Best I’ve Read 2011 Day 6- Uncommon Criminals #BIR2011

16 Dec, 2011 by in book giveaway, uncommon criminlas 20 comments

Today’s pick for Best I’ve Read 2011 is book two in the Heist Society Novels

Uncommon Criminals
by Ally Carter
Hardcover, 298 pages
Published June 21st 2011
by Hyperion Book
ISBN 1423147952
series: Heist Society #2
4.5 stars

Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short life: Friend. Niece. Daughter. Thief. But for the last two months she’s simply been known as the girl who ran the crew that robbed the greatest museum in the world. That’s why Kat isn’t surprised when she’s asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald so it can be returned to its rightful owners.

There are only three problems. First, the gem hasn’t been seen in public in thirty years. Second, since the fall of the Egyptian empire and the suicide of Cleopatra, no one who holds the emerald keeps it for long — and in Kat’s world, history almost always repeats itself. But it’s the third problem that makes Kat’s crew the most nervous, and that is . . . the emerald is cursed.

Kat might be in way over her head, but she’s not going down without a fight. After all, she has her best friend — the gorgeous Hale — and the rest of her crew with her as they chase the Cleopatra around the globe, dodging curses and realizing that the same tricks and cons her family has used for centuries are useless this time.

Which means, this time, Katarina Bishop is making up her own rules.

Ally Carter has once again crafted a fun, quirky twisted tale of a girl raised criminal tuned to rightfully returning stolen items to their original owners. In book two Kat starts out on her own executing risky heists from the ex-KGB in Moscow and planning more jobs solo until Hale catches up to her and makes it very clear he wants “in.” Soon the old crew- Simon, Hamish, Angus, and Gabrielle are together, hired to get back a cursed emerald. But this job may very well be their last. Cleopatra’s Emerald hasn’t been seen for 30 years, it’s forbidden to steal it and after all the crew is “just kids”…up against the biggest con artist they have ever faced. Kat has her work cut out for her as the clock is ticking.

Ally’s writing style is the same as book one with meticulous details of each heist and amazing descriptions of character and setting. This is a series you’ll stay up late in the night to finish. Picture Oceans 11 with teens plus just the right dash of romance.

The love interests, Hale and Nick…how is one to decide? Chemistry is building between Kat and the two young men who wish to capture her attention when her heart is wrapped up in the thrill of the steal. I haven’t had this much fun with a love triangle in a long time! Hale is ever the perfect gentleman and loyal companion, while Nick seems to pop up unexpectedly to stir things up. Overall, Uncommon Criminals is a squeaky clean read I’d highly recommend to all readers ages 12 and up. Ally Carter is a master mind of deceit and twist of plot. Her clever style will capture you instantly, and if you haven’t picked up book one, Heist Society yet, get thee to your nearest store or library to get started today!

We are giving away one copy of Uncommon Criminals 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 for today’s additional giveaways!

Best I’ve Read 2011 Day 5- Not My Type #BIR2011

15 Dec, 2011 by in book giveaway, melanie jacobson, not my type 7 comments

Today Fire and Ice is thrilled to host a guest post and giveaway from author Melanie Jacobson as our day 5 of Best I’ve Read 2011. I gave five stars to her newest book Not My Type.
Oh does Melanie know how to write a kiss! You will fall head over heels in love with her characters and the adventures of Indie girl who braves the crazy world of online dating for her job as a local journalist. This is one of the most fun books I’ve read all year. Welcome Melanie Jacobsen author of
Not My Type:
A Single Girl’s Guide to Doing It All Wrong
Paperback, 257 pages
Published September 1st 2011
by Covenant CommunicationsTwenty-three-year-old Pepper Spicer is not living the dream. She ended her engagement at the last minute because her fiance-a musician and soon-to-be reality TV star-wanted her to sacrifice her own career ambitions for his. Now she’s stuck at home sharing a room with her little sister, trying to pay off massive debt for a wedding that didn’t happen, and spending Friday nights Facebook-stalking everyone who has a better life. Her therapist father urges her to choose her career dreams and count her blessings by writing weekly thank-you notes, but gratitude is a tall order when she botches an important job interview and has to settle for writing an undercover dating web-zine column-the last thing in the world she wants to do. Life takes a major upswing as Pepper’s column hits the big time and she tastes the exhilarating thrill of success. But there’s one tiny problem: the intensely hot man she’s falling for is having issues with her job (again). Will Pepper trade her personal ambition for another chance at love?Q&A with the author Melanie Jacobsen:
What things would you have on your bucket list?

