Book Review- The Fairy Godmother Dilemma: Catspell

08 May, 2012 by in middle grade, The Fairy Godmother Dilemma: Catspell Leave a comment

The Fairy Godmother Dilemma: Catspell
by Danyelle Leafty
Ebook
Publication Date: October 22, 2011
Book Source: author
3.5 stars
Book Summary from Goodreads: Sixteen-year-old Breena never thought anything could be worse than being forced to leave the faerie realm. Then she got stuck with a fairy godmother. But if she has to choose between the two, she’d leave the Faerie Realm over getting bossed about by a faerie with a pointed stick any day. Unfortunately, her attempt to evade her fairy godmother gives her growing pains in the form of fur, whiskers, and a tail.



Turning into a cat is the least of her worries, though. The potion wasn’t meant to bring out her inner feline, it was meant to put her to sleep. Forever. If Breena wants to make it to her Happily Ever After, she’ll have to accept that sometimes a fairy godmother really does come in handy, after all.

Cathy’s Review: Nerissa is a fairy godmother who feels as though she needs a break. The fairy queen has just had her taking care of one Damsel in Distress (DID) and now she’s sent her flaming lizard to tell her of another, she’s also got a terrible cold that makes her even more irritated at the crazy flaming lizard! But she can’t really tell the fairy queen no, so she’ll be taking on her newest DID right away. Enter Breena, she’s a teenage human princess who’s been raised by fairies. She really wants nothing to do with having a fairy godmother, she’d far rather run away, but Nerissa has told her that they now have a bond that makes it so Nerissa always knows just where Breena is. Through some crazy events and really no fault of her own, Breena is turned into a small white cat. Uncertain of just how she got that way, she can’t explain it to Nerissa, and Nerissa can’t change her back. So Nerissa whisks her away to a castle, a castle full of wind servants that she promptly turns into talking cats and leaves Breena in their care, so that she can plan for Breena’s happily ever after, but first Breena must figure out what her Happily Ever After will be! This book has a fairy tale quality with all of the talking animals and fairy godmother, not to mention the dragon. I liked the story, but found some of the characters and magic to be a bit confusing. I do think this story could make a great series, maybe with some extra explanations about what some of the magical characters are supposed to be and be able to do.

Content: Clean, nothing offensive

About the Author: Danyelle Leafty doesn’t exactly believe in fairies, but her skepticism hasn’t stopped an odd assortment of imaginary people from bullying her into writing their stories. This is the place in which she details her journey, talks about frogs, and harnesses the occasional dragon. When she isn’t rescuing dragons from evil princes, she blogs for QueryTracker.Net and is an editor for Underneath the Juniper Tree–an online kidlit magazine.
Find out more about author Danyelle Leafty: Goodreads/ Website/ Blog
Read Castpell now for 3.99

Stacking The Shelves #1

07 May, 2012 by in stacking shelves 4 comments

Stacking The Shelves is a meme started by Tynga’s Reviews “all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks.”

Here’s what’s new on our shelves for the week:

Between The Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer-ARC from publisher
When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle- hardcover from publisher

Insurgent by Veronica Roth- bought
Darwen Arkwright and the Insidious Bleck by

Divider

Children’s Book Review- I Believe in Jesus Too

05 May, 2012 by in Mark S. Nielsen, picture books 2 comments

I Believe In Jesus Too
by Mark S. Nielsen, Craig Stapley
Hardcover
Published February 2012
by Deseret Book
5 stars
Summary from Goodreads: All around the world, Latter-day Saint children go to church, sing songs, pray, read scriptures, participate in family home evening, and get baptized. We may meet in different types of buildings or speak different languages, but we have a lot in common. Why? Because no matter where we live, we all love and believe in Jesus, and He loves each one of us just the same. Are you like Pablo, Dimitri, Bayani, Junpei, and Shamara? Do you believe in Jesus too.
Heather’s Review: Wow. This book is absolutely stunning. The illustrations are life like and vivid, beautiful and attention grabbing. I enjoyed traveling with children of different nations to their native lands. Readers see what kind of homes they live in and what types of church buildings they meet in on Sundays. From New York City, to Finland, Spain and Taiwan. So many different faces, cultures and ways of life are explored all in a few pages. The teachings simple and beautiful.
I would recommend I Believe in Jesus Too to all ages. As an adult I found myself turning the pages again and again. It would make a wonderful gift for a child in your life or a treasure for your own family to read out loud and pass on. Thanks so much Mark S. Nielsen for sending me a copy!
Heather
Author Bio From Raising Memories : In the spring of 1996 I graduated from high school and immediately started my college career that summer at BYU Jerusalem. That experience in the Holy Land changed my life! After a great first year at BYU I received my mission call in April 1997 and was called to serve in the Barcelona, Spain Mission. (NOTE: The LDS church calls young men and women around the ages of 19-28 to serve as full-time missionaries. These missionaries pay for the entire mission and set aside education, jobs, and dating for 1 ½ – 2 years so they can dedicate all their time and efforts to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.) On returning from my mission I started teaching seminary at a school for special needs children. In the fall of 2002 I graduated from BYU with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities and a minor in Spanish. Anne, my wife, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology. After graduation we moved to Phoenix, Arizona where I was hired to teach seminary full time for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. (NOTE: Seminary is a religious class taught to high school age students. It’s a 4 year course that uses the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants as the lesson material.) I love my family, the Church, good movies, BYU football, my mom’s spaghetti, good books, softball, Chufi (horchata drink from Spain), trying to make my students and kids laugh, teaching, traveling, and of course writing children’s books. I lived in Russia and traveled around Europe, Israel, and Egypt. As I have reflected on these experiences I have learned that although everyone has different cultures and is different, everyone is also very much the same. Everyone is a child of God and whether they show it or not, everyone wants to be treated fairly, to be loved, and to be respected. It is so neat to know that there are people all over the world that believe in what I believe. When I hear their stories, I want to be better and I want to be like them. I am so grateful for the Savior Jesus Christ. I know that he loves me and that he died for me and for everyone that I meet on this planet. We are all brothers and sisters because of him.
About the Illustrator: Craig Stapley is an illustrator whose work has appeared in the Friend and Highlights among other popular magazines. He currently lives in northern Utah with his wife, Crystal and their four children: Ethan, Kan, Logan and their newest addition, Emily Jean. As a family they enjoy traveling and any activity that they can do together.
Find out more on Goodreads/ Amazon/ Deseret Book/ Mark’s website/ Facebook

Book Review- Torn by Ashley S. Morgan

04 May, 2012 by in torn, ya Leave a comment

Torn
by Ashley S. Morgan
Ebook, 165 pages
Published: February 20th 2012 
ASIN B007B6AJ1Q
Book Source: author
2 1/2 stars
Book summary from Amazon: Isadora Rivers feels trapped. Her small town high school is suffocating her.
Another day of wannabe gangsters, dumb jocks, and Barbie clones, and she’ll just lose it. Her keen emotional sensitivity is to blame. She sees through all of the poser behavior to the pain and insecurity simmering just below the surface, and it’s overwhelming. She feels like she’s literally drowning in other people’s emotions.
This same sensitivity, however, makes her a great actress. Suffocating or not, her high school is one of the top arts schools in the country. Acting is not only her passion, but it also looks like her way out. If she can just score the lead role in the school play, she might get herself noticed by a Hollywood agent. But she’s got a strong reckless streak, and it keeps getting her in trouble and jeopardizing her chances.
Riding her bike at top speed, she swerves in front of a car and nearly gets hit. The driver, Tristan Blake, turns out to be the mysterious new boy at school. He’s rebellious, broody, and wise beyond his years. He’s also devastatingly gorgeous. From the moment their eyes meet, Isadora is irresistibly drawn to him. But as soon as he enters her life, things go horribly wrong. She begins having disturbing visions full of unimaginable glamour and unbearable darkness. He knows things about her he shouldn’t. And he’s somehow so
familiar. As he at turns pulls her close, and then pushes her away, Isadora feels like her heart is being twisted and torn.
She soon discovers that her whole future is in jeopardy, and her only hope is to stay away from Tristan. But how can she turn away from the only boy she has ever loved? As a harrowing event looms closer, one that threatens to rip apart her psyche, Isadora must reach deep inside herself and find the strength to change her own destiny. But is she strong enough to do it?
Crystal’s Review: Torn was an interesting book that had its ups and its downs. I thoroughly enjoyed the excitement that was Isadora, she was a vibrant, dominant character. I also enjoyed the star-crossed lovers approach to the love story between Isadora and Tristan. My one complaint, and my reason for giving this book a two star rating, is I felt the story did not really pick up until the last fifty pages or so. The ebook is only one-hundred sixty five pages so I was disappointed in having to wait so long for the book to pick up. I thought the twist in the book was great and found the “one choice can change everything” theme to be realistic and easy to relate to. In the end I found this book to be slow going, however I liked it overall so I will be giving this authors next book a try.

Content: sexual tension, drugs, scenes depicting attempted sexual assault.
Crystal
Author Bio: “I believe a good hard laugh is priceless; I’m lucky to have friends with a wicked sense of humor who make me screech with laughter on a daily basis. To me, Fluevogs aren’t just shoes; they’re artistic masterpieces. I’ve been obsessed with them since I was sixteen. I wish every day was Halloween for both the costumes and the candy. Brilliant graffiti stumbled upon in an alley aways gives me a thrill; I love the crazed energy of the letters, and the way they burst with psychedelic color. If I could have tea with one fictional character, it would be the Mad Hatter. I can’t go a day without a latte or a stunning view of the city. I get my best ideas in bed, curled under a duvet, staring off into space as the early morning light flickers through my bedroom windows. And my favorite saying is, “Nobody can take from me what I’ve danced.”
Find author Ashley S. Morgan on her website/ blog/ amazon

Book Review- Promise Keeper; Maine Shore Chronicles

02 May, 2012 by in Mary Fremont Schoenecker, mystery, Promise Keeper; Maine Shore Chronicles, suspense 1 comment

Promise Keeper; Maine Shore Chronicles
by Mary Fremont Schoenecker
Hardcover; 226 pages
Published October 21, 2011
by Five Star
ISBN: 1432825372
Book Source: Author
4 stars
Book Sumary From Amazon: The theft of a painting on loan to the Cornerstone Gallery and the disappearance of Suzanne Petrone, the owner of the painting, send gallery owner Paul Fontaine on a search for both. When the stolen painting turns up for sale in Sarasota, Florida, Paul travels there in the hope of unraveling Suzanne’s existence in that city and finding the truth about her connection to the painting. But the Sarasota CID detectives and the FBI Art Crime Team form a task force with other plans in mind. Conflict and turmoil builds as this engrossing tale unfolds to a startling climax.
Danielle’s Review: Paul Fontaine has been shot, and the woman he loves may be involved. Mary Freemont Schoenecker’s next edition in the Main Shore Chronicles features Paul and his quirky family trying to sort out their personal lives as illness and marriage plans overwhelm them all. Luckily for Paul, his Tante Margaret is able to harness her psychic abilities to help him face the truth as he journeys to Florida in search of a stolen painting.
Mary Freemont Schoenecker has created characters as comfortable as the company of old friends. Paul is as emotionally fragile as his ailing father back at home, as he must come to grips with whether or not his beloved Suzanne is involved in an art heist. He is underwhelmed by the officials investigating the case, but his passion for both truth and love carry him through. Along the way we meet a colorful, spry Floridian ensemble, ready to keep him comfortable until he is ready to return home again.
I did not read the first installments of this series, and I wish I had. The Maine shore and its accompanying culture and heritage make for a beautiful setting. The mysterious art world heist kept me fascinated as I got to know the extended Fontaine family. Sharing Paul’s crime solving journey was an enjoyable ride into the Keys and hurricane season.
PROMISE KEEPER is a cozy, relaxing read I can recommend, but only after picking up the first two in the series.
Danielle Thorne
Author Bio: After early retirement from State University of New York, I pursued free-lance writing. I wrote a column for a newspaper in Saratoga Springs, New York and feature articles for newspapers and regional magazines in Florida. My first book, a children’s novel was chosen by a small press for a History Project, part of a NEH grant proposal. The grant was not received and after many rejections the first “book of my heart” was put on a shelf.
Undaunted, my dreams grew bigger. Our youngest son completed a genealogical search of his ancestors which inspired me to write a historical novel using those ancestors as characters. I felt pretty competent about research, but never did I anticipate it would take several years.

Meantime, I definitely needed help with the craft of writing adult fiction. I joined organizations, attended conferences, networked with authors and editors, joined a critique group and struggled with rejections― until finally it happened―a contract from a publisher !

I am a member of The Historical Novel Society, The Questers, chapter #1355, and The Friends of the Venice Library. Many thanks to Romance Writers of America, Tara Chapter, for the help I received as a new writer.

I write, read and enjoy life on the beach with husband Tom. Although I miss the Adirondack Mountains of my former New York State home, The Gulf of Mexico has inspired a whole new life of writing for me.

12 Days of Morganville Madness Blog Tour Giveaway

30 Apr, 2012 by in penguin teen, rachelcaine 19 comments

Rachel Caine’s Black Dawn, book 12 of the Morganville Vampires hits shelves tomorrow and to celebrate Penguin Teen put together a blog tour with one stop for each of the proceeding books. Check out the links below for exclusive interviews, reviews and giveaways! Mundie Moms will be the final stop for release day.
April 20th: GLASS HO– USES (Book 1) http://www.pageturnersblog.com/
April 21: THE DEAD GIRLS DANCE (Book 2) http://melaniemccullough.blogspot.com/
April 22: MIDNIGHT ALLEY (Book 3) http://book-splot.blogspot.com/
April 23: FEAST OF FOOLS (Book 4) http://hobbitsies.net/wordpress/
April 24: LORD OF MISRULE (Book 5) http://bookmonsterreviews.blogspot.com/
April 25: CARPE CORPUS (Book 6) http://myoverstuffedbookshelf.blogspot.com/
April 26: FADE OUT (Book 7) http://missvainsparanormalfantasy.com/
April 27: KISS OF DEATH (Book 8) http://www.thestorysiren.com/
April 28: GHOST TOWN (Book 9) http://www.awesomesaucebookclub.com/
April 29: BITE CLUB (Book 10) http://www.totalbookaholic.com/
April 30: LAST BREATH (Book 11) http://www.literaladdiction.com/
MAY 1: BLACK DAWN (Book 12, NEW!) http://mundiemoms.blogspot.com/

 

 
 

Our giveway here at Fire and Ice is for One copy of GLASS HO– USES, book 1 and a bookmark of BLACK DAWN courtesy of Penguin Teen. To enter simply leave a comment below.

InterrobangYA Video- Heather Talks May & Summer 2012 Releases

28 Apr, 2012 by in Shadow Mountain, vlog Leave a comment

Heather talks on the InterrobangYA channel about books coming out Tuesday May 1, 2012 as well as a few more upcoming titles for summer 2012.
Featured titles are Surrender by Elana Johnson (Simon Pulse), Black Dawn by Rachel Caine (Penguin), Journey to the Fringe: Stone Mage Wars Book One by Kelli Swofford Nielsen (Shadow Mountain), Middle School Magic: The Kindling by Braden Bell (Cedar Fort), Laughing with the Moon by Shana Burg (Delcorte), Silence: Book One of the Queen of the Dead by Michele Sagara ( Daw), and A Tale of the Dragon’s Bard: Eventide by Tracy & Laura Hickman (Shadow Mountain).

Cleaning Up Our Site 10 Book Giveaway

27 Apr, 2012 by in book giveaway 29 comments

I have 10 days until my new little baby arrives and am cleaning out our house getting ready for the new arrival. Here’s where it gets lucky for you! I’ve found lots of books I would like to pass on to our loyal Fire and Ice readers.
And I would also love to get some feedback about our site to keep us growing and thriving. Plus I feel like I want to get to know our readers better. So here’s the deal. I have a short survey and for everyone who fills it out you will be entered to win two titles of your choice from this list.Click on the title to see the Goodreads description.  That means there are five winners total.
To enter fill out this form then leave us a comment with what two books you’d like to win. Must be 13 or older and have a US mailing address. Good Luck and thanks again for reading Fire and Ice!
The Giveaway Titles
Advanced Reading Copies
Getting Somewhere by Beth Neff
The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan
Mercy by Rebecca Lim
Crush Control by Jennifer Jabaley
The Future of Us by Asher and Mackler
Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
Paperback Books
Unbelievable by Sara Shepard
Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
If I Stay by Gayle Forman