Title: Feast

SubTitle: Harvest of Dreams

Publisher: HarperCollins

Imprint: HarperVoyager

Pub Date: 1st July 2011

ISBN: 9780061990823

Author: Merrie Destefano

Reading this book, Feast by Merrie Destefano reminds me a little bit of Lewis Caroll’s Alice in Wonderland as well as through The Looking Glass. I’m not quite sure why… but perhaps because of the queer and mind boggling nature of this book.

I couldn’t actually grasps the story for the first few chapter, but as the story goes by, I find this book rather irresistible and rather drawn to the characters in this book.

This is not a bad book to read, in my humble opinion. But to me… this is the kind of book that you’ll need to get yourself in the mood first before reading it.

I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. I received an ARC of this book from Harper Collins Publisher via Netgalley. I was not compensated in any ways for writing this book.

For more information on this book, please click here.

Book description:

Madeline MacFadden spent blissful childhood summers in  Ticonderoga Falls. And this is where she wants to be now that her adult life is falling apart. The dense surrounding forest holds many memories, some joyous, some tantalizingly only half-remembered.  And she’s always believed there was something living in these wooded hills.

But Maddie doesn’t remember the dark parts — and knows nothing of the mountain legend that holds the area’s terrified residents captive. She has no recollection of Ash, the strange and magnificent creature who once saved her life as a child, even though it is the destiny of his kind to prey upon humanity. And soon it will be the Harvest. . . the time to feast.

Once again Maddie’s dreams — and her soul — are in grave danger. But magic runs deep during Harvest. Even a spinner of enchanted tales has wondrous powers of her own.

Title: Starcrossed

Publisher: HarperCollins

Imprint: HarperTeen

Pub Date: 31st May 2011

ISBN: 9780062011992

Author:Josephine Angelini

As a child, I’ve always been intrigued by Greek mythologies. I could still remember the times when I was still a teenager, I would go on and on and read thick books on Greek Gods, Goddesses, fair maidens and creatures of fantasies.

I’m all grown up now, and yet I am still intrigued with Greek myths and legends, and therefore, when I saw Starcrossed available for review in Netgalley, I knew that I have to snatch it up immediately.

Starcrossed is a modern blend of fantasy, magic, romance that’s loosely inspired by the Greek princess… Helen of Sparta… or rather, Helen of Troy, the maiden whose face launched a thousand ships.

Starcrossed is so beautifully written and it does not disappoint me. When I read it, I felt as if I was transported into another world and my heart beats twice faster when Helen, the main protagonist of Starcrossed was hurled into strange predicament.

A fantastic, gripping and inspiring read. Highly recommended to readers who love mythology but want to try something that has a modern take in it.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Book description:

Helen Hamilton has always known she’s different from the other teens on tiny Nantucket, but it’s not until Lucas Delos moves to town that she realizes just how special she is. Facing Lucas in the halls of high school, Helen’s possessed by a powerful need to kill him–and she almost succeeds. But when their mutual hatred of each other transforms into desire, Helen and Lucas discover they are both Scions–descendants of Greek gods–and that their two families have for centuries been engaged in a deadly blood feud. As Lucas teaches Helen to use her powers, which include flying, controlling lightning, and an immunity to weapons (in addition to her gorgeous face, which she’s inherited from a certain namesake whose own face “launched a thousand ships”), the two grow ever closer–but can never be together until they find a way around the curse that’s destined to keep them apart.

This book will be released on: 31st May 2011. For more information on this title, please click here.

Title: Die For Me

Publisher: HarperCollins

Imprint: HarperTeen

Pub Date: 10th May 2011

ISBN: 9780062004017

Author: Amy Plum

What if…you found someone that could break the walls that you build around your heart, and managed to have you fall in love with him desperately only to find out that he is destined to die over and over again in place of humans whose time to die has not yet come? Would you be able to love him still and deal with the heart-wrenching emotion that follows his deaths?

This book, Die For Me by Amy Plum is an amazing book to be read. I found myself having misty eyes by the time the story comes to an end. The unconditional love between the characters is so beautifully written that I can’t help but feel for them.

Kudos to Amy Plum for such a gripping, emotional and action packed paranormal love story. I rate this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

I received an ARC of this book from Harper Collins via Netgalley, and I was not compensated in any ways for writing this.

Book description:

Kate Mercier’s wonderfully normal teenage life comes crashing down when her parents are killed in a car accident. Suddenly, she and her sister, Georgia, are forced to leave everything they’ve ever known in America and move to Paris to live with their grandparents. For Kate, the only way to survive is by sealing off her heart and escaping into the comforting world of books and beautiful art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate’s guarded heart with just his smile. He also happens to be one of an elite race of paranormal beings known as revenants—undead creatures who exist to sacrifice themselves over and over again in place of other humans whose time to die has not yet come.

As Kate’s attraction to Vincent grows, she must choose between the shattered life she was trying to rebuild, and the risks of loving again. But when she learns that her sister has become involved with a group of evil revenants who exist solely to murder and betray those around them, Kate is thrown into the midst of a centuries-old battle which threatens the lives of everyone she loves.

This book will be released on: 10th May 2011. For more information on this title, please click here.

Title: Hereafter

Publisher: HarperCollins

Imprint: HarperTeen

Pub Date: 7th June 2011

ISBN: 9780062026774

Author: Tara Hudson

Hereafter by Tara Hudson is quite a story, I must say. I don’t intend to spoil the story for you, so all I can say is that this story is quite a remarkable story to be read. It explore human emotions with conviction through the characters. It is nice to see that the heroine in this story is dynamic and have a spunky attitude of not giving up to what Fate dictates.

If you’re a fan of paranormal love story, then this is the book for you, and you wouldn’t want to miss a love story that transcends death.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars for the marvelous storytelling that could evoke a roller-coaster of emotional response even at first read.

Book description:

For Amelia, time has all but slowed to a stop as her spirit remains stranded alone in the dark waters of a mysterious river. She knows she’s died, but with no recollection of her past life–or her actual death–she’s trapped in one long continuous nightmare, in which she cannot feel anything or interact with anyone. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a teenage boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in a moment of connection, he looks in her eyes and becomes the first person in the world to see that she still exists.

When he touches her, Joshua sparks strange and wonderful sensory feelings in Amelia–at first just momentary flashes, then pulses that become ever stronger as he leads her out of the river and into his life. As Amelia and Joshua uncover who she was and the strange circumstances of her death, new problems arise: somehow, Joshua’s grandmother seems to know exactly what is going on between them, and Eli, a ghost enforcer, is hell-bent on destroying their happiness and dragging Amelia back into the spirit world.

With every touch and the growing feelings that come with them, Amelia and Joshua begin to wonder if there’s something special not only about Joshua but also the dark river that held her captive for so long. Can there truly be love after death?

The book will be released on: 7th June 2011. For more information on this title, please click here.

I received an ARC of this book from Harper Collins via Netgalley. I was not compensated in any ways for writing this review.

Title: The Last Little Blue Envelope

Publisher: HarperCollins

Imprint: HarperTeen

Pub Date: 26 April 2011

ISBN: 9780061976797

Author: Maureen Johnson

The Last Little Blue Envelop by Maureen Johnson is a sequel to 13 Little Blue Envelop. I did not have the privilege to read the prequel to this book, but I think it’s an okay book to read as a stand alone. When I flipped through the pages, I had the sense of deja vu. I wasn’t sure what it was at the beginning, but it occurred to me that the storyline and the moral of the story is a little bit like P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern, where both of the characters in the books are left with a set of instruction by their loved ones who had just passed away.

This book is about soul-searching and finding yourself. An okay book to read for me, considering the humour and the misadventures that comes along with the book. The characters were well developed, though I wish I had the privilege to read the prequel of this book so that I could understand more about the characters and the plot.

I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. I received a digital ARC of this book from Harper Collins via Netgalley and I was not compensated in any ways for writing this review.

Book description:

Ginny Blackstone thought that the biggest adventure of her life was behind her. She spent last summer traveling around Europe, following the tasks her aunt laid out in a series of letters before she died. When someone stole Ginny’s backpack-and the last little blue envelope inside—she resigned herself to never knowing how it was supposed to end.

Months later, a mysterious boy contacts Ginny from London, saying he’s found her bag. Finally, Ginny can finish what she started. But instead of ending her journey, the last letter starts a new adventure, and Ginny finds she must hold onto her wits-and her heart. This time, there are no instructions.

This book will be released on 26th April 2011. Please click here for more information on this title.

Title: Seducing the Governess

Publisher: HarperCollins

Imprint: Avon

Pub Date: 22 Feb 2010

ISBN: 9780062018212

Author:

I was still in the mood for some sizzling romance that will either burn you with pleasure or send you to seventh heaven, and therefore, I picked up another good read from Harper Collins. This time, it’s ‘Seducing The Governess’ by Margo Maguire.

Margo Maguire did a fine job in giving the readers a sense of escapism and the fantasy of having a scandalous affair with one’s employer in ‘Seducing The Governess’.

I may be an adult, but this book reduced me to a blushing teenager as I go further along with the story. This book is not only arousing but it’s also wickedly inspiring in many ways. I admire the protagonist’s determination as well as passion.

‘Seducing the Governess’ is beautifully written, and if you’re an avid fan of historical or Regency romance, then this book is definitely for you.

Book description:

For more information about this title, please contact Pam.Jaffee@harpercollins.com.

I rate this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.

For more information on this title, please click here to visit the publisher’s website.

I received this ARC from Harper Collins (Avon) via Netgalley for review purposes and I was not compensated in any ways for writing this. All opinions are 100% my own.

Title:		Seducing the Governess
Publisher:		HarperCollins
Imprint:		Avon
Pub Date:		02/22/2010
ISBN:		9780062018212
Author:		Margo Maguire