Release Blitz + 5 Star Review : Say You’ll Stay by Corinne Michaels- Say You’ll Stay Series – Book 1

Posted on 06/22/2016 by shellbellereads

One word.
Stay.

It was all he had to do. Instead, he got on that bus and took my heart with him.

That was seventeen years ago.

I moved on. Marriage. Kids. White picket fence. Everything I ever wanted, but my husband betrayed me and I was left once again.

Alone, penniless, and with two boys, I had no choice but to return to Tennessee. He wasn’t supposed to be there. I should’ve been safe. However, fate has a way of stepping in.

This time around, the tables are turned. It’s my decision. Second chances do exist, but I don’t know if we can repair what’s already been broken . . .

This is a STANDALONE

Amazon✦ iBooks ✦ Barnes & Noble ✦ Kobo

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Michel’s Review

Corinne Michaels has taken a new road with her latest release, Say You’ll Stay. She left behind the SEALS and embraced another sexy breed of heroes, Cowboys.

Say You’ll Stay series begins in Bell Buckle, TN. This small town is known for their horse farms, annual Moon Pie Festival, and Web School of Art – Fall Art & Craft show. Bell Buckle is a one red light town with a general store, a few quaint antique shops, and authentic southern cooking. It is one of the most charming towns in TN. Corinne Michaels captured the town’s genuine charm and spirit.

Presley Mae Townsend-Benson and Zach Hennington grew up in Bell Buckle. They were childhood sweethearts and soulmates. They both had big dreams of leaving their small town lives together. Zach was going to play professional baseball after he and Presley finished college. Presley willingly followed Zach to Maine to attend college. Big dreams tend to play out quite differently in the real world. When their dreams and the real world collide, Zach and Presley are torn apart. Presley was left broken and bitter. Zach was left just as broken. Presley vowed she would never return to Bell Buckle. She moved on in her life.

Seventeen years later, Presley is happily married, a successful business woman, and mother to twin boys when life throws her another devastating curve. Her husband has passed away and left her penniless. She is forced to leave her life in the city and return home to TN. The one thing she vowed she would never do.

Never say never. Sometimes the things we dread the most are the things that end up being the biggest blessings in disguise. Bell Buckle is the place for Presley to find the girl she lost, grieve her losses, and find a new road to happiness for her family. The people in Bell Buckle are behind Presley one hundred percent. In fact, they want to help her find the love she lost years ago. They want her back with Zach Hennington. The town will meddle, friends will meddle, and family will meddle. Zach is back in Bell Buckle and ready to claim the girl he carelessly lost.

Zach and Presley have to make amends for the past. They have to let go of the anger that they have been harboring in their souls. They also have two young boys that are looking for guidance,acceptance, and love. Life in Bell Buckle isn’t easy but it is HOME.

Corinne Michaels has once again written an emotional love story that touches the readers to the core. These sexy Hennington cowboys will steal your heart. I highly recommend Say You’ll Stay.

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Corinne Michaels is the USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author of The Salvation Series (Beloved, Beholden, Consolation, Conviction & Defenseless). She’s an emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun loving mom of two beautiful children. Corinne is happily married to the man of her dreams and is a former Navy wife. After spending months away from her husband while he was deployed, reading and writing was her escape from the loneliness.

Both her maternal and paternal grandmothers were librarians, which only intensified her love of reading. After years of writing short stories, she couldn’t ignore the call to finish her debut novel, Beloved. Her alpha heroes are broken, beautiful, and will steal your heart.

New Release + 5 Star Review: Murder by Ella James – Sinful Secrets Series – Book 2

Posted on 06/20/2016 by shellbellereads

Murder

Sinful Secrets Series- Book 2

By Ella James

Buy: Amazon

Synopsis

You can’t choose who you love.
You can’t fix fate.
And that’s the problem…

Gwenna White’s new neighbor is…distracting. He’s a beautiful, tattooed, motorcycle-driving enigma. One she can’t allow herself to think about. Since the accident that ruined her face and stole her career, Gwen, a former model, lives under the radar, seldom leaving the bear sanctuary she runs in the Tennessee mountains. She’s not reclusive, but that doesn’t mean she’s looking for a lover. Definitely not someone who looks like that.
*
Barrett Drake could use a friend: a tall order, since most of his are dead. His damaged hand may be the reason he’s out of special ops, but it’s not his only wound. Not by a long shot. All that’s left between Bear and a new life is one last job. If he can hold on, get it done… He won’t be here that long. Just long enough to ruin Gwen’s life and make a speedy exit. That’s the plan.
But things don’t always go as planned.
You can’t choose who you love.
You can’t fix fate.
And that’s the problem…

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Michel’s Review

Expect the unexpected when you pick up an Ella James novel. Each of her books are have complex plots with multiple layers of intrigue,deceit, and mystery. The characters have multifaceted personalities, good and bad brewing beneath the surface.

Murder is the newest novel in the Sinful Secrets series. It features Barrett Drake (Kellan Drake’s older brother). Barrett, aka Bear, moved to TN. after being released from the army. He is a former special ops soldier who’s career ended when an IED hit his team. He’s suffering from PTSD from his time in the service. He is obsessed with his new neighbor, Gwenna White. He knows he should stay away from her. He’s on a personal mission and somehow it involves Gwenna. Moving to Tennessee wasn’t a random decision, it was well planned out. Now that he has met Gwenna in person, he may have to abort his mission. He has crossed the line and there is no turning back.

Gwenna White opened a bear refuge after she suffered a terrible accident that left her horribly scarred. Rather than dwelling in all she lost, she has taken a positive step forward in rebuilding her life. She’s come to terms with the loss of her modeling,acting, and singing career. She’s healed from the loss of her boyfriend. Now she is happy to take care of her bears. When she meets Barrett Drake, she recognizes a kindred spirit. She can also see the pain he suffers beneath the physical injuries to his body. She can see he’s suffering from PTSD. She’s been there and has learned how to manage hers, maybe she can help Barrett.

What starts out as a friendship turns into a beautiful relationship for them both until their pasts come back to haunt them. Someone is out to hurt Gwenna. Barrett may be that someone. The lines are blurred.

They both have to step back into the past to face the truths of what is happening in the present. There have been too many deaths and there are too many ghosts chasing them. The truth may kill them both or it may set them free.

Once again Ella James wrote an emotional book wrapped in suspense and intrigue. The plot is unpredictable and the outcome is quite a surprise. I could not put this book down.

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About Ella James

Ella James is a USA Today bestselling author who writes teen and adult romance. She is happily married to a man who knows how to wield a red pen, and together they are raising a feisty two-year-old who will probably grow up believing everyone’s parents go to war over the placement of a comma.

Ella’s books have been listed on numerous Amazon bestseller lists, including the Movers & Shakers list and the Amazon Top 100; two were listed among Amazon’s Top 100 Young Adult Ebooks of 2012.

To find out more about Ella’s projects and get dates on upcoming releases, find her on Facebook at facebook.com/ellajamesauthorpage and follow her blog, http://www.ellajamesbooks.com. Questions or comments? Tweet her at author_ellaj or e-mail her at ella_f_james@ymail.com.

Ella is represented by Rebecca Friedman of the Hill Nadell Literary Agency.

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New Release + 5 Star Review: Unbreak My Heart by Nicole Jacquelyn

Posted on 06/16/2016 by shellbellereads

Unbreak My Heart

By Nicole Jacquelyn

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

What do you do when your soul mate marries your best friend?
If you’re Kate Evans, you keep your friend Rachel, bond with her kids, and bury your feelings for her husband. The fact that Shane’s in the military and away for long periods helps-but when tragedy strikes, everything changes.
After Rachel, pregnant with her fourth child, dies in a car accident and the baby miraculously survives, Kate upends her entire life to share parenting duties. Then on the first anniversary of Rachel’s death, Kate and Shane take comfort in each other in a night that they both soon regret.
Shane’s been angry for a year, and now he feels guilty too – for sleeping with his wife’s best friend and liking it . . . liking her. Kate’s ability to read him like a book may have once sent Shane running, but their lives are forever entwined and they are growing closer.
Now with Shane deployed for seven months, Kate is on her own and struggling with being a single parent. Shane is loving and supportive from thousands of miles away, but his homecoming brings a betrayal Kate never saw coming. So Kate’s only choice is to fight for the future she deserves – with or without Shane. . .

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Michel’s Review

Unbreak My Heart by Nicole Jacquelyn took me by complete surprise. This book took a completely different direction and different tone than her previous series, the Aces MC and The Aces Sons. The one thing it had in common with the previous books was the story took on a life itself. The characters came alive. The reader easily became invested in their lives. Their happily ever after was just as important to the reader as it was to the characters.

One of the things that made this book stand out was the element of time. The characters have known each other most of their lives. Their relationship was held together by family ties and one woman. They went from being sort of cousins and close friends to being semi- friendly acquaintances after they moved into adulthood. The one person that held their fragile relationship together was Rachel. She was Kate’s best friend and Shane’s wife. After she passed away in an accident, it changes the dynamics of their relationship.

As a young girl, Kate Evans was in love with Shane Anderson, her foster cousin. They were the best of friends until she introduced him to her best friend and college roommate. That introduction changed the dynamics of their relationship. Shane could barely tolerate being around Kate. Kate purposely avoided Shane although she was Rachel’s best friend. Shane’s career in the military caused him to be away from his wife and children quite a bit throughout their nine year marriage. During his deployments Rachel would lean on Kate to help her with their three young children. Kate followed Rachel and Shane to California for that very reason. Rachel was eight months pregnant with her fourth child when she was killed in a car accident. Kate had to step in to help take care of the new baby and three other children. She downsized her business to make time for these precious children. Shane resents the fact that he needs her help with the children. He resents the fact that she is the one who is now the mother figure to his children rather than his wife. The past year has been pure hell on all of them. Now he’s facing an upcoming deployment that will take him away from his children for six months.

On the one year anniversary of his wife’s death he makes a terrible drunken mistake. He slept with Kate in a moment of weakness. This makes him resent her more. To make matters worse Kate ends up pregnant and has a horrific case of morning sickness. Now he has to leave a sick pregnant woman in charge of his children.

They say the heart grows fonder during an absence. This six months apart may bring them closer together or define their tentative friendship. They are going to have a child together and are raising four other children that need them both. Can he let go of his wife’s memory and learn to love Kate? Or will he end up resenting her more?

Shane needs an attitude adjustment. He needs to open his eyes and see Kate for who she is and what she does. What he doesn’t realize is that she has always been the glue that held his family together. She has always given him and his family her unconditional love.

Kate has to learn to protect herself and not become Shane’s doormat. It’s time for her to receive the love and respect she deserves.

Shane and Kate’s story is not one of insta love. It’s not a love conquers all story. It’s messy, frustrating, heartbreaking, and sad. When they finally start to get things right, it’s breathtaking. Through it all those precious children are loved, protected, and cherished.

Nicole Jacquelyn has written a sensational story that will engage all of your emotions. I highly recommend this book!

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About Nicole Jacquelyn

Nicole Jacquelyn is the mom of two little girls and a full time college student. She hasn’t watched television in well over a year, she still does things that drive her mother crazy, and she loves to read. At eight years old, when asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she told people she wanted to be a mom. When she was twelve her answer changed- to author. By the time she was eighteen, when people asked her what she wanted to do with her life, she told them she really wanted to be a writer- but the odds of that happening were so slim that she’d get her business degree “just to be safe”. Her dreams stayed constant. First she became a mom, then she went to college, and during her senior year- with one daughter in first grade and the other in preschool, she sat down and wrote a story.

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New Release + 5 Star Review: Idol by Kristen Callahan

Posted on 06/15/2016 by shellbellereads

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Idol

VIP Series – Book 1

By Kristen Callihan

Buy: Amazon / ITunes

Libby

I found Killian drunk and sprawled out on my lawn like some lost prince. With the face of a god and the arrogance to match, the pest won’t leave. Sexy, charming, and just a little bit dirty, he’s slowly wearing me down, making me crave more.

He could be mine if I dare to claim him. Problem is, the world thinks he’s theirs. How do you keep an idol when everyone is intent on taking him away?

Killian

As lead singer for the biggest rock band in the world, I lived a life of dreams. It all fell apart with one fateful decision. Now everything is in shambles.

Until Liberty. She’s grouchy, a recluse—and kind of cute. Scratch that. When I get my hands on her, she is scorching hot and more addictive than all the fans who’ve screamed my name.

The world is clamouring for me to get back on stage, but I’m not willing to leave her. I’ve got to find a way to coax the hermit from her shell and keep her with me. Because, with Libby, everything has changed. Everything.

AMAZON / iBOOKS

Excerpt

“You know,” I say conversationally, as I kick back, “I want to fuck you right now.”

Libby jerks as if pinched and sits a little straighter, before getting a hold of herself and slouching as if she’s completely chill. Cute.

She gives me a smirk and sips her water before drawling, “And what? Mark you territory? Assert your manly dominance?”

“Yep.” I slide my gaze to hers. “But mostly I just want to fuck you all the time.”

God, I love the way her lips part and body flushes with heat. So subtle, but there all the same. It makes me hard as steel, my balls squeezing tight. I don’t look at her but pretend I’m observing the room. The lights are dimming for the movie now, the empty chairs in front of us obscuring our lower halves.

Slowly my hand falls to space between us and smooths along her hip. She delicately shivers as my fingers trace down her thigh.

“What about you,” I murmur, lightly toying with her skirt in the darkening room. “You want to fuck me, baby doll?”

“Right now, I want to kick you,” she gets out between clenched teeth. “Keep your hands to yourself. There are nosy ass people everywhere.”

“They’re all watching the movie. Not us.” Focusing on the screen, I keep my expression neutral as I ease my hand under her skirt. Her skin is smooth and warm. The movie starts in a blast of music and the familiar old logo as I trace over her knew and up her soft thigh. “And that wasn’t a ‘no.’”

She makes a cute growl in the back of her throat, but her legs part just enough to give me room to delve between them. Her inner thighs are hot and damp, and my cock twitches.

The storyline rolls along, my touch idly roams. Libby remains utterly still but I can practically feel the tension vibrating within her. When the tip of my finger skims the crease where her thigh meets her lip, her breath catches, legs parting wider.

“Have I mentioned how much I appreciated this new skirt-filled wardrobe?” I whisper, lightly drawing circles along her skin.

“Brenna’s idea.” Her hips shift just a bit, following my touch. “Right now, I’m missing my shorts.”

I smile, my eyes on the screen, my fingers drifting to the edge of her panties. “Later, you can put them on and we’ll play ‘Fuck the Farmer’s Daughter.’”

She grunts, a stifled laugh, which turns to a strangled whimper when I pluck her panties. Her voice turns breathy. “I’m trying to watch the damn movie. I’m not interested in fooling around.” She moves a tiny fraction, nudging against my finger.

In the dark, I grin, heat and lust pulling my abs tight. “I’m sorry,” I saw, not sorry at all, “But I don’t believe you. I’m gonna have to check.”

Michel’s Review

The month of June has me on a reading frenzy. So many great releases by my favorite authors. One of those outstanding releases is Idol by Kristen Callihan. Who doesn’t love a tortured rock star falling in love for the first time? The difference is Idol stands out among the rock star romances.

A sassy mouthed hermit and one of the most idolized rock stars, Killian James, collide when Killian crashes into Liberty Bell’s fence. Not only does he take down her fence, he also pukes all over her and promptly passes out. What can a grouchy recluse do other than drag his butt into the shower. Thus begins a friendship between two neighbors.

Killian James left the fast paced limelight for some much needed down time after his band fell apart. While the band is on a break, he hightails it to a small coastal town in North Carolina. He can hide out in the small town, lick his wounds, and try to find the answers to all his problems. He no longer can feel the music. When he meets Liberty Bell, he is going to discover the man he lost while chasing fame, start becoming the man he wants to be, and most of all he finds the music in his soul.

Liberty has been hiding from the world. She didn’t intentionally do it, she just needed time to recover from the loss of her parents. Days turned into weeks, which turned into months, and eventually turned into years. When Killian James steps through her door, her world is going to change. She too lost her music and with Killian’s urging she finds it again.

Together they make beautiful music.

The world wants Killian back. The band is ready to get back together. Killian wants Liberty to go with him. He wants the world to hear her music.

Is the band ready for Liberty? Is the world ready for Liberty? Is Killian ready to let go of his Liberty and give her to the world?

Idol was fantastic. The dialogue was brilliant. The story itself was emotional on so many levels. I loved everything about this book. I can’t wait for the next book in the VIP series. Kristen left a teaser at the end that has me biting at the bits!

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About Kristen Callihan:

Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather be. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice award. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Release Blitz: A Wildly Seductive Night by Lauren Blakely

Posted on 06/15/2016 by shellbellereads

Lauren’s hottest and most passionate couple ever, Julia and Clay, return in this brand new novella! Set a few years after the end of ONE MORE NIGHT, this new novella answers the question of what if your fantasy becomes your reality.

What if all your nights were seductive?

What if your life with that sexy, handsome man turned into one deliciously dirty fairytale?

Cocktails, dirty talk and one fantastically filthy fairytale in a brand new novella for Lauren Blakely’s sexiest couple ever, Julia and Clay, in A Wildly Seductive Night.

Come inside the world of Seductive Nights for a glimpse at a dirty, naughty, seductive happily ever after in A WILDLY SEDUCTIVE NIGHT!

Come inside the world of Seductive Nights one more time in A WILDLY SEDUCTIVE NIGHT!

Once upon a time there was a very happy couple who had wild, hot, passionate, seductive nights every day, and every night. But that’s not all they had between them. They had love, and trust, and respect. He adored her and treated her like a queen. She was so very good to him, and made his life complete. Their sexy marriage was the stuff dirty fairytales were made of.
But there was one thing they didn’t have.
One thing they both secretly wanted.
One thing better than pearls.

Enjoy another visit with Lauren Blakely’s sexiest couple ever, Julia and Clay, in this brand new novella!

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

Kobo | Google Play | Paperback | Amazon CA

Tracey’s Review

When I really love a book and its characters, I’m left wondering, ‘Hmm, I wonder what life looks like for them down the road…’ And, I’m not going to lie, you could drop any one of Lauren Blakely’s books and/or characters into that scenario, and it would work for me. So, when I heard that Lauren was writing A WILDLY SEDUCTIVE NIGHT to give us a glimpse, an update, if you will, of life Chez Nichols, I could not have been happier.

Eight years, a marriage, one daughter, and lots and lots of sexy nights later, Clay and Julia Nichols are still one of my absolute favorite of Lauren Blakely’s couples. Although life has changed for them, it has really only gotten better. Clay is still the king of dirty talk. I mean, really, we’re talking, ‘reduce me to a puddle of goo, where did my panties go, and is anybody else bursting into flames here?’ dirty talk. And his skill is certainly not lost on his beautiful wife. Julia and Clay are perfect for each other, and a couple that I never get tired of reading about.

I love that Lauren brings the stars of her other books to visit, especially when she crosses over series, as she does here. It’s just one big wonderful Blakely world, and I couldn’t enjoy more seeing snippets of what’s going on with everyone.

It’s no surprise that A WILDLY SEDUCTIVE NIGHT is an easy 5-star read for me, because it’s like visiting old friends, and what’s better than that? Well, if it’s a visit to old friends that leaves you fanning yourself and waiting for the next chapter, even better. Thanks, Lauren, for giving us more nights with Clay and Julia. I can’t wait for more seductive nights…

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

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Lauren’s sexiest couple ever, Julia and Clay, are back!

That’s right! Fans asked and Lauren is delivering!

The one question Lauren has received regularly in the last two years since the publication of ONE MORE NIGHT, the final novel in the Julia and Clay story in the Seductive Nights series, is “Can you please tell us what Julia and Clay are up to now?”

A WILDLY SEDUCTIVE NIGHT is the answer to that reader request!

**And be sure to check out the new look for the Julia and Clay books in the NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SEDUCTIVE NIGHTS SERIES…**

NIGHT AFTER NIGHT

AFTER THIS NIGHT

ONE MORE NIGHT

If you’re new to the Julia and Clay books, you can find NIGHT AFTER NIGHT, AFTER THIS NIGHT, and ONE MORE NIGHT here.

ABOUT LAUREN BLAKELY:

Since self-publishing her debut romance novel CAUGHT UP IN US three years ago, Lauren Blakely has sold more than 1 million books. She is known for her sexy contemporary romance style that’s full of heat, heart and humor. A devout fan of cake and canines, Lauren has plotted entire novels while walking her four-legged friends. She lives in California with her family. With ten New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than forty times. Her bestselling series include Sinful Nights, Seductive Nights, No Regrets, Caught Up in Love, and Fighting Fire as well as standalone romantic comedies like BIG ROCK and MISTER O, which were both instant New York Times Bestsellers. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter at laurenblakely.com/newsletter.

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Bittersweet by Sarina Bowen – True North Series – Book 1

Posted on 06/14/2016 by shellbellereads

Bittersweet

True North Series – Book 1

By Sarina Bowen

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

BITTERSWEET (TRUE NORTH #1)
If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the orchard.

The last person Griffin Shipley expects to find stuck in a ditch on his Vermont country road is his ex-hookup. Five years ago they’d shared a couple of steamy nights together. But that was a lifetime ago.

At twenty-seven, Griff is now the accidental patriarch of his family farm. Even his enormous shoulders feel the strain of supporting his mother, three siblings and a dotty grandfather. He doesn’t have time for the sorority girl who’s shown up expecting to buy his harvest at half price.

Vermont was never in Audrey Kidder’s travel plans. Neither was Griff Shipley. But she needs a second chance with the restaurant conglomerate employing her. Okay—a fifth chance. And no self-righteous lumbersexual farmer will stand in her way.

They’re adversaries. They want entirely different things from life. Too bad their sexual chemistry is as hot as Audrey’s top secret enchilada sauce, and then some.

Michel’s Review

I suddenly have a craving for apples. I think it’s time to plan a road trip to Vermont. I will pull up the Google maps for the Shipley Farm and speed like an indie 500 racer to get there. I will purposely slash my tires just so Griff Shipley will come to my rescue ( hopefully shirtless). I want to meet that Farmboy!

Sarina Bowen has another fantastic book to add to her outstanding bibliography. Bittersweet is the first book in the True North series. It features a sexy apple farmer / award winning Vermont cider maker and a crazy adorable sority girl/hopeful chef. Head on down to the Shipley Apple Farm and let Griff and Audrey tell you their story. It’s guaranteed to make you laugh out loud, swoon with excitement, and get deliciously drunk on love (or off the apple cider tasting like sex).

Griff Shipley moved back to Vermont to run the Shipley Apple Farm after his father suddenly passed away three years ago. He gave up his professional football career to take care of his family and their heritage. He went from being an athlete to a farmer depending on mother nature. He has no regrets. He embraces his responsibilities with a sense of grace and determination. Farming is hard work that never ends. It’s a job that consumes every hour of the day, seven days a week. It is also a job that leaves a person with a great sense of pride and dignity.

When a blast from the past comes tearing down his driveway, he knows trouble has just rolled up. The trouble not only has flat tire but also has the sexiest legs he’s ever seen. Trouble is his old college hook-up, Audrey Kidder. Audrey was not known for her brains, stellar grades, or virtuous ways. In fact she flunked out of BU, flunked out of another college, and finally had to grow up. Now she’s a new chef hoping to get a lead kitchen position or her own restaurant. The only problem is that trouble seems to be her middle name. In order to keep her job with the big restaurant conglomerate she has to become the liaison between the farmers in Vermont and the company. She has to buy their produce at reduced costs or lose her job. It’s insulting all the way around.

Griff and Audrey are going to butt heads and bump uglies. Their attraction and draw to one another is overwhelming. They are headed in different directions and lead very different kinds of lives. Somewhere in the process of negotiating, sparring, and hooking up they are going to realize their worlds aren’t colliding, the are blending together like the perfect apples in the award winning apple cider.

Sarina Bowen is a gifted storyteller. Her characters come to life and jump off the pages. They have very distinct personalities that make the readers fall in love with them. Their interaction in and out of the bedroom is delightful, fun, witty, and engaging. The wonderful thing is that is not only the leading characters story. Sarina develops a world filled with colorful characters that not only support the main characters but also scream for a story of their own. I can’t wait to see what comes next for those sexy Vermont men.

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Coming Soon….

Steadfast

True North Series – Book 2

Release Date: July 12, 2016

Pre Order: ITunes

Synopsis

Jude lost everything one spring day when he crashed his car into an apple tree on the side of the road. A man is dead, and there’s no way he can ever right that wrong.

For Sophie Haines, Jude’s sudden return to Colebury, Vermont, is an unwelcome distraction. It’s not acceptable to still crave the man who killed your brother.

And it’s a small town…

Keepsake

True North Series- Book 3

Release Date: October 2016

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&nbsp Author Bio:

Sarina Bowen writes steamy, angsty Contemporary Romance and New Adult fiction from the wilds of Vermont.

The Year We Fell Down, Book #1 in The Ivy Years series, began breaking hearts in March 2014. Book #2, The Year We Hid Away, is brand new.

For Harlequin-E, Sarina writes the Gravity series. Coming in From the Cold features an angsty downhill ski racer and one of the most unique plot conflicts in contemporary romance today.

Sarina enjoys skiing, coffee products and a nice glass of wine. She lives with her family, eight chickens and more ski gear and hockey equipment than seems necessary.

She would be honored to connect with you at http://www.sarinabowen.com.

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Saving A Legend by Sarah Robinson – The Kavanagh Legend Series – Book 2

Posted on 06/14/2016 by shellbellereads

Title: Saving a Legend
Series: Kavanagh Legends #2

Author: Sarah Robinson

Publisher: Loveswept
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Release
Date: June 14, 2016

Blurb

Praised by Penelope Ward as “a unique story line with multiple layers to it,” Sarah Robinson’s Saving a Legend goes another round with the brooding Kavanagh brothers: MMA fighters who won’t call it quits in the ring, or in romance.His family’s gym has produced a roster of mixed martial arts legends, but so far Kieran Kavanagh hasn’t followed in their footsteps. After a brawl lands him in jail, Kieran is assigned to work at a center for at-risk youth. Though given a second chance, Kieran’s simply going through the motions—until he meets one very special kid, Shea Doherty, and falls hard for her very beautiful, very grown-up big sister, Fiona. The trouble is, Kieran’s best opening moves are getting him nowhere fast.Fiona Doherty has too many responsibilities to fool around, especially now that she has custody of Shea. Sure, she’d love to find a devoted partner. But she won’t jeopardize her sister’s happiness—or risk revealing her tortured past—on a love-’em-and-leave-’em type of guy like Kieran . . . so it’s up to him to prove her wrong. As Fiona spends more time with Kieran, she starts to see a softer side of the reckless warrior. Now she must admit that when it comes to the possibility of real love, well . . . there’s a fighting chance.

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Michel’s Review

The Kavanagh Family is nationally known for their MMA training, gym, and fighters. Their name is legendary in the sport. Their reputation was golden until one blemish by Kieran Kavanagh left a black mark on their name. He was involved in the underworld of illegal fights and was prosecuted. It has taken the family two years to recover from that black mark and the end of Rory Kavanagh’s fighting career. Now they have a new upcoming champion, Kane Kavanagh, Kieran’s identical twin. Along with the intense training for the upcoming fight they are also facing Kieran’s release from prison. The Kavanagh’s are a very tight family with a huge capacity to forgive, support, and love fiercely. They are also compassionate of others outside their family circle.

***

Saving A Legend begins with Kieran’s release from prison. He has been behind bars for two years and is being released early for good behavior. The conditions of his release are steady employment, community service, and probation. He’s grateful to be out of prison. He’s looking forward to being with his family again. He’s remorseful of his crime and vows to take the straight and narrow road. He’s a changed man. He’s ready for a second chance to make a good , honest life for himself. First he will have to gain back the trust of his family, earn forgiveness from his brothers, and prove he’s worth the effort.

***

He’s slowly finding his place in the world. His brother Rory has reluctantly gotten him a construction job. He’s doing his community service at a local youth center for “at risk” kids. He’s also met a beautiful, young florist that he wants to get to know better. The only problem is that Fiona is not interested. She refuses to accept a date with him.

***

Destiny has put them in each other’s path. Fiona is the legal guardian for her younger autistic sister, Shea. Kieran has unknowingly befriended Shea at the youth center. He has a special connection with Shea and can reach her in ways others cannot.

***

When Fiona and Shea find themselves homeless, the Kavanagh family steps in and brings them into the fold. This is the perfect opportunity for Fiona and Kieran to explore their passion and growing friendship. It’s an opportunity for them to have more in their lives. They are both keeping secrets. Kieran is hiding his past. Fiona is one step away from losing custody of Shea. Being involved with Kieran could be the final straw that breaks her guardian rights. Kieran has vowed not to let that happen and needs to come clean. Fiona has to let go of her fears, her dark past, and learn to trust. Shea is happy with the Kavanaghs. The Kavanaghs are fighters… they fight for what is theirs. Shea and Fiona are now their family.

***

Saving A Legend was more than a love story. It was a story of compassion, family strength, forgiveness, and acceptance. Sarah Robinson did a magnificent job creating Shea’s character. She also did not give Kieran and Fiona an easy path. They both had very real problems that were portrayed in a very realistic way.

***

I love the Kavanagh family. I can’t wait to see what comes next. Their lives are legends in the making.

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Author Bio

Sarah Robinson is the bestselling
author of the Kavanagh Legends series, The Photographer Trilogy, and the Sand
& Clay rock star series. A native of Washington, D.C., Robinson has both
her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal psychology. She is married to a
local police officer who is just as much of an animal rescue enthusiast as she
is. Together, they own a zoo of rescue and foster animals.

Author Links

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Blog Tour + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Broken Girl by Gretchen de la O

Posted on 06/13/2016 by shellbellereads

Broken Girl

By Gretchen de la O

Buy: Amazon

Synopsis

My name is ROSE NEWTON, and I sell my body on the streets of San Francisco. I’m what you call society’s dirty little secret. On the outside, I’m in control, the woman who makes her own rules and gives nothing away for free. Inside, I’m broken and numb. Torn and shattered by my past, my life is nothing more than the lost fragments of what’s left of me. SHANE WEST represents everything that’s foreign to me. He’s brave, kind, funny, gorgeous and persistent. When fate brings us face to face, an undeniable attraction blazes between us. He becomes the constant I’ve never had and the only man I’ll ever trust. There is nothing simple about falling in love when you’re keeping a secret like mine. *Reader’s discretion advised. Certain content might not be suitable for some readers.

Michel’s Review

In the last two years I have met Gretchen de la O at several book signings. Each time I spoke with her she told me she was working on something very different and very dark. She said it contained some very heavy subject matter and that it was a very difficult book to write. She couldn’t put an exact time frame as to when the book would release because she wanted to get this story right. She didn’t want to take the easy road with Rose’s story. She wanted to give Rose the voice that would tell her story .

Broken Girl by Gretchen de la O is quite different from the books I usually read. It’s a dark, gritty look inside of a truly broken person. It’s a harsh reality with ugly truths, jagged revelations, and deep emotional scars. This is not a fun, fluffy romance book where love fixes all. Quite honestly I wouldn’t even consider this book a romance at all. It’s a vivid portrayal of a young girl’s journey into a dark twisted adulthood. A lost little girl existing beneath the layers of betrayal, abuse,condemnation, and self destruction. If you are looking for light reading, this may not be the book to choose. If you have hard limits in your reading preferences, don’t read this book.

Broken Girl contains childhood sexual abuse, violence, physical abuse, drug abuse, and self abuse. It is vividly graphic. It has hardcore subject matter that is quite disturbing. Although most of the content is very dark there is also a progression to the light. A broken individual finally finding the path to her own personal self redemption. Take off your rose colored glasses and brace yourself.

Rose Newton never really had a chance in life. Her childhood was horrific. She encountered abuse on every level. It’s only natural that her childhood would lead to a life of prostitution. Prostitution gives her the power to control the abuse. It’s the only source of income she can earn to survive in a very expensive world. She’s not living in luxury, in fact she lives in poverty. She views sex as a means to an end, no emotional or physical attachments.

She’s worked the streets since she was sixteen years old. She has no illusions of a grand future. She doesn’t have hopes and dreams for the future. Her life is pathetic. The few friends she has are people like her, living in the dark shadows of society. Their friendships are conditional. Each of them guards their inner secrets, emotional demons, and past lives.

Rose accidentally meets a handsome young man in a laundromat after he saves another prostitute from harm. She’s intrigued that a stranger would help a person like her. Her curiosity leads her to return to laundromat and to a reluctant friendship with Shane. This is the first choice that will begin to take Rose in a different direction in life. It will be the first step into her journey of self discovery. It may be her only chance at being truly loved.

As Rose’s journey begins to progress, her current life will spiral out of control. She will start to experience real emotions and eye opening events.

Rose has to learn to forgive and love herself before she can attempt to becoming a whole person. She has to learn that she is worthy and entitled to love just like every other person. She has to find out who Rose is capable of becoming.

I admit this was a very hard story for me to read. I had a very heavy feeling throughout the book. Some parts appalled me, others broke me. I did not find this entertaining but was fully engaged in the story. It was the type of book that was based upon some very heavy issues and dark subject matter. What made me give the books 5 Stars is it’s brutal honesty and realistic solutions.

Gretchen de la O wrote a very honest, brutal accounting of a broken girl’s life. It’s not a pretty story. It’s a girl finding the glue to put herself back together. It’s a lesson of self respect and becoming whole.

________________________________________

Gretchen de la O, is a writer of romantically unique stories. A proclaimed positive energy infuser by people who know her, she finds joy in helping those around her discover their creative process. Gretchen is a firm believer that anything is possible if you set your mind to it; and what you expect out of life, always finds a way of showing up. She’s authentic in her dedication to her own creative process, finds strength in her spirituality, and is always looking for the bright spot in every situation.

Gretchen released her first novel, Almost Eighteen in September of 2011, the first in a three book new adult student/teacher romance, The Wilson Mooney Series. In November of 2012, she followed with book two, Eighteen at Last, and concluded the series with Beyond Eighteen in October, 2013. Her Fourth novel, PROTOTYPE, a romantic suspense, the first book in the Possession Series was released in October 2014. BROKEN GIRL, Gretchen’s fifth novel, is a standalone contemporary romance slated to be released April 29th, 2016. Please visit Gretchen at www.gretchendelao.com .

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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New Release … 5+ Star Review: SIX by K.I. Lynn

Posted on 06/12/2016 by shellbellereads

Six

A Dark Romantic Thriller / Romantic Suspense

Release Date: June 6, 2016

By K.I. Lynn

Buy: Amazon / B & N / Kobo

Synopsis

I had a one-night stand. It wasn’t my first, but it would be my last.

A gun to the head.

A trained killer.

A deadly conspiracy.

Kidnapped and on the run, my life and death is in the hands of a sadist captor who happens to be my one-night stand. Armed with countless weapons, money, and new identities, the man I call Six drags me around the world.

The manhunt is on and Six is the next target. Can we find out who is killing off the Cleaners before they find us?

Two down, seven to go.

When it’s all over he’ll finish the job that dropped him into my life, and end it.

Stockholm Syndrome meets bucket list, and the question of what would you do to live before you died. The questions aren’t always answered in black and white. Gray becomes the norm as my morals are tested.

Death is a tragedy, and I’ll do anything to stay alive.

Are you ready for the last ride of your life? Six has a gun to your head—what would you do?

This isn’t a love story.

It’s a death story.

**Due to the dark and explicit nature of this book, it is recommended for mature audiences only as some scenes may be particularly disturbing.**

OMG… this book came as a complete surprise! It was intensely riveting! I could not put this book down and consumed it in one sitting! It’s deliciously dark, frighteningly dangerous, and insanely erotic. This fast paced, action packed conspiracy novel will leave you with goose bumps and chills up your spine. It will make you think twice about one night stands. It will make you think about every breath you take.

It wasn’t Paisley Warren’s first one night stand but ended up being her last. After meeting Simon in a bar at her work end of the year party, a delightful hook up seemed to be the pick me up she needed in her lonely life. She awoke the next morning a bit tired but completely rejuvenated from her sexual tryst. She should of called in sick and stayed home in bed relishing in the previous night’s sexcapades. Instead she made the second fatal mistake in a 24 hour period, she went to work.

Working as a lab technician at the Hamilton County Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is an interesting job. She has seen it all until the latest John Doe crosses their doors. His circumstances of death and condition of his corpse lead to further investigation. Paisley discovers an unusual condition in his blood. Just as she is re-evaluating her findings, all hell breaks loose in the lab. Her co-workers are brutally murdered right before her eyes. She is taken hostage and forced to show the killer the mysterious John Doe. It is her death sentence. Her captor is none other than Simon,the one night stand from the night before. Now he is her executioner. Her only bargaining tool is the findings from the lab results she ran on the mysterious John Doe. She will do anything to stay alive and she is going to hold onto her information as long as she can.

Her captor is not the ordinary man she thought he was. His name is not Simon. He is a trained killer that goes by the name SIX. He is definitely going to kill her, the only question is when.

SIX is a ruthless killer involved in conspiracy, espionage, government secrets, and contract murders. There is nothing redeemable or good within his being. He’s gone rogue and is on a mission to find out who is behind the assassinations of the other agents in his inner circle. One is already dead, there has been an attempt on his life, and several of the nine killers have gone to ground. Paisley is the only person that may have a bit of information on how these agents are being disposed of. He will get the information and then he will kill her.

SIX is on a hunt that will take him and Lacey ( aka Paisley) from Georgia to Paris and lead them from one end of the country to the other. He will do everything including torturing his hostage to get what he wants. He has no conscience. The only thing that matters is getting to the bottom of this conspiracy.

During her captivity Paisley will evolve into an entirely different person. She has to do whatever it takes to stay alive. She hates her captor but also craves him. He is her safety net as well as her executioner. It is stockholm syndrome in it’s deepest form.

It’s not a happy romantic story. It’s the story of Paisley Warren’s death. And she will die.

K.I. Lynn wrote a powerful story. It made Jason Bourne seem like a novice. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book. The writing was perfectly executed with the right amount of intensity, dark humor, ruthless passion, and emotional passages. The fast paced action and the element of mystery added to the intrigue. It was impossible to figure out what would happen next.

I highly recommend SIX by K.I. Lynn.

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Author Bio:

K.I. Lynn lives in the Cincinnati area with her husband and goldfish. She spent her life in the arts, everything from music to painting and ceramics, then to writing. Characters have always run around in her head, acting out their stories, but it wasn’t until later in life she would put them to pen. It would turn out to be the one thing she was really passionate about.

Since she began posting stories online, she’s garnered acclaim for her diverse stories and hard hitting writing style. Two stories and characters are never the same, her brain moving through different ideas faster than she can write them down as it also plots its quest for world domination…or cheese. Whichever is easier to obtain… Usually it’s cheese.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

New Release + 5 STAR Review : Coast by Jay McLean – Kick Push Series -Book 2

Posted on 06/10/2016 by shellbellereads

Coast

Kick Push – Book 2

By Jay McLean

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

***Please note: Coast is the sequel to Kick Push and must be read in order***

One life-changing summer.
One boy.
The boy.
The boy who offered me safe touches and heart-stopping smiles – smiles he shared with his son.
We filled our days with porch-step kisses,
filled our ears with laughter,
filled our hearts with love.
Deep, soul-aching, desperate love.

But love is misleading.
It’s an invisible, fleeting moment.
Somewhere between false adoration and pure hatred comes an emotion, a vulnerable need, a single desire.
It lives within the ones who miss it, who crave it,
who know better than to expect it.
Love is relentless.
Even when that love turns to hate, turns to loathing,
turns to pain.

Love should heal you.
But it can also break you.
Believe me, I know…
Because I’m Becca Owens – a broken girl…
…And he’s Josh Warden – the boy who broke me.

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Michel’s Review

Spoiler Free Review

COAST is NOT A STAND ALONE NOVEL

Last summer I read Kick Push by Jay McLean. The moment I finished this phenomenal book I was dying for the conclusion to Joshua and Becca’s story. It about killed me to wait almost a full year before Coast released. I can honestly say that it was worth the wait and gave Joshua and Becca the happily ever after they truly deserved. It wasn’t an easy journey filled with flowers and sunshine. It also wasn’t a gut wrenching journey filled with hurtful angst. It was a journey of growth, self discovery, and forgiveness. Over a three year period Joshua, Becca, and little Tommy are going to learn the true meaning of life, love, and acceptance. They are going to learn that no matter what happens in the incredible journey known as life, as long as they have each other they can coast.

I don’t want to say too much more because I don’t want to give away spoilers. It took Becca three long years to find herself, to heal enough to move on in life, and accept happiness. Joshua also had to find his place in life. His professional career and family commitments are colliding. He has to make choices, shuffle his schedule, and bring Becca home. The glue that holds all of them together is Chazarae. She gave each of them the push they needed to learn how to coast.

Jay McLean did a phenomenal job writing this story. She touched upon every emotion and created a story that any reader can relate to. I highly recommend these two books.

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Kick Push Series

Kick Push

Kick Push Series – Book 1

By Jay McLean

Buy : Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

There’s a single defining moment within every skater.
It lasts only a second. Two if you’re good.
Three if you’re really good.
It’s the moment you’re in the air, your board somewhere
beneath you, and nothing but wind surrounds you.
It’s the feeling of being airborne.

The sixteen-year-old version of me would’ve said it was the
greatest feeling in the world.
Then at seventeen, I had my son.
And every single second became a defining moment. Even the ones that consisted of heartbreak when his mother left us.

Seventeen. Single. Dad.
That’s what my life became.
Yet, every day, I managed to find that feeling of being
airborne.
Or at least I convinced myself I did.
But I lied—to myself and to everyone around me.
Until she showed up; Tanned skin, raven dark hair, and eyes the color of emeralds.

You know what sucks about being in the air?
Coming down from the high.
Sometimes you land on the board and nail the trick.
Then kick, push, and coast away.
Other times you fall.
You fall hard.
And those are the times when it’s not as easy to get back up, dust off your pads and try again.
Especially when the girl with the emerald eyes becomes your drug…
And you become her poison.

_________________________________

Author Bio:

Jay McLean is the author of the More Series, including More Than This, More Than Her, More Than Him and More Than Forever. She also has two standalones coming soon titled Where The Road Takes Me, and Combative.
Jay is an avid reader, writer, and most of all, procrastinator. When she’s not doing any of those things, she can be found running after her two little boys, or devouring some tacky reality TV show.
She writes what she loves to read, which are books that can make her laugh, make her smile, make her hurt, and make her feel.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

One word. Stay.

It was all he had to do. Instead, he got on that bus and took my heart with him.

That was seventeen years ago.

I moved on. Marriage. Kids. White picket fence. Everything I ever wanted, but my husband betrayed me and I was left once again.

Alone, penniless, and with two boys, I had no choice but to return to Tennessee. He wasn’t supposed to be there. I should’ve been safe. However, fate has a way of stepping in.

This time around, the tables are turned. It’s my decision. Second chances do exist, but I don’t know if we can repair what’s already been broken . . .

** This is a STANDALONE **

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Lauren’s hottest and most passionate couple ever, Julia and Clay, return in this brand new novella! Set a few years after the end of ONE MORE NIGHT, this new novella answers the question of what if your fantasy becomes your reality.

What if all your nights were seductive?

What if your life with that sexy, handsome man turned into one deliciously dirty fairytale?

Cocktails, dirty talk and one fantastically filthy fairytale in a brand new novella for Lauren Blakely’s sexiest couple ever, Julia and Clay, in A Wildly Seductive Night.

Come inside the world of Seductive Nights for a glimpse at a dirty, naughty, seductive happily ever after in A WILDLY SEDUCTIVE NIGHT!

Come inside the world of Seductive Nights one more time in A WILDLY SEDUCTIVE NIGHT!

Enjoy another visit with Lauren Blakely’s sexiest couple ever, Julia and Clay, in this brand new novella!

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

Kobo | Google Play | Paperback | Amazon CA

Lauren’s sexiest couple ever, Julia and Clay, are back!

That’s right! Fans asked and Lauren is delivering!

A WILDLY SEDUCTIVE NIGHT is the answer to that reader request!

And be sure to check out the new look for the Julia and Clay books in the NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SEDUCTIVE NIGHTS SERIES…

If you’re new to the Julia and Clay books, you can find NIGHT AFTER NIGHT, AFTER THIS NIGHT, and ONE MORE NIGHT here.

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One word.
Stay.

This is a STANDALONE

**And be sure to check out the new look for the Julia and Clay books in the NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SEDUCTIVE NIGHTS SERIES…**

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