Fire and Ice

Fast read. I really struggled with Aspen and America's relationship. He's a creep! And the ending felt totally out of character for him. I've heard these titles shelved in YA dystopian or fantasy, but I don't think they really fit neatly into either category... you tell me what you think.

If you are a fan of the TV series Bachelorette this has the same feeling to it. There are some light dystopian vibes as this is a futuristic society based on a tight caste system where the mates are selected for the prince. The main man, Prince Maxon and some stitled and formal lines. I think was meant to be that way, but at times I still had trouble connecting to his way of talking.

There some great scenes of "ear tugging" between he and America Singer, the voice of the book. I liked it enough to move on to book two!

I was bothered by the content in book one wouldn't let my daughters read it.

Content: sleepovers, heavy making out, mention of sex and virginity, drinking

DNF due to content. Loved the first couple of chapters but went downhill, lulled and then couldn't finish about 3/4 of way through.

DNF for content and language.

Fun to see my ancestor Matthias Cowley's book about Wilford Woodruff mentioned in the references. I just visited both of their graves on Pioneer Day.

Full review and parental content information at Fire and Ice http://www.fireandicereads.com/2013/09/blackmoore-by-julianne-donaldson-shadow-mountain-blog-tour-and-review/

An absolutely stunning second novel by Julianne Donaldson. This book is a treasure that will remain forever on my shelves and be shared through generations. Julianne has taken Jane Austen's style and period and crafted a novel that is poetic, deep, haunting and classically romantic. I re-read Blackmoore in preparation for my post, and those who know me well will know that I have only read a handful of books twice through. I think I can honestly say it was better the second time than the first. There is just so much to be discovered and unfurled. There are so many levels of symbolism, sentiment and character development that one could safely read and re read Blackmooore over and over again.

Kate Worthington is a voice we can all relate to, a women on a quest to discover who she really is and how to escape her cultural traps. She feels misunderstood and misplaced within her family of ill behaved women. When a series of revelations about her mother and her childhood friend Henry lead her on a path of change, she decides it is time to lock up her heart for good. Her deepest desire is to visit Blackmoore, the summer estate of Henry's family and to make a trip to India with her Aunt Charlotte. Her dreams are almost dashed when she rejects the unwelcome arrangements of her mother, but Kate has a plan...one that just might break the heart of her admirer and break the chains of her entrapment.

The Gothic tone and mysterious setting of the moors next to the sea make this a wonderful Fall or rainy day read. Written in Kate's first person point of view with flashbacks from the past, the story line moves swiftly and I admit I read it all in one day. It is amazingly well written and I will recommend it to all my friends.

Thanks to Julianne for helping me out of a reading funk and for keeping me on the road of Regency Romance with clean content.

To the reader who likes to sit down and digest small bits of history, this is the perfect introduction to seven people who left a huge footprint. The author chooses Abraham of Ur, Pericles, the Apostle Paul, Sir Isaac Newton, Marie Curie, Martin Luther King Jr., and Mother Teresa and gives a biography as well as turning points in their lives. He opens us up to the philosophies they held that changed society.

In particular, I enjoyed the chapter on Abraham of Ur who rejected the teachings of his father and adopted monotheism as opposed to idolatry. Who had enough faith in his God that he was willing to sacrifice all he held dear, and who was given the opportunity to be a father of many nations.

I've always been a follower of Mother Theresa. I had no idea she was born as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Serbia, or that her Catholic faith was a minority religion in her country. Hearing how she was raised by a mother of greatness and some of the teachings in her childhood home really filled in the gaps of how she became such a world force.

"When you do good, do it quietly, as if you were throwing a stone into the sea." p.209

Mother Theresa's own mother, no doubt, had a great role in molding her into the selfless woman of God she became.

I learned a great deal about the giants Ted Stewart picked! I would recommend reading this book a little at a time and pondering how the lessons these giants taught can be folded into our own life.

This book is about history. More specifically,it is a book about how strong-minded men and women have changed the course of history." - introduction, page 1

I started reading Angels on the way home from a long road trip and was so enthralled I began to read it aloud to my husband. Never before have I been enlightened by such a collection of brand new truths. Angels is by far the most interesting non-fiction book I've picked up in a very long time.

I've always believed in angels and have felt the presence of those I love who have gone before and others whom I've never met close by during important times of my life. I have felt sustained, lifted, loved mourned with, comforted and encircled. To know more about who these angels are, from whence they come and what powers they possess is incredible.

Brother Parry has well researched and cited many stories from the scriptures and apostles lives that illustrate how angels are working miracles in our day and time. He teaches the types, ranks, and superhuman traits of angels. He shows us how living divine like mortals can be angels in our every day lives. Parry's writing is clear, deep and touching.

I would buy Angels for myself and as a gift for all I know. And, I really hope an audio version is released soon so I can listen to it again and again to drink in all I learned. It is just absolutely packed with new doctrine.

Thanks so much to Deseret Book for inviting us to be on the tour!

DNF for content. Lots of language.

Cute but was disappointed by some of the content, mainly an overnight stay and more in Vegas.

Review coming soon.

4.5 stars! Full review and book trailer at http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/2013/06/ya-review-my-butterfly-by-laura-miller.html

Every once in a while a good old fashioned small town romance comes along and reminds you of the slow burning love of country life. Having not read book one in this series, Butterfly Weeds, I wasn't sure of the other side of this story but I loved and understood every bit of book two. Julia ad Will are childhood friends, playing in front of the local store and trying to steal rides on a tractor, but they lose track of each other until she waltzes back in to his High School and takes his heart back by storm. She's the daughter of money, a track star and a future law student who wants to fulfill her career aspirations. Will on the other hand, is a small town boy with his roots deep in the Missouri soil. He's not in a hurry to leave or to change his career choice as a fireman just because Julia thinks it's too dangerous. He has the voice of an angel and a persistence that finally catches his butterfly. But she has a mind of her own and wings to fly away. Will's life is now haunted by her face, her tough and so many memories they've wound together. Can Julia ever find her way back home, back to him?

My Butterfly tugged at my heart and made me long for a simpler time and place. It is a sweet, down to earth tale of love lost and the efforts to rekindle it. I enjoyed the slow, steady pace and the home spun characters that could very well be someone you know. I am definitely going to check out book one now that I've had a feel for Laura Miller's writing. You'll want to keep some tissues close at hand for the epilogue!

Content: Clean, no sex or violence, a few minor swear words.

3. 5 stars See full review at http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/2013/07/ya-review-how-zoe-made-her-dreams.html


Summer is the perfect season for Sarah Strohmeyer. Her light, funny voice carries you away to Fairyland where high school students are pushing and shoving their way to the top as interns as storybook characters at a high end amusement park. Zoe and her cousin Jess show up for their first day only to find themselves in the smelly no air conditioned dorms rather than the palatial Cinderella suites of the princesses. And to make matter worse, Zoe doesn't even have a real place in the mayhem. She's sequestered away to serve "the Queen", the boss and owner of the park with her demanding little dog named Tinkerbell and obsessive rules. Zoe has to make the most of her midnight walking the dog. When one night she stumbles into "the forbidden zone", an off limits portion of the park she's rescued by a mysterious Prince Charming who is obviously breaking the rules! Can she unravel his identity and serve the Queen while also keeping her heart in check?

I loved the strong character development and fun setting of How Zoe Made Her Dreams Mostly Come True. You can literally step into the craziness that is furry creatures running around in smelly costumes and princesses forced to do weigh ins. Then there is the crumbling old ladies shoe and forgotten once was portion of the park that lies beyond the perimeter. The tone is light with an underlying theme if recovering from the loss of a parent and loyalty. The only thing I struggled with was a bit of repetitiveness in plot elements and phrases like "Dream and Do" ( the scholarsthip they are all out to get) and "Wow TM Spirit." There were times when I wished the plot would have been a little bit more evenly paced and moving along a bit faster.

What I loved is that the story, time and place stuck with me long after I put it down. I could smell, taste and feel Fairyland. I am going to check out Strohmeyer's other books when I need a pick me up. Thanks so much to Balzer and Bray for such a fun ride!

Content: A few minor swear words and one overnight kissing session.

Full review at http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/2013/06/owlet-by-emma-michaels-blog-tour-and.html

Things I loved about Owlet- the cover. Wow! Beautiful and intriguing. 5 stars on the cover for sure. Here's another author that has done her homework and provided swirling fonts, an easy to use press kit, a book trailer and blogger friendly website that interfaces with readers and reviewers alike.

The concept of a Society of Birds and Never Never being tied into an Alice in Wonderland type ethereal story.

Falcon, the main man. He is complex, loyal and has a certain swoon worthy quality about him.

The idea of the heroine having a disability. Her asthma is very debilitating and is a major premise of the storyline. She finds a way to overcome her trials and triumph.

It's short...like a novella and can be read in one day.

I struggled with: fully understanding what exactly was going on in the first five chapters. The pacing is so fast and the writing almost like stream of consciousness. It's hard to pick up the plot and characters unless you re read after you catch the gist.

The disconnectedness of events. It is written almost like a literal dream. There are bits and pieces scattered in Iris memory both wakeful and asleep that you must put together. If you like to figure things out on your own this is your kind of book!

Overall: It is CLEAN! Yay.

I will admit Owlet pulled me back several times and has very interesting mythology mixed with fairy tale. Thanks so much to Reading Away the Days blog tours and author Emma Michaels for asking us to join the blog tour!

Full review at Fire and Ice http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/2013/07/ya-content-review-ink-by-amanda-sun.html

I first spotted this book on Netgalley and LOVED the cover as my grandmother is a Japanese watercolor painter, plus I spent a summer in Japan. But I figured I would hold off until BEA to get a paper version and see if there were other illustrations inside. (There are a few illustrations inside, but they were not at all like the cover and very elementary)

I finished out my only day there and didn't see a copy. Then Katie from Katie's Book Blog reached into her bad as we were waiting for the shuttle and pulled out a copy "Would you be interested in a copy INK?" Can you say serendipity? Thanks Katie!

What drew me to Ink? The multi sensory writing that immerses you in the art, culture and nature of Japan. Since I lived in a Shinto shrine I found the premise fascinating, but I wish it would have been expanded on much, much more.

The mythology of a Kami, a Japanese God that can make drawings come to life and the girl who makes the ink more powerful by her presence.

The Japanese language used throughout the entire book which drew me back there and was authentic., However, at times it was heavy haded and would be a huge turnoff for a reader not at all familiar with Japan. Use the glossary in the back of the book! I had no idea it was there until I was all done reading.

The characters are very multi faceted and well written. There are some magical scenes when you can just see it all coming to life. I think fans of Manga/ Japanese illustrated novels will like Ink.

What I struggled with? The main character Tomohiro, kendo star and bad boy with a reputation. He keeps doing things that are down right jerky. I keep thinking the relationship he has with Katie will tip his behavior to the plus side and he will become more caring. Doesn't happen! Even at the end of the book and character arc, I want her to stay FAR FAR away from him. Why, oh why do you see and hear him doing scary things and you keep following him?!

Katie, main heroine is drawn to Tomohiro and ditches her good friends to be with him even though there are so many red flags. She starts breaking rules and lying to her aunt and guardian, then comes back to him repeatedly when he himself warns her to stay away.

Content wise there is a lot of swearing, pretty serious violence including sword and guns, teenage pregnancy, a couple sleepover without parents, mention of a love hotel and a dark overall feel.

