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Ashes and Ice (Ashes and Ice #1)

by Rochelle Maya Callen (Goodreads Author)

3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 · rating details · 159 ratings · 61 reviews

She is desperate to remember.
He is aching to forget.
Together, they are not broken.
But together, one may not survive.

Jade wakes up with no memory of her past and blood on her hands.

Plagued by wicked thoughts, she searches for answers. Instead, she finds a boy who doesn't offer her answers, but hope. But sometimes, when nightmares turn into reality and death follows you ev...more

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Published February 4th 2013 by C&C Legacy Publishing (first published February 2nd 2012)

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Mar 18, 2013 Rochelle rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author)

Big thank you to all the readers who picked up Ashes and Ice!

16 likes · like · see review

Mar 04, 2013 Ari J Bookzilla rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-absolute-favorites, clean-read, favorites, cbl-guest-review

This book is actually pretty hard to review. Not because I struggle with what to say about it, but because I don't want to give anything away.

Lets start off with... it will leave you hanging. It's not exactly a cliffhanger, yet nothing is really resolved. For some weird reason, I wasn't outraged that it ended like that. I'm super excited to see what happens next, and now I'm (not so patiently) waiting for the next book.

The ice chases me, clutches me, and bites at my heels, sending shivers up my

...more

8 likes · like · see review

Feb 06, 2013 Theodora Catalina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Originally posted @ http://shattering-words.blogspot.com

My thoughts (Theo~): This was supposed to be a review
done in peace and silence, but with my brain yelling at me for reading this
book too fast and for reading the ending for more than three or four times it
is too hard to not say that I WANT MORE! This! This!! This book was freaking’
awesome!! How am I supposed to breathe normally and not yell from the top of my
lungs that I cannot believe IT! I am seriously considering fast-forwarding the
ti

...more

12 likes · like · see review

Nov 30, 2012 Paperpanda (Miguel Cruz) marked it as to-buy

Shelves: love-the-cover, 2013-paperback-release

UPDATE: (Nov. 29 '12) What? 2013? well, i guess i can wait.. just make sure that this book will show up in the Philippines!!!

UPDATE: The author is really nice and friendly!

5 likes · like · see review

Mar 08, 2013 Lalaine ( Ficbookreviews ) rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: paranormal and romance lover, Angels and demons

Shelves: 2013-books, w-t-f-moments, this-author-can-write, should-be-a-movie, oh-so-romantic, my-favorite-reads

"I hope it's sunny at my funeral."
And if I really am wicked, I hope that day comes sooner rather than later.

Wow, that ending.. Didn't see that coming.
So I guess you could say I enjoyed this book so much. I'm always fascinated with angels and demons stories especially when it has a romance twist in it. It started with a young girl named Jade who couldn't remember her past. But Jade with her green eyes and no memories, isn't your average normal girl. And then she met this broken young boy C...more

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 12, 2013 Amber marked it as to-read

Shelves: arc, review

I am completely blown away and amazed by Ashes & Ice. Once I started, I was in a trance, I couldn't put it down. I know with each page something else was coming. Rochelle filled Ashes & Ice full of loss, love, and excitement. This is one book I wouldn't mind reading over and over again. Epic is the best word I can use to describe Ashes & Ice.

Jade has no memory of who she is, where she's from, or what's happened to her. She soon finds her self in Louisiana finding searching for answer...more

6 likes · like · see review

Feb 19, 2013 Ikelia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 150-books-goal

I couldn't put this book down. I wish there was just a bit more action or a bit more going on though, and this the only reason it has four stars instead of five. However, I loved the characters in the book and I was crossing my fingers that Connor would man up and tell Jade how he really felt. Jade was awesome, I love how she didn't take crap from anyone and how she was protective over Connor. I love how they helped each other come out of their holes, I guess you can call it. I'm super excited f...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 20, 2013 Kathryn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, ya, romance, pnr

WOW!!! Couldn't put it down so freakin good...
REVIEW:
Let me first say that the cover of Ashes and Ice is PHENOMENAL!!! Drawing me in with its fantastic design...I just knew that I was going to enjoy this book.
But, I didn't only enjoy this book....Nope, I devoured it, page by page, falling farther and farther in to Jade's mysterious life and her companion that she finds hope in, Connor. These two characters captivated me with such intensity that I literally could not put this book down. And truth...more WOW!!! Couldn't put it down so freakin good...
REVIEW:
Let me first say that the cover of Ashes and Ice is PHENOMENAL!!! Drawing me in with its fantastic design...I just knew that I was going to enjoy this book.
But, I didn't only enjoy this book....Nope, I devoured it, page by page, falling farther and farther in to Jade's mysterious life and her companion that she finds hope in, Connor. These two characters captivated me with such intensity that I literally could not put this book down. And truthfully, once you get about 30% in, you can't put it down because so much is happening that your mind turns with theories which prompts you to keep reading to find out answers to the questions set before you.
Ashes and Ice is a dark and perplexing tale that had me second guessing so many things. One moment I would think.."Nah, it isn't...and then turn around...WHOA...it is then..." I love books that keep me entranced and on my toes. This book definitely does that.
AND...let me tell you about these two main characters.....Jade and Connor. Ashes and Ice switches POV between these two and it was genius. Seeing things from Jade's view and then Connor's, kept the story fresh and allowed you to connect to both characters. Also, these two were extremely well developed. Jade, who has lost her memory, trying to understand the mystifying things happening around her, grows in to someone that I find admirable and strong. Connor, whom we meet starts out shy and insecure, wanting to be invisible, grows in to a brave and strapping young man. When these two connect, they give each other what the other needs to become the intense individuals we find at the end....
Since I don't reveal storyline, I will tell you this...this book is MIND-BLOWING. If I haven't said it enough, you are hooked from the twists and turns that you encounter throughout this book. You have to carry all the way to the end to see what happens and then when you read the epilogue...yeah...it kills you that you have to wait to see what happens in the next installment...
A sensational read that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!
www.tsktskwhattoread2.blogspot.com (less)

3 likes · like · see review

Mar 06, 2013 Jessy (BookEnd 2 BookEnd) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc

This is one of those reads that sucks you in, but yet you have no idea what's going on around you. You stay tuned in because you have to find out really bad! You're pulled into the mystery of what could be going on. What could this person be? When will we get the answers? You become so invested in each of the characters that you continue on with the journey to discover right along with them what is happening in the world around them.
Meet Jade. With no recollection of who she is or where she's f...more

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 24, 2013 Michelle Lewis rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, loved-it, own-it

Book Talk Reviews:
http://www.facebook.com/VampiresBite2012
http://www.michelle808205.blogspot.com/

This book was Magnificent!!!!

Jade is a young girl who wakes up with no memory of who she is or where she came from,all she knows is that she's surround in blood and needs to run. Jade meets a cute boy named Will who is shy and quite and seems to be a little broken inside like she is and they become friends fast,but what Will doesn't know is Jade is hiding a terrible secret.

Okay this book was just...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 06, 2013 Bella rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-for-review, review-for-tour, i-have-a-copy

First off I want to thank Rochelle Callen and Lady Ambers Tour for having me on the tour and letting me read Ashes and Ice! Jade has no memory of her past, or even her name. She is broken on the inside and can’t seem figure out just what she is and why she keeps waking form dreams of people who have been killed. She needs answers and she needs to figure out just who and where she came from. When Jade finds Nana, a woman who takes her in she starts to searches for the answers she needs. What will...more

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 26, 2013 Dani rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

This book surprised me, because the supernatural bend in this story isn’t one I typically enjoy. But Ashes & Ice is refreshingly original with an intriguing mythology, and it didn’t always go in directions I expected. I really loved Connor’s character growth throughout the novel, and Jade’s character as a whole. The writing style was lovely; very lush and descriptive with some spine-tinglingly chilling moments. Just very well done overall.

