Title: ShameLess
Author: Mel Ballew
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Hosted By: Love Between The Sheets
How to find Mel
Website: http://www.melballew.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelBallew
Synopsis
"If all you can do is crawl,
start crawling. Soon, you’ll be able to stand."
S’renaty James lives a privileged
life most her age only dream of living. She is beautiful and popular with her
entire life ahead of her. Life could not get any better.
Until her entire life shifts,
crashing around her...
Bound by devastation, persecuted
by the ones she used to call ‘friends’, haunted by disturbing nightmares, and
filled with self-blame, she vows to overcome.
Stefan is everything S’renaty
swears to avoid. He is carefree and charismatic. He is primitive, complicated
and a total badass. He makes her melt like fine chocolate under a hot summer’s
sun the first time their eyes meet. There is something about him, and she makes
it her mission to find out.
When he meets S’renaty James, he
is not prepared for what comes over him because for the first time ever, a girl
leaves him breathless. Now, his primary responsibility is to keep her safe.
He will do anything to protect
her. Even lie...
Stefan is the one person she has
trusted with her heart. After keeping an unforgivable secret, he could be the
one to shatter it to pieces. In fact, he may even destroy her beyond repair.
Will she overcome and forgive, letting go of the pain, guilt and shame? Or this
time, will she be stronger than the hardest lesson of her life — and, become
totally ShameLess?
2 Chicks and a Blog Review
Ok well .. let me say ... WOW! Unexpected WOW!!! Mel, this was so well written, I'm proud to have read it. Character development was AMAZING. <3 Ren to pieces!!!
It takes quite a bit to make me cry ... Yup .. I cried. This book captured me from the very first line ...
I have never read a Mel Ballew book, but let me tell you, EVERYTHING that I can find that she put her talent into, yes sir, it's going on my TBR!
If you want a book where you can see the detail, feel the emotions and love the experience, you MUST read Shameless by Mel Ballew!!
I'll be on a book hangover for a day or two!! Please leave me be!
Excerpt
On the heels of the truth surfacing in
my head, my body reacts. Rapidly, I do a half-turn, lunging down and digging my
right foot into the sand, and spin. I push off, hard with my foot, and take off
darting back down the sand heading in the direction we just came from. I don’t
wait for a response or a reaction from Stefan. I
just run fast and hard. I allow my body to dictate its speed. I sprint, running
parallel with the raging tides inspiring my motivation. It’s absolutely
fucking freeing. Emotional tension blends with the sexual tension surging,
pushing me, and giving me additional grit to push on.
“Who needs a rest now?” I cry out into
the air now blowing at my back. Dazed, Stefan didn’t see that one coming, and I
chuckle as I continue racing down the beach.
In no time, he catches up to me as we
near the house. He grabs my hand, halting me, pulling me to his side. Both of
us are covered in sweat, and sex oozes off him. I just want to scream. Instead,
I lean forward, placing my hands on each of my knees, gasping through huffing
breaths. Damn that felt great!
Before I know what is happening, he
whisks my entire body up slinging me over his shoulder, and takes off running.
We both plunge straight into the ocean. The frigid water bitch slaps me; no
cold shower needed. Together, we come up for air. Freezing water runs down our
faces.
“What the hell, Stefan?” I stutter out
through chattering teeth as shivers possess me. Between the cool breeze off the
ocean, and the frigid water, I can’t get warm.
He pulls me to him, wrapping me in his
arms, “I told you, you would be in my
arms, Star. And, cheaters always get due punishment. I don’t play.” His words,
playful, and firm, offer heated softness. I allow myself to welcome the warmth.
How is there any possible way to respond to that? I can’t.
Time halts.
In the next instant, Stefan takes both
of his hands to each side of my face, saying, “You will always be in my arms,” then leans in closer
introducing his lips to mine in a more passionate kiss than any I have had with
him or by anyone else.
In this moment, it feels like the first
one. I’m dying inside. This icy water holds no refuge to the fervor his body
offers mine. He attempts to pull away, but I bring him to me this time, and
take all of him, seizing his lips with my own. I bite his bottom lip, sucking
it in, nibbling a little harder, and letting him know I want all of him, not
just his lips. I want all of him!
Time has a way of transcending. It
surpasses more than the grandest of any of our unanswered prayers. It offers us
gifts every single day. Pap is right. Each day is truly a gift. Our past is a
gift for our present to open. I’m in the present with the most amazing guy.
Right now, nothing else matters except for opening my gift, and accepting my present. God knows exactly what we need
exactly when we need it. I thank God for giving me the strength to be here, in
this moment.
Tomorrow may still be a mystery, but
today is unraveling, slowly. It’s like opening a gift, and one I have every
intention of treating with care…unwrapping it gently to savor its blessing.
Here is to the present; to us!
PLAYLIST
It’s
My Life - Bon Jovi
Beaches
- Bette Midler
Live
Like You Are Dying - Tim McGraw
One
Step At A Time - Jordin Sparks
Show
Me What I’m Looking For - Carolina Liar
Acceptance
In The Waves - Ice Nine Kills
Let’s
Get It Started - The Black Eyed Peas
Party
Rock Anthem - LMFAO
Walk
Of Shame - P!nk
Wild
Boy - MGK
Purple
Rain - Prince
When
It Rains - Paramore
Get
Lucky – Daft Punk
Crazy
Train - Ozzy Osbourne
Between
the Raindrops - Lifehouse
Sun
Doesn’t Rise - Mushroomhead
Crazy
Bitch - L.A. Guns
Welcome
to My House Party - Mill Creek
Losing
My Mind - Daughtry
I’m
That Chick - Mariah Carey
Cassanova
- Frankie Paul
Because
Of You - Kelly Clarkson
Lost
In You - Three Days Grace
Touch
My Body - Mariah Carey
Just
A Fool - Christina Aguilera
Umbrella
- Boyce Avenue
Home
- Phillip Phillips
Rise
Above This - Seether
Whatever
It Takes - Lifehouse
Shout
At The Devil - Motley Crue
Before
I Met You - Usher
I
Won’t Give Up - Jason Mraz
Who
Knew - P!nk
Light
Up The Sky - Christina Aguilera
Neon
Lights - Demi Lovato
Shameless
- All Time Low
Shooting
Star - Owl City
The
Kill - Thirty Seconds To Mars
Stronger
- Kelly Clarkson
Try
Sleeping With A Broken Heart - Alicia Keys
Fix
You - Cold Play
Hit
Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar
I
Swear - All-4-One
More
Than Words Can Say - Alias
What
About Now - Bruno Mars
Just
The Way You Are - Rachael Yamagata
Just
Give Me A Reason - P!nk, Nate Ruess
Listen
to the ShameLess Playlist on Spotify
About the Author!
Mel Ballew resides in rural Pennsylvania with her husband and
daughter, along with their two adorable cats.
An
avid reader, she has always had an equal passion for writing and has written
her entire life, to date. Her mother initially birthed, inspired, and
encouraged these loves. The two often discussed writing together but
unfortunately, that dream never came to fruition.
Years
later, this happened, that happened—life happened.
She
stepped away from writing to place more focus on being wife and a full-time
mom. Today, she would not have changed a thing. The day her daughter was born
became the first day she realized a significant rhythm to her heart was also
born. Her daughter, now preparing to go off to college, has grown into a
beautiful and responsible young adult.
A
twisted turn of events in September 2009 left Mel unable to work outside of the
home. Forced to consider other options, and while embracing a therapeutic
approach of transcribing all of the challenges facing her, post-accident, she
returned to journaling. Once again, the writer within her has
been re-birthed—awakened from slumber.
Mel
is a hopeless romantic. Blessed, she has her very own soul mate, which she
calls husband, best friend, and lover.
She
is a simple country gal, with a profound love of true simplicity. She is just
as hopeless in her love of nature and regards many of her writing aspirations to
appreciating its beauty, although every single story is birthed from her
dreams. Sometimes, in life, simply enjoying a chilled glass of sangria on a
warm summer’s eve or indulging in her love of chocolate and peanut butter is an
expression of enjoying such simplicity. For her, these moments are truly
d’vine.
After being saved by a firefighter, Velaney Wills meets Eric Reilley, who recently moved from Texas to Boston to work on the Boston Fire Department. Ironically, Eric lives below Velaney and with his devilish charm, and sweet accent, Velaney is finding him hard to resist.
Velaney grew up in what should've been the perfect childhood. Her father owns his own dental practice, and her mother a Pastor. She wasn't allowed to swear and never got into any trouble, however, her troubled and complicated past makes her build walls that she doesn't let down easily.
Eric is fascinated with the fact that Velaney can't swear. She uses filler words to express herself that he often finds hilarious. Velaney runs as her outlet - releasing the rage and anger she has built up inside her from a deep secret she's never told anyone except her lifelong best friend, and roommate, Carissa.
Eric and Velaney become running partners - only securing their obvious sexual tension between them. No matter how much Velaney pushes Eric away, he will always be there to save her.
