In My Mailbox: Week 3 and More

First, thanks to Kristi, The Story Siren, for this meme. Here's what I've found in my mailbox, at the bookstore, and at the library this week. Summaries are taken from Amazon and B&N.

^These Susane Colasanti books were won from a contest held by Amanda at A Patchwork of Books and I won The September Sisters from Kelly Parra at YA Fresh. Thanks both of you!!

Waiting For You by Susane Colasanti (ARC) - At the beginning of her sophomore year, Marisa is ready for a fresh start and, more importantly, a boyfriend. So when the handsome and popular Derek asks her out, Marisa thinks her long wait for happiness is over. But several bumps in the road—including her parents' unexpected separation, a fight with her best friend, and a shocking disappointment in her relationship with Derek—test Marisa's ability to maintain her new outlook. Only the anonymous DJ, whose underground podcasts have the school's ear, seems to understand what Marisa is going through. But she has no idea who he is—or does she?

Take Me There by Susane Colasanti (ARC) - In one short week . . . three lives change. Rhiannon is devastated after the breakup with her boyfriend and wants him back. Nicole's ex is still in the picture, but she can't help having a new crush. James and Rhiannon are just friends, though he may try to take it to the next level. Will their desire to take a mean girl down a notch bring these three friends what they want . . . and more? Set during one life-altering week and told in three realistic perspectives, this engaging, witty novel by the author of When It Happens shows the ups and downs of love, friendship—and karma.

The September Sisters by Jillian Cantor - Abigail Reed and her younger sister, Becky, are always at each other's throats. Their mother calls them the September Sisters, because their birthdays are only a day apart, and pretends that they're best friends. But really, they delight in making each other miserable. Then Becky disappears in the middle of the night, and a torn gold chain with a sapphire heart charm is the only clue to the mystery of her kidnapping. Abby struggles to cope with her own feelings of guilt and loss as she tries to keep her family together. When her world is at its bleakest, Abby meets a new neighbor, Tommy, who is dealing with his own loss, and the two of them discover that love can bloom, even when it's surrounded by thorns.

Pure by Terra Elan McVoy - Tabitha and her four best friends all wear purity rings, symbols of the virginity-until-marriage pledge they made years ago. Now Tab is fifteen, and her ring has come to mean so much more. It's a symbol of who she is and what she believes — a reminder of her promises to herself, and her bond to her friends. But when Tab meets a boy whose kisses make her knees go weak, everything suddenly seems a lot more complicated. Tab's best friend, Morgan, is far from supportive, and for the first time, Tabitha is forced to keep secrets from the one person with whom she's always shared everything. When one of those secrets breaks to the surface, Tab finds herself at the center of an unthinkable betrayal that splits her friends apart. As Tab's entire world comes crashing down around her, she's forced to re-examine her friendships, her faith, and what exactly it means to be pure.

Ash by Malinda Lo - Cinderella retold. In the wake of her father's death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, rereading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away, as they are said to do. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she believes that her wish may be granted. The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King's Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Though their friendship is as delicate as a new bloom, it reawakens Ash's capacity for love-and her desire to live. But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love.
^I've already written a review for this one (SO GOOD), so check it out.

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen - It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live. A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their
friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.

A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn - Talia fell under a spell . . . . Jack broke the curse.
I was told to beware the accursed spindle, but it was so enchanting, so hypnotic. . . .
I was looking for a little adventure the day I ditched my tour group. But finding a comatose town, with a hot-looking chick asleep in it, was so not what I had in mind.
I awakened in the same place but in another time—to a stranger's soft kiss.
I couldn't help kissing her. Sometimes you just have to kiss someone. I didn't know this would happen.
Now I am in dire trouble because my father, the king, says I have brought ruin upon our country. I have no choice but to run away with this commoner!
Now I'm stuck with a bratty princess and a trunk full of her jewels. . . .The good news: My parents will freak!
Think you have dating issues? Try locking lips with a snoozing stunner who turns out to be 316 years old. Can a kiss transcend all—even time?

Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers - Perfect Parker Fadley isn’t so perfect anymore. She’s quit the cheerleading squad, she’s dumped her perfect boyfriend, and she’s failing school. Her parents are on a constant suicide watch and her counselors think she’s playing games…but what they don’t know, the real reason for this whole mess, isn’t something she can say out loud. It isn’t even something she can say to herself. A horrible thing has happened and it just might be her fault. If she can just remove herself from everybody--be totally alone--then everything will be okay...The problem is, nobody will let her.

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott - When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friends -- her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over. Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but he speaks more and more of her death. He does not know it is what she longs for. She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her. This is Alice's story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget.

So those were the books that made their way into my room this week. What did you find in your mailbox?


Also, here are a few contests on other blogs going on this June and early July.

To start with, of course: YA Book Carnival hosted by Shooting Stars Mag with TONS of contests (including my own for Hunted, plus two more coming up to keep an eye out for). This is also a great way to support and discover other bloggers, so head on over.

Ending June 22nd at Read This Book! is a contest for a signed copy of Julie Kraut's Slept Away. There's also a great interview with Julie Kraut about writing, camp, and superpowers ;) Check out the interview and enter for a signed copy over here.

There's another BC Book contest going on for Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog. Head over here for a chance to win the ARC (the book comes out this coming Tuesday), plus lots of awesome swag if you enter by June 26th.

Harmony Book Reviews is holding a "summer is contest time" giveaway. If you like surprises, this contest is for you. Enter for a chance to pick a few books of your choice off a list that will be e-mailed to you. Cool, huh? Enter here by June 31st - entries are unlimited.

The Book Blogger is giving away some great fantasy-type books over here. Enter by July 1st and you'll have a chance to win a hardcover of one of the following: Wings by Aprilynne Pike, The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong, or Stargazer by Claudia Gray.

This next one isn't really YA, but I'd consider it a crossover as her books can certainly appeal to a YA audience (I mean, I started reading her Kushiel series years ago). So, The Book Butterfly is giving away Jacqueline Carey's latest, Santa Olivia, right over here if you enter by July 1st.

GreenBeanTeenQueen is celebrating her birthday with us in a nice big giveaway of summer reads and romances! The giveaway includes Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols, Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker, The Wedding Planner's Daughter by Coleen Murtagh Paratore, and Slept Away by Julie Kraut. Enter here by July 1st for your chance to win these books.

Bloody Bookaholic is currently holding not one, but two contests! First, you can enter for a chance to win Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev here. Enter by July 1st for a chance to win this Theatre Illuminta book. Bloody Bookaholic is also hosting a contest for the YA Book Carnival so check out that contest here. To mix things up a bit, this contest is giving away The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge as well as a suprise book (which you won't know until you pick it). Sounds like fun to me! So, enter to win either book by June 27th.

P.S. Sorry this post was SO long!