Friday, May 26, 2017

The final day of school Friday Five...



Summer is HERE!

Today was the last day of school, so I had a very good excuse for why I'm late today...


Wow, what a difference in only a single school year. 
Should I be afraid?


Something that caught my eye this week...

These photos came from Steampunk Tendencies on Facebook.

In another lifetime, I used to make everything I wore (I made my wedding dress). Seeing things like this makes me want to go back to that fashion design world...in a big way.

Journal porn...
I made a very dangerous discovery recently...
JenniBick.com

I had to place an order. Look at all this prettiness...


I'm not sure how I'll get the courage to actually write in them. They are just so gorgeous!

Paperblanks Silver Filigree Maya Blue Journal


Paperblanks Equinoxe Azure Journal


Vintage Notebook Parisian Blue Diary

 

I swear Amazon has a direct link to the inside of my head...


I've never done any of their buttons, but I couldn't resist this one. On those nights when edits are going horrifically bad or I'm hormonal, I can push my button and receive a surprise box of sweet treats. 

Seriously, how can this possibly go wrong? 

I pushed it this afternoon, so I'll let you all know what my first box of sweets is like.

(I'm much more excited about this than I should be...LOL.)


News from my book world...
^^^Believe in the Wish pictured^^^

This book is available right now...Amazon.

But in other news, I sent Found at the Bookstore to my editor this week.

NEXT WEEK, I'll share the blurb and cover. 

So be sure to come back and check in. I hope to release it in June (depending on edits).

Have a great weekend. 
For Americans, it's a holiday. Enjoy it with a good book.
smiles,
Christi

Friday, May 19, 2017

Friday Five...Late, but it's still Friday!

Did you give up on me posting the Friday Five today?
eeps.
I had a business lunch which consisted of TONS of book talk and a couple of margaritas...
sooo, I'm running a bit behind today. 

But never fear, here is your Friday Five...just a few hours late.


It's time for PLANNERS!!

Most of you probably realize this about me by now, but just in case you don't...
I'm an office supply junkie.
Always have been, probably always will be.

For me, and my seriously intensive OCD ways (at least when it comes to these types of things....totally NOT when it comes to cleaning my house...LOL), planners are Nirvana. I lurve them... in all shapes and forms. 
But I'm also cheap.
*sigh*
So, my planners come from Target.
And the Target Day Designers are dated July-June.
So, in my world that means I got to do a totally decadent planner splurge buy at Target this week.
You totally want to see photos, right?



And I know...I can see those raised eyebrows from here. 
Why do I need TWO of the big ones?
Because those are my art planners that I create my stamped planner page inside of each morning. I use watercolors which warp the pages.
Below are my TWO (almost finished) planners from this year. 
Yes, at one point in time, those two planners on the left were the same thickness as the two new ones in the back...until ART.



By the end of six months, they are seriously bulging.

But we like bulges, so that's okay.
(Oh come on...I totally know you were thinking it, too.)

Trailers, Trailers, Trailers...

Okay, confession time.
I truly don't watch TV.
I'd rather read or write with that time. 
But I adore watching trailers and the idea that I MIGHT watch new shows coming out... 
(nevermind that I never actually get to really watch them.)
But this week had a couple of amazing looking trailers for new TV shows coming.

First, The Crossing coming from ABC...


Doesn't that look intriguing?

Also, be sure to go check out the trailer for the new Star Trek Discovery
I am a total trekkie and love the look of it.


New things that make me happy...

A couple of weeks ago on Instagram, I saw a photo that featured a book (yes, those always catch my attention) and a book-themed candle. I was intrigued and in need of some retail therapy, so I followed a link that led to another link which eventually led me to a little etsy shop called...

All candles. All with book themes. It's like this shop owner knows me!

I've only burned a couple of candles so far, but I'm in love. They smell soooo good. I'm a plumeria girl, so I adore the Spring Court, but at first scent, there isn't a bad one here. I'll report more as I burn more. 


And speaking of retail therapy...

Last month I managed to get in on a subscription to the 
My first box arrived this week...
*happy sigh*
I'm so excited about every one of these signed books. They all sound amazing. Now, I just need to find time to read them.
Books:
*The Deep End by Kristen Ashley
*Blush for Me by Kristen Proby
*Lost Rider by Harper Sloan
*Dear Agony by Georgia Cates


And Finally...
What's happening with my writing?

First of all...
The release of Believe in the Wish went really well last week. Thank you so much to all of you that read, reviewed, and helped spread the word. It helps so much. 

THANK YOU!

And since that release is done, that means it's time for me to focus elsewhere...and yes, I'm still a bit ADD. I'm actively writing on both Snowcroft Restoration and When Love Comes Back, depending on which one calls to me any given day. 

