Thursday Book Review- Cold As Ice

Cold As Ice
by Stephanie Black



After five patient years, Abigail Wyatt's sisterly care is finally paying off: her younger brother, Derek, is abandoning his self-destructive lifestyle and seeking his parents' forgiveness, thus ending the painful estrangement that wounded the whole family. But just as the pieces are falling into place for the prodigal's return, a woman named Karen Brodie is murdered in a local park, and police name Derek as the prime suspect. Rather than standing firm and cemeting the positive changes in his life, Derek succumbs to his cynical fears and runs from the law, leaving Abigail with her hands tied. Literally. Derek's raw panic convinces everyone that he's the killer, everyone except Abigail, who doggedly maintains her brother's innocence. With the help of Kyle, a charismatic new friend she might be falling for, Abigail digs deep into Karen Brodie's troubled past in hopes of clearing Derek's name. But as she uncovers a sinister plot of greed, envy, and vengeance, this loyal sister must face the painful truth that things, and people, are not always as they seem.

I kept putting off reading this book because the only time I had to read it was at night, when it was dark, and I was in bed, and the house was quiet and I could hear all the creaking and groaning and noises that go bump in the night of the house. I don't like reading Stephanie's books at night, in the dark, when I am in bed and the house is quiet and I can hear all the creaking and groaning and noises that go bump in the night because Stephanie is a master at creepy and scary stories. And I can't even think about turning my back to the window because who knows what is going to come crashing through there and right when I am at the scariest part of the book. I just know it.

So, because I was waiting to be finished with text books and papers to read this book, I just finished it. And it does not disappoint. I "knew" who the bad guy was during the first chapter. Then  I read chapters 2,3,4,5... and kept revising my opinion. I don't remember the last time it took me this long to figure out the who of the who done it. Really. I did suspect this person early on, but then changed my mind and just thought I didn't like him, but then I changed my mind again. And again. And then yet again. By the time I was positive, but before the reveal scene, I didn't trust anyone in the book and wanted to scream at Abigail to hole up in her parent's house and stop talking to anyone.

If you like scary suspense novels, you will love this book. It is written by an LDS author, and some of the characters are LDS and this fact is mentioned, but religion does not play a bigger role than that in the book. She could have made the characters any other religion at all and it would not change the story. Stephanie offered the book to readers in exchange for a review, but she had so many takers that she had to draw names to see who got a book. I didn't get one and had to borrow this copy from Karlene, but I will be headed to the store to get my own copy to complete my collection of Stephanie Black novels. I am already anxiously awaiting her next novel- to be read in the daytime, in a room with no windows or sharp objects.

And Stephanie, if you read this, I want to review your next book- m'kay?

Purchase book here

Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: Covenant Communications Inc.; 1st edition (August 2, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1608610136
ISBN-13: 978-1608610136
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches

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Indeed.

Methods of Madness

It’s been three years since the terrible night Emily Ramsey suffered a double tragedy—the death of her sister and the disappearance of her fiancé. She deserves another chance at happiness, and gentle, adorable Zach Sullivan is the perfect man to mend her shattered heart. But from the moment Emily opens the hand-carved box holding a glittering diamond solitaire, she’s seized by an unshakeable fear: she’s going to lose Zach. That’s exactly what Monica, Zach’s ex-girlfriend, is banking on. Bitter with envy, Monica will stop at nothing to sabotage Zach and Emily’s romance. Troubling notes show up in Emily’s mailbox, fanning the flames of suspicion. A bloody photograph sends her reeling. But when someone is brutally murdered, will Emily be able to escape suspicion and the possibility that she might be next? Whitney Award–winning author Stephanie Black treats readers to another of her brilliantly thrilling stories that will leave the reader no choice but to keep reading well past the stroke of midnight.

No choice but to keep reading past midnight is right. I got this book from Stephanie in August and read it in two nights. I only took so long because I had to go to work. But I went to work tired because I kept saying, "One more chapter and then I'll turn off the light." And then one more chapter would turn into three or four more chapters and I just kept turning pages and the clock just kept turning numbers.

By chapter seven I was sure I knew who did it. But then that person turned up dead a couple chapters later. And Emily, is she or isn't she? Did she or didn't she? And what about last time? Was that her as well?

Or maybe it was Zach and for some reason he wants Emily to believe she did. Or is. Or... and why? His reasons for moving, truth or cover up?

And all the friends that always hang around? Are they really who you think they are? Or not?

I think this is Stephanie's book yet. A true suspence novel. In fact, scary enough that I kept all the bedroom lights on while I was reading, left the front room light on low all night and I refused to lay with my back to the window.

And check out that cover. Perfect cover for this book.

And don't read this book when taking a class on diagnosing mental illness. It adds to the creepy factor. But read the book.

6˝ X 9˝, 248 pages

ISBN 978-1-59811-730-1

Purchase the book here

Or you can get the book another way. Back in late June or Early July Stephanie asked for bloggers to review her book. I asked if I could and she said yes and said she would send me one when it came out. I said great, sent her my address and went back to mucking out my house and writing papers for school and put it in the back of my mind.

One day in early August while in a book store, I saw and bought Methods of Madness. The next day a package from Stephanie Black arrived in my mail box. After feeling silly for a few moments, I decided I would give away the book I bought when I did my review. I sat them on my desk and they promptly got covered with school work and soccer schedules. And more books to be reviewed. Today I decided to take care of that pile. So, if you want this book, leave a comment and next week I will pick a winner and send you the book.

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Indeed.

Fool Me Twice

Today The Dance is 1 year old. Happy Birthday! A year ago I started this blog so that I would have a place to post reviews of books that I had read for Karlene's Summer Reading Thing. So I think to celebrate my bloggy birthday, I will do a book review.

Fool Me Twice

Stephanie Black

When it comes to pleasing her twin sister, Megan O'Connor is an easy touch. She'll do just about anything to gain Kristen's approval, including trading places with her. After all, Kristen's plan promises to get Megan out of a dead-end job and make them both rich. It will be a nice reward for a little genealogical investigation--something that couldn't have happened without the help of Kristen's new LDS acquaintances. And who could blame the twins for using a tiny bit of deceit to manipulate an inheritance out of someone as demanding as their estranged Aunt Evelyn?

All Megan has to do is pretend to be Kristen, move into Evelyn's house, and take care of the wealthy old woman until her failing health kills her. It shouldn't take too long. It shouldn't be too difficult. Megan's the nice one. Except for the lie, the task is a natural fit. Everything would be perfect if she could just ignore the guilt--a feeling that only grows stronger as she spends more time with the new friends Kristen arranged for her.

But soon Megan discovers that there is more to worry about. She's living in a house of illusions where she isn't the only one playing a part. Someone has developed a new plotline that ends with a death scene--and in this version, the victim won't die of natural causes.

Beneath the surface of the sleepy New England town of Britteridge, deceit weaves a deadly web where turnabout is anything but fair play.

This is Stephanie Black's second novel. I really enjoyed this book. The story is well written and the characters are very well defined. I enjoyed the way Stephanie allowed us into Megan's thought process without interrupting the story. The action was constant and kept me guessing and wondering throughout. Even when I knew who the bad guys were, and there were more than meets the eye at the beginning of the book, I was wondering how Megan was ever going to get out of this mess.

Even though it is an LDS book and the Book Of Mormon is mentioned, the religion is not pushy. Everyone does not get baptised in the end and I found this aspect to be true to life.

I also liked that even though there is the potential for romance, it doesn't happen. No one falls in love after knowing each other for a couple weeks. No one reforms their life to make another happy. No one rushes off to the temple at the end.

Overall, I would recommend this book.