Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon

From Goodreads: On the morning of her sixteenth birthday, Renée Winters was still an ordinary girl. She spent her summers at the beach, had the perfect best friend, and had just started dating the cutest guy at school. No one she'd ever known had died. But all that changes when she finds her parents dead in the Redwood Forest, in what appears to be a strange double murder. After the funeral Renée’s wealthy grandfather sends her to Gottfried Academy, a remote and mysterious boarding school in Maine, where she finds herself studying subjects like Philosophy, Latin, and the “Crude Sciences.” It’s there that she meets Dante Berlin, a handsome and elusive boy to whom she feels inexplicably drawn. As they grow closer, unexplainable things begin to happen, but Renée can’t stop herself from falling in love. It’s only when she discovers a dark tragedy in Gottfried’s past that she begins to wonder if the Academy is everything it seems. Little does she know, Dante is the one hiding a dangerous secret, one that has him fearing for her life. Dead Beautiful is both a compelling romance and thought-provoking read, bringing shocking new meaning to life, death, love, and the nature of the soul.

This is the first book for the Dead Beautiful series. I actually read the second book before reading this first book. So I sort of knowing their relationship but it does not hinder me from enjoying reading this book 1.

Renee was devastated after foung both of her parents were died on her sixteenth birthday. And then she had to leave her best friend and other friends behind to go to a boarding school where she had no friend there at all. And I would say she handled it very well, show that she's independent.

Most part of the book was about Renee's life in Gottfried Academy. Despite the strict school rules, with the interesting subjects, new friends, and things that happened last summer at that school, made Renee's new life very much interesting and adventurous. Imagine the excitement sneaked out the bedroom through fire place after the curfew; secretly dating a guy who did not socialize with the other students; being called to headmistress for breaking the school rules. Renee was a smart girl, and always speak for her mind despite it got her into trouble. And she determined to find out the truth of her parent's death, as well as what happened last summer in Gottfried.

With the new environment and new friends, Renee started drifting apart with her previous best friend. While her roommate Eleanor became her best friend. I actually feel pity to Eleanor, as what had happened to her was not her fault. She was a victim. A very unfortunate for her. The ending was unexpected.

In overall, it was a good read to me. There was enough mystery and suspense to make me keep on turning the pages searching for the answer. There were also some "oh no" moments that made me worry for Renee, eager to know what would happen to her.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa

Summer's Crossing is a novella between The Iron Queen and The Iron Knight. The Iron Queen end with Meghan becomes the queen of the Iron Fey staying in the Iron realm, leaving Ash and Puck behind. Ash determines to find a way to go back to Meghan. And Push does not want to be left alone despite Ash does not invite him to come along.

In Summer's Crossing, just when Ash and Robin Goodfellow (Puck) want to continue their journey, the Exile Queen appears to collect the favor from Ash. Ash left with no choice but to go to Summer Court to collect the item for Exile Queen from Queen Titania, the Summer Court's queen. However Ash is the prince of Winter Court, the enemy of Summer Court, it is definitely not safe for him to travel to Summer Court all by himself. Thus Puck is taking Ash to Summer Court.

It may be a challenge for Puck to bring Ash to Summer Court without being noticed but he definitely capable of doing that. However he also falls into dilemma whether he should help Ash or get rid of him in Summer Court. Both of them have fallen in love with Meghan. But Meghan's heart is on Ash, and treating Puck as her very good friend. So if Ash is no longer around, he will have a much higher chance to win her over.

It is a joy to read Summer's Crossing. The adventure to Summer Court is light and fun. It is written from Puck's point of view, where he is the first person here. So we get to know his inner thoughts; his feelings towards Meghan, his princess; his mixed feelings on Ash. I can't stop myself from smiling over his brilliant and witty character. I'm not sure whether he treats Ash as his friend or still as an enemy, but his willingness to help Ash to get the job done, prove to me his noble spirit. It makes me light-hearted reading about Puck and his brilliant and devious plan to get the job done.

I rate it 4 out of 5 stars. 


P/s: You can download the eBook of Summer's Crossing for free for limited time period, from Harlequin Teen website.

Across the Nightingale Floor (from Tales of the Otori series) by Lian Hearn

Across the Nightingale Floor is the first of the Tales of the Otori trilogy. It covers a period of just over a year, when Otori Takeo was sixteen years old, and Kaede was fifteen years old. 

It covers how Takeo was rescued by Lord Shigeru and being adopted by him later. One day, Lord Shigeru's friend, Muto Kenji visited them and revealed that Takeo's father was of The Tribe, a group of families with special powers. And Takeo had inherited lots of talents from his father, which made the Tribe wanted to claim back Takeo. In order to adopt Takeo, Lord Shigeru was forced to marry Shirakawa Kaede. But Lord Shigeru also had another plan. The wedding was going take place in Inuyama, home of Lord Iida. Lord Iida had killed Shigeru's father and brother. The wedding gave Shigeru a reason to get near Lord Iida for his revenge. Takeo supposed to kill Lord Iida before the wedding, but Kenji betrayed Shigeru and brought Takeo back to the Tribe. And his action cause Shigeru being crucified. On the same night, Kaede killed Lord Iida when he attempted to rape her. Lord Arai took the opportunity to take over all land from Lord Iida. 

The story is told primarily in first-person narrative by Otori Takeo. At first, I thought I will get bored very quickly but on the contrary, the more I read the more I get fascinated. The characters are well developed and the story was alternate between Takeo and Kaede. Both of them have sad story but they did not give up getting what they want.

Japanese historical story always made me feel very bitter. In those days, there was not much thing where you can decide what to do. You can hardly choose your bride or groom. Lots of arrange marriages due to political reason. There were no laws, the Lords are the law. I actually long to have Takeo's super power:

Acute hearing - so that I can hear what my kids are doing when they are out of my sight (Takeo could draw the layout of the house, based on hearing what's happening at that house, and he could calculate how many people and animals in that house).

Split into multiple self - to attend both kids at the same time.

Invisible - to hide myself so I can get some rest when both kids want my attention non-stop. LOL!

I enjoy reading this book very much. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.


Some fact about Tales of the Otori -
Tales of the Otori is a series of historical fantasy novels about a young warrior Otori Takeo, set in a fictional world based on feudal Japan. The whole series has 5 books -

The trilogy: Across the Nightingale Floor, Grass for His Pillow, and Brilliance of the Moon,
Sequel: The Harsh Cry of the Heron,
Prequel: Heaven's Net is Wide.

The whole series cover the whole life of Otori Takeo - from a village boy become a warrior, to avenge his adoptive father, to fight for his land and inheritance, at the same time escape from The Tribe who want to claim him, and marry the woman that he loves, Shirakawa Kaede, another main character in this series.

Something about You by Julie James

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Lynde is treating herself to a much needed one-day break in a local luxury hotel. However she does not enjoy the night there. She has been tortured by the couple staying next door, who decided to have sex marathon for the night. Feeling frustrated not able to get rest, finally she calls the hotel to lodge a complaint. When the hotel security comes to the hotel room to check against the couple, what they find is a dead women body.

FBI Agent Jack Pallas has been assigned to take up this case. Being the only witness, Cameron has to give corporation to the FBI. However Cameron and Jack are not in good terms due to some unhappy incident that takes place 3 years ago - Jack humiliated Cameron in front of the media. Due to this, Jack's career almost destroyed and he was transferred out from Chicago and just returns recently. He blames Cameron for the transfer. Despite dislike each other, Jack and Cameron has no choice but to work together solving the case.

The whole story is written in a very humor way. I am laughing right from the beginning till the end. There are few scenes where Cameron's life is in danger where my heart is beating fast for her. In overall, it is a very good read. Very good book if you are looking for something to relax and have some laugh.

I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James

Taylor Donovan is a lawyer from Chicago. She was sent to the office in Los Angeles to take care of an important case. She is very hard working and during her 6 years in her practice, she has never lost a case.

In LA, she is also being assigned to couch the People’s “Sexiest Man Alive”, James Andrews on his role in his next big legal thriller. Knowing her tight schedule in LA, she reluctantly accepted the assignment. However when Jason did not turn up for the first week as per the arrangement, Taylor get very pissed off.

Jason Andrews is used to having women fall at his feet.  He is very surprised and shocked when Taylor Donovan gives him the cold shoulder and angry with him for not showing up. Instead of walking away, he finds Taylor very interesting and challenging, and insists that she should be the one couching him. He does not believe Taylor is different from other women. It is a perfect good challenge for him to make her falls over him.

Taylor has no choice but to follow the firm's order. Despite resisting him from the beginning, however the more Taylor gets to know Jason; she started to get attracted to him. Similarly for Jason, the more he gets to know her; he realizes he has fallen in love with her.

Taylor's case ends earlier than expected and she has to go back to Chicago. Due to her past experience and Jason's past history on women, Taylor does not believe that she is the different one for Jason.

The whole story is funny and relaxing. There are lots of scenes that made me laugh out loud. And I find the ending kind of romantic. A very good book, definitely worth reading.

I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Practice Make Perfect by Julie James

Payton Kendall and J.D. Jameson are top lawyers in one of the famous law firm in town. Both have been working very hard, clocking in many hours, and winning many trials for the past 8 years, so that they can make it to the partner of the firm. Payton and J.D. do not like each other, and have been competing with each other all the time. However in front of others, they have been keeping a safe distance and tolerate each other. Soon the firm will announce who will become the partner for this year.

Despite working in the same firm, Payton and J.D. are handling cases of different class, and they have never worked together before. One day, they are asked by their boss to work on a big case together. For the first time in 8 years, they begin to appreciate each other dedications to the job, and stop fighting for a while. Soon they become attracted to each other.

However the peace between them does not last long when they discover that only one of them will be named partner. Now it’s an all out war. As the one who fail to become the partner, will have to leave the firm and restart their career at other place.

I like the way the storyline is being developed. And despite Payton and J.D. are already more than 30 years old, but it is kind of fun to see how childish they are, when they try to do anything to stay upper hand, and then regret doing it later.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.