Friday Dance Break!

Happy long weekend everyone!

Freedom!

Book Review: Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh

Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

What can I say about this book - other than WOW! I started it and finished it in one day (at 2am) because I couldn't put it down. And then could barely stop for dinner. 4.5 stars out of 5.

If you are a fan of Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series already then you will love this book. If you have not read any of the psy-changeling books before I'm not sure I would recommend you starting with this one. Not because Singh doesn't ground and explain her world well (she does), but mainly because the characters in this novel are ones we have seen and followed over the course of many books so far, and finally getting to see their side of the story is what makes this novel so wonderful. Truly, I would recommend starting with Slave to Sensation, the first book in this series.
Kiss of Snow is book #10 in the Psy-Changeling Series, but they don't need to be read in order, Singh builds her world well and it is easy enough to follow as a new reader.

The shadow war between the Psy Council and the changelings is heating up, with more intrigue, action and altercations in this book. Hawke, the SnowDancer pack leader and alpha is busy trying to keep his wolves safe. However, he is constantly tormented by his attraction for Sienna Lauren, a Psy defector who has been living with SnowDancer for years now. Problematically in this relationship is both Hawke and Sienna's inability to truly trust their emotions and take action on their feelings.

Sienna has this problem because she still holds to part of the Silence protocol because of her Cardinal abilities and also partially because emotions are still new to her. The few mentions of the love Sienna has for the sensual sensory pleasures of food are a very poignant reminder of just how limiting Silence is, and how far Sienna has come since defecting.

Hawke has a few issues with this developing relationship. First and foremost is the fact that he is the pack leader and his pack will always come first. But equally troublesome is his inability to see Sienna as a woman, instead he sees her as the young girl she was when she first came to the pack. Also an issue is Hawke's past and we do learn more about it in Kiss of Snow.

This is a great read. Not only are we dealing with two characters that readers have come to love over previous novels, but they are both equally compelling and complex characters in their own right. Their relationship feels real and true to the characters. Their journey towards each other feels real, tangible and authentic.

The side stories of Walker Lauren and the healer Lara, as well as the continuing relationships of Indigo and Drew, Judd and Brenna, Mercy and Riley and, of course, Lucas and Sascha are an added bonus and a snapshot into the fabulous world that Signh has created with these novels. The slices we see of Sienna interacting with her brother Toby and the other children in the den are sweet and touching. They underscore the true horror of Silence and also how far all of the Lauren's have come.

Kiss of Snow will grab you from the start and not let go, the emotional arc of our two protagonists, the stories that surround them, the intrigue, action and politics, all are stellar and combine to create a wonderful novel. Singh has created a unique and magical world, one that exists not so far off from ours, but with a vibrancy and distinctness that is rare among urban fantasy and romance novels. She is an extraordinary writer, and now I will have to simply wait and see what other fabulous things she has in store for her readers in the future!

(Book 4 of the Guildhunter series, Archangel's Blade , is slated to be released in September, so I don't need to wait too long!)



View all my reviews

Friday Dance Break + A Summer Solstice Holistic Wellness Expo

Craft show tomorrow!
It's been so amazingly busy lately that I completely forgot to post this earlier!
I will be at the Summer Solstice Holistic Wellness Expo tomorrow in Burlington.

There will be 50 great vendors there, from skin-care to crystal healing, from jewelry to chiropractic. It should be a great group of people for a great show!

10am-4pm at the Burlington Holiday Inn and Conference Center - right at Guelph Line and the QEW- 3063 South Service Road.

Live demonstrations of belly dancing, yoga and martial arts. Door prizes to the first 100 attendees and entry is FREE if you bring a non-perishable food item for Halton Food Share program.

I hope to see you there!

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In honor of the first day of summer (even though it's slightly colder than normal) our Friday Dance Break is Gordon Lightfoot singing the Summer Side of Life!

Friday Dance Break!

Because this video is awesome! :)

Happy weekend everyone, and I hope to see you all tomorrow at Barns Art Market - 601 Christie Street, from 9am- 5pm -- and there's a famer's market -- so come on out and peruse some fabulous artists and vendors, and buy some fresh produce from your local Ontario farmers!
Hope to see you there.

The Beaches Arts and Crafts Show!

I'm all packed up and ready to go tomorrow for the 26^th annual Beaches Arts and Crafts Show!

There will be over 130 vendors there, and it will be an amazing two day show!

Saturday June 11 and Sunday June 12 from 10am-6pm in Kew Gardens Park in the Beaches (near Lakeshore Blvd. and Queen Street).

I even have a new product that I will be debuting tomorrow! Rose & Camellia Divine Hydrating Face Cream. Made with organic Hemp seed oil and organic camellia oil, with rose water, neroli water and aloe this cream is chock full of phenomenal goodness for your face.
And your skin will thank you!

I hope to see you there!

Dance Break! And a craft show!

Well, I clearly forgot when Friday was Friday, as I forgot the Friday dance break!
(Can we call it a Sunday Dance Break instead?)

I will be in Aurora, tomorrow, Sunday June 5th for a fabulous street show.
It's the annual Aurora Chamber Street Festival!
11am- 5pm, on Yonge Street in between Edward and Wellington Streets.

500 vendors, musical performances, food, an organ grinder, a YTV play area and more!
Free admission and free parking in the area.
The weather looks to be lovely tomorrow as well - so come on out!

(My booth will be close to the south end of Yonge Street, in between Dunning Avenue and Edward Street on the east side.)

So, in honour of my show in Aurora tomorrow here is Little Big Town with Boondocks, off their second album The Road to Here.
(the video isn't amazing, but the song is!)




Also, I apologize about the lack of new product photos- they're on their way, I promise!