I have officially been on a book buying ban since last weekend as it was getting ridiculous the amount of money I was spending. It has now been a week. I had a few withdrawal symptoms for a few days: headaches, shakes, sweats and my finger hovered over the Amazon 1-click many times, but I held strong. I am very happy with myself as I don’t think a week has gone by for the last few years where I haven’t bought at least one book.
However, this week was still fantastic as I received lots of books for review and as always I am so happy and can’t wait to read them all. But there were two books that stood out for me just because of their packaging.
I also forgot to share with you the books I bought in Borders while I was in San Francisco last month. I *LOVE* Borders and the US has such a better selection of Urban Fantasy, Paranormal and YA books than we do over here in the UK *very jealous book chick* So I thought I would add those to this weeks IMM post as well. And I also won a book too! All links go to Goodreads, just in case you wanted to add any to your wishlists! 
For Review:
Melissa de la Cruz (Orbit)
Publication Date: 4 March 2010
ARC: 302 pages
Genre: Young Adult, Vampires
Summary (press release)
Fifteen-year-old Schuyler Van Alen has never quite fit in at her exclusive prep school – she’s more of a vintage than a Versace girl – but all that’s about to change. Because Schuyler has just found out that she’s a Blue Blood. The Blue Bloods are the city’s glamorous and secret vampire elite. They’re beautiful, rich and powerful. But now they’re being murdered. And Schuyler must find out who – or what – is behind it before she’s next.
I know that in the US you have had the Blood Bloods series for a while, but Orbit is publishing the series next year here in the UK and I am one of the first to receive an ARC of Book One!! I was so excited to get this book and it came with a bow and a little envelope with a note. It’s so cute, I had to take a picture and show you:
How cool is that?!
The other book that was packaged so beautifully was:
Rosemary Clement-Moore (Corgi YA)
Publication Date: 28 Jan 2010
ARC: 513 pages
Genre: Young Adult
Summary (Press Release)
Can love last beyond the grave?
Sylvie Davis is a ballerina who can’t dance. A broken leg ended her career, but Sylvie’s pain runs deeper. What broke her heart was her father’s death, and what’s breaking her spirit is her mother’s remarriage—a union that’s only driven an even deeper wedge into their already tenuous relationship.
Uprooting her from her Manhattan apartment and shipping her to Alabama is her mother’s solution for Sylvie’s unhappiness. Her father’s cousin is restoring a family home in a town rich with her family’s history. And that’s where things start to get shady. As it turns out, her family has a lot more history than Sylvie ever knew. More unnerving, though, are the two guys that she can’t stop thinking about. Shawn Maddox, the resident golden boy, seems to be perfect in every way. But Rhys—a handsome, mysterious foreign guest of her cousin’s—has a hold on her that she doesn’t quite understand. Then she starts seeing things. Sylvie’s lost nearly everything—is she starting to lose her mind as well?
The book came wrapped in black crape paper with a purple velvet bow. Then as I opened it all the petals fell out. The note is as if it’s been hand written and I assume is a quote from the book! All very exciting and sounds pretty good too! Here’s a pic!
Okay. Onto the rest I received for review:
Ian Irvine (Orbit)
Publication Date: 10 Dec 2009
Paperback: 723 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Summary (book cover)
Nish and his remaining allies are trapped on the Range of Ruin, surrounded by the relentless army of his father, the God-Emperor. And Nish’s choices seem limited: a humiliating surrender, or a suicidal fight to the death. Yet Nish must fight, and win, as he’s needed to counter an unprecedented threat facing the whole of Santhenar. The Danger is Stilkeen, a shape-shifting being, who has erupted from the void consumed by a need for retribution. It’s chthonic power was stolen in ages past – and Stilkeen wants it back. But the chthonic fire Stilkeen sensed has now escaped to run wild through Santhenar’s Antarctic territories. Even if Nish defeats his father, there may be no way to stop the fire, or Stilkeen, before everything is consumed.
Louise Penny (Headline)
Publication Date: 1 April 2010
Paperback: 374 pages
Genre: Crime/Thriller
Summary (book cover)
When C.I. Gamache is called to investigate a murder in picturesque Three Pines, he finds a village in chaos. A man has been found, bludgeoned to death, and there is no sign of a weapon, a motive or even the dead man’s name. Gamache and his colleagues, Inspector Beauvoir and Agent Isabelle Lacoste, start to dig under the skin of this peaceful haven for clues. They slowly uncover a trail of stolen treasure, mysterious codes and a shameful history that begins to shed light on the victim;s identity 0 and point to a terrifying killer.
Jim Butcher (Orbit)
Publication Date: 10 Dec 2009
Paperback: 535 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Summary (book cover)
After bitter fighting, Tavi of Calderon has eventually forged an alliance with Alexia’s oldest foes, the savage Canim, and he must escort them on their long sea-voyage home. This will strain their fragile accord – but the worst is yet to come. The inhuman Vord have spent the last three years laying waste to the Canim homeland, making it a desolate place indeed. Then the Alerans become stranded there, cut off from their ships. The Canim alliance will be tested as they enter the killing fields together, depending on each other’s strengths if they both are to survive. For a thousand years, Alera and her furies have withstood every enemy, and survived every foe. The thousand years are over.
Charlie Hutson (Orbit)
Publication Date: 10 Dec 2009
Paperback: 300 pages
Genre: Fantasy, Vampires
Summary (book cover)
Joe Pitt’s used to life in the gutter. He’s spent the last year crawling around Manhattan’s filthy sewer system, protecting the turf below where his love, Evie, now lives. Meanwhile, above ground, a civil war rages. Manhattan’s rival Vampyre clans have finally sprung for each other’s throats. The carefully maintained peace is forgotten, old debts are being settled and the bodies are piling up. Joe would be wise to stay out of it, but an old acquaintance will drag him back to the surface. And Joe will finally get the answers he’s been looking for. He’ll see which of his friends and foes will be put in the ground and who will claw their way to survival. This is a war with no middle ground – only winners and losers. But when the blood stops flowing, what side will Joe Pitt be on?
Oisin McGann (Corgi YA)
Publication Date: 7 Oct 2008
Paperback: 436 pages
Genre: YA, Thriller
Summary (book cover)
When pretty, talented and very ambitious Amina Mir manages to land a newspaper work experience placement she thinks it might just be making coffee and following-up tame stories. But then, when by chance she’s sent to interview Ivor McMorris, a veteran of the war in Sinnostan who’s just won millions on the lottery, but bizarrely hasn’t spent a penny, things start to get interesting… and dangerous. Ivor thinks he’s been made to forget what happened in Sinnostan. He believes false memories of how and why he lost an eye have been planted in his brain and that he’s being followed by threatening faceless people. At first Amina thinks Ivor’s suffering from some sort of post-traumatic stress disorder, but soon Ivor, conspiracy theorist Chi Sandwith and events persuade Amina that she could have stumbled into one of the biggest and most terrifying cover-ups ever.
Oisin McGann (Corgi YA)
Publication Date: 17 Jan 2008
Paperback: 440 pages
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Summary (book cover)
After nearly two years, eighteen-year-old Nate returns home to the family empire ruled by his father – the ruthless Wildenstern Patriach. But Nate’s life is soon shattered by his brother’s death, and the Rules of Ascension, allowing the assassination of one male family member by another, means he’s being blamed. He knows that he is not the murderer, but who is? With the aid of his troublesome sister-in-law, Daisy, and his cousin Gerald, he means to find out. But when the victims of the family’s tyrannical regime choose the funeral to seek their revenge, they accidentally uncover the bodies of some ancient Wilderstern ancestors, one of whom bears a Patriach’s ring. The lives of Nate and his family are about to take a strange and horrifying turn…
Oisin McGann (Corgi YA)
Publication Date: 5 July 2007
Paperback: 354 pages
Genre: YA, Sci-Fi
Summary (Amazon)
Beyond the huge domed roof of Ash Harbour, a city built inside a hollowed-out mountain, deadly storms and Arctic temperatures have stripped the Earth bare. Resources are limited and access to power is all-important. Sinister bodies reign supreme, undercover operations are rife and every move is monitored by the Clockworkers and Dark-Day Fatalists. When sixteen-year-old Sol Wheat’s father goes missing and is accused of murder, Sol sets out to find out why, and in doing so uncovers the harsh reality behind Ash Harbour.
Pamela Freeman (Orbit)
Publication Date: 10 Dec 2009
Paperback: 376 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Summary (book cover)
Saker’s ghost army is slaughtering those of the new blood, fueled by an ancient wrong. But while he’d thought revenge would be simple, he’s now plagued by voices foreshadowing a calamity beyond his comprehension. Ash and Bramble raise the warrior spirit of Acton, mighty in life and powerful in death. Only he can stop Saker’s rampage. But is Acton, Lord of War, murderer or savior? And why would he help strangers protect a world he’s never known? Bramble has been marked as Saker’s nemesis, but will be challenged by deeper powers than Saker can command – as well as by her own feelings for Acton. As the living fight the dead, strange forces will shape an uncertain future from pain and suffering.
Julie Highmore (Headline Review)
Publication Date: 10 Dec 2009
Paperback: 425 pages
Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction
Summary (book cover)
Jen has no idea that her near life is about to unravel. With one misplaced voicemail from her husband, she discovers that her marriage is a sham. Numb with shock, she’s hiding from the future when she’s stunned by a face from the past. Kit was Jen’s first love, the one she hoped would never leave. On their airbase in Germany, he was out of her league – a senior officer’s son – but even Kit’s glamorous and disapproving mother couldn’t keep them aprart. What began as a glamourous summer though, could not last for ever. Now, years later, Jen and Kit meet again, both troubled, and forced to confront what happened. Together, can they make sense of it all?
Bought:
Won:
So that’s all the books I got this week, what did you get?
30 Comments
I LOVE SOULLESS!!
That is an interesting cover of Blue Bloods; I've never seen it before… The Splendor Falls looks really good as well! That is some pretty great packaging!!
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Wow! That's some impressive loot! Blue Bloods and The Splendour Falls look particularly interesting! They both came in exquisite packaging!
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Great books! The packaging of Blue Bloods and Splendour Falls is too cute, lucky you! I bought Splendor Falls a while ago too, but haven't read it yet … Am definitely planning too, but I just hope it isn't too paranormal to my taste.
Happy reading!
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Oh awesome mailbox
So many goodies in there
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Splendour Falls looks so good! I have Covet on my TBR pile.
Happy reading!
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Awesome books this week, i'm upto page 167 of Blue Bloods and its really interesting.
And WOW look atthe packaging for Splendor Falls ho frickin cool is that!!!
Enjoy all the booky goodness
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With all those books coming your way, I don't think a book buying ban should be any issue! You probably have enough on your shelves to last for years!
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-Night Child and the Jim Butcher book looks so good..
Happy reading – i'll be holding out to hear what you thought of them…
E.H>
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Lots of great books this week. Love the packaging for Blue Bloods. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on Soulless, I've been debating on that on for awhile. I really enjoyed Covet. Enjoy and Happy Reading!
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Awesome Mailbox!! The packaging is so cute for Blue Bloods! Enjoy all of the books!
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VERY interesting list! Most I haven't heard of but I'm still pretty new to the paranormal genre.
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You had a good book week! I find the cover of Blue Bloods a little disturbing!
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Nice mailbox week! I am on a sort of book-buying hiatus, too. Trying to put the $$ to holiday gifts for others, so no book buying this past week. I went on a bender earlier in the month, bought many books, then had to clear the shelves of books I was sure I wouldn't read to make room for the books I knew I'd read.
I don't get very many books to review, so nothing in the mailbox this week.
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Wow, great mailbox. I love seeing your UK covers. Happy Reading.
Elie (Ellz Readz)
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I always enjoy reading your IMM posts, not only for the excellent UK covers (you people have all the luck when it comes to these things I swear) but you describe everything so beautifully. The packaging on those two books sounds totally sweet. Enjoy your books!
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I love the extra touches that come with some of the books! That is so cool! You have some great reading ahead of you!
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I love Blue Bloods. I also like that cover more then the one I have.
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WOW you got some major will power – I NEED some LOL -
Splender Falls looks awesome As does the New Blue Bloods – need to get reading that series!
I hope you love them both!
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Great mailbox, even with your book ban! And the packaging on Blue Bloods and The Splendour Falls was something else! How cool to get something like that in the mail! Makes the book even more special IMHO.
Enjoy!
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This post reminds me that I really need to start the Codex Alera series… I adore Dresden.
I gave you a couple of awards on my blog
thanks for being so kickass!
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wow, great list of books. Blue Bloods is a great series. I hope you enjoy it.
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Love the packaging! – & the fact that they made an effort to do so!
I like the sound of Strangled Silence and The Splendour Falls.
Hope you enjoy reading them!
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Oh that's so beautiful! Enjoy! I liked Blue Bloods and I hope you do too!
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I wouldn't need to worry about buying books if I received that many for review. You have some great reading ahead of you, have fun.
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Great books! You are better then me…I imposed a book buying band on myself…and then I bought a book
I couldn't help it! It's the last one for at least two months – HEHE
Happy Reading! I think you will really like Blue Bloods.
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wow! that's a lot of books you got there!
Quite jealous!
Enjoy your reads!
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I am buying books to replace the ones I left in the UK. I am trying to be good and just buy a few each month. Then a new bookstore from the UK opened in Paphos and I just had to have a look. My downfall, the car groaned all the way up the hills to the village. If it had been a donkey it would have died halfway!
I hope your ban doesn't last too long. I love the packaged books and there are a few here to go on my wishlist.
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Wow – that's quite a collection this week. Enjoy!
Here is a look at my mailbox.
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Wow, you've got some great reads coming up! I love the special touches on those 2 Arcs, very cool
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Some of those books look really good.
I got a copy of Soulless last week that I'd won, and it was brilliant! I loved it so much.
I'm quite glad I need to drive two hours to a good bookshop, otherwise I would spend so much money on books.
Here is my IMM post, a little late: Book Bundle
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