1 like · like · see review

Mar 06, 2013 Ya rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Ya by: Arijana

Connor : " I'm a virgin and the last time I kissed a chick, she was neither sane nor all that cute." Connor is a wonderful character. He lights up the pages and I can't help but root for him. I like the world the author created. This is a page turner book. Highly recommended!

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 21, 2013 Lori rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, angels-bitches, blew-me-away, favorites, end-of-the-world, horror, indie, review-book, ya-paranormal-romance, young-adult

4.5 stars. Jade is a girl who feels empty. She doesn't remember who she is, or where she came from. She has no hopes and dreams. She has no heart. All she has is blackouts and a strange thing pulling her forward.
Connor is invisible. His dad recently passed. His dad was his hero, and his friend. He feels empty too. He wants to hide. He has no hope. Until Jade comes into his life. She gives him something to glow about. But there is more to Jade then her pretty looks. Can Connor handle what's insi...more 4.5 stars. Jade is a girl who feels empty. She doesn't remember who she is, or where she came from. She has no hopes and dreams. She has no heart. All she has is blackouts and a strange thing pulling her forward.
Connor is invisible. His dad recently passed. His dad was his hero, and his friend. He feels empty too. He wants to hide. He has no hope. Until Jade comes into his life. She gives him something to glow about. But there is more to Jade then her pretty looks. Can Connor handle what's inside of her?

When a Lady Amber posted about a book tour for this book on facebook I immediately jumped on board. Despite the fact that I had sworn of blog tours and review books. I just don't have enough time to do them anymore. To be honest this cover just drew me in. Then I read the blurb, and I was like; "Yup, gotta read this one!" I was not disappointed. The characters really brought me into the story. I always identify with outcasts. Maybe because I am one, but either way I related to both the male and female lead in this book. I understand what it's like to feel like you aren't good enough, although in Jade's case, well, let's just say my problems where never as big as hers.Or even Connor's. But the pain they both feel is very real and intense.

I think of spit up blood, black suits, roses and eulogies and wet pillows. I think of lonely guitars, quiet houses, pointing fingers, and scraped foreheads. I think of falling and not wanting to get up. Yeah, her {Jade's} eyes could slice me open, but in so many ways I'm already bleeding

Rochelle's writing is good. She very much gets the way teens talk, think and feel. Not that I am a teen, but I happen to be around one a lot. Also, in the case of full honesty, I often feel like a 16 year old trapped in this old lady body. But I digress. The character's their problems, their mannerisms and everything about them feels authentic. Which is always a big plus to me. Sometimes when us adults write teenagers we tend to not get them right. Not the case here.
The story itself had a very Beautiful Creatures sort of feel too it. So if you enjoyed those books you will like this one. Personally, I thought this story was much better than BC.
The overall best part of this book for me and what set it above other works similar to this was the gruesomeness (wherein gruesomeness=awesomeness)this is a very dark book. Yes there are moments of light in it too, but it's got a great edge too it that Rochelle embraces. She isn't writing it and then instantly trying to shove it out of the way with puppy dog love. I love dark edgy things and this book has them. It's really got a lot of moments of real horror that people like me will go nuts over.

I look away from all of them, ashamed that their ugliness is too hard for me to bear. Their skin's a strange almost bluish tinge, the color of their eyes fading to only a hind of color amidst stark whiteness in their eye sockets. Necks twisted, broken arms reaching. Mouths open too wide with pointy, decaying teeth revealed through cracked lips.

Yup awesome.
This book was just amazing. I admit the first few chapters left me scratching my head. Partially because of the POV changing, and partially because everything about Jade is so vague. But once Jade kind of hits her stride so did my enjoyment of this book.
Overall a very good read, and I will FOR SURE be reading the next one.
**A copy of this book was provided in exchange for my honest review. Everything within this review is honest. It is also 100% written by me with the exception of any quotations/blurb used.**(less)

1 like · like · see review

Apr 18, 2013 Kj Partridge rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jade is alone, empty, knows no one, doesn't have a memory to work with, and she feels evil calling to her. Connor's dad has died, he is bullied at school, he hides as much as possible, and he can run like the wind. The two are as about as far apart as you could imagine but some how they find each other and set out on a journey of discovery....for both Jade and Connor.
Ms Callen has written a wonderful story that just begs to be read. From the moment you start reading you want, no you need the a...more

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Feb 09, 2013 Zuleeza rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, paranormal

Okay! I feel much better now!

If you're wondering what's up with the angst, it's because I had to read 218 out of 257 pages to know the big secret! I had my suspicion of who (or what) Jade really is but nothing was certain until that very end of the book. Cruel. Very cruel to let the readers hanging like that. It was more cruel than a cliffhanger ending because Jade's identity is the essence of the story itself.

Anyway, Ashes and Ice is a nice effort from a debut author, Rochelle Maya Callen. The concept was intriguing - the battle between one's good side and bad side is right up my alley. The prose was mesmerizing too, for example;

"I hunch forward, leaning my head on my palm. I think of spit up blood, black suit, roses, eulogies and wet pillows. I think of lonely guitars, quiet houses, pointing fingers and scraped foreheads."

BUT sadly, it was obvious that this is a self-pubbed book. Something needs to be done to the flow of this book. I'm a big fan of short novels so this is rare, but I thought some of the chapters need to be expanded in order for the plot to make sense. The settings and the scenes were rapidly changing so three to four pages to describe and explain an important scene isn't going to cut it. Some of the sub-plotlines also disappeared completely by half of the book. For instance; how Jade really fits in the school, is she coping well with the homeworks, quizzes and exams (yes, contrary to popular belief, I do think these teenage paranormal creatures still need to keep up with their educations!). Also, it's odd how the law enforcers didn't find any clues or suspects when the homicide cases was rising.

The characters were okay, I guess. I could connect with Jade very well at the beginning until she starts to feel something for the ultimate asshat, which is Dominic. More about Dominic later. Connor is new for a male protag although his insecurities made him sound feminine at times.

Dominic. As the supposedly irresistible, magnetic guy, I only found him as repulsive. I know Jade meant to have this attraction to him because of her nature, but I still feel like uh, Jade, he might sound very evil, but he is nowhere near that definition of sexy evil. More like a scumbag.

Overall, Ashes and Ice is a nice book. I read it in a single sitting and didn't regret it (which is something the author should be proud of, trust me) but there are still a lot of rooms for improvement.(less)

6 likes · like · see review

Feb 09, 2013 Sandra "Jeanz" rated it 3 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW
This book was given to me in exchange for my honest review to be posted as part of the blog tour run by Lady Amber!
So I did the Cover Reveal previously so you will all probably know by now that I really like the cover. Obviously the cover makes even more sense and is relevant to the book once you have read it. I love the colours on the cover which suggest water, murkiness and mystery to me.
I would say this book is different to what I would normally read as it has a horror edge to it. I...more MY REVIEW
This book was given to me in exchange for my honest review to be posted as part of the blog tour run by Lady Amber!
So I did the Cover Reveal previously so you will all probably know by now that I really like the cover. Obviously the cover makes even more sense and is relevant to the book once you have read it. I love the colours on the cover which suggest water, murkiness and mystery to me.
I would say this book is different to what I would normally read as it has a horror edge to it. I normally wouldn't read horror at all. I have to be totally honest and say to begin with I found the book quite frustrating, at times I wanted it to move faster, or show me more in certain places to make sense of things. The book is very cryptic and as I said has both a horror and thriller element to it. At times I just wanted to get a hold of the book and shake it. It felt a little unpolished in places. I felt that certain parts were missing, such as we should have had flashbacks or some more back story to Giovanni and Lynx. I wanted to know more about what had happened previously, so much so that at time this book felt like a book too. I seriously felt as if I had missed some important information somewhere. Having said all of that once the plot got going I really did enjoy the book. I just felt a little disappointed and felt it could have been so much, much, more. More could have been made of the Etcher, like perhaps characters hearing more on the radio or reading a newspaper article. I also wanted to know much more about Connor's Uncles. There was so much within the Uncles characters that could have been explored. What happened to them previously to make them as loud and brash as they are. Why Wade is so brash and leery, why Jesse appears all mouth and no action with the ladies, and why is Harry the quieter of the three. Also we could find out where they live and why they are all single and round at Desi and Connor's house so much. There was so much potential for further character exploration that has been missed.
Having said all that I did enjoy the plot and the end of the book has you on the edge of your seat biting your nails!
I loved the character of Connor and his relationship with his mum Desi is so heart warming. You literally feel their heartbreak at the loss of Connor's dad. I also warmed to Jade's character too, by the end of the book was really rooting for her to overcome the evil she was fighting with.
So did I enjoy the book? Yes,even though not my normal read I found the book refreshingly different and has opened me up a little more to the thriller/horror genres. Would I read a Book #2? I think I would do yes, I want to learn more about the characters in this book. Would I read more books by Rochelle Maya Callen? I would definitely browse and possibly go on to read more by this author. Would I recommend? This is a difficult question, as though I enjoyed the book as it is, it could have been so much more too. On the whole I would say that yes I would recommend.(less)

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Feb 23, 2013 Tee loves Kyle Jacobson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-must-read, 2013-new-book-release, february-2013, lady-amber-s-book-tours

Ashes and Ice is a book that took me by storm! I have to say that I read a lot of books but this one is going to be one series that i re-read and re-read over and over again. It has so many twists and turns and keeps you on your feet that you have no idea what is going to happen next. Then you read it and you say no way I never saw this coming. The added bonus for me was the story telling from both POV'S. I love a story told by both points of view because you get to read and feel what the other...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 15, 2013 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have to admit that I am torn with this book... On one hand, I barely put it down once I started reading it but on the other, as I'm reading, I'm desperately wanting to rewrite the book for this author. Obviously, it had a lot of potential but just never really got there. The love story part of it is super sweet and you can't help but like Connor and his point of view but there was just too much back story that needed to be addressed. And not to mention the fact that it had so many things in co...more

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Feb 20, 2013 MaryAnn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle

This is a really good YA romance with supernatural undertones. We meet the primary character, Jade, waking up in the middle of a forest with blood and loss that she doesn't understand. The reader experiences her desire to figure out the darkness in her mind and soul even when there doesn't appear to be any cause or memories tied to the feeling. She meets Connor who she is instantly drawn to the first day they meet. Jade and Connor had not had easy lives. This story shows the emotions and challen...more

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Apr 20, 2013 Meckenzea rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. “People can change... no matter where they come from, no matter where they think they ought to go, people can make their own way.”

"Ľudia môžu zmeniť... nezáleží na tom, odkiaľ prišli, kde si myslia, že majú ísť, ľudia si môžu nájsť vlastnú cestu."

Skôr než začnem, pozrite sa na obálku: Čo na ňu poviete? Nádherné oči a ľad. Celkový dojem je perfektný. Myslíte si, že je to tak aj vo vnútri knihy? Tak na to sa vám teraz pokúsim odpovedať.

Jade. Hlavná hrdinka. Nepamätá si kto je, ani čo tu robí. Hne...more

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Jan 25, 2013 Heather B (Owlnestly Reviews) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-debut-author-challenge

Owlnestly Reviews

I finished this book within a few hours and it left me feeling... in awe. This story took me for a whirlwind and just didn't let me go. I started reading this book with a bit of skepticism because of the writing style. At first, I wasn't sure that I was going to like it because the writing reminded me of poetry. It was very whimsical and descriptive, and I wasn't sure if I liked it, but I kept reading despite this. I am really glad that I did! What I stumbled upon was a young a...more

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Feb 27, 2013 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, rochelle-maya-callen, own

This book had me from the first word!! I was hooked right from the beginning, and could not wait to see what happened.

Jade has no memory of who she is or where she's from. She has glimpses of certain memories, but nothing she can hold on to for very long. When she wakes up with blood on her hands, literally, she knows something is wrong with her.

She finds herself in Louisiana, and realizes there are clues there on who or what she is.

Conner is hurting, and he's hurting badly. He's suffering fro...more

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Mar 28, 2013 Jamie Turner-norton rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews

This Book captured my interest from the very first page. It is very well written and I cannot wait to read more of her work. I felt so bad for Jade with everything that happens to her (and everyone around her). But I absolutely loved Connor, he’s your “Guy next door/outcast” type.. Dominic is your typical cocky jock. But I wasn’t sure which one was true. Towards the end I FINALLY found out, THEN Rochelle Maya Callen left me with a huge cliffhanger and craving more. So all I’m going to say is go...more

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Feb 06, 2013 Sierra rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: eye-catching-title, omg-that-cover-i-want-it, e-book, free-or-cheap, according-to-xy, can-i-have-more-please, come-on-baby-give-me-the-creeps, feed-the-light-some-dark, halos-and-horns, low-expectations-great-turnout, need-a-physical-copy-of, slimy-yet-satisfying, southern-charm, to-you-i-recommend-an-editor, favorite, alternating-viewpoints

Holy rabies. Holy rabies. HOLY RABIES. Talk about a mind=blown! 4.5 stars!

I don't even know where to begin with this one. I saw the cover, loved it. Saw the blurb, loved it. Saw an excerpt on its release day, lost all hope. But I was so curious as to whether I would actually hate it or not (it's a curse I suffer from), so when I saw that it was priced at $0.99 for the release day, that curiosity coupled with my natural weakness for cheaply priced books convinced me to move heaven and hell to get...more Holy rabies. Holy rabies. HOLY RABIES. Talk about a mind=blown! 4.5 stars!

I don't even know where to begin with this one. I saw the cover, loved it. Saw the blurb, loved it. Saw an excerpt on its release day, lost all hope. But I was so curious as to whether I would actually hate it or not (it's a curse I suffer from), so when I saw that it was priced at $0.99 for the release day, that curiosity coupled with my natural weakness for cheaply priced books convinced me to move heaven and hell to get my hands on a copy of this book and read it as soon as was humanly possible.

I read it and didn't stop reading it if I could avoid having to put it down for any amount of time. And when I was forced to get away from it, like while I was driving or photographing my husband's award ceremony, I couldn't keep my brain from wrapping around the thought of it like some voracious little kitten.

Mmmmm... Okay, backtrack, breathe, focus--

Ashes and Ice drove me to its drawing depths almost as soon as I took the first dive into the story. It was dark and messy, halfway chaotic. I imagined the years of visionary reconstruction that those first few chapters had to have undergone, yet it felt as seamless and final as breathing. Inhale, Jade's madness and confusion; exhale, Connor's misery and bleak outlook on his life. Inhale; Jade flounders in the tatters of her new, scattered existence; exhale, Connor suffers through his loss and humiliation.

I fell in love with watching Jade and Connor kinda pick each other up, slowly, piece by misshapen piece, healing their wounds while simultaneously gaping at their own. My favorite part of that particular development rested in the fact that not only was their relationship significant but that of their families. Nanan, on Jade's side, took her in and was a necessary part of her life right from the get-go. Desi and her brothers, Connor's mother and uncles, were every bit as essential to his being as, in time, Jade became, and that's something I really kinda reveled in.

But when things start seriously goin down, I lose all my critical façades, leaving in its places candor in how positively delighted I was in the direction of the story to darker, even more disgusting territory. It was like Callen plucked all the nasty but pleasureful things I rarely get the opportunity to read and penned it all, almost to the T. I WAS IN SORDID HEAVEN, Y'ALL. NO LIE.

I just... I have no words for how much I loved this. It's (I think) my first addition to my "favorites." The only demerit I'm even taking note of is the writing. It needed a little help with its conventions and a quick copyediting sweep. I feel that if it had been written in a stronger, more involved prose ( The Sleepwalkers comes to mind), the effect of the overall storylines and individual arcs within would've only benefited, strengthened. Other than that, Callen, you have my attention. I'm so sorry I ever doubted you. (Hahhaha.)(less)

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Mar 02, 2013 Faye rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: creepy, can-t-wait-for-rest-of-the-series, drama, nail-biting, paranormal, romance, strange

this was a very interesting read. At first, I had absolutely no idea what was going on, and I didn't figure it out until I was more then halfway done with the book. But then I started to get it and it got even better then it already was... :D
Jade wakes up with no memory of who she is. she wanders around the strange town she awoke in, plagued by mysterious lapses in consciousness where she wakes up with blood on her hands and a murder report in the news. confused and afraid, she is taken in by an...more

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May 23, 2013 Raquel-The Babbling Reader rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: tbr-2013, favourite-covers

When I first read the synopsis of Ashes & Ice, I was very interested and I wanted to find out more about it. Well, this book did not disappoint. I thought it was magical and enticing. The book always had me guessing until the end about what was happening to Jade and why she sometimes acted the way she did. I found it to be very different than anything else I have read before and that is what I loved about it most.

I found the beginning to be a little slow at first. In the beginning, I found I...more

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Feb 27, 2013 Eileen Ward rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wow. I read this synopsis months ago on Goodreads, and was already ready to read the book! In the spirit of full disclosure, one of my closest friends from college wrote this book, and no matter what, I was going to read it. Luckily, this book is really good. It's so good that I bought it Superbowl Sunday, live 15 minutes away from Raven’s stadium deep in purple country, and wanted to stay home just to read it. Rochelle writes in a really melodic way that sucks you in, and keeps you constantly g...more Wow. I read this synopsis months ago on Goodreads, and was already ready to read the book! In the spirit of full disclosure, one of my closest friends from college wrote this book, and no matter what, I was going to read it. Luckily, this book is really good. It's so good that I bought it Superbowl Sunday, live 15 minutes away from Raven’s stadium deep in purple country, and wanted to stay home just to read it. Rochelle writes in a really melodic way that sucks you in, and keeps you constantly guessing and engaged.

I just finished reading Lisa Mcmann’s Wake series, and in some ways Rochelle’s writing is reminiscent of her puzzle piece story telling style. This method is frequently badly employed where you attempt to keep reading to find out what happened, but then the writing is so convoluted that the puzzle pieces don’t fit together, and some of them are missing or smudged. This book fits together perfectly, and despite being a trilogy, has an actual ending. I hate when you read an entire book, and the ending is some cliffhanger to encourage you to read the next book, and while I’m grumbling about having to read the next book (cause I'm impatient, and of course want to know what happened), I want to smack the author. While this book is very obviously set up to have a sequel, the ending was excellent and I can hug instead of hit my friend.

In the story, a teenager named Jade wakes up, covered in blood with no memory of who is she, or how this happened. She’s constantly battling this odd inner force/consciousness that doesn't jive with her day to day realities and desires. Jade doesn't understand why she has blackouts, draws strange symbols, is terrified of water, and yet is feeling this constant pull over a bridge to to a door in New Orleans. She’s inexplicably attracted to a social misfit named Conner, who himself is attempting to grieve the loss of his beloved father, and fit in at a high school where bullies apparently don’t get in trouble with adults.

The story unfolds as Jade attempts to figure out who she is, Conner attempts to figure out who she is, what she is, and how he feels about her, and you try to figure out when the two of them are going to get together, along with figuring out the above questions. I have to add in here, that don’t like when there are non-protagonist characters in books that aren’t well developed. It takes away from the story for me when the author doesn’t put in the time to develop these side characters. Rochelle did a wonderful job developing them, and I adore the character of Conner’s mother; a grieving widow with a tale of a great love that she and her late husband had. I love the old woman Maman that Jade comes to live with, and wish there had been more background information about her. The bullies in the stories, feel so real that you have a visceral response to them, and start to get angry and frustrated along with the protagonist.

The only criticism of the book I might have are a couple of pacing issues. I’m realizing that one of the most challenging aspects of writing fiction is this understanding of when to include background material and how much. Also, if you don’t want to read the entire book to find out Jade’s secret—too bad. You’re going to be reading two hundred pages, and you’ll love every…single..one of them. And no, I'm not giving it away here.

This book is truly a wonderful piece of work, and I’m so incredibly proud of Rochelle for writing it while working full time and being a mom. She is my hero.
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Feb 15, 2013 Ryan Snyder rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: hmaybe

Where to begin? This book, as you can so obviously see from the excerpt, is not going to be a fairytale. It is dark and there is so much mystery, the book literally pulls you in. I'm not kidding. It seriously takes some effort to put the book down. I NEEDED to know what was gong to happen next.
The dark side of this book makes it new and interesting. Don't get me wrong, some parts or characters will mess you up and you will want to hate them, but those are the same parts that have you rooting fo...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Kazhy (My Library in the Making) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, blog-tour, buy-and-read-again

Actual rating: 4.5

(This review was originally posted at My Library in the Making.)

The only thing I knew before starting to read Ashes & Ice was that the girl had some kind of amnesia, so this one ended up being such a nice surprise for me.

Jade has a dark past that she can't remember. She often wakes up with blood in her hands, not knowing how it got there, and then soon she'd hear about a murder. She knows the answer lies in her memory, but it's always evading her. Connor, on the other hand,...more

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About Rochelle Maya Callen

So you want to know more about me, eh? Well, the short of it is: I grew up with a book under my arm. I frequently read until dawn by flashlight so that no one could see I was up by the light under my door. I scribbled stories in the corners of notebooks and was convinced I would be a novelist one day. And then *BAM* twelve years later it happened!

Hmmm, what happened in that twelve years? I entered...more So you want to know more about me, eh? Well, the short of it is: I grew up with a book under my arm. I frequently read until dawn by flashlight so that no one could see I was up by the light under my door. I scribbled stories in the corners of notebooks and was convinced I would be a novelist one day. And then *BAM* twelve years later it happened!

Hmmm, what happened in that twelve years? I entered high school at thirteen and promptly abandoned my stories and dreams of being a novelist for a path of study that I hoped would make me suitable for political office and would eventually land me in a big white house on Pennsylvania Avenue in D.C. My fervent passion for social & political justice fueled my studies and I did not read a single fiction book (unless my study required) until two years after I graduated college. I worked up to four jobs at a time. Only one stuck: behavioral therapy. I have been a behavioral therapist for the past 8 years and have focused on cases of severe mental illness and autism.

So, how did story telling creep back into my life? I owe it all to my daughter—then in my ever growing pregnant belly—and the fabulous nausea that she insisted on blessing me with. For a period of time, I was so sick that I could barely get out of bed. It was then that I decided to pick up a novel. I fell in love again. I tore through books and read them late into the night. I think my husband worried about me. He would wake up to see me sniffling or laughing or taut with anxiety all because of the book in my hand.

During this time, I found a chapter and character sketch about an extraordinary girl named Jade that I had written at 12 or 13. Those few pages were the catalyst to writing Ashes and Ice. It took years to write. I was so intimidated by the process! It wasn’t until my sister said she would not speak to me if the rough draft wasn’t finished by her birthday (earlier this year). That got me writing!

Now, I am writing every spare moment and have not only the rest of the Ashes and Ice trilogy mapped out, but also three other projects in the works.

I feel incredibly blessed to have found my love of books and writing again. It truly was and is my dream—I had just forgotten about it for a time. And finally, I am living it.
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Quotes from Ashes and Ice

“We cry in our own rooms, remembering a man who will never be here again.The house creaks. Maybe it feels the weight of our grief, maybe the floorboards are buckling because the burden is too heavy.” — 8 people liked it

“Love is a sliver of sunlight peeking through the darkness; a whisper of hope when all is lost.” — 6 people liked it

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Ashes and Ice (Ashes and Ice #1)

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