Posts Categorized: book tour

The Calm After the Storm by Mya O’Malley $50 Giveaway

31 Mar, 2015 by in book tour, Uncategorized Leave a comment

Calm after the storm

The Calm After the Storm by Mya O’Malley

Can true love shine through the darkest storm?

The storm of the century raged through the northeast, causing destruction and despair, millions were left without power and hope. Weeks later, countless people were still devastated by the destruction of Hurricane Sandy, Emma Riley among them.

Determined she didn’t need the help of a man, Emma was convinced that she could brave the aftermath of the storm on her own. That is, until Jake came into her life.

After having suffered heartbreak and embarrassment, Jake Mack, a utility foreman, volunteered to travel north from small town, Georgia to assist with the aftermath of the storm. Jake was decidedly done with women. But he didn’t count on meeting Emma or falling in love so quickly. Can he trust this woman or will his past get in the way and ruin the relationship with the one woman he truly loves?

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Excerpt from The Calm After the Storm:

Jake and his crew had now been in the suburbs of New York for a few days. His first thought upon entering this area was his surprise at the devastation. Sure, he had heard about the destruction on the news and had seen footage of the aftermath of Sandy, but it still hadn’t prepared him for the actual sight of Sandy’s rage. Telephone poles were down, trees were snapped in two, and houses were completed destroyed by the storm. Seeing all the destruction only strengthened Jake’s resolve that it had been the right thing to come. He felt proud to be able to help out and be a part of the solution to the horrible aftermath of this disaster.

As the day was wrapping up. Jake and Chris met up with some of their crew in the next town to finish one more area before calling it quits. The chill in the air was something that Jake had prepared for, but was not accustomed to. Clutching the new flannel he had purchased right before his trip, he put it on over his thermal shirt. Thankful for his thermos filled with hot coffee, Jake grabbed it but quickly tossed it aside.

“Come on, Chris! I asked you to stop drinking my coffee. Now there’s none left,” he said as he shook his head, irritated at his friend.

Chris looked up at his boss sheepishly. “Sorry, man. I didn’t sleep well last night. I needed some caffeine.”

“Well, that makes two of us.”

They rode until they approached the utility pole that needed attention. Jake and Chris were among the first to arrive and got busy setting up for the job. Within minutes, the rest of the assigned crew trickled in. The workers were now familiar with the details and routine of this job, so for the most part they worked in silence, focused on getting this last job done so that they could grab some dinner and hit the sheets. It was cold and dark, the night chill settling in upon them. Jake supervised and helped his crew perform their individual duties as quickly as possible. As they were just about wrapping things up, Jake headed over to Steve, one of the older guys directing traffic. He looked frail and tired.

“Hey, Steve. I got this. Why don’t you call it a night, huh? We’ll meet you at the hotel for some dinner.”

“Nah, Jake, we’re almost done here. I’m good,” Steve said as he looked up at Jake with glaring dark circles under his eyes.

“Steve, go. I’m serious. Get in a hot shower and we’ll meet up for dinner. Boss’ orders. Now go and take Andy with you,” Jake gestured toward another man on the crew who looked like he was ready for bed.

Shrugging his shoulders, Steve made his way to one of the smaller utility trucks, calling for his co-worker to join him. Jake took over the responsibility of directing traffic, slowing people down and stopping cars when necessary. Yawning, he waved a small SUV along, noticing that the approaching driver was slowing down, much more than necessary. Jake squinted his eyes to get a better look. The car came to a stop when Jake stepped up to it and its window rolled down. Looking back at Jake was a woman who appeared pretty, even in the diminished light. Wait, scratch that—she was stunning, with long, wavy hair and piercing eyes. His heart faltered just a bit.

“Hi. I wanted to thank you guys for all of the hard work that you’ve been doing. We really appreciate you guys coming up here. I think I speak for everyone,” she said as she smiled widely. Her smile hitched his breath ever so slightly. Jake smiled back. This was certainly a change. Since he had been in this area, some people waved, some people smiled, others remained with their eyes straight ahead, but nobody had yet offered any thanks verbally. So different from the Southern hospitality way of life where he grew up, Jake mused.

Here it was different, the pace of life was much faster. People always seemed to be in a rush, and they minded their own business for the most part. Sure, being so close to the big city must be nice and the landscape was quite beautiful at times, but he didn’t think this lifestyle was something he could ever get used to. It seemed too stressful, too impersonal. He would be glad to be back home when his job was finished.

The woman leaned over and offered Jake a box of donuts, disposable coffee cups, and a box of hot coffee. Jake was impressed.

“Thank you, that was very thoughtful!” Jake gushed, thrilled at the idea of hot coffee. He thought he felt warmth spread across his cheeks despite the chill in the air.

The woman stared back and smiled at Jake for a minute and then set her eyes on the road ahead. She waved as she pulled away.

“Wait!” Jake called out. “Wait, what was your name?” But the words were lost. The mysterious woman with the coffee and donuts was long gone.

“Guys!” he called out as his crew worked on cleaning up for the night. “Guys! Our guardian angel just appeared, and she brought coffee!”

The coffee and donuts were gladly received, but the idea that someone would go out of their way to show a random act of kindness truly touched Jake. He felt the warm liquid slide down his throat and knew that he would always remember the woman’s thoughtfulness. Who was he kidding? That woman’s beautiful face was what he would most remember. He just wished that he had gotten her name.

 

 

Mya OmalleyAuthor Mya O’Malley
Mya O’Malley was born and raised in the suburbs of New York City, where she currently lives with her husband, daughter and three step-daughters. The family also consists of two boxers, named Destiny and Dolce, and a ragdoll cat named Colby. Mya earned an undergraduate degree in special education and a graduate degree in reading and literacy. She works as a special education teacher and enjoys making a difference in the lives of her students.

Mya’s passion is writing; she has been creating stories and poetry since she was a child. She spends her free time reading just about anything she can get her hands on. She is a romantic at heart and loves to create stories with unforgettable characters. Mya likes to travel and has visited several Caribbean Islands, Mexico, and Costa Rica. She is currently working on her sixth novel.

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$50 Blast Giveaway

Enter to win an Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 4/16/15

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by readinglight.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Tuttle Twins Book Blast and $100 Giveaway

29 Dec, 2014 by in book blast, book blitz, book tour, connor boyack 10 comments

Fire and Ice is thrilled to be the official book blitz sponsor for book two in the Tuttle Twins series!

twins_pencil
The Tuttle Twins and the Miraculous Pencil

by Connor Boyack 

In this second book of the Tuttle Twins series, Mrs. Miner leads the twins and their classmates on a fun field trip to learn how pencils are made using parts from all over the world—and how in an economy, people from all over the world work together in harmony to produce helpful products that improve our lives.

Teach your kids about the free market with a fun story and bright, engaging illustrations!

Purchase 

About the Authorunnamed (4)

Connor Boyack is president of Libertas Institute, a public policy think tank in Utah. He is the author of several books on politics and religion, along with hundreds of columns and articles championing individual liberty. His work has been featured on international, national, and local TV, radio, and other forms of media.

A California native and Brigham Young University graduate, Connor currently resides in Lehi, Utah, with his wife and two children.

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About the Illustratorbio_elijah

Elijah Stanfield is owner of Red House Motion Imaging, a media production company in Washington.

A longtime student of Austrian economics, history, and the classical liberal philosophy, Elijah has dedicated much of his time and energy to promoting the ideas of free markets and individual liberty. Some of his more notable works include producing eight videos in support of Ron Paul’s 2012 presidential candidacy. He currently resides in Richland, Washington, with his wife April and their five children.

 

 

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Tuttle Twins on Facebook * Twitter

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Follow the Fire and Ice Tuttle Twins Blog Tour for more chances to win

January 5 –Fire and Ice– Kick Off
January 6- Marie Leslie– Review
January 7- Dreamland Teenage Fantasy– Interview
January 8- Little Red Reads– Excerpt
January 9- The Elliott Review– Review
January 12- The Write Path– Review
January 13- CBY Book Club– Interview
January 14- The Things I Love Most– Review
Jamuary 15- Sher A Hart Written Art– Review
January 16- Deal Sharing Aunt– Interview

 

The Giveaway

Enter to win $100 Amazon Giftcard or Paypal Cash

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The Tuttle Twins and the Miraculous Pencil $100 Giveaway Blog Tour Sign Ups

03 Dec, 2014 by in book tour, connor boyack, fire and ice, Uncategorized 1 comment

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Fire and Ice and Little Red Reads are thrilled to host a blog tour and book blitz for book two in the Tuttle Twins series.

twins_pencil
The Tuttle Twins and the Miraculous Pencil
by Connor Boyack 

In this second book of the Tuttle Twins series, Mrs. Miner leads the twins and their classmates on a fun field trip to learn how pencils are made using parts from all over the world—and how in an economy, people from all over the world work together in harmony to produce helpful products that improve our lives.

Teach your kids about the free market with a fun story and bright, engaging illustrations!

Purchase 

About the Authorunnamed (4)

Connor Boyack is president of Libertas Institute, a public policy think tank in Utah. He is the author of several books on politics and religion, along with hundreds of columns and articles championing individual liberty. His work has been featured on international, national, and local TV, radio, and other forms of media.

A California native and Brigham Young University graduate, Connor currently resides in Lehi, Utah, with his wife and two children.

Facebook * Twitter

About the Illustratorbio_elijah

Elijah Stanfield is owner of Red House Motion Imaging, a media production company in Washington.

A longtime student of Austrian economics, history, and the classical liberal philosophy, Elijah has dedicated much of his time and energy to promoting the ideas of free markets and individual liberty. Some of his more notable works include producing eight videos in support of Ron Paul’s 2012 presidential candidacy. He currently resides in Richland, Washington, with his wife April and their five children.

 

 

pencil

Tuttle Twins on Facebook * Twitter

For Hosts

Blog Tour will January 5-16, 2015

Book blitz participants will post on December 29, 2014

All hosts will be given an entry of choice  in the  $100 rafflecopter giveaway and will be sent html for their post. Blog Tour participants will be also sent a PDF of the book for review.

 

Sign up for the tour and blitz below.

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Blog Tour~ Living in the Millennium by Robert L. Millett

05 Aug, 2014 by in adult, book review, book tour, deseret book, robert l millet Leave a comment

I received this book for free from Deseret Book in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Blog Tour~ Living in the Millennium by Robert L. Millett

Living in the Millennium

by Robert L Millet
Published by Deseret Book on August 21, 2014
Genres: Adult, LDS, Non- Fiction
Pages: 160
Format: Hardcover
five-stars
Source: Deseret Book
Buy the Book
The Savior taught through the Prophet Joseph Smith that the time will come when "he that liveth in righteousness shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and the earth shall pass away so as by fire" (Doctrine and Covenants 43:32).

What do we know about that day when Jesus Christ will come in glory to cleanse the earth? And what will life be like after He comes to reign?

