Wicked Wednesday #2


Wicked Wednesday a place to be wicked to other book readers and make them get those TBR piles growing. The concept is simple. Pick a book or two and tell s about them. If its one you read tell us what you liked. If its one you found tell us about that to. Than leave a comment to let us know where to find your Wicked Wednesday titles. Make sure to link back in your posts for other people to follow Wicked Wednesday.

So here is my pick for this week’s Wicked Wednesday. It is my next book up to read and I have heard some great things about it. I hope you think about it and think about reading it.
So Share with me..whats your Wicked Wednesday thought? What book will you tempt me to read?

Contest Contest when will there be another Contest…

I have had a couple of people ask when I will be doing another giveaway. *Tehehe* Well the answer is soon. I have to check ye old Mail book fund. But if there is not one before the end of this month, we will have one to start May off correctly. I have a birthday in May after all. But alas since this little book girl has been up with insomnia once more it’s time to try for some rest.

And..as I typed that some soap opera guy just got shot, and can I say..I am glad I do not read these things. CHEESEY.

Book Review: Mozart’s Sister by Nancy Moser

Nannerl Mozart’s early days seem to be the stuff of fairy tales — traveling far and wide, performing piano concerts with her younger brother, Wolfgang, before the crowned heads of Europe. But behind the glamour lurk dark difficulties — the hardship of travel, agonizing bouts of illness, and the constant concern over money. Their father, Leopold, is driven by a desire to bring his son’s genius to the attention of the world. But what about Nannerl? Is she not just as talented? In a world where women’s choices are limited, what hope does she have of ever realizing her own dreams? In this lovingly crafted novel, author Nancy Moser brings to life one of history’s hidden heroines.


The story of Nannerl Mozart has not really been told before. We all know of her famous brother. But he was not the only Mozart who could play. In their younger years Nan and Wolfie played together as the WunderKinder, but those days are fleeting and soon disappear as their Father puts Wolfgang forward, and Nannerl is forgotten. After all is that not a woman’s place in the 1700’s? Sadly it was. Women truly had little to depend upon besides the men in their lives. Only a small few had their own livings. And those choices were limited.

This book grabbed me into it from the very beginning. It is positively amazing and masterfully written. Nancy Moser does a stunning job of telling us the tale of this little known women and how her life goes from happy to sad and back again. How two siblings so bound together as younglings get ripped apart as age makes them so different.

I am a historical fiction fan, I truly am and this story lived up to everything I had hoped it would be. I was riveted and pulled into the story. Nan has a life that truly is sad, and filled with disappointments to herself. And yet overcoming all of that is love. She strives to tell us about the love in her life. She has complaints, don’t we all? But so often throughout the book she changes her mind. She learns from her mistakes, and she forgives so many wrongs. A wonderful woman who was loyal, and strong and steadfast her whole life. Many compliments for her, and she proves in the end of her life that she has learned. She says she has regrets, but that her life was full of people. And full of love. How can anyone truly ask for more than that? Pick up this book for sure, it is a must read.

It is Award Time Again.

The Crazy book Slut handed out some more awards to those who follow her. Oh my! I Do love that Lady. So..here we go, the awards that have been chosen to display at my humble Fire & Ice Blog.


This award acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his or her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values every day.
The rules to follow are:
1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.
Here are my Award winners:

Moon@ Narnian Photography
Sara@ Subjective Beauty
Luanne@
A book Worms World

Toni @ A Daily Dose of Toni
Jen@ Cheaper than Therapy

Teresa@ Ultimate Giveaways
Purplgrl@
So many Books So little time


I will finnish my 15 when I find a few more who don’t have the award.

And the Sisterhood Award! Here are the rules to spread the sisterhood spirit:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate up to 10 blogs which show great attitude and/or gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Remember to link to the person from whom you received your award.

Moon@ Narnian Photography
Sara@ Subjective Beauty
Luanne@
A book Worms World

Toni @ A Daily Dose of Toni
Jen@ Cheaper than Therapy

Teresa@ Ultimate Giveaways
Purplgrl@
So many Books So little time

And again I will have to find more who don’t have this award.

Teaser Tuesday 9

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to: Grab your current read.Let the book fall open to a random page.Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!Please avoid spoilers!
It was so easy for him to make such a decleration when he had multiple sources of income. As a teacher Franz’s options Were far more limited. As were mine ~ page 273 Mozart’s Sister by Nancy Moser.

Musing Monday #8


Coming towards the end of April, we’re a third of the way through the way through the year. What’s the favourite book you’ve read so far in 2009? What about your least favourite? (question courtesy of MizB)

Okay, this one is a little tough. I have read some great books this year so far. But I have also read some stinkers. So far if I had to pick a favorite I think it would be either Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts, or the The Naked Duke by Sally Mackenzie.

On the least favorite Front, I think the worst of the year so far has been Perfect Day by Imogen Parker. I don’t like picking worst’s. But if I had to pick one, it would be this one.

Quotable Sunday #5

Welcome to Quotable Sunday! I can’t wait to get around and read your quotes today. The rules of course are never changing but in case this is your first time joining in, I would like to welcome you and let you know the basics:~Post one or more of your favorite quotes on your blog in a post.~Come back here and link your post in the mister linky below(on http://www.juststopscreaming.com/ ).~Check back throughout the day and go read some awesome comments and leave some luv!

< For my dip back into quotes (I know I have been horrible.) I decided on some qoutes from a book I have called the greatest qoutes of all time.

Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873, British novelist, poet, playwright and polititian.)

The pen is mightier than the sword.

J. P. Morgan: (1837-1913, Founder of US Steel, the first billion-dollar company in the world.)

If you have to ask how much something costs, you can’t afford it.

Sun-Tzu: (400 BC; Chinese general and military strategist.)

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

Lord Acton: (1834-1902; British historian, politician and educator. Considered the most learned individual of his era, unmatched in the breadth and depth of his knowledge.)

Power Corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Fred R. Barnard (1920s):

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Horace (65 – 8 BC):

Carpe Diem (Seize the day. (Opportunity))

And FINALLY…by one of my all time favorite Historical Men..

Julius Caesar:

Divide and Conquer.

Book Review: Hearts and Bones by Margaret Lawrence


Set in 1786 in the township of Rufford, Maine, Lawrence’s impressive historical suspense debut poses a fascinating conundrum and vivifies the society in which it arose. The story centers on the investigation by midwife Hannah Trevor of the rape and strangulation death of a young mother, Anthea Emory. According to a letter presumably written by Anthea, the dead woman was raped on three successive nights, by three different men, before one of them finally killed her. One of the three men accused is Daniel Josselyn, father of Hannah’s illegitimate seven-year-old daughter. Because the marks on Anthea’s neck match the imprint of Daniel’s three-fingered hand, he becomes the target of a lynch mob and flees in search of Anthea’s husband, whom he believes can shed light on her sad life and tragic death. Before following Daniel into the dangerous wintry wilderness to save him from the mob, Hannah finds that two of the three men accused in Anthea’s letter, along with Constable William Quaid, were members of a Rufford Patriot division that stumbled into an ambush at Webb’s Ford in 1777. In retaliation, three of the Patriots raped Anthea, then a young girl, and slaughtered her family. The final revelation of Anthea’s killer comes as a surprise, although several plot strands are left vague, and a few discrepancies are disquieting. At intervals, inquest transcripts, recipes, diary excerpts and marginally relevant testimonials punctuate the narrative, vividly evoking the Revolutionary period and providing authentic, if occasionally obtrusive background detail. While not perfectly fluid, the story commands attention as it immerses readers in its mystery and the past; like the extended quilt metaphor that runs through it, this novel is greater than the sum of its parts. — Publisher’s Weekly


This novel is not so much a mystery as a suspense novel. It grabs you when you first open the pages and pulls you in. Set in post revolutionary war Maine you quickly are forced into the world from a midwife’s point of view. Hanna is what you would think of as a feminist. She doesn’t conform to societies ideals for a woman. And really that is alright.

I have not read pure suspense book in sometime, and was really looking forward to this one. While it did fall somewhat short of my thought of what is a five star book it was still a good read. Some of the prose does go over board, and some of the scenes do drag. But over all it is a very enjoyable book. The characters are well thought out, and interesting. You do really want to know more about Hannah, and some of the other ladies of the book.

Most of the historical content is correct, except for one issue. Several references are made to the ladies being patchwork quilters. As a woman who knows her history (especially this era) and a woman who knows her sewing history as well it irked me. It is widely agreed upon that patchwork quilting as it’s called now was not done at this era. Quilting yes, but not the specifics of Patchwork. So that did bother me a little bit. But not enough to make me put down the book.

If you’re looking for a good historical that is just a short time after the revolution this is a good read. It doesn’t really have any romance on it. And you will follow a very interesting cast of women through the story.

Book Review: The True Confessions of Charolette Doyle by Avi


A vicious captain, a mutinous crew —
and a young girl caught in the middle

Not every thirteen-year-old girl is accused of murder, brought to trial, and found guilty. But I was just such a girl, and my story is worth relating even if it did happen years ago. Be warned, however: If strong ideas and action offend you, read no more. Find another companion to share your idle hours. For my part I intend to tell the truth as I lived it.

Newbery Honor Book

For fun and giggles I decided to read this book again. I read it a long time ago when it was more age appropriate for me. This is a nice period piece that covers a young woman’s journey through things. If you liked Pirates of the Caribbean you are very likely to enjoy True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. It is age appropriate, but it is also enjoyable and amusing for the older crowd if they wish to watch that.

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