6 Star Review: Nine Minutes by Beth Flynn

Posted on 12/29/2014 by shellbellereads

Nine Minutes

By Beth Flynn

Synopsis

On May 15, 1975, fifteen-year-old Ginny Lemon is abducted from a convenience store in Fort Lauderdale by a member of one of the most notorious and brutal motorcycle gangs in South Florida.

From that moment on, her life is forever changed. She gets a new name, a new identity and a new life in the midst of the gang’s base on the edge of the Florida Everglades—a frightening, rough and violent world much like the swamps themselves, where everyone has an alias and loyalty is tantamount to survival.

And at the center of it all is the gang’s leader, Grizz: massive, ruggedly handsome, terrifying and somehow, when it comes to Ginny, tender. She becomes his obsession and the one true love of his life.

So begins a tale of emotional obsession and manipulation, of a young woman ripped from everything she knows and forced to lean on the one person who provides attention, affection and care: her captor. Precocious and intelligent, but still very much a teenager, Ginny struggles to adapt to her existence, initially fighting and then coming to terms with her captivity.

Will she be rescued? Will she escape? Will she get out alive—or get out at all? Part psychological thriller, part coming-of-age novel, filled with mystery, romance and unexpected turns, Nine Minutes takes readers into the world of one motorcycle gang and inside the heart of a young girl, whose abduction brought about its fall.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Michel’s Review

Nine Minutes is one of the books that stunned my senses and left me with a major book hangover. I read this book over a month and half ago. After I finished the book I had to gift this book to several of my friends because it is the kind of book you “have” to read. Each and every friend that has read this book had the same kind of reactions that I had to it.

This more than a typical biker romance. It is a story that renders a very real look into a lawless lifestyle. Although many of the characters are hardened criminals with ethics that are horrendous, they are also very human. Their emotions and feelings are just as valid as anyone else emotions. Their methods of dealing with their emotions are just as valid as how anyone else deals with their own. We all have insecurities, we all have hopes and dreams, we all want the ones we love to have the best we can give, and we all have our own ways of protecting our deepest emotions.

The background for this story is so true to it’s portrayal. I grew up in that area of south Florida in that exact timeframe. I am very close to the same age as the heroine in this story. The existence of this kind of MC club was in fact present in that area at that time. As I was reading this book I had chills from the in depth descriptions. I felt like I was walking back in time to my younger years and looking at it through different eyes. It is was mind blowing. When my mother, who has lived in south Florida for over fifty years, and raised her family there, read this book she was just as stunned as I was.

The story itself was captivating. It is a story of a lawless life, a story of a stolen life, and a story of unconditional love. Although Grizz lived in a very violent world and delivered his own kind brand of justice, he also had a sense of honor and heart of gold. For those he loved, he gave his all. For those that betrayed his love and trust, he dealt with in a very gruesome violent manner. In the end he paid for his love. In the end he paid for his sins. He did it with honor for those he loved. He accepted the punishments for the crimes he committed. He protected his family from suffering the repercussions of his crimes. He gave those he loved the ultimate gift. He gave them the gift of love and happiness.

Ginny was a young teenage girl when she was abducted. She was just beginning her journey into womanhood. Although she was taken, manipulated, and molded into a different kind of person, she was also given the gift of unconditional love. Her life may have turned out very differently had she not been abducted. Would she have had a better life? Most likely not. Her childhood was not sunshine and roses. Her life was not full of love. She was forced to grow up at an early age. She was forced to become responsible and self reliant. She was a survivor. She used her intelligence to guide her. I think that is one of the reasons she was abducted. One person saw the uniqueness and inner strength she possessed. One person saw her value as a human being. One person loved her for everything she was. One person valued her enough to steal her away. In the end that one person almost destroyed her life. Through it all that one person also gave her more than his love, he gave her a love that would last a lifetime and always be there for her. He gave her a new love story to live.

Nine Minutes is not a forever love story. Nine Minutes is breathtaking story of unconditional love and strength of the human spirit. Nine Minutes is two beautiful love stories that intwine one woman into a person of strength, compassion, and beauty. Two love stories that show her how by just being herself is more valuable than anything else in this world.

Nine Minutes is a powerful story. Although Nine Minutes ends with a cliffhanger, it is not one that will have readers in an emotional uproar. Nine Minutes has a resolution to that part of Ginny’s story. It ended the only way it could. The cliffhanger is more about the secrets that will be revealed. It is about the other love story in the book. It is the path to Ginny’s forever love story.

Read Nine Minutes! It is exceptional!

Author Bio:

Beth Flynn is a fiction writer who lives and works in Sapphire, North Carolina, deep within the southern Blue Ridge Mountains. Raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Beth and her husband, Jim, have spent the last 16 years in Sapphire, where they own a construction company. They have been married 30 years and have two daughters (the youngest in high school) and two dogs. In her spare time, Beth enjoys writing, reading, gardening, church and motorcycles, especially taking rides on the back of her husband’s Harley. She is a four-year breast cancer survivor.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

6 Star ARC Review + Giveaway: The Law of Moses by Amy Harmon

Posted on 12/03/2014 by shellbellereads

The Law Of Moses

By Amy Harmon

Release Date: November 27, 2014

Synopsis

If I tell you right up front, right in the beginning that I lost him, it will be easier for you to bear. You will know it’s coming, and it will hurt. But you’ll be able to prepare.

Someone found him in a laundry basket at the Quick Wash, wrapped in a towel, a few hours old and close to death. They called him Baby Moses when they shared his story on the ten o’clock news – the little baby left in a basket at a dingy Laundromat, born to a crack addict and expected to have all sorts of problems. I imagined the crack baby, Moses, having a giant crack that ran down his body, like he’d been broken at birth. I knew that wasn’t what the term meant, but the image stuck in my mind. Maybe the fact that he was broken drew me to him from the start.

It all happened before I was born, and by the time I met Moses and my mom told me all about him, the story was old news and nobody wanted anything to do with him. People love babies, even sick babies. Even crack babies. But babies grow up to be kids, and kids grow up to be teenagers. Nobody wants a messed up teenager.

And Moses was messed up. Moses was a law unto himself. But he was also strange and exotic and beautiful. To be with him would change my life in ways I could never have imagined. Maybe I should have stayed away. Maybe I should have listened. My mother warned me. Even Moses warned me. But I didn’t stay away.

And so begins a story of pain and promise, of heartache and healing, of life and death. A story of before and after, of new beginnings and never-endings. But most of all…a love story.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Excerpt

“You still talk to your horses.”

I jerked and Sackett shifted, not liking the spike of energy that shot through me or the fact that my fingers had yanked at his mane.

Moses stood silhouetted in the barn door, holding what looked to be a large canvas in his hand.

I hadn’t realized I was still talking to Sackett, and I did a quick examination of what I’d just said. I believe I had just uttered an embarrassing rant on people named Moses not being allowed in Georgia. “Oh, Lord,” I prayed silently but fervently, “you can make the blind man see and the deaf man hear so it shouldn’t be too much to ask to make this man forget everything he’s just seen and heard.”

“What does Sackett think about those new, stricter laws in Georgia?”

I looked up at the rafters, “Hey, thanks for comin’ through for me, Lord.”

I loosened the cinch that secured the saddle around Sackett’s middle and pulled the saddle from his back, hoisting it onto the saddle horse and removing the blanket beneath without looking at Moses. I was kind of surprised that he remembered Sackett’s name.

Moses took a few steps inside the barn and I could see a small smile playing around his lips. I gave Sackett a firm pat on his rump signaling I was done, and he trotted off, clearly eager to go.

“You’re back.” I said, refusing to embarrass myself further by getting angry.

“I took Tag home. He had big plans to train for his next fight old school, like Rocky, but discovered that it’s a little more appealing in the movies. Plus, I don’t do a very good Apollo Creed.”

“Tag’s a fighter?”

“Yeah. Mixed martial arts stuff. He’s pretty good.”

“Huh.” I didn’t know what else to say. I didn’t know anything about the sport. “Didn’t Apollo Creed die in one of the movies?”

“Yeah. The black guy always dies at the hands of the white man.”

I rolled my eyes, and he grinned, making me grin with him before I remembered that I was embarrassed and ticked off that he had kissed me and left town. It felt a little too much like the past. The grin slipped from my face and I turned away, busying myself shaking out the saddle blankets.

“So why did you come back?” I kept my eyes averted. He was quiet for a minute, and I bit my lips so I wouldn’t start to babble into the awkward silence.

“The house needs more work,” he replied at last. “And I’m thinking of changing my name.”

My head shot up, and I met his smirk with confusion.

“Huh?”

“I heard there was this new law in Georgia. Nobody named Moses can even visit. So I’m thinking a name change is in order.”

I just shook my head and laughed, both and embarrassed and pleased at his underlying meaning. “Shut up, Apollo,” I said, and it was his turn to laugh.

Robin’s Review

The Law of Moses begins with a word of caution to the reader. From the first words of the prologue, Amy Harmon’s consummate writing demanded my full attention. Perhaps the prologue is a bit of foreshadowing, but I truly had no idea what it meant. How it would relate to the story? When I finished reading The Law of Moses, I was emotionally spent, but I finally understood. I truly admire Amy Harmon’s talent and creativity. The Law of Moses is her seventh novel. I have read each of them, and her ability to tell a story just keeps getting better.

Our protagonist, Georgia Shepherd, begins the story by telling us about Moses Wright. He was born a crack baby. Baby Moses was placed in a laundry basket and abandoned at the Quick Wash. Employees from the hospital named him baby Moses because he was found lying in a basket. Crack babies are known to have all kinds of problems throughout their lives – ADHD, impulse control, seizures, mental disorders, hallucinations and hypersensitivity. Authorities were able to identify his mother three days after he was found because his mother died of an overdose. Moses was raised by family, but he never spent very long in one place because he was hard to manage. When the story begins, Moses moves in with his great grandmother, Kathleen Wright, just before he turns eighteen.

It’s the summer before her senior year in high school, and seventeen year-old Georgia Shepherd dreams of barrel racing on the rodeo circuit. Her father is a veterinarian, but her parents also have several horses they use for equine therapy with foster kids. Georgia assists with equine therapy, but she is better known for her ability for breaking in and training horses in Levan, Utah. Kathleen Wright asks the Shepherd family to put Moses to work on their farm. Georgia describes Moses as tall, with broad shoulders, defined muscles and light, funky-colored eyes. She compares him to a dangerous jungle cat. He is messed up, cracked in the head, emotional and extremely artistic. And Georgia is attracted to Moses.

Did I mention Moses was artistic? He paints beautiful, gigantic murals whenever the inclination occurs. He paints on walls and buildings or anywhere else that seems appropriate at the time. He paints wherever he wants without questions and remorse. But it’s what Moses paints that is highly unusual. Moses paints pictures of people who are dead, and this could be a problem for him because several young women have disappeared in central Utah over the past few years.

Okay. Here are my thoughts. Amy Harmon has written a very intriguing coming of age novel. It’s also a beautiful love story involving two unlikely characters. If you love a great mystery, you will find mystery in spades in The Law of Moses. It’s one of those novels you will not want to put down. I mentioned at the beginning of my review that the writing in this story is consummate. I absolutely meant that. The writing in The Law of Moses is above average in creativity, proficiency and in the manner that it flows. There have been so many wonderful novels released this year, but I can honestly say that The Law of Moses is one of the very best that I have read. Congratulations to Amy Harmon on this 6 star novel!

Robin’s 5 Greats

1) Consummate writing
2) Uniquely creative
3) Intriguing characters
4) Gripping mystery
5) One of my 2014 favorites

Author Bio:

Amy Harmon is a USA Today and New York Times Bestselling author. Amy knew at an early age that writing was something she wanted to do, and she divided her time between writing songs and stories as she grew. Having grown up in the middle of wheat fields without a television, with only her books and her siblings to entertain her, she developed a strong sense of what made a good story. Her books are now being published in several countries, truly a dream come true for a little country girl from Levan, Utah.

Amy Harmon has written five novels – the USA Today Bestsellers, Making Faces and Running Barefoot, as well as Slow Dance in Purgatory, Prom Night in Purgatory, and the New York Times Bestseller, A Different Blue.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Giveaway
1 Kindle Paperwhite
1 $50 Amazon giftcard
3 signed copies of The Law of Moses

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Release Day Blitz + 6 Star Review + Giveaway: Nocte by Courtney Cole- Book 1 in The Nocte Trilogy

Posted on 11/03/2014 by shellbellereads

We are beyond excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Courtney Cole’s NOCTE! NOCTE is a New Adult dark romantic psychological suspense novel. Hang on tight because this book will blow you away…

Barnes & Noble Kobo Amazon iBooks**

EXCERPT:

Glancing up, I suck my breath in when I find dark eyes connected to mine, eyes so dark they’re almost black, and the energy in them is enough to freeze me in place.

A boy is attached to the dark gaze.

A man.

He’s probably no more than twenty or twenty-one, but everything about him screams man. There’s no boy in him. That part of him is very clearly gone. I see it in his eyes, in the way he holds himself, in the perceptive way he takes in his surroundings, then stares at me with singular focus, like we’re somehow connected by a tether. He’s got a million contradictions in his eyes….aloofness, warmth, mystery, charm, and something else I can’t define.

He’s muscular, tall, and wearing a tattered black sweatshirt that says Irony is lost on you in orange letters. His dark jeans are belted with black leather, and a silver band encircles his middle finger.

Dark hair tumbles into his face and a hand with long fingers impatiently brushes it back, all the while his eyes are still connected with mine. His jaw is strong and masculine, with the barest hint of stubble.

His gaze is still connected to mine, like a livewire, or a lightning bolt. I can feel the charge of it racing along my skin, like a million tiny fingers, flushing my cheeks. My lungs flutter and I swallow hard.

And then, he smiles at me.

At me.

Because I don’t know him and he doesn’t know better.

Book Trailer:

NOCTE Synopsis:

SAVE ME AND I’LL SAVE YOU….

My name is Calla Price. I’m eighteen years old, and I’m one half of a whole.
My other half– my twin brother, my Finn– is crazy.

I love him. More than life, more than anything. And even though I’m terrified he’ll suck me down with him, no one can save him but me.

I’m doing all I can to stay afloat in a sea of insanity, but I’m drowning more and more each day. So I reach out for a lifeline.

Dare DuBray.

He’s my savior and my anti-Christ. His arms are where I feel safe, where I’m afraid, where I belong, where I’m lost. He will heal me, break me, love me and hate me.
He has the power to destroy me.

Maybe that’s ok. Because I can’t seem to save Finn and love Dare without everyone getting hurt.

Why? Because of a secret.

A secret I’m so busy trying to figure out, that I never see it coming.

You won’t either.

Michel’s Review

I was provided an ARC copy of Nocte for a fair and honest review.

This review is completely spoiler free.

Nocte is not a stand alone novel. It is book one in the Nocte Trilogy.

Nocte is a book that each reader needs to experience for themselves.

Courtney Cole stepped out of her comfort zone and dug deep within her soul to write Nocte. It is unlike any of her previous books. Nocte kidnaps the reader’s mind and holds it hostage until the very last word is read. The after effects leave the reader speechless, mind boggled, and stunned. After reading Nocte the reader is left with many residual emotions that cannot be put in any kind of order that makes sense. Every emotion and thought is valid and has a purpose in the overall story.

Courtney Cole brilliantly plotted this book. Each passage evokes an emotional response that draws the reader further into these characters lives. Each word is meticulously chosen to make an impact. From the gothic settings, to the mysterious characters, to the altering events, Nocte leaves the reader shrouded in mystery. The characters are complex individuals. Each one harbors their own secrets and sense of darkness. Nocte is unpredictable to the very end. The conclusion is a shocking, and I mean ! The revelation leaves the reader stunned. The ending also leaves the readers with so many unanswered questions. The cliffhanger is just as shocking as the ultimate revelation.

Nocte is one of those books that will leave the reader with a major reading hangover.

I highly recommend reading Nocte. It is unlike any novel I have ever read.

ABOUT COURTNEY COLE:

Courtney Cole is a novelist who would eat mythology for breakfast if she could. She has a degree in Business, but has since discovered that corporate America is not nearly as fun to live in as fictional worlds. She loves chocolate and roller coasters and hates waiting and rude people.

Courtney lives in quiet suburbia, close to Lake Michigan, with her real-life Prince Charming, her ornery kids (there is a small chance that they get their orneriness from their mother) and a small domestic zoo.

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Blog Tour + Review + Excerpt + Giveaway: Here With Me by Heidi McLaughlin- The Archer Brothers Series- Book 1

Posted on 10/24/2014 by shellbellereads

Here With Me

The Archer Brothers- Book 1

By Heidin McLaughlin

Synopsis

Ryley Clarke has grown up with the military in her blood, with both parents serving their country. Ryley knows the risks of being married to the military. But when the unthinkable happens, and her future husband is killed in action, Ryley can barely survive… until Evan’s twin brother, Nate, helps her pick up the pieces.

After serving on a special mission with the military for six years, Evan Archer returns home to find the unthinkable – the love of his life, Ryley Clarke – engaged to his brother, Nate. With Nate on deployment, Evan needs to figure out what happened in his absence, and more importantly, how to win Ryley back from the man he once considered his best friend, but now thinks of as his rival.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Excerpt

“Evan, sometimes love has an odd way of working around pain.”

I lean forward and look her square in the eye. “What about my pain? What about my agony? Who’s going to nurse my heartbreak? How come these weren’t thoughts going through either of their heads when they started betraying me like this? How come he wasn’t scouring the ends of the earth looking for me? Someone knew we were alive out there and no one came.”

She picks up her pen and scribbles on her notepad. I don’t even care what she’s writing. I just want to be done so I can go drown my sorrows at Magoo’s. At least my favorite bartender is still working, Slick Rick. Thank God some things never change.

“Do you feel like Ryley betrayed you?”

“Yes.” My words sting, but they’re the truth.

Michel’s Review

Here With Me by Heidi McLaughlin is the first book in her new series. This series is called The Archer Brothers. Being a huge Heidi McLaughlin fan, I had to one click this book the moment it went live. I devoured the book and am experiencing the ultimate reading hangover.

Wow! Here With Me by Heidi McLaughlin is her best book yet. The writing was superb! Heidi reached deep within the realm of emotions and executed them flawlessly throughout the book. The reader instantly becomes invested in the characters and feels every emotion they are experiencing. The characters are larger than life and jump off the pages. The secondary characters are an all-star supporting cast that completely makes this story surreal. The plot has been intricately woven into a book that reaches far beyond a second chance romance. Heidi adds suspense, drama, and an impossible love triangle. She adds the important elements that make these characters lives become even more real. Their families, their friends, and their support networks validate their lives. What holds all these characters together and makes them work harder to accept the unacceptable is a young boy. The five year old son that loves unconditionally. The book is written from duel POV ‘s. It flashes from past to present. The reader gets a strong sense of what brought this young couple together. They share their young love, their passion for one another, and their growth as a couple. We see them grow from teenagers to mature adults. We see their strengths and weaknesses. The one thing the reader can count on is their love for another. It is unquestionable. Their love is not the problem, it is their lives in the present, and their futures. There are difficult choices to make. Not only will these choices determine the future, they will destroy the fragile lives they have built. There is no winner. Each person will walk away hurt in some way.

Evan Archer was a Navy Seal. His last assignment should have been easy. An in and out. That mission stretched into six long years. When his team is finally able to come home they are in for a complete surprise. There are no welcoming committees, no military personal, and no transports home. Why? Because they are dead! They have been dead and buried for over five years. The lives they once had are gone. Their loved ones have moved on in life. Imagine the shock.

The only thing Evan wants is to return home to the love of his life and meet his son face to face. Riley Clarke has held his heart since he was a teenager. Imagine his shock when he finally meets up with Riley and she is not happy to see him. Imagine finding out that she is now engaged to another man. Imagine finding out that man is your twin brother. Imagine your son calling that man daddy.

Riley Clarke lost the love of her life when Evan was killed in action. She has spent the last six years moving on from that devastating loss. She had to give birth to her son alone. She has watched him grow alone. The only thing that held her together was the support of her family and Evan’s twin brother Nate. The two of them have mourned together, supported each other, and built a strong friendship that led to a loving relationship. When the man that owned her heart rises up from the grave she is once again devastated. She is angry with the world. She feels powerless and out of control. How can she choose between the man that owned her heart and the man that brought her heart back to life. Any choice she makes will destroy one of these men. Any choice she makes is going to forever break their brotherly bonds. It is going to destroy them all.

On top of all the emotional turmoil are the underlying facts about the mission. Clearly something went wrong. As the story unfolds it will raise many more questions.

I loved all the characters in this book. I am definitely rooting for Evan. I loved how he not only loved Riley as a teenager and grown woman, but how he respected her feelings and emotions at all times. He is truly a very good man. The readers did not get know much about Nate in the present times. We got to know him through memories and passages of the present. I think we will get to know his character in the next book. I think he is going to be more complex than we are anticipating.

This book ended on an emotional cliffhanger. It left the readers with so many questions. It also left the readers wanting to know Nate’s POV. I cannot wait for the next book, Choose Me by Heidi McLaughlin. I need it now!

AUTHOR INFORMATION

BIO:

Heidi is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell and two Parakeets.

During the day Heidi is behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, she’s writing one of the many stories planned for release or sitting court-side during either daughter’s basketball games.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

GIVEAWAY:
Win a $25 Gift Card and a signed paperback of HERE WITH ME. US Only.

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Review: 6 STAR Reviews for Insidious by Aleatha Romig- Tales From The Dark Side Series- Book 1

Posted on 10/24/2014 by shellbellereads

Insidious

Tales From The Darkside

Release Date : October 21, 2014

By Aleatha Romig

Synopsis

Dark desires…Deadly secrets…Devious deceptions…Nothing is exactly as it seems in INSIDIOUS, the new erotic thriller from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author ALEATHA ROMIG!

When a powerful man is willing to risk everything for his own satisfaction, only one woman can beat him at his own game: his wife. Or so she thinks…

“Let’s start with you calling me Stewart. Formalities seem unnecessary.”

Stewart Harrington is rich, gorgeous, and one of the most powerful men in Miami. He always gets what he wants. Anything is available to him for the right price.

Even me.

Being the wife of a mogul comes with all the perks, but being Mrs. Stewart Harrington comes with a few special requirements. I’ve learned to keep a part of myself locked away as my husband watches me submit to his needs. But the more he demands of me, the more beguiled he becomes and that’s to my advantage. So I keep fulfilling his fantasies and following his rules because he doesn’t know that what he’s playing is really my game. And winning is everything, right?

INSIDIOUS is a stand-alone novel and the first Tales from the Dark Side title by ALEATHA ROMIG.

**Due to the dark and explicit nature of this book, it is recommended for mature audiences only. **

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Robin’s Review

Aleatha Romig has a new series. It’s called Tales from the Dark Side. Romig explains we should expect each tale to be a dark erotic thriller – each with its own unique story, world and characters. If you have read her Consequences series, you are acquainted with Romig’s style of writing. Layers, layers and more layers. Mystery. Clues. Plotline twists. I’ve come to expect nothing less than a mind-blowing reading experience with each novel written by Aleatha Romig. And I have really been anticipating a fresh, new story from this author!

The debut novel of the Tales from the Dark Side series is titled Insidious. I admit that I was intrigued with the synopsis. One of the most powerful men in Miami, Stewart Harrington, is married to his nemesis, and he doesn’t even know it. Stewart is wealthy, demanding and has peculiar requirements which he expects Victoria to satisfy. She plays her role well, submits to his needs, all the while biding her time as he plays into her game. After reading Insidious, I know without a doubt in my mind that the plot should not be spoiled. Insidious is just one of those novels that needs to be experienced!

Here is what I can share. There is so much more to this story than you can possibly imagine! The plot of Insidious unfolds in layers. The writing keeps you guessing, questioning and wanting more information. The writing is also clever and witty, even humorous at times! The entire novel is written in true Aleatha Romig fashion. Early ratings are extremely high. It’s really no wonder because Insidious is just a creative and brilliant story! If you can handle reading stories that are dark and edgy, put Insidious down on your list of novels to read. I am giving Insidious one of Smut Book Junkie Book Reviews rare 6-star ratings!

Michel’s Review

Insidious by Aleatha Romig is the first book in the new Tales From The Dark Side series. Each book in this series is a stand alone novel with completely different characters, complex plots, and intricate elements that will take the reader on complex psychological journey. These books are fully intended to engage the readers completely. With each passage weaving a tale that changes the readers reactions as the novels progress. In the end the reader will be left contemplating the entire book, the characters motivations, actions, and results of those actions. These books will engage the reader’s imagination and will bring out the ‘Dark’ side of their psyche to create their own ending.
For a writer to pull off this kind of novel is quite difficult. It requires creating characters that the reader can fully embrace and feel some kind of connection to. It requires creating a world that the characters can fit into with ease in throughout every passage. The continuous plot twists and turns have to be delivered in the right moment that will keep the readers from becoming confused. The twists have to be shocking enough for the reader to react without getting frustrated with the book altogether. The writer has to add an entertaining quality to the story to keep the readers engaged. There has to be the right amount of angst, humor, astonishment, and credibility to create the perfect balance. Finally the writer must give the characters very real personalities and portray their emotions so that the reader is experiencing the same emotions. It takes a very talented author to write this kind of novel. That author is Aleatha Romig. Her writing is brilliant. She delivers a story that leaves the reader astonished and dumbfounded. Her writing is pure PERFECTION!
I cannot say too much about the plot for Insidious. It is a book that the reader must experience personally. I will say that the plot twist and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. There were no moments of predictability. All of the characters throughout this book were both good and bad. Aleatha showed both sides of their persona. There was no hero or heroine to save the day. It is up to the characters to resolve the story in whatever manner possible. The possibilities were endless.
Insidious is going to create crazy reader reactions. I foresee many reader discussion groups, social media threads, and author stalking. Readers are going to be deliberating the ending for quite some time. The thing is , no matter how much deliberating is done, in the end it is up the individual reader to create their own ending.
Aleatha Romig….you are a twisted genius! Thank you for writing a book that completely screwed with my mind in a very good way.
Read Insidious! It will not disappoint!

About Aleatha Romig

Aleatha Romig is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Together with her high-school sweetheart and husband of twenty-eight years, they’ve raised three children. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she’s not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time with her family and friends. Her pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams!

INSIDIOUS is Aleatha’s seventh novel. It is her first time to delve into the world of erotic thrillers. The Consequences Series, her first series has been categorized as psychological thriller and dark romance. With INSIDIOUS, Aleatha took the twists and turns of CONSEQUENCES and turned up the heat.

CONSEQUENCES, her first novel, was released August 2011, by Xlibris Publishing. Then in October of 2012, Ms. Romig re-released CONSEQUENCES as an indie author. TRUTH, the sequel, was released October 30, 2012, and CONVICTED, the third in the series, was released October 8, 2013. Unexpectedly, the fourth book of the Consequences series came to life with REVEALED: THE MISSING YEARS. It is the fourth full-length novel in the series. It explores the years in CONVICTED that previously were only mentioned, as well as a complete character glossary and timeline. REVEALED was released May 20, 2014.

INSIDIOUS, the first released book from TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE was released in October of 2014. TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE will be a series of standalone, dark, erotic thrillers guaranteed to take you on a wild, hot, and dark ride. Each novel in the series will be independent of the next. The characters from one book will never be revisited. Instead, Aleatha leaves it up to her readers to imagine how each story ends while remembering it is the journey that is the most fun.

Aleatha is a “Published Author’s Network” member of the Romance Writers of America and represented by Danielle Egan-Miller of Brown and Miller Literary Associates.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Cover Reveal: Pull by Claire Wallis- Sequel to Push-Push 6 Star Review + 2014 Favorite

Posted on 10/09/2014 by shellbellereads

Pull

Sequel to Push

Release Date: November 6, 2014

By Claire Wallis

Synopsis

***PULL is the continuation of Claire Wallis’ sharp and shocking debut novel, PUSH. It is the second book in the series and is not intended to be a standalone.***

“It is impossible for someone like me—someone with a sin-list capable of wrapping itself around the world—to find redemption. To be repaired.”

David Calgaro has secrets, and the only woman he’s ever loved is about to pay the ultimate price to protect them. He’s spent a lifetime searching for purpose and control. And the only place he’s managed to find them is in a single, perfect moment; a moment in which he has absolute control over someone else’s life.

David is unredeemable, unfixable, unsalvageable. But Emma Searfoss has forced a tiny sliver of hope to penetrate his soul. Hope that, even though redemption is impossible, maybe life isn’t. Maybe he isn’t who he thought he was. Maybe he’s meant to be more.

This is a new adult novel with mature content for readers 17 and up.

Push

Book 1

By Claire Wallis

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Synopsis

I feel like I am wrapped in a cyclone. Everything is whirling around me, drawing the air out of my lungs and filling me with the best kind of turmoil. Every time his tongue slides against mine, a prickle in my gut tells me how right we are together. How much I need David. How much I need us.

I hope the cyclone never stops.

Emma Searfoss has spent a lifetime trying to escape her abusive stepfather. It’s why she moved far away from home. It’s why she’s kept no ties with her remaining family. And it’s why she’s got a major rage problem. When her neighbor shows up to fix the kitchen in her new apartment, his enigmatic charm calms the fire in her. David is cool and collected, and he makes Emma feel safe for the first time ever. But David has his own chilling past—his six previous girlfriends have all disappeared without a trace. Emma’s walking a dangerous line, but David’s pull is intoxicating. And impossible to resist…

Michel’s Review

*** I wrote this review in May 2014 when Push was first released. After 5 months and several books reviewed, I have not been able to forget this book. I am still blown away by the intensity and the emotional impact this book had on me. I have recommended this book to several of my seasoned reader friends and they have had the same kind of reactions. Claire Wallis delivered a unique story with a very untraditional writing style. There were two prologues and two epilogues are written from each character’s POV. The content of the book is mostly written in third person but has chapters throughout the book written in first person POV from supporting characters. It is choreographed in a very deliberate manner that stuns the readers. The writing is absolutely brilliant! ***

Push by Claire Wallis is getting a lot of attention in the reader world. There are discussion groups dedicated to this book. All the major review sites and bloggers are blowing up over this book. It has every reader reacting! How could I not read this book? I had to know what was causing this kind of hysteria.

Now that I have finished this book, I completely understand all the reactions and sensation this book is generating.

Everything about Push is completely original. The plot is intricately woven. The reader gets a look at both the characters pasts as well as their present. The book is mostly written from Emma’s point of view. We get to know David through their conversations, Emma’s point of view, past girlfriends’ point of views, the prologue and epilogue. The author brilliantly takes the reader into the complicated worlds these characters evolved from. She develops a story that will keep the reader consumed to the very last word. When all is said and done, all the reader can think is WTF! I had to peel my jaw off the ground. I felt like I needed a shot of whiskey to calm me down. I felt like I needed a whole bottle of antacid to get my stomach out of knots. I needed the next book….. like YESTERDAY!

Push is exhilarating, chilling, horrific, distressing, anguishing, tormenting and heartbreaking. At the same time, the reader experiences an unusual but beautiful relationship. A relationship that goes beyond the kind of love most relationships are based on. Everything about this couple worked. They were exactly what each other needed. But sometimes having that perfection is not enough. This is the case with David and Emma.

When I started this book I was immediately drawn in. There are two prologues, one from Emma’s point of view and the other from David’s point of view. The prologues made it very clear what was going to happen at the end of the book. I was flabbergasted! I had to know more. I had to find out how they came to this point. I was hoping that the ending would turn out differently.

Emma was a very impressive heroine. She had a horrible childhood. She was mentally and verbally abused by her stepfather. Her stepfather ruined her family. But despite her ugly past, she didn’t let it drag her down. She is feisty, independent, self sufficient, aggressive, tough, and hard. She doesn’t believe in love. She doesn’t trust easily. She never gives anyone a piece of her heart. She’s okay with who she is. When she meets David, pieces of herself that she locked away begin to surface. He accepts her for who she is. He wants to protect her and take care of her. He is tender, caring, and supportive. He is everything she never knew she needed. He is perfect for her even though he has a slew of hidden secrets. She is okay with that. She accepts him for who he is because like her he has been to hell and back.

David is one of the most complicated characters I have ever experienced. On one hand I absolutely loved him. He is compassionate, giving, tender, and loving in his own unique way. He has a mesmerizing personality that is hard not to love. On the other hand, deep down he is a monster. He is your worst nightmare. Your heart breaks when you find out how he evolved into this horrific person. You are hoping that his relationship with Emma will somehow change him. Some people are not fixable.

Somehow these two messed up souls are beautiful together. They give each other what they need. They bring out the very best and the very worst in each other. They embrace it all. They are chaotic perfection together.

When you reach the end, there are two epilogues. One epilogue is from Emma’s point of view and the other is from David’s point of view. The ending will leave you with your heart in your feet, stomach in knots, and ugly tears running down your face. It ends on a major CLIFFHANGER!

Push by Claire Wallis blew my mind! I cannot wait for the sequel. I hope the publisher does not leave us readers hanging for long. I don’t think I can get this book out of my head.

Push by Claire Wallis is clearly the book that is going to soar to the top of 2014 Book of the Year list.

Note: This review is based on my reactions and emotions. The writing was flawless. The plot was brilliant. The overall story to this point is heart wrenching.

Robin’s Review

It has been three weeks since I finished reading Push by Claire Wallis, and I still think about this novel. Or should I say obsess? This is the exception. Generally, my head shifts focus with each novel that I begin reading. Reviewing novels is hard. Sometimes it takes all of the fun out of reading when you have to focus on what you want to say when you write the review. When I read Push, I knew our blog had already covered this story. So, I read it for sheer enjoyment. And I can’t forget it. I can’t escape this story. Have you read the synopsis? Push is dark romance at its finest. Go read this thriller now because the sequel Pull is being published soon! 6 stars to Claire Wallis for her debut novel!

Author Bio:

Enamored with the process of creating messy characters filled with imperfections and wicked inclinations, Claire believes that you don’t actually have to like a character to fall in love with them – a good story, after all, is best served with a hearty side of evil (just ask Disney). Claire’s first New Adult novel, Push, was released by MIRA Books on May 1st 2014. The story speaks to her appreciation of enigmatic male characters, perfectly capable of charming themselves straight into your unwilling heart. She enjoys writing about characters that are, at any given moment, both loathed and loved. You know, the ones that refuse to be forgotten.

Claire Wallis has penned hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles over the last ten years, with science playing the lead role in almost all of them. Though non-fiction writing will forever be her first love, fiction has unexpectedly swooped in, hooked her by the soul, and become her true love. As a result of this coup d’état, Claire’s writing career has made a complete U-turn, and instead of rocks, plants, insects, and microbes, she is now putting human characters in the lead.

Claire’s previous jobs include working at a limestone quarry, hawking vegetables at a farmer’s market, clerking at the dollar store, and convincing new mothers that they need to renew their subscription to that parenting magazine in order for their child to survive. She lives in Pennsylvania with her amazingly awesome husband and son.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Day Blitz + 6 Star Reviews: Becoming Calder and Finding Eden by Mia Sheridan- Sign of Love Series- Inspired by Aquarius- Book 1 and Book 2

Posted on 10/05/2014 by shellbellereads

Becoming Calder

Book 1

Sign Of Love Series- Inspired by Aquarius

By Mia Sheridan

Synopsis

There is a place in modern day America with no electricity, no plumbing, and no modern conveniences. In this place, there is no room for dreams, no space for self-expression, and no tolerance for ambition.

In this place, there is a boy with the body of a god and the heart of a warrior. He is strong and faithful and serves his family honorably. But he dares to dream of more.

In this place, there is a girl with the face of an angel and a heart full of courage. To her family, she is the vision of obedient perfection. But she dares to want that which she has been told can never be hers.

Becoming Calder is the story of good versus evil, fear versus bravery, and the truth that the light of love has always found its way into even the darkest of places . . . From the beginning of time, to the end of the world.

THIS IS THE FIRST PART IN A TWO-PART SIGN OF LOVE SERIES INSPIRED BY AQUARIUS. THE SECOND PART, FINDING EDEN, RELEASES SIMULTANEOUSLY. New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and graphic sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Buy: Amazon

Finding Eden

Book 2

Sign of Love Series- Inspired by Aquarius

By Mia Sheridan

Synopsis

Finding Eden is the continuation, and conclusion, to Becoming Calder.

When the world as you know it has ended, when all that you love has been washed away, where do you find strength?

When the new world you’ve stepped into is as isolating as the last, when your heart is broken, and your future is unclear, where do you find hope?

Finding Eden is a story of strength, discovery, forgiveness, and undying love. It is about believing in your destiny and following the path that leads to peace.

THIS IS THE SECOND PART, AND CONCLUSION, IN A TWO-PART SIGN OF LOVE SERIES INSPIRED BY AQUARIUS (BECOMING CALDER SHOULD BE READ FIRST). New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and graphic sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Buy: Amazon

Tracey’s Review

When I was given the chance to read BECOMING CALDER and FINDING EDEN by Mia Sheridan, I was excited. I mean, first off, it’s Mia Sheridan, and, secondly, the synopses for these books drew me in from the very beginning. I was intrigued, and couldn’t wait to find out more about Calder Raynes and Eden Everson, and Acadia, the community that they lived in. And, so, lucky enough to have these books in my hands, I began. And once I did, I just could not put them down. I could not stop for anything. Because I was captivated, completely won over, in every way possible.

Calder Raynes has lived at Acadia his entire life, surrounded by family and friends. From the moment of Eden’s arrival, the two are drawn to each other, and over the years, their relationship changes from friendship to desire to love, even as Eden’s eighteenth birthday, her appointed wedding day to Hector, grows ever closer.

Eden Everson was brought as a child to Acadia, a community set apart from society in anticipation of the end of the world. Remembering only snippets of her earlier life, she has been groomed since her arrival to be the bride of Hector, Acadia’s dynamic leader, and to help lead their people to Elysium, the promised land. But Hector never figured on Eden finding a real and forbidden love within Acadia.

Eden’s and Calder’s love story unfolds beautifully in BECOMING CALDER, but as in all epic love stories, tragedy accompanies joy, and events transpire that force Eden and Calder apart. As FINDING EDEN begins, we know that Eden has survived the events of the first book, but are left, along with Eden, to mourn the loss of her love and accompany her as she learns to live in society, to make a place for herself in the world outside Acadia.

“It was true what I’d once said about the stars—some things are seen more clearly in light…and some things are seen more clearly in darkness. Because somewhere in the dark of the night, Calder pulled me close to him and we agreed in ways both spoken and unspoken that the world was ugly and broken and love was ridiculously dangerous and absurdly unsafe…and that we would love anyway. We would keep our fierce and tender hearts open. It felt foolish and ridiculous and right. It felt like the bravest thing in the whole world.”

BECOMING CALDER and FINDING EDEN are two of the best books that I have had the pleasure of reading. It is impossible not to fall in love with these characters, to rejoice in their love, and mourn their losses. I was so emotionally invested in Eden and Calder and their stories that I couldn’t stop thinking of them long after I’d finished the books. Although I wanted to enjoy these books at a leisurely pace, and just soak up the story, I could not help but speed through them, because I just could not wait to see what happened next.

If we’re lucky, we come across a handful of books that really resonate for us. They are beautifully crafted, ripe with wonderful plot, dialogue, and characters that, during the course of the story, prove themselves to be so much more. I can honestly say that BECOMING CALDER and FINDING EDEN are all of this and more for me. Mia Sheridan, by the blessing that is her creativity, birthed Calder, this beautiful, strong, loving man, and Eden, Calder’s Morning Glory, a girl that refused to give up in the face of enormous obstacles, and allowed us to be part of it. I savored these books, soaked in every part of them, wanting to reach the culmination, but yet not wanting it to end. And then I had to sit with the story for a few days, to revisit and replay every bit of it: Calder, Xander, Eden, and the entire experience that was Acadia, and what came after. Only then could I sit down and share my thoughts, that BECOMING CALDER and FINDING EDEN are absolutely two of my favorite books, not just of this year, but ever. And to let everyone know that 6+ stars doesn’t seem like enough for these books, this beautiful and touching story, with characters that evoked emotion upon emotion. Thank you, Mia, for sharing this truly beautiful story of overcoming life’s obstacles and belief in the power of love with us, and for bringing such a beautiful love story to life.

Individual Goodread Review links:

Becoming Calder-

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/920258280?book_show_action=false

Finding Eden

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1034919949?book_show_action=false

Author Bio

Mia Sheridan is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. Her passion is weaving true love stories about people destined to be together. Mia lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband. They have four children here on earth and one in heaven.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Day Blitz + Review : Stepbrother Dearest by Penelope Ward

Posted on 09/29/2014 by shellbellereads

Stepbrother Dearest

By Penelope Ward

Synopsis

You’re not supposed to want the one who torments you.

When my stepbrother, Elec, came to live with us my senior year, I wasn’t prepared for how much of a jerk he’d be.

I hated that he took it out on me because he didn’t want to be here.

I hated that he brought girls from our high school back to his room.

But what I hated the most was the unwanted way my body reacted to him.

At first, I thought all he had going for him were his rock-hard tattooed abs and chiseled face. Then, things started changing between us, and it all came to a head one night.

Just as quickly as he’d come into my life, he was gone back to California.

It had been years since I’d seen Elec.

When tragedy struck our family, I’d have to face him again.

And holy hell, the teenager who made me crazy was now a man that drove me insane.

I had a feeling my heart was about to get broken again.

Stepbrother Dearest is a standalone novel.

**Contains graphic sexual content and harsh language. It is only appropriate for adult readers age 18+

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Stepbrother Dearest by Penelope Ward will be on sale for $2.99 Release Day Only

Michel’s Review

Wow! Stepbrother Dearest is one of those books that held me prisoner from the very first word to the end. I was captivated by the story and felt like I knew Greta and Elec personally. Their story seemed very real and touched my heart.

We meet Greta and Elec when they are both teenagers. Greta’s mother married Elec’s father. Do to circumstances in Elec’s home life, he is forced to go stay with his father. He’s an angry young man with a chip that is larger than a boulder on his shoulder. He’s prepared to be hostile and belligerent. He’s prepared to share his misery with every member in the family, including his stepsister Greta. On the surface we see a very angry young man, but under the nasty exterior, there is a boy that is hurting very deeply.

Greta is a happy, go lucky, naïve teenage girl. She’s excited to finally have a sibling to share her life with. What she gets instead of a brother is a bully. A brother that fully intends on making her life miserable. She has a hard time understanding Elec’s monstrous behavior. That is until she looks beneath the surface. Once she begins to see the real Elec, her opinion changes drastically. Once he knows he can trust Greta, Elec begins to show her the real Elec that hides beneath the sneers and smart mouthed punk.

Greta and Elec become close. They realize they have feelings that go beyond brotherly sisterly love. One forbidden night will change their lives forever. One forbidden night will never be forgotten. One forbidden night is the end of their time together.

As the years go by, neither Greta or Elec has forgotten that forbidden love. Life has taken them in different directions. Both have moved on in their lives. They are pursuing careers and building lives of their own. All seems well until there is a family tragedy that brings them together once again. Now they are adults that can make their own destinies. They will have to chose between the new lives they have built for themselves or chose to pursue their forbidden love.

I can’t say too much more about this book without giving spoilers. I will say Penelope Ward wrote a powerful story of love and redemption. The story was written from duo POV’s and was easy to get inside the characters minds. She portrayed the characters maturity and emotional levels with perfection. The teenage Elec and Greta were exactly as teenagers should be. The adult Elec and Greta had matured gracefully and became strong individuals with a great sense of self. They had become the children most parents want their kids to become in their adult lives. How they handled their reunion was with the utmost care and consideration for those in their lives. The love they shared was a powerful once in a lifetime love that time could not take away.

Penelope Ward is a talented writer. She creates characters that are very real and memorable. Their stories are emotional with a strong dose of reality. Stepbrother Dearest deserves a 6 Star Review!

I highly recommend this book.

Tracey’s Review

Greta is seventeen when her stepbrother, Elec, comes to live with her family for the year.Not quite sure what to expect, Greta is hopeful that Elec will be the brother she never had.

‘I had a stepbrother.

That was a weird thought. I hoped we would get along. As an only child, I had always wanted a sibling. I laughed at how stupid this was, fantasizing that this was going to be some kind of fairytale relationship overnight, like friggin’ Donny and Marie Osmond or Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal.’

But paradise it isn’t. Elec’s arrival is less than friendly, and he is very clear about not wanting to have any kind of relationship with Greta or her parents.

‘He wouldn’t look at me, so I used the opportunity to continue examining him as he dumped his bag on the floor.

Thud.

Was that my heart or the bag?’

With his dark good looks and bad boy demeanor, Elec inspires thoughts that are anything but sisterly in Greta. Sibling rivalry just got a lot sexier.

I was absolutely hooked from the first page of Stepbrother Dearest. There was no way that I was going to be able to put this book down without finding out exactly what was going to transpire between Greta and Elec. There was some serious sexual tension going on; the smolder between these two had me fanning myself, and waiting for the moment when the spark became full-on combustion. But this is not just a hot and sexy read. There is so much more to Elec than is apparent at first glance. His painful past has shaped him completely, and there are secrets that he refuses to share, even as he and Greta grow closer. When events arise that cause Elec and Greta to go their separate ways, Greta knows that she will never be the same. And, when the find themselves together again, it’s clear that she is not alone in her feelings.

I am personally a fan of stories where we, as readers, get to see the perspective of each of the main characters, so I was not disappointed that there was dual POV in Stepbrother Dearest. Reading about how Elec felt, in his own words, allowed us to see the issues that had driven him from the first time he met Greta, and gave him much more depth. And, even seven years later, the chemistry between Greta and Elec was off the charts hot, and seeing how both of them felt made it a much more satisfying read for me.

Penelope Ward has done another fantastic job with Stepbrother Dearest. I absolutely cannot recommend this book enough, and give it 5.5 deeply satisfying stars.

Author Bio:

Penelope Ward is a USA Today Bestselling author.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers. She spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor, before switching to a more family-friendly career.

Penelope lives for reading books in the new adult genre, coffee and hanging out with her friends and family on weekends.

She is the proud mother of a beautiful 10-year-old girl with autism (the inspiration for the character Callie in Gemini) and a 8-year-old boy, both of whom are the lights of her life.

Penelope, her husband and kids reside in Rhode Island.

She is currently working on her fifth novel, Jake Understood. She is the author of Gemini, Jake Undone, My Skylar and Stepbrother Dearest.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Be sure to connect with Penelope Ward on Facebook During Stepbrother Dearest release week for prizes and more….

Release Day Blitz + Review: Torture To Her Soul by J.M. Darhower-Monster In His Eyes- Book 2

Posted on 09/29/2014 by shellbellereads

Torture Her Soul

Monster In His Eyes- Book 2

By J. M. Darhower

Synopsis

Don’t say it unless you mean it…

It’s a simple concept, one I’ve said time and again, but something people don’t seem to comprehend. You should choose every syllable carefully, because you never know when somebody will hold you to your word.

Somebody like me.

I’m not a good man. I’m not. I know. I have enough darkness inside of me to rid the world of every stitch of light. But there’s one I could never harm, one light I couldn’t bring myself to snuff out.

Karissa.

She thinks I’m a monster, and maybe I am. I taunt her with my touch, get a thrill out of torturing her soul. But I’m not the only one. The world is full of monsters, and I’m not the most dangerous one out there.

Not even close…

God help me, I love her.

I do.

And God help anyone who tries to take her from me.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Robin’s Review

Sometimes a story is so noteworthy, so very exceptional, that I can hardly wait to begin writing my review! I am excited to share my thoughts about the novel Torture to Her Soul, but my enthusiasm actually extends to the entire series written by author J.M. Darhower. Monster in His Eyes is a two-part series that includes Monster in His Eyes and Torture to Her Soul. If you love romantic suspense, action, drama, and dark characters, take note of this series.

Ignazio Vitale is not a good man. He admits that. Karissa Reed knows this. Even knowing this, Karissa fell right into his web. Monster in His Eyes is told from Karissa’s point of view, so we really don’t know how deep his scars run. Nor do we know what Naz is ruminating on while he lays awake at night, or what he is doing when he gets out of bed and leaves the house at 2:00 in the morning. What are his motivations? We learn all of this in Torture to Her Soul.

Powerful. Intense. Thought provoking. Dramatic. Torture to Her Soul is all of these things, but so much more. Darhower seems very familiar with the ways of criminal organizations such as the mafia and mob and uses this knowledge to her advantage. The drama is extremely realistic. The writing is crisp, creative and completely in character. This description of danger is only a small sample of the writing that left me astounded while I was reading:

“The biggest dangers have smiles on their faces and sweet words on their lips. They don’t threaten or coerce…..they entice. They have the power to make you believe whatever they want you to believe, and they do it with manipulation, through seduction.”

In my opinion, the most profound writing in Torture to Her Soul is found at the beginning of chapter 10, while Ignazio is lying in bed, reflecting on death. The introspection here was extremely dark. Darhower was so in character while writing this scene, she had me convinced I was in the head of a man who kills. Just imagining the thought process behind writing this passage has me floored. It was truly amazing writing, so be sure to watch for it if you decide to read this novel.

Character development is a strength for Darhower. I was most impressed by the character development found with Naz and Karissa, especially in the progression of their relationship and feelings towards each other. Just in this novel alone, Karissa underwent a huge transformation from beginning to the end. And the character development between Naz and many of the secondary characters was instrumental in how the events of this story played out. The schemes Darhower came up with were perfect for the mob, perfect for a killer.

As usual with novels written by J.M. Darhower, the building of suspense leading up to the conclusion is super intense! I found myself wondering how things could possibly work out between Karissa and Naz. I feel like there is so much more that I could share about Torture to Her Soul, but much of what can be shared just needs to be experienced. If you haven’t read Monster in His Eyes, I highly recommend it! And when you have finished Monster in His Eyes, be sure to read the exciting conclusion of the series, Torture to Her Soul. One of my favorites for 2014, I am giving Torture to Her Soul a rare 6-star rating!

Monster In His Eyes Series

Monster In His Eyes – Book 1

Ignazio Vitale is not a good man.

I suspect it, the first time I see him, sense the air of danger that surrounds the man. He has a way of commanding attention, of taking control, of knowing what I’m thinking before I even do.

It’s alarming and alluring. It’s dark and deadly. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted but the last thing I truly need. Obsession.

It doesn’t take him long to draw me into his web, charming me into his bed and trapping me in his life, a life I know nothing about until it’s too late. He has secrets, secrets I can’t fathom, secrets that make it so I can’t walk away, no matter how much I beg him to let me go. I see it sometimes in his eyes, a darkness that’s both terrifying and thrilling. He’s a monster, wrapped up in a pretty package, and what I find when I unmask him changes everything.

I want to hate him.

Sometimes, I do.

But it doesn’t stop me from loving him, too.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This book is intended for a mature audience only, due to some dark and erotic content.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Author Bio:

JM Darhower is the author of countless stories and poems, most of which only she has ever read. She lives in a tiny town in rural North Carolina, where she churns out more words than will ever see the light of day. She has a deep passion for politics and speaking out against human trafficking, and when she isn’t writing she’s usually ranting about those things. Chronic crimper with a vulgar mouth, she admits to having a Twitter addiction. You can find her there.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Day Blitz: Understatement Of The Year by Sarina Bowen- The Ivy Years-Book 3

Posted on 09/29/2014 by shellbellereads

The Understatement of the Year

The Ivy Years Series- Book 3

Release Date: September 29, 2014

By Sarina Bowen

Synopsis:

What happened in high school stayed in high school. Until now.

Five years ago, Michael Graham betrayed the only person who ever really knew him. Since then, he’s made an art of hiding his sexual preference from everyone. Including himself.

So it’s a shock when his past strolls right into the Harkness College locker room, sporting a bag of hockey gear and the same slow smile that had always rendered Graham defenseless. For Graham, there is only one possible reaction: total, debilitating panic. With one loose word, the team’s new left wing could destroy Graham’s life as he knows it.

John Rikker is stuck being the new guy. Again. And it’s worse than usual, because the media has latched onto the story of the only “out” player in Division One hockey. As the satellite trucks line the sidewalk outside the rink, his new teammates are not amused.

And one player in particular looks sick every time he enters the room.

Rikker didn’t exactly expect a warm welcome from Graham. But the guy won’t even meet his eyes. From the looks of it, his former… best friend / boyfriend / whatever isn’t doing so well. He drinks too much and can’t focus during practice.

Either the two loneliest guys on the team will self destruct from all the new pressures in their lives, or they can navigate the pain to find a way back to one another. To say that it won’t be easy is the Understatement of the Year.

Warning: unlike the other books in this series, this heartbreaking love story is about two guys. Contains sexual situations, dance music, snarky t-shirts and a poker-playing grandmother.

Buy: Amazon/ Kobo

Michel’s Review

The Ivy Years series by Sarina Bowen has been phenomenal. Each book has addressed some very different and difficult subject matters. They were written with compassion and great care. The characters are larger than life and jump off the pages. The reader’s completely connect with their stories, their emotions, and their lives. The Understatement Of The Year has followed in the same excellent standard that the previous books in the Ivy Years has set.

The Understatement Of The Year approaches the very difficult subject of homosexuality in the world of sports. Not only did it lay out the difficulties of a college athlete being gay, it also showed the difficulties of “coming out of the closet”.

John Rikker was kicked out of his former college and kicked off the hockey team because his homosexuality was exposed. Harkness College, known for being a liberal school, accepted John Rikker in the middle of hockey season. Not only is John a very gifted athlete, he is the first athlete to be outed in college hockey. This has put him on the media’s radar. It has also put in him a position where he has to prove himself as an all-star athlete to his teammates. It’s hard enough being the new guy on the team, add being gay and it makes the welcoming committee very sparse. To add ugly to ugly, Michael Graham is on his new team.

Michael and John have a history. They were best friends in middle school and high school. They also discovered their sexuality together. A very bad incident separated the two of them. John was sent away to live with his grandmother. There he was able to become open about his sexuality. For Michael Graham it was quite a different story. He denied his homosexuality to himself and all those around him. Now he’s threatened that John is going to expose his secret.

This book not only focused on the discrimination of being gay, it also showed a very emotional side side of being a homosexual. The emotions from hiding your secrets, denying yourself love, and fighting the very person you are is gut wrenching. Also the emotions that go along with being the odd man out, having your life on display, and having to go far and beyond to prove your worth as a player, friend, and human being will tear the reader up. Add a secret affair, an emotional romance, and self discovery and you have the perfect book.

The Understatement Of The Year is one of those “must read” books. I absolutely loved this book and can honestly say is my favorite in The Ivy Years series.

Sarina Bowen is a gifted writer. Her writing is not only romantic, it is highly emotional. Each story reflects the glory of the human spirit. She tackles some very difficult and unique subject matter and gives her characters a life that jumps off the pages. Her delivery of an emotional romance is phenomenal.

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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Saucy Southern Readers

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We are beyond excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Courtney Cole’s NOCTE! NOCTE is a New Adult dark romantic psychological suspense novel. Hang on tight because this book will blow you away…

Barnes & Noble ** Kobo ** Amazon ** iBooks

Website |Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter SignUp|Pinterest

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