In My Mailbox (1)

In My Mailbox is a weekly posting theme created by The Story Siren and Pop Culture Junkie. At the end of each week, you create a post listing all of the books you've either received, bought, or traded.

Here are four books I purchased this week:


Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Synopsis:

Can Cameron find what he’s looking for? All 16-year-old Cameron wants is to get through high school—and life in general—with a minimum of effort. It’s not a lot to ask. But that’s before he’s given some bad news: he’s sick and he’s going to die. Which totally sucks. Hope arrives in the winged form of Dulcie, a loopy punk angel/possible hallucination with a bad sugar habit. She tells Cam there is a cure—if he’s willing to go in search of it. With the help of a death-obsessed, video-gaming dwarf and a yard gnome, Cam sets off on the mother of all road trips through a twisted America into the heart of what matters most.

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Synopsis:

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

How To Say Goodbye In Robot by Natalie Standiford

Synopsis:

New to town, Beatrice is expecting her new best friend to be one of the girls she meets on the first day. But instead, the alphabet conspires to seat her next to Jonah, aka Ghost Boy, a quiet loner who hasn't made a new friend since third grade. Something about him, though, gets to Bea, and soon they form an unexpected friendship. It's not romance, exactly - but it's definitely love. Still, Bea can't quite dispel Jonah's gloom and doom - and as she finds out his family history, she understands why. Can Bea help Jonah? Or is he destined to vanish?

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Synopsis:

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

What did you get in your mailbox this week? Leave a comment and share the goods.

Scents of The Hollow

Jessica Verday, author of The Hollow, is currently hosting a contest in honor of the newly released scents that are based on three characters in the book: Abbey, Kristen, and Caspian. Abbey, the main character, creates perfumes as a hobby. You can now wear, gift, and love your favorite scents from the book in real life. Here are the scents available:

Abbey's scent: Clove, blood orange, honey, and red apples dance among a base of sandalwood and incense. Intoxicating. Lovely. Layered. Just like our heroine.


Kristen's scent: Grapefruit, ginger, vanilla, and myrrh swirl together to create a sweetheart of a scent. What else could be a better fit for a best friend?

Caspian's scent: Pumpkin pie, fall leaves, vanilla, and bonfire smoke make up this mysterious and luscious blend. Careful, too much will only leave you wanting more.

These scents would make perfect gifts for the holiday. Here are the contest details: Five (5) First Prizes: a set of three perfumes designed by author Jessica Verday as the signature scents of characters Abbey, Caspian, and Kristen, valued at $14/each and a signed copy of THE HOLLOW. Five (5) Second Prizes: Sephora Brand Scent Sampler for Her ($50 value) and a signed copy of THE HOLLOW. Official rules can be found here.

Review: The Hollow by Jessica Verday

Title: The Hollow
Author: Jessica Verday
Pages: 544
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: September 1, 2009
Genre: Fiction, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Romance

Rating:

When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead?and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special.

Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her—one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.

Review: The Hollow was a hefty read, but a worthwhile one. The book opens up with, Abbey, the main character, attending a funeral in honor of her best friend. Closed-casket, of course; the body is still missing. In the months that follow, you join Abbey through nearly each day as she mourns the loss of her friend and tries to carry on with life to the best of her ability. She's somewhat unsuccessful, until she meets a mysterious boy with an equally mysterious and enchanting appearance: Caspian.

Abbey is consistently suspended in mystery as she has tends to her laundry list of unanswered questions and curiosity. Her hometown, The Sleepy Hollow, also become more complicated than the legends that have been passed on throughout time seem to be. She fights to find answers, but sometimes questions are better left unanswered.

The novel was very atmospheric and offered wonderful imagery. By following Abbey through everyday tasks, you gain an intimate relationship with her. It's easy to connect with Abbey, as well as the entire cast of characters. I found Abbey's thoughts to be very realistic and relatable. The book almost reads like a prequel, giving you just enough information to lead you into the next book in the series. I'll admit the book took me a bit longer to read than other novels, though I enjoyed the journey. If you're willing to read a novel that demands a little commitment, then I would suggest The Hollow.