In Living in the Millennium, the companion volume to Living in the Eleventh Hour, author Robert L. Millet opens the doors wide to show us what life will be like during and after the Millennium. Relying on the words of ancient and modern prophets, he shares what has been revealed about Christ's preliminary appearances, His return in majesty and power, and His millennial reign—a thousand years of goodness and peace.

Filled with insights, this timely book helps us to understand more fully such eternal doctrines as the resurrection of the just and the unjust, the Judgment, and the many mansions of glory.

Living in the Millennium inspires us to live today as if the Savior were coming tomorrow.

This is a companion book to Robert L Millett’s Living in the Eleventh Hour published earlier this year. What I really appreciate about Living in the Millenium is the scriptural basis. Brother Millett takes a purely doctrinal approach to explaining to readers what life will be like before, during, and beyond the Millenium. I had previously heard many of the scriptures by themselves, but seeing them organized and combined into one reference taught me in a clear manner. Millett’s tone is hopeful and cheery, however, he also admits to personal trials, the wonderings and hardships that come with mortality. I loved reading about how the author overcame worry, and felt the peace that comes with the Lord’s assurances of the resurrection. For anyone with questions about the second coming of Christ, life after death, how our bodies become whole or what the reign of peace will be like, this book holds answers.

In the end, there is a glossary, notes, scripture and subject index for readers to truly “dig in” and learn the teaching firsthand. A short read, this Last Days Commentary will help each individual and touched my heart personally.

 

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Favorite Quote

Seeing things with an eye of faith is looking out and beyond to the distant scene, viewing today’s often repetitious and sometimes monotonous coming and goings with an eye toward eternity. It is to see beyond the moment, to acquire a portion of God’s perspective, to realize that “out of small things proceedeth that which is great”. (D&C 64:33) p. 103

 

Excerpt

Chapter 1
The End of Time

I was driving to work one day and turned the radio to an oldies channel, where I heard a familiar song from the 1960s, a tender ballad, a love song. Over and over the artist sang of love lasting until the end of time. Later that afternoon I listened to the same channel and heard another artist pledging his love until time stood still. I smiled as I reflected on the message of those two popular songs, realizing how very often such sentiments are sung or how frequently a romantic sentiment is expressed in just that way. I presume the writers of these words intended to convey some meaning like “l love you forever and ever” or “There will never be a time when I no longer love you.”

The more I have thought about it, the more fully I realize that from a Restoration perspective, love is intended to last longer than time, to span the veil of death and continue everlastingly. For those without such understanding, however, “till time stands still” or “to the end of time” seems like a pretty significant and long-term investment of one’s love. Let’s consider this passage of scripture: “And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer” (Revelation 10:5-6; emphasis added; see D&C 88:108-10).

As a part of the new song that is to be sung by the redeemed are these words:

The Lord hath brought again Zion;

The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel,

According to the election of grace,

Which was brought to pass by the faith

And covenant of their fathers.

The Lord hath redeemed his people;

And Satan is bound and time is no longer.

(D&C 84:99-100; emphasis added)

We are told in the Doctrine and Covenants that “it is required of the Lord, at the hand of every steward, to render an account of his stewardship, both in time and in eternity. For he who is faithful and wise in time is accounted worthy to inherit the mansions prepared for him of my Father” (D&C 72:3-4).

I presume there will always be what might be called durational time, the fact that event A took place before event B, or that we declared C before we uttered D. What the scriptures seem to be saying, however, when they speak of time being no longer is that mortal time, or mortality, will be no longer. That is, a day is coming in the not too distant future when mortality as we know it will be no more; we will no longer be reckoning our words and our actions according to this world’s calendar but rather we will be tuned and acclimated to eternity.

We have been counseled by the prophets to improve our time, that is, to make wise and effective use of the day in which we live on earth, for how we will spend eternity will be inextricably linked to how we spent our time in this life. And so we are told that “this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors” (Alma 34:32).

What will life be like when mortal time is no more? We can learn from holy scripture and latter-day apostles and prophets about the following:

the private appearances of Jesus Christ to his anointed servants;
that great and terrible day we know as the Savior’s coming in glory;
the cleansing of the earth by fire and the transformation of the planet;
life on a terrestrial earth;
a day when the gathering of Israel, accomplished through our missionary labors, will be unhindered and thus accelerated;
a glorious time when temples will dot the earth and the fulness of the blessings of the house of the Lord will be enjoyed by the pure in heart in every nation;
a time when persons will again begin to deny their God, when Satan will be loosed for a short season;
when the final great battle between good and evil will take place;
the miracle and wonder of our resurrection from the dead;
the day of judgment, when all will be required to account for how they handled their stewardship of time; and,
life within the kingdoms of glory, the many mansions of the Father.
Concerning the specifics of the future, details do matter, but they need to come from the right source—from holy scripture or from latter-day apostles and prophets. For me or for any other writer or teacher to go beyond what ancient or modern prophets have declared, to set forth private views concerning the last days, whether based upon individual interpretations or personal spiritual experience, is to assume a responsibility that is not ours; it is to act outside our stewardship. The ideas may be fascinating, even entertaining, but they are not from God; the Lord simply does not operate that way. To do so would be to invite every member of the Church to step forward, offer his or her own best guess about the days ahead, and thereby engender chaos. The Lord’s house is a house of order, not a house of confusion. There are channels to follow, and we must recognize those channels. Therein is our safety from deception. The Prophet Joseph Smith stated the principle as follows:“I will inform you that it is contrary to the economy of God for any member of the Church, or any one, to receive instruction for those in authority, higher than themselves; therefore you will see the impropriety of giving heed to them; but if any person have a vision or a visitation from a heavenly messenger, it must be for his own benefit and instruction; for the fundamental principles, government, and doctrine of the Church are vested in the keys of the kingdom.”

I have therefore chosen to quote more extensively from holy scripture and from the writings and sermons of apostles and prophets than I am generally accustomed to doing. Although I do not wish to burden the reader with excessive support and substantiation, I do want to be as doctrinally sound and as loyal to the Lord’s anointed as I can.

Operating in harmony with such restraint, let us proceed on our journey. And what a journey it will be! What an encounter will be ours as we make our way through the prophetic word and contemplate the glories that await the true and faithful. Looking to the future will do much to motivate us to get our lives in order while we are still living in time, for eternity is just around the corner. In addition, a view of the future can fortify us against the discouragement that inevitably follows from the pain and distresses of this fallen world; it provides us with a perspective that produces gospel gladness.

Notes

1. Smith, History of the Church, 1:338; emphasis added.

About the AuthorRobert_L_Millet

Robert L. Millet, an Abraham O. Smoot Professor and former dean of Religious Education at Brigham Young University, is a professor of ancient scripture and a lifelong scholar of the last days. After receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees from BYU in psychology, he earned a PhD from Florida State University in religious studies. He has served in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a seminary teacher, bishop, stake president, and member of the Materials Evaluation Committee. He and his wife, Shauna, are the parents of six children.

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Blog Tour & Author Interview: Rebel Nation by Shaunta Grimes

25 Jun, 2014 by in blog tour, book tour, rebel nation, rockstar book tours, shaunta grimes 2 comments

rebel nation banner

 

We have author Shaunta Grimes  here at Fire and Ice for an interview as well as a giveaway. Shaunta is kind to stop by and answer a few questions for our readers as part of the official Rebel Nation Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours.

rebel nation cover Title: REBEL NATION
Author: Shaunta Grimes
Publisher: Berkeley Trade
Pub. Date: July 1, 2014
Pages: 320
Find it: AmazonBarnes & Noble Goodreads

Sixteen years ago, a plague wiped out nearly all of humanity. The Company’s vaccine stopped the virus’s spread, but society was irrevocably changed. Those remaining live behind impenetrable city walls, taking daily doses of virus suppressant and relying on The Company for continued protection. They don’t realize that everything they’ve been told is a lie…

Clover Donovan didn’t set out to start a revolution—quiet, autistic, and brilliant, she’s always followed the rules. But that was before they forced her into service for the Time Mariners. Before they condemned her brother to death, compelling him to flee the city to survive. Before she discovered terrifying secrets about The Company.

Clover and the Freaks, her ragtag resistance group, are doing their best to spread the rebellion and stay under The Company’s radar. But when their hideout is discovered, they are forced, once again, to run. Only this time, The Company has special plans for Clover, plans that could risk her life and stop the uprising in its tracks…   

Author Q & A

What is the world of Rebel Nation like? Is it similar to what we live in today, do you see our society heading in that direction?

Rebel Nation‘s world is one where a lot of the technology that makes us a modern society is gone. Not all of it, but a lot of it. A big part of the book takes place in Virginia City. When I sat down and thought about what the area around Reno would be like if you stripped away things like cars and computers, I realized that Virginia City was a thriving city long before any of those things came about. I knew that the Freaks could build something there, because they were working with infrastructure that had worked before.

What movies or books, if any, helped inspire Rebel Nation?

The whole Viral Nation series was inspired by my love of dystopian books. Stephen King’s The Stand andDavid Birn’s The Postman were two influences. I wanted to write about what happens next though. Lots of dystopia tells the story of the fall and the immediate after affects of the fall, but I wanted to write about what happens after the rebuilding. I guess I think of my books as post-post apocalyptic.

Who are our writing mentors and heroes?

Oh, wow. I’m such a big reader, and I have been for as long as I can remember. I’m even influenced by Dr. Seuss, and his ability to have a message that he doesn’t beat you over the head with. (Horton Hears a Who is one of my favorite picture books, and I love the story it has to tell about being heard.) Louisa May Alcott, C.S. Lewis, Margaret Attwood, Stephen King, Nancy Farmer, James Dashner—I think every author I read and love becomes a hero to me.

If you could transport your characters to any one place or time period where would you take them and why?

I’m not sure I would transport them anywhere. They are really important to their own place and time!

Vaccinations are a pretty hot topic, tell is why you chose to include it?

Vaccinations are the way that human beings deal with virus.  I think that if something like the virus in my book were to happen for real, there wouldn’t be people worried about whether or not to vaccinate. It would be a no-brainer.

On a personal level, I’m very much in support of vaccinating.

Is there anything you would go back and tell your teen self?

I’d tell my teen self that everything is going to be okay. That she’s making good choices, even though she isn’t sure of it yet. I’ve wondered if I’d warn myself about the boy who would grow up to break my heart, but I don’t think I would. Some things make you stronger when you go through them.

Do you have any songs that served as a backdrop to the setting?

I can’t listen to music while I’m writing. I wind up just listening and not actually writing!

Book blurb in one sentence?

How far are the Freaks willing to go for truth and justice?

about_ the_author

Shaunta Grimes has worked as a substitute teacher, a newspaper reporter, a drug court counselor, and a vintage clothing seller. No matter which direction she strays, however, she always comes back to storytelling. She lives in Reno with her family, where she writes, teaches, and perpetually studies at the University of Nevada. Viral Nation is her debut traditionally-published novel.

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The Giveaway

5 finished copies of Rebel Nation

Open Internationally.

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Blog Tour and Author Guest Post: The Shadow Prince by Bree Despain

06 Apr, 2014 by in book tour, bree despain, egmont, utah authors, YA fiction 7 comments

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Book Summary

Haden Lord, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm, has been sent to the mortal world to entice a girl into returning with him to the land of the dead. Posing as a student at Olympus Hills High—a haven for children of the rich and famous—Haden must single out the one girl rumored to be able to restore immortality to his race.

Daphne Raines has dreams much bigger than her tiny southern Utah town, so when her rock star dad suddenly reappears, offering her full tuition to Olympus Hills High’s prestigious music program, she sees an opportunity to catch the break she needs to make it as a singer. But upon moving into her estranged father’s mansion in California, and attending her glamorous new school, Daphne soon realizes she isn’t the only student in Olympus who doesn’t quite belong.

Haden and Daphne—destined for each other—know nothing of the true stakes their fated courtship entails. As war between the gods brews, the teenagers’ lives collide. But Daphne won’t be wooed easily and when it seems their prophesied link could happen, Haden realizes something he never intended—he’s fallen in love. Now to save themselves, Haden and Daphne must rewrite their destinies. But as their destinies change, so do the fates of both their worlds.

A pulsating romance of epic proportions, Bree Despain’s The Shadow Prince will leave her fans breathless for the next book in the Into The Dark series.

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Author Guest Post

Incorporating Mythology into THE SHADOW PRINCE, Part Two

Yesterday, I presented Part One of this post over on Jenna Does Books (http://jennadoesbooks.com/) in which I discussed the mythology that inspired the character of Daphne Raines from THE SHADOW PRINCE. Today, I want to share with you the mythological inspirations behind her counterpart (and co-narrator) Haden Lord.

While Daphne is the embodiment of someone who believes in free will, choices, and goals, Haden is the embodiment of somebody who believes whole-heartedly in fate and destiny. So much so that if someone suggests that they have a choice in their own path in life, he considers this to be a blasphemous statement. Obviously, this puts him at odds with Daphne from their very first meeting.

Haden is based loosely on the Greek god Hades, but his inspiration comes from two very different places. The first inspiration for this book came from the song, “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” by Deathcab for Cutie. This song got me thinking about the idea of someone choosing to follow someone else “into the dark” (or the unknown, as I like to think of it) for the sake of love. But then I started thinking about what it would be like to be the person who had to ask their beloved to follow him into the dark. What if this person believed this was their destiny—and that the fate of the world depended on it? But what if it also meant that the person they loved would be put in grave danger, and may even die? The conflicted emotions this conjured inside of me were what I created the character of Haden around.

The second inspiration for Haden came from the concept of the “Hero’s Journey” or the Monomyth as Joseph Campbell calls this idea in his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Campbell postures that there is a basic pattern that thousands of stories from the most ancient to the modern day follow.

The pattern goes like this:

“A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.” – Campbell, Joseph. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1949. p.23.

This pattern can be found in many Greek myths such as Hercules and Perseus, and is definitely the basis of more modern stories such as THE LORD OF THE RINGS, STAR WARS, and HARRY POTTER. In researching mythology and story telling in preparation for writing THE SHADOW PRINCE, I encountered stories that followed the hero’s journey over and over again, and became interested in the idea of using this pattern—but also turning it on its head in the process. Instead of taking a character from the “common” world and thrusting him into a supernatural one, I decided to do the opposite. I took Haden out of the mystical Underrealm and plopped him into our modern human world.

Typically in the hero’s journey, the hero is presented with supernatural tools such as a magic wand or an elfin sword—but Haden has his sword and armor taken away from him and instead given an iPhone, credit card, and Youtube in order to navigate the human world. While some of the challenges Haden faces would be called “fabulous forces” some of his biggest trials come from ordinary, everyday things like surviving the school cafeteria, learning how to sing, and figuring out how to get a girl to like you without causing her to punch you in the face instead. And the “boon” Haden is supposed to bring back to his realm (Daphne herself) has no interest in participating in Haden’s quest—which puts the idea of decisive victory pretty much out of the question.

So what is a hero, who believes whole-heartedly in destiny, supposed to do when his fated quest gets completely messed up? THE SHADOW PRINCE is my exploration of this question.

About the Author

Bree Despain is the author of The Dark Divine trilogy: The Dark Divine, The Lost Saint, and The Savage Grace. She rediscovered her childhood love for creating stories when she took a semester off from college to write and direct plays for at-risk, inner-city teens from Philadelphia and New York. She currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband, two young sons, and her beloved TiVo. You can visit her online at www.breedespain.com.

The Giveaway

One Signed Copy of The Shadow Prince by Bree Despain compliemnts of Egmont USA. US/Canada only. Void where prohibited.
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Summer on the Short Bus by Bethany Crandell Blog Tour

25 Mar, 2014 by in bethany crandell, book tour, rockstar book tours 7 comments

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Fire and Ice is today’s stop on the official blog tour for Summer on the Short Bus by Bethany Crandell hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. We have the author here for a giveaway and guest post!

unnamed (2)About the Book

Title: Summer on the Short Bus
Author: Bethany Crandell
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Pages: 256
Pub. Date: April 1, 2014

Find it: GoodreadsAmazonBarnes & Noble

Cricket Montgomery has been thrown under the short bus. Shipped off to a summer camp by her father, Cricket is forced to play babysitter to a bunch of whiny kids—or so she thinks. When she realizes this camp is actually for teens with special needs, Cricket doubts she has what it takes to endure twenty-four hours, let alone two weeks.

