Nicki Scalise's Blog, page 3

Cover Reveal: Aeonian Kiss (R.I.P. #2)

The long wait is over! Without further ado, I present the cover for the second book in the Revenants in Purgatory series.This beauty was created by Tammy Norstrem at Catch Your Eye Designs. What can I say? The woman rocks! What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments section. I'd love to hear from you.  
Aeonian Kiss by Nicki Scalise What happens to the dead when they die? Do they go to Heaven to Hell… maybe on a luxury cruise?

It wasn’t a question Olivia Brennan ever thought to ask. After all, once you've been to Hell and back, how much worse can things get? Her harrowing descent has already cost her everything—her home, her career, the man she loves. But when an enemy resurfaces looking to settle a score, she learns there’s more to lose than she ever imagined.

Purgatory harbors more secrets than the depths of Hell, and Olivia has landed smack dab in the middle of their tangled web. Faced with an impossible choice, she must reach into the darkest parts of her soul for the strength she needs to save everyone she loves. But even if she succeeds, will she ever be the same again?

Maybe some questions are better left unanswered. If there’s one thing experience has taught her, it’s that the universe loves to kick her ass.

We're one week away from release day. Don't forget to check out my Facebook page for flash contests and release day fun! I have some cool swag to give away. You don't want to miss it!

The little things

Hello to all you lovely people out there in Internet-land. Can you believe it's mid-July already? I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer so far. The days are ticking down until the release of the second book in the R.I.P. series, Aeonian Kiss. Are you excited and looking forward to reading it? I hope that answer was a very enthusiastic "Yes!" 
With the release around the corner, I have a few little things to throw out into the void of the interwebs. You can read the ones that pertain to you and feel free to ignore the ones that don't. The ones that go unread will just bounce around off the random Grumpy Cat meme in cyberspace. Either way , it's all good. The wait is almost over! I know Aeonian Kiss was delayed a few times but I appreciate your patience and hope you'll join me for all the release day festivities. There will be prizes to be won, excerpts to be read, and fun to be had! Stop by my Facebook page or a blog near you on July 26th!  Where are my blogger babes? I'm gearing up to do the cover reveal for Aeonian Kiss. The event will take place Saturday, July 19th. I'm in need of a few blogs interested in sending this beauty out into the world. If you have the day free, please consider joining up. Follow this LINK to sign up or for more details!
If there are any blogs interested in participating in the release day shenanigans send a message via my CONTACT page. I'll especially be on the lookout for blogs interested in reviewing Aeonian Kiss. If you're a blogger but have yet to read Prayer for the Dead (book one in the R.I.P. series) and you're interested in reviewing both books, please contact me as well. I'll hook ya up.

I also have a big box of Aeonian Kiss bookmarks. If you'd like some to giveaway on your page or blog, shoot me a message and I'll send you a stack. My international blogger friends are welcome to some as well. If you didn't already know, each month I'm giving away a signed paperback of either R.I.P. book to one lucky person on my mailing list. We've had two winners so far, Lisa Markson and Shannon Caplan. Who will this month's winner be? Might be you! For your chance to win, simply sign up for my newsletter. This contest is open internationally so if you're across the sea don't let that prevent you from getting in on the action. Check out my CONTACT page for more info!








That's it for today. Keep an eye on the website and my Facebook page for more updates and flash giveaways as we kick off the cover reveal and release of Aeonian Kiss! Have a great day!

Release Day: Eventuality by Peggy Martinez

Blurb:
Bombs have rocked Sage Hannigan’s world.

All manner of preternaturals have exposed themselves to the human population and taken over, causing innumerable deaths and mass destruction worldwide. Now Sage is furious. She’s angry that lives were lost, that the Time Warper she was trying to save died, that people all over the world are going hungry, and most of all, she is enraged that the lives of everyone she loves are in danger because of her. 

When her eyes are finally opened to the truth of who is behind all the chaos, she finds herself in a race against time to stop her most powerful adversary yet… before it’s too late. 

Too late for her, her friends, and too late for the world My review: ★★★★
The long awaited third installment of the Time Warper series is finally here! Eventuality picks up two weeks after the events of Relativity. Sage has ventured out on her own in order to keep the ones she loves safe. With the world swept into total chaos, the supernaturals of the world are running wild and the worst has yet to come. Even as a Time Warper, Sage must fight the clock to keep those most precious to her out of harm's way. But will her sacrifice be enough? 

Let me start by saying that I adore this series. The plot took a different direction than I anticipated. This book leaned more toward a heavier fantasy element than its predecessors. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. The books have always been paranormal in nature but new creepy elements/creatures were introduced here. If you're into this series for more of the romance aspect, this development might be too much for your sensibilities. If you don't mind adding some new nasties to the paranormal repertoire then you're going to love it. Personally, I can't wait to see where it will take us in book four.


Sage has become a strong heroine over the course of the past three novels. She's growing into her powers and as readers we get to experience her journey. In Contingency, she was a little bit helpless. In Relativity, she began to shoulder her responsibilities. In Eventuality, she takes control. She really kicks some butt in this installment and her personal story arc is fantastic.


I had once mentioned that I'm not a fan of the love triangle. These novels have always been an exception. The author has a great knack for making the reader root for both men. It's hard to want to see either of them get hurt since they are equally wonderful characters. Having said all that, I found Sage's indecision a little wearing this time around. She came across too scattered and I found myself increasingly frustrated with her behavior. I think at this point in the series I'd like to see her make a final choice. That's not to say I want her and the man she chooses to live happily ever after. I'd simply like to see some new obstacles thrown in their way as opposed their main problem being where her heart truly lies.

My conclusion:
Eventuality was a great read. I would have liked it to have been a little longer and a couple of the new characters to be fleshed out a bit more. I'm not giving up hope that they won't be at some point. I won't count that as a negative though. This is a time travel story, after all, and anything can happen. Over all this novel had a wonderful plot that tugged on the reader's heart strings (as this series tends to do), a good balance between the action and romance, and interesting character developments. I enjoyed it a lot and can't wait for the next Time Warper adventure!

**I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review** Get immersed in the world of the Time Warper ! Purchase Links For Eventuality:
Amazon
Smashwords
You may also follow any of the links below to purchase the other books in the series:
Contingency (Book one):
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords

Relativity (Book two):
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords Excerpt:
I stepped closer to the mirror, my eyes wide as I studied my reflection. My pants were made of the softest and thinnest navy blue silk I’d ever seen. They were wide legged and hung on me perfectly, accenting my back-side, but falling loose and comfortable just in case I need to throat-kick someone. I smiled. My top was truly something to behold. Made of the same shimmery blue fabric, the corset-like top wasn’t constricting in any way. It fit me like a glove and yet I felt like I was wearing nothing at all. The straps were two inches wide and soft as velvet. Tiny clock cogs and parts were meticulously sewn into the neckline and the hem of the corset, giving it a unique look that screamed one-of-a-kind. I felt the extra fabric between my shoulder blades and gasped when I knew exactly what had been sewn there. Perfect slots for the twin blades I’d brought with me from the human realm. I hadn’t even brought them to her shop and yet the little, old faerie woman had known.

If my outfit was a marvelous invention, it had nothing on what the faeries had done with my makeup and hair. My eyes had been darkened as had been my lashes, but the real artwork began after the basics. There was such intricate drawings around my eyes in indigo blue, that at first glance and from a distance you’d think I was wearing a mask across my eyes. The pattern was tiny and mimicked my warper tattoos. Bad ass for sure. Some light dust had been swiped across my shoulders, making my newly-glowing tattoos stand out even more starkly against my skin and the deep blue of my outfit. My hair was left loose, but by miracles of miracle the curls were soft and perfect, not the frizzy mess they usually were. Somehow the faeries had managed to weave tiny clock parts into my hair, bringing my entire look together like magic. I smiled widely at my reflection and then turned to the bed and picked up my twin blades. I slid them effortlessly into my corset and turned to the remaining fae.

About the Author:
When not writing, Peggy can be found spending time at home with her husband, her teen son, and four little girls. She loves reading, writing, soap making, aromatherapy, gangster movies, prepping for the zombie apocalypse, and downing insane amounts of Twizzlers and Kazoozles.
As if being a wife and homeschooling mom of five doesn't keep her busy enough, Peggy Martinez is a full time Author who has six published books, including The Time Warper Series, State of Decay, Sweet Contradiction, and Unnatural Occurrence. Peggy's dream is to own a small homestead where she can raise some chickens along with her five kids, tend to a large garden, and one day take her dream vacations to Ireland, Greece and Scotland.

