love

Some men think there’s a choice between right and wrong. Great men know there is none – General S. Randall

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With a family history of military service, I wrote The Trucker’s Cat, a fast-paced romantic adventure with a patriotic theme.

After hearing the brave stories about my father and grandfather, I learned that believing in something greater, whether it’s the love of God, country, or each other, affects us in powerful ways. I enjoyed writing about the emotional workings of our mind and heart and the spiritual energy that taps into our passions.

In The Trucker’s Cat, Samantha Randall and Major Logan McCormick, inspired by General Randall’s patriotic speech, do what’s necessary to prevent the unthinkable—a Presidential assassination.

Leaving the Russian Embassy where she lives with her mother and stepfather, Samantha treks cross-country to warn the driver that his cargo has the proof, but she finds herself stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Driving a truck on a special military assignment, Logan sees no choice and rescues Sam from a bloated lecher. Against protocol, he gives the wildcat a ride. With Russian soldiers searching for Logan’s cargo and another team chasing Samantha, they quickly realize they must work together. Their belief in a common value takes on extraordinary meaning.

Although I’ve created these characters, I’m also inspired by them. That’s why I dedicated The Trucker’s Cat to the servicemen in my family:

Lieutenant Colonel John Bunyan Bennett, M.D., United States Army (WWI, WWII)

Parachute Rigger 1st Class LeRoy Stewart Thompson, United States Navy (WWII)

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Hershall Floyd Bennett, United States Marines (Korean War)

Senior Airman James Hershall Bennett, United States Air Force

Corporal Caleb Weyrick-Greene, United States Marines (Afghanistan)

Senior Airman David Stuart Thompson, United States Air Force

Do you know a military serviceman or woman who inspires you? Please share their name and rank. I would love to acknowledge them and their service. Thanks for stopping by today.

The Trucker’s Cat on Amazon

The Trucker’s Cat on Goodreads

What Surrounds You?

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I still tap into my holistic training with my writing. It’s a theme throughout my novels because the healing power of Love is incredibly profound. I’m constantly in awe of the mind, body, and spirit connection especially when our environment is involved. I’m talking about Feng Shui, one of the eight modalities of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Feng Shui is the enhancement of the energy (Qi) in your surroundings to attract prosperity. Flowing through all living things, Qi is the spirit or vital force that carries your body—the way you appear, act, move, talk. When you’re healthy, your Qi flows gently within your body. Problems occur when the Qi is blocked or moves too swiftly along its pathways.

Your environment affects your Personal Qi. Has someone’s mean comment ever soured your mood? Qi becomes blocked. How did you feel after receiving praise from your boss? Your positive energy increases. Your Home Qi also affects you. When stressed do you ever reach for your favorite warm blanket, put on your favorite sweatshirt, or fix a cup of tea using your favorite mug? The things that surround you can either comfort you or stress you.

Are you skeptical? Is it too New Agey for you? Let me put it in another context. Professional sports teams rely on Feng Shui, paying millions of dollars to make improvements. What? I’m talking about Home Field Advantage. “The energy of the crowd …” “The cheers energizing the players …” If you’ve ever been to a home game for any sport, you know what I’m talking about. How do you explain it?

Well, with Feng Shui, you surround yourself with the things that make you feel good. Your favorite chair overlooking the backyard full of trees is calming and relaxing. Your child’s artwork on the refrigerator puts a smile on your face. On the other hand, do you still have a piece of furniture you bought with your ex? How do you feel when you see it? If you remember the good times, keep it. If it brings up feelings of bitterness and resentment, get rid of it, and then see how you feel. There’s an intangible reason we shove all our ex’s things into a box to give back. Negativity does not attract abundance.

You don’t have to rearrange your whole house or dangle chimes at an angle from your southeast corner. Surrounding yourself with those favorite things creates positive energy.

Look around. What do you see? How does it make you feel?

Awesome by Association

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Kraig Awesome by Association

My empathetic husband, Kraig, is one of the few people in my world that sees daily the joys and struggles I have as a writer. To support me and all the other writers out there, he wrote the following blog post:

When I talk to friends, relatives, and co-workers, quite often the discussion turns to my wife and her novels. Many say, “I’ve always wanted to write a book.” I reply, “It’s a lot of work and takes up a lot of your time.” However, I’m not sure it completely describes what I see every day.

Creating stories and characters is an amazing process. In 2005, I suffered a job loss with a company I was with for 22 years. I was depressed. Christina encouraged me to look for new opportunities, one of which was writing. I, too, thought I could do it. Cheering me on, she wrote down her ideas, while I jotted down mine. She embraced the challenge. I, on the other hand, wasn’t as into it as much as she was. With desire and determination, she continued writing. I realized how passionate she was when I suggested killing off one of her characters as a story twist. Dumb idea … I made her cry.