Thanks to her dangerously cute co-counselor, Quinn, there may be a slim chance for survival. However, between the campers’ unpredictability and disregard for personal space, Cricket’s limits get pushed. She will have to decide if suffering through her own handicapped hell is worth a summer romance—and losing her sanity.

Author Guest Post

UGLY GROWTH: IT’S THE NEW BLACK

In SUMMER ON THE SHORT BUS, Cricket Montgomery embodies every ugly character trait we are taught you don’t want to have. She’s rude. She’s judgmental. She’s self-absorbed. She says and thinks horrible things about people who are different from her. Bottom line, she’s a bi*&%$.

I contend, however, that she’s not entirely to blame for her actions. In my opinion, Cricket is as much a victim of her bad behavior as the targets of her abusive words.

Hang on, hang on! I know this isn’t a popular school of thought, and I agree with what some of you may be thinking; that a seventeen year-old is old enough to be held accountable for the decisions she makes. But if you give me a minute to explain myself, I think you’ll see where I’m coming from.

*Yanks off Author hat. Pulls Mom hat out of the drawer. Shakes out broken goldfish bits. Slides hat on.*

Okay, some of you may know that my youngest daughter has cerebral palsy. If you only had a headshot of her, you’d think she was just like any other eight year-old. In person, however, you’d quickly realize that isn’t the case. She is learning to walk independently, but spends most of her travel time in a wheelchair. (A bad a zebra print wheelchair, thankyouverymuch) She rarely feeds herself, isn’t potty-trained, and does not speak through verbal communication.

Besides the physical and emotional impact having a differently-abled kiddo has on a mom, there are some serious social challenges, too. Rewind to three years ago…

I’d gotten used to the judgmental scowls and unnecessarily long looks when we were out in public, but nothing could have prepared me for after-school care the first day of kindergarten.

Even though my eleven year-old (then eight) had been in the program for a few years, I decided to join my little one on her first day so I could get a feel for how things would go for her. We got our fair share of stares and mumbled whispers as we made our way from the short bus and through campus in her fancy chair, but it’s when we entered the auditorium and sat down on the carpet with the rest of the kids that things started to get ugly.

“Why is she in a diaper?” “What’s wrong with her?” “She can’t use the toilet?” “How can she be in kindergarten?” To call the two kindergarten boys in front of us mutant devil spawns might be a tad harsh, but in my defense, I’m sure I saw little pitchforks poking out of their back pockets. I tried to answer their questions in as adult-like manner possible, but it wasn’t working. I could feel my cheeks and chest growing hot, the way they do when I’m upset, and something really deep inside of me began to ache. I’d been mad plenty of times in my life–had felt protective and defensive of my daughter more times than I could count–but this was different. This was a boiling-over, get-out-of-my-way-before-I-hit-you kind of mad.

With tears welling in my eyes, I scooped up my sweetly oblivious daughter and headed for the door. From her office, the leader of the program saw me leave and followed me outside to ask what had happened. I’ll be the first to admit I was very immature in calling those five year-old boys a bad name in my retelling of the incident (a really bad name that made me grateful my daughter isn’t able to repeat the things she hears) but I did, and the leader didn’t mind a bit. In fact, she agreed with my choice of words, apologized for their behavior, and assured me the problem would be remedied right away.

I was just beginning to cool down by the time big sister climbed into the car a short time later.  But once I saw the tears in her eyes all those emotions steamrolled right back.

“Why does everybody have to stare at her?” She asked. “Why does she have to come to my school?”

My heart broke right then, not only because my oldest daughter knew what had happened, but because I knew that, on some level, she had a right to ask those questions.

Needless to say I was anxious when I arrived at school the following afternoon. I was positive things were going to go down the same way they had the day before, the only exception that I wouldn’t be there to get mad on my daughter’s behalf. All day I’d been wondering how we were going to get through this school year; with my kid being the target for rude comments and questions, and what it would be like to spend my lifetime protecting her from words she didn’t even understand.

Chest heavy with anxiety, I walked into the auditorium and was immediately greeted with a generous smile from my little one, followed by a bear hug from the big one. Hallelujah! We had a good day.

The mood in the car that afternoon was joyful, and familiar, like I was used to before kindergarten started. We were about a block away from home, when from the backseat big sister says, “I don’t want her to go to the after school program anymore.”

My chest immediately tightened. Crap. “Why, what happened?”

(long pause) “She’s already more popular than I am.”

Satellites orbiting the earth could have seen my smile in that moment.

Over the course of the following weeks, months, and now, years, my little one has stolen the hearts of just about every kid in the after school program. (Everywhere she goes, actually) Little boys spend hours of their precious weekend time creating Rainbow Loom bracelets for her, while fifth and sixth grade girls battle to sit next to her during afternoon snack. But what’s even better than her queen social bee status, is the comments I receive from other parents. They tell me how grateful they are that my daughter is at the after school program with their kids, because without her they’d never be exposed to a differently-abled peer.

…and therein lies the point of this ridiculously long post.

Without exposure, how can we possibly know what is acceptable?

Forgiving those sh*tty little boys was harder for me than it should have been. I was mad, and what they did hurt. But without them, I never would have recognized how valuable ugly growth is. Exposure to the unfamiliar isn’t always pretty–it certainly isn’t in Cricket’s case–but it is an essential part of the human experience.

