In My Mailbox (#14)- The "I'm Back From Vacay" Edition

In My Mailbox is a bookish meme created by the wonderful Kristi over at The Story Siren for bloggers to feature books we got over the past week, either bought, borrowed, or received in the mail. Make sure to go check out her main post.

Boo for vacation being over, but YAY for getting back to blogging!

Here's what I got the past 2 weeks.

For Review:

Revealing Eden by Victoria Foyt

Books I Made My Husband Take Me To Buy While He Was Here:

Looking for Alaska by John Green

(I will completely admit that I am a bit obsessed with John Green after reading TFioS. And I am not ashamed.)

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver 

(I have not been this nervous to read a book in so long. I'm scared of what might happen in this one since Lauren Oliver killed me with Delirium. That ending still rips my heart out.)

Half Price Books books:

Waiting for You by Susan Colasanti

The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

(I love finding gems at HPB)

The Book I Just Love To Stare At:

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

(I may be in love with this cover. Seriously. Can't wait to read it and see if the inside is just as amazing)

So that is what I got over the past couple of weeks.

What did you get in your mailbox?

On Vacation.

I'm sorry I have have not been posting these past couple of weeks. But I have a good reason for being so absent.
I have been getting ready for my husband to finally come home this weekend! Well, not home home...home for a two week R&R. Then he heads back off for the rest of his deployment.
But after 8 and a half months of not seeing each other, 2 weeks sounds like heaven.

I just wanted to post a little note letting everyone know I will be back and posting regularly the beginning of March. Hopefully I don't miss much while I am gone.

See y'all in two weeks!

Waiting On Wednesday (#5)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The Breakaway by Michelle Davidson Argyle

Paperback

Expected publication: May 1st 2012 by Rhemalda Publishing

"When Naomi Jensen is kidnapped, it takes her parents two days to realize she’s missing. Escape isn’t high on her list of priorities when all she has to return to is an abusive boyfriend and parents who never paid much attention to her. For the first time in her life she’s part of a family—even if it is a family of criminals. But she’s still a captive. In a desperate attempt to regain some control in her life, Naomi embarks on a dangerous plan to make one of her kidnappers think she’s falling in love with him. The plan works too well, and when faced with the chance to escape, Naomi isn’t sure she wants to take it. "-GoodReads

I can't wait for this book. I am very curious to see how the author tackles Naomi 'wanting' to stay kidnapped and trying to convince one of her kidnappers she's in love with him. Will her life really seem terrible enough that I will completely understand her wanting to stay away? That is my biggest question.

So fellow readers, what are you waiting on this week?

In My Mailbox (#13)-Adr3nalin3 Author Event Edition

In My Mailbox is a bookish meme created by the wonderful Kristi over at The Story Siren for bloggers to feature books we got over the past week, either bought, borrowed, or received in the mail. Make sure to go check out her main post.

Yesterday the Adr3nalin3 Book Tour stopped at my local Barnes & Noble. It seems like there are hardly any bookish events in my part of Texas so I wasn't going to miss it...even though I was a bit sniffly with a cold. I downed some medicine and went.

The book tour featured:

Jordan Dane author of On A Dark Wing

Trinity Faegen author of The Mephisto Covenant

Mary Lindsey author of Shattered Souls

Tracy Deebs author of Tempest Rising

and

Ivy Adams author(s) of The International Kissing Club 

(I say authors because Ivy Adams is actually 3 women)

I always get so nervous meeting authors, but they were so incredibly nice and my nerves settled quickly. Tracy Deebs even made some wonderful chocolate cookies to give to everyone. And while they waited for people to arrive they talked to me like I was already their friend. YA authors are the best people.

I picked a copy of each of their books and they were all kind enough to sign them.

  

   

 And they gave me some sway:

  

    (Isn't this nail kit cutest thing ever?!)

 A lot of it is signed so keep an eye out for some upcoming giveaways cause I'll be throwing some of this stuff in with whatever is being given away.

I also made some swaps on PaperBackSwap.com a couple of weeks ago and my books finally came in.

I recieved:

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

(I'm on a bit of a contemp kick right now)

And last, but certainly not least., I was super lucky when I went to Half Price Books earlier this week. I had a bunch of stuff to sell so it was taking them a while to price the books so I went browsing in the YA section (though I shouldn't have...I'm trying to read more of what I already have and buy less), BUT! I stumbled upon a copy of Bloodlines by Richelle Mead. I adore the Vampire Academy series so I was so excited to get the first in the spin-off series. Though I am still nervous to read it, but I am going to give it a shot.

So what awesomeness did you get in your mailbox this week? 

  

The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens

"Kate, Michael, and Emma have been in one orphanage after another for the last ten years, passed along like lost baggage.

Yet these unwanted children are more remarkable than they could possibly imagine. Ripped from their parents as babies, they are being protected from a horrible evil of devastating power, an evil they know nothing about.

Until now.

Before long, Kate, Michael, and Emma are on a journey to dangerous and secret corners of the world...a journey of allies and enemies, of magic and mayhem.  And—if an ancient prophesy is correct—what they do can change history, and it is up to them to set things right.

The Emerald Atlas brims with humor and action as it charts Kate, Michael, and Emma's extraordinary adventures through an unforgettable, enchanted world."-GoodReads.

Hardcover, 417 pages

Published April 5th 2011 by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers 

  I had not seen much on The Emerald Atlas so it was not really on my radar of books to pick up. It was really only by chance that I got it. A bookstore in a small town not far from where I live was going out of business and running some sales so while I was there with my mom we decided to go in and take a look. There was not a lot to choose from anymore, so it stood out on the table from the rest of the books. When I picked it up and started reading the synopsis I remembered one rave review for it. For the life of me I cannot remember who wrote the review, I just know that it said the book was great.

 So after reading the first couple of pages in the store I knew I had to read the rest. Unfortunately, I was in the middle of reading another book at the time and could not start this one right away. Which was bad for the other book I was reading because I could barely pay attention to it anymore. I wanted more of the world that I was introduced to on the first pages of The Emerald Atlas. When I finally did get to start reading it again, I was nervous, it being a middle grade book and me not having read a middle grade in years. I was a bit worried that it was going to read like a little kids book. It did no such thing.

The whole time I was reading I kept thinking how much I loved the writing. It just flowed so perfectly and the characters and world building were fantastic. What I loved most about the characters is you could really get a sense of how different they were from each other. Even the siblings. A lot of books I have read with siblings tell you they are complete opposites but you never really get to see their differences. This book does not just tell you, it shows you. Which, the three of them are very different and that brought such life to the pages.

After reading one of the chapters I flipped to the back of the book to read the blurb about the author. His writing was too good and I wanted to know if he had any other books out. That is when I found out why I loved the writing so much. John Stephens was a writer for Gilmore Girls! Which happens to be one of my favorite shows. 

The book opens up right at the beginning of the action and it doesn't stop until the end. Something is always going on and it kept me in the story until I turned the last page.

While I enjoyed the entire book and all of the story lines, I was definitely partial to Emma and Gabriel's story. It was just so sweet, and Emma is a little firecracker.

There are a couple places where you need to make sure you are paying attention to what is happening or you will get lost in the next few pages and have to go back and re-read them.

Again, this book did not read like a child's book. It spared no detail of the tragedies of life that even young children can go through. Some of the scenes could be considered a little gruesome, but for me, it added realism to the story. That just because they were kids did not mean they were not going to see or be exposed to bad things happening.

Do not, I repeat, do NOT let the fact that this is a middle grade title steer you away from reading it. Even though this was the first book that I read this year and I know there are going to be many more books read in 2012, I feel it is safe to say that it is already one of my favorites and will be on the top of my list when this year comes to an end. If you love fantasy and worlds within our world you should pick The Emerald Atlas up. 

Born Wicked Trailer.

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood, which releases Feb. 7th, is a historical fantasy about a girl and her sisters, who all happen to be witches. This is a book I am dying to get my hands on. 

When I first saw the beyond beautiful cover it had me drooling and then after reading the synopsis it had me craving to know more.

And then the book trailer was released. Let me tell you, it is great.

I could not find it on youtube, so I will just link it.

Born Wicked Trailer

Now I am even more eager for February to get here!

Check it out and then let me know what you think of it!

Dark Parties by Sara Grant

"Sixteen-year-old Neva has been trapped since birth. She was born and raised under the Protectosphere, in an isolated nation ruled by fear, lies, and xenophobia. A shield "protects" them from the outside world, but also locks the citizens inside. But there's nothing left on the outside, ever since the world collapsed from violent warfare. Or so the government says...

Neva and her best friend Sanna believe the government is lying and stage a "dark party" to recruit members for their underground rebellion. But as Neva begins to uncover the truth, she realizes she must question everything she's ever known, including the people she loves the most."-GoodReads.

Hardcover, 320 pages

Published August 3rd 2011 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Source: NetGalley

I have always had a bit of a fear or being stuck in one place forever, never being able to see anything other than one place for my entire life. Reading Dark Parties gave me a glimpse of what it would be like to be forced to stay in one place. To be stuck under a dome, never knowing what was on the other side. Honestly, the whole book made me feel claustrophobic. But I'm lucky because I have the choice to leave though, to go new places. Neva doesn't. She is stuck under the Protectosphere with the need to be free and an incredible case of wanderlust, but not being able to satiate it. So she does what pretty much every teenager has done, she rebels a little bit.
Well, she thinks it is just a little thing. But that little thing, that little spark, ignites into a wildfire that changes Neva's life forever. 


Instead of the world growing, it feels like it keeps getting smaller as the story progresses...and I mean this in a good way. It made the story feel very intricate and definitely more intense at times. Things that may not have seemed like they would connect would in fact be connected to each other, making it a 'smaller world'. 


Neva was a great character. The book starts with a makeout scene, which I will admit, I rolled my eyes at. I did not care enough about the characters at that point to want to 'see' them making out...but, for me, it ended up being a really good opening to the story. It really puts you in Neva's mind right away. What she thinks, who she is, what she's scared of. The beginning grew on me as the story went on.


I really had no idea what to expect when I decided to read Dark Parties. I certainly did not expect it to be so...dark (though the title should have really given me a clue, right?). It was though. Dark and gritty.
Some of the scenes felt a bit choppy, but over all it was a great read.
After getting attached to characters just to have them be ripped away or betray Neva (which left me feeling betrayed), I was emotionally drained. Seriously, I walked around in a weird mood mumbling to myself that I couldn't believe how the book had ended and that there better be a sequel so that all the wrongs could be set right. That I could not be left with an ending like that.


Dark Parties is more than just a fantastic dystopian, it is also a great thriller and chock full of suspense. So if you like any of those three things, pick up a copy for yourself.