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Saturday, November 21, 2009

In My Mailbox (12)

IMM is hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren!

I received some wonderful books this week that I am super excited to read! Thank you to authors and publishers who sent books for review and to those of you who hosted contests!!


Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey (Harcourt, 5/2010)
Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents’ rules – especially the one about never opening the mysterious, old box in her father’s office. But when her dad is murdered, and her college savings disappear, she's tempted to peek inside, as the contents might be key to a lucrative chemistry scholarship.

To better her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize, but to save Tristen’s sanity. Maybe his life. But Jill’s accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and compels her to risk everything – even Tristen’s love – just for the thrill of being… bad.


The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard (Viking, 1/2010)
Seventeen-year-old Colt has been sneaking out at night to meet Julia, a girl from an upper-class neighborhood unlike his own. They’ve never told anyone else about their relationship: not their family or friends, and especially not Julia’s boyfriend.When Julia dies suddenly, Colt tries to cope with her death while pretending that he never even knew her. He discovers a journal she left behind. But he is not prepared for the truths he discovers about their intense relationship, nor to pay the price for the secrets he’s kept.


Daughters of the Sea: Hannah by Kathryn Lasky (Scholastic, out now)
Daughters of the Sea tells the story of 3 mermaid sisters who are separated at birth by a storm and go on to lead three very different lives. Book 1 is about Hannah, who spent her early days in an orphanage and is now a scullery maid in the house of rich, powerful family. She is irresistibly drawn to the sea and through a series of accidents and encounters discovers her true identity. Hannah realizes that she must keep the truth a secret but she also knows that soon she will have to make the choice - to be a creature of the land or the sea.







Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran (Crown, out now)
The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony’s revengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome; only two– the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander–survive the journey. Delivered to the household of Octavian’s sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian’s family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts.

The fateful tale of Selene and Alexander is brought brilliantly to life in Cleopatra’s Daughter. Recounted in Selene’s youthful and engaging voice, it introduces a compelling cast of historical characters: Octavia, the emperor Octavian’s kind and compassionate sister, abandoned by Marc Antony for Cleopatra; Livia, Octavian's bitter and jealous wife; Marcellus, Octavian’s handsome, flirtatious nephew and heir apparent; Tiberius, Livia’s sardonic son and Marcellus’s great rival for power; and Juba, Octavian’s watchful aide, whose honored position at court has far-reaching effects on the lives of the young Egyptian royals.
Selene’s narrative is animated by the concerns of a young girl in any time and place–the possibility of finding love, the pull of friendship and family, and the pursuit of her unique interests and talents. While coping with the loss of both her family and her ancestral kingdom, Selene must find a path around the dangers of a foreign land. Her accounts of life in Rome are filled with historical details that vividly capture both the glories and horrors of the times. She dines with the empire’s most illustrious poets and politicians, witnesses the creation of the Pantheon, and navigates the colorful, crowded marketplaces of the city where Roman-style justice is meted out with merciless authority.


Tirissa and the Necklace of Nulidor by Willow (Outskirts Press, out now)
One day twelve-year-old Tirissa discovers that everyone in her village is under a spell. Everyone but her! Then she sees a mysterious stranger change into a huge bird, a bird with a beak like a sword. Did he cast the spell? Desperate to find someone who can break it, she flees, leaving her village behind. An old herbwoman tells her to seek help from a wizard who lives far away, and her journey takes her across the Three Kingdoms. Along the way she's joined by a kindly troll and a short, fat palace guard. They are pursued by the twin princes of Kellayne, the best hunters in the Blue River Kingdom, as well as by the huge, dangerous bird. Meanwhile, an evil wizard watches Tirissa and her friends in his magic mirror and plans a second spell that will kill everyone in the Three Kingdoms.


17 comments:

  1. I looooved Cleopatra's Daughter!! I hope you like it! I'd love to read Jekel loves Hyde!

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  2. Awesome! Jekel Loves Hyde? Luckyy! :) Enjoy.

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  3. THE SECRET YEAR! Lucky you!!! ;) Have fun reading!

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  4. OMG you got Jekel Loves Hyde! I am so excited for that one - I loved Jessica's Guide To Dating On The Dark Side. :)

    Well done you!

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  5. Eeek, how do you have Jekel Loves Hyde? I'm so jealous! Happy reading! :)

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  6. Great books!!! especially The Secret Year, that sounds fantastic :-) enjoy

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  7. Ohhh Jekel Loves Hyde and The Secret Year - lucky you!! From reading the synopsis, I like the sound of the other books too. Great week! Have fun! :)

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  8. So jealous of Jekel Loves Hyde and The Secret Year! Enjoy(:

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  9. OMG, great books! Particularly jealous of The Secret Year!! Happy reading! :)

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  10. Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh. Jekel Loves Hyde????? Eeeeek! You are one lucky girl!!!!

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  11. I have a review copy of Tirissa and the Necklace of Nudor as well, I'm interested to know what you think of it. Enjoy your books!

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  12. Dani Noir sounds wonderful! And Cleopatras Daughter was an excellent read!

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  13. Great books! I'm looking foward to The Secret Year. I've heard some really great things about it. I read Dani Noir and it was such a cute read. Enjoy and Happy Reading!

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  14. So many good books it looks like, The Secret Year looks really good - I hope you enjoy them!

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  15. The Secret Year and others looks great. Enjoy!!

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