November 5, 2015

SIZZLE IN THE SNOW - Countdown

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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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Holiday Memory Corner

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


Company coming over? Author Crystal Firsdon dishes up her favorite holiday recipe:
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

 Listen up! CD Hersh share their favorite holiday song:


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)

Enjoy decorating, even if your kids are grown. Arrange a night with a group of friends, mix drinks and get creative with a variety of crafts that everyone can bring supplies for.  Trust me, as the evening unfolds, the crafts become highly entertaining!


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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:


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).


Posted by Cheryl Yeko

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