Cindy A. Christiansen's Blog, page 14

Lighten Up! It's Christmas!

Music is such a part of Christmas!  I'm sharing a song by Montgomery Gentry that just slays me-- Merry Christmas From the Family.

I'm not a drinker or smoker or such, but the images this song conjures up just makes me laugh--a real redneck Christmas! The causal monotone of the singer's voice just makes this song for me.

As the plaque on my front door says this year, "Lighten up! It's Christmas!





Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs! Fly into a good book at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.com
Dog photo:  http://www.123rf.com
Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

How Mrs. Santa Claus Saved Christmas - 1961

 Don't you just love Christmas traditions?

Below you will find a very special Christmas story my mother read to us each year.  The date: December 1961.  It was cut out of the Family Circle Magazine.  It is in such tatters that I didn't dare take it out of the plastic sleeves.  I scanned it and enlarged as big as I could.  I hope you can read it. The illustrations are so sweet.

I hope you have special traditions you share with your family and that reading is one of them.


































He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. ~Roy L. Smith

Have a very merry Christmas!



Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs! 
Fly into a good book at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.com

Copyright: damedeeso / 123RF Stock Photo
Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

A Doggone Special Christmas Message!

As Christmas draws near, I know you are extremely busy, but stop and enjoy the joy in this special Christmas video. It brings a sweet tear to my eye every time I watch it. It even got to my manly husband: "I've just got something in my eye."  lol


As Christmas began in the heart of God, let us complete that love by extending our hearts to others, including all of God's creatures. This coming year, I will be donating to a new organization - CAWS. Find out more at http://caws.org/
God made Christmas happen.Friends make Christmas beautiful.Music makes Christmas festive.Giving makes Christmas joyous.Love makes Christmas complete!

Wishing you and your loved ones peace, health, happiness, and prosperity! MERRY CHRISTMAS!


Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs!
Fly into a good book at: http://www.dragonflyromance.com
Dog in Santa hat photo: http://www.123rf.com

Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

Spill on Aisle Seven--Or Should I Say On The Ice?

The Christmas season…many years ago.
The air was so clear and cold, it hurt my lungs to breathe. I sat on the bus holding my books, folders, purse, and five giant, silver Hershey's Kisses-shaped packages filled with dozens of foil-wrapped homemade candies. My mom and I had spent the entire weekend making Christmas candy—fudge, peanut brittle, caramels, chocolate covered cashews, divinity, chocolate cherries, and hand dipped chocolates with multi-flavored centers. A candy lover's dream! Yum!  Each package was tagged with a special red and green tag addressed to my best friends.
The bus driver pulled up at the front of the high school. An unusual number of students stood outside for such a bitterly cold day. The smokers/hard core kids were lined up against the building, their free hand shoved in their pockets for warmth.
Arms loaded down, I was the first off the bus. Four steps down and I was on the sidewalk. Two steps later, I was sprawled on the ground, flat on my back, the back of my head having cracked the ice I'd just stepped on. Everything flew into the air—my skirt, my homework, my books…and the giant candy gifts. Not only that, they exploded in the air like Christmas confetti cannons and the individually foil-wrapped candies rained down like silver shooting stars.
I laid there like a dead fish. Laughter and snickers surrounded me. Smitty, the bus driver, got out and helped me to my wobbly feet. 
“Are you all right?” he asked, handing me my notebook.
All I could do is nod.  (Side note: It wasn't my first fall off the bus. I can fall during rain, snow, black ice, sunshine, or new orange polyester pantsuit.  Doesn't matter.)
He returned to help the other kids avoid the same fate as mine. I looked around at rosy-cheeked grinners, knee-slapping gigglers, and staggering laughers.  No one else made a move to help me. I started picking up my books and realized most of my candy had flown over the chain-link fence.  Climb over a fence in a dress in the snow with everyone watching? Not happening.
Suddenly Cindy, one of the girl smokers, pushed off the school wall, dropped her cigarette, and crushed it with her boot. She marched over and easily hopped the fence, picking up the snow-covered candy and handing it to me.
The bell rang and the amusement subsided as everyone dashed inside to their classes. Cindy handed me that last candy. I was never so grateful to anyone in my life.
“Thank you so much, Cindy,” I said.
“No problem, Cindy. Us Cindys have to stick together. Kids have been hitting that black ice all morning and everyone just stood around, watching the show.”
“Merry Christmas.” I handed her back three of the chocolate candies.
She beamed. “Merry Christmas to you, too!”

