Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Sacrifice by Adriana Locke

Posted on 07/13/2015 by shellbellereads

Title: Sacrifice

Author: Adriana Locke

Release Date: July 13, 2015

Buy: Amazon

Blurb

My life changed forever the night my husband died. I was left with a shattered heart, a heap of bills, and our daughter, EVERLEIGH. I don’t want to rely on anyone, least of all CREW GENTRY. He’s my first love and the man who almost destroyed me, the man who has let me down every time I’ve needed him.

But when tragedy strikes a second time, Crew just might be my only hope.

My life changed forever the night my brother died.

I was left with a guilty conscience, a pile of mistakes, and little else. I take care of JULIA GENTRY, my brother’s widow and the love of my life, and their daughter. I know she doesn’t want my help, but she gets it anyway. I owe her that. When another disaster hits, I’m given the opportunity to make things right. I’m taking it. I’m willing to sacrifice it all.

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Links to Buy

AMAZON US / UK

Excerpt

“She’s been missing him a lot lately.” Julia’s voice is barely a whisper and my chest constricts. Our conversations don’t normally make it to discussing Gage unless we’re already arguing. The fact that she just brought it up shocks me and I’m not comfortable with it. I don’t know how to take it. I feel my jaw pulse with frustration and scramble to change the subject again. “Why is it so chilly in here?”

Her smile disappears and she tugs her sweatshirt nervously. “I didn’t know it was.”

“How can you possibly not know?” I start to the thermostat across the room when she clears her throat.

“The heater isn’t working right. I asked Lane to come by and look at it earlier this week.”

“And he hasn’t been here yet?” I shoot her a look and she shakes her head. “He’ll be here tonight.” I dig my cell outta my pocket.

“Crew, don’t. Please. The last time you called my landlord he was a complete jerk to me for a couple of months. I just got on good terms with him again.”

I scroll through my contacts list, looking for his name.

“Crew …” I know her doe-eyes are pleading with me. I also know if I look up at her, I’ll be somewhat inclined to give in. So I don’t.

Tracey’s Review

“I hope you’re listening to me right now…I’m not praying for a victory…All I ask of you is that you do with me whatever you need to in order to clear my girls of any more harm.”
I slam my fist into the bag hanging in the corner.
“Did you hear me!? Do you? Take me! I’ll be your sacrifice!”Oh, my goodness, Adriana Locke has knocked it out of the proverbial park with this book. I loved both The Exception and The Perception, but she has completely won my heart with Sacrifice. The depth and emotion in this book, the amount of love, had me smiling and crying by turn. So many types and levels of love here: Julia’s complete and utter love for Everleigh, her constant love for Gage, her rediscovered love for Crew. And Crew, his commitment to Ever and Julia, his growth as a son, a father, a lover, and a brother. Adriana has crafted a cast of characters that touched me deeply, and I know that I will be thinking about them and their story for a very long time.

The Sacrifice is easily one of my favorite reads of this year. It touched me that much, because it is so much more than a love story, although it is that, too. It is the evolution and unfolding of lives that are inextricably woven together, a story of growth and completion, of truly knowing that to love is to give of oneself completely, with no expectations for personal gain. 5+ stars just doesn’t seem like enough; I cannot recommend more that you read this beautiful, heartbreaking, joyful, life-affirming book. It is absolutely not to be missed.

_________________________________

Author Bio:

Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, she has created her own.

The Exception was Adriana’s debut novel and released late last year. The Perception is a stand-alone that follows two secondary characters from The Exception. Her third novel, Sacrifice, will be released Summer 2015.

Adriana lives in the Midwest with her family. She spends copious amounts of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. Her favorite things include sunshine, candy, and random quotes.

She loves to hear from readers. You can find her:

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Release Blitz + Review + Giveaway: Cale by Victoria Ashley – Walk Of Shame Series – Book 3

Posted on 07/12/2015 by shellbellereads

Cover by CT Cover Creations

Release Date: July 6th

My name is Cale Kinley and I’m a fucking Virgin…

Well, with the exception of my tongue. The countless things I can do with my tongue are bound to leave you breathless and begging for more, but more… is something that I can’t give. It’s a choice. My choice.

There’s a reason for that. A very good reason, and that reason is her.

Riley.

She’s the only woman that I want to bury myself deep in. The one woman I have wanted since I was old enough to fuck.

I never got my chance though, because she left. She had no choice and it stung like hell. But I couldn’t let her leave without telling her how I felt. I wanted her to be my first and I didn’t give a shit how long I’d have to wait.

It’s been six years and now she’s back and sexier than all hell. Just the sight of her stops my damn heart from beating. I want her and for more than just having her as my first.

I’m determined to have her in every way possible. She thinks this is still a game; that I’ve already given myself to countless women. What she doesn’t know is that I have a lot of willpower.

When I want something as badly as I want her, I don’t let shit stand in my way. I’m going to prove that to her. There’s just one little problem I need to take care of…

Him.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

After securing my apron filled with my lotions and oils, I turn to the table and my heart starts pounding like crazy in my chest as I see a body, barely covered by a small towel, just waiting to be touched by me. I swallow hard while letting my eyes roam over the stiff muscles of the tanned back on display. The top of the client’s ass peeks out of the towel, displaying the roundest, firmest ass I have ever seen before… and the dimples in his back are making it hard for me to gain some much-needed confidence.

Doing a silly little shake in an attempt to shake my nerves off, I squirt some oil in my hands and slowly run my hands up the bottom of his back, being sure to make it feel as insanely good as I possibly can.

The feel of his muscled back beneath my fingers and the deep, undeniably sexy moan that escapes his throat almost has me turned on as I start to go lower, until I’m right above his ass.

“Go lower,” the deep voice whispers. “Take the towel off.”

I almost deny his request, when I remember that Sensual Touches is clothing optional. That’s the one thing that almost kept me from applying, but comparing the pay that you get here versus the other options, I knew what my choice had to be.

“This is new to me,” I whisper, before speaking up. “Let me know if you get uncomfortable and I’ll replace it before you flip over on your back.”

“That won’t be an issue,” he says huskily.

Keeping my moan to myself, I lower my hands down to his ass, removing the towel little by little as I continue to get lower. As soon as my hands reach the bottom of his ass, I remove the towel completely and hold back the gasp that fights to escape me.

Holy hotness…

Remembering that this was per his request, and that it’s fully professional to be doing this here at Sensual Touches, I grip the back of his upper thighs and massage it while rubbing my thumbs over the bottom of his tight ass, enjoying every single moment of it.

In fact, I’m enjoying it so much that I almost feel guilty. Tyler and I have been broken up for less than a week, and here I am enjoying myself as I rub on another man’s ass, listening closely for each moan that he will grace my ears with.

After spending a good, long, fifteen minutes on his ass itself, I focus my attention on the rest of his muscular body, mentally preparing myself for the rest of his gloriousness that I’ll be seeing in the flesh as soon as I finish up on his backside.

Now I understand why that Hailey chick is going to be pissed off. Massaging this stud has to be the best part of her job here. How can you not enjoy this?

Pulling my hands away, I turn away to give him some privacy. “I’m ready for you to flip over, sir. Please let me know when you’re ready.”

“I’m always ready for you, Rile.”

Tracey’s Review

“Riley Raines is coming home and I know without a single doubt that she’s going to ruin me.”

Cale Kinley has loved Riley Raines ever since he can remember. Even though she left town six years before, Cale has made a vow to remain a virgin so that Riley can be his first. Very sweet, right? Except that Cale is one of the hottest exotic dancers at the hot Chicago nightclub Walk of Shame, an environment not exactly known for purity. But now Riley’s back, and things are heating up…

Victoria Ashley can write a darned hot book, and CALE is no exception. Über-hot guy that whips you into a frenzy? Check. Girl that said guy will do anything for? Check. Plenty of super-sexy scenes guaranteed to make your e-reader or paperback burst into flame? Check. And, I have to admit, the premise of the book hooked me before I ever opened it. I mean, really, what are the odds that this super-smoking man, constantly prancing around in next to nothing in front of tons of adoring women, is going to keep his V-card? But keep it, he has, and he can’t wait to show Riley how much she means to him.

As with the couples in the rest of the Walk of Shame series, the sexy times are off-the-charts sizzling, and Cale and Riley really do seem to have a pretty deep connection. The only thing that seemed a little forced, the proverbial fly in the ointment, is Riley’s ex. She’d been done with him for a hot minute after a two-year relationship, and seems to have very little trouble jumping right into things with Cale. But, true love can’t be denied, so I can live with it.

All in all, CALE was just what I expected, which is a short and steamy read, with characters that we’ve come to know and love, so I’m giving it 3.5 ‘smoking, sizzling, happily ever after’ stars.

*** ARC generously provided for an honest review ***

Victoria Ashley grew up in Rockford, IL and has had a passion for reading for as long as she can remember. After finding a reading app where it allowed readers to upload their own stories, she gave it a shot and writing became her passion.

She lives for a good romance book with tattooed bad boys that are just highly misunderstood and is not afraid to be caught crying during a good read. When she’s not reading or writing about bad boys, you can find her watching her favorites shows such as Sons Of Anarchy, Dexter and True Blood.

She is the author of Wake Up Call, This Regret, Slade, Hemy, and Get Off on the Pain. Victoria is currently working on more releases for 2015.

Victoria’s Facebook Page

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Call On Me by Roni Loren – Loving On The Edge Series – Book 7

Posted on 07/10/2015 by shellbellereads

Call On Me

Loving On The Edge Series – Book 7

By Roni Loren

Synopsis

Oakley Easton wants two things: to be a good mom to her daughter and to ditch her less than ideal night job. Hooking up with bad boy drummer Pike Ryland? Not on the agenda. She needs a promotion. Not sex, tattoos and rock ’n’ roll.

Pike isn’t about to let Ms. Prim and Proper shut him down so easily, especially when he stumbles upon Oakley’s sexy night job. She’s only playing a role on those late night calls with strangers, but when he gets her on the line, all bets are off. He won’t stop until that sultry voice is calling his name for real.

But as they move from anonymous fantasies in the dark to the flesh-on-hot-flesh reality of the bedroom, the risk of falling in love becomes all too high. And the safe, quiet world that Oakley’s worked so hard to create is about to be exposed to the one person who could ruin it all.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo / Google Play

Excerpt

She startled and stiffened, instantly yanked out of her less than PG thoughts. “What?”

He leaned back in his chair, vague confusion on his face. “I asked if wanted to keep working in that back room? We could rehearse at the studio once they’re close to being ready to record. But until then, it’s probably more trouble than it’s worth to cart everyone over there. It’s not that big of a place.”

“Rehearse in the back room?” she repeated, running the words back in her head to make sense of them. “Oh, right, yes, that’s fine. I’m sorry. I thought you said something else.”

She eyed the small bellini she’d ordered with her meal. Maybe that had been a bad idea. She was hearing things now.

Screw in the bathroom? How the hell had she gotten that out of what he’d said? Of course, now all she could think of was him doing just that—taking her by the elbow and leading her to that dark alcove at the back of the restaurant, pushing her up against that wall with the faded Italian flag on it and putting his hands all over her. She licked her top lip, tasting the sweet remnants of her drink. Pull it together, woman.

Apparently, once her libido had been brave enough to peep its head out, it had decided it was Groundhog Day and needed to run around, declaring spring was coming early. She hated to break the news, but nothing and no one was coming anytime soon.

“What did you think I said?” Pike took a long sip from his drink, his snake charmer eyes never leaving hers.

She followed suit, hoping the fruity drink would cool off more than her throat. “Doesn’t matter.”

His lips twitched. “You’re all red.”

“I think it’s the bellini. I don’t drink very often.”

“No way.” His expression turned smug. “You thought I said something dirty, didn’t you?”

“Huh?” She smoothed her napkin in her lap, trying to loosen the tightness in her voice. “No. Why would I think that? You’ve been very professional since we got here—which I appreciate by the way.”

His gaze slid lazily down her body, like butter melting over toast, and goddamn it all to hell, she could feel her nipples go hard and obvious beneath her bra. No wonder he’d figured it out. Her body was waving all kinds of flags in his face. Hey! Over here! Horny girl, booth eight!

“I am capable of being professional, you know,” he said, but his tone was all sex and sin. “I’m also more than happy to turn that off when the occasion calls for it. So why don’t you tell me what you thought you heard and why it’s gotten you all flushed and nervous?”

“I’m not nervous.”

He grinned.

Dammit. She schooled her face into a stoic expression. “The music is too loud in here. I thought you propositioned me to defile the restroom.”

Hie eyebrow ring twitched. “Now you’re just trying to turn me on with those big, stiff words of yours.”

All she heard was big and stiff at first, but she managed to rein in her temporary insanity. “We’re so not going to do this.”

“Well, probably not here, you’re right. I saw those bathrooms. But—“

“No, I mean, any of this. Flirting. Teasing. Whatever this is.”

He leaned onto his forearms, looking all too pleased that he’d gotten a confession out of her. “You got a guy?”

“No,” she said before she could get wise and fib.

“Then why can’t we do this?”

“Because I’m not interested.”

“Liar.”

She huffed. “Are you always this cocky?”

“No, it’s dialed down right now. I can get way worse.”

She stirred her drink. “Not. Possible.”

His lips spread into a menacing smile. “Challenge accepted.”

Tracey’s Review

“This is a no-risk proposition. We don’t even have to talk about it face to face. Work is work. Fine. This–this is just a no-pressure, late-night anonymous phone call. Give yourself a little break, mama. Indulge a little.”

Oakley, former girl band star and mother of a special needs daughter, and Pike, badass drummer for Darkfall and all-around sex god with a phobia of kids, seem like an unlikely pair, but each are just what the other needs. When the two have to work together on a charity project, she’s sure that it’s a disaster in the making. Pike, though, is all in, because he knows what he wants, and what he wants is Oakley.

Pike was exciting on the phone, sexy and daring. But she could handle him in that venue. There was space, safety. But in person, the man was a full-frontal assault on her senses…The man could knock her on her ass with a few well-chosen words.

I have absolutely fallen in love with Roni Loren and her Loving On the Edge series. I can’t believe that it took me as long as it did to find them, but, now, I wouldn’t miss a book for anything. I knew a little bit about these characters, having met them in previous books in the series (Oakley in Yours All Along, Hunter’s and Devon’s book, and Pike in Not Until You). Then I read an excerpt of Call On Me, and I couldn’t wait to see what was in store for them. Once the two begin to let each other in, it’s no holds barred hotness. This is some sexy stuff, the kind that makes you blush, break out the fan, and check to make sure that no one is reading over your shoulder. When these two get together, forget the sparks, we’re talking major fireworks here. (On a side note, not many guys could make calling their lady ‘mama’ sound sexy, but, oh, my goodness, major hotness. Like, swoon city.) And the story is just what I love, an against-the-odds pairing that turns out to be a perfect match after all. Once I started reading, I could not put this book down.

“I know I can’t be the kind of guy you’re looking for. But I can give you this. I want to give you this.”
“What’s in it for you?”
“You are.”

I obviously loved this read, and could not recommend it any more highly, and if you haven’t read the rest of Roni’s Loving On the Edge series, there’s no time like the present. 5+ ‘hot as heck, are my cheeks red, oh, my gosh, I need a Pike!’ stars for this one. Grab it, read it, love it. ♥︎ 5

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About Roni Loren

Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has.

Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son. If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars concerts.

She is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the The Loving on the Edge series and other sexy things.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Custom 4-Pack of Brownies from Wicked Cupcakes (US ONLY), a $25 Gift Card will be sent if winner resides outside of US.

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Blog Tour + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Seal’s Code by Sharon Hamilton – Bad Boys of Team 3 – Seal Brotherhood #10

Posted on 07/09/2015 by shellbellereads

SEAL’s Code
Bad Boys of Team 3 (SEAL Brotherhood #10)
By Sharon Hamilton

Blurb:

Danny Begay has tried to drive out the voices of his ancestors, but his Navajo roots will not die. Summoned back to Arizona to visit his dying grandfather, a former Navajo Code Talker, he knows he has disappointed his hero grandfather. He buries himself one more time in the arms of a stranger before going back to Northern California.

Luci Tohe teaches at a reservation school, safeguarding the health of her ailing mother and little sister’s future, her own life on hold. She doesn’t expect the young Dine warrior she meets to be anything but a distraction from her loneliness.

Danny decides to join the Navy, as a SEAL, becoming the man he knew he was destined to be. Before deployment, he goes back to visit the girl he cannot get out of his mind. A dangerous human trafficking element threatens Luci and her family. Danny vows to protect them all.

Available for purchase at

Excerpt

The Blue Fox bar, just outside the res from Flagstaff, where Wilson lived, was perfect. Like all the Ukiah dives Danny had spent time in, it was populated with pot growers and some over-the-hill hippies. Music choices ranged from Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash to Emilou Harris, the old ones. Seeing as they were in Arizona, it was also dotted with bikers and people just passing through. The legendary Route 66.

He and Wilson parted without him saying much at all about the revelation Wilson had made. Wilson threw the keys at Danny and took off. Danny grabbed a motel room and went searching to drown the spirits that wouldn’t stop their chatter.

A few local guys he knew from his childhood sat at dark tables in the corner, playing cards. As usual, they wore black, high crown felt hats; the same he used to watch White Owl make as he sat on his grandfather’s knee. Grandfather risked the ire of Danny’s mother by bringing him here starting as a boy of six; when he was old enough to not get into trouble. That was a long time ago.

He stalked over to the bartender, his cowboy boots knocking familiarly on the old plank floor that hadn’t been washed in a month. Returning to his roots required a couple doses of courage to smother the voices in his head. The singing way of his people was lilting up to the skies, no doubt announcing the arrival of Grandfather. He also heard the collective songs of his ancestors in celebratory response. It used to terrify him as a young boy, and it still did today. Especially today.

The place smelled of old piss and even older spilled beer. He’d forgotten how familiar the smells were, from a time when the world was simple, when all he worried about was making sure his balls didn’t get pinched because his skinny butt was perched on his grandfather’s thigh. It had been nearly thirteen years since he’d set foot in the Blue Fox, and yet it was like stepping back in time. Nothing had changed. Maybe that’s what terrified him most.

Scenes from his childhood tickled and danced all around him. White Owl would tell the stories, and Grandfather would request the music be turned down and would fill in the blanks, often correcting him. Grandfather was the keeper of the legends. He didn’t like embellishments or modern details.

“The old way is still the best. Been the best for hundreds of man-years. We honor those who came before to tell it to the young ones the way it was told to them. And then they can choose for themselves.”

White Owl told him in secret one day Grandfather had it in for him because White Owl got the girl Grandfather wanted to marry. But then his grandfather met Jenny, his grandmother, and all debts were forgotten. Not forgiven, just forgotten.

Music flooded the tiny, dark bar. The same twangy country tunes that hadn’t been played on the AM channels for thirty years and never on the XM, except for quaint oldies specials. These tunes debuted on eight-track tapes or LPs. Probably hadn’t been changed out of the jukebox since before he was born.

His grandfather had a whole collection of oldies in his garage. Danny and Wilson had tossed those precious records like flying saucers one afternoon, destroying the bulk of them. The two boys couldn’t sit down for nearly three days from the whipping they both got from Danny’s aunt, Wilson’s mother. They’d have gotten another one too if Grandfather had not been at a tribal meeting in Washington D.C. Something official was in the air that summer, and he spent a lot of it gone from the res.

Tonight, Danny was grateful for the fact that the music was loud. It competed with the shrill voices in his head which roared up in a near panic again when he tilted his forehead to the corner where the card players were. They answered him back with stoic indifference. They knew who he was. He wasn’t really coming back. They knew why, knew Grandfather and everyone else on the res, and distrusted him because of it. They probably thought he was being Native American when it suited him, when he could show it off. A fair-weather Indian, they called it.

The crying wind and whispering voices died down as he approached the bar.

“Beer.”

He knew there was not much choice. He was served two Route 66 Specials, a brewery owned by an old friend of his father’s. The signal probably hadn’t changed in over twenty years: if you ordered one drink and the house gave you two, you only had to pay for one.

An exotic scent drifted his way. Turning in that direction, he imagined some Asian or Parisian hooker on his right. But her skin was like the way he drank his chai latte, a light caramel brown. Her high cheekbones contrasted with her shiny obsidian black hair, which was held with a large clip made of polished turquoise and silver—a classic Navajo beauty. She could have been the ghost of his dead sister.

It was usually hard for him to look at Navajo women and find them attractive, because all he could see was Natomi’s lifeless face staring back up at him, her warm brown skin a chalkish purple. He told himself over and over that he preferred women with hair the colors of the fall back in California or the color of spun gold like in his dreams.

She glanced at his beer and ordered the same without looking at him, but he knew she’d taken stock of him and had probably selected the stool next to him on purpose. Something at the base of his skull buzzed and his ears started to get red. It was a sign he was too familiar with and meant one of two things. She turned him on big time or there was impending danger. Maybe both. Many times he couldn’t tell the difference. Most of the time there was no difference.

The large mirror over the bar was cracked, but he saw her cool smile, one full lip with its edge upturned, revealing an old thin scar. Her dark eyes pulled at him and he knew her instantly to be a sucker of souls.

“You’re new,” she said to the mirror.

He could feel her breathing, imagined what her flesh would feel like if he smoothed his fingers down her thigh. “Actually, I’m not here at all.”

She turned on the stool, grabbing her beer, and took a sip while she examined him. She was still smiling when she was done.

“You look pretty fuckin’ here, Dine kind. But then, maybe I’m a ghost, too, and maybe I see dead people.”

That deserved his attention, so he allowed his body to turn, facing her, knees touching hers. Through the stiff denim of his jeans, he could feel her body vibrate like the inner workings of an expensive Swiss timepiece.

“I’m Danny Begay. My mother is Miwok. My father’s side is from the Corn Pollen Clan. Chester Begay is my grandfather. I believe he will die tonight.” He watched it sink in, and wondered if his traditional side made a difference to her. She bit her lip just below the slight scar that slashed her upper lip, probably from an old injury. It made her look dangerous and sexy as hell. A slight worry line creased her right eye with just a touch of a twitch.

She turned back to the counter, staring down as if examining the head on her beer, allowing her unpolished nail on her left forefinger to dip into the sudsy froth and draw a figure eight. “Then it sucks to be you.”

He had to agree with her. It sucked he’d never made much of himself, and now his Grandfather was going to die knowing that too. He wasn’t sure of his potential for spiritual growth anytime soon either. His cousin had just scared the liver out of him. That sucked, too.

That left only one option for this evening. To get drunk. Maybe get her so drunk she’d go back with him to the motel. He glanced around the room and didn’t see any white boys, so figured he’d have a chance with her. With any luck, neither one would remember a thing in the morning. He’d get the call Grandfather was gone. He could pay his respects, stay for the ceremony, and then get his butt out of Arizona and back to Northern California. Forget this sandy hellhole for as long as the drink lasted.

“I am Luci Tohe of the Where Two Waters Meet Clan,” she whispered.

He noted she was not a clan cousin. “So why are you here?” he started. “Cheaper to drink at home, and a whole lot less dangerous, the drive, I mean.” He was surprised by his own words.

She answered the mirror again. “I know what you meant, Dine kind. I teach at the school.”

“Ah. First choice or last choice?” He knew it was a risk to ask, but he couldn’t help himself.

She almost spit her beer out. “Gawd, it must be true. That old fart gave you some of those visions.”

He turned and tilted his head, wondering what she meant. She addressed him this time by angling slightly so her knees wouldn’t touch his again. Her face in partial profile was masked. She was trying to hide something. “I’m not a do-gooder. Not one of those. I get to hide in plain sight. But I do carry a gun.”

“Running from something?”

“Nope.” She licked her lips, her tongue lingering there a little long, her eyes again focused down on the counter. “I am the sole breadwinner and protector of my little tribe. My mother and my little sister.”

“Except you drink too much.” He knew she’d not like that comment.

“As do you. I can smell an alcoholic a mile away.” Then she gave him the sultry look he was waiting for. “I seem to be drawn to them, like a string of bad pennies, little babbling storytellers. Can’t help it. My nature, I guess.”

Well, she’d already said twice as many words as he normally liked in a woman, and hadn’t given him nearly enough “looks,” but he was game.

“Humor me. What makes you drawn to me?”

Her full focus on his face almost made him blush. Her power and nature were strong, her soul deep. She did not possess the need to smile from nervousness or to hide the spirit that ran wild inside her. For him, right here and right now, she allowed him to absorb and be warmed by it. Her dark eyes peered back at him honestly.

“I like your jet black hair, Dine man, and the blackness of your eyes all the way through. The bottomless eyes of the tribal kind. But you weren’t raised here, so maybe you got away, maybe not. In any case, I gotta hurry if I’m going to meet you, because I think tomorrow you’ll be gone.”

“True.” She had him down to the color of his buttons.

“I like your stare, your full lips, and your frankness. I think you like to screw a lot, and I do, too. But that could just be a lie, but ask me if I care?”

“Why would I do that?”

She gave him a gracious smile, showing all her straight white teeth. As if sloughing off an old happy memory, she shrugged and finished her beer. “I’m ready for another, if you’re buying.”

“Oh, I’m buying, but my tab comes with strings,” he said, watching the graceful lines of her profile, all the way down her long neck to the top of her shirt with her breasts pushing up like smooth rounded stones he’d find in an ancient streambed.

Her eyes didn’t peer into his, but stayed focused on his lips. “I prefer rope.”

Book Trailer

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Enjoy this NOT PG excerpt from SEAL’s Code narrated by J.D. Hart

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Michel’s Review

Seal’s Code by Sharon Hamilton is her best book to date. This book stepped outside the norm for the Bad Boys of Seal Team 3 and Seal Brotherhood. This book focused more the main character’s cultural heritage and individuality rather than the Seal Team. This was a story of acceptance as well as romance. Sharon did a fantastic job!

Danny Begay has returned home to say goodbye to his dying grandfather. He has more or less denied his Navajo heritage and could not accept his “gift” of hearing the voices of his ancestors. His grandfather was a Navajo Code Talker during WWII. With the passing of his grandfather he joins the Navy and becomes a SEAL. As he follows his new chosen path he realizes that his heritage is more than blood, it is a part of him that he cannot forget. He also cannot forget the one girl that touched his soul in one night of passion.

While he was home awaiting his grandfather’s passing he meets Luci Tohe and has a one night stand. Luci fully embraces her heritage. She is dedicated to the children she teaches in school, she is dedicated to her family, and most of all she is dedicated to her heritage. Dealing with an alcoholic mother has made her strong. She has never forgot her one night of passion with Danny.

When Luci discovers several young girls have gone missing on the reservation and some have been found dead, She begins to investigate and finds her younger sister is a target.

With the help of the FBI, the Las Vegas police, and Danny’s cousin Wilson they will untangle a intricate web of horrific horror that targeted young women from the reservation.

Sharon carefully connected Danny’s past and present with perfection. She added so many layers to this story. There was a beautiful romance that unfolded within the story that tied Danny and Luci together in so many ways.

This book starts out on the reservation. The reader gets a strong sense of Danny Begay’s former years and the tensions that are ever present in that life. They also get a sense of his warrior spirit that will make him a stronger man.

This book is packed full of action, suspense, drama, emotional moments, heated romance, and cultural heritage. This book is a celebration of Danny’s place in life.

I loved this book. Seal’s Code can be read as stand alone novel or in series order. However you chose to read it, it will be an enriching and emotional reading experience.

————————–

About the Author

NYT and USA/Today Bestselling Author Sharon Hamilton’s SEAL Brotherhood series have earned her Amazon author rankings of #1 in Romantic Suspense, Military Romance and Contemporary Romance. Her characters follow a sometimes rocky road to redemption through passion and true love. Her Golden Vampires of Tuscany earned her a #1 Amazon author ranking in Gothic Romance.

A lifelong organic vegetable and flower gardener, Sharon and her husband live in the Wine Country of Northern California, where most of her stories take place.

You can find Sharon at

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Release Blitz + 6 Star Review + 2015 Favorite + Giveaway: Chasing River by K. A. Tucker – Burying Water Series – Book 3

Posted on 07/07/2015 by shellbellereads

We are absolutely thrilled to bring you the Review Tour for K.A. Tucker’s CHASING RAIN! CHASING RIVER is a Suspenseful Romance novel, and the third novel in K.A. Tucker’s Burying Water Series, published by Atria books, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster. CHASING RIVER is set to be released July 7, 2015! If you haven’t already, be sure to grab BURYING WATER and BECOMING RAIN, the first two books in this thrilling series!!

CHASING RIVER US Links:

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CHASING RIVER UK Links:

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About CHASING RIVER:

Armed with two years’ worth of savings and the need to experience life outside the bubble of her Oregon small town, twenty-five-year old Amber Welles is prepared for anything. Except dying in Dublin. Had it not been for the bravery of a stranger, she might have. But he takes off before she has the chance to offer her gratitude.

Twenty-four-year-old River Delaney is rattled. No one was supposed to get hurt. But then that American tourist showed up. He couldn’t let her die, but he also couldn’t risk being identified at the scene—so, he ran. Back to his everyday life of running his family’s pub. Only, everyday life is getting more and more complicated, thanks to his brother, Aengus, and his criminal associations. When the American girl tracks River down, he quickly realizes how much he likes her, how wrong she is for him. And how dangerous it is to have her around. Chasing her off would be the smart move.

Maybe it’s because he saved her life, or maybe it’s because he’s completely different from everything she’s left behind, but Amber finds herself chasing after River Delaney. Amber isn’t the kind of girl to chase after anyone.

And River isn’t the kind of guy she’d want to catch.

Robin’s Review

Author K.A. Tucker’s writing portfolio includes series written in the young adult paranormal fantasy, new adult contemporary romance, and new adult romantic suspense genres. Although I have never read her Causal Enchantment series, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading each of the novels of the Ten Tiny Breathes and the Burying Water series. Much of the Burying Water series is based in a small town named Sisters, Oregon. Chasing River is different because the majority of the story takes place in Dublin, Ireland. If you have read any of the Burying Water series, you may remember Amber Welles is the daughter of retired sheriff Gabe Welles and the twin sister of Jesse Welles. Chasing River is Amber’s story.

On a normal day, twenty-four-year-old River Delaney would be getting up to open his family pub. But today, River is following his brother Aengus into St. Stephen’s Green. It’s only 7:30 in the morning, and Aengus is acting sketchy, carrying a black leather satchel close to his body. When he reaches a field, Aengus kneels down, unzips the satchel and lays a pipe bomb in the grass. When River sees what his brother is doing, he attempts to talk him out it, but Aengus warns him to immediately get out of there. That’s when River notices a woman jogging straight for the bomb.

Amber is on a leave of absence from her work as a nurse. She plans to visit fifteen different countries over a four-month period. After spending three and half weeks in Canada, Amber is now in Dublin, Ireland. She’s running late for a day tour, so she decides to take a shortcut through a field in St. Stephen’s Green. She doesn’t realize it, but she’s jogging towards a pipe bomb that is just about to detonate. Before she has time to process what is happening, a man plows into Amber, sending her flying through the air. He lands on top of her just before an explosion rips through the field. When the dust settles, the man checks to see if she was injured. After he sees that she is okay, he runs off. Amber realizes two things: he was protecting her from the explosion, and she didn’t get to thank him.

Besides the sweet romance between the main characters, what I love most about Chasing River is the history I was able to learn about Ireland. Tucker begins her novel with a three-page author’s note. She addresses the political and religious divisions between Ireland and England, which eventually led to Ireland’s attempt to break away from England. More important to this story is what we learn about the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and the role it has played throughout Irish history. The Delaney family has a long history of being involved with the Irish Republican Army, so pay close attention to the author’s note because what you learn will be very relevant to this story. This Irish history lesson lends to the suspense element in this story, making Chasing River one of the best romantic suspense novels that I have read in recent months.

We also learn more Irish history through River and his family. I really liked how the author shows us how much each member of the Delaney family values his or her Irish heritage. At one point in the novel, Amber sits in a pub and listens to a real Irish storyteller. We are able to enjoy the story as Amber listens to what is being said. I thought this was very creative feature of Chasing River. K.A. Tucker quickly captured my attention with this story. The unique setting of Dublin, Ireland feels very authentic when you combine it with the dialect, expressions and history Tucker includes in her writing.

I was able to discern real character growth in both protagonists, but especially in Amber. Before she leaves on her trip, Amber is encouraged by a friend to step outside of her comfort zone, and I feel there are several times in this story where she does just that. Amber takes a good look at her life, and she realizes that she wants to make the best decisions for her, not based on what others expect of her. I truly enjoyed River and Amber as a couple. Long distance relationships are never easy, and I would love to read more about their relationship in a future novel of the Burying Water series. So far, they are my favorite couple written by Tucker. I also consider 6-star Chasing River to be my favorite novel written by K.A. Tucker, and I am adding it to my list of 2015 favorites!

Michel’s Review

Chasing River is the third book in the Burying Water series by K.A. Tucker. It is my favorite book in the series so far.

K.A. Tucker created an interesting plot and unique set of characters that is original, informative, emotional, and entertaining. This book is not a fast paced high octane story like the other books in this series. It is more of a look into the reality of life in modern day Ireland. She painted a vivid picture of daily life, family dynamics, and the political arena in which most Irish families experience. Living in North America has kept readers removed from the plights of the Irish people. Most of us don’t have an understanding of their politics, their laws, and their convictions. We assume they have the same kind of liberties and values that we have. It is an arrogant assumption and ignorant way of thinking. This book opens the readers eyes and gives them a clear insight while at the same time delivering a beautiful romance.

Amber Welles has lived an enchanted sheltered life in a small town environment. She was the queen of her high school , made good grades, stayed out of trouble, excelled in college, and began making a successful career as a nurse. Her parents gave her an easy life. Her mother was a successful surgeon that taught her to love medicine. Her father was the town sheriff that taught her to live an honest and trouble free life. Unlike her twin brother, she has never been in trouble, never been exposed to people outside her social circle, and most certainly never skirted the law. She has always dreamed of traveling abroad and exploring the world. She has been saving for this dream and plans to take a year off to follow her dreams. After a harsh break up she decides to pursue her dream sooner. She may not have enough money to spend a year abroad but she does have enough to have several months of travel and adventure. Just before she embarks on her trip she makes a bucket list for her adventures.

Her first day in Ireland is beyond the adventure she was dreaming of. She is nearly blown up in an explosion in the park. If the sexy stranger with green eyes hadn’t saved her she would of been seriously injured or dead. Now she wants to find this Irish stranger and thank him for saving her life. When she does find him she gets more than she bargained for. She will find that her world was much smaller than she thought it was. She will find that not every thing is black and white. She will find there are many gray areas that are neither right or wrong. She will open herself up to new people and accept their beliefs. She will discover that old casual acquaintances can become the dearest of friends. Most of all she will find that once in a lifetime love with a man that doesn’t fit into her neat and orderly life. Amber Welles is falling into River. It is up to her whether she wants to sink or swim in the murky waters we call life.

River Delaney is the middle son in your typical Irish family. His family has owned a pub for over 200 years. Their family history is rich with stories of love, passion, heartbreak, struggle, and strife. Their convictions run deep. Their connections to the IRA and RIRA are part of their heritage. It is a dangerous life. His choices have molded him into the man he is today. His family history has made him target for the law as well as RIRA. Falling for an American girl that stirs his soul is not a good idea. The heart dictates what it wants. Their relationship may sink or swim. He may drown from the heartache or sail into a beautiful relationship. Either way, both he and Amber are treading in dangerous waters.

I could not put this book down. Amber and River’s story was beautiful. Both had convictions from their upbringings that should of kept them apart. Both found a love that was pure and beautiful. Both had to make choices that their families had a hard time grasping. In the end they found the once in a lifetime love that was worth sacrificing for.

K. A. Tucker did a thorough job with her research in Irish history. The reader will walk away with a better understanding of Irish heritage that is not leprechauns, rainbows, pots of gold, and blarney stones.

I loved how she incorporated some of the characters from the previous books and gave them a stronger role in the series. Gabe Welles in the kind of father that every girl should have. Ivy Lee is the kind of friend that Amber didn’t know she needed. She proved that beneath the hostility and icy veneer lies a true and loyal soul.

Chasing River can be read as a stand alone or in series order.

I highly recommend Chasing River by K. A. Tucker. It is fantastic.

And don’t forget BURYING WATER and BECOMING RAIN, the first two books in this thrilling series…

BURYING WATER

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BECOMING RAIN

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About K.A. Tucker:

Born in small-town Ontario, K.A. Tucker published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

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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.

_____________________________________________________________

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.

Stalk Her: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Release Blitz : Manwhore + 1 by Katy Evans – Manwhore Series – Book 2

Posted on 07/07/2015 by shellbellereads

Manwhore + 1

Manwhore Series- Book 2

By Katy Evans

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

The unexpected love story that began in MANWHORE continues heating up the pages in MANWHORE +1 by New York Times bestselling author Katy Evans…

Billionaire playboy? Check.

Ruthless businessman? Check.

Absolutely sinful? Check.

Malcolm Saint was an assignment. A story. A beautiful, difficult man I was supposed to uncover for a racy exposé.

I intended to reveal him, his secrets, his lifestyle–not let him reveal me. But my head was overtaken by my heart and suddenly nothing could stop me from falling. I fell for him, and I fell hard.

Malcolm Saint is absolute Sin, and I’ve become a hopeless Sinner.

Now that the assignment is over, Saint wants something from me–something unexpected–and I want this wicked playboy’s heart. But how can I prove to the man who trusts no one that I’m worthy of becoming his plus one?

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Excerpt

FOUR WEEKS

I’ve never been so hopeful as when I board the pristine glass elevator at the M4 corporate building. A handful of employees ride along with me, murmuring perfunctory greetings to each other and to me. I think my mouth must be on vacation because I can’t seem to force it to speak. But I smile in reply—my smile nervous, nervous but hopeful, definitely hopeful. My riding companions step out on their floors one by one until I’m alone, riding up to the executive floor on my own.

Toward him.

Toward the man I love.

My body is raging. My blood is pumping—my blood is storming—my thighs are shaking. My stomach feels filled with little earthquakes that just won’t quit, then they turn into a full-fledged roil when I hear the elevator ting at his floor.

Stepping out, I’m in corporate nirvana, surrounded by sleek chrome and pristine glass, marble and limestone floors. But I hardly have eyes for anything except the tall and imposing frosted glass doors at the far end of the room.

Framing those doors to each side is a pair of sleek designer desks, for a total of four.

Behind these desks are four women in identical black-and-white suits, sitting behind their gleaming dark-oak desks, working quietly behind their flat-screen computers.

One of them, the forty-year-old Catherine H. Ulysses—right hand of the man who owns every inch of this building—stops what she’s doing when she sees me. She arches her brow, then seems both tense and relieved as she lifts the receiver on her desk and murmurs my name into it.

Am. Not. Breathing.

But Catherine doesn’t miss a beat as she motions me toward the huge frosted doors—those intimidating doors—that lead into the lair of the most powerful man in Chicago.

The human being with the most powerful effect on me.

This is what I’ve been waiting for, for four weeks. This is what I wanted when I left a thousand messages on his phones and what I wanted when I wrote a thousand others that I left unsent. To see him.

For him to want to see me.

But as I force myself to step forward, I don’t even know if I’ll have the strength to stand before him and look him in the eye after what I did.

I’m wracked so hard with nervousness and anticipation and hope—yes hope, small but bright, even as I shake like a leaf.

Catherine holds the door open, and I struggle to hold my head high and walk into his office.

Two steps inside I hear the swoosh of the glass door shutting behind me and my systems halt at the familiar sight of the most beautiful office I’ve ever been in.

His office is all vast marble and chrome, twelve-foot ceilings, and endless floor-to-ceiling windows.

And there he is. The center of its axis. The center of my world.

He’s pacing by the window, speaking into a headset in a low, low voice—the kind he uses when he’s pissed. All I can make out are the words have to be dead to let her fall into his clutches …

He hangs up, and as if he feels me in the room, he turns his head. His eyes flare when he sees me. His green eyes.

His achingly familiar, beautiful green eyes.

He inhales, very slowly, his chest expanding, his hands curling a little at his sides as he looks at me.

I look back at him.

Malcolm Kyle Preston Logan Saint.

I just walked into the eye of the most powerful storm of my life. No. Not a storm. A hurricane.

Four weeks, I haven’t seen him. And he still looks exactly as I remember. Larger than life, and more irresistible than ever.

His striking face is perfectly shaven today, and his sensual lips look so achingly full I can almost feel them against mine. Six-feet-plus of perfectly controlled male power stand before me, in a perfect black suit and a killer tie. He’s the very devil in Armani; strong-boned, square-jawed, gleaming dark hair and those penetrating eyes.

He’s got the best eyes.

They twinkle mercilessly when he teases me, and when he doesn’t tease me, they’re mysterious and unreadable, assessing and intelligent, keeping me guessing about his thoughts.

But I had forgotten how cold those eyes used to be. Green arctic ice looks back at me now. Every fleck of ice in those eyes gleaming like diamond shards.

He clenches his jaw and tosses the headset aside.

He looks as approachable as a wall, his shoulders stretching his white shirt, which clings to his skin like a groupie. But I know he’s not a wall; I’ve never wanted to throw myself at a wall like this.

He’s walking towards me. Every step he takes makes my heart pound as he moves with that quiet and confident own-the-world stride of his.

He stops a few feet away and shoves his hands into his pants pockets; and he seems so big all of a sudden, and he smells so utterly good. I drop my eyes to his tie as the little candle of hope I walked in with starts to flicker with doubt.

The Manwhore Series

Manwhore

Manwhore Series – Book 1

By Katy Evans

Release Date: March 24, 2015

Synopsis

Is it possible to expose Chicago’s hottest player—without getting played?

This is the story I’ve been waiting for all my life, and its name is Malcolm Kyle Preston Logan Saint. Don’t be fooled by that last name though. There’s nothing holy about the man except the hell his parties raise. The hottest entrepreneur Chicago has ever known, he’s a man’s man with too much money to spend and too many women vying for his attention.

Mysterious. Privileged. Legendary. His entire life he’s been surrounded by the press as they dig for tidbits to see if his fairytale life is for real or all mirrors and social media lies. Since he hit the scene, his secrets have been his and his alone to keep. And that’s where I come in.

Assigned to investigate Saint and reveal his elusive personality, I’m determined to make him the story that will change my career.

But I never imagined he would change my life. Bit by bit, I start to wonder if I’m the one discovering him…or if he’s uncovering me.

What happens when the man they call Saint, makes you want to sin?

Buy : Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Google

Manwhore + 1

Manwhore Series- Book 2

By Katy Evans

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

Synopsis

The unexpected love story that began in MANWHORE continues heating up the pages in MANWHORE +1 by New York Times bestselling author Katy Evans…

Billionaire playboy? Check.

Ruthless businessman? Check.

Absolutely sinful? Check.

Malcolm Saint was an assignment. A story. A beautiful, difficult man I was supposed to uncover for a racy exposé.

I intended to reveal him, his secrets, his lifestyle–not let him reveal me. But my head was overtaken by my heart and suddenly nothing could stop me from falling. I fell for him, and I fell hard.

Malcolm Saint is absolute Sin, and I’ve become a hopeless Sinner.

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

________________________________________________

About Katy Evans

Katy Evans grew up with books and book-boyfriends until she found a real sexy boyfriend to love. They married and are now hard at work on their own happily ever after. Katy loves her family and friends, and she also loves reading, walking, baking, and being consumed by her characters until she reaches “The End.” Which is, hopefully, only the beginning…

Katy Evans is the NYT and USA Today bestselling author of the Real series.

To find more about her, look her up on her website, Twitter, or Facebook, she’d also love to hear from you!

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Tour + Review : Salvation by Ahren Sanders

Posted on 06/29/2015 by shellbellereads

Her innocence is masked with vulnerability. Until her walls crumble…

Undeniable Desire

His world is full of despair. Until he finds her light…

Unyielding Chemistry

Falling in love seemed to heal them both. Until their haunting pasts threatens to destroy…

Unrelenting protection

Robbie Hayes’s life changed the day a horrific accident shook his foundation. He’s resolved to regain control. While the physical wounds have healed, the emotional scars remain.

Will he ever be able to outrun the memories? Can she be his salvation?

Ember Walker’s life hasn’t been easy. Fleeing from a world filled with hatred gives her a fresh start, one she desperately craved. Now, she’s stronger, but guilt and insecurities still plague her.

Will she ever be able to outrun her memories? Can he be her salvation?

Excerpt

My eyes flutter as soft fingertips drag across my lower back. The faint sound of thumping pounds against my ear as I open my eyes, feeling disoriented. The first thing I see are the hard lines of Robbie’s stomach as his chest rises and falls.

My face buries into the warmth of his embrace and he starts chuckling.

“Is it possible to wake you?” he rumbles.

“Guess so, but I was having the most wonderful dreams.”

“So was I, but mine weren’t while sleeping. Mine are right here in the flesh, laid out on top of me.

When I lift my head to his, my heart melts. The look of devotion on his face is so strong it threatens to crush me.

“How long have I been asleep?”

“About an hour. When I came out of the bathroom, you were passed out.”

“Why aren’t you asleep?”

“Because I have an incredibly sexy, naked woman lying in my arms. It would be a shame to miss this.”

“I’ve slept with you naked before.” Blush creeps up my cheeks.

“Think we both know this is different.”

Emotions bubble inside of me, and I curl into him.

“You mean something special to me, Ember. More than special. I want you to know that.”

Tracey’s Review

Both Ember Walker and Robbie Hayes have seen darkness and despair. Ember is finally at a place in her life where she is experiencing the love denied her during a childhood filled with betrayal and hate. Robbie, still dealing with a loss that left him bereft and changed him completely, is holding tight to his heart. But as the two find their other halves in each other, they can finally begin to heal and move forward.

I am a fan of Ahren Sanders, because I like the complexity that her books offer. In typical Ahren fashion, Salvation is a love story, but not only a love story. It is also a story filled with passion and tenderness, with intrigue and redemption, and I could not put it down. Ember and Robbie spark off each other from their very first meeting, evoking feelings in each other that start the process of renewal for both of them. That Ember is able to be so optimistic, so generally full of light, is pretty amazing, given all that she dealt with while she was growing up. Robbie is a born protector, and it takes no time at all for him to focus on Ember, seeing that part of her that still needs building up and taking care of. Watching them navigate the ups and downs of their relationship had me flipping pages non-stop, because I was so invested in seeing them make it through all of the roadblocks to get to the other side. If I’m still thinking about a book days after finishing, which I definitely was with this one, then I count it a success. Add in the interesting, quirky, and well-written group of supporting characters, and this book had everything that I look for in a good read. I enjoyed it so much that I am eager to go back and read the first two books in this series, and easily give Salvation 4.5 heart-wrenching, romantic, redemptive, sexy, and, oh, so hot stars.

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AMAZON

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.

Visit me online:
Facebook * Goodreads * Twitter

Click on link below to join my mailing list!
http://eepurl.com/S4RI9

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + 2015 Favorite + Giveaway : Stop! by Alison G. Bailey

Posted on 06/25/2015 by shellbellereads

Every life has a different path full of sharp turns, smooth curves, and steep drop offs.

Hollis Murphy has a plan—college, career, boyfriend, love, marriage, family. A predictable, normal life. She’s on track until an outside force causes her to crash and burn. They call it an accident, because that’s the only word they know to explain what happens to her. It helps everyone move on with their lives, except for Hollis. She holds on to the belief that she’s been targeted for a reason.

Risher Stevenson is intelligent, caring, sweet, and the hottest boy Hollis has ever laid eyes on. He fits perfectly into her original plan for a normal life. Everyone loves him.

Benton Daniels is intelligent, caring, sweet, and the bravest boy Hollis has ever met. He doesn’t fit into her life but gives it purpose and makes it extraordinary. Everyone hates him.

One is bullied. One is tormented. All are judged. How will it STOP?

Buy: Amazon / B & N

“Name?” she said, impatiently.

I was so flustered that for a second I’d forgotten who I was. “Hollis Murphy.”

She scribbled something on a spreadsheet and handed me a packet with my name and the number two hundred ten typed out on the front sticker, which I assumed was my room number.

In a flat bored voice, she said, “Everything you need to know is in the packet. Should you have any additional questions or needs after reading the information, please ask your RA. Have a productive semester. Next!”

Clutching the envelope to my chest, my gaze shifted back down, and I walked quickly out of the office.

As I turned the corner, a loud deep woot! jerked my attention down the hall. I took one step before crashing full force into something solid and warm. Stumbling back, I dropped the envelope. Once my balance returned, my eyes focused on a gray T-shirt with cut off sleeves, stretched across broad shoulders. When I glanced down in search of my envelope, I couldn’t help but spot the narrow hips and round ass covered in black basketball shorts. As I squatted to pick up the envelope, a tanned forearm came into view. My gaze roamed up to find the arm was covered in bulging muscles.

“Oh god, I’m so . . . sor…ry,” I stammered, my cheeks heating with embarrassment.

“Here ya go,” a deep voice said.

Reaching for the envelope, my gaze inadvertently shot up to the warmest green eyes ever created. His dark brown hair was cut short on the sides, longer on top, and tousled. The perfect amount of scuff peppered his strong jawline, with deep dimples framing a sexy lopsided smile. The air was immediately sucked from my lungs. He wasn’t just hot, he was boy band hot.

A deep chuckle drifted down before I realized he had stood up and was extending his hand to me.

Oh boy! I get to touch him.

I slipped my hand into his and felt an immediate jolt of electricity. The muscles in his arm twitched. He felt it too.

“Thank you,” I said, as he helped me up.

“I’m Risher Stevenson.”

He was actually introducing himself to me.

It had become a habit not to look directly at anyone, especially a stranger. I automatically angled my head down and to the left, to hide the messed-up side of my face. But those green eyes locked me in place.

“Hollis Murphy.”

“Nice to meet you Hollis Murphy.”

“Sorry again about running into you. I need to do a better job at watching where I’m going.”

The tip of his tongue slipped between his lips before they formed into a slight smirk. Just as he was about to speak, his name came barreling down the hallway.

“Rish! Get your ass down here. We’ve got a ton of boxes to haul in.” A blond-haired guy was standing at the end of the hall.

“I gotta go finish helping my friends move in.”

I nodded.

Risher took three steps before turning back toward me. “Don’t do too good of a job.”

My eyebrows squished together in confusion.

“At watching where you’re going. I hate to think I won’t get rump bumped again.”

He winked before jogging away.

I Sasquatched those shoulders, those hips, and that ass all the way down the hall.

Robin’s Review

I really had no idea what to expect when I began reading the newest novel from Alison G. Bailey. In my opinion, the synopsis for Stop! is somewhat vague, but I always expect great things from this author. I can tell you this: if you expect a story similar to those of Bailey’s Perfect series, you are going to be surprised. Stop! is completely different from anything Bailey has previously written, and it’s way more than a typical new adult contemporary romance. The story takes place at Chambers University, and it focuses on three main characters: Hollis Murphy, Benton Daniels and Risher Stevenson.

I’ve debated on how much of this story I should share in my review, but I’ve come to realize that Stop! is one of those stories you just need to experience. The messages of this story are profound, and very thought-provoking. Bailey includes a sweet romance in this novel, but for me, the romance felt secondary to the main plot. I love reading a good romance, but Stop! is a story with plenty of substance. It’s about courage, and Bailey gives us two very courageous characters in Hollis Murphy and Benton Daniels. There is also a message about tolerance. Learning to open your mind and be tolerant of people who are different. And beauty. Finding the true definition of beauty. It’s not just physical beauty, but beauty found from within. These are all very relevant topics in today’s society, and while I was reading, I found myself considering some things about my own life. I think most readers will. Bailey gives readers a good, hard look at what it’s like to be someone who is persecuted because of their differences.

One of the first things I noticed about Stop! is the writing. Bailey’s writing is crisp. It flows. Her words engaged my interest from page one, drawing me right into the story. She kept me on my toes. I had lots of questions in my head, always wondering what would happen next. There’s a twist to the plot, and it’s one you won’t see coming. The story evolves into something you aren’t expecting. I also need to compliment the author on her character, Risher Stevenson. He’s one of my favorite book boyfriends to date. Risher is just about perfect. You ladies are going to love him! The uniqueness of the plot is what really drives this story home. It encompasses everything from labels, violence and bullying to friendship and courage. Bailey asks readers to “stretch your mind, open your heart, and expand your understanding.” This is the overall message of Stop! I’ll be adding Stop! to my list of 2015 favorites. Congratulations to author Alison G. Bailey for this beautiful 5-star novel!

Alison was born and raised in Charleston, SC. She attended Winthrop University and graduated with a major in Theater. While at school Alison began writing one-act plays, which she later produced. Her debut novel, Present Perfect, landed on Amazon’s Best Seller List and appeared on many “Best Reads of 2013” Book Blogs. The novel won Best Book at the 2014 Indie Romance Convention Awards. Her second novel, Past Imperfect, was published in February of 2014 and appeared on several best books of 2014 lists as well. Presently Perfect, the third and final book in The “Perfect” series was released in Dec 2014 to rave reviews. In March 2015 all the love, swoon, heat, and angst were combined into the Perfect Series Box Set.

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Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway: Step F*@k by Scarlett Ward

Posted on 06/22/2015 by shellbellereads

Step F*@k Series

Part One Release Date : June 18, 2015

By Scarlett Ward

NOW AVAILABLE for ONLY $0.99!

Part One Synopsis

That’s all I did. A few too many glasses of wine with my best friend and the bitch convinced me to go on one of those dating websites.

A one-night stand.

A booty call.

And you know what? It.was.amazing.

I spent all night in a sexy stranger’s arms, hot and sweaty, until it was time to sneak out and do the walk of shame back to my apartment.

I never thought I’d see sexy stranger again, and I was totally fine with that – until my mother’s wedding.

She’s getting remarried, see. And sexy stranger just happens to be my new stepbrother.

All the wine in the world isn’t going to make this better.

Excerpt

He doesn’t let me finish. He lets go of my wrist and grabs my hips, lifting me up onto the bathroom counter. My breath catches in my throat as my shoulders collide with the mirror. He’s kissing my neck, his hands all over me, and I wrap my legs around his torso and run my hands through his hair.

“I don’t want to be doing this,” I gasp, but we both know that’s not true. And he’s not technically my stepbrother yet.

Michel’s Review

Debut Release of the new serial romance by Scarlett Ward is going to appeal to readers that love the forbidden romance. I had the pleasure of receiving ARC copies of all four installments. I was able to read these installments back to back without interruption. This kind of story is very hard to review in each installment, therefore, I am going to give my overall thoughts of the serial as a whole and then lightly break down each installment.

Emma is getting over a bad relationship where she caught her long time boyfriend cheating. She has trust issues and is gun shy about getting back into the dating world. After spending six months single, her roommate encourages her to join an online dating site. That is where she hooks up with Jai.

One wild night of passion leads to more than an awkward morning after. It ends with a viscous bang.

The two will meet up again when they attend their parents pre wedding dinner. This situation goes from awkward to heated in the upcoming wedding celebrations. They can’t keep their hands off of each other. They both fight, misunderstand the other’s intentions, and struggle to figure out how to fit in their new family dynamics.

Each installment ends on a light cliffhanger.

I think this serial should of been one novel. The cliffhangers were not enough to keep the reader dying for more. I found flaws in the family relationships and dynamics that just did not connect leading characters and secondary characters. There was not enough of a build up of sexual tension to validate the romance between the leading characters. It was more of a sex fest in my opinion.

Further more the character development was weak. It was very hard to connect with the characters and understand their drive.

Some may say that it is impossible to develop more when the story is delivered in novella length installments. I say no it is not because I have read so many of these type of serials that leave me aching for more.

I really had high hopes for this serial. Sadly it did not do it for me as a reader.

**************

Part 1- 3 Stars

Part one covers the meeting between Emma and Jai. It covers their one night stand and disastrous morning after.

This was a good introduction that left me intrigued and curious about what happens next.

Part 2 – 2 Stars

The leading characters, Emma and Jai , meet up once again at their parents pre wedding dinner. They begin hackling each other but at the same time can’t keep their hands off one another.

The reader also gets an introduction to the secondary characters in the story. We meet the family members. I can honestly say I really struggled with the family dynamics that were going on. It felt more like these two were with acquaintances rather than their parents. It was very odd.

Part 3 – 2 Stars

This installment takes the family to the lake house. They have a few days before the wedding to bond before the other guests arrive.

What happens in this installment is like two children in the sandbox fighting over the same toy. These two bicker and irritate the crap out of each other. They still can’t keep their hands off each other. I found these two spent more time sneaking around having sex. I never felt the chemistry between the two. I also never had a grasp on who they were as individuals as well as a couple. Their POV focused more on the sexual relationship rather than the mental relationship.

Once the wedding takes place all hell breaks loose between the two. Assumptions and misunderstandings force Emma to disappear. That disappearance was down right weird and out of the blue.

Part 4- 2 Stars

The conclusion to the story. The reader finds out why Emma disappeared. Which was interesting and believable. But what happens after that was predictable. Emma and Jai do find their happy ending.

Series Reading Order

Part Two

Releasing June 25th

Part Three

Releasing July 3rd

Part Four

Releasing July 10th

Scarlett Ward lives in Los Angeles, California and is releasing her first series June 2015.

Follow Scarlett on Goodreads at: http://bit.ly/1dNiwHz

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Tag Archives: Review

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Sacrifice by Adriana Locke

Release Blitz + Review + Giveaway: Cale by Victoria Ashley – Walk Of Shame Series – Book 3

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Call On Me by Roni Loren – Loving On The Edge Series – Book 7

Blog Tour + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Seal’s Code by Sharon Hamilton – Bad Boys of Team 3 – Seal Brotherhood #10

Release Blitz + 6 Star Review + 2015 Favorite + Giveaway: Chasing River by K. A. Tucker – Burying Water Series – Book 3

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review: Toxic by Kim Karr

Release Blitz : Manwhore + 1 by Katy Evans – Manwhore Series – Book 2

Release Tour + Review : Salvation by Ahren Sanders

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + 2015 Favorite + Giveaway : Stop! by Alison G. Bailey

Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway: Step F*@k by Scarlett Ward

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CHASING RIVER US Links:

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** Books-a-Million ** IndieBound ** Apple ** Blio ** Google ** Kobo

CHASING RIVER UK Links:

Amazon ** Apple ** Barnes & Noble ** Kobo ** Waterstones ** Foyles

And don’t forget BURYING WATER and BECOMING RAIN, the first two books in this thrilling series…

BURYING WATER

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** iBooks ** Kobo ** IndieBound

BECOMING RAIN

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Amazon Barnes & Noble Books-a-Million IndieBound Apple Blio Google ** Kobo

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Website Twitter Facebook Novel Goodreads Author Goodreads YouTube Pinterest Instagram**

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