Review: Rock Her by Inglath Cooper

Posted on 09/28/2014 by shellbellereads

Rock Her

By Inglath Cooper

Synopsis

Rock Her . . . A Rock Star Contemporary Romance

Ren Sawyer and Lizzy Harper live completely different lives. He’s a rock star with a secret he can no longer live with. She’s a regular person whose husband stood her up for a long planned anniversary trip.

On a flight across the Atlantic headed for Italy, a drunken pity party and untimely turbulence literally drop Lizzy into Ren’s lap. It is the last thing she can imagine ever happening to someone like her. But despite their surface differences, they discover an undeniable pull between them. A pull that leads them both to remember who they had once been before letting themselves be changed by a life they had each chosen.

Exploring the streets of Florence and the hills of Tuscany together – two people with seemingly nothing in common – changes them both forever. And what they find in each other is something that might just heal them both.

Buy: Amazon

Lis’ Review

The trip of a lifetime, to celebrate the 20^th wedding anniversary. Most couples would be excited, but Lizzy Harper is anxious. Her fears stem from an emptiness she has finally realized exists in her life, in her marriage, in her relationship with her daughter. So when her husband backs out at the last minute, she does the unthinkable. Instead of giving in to him and staying home, giving up on the dream, she goes on the trip. Alone.

Ren Sawyer is a rock star, the lead singer of Temporal. He has everything fame can bring but deep inside he’s empty. At his last concert he had a panic attack so he runs away from it all, hops on a plane and flies off to Italy. The flight is turbulent and a woman literally falls into his lap as she tries to make it back to her seat from the restroom. And that’s how Lizzy and Ren begin the journey they both need to make.

There is a quiet intensity to this book, a depth of emotion that we see through the backdrop of warm Italian days and soft Tuscan nights. Lizzy and Ren are both at a crossroads in their lives, each daring to take the time to look deeply into their souls, trying to find where they have gotten off the path of happiness. Lizzy’s love of photography is reawakened in Italy, and as she sees beauty through the lens of a camera, she allows herself to open up to life again. Ren manages to rescue a puppy at one of the stops they make in their journey through Tuscany, a scrawny puppy with little hope until the rock star starts singing to her to calm her fears and bring her out of her hiding place into his hand. A hand that desperately needs to hold onto unconditional love instead of self-loathing and guilt. Lizzy and Ren discover themselves and each other at a time when they are most vulnerable in their lives.

The reader will think the story is on its way to the expected conclusion until a tragic set of circumstances brings the HEA into question. Ms. Cooper not only gives us the story from the point of view of the main characters, but also Lizzy’s husband Ty and her daughter Kylie. While Lizzy and Ren are written in first person, so that you get both points of view, Ty is written in second person (“You think you know someone.”) and Kylie is written in third person (“Kylie hangs up from the phone call with her dad….”). It may seem disjointed but it works beautifully because each style portrays the character exactly. Ty is full of himself. Kylie is the detached spoiled child. Lizzy and Ren live in the moment. And when it all comes together, Ms. Cooper’s exquisite, emotionally intense story makes us realize we’ve all been through our own crises the same way, experiencing it first hand if it’s our own problem, feeling detached and aloof if it’s someone else. The metaphors are obvious: the beauty of a far off land, the use of photography as a way to open up, the broken rock star who, despite the pact he and his brother made when they first started out, is on his way to being the cliché. Yet the story never feels contrived, never seems obvious. And that’s the beauty of it. “Rock Her” is a beautiful song about life, a quiet must read, a true romantic tale of love, loss and self discovery.

Author Bio:

RITA AWARD WINNING AUTHOR INGLATH COOPER writes books that aim to give her readers a mini-vacation. A stretch of time during which they can visit other places and other people’s lives. Her books have reached the top 100 Amazon Kindle Bestseller list, with Truths and Roses hitting #11.

Inglath Cooper’s Nashville series became a reality after she spent time in Music City, writing lyrics with other songwriters. She fell in love with the community and gets to revisit regularly through her characters.

Readers on the Nashville series:

“The characters are great, and so is the story line.” – Catherine Emmons, Amazon.com Reader

“The way the story started and the way it has ended makes me want more.” – Robin Ostrowski, Amazon.com Reader

“I was hooked from the first chapter and can’t wait to read Part Two!” – MomLovestoRead – Amazon.com Reader

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Visit her website at: http://www.inglathcooper.com

Release Blitz: Surrender by Jennifer Burrows-Surrender Trilogy- Book 1

Posted on 09/27/2014 by shellbellereads

Surrender

Surrender Trilogy- Book 1

By Jennifer Burrows

Synopsis

Katherine Anderson was living a dream life. She came from an influential family, had a successful career as a food critic, and was about to marry the man of her dreams. Her life suddenly takes a change for the worse when she finds her fiancé in the arms of another woman. Her dream wedding now cancelled, she tries to find herself in Italy, on a trip she was supposed to be taking with her new husband.

Massimo “Tony” Bertalucci has had his life destroyed by a cartel known to be trafficking black market olive oil out of Italy and around the world. While the cartel thought the entire Bertalucci family was dead and buried, Tony remains very much alive and determined to find a way to get his life back.

When Tony and Katherine’s worlds collide, she becomes Tony’s only hope of escaping Italy alive. What Katherine doesn’t realize is that this charming, unassuming Italian man is using her to save his own life. Will she be able to get back to the states safely, or will she be subjected to the same fate as Tony’s family? Will Tony find a way to stop running? Or will he have to surrender his life to the cartel?

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Author Bio

Jennifer Burrows released her debut book A Shot in the Dark July, 2013. Recently she has released the sequel Into the Light and currently working on her third book Surrender.

Jennifer is a retired Registered Nurse who holds a Master’s degree in Nursing Administration. Emergency room nursing is her passion. She enjoys going to the gym, traveling, snowboarding, scuba diving, hiking, and camping. In her free time, Jennifer is an avid reader who loves to talk about stories with her best friend.

Jennifer currently resides in Southern California with her husband and their three amazing boys, two dogs, too many fish to count, and a desert tortoise.

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Blog Tour + Review: Uncivilized by Sawyer Bennett

Posted on 09/26/2014 by shellbellereads

Uncivilized

By Sawyer Bennett

Synopsis:

**Warning: This book is a wild, sexy beast of a read. 18+**

Putting a woman on her knees before me is what really makes my cock hard. I fuck with dominant force and absolute control. I demand complete surrender from my conquests.

Savage man, loner, warrior… I am dangerous at my core. I have lived amidst the untamed wild of the rainforest, in a society that reveres me and where every woman falls before me in subjugation.

Now I’ve been discovered. Forced to return to a world that I have forgotten about and to a culture that is only vaguely familiar to my senses.

Dr. Moira Reed is an anthropologist who has been hired to help me transition back into modern society. It’s her job to smooth away my rough edges… to teach me how to navigate properly through this new life of mine. She wants to tame me.

She’ll never win.

I am wild, free and raw, and the only thing I want from the beautiful Moira Reed is to fuck her into submission.

She wants it, I am certain. I will give it to her soon.

Yes, very soon, I will become the teacher and she will become my student. And when I am finished showing her body pleasure like no other, she’ll know what it feels like to be claimed by an uncivilized man.

Note: This is a big, damn book and it is a stand alone, coming in at a whopping 109,000 words.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Excerpt

Putting a woman on her knees before me is what really makes my cock hard. I fuck with dominant force and absolute control. I demand complete surrender from my conquests.

Savage man, loner, warrior… I am dangerous at my core. I have lived amidst the untamed wild of the rainforest, in a society that reveres me and where every woman falls before me in subjugation.

Now I’ve been discovered. Forced to return to a world that I have forgotten about and to a culture that is only vaguely familiar to my senses.

She’ll never win.

I am wild, free and raw, and the only thing I want from the beautiful Moira Reed is to fuck her into submission.

She wants it, I am certain.

I will give it to her soon.

Michel’s Review

Sawyer Bennett has set my panties on fire with her latest release, Uncivilized. She broke out of her comfort zone and delivered a blazing erotic romance that makes the body temperature soar. Unlike a lot of erotic romances, Uncivilized had a fantastic plot that was delivered with intelligence, compassion, and emotional depth. It was a unique take on Tarzan and Jane with a naughty twist. The characters were loaded with personality and raw sensuality.

