Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

I've got the house to myself this weekend and am tackling the TBR and relaxing! I've got not plans (other than to hit the bookstore -- I know, I know! Shame on me! But I have a coupon!), read, and chill as much as humanly possible. 

Yesterday I started -- and finished -- Kathleen Peacock's debut release, Hemlock, the first book in the Hemlock trilogy. It would have been a one-sitting read had I not taken a break for a not so fabulous movie. But the book was good :)

A killer is on the loose in Hemlock and Mac's best friend Amy is just the latest in the string of murders. She was found in an alley after being brutally torn apart -- a chunk of white fur clutched in her hand. 

Ever since the werewolves outed themselves, Lupine syndrome has been on the rise. Anyone scratched or bitten is immediately sent to a rehabilitation camp. Since new werewolves typically can't control themselves or the bloodlust that strikes, it's human protection that's at the forefront of everyone's minds. And the murders in Hemlock further support the idea. 

Haunted by her best friend, Mac decides that she will investigate Amy's murder herself. Everyone knows that white wolves are especially rare and now that the Trackers have arrived in town, Mac can think of no better way to be rid of them and gain closure. 

A YA mystery with werewolves? Yeah, I was totally in from page one! The story is solid and Peacock's pacing is phenomenal. What's more, Mac and her friends are totally believable teen characters. 

There's also a hint of American Werewolf in London/Paris here with Mac talking to Amy (a hint). I liked that element as a way for Mac to work through different pieces of the mystery. Clever!

Atypical of the current trilogy trend, there's no real cliffhanger of an ending in Hemlock. Yes, I want to know what comes next and can't wait till book two comes out, but most of the loose ends are neatly tied up -- at least until the story continues. It was a nice sense of resolution even knowing that there's more to come. 

Peacock is one of the Apocalypsies (2012 YA Debuts) and if you didn't know, they've got a current set of contests going with 60 authors participating. Hit the link to take part and find out about some of the fantastic YA titles due out this year. 

Hemlock hits shelves Tuesday, May 8. 

White Horse by Alex Adams

The weekend is upon us again! And you know what that means? I have a huge stack of books I'm planning to spend some quality time with over the next few days!

Nerd I may well be, but considering last weekend was spent with the A/C fiasco, next weekend we have plans to help with a recital event at a friend's dance studio, and the following weekend will be the beginning of kitchen mess, I think this will be the last quiet weekend for a while :)

If you're looking for something to dive into this weekend yourself, I have to suggest (if I could, I'd take you to the bookstore and put it in your hands!) Alex Adams's debut, White Horse. It's end of the world, post-apocalyptic horror/drama that will leave you reeling! It's that good. 

In the aftermath of a horrible outbreak, Zoe Marshall sets off in search of the father of her unborn child. 

White Horse killed off most of the population. The rest were either immune or changed by the virus. Zoe, a cleaner at Pope Pharmaceuticals before it all happened, has not only survived, but is also pregnant. As everyone around her succumbs to the virus, she travels to Europe, clinging to the hope that her lover may have survived. 

From the opening lines, Adams's voice rings clear through her words and her imagery is some of the best I've seen in ages. 

Look at me: I don't want my therapist to think I'm crazy. That the lie rolls off my tongue without tripping over my teeth is a miracle. 

"I dreamed of the jar last night."

"Again?" he asks. 

The leather squeaks beneath my head when I nod.

"The exact jar?"

"Always the same."

You can read more here. 

White Horse is both horrific and poetic and is utterly amazing! And it's one of my top picks for 2012 so far, joining ranks with what have been some truly fabulous reads this year. I've heard that White Horse will actually be the first in a trilogy. If that's the case, I'll be anxiously awaiting the release of the next book. Either way, Adams has ensured herself a spot on my "Must Read" lilt from here on out!

Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff

History is filled with amazing stories -- heroic, tragic, awesome, and even unlikely -- but without someone to recount those tales, they would be lost to those of us who didn't live them. Mitchell Zuckoff's Lost In Shangri-La is one of those stories. 

Twenty-four US military men and women boarded The Gremlin Special on May 13, 1945. Theirs was not an official military mission nor was it part of a larger campaign, it was simply an afternoon site-seeing trip. Each of the men and women on board was stationed in Hollandia in Dutch New Guinea. The plane ride was supposed to take them over a newly discovered valley on the island recently dubbed "Shangri-La." A tragic series of events brought the plane down and only three people survived. For Lt. John McCollom, Sgt. Ken Decker, and WAC Col. Margaret Hastings, it would be only the beginning of their ordeal. Badly injured, the three knew that they would never be found unless they could make their way out of the rain forest and into clear sight. Even then, the terrain would prove a challenge to those attempting rescue. 

The crash of The Gremlin Special, the survivors' tales, and the rescue attempt that followed are spectacular indeed. With the use of first-hand interviews, military documents, and accounts of those involved, Zuckoff brings to life this extraordinary event, ensuring it a permanent and unforgettable place in history.

Zuckoff's writing is engaging and approachable for even the most hard core fiction reader. The fact that every page is completely true just makes it that much more intense. Zuckoff also fleshes out the story by including bits of WWII military history, the history of New Guinea, and a look at the natives of the island as well. Equally fascinating are the P.S. inclusions in the new paperback edition -- personal letters from friends and family of those involved written to the author after reading the book. 

For more on Lost In Shangri-La, visit Zuckoff's website (link above). I'd also recommend that you check out Jon Stewart's Daily Show interview with Zuckoff here - entertaining and informative (and sure to pique your interest even more).

For a full list of Lost In Shangri-La blog tour stops visit the TLC Book Tours page here. 

Where's my bookmark: Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin

I spent last week fighting a raging case of Rather Be Reading Syndrome -- in which nothing hit the spot because I would have rather been reading Stephen King or George R. R. Martin. It happens.

So I gave in. I returned to the Seven Kingdoms to find out what happens next for Jon Snow, Arya Stark, Daenerys Targaryen and all of the rest of the gazillion characters in the Song of Ice and Fire series. Yes, I've been watching the show and I swore I was going to read book two before season two aired. But I didn't. I'm reading it now. Because I'm dying to know!!!

The Night's Watch, with Jon Snow in tow, has set off north of the wall while Rob Stark, the newly proclaimed King of the North, begins his trek towards King's Landing with the ultimate goal of defeating the Lannisters. Meanwhile, the Baratheon brothers have both claimed their brother's throne as their own, splitting the kingdom further. Friends have become enemies as the families of the land must choose which side to support. And in the East, Daenerys Targaryen continues with her plan to reclaim the throne herself. 

There's probably no way around spoilers. If you've not read any of the series or at least watched the first season, I'd hate to ruin the surprises. I think it's going to be harder and harder to be vague with descriptions the further in I get. 

And if you happen to be watching the show and have read the books, you'll understand when I say I love them both! There are small changes in the show. Characters and campaigns are combined to streamline the story into one season. To be honest, most of it makes perfect sense to me. I think it's a great testament to the writers on the show that they're able to remain so true to the original. And even though I'm caught up and know what's coming next, I'm still dying to go on to the next episode every Sunday night. 

The scope of the story is pretty spectacular. The worldbuiling alone is amazing. The Seven Kingdoms have a long and intricate history, which we see more of in the book than we do in the tv show. And of course the characters make all the difference. Each one is layered and rich in a way that makes them real. Good guys have the potential to do very bad things. Bad guys somewhat have the potential to do good things. Some of the characters walk a fine line, making me wonder just what Martin has planned for them in the end. 

This is a massive series. Epic as any epic can be and set to be a total of seven books, five of which are out now. So if I was to zoom through the next three books, I'd be stuck waiting a while to find out what ultimately happens. And if there's one thing I've learned from this series so far, the tide can turn in unexpected ways at any time. 

If you're planning to start -- and I highly recommend you do -- set aside a BIG chunk of time. A weekend with nothing planned but reading, a three day weekend or a vacation would be even better! And stock up, you'll want to be prepared to move onto the next book when you finish :)

New Releases 5/1/12

Some of the new titles hitting shelves this week are:

Killing Ghost by Christopher Ransom

Nadia Knows Best by Jill Mansell

The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones

An Uncommon Education by Elizabeth Percer

Saving Ruth by Zoe Fishman

In the Bag by Kate Klise

The Solitary House by Lynn Shepherd

The Killing Moon by N.K. Jemisin

Wizard Undercover by K.E. Mills

The Lola Quartet by Emily St. John Mandel

The Stonecutter by Camilla Lackberg

Red Cell by Mark Henshaw

Spilled Blood by Brian Freeman

Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova

Revived by Cat Patrick

Black Dawn by Rachen Caine

The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi

Destined by Aprilynne Pike

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

New on DVD:
Haywire
New Year's Eve

New reviews at Bookbitch.com:
Killing Ghost
The Vicious Deep

Killing Ghost by Christopher Ransom

So I'm sort of reviving an old post here for a pre-pub post. How, you might ask. Well, I'm a huge fan of Christopher Ransom, a local (to me) author whose work is only pubbed in the UK these days. 

Fortunately for US readers, Cemetery Dance has picked up Ransom's book, The Haunting of James Hastings and is releasing it stateside as Killing Ghost. Their site shows it available May 1! So in honor of Killing Ghost, here's my review of The Haunting of James Hastings:

James Hastings is a Ghost. Not a ghost, ghost. A version of Ghost. Because of his resemblance to the mega rap star, James's job is to throw off paparazzi and make appearances when Ghost can't. But when James's wife dies in a freak accident, he decides it's time to retire. Embracing his old self but consumed by the loss of Stacey, a year goes by with James drinking away the time. Then things begin to change. A new neighbor moves in next door and with her, James becomes convinced that Stacey may never have left. Strange noises in the house, Stacey's clothes and shoes reappearing. And it all goes downhill from there.

I loved this book! Ghost stories are super fun and Ransom threw in some twists and surprises in the plot that brought this book to a whole new level. If you can get your hands on it, I highly recommend Killing Ghost/The Haunting of James Hastings: perfect rainstorm read, great summer chiller, and one that actually had me looking over my shoulder in the middle of the night!

Horror fans, this is an author you need to be reading! Ransom's work is shocking and creepy and his direction never fails to completely surprise me. 

You can read my review of his debut, The Birthing House, here and my Pre Pub Post for The People Next Door here. For more on Ransom and his books (and an excerpt of The Fading), visit Ransom's official page here. (Note The Birthing House is available in the US)

And here's the link to Cemetery Dance's order page for Killing Ghost. 

If you happen to be a UK reader (or are open to ordering from the UK), Ransom has a new summer release this year as well, The Fading. 

Hint, hint, husband -- it's out just in time for my b-day again :)

The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain -- Blog Tour and Excerpt

If you're coming from the blog tour, welcome! Below you'll find the next piece of The Good Father excerpt and the link to tomorrow's piece as well. If this is your first stop on the tour, you'll need to start from the beginning to get the whole excerpt. Go here, to see the full list of blog tour stops. 


And first, here's a bit about the book from the publicist:

A beloved daughter. A devastating choice.

 And now there’s no going back.

Four years ago, nineteen-year-old Travis Brown had to make a life changing decision. While his friends were out partying and meeting girls, Travis was at home raising his newborn daughter on his own – changing diapers and working to keep food on the table.  But he’s never regretted his decision. Bella is the light of his life – the reason behind every move he makes – and so far, she is fed.  Cared for.  Safe.

But when Travis loses his construction job and his home, the security he’s worked so hard to create for Bella begins to crumble…

Bestselling author of The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes, The Midwife’s Confession, and The Lies We Told, Diane Chamberlain, returns with her latest and most gripping novel to date,THE GOOD FATHER, showing the great lengths a father will go to provide for his little girl.

Just when Travis is at a loss for solutions, a job in Raleigh opens up with the power to change their situation.  It has to.  But upon arriving in Raleigh, there is no job, only an offer to participate in a onetime criminal act that promises quick money and no repercussions.

With nowhere else to turn, Travis must make another choice for his daughter’s sake.  Even if it means he might lose her. 

And now, the excerpt:

She'd had a dream about her stuffed lamb and wanted to tell me the whole thing, but all I could think about while I changed her into the cleanest clothes I had for her was, What if she's not there?

          

On the phone yesterday, Roy had told me I was making the smart choice. "You can get rich doing this, dude," he'd said.

Tomorrow's stop: My Reading Room

And don't forget, the blog tour will go through the end of May when you can join Diane in a live chat over at BookTrib!

Big thanks to Booktrib and Media Muscle for letting me participate!