Release date: August 7th, 2012
Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
Genre: Adult Romance, 18+
Format read: ebook, 95 pages
Format read: ebook, 95 pages
SUMMARY
A decade surviving on her own.
Three days with the enemy.
Three days with the enemy.
Can love conquer all?
But Beckett, a Guard of the Affinity, is more than a man in uniform. His desperate need to help Cressenda escape both the blizzard and the Affinity, makes her feelings for him all the more troubling. Will Beckett be true to his word and set Cressenda free? Will her heart let her leave after all they’ve shared?
“You…you’re a...sympathizer.” It sounded dirty as
the words passed between my lips. I wanted to snatch them back and swallow them
down again. The sting of my insult was evident in the painful expression that
settled on his face.
“It doesn’t matter what I am. You want to be free,
don’t you? Then go.” His authoritative facade crumbled and the innocent hurt of
a young boy dripped from his soul as he spoke. “You won’t get far enough if you
don’t get out now.”
I placed my hand over his, unlatching his fingers
one at a time from the tender inside of my bicep. My steps were measured and
controlled as I backed away from the Guard. I neared the clear walkway of the
Trade Path just as a shrill alarm sounded. Every transaction halted and everyone
held their breath for a split second, merchants and traders alike. In the blink
of an eye, the entire population of the Path turned to the entrance and moved
hurriedly, as if they were trying to contain a generalized franticness.
“What is it? Where are they going?” I asked no one
in particular.
“It’s a blizzard warning.”
I cursed. A blizzard. I’d never make it home now.
Conditions would be impossible: no visibility, forty-foot snowdrifts, and
gale-force winds. The boys and I would never survive. I stood, motionless,
while bodies spun and twirled on the periphery of my consciousness. I was stuck
in the Collective with nowhere to go and, worse, nowhere to hide.
“Come with me,” the masculine timbre commanded over
my shoulder before lacing his fingers in mine. His gentle hold of my hand gave
me comfort and lulled me into a hypnotic state. The Guard led me forward until
I broke from my daze.
“Let me go!” I yanked my hand from his. “I have to
get out of here. I have to beat the blizzard.”
Before I could break into a sprint, the Guard
whirled me around. I teetered, stunned by the force. He moved in close and
arched over me while he spoke. Not to intimidate but to cover me, protecting me
from the eyes around us.
“You’ll never make it. Never. Come with me. You can
wait out the storm at my cabin. When it’s over, you’ll be free to go.” His eyes
searched my person for the answer to the question in his mind. Wherever it is
you live.
I stared at him, doubtful and distrusting. I had
only seconds to decide if this tall, hulking citizen of the Collective,
official of the Affinity, could really, truly be a sympathizer.
MY REVIEW
Frozen Heart is a well-written short story that I would consider as an adult dystopian romance. It takes place in the "'Ice Ages" were the lands have permanently frozen over, humans are scarce and everything must be rationed and modified by the government, called the Affinity. The "Green Age" was long ago, that stories of a time were the lands were full of green grass, crops, animals and people were free to choose where they wanted to live and who they wanted to marry, are told and passed on as though they were fairytales.
Cressenda is one of the few lucky ones that was born out of love. Her parents taught her how to survive in the cold harsh weather away from the Affinity, they knew that one day she would be on her own. At a very early age, their prediction came true. For ten years, Cressenda took care of herself and her two sled dogs. Living a full days worth away from the nearest compound, she knows how to take care of her little family, their home, how to stay as healthy as possible and how to navigate the weather and mountains in order to get to the trade for supplies when she is running low.
On one of her runs, she runs into some trouble and meets Beckett - one of the guards to the Affinity. When he checks her identification, Cressenda knows that he is about to discover that she is an Outsider, she must decide quickly how to get away or she will be arrested. But luckily for her, a surprise snowstorm hits and Beckett offers to take her in until it passes over.
Much to my surprise, there is a lot more to Beckett than I gave him credit for. And the electricity between Beckett and Cressenda can start forest fires.
I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed with the ending - I felt like it was a bit to abrupt for me, almost like a cliffhanger! I want more! I need to know what happens... hopefully there will be a part two to this.
It is definitely a great quick read to satisfy anyone who is in the mood for a quick romance.
Cressenda is one of the few lucky ones that was born out of love. Her parents taught her how to survive in the cold harsh weather away from the Affinity, they knew that one day she would be on her own. At a very early age, their prediction came true. For ten years, Cressenda took care of herself and her two sled dogs. Living a full days worth away from the nearest compound, she knows how to take care of her little family, their home, how to stay as healthy as possible and how to navigate the weather and mountains in order to get to the trade for supplies when she is running low.
On one of her runs, she runs into some trouble and meets Beckett - one of the guards to the Affinity. When he checks her identification, Cressenda knows that he is about to discover that she is an Outsider, she must decide quickly how to get away or she will be arrested. But luckily for her, a surprise snowstorm hits and Beckett offers to take her in until it passes over.
Much to my surprise, there is a lot more to Beckett than I gave him credit for. And the electricity between Beckett and Cressenda can start forest fires.
I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed with the ending - I felt like it was a bit to abrupt for me, almost like a cliffhanger! I want more! I need to know what happens... hopefully there will be a part two to this.
It is definitely a great quick read to satisfy anyone who is in the mood for a quick romance.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Annabelle Blume
Annabelle is a Science Fiction and Urban Fantasy Romance author, that is, when she's not checking homework or begrudgingly cooking dinner. Wife, mother, and creator of alternate worlds, Annabelle has a penchant for that which is outside the norm.
Her Sociology degree did nothing to progress her writing skills, but has given her the ability to construct worlds that exist only in her head and translate them passionately to the page. The time spent studying individuals, interpersonal relationships, and particularly, women, within the constraints of our society led to Annabelle's unabashed ability to talk about sex as it fits into our modern lives.
She's also the author/personality of The Bombshell Mommy at Vitacost.com, where she expounds her knowledge of being a vixen clad in sweatpants.
Giveaway! Enter to win an ecopy of Frozen Heart!!!
A Book Tour for:
 |
| Bewitching Book Tours |
Thanks for the awesomeness!
ReplyDelete-wni
Thanks for having the giveaway. This sounds like an interesting read. :)
ReplyDeleteThe cover is amazing and your blog is beautiful. I have to work on my blog to make it look better because I am so jealous of yours.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first I've seen this book, but it sounds like it would be really good! Thanks for the giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful cover! Thanks for the giveaway, the book sounds awesome. :)
ReplyDelete