Monday, January 30, 2012

Mailbox Monday & It's Monday ... What Are You Reading?



Mailbox Monday  is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. 
Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

January Host: Alyce @ At Home With Books

I was doing a little happy dance with my mailbox loot last week. Surprise packages from 2 authors, a win from Allen & Unwin & a couple of books for blog tours. A wonderful week for me ... how bout you?


SILENT FEAR by Katherine Howell
a signed copy from my favourite Aussie author :)


On a searing summer's day paramedic Holly Garland rushes to an emergency to find a man collapsed with a bullet wound in the back of his head, CPR being performed by two bystanders, and her long-estranged brother Seth watching it all unfold. 

Seth claims to be the dying man's best friend, but Holly knows better than to believe anything he says and fears that his re-appearance will reveal the bleak secrets of her past – secrets which both her fiance Norris and her colleagues have no idea exist, and which if exposed could cause her to lose everything. 

Detective Ella Marconi suspects Seth too, but she's also sure the dead man's wife is lying, and the deceased's boss seems just too helpful. But then a shocking double homicide related to the case makes Ella realise that her investigations are getting closer to the killer, but also increasing the risk of an even higher body count.

This lovely package arrived from Christine Blevins, not only books but candles, soap and herbal tea all packaged delightfully. Thanks Christine :)






THE TURNING OF ANNE MERRICK by Christine Blevins
Blog tour with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

A tale of love and espionage from the author of Midwife of the Blue Ridge... 

She spies for General Washington, betrays the Redcoats and battles for America's independence... 

It's 1777, and a fledgling country wages an almost hopeless struggle against the might of the British Empire. Brought together by a fateful kiss, Anne Merrick and Jack Hampton are devoted to each other and to their Patriot cause. As part of Washington's daring network of spies, they are ready and willing to pay even the ultimate price for freedom. 

From battlefields raging along the Hudson, to the desperate winter encampment at Valley Forge and through the dangerous intrigue of British-occupied Philadelphia, Anne and Jack brave the trials of separation, the ravages of war and an unyielding enemy growing ever more ruthless. 

For love and for country, all is put at risk-and together the pair must call upon their every ounce of courage and cunning in order to survive.


THE LEGACY OF EDEN by Nelle Davy
Blog tour with Media Muscle

"To understand what it meant to be a Hathaway, you'd first have to see Aurelia." 

For generations, Aurelia was the crowning glory of more than three thousand acres of Iowa farmland and golden cornfields. The estate was a monument to matriarch Lavinia Hathaway's dream to elevate the family name - no matter what relative or stranger she had to destroy in the process. It was a desperation that wrought the downfall of the Hathaways - and the once prosperous farm. 

Now the last inhabitant of the decaying old home has died - alone. None of the surviving members of the Hathaway family want anything to do with the farm, the land, or the memories. 

Especially Meredith Pincetti. Now living in New York City, for seventeen years Lavinia's youngest grandchild has tried to forget everything about her family and her past. But with the receipt of a pleading letter, Meredith is again thrust into conflict with the legacy that destroyed her family's once-great name. Back at Aurelia, Meredith must confront the rise and fall of the Hathaway family... and her own part in their mottled history. 

"Our farm was like the world when people still thought it was flat. And when you left it, it was as if you had simply sailed too far and fallen off the surface into the void."


NEVER KNOWING by Chevy Stevens
Giveaway win from Allen & Unwin

From the acclaimed author of STILL MISSING comes a psychological thriller about one woman’s search into her past and the deadly truth she uncovers. 

All her life, Sara Gallagher has wondered about her birth parents. As an adopted child with two sisters who were born naturally to her parents, Sara’s home life was not ideal. The question of why she was given up for adoption has always haunted her. Finally, she is ready to take steps and find closure. 

But some questions are better left unanswered. 

After months of research, Sara locates her birth mother—only to be met with horror and rejection. Then she discovers the devastating truth: her mother was the only victim ever to escape a killer who has been hunting women every summer for decades. But Sara soon realizes the only thing worse than finding her father is him finding out about her. 

What if murder is in your blood? 

Never Knowing is a complex and compelling portrayal of one woman’s quest to understand herself, her origins, and her family. That is, if she can survive. 



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A weekly event hosted by Sheila from Book Journey to discuss your reading week ~ the books you've read and those you plan on reading in the coming week. Thanks Sheila :) 

Well not quite the week we were expecting. No camping trip ... thanks to rain, rain and more rain but I did manage to read 2 books at home and put up an Australia Day post extolling the dubious virtues of us Aussies ;) and a couple of books reviews.

