Hemlock Review

TITLE Hemlock (Hemlock #1)
AUTHOR Kathleen Peacock
PUBLISHED May 8th, 2012 by Katherine Tegen Books
READ May 13 - 14, 2012
BUY IT Amazon / The Book Depository

Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

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 boyfriend, 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 spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.

I have been waiting for Hemlock for a very long time. I remember starting my blog it was one of my very first WoW's, so going into reading this it had a lot to live up to in my mind.  It did, it lived up to all of my expectations and surpassed them.  I would even say that this is the best book that I have read in the past 2 to 3 years.  I loved everything about it, the pacing had me turning the pages and the suspense had my stomach twisted into knots. Each chapter ends with a cliffhanger of it's own and you just Can't. Stop. Reading.

Mac was an awesome MC, she was witty, realistic and she could hold her own.  I loved being inside her head and reading her inner dialogue.  She was level-headed and had an astounding amount of empathy and compassion for those around her. Mackenzie had a very rough upbringing and when she was abandoned in Hemlock with her cousin Tess she finally found a group that she belonged in. The characters are so well written within the group that I didn't find myself groaning at the love triangle.  I really enjoyed Kyle and Jason! Sure Jason had his flaws, but there was always a level of humility in him when it came to Mac. And Kyle was such a sweetheart. The glimpses of Amy through Mac's dreams provide a very dark, ominous feel and every time she popped up I cringed, expecting the worst.

Kathleen Peacock has taken very familiar elements and constructed a very unique story. People in Hemlock know that werewolves exist and there is even a team of Trackers whose sole mission is to take them down. This really made for a refreshing read in a genre that I have read a lot of.  There is no shortage of twists that keep you sucked into the story to a point that you almost feel as if you can't breathe!

At this point, all I have to say to you, reader of my review, is "What are you doing reading my review?! Go read Hemlock! NOW!"

Swipe Blog Tour (Review & Giveaway)

TITLE Swipe (Swipe Series #1)
AUTHOR Evan Angler
PUBLISHED May 8, 2012 by Thomas Nelson Fiction
READ May 10 - 12, 2012
BUY IT Amazon / The Book Depository

Logan Langley is just months away from his thirteenth birthday and the biggest day of his life- the day he will finally be Marked. The Mark lets people get jobs, vote, and even go out to eat or buy concert tickets.

Becoming Marked means becoming free. Or so he is told. Five years ago when Logan's sister went to get her Mark she never came back. Now Logan can't shake the feeling he's being watched...

And then he finds the wire.

A copy was provided by Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.

 

Swipe was a refreshing surprise to me.  I was a little nervous going into it, as it is the first Middle Grade novel that I have read for the blog and it is marketed as Religious but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Swipe is a fast-paced novel full of suspense, mystery and some great twists. Evan Angler has given this story the perfect pacing and I was engrossed in the story from page one.

It's a dystopian novel that tells of a world that is separated into two unions, the American Union and the European union. Each Union is run by it's own general and there has been a program implemented within called The Mark Program.  On each citizens 13th birthday they receive a mark on their wrist that allows them to become contributing members of society (purchase goods, get jobs etc.) When Logan's sister Lily doesn't return home from getting her mark Logan becomes paranoid that someone is watching him. As with any regulated government program there are dissenters, the "markless", these people refuse to get the mark and live in a secluded area known as "Slog Row."

The rich dystopian setting made for a truly interesting read.  From the tables in restaurants being interactive electronic newspapers to the price of land being so high that houses are built vertically with up to 20 floors, 1 room being on each floor. It was details like that that made Swipe such a great read, I didn't feel as if there were any holes in the plot that made me question how the state of the world came to be.  It is labelled as Religious and Christian and though there are definitely possible undertones in the characters motivations it is very light in that area. Though hinted at, it never takes centre stage.

The characters within Swipe were people that I connected with and felt for.  The intensity with which Logans paranoia is portrayed made me feel bad for this young boy who was constantly looking over his shoulder. I also felt for Erin, and completely understood her mission of getting her family back together.  Though I did question Mrs. Arbitors reasoning for not joining her family in their move to Spokie I imagine that there were probably problems in the marriage to begin with. 