Author Biounnamed (1)

I wish I had some mysterious secret to reveal about myself in hopes that you’d find me interesting…but I don’t. When it comes to me, what you see is what you get. And what you get is an irreverent, sarcastic and emotional girl who writes stories about characters with these same traits.

I live in San Diego with my husband, two kiddos, and a chocolate lab who has no regard for personal space. I’m slightly obsessed with John Hughes and the wonderful collection of films he left behind, and

I’m confident that Jake Ryan will be showing up on my doorstep any day now…

I firmly believe that prayer solves problems, and that laughter is the best medicine. Along with avocados. Avocados make the world a better place.

I’m represented by Rachael Dugas of Talcott Notch Literary Agency.

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Web

 

The Giveaway

2 Summer Camp Survival Packs and Signed copies of the book! US Only.

3 sets of signed swag! US ONLY

The survival kit comes with: A Camp I  Can T-shirt (with an awesome logo designed by A.G. Howard), Quinn’s oh-so-sweet cinnamon treats, Cricket’s nostalgic pink peppermints, plus some other tidbits no camper can live without. They’ll also get some Short Bus swag (a bookmark and a button)
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Longing for Home: Hope Springs By Sarah M. Eden Blog Tour

25 Feb, 2014 by in book tour, deseret book, proper romance, sarah eden Leave a comment

I received this book for free from Deseret Book in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Longing for Home: Hope Springs By Sarah M. Eden Blog Tour

Hope Springs

by Sarah M. Eden
Series: Longing for Home #2
Published by Deseret Book on March 4th, 2014
Genres: Adult, Clean Romance, Historical Fiction
Pages: 416
Format: Paperback
five-stars
Source: Deseret Book
Buy the BookGoodreads
All is not well in Wyoming. Katie Macauley gave up her life-long dream of returning to Ireland in order to make a home for herself in Hope Springs, but her future has never been so uncertain. The town is more divided than ever, with both the Irish and the Reds stealing property, burning buildings, and endangering lives.

Katie’s heart remains sharply divided between her love for playful Tavish and steady Joseph, a decision she feels ill-prepared to make. In the midst of the growing unrest, temperatures drop quickly, too quickly, and Irish nightmares of famine and cold resurface as the little Wyoming town struggles to beat the harsh winter.

Katie makes one sacrifice after another to keep the peace and help see her loved ones through the difficult days ahead, but will it be enough? Can the town make amends before their hatred consumes them all? And will Katie find the love she has been searching for as well as a home to call her own?

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Fire and Ice is thrilled to be a part of the offiicial Deseret Book Blog Tour for Longing For Home volume 2~ Hope Springs by Sarah M Eden.

I’ve read all of Sarah’s books and I think this one is by far her best yet! It was born of sacrifice and hard work on her part and those characteristics become so much more real in her main character. Katie MacCauley has made a decision to join her fellow Irishmen on the Irish Road in her small town of Hope Springs, Wyoming. The town is divided by prejudice and hatred, the Irish “Paddys” targeted as foreigners in a  harsh land. The Red Road will do anything to get Katie out of their sight, out of their stores and our of her employment as a housekeeper for Joseph Archer. Tensions are heating up and there are those convinced that blood will be spilled before the division can be settled.

As a descendant of Irish who came to America, I learned a great deal about the hardships they faced, the desires they had to maintain their heritage and the work ethic the Irish modeled in putting down roots. I especially enjoyed reading about colcannon, one of my favorite Irish dishes, and hearing some of the Gaelic words written into conversation. Sarah demonstrates through tradition, family relationships, loyalty and love, just how tightly woven the Irish settlements were. She shows the character’s weaknesses of short tempers, raw emotions and pride, as well as their ability to laugh and press forward with tenacity and courage in the midst of adversity.

I cried several times. I felt the feelings of these people and grew to love them as my own. Hope Springs is a tale of one woman’s vow to turn her tragic past into triumph and to make a difference in her community. It is also a beautiful story of how love can heal all wounds and a heart has the power to choose its path. I highly recommend this series as a prime pick for well researched, beautifully written historical fiction and clean romance. Sarah M. Eden’s writing pulled at my heart!

 

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About the Authorsarah_m_eden

Sarah M. Eden is the author of multiple historical romances, including Whitney Award finalists Seeking Persephone (2008, Covenant Communications) and Courting Miss Lancaster (2010, Covenant Communications). Combining her obsession with history and affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting witty characters and heartfelt romances. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in research and happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library. Sarah has twice served as the Master of Ceremonies for the LDStorymakers Writers Conference, acted as the Writer in Residence at the Northwest Writers Retreat and is one-third of the team at the AppendixPodcast.com. Sarah is represented by Pam van Hylckama Vlieg at Foreword Literary Agency.

website* twitter *facebook* goodreads

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Echo In Time by C. J. Hill~Release Day Blitz

23 Dec, 2013 by in book tour, CJ Hill Leave a comment

Published by Katherine Tegen echointimeblitz

Fire and Ice blog tours wishes a very Happy Book Birthday to

Echo in Time by C.J. Hill

Echo in Time CoverErasing Time #2
by C.J. Hill  (Pseudonym), Janette Rallison
Paperback, 400 pages
Published December 23rd 2013
by Katherine Tegen Books
ISBN 0062123963

Book Summary 

Echo in Time delivers on “the possibility of an equally thrilling sequel” (Kirkus Reviews) to Erasing Time.

After being pulled 400 years into the future, twins Taylor and Sheridan have found some refuge from the government of Traventon, which used the dangerous Time Strainer to yank the girls from the past. Yet the threat of the dangerous technology still looms. Taylor and an ally, Joseph, are selected to go on a mission to destroy the time machine and weapon. But their actions before they do may have major consequences for the future and the past.

Action-packed and romantic, this futuristic sequel to Erasing Time is perfect for fans of dystopian and sci-fi novels such as The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Across the Universe by Beth Revis, and Matched by Ally Condie.

Fire and Ice has planned the Release Day Blitz today with giveaway entries for each stop and wanted to let our readers know that the first in the series, Erasing Time, is now on sale for 99 cents.

Snag your copy and get started on an amazing adventure!

Be sure to visit all the Release Day blitz stops listed on the Rafflecopter form below for more chances to win both books and check out the Echo in Time Blog Tour kick off post here tomorrow.

 

Cj-hillAbout the Author

CJ Hill is a pen name for a YA author who is best known for writing romantic comedies. (Slayers will be her 18th published book.) Her writing has shifted away from the romantic comedy genre, so her editor thought a pen name would be a good idea. (New books will include: dangerous dragons, time travel to dystopian worlds, and flesh-eating beetles.) Since the publisher refused to let her have the pseudonym : The Artist Formerly Referred to as Princess, she chose a name to honor her mother. CJ Hill was her mother’s pen name, or at least it would have been if her mother had published. Her mother wrote a few children’s books and a middle grade novel but was taken by cancer before she had fully learned the craft.

Most writers’ first novels aren’t publishable. CJ Junior’s first novel wasn’t, but somehow was published anyway. Now, even though it is out of print, it remains forever available on Amazon, where it taunts her with its badness. This was another good reason to use a pen name.
CJ Hill has five children, three of whom like her on any given day depending on who is in trouble. She has lived in Arizona for the last half of her life, but is still in desert denial and hopes that one day her garden will grow silver bells and cockle shells or maybe just tomatoes.

Purchase

Erasing Time
Echo in Time

The Giveaway

One E copy of Both Erasing Time and Echo in Time. Enter below

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I Will Lead You Along: The Life of Henry B. Eyring ~ Book Tour and Review

29 Nov, 2013 by in book review, book tour, deseret book, henry b eyring Leave a comment

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I Will Lead You Along: The Life of Henry B. Eyring ~ Book Tour and Review

I Will Lead You Along: The Life of Henry B. Eyring

by Robert Eaton & Henry J. Eyring
Published by Deseret Book on 2013
Genres: Biography, Non- Fiction
Pages: 560
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Buy the BookGoodreads
Henry Bennion Eyring was born on May 31, 1933, in Princeton, New Jersey, bearing the first name of his father, who was fast building a reputation as a brilliant scientist, and the family name of his mother, who didn't care for the name "Henry" and insisted that he be called Hal.

In 1970, Hal received an impression to make a daily record of his activities. Years of journals form the backbone of this personal biography, a candid look at his walk through life with his beloved companion, Kathy. "The journal shows how a good-but-imperfect man works each day to win divine approval," write the authors, and this window into his past provides unforgettable insights about the man the Lord has shaped him to become.

Readers will love these richly designed pages, filled with photographs, sketches from the pen of President Eyring himself, and scores of entries straight from his journals woven into an engaging depiction of his life's journey.

President Henry B. Eyring's professional, academic, and personal experiences have all combined to make him uniquely qualified for his responsibilities as a member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His life story vividly demonstrates the power of the Lord and the example set by one who strives to follow His commands.

This is the first biography I have ever read, and thanks to the amazing read it was, likely not the last. This 560 page inspirational  memoir outlines the life of Henry B. Eyring, who is called simply ” Hal” throughout the book. It’s full of sketches form his personal journal, family photographs, quotes from those who know him and typewritten excerpts in Hal’s own words. The multi- media approach to outlining Elder Eyring’s life was not the only draw however. It’s the stories of a man who is ever striving to seek the answers to his prayers, to serve, and to be an amazing father to his children.  Hal and his father were both brilliant scientists who left a huge mark on the world around them. I learned so many interesting things about Hal that I didn’t know before.

  • As a boy Hal was befriended and protected by a member of the African American Hawks gang, teenager Tommy Homes, who protected Hal and became a guardian against bullying.
  • Elder Eyring served his mission after receiving his Bachelor’s degree as a District missionary in the Air Force
  • Spencer W. Kimball was Hal’s uncle and often gave him inspirational advice.
  • He owned a red VW beetle from his father as an MBA graduation present.  He drove it at Stanford, but it was sold without Hal’s knowledge, by his father-in-law while he was out of town. The replacement car was a late-model Ford Thunderbird with rear “suicide doors” hinged at the back rather than the front.

As I carried I Will Lead You Along with me,  it drew a lot of attention wherever I went. People often asked to look through it. I highly recommend it because of the example Hal’s life set and the deep lessons that are embedded about seeking the Lord’s guidance in all things and going where he want you to go.  An absolutely beautiful and enlightening read.

5heatherAbout the Authors

Robert I. Eaton began serving as president of the Washington Federal Way Mission in summer 2013. Prior to that, he was a professor of religious education at Brigham Young University-Idaho. He is a graduate of BYU and of Stanford Law School. He and his wife, Diane, are the parents of four children.

Henry J. Eyring graduated from Brigham Young University, earning a bachelor’s degree in geology and graduate degrees in business administration and law. He is the advancement vice president of BYU-Idaho and has served as director of the BYU MBA program. He also served as president of the Japan Tokyo North Mission. He and his wife, Kelly, are the parents of five children.

Learn more at Deseret Book

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