Hemlock by Kathleen Peacocok

Title: Hemlock
Author: Kathleen Peacock
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (May 8, 2012)
Series: Hemlock Trilogy #3
Length: 416 pages
Format: hardcover

Description from Goodreads:

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.

My Thoughts:

Hemlock is one of my favorites so far for 2012. When I finished the thought crossed my mind to read it again right that instant. It was one of those cover to cover with no breaks kind of reads. Let's see, where to start? The characters were fantastic. Each one from the major to the minor all had a distinct personality that plays an essential part in the plot. Mac was the perfect combination of independent proactive heroine with a smidgen girly-girl-in-need-of-help. Now on to the good part...the guys. Kyle and Jason have quickly became some of my favorite men in love triangles. I kind of want her to date them both ;) Kyle has that boy next door, best friend, been in love with forever kind of appeal. Jason on the other hand is the "bad boy" in need of saving from himself. They both have a protective streak a mile wide (which I found incredibly appealing)  and both need Mac to help them get through their respective troubles. The romance/ love triangle was the main reason I enjoyed this book so much. The basis of Hemlock is also a little different than what has been floating around recently. There is a pretty good number of books out lately where vampires have taken center stage and announced their existence to the world. Well, Hemlock gives them a run for their money by introducing werewolves. The whole idea (don't want to give too much away) is unique and refreshing. This book also steps up it's game by introducing a creepy ghost who still has me guessing, throwing around conspiracy theories, and a bunch of really hatable bad guys. I can't wait to read even more about these characters and the sequel can't come out fast enough for me. This book gets a 5 STAR rating.

Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Title: Raised by Wolves
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Series: Raised by Wolves #1
Narrator: Eileen Stevens
Publisher: Audible, Inc. (July 20, 2010)
Length:10 hrs. & 53 mins.
Format: audiobook
Source: Audible.com
Series:  Raised by Wolves #1

Description from Goodreads:

Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed
her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two.

But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.

But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped? Check it out on Goodreads.

My Thoughts:

Jennifer Lynn Barnes has easily written what is one of my favorite werewolf novels. Raised by Wolves flows effortlessly and the language is absolutely beautiful. Her descriptions and the way she takes you into Bren's head have readers feeling as if they are right there with Bren. There isn't a character wasted in Raised by Wolves; every single one of them serves a purpose. This is an extremely rare find! Besides Bren, Callum, the pack alpha and all around head wolf and Devon the metro sexual best friend are my favorite characters. They seem to keep Bren grounded in a world where she is never sure she fits in. I must say that Chase, the male interest, isn't one of my favorites, but seems to have the potential to grow in the next book.
     Bren has been raised by werewolves and in the process has adopted many of their mannerisms, yet she maintains a distinctly human independence that the wolves lack. I have never read a werewolf book that so completely explains the intricacies of the wolf world and the hierarchy that exists. World building in my opinion is extremely important! I can't stress how much I love this book!
     This is a review of the audiobook and I wasn't disappointed! I originally bought this book in hardcover, but never really got into it. I joined Audible and this was the first book that I got. I was hooked! Eileen Stevens does a perfect job of voicing the characters. Once you start the book you will see why this is so impressive! Raised by Wolves gets a 5 STAR rating!

* Raised by Wolves is the first novel in the series, the second is Trial by Fire (out now), the third Taken by Storm is scheduled for publication May 22, 2012.

Q & A: What is your favorite werewolf book?

Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper (audiobook)

Title: Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs
Author: Molly Harper
Narrator: Amanda Ronconi
Series: Jane Jameson #1
Publisher: Audible, Inc. (February 19, 2010)
Length: 8 hrs 49 mins.
Source: audible.com
Edition: audiobook

Description from Audible (publisher's description):

Maybe it was the Shenanigans gift certificate that put her over the edge. When children's librarian and self-professed nice girl Jane Jameson is fired by her beastly boss and handed $25 in potato skins instead of a severance check, she goes on a bender that's sure to become Half Moon Hollow legend. On her way home, she's mistaken for a deer, shot, and left for dead. And thanks to the mysterious stranger she met while chugging neon-colored cocktails, she wakes up with a decidedly unladylike thirst for blood.

