Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge November 2015 - Cursed by Ice by Jacquelyn Frank

About the Book

As punishment for plotting with his brothers to steal immortality, Garreth is suffering a freezing torment until the end of time. Again and again, his fierce fighter’s physique is frozen into a chiseled ice sculpture, his heart hardening like a diamond in his chest—only to thaw and resume the chilling torture. Until, like his older brother Dethan, he is offered a reprieve from a goddess—in exchange for his allegiance in a celestial civil war.

Garreth lives to fight and fights to live. But while laying siege to an embattled city, he finds another reason to go on—a beautiful warrior woman named Sarielle, who commands a mythic beast through a mysterious and powerful bond. Terrified of her strength, the city rulers have kept her captive, and now she refuses to submit to a new master. As Garreth seeks to unleash her passion and melt the icy resistance of her heart, will he become her ultimate salvation—or lead them both to greater destruction?

Buy the Book

AMAZON | ARE

Here's what I'm giving it:

Rating: 4 stars

Here's why:

Disclaimer: I received no compensation from the author, Netgalley or the publisher for this honest review.

This is the second book in this series. You can read my review of the first one here.

This story focuses on Garreth, the warrior cursed to freeze at night. He tries to have icy control over his heart and emotions but all that gets disrupted by innocent and vulnerable Sarielle whose heart is just as chilled and guarded as his.

The mix of jaded warrior (Garreth) versus innocent, yet stubborn protector (Sarielle) made the story a decent read. This one took me longer to read than the first one and I can't quite pinpoint why. Overall, so far, this series is pretty good.

Would I recommend this? This sequel keeps the pace set by the first. If you like to finish a series then yes, go for it.

Don't forget to get the first book in this series

For centuries, Dethan has been trapped in a fiery inferno for defying the gods and snatching the power of immortality. Condemned to have his battle-hardened body licked by flames only to regenerate and be consumed all over again, Dethan has lost all hope—until the Goddess of Conflict appears. She will release him from torment—if he’ll use his power and strength as a warrior to raise an army and defeat a fierce enemy faction of gods.

Free to live as a man once again, Dethan meets Selinda—heir to the throne of Hexis—and his thoughts quickly turn from the conquest of cities to the conquest of this headstrong beauty. Betrothed to a cruel, calculating powermonger, Selinda needs a champion, and so Dethan enters into another bargain: If she will share her bed—and her body—with him, Dethan will save her city from destructive forces within and without. As the lovers ignite a searing passion, Dethan will risk all—even the wrath of the Goddess of Conflict—for a chance to make Selinda his forever.

Buy the Book

AMAZON

#NaNoWriMo2015 - Week #2 Update

My second week (Nov 9-15) of writing is drawing to a close and I feel like I'm slowing. But I won't. I will maintain and increase my activities next week.

I've continued to write consecutively (Nov, 6-15) and my productivity along with the word wars with Angela Markham and other fellow writers has helped me to stay motivated as I chug along.

I think I can, I think I can. It's not that I think, I know I can.

Words written this week: 9,865

NaNo grand total at the end of  week 2: 16,696

Words left to go: 33,304

Words needed per day to hit goal: 2,250

Bring it on Week 3!

#NaNoWriMo2015 - Week #1 Update

I've been doing NaNoWriMo since 2008. Some years I've been more successful than others. Last year was a struggle but I made it. This year I wasn't sure if it work since I've been on a bit of a major writing dry spell for a year and a half.

I am happy to say that as my first week (Nov 1-8) draws to a close, I've managed to not only write consecutively (Nov, 6-8) but I've been productive, too. I managed at least 1,000 words or more each time that I've written.

My grand total for week 1 is 6,831.

That means I only have 43,169 to go.

Time to make it happen!

Werelove Series Updates

I promised to give a Werelove series update and here I go.

1. The outline for book #4 Dawn Metamorphosis is in the process of being completed. So far there are about 40 chapters outlined and I'm not in halfway through everything that needs to happen in this book.
2. Re-editing for the first three books is in the process of being completed. I'm glad I went back and re-read them because small mistakes and some dangling, unresolved issues were brought before me and are now being integrated into books 4's & 5's storylines. The updated books 1-3 (ebook formats first) will be out by the end of December 2015. The paperbacks should be completed by the end of February 2016.
3. I know some readers over the years have asked when will hardcovers be available for my books. I'm hoping to get that going in 2016.

For those of you who have to have your Werelove fix, I started an online short story/novella-like series called the Werelove Journals. I began it back in 2014 on Tumblr as a secret treat for those who had signed up for the Werelove Series newsletter (which if you'd like, you can sign-up here.). I then added syndication to Wattpad (which runs 4 journal entries behind Tumblr). Journal entries are posted bi-weekly according to a day of the week picked for that character. Usually 2 characters' journals are going at once.

The Werelove Journals take various characters from the Werelove universe and gives you a first-person look into moments of their lives that are not covered in the books. Below is the list of what is available to be read. Feel free to read either on Tumblr or Wattpad and leave feedback if you feel like it.

Tumblr (follow me) and Wattpad (follow me).

Completed stories:
Britta -  Tumblr   |  Wattpad
Donil -  Tumblr  |  Wattpad (ends November 17)

In-progress stories:
Stefan -  Tumblr   |  Wattpad

Started October 2015:
Drayden -  Tumblr   |  Wattpad (begins December 24)

2016 stories:
Zina -  Tumblr (begins February 2016)   |  Wattpad (begins April 2016)

Possible future Journals
Miguel
Yon
Naiya
Mya
Isabella

If you have character not mentioned that you would like to see given a journal run, leave the name in the comments.

Knocking Down Writer's Block

I've had writer's block before but it doesn't mean I like it. This is by no means the longest drought of creativity as far as novel writing is concerned.

I'm still writing, mainly short stories set in the Werelove universe (more about that in a later post) and sporadic writing down of scenes from my various series.

The biggest problem is getting my mind set to write a novel. I've got notes, outlines and my usual tricks for putting pen to paper but I keep coming up empty. I know the biggest reason for the drought is the mental stress I've been under these last two years. I don't normally through stuff out like this but I think this time I should, if only to help myself put things in perspective.

I've had the following major life changes & issues and all of them, have in some fashion or form, influenced my lack of writing.

• Got married and relocated to a new county.
• Family health issues – hubby being hospitalized for pneumonia and an emergency room visit for me that has lead to ongoing test to discover what exactly is going crazy with my body.
• Having my youngest being diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome & ADHD back in September 2014 and all the subsequent doctor visits which are still ongoing. Also the struggles in school for my youngest and the tutoring to bring the reading level up to grade level. My youngest is still in therapy and also on medication that has brought an improvement in attention which has led to a happier child and teachers.
• Having my oldest be diagnosed with severe depression, anxiety disorder and ADHD as well as having my oldest be Baker Acted twice this year for suicide ideation. This also has lead to doctor's visits. Medication as well as treatment plan to help my oldest seems to be helping
• My biological father trying to re-enter my life after he has been absent from it since the age of 5. He wants a relationship. I'm thinking, I'm in my 30s now, so how about....No!
• Work-related stress because of my hubby's job that he had given much of himself and drive to, turned sour and brought financial instability into our lives. Happily this stressor has been removed because  he left the old job and has a new job that he enjoys.
• The relationships of both my children with their fathers. My oldest's father has no relationship with my oldest. My youngest's father fights/butts head with my youngest, while having his own set of mental health issues. Both of my kids love their stepfather (my hubby) but at the same time they do want relationships with their fathers and trying to get the biological fathers to understand that and do something about it has been exhausting.

At the end of the day, I'm so drained I can't get into my writing and when I do sit down to try to accomplish something, some emergency or situation always arises to destroy my "happy place" that I need to write.

I will figure it out and I'm going to use NaNoWriMo to again put me back on track and in the driver seat of my writing life.