Saturday, August 6, 2016

#OnTour: Cursed by Nykki Mills


CURSED by Nykki Mills

 The line between sanity and sobriety can quickly fade when you can talk to the dead…

Gina Flinn is no stranger to the dark side. She’s been walking the tightrope with death for years. Plagued with abnormal abilities ranging from picking up old memories to reading auras, Gina found herself in a downward spiral into drugs and alcohol. 

She’s been clean and sober for a year now, but when she starts seeing the pesky ghost of the old lady down the street, things start to unravel. It’s a minor annoyance until a ghost of a woman in red shows up and starts tormenting Gina with visions of a violent past

Seeing a side of death that no one should leads Gina straight into Ben Peterson’s path…

In an attempt reunite the old lady with her beloved cat, Gina runs into Ben, who is eager to help her. But no one can help her—the woman in red is relentless, which forces Gina to turn back to the comfort of intoxication. She blacks out and wakes up in bed with Ben, only to find herself on the wrong side of the law. 

Gina got into a fight with one of her classmates during her blackout, and now the girl is missing…

Gina is the number one suspect, and with her history of substance abuse and erratic behavior, everyone is sure she’s guilty. She knows she’s innocent and it all leads back to the woman in red. 

But with the police breathing down her neck, and Ben the only person willing to believe her story, Gina must find a way to prove her innocence or finally accept that maybe she really is…

CURSED.

✰✰✰FREE on Kindle Unlimited✰✰✰

Amazon US: https://amzn.com/B01INZYKNG
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01INZYKNG
Amazon CA: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01INZYKNG
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01INZYKNG
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.com/1680587439







     I watched them until they disappeared into thin air. That cat must have been the only

thing she truly loved in this world. For once in my life, I helped someone. The weightless feeling

was fleeting and foreign, but good. A small sense of relief settled across me only seconds before

a cold breeze washed over me. The hair on the back of my neck stood at attention, and I knew I

wasn’t alone anymore.

     “Help me.” The soft plea came from behind me. Something felt off. Unease slivered up

my spine and sent a shiver through my entire body. I spun around. A woman was standing so

close, we were almost nose to nose. My hand instinctively shot up to my mouth, and I stumbled

back. She was very, very dead. Her face was a mangled, bloody mess, and the tattered long red

dress she wore placed her somewhere in the 1800s. She opened her mouth, revealing jagged and

broken teeth.

     “Help me,” she moaned, cocking her head to the side as she reached out. I stumbled back

further. Something was wrong, very wrong, with this woman. I’d only been seeing dead things

for a day, but this couldn’t be right. My heart slammed against my chest so hard it actually

ached. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her, and my feet seemed to weigh a ton.

     “I can’t,” I whispered. I backed up, sliding my feet against the gravel, until I was leaning

against the trailer, trying to fill my lungs with air. This was wrong—different than Mrs. Peterson.

She stepped forward, and the distinct sound of bones snapping pushed me over the edge.

     My throat constricted, and I bolted toward the porch. All I could hear was the sound of my heart

pounding. I reached the door and flung it open as something slammed into my back. Mind-

blowing pain radiated down the side of my face, causing my ears to ring. I collapsed to my knees

and clutched my head, screaming. Another wave of pain hit me and shot down my spine. The

world faded around me.

     Darkness surrounded me. Something hard slammed into me over and over. I tried to open my eyes. A black shadow stood over me. I gasped and tried to get a better look, but the blood stung too much. I did my best to shield myself from the painful blows. My arm snapped, making an awful sound. I tried to scream but instead choked on more blood.

     “Gina!” A hard slap brought me back. Kass kneeled over me with wide eyes. She leaned back and

covered her mouth. Clearly she was more shocked by the slap than me. “I’m so sorry.”




 Nykki lives in Montana with her husband and three kids--who may or may not be the boss of her. She is obsessed with ghost stories and virtually anything paranormal. Add in her obsession with YA fiction and this book was born. Sacrificed is the third book she's written, but the first she's published. She also has a huge appreciation of humor, and sarcasm is her second language.


She will be releasing her Cursed series in the coming months. The sequel to Sacrificed can be expected next summer. Nykki regularly updates release dates on her blog and author Facebook page!



- AUTHOR LINKS -





SACRIFICED: https://amzn.com/B00HSTAW6I




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Wednesday, August 3, 2016

#BLOGTOUR Confessions of a Wedding Planner by Michelle Jo Quinn



CONFESSIONS OF A WEDDING PLANNER 
(The Bliss Series Book 1)

He may be the best man, but he’s the worst man for her…
Wedding planner, Veronica Soto-Stewart believes everyone deserves a fairy tale–even her ex-boyfriend. Unable to refuse his request, and with the help of Bliss Events motley crew, she finds herself creating the most magical event for the perfect couple. 
But nothing is ever perfect…
And not all happy ever afters can be planned…
Levi Laurent can’t believe his luck. Thanks to his best friend’s wedding, he finally has a shot at the woman he’s always wanted–Veronica. From San Francisco to Paris, and back, he pulls out all the stops, so she knows where she really belongs–with him. But Veronica wants nothing to do with the rich, sexy, irresistible playboy. 
Can Levi convince Veronica that her perfect happily ever after is closer than she ever realized?


iTunes
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Excerpt #1

I couldn't make myself comfortable. As I continued to shrug, he clasped my shoulders tighter. If I leaned against my car, his hips would press against me. I sagged in defeat and avoided direct contact with his eyes. This was worse than him thinking we could be friends.
"Since you're big, bad boss of this whole operation, what's going on with the bachelor party?" The man wriggled his eyebrows at me when I looked up. It was such a laughable action.
Levi was the ultimate bachelor...and rebel. He kept his hair long, rarely shaved, and often dressed in button up shirts with the first three buttons undone and sleeves rolled up, showing off his constant tan. He exuded bad-to-the-bone. And he loved it.
No doubt he had particular ideas on what Jake's bachelor party should be like. I had more than enough of a fight to deal with, why would I add a few more in the way of silicon-filled strippers?
"What bachelor party? I'm not in charge of that. I've never planned one, and don't intend to start. It's your job as the best man to figure it out." I poked my finger at his chest. Hard, warm chest, with a steady fluttering from his heart.
"Is it?" He took my hand in his and flattened my palm on his chest, halting my ministrations.  I stared at my fingertips touching his exposed skin.  “Maybe you and I can get together soon, just us, and you can give me ideas.”  A number of salacious scenes flashed in my mind.  I gulped, realizing my mistake, but the heat had ebbed up my neck and cheeks.
Drawing back my hand, I replied, "If you need help, you can call Chase." I spun around to the back of my car, reached in and took out a card from my purse, ignoring the blush on my cheeks and hoping he would, too. The hand that was squeezing my shoulder smoothed its way down to the small of my back when I faced him again. I tried not to focus on the sudden, pleasant warmth in my belly.  This was Levi, Casanova of the Bay area…and beyond!
He took the proffered card. "She's the expert on all things...naughty." Chase would kill me if she found out I gave him her number. "I have to go."
He removed his hand from my back and held my door open for me. As I settled in my seat, he stuck his head in my car and surprised me with a swift kiss on my cheek, rendering me speechless with how pleasant it felt. Levi had never been this close to me before.  I’d never allowed it.
After shutting the door closed for me, he leaned his arms over the opened window and cocked his head to one side.  Playfulness washed over his face. "Veronica, you may not like me, but whether you like it or not, I will be around whenever Jake asks me to be there. So you'll have to get used to us being together...a lot." It felt like he was trying to say more, but I simply nodded my head, and started the car.  I waited for him to back away, before I sped off.  I was flustered enough to accidentally run over the guy.


Excerpt #2

I stifled a gasp as a six-foot-four hunk of a man in a plain white tee and dark jeans that hugged every sinful bit of his lower half sauntered in. Diego prowled like a male model on a catwalk. He was just plain sexy all over.


"Sorry I'm late," he said, eyes on me, as he neared. He kissed one side of my cheek.


"What are you doing here?" I whispered, then smiled.


"I knew you were gonna see Eddie, so I thought I'd surprise you and stop by. I would have made it on time, but I got stuck in traffic." Diego glanced over my head and nodded. "Hey, Eddie."
"Hello?" Eddie was right to question Diego's presence.  On top of that, he didn’t even know him, but Diego acted as though he did.


I tapped a finger on my chin, trying to make sense of what was happening.  When I received the text from Chase: Is he there now? I got it. Diego was Chase's solution to my dilemma.


"Hi!" Levi's date spoke up in a high-pitched tone. Diego and I turned to her, and I swallowed a guffaw. She stretched out the hand that had been in Levi's shirt moments before and offered it to Diego. "I'm Ophelia."

 Her name rolled over her tongue, and it sounded as though she said 'I'll feel yah.' I bet she would too. I shuddered.


Diego, ever the good boy, took the proffered hand and shook it once. "Very nice to meet you." He had to pull away forcefully from Ophelia's grasp. Then he angled his body and stretched his own hand toward Levi. "Diego," he introduced himself.


Levi's eyes narrowed into tiny slits. He looked down at Diego's large, callused hand, up to Diego's face, and then to me.


I had to take advantage of the situation. The new me needed it. Levi brought Ophelia to either piss me off, or make me jealous, or whatever. I touched one of Diego's bulging biceps and left my hand on it. "Diego dear, this is Levi. Remember the wedding I told you about last night?  He's the best man."  I made sure to enunciate the ‘last night’ and didn’t miss the understanding in Levi’s eyes.  Yes, he knew that Diego was my date.  He didn’t have to know that we had parted as friends.


Diego slowly retracted his hand. My face burned like I’d eaten a five-alarm hot pepper.


Eddie cleared his throat, produced dessert spoons and forks, and placed them on a linen serviette on the table. "Shall we continue?" We all returned our focus on Eddie.


I nodded. "Please."


"Our first cake is an homage to our lovely country: apple and cinnamon cake with brown sugar frosting." Eddie sliced the first cake and placed a piece of it on a plate.


"Diego and I will just share one, Eddie." The words just came out. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Levi's mouth gape.


"That'll be the same for us," Levi said. His voice did not waver.


I looked at Levi and Ophelia, who was still eyeing Diego and seductively licking a spoon.


Eddie stared at the two couples in front of him. He was as confused as ever. "Very well then." He proceeded to cut the next cake, a mocha-colored frosting over yellow cake. "Next, we have almond with mocha icing, chocolate drizzle, and pistachio crumbs."


The third cake was decorated more elaborately with Corneille lace piping, something I had become proficient in when I had worked for Eddie. "This is our blackberry and currant chiffon with raspberry filling and limoncello icing. 

 My dear Nica's favorite." Eddie glanced at me, and I sent him a pleased smile. "And last, but not least, dark chocolate with a whipped peanut butter mousse filling, and dark chocolate ganache. Rich, robust, and I believe it's still the groom's favorite."


"You're so good, Eddie. I can't believe you remembered," I quipped, even though I had reminded him about it yesterday when I confirmed this appointment.


He passed along the plates, and I placed them on the table. Four cakes for Diego and me, and four similar slices for Levi and Ophelia. I hoped he choked. Well, not really. Maybe just a little.


Eddie also provided carafes of water and glasses. Perhaps he could read my thoughts. 

 "Bon appétit!"


Diego and I took a spoon and fork each.


I watched as Ophelia scooped a piece of the first cake, and lifted it to Levi, who slowly--like we had all the time in the world to eat cakes--opened his mouth to take the dessert. So this was his game. I copied Ophelia's actions and fed Diego a piece of the cake.


"Hmmm, very good. This is definitely a winner," Diego offered his opinion. He used his fork to lift a tiny slice to my mouth. "Here you go, my sweet."


My throat dried up upon hearing Levi's term of endearment to me coming out of Diego's lips. In my peripheral vision, I could see Levi's jaw drop. I made sensual sounds with my mouth. The cake certainly tasted divine.


"Good, huh?" Diego's eyebrows shot up.


I nodded as he continued to feast on the cake. "So good."


"Sandrine's allergic to nutmeg. And if I'm not wrong, I detect a hint of it in the flavors," Levi told Eddie in a matter-of-fact way.


Damn, I dropped the ball on that one. I knew she was allergic to it. I had it in my notes somewhere. "Yes, that's correct. Thanks for reminding us." I sent a quick, shy look toward Levi. "Shall we try the next one?"


The same thing happened to the second cake. Ophelia fed Levi. Diego fed me, and I fed Diego. And every single time he did, Levi would move his head from side to side and rub the back of his neck.


