Happy Release : Wild Irish Envy by Sibylla Matilde = Copperline Series – Book 2

Posted on 05/07/2015 by shellbellereads

*** Mature Content; Strong Language; Sexual Content with m/f, m/f/m, and exhibitionism/voyeurism***

“She is the forbidden fruit. The one girl I want and the one I can never have. Never mind that I saw her first. That I met her first. That I wanted her first.”

Denny Byrne is Dublin-born, but found his life and his music in the Rocky Mountains. He arrived in Montana on a student visa where he met the rest of his band, the Bangin’ Mofos… and where he met Felicity Williams.

She was so very tempting, but just young enough to be untouchable. Their brief encounter tortured him for months, only to leave him bereft when a friend swooped in to claim her. But a traitorous envy consumed him. A hunger that never faded. An overwhelming ache that caused Denny to pull away just when his friend needed him the most.

After four years of denial, ‘Fliss’ is once again before him. In a moment of weakness, she relies on him in a way he’s always coveted, but never expected. Hardened by tragedy and wary of his assistance, she forces his hand, causing Denny’s control to slip.

Contrition and conscience have kept them apart for far too long. But when a simple agreement is eclipsed by an undeniable yearning, can he let go of the past and finally seize what has always really been his to take?

Cover Photo by: Sara Eirew Photographer

*** Mature Content; Strong Language; Strong Sexual Content with m/f, m/f/m, and a taste of f/f/m***

She was the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen. Pure class. Old money. I never stood a chance… until she broke up with her dickhead of a boyfriend and went off the rails.

Brannon Forrester doesn’t expect much from life. He coasts through aimlessly. No real ties. Nothing to hold him back. Hanging out with his best friend, lead singer of a local bar band, he lives for pleasure, out of the spotlight but with all the excess of the band’s small-town fame. After all, why should he be good when the only woman he really wants will never give him the time of day?

Then, one night at an after party, Sophie Buchanan walks through the door. In an attempt to throw caution to the wind and dream out loud, she looks to him as a guide to the wild side. As someone who can show her all the excitement and recklessness her world has been missing. He plunges her into a reality of fervent passion… and heartbreaking betrayal.

Their roles have been set. He has only ever been a good time. She has only ever been a pretty face. It would be insane for them to fall in love. But when emotion complicates lust, can the caution of the mind suppress the will of the heart?

Author Bio:
Sibylla Matilde grew up in the mountain valleys of Southwest Montana exploring the dusty Old West gold country on the back of a horse. She attended a two-room schoolhouse beginning in 1st grade & had the same teacher until she changed schools after 7th. Beginning at about age 12, Sibylla discovered historical romance, feeding off of work of Jude Deveraux & Lisa Kleypas. She loves a book that can make the reader run the gamut of emotions, from the sweet glow of new love to gut-wrenching heartache. She is a true romantic & always has stories floating around in her head, living in a fantasyland until she writes them down to free them.

Music is her emotional trigger. Growing up with a Wagnarian-loving mother, Sibylla was raised to treasure music that digs deep into the psyche, drawing out elation, sorrow, grief, desire. The soundtrack to her life includes many genres spanning centuries. She looooooooves Thirty Seconds to Mars (rather obsessively, actually… but, really, how can you NOT be crazy about this guy!? Jared Leto. Shhh. ) & pimps them out to all her friends through Spotify. She also delights in Met Opera HD broadcasts at her local movie theater & hopes (listening Met?) to someday see Diana Damrau reprise her role as Mozart’s Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte.

Sibylla lives with her husband and hero who saved her from her own calamitous, young-adult self. He makes her laugh daily, even when things are tough. He’s proved to her that love really can heal a shattered soul. In 18 years, they have never had a fight, although argue regularly with their two teenage kids who have, unfortunately, inherited their father’s quick wit (unfortunate as it is a quick wit that Sibylla, herself, definitely does not possess – there is a reason she is a writer & not a stand-up comedian). They live a quiet life with their two weird little rescued Chiweenies. Wait… teenagers & little yap-dogs? OK, maybe not so quiet.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Happy Release + 6 Star Review: After The War by Jessica Scott – The Homefront Series – Book 2

Posted on 05/05/2015 by shellbellereads

Jessica Scott

After the War

Homefront Series – Book 2

5/5/2015

Blurb:

The second book in the emotional new Homefront series from USA Today Bestselling author Jessica Scott

A terrible loss…

Captain Sarah Anders lost her husband to the Iraq war and has nearly lost the career she loves. Sent to Fort Hood, she only wants to do her job and take care of the daughter she’s raising on her own. She never counted on running straight into a memory she’d tried to forget.

A love he never forgot…

Captain Sean Nichols never got over Sarah. He simply tried to forget her amidst the war and the chaos of combat. But when she’s assigned to investigate his unit, he comes face to face with the woman no war or any amount of time could make him forget.