Zach Easton went to the Amazon when he was a young boy with his missionary parents. His parents died from a jungle fever and the world presumed Zach had passed too. Eighteen years later, by word of mouth, it is discovered that there is a possibility that he is still alive.

Zach’s godfather hires an anthropologist that specializes in Caraican Indian tribes to help retrieve Zach and bring him home where he belongs.

Moira has been hired to bring Zach home and acclimate him into the modern world. Moira sees this as a challenge and great opportunity to further her research . When Moira first see’s Zach, her impressions are changed. She witnesses Zach dominating a woman from the tribe. This stirs her desires and sexual attraction to Zach. She can’t let her desires stand in the way of her job.

Quickly their roles change as they embark on acclimating Zach into society. Teacher becomes the student. The student becomes the teacher.

Zach is a sexual man, used to dominating women, and taking what he wants. He is used to doing whatever he wants without question. He is raw, carnal, and primitive.

And like most men, sex is always on his mind. He wants to learn all things sexual. Google is his best friend. He wants to be with Moira his way and her way. Both will learn some valuable lessons. Moira will learn the about her own sexuality and carnal side. Zach will learn about romance, emotions, and foreplay.

The thing I loved about Uncivilized was that is was more than an erotic take on Tarzan and Jane. Moira accepted Zach and his “uncivilized” ways. She didn’t judge his primitive ways and make them seem wrong. She taught him what he needed to know to be able to survive in our modern society. She showed him compassion and respect. She admired his intelligence and strength.

Zach respected Moira for her knowledge, her femininity, and understanding. She taught him that the emotional side of coupling was just as important as the carnal side. She taught him the values of love and family that were much more personal than his primal ways.

Sawyer Bennett has a gift with words that draws the reader in, breathes life into her characters, and makes the reader feel every moment. She adds the right amount of humor and wit to make the characters and their lives seem very real. She allows her characters to have flaws and strengths that most readers can relate to and understand. Her stories come to life and jump off the pages. Readers are thoroughly entertained with a hot passionate romance.

Uncivilized is one of the most passionate books I have read. Sawyer Bennett has delivered a five flaming star book!

Read Uncivilized! It is …HOT…HOT…HOT!

About the Author

USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Cover Reveal: Here With Me by Heidi McLaughlin

Posted on 09/26/2014 by shellbellereads

Today we are revealing the cover of the novel HERE WITH ME by New York Times Bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin. The book will be released on Thursday, October 23rd.

Synopsis for HERE WITH ME:

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

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

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18948703-here-with-me

a Rafflecopter giveaway

AUTHOR INFORMATION

BIO:

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

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

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

Author Links:
Website: http://heidimclaughlin.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeidiMcLaughlinAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeidiJoVT
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6568302.Heidi_McLaughlin

Cover Reveal: Inspire by Cora Carmack

Posted on 09/25/2014 by shellbellereads

We are thrilled to bring you the cover for Cora Carmack’s INSPIRE! INSPIRE is a New Adult Paranormal Romance novel and is due to be released on December 15, 2014!

The cover was designed by VLC Productions.

Add INSPIRE on Goodreads

About INSPIRE:

Kalliope lives with one purpose.

To inspire.

As an immortal muse, she doesn’t have any other choice. It’s part of how she was made. Musicians, artists, actors—they use her to advance their art, and she uses them to survive. She moves from one artist to the next, never staying long enough to get attached. But all she wants is a different life— a normal one. She’s spent thousands of years living lie after lie, and now she’s ready for something real.

Sweet, sexy, and steady, Wilder Bell feels more real than anything else in her long existence. And most importantly… he’s not an artist. He doesn’t want her for her ability. But she can’t turn off the way she influences people, not even to save a man she might love. Because in small doses, she can help make something beautiful, but her ability has just as much capacity to destroy as it does to create. The longer she stays, the more obsessed Wilder will become. It’s happened before, and it never turns out well for the mortal.

Her presence may inspire genius.

But it breeds madness, too.

About Cora Carmack:

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She’s done a multitude of things in her life– boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Author Goodreads

ARC Review: Unforgiven by Rebecca Shea-Unbreakable Series- Book 3

Posted on 09/24/2014 by shellbellereads

We are so excited to celebrate the release of UNFORGIVEN by Rebecca Shea today! Trust us, you do not want to miss out Lindsay and Matt’s story!

Unforgiven

Unbreakable Series – Book 3

By Rebecca Shea

Synopsis

Lindsay Christianson seemingly has it all—the perfect career, the perfect boyfriend, and the best-laid plans for a perfect life—until one phone call changes everything.

With a moments notice, Lindsay must choose between her perfect life and her professional dreams. The choice momentarily seems clear when the opportunity to propel her career abruptly sends her across the country, leaving everything she loves behind in North Carolina.

Navigating a new city with a broken heart and a job where her colleagues will do anything to sabotage her success, the pressure quickly becomes too great. When old habits resurface, Lindsay finds herself chasing demons she thought were long since buried.

With pain and destruction left in her wake, will Lindsay find a way to erase the damage she’s done, or will her sins remain unforgiven?

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

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iBooks

Watch the trailer for UNFORGIVEN

Michel’s Review

We met Lindsay and Matt in the previous novel in the Unbreakable series by Rebecca Shea. They are getting their own story in Unforgiven.

Unforgiven is an emotional story. It is a story of love lost, poor decisions, addiction, eating disorders, and healing.

Lindsay is offered her dream job in Arizona. She does not hesitate on making the decision of taking the job. She makes this decision knowing that Matt will not follow her to Arizona. She does not stop to think about the damage this decision can do to their relationship. She does not stop to think about the consequences she will suffer if she loses Matt. She is self centered and selfish concerning her dream job. Needless to say, not only does she damage her relationship with Matt, she more or less severs it completely.

Once she is in Arizona things look a little differently. Her dream job is not as wonderful as she thought it would be. She is lonely and missing her friends and family. She is heartbroken from losing Matt. While she is pursuing her dream job, she is self destructing in her personal life. She will hit rock bottom, hurt the ones she loves, betray friends, and almost kill herself. Now she will have to learn to live with her mistakes, take back control of her life, make amends with those she hurt, and find happiness within herself. The one thing she desires most is Matt’s love once again. How will she be able to repair the heartbreak she caused by choosing a job over his love?

Matt gave Lindsay his complete heart. He was devastated when she chose her job over him. Her actions in Arizona were like pouring salt into his wounds. He wants the best for Lindsay and hopes she finds peace in her life. He doesn’t know if he can dismiss her callous treatment of his love.

I loved the emotional side of the story. I thought Lindsay’s journey from hitting her all time low to healing and finding the true meaning of happiness was heartbreaking and uplifting. Rebecca Shea did a beautiful job portraying those circumstances.

What I found disappointing is the book seemed to focus on Lindsay. There were small amounts of Matt’s side of the story. The reader did not get to see much of their romance in the beginning. It was hard to validate their decision to get back together in the end. There was not much build up, romantic interaction, and validation. Most of this book focused on the time of their separation. I would of liked to see more romance.

I am happy that Lindsay and Matt got the happily ever after they needed.

I would highly recommend this book and the Unbreakable series.

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.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Cover Reveal: For Now by Chelsea M. Cameron-Rules of Love Series- Book 2

Posted on 09/22/2014 by shellbellereads

Today is the cover reveal for Chelsea M. Cameron’s upcoming New Adult title, FOR NOW. This is the 2nd book in her Rules of Love series. FOR NOW will be released later this fall.

UNOFFICIAL BLURB:

Two people. A one-night stand. What could go wrong?

Javier Cruz definitely isn’t relationship material, but that suits Hazel Gellar just fine. She’s not a relationship girl and doesn’t plan on ever being one.

But after a mind-blowing, panty-ripping, bed-breaking night, she knows once isn’t going to be enough. Fortunately, Javi feels the same way. Soon, what started as just one night turns into a lot of nights, and Hazel doesn’t know what to do.

Will she and Javi make the choice to be together for longer than just right NOW?

