Fire and Ice

Book Review- Edenbrooke

noreply@blogger.com (FireandIce) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:21:00 +0000

Edenbrooke
by Julianne Donaldson
Paperback, 240 pages
Expected publication: April 3rd 2012
by Deseret Book Company
ISBN 1609089464
Book Source: publisher
4.5 stars

Marianne Daventry will do anything to escape the boredom of Bath and the amorous attentions of an unwanted suitor. So when an invitation arrives from her twin sister, Cecily, to join her at a sprawling country estate, she jumps at the chance. Thinking she’ll be able to relax and enjoy her beloved English countryside while her sister snags the handsome heir of Edenbrooke, Marianne finds that even the best laid plans can go awry. From a terrifying run-in with a highwayman to a seemingly harmless flirtation, Marianne finds herself embroiled in an unexpected adventure filled with enough romance and intrigue to keep her mind racing. Will she be able to rein in her traitorous heart, or will a mysterious stranger sweep her off her feet? Fate had something other than a relaxing summer in mind when it sent Marianne to Edenbrooke

One of the first things I love about Edenbrooke is that the cover perfectly fits the story and is subtle but breathtaking. Marianne is living in Bath with her spinster grandma, separated form her twin sister after the death of their mother. Both are in the season of their life and while their father is off on his own grieving in another country Marianne is trying in vain to enjoy the quiet solitary life she's been allotted. Between unwelcome advances from a much older man and hearing all of the adventures of her twin in London, she begins to wonder what is in store for her. So when sister Cecily sends invitation for the two of them to spend the summer on an estate called Edenbrooke Marianne is hopeful her luck may change. The two sisters couldn't be more opposite in their demeanor and temperaments. Cecily is bound and determined to win the heart of the Lord of the estate with flirtation during her visit while Marianne is happy to learn in her quiet way how to become a proper Lady. But things turn unexpectedly when Marianne's carriage is high jacked and a stranger steps in to help.

Edenbrooke pulled me out of a reading slump with its rich setting and slowly building clean romance. It had a surprise ending with a villain I never would have guessed and plenty of heart stopping moments between the pages. I would highly recommend it to all readers and especially fans of Regency romance. I think Julianne has a promising road ahead of her as an up and coming author who delights readers with vivid writing and well developed characters. Thanks so much to Shadow Mountain for the advanced reading copy!

Content: clean, minor violence

About the author: Julianne Donaldson was born in the wrong century. She tries to make up for that by enjoying old books, old music, and old places. She graduated magna cum laude from Brigham Young University with a degree in English Literature. When she’s not dreaming of England, she enjoys baking, dancing with her kids, and staying up late with her husband and a good book. She lives with her husband and four children in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Find her on Goodreads and her blog.

Book Review- Between

noreply@blogger.com (ephrielle) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:30:00 +0000

Between

by Jessica Warman

Hardcover, 464 pages

Publication Date: August 2nd 2011

by Walker & Company

ISBN 0802721826

Book Source: BEA

3 Stars

Elizabeth Valchar-pretty, popular, and perfect-wakes up the morning after her eighteenth birthday party on her family's yacht, where she'd been celebrating with her six closest friends. A persistent thumping noise has roused her. When she goes to investigate, what she finds will change everything she thought she knew about her life, her friends, and everything in between. As Liz begins to unravel the circumstances surrounding her birthday night, she will find that no one around her, least of all Liz herself, was perfect-or innocent. Critically acclaimed author Jessica Warman brings readers along on a roller-coaster ride of a mystery, one that is also a heartbreaking character study, a touching romance, and ultimately a hopeful tale of redemption, love, and letting go.

Review by ephrielle:

A lie is a powerful thing. An in depth look into why you should tell the truth. Guilt destroys all it touches.

An extremely intense story. There were several times I just wanted to put this book down and walk away. Everything seems so harmless and normal at first look. But as the truth starts to leak out one fragment at a time what once appeared normal takes on a decidedly darker aspect. This poor girl shouldn't have had to face what she did. We can't pick those things that will happen to us, only what we will do about them. I feel like this book perfectly illustrates almost worst case scenario what could happen if you tell a lie to cover something up. I could hear my mother's voice of warning. "Be careful the friends you pick since they will have great influence over you." "Don't drink." But most of all this book illustrates how we teach our children. When you do something wrong don't tell. You don't want to get in trouble. It should be more along the lines of fess up so you can get the consequences over with. If not it could get way worse. And it seemed that every time she tried to reach out for help no one was there or willing. The communication barriers between adults and teenagers are far more vast than they should be. It causes such trial to the younger generation that we aren't there for them when we need to be.

Content: intense swearing, nudity, underage drinking, anorexia, and exploitation of minors including pornography

About the author: Jessica Warman is the author of Breathless, which received three starred reviews and was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and Where the Truth Lies. The idea for Between came from an incident in her childhood, when a local boy went missing after a party on a yacht (he was eventually found, alive).

Find more about author Jessica Warman on Goodreads/ Twitter/ Website

Brodi Ashton Everneath Book Launch and Swag Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (FireandIce) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:40:00 +0000

Brodi Ashton wowed us all with her knack for public speaking, making us laugh and pulling in a HUGE crowd last night at the King's English Everneath book launch event. The 15th street gallery was completely packed to capacity with people standing in both rooms. Brodi had a power point presentation describing her path to being published. She queried over 165 agents before landing her first representation as an author. She even had a laminated scroll of all the letters to show us how persistence pays off. Her first book queried, Echo was set in Idaho, about a journalist who is abducted by aliens. While never accepted, her beta readers stand behind it as a hit.

