Release Blitz 

Rise Up Vol. 1

“We all know how fragile life is, especially when faced with a life threatening illness.” ~Nic, Flirty and Dirty Book Blog.

Fiction introduced us. Reality binds us together.

Stephanie Thomas—co-founder of The Indie Bookshelf—has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma. Stephanie isn’t only a blogger; she’s a loving wife, and mother to three young boys.

In the independent author community, we have an extraordinary network of fellow authors, and readers. A special group of people who bridge this gap—helping authors connect with readers—is book bloggers. These men and women dedicate hours upon hours to reading and reviewing our works, and spreading the word to help us reach new readers.

Now, one of these women needs our help.

100% of the proceeds of the Rise Up anthology (volumes one and two) will go directly to Stephanie and her family to help them on this unexpected leg of their journey together.

Inside the pages of this collection, you’ll find amazing works of fiction. But please remember the reality, and help support Stephanie and her family.

Included in Volume One of this collection are the following novels:

What Happens Tomorrow - Elle Michaels

Insipid -- Christine Brae

Bouquet Toss -- Melissa Brown

Can't Go Home -- Angelisa Stone

Point of Submission by Remy Landon

Breakaway by Lindsay Paige and Mary Smith

A Love by Any Measure by Killian McRae

Discovering Lucy - Laura Dunaway

Something's Come Up - Andrea Randall and Michelle Pace

By A Thread - RL Griffin

Honest Love - CM Hutton

Serendipity - Stacey Bentley

Haven from the Storm - Sarah Dosher

Damaged - Nina D'Angelo

~ Links to Buy ~

Amazon ** iTunes ** Kobo ** Google Play

~ Connect with the Authors ~

Elle Michaels on Facebook 

 Christine Brae on Facebook 

Melissa Brown on Facebook 

Angelisa Stone on Facebook

Remy Landon on Facebook 

Lindsey Paige on Amazon Author Page

Mary Smith on Facebook 

Killian McRae on Facebook 

Andrea Randall on Facebook 

Michelle Pace on Facebook 

Laura Dunway on Facebook 

RL Griffin on Amazon Author Page

CM Hutton on Amazon Author Page

Stacey Bentley on Facebook 

Sarah Dosher on Facebook 

Nina D’Angelo on Facebook 

Release Day Blitz & Giveaway 

He + She

by

Michelle Warren

Release Date: June 2, 2014

~Synopsis ~
 HE is trying to piece together his broken life.

SHE is running away from her wedding day.

TOGETHER, their world is a beautiful lie.

APART, their world is a perfect mess.

He + She is a free-spirited romance about soul-awakening second chances, heartbreak, and hopeful beginnings.

~ Add to Goodreads ~

~ Excerpt ~

Chapter 1

Step Nine: Make direct amends with the people I’ve hurt.

That’s part of AA’s recovery plan, but it’s easier said than done. At least, it is if the prick staring at me from the front door of his farmhouse has anything to do with it. I grip the handle and pull, releasing the Jeep’s door.

It creaks open as I step out into the night with determination. Before I’m five paces into the yard, the dickhead meets me chest to chest with the usual look on his face—like he wants to kill me. And the truth is, he has every right to feel that way.

"I told you she doesn’t want see you,” he spits out.

“I know you did.” I meet his gaze, puffing up my chest like some rooster in a cockfight. I set my jaw. “But I need her to know I’m sorr—”

He presses his large hands into my shoulders and shoves me away. I fall backward and slam into my car, making a futile grab at the side mirror before I hit the ground. Sollie Winters is standing over me so fast, all I have time to do is brace myself for the impact of his steely

fist before it makes contact with my nose.  I don’t fight back, since I’m desperately trying not to be a fighting person. Instead, I don’t defend myself, I just lie still, allowing him to purge his anger. He owes me 

every strike to the jaw, every punch to the gut, every spurt of blood, and so much more. Though I didn’t come here for a confrontation, I expected the less-than-warm-and-fuzzy welcome. It mirrors the two previous times I’ve tried to apologize to her since I learned she came home.

But I needed to finish this, to finally say I’m sorry so I can get the hell out of town and move on with my life. There’s nothing for me here after what I’ve done. I’ve ruined everything.

These are the words that run through my head as he pummels me one last time. He twists his fingers into my shirt, lifting my wobbling body to my feet, and shoves me back through my open car door.

"If you’re not gone in five fucking seconds, I’m calling the police!” Sollie’s slight Southern twang is more pronounced when he’s pissed. He kicks the door shut and I sprawl across the front seat, a bruised and bloody mess.

