Christi Snow's Blog, page 16

Friday Five with a special upcoming announcement...

New Favorite Book...I adore books that sweep me away emotionally.  This one did that and more. It's most definitely a new favorite...and be warned...this is an ugly cry book, but it's SO GOOD!You can find my full A+ rated review of it HERE.
The Story of Us by Tara Sivec From USA Today bestselling author Tara Sivec comes an emotional, breathtakingly romantic new book about the power of first love and the promise of second chances.
How much can a man take before he breaks?

1,843 days. That's how long I survived in that hellhole. They tried to break me, but I resisted. And I owe it all to the memory of warm summer nights, the scent of peaches, and the one woman who loved me more than I ever deserved to be loved. Now, I'll do anything to get back to her. 

Only Shelby Eubanks isn't the girl I left behind all those years ago. She's someone else, a stranger. My Shelby-my little green-eyed firecracker-would never give up her dreams, would never disappear into her mother's ambitions. But I won't give up on her. On us. I may be broken, and scarred, and not the man I used to be, but I will do whatever it takes to remind her of the story of us.


IndigoJade...IndigoJade is a small art company owned by Lisa Hetrick. I know Lisa from back when she used to be a Unity Stamp Company designer. Now she's a watercolor artist. She showcases her daily art on her Instagram wall and recently I splurged and bought some of her art from her Etsy store for my walls. Now I need to get them framed.


Writing Goals...I'll admit this hasn't been a great year for me writing words-wise. Luckily, I've had a stockpile of books written so the release schedule is totally packed, regardless. But overall, my writing productivity has been about 1/2 my norm the last few months, but that's what makes this feel even more amazing. Accountability is key! Note: It's a good month when I hit 30k for the month, so to be already over that only halfway through the month is AWESOME!!

Things that make me happy...1. Books ...I love the escape, the feeling of when a book sweeps me away, the warm fuzzy feeling when I look at my filled bookshelves. Books make me happy.2. Scents ...I'm a candle girl. I've mentioned a few of my favorites on here before, but right now I have one burning from Tyler Candle Company called French Market that is my all time favorite. It smells SO GOOD!
3. Drinks. ..coffee, wine, or beer. It doesn't matter which one it is. Grabbing a cup or glass of any of these makes me feel a little pampered. Seriously, a tiny little happy throughout the day.

A Surprise is Coming...
Be sure you check back next Friday. I have a very special announcement in store...
(hint...I think you all will like it!)
Have a great weekend, everyone!smiles,Christi

A book is a dream...

Five for Friday...

I'm fighting a migraine that's trying to take me down today, so this will be pretty short and succinct.

Goals...I'm a journal/planner girl.I just got this which is specifically for goals. I'm kind of in love...but yet, I don't want to write in it and mess it up. It's so pretty.
Buy link****

My big splurge...If you follow my instagram/planner pages, you know I'm a watercolor pencil girl. This week I bought this. O.O I know. #totallyspoiled But like the planner above, I kind of don't want to mess it up. LOL. I have got to get over that.

Buy link****
Favorites...I've read a couple of really good books this week...both contemporary romances...
Dating You Hating You by Christina Lauren
Shacking Up by Helena Hunting
I definitely recommend both books.****

Coming soon to theaters...
This looks really good!

****
Writing...
I'm still writing the first draft on...*Snowcroft Restoration (Law's book)

In editing...*Found at the Bookstore (Found #2...Ryder & Stig)

I'm thinking...You all know I have a 10 yo daughter. I'd like to write something she could read, so I'm thinking...and maybe playing a little bit.
****Have a great weekend, everyone!smiles,Christi

Today...

A FOUND AT THE BOOKSTORE Friday Five....

The characters:Stig Age: 38Occupation: Owner of Minton GalleriesBackground:Stig is a complex character. He was raised in an affluent home where his mother was a huge professional artist. He grew up with certain expectations on his deportment in all things. As a result, Stig is a bit of a wild-child...yes, even at 38. He doesn't make friends easily and can be what appears to be a really shallow guy. But all that facade he's putting on is hiding his vulnerable underbelly. Stig desperately wants a family...someone to belong to...love, and he's never even come close to that. He thought he might have a chance with that with Mac, but they were truly never right for one another. He just wants a connection, but he builds walls using snark and self deprecation that make it hard for anyone to get close.
Ryder Age: 26Occupation: Inspirational SpeakerBackground:Ryder was on his way with a full academic scholarship to MIT when he took a bad hit during the final football game of his senior year in high school. The traumatic brain injury left him physically and mentally handicapped with symptoms that come and go depending on how tired he is. It's been 8 years and he's given up on things ever getting better, which is why he tried to commit suicide last year (side-plot in Found at the Library). Because of his physical restrictions, it's difficult for Ryder to go out and make friends. He does speaking engagements, but they tend to be with service organizations with older members or high school kids. 

^^^This quote starts the book and personifies the inner battle that Ryder is fighting throughout.
Ties to the first book... First....just to clarify. Both of these books work as stand-alones. They each feature different couples, so you don't have to have read Found at the Library to enjoy Found at the Bookstore, or vice versa.
But this will explain how the two books tie together. Found at the Library featured Mac & Tommy a year before Found at the Bookstore takes place, although the epilogue of Found at the Library overlaps the opening scene in Found at the Bookstore.
Tommy is Ryder's older brother.Mac is Stig's ex-boyfriend and they remain pseudo-friends (their relationship is complicated).Because all their lives tie together, you will definitely see quite a bit of Mac & Tommy in this second book. In fact...there happens to be a quick weekend trip to Vegas...
So, yeah, that happens. :)
Also, for fans who like longer books...Found at the Library was ~55,000 words.Found at the Bookstore was ~90,000 words when I sent it to the editor. (we'll see if she recommends cutting it any.)
Amazon link for Found at the Library.
Why I love this book so much...Before I even finished writing Found at the Library, I knew there would be a sequel and exactly who I wanted to pair up. 
On the surface, Stig and Ryder may not be a likely couple. Stig is seriously experienced and jaded. Ryder is young and because of the circumstances of his life has led a pretty sheltered existence, but that has left him with his own version of being jaded. There's also a thirteen year difference between their ages. 
But they fit. They both have people in their lives, but continue to feel so alone. 
Their romance is a slow build. First, they become friends. I love that, because I make it no secret that I love friends to lovers tropes. It's provides such a phenomenally strong base for romance. And both Stig and Ryder are most definitely better together. 
They both have demons in their backgrounds, but together they overcome.And that makes them one of my favorite couples. *happy sigh*

The blurb...
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. As their relationship evolves, feelings 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.  And now what you've all been waiting for...The cover reveal.
Cover designer: Amanda Matthews (AM Design Studios)Cover model and photographer: Nathan Hainline
Add FOUND AT THE BOOKSTORE to your Goodreads shelf... HERE
I don't have a set release date for this book yet, but I'll have a better idea once I have the edits back and will set up a preorder for it.
Have a great weekend, everyone!smiles,Christi

Commit to your goals...

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

Do it well...

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... Flickering Tales
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  Romance Reveal Book Box . 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

The First Step...