Everneath is the first in a trilogy published by Balzer and Bray, the title a combination of forever and underneath, suggested by Brodi's critique partner and YA author Bree Despain. It features protagonist, Nikki who is quiet and broken after having made a decision which affects the next 100 years. Revisions on book two are currently in the works and must be submitted soon, it will be released in January 2013.

Present at the event were local authors Sara Zarr, Elana Johnson, Nichole Giles, Natalie Whipple, Matthew Kirby, Bree Despain, Emily Wing Smith, Heather B Moore and Angela Corbett. Book bloggers included Fire and Ice, Amy O of Eve's Fan Garden, NewUTMommy, SLC Bookworm, Erin Olds, Catie S, Maw Books, EmsReadingRoom, CranberryFries, Toomuchaubrey, BooksATrueStory and SueySays. It was fun for me because also there were many members of Brodi and my junior high and high school classes as well as her immediate family.

Brodi signed copies of her book which sold out before everyone could get a copy! On hand was an Everneath sheet cake as well as lots of goodies for those waiting in the line which stretched through the entire store.

She also gave away Dead Elvis guitar pick necklaces, temporary tattoos and book marks which we are giving away in a swag pack below. (Book not included) Open internationally, simply comment to enter. Thanks again to Brodi and TKE for the great event! See all of our photos on Facebook and SmugMug.

ARC Giveaway- Try Not To Breathe

noreply@blogger.com (FireandIce) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:56:00 +0000

by Jennifer R. Hubbard

Hardcover, 272 pages

Published January 19th 2012

by Viking Juvenile
ISBN 0670013900

Summary From Goodreads- Ryan spends most of his time alone at the local waterfall because it’s the only thing that makes him feel alive. He’s sixteen, post-suicidal, and trying to figure out what to do with himself after a stint in a mental hospital. Then Nicki barges into his world, brimming with life and energy, and asking questions about Ryan’s depression that no one else has ever been brave enough—or cared enough—to ask. Ryan isn’t sure why he trusts Nicki with his darkest secrets, but that trust turns out to be the catalyst that he desperately needs to start living again.

Fire and Ice is giving away our advanced reading copy of Try Not To Breathe. Must be 16 or older and have a US mailing address. Simply comment below to enter. Giveaway ends February 12, 2012. Good luck!

Book Review- Caller ID

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:01:00 +0000

Caller ID
By Rachelle J Christensen
Paperback, 272 pages
Expected Publication Date: March 6, 2012
by Cedar Fort, Inc
ISBN: 1599559900
Book Source: Netgalley
4 stars

When twenty-three-year-old Courtney Beckham is abducted near her home, the search turns up more than just a kidnapping crime. FBI agent Jason Edwards investigates the ten-million-dollar ransom and stumbles upon something he wasn't meant to find. When Courtney catches a glimpse of the caller ID in her kidnapper's home, what she sees turns her world upside down.

Courtney is a college co-ed, she's a cute girl. The kind who always has a boyfriend. Her current boyfriend, Sean, is a football player for the University of Utah. He's one person that her dad doesn't have a problem with Courtney running through the mountains with. There was a murder in the mountains that Courtney likes to run in only a year earlier, and her overprotective father still wants her to stay away. The only thing is, the kind of guys that Courtney dates all expect one thing and Courtney's not willing to go there. She knows that Sean's getting to that point, so she knows she'll need to break up with him pretty soon. When her dad takes her mom on a surprise weekend getaway, it's the perfect time for Courtney to take her horse Titka and her dog Pepper for a ride in the mountains behind her home, after all, what her dad doesn't know can't hurt him. What she doesn't bargain for is to find a field full of marijuana and the men guarding that field to kidnap her, because they know that she's seen it. Since no one knows where she's going, or even that she was going, Courtney knows it's going to be at least a day or two before someone realizes that she's missing. Can Courtney hold out until someone can find her? I enjoyed this book. It was full of all kinds of plot twists and turns. I loved Courtney's character, at the beginning she comes across as kind of a spoiled rich girl, but by the end of the book, you and she realize what a strong young woman she really is. I liked the touch of romance that this book contains. You kind of know who the "bad guy" is through the whole book, but I like that there was still enough craziness to be surprised as to how the book was going to end. All in all a good book!

Content: Attempted Rape, Peril of kidnapping, drug trafficking

About the author: I was born and raised in a small farming town in Idaho and I’m a dirt between the toes, irrigation boot-wearing, ponytail flipping in the wind as I drive the 4-wheeler FARM girl all the way! I’m married to my incredible husband, Steve, and we have four wonderful kids–two girls and two boys. I graduated from Utah State University with a bachelor’s in Psychology and a minor in music. Go Aggies! I love USU–that’s where I met my husband! I enjoy so much of life–there’s so much to learn and experience. I love reading almost any genre/age group and usually read over 50 books a year from a variety of different authors. I love running, gardening, making cards with rubber stamps, crocheting, playing volleyball, singing, playing the piano, telling felt stories, and cooking. I’ve enjoyed writing for as long as I can remember. As a child, I loved to make up poems and write short stories.

Find out more about author Rachelle Christensen on Goodreads/ Website/ Blog/ Twitter

Please Donate To Fellow Blogger Who Lost Her Home

noreply@blogger.com (FireandIce) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:35:00 +0000

One of our fellow book bloggers and affiliates Yara from Once Upon a Twilight suffered the loss of her home in two separate fires this weekend. We are so glad everyone is safe as no one was in the home when it caught fire, but they lost everything and we are hoping to help.

Yara far left and Heather second from right at BBC with fellow book bloggers.

If you've ever met Yara you know how friendly, fun, hard working and genuine she is. She her husband and two boys are going to have a long road to rebuild ahead of them, which is where you can help.

TwilightMoms, Eve's Fan Garden and Late Bloomer Online have all posted the story to spread the word and a PayPal account has been set up for donations here. Every penny will go directly to Yara. Please give what you can, even if it's only a dollar. And send your prayers to the Santos family.

Book Review- Cold Kiss

noreply@blogger.com (ephrielle) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 10:14:00 +0000

Cold Kiss

by Amy Garvey

Hardcover, 304 pages

Publication Date: September 20th 2011

by HarperTeen

ISBN 006199622X

Book Source: BEA

3 Stars

It was a beautiful, warm summer day, the day Danny died.
Suddenly Wren was alone and shattered. In a heartbroken fury, armed with dark incantations and a secret power, Wren decides that what she wants—what she must do—is to bring Danny back.
But the Danny who returns is just a shell of the boy Wren fell in love with. His touch is icy; his skin, smooth and stiff as marble; his chest, cruelly silent when Wren rests her head against it.
Wren must keep Danny a secret, hiding him away, visiting him at night, while her life slowly unravels around her. Then Gabriel DeMarnes transfers to her school, and Wren realizes that somehow, inexplicably, he can sense the powers that lie within her—and that he knows what she has done. And now Gabriel wants to help make things right.
But Wren alone has to undo what she has wrought—even if it means breaking her heart all over again.

Review by ephrielle: From the beginning this book has started in such a way as to make it unique. Instead of following the cause and effect model we are going backwards. Something has already happened and now we are going to figure it out in reverse. A great use of the unexplored areas of the English language.

Basically, you have a teenage girl getting carried away by her feelings. Everything at that age seems so permanent and intense. In the throes of her undying love she makes a mistake, a huge mistake. As most teenagers find that intense lasting emotion was more of a growth pain. Now she finds herself not liking the consequences and needing a way out. Sprinkle in some zombie and magic and you are good to go. A relatively quick read.

Content: intense swearing

About the author: I've always been a reader. I've also been a movie theater ticket taker, a nanny, a camp counselor, and a romance editor. Now I'm a wife and a mom and a writer who still spends most of my free time reading (when I'm not watching too much TV).

After starting off in romance with books like Hot Date and Pictures of Us, I'm writing in the genre I've always loved most, young adult fiction. (My very first completed novel, which will live forever under my bed, was a young adult novel!)

Find more about author Amy Garvey on Goodreads/ Twitter/ Tumblr/ Facebook/ Blog/ Figment

Hallowed Blog Tour

noreply@blogger.com (FireandIce) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:01:00 +0000

Fire and Ice is thrilled to be today's stop on the Hallowed by Cynthia Hand Blog Tour hosted by Mundie Moms. We are posting our review of the book and if you'd like to check out the rest of the tour click here to view all of the sites participating.

Hallowed
Unearthly #2
by Cynthia Hand

Hardcover, 416 pages

Expected publication: January 17th 2012

by HarperCollins Publishers

ISBN 0061996181

Source: Netgalley

5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

Described by Richelle Mead as “utterly captivating,” Unearthly received outstanding reviews, garnered accolades from New York Times bestselling authors, and was named an Indie Next Pick. In this heart-wrenching sequel, Cynthia Hand expertly captures the all-consuming joy of first love—and the agony of loss. This beautifully woven tale will appeal to fans of Lauren Kate, Becca Fitzpatrick, and Aprilynne Pike.

Heather's review: Cynthia Hand's debut novel Unearthly made my best of 2011 list this year and it looks like Hallowed will be on the my BIR list for 2012. I love this series! Hallowed picks up right where Unearthly left off, and had I a chance to do it over, I would re-read book one before picking up book two. I remembered the plot and characters well, but there are so many little nuances in this installment that you will miss if it's been awhile. Clara's vision has come to a close and now she is having dreams as well as an overwhelming sense of sorrow. She's made her choice clear between Tucker and Christian but that choice may be putting those she loves in danger.

Hallowed is a much more emotionally driven novel with less action than book one, but I soaked up every minute. So much so that I couldn't pick up another read for a while. I wanted to fill in the blanks on some things so I actually went back and re-read most of Unearthly when I was finished. We see all the same people in book two, but much less of Tucker's sister Wendy and her boyfriend Jason. Also, Clara's brother Jeffrey is a mystery. The one character I have not been able to connect with at all is Angela. So I'm gearing up for more of her in book three.

I had many questions answered about who and what the angel bloods are, about Clara's upbringing and why her mother has held so many secrets. But the best part of Hallowed by far are the two boys Tucker and Christan. Cynthia Hand knows how to write realistic, amazingly supportive, perfect heroes each in their own way. They are completely different, but each brings out a good side in Clara. So many noteworthy scenes with them both in Hallowed- including a ski trip, fishing, and learning to use glory. Both boys grew on me more than they had in book one. I really didn't think that would be possible!

Readers will be thrown for a loop with some of the plot twists and will laugh out loud as Hand pokes fun at Twilight stalkerish behaviors and love triangles (though they are used in this book.) The pace of Hallowed is slower but never drags and the tone a little more heavy as Clara is dealing with so many swirling emotions she is picking up from other people and non-people. Some of the content is better suited for an older teens since there are a few heavy make out, a partially undressed scene in a bedroom, and mild violence. No sex or swearing.

I highly recommend both Unearthly and Hallowed. If you are a fan of all things paranormal including angel mythology and the perfect swoon worthy male characters this is the series for you! I'm having a hard time moving on to another book because they influenced me so much. So, if you haven't read them yet, run and pick up Unearthly today!

About the author- Cynthia Hand grew up in southeast Idaho (very near the Wyoming border). Currently she lives in southern California with her husband and two small children. She teaches courses in creative writing at Pepperdine University. Unearthly, her debut YA novel, was published by HarperTeen in January 2011, out in paperback on 11-1-11. The sequel, Hallowed, was released on January 17th.

Check her out on Goodreads/ her website/ blog/ twitter

Renegade Cover Reveal Scavenger Hunt

noreply@blogger.com (FireandIce) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Fire and Ice is so excited to be taking part in the cover reveal scavenger hunt for Renegade by

J. A. Souders.

She is making us do a little work for her cover by splitting it into six pieces. First, you need to find the pieces.
Then, stop by the following blogs (schedule below) on the time’s specified and collect the pieces. While you’re at each stop you’ll also need to collect the words that create a phrase. You’ll need to figure out this phrase for Monday’s Giveaway.

Our puzzle piece of the cover is below and the word for our site is

ABOUT...

RENEGADE book summary from Goodreads: Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has been trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes all her life she’s thought that everything was perfect; her world. Her people. The Law.

But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into their secluded little world, she’s forced to come to a startling realization: everything she knows is a lie. Her memories have been altered. Her mind and body aren’t under her own control. And the person she knows as Mother is a monster.

Together with Gavin she plans her escape, only to learn that her own mind is a ticking time bomb... and Mother has one last secret that will destroy them all

If you are ready for a scavenger hunt simply visit the following blogs and collect a word along with the puzzle pieces and head over to the three blogs hosting the giveaway on Monday. Good luck!

7 AM: Woven Strands
9 AM: Writer's Ally
10 am: The Oasis
11 am: Fire and Ice
1 pm: Confessions of a Bookaholic
3 pm: Jessie Harrell-The Daily Harrell

For the final cover, on Monday visit one or all of the following blogs:

Reading Teen
Books Complete Me
Mundie Moms
Simple Love of Reading

Stuck in Books

About the Author: J.A. Souders was born in the heartland with an overactive imagination and an over abundance of curiosity that was always getting her into trouble. She first began writing at the age of 13, when she moved to Florida and not only befriended the monsters under the bed, but created worlds for them to play together.

Because she never grew up, she decided she’d put her imaginary friends to work and started writing. She still lives in the land of sunshine and palm trees with her husband and their two children and is an active member of the RWA, CFRW, YARWA and SCBWI.

She is represented by Natalie Lakosil of the Bradford Literary Agency. Her debut book, RENEGADE, surfaces Fall 2012 from Tor Teen.

Learn more on Goodreads/ her site/ blog/ twitter

Book Review- Why We Broke Up

noreply@blogger.com (Debbie / Cranberry Fries) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:01:00 +0000

by Daniel Handler
Art by: Maira Kalman
Hardcover, 368 pgs
Published December 27, 2011
by Little, Brown
ISBN: 9780316127257
Book source: BEA

Buy it: Amazon | The Book Depository
Add it: Goodreads | Shelfari

Summary From Goodreads: Min Green and Ed Slaterton are breaking up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box. Inside the box is why they broke up. Two bottle caps, a movie ticket, a folded note, a box of matches, a protractor, books, a toy truck, a pair of ugly earrings, a comb from a motel room, and every other item collected over the course of a giddy, intimate, heartbreaking relationship. Item after item is illustrated and accounted for, and then the box, like a girlfriend, will be dumped

Debbie's Review: Right from the start I was into this book. They writing style (written in a letter/rambling form) took me a bit to get used to but I was impressed that the author was able to get across an entire, very interesting, story line this way. I enjoyed the quirky details, and the well written female lead by male author, even though parts of the plot were a little obvious.

Plus the book has some great art that carries the story along as well. In each chapter Min tells Ed the reasons they broke up, accompanied by a picture of each item she's including in the box to give back to him.

Content: Some sex. No violence. Some strong language. I'd give it a PG-13 rating as the references/language are brief

About the author: Daniel Handler is the author of the novels The Basic Eight, Watch Your Mouth, Adverbs, and as Lemony Snicket a sequence of children's novels collectively entitled "A Series of Unfortunate Events." He also plays the accordion.

More info on Author: facebook

About the Illustrator: Maira Kalman was born in Tel Aviv and moved to New York with her family at the age of four. She has worked as a designer, author, illustrator and artist for more than thirty years without formal training. Her work is a narrative journal of her life and all its absurdities. She has written and illustrated twelve children's books including Ooh-la-la- Max in Love, What Pete Ate, and Swami on Rye . She often illustrates for The New Yorker magazine, and is well known for her collaboration with Rick Meyerowitz on the NewYorkistan cover in 2001. Recent projects include The Elements of Style (illustrated), and a monthly on-line column entitled Principles of Uncertainty for The New York Times. She has had three exhibitions at the Julie Saul Gallery since 2003. She lives in New York and walks a lot.

More info on Illustrator: Website

Giveaway Winners

noreply@blogger.com (FireandIce) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:39:00 +0000

Congratulations to Tressa who won Angelfire Bookmark Pack

Gi-Gi who won a Love and Leftovers ARC and finally

Jessy who won the ARC of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight.

Winners please email us your mailing address and stay tuned everyone else for new giveaways tomorrow!

Time Gangsters Blog Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Cathy) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:01:00 +0000

Fire and Ice is today's stop on the Cedar Fort Blog Tour for

Time Gangsters
by Berin L Stephens
Paperback, 296 pages
Expected Publication Date: February 8, 2012
by Cedar Fort Inc

ISBN: 1599559668

Book Source: Netgalley

Rating: 5 stars

When Billy discovers a hidden cache of ancient coins, it isn't long before a gang of thugs swipes them right from under Billy. Plotting to use the magical properties of the coins to seize power in the past, these power-hungry gangsters will do anything to reach their goal. Their future threatened, Billy and Danny must race through time to steal back the coins---before history is changed forever!

This was a really fun book! There was so much action and crazy things going on all over the place. I loved the characters and how they fought at first, but then they realized that they needed to work together to steal back the coins. I loved the plot, I mean what kid doesn't dream of finding gold coins in the walls of their bedroom! Not to mention the coins do really cool things, like letting you jump really high. This book is written for elementary age kids, and I can't wait to have my 11 year-old read it.

Content: Really clean.

About the Author:

Wanted: Dead or Alive
Berin "Reeds" Stephens

Former getaway driver for Franco Carnassi. Also played tenor saxophone in Carnassi's speakeasy, the Club Velocity. He may be armed and dangerous. Originally from Chugiak, Alaska, he is currently believed to be in a hideout somewhere in a valley in the mountain west. He is guarded by several kids, a dog, a cat, and an aloe plant. If you have any information concerning Reeds's whereabouts, please contact Agent Elliott of the Bureau of Investigation immediately or visit http://www.berinstephens.com./.

Find out more about Berin L Stephens: Website/ Blog/ Facebook

Find out more about Time Gangsters: Website

To visit more blogs on this blog tour check out the schedule.

Book Review- Friends & Foes

noreply@blogger.com (FireandIce) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:55:00 +0000

Friends and Foes

by Sarah M. Eden
Paperback: 269 pages
Published by Covenant Communications Inc.
January 3, 2012
ISBN-10: 1608613763
Book Source: bought
4 stars

Book description from Amazon: After five years of tracking and capturing spies on English soil, Philip Jonquil, Earl of Lampton, is in pursuit of his last quarry. But at a traveler's inn, he encounters an unexpected and far more maddening foe: Sorrel Kendrick, a young lady who is strikingly pretty, shockingly outspoken, and entirely unimpressed with him. Indeed, Sorrel cannot believe the nerve of this gentleman, who rudely accuses her of theft and insults her feminine dignity. Doubly annoyed when they both end up at a party hosted by mutual friends, Philip and Sorrel privately declare war on one another. But Philip's tactics, which range from flirting to indifference, soon backfire as he finds himself reluctantly enjoying Sorrel's company; and, much to her dismay, Sorrel finds Philip's odd manner to be increasingly endearing. In the midst of this waning war and growing attraction, Philip catches wind of the French spy he's been tracking, and Sorrel inadvertently stumbles upon a crucial piece of the puzzle, making her indispensable to the mission. But can two proud hearts negotiate a ceasefire when cooperation matters most?

This is the fourth book I've read by Sarah M . Eden and I can say she is one of my favorite writers of clean Regency romance. It had been a while since I'd read Kiss of A Stranger and I had already forgotten many of the characters. I wish I would have re-read it before picking up Friends and Foes. Sarah integrates the people from her last books into each of the new ones so it's fun to have them fresh in your mind. Philip Jonquil is back and is the focus of Friends and Foes instead of a secondary character. This time he's acting as a "Dandy" ,a well-dressed self-assured gentleman who on the side is acting as a spy for the English war effort. He's in the midst of trying to catch a Frenchman when he stumbles upon a woman in his room at the inn who he accuses of stealing his walking stick.

The two start a spew of conversational banter which keeps up through the whole novel. They declare "war" on one another when they learn they have mutual friends and are not just strangers, but rather are forced to spend the entire Christmas holiday with their perspective families at Crispin's estate. Main heroine Sorrel is headstrong and has suffered greatly as a result of a crippling incident so she doesn't feel she is material for romance. Instead she and Phillip jab at each other with cutting and sarcastic insults.

This is such a fun, clean read! Overall I was highly entertained. My only little peeve was the overuse of the word "lud" by Phillip and the fact that the book is very main character driven. The reader doesn't get a deep sense of any of the side characters or resolution of sub plots that are previously explored. The issue of Sorrel's leg, her relationship with her mother and father plus a side romance going on between her sister Margie and Phillip's brother are left up in the air. I'm hoping they are resolved in the next book Sarah puts out.

Friends and Foes is currently number 4 on the Deseret Book bestsellers list- you go Sarah! Readers who liked Josette by Danielle Thorne or Jane Austen's works will enjoy Sarah's latest installment. Find out more on Goodreads .

About the Author: Sarah M. Eden read her first Jane Austen novel in elementary school and has been an Austen addict ever since. Fascinated by the Regency era in English history, Eden became a regular in the Regency section of the reference department at her local library, painstakingly researching this extraordinary chapter in history. Eden is an award-winning author of short stories and has been a Whitney Award Finalist for her novels Seeking Persephone (2008) and Courting Miss Lancaster (2010).

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day

noreply@blogger.com (FireandIce) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:32:00 +0000

Fire and Ice wants to wish everyone a happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We hope you are enjoying your holiday and always remember the example his wise words set...

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

"Let us develop a kind of dangerous unselfishness."

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

"Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."

"the time is always right to do the right thing"

"We must live together as brothers or perish together as fools." -Martin Luther King Jr.

1000th Post Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (FireandIce) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 05:05:00 +0000

Fire and Ice just hit our 1000th post and to celebrate we are giving away two of Maggie Stiefvater's books- a paperback of Shiver and an ARC of Forever. Thanks so much to all of you who have made this site what it is. We have grown a lot since our first post. I appreciate all of the comments, tweets and feedback you give! To enter click read more and fill out the rafflecopter form.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review- Bloodlines

noreply@blogger.com (ephrielle) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:01:00 +0000

Bloodlines

by Richelle Mead

Hardcover, 421 pages

Publication Date: August 23rd 2011

by Razorbill

ISBN 1595143173

Book Source: BEA

5 Stars

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.

Review by ephrielle:

If you loved the Vampire Academy Series you will adore this one as well. But don't write it off as more of the same. It is the same world but from the perspective of an Alchemist, namely Sydney Sage. We get an insiders view of the Alchemist world as well as Sydney's changing views of those they think abominations. Don't judge a book by its cover as well as people. You might be surprised they aren't what they seem. Not only that but there is something deeper going on with Sydney. And you will have to read to find out what.

I and so excited for this series. It will be thrilling to find out where everything will lead. In the last series Richelle Mead broke across boundary lines and it seems she will do it again. After finishing this book I had a hard time sleeping since my mind was roving over all the possibilities. An added bonus for this book is the lack of swearing. Since the book is told by Sydney Sage there are some rather awesome moments of complete misunderstanding. For one super great example of this turn to page 229. Sage is so sure she is interpreting the moment right that she gets it so completely backwards. I suppose knowledge isn't all it is cracked up to be. She is such a refreshing character. It seems so many of the females right now are hormonal sex fiends. So the books follow the lines of girl sees guy and almost immediately wants to get in his pants. I love how we are watching her discover herself and the possibilities. The pace of this discovery is slow enough as to be a sweet building torture. I just must have more and can't wait to get the next book.

Content: violence

About the author: Scorpio Richelle Mead is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy books for both adults and teens. Originally from Michigan, Richelle now lives in Seattle, Washington where she works on her three series full-time: Georgina Kincaid, Dark Swan, and Vampire Academy.

A life-long reader, Richelle has always loved mythology and folklore. When she can actually tear herself away from books (either reading or writing them), she enjoys bad reality TV, traveling, trying interesting cocktails, and shopping for dresses. She's a self-professed coffee addict and has a passion for all things wacky and humorous.

Find more about author Richelle Mead on Goodreads/ Twitter/ Website/ Facebook/ Blog

Announcing Our Kids Site

noreply@blogger.com (FireandIce) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:12:00 +0000

For several months I have been working on a sister site for Fire and Ice. With four children of my own and one on the way I am always looking for good book recommendations. So, I am happy to announce the birth of our baby site, Little Red Reads!

We will be reviewing titles from infant board books to middle grade. Come check us out here and be sure to follow us on twitter.

Cinder Event Recap and Swag Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (FireandIce) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:23:00 +0000

Last night was the CINDER event for author Marissa Meyer at The King's English bookshop in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her first announcement to the crowd was the Cinder just hit the NYT bestsellers list at number 10. Congrats Marissa!

She then told us a little bit about the history behind the story which stems from her fascination with the anime series Sailor Moon. Marissa wrote fan fiction based on Sailor Moon for ten years before launching into her Cinder series which she wrote partially in one month during NanoWrimo. Cinder: Book One in the Lunar Chronicles is set in futuristic Beijing, China. In this world, Asia is all one country also inhabited by Lunas which look like humans. Book two, Scarlet, will be set in France, book three, titled Cress in the Sahara Desert and book four, Winter, in the Lunars. The Lunar Chronicles are all going to be based on fairy tales. Cinder- Cinderella, Scarlet-Little Red Riding Hood, Cress-Rapunzel, and Winter-Snow White.

After Q&A Marissa signed books for us and others in attendance. Spotted at the event were Brodi Ashton, author of Everneath, Bree Despain author of The Dark Divine Series, writers Valynne E. Maetani, The Luckiest Clover and Helen Kiaya Pemberton, Jessica from Books: A True Story and Carrie from Stalking the Bookshelves.

I posted my full photo album with descriptions on the Facebook pages for Heather Gardner Photography, Fire and Ice, on smug mug and twitter.

And if by chance you missed the event last night...no worries you can head to Provo Library tonight at 7 PM for another chance to see Marissa Meyer!

We are giving away an author signed CINDER postcard to one of our readers. Simply comment below to enter. Open internationally. Ends January 26, 2012.

Book Review- Girl Steals Guy

noreply@blogger.com (Chris) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:01:00 +0000

Borrowing Abby Grace #2

by Kelly Green

ebook 271KB file size

Published October 21, 2011

by Backlit Fiction

A SIN: B005YBJNKS

Book Source: Publisher

Rating: 3.75

As Abby has learned, she is now a Shadow, sent to inhabit the lives of strangers in trouble. Dropped into the life of a gorgeous senior with a heartbroken best friend, Abby is instructed to “reunite the lovers” by her cute but maddening Guardian, a 19th century ghostly teenager named Will. Now Abby must navigate high school keg parties, football games and power couples, only to discover that love and revenge are sometimes the same thing.

This second installment in the Abby Grace series was as entertaining and intriguing as the first (find my review here). Abby is a Shadow and as such becomes someone else in order to help them solve life problem. Her instructions to "reunite the lovers" seem obvious, but over time she discovers that her first thoughts might have been wrong. I enjoyed getting to know Will (Abby's Guardian who helps her navigate her missions) a little more in this installment. We see a friendship start to develop between Abby and Will as Abby tries to navigate the High School party scene. The content was a little darker and edgier this time around, which at times made me a little uncomfortable, but all in all I enjoyed following Abby Grace in her attempts to fix the lives of others (and possibly her own).

This ebook is a quick read, but doesn't feel too short. You can easily read it in an afternoon, so it is the perfect weekend read.

Content: some language, high school students discussing sexual activity and drinking in a party scene, homosexuality.

Learn more on the author's site/ Goodreads and buy the Kindle edition for only 99 cents now on Amazon.

Waiting on Wednesday- Until I Die

noreply@blogger.com (FireandIce) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:15:00 +0000

Until I Die
Revenants #2

by Amy Plum

Hardcover, 320 pages

Expected publication: May 8th 2012

by HarperCollins Publishers

ISBN 0062004042

Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series.

Our Waiting on Wednesday is book two in the Revenants series by Amy Plum. CAN NOT WAIT! Set in Paris....Book one in the series, Die For Me was one of my top seven books of 2011 and was featured in our Best I've Read celebration. Read my review and see the playlist for book one here.

The Book Thief Paperback Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (FireandIce) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:48:00 +0000

The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak
Paperback, 550 pages
Published December 18th 2007
ISBN 0375842209

It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

The Book Thief is one of the books I have on my must read list for 2012. I've heard so many wonderful things about it. And lucky for you, I own an extra paperback copy that I am going to give away! To enter to win simply comment below with one book you hope to read this year. Giveaway is open internationally. Ends January 24, 2012.

Book Review- The Queen of Kentucky

noreply@blogger.com (FireandIce) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:16:00 +0000

by Alecia Whitaker
Hardcover, 375 pages
Published January 2nd 2012
by Poppy
ISBN0316125067
Book Source: Publisher
4 stars

Fourteen-year-old Kentucky girl Ricki Jo Winstead, who would prefer to be called Ericka, thank you very much, is eager to shed her farmer's daughter roots and become part of the popular crowd at her small town high school. She trades her Bible for Seventeen magazine, buys new "sophisticated" clothes and somehow manages to secure a tenuous spot at the cool kids table. She's on top of the world, even though her best friend and the boy next door Luke says he misses "plain old Ricki Jo."

Caught between being a country girl and wannabe country club girl, Ricki Jo begins to forget who she truly is: someone who doesn't care what people think and who wouldn't let a good-looking guy walk all over her. It takes a serious incident out on Luke's farm for Ricki Jo to realize that being a true friend is more important than being popular.

The Queen of Kentucky has so many things going for it. First is the cover, which is one of my favorites I've seen come in the mail. It's not that often we see covers in yellow- it jumps out at you. The second thing is the fun trailer and third is the author. I admire authors who take time our of their busy schedules to tweet and thank you for reading their book. The setting is the deep south which wide open spaces, dusty dirt roads,a pond and acres and acres of tobacco. I became immediately immersed in the rural roots of Ricki Jo Winstead and her best friend Luke. It's the summer before Ricki Jo's freshman year, her first year in high school. She's determined to reinvent herself, ditch the two names for a sassier version- Ericka. Fortune falls on her side when the four most popular girls end up in her homeroom and the school stud muffin sits next to her in Spanish. Wolf looks like he just stepped out of an Abercrombie ad and smells like it too. He's the guy everyone is vying for, the top of Ericka's wish list. Buy some new clothes, make the cheer leading squad, get asked to homecoming and go through puberty then Ricky Jo might just pull off the new and improved Ericka.

A coming of age tale of a 14 year old girl, this book brought back so many memories of ninth grade year (we were still in junior high). As Ericka moves up the social chain she begins to shed some of her most important friends and values. She also gets repeatedly made fun of and mistreated by her "friends." It was painful for me to read. She has fabulous parents,a religious upbringing and the perfect boy next door but she's willing to give it all up for a chance at popularity. Soon a middle grade lifestyle turns much more YA- into sneaking out, lots of talk about sex, streaking, drinking, cheating on school work and belittling her once closest friend. While I can sympathize with the fact that Ericka is young and has a mission, I would have liked to have seen more development of character as the book progresses. Time and time again she is mistreated by her love interest and group of new friends. Instead of standing up for herself or rebuilding those whose names she has defamed ...in her upward climb, she takes it all in stride. The ending was just what I wanted to see, but too little too late for me to sympathize fully with the the main character.

Alecia Whitaker is a very talented writer. You can tell she weaves her knowledge and love for the South into her story. Her characters were well fleshed out and vivid. I like that she handles the very hard issue of alcoholism of a parent and domestic violence as it influences the children in the home. I also really liked her references to reading the bible and the importance of sticking to your roots. I could have lived in the county with Ricky Jo before she became Ericka and Luke forever. He is everything you'd want and more. I savored the innocence and closeness of their friendship. Thank so much to Poppy for a chance to read The Queen of Kentucky.