This weekend, I'm doing final edits on Found at the Bookstore so I can send it to my editor next week. 

News...I got the cover for Found at the Bookstore this week...and it's so gorgeous. I can't wait to share it, and that will be soon. I need to look at the calendar and start planning that release date and as we get closer, I'll share. 

BTW, it shouldn't be too long. 

And there are a few other things happening that I think I'll be able to share sometime this summer, so soon...

Have a great weekend, everyone!
Happy reading.
smiles,
Christi

Friday, May 12, 2017

Friday Five...5 things about BELIEVE IN THE WISH

Okay, if you follow me on social media, you're probably sick of hearing me say it, but Believe in the Wish released yesterday and I'm just a bit excited....because I truly love this book. 

So, today's Friday Five IS going to revolve (mostly) around that book, but I'm hoping it will be fun to read regardless of whether you plan to read the book or not.

My TOP FIVE of MY BOOKS:
Okay this is wrong, just because I love all my books. They're like my children, but unlike my children I do play favorites. And since Believe in the Wish is on that favorites list, I thought I would share my list with you today.

1. Found at the Bookstore
This book is a romance story, like all my books are, but what makes this story different is that it is also a love story about the love of books. Books are a theme throughout and since I love them, too...it's a book that just makes me happy. Tommy and Mac make me happy too...and the sub-story of Thomas and Rex.

2. Believe in the Wish
This book is easily the most emotional book that I've ever written. I'll admit the first time I reread it after leaving it alone for several months, I was amazed at the emotional depth in it. (and note...I have no idea where that came from because it wasn't from me. When I wrote it was NOT an emotional time in my life.) The characters just leapt off the page and spoke through me. I think it's a beautiful story about life and living and how to go on when living is harder than the alternative.

3. Operation: Endeavor
Colton & Penelope...I still adore them. This was the second book I ever wrote and this entire first series (When the Mission Ends) holds a special place in my heart. Colton is my favorite hero ever and Penelope owns a bookstore and is a writer. Both of them have parts of me in them, but they're so much better. I love them so much. This book WAS my heart when I wrote it.

4. Justin
This book was the first in the Male Models Chronicles series. It's short...only 30,000 words and I wrote it in a week and a half. But I love this story. It's quirky and fun...and meant to be just pure entertainment. The meet-cute is my favorite meet-cute I've ever written. If you haven't read it, you can get it free when you sign up for my newsletter list.

5. Rejecting Destiny
The third book in the Through the Veil series. This book featured Bethany and Aaron, a couple who have been together for twenty years. Theirs is an unusual love story. They may have been a couple that long, but they weren't "together". This is a story about secrets and old hurts and the fact that even after 20 years, passion can be an important facet of the relationship that keeps a couple together. 

(If you want to take a closer look at any of these books, click on the BOOKS tab of my website and it will take you to a page of all the covers, blurbs, and purchase links.)
****

Why I love St. Louis...
Believe in the Wish takes place in the St. Louis metro area. That's where we lived before my hubby retired from the Air Force and we moved to Texas seven years ago. I'll be honest, if I had to choose a metro area to live in, St. Louis would be my top choice. We loved it there. 


Yes, it's a huge city, but it never feels like it. The entire metro is made up of quaint little suburban towns and a lot of them have a really fantastic history and vibe. Two of my favorites...Kirkwood and St. Charles...were kind of the basis for where I set the book. The actual town of Kirkwood, set in St. Charles' location. (hehe...I'm an author so I can do things like that).

I'm also a HUGE fan of this movie which might affect my love for the city itself...
(This is seriously one of my all-time favorite movies especially around Christmastime.)

I talk more about my love for St. Louis in a blog post for the book release tour and you can find it...HERE.
****

 I forgot to mention...
Speaking of the blog tour, I completely forgotten to mention it yesterday with all the release hoopla. I have a full blog tour scheduled. Each stop has a blog post by me...hopefully, there are some fun and interesting little tidbits in there. If not, there is a prize that you could win...an Amazon gift card, so go check out the blog posts, and you might win.

Tour Schedule

5/17 ~ BFD Book Blog
****

And speaking of new releases...
This week I got to read two great male/male romance books that are releasing next week that you may want to check out.

Summer Stock by Vanessa North
May 15, 2017
This is a book that takes place in a tourist town on the Outer Banks of NC during the summer. It's just plain entertaining and fun. The romance is sweet. The characters are deep. And I smiled while reading it several times. I liked it a lot. It would be a great read for this coming summer. Light, but still really fulfilling.


Slow Heat by Leta Blake
May 16, 2017
This book takes place in an Omegaverse paranormal world where only men survived. Despite the sound of it, these men are not shifters although they have quite a few shifter qualities. It was really creative and intriguing. I loved reading it. And now everyone needs to go buy it and read it so that the author will write a story for one of the side characters in it! (I'm selfish that way...I WANT Xan's story!)

