Review: Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia

ANGEL STAR by Jennifer Murgia

Pub. Date: May 2010
Publisher: Lands Atlantic Publishing
Format: Paperback, 264pp
Age Range: Young Adult

Seventeen-year-old Teagan McNeel falls for captivating Garreth Adams, her guardian angel come to earth. But where there is light, dark follows, and now she is torn between one angel's sacrifice and another angel's vicious ambition that threatens not only her life, but the lives of everyone she knows.

Can there be light without dark? How do you keep the necessary balance between both? Jennifer Murgia’s ANGEL STAR took me on a journey of the choices we face and the importance of balance within our lives.

ANGEL STAR begins with Teagan McNeel. Used to being ostracized by others, Teagan is known as a freak at school. Then she meets Gareth Adams. From the moment Gareth – Swoon – stepped onto the scene, I found myself looking forward to their interactions with one another and the connection they shared. There’s nothing like new love blossoming in the air! And let us not forget the dark and provocative Hadrian. Hadrian’s dark nature offered the perfect contrast to the goodness radiating within Gareth, and his character was an important addition to the storyline.

When I first heard about ANGEL STAR, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy. After reading the book, I’m thrilled to say that it exceeded my already high expectations. Murgia’s writing captured my heart. I grew to care about these characters and found myself rooting for them all the way. Teagan’s quiet nature and insecurities drew me to her and that, combined with Murgia’s easy writing style made it easy to empathize with her. Teagan was open to the changes evolving around her. She definitely stepped outside of her comfort zone with Gareth and I enjoyed watching her character grow as the plot unfolded. I also loved that’s she didn’t take forever to accept the reality of the situation nor did she neglect the importance of her own role in events to come.

ANGEL STAR is a breathtakingly fresh debut novel with exciting characters that jump off the pages. It was a perfect blend of romance and mystery surrounding the battle of light and darkness within ourselves. Will the characters defeat the ominous forces threatening their lives? This had me frantically turning pages. And with that cliffhanger ending, I can tell you I’m waiting on pins and needles to see what happens next.

Readers looking for a mesmerizing love story will be sure to devour this novel.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars