Book review

Hereafter

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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.

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Book review

The Last Little Blue Envelope

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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.

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Book review

The Love Market

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Title: The Love Market

Publisher: McArthur & Company

Pub Date: 2 February 2010

ISBN: 9781552788455

Author: Carol Mason

The Love Market is one book that I think most married couple could easily relate to, especially if they have been married for years and with children. I don’t know if you have heard about the 7 years itch and whatnot, but The Love Market demonstrate exactly just that-evaluation of one’s relationship with the other half as well as unresolved issues in marriage.

The Love Market, despite being a contemporary romance, tackles alot of marital issues without being overly preachy or lame. This is one insightful and inspirational book and I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

Book description:

When a marriage ends and a first love reappears, Celine Lewis is about to learn that moving on is as complicated as going back.

Three years after seeing her first love, Patrick, quite by chance in London, Celine’s ten-year marriage to Mike is over and she is running her own business, called The Love Market, a professional matchmaking service in Northern England. She’s coping with the unanticipated heartbreak of a marriage ending, and her quirky twelve-year-old daughter who seems to blame her for the split.

Then, out of the blue, Patrick emails. Tempted to find out if all the old feelings can possibly still be there, she’s thrown into tailspin again when Mike has an unusual proposition for her, forcing her to question whether a divorce really means it’s over.

For more information on this title, please click here.

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Book review

The Midnight Palace

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Title: The Midnight Palace

Publisher: Hachette Book Group

Imprint: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Pub Date: 3rd May 2011

ISBN: 9780316044738

Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafon

I was really perplexed when I saw this book in my account in Netgalley. I was more than sure that I did not request for review purposes. But since it was there, and I was not in the mood to do anything else but read, I decided to pick this up and read nevertheless.

There’s three words that can be used to describe this book: Freaky, horrifying and exhilirating.

The author definitely do a good job telling the story, and I found myself my heart beating twice faster than usual as the plot thickens. Frankly speaking, I am not a fan of horror or chilling thriller like ‘The Midnight Palace’, but think I can get used to reading such genre if all authors are as good as telling horror as Carlos Ruiz Zafon.

Book description:

One dark night in 1930s Calcutta, an English lieutenant fights to save newborn twins Ben and Sheere from an unthinkable threat. Despite terrible danger lurking around every street corner, the young lieutenant manages to get them to safety, but not without losing his own life…

Years later, on the eve of Ben and Sheere’s sixteenth birthday, the mysterious threat reenters their lives. This time, it may be impossible to escape. With the help of their brave friends, the twins will have to take a stand against the terror that watches them in the shadows of the night–and face the most frightening creature in the history of the City of Palaces.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars, and I definitely wouldn’t mind reading this book again in the future. It’s a good read despite the fact that it gives me goosebumps.

This book is scheduled to be released on: 3rd May 2011. For more information on this title, please click here.

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Book review

Surrender The Heart

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Title: Surrender the Heart

SubTitle: Surrender to Destiny Book One

Publisher:Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Imprint: Barbour Books

Pub Date: 1 August 2010

ISBN: 9781602601659

Author: MaryLu Tyndall

The world is becoming more and more depressing with each passing days. There is not much I can do about the things that’s going on in the world right now.  I can’t stop natural disasters, nor I can make powerful nations who are pointing weapons at each other cease fire.

I can only seek refuge in books, in hope it will somehow stop me from feeling depressed and wistful about things that I cannot do, and cannot change.

Unfortunately for me, not all books provides the sense of escapism. At least, this one doesn’t provide me any. Instead, it makes me relate to the raging war and uncertainties that the world is facing today.

Yes, Surrender The Heart by MaryLu Tyndall is a love story, but it’s a historical romance set in the times of wars and uncertainties. There’s something about this book that tugs at my heart. I am not sure what, but I suspect it’s the fact that the characters managed to find love despite of hating each other. I suppose, there is some things that war and difficult circumstances cannot take away from us, which is love, faith and hope.

Surrender The Heart is set in the times of despair and hardship. It was explicitly written that I could feel the despair in the story.

Book description:

For the sake of her ailing mother and destitute sister, Marianne Denton has become engaged to Noah Brenin, a merchantman she despises and who has no intentions of going through with the wedding himself. unwillingly the volatile couple find themselves deeply entangled in the War of 1812 when Noah’s ship is taken by the British and they obtain knowledge that would greatly aid the United States’ effort. As they battle to stay alive, defy the enemy to save their country, and escape from a British warship, can they also fall deeply in love?

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. For more information on this title, please click here.

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Book review

Lost Voices

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Title: Lost Voices

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Imprint: Harcourt Books

Pub Date: 4 July 2011

ISBN: 9780547482507

Author: Sarah Porter

The Lost Voice is not just your ordinary fairy tale involving sirens who led sailors to death. It’s a dark, modern fairy tale that deals with a lot of depressing issues in teenage girls’ lives. Okay… at first glance, it sounded like a modern fairy tale, but trust me, there’s more to this book than just a fairy tale. It deals with suicide, bullies, oppression as well as peer pressure. Another disturbing issue that this book raise is acceptance by the society.

The Lost Voice…is metaphorically speaking of the issues that’s clouding the teenage girls world these days. It is also hinting at us that a lot of people has lost their voices to speak up and uphold truth and justice. This is a beautiful, yet insightful and very inspiring book to read.

Book description:

Fourteen-year-old Luce has had a tough life, but she reaches the depths of despair when she is assaulted and left on the cliffs outside of her grim, gray Alaskan fishing village. She expects to die when she tumbles into the icy waves below, but instead undergoes an astonishing transformation and becomes a mermaid.
A tribe of mermaids finds Luce and welcomes her in—all of them, like her, lost girls who surrendered their humanity in the darkest moments of their lives. Luce is thrilled with her new life until she discovers the catch: the mermaids feel an uncontrollable desire to drown seafarers, using their enchanted voices to lure ships into the rocks. Luce’s own remarkable singing talent makes her important to the tribe—she may even have a shot at becoming their queen. However, her struggle to retain her humanity puts her at odds with her new friends. Will Luce be pressured into committing mass murder?

The first book in a trilogy, Lost Voices is a captivating and wildly original tale about finding a voice, the healing power of friendship, and the strength it takes to forgive.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I received this digital ARC from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publisher via Netgalley.

The release date for this book is 4th July 2011, and for more information on this title, please click here.

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Book review

The Royal Treatment

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Title: The Royal Treatment

SubTitle: A Princess for Hire Book

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Pub Date: 5 March 2011

ISBN: 9781423121930

Author: Lindsey Leavitt

Looking for a suitable book for your dreamy, pre-teen daughter? Well, look no further. The Royal Treatment-Princess for Hire is just the right book for your pre-teen daughters. It’s filled with intrigue, humour, adventure and most of all, moral values. I assure you that your girls would not find it difficult to relate to the main character in this story. This is one book the modern girls would need to have on their book shelf during their growing up years. This book will make a wonderful keepsake too.

Book description:

What girl wouldn’t swoon over outrageous perks like free jewelry, designer clothes, and the chance to hang out with crush-worthy Prince Karl? But best of all, Desi gets one-on-one time with Genevieve, the head of the super-secret and ultra glamorous Façade agency. She’s taken a special interest in Desi’s magical abilities.

But between Desi’s BEST (Betterment of Elite Sub Training) program, starting the eighth grade, trying out for the school play, and dealing with the cute-but-bossy new boy Reed, she’s beginning to feel like she’s in over her head.  Even worse, when Desi learns a secret about the magic that keeps Façade running, she realizes that not everything is as perfect as it seems.

Full of humor and heart, this second installment in the Princess for Hire series shows Desi that the royal treatment may just be masking mysteries, and only she can uncover the truth….one princess at a time!

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

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Book review

Aliens on Vacation

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Title: Aliens on Vacation

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Pub Date: 5 March 2011

ISBN: 9781423133636

Author: Clete Smith

This is my first time reviewing for Disney-Hyperion Publisher, and boy am I glad that I’ve been given an opportunity by Disney-Hyperion to review their ARCs for they made the child in me giggle in amusement when I read their books, especially this one: Aliens on Vacation by Clete Smith.

Aliens on Vacation is about a young boy helping out his grandmother in a bed and breakfast specially for space tourists. READ: Aliens.

The story was really amusing, funny, and well written. I daresay this story will amuse not only children, but adults as well too.

The storyline was original and highly imaginative, and with loads of moral packed in in.

I rate this book 4.5 out of 5 stars, and highly recommends this book to children 8 years and above.

Book description:

David, otherwise known as Scrub (don’t ask), isn’t happy about leaving Florida and his friends to summer with his grandmother in “Middle of Nowhere,” Washington. When he arrives at her Intergalactic Bed & Breakfast, he isn’t surprised by its 60s meets Star Wars decor, but he issurprised by the weird-looking guests. It turns out that each room in the inn is a portal, and his grandma is the gate-keeper, allowing aliens to vacation on Earth. Grandma desperately needs Scrub’s help with welcoming (and disguising) the tourists, shopping for cartloads of aluminum foil for dinner, and taking rambunctious alien kids camping in the nearby woods. The problem is, the town sheriff–already suspicious about Granny–is a scout leader camping in the same spot. Will Scrub blow Granny’s cover, forcing the B&B to shut down forever? Full of cosmic chaos and mind-bending mayhem, Scrub’s summer adventure will leave readers wanting to make a return trip.

For more information on this title, please click here.

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Book review

Seducing The Governess

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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.

A proper governess should never…

Assist a handsome stranger, along on an unfamiliar road…unless the rake happens to be her new employer.

Take a position in a crumbling manor…especially if the household staff has been replaced by unruly former soldiers.

Allow her young charge entree to her heart…for once done, it will be impossible to maintain proper distance.

Permit her charge’s uncle a breathtaking kiss under a star-lit sky…henceforth she will most certainly lose composure whenever he is near.

And above all, she should never, ever fall completely, irreversibly in love with her employer…for nothing good can possibly come of it.

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
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Book review

The Goddess Test

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Title: The Goddess Test

SubTitle: Book I in The Goddess Test series

Publisher: Harlequin

Imprint: Harlequin TEEN

Pub Date: 26th April 2011

ISBN: 9780373210268

Author: Aimée Carter

I’m a sucker for fairy tales as well as mythologies, and so when I spotted this book up for review in Netgalley, I requested it immediately without any second thoughts.

I was not disappointed with this fresh, modern take on the tale of Persephone and Hades. Unlike the original Persephone, the protagonist here was given more life to her character and more courage instead of just the kidnapped bride of the God of the Underworld.

Very refreshing tale, and inspiring though the ending dissapoint me a little bit.

I rate this book 3.5 our of 5 stars. I received this ARC from Harlequin via Netgalley, and I was not compensated in any ways for writing this review.

Book description

EVERY GIRL who has taken the test has DIED.

Not it’s KATE’S TURN.

It’s always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate’s going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won’t live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he’ll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he’s crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she’ll become Henry’s future bride, and a goddess.

If she fails…

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