 Note: Both of these books will have full reviews up on my Smitten with Reading blog next week.
****

And that brings us to what I'm working on now...
This week in my writing world, I've had three projects happening.

1. I'm actively writing and plotting When Love Comes Back, the fifth full-length book in the When the Mission Ends series. This is a second-chance-at-love story and I'm having so much fun exploring the main characters, Alex and Felicia, both their current lives and the past. Right now it's at almost 8,000 words so it still has a long ways to go to the estimated final 80,000 word count. 

2. I also wrote a little on Snowcroft Restoration, book #4 in the Men of Snowcroft series, this week. It's currently sitting at 12,000 words with a goal of 75,000. It had stalled out for a bit and I had to walk away, but I'm back in it again and excited. I also get to go visit the real "Snowcroft" this weekend and that always helps my inspiration. (You did realize that series was built on a real New Mexico town, right? We lived there for 3 years when we first got married and loved it!)

3. And I'm starting to put the final touches on Found at the Bookstore so I can send it to my editor. I'm also chatting cover design with my designer so things are happening there. This will be my next release, so keep watch. I may be able to get it out in June...crossing my fingers that everything falls into place so that happens.
****

Thank you so much for all your support this week...and every other week. I seriously have the BEST READERS. Love you all.
Have a great weekend everyone!
smiles,
Christi

Thursday, May 11, 2017

I have a new book out...BELIEVE IN THE WISH

It's finally here...
Release Day!!


Believe in the Wish is one of those books that's precious to me. The characters in it came to me and told me their story. I could do nothing, but write and cry as the words flowed through my hands and onto the laptop. It's an emotional book, but I believe it's a beautiful story...about hope, life, and romance. And believing.

Believing that despite the hard times, life is worth it.

Believing that everyone has a special someone...and sometimes they're lucky enough to have several special someones over a lifetime.

In the end, this book is about love.

And not just the love between two partners, but love between friends and family.

Those people who stand by us in our lives when life is tough.


Story Overview:
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, Johnnie 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.

This is a stand alone contemporary male/male romance.


Ethan startled out of his daze when someone knocked on his front door. He’d been sitting on his couch—in the middle of his now spotless living room—staring at the paperwork Katya had left with him after lunch.
He didn’t understand why Emma had done this. Why would she make things even harder now...when she had to know how hard he’d take her death?
Katya had told him his second task would be arriving at two o’clock, but he didn’t want to answer the door. The last time he’d done it, his whole world had been turned on its head. He just thought life had sucked before. Now he was scared of what lay outside knocking.
The knock came again, this time closely followed by the incessant ringing of the doorbell.
Ethan reluctantly pulled himself off the couch. He took a deep breath when he grabbed hold of the doorknob and pulled it open.
Hawk Simmons stood there. Part wary. Part defensive. Part disgruntled. All gorgeous.
Like a dog smelling a steak, his dick perked up at the sight of Hawk. Fucking hell.
Hawk had some sort of Latin heritage in his background that gave him a sultry, swarthy appearance. With his chiseled jaw, highlighted by dark scruff, he gave new meaning to the phrase tall, dark, and handsome.
At six feet tall, Hawk was slightly taller than Ethan. Hawk had on old, worn-out jeans that cupped him in all the right places, not that Ethan was focusing on his package. No, not at all.
He had obviously ridden his motorcycle given the black combat boots and black leather riding jacket he wore over his white T-shirt. He held a helmet in one hand and what looked to be another purple envelope in his other.

Ethan focused on the envelope. His stomach flipped over and his blood began to pound in his ears. Could he really do this? With this man?


Friday, May 5, 2017

Friday Five...It's been one of those weeks...



The good and the bad...
This week my son was home on leave from the Air Force on his way to his permanent duty station in Arizona. While he was home, he planned to trade in his old Xterra for a new "used" car. We went out Monday to go look at car dealerships, but when we went to start up the Xterra, there was nothing. This is what met us under the hood ...squirrel-chewed wires.

So, then maybe buying a car turned into having to buy a car this week...knowing he was leaving today. That's not much time. So we spent all day Monday and Tuesday looking at all the various options and finally found THE ONE...
Meet Jacob's 2014 Toyota Rav 4. Isn't it pretty? It was such a relief when he found the car he wanted...although that final decision (between this one another one) was TOUGH.

And in other news, I think I'm finally convinced that maybe I don't have to drive my Toyota Tundra truck forever. I could be convinced to buy one of these babies...yeah, I kind of loved it!



Goals and committing...
The last couple of months have been rough for me in that I'm not staying on track.

