Hemlock (Hemlock #1) by Kathleen Peacock Review

Hemlock (Hemlock #1)

by Kathleen Peacock

Hardcover, 416 pages

Published May 8th 2012 by Katherine Tegen Books

 

Plot:

Mackenzie and Amy were best friends.

Since then, Mac's life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac's hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy's killer:

A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome--also known as the werewolf virus--is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy's murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy's boy-friend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock's thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spell-binding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.

My Thoughts:

I have never read a werewolf story like this one. This plot has so many twists and turns and I enjoyed experiencing every single one of them. This novel reminded me why I love YA so much! The tastes of first love and crushes as well as betrayal are all present here. 

After rereading the above plot, I realize I can't say much without giving away a ton, but can I just say I am team JASON ALL THE WAY. You'll see what I mean when you read it. I know he's not the intended love interest, but he has that same quality that Jacob from Twilight has, you can't help but to notice and love him. Gah! There's just something about him that draws you in. 

When Mac gets to the bottom of Amy's murder it's like OMG I didn't see that one coming! Ms. Peacock did a great job throwing in a ton of suspicious people to draw my attention away from the real killer, but it wasn't like a blindside when I found out who. It was more like, why didn't I see that? The signs were right there!!  


Anyway, this is a must read! This is like Veronica Mars mixed with Buffy!!

Double Take Covers: Taken by Kelli Maine

I had the oppurtuinty to review this novel (review to post closer to release date) and I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED it!! This novel is due out late summer! If you loved 50 Shades, Beautiful Disaster and Thoughtless, then you will devour this too! Add it to your reading list!

 

ABDUCTION.

You steal me away to a deserted island, to the one place I’ve dreamed of being—the one place I can’t go.

SEDUCTION.

You’re used to buying whatever you want, but you can’t buy me…how do I resist the magnetism of your body, the longing ache deep inside me? I want you to take me—on my terms.

DESPERATION.

Every attempt you make to love me only hurts me. How can we go on like this?

This is the story of how I was TAKEN.

Rachael DeSalvo cares for those she loves with no regard for what she needs from them in return. When her father dies, her mother’s emotional dependency becomes overbearing. Unable to leave her distressed mother, Rachael turns down her dream job with Rocha Enterprises.

Billionaire real estate mogul, Merrick Rocha, knows what motivates people and what buttons to push to get what he wants. When the perfect project manager candidate turns down his job offer, it drives him mad. Three months of watching Rachael from afar has him more determined than ever to have her—for much, much more than an employee.

Merrick takes what he wants, but can he convince Rachael to give him what he needs?

Slammed (Slammed #1) by Colleen Hoover REVIEW

 Which bestselling book features slam poetry, The Avett Brothers lyrics and the best characters in YA that I’ve read all year?

If you’ve been awake in 2012 at all, you’ll know the answer is SLAMMED by Colleen Hoover. http://www.amazon.com/Slammed-ebook/dp/B006RUJST6

Slammed (Slammed #1)

by Colleen Hoover (Goodreads Author)

ebook, 314 pages

Published January 5th 2012 by Colleen Hoover

Plot:

Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she's losing hope.
Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.
 

Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart.

 

My Thoughts:

I emailed Colleen after I read SLAMMED to tell her that she had just surpassed John Green on my author idol list. She emailed back to tell me he was her idol too—and you can tell. If you’re a fan of John Green’s fully-realized characters, you’ll adore Colleen’s main characters, Layken and Will. But, you’ll also love the supporting characters just as much!

Colleen doesn’t write books, she creates people and populates worlds—alternate realities you’re certain you could find if you plugged Layken’s address into your Garmin. They’re out there, Layken and Will, living across the street from each other with their little brothers.

SLAMMED made me laugh and cry. It made me want to be a better writer, a better daughter, a better mother, a better sister, because you just don’t know how long you’ll have the ones you love. And just when I thought the roller coaster ride of emotions had ended, there was POINT OF RETREAT, the sequel.

http://www.amazon.com/Point-Retreat-Slammed-Series-ebook/dp/B007D90ALU/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

"Layken and Will's relationship persevered through hardships, heartache and a cruel twist of fate, further solidifying the fact that they belong together.  What they don't expect is that the things that brought them together may ultimately be the very things that tear them apart.

 Layken is left questioning the very foundation on which their relationship was built. 

Will is left questioning how to prove his love for a girl who can't seem to stop "carving pumpkins."

Once they find answers, the couple faces an even greater challenge.  One that could change not only their lives, but the lives of everyone who depend on them."  

I had about 500 (butterflying*) heart attacks reading POINT OF RETREAT. Layken and Will’s relationship gets pushed to the brink and back. You know they’re strong enough to survive the turmoil and stay together, but does Layken know? Can she face the issues head-on and hand-in-hand with Will?

*if you’re not sure what butterflying means, go read POINT OF RETREAT, but only after you read SLAMMED and watch a few videos of The Avett Brothers on YouTube—start here:

http://youtu.be/qqZZlL0l5Uk

Trailer:

http://youtu.be/VLHwPX-p5cU

This is an author to put on your I’ll Read Everything She Writes list. She’s definitely on mine!

~~~Jamie~~~

Winner of The Immortal Rules

Congrats Jenn B on winning The Immortal Rules!!! ENJOY!!

Giveaway and Review of The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Hardcover, 485 pages

Published April 24th 2012 by Harlequin Teen

series

Blood of Eden #1

Source: ARC

 

 Plot: 

"In a future world, vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity."Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of "them." The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked--and given the ultimate choice. Die...or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend--a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what--and who--is worth dying for. 

My Thoughts: 

And who says the vampire genre is dead? The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa has renewed my faith in blood thirsty, kick-ass vampires. Finally we have a teenage vampire who isn't afraid to sink her fangs into someone when the time comes.

Allie begins as a human who hates vampires in the beginning of the novel, which is a great place to start. We find out from her why vampires are so evil. Then later on in the novel when she becomes one, we understand her personal self-loathing at times.

I did enjoy this novel, however, I will warn you, it took me a while to get into this one. Nearly 150 pages. Things for me didn't pick up until Allie leaves the vampire city and runs into Zeke. I loved reading about the crew of drifter Zeke was with, and how they were on a quest to find a vampire free paradise called Eden. Get past the beginning, and I promise there's vampire action!!

The picture below I found while looking up book cover images. Apparently, this was a cover outtake, but I admit I love this picture. It's perfect for Allie's character!

I also read that this novel is in the works to become a movie!! So you better act fast and read this one before the craze hits!

Check out the amazing book trailer for this novel:



Overall, I say read it if you are a vampire fan, or love I AM LEGEND or just a fan of kick-butt heroines!

Now on to the good stuff! I have ONE copy of THE IMMORTAL RULES to give away. Leave a comment below with your email address to enter. No, you don't have to be a follower of this blog, but I will love you forever if you are!


Contest open today, July 4th 2012 through Monday, July 9th at midnight!
I will announce the winner Next Tuesday and email the winner!

Good luck!!