There are so many places I want to travel as part of my bucket list. Costa Rica, the Caribbean, Jerusalem, Africa. I also really want to learn to sew. But I’ve been lucky to get a lot of my bucket list done already. Guess it’s time to make a new one!

You review books occasionally, tell us what some of your favorite recent reads are? What about all-time best reads?

Best all time read is To Kill a Mockingbird. My oldest son’s middle name is even Atticus. But some favorite recent reads are My Unfair Godmother by Janette Rallison and Variant by Robison Wells.

Not My Type is partly about some of the fiascos of online dating…did you had any disaster dates before you got married?

I did. Oh, yes. Oof. The biggest standout is Zipper Pants Guy. He had these cargo pants that you could zip off to become shorts. He stuffed the zipped off legs of his pants into his pockets, along with his camera and a water bottle and a million other things until he walked at nearly a waddle. It was an odd visual. I never recovered enough to commit to another date.

What has been the most rewarding experience you’ve had as an author?

Several women have thanked me for offering them a guilt-free escape from some of their troubles. That makes it totally worth writing.

Do you have a music playlist for any of your books?

I totally don’t, which is so weird because I’m married to a musician. But I can’t read or write with music playing and since that’s what I do the most . . .

Nanowrimo yes or no?

Not this year. But I did it the past two years and I sold both of those novels, so I give NaNoWriMo two thumbs up!
About the author: Melanie Bennett Jacobson is an avid reader, amateur cook, and champion shopper. She consumes astonishing amounts of chocolate, chick flicks, and romance novels. After meeting her husband online, she is now living happily married in Southern California with her growing family and a series of doomed houseplants. Melanie is a former English teacher and a popular speaker who loves to laugh and make others laugh. In her down time (ha!), she writes romantic comedies for Covenant and maintains her humorous slice-of-life blog.
Visit Melanie on her website/ twitter or blog. Click here to order Not My Type at 20% off the cover price.

To enter to win a copy of her new novel, Not My Type: A Single Girl’s Guide to Doing It All Wrong, click here and fill out the form.

Tempest Blog Tour

15 Dec, 2011 by in tempest 30 comments


Fire and Ice is today’s stop on the Tempest Blog Tour
hosted by Books Complete Me & Once Upon a Twilight. We have a casting contest and giveaway so read on!

Tempestby Julie Cross
Hardcover, 352 pages
Expected publication:
January 3rd, 2012
by St. Martin’s Griffin
The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

Casting Call: Here’s our question.. we would like to know who you like better cast as Adam in the movie?

Option #1 is : Cameron Monaghan

or option # 2 Jake T. Austin?

Cast your vote in the comments below and be sure to let us know if you have another casting idea!

Now enjoy one small teaser from Tempest…
August 4, 2009 (12:25 p.m.)
When I opened my eyes again, Adam was standing over me. “Jackson?”
“Dude, you need a breath mint,” I mumbled, shoving him to the side.Find Tempest and Julie Cross online: Website / Twitter / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads
The Giveway: There will be 4 ARCS given away during this tour as well as 5 finished, signed copies of Tempest. Be sure to stop by each blog during the tour for more chances to win. Click here and fill out the form to enter. Good luck!

Best I’ve Read 2011 Day 4- Possession #BIR2011

14 Dec, 2011 by in book giveaway, Possession, simon schuster 19 comments

Possession by Elana Johnson is our pick for Best I’ve Read 2011 Day 4. Elana has written an awesome guest post for us and offered up a giveaway as part of BIR11!

Possession
By Elana Johnson
Published: June 7, 2011
by Simon & Schuster
ISBN 139781442417618
5 stars
Summary: Girls don’t walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn…and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi’s future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they’re set on convincing Vi to become one of them…starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can’t leave Zenn in the Thinkers’ hands, but she’s wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous–everything Zenn’s not. Vi can’t quite trust Jag and can’t quite resist him, but she also can’t give up on Zenn. This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

I first picked up this book from Simon Schuster as an E-ARC and then last week when I got a paper copy in the mail you know what I did? Something I’ve only ever done with a handful of books…I read it again. The paper in my hands and the awesome cover was too big a temptation to pass up. I loved Possession even more the second time around with it’s layers of meaning and depth. Once you know what’s going on with the main characters and reach the surprise ending, I’m sure you will want to do the same.

