Slammed Review

Slammed
Colleen Hoover
Published January 5th 2012 by Colleen Hoover

Following the unexpected death of her father, eighteen-year-old Layken becomes the rock for both her mother and younger brother. She appears resilient and tenacious, but inside, she's losing hope. Then she meets her new neighbor Will, a handsome twenty-one-year-old whose mere presence leaves her flustered and whose passion for poetry slams thrills her.

Not long after a heart-stopping first date during which each recognizes something profound and familiar in the other, they are slammed to the core when a shocking discovery brings 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 forces that tear them apart. Only through the poetry they share are they able to speak the truth that is in their hearts and imagine a future where love is cause for celebration, not regret

The meaning of the title "Slammed" actually has to do with poetry "Slamming" which is pretty much just people getting up and sharing their poetry. (I'm just getting that over with, because I didn't understand the name until I actually read the book).

Lake's mother uproots her and her little brother to move from sunny Texas to dreary Michigan, after getting there she meets her very good looking 21 year old neighbor Will, and his little brother. Will has had a touch life, with his parents dying right as he was entering college. He dropped out and became a guardian to his brother.

Lake is 18 years old and is dealing with the sudden death of her Father, which draws up the usual thing in New Adult books of the main character having quite a few life problems. In my opinion Lake deals with the problems that face her with much more maturity that most main girl characters, and her love for her Mother and little brother is very evident from the start.

So Lake moves and meets good looking Will and insta love right? That's what I was expecting but I was very refreshed to learn that it is just insta attraction that draws them to go out on a date. But soon something comes up that draws them apart for (maybe?) forever.

There is definitely romance in this book, but because of the problem mentioned above, the romance has a lot of tension and not much actual interaction from Will and Lake.

The plot of the book was good, with all of the points making sense. I am not a fan of poetry but I still could enjoy the poetry in this book. It also kept on moving with not to many long drawn-out conversations that sometimes make contemporary's hard to read.
The book flowed perfectly from chapter to chapter, and honestly I could feel everything that each of characters were feeling the entire book. It takes a lot for me to completely sympathize and relate to characters in this way and I don't get it but once every 15-20 books.

No loose tie's at the end, and I am trying to decide whether to read the sequel or not. Colleen Hoover made me wanting more, but I also want to keep my views on the characters exactly the same as this book ended.

If you haven't read this, go pick up a copy!
4.5/5

Dream Slayer Book Blitz + Giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOOK 1

The Dream Slayer
Jill Cooper
(The Dream Slayer #1)
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis:

When your dreams come true, sometimes you get more than you bargained for...

Natalie Johnson has always dreamed she’s someone else; calm, beautiful, in control. A chosen warrior with a maniacal arch nemesis and a dreamy boyfriend, the type that can make your knees melt and your heart quiver.

Real life is much different. She’s tormented by a bully and endures the sharp tongue of her father, but finds solace in her dreams.

When her bully ends up dead, de ja vu from a dream hits her hard as everything around her begins to fall apart. Whatever killed Sarah in her dreams is now in reality, hunting her from the shadows. And it wants her dead.

Somehow as the lines between reality and nightmare blur, Natalie must discover hidden strength to pull her friends and family back from the brink of madness.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15743917-the-dream-slayer

 

Excerpt:

 

Tristan beamed. “You’ve grown so much this past year. There was a time you would never

be able to say something like that.”

Natalie grew taller under his gaze. “I get my strength from you.”

“No, you don’t. You’re Nat. You’re strong all by yourself, princess.”

“I like it when you call me that.” Natalie said softly.

“It’s true. You’re even better than a Disney princess. You’re the Miller princess.”

Natalie’s heart leapt and tumbled in a way that was special; new. “I’m yours?”

“Uh-huh and there’s something I want to give you. I wanted to wait until it was special, but

you look like you could use some cheering up.”

“Give me?” Natalie was surprised. “Did you get me a present?” She bounced lightly.

Tristan fished around inside his pocket and finally pulled out a small box; it was a small

velvet box. Natalie saw ones like it on television all the time and in her sister’s bedroom. Her

head spun, wondering what could possibly be inside such a box.

“I wanted to do this at that fancy restaurant last week, but it was still on layaway.” Tristan

flipped the box open.

Natalie gawked at the silver ring. It was a simple band and crusted on all sides with jagged

cuts of gems in a rainbow of colors. She never knew anything could be so beautiful or that

anyone would ever think enough to get something so nice just for her.

“I know it seems kind of dorky, but when I saw it, I thought, that’d be perfect for Nat. I

could see how it’d look on your finger. You never ask for anything. You just do this incredible,

responsible job and you never ask for anything nice. The way you were just now with your

dad…I guess I never saw how much responsibility you really have. I need you to know, Nat,

I’m serious about this thing. Us.”

 

Giveaway:

Enter the rafflecopter below to win 1 e-book copy of  Dream Slayer and Demon Royale (Book 1 and 2) open international.

 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway


 

AUTHOR BIO:

Author of the YA Dream Slayer series, Jill loves to blend horror, comedy, the supernatural, and love, through her novels. A fan of genre blending, her work strives to cross boundries, but most of all strives to entertain.

She loves soft cuddly cats, warm blankets, and paranormal romances.

Jill resides in Massachusetts, is constantly renovating her home that she shares with her husband, young daughter, and two skittish cats.

Website: http://www.jillacooper.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEvasMommy

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jillybug

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2997619.Jill_Cooper

 

 

Waiting On Wednesday (7)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:
 

The Promise Of Amazing 

Robin Constantine

Expected publication: December 31st 2013 by Balzer + Bray

 

 

Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who's always done what she's supposed to—only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how.

Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp.” Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how.

One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love.

 

Everything about this book makes me want to read it! From the cover, to the synopsis. 

And if anyone wants to give me an ARC I definitely won't complain ;-) Also watch my Monday YA Author Interview schedule, because Robin recently agreed to do an interview with me!

 

 

 

Robin Constantine is a born and bred Jersey girl who moved down South so she could wear flip-flops year round. She spends her days dreaming up stories where love conquers all, well, eventually but not without a lot of peril, angst and the occasional kissing scene.

 

 

 

Top Ten Tuesday (6)

Hosted by  http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/

 

I have only read the top two of these books, but I would recommend those!

 

 

(If you take off the book cover there are also fake blood spots on the actual book!)

 

 

 

 

 

These are the ones that I could think of.....

Link below in the comments!

Monday YA Author Interview With Jill Daugherty

Where are you from?
I’ve lived in Denver, Colorado for the past 35 years. When I was very young, we lived in Peoria, Illinois.

When and why did you begin writing?

I started writing when I was about 3. I have very vivid memories of pestering my mom non-stop to tell me which letters made which sounds and which sounds made different words. I’d write down the letters to each of the words she told me and was fascinated with the patterns in each word. When I was 8, my teacher sent a poem I wrote in class to a local newspaper to be published. It was a very proud moment! That same year, I wrote a short story about a baby who was kidnapped from her crib. A gum wrapper found in her crib led the police to her kidnapper. It was a horrible story. I had the good sense to keep that one to myself. :-)
I write because I get really grumpy if I don’t. Over the summer I was getting frustrated with my writing and forced myself to take a two-week break. By the end of the two-week period, I was really itching to get back to it. Writing is a creative outlet for me, and when I’m not writing books or research papers, my friends have to suffer through really long emails from me.

What books have most influenced your life most?

Every book I’ve read has influenced me in one way or another. Some of them really make me think. Some of them show me how to write. Some of them show me how NOT to write. Even the bad books I’ve read have left me with something to think about.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Janet Evanovich. I love the humor of the Stephanie Plum series. They are never going to win a Pulitzer, but they are very entertaining, and that’s what I strive for with my own writing. It’s great when a book can make you grow or make you see the world in another way, but it’s also great when a book is nothing more than fun.

What book are you reading now?

Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Les Miserables. I’m finding that Les Miserables is very wordy and sometimes tedious, so when I get to the point where I can’t resist poking my eyes out with a fork, I put it away and pick up one of the other two.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

Yann Martel and Jonathan Safer Foer. Talk about books that make you think!

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

Just one?! I have so many favorites! If someone put a gun to my head and told me I had to pick books from just one author to pack in a trunk for a ten-year solo trip to a deserted island, I’d probably pick Charles Dickens. His stories have stood the test of time for a reason. They have love and betrayal and heartache and humor and I think they’d do a decent job of keeping me entertained until I was rescued by a cruise ship with a massive library.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Learning to develop a tough skin. Writing is easy compared to dealing with rejection. In the beginning, it was really hard for me to read anything negative about my books. Then I read two reviews on Goodreads that put reviews into perspective for me. One of the reviews said that the reader really didn’t like the first half of the book, but loved the second half. Another review said the reader loved the first half, but didn’t like the second half. I realized that it wasn’t possible to write a book that everyone loved and I’ve been able to put reviews into perspective since then.

 
Have you been an avid reader your entire life? (since you could read)

Yes! When I was as young as six, I would make the 30-minute walk from our house to the local library to check out books and listen to the library employees who would read stories for children. Even now, it is a very rare occasion when I don’t have something checked out from the library.

 
Ok now some fun questions:
What is your favorite sport to watch and or play?

I love to watch the Denver Broncos play. I don’t play any team sports on a regular basis, but I do bike, hike and swim.
Favorite Movie?
Love Actually. Don’t judge me. I know it’s several sappy love stories rolled into one movie, but it’s hard to not feel good after watching it. I challenge anyone to watch the moment when the little boy runs into his step-dad’s arms in the airport without a huge smile.
Chocolate or Vanilla?
 Vanilla – it has more possibilities because you can add any flavor to it and make it even better. And, you can turn vanilla into chocolate if the mood strikes you, but you can’t turn chocolate into vanilla
Puppy's or Kittens?
Puppies! Kittens are cute enough, but I’m allergic to them, so they make me itchy. Puppies are all the fun, with none of the itch.
Beach or Mountains?
 I live in Colorado, so definitely the Mountains.

If you could be a color, what color would you be?

 Blue. It’s such a calming color.
Favorite Dessert?
 Tiramisu. I don't drink coffee, but love just about anything with coffee flavor.

If you could be a book character, what character would you be?

Hermione Granger. We both are very practical and use research as a coping mechanism, but she can do magic and I can’t think of anything cooler than that!



I’ll take on Balor—I’ve resigned myself to that fate—but I can’t take these girls anymore.”
“So, just to clarify: Most evil faery known to all of faery-dome—no problem. A bunch of snide and petty girls—that you’re not up to?”
“Bingo.”
“Seriously, cushla macree, we need to have a discussion about your ranking system.”
Maggie O’Neill had a rough junior year… She fell in love with Simon. She found out Simon was a faery. She spent some time with her dead ancestors. An evil faery with control issues came after her and brought his groupies to kill her. …but that was nothing compared to what’s in store for senior year. She’s the new girl at faery boarding school and is subjected to something she never thought she’d have to deal with in her entire life—mean girls. To make matters worse, she’s seeing less and less of Simon, her faery guard is smothering her in their efforts to protect her, and the evil faery is still stalking her, determined to kill her before she can kill him. She starts to wonder if she’ll make it to graduation. Then the unthinkable happens and she wonders if she’ll be able to survive even one more day.

Super Six Sunday (1)

Super Six Sunday is an original bookish meme hosted at Bewitched Bookworms and inspired by “Top Ten Tuesday” from The Broke and The Bookish . You can see the weekly schedule of themes here.

I decided to do a Super Six Sunday this week, because the topic looked really interesting and I would love to share!

Super Six Favorite Supernatural Creatures
(In no particular order)

 

 

 

Mermaids
Just because they are awesome :-)

 

Revenants

They are kind of like zombies but nice.

Aliens
These don't really count as supernatural. But I'm still gonna list them!
(the human-like guys not the green guys)




Faeries
(I meant to spell it that way!)



Werewolves
Not the mean ones but the nice ones. Especially in Kathleen Peacocks books.



Time Travelers
I don't know another name for them!


So that's my list! You might say that some creatures are missing like vampires or ghosts, but I have never been a big fan of either.
Feel free to link below to this feature or any other! I would love to check it out.

Stacking The Shelves (9) and Weekly Summary

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

 

Here are the books I bought/received this week.




Review Copy:
Amulet Of Elusion - Katie Lynn Johnson
Katie was nice enough to send me a paperback copy of her book in exchange for a review!

Bought As E-book:
Allegiant - Veronica Roth
I'm pretty sure this is going to be on everyone's book haul this week.
Insurgent - Veronica Roth
I read this one in anticipation for Allegiant.

Netgalley:
Lady Thief (Scarlet #2) - A. C. Gaughen
I really liked Scarlet so I am excited to read this one!

Library:
Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell
The Essence - Kimberly Derting
The Giver - Lois Lowry




Weekly Summary:

Another Little Piece Review

Monday YA Author Interview With Melanie Dickerson

Waiting On Wednesday (6) Double Digit

How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True Review