A book is...

Friday Five for Feb 24th...

Sharing a new release...

I haven't shared a whole lot about it here, but 8 months ago I was chosen to work in an Apprentice program through Sterling & Stone (the Self Publishing Podcast guys). It's been an incredible experience, and one of my fellow apprentices is Lori Ryan. 

She traditionally writes romantic suspense, but for her Apprentice project, she went toward a more police procedural route. You all know I'm a serious sucker for a man in uniform (like a whole lot of you...hehe) so I'm super stoked to read this book. It's waiting for me on my kindle whenever I get a break in my schedule. 

In the meantime, I thought some of you all might be interested in it. The story sounds fantastic...and I adore that cover.

When lives and hearts are on the line

When Cal Rylan’s partner is caught in the crossfire of a vigilante sniper, he's forced to partner with FBI Special Agent Eve Sands to stop the killer before any more innocent bystanders are hit. As they get closer to the truth, the stakes get higher, both in the case and in their hearts. Cal's biggest fear is that he'll have to watch another of his partner's fall to the sniper's bullet. And that's just not something he can go through again. Especially not when that partner is Eve, a woman who is quickly working her way into his heart, his soul.

NY Times Bestselling Author, Lori Ryan, takes readers on a breakneck speed adventure ride in the first book in this spin off from her bestselling Sutton Capital Series. Don't miss this one!

You can find the first chapter and links to buy on Lori Ryan's website....HERE.

****

Office Supply Porn...

I can admit it....I have an office supply problem. As a result, I really limit how often I can go into office supply stores. But lately one of my other weak areas has been sabotaging me....Target.

Has anyone else noticed lately that the Target dollar spot area is almost completely office supplies??

How am I supposed to resist?
It's all so cheap...

and office supplies...

This is my haul just from my last two trips to Target.

OMG...whimpers.

I might have a new problem and need an intervention to keep me away from the dollar spot.

But did you see how pretty that glitter tape is?

It's only $1.

times 20 or 30.

sigh

*******

Upcoming Movie...

Okay, earlier this week, Kat and I were totally drooling over this movie trailer. It looks so, so good.

Then...irony...Jacob wrote to me and asked if I'd seen the trailer yet. 

Yeah, I've trained my kids to like the same type of movies as me.

Have you all seen the trailer yet?

From what I understand the movie is based upon the book. 

Has anyone read this one? If so, tell me...will this movie shred me like it looks like it might?

*****

Favorite read from last week...

This is a book I read for review and the story just really resonated with me. Tons of angst and emotion. I truly loved it. It's a New Adult romance set in college and it just hit me in all the emotional checkboxes that I love.

You can read my full review of it HERE.

******

Good News...

I think I'm going to finish writing the first draft of FOUND AT THE BOOKSTORE today...I think. Right now it's at right under 82,000 words. I predict it will need about another 5,000 before I type THE END. But that's doable for today. Cross your fingers for me...

That's it from me today.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

smiles,

Christi

A reader...

Friday Five...RELEASES...with a bonus cover reveal!

Last year, I completely BLEW my release schedule because of two books that didn't cooperate with my planned word counts (i.e. they went way, way, way OVER the planned word count). 

I was determined to not let that happen this year. 

*sigh*

I've been writing Found at the Bookstore.

It...hasn't gone well.

In fact, for the first two weeks of February, I couldn't write a word in it...well, I managed 1,899 words, but I normally write that per day so for that to be my two-week word count?  Yeah, it was bad. 

The reason...my ending was turning out more complicated than I'd originally planned...which meant going way over my 55,000 word count goal. 

This week, I gave myself permission to adjust my release schedule to account for that...and suddenly I'm writing again. I cannot tell you what a relief that is. This is the issue with working in a creative career...sometimes things get out of my control.

So, I'm pushing Found at the Bookstore so that it's my second release of the year.

But the good news about that is that I get to share another book as my first release and honest to god, I think this is my favorite book I've ever written...But you have to read all the way to the end to find out more about it...with an unannounced cover reveal for it. It will be my first release for 2017, so you don't want to miss the details about it.

So for now, my 2017 release schedule is...

1. Believe in the Wish

2. Found at the Bookstore

3. Intertwined Hearts

4. Snowcroft Restoration

5. Smolder/Shiver

So for today's Friday Five, I'm giving you insider information into five of my releases that are coming this year...yes, in 2017 (with maybe even a bonus or two).

FOUND AT THE BOOKSTORE

(book #2 in the Found series...Contemporary romance...m/m)

Originally, I'd planned this book to be 50-55k. Right now, it's sitting right at 70k and it isn't finished yet. I figure it will top out at 75-80k before it's all said and done.

(estimated release date...May, 2017)

Found at the Bookstore Story Description

After suffering a traumatic brain injury the final football game his senior year in high school, Ryder Garrett’s life was never normal again. Most days he’s happy when he can remember the way home. There’s no room in his life for romance or love, which means he’s destined to die a virgin.

Stig Minton doesn’t remember what virginity felt like. Twelve years older than Ryder, he’s been around the block too many times to count and has the scars to prove it...both physically and mentally.

But as these two men come together to help with a wedding, they forge a friendship, a friendship they both desperately need. Their relationship evolves and feelings begin to go deeper. But is it stupid to risk this new—and, yes necessary—bond in pursuit of something that’s doomed to fail?

They both think they’re too broken to make this work. But what if they’re wrong?

Two broken souls may just be able to find reparation in one another.

Book #2 in the Found Series.

*****

INTERTWINED HEARTS

(book #3 in the Snowcroft series...Contemporary romance...m/m/f)

This book is written. It's one of the books that went way, way over in 2016's writing. Right now it's sitting at 127,099 words. O.o

So, yeah, it's going to take a while to whip into shape. But there are three characters in it who each deserve to have their story told wholly. We'll see if it actually gets cut down or not...

(estimated release date...June, 2017)

Intertwined Hearts story description

Three people who’ve given up on love...

Hudson:

After a brutal, late-night attack in his restaurant left Chef Hudson Richmond too traumatized to even enter his restaurant again, he escaped to Snowcroft. Now he’s trying to find a new normal when the reality of his world is a man’s touch makes him sick and his dream has become his nightmare.

Leigh:

Leigh Vaughn lives in a man’s world running Vaughn Construction with her brother, Jamie. She’s tried to be feminine and failed over and over again. Growing up with only her brother, father, and construction crews to guide her, Leigh has no idea what a feminine wile is, much less how to deploy them. But when Jamie and Trevor begin to research finding a surrogate to carry their baby, she knows this is something she can do. Hell, it’s not like those parts are getting used for anything else.

David:

When this small town came looking for a new police chief, David Warner jumped at the chance. After too many years spent working vice in the city, he’s burnt out and jaded. And his love life has been even more depressing than his work life. He’s made one true connection in the last five years, but she disappeared without a trace the next morning.

Three people who have given up on love, may just find a new beginning where they least expect it...in Snowcroft. But love is only supposed to happen in twos. How can they make it work with three intertwined hearts?

*****

SNOWCROFT RESTORATION

(book #4 in the Snowcroft series...Romantic suspense...m/m)

This is the one book on my list that I haven't even started writing yet, but the setup for it is in Intertwined Hearts so, as I'm editing that book, I'll be plotting and then writing this one.

(estimated release date...Aug, 2017)

There isn't a story description for this one yet, although I should have one drawn up by the end of the February. But for those of you that have been waiting...this is finally Law's book. I know, I can't wait either. You all know I love a wounded hero and he's definitely earned that label. But you know what...I think his hero is even more messed up than he is. O.o

I seriously can't wait to dive into writing it. This is my next project as soon as I type THE END on Found at the Bookstore.

*****

SMOLDER

(novella #1...paranormal romance...m/m)

I was asked to join a vampire themed m/m anthology for charity. Smolder is my contribution. It's a short little 18,000 word novella inspired by my little West Texas town. 

(estimated release date...Oct, 2017)

Smolder Story Description:

Zack Blackthorne had “dark, immoral” cravings long before he became a vampire. Born during the mid 1800’s, he grew up during a time when loving a man was wrong. But in a moment of weakness, he gave into that urge and life as he knew it changed forever. Now he lives a cursed existence and will never cross that line again. He earned his fate. Alone, he exists in the shadows of the world.

Nash Dixon is a new vampire who’s used to living his life in the light. A photographer by trade, he has no idea how to deal with his new reality. He hasn’t mentioned his latest medical condition to his best friends, only that he needs a safe place to land. Bringing danger to their door was never part of the plan.

Nash also didn’t count on Zack, his sexy new mentor. Zack is an enigma...grumpy, gorgeous, and completely off-limits. At least that’s what Zack’s mouth says. The heat in his eyes says something else entirely. As a photographer, Nash sees that deeper need. But how does he convince a 150-year-old vampire that sometimes the light is exactly where he needs to be?

(estimated release date...Dec, 2017)

Shiver...is a spin-off shifter novella about a deer shifter who runs into trouble Christmas Eve. I'll admit I haven't written it yet, but it features one of the characters who appears in Smolder and I think it will be a fun little Christmas release in Dec.

*****

And now to share what's coming NEXT from ME! 

I cannot wait for you all to read this one. 

I love it so much.

BELIEVE IN THE WISH

(stand-alone....Contemporary romance...m/m)

This cover was a premade cover designed by Jay Aheer. I fell in love with it, bought it, and wrote the story based on the cover. This was truly one of those stories. I was inspired and wrote it with little to no planning. I just knew the story and it flowed. 

I'll admit, this story KILLS me. I love it so, so much. I hope you all love it as much as I do.

(estimated release date...early April, 2017)

Believe in the Wish Story Description:

I buried my twin sister six months after she found out she had cancer. Her funeral was three months ago. Today is our birthday and it started with delivery of letters from her.

It seems she didn’t trust me to move on after her death. She knows me too well. But how can I go on when my other half is just...gone? That’s not something I can recover from with a snap of my fingers. But I also can’t ignore her instructions even though I’d be perfectly content to cuddle up with my buddy, Johnny Walker, and call it a year.

She has a list of things for me to do and there are rules attached.

There’s one major problem besides the fact it’s been three months since I left the house. I have to do all these things with her jerk of an ex, Hawk Simmons. He abandoned her shortly after she found out she was sick. If that wasn’t enough to make this a really bad idea, the fact that he makes an appearance in all my nighttime fantasies probably does.

I don’t think I can do this, but I owe it to my sister’s memory to try.

*****

That's it from me this week. I hope you all have a fabulous and book-filled weekend.

smiles,

christi