Review: Ex-Mas by Kate Brian

Title: Ex-Mas
Author: Kate Brian
Pages: 224
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: October 9, 2009
Genre: Fiction, Chick lit, Seasonal, Romance

Rating:


Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Lila Beckwith's parents just left for vacation, and Lila's all set to throw the holiday party of the season. But when her Christmas-obsessed little brother, Cooper, discovers that global warming is melting the North Pole, he and his best friend, Tyler, take off on a runaway mission to save Santa.

Lila has to get Cooper safely home before her parents get back on Christmas Eve. But the only person who can help her is Tyler's older brother, Beau -- a.k.a. Lila's musician, anti-everything ex-boyfriend.

It'll take more than a Christmas miracle for Lila and Beau to overcome their differences and find their fugitive brothers. But could a journey destined for disaster help these polar opposites fall in love...all over again?

Review: This was my first time reading any of Kate Brian's novels. I'm a sucker for anything revolving around Christmas, so I picked up a copy of Ex-Mas the first time I saw it in Target. I got out of the novel exactly what I expected: a light, fun read with a bit of romance thrown in. The book may receive some negative reviews due to unoriginality or by following a "formula," but I enjoyed it for what it was. I can't name off specific movies or books with a similar plot off the top of my head, and even so, each story has its unique twist. Ex-Mas is no exception.

There isn't much I can tell you that isn't listed in the synopsis without being spoiler-ish. The book touches base on concepts such as being thankful, introspection, honesty, and simply being "real" with yourself and others around you. I really enjoyed watching Lila's character develop throughout the book. The trials and tribulations were rewarding to read, and the premise is one that I think we all secretly wish to partake in -- a road trip at the spur of a moment, rekindling friendships and making new ones, finding what we love and what we often overlook.

All in all, I'd recommend this book to others. If you're looking for gift ideas this year for the holidays, Ex-Mas would make for a wonderful Christmas present.

Waiting On Wednesday (1)

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly tradition crafted by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. For my first post, I thought the upcoming book Beautiful Creatures by authors Kami Garcia and Margaret Stol would be appropriate. I've seen this book make an appearance on several blogs, and I love what I've heard so far.

Here's the synopsis:

There were no surprises in Gatlin County . We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere. At least, that's what I thought. Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong. There was a curse. There was a girl. And in the end, there was a grave. Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever. Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them. In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

Sounds exciting! The book has received rave reviews from other successful young adult authors such as Melissa Marr, Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, Carrie Ryan, and, well, you get the picture. You can check out the book's official website here. Also, trailers for the book can be seen here and here.

What books are you looking forward to reading?

A letter of interest

Authors

A:
Armstrong, Kelley

B:
Bray, Libba
Brennan, Sarah Rees
Brian, Kate

C:
Cashore, Kristin
Cast, Kristin
Cast, P.C.
Childs, Tera Lynn
Clare, Cassandra
Collins, Suzanne
Conrad, Lauren
Cruz, Melissa De La

D:
Dessen, Sarah

E:

F:
Fitzpatrick, Becca

G:
Garcia, Kami

H:
Hahn, Mary Downing
Hargrave, Sir John
Harris, Charlaine
Harris, Lewis
Holmes, Elizabeth
Hubbard, Mandy

I:

J:

K:
Kingsley, Kaza

L:
Liu, Cynthia

M:
Mead, Richelle
Meyer, Stephenie

N:
Neri, G.
Niffenegger, Audrey
Noël, Alyson

O:
Ockler, Sarah

P:
Prose, Francine

Q:

R:
Reisman, Michael

S:
Slayton, Fran Cannon
Standiford, Natalie
Stohl, Margaret
Swain, Heather

T:

U:

V:
Verday, Jessica
Vernon, Ursula

W:
Waters, Daniel
Wizner, Jake

X:

Y:

Z: