In My Mailbox | Worth Any Cost

Worth Any Cost (Gaming the System #6) by Brenna Aubrey
February 2017 by Silver Griffon Associates 
343 pages
This title will be available to purchase on February 28, 2017!
Amazon + Good Reads

"You are cordially invited to the wedding of the decade.

Adam Drake and Emilia Kimberly Strong have chosen a date to solidify their love in the bonds of matrimony.

Join them on their exotic destination wedding. Visit with their friends and loved ones. But hold the champagne toast. Fate has a few last tests for our couple on their way to the altar.

Natural 20 or natural disaster?"

- Good Reads

A very special thanks to Brenna Aubrey for sending me an ARC of Worth Any Cost in exchange for my honest review! 

In My Mailbox | Grace and Dignity

Grace and Dignity: The Ark of the Sacred Scrolls (Volume 1) by Laura Grody

June 2, 2016 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

248 pages

Amazon + Good Reads

"According to Milo, rescuing Prince Dignity would be easy: 'On the count of three, we take a running Leap of Faith off Carpe' Diem Cliff, cross the River of Fear in the Raft of Courage, and boom, we're at the Castle of Doom.' Princess Grace and Prince Dignity, a royal couple with mystical powers, are set to be crowned king and queen of the magnificent Kingdom of Love. But on the eve of their coronation, disaster strikes, and Grace is told her prince has been murdered. Grief-stricken, the princess reportedly dies of a broken heart, and the shocked kingdom falls into the eager hands of Dignity's unscrupulous cousin, Prince Denial. Months later, however, Grace is found alive with a gap in her memory, a loss of her powers, and a mysterious Pig Latin note suggesting Prince Dignity is very much alive. As she searches for her prince throughout the rundown kingdom, Grace stumbles upon an ancient secret known as 'The Cosmic Source' - a powerful force which promises to revive her mystical powers and lead to an exciting new way of living. But with the crown title 'throne' for a loop, the future of the Kingdom of Love hangs upon the prince's Dignity. Find out if True Love conquers all in this mystical, linguistical tale of 'Grace and Dignity."

-Good Reads

A special thanks to the author, Laura Grody, for giving me a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review. Stay tuned for my review! 

Check out Laura on the internet at the following places:

Website: www.graceanddignitybook.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/graceanddignity

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lauragrody

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/7140777.Laura_Grody

Author Central: www.amazon.com/author/lauragrody 

Amazon paperback: Grace and Dignity paperback

Amazon Kindle eBook: Grace and Dignity eBook

In My Mailbox | 738 Days

738 Days by Stacey Kade
June 2016 by Forge Books
432 pages
Amazon + Good Reads

"At fifteen, Amanda Grace was abducted on her way home from school. 738 days later, she escaped. Her 20/20 interview is what everyone remembers—Amanda describing the room where she was kept, the torn poster of TV heartthrob Chase Henry on the wall. It reminded her of home and gave her the strength to keep fighting.

Now, years later, Amanda is struggling to live normally. Her friends have gone on to college, while she battles PTSD. She’s not getting any better, and she fears that if something doesn’t change soon she never will.

Six years ago, Chase Henry defied astronomical odds, won a coveted role on a new TV show, and was elevated to super-stardom. With it, came drugs, alcohol, arrests, and crazy spending sprees. Now he's sober and a Hollywood pariah, washed up at twenty-four.

To revamp his image, Chase’s publicist comes up with a plan: surprise Amanda Grace with the chance to meet her hero, followed by a visit to the set of Chase’s new movie. The meeting is a disaster, but out of mutual desperation, Amanda and Chase strike a deal. What starts as a simple arrangement, though, rapidly becomes more complicated when they realize they need each other in more ways than one. But when the past resurfaces in a new threat, will they stand together or fall apart?"

-Good Reads

Thanks to Forge Books for this ARC! 

In My Mailbox {#8}| Bad For You

Bad For You (Seabreeze #7) by Abbi Glines
*This audio book was sent to Alyssa by Simon & Schuster Audio.
June 2014 by Simon & Schuster Audio
Amazon + Good Reads

"Innocence isn’t meant for the addictive…The next sultry affair in the New York Times bestselling Sea Breeze Collection by Abbi Glines is unstoppably steamy.

Addiction is part of Krit Corbin’s nature—and women have always been his favorite obsession. But that’s the life of a lead singer in a band. He can have any woman he wants—anywhere, anytime. Well, except for one.

Blythe Denton is used to being alone. The minister’s family who raised her never accepted her as their own, and the cruel minister’s wife made sure Blythe understood just how unworthy she was of love. So when she finally gets the chance to live by herself, Blythe takes it and moves into an apartment building with a loud upstairs neighbor who keeps throwing parties all night long.

It’s during one such party when Krit opens the door to find his new neighbor standing there. Blythe wants him to turn down the music, but he convinces her to stay. She’s nothing like the women who parade in and out of his apartment, but Krit can’t resist her—her brown hair, cute glasses, and sexy innocence is too much for him to ignore.

Determined to win Blythe over, Krit Corbin may have just found his biggest addiction yet."

-Good Reads

In My Mailbox {#7}| The Science Book

The Science Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained by DK Publishing
*This book was requested by Alyssa from Shelf Awareness.
July 2014 by DK Publishing
356 pages
Amazon + Good Reads

"With over 225,000 copies in print, DK's Big Ideas series has struck a chord with readers fascinated-but also intimidated-by complex subjects like philosophy, psychology, politics, and religion.

The newest title in this successful and acclaimed series is The Science Book, an inventive visual take on astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, and physics. With eye-catching artwork, step-by-step diagrams, and illustrations that break down complicated ideas into manageable concepts, The Science Book will have readers conversant in genetic engineering, black holes, and global warming in no time. Along the way are found mini-biographies of the most well-known scientists, and a glossary of helpful scientific terms.

For students, and students of the world, there is no better way to explore the fascinating, strange, and mysterious world of science than in The Science Book."

-Amazon

It's become a habit of mine to not comment on my In My Mailbox posts but I felt the need to with this book. It is absolutely stunning! If you're at all interested in science related topics, I think that you would be entranced by this book. And if you're not interested in science, I encourage you to look into the other titles in this series - philosophy, psychology, business, etc. Personally, I really, really want the religion title! 

-Alyssa

In My Mailbox {#6} | World of Trouble

World of Trouble (The Last Policeman #3) by Ben H. Winters
*This book was sent to Alyssa, unsolicited, from QuirkBooks
July 2014 by QuirkBooks
320 pages
Amazon + Good Reads

"Critically acclaimed author Ben H. Winters delivers this explosive final installment in the Edgar Award winning Last Policeman series. With the doomsday asteroid looming, Detective Hank Palace has found sanctuary in the woods of New England, secure in a well-stocked safe house with other onetime members of the Concord police force. But with time ticking away before the asteroid makes landfall, Hank’s safety is only relative, and his only relative—his sister Nico—isn’t safe. Soon, it’s clear that there’s more than one earth-shattering revelation on the horizon, and it’s up to Hank to solve the puzzle before time runs out . . . for everyone."

-Good Reads

In My Mailbox {#5} | To Hold the Sun

To Hold the Sun by Chas Watkins
*This book was sent to Alyssa for review as a part of the iRead Book Tours. 
April 2013 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
174 pages
Amazon + Good Reads

"This delightful and engaging story outlines the experiences of a young, poor, and disillusioned reporter who is enticed to do a series of articles about Paul, an unconventional philosopher and motivational speaker. In lieu of payment, he gets to travel to and dive on Roatan, arguably one of the most beautiful, pristine islands in the Caribbean. Through a series of meetings, the reporter gets to know Paul's innermost philosophies. He learns an alternate way of living from a man who strives to perfect handstands on a dock and practices the art of happiness. 

The author developed the book as a guide to help his children live their lives in a way that would allow them to enjoy the journey. Drawing on wildly diverse disciplines including stoicism, neuroscience, skepticism, behavioral economics, and spirituality; the reader is taken on a journey that exposes the author's philosophy of life. He demonstrates that happiness is indeed a choice. 

All places detailed on Roatan exist and are more beautiful than described. Color Photos (if supported) are by kind permission of Shawn Jackson.

So much more than just an original, engaging, and consistently entertaining story, "To Hold The Sun" can be viewed by the reader as a kind of guide or blueprint to live life in a way that would enable an appreciation of the journey and not just the destination. An expertly crafted work from beginning to end, "To Hold The Sun" is enthusiastically recommended reading and will prove an enduringly popular addition to community library collections!"

-Good Reads

In My Mailbox {#4} | Travel Glasses

Travel Glasses (The Call to Search Everywhen #1) by Chess Desalis
Sent for review from the author.
May 2014 by Czidor Lore, LLC
214 pages
Amazon + Good Reads

"When an ethereal being knocks Calla to the ground near her family’s lakeside cottage, Valcas helps her to escape by traveling to another place and time. At first, Calla is as intrigued by the otherworldly Valcas as she is by his method of time travel: an altered pair of sunglasses that enable the wearer to search for anyone or anywhere in the past, present or future. That is until she suspects that his search for her was no mere coincidence.

With her trust broken, Calla sets off on her own, taking the Travel Glasses with her. Torn between searching for her estranged father and reuniting with the rest of her family, she tracks down the inventor of the Travel Glasses in hopes of discovering more about Valcas’ past and motivations. With Valcas hot on her trail, Calla hopes to find what she’s looking for before he catches up."

-Good Reads 

A big thanks to the author, Chess, for contacting me and offering a copy of Travel Glasses for review! Admittedly, I'm not one who typically enjoys reading time travel books - my past experiences have left me wanting more from the genre. But after reading the synopsis for Travel Glasses, I couldn't pass it up. Look for my review later this summer! 

