Fire and Ice

DNF at page 194 due to language and content. This scene between Caden and his father is so not okay! First he kidnaps his teenage son then hires a prostitute for him? Yuck.

The pacing is slow and it's hard to tease out three different characters story lines. Couldn't finish.

Beautiful cover. That's why I picked it up.

What the what?!!! Someone who's read this please explain the last third of the book? I am so confused.

DNF. Could not handle the audio voices, too annoying

Blog Tour stop at Fire and Ice http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/2013/05/21-principles-divine-truths-to-help-you.html

Richard G. Scott shares the most important truths he was learned in life in his newest title 21 Truths. each chapter outlines a principle to ponder and adopt. As an artist who often feels the pull of being creative juxtaposed with trying the same things over and over again, I truly appreciated Principle 3 "Repeatedly I have been impressed to learn that to reach a goal never before attained, one must do things never before done." Elder Scott talks about how on a visit to a close friend he was fascinated with his ability to create beauty using brushes, watercolor and paint, and had the impression "Try it." He did just that, and the cover of his book is a print of one of his watercolor paintings. When I noticed the signature on the dust jacket I felt uplifted and encouraged to go out on a limb.

This book is power packed with sound advice and the way to apply it in our lives. If applies with prayer and perseverance these principles will set your life on the right course. I would recommend it for a Father's Day gift!

DNF for content. Tried listening to it with my 10 year old and it wasn't appropriate.

Full review at Fire and Ice http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/2013/07/penumbras-by-braden-bell-blog-tour.html

It's been quite a while since I read book one, The Kindling, but if there's one thing this series has, it's "stick-to-it-iveness." The characters and plot are well crafted and so unique I was able to pick right back up with book two and remember what was going on. It's also a book that once you put it down it stays with you.

Conner and his twin sister Lexa are right in the midst of a battle between light and dark, good and evil, but this time around there is a blurring of the lines-- shades of gray that are being fought on a personal battlefield deep within the soul. The team of brother & sister, plus their sidekicks, Pilaf and Melanie must retreat to Mockingbird Cottage ( don't you love the name) to train a little harder and protect themselves from the shadows and dark hand forces which seek to destroy them from the inside out.

Somewhere along the way Conner and Melanie begin to develop feelings for each other and the sweet middle school magic of first love starts to soar. Lexa won't have it--she begins to feel jealous, like a third wheel and we really see her drama queen side start to come out. She is real, someone you can picture walking right out of your middle school cliques of friends, always thinking the world must revolved around her next starring role. And Pilaf...what can we say? I'm pretty sure he's somewhere on the autism spectrum, as he is brilliant but admits he can't read facial clues or nuances in social interactions. Thank you to Braden for painting imperfect people who are dealing with those trials and character flaws we all experience.

What I loved is that this is a book that explores the trauma related to abuse in a easy to swallow yet understandable way for children. Conner is much more that he things he is--he has divine heritage and the supernatural assistance of workers of light to assist him in fighting those that work against him. While he is facing deep inner conflicts as a result of his time with Lady Nightwing, the evil mastermind of darkness, he also has the aid of light to help heal his soul. There is so much more than magic going on in this book!
Content wise there was a little too much action for me in the ending scenes (the series really needs to be made into a movie...it would be awesome) and some moderate violence involving a knife and other weapons. But, I think it's one your middle school children will enjoy.

I recommend it for ages 12 and up as well as adults.

There is much about Penumbras that I will never forget! Wonderful world building, colorful characters, rich descriptions and tons of action. Great job Braden!

Full review at Review: The Perfume Collector is a lush, rich, multi layered novel that takes the reader from 1950 London social circles back in time to 1920's New York, to Monte Carlo and Paris, France. Flipping between two spaces in time it is the unraveling of the mystery behind the estate left to Grace Monroe by a woman in Paris she has never met. Grace is bored with the role she is supposed to play as a new wife and member of a titled English family of the 50's. It seems the [push is for her to look pretty and make her husband successful by her presence in social circles. She has a brilliant mind and can't seem to find her expected role interesting enough. Along comes an unexpected letter beckoning to meet with a solicitor in France to go over the terms of her inheritance and so begins the first step to discovering an altered past and a new future.

Tessaro concocts a novel that evokes all of the senses and in particular the sense of smells that tie us to memories-- the scent of rain, the familiar signature scent of our childhood and later, a love. My mind wandered to the eccentric exclusive perfume shop Grace and Monsier Tissot uncover in her search for whispers of the past.

"Even in the state of extreme neglect, the room dazzled; walls of glass and mirrors reflecting light so that Grace was blinded of r a moment. As her eyes adjusted, she could see that the space had been designed as a series of bold contrast. The dark wood counter was a rich warm mahogany. The floor was covered in black and white marble tiles. A tiered crystal chandelier, thick with dust and filmy cobwebs, hung from a heavy black silk cord in the center of the ceiling. And the shelves were filled with rows and rows of slim glass flacons, cloudy grey with dirt.

Several times you'll find yourself transported to the world of creating scent and to the field of Grasse where field of lavender abound. However, amidst the magic that is spun, there is also the dark shades of the not so glamorous night life of the Follies. Content wise there are some parts that leave a not so nice, gritty and sometimes down right yucky impression. The workings of childhood neglect, prostitution, drug use, extramarital affairs, alcohol addiction, gambling and codependency. I struggled with several elements of the lives of the characters and their moral reasoning as well as the strong sexual undercurrent that felt heavy handed at times. There is also a push and pull with feminism vs. victimization that was muddy.

Overall I will say this is unlike any other book I've ever read. It got me curious about the lives of Jews in occupied France, about the fascinating wizardry of the genius perfume makers and about life in London during the 50's. The setting awakened all of my senses and made me want to revisit several scenes that left me longing to drink in the same air as Grace.

Thanks so much to Harper Collins for the preview.

I might suggest checking out the other reviews for this one on one of the many perfume blogs. It's a whole new world I am now determined to learn more about.

You might also like Coming to My Senses: A Story of Perfume, Pleasure, and an Unlikely Bride and The Perfect Scent: A Year Inside the Perfume Industry in Paris and New York.

Content: adult (see review)

Giveaway and Review at Little Red Reads http://littleredreads.blogspot.com/2013/05/watson-series-by-craig-farmer-review.html

My children love Watson, the cute terrier who lives a life full of values and politeness. Each book in the four book series teaches children simply and clearly how to have manners, respect for their elders and how to contribute to school and home. As a mother I appreciate books like this that are enjoyable for all ages and have a moral built in. Out society needs more citizens like Watson who are willing to do chores without complaining and prodding. Thanks so much to the author for his insight!

DNF due to content.

Delightful! Fun and clean read. This a perfect summer series. The name I Heart Bikinis is a little weird but I'm loving the books.

really excellent wrting but lots of content, language, sex, underage drinking.

Author guest post and early ebook giveaway http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-sirens-secret-blog-tour-author.html

Sirens entrance me. I've always been fascinated by the creatures who live in the sea. When I saw this cover on Netgalley I was lured and captivated. I hadn't read book one of the Shapeshifter's Secret series (we review it here) but was easily able to pick up where the previous left of, as Heather gives a plot retelling in the first few chapters of book two. Julia is in hiding in an antique cottage with her father and the guard after an attempt on her life. Her life seems ever more complicated as the tension heats up between her boyfriend Terrance and friend, protector Caleb. When a date with Terrance goes dangerously wrong and Julia is intercepted by a mysterious Siren there are questions to be answered.

With enchanting mythology and a magical setting, Heather Ostler paints her unique spin on shape shifters and the difference between water nymphs and sirens. I wish I could fully immerse myself in the Lockham academy and underwater scenes of Sirenity. I found myself wanting much more filling out of details and world building. With little inventions like a parchment that writes and receives messages plus a truth telling ring there is plenty of room for lots more imagination.

I also am pulling for one side of the love triangle to move ahead. I'm hoping book three picks up the pace in swoon worthiness and character development because a huge whopper of a plot twist has been dropped.

Content: The Siren's Secret is a clean read suited for middle grace and young adult readers and I am happy to recommend it to all.

Heather's Review: I truly love near death and death experiences so this audio book was an automatic draw for me. The thing that I was not expecting was the bravery and tenacity of the author in sharing her story over and over again. Not just the story of how she died for nine minutes and came back, but the details of a very sad and troubled life as a child of sexual abuse.

Crystal's memoir, contained in seven CDs, is told in her own voice. It details how being a victim of abuse pulled her into a spiral of shame and secrets that only God could take away. Her descriptions of God's unconditional love and his message for her is beautiful. I cried listening to Crystal describe how He made her feel absolutely and completely whole, loved-- innocent like she was as a three year old little girl.

This is definitely a mature adult title since it goes over dysfunctional family dynamics, a traumatic accident, drugs, abuse and abortion. However, Waking Up in Heaven has a message of profound hope. It is a tale of how one woman had a life changing experience and allowed it to shape her future. Crystal follows God's "nudges" for her. She walks up to complete strangers in the grocery store to tell her story. She's a braver woman than many of us.

I admire Crystal's husband Virgil with his faith and unwavering support, as well, the way they have allowed this experience to serve others in need. I would recommend Waking up in Heaven to anyone who has felt abandoned in moments of trial or who wants to know that God loves us in spite of any choices we have made.

Sure, there may be cynics-- or those who believe Crystal's story is not real, but I for one am not one of them. There is truth and "beauty from ashes" in this book.

Elder M. Russell Ballard grew up on an orchard and as a boy remembers the hives of honeybees his father kept--over 60,000 bees to pollinate the trees. Each bee only lives a few short weeks to four months and its contribution is a mere one twelfth of a teaspoon. But think of the collective effort each bee makes to the good of the hive. Their life's work is vital and significant when taken as a collective effort. So many of us take for granted the beautiful harmony and system it takes to create each drop of honey.

This book is a visual and verse reminder that each of us has contribution to make, however small it may be. We better the world with daily acts of small service and as mothers. We nurture, we build, we work together. I was inspired by the pages and think One Drop At A Time is just the message we each need to remember.

3.5 stars. Full review at http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/2013/05/early-arc-review-rules-of-summer-by.html

I chose Rules of Summer because of the dreamy setting an promise of a light summer read in the Hamptons, on the tip of Long Island. Rory is a Jersey girl from a no nonsense background living wither her mom who seems to have a hard time picking reliable men. Tired of picking up the slack and being around the drama she packs up and takes a summer job with her aunt as the live in help of the Rule family, a blue blood high society wealthy Hamptons family. Right away it becomes obvious Rory is entering a different world of country clubs, in home theatres and a daughter of the house who is used to getting whatever she wants. Isabel Rule is Rory's same age but the two couldn't be any more different. Isabel's growing pains and quest to find herself landed her in California where she picked up a love of surf. Now that she is home she feels the undeniable itch that things aren't quite the right fit anymore. So when when she runs into an older surfer in the water she gets pulled in deep.

I loved the distinction between classes and how those lines can be blurred by life and friendship. The main distraction for me was one of the love interests and what a jerk he is through the entire book. Isabel is young and doesn't seem to catch on, but the underage drinking, the age difference and sex were a giant red flag from the beginning. I wanted to yell "run!"

On the flip side, Connor Rule, "the other boy" is nice, all-American and the perfect fit. Drama is high and the pacing a little uneven, but the overall message is one of breaking down boundaries in the name of loyalty and love. If you are looking for YA contemp in the perfect place this one is for you, for older audiences due to content.

I am a huge fan of Sara Zarr but can't rate this one as I didn't finish it. I just couldn't connect with the main character, the underlying story line of death or her affinity for older men. In particular romances with underage teens and teachers being explored is something I choose not to read. I will pick up Sara's next book when she releases next, but this one is a DNF for me.