~*~
It’s obvious I will never forget Cindy’s kindness, but I also learned that day to never judge people by outward appearances but only by what's in their hearts.


Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs! Fly into a good book at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.com
Copyright: gvictoria / 123RF Stock PhotoCindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

The Inside Scoop on Legacy of Lies

Last week's winner was Niki D.  Congrats!

(Don't miss the giveaway at the end of the post!)
Blurb: Katelynn swore she would never return to the small mining town of Comstock, Utah where she’d grown up. Only bad memories remain there of her estranged father, the gossipy townsfolk, and her teen sweetheart Walt Jeffries who broke her heart. But after receiving a letter from her father, she grudgingly returns only to find he died over a year ago and the past may not be all she’s been told.
Walt Jeffries is trying to bring new business to his dying town when Kate returns.  Her digging up the past may risk everything he’s working toward.  As Kate determinedly delves into the past, Walt finds himself between a rock and a hard place concerning his feeling for her and his duty to the town.  Can the two learn their real legacies, save Walt’s Rottweiler, Festus, and avoid getting killed themselves?  Will the truth set them free to fall in love?
Mom, hubby and brother out on west desert  Brother and hubby checking out cavesHow It Began: Legacy of Lies is the first book I ever published.  By the time I started writing it, I was getting a feel for what was expected, but I was still very insecure.  I decided I needed to pay a professional to edit the book for me.  I went with a company owned by the writer of Water World .  You know.  The movie with Kevin Costner.   How could I go wrong? It cost around fifteen hundred dollars, but I learned a great deal from the line-by-line editing.  I found out that I made the same three writing mistakes over and over again. 
The last suggestion made was to cut my final scene.  The editor said it was anti-climactic. He said it needed to end in the mine where the action happened. It didn't quite feel right to me, but I deleted my final chapter, edited the ending, and began sending it out to numerous publishers.  I got one rejection after another.  I was totally frustrated.  Finally, I got a letter that said they loved my writing and would like to work with me but the book had an issue—there was no final wrap up scene. I quickly attached my final chapter and sent it off (without changes), and they offered me a contract!
The editing company I went through folded.  The editor had been right about the writing mistakes, wrong about the wrap up scene, and I learned I needed to trust my instincts.  You can learn something from almost every critique. (Even one where they told my characters were TSTL - too stupid to live.)
This book idea was born from my Utah heritage of mining, because I live right near the Kennecott Copper Mine and love traveling through our small mining communities.  My family loves to collect rock specimens and hunt for geodes, etc.
I also have a personal history that led to the idea of the character not knowing what the truth was about her own family and the past. This is another book that is particularly meaningful to me.
Premise: With each of my books, I always have a message in mind.  In Legacy of Lies the message is: Share your soul!