-Alyssa

In My Mailbox {#3} | City of Heavenly Fire

City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6) by Cassandra Clare
Sent for review from Simon & Schuster Audio
May 27, 2014
Amazon + Good Reads

"Sophie Tucker of Game of Thrones and Jason Dohring of Veronica Marsread the long-awaited conclusion to the Mortal Instruments series!

Darkness has descended on the Shadowhunter world. Chaos and destruction overwhelm the Nephilim as Clary, Jace, Simon, and their friends band together to fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary’s own brother. Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell. Nothing in this world can defeat Sebastian—but if they journey to the realm of demons, they just might have a chance…

Lives will be lost, love sacrificed, and the whole world will change. Who will survive the explosive sixth and final installment of the Mortal Instruments series?"

-Good Reads

Jason. Dohring. Jason Dohring. Jason Dohring. JASON DOHRING. 

(screams)

Okay, I digress. But seriously - Simon & Schuster? You're awesome for sending me this book. I wasn't totally sold on The Mortal Instruments but I've finally finished City of Lost Souls and it was actually pretty good. I'm ready for City of Heavenly Fire... but at 17 CDs long, this audio book will take me a while. 

-Alyssa

IN My Mailbox {#2} | HOW TO TELL TOLEDO FROM THE NIGHT SKY

How to Tell Toledo from the Night Sky by Lydia Netzer
Sent for review from St. Martin's Press
July 1, 2014 by St. Martin's Press
Amazon + Good Reads

"Like a jewel shimmering in a Midwest skyline, the Toledo Institute of Astronomy is the nation's premier center of astronomical discovery and a beacon of scientific learning for astronomers far and wide. Here, dreamy cosmologist George Dermont mines the stars to prove the existence of God. Here, Irene Sparks, an unsentimental scientist, creates black holes in captivity.


George and Irene are on a collision course with love, destiny and fate. They have everything in common: both are ambitious, both passionate about science, both lonely and yearning for connection. The air seems to hum when they’re together. But George and Irene’s attraction was not written in the stars. In fact their mothers, friends since childhood, raised them separately to become each other's soulmates. 
When that long-secret plan triggers unintended consequences, the two astronomers must discover the truth about their destinies, and unravel the mystery of what Toledo holds for them—together or, perhaps, apart.


Lydia Netzer combines a gift for character and big-hearted storytelling, with a sure hand for science and a vision of a city transformed by its unique celestial position, exploring the conflicts of fate and determinism, and asking how much of life is under our control and what is pre-ordained in the heavens."

-Good Reads

Blogger's thoughts: Is this not the most beautiful ARC cover that you've ever seen? I can't wait to get into this book - it has fantastic Good Reads ratings and is listed under "magical realism." These two elements, paired with the synopsis, leads me to believe that I will adore this book. Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for sending it to me! 

In My Mailbox {#1} | Good Call

Yesterday I received Good Call by Jase Robertson from Simon & Schuster (THANKS, GUYS!). I need to give a huge shout out to Simon & Schuster - they're so good to me and have really expanded my love for audio books. 

(Taken from my personal Instagram)

After reading Si Robertson's Si-Cology 1, I cannot wait to get into Jase's story. If you want to read my thoughts on Si's book, you can find my review right here. 

Thanks for stopping by my very first In My Mailbox, and I hope to continue sharing the books that I receive! 

-Alyssa

Good Call by Jase Robertson and Mark Schlabach

Sent for review from Simon & Schuster Audio

May 6, 2014 by Simon & Schuster Audio

6 CDs

Amazon + Good Reads

"The straight-faced, funny man of Duck Dyanasty has a real story to tell. Not a repeat of the previous Duck Dynasty books, Jase opens up about his personal family life, his childhood days with a drunken father, and how he came to faith.

This open book from Jase may surprise some fans who love him for his dry humor and rivalry with younger brother Willie. This hilarious, yet thoughtful book, is structured around lessons of faith in the blind on topics like respect, passion, forgiveness, generosity, humility, kindness, and honesty. Chapters discuss: the highlights of Jase's memory of the early days with his drunken, disruptive father; his high school days and his strong commitment to not be like Phil had been, opting for total abstinence from drinking and sex; the moment he forgave Phil for being such a terrible father in his younger days; his first hunt with Phil, where he saw an excitement in Phil that he'd never seen before; his first date with Missy, which was a "fake date" to make another girl jealous; and of course, a chapter on Uncle Si, with stories not told in previous books. Other chapters include stories of his brothers, frog hunting and fishing, and his most memorable road trips. And finally, Jase shares a chapter on hunting in heaven. Here, Jase shares his love for the land and our responsibility to care for it. More than a behind-the-scenes look at this beloved Duck Dynasty character, readers will be inspired and encouraged to implement Jase's lessons from the blind into their own lives."

-Good Reads

In My Mailbox credit: http://www.thestorysiren.com/in-my-mailbox