Title: Shuttered Affections
Author: Rene Folsom
Series: Cornerstone #1
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: October 15, 2013
Purchase Links
NOTE: Purchase links will be available on my website the day of release. Visit http://renefolsom.com/shuttered on or after October 15th.
Synopsis
After escaping to a college town, Juliana Petersen was determined to put her troubled past behind her and make the most of life. She was satisfied with her current situation, or so she thought. It wasn’t until the day her new photography professor stole her parking spot that she realized there was such thing as lust at first sight. Now, she must struggle with the decision to break the rules and fall in love, or step back and let the chance of a lifetime pass her by—all while her past relationships come back to haunt her.
How many men will it take to break Julia’s hold on reality?
Warning: This novel contains sexual situations and is meant for adult readers ages 18 and up.
Review
Rene Folsom is the queen of cliffhangers. I've said it before and I'm saying it again. No matter what I pick up of hers, if it's part of a series, it has the cliffhanger that will make you growl and throw a fit (or at least a mini one) and make you want to know where the next book is. The cliffhanger on Shuttered Affections made me instantly want the second one so that I can see what's going to happen with Julia and the Stone brothers.
Julia is the character that a lot of women can relate to. Not just because of the situation she found herself in and that her best friend was the one to help her out of it. But because she believes that she can be free from it. It's what every woman wants when they've found themselves in a bad situation. They just want to be free. Julia finds that her freedom comes in the form of angels. Or at least that's what she believes. After getting out of her situation, she starts to collect them to remind herself that she's innocent and free.
Aiden is the type of man who well really there are no words for Aiden stone besides....HOT. He is sweet, considerate, honest, open and well really what every man should be. He has a few dark secrets but he doesn't let them affect his life because they're for him to know. At least that's what he thinks until he takes a new job at the college where Julia is attending. From there, he feels this pull that won't let him just back away and leave her be in order to save his career.
When the pull becomes too much, the two find themselves together even though they know that it's probably not the smartest thing to do, but they can't deny it any longer. All their secrets are out in the open...or are they?
Rene does a great job at keeping the reader interested in reading the book. It's different than anything else she's written but I have to say that this has quickly reached the top of my list of books that I would highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a sexy read with characters who have a history.
Julia is the character that a lot of women can relate to. Not just because of the situation she found herself in and that her best friend was the one to help her out of it. But because she believes that she can be free from it. It's what every woman wants when they've found themselves in a bad situation. They just want to be free. Julia finds that her freedom comes in the form of angels. Or at least that's what she believes. After getting out of her situation, she starts to collect them to remind herself that she's innocent and free.
Aiden is the type of man who well really there are no words for Aiden stone besides....HOT. He is sweet, considerate, honest, open and well really what every man should be. He has a few dark secrets but he doesn't let them affect his life because they're for him to know. At least that's what he thinks until he takes a new job at the college where Julia is attending. From there, he feels this pull that won't let him just back away and leave her be in order to save his career.
When the pull becomes too much, the two find themselves together even though they know that it's probably not the smartest thing to do, but they can't deny it any longer. All their secrets are out in the open...or are they?
Rene does a great job at keeping the reader interested in reading the book. It's different than anything else she's written but I have to say that this has quickly reached the top of my list of books that I would highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a sexy read with characters who have a history.
Excerpt
The electricity in the air told me he was coming closer. Footsteps, barely audible, whispered along the floor behind me.
My hands fumbled for the canister. I needed to pop the top off and carefully remove the film.
I could feel him close behind me. He was really close. As I successfully removed the film from its canister, I could feel him move even nearer. I felt his breath by my ear and heard him gasp slightly as a curl fell forward and must have brushed against his face.
I was just about done putting the film around the reel when I felt his finger slowly push the tendril of hair back behind my ear.
I deftly finished coiling the film and placed it in the developing tank. Once the lid was in place, effectively protecting my film from light exposure, I spoke.
“Okay. I’m good.” My voice was barely a whisper. I didn’t seem to have the strength to muster any more volume.
“Mmhmm…” he moaned in my ear. “Your hair smells divine, Angel.”
I felt his hand brush against the back of my ear and push my hair to the side, exposing my neck to his touch. I felt his breath on me and, suddenly, it was as if all the oxygen in the room had been used up completely. I couldn’t breathe.
“You’re so beautiful, even in darkness,” he said adoringly and I felt the tickle of his breath on my neck.
Warmth sizzled through my abdomen, my clit pulsed, and my nipples hardened. His words whispered through my ears, seductive and alluring.
His body pressed against my back and he wrapped his hands around my waist, sticking his thumbs into the waistband of my jeans. His fingers gently touched my hipbones. His touch made me arch my back and tilt my head to rest on his shoulder.
His lips, hot as fire, brushed along the column of my neck. I wanted to turn my body and wrap myself around him, but he held me in place.
“Aiden, I thought we were going to try and behave ourselves,” I said breathlessly as he continued his assault on my neck.
“I don’t care,” he mumbled, clearly aware he was melting me to the bone.
Animalistic lust took us over. Grabbing my shoulders, he quickly turned me so my chest pressed against his and shoved my back up against the wall with just enough force to tell me he was turned on as much as I was.
As if attempting to control his urges, he let go of me and I felt his hands press against the wall on either side of my head, just above my shoulders.
“Oh, God. I want to touch you,” he said hoarsely. “I want to touch every inch of you.”
I could tell his lips were so close. The tip of his nose brushed against mine, causing me to involuntarily tilt my head upward, attempting to close the gap between our lips. As if he sensed me pouncing, he turned his chin up, causing me to meet the scruffy facial hair on his jaw.
Unable to see my prey, I reached out and dug my nails into his strong back, pulling him closer to me and lightly sinking my teeth into his jaw. If he wasn’t going to offer his lips to me, I was going to take whatever part of him I could get between my teeth.
As if on cue, a rumble echoed from his throat. His hands snaked down my body, grabbing my ass and pulling me against him.
The move was so bold; I thought for sure he was going to kiss me. Instead, he tilted his head up, exposing his neck to my nibbling assault.
His body, hot and hard, pressed me against the cold, concrete wall. His hands, still on my ass, lifted me slightly so I was forced to the tips of my toes.
I felt his mouth on my neck again and couldn’t help voicing my pleasure.
“Oh, Aiden. Kiss me now,” I begged. I didn’t know why I had to beg this man to press his lips against mine. I only knew I needed more. So much more.
“Tell me, Juliana. Do you want me?” he asked softly, caressing my ear with his lips.
“Christ, yes!” My answer left my mouth before I even had time to process what I was saying. I was quite simply speechless.
“Then you shall have me… eventually.” With that, he let go, opened the door, and walked out.
I was left standing there, completely overwhelmed, and aching with desire.
About the Author
Rene Folsom, author of paranormal romance and erotica, lives in Florida with her husband and three kids. She has officially diagnosed herself with creative ADD and, if it weren't for her day job as a web programmer, she would have a million and one writing projects going at once. In addition to web design, she is also a graphic artist who loves to create custom book cover designs for indie authors. She is definitely an artist at heart and would love nothing more than to be elbow deep in clay during her waking hours.
Rene believes that all fiction is based on some form of reality—otherwise we would never have the inspiration or knowledge to dream up the realistic situations we portray with our words. She is proud to say that her personal experiences have been inspirational, though perhaps not always identical to that of her fictional characters. Where reality and fantasy diverge, however, must remain her little secret...
A must read! Loved this story! Hope the next book comes out soon!!!
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