Welcome to the Snippet Sunday on the Weird, the Wild, and the Wicked. Thank you so much for visiting. If you choose to comment today, I really appreciate it. The snippets are from my Christmas novella, Christmas I.C.E. Magic, a paranormal romance set in the mountains northeast of Las Vegas. It's one of four stories in the Happy Holidays from the Crescent Moon Lodge Anthology, and it's only sale for only $0.99. And in a few weeks, the sequel to Christmas ICE Magic is coming out. If you missed last week's snippet, you can read it HERE.
In this snippet, Lily Sinclair is dreaming in her tent out in the snow. She gets her wish to see her brother one last time, but the conversation isn't quite going the way she'd expected.
“Bullshit.”
Linus pushed her down on a nearby crystal. “You’d wanted to see what Christmas
was like in the tropics and you got the opportunity.” He dropped beside her. “No
one could’ve known what would happen. You can’t live your life defensively.
That’s not living.”
Lily huffed a
laugh, swiping at her tears. “Says the dead guy.”
He grinned. “I
should know, shouldn’t I?”
“Heh. Yeah.” She
rubbed her nose on her sleeve.
“Here’s the
thing. I’ve been with you every step of the way, keeping an eye on you, and
you’re starting to freak me out a little, Lil.” He took her hand and met her
gaze, his usually dancing eyes serious. “You’re pushing too hard and it’s going
to end up killing you.”
Lily pursed her lips
and looked away. How could she tell her dead brother she didn’t want to live
anymore? “There’s nothing really left for me…here.”
I think her brother needs to teach her about life. There are several great authors on the Weekend Writing Warrior list and in the Snippet Sunday Facebook group. A few of my favorites are Charley Descoteaux, SJ Maylee, Gem Sivad, Goran Zidar, Veronica Scott, and Karla Doyle.
If you're interested in more from Christmas ICE Magic, here's the blurb for the Anthology:
At the Crescent Moon Lodge, anything is
possible and Christmas wishes come in the most unusual packages.
Christmas I.C.E. Magic – By Siobhan Muir
For Lily Sinclair, Christmas means sorrow and loss since the death of her twin brother. The magic is gone and she only wants to see her brother one more time. As an Ice Demon Zachary Snow is used to rescuing people in winter, but he’d never rescued anyone like Lily. Now he must convince her the magic she wants is in life itself.
A Howling Yuletide –By Shannan Albright
Fleur Delecourt knew her Christmas holiday was doomed from the start. Not only
did she hate the cold and snow, but also she found herself saddled with a ski
instructor, courtesy of a friend’s twisted sense of humor.
Werewolf Rory Furr left Scotland to find a life and pack of his own. What he
was not prepared for was finding his mate in the form of a petite redhead who
tests both his self-control and patience.
Bon Appetite from the Lunar Eclipse Restaurant-By R.M. Sotera
Executive chef vampire Michael Stake loves his job at the Lunar Eclipse Restaurant. Although food critics do not visit often, he welcomes world-renown critic Penelope Rothchild to his establishment. That’s when all hell breaks loose. World-renown food critic Penelope Rothchild looks forward to her new assignment in Las Vegas. Christmas in the West, what could possibly go wrong? Everything. But it’s all in the name of the perfect meal.
Boo Christmas – By Johanna Riley
All Elvira "Elle" Grant wanted for Christmas was to get out from under her famous paranormal investigator parents' shadow. But being a medium she's always haunted by their profession. Thanks to a contest win, she gets the chance to do her own paranormal investigating during Christmas at the beautiful Crescent Moon Lodge near Las Vegas, Nevada. With hunky (albeit dead!) Casper Van Beau’s help. Can Elle get over her own insecurities long enough to open up to the possibilities of eternal love?
Happy Holidays from the Crescent Moon Lodge is only $0.99 at Amazon, All Romance, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. Pick up your copy and get swept away for Christmas. And keep an eye out for Cloudburst Ice Magic coming early August 2014!
This is a really poignant scene and I could feel her bittersweet sadness. Nice.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gem. Lily breaks my heart in this story. :)
Delete"How could she tell her dead brother she didn’t want to live anymore?"
ReplyDeleteOh, honey . . .
Squeeze my heart on a Sunday morning, Siobhan. :)
Thanks for commenting, Sarah. I'm here for you. :D
DeleteSo very heart-wrenching. I hope her brother can inspire her to live.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Karen. It'll take more than just her brother, but he's likely to give her a good push. :)
DeleteSiobhan! You made me cry! I'm with Karen. Excuse me while I grab a tissue.
ReplyDeleteI made myself cry when I wrote this, SJ. Lily is hurting so much. Thanks for commenting. :)
DeleteSigh. I echo what's been said before... it's heart-wrenching. I hope her brother can inspire her to continue living.
ReplyDeleteI think he'll be able to give her a push. Thanks for commenting, Elyzabeth. :)
DeletePoignant exchange. Great emotions, Siobhan, and the dialogue is so real. Well done! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Teresa. :)
DeleteGet that woman something to live for fast! Please?
ReplyDeleteGreat snippet, Siobhan! :)
I agree, Charley. We'll have to see what comes around the bend. Thanks for commenting. :)
DeleteAw, poor Lil. But I'm glad the brother was able to 'visit' and talk to her, hopefully he can talk some sense into her...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Angela. Lily actually pushed herself to visit him and he's warning her back. :)
DeleteI imagine her brother will have a vastly different perspective on things, and she needs to hear him.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right, Elaine. Thanks for commenting. :)
DeleteInteresting back-and-forth dialogue. Some conversations don't always go as planned.
ReplyDeleteNo, they don't. Thanks for stopping by, Frank. :)
DeleteVery poignant and wrenching (as others have said but that is the right way to put it!). I have this on my kindle already, can see I MUST read the whole story SOON. Excellent excerpt!
ReplyDeleteI agree, Veronica, you must read it soon...especially since the sequel is coming out. :D
Delete"Says the dead guy." Awesome... and I love the irony of that last sentence.
ReplyDeleteLily and her brother always made me smile, even when they drove me to tears. Thanks for commenting, Jeff. :)
DeleteBut is her brother the one to teach her?
ReplyDeleteVery good question, Sue Ann. I won't tell. ;)
DeleteThat's a really hard news to tell a dead guy. I wonder if he can help her die or make her change her mind.
ReplyDeleteIt is, Linday. Thanks so much for commenting. :)
DeleteHow does one express to a dead brother you no longer want to live? Great scene!
ReplyDelete(Don't mind me, I'm playing catch up.) :)