In My Mailbox #50

That's right, it's time for In My Mailbox, a weekly post about the books I received in the mail.  Y'know, Liz Burns at A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy posted this week about In My Mailbox and it was very interesting to read what people thought about it in the comments.  For me, IMM is a good way to spread the word about new and upcoming books.  Unfortunately, I can't review every title that I receive, so posting IMM might at least put these titles on your radar.  I check out Kristi's roundup at The Story Siren every week in order to get an idea of what books are coming out and being talked about, so I hope that's what y'all are getting from my posts as well. 

And now... the books!

Falling Under by Gewn Hayes (NAL Trade [Penguin], March 2011).  This is a 2011 debut, paranormal romance, so right up my alley!  Here's a summary from GoodReads: 

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life, not allowed the same freedoms as the rest of the teenagers in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, she feels every urge she’s ever denied burning through her at the slightest glance from Haden Black. Theia knows she’s seen Haden before—not around town, but in her dreams.

Theia doesn’t understand how she dreamed of Haden before they ever met, but every night has them joined in a haunting world of eerie fantasy. And as the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her forward one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear. And as she slowly discovers what Haden truly is, Theia’s not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

Violence 101 by Denis Wright (G.P Putnam's Sons, October 2010).  This is a New Zealand import, published here because it was getting so much buzz in NZ.  Here's a summary from GoodReads: 

My name is Hamish Graham and this is the journal I have to write. Doesn't worry me because I'm a good writer and I'd rather write than talk any day, although I like talking to Terry. The people who run this place don't know what to make of me. Just like the last place I was in . . .

. . . I think we should have these special schools for bad kids in hard core places like Waiouru and Central Otago where you do school subjects from 8am to 1pm and then in the afternoon you do things like compulsory mountain climbing and river crossings wearing huge packs. The kids who refuse to do it would get fed bread and water until they changed their minds. I would divide them into various teams and have mock wars. Military history would be a compulsory subject. I would also make the study of violence compulsory.

Hamish Graham is intelligent, disciplined, resourceful and fearless, and scorns all weakness. His heroes include Charles Upham, Alexander the Great and Te Rauparaha - all men of action. But he is also a fourteen-year-old with an anger problem and a disturbing past, and these have landed him in a series of boys' homes for violent and troubled young offenders.

The gripping series of events following his arrival at New Horizons culminates in a desperate rescue mission on a mountain that has already claimed the lives of two young soldiers.

And that's it for IMM this week!  I'm just happy to have a day off to start reading all the great books I've been getting! :)