Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway : Secret by Kindle Alexander

Posted on 06/13/2015 by shellbellereads

Title: Secret

Author: Kindle Alexander

Genre: M/M Romance

Release: June 9, 2015

Tristan Wilder, self-made millionaire and devastatingly handsome CEO of Wilder-Nation is on the verge of a very lucrative buyout. With tough negotiations ahead, he’s armed with his acquisition pitch, ready to launch the deal of a lifetime. There’s just one glitch. The last thing he expects is to fall for the hot business owner he’s trying to sway.

Dylan Reeves, computer science engineer and founder of the very successful social media site, Secret, is faced with a life-altering decision. A devoted family man with three kids and a wife, Dylan has been living a secret for years. Fiercely loyal to his convictions, his boundaries blur after meeting the striking owner of the corporation interested in acquiring his company. For the first time in his life, reckless desire consumes him when the gorgeous computer mogul makes an offer he can’t refuse.

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Tracey’s Review

Life for Dylan Reeves is pretty darned great. A wildly successful company, a family that he loves, and a wife that is truly his best friend. So what if he’s hiding something bigger than anyone could imagine? Tristan Wilder knows who he is and what he wants. The CEO of one of the biggest Internet companies going, he’s ready to make it even greater by acquiring Secret, the brainchild of Dylan Reeves. And, if he can acquire the man behind it, even better…

Having only read a couple of other books by Kindle Alexander, I was excited to be able to read Secret. The plot sounded great, very much apropos of today’s culture, what with all of the Internet and social media goings-on, as well as an interest in equal rights for all. Secret does have all of these things, but it is so much more. I have read books of the M/M romance genre before, and I can easily say that Secret is one of my favorites so far. I was absolutely in love with both Dylan and Tristan. Dylan is a man for whom family is everything. Having made a promise to himself that he would focus on doing right by his wife and children, he has willingly put his own personal happiness on the back burner for very long time. When Dylan and Tristan meet, all bets are off, though, because Tristan, absolutely comfortable in his own skin, guesses Dylan’s secret, and is bound and determined to help him figure it all out.

To say that the scenes between Dylan and Tristan are scorching is an understatement. These two are nothing short of combustible, and are great foils for each other. Between Tristan’s honesty and self-assurance and Dylan’s commitment and steadfastness, they inspire each other to be the best that they possibly can.

With a great cast of supporting characters and an engaging and entertaining storyline, as well as two wonderful men that show that love is love, no matter what, Secret gets 4.5 ‘wild, hot, did I say blistering, I love an HEA’ stars. If you haven’t read Kindle Alexander, do it now, and get ready to fall in love with her and her books.

*** ARC received in exchange for an honest review ***

Best Selling Author Kindle Alexander is an innovative writer, and a genre-crosser who writes classic fantasy, romance, suspense, and erotica in both the male/male and male/female genres. It’s always a surprise to see what’s coming next!

I live in the suburbs of Dallas where it’s true, the only thing bigger than an over active imagination, may be women’s hair!

Usually, I try for funny. Humor is a major part of my life – I love to laugh, and it seems to be the thing I do in most situations – regardless of the situation, but jokes are a tricky deal… I don’t want to offend anyone and jokes tend to offend. So instead I’m going to tell you about Kindle.

I tragically lost my sixteen year old daughter to a drunk driver. She had just been at home, it was early in the night and I heard the accident happen. I’ll never forget that moment. The sirens were immediate and something inside me just knew. I left my house, drove straight to the accident on nothing more than instinct. I got to be there when my little girl died – weirdly, I consider that a true gift from above. She didn’t have to be alone.

That time in my life was terrible. It’s everything you think it would be times about a billion. I love that kid. I loved being her mother and I loved watching her grow into this incredibly beautiful person, both inside and out. She was such a gift to me. To have it all ripped away so suddenly broke me.

Her name was Kindle. Honest to goodness – it was her name and she died a few weeks before Amazon released their brand new Kindle ereader. She had no idea it was coming out and she would have finally gotten her name on something! Try finding a ruler with the name Kindle on it.. It never happened.

Through the course of that crippling event I was lucky enough to begin to write with a dear friend in the fan fiction world of Facebook. She got me through those dark days with her unwavering support and friendship. There wasn’t a time she wasn’t there for me. Sometimes together and sometimes by myself, we built a world where Kindle lives and stands for peace, love and harmony. It’s its own kind of support group. I know without question I wouldn’t be here today without her.

Find out more by visiting http://www.kindlealexander.com or email me at kindle@kindlealexander.com

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Blog Tour + Review: Deep Down by Brenda Rather

Posted on 05/29/2015 by shellbellereads

Deep Down

by Brenda Rothert

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I’m
falling.

Faster.Further.Deeper.

Sometimes you fall so hard you can’t get back up. My closest companions now are
shame and loss. But a sliver of hope lies in the only person I have left in
this world – the one who’s growing inside me.

Survival becomes living again because of my child, and the town where I begin
anew. That’s where I meet the man who starts to melt the ice inside my heart.

As we get closer, reminders of my past become sharper. Clearer. To confront the
pain, I have to discover what’s deep down inside me. Is there enough left there
to become whole again, or am I too wounded to heal?

**Warning** This book has mature content that some readers may find troubling.
It is intended for readers 18 and up.

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Today I’d eaten lunch in a closed bathroom stall at school to avoid the stares. And instead I got to listen to Mandy Barton telling two other girls that she’d slept with Levi last night to comfort him over what his slutty girlfriend had done to him. They’d speculated about who the father of my child was, eventually deciding on Mr. Schultz, a teacher and coach at my school whom I’d never even spoken to. I was on the outskirts of our small city, walking past a rusted, abandoned factory, when a car slowed to a stop nearby. I turned to see a marked police car. A familiar sick taste rose in my throat. My dad was giving me a puzzled glance from a rolled down window, his elbow resting on the door. “Ivy, what are you doing out here? It’s the dead of winter and you’re miles from home.” “What are you doing here? Are you following me?” My icy tone was challenging. What was there to be afraid of now? He’d stolen the vulnerable, trusting part of me. He’d shown me that there was no one in my life I could count on. “I was on patrol and I saw you,” he said, glaring at me. “Get in the car and I’ll drive you home. We need to talk.” “Talk? Is that code?” I spat out bitterly. His face was a mix of contrition and anger. “Ivy. Let’s not do this. Get in the car.” “No.” “What’s this I hear about you being pregnant? Is it true?” A powerful wave of nausea swept through me. He didn’t deserve to know, and he certainly didn’t deserve to ask me about it.

Tracey’s Review

Having been warned beforehand that this book contains emotional triggers, I have to say that I was still unprepared for just what those might be. Brenda Rothert has managed to tackle a subject that is uncomfortable at best, unthinkable in actuality, with grace and sensitivity.

Ivy Gleason may well be one of the strongest heroines that I have ever had the opportunity to read. She has suffered loss of the greatest degree, and betrayal by those that should have only had her best interest at heart. The decisions that she makes are more mature and selfless than I could possibly imagine, given the circumstances that she’s endured. And the fact that she is able to love so openly and to trust again is nothing short of inspirational. Brenda’s ability to create a character that touched me so personally is a true testament to her craft.

And Reed, wonderful Reed. His love of Ivy, and his acceptance of her once he fully understands the truth of all that she has experienced, is the stuff that romantic heroes are made of. Their love story is gentle and takes time to mature, but is nonetheless sexy and heated.

Deep Down is the first in Brenda’s new Lockhart Brothers series, and I look forward to reading about all of the brothers. In the meantime, this is a 4.5-star emotional, heartbreaking, uplifting read, and I couldn’t recommend it any more highly.

*** ARC provided for an honest review ***

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Brenda
Rothert lives in Central Illinois with her husband and three sons. She was a
daily print journalist for nine years, during which time she enjoyed writing a
wide range of stories. These
days Brenda writes New Adult Romance in the Contemporary and Dystopian genres.
She loves to hear from readers by email at bjrothert@sbcglobal.net.

Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway: Marrow by Tarryn Fisher

Posted on 05/01/2015 by shellbellereads

Happy Release Day to Marrow by Tarryn Fisher! We are so excited to be sharing the release of another much anticipated book from this amazing author!!

♥ BUY THE BOOK ♥

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In the Bone there is a house.

In the house there is a girl.

In the girl there is a darkness.

Margo is not like other girls. She lives in a derelict neighborhood called the Bone, in a cursed house, with her cursed mother, who hasn’t spoken to her in over two years. She lives her days feeling invisible. It’s not until she develops a friendship with her wheelchair-bound neighbor, Judah Grant, that things begin to change. When neighborhood girl, seven-year-old Nevaeh Anthony, goes missing, Judah sets out to help Margo uncover what happened to her.

What Margo finds changes her, and with a new perspective on life, she’s determined to find evil and punish it–targeting rapists and child molesters, one by one.

But hunting evil is dangerous, and Margo risks losing everything, including her own soul.

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Robin’s Review

In her new psychological thriller, Tarryn Fisher writes about an imaginary town in Washington State named Bone Harbor. The inhabitants of The Bone are impoverished. There is little hope for a better life. As the children of The Bone grow older, their life force is drained. Faith is missing. Depression is commonplace. People are undereducated, desperate, mentally incapable and abused. Criminal activity is widespread. Folks numb themselves with alcohol. Malnourishment is prevalent. If you are raised in The Bone, in The Bone you will remain.

What was the inspiration behind writing Marrow? Children suffering for the sins of their parents. People hurting each other. Individuals crying out for help. The lack of a voice for those who are persecuted. Fisher wrote a letter to readers that can be found at the end of her novel. Marrow was borne as a way for her to cope with feelings of hopelessness for people who suffer. If Tarryn Fisher could not take vengeance on behalf of a suffering child, she decided Margo Moon would do it for her.

Margo narrates her own story. We first meet her at the age of thirteen. She lives with her prostitute mother in the “eating house” on Wessex Street. Margo gradually paints a picture of decline in the relationship with her mother after the early years of her life. She befriends Judah Grant, a handsome boy who is confined to a wheelchair. Judah lives just a few houses down the street from Margo, and he is her only friend. Judah becomes a source of encouragement and support for Margo, even when life in The Bone continues to be oppressive. When a young girl from their neighborhood goes missing, Margo and Judah join the search to find her. Margo is observant. Her eyes are slowly opening, and the truth that she sees sparks an anger that irrevocably changes her life.

Why choose the name Marrow? Marrow is a metaphor for the essential self. It’s your very essence. Marrow is a psychological thriller, but it’s also a character study of Margo Moon. Fisher’s background in psychology was beneficial in crafting this novel. Margo undergoes a dramatic transformation during her teenage years. She’s determined to find a way to leave The Bone. She is incredibly angry at the injustice she sees. She is no longer meek. Margo wants vengeance for all of the innocents. She follows her own moral code and delivers her own form of justice. Fisher calls it “poetic vengeance.”

Marrow is like nothing I have ever read. Tarryn Fisher’s writing style is creative, poetic and brilliant – it always has been – but she really steps up her game with Marrow. It’s a very intelligent story from both a societal and psychological perspective. Getting inside of Margo’s head was both dark and disturbing. Flashes of Fisher’s witty sense of humor are peppered throughout the story to help temper the darkness. It was fascinating for me to follow the slow deterioration of Margo’s reasoning – her descent into becoming a sociopath. Although there are places where the story was slow, I do feel much of Margo’s inner dialogue is necessary to see the gradual changes to her personality. When Marrow begins to feel like a psychological thriller? That’s when you really find out what’s in Margo’s marrow!

If you are interested in Marrow, you should consider reading Mud Vein (also written by Tarryn Fisher) first. Although Mud Vein and Marrow are meant to stand alone, the plots of both novels are loosely tied together. In my opinion, reading Mud Vein before Marrow will significantly improve your reading experience. If you love reading dark thrillers, I highly recommend 4.5 star Marrow!

Tarryn Fisher is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of six novels. Her newest novel, Marrow, just released in April 2015 and she is currently working on the second installment of Never Never. She is the co-founder of Clothed Caption, a fashion blog she runs with her friend, Madison Seidler. Tarryn resides in the Seattle area with her family. She loves rainy days, Coke, and thinks Instagram is the new Facebook. Tarryn is represented by Amy Tannenbaum of the Jane Rotrosen Agency.

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Giveaway

Kindle Copies of Marrow

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Blog Tour + Review: Say My Name by J. Kenner

Posted on 04/29/2015 by shellbellereads

Say My Name

Stark International Trilogy- Book 1

By J. Kenner

Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author J. Kenner kicks off a smoking hot, emotionally compelling new trilogy that returns to the world of her beloved Stark novels: Release Me, Claim Me, and Complete Me. Say My Name features Jackson Steele, a strong-willed man who goes after what he wants, and Sylvia Brooks, a disciplined woman who’s hard to get—and exactly who Jackson needs.

I never let anyone get too close—but he’s the only man who’s ever made me feel alive.

Meeting Jackson Steele was a shock to my senses. Confident and commanding, he could take charge of any room . . . or any woman. And Jackson wanted me. The mere sight of him took my breath away, and his touch made me break all my rules.

Our bond was immediate, our passion untamed. I wanted to surrender completely to his kiss, but I couldn’t risk his knowing the truth about my past. Yet Jackson carried secrets too, and in our desire we found our escape, pushing our boundaries as far as they could go.

Learning to trust is never easy. In my mind, I knew I should run. But in my heart, I never felt a fire this strong—and it could either save me or scorch me forever.

Say My Name is intended for mature audiences.

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

Michel’s Review

Say My Name by J. Kenner is a spinoff of the Stark Trilogy featuring Damien Stark’s PA, Sylvia Brooks.

Sylvia has always been interested in real estate. When an opportunity to purchase an island off the California coast becomes available, she presents it to her boss, Damien Stark. Stark tells her to run with it and makes her head of the project. The project would include purchasing the island and developing it into an exclusive family resort. Sylvia has worked her tail off and wants this project more than anything. That includes finding the right investors, the right architect, the right kind of promotions, and all the t’s crossed & i’s dotted. Everything seems to be falling into place until the architect pulls out of the project because of a zen moment. If she does not find the perfect architect for this project it will all go down the drain. She has one architect in mind but it is almost impossible to obtain him on this project. Jackson Steele hates the Stark Industry. He hates Damien Stark. He refuses to work with them. There is a bigger reason why he won’t take the project. Sylvia.

Sylvia and Jackson have a past that ended on a bad note five years ago. She asked him to walk away from her and never look back. Jackson Steele is a man of his word and did what Sylvia asked of him. He walked away with a million regrets and a heart full of hurt. Five years later, the only thing he wants from Sylvia is to see her suffer the way he did after he walked away.

Sylvia will do everything in her power to get Jackson Steele on board with the project. She will swallow her pride. She will surrender her body. The one thing she will not do is lose herself to Jackson Steele. She will not let him know the secrets from her past that made her the woman she is today. Can she keep Jackson distant enough not to destroy her heart?

Jackson and Sylvia both have secrets. They both are harboring some bad memories of the past. Their secrets could destroy each other as well as the new project. The one thing they are learning is that five years didn’t make one difference as far as their hearts are concerned. Maybe it’s time to reveal the secrets and move forward.

Jackson and Sylvia are coming to solutions that will work for both of them. Solutions that will also make the project a success. Someone knows their secrets. Someone is out to destroy the Stark Resort project. Who is it and how far will they go? Cliffhanger!

The second book in the Stark International Trilogy, On My Knees, will release June 23, 2015. I am looking forward to this sensual intrically woven suspense trilogy.

Read Say My Name by J. Kenner. It will not disappoint!

Author Bio:

J. Kenner spent more than ten years as a litigator in Southern California and Central Texas, using her rare free time to indulge her passion for writing. California born, she now lives—and writes—in Texas, with her husband and daughters.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway: Deadly Obsession by Victoria Paige

Posted on 04/27/2015 by shellbellereads

Ella was his
weakness.

She could
shatter him into a million pieces.

And she was
the only glue that could put him back together again.

Title: Deadly Obsession

Author: Victoria Paige

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: April 16, 2015

Cover Designer: Robin Ludwig Design

Editor: Hot Tree Editing

*Warning. Romantic suspense with dark themes. Extremely obsessive and jealous hero. Strong sexual content and language. 18 years+

The first time Jake sees Ella he is struck by her beauty.

He becomes obsessed.

His obsession becomes a deadly affair.

You see, Ella belongs to someone else.

Someone determined to keep her … or kill her.

Only 99 cents during the tour!

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Kelley’s Review

Dark, Sexy, and Suspenseful..

Victoria Paige is an extremely talented author. She has become a one-click author for me. If she releases a book I will purchase it without hesitation. Deadly Obsession is a masterfully written suspenseful and dark thriller. This book had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next.

Deadly Obsession starts out with a lot of sex in the very beginning you begin to wonder if Jake is just a sex crazed power-hungry millionaire and if this is just going to be another one of those stories…I can tell you it’s not like any other story I have read. Jake is originally attracted to Ella’s beauty and Ella is attracted to Jake’ rough exterior. She craves normalcy in her sexual encounters. Jake gives her what she needs without pain and she becomes just as addicted to him as he is to her.

This story is very dark. Ella is trained to be a sadist and is sent undercover by the FBI into a very dangerous situation where she seduces a man who has some very dark tastes when it comes to sex. Samuel Clayton is twisted and sick. You end up hating him so much that you cheer when Jake gets his hands on him. There is no rape involved in this story. I don’t think I could handle that but there is a lot of pain and twisted sexual scenarios. To top things off there is a serial killer on the lose that is obsessed with Ella because she is the only woman who Samuel would not share with him. The killer is a level 4 sadist and Samuel would share his women with this man and would not ask questions when they turned up missing as he himself feared him. The question is who is this mystery man Samuel calls him and can the FBI find him before he finds Ella.

Get ready for a twisted and dark thriller that you soon will not forget.

You need to one-click this one while it is only $.99 cents. It is more than worth it.

Goodreads * Amazon * Facebook * Website * Twitter

I work as a freelance database administrator, and when I’m not geeking out, I write romantic suspense novels. I live in Richmond, Va–less than two hours away from Washington DC–so most of the settings of my books are in the nation’s capital–of course, I’m not averse to creating fictional towns and cities. 😉

When I’m not arguing with the alpha male characters in my head, I love to watch high-octane action movies.

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Blog Tour + Excerpt + Giveaway: Pros & Cons by Sydney Logan

Posted on 04/27/2015 by shellbellereads

Pros and Cons

By Sydney Logan

Synopsis

Con artists Jenna York and Ethan Summers always seem to cross paths during their travels around the world. With their partners in tow, the cunning criminals wreak havoc across the globe, stealing from the rich and giving to the richer. While Jenna tries to convince herself that she sees him as nothing more than a professional rival, Ethan finds it a little harder to fight his attraction to the beautiful thief.

When tragedy strikes, Jenna and Ethan join forces, but are the stakes too high? Can they escape this last job with their lives—and their hearts—intact?

Buy: Amazon / B & N

Excerpt

“It’s this girl.”

“A girl?” My mother’s face brightens.

“Yeah, but it’s complicated.”

“Love usually is.”

I snort. “Love? This isn’t love. This is . . .”

Intense sexual attraction to the point of pain.

“Lust?” Mom smiles knowingly.

I frown. “No, it’s not that, either. Not entirely, anyway.”

“So it’s somewhere between love and lust.”

“It’s far, far away from love. Eons away from love.”

“Hmm.”

I’m immediately on the defensive. That hum is what she reserves for her patients—or for me—when she

doesn’t believe what we’re saying.

“Don’t do that. Don’t hum. I am not in love with this girl.”

Mom raises her hands in surrender. “Okay, you’re not in love with this girl.”

“Thank you.”

“But she’s obviously gotten under your skin. You look like someone who’s lost their puppy. Your hair is standing on end—a sure sign you’re frustrated. And you haven’t touched your pancakes.

“Maybe I’m just not hungry.”

“Hmm.”

“Fine! I can’t stop thinking about her, and I don’t have the first clue what to do about it.”

Chuckling softly, Mom pours me another glass of juice. “Why don’t you tell me about her, and then maybe we’ll figure out what you should do about it.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Whatever you want to share. I know how private you are.”

“You know why I have to be.”

“For our protection. And for yours. I know. But just this once, I’d love if you’d let me be your mother. So please tell me what it is about this girl that has you twisted into such knots.”

I’m really not sure where to start, so I go with the basics.

“Her name’s Jenna.”

Too basic, if the shocked expression on my mother’s face is any indication. Naturally, she’d recognize the name.

“Jenna York?”

I nod.

Mom sighs. “And here I was hoping this girl might actually convince you to leave this life behind. Of course you’d fall for another con artist. You do remember that Bonnie and Clyde got shot in the end, don’t you?”

“We aren’t Bonnie and Clyde, and I haven’t fallen for her.”

Mom eyes me skeptically before waving for me to continue.

“Anyway,” I mutter, already regretting this, “there’s a connection there. We understand each other on a level that nobody else can.”

“I’ll bet.”

“Do you want to hear this or not?”

Mom reaches over and pats my hand. “I’m sorry. Of course I do. Tell your story. I’ll keep my opinions to myself.”

“What story?” Dad asks, making his way into the kitchen. Mom springs from her seat to pour him a cup of coffee. “Good morning, Ethan.”

“Morning.”

Dad kisses Mom’s cheek, and she hands him an omelet.

“Thank you, sweetheart. So?” he asks as he takes his place at the table. “What story?”

“Ethan’s having trouble with a girl.”

His head swivels toward me. “Is that so? You know, son, I always thought a girl was exactly what you needed. A sweet, sensible girl who can convince you to settle down and start living a normal life.”

Mom laughs, and that’s when I officially give up.

“Enjoy your breakfast. I’m going to the den.”

“But you didn’t eat your—”

“I’ll eat later.”

I head downstairs and search through the media cabinet until I find the stack of video games I played as a teenager. The next hour is spent playing Grand Theft Auto, and it’s just the violent distraction I need to take my mind off everything. Conversations with my parents always make me nuts. While I’m used to discussions about my chosen profession, I’m not prepared to talk to them about my feelings for Jenna.

Whatever those feelings might be.

Even the game bores me after a while, so I toss my controller aside and reach for my cell. I quickly scan through my messages. There’s nothing from her—not that I really expected there to be. There is a text from Coop that looks interesting . . . something about a Greek billionaire eager to get his hands on some diamond. Technically, we’re on vacation, so I make a mental note to ask for details later.

I keep scrolling until I find the message I’m looking for, and I can’t help but grin at the picture of Jenna and the Mexican waitress. Their kiss was silly. Nothing more than a joke.

Our kiss wasn’t a joke. Not at all.

I decide to send her a message.

I can still taste your lip gloss.

It’s only after I hit send that I realize I really can taste it, and I want to taste it again.

About Sydney Logan

Amazon best-selling author Sydney Logan holds a Master’s degree in Elementary Education. She is the author of five novels – Lessons Learned, Mountain Charm, Soldier On, Once Upon a December, and Pros & Cons. Sydney has also penned several short stories and is a contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul.

A native of East Tennessee, Sydney enjoys playing piano and relaxing on her porch with her wonderful husband and their very spoiled cat.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Blog Tour + Giveaway: That Time With Sugar by Tess Oliver

Posted on 03/24/2015 by shellbellereads

“Sugar, Jules and I had run for our lives. Only our shadows had followed us. And no matter how hard we tried, we couldn’t outpace them.”

All-around bad boy, and twenty-five-year-old heir to the Jameson fortune, Tommy Jameson, knows three things:
– His family is disappointed in him.
– Overcoming his addictions won’t necessarily crush his vices.
– He is wildly in love with Sugar Scarborough, a girl who is dealing with her own addictions and an insatiable need to please.
Danger sends Tommy, Sugar and their friend, Julian Fitzpatrick, a heavily medicated, socially dysfunctional genius, fleeing from Green Willow Recovery Center. Now, together, they will face the outside world and uncover a horrifying mystery while being forced to confront their inner demons

** READ THE FIRST TWO CHAPTERS OF THAT TIME WITH SUGAR HERE **

* $50 AMAZON GIFTCARD*

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Tess Oliver is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Freefall.
She is a former teacher, who now dedicates her morning caffeine rush to writing romance instead of teaching math and reading. Tess lives in California, the land of perpetual sunshine and traffic, with her husband, kids and five dogs. She is a longtime romance junkie, who likes her hero to be an alpha with a twist of compassion and if he has long hair and rides a horse or a motorcycle all the better. She writes young adult, new adult and adult romance in both contemporary and historical settings. When she’s not reading or writing romance, she can be found hiking, vacuuming up dog hair or baking goodies for her family.

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Blog Tour + Review + Givaway: Hearts of Fire by L. H. Cosway

Posted on 03/19/2015 by shellbellereads

Hearts of Fire

A Spinoff of Six of Hearts

By L. H. Cosway

Synopsis

***A contemporary romance***

The Circus Spektakulär is proud to present Jack McCabe: Fire-breather, knife-thrower, risk-taker.

My house burned down when I was just a boy, robbing me of both my parents.

Now I breathe fire, eat the poison that almost killed me.

Crowds come to see me night after night. Men for the spectacle, women for the thrill. I’m an oddity to be stared at and desired. With each flame I spit, I risk my life.

I wear scars on my body that will never go away, but the scars inside my head are far more difficult to overlook.

My brother doesn’t know me, and if I have it my way he never will.

Life was going exactly the way I’d planned until Lille came along. She wanted to run away with the circus, have an adventure, but this world was never meant for her.

I try to keep her safe, because she doesn’t know the dangers that are out here on the road. She doesn’t know the monsters that lurk behind the bright lights of the ring. In truth, I could be considered one of them.

We were fashioned from different cloths, never intended to mix. So I watch her. I try not to touch, even when her eyes invite me.

Join us in the Spiegeltent and let us give you a show. Allow my Lille to draw a picture for you in paint and sweat and skin.

The truest love is always the hardest to let in.

**This is a standalone romance that tells the story of Jack McCabe, Jay Fields’ long lost, presumed dead brother. It is not necessary to have read Six of Hearts in order to enjoy Hearts of Fire.**

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Smashwords

https://vimeo.com/121182628

Excerpt

“Oh,” I said and tightened the towel around me again. When I turned, Jack’s gaze wandered from my wet temples, along the side of my cheek, and down my neck before finally settling in the region of my chest. I felt touched. Hot and flushed. I looked up at him from under my lashes and he met my eyes then. There was something intense about the way he looked at me, but again, it could have all been my active and fatally hopeful imagination.

“Got a nice little look at you earlier,” he said and I seriously thought I might die of mortification. My skin prickled with awareness.

“What?” I replied, my voice so, so quiet.

He didn’t say anything for a second, just hummed low in his throat and it was the sexiest sound I’d heard, possibly ever. Then he took my hand into his. I’d taken the bandage off, but I still had a red burn mark down the centre of my palm. Holding it up, he seemed fascinated as he ran a finger down it gently. It only stung a tiny bit, and the combination of him touching me and the sting caused a strange tingling between my legs. Yep, my vagina was definitely on Team McCabe, even if my brain was waving around big red BEWARE signs like a maniac.

His mouth moved and there was something intrigued in his expression, like he just figured out he’d aroused me and it both interested and surprised him. He moved closer, eating up my space…and just stared at me.

And man, could he stare. I felt like he was telling me a silent story and it was captivating.

“Could I get by you, please? I need to go get dressed,” I said, breaking the quiet. It could have been minutes or hours that I was standing there, but I’d never know. Time moved in strange patterns when I was around this man.

Robin’s Review

Author L. H. Cosway thrilled me with magical illusions performed by Jay Fields in her novel Six of Hearts. Jay is charismatic. Descriptions of his performances are colorful and energetic. Full of electricity. The writing in Six of Hearts was so realistic that I felt like I was sitting in the audience during his performances. It was such a unique novel, and I enjoyed the chemistry between Jay Fields and Mathilda Brandon. When I wrote my review for Six of Hearts, I was completely unaware it was the first novel of a series. I was pleasantly surprised to learn Cosway has now written a novel about the brother of Jay Fields. Although it may be read as a standalone novel, Hearts of Fire is the second contemporary romance in the Hearts series.

Jack McCabe is just as charismatic as his older brother. He lost his family to a house fire when he was a child. Jack was abandoned by his uncle because he was so badly burned. He grew up in foster care. Now he throws knives and breathes fire for a circus that travels across Europe. He is handsome. Dark. Mysterious. And Jack is the exact opposite of Lille Baker. Lille is twenty-one-years-old. She’s kind. Craves adventure. She has a bucket list of things she would love to do. But more than anything, Lille is desperate to get away from her controlling and abusive mother who dictates her life with rules.

Marina is the owner of Circus Spektakulӓr. She and Jack visit the small diner where Lille works as a waitress. On the last day the circus is in town, Marina invites Lille to come see their show. She notices just how much Lille enjoys painting faces on children who come to eat at the diner, and she makes Lille an offer she can’t refuse – “come to France with us.” Marina offers Lille a job to paint the faces of the children who visit the circus.

How often have you read a novel where the characters never truly grab your attention? Or the characters are dull or lifeless? Cosway gives her characters plenty of personality – they practically leap off the page! Jack McCabe is intriguing. Mysterious. Broody. He’s full of energy. Darkness. He loves fire. I was definitely drawn to Jack, and I couldn’t wait to find out more about him. Lille is finally experiencing adventure. She is quirky and so easy to love. It didn’t take long for me to connect emotionally with her character. I thought Marina and Lola were full of vitality, and they each added to the quality of the story. Even King, the circus alcoholic, was intriguing.