About the Author: Alecia Whitaker grew up with a big imagination on a small farm in Kentucky, which was worlds away from where she currently resides in fast-paced New York City. She knows more about cows, tobacco, frog gigging, and carpentry than the average girl, and she applies the work ethic and common sense she learned from her southern upbringing to the way she now navigates her career and family life in the big city.

Although she graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BFA in Theatre and a BS in Advertising, she's always been a writer. She won the Soil Conservation Essay contest in the 4th grade, was selected as a Governor's School for the Arts student in Creative Writing in the 10th grade, and then in college, she was a Top Ten Finalist in the US Southeast Region for a Ten Minute Playwriting competition at James Madison University.

Since then, she has been in loads of commercials, as well as on stage in a few small theatrical productions and poetry slams. She appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show numerous times, The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, and was a contestant on Deal Or No Deal.

Her personal essays have been published in the anthology Blink: Fiction in the Blink of an Eye and several times in Underwired Magazine. She co-wrote the popular one act play Becoming Woman with a grant from The Kentucky Foundation for Women. The Queen of Kentucky is her first novel and proudest artistic accomplishment.

Now living in New York City with her husband and son, she is amused at how often her big imagination takes her back to a simpler life in Kentucky.

Learn more about Alecia on her website.

Book Review- Fracture

noreply@blogger.com (ephrielle) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 15:25:00 +0000

Fracture

by Megan Miranda

Hardcover, 272 pages

Expected Publication Date: January 17th 2012

by Walker and Company

ISBN 0802723098

Book Source: BEA

5 Stars

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine

-despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the fine line between life and death.

(This is really intense. It helps set the mood for the book.)

Review by ephrielle:

A book that really delves into what is life and why are we living it? Who is to define it? And most importantly don't assume you are always right as their are two sides to any coin. Who should live and who should die isn't such an easy question. Delaney is a miracle by all standards. She cheated death, or did she? In the days following her ordeal she will have to discover life all over again and decide what to do about it.

Phenomenal! I love that this is so completely real. That reality helps make this so much more tragic. I can feel the emotions and completely understand them. For instance, the relationship problems between Delaney and her best friend make complete sense. In reality we "ruin" relationships all the time by saying or doing the wrong things. It really does seem like something permanent. When Delaney plunges head long into the deeper darker parts of her experience I felt as if I was in the same boat. It is just written so convincingly. I love that the author has taken something so real that I would normally balk at reading and softened the edges by adding something "other", as she would put it. It made it so much easier for me to put down my barriers and fully take in the many messages contained among the pages. By far my favorite is how it ends. When I first read the ending I accidentally skipped the second and third pages from the end. I guess they were sticking. I felt a bit let down. On turning back I discovered two very crucial and perfect pages that made the book complete. As with reality, there aren't any concrete promises of happy endings. Simply the author prescribes a strong dose of hope that leaves life feeling worth living.

Content: some swearing, sexual tension and underage drinking

About the author: Megan is a scientist - turned - teacher - turned - stay-at-home-mom - turned - writer. She is not nearly as indecisive as she sounds. She lives near Charlotte, North Carolina, where she volunteers as an MIT Educational Counselor, does the mom thing by day, and writes by night.

Find more about author Megan Miranda on Goodreads/ Twitter/ Website/ Facebook

Welcome To Our Newest Part- Time Reviewer

noreply@blogger.com (FireandIce) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 15:22:00 +0000

Fire and Ice would like to welcome ephrielle, another part-time reviewer this week!

Bio: ~~"I like to read.~~ I love to read. I'm obsessed with reading. If I had twins, I'd have to hire someone to hold my book for me while they fed. My poor children. What were their names again? OK, so I'm not that obsessed. I like romantic dinners and long walks on the beach, in the books I read, but not in real life. Romantic dinners are too much hassle and I don't like tracking sand in the house, besides who actually does that sort of stuff in their happily ever after anyway? That's the whole reason why books have endings, so we don't have to hear about all the dirty diapers, temper tantrums, and marital issues. So, that pretty much sums it up, I'm a wife, a mother, and I escape through books."

Find ephrielle on her full-time blog at Hope, Love and Happy Endings and be sure to check out her review above for Fracture.

In My Mailbox #24

noreply@blogger.com (FireandIce) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:02:00 +0000

It's been FOREVER since I've done an IMM, or In My Mailbox post- a meme started in November of 2008 by The Story Siren inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. So here you go! Here are most of the books I got for the holidays. Click on the book title to see a description or add it to your own Goodreads TBR pile. In my mailbox this week:

Special Diets for Special Kids, Volumes 1 and 2 Combined by Lisa Lewis- Chrsitmas gift

Sass and Serendipity by Jennifer Ziegler- Christmas gift

Destiny and Deception (13 to Life #4) by Shannon Delany- ARC for review

The Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker- from author and publicist

Time Snatchers by Richard Ungar-ARC for review

A Diamond in the Desert by Kathryn Fitzmaurice-ARC for review

The Case of the Deadly Desperados (The Western Mysteries #1) by Caroline Lawrence-ARC for review

Dark Eyes by William Richter-ARC for review

The Difference Between You and Me by Madeleine George- ARC for review

Try Not to Breathe by Jennifer R. Hubbard-ARC for review

Truth (XVI #2) by Julia Karr-ARC for review

Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne-ARC for review

What books did you buy, borrow or receive in the mail this week?