Thank you She Writes Press for allowing me to read and review The Color of Ice A Novel by Barbara Linn Probst on NetGalley.

Published: 10/18/22

Stars: 2.5

Most importantly, my sincerest apologies for the lateness of this review. Where do I start? Do I start with what ruined the book? Easy -- the profanity. Why didn't I like the book? I couldn't relate to it. The pitch would have had me yawn and eye roll right away.

There is the Icelandic scenery, well-described. There are the towns with names that I struggle interpreting. I find myself unable to skim over them. Glass blowing is involved; it's true. I've never read another book with this art/sport.

How's your imagination? Can you come to terms with a dead relationship, keep two children a priority, go on a solo vacation and fall in love all in a few days -- maybe a month. I can't. Unfortunately the personal sides of the story bordered on ridiculous for me, thus leaving me unable to enjoy the lovely writing.

I question the authenticity of the high praises and accolades with so much profanity. Beautiful writing does not include F---. Without all the swearing I would have recommended the book for the scenery and glass blowing.

Traveling to Iceland is on my bucket list. However, if my desire to visit was based on this book, I would probably mark it off the list and find somewhere else to go. Unfortunately, the story was boring, the characters were not well developed, and you only have two of them … so how can you not bring them to life by the end of the story. I am disappointed that this book did not appeal to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

A difference romance read than I normally would be drawn to but that’s what made it a great.

Elegant writing and loved the setting of where it took place. Older main characters compared to your usual younger characters you’re use to in a romance.

Overall really enjoyed this! Would love to read more from this author

The Color Ice by Barbara Linn Probst is my first novel by this author. Just loved the beautiful setting of Iceland which is near the top of my bucket list combined with the art of glassblowing which I knew nothing about. The descriptions of the beautiful landscape made you feel like you were there. And you can almost see the amazing pieces of art created. There is talk of the northern lights, glaciers, waterfalls, what more can you ask for?! Highly recommend this book!

Phenomenal and thought provoking. This is a book that will linger long after you have finished it.
Many thanks to She Writes Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

Sometimes you come across a book that just speaks to your soul. This was one of those stories. It reminded me of Charlotte Mcconaghy's style and I am just such a big fan. This story was a hauntingly beautiful tale about redemption and love.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

This beautifully written book takes readers to Iceland and immerses us in the magnificence of the natural wonders of the country. We see icebergs, fjords, and waterfalls through the eyes of Carolyn, who is a photographer. She has come to interview Mark, a glassblower who is preparing an exhibition of his works based on his vision of icebergs.

Mark teaches Carolyn about the wonders of glass. You can see its surface, its interior, and simultaneously see through it. Can we compare those properties to how we view people?

Of course, we also learn about the backgrounds of Mark and Carolyn. Just as glass and ice have faults, so do people. This is a love story surrounded by beautiful images.

Fascinating story set in Iceland. Full of vivid lovely descriptions of the country, the blue iceberg. It is a spellbinding book.

This was a great book. I loved the landscape, the characters, the romance. I had such admiration for Catherine, so brave to just go after the man she want it. It was a great love story. I hated to see it end. A+ rating. A+ Writing.

It is cold, really cold, when freelance photographer Cathryn McAllister arrives in Reykjavik, Iceland. Known as the smallest big city in the world, this is a tremendous adventure for Cathryn who has spent the last 15 years grieving the loss of her husband or more accurately - the family they were meant to be. Here to photograph the blue icebergs and illustrious glaciers Cathryn has been hired to interview and create a spread for a prominent glassblower named Mack. She has extended this opportunity into a much deserved solo vacation. With her two children grown and her well established client list, at 48 years old Cathryn is desperate for passion and purpose in both her life and work. Upon meeting the handsome burly Mack who is quite reserved, their shoot is completed smoothly and quickly. But something about Mack intrigues Cathryn who has not been infatuated in too many years. The two strike up a friendship and contrary to Cathryn’s meticulous nature she rearranges her itinerary to spend time learning about glassblowing. Cathryn is intrigued and attracted to this enigmatic man. Deep down, for as much as she fears change - she is ready. The Color of Ice is filled with the descriptive allure of Iceland matched perfectly with the intricacies of glassblowing. All senses in overdrive, the reader can see and feel the sharp beauty.