Excerpt:Aunt Millie, too, seemed ill at ease. She wrung her hands together and cleared her throat several times before she leaned forward in her chair. “I’d like you to explain what you meant last night by saying that Henry ditched you.”
Katelynn didn’t want to get into a discussion about her father’s indiscretions. “I’d like to know how he died.”
“Henry didn’t leave, remember? It was that mother of yours. She hurt him terribly and so did you.”
“We may have left, but it was at his request and because of what he had done.”
Millie jumped to her feet. “What are you talking about?”
The anger in Millie’s eyes made Katelynn realize she should have gotten in the car and left that morning.
“Look, maybe I’d better go,” she said.
“Running away again? Your mother’s influence, I see.” Tears formed in Millie’s eyes. “Henry searched and searched for you, you know.”
Katelynn cringed inwardly, and her throat tightened. She didn’t want to fight with Millie, but she certainly wasn’t going to sit and listen to her lies.
“How can you even say that? He knew exactly where we were. He just didn’t care. And if he hadn’t been having an affair, we wouldn’t have had to leave in the first place.” She dropped her lashes to hide the hurt, but heard a soft chuckle. She looked up quickly.
A smile crossed Millie’s lips. “An affair? Henry? I should have known. Why didn’t I see it? It was that mother of yours.”
“What do you mean, my mother?” Katelynn’s temper started to rise.
“She told you those lies so you wouldn’t try to come back and see Henry. That’s it.”
Katelynn seethed with mounting rage and jumped to her feet. “How dare you say such a thing about my mom!” She marched toward the door. “I don’t have to stay and listen to this.”
“But Kate, honestly, your father had no idea where you were. He even hired a private detective. Emma took you and left. He tried to find out from Emma’s cousin, but she either didn’t know or wouldn’t say. Henry was heartbroken.”
She stared at Millie in disbelief and said nothing.
“Come sit down. We’ll talk.” Millie dropped into her floral easy chair and patted the couch.
Katelynn wanted to run, but she dragged herself to the couch. She didn’t know why she wanted to hear more, especially when she knew none of it could be true. But she also knew there were always two sides to every story, and she wanted to know more about her father, no matter what kind of person he had been.
“I don’t mean to talk badly of your mother, Kate. I know she’s the only family you’ve known, but let’s face facts.”
“What facts?” She turned to her aunt, her shoulders slumping.
“You know as well as I do that your mother hated this town and our family, and she didn’t want you to have anything to do with us.”
“I know no such thing. My father asked my mom to leave when she found out that he was having an affair.”
Millie smiled again. “Did she say with whom?”
“Yes, she did, but I won’t discuss it. It doesn’t matter now.”
Millie clicked her tongue, and her eyes lit up. “Not Sophia Jeffries? Did she tell you that?”
Her expression gave the answer away.
Millie forged ahead. “They never had an affair. Henry and Sophia dated before your mother came to town, but when he saw Emma, he fell madly in love. Sophia never forgave him for jilting her, and Emma was always jealous of Sophia’s past relationship with him. Mind you, Sophia always flirted with Henry when Emma was around, but Emma should have trusted your father. Do you remember anything about the Jubilee Mine?”
Her brow furrowed. She knew her parents had trouble with Will and Sophia over the mine, and that Will left town and hadn’t come back before she and her mom had gone.
“I don’t remember much,” she told her aunt.
“Well, you do remember that your father and Will were partners in the mine and that they went broke, or don’t you?”
“I thought that Will left town to get a job and that Mom and Dad both worked to keep things going.”
“But did you know that Henry made a promise to Will to take care of Sophia and the kids while he was gone?” Millie asked.
Katelynn’s eyes widened with surprise. “No.”
“Henry gave money to Sophia. After several months, rumors started going around town that Henry was a polygamist and that Sophia’s two younger sons were really his. Emma got even more jealous and angry because she was working, too, and Henry would turn around and give the money to Sophia. They fought quite a bit.” Millie paused and looked at her watch.
Katelynn’s mind was swimming with bewilderment. Memories of her parents fighting drifted back to her. She wondered if Millie could be telling the truth. She wanted to believe that her father loved her, but she didn’t want to believe that her mom had lied to her all those years. A sick feeling settled in her stomach.
“Are you all right, Kate? You look pale.”
She couldn’t speak, so she just nodded.
“Don’t you believe me?”
“I don’t know what to believe.”

Review: This book by Cindy A. Christiansen is a book of non-stop action that will surely be a page turner.  With characters that entice and interest the reader and a plot that will keep you hooked until the last sentence, this is a must read book.   
This book is enjoyable because of the characters actually being real to life, not the romantic hero that everything falls into place for.  Katelynn the main character is a character that proves herself page after page, especially in the face of opposition brought forth by other characters like Walt and Millie, people purported to be her friends and family.
This book follows the journey of Katelynn as she tries to discover and reconcile her past with her father.  To her dismay she finds that he is no longer alive and that she was blocked from all contact with him.  For her this shocking discovery is only the beginning of new problems she must face to discover the reality of her past and live to see her future.
In a word this book is good.  Overall well written and the start of a promising career for Cindy A. Christiansen. 4/5 Stars, Alan Christopher Williams, The Book Reviewers

Giveaway:  I will select 2 winners for a PDF copy of Legacy of Lies . Like or favorite my Amazon page and then leave a comment. Please include your email or send it to me at: cindy@dragonflyromance.com.
Cindy’s Amazon Page

Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs! Fly into a good book at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.comCharacter Photo Images: http://www.123rf.com


Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

Message in the Snow!

Snow still covered the fields, but the thawing spring temperatures quickly soaked the moisture into the ground.  Dad was in the milk barn, milking.  I had finished my chores of feeding and watering the cows, sheep and pigs.  I tromped out into the back pasture to leave Dad one final snow message.
Our Border collie, Ponchovia, darted and flashed in the snow and rushed up to the corral of sheep, barking and snapping at them.  Luckily, he didn’t mess up my message to Dad.
As I headed for the milk barn, I watched the cows in their corral wade through the already melting mud and manure.  Their hooves made a sucking sound as they waddled through the soupy mess.  It was not quite runny enough to drain off into the back pasture to use as fertilizer, but a couple of warmer days would do the trick.
I walked past the shop and chicken coop toward the milk barn.  I could hear Dad singing to a country tune on the radio.  As I approached the door and reached for the hook on the leather cord to unlock it, I paused.
If I unhooked the leather from the latch, Dad would pull but the hook would stay latched.  I snickered under my breath like Muttley and Dick Dastardly. What would Dad do?  The only other way out was through the corral in all that stinky, deep manure that would run over the tops of his rubber boots.
I tapped my gloved finger against my cold, dry, smiling lips.  Would he wade through all that yuck?  Would he laugh or kill me?  My brows furrowed while I contemplated his reaction to my prank.  I was pretty certain he would kill me.
I heard the metal stanchion spring open and Dad slap Bessy affectionately on the rump, telling her to back out and head for the corral.  I slipped the leather off the hook, moved away from the door a few feet, and waited with my cold hands nestled in my coat pockets.  Dad shut off the radio.  I heard him pick up the metal handle on the milk bucket.   The leather slowly pulled toward the small hole in the door without the hook and then stopped.  Dad feed the leather back down as if he could rehook the latch.  No chance.
I covered my mouth and giggled.  He made several other attempts at unlatching the door and then beat on it.  My cheeks hurt from smiling.  His movements finally stopped.  I’m pretty sure there was a flurry of cussing under his breath.  I knew he was conflicted about tromping through all that manure.  I could actually feel his tension mounting as he tried to figure out how to escape unscathed.
By the sound, I could tell he cupped his mouth to yell out my brother’s name.  I couldn’t hold back any longer.  I burst into rolling fits of laughter, unlocked the latch, and threw open the door.
Dad stood on the other side frozen in shocked surprise.  “Why you little pipsqueak.”
He grabbed me by the back of the neck and squeezed, but my coat hood protected me from his playful throttling. 

We delivered the bucket of warm, steaming milk to the house, and then I showed him my message in the snow, “I love you, Dad.”

He forgave me that day, and it was a special memory the two of us shared until the day he died. I will always love you, Dad.



Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs! 
Fly into a good book at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.com

Copyright of Snow Photo: Argument / 123RF Stock Photo
Copyright of Dog in Snow Photo: gbphoto21 / 123RF Stock PhotoCindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

Weekend Blog: The Inside Scoop on Not Quite Zen

(Don't miss the giveaway at the end of the post!)
Blurb: Therapy dog trainer and hospice aide Harmony Hastings takes a much needed Zen vacation only to return to sheer chaos at the Silver Sunset Senior Community. Who is the new gorgeous, young doctor and why has old Doc Barlow disappeared? Why are residents being harmed? Can Harmony keep her chakras in balance long enough to figure out the mystery before one of the baby boomers ends up dead? Is the mysterious doctor the guilty party, or is he only guilty of giving Harmony a terminal case of love?

How It Began: Not Quite Zen began with the idea that no matter how hard you try to be healthy, it doesn’t always work out as planned. This lesson came from personal experience.
When I began plotting, there were a number of home evasion stories in the news. Little did I know while writing the story that one of my own family members would actually experience such a terrifying event.
This book is loaded with plot and probably more true to a mystery story than any of my other books. Think witness protection, street gangs, attempted murder, secrets, disguises, accidents, love triangles, therapy dogs, multiple mysteries, car accidents, home invasion, undercover work, escaping dogs, and poisonings. Oh, and I guess there's romance in it too.
Premise: With each of my books, I always have a message in mind.  In Not Quite Zen the message is: Live for the moment!

