Sunday, February 5, 2012

In My Mailbox (32) New Format

In My Mailbox is a meme started by Kristi at The Story Siren where we get to post about the books we receive each week.


This mailbox is for the past two weeks.
  
Won

I won the YAmazing Race with MGnificent Prizes giveaway hosted by the Apocalypsies--a group of YA and MG authors debuting in 2012. It has been like Christmas with the prizes making their way to my mailbox all week! Thank you so much to all of the participating authors and all of the authors who have sent their prizes to me. The following books and swag are from this giveaway.

Welcome Caller, This is Chloe 
by Shelley Coriell

Release Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: Amulet Books
Pages: 320
Goodreads Page

Chloe's life hasn't been going exactly as planned. Her reputation was destroyed by none other than her (former) best friend, her independent study project proposal has been denied, and her grandmother's mental health is deteriorating. Struggling with loneliness and attempting to salvage her grades, Chloe decides to host a call-in radio show for her school's radio station. Could the radio station's misfits (including loner Duncan Moore) and her show's callers be the answer to her prayers?

This sounds like a light contemporary with a MC I can totally sympathize with and just enough romance and heartwarming scenes to make me aaaawww out loud. I'm looking forward to it!

Unraveling 
by Elizabeth Norris

Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 445
Goodreads Page

Janelle is hit by a truck and dies. That is, until she is mysteriously brought back to life. Janelle is convinced her attractive classmate Ben had something to do not only with her resurrection, but also with the clock counting down to who knows what that she discovered while snooping in her FBI father's files.

Somehow the end of the world also ties into the plot, the countdown clock, and Ben...but I don't really understand how just yet. Guess I'll have to read the book to find out! I love books with mysteries, and given the thickness of this one, I'm hoping there are a TON of threads to unravel (oh! Totally didn't realize that. Ha, get it?)

Storybound 
by Marissa Burt

Release Date: April 3, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 320
Goodreads Page

After unearthing a mysterious book in the basement of her school, Una finds herself transported to the land of Story. In Story, children are taught how to be book characters, attending courses on how to be heroes, sidekicks, and villains. Una is delighted, but there could be disastrous consequences if anyone discovers Una is not originally from Story.

I squeaked OUT LOUD when I opened the envelope for this book! I had it on my ARC Wishlist and then sort of forgot to request it, so I am SO fantastically happy that I won a copy! I love books like Inkheart and The Neverending Story where characters go into books. Yay!

Born Wicked 
by Jessica Spotswood

Release Date: February 7, 2012
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Pages: 326
Goodreads Page

Witches! Swoony kisses! Forbidden romance! Family secrets! Banned books! Rebellious friends! An oppressive Brotherhood! Tea parties! YAY!!!




Swag!



Daughter of Smoke and Bone 
by Laini Taylor

Release Date: September 27, 2011
Publisher: Little, Brown
Pages: 418
Goodreads Page

I won this from Sally at Always Lost in Stories as part of her blogoversary giveaway. Thank you! I was SO excited to see that she sent the UK version, because I am about fifty million times more in love with the shimmery UK cover than the bleh US cover. Double yay!

I've heard so many wonderful things about this book, but I have to admit that I've been scared by the hype. I'm glad I won a copy though, because now I can see for myself. I've heard it involved a war between...angels and demons? Or creatures like them? There's also a romance, and I can't say no to romance.

What actually makes me most excited is what I've heard about the "story within a story." Readers seem to be mixed on it. The plot detours for a significant chunk into a myth that provides background for the main story. Or so I've heard. I LOVE when authors do this, so I'm really looking forward to this part!


Gifted

Daughters of Rome 
by Kate Quinn

Release Date: April 5, 2011
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Pages: 370
Goodreads Page


I've wanted to read this ever since I saw the gorgeous cover and noticed Stephanie Dray (author of my Special Shelved Lily of the Nile and Song of the Nile) mentioned it on her site. The plot doesn't sound too shabby either. Ancient Rome during the tumultuous time after Nero's death? YES PLEASE!

Bookish Hobbit reviewed it a few weeks ago and was mixed on it, so she offered to send me her copy. Of course I greedily accepted. Thank you!



Click on each photo to see larger views!










What did you get this week? Are you interested in reading any of these books?

I'm also trying out a new IMM format. How do you like it? Do you prefer it this way, or the old way?


I would also appreciate it if you would take a moment to fill out THIS FORM to leave your feedback on the Busting the Newbie Blues event. Thank you! 

If you would like an email alert for 2013's Busting the Newbie Blues, please sign up HERE.  



 

Have you written a review for The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter? 
I would love to include your review in the next Review Comparison!






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47 comments:

  1. Nice books! Most of those books are on my TBR :) Happy reading!

    My IMM

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  2. Awesome for the win! Definitely books that I'm looking forward to the releases C: Enjoy everything!

    Shortskie's Mailbox

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  3. Congrats on winning the giveaway. :)
    You look like you got some really great books! Enjoy!

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  4. Ohhh, Born Wicked! That's one book I am SO curious about. I hope you like. I enjoyed Daughter of Smoke and Bone, but there were things I wasn't sure about. The overall story was interesting though. Don't be scared to read it.

    ~Happy Reading!

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    1. I've started reading Born Wicked and I'm loving it! I hope you do too.

      Thank you for your comment about Daughter of Smoke and Bone :)

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  5. I've been seeing Born Wicked popping up a lot lately... might have to look into that one :)
    Enjoy all your reading!

    -L
    sea-glass.blogspot.com

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  6. Great haul. Daughter of Smoke and Bone was awesome. I hope you love it. I did.

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  7. Oooh, I saw Unraveling in the Apocolypies YA Amazing Race. I liked the cover and the concept so much !

    That Born Wicked cover looks so good. The interent pictures don't do it justice.

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  8. Born Wicked!! I want that super bad, it just looks awesome. Great haul this week! Have fun reading them.
    You can check out my IMM here.
    [:
    ShawnaLeAnn
    Dreaming In The Pages Enter My Giveaway

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  9. You got some awesome books this week. I can't wait to hear what you think of Smoke and Bone. I can't decide which format I like better - I like both. How do you get those awesome boxes??

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    1. I made the boxes using the code in my Tips & Tricks post How to Make Colored Boxes. Scroll down toward the bottom where it has the code for borders. I used the "inset" border on the top box and then the "outset" border on the bottom box (or, erm, reversed...I can't remember now!). I set the border color for a slightly darker blue than the colored box. Hope that helps :)

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  10. You are only lucky gal! I really liked Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe! Born Wicked and Daughter of Smoke and Bone are great, too! I can't wait to read Unraveling :0)

    My IMM

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  11. Wow. You got some amazing books there. Born Wicked and Daughter of Smoke and Bone look great, and heard a lot of good things about them.

    Enjoy reading!
    My IMM.

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  12. WOW! Great books and awesome swag!

    Here is my IMM

    Lindsay :)
    Turning the Pages

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  13. I've seen Unraveling a couple of times and I'm definitely interested! I'll be looking forward to your thoughts!

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  14. AAAAH! I've had the Daughter of Smoke and Bone on my TBR forever. Thanks for reminding me that I need to read it soon.

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  15. Waiting impatiently for your reviews of Unraveling and Storybound! They are both at my TBR!


    In My Mailbox

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  16. Ohhhh Wicked Lovely! I'm so looking forward to read that book! I hope you like it (: I hope Daughter Of Smoke and Bone lives up to the hype for you. I haven't picked it up yet for the same reason.

    Happy reading!
    Celine ~ Nyx Book Reviews

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  17. I still haven't read Daughter of Smoke and Bone but i hope to soon! I hope you enjoy everything you got this week! Come check out my IMM!

    http://paigebradish1996.blogspot.com/2012/02/in-my-mailbox-19.html

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  18. Cool stuff. I'm digging the Storybound cover. It reminds me of Tyger Tyger.

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  19. Awesome books! I got a copy of Daughter of Smoke and Bone but I haven't read it yet!!!

    And go an e-gallay of Welcome Caller, I hope it's good, it sounded fun.

    Anyway! Enjoy your books and have a great week!

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  20. Awesome IMM this week! Born Wicked and Unraveling both look really good!

    Happy reading!

    You can check out my IMM HERE!

    Claire :)

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  21. I love the new format!! It looks great and really highlights the books! I'd like to read Are You There Caller, It's Me Chloe and Storybound! Bet you're excited about that one. Born Wicked is good. I think you'll like it.

    I don't know if you'll like Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It's fantasy, but maybe not you're type. I hope you like it.

    Man do you have some books to get rid of. Too bad you don't have time to put them on PaperBack Swap. But then you'd just be getting more books. Did I see Star Wars and Star Trek???

    Heather

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    1. Thank you for the feedback! I wanted to make IMM a little more focused on the actual content of the books. You know me well, I am super excited about Storybound :) I'm reading Born Wicked now and you are totally right--I'm loving it!

      I guess I'll find out about DoS&B :)

      I really do have so many books to get rid of :( Can you believe I'm KEEPING even more??? I'm such a book hoarder. You did see Star Wars and Star Trek :) My fiance reads the Star Trek books. The Star Wars books are from my "I had great intentions to read this, but never got around to it" pile :P

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  22. Wow! You got so many awesome ones! I'm reading Born Wicked right now and am enjoying it. It feels like a slow start but it picked up and now I really want to read but I can't cause I'm visiting family (though I guess I'm not doing so well visiting since I'm on their computer reading blogs instead, lol). I really liked Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It steers off course for a bit but it's not really for that long. And it's SUCH a different feel from most YA paranormal. Hope you love all the books!

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  23. Seriously awesome wins!! I hope you are able to get over the hype enough to read Daughter of Smoke and Bone! I haven't read it yet either though - waiting for a good time to fit it into my reading schedule. I love the new format! Though I had no qualms with the old one either.

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  24. Welcome Caller, This is Chloe looks so good, as does Born Wicked, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and Story Bound. I hope you enjoy all of your books, and I love the new format! (:

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  25. Congrats on winning the giveaway! That's so awesome! Born Wicked, and The Daughter of Smoke and Bone are high on my to-read list! Thank you for sharing your mailbox this week :)

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  26. Great haul! I'm so ready to read Unraveling and Storybound and Daughter of Smoke and Bone! And I like both of your formats, so whichever you choose is cool with me! Thanks for stopping by my IMM!

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  27. Uber jealous of all your reads. Is that the British cover for Daughter of Smoke and Bone?

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  28. I have Daughter of Smoke and Bone, but like you I'm nervous about the hype. I really just need to read it because I hear such good things. I'm so jealous that you got Born Wicked! I want that one with a vengeance. And, I to love books where they jump into other books. Storybound looks awesomely adorable. :D

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  29. Your Apocalypsies haul is well deserved. That was one of the best/hardest giveaways I've ever done. I was happy someone I knew was among the winners!

    Storybound!

    I love the UK cover of DOSAB too. Lucky lucky girl!!

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  30. Love the UK cover of Daughter of Smoke and Bone! Glad you're liking Born Wicked. And the new format is awesome!

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  31. i love that cover of smoke and bone! so pretty. and born wicked looks great, too. have fun reading all your goodies!

    my imm

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  32. I'm looking forward to UNRAVELING...and I hadn't even heard of STORYBOUND, so thanks for the heads up! Congrats on the big prizes, SR. :)

    ***

    IMAGINARY GIRLS author Nova Ren Suma shares her Favorite Romantic Scene at The Midnight Garden.

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  33. Ok, the books are really awesome, lots I'm looking forward to, but I can't quit admiring the "NEW FORMAT". Wow! Its beautiful. I love it so much. What a great way to showcase your IMM books.

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  34. Thank you everyone for your feedback! :D

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  35. You're welcome!
    I hope you love DOSAB as much as I did.
    You got some amazing books this week- I really love the sound of Unraveling, Storybound and Born Wicked.

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  36. Unraveling and Storybound look SO great! Enjoy your books :)

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  38. STORYBOUND looks so cute! Can't wait to hear what you think of it! Congrats on the mega-win!! Congrats on winning the UK SMOKE AND BONE, too. Great cover! I'll be interested in your review on this one, as well.

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  39. Congrats! I saw you won this! Woohoo! Nice stash, girlfriend! Enjoy your books. Cool new format, too :)

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