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ICING ON THE LAKE
Beach reads for snow bunnies–our wildly popular beach reads expand to winter! The author of Maine Squeeze is back with another funny, romantic novel, this time in the snow.
Stop. Stop! I commanded my skates.
"Look out!" I cried, seconds before I nearly smashed into a group of boys. Instead, I opted just to fall onto the snowbank, my legs crumpling beneath me, landing on my hip and lurching backward. Very smooth, Kirsten, I thought. Could I go home now? I'd had about as much embarrassment as I could take for one morning.
"Come on, girls," one of the boys said as he skated over toward us.
"Sure, where are we going?" my friend Jones (whose real name is Bridget, but no one calls her that) said under her breath to me as she helped me up from the ice. "I think I could follow him just about anywhere."
I fought back a laugh. Jones was right: Official Rink Guy, whoever he was, was extremely cute, but he also looked like steam might come out of his ears at any moment.
Then again, we were all sort of steamy, which sounds sexy, but wasn't, because it was only due to the fact that it was 12 degrees outside -- and everyone steams in that cold. Dogs' breath can be seen from a mile away, especially when they're sled dogs running across the frozen tundra --
Okay, so this wasn't Alaska, and this wasn't the Iditarod -- it was just Minneapolis, Minnesota, on your average late-December day.
And it was a gorgeously sunny day, which meant it was extra cold. We were at the park near my sister's house, which happens to have a huge cleared skating area, as well as a couple of enclosed rinks. The lake had some scattered ice fishing houses, which looked strange to me -- the last time I was here, I'd hung out on the beach and built sandcastles with my nephew Brett.
The rink guy still stood there glaring at us with disapproval. He had a whistle on a chain around his neck, and he was wearing a red sports-team type jacket with the name Sean stitched on the front, sort of like a varsity letter jacket. Sean -- I liked that name. He had blond hair, brown eyes, and was seriously tall. But then everyone looks taller on skates. Anyway, he didn't look cold in the twelve-degree, wind-chill-of-five weather. He wasn't even wearing a hat or gloves.
"Be a little more careful, okay? That's all I ask," he said.
"Careful? We are being extremely careful," Jones replied as she brushed snow off my back. (The good skaters never have snow on their backs.) "Have we killed anyone yet?"
"No, but there are lots of little kids skating here -- I don't want anyone to get hurt," he said.
"But if the adults get hurt, that's okay?" Jones said.
He smiled, and his whole face went from semi-tough-looking to very-gorgeous. "You're funny. But no. That wouldn't be too cool, either. Just take it easy. Don't do anything crazy, okay?"
He shook his head and skated off to rejoin his friends, or should I say, co-skating-rink rule enforcers. They were circling the skating area as a group, as if they were the rink police of south Minneapolis, on the lookout for skating crimes. I kept my eyes trained on Sean for a lap. Watching someone that comfortable on his skates really impressed me. He was skating so fast, completely in control, and he looked good doing it, too. He had to be an awesome hockey player.
My friend Emma was a good skater, too, but me? Not so much. I was more into soccer and softball. When we went skating and played Crack the Whip, like today, I just held on for dear life and hoped for the best.
"He's very good-looking, but he needs to lighten up," Jones complained as she, too, watched the guys skating around. "Hasn't he ever seen people play Crack the Whip?"
"Maybe it's not a big thing here," I suggested. "Maybe there are different rink rules or something."
"Yeah, well, 'Crack the Whip' does sound a little . . . iffy. Doesn't it?" Jones asked.
"Iffy how?" I asked.
"A little sadistic. That's all I'm saying."
I punched Jones lightly on the arm. "You're the only one who would think that."
"Thank you." She took a deep bow, which made her wobble a little on her skates. "Whoa. That's harder than it looks. End of the Non-Stars on Ice show."
"Look at Emma," I said. "Speaking of stars on ice."
She was doing a spin, and the guys that we were watching had stopped skating to watch her.
"She's taken!" Jones pretended to yell across the ice, her hand cupped around her mouth. Then she sighed. "It must be difficult to be gorgeous and talented."
"Let me tell you about it," I said.
"Ha!" She laughed.
We call our friend Emma "Emma Dilemma" because everything eventually becomes a giant problem with her -- even the tiniest, most inconsequential things, like what to order for lunch or what shoes to wear. She's beautiful and sweet and has a tendency to be undecided, which is a bad combination because she always has some boyfriend or other pining for her while she goes out with another guy because she thinks she should give him a chance, too.
She constantly comes to her friends for advice. It can drive you nuts at times, but she makes up for it by being really nice and thoughtful. She never forgets important days for you, she's always bringing little gifts, and donating her slightly-used clothes and shoes (and boys) to charity -- meaning me and Jones, because Crystal, who completes our group of four, has a serious boyfriend.
Crystal, meanwhile, was tilting her face to the sun, hoping to feel some warmth. Crystal had a gigantic winter coat that always made me think of Kenny on "South Park" -- it's orange, with a big cone-like hood around her head that looks like an old diving helmet, only it has fur around the edges. Crystal and her family moved here from Colorado last year and she still hasn't adjusted to the low temps and the occasional four-day lack of sunshine.
Continues...
Excerpted from Icing on the Lake by Catherine Clark Copyright © 2006 by Catherine Clark. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
OMG! I love this book. It was the cutest thing like ever! This is definitely a book I would read over and over again. It was funny, sexy, and romantic. If you read this book I promise you WON'T be sorry! It's great. Just about the best book I've ever read. Read it with your friends if you can. It'll surely have you laughing for hours. PLEASE, PLEASE READ!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Hey everyone it's readingluvr68 here. This book was amazing!!! It is one of my favorite books! It has romance, comedy, and well liked characters! I would DEFINITELY recommend this book!!!!!! If you have read and like the books I have recommended below then you will definitely love this book! If you have read this book and have not read the ones below you will love them! Have a great day!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 23, 2008
Kirsten is a shy girl, who is stuck in Minneapolis, Minnesota helping her sister Gretchen, who broke her leg, with her nephew Brett and just trying to keep Gretchen happy. Kirsten is just trying to get through this snowy January, but her friends tell her that she must find a date for Groundhog Getaway. The pressure is coming on strong, until she thinks she has found the one. Sean, the popular hockey player, seems to be interested in her, but when she asks him about the trip he seems uneasy to go. Then Kirsten meets an obnoxious boy named Connor, who seems to be mean and sarcastic all the time. But then Connor seems to be kind of cute in his own way. On a winding ride Kirsten has to decide who will truly be the one. Icing on the Lake had good and bad things about it. I really liked how crazy the book was when you didn¿t know what she would do next. I also liked it when Kirsten would get nervous or do something odd in front of the two boys because it showed that she was a normal girl and not some perfect teenager. I didn¿t like it when Kirsten was leading Sean on because it was really something no one should do. Another thing I didn¿t like was how Kirsten assumed everything because it made her look like she was full of herself sometimes. I thought that Icing on the Lake was a very good book. I would recommend this book to teenage girls because it¿s a romance novel. If you enjoy this book, you will also enjoy Catherine Clark¿s other books such as So Inn Love, Main Squeeze, or Better Latte than Never. Although you hear about this kind of crisis of one girl choosing between two guys often in books and movies, Icing on the Lake has its own twist and moments that will keep you reading until the end.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 1, 2011
I loved this book. One night i read about 100+ pages because i just couldn't put it down. I read up until 11 pm that night and had to force myself to stop or i would be up all night trying to finish it.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This was a cute little read and I liked it a lot! I thought how it ended was great and I'm glad how it all turned out! Would I recommend this book to anyone; yes!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.sassyreader-syd
Posted November 15, 2009
I Also Recommend:
This was not one of my favorite books because i found the writing to be a bit too flat. There was much drama but Mrs. Clark just doenst grab my attention anymore...I perfer Rachel Hawthorne.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.it's a great read. very entertaining, and always leaving you wanting more,the whole situation is very interesting it keeps you wondering about whats going to happen next,i finished the book in one day it was amazing i loved every second of iiiittt !!! xD
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 16, 2009
I Also Recommend:
loved how it ended it was a fun story to read.
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Posted February 26, 2009
Heart warming
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 30, 2008
i love this book so much, if you haven't read it yet then i definetly reccomend it to you. i love the story line how its set in the winter and everything about it, in the beginning i wanted kirsten to go out with sean but im glad she ended going out with connor. READ THIS BOOK!
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 26, 2007
I loved this book. I highly recommend this it. I never wanted it to end.
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Posted January 4, 2008
This book was awesome! There were a lot of twists and turns that keep you on the edge, and make you want to keep reading. An awesome winter book, especially when you live near snow.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 5, 2007
This book is so far my favorite!!! It has amazing rising actions, climax, and resolution. I read it very quickly even though I'm a slow reader and I couldn't put the book down.
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Posted August 23, 2007
This book is so awesome!! It's the perfect mix of romance and embarrassment that totally relates to everyone!!! I've read it twice!!
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Posted August 30, 2007
This book was SO good, but after you start reading a lot of these types, the endings are pretty much predictable. Anyway, 'Icing on the Lake' was an amazing book, taking place in Minneapolis, Minnesota during the oh-so-cold months of winter. Kirsten is staying with her sister Gretchen because Gretchen broke her leg in a skiing accident, and she has a 3 or 4 year old son--Gretchen is divorced. Kirsten is a REALLY smart, so she is finishing up the school year via internet. Some other characters are in the book too. You have Sean, the ice rink cutie who Kirsten falls for. But then she gets some other notions after something whacky happened. Then you have Conner, Sean's brother. Conner is more like a friend of Kirsten's, although they critisize and argue a lot...he's really the only friend she has out in Minneapolis. over all, this book is AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :^)
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Posted April 5, 2007
but the events leading up to the ending were cute and great. Despite the obvious ending, though, it's a good book to read when you have nothing to do. It's like having a fling...except, it's with a book with a cliche ending.
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Posted March 10, 2007
Icing on the lake is an amazing book i loved it! i couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this book.
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Posted February 6, 2007
I loved this book. I admit, at the beginning it was a little boring, but once you get going it's the best. It just had magic if you know what I'm talking about. I just had this glow about it. Two thumbs up! Read it. Highly recommended. PS- You shouldn't be an idiot and skip to the end. 'hint hint'.
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Posted November 9, 2006
i thought that this book was fabulous. catherine clark's book makes you laugh and makes your heart break at some points but at the end there starts to be a flip-flop that i didn't expect and that made the book even better. i give it two HUGE thumbs up.
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Posted July 24, 2006
alright, this book didn`t exactly catch me in the beginning. i mean i`m all for the kind of books that jump right into the plot and let me figure out what the characters are like rather than being explained about the characters. but other than that i loved this book. it was cute how connor always 'followed' Kirsten so she was okay. funny how the 'benson boys' would fight over her, really made me laugh.
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Overview
ICING ON THE LAKE
Beach reads for snow bunnies–our wildly popular beach reads expand to winter! The author of Maine Squeeze is back with another funny, romantic novel, this time in the snow.