Previous book in the series…

Buy Links:
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1hD6cJE
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/HPwTuC

AUTHOR INFORMATION

Chelsea M. Cameron is a YA/NA New York Times/USA Today Best Selling author from Maine. Lover of things random and ridiculous, Jane Austen/Charlotte and Emily Bronte Fangirl, red velvet cake enthusiast, obsessive tea drinker, vegetarian, former cheerleader and world’s worst video gamer. When not writing, she enjoys watching infomercials, singing in the car and tweeting (this one time, she was tweeted by Neil Gaiman). She has a degree in journalism from the University of Maine, Orono that she promptly abandoned to write about the people in her own head. More often than not, these people turn out to be just as weird as she is.

Her New Adult Contemporary Romance titles include My Favorite Mistake, which has been bought by Harlequin along with a sequel, Deeper We Fall and Faster We Burn (April 20, 2013)

Her Young Adult books include Nocturnal, Nightmare and Neither, the first three books in The Noctalis Chronicles. The fourth and final book, Neverend will be out in 2013. Whisper, the first in The Whisper Trilogy is also available, with the second book in the series, Silence and the final book, LIsten coming out in 2014.

Website: http://www.chelseamcameron.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chel_c_cam
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chelsea-M-Cameron-Official-Author-Page/304422529610919
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5752359.Chelsea_M_Cameron

Release Day Blitz: Chains by Kelli Maine- MMA Fighter Romantic Suspense

Posted on 09/22/2014 by shellbellereads

Chains

An MMA Romantic Suspense

By Kelli Maine

Synopsis

Chained To The Past.

On the brink of going pro in MMA, Tyler Graves has defied his past—a past where going to jail for beating the hell out of his foster father took him away from the girl he loved and swore to protect, leaving her in the house of the man who abused them both.

Chained To Regret.

No matter how much time has passed, Danielle Debasco weighs on Ty’s mind and conscience. He was supposed to save her, instead he abandoned her.

Chained To Love.

To free Danny from the abusive man who still haunts her, Ty’s faced with sacrificing his future by finishing what he started four years ago—taking vengeance. But, this time will be different. This time he won’t stop until the horrors of their past are sealed not just in blood, but in death.

-ADULT CONTENT-
Sex, Language, Violence

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Excerpt

I grabbed a plastic cup and filled it with vodka. Weaving through a group of women who were dancing, I found myself surrounded, trapped by hungry, grinding hips, fingers that snuck up my t-shirt and lips that whispered in my ear. I couldn’t hear her words, but had enough sense to know when I was being invited into a woman’s bed.

I tipped my cup back and opened my throat, letting ounce after ounce of burning vodka slide down. When it was gone, I tossed the cup aside and grabbed the waist of the girl in front of me. I pulled her ass against me and grinded into her. She threw her head back against my chest, lifted her arms over her head and swiveled as she bent her knees, lowering herself below my waist. She turned, hooked her fingers behind my belt and looked up at me with smoldering eyes. She licked her lips. My cock twitched in anticipation. I grabbed her by the arm and pulled her up. “Outside,” I said. “Now.”

We pushed through the crowd and stepped out onto the sidewalk. Her hand squeezed my ass. I reached over and tweaked her nipple, hard through her tight, stretchy shirt.

We rounded the corner to the side of the motel. A few people stood down at the far end of the building, but it was dark enough she could blow me. She put her hands on my chest and groaned low in her throat. “God, I want this body,” she said.

“I want your mouth on me.” I squeezed her tits, and her hands ran down over my stomach. She squatted down, unbuttoning my jeans. The zipper followed, and her hand pulled me out. I leaned back against the brick wall as her lips closed around my head. Her mouth was hot, and she knew how to stroke a cock. After the day I had, coming in this chick’s mouth was about all I had the strength left in me to do.

I watched her as she sucked me in. Her hand disappeared up her skirt, getting herself off at the same time. That should’ve done it for me, but I was distracted. I wasn’t even enjoying it. I don’t know what the fuck my problem was.

“That’s enough,” I said, hauling her to her feet.

“What’s wrong?” She stumbled in her heels, and I held her up.

“Nothing. It was perfect. I’m just　 not into it tonight.”

She looked disappointed. And pissed. “Yeah. Well. Whatever. No big deal. Your dick’s not that big anyway.” It was a lie. We both knew it.

