Keeping An Eye #4

Keeping An Eye is a feature on my blog where I would post about the new releases for the next two weeks which I would be looking forward to.

This week I have another a paranormal YA and a YA contemporary romance.
My two favourite genres ^^

Title: Something Strange And Deadly
Author: Susan Dennard
Series: Something Strange And Deadly #1
Genre: Paranormal YA
Release Date: 24th July 2012 (Hardcover)
Goodreads Description: The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper— The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother. Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

Title: Pushing The Limits
Author: Katie McGarry
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Release Date: 31st July 2012 (Hardcover) / 3rd August 2012 (Paperback)
Goodreads Description: So wrong for each other...and yet so right.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.

But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

 Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.


I've heard of Something Strange And Deadly since a couple of months ago and it's really kinda stuck in my head. Historical stories are not my first choice though, as history just sounds boring to me. Reminds me of Anna Dressed in Blood, but I'm not sure if they're any alike since I've read neither.
Pushing The Limits is something that caught my attention because of the high ratings. Mainly. With over 50% rating 5 out of 5. Like, wow. It'll be a sin to miss this kind of book right? It's really intriguing, so I'm actually quite looking forward to getting my hands on it.
A more varied match this time round, which would be your pick?

Keeping An Eye #3

Keeping An Eye is a feature I would post on my blog every 1st and 15th of each month.
Hopefully I wouldn't miss any again :P
To recap, I would be showing readers the new releases of the month which I'm looking forward to.
Except that instead of one, I would now be posting two as a comparison.
Okay, mostly it's just because I can't decided between the two but shh let's not say it out xP
For this week's Keeping An Eye, I have two books to be published in the first half of the month of July 2012.

Title: Team Human
Author: Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan
Genre: Paranormal YA
Release Date: 1st July 2012 (paperback) / 3rd July 2012 (Hardcover)
Goodreads Description: Just because Mel lives in New Whitby, a city founded by vampires, doesn't mean she knows any of the blood-drinking undead personally. They stay in their part of town; she says in hers. Until the day a vampire shows up at her high school. Worse yet, her best friend, Cathy, seems to be falling in love with him. It's up to Mel to save Cathy from a mistake she might regret for all eternity.

On top of trying to help Cathy (whether she wants it or not), Mel is investigating a mysterious disappearance for another friend and discovering the attractions of a certain vampire wannabe. Combine all this with a cranky vampire cop, a number of unlikely romantic entanglements, and the occasional zombie, and soon Mel is hip-deep in an adventure that is equal parts hilarious and touching.

Title: Dark Companion
Author: Marta Acosta
Genre: Paranormal YA
Release Date: 3rd July 2012 (Hardcover)
Goodreads Description: Orphaned at the age of six, Jane Williams has grown up in a series of foster homes, learning to survive in the shadows of life. Through hard work and determination, she manages to win a scholarship to the exclusive Birch Grove Academy. There, for the first time, Jane finds herself accepted by a group of friends. She even starts tutoring the headmistress’s gorgeous son, Lucien. Things seem too good to be true.
They are.

The more she learns about Birch Grove’s recent past, the more Jane comes to suspect that there is something sinister going on. Why did the wife of a popular teacher kill herself? What happened to the former scholarship student, whose place Jane took? Why does Lucien’s brother, Jack, seem to dislike her so much?

As Jane begins to piece together the answers to the puzzle, she must find out why she was brought to Birch Grove—and what she would risk to stay there…


A story between humans and vampires may be getting cliched and I'm really hopping to see how the two authors are going to play it so it doesn't end up like another screwed version of Twilight. That said, the plot looks appealing enough as is the title.
Dark Companion. The cover alone would win hands-down. Plus the mysterious factors into the story, it seemed hard not to get attracted and pick up the book. The more I read the blurb, the more I'm leaning towards this story than the other one.
Both are young adult books with aspects of paranormalcy, with equally rather high ratings attained on Goodreads.
What would be your pick?

Keeping An Eye #2

Yay, I almost forgot about this one too.
Meaning, I actually didn't :D
Yeah, that was the whole point x)

Running on a tight deadline, I was glad I'd actually picked this time's KAE book together with the last one.
Because I saw it on May's new release, and it took me in.
Yes, Darkness Before Dawn has that in it.

Title: Darkness Before Dawn
Author: J. A. London
Series: Darkness Before Dawn #1
Genre: Paranormal YA
Release Date: 29th May 2012
Goodreads Description: This electrifying new trilogy blends the best of paranormal and dystopian storytelling in a world where the war is over. And the vampires won.

Humans huddle in their walled cities, supplying blood in exchange for safety. But not even that is guaranteed. Dawn has lost her entire family and now reluctantly serves as the delegate to Lord Valentine, the most powerful vampire for miles. It isn’t until she meets Victor, Valentine’s son, that she realizes not all vampires are monsters....

 Darkness Before Dawn is a fresh new story with captivating characters, unexpected plot twists, a fascinating setting, and a compelling voice. Written under the name J. A. London by a talented mother-son team, the trilogy is perfect for fans of True Blood and the House of Night and Morganville Vampires series.


I admit, I had thought of changing it during the past two weeks.
But it is not because of the time issue or that there wasn't barely enough new books to choose from.
I just didn't see anything that caught my eye as well as this did.
Granted, I confirmed this as my second KAE post the moment I saw Morganville Vampires fans would like it.
Hehe.
And it also appears that fans of the Twilight series and Vampire Academy series (mememe!!!) would enjoy it too.
Just hope it wouldn't be disappointing when I actually get my hands on it.
Because my expectations are this high.

Not sure about the dystopian factor though.
I've never been a great fan of the dystopian books, like say Matched by Ally Condie (I liked it, but didn't think it was as good as many made it out to be) and how I haven't started on The Hunger Games yet.
But entwined with the vampire streak, I just might like this one ;)

Keeping An Eye #1

This would be something like the meme Wishlist Wednesday on many book blogs.
Except I'm obviously too lazy to keep it up every week.
So instead I'm aiming for a fortnight post.
Let's hope I can keep it up :D

The very first book I'm featuring for Keeping An Eye would be Hemlock, to be released May 8th 2012.
At least in the US, that is.
I have no idea how long it would take, if ever, to reach Singapore.

Title: Hemlock
Author: Kathleen Peacock
Series: Hemlock #1
Genre: Fantasy YA
Goodreads Description: Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.
Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.
Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.
Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.
Kathleen Peacock’s thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.


Need I say more?
The description to this first book of a fantasy series is gripping enough, with lots of unanswered questions waiting for the readers to discover.
It doesn't sounds like the good-old girl-meets-boy and boy turns girl's world upside down with his dazzling smile and deadly intent.
I'm usually more Team Vampire rather than Team Werewolves but this blurb really got to me.
Will definitely be keeping an eye on this one ;)

Just one thing, though.
Really curious why the paperback version is called Deadly Hemlock instead of just Hemlock.
And erm, the paperback cover sucks.
Oops.
Hope I can get the hardcover one when it's available!