Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Too Hard To Handle by Julie Ann Walker – Black Knights, Inc. Series – Book 8

Posted on 08/31/2015 by shellbellereads

Too Hard To Handle

Black Knights, Inc. Series – Book 8

By Julie Ann Walker

Synopsis

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julie Ann Walker continues her red-hot Black Knights Inc. series in rough-and-tumble Peru

“The Man” is back
Dan “The Man” Currington is back in fighting form with a mission that takes him four thousand miles south of BKI headquarters, high in the Andes Mountains of Peru. He’s hot on the trail of a rogue CIA agent selling classified government secrets to the highest bidder, when Penni DePaul arrives on the scene. Suddenly the stakes are higher, and keeping Penni safe becomes Dan’s number one priority.

And this time she’s ready
A lot has changed since former Secret Service Agent Penni DePaul last saw Dan. Now a civilian, she’s excited about what the future might hold. But before she can grab onto that future with both hands, she has to tie up some loose ends-namely, Dan Currington, the man she just can’t forget. And a secret that’s going to change both their lives-if they can stay alive, that is.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Michel’s Review

Julie Ann Walker has another winner in The Black Knights, Inc. Series. The diehard fans of this series have been waiting for Too Hard To Handle for quite awhile. Too Hard To Handle does not disappoint.

Too Hard To Handle is the eighth book in the series. New readers can easily pick this book up and read it as a stand alone novel. It does not have to be read in series order although I would strongly recommend reading the entire series for a more involved reading experience.

We met Dan “The Man ” Currington in the first book of the series, Hell On Wheels. He experienced the tragic loss of his wife. Throughout the series Dan has been dealing with his loss and grief. He has struggled with moving on in his life. He’s lost himself in booze and self destruction. Throughout the series ( 7 books ) readers have gotten to experience Dan’s life and were left with a bitter taste. By the time book seven released, readers were more than anxious for Dan to get his own story. Dan is ready to pull his life out of the gutter. He’s ready to become a part of the living. Julie Ann Walker listened to the readers and introduced Dan to Penni DePaul in Full Throttle.

A high staked adventure in Peru will bring Penni and Dan together. They just have to stay alive to get their happily ever after.

Once again Julie Ann Walker has delivered a sexy ,fast paced, high adreline book that has a dynamic romance heating up the pages. Too Hard To Handle is a solid 5 Star book!

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Author Bio:

Julie Ann Walker is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of award-winning romantic suspense. She has won the Book Buyers Best Award, been nominated for the National Readers Choice Award, the Australian Romance Reader Awards, and the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award. Her latest release was named a Top Ten Romance of 2014 by Booklist. Her books have been described as “alpha, edgy, and downright hot.” Most days you can find her on her bicycle along the lake shore in Chicago or blasting away at her keyboard, trying to wrangle her capricious imagination into submission.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release: Wrenched by Emma James – Hell’s Bastard Series – Book 1

Posted on 08/31/2015 by shellbellereads

Wrenched

Hell’s Bastard Series – Book 1

By Emma James

Synopsis

EDGE

My name is Dallas ‘Edge’ Masson and I’m the Soulless Bastards MC’s enforcer.
I was raised by an evil bastard.
The apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
I have personal business.
Whisper is my business.
I will be her judge and jury.
My father may have been Hell’s Bastard, but he was still my father.
They say blood is thicker than water.
I’m about to find out.
WHISPER

Life has been a bitch to me.
I don’t even know my full name.
I was a secret.
Miss Catherine changed my life.
I have friends.
I trust in people.
But then it all had to be wrenched away from me.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Author Bio:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Emma James lives in Queensland, Australia with her supportive husband, three children and a big black Labrador. Life is busy and most entertaining in the James household.

Writing has been a part of her life for many years. Life was getting on and it was time to put her fears aside and do what she does best. It was time to show readers what she was made of, take that leap off the diving board and see where it takes her.

Emma is a creative person at heart. She loves to read as much as write, devouring books into the wee hours of the morning.

Who needs sleep, right?

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon Author Page ~ Pintrest

Happy Release + Review + Giveaway: Wrath by LP Lovell and Stevie J. Cole – Wrong Series – Book 2….Also Review for Wrong – book 1

Posted on 08/28/2015 by shellbellereads

Wrath

Wrong Series – Book 2

By: LP Lovell & Stevie J. Cole

Blurb

Tor

Jude Pearson could just as well kill me as kiss me most days. He was my captor, my living hell, and yet, he became my saviour, my heart. Stupid. He’s heartless, conditioned to feel nothing, and so I ran… straight into the clutches of his enemy. Joe Campbell wants Jude to suffer, and I just became a pawn in a very dangerous game.Joe has broken me in every way, everything that I once was stripped away, and in it’s place is festering hatred and a rage so cold I feel nothing else. I have one purpose. Revenge.JudeLove makes you weak, it makes you irrational. She was collateral, completely innocent when she was unwillingly dragged into my corrupt world. With the damage I’d already caused her, I couldn’t let her love me, so I let her go, and now…he has her.No matter where she is, she will always be mine. This man has taken every-fucking-thing from me, and he has the last thing that matters to me. I will kill him. Slowly. Joe Campbell better run because the devil is fucking coming for him.Sometimes two wrongs can make a right.Rage.Hate.

Revenge.

Our Wrath binds us, but it may also break us.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Michel’s Review

Wrath is the second book and final conclusion in the Wrong Series by LP Lovell and Stevie J. Cole. These two outstanding authors teamed up to write a dark erotic romantic thriller that takes the reader into dark underworld of the deep south.

Wrath cannot be read as a stand alone novel. It must be read in series order. It picks up where Wrong, book one, left off on a major cliffhanger.

The Wrong series is not for the faint of heart. This series is sexually graphic, has multiple rape scenes, extreme violence, and graphic language. If any of these are hard limits …do not buy the books.

Wrath picks up where Wrong left off. The frightening cliffhanger was only the beginning. Joe Campbell has taken Tor. He wants to punish Jude before he kills them both. What happens in those six days is horrific and will forever change both Tor and Jude’s life. They are both going to walk away broken and damaged beyond repair.

The body can physically heal but the mind and soul are quite a different issue. Both are haunted by what Joe Campbell has done to them and their family. Both want revenge. Both are furious and will never rest until Joe Campbell is dead.

Is revenge worth the cost they are going to pay? As this story unfolds it will become clear that revenge has a very high price. They have come too far to walk away. Joe won’t allow them to walk away.

After everything is said and done and Wrath has been sated , they will still be paying the price. These two may never get their happily ever after.

I am no stranger to dark erotic romantic thrillers and love a good dark read. Wrath was intense and at times a bit too violent. It turned my stomach at times but it also made me admire the both Tor and Jude all the more. Their fortitude and strength was the glue that held them both together in desperate times.

Tor evolved into a different person. She was no longer innocent and pure of heart. She embraced her darkness and allowed it to make her a stronger person. The one thing that remained the same was her love for Jude.

If you want an intense dark thriller, the Wrong series is the go to books.

*** Review for Wrong – book one in the Wrong Series- is below.

Also Available

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

B&N

Blurb

Tor
My life was mapped out and planned to perfection. I knew exactly what I wanted and where I was going, until I was thrust into his world and ripped from mine. In the blink of an eye everything shattered, proving to be nothing more than a cheap illusion. Now I’m living in this twisted form of hell, where enemies and friends are one and the same. I thought I wanted perfection. Now I don’t know what I want – perhaps not even my own freedom.Jude
I’m the definition of wrong. I’m violent, I’m greedy, and I stop at nothing to win. I’m a notorious bookie and in my game paying with your life is not just a figure of speech. You lose, I collect. I take whatever you have. She’s collateral for a debt, and if that debt’s not paid someone will die. This should be just business, so why can’t I kill her?
Everything is not always as it seems.
Lust. Blood. Lies.

Michel’s Review

I was looking forward to starting the new exciting Wrong Series by LP Lovell and Stevie J. Cole.

I will say that this book is not a fluffy feel good type romance. This book has graphic language, extreme violence, and implications of rape. If these are hard limits please do not buy the book. These graphic uses and situations are an integral part of this story and a driving force in the plot.

Wrong came as a complete surprise to me. The plot was extremely complicated and unpredictable. The characters are complex. Jude Pearson is a ruthless bookie. He does not give his clients second chances. He would just as soon kill them and write the money owed off as a loss. But first he is going to make them suffer. He is going to take everything they own and everything they hold dear. He shows no weakness. But even Jude has his limits. He would never harm a woman. He would never endanger a woman’s life. He would never take a woman against her will.

When a client uses his girlfriend as collateral for his debt, it goes against everything Jude believes in. He also suspects it may be a set up. The young woman is strong, defiant, and fights for her freedom at every turn. When the whole episode goes completely wrong, she shows the strength of will and bravery that would put grown men to shame. When she would rather take her own life than become a victim, it is too much for Jude. Not only has she earned his respect, she has also won his heart.

As this story unfolds it becomes quite clear that not only was Jude set up but is also being hunted. He has a powerful enemy that will stop at nothing until everything in his life is destroyed. Including the woman he loves.

The characters in this book were phenomenal. I truly admire Tor’s strength. She adapted and survived. She found love in an unlikely place. Jude was as hard as they come except when it came to Tor. He allowed her to see his vulnerabilities and proved that he could give her love she deserved.

Wrong ends on huge a cliffhanger. I can’t wait for the rest of the story.

I highly recommend Wrong for fans of dark erotic romances.

LP Lovell

Lauren Lovell is an indie author from England. She suffers from a total lack of brain to mouth filter and is the friend you have to explain before you introduce her to anyone, and apologise for afterwards.

She’s a self-confessed shameless pervert, who may be suffering from slight peen envy.

Author Links

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK
TWITTER
GOODREADS

Stevie J. Cole

Stevie J. Cole is a secret rock star. Sex, drugs and, oh wait, no, just sex. She’s a whore for a British accent and has an unhealthy obsession with Russell Brand. She and LP plan to elope in Vegas and breed the world’s most epic child.

Author Links

FACEBOOK

TWITTER
GOODREADS

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Release Blitz + Review: Devine Domination by Lili Valente – Bought by the Billionaire Series – Book 4

Posted on 08/26/2015 by shellbellereads

The Bought by the Billionaire Series by Lili Valente is Complete!!

Lili Valente

Divine Domination

Bought by the Billionaire, book 4

Erotic Romance

Releases August 25, 2015

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1JYTbHa

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Divine Domination (Bought by the Billionaire Book 4)

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WARNING: It’s Book Four. You know what you’re in for by now–more heat, more suspense, more head games, and more Jackson f*cking Hawke.

When Jackson gets his hands on the men who kidnapped Hannah, he’s going to rip their hearts, still beating, from their chests.

Or worse.

No amount of pain or desecration seems sufficient punishment for the sin of taking Hannah away from him.

He won’t stop until he has the woman he loves back in his arms and in his bed. But as the ugly truth behind his and Hannah’s intertwined pasts is revealed, their love will face its greatest challenge yet.

* * Divine Domination is the 4th and final installment in the Bought by the Billionaire romance series. For maximum enjoyment it should be read after books 1, 2, and 3.* *

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Divine Domination Excerpt

2015 Lili Valente

WARNING: Contains spoilers for books one through three in the series.

Hannah had no idea how long she lay on top of Jackson, catching her breath, only that when she finally opened her eyes the blue sky was stained with sunset light and the sea air had grown cooler.

“I wonder if that’s what heroin is like,” she rasped, her voice rough.

“If so, no wonder it’s so hard to quit.” Jackson’s fingers played gently up and down her stomach. “How do you do it?”

“Do what?” She turned her head, meeting his eyes over her shoulder, her heart flipping when she saw the vulnerable, open expression on his face.

“Make me want you more every day?”

She lifted her hand, cupping his scruffy cheek in her hand. “Dark magic.”

He smiled, and her flipping heart turned a cartwheel. “I believe it. There’s no other explanation.”

But there was another explanation.

It was love. Once-in-a-lifetime, only-gets-better, love-you-more-every-day-until-they-put-me-in-the-ground love. She’d known that for a while now and someday soon, Jackson would know it, too.

She didn’t doubt it, not even on those mornings when he stayed in his room until well after breakfast, hiding from her after a night when close had become too close for his comfort. There would come a day when he would realize that there was no need to hide and nothing to be afraid of.

He was safe with her. He could let his guard down and be the man he truly was, the man who was as sweet as he was Dominant, as gentle as he was controlling. She would never take his love for granted or betray his trust.

Never. No matter what.

“No matter what,” she said aloud, her brows drawing together as something ugly whispered through her subconscious. It was like a foul smell drifting through the air, familiar, but horrible, something she knew she didn’t want to recognize.

Once she named it, there would be no denying the existence of the filth smeared across the walls or the body rotting beneath the floor.

Once she remembered, she would never forget again.

“What’s wrong?” Jackson asked, his voice going deep and dangerous as the orange sky darkened, black and blue creeping in to bruise the undersides of the clouds. “Cat got your tongue, Harley?”

Before she could reply, or tell him that she wasn’t Harley, Jackson’s hands were back around her throat.

But this time, his touch wasn’t gentle. His fingers tightened like a vice and pain blossomed through her forehead, the pressure building suddenly, fiercely, until it felt like her eyes would burst from their sockets.

Panicked, she clawed at Jackson’s arms, desperate for breath, but his grip only tightened.

“You’re going to die, Harley,” he growled against her throat as the world went black. “I will end you if it’s the last thing I do.”

****

Hannah woke with a startled groan, hands flying to her neck. She gasped for breath, her throat still tight from the terror of the beautiful memory turned nightmare.

She swallowed slowly and blinked, willing herself to remember the way that day on the boat had really ended, with her and Jackson sailing home under the stars. She’d snuggled in his lap as he’d steered with one arm wrapped around her waist, holding her close to him with a gentleness that made it clear that she was precious to him.

Her heartbeat was nearly under control when the world pitched. A moment later, the plane touched down with a rough bump.

Startled, Hannah turned to look out the window, where pale light glowed on the horizon and unfamiliar palm trees—more sparse and scrubby than the ones back home—streaked past the window. For a moment, she couldn’t remember where she was, but then it all came rushing back—Adam in the doorway, the miracle of learning that her sister was alive, the pain of realizing Jackson planned to kill Harley, and then the terror of grasping that she had much bigger problems than a broken heart.

She had been kidnapped by Jackson’s father and he was going to kill her. Or Harley. But first, he was going to make her father choose between the daughters he’d sacrificed so much to protect.

Depending on how things played out, this could very well be the last sunrise Hannah would ever see.

Tracey’s Review

“So never doubt that you can trust me, sunshine…I won’t hurt you, I won’t let you down, and I won’t leave, no matter how deep we go or what we find there.”

Suspense and action are the name of the game in DIVINE DOMINATION, Book 4 in the Bought By the Billionaire series by Lili Valente. Just when I thought that things were moving along nicely, that Jackson and Hannah were beginning to trust each other, BAM! Lili ended Book 3 with an unexpected twist, and the story picks right back up here.

The tenuous trust that Hannah and Jackson have begun to build is put to the test when all signs point to his betrayal. It doesn’t take long, though, for the real villain to show himself: Ian Hawke, Jackson’s father, has made a career of retribution, and Hannah is the chess piece in his game. Having been used by Hannah’s father to further his own ends, Ian will stop at nothing to exact his revenge. But he hasn’t figured on Jackson, and the lengths that he will go to to protect Hannah.

Hannah was one in a million, the strong, sensitive, beautiful, clever, kinky-as-hell lover he hadn’t believed existed until she’d swept into his life. She was his hurricane and his touchstone. She was an endless adventure and the home he never thought he’d find. She was…everything…

Along with the darkly passionate moments that Lili is known for, this last book is also a story about love and the freedom and redemption that occur as a result of opening yourself up to someone and trusting them completely. There is also some revelation about Harley, Hannah’s twin sister, and her back story, and I would love to see more about her and Clay. Another 5+-star read, DIVINE DOMINATION is the perfect ending to this series, and I could not have enjoyed it more.

Bought by the Billionaire Series

Dark Domination:

Book 1, Bought by the Billionaire

Lili Valente

Amazon:http://amzn.to/1Fhz8h3

Nook: http://bit.ly/1GnTnj9

Googleplay: http://bit.ly/1eOlgo1

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Deep Domination

Book 2, Bought by the Billionaire

Lili Valente

Release Date – June 30, 2015

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1J6vLgS

Nook: http://bit.ly/1Hng9q7

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1MFsxC8

Googleplay: http://bit.ly/1JCyG3n

iBooks: http://apple.co/1f0T8OI

Desperate Domination

Book 3, Bought by the Billionaire

Lili Valente

Release Date – July 28, 2015

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Rj6uqJ

B&N: http://bit.ly/1OmNkus

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1eh6IN5

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Naughty and Nice Sexy Starter Kit ($40 value)

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Facebook | Goodreads

Lili Valente has slept under the stars in Greece, eaten dinner at midnight with French men who couldn’t be trusted to keep their mouths on their food, and walked alone through Munich’s red light district after dark and lived to tell the tale.

These days you can find her writing in a tent beside the sea, drinking coconut water and thinking delightfully dirty thoughts.

Lili loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her via email at lili.valente.romance@gmail.com

Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Tracker’s End by Chantal Fernando – Wind Dragon MC Series – Book 3

Posted on 08/11/2015 by shellbellereads

Tracker’s End

Wind Dragons MC Series – Book 3

By Chantal Fernando

Synopsis

The third in a sexy romance series from the bestselling author of Saxon and Toxic Girl about the bad boys of the Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club and the women who fall in love with them.

Tracker is everything I’ve ever wanted.

I see him. I’ve watched time change him.

I’ve been patient, but he still hasn’t noticed me. Not the way I want him to. The more time I spend with the MC, the more I understand.

When you want something, you have to take it. You have to fight for it.

And Tracker is more than worth fighting for…

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

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Michel’s Review

The Wind Dragons MC Series has quickly become one of my favorite biker romance series. The charismatic characters have captured my heart. The Wind Dragon MC dynamics and interactions has made these characters come to life and jump off the pages.

Tracker’s End is my favorite book in this series. Tracker is the playful guy in the Wind Dragons. He’s known for his humor, quick wit, easy smile, and way with the ladies. Not to mention his drop dead sexy looks and delicious man bun. He is also just as dangerous and deadly as the rest of his brothers. His speciality is tracking people.

When Rake’s sister returned to town and became a regular at the clubhouse, she brought along her best friend Lana. Lana is not the typical kind of lady that hangs around the MC. She is quiet, shy, delicate, and reserved. Her unique beauty and presence has captured Tracker’s attention. He wants Lana. The problem is that Tracker is involved in a relationship with one of the clubhouse whores, Allie. Allie was born into the Wind Dragon MC and after her father passed away she fell under the protection of the club. His involvement with Allie was something to pass the time.

After a year of friendship with Lana and ending his relationship with Allie, Tracker is ready to make his move on the sweet Lana.

Lana has become Clover’s nanny. She is around the clubhouse and Tracker daily. She has been fantasizing about this man for over a year. She’s ready for more.

Tracker and Lana start their relationship off to a very good start. They get along beautifully and their sexual chemistry is red hot. But life has a way of interfering on the most perfect relationships. Allie wants revenge. Lana has her own secrets. Tracker is trying to protect Lana from his world and in the process losing a part of himself. Then Lana’s dead beat dad resurfaces. Top it off with another MC in town and messing with the Wind Dragons business. It looks like their world is toppling over and their relationship will be a causality.

I absolutely loved this book. It had the right amount of angst, romance, and intrigue. I am hoping this series is going to continue on because there are more members screaming for their own books.

Tracker’s End can be read as a stand alone novel or in series order. I highly recommend The Wind Dragon series.

The Wind Dragons MC Series

Dragon’s Lair – Book 1

The first in a new sexy romance series from bestselling author Chantal Fernando about the bad boys of the Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club and the women who fall in love with them.

When I found my boyfriend cheating on me, I did something stupid.

Or should I say, someone?

Because of that mistake, I’m now stuck in a world I don’t belong in.

I’m a law student. They’re criminals. He’s the vice president of a motorcycle club. I’m a good girl with a strict upbringing. He’s my ex-boyfriend’s brother.

And I’m screwed.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Arrow’s Hell – Book 2

Release Date: June 16, 2015

From bestselling author Chantal Fernando, the second book in a sexy romance series featuring the bad boys of the Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club and the women who fall in love with them.

Being the younger sister of a Wind Dragons MC member isn’t as great as you’d think it would be.

I can’t escape the details of my brother’s exploits. No one tells me anything. Men who know who I am tend to stay away from me.

And worst of all: the members of the MC are off-limits.

When Arrow catches my eye, I make it my mission to make him happy again.

When I fall head over heels in love with him, I just hope he will be there to catch me. And that my brother doesn’t kill him…

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Tracker’s End – Book 3

Release Date: August 11, 2015

The third in a sexy romance series from the bestselling author of Saxon and Toxic Girl about the bad boys of the Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club and the women who fall in love with them.

Tracker is everything I’ve ever wanted.

I see him. I’ve watched time change him.

I’ve been patient, but he still hasn’t noticed me. Not the way I want him to. The more time I spend with the MC, the more I understand.

When you want something, you have to take it. You have to fight for it.

And Tracker is more than worth fighting for…

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

_____________________

Author Bio:

New York Times, Amazon & USA Today Bestselling Author Chantal Fernando is twenty seven years old and lives in Western Australia.

Lover of all things romance, Chantal is the author of the best selling books Dragon’s Lair, Maybe This Time and many more.

When not reading, writing or daydreaming she can be found enjoying life with her three sons and family.

Chantal loves to hear from readers and can be found here:

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter~ Goodreads

Happy Release + 5 Star Review : Hard To Fight by Bella Jewel – Alpha’s Heart Series – Book 1

Posted on 08/11/2015 by shellbellereads

Hard To Fight

Alpha’s Heart Series – Book 1

By Bella Jewel

Synopsis

Grace is a bounty hunter who wants to be taken seriously, but her boss refuses to believe that a woman can bring down a dangerous criminal. She finally gets a chance to prove herself when she’s given the case of a lifetime: capture Raide Knox and bring him to justice.

Raide is a dangerous fugitive on the run…and the sexiest man Grace has ever met. Catching Raide won’t be easy. He’s not the kind of man to go down without a fight. Raide is more intense and frustrating than any man she’s ever had to deal with, and the instantaneous attraction that sparks between them is undeniable. One thing is for sure…it’s going to be a case they will never forget.
**Hard To Fight is a full-length standalone romance with a HEA**

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Michel’s Review

Wow! Hard To Fight by Bella Jewel had me mesmerized. I could not put this book down and devoured it in one sitting. The story was fresh, unique, sexy, and was loaded with mystery and intrigue. The characters were dynamic. They came to life and jumped off of the pages. Their plight was enthralling and kept me guessing on which direction this story would go.

Grace has been a bounty hunter for over five years. In those five years she has been given the fluff jobs or the ones that deal with the flat out crazies. She wants a real case, one that makes her career credible. After a huge hissy fit and a drunken night her boss finally gives her a case that she has been waiting for the past five years. This case will prove that she can work along with the big boys and do the job just as well. It doesn’t matter that she is a woman or small in stature. She can get the job done with wits, guile, and worse case scenario, seduction.

She has been given two months to bring in Raide Knox. This case will bring in $30,000. He’s wanted for murder and assault. He did not show up for his trial date and has been on the run since his arrest. Grace plans to bring him in. Luckily for her, she met him briefly before she knew he was a felon on the run. She has an idea of where he hangs and with whom he does.

She has decided to use the seduction route to bring her man in. He is too big, too ruthless, and too cunning to use the normal take down techniques.

What starts out as a quest becomes a stalking. From a stalking to a friendship. A friendship to a romantic relationship. Raide and Grace will go from lovers to enemies. Their love will be the perfect unity that ends in the ultimate betrayal.

Raide Knox is man full of surprises. He may or may not be guilty of the crimes in which he was accused. He is capable of them all. There is always two sides to a story. There are always shades of gray. The world is not black and white. He is seeking his own definition of justice. He is a man on a mission. He will not rest until he commits the final murder. What he didn’t count on is falling in love with his hunter. There is more than freedom on the line, his heart is on the line too.

I could not put this book down. The writing was superb. I was reeled in and hooked in the first few pages. I became a part of this cat and mouse chase. I fell in love right along with Grace and Raide. Their romance had me swooning. My heart broke right along with theirs. In the end I celebrated their the ending of their story. I can’t wait for more in this series.

I highly recommend Hard To Fight by Bella Jewel!

__________________________________

Coming Soon…

Hard To Break – Book 2

Release Date: October 13, 2015

Quinn has spent her whole life working in her dad’s garage, leaving her more comfortable with a carburetor than a curling iron. Her world is turned upside down when her beloved garage is bought by none other than world famous, sexy as sin, custom car builder, Tazen Watts. He’s the one man she can’t stand…even though he makes her hotter than a high performance engine in top gear.

Tazen has no use for Quinn, at least not professionally, and he’s making sure she knows it. But there’s a spark between them that she’s finding hard to ignore. She’s determined to prove her talent is as impressive as her sassy mouth. When she finds out Tazen is hiding a secret that could bring down his career and everyone involved in it, she wonders: is falling for him is going to be work the risk?

**Hard To Break is a full-length standalone romance with a HEA**

Pre Order: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

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Hard To Forget – Book 3

Release Date: December 15, 2015

Delaney, a professional bodyguard, has spent years trying to prove herself in a male dominated industry. Now she’s facing her greatest challenge yet.
Bad boy billionaire Jax Shields has made plenty of enemies on his climb to the top, but being in the wrong place at the wrong time has put his life at risk. Now he’s putting his life in the hands of Delaney and her team. He demands the best in everything, and he doesn’t think she has what it takes to protect him. He’s also made it clear he’d rather have her on her back then covering his. Will Delaney be able to prove herself to the most arrogant—and devastatingly handsome—man she’s ever met?

**Hard To Forget is a full-length standalone romance with a HEA**

Pre Oder: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

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Author Bio:

Bella Jewel is represented by Kimberly Brower from Rebecca Friedman Literary Agency. Email – kimberly@rfliterary.com – Website http://www.rfliterary.com

Bella Jewel is a self published, USA Today bestselling author. She’s been publishing since 2013. Her first release was a contemporary romance, Hell’s Knights which topped the charts upon release. Since that time, she has published over ten novels, gaining a bestseller status on numerous platforms. She lives in North Queensland and is currently studying editing and proofreading to further expand her career. Bella has been writing since she was just shy of fifteen years old. In Summer 2013 she was offered an ebook deal through Montlake Romance for her bestselling modern day pirate series, Enslaved By The Ocean. In 2015 she signed a three book worldwide deal with St Martin’s Press – and happily joined the Macmillan team to produce some scorching, sexy, amazing stories that will be presented to the world from August 2015 onwards.

She plans to expand her writing career, planning many new releases for the future.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release: The Moment Of Letting Go by J. A. Redmerski

Posted on 08/11/2015 by shellbellereads

The Moment Of Letting Go

By J. A. Redmerski

Synopsis

Sienna Murphy never does anything without a plan. And so far her plans have been working. Right after college, she got a prestigious job and gained the stability she’d always craved-until work takes her to the sun-drenched shores of Oahu and places her in the path of sexy surfer Luke Everett. For the first time, she lets her heart take control. Drawn to his carefree charm, she makes a spontaneous and very un-Sienna-like decision to drop everything and stay in Hawaii for two more weeks.

Luke lives fast and wild. When he meets Sienna, he’s convinced that some no-strings-attached fun is just what she needs. As their nights quickly turn from playful to passionate, Luke can’t deny the deep connection he feels. But there’s a reason Luke doesn’t do long-term. He can’t promise Sienna forever, when the enormity of his past has shown him just how fragile the future can be . . .

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

About the Author

J.A. Redmerski, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas with her three children, two cats and a Maltese. She is a lover of television and books that push boundaries and is a huge fan of AMC’s The Walking Dead.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Happy Release + Review: Ryan’s Love by C. A. Harms – Sawyer Brothers- Book 1

Posted on 08/11/2015 by shellbellereads

Ryan’s Love

Sawyer Brothers – Book 1

By C. A. Harms

Synopsis

One of the hardest things I have ever had to do was bury my wife.

The second hardest thing would be watching my twelve-year-old daughter fall to her knees as they lowered her mother into the ground to rest.

A heart-wrenching vision that will forever be etched in my mind.

Claire was my best friend—she had been since we were barely old enough to talk. I always knew, one day, I would marry her. I think I may have even told her that a few times while we were growing up.

Never did I think I would lose her so suddenly.

I knew at that moment…

Our life would never be the same again…

Buy: Amazon

Tina’s Review

Judging a Book by it’s Cover:
Yet another shirtless cowboy, yay (sarcasm). In this case, it was the synopsis that gripped me.
Looking Deeper:
I do not understand how Amazon has this classified as a Sport romance or a New Adult / College romance. I think Amazon needs to re-evaluate it’s categories for this one to obtain maximum exposure and benefit the author better.
Ryan is 30 when widowed, now a 33-year old single dad to Olivia, his 15-year old daughter. He is the Sergeant for the local police department and helps out on the family ranch on occasion. He’s barely just going through the motions called life on auto-pilot for the sake of Liv, until the day he spots a gal kicking her flat tire on the side of the road.
Amber is mid-twenties but has enough life experience to not truly be considered a New Adult and she’s not a college student. He ex is a cheating bastard and her parents are too self-absorbed to be called family. On a whim, she decides to take advantage of the parental situation by having her dad buy out her mom’s unwanted old bakery inheritance in small-town Montana and leave Chicago behind for a new beginning with the help of her best friend, Bailey.
This is a first person POV story, from alternating perspectives – clearly defined for easier comprehension. If the Prologue does not punch you in the gut, you better make sure your heart is still beating. Ryan is an emotionally developed character and it’s easy to fall in love with him. He’s very well portrayed. Amber is full of love, life and joy – something Ryan and Olivia truly need. I did not feel the depth of character as much, but she’s still a wonderful lead female. There seemed to be two tiers of secondary characters: Olivia, Ryan’s brothers and mom, and Bailey then a lower tier of Ryan’s dad, random townsfolk, and miscellaneous others. Each added a fullness to this story that really is a longish novella. The chemistry and compatibility build slowly and naturally through believable dialogue and interaction. The plot was a little bit “standard fare” with not a lot of dynamic energy, but it flows well. There were some conflicts and hurdles to overcome that were handled in a variety of ways that felt right for the characters. Predictability was minimal to nil. There is a wonderful prologue that ties most loose ends up, HOWEVER, in the final bonus scene, there’s a fun quick glimpse into what may be in store ahead.
This is the first book that I’ve read from C.A. Harms, although I have been interested in reading several of her books for a while now. If they are anything like this one, I do believe I’ll be picking them up in the future.

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Author Bio:

I am like any other addicted reader. I enjoy happy endings and HEA love stories. I haven’t always been a lover of Romance and had once been addicted to a good Mystery.
I live in Illinois and enjoys spending time with my husband and two children. You will always find me with my kindle or paperback in hand as it is my favorite pass time.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + Review + Giveaway: Overtime by Toni Aleo – Assassins Series – Book 7

Posted on 08/10/2015 by shellbellereads

Happy Release Day!!

Overtime by Toni Aleo

Series: Assassins Series #7

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Down and out with an injury keeping him away from the game, Assassins’ defenseman Jordie Thomas lives for the blades of his skates on the ice and the feeling of oblivion off it. With no choice but to heal, he’s forced away from the sport that runs through his veins. With everything at stake and darkness setting in, he quickly finds himself spiraling even further out of control. As his life begins to come crashing down around him and his contract with the Nashville Assassins on the line, he’s given an ultimatum. Ready or not, Jordie is forced to face his past, the fears that consume him, and the one woman he let walk away.

Kacey King had her professional dreams come true, yet her heart was battered and broken. With an Olympic gold medal around her neck, she’s ready to look forward to the future but without the one man she wanted in it. She’s missing the key pieces of her heart she left months ago with the only person who was capable of destroying it, causing her to falter in all her plans to move on.

>In the game of life, there are winners and losers, and neither Jordie nor Kacey want to be on the losing bench. If only Jordie could convince Kacey he’s a changed man and that he wants her right by his side as his MVP for the biggest and best parts of a life they build together. With emotions running high and the game on the line, can two proud people find happiness with each other, or will their hearts and souls be left in the cold? Will they see that sometimes having someone by your side who knows the good, bad, and broken is better than going it alone and losing everything through the back of the net? They are out of time on the game clock and fighting for the win of their lives.

But overtime was made for an Assassin like Jordie.

PURCHASE ON AMAZON

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Excerpt

Jordie Thomas knew he was screwed.

There were two things that he didn’t want, ever, in his life.

Herpes, and to be called into Elli Adler’s office.

Everyone knew that it wasn’t good to be called into the office of the owner of the professional hockey team he played for, the Nashville Assassins. If it was something good, usually she just called to chitchat, as she called it, and dote on her players. But when she called them into her office, ten out of ten times, they were screwed.

And today, Jordie must be screwed.

As his good leg bounced from the nerves, Jordie waited for the door to open to Elli’s office. His shoulders were taut, his other knee ached, and his heart was pounding. Ever since he got the call that she wanted him to fly from Colorado to Nashville for a meeting, he had been replaying every single scenario in his head. He hadn’t been making the greatest decisions lately, and he was pretty damn sure this had to do with his spur-of-the-moment vacation to Louisiana.

He should have just stayed home.

That whole trip was a clusterfuck. That’s the only way he could describe it. He hadn’t acted like himself, he kept trying to forget a certain someone, and he really should have just stayed home and healed. Not only had it pushed him back a week in PT but now he was worried that something he did there may be back to haunt him. As he replayed the weekend, which consisted of a lot of alcohol, a lot of women, and a good long visit in the ER that resulted in even more great sex, he couldn’t find anything out of the ordinary that could have brought him here. Then again, Elli didn’t like when her players’ whore-like tendencies hung out, but still, she usually called and warned them to clean it up.

Hell, he had gotten that call plenty of times. Maybe that’s why he was here? She was done with his ways? Damn it. Hopefully, that wasn’t it though. He was on the road to recovery after a really nasty hit into the boards last year, and nothing was going to keep him off the ice.

Well, except Elli Adler, that is.

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Michel’s Review

I am a huge fan of the Assassin Series by Toni Aleo. This series features a professional hockey team with charismatic players that touch your heart. Overtime is the seventh book in this series and it is another record breaking goal.

I have to say that Overtime was a hard book for me. It deals with alcoholism. Having come from a home affected by this disease I could easily relate to the recovery process and the ongoing battles.Jordie Thomas has been out of the season due to an injury. Hockey is his entire life or so he thinks. Jordie uses his sport as a way of coping with his messed up life. He came from a pretty horrific abusive background. He was grossly neglected. He has a lot of demons that haunt him. Another way Jordie has learned to cope is with liquor, partying, and sex. But this time around his drinking and partying has gotten out of control. His position on the team is at risk unless he gets help. He is forced to go to rehab. He is forced to face his demons. He is forced to face himself. He is forced to admit that he is an alcoholic. He has to make amends and admit he is in deeply love with a woman that he carelessly hurt.

Jordie has realized what he lost when he carelessly let Kacey King go. He convinced himself that he should not be messing around with his best friend’s little sister. He has convinced himself that he isn’t good enough for Kacey. Deep down he loves her with his entire heart and soul.

Once Jordie goes through rehab and faced his demons he realizes that he needs to get Kacey back in his life. He wants to be a better man for her. He wants to love her with his entire being. He wants her to be his future. He will have to prove he is worthy of this woman.

The meat of this story is Jordie’s journey. Admitting to being an alcoholic is the hardest step. Learning to forgive himself and accept his mistakes is hard. As we all know there are 12 Steps to becoming sober. It was heartbreaking and uplifting witnessing Jordie go through this journey. He had a very solid support system along the way. His sincerity was commendable.

Kacey on the other hand was a hard pill to swallow. She came across as a needy, immature, and self centered woman. She was so wrapped up in how Jordie hurt her that she forgot what made her fall in love with him. Once she found out Jordie was on the road to recovery she was not as supportive as she should of been. She was very insecure and insanely jealous. That is the last thing a recovering alcoholic needs. I felt like she needed therapy herself. She definitely needed to be in the Al-anon program in order to support Jordie the way he needed to.

I wish we could of seen more of their previous relationship to understand their deep love for one another. I had a hard time grasping their love. This book was very focused on the issues and I felt the couple lost some of their magical chemistry we look for in romance. The deal breaker that kept me from giving this a five star review was Kacey. She was just too much.

Toni Aleo tackled a very difficult subject and made it real in this book. I have to commend her with delivery of this story.

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About the Author

Toni Aleo is the author of the Nasvhille Assassins series: Taking Shots, Trying to Score, Empty Net, Falling for the Backup, and Blue Lines.

When not rooting for her beloved Nashville Predators, she’s probably going to her husband’s and son’s hockey games and her daughter’s dance competitions, taking pictures, scrapbooking, or reading the latest romance novel.

She lives in the Nashville area with her husband, two children, and a bulldog. Read more about Toni here.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

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Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Happy Release: Treble Maker by Annabeth Albert – Perfect Harmony Series – Book 1

Posted on 08/04/2015 by shellbellereads

Treble Maker

Perfect Harmony Series – Book 1

By Annabeth Albert

Synopsis

On Perfect Harmony, the ambitious competitors heat things up on stage and off…
Cody Rivers is determined to be a rock star, but couch-surfing between bar shows gets old fast. Joining an a cappella group for a new singing competition show could be his last chance at real fame—unless the college boy from the heart of the country messes it up for him. Lucas Norwood is everything gothy, glittery Cody is not—conservative, clean-cut, and virginal. But when a twist in the show forces them together, even the sweetest songs get steamy as the attraction between them lights up the stage. Lucas wants to take it slow, but Cody’s singing a different tune—and this time it maybe a love song…

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Tina’s Review

Judging a Book by it’s Cover:
The cover displays an eye-catching, colored background with a male model in the foreground in black and white. In the heat of the PITCH PERFECT craze, Ms Albert makes a smart choice to utilize the competitive a cappella world to her favor.
Looking Deeper:
Boy, I have giving critical reviews, but I fear this one was not one of my favorites and I am so sorry to say so as I’ve really liked the other books I’ve read by this author.
Third person POV. Taking you behind the scenes of a reality TV talent competition, not unlike “The Sing-Off”, the story focuses on two young gay men who start out as each other’s competition but become much more. There’s a lot of drama and chaos, as one would expect, in a setting such as this. This story is nothing like the more-mature settings and characters from Ms. Albert’s Portland Heat series; the angst and drama are exhausting at times. It was quite difficult to connect with the street-wise and emotionally hardened fame-hungry Cody, or with the overly innocent and sheltered, wholesome naive college boy, Lucas. The chemistry between them felt disconnected and, at times, even forced. There were a plethora of secondary characters, some no more than filler while others made a strong contribution. Dialogue was decent. Interaction was mostly good, although there was plenty of awkwardness. The plot had a lot of potential and a unique behind-the-scenes perspective that lent credibility and realism to the competition scenes. This one read real slow to me, like trudging through molasses; I think, because I could not connect with the lead characters but I could not find any fault in the writing style and pace set forth. There were several conflicts that were resolved in ways that I can’t necessarily agree with for a long-term solution, but apparently in the land of fiction all works out well in the end. Predictability was low and the conclusion was solid. Maybe someone younger would enjoy the book more, but it was mediocre to me – which again, I truly apologize for saying.

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Author Bio:

Frequent tweeter, professional grammar nerd, and obsessive reader, Annabeth Albert is also a Pacific Northwest romance writer in a variety of subgenres.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two toddlers.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Saucy Southern Readers

professional, honest, and timely book reviews

Tag Archives: Happy Release

Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Too Hard To Handle by Julie Ann Walker – Black Knights, Inc. Series – Book 8

Happy Release: Wrenched by Emma James – Hell’s Bastard Series – Book 1

Happy Release + Review + Giveaway: Wrath by LP Lovell and Stevie J. Cole – Wrong Series – Book 2….Also Review for Wrong – book 1

Release Blitz + Review: Devine Domination by Lili Valente – Bought by the Billionaire Series – Book 4

Happy Release + 5 Star Review: Tracker’s End by Chantal Fernando – Wind Dragon MC Series – Book 3

Happy Release + 5 Star Review : Hard To Fight by Bella Jewel – Alpha’s Heart Series – Book 1

Happy Release: The Moment Of Letting Go by J. A. Redmerski

Happy Release + Review: Ryan’s Love by C. A. Harms – Sawyer Brothers- Book 1

Happy Release + Review + Giveaway: Overtime by Toni Aleo – Assassins Series – Book 7

Happy Release: Treble Maker by Annabeth Albert – Perfect Harmony Series – Book 1

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