In My Mailbox #17

Check out what is in my mailbox this week!  Don't forget to enter my contest for a signed copy of either Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin, Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown, or Radiant Shadows with a signed bookmark by Melissa Marr.  This meme is hosted by The Story Siren.


Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

Last week, I went to the Emily Giffin's book signing. Read my post about it.  I also picked up an extra signed copy for the contest I am hosting.  I am a huge fan of Emily Giffin and can't wait to read her latest.  

Goodreads says, "Tessa Russo is the mother of two young children and the wife of a renowned pediatric surgeon.  Despite her own mother's warnings, Tessa has recently given up her career to focus on her family and the pursuit of domestic happiness. From the outside, she seems destined to live a charmed life.  Valerie Anderson is an attorney and single mother to six-year-old Charlie--a boy who has never known his father.  After too many disappointments, she has given up on romance--and even to some degree, friendships--believing that it is always safer not to expect too much.  Although both women live in the same Boston suburb, the two have relatively little in common aside from a fierce love for their children.  But one night, a tragic accident causes their lives to converge in ways no one could have imagined."

Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown (illustrator)

I also went to this book signing which was pretty cool, because Adele grew up near my neighborhood.  I also picked up a second copy to giveaway for my contest.  This book looks awesome; even my husband wants to read it!

Goodreads says, " Jennie’s connection with her twin brother, Toby, grew stronger after he died in 1864. Now Jennie must rely on her ability to communicate with the dead to find out what has happened to her beloved fiance, Will, while he was off at war. The army says he died honorably in battle. His brother confides that he became a violent criminal and died in a prison camp. Jennie begins to doubt that anyone is telling her the truth.  This intriguing combination of historical romance, paranormal thriller, and clever mystery is illustrated by bestselling artist Lisa Brown. The unique visuals originated from real Civil War daguerreotypes that were transformed into eerie mementos for Jennie’s scrapbook. With the help of a spiritualist photographer, the spirit of her dead fiance, and the clues she discovers and keeps in her scrapbook, Jennie must put together the pieces of this mystery before she loses her home, her fortune, and possibly her life."

Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler

I won this book through a contest at Jane Austen's World.  If you don't follow this blog and are a Jane Austen fan, you definitely need to!

Amazon says, "This delightful sequel to Rigler's Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict has 19th-century Jane Mansfield switching bodies and milieus with contemporary L.A. girl Courtney Stone. As Jane grasps the idea that she's a different person in an unimaginable world, and grapples with the radically liberal social mores, dress and language, she leans on Jane Austen's novels as touchstones to reality. Kate Reading performs the first-person narration with a cultured tones and accent befitting an upper-class Regency-era young lady. Her skill as a versatile voice performer becomes evident as dialogue introduces modern American characters, and she skillfully modulates her accent, dialect and tones to accommodate them. The romantically suspenseful story and the entertaining vocal interpretation will keep romance listeners enthralled and amused."

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

I pre-ordered this book awhile ago. I truly enjoy this series.  I will be starting this book this week; I am dying to know what happens. 

Goodreads says, "Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong…  After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin. But Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and he's out there, somewhere. She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he's silenced her...forever."

Second Time Around by Beth Kendrick

I bought this book, because it was on sale at the bookstore. I have had my eye on this one simply because the premise is amazing.  I always like to think....what if? Plus, it sounds like the perfect summer read.

Goodreads says, "Thanks to an unexpected inheritance, four college friends get an opportunity to start over and pursue their dream jobs. But the road not taken has a few speed bumps…  Every summer, a group of former English majors hold a mini-reunion. They laugh, reminisce, and commiserate about their soul-sucking jobs. Maybe they should have listened to everyone who warned them to study something “practical.”  Then an unexpected windfall arrives—one million dollars, to be exact—with the stipulation that they use it to jump-start their new careers. Almost overnight, a professor, a bartender, a copywriter, and an administrative assistant reinvent themselves as a bed-and-breakfast owner, a pastry chef, a novelist, and an event planner. But the changes in their professional roles create unexpected turbulence in their personal lives, and soon the secrets and scandals from their past resurface.  For anyone who has ever wondered “What if?”, this engaging novel provides a sweet, funny look at friendship, romance, and second chances."

What did you guys get in your mailbox?  Have you read any of these books? Let me know what you think.  I look forward to checking out everyone else's mailboxes. Have a great day!