I tucked it back in my pants and watched her retreat around the corner of the building. I waited a few minutes until my cock settled down, then went back around to the sidewalk. I should’ve stayed in my room. I was in no mood for a party and all the fake bullshit that went along with it.

When I got to the door to the party, this one chick wouldn’t move to let me by. “Hey,” I said. “Excuse me. I need by you.”

She turned and locked her bloodshot blue eyes on me.

Time froze as we stared at each other.

Her blond hair was dull, her complexion sallow, her body too thin. Drugs. I’d know their effects anywhere.

“Danny,” I said, catching her by the elbows. “Do you know who I am?”

Her eyes trailed over my face. Jesus, she was rocked out of her mind. Her pupils were dilated and sweat dripped down her neck between her small breasts into her low-cut shirt.

“Danielle,” I said, leaning closer. “It’s me—Tyler.”

“Tyler,” she said, and threw her arms around my neck.

Guilt crushed against my sternum. I left her, and look what she became. “Let’s get out of here.” I turned her around and steered her down the sidewalk.

Author Bio:

Kelli Maine is the erotic romance author of USA Today Bestseller and #1 Nook book, Taken, and the Give & Take series, along with the Dolls & Doms novellas and Chains. She lives in Northeast Ohio with her husband and kids. When she’s not writing, Kelli enjoys watching reality T.V., getting lost in random Wikipedia pages and searching online ads for vintage muscle cars.

Favorite Author: Diana Gabaldon
Favorite Food: Japanese
Favorite Superhero: Spiderman
Favorite Place I’ve Been: Yucatan Peninsula
Writing Must Haves: Coffee and chocolate
Plotter or Pantser: Proud Pantser

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Review: Unstoppable by Melody Grace- The Callahans Series- Book 3

Posted on 09/19/2014 by shellbellereads

Unstoppable

The Callahans- Book 3

By Melody Grace

Synopsis

“My daddy always told me you could never run out of second chances…”

Tegan Callahan has sworn off bad boys for good. Growing up on tour with her rock star brother, she knows first-hand the damage they can do. She’s looking for a nice, safe, stable guy – until a chance encounter with a devastatingly sexy stranger makes her question everything she thought she wanted.

A troubled soul…

Ryland James arrives in Beachwood Bay on the run from his mistakes. He knows he’s the last thing Tegan needs, but somehow, he can’t stay away. There’s something about her fierce beauty that draws him in – and makes him vow to protect her, whatever the cost.

A passionate destiny…

Their bond is undeniable; the stakes, higher than ever. But the past won’t stay gone forever, and soon, Ryland must make the ultimate choice: will he risk everything he treasures in the world, or keep Tegan safe – and sacrifice her love forever?

*This book contains adult situations and explicit content. 17+*

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Tracey’s Review

Tegan Callahan is doing her best to come back from a year of heartbreak, a year of losing herself. Ryland James is ready to put his past behind him, to make a life that is permanent and real. Neither one would guess that a chance meeting in Las Vegas would bring them both everything that they’re looking for.

Melody Grace has a gift for writing characters that are complicated, that have pasts that are not perfect nor pretty. She is also gifted at crafting a story that shows the strength that is born out of such pain, and bringing imperfect people together to create a perfect whole. Her Beachwood Bay series has become one of my absolute favorites ever. The characters feel like old friends, and the sense of community draws me more deeply in each time I read about this lovely little town in coastal North Carolina. UNSTOPPABLE is the fifth book in this series, and is Tegan’s and Ryland’s story. I fell in love with Ryland from the moment he approached Tegan. He knows exactly what he wants, and he takes it, and Tegan, for all of her brokenness, gives back as good as she gets. Two people that have dealt with loss and pain, they smooth away the rough edges in each other, and allow real healing and growth to occur.

I feel like each installment in this series just gets better, and UNSTOPPABLE is no exception. I was hooked from the opening scene, and could not put it down. Watching the relationship between Tegan and Ryland unfold was both heartbreaking and uplifting, as well as, oh, my goodness, sexy as all getout. The heat between the two

of them is absolutely palpable, and had me fanning myself more than once. And getting to revisit and learn more about Brit, Hunter, Blake, and Zoey made the story even more real and rich. As with the rest of the Beachwood Bay books, I cannot recommend UNSTOPPABLE enough, and cannot wait to read UNWRITTEN, Zoey’s and Blake’s story.

