EDGEPLAY by Annabel Allan #eroticromance on sale for 99¢

 

EDGEPLAY by Annabel Allan

Available for a limited time 

December 20 through December 31st at 99¢

By day, Ava Goode is in the insurance game, getting her work done and being a model employee. But by night, she retreats to her secret world where she Dominates those that seek to submit to her.

This private world gets turned upside down the moment she meets Gabriel Burton; a man who is not only successful, but works for her father—and dating men in her father’s office is a big no-no. But, it’s hard to resist your deepest desires, especially when they kneel before you and kiss your feet, like a good boy.

Get your copy now wherever ebooks are sold! 

Happy Holidays!

Unwrapping an Interview with Annabel Allan, author of RIGGED, a Goode Pain novel with #excerpt

Hi everyone! I’m so glad you’re with us today because I’ve got a special guest visiting - Annabel Allan, author of the Goode Pain series from Black Velvet Seductions. 

She has a new release coming soon, RIGGED, book 3 of the Goode Pain series, an erotic romance. RIGGED is releasing August 13, 2020.

Available for pre-order at Amazon

You can find other vendors at Books2Read

Blurb for RIGGED:

Ava Goode’s life is getting into a normal groove, entering the spring and over a month after her run in with the mob. She’s ready to throw away the past and embrace the future, which seems to come with the mysterious, albeit sexy, Gideon Shaw, a known rigger and Rope Bunny’s dream man. Little does she know that he has more in store for her than just tying her up and making her submit to him, a blackmailer entering the picture—who is Gideon Shaw, really?

Today also happens to be Annabel’s birthday so feel free to wish her a Happy Birthday. Now, without too much fanfare, please join me in welcoming Annabel Allan, author of RIGGED, to Unwrapping Romance …  

Unwrapping Romance: Welcome Annabel, it's an absolute delight to have you here with us today, and I'd like to thank you for taking time out of your busy day to join us. 

Annabel Allan: Thank you so much! I’m so happy to be here. I appreciate it when blogs take the time to interview me. 

Unwrapping Romance: We love having authors visit us. Perhaps you'd like to tell us a little bit about yourself for those who don't know you yet. 

Annabel Allan: Sure! I’m a full-time indie author under a few pen names—Annabel Allan, R. M. Draven, and my birth name of Stephanie Douglas. Annabel Allan writes my sexy romances, starting in vanilla with the Smoke Chaser series and branching into BDSM when I got into the lifestyle with Goode Pain and the first book, EDGEPLAY. 

Unwrapping Romance: How wonderful! So, my lovely readers, there is a lot to choose from this amazing author. Here at Unwrapping Romance, authors are rock stars, which is why I can get kind of nosy when I get a chance to talk to them. I’m always interested in what lures someone to be a writer. You have been writing for many years, but was there someone or something that inspired you to write and why did you choose romance, especially erotic romance?

Annabel Allan: I would say what lured me into writing was my going to film school. I wanted to get into directing, but I found out by my fourth term that I just wasn’t very good at it. I knew I enjoyed writing and got into writing my first novel on a stormy July day. For some reason, romance came easily to me; I just knew I wanted to write love stories. The erotica came later, when I wanted to try writing something that would appeal to publishers and readers—cause sex sells, you know? I just ended up really enjoying writing it! 

Unwrapping Romance: You’re very right, Annabel, sex does sell – in books as well as movies. Directing is creative but nothing beats creating the world for someone else to direct. RIGGED is book 3 of the series, did you have all the books planned out from the start and how many do you see the series having when complete? 

Annabel Allan: I knew there would definitely be a series, but I didn’t have them planned out until I finished writing HARD LIMITS. I kind of knew where I wanted to go with it after that and then planned out the remaining installments. Of course, in regards to how many installments there will be, I don’t know. I’m hoping for an Anita Blake (by Laurell K. Hamilton) type of deal; just keep going as long as a good story is there. 

Unwrapping Romance: Totally understand that, Annabel. Sometimes we have to do what our characters tell us to do. Speaking of your characters, what was your inspiration for the Goode Pain series, and where do your character inspirations come from? 