The State of Decay series was picked up by Permuted Press and will re-release along with two more books planned in the series. Another trilogy, an alternate history, post apocalyptic series, will also be debuting via Permuted. Connect with Peggy Martinez via the following links:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Amazon a Rafflecopter giveaway

R.I.P. Series Book Two and other news

The wait is finally over... well, almost over. In case you missed the announcement on Facebook, and let's face it it, most you did. The second book in the Revenants is Purgatory series has a title and release date. You can also add it to your Goodreads Shelf. There will be a cover reveal in a couple weeks and let me tell you, it's beautiful! I've been working closely with the talented Tammy Norstrem and I think you'll love what she's created. A blog tour will follow the release of Aeonian Kiss complete with reviews and lots of cool prizes for you to get your hands on. Stay tuned for more details! Prayer for the Dead news: Listen up Nook users and non- Amazon peeps. After July 6th, Prayer for the Dead will ONLY be available on the Kindle platform. If you haven't had a chance to download a copy, please do so before the weekend is over. To make it easier on all of you the links are provided below. 

Purchase Links for Prayer for the Dead:
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords 
Kobo

I do apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. It remains to be unseen if this will be a permanent change or not. However, this change will NOT reflect upon the release of the second book. Aeonian Kiss will be available on all platforms, including paperback.
One last thing:
I'd like to wish my mom a very happy birthday. She turns the big six-oh on Friday. Love ya Mama! I think that about covers it for today. Stay tuned to Facebook and the blog for more updates and release details. Also, don't forget to join my mailing list. There might just be a signed paperback in it for ya! Check out my Contact page for more information.

Have a great weekend and safe 4th of July! 

Dylan Hart Revamped Blog tour

Dylan Hart, our favorite badass, got a makeover. A cover makeover that is. All three books in the series were plucked, tweezed, squeezed, and made to suffer for their new found beauty. They look fabulous. But don't take my word for it. Check out these glamour girls for yourself! The Scene
Book one In the Dylan Hart Odyssey of the Occult series
WARNING: Excessive Sarcasm & Adult Language 

Irreverent twenty-something and journalist , Dylan Hart, has her little black heart set to cashing-in on the blood-drained bodies of seven prostitutes scattered throughout southern California. 

In an attempt to write her first best-selling novel and pay off her ever growing student debt, Dylan begins the search for the culprit of the media-dubbed Vampire Massacres, diving head first into L.A.’s sanguinary ‘vampire’ subculture. 

Not your daughter’s vampire story, The Scene escorts readers into an all too real sanguinarian lifestyle and drags them through a bloody good mystery. Horrible pun intended.

The book that started it all 
is currently on sale for 
only 99¢! Purchase links: Amazon B & N Endless Night
Book Two of the Dylan Hart Series
WARNING: Extreme use of the F bomb. Reader beware. 

The bitch is back in this second installment of the Dylan Hart Odyssey of the Occult series. The graciously irreverent Dylan Hart, is at it again this time from down in New Orleans. In an unfamiliar city, surrounded by ‘vampire’ elite, Dylan finds herself entangled in the underground world of blood and lust. 

- Or is that bloodlust? - 

Dylan is forced to sift through fact and fiction when she encounters a new, and much more frightening, villain. Voodoo. Who do?  Purchase Links: Amazon B & N Sacrifice
Book Three of the Dylan Hart Series
WARNING: Contains cynicism known to cause laughter and suspense that may affect heart rate. 

Dylan has found herself in quite the conundrum. Locked in her apartment with an unknown voodoo beastie hot on her tail. She's tits deep in death and it's knocking down her door. Literally. 

Endless Night left you with your heart pounding and your stomach in your butt. Sacrifice will flip you upside down and take you on a ride that will leave your knees quivering and your head lying on the floor...literally.

Link to my review of SACRIFICE
 Purchase Links: Amazon B & N In celebration of the new covers, R.M Gilmore is giving away some killer prizes. Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: King's by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

Purchase Links Amazon Barnes and Noble King's
The King Trilogy Book One

Mimi Jean Pamfiloff


“I am the man who can find anything or anyone. For a price. And my price is you.” 