A dark secret…

As Sarah gets closer to the truth, Sean must accept that actions he took during the war may end the tentative love building between them. And even if Sarah can forgive him, Sean may never be able to forgive himself.

Buy:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes/iBooks | Google Play

Excerpt:

“I’m sorry you have to go through this alone.”

“Thank you for saying that.” She blinked quickly, and she heard a rustle of blankets. Her mind detoured into a very unprofessional space. “Did you just get into bed?”

He laughed quietly. “Yeah. Are you?”

“Yeah.” There was something illicit in that simple agreement. Illicit and enticing all at once.

“So we’re in bed together?”

“Ha ha ha.” She cleared her throat, though, as a fresh heat traced over her skin, warm and needy. “Tell me more about Kearney.”

“Damn, and here I thought you were going to ask me what I was wearing to bed.”

She hesitated. Only for a moment, not giving herself time to talk herself out of her next words. “What are you wearing to bed?”

A silence that let her mind wander. “Sweats.” He paused. When he spoke, his voice was husky and thick. “Tell me what you’re wearing.”

“Yoga pants and a T-shirt,” she said softly, her cheeks turning hot. Was she really having this conversation?

“Sarah?”

“Yeah?”

“This doesn’t feel wrong to me. I just wanted you to know that.”

Michel’s Review

After The War by Jessica Scott is the second book in her new Homefront Series.

After The War is Jessica Scott’s best book to date. It was a powerful and emotional book that was obviously a very personal look into the person Jessica Scott is. Jessica poured a lot of herself into this novel and gave the readers a real look at the hardships of being a female officer, a mother, and a woman. The difficulties of combining a military career and family life are hard enough but add being a single parent to a pre schooler adds more to an already full plate. She also showed that even though one can be a soldier prepared for war that you are never prepared for the loss personally. The fears are very real. The devastation is even harder because no matter how the pieces fall you still have to soldier on. You still have to be a parent to your child.

Captain Sarah Anders has struggled and had adversity since she began her military career. She lost one man she loved because of her career. He could not accept her choice of being a soldier. He wanted a wife and children at home while he was pursuing his own career as a soldier. She lost her husband, the only man that accepted her choices and career, to the casualties of war. She gave birth to her daughter alone. She has spent the last five years trying to combine her career and be the best parent to her ability.

When she is fired from one position and sent to Fort Hood it is like a slap in the face for her endeavors in the Army. She is assigned to a senior officer that believes no single parent , especially a woman, should be in the Army. Her superior officer (although being a woman herself) is much harder on her female officers than she is on her male officers. Sarah is assigned to investigate a case of the arrests of two soldiers fighting in a local bar. It should be a cut and dry case but as the investigation begins to unfold there is much more buried below the surface. One the main problems is dealing with the soldiers commanding officer. That officer is the same man that could not accept her career choices and walked away. Now nine years later they are forced to work together.

A lot of changes can take place over nine years. Sarah is living proof of that. She is a mother and widow. She is an officer walking a fine line in her career because of Army politics and her home life.

Captain Sean Nichols has also changed. He was once an idealistic naive young soldier that thought he could change the world. He thought going to war would make a difference. War has a way of changing a man’s perspective on life and his view of the world. He may be a career warrior but he is also a compassionate man. He understands the nightmares and devastation that stays within a man’s soul after the war. He is trying to keep his men sane, focused, and prepared. Two of his soldiers are falling off course. It is more than homefront problems affecting these men. Something happened while they were on the front that is causing these men conflicts.

Sean never dreamed he would see Sarah again. He is shocked to find out she married soon after they broke it off. He was even more shocked that she was a mother. Then when he found out who her husband was, he was devastated. He witnessed her husband’s death. Now he wants a second chance to get to know Sarah once more. He has changed and respects her career. He also admires her sense of dedication to her young daughter. He wants another chance with Sarah.

Can Sarah put aside her fears, mistrusts, and resentments and give Sean another chance? Will she be able to hold onto her career and have a personal life? Can she still be a good parent and a good soldier at the same time? She thought she knew how to do it. Coming to Fort Hood has changed everything. It could be for the worse or it could be for the better. Sarah has tough choices to make. The one thing that seems most important is taking a second chance at love.

After The War was a powerful story of a strong woman surviving her losses, her career choices, and being the best person she can be.

I admire Jessica Scott for writing this story.

__________________________________________________________________

About Jessica Scott:

USA Today Bestselling author Jessica Scott is a career army officer, mother of two daughters, three cats and three dogs, wife to a career NCO and wrangler of all things stuffed and fluffy. She is a terrible cook and even worse housekeeper, but she’s a pretty good shot with her assigned weapon and someone liked some of the stuff she wrote. Somehow, her children are pretty well adjusted and her husband still loves her, despite burned water and a messy house.