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Giveaways:

Audiobook copy of Cinder by Marrisa Meyer
~ enter here. You know how much I loved it!
Winner of the Birthday Trilogy by Brian Rowe ~ Congratulations Jetches

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I posted reviews for: (click on title)

HALLOWED by Cynthia Hand ~ sigh ... awesomeness!

UNDER THE NEVER SKY by Veronica Rossi ~ loved it!

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Finished last week:

BY THE KING'S DESIGN by Christine Trent ~ very enjoyable

NEVER EIGHTEEN by Megan Bostic ~ good but not as good as I was expecting

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This Week's Reading List:




EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton 

SILENT FEAR by Katherine Howell ~ page 105 and loving it so far

THE WAY WE FALL by Megan Crewe

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Reviews Still To Do:

THE CROWN by Nancy Bilyeau ~ review scheduled this week



34 comments:

  1. I have not heard of any of these. It always amazes me how many books are out there that I have not heard of.

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    1. I think the same thing when I'm visiting blogs, that's why we have trouble jumping over our wish lists and TBR piles LOL

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  2. I really want to read By the King's Design and some of the other books you mention look good to me too, especially The Legacy of Eden.

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  3. I have heard such amazing things about Under the Never Sky, I am dying to read it, I'm glad to see that you loved it! It looks like you have a great week for reading coming up!

    This is my first time here and I just have to tell you how much I love your blog design! Your header is absolutely lovely! :)

    Happy reading! Here is my It's Monday post:
    http://www.handsandhome.ca/2012/01/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-28.html

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    1. Thanks so much Bonnie, I had my blog re-designed after blogging for 3 years and I'm so happy with it. I'm off to check out your Monday post :)

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  4. I have been trying for ages to get to Never Knowing - it only came once out as a giveaway!!! You have such a lot of great reading here. Katherine Howell - looking forward to that review as well.

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    1. Katherine Howell has never disappointed me ... love her work!!

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  5. Absolutely loved Everneath! Such a great book!

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  6. I don't think I made it over here last week so hoping your birthday was wonderful! Glad you got in some reading time :)

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    1. Thanks Sheila, I had a lovely birthday, was spoilt all weekend :)

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  7. Silent Fear was great - I'll have my review up later this week!

    Have a great reading week!

    Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out

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    1. I've just finished it Shelleyrae and loved it!!

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  8. I like Chevy Stevens, I hope you enjoy Never Knowing.

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  9. I've heard so many great things about Everneath! I hope you enjoy it :)

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  10. What a delightful mailbox! Hope you enjoy them all...Silent Fear looks very tempting.

    And I LOVED Never Knowing...hope you do too.

    Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  11. Silent Fear sounds fantastic. I'll watch for your thoughts. Have a great week and happy reading!

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  12. That package you got looks really great! Have fun reading the books you got this week. ;)

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  13. That package sounds truly lovely :D

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  14. I loved Never Knowing! I can't wait for Chevy Stevens to write more. Her books are so suspenseful!

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    1. Have a good week of reading, a great mailbox.

      http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2012/01/mailbox-monday_30.html

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    2. I loved Still Missing Beth and can't wait to read Never Knowing; I've heard it's awesome!

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  15. Sorry your trip didn't happen.
    I hope you have an awesome week!!!

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  16. What a nice mailbox - looks like you got lots of fun goodies!

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  17. I got a package from Christine Blevins as well. No books, but candles and other yummy things! So lovely!

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    1. Aren't we lucky Marg, it sure smelled yummy opening it up :)

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  18. So many awesome books!! You know what is so funny????? That package you received...I picked up the Midwife book Saturday at my library!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Crazy huh???

    Have a great week...you have plenty of great books to make it wonderful!

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    1. Can't wait to hear what you think Staci, since we have similar taste and all LOL

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  19. Mere envy? This is more than that! Those books look incredibly good :)

    I'm gonna go check out the giveaway now. I hope it's international. I've never listened to an audio book. I know, I know.

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    1. :( sorry Bee the audio giveaway is only for US

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  20. i am really curious about the chevy stevens book, i read another of hers and really enjoyed it :)

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  21. Silent Fear sounds really good and I have Never Knowing around here somewhere. I started it but for some reason never finished it. Hope you are having a great week.

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