Sunday 26 June 2011

My Book Haul/In My Mailbox

The Story Siren hosts a weekly meme where bloggers can share what goodies they've purchased/received this week. If you get a chance head over to The Story Siren and check out what everyone is up to!
I've had a fantastic week with quite a few wins coming my way...lots of celebration boogieing going on in London! :-)

Nightfall - Ellen Connor
Publisher: Berkley
Growing up with an unstable, often absent father who preached about the end of the world, Jenna never thought in her wildest nightmares that his predictions would come true. Or that he would have a plan in place to save her-one that includes the strong, stoic man who kidnaps and takes her to a remote cabin in the Pacific Northwest.
The mysterious ex-Marine named Mason owes a life-debt to Jenna’s father. Skilled and steadfast, he’s ready for the prophesied Change, but Jenna proves tough to convince. Until the power grid collapses and mutant dogs attack-vicious things that reek of nature gone wrong. When five strangers appear, desperate to escape the bloodthirsty packs, Jenna defies her protector and rescues them. As technology fails and the old world falls away, Jenna changes too, forever altered by supernatural forces. To fight for their future, she and Mason must learn to trust their instinctive passion-a flame that will see them through the bitter winter, the endless nights, and the violence of a new Dark Age.

I wanted this so much and I was so, so lucky to win a copy from Scooper Speaks - I did a little dance of joy around the room for five minutes! Thank you Scooper!

Metrozone Trilogy - Equations of Life, Theories of Flight & Degrees of Freedom - Simon Morden
Publisher:Orbit
Samuil Petrovitch is a survivor. He survived the nuclear fallout in St. Petersburg and hid in the London Metrozone - the last city in England. He's lived this long because he's a man of rules and logic. For example: GETTING INVOLVED = A BAD IDEA. But when he stumbles into a kidnapping in progress, he acts without even thinking. Before he can stop himself, he's saved the daughter of the most dangerous man in London. And clearly: SAVING THE GIRL = GETTING INVOLVED. Now, the equation of Petrovitch's life is looking increasingly complex: RUSSIAN MOBSTERS + YAKUZA + SOMETHING CALLED THE NEW MACHINE JIHAD = ONE DEAD PETROVITCH. But Petrovitch has a plan - he always has a plan - he's just not sure it's a good one.

Another giveaway win had me doing much more exercise than usual with another jump around the room! I won this trilogy from the generous Kristin at My Bookish Ways and it does look like a very different read for me - plus the covers are fab if a little motion-sickening!

Forgotten - Cat Patrick
Publisher: Egmont
Each night when 16 year-old London Lane goes to sleep, her whole world disappears. In the morning, all that's left is a note telling her about a day she can't remember. The whole scenario doesn't exactly make high school or dating that hot guy whose name she can't seem to recall any easier. But when London starts experiencing disturbing visions she can't make sense of, she realizes it's time to learn a little more about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future.

The wonderful Karen from The Slowest Bookworm has this fantastic idea for Book Blogger Bingo - you sign up and if your number is called next week you win a book! I was so lucky to be the first winner and won Forgotten. Thanks! This book looks so fascinating I'm moving to near the top of my reading pile.

The Quarry - Johan Theorin
Publisher: Doubleday 
 As the last snow melts on the Swedish island of Öland, Per Morner is preparing for his children's Easter visit. But his plans are disrupted when he receives a phone call from his estranged father, Jerry, begging for help.Per finds Jerry close to death in his blazing woodland studio. He's been stabbed, and two dead bodies are later discovered in the burnt-out building. The only suspect, Jerry's work partner, is confirmed as one of the dead. But why does Jerry insist his colleague is still alive? And why does he think he's still a threat to his life?When Jerry dies in hospital a few days later, Per becomes determined to find out what really happened. But the closer he gets to the truth, the more danger he finds himself in.And nowhere is more dangerous than the nearby quarry...

This was a surprise package from Transworld that I wasn't expecting. The cover looks very creepy and while I haven't read much of the Swedish crime writers craze, I will give this a whirl!


And finally I ordered a couple of books through Amazon's Summer Books offer...

Naamah's Curse - Jacqueline Carey
Publisher: UK - Gollancz
Far from the land of her birth, Moirin sets out across Tatar territory to find Bao, the proud and virile Ch'in fighter who holds the missing half of her diadh-anam, the divine soul-spark of her mother's people. After a long ordeal, she not only succeeds, but surrenders to a passion the likes of which she's never known. But the lovers' happiness is short lived, for Bao is entangled in a complication that soon leads to their betrayal.

One of my favourite trilogies was the original Kushiel books - beautiful characterisation, exciting action, complex politics and a strong romance. Ever since Jacqueline Carey's books are a must buy for me so as soon as this came out in paperback I picked up...even if I haven't read Naamah's Kiss, the first in this new trilogy yet!

Goddess of Love - P.C. Cast
Publisher: UK - Piatkus
My Goddess, does Pea Chamberlain ever need a makeover! Her shoes, hair, clothes, makeup are all disasters, especially if she wants to attract über-sexy fireman Griffin DeAngelo at the firemen's masked ball. And who better to coax Pea out of her pod than the Goddess of Love, who she invokes when she gets her hands on a book of enchantments. Sure enough, Venus works her magic on Pea, which is what she has been doing for eons—helping others find love. But who will help the Goddess of Love when she finds herself falling head over heels for the same sexy fireman she is trying to land for Pea? Could it be that Venus needs a love makeover herself? Check out the fireworks when the Goddess of Love unexpectedly loses her heart...

I do enjoy some paranormal style romance at times - especially nice to have a Happy Ever After occasionally. :)

Quite a mixed bag this week - covering almost all the genres I read most frequently! What have you picked up this week? :)

14 comments:

  1. Wow you've had a fab week! I loved Forgotten and finished Nightfall the other week, I thought it was a bit meh.

    My IMM

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  2. I'm interested in the Metrozone trilogy, can't wait to see what you think of them. It must be a lucky week, I won a few giveaways too :)

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  3. You have a very eclectic haul this week! I want to read Forgotten so much!

    Happy reading!

    Here's My IMM

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  4. I think I am going to add FORGOTTEN to my wishlist - sounds awesome.

    Have a great Sunday.

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  5. Definitely a mix of books this week! I can't wait to read Forgotten- congratulations on your win!

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  6. Wohoo!!! I am so glad you won Nightfall at last :D

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  7. You got such a wide variety of books this week, that's fantastic! I'm really curious about Nightfall, I love Ann Aguirre so I'm hoping to read it soon:) I enjoyed Forgotten as well, it was fun and different, hope you like it!

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  8. You've got a great selection of books this week!

    I hope you enjoy them :)

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  9. Great set! I can't wait to read Forgotten.
    My IMM

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  10. Oh you where the one to win over at Scoops! :) I do hope you enjoy the book. And one of the authors is Ann Aguirre, so you have to enjoy it! lol. :) Have a wonderful week!

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  11. Oh wow, the covers on that trilogy are amazing! They made my eyes go all funny lol.

    Glad Forgotten arrived safely and I hope you enjoy it!

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  12. wow, the covers on those Simon Morden books are crazy!! Great book week... lots of different types of books here! I hope you enjoy them all! :D

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  13. Congrats Mel - although, I have known you HOW long, and I've yet to see this book-winning-dance, intrigued or what now???? :-)

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