In the yellow haze of the front porch light, I see his wife run to his side, and though a frail thing, she forcefully ushers him back into the house, where their dogs are barking wildly. She looks over at me, giving me the same apologetic look she’s given me before as they disappear into the house. That’s when I notice a silhouette standing

inside the lit window of an upstairs room.

Ignoring his warning, I sit up in the driver’s seat, grip the steering wheel, and lean forward, looking closer. She could be at that window. Right there, watching me get my head split open, painting the front yard red. If she’s looking out, it might make her happy to see me this way. If I were her, I wouldn’t be happy until I was dead.

When the silhouette moves across the room and disappears, I contemplate one more go of it, despite the fact that my face resembles a rotting pumpkin smashed in the road. I take a second to consider and think of my counselor, who urged me not to return for a third time for a third beating. “You’ve done all you can,” Mrs. Mankin drilled into me at our last session. It’s true, I have, everything just short of stalking the girl, but I won’t allow myself to do that. I don’t need more problems than I already have.

I slam my palm to the dashboard, fumble for my keys, shove one in the ignition and turn on my car, revving the engine. Slamming the stick shift into reverse, I peel out of the dusty driveway, swerving as I back out, barely missing the rusted mailbox before I speed away. If I don’t get out of here soon, I know that dickhead will have the cops all over my ass.

~ Links to Buy ~

Amazon ** Smashwords
Barnes & Noble

~ Link to Book Trailer ~

~ About the Author ~

Michelle Warren didn't travel the road to writer immediately. She spent over a decade as professional Illustrator and designer. Her artistic creativity combined with her love of science fiction, paranormal and fantasy led her to write her first YA novel, Wander Dust. Michelle loves reading and traveling to places that inspire her to create. She resides in downtown Chicago.

~ Connect with Michelle ~

Facebook ** Twitter ** Goodreads
Pinterest ** Website ** Instagram

Amazon Author Page

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~ A Rafflecopter Giveaway ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal & Giveaway

He + She

by

Michelle Warren

Expected Release: June 2014

~Synopsis ~

HE is trying to piece together his broken life.

SHE is running away from her wedding day.

TOGETHER, their world is a beautiful lie.

APART, their world is a perfect mess.

He + She is a free-spirited romance about soul-awakening second chances, heartbreak, and hopeful beginnings.

~ Add to Goodreads ~

~ About the Author ~

Michelle Warren didn't travel the road to writer immediately. She spent over a decade as professional Illustrator and designer. Her artistic creativity combined with her love of science fiction, paranormal and fantasy led her to write her first YA novel, Wander Dust. Michelle loves reading and traveling to places that inspire her to create. She resides in downtown Chicago.

~ Connect with Michelle ~

Facebook ** Twitter ** Goodreads
Pinterest ** Website ** Instagram

Amazon Author Page

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~ A Rafflecopter Giveaway ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 Cover Reveal
Totaled

by
Stacey Grice

~ Synopsis ~

Bree Murphy is stuck. Forced to grow up too fast after the tragic death of her mother, she has little time for any sort of life for herself. Now in her early twenties, she is coming to the realization that she deserves to put herself first.

Drew Dougherty is also stuck, in a state of merely existing. Memories and secrets of the day he lost both of his parents haunt him, forcing him to cope the only way he knows how...by fighting.

When these two worlds collide, hidden truths are revealed and relationships are put to the ultimate test. At a crossroad in their lives, they must decide if taking a risk is worth everything.

Or will their love be......

Totaled.

Totaled is a full length, new adult contemporary romance novel.

Due to mature content, profane language, and sexual situations, this book is recommended for ages 18 and up.

~ Add to Goodreads ~

~ Excerpt ~

My heart raced, my palms grew sweaty, my skin felt flushed, and my breathing sped up. I let my tongue graze over my lips to wet them, and apparently that was invitation enough. His eyes immediately dropped to my mouth. Drew started to slowly lean in towards me, closing the distance between us, never releasing my face from his hold. Everything moved in slow motion and I knew this was the moment of our first kiss.
        Suddenly, out of nowhere, the sky opened up and it started raining. Not raining, pouring! Everyone around us (who I’d been unaware of for the last hour) scattered like ants and we stood to run for cover with the rest of the crowd. People were frantic and crazy, squealing and sprinting for cover, bumping into us left and right. Drew grabbed my hand and pulled me with him, jogging away from the chaos in the rain. We were running in the street along the inter-coastal, in the direction of the gym a few blocks away. Already drenched, we laughed at each other, stepping in puddles and pulling each other back and forth to dodge others in our path. It felt like we were children, being playful and having fun with it, because what else could you do
at that point?

