IMM: IN MY MAILBOX

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In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren
Believe it or not, this was a slow week for me. It doesn’t look like it according to the pictures, but most of them were all from one package.
These are from PaperBackSwap and from a game that I joined on there as well. I have been wanting His Eyes forever and I finally got it from the game after waiting for almost a year for it!
All of these were in one box and they came from my book fairy who knows how to spoil me!  It is like Christmas every single time I get a box!  My neighbors hear me squeal from down the street when I open my boxes from my awesome book fairy!
My wonderful and very thoughtful husband bought me Remember Me by Christopher Pike.  He remembered me telling him that I read these books as a teenager and loved them.  So he surprised me with it yesterday!
And yes, that gorgeous and wonderful ARC of Torment came from my Book Fairy as well! I almost passed out when I saw that book cover in my box!  Each time I look at it, I still get short of breath!
So what did everyone else get this week?

WINNERS!!

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The contest for the two copies of Seduced By The Wolf by author Terry Spear has now ended!  Using Random.org, the winners are:

and

I will be emailing you shortly for your mailing info to give to the publisher for mailing.  Thanks to everyone who entered and be sure to check out my other contest going on now on the contest page!

(ARC Review) Monster High by Lisi Harrison

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MONSTER HIGH
Author: Lisi Harrison
Source: Around the World Tours

  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Hardcover: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Poppy (September 1, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 031609918X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0316099189

SYNOPSIS:

The monster community has kept a low profile at the local high school, but when two new girls enroll, the town will never be the same. Created just fifteen days ago, Frankie Stein is psyched to trade her father’s formaldehyde-smelling basement lab for parties and prom.

But with a student body totally freaked out by rumors of monsters stalking the halls, Frankie learns that high school can be rough for a chic freak like her. She thinks she finds a friend in fellow new student Melody Carver-but can a “normie” be trusted with her big secret?

MY THOUGHTS:

Who could not want to read a book with a character named Frankie Stein? It is such a cute name for her and yes it is for the reason you think.  She was created just 15 days before starting school.  She is what they like to be referred to as a RAD. Her parents inform her that she will be attending school with normie’s.  We get a treat of alternating POVs between Frankie and Melody.  Melody is a normie and brings the human side to the book.

I loved the cover of this book. I admit that it is what made me want to sign up for the tour in the first place.  I liked Melody and her sister. I loved the bantering between the two just like sisters would be like.  Frankie was cute considering she was only 15 days old and was programmed to be 15 years old. It was cute seeing both sides of the story.  With character names like Draculaura, Cleo and Lagoona Blue, you know that there is going to be laugh out loud moments.

At times, the book did seem a bit predictable and childish.  Yet, I still couldn’t put the book down because I wanted to know what would happen.  Well, don’t expect a tidy and finished ending when you read it.  It leaves a cliffhanger for the reader to set up a sequel hopefully.

MY RATING:


Very Good! I would recommend this book! 4 STARS
 

(ARC Review) The Candidates by Inara Scott

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THE CANDIDATES
Delcroix Academy #1
Author: Inara Scott
Source: Around the World Tours

  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Hardcover: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (August 24, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1423116364
  • ISBN-13: 978-1423116363

SYNOPSIS:

Dancia Lewis is far from popular. And that’s not just because of her average grades or her less-than-glamorous wardrobe. In fact, Dancia’s mediocrity is a welcome cover for her secret: whenever she sees a person threatening someone she cares about, things just…happen. Cars skid. Structures collapse. Usually someone gets hurt.  So Dancia does everything possible to avoid getting close to anyone, belieiving this way she can supress her powers and keep them hidden.

 
But when recruiters from the prestigious Delcroix Academy show up in her living room to offer her a full scholarship, Dancia’s days of living under the radar may be over. Only, Delcroix is a school for diplomats’ kids and child geniuses–not B students with uncontrollable telekinetic tendencies.  So why are they treating Dancia like she’s special? Even the hottest guy on campus seems to be going out of his way to make Dancia feel welcome.
 
And then there’s her mysterious new friend Jack, who can’t stay out of trouble. He suspects something dangerous is going on at the Academy and wants Dancia to help him figure out what.  But Dancia isn’t convinced. She hopes that maybe the recruiters know more about her “gift” than they’re letting on. Maybe they can help her understand how to use it…But not even Dancia could have imagined what awaits her behind the gates of Delcroix Academy.
 
MY THOUGHTS:
Paranormal. Magical Powers. Private School. Good vs. Evil. 
Those are the base elements to this book.  I had my eye on this book for a while, and then when it was offered on the tour site, I jumped at the chance to sign up! I loved this book so much.  This one hasn’t even been released yet and I am wishing the next installment would hurry and release as well!
Dancia is a loner.  She tries to fade into the background and not be friends with anyone.  She has known she has a power, but it seems to hurt people because she can’t control it.  When the recruiters from Delcroix Academy come to her house where she lives with her Grandmother, she can’t believe they want her to attend their exclusive and private school.  Her Grandmother doesn’t have much money, Dancia doesn’t have the best grades, and she doesn’t have any special skill that they would be aware of.  When she decides to attend anyway, she feels out of place and crushing on the student recruiter, Cam.  He seems to take a special interest in her and she wants to believe that he likes her.  Then she meets Jack.  He is, in a way like her.  He comes from no money or famous family.  He has no real skills that are as obvious as the other students either.  They become friends and spend time together. 
Cam is hesitant in Dancia being friends with Jack.  Cam has secrets of his own, and knows that Jack can be a danger to Dancia and everyone else.  When Jack reveals to Dancia what Cam is hiding, she forces Cam to explain things.  She can’t believe what he reveals, but all if it is confirmed by the head master of the school.  
Without giving too much away, it basically boils down to Cam vs. Jack and Dancia making the decision of what to choose for her life. I felt sad for one of the boys and wished it could have turned out differently for him.  I tried cheering him on from outside the book, but the author already had her decision on the way the story would end.  A great ending that will leave you wanting more of this amazing school and people involved!
MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS