In My Mailbox (April 2, 2012)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Each week participants share the books they've received in the mail, purchased or borrowed and link up with The Story Siren.  It's a terrific method of keeping track of our incoming books and finding among the participating blogs great new potential for our ever-growing wish lists.

This week I am catching up on a couple books that arrived recently but haven't been recorded 

In My Mailbox.  Here's the parcel including this week's new books:

The Earthquake Machine

by Mary Pauline Lowry

(Check back for my upcoming review where I reveal the new cover - it's stunning!)

(a copy was provided by the author and Bostick Communications)

The book every girl should read; 
and every girl’s parents hope she’ll never read.

The Earthquake Machine tells the story of 14 year-old Rhonda. On the outside, everything looks perfect in Rhonda’s world, but at home Rhonda has to deal with a manipulative father who keeps her mentally ill mother hooked on pharmaceuticals. The only reliable person in Rhonda’s life is her family’s Mexican yardman, Jesús. But when the INS deports Jesús back to his home state of Oaxaca, Rhonda is left alone with her increasingly painful family situation.

Determined to find her friend Jésus, Rhonda seizes an opportunity to run away during a camping trip with friends to Big Bend National Park. She swims to the Mexican side of the Rio Grande and makes her way to the border town of Milagros, Mexico. There a peyote- addled bartender convinces her she won’t be safe traveling alone into the country’s interior. So with the bartender’s help, Rhonda cuts her hair and assumes the identity of a Mexican boy named Angel. She then sets off on a burro across the desert to look for Jesús. Thus begins a wild adventure that fulfills the longing of readers eager for a brave and brazen female protagonist.

The Island Horse

by Susan Hughes

(this is a children's novel)

(a copy was provided by the author and Bostick Communications)

It's the early half of the 19th century in coastal Nova Scotia, and almost ten-year-old Ellie is adjusting to the recent death of her mother.  But just when she finally begins to feel happy again, Ellie and her father move to remote Sable Island, a tiny, windblown crescent of grass and sand in the Atlantic.

While her father works, Ellie explores the island, feeling alone and furious with her pa for making them leave their beloved home.  Even meeting a spirited island girl named Sarah does little to dispel her anger and grief.  Then one afternoon, Ellie encounters a wild stallion grazing on the dunes, and slowly forges a secret connection with the beautiful horse she names Orchid.  But Ellie soon learns that Orchid and his family are threatened, and it may be up to her to save them. 

Living Without Reservations:

a journey by land and sea in search of happiness

by Barbara Elaine Singer

(a copy was provided by the author and Bostick Communications)

After divorce and the sudden death of her fiancé, Barbara Elaine Singer was deflated.  Her only child was off to college and the excitement and allure of her successful corporate career with all its trappings - a fancy house, car and boat in Orlando, Florida - was gone.  At age 47 Barbara was alone with absolutely no idea what she needed or wanted or even how to go about finding it.

The Last Plea Bargain

by Randy Singer

(a copy was provided by Tyndale Press)

Plea bargains may grease the rails of justice, but for Jamie Brock, prosecuting criminals is not about cutting deals. In her three years as assistant DA, she’s never plea-bargained a case and vows she never will. But when a powerful defense attorney is indicted for murder and devises a way to bring the entire justice system to a screeching halt, Jamie finds herself at a crossroads. One by one, prisoners begin rejecting deals. Prosecutors are overwhelmed, and felons start walking free on technicalities. To break the logjam and convict her nemesis, Jamie must violate every principle that has guided her young career. But she has little choice. To convict the devil, sometimes you have to cut a deal with one of his demons.

Defending a King: His Life & Legacy

by Dr. Karen Moriarty

(yes, this is Michael Jackson's story)

(a copy was provided by the author and Bostick Communications)

...With previously unknown revelations, the King of Pop is disclosed as a complex and vulnerable man who lived and struggled at the pinnacle of human existence.  

In the wake of the disturbing manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray....Dr. Moriarty helps readers understand the unique struggles of this inspirational genius and worldwide humanitarian.  (this is the first published book that covers the Conrad Murray trial, including the sentencing hearing on November 29, 2011)

The Sins of the Father

by Jeffrey Archer

(a copy was provided by the publisher)

"Only Time Will Tell, the first book in Jeffrey Archer's highly anticipated Clifton Chronicles, was an instant New York Times bestseller and had reviewers raving...

