on you.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely. It really makes your eyes pop.”

“I was thinking about going purple…”

“Have you tried bleaching the roots and just painting the color on the ends? I think that would look amazing with purple.”

Jesus.

“Legs,” I barked.

Both of their heads whipped around and faced my direction.

“You feelin’ like gettin’ up so we can get the fuck outta here?” I asked, thinking only about the food back at her place I was wanting to eat and not about how comfortable my sister’s hands looked gripping on to Tori’s body.

“She’s fine,” Quinn offered, keeping her hands locked around Legs. “Really. She doesn’t have to move.”

I shot a glare at Quinn, communicating how I felt about that suggestion, then shifted that glare to Tori.

“I was getting up. Relax. We were just talking,” she huffed, moving off Quinn’s lap and coming to stand beside me. “You’re welcome, by the way,” she murmured.

Michel’s Review

This is my second book by J. Daniels and I can easily see why readers love her books. She has made my must read author list.

Hit The Spot is the second book in the Dirty Deeds series. Each book can be read as a stand alone novel or in series order. Either way the reading experience is a pure delight.

Jamie McCade is a persistent, dirty mouthed, professional surfing champion. He has a reputation with the ladies that he has rightfully earned. He uses his charm to get the ladies in bed and makes no apologies for his actions. He didn’t become a world surfing champion because of his charm. He is a champion because he is persistent, dedicated, and refuses to lose at anything. He is very dedicated to his family and friends. He would do anything for them. He has set his sights on Tori Riveria, the woman with legs a mile long and an extreme dislike for him. He’s determined to win her over. He’s a patient man and he always wins.

Tori Rivera is a woman that knows what she wants. After a bad relationship with a married man she is very wary of men in general. She doesn’t want a certified player that has no respect for relationships and love. The next man she becomes involved with has to be dedicated, sincere, and must respect her. Jamie McCade is not that man. She detests him. She also secretly swoons over him, which in turn makes her angry with herself.

Nine months of a delightful game of cat and mouse takes Jamie and Tori in unchartered waters. The creative verbal sparring and the sizzling sex does more than burn the sheets, it burns down the house. Both Tori and Jamie have more at stake than scorched sheets, their hearts are at stake. Beneath the surface, they both have big hearts that were meant for each other.

Hit The Spot by J. Daniels was a pure delight to read. I loved Tori and Jamie. I would highly recommend this book.

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J.Daniels is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Sweet Addiction series, the Alabama Summer series, and the Dirty Deeds series.

She would rather bake than cook, she listens to music entirely too loud, and loves writing stories her children will never read. Her husband and children are her greatest loves, with cupcakes coming in at a close second.

J grew up in Baltimore and resides in Maryland with her family.

Sign up to receive her newsletter and get special offers and exclusive release info: http://authorjdaniels.com/newsletter/

Holiday Release Blitz: Dashing Through the Snow by M. Leighton – A Sexy, Snowy Christmas Tale

Posted on 12/05/2016 by shellbellereads

Need some fun to brighten up the holidays? Need some heat to warm up the cold nights? Well,this is just the thing. DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW, a sexy, snowy Christmas story by M. Leighton is LIVE!

Dashing Through The Snow

A Sexy, Snowy Christmas Tale

By M. Leighton

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

A dash of perfect for the holidays!

Dilyn Hart hates Christmas, so when her boss (and ex-boyfriend) hands her an assignment to interview champion snowboarder and gorgeous playboy extraordinaire, Dash Grainger, on Christmas Eve, she takes it. There are several things she doesn’t plan for—a surly driver, a chalet in the middle of nowhere, a freak snowstorm—but the biggest surprise of all is Dash himself.

Dash Grainger lives for the high, and so far in his twenty-six years, he’s never met anyone or anything he loves more. Nothing has ever thrilled him as much as slick snow, cold air, and breakneck speed.

Until he meets Dilyn.

But one perfect night doesn’t mean clear, blue skies the next day. Some storms can’t be weathered.

Christmas might just be one of them.

Tracey’s Review

Christmas is no time of joy for reporter Dilyn Hart, so when she catches a story that will take her away from the hustle and bustle of holiday time, she’s all in. Off to Colorado she goes, ready to go head to head with snowboarding’s golden boy, Dash Grainger. Who knew what 24 hours, a whopper of a snowstorm, and s’mores like Dilyn’s never had them could bring?

If Michelle Leighton writes it, it’s a foregone conclusion that it’ll be at the top of my reading list. I’m a fan of everything that she does, but her sexy, light-hearted reads really make me smile, so I knew that DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW was going to be a win for me. No disappointment here, because I loved, loved, loved this sexy, sassy little book, and zipped right through it like it was my favorite chocolate.

Dilyn and Dash have an immediate connection, and, while I scoff at insta-love with the best of them, I was all in here. Because the heat, y’all, the absolute sizzle sparking between the two of them was practically jumping off the page. You know, the kind that sort of makes you blush, giggle, and look over your shoulder to see who’s around while you fan yourself? Yeah, that. Miss Michelle writes love scenes like nobody’s business, and, man, was she ever on point here.

Beyond the, you know, sexy times, Dilyn and Dash immediately share something that is really special. Dash is definitely much more than Dilyn was expecting, and the reality of him is eye-opening. They bring out things in each other and just round each other out in ways that they didn’t expect. Fast? Yes, but totally believable, and I loved every minute of it.

I mean, I just had no idea he’d be this…this…much. This gorgeous. This charismatic. This charming and fun and sexy and…That he’d have this way of stealing time and reason, and making me feel so much in such a short period of time.

Although Dilyn may have started out a humbug, she’ll never look at Christmas the same way again, and what a wonderful thing. Thank you, Michelle, for 5 stars worth of love, laughter, sizzle, and pop. What a nice present for this holiday season.

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

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CONNECT WITH MICHELLE

FB: http://smarturl.it/MLeightonFBPage

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Blog Tour + Excerpt + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: A Veil Of Vines by Tillie Cole

Posted on 12/02/2016 by shellbellereads

A Veil Of Vines

By Tillie Cole

Synopsis

To most people, princes, princesses, counts and dukes are found only in the pages of the most famous of fairytales. Crowns, priceless jewels and gilded thrones belong only in childhood dreams.
But for some, these frivolous fancies are truth.
For some, they are real life.
On Manhattan’s Upper East Side, people have always treated me as someone special. All because of my ancestral name and legacy. All because of a connection I share to our home country’s most important family of all.
I am Caresa Acardi, the Duchessa di Parma. A blue blood of Italy. I was born to marry well. And now the marriage date is set.
I am to marry into House Savona. The family that would have been the royals had Italy not abolished the monarchy in 1946. But to the aristocrats of my home, the abolition means nothing at all.
The Savonas still hold power where it counts most.
In our tight-knit world of money, status and masked balls, they are everything and more.
And I am soon to become one of them.
I am soon to become Prince Zeno Savona’s wife…
… or at least I was, until I met Achille.
And everything changed.

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Caresa

As my papa’s G5 began its descent, I looked out of the window beside me and waited for the plane to break through the clouds. I held my breath, body tense, then suddenly the burnt-orange remnants of daylight flooded the plane, bathing the interior with a soft, golden glow. I inhaled deeply. Italia.
Fields and fields of green and yellow created a patchwork quilt below, rolling hills and crystal-blue lakes stretching as far the eye could see. I smiled as a sense of warmth ran through me.
It was the most beautiful place on earth.
Sitting back in my wide cream leather chair, I closed my eyes and tried to prepare myself for what was coming. I was flying to Florence airport, from where I would be swiftly taken to the Palazzo Savona estate just outside of the city.
I would meet Prince Zeno.
I had met him twice before—once when I was four, of which I had no memory, and again when I was ten. The interaction we’d had as children had been brief. If I was being honest, I had found Zeno to be arrogant and rude. He had been thirteen at the time and not at all interested in meeting a ten-year-old girl from America.
Neither of us had known at the time that that our betrothal had been agreed upon two years prior. It turned out that the trip my papa had taken to Umbria when I was eight was to secure a forever-bond between the Savonas and the Acardis. King Santo and my father had planned for their only children to marry. They were already joined in business; Zeno’s arranged marriage to me would also strengthen both families’ place in society.
I thought back on my New York farewell of nine hours ago and sighed. My parents had driven me to the private hangar and said their goodbyes. My mama cried—her only child was leaving her for a new life. My papa, although sad to see me go, beamed at me with the utmost pride. He had held me close and whispered, “I have never been more proud of you than I am right now, Caresa. Savona Wines’ stock has plummeted since Santo’s death. This union will reassure all the shareholders that our business is still strong. That we are still a stable company with Zeno at the helm.”
I had given him a tight smile and boarded the plane with a promise that they would see me before the wedding. And that had been that.
I was to marry Zeno, and I hadn’t protested even once. I imagined to most modern-day women living in New York, the process of arranged marriages sounded positively medieval, even barbaric. For a blue blood, it was simply a part of life.
King Santo Savona died two months ago. The shareholders of his many Italian vineyards, the stakeholders in Savona Wines, had expected his son, Zeno, to immediately step up and take charge. Instead, Zeno had plunged himself into the party scene even harder than before—and that was quite a feat. Within weeks my papa had flown out to Umbria to see what could be done.
The answer: our imminent union.

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Michel’s Review

A Veil of Vines by Tillie Cole is a must read. I could not put this book down. It was a beautiful romance that blossomed in a world where neither of them fit.

A Veil of Vines is heaped with Italian traditions and royal hierarchy. Although Italy no longer recognizes the royal family as a ruling class, they are still prominent in the traditional customs of the Italian people.

Duchess Caresa Acardi has come to Italy to marry the heir to the Italian throne. By blood she is bound to the life long traditions of the people of Italy. She is to become their queen. Being raised in America has altered her views of love and marriage. Tradition and the family winery are at stake. In order to save the winery, the royal family has to show solidity and stability. The soon to be king has a notorious playboy reputation. He is a spoiled prince living off his family legacy. She is conflicted about her upcoming marriage to a man that she met briefly as a child. Her love for her family and their deeply tied roots is the only reasoning she can abide by. Once she arrives in Italy she finds that her heart may not be tied to the future king but is tied to the land itself.

Achille is the winemaker for the royal winery. His deep ties to the land and his innate sense of taste has made his wines beyond excellent. He will always be tied to the land. It’s his life force until he meets Caresa, his future queen.

Achille and Caresa were meant to be together. They are true soulmates. Their blood ties will never allow them to together. Achille has secrets that will always keep him bound to the land. The royal family also has secrets that will keep Achille tied to their land and their winery.

I won’t say much more except Tillie Cole did a phenomenal job writing this book. The beautiful descriptions brings the reader to Italy. This emotional story is more than a royal romance. It is a book of deep abiding love for tradition and love for the land. It is a special love story that truly shows what matters most in the heart.

I highly recommend A Veil Of Vines by Tillie Cole.

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Giveaway

One winner gets a Signed Copy of A Veil of Vines + Limited-Edition The Future Mrs. Marchesi T-Shirt

Enter HERE

_____________________________________________________________

Tillie Cole hails from a small town in the North-East of England. She grew up on a farm with her English mother, Scottish father and older sister and a multitude of rescue animals. As soon as she could, Tillie left her rural roots for the bright lights of the big city.

After graduating from Newcastle University with a BA Hons in Religious Studies, Tillie followed her Professional Rugby player husband around the world for a decade, becoming a teacher in between and thoroughly enjoyed teaching High School students Social Studies before putting pen to paper, and finishing her first novel.

Tillie has now settled in Austin, Texas, where she is finally able to sit down and write, throwing herself into fantasy worlds and the fabulous minds of her characters.

Tillie is both an independent and traditionally published author, and writes many genres including: Contemporary Romance, Dark Romance, Young Adult and New Adult novels.

When she is not writing, Tillie enjoys nothing more than curling up on her couch watching movies, drinking far too much coffee, while convincing herself that she really doesn’t need that extra square of chocolate.

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Downed by Jen Frederick – Gridiron Series – Book 3

Posted on 12/01/2016 by shellbellereads

Downed

Gridiron Series – Book 3

By Jen Frederick

Buy: Amazon / Amazon UK / Amazon CA

Synopsis

He’s the guy no one likes…

Despite winning two national championships, JR “Ace” Anderson was sent packing from his old school after losing the trust of his coach. At Southern U, he has a second chance to prove that his college legacy isn’t endless debauchery and selfishness. But his reputation precedes him, and his teammates offer a chilly welcome in the locker room. The one person who is willing to accept him is the very woman he should stay away from—his new coach’s daughter.

She’s the girl everyone loves…

Bryant Johnson’s only goal in life is to make others happy, even at her own expense. One look at her father’s new star quarterback, and she knows that Ace is her next project. With a reputation for being a “jerk whisperer”, Bryant has spent her last three years at college reforming sorry behavior and turning bad boys into the best boyfriends ever. In Ace, though, she’s met with surly resistance and a sizzling attraction she doesn’t expect. Fixing this wounded warrior will be her biggest challenge yet. Not falling for him will be even harder.

Between her big heart and his damaged one, a battle is ensuing. In this game of love, every defense will crumble.

Michel’s Review

Downed by Jen Frederick is the book fans of the Gridiron series have been waiting for. JR “Ace” Anderson has been a prominent player in the first two books of the Gridiron series. He’s one of those characters that readers either hate or love, depending upon the situation at hand. The one thing that stands out is no one really knows who Ace really is. He doesn’t allow anyone close enough to see below the surface. His choices seem self serving at most times, but they are not for the assumed reasons readers are led to believe. Readers got to see a vulnerable side to Ace in Jockblocked and they also got to see his egotistical side in full mode.

Ace Anderson was run out of his old school, Western U. It wasn’t because of his performance as a quarterback on the field. He delivered two championships for the team. It was because the coach hated him with a passion for dating his daughter. It didn’t matter that his daughter was a willing participant or that she was just as wild as Ace. Ace committed the worst sin a player could commit. The coach’s vendetta not only hurt Ace’s pride but also his potential for playing his senior year of college. Ace was being forced to give up his position as quarterback to a future freshman hotshot for another offensive position or sit the bench. This vendetta not only cost him the respect of his teammates but also added to the divide with his best friend Lucy Washington. The only choice he could make was transferring to Southern U for his senior year of college.

New beginnings aren’t always what they are cracked up to be. He is having trouble bonding with his new team. On the field they are a solid unit but off the field he is the odd man out. They have heard the rumors of his past experiences. They are going to make him earn their respect. Ace is going to have to change his ways if he wants to become a true member of the team. Bryant Johnson knows a project when she sees one. Ace Anderson needs her help and he needs it fast if they are going to become a championship team.

Bryant Johnson is the coach’s daughter. A big red flag for Ace Anderson. His past experiences have left him charred. Here at Southern U attitudes are quite different. His teammates and his coach are encouraging him to date Bryant.

Bryant is known for her dating projects. Her objective to make her boyfriends better men. She prepares them to be better boyfriends, better teammates, and better individuals. After she fixes her project she moves onto the next one. Ace Anderson is proving to be much more difficult than she thought. Her intentions for Ace are changing as she gets to know the man beneath the surface. He still needs a lot of work but he is a keeper.

Bryant is known for her generous heart and selfless giving. She takes care of others. Who takes care of her? Ace sees the vulnerable woman beneath the shiny surface. That’s the woman that has his heart. This time he wants to win the girl’s heart. He wants to take care of her and share his life.

Jen Frederick scored big with Downed. This book was a true game changer for Ace Anderson. Ace won more than his third college championship. He won my heart.

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Author Bio:

Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog. She’s been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

New Release + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: Fire In You by Jennifer L. Armentrout writing as J. Lynn- Wait For You Series – Book 6

Posted on 12/01/2016 by shellbellereads

Some are born with fire in them.

✮✮✮SECOND CHANCES, HOPE, &RED-HOT CHEMISTRY…FIRE IN YOU, the final book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Wait For You World is here! Don’t Miss Brock and Jillian’s passionate and richly moving story in this standalone contemporary romance! And check out each stop on the FIRE IN YOU Review & Excerpt Tour taking place November 29-December 10!✮✮✮

Let the FIRE IN YOU burn and grab your copy today!

About FIRE IN YOU:

From the # 1 New York Times and International bestselling author comes a richly moving story about heartbreak and guilt, second chances and hope. Full of familiar, fan-favorite characters and no two people more deserving of a happy ending, Fire In You will burn bright beyond the last page…

Jillian Lima’s whole world was destroyed in a span of a few hours. The same night her childhood love, Brock ‘the Beast’ Mitchell, broke her heart, her life was irrevocably altered by the hand of a stranger with a gun. It takes six years to slowly glue together the shattered pieces of her life, but Jillian is finally ready to stop existing in a past full of pain and regret. She takes a job at her father’s martial arts Academy and she’s going out on her first date since a failed relationship that was more yuck than yum. Jillian is determined to start living.

She just never expected Brock to be a part of her life again. But he’s firmly back in her life before she knows it, and not only is he older, he’s impossibly more handsome, more teasing and more everything. And when he sees Jillian, he’s no longer capable of thinking of her as the little girl who was his shadow growing up or the daughter of the man who gave him a second chance at life. He sees the woman who’d always been there for him, the one person who believed in him no matter what.

Brock knows she’s the one he should’ve made his, and what begins as a tentative friendship quickly turns to red-hot chemistry that sparks a flame that burns brighter than lust. Falling for Brock again risks more than her heart, because when the sorrow-filled and guilt-ridden past resurfaces, and a web of lies threatens to rip them apart, the fallout could lay waste to everything they’ve fought to build together, and destroy the dreams of those they care most about.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

Excerpt

Brock dropped his hand and walked inside, his head turning as his gaze swept over me. I closed the door.

“Nice socks,” he commented. “You know, it’s like you’re recognizing two seasons right now—summer and winter.”

I glanced down at myself. Oh crap! I’d forgotten I was wearing cotton sleep shorts paired with knee-high socks. And these were short shorts. Grateful that I was wearing a long cardigan over the shirt, I self-consciously tugged on the hem of my shorts while he looked around the apartment. I saw he had a little brown bag dangling from his fingertips.

“So,” I said, fiddling with the sleeves on my cardigan, “what did you bring me?”

“Oh, so now you’re curious about what’s in the bag?”

Crossing my arms, I stared at him while I hoped it wasn’t obvious that I wasn’t wearing a bra, because I could feel my nipples pressing against the shirt I wore.

Brock chuckled as he lifted the bag and reached inside, pulling out a small white carton. He then turned, spying the small kitchen. “So, how long have you lived here?”

“Um, I don’t know.” I watched him walk over to the island and place the carton and bag on it. “I think I moved in here about four years ago.”

“Nice place.” His gaze strayed to the stack of books on the other end of the island, and a fond smile appeared as he started to open the carton. “It’s safe here?”

“Yeah. There have never been any problems here.” I crept closer. “Most of the people who live here are married or work in D.C and commute.” My gaze dropped to his back. Did he ever get the large phoenix tattoo colored and filled in? I bet he did and it looked amazing. Then again, his back with all those ropey muscles always looked amazing. “So, where…where do you live now?”

“I bought a house outside of Shepherdstown,” he told me. “Got an amazing view of the river. You need to see it.”

I stopped walking, thinking his fiancée might not be too keen on that. Then again, I doubted she would see me as a threat.

Brock turned sideways, sliding the carton toward where I stood. I glanced over, and I stopped thinking when I saw what he’d brought.

“Glazed doughnuts,” Brock said. “Just glazed. Nothing weird hidden inside them. I know how much you used to hate biting into something and having no idea it’s filled with cream or fruit. They’re fresh, too. Picked them up at the bakery in Shepherdstown that makes them all day.”

I did hate biting into any food and having something unexpectedly squirt into my mouth. It was freaking gross, but I wasn’t focused on that aversion.

Sitting atop wax paper really were large glazed doughnuts.

It was so simple. Just glazed doughnuts. Nothing fancy or spectacular. But he remembered, and I didn’t know why that meant anything to me. I was sure serial killers remembered things about their victims, but I felt some of the tension easing out of my stiff muscles as I blinked back sudden hot tears.

Gah, I was so over-emotional. It was just doughnuts. “Thank you.” I cleared my throat. “That’s really nice.”

His gaze flew to mine, and I hastily lowered my chin, walking past him into the kitchen. “Jillian—”

“You’re eating one if I am,” I said, snatching several sheets off the paper-towel roll. God, I was such a damn mess, but I…I missed this—missed having someone in my life who knew me inside and out, because no one, no one knew me like Brock had. I turned around only when I was sure I didn’t look like I was seconds from exploding into tears, and went to the island, placing the towels on the counter. “I mean, I’m not going to eat three gigantic doughnuts.”

“Since when?”

A strangled laugh escaped me. “Well, I’m not seventeen anymore.”

“I can see that.”

A fine shiver coursed over my skin as I looked up. There was an intense, almost predatory glint to his stare, one I didn’t understand. And it suddenly struck me, really hit me, that after six years, Brock Mitchell was standing in my apartment, in my world, and I would never in a hundred years have expected this.

But there he was, larger than life itself, turning what was a roomy apartment into something that now felt entirely too small. He was one hundred percent grown man who was not just breathtaking to behold, but a walking legend in the world of mixed martial arts. More than that, though, he was a man who overcame such a terrible childhood, beating statistics and naysayers. Demolishing everyone’s doubt as he rose through the ranks, suffering a career-threatening injury to come back and win it all, over and over.

Brock had fire in him.

He always had.

TRAILER: https://youtu.be/fDn7F_mJuok

Michel’s Review

The Wait For You Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout ( aka J. Lynn) is one of my favorite new adult romance series. Each book has a very unique story with dynamic characters that are ordinary people dealing with life. This series takes the reader on the journey of real life. The journey starts in college and progresses into their adult lives establishing careers and families. Each book features a different couple in different phases of life dealing with different situations. All the characters are tied together through family and friendships. The reader not only gets to experience the featured couples lives but also gets more of the couples featured in previous books. That also includes the precious pet turtles from their college days. Every time I open a new book in the Wait For You series it’s like attending a reunion.

Fire In You was an even more special reading experience for me because of some of the content. A few years ago I attended a J. R. Ward release event in Cincinnati for the latest Black Dagger Brotherhood novel. These release events have become a yearly ritual for me and my girls. It’s our girls weekend, our escape from the world. This particular event was even more special than the ones before because Laura Kaye and Jennifer Armentrout attended the event and sat right near us. Talk about a fan girl dream come true. I met two of my favorite authors in a more intimate setting. Afterwards our group of girls went to dinner with Laura and Jennifer. I was lucky enough to sit at the same table with these lovely ladies and get to know them personally. As I read the Fire In You, there were many moments from that day and those conversations that came to life in Jillian’s personality. She is a side a Jennifer coming to life on the pages. I love her just as much as I do Jennifer.

Jillian LIma and Brock “the Beast” Mitchell have a long history. Jillian’s family embraced Brock as their own when he was a young troubled boy. Jillian developed an unrequited crush on Brock. As the years progressed and they grew into adults, their friendship became deeply bonded until one night changed it all and made them strangers.

Jillian had finally gained the courage to tell Brock how she felt about him. Brock was oblivious to Jillian’s feelings. They were supposed to have a dinner date but Brock changed the plan. Instead of going to dinner, they went to a bar. Brock more or less ignored Jillian and flirted with another woman, who later became his fiance. Rather than suffer more humiliation, Jillian left the bar alone. In the parking lot she was held up and shot. That night changed both of their lives and severed their friendship.

Six years later Jillian is still struggling with the aftermath of that night. She still carries both mental and physical scars from that night. Those scars have kept her from living her life. She has chosen to hide away in a non descript office job, a limited social life, and a non existent love life. She hides away in her apartment with her cat and her books. After six years she is ready to start living her life once again. The first step is take her place in the family business and become a manager of one of their gyms. The second step is to begin socializing with her friends more. The third step is to begin dating again. It’s time for Jillian to live her life.

Brock Mitchell once again throws another hitch in Jillian’s life. After six years, he’s back. He’s her new boss at the gym. He’s interfering with her dating life. He’s inserting himself in her social life and becoming a part of her social circle. He’s determined to rebuild their friendship, but this time he wants more. He wants her love, the love he carelessly threw away.

This time around Jillian gets to make the choices. She has gotten over the starry eyed crush she once had. She gets to choose what kind of relationship she has with Brock.

Jennifer Armentrout once again delivered an emotional story that kept me glued to the pages. It was truly an amazing reading experience.

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Giveaway

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About Jennifer L. Armentrout:

# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. She spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA.

She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

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Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: A Veil Of Vines by Tillie Cole

Posted on 11/29/2016 by shellbellereads

A Veil Of Vines

By Tillie Cole

Synopsis

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I opened the window beside me and stared at the illuminated entrance. I swallowed hard and placed my empty glass on the bar. Metal groaned, breaking through the twilight, as the massive black wrought-iron gates began to open. The limo slowly pulled onto the property’s lane, and I drank in the thick forest that shielded the estate. I inhaled the freshness of the lush green trees. The unpolluted sky was thick with stars—not a single cloud in sight.
A few minutes later, the thick woods cleared, and I gasped. Acres and acres of gold and green vineyards covered the landscape. The scents of plump grapes and damp soil permeated the warm air. I closed my eyes. It reminded me of being a child. It brought me back to the days before I was taken to New York. I could still feel the heat of the Emilia-Romagna sun on my face, the deep smell of olives, grapes and flowers drifting in the breeze as I ran around our Parma estate.
I smiled a nostalgic smile and allowed my eyes to drift open again. I rested my arms on the window and leaned my chin on them as the limo drove on. There were several small villas peppered over the landscape, their lights twinkling in the distance. They must have been the winemakers’ residences. It was not only the Bella Collina merlot that was made on this land; other reds were too—particularly the Chianti from the region’s finest Sangiovese grapes. The Bella Collina olive oil was also up there with the best. But nothing compared to the famed merlot.
The limo turned right, and my breath caught in my throat. I lifted my head and stared disbelievingly at the property ahead. Bella Collina was a veritable Palace of Versailles tucked away in the Umbrian wilderness.
“Mio Dio,” I whispered as I took in the imposing stone structure, the sweeping steps and the vast number of windows set in the building’s walls. Large pillars of red-veined marble flanked the entrance. Cypress trees framed the estate as if it were the shining star of a fine Renaissance painting. Sculptures of famed Savona monarchs of old stood proudly on the manicured lawns, and strategically placed lighting illuminated the sheer perfection of every piece of topiary.
As a child, I had been to the Palazzo Savona in Florence. It was widely regarded to be one of the finest estates in all of Italy, if not western Europe. But this . . . this . . . there were no words. It was perfectly placed, as if it had always been there. As if it had grown naturally from the Umbrian earth just as sure as the vines and woods that kept this architectural treasure hidden from view.

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Michel’s Review

A Veil of Vines by Tillie Cole is a must read. I could not put this book down. It was a beautiful romance that blossomed in a world where neither of them fit.

I highly recommend A Veil Of Vines by Tillie Cole.

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Tillie has now settled in Austin, Texas, where she is finally able to sit down and write, throwing herself into fantasy worlds and the fabulous minds of her characters.

Tillie is both an independent and traditionally published author, and writes many genres including: Contemporary Romance, Dark Romance, Young Adult and New Adult novels.

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Some are born with fire in them.

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Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Review: A Veil Of Vines by Tillie Cole

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Some are born with fire in them.

Let the FIRE IN YOU burn and grab your copy today!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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