I felt an immediate draw to Possession’s protagonist Vi with her sarcastic, fiery personality. She is one strong 15 year old who stands up for herself and isn’t afraid to throw punches. Victoria Schoenfeld is a water worker living in the Goodlands with mom after her father went missing and sister died working in the hands of the government. Vi’s a free thinker who’s had more than one brush with the law. So when she’s caught crossing borders to meet her match Zenn, a newly recruited special forces agent, the Greenies want consequences for Vi. They wish to rule a society where their model citizens, Goodies are “walking paper dolls” devoid of personality. All must plug into transmissions including messages about not lying and sticking to the rules. But Vi has stopped plugging in and has a mind of her own. Those in charge have an upper hand with advanced technology capable of modifying memories, scanning fingerprints and tracking identities. Vi can feel the tech in her bones and though her father invented it, she’s not convinced it’s not all that it seems. In the end it’s a choice for Vi between “control or don’t control, alone or together, Zenn or Jag, duty or death.” (p.366)

Jag…oh Jag. Bad boy who likes to read, leader of the Resistance, lover of wicked hair and distributor of hair gel & illegal tech. He stole my heart with his laughter, calmness, and laid back personality. He’ll snag yours the first time he utters the words “nice” and shrugs his shoulders. But readers beware that Jag is not alone in his efforts to win Vi and freedom, Zenn is fighting behind enemy lines.

Elana Johnson is genius. She’s crafted characters that push and pull you in all directions. There is not a clear cut line between what is bad and what is good. The last 1/3 of the book feels like a choose your own adventure quest for the truth, full of action and suspense. Possession is an ingenious mix of dystopian, paranormal and science fiction that had me thinking long after I finished the book. If you’re a fan of Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies series, prepare yourself for something even more mind blowing. Control or be controlled? Join the Resistance.

Guest Post by author Elana Johnson: Choose to Conform
Wow, Heather’s hitting me with the hard stuff. She’s asked me to talk a little bit about the pressures teens face today to conform or be controlled (a theme in my dystopian novel POSSESSION).

I think there’s a lot of conformity that takes place during the teen years. As a mother of a teenager, I find myself doing it all the time.

Clean your room. Take out the trash. Get your homework done.

I find myself saying all that. And it’s not like, “Clean your room today sometime.” It’s “Clean your room right now.”

Basically, “Do what I say, when I say it.”

I think they face similar situations at school. They have to be in class by the time the bell rings. They have to take certain classes for graduation. They have to get certain grades to play sports, be a student aide, or participate in the special extra-curricular activities—not to mention the pressure to get into a “good” college and have the opportunity to have a “good” career.

Everything is set up to reward those that conform—and not just as a teen. I believe adults face similar situations at work, college, and life in general.

So yeah. I think there’s a lot of conformity going on. Do I think it’s all bad? Not at all. But I believe a couple of things:

1. There comes a point in your life when you have to decide what’s “good.” Your parents may be pressuring you to go to a certain college. Your friends may be pressuring you to do something you’re not sure about.

Ultimately, you need to take a step back and take a good hard look at your life. What do you believe? Why do you believe that? Who are you listening to? Why is what they’re saying right for you?

Those are the kinds of questions the main character in POSSESSION is constantly wrestling with. I think teens go through a similar period of their lives, and dude! I’m still regularly analyzing my life and where I’m spending my time and making what I do fit with what I believe and who I listen to.

It’s a life-long process, I think, that should be repeated each time you arrive at a cross-roads in your life. And with each decision you make based on your own personal belief system, the more confidence you’ll achieve. Confidence that you can live the best life—for you.

2. We can overcome obstacles by making informed decisions. Don’t just show up to vote because you can. Read and study and make an informed decision about the candidates.

Don’t just go to the same college as your parents. Read and study and make an informed decision, based on what you want to do with your life and the quality of the programs offered.

Don’t just go along with your friends, doing what they do or dressing the way they dress. You have to live inside your skin forever, and the decisions you make determine whether that skin is too tight or just right.

So yeah, I think there’s a lot of people out there conforming to societal rules and regulations. I don’t think they’re all bad. Not at all. But I do think each person has the opportunity to live the best life they can, and in order to do that, they need the freedom to make a few decisions on their own, after truly examining what it is they believe/want and then making life choices to support those things.

When we do choose how we will conform, self-confidence will be won and obstacles overcome.

Choose to Conform

About the Author: Elana’s debut novel, Possession, is available now from Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster). Learn how to spell and say her name.

Elana wishes she could experience her first kiss again, tell the mean girl where to shove it, and have cool superpowers like reading minds and controlling fire. To fulfill her desires, she writes young adult science fiction and fantasy.

Using her boring human powers, she graduated from Southern Utah University with Summa Cum Laude honors in Elementary Education with a minor in Mathematics. She started her teaching career as an upper grade music and art specialist. After a four-year stint in 3rd grade, she is currently the technology specialist.

In her world, Oreos and bacon would be the only food groups. Everyone would drive 10 over the speed limit. Winter would be eliminated as a season, and Jeff Probst would be President. As it is, she lives with her husband and two kids in central Utah, gets cited when she drives too fast and eats Oreos only on special occasions.

