Another week has passed and that means it’s time to find out what the postal service sent to my mailbox (and what made it’s way to my inbox as well). I love writing these weekly What’s In My Mailbox? posts as they embody, I hope, the enthusiasm that I feel when I open a package left in the mailbox or walk down to the post office to pick up a parcel.
This week, I received a couple of books for review as well as a few contest prizes that I’m looking forward to sharing with you. In my for review pile, I received an ARC of Mindi Scott‘s debut novel, Freefall and an eBook of Diane Farr‘s first YA release. I’m really looking forward to checking out Scott’s novel, not only because the premise is different than anything I’ve read before (it’s about Seth McCoy who is the last person to see his best friend alive and the first one to find him dead), but also because I love the humor and style of her blog, which makes me intrigued by her fiction. Her novel is definitely one to look out for in October. I haven’t read any of Farr’s award-winning historical romance novels, but I was definitely excited by the description of her teen book, Wicked Cool. This novel juxtaposes the main character, Zara, with fairy tale and legendary heroines, so you can be assured that I was intrigued and can’t wait to see how it all plays out.
Now, in addition to these books for review, I was lucky enough to win two other YA novels, some swag and a Moleskine notebook, which might come in handy when I want to write some notes to myself about the books I’m reading. If you haven’t heard of these notebooks, they are the famed ones used by Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso and Ernest Hemingway, so I guess they’re supposed to make you feel more artistic or writerly – depending on the one you pick up. Next, I won Holly Black‘s latest release, White Cat, which is the first book in The Curse Workers series. I’ve heard a lot of great things about this novel about a straight kid in the midst of a family of con men from the book blog community, which isn’t surprising because she is a New York Times Bestselling author. I’m also getting into the mood for a book that mixes both the mobster scene with dark magic because of some of the movies I’ve been watching lately and my interest in paranormal YA fiction, so this was the perfect book to win!
Finally, I also won a personally signed copy of Cheryl Rainfield‘s recent YA release, Scars and two bookmarks. I’ve been looking forward to reading this Canadian novel, about a girl named Kendra, who begins remembering experiences of childhood sexual abuse and cuts herself to deal with the emotional pain. Since I first heard about this novel, I’ve learned a lot about the author’s own experience with abuse and self harm as well as her attempts to get Scars published for the last ten years. The author’s message of survival will, I think, resonate with both teens and adults alike.
Have you read any of these books already? Are you looking forward to checking them out in the future? Let me know what you think about them or share your squeeing with me - someone who will actually get the reason for it! 
Melissa has always been a voracious reader of fiction and has an M.A. in English Literature to prove it. Like many other adults, she got caught up in the young adult crossover fiction phenomenon. Now, one of her great joys comes from sharing her love of YA lit on this popular review site. Come with expectations of intellect, magic, and honest reviews, and you won’t be disappointed.
