Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Tour and Giveaway: Shameless by Mel Ballew



"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?

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.





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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

Excerpt

With my head propped against my mother’s warmth, and my body wrapped in her love, I open my eyes and see the reflection of my half of the ‘best friends forever’ necklace shimmering in the beams of sunlight coming through my bedroom drapes. It is hanging where it always has, over the photo of Elle and me at my eleventh birthday party at the beach. The picture was taken the day she got it for me. Both of us are wearing our party hats as colored balloons with their matching curled and spiraled strings hang around us, providing the perfect backdrop. I can’t take my eyes off them.
My mother missed this one photo. She missed the necklace, too. It may only be half of one heart illuminated by the sunlight, but in this particular moment, it illustrates the clarity and depth of my pain. Ironically, it is exactly how my heart is now without her. It is only half of what it used to be. It is only half of what it should be still. My heart will never be whole again. Best friends forever, Elle. I love you. Always have; always will. My mind projects the words to her without saying it aloud.

Overwhelmed with agony, I clench my eyes shut and hold onto my mother. I cannot bring her back. I cannot go back in time and change the outcome. The present moment is all I have now.

My heart bleeds as my eyes overflow with the pain pouring out from the depths of my soul. I will never be the same. I am the reason Elle sped off that night. This is entirely my fault. It should have been one of the happiest moments of our lives together and of our senior year. It turned out to be the worst. I killed my best friend.

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