When the rain picked up, we were still a good four blocks from the gym. Drew suddenly stopped jogging in front of me and turned around to face me, a look of intensity and determination in his expression. I almost couldn't stop in time and nearly crashed into his chest. He grabbed my face with both of his strong, masculine hands and looked at me like I was a giant piece of chocolate cake and he was starving. For two seconds he stared at me. Four seconds. Six seconds. All the while standing in the middle of the street in the pouring rain. And then his lips crashed into mine. His lips were firm at first but immediately softened. He licked my lower lip, tasting me, enticing me to open for him and I couldn't dream of doing anything in that moment but exactly whatever he wanted me to do. I opened my lips slowly to invite him in and our tongues touched each other, playfully at first and then with purpose. They danced together in perfect synchronized harmony like a beautiful Viennese waltz. The waltz turned into an angry paso doble, full of passion and angst. His kissed me with urgency, like he couldn't get enough, but not with haste. He was savoring me, cherishing me. My hair stuck to my face, slick with wetness from the rain, my dress clinging to my body, soaked all the way to my underwear, but I didn't want to move. Our hands were everywhere, grabbing each other anywhere, everywhere. He held my face with one hand and reached around to the small of my back to pull me in closer to him. The substantial, hard bulge between us confirmed how much I was affecting him. I felt my core twitch and throb with a need that I’d never felt before. My romance novels were finally right about something—this aching and throbbing stuff was legit. I didn't want to stop feeling it. I didn't ever want to stop.

 Our mouths separated and I tried to take a deep breath, but he moved his mouth down to my throat and neck, kissing and licking, lapping up the raindrops from my skin, and I couldn't possibly catch my breath with him doing that. I suddenly realized where we were still outside, still in the wide open, still in the rain. He must’ve felt me stiffen, because he brought his eyes up to mine and smiled.

"Let's get you out of the rain," he said, and we started jogging towards the gym again.

~ About the Author ~

I am a mother to a beautiful five year old daughter and a wife to my best friend. Being a labor and delivery nurse three nights a week pays the bills but I have recently decided to take my hobby of writing to the next level.  Living in Florida where I was born and raised allows me to hear the waves and stick my toes in the sand whenever I want, which is vital to my emotional well-being. Completely and absolutely obsessed with good music, the lifeline to my creativity, I cannot and will not write without it. Some things that I appreciate are honesty but not cruelty, an unapologetic sense of humor, being able to make any situation fun, often dancing like no one is watching, and a good cup of coffee with enough creamer to make it blonde.

Being an astute people watcher with a judgmental mind gives me constant inspiration for my stories. My characters, like many authors, are conceived from a hodgepodge of actual people in my life, unique personality traits, real world encounters, and conversations that I have directly taken part in. Totaled is my debut novel with many more to come. 

~ Connect with Stacey ~

Facebook ** Twitter ** Goodreads

Cover Reveal

Summer Rush

by

Ashley Wilcox

 Expected Release Date: April 28, 2014

~ Synopsis ~

Hope Taylor is a smart southern girl. With a good head on her shoulders, strong family morals, and the perfect southern boyfriend, life is complete.

At least it was.

When Hope gets one glance of Long Island native, Joey Puccino, her life is immediately thrown upside down. And, although Joey is nothing that Hope has ever been attracted to, she is drawn to him. There is something about him that she can’t look away from or even avoid. Joey is a drug, and she’s become an addict, leaving Hope having to decide…

Will the comfort and love she has for Trent be enough? Or will her desire and attraction for Joey be too much to walk away from?

~ Add to Goodreads ~

~ About the Author ~

Living in Upstate, New York, Ashley Wilcox is happily married to her husband of over six years, and a mommy to two little boys, and one little girl who is expected to be here in March 2014. Through her addiction of reading, Ashley has discovered her passion for writing. She loves reading and writing anything romance. Some books that Ashley is most commonly known for are The Forever Series, Summer Rush, and her latest, Permanent Lines.

To find out more about Ashley and what she is currently working on, please visit her website at ashleywilcoxauthor.com.

  ~ Connect with Ashley ~

Facebook ** Twitter ** Goodreads ** Website 

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway
Permanent Lines
by

Ashley Wilcox

Releasing January 2014

~ Synopsis ~

Merrick Drake.

Bartender, dirt bike racer, and far from settling down…until that one race, and that one girl that changed everything.

Amelia Driscoll.

Amelia took Merrick by surprise, bringing out emotions that he never knew existed. Amelia stole his heart…

Only to break it.