Swipe is a really good MG dystopian novel that I definitely recommend giving a try because it just may surprise you as it did me.  I will be anxiously awaiting the follow-up in the series, Sneak, which will be released in Fall of this year. 

Thomas Nelson has graciously offered up a paperback copy for giveaway! This giveaway is open to US/CAN only.

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This has been part of the Swipe Blog Tour brought to you by YA Bound

Click the tour banner to see the other stops on this tour.

Stacking The Shelves (3)

This was a very slow bookish week for me. I got a review book and I bought a book that I have been waiting SOOOOOO long for!

For Review:

Bought: 

I'll be taking part in the 77 Days of September blog tour on June 18 so be sure to check back for that. Hemlock! Squeeeee! It took me 2 days and 3 different Chapters stores to get my hands on this one and I can't wait to dig into it.  I should be able to start it on Sunday once I finish the review book I'm reading! 

So what did you get this week? I can't wait to see, leave a link! 

Also, while you're here be sure to stop by and enter my Blog Revamp Giveaway it ends on Wednesday so be sure to get your entries in while you can :)

Intangible Review

TITLE Intangible
AUTHOR J. Meyers
PUBLISHED January 31, 2012
READ May 8 - 10, 2012
BUY IT Amazon

Twins Sera and Luke Raine have a well-kept secret—she heals with a touch of her hand, he sees the future. All their lives they’ve helped those in need on the sly. They’ve always thought of their abilities as being a gift.

Then Luke has a vision that Sera is killed. That gift they’ve always cherished begins to feel an awful lot like a curse. Because the thing about Luke’s ability? He’s always right. And he can’t do anything about it.

A copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

I can see why a lot of people would enjoy Intangible, it's heavy on the fantasy and there is a fair amount of action.  Unfortunately it just didn't work for me.  I didn't believe the characters so I didn't find myself actually caring about any of the predicaments they found themselves in.  It was an OK reading experience and the mystery had me somewhat interested but I found myself looking at the page number quite often.

The twins, Luke and Sera were people that I thought I was going to really enjoy, but as the story wore on they felt very animated to me, and almost too perfect.  Sure Sera made some bad choices but it felt forced to me, as if maybe it was just thrown in there in an attempt to make her a bit more relateable. The relationship between the two of them was enjoyable, their witty banter warranted a few laughs out of me.  The most likeable character to me was Marc, he was tortured and torn and the parts with him kept me turning the pages. I guess I was rooting for him, he was sent on a terrible mission to save his own life and was faced with some pretty tough choices.    

There were a lot of fantastical people living in this town, doing their bidding out in public.  I sometimes questioned how it was possible for no one to notice what was going on right under their noses but that was the least of my worries.  What bothered me immensely was the fact that Luke and Sera were so OK just living in the dark. There were so many strange occurrences around them and they just went on living obliviously! I would have been questioning the crap out of Fey after the first run-in with Jonas. There was also an unnecessary amount of detail which left me feeling like there was way too much showing and not enough telling. At one point even the support beams on the ceiling are described in detail and at another we are treated to a mini yoga instructional.  I think it could have been a much shorter, more engrossing book had some of the filler been removed.

This book will definitely appeal to fans of fantasy looking for a light read. This wasn't one that I particularly enjoyed, and I probably won't be looking for the sequel.

Feature & Follow (11)

I am loving the Mother's Day theme this week for the Blog Hop!

Q: What is the best mother/child relationship in a book you've read?

Click cover to read my review!

Reading within the YA genre, I don't often see very good parent relationships.  The parents are usually pretty absent in the books I read.  Last week I read Sweet Evil (which I LOVED) and the relationship between Anna and her adoptive mother Patti really stuck out to me. They had this open, honest relationship that really reminded me of the bond my mother and I have, and the bond I hope to have with my children when they grow up. Patti was definitely the parent in the relationship, she hadn't gone down to friend level, but she was Anna's friend. I think there is a fine balance that needs to be achieved to be a friend and confidante for your child but still remain their parent.  To me it was the perfect mother daughter relationship.

So what is your pick this week, I can't wait to see. Make sure you leave me a link so I can drop by!

Also, while you are here be sure to stop by and enter my Blog Revamp Giveaway! It ends next week so get your entries in :)

Happy Mothers Day to all my fellow momma bears out there :)