Heart of Ice

Tangled Tales #7

by Elizabeth Rose

A cursed knight. A cold-hearted queen. Will the flames of love be enough to melt the barriers between them?

A cursed knight:
MacKay is the last of the de Bar siblings to be cursed by the evil witch, Hecuba. In an attempt to stop her, he breaks her magic mirror. But when a piece of it embeds into his chest, strange things begin to happen. Hecuba has banished him to an island with a wicked ruler, Lady Eira Koldottir, known as the Snow Queen. In this frozen land, because of the shard of dark magic stuck in his heart, MacKay sees all that is good as evil, and all that is evil looks good.

Eira has been betrayed one too many times in her life. After losing her family, she is not about to lose her castle and land as well. She prepares her army for the attack of a man who was once her betrothed. Vengeance and hatred fill her heart. Eira doesn’t want to be close to anyone. But once a stranger appears on her island she starts to change her mind. The meaner she is to MacKay, the more the man seems to like her. It makes her furious, but at the same time she finds herself intrigued by the handsome Sir MacKay de Bar.

It takes a cursed man to make Eira realize just how lonely she really is. Will her heart of ice melt with the attention and compliments coming from MacKay who is attracted to her dark side? Can love save them and fill the void of loneliness before dark magic dooms them both to lives they will someday regret?

This is book 7 of the Tangled Tales Series. Although there are recurring characters throughout the series, each book can also be read as a standalone.

Books in the Tangled Tales Series:

Lady and the Wolf (Red Riding Hood) Book 1
Just a Kiss (Frog Prince) Book 2
Beast Lord (Beauty and the Beast) Book 3
Touch of Gold (Rumpelstiltskin) Book 4
Lady in the Tower (Rapunzel) Book 5
A Perfect Fit (Cinderella) Book 6
Heart of Ice (Snow Queen) Book 7

Genres: Romance, Retellings, Paranormal, Audiobook

194 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2022

About the author

Elizabeth Rose is the author of medieval, paranormal, fantasy and contemporary novels. While based on romance, her novels have complex plots, action and suspense. She loves writing bad boy tortured heroes and empowered feisty heroines.

Her books have won rave reviews, and been seen on The History Channel as well as Wild Chicago. Elizabeth's books have won and been finalists in many contests. Here is a partial list:

Highland Spirit - Highland Chronicles WINNER of the Raven Award.
Bedeviled - Portals of Destiny, WINNER Creme de la Cover Contest
Beguiled - Portals of Destiny, WINNER - Creme de la Cover Contest

RONE Award finalists include:
Doubting Thomas - Bad Boys of Sweetwater
Highland Steel - Highland Chronicles
Tristan - Pirate Lords
Igniting Andrew - Bad Boys of Sweetwater
Highland Secrets - Secrets of the Heart
Seductive Secrets - Secrets of the Heart
Forgotten Secrets - all Secrets of the Heart
Summer's Reign - Seasons of Fortitude

Kindle Book Review Awards finalist and semi-finalist:
Highland Secrets
Forgotten Secrets

International Digital Award finalist:
Highland Spring - Seasons of Fortitude

Golden Palm Finalist:
Mary, Mary - Once Upon a Rhyme

Raven Awards Best Cover finalist:
May Queen - Holiday Knights

Raven Awards Runner-Up:
Lady and the Wolf - Tangled Tales

Books and Benches Reviewer's Choice:
Restless Sea Lord - Legendary Bastards of the Crown

Sapphire Award Finalist:
Kyros' Secret - Greek Myth Fantasy Series

Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice:
Thief of Olympus - Greek Myth Fantasy Series

Seen on the History Channel:
The Oracle of Delphi - Greek Myth Fantasy Series

And More!

Elizabeth is known for her many series which include:

Below the Salt Series
Highland Outcasts
Portals of Destiny
Legacy of the Blade
Daughters of the Dagger
Elemental Magick Series
Bad Boys of Sweetwater: Tarnished Saints Series Greek Myth Fantasy Series
MadMan MacKeefe Series
Legendary Bastards of the Crown
Seasons of Fortitude
Secrets of the Heart
Second in Command
Pirate Lords
Highland Chronicles
Barons of the Cinque Ports
Tangled Tales Once Upon a Rhyme
Holiday Knights
Dark Encounters
Cowboys of the Old West
Working Man Series, and more!

Someday Elizabeth hopes to visit the castles of Scotland and England personally. However, she has been to the jungles of Peru and Machu Picchu which inspired her novels, Curse of the Condor and Bistro Bachelor.

Visit her website to view her latest books and to read excerpts of her work. http://elizabethrosenovels.com.

Reviews

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

By Elizabeth Rose
(Tangled Tales Series Book 7)

MacKay is the last of the de Bar siblings to be cursed by the evil witch, Hecuba. In an attempt to stop her he breaks her magic mirror, but when a peice of it embeds into his chest, he pulls part of it out, and very strange things begin to happen. Hecuba has tricked him and banished him to a frozen island with a mean ruler, Lady Eira Koldottir, who he has named the Snow Queen. In this frozen land, because of the shard of dark magic stuck in his heart, he sees all that is good as evil, and all that is evil looks good.

Eira has been betrayed too many times in her life. After losing her family in the last battle she is not about to lose her castle and land as well. She prepares her army for the attack of a man who was once her betrothed. Vengeance and hatred fill her heart. Eira doesn't want to ever be close to anyone again, but once a stranger appears on her island she starts to slowly change her mind. It seems the meaner she is to Sir MacKay, the more the man seems to like her. It's confusing and infuriating, but at the same time she finds herself amused and intrigued that someone would even like her for the way she is.

It has taken a cursed man to make Eira realize just how lonely she really is. Can MacKay make her heart of Ice melt with attention and compliments even though he's attracted to her dark side? Now Eira's ruthlessness is nothing compared to MacKay de Bar who is turning evil because of dark magic and a curse. Can the darkness be driven out of MacKay before it's too late? Will love save them and fill the void of loneliness before magic can doom them both?

I had no clue how this book was going to play out. It had me right from the get go and I had such a hard time putting it down to do anything. Elizabeth Rose is so talented that she totally exceeded my expectations for this novel. The way this story plays out will have you giggling one minute and totally shocked the next. Ms. Rose is superbly talented and I love her fairy tales. My hat goes off to her for this one and I'm very excited to know that I will still get to read more about Madea even though her Tangled Tales Series has now concluded.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Why can’t I free your doubtful mind, and melt your cold, cold heart?” - Hank Williams (and probably MacKay de Bar upon meeting the Snow Queen)

MacKay de Bar is the only one of his siblings not to have been cursed by Hecuba, a evil witch with a vendetta against their father. When MacKay attempts to stop her by breaking her magic mirror, a shard of the mirror is lodged in his heart. Now according to Hecuba he is cursed. She does not claim credit for this one. She tells him he has cursed himself. She is willing to help the curse along, though, and deposits him on a frozen island ruled by a woman known as the Snow Queen.

The shard of dark magic in he heart causes him to believe bad is good, and good is bad. He also believes he is in love with the Snow Queen, and the meaner she is to him, the more in likes it. Wow! While MacKay’s curse is tragic (he just doesn’t know how tragic), the behavior it causes is quite funny and driving Ollie, his squire, crazy. Being around Sir MacKay makes Lady Eira, the Snow Queen, realize how lonely she is. It looks as if they might actually be falling in love. Will love be enough to break MacKay’s curse and cure Eira’s distrust and loneliness? Hecuba says no, but Medea is not so sure.

Tangled Tales has been a great series. The saga of the de Bar family comes to and end with MacKay’s story. The whole family is here, including Medea, and comes to MacKay’s aid. Will it end with a huge happily ever after or a heartbreaking tragedy? Remember, these are fairy tales and anything can happen.

[Lori D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can Sir McKay, the last of the de Bar siblings to be cursed by that old witch Hecuba, break the curse she has placed? He was the only one not cursed but in an attempt to break Hecuba's magic mirror he gets a piece of glass embedded in his chest. That throws him onto a cursed island, ruled by Lady Eira, the Ice Queen. She has been betrayed so much in her life she has hardened herself and only wants to destroy those who have done her wrong. McKay on the other hand on sees good were there is bad so he is nice to Eira. Can his kindness melt the Ice Queen? Can the curse ever be broken? This is another wonderful tale from the talented Elizabeth Rose who has woven a series that will keep you enchanted. Do not miss a minute of this delightful story and be sure to read the entire series..

[Mary King · Rating 5 out of 5]

MacKay de Bar is drop on an island by a evil queen, Hecuba, she has cursed all of the de bar children and Mackay is the last one, after breaking the mirror that allowed her to see any place or one she wanted, his curse is activated. he is made to see ever thing backward, good is bad and bad is good in his eyes. this begins the adventure with Lady Eira Koldottir, known as the Snow Queen. she wants nothing to do with MacKay or any other ma. the meaner she is the more MacKay is attracted to her. where will this lead too and will love win out and break his curse. there is a twist in this story, to find out what you must read. great story and way to find the a Tangled tales series

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. An ice queen who loses her heart to a man whose heart is slowly growing dark. Funny thing is McKay only wants his wife when she is being surly, such as one funny part, which you have to read to find out. A surprise ending involving two witches, Hecuba and her daughter.

[SHERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

No disappointment with Snow Queen!

I loved the story of MacKay and the Snow Queen. Elizabeth Rose has a wonderful gift of making fairy tales interesting and exciting. As the darkness controls Mackay, Eira becomes more attractive to him. Suspense builds until the last page.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Heart of Ice” is a retelling of the classic tale “The Snow Queen”.

Read full review in the 2018 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Sonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will MacKay Melt Her Heart?

This crazy fast paced fairytale retelling was funny and entertaining! It's best of the series as far as I'm concerned! Lol.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Publisher's Description:

Book 7
With a heart as cold as ice, Lady Eira Koldottir claims her late father's throne and the frozen island of Skol after her enemy has killed off her entire family. Preparing for another attack that is sure to come, she needs every able-bodied warrior to fight with her. When two strangers appear on the island, she realizes it is an English knight and his squire. But Sir MacKay de Bar has no desire to help her. He only wants to find his way home.
MacKay is the last of the de Bar siblings to be cursed by the evil witch, Hecuba. Stranded with his squire on a frozen island with a ruthless ruler he calls the Snow Queen, his only desire is to return to England. But when his curse takes hold, he starts seeing good as evil, and anything bad looks good in his eyes - including the cold-hearted Snow Queen.
The meaner Eira treats him, the more MacKay likes her. She wants his allegiance in her army, but he only wants her in his bed.

Can a cursed man and a hardened warrior woman come to terms when dark magic threatens to ruin their lives? Or will a curse turn into a blessing and turn enemies into lovers?

My Thoughts:

I have read several of these Tangled Tales retelling of famous fairytales. I'm sorry to say this is my least favorite of them all. It is the end of this series and the characters did not appeal to me.

Eira is just plain mean and nothing seems to change her demeanor.

MacKay doesn't realize due to his curse that she obviously doesn't like him nor is she willing to help him find his way home.

What can end MacKay's curse and will Eira's frozen heart ever thaw toward the final de Bar sibling who has not found his love?

I gave this book 4.0 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 3.5 of 5.0 flames. Intimacy with MacKay is the last thing on Eira's mind as she much prefers war to love.

I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book to read and review. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

[Niki Driscoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last of the De Bar siblings faces their curse and this one is quite different then the others. MacKay broke the mirror getting glass in his chest and sending Hecuba's dark magic into his body, he thinks he avoided the curses but his will be one of the hardest to overcome. Eira is called the ice queen, she has no love in her heart. She dresses as a man, fights like a man and has no time for Mac when he shows up in her kingdom. This was quite the unusual courtship making it funny but kind of disturbing also. Ms. Rose throws some interesting twists into this last book so be prepared to be surprised by what happens. I really enjoy her twists on the fairytales, they are interesting, fun and unique. Easy to read, easy to follow and sad to see the end. I hope the half sister will get her story, she needs a HEA.
I volunteered to read this story for my honest opinion.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Unbreakable Curse
Lady Eira Koldottir has been brought up as a warrior and when her father and brothers are killed in battle she takes their place, wins the battle and proclaims herself Queen of her isolated island. In order to keep her position she has grown cold and cruel. She is everything that Sir MacKay de Bar is now drawn towards, the harsher she is, the more he is drawn towards her. Evil now turns him on and in his saner moments he is appalled at his feelings. How or who can save him? A fitting end to the string of curses affecting the de Bar siblings. Can be read as a standalone.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

[Kat Tolle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairytales at it best! Heart of Ice by Elizabeth Rose is the 7th book in her Tangled Tales series and the last. Elizabeth’s characters truly come alive and her descriptions are very visual. This story has a lot of darkness, kindness, loyalty, magic, war, loneliness, witches, friendships, warriors, wounds, sadness, death and of course love. This is a very easy read and I recommend it if you love a good fairytale. Travel into the world of make believe with MacKay de Bar and Lady Eira Koldottir Queen of Skol Island (The Snow Queen).

***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.

[🦉Maggie Whitworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋
A new take on the fairytale of the Snow Queen , seen through the eyes of Elizabeth Rose.
McKay is the only one out of his siblings not to be cursed , that is until he breaks Hecuba's mirror , then is transported to a cold land ruled by a plain Queen , a woman who hates men and fights better than most , a woman who wants him to help her win a war .
An enjoyable and fun read , loved the build up to romance , and the whole concept of the series has been great.
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Susan Harrowa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can a Heart of ice find love?

McKay is the last of the de Bar children, and his curse might be the worst of them all. He loses his ability to reason and right and wrong no longer have a distinct line between them. Eira has fought like a man to keep what belongs to her. Nice is not something that comes naturally to her. Can the two of them find love in the midst of a horrible curse or destroy each other in the trying?

[Monika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart of Ice is the final book in the Tangled Tales Series. It is an easy to read book despite the fact that there is a lot of darkness in the story. And there is, of course, a happy ending. If you like fairytales you will like this book. I was gifted a copy of this book without any expectations and voluntarily reviewed it.

[Cherie S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favorite of the series but still an interesting and good story.
The other books were much better and more enjoyable than this one for me. I had a hard time enjoying reading the story. A little to dark and down compared to the other books in the series.
The ending was more exciting.
The epilogue was well done.

[Anne Blyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I confess I wasn’t up on these characters in fairytales but none the less I enjoyed the final episode in this series of tangled tales. It was an interesting series in the way it tied all these tales together so if you like revamped fairytales I think you will enjoy this series.

[Birgit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry, but the way the story was told was very simple vocabulary, more fitting for children than for adult, which does not, of course include the contents.
To be honest: the original was way better.
Sorry.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining twist on the fairy tale Snow Queen.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful take on the classic Snow Queen. Breaking the Ice Queen’s mirror was not the greatest of ideas. Extremely delightful.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another twisted tale

Another twisted tale that leaves a reader wanting more. There are secondary characters that will get a shot of romance.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great end to the Tangled Tales series. Loved it.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

***AUDIO***

This last Tangled Tale is a doozy... a real cool way to tie everything up and deliver an icy-hot romance to boot! I hope Elizabeth Rose decides there are some more stories to be had in this series. As usual, it's best to use headphones for the bedroom scenes if children are present 😉

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting reading book

I have read each of the stories and this was good at the end because it all of the family together. Love conquered all.