Wednesday Reads and Motivation

My motivation to write is returning. Not there entirely (I can still get easily distracted), but the recent ads for My Sunny Vampire (and subsequent reviews—some good, some bad), and then reading J.R. Ward’s blog about The Shadows (how she came to write that ending), has lit a fire under my butt. So much so, I went back to work on Ghostly Liaison yesterday and I think (THINK) I finally (FINALLY) got past the difficulties to move forward. Talk about a relief. We’ll see how today goes, though. If I get two good days in a row, then I know I’ve done something right.

Now, onto what I read this week (hmmm… I bet you can tell which book I finished):

Jun 22: “The Shadows” by J.R. Ward, the 13th book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, a paranormal romance at 576 words. Blurb from Goodreads: Trez “Latimer” doesn’t really exist. And not just because the identity was created so that a Shadow could function in the underbelly of the human world. Sold by his parents to the Queen of the S’Hsibe as a child, Trez escaped the Territory and has been a pimp and an enforcer in Caldwell, NY for years- all the while on the run from a destiny of sexual servitude. He’s never had anyone he could totally rely on... except for his brother, iAm. iAm’s sole goal has always been to keep his brother from self-destructing- and he knows he’s failed. It’s not until the Chosen Serena enters Trez’s life that the male begins to turn things around... but by then it’s too late. The pledge to mate the Queen’s daughter comes due and there is nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, and no negotiating. Trapped between his heart and a fate he never volunteered for, Trez must decide whether to endanger himself and others- or forever leave behind the female he’s in love with. But then an unimaginable tragedy strikes and changes everything. Staring out over an emotional abyss, Trez must find a reason to go on or risk losing himself and his soul forever. And iAm, in the name of brotherly love, is faced with making the ultimate sacrifice... Oh man…. Totally did not see that end coming (I purposely avoided anything that mentioned “spoilers” when it came to this book – like I do for any of her books – thus I didn’t read her blog until I finished the book). I loved this story (and all the other little stories that goes on around the main one), but I think it’s going to take me a day or so to recover. Really! This was one gut wrenching story.

Not sure if you noticed in my sidebar, but the Goodreads Giveaway for Blind Temptation is under way. I’m hoping people who enter (and add the book to their to-read list) will buy it when they see it’s only $2.99. I’ve had a spike in sales this month (actually this month has been the best ever), but I think that’s mostly attributed to MSV’s freebie sale (which ends July 3rd in case you didn’t know). Whatever, I’ll take it!

So… Do you like entering Goodreads giveaways? If so, have you ever won? If so, did you read the book? My hubby has won once and actually read the book. He didn’t like it. Hasn’t stopped him from entering again, though. I usually enter when I see a favorite author giving away an autographed copy. One of these days I’ll win. Maybe. It’s not like I NEED any more books. I just WANT them! J

Happy Reading!

Stacy