This week I've recommitted to my word of the year...
COMMIT
^^^My Keep bracelet with my word to remind me.^^^
^^^I made this graphic last year. Not only is it my screen wallpaper for my computer, but I have it made into wall art in my office.^^^

And in keeping with that theme, the ever talented Skye Jordan posted about a new app called irunurun...You can check out a quick two minute video about it here...IRUNURUN

But basically it's an accountability app. I kind of love that. Here's the graphic for my first week and so far, it's definitely helping to keep me on task.

^^^And don't worry, I have a LOT more green dots now. I think my score is up to 42 after I tallied it last night. I love accountability.


Book Cover Eye-Candy...
If you all know me at all, you know I'm a cover whore. There's a new book out that every time I see it my mouth drops open because it's just so pretty. I'm sharing it with you today.

Story Description:
One week in paradise with the one man I can’t resist… 

Will Cassidy is hot, infuriating, and the guy behind the biggest heart-stomping humiliation of my life. He’s also hosting my BFF’s destination wedding at his super-luxe tropical resort, so short of a hurricane or outbreak of the plague (here’s hoping), I’m stuck within tongue's arm's reach of him for the next seven days.

But I’m not a naive college girl anymore, and there’s no way I’m falling for his (many) charms again. I just have to ignore the romantic wedding shenanigans, his miraculous abs, all those intimate beach sunsets... And did I mention those abs? 

Maybe a wild vacation fling is exactly what I need to even the score... But between the scorching chemistry and all-inclusive margaritas, I’m getting drunk on love. Which definitely isn’t part of the plan. 

Can I keep my heart zipped - even if my bikini bottoms are lost somewhere on that nude beach? And how do you let go of the past when you’re holding on tight to the past’s (very ripped) torso? 

Find out in the sexy, hilarious new romantic comedy from Lila Monroe!
****

NOTE: I know NOTHING about this book. It could be awful. I haven't read it, but seriously, with that cover, who cares? I just want to stare at it. Why isn't it available in print?? Because then I could love it, and pet it, and call it mine.
*ahem*


Did you see this??



I'll admit, I'm not a Stephen King reader, but this one looks like something that really could be good. I like the fact that Matthew McConaughey is the bad guy. 


We're one week away...
from the release of Believe in the Wish!!

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, Johnnie 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.

This is a stand alone contemporary male/male romance.
*
Releasing May 11th

***

Here's a teeny, tiny snippet to see if it piques your interest...
Ethan didn’t know. The only thing he did know was that he was stuck with the guy now, and it would be better to just get it all over with.
He stepped aside and waved Hawk in. “I don’t need any comments about how I live my life. It’s none of your damn business. But for some reason, she wanted us to do this together, so I guess I’m stuck with you. Come in.”
Hawk paused and rubbed at his chest. “The love, man, I feel it. It hits me right here.” He pounded his muscular chest.
Ethan rolled his eyes. “Well, this is going to be fun.”
Hawk strolled into the house like he owned it and looked around, seemingly judging everything.
“Does it meet your approval?”
“It’s actually nice. I never came in”—a brief flash of pain filtered through Hawk’s eyes—“before. We always went to my place.”
Where they had sex.
Ethan needed to remember that. This was the man who Emma loved...and Hawk was straight. In no way would he ever be an option in Ethan’s life.
Besides, Hawk had screwed her over and abandoned her when she was dying. Ethan had to keep hold of the rage and anger if he wanted to get through this. He owed it to Emma.
She never knew about his attraction to Hawk, so he sure as hell couldn’t let it distract him now.
“Let’s get this over with,” Ethan ground out. “What do you know about this? Do you know why she came up with this asinine plan?”
Hawk blew out a sigh and then looked away. “I have the letter that the lawyer gave me, but Emma had given me instructions not to share the details of what it says with you or else you forfeit everything.”
The betrayal of that hit Ethan in the gut. It was like Emma was talking about him behind his back...something he’d never have thought she’d do before her death. To have her doing it now from beyond the grave seemed like the worst sort of disloyalty. Was his home and business really worth all this?
“Hey, are you okay?”
“No!” Ethan lashed out. “How could I possibly be okay with any of this? She was my best friend, my world, my only family, and I thought she loved me, too. I was so wrong.” And now she’d managed to humiliate him, too. Tears rolled down his cheeks in front of the one man he’d never wanted to see him as weak.
Ethan didn’t realize Hawk had moved until he touched his shoulder. It was meant to be a touch of comfort, but tingles erupted down his arm and straight to his stomach, which was just the icing on the cake of how fucked up this all was. He should not be getting tingles from his sister’s ex. He couldn’t.

****

And finally, Kathy P, you won the paperback giveaway from last week. 
Congratulations!!
Message me with your mailing address and I will get it out to you! 
snowchris_01@yahoo.com

Have a great weekend, everyone! 
smiles,
Christi