I don’t know about you, but to get me into the holiday spirit I typically start searching for books that are centered around MCs finding themselves and rediscovering what truly makes them happy.
This book checks all those boxes for a great holiday read. You are shipped away to the gorgeous country of Iceland, following the attractive widowed Cathryn when she meets Mack who has her begin to feel alive again.
Beautiful written and vivid imagery, check this one out now!

Beautiful descriptions of Iceland from a photographers point of view. Catherine goes to Iceland for a photo shoot and becomes involved with her subject who is a glass blower. She learns about glass blowing but also about herself, her life, and the lives of her children. It is about growing into ourself or stagnating into what we think we should be.

Catherine McAllister jumps at the chance to photograph a famous glass-blower in action, in the great country of Iceland. She leaves behind her two adult children, hoping they can take care of themselves for a few weeks. Soon she begins a romance with Mack, the artist whom she was sent to interview. Mack awakens in her things that she hasn't dared to dream about in years. As she extends her trip to spend more time with him while things begin to unravel at home. Then her trip ends with a shocking moment.

This was a beautiful story about growth in adulthood, told in the inspiring backdrop of Iceland. The author did a great job describing the scenery in detail as well as intricately describing the basics of glass blowing. I enjoyed Catherine's story and her views of her relationships with her children and her own personal growth. I wish we got to learn a bit more about Mack's feelings about his relationship with her as well as his personal background. It was a bit one-sided but overall was worth the read.

“Ice and glass and light, three portals into an incandescent world. Colorless, yet reflecting every color. Invisible, yet illuminating what was there to be seen.”

Cathryn McAllister, a widow with two grown kids, is a freelance photographer looking for an adventure to spice up her life. 📷 She has decided to spread her wings and take the trip of a lifetime to Iceland, going to photograph and interview Henry Malcolm Charbonneau, aka Mack. Mack is a glassblower from the US who has come to Iceland working on a project to capture the beauty of the icebergs in his glassblowing. 🌬

Even though Cathryn had a whole itinerary planned for Iceland (two days with Mack and eight days of touring), she finds it hard to leave the city Mack is working in. She is fascinated by his work, the glass blowing and "the heating, and shaping, softening and twisting, with an occasional puff of air to give it volume." She also finds him incredibly attractive. So day after day, she stays with Mack, assisting him with his project. Will it work out? Will Cathryn be too much of a distraction? What exactly is her plan for this trip and Mack?

First and foremost, let’s talk about this STUNNING cover. 😍 After seeing it, I immediately went to read the blurb for the book and was intrigued. I was not familiar with glassblowing, so I was excited to read this book to learn more about it. I am a nature freak, so I was already drawn to the fact that the setting was in Iceland. Plus, I love all forms of art. 🎨 I am the chick that goes to the art museum and sits down and stares at paintings for hours. 🖼 So, CALLING all nature and art lovers, this book will be right up your alley.

The writing was absolutely exquisite and I felt like I was right there with Cathryn in Iceland as she took in her surroundings. I liked all of the characters and have to say I started crushing on Mack myself. This book was so majestic, beautiful, and breathtaking. It is about love, redemption, self care, and forgiveness. Prior to this book, I had already added “Queen of the Owls” to my TBR list. I'm pushing it up on my TBR list after reading this. 4.5 beautiful ⭐️'s

“If you were an artist, you saw things differently-not only for what they were, but for what else they could mean and be.”

THE COLOR OF ICE is a story told against a rich tapestry, literary travel to the mysterious landscape of Iceland. I only saw the airport when I flew Icelandic year ago, and now I want to see more, including Northern lights. Online searches added to the visuals in my mind from Probst’s gorgeous descriptions. The glaciers are wondrous, blue from the immense pressure, with fractures and dramatic breaking, calving with amazing force.
The story is equally complex, two people connecting through the magic of shaping glass, a liquid that becomes mostly solid, transparent but containing threads of color that don’t mix, requiring full attention but also the knowledge of when to separate.
There’s a metaphor there, a mother learning to let her children stand on their own and solve problems themselves, an artist learning to put her own art first. Being human means facing all our complexities, mistakes, and acts of courage, the whole of ourselves. Grateful for an exciting trip, life lessons, and meeting fictional people who now feel real.

I've read all of Barbara Linn Probst's books. Each is wonderful and very heartwarming. Emotional. So good. This one is my new favorite though. This book was just so good. It is full of emotion. Full of growing and learning. Full of the things that I love in a good book. The characters are great. Very relatable and endearing. The art of glass blowing is something that has always fascinated me. I always wondered how it was done.

The descriptions in this book make you feel like you are in the room with this artist. Mack called himself an artisan but I see him as a true artist. The things he could do with glass sound wonderful. Amazing. Beautiful. Set in Iceland among all the icebergs it's a truly wonderful story. Mack is so talented and he is hurting too. He has held on to his pain and possibly released it a bit in his work. In the pieces he makes. Possibly.

Cathryn is in Iceland to take photos of Mack's work and of Mack himself. It's a job for her and could possibly lead to a bit more. Cathryn has not had the best of luck. Her husband was killed and for many years she has held guilt because of that. Her two children are somewhat spoiled brats in ways. At least her son is. Her daughter is a little bit aloof toward her. While she is in Iceland they both have to deal with some things on their own and possibly grow up a bit.

The chemistry between Mack and Cathryn is strong. Even though he's a bit of a loner and will not stay all night with her the chemistry is there. He's holding in some pain and Cathryn knows it. Of course so is she. When they are able to open up and share things get easier.

This book is beautiful. Truly beautiful. Lesson's learned. Hurts dealt with. Emotions shared. Both of the main characters are broken. For a while they do need each other. For a lifetime of hurt a little bit of just being is great. Cathryn needs to grow in her own way just as her daughter does. Mack needs to let go of something so he can move on. This is truly a wonderful book. It will make you stop and think about life. About the beautiful things we may not normally pay attention to. A child playing with a boat. A boy on a cliff. A man and woman both enjoying the beauty in an iceberg. The beauty in the perfect piece of blown glass. This book will shatter you and pull you back together. It's just truly a good one. One of the best I have read this year.

Thank you #NetGalley, #BarbaraLinnProbst, #SheWritesPress for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book and I feel I fell short.

5 huge stars and the very highest recommendation. Have lots of Kleenex. You will need them.

I have always wanted to travel to Iceland. It seems like a beautiful and mysterious place with glaciers, rugged landscapes, and icy seas. The rich, detailed descriptions within this book have confirmed my longings.

The plot follows Cathryn, a freelance photographer who travels to Iceland to do a photo shoot about an artist, Mack, who specializes in glassblowing.

What follows is a story steeped in the art of glassblowing and the wonders of natural beauty too.

As for Cathryn’s journey, she was widowed young and raised two kids alone. She went to Iceland on a job assignment, but meeting Mack changed her itinerary and helped reset her heart's compass.

𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤, 𝘝𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦!

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @getredprbooks for a spot on tour and a gifted ebook.

✈️ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 #𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬?

The Color of Ice by Barbara Linn Probst is such a beautiful poignant story. Her writing and words are filled with awe and grace. Five Beautiful Blue Glass Stars!

Cathryn has been asked to travel to Iceland to photograph a very talented glass blower. She decides to turn this trip into a much needed vacation. But, as we all know, life throws us curve balls.

I loved Cathryn from the start. She has been just existing in her life for a while. So, she has decided to do for her and this vacation is sort of a life changing decision. Then she meets Mack, the glass blower, and sparks do not fly. Their connection smolders and slowly grows into an undeniable bond.

Now, at first, I was not a big fan of Mack. I found him borderline rude. But, his gruffness grew in me. And his talent is something else! I loved learning about the glass blowing process. I figured this would be a boring part of the book. But, this author is powerful in her descriptions.

This was very close to a 5 star read for me. The plot is just a little thin. But my word, the scenery and the prose! It just keeps you coming back for more! I fell for Iceland and much as I did this story. It is now in my bucket list!

Need a good love story about resilience and strength with a fabulous setting…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the author for a honest review.