In My Mailbox #20

In My Mailbox explores the books I received during the week. If you would to have your own "In My Mailbox" post, you can find more information at The Story Siren.

A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker

4th February 2010 | Razorbill

When the principal announces that every senior must participate in a mandatory year-long Marriage Education program, Fiona Sheehan believes that her life can't get any worse. Then she marries her 'husband' : jerky jock Todd, whose cheerleader girlfriend, Amanda, has had it in for Fiona since day one of second grade. Even worse? Amanda is paired with Fiona's long-term crush, Gabe. At least Fiona is doing better than her best friend, Marcie, who is paired up with the very quiet, very mysterious Johnny Mercer.

Pranks, fights, misunderstandings, and reconciliations ensue in an almost Shakespearean comedy of errors about mistaken first impressions, convoluted coupling, and hidden crushes.

My Excitement Rating:

Thirteen Pearls (Girlfriend Fiction, #18) by Melaina Faranda

1st April 2010 | Allen & Unwin

Edie Sparks has grand plans. She's building a boat to sail solo around the world, but she needs cash, and fast. So when her uncle offers her good money to work on his island pearl farm for six weeks she jumps at the chance. All she has to do is baby-sit her little cousin and help with the cooking and cleaning - how hard could it be?

But soon Edie is wrangling a monster-brat, struggling to find exciting new ways to cook fish, arguing with her uncle and being wooed by two handsome boys. The work is hard and thankless and an isolated island off the coast of Far North Queensland turns out to be not as idyllic as it sound - especially when she has no control over the powerful forces of nature.

My Excitement Rating:

Beautiful Malice by Rebecca Hames (Sample)

1st September 2010 | Bantam Dell

So. Were you glad, deep down? Were you glad to be rid of her? Your perfect sister? Were you secretly glad when she was killed?

Following a terrible tragedy that leaves her once-perfect family shattered, Katherine Patterson moves to a new city, starts at a new school, and looks forward to a new life of quiet anonymity. But when Katherine meets the gregarious and beautiful Alice Parrie her resolution to live a solitary life becomes difficult. Katherine is unable resist the flattering attention that Alice pays her and is so charmed by Alice’s contagious enthusiasm that the two girls soon become firm friends. Alice’s joie de vivre is transformative; it helps Katherine forget her painful past and slowly, tentatively, Katherine allows herself to start enjoying life again.

But being friends with Alice is complicated – and as Katherine gets to know her better she discovers that although Alice can be charming and generous she can also be selfish and egocentric. Sometimes, even, Alice is cruel. And when Katherine starts to wonder if Alice is really the kind of person she wants as a friend, she discovers something else about Alice - she doesn’t like being cast off.

My Excitement Rating:

Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

1st April 2010 | Little Brown

This is an intriguing YA urban fantasy in the tradition of Holly Black and Wicked Lovely.

Set in New Zealand, Ellie's main concerns at her boarding school are hanging out with her best friend Kevin, her crush on the mysterious Mark, and her paper deadline. That is, until a mysterious older woman seems to set her sights on Kevin, who is Maori, and has more than just romantic plans for him. In an effort to save him, Ellie is thrown into the world of Maori lore, and eventually finds herself in an all-out war with mist dwelling Maori fairy people called the patupaiarehe who need human lives to gain immortality.

The strong, fresh voice of the narrator will pull readers in, along with all the deliciously scary details: the serial killer who removes victim's eyes; the mysterious crazy bum who forces a Bible on Ellie telling her she needs it; handsome, mysterious Mark who steals the Bible from her and then casts a forgetting charm on her. All of this culminates in a unique, incredible adventure steeped with mythology, Maori fairies, monsters, betrayal, and an epic battle.

My Excitement Rating:

The Hidden Heart of Emily Hudson by Melissa Jones

7th January 2010 | Sphere

Jones’s tale follows the fortunes of Emily Hudson, a penniless young American woman who finds the constraints of 19th-century society difficult to bear.

Her cousin William offers to support her on a trip to London to pursue her dream of becoming an artist. However, once settled, he becomes very controlling which leads to Emily fleeing to Rome; there she finds the happiness that has eluded her before.

The Hidden Heart is literary and romantic by turns, making it a fine read for fans of well-written historical fiction.

My Excitement Rating:

Q: Do you prefer to keep your books on hand or swap/sell them once you're done reading them?