In My Mailbox 37

 Books Reviewed This Week:
Forsaken By Shadow (Mirus #1) - Kait Nolan
The Magic Crystal (The Dream Merchant Saga #1) - L.T. Suzuki
Ordinary Angels - India Drummond

Extras:
Waiting On Wednesday: The Falling Machine - Andrew Mayer

March Wrap-Up

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren!

The Lens and the Looker - Lory S. Kaufman

 from publisher, for review

THERE'S HOPE FOR THE FUTURE,
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE PAST?

It’s the 24th century and humans, with the help of artificial intelligences (A.I.s) have finally created the perfect post-dystopian society. To make equally perfect citizens for this world, the elders have created History Camps, full sized recreations of cities from Earth’s distant pasts. Here teens live the way their ancestors did, doing the same dirty jobs and experiencing the same degradations. History Camps teach youths not to repeat the mistakes that almost caused the planet to die. But not everything goes to plan.

In this first of a trilogy, we meet three spoiled teens in the year 2347. Hansum almost 17, is good looking and athletic. Shamira, 15, is sassy, independent and an artistic genius. Lincoln, 14, is the smart-aleck. But you don’t have to scratch too far beneath the surface to find his insecurities.

These three “hard cases” refuse the valuable lessons History Camps teach. But when they are kidnapped and taken back in time to 1347 Verona, Italy, they only have two choices; adapt to the harsh medieval ways or die. The dangers are many, their enemies are powerful, and safety is a long way away. It’s hardly the ideal environment to fall in love – but that’s exactly what happens. In an attempt to survive, the trio risks introducing technology from the future. It could save them – or it could change history.

 This sounds amazing; like a mix of dystopian, science fiction, fantasy and young adult. I love time travel books and obviously, romance stories - so I think this will be right up my alley :)

Kiss Me Deadly: 13 Tales of Paranormal Love edited by Tricia Telep

purchased

If you can possibly thirst for more mysterious metaphysical accounts of love, Trisha Telep has organized some of the greatest and most thrilling tales of paranormal paramours since The Eternal Kiss. She presents the acclaimed literary talent of thirteen unique authors, creating a collection of stories that will undoubtedly capture the imagination of every soul who dares to read them. Werewolves, ghosts, zombies, vampires, and fallen angels drive the plot of these riveting romances.Kiss Me Deadly includes the exceptional writings of several authors, including: - Sarah Rees Brennan (faeries) - Becca Fitzpatrick (angels) - Caitlin Kittredge (witches) - Karen Mahoney (vampires: sequel to story from The Eternal Kiss) - Daniel Marks (ghost kids) - Justine Musk (sorcerers) - Diana Peterfreund (unicorns) - Michelle Rowen (demons) - Carrie Ryan (zombies) - Maggie Stiefvater (werewolves) - Rachel Vincent (banshees) - Daniel Waters (zombies) - Michelle Zink (gothic ghosts)

I have been meaning to buy this one for awhile, there are so many great authors in this YA anthology. I've heard some of the stories aren't that wonderful, but I am willing it give it a chance. 

The Eternal Kiss: 13 Tales of Vampire Love and Desire edited by Tricia Telep
purchased

There’s an allure to vampire tales that have seduced readers for generations. From Bram Stoker to Stephenie Meyer and beyond, vampire stories are here to stay. For those fresh-blooded fans of paranormal romance or for those whose hunt and hunger never dies, these stories have what readers want!This collection of original tales comes from some of the hottest, most popular, and best-selling YA writers, including: Holly Black (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Tithe), Libba Bray (A Great and Terrible Beauty), Melissa De La Cruz (Blue Blood), Cassandra Clare (City of Bones), Rachel Caine (Morganville Vampires), Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie (Wicked), Cecil Castellucci (Boy Proof, Queen of Cool), Kelley Armstrong (Women of Otherworld), Maria V. Snyder, Sarah Rees Brennan, Lili St. Crow, Karen Mahoney, Dina James
They will make everyone a sucker for eternal kisses.

I'd heard this is the best of the YA supernatural anthologies. I won't lie to you, I bought it for the Morganville Vampires story. I am a HUGE fan of that series and this book has a Michael and Eve story... 

 

Beguiled by Deanne Gist and J.Mark Bertrand

purchased

In the shadows of Charleston, someone is watching her...Rylee Monroe, a dogwalker in Charleston's wealthiest neighborhood, never feared the streets at night. But now a thief is terrorizing the area and worse, someone seems to be targeting her.
Reporter Logan Woods is covering the break-ins with the hope of publishing them as a true-crime book. The more he digs, the more he realizes this beguiling dogwalker seems to be at the center of everything.
As danger draws ever closer, Logan must choose: Chase the girl, the story, or plunge into the shadows after the villain who threatens everything?

 A romance/suspense book about a dog walker? Sounds awesome to me. I've been wanting to read this for awhile, and when I saw it at books-a-million.com for $3, I just couldn't say no.


Blood of the Maple by Dana Marie Bell
from netgalley, for review

A seduction-gone-wrong leaves vampire Parker Hollis with a new vegetarian lifestyle and on the run from a vengeful witch. Moving to small-town Maggie’s Grove, Parker meets a redheaded dryad with green, leafy blood that draws him in a way he hasn’t experienced in decades. His new neighbor smells divine, and it isn’t long before craving gives in to need.

In a unique community of supernaturals, tree-loving outcast Amara Schwedler has never quite fit in. She’s scarred by a traumatic incident and feared by the local townsfolk. She’s convinced Parker will look elsewhere for a mate once he discovers she’s not one of the O-positive set, and can’t believe it when Parker finds her irresistible.

When the witch who’s been plaguing Parker’s life discovers the newfound attraction between Parker and Amara, she takes out her anger on the town. Can the supernaturals of Maggie’s Grove accept Amara and band together in time to withstand the assaults of the enraged witch?

 This sounds like fun, doesn't it? It certainly sounds creative. I am looking forward to reading about some new supernatural creatures - or at least to see a new take on our old favorites!

Twisted Tale of Stormy Gale by Christine Bell

from netgalley, for review

I'm a time pirate-born in 1810, now a 21st-century woman. I travel through time trying to right wrongs without disrupting the fragile balance between what is and what can never be.

That's why it's vital that I go to 1836 and find the man who conned my brother out of his Time Travel Mechanism as quickly as possible. If the technology falls into the wrong hands, it could change the world as we know it. The notorious Duke of Leister definitely qualifies as the wrong hands. An amateur scientist of the slightly mad variety, he's bound to figure out how to use the TTM sooner rather than later.

I knew this wouldn't be easy. But I wasn't counting on him being as sexy as hell. Or winding up chained to his bed...

Another time travel book! You know how much I love those :) Plus this one, apparently has a foxy scientist. Sounds like a good time to me.

Ashfall by Mike Mullin
from netgalley, for review

Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet.

Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget.

 I love young adult disaster stories.This doesn't come out until October, but I couldn't resist downloading it :)