Would I buy it? No, this is a check it out from the library or borrow it kind of book because as you read the reviews they are very polarized... you will either love it or hate it.

Full review at http://www.fireandicereads.com/2013/06/doon-by-carey-corp-and-lorie-langdon-arc-review-and-goodreads-giveaway/

Scottish boys in kilts plus a hidden village that only appears once every 100 years...yes please! I started Doon the day I was gearing up to go to our local Scottish festival to discover my own ancestral clan and was so swept away I did not put it down until I was done. The voice, the beautiful setting and pacing come together along with awesome characters to make an unforgettable story. Part of a new imprint of Harper Collins Christian publishing called Blink, (read about the news here ) this is a magical read I will be recommending this summer! It's told in dual points of view between two best friends Veronica and McKenna.

Verrrranica Welling is in for a surprise when her best friend invites her to Alloway, Scotland and begins having visions of a boy who is calling to her.

Both girls get sucked into a world they can't escape without help and a witch's curse older than time. The villagers are suspicious and time is running out to tip the balance of power back in Doon's direction. The rich details and show tune spurts by Kenna make it a multi sensory read for older teens. There is definite sexual tension, and a sleepover along with a couple of mild swear words.

Overall, one of the best books I've picked up in a long time! The authors whom I didn't know before are friendly and tweeted me when they saw I was reading the series. They've also created a fully interactive website with a play list, fantasy casting, Doon merchandise and photos you won't want to miss of the kingdom MacCrea. Jump in and enjoy. As they say...Destiny awaits!

Must Pre-order!

Review: http://www.fireandicereads.com/2013/06/early-book-review-longing-for-home-by-sarah-m-eden/

Sarah M. Eden is one of my go to authors for clean, historic romance. So, of course, when I saw stack including Longing for Home at the Shadow Mountain booth at BEA I may have squeed a little. This is my first choice from the books I picked up at Book Expo America. Within days of arriving home from NYC, I had already read it and wanted to hug it just as Katie MacAuley hugs her violin on the front cover. Katie is exiled from her childhood home after famine and harsh landlords cause her father to lose their land and a tragic death claims the life of her sister. She is far from home in Baltimore when word of opportunity anew reaches the East. But going far away can't keep the ghosts at bay that keep haunting Katie's memory. Literally crippled both emotionally and physically she begins to heal form the neglect and guilt harbored deep inside. Ultimately, her dream is to make things right by returning to Ireland, but two men vying for her affection have different plans.

Sarah Eden paints a clear picture of Irish life with historic elements of their homeland, Ireland...the soda bread, the music, the neighborhood gatherings or ceili, and the accent. All of these gave me a glance into what life may have been like for the green settlers who were trying to make their way in a "red" frontiersman's world, as well as the opposition my ancestors likely faced trying to make their way and earn a living here. The separation and prejudice against the Paddys, or "green" Irish side runs strong and heated fueled by "the red road" where Katie finds herself literally living in the middle. Joseph Archer, a widow with two children, also is torn between the town and his Irish. Enter Tavish, the very confident berry vendor, who is determined to tip the scales in his favor and win the heart of Ms. MacCauley.

As a descendant of the Irish who immigrated to the United States, I absolutely loved Longing for Home. Sarah's writing keeps getting better and better. I would definitely recommend all of her books.

Excerpt: Katie pulled open the back door only to have it pushed closed once more. For a moment she couldn't account for such an odd thing. Her mind, however, quickly pieced the mystery together. Mr. Archer stood behind her, his arm reaching out past her shoulder, hand flat against the door. She'd been so lost in her thoughts shed's never even heard him catch up to her.

Katie kept her back to him and folded her arms in front of her. "Have you come to order me about some more?"

"Order you about?" Though Katie knew Mr. Archer had to be standing almost touching her to have reached the door from behind her, the nearness of his voice still startled her. "If I've learned anything about you over the last week, it's that you do not respond well to being told what to do." p.151

Content: clean, mild violence