Book Review- Harbor’s End

01 Feb, 2011 by in Uncategorized 2 comments

Harbor’s End
by Claudia Culmone
Paperback, 163 pages
Published April 8th 2010
by Bonneville
ISBN 1599553589
4 stars

Everyone in the horse world knows Shanyn Tomilson’s name, and every young rider dreams of becoming just like her. But beneath the polish of her professional career, Shanyn is a troubled young woman with an empty and tragic past. When a health crisis threatens Shanyn’s ability to compete, she moves to a quiet coastal town, ready to accept the fact that her life is over. Instead of being her final resting place, Harbor’s End offers her a new start, and Shanyn discovers the secret to building the life she was never able to have. Harbor’s End is a vibrant story of love, life, and hope that will offer respite to all who seek it.

Shanyn Tomlinson leads the high powered life of an equestrian jumper, constantly in the ring, training and on circuits with her horse. She is driven and at the top of her game until a fall and crippling medial diagnosis take her from the media spotlight to a quiet coastal town for self-imposed retirement at the age of 22. All anyone knows about her mysterious personal life is what they read in the papers. Shanyn’s tight lipped about how she was raised without a mother or father since age 6 and the tragedy she’s endured.

Once in Harbor’s End, Oregon, she boards her prize winning stallion Magic at a local ranch owned by the Ellington family. Her days there consist of quiet private rides,then she bumps into their son Keith. Keith’s in his last year of school to become a Veterinarian. Shanyn is moved by his compassion towards abandoned and abused animals. Keith is drawn to Shanyn, sure he’s seen her some where else. She seems fragile and sad and Keith wants to win her trust in the same way he does the animals. He has so many questions…what would a girl her age be doing hidden aways from friends and family and why did she choose Harbor’s End?

While it took me a few chapters to catch on to Claudia’s writing and technical horse terms, once I did, I truly enjoyed Harbor’s End. Keith is a sensitive caring friend to Shanyn and he puts her needs before his own. Shanyn has a lot of self-discovery and soul searching to do. She is forced to face her fears, she finds peace in a new path of life. I wish there had been more of a resolution or foreshadowing to the future of Keith and Shanyn’s relationship. Or at least the promise of a sequel. I want to know what happens next!

The overall themes are forgiveness, faith, perseverance and friendship. Harbor’s End is hopeful and optimistic. Claudia Culmone teaches that each person has an important role to fulfill and a place in destiny. It is a short, clean read I would recommend to all. Thanks to the author for sending me an advanced reading copy. Purchase the book and learn more about the author here.

New Year’s Blowout Winners

01 Feb, 2011 by in book giveaway, contest winners 7 comments

To Our New Year’s Book Blow Out Winners!

1) Wolves Boys & Other Things That Might Kill Me- Elizabeth Sutphin
2) Need by Carrie Jones-Marie Kacerosky
3) The Wizard of Ooze Book Two Ravenspell hardback-Carol Minze
4) Brothers Below Zero-Julie Balvin
5) Judy Moody Gets Famous-Stephanie McCarthy
6) Bright Blue Miracle-Gayle Humpherys
7) A Love Like Lilly-Andrea Oakeson
8) Shades of Gray-Michele Luker
9) The Sky is Everywhere ARC-Sam Baskin
10) Middleworld ARC-Linda Septer
11) Freshman for President-Angela Loughery
12) Dragon Breath Curse of the Were-Weiner–Lisa McGeen
13) The Spiderwick Chronicles Book 2 hardback-Mary Walling
We have your addresses and will send the books out tomorrow via USPS media mail. Please contact us with any questions via email.
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In My Mailbox #20

31 Jan, 2011 by in Uncategorized 8 comments


In My Mailbox is a bookish meme originally started by The Story Siren. Every week we’ll post about what books we have received that week (via your mailbox/library/store bought). The idea of In My Mailbox is to bring books to the attention of our blog readers and to encourage interaction with other blogs. This week here’s what’s in my mailbox….

Book Review- Deadly Little Games

30 Jan, 2011 by in book giveaway, book review 36 comments

Deadly Little Games
by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published December 28th 2010
by Hyperion Book
ISBN 1423131606
series Touch #3
4.5 stars

Camelia and Ben have discovered a powerful bond: They both possess the power of psychometry, the ability to sense things through touch. For Ben, the gift is a frightening liability. When he senses a strong threat or betrayal, he risks losing control and hurting people. Camelia’s gift is more mysterious. When she works with clay, her hands sculpt messages her mind doesn’t yet comprehend.

Before either teen has a chance to fully grasp these abilities, an unresolved family tragedy resurfaces in Camelia’s life, irrevocably changing everything she cares about…

I will admit that Laurie Faria Stolarz has me wrapped around her finger with the Touch series. The covers are a little piece of heaven with raised designs and otherworldly photography. They are among my very favorites in YA. Laurie’s writing has the suspense the tension and the characters I can’t get enough of. Deadly Little Games follows many of the same plot patterns as the first two in the series but I was never bored. There’s just the right touch of creepy and mystery for me.

In this third installment Camelia has discovered her psychometry and the ability to sculpt events of the future into clay. Things are rocky between her and Ben due to the appearance of his old rival Adam. I grew to really love Ben (again). He has depth and layers that I have a feeling are about to unfold even further in book #4.

I got carried away into Camelia’s life with a health nut yoga teaching mom, her quirky sidekick best friends Wes and Kimmie and a truly caring father. Stolarz knows how to fully flesh out each person she introduces. There’s also more back story of her maternal aunt and the haunting gift she and Cameilia share. The elements that tie off the package for me are all of the pottery scenes and the gripping suspense. I will be reading book #4, as far as I’m concerned Laurie can just keep writing in the Touch sequence and I’ll never grow weary of Camelia and Ben.

Here’s your chance to start reading the Touch series and discover for yourself why I adore them. Comment below for your entry to win book one, Deadly Little Secret. Giveaway ends February 28, 2011 and is open internationally.

Photography Friday

28 Jan, 2011 by in Heather Gardner Photography 3 comments

It’s been a while since I’ve done a photography Friday post. So here comes a giveaway! I’ve updated my list of Etsy treasury selections on my photography website. Head over here and comment below the post for your chance to win an 8×12 photographic print of anything in my gallery. Pick Your Poison. This Giveaway is open internationally and ends February 25, 2011.

Some Very Exciting News

28 Jan, 2011 by in Heather Gardner Photography, michelle zink, prophecy of the sisters 8 comments

Author Michelle Zink shared the news on her blog so we can finally spill the beans! *insert huge squee here* I will be working with her on the photography stills for her Circle of Fire book trailer. I am honored she has chosen Heather Gardner Photography! We will start shooting the 11th of February and I am currently casting for extras. If you are in or around the Utah area and between the ages of 18-25 you can email me at fireandice.heather@gmail.com. In the mean time, have fun browsing for a taste of my style.

My website

Facebook

A huge thanks to Michelle for this opportunity. Here’s the summary of the third book in her Prophecy of the Sisters series.

Circle Of Fire
By Michelle Zink
Hardcover, 352 pages
Expected publication: August 1st 2011
by Little Brown and Company

Summary: With time dwindling but her will to end the Prophecy stronger than ever, Lia sets out on a journey to find the remaining keys, locate the missing pages of the Prophecy, and convince her sister Alice to help–or risk her life trying. Lia has her beloved Dimitri by her side, but Alice has James, the man who once loved her sister–and maybe still does. James doesn’t know the truth about either sister, or the prophecy that divides them. And Alice intends to keep it that way.

There are some secrets sisters aren’t meant to share. Because when they do, it destroys them. This stunning conclusion to Michelle Zink’s Prophecy of the Sisters trilogy will make saying good-bye bittersweet for readers.

Trailer Thursday- Hourglass Cover Reveal

27 Jan, 2011 by in myra mcentire 1 comment

One of our very favorite authors Myra McEntire and publisher EgmontUSA revealed the HOURGLASS cover today over at Twilight Lexicon. Click here to see the original post plus a chance to win an authoir signed advanced reading copy and hourglass. Myra has posted a large still photograph of the new cover and the back cover blurb on her website at http://myramcentire.blogspot.com/
What an amazing trailer! LOVE it and can not wait for the book…

Book Review- Angelfire

27 Jan, 2011 by in Uncategorized 1 comment

Angelfire
by Courney Allison Moulton
Hardcover, 464 pages
Expected publication: February 15, 2011
by HarperCollins / Katherine Tegen Books
ISBN0062002325
series Angelfire #1
3 stars

Summary: This debut, the first novel in a trilogy, is achingly romantic, terrifying, and filled with blistering action.

When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers – monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell – she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.

A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie’s powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her – an assassin who has already killed her once.

While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie’s soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian’s most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives – including truths that may be too frightening to remember.(less) This debut, the first novel in a trilogy, is achingly romantic, terrifying, and filled with blistering action.

When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers – monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell – she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.

A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie’s powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her – an assassin who has already killed her once.

While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie’s soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian’s most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives – including truths that may be too frightening to remember.

Ellie is your typical 17 year old teenager except for the nightmares where she is fighting something dark and ugly. As her birthday approaches a mysterious boy names Will turns up on the scene and she can’t quite figure out if he is a nuts stalker or someone she should remember. Things around town get even more strange when her favorite teacher is found dead and the nightmares become reality. Ellie is much more than an average teen…she is the Preliator, reborn each time she dies to fight the creatures of the Grim. Wielding khpoesh swords and angel fire as an ancient warrior, her life become filled with hunting the reaper and trying to contain the forces of evil. Will is much more than the dark and brooding young man watching her from afar. He is her Guardian, a tragic hero, sworn to put Ellie first and to protect her with his life over and over again. He is sent to reawaken her powers and her memories of past lives.

I truly enjoyed the history behind Will and Ellie. Will was my favorite character of the book; a conflicted man with a love he can’t pursue. I admired his loyalty and selflessness. I admit I had a really hard time connecting with Ellie’s character and growing to like her. The discrepancy between who she was as a teenager and who she is as the Preliator was too big of a stretch for me. And I couldn’t buy the big reveal of her identity in the end.

Sadly, there was a lot that didn’t work for me in this book. First and foremost was the violence. It was above and beyond what we normally see in YA fiction and this would definitely be rated R if it were played out word for word on the screen. There were times I would describe the fight scenes are gory and unnecessary. There were also unfinished questions for me that I hope are addressed more fully in the sequel. What is up with Ellie’s dad? Is he some possessed person now working for the dark side? He’s downright abusive and the change is drastic from the way he was when Ellie was a child. Also, the angel mythology seemed to come out of the blue near the resolution of the book and I couldn’t swallow it.

I’m on the fence about whether I would read the sequel. Will is a big draw for me, but it’s not a book I would run out and buy. I wouldn’t recommend it it for any child under 17 simply for the violence. As far as other content, there is brief mention of underage drinking and some domestic violence. I give it three stars. Angelfire is action packed with plenty of tension and an interesting premise, but a little too gnarly for my taste.

Special thanks to Net Galley and HarperCollins for the preview.

Prophecy of The Sisters Giveaway

26 Jan, 2011 by in book giveaway, michelle zink, prophecy of hte sisters 7 comments

Fire and Ice and author Michelle Zink have teamed up to give away two copies of Prophecy of The Sisters today on Facebook and Twitter.

One winner will a signed paperback, bookmarks, and Victorian-inspired picture frame.

The second winner will receive a paperback Prophecy of the Sisters, a signed book plate, some bookmarks and a Victorian Frame.

Special thanks to Michelle Zink for being so generous 🙂

Comment on our Facebook page here or tweet the contest @fireicephotos to enter. Ends at midnight!

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Teaser Giveaway -The Upside of Down

25 Jan, 2011 by in rebecca talley, the upside of down 34 comments

The Upside of Down
by Rebecca Talley
Paperback: 256 pages
Published by Cedar Fort
January 8, 2011
ISBN-10: 1599554542

“Hmmm,” the doctor muttered.
Natalie wrinkled her forehead, almost afraid to ask, and said, “What does that mean?”
“You do know you’re pregnant, right?”
Her breath caught in her throat. “Excuse me?”
“You’re pregnant.”
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. “I’m what?”

Natalie Drake certainly has her hands full raising a large family, dealing with her difficult mother, and maintaining a relationship with her rebellious teenager. Just when things seem to be going smoothly, she finds out another unexpected surprise–she’s going to have a baby. Faced with so many challenges, Natalie must learn to trust in a plan that isn’t what she imagined and discover that every situation has an upside.

Rebecca Talley once again carefully crafts together a touching and heartfelt story that is sure to inspire you. With true-to-life characters and situations, The Upside of Down will reignite your faith and remind you of the importance of family.

To enter to win The Upside of Down simply comment below. Giveaway ends February 25, 2011 and is open internationally.