When Mia Turner’s brother goes missing in Mexico, while on an archaeological dig, she believes that life couldn’t get much worse. But when she’s blocked at every turn from finding answers, by both local and U.S. authorities, she must turn to a man she swears is the devil. 

Others might be fooled by his private jet, fine tailored suits, and disarming smile, but Mia knows something dark, sinister, and unnatural lurks behind those penetrating, pale-gray eyes. And the more she learns, the more she realizes she may never be free again. I’ve been raving about Mimi Jean Pamfiloff and her Accidentally Yours series forever. Fate Book is awesome also. Seriously, if you haven’t picked up her titles by now, I may have to hurt ya... just saying.

King’s is her latest offering and the first installment of The King Trilogy. Pamfiloff has quickly become one of my favorite authors and this novel is a prime example as to why. Her sharp wit, flawless writing style, and well-rounded characters kept me turning the page and coming back for more. What a fantastic opener to an already promising new series.
MY REVIEW- ★★★★★ I've been looking forward to reading King’s and as soon as it came across my news feed, I was already on my way to 1-click. I've come to expect a lot from this author and this novel did not disappoint. Matter of fact, I enjoyed it so much I almost read it in one sitting. The only thing that stopped me was that pesky little activity called sleep. Pfft… dayjobs. Who needs ‘em, right? 

Okay first things first:

Mia, our herione— She was a strong character who, in the light of her brother’s abduction, was forced into uncertain situations beyond her control. The author did a wonderful job keeping me frustrated right along with her. Not knowing where her brother was or how to save him made me antsy.  Furthermore, Mia was more than capable of holding her own against men who tried to use their power as an intimidation tactic to get her to submit. I liked that she wasn't sheepish and didn't shy away from danger. She continued to run head-on into it, in the hopes of getting her little brother back.  She’s a great leading lady and I’m looking forward to watching her arc.

King, our leading man- Is that his first name or last? It’s anyone’s guess. He’s eccentric and a little creepy, but in a smoldering, intriguing sort of way. The mystery of who he is exactly, kept me on the edge of my seat.

Is he evil? Maybe.

Good? Perhaps.

Sexy? Hell yes!

The author gives just enough information to keep the reader guessing, which in my opinion, made the character beyond awesome. As such, I won’t go into detail about him either. You’re just going to have to buy the book to see for yourself.  

To sum up:

In case you haven't figured it out already, I loved this book. It has great pacing, fun characters, mystery, and enough paranormal elements to keep your mind buzzing. I’m was so enamored with this story I bought the second installment immediately after finishing the first. That’s right, book one and two were released simultaneously. You’ll want to one-click both to begin with. Trust me on this. You won’t be sorry. And let’s not forget, I've threatened bodily harm if you don’t check out this author.

You like your knee caps, dontcha?

If you’ve read this novel, feel free to leave some comments below. I love chatting about a great book with friends!

REVIEW: SACRIFICE BY R.M. GILMORE

Sacrifice by R.M. Gilmore
  Dylan Hart -Odyssey of the Occult Series
Book Three

Dylan has found herself in quite the conundrum...oh shit, who are we kidding? 
She's ass deep in death and it's knocking down her door. Literally. 
Endless Night left you with your heart pounding and your stomach in your butt...book three will flip you upside down and take you on a ride that'll leave your knees quivering and your head lying on the floor...literally. MY REVIEW- ★★★★★ My quick synopsis:
Our favorite bitch, Dylan, is in a heap of trouble after royally pissing off a big, bad, voodoo mama. With help of super-hot underwear model, Cyrus Atossa, and detective/ex-boyfriend, Mike Petersen, Dylan embarks on a quest to save her very soul. This journey only leads to falling further into the twisted mess of things that go bump in the night. When her best friend Tatum goes missing, the three "amigos" race to New Orleans. Will they make it in time or walk straight into a trap?

My thoughts:
Dylan Hart isn't your typical heroine. She isn't a skilled fighter. She's a self-described "fat-ass" and has a mouth that is constantly getting her into trouble. In a genre where most of our leading ladies are tall, beautiful, and can ram a dagger through a heart in the blink of an eye, Dylan Hart doesn't have all the answers and regularly makes mistakes that she has to pay for, sometimes in horrific and painful ways. I applaud the author for giving us a character who behaves as most of us probably would if thrown into these situations. Although, it's always fun to live vicariously through the uber-fighting, supermodel characters, it's a nice change to have a character that is easy to relate to.

