ICE ON FIRE: DAN STONE

Ice on Fire: Dan Stone

Sometimes life can be very different from what we hoped and expect. At other times we learn that someone in our lives can help us find that we really are or want to be. Colm and Aidan are truly meant for each other but before they can learn that their destiny might be a one, there are many lessons to be learned and many unexpected directions and obstacles in their way. From the author of The Rest of Our Lives comes Ice On Fire. Colm and Aidan are elemental witches each having specific powers the opposite of the other. One can create a frost, ice storm or even freeze an entire town, scene or moment and turn it into something beautiful but cold. Whereas the other can light up a room, create an inferno or even a fire so tense it would take more than 10 firehouses to put it out.

The story centers on Aidan and Colm and perpetuating their bloodlines and how they are supposed to do that is where the intrigue and mystery lies. A book called the Gallagher Book related to Aidan’s family is at the center as we bring in his Aunt Lu who reveals it all but not at once. Gallagher witches have magical powers and a magical lineage as related by Colm our narrator who brings us the story in hi sown words. The sudden appearance of Aidan in his life was exhilarating, exciting and definitely electrifying. When these two are at full power on can create enough heat hotter than an inferno or five alarm five whereas the other and create an Arctic Blast.

Within the confines of their minds something merges them together even more as both have dreams or visions related to seeing someone in their dreams. Colm sees a beautiful woman with red hair and Aidan a blonde. In reality Colm sees Aidan’s mother and Aidan sees Colm’s. What these visions mean and how their deceased mothers come into play and why they play a vital role is where the story takes off in a direction you won’t expect. Enter Hank, who is young, hot and definitely wants to become part of this group. Hank is psychic and he is just coming into his powers learning a lot from Aunt Lu who is also psychic and can see things that will happen in the future. Each of these characters is defined by their powers that are unique to only them and by their strengths, weaknesses, flaws and desires. Each one feeds off the others in order to create a world he can be part of but both Colm and Aidan are headstrong and persistent at times and they go off on hot or freezing cold tantrums that can hurt the other or alienate them from being together.

As Aunt Lu explains Morgan to Colm, her attributes, her talents and her charm she also relates that she was at times easy to read and others impossible. Appearing to both Aidan and Aunt Lu when important things were going to happen in their lives as if to foretell the future. Before Colm met and became partners with Aidan his mother would also appear in his dreams so why are the two worlds colliding?

A dream that would connect things about a room in their apartment in Chicago brings to light what they are supposed to do and then who they need to contact in order for this you might say prophesy to occur. A progeny: Could they create one using both of their DNA’s and who would this happen to preserve their bloodline? Author Dan stone brings to light this very important issue of parenting and a child having two gay parents. The relationship between them is hot and frosty and at times you might want to have a front row seat at they are really amazing together. Aunt Lu is their center and their lives intertwine in so many ways and when she states that they need to allow Hank into their thoughts and minds and release their resistance to him, well he is able to go back in time so far that he learns about their past lives, their connections from before and you have to read the chapter titled: Bless Me Mothers to learn more.

An excursion to Las Vegas would really take things to another level as they have to search from a relative named Rune or does not want to be found. Both Colm and Aidan have self-esteem issues more Colm than Aidan as he at times things he is not good enough, handsome enough or capable enough and when things get hot and steamy and they do, his reaction will turn an entire area, street, arena or more into one huge ice storm. Turbulence the magnitude of a winter storm keeps people spellbound when Colm is around. Aidan inherited his mother’s eyes, her fiery talent and her temperament. He also inherited her magick and her fierce will. But, he also inherited her fierce will, her “perpetual whirl of mind and spirit and desire.” He can even burn through his life although brief and at times even his friends could not keep up with him. But, there is much more as something that Colm sees or should I say what he thinks he sees on Aidan’s cell and who he thinks is reconnecting with him sends him off on a cold frenzy that might leave them both in an entirely different place. As Aunt Lu relates more about their love, their futures and their powers in the chapter titled Testing One Two Three.

Both Colm and Aidan have some really cool powers that I think most of us would love to have too: Going ahead or back in time, freezing people, places and stopping situations with a deep freeze or hot blast. Pages 200=201 will clarify just who they both are and why Aidan feels lost at times and what happened when he was born. The mystery is not yet revealed and will they stay together as Colm goes off in a cold huff and when requested by Aunt Lu to calm down and return they both have to look inside themselves and see what others do: Aidan does not think he is the man his mother would want him to be? Colm needs to look closely at himself and come to grips with his fears and insecurities. An ending you just won’t believe and two men who would do great at solving mysteries with the help of Hank who is totally incredible as they meld or blend their powers into a romance that we hope continues because there is nothing greater than Ice on Fire or even Fire on Ice. Once again author Dan Stone brings to light many issues within this novel filled with twists, turns, magic, love, sadness, joy, hope, understanding and we hope a hot/cold future for these two amazing guys. Will the ties that bind two people tie these two guys or will Colm’s anger freeze their love forever? What about Hank what is next for this great guy and where will his powers take him? Aunt Lu is the center and she takes matters in hand as the author once again reminds everyone that sometimes our elders just might know best!

Fran Lewis: Just reviews/MJ Magazine