When fate puts Merrick and Amelia back together, it doesn’t come without a price- it comes with vengeance, determination, and putting his life on the line for the one he loves.

But, how much is Merrick willing to put on the line to have a future with no reason to hide? In the end, fate will decide...

Who's permanent.

~Add to Goodreads ~

~ Link to Book Trailer ~

~ Links to Buy~
Amazon ** Amazon UK 
Barnes & Noble ** Smashwords

~ Review~

** I was given an ARC by the Author in exchange for an honest review. **

This book is a spin-off from Running From Forever.  Although it is not mandatory to read Running From Forever I do think that it would help to acquaint you with the characters.   When we meet Merrick Drake in Running From Forever we fall in love with his cocky attitude and sexy ways.  There is no other like Merrick, but when he falls for Amelia he falls hard and when she disappears without a word he is crushed. 

I mean really crushed, as you will see in the early chapters, he bases time on how long he has been without Amelia. No other woman compares and he just cannot seem to escape her memory.  As the story progresses we find out the reason behind Amelia's sudden exit.  Her reasons are life altering but we come to see that Merrick will do just about anything to have her back in his life. 

The story allows us to catch up with Kayla and Miles too.  We find that Miles has connections well beyond his normal business dealings and that he indeed counts Merrick as a friend. 

The story contains some twists and turns that will keep those pages turning.  So if you are looking for a hot, suspenseful read you have come to the right place.  

~Rating ~


~ About the Author ~

Living in Syracuse, New York, Ashley Wilcox is happily married to her husband of over six years, and a mommy to two little boys, and one little girl who is expected to be here in March 2013. Through her addiction of reading, Ashley has discovered her passion for writing. She loves reading and writing anything romance. Some books that Ashley is most commonly known for are The Forever Series, Summer Rush, and her latest, Permanent Lines.

To find out more about Ashley and what she is currently working on, please visit her website at ashleywilcoxauthor.com.

 ~ Connect with Ashley ~

Facebook ** Goodreads ** Twitter

~ A Rafflecopter Giveaway ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Day Blitz

 Sweet Forty-Two 

(November Blue #3)

by

Andrea Randall

Release Date: December 11, 2013

~ Synopsis ~ 

Regan Kane arrived in San Diego with nothing but a violin, his car and what feels like a lifetime of grief. Although he’s surrounded by friends and music, one delivery from the post office reminds him that the past is always just around the corner. When he befriends a local bartender, Regan wonders if he's finally ready to let go.

Georgia Hall has spent most of her life in the shadows of her mother’s mental illness. Pushing away those around her ensures they won’t get hurt when she succumbs to the same fate.

All of that unravels when she meets Regan. As her life spins out of control and the line between reality and fairytale blurs, she has to make a choice to trust or fall. Regan and Georgia are searching for healing among the wreckage. Will doing so together make moving on all the more sweet?

Or will the secrets and darkness of the past drive them apart?

~ Add to Goodreads ~ 

~ Excerpt ~

Just one more locked door separated me from the visiting area. Another nurse greeted me at the door and escorted me in.

“How is she today?” I checked my backpack and jewelry at the nurses station before going further.

Daniel, the nurse who seemed to always be here, gave a stern nod. “Not excitable. We’re not sure yet if the sedatives haven’t fully worn off or or if she’s back on the immobility end.”

I swallowed hard as we entered the large, bright space, gilded with damaged dreams, disappointment, and fear. The sign out front scribbled something about hope, but I’d only ever been in here when hope failed.

 Daniel started discussing some of the protocols they’d put in place over the last twenty-four hours, but as soon as I saw her slender figure in the wheelchair by the window, all other attention fled my body as I walked toward her. She was facing me, and I mumbled a small prayer under my breath that she’d recognize me.

“Mama,” I whispered, kneeling in front of her, trying to find the focus of her eyes.

Her head didn’t move, but her eyes did. The empty brown holes fluttered over my face before settling on my eyes. They opened a little wider, just as her lips parted.

Please, please let her say something.

She titled her head to the side, her greying brown hair laying over one shoulder, and with a slight smile she quietly spoke. “Baby.”

Tears clouded my view of the far-away woman I still called mama. Taking her hand, I smiled and nodded.

“I’m here.”

~ Links to Buy ~

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble 

~ About the Author  ~ 

Andrea is a 2005 graduate of Cornell University and does not currently use her degree in Development Sociology. She does, however, use her people skills and love for writing every day. She and her partner, Charles Sheehan-Miles, live and write together in Massachusetts.

~ Connect with Andrea ~

** Goodreads ** Facebook ** Twitter **