Find Elana on her blog/facebook/ twitter/ goodreads

We have one copy of Possession to give away as part of Best I’ve Read 2011 courtesy of Elana and Simon & Schuster. To enter to win fill out this form. And be sure to check the Best I’ve Read home site for a chance to win Wolfsbane and The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer as well.

Best I’ve Read 2011 Day 3 -Pride and Popularity #BIR11

13 Dec, 2011 by in pride and popularity 22 comments


Our Day 3 pick for Best I’ve Read 2011 is Pride and Popularity by Jenni James. She is here for an exclusive interview plus multi book giveaway!

Pride and Popularity
by Jenni James
Perfect Paperback, 240 pages
Published July 13th 2011
by Brigham Distributing
ISBN 0983829306
4.5 starsChloe Elizabeth Hart despises the conceited antics of the popular crowd, or more importantly, one very annoying self-possessed guy, Taylor Anderson, who seems determined to make her the president of his fan club! As if! Every girl in the whole city of Farmington, New Mexico, is in love with him, but he seems to be only interested in Chloe.

This modern high school adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice” is a battle of wits as Chloe desperately tries to remain the only girl who can avoid the inevitable—falling for Taylor

With as many young adult books as I read there are very few I would definitely recommend to my daughters and friends as completely worth the time and purchase. But Pride and Popularity is one I can whole heartedly stand behind. Jenni James takes Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice into the 21st century and adapts it to teens. I found myself totally immersed and grinning ear to ear at the end.

Chloe has been burned by the popular crowd at her old school and at age 15 is determined it won’t happen again when she relocates with her family to Farmington. The only problem is that there happens to be an uber popular, stunningly cute and charming boy there. But mark Chloe’s words to her two best friends…Taylor Anderson will NOT win her over. Forget the fact that Taylor has beautiful blue eyes, serves others plus is ever persistent in his attention. (Girls and moms alike will swoon at the fact that Taylor’s middle names is Darcy.)

Pride and Popularity not only won my heart, it also addresses withholding judgement, the risks of online sites for young teens, and the importance of involved parents. The characters are real, the teen perspective spot on. I can not wait to see all of Jenni James re-tellings in her Austen series. She’s a YA author to watch! Thanks so much to Brigham Distributing for sending me such a fun amazing book.

Our exclusive interview with author Jenni James:

Tell us about your Jane Austen inspired books.
I’m rewriting & modernizing all the Jane Austen novels in a series for teens. There are 6 total. Pride & Popularity is the first, and while they are all stand alone novels, there are reoccurring characters throughout. Northanger Alibi, Persuaded, Emmalee, Mansfield Ranch, Sensible & Sensational
Any projects you are currently working on?
I’ve got Northanger Alibi releasing in February (2012) and I’m currently working on my first all natural healthy cookbook. Making all your favorite cakes, candy, cookies… and meals using 100% whole wheat, honey, olive oil and all natural ingredients, all of my recipes are simple, yummy and from scratch. J

You are a mother of a large family, tell us how you find time to write.

Actually, writing is my sanity. It’s what I do at night and it lets me feel like I’m human and am contributing to the world in some small way. Plus, there’s the added bonus of how it makes my brain think, you know, like I’m going to school and learning. It’s like that.

What lessons do you hope to pass on to your readers and teens?
Mostly, that teens today aren’t as the YA world has been portraying them lately. That they can be normal and still be cool and get the guy at the end. I guess I’m championing for all the normal teens out there. J

What authors or people have inspired you?

My most favorite author (apart from Jane Austen of course) is Judith A. Lansdowne. She’s a regency romance writer… and an incredible friend and person. I love love love her! While living in England, I’d emailed her to ask for some pointers on the ball I was throwing, we began emailing back and forth. It was during one of these emails she encouraged me to write, telling me that through my letters she could tell I’d make a wonderful writer. I thought back on that conversation often a year later when I finally sat down and began writing.

We heard you have some exciting movie news…can you share?
*waggles eyebrows* Do I ever?!?! Hehehe! But, er… I can only say this much: I have a producer *very* interested in making all 6 of the Jane Austen Diaries into movies and filming in Farmington, NM… which would be amazing for Farmington. Oh, and I can say—recently, as of *very* recently—I’ve had significant interest from an amazing director who’d like to come on board.

What has been the biggest surprise about this whole process?
How much fun writing is! I so thought it’d be boring, but I was way wrong. Writing your own stories is so much more amazing than reading someone else’s.

