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November 5,
2015
SIZZLE
IN THE SNOW: A SOUL MATE CHRISTMAS COLLECTION
Eight
steamy romances by eight Soul Mate Publishing authors . . .
This Christmas
season, Soul Mate Publishing and editor, Char Chaffin, presents Sizzle
In The Snow: A Soul Mate Christmas Collection, an anthology
available November 25th on Amazon and Soul Mate Publishing.
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Welcome to our fourth newsletter
in celebration of
the release of
Sizzle In The Snow: A Soul Mate Christmas Collection.
Check
your inbox every ten days for each newsletter. Inside you'll find great
decorating tips, recipes and cocktails, excerpts, craft ideas, song links,
holiday memories, and personalized cards and poems by the authors!
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Book Corner
We promised a sneak peek, so here goes . . .
Author Ryan Jo Summers gives an excerpt of her short story, Tamed By Christmas!
“Do you think we can still find a room or a cabin this late? I think I’d prefer going somewhere in Colorado. Aspen or Denver maybe.”
His face lit up as a smile touched his eyes. Gripping her hand, he squeezed gently. “I’ll check as soon as we get home. There’s bound to still be something.”
She pulled back. “Shane, I have to share something first, to be totally honest with you.”
“Uh oh.” He released her hand and leaned back, crossing one leg over the other, waiting. Again, his expression caused her heart to skip a couple beats. That baleful look he did so well.
She fiddled with her coat hem, trying to find the right words.
“Just try what comes to mind, Paige. It’s bound to be the most accurate.”
She drew in a breath, laced with cold air. “Sometimes I feel like we’re only lying to each other.”
His brows arched in twin peaks of surprise. “Excuse me?”
“I mean that our relationship is based on those lies. Like all we can do right is make love and there’s nothing solid beyond that.”
He shook his head. “I’m not following you.”
She fiddled with the hem again until he stopped her, resting his hand over hers. She wondered how he could feel so warm when she was so cold inside.
“Not actual verbal lies, I mean more to ourselves in thinking we even have a real relationship, beyond the sex.”
“Ah, I got you now.” He nodded, withdrawing his hand, leaving her even colder. His baleful look deepened, causing a chill to slide up Paige’s spine.
“Sometimes I feel as though there’s this wall between us. It’s real big. And I try but can’t figure out how to get over that wall.”
Her heart plummeted and she gave a mirthless laugh. “Lies and walls.” She held his gaze for a moment, licking her lips. “Are we really just kidding ourselves here, Shane?”
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Cocktail
Corner
Busy
shopping, wrapping and socializing?
Kick
back with a festive cocktail!
Recipe
shared by Beth Carter:
Jolly Appletini
I'm all
about keeping it simple and festive around the holidays.
·
Simply buy a bottle of pre-made Appletini (I found
mine at T.J.Maxx.)
·
Then, mix one part green apple mix with one part
vodka in a cocktail shaker with ice.
·
Pour into a pretty martini glass and adorn the
green concoction with a red
maraschino cherry!
We served these beautiful drinks
at a Christmas party years ago.
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Cheryl Yeko has a wonderful holiday memory to share . . .
My
writing career began when my husband gifted me a Kindle for Christmas.
I
rediscovered my love of all things romance and decided to try my hand at
writing a romance novel. So, I checked out some books from the library, signed
up for some online classes, and began my manuscript for Protecting Rose.
It took a year to write and edit my first novel. In 2011, Protecting
Rose finaled in the Launching a Star contest. This gave me enough
courage to send it out to three publishers. I received two offers, and signed
with Soul Mate Publishing.
Protecting Rose went on to win
the 2012 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. How fun is that!! Today I have eight
books out, as well as a few boxed sets and short stories, including my short
story for Sizzle in The Snow, Christmas Eve Surprise. I've
continued to garner awards, and my latest novel, The Notary, hit
number 4 in the romantic suspense category on Amazon and I rode the top-100
best-selling author list for two weeks in that category. It was an amazing
feeling that I hope to repeat someday.
I
just wrote "the end" on my latest book, Between Midnight And
Dawn, which is due for release in early 2016. I have two other stories
in the works, the third in my Hero Series, as well as a paranormal series in a
writing collaboration with my BFF, Char Chaffin, under the pen-name of CiCi
Cordelia. Our first co-authored short-story under this name, Sweet
Equation, is due for release in January, 2016, in the anthology, Hot
Encounters II.
So,
lots of stuff going on. And I owe it all to love, and my husband's
wonderful Christmas gift.
It
changed my world.
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Recipe Corner
Holiday recipe
Easy and
simple, that’s me. I stole this recipe (though it’s so simple I’m not sure recipe is the right word) from my mom.
Whenever it’s made, everyone loves it and there’s never any left!
Ingredients:
1 container
of peppermint ice cream
1 pre-made
chocolate graham cracker pie crust
Directions:
1. Take ice cream out of
freezer and soften at room temperature for about 30 minutes. It should be
easy to stir and smooth with a regular spoon.
2. Scoop ice cream into
graham cracker pie crust and smooth out to completely fill the pie crust. I
usually put enough ice cream so that it’s ¼ to ½ inch high from the pie
crust.
3. Cover and put back into
the freezer to refreeze, at least 45 minutes.
4.
Cut like a regular pie and enjoy!
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Music Corner
Title:
I Saw Mommy
Kissing Santa Claus
Song Link:
Jimmy Boyd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI8spatbGEo
original singer of I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause.
A jazzy, rap, fun video of I
Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause for those wanting an updated version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Y08Ab9VLs
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Craft
Corner
Looking
for a simple craft to do with your children or grandchildren? Feeling crafty?
Tina
Susedik
shares an easy to do, festive DIY craft:
Materials
·
Clear ornament bulbs. They
come in plastic so they don't break.
·
Different colored ribbon used
for decorating gifts.
Instructions
1. Remove the hanging part of the ornament.
2. Place pieces of ribbon inside the ornament. You
can use all one color or mix them up.
3. Replace the hanging part.
4. Attach a decorative ribbon as hanger.
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Decorating Corner
Time to
bring out the mistletoe! Kim Hotzon has some great decorating tips!
Christmas Decor
Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year when I
tromp downstairs and haul out boxes of Christmas decorations stacked in bins in
the storage room. I love the ritual of carting boxes upstairs and unloading all
the objects I've accumulated. Strings of lights, garlands, homemade ornaments
and life-sized Victorian Santa's that have seen better days come out of their
dusty wraps and find their spot in the house.
I begin by setting up a Christmas scene on the
fireplace mantel, using hand-painted wooden Santa figures that I crafted in the
days before I had children. I place a sleigh and wooden trees on the hall table
and string garland from the banister and around the front door. My trio of
spindly pine trees are arranged in a corner by a window. Christmas lights
create a wonderful mood, softening everything and when the snow comes, the
house lights up in a soft, white glow.
No matter the layout or size of your home, Christmas
ambience can be created with surprisingly few items:
· lights (strings can be placed along
mantels, banisters, counters, and around windows)
· greenery (either fresh or bought, garlands
herald the old days and bring a rustic warmth to your home )
· groupings (placing similar objects together
such as pine cones, Santa's or angels, Christmas ball ornaments and so on.
· candles (cinnamon, cranberry, apples and
vanilla are great scents that remind people of Christmas)

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Holiday Card/Poem Corner
What's
a holiday without a personalized card by one of your favorite authors?
Author Amy Deason shares this delightful
and heartfelt poem:
MAY YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON BE FILLED
WITH LOVE AND JOY
MERRY CHRISTMAS,
AMY DEASON
Featured authors and their stories include:
- Beth Carter http://bethcarter.com/, Santa Baby
- Amy Deason https://amydeason.wordpress.com/, Second Chances: A Christmas Story
- Crystal Firsdon http://crystalfirsdon.com/, 'Twas the Crazy Night Before Christmas
- CD Hersh https://cdhersh.wordpress.com/, Kissing Santa
- Kim Hotzon http://kimhotzon.com/, The Snow Bird
- Ryan Jo Summers http://www.ryanjosummers.com/, Tamed by Christmas
- Tina Susedik http://www.tinasusedik.com/, Operation Santa
- Cheryl Yeko http://www.cherylyeko.com/, Christmas Eve Surprise
Of course, as authors we love our readers, and we couldn't pass up an
opportunity to offer swag, free books, and a grand prize which will be
awarded to one lucky blog/newsletter follower! For a chance to win these
prizes, follow and join the author's blogs!
Don't miss our upcoming Facebook launch
party with tons of goodies to giveaway! Follow the authors' blogs for a
sneak peek of this wonderful collection! (FB launch date TBA).
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