Christi Snow's Blog, page 19

Reality is not reading...

Friday Five...Military Edition for 3/3...

Today's Friday Five has a very special meaning for me. It's the military edition of the Friday Five...

Why a military edition today?
Today I'm in San Antonio at Lackland AFB for my son's graduation from Air Force Basic Training. 

Yes, there have been a few tears shed. Seriously, i love this kid so much and I'm so proud of him today. He's turned 22 since he left for basic...and I look at that photo above and see the man that he's become...a man that I am so happy to have raised.
This right here (below) is my whole heart in a single photo....

*****


The military man I loved first...I met him his first year in the Air Force...and then spent 20 years as a military spouse. 
He's retired now, but there's still something about him when he puts on that uniform that makes my heart clench. I come by my fascination with military romance naturally that way. 
I've loved a military man and lived through the deployments and the stresses. But there's something about the military that just makes them special. It takes a special kind of hero to do what our military does day in and day out.

*****


Now, let's talk books!
Today is the release day for a new military romance. I got to read an early copy of this book and loved it. This series (this is the first book in the series) features two military heroes...Walsh is the hero of this book. 
Walsh and Damian (hero in book #3 in the series) were part of a squad who lost four members in Afghanistan when an IED blew up their MRAP. Now they work at Ghost Squad Charities...doing work in those fallen heroes' hometowns to honor their passions. 
Right now, this book is available at a special new release price of only $.99. I dare you to go try out this debut author. I think you'll like the writing. Amazon link
Story Blurb: My parents were conmen and I was their tool. I learned how to cheat, connive, and charm my way out of any circumstance. But now I’m respectable...kind of. Yeah, my life is still a lie, but that’s because I have no choice. My best friend, who’s also my boss, needs me to lie to keep our billion-dollar charity going. It’s complicated. 

But all the lies are about to end. I just have to finish one final task...taking over a brewery. Easy, right?

Not so much. Because that brewery is part of a custody battle between mother and daughter. The mother owns it. The daughter thinks it should be hers. I’m caught in the middle. Not normally a bad place to be when it comes to two feisty women.

But I’m falling for the daughter and when my lies come to light, everything is going to unravel. And then my future with the brewery and the girl will be shot to hell. 

My boss probably won’t be too happy with me either...
*****

My top 5 military romantic suspense writers:1. Suzanne Brockmann2. Cindy Gerard3. M.L. Buchman4. Julie Ann Walker5. Abigail Roux
I've been a superfan of military romance for a long, long time. There are so many authors who do it incredibly well, but those five above are my absolute auto-buy authors. They're awesome!!*****

Some military eye-candy...
You all have been very sweet to let me brag about my military men, I thought you earned some military eye-candy. Because let's face it...there's nothing better than a man in uniform...unless he's part way (or all the way) out of it...



Have a great weekend everyone!My challenge to you...go find you a  military romance story to cuddle up with this weekend.smiles,Christi

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 Wish2. Found at the Bookstore3. Intertwined Hearts4. Snowcroft Restoration5. 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

Find Your People

Favorite Re-Reads...Friday Five for Feb 10

The last couple of days, I've been coming off a migraine, so I'm running behind this week. 
As a result, the Friday Five is something different. 
Today, I'm going to list my top 5 favorite books to reread...

First...two all-time favorites:
Paradise and Perfect were Judith McNaught's first foray into contemporary romance and wow...she knocked them out of the water. The tropes she used are mainstays today...second chance at love in Paradise...and the ultimate bad-boy, the ex-con...or in the case of Perfect, the escaped criminal. 
Both books moved me emotionally...I honestly think these were the first books to ever make me sob while reading.High-angst.High-dramaSo much love...
I adore both of them.  Corporate raider Matthew Farrell had come a long way from the poor, scruffy kid of Indiana's steel mills. A long way from the country club where, feeling like an outsider, he had dared to fall in love with a beautiful blonde named Meredith Bancroft, and known a once-in-a-lifetime passion and betrayal that still haunted his memory... Now world leaders courted him, the media watched his every move, and he was ready to move in on the Bancroft empire.

A cool, poised executive in her family's legendary department store chain, Meredith had once defied her father for the sexually magnetic, intense Matt Farrell -- and their brief, ill-fated marriage was the disastrous outcome. Now, as the Bancroft firm is threatened by a hostile takeover, Meredith is forced to confront Matt. As tensions build between them, bittersweet memories rise to the surface, leaving them suspicious, restless, and uncertain. Will they be able to believe in each other -- and grasp the tender miracle that is before them? 
***** A rootless foster child, Julie Mathison had blossomed under the love showered upon her by her adoptive family. Now a lovely and vivacious young woman, she was a respected teacher in her small Texas town, and she passionately lived her ideals. Julie was determined to give back all the kindness she'd received; nothing and no one would ever shatter the perfect life she had fashioned.Zachary Benedict was an actor/director whose Academy Award-winning career had been shattered when he was wrongly convicted of murdering his wife. After the tall, ruggedly handsome Zack escaped from a Texas prison, he abducted Julie and forced her to drive him to his Colorado mountain hideout. She was outraged, cautious, and unable to ignore the instincts that whispered of his innocence. He was cynical, wary, and increasingly attracted to her. Passion was about to capture them both in its fierce embrace...but the journey to trust, true commitment, and proving Zack's innocence was just beginning....*****I'll admit, it's been a few years since I re-read either one of these, but just talking about them now, I need to go dig them out. (Yes, I have them both in hardback.) Seriously...storytelling at its finest. *****