After the evil cliffhanger of Endless Night, I have been on the verge of madness awaiting this book. With such anticipation, would it be possible for the book to live up to my expectations? Let me tell you, it did not disappoint! It grabs you by the throat from the opening lines and doesn't let go until the very end. I truly feel R.M. Gilmore hit her stride with this installment. From the sarcasm and quick one-liners to the down and dirty brawls, not a moment is wasted keeping the plot on course. We do get a few answers to questions that have been hanging open from the previous installments but this one reveals more mysteries to explore. I have two words for you- Cyrus Atossa. Seriously, what is up with that dude? The author gave us a little insight, but left this reader desperate for more of his backstory. However, it seems I'll have to wait to get it. Here's to avoiding the padded room while impatiently awaiting book four!

Hi! Remember me?

Hello my lovelies! I've finally decided to resurface after an unplanned disappearing act. I didn't fall off the face of the planet, although I'll bet some of you were beginning to wonder. Life has been keeping me busy and I've been neglectful of my page and website. Sometimes I suck like that, but have a few little updates for you today. Book two of the Revenants in Purgatory series finally has a title and is in the hands of my editor. Huzzah! I don't have a release date yet, but it's looking like early June. I know that's a little later than originally promised, but I had to be comfortable with the story before it left my hands. 
I began writing book three last week. Another huzzah! I also have two other projects in the works, one of which will be a new novel based on my short story, Cheyenne Mountain. The story was originally published in the Apocalypse Anthology .  Beginning tomorrow there'll be a new contest happening here on my website. I'll be giving away a SIGNED paperback copy of either Prayer for the Dead or book two (when it becomes available) to one lucky winner each month. To participate all you have to do is join my mailing list. That's it! Once signed up you'll be entered each month automatically (as long as you remain on the list). Follow this LINK to start receiving updates from me via email and to be entered for the month of May.  I'll be seeking out blogs interested in reviewing book two.  This is open to all bloggers. If you've yet to read Prayer for the Dead, no problem. I'll be happy to gift both books if needs be. If any of you book reading/reviewing blogger babes would be interested feel free to email me via the CONTACT page or via FACEBOOK with your name and link to your blog. That's all the tidbits I have for you today. Thanks for stopping by. Much love to you. Mwah! 

Aww... wook at those wittle fangs.

Vampire babies. You hate 'em, right? I hate 'em myself.

Recently two of my favorite vampire series added a vampire child into the plot line. While some readers may enjoy this type of development, this chick finds it extremely disappointing.  I read paranormal fiction for the great escape it provides. I want to get lost in a world where vampires are brutal, ruthless, and sexy; even if it 's for only three-hundred pages. What I don't want is a cold dose of reality wherein the vampires become parents. 

One of my favorite literary couples welcomed a little bundle of teeth and it bummed me out so bad I can't stop thinking... okay, obsessing about it. It was the end of the series, their final hurrah, and this plot development killed it. When a series ends, I like to think that even though I may not be reading about a character's adventures any longer, the danger and shenanigans still continue. This couple was passionate, madly in love with each other, and had sex whenever and wherever the mood struck. That's how I wanted to remember them. Instead, I'm picturing them wiping snotty noses and helping with homework. 
That's not to say vampire children can't be interesting, if done right. The author who did tots with teeth best was Anne Rice. If you've read Interview with the Vampire, I have no doubts you remember Claudia. Although she was only five at the time of her creation, the reader never saw her behave as a child of that age would. She used her demure appearance as an advantage to become a skilled killer in her own right. That was brilliant. Vampire children who need to be cared for as a human child would, so they can have a "normal" childhood, is not. 
So authors, I beg you, no more ankle biter vampires. If you must add one, make that child a raging psychopath and more brutal than their adult counterparts. However, if you feel the need to add one who wants to learn how to ride a bike more than she wants to munch on someone's neck, please for the love of everything that's unholy, put down the pen and walk away until the mood passes.

Valentine's Day Sale

Good day, beautiful people! Prayer for the Dead will be on sale all this week, February 10th-16th! Snag your copy for only 99¢ and don't forget to tell your friends. There will be a killer contest happening on my Facebook page as well. You don't want to miss it.