Cover Reveal : Blow by Kim Karr

Posted on 09/03/2015 by shellbellereads

One Couple…

Two New Books…

A Story of Tainted Love…

Blow – September 21, 2015 – Book 1

Crush – November 16, 2015 – Book 2

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Blow

By Kim Karr

Release Date: September 21, 2015

Synopsis

2 fatal sides.

1 epic love.

7 days to survive.

They met in the face of danger. They weren’t looking for love. They both knew better. But they couldn’t stay away, and they fell hard.

He is heart-stopping handsome, fearless—and haunted by deadly ties.

She is breathtakingly beautiful, determined—and in harm’s way.

They should have parted. They didn’t. They never should have fucked. They did. And now time is running out. One hundred sixty eight hours. That’s all that remains. While Logan McPherson fights to save them, Elle Sterling is forced to make a choice that could change everything.

When torn between right and wrong, tainted love doesn’t have a chance…or does it? ‪#‎taintedlove ‪#‎weshouldhaveknownbetter

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I live in Florida with my husband and four kids. I’ve always had a love for reading books and writing. Being an English major in college, I wanted to teach at the college level but that was not to be. I went on to receive an MBA and became a project manager until quitting to raise my family. I currently work part-time with my husband and full-time embracing one of my biggest passions—writing.

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Toxic by Kim Karr

Posted on 07/07/2015 by shellbellereads

Toxic

By Kim Karr

Release Date: July 7, 2015

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Kim Karr turns up the heat in a smoking hot, emotionally compelling romance that takes you into the world of Manhattan’s elite. Meet Jeremy McQueen, a sexy, intense, brooding entrepreneur who goes after what he wants, and Phoebe St. Claire, a socialite-turned-CEO who’s been drifting through life searching for something she thought she’d never find again–the right man to share her future.

Phoebe St. Claire has devoted herself to saving her family’s hotel empire–but her best efforts have not been good enough. With her whole world in turmoil, the tenacious go-getter turns to the once love of her life. Far from innocent, Jeremy McQueen was the guy from the wrong side of the tracks who her parents would never have approved of. Their years apart have only made the sexy bad boy more irresistible than ever–and their reunion is explosive.

When she asks Jeremy to help her salvage her family business, he agrees immediately, with only one condition–he wants her in his bed.

But soon surprising circumstances leave Phoebe reeling. Was this fairy tale romance just too good to be true? Will Jeremy’s secrets pull them apart all over again?

THIS IS A STANDALONE SECOND-CHANCE ROMANCE WITH NO CLIFFHANGER ENDING.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Excerpt

Phoebe St. Claire

Feeling a bit drunk and overwhelmed with so many and so few choices at the same time, I needed some time alone and snuck off toward the beach path.

I ran toward the ocean and twirled in the sand as the wind blew around me. Once I started to feel dizzy from twirling, I still wasn’t ready to head back to the party, so I took the path that would lead me to the large Olympic-sized pool. I tugged my sandals off with thoughts of putting my feet in the water to rinse the mud and sand away. As I approached the pool, I noticed how it glowed like it was lit by small pale fires. Lost in the enchantment of it, the sudden movement beneath the surface startled me.

A fair-haired boy emerged from the water. He pulled himself up and out so quickly that I was momentarily stunned. And then when he drank me in with his eyes, I shuddered.

I couldn’t help it, the way he looked at me just made me shiver. No one had ever looked at me like that before and I found myself gazing back into his intense eyes.

He was utterly beautiful. His bare chest was sculpted but not overly bulky like Danny or Jamie. They worked out every day pumping obnoxious amounts of iron to look the way they did. In contrast, the boy standing before me had a swimmer’s build.

He stood stoic and a cautious look crossed his face. He was long and lean in a pair of bright green neon swim trunks.

Right away I could tell he didn’t care what anyone thought about him.

I loved the idea of that.

So I smiled at him.

He shook his head and his hair fell into his eyes.

I wanted to reach out and push it away. It wasn’t long, but it wasn’t short. It was perfect.

“Hey,” he said, grabbing a towel off the ground.

It didn’t belong to the club. It was small, beige, and a bit worn—not the large hunter-green fluffy ones monogrammed in white I’d always gotten when I used to come here to swim as a kid.

“Hey,” I said back, swinging my sandals nervously.

He grabbed a pair of jeans that lay next to where the towel had been and walked right by me.

I turned to watch him as he strode into one of the cabanas and dropped his trunks. I froze and squeezed my eyes shut, thinking I shouldn’t be watching him but then opened them quickly when I couldn’t resist maybe catching a glimpse.

“Didn’t your parents ever tell you it isn’t polite to stare?” His voice was low and sexy, and it tugged me out of my own head.

I put my hands on my hips. “Didn’t your parents ever teach you not to undress in mixed company?”

He pulled his jeans on and laughed. “My mother might have mentioned that once or twice but I’ve never been good at following the rules.”

And it didn’t escape my notice that he didn’t put any underwear on first.

Hot. Totally and completely hot.

I didn’t see anything I shouldn’t have seen, it was too dark, but something inside me electrified at the thought of seeing him naked and I stepped closer. That’s when I noticed the scuffed-up black work boots on one of the lounges with a T-shirt thrown next to them.

I raised a brow. “Is this your changing room?”

He laughed again but this time added a smile and put his hands up. “Okay you caught me. I better get out of here before anyone else does.”

He was adorable and charming and my heart skipped a beat or two.

Then I stepped even closer and entered the cabana entrance, effectively blocking his way. “Why? You’re not doing anything wrong.”

He shrugged but he didn’t try to move around me. “I usually swim in the ocean but when the water is too rough, like tonight, I come here.”

I bit my lip in contemplation before speaking. “Does it really matter if you get caught?”

He crossed his arms over his bare chest. “Let’s just say it’s not just the swimming. It’s more that I’ve been caught doing a few too many things that I shouldn’t have been doing in the past.”

A bad boy.

The thought made my pulse thunder. “So you’re not a member at this club?”

He cleared his throat and shifted from foot to foot. “No,” he laughed but his laugh was anything but genuine. “Are you?”

I hesitated as I considered my answer. “No, I was just walking the beach and wanted to rinse my feet. I’m Phoebe,” I said extending my hand. Technically, I wasn’t lying. I wasn’t a member, my parents were. I hadn’t even been here in years. And I was out for a walk.

Amusement danced in his blue eyes. “Jeremy,” he said back.

When I chewed on my lower lip, I noticed how his eyes focused on it.

Mine focused on the entirety of his mouth—his strong, firm jaw, his sensuous lips, and his tongue that had snuck out to lick his lips.

That mouth.

It was almost too much.

Almost.

Michel’s Review

I have to admit I was not looking forward to this book. After reading the synopsis I was filled with dread because I am so tired of millionaire romances. The typical theme of the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks becoming a ruthless millionaire to ruin the spoiled socialite heiress that broke his heart when they were teens… yeah … read that story over and over…different names…different author. But then I thought… Toxic is written by Kim Karr…Kim Karr can write a book like no other. She has never disappointed and her books are fresh, exciting, and take on a life of their own. My thoughts were still a bit skeptical but willing to take on Kim Karr’s millionaire experience. I can honestly say that I am so glad that I did. This book is not like any other book I have read and kept me glued to the pages. This story, when stripped bare, is something that can happen to any couple if they let their insecurities take over their relationship. It was a beautiful relationship that quickly turned toxic because of personal insecurities rather than agendas that drove the characters apart.

Rather than recap the entire story or give away spoilers I am going to list the things I loved about the book and it’s characters.

1. I liked both of the leading characters.

Phoebe St. Claire was born a privileged socialite and heiress to a hotel empire. Even though she was raised with a silver spoon she never came across as entitled. She worked hard, fought for her independence, and stayed loyal to those she loved. She always showed respect to others whether they were from her social class or the working class. When the odds were against her she dug deeper and worked harder to succeed. She never sacrificed her beliefs or integrity to get what she wanted or needed. She was determined to prove her worth by earning it. She was a confident woman in many aspects but also vulnerable in many other aspects. Her problem was trusting in herself.

Jeremy McQueen was more than your typical bad boy sexy millionaire. At first it appears that he was a resentful young man that hated the wealthy. He had issues but rose above them. His drive to become a successful businessman was because of his personal ambitions and not because of his resentments. He truly wanted to build an empire based off of his own merits. When he achieved his success he didn’t shove it in the face of those he resented in his youth. Sure he had some bad feelings towards Phoebe St. Claire for breaking his young heart but it was not his motivating factor. He was smart enough to look beyond their past and see the people they were in the present. He showed Phoebe the respect she deserved.

2. The secondary characters were fantastic. Their support to the story made this book come to life. Phoebe’s life long friends may have been just as privileged as she was but they were not snobs either. They were real people with their own unique strengths and flaws. They were supportive and loyal to Phoebe. Her family was very interesting and surprising. Jeremy’s support system was just as surprising. The main villain in this story was unpredictable. Although there was a villain in the story, he was not the driving force in the plot. He was more of a catalyst to what was beneath the surface.

3. The plot was unique. The delivery was subtle until it was explosive. Once the reader is at the point of explosion it is a complete surprise. The book starts with one impression of the characters world and quickly moves into the high powered world of business and finance. The twists and turns as well as Phoebe and Jeremy’s adult relationship keep the readers glued to the pages. When the climax and true grit of the story finally reveals itself it is quite a surprise. You reach an OMG moment realizing that it was there all along, in black and white, in your face but you were so wrapped up in everything else going on that you missed it.

4. The romance. The relationship between Phoebe and Jeremy was truly beautiful. There was never a question of these two people loving each other. They were magic together when they stepped outside of their own skins. The problem was what they kept buried within themselves that led their relationship to being toxic.

5. Emotional rewarding reading experience. This book did not feel like I was reading a truck full of angst and despair. It did not revolve around scorching sex ( which was there in the hottest form) that kept the characters together even though there were problems. It tapped into the human psyche in it’s purest form.

6. It was interesting how she tied her previous stand alone book, The 27 Club, into this story even though it had nothing to do with it. It may open doors for future books.

In the end I can honestly say that Toxic is the best book that Kim Karr has written.

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Excerpt Reveal 2 : Toxic by Kim Karr

Posted on 07/03/2015 by shellbellereads

Toxic

By Kim Karr

Release Date: July 7, 2015

Pre Order: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

When she asks Jeremy to help her salvage her family business, he agrees immediately, with only one condition–he wants her in his bed.

But soon surprising circumstances leave Phoebe reeling. Was this fairy tale romance just too good to be true? Will Jeremy’s secrets pull them apart all over again?

THIS IS A STANDALONE SECOND-CHANCE ROMANCE WITH NO CLIFFHANGER ENDING.

Pre Order: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Excerpt 2

Phoebe St. Claire

“We’re a good team you know.”

I lifted my head in question.

“We fit together well.”

Feeling naughty, I threw him a saucy look.

As expected, he smiled a rueful grin. “Not like that.”

My heartbeat went sky high but I contained the effect he had on me and raised a sensual brow.

“Well, yes like that, but I mean in business. We work well together.”

Call it hopeful expectation but I knew we would. Gratified, I relaxed back down against his chest and murmured, “We do,” before hitting play on the remote. It meant a lot to me that Jeremy valued my opinion when it came to business decisions. He’d confided in me about his plans for Jet Set and we had even discussed the best ways to grow membership as well as which cities would be ideal targets when he was ready to expand. I pondered our business savvy as he drew shapes on my back but when the movie started, I dedicated my attention to Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Sometime during the movie, we must have fallen asleep because a pounding on my door woke me up. “Stay here, it’s probably Mrs. Bardot wanting to see her dress on me. I’ll just tell her I’ll come by before we leave.”

“Sounds good,” he mumbled as he covered his head with the pillow. All the sex we’d been having was probably wearing him out. I knew it was me.

I opened my door to find Lily standing there.

“I kissed a girl,” she announced.

I simply blinked at her.

“And he liked it.”

I stepped aside for her to enter. “Preston?”

She traipsed over to the couch and flopped herself down. “Yes, Preston.”

I pulled a blanket off the back of the sofa and sat in the chair. “I thought you weren’t having sex?”

“We weren’t. That’s the point.”

“Lily, I’m just waking up. Help me out a little.”

She covered her face in her hands as she spoke. “After I got off the phone with you, I went to go find Preston. It was late and he wasn’t in his room. When I called him, he told me he was in the hotel bar. I went down there to find him sitting with a French woman who didn’t even speak English.”

I was confused. “What was he doing with her?”

“I asked him the same thing. He told me it was nothing. That he was just sitting with her. I asked why and he told me he had overheard my conversation with you and felt bad that I was feeling sexually frustrated. Well hello, I told him, he could fix it.”

I grimaced.

“At least I wasn’t sitting in the hotel bar staring at a dude like I might fuck him.”

“Is that what he had planned?”

“No! That’s when he told me he’d never cheat on me. She was for me, for us, not him. And then he asked me to kiss her.”

“And you did?”

“Yes, I did, to prove a point to him. I wanted him to know I was sick of this no sex thing and if he wanted me to show him just how sick of it I was, I would. So I brought her to our room and we sat on the couch and I kissed her. Then I stood up and looked at him and asked him if I’d proven to him how much I wanted him now.”

I pulled my legs up under my chin. “And he said what exactly?”

“That he wanted me to kiss her again.”

The situation wasn’t at all funny, but I had a hard time not laughing. It was just so unbelievable. “So what did you do?”

“Packed my stuff and left him there to stare at her as I caught the next flight back to New York City.”

“Did you ever think he might have a mechanical problem and was looking for a way to . . . you know,” Jeremy was standing in my bedroom door looking yummy, all sleepy and crumpled.

Lily’s eyes shot to his. “To get it up?”

Jeremy cleared his throat. “Yeah.”

She looked at him deep in thought. “Why would he have a problem like that? He never has before.”

Jeremy shrugged. “Stress, medication, I’m really not sure. I’ve just heard it happens.”

“We have been under a lot of stress,” she admitted.

Jeremy walked toward me and put his hands on my shoulders, massaging them.

I sighed and leaned forward.

“St. Claire, focus on me.”

I laughed. I had really missed her. “You need to talk to him. Ask him about it.”

“What if he says yes? Then what? I have sex with a girl to see if he can get off?”

“Men do like girl on girl action.”

I cranked my head around. “Jeremy!” I scolded.

“I’m just being honest.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. He raised his palms. “Not me of course.”

Lily jumped up. “I have to run. I have to talk to Preston and find out what’s going on. I’ll call you,” she yelled as she slammed my door.

“What if that’s not the problem?” I asked Jeremy.

He plopped on the couch. “At least it will get them talking.”

I had to laugh.

That it would.

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Excerpt Reveal : Toxic by Kim Karr

Posted on 07/02/2015 by shellbellereads

Toxic

By Kim Karr

Release Date: July 7, 2015

Pre Order: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

When she asks Jeremy to help her salvage her family business, he agrees immediately, with only one condition–he wants her in his bed.

But soon surprising circumstances leave Phoebe reeling. Was this fairy tale romance just too good to be true? Will Jeremy’s secrets pull them apart all over again?

THIS IS A STANDALONE SECOND-CHANCE ROMANCE WITH NO CLIFFHANGER ENDING.

Pre Order: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Excerpt

Phoebe St. Claire

“Where are you?” he asked.

“Home.”

“I know. Where in your apartment are you?”

“On my bed.”

“Where are you?” I asked.

“Give me a minute.”

I heard stomping up some stairs and then a door closed.

“On my bed,” he said in that same husky tone.

I nearly stopped breathing.

“Are you still there?” he asked again.

“Yes,” my voice was raspy.

In a deep husky voice he said, “Tell me what you’re wearing under your clothes.”

Arousal overtook my mind and I answered quickly. “A bra and panties.”

“Take off your clothes and tell me what they look like.”

Flushing from head to toe I managed to say, “Jeremy!”

“Phoebe, I’ve seen you in your underwear. Christ, I’ve seen you naked. Just put your phone on speaker, dim the lights, and describe to me the lucky pieces of fabric covering your tits and pussy.”

Shock and desire swarmed through me in equal measure.

Memories of his dirty mouth came back in a flash.

I’d loved it so many years ago, loved when we were flesh to flesh. And this was different. I’d never had phone sex before. Had no idea how to, but I knew I was about to find out. I wasn’t going to turn him down. I wanted this.

The sexual tension that had blossomed between us was causing me to go insane. I was touching myself when I woke up in the middle of the night, and then in the shower before work, and last night and the night before after I hung up the phone with him. I’d been masturbating to the thought of him nonstop. Phone sex had to be so much better.

“Give me a minute,” I whispered needing to ease into the more intimate exchange that I knew was coming. I stripped out of my skirt and blouse and all but tore my hose pulling them off. The lights were already dimmed, so that wasn’t an issue. I heard his own mattress squeaking and wondered if he had started without me.

My phone beeped again and I looked down. This time it was an incoming call from Jamie. I ignored it. Then, I took a deep breath and a giant leap of faith as I sat on my bed in my underwear.

Just as I was thinking about what I could say, he spoke. “I have to be honest with you,” he said.

My heart sank. I didn’t like any conversation that started with those words.

With a heavy exhale, he said, “I’ve been hard all week just thinking about you and I have to admit, my wrist hasn’t been worked out this much in a long time.”

Picturing his hand, his cock, his hips, and the perfect choreographed movement of all three had me barely cognizant.

“Phoebe?”

“I’m here,” I said in the raspiest tone. “Then I’ll be honest too. It’s possible that I’ve made myself come more times this week than I have in my entire life.”

I wasn’t exactly comfortable initiating a kinky conversation. But I could follow his lead.

“Jesus Phoebe, you can’t talk that way to me when I’m not near you.”

Something primal erupted within me. “And I want to do it again.”

“Fuckkkk.”

I moaned at his use of the word fuck. It sounded entirely too delicious.

Equally as delicious was his sexy laugh that followed. “So what are we going to do about this dilemma?”

I sunk back into my pillows and pictured his face—his lips parted and his eyes heavy-lidded.

I knew what I wanted to do about it.

Did he want to do the same thing?

I hoped so.

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5 Star Review: The 27 Club by Kim Karr

Posted on 03/05/2015 by shellbellereads

The 27 Club

A Stand Alone Novel

By Kim Karr

Release Date: March 3, 2015

Pre-Order: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Synopsis

You don’t know when…
You don’t get to choose if…
When it’s time to join…you’ll know.
You might think you want to be a member—but trust me, this is one club you don’t want to join. It’s not a place where people go to live out their deepest, darkest sexual desires—there are no handcuffs or blindfolds.
The 27 Club only admits those who die young and tragically. Having just lost my brother to the club, I know there is no doubt. I’m next. This is my destiny… and I was ready to yield.
But then I met Nate. He awakened a sensuality in me that had never been explored, never satisfied. I knew then I could no longer accept my destiny. Nate’s presence controls me. I’m overwhelmed by his touch, his words; my every thought is consumed by desire. I believe he was brought into my life for a reason.
Nate doesn’t believe in destiny.
But I do.
And if there’s a way to cheat it—I must.

Excerpt

The wind howls and the palm trees whip against the windows as the storm seems to make its way closer to landfall. Thunder booms and lightning lights up the room, startling me. No, not lightning—a lamp.

“Hello, Zoey.” The voice is deep and husky.

As the sound registers, I scream. I quickly sit up and scan my unfamiliar surroundings. My eyes immediately land on the silhouette of a man standing beside me, and I scream again, this time scrambling off the bed in terror.

In this moment, my heart stops beating, my lungs stop breathing, and my brain stops thinking. I’m petrified.

The man raises his palms up in surrender. “Zoey, I’m Nate, Z’s friend. You don’t have to be scared. I’m not going to hurt you.”

My fear must be evident. I stare at him for a few long moments, both alarmed and trembling. Only once realization sets in, that yes, this is Nate, my brother’s best friend, do I attempt to calm my ragged breaths.

He takes a cautious step back. “Just cover up with something so we can talk.”

Oh my God, my clothes.

Tangled sheets catch on my limbs as I climb back onto the bed and unsuccessfully try to pull the covers over my practically naked body. Before humiliation grabs complete hold of me, I give up and dive for my soaking wet shirt lying on the floor.

Sliding the cold fabric over my head, I pull it down to cover my panties and stand up, quickly crossing my arms over my chest to shield any signs of the chill I’m feeling.

Not great, but better. At least I can look at him with a little dignity.

Finally, I glance up and my gaze catches his. As soon as it does, he drops his eyes.

The photos I’ve seen of him over the years, when my brother would text me a funny shot—a selfie of him and Nate at some top chef restaurant, at the beach, or at a coffee house—didn’t nearly do him justice. Those shots were goofy poses with baseball caps turned backwards and funny faces. Not that I didn’t think he was good looking in them, because I did, but there’s just something different about him.

I blink and focus on the matter at hand. “You scared the shit out of me. What are you doing here?”

Staring at the ground, he leans against the door jam. “You beat me to the punch. I was just about to ask you the same question.”

“Why would you ask me that?”

He raises a brow. “I guess I’m just curious.”

I sigh, feeling confused.

His gaze lifts, and those eyes, those bewitching emerald green eyes, stare back at me. “Not that I mind that you’re here. It’s just—a little warning would have been nice. That’s all.”

His tone is more bemused than apologetic.

I’m not sure what to think.

With a straight and confident stance, I clear my throat. “I e-mailed you earlier today to let you know that I was coming for the weekend. I’m really sorry about the late notice, but I decided at the last minute.”

He reaches into the pocket of his low-slung jeans and pulls out his phone. After a few taps and scrolls he looks up at me. “I guess you did. Here it is. I’m usually on top of my e-mails but today my . . . schedule was full. Had I seen your message, I would have tried to rearrange my plans.”

“That’s fine really. I managed. It’s not a big deal.”

I steal a glance at my reliable Timex—just after midnight. What is he doing in my brother’s house in the middle of the night? Just as I’m about to ask him, my eyes catch sight of the way he predatorily walks around the room and I’m momentarily distracted. He moves like a panther— slowly circling his prey, keeping his distance, not too close, but close enough to pounce if he feels the urge. He settles back against the wall, just a little closer now. “Zoey, did you hear me?”

I swallow. “Sorry, what?”

His tone grows more insistent. “I said I would have at least sent a car for you. You shouldn’t be out in this weather on your own.”

My brow furrows. Why is he still talking about the airport?

When I don’t respond, he crosses his arms over his chest like he owns the place.

It’s then that reality sinks in. And as cliché as this sounds, I am not going to let Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome intimidate me. It’s time to take charge. “There was no need. I managed just fine. But if you didn’t know I was coming, can I ask what you’re doing here?”

Confusion seems to have taken over his thoughts as he steps even closer—moving with a lethal grace that makes my body start to hum. I can’t help but study him as his features come into clear focus. His body is long and lean. His hair is dark, the most unusual shade of brown, maybe like the color of expensive chocolate, but not exactly. His eyes are languid, watchful, and the most beautiful shade I’ve ever seen—darker than emeralds or the deepest of forest greens. His lips look full and soft. He is handsome in a way that is unlike anyone I’ve ever seen.

My mind is going haywire.

A look of realization seems to cross his face as he stares at me.

“Nate, why are you at my brother’s house in the middle of the night?” I ask him again.

With a smirk, he ignores my question. Instead of answering me, he opens the door beside him. It’s a closet, Zach’s closet to be exact, and he steps right in, again like he owns the place.

“What are you doing?” I ask impatiently.

He comes back into the bedroom with a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt in his hand. “You’re trembling. How about you get changed and we sit down to talk?”

The audacity of this man is beyond comprehension. From his e-mails he seemed nice, but then again, you never can tell what lurks behind the words on a computer screen.

He stares and his small smirk really irritates me. “Take these, they’re mine. I’ll wait downstairs while you get changed.”

If I weren’t standing here, chilled and in my underwear, I might just tell him to go to hell. But instead I reach for the clothes, and as I do, I start to wonder if he’s been squatting in my brother’s house. Once the clothes are in my hands, his mouth spreads into a slow, easy grin.

Annoyance grabs hold of me as I pivot on my bare feet and head toward the bathroom, making sure not to glance over my shoulder. When I hear heavy footsteps, I let my body fall back and shut everything out of my mind for a few short seconds.

What is going on?

When I’ve gathered my composure, I quickly strip out of my wet clothes and redress. Then I make the mistake of looking in the mirror. A wet dog would look better than I do right now. In an effort to improve the image, I grab a towel and wipe the black mascara from under my eyes. Then I use my fingers to comb through my mass of curls and try to calm them, but that’s nearly impossible.

Okay, better—but not great.

Who cares anyway?

It’s not like I’m trying to impress him. In fact, I’ve never tried to impress a man.

Ever.

Michel’s Review

Wow! Kim Karr stepped outside of her realm and wrote a dark, erotic romance. The 27 Club is unlike any of her other books. It contains intrigue, mystery, erotic romance, psychological twists, and deeply tormented characters. Although The 27 Club is somewhat dark, it ends with a light at the end of the tunnel. The book itself delivers a very powerful message. We cannot control our fate. It is up to us to live life to the fullest. It is important to grab each moment as if it is our last. Live and Love Each Moment.

Zoey Flowers has been incapacitated since the death of her brother Zach. Zach was killed in a horrific accident at the age of 27. Her family has a long history of deaths to many of their descendants at the age of 27. It is known as the The 27 Club. Zach Flowers is the most recent member of The 27 Club. Zoey Flowers has just turned 27 and fears she is the next family member to join the club. Her fear is very real and validated. Her fear has incapacitated her. She is no longer really living life. She is constantly wondering if her next moment is going to be her death. She is also suffering from the loss of her brother. They were very close.

Zoey finally gets the nerve to go to Miami to settle her brother’s estate and come to terms with his death. It is the first structured and positive action she has taken since her 27th birthday.

When she arrives in Miami she is in for some great surprises. The first surprise that she gets is that her brother had been lying to her about where he lived and how he led his life. The house she was told was his home is actually his best friend’s, Nate Hanson’s home. The Art gallery he ran was not the viable source of income he claimed it to be. There is no trace of the artwork he supposedly sold, yet his bank account says differently. Zoey will have to go through her brother’s belongings and try to piece together the life he lived rather than the one he fabricated.

His best friend, Nate Hanson, is drop dead gorgeous, smoldering sexy, and fantastically rich. He’s smart, sophisticated, and worldly. He is also personable and down to earth in a somewhat geeky way. For the first time in what seems like forever, Zoey is intensely attracted to Nate. He stirs her desires like no other man has. She figures that if her time on earth is limited, she is going to pursue her sexual desires she has towards Nate. She is finally reaching out to life.

Nate doesn’t believe in destiny. He feels that you need to live life by the moment. He believes in doing things with a full throttle at full force. No holding back. He lives his life this way with one exception. No relationships, no deep involvement with the opposite sex. He is the one night stand kind of guy. He has some real issues that hold him back from committing to love. He is intensely attracted to Zoey and wants her in his bed. He is holding himself back because he knows Zach would never have approved of him sleeping with his sister. But as he gets to know Zoey he cannot hold himself back.

Both Nate and Zoey will embark on an intense erotic affair. They will each learn new things about life and what makes it a joy to live. As they unravel the secret life that Zach was leading before his death, they will learn many different life lessons.

In the end they will have to chose how they live their lives. Do they live it alone or live it together, one moment at a time ? No one really knows their fate, but destiny will always be the master. Is their love their destiny?

Read this book!

Author Bio:

Stalk Her: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Happy Release: The 27 Club by Kim Karr

Posted on 03/03/2015 by shellbellereads

The 27 Club

A Stand Alone Novel

By Kim Karr

Release Date: March 3, 2015

Pre-Order: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Synopsis

Excerpt

My jaw practically hits the table.

The chocolate crêpe!

I can’t believe it.

Harnessing all of my willpower, I fight the sudden inclination I have to leap around the table and jump onto his lap. I always tell people I prefer dessert before a meal, but never has anyone taken me seriously.

Never.

Tension coils deep in my belly. Lust flows through my veins running faster and faster with each passing second. I look over at him and as soon as I see his face, I can feel myself coming unhinged. Urges I can’t deny surface. The need to know the taste of his lips, to feel his hard body,

to be able to lick the chocolate he just ordered off his chest, and to slide my tongue down his stomach so I can taste him.

Looking thoughtful, his return gaze slowly changes to one of concern. “Have you stopped planning for your future because you don’t think you have one?” he asks softly.

Remnants of our conversation must have been lingering in his mind. Slamming my eyes shut, all of the erotic images I had conjured up immediately disappear as I fight to breathe.

Suddenly the air becomes thick in my lungs and I can’t get it out. I take deep calming breaths. As the haze around me dissipates and I fight off the panic attack, I hear a fumbling in front of me. I force myself to lift my lids. Nate is attempting to open my clutch. “What are you doing?”

“Trying to get you your inhaler.” Panic seems to drown out the deep green of his eyes.

I push to my feet and give him a disbelieving look. “I’m not having an asthma attack.”

“You’re not?” He sounds uncertain.

Shaking my head, I set my napkin on the table. “Excuse me, I have to use the ladies room.” I walk inside the restaurant, realizing I have no idea where I’m going. Looking around, I find the bathrooms immediately.

Just as I pull the door open, a hand covers mine. “You’re upset.”

I drop my head. “No, I’m fine.”

Fierceness grips his voice. “You’re lying.”

Summoning all of my willpower, I raise my eyes.

Nate lifts my chin. “You didn’t let me finish. I’m trying to understand you. I want to know why, if you believe in destiny, you’d change your path. Why wouldn’t you do what you had always planned on doing? Why change your course? Personally, I think destiny is bullshit. I also think not pursuing your dream is bullshit too.”

Caged by his body, his scent, his presence, I look up into his burning eyes and I can see compassion there. I believe he wants what’s best for me. If I think I know him through my brother, he thinks he knows me through my brother as well. And Zach wanted me to continue my education. His dream was that someday I’d be Dr. Zoey Flowers. Nate knows this.

“Zoey?” Nate’s voice is questioning. Low. Maybe even slightly fearful.

“Nate”—I press my finger to his lips—“I think I need to tell you something about myself.”

“What?” he asks.

In all our e-mails after my brother’s death, I never mentioned the real reason for my delay in coming to Miami. I keep my eyes open even though I want to close them. “I had a breakdown shortly after Zach died. I took a leave from my job. I couldn’t get out of bed. I couldn’t plan one day, let alone the next. And somewhere during that time, I let any plans I had for the future fall to the wayside. I don’t know what I want anymore.”

Shock appears on his face. “Why didn’t you tell me in any of our e-mails?”

The truth is hard to admit. “I actually looked forward to your weekly e-mails. But I did lie to you. It wasn’t work that kept me from coming to get my brother’s things. It was me and my inability to cope.”

Nate stares down at me.

My entire focus is on him. “Don’t think I’m crazy. I’m not. Really, I’m not.”

His gaze continues to pin me in a way that makes me think he understands me.

It holds me in place. Keeps me calm.

“Zoey, God, I don’t think that at all,” he breathes. “I can understand how that would happen.

With everything coming at you at once, and the shock of Z’s death, coupled with the revelations about your family, it was just too much. I get it.”

I just stare at his lips, longing to kiss him. My body is filled with so many wants and needs, and all these new urges I’ve never felt before.

And all I want is just for him to set me free.

Author Bio:

Stalk Her: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Excerpt Reveal: The 27 Club by Kim Karr

Posted on 02/17/2015 by shellbellereads

The 27 Club

A Stand Alone Novel

By Kim Karr

Release Date: March 3, 2015

Pre-Order: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Synopsis

Excerpt

“Hello, Zoey.” The voice is deep and husky.

In this moment, my heart stops beating, my lungs stop breathing, and my brain stops thinking. I’m petrified.

The man raises his palms up in surrender. “Zoey, I’m Nate, Z’s friend. You don’t have to be scared. I’m not going to hurt you.”

He takes a cautious step back. “Just cover up with something so we can talk.”

Oh my God, my clothes.

Sliding the cold fabric over my head, I pull it down to cover my panties and stand up, quickly crossing my arms over my chest to shield any signs of the chill I’m feeling.

Not great, but better. At least I can look at him with a little dignity.

Finally, I glance up and my gaze catches his. As soon as it does, he drops his eyes.

I blink and focus on the matter at hand. “You scared the shit out of me. What are you doing here?”

Staring at the ground, he leans against the door jam. “You beat me to the punch. I was just about to ask you the same question.”

“Why would you ask me that?”

He raises a brow. “I guess I’m just curious.”

I sigh, feeling confused.

His gaze lifts, and those eyes, those bewitching emerald green eyes, stare back at me. “Not that I mind that you’re here. It’s just—a little warning would have been nice. That’s all.”

His tone is more bemused than apologetic.

I’m not sure what to think.

“That’s fine really. I managed. It’s not a big deal.”

I swallow. “Sorry, what?”

His tone grows more insistent. “I said I would have at least sent a car for you. You shouldn’t be out in this weather on your own.”

My brow furrows. Why is he still talking about the airport?

When I don’t respond, he crosses his arms over his chest like he owns the place.

My mind is going haywire.

A look of realization seems to cross his face as he stares at me.

“Nate, why are you at my brother’s house in the middle of the night?” I ask him again.

With a smirk, he ignores my question. Instead of answering me, he opens the door beside him. It’s a closet, Zach’s closet to be exact, and he steps right in, again like he owns the place.

“What are you doing?” I ask impatiently.

He comes back into the bedroom with a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt in his hand. “You’re trembling. How about you get changed and we sit down to talk?”

The audacity of this man is beyond comprehension. From his e-mails he seemed nice, but then again, you never can tell what lurks behind the words on a computer screen.

He stares and his small smirk really irritates me. “Take these, they’re mine. I’ll wait downstairs while you get changed.”

What is going on?

Okay, better—but not great.

Who cares anyway?

It’s not like I’m trying to impress him. In fact, I’ve never tried to impress a man.

Ever.