This book is officially a young adult book, but it has such a great message to it. It's about a kid who wrecked in a needless car accident and lost the ability to speak...something horrific as a teenager. But as the story progresses, he realizes just how lucky he is as details come out about the girl he's in love with and what she's been dealing with for the last year. Getting drunk homecoming night your senior year is never a good idea, but Jake Hayes never expected it all to end with a car crash and a t-post embedded in his throat. His biggest regret about it all? What he never said to Samantha Shay. He's been in love with her for years and never had the guts to tell her. Now it's too late. Because after that night, Jake will never be able to talk again. When Jake returns to his small island home, population 5,000, he'll have to learn how to deal with being mute. He also finds that his family isn't limited to his six brothers and sisters, that sometimes an entire island is watching out for you. And when he gets the chance to spend more time with Samantha, she'll help him learn that not being able to talk isn't the worst thing that could ever happen to you. Maybe, if she'll let him, Jake will finally tell her what he didn't say before, even if he can't actually say it. *****

This next book is just a little novella. It's about a married couple who are trying to spice up their lives after 15 years of marriage. The book completely resonated with me and I reread it about once a year...just because I love it. 
After fifteen years of marriage, Jessica Meyers's sex life is, well, a little predictable. Her handsome husband turns her on, but missionary style once or twice a week? It just can't compare to the hot new world she discovers in the pages of erotic romances. Her fantasies fuel the fire of her desire, adding a new spark to her and Alex's lovemaking. But Jess is afraid to tell her husband what she really wants in bed—and her secrets start coming between them.

State trooper Alex Meyers is a master at uncovering the truth—except when it comes to his sweet, shy wife. She's clearly keeping something from him. An affair? She wants out? When he finally confronts Jess, he's shocked to learn she wants to turn her forbidden fantasies into nightly realities. But when he takes her to a unique B and B—Bondage and Breakfast—catering to couples and multiples, Alex is about to find out just how far he'll go.

27,000 words*****

These next two books are my go-to audiobook favorites. They're both m/m stories, but completely different in their tone and story. 
Beneath the Stain is an epic story that covers several years of a rock band and the life of Mackey...which is fraught with heartbreak and heartache. This is one of those books that even years later when I think about it can bring me to tears. So emotional, so deep, definitely full of angst. 16 hrs 36 mins

In a town as small as Tyson, CA, everybody knew the four brothers with the four different fathers-- and their penchant for making good music when they weren't getting into trouble. For Mackey Sanders, playing in Outbreak Monkey with his brothers and their friends—especially Grant Adams--made Tyson bearable. But Grant has plans for getting Mackey and the Sanders boys out of Tyson, even if that means staying behind.

Between the heartbreak of leaving Grant and the terrifying, glamorous life of rock stardom, Mackey is adrift and sinking fast. When he's hit rock bottom, Trav Ford shows up, courtesy of their record company and a producer who wants to see what Mackey can do if he doesn't flame out first. But cleaning up his act means coming clean about Grant, and that's not easy to do or say. Mackey might make it with Trav's help--but Trav's not sure he's going to survive falling in love with Mackey.

Mackey James Sanders comes with a whole lot of messy, painful baggage, and law-and-order Trav doesn't do messy or painful. And just when Trav thinks they may have mastered every demon in Mackey's past, the biggest, baddest demon of all comes knocking. 
*****The opposite side of the spectrum is Lightning-Struck Heart. Anyone who loves audiobooks should grab this one NOW, whether you like m/m stories or not. Because this book is amazing. It's about the journey to love in all of it's awkwardness and heartache, and all those little moments to cherish. It's an amazing story and I cannot recommend it enough. If you like stories that make you happy to the point where you laugh out loud, you need to read this one. I even recommend this one for non-m/m readers. (the sex is very, very light) 19 hrs 48 mins
Once upon a time, in an alleyway in the slums of the City of Lockes, a young and somewhat lonely boy named Sam Haversford turns a group of teenage douchebags into stone completely by accident.

Of course, this catches the attention of a higher power, and Sam's pulled from the only world he knows to become an apprentice to the King's Wizard, Morgan of Shadows.

When Sam is fourteen, he enters the Dark Woods and returns with Gary, the hornless gay unicorn, and a half-giant named Tiggy, earning the moniker Sam of Wilds.

At fifteen, Sam learns what love truly is when a new knight arrives at the castle. Sir Ryan Foxheart, the dreamiest dream to have ever been dreamed.