Hearts of Fire has an artistic feel to it. It’s suspenseful. Sexy. Romantic. It’s a story about forgiveness and healing. Reconciliation. You will find darkness in Hearts of Fire. Crime. I love mysteries, and my favorite scene in Hearts of Fire is how the crime is solved. I feel the writing is solid throughout the entire story. It flows extremely well, which makes Hearts of Fire a quick and entertaining read. And if you loved Jay Fields and Mathilda Brandon in Six of Hearts, you will be excited to learn they are guest stars in Hearts of Fire! I am delighted to give L. H. Cosway a 4.5 star rating!

L.H. Cosway has a BA in English Literature and Greek and Roman Civilisation, and an MA in Postcolonial Literature. She lives in Dublin city. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books.

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Giveaway

The author is giving away (open internatonally):

1st prize: Hearts of Fire tote bag

Signed copy of Six of Hearts

Signed copy of Hearts of Fire

Hearts of Fire pocket mirror

2nd prize: Signed copy of Hearts of Fire

Hearts of Fire pocket mirror

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The Latest by Rebecca Shea…Broken By Lies – Bound and Broken Series – Book 1

Posted on 03/16/2015 by shellbellereads

Broken By Lies

Bound and Broken Series – Book 1

By Rebecca Shea

Synopsis

I had no idea how much I would love Alex the day he walked into my life.
He changed everything.
The way I breathed.
The way I thought.
The way I loved.
He brought me back to life.
He gave me strength and a safe place to land.

And then he broke me.

Finding Emilia was a chance to do something good for once in my life.
I wanted to change.
She believed I was her savior.
I ached to be.
She found her way into my heart and claimed it as her safe place.
I should be telling her the truth about me…instead I break her with lies.

This book is a New Adult Romance and contains mature subject matter. It is not intended for those under 17 years of age.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

About Rebecca Shea

Rebecca Shea is the USA Today Bestselling author of Unbreakable and Undone. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her family and her beagle, Miles. From the time Rebecca could read she has had a passion for books. Rebecca spends her days working full-time and her nights writing, bringing stories to life. Born and raised in Minnesota, Rebecca moved to Arizona in 1999 to escape the bitter winters. When not working or writing, she can be found on the sidelines of her sons football games, or watching her daughter at ballet class. Rebecca is fueled by insane amounts of coffee, margaritas, Laffy Taffy (except the banana ones), and happily ever afters.

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Blog Tour + Review: Something Real by Lexi Ryan – Reckless & Real Series – Book 2

Posted on 03/13/2015 by shellbellereads

Something Real

Reckless & Real Series – Book #2

By Lexi Ryan

Adult Contemporary

Release: March 3, 2015

After everything blew up on Christmas, Liz walked away from me, and I let her. She said she needed space and a chance to pursue her dreams. But we both knew she was running from the mess she made. Now the political campaign she used as an ex- cuse to leave is bringing us back together and I’m proving to her what she really needs—not just the hot nights, greedy hands, and undeniable physical chemistry. What she really needs is something real. What she really needs…is me.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo / Google Play

Excerpt

Sam

Security had better not have let one of those asshole journalists from downstairs up to my floor. I swear, those soul suckers would do anything to get a new detail to add to their nothing stories. I open the door without removing the chain and feel as if I’ve been punched in the gut when I see the woman on the other side.

Liz is worrying her lower lip between her teeth and watching down the hall. Is she looking for Sabrina or trying to make sure no one sees her coming to my room? My insides twist at the sight of her—an internal tug-of-war between conflicting emotions. I want to pull her into my room and kiss her until she can’t see straight, touch her until she promises never to leave me again, and at the same time, I want to demand that she go back to her room because having her close makes me hope for things I can’t have.

I remove the chain and tug her inside by the arm before closing the door behind her.

“No one saw me,” she says, her eyes locked on the floor. “I made sure.”

“I saw you,” I growl. It’s painful to be this close—to breathe her air, to smell her perfume. I never knew how much it could hurt to want and be denied.

She swallows and avoids my eyes. “Is she here?”

“What do you want, Liz?”

She lifts her head and stares at me. “Is she here?”

“Sabrina’s on her way to meet her mom in South Dakota for a campaign stop.”

Her gaze dips to my bare chest and back up. “I’m surprised they didn’t ask you to go with them.”

“They did. I declined.” I sound like a fucking dickhead, and I make myself take two steps back so I don’t do something equally dickish. Like kiss her until she melts in my arms and forgets about the other guy, until we both forget that this is hopeless.

“I’m sorry that video was leaked. You didn’t deserve that invasion of your privacy.”

She has red lipstick on, and it matches her shoes. Ever since I saw her tonight, I’ve been picturing her on her knees in nothing but those shoes, those red lips stretched around my cock. I can’t help myself, and I skim my thumb over her bottom lip.

The second I touch her, she draws in a ragged breath. “You came to my apartment yesterday.”

“I did.”

“Why?”

I trail my thumb down her neck and over the red strap of her dress. “Probably for the same reason you came here tonight.”

“To talk about Sabrina?”