Excerpt:Thanksgiving—a time of gratitude for family and friends. A time to reflect on personal growth during the changing of the seasons. A time to give thanks for all the many blessings and the ample beauty surrounding us.
Harmony took a deep breath, relishing traditions.
She had the next two days off but had to work the weekend. Every year, the staff swapped which two days they’d work of the four given for the holiday. She didn’t mind. Holidays proved pleasant times at the community. Seniors had a way of forgetting their problems, their pains and their struggles to enjoy the festiveness of the time of year.
“Princess, I’ve been meaning to talk to you,” Gramps said, bustling around the kitchen.
She shoveled up another scoop of dog food and filled Sarge’s dish. “Be right there.”
The savory smells of Gramps’ roasted turkey and chestnut gravy made her appreciate not being a dog. Sarge looked at her with sad, droopy eyes.
“Sorry, big guy. As much as I’d like to give you some, turkey just doesn’t agree with your digestive system.” She headed into the bathroom, washed up and then scurried to the kitchen. She grabbed two fancy gold-rimmed glasses from the cupboard and placed them by each place setting. “Dinner smells as wonderful as ever, Gramps. How come you didn’t invite some of your friends?” she asked.
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you, princess.” Gramps stopped stirring the gravy.
“You know I enjoy your friends, but I don’t think we’ve had a Thanksgiving alone in years. This is nice.” She pulled her pumpkin pie and pecan pie out of the refrigerator and set them on the counter to return to room temperature.
“About that,” Gramps said with a sigh.
Ding-dong. Ding-dong.
Gramps dropped the spoon into the boiling gravy. “Dagnabbit. The spoon. Will you fish it out? They’re here.”
“Who’s here?”
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.” He bustled toward the door, limping on his arthritic knee.
“You’ve said that a million times lately, Gramps, but you never get around to telling me anything.”Should she set more places at the table?
Harmony fished the spoon from the bottom of the saucepan and placed it in the sink. Turning, she caught sight of Milburn dressed in a celebratory orange and black sweater and dress slacks. A little shiver of excitement danced up her spine. He stepped forward, and Harmony noticed Doris Zillox hovering on his far side.
What on earth? Gramps hadn’t told her he’d invited anyone—especially not someone from Silver Sunset…or a woman. Gramps never did that. She wiped the surprise from her face and plastered on a smile.
“Harmony, come and greet Milburn and Doris,” Gramps said, reaching for Doris’s hand and clasping a little too long for Harmony’s liking.
What had gotten into him? Doris? She’d never known her grandfather to even mention any of the women at Silver Sunset by their given names, much less invite them over to the house. Harmony didn’t even know he knew Doris.
“Hello, Mrs. Zillox. Dr. Warrick. Happy Thanksgiving.”
They cheerfully returned her greeting.
“Princess, dinner is all ready for you,” Gramps said, heading to the front closet and pulling out his coat.
Harmony’s breath strangled in her throat. “But…”
You’re leaving? Where? You’re leaving Doris and Milburn here with me and going to one of your friends for Thanksgiving? Gramps, no.
“The rolls are the only thing left warming in the oven,” he said, slipping on his coat and hat.
“I-I-I don’t understand.” Her vision swam.
“Doris has invited me to spend Thanksgiving with her and her family, princess. Milburn didn’t have anywhere else to go, so I invited him to have dinner with you since we had so much food.”
“Dr. Warrick? Thanksgiving? Food?” She sounded like a raving idiot. She had to pull herself together. But she couldn’t quite wrap her mind around Gramps going out with Doris Zillox and meeting the woman’s family on Thanksgiving. And, how could he leave his only granddaughter with Dr. Warrick—the possible, but highly doubtful, Silver Sunset Killer. And on a treasured family holiday! Air sputtered in her throat again.
She watched the sparkle in her grandfather’s eye as he gazed at Doris.
Gramps kissed Harmony on the cheek. “Enjoy the meal. I’ll be back for turkey sandwiches late tonight.” He guided Doris out the door.
Harmony stared after them, completely shaken by the turn of events. “Well, that was a surprise.”
“You didn’t know about this?” Milburn questioned.
“Well, no, actually. Gramps kept saying there was something he wanted to talk to me about, but we never got the chance.”
“Do you want me to leave? I’m sure I could find a Denny’s in Park City.”
“Uh…no. No Denny’sin Park City.”
He headed for his coat on the back of the couch.
“No. Please don’t go. I’m sorry. I’m just flabbergasted, that’s all. I didn’t know Gramps had even met Mrs. Zillox, let alone had been…” She gulped. “Dating her.”
“So you didn’t know they’ve been going out together for the last three months?”
Her knees wobbled. “Th-th-three months? Gramps and Doris Zillox?” She reached for her stomach. “I had no idea.” Surprise bulged her eyes.