Now the #1 international bestselling author returns with The Sins of the Father, the stunning continuation in Archer's most ambitious work of epic storytelling -- a multi-generational, five-part saga of love and war, family and fate.

Only days before Britain declares war on Germany, Harry Clifton joins the merchant marines to escape his past.  But his ship is sunk by a U-boat.  Rescued by an American cruise liner, Harry steals the identity of an American who has died in the night.  Unfortunately, he discovers that the man he is pretending to be is in grave danger.  Now, far from home, with no one to prove his innocence, Harry's life is about to take a stunning turn that will change his fate forever."

Healthy Hair Rehab Now

by Jacqueline Tarrant (HealthyHairRehab.com)

(a copy was provided by the author and Bostick Communications)

"Don't underestimate the impact of a 'bad hair day'.  For many women, hair is an essential part of style, identity, and self-esteem.  Everyone has experienced a 'bad hair day,' but what do you do when a bad hair day becomes a bad week, month or year?  Healthy Hair Rehab takes an informative, approachable look at the causes and solutions for problem hair. ... You'll learn about how your physical health affects hair, and many surprising factors that can play into your hair's health.  From hair-healthy nutrition to the best haircut shape for your face, Healthy Hair Rehab is an indispensable reference guide from a professional with uniquely valuable experience to share.

Borrowed:

...time will tell

by Julie Coulter Bellon

(Julie is my son's best friend's step-sister.  Julie's father proudly lent me a copy to read.)

Jason Wright is selling his country’s secrets to the highest bidder and if he is successful, his actions will set off a chain of events with worldwide repercussions. Andrew Blythe, a Canadian CSIS agent, races against time to stop the exchange, knowing that a dangerous terrorist organization is using Jason to try to gain control of the Baku oil leases in the Caspian Sea. If they win, the terrorists will have a controlling interest in the world’s energy market and be able to finance a weapon of mass destruction.

In his darkest hour he meets Ashton Carlson, a woman who is grieving the loss of her missionary son and trying to overcome the trials she’s been given. Through this chance encounter with Andrew, Ashton becomes a terrorists’ target and is swept up in the sinister world of espionage. Andrew will have to stay one step ahead of the game to keep Ashton alive and the terrorists from carrying out their plan before time runs out and all is lost.

From the rugged terrain of Turkey to the River Thames in London, this novel will take you for the ride of your life. Click here to read the Prologue and Chapter 1.  

Your turn:  What's in your mailbox?  

In My Mailbox (Just Received) September 27, 2011 & Teaser Tuesdays

In My Mailbox is hosted every week by Kristi at The Story Siren.  It is a reveal of the new and exciting books and related items that have arrived or we have borrowed in the past week.  In My Mailbox (IMM) helps us as book bloggers keep track of new releases and inevitably add to our must read lists.

Today's edition is a compilation of the previous two weeks as the mailbox has been surprisingly empty, which is actually ok since I began working at a book store (say it, you're jealous :}) and I have thousands of new titles to explore all at my fingertips!  Loving it!  

Here's what's new:

Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks

by John Curran

I ordered this through Amazon with a gift certificate I won from Bev over at My Readers Block (thank you Bev).  The note on the cover says this book includes two UNPUBLISHED POIROT Stories!  Fifty years of mysteries in the making.  I was hoping this book would arrive prior to Agatha Christie's birthday, September 15 for a special post I planned to do, but since it came all the way from Britain, I am just happy to see it in my mailbox today!

My Sweet Saga

by Brett Sills

I received the ARC (mine has no cover and looks like the actual manuscript, yippee!) today as well.  My Sweet Saga is Admiral J Press' first release as a new publisher.  I am honoured to have the opportunity to review this book for them.  This will not influence my review, however.  Always honest and unbiased.

Also received today:

This Dark Endeavour

by Kenneth Oppel

http://kennethoppel.blogspot.com/

This is the much touted new release coming from Harper Collins.  Movie rights have already been sold to the producers of TWILIGHT!!  How's that for excitement?!!  Thank you so much to Cory from Harper Collins for sending me this book!  I am revved up to read it!!!

Also thanks to Cory from Harper Collins:

Dead Man's Grip

by Peter James

One Mistake

Two Murders

No Remorse

This is a new release for the fall.  I love a good mystery and Peter James is one of the all time best British crime writers.  Should be a good one!!  By the way, Cory sent me this copy and it is signed by the author!! Woot!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

This is our book club read for the month of October.  I bought this book after hearing rave reviews of one of our new members.  This promises to be a source of great discussion!

Last Week:

Brainrush (a thriller)

by Richard Bard

Brainrush is author Richard Bard's debut thriller.  Thanks to the author and Bostick Communications for sending me this copy.  Here's an interesting note the author included with his book:

"If you're a Crosby, Stills & Nash fan, you'll get a kick out of this:  I'm a big fan -- always have been -- so imagine my elation a few weeks ago when I received an email from David Crosby telling me that he absolutely loved the story.  And he wasn't kidding; he even gave a shout-out at the MUSE benefit concert at the Shoreline Pavilion in SF on August 7th, with the likes of Jackson Brown, Bonnie Raitt, John Hall, Jason Mraz and a bunch of others on the scene.  Now that's a brain-rush!"

What's in your mailbox, readers?  I hope you will share in the comments or leave a link to your IMM post.  I love to hear from all of you!!!  :)

------------------------------

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by Miz B Should Be Reading.
 TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Please avoid spoilers!

Irma Voth by Miriam Toews

I am reading this for a TLC book tour, the review for which is scheduled for September 29th, 2011.

"I'm Fiorella, she's Button and you're Ham Hock, said Aggie.  We were walking to our gate.  We'd only be in Acapulco for two hours and forty-five minutes before we had to catch another flight to Mexico City, heaven and hell, according to Diego, but his world was defined by extremes."  ~ page 148, Irma Voth by Miriam Toews

In this scene, Irma and her sister Aggie, both mennonites living in Mexico, are running away from home and feelings of oppression and an abusive father.  They have, in tow, their new baby sister, and I do mean new.  At their mother's request, the baby accompanies them on this journey to what they hope will be a new and happy life.  Where they will live and how, is still unknown....

Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

There is rumour that this book will be such a hit, comparable to Harry Potter and Twilight in sales and popularity!!

"Don't you want to know my name?" the boy asks.

"Names are not of nearly as much import as people like to suppose," the man in the grey suit says.  "A label assigned to identify you either by this institution or your departed parents is neither of interest nor value to me.  If you find you are in need of a name at any point, you may choose one for yourself.  For now it will not be necessary." ~ page 23, Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 

This excerpt takes place in London, January 1874 in a grey nondescript building.  A man in a grey suit introduces himself to the headmistress who brings him three children to interview.  He does so privately, seeking for the one who will stand out...the one who will be his protege.  When the man decides upon a boy and he is ready, the two depart the building and do not return.  This excerpt leaves more questions than answers but to provide more is to reveal secrets crucial to the underlying story.  I am on the fourth chapter and I can feel that this is one of those books you feel as well as read and that's a good thing.

What are you teasing us with this week?  Please comment below so I can repay the visit.  Teaser Tuesdays are so much fun!!

In My Mailbox (Just Received) September 5, 2011

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren wherein we share our recent acquisitions of books and bookish items whether received by mail, borrowed or purchased.  It helps all of us to keep abreast of what's new, what's potentially hot, and adds to our must-have lists as we visit one another, building virtual relationships among other like-minded book lovers.

Last week I received:

Hawaiian Sunrise to Sunset: a middle school counsellor's diary of a working day

by Randall Ng

"Tough Love is Real Love

You might think that living in Hawaii and working with kids all day sounds like Paradise.  But the reality of working as a middle school counsellor, servicing kids in a low-income neighbourhood, is very different. Told as the story of a typical working day, Hawaiian Sunrise to Sunset gives an inspiring, eye-opening, and sobering view into the life of a man who has dedicated all his resources to making children's lives better.  Randall Ng's students run the gamut from gifted to gang members, from at-risk to motivated; from safe in loving families to abused by parents and caregivers.  Randall knows that to make a difference in the lives of these kids, he has to go above and beyond the call of duty, and he has to think outside the box.  Randall transcends the typical role of school counsellor, as he visits students at home, confronts them and their parents with the truth, finds wildly creative solutions to problems with no easy answer, and steps in as father figure to children who have never known a reliable and caring authority.  Suprising, shocking, fascinating, and untimely deeply redemptive, this book shows what tough love looks like, and what it can accomplish in the lives of children at risk."

Off to Class:  Incredible and Unusual Schools Around the World

by Susan Hughes

"When you think about going to school, what do you imagine?  Odds are, it's not a cave, or a boat, or a train platform.  But there are schools in caves and on boats and train platforms.  There are green schools and mobile schools and even schools that unschool.  There's a whole world of incredible and unusual schools out there!

Meet students from around the world.  Hear from them how the most amazing thing about these schools isn't their locations, or what they're made of, or what they look like.  It's how they create ways to ensure that the kids living there can go off to class.  These stories aren't just inspiring, they'll help you think about school and the world in a whole new way."

Schools are a common theme this week.  Elementary, junior and high school students returned to school this week here in Edmonton, while University and most colleges begin classes next week.  Coincidental timing of the arrival of these two books in the mail?  Most likely, but odd, isn't it?

Live Life Aggressively:  What Self-Help Gurus SHOULD Be Telling You

by Mike Mahler

"...Self-help books are so focused on making you feel good about yourself, that they fail to help you be honest with yourself.  Without brutal honesty you will never move forward.  Without a strong sense of purpose, and passion, you will never persevere through the inevitable plethora of hard times that are coming your way in life."  

Does this sound abrasive to you?  This method is so unusual for a self-help book that I just had to read it!  Stay tuned to see what I think and feel about this one.

Now.... a fun one that I won from Luanne at A Bookworm's World.....

Crunch Time 

by Diane Mott Davidson

"Colarado caterer Goldy Schulz cooks up big trouble as she tries to help her longtime friend and fellow chef Yolanda Garcia.  When the rental house shared by Yolanda and her irrepressible aunt Ferdinanda is destroyed by arson, the pair move in with cop-turn-PI Ernest McLeod.  But then Ernest is shot dead and his house is set on fire, nearly killing Goldy, Yolanda, Ferdinanda, and nine beagle puppies that Ernest had recently rescued from a puppy mill........

Filled with danger as well as laughs, wonderful food, and scrumptious recipes, Crunch Time is a delicious indulgence sure to satisfy all of Goldy's fans."

Saving Faith
by David Baldacci
(I received this copy from my sister)


"Not far from Washington, D.C., in a wooded area of Northern Virginia, a small house at the end of a gravel road serves a secret purpose.  With its sophisticated security apparatus and hidden miniaturized camera, it is being used by the FBI to interview on of the most important witnesses the agency has ever had, a young woman with an incredible story to tell.  But a few people know about the secret meeting.  And for them, a violent drama is about to begin.


One man--a local private investigator named Lee Adams--has come to the house on the orders of his client.  Another man, a hired killer, stakes out the house on orders from his powerful paymasters.  And the witness, Faith Lockhart, is coming to tell the FBI everything she knows about the powerful lobbyist with whom she has worked, a man who manipulates U.S. government policy and who, in the process, made some very dangerous enemies........


...searing and utterly suspenseful."

What's In Your Mailbox?  I love to hear from all of you so please don't be shy to share a comment and a link to your IMM post.

********

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

This weekly meme is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.  I just started a new job....guess where?  Well, I am not going to name names, but I am working in a bookstore and loving it!  So, my time here is limited, but I get to be surrounded by books each day!  How's that for a bookaholic's dream come true?  ;P

This week I am reading:

Little Princes by Conor Grennan

The First Gardener by Denise Hildreth Jones

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer

Last week I finished:
Conversations with a Moonflower
Still Alice
and The Map of True Places
You may read the reviews by clicking on the title of each book.

Next up...

more reading of the same books on my currently reading list.........

What are you reading?

Monday Meme: In My Mailbox August 22, 2011

Hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren, In My Mailbox is a weekly meme for us bookaholics to share our recent treasures, whether received by mail, borrowed or purchased; and to drool over others.  Do you have your wish lists handy?

This week I received: 

The Lament

Selected Poems and Prose

by Ercell H. Hoffman

"Poet and veteran author Ercell H. Hoffman's new collection of poems captures the full range of emotion that swirls through human relationships as well as conveys the yearning for a sensuous and profound love which each of us, man or woman, shares....

The Lament is about our most basic needs:  finding and keeping love and obeying your inner truth."

Love at Absolute Zero

by Christopher Meeks

 (Received courtesy of the author and Premier Virtual Author Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.  Watch for my review October 6 and Author interview October 7)

"Love at Absolute Zero is the story of Gunnar Gunderson, a 32-year old star physicist at the University of Wisconsin.  The moment he's given tenure at the university, he can think of only one thing:  finding a wife.  His research falters into what happens to matter near absolute zero (-459.67F), but he has an instant new plan.  To meet his soul mate within three days--that's what he wants and all time can carve out--he will use the Scientific Method.  His research team will help.  Can Gunnar survive his quest?  What happens if and when he goes to Denmark?

The Witch of Babylon

by D.J. McIntosh

(Thank you to Chrystal of Snowdrop Dreams of Books and Penguin Group CanadaI won this book courtesy of a contest on Chrystal's blog http://snowdropdreams.blogspot.com)  

"The Witch of Babylon features John Madison, a New York art dealer caught up in the aftermath of the looting of the Baghdad Museum. Echoing Dan Brown, the novel includes an elaborate puzzle that must be solved in order to locate a missing biblical antiquity and a spectacular lost treasure, as well as alchemy, murder, and the Mesopotamian cult of Istar. Alternating between war-torn Baghdad and New York, with forays into ancient Mesopotamian culture, The Witch of Babylon takes readers deep inside the world of Assyriology and its little-known but profound significance for the modern world."

The Da Vinci Code

by Dan Brown

(Thank you to Sheila over at Book Journey.  I won this copy there.)

"A mind-bending code hidden in the works of Leonardo Da Vinci. 

A desperate race through the cathedrals and castles of Europe.

An astonishing truth concealed for centuries...unveiled at last."

The Power of Six

by Pittacus Lore

(I requested and received a copy for review from the publisher, Harper Collins Canada Ltd.  Thank you Shannon!)

They are getting closer.

They are tracking us.

They know about the charm.

They know about our legacies.

They know too much for us to believe

We will ever be safe again.

We must find eachother.

We must unite.

We must fight and we must win.

We are the last defence.

Twelve Drummers Drumming (A Mystery)
by C.C. Benison
(I won this ARC from Good Reads)

"Introducing Father Tom Christmas, the wise, warmhearted new vicar of a picturesque English village that seems to be a haven of peace. But appearances can be very deceiving. . Thornford Regis has never been lovelier: larks on the wing, lilacs in bloom, and the May Fayre in full swing. But inside the empty village hall, the huge Japanese o-daiko drum that’s featured in the festivities has been viciously sliced open—and curled up inside is the bludgeoned body of Sybella Parry, the beautiful nineteen-year-old daughter of the choir director."(from Random House Publishers site)

Silver Girl
by Elin Hilderbrand
(I won this hard cover copy from fReado)

"Meredith Martin Delinn just lost everything: her friends, her homes, her social standing - because her husband Freddy cheated rich investors out of billions of dollars.

Desperate and facing homelessness, Meredith receives a call from her old best friend, Constance Flute. Connie's had recent worries of her own, and the two depart for a summer on Nantucket in an attempt to heal. But the island can't offer complete escape, and they're plagued by new and old troubles alike. When Connie's brother Toby - Meredith's high school boyfriend - arrives, Meredith must reconcile the differences between the life she is leading and the life she could have had.

Set against the backdrop of a Nantucket summer, Elin Hilderbrand delivers a suspenseful story of the power of friendship, the pull of love, and the beauty of forgiveness. (from Barnes & Noble)

Irma Voth
by Miriam Toews
(I am participating in a virtual book tour for this title and received a complimentary ARC to facilitate that.  Courtesy of the publisher, Harper Collins.  Thank you Danielle!)
Considered #14/18 books to watch for in September 2011 by staff at Oprah.com.  
"That rare coming-of-age story able to blend the dark with the uplifting, Irma Voth follows a young Mennonite woman, vulnerable yet wise beyond her years, who carries a terrible family secret with her on a remarkable journey to survival and redemption.

Nineteen-year-old Irma lives in a rural Mennonite community in Mexico. She has already been cast out of her family for marrying a young Mexican ne’er-do-well she barely knows, although she remains close to her rebellious younger sister and yearns for the lost intimacy with her mother. With a husband who proves elusive and often absent, a punishing father, and a faith in God damaged beyond repair, Irma appears trapped in an untenable and desperate situation. When a celebrated Mexican filmmaker and his crew arrive from Mexico City to make a movie about the insular community in which she was raised, Irma is immediately drawn to the outsiders and is soon hired as a translator on the set. But her father, intractable and domineering, is determined to destroy the film and get rid of the interlopers. His action sets Irma on an irrevocable path toward something that feels like freedom.

A novel of great humanity, written with dry wit, edgy humor, and emotional poignancy, Irma Voth is the powerful story of a young woman’s quest to discover all that she may become in the unexpectedly rich and confounding world that lies beyond the stifling, observant community she knows." 

(from the publisher)

Purchases:

An Unsuitable Job for a Woman

P.D. James

(this is not the same cover but it is somewhat similar)

"Sir Ronald Callender's son Mark is found hanged in mysterious circumstances.  Cordelia Gray, now the sole proprietor of the Pryde Detective Agency, has been hired by Sir Ronald to shed some light on the reasons for Mark's apparent suicide.

As Cordelia pieces together the facts surrounding the death and delves back into the long-buried secrets of the Callender family, she finds that Mark had many good friends -- and one deadly enemy."

The Bookfair Murders

by Anna Porter

"The story opens at the annual Frankfurt International Bookfair, where editors and publishers meet annually to wheel, deal and schmooze.  At the biggest and most glittering party, Marsha Hillier realizes as she's trying to chat up literary agent Andrew Myles, that he's slumped in his wing-chair, quite dead.

Marsha and everyone else at the party are immediately questioned as suspects, and the plot is underway!  Mystery buffs will adore this sexy and hilarious romp through the world of publishing."

A Painted House

by John Grisham

"Until that September of 1952, Luke Chandler had never kept a secret or told a single lie.  But in the long, hot summer of his seventh year, two groups of migrant workers--and two very dangerous men--came through the Arkansas Delta to work the Chandler cotton farm.  And suddenly mysteries are flooding Luke's world.  A brutal murder leaves the town seething in gossip and suspicion.  A beautiful young woman ignites forbidden passions.  A fatherless baby is born...and someone has begun furtively painting the bare clapboards of the Chandler farmhouse, slowly, painstakingly, bathing the run-down structure in gleaming white.  And as young Luke watches the world around him, he unravels secrets that could shatter lives--and change his family and his town forever..."

The Closers

by Michael Connelly

"He walked away from the job three years ago.  But Harry Bosh cannot resist the call to join the elite Open/Unsolved Unit.  His mission:  solve murders whose investigations were flawed, stalled, or abandoned to L.A.'s tides of crime.  With some people openly rooting for his failure, Harry catches the case of a teenager dragged off to her death on Oat Mountain, and traces the DNA on the murder weapon to a small-tome criminal.  But something bigger and darker beckons, and Harry must battle to fit all the pieces together.  Shaking cages and rattling ghosts, he will push the rules to the limit--and 

expose the kind of truth that shatters lives, ends careers, and keeps the dead whispering in the night..."

A Bend in the Road

by Nicholas Sparks

"Miles Ryan's life seemed to end the day his wife was killed in a hit-and-run accident two years ago. As deputy sheriff of New Berfn, North Carolina, he not only grieves for her and worries about their young son Jonah but longs to bring the unknown driver to justice."

What's in your mailbox this week?  Please leave an answer or a link to your post in the comment section below so I may return the visit! 

Have a terrific week everyone!

In My Mailbox (Just Received) August 8, 2011

Hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren, In My Mailbox is a weekly meme for us bookaholics to share our recent treasures, whether received by mail, borrowed or purchased; and to drool over others.  Do you have your wish lists handy?

This week in my mailbox I got some exciting books!!!  I can hardly wait to immerse my nose in these!

How Can You Not Laugh at a Time Like This?

by Carla Ulbrich

(complimentary copy provided by the author and Bostick Communications)

"...As Ulbrich spins her tale (and shares some songs), she lampoons common fears and prejudices about illness and lovingly lambastes the foibles of the medical industry. She offers heartfelt and humorous advice for navigating mainstream and alternative therapies, and she guides partners, families, and friends who wish to help their loved ones. Her candid insights, wisecracking commentary, handy lists, hilarious song lyrics, and gentle camaraderie will put a smile on the face of anyone who wants to face illness with courage and humour...." (from the author)

***

Huber Hill and the Deadman's Treasure (ARC)

by B.K. Bostick

(I am participating in a blog tour for Huber Hill and the Deadman's Treasure.  Watch for the review August 18.  I received this book from Cedar Fort Publishing in exchange for an honest review.)

"Huber Hill wishes he could exchange lives with somebody--anybody!  he endures each day of junior high, tormented by his long-time adversary, Scott McCormick.  And at home, his parents bicker endlessly.  His only escape from all the madness is Grandpa Nick.

But tragedy strikes when Grandpa Nick dies, and Huber is left devastated...until he opens a mysterious box left behind just for him.  An old gold coin and directions to a hidden Spanish treasure send him off on a mind-blowing adventure, but he's not the only one on the hunt.  Filled with dangerous animals, cryptic puzzles, and long-dead Spanish corpses, this book will enthral you to the last page." (from the back cover)

***

I am so excited to read this!!!!  I saw the movie first, loved it, now I finally get to read

  I Am Number Four!!

I Am Number Four

by Pittacus Lore

(I won this hardcover copy at fReado)

"WE may be walking past you right now,

WE are watching as you read this.

WE may be in your city, your town.

WE are living anonymously.

WE are waiting for the day when

WE will find each other.

WE will make our last stand together - if

We win,

We are saved, and

YOU are saved as well.

IF WE LOSE, ALL IS LOST.

(from the back cover)

(ooh, isn't that an exciting intro?)

***

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

by Ransom Riggs

(I requested a copy on the author's site and was sent one by Random House Canada!!!!  I am so excited!)

"A mysterious island.

An abandoned orphanage.

A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows."

***

You Don't Sweat Much For a Fat Girl (ARC)

by Celia Rivenbark

(I received this ARC courtesy of Tanya Farrell of Wunderkind PR and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.)

"In her latest wickedly funny collection of essays award-winning humorist Celia Rivenbark tells it like it is...and how it should be.

With her trademark style of southern snark and sass, Celia channels her inner Betty Draper and shares her thoughts on everything from terrorists to Twitter to The Real Housewives of New Jersey.

So grab your Snuggle and pour a glass of your favourite boxed wine -- You Don't Sweat Much for a Fat Girl will make you laugh so hard you'll split your yoga pants."

***

Coming Up for Air (ARC)

by Patti Callahan Henry

(I received this ARC from Tanya Farrell of Wunderkind PR and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review)

"In this breathtaking novel, one woman's search for truth after her mother's death brings her to a mysterious house on a bay--and face-to-face with an ex-boyfriend who opens a window onto her past...."

***

Little Black Dress

by Susan McBride

(a copy was provided by the author and Harper Collins Publishers in exchange for an honest review.)

"Two sisters whose lives seemed forever intertwined are torn apart when a magical little black dress gives each one a glimpse of an unavoidable future."

***

Abe's Lucky Day

by Jill Warren

(I received this book from the author in conjunction with Bostick Communications in return for an honest review.)

"Any day could be your lucky day.  

Abe is a homeless man who lives in the alley behind a bakery and winter is coming.  What will happen on his lucky day that could change his life forever?"

What's new in your mailbox?  What did you borrow or purchase?  Please share in the comments below with a link so I may return the visit.  I look forward to see what's circulating out there!  Perhaps add some titles to my ever growing wish list.  :) 

Have a terrific week everyone!