“You knocked on my door in the middle of the night to talk about Sabrina?” I follow the strap down and graze my fingers across her cleavage. “Is this about her, or is it about you and me?”

“There is no you and me,” she says. “We both know that.”

“There’s so much you and me, there’s no air left when we share a room. There’s always you and me.”

“Even when you’re making sex tapes with someone else?”

“And even when you’re keeping warm in another man’s arms.”

Kelley’s Review

Lexi once again weaves a tale full of angst, and intrigue, that is emotionally intense and will have you wondering if this couple really will get their happily ever after.

If you have not read Something Reckless you need to read that first in order to truly enjoy this story. I will warn you that your jaw will be on the floor when you finish the last page of Something Reckless. Having to wait for Something Real just about killed me.

Sam and Liz have always had flirty banter between the two of them but Liz never saw Sam as serious potential relationship material. When Liz and Sam finally do come together their chemistry is combustible and Sam starts to finally let someone in. But all that changes after Liz spends too much time on an online dating app and thinks that she is dirty texting with Sam when in fact she is not. When Sam finds out he is livid and their happily ever after comes to a screeching halt.

Just when you think that Sam and Liz have spent enough time apart and realize that it is worth it to try to make things work a sex tape is leaked and the entire game is changed. If Sam has to marry Sabrina where does that leave Lizzie?

This is one of those reads that you just can’t put down. It is plot twist after plot twist and you will find yourself deeply engrossed in the story. Every time there is a light at the end of the tunnel Lexi throws a curve ball that changes the game. Lexi is one of my go to authors. I have read every single book she has ever published including her paranormal romances which I have been begging her to give us more of. She has a talent for weaving complex stories with complicated characters that pull at your heartstrings. If you like to read stories that have you on the edge of your seat as you wait to see whatis going to happen next you will enjoy this series.

Something Real Playlist

From Lexi:

Because I so frequently have to switch gears at the drop of a hat—from Mom to writer, from the business side of writing to drafting an intensely emotional scene—I rely on music to quickly plant me in the zone for any given book. Every time I start to write a book, I create a playlist that makes me think of the characters and I listen to it and add to it as I write. Here’s what I was listening to while I was writing Something Real. I hope you like it!

Amnesia—5 Seconds of Summer

Over You—Ingrid Michaelson (feat. A Great Big World)

How Long Will I Love You—Ellie Goulding

You Ruin Me—The Veronicas

Don’t—Ed Sheeran

All You Had to Do Was Stay—Taylor Swift

Changed by You—Between the Trees

Thinking Out Loud—Ed Sheeran

Crazy in Love—Sofia Karlberg

Love Me Like You Do—Ellie Goulding

Something Reckless

Reckless & Real Series – Book #1

Release: December 22, 2014

He talks dirty to me, but I don’t know his name.
He wants to tie me up, but I don’t know his face.
He turns me on, but I couldn’t point him out in a crowd.
I’ve fallen for an anonymous stranger, and tonight the anonymity ends. Tonight I want more than typed secrets and texted promises. I want something reckless. Heat. Passion. The thrill of being entirely possessed.
Because I suspect this anonymous stranger isn’t a stranger at all.

Lizzy Thompson met riverrat69 online through Something Real, a service promising to deliver meaningful relationships by forbidding its users to share names or photos until they’ve reached a certain benchmark. She was looking for love. He was researching an investment. They hit it off. Talked and flirted, hid behind screen names and cartoon avatars.
Now they’re breaking the rules and meeting in person. But Liz is prepared. She’s picked up hints and followed clues.
She’s ninety-percent convinced she’s discovered the identity of her dirty-talking online friend.
She wonders if her ex-lover Sam Bradshaw knows her identity too.
When she rolls the dice on one reckless night, her chance at something real could crumble.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo / Google Play

About the Author

Once a college English professor, I now write full time. I live in rural Indiana, where, when I’m not writing, I get to hang out with my husband and two kids–a six-year-old boy and

a two-year-old hellion, er, girl. Not surprisingly, reading and writing remain my favorite activities, though both come in bits and pieces these days, not the big hunks of time I en- joyed before I had children. When I’m feeling virtuous, I like to go running (I use that word liberally. I’m really, really slow) or do yoga. Don’t worry, I’m always careful to balance out such activities with a hearty serving of ice cream or a chocolate martini.

Website: http://lexiryan.com

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

Twitter: @writerlexiryan; https://twitter.com/writerlexiryan

Saucy Southern Readers

professional, honest, and timely book reviews

Tag Archives: Blog Tour

Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway : Secret by Kindle Alexander

Blog Tour + Review: Deep Down by Brenda Rather

Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway: Marrow by Tarryn Fisher

Blog Tour + Review: Say My Name by J. Kenner

Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway: Deadly Obsession by Victoria Paige

Blog Tour + Giveaway: That Time With Sugar by Tess Oliver

Blog Tour + Review + Givaway: Hearts of Fire by L. H. Cosway

The Latest by Rebecca Shea…Broken By Lies – Bound and Broken Series – Book 1

About Rebecca Shea

Blog Tour + Review: Something Real by Lexi Ryan – Reckless & Real Series – Book 2

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