Annabel Allan: In the beginning, EDGEPLAY was actually titled The Wilder Side & was a male Dominant and female submissive. I submitted it to Black Velvet Seductions, but it really wasn’t very good, and I was rejected. I was going to abandon the project, but a friend of mine wanted me to write short stories for his BDSM business and I had just gotten into the lifestyle. I was asked to write about a Domme. So, I sat down and thought about what I could possibly do as a story. Then the song “Thrills In The Night” by KISS came on. It asks, “Do they really know her?” and it just made my head spin with an idea of a Dominatrix that was working in an office by day. So, all that put together conceived EDGEPLAY to what it is now. A series just seemed to make sense because I wanted to see more of Ava and what trouble she’d get into! 

Unwrapping Romance: Love it when inspiration comes out of the blue! What do you have planned next beyond the Goode Pain series? 

Annabel Allan: I have several installments that are within the Goode Pain universe, but Ava will not make an appearance. It’s secondary characters that I found too interesting to let go unnoticed and wanted to tell their stories. I’m also writing a standalone D/s story on Wattpad, titled Submissive Tendencies. It's my first that’s exploring a female submissive with a male Dominant. 

Unwrapping Romance: Wonderful. I agree that secondary characters sometimes endear themselves to both the author and the readers so much that they just need to have their stories told too.
Readers, if you’d like to check out Annabel’s story at Wattpad, SUBMISSIVE TENDENCIES, you can find it by clicking HERE. 

Annabel, if you're like every other writer (myself included), I have no doubt you're also a prolific reader. Who are your favorite authors and have any inspired your writing? 

Annabel Allan: I’m a BIG Anne Rice fan—anything she writes, I read. I actually started out in paranormal romance and that’s what R. M. Draven writes. But I do love reading the steamier stuff too! Shayla Black is a favourite, her Wicked Lovers series. I cannot put those books down! I’m also becoming a huge fan of fellow BVS author, Patricia Elliot! Her writing is so relatable and makes me actually laugh out loud. I’m starting on Her Lovers Face this weekend. 

Unwrapping Romance: Love paranormal! I will definitely have to check out your books under R.M. Draven as I’m sure my paranormal readers will do too. My last question for you, and my personal favorite – if you could be ANY character in ANY book, not necessarily your own - who would it be and why?

Annabel Allan: I think if I could be any character, I would probably choose Sookie Stackhouse from Charlene Harris’ Southern Vampires. I relate to her so much and she has those sexy men! And vampires, of course, vampires are kinda my thing! 

Unwrapping Romance: Love it! Just think of the adventures to be had. Wink! Wink!

Thank you again for joining us today, Annabel, and I hope your new release brings you much success. You’re always welcome back at Unwrapping Romance. 

Reminder, readers, RIGGED is releasing on August 13^th but is available for pre-order now at Amazon and also today is Annabel’s birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Excerpt from RIGGED: 

  I strutted over to the spot where the demo was held, all the submissives and their Dominants, as well as a few solos, started to scatter. I walked up, seeing Gideon’s girl for the evening, Ruby, packing up his stuff.

  I was confused, a gruff sexy voice coming from behind me. “You missed it tonight.”

  I turned, seeing Gideon, who was clean shaven, like usual. The grey spots in his short-clipped hair was a little more obvious in the lighting, but it was a sexy grey. I knew he was forty, but that seemed a little young for grey hair. It didn’t matter. It made me think of him as an animal, a wolf; he was definitely wild and unknown to me.

  “Oh,” I said, trying to keep my cool, though I could feel the warmth spreading in my thighs as I thought of being his willing submissive. “I guess there’s always next week.”

  “I could do a private show for you,” he said with a shrug.

  “Oh, that would be nice, but I don’t think I could afford you,” I said with a laugh. It wasn’t true, I could afford it. I just didn’t want that private show…well, not true, I wanted it pretty bad.

  “Free of charge,” he said.

  “Oh…”

  He eyed me with his smoky blue eyes. “Can’t think of a way out of that one, huh?”

  I frowned. “Gideon—”

  “Why not give me a chance to show you your submissive side, Ava?” he asked.

  “Because I don’t have one,” I said.

“Bullshit,” he said. “You know it as well as I do. It’s there, under the surface. Let me awaken you.”

  He walked closer to me, his cologne circling around me. I could feel my heart pick up speed, my breathing intensifying, the smell of his cologne making me feel dizzy. It was woodsy, strong, and pure male. He was so close, but he hadn’t touched me, though my body craved him. It was intense, the heat from the closeness of his body making my knees weak.

  “I’ll admit I’m curious, but I don’t think I can handle it,” I said, pushing him back gently.

  “Let me try,” he said, taking my hand, our first real touch. It was electric, making me almost swoon. “You’ll have a safe word. I honor your safe word.”

  “I have a boyfriend though,” I said, pulling my hand away as I realized the affect he had on me.

 “But also a secondary slave,” he said. “Your boyfriend obviously has no problem with him. You’re making excuses. What are you afraid of?”

  I thought about it, getting angry, but it melted away when I looked into his soft blue eyes. “I guess losing myself,” I said, finding myself being incredibly honest.

  “Or maybe you’re more frightened of what you’ll find,” he said.

  “Maybe,” I said with a nod. I took a deep breath. “I can’t. It’s not me.”

 “You don’t know that,” he said passionately. “You could be so much more. Don’t you want to experience subspace? I know you haven’t experienced the euphoria of Dominating someone.”

  My brow furrowed. “How would you know?”

  “Because you do your job well, Ava, but you’re missing a piece of yourself. I promise that if you let me train you, let me be your Dom, I can bring you both to subspace and top space.”

  I pursed my lips together, unsure of what to say or do. I shook my head. “I’ll…I’ll think about it.”

  He nodded. “That’s all I can ask.”

About the Author: 

Annabel Allan is the pen name of author Stephanie Douglas. 

Her SMOKE CHASER series is now available through Headline Accent! 

Her GOODE PAIN series, books one & two (EDGEPLAY and HARD LIMITS) are also now available from Black Velvet Seductions!

Don’t forget to check out the other books in this series, and if you’d like to learn more about Annabel and her books, feel free to visit her at: 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Books2Read

 

Unwrapping an Interview with Debut Author, Estelle Pettersen plus an #Excerpt from LESSONS ON SEDUCTION

Hi Everyone! I’m so glad you’re with us today because I’ve got a special guest visiting, Estelle Pettersen, debut author of LESSONS ON SEDUCTION, a soon to be released erotic romance novel, published by Black Velvet Seductions. Release date is set for July 30, 2020 and it’s available now for pre-order at Amazon.

Blurb for LESSONS ON SEDUCTION:

When college student Sapphire Blake finds herself fresh out of a breakup, she is ready to embark on a new journey in her life. A dark, sensual journey.

Freeing herself from the expectations set by her family, friends, and church, an innocent and unworldly Sapphire begins experimenting with her new casual lover, Vera Richland.

Vera’s brother, Julian, is ridiculously handsome, smart, and intimidating. This university professor finds himself enthralled in a sensual relationship with a woman willing to pay top money for his time in the bedroom. To pay off his debts and continue leading his lavish lifestyle, Julian discovers the world filled with sex, drugs, and lies may not be for him as he first thought.  With his contract almost up, Julian has his sights set on a new endeavor.

When Vera introduces Sapphire to Julian, sparks are ignited as Julian sees past the conservative stigma Sapphire believes the world has placed on her. Instead, he sees a sexy vixen– and he can’t help but admit he wants her.

As the couple begins a dangerous, passionate relationship, secrets become exposed and lives are threatened. Will Julian be able to save his relationship with Sapphire and rekindle the fiery flame they share? Or, will fate have another ending in store?

So without too much fanfare, please join me in welcoming Estelle Pettersen, debut author of LESSONS ON SEDUCTION, to Unwrapping Romance … 

Unwrapping Romance: Welcome Estelle, it's an absolute delight to have you with us today, and I'd like to thank you for taking time out of your busy day to join us. 

Estelle Pettersen:  Thank you so much for having me. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to be here!

Unwrapping Romance: I adore talking with debut authors. You’re experiencing a first that rivals most any other you experience over your lifetime. Perhaps you'd like to tell us a little bit about yourself for those who don't know you yet.

Estelle Pettersen: I’m Estelle Pettersen and I’m an Australian married to a Norwegian and living in Norway. I love the simple things in life, such as coffee and going for walks in nature. I’m an animal lover and I feel at home when I’m near the ocean. I started my passion for reading and writing at a young age, and I’ve been an avid romance reader since I was fifteen.

I tested my fiction writing on a writers’ platform called Wattpad in 2019 and found my voice there, thanks to the support of other readers and writers. I plucked up the courage to submit the manuscript of my erotic romance novel, LESSONS ON SEDUCTION, to Black Velvet Seductions, and was thrilled when they accepted my work.

Unwrapping Romance: Estelle, congratulations on being signed by Black Velvet Seductions. Wattpad is a wonderful writer’s platform for getting feedback and encouragement. Here at Unwrapping Romance, authors are rock stars, which is why I can get kind of nosy. I’m always interested in what lures someone to be a writer. What, or who, inspired you and why did you choose the romance genre and in particular, erotic romance?

Estelle Pettersen: My mother and my high school English teacher are two people who inspired me to become a writer. My mum was incredibly tough with grammar and spelling when I was in school, and tested me if I understood the stories I read. Being an introvert, I spent many lunch breaks in the library to get away from the ‘noise’ and escape to the world of books—I remember my friends finding me there and pulling me away from the books. My English teacher encouraged me to pursue a career in writing, which was why I studied journalism later on.

I chose the romance genre because I’m a big romantic at heart. I adore love stories, especially when the protagonist has a strong voice. As for erotic romances, a few people challenged me to write something on the steamy side, so I dared and pushed the boundaries with my writing.

Unwrapping Romance: As a former English teacher, I’m delighted to hear yours had such encouragement for you. I had an English teacher who did the same for me and I’m so grateful to her. It’s extra nice to have your mom in your corner. J Your friends are obviously very supportive and you’re awesome for taking such a challenge.
What was your inspiration for LESSONS ON SEDUCTION, and where does inspiration come from for your characters?

Estelle Pettersen: I wanted to read a steamy romance novel where the protagonist dared to step away from her comfort zone and project her strong voice. At the same time, I wanted the protagonist’s lover to be smart and sexy, yet strong and masculine. I was tired of reading stories about a possessive alpha male character and submissive female character, which I didn’t think portrayed healthy relationships, so I wrote LESSONS ON SEDUCTION.

The protagonist, Sapphire breaks away from societal expectations to find her strength, and to have courage both in and out of the bedroom. Her lover, Julian gives her both independence and empowerment, and their relationship is a balanced one. All in all, I was inspired by the concepts of freedom, equality, and empowerment; both Sapphire and Julian personify that in their own ways.

Unwrapping Romance: They sound like a wonderful couple and have the type of relationship I think we all seek, especially in romance stories. What do you have planned next?

Estelle Pettersen: I’m working on a short story, an Australian cowboy romance for Black Velvet Seductions. After that, I’ll continue working on book two in the Seduction series, which is Julian’s sister Vera’s story. She is also Sapphire’s best friend (and love interest early on) in LESSONS ON SEDUCTION. My beta readers cheered for her, asking if I could write her story, so I decided to do it. She’s sassy, daring, and more outspoken than her brother, Julian, who is an introvert.

Unwrapping Romance: Sounds like fun. We love sassy heroines. An Australian cowboy sounds especially intriguing. Estelle, if you're like every other writer (myself included), I have no doubt then that you're also a prolific reader. Who are your favorite authors and have any inspired your writing?

Estelle Pettersen: I love literature, especially the classics. One of my favorite books is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë; in my teen years, I had a crush on Heathcliff, who gave me some inspiration for my male character Julian in LESSONS ON SEDUCTION. I’m a fan of the poets W.B. Yeats and Sylvia Plath—I love poetry and experiment with literary tropes such as metaphors and allegories in my writing. My taste varies: one day I could be reading The Twelve Caesars by Suetonius and another day it would be Violin by Anne Rice.

I’ve just finished reading Mystic Desire, an anthology of supernatural romance stories published by Black Velvet Seductions. I’m a big fan of the authors at Black Velvet Seductions, who have been my rock of support. As a romance reader, I was already familiar with some of the authors’ previous work.

Unwrapping Romance: Ahh…the classics…I totally understand your love for them. Your eclectic taste in reading makes me a huge fan. I believe we can learn so much from both past and present authors. Storytelling has been happening since the caveman and I hope it will continue far into the future. Books are our greatest means for time travel.

My last question for you and my personal favorite – this is one I ask every author when I get the chance. If you could be ANY character in ANY book, not necessarily your own but any book at all - who would it be and why? 

Estelle Pettersen: I would love to be in Nick Carraway’s shoes just for one night in The Great Gatsby; to be at one of Jay’s decadent parties. Plus, I like Nick—he comes across as relatable and intelligent.

Unwrapping Romance: What a wonderful answer, Estelle. I think you might be the first to choose a male character and such an interesting one too. That would be a fun night indeed. Thank you so very much for spending some time with us. I am very excited about your upcoming release, LESSONS ON SEDUCTION, as well as your future projects. I wish you great success and a long career writing wonderful stories.

If you’d like to sample a steamy bit of LESSONS ON SEDUCTION, Estelle has graciously shared an excerpt from her upcoming erotic romance. I hope you’ll enjoy it and pre-order your own copy which is available at Amazon.

Excerpt from LESSONS ON SEDUCTION by Estelle Pettersen:

I turned left, headed toward the direction of bedrooms, and stopped when I reached the main en suite bedroom. This must be Julian’s room. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it wouldn’t get the better of me, so I dared.

I dropped my bag on the floor and walked into the master suite, which featured two dimly lit lamps and a king-size bed with a charcoal duvet and matching pillows. The unmade bed was the only untidy element in this otherwise clean home, indicative of either his most recent sexual activity or his forgetfulness to make the bed up. I doubted that it was the latter. As I walked past the bed, I noticed leather handcuffs on the crumpled duvet. The soothing sound of water running in the shower caught my attention, enticing me to take a sneak peek in the bathroom.

The bathroom door was left open at a forty-five-degree angle, and the pull of temptation gravitated me toward it. I was curious. I usually did not pry into the privacy of others, but I had never seen a naked man in real life, and I was ready to find out.

Oh, my lord! There he was in the shower, a beautiful man in all his splendor and glory. Julian was wet and naked, reminding me of the marble statue of the biblical, nude David by Michelangelo. Droplets of water ran down his hard, taut, body, all the way to the curve of his muscular back and firm buttocks, then along his sturdy legs. He rinsed the soap off his broad shoulders, chest and slim waist. His body tapered down like a perfect V, and delicate veins ran along his muscular forearms. His penis was thick and admirable, even in its relaxed state, and his testicles hung below. Eyes closed, he lifted his head to absorb the streaming water, and ran his long fingers through his hair, washing out the remaining shampoo foam, which flowed downward.

The heavenly sight of Julian in his nakedness, together with the fresh scent of the citrus body wash, triggered my nipples to harden and the inner walls of my vagina to clench, eliciting a wetness that coated my labia.

Julian’s eyes opened and fluttered rapidly, making direct contact with mine. “OH, FUCK!”

“Oh shit, I’m so sorry! I was looking for a spare toothbrush and didn’t realize you were here!” I babbled in a flustered state. I was a bad liar.

He turned off the shower faucet, grabbed a towel, and started to dry himself slowly.

“Did you enjoy the show, Sapphire?” Julian smiled smugly, emphasizing my name when he spoke.

“I, uh, I’m staying over with Vera tonight, as we’re heading out for a girls’ night. I hope that’s okay with y-you,” I stammered.

“Oh, it’s more than okay with me, love. However, you haven’t answered my question.” Julian’s mischievous eyes dangerously twinkled with devilish delight.

“I like what I see,” I admitted, gazing at the towel, which he now wrapped neatly around his firm torso.

“Good. Now, come here, baby. Touch me.”

I took one step closer to Julian and stroked the blade of his left shoulder with my right hand. My fingers traveled down his chest and stomach, drawing him to release a groan of pleasure.

“That’s it. Lower.”

“Lower?” I gasped.

“Yes. Further down south, if you get my drift.”

My fingers traveled below his navel and down to where the towel met his skin.

“Stop.”

“Stop?” I raised my eyebrows.

“Yes, stop,” he commanded.

Julian’s hands swiftly reached around my neck and untied my halterneck top, exposing my bare breasts to him.

“You’re exquisite.” His long, dark lashes lowered as he gazed at my topless body. I sucked in the citrus-flavored air as he began rubbing my nipples in circular motions with his rough thumbs.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Estelle Pettersen is an Australian author and former journalist whose romance stories explore empowerment, freedom, and finding one’s strength. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Journalism and Psychology, from the University of Queensland, Australia. Her second degree is an MBA from Queensland University of Technology, Australia. She is a member of Romance Writers of Australia and is passionate about history, languages, cultures, traveling, food, and wine. She is happily married and living in Norway these days.

If you’d like to learn more about Estelle and her debut romance, feel free to visit her at the following:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Blog

Instagram | MeWe | Pinterest | LinkedIn

Available at Amazon

Unwrapping a Review of AT HIS MERCY, a Forbidden Lovers novel by Shelly Bell

Already a fan of Shelly Bell’s sexy stories after reading the Benediction and White Collared series, so when she asked me to read the first in her new series, AT HIS MERCY, a Forbidden Lovers novel, I didn’t even ask what it was about, I just said, ‘YES!’ and I am so glad I did. Not having had much time to read lately, I needed something that would whet my appetite for reading again, and that’s exactly what this wonderful erotic romance mystery did.

***eARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.

Blurb for AT HIS MERCY:

Angel in his arms . . . Devil at her heels

One, last no-strings night of indulgence. That's all Tristan wants before he begins a much-needed new chapter in his life. Instead, he finds an innocent angel in pink who brings him to his knees.

Isabella is done hiding from the world. . .and her haunting memories. Discovering courage in the arms of a perfect stranger, she finally lets go and sheds her inhibitions.

To Isabella's shock, she soon learns that Tristan is more than her mystery man-he's her professor. But Tristan isn't the only person who's found Isabella on campus. A dark figure from her past has come back for her. Now Tristan will risk anything to protect Isabella. . .even if it costs him his life.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Isabella Lawson survived a terrifying encounter. She put her life back together as best she could, and now she’s heading off to college in an attempt to improve her life, prove she can stand on her own, and to take control of a life that has felt out of her control since her ex-boyfriend tried to kill her. Having discovered the world of BDSM, she accompanies her cousin to her first play party. All she wants is to experience the freedom, the excitement, and the anonymity that the BDSM world provides before heading off to college and years of concentration on her studies. What she never expected to find was a man who would awaken her body, her mind, and possibly her heart.

Tristan Kelley’s world is bordering on the lowest point it can reach with an ex-wife who threatens him constantly with accusations of abuse even though she’d been a willing BDSM partner…but then it’s all about money for her. Speaking of money, Tristan is in need of a loan to build his new business. However, with his ex-wife dogging him with false accusations, and his finances gone, he has no choice but to try to rebuild his reputation and earn some money by taking an old friend up on a teaching position upstate as the best course of action. One year - he’s going to give teaching one year and then move onto bigger things. He hadn’t planned to spend his last night in the arms of an intriguing, sexy young submissive but he couldn’t resist the beautiful red-haired girl once she walked through the door.

After a night of passion, neither Tristan nor Isabella thought they’d ever see each other again. On the first day of classes, Isabella walked into the lecture hall of the professor who she was to work for, and whom she hoped would be the edge she needed to get into the Business Program only to discover the instructor substituting in his place is the same man she’d spent an amazing night with losing her inhibitions. Now she and Tristan have to figure out how to stay away from each other even as they can’t stop thinking about each other. What to do when desires grow stronger than doing the smart thing and what happens when pasts collide putting everyone and everything between them in danger.

AT HER MERCY had me hooked from the first pages. I love a good mystery and Shelly Bell does them better than most. As usual, I had a few suspects in my head but the guilty party was the last person I expected. Well played, Shelly, you got me.

Intrigue, sexuality, and the world of BDSM are the background players in this love story between two broken people. Tristan feels he’s failed everyone in his life and Isabella is unable to trust or allow herself the freedom to experience life because someone who she thought loved her, instead tried to do her great harm. Shelly conjures up characters that make us feel their pain, their frustrations, and their fears but also allows us to watch them grow and fall in love. While Isabella learns to open her mind and horizons to new goals, new sensations, and trust, Tristan begins to recognize and inspect his life in retrospect allowing him to begin to trust and love too. When the private walls of their world begin to crack and break, we feel the heartache of Tristan doing what is best for Isabella more so than him, and Isabella trying desperately to make him understand that her trust in him is so great that together, they can fight the bigger fight. The story comes together in a tense, edge of the seat ending with great resolution, a wonderful happily ever after and in the process, we learn things that pull it all together for both of them, as well as their friends. I’m very much looking forward to the next installment of the Forbidden Lovers series.

I highly recommend AT HIS MERCY, book one in the Forbidden Lovers series by Shelly Bell to anyone who loves an angst filled love story that will also steam  up the air around you while you’re reading.

Happy Reading Everyone!

And I’m hoping my next review isn’t so long in coming. Thanks for your patience. xox

AT HIS MERCY, a Forbidden Lovers novel by Shelly Bell, Forever Romance, now available in print and ebook formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks.

Review Stop on the Tasty Virtual Book Tour for BLACK LISTED by Shelly Bell with #excerpt & #giveaway

Welcome to my review stop on the Tasty Virtual Book Tour for BLACK LISTED by Shelly Bell, the newest Benediction novel and trust me, this one is explosively good. Stick around for an excerpt & fab giveaway too.

***eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest and unscripted review – I already bought my copy because this one is a definite re-read.

Blurb for BLACK LISTED:

She sacrificed everything to keep him safe…

Five years ago, con artist Lisa Smith broke the first rule of hustling when she fell in love with—and married—her mark, billionaire Sawyer Hayes. The erotic nights spent acting out her darkest fantasies with her husband and Master were the happiest of her life. But when her ruthless father demanded she kill him and take his money, she had no choice but to disappear without a trace…or lose him forever.

He’ll risk everything to have her again…

Now Sawyer has found her, and he has an indecent proposal: submit to him for seven nights and he’ll grant her the divorce she desires. Forced to pretend she no longer loves him, each night spent in his arms is exquisite torture as they reignite their intense passion through role play and ménage. But when a deranged killer out for revenge targets Lisa, she must finally trust Sawyer with the secrets of her past…or neither of them will live to see the future.

Warning: Scenes depicting BDSM, fisting, MMFMM, consensual non-consent, and references to abuse.

My Review:

Let me just say straight out…I love the Benediction series. I cannot get enough of it, and even though it is not a series for everyone, I think everyone should try it on for size just once. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I do either, but it is truly addicting.

We first met Lisa Smith in the White Collared books and frankly, I didn’t like her much. I thought her conniving and was always feeling as if Kate needed to watch her back with her. I guess there was a good reason for that…she’s a con artist. Not just someone who manipulates to get things her way but an all-out, criminally minded, con artist, who came from a family of con artists, and is now hiding out from them—and her husband, Sawyer Hayes.  

Lisa’s real name is Annaliese Hayes nee Hunt. She married Sawyer Hayes, the sexy billionaire computer genius who helped clear Rachel and Logan of murder in BLUE BLOODED. She married him because that’s what her father wanted her to do then divorce him for the money, only he changed his plans and decided she should kill him instead, and take it all. Only one problem with the old man’s plan…Lisa had fallen in love with Sawyer, so she took enough money to appease her hateful father, and left. She left the man she loved, the life she wanted with him, and took along with her a Black List that could put her entire family away for a very long time…her included. She warned her father that if anything happened to Sawyer, the list would go straight to the FBI. She gave up her life to save Sawyer’s. All was well until her picture appeared in the newspaper and Sawyer showed up at Cole and Danielle’s wedding.

Lisa asks him for a divorce. Sawyer says he’ll agree only if she agrees to spend one week as his submissive. Seeing that he was, and still is, her only Master, Lisa agrees because she still craves this man, still loves this man, and wants to protect him by making sure he goes away and stays away from her. The problem is…if Sawyer could find her…so could her father, her brothers and any one of the many marks, she’s defrauded over the years.

As I read each book in the Benediction series, I think Shelly Bell can’t possibly thrill or keep me enthralled as well as the one before but she can, and she does. Having just come off reading RED HANDED immediately before reading BLACK LISTED, I thought nothing could surprise me more, but it did.

BLACK LISTED, book three in the Benediction series by Shelly Bell is raw, rough, suspenseful, and not for the faint of heart when it comes to sex scenes but it’s also, beautiful, emotional, passionate, and overflowing with an intense love between two perfectly matched characters that are getting a second chance at love, marriage, truth, and the future. We are used to second chance romances where a couple who had unspoken feelings for each other come back together and reignite their love and relationship but this time, in BLACK LISTED, this is a married couple, a Master and Sub, two people who had already committed themselves and their hearts to a union torn apart by secrets and lies. It’s unique, it is heart wrenching, and we can’t help but be drawn into their world, their love, and feel the same sense of healing when the truths—all of them—finally come out.

Frankly, I hope Shelly never ends this series but I know it will happen eventually…happily, these are stories I will be revisiting many times in the future. I highly, highly recommend that if you love good suspense, characters rich in realism, a world of the sexually unusual—one that intrigues and makes you wish you were brave enough to venture into—and experiencing love that you wish could exist outside the realm of romance novels then please…read BLACK LISTED by Shelly Bell, and welcome the addiction.

Happy Reading Everyone! 

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Excerpt from BLACK LISTED:

Lisa turned and caught sight of Rachel walking toward her with two men by her side.

It took only a moment for it to register.

The long blond hair she loved to tug on during rough sex.

The stubble lining his jaw that used to scratch the skin of her inner thighs as he worked her over with his mouth.

The roguish and lighthearted appearance he maintained in public and the dark dominance that lurked beneath the surface.

It was him.

He was here.

Her Master.

He had found her.

She blinked a few times, trying to see if maybe she was imagining that the man she’d run from four  years ago was suddenly only feet away and talking with her friends as if he knew them. That was impossible, right?

Her heart galloped a wild beat, and the sounds of the crowd disappeared under the roar of her pulse.

She wanted to run from him.

She wanted to run to him.

All the sorrow and regret she’d buried deep down inside came rushing back with a force that nearly bowled her over. And when the ghost from her past stood right in front of her and looked at her like a stranger, the glass of red wine slipped from her shaking hand onto the green grass, the liquid pooling beneath her heels.

Seemingly oblivious to her shock, Rachel smiled, a twinkle of mischief in her eyes. “I’d like to introduce you to Logan’s friend, Sawyer Hayes. Sawyer, this is Lisa Smith.”

Logan’s friend? Sawyer was Logan’s friend? This was the man who had helped Rachel and Logan in Las Vegas when they were framed for murder and running from the FBI?

“Hello,” Sawyer said cordially, standing so close she could feel his body heat radiating off him and smell a scent that reminded her of the best days of her life. “It’s nice to see you again, Annaliese.”

Her mind was a jumbled mess.

Like she was prey caught in the sights of a hunter, she became entrapped in his eyes.

She couldn’t breathe.

Couldn’t speak.

Couldn’t move.

“You know each other?” Rachel said, her brows wrinkled in confusion.

“You could say that,” Sawyer said slowly, still holding Lisa captive with his eyes. “She’s my wife.”

“Lisa is the woman who conned you?” Logan asked incredulously.

Shame heated her cheeks, and she suppressed the threatening tears. Her friends would hate her when they discovered what she’d done. Not that she deserved any less.

And what did it matter? She was about to lose everything. She wouldn’t be surprised if she was arrested at any moment.

Rachel took her hand, but she still couldn’t look away from Sawyer. “I’m sure if she did, she had her reasons.”

Yes, she had her reasons. Dark, dangerous reasons that sometimes woke her out of her sleep in the form of violent nightmares.

And now with Sawyer’s appearance, her nightmares were one step closer to becoming true.

About the Author:

A sucker for a happy ending, Shelly Bell writes sensual romance often with a bit of kink and action-filled erotic thrillers with high-emotional stakes for her alpha heroes and kick-ass heroines.

She began writing upon the insistence of her husband who dragged her to the store and bought her a laptop. When she’s not working her day job, taking care of her family, or writing, you’ll find her reading the latest smutty romance.

Shelly Bell writes the Benediction series for Avon Red Impulse and the forthcoming Forbidden Lovers series for Grand Central Forever.

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