I apologise to the author as it took me much longer than anticipated to review this book. I think one of the main reasons for this is that despite compelling writing, try as I might I just couldn't like the main characters.

First of all, this is 18 mature YA. There is plenty of sex and violence. I was taken aback by it, although the author did give a fair warning about the contents of the book.

Hope moves into Cherry, CA with her alcoholic father and younger twin-brothers leaving her friends and dreams behind. Straight away she becomes involved into the strange dynamics of this town. One group organising rock concerts in the park and participating in them is being vilified by the whole town, accused of witchcraft and murder.

Her first day in town, Hope meets Slade, who is a part of this group and an amazing singer, and they feel instant attraction. He is a classic bad-ass - tattoos, black leather, etc.

Hope also meets Tucker, a hunky son of a Mayor of Cherry. Tucker goes to the same Art School as Hope who is a very talented singer. Her grandmother and Tucker's mom actively try playing matchmaking with them.

Despite the predictable popular love triangle, magic, sex and violence the whole book is pretty bizarre, because both Slade and Tucker are dicks (sorry, there is no polite way of saying that). They might say the right things but their actions are so self-centered, so sickeningly negligent of Hope's well-being, I'm frankly at loss why would anyone like them?

Tucker is a spoiled rotten rich teenager with a bitchy stepmother and a psychotic dad. Slade might be poor and rebellious but at heart he is a manipulative little bastard.

I think my problem is that I felt bad for Hope whose naivete made her fall for a guy like these two. The girl is courageous and is not afraid to stand up for herself, but she made stupid stupid choices and I couldn't bring myself to like her for that. I know I'm supposed to suspend my disbelief and just enjoy the story, and I know for a fact that a lot of people did.

However, I've seen too many men like that in real life. It's not funny and it's not attractive.

Also Karsen, hell of a best friend... Too much sex, just too much.

I'd better stop ranting.

I think at seventeen I would have found this book daring and exciting, but now? I'm too old to fall for it, peeps :)

Don't let my rant discourage you. Decide for yourself what you like. ( )

I was caught from the beginning. Romance and mystery is a great combo. The world and characters are well developed. It was hard to walk away from but I did have to sleep. ( )

This really was a fantastic read. I was captured right from the beginning, and found myself staying up late and getting up early so I could read more.

The book starts off with Hope and some of her family moving out to Cherry, CA. They are a family divided, and her paternal grandmother lives out west, so they decide to leave GA. They aren’t rich, but they are definitely moving to a wealthy area. Hope, her dad, and two of her brothers (Eliot and Easton – twins) pack up the van and are on their way.

Right away Hope meets a few people, and they are all kind of haughty. She manages to make a couple friends right away, but no one like her bestie back home, Karsen.

And then one night she sees a bunch of people walking down the beach, and they are all heading the same direction. She decides to investigate and comes upon a rock concert! The crowd is enthralled, and soon starts to get wild. But someone is coming to Hope’s rescue, a guy full of tattoos, mystery, and carrying a baseball bat! His name is Slade, and he saves her from the rock hungry crowd.

And then Hope meets Tucker. He’s the classic all American boy type: fantastically good looking, charming. And he’s giving Hope lots of attention. What girl wouldn’t be flattered and excited?

Boy, these two guys, Slade and Tucker, really had me in a tug of war for the first half of the book. I could easily see how Hope was having trouble picking just one. But luckily that difficulty doesn’t last. She goes on dates with each of them.

Slade and Hope’s first date is the perfect teen dream. Two young people learning about each other, fanning that spark. The undertow of excitement, curiosity and fascination took me back in time and made me want more, more, more! I thought right there I had made my mind up, regardless of the story I was picking Slade.

But then Tucker picks Hope up for the first day of school and he seems so sweet and genuine. Could it be true? I was wrestling with myself mentally here. He seems so intent on getting to know her better and definitely on a flirtier level. I must admit, if it was me I would have totally fallen for his tactics. Flirty, fun, carefree. Then I made my mind up again, I wanted Tucker.

And then I flip flopped around, every new fact giving you more information. Do you go with the mainstream and play it “safe” or do you go outside your boundaries where there is passion and danger?

So which does she pick? Who steals her heart? And whose mystery is more dangerous than fun? This book was really good at keeping you guessing. The author gives you a little hint, then steers you in a new direction. But either way, you are glued to the page, waiting to see where the path goes. You get to see the characters really develop and grow all while going on a great trip. I got mad, I got happy, and I was anxious and scared. It was a lengthy book, but for me it went superfast and would be positively happy if it were even longer – or a series ( )

There are some books you read that make you remember your teen years fondly. Though mine was never covered with the outstanding magical fantasy that didn’t mean that the moments of some teenage rebellion or what my father thought was didn’t compare. It made me smile and gave me fond memories of times past to pop to the imagination which only helped the story it’s self unfurl and make me turn the pages even so I stayed up all night just to finish it. Though some of the scenes are meant more for the Younger Adult I still say that this book was one that definitely goes on my save to read shelf .

Hope is dealing with the divorce and change to her lives that her parents have thrown them all into. Missing her life and friends in Georgia is one thing. Doing it because she feels her father couldn’t live without her is another. His drinking problem only seems to pull her more into an adult life than she really needs to be basically mothering not only her father and her twin brothers that came with them to California Hope has lost herself into that roll of teenage parent almost. Covering all things for her father when he’s to busy being drunk in his room and being lost in the loss of his wife.

Finding herself on meeting few people one that she meets first is Slade, The quiet brooding , tattooed and pierced young man from down at Henry Park. One of the band members of the mysterious band Evil Kings of Ink. She is drawn to him. But the fun doesn’t stop there . She meets Tucker as well one of the popular handsome boys of Ashwilder School of the Arts which is where Hope is going to school as well and is warned to stay away from Slade. The question is which is more dangerous Tucker or Slade? If you want to know I HIGHLY suggest you pull out this wonderful work from Holly Hood. I know I hope that perhaps there will be more on the whole story of Hope and the mystical life she comes to lead. ( )