If you could change anything about today’s YA fiction works what would it be?
I’d clean them up. Period.
Tell us what you enjoy to do when not writing? Favorite movies, snacks, hobbies?

Oh goodness! What don’t I like to do? I love to paint portraits and sing and plan elaborate parties and cook and bake and well… a whole bunch of things. My favorite movies tend to lean toward very sappy and wonderfully romantical love stories. –The simple, cute, perfect ones. *sigh*

Author Bio: I’m married to a totally hot, redheaded Air Force Recruiter, named Mark. Together we have 10 kiddos (7 ours, 3 fostered). We have just moved back to the States after living 9 awesome years in the Azores Islands of Portugal and England! Our kids love the USA!

When I’m not writing up a storm, I enjoy reading, acting, portrait painting, directing plays, cooking, planning elaborate parties and chasing my kids around the house. Oh, and before you ask–I haven’t been to college, YET! But I’ve always been able to write one mean essay when I needed to. *wink*Learn more about Jenni James on her website/ blog/ Goodreads / Twitter/ YouTube

The Giveaway: Jenni and her publisher have donated 5 copies of Pride and Popularity to our blog followers for Best I’ve Read 2011. SO AWESOME!! To enter to win click here and fill out the form.

Best I’ve Read 2011 Day 2- Die For Me #BIR2011

12 Dec, 2011 by in Uncategorized 40 comments

Our Best I’ve Read 2011 choice for day two is Die for Me by Amy Plum. We have the official book playlist as well as one copy donated by the author and publisher for giveaway.

Die For Me
by Amy Plum
Hardcover, 341 pages
Published: May 10th 2011
by HarperTeen
ISBN 0062004018
5 stars

My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.

Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.

Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.

Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.

While I’m fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family’s—in jeopardy for a chance at love?

Kate is a recently orphaned teen who has moved with her sister Georgia to Paris from the United States. The death of both her parents turns her inward, cutting off socially and finding relief in books, museums and hidden cafes. Kate is so completely immersed in grieving and going through the motions of life, which all changes the day she spots a handsome dark boy watching her intensely and she returns the stare. Vincent is kind and wise, handsome and chivalrous, but a little rusty on his people skills. So the two of them have many waters to navigate before they decide to get to know each other and trust one another. Their attachment, while seemingly immediate, takes trials and time to come into fruition.

Die for Me captured my attention so fully that from the moment I picked it up yesterday morning to the completion of the book at the very end of the day, I fell into the story and could not come out. Amy Plum paints a lush beautiful portrait of Paris from a native eye and sketches each character out fully and realistically. Harperteen does not disappoint with the quality of books they are releasing in the paranormal YA genre. Everything about this book felt new and untouched. The concept of revenant, the mythology and plot are spot on and achingly romantic. Besides falling in love with the main characters, I found a place in my heart for each member of the cast. Especially for funny, flirty Jules and Kate’s older sister Georgia. I hope book two will flesh out full roles for them. I also have my fingers crossed that the publisher chooses to stick with the cover on the advanced reader’s edition. It is breathtaking with Kate in a red boat on the Seine.

What can I say other than I won’t forget this book. I’m literally speechless. Die For Me leaves a mark in my mind as fresh as a stoke of a paintbrush and as lasting as a masterpiece. There are a few gruesome scenes that make it for readers who can stomach violence. Otherwise it is refreshingly clean and absolutely amazing. I love that it highlights the arts and history of France as well as close family relationships. Will I be picking up book two? As soon as I can get my hands on it!

You might also like: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand and Hereafter by Tara Hudson.

The Playlist:

Get a playlist! Standalone player Get Ringtones

DIE FOR ME’s THEME SONG: Kiss Me Slowly (Parachute w/Lady Antebellum)

Zombie (The Cranberries)
American Girl (Val Emmich)
Mad World (Donnie Darko soundtrack, Gary Jules)
Marian (Nouvelle Vague)
Pretty (The Cranberries)
Parallel Universe (Gypsy and the Cat)
I’m Not Done (Fever Ray)
Requiem for Anna (Portishead)
The Waltz (Diving With Andy*)

About The Author: Amy Plum is the author of the International Bestseller DIE FOR ME, which is an Indie Next List pick, Romance Times top pick, and recipient of a starred review from School Library Journal. DIE FOR ME is the first novel in a YA trilogy set in Paris.

After being raised in Birmingham, Alabama, in a rather restrictive environment, AMY PLUM escaped to Chicago to an even more restrictive environment at a university that expelled people for dancing. (And where she was called to the dean’s office for “wearing too much black”.) After all of that restrictiveness, she was forced to run far far away, specifically to Paris, France, where she only wore black and danced all she wanted.

After five years in Paris, she ventured to London, where she got an M.A. in Medieval Art History, specializing in Early Sienese Painting (1260-1348) mainly because it promised almost no hope of finding a paying job afterward. During grad school she married a ridiculously handsome Frenchman named Laurent, who she subsequently dragged with her to New York after securing her degree.

Amy worked in the world of art and antiques in New York, while Laurent used his French guy charms and started a very cool wine shop in Brooklyn. But after almost a decade of high-pressure lifestyle in the Big Apple, they decided to swap their American city for a French village of 1300 inhabitants. With their Bronx-born big red dog Ella, they moved to a tiny town in the Loire Valley down the road from Laurent’s father.

After signing with HarperCollins for the DIE FOR ME series, Amy left her job as an English professor at Tours University to write full-time. She juggles restoration of their old French farmhouse, with writing fun stories in her hundreds-of-years-old office (a stone house on the other side of her garden), and playing with her two extremely energetic pre-school age children.
She is a huge fan of Edward Gorey and Maira Kalman (and collects both of their books/art), as well as David Sedaris, Amadeo Modigliani, and Ira Glass.

The Giveaway: We have one copy of Die For Me to give away to US mailing addresses thanks to Amy Plum and HarperTeen. Click here to fill out the entry form.

Best I’ve Read Day 1- Hourglass by Myra McEntire

11 Dec, 2011 by in myra mcentire 14 comments

Our very First Best I’ve Read book for 2011 is Hourglass by Myra McEntire. We have her here today at AFire and Ice for an exclusive interview and giveaway!
Hourglass
by Myra McEntire
Hardcover, 397 pages
Published: June 14, 2011
by EgmontUSA
ISBN 1606841440
5 stars
One hour to rewrite the past . . .

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.
Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

I have been anticipating this book since I very first heard author Myra McEntire announce it on twitter, and can I just say what is there not to love about Hourglass? It is a-ma-zing. From the cover to the first page which contains my favorite quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, to the end which left me reeling with a mind full of impossible possibilities.

Snarky, sarcastic Emerson has just moved from a boarding school in Arizona to the deep south town of Ivy Springs. She’s sent there to her brother/guardian Thomas, who is a well known architect in the area and his wife Dru. Thomas’ historic renovation sites are layered in history and as a result begin to trigger visions that only Emerson can see of people from the past.

Enter in Michael Weaver, a secretive and angtsy consultant hired by her Thomas from a foundation called Hourglass. Michael’s hired under the agreement that things are to stay strictly business and must not get personal, But not getting personal could prove dangerous for these two. And things get even more complicated when Emerson has to pick between the three men who suddenly take an interest in her: Michael who is fully understanding, Kaleb who is sexy-bad but offers more than meets eye, or Jack- the man who Emerson’s not even sure is real.

Oh my Myra. I was messed up (in a good way) after reading Hourglass. She masterfully explores the issues of grief and depression with skill I have never before seen in young adult fiction. McEntire takes a heroine from a broken fragile past and gives her some black belt hard core sass. Then she adds in Southern charm, and supernatural sci-fi elements. This is a book that will surely soar to the tops of the bestseller list as the best in time slip YA romance. Hourglass struck me deeply and had me in tears which very few books have ever had power to do. It’s gutsy, intelligent and inspiring with a voice you will never forget. I can’t wait for you all to read it!

To learn more about the book Hourglass visit Myra McEntire’s website/ Tumblr/ Twitter/ Goodreads/ YouTube/ Facebook

The Interview:
Tell us a little bit about how Hourglass came about and what inspired you. It started as a prompt for a writer’s club, and when I got to the end of the first five pages, I knew I had to go on!

Have you always been interested in time travel? What kind of research did you have to do for Hourglass? I haven’t! Really! I always loved Doctor Who, but I guess I thought of it as more of a crime fighting/alien show. For research, I read a lot of internet articles on scholarly type websites, and then I started watching Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman!

Your main character struggles with thinking she is crazy. Does depression or emotional illness play a part in her personality? And what do you hope teens/ readers take away from her experience? Yes, depression totally does. Her humor is a defense mechanism. If a real life person had bounced back the way she did, they’d be super human. I want people to take HOPE away from her story.

Who do you see as the perfect cast members for your main men and women? I really can’t say. I think I’d like all unknowns cast if Fox ever makes the movie! But Ryan Gosling could be anyone. Heck, he could be EM!

What has been the most rewarding part of this whole process of being published? Any other projects works you can tell us about besides book two- Timepiece? I can’t. I have more Hourglass books in my mind, but Egmont bought two. I’m working on a story with the code name Aggie. That’s all I can say!

Favorite all time reads? Snacks? I love cozy mysteries. I can read those without thinking. And right now I have a thing for Peppermint Hershey Kisses!

Who is your hero? My husband. I wouldn’t be where I am without him!

About The Author: Myra McEntire knows the words to every R and B hit of the last decade, but since she lives in the country music capital of America where her lyrical talents go sadly unappreciated, she chose to channel her mad word skills into creating sultry Southern timeslip novels.

But if you catch her at a signing, she can probably be convinced to rap with you anyway. We are giving away one signed copy of Hourglass. To enter click here and fill out the form. Open to U.S. addresses only. No PO boxes. Good Luck and be sure to head over to our home site for another Best I’ve Read Giveaway of Haven by Kristi Cook.

Best I’ve Read 2011 Blogger Line Up- #BIR2011

10 Dec, 2011 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment


Fire and Ice together with 10 other book blogs have combined to bring you our favorite books of 2011. The Best I’ve Read celebration starts tomorrow and runs for one week. Each site will be featuring our top 7 reads with guest posts, interviews and giveaways. Also we’ve combined our votes to bring the very best reads of 2011 which will be highlighted on the BIR2011 home site.

Be sure to stop by all the participating blogs for your chance to win a new book every day this week!

•Best I’ve Read
•A Good Addiction
•Amethyst Daydreams
•Books Complete Me
•Fire and Ice
•I Am a Reader, Not a Writer
•Late Bloomer Online
•Mundie Moms
•Once Upon a Twilight
•Page Turners Blog
.Portrait of a Book
•Reading Lark

Enduring Light Blog Tour & ARC Giveaway

10 Dec, 2011 by in roamnce, western 7 comments

Fire and Ice is pleased to kick off the Enduring Light blog tour hosted by Cedar Fort books. We have a review, some recipes from the book and an ARC giveaway as the first stop on the virtual blog tour.

Enduring Lightby Carla Kelly
Paperback, 392 pages
Expected publication: January 8th 2012
by Bonneville Books
ISBN 1599559846
Book Source: publisher
4 stars

She leaned toward him and rested her elbows on the brass rail at the foot of her bed. “All right, cowboy, just when did you fall in love with me? I’m definitely curious now.”
He regarded her in the moonlight. “I knew I was a no-hoping goner when I caught that ridiculous hat of yours on the platform at Gun Barrel.”
Julia sucked in her breath. She tried to be severe. “Mr. Otto, nobody falls in love that fast!”
“I did,” he said simply, as he left her room.

Julia Darling is finally able to marry Paul Otto for eternity. But it’s a harsh world for a rancher in turn-of-the-century Wyoming, especially a Mormon rancher. When alienation and threats begin, Julia must prove she’s her husband’s equal in strength and endurance as she learns to let go of scars on the outside and inside.

Bestselling author Carla Kelly has woven a new story of a determined rancher, his wife, and how they discover the depths of love.

Last year I savored every minute of Carla Kelly’s first historical Western romance written for the LDS market. So when Cedar Fort asked me to Enduring Light I was thrilled! The follow up to Borrowed Light, book 2 finds Otto back on his Wyoming ranch tyring to repair the damage and Julia is in her Salt Lake family home healing physically as well as emotionally. She is suffering form PTSD and nightmares as well as dealing with self-doubt as a result of her new scars. She can’t imagine why any man, let alone, the man she loves, Otto would want her. She and her parents are feeling the loss of Julia’s sister while Otto faces fierce persecution that comes with the knowledge that he has converted to the Mormon faith. It’s the turn of the century and prejudice runs high on the open range. No one in the ranching business welcomes the change. Together with faith, perseverance and Julia’s spit fire spunk the two have so many more trials to weather.

Carla Kelly’s writing is filled with history and small little details that help readers feel pulled right into the book’s time and place. From the holiday windows and lace at ZCMI to the smells and frights of the harsh Wyoming was of life you’ll feel as if you are living a day in the life of Julia and Otto. I literally wanted to jump right into the storyline and taste a bit of Julia’s home cooking on the Double Tipi ranch. Kelly has built solid likable secondary characters that you can;t help becoming attached to. I’ll admit the one drawback I had is that Enduring Light is quite a bit spicier than its predecessor. There is quite a bit of information about married life with sexuality being discussed openly and because of content I would rate this a book best suited for adults. In then end, Kelly incorporates a theme of hope, endurance and courage in the face of fear. There’s even a little suspense and action built in there.

I’m so happy to have found such a talented author in Carla Kelly. I met her at Barnes and Noble and through reading her blog plus correspondence I can say she is so much fun to work with! Can’t wait to read more from her…and I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more. In the mean time you and I cook up some of the yummy food mentioned in both books.

Some Recipes from Julia’s kitchen:

Snow Cake
1/4 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 2/3 cups flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 egg whites
1/2 tsp. vanilla or 1/4 tsp. almond extract

Follow recipe for mixing butter cakes. Bake 45 minutes in a deep narrow pan.

Cecils with Tomato Sauce
1 c. cold roast beef or rare steak finely chopped
salt and pepper
onion juice
Worchestershire Sauce
Flour
2 T. bread crumbs
1 T. melted butter
Yolk of one egg, slightly beaten
Season beef with next salt and pepper, onion juice and W Sauce; add remaining ingredients, and shape into the form of small croquettes, pointed at ends. Roll in flour, egg and crumbs, fry in deep fat, drain and serve with tomato sauce. (Julia substituted ketchup, for the sophisticated palates of her guys on the TTP.)

About The Author: A newcomer to Cedar Fort, Inc., Carla Kelly is a veteran of the New York and international publishing world. The author of more than thirty novels and novellas for Donald I. Fine Co., Signet, and Harlequin, Carla is the recipient of two Rita Awards (think Oscars for romance writing) from romance Writers of America and two Spur Awards (think Oscars for western fiction) from Western Writers of America.

Recently, she’s been writing regency romances (think Pride and Prejudice) set in the royal Navy’s Channel Fleet during the Napoleonic Wars between England and France. She comes by her love of the ocean from her childhood as a Navy brat.

Carla’s history background makes her no stranger to footnote work, either. During her National Park Service days at the Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site, Carla edited Friedrich Kurz’s fur trade journal. She recently completed a short history of Fort Buford, where Sitting Bull surrendered in 1881.

Following the dumb luck principle that has guided their lives, the Kellys recently moved to Wellington, Utah, from North Dakota and couldn’t be happier in their new location. In her spare time, Carla volunteers at the railroad and Mining Museum in Helper, Utah. She likes to visit her five children, who live here and there around the United States. Her favorite place in Utah is Manti, located after a drive on the scenic byway through Huntington Canyon.

And why is she so happy these days? Carla looks forward to writing for an LDS audience now, where she feels most at home.

To Learn More Visit: Blog Tour Schedule /Author Blog /Author Facebook/ Book Poster page /Publisher Blog/ Publisher Twitter

Giveaway: Cedar Fort has offered one advanced reading copy of Enduring Light to the followers of Fire and Ice as part of the official blog tour. To Enter to win fill out this form. US mailing addresses only, ends December 24, 2011.

Book Review- Clockwork Prince

09 Dec, 2011 by in simon schuster 5 comments

Clockwork Prince
The Infernal Devices #2
by Cassandra Clare
Hardcover, 502 pages
Published December 6th 2011
by Margaret K. McElderry Books
ISBN 1416975888
Source: bought
4.5 stars

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends.
With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

I was a huge fan of the first three books in Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series but have to admit that she lost me with City of Fallen Angels as well as Clockwork Angel, the first in the Infernal Devices series. I didn’t finish either book. I know hardcore Cassie fans will think I’m crazy but I just felt a loss for where my favorite writing and characters had gone. I decided to give things one more try with book two in the Infernal Devices. I wasn’t disappointed with Clockwork Prince. The thing I love about Cassandra Clare is her rich descriptions, witty banter between characters and the inclusion of literary classics within her storyline. I finally felt like things are back to what I fell in love with in the first place. The steles are back, the feel of magic and loyalty, the rich world building. Clockwork Prince is set in Victorian London, a mix of steampunk and paranormal with several scenes of romance. I wouldn’t pass this one on to a young teenager, which is my main complaint about CP. There are two very steamy scenes that have a more adult romance because of the detail. There is also mention of drugs, moderate violence and lots of innuendo. So if you are a parent, I’d give the series a read yourself before you pass it on to a teen.

Overall this is my favorite of the last three Cassie has published. It has peaked my interest in how the MI and ID series overlap as well as the family lines. Does anyone want to help me out here? Have you found the family links intertwining between the two series? I’m also curious to see how things shake out between Tess, Will and Jem. I get the feeling she loves both of them for very different reasons and is concerned about coming between them as parabati. I’m so glad our questions are finally answered about Will’s walls. I loved every interaction he and Tessa have. We see a depth to Will never before shown. Jem, while kind and attentive is not in my mind the most appealing. Maybe she ends up not choosing either! Guess we will have to wait until book three to find out. Even at over 500 pages, I’m guessing most readers will devour all of Clockwork Prince in one sitting. The beautiful seamless writing of Cassie Clare is back!