After making improvements with her story line and her writing skills, she finally sent queries to agents and publishers. Then, one night she woke me from a deep sleep. She received an offer from Juanita Samborski, the publisher at 48fourteen. What an exciting time! Her hard work was paying off. Her next step was learning about book promotion. Putting herself out there by writing, tweeting, facebooking, blogging, and book signing takes a courage I don’t possess. She pushes herself every day, so she can be the best she can be while I prefer my safe, quiet, and comfortable haven.

I, now, have a new reply for all those who want to write a novel. “Passion and courage are the #1 and #2 Must-Haves when writing.”

I’ve also learned that sometimes you don’t realize how hard conveying a sentiment is until you try to write it …

Written by Kraig Thompson, husband of an author, which makes me Awesome by Association

You can find me on Twitter

 

 

THE GARDEN COLLECTION Flash Sale: ONLY $0.99

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For The Garden Collection, I took a single defining moment from my childhood to create a story with an important message about the energy of words and how they affect us. Love doesn’t require perfection. Its healing power is incredibly profound. ~ Christina Thompson

Grab your copy of my sweet romance, The Garden Collection, on sale now for $0.99

REVIEWS

“The heartwarming story of struggle, determination, heartache, and true love kept me reading …”

“Tender and hopeful, painful and sad … all make a sweetly intriguing story…”

“I do believe that positive and encouraging words can change a life.”

BLURB

A few words of encouragement can stay with you for a lifetime. Robert and Brianna’s childhood friendship grew into respect for each other and their ideas. Robert gave her the confidence to stand up for herself. Brianna helped him see his artistic potential and encouraged him to travel for his inspiration. He found it in the letters she wrote.

After her mother abandoned her at sixteen and her stepfather beat her at eighteen, Brianna Carlson now struggles to care for her six-year-old half-sister, Chloe. The day before her twenty-first birthday, Brianna receives news that her stepfather will be released from prison. Half blind from a head injury and still limping from a once broken leg, she’s terrified he’ll come back to hurt Chloe this time. She decides to leave town.

Waiting for their five-year age gap to diminish, Robert Donovan purposely stayed away. While traveling for his family’s jewelry business, he designed The Garden Collection, his newest line of necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Returning home, he discovers Brianna had lied in every letter she sent. She never received any of his. Before he can demand answers, she disappears without Chloe.

As Robert learns about Brianna’s life during his absence, he sets out to find her and convince her to trust him again. He hopes the innocent love of their youth is strong enough to heal her injured heart and fulfill his need for a home.

GOODREADS

AMAZON

 

 

The Aha Moment

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Even before I started writing, relationships have fascinated me, especially the married ones. I love hearing the How We Met stories. Couples enjoy sharing their unique history. Some say, I knew right away. Others laugh and say, I hated him at first. A husband once told me that he chased after his wife for a year before convincing her he was the one. The stories may seem similar, but none are the same.

Whether you’ve just met or you’ve known each other for years, there’s that single defining moment ─ the Aha Moment ─ when you realize you’re in love with this person. Your perspective suddenly changes, and you think, Why didn’t I see that before? Women have mentioned a small gesture from their one that fills them with pure joy. Warmth washes over you, goose bumps appear from a light touch, or your heart flutters with knowing.

My mom said she knew fifty years ago when my dad placed his hand at her back as they walked along a busy sidewalk. At a dinner party, Kraig held my hand under the table as we ate … an intimate gesture in a crowded room while reassuring me with his smile and dreamy blue eyes. ((sigh)) Oh, um, uh, what was I saying? Oh, yeah.

I think it’s one of the reasons romance novels are extremely popular. Who doesn’t want to feel that newness and excitement of meeting the one? It gives us hope that the unlimited possibilities are out there just waiting to happen to us.

In Their Rigid Rules, Stuart and Taylor share an initial attraction in a lecture hall. As Stuart struggles with his PTSD, he’s drawn to Taylor’s empathetic nature.

In Chemical Attraction and Chemical Reaction, Joe and Madeline felt an immediate connection at her Aunt Sylvia’s B & B. After a rocky start, they learn that their scars make them who they are and what they love about each other. The healing power of Love is incredibly profound.

Even after ten years of marriage, Matt and Eva Connor, another couple from Chemical Attraction and Chemical Reaction, are still crazy about each other. Soon, I’ll share their unique history of love, sacrifice, and devotion from their beginning in The Kindred Code.

In The Garden Collection, Brianna and Robert have known each other since childhood. However, they fell in love with the other at different times during their friendship. When Robert saved Brianna from her fifth grade bully, Brianna knew she loved him, but Robert didn’t realize he loved her until she was sixteen.

I truly believe there is nothing ordinary about any relationship. Do you remember that Aha Moment when you knew you found your one? Care to share? Or are you saving it for your own romance novel?

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