Happy Holidays Giveaway

24 Dec, 2011 by in Uncategorized 33 comments

Merry Christmas from Fire and Ice!

We have so many reasons to celebrate this Holiday season, and as a way to say thank you to those who stop by our site we are giving away five ARCs and one author signed paperback from Santas’s secret stash to one lucky reader! There are several ways to enter- we’re leaving it all up to you. Click on the red “read more” arrows to fill out our rafflecopter form and good luck!

Must be 13 or older and have a US mailing address. Giveaway ends January 3, 2012.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review- Bittersweet

23 Dec, 2011 by in sarah ockler, Simon Pulse 14 comments

Bittersweetby Sarah Ockler
Hardcover, 384 pages
Expected publication: January 3rd 2012
by Simon Pulse
ISBN 1442430354
Book source: publisher
4 stars

Hudson can’t wait to get out of Watonka, her working-class town outside of Buffalo. Once upon a time, her talent as a skater was going to be her ticket out… but when her parents’ marriage unraveled three years ago, so did her dreams. Now, she buries herself in making cupcakes for her mom’s diner and imagining her parallel life where she went on to skate to glory. But when she gets a letter inviting her to audition for a skating scholarship *and* the hockey team asks for her help with their technique (read: free ice time for Hudson), it’s impossible to ignore the signs. Is she ready to get back on the ice? Could this be her ticket out? Hudson’s determined not to let anything stand in her way. But between baking and waitressing at the diner, the love triangle that’s developing with two outrageously cute hockey boys, and the simmering drama with her best friend, her future is anything but certain…

Hudson is at the top of her game as a competitive ice skater and on her way to the most major competition of her career when an unexpected laundry discovery leads to the break up of her family and the world comes crumbling down. Life is not as shiny as it once was now that Hudson has to work at her mother’s diner, help take care of her younger brother and is struggling to stay socially afloat. But one fateful day out on the ice she runs into the co-captain of her school’s hockey team Josh. Things are about to turn around.

Sarah Ockler crafts the perfect winter romance and adds a heavenly cupcake recipe to the beginning of each chapter to tease readers with the tastes and smells of Hudson’s everyday world. The setting of Bittersweet is also magical- by the Niagara Falls and a piece of ice in the tiny town of Watonka.

With tough life lessons of having an absent and self-absorbed dad, an overworked mother, extra responsibilities and the difficulty of making decisions, Bittersweet is indeed a book that shows both the sweet and the bitter. I had a hard time with some of the choices Hudson makes and the things she has to give up for her mother. But overall, as she meddles through learning to abandon her dreams of the past and recognizing what she already has, there is clarity.

Sarah Ockler know how to write teenage romance! Between Will and Josh there is just the right amount of wondering how it will all turn out, and the relationships feel authentic. Who wouldn’t want to have to choose between two hockey boys, right? The relationships are not perfect or destined, but the ending is oh so perfect! So many noteworthy scenes of friendship, fighting and flirting in this book. But I have to say Josh is my favorite part.

Pick this one up when it comes out on January 3rd and buy a cupcake while you’re at it, because you’ll want one!
Content: moderate swearing, underage drinking, heavy making out

You Might Also Like: The Cupcake Queen by Heather Hepler, Sweet Treats & Secret Crushes by Lisa Greenwald

Pre-Order Bittersweet on Amazon or add it to your Goodreads list

About the author:
Sarah Ockler is the bestselling author of Fixing Delilah and the critically acclaimed Twenty Boy Summer, a YALSA Teens’ Top Ten nominee and IndieNext List pick. She is a champion cupcake eater, coffee drinker, night person, and bookworm.

When she’s not writing or reading at home in Colorado, Sarah enjoys taking pictures, hugging trees, and road-tripping through the country with her husband, Alex.

Visit her website or find her on Twitter or Facebook.

Best I’ve Read 2011 Giveaway Winners #BIR2011

22 Dec, 2011 by in book giveaway Leave a comment

Fire and Ice was honored to take place in the Best I’ve Read posts for 2011 and we are ready to announce our giveaway winners. It was a huge success so thanks to Cindy at Books Complete Me, the 11 participating bloggers, authors, publishers and all of you who entered!
HOURGLASS by Myra McEntire- Bonnie Harris
DIE FOR ME by Amy Plum-Danna W.

PRIDE AND POPULARITY by Jenni James

Brooke Anna Roberts
Persephone
Ashley Suzanne
Cheri Chesley
Diony George
POSSESSION by Elana Johnson- Randi Moulton
NOT MY TYPE by Melanie Jacobsen- Gena Robertson
UNCOMMON CRIMINALS by Ally Carter- Chen Chang

UNEARTHLY by Cynthia Hand- Jennifer Thomas

Winners we have your mailing addresses and have forwarded on your information to the authors and publishers. Please do not expect to hear news on the books until after the holidays and New Year. Thanks again! Bonus giveaway packages are still being offered at the Best I’ve Read home site until December 31st so head on over and enter.

Book Review- After Obsession

21 Dec, 2011 by in Uncategorized 6 comments

After Obession

by Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel
Ages/Grade: ages 12 and up / 7 and up
Published September 2011
by Bloomsbury
ISBN: 978I599906812
Pages: 320
Source: BEA

Aimee has good grades, great friends, and a hot boyfriend. But she also has secrets. Like the violent dreams that are almost prophetic. Or the real reason behind her Mom’s death.

Alan is new in town. Rugged, sexy, with a hint of Southern charm, he and Aimee connect immediately. Bye-bye boyfriend. But Alan has his own secrets. His Native American heritage gives him mystical, unlikely abilities. Not the kind of thing you show off in the cafeteria.

But it’s not Aimee or Alan who is in trouble. It’s Courtney–Alan’s cousin, and Aimee’s best friend. She’s consumed by a strange demon. Alan says there are four stages: Invitation:. Then Infestation. Obsession, and finally Possession. Aimee and Alan must figure out what to do, and quickly. Because once the demon takes full possession, there’s no saving Courtney–or anyone else…

(*To me this trailer looks far more intense and adult-ish than the book actually is. Which I think is a good thing as younger readers would enjoy this book.)
Debbie’s review:
This is an interesting story that takes place in the small town that Aimee grew up in. Life has been hard in the past but things seem to be all in place now. That is until she starts feeling a presence and then later something is going on with her best friend.
She has a past with the nearby river, it brings her both peace and terror and something is happening in the town and with her friends that she must figure out. Aimee meets new-comer Alan and is comforted with his friendship.

This was a fun read that took a different twist on the genre. The book is told from both Aimee and Alan’s point of view so it gives the reader a broader look into the intense story.- Debbie CranberryFries

Buy After Obsession: Amazon/ The Book Depository
Add After Obsession to your: Goodreads/ Shelfari
Find Author Carrie Jones: Blog/ Twitter

Meet Our Staff

21 Dec, 2011 by in Uncategorized 4 comments

Heather Zahn Gardner is the owner and full-time reviewer of Fire and Ice. She runs the twitter, facebook, tumblr pages. She also manages the review requests that come in from authors and publishers. She has a BS in psychology from Brigham Young University and has been writing and taking pictures since junior high.

She worked in the social work field for many years and served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to Santiago, Chile. In her free time, Heather enjoys reading, traveling, music, triathlons, road biking, family history and time outdoors. She loves meeting new authors and working with them to create book trailers, covers, author photos, and interviews.


Book Review- Spiritus

20 Dec, 2011 by in spiritus 2 comments

Spiritus
by Dana Michelle Burnett
Young Adult Paranormal
Format: Kindle Edition
Print Length: 179 pages
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
ASIN: B005V02FD4
Source: author
4 Stars

When Becca moves into her ancestral home in Corydon, Indiana, her life takes a puzzling and thrilling turn when she meets the ghost haunting the halls. As the seductive spirit lures her closer and closer, she learns about her own past and starts to understand that some mistakes are meant to last.

Becca McAllister has always been different from other girls her age. Never part of the “in crowd”, Becca never really fit in anywhere. When her mother dies and her father moves them to the small town of Corydon, Indiana, Becca didn’t expect things to change.But things do change when Becca accidentally makes contact with a one hundred and sixty year old ghost, Alastor Sinclair, that haunts the halls of her new home.To Becca, Alastor is a seductive spirit that seems to see straight into her soul. To Alastor, Becca is what he was waited a century for–A second chance.

Becca McAllister is new in Corydon, anxious to fit in to her father’s hometown. As if trying to figure out a new school isn’t hard enough, Becca discovers her ancestral home is haunted. Alastor Sinclair, a seductive blast from a past she doesn’t remember, is determined to woo her even though strange memories hint she may be responsible for his death in another life.

I enjoyed this short novel. It was easy to feel sympathy for Becca as she moves into a new town and deals with school jitters. Her relationship with her father feels true to life, and the paranormal activity around her home is spooky and believable.

While the locals and the neighborhood setting of Corydon are charming, Becca’s haunting admirer, Alastor, is a bit edgy. One never knows his intentions, and some of his manic behavior leaves swirling questions. At times I hoped Becca would walk away for good, and I questioned some of her decisions, but this made the story feel more realistic as the young and true love are often blind.

SPIRITUS is fast-paced. It kept me reading, though at times the plot developed too quickly in regards to Becca’s and Alastor’s volatile romance. There are bits and pieces very mature for the Young Adult genre, but I did not think any lines were crossed. However, I would only recommend the book to older teens and adults.

Ms. Burnett’s voice is likeable, strong, and talented — a potential for great storytelling. Her settings come alive and the inner dialogue is witty.

The only snag for me with this book was the lack of editorial attention, but as to whether or not my copy was an advanced copy, I could not find that information. Regardless, SPIRITUS is an entertaining tale in a series that I would continue to read.

Reviewed by one of our new part time reviewers-Danielle Thorne

About Author Dana Michelle Burnett
Dana Michelle Burnett spent most of her life writing short stories and sharing them with family and friends. Over the years, her work was published in numerous commercial and literary magazines including Just Labs, Mindprints: A Literary Journal, Foliate Oak, and many more. Her short story John Lennon and the Chicken Holocaust was included in The Best of Foliate Oak in 2006. Her literary novel, Ghost Country, was published in 2010. The romance novel, Two Out of Three, followed in 2011. Spiritus is the first book in her new paranormal romance series by the same name.

Visit Dana’s Website/ Facebook/ Twitter

Book Review-The Dig by Audrey Hart

19 Dec, 2011 by in young adult fiction Leave a comment

The Dig
Zoe and Zeus Trilogy #1
by Audrey Hart
ebook, 208 pages
published November 11, 2011
by Backlit Fiction
Source: Publisher

Rating: 4 stars

Zoe Calder has always been an outsider. Stashed away in boarding schools since her parents died, Zoe buries herself in the study of ancient worlds. Her greatest thrill is spending her summers with her archeologist aunt and uncle on digs around the world. And one day, while investigating a newly unearthed temple in Crete, Zoe discovers a luminous artifact that transports her to ancient Greece.

As Zoe quickly learns, the Olympian Gods are real, living people—humans with mysterious powers… Powers that Zoe quickly realizes she has come to possess, as well. However, when the people of ancient Greece mistake Zoe for an Olympian, the Gods must restore the balance of the ancient world… No matter what.

Zoe is forced to play a confusing and dangerous game as Hera rallies the gods against her—all except for Zeus, the beautiful, winged young god who risks everything to save her.

Out of time and out of her element, teenager Zoe Calder finds herself in ancient Greece, battling against the power of the Olympians and the vengeance of a scorned goddess—all for the strange and mysterious boy she has come to love.

This was a fun read. I have really enjoying the Gods and Godesses trend we have seen lately (probably due to the popularity of the Riordan series). Mythology has intrigued me since my high-school days when I was first introduced to Odysseus and the interesting characters he encountered along his journey. And who didn’t love Hercules?

One of the aspects of this story that I truly loved was the voice. Our teenager really feels like a teenager. She is a bit awkward; doesn’t quite fit in with the in crowd. I really identified with Zoe. While it has been years since I was a teenager (I hate to even think about how many it really has been) hearing Zoe’s worries and concerns felt so familiar. She felt very real to me.

Another aspect of this book that I enjoyed was the youthfulness of the Gods and Goddesses of Olympus. The concept that the Gods and Godesses were eternally teenagers really makes sense. Their capricious natures and self indulgent whims really make so much more sense if they are teenagers with such amazing powers.

If you like a sweet romance mixed in with an Olympian style adventure, check out The Dig, available as an ebook from Back Lit Publishing.


Content: Fairly clean. If you are uncomfortable with the use of the Lord’s name in vain, this book uses it quite a bit.

Learn more about The Dig on Goodreads/ Facebook/Entertainment Weekly


Best I’ve Read 2011 Day 7- Unearthly #BIR2011

17 Dec, 2011 by in unearthly 8 comments

Our final Best Ive Read pick for 2011 is Unearthly by Cynthia Hand. I’ve already read book two in the series, Hallowed and can tell you this is one awesome author!

Unearthly
by Cynthia Hand
Hardcover, 435 pages
Published January 4th 2011
by HarperTeen
ISBN 0061996165
series: Unearthly #1
5 stars

In the beginning, there’s a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she’s part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn’t easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there’s another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara’s less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she’d have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

Okay so it’s no secret by now that I am an angel lover. The mythology, the biblical references, the source of the nephilum. This book though…WOW. It’s refreshing, mesmerizing. I picked it up I will unabashedly admit, based on the cover that called to me from the shelves at Barnes and Noble and was not disappointed.

Unearthly is slower paced and took a while for me to get into, but once I clicked, watch out. Locked, loaded, and eyes transfixed until the very end. Easily five stars to this one.

Cynthia Hand emphasizes functional family relationships and I loved that Clara’s mother tries her best to protect her children and keep them innocent. Despite the fact that she is a single mom, she holds her family tight and encourages them to follow their purpose. The idea that each of us has a unique role to fulfill in life and that we have the power to change the course of history is a powerful theme that rang through.

Clara, the main heroine is quirky and awkward so there’s quite a few places to chuckle. What I love is that while she’s half angel, she’s also very human, a believable teen. Tucker, one of the main men is a rodeo cowboy with wicked blue eyes and a fun easy personality. It’s cute how much he looks up to Clara and adores her. I have to say though- I am team Christian and was from the very start. He appears to Clara in her visions, is there to catch her when she falls. Granted he’s also popular and acts unaffected by Clara’s preparatory swooning, but near the end I really hoped Clara would accept his reciprocal interest. I was frustrated when their relationship was left hanging by a thread.

There were a few things that I wondered about. Like why does her hair turn orange? Can’t they take her some where professional and get it done right? And if her dad lives in New York, why didn’t she follow Christian there over the summer to be closer to him? I’m hoping book 2 has a lot more back story and Clara/Christian time! I’m predicting something not so good is up with Clara’s brother.

Unearthly is so far the best book I’ve read in 2011. I would recommend it to all as a clean, fun paranormal read. This book lives up to its hype and when you get to the last page you’ll be craving more.

Visit Cynthia’s website to learn more about the series. http://www.cynthiahand.blogspot.com/

Fire and Ice is giving away one copy of Unearthly to our followers as part of Best I’ve Read 2011. To enter to win click here and fill out the form. Good luck! Be sure to check the BIR home site and blog list for additional giveaways!