She’s also written for the New York Times At War Blog, PBS Point of View Regarding War, and IAVA. She deployed to Iraq in 2009 as part of OIF/New Dawn and has had the honor of serving as a company commander at Fort Hood, Texas twice.

She’s pursuing a graduate degree in Sociology in her spare time and most recently, she’s been featured as one of Esquire Magazine’s Americans of the Year for 2012.

Find Jessica Online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Happy Release: Tessa Ever After by Brighton Walsh – Caged In Winter Series – Book 2

Posted on 05/05/2015 by shellbellereads

Tessa Ever After

Caged In Winter Series – Book 2

By Brighton Walsh

Synopsis

In this grippingly emotional New Adult novel from the author of Caged in Winter, what you want isn’t always what you need…

Jason’s been living (and loving) the rich playboy lifestyle for five years, but now his parents are pressuring him to get involved in the family business. The last thing he wants is another obligation, but when his best friend moves out of state and asks Jason to look after his sister, he can’t just say no.

Tessa had to grow up way too soon. After dealing with the aftermath of her parents’ deaths, then becoming a teenage mom, she knows the meaning of responsibility. Which is why, at twenty-two, she’s looking for so much more than a party boy. She’s looking for someone who can stand by her and her daughter…forever.

A relationship between them is doomed from the start, but who says they can’t have a little fun? But as Jason gets closer to Tessa—and her daughter—fun starts to turn into something else… Something Jason’s not sure he’s ready for.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

The Caged In Winter Series

Caged In Winter – Book 1

In this emotional and sexy New Adult debut from Brighton Walsh, the only thing more frightening than commitment is hope…

Aspiring chef Cade Maxwell is immediately, viscerally attracted to Winter Jacobson. But it’s not her mouthwatering curves he’s drawn to–it’s the strange emptiness in her eyes. When Cade saves her from a drunken customer with grabby hands, he’s shocked at her response…

Winter doesn’t need Cade’s help. After a lifetime of getting by on her own, she’s happy to rely on herself. She’s exactly seventy-six days away from graduating college, and if she can hold it together that long, she’ll finally be able to rise above the crappy hand she was dealt.

But now, every time she turns around, Cade is there, ready to push her, smile at her, distract her from her plans. Winter knows she can’t afford to open up–especially to a man she’s terrified to actually want…

Buy: Amazon / Barnes And Noble / ITunes / Kobo

Author Bio:

Brighton Walsh spent nearly a decade as a professional photographer before deciding to take her storytelling in a different direction and reconnect with writing. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and two children.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

One Week To Go…. Coming Soon … Echo by E.K. Blair – The Black Lotus Series – Book 2

Posted on 05/04/2015 by shellbellereads

Echo

The Black Lotus Series – Book 2

By e.k. blair

Release Date: May 12, 2015

Synopsis

It’s been said the longest echo ever measured lasted 75 seconds, but I can assure you, this will last much longer. The bang deafened the world around me, muting everything into nullity, allowing the reflection of its destruction to live far beyond its intended life.

It will follow me forever, destroying me—destroying you.

You want answers?

So do I.

The Black Lotus Series

Bang – Book 1

“BANG is one of the most talked about books of 2014, quickly earning E.K. Blair acclaim for her ability to weave a dark, twisted tale of revenge that will keep you on the edge of your seat till the last word.”

They say when you take revenge against another you lose a part of your innocence.
But I’m not innocent.
I haven’t been for a very long time.
My innocence was stolen from me. Taken was the life I was supposed to have. The soul I was born with. The ruby heart embedded in a life full of hopes and dreams.

Gone.
Vanished.

I never even had a choice.
I mourn that life. Mourn the what-ifs.
Until now.
I’m ready to take back what was always meant to be mine.

But every plan has a fatal flaw. Sometimes it’s the heart.

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

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

About E.K. Blair

New York Times, USA Today, and International bestselling author, E.K. Blair, takes her readers on an emotional roller coaster with her books. A former first grade teacher with an imagination that runs wild. Daydreaming and zoning out is how she was often found in high school. Blair tends to drift towards everything dark and moody and has been noted as ‘The Queen of Dark and Twisted’. Give her a character and she will take pleasure in breaking them down, digging into their core to find what lies underneath.

Aside from writing, E.K. Blair finds pleasure in music, drinking her Starbucks in peace, and spending time with her friends. She’s a thinker, an artist, a wife, a mom, and everything in between.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Cover Reveal: Savage Fire by Kathleen Kelly – Savage Angels MC Series – Book 2

Posted on 05/01/2015 by shellbellereads

Savage Fire

Savage Angels MC Series – Book 2

Release Date: May 29,2015

By Kathleen Kelly

Emily Reynolds, estranged sister to Dane Reynolds, President of the Savage Angels MC, has just lost her father. He was not a caring man and inflicted suffering on his family. Dane abandoned her and her mother years ago, leaving them alone to deal with a brutal man who never showed any love or mercy. Emily wants Dane to feel the pain she felt, she wants him to suffer as she did and decides to make the long drive to see him.

Salvatore Agostino, captain in the Abruzzi crime family is also on his way to see Dane Reynolds. A ruthless businessman, he is fiercely loyal to his family and his men. A chance encounter brings him face to face with Emily.

These two meet and their attraction grows into a love that neither could have anticipated.

Will they be able to overcome the turmoil that awaits them or will their love be destroyed by forces beyond their control?

Pre Order: B & N / Kobo

The Savage Angel MC Series

Savage Stalker – Book 1

Katarina Saunders. Kat to the world, international rock star. Lead singer for The Grinders.

Until she has an accident that ruins her career and sends her running into the mountains, away from everything and everyone.
Dane Reynolds, President of the Savage Angels MC. Fierce, strong and loyal. He’s had his eye on Kat for a while now and has been waiting for her to come to him but he’s had enough of waiting. He’s decided it’s time to make her his.
But so has her Stalker, he’s been waiting for far too long…
Can Dane save Kat? Or will her savage stalker get to her first?

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

______________________

Author Bio:

Kathleen Kelly was born in Penrith, NSW, Australia. When she was four her family moved to Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Although born in NSW she considers herself a QUEENSLANDER!!
She married her childhood sweetheart and they live in Brisbane with their two furry kids. A British Short Hair called Grace and a Burmese called Jack .
Kathleen enjoys writing contemporary, romance novels with a little bit of erotica. She draws her inspiration from family, friends and the people around her. She can often be found in cafes writing and observing the locals.
If you have any questions about her novels or would like to ask Kathleen a question she can be contacted via e-mail: kathleenkellyauthor@gmail.com or she can be found on Facebook. She loves to be contacted by those that love her books.

Amazon Author Page ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release: The Handler by D. R. Graham – The Noir ET Bleu Motorcycle Club Series – Book 2

Posted on 04/28/2015 by shellbellereads

The Handler

The Noir ET Bleu Motorcycle Club Series – Book 2

By D. R. Graham

Synopsis

A new adult novel from Entangled’s Embrace imprint…

He promised he would never be an outlaw . . .

While searching for the member of an outlaw motorcycle gang who murdered his dad, Cain Allen is offered a boatload of cash to “handle” the stunning teen popstar Lincoln Todd. Although he doesn’t need the headache of a high-maintenance celebrity, getting out of town will help him keep a low profile until he testifies against the other two killers.

Touring Europe with Lincoln proves to be more complicated than Cain anticipated, and despite his efforts, the line between their personal and professional lives blurs. She’s sweet, smart, and totally unpredictable. And he loves it.

But Lincoln’s association with Cain puts her in more danger than anyone could have imagined. When he joins forces with the Noir et Bleu Motorcycle Club to protect her, Cain discovers the lengths he’s willing to go, and the person he’s willing to become to protect the people he loves…

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Michel’s Review

The Handler is the first book I have read by author D. R. Graham. I have to say that I am impressed by her writing and really enjoyed this book. It had a fresh plot, solid writing, interesting characters, and a smooth flow. Although this is the second book in the Noir Et Bleu Motorcycle Club series, it can be read as a stand alone novel. I was so impressed with this book that I plan on reading the first book in the series, One Percenter.

Cain Allen is at crossroads in his life. While trying to search for the man responsible for his father’s murder and his mother’s injuries, he is very low on cash. His girlfriend is pissed that he is so far away from home. His sister wants him home. He’s living with some guys from the Noir ET Bleu MC and needs to pay rent. When his friend Tomcat calls and offers him a job as a “handler” for a teen pop star, it seems like easy money. All he has to do is make sure the princess pop star , Lincoln Todd, is safe and secure while traveling.

Thus begins the unique relationship between Lincoln and Cain. Cain is brutally honest with Lincoln and tells her the way things really are. He doesn’t sugar coat or spoil her like all the other people in her life. He earns her trust and she wins his heart. How can he keep her safe when he can’t distant himself or his heart.

The dangers he went looking for are following Lincoln on her tour. Can they both survive and come out with their hearts in one piece?

This fast paced and highly suspenseful book is full of twists and turns. It was not predictable and doled out surprises throughout the book. The romance that bloomed between Cain and Lincoln was very touching. He started out the book with a girlfriend and ended with his heart belonging to another. The author handled this with a grace that won’t turn the readers off. This book was indeed a gem.

I highly recommend The Handler by D. R. Graham!

__________________

D.R. Graham is the author of young adult and new adult novels for Entangled Publishing and HarperCollins Publishers. Her books include: the NOIR ET BLEU MOTORCYCLE CLUB series (One Percenter, The Handler), RANK, the upcoming BRAMPTON BEACH series, and the Apple iBooks best selling young adult novel, HIT THAT AND YOU’RE DEAD. She is also an award winning columnist for the Richmond News.

She worked as a social worker with at-risk youth for seven years before becoming a therapist in private practice. The clients she works with are children and teenagers. Her novels deal with issues relevant to young and new adults in love, transition, or crisis.

She currently lives in Vancouver, British Columbia with her husband.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + 5 Star Review + 2015 Favorite: The Mistake by Elle Kennedy – Off Campus Series – Book 2

Posted on 04/28/2015 by shellbellereads

The Mistake

Off-Campus Series – Book 2

By Elle Kennedy

Synopsis

He’s a player in more ways than one…

College junior John Logan can get any girl he wants. For this hockey star, life is a parade of parties and hook-ups, but behind his killer grins and easygoing charm, he hides growing despair about the dead-end road he’ll be forced to walk after graduation. A sexy encounter with freshman Grace Ivers is just the distraction he needs, but when a thoughtless mistake pushes her away, Logan plans to spend his final year proving to her that he’s worth a second chance.

Now he’s going to need to up his game…

After a less than stellar freshman year, Grace is back at Briar University, older, wiser, and so over the arrogant hockey player she nearly handed her V-card to. She’s not a charity case, and she’s not the quiet butterfly she was when they first hooked up. If Logan expects her to roll over and beg like all his other puck bunnies, he can think again. He wants her back? He’ll have to work for it. This time around, she’ll be the one in the driver’s seat…and she plans on driving him wild.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Michel’s Review

It’s official…. I am a self declared PUCK BUNNY ! Elle Kennedy has delivered another fantastic book in her highly acclaimed Off-Campus series. Her latest release, The Mistake, features hockey player John Logan. John Logan is the latest college hockey legend to Grace the pages and make the readers swoon. This guy has it all… he’s a gifted athlete, he is hotter than hades, he’s a dirty talker that definitely can back up his banter, he’s a nice guy beneath the whorish reputation he carries, he’s dedicated to his family beyond expectations, and when he falls in love- he falls hard and takes everything down with him.

John Logan has been pining for his best friend Garrett’s girlfriend, Hannah. Hannah is everything he wants in a girlfriend. Logically he knows that she is off limits but he can’t help the way he feels. While trying to deal with his unrequited feelings he leans on his players reputation and sexual prowess for self therapy. He’s banging a different coed nightly and using frat parties as his playground. It may look like he is at the top of his game but deep down he is coming in last. Something has to give.

An accidental meeting with a freshman changes everything. When Logan meets Grace Ivers, he shares more than her gummy bears. The two start fooling around in a casual manner. He really doesn’t know much about Grace. He’s only interested in the distraction she provides him. But when the regular Puck Bunnies pull out their claws and start attacking Grace he steps in for the rescue. This leads to a huge mistake and wrong assumptions. When all is said and done, he has carelessly used Grace, led her on, and threw her away. When he realizes the consequences of his mistake he is full of regret. He wants a chance to rectify his mistake. He wants Grace. He wants another chance.

After numerous rejections, a long summer with his miserable family, and a harsh dose of reality, Logan is back at Briar ready to finish his senior year. He knows he has to make the most of the this year because it is his last chance before his future reality crushes him. The top of his list is making peace with Grace Ivers. He wants the opportunity to prove that he is a good guy and boyfriend material. But Grace has different ideas. She is going to put John Logan through the hoops. She’s going to make him dance to a new tune. She has a list. It’s a good thing that John Logan is a competitive athlete. He is going to get the workout and game that most players could never endure. John plans to win this game. This game is the only thing that matters in his miserable life. His future is riding on this game. He made have made the biggest mistake in his life but he learned a very value lesson. He learned the true meaning of love.

I absolutely loved this book as much as I loved the first book in the series. The tone of the story, the plot, the dialogue, and the characters are captivating. The Mistake is packed with humor, angst, heartbreak, redemption, and hope. Once again Elle Kennedy showcased her superb writing talent.

I am looking forward to the next books in this series. There are two hockey roommates screaming for a book. The very spoiled rich player Dean needs to be brought down a notch. Babyfaced Tuck needs someone to wrap him up in hugs & kisses and make sure he doesn’t forget to shave.

Each book can be read as a stand alone novel or in series order.

Read The Mistake by Elle Kennedy. It will not disappoint.

The Off-Campus Series

The Deal

Off-Campus Series – Book 1

By Elle Kennedy

Synopsis

USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

She’s about to make a deal with the college bad boy…

Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she’s carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush’s attention, she’ll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice…even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date.

…and it’s going to be oh so good

All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he’s worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he’s all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn’t take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn’t going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.

***New Adult/Contemporary Romance. First of a series, but each book will be a standalone***

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

_____________________

About Elle Kennedy

A USA Today bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a BA in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Newsletter

Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Broken Juliet by Leisa Rayven – Star Crossed Series – Book 2

Posted on 04/28/2015 by shellbellereads

Broken Juliet

Star Crossed Series – Book 2

Sequel to Bad Romeo

By Leisa Rayven

Synopsis

Some loves never let you go…
Cassie swore she’d never forgive Ethan for breaking her heart when they were in acting school years ago. He was her one great love, and when he refused to love her back, a part of her died forever…or so she thought. Now she and Ethan are sharing a Broadway stage, and he’s determined to win her back. Finally he’s able to say all the things she needed to hear years ago…but can she believe him? Has he really changed, and what makes this time different from all his other broken promises?
The answer lies somewhere in the past, and now the truth will come to light. Will Cassie rediscover what it’s like to be trusting and open again–the way she was before Ethan? Or is it too late for these star-crossed lovers?
Don’t miss this mesmerizing final chapter in the Bad Romeo duet, the unforgettable love story that captured the hearts of over two million fans online.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

The Star Crossed Series

Bad Romeo

Star Crossed Series – Book 1

By Leisa Rayven

Synopsis

While performing the greatest love story of all time, they discovered one of their own…

Cassie Taylor was just another acting student with big dreams at her prestigious performing arts college, then she met Ethan Holt. She was the good girl actress. He was the bad boy on campus. But one fated casting choice for Romeo and Juliet changed it all. Like the characters they were playing on stage, Cassie and Ethan’s epic romance seemed destined. Until it ended in tragedy when he shattered her heart.

Now they’ve made it to Broadway where they’re reunited as romantic leads once again, and their passionate scenes force them to confront the heartbreaking lows and pulse-pounding highs of their intense college affair. For Ethan, losing Cassie was his biggest regret, and he’s determined to redeem himself. But for Cassie, even though Ethan was her first and only great love, he hurt her too much to ever be trusted again. The trouble is, working with him reminds her that people who rub each other the wrong way often make the best sparks. And when it comes to love, sometimes it’s the things that aren’t good for us that are the most irresistible.

Don’t miss the intoxicating romance beloved by over two million fans online–a story that will captivate you and hold you breathless until the final page.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Robin’s Review

Leisa Rayven delighted readers with her debut novel Bad Romeo, a passionate and dysfunctional romance about Ethan Holt and Cassie Taylor. In this first novel of the Starcrossed series, Ethan and Cassie are students at The Grove, a prestigious acting school. Ethan is closed-off. Moody. Cassie is wildly attracted to Ethan’s bad boy ways. Their love is all-consuming and toxic. Their chemistry on fire. Push and pull. Flawed and real. Ethan ruins Cassie for all other men, and then he breaks her heart twice.

“He was my first true friend. My first love. First lover. The master of more pleasure than I knew existed, and the architect of more heartache than I thought I could endure.”

Broken Juliet is the conclusion to Ethan and Cassie’s tumultuous love story. Once again, chapters alternate between past and present, with the story being told from Cassie’s perspective. Rayven begins the story where she left off at the end of Bad Romeo. It’s been six years since Ethan and Cassie first met in acting school and three years since the last time they saw each other. Both of them have been cast as leads for a Broadway production. Ethan shows up at Cassie’s front door to ask for forgiveness. He admits he had trust issues. He knows he broke her heart. Ethan tells Cassie he has changed, and he hopes she will give them one more chance.

In chapters from the past, Cassie shares details about her relationship with Ethan. Our eyes are gradually opened to the truth behind Ethan’s brokenness, and why he was not able to commit to a relationship with Cassie. We begin to see the damage he inflicted on her life. Ethan reveals details about his road to recovery during the present chapters. This new and improved Ethan is endearing. Patient. Kind. Full of love. He knows what Cassie is going through because he’s experienced it himself. He broke her heart twice, but now he wants to help her put the pieces back together. There is an intense flame between Cassie and Ethan that never burned out, and both of them know it. It’s obvious they still love each other, but can Cassie trust Ethan with her heart again?

The Starcrossed series is refreshing and different. It’s apparent to me Leisa Rayven is knowledgeable about theatre and acting. She is also a very good writer. Her writing is a step up in quality from what I typically read. Dialogue between characters feels honest and real. Her written conversations capture my attention, and I’m not just referring to dialogue between the main characters. I enjoyed the lessons about acting taught by Erika to students at The Grove. Journal entries. Memories. Arguments. General discussion between characters feels natural in Bad Romeo and Broken Juliet.

Ethan and Cassie have chemistry that bleeds off the page. It was like this in Bad Romeo, and their attraction is smoking hot in Broken Juliet. Lovemaking scenes are passionate and fresh. It never felt cliché. Leisa Rayven encompasses the entire experience. Mental state. Emotions. Physical response.

Ethan and Cassie have experienced heartbreaking loss. Both of them are damaged. But these characters have evolved, and I feel their character growth is palpable in Broken Juliet. Make sure you read the fantastic conclusion to Cassie and Ethan’s story. I highly recommend 5-star Broken Juliet!

About Leisa Rayven

Writing has always been a passion for Leisa, and even though she originally intended to be an actress, it wasn’t long into her time at drama school that she began writing plays.

Those plays were bad. Very bad. Well, her friends thought they were good, but that’s because they were always cast in them and any opportunity to be on stage was met with an obnoxious amount of enthusiasm.

Since then, she’s honed her craft, and several of her plays have been produced and toured throughout Australia.

These days, playwriting has given way to fiction writing, and Leisa’s debut novel, BAD ROMEO, will be available in a worldwide release through Macmillan Publishing in December 2014.

Leisa lives in Australia with her husband, two little boys, three cats, and a kangaroo named Howard.

(Howard may or may not be her imaginary marsupial friend. Everyone should have one.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release: Twisted by Cynthia Eden – The Lost Series – Book 2

Posted on 04/28/2015 by shellbellereads

Twisted

(Lost Series, #2)
by Cynthia Eden

Blurb:

In the second seductive LOST novel from New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Eden, an obsessed Last Option Search Team agent goes looking for trouble—and finds her in the Big Easy.

Dean Bannon comes to New Orleans for one reason only: to track down a missing sixteen-year-old girl. That’s before he meets the drop-dead gorgeous con artist who makes him want to lose his legendary control.

With her past, Emma Castille doesn’t claim to be psychic. She just notices things other people don’t. Like the fear in a runaway’s eyes—or the pain in an ex-FBI agent’s heart. Her chemistry with Dean is blistering, but Emma follows her passion . . . not someone else’s orders.

Then a madman breaks into Emma’s home and leaves a twisted message: You’re next. Now Dean refuses to let her out of his sight until he pries every last secret from her full, sexy lips. And suddenly Emma’s aching to give him everything he wants.

Available for purchase at

Excerpt

“You’re not psychic.”

Were they back to that?

She put her hands in her lap. Emma didn’t believe in making nervous gestures. She didn’t believe in giving away anything at all with her body language.

“What you are …” Ah, now he did smile. Her father would have called it a shit-eating grin. The more PC term was probably a Cheshire cat smile. Whatever the name, that smile annoyed her. “What you are, Ms. Castille … is a criminal. A fraud.”

Maybe she should grab her chest and dramatically gasp. She didn’t. “Wonderful for you,” Emma said. “You pulled up a background report one me.” She let her eyes widen a bit. “It’s amazing just what one can find if a person knows how to use a search engine.”

A furrow appeared between his eyes.

“How about I say what … you are?” Emma asked him. “A washed-up FBI agent who snapped on the job. You held your control tight every single day, but the bad guys—they just didn’t stop, did they? You hunted them, you stopped them, and more appeared. While you were fighting the system, they kept coming, and the bodies kept piling up on your watch.”

He shot right back to his feet. The folding chair slammed down behind him.

“You and your father bilked desperate people,” he accused. “You told them you were psychic, that you could help find their missing children. And you—”

“We found them.” Two girls who’d vanished. They’d found them. “We just didn’t get to them in time.” And she would not go back to that place.

She motioned toward Manuel. He knew the signal meant he could take over her booth. There was no way, no way, that she was going to stay there with that prick while he slammed the most painful moments from her past in Emma’s face.

Manuel, pale, tattooed, with piercings in his lips and eyebrows, quickly claimed her spot.

Emma jumped to her feet. Muttered her thanks, and fled right past the guy she was starting to think of as Agent Jackass.

She pushed through the crowd. Wasn’t there always a crowd in Jackson Square? And that was why she loved the place. It was so easy to vanish in a crowd. To be anyone.

The crowd closed around her.

To be no one at all.

She hurried around the back of the cathedral. She knew the streets so well. Her home was close by. Emma would get inside and forget Agent Jackass.

I’m being followed.

Emma stilled at the intersection. A horse-drawn carriage rolled by her. Voices called out.

And he touched her.

Emma didn’t flinch. Didn’t scream. She looked down at the hand on her shoulder. “When a woman runs away from you, that means you need to stay the hell away from her.”

His hold tightened on her. “You and I aren’t done.”

She looked up at his face. Had she really thought the man was handsome? Annoying, that was all Dean Bannon was.

“I need to find that girl, and you’re the only lead I have so far.”

“Then you’re not a very good investigator.”

The Lost Series

Broken

Lost Series – Book 1

By Cynthia Eden

Synopsis

The first novel in New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Eden’s sizzling LOST series introduces the Last Option Search Team, an elite unit that must protect the only surviving victim of a serial killer.

Ex-SEAL and LOST founder Gabe Spencer is accustomed to the unusual in his job. But when knockout Eve Gray steps into his office, he’s rattled. For the mysterious woman is a dead ringer for the heiress thought to be the latest prey of the serial killer who goes by the name Lady Killer.

When Eve awoke in an Atlanta hospital, her past was a blank slate. Then she recognized her own face in the newspaper and vowed to learn the truth. Determined to confront the nightmares hidden in her mind, she never expects to find a partner in Gabe.

As Gabe and Eve work together, their explosive attraction becomes irresistible. Gabe knows that his desire for Eve is growing too strong, bordering on a dangerous obsession, but nothing pulls him away from her. And when another Eve lookalike disappears, Gabe vows to protect Eve at all costs. While Eve may have forgotten the killer in her past, it’s clear he hasn’t forgotten her.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

About the Author

USA Today Best-selling author Cynthia Eden has written over twenty-five novels and novellas. She was named as a 2013 RITA^® finalist for her paranormal romance, ANGEL IN CHAINS, and, in 2011, Cynthia Eden was a RITA finalist for her romantic suspense, DEADLY FEAR.

Cynthia is a southern girl who loves horror movies, chocolate, and happy endings. She has always wanted to write (don’t most authors say that?), and particularly enjoys creating stories about monsters–vampires, werewolves, and even the real-life monsters that populate her romantic suspense stories.

Cynthia’s foreign sales for her books include translations to Japan, Germany, Thailand, Greece, and Brazil.

(Back in the day…) Cynthia graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Alabama where she studied Sociology (because people interest her) and Communication (because she likes to write about said people). Cynthia has worked as a college admissions counselor, a teacher, and as an editor. But now, Cynthia is thrilled to be spending her days making up stories.

Presented By

Happy Release: The Reckoning by S. L. Scott – Hard To Resist Series – Book 2

Posted on 04/28/2015 by shellbellereads

The Reckoning

Hard To Resist – Book 2

By S. L. Scott

Synopsis

~The sequel to the New York Times and USA Today bestselling novel, The Resistance.~

Jack Dalton was charismatic.

Johnny Outlaw was irresistible.

Two sides
of the same man, passionate about two things–music and Holliday Hughes. With her intoxicating mix of strength
and vulnerability, confidence and sex appeal, he couldn’t get enough of her.

Together, love was a storm of chaos and calm. When fame became a
force to be reckoned with, could their love hold them together or would their
notoriety tear them apart?

“This isn’t how our melody goes. This
isn’t how we were supposed to play out.”

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

The Resistance

By S. L. Scott

Buy: Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ ITunes

You don’t choose when.

You don’t choose where.

And you don’t get to choose who you fall in love with.

The minute he opened his sexy mouth, Holliday Hughes should have known Jack Dalton was trouble. His smooth pickup lines, broad shoulders, and ridiculously handsome face charmed her right out of her clothes. She gave into her desires, the instant attraction blinding her to the obvious.

One night. That was all it took for Holliday’s world to be flipped on its axis. Jack Dalton was cocky. Smug. Volatile. Demanding. He ignited something deep inside her like no other, but there was something more to this brooding bad boy. There was a dark side to him she couldn’t help but be drawn to.

Torn between what she knew about him and a mysterious side he tried to hide, could she walk away or was he simply too hard to resist?

About S.L. Scott:

S.L. Scott is a former high-tech account manager with a journalism degree pursuing her passion for telling stories. She spends her days escaping into her characters and letting them lead her on their adventures.

Live music shows, harvesting jalapenos and eating homemade guacamole are her obsessions she calls hobbies.

Scott lives in the beautiful Texas hill country of Austin with her husband, two young sons, two Papillons and a bowl full of Sea Monkeys.

Her novels include Naturally, Charlie, Good Vibrations, and A Prior Engagement.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon

Saucy Southern Readers

professional, honest, and timely book reviews

Tag Archives: Book 2

Happy Release : Wild Irish Envy by Sibylla Matilde = Copperline Series – Book 2

Happy Release + 6 Star Review: After The War by Jessica Scott – The Homefront Series – Book 2

Happy Release: Tessa Ever After by Brighton Walsh – Caged In Winter Series – Book 2

Cover Reveal: Savage Fire by Kathleen Kelly – Savage Angels MC Series – Book 2

Happy Release: The Handler by D. R. Graham – The Noir ET Bleu Motorcycle Club Series – Book 2

Happy Release + 5 Star Review + 2015 Favorite: The Mistake by Elle Kennedy – Off Campus Series – Book 2

Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Broken Juliet by Leisa Rayven – Star Crossed Series – Book 2

Happy Release: Twisted by Cynthia Eden – The Lost Series – Book 2

Happy Release: The Reckoning by S. L. Scott – Hard To Resist Series – Book 2

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: