Release Day: Bayonet Scars Box Set Volume 1 by JC Emery

Posted on 02/15/2015 by shellbellereads

THIS IS THE END OF THE BEGINNING…

The only thing stronger than the bond of Forsaken’s brotherhood is the strength of the women who fight for their hearts.

In Ride we fell in love with Ryan despite our better judgment and cheered Alex on in her relentless pursuit of his heart. In Thrash we hurt for Nic as she struggled to trust Duke and let him love her. In Rev we saw Grady as both an intense lover and a flawed man trying to be a good father. In Crush we were consumed by the volatility of first love with Jeremy and Cheyenne.

Now, in Vow we see the product of Ryan’s love as he searches for something that Alex may not be ready to give– yet.

For a limited time the first half of the Bayonet Scars series is together with Ride, Thrash, Rev, Crush, and Vow plus Where Souls Spoil & Hearts Rot, an exclusive guide to the Forsaken Motorcycle Club and the Bayonet Scars universe.

Love is never more riveting than when it’s Forsaken.

Buy: Amazon

Death comes in Armani. Salvation comes in leather.

Principessa to the Mancuso crime family, Alexandra knows a thing or two about living outside the bounds of the law. Suffocated by the future her father has laid out for her, she makes a choice she can’t take back, changing the entire trajectory of her life.

Thrust into the dark and dangerous world of the Forsaken Motorcycle Club for her own protection, Alex finds herself faced with the last thing she needs right now: the man of her dreams. He’s sex in leather, the devil incarnate, and one hell of a kisser. But he’s also off-limits. Ryan Stone can be her friend, but he’s forbidden to be her lover.

Third-generation Forsaken, Ryan knows nothing other than life on two wheels, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. He enjoys the many privileges that come with the patch, and the only laws he recognizes are the ones set-forth by his club. That is, until who he wants more than anything isn’t allowed on the back of his bike —or in his bed. Balancing his desire for her body, and need to keep her safe, Ryan tries to keep Alex at a distance. Finally having made a choice for herself, she’s done hearing the word “no” and will push boundaries even Ryan himself doesn’t dare cross.

Love is never more tempting than when it’s forbidden.

Loneliness suffocates the heart. Acceptance breaks down walls.

As a Lost Girl to the Forsaken Motorcycle Club, Nicole Whelan knows how to party. She’s not cut-out for relationships and her life is way too complicated for anything more than casual encounters. But one night when she falls into Duke’s bed at the clubhouse, he sees something in her that he can’t let go of—no matter how many times she tries to run.

Having been left to raise her teenage brother, Jeremy, she’s already got her hands full and isn’t looking for anymore complications. But Duke’s just watched his best friend fall for the only girl he couldn’t have, and then almost lose her so shortly after, shaking him to his core. Faced with his own loneliness, he’s more determined than ever to break down Nic’s walls and show her that he can be good for her; but he’s got a bad track record and she’s got a bad temper. Changing his ways isn’t easy when he’s not sure what he’s even changing for.

The violence and turmoil are at an all-time high, and Forsaken is in a vulnerable place when a twist of fate breathes new life into the club. It’s a much-needed beacon of hope for the embattled biker family, even if everyone’s not exactly on board. With Duke and Nic’s relationship already on shaky ground, and something even more important at stake, the Forsaken Motorcycle Club will fight like hell to keep their family together and whole.

Love is never more precious than when it’s new.

With the looming threat from the Mancuso Crime Family, the
Forsaken Motorcycle Club is preparing for a war that could destroy them. Grady,
the club’s Sergeant-at-Arms, knows that love makes you weak, and he has zero
interest in adding to his liabilities– especially now. He’s already got his
teenage daughter who keeps him on his toes and a beef within the club that
could fracture his relationship with a fellow brother for good.For Holly Mercer, her life is finally getting on track and the last thing she
wants is trouble from her hometown’s resident outlaws. Keeping her nose clean
is easier said than done, when suddenly she finds herself embroiled in club
business. Holly might like the idea of being with a real-life bad boy, but even
being in the same room with tough-as-nails Grady flusters her.When Holly inadvertently finds herself on Mancuso’s radar, she has two choices:
trust that Grady will protect her, or continue to refuse the club’s help. Both
roads are dangerous, but only one has the chance to damage her beyond repair.Love is never more dangerous than when it can destroy you.

Young love is always perfect. Until it’s not.

Cheyenne Grady is a total daddy’s girl to her bad-ass father, the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Forsaken Motorcycle Club. She’s funny, and kind, and she just wants that deep, earth-shattering love like her dad has with her school secretary, Holly. But Cheyenne’s been looking in the wrong direction, because the only good that can come from the way she looks at Jeremy Whelan is a lesson in heartbreak.

Jeremy always wanted to prospect for the Forsaken Motorcycle Club and wear the same patch as his father. When a life-long dream becomes reality, Jeremy realizes that the outlaw lifestyle is not for the faint of heart. Nor is it easy on relationships. He wants to be a good man, but temptation is everywhere.

Cheyenne is beautiful, and strong, and exactly what Jeremy could have forever. As long as he doesn’t screw it up.

Love is never more powerful than the first time.

HE REFUSES TO GIVE IN. SHE REFUSES TO GIVE IT UP.

Alexandra Mancuso knows all about regrets. She talked to the wrong person and started a war that’s ravaged her newly adopted motorcycle club family and threatens to cost Alex her life. Now, she’s cautious with the commitments she makes.

Ryan Stone, road captain for the Forsaken Motorcycle Club regrets nothing—except putting Cub in danger one time too many. The Forsaken Motorcycle Club has a plan to end the war with the Mancuso crime family and they need everyone’s head in the game. But Ryan can’t focus on the club when he’s so distracted by a certain reckless brunette. She gives him everything except for what he really wants.

Today, he refuses to take no for an answer and maybe, just maybe, this time Alex won’t be able to stand her ground.

True love always defies the odds.

Buy Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

VOW ONLY AVAILABLE IN BOX SET

As a child, JC was fascinated by things that went bump in
the night. As they say, some things never change. Now, as an adult, she divides
her time between the sexy law men, mythical creatures, and kick-ass heroines
that live inside her head and pursuing her bachelor’s degree in English. JC is
a San Francisco Bay Area native, but has also called both Texas and Louisiana
home. These days she rocks her flip flops year round in Northern California and
can’t imagine a climate more beautiful.

JC writes adult, new adult, and young adult fiction. She dabbles in many
different genres including science fiction, horror, chick lit, and murder
mysteries, yet she is most enthralled by supernatural stories– and everything
has at least a splash of romance.

WEBSITE TWITTER FACEBOOK AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE GOODREADS

Release Blitz + Giveaway: Rock Candy Kisses by Addison Moore – 3:AM Kisses Series – Book 5

Posted on 02/14/2015 by shellbellereads

Rock Candy Kisses

Addison Moore

Rock Candy Kisses

3:AM Kisses Book 5

This Novel can be read as a stand alone

Synopsis

Annie Edwards was born deaf, but she’s never let that define her. She’s settling in as a freshman at Whitney Briggs University, loves her dorm, her roommate, her classes, but something feels as though it’s missing—enter Blake Daniels. He’s everything Annie is not—a rocker, a player, a college dropout. Her friends want to sleep with him, her brothers want to kill him, and all Annie wants is a chance to see where her heart takes her.

As the lead singer of 12 Deadly Sins, Blake has had his fair share of rock candy. But Annie has taken over his body, his mind, his heart—three things he’s never lost control of before.

Often first love and first heartbreak go hand in hand.

Sometimes the thrill of one is worth risking the other.

Buy Now…

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ROCK CANDY KISSES

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About the Author:

Addison Moore is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who writes contemporary and paranormal romance. Her work has been featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine. Previously she worked as a therapist on a locked psychiatric unit for nearly a decade. She resides on the West Coast with her husband, four wonderful children, and two dogs where she eats too much chocolate and stays up way too late. When she’s not writing, she’s reading.

Author Links:

Feel free to visit her blog at: http://bit.ly/AddisonMoore-Blog

Facebook: http://bit.ly/AddisonMoore-Facebook

Twitter: http://bit.ly/AddisonMoore-Twitter

Instagram: http://bit.ly/AddisonMoore-Instagram

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1yshaGm

*Be sure to subscribe to Addison’s mailing list for sneak peeks and updates on all upcoming releases!

http://bit.ly/AddisonMoore-MailingList

The 3:AM Kisses Series

EACH BOOK CAN BE READ AS A STAND ALONE NOVEL

CLICK ON IMAGE TO PURCHASE

Box Set Books 1-3

Book 1

Book 2

Book 3

Book 4

Book 5

Coming March 2015

Happy Release: Bender by M. Stratton

Posted on 02/13/2015 by shellbellereads

Bender

By M. Stratton

Release Date: February 13, 2015

Synopsis

Since high school everyone thought Jake Bender would end up behind bars; after all, he comes from a long line of bad boys. He spent years away from the place he called home. When he finally comes back, everyone thinks he’s just a punk kid all grown up who’s now running a dive bar called The Night Club. What they don’t know is he heads up a special task force, which cleans up neighborhoods and makes them safe again.

Stormy Ryan has always felt more comfortable with her books than with people. She loves to spend her days within the pages of her books. When her second-hand bookstore is robbed for the third time in as many months, her employees quit leaving her to run the shop on her own. With the pressure of having to deal with her shop and people, not to mention the declining neighborhood, she is at the end of her rope.

When closing up her shop late one night, she is held up and the neighborhood bad boy saves her, putting both of them at the forefront of a psychotic’s obsession.
Being bad has never looked so good.

Buy : Amazon / Kobo

Prologue

Eighteen year old Jake Bender sat slouched over in a chair in the principal’s office listening to the asshole saying over and over and over how he’d end up in jail or dead. Blah, blah, blah. It wasn’t anything he hadn’t heard a thousand times before. He was thankful this one wasn’t followed up by fists like his old man liked to do.

“Are you listening to me, boy?” The principal slammed his fist on the desk and walked around wagging his finger in Bender’s face. “You mark my words, boy; you’re heading for jail or the cemetery. Either way this world is better off without you. You could disappear and no one would care. We don’t need you.”

He sat there and slowly looked up at the principal raising an eyebrow. He’d been hearing this for years from his old man; that song was stuck on repeat. Bender was counting down the days until he could leave this place behind. He’d go full time at the garage, find a place to live, and try to stay alive. Once he was on his own he’d be the one who came first, no one else, just like he’d been raised, look out for number one.

“Don’t give me that look, boy.” He raised his hand as if to slap him.

Bender sighed and leaned back. He knew there was no way he was actually going to hit him. Besides, if for some reason he did, it wouldn’t hurt as much as what his dad did on a daily basis. “Do it. I dare you.”

They stared at each other before the principal backed down. “You’re not worth it. Get out of here and don’t come back for a week.”

“What, no Saturday detention?”

“Never worked for you before; sure isn’t going to work now. We just have to get through the next two months, unless you want to drop out now. Then you’re society’s problem.”

Bender stood up. “Way to inspire the youth there, sir. You may want to write that little speech down for future reference.”

“Get out, Bender. Just get out.”

*****

Bender slowly walked home kicking a rock hoping the old man was out getting drunk somewhere and wouldn’t be home until later. He wasn’t worried about his mom; she’d been beaten down so much over the years she didn’t care about anything as long as his dad wasn’t beating on her.

When he saw the man sitting on the steps to his house he paused. There was something familiar about him, but Bender couldn’t place him. He knew he’d seen him before, but couldn’t remember.

“We need to have a talk son.”

“You’re not my dad.”

The man leaned back and crossed his ankles looking relaxed, but Jack knew he wasn’t. This man didn’t look like he ever let his guard down. “No, thank God for that. I’m here to help you.”

“Yeah, well I don’t want your fucking help.”

“Listen, you punk ass kid, do you want to end up like your old man? Nah, I can see from the look in your eyes you don’t. Well, I’m offering you a way out. A way you can hold onto that tough kid attitude while helping people.”

“Fuck them. They never helped me.”

“What do you think I’m doing? You sure as hell aren’t the first I’ve gotten out of here, and you won’t be the last, but you’d better listen up, boy, before it’s too late. This is your one shot at redemption. I suggest you take it.” He held out a card.

Bender stood there on shaking knees, thoughts going through his head. He wanted to escape the wrath of his father and the scum of the neighborhood. He knew if he stayed, he’d be dead within a year. Slowly, he reached out and grabbed the card, feeling deep down in his gut his whole life was about to change. Now, if it was for the better was yet to be seen.

Author Bio:

M. Stratton is an International Amazon bestselling author in the romantic suspense and mystery suspense categories for her debut novel After the Storm. She is a self-proclaimed dork that loves to make people laugh and can trip over nothing. Her inner rock star is always on stage performing to a sold out crowd but is quiet and shy on the outside.

She lives with her husband and son in Arizona, which is a big difference from where she grew up north of Chicago Illinois. As an only child she learned to tell herself stories to make the long winters go by quicker while dreaming of summer vacations. Now as an adult she still makes up stories to pass the time, but now she writes them down to share with other people.

When not writing you can find M. watching football (Go Bears!), NASCAR, or classic movies, watching her husband and father restore classic cars, and seeing who can be sillier, her or her son, and of course reading.

Things you don’t know about M. Stratton:
1. She loves the movie Twister… she can say all the lines along with the actors. She will also use those lines in real life as often as possible.

2. Halloween is her favorite holiday. She starts planning months in advance. She has more Halloween decorations than Christmas.

3. She once made up a monologue about her love of chocolate chip cookie dough for her high school drama class.

4. There are times she thinks she is so funny she has tears running down her face while laughing at herself.

5. M. can play the clarinet but is in awe of anyone who can play the guitar, piano or drums, pretty much anything where your hands have to do two different things at the same time.

6. Cary Grant is her favorite actor. When she was in high school after Cary Grant died one of the cable stations ran a marathon, she watched his movies from 6 in the morning all day and night until 4 AM the next day.

7. Reading has always been an escape for her. She can devour a book in hours. When she moved in with her husband she literally donated over 1,000 books and saved over 1,000 for herself. She can reread books over and over again if she loves them. There are some that she has reread about once a year for the past 20 years.

8. She eloped after knowing her husband for only two months in 2006. They are still married over seven years later.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Rebel by Callie Hart – Dead Man’s Ink Series – Book 1

Posted on 02/12/2015 by shellbellereads

Rebel

Dead Man’s Ink Series

By Callie Hart

Release Date:February 9, 2015

Synopsis

Rebel and Sophia’s story.

The first of a three part series. This novel contains a small snippet which has already been released in the Owned: An Alpha Anthology, however it is followed by a full story installment.

Sophia

Sometimes, you don’t mean to become another person. Sometimes the choice is made for you, and pretending is the only thing that keeps you going. When Alexis Romera is taken and her kidnappers find her fake ID in her purse, she must become Sophia in order to keep her family safe. Revealing her real identity to the man she’s sold to would be easy enough, but can she trust him? Hell bent on revenging the murder of his uncle, Rebel doesn’t seem all that interested in playing things safe.

In fact, nothing about the secretive, dark and brooding MC president seems safe at all.

Rebel

What do you do when the man who raised you is murdered, and the only witness is kidnapped girl who’s being sold as a sex slave? You buy her, of course. As president to the most powerful motorcycle club in America, Rebel isn’t lacking in power. There are strings the man can pull, and entire criminal organisations and corporate businesses alike would fall to their knees. However, along with such power comes intense interest. The DEA have their eye fixed solely on the MC…and they’re just waiting for Rebel to trip up.

Getting Sophia to testify is the only way to bring the Los Oscuros cartel down. The beautiful, dark haired, dark eyed woman is belligerent and uncooperative and unlikely to bend to his will, but Rebel has a few tricks up his sleeve to make her compliant–he’ll charm her until she’s bending over backwards to please him.

Of course, falling for her might cause a few hiccups along the way…

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Excerpt

“You gonna sit down or what?”

I sit down. Arguing with him would be futile. We sit there, side by side, staring off down the arrow-straight road, and for a moment I don’t hate him. He pulls a cell phone out of his pocket and taps something into it, and then he turns to face me, frowning slightly.

“You believe in vengeance?”

“You mean like revenge?”

He shakes his head. “Revenge is a selfish act. Retaliation for something. Vengeance is a different thing altogether. It’s about obtaining justice, usually for someone who can’t claim it for themselves.”

This is an odd line of questioning but I decide I’ll bite. Maybe I wouldn’t if he were being a jerk like he was a couple of hours ago, but that’s not what’s happening. He’s pensive, the live wire that apparently runs through him dulled for the moment. “I don’t know,” I say. “Probably, in that case.”

“What if I simplified the question?

What if I say, do you believe in justice?

“Then, yes, I do believe.”

Michel’s Review

OMG… I loved Rebel by Callie Hart!

From the very first paragraph I was hooked. Rebel starts with an intense beginning that builds to an explosive climax that leaves the reader biting their nails and begging for the next book. This book is intense, violent, explicit, and has the beginnings of a beautiful fierce love.

I know that there are quite a few excellent biker series on the market for readers to chose from. The Widow Makers MC is quite different from most of the series out there. It’s clear from the beginning that this club is more than outlaws defying society. Their membership is unique, they don’t have specific machine requirements, they are adaptable, and the general daily operations is ruled by who they are. Although it would seem they are a bit unstructured in many ways, it is quite the opposite. They have some very deadly alliances. They also have some powerful connections.

When Alexis is taken after witnessing a horrific crime her world is forever changed. She is taken by a gang connected with the Mexican cartel and sold into slavery. Her fake ID is the only thing she has going for her. Her true identity is hidden from her captors. Her captors have threatened retaliation on her family if she talks about anything that has happened to her. She is scared to death. It gets worse when she is sold to the Widow Makers.

The Widow Makers has used their connections to buy Sophia (aka Alexis) from Hector. She witnessed the murder of a very powerful judge. A judge that is related to Rebel, the president of the Widow Makers MC. They need her to testify to bring down Hector and his men. They have declared war.

The Widow Makers will try enlist one of their most dangerous allies, a Columbian Cartel that wants to destroy Hector also. But they have a price. It is a price that the Widow Makers are not sure they want to pay. They will have to make a choice of lying in bed with the devil or pursuing their enemies on their own. They are out gunned and will probably lose their lives.

As this story unfolds so much more happens. In the end the Widow Makers will not know who is friend or foe. Their world will be threatened from every which way. Events will take place that will send the club spiraling in all directions.

This is WAR!

Meanwhile Rebel and Sophia are engaging in a battle of their own. Not only does Rebel want to convince Sophia to testify by offering protection for her and her family, he is also attracted to her as a woman. As the two begin a rocky relationship their world spins out of control. How can Rebel guarantee protection for Sophia when he is about to engage in an all out war. There are too many enemies to kill. There are unknown enemies lurking in the background.

The ending of this book was a major OMG CLIFFHANGER. It was intense! I need the next book!

I was very impressed with Callie Hart’s writing. She built a world that drew the readers into the story from the beginning. She added intensity, action, and mystery while building a romance. I couldn’t put this book down.

Rebel is a 5 Star book!

About Callie Hart

Callie has experienced many changes throughout her life, and gone through many ups and downs that have all worked towards shaping and molding her into the person she is today: fun loving, active, social, and hard working. The only thing that has remained a constant throughout her life is writing. Creating characters who will tear your conscience in two is a favorite pastime of Callie’s. There are few real saints and sinners in her books; more often, the denizens of her stories are all very human. Broken, flawed, and always with the potential for redemption.

Despite the subject matter being markedly hot and heavy in comparison to the stories she wrote in elementary school, there will always be an element of fairytale to her work.

Stalk Her: Website – Facebook – Twitter – Goodreads – Join Callie’s Newsletter

GIVEAWAY
3 Rebel Super Swag packs
1 paperback of Rebel w/ signed bookplate
1 complete eCopy set of the Blood & Roses series
1 ARC of Callie Hart & Lili St. Germain’s upcoming collaboration, Hell’s Kitchen
(to be ready by end of February)
1 MAC “Rebel” lipstick
Gary Taylor Leather Jacket
$20 Amazon/iBooks Gift card
Kindle HD 6

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Release + Review + Giveaway: Maybe by Amber L. Johnson

Posted on 02/12/2015 by shellbellereads

Maybe

Amber L. Johnson

Release Date: February 12 , 2015

Published by The Writers Coffee Shop

Genre: FICTION / Romance / General / Contemporary / Erotica

ISBN e-book: 978-1-61213-371-3

Available from: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS PH

~~SUMMARY~~

Emily Portman loves her job. A writer for Breakout! Magazine, she shadows and showcases up-and-coming bands. When her next assignment takes her to Austin, Texas, she can’t wait to add the city to her map of places she’s visited. Places she’s left without looking back. Her plan is to keep moving on, and the last thing she needs is a man holding her back. She’s not going down that road again.

Tyler Macy is stuck in a rut. Despite his exceptional talent as a musician, he has chosen to take a backseat with his music and let others grab the limelight. Wounded and mistrustful, he doesn’t appreciate his friends’ efforts to bring him back to center stage. Emily comes onto the scene and sees his full potential, but he fights to stay in the shadows, shutting her out before she can add to the scars another woman gave him.

For Tyler to find his music again, he needs to accept the help that Emily and their friends offer. When he discovers that his muse lies underneath Emily’s skin, it is still not enough to keep her from walking away. Neither will admit what they really want until it is too late.

Emily is once again thrown in Tyler’s path when she is assigned to join them on tour. Despite the pain in his past, Tyler sees that she is worth it, even if she’s stolen both his heart and peace of mind. In order for them to be together, they both must discover whether the music and their passion are enough to overcome the obstacles that separate them.

Maybe finding love is worth the risk.

Goodreads * Add to Want To Read List

~~EXCERPT~~

Walking toward him is like trudging through the deepest mud, but I hold my head high, my hands in my pockets and strides long. When I’m less than a foot away, his head turns toward me without lifting his chin, and he looks up from under his brows. The white smoke from his cigarette causes his eyes to nearly close before he pulls it from his lips and exhales upward into the air.

I’m struck by how incredibly handsome he is in black wool and new jeans. I want to know if his skin feels hot under his clothes and if his back feels the same when I scratch fingernails across his spine. My fists clench in my coat pockets at the thought. This is going to be so much harder than I’d been prepared for.

Robin’s Review

In July of last year, I received a recommendation from a trusted friend to read Puddle Jumping. I had never heard of author Amber L. Johnson, but I decided to read Colton and Lilly’s story after reading the synopsis. I found their story so refreshing! I loved it so much that I ordered a paperback copy as soon as I finished reading it – something I only do with my very favorite novels. Puddle Jumping also made my list of ten favorite novels of 2014, and I read 125 novels last year! I was very excited to be chosen to review a copy of Maybe, the newest contemporary romance from Johnson.

Emily Portman dreamed of becoming a prima ballerina, but her dream came to an end when she blew out her knee at the age of nineteen. It was a time of great loss for Emily. She had to reconsider her career choice. Emily now travels across the United States, shadowing and writing about up and coming bands for Breakout! Magazine.

Tyler Macy is an incredible musician, a gifted song writer and, until recently, the lead singer for his band. He could sing beautifully in front of a crowd until his muse broke his heart. Now he prefers to hide behind a drum set and struggles to write new songs for the band. He’s lost his inspiration.

Emily’s newest assignment takes her to Austin, Texas, a city well-known for producing talent for the music industry. Her company places her in a temporary apartment where a mysterious drummer in her building keeps her awake at night. That drummer is Tyler Macy, and he’s her next assignment.

Tyler and Emily have both been deeply scarred by past relationships. They are both scared of commitment. Afraid of being hurt again. Neither of them is looking for a relationship, but Emily and Tyler are undoubtedly attracted to each other. And with Emily, Tyler discovers music again. He starts writing beautiful songs. Singing. Gaining confidence. Emily has become his new muse.

Amber L. Johnson is a gifted writer. She uses her creative ability to write unusual and interesting stories. Puddle Jumping was no coincidence. I have also read two other novels written by Johnson, Beatless and Eight Days a Week, and I enjoyed them both. But it saddens me to say I was disappointed with Maybe. I found this story to be less polished than other novels I had previously read by this author. Maybe held my attention, but there were many occasions where I felt the writing did not translate what the author was intending to communicate. I had a difficult time identifying which characters were speaking, especially in conversations involving more than two individuals. Sometimes I struggled because the text was not descriptive enough. This made it hard to picture what the author was attempting to convey. I found myself rereading scenes in an attempt to understand what I had already read.

It is my understanding Maybe may have been written earlier in Johnson’s writing career and is now being published several years after it was written. If this is the case, it may explain the difference in writing quality that I have grown accustomed to from Johnson. Generally speaking, writing usually improves with experience. I really do think Maybe is a sweet and sexy contemporary romance. With further editing to clarify the text, I believe Maybe could be a 4-star novel. But as the story is now, the best rating I can give Maybe is 3 stars. This definitely won’t hold me back from more from Amber L. Johnson! I’m already looking forward to her next novel, For Authentication Purposes, which will be released soon!

~~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~~

A true child of music, Amber’s parents surrounded her with the loudest beats they could find, molding her into a girl who found inspiration and meaning in lyrics and chords. Raised on John Hughes movies, Luck Dragons, and pirate ships, she dreamed of love and adventure. When Amber began to create her own world, she envisioned a place where Happy Ever Afters do exist. Since then, she has authored several romance novels, all of which focus on songs and the way they can touch people’s lives. Music may not be able to fix a broken heart, but it can provide one hell of a soundtrack for healing.A full-time wife and mother with a full-time job, Amber finds her muse in everyday life and the people who bring her inspiration.

Be sure to look for her other book!

TWCS Link Amazon Link

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR~~

Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Website

Praise for Maybe

“The characters are fun, likable, and well done. It’s such a feel good story with a wonderful romance. Honestly, if you want a good, easy read with a cast of characters that will make you laugh and cry, and a romance that will sweep you off your feet then give this book a read. You won’t regret it. ” – Jennifer

Goodreads Review

Happy Release: Premeire – A Romance Writers of America Collection

Posted on 02/09/2015 by shellbellereads

Premiere

A Collection of Romantic Tales from Romance Writers of America

Synopsis

From Romance Writers of America® comes a never-before-published collection of tales that showcases the breadth and complexity of the world’s most popular genre of fiction!

New York Times bestselling authors Cindy Gerard and Allison Brennan bring the thrills in their tales of romantic suspense.

New York Times bestselling authors Sabrina Jeffries and Courtney Milan take you on a trip back in time with lush stories of historical romance.

New York Times bestselling authors Vicki Lewis Thompson and Joan Johnston show the wonder of contemporary romance, while New York Times bestselling authors Monica Murphy and Laura Kaye’s New Adult romances delve into the evolving Millennial perspective.

And editor and #1 New York Times bestselling author Sylvia Day’s tale of angels and sizzling desire takes readers to the edge with paranormal romance.

From the first love of Young Adult romance to tales of second chances, LGBT romance to the realms of the supernatural, contemporary to historical, suspense to inspirational, the genre of romance has a story for every reader and this blockbuster inaugural collection from Romance Writers of America showcases it all!
Plus tales from:
Lila Bell
T. L. Costa
Diane Kelly
Amber Lin
Katy Regnery
Erica Ridley
Regina Scott
Harper St. George
Lex Valentine

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Happy Release: Tight by Alessandra Torre

Posted on 02/07/2015 by shellbellereads

Tight

Erotic Romance

By Alessandra Torre

Release Date: February 7, 2015

Synopsis

Tight – Standalone

I was happy in my small town. In my life as a single, thirty-two year old woman. I had a good job, wonderful friends, my independence.

I also hadn’t been laid in three years. Hadn’t been on a date in two. Had stopped counting calories and wearing makeup… a while ago.

Then Brett Jacobs waltzed in. Caressed my thigh, dug rough fingers into my hair, lowered his soft mouth to my skin, took sexual control of my mind and stirred it all around with what he packed in his pants. He flipped my quiet life upside down and crawled into a place in my heart I thought was dead.

The issues?

His secret.

Her.

The fact that I don’t even know she exists, and he thinks she’s dead.

Everything is about to hit the fan and I can’t hold on to him tight enough.

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Michel’ Review

Alessandra Torre stepped out of her comfort zone and wrote a book that has elements of a dark thriller. Tight is word that holds many definitions. In this novel Alessandra Torre portrayed several different meanings through the passages that take this story in a chilling direction.

Readers are once again reunited with Riley and Brett. They were featured in the Bend collection. In Tight we see a complete different type of story. Rather than focusing on their sexual attraction, Tight focuses on their relationship and the progression of their lives as a couple from the beginning.

Riley and Brett met in the Bahama’s while Riley was attending a bachelorette party. Their attraction leads to a long distance relationship. Their romantic weekend getaways to exotic locations throughout the Caribbean and other resort type areas is like a fantasy come true. Everything seems like a fairytale. Brett is successful, rich, and appears to be the kind of man every woman dreams of. He is attentive, generous, and romantic. It seems too good to be true. He is mysterious about his business transactions on their getaways which leads Riley to become suspicious of how he really makes his money. Each trip, each conversation, and each romantic moment leads to more suspicion. Their relationship seems to heading towards a serious committed kind of love. Before Riley can completely surrender her heart to Brett, she has to know the truth.

Searching for the truth will lead Riley into a very dark and dangerous predicament. What happens next will lead to the point of no return. It could possibly lead to death.

Will Brett find Riley in time? Will the truth be Brett’s redemption or his fall from Riley’s heart?

I really enjoyed this book and found the story enthralling. I loved how the author built a relationship while adding moments of doubt that left the reader with questions. I loved the strength Riley displayed throughout the book. I also loved the psychological elements that gave the reader an inkling of what was happening without becoming too graphic. I liked that this book had multiple POV’s.

The only thing that I struggled a bit with was the transgression in POV’s and passages. I felt the flow of the story was a bit off. At times I had to turn back a few pages and reread them to catch up with the present POV and time.

Overall Tight was a very good book.

About Alessandra Torre

A New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Alessandra Torre has written seven novels, four of which became #1 Erotic Bestsellers.

Her first book, Blindfolded Innocence, became a breakout hit, rising to the top of the charts on Kindle and Amazon where it attracted the interest of major publishing houses and garnered Torre her first print deal with Harlequin HQN. Less than twelve months later, Torre signed a second print deal, this time with Redhook (Hachette) for her erotic thriller The Girl in 6E.

From her home near the warm waters of the Emerald Coast in Florida, she devotes several hours each day to various writing projects and interacting with her fans on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Happily married and with one son, she loves watching SEC football games, horseback riding, reading and watching movies.

Torre has four books slated for release in 2015. To stay informed, consider subscribing to her popular monthly newsletter.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Happy Release + Giveaway : Smoke Screen by Ahren Sanders

Posted on 02/05/2015 by shellbellereads

Title: Smokescreen

Author: Ahren Sanders

Genre: Adult, Romance

Release Date: February 5, 2015

Stella Sullivan

Bright. Dedicated. Loyal.

The day I walked into his boardroom, I had no idea my life was about to change forever. It was supposed to be a simple proposal that would catapult my career. The chance to help Hurst & McCoy save one of their flailing business lines seemed simple enough. However, I never expected that one look at Maxwell McCoy would have me grasping for control. He’s demanding, charming, powerful; most of all he’s beautiful, inside and out. As hard as I fought against the attraction, he broke down my defenses. But he’s hiding things. Even when secrets, lies, and greed threaten everything I have worked so hard for, I couldn’t walk away. There’s no denying, the moment my eyes landed on Maxwell McCoy was the moment I became his.

Maxwell McCoy

Rich. Brilliant. Powerful.

People only see me as CEO of Hurst & McCoy. The ruthless businessman whose mere presence demands respect. People don’t know I chose to leave a life I loved in order to protect my father’s legacy and reputation. When my company’s future was threatened, I had no choice but to seek assistance. The day Stella Sullivan walked into my boardroom was the day my heart started beating again. One business proposal, from the topaz-eyed beauty, changed my life. She tried to deny our unyielding chemistry, but I wouldn’t. I should let her go, but I didn’t.

The smokescreen I created soon comes crashing down, forcing me to fight for everything I love.

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Stella groans lightly and rolls over. I’ve been watching her from my desk for half an hour, trying not to wake her. But as soon as she realizes my side of the bed is empty, she sits up dazed. Her head turns toward the bathroom and then turns to me.

“What are you doing?” she asks sleepily.

“Working a bit.”

“What time is it?”

“A little after seven.”

“Why the hell are you up? Do you ever sleep?” She falls back onto my bed and the sheets slip down her naked body.

I jump to my feet and make my way to her side of the bed in a second. “Yeah, I slept, then I worked out, showered, and decided to work until you woke up.”

“You worked out? Showered? What the hell is wrong with you? I thought we weren’t going anywhere this morning.”

She throws an arm over her eyes and I take the opportunity to kiss the skin up to her elbow, then pull her arm down so she has no choice but to look at me.

“I didn’t go anywhere. I have a home gym down the hall. I showered because I was gross, and we are staying here this morning. We have a meeting at ten, but until then, it’s us.”

“You have a home gym? Where?”

“Yeah, babe, there’s about two thousand square feet you’ve not seen yet. Two more rooms and a gym.”

“What?”

“Babe, you’ve only been here a few times, I haven’t had time to show you.”

“This is a whole lot of information for me this early, without coffee. Remember I’m not a morning person.”

“So you keep saying, but I love proving you wrong.” I kiss her softly and slide my hand under the sheets and down until it reaches her pelvic bone.

My fingertips run lightly back and forth from hipbone to hipbone until her breath catches. Every time I hear that small sound, I know she’s getting turned on. Then my hand slinks lower to her slick heat and I press one finger in, sliding her wetness back and forth. “You are the best morning person I know.”

“That’s because you give me orgasms before my coffee.”

Ahren spent her formative years living in an active volcano. There her family made collectible lava art. She studied rock collecting at the Sorbonne in France. There she met the love of her life-her pet pig Sybil. She returned to the states and started writing. She is happily married to a guy who used to live under a bridge and she met while pole-dancing. They have one amazing daughter.

Now, meet the real me. I grew up in the south and consider myself a true “Southerner”. Most of the special locations mentioned in my books are reflections of my favorite places. Living on the Florida coast, my family spends a lot time at the beach which is where I usually can be found with a book in my hand. I started writing my Surrender Series, in the spring of 2013 and have received incredible support from the Indie community. Throughout this year, I have been privileged to meet some amazing people that I am thankful to have in my life.

Join Ahren’s Mailing List

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Posted on 02/04/2015 by shellbellereads

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Happy Release + Excerpt + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: All Of Me by Lisa Renee Jones – Inside Out Series – Book 6

Posted on 02/02/2015 by shellbellereads

All Of Me

The Final Inside Out Book in Series

By Lisa Renee Jones

Release Date: February 2, 2015

Passion. Mystery. It all collides in the breathtaking ALL OF ME.
He’s rich and famous, his past dark, but so is hers. Can they save each other? Or will the darkness tear them apart?
***

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Excerpt

We say a quick goodbye, and to my shock, the instant I push the “end” button, Chris pulls

the 911 to the shoulder of the road, puts it in park and turns to me. “Talk to me. What just

happened?”

“You stopped to ask me what happened?”

“Yes. I stopped to ask what happened. Now, tell me.”

My lashes lower a moment as I savor just how good this man is to me. I curl my fingers

on my cheek. “Thank you for stopping, but really, there was nothing worthy of concern. Let’s go

to the chateau.”

“After you tell me what happened,” he orders, but the tenderness lacing the stubborn

determination of his tone wins me over, as does his sincerity. He really cares and I am truly not

alone anymore.

“When Katie wanted to know if there was anyone on my side of the family to coordinate

with, it hit a nerve. I started worrying about Ella, and thinking about my father, who I don’t want

to come to our wedding. I truly don’t, yet somehow, the very fact that I don’t gives him the

power to twist me in knots.”

Chris nods. “As did my father to me, no matter how much of a bastard he became.

Sometimes I think the worse he treated me, the more I wanted to win back his affection.”

I’d seen glimpses of these feelings before now, but this is the first time he’s spoken them

aloud. “Maybe it’s some inborn need to feel close to a parent?”

“That’s the only conclusion I could come to when I couldn’t let him go. I still can’t. He’s

always with me, making sure I stay just a little more fucked up.”

“If you’re fucked up, it’s all kinds of right, Chris Merit. That charity work Tristan talked

about? You don’t just throw money at it. You give pieces of your soul to those kids and their

families. You make a difference and I’ll be honored to help you do it.”

He pulls my hand to his mouth and kisses my fingers. “Let’s elope. Anyplace you want to

Say the word and as far as I’m concerned we’ll go tomorrow.”

“What? No. We decided on Katie and Mike’s place together. And my ring isn’t even

done.”

“This isn’t about a ring. Or Katie and Mike, or anyone else. It’s about us and I don’t want

you worried about your father or the guest list. You know I’m not big on attention anyway.”

I lace my fingers with his. “You’re trying to protect me and I appreciate that, but I want to

get married under those hanging rose your mother inspired Katie to plant.”

“Don’t do this for me, baby. I just want to spend the rest of my life with you. That’s all I

need.”

“It’s for us. You know my father is just a hot button for me. I’ll get by it. And truth be

told, I’m a little raw over Amber, too. That night here in Paris when I went to the club I had this

sense I needed to save her. I shouldn’t have listened to that feeling.”

“Don’t do that to yourself. You barely knew her.”

“Yet, on some level I felt her screaming for help. But I second-guessed myself and

thought it was Rebecca and Ella influencing my feelings.”

“You were a lot of the reason I pushed to get Amber help, Sara. It was just too little too

late. That’s on me, not you.”

“No-”

“Yes,” he says, stroking the hair out of my eyes, his hand staying at the back of my head.

“Now here’s what’s going to happen. We’re going to leave this all right here and I’m going to

drive us the fifteen minutes we have left to get to the chateau, where we’re going to fuck like

rabbits. Then, we’re going to eat and fuck some more. After we sleep, we’ll set some rules with

Katie about the wedding so you won’t worry about it and then we’ll fuck some more. And since I

had the caretaker that lives in the house behind the chateau stock enough food to last us a week,

we can stay in bed for days on end. Any objections so far?”

I smile and not just at his words, but at his rapid shift from dark Chris, to playful, sexy

Chris. “And if I do?”

He, leans closer to me, his breath on my ear. “I’ll just tie you to the bed.”

Yes. Please. My list of objections begins to form.

Tracey’s Review

The Inside Out series by Lisa Renee Jones finally draws to a close with ALL OF ME, the last book of the series. This book is the wrap-up for Sara McMillan and Chris Merit, and occurs concurrently with the plot of I BELONG TO YOU, Mark’s and Crystal’s story. I have thoroughly enjoyed each book in this series, and have grown very fond of all of the main characters, seeing them evolve, as they have. Both Sara and Chris have demons, things from their pasts that have shaped them, but they have found, in each other, their safe places. In ALL OF ME, Lisa Renee illustrates how very far Sara and Chris have come, how each makes the other their best possible self. Although they still, especially Chris, have their dark moments, there is absolutely no question that they have overcome so much of their past pain, due to the love that has formed between them. There is absolute trust, complete truth, and the desire to be the better person. Sara has truly come into her own, secure in the knowledge of her strength, of Chris’ love for her, and Chris continues to work to put his need for self-punishment behind him.

There are so many things that make the Inside Out books some of my favorites. The ongoing mystery, the lives and stories of the various characters that are so intricately connected, the utter hotness that are Chris Merit and Mark Compton, and the edge-of-your-seat action that is part of each book have combined to make these books that I can consistently rate 5-plus stars. ALL OF ME, and the entire Inside Out series, are well worth the read. Lisa Renee has done a wonderful job of bringing the reader full circle, answering all of the questions that arose during the series. The remaining mystery revolves around the disappearance of Sara’s friend, Ella (for those folks that don’t remember, , the one that originally introduced her to Rebecca’s journals waaay back when), but, happily, Lisa has written a three-book series that will take us on her journey and give us all the answers.

_________________________________________________________________

Inside Out – Reading Order

If I Were You – Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Being Me- Buy: Amaznon / Barnes and Noble

Revealing Us- Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

His Secrets: Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Rebecca’s Lost Journals Boxed Set (Includes Bk 3.1 & 3.3 and Master Undone)

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

My Hunger- Book 3.4- Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

No In Between- Book 4 – Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

I Belong To You – Book 5 -Coming November 18, 2014

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble/ ITunes

All Of Me – Book 6 – Coming February 22, 2014 –

Buy : Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

_____________________________________________________________________________

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT SERIES, and is now in development by Suzanne Todd (Alice in Wonderland) for cable TV. In addition, her Tall, Dark and Deadly series and The Secret Life of Amy Bensen series, both spent several months on a combination of the NY Times and USA Today lists.

Watch the video on casting for the INSIDE TV Show HERE

Since beginning her publishing career in 2007, Lisa has published more than 40 books translated around the world. Booklist says that Jones suspense truly sizzles with an energy similar to FBI tales with a paranormal twist by Julie Garwood or Suzanne Brockmann.

Prior to publishing, Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by Dallas Women Magazine. In 1998 LRJ was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.

Lisa loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at on her website and she is active on twitter and facebook daily.

GIVEAWAY
INSIDE OUT Prize packs (5 Winners)
$25 Amazon gift card
$15 Starbucks gift card

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Tag Archives: Release Blitz

Release Day: Bayonet Scars Box Set Volume 1 by JC Emery

Release Blitz + Giveaway: Rock Candy Kisses by Addison Moore – 3:AM Kisses Series – Book 5

Rock Candy Kisses

Addison Moore

Rock Candy Kisses

3:AM Kisses Book 5

This Novel can be read as a stand alone

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Happy Release: Tight by Alessandra Torre

Tight – Standalone

A New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Alessandra Torre has written seven novels, four of which became #1 Erotic Bestsellers.

Torre has four books slated for release in 2015. To stay informed, consider subscribing to her popular monthly newsletter.

Happy Release + Giveaway : Smoke Screen by Ahren Sanders

Release Blitz + Giveaway: Take Me – Twelve Tales of Dark Possession by Pepper Winters, Lynda Chance, Kendall Ryan, Skye Warren, Pam Goodwin, Shay Savage, CD Reiss, Anna Zaires & Dima Zales, with Shari Slade & Amber Lin, Gemma James and Jenika Snow

Happy Release + Excerpt + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: All Of Me by Lisa Renee Jones – Inside Out Series – Book 6

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Rock Candy Kisses

Addison Moore

Rock Candy Kisses

3:AM Kisses Book 5

*This Novel can be read as a stand alone*

Buy Now…

ENTER TO WIN A SIGNED PAPERBACK OF

ROCK CANDY KISSES

About the Author:

Author Links:

Feel free to visit her blog at: http://bit.ly/AddisonMoore-Blog

Facebook: http://bit.ly/AddisonMoore-Facebook

Twitter: http://bit.ly/AddisonMoore-Twitter

Instagram: http://bit.ly/AddisonMoore-Instagram

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1yshaGm

*Be sure to subscribe to Addison’s mailing list for sneak peeks and updates on all upcoming releases!

The 3:AM Kisses Series

*EACH BOOK CAN BE READ AS A STAND ALONE NOVEL*

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Tight – Standalone

A New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Alessandra Torre has written seven novels, four of which became #1 Erotic Bestsellers.

Torre has four books slated for release in 2015. To stay informed, consider subscribing to her popular monthly newsletter.

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This Novel can be read as a stand alone

EACH BOOK CAN BE READ AS A STAND ALONE NOVEL