Welcome to Mailbox Monday, the weekly meme created by Marcia from A girl and her books (formerly The Printed Page) where book lovers share the titles they received for review, purchased, or otherwise obtained over the past week. Mailbox Monday currently is on tour, and I am thrilled to be your host for March! Don’t forget to leave the link to your Mailbox Monday post in the Linky below.
**It’s been a pleasure hosting Mailbox Monday this month. Thanks to all who participated and left a comment. I really enjoyed hosting, and I found some new blogs to read. For April, I am passing the torch on to Cindy’s Love of Books!**
Here’s what I received:
The Orchid House by Lucinda Riley, from Atria for review (Amazon/IndieBound)
As a child, concert pianist Julia Forrester spent many idyllic hours in the hothouse of Wharton Park, the grand estate where her grandfather tended exotic orchids. Years later, while struggling with