Book Giveaway- The Gray Wolf Throne

02 Feb, 2012 by in Uncategorized 17 comments

The Gray Wolf Throne
Seven Realms #3
by Cinda Williams Chima
528 pages
Published August 30th 2011
by Hyperion Book CH

Summary From Goodreads: Han Alister thought he had already lost everyone he loved. But when he finds his friend Rebecca Morley near death in the Spirit Mountains, Han knows that nothing matters more than saving her. The costs of his efforts are steep, but nothing can prepare him for what he soon discovers: the beautiful, mysterious girl he knew as Rebecca is none other than Raisa ana’Marianna, heir to the Queendom of the Fells. Han is hurt and betrayed. He knows he has no future with a blueblood. And, as far as he’s concerned, the princess’s family killed his own mother and sister. But if Han is to fulfill his end of an old bargain, he must do everything in his power to see Raisa crowned queen.


Meanwhile, some people will stop at nothing to prevent Raisa from ascending. With each attempt on her life, she wonders how long it will be before her enemies succeed. Her heart tells her that the thief-turned-wizard Han Alister can be trusted. She wants to believe it—he’s saved her life more than once. But with danger coming at her from every direction, Raisa can only rely on her wits and her iron-hard will to survive—and even that might not be enough.


The Gray Wolf Throne is an epic tale of fierce loyalty, unbearable sacrifice, and the heartless hand of fate.

About the author: New York Times bestselling author Cinda Williams Chima comes from a long line of fortune-tellers, musicians and spinners of tales. She began writing romance novels in middle school, which were often confiscated by her teachers.

The Warrior Heir was named to Voya’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy 2005-2006, is a 2006 Booksense Summer Reading Pick, was named to the 2007-2008 Lone Star Reading List, and was a finalist for the 2006 Great Lakes Book Award. Warrior Heir received a starred review in the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books and a “Perfect Ten” (5Q, 5P) in Voya. The Wizard Heir also received a “Perfect Ten” from Voya and appears on Voya’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy 2007.

The Dragon Heir received a starred review in Kirkus, was named to Kirkus’s Best YA 2008 list, was a VOYA Perfect Ten, and is a USA Today, Indie Next, and NYT bestseller.

Chima’s Seven Realms series launched with The Demon King in October, 2009.It received a starred review in the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, was a Voya Perfect Ten and was named to the 2009 Voya Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror List. The Exiled Queen followed in September, 2010. It received a starred review from Kirkus, was a Voya Perfect Ten, and a New York Times bestseller. The Gray Wolf Throne follows in September, 2011.
Chima is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University and the University of Akron. Chima is an active member of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. She has been a workshop leader, panelist, and speaker at writing conferences, including the Northern Ohio SCBWI Conference, the Western Reserve Writers’ Conference, and the World Fantasy Convention. She frequently speaks to young writers and readers at schools and libraries nationwide.
Chima lives in Ohio with her family, and is always working on her next novel.

Fire and Ice is giving away anARC of The Gray Wolf Throne to our US followers. Simply fill out the raffle copter form below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

On The Bright Side Book Announcement

31 Jan, 2012 by in on the bright side, sr johannes Leave a comment

A very Happy Book Birthday to …

On The Bright Side
by S.R. Johannes
ebook, paper back Feb 2012
Expected publication: January 31st 2012
by Coleman and Stott
ISBN 0984799117

Book sumary from Goodreads: As if the devil’s food cake at her wake and the white fat pants she’s stuck wearing for eternity weren’t bad enough, fourteen year-old Gabby is quick to discover that Cirrus, the main rung of Heaven, is a far cry from the Pearly Gates. Here, SkyFones and InnerNets are all the rage. At her first Bright ceremony, G.O.D., the automated assignment system, spits out Angela Black, Gabby’s arch nemesis and longtime fencing rival. As a Bright, Gabby has to protect Angela, her assigned mortal, in order to move up through the training levels of heaven.


Back on earth, Angela starts hitting on Michael, Gabby’s crush and should-have-been boyfriend. Gabby’s pranks to quell the love are harmless at first until the school dance sabotage gets completely out of control. Then, Celestial Sky Agent, Lawrence, who happens to have anger management issues of his own, steps into reveal that Angela has big problems, and what she really needs is Gabby’s help.


Determined to right her wrong and ease her mother’s grief, Gabby steals an ancient artifact that allows her to return to earth for just one day. But if Gabby’s not careful, her well-meaning mission just might shift the very foundation of Heaven, Earth, and every place in between, causing the danger of the dark side to roam free.

View the book trailer here.

PRAISES FOR ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

“S.R. Johannes delivers a cute paranormal thrill ride for middle graders! Even in death there is a BRIGHT SIDE!” – Addison Moore, author of the bestselling Celestra series and soon to be TV show

Clever and charming, ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is the story of a reluctant guardian angel, her still-breathing crush, and the frenemy she’s assigned to protect. A great read! -Suzanne Young, author of A Need So Beautiful, A Want So Wicket (6/12), and The Program (2013)

“ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is both hilarious and heart-warming – a tale that’ll have you hoping that there really *are* spunky and determined angels like Gabby who’ve got our backs.” – Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, author of Selling Hope & The 13th Sign (2013) (Feiwel & Friends)

“With a smart, snappy heroine and a heart-warming crush, ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is a page-turning new take on guardian angels that left me begging for a sequel!” – Gretchen McNeil, author of Possess and Ten (9/12) (Balzar + Bray)


Author Bio: S.R. Johannes is the author of Untraceable (a teen wilderness thriller) and On The Bright Side ( a tween paranormal).

She started out writing for her local school paper, winning a state Nutrition essay contest for “Be a Smart Cookie”, and singing in a local Jazz band. Somewhere along the way, she earned an MBA in Marketing and embarked on an 18-year marketing career in Corporate America working as a marketing and communications consultant.

In 2000, S.R. traded in her expensive suits, way-too high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-flops, and her love of writing. She started her own marketing & communications business, www.bilaninc.com, and continues creating materials for a variety of large profit and nonprofit clients, including Spanx, Goody Hair Products, Chick Filet, Delta, CARE, and the Boys & Girls Club of America.

S.R.’s dream is to publish children’s books and magically imprint the imaginations of kids. In addition to juggling nap schedules while attending client meetings, Shelli focuses on her writing. She is a frequent marketing speaker at SCBWI conferences across the U.S and runs a popular marketing blog, Market My Words (www.faeriality.blogspot.com) where she provides marketing advice for authors in the hopes of helping them better market their words.

In her spare time (yeah right!) and if the kids allow (yeah right!), Shelli obsesses over movies, reads children’s books (over and over), wishes she could squeeze in Bikram Yoga sessions, and dreams of sleeping in on the weekends.

She currently lives in Atlanta with her dog, British-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess that someday will change the world.

Email/ Blog/ Twitter/ Author Facebook/ Author Goodreads/ On The Bright Side Goodreads

Buy the ebook now for only 99 cents!

Book Review- Goddess Interrupted

30 Jan, 2012 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment

Goddess Test #2
by Aimee Carter
Paperback, 304 pages
Expected publication: March 27th 2012
by HarlequinTeen
ISBN 0373210450
Book Source: Netgalley
3.5 stars

Kate Winters has won immortality.

But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.
Henry’s first wife, Persephone

Review: *spoiler warning* if you haven’t read The Goddess Test

I really enjoyed the Goddess Test so was super excited to get an advanced peek at book two on Netgalley. Goddess Interrupted has a much slower pace than book one. Even though a new enemy is introduced and the potential was there for non-stop action the scenes felt vague and subdued. The main thrust of the book seemed to be Kate’s internal conflict over whether or not Henry loves her and is invested in their marriage. Henry was pretty much non-existent until the last few chapters which was sad for me because I was so hoping for much more from him and a deeper love to develop between the two newlyweds. I truly felt for Kate in Goddess Interrupted, there is a real internal struggle gong on there as well as the feeling of rejection and unrequited love that may lead to the destruction of their new marriage. It felt like things were headed toward disaster most of the way through. Aimee Carter writes in some heart wrenching emotion that would be felt by a bride who feels her husband is being emotionally unfaithful and detached. The inner dialogue and gamut of feelings were very real.

I was interested by the introduction of Cronus and his resemblance to Henry. I have a feeling there’s a lot more going on there than has been revealed. As for resolution, I would say Kate and Henry made up way too quickly and the key to the book seems to say “sex will solve everything.” Not the best message to portray. The ending- cliffhanger! So if you want to read book two be prepared!

Content: moderate swearing, minor violence, sex, adult themes

From the author biography ~

Aimée Carter was born and raised in Michigan, where she currently resides. She started writing fan fiction at eleven, began her first original story four years later, and hasn’t stopped writing since. Her first novel for young adults, The Goddess Test, will be published by Harlequin Teen in May 2011. The sequel, Goddess Interrupted, will follow in February 2012.

“I’m really not very interesting at all. I attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and received a degree in Screen Arts and Cultures (a fancy way of saying I was forced to watch a lot of old movies) with a subconcentration in Screenwriting. I write. I watch a lot of new movies. Read a lot of books. Tweet too much. Love dogs and have two spoiled Papillons.

I’m represented by the magical Rosemary Stimola of Stimola Literary Studio, and on very rare occasions I blog over at WordPress. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!”
Amy says…”Thanks to my wonderful publisher, Harlequin TEEN, I have copies of the ARC of Goddess Interrupted to give away! I’ll be hosting contests the months of December, January, and February, leading up to the release of The Goddess Hunt novella (March 1) and Goddess Interrupted (March 27). Each contest will have one copy of the ARC as a grand prize, and if I can swing it, there may be runner-up prizes as well.

The January contest is simple: just “Like” my page on Facebook and comment on the post there. One entry per person. You must comment on the original post on my official Facebook page in order for it to count. Contest open internationally. You have until January 31st at 11:59pm EST (GMT -5) to enter, at which time the contest will close, and a winner will be chosen at random.

Good luck, and I hope everyone has a fantastic 2012!”

Annual Autism Awareness Blog Hop

28 Jan, 2012 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment

Fire and Ice is pleased to once again be apart of the Annual
Autism Awareness Giveaway Hop
from April 11th to 17th
Hosted by:
Lindsay @ Just Another Book Addict
Heather @ Fire and Ice
Pixie @ Page Turners
click here to link up!
April is Autism Awareness Month. To help spread the word about Autism we are hosting a giveaway hop.
Each participating blog is hosting a giveaway. You will find lots of variety among the prizes. Some of the blogs are giving away prizes that relate to autism, other blogs are giving away gift cards or other prizes and posting information about autism to help make others aware.
We realize the causes and treatment of autism can bring controversy. The point of this giveaway hop is simply to make people more aware about the subject by sharing information and experiences.
For More Information about Autism check these sites:

Book Review- Edenbrooke

27 Jan, 2012 by in regency, Shadow Mountain 3 comments

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

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


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

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

Content: clean, minor violence

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

Find her on Goodreads and her blog.

Book Review- Between

26 Jan, 2012 by in walker 1 comment

Between
by Jessica Warman
Hardcover, 464 pages
Publication Date: August 2nd 2011
by Walker & Company
ISBN   0802721826
Book Source: BEA
3 Stars


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

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

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

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


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


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

Brodi Ashton Everneath Book Launch and Swag Giveaway

25 Jan, 2012 by in swag giveaway 43 comments

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

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

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

Brodi signed copies of her book which sold out before everyone could get a copy! On hand was an Everneath sheet cake as well as lots of goodies for those waiting in the line which stretched through the entire store.
She also gave away Dead Elvis guitar pick necklaces, temporary tattoos and book marks which we are giving away in a swag pack below. (Book not included) Open internationally, simply comment to enter. Thanks again to Brodi and TKE for the great event! See all of our photos on Facebook and SmugMug.

ARC Giveaway- Try Not To Breathe

24 Jan, 2012 by in try not to breathe, viking 34 comments

by Jennifer R. Hubbard
Hardcover, 272 pages
Published January 19th 2012

by Viking Juvenile
ISBN 0670013900

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

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

Book Review- Caller ID

23 Jan, 2012 by in rachelle christensen Leave a comment

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


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


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


Content: Attempted Rape, Peril of kidnapping, drug trafficking

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


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

Please Donate To Fellow Blogger Who Lost Her Home

21 Jan, 2012 by in once upon a twilight 2 comments

Once Upon a Twilight

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

 If you’ve ever met Yara you know how friendly, fun, hard working and genuine she is. She her husband and two boys are going to have a long road to rebuild ahead of them, which is where you can help.
TwilightMoms, Eve’s Fan Garden and Late Bloomer Online have all posted the story to spread the word and a PayPal account has been set up for donations here. Every penny will go directly to Yara. Please give what you can, even if it’s only a dollar. And send your prayers to the Santos family.