Jane is now the latest recipient of a gift basket from the Newly Undead Welcoming Committee, and her life-after-lifestyle is taking some getting used to. Her recently deceased favorite aunt is now her ghostly roommate. She has to fake breathing and endure daytime hours to avoid coming out of the coffin to her family. She's forced to forgo her favorite down-home Southern cooking for bags of O negative. Her relationship with her sexy, mercurial vampire sire keeps running hot and cold. And if all that wasn't enough, it looks like someone in Half Moon Hollow is trying to frame her for a series of vampire murders. What's a nice undead girl to do?

My Thoughts:

     I've read the paperback version of this and saw it one day on sale at audible and thought I'd pick it up again.Let me tell you, if you're looking for a good southern romantic vampire comedy, Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs is your book. Jane is a laugh out loud heroine. I found her sense of humor relatable and the fact that she loves books and is a librarian makes her awesome! The relationship she has with her mother, grandmother, and sister had me cracking up and cringing all at the same time. I know I definitely would've bit them. Zeb, her best friend, is one of my favorite characters. He seems to keep Jane grounded, yet he's her partner in crime. As for Gabriel and Dick...they are complicated. I'm not a real big fan of Gabriel. Something about him just rubs me the wrong war (even in the other books. Saying Dick is a playboy and has a raunchy sense of humor is a bit of an understatement...I like it :)

    

     Now that the characters are out of the way onto the plot. I must say I found the book quite original. Books like this one have a typically predictable ending, but I didn't see this one coming. This series combines everything I look for: supernatural creatures, romance, comedy, and a quirky kick-butt heroine. A lot of books have this, but Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs combines it in a unique way that will have you running to the nearest store for the next book.

     This current version that I listened to is an audiobook so let's talk about that. Amanda Ronconi did a great job voicing this book. Her characters didn't have weird or over the top voices and sounded age appropriate. The only complaint I had was that Jane's southern accent was a little funny. At times she sounded like a hick and then it would subtly fade away to where she had no accent at all. Maybe it was supposed to be like that. I know my accent gets thicker when I'm emotional. It could be the same way with Jane. I give this book a 4 STAR rating!

* This is a series! So, if you liked Jane there's more of her! #1 Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs, #2 Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men, #3 Nice Girls Don't Live Forever, and the third book Nice Girls Don't Bite Their Neighbors is coming out February 28, 2012!

** This is an adult book with a couple of mature (sex) scenes. If I had to give an age recommendation (which I don't like to do) I would go with 16.

In My Mailbox February 13, 2012 (Super Late part 1)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristy at The Story Siren. In this meme book lovers share what they received in their mailboxes over the week (or a longer period of time if you're me).

I bought a lot of books (happy face and sad wallet). The deals were just too good to pass up and they were some older books that had been on my to buy list. As you may have noticed some of these books I have already written reviews for...I'm really late in posting this :( This is part one. A more updated one will be posted on Wednesday that will include what I got last week. The books I bought from left to right:

Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep

L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn

Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis

As You Wish by Jackson Pearce

  Get Well Soon by Julie Halpern
The Sweet Scent of Blood by Suzanne McLeod

                 Spy Goddess, Book One: Live and Let Shop by Michael P. Spradlin

What did you get in the mail? Anything good? Any great books that I should go buy too? Please let me know! I am always looking to expand by bookish horizons.

Unleashed:Wolf Springs Chronicles by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie (bk. 1)

                      

Title: Unleashed: Wolf Springs Chronicles

Author: Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie

Series #: Book 1

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (November 22, 2011

# of Pages: 400

From the Book: 

Katelyn McBride's life changed in an instant when her mother died. Uprooted from her California home, Katelyn was shipped to the middle of nowhere, Arkansas, to her only living relative, her grandfather. And now she has to start over in Wolf Springs, a tiny village in the Ozark Mountains.

Like any small town, Wolf Springs has secrets. But the secrets hidden here are more sinister than Katelyn could ever imagine. It's a town with a history that reaches back centuries, spans continents, and conceals terrifying truths.

And Katelyn McBride is about to change everything.

Broken families, ageless grudges, forced alliances, and love that blooms in the darkness night-welcome to Wolf Springs.

My Thoughts:
I am conflicted when it comes to Unleashed. I am a huge fan of the Wicked series by these two authors. It is no secret that I like heroines who aren't perfect and Katelyn McBride is most definitely not perfect. She is a big city LA girl who fully expects the people in Arkansas to be wearing cut off jeans and overalls chewing on hay and there are various references to banjo (which I found funny). She is a city girl snob and I'm fine with it. Kat is a young woman whose life has changed drastically and traumatically. It's OK that some of her thoughts and actions aren't always PC or nice, give her a break. Really, perfect heroines are no fun. Let's get to the other characters. Trick (I love this name)...I don't know how I feel about him. His actions are all over the place and are never explained. He is sweet and cares for her sometimes and other times he is a class A jerk whom I wish Katelyn would punch in the face. Now on to Cordelia. I actually liked her at the beginning of the book, but by the end I felt pity for her and wanted Kat to punch her too. Justin, Jesse, and her grandfather were all good characters and I was perfectly happy with them.

Now we get down to everything else. There is a lot of mystery in this book and along with that a lot of unanswered questions in the end. There is a HUGE cliffhanger, but I think a few of the mysteries should have been wrapped up. The massive quantity of unanswered questions going on in the book confused me in the beginning and left me confused at the end. There was just too much. Hopefully the next book will do a better job of wrapping some of this up. I actually didn't see the "big surprise" of what happens in the book coming.(Email me if you want to talk about this) Will I be buying/reading the next book? YES! Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie are just too awesome and this series has too much potential for me not to. I am torn between a 3 1/2 and a 4 rating. It was a good book, but could have used some tweaks. I am going to have to give this book a 3 1/2 STAR rating.

Authors You Might Not Know, But Definitely Should Pt. 1

Ok guys, the end of the year is winding down and I thought I would share with you some books and authors I’ve “found”. There will be two Authors featured on each post. Most of these are ebooks that I’ve read on Kindle. The highlighted title will be linked to their Amazon page.

                First off, one of my “new” favorite authors is Amanda Hocking. You have probably heard of her upcoming release of the Trylle Trilogy (which was amazing and have new amazing covers), but they weren’t my favorite. I absolutely loved her book called Hollowland. This was my first foray into ZOMBIES. Let me tell you, I’m a girly girl and had no desire to read about rotting corpses eating people. Amanda Hocking singlehandedly changed my mind. I read Hollowland and told everyone about it. Hollowmen the second book is now available. Don’t forget to check out the Trylle Trilogy and My BloodApproves.

              

  Next is Tess Oliver. My favorites of her books are Bitterroot Crossing and Camille. Let’s start off with Bitterroot Crossing. This was a good love story involving a disgruntled cowboy/outlaw ghost in a present day love triangle. I know what you’re thinking, “Seriously Brandi? Another love triangle?” Well, I just can’t help it. This one was good. I didn’t know who I wanted her to end up with in the end. Also the main character was really interesting in that she wasn’t perfect. In fact she was imperfect and I loved how at the end she didn’t magically get some superpowers or turn into a super ninja. Next is her book called Camille. Now think about this, combine Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, werewolves, and Victorian (I think) era London. How awesome is that? The main character lives with a mad scientist as his assistant in hunting werewolves and looking for a cure for lycanthropy. She meets a cute, young, and cocky street urchin who gets bit. It’s up to her to find a cure in time. This book was really good. Read it!