Author Bio:

Melody Grace is a small-town girl turned SoCal beach lover. After spending her life with her nose in a book, she decided it was time she wrote one herself. She loves steamy romance novels, happily-ever-afters, and lusting after fictional menfolk.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Review: Jag by Stevie J. Cole- Pandemic Sorrow Series- Book 1

Posted on 09/18/2014 by shellbellereads

Jag

Pandemic Sorrow Series- Book 1

By Stevie J. Cole

Synopsis

WARNING: This novel contains explicit language, sexual situations, and is the story of an addict. This material is intended for a mature audience.

“My name’s Jag Steele. I’m the lead singer and guitarist to the band Pandemic Sorrow, and I have a drug problem. Well, I mean it’s not really a problem – unless you count the fact that I almost made my heart explode from all the blow I shoved up my nose a few weeks back…”

That was my introduction during my first stint in rehab. I’m messed up. If you asked anybody who I am there’s a list they will go down: Famous, rock star, legend, drug addict, womanizing man-whore, but if you asked me, I wouldn’t have the first idea of what to say, because I don’t know who Jag Steele is. Really, I’m living every other damn person’s dream, and all I want is reality.

Roxy Slade, that girl was my reality. My brutally flawed and beautifully broken reality. And she hated everything I stood for. To her I was just one of “those guys”, and she’d rather be buried alive with poisonous snakes than give someone like me a piece of toilet paper to wipe their ass with. Brutal. Life. Is. Brutal. And it is just a giant pain, which is why I chase after anything to make it numb, anything that can fill this void. I just want anything that can make me not feel. I just don’t want to feel.

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Lis’ Review

“I was too weak for fame, but she didn’t care. She broke me, and I tried to let drugs mend me…. I like to think of fame as a metamorphosis. You get all wrapped up in it, almost like a cocoon… I had no idea how to handle fame, so, unfortunately, fame handled me.”

Jag Steele is a rock god.. just ask him. He’s the lead singer of Pandemic Sorrow, he’s got more money, fame, and females than anyone should have, and he thinks he’s invincible. You want to cheer for him when you meet him at the beginning of the book. He’s just come out of rehab and he’s feeling pretty damn good about himself. Sure, rehab was a breeze and life is still his oyster. He’s not an addict, he’s the king of the rock world. So what’s a little snort, one more drink, he’s been “cured” hasn’t he? We go with him to his first real interview after rehab, where simple questions are so damn difficult to answer that he starts to fall apart, and we see the tip of the iceberg that is Jag Steele. Through this book, we live his life as he does, desperately seeking that one thing that will make it all worthwhile.

This book is not the sugar-coated version of life as a rock star that seems to be the norm in books. Stevie J. Cole has written a gritty story, complete with characters you actually hate. The way she paints the scenes, you are as excited as those four young men were when they got the record contract; you are as desperate as the band manager who forces drugs on his musicians to keep the money coming in; you are as bitchy and self-serving as Jag’s former girlfriends who each chip away at his very soul in order to make themselves important. And finally, you rejoice with Jag when he finds the one female who says no, the one who says she doesn’t want him yet needs him to mend her shattered soul as much as he needs her to do the same.

Roxy has her own demons, her own issues, and while she starts out as kind of a cliché, the challenge that Jag can’t resist, you just know that Ms. Cole is not going to wrap this all up in a big pink bow with happily ever after. Her suffering is just as real as his, her issues just as serious and her coping mechanism just as destructive. Both of them are like two lost children in adult bodies, trying desperately to deal with the world until they literally crash into each other. What attracts them to each other is the exact thing that tears them apart… the inability to deal with their feelings.
“Everybody’s broken, chipped, damaged, and we just have to find the one person that can accept our flaws and love them… Sometimes it takes loss to make people realize how big of a mess they are without someone.” As Jag experiences love for the first time, as Roxy allows her hard shell to crack, betrayal shatters everything. Ms. Cole doesn’t shy away from the ugly side of addiction so you never really know what to expect with the story of Jag and Roxy until the very end. As a reader I laughed, cried, cursed, loved and hated through this book. And yes, even felt the numbness of Jag’s life, all through the exquisitely crafted word pictures the author gave me. I felt it all, right along with the characters, every outrageous high and screaming low. I cheered and cried and in the end I would read it all over again just to be able to say Yeah, Jag Steele always keeps his promises.

Author Bio:

I have been a fallen angel, a vampire, a confused twenty-something year old struggling through a crappy job, a jealous and deranged x-lover of a damned soul, and currently I’m an internationally sought after rock star with a slight addiction problem. All thanks to the characters I have written.

I enjoy the escape writing allows, and fully enjoy weaving a tale and creating crazy characters. When I’m not writing I am cuddling with my two sweet little girls and listening to my husband play his guitar (swoon). Some trivial fact about me would be: I love the color pink, I adore sloths, and I have a thing for British accents. My biggest fear is completely irrational, but I can’t help it. The thought of the pending zombie apocalypse absolutely creeps me out.I honestly can not imagine a more horrifying way to be blotted out of existence than by the hand of a decaying, oozing corpse with festering gums and clicking teeth. Ugh. That just gave me chills.

I hope if you read my books you will enjoy them and will be sucked into the little world I have created with words. After all, writing is the most amazing magic trick in the universe because it allows the reader to crawl inside the mind of the author. If you really think about that … it’s kind of disturbing.

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Saucy Southern Readers

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Tag Archives: Contemporary Romance

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Synopsis for HERE WITH ME:

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18948703-here-with-me

AUTHOR INFORMATION

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Add INSPIRE on Goodreads

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Watch the trailer for UNFORGIVEN

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Cover Reveal: For Now by Chelsea M. Cameron-Rules of Love Series- Book 2

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UNOFFICIAL BLURB:

Two people. A one-night stand. What could go wrong?

Javier Cruz definitely isn’t relationship material, but that suits Hazel Gellar just fine. She’s not a relationship girl and doesn’t plan on ever being one.

But after a mind-blowing, panty-ripping, bed-breaking night, she knows once isn’t going to be enough. Fortunately, Javi feels the same way. Soon, what started as just one night turns into a lot of nights, and Hazel doesn’t know what to do.

Will she and Javi make the choice to be together for longer than just right NOW?

Previous book in the series…

Buy Links:
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1hD6cJE
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/HPwTuC

AUTHOR INFORMATION

Release Day Blitz: Chains by Kelli Maine- MMA Fighter Romantic Suspense

Review: Unstoppable by Melody Grace- The Callahans Series- Book 3

Review: Jag by Stevie J. Cole- Pandemic Sorrow Series- Book 1

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Today we are revealing the cover of the novel HERE WITH ME by New York Times Bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin. The book will be released on Thursday, October 23rd.

Synopsis for HERE WITH ME:

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18948703-here-with-me

AUTHOR INFORMATION

Share this:

We are thrilled to bring you the cover for Cora Carmack’s INSPIRE! INSPIRE is a New Adult Paranormal Romance novel and is due to be released on December 15, 2014!

Add INSPIRE on Goodreads

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Author Goodreads

Share this:

We are so excited to celebrate the release of UNFORGIVEN by Rebecca Shea today! Trust us, you do not want to miss out Lindsay and Matt’s story!

Watch the trailer for UNFORGIVEN

About Rebecca Shea

Share this:

Today is the cover reveal for Chelsea M. Cameron’s upcoming New Adult title, FOR NOW. This is the 2nd book in her Rules of Love series. FOR NOW will be released later this fall.

UNOFFICIAL BLURB:

Two people. A one-night stand. What could go wrong?

Javier Cruz definitely isn’t relationship material, but that suits Hazel Gellar just fine. She’s not a relationship girl and doesn’t plan on ever being one.

But after a mind-blowing, panty-ripping, bed-breaking night, she knows once isn’t going to be enough. Fortunately, Javi feels the same way. Soon, what started as just one night turns into a lot of nights, and Hazel doesn’t know what to do.

Will she and Javi make the choice to be together for longer than just right NOW?

Previous book in the series…

Buy Links: Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1hD6cJE Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/HPwTuC

AUTHOR INFORMATION

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Buy Links:
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1hD6cJE
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/HPwTuC