Book Review
Shore Leave by Anastasia McKellan
Publisher: Chances Press
Publication Date: March 19, 2013
Format: Paperback - 159 pages / Kindle - 248 KB / Nook - 154 KB
ISBN: 0988230240
ASIN: B00BXPSNVO
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
BUY THE BOOK: Shore Leave
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by CBLS Promotions.
Book Description:
Melanie Grantham is the only person in town interested in hearing Greg’s side of the story, and despite his promise to sail away alone the first second he can, Greg takes her up on her offer for the sexual healing they’re both in desperate need of. Their hot nights throw him for a loop, and the sex is out of this world. But Greg can’t forgive himself for the mistakes of his past. Will he leave Melanie behind again before he realizes he’s been given another chance for true love?
Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains explicit sex scenes and/or situations and adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers.
Book Excerpt:
Melanie leaned toward him. Greg moved closer but hesitated, as if unsure whether he should bring his mouth to hers. She pressed her lips to his, testing him out, seeing if he’d respond. He did. They kissed, their mouths melding into one another. She parted her lips and felt his mouth open against hers in response. Then he sank his tongue into her mouth and shifted closer to her.
He deepened the kiss further. She felt a twinge between her thighs and moaned softly in her throat when his tongue rubbed against hers. Then he pulled away.
“Mel, what’s going on here?” he asked.
“Kissing. Do you like it?”
He looked at her. “Yeah. I like it a lot.”
“Me, too. No one would guess you’re out of practice.”
He laughed quietly.
She grew serious, her smile fading. “I’ve always wondered what it would be like to kiss you.”
“And now—”
“You’ve exceeded my expectations.”
He smiled. “Is that right?”
She nodded. Melanie leaned in and kissed him some more, and Greg placed one hand on her hip and explored the curve of her. His other hand went to her breast, touching her lightly through her T-shirt. She slid her lips over his throat, exploring the rough texture where the stubble was beginning to come in. Even after their long day he smelled like aftershave. It mixed with his unique masculine scent and she couldn’t get enough. She licked the five-o’clock shadow on his neck and explored the texture of the softer skin below. She ran her hand down his chest, feeling the hard muscles draw in beneath her hands.
Then she placed her hand over the bulge in his crotch, rubbing lightly while they kissed. She felt him harden through his jeans.
Greg touched her hand. “What’s happening here, Mel?”
She licked her lips, her breath coming fast, her heart pounding. “I want you. But you’re not feeling it.”
“I’m feeling it, but I haven’t even taken you out on a real date.”
“I’d like you to take me out,” she said.
“Tomorrow night. Eight o’clock.”
“Yes.” “Mel, whether we go out or not, I can’t give you what you need,” Greg said. “A meaningful relationship is the last thing I’m after right now.”
“Who said anything about a meaningful relationship?”
“What are you saying?” Greg asked.
“I’m saying we could have this for now. If you’ll let me.”
“I’ve got nothing to give you.”
“I have nothing to give you, either.” She kissed him again. “Take off your shirt,” she murmured in his ear.
He did. She slowly kissed her way down his bare chest, then his stomach, as she went. Then she slid to her knees on the carpet and reached for the zipper of his jeans.
He deepened the kiss further. She felt a twinge between her thighs and moaned softly in her throat when his tongue rubbed against hers. Then he pulled away.
“Mel, what’s going on here?” he asked.
“Kissing. Do you like it?”
He looked at her. “Yeah. I like it a lot.”
“Me, too. No one would guess you’re out of practice.”
He laughed quietly.
She grew serious, her smile fading. “I’ve always wondered what it would be like to kiss you.”
“And now—”
“You’ve exceeded my expectations.”
He smiled. “Is that right?”
She nodded. Melanie leaned in and kissed him some more, and Greg placed one hand on her hip and explored the curve of her. His other hand went to her breast, touching her lightly through her T-shirt. She slid her lips over his throat, exploring the rough texture where the stubble was beginning to come in. Even after their long day he smelled like aftershave. It mixed with his unique masculine scent and she couldn’t get enough. She licked the five-o’clock shadow on his neck and explored the texture of the softer skin below. She ran her hand down his chest, feeling the hard muscles draw in beneath her hands.
Then she placed her hand over the bulge in his crotch, rubbing lightly while they kissed. She felt him harden through his jeans.
Greg touched her hand. “What’s happening here, Mel?”
She licked her lips, her breath coming fast, her heart pounding. “I want you. But you’re not feeling it.”
“I’m feeling it, but I haven’t even taken you out on a real date.”
“I’d like you to take me out,” she said.
“Tomorrow night. Eight o’clock.”
“Yes.” “Mel, whether we go out or not, I can’t give you what you need,” Greg said. “A meaningful relationship is the last thing I’m after right now.”
“Who said anything about a meaningful relationship?”
“What are you saying?” Greg asked.
“I’m saying we could have this for now. If you’ll let me.”
“I’ve got nothing to give you.”
“I have nothing to give you, either.” She kissed him again. “Take off your shirt,” she murmured in his ear.
He did. She slowly kissed her way down his bare chest, then his stomach, as she went. Then she slid to her knees on the carpet and reached for the zipper of his jeans.
My Book Review:
Shore Leave is a short contemporary erotic romance novella that has just the right amount of passion and sizzle that makes it a quick and enjoyable read.
After spending the last eighteen months on sea duty, Navy Pilot Greg Marsters comes home to Wyndham Shores, Massachusetts on a two week shore leave. But Greg doesn't exactly get a hero's welcome because of one stupid mistake that he had made which had cost him his wife and friends. While on leave he is hired by Emmett Culligan to help restore the Lady Luck, a 48 foot wooden schooner.
Melanie Granthan is a divorced woman who helps keep the books for Emmett Culligan's boat restoration business. Melanie's marriage ended six years ago, and while she has dated in the past few years, she hasn't found the right guy, but she hasn't given up on finding someone that will love her as much as she would love him.
Greg and Melanie had attended the same high school, but they ran in different social circles. Greg came from a respectable military family, his father had been an Admiral in the Navy, and Greg was following in his footsteps. Melanie and her dad had been viewed as trailer trash by the wealthier Wyndham Shores townspeople. Melanie has harbored a secret crush on Greg since high school, even though he was out of her league and never had looked twice at her. Running into Greg at the boat restoration business renews Melanie's secret crush, but will he be interested in her now?
Author Anastasia McKellan weaves an engaging story written in the third person narrative that follows Greg and Melanie as they get reacquainted when he comes home on a two week shore leave. The author provides the reader with a nice amount of backstory into both Greg and Melanie's past that is interwoven within the storyline. Both Greg and Melanie had failed marriages that have left them broken and weary of finding love again. I loved how their relationship gradually develops into one that has them leaving their troubled pasts behind so that they could find true love and sizzling passion in each other's arms.
Shore Leave is an entertaining erotic romantic story that quickly builds upon romance and sizzling passion, it's a enjoyable quick read that will leave you wanting more.
RATING: 4 STARS ****
About The Author
GOODREADS
Virtual Book Tour Contest Giveaway
Win 1 of 10 eBook Copies Of Shore Leave
Prize is 10 eBook copies (1 each to 10 winners) of Shore Leave from Anastasia McKellan. Contest is tour-wide and ends June 15. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.
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Virtual Book Tour Schedule
May 27: SinfulReads Blog
May 30: Aspired Writer
June 2: SnifferWalk Books
June 3: Jersey Girl Sizzling Book Reviews
June 5: Sweet n' Sassi
June 7: MsRomanticReads
June 8: Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess
June 9: From the TBR Pile
June 9: We Love Kink
June 10: Books Books and More Books
Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog, Kathleen, and thank you so much for the great review. So glad you liked the story :D
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Anastasia
Hi Anastasia! I loved this reading this story, it left me wanting to read more. Thank you for the opportunity to host your virtual book tour event. :)
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