Having read Barbara Linn Probst first two novels, I was excited to read her third, The Color of Ice. Probst’s brand is writing about art and the ups-and-downs of an artist’s life, and The Color of Ice continues her explorations of those themes. Coming from an artistic family, I’m particularly drawn to books that deal with artists and their works.
A freelance photographer, Cathryn McAllister, accepts an assignment in Iceland to document the glassblower, Mack Charbonneau, as he attempts to recreate the iconic blue icebergs in glass. While there, she plans to take her first solo vacation in years and has a careful minute-to-minute plan to explore the island. When she photographs the enigmatic, gruff artist, she finds parts of herself awakening, parts abandoned in her single-minded search for professional success and the well-being of her two children.
As Cathryn and Mack become involved, she slowly abandons her itinerary and even commitments awaiting her back home. She fears she’ll lose the sense of awakening if she leaves Iceland. But Mack is foremost an artist, and secondly a mysterious man, wounded in his past, and reluctant to open himself to the possibilities offered by their relationship. She must overcome his hesitancy and her own conflicts.
Probst’s lyrical prose takes readers into the lives of two artists, their search for themselves, and a glimpse of the art they create together and separately. There are twists and turns throughout as Cathryn is pulled toward home and toward her new love. This is a lovely book and will become part of my permanent collection.
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The Color of Ice (She Writes Press, October 18, 2022) is available through:
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Probst’s other novels, The Sound Between the Notes, and The Queen of the Owls are available through the same vendors. You can find my reviews of her first two novels here: The Sound Between the Notes and Queen of the Owls.
My interviews with Ms. Probstare on. the publication of her first two novels are here: The Sound Between the Notes and Queen of the Owls.
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