Review: Heart pounding romance and nail biting mystery comes together to make one of the most entertaining and fun books you will ever read!
The romance itself was sweet and who wouldn't love a handsome doctor, but the mystery gives this story the spice that will have readers anxiously turning the pages to find out what happens next.
The characters were the kind you love to learn about and have you thinking about them long after the story is over. Harmony is a sweet woman, but also knows how to take care of herself. She is a strong independent woman that I think many readers such as myself can relate to. The doctor is charmingly mysterious and adds to the mystery and suspense of the story while giving it just the right amount of romance. I highly recommend this fun new read that will bring you hours of enjoyment. 5/5 Stars,Katie Cody

Giveaway:  I will select 2 winners for a PDF copy of Not Quite Zen .Like my Amazon page and then leave a comment.  If you don’t leave your email, please check back here for the winners by next Friday.
Cindy’s Amazon Page

Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs! Fly into a good book at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.comCharacter Photo Images: http://www.123rf.com


Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

A Rare Thanksgiving

It was a rare moment, a divine day.  With two boys who have autism and mood disorders, our household is rarely calm.  And, with my health problems and high pain level, I seldom feel at peace.  On one particular Thanksgiving a couple of years ago, all the stars must have aligned and Heavenly Father joined us for the day.
We all got up early to get the turkey ready.  My youngest son was extremely excited and loved pulling the missed pin feathers from the bird.  We slathered a generous amount of butter on the turkey, bagged it, and placed it in our largest roasting pan.  Into the oven it went.
Time for hot chocolate for all in various flavors and topped with whipped cream.  We settled in to watch the sun come up on a beautiful, warm, sunny day with plenty of autumn colors to feast our eyes upon.  The boys were unusually content and happy.  They didn’t quarrel or yell or get moody and instead played contentedly.  Peace filled our home like no other time I can remember and also a blissful silence that no one wanted to break.
I reveled in the moment, stretched out on the couch, my fingers intertwined behind my head, and soaked up the serenity.  The house was filled with the wonderful aroma of Thanksgiving.  It was a rare and precious moment given to us by Heavenly Father, and I said a prayer of gratitude for this special time and all of our blessings.  I watched the boys playing together in peace with love in my heart.  The day continued that way, and, for once, we had a peaceful meal.
The next day returned to pandemonium and my pain level soared, but I continued to feel that peace and joy for days. Take the time to enjoy all those special moments in your life and give thanks for all your blessings, even those days of chaos. 

“Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley


Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs! Fly into a good book at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.com

Copyright: serjedi1 / 123RF Stock Photo
Copyright: Jiri Vaclavek / 123RF Stock Photo Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

Weekend Blog: The Inside Scoop on Hazardous Hideaway

The winners for Braving the Blaze are Niki Renee and Barbara VW. Congrats!

(Don't miss the giveaway at the end of the post!)
Blurb: Riding a bucking bronco would be easier than the ride Dallas Mae Jenkins is on. While escaping an abusive relationship, she ends up in a wreck and stranded at a remote dairy in Utah. Worse yet, the presence of her horse whips up memories of an old town murder, and Dallas finds herself in serious danger.

The last thing Tom Allred needs is a wily female working at his dairy, especially one dragging up a murder he was accused of committing. Will Tom’s antacids hold out until he can get rid of Dallas? Or, will she lasso his heart?

How It Began: Hazardous Hideaway will always be my baby. I broke my teeth on this book while I was bed-ridden. I wrote it in first person and it was way too short. Everyone told me you pretty much write your first book and throw it away. I couldn’t do that. The characters had become family to me, and so much of me is in this book.

It was published under a different title with a different publisher and the editor asked me to increase the language. I did to a certain extent, but when it came back with profanity that I felt my characters wouldn’t say, I threatened to pull the book. That’s when I began developing what kind of a writer I wanted to be.

Randy on Wrikas, Me on Pongo with Coalie
in South Willow Canyon, Tooele, UTThe love Dallas has for her horse is the love I had for my brother’s part-Clydesdale horse, Pongo. The scene where Yuletide rolls over with Dallas in the saddle really happened to me.

Events happening to Dallas without her ever asking for trouble or asking questions really occurred to me in my life, although not about a murder.

All of my dairy information came from my husband and my brother-in-law, Lynn. I even toured the dairy Lynn worked at during that time and found all the details fascinating.

This book has a more serious side than my later books and deals with abuse and standing up for yourself. This is one of the only books I’ve written where a dog gets killed. This, too, was based on a real life situation.

Stubby:  Jack Russell TerrierBorn - November 1, 1998Hit by car - June 29, 2002
Don't get me wrong.   Hazardous Hideaway still has a lot of humor in it.  I love Tom's personality and the funny things he says.
"Man, oh, man. It’s as noticeable as a boil on a pug nose that I stink bad."
I based Tom on a relative that lives down in that area.  Some readers have not been able to relate to Tom or the lifestyle in this book, but believe me, it still exists in rural areas.

Premise: With each of my books, I always have a message in mind. In Hazardous Hideaway  the message is: Dare to dream!

Excerpt:Tom shielded the sun from his eyes with the brim of his hat as they started east up the right fork toward Clear Creek Flats. He led them up the steep mountain road for a distance due to an impassable wide ravine off to the right. He comfortably sat his saddle and moved over the steep terrain with ease, despite having to guide Skipper. It felt good to be in the saddle again.
He looked back at Dallas. Yuletide wouldn’t settle down to a walk, and Dallas had to concentrate more on keeping him in line than enjoying the scenery. Tom hoped her horse would calm down when he became more use to his horses. Trapper took firm sure steps, while Yuletide, on the other hand, pranced and stumbled. He had his attention on everything but what he should. Tom couldn’t figure out Dallas’ attraction to the horse. He was way too big for her and obviously a work horse, not a riding horse.
He grinned. It didn’t matter what kind of a lame-brained horse she owned. He loved Dallas.
He’d realized his feelings for her at the San Pitch Social, and his love for her had grown as they’d worked together each day. He hadn’t told his family yet, especially his crummy brothers. That Burnell. He was as slick as snot on a door knob with Dallas back at Ina’s. Tom had wanted to clip his horns, but he certainly didn’t want to announce his intentions to anybody yet. Heck. He knew Dallas wasn’t ready for a relationship, probably not even thinking along those lines. But, he’d wait.
Ina’s idea of getting away had been a good one. He’d spend some time alone with Dallas, away from prying eyes. People made him anxious. Plus, he’d been too busy working to stop and really get to know Dallas. This way, he could talk to her and maybe get her to open up to him. Maybe even...well, he better not even think about that. He grabbed a roll of antacids from his shirt pocket.
After a mile or so, the ravine widened to a stream. They found a shallow place to cross and moved higher southeast toward Mount Baldy. They kept climbing until they reached an open grassy meadow. Clouds started to gather.
“We’ll stop and rest as soon as we reach Salina Creek,” he called over his shoulder. “It’s not much farther. We can water up there.”
Yuletide hadn’t calmed down at all, and Tom could see the strain on Dallas’ face. The horse’s blood was up from not having been ridden. He cursed himself. He should’ve kept this first ride short. He knew better, but too late now.
The spindly grass waved in the slight breeze. Around the perimeter of the meadow, quakies, Douglas fir and mountain ash grew thick like molasses, shading the small meadow and making the temperature cooler. The mountains rose up steep and graceful to the east and south and plunged steeply down from where they’d been.
Tom stole another look at Dallas. She sat her horse well and proved easy on the eyes. He smiled and glanced again just as Yuletide dropped on his front knees and then collapsed his back legs under him. Dallas stayed in the saddle, not sure what to do.
He reined Trapper hard. “Get your feet out of the stirrups. He’s gonna roll on ya.”
Dallas flipped her right foot out of the stirrup and desperately tried to unhook her left. Yuletide’s girth made the task hard. The horse rolled onto his right side. Between Dallas and the saddle, Yuletide realized he couldn’t roll onto his back. As he plunged to stand, Dallas’ boot finally released. She dove and landed on her knees on the ground. Yuletide whinnied and pranced. Dallas tumbled and rolled to get clear of his powerful hooves.
Tom jumped off Trapper, reined in her horse and reached to help her to her feet. “What kinda fool trick was that horse pulling? Are ya all right?”
“I’m fine,” she said, automatically brushing off her jeans.
“Seems to me this horse ain’t nothin’ but trouble, and ya oughta get rid of him. You should’ve hit him with your quirt the minute he started to go down.”
“Oh, no, he just thought a roll in the grass would feel good. It’s not his fault. I should’ve taken him on some easier rides before this one. It’s just...well, we couldn’t take him out of the barn.”
“Get on Trapper,” he said, grabbing her arm and pulling her toward his horse. “That horse will no doubt get ya killed one of these days.”
“No, please, I can handle him. You don’t understand.” Her eyes pleaded with him.
“I don’t see why ya’d wanna risk your neck on this horse,” he fired back.
Her eyes glistened. “My father gave him to me for Christmas just before he died. He means the world to me.” Her shoulders sagged.
“What do ya mean before he died? Ina said you called your father the first day ya came here.”
“I-I lied. My dad passed away about a year ago.”
She looked up at him with those innocent doe eyes, and his heart turned to butter.
“I was afraid to say I didn’t have anyone to turn to,” she whispered. She rested her head against his chest.
He thought about her not confiding in the doctor, or confessing who’d attacked her, or telling Ina the truth. He might be facing a long wait before she ever worked out her issues.
“You don’t trust anyone,” he said harsher than he intended.
She pulled away, frowning. “I’ve found it to be safer that way.” She grabbed Yuletide’s reins from his hand, guided the gelding over to a huge rock and mounted.
“At some point, you’ll need to put some trust in somebody,” he yelled at her as she rode off.
He reluctantly mounted Trapper and followed her farther into the mountains without saying another word.

Review: Cindy Christiansen pens a story riddled with suspense, mystery and emotion. The main characters are well developed and you feel the inner turmoil as they try to decide what to think about each other. The reader slowly begins to see through the layers of deceit and the ending is heartfelt.  Hazardous Hideaway  is a triumph for Christiansen. 4-1/2/5 Stars, Manic Readers Reviews

Giveaway:  I will select 2 winners for a PDF copy of Hazardous Hideaway .If you truly like my writing, like my Amazon page or add me as a FAVORITE and then leave a comment here.  If you don’t leave your email, please check back here for the winners by next Friday.
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Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs! Fly into a good book at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.comCharacter Photo Images: http://www.123rf.com


Cindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author

The Agony of that First Reader’s Call

"Don't answer it!"I had tasted the joy of publication and my first book had been out several months.  There was no better feeling.
One day the phone rang.
“Is this, Cindy?” a man asked.
“Yes, it is.”
“I’ve read your book, Legacy of Lies .”
There was a long pause.  I gulped hard.  He didn’t say whether he liked the book or not.  My heart physically hurt in my chest.  My fear prevented me from asking what he thought of my writing.  I waited in trepidation.
“I know the area you wrote about well.”
I fell into my desk chair, trembling.  My life passed before my eyes.  No.  I didn’t think I was dying.  My life had been fraught with negative experiences where I was tormented by individuals who got me into trouble for things that I had said and even things that I had never said.
I fidgeted with the notepad on my desk and dropped my pencil.  Sweat sprouted out all over my body.  I couldn’t control my trembling.  I still couldn’t bear to ask him what he thought.  I felt like he had caught me in a lie.  Yes, I had been through the country I had written about, even camped there many times.  But, what did I know?  Even if I’d done extensive research, I wasn’t a mining expert.
His silence was driving me to the edge of my nerves.  I wanted to slam the phone down.  My fingers trembled against my forehead.  He began telling me about his professional experience working in the area.  Paranoia gripped me.  I couldn’t actually comprehend what he was saying.  Every negative experience I had been through raced through my mind as quickly as my heart was beating.
I decided I would never write another book.  I’d talk to my publisher and see if they would cancel my contract.  I finally realized I hadn’t heard a word my caller had said.  I forced myself to listen.
“You did a great job.  I really felt like I was there.”
I was speechless.  I took a deep breath and shakily exhaled.  Really?  He wasn’t going to accuse me of anything?
“Well, thank you,” I said, almost in tears.
The call ended, and I rushed to the bed to lie down.
My fears still get the better of me sometimes, but I’m learning.  And isn’t that what life is all about?
Cindy A. ChristiansenSweet Romance, Humor, Suspense...and Dogs! Fly into a good book at:  http://www.dragonflyromance.com

Copyright of dog photo: damedeeso / 123RF Stock PhotoCindy A. Christiansen
Sweet (clean) Romance Author