Levi noted the complimentary flavors of the almond and the hint of coffee and chocolate of the second cake.


It was good, but it wasn't elegant enough.


When we got to the third cake, my favorite, I added extra oomph in my moan, closing my eyes as I let the flavors of fresh berries and the sweet-tart combination of the limoncello icing explode in my mouth. My hands were pressed against Diego's broad expanse of chest, and as I let the last bit of sweetness melt on my tongue, I fisted Diego's white shirt. I opened my eyes marginally in what I hoped was a seductive gaze and smirked at Diego.


"That good, huh?" Diego's face was plastered with a wide, knowing smile.


"It's a perfect cake for a summer wedding," I replied.


"It's a bit tart." From the other side of the table, Levi's words sounded petty.


With my hands still over Diego's shirt, I turned to Levi. "Tart?" I raised an eyebrow.


Levi crossed his arms over his chest, exposing the tanned, toned forearms under the sleeves of his light blue button down. He narrowed his eyes at me. I shot daggers at him.


"Why don't we have a sip of water before the last cake?" Eddie suggested. He poured us a glass each, even offered one to Oh-feel-yah.


After a couple of minutes, we continued. I'd had the pleasure of tasting this cake before with Jake when we were dating. Back then, he had always made me promise that I would buy this cake for his next birthday. I never had the chance. Not for his birthday, at least.


I was pretty confident that this was the cake he would want at his wedding. Eddie could add some elegance to it by using a different type of icing, rather than a ganache so that he could display his skills in cake decorating.


Levi grabbed a fork and spoon off the serviette, cut a small piece with his fork, and pushed with his spoon. He raised the piece to his own mouth, and I could tell that he loved it. He made a small moan of approval.


I gave Diego a piece, and he rolled his eyes as he ate the cake. "Divine. Simply divine, Eddie. You've outdone yourself. Can we take this home?  I can think of many ways I’d like to eat it."  There wasn’t just a subtle hint in 

 Diego’s eyes.  He made sure that everyone in the bakery knew what he meant.  My cheeks burned.


I swallowed the nervous anxiety in my belly, smiled at Diego, and took the smaller piece of cake on his fork. It was better than sex. Well, at least the sex that I'd had. The decadent bittersweet flavor of the moist cake paired with the sweet-saltiness of the peanut butter mousse and the rich ganache was to die for. I didn't close my eyes as I tasted. Instead, I trained them toward Levi.


He was raptly watching me. We held our gazes together. With the tip of my tongue, I licked ganache off  the corner of my lips, then bit my bottom lip. I might have seen him tremble, but it was so slight that I wasn’t sure if I’d imagined it.

MICHELLE JO QUINN

Michelle's love for writing blossomed when her father gave her a diary. Instead of recounting her daily life, she wrote stories of fictional people. Like most of her characters, she believes in Happily Ever After. Naturally, she finds harmony in writing romance.

An unabashed, self-proclaimed foodie, Michelle loves to try new food whenever given the chance.  She loves to travel, has an unhealthy obsession with dark chocolate and coffee, and prefers to spend money on paperback rather than shoes.  She enjoys watching foreign films and reading a swoon-worthy books.

Michelle is an active member of RWA and several of its chapters. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband, two kiddos, and a morkie pup named Scarlett.


★★★ Follow Michelle ★★★

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Tuesday, August 2, 2016

AVAILABLE NOW: The Sister Code by Haley Allison


Title: The Sister Code
Author: Haley Allison
Series: D.O.R.K. (#2)
Release Date: August 2, 2016
Genre: YA Contemporary
NOTE: Not a standalone. It is strongly recommended to read this series in order. The Sister Code is Book #2 of the D.O.R.K. (Diary of a Rocker's Kid) Series.


It doesn’t take Madison Daley long to figure out Beverly Hills isn’t all it’s cracked up to be…

Madison is still in a state of shock. Not only is her favorite actress, the famous Jessica Redinger, her mother, but she also has an identical twin, Raven Redinger. Raven is everything Madison wishes she could be—popular, famous, and cool under pressure—so she agrees to use their twin status as a ploy to increase their celebrity appeal.

The deal also includes Madison keeping her hands off Raven’s ex, the charming Giovanni Abate. But after an unfortunate incident during a family trip to London, Madison realizes just how unreliable family can be.

Giovanni is certain he knows which twin he wants…

Madison returns to L.A., humiliated and shunned by her mother’s side of the family, and determined to focus on building her band. Her attention is diverted, however, when Gio is quick to admit he’s still got Madison fever. She knows he’s off-limits, but when you combine his undeniable Italian good looks with a heartfelt confession, Madison can’t help but fall right back into his arms.

As their birthday approaches, the twins’ relationship hits a breaking point…

Madison’s mother has been holding back a secret, and it turns the entire family’s world upside down. Raven has her own plans for Madison, though, and she isn’t about to let her back out on their deal now.

Will Madison ever be accepted as one of the famous Redingers? Or is there a high price to pay for breaking…

 The Sister Code

✰✰✰FREE on Kindle Unlimited✰✰✰
US: https://amzn.com/B01INT1ZRQ
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01INT1ZRQ
CA: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01INT1ZRQ
AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01INT1ZRQ
★★★PAPERBACK★★★
https://amzn.com/1680587455


★ BOOK 1 ★
Have you read Diary of a Rocker's Kid (D.O.R.K. #1)?

✰✰✰FREE on Kindle Unlimited✰✰✰
Amazon US: http://amzn.com/B01882ARMM
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01882ARMM
Amazon CA: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01882ARMM







   “This place is so not me,” I mutter under my breath as Raven and our personal shopper, Vicki, lead me through the racks at Nothing But Chic Boutique the next morning. All around me I see nothing but a sea of floral print and neon. My rocker chick radar is not picking up even the slightest blip of an outfit that would suit my taste. They might as well have called this store “Nothing But The Latest Trends” because that is literally the only thing they carry. My heart sinks further the more I walk around in here. I’m going to look like an idiot in these clothes—not because of my looks, but because they’re not going to suit my personality at all.
   “Do you have any questions, Madison?” Vicki asks over her shoulder from about ten feet in front of me. Her yellow stilettos click on the marble tiles as she sashays through like she owns the place. 
   “Yeah, what’s the ‘rich bitch’ version of a Hot Topic?” 
   Vicki and Raven whirl around to face me, finally giving me their full attention for the first time since we entered the store. I thought I grumbled that under my breath, but I guess it was a little louder than I thought it was. 
   “Madison!” Raven’s face has gone ashen. Little Miss Prim and Proper Rich Girl blushes when I use “naughty words” in front of people. 
   Vicki’s cherry red lips pout as she draws her perfectly waxed blonde eyebrows together. “You don’t like our store?” 
   Raven jumps in quickly. “I apologize for my sister, Victoria. She was raised on a farm by a retired rock star. Etiquette does not seem to be her strong suit.” She stares me down with her icy blue eyes— exact copies of mine. 
   Guilt settles in my stomach. “I’m sorry, Vicki. I didn’t mean to offend. It’s not you, it’s just this place doesn’t seem to be my scene.” 
   “‘Scene’ or none, this is where we’re shopping. As Jacie Redinger’s daughters, you and I are among the top trendsetters in the nation. We must look the part.” Raven brushes me off and the two of them continue to discuss our fashion choices without me.  
   Eventually, I find myself in the dressing room with armfuls of clothes that make me want to gag. I glance up into the full-length mirror to examine my recently changed appearance. Jet-black hair, bright red lipstick, and modest eye makeup adorn a face that once had an identity all its own. Now even my French manicure proclaims to the world that I am Raven Redinger’s exact physical copy. My whole goal in life was to be unique and make something of myself. I feel a twinge of guilt at letting that go, even temporarily, but I’d rather be known as a Redinger-Daley Clone—er, Twin—than the daughter Jacie Redinger abandoned as a baby. As long as I never hear the term “Basket Baby” again, it will be a step up. 



Haley Allison is a South Carolina native. She discovered a love of writing at age fourteen and hasn't been able to turn off the motor fingers since then. Today she lives in a quiet country home with her husband, son, and Boston Terrier. She is a Graphic Design major at Southern New Hampshire University and hopes to graduate with a B.A. degree sometime in the next couple of years. Her hobbies include composing piano music, nature photography, and blogging about books and authors.

Feel free to contact her at hallisonauthor@gmail.com. Haley loves interacting with readers and other authors.

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