Naturally, it all goes to hell through the years when Ryan dates the reprehensible Prince Justin, Sam can't control his magic, a sexually aggressive dragon kidnaps the prince, and the King sends them on an epic quest to save Ryan's boyfriend, all while Sam falls more in love with someone he can never have.

Or so he thinks.
*****
And finally, I'm going to end with a couple of classics that I like to reread every few years.
Little Women is probably not a surprise. I think a lot of people have it on their favorites list. My favorite part though is the Pickwick Papers...my childhood was made up of creating things like faux newspapers, and I just love this book for what it does with those scenes between the sisters. Grown-up Meg, tomboyish Jo, timid Beth, and precocious Amy. The four March sisters couldn't be more different. But with their father away at war, and their mother working to support the family, they have to rely on one another. Whether they're putting on a play, forming a secret society, or celebrating Christmas, there's one thing they can't help wondering: Will Father return home safely?*****Pollyanna may be more of a surprise, but this book saved my sanity through my teenage years when teenage angst had a strong hold. If something went wrong in my life, this was the book I escaped into. Seriously, how can you be sad when faced with the Glad Game? This was a mainstay of my childhood...

One of the all-time classics of children's literature, a feel-good book full of enthusiasm and exuberance, and a perfect family read.

"There is something about everything that you can be glad about, if you keep hunting long enough to find it."


When Pollyanna Whittier's father dies, she is sent to live with her Aunt Polly in Vermont. 
A clash of personalities ensues as Pollyanna's sunny disposition sits ill with her aunt's need for quiet, her passion for shutting windows, and her obsession with quietly shut doors. The key to Pollyanna's happiness is The Glad GameOCooriginally invented to deal with disappointing missionary boxesOCoand is applied to all parts of life. No matter how dark the situation, it is always possible to find something to be glad about. Any attempts to discipline the child fail helplessly in the face of The Glad Game. A bread and milk supper in the kitchen is greeted with rapture; a puritan attic bedroom with sparse furnishing is valued for its rapturous views. As Pollyanna becomes acquainted with other inhabitants of the town, the cantankerous residents fall victim to her charms. However, the arrival of a motor car in town heralds a tragic change which not even Pollyanna looks likely to be able to overcome.

This timeless classic has spawned many spin-off novels and films."
*****
So, now it's your turn...what books do you reread over and over and over again? 
I hope you all find some time to read this weekend!smiles,Christi 

Believe in yourself...

Friday Five for Feb 3

Good friends...

I adore my kindle keyboard. It's absolutely the best for organizing my books. 
Last week, my second kindle keyboard died. They aren't available anymore, so while I was devastated, there wasn't much I could do about it. 
This is where an amazing friend comes in....she had FOUR of these sitting on her shelf...and sent them all to me!!
OMG, so not only do I have a kindle keyboard again. But now I have backups. 
I'm so freaking excited. Now to order a new skin!
THANK YOU, F!! ***


Little Splurge for me...

Hello, my name is Christi Snow and I'm a planner/journal junkie.
The first step is admitting the problem, right?Hehe.So, yeah, this week I bought a new traveler's notebook from one of my crafty buddies, Sav.She calls them SAVdori's . I love it so, so much. I have no idea what I'm going to use it for. 
Right now it just looks pretty sitting beside my computer. Yeah, I know...I have a problem.***

New Toys...

My prima watercolors. Okay, I'll admit it. I'm crafty, not artistic and painting has NEVER EVER NEVER been my forte. In college (I had to take a lot of fashion design classes for my degree...so I had to create lots of sketches and presentations) I figured out a cheat...watercolor pencils. You can color just like you do with regular colored pencils, then add water and tada...you have something that looks like you painted it without the real skill needed for painting. 
(Also note...water brushes (pictured above) are instrumental for creating artistic looks without the real skills.) 
BUT lately I've wanted to play more than I've been able to do with the pencils. Enter these paints...Prima Watercolors. Wow, I love them. They can be bright and punchy, but they can also be light with just a hint of effect. They blend wonderfully...and simply make me happy. I started out with the classics color palette which was more than sufficient, but this week splurged and bought two other of the palettes. Now I'm thoroughly spoiled for color choices. 
Little things that make me happy. ***

Favorites...
This week's favorite read... For Finlay by J. Nathan
OMG, I loved this New Adult sports romance so, so much. You can check out my review HERE . It's a heartfelt book about love and loss and recovering. SO GOOD!!
I highly recommend it!***
My favorite planner page from this week...
Library cards and coffee paired up with my new watercolors...yep, this page makes me happy.
You can check out the rest of this week's planner pages and what I've been reading every night on my Instagram page... HERE .***



Quality Time...
The last few weeks have been tough around our household. General missing of the Kid who went to boot camp a month ago...negativity about the election...it's all taken a toll on Little Bit. She's been having nightmares and generally not sleeping well. 
Thursday nights are skate nights just for her and me. We spend three hours at the skating rink. She skates, I read. But it would be impossible for her to skate for three hours straight. As a result, we spend lots of time sitting together chatting. I love our Thursday nights together...just me and her...talking about music, friends, events at school. Together time...there's nothing better.***
That's it from me this week.smiles,Christi