This was an intriguing and thought provoking read for me. At its heart, it is about two people who are attracted to each other in part because they are both haunted by the past. The two artists reacted to their own tragedies very differently. Cathryn kept her photography at a distance, using it only as a way to make money. Meanwhile, Mack buried himself in his glasswork as a way to protect himself from feeling anything else. Together, they finally begin to take steps toward healing. Even if they were never meant for anything long term.

I like the different opinions presented in this book about art: what it is (or isn’t), what it means, and how it affects both those who experience it and the artists themselves. Here are a couple of my favorite art quotes from the book:

“Looking, experiencing, getting to know the thing you want to portray. That’s half the work…The other half is transforming it into your own incarnation of what you’ve seen.”

“An artist could love anything, by really seeing it. Penetrating, and then revealing, the life within.”

I wasn't ready for the emotional waves this book would bring out of me!

I loved the setting of Iceland and the way the author would describe it was just absolutely breathtaking! I just felt like I could see all that was described and it makes me want to travel there now. The things I got to learn about glassblowing, through Mack in this story, were so great. It really is an impressive art form.

Now I loved the journey that our MC Cathryn goes through. Though at times it was hard to fully appreciate how she interacted with her kids, I love the growth that she experienced while away in Iceland with Mack. This story has so many emotional depths to it and the burdens that our two MCs carry with them are life altering. It was a magnificent novel that I'm so glad to have read.

This book is beautifully written.

I know I need to say more so I’ll elaborate.

The book is set in Iceland and if you never thought about going there you will be immediately booking a trip after reading the descriptions of the land, the people, and some of the legends.

The Art of glassblowing is essential to this story and it’s process for the creation of those pieces is illustrated in such a way that I felt like I was in the room while the art was being formed.

The plot itself is thoughtful and will touch the heart of many as the reader gets to experience the transformation of the main character, Cathryn McAllister.

Cathryn isn’t the only character that will touch you. I loved how we get to experience the subtle change in the relationship between Cathryn’s adult children all while they are back home and Cathryn is in Iceland.

And now on to Mack, the glassblower who is the catalyst for Cathryn. Cathryn goes to Iceland partly to interview Mack for a job assignment, but the pull Mack has on her makes her change her entire itinerary and so much more.

After the accidental death of her cheating husband years ago, Cathryn McAllister turned her love of photography from the artistic to the commercial, becoming a freelance photographer to support her two young children. She lost sight of herself to motherhood and responsibilities but now that her children are grown (although her youngest admittedly relies on her too much) she takes an assignment in Iceland to photograph a famous glassblower attempting to capture the essence of the blue icebergs in his art. After the assignment, she plans to tour the country's iconic sights on a month long vacation. After meeting the enigmatic artist however and being allowed a glimpse into his world, she is reluctant to continue on. As she spends time in his studio she unexpectedly finds herself falling for him. And seeing his devotion to his art creates a yearning in herself for the passion of her own lost creativity. But with his secret past and the pain she glimpses in his eyes, can he ever feel the same?
The writing in this book was wonderful, describing the beautiful scenery of Iceland and the fascinating art of glassblowing. Mack spoke so eloquently about his artwork and I love how Cathryn interpreted that into her own life and experiences. Mack seemed so closed off, admitting early on that he was a hermit and frequently offended people, but by the end I could feel how much he cared for her. I was so shocked and heartbroken at the ending.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Barbara's writing is so beautiful that her stories become a unique and unforgettable journey. The flaws of her characters along with the grace she gives them as they move through life stages is very moving. Her elegant descriptions of Iceland and the art of glassblowing made me feel like I was sharing the experience. It's lyrically breathtaking.

The Color of Ice by Barbara Linn Probst was my first book by this author and hopefully, it won’t be my last. Let me give you a word of advise before you dive into this book. Please take your time. In my opinion this is not a book you want to fly through just to get it done or because it is so good. Take your time or go back and read it again. This book is packed full of wisdom. Words we all need to hear at one time or another.

This is such a truly beautiful story. It has a lot to do with relationships on so many levels. Cathryn is the main character. She is a widow who on a whim travels to Iceland to do a photo shoot of a a glassblower named Mack. She is a freelance photographer and winds up spending a bit of time with him learning about glassblowing.

Cathryn has children from her late husband who are grown and for the most part on their own. They are back in the United States going through their own tribulations and in the process finally growing closer to one another. So far we have possible romantic relationships and sibling relationships. Cathryn meets a woman at a botanical park that is also a different kind of a relationship in this book. There are also the long term business relationships she has developed over the years. I love the explorations of relationships and how they change.

She also brought me along to a beautiful country I have never visited before either in my life or in a book. She describes the beauty in Iceland and makes you feel like you are on the trip with her. Her journey along the roads and the places she ends up are little gems in the book that I enjoyed. Even the trip through a very long one lane, two way tunnel. Oh my! Hang on to your seats.

If you haven’t read anything by Barbara Linn Probst, I highly recommend this book and I will at some point go back and read her other books. She is a gem. She will make you feel what her characters are feeling and let you go where they go. That is a gift that is not possessed by all authors. Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, #Netgalley and #SheWritesPress. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Barbara Linn Probst knows emotion, and she knows how to describe emotion. This is a romance for mature adults. By that, I don’t mean that it’s full of bad language and wild sex. Yes, there’s sex, but you have to travel through the emotions of two adults who find one another as people, as artists, before they find each other as lovers.
Cathryn, mother of two young children, discovers her husband has been having an affair. She sends him out in her car so she can think what to do, but while he is out, there is a terrible accident and he dies. Sorting out her remorse changes her.
She is a photographer who then gives up photography as an art and pursues photography as a career. Fifteen years later, she is hired for an assignment to photograph and write about a glass artist who is at a lagoon full of icebergs in southwest Iceland. She thinks she’ll spend some vacation time there as well. But when she meets the artist, she finds him irresistibly complicated and surprising.
The rest of the story chronicles them both being drawn into a passionate, but equally complicated affair. Along the way, she is learning about glass art and experiencing a tug back to photographic art.
Barbara Linn Probst is an author I have never read before, but I will certainly look for her now. Not only is she an excellent painter of emotion, but also she is a thorough researcher. Having just been to Iceland and specifically to Akureyri myself, I know that her descriptions are accurate. They are also carefully used to enhance the storyline.
I was intrigued from the start, and now am happy I had the chance to read this book. I can recommend it wholeheartedly.

I was provided a free copy of this book from @netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Cathryn has had a difficult time since her husband died years ago, leaving her with two kids to raise. Now that they are grown she decides to do something outside of her norm and take a job photographing a glass artist in Iceland as he gathers inspiration for his next project. It is supposed to be a quick interview, followed by some much needed vacation time, but there is something about Mack, and his creative process that makes her change her plans. As she continues to take more steps away from what's expected, she realizes how she has lost herself over the years.
There was something about this book I didn't really connect with (hence the three star review) and I'm not positive about what it is. I didn't understand the connection between Cathryn and Mack and some of their decisions didn't make sense to me. It could be due to my being at a different period of life compared to them (although we didn't get a great sense of how old Mack is). I don't know, it wasn't a bad book, and I enjoyed hearing about Iceland and the glass blowing process, but I couldn't understand some of the decisions Cathryn was making. Or why certain things were suddenly a big deal.
It is set to be published tomorrow, so if it sounds like an interesting book to you, add it to your TBR and pick it up tomorrow!
#TheColorOfIce #NetGalley

I adore this authors books and this was so amazing! I loved that it took place in Iceland. This story was so profound. The characters were so warm and I fell in love with them right from the first page! Highly highly recommend

There are so very many things I loved about this amazing read. It started with the majestic setting…the incredible glaciers and thermal hot pools, under the beautiful flickering Northern Lights. The descriptive passages make you feel as if you are right there seeing these incredible sights. Add to that, Cathryn McAllister, a photographer who seems lost and unfulfilled in her own solitary life, who gradually comes to life changing decisions as she begins a photo shoot with Mack, a glassblower, working on a unique project. Their story together is full of secrets, beautiful moments and heartbreaking moments. Their relationship seemed so realistic given their backgrounds. Her relationship with her two children also rings so true and adds another layer of emotion to the story.
The ending was so very emotional…powerful writing indeed. Many many thanks to Barbara Linn Probst for opening my eyes to the beauty of Iceland, She Writes Press, and NetGalley for providing me the pleasure of reading an arc of this amazing read, to be published on October 18th.

The Color of Ice is a story of love and finding yourself set in Iceland.

Cathryn is a freelancer photographer who just picked up an assignment in Iceland to photograph an artist who wants to capture Iceland's blue icebergs in glass. She decides to take a solo vacation as well as she has put her children and career ahead of herself. After she meets Mac the glassblower, she throws her carefully planned itinerary aside to spend a few extra days with him...

First, this book has me wanting to go to Iceland. I've always wanted to go but the descriptions had me booking a flight for tomorrow! This book is beautifully written and I liked seeing seeing Cathryn put herself first. I loved learning about glassblowing as I've always wanted to take a class on it too! I really liked the parallels in this book too glassblowing, icebergs and love.

I enjoyed this book and if you're a fan of women's fiction I'll think you'll enjoy it too!

This beautiful book is a must read! It's such an emotional story that gave me all the feels. I absolutely loved the setting of Iceland and the writing was so descriptive that I could clearly picture it all. Cathryn was very relatable to me. For countless years I had so many responsibilities that I was basically going through the motions to get everything done. I'm thankful to be in a much more peaceful chapter of my life and really enjoyed reading about this chapter of Cathryn's life where she learned to let go of her itinerary and embrace opportunities along the way. I also enjoyed reading about Mack and his creative and artistic abilities as well as learning about his past that closed him off from others for many years.

The Color of Ice by Barbara Linn Probst is a beautifully written story with such elegant literary prose.

I was transported to Iceland in this story. Having never been there, the descriptions of the icebergs and the lush landscapes of Iceland fully immersed me in the story.

Cathryn is a well written, complex protagonist on a journey of healing and taking chances.

Cathryn is a freelance photographer who goes to Iceland to photograph the Icebergs and meets Mack who is a glass blower who is attempting to replicate the icebergs as glass-blown creations.

I loved the description of Mack's work area where he does the glass blowing. Previous to reading this book, I did not know much about glass blowing, and the description was so enlightening and exciting.

There was so much to enjoy and LEARN about in this book. I loved reading about the Viking stories as well as the Icebergs, photography and glassblowing.

The conversations and the romance were beautiful.

This book is so well written, I loved every minute.

The ending was incredible and completely unexpected.

This is a book not to be missed!!!!

Photographer Cathryn goes on an assignment to Iceland and then plans her first vacation in years. She meets glassblower, Mack, and they spend a lot of time together.
The story itself was ok. At various points the narrative dragged and it was slow going. I thought her children needed to mature and be less reliant upon Cathryn. They cause a huge problem which I would have blown a gasket, but she was very zen over it.
The best part about this Book were all the vivid hues and descriptions of the wonders of Iceland. It’s become quite the tourist spot and I hope to one day visit it.

Cathryn McAllister is a mother of two young adults. She's 48 years old, a widow and is a commercial photographer who has never been able to pursue her desire to create art. An exciting job opportunity provides Cathryn with the chance to travel to Iceland to photograph the work of Henry Malcolm (Mack) Charbonneau, a talented glassblower. Mack plans to capture the essence of the majestic blue icebergs in his work. Cathryn decides to take extra time after her work commitment to see the area attractions. Once in Iceland, the setting and Mack himself awaken a passion that has lay dormant in Cathryn for a long time. While her children keep contacting her from home with their troubles, Cathryn finally focuses on herself. She acknowledges that, "𝘏𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵." Cathryn realizes that not only is she falling for Mack but is also loving the woman she is becoming.

The Color of Ice is a beautiful work of lyrical prose. It is a quiet, emotional book that delves into one woman's journey for self-discovery and second chances. Author Barbara Linn Probst's excellent descriptions of the many attractions and settings in "The Land of Fire and Ice" will send you searching for more information on Iceland's rugged landscapes and scenery which serve as the perfect backdrop for the reawakening of a woman whose daughter referred to her as the Snow Queen. Take your time with this moving book and you will be rewarded.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘖𝘧 𝘐𝘤𝘦 is a timeless tale which speaks about the complexities of life though, mostly, it's a story about learning to live all over again and opening your heart to the world but first giving yourself the space and allowing yourself the time to grieve your past.

- ~ -

I don't exactly want to give a detailed synopsis but the story follows Cathryn who is a photographer and has coupled her vacation to Iceland as a business trip. She's been hired to capture a glass blowing artisan - Mack, but his personality which contradicts his booming laugh also manages to capture her heart. So as she spends her trip assisting Mack and learning the technicalities of glass blowing, she also learns to reconnect with her children while emphasizing her past self.

To be honest, my heart wasn't in the story until the last bit because there was way too much emphasis on artistic expression but despite my disinterest the story managed to tear me up.

So all I really have to say is that it's a great story but which I unfortunately didn't connect to much but hope to revisit some day with better life experience and an open heart.

- ~ -

3.87 / 5✩

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 & 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘥. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

The Color of Ice by Barbara Linn Probst is a beautifully written book about one woman’s journey to find her way back to herself and her passions. Ultimately, it is a story of reawakening, healing, love, and finding meaning in the path we choose, as well as the path that is sometimes forced upon us.

If you are captivated by this gorgeous cover, just wait until you read the prose! Probst’s writing is exquisite as she describes in detail both the natural beauty of icebergs and the landscape of Iceland. I was completely absorbed in the setting and could vividly picture everything from Iceland’s otherworldly “Diamond Beach” to Mack’s glassblowing studio. I also loved the author’s notes at the end where she included links to look up the images that served as some of her inspiration.

One of the central themes of this book is art, and some of my favorite scenes were the philosophical conversations between Cathryn and Mack about art, especially about the differences between an artist and an artisan. I love how Cathryn was a true artist, which gave her character so much depth, and was also an interesting counterbalance to Mack’s frustrations with finding the essence of the ice within the glass, despite his skill as a glassblower. As Cathryn begins to become more present and open up, I think it's her view of the world as an artist that puts her on the path back to her true self. Her insights on “scale”, both in photography and in life, really hit home for me.

There is so much to love about this book, but the only thing holding it back from a 5-star read for me is the romance, and Mack himself. He was so frustratingly distant sometimes that I never really ended up liking him as a character, or the two of them together. I was much more emotionally invested in Cathryn and her relationship with her children. As a mother myself, I found this story line to be relatable and very compelling.

Overall, this is a captivating, beautifully written novel that I read in two sittings. I love when a book teaches me something new, and this one taught me several - from glassblowing to icebergs, to Viking folklore! Despite some heartbreak and grief, there is a profound message of hope and that it's never too late to find your way back to yourself and those you love. I would highly recommend this for a book club pick, as it would generate a lot of interesting discussion on a variety of topics and themes.

Thank you to Barbara Linn Probst, She Writes Press, and NetGalley for this ARC!

This is my first novel with Iceland as the setting and I was blown away by how descriptive the author was in describing the landscape. I loved reading about the glass blowing and the different experiences Iceland offers. While I personally connected with the setting more than the characters I appreciated their deeper conversations connecting the art of glass blowing with life advice. Without getting Mack’s POV the relationship did seem one sided but the ending changed my thinking completely. It was both heartbreaking but heartwarming at the same time. A story about rediscovering a passion, love, loss, and finding beauty unexpected ways.

Thank you @barbara_linn_probst @getredprbooks @netgalley and @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy.

Cathryn is a freelance photographer who travels to Iceland to work with an artist who wants to do a piece about the blue icebergs. She plans to travel the beautiful country on her own after her work is done. Cathryn was widowed very young and meeting Mack the artist is reminding her of who she used to be.

Barbara has another winner on her hands. This books location is an added character and really enhances the story. Cathryn is a deep, well rounded character that we see open up as she gets to know Mack more.

I went to Iceland a few years ago and it was such an incredible country! If you have the opportunity to go, you should absolutely see it. It’s incredibly beautiful and had amazing food. Plus you must see the Blue Lagoon!

Thank you so much to @suzyapprovedbooktours, @barbara_linn_probst and @shewritespress for my gifted copy.

Cathryn was in control. After the accidental death of her philandering husband, she had to be. She walked away from the art photography she was working on for a career as a photographer for hire. She raised her two children. Sometimes she had a fling, but no love affairs.

Her new assignment was to interview and photograph a glass blower who was in Iceland preparing for his new series. She decided she would stay on after the interview and take a rare holiday. See the sights.

Things change after meeting Mac. Mac is maddeningly distant, maddingly attractive to Cathryn. She finds excuses to return to his borrowed workroom, watching him create his series inspired by the blue glaciers of Iceland,, and then helping out, then shown how to work with the glass herself. Sometimes, it seems Mac likes her, but he shuts down inexplicitly. He has his secrets.

But so does Cathryn. She has tamped down all the anger and sorrow for years; it would be a luxury she can’t afford. But surrounded by Iceland’s otherworldly, stark beauty and engaging in a lustful fling with Max, Cathryn finds she likes this freer self. When the kids call with problems, she offers her support but lets them solve the problems themselves. She is evolving. And so is Max, who finally tells his story.

Art and the creative process is central to Max and Cathryn’s lives. Max’s work to create his iceberg glass series is described in detail. Cathryn doesn’t like being a mere helper in Max’s process and wonders if she could return to creative photography again. She makes hard decisions, for the first time considering personal fulfillment over safety. The ‘Snow Queen,’ as her daughter calls her, is melting.

The novel is filled with descriptions of Iceland’s most beautiful vistas, ice tunnels, hot mud pots, and blue ice glaciers.

“If I’ve learned anything over the years,” Max says, “it’s that you need to let an experience transform inside you before you can translate it into an object.” That applies to all creative processes–including recreating oneself. Cathryn takes what she has learned in Iceland and blossoms into a healthier version of herself.

Cathryn’s growth makes her a better person, a better mother, and allows her to embrace her art.

Probst once again offers an inspiring novel about a woman’s personal growth and the role of art in a fulfilling life.

I received a free egalley from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.