Release Blitz…2018 Favorite and 6+ Star Review: Tethered Souls by Beth Flynn – A Nine Minutes Spin Off Novel

Posted on 05/22/2018 by shellbellereads

Tethered Souls

A Nine Minutes Spin Off Novel

Mimi and Christain’s Story

By Beth Flynn

***

Now Available:

US Amazon: https://amzn.to/2It8Nso
UK Amazon: https://amzn.to/2K7juhA
CA Amazon: https://amzn.to/2I9Y2Ij…

***

My family has secrets. I’m always the good girl, doing what’s necessary to keep my loved ones safe. I’ve kept the darkest secrets from everyone I know. As painful as it is to hold them all inside where they live and gnaw away at me, that’s where they must stay.

I haven’t seen my closest childhood friend, Christian Bear, since I was a teenager—he hasn’t changed a bit. He’s still temperamental and plays by his own rules with the law following two steps behind him.

Christian remembers me. But he doesn’t know the first thing about me anymore. I should’ve shared my feelings with him the day before I moved away with my family, promising him I’d stay in touch. It broke my heart when he didn’t keep his end of the bargain. As a consequence, we haven’t spoken in years. Even though Christian and I have always had undeniable chemistry, I won’t let him shatter my heart a second time.

Christian has shown up in my life again with secrets of his own, and demanding answers. That doesn’t mean I’m willing to give them. He’ll know my secrets when I’m ready.

Our secrets, the risks we’re taking, and the danger he imposes make it impossible to know what our future holds.

Either our tethered souls will bind back together, or our secrets will separate us forever.

Tethered Souls is the second spin-off novel from The Nine Minutes Trilogy. It can be read as a standalone, but would most likely be more enjoyable if read after Nine Minutes, Out of Time, and A Gift of Time. It contains major spoilers from the trilogy, and although not necessary, the reader might benefit by understanding the background stories of the main characters that are described in the series. There are many twists and turns in all my books that can best be connected if read consecutively.

RECOMMENDED FOR READERS 18 AND OLDER DUE TO STRONG LANGUAGE, SEXUAL SITUATIONS, AND VIOLENCE.

Michel’s Review

Spoiler Free

Tethered Souls by Beth Flynn can be read as a stand alone novel but I highly recommend reading the Nine Minutes Trilogy and Iron Tiara first. These books are an unforgettable reading experience and further validate Tethered Souls. This makes Tethered Souls a richer reading experience.

Beth Flynn is one of those author’s who has the natural gift of storytelling. Her ability to combine very specific details from the past and present from multiple character POV’s without distracting the reader from the actual story taking place is a true gift. Her ability to create different stories or plot driving events within the novel compels the readers to take notice of all the characters within the series and become connected to their lives just as much as they are to the main characters. In essence, Beth Flynn brings them to life and breathes fire into their personalities and souls.

The Nine Minutes Trilogy took the Romance World by storm. Readers became invested in the lives of Grizz, Jenny, Tommy, Anthony Bear, Christy Bear, and all their dedicated friends who impacted their lives. Just like the real world, their lives influenced the future of their children’s lives. These children were innocent by products of their parents sins and redemptions. Their childhood was impacted by the horrific mistakes and illegal activities their parents were involved in. Like most people these parents wanted their own children lives to be better than their childhoods were. They wanted to protect their children from the world and the enemies they made along the way. They wanted their children to have a chance at becoming the people they never had the opportunity to become. They love their children and would give them anything within their possibilities and that is what became a problem. Thinking they were protecting them from their past and enemies only drove them to making their own life altering mistakes. Maybe they should of let destiny take it’s course. Maybe they should of tried harder to hide their past. Now Mimi and Christian are having to dig themselves out of their parents pile of crap and make their own.

Mimi and Christian are back on destiny’s path but the road hasn’t been paved. They have to forge forward, cut away all the thorns and debris blocking their way, and make the right choices when it is possible. It is their destiny… their world to conquer… their mistakes to make… their lives to build… their love to nurture… their family to create… and finally their children to love and protect. It’s the cycle of life… it’s Mimi and Christain’s turn to make their mark on the world.

Yeah… Mimi and Christian lived up to their destiny. Yeah… Beth Flynn once again floored me with her gift of storytelling. She held me captive by choice and I savored every reading moment. I want to thank Beth for sharing her gift, for sharing her heart with the world.

______________________________

Book 1

Nine Minutes

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Book 2

Out Of Time

Buy: Amazon /B & N / ITunes / Kobo

A Gift Of Time

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

The Iron Tiara

By Beth Flynn

Buy: Amazon / B & N / IBooks / Kobo

Amazon UK / Amazon CA / Amazon AU

US Amazon: https://amzn.to/2It8Nso
UK Amazon: https://amzn.to/2K7juhA
CA Amazon: https://amzn.to/2I9Y2Ij…

____________________________________

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 17 years in Sapphire, where they own a construction company. They have been married 31 years and have two daughters 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 five-year breast cancer survivor.

STALK HER: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Release Blitz…2018 Favorite…6 Star Review: Epoch by Jewel E. Ann – The Transcend Duet – Book 2

Posted on 04/10/2018 by shellbellereads

Epoch, the stunning conclusion to the Transcend Duet by Jewel E. Ann, is LIVE!

Some lives end unfinished, and some transcend time.

After a horrific incident, Swayze finds herself trapped between two lives. Patchy memories and fear for her own safety thrust her into a gut-wrenching journey to uncover the truth.

Will she let her dreams slip away to seek retribution and find the missing pieces to a puzzle that existed a lifetime ago?

“I’m not going to watch you self-destruct. I’m not going to watch you fall in love with another man.”

Or will she discover the only truth that matters?

Epoch pushes the boundaries of what we believe and what we know. It redefines fate and proves that the only thing separating the heart and the soul is an infinite timeline.

“I think a part of you will be mine to love in every life.”

Download Epoch Today or Read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon I Amazon Universal

Add to GoodReads

Excerpt

He removes his helmet and his bandana while I slide off the Harley. I could watch him all day. The meticulous way he puts our helmets on the shelf and wipes the bugs off his bike mesmerizes me. Griffin takes care of everything he owns—the new shiny things as well as the old, weathered things like his house and garage.

“I think you’re an old soul, Griffin Calloway.”

He hangs the rag on the hook and shoots me his sexiest grocery-store-guy smile. “Why is that?”

“My parents used to tell people I was wise beyond my years because I knew stuff most kids my age didn’t know. That was just knowledge, random facts, not wisdom. But you … you have an appreciation for things and you take care of them like someone twice your age might do.”

“My parents always took care of things. They still do. It’s just how I was raised.” He shrugs.

“No. Hayley and Sophie are complete disasters. I’ve seen their rooms. Chloe is a little tidier but still not you. I don’t think you were conditioned to be this way, I think it’s nature more than nurture.”

“An old soul, huh? From another time?” He pulls me into his chest and nuzzles my neck while lifting me off my feet.

I hug him with my arms, legs, and entire being. It took twenty-one years, but I finally found where I fit in life, and it’s every inch of my body pressed to his.

“You make me feel safe,” I murmur but it sounds more like a moan warring between physical pleasure and emotional pain. It’s an unsettling feeling that I have such a strong need to feel safe. I don’t understand it.

“You are safe,” he says between kisses beneath my ear.

“You make me feel like I belong.” My breaths race to catch up to my pulse.

“You belong with me.” He walks us to the garage door, shuts off the light, and closes the door behind us.

He’s my mind’s favorite place to go. When I think of him—of us—I don’t feel crazy. And maybe I should feel crazy because we’re both young and inexperienced in life and love. But I don’t want to think about the numbers that make up our ages or the months we’ve been together.

We crash through the front door like the first big gust of wind at the front of a storm.

“You make me feel needed,” I whisper just before his mouth claims mine.

His house is bigger than my apartment, but only by one bedroom. We don’t make it to either bedroom. He deposits me on the sofa and shrugs off his shirt.

“I need you.” He unties his boots and kicks them off while unfastening his pants as I shimmy out of my clothes. “In fact, I am pretty fucking sure you’re all I truly need.”

Twenty-three-year-old guys don’t say that. His soul is not simply old, it’s ancient like that of a great poet … who may have said fuck a few times.

I tug at his partially unfastened jeans.

He grabs my hand. “Close your eyes.”

“Why?” My head cocks to the side.

“Because I know you don’t want to see the tattoo on my ass.”

“Shut. Up.” I bat his hand away and tug down his jeans with both hands. A few moments of silence settle between us as I stare at his form before me. “I still blush when I look at you.” My gaze trails up to meet his eyes.

Griffin steps out of his jeans and briefs and kneels on the sofa between my legs as I lie back. “I know what else makes you blush.” He slowly dips his head between my legs, and my fingers curl into the sofa cushion.

Michel’s Review

Wow! Epoch, the second book and conclusion in the Transcend Duet by Jewel E. Ann was an emotional mind boggler. Nothing about this Duet has been predictable or the typical cookie cutter type of romance. In my review of the first book, Transcend, I stated that is was a unique kind of love triangle with a very complex situation holding all three participants emotional prisoners. The conclusion was perfection, all three found the inner peace they needed to move forward in their lives.

Do you believe in reincarnation? Do you believe in soul mates? Do you believe one can have more than one soul mate? Do you believe that true love transcends time?

Jewel E. Ann once again took me on an emotional journey that left me crying my eyes out for all three characters. I fell hopelessly in love with both men. I ached for Swayze and the trauma of making choices that really weren’t hers to make. I rejoiced when she was finally free to become the person she was meant to be, living the life she was meant to live. This is one of the best Happily Ever After I have read.

Jewel E. Ann once again outdid herself and set the bar high! I highly recommend the Transcend Duet. It is a 2018 Favorite Read!

Start the Duet today!

Transcend

Amazon US I Amazon Universal I Paperback

Add to GoodReads

***

Michel’s Review

Jewel E. Ann has done it again with her latest release, Transcend. Transcend is part one of the Transcend Duet and is unlike any other book Jewel E. Ann has written and is quite different from other books in the romance marketplace.

As a writer Jewel E. Ann has become a favorite among the romance genre readers because of her ability to blend emotional subject matter that can make any soul ache with a balance of witty humor that lets the reader know that no matter what happens her characters will be okay. She touches upon many facets of life with it’s ups and downs, glorious imperfections, and challenging obstacles which takes her characters on an emotional journey and makes them stronger before the ending is near. Readers don’t have to wait for the happy ever after at the end, they get to experience it along the way.

Transcend is quite different from other Jewel E. Ann books. For one thing there is an unusual kind of love triangle. The typical love triangle leaves the heroine in a dilemma of choosing one man over the other. This love triangle is three very separate individuals who find themselves in a very unique kind of situation. Two of the individuals are on the course of happily ever after where they are meant to be when life throws them a curveball that most people would not know how to deal with. The “curveball” is the other man and he is definitely not trying to come between these two lovers. In fact he would rather not venture outside his safe emotional box but there is a little girl depending on him, a girl from the past reaching out for him, and a nanny who seems to know how to handle it all.

I was drawn into Transcend the moment I started reading the first chapter. I quickly became immersed in the story and fell hopelessly in love with both men in very different ways. I tried to figure out where this story was going but there are so many different kinds of theories to come into play and I know Jewel E. Ann is going to surprise us all. When I finished Transcend I had to look up the release date for Epoch- Part Two of Transcend Duet. Readers can relax, Jewel is not going to torment them with a long wait. Epoch will release April 9, 2018, exactly two weeks after Transcend releases.

I highly recommend reading Transcend by Jewel E. Ann!

Enter the Giveaway

About Jewel E. Ann

Jewel is a free-spirited romance junkie with a quirky sense of humor.

With 10 years of flossing lectures under her belt, she took early retirement from her dental hygiene career to stay home with her three awesome boys and manage the family business.

After her best friend of nearly 30 years suggested a few books from the Contemporary Romance genre, Jewel was hooked. Devouring two and three books a week but still craving more, she decided to practice sustainable reading, AKA writing.

When she’s not donning her cape and saving the planet one tree at a time, she enjoys yoga with friends, good food with family, rock climbing with her kids, watching How I Met Your Mother reruns, and of course…heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, panty-scorching novels.

Connect with Jewel E. Ann:

Facebook I Website I Twitter I Newsletter Sign-up

Release Blitz + 6 Star Review + 2018 Favorite and Giveaway: Epoch by Jewel E. Ann – Book 2 in the Transcend Duet

Posted on 04/09/2018 by shellbellereads

Epoch, the stunning conclusion to the Transcend Duet by Jewel E. Ann, is LIVE!

Some lives end unfinished, and some transcend time.

After a horrific incident, Swayze finds herself trapped between two lives. Patchy memories and fear for her own safety thrust her into a gut-wrenching journey to uncover the truth.

Will she let her dreams slip away to seek retribution and find the missing pieces to a puzzle that existed a lifetime ago?

“I’m not going to watch you self-destruct. I’m not going to watch you fall in love with another man.”

Or will she discover the only truth that matters?

Epoch pushes the boundaries of what we believe and what we know. It redefines fate and proves that the only thing separating the heart and the soul is an infinite timeline.

“I think a part of you will be mine to love in every life.”

Download Epoch Today or Read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon I Amazon Universal

Add to GoodReads

Michel’s Review

Do you believe in reincarnation? Do you believe in soul mates? Do you believe one can have more than one soul mate? Do you believe that true love transcends time?

Jewel E. Ann once again outdid herself and set the bar high! I highly recommend the Transcend Duet. It is a 2018 Favorite Read!

Start the Duet today!

Transcend

Amazon US I Amazon Universal I Paperback

Add to GoodReads

***

Michel’s Review

I highly recommend reading Transcend by Jewel E. Ann!

Enter the Giveaway

About Jewel E. Ann

Jewel is a free-spirited romance junkie with a quirky sense of humor.

With 10 years of flossing lectures under her belt, she took early retirement from her dental hygiene career to stay home with her three awesome boys and manage the family business.

Connect with Jewel E. Ann:

Facebook I Website I Twitter I Newsletter Sign-up

New Release + Blog Tour + Excerpt + Giveaway + 6+-Star Review: Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan

Posted on 03/27/2018 by cafemamanc7

“A heartbreakingly romantic tale about true love and inner strength. You will never forget it.”

—Kristen Callihan, New York Times Bestselling Author

LONG SHOT, a deeply emotional, thought-provoking standalone love story from Kennedy Ryan is available NOW!

Synopsis

A FORBIDDEN LOVE SET IN THE EXPLOSIVE WORLD OF THE NBA…

Think you know what it’s like being a baller’s girl?

You don’t.

My fairy tale is upside down.

A happily never after.

I kissed the prince and he turned into a fraud.

I was a fool, and his love – fool’s gold.

Now there’s a new player in the game, August West.

One of the NBA’s brightest stars.

Fine. Forbidden.

He wants me. I want him.

But my past, my fraudulent prince, won’t let me go.

Download today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ulF2Eo

Amazon Universal: http://mybook.to/LongShotKR

Excerpt:

“Iris?” August’s frown, the concern on his face, in his voice, remind me where I am. “Baby, you okay?”

I blink down at him dumbly, swallowing my tears, eating my memories whole and digesting a nightmare from long ago. I nod, my lips a cold, wobbly curve.

“Kiss me,” he whispers, his eyes so tender, so intent.

I remember a magical night under the stars, under a streetlight on the eve of greatness. A night filled with laughter and confidences, pregnant with promise. And I see him so clearly, my prince, asking for a kiss.

And I do.

I kiss him like the world might end tonight because I’ll never take this for granted. Not his kindness, when I’ve known cruelty all too well. Not his tenderness, when I’ve been handled roughly in the past. Not his love, when I’ve been possessed and owned and mistreated.

He thaws me with his kiss, my prince, and I melt into him. We’re chest to chest, with August’s number crushed between us. I take his cock in my hand, aligning our bodies, and two become one in a carnal slide of flesh. I anchor myself by my elbows hooked around his neck, and we kiss until I’m dizzy and our breaths tangle in a cloud of bliss. Under the jersey, his palm spans my back, digging into the naked flesh as our hips lock and roll and grind. My body clenches around him, and we pray, we curse, we moan, we mate like our bodies were made for this moment.

Ours is a love that reimagines—that peels back the sky at high noon searching for the stars, collecting them like shells in a bucket. We bathe in stardust, drink from the Milky Way, and dance on the moon. We pierce the firmament, peer into infinity, and tread on time and space. There is no before. There is no after. Now gives birth to forever. This moment may die, but this love never will. Time is not a line. It’s a circle, and we, August and Iris, we stand at the center.

“A STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING AND READ THIS NOW kind of book. Don’t hold your breath, this story will steal it from you.”

– J. Sterling, New York Times Bestselling Author

Add To Goodreads:

http://bit.ly/KennedysLongShot

Tracey’s Review

Life is a constellation of decisions, connected by coincidences and deliberations, painting pictures in the heavens. During the day, when things are brightest, we don’t see the stars, but they are there. It’s only in the contrast of night, when things are darkest, that the stars shine.

When a new book by author Kennedy Ryan goes live, there’s no question that it will be right at the top of my TBR. Doesn’t matter what or who it’s about, if Kennedy wrote it, I’m reading it. So, LONG SHOT. I knew that it was a sports romance, that it takes place in the world of basketball, but that was really all that I knew. So in I went, ready for the angst and passion and everything that a typical Kennedy Ryan book is. Let me tell you, I was blown away, totally sucked in and immersed in this beautiful, tragic, redemptive story, and I could not put it down.

Kennedy writes from the heart, and her passion and love for what she does are evident in this book. Iris and August and their story raised me up, brought me to tears, and lifted me again. Such passion, such strength, such certainty that one day, some day, the timing would be right, and everything would click into place. These characters, this story, are ones that will stay with me. LONG SHOT is a story that needed to be told, and Kennedy has done it with her usual poetry, her voice that speaks brutal truth and beautiful strength, and I absolutely loved it.

No question, then, that LONG SHOT is one of my favorite reads of this year, and maybe ever. 6 stars, 10 stars, a LOT of stars, this book should be on your bookshelf. I guarantee you that it will touch you and change you, and you do not want to miss it.

Enter the giveaway for a $100 Amazon GC Today!

http://bit.ly/2IGiUrt

Join the LONG SHOT March Madness Party for giveaways all month long!

http://bit.ly/LongShotParty

About Kennedy Ryan

Kennedy Ryan is a Southern girl gone Southern California. A Top 100 Amazon Bestseller, Kennedy writes romance about remarkable women who thrive even in tough times, the love they find, and the men who cherish them.

She is a wife to her lifetime lover and mother to an extraordinary son. She has always leveraged her journalism background to write for charity and non-profit organizations, but enjoys writing to raise Autism awareness most. A contributor for Modern Mom Magazine, Kennedy’s writings have appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul, USA Today and many others. The founder and executive director of a foundation serving Atlanta families living with Autism, she has appeared on Headline News, Montel Williams, NPR and other media outlets as an advocate for families living with autism.

Connect with Kennedy

Facebook Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/681604768593989/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KennedyRyanAuthor

BookBub: bookbub.com/authors/kennedy-ryan

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2Fvhqiz

Instagram: www.instagram.com/kennedyryan1/

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/kennedyryan

Follow on Book+Main: bookandmainbites.com/kennedyryan

Subscribe to mailing list for monthly giveaways & exclusives: bit.ly/KRList

New Release + Blog Tour + Excerpt + 6-Star Review + 2017 Favorite: Still by Kennedy Ryan

Posted on 10/06/2017 by cafemamanc7

“Grip is my ultimate…If I was forced, gun-to-the head, to make one book boyfriend real to be mine, it would be him. No questions asked.”

— Adriana Locke, USA Today Bestselling Author

STILL, the sexy,emotional final installment of the GRIP series,

is available NOW!

Enter the $50 Gift Card Release Giveaway!

http://bit.ly/StillLIVEGive

I’ll be there.

Through thick and thin.

Ride or die.

You can count on me.

The promises people make. The vows we take.

Assumptions of the heart.

Emotion tells us how we feel, but life…life has a way of plunging us in boiling water, burning away our illusions, testing our faith, trying our convictions.

Love floating is a butterfly, but love tested is an anchor.

For Grip and Bristol,

Love started at the top of the world

On a Ferris wheel under the stars

But when that love is tested, will they fly or fall?

Excerpt:

“Mmmmm, that looks good.”

The comment grabs my attention, and I find myself smiling for the first time since I left Bristol. As she walks toward me, the approaching sunset paints the roof in shadows, but I see her clearly. Dark hair, burnished in places, falls around her shoulders. She has already discarded the dress she wore at lunch today in favor of a T-shirt and nothing else; it’s the one I just tossed into the hamper.

She tugs at my HABITUAL LINE STEPPER T-shirt, the hem landing at the top of her thighs. Where the T-shirt stops, my eyes keep going, past the lean muscles of her legs and the cut of her calves, the delicate bones of her ankles and to her bare feet. I love this girl, head to toe. Beyond this gorgeous packaging, it’s everything beneath that makes me beyond grateful she’s mine. The loyalty, the bottomless pit that is her heart, her sense of humor. The toughest girl I know is also the most tender, and I’m so honored I get to see both sides, all her sides.

“You out of clean clothes?” I nod to my T-shirt. “You gotta wear my dirty stuff now?”

An impish smile tugs at her bare lips. She’s washed away her makeup, and with it, all the sophistication she wraps around herself for her job. Up on this roof in my T-shirt, she’s just my girl. I love her in every iteration, but this is the one only I get to see, so it’s probably my favorite.

“I have clean clothes.” She steps close enough for me to smell her scent and mine mingling in the fabric. “I like the way this shirt smells.”

I drop a look over her, my eyes resting on the curves of her breasts in the soft cotton, where her nipples have gone taut under my stare.

“How does the shirt smell?” I ask, my voice as smoky as the steaks I should be paying attention to.

“Like you.” She leans forward until her breasts press into my chest. “It smells like you.”

My hands are twitching to touch her, and I finally surrender, slipping under the shirt to grasp her waist, pulling her up the few inches until our lips meet. I’ve been thinking about these steaks all day, and before Bristol arrived, I thought I was starving—but this, what I feel having her in my arms after hours apart, this is starving. It starts in my balls and tunnels up through my chest, infiltrates my heart, and presses its way to my mouth, which is open and devouring in a lips-searching, tongues-dueling kiss. I grip her by the ass, grinding our bodies together until the texture of her skin and mine, the scents of her skin and mine meld into this one panting, voracious thing that never seems to get enough.

“You better not burn my steak,” Bristol pants in between kisses.

I angle my head to send my tongue deeper into her mouth, holding her still, teasing her until she’s straining up, open and begging when I pull back.

“Grip.” My name is a whimpering complaint. She cups my neck and tugs my head back down.

“Oh, no.” I resist, laugh, and turn to the grill. “You were so concerned about me burning these steaks, Ms. Medium Rare.”

“I am.” She slides her arms around me from behind and I feel a sweet sting, her teeth gently biting my shoulder through my T-shirt. I love it when she bites me, but I’m not giving her that satisfaction yet. “But that doesn’t mean you get to stop kissing me. You have to multitask.”

One slim hand slides over my abs and past my belt to cup me through my jeans.

Damn. Not sure how long I can keep up this charade that I don’t want to screw her into the wall on the roof where anyone with half a telescope could see.

“Wow,” I say, keeping my tone unaffected, though she’s gotta feel me getting longer and harder in her hand. “Somebody’s horny as hell.”

She makes a sound that’s half outraged laughter, half indignant grunt before stepping around to stand in front of me by the grill.

“I will not be slut-shamed by my own boyfriend.” Amusement lights her eyes, turning them to quicksilver.

“Shamed?” I put down the grilling fork I’m using for the steaks and reach for her again. “No shame in being horny for me, baby. I wanna give you a gold star.”

Her eyes slide down to the erection poking her in the stomach. “Is that what we’re calling it now? Should we name it?”

“Guys who have to name their dicks probably aren’t using ’em right.”

“So I ask again . . . should we name it?”

I cock a brow and press our hips together.

“Are you implying that I don’t know how to use mine? Because that’s not the impression I got this morning when you came so hard you were singing like a bird.”

She tilts her head, her eyes wide and considering. “Did you say like a bird?” A small smile plays around her lips. “What made you say that?”

“I don’t know.” I give a careless shrug. “Why?”

“It’s silly,” she says, rolling her eyes in self-derision. “I was thinking today when I laughed it sounded like . . .”

Bristol blushes about once every Halley’s Comet, so the color washing across her cheeks makes me wonder.

“What?” I probe. “Your laugh sounded like what?”

“Like a happy bird,” she mumbles, peering up at me like I’m going to laugh in her face.

Which I do.

“Stop laughing at me.” She narrows her eyes in mock warning.

“Right.” I dip my head to catch her eyes and tease her. “Because when you tell me you laugh like a happy bird I’m just supposed let you get away with that.”

“I’m not telling you things anymore.” She narrows her eyes and folds her arms over her chest.

“Yeah, right. I’m your best friend.” I pull her back into me. “You’ll tell me everything like you always do.”

“You are, you know.” Her voice softens. “My best friend, I mean.”

When she looks at me like this, her eyes stripped of every defense, no guard in sight, completely honest and open and vulnerable, I feel slightly invincible. It’s a trick of the heart, I know, but I can’t help but think that as long as she looks at me like this, there isn’t anything I couldn’t survive, that our love is the stuff of legends, rolled in Teflon, disaster-proof. I’m as fanciful as Bristol, my laughing bird.

“You’re mine, too,” I echo her sentiment. “My best friend.”

“I won’t tell Rhyson,” she promises with a grin.

“I’m pretty sure he spits the same line to Kai.” I keep a straight face. “We have to say that shit to get laid.”

“I hate you.”

“Orrrrrrrrr do you love me and want to blow me after dinner?” I shrug and lift my hands, my palms up. “Just saying. Listen to your heart, Bristol. Listen to your heart.”

“I’m listening to my belly right now, smartass, and it’s growling. Feed me.”

“Like my mama used to say, ain’t no freeloaders in this house. What’ll you give me for feeding you?”

“Um . . .”

“I do have a suggestion, if you’re searching.”

“Let me guess—you have a ‘Will fuck for food’ sign up here somewhere?”

“I used bubble letters.” I laugh and give her ass a light smack. “You can barter that booty.”

It’s so damn easy with Bristol—our banter, the chemistry, the perfect rhythm of our conversation. It was one of the first things I noticed when we met all those years ago. We didn’t read each other’s minds or finish each other’s sentences. It wasn’t cosmic, but it was a connection that seized me by the brain and grabbed me by the balls. She was as smart as she was sexy, as curious as she was forthcoming. There were years in between when we made things complicated, when things were strained, but now with our hearts settled on each other for good, it’s simple.

This.

Her.

Us.

Tracey’s Review

Emotion tells you about love, but hard times prove it. How can you know something is great unless it’s tested? Until then, it’s just an assumption. It’s a question, but life has a way of answering.

So, if I had to use just one word to describe STILL, the latest book by author Kennedy Ryan, the story that takes Grip James and Bristol Gray along paths fraught with more emotions than I can describe, it would have to be poetic . Sheer poetry, from start to finish, STILL is a beautiful, heartbreaking, joy-filled work that is easily one of the best books that I’ve read this year.

As an avid reader (first) and blogger (second), it is my pleasure to read a lot of books. I marvel at the ease with which some authors put words to page, the sheer number of words and ideas that seem to exist in an unending well for so many of these people. I mean, I guess that plenty of folks have one book inside them, one seed that can blossom into something that can be shared. But, to share
words that move us, the readers, to heights and depths, taking us along and make the reading of these books a living and visceral experience, that, my friends, is a gift. Kennedy Ryan falls firmly into the latter category, birthing, creating, crafting collections of words that go far beyond the norm.

I fell in love with Bristol Gray and Marlon ‘Grip’ James what seems like forever ago. Both of them made their first appearances in Kennedy’s Soul series. But it wasn’t until I finally cracked open FLOW and GRIP that I realized how important these two characters are. Strength, perseverance, conviction, healing, and, y’all, so much love. Talk about epic.

And, now, STILL. I wasn’t sure what more Kennedy could give us, because they were already so much. But that’s my limitation, you see, and not Kennedy’s, because she showed me, with utter clarity, conviction, and a talent that I don’t see very often, that there was still so much more to be shared.

STILL touches on so many things of import. Social justice, the lingering and pervasive affliction of inequality in our culture, the value of truth and honesty and looking beyond the surface. Through it all, though, and something that I truly believe, is the fact that it’s all about the love. One little word forges unions, razes walls, drives out fear, lifts up, frees.

STILL is a book that will bring you joy, reduce you to tears (believe me when I say sobbing mess, friends), and lift you up higher than you can imagine, and it’s all done with, as I said, sheer poetry. If you read just one book this year, let it be STILL (although, FLOW and GRIP must be read first). This book is an easy 6 stars for me, and one that I recommend without hesitation. I cannot imagine what Kennedy Ryan has next for us, but, judging from what we’ve had in the Grip series, it will be nothing short of amazing.

Read STILL Today!

(Free in Kindle Unlimited)

Amazon US➜ http://amzn.to/2xuUe1V

Amazon UK➜ http://amzn.to/2feQ5EF

Add to GoodReads➜ http://bit.ly/2vBiUWN

Start the Series Today!

FLOW, the FREE prequel, MUST BE READ before GRIP!

Amazon ➜ http://amzn.to/2m0IKOh

Amazon UK➜ http://amzn.to/2xSpMMS

Audiobook ➜ http://bit.ly/FLOWAudiobook

WATTPAD ➜ http://w.tt/2kUo8Yk

Read GRIP Today for only 99¢!

(Free in Kindle Unlimited)

Amazon US ➜ http://amzn.to/2mR7fec

Amazon UK ➜ http://amzn.to/2gz387W

Amazon CA ➜ http://amzn.to/2vADPJn

Amazon AU ➜ http://amzn.to/2gsH3Em

GRIP ➜ http://bit.ly/GRIPAudiobook

Add to GoodReads ➜ http://bit.ly/2k1T1rL

About Kennedy:

Kennedy Ryan is a Southern girl gone Southern California. A Top 100 Amazon Bestseller, Kennedy writes romance about remarkable women who find a way to thrive even in tough times, the love they find, and the men who cherish them.

She is a wife to her lifetime lover and mother to an extraordinary son. She has always leveraged her journalism background to write for charity and non-profit organizations, but enjoys writing to raise Autism awareness most. A contributor for Modern Mom Magazine, Kennedy’s writings have appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul, USA Today and many others. The founder and executive director of a foundation serving Georgia families living with Autism, Kennedy has appeared on Headline News, Montel Williams, NPR and other outlets as a voice for families living with autism.

Connect with Kennedy:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KennedyRyanAuthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kennedyrwrites

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kennedyryan1/

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+KennedyRyanAuthor

YouTube: http://bit.ly/2gsAGkp

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2x0qCtC

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kennedy-ryan

Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/681604768593989/

http://kennedyryanwrites.com

Release Blitz & Excerpt & 6+ Star Review & 2017 Favorite: Wish You Were Here by Renee Carlino

Posted on 08/15/2017 by shellbellereads

Wish You Were Here

By Renee Carlino

Buy: Amazon

You know when you’re looking at someone and you can’t help but smile at how oblivious they are to their own charm? That’s what was happening to me, and it was making me feel…happy. Euphoric. Something indescribable. It was like we already knew each other, like we had met in a previous life. Memories that didn’t exist began exploding in my mind like fireworks.

Charlotte has spent her twenties adrift, searching for a spark to jump-start her life and give her a sense of purpose. She’s had as many jobs as she’s had bad relationships, and now she’s feeling especially lost in her less-than-glamorous gig at a pie-and-fry joint in Los Angeles, where the uniforms are bad and the tips are even worse.

Then she collides—literally—with Adam, an intriguing, handsome, and mysterious painter. Their serendipitous meeting on the street turns into a whirlwind one-night stand that has Charlotte feeling enchanted by Adam’s spontaneity and joy for life. There’s promise in both his words and actions, but in the harsh light of morning, Adam’s tune changes, leaving Charlotte to wonder if her notorious bad luck with men is really just her own bad judgment.

Months later, a new relationship with Seth, a charming baseball player, is turning into something more meaningful, but Charlotte’s still having trouble moving past her one enthralling night with Adam. Why? When she searches for answers, she finds the situation with Adam is far more complicated than she ever imagined. Faced with the decision to write a new story with Seth or finish the one started with Adam, Charlotte embarks on a life-altering journey, one that takes her across the world and back again, bringing a lifetime’s worth of pain, joy, and wisdom.

AMAZON | B&N | iBooks

Excerpt

“You’re making love sound tragic,” I said.

“No”—he shook his head—“I wouldn’t want it any other way. Tell me about us. What do we like to do?”

“Paint and sail and eat and drink. Just simple things.” “Don’t forget about sex,” he said.
“Yeah, lots of sex. Before the children were born we

“We were practically naked every second of the day.”

“I like that.”

“When they got older, we’d sneak away for weekends and leave them at my mom’s.”

“What are they like? Our children.”

“Happy. That’s all we wished for. We put our love first and it just spilled over into them and now they’re happy.”

Tears sprang from my eyes and ran down my cheeks. Isn’t that what we all hope for when it comes to our children?

His tone suddenly changed. “That’s beautiful, Char- lotte.” It was like he was waking up from the dream. I didn’t want to go back to reality yet, but I knew these fantasies were just to help Adam get his mind off things.

“I can imagine a long life with you,” he said. “I can imagine what a great wife you’d be.”

I pulled my hand out of his. “The story is about you and me.” He didn’t say anything; he just nodded and then continued to stare out the window. I bent and kissed the top of his head again, and whispered, “It’s about us. Don’t take that away from me.”

Michel’s Review

Wow! Renee Carlino astounded me and left me emotionally floored in a very good way. It took a lot of ugly tears and emotional hiccups along the way but the end result was so worth the emotional journey. The epilogue validated every single reason I believe in love.

I can honestly say that I suffered a very serious book hangover for days after reading this book.

The first chapter introduces the reader to Charlotte, a twenty seven year old woman still struggling to find her niche in life. She’s had as many bad jobs as she’s had bad relationships. She’s educated and has tried many different types of jobs. Nothing seems to stick. She’s still working a crappy waitress job with crappy uniforms, crappy tips, and a crappier boss. She’s become perpetually stuck in life. Even though her life is less than stellar, she is eternally optimistic and is still searching for the right fit. She’s constantly comparing her non achievements in life to her over achieving, younger brother who’s on the road to success. Her parents are bewildered by her life choices. Her best friend, who is also perpetually stuck in her twenties, is her biggest cheerleader and lifetime roommate in their crappy apartment. One bad breakup ( the BFF) leads to a night that changes the course of her life. She meets a random stranger on the street and immediately makes a connection that leads to the most unusual but very memorable one night stand.

An adventurous one night stand that is filled with spontaneity, maple donuts, and forgotten Chinese food leads to a confusing and somewhat degrading walk of shame the next morning. Charlotte can’t seem to forget the night she spent with Adam, the vivacious artist with a thirst for life. His spontaneity and pure joy marked her soul.

Months later, she’s finally ready to move on when she meets a sexy baseball player, Seth, on an online dating site. What begins as a fun flirtation starts developing into a real relationship that has potential of being the very thing she’s been searching for. Everything is perfect until it’s not. There’s something holding her back and that something is her one night stand with Adam. From that point on everything begins to change and spiral out of control. Her best friend is moving on in life and grasping the adulting concept. Her successful baby brother has become her new life coach and roommate. Seth has made it to the major leagues and wants her along for the ride. The problem is that Charlotte is still stuck in her life. Maybe she needs to go back to the beginning or back to the one night that still haunts her thoughts. She needs some kind of closure from the disastrous one night stand that muddled her direction in life. The answers aren’t what she was expecting nor are they black and white. Adam’s life is anything but carefree and spontaneous. He’s a different man than the one she met on the street. Now that she has the answers, the choices are hers to make. Does she let go of Seth, the man who offers her everything she’s looking for in life or does she take the risk and follow Adam on a spontaneous adventure that has no guarantees of a future?

Choices are never easy and many times they aren’t right or wrong. They are merely stepping stones in the journey of life. The most important thing is accepting that choice and letting it become part of life’s compass. Eventually it will lead Charlotte to the place she was meant to be.

I’m usually not a fan of love triangle themed romances but this novel was an unusual triangle that had all the “feels” from every angle. I loved both men equally and swooned over them both. What I loved most is how they both loved Charlotte. They both loved her unconditionally, without measure, or expectations. They accepted her as she was. They both encouraged her to become something better for herself rather than for them. They wanted her to have everything she deserved in life. Most of all, they wanted her to know she was loved no matter what happened in her life. They both gave her pure unconditional love.

I’m choking up with tears as I write this review. Thinking about all that Charlotte experienced, the pain, joy, and rebirth, was phenomenal. This novel gave Charlotte the potential to experience all of the possibilites offered in life. I think we all strive to experience the pure love Charlotte received.

Wish You Were Here by Renee Carlino is more than a romance novel, it is an amazing reading adventure. It has become one of my all time favorite books.

___________________________________________________________

Renée Carlino is a screenwriter and bestselling author of contemporary women’s novels and new adult fiction. Her books have been featured in national publications, including USA TODAY, Huffington Post, Latina magazine, and Publisher’s Weekly. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog June. When she’s not at the beach with her boys or working on her next project, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate. Learn more at www.reneecarlino.com

FACEBOOK WEBSITE TWITTER INSTAGRAM

New Release + 6 Star Review + 2017 Favorite: The Brightest Sunset by Aly Martinez – The Darkest Sunset Duet – Book 2

Posted on 08/02/2017 by shellbellereads

The Brightest Sunset

The Darkest Sunrise Duet – Book #2

By Aly Martinez

Purchase it Now

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

Add The Brightest Sunset to Goodreads

Synopsis:

Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.

Bullshit.

Words destroyed me.

“I’m sorry. She didn’t make it.”

“Daddy, he can’t breathe!”

“There’s nothing more we can do for your son.”

Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.

Lies.

Those syllables and letters became my executioner. I told myself that, if I didn’t acknowledge the pain and the fear, they would have no power over me. But, as the years passed, the hate and the anger left behind began to control me.

Two words—that was all it took to plunge my life into darkness.

“He’s gone.”

In the end, it was four soft, silky words that gave me hope of another sunrise.

“Hi. I’m Charlotte Mills.”

Michel’s Review

Spoiler Free Review

After reading The Darkest Sunrise by Aly Martinez I was counting down the days for the sequel, The Brightest Sunset to release. I can honestly say I haven’t been this consumed by a story in quite a while. I devoured The Darkest Sunset the moment this book downloaded on my tablet. I thought the first book was an emotional rollercoaster but the second book was an emotional explosion where every character was affected by the monumental life changing revelations. Once the revelations tore them apart, trying to rebuild new lives is literally impossible without hurting others more in the process. There were no right or wrong answers. There were no villains or heroes. Just ordinary people trying to hang onto their family as they know it. In the middle of all the chaos is an innocent and seriously ill child trying to survive the devastation of it all.

Dr. Charlotte Mills, a respected Pulmonary specialist in the Atlanta area, lost her six month old baby when he was abducted in plain daylight. She has lived with the guilt for ten years hoping that her baby somehow survived the ordeal. The odds were against his survival because of a defective heart condition. She has spent the last ten years buried in her grief, shut off emotionally from the world, and dedicating her life to her work. When she met Porter Reese she found a man who understood her darkness and was willing to share her pain. He understood the pain because he was a widower and single father trying to survive his own painful world.

Porter Reese almost lost his children when he lost his wife. He shoved his grief aside to make sure he gave his children a stable, loving home environment. His eleven year old son’s health has been declining and he needs the best doctors to treat him. When he sought out Dr. Mills he never imagined meeting a woman who touches a different part of his soul. He’s met a woman who understands his pain and is willing to share the darkness with him.

Charlotte and Porter never expected to find light in the darkness. They never expected to find unconditional love in their dark painful world. This dark world doesn’t want to let them go and throws another horrific, painful situation that will ultimately destroy their lives.

Their lives are falling apart and their worlds are colliding. They are plunged into a world of pain that breaks their trust in one another. The overwhelming suspicion and broken trust are not the only things motivating their actions. Both are willing to sacrifice everything in their lives to hang onto what is rightfully theirs. Finding middle ground and compromising solutions seems impossible because they are not the only people making those decisions. Their intentions are the same but all the viable solutions are painful. It is going to take a miracle to put everybody’s lives back together and forge a new future.

Aly Martinez did a remarkable job with this story. She clearly thought out this plot from every physical and emotional angle. Every character had valid reactions and emotions in every part of this story. I could sympathize with them all. Their story touched my soul and will stay close to my heart long after the book is closed.

The Brightest Sunset Duet by Aly Martinez is my absolute favorite 2017 books.

—————————-

**The Darkest Sunrise (The Darkest Sunrise Duet, #1)**

Buy it Now

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

Add The Darkest Sunrise to Goodreads

—————————-

You won’t want to miss this amazing series!

———————

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Originally from Savannah, Georgia, USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez now lives in South Carolina with her four young children.

Never one to take herself too seriously, she enjoys cheap wine, mystery leggings, and baked feta. It should be known, however, that she hates pizza and ice cream, almost as much as writing her bio in the third person.

She passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a super-sized tumbler of wine by her side.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Release Blitz + 6 Star Review + 2017 Favorite: Savaged Vows by Jennifer Lyon – Savaged Illusions Trilogy – Book 2

Posted on 07/24/2017 by shellbellereads

Savaged Vows

Savaged Illusions Series – Book 2

Release Date: July 24, 2017

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis:

How much will she risk for love?

Despite her dark past with a rock icon, Liza Glasner can’t walk away from the man she loves with a fiery passion—sexy rock star Justice Cade. A surprise pregnancy and marriage give Liza the family she’s craved since she was fourteen. But her love is tested when Liza’s worst nightmare—Gene Hayes—bursts onto the scene, spreading lies and smears to tear her and Justice apart. Can Liza trust Justice to choose her over fame?

How far will he go for fame?

Justice fiercely loves his beautiful and resilient wife Liza, and he’s determined to protect her from Gene Hayes. At the same time, he’s loyal to his band. The four other men in Savaged Illusions are his brothers, and together, they are battling hard to come back from a humiliating defeat. But just as the pinnacle of success is within their reach, Justice discovers a truth that will either decimate his band or destroy his wife.

Can their love survive?

Secrets and betrayals explode in a heartbreaking twist that threatens to rip Justice and Liza apart forever.

Savaged Vows is book 2 in the Savaged Illusions Trilogy, and ends in a cliffhanger. Book 3, Savaged Devotion, will be released in September 2017.

__________________________________________________________

The Savaged Illusions Trilogy by Jennifer Lyon has become my favorite rock star romance series! This is not the typical rock star romance with a brooding rock star and sweet ordinary girl but rather a complex collection of different romance genres blended together in perfect harmony to make a thrilling, emotional story that will hold the readers captive.

Savaged Dreams – book one ended on a huge cliffhanger. I had no idea where the aftermath of that cliffhanger would lead. I can honestly say it wasn’t anything predictable. Savaged Vows – book two took on a different life in itself that ended on an emotional irreparable cliffhanger and left me wanting more right now!

Savaged Illusions is trying regain their momentum after losing the tv reality battle of the bands competition. They are trying not to let Liza become their Yoko Ono. The band has hired a progressive manager that knows the business. They are in the studio recording their album on their own dime. The upcoming release and promotion of their album is draining them financially but they are willing to sacrifice the time, effort, and funds to make their future a success. There is no room for anything else in their lives. Their goal is to make the top 100 on the charts and secure a place on the World Rock Stage concert in Paris. This concert will launch their band and give them world wide recognition and secure them a tour contract. Gaining this is going to cost more than money and hard work, they may have to sell their souls and compromise everything they hold dear. It’s a sacrifice their willing to make because the outcome is worth it all. They naively believe they can control the circumstances without any repercussions. Little did they know it could cost them everything and make Liza a Yoko Ono. Not only will affect the band, it will give the devil more than his due.

Liza survived the brutal attack after the final band competition. Savaged Illusions lost the competition and they blamed her even though she was the real party targeted. It left her on the outskirts of the band even though her boyfriend Justice was the lead singer. Her past involvement with mega rockstar Gene Hayes has put Savaged Illusions in a negative light with the fans. The band doesn’t want her involved with their next steps to fame. She’s okay with that because she’s trying to finish school, graduate, and secure a job. Things start going in positive directions for the band as well as herself even though she and Justice are juggling a long distance relationship. They are secure enough in their relationship to make this work. And it does until a surprise pregnancy enters the picture. Liza and Justice decide to get married before his schedule gets too busy. Not only is she supporting their household, building her career, managing Justice father’s stability, she is also experiencing the upcoming birth of their child alone. Every occasional moment she has with Justice ends up in a negative mess with the press, which in turn alienates her more with the band members. Through unanimous vote, the band decides she cannot be near their album tour until they secure a spot on the World Rock Stage in Paris. Justice promises to bring Liza to Paris with them so they can have their belated honeymoon and precious time together before the baby is born. Liza is taking it all in stride even though she feels isolated and lonely.

Paris is exactly what their relationship needed to reconnect and jumpstart their future. Paris was exactly what the band needed to claim the future they worked so hard for. Paris is the city of love and everything was perfect. Paris is also the city of betrayal and destruction. Savage Illusions gained their fame but lost their souls. Liza paid the price. The devil, Gene Hayes, got his due and more. Cliffhanger!

OMG… this book took the series to a whole new emotional level that left me devastated. It’s impossible to contemplate which direction it will go next because it seems so hopeless. The writing was brilliant because it added so many layers to the story. The suspense escalated and the ulitimate showdown was heartbreaking. This book touched on many issues in life such as PTSD, homelessness, pregnancy, rape, relationship issues, friendship issues, greed, and notoriety. In spite of it all, the best part is there is a beautiful romance and unquestionable love that shines brightly.

September can’t get here fast enough! I need Savaged Devotion now!

___________________________________________________

Savaged Illusions Trilogy

Savaged Dreams

Savaged Illusions Series – Book 1

By Jennifer Lyon

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis:

How much will she risk for love?

Going away to college gives LIZA GLASNER a chance to escape her painful and dangerous past…or so she thinks. At fourteen years old, she survived an attack by a famous musician. After that, the media, groupies and crazies hounded her with a merciless cruelty that ruined her life. But now she’s thriving–until an internship brings her face to face with the sizzling hot lead singer of a rock band, and she finds herself drawn to the very thing that once destroyed her. Justice is a temptation she can’t resist…and one that could get her killed.

How far will he go for fame?

Sexy rock star JUSTICE CADE is determined to take his band, Savaged Illusions, to the top by winning the Court of Rock T.V. show. Tortured by guilt for failing his family, he believes fame is his only path to redemption. But when the fiery college-intern hiding her beauty beneath baggy sweaters and a snarky attitude bursts into his life, Justice is forced to choose between the woman he loves and the stardom he craves. The wrong choice will cost him more than he can bear.

**This is book one in a trilogy and ends on a cliffhanger. However the next two books are being released in July and September so readers won’t be stranded on the cliff for long!

*****

Savaged Vows

Savaged Illusions Series – Book 2

Release Date: July 24, 2017

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis:

How much will she risk for love?

How far will he go for fame?

Can their love survive?

Secrets and betrayals explode in a heartbreaking twist that threatens to rip Justice and Liza apart forever.

Savaged Vows is book 2 in the Savaged Illusions Trilogy, and ends in a cliffhanger. Book 3, Savaged Devotion, will be released in September 2017.

*****

Savaged Devotion

Savaged Illusions Trilogy – Book 3

Coming September 2017

_________________________________________________

Jennifer Lyon is the pseudonym for USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer Apodaca. Jen lives in Southern California where she continually plots ways to convince her husband that they should get a dog. After all, they met at the dog pound, fell in love, married and had three wonderful sons. So far, however, she has failed in her doggy endeavor. She consoles herself by pouring her passion into writing books. To date, Jen has published more than fifteen books and novellas, including a fun and sexy mystery series and a variety of contemporary romances under the name Jennifer Apodaca. As Jennifer Lyon she created a dark, sizzling paranormal series, and The Plus Once Chronicles, an emotionally sensual adult contemporary series. Jen’s won numerous.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

New Release + 6 Star Review + 2017 Favorite: Atheist Who Kneel And Pray by Tarryn Fisher

Posted on 07/19/2017 by shellbellereads

SURPRISE! #AWKAP is LIVE!!! Who’s ready for Yara and David?
Available NOW on

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA | iTunes | B&N

Atheists Who Kneel And Pray

By Tarryn Fisher

Buy: Amazon

Yara Phillips is a wandering muse.

She dates men who need her, but always moves on to something new, never staying in one place for very long.

David Lisey is in need of a muse.

A talented musician lacking lyrical inspiration. When he first sees her, he knows he’s found what he’s been looking for.

Yara believes she can give David exactly what he needs to reach his full potential:

A broken heart.

David’s religion is love.

Yara’s religion is heartache.

Neither is willing to surrender, but religion always requires sacrifice.

Yara’s Yesterday Spotify List:

https://open.spotify.com/user/1226318453/playlist/6h5mCg008D4VxjkWuudzQ7

Dear Yara,

The bands in London, November 12th. Want to catch up?

David

So casual. So nonchalant. You’d think we were only acquaintances, that we’d once sipped a couple of beers together instead of tattooing love on our skin and reciting marriage vows. I read the e-mail again and analyze the shit out of it. How can I not? I count out the words: thirteen. The punctuation: four. His name, my name. A flippant, casual turn of phrase: catch up. In the end, there’s only so much psychoanalyzing you can do to a thirteen-word e-mail. I move on with my life, feeling rather pathetic. But not before I e-mail him back. And okay, sure, I don’t move on with my life. What does that even entail? Forgetting? Forgiving? Being happy? Besides, I know what he wants to talk about. I know why he’s coming.

Hi David,

Yeah, sounds good. Let me know when and where.

Yara

My e-mail is a word shorter.

I’m that petty.

_______________________________

Robin’s Review

With the words of her new contemporary romance, author Tarryn Fisher swept me to the heights of relationship bliss, then lulled me into a fear of impending doom. She shattered my lovesick heart, but then healed it and made me whole again. Right alongside the primary characters, I experienced ALL of the emotions in what may be one of the best romance novels of 2017 – Atheists Who Kneel and Pray!

Hailing from London, England, Yara Phillips has become a drifter. Every few months, she travels from one U.S. city to the next for a fresh start. David Lisey spots her through the front window of The Jane in Seattle, Washington, where she works as a bartender. And that’s when he knows. The lead singer of Lazarus Come Forth has found his muse. From the moment David pulls a splinter out of her thumb, he sparks her interest. Yara might be willing to be his muse, but at what cost?

Reminiscent of Caleb and Olivia from her first novel, The Opportunist, Tarryn Fisher made me fall in love HARD with David and Yara! David’s pursuit of Yara is delightful! Their conversations and flirting are endearing. The chemistry between them is palpable. Their connection is undeniable. Their love story is a journey, an experience which will cause them both to grow as individuals.

Tarryn Fisher’s writing is exemplary. She is deeply detailed in her descriptions of the sights and locations of her hometown. The businesses, landmarks and people of Seattle, London and Paris come alive through her words. Colors, buildings, and scenes were painted as visuals in my imagination as I turned the pages of the book. With some of the best descriptive writing that I’ve ever read, the whole feel of Atheists Who Kneel and Pray lures me to the Pacific Northwest.

Tarryn Fisher is skilled at drawing emotions and feelings out of her readers. You’ll find this especially true with her manuscript of Atheists Who Kneel and Pray. I encountered a broad spectrum of emotions while reading this novel, ranging from joyful exhilaration to feeling a great sense of loss. Fisher’s writing is a form of art. In this story, you’ll find it meticulous and poetic, vibrant and evocative.

Every once and a while, you come across a book that touches your heart in ways you can’t explain. It’s just special. For me, that book is Atheists Who Kneel and Pray, and I can’t wait to find the time to read it again! I’m honored to give Tarryn Fisher a 6-star review and will be adding this book to my list of 2017 favorites!

________________________________

Tarryn was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. She immigrated to America with her parents when she was thirteen, and spent the next eighteen years in South Florida where she earned her degree in Psychology, wrote her first novel, and had two children. In 2012, on a whim, she moved her family to Seattle, Washington where she currently makes her home safely away from the sun. Tarryn is the founder of Guise of the Villain, a fashion blog, and has written eleven published novels. Tarryn is a Slytherin.

Website:

www.tarrynfisher.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/authortarrynfisher

Instagram:

https://instagram.com/tarrynfisher/

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/Tarryn__Fisher

Release Blitz + Excerpt + 6 Star Review + 2017 Favorite: The Sound Of Light by Claire Wallis

Posted on 07/17/2017 by shellbellereads

The Sound Of Light

By Claire Wallis

Release Date: July 17, 2017

Buy: Amazon

Synopsis:

My littlest girl has always been a bit peculiar. It was nothing I could ever put a finger on, but I always knew there was something inside her that made her a different kind of special. A deeper kind.

K’acy’s got a light around her, one that’ll just about knock you over, especially if you don’t see her coming. She’s got music in her soul, too. Deep, resonating music that echoes and hums, just like the notes that come from the bass guitar she’s had attached to her hip since the day she turned thirteen years old.

She’s got a hell of a secret, yes, but she does what she’s got to do to make it one worth having. She takes care of people. She changes their stories. I spent my life telling both of my girls that you always gotta do what’s right, even when it hurts, and it makes me proud to know she was listening.

I saw the way she looked at that boy on the day they met, and I knew right then that things were going to change. Two different people from two different worlds is nothing but a recipe for heartbreak, and when the lies pile higher and higher, it can change a person into something they’re not.

It took me dying all those years ago to finally figure out just exactly how special my K’acy really is, and even though I’m not with her anymore, I don’t want that boy and his family to change her. I want her to keep doing what’s right, even when it hurts.

Because that’s who she is inside. That’s her deeper kind of special.

**This stand-alone novel from Claire Wallis is intended for readers age 17 and up.**

Crowd at a concert with hands up in the air

Excerpt

I’m playing my StingRay again. This time, I’m by myself, in the back of a dive bar called The King’s Court. It’s my regular Wednesday-night emotional-housecleaning gig. The one I use to forget about the rest of the world. I don’t get paid to stand here, slapping my fingers against the strings in a solo performance that’s, more often than not, completely devoid of an audience much larger than a half dozen. I do it because I need to. Because it helps me forget.

Jarrod is sitting at the bar nursing a beer. He’s the only person who’s religiously here on Wednesday nights, and I like it that way. Flying under the radar is just fine with me. I don’t need “regulars”; I just need music.

The StingRay sits against the perfect pocket formed by the front of my hip, tied to me with a thick strap of leather and a set of strings that go straight to my heart. I play for two solid hours, thinking of nothing but the music coming out of me. My foot presses down on the compressor pedal from time to time, serving to both balance the sound and decompress my soul.

Then, just before I finish, I start playing the bass riff that’s been echoing through me nonstop since I shook Adam Sinclair’s hand on Monday afternoon. The moment Jarrod recognizes the song, he looks up at me. He’s never heard me play a Chili Peppers song before, and he’s wearing a look of amused bewilderment. Hell, I’m confused myself. But “Soul to Squeeze” comes out of me in an unstoppable pulse of flawless notes. And, though I don’t say them out loud, the lyrics roll through the inside of my head like they somehow belong there. It’s disconcerting. I’m gonna catch hell from Jarrod for it, that much I’m sure of. But still…when I finish the song, I feel cleansed.

“What the fuck was that?” Jarrod asks, walking up to me just after I zip my gig bag closed. I stand, sling the StingRay over my shoulder, and turn to him. I can smell the beer on his breath.

“‘Soul to Squeeze.’ Why?”

“I know what song it was, smartass. I wanna know why the hell you were playing it.”

“I don’t know. It’s just been stuck in my head for the past couple of days. I had to purge the earworm.” It feels like we’ve undergone some kind of bizarre personality flip. This time, I’m the one turning away from him, just to keep from showing him too much. Too much of what, I’m not sure.

“Earworm? Since when do you get earworms that involve Anthony Kiedis?”

“Since Monday, I guess.” I start walking toward the front door, hoping to avoid any more questions. I have no reason to feel like I have something worth hiding, but if anyone’s gonna call me out on an awkward reason for playing a particular song, it’s Jarrod. He knows I don’t play anything without purpose.

“And what happened on Monday to get this particular earworm tunneling into your little brain far enough for it play on repeat for two entire days?”

“Nothing.” I open the front door and walk out into the night, turning to the right and heading to the closest bus stop.

Jarrod coughs into his hand, spitting a rough “bullshit” out with the sound. I stop and turn on my heels, staring him down as best as I can without raising my hackles, or his. I don’t say anything.

“Fine. Don’t tell me then. But you have to know that if you don’t, I’m gonna assume all kinds of stuff. Like maybe the Chili Peppers ‘discovered’ you on YouTube and want you to come on tour with them. Ooo, no…I’ve got it! Maybe you had a crazy sex dream about Flea. Like the kind where you’re screwing on stage or something. Maybe that’s what this is all about. Which is it, K’acy? The tour or the sex dream?” He nudges me on the shoulder with his outstretched hand, like a big brother would prod his little sister. I can’t help but smile.

“It’s neither, you big douche. It’s just someone I met at work. They remind me of that song for some reason.” I see the bus coming down the street. I turn away from him again and hurry toward the stop. I don’t want to miss this one because another 43D isn’t scheduled to come for another forty-five minutes. He follows close behind me.

“You met an old person who reminds you of the Red Hot Chili Peppers? You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

“Maybe it isn’t an old person.”

A split second later, the bus meets me at the curb and the doors open. I step on, leaving him standing on the sidewalk alone. As the bus drives past Jarrod, I look out the window and see him frozen there, wearing his Kranky Records “hugs and/or drugs” T-shirt and one hell of an enormous grin.

Michel’s Review

Spoiler Free Review

I was so excited when I heard the news that Claire Wallis was releasing a new book. Her debut novel Push was released in the spring of 2014 with the follow up of Pull in winter of 2014. Both of those novels made my top favorite books of the year. They were both six star reviews. The writing was beyond excellent and delivered in quite a different manner than most novels. The story was delivered from multiple perspectives and POV’s that slowly gave the readers an in depth insight on the main characters personalities and actions. It became more than a story, it became a testimony of life in all it’s beauty and ugliness.

After three years of waiting for another novel from this very talented author, she has finally released a new novel, The Sound Of Light. The Sound Of Light is completely different than her previous novels and has a completely different kind tone. Where her first novels had a dark undertone, The Sound Of Light has a bright, positive quality that shines brightly through the words on the pages. The readers will become enamored with K’acy McGee because of her inner beauty. She is an angel of sorts in a very ordinary human body. God gave her an extraordinary gift that could be used with malice or compassion. It was her responsibility to look beyond the black and white and decipher the right and wrong of her gift. She knew what she was meant to do from a very young age but she had to learn how to use her gift wisely. When she fell in love it muddied her decision making process and she let her emotions drive her until she realized it was turning off her light. Now she has to choose between the man she loves and the power of her gift. The choice may send her into the darkness. Her gift was given with love and love may be the one thing that destroys her.

The writing in this novel is beyond superb. Reader’s get to know K’acy and experience her gift from multiple POV’s. They also get to know her through her personal POV and understand how music soothes her soul. She is one of those characters that shines brightly even in the darkest moments. Although this novel is not as dark with a sinister plot, it is still very complex and the revelations of K’acy McGee are astonishing.

Claire Wallis has once again used her gift of storytelling in an original way that will keep the readers glued to the pages. I highly recommend reading The Sound Of Light.

_____________________________________

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

Share this:

Epoch, the stunning conclusion to the Transcend Duet by Jewel E. Ann, is LIVE!

Download Epoch Today or Read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon I Amazon Universal

Start the Duet today!

Transcend

Amazon US I Amazon Universal I Paperback

About Jewel E. Ann

Connect with Jewel E. Ann:

Facebook I Website I Twitter I Newsletter Sign-up

Share this:

Epoch, the stunning conclusion to the Transcend Duet by Jewel E. Ann, is LIVE!

Download Epoch Today or Read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon I Amazon Universal

Start the Duet today!

Transcend

Amazon US I Amazon Universal I Paperback

About Jewel E. Ann

Connect with Jewel E. Ann:

Facebook I Website I Twitter I Newsletter Sign-up

Share this:

“A heartbreakingly romantic tale about true love and inner strength. You will never forget it.”

—Kristen Callihan, New York Times Bestselling Author

LONG SHOT, a deeply emotional, thought-provoking standalone love story from Kennedy Ryan is available NOW!

Share this:

STILL, the sexy,emotional final installment of the GRIP series,

is available NOW!

Excerpt:

Read STILL Today!

Start the Series Today!

Read GRIP Today for only 99¢!

Join the GRIP Discussion Group:

Join the STILL Recovery Room:

Order Signed GRIP Series Paperbacks:

About Kennedy:

Connect with Kennedy:

Share this:

AMAZON | B&N | iBooks

Share this:

The Brightest Sunset

The Darkest Sunrise Duet – Book #2

Purchase it Now

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

Synopsis:

The Darkest Sunrise (The Darkest Sunrise Duet, #1)

Buy it Now

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

You won’t want to miss this amazing series!

———————

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Share this:

Share this:

SURPRISE! #AWKAP is LIVE!!! Who’s ready for Yara and David? Available NOW on

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA | iTunes | B&N

Share this:

Share this:

**The Darkest Sunrise (The Darkest Sunrise Duet, #1)**

SURPRISE! #AWKAP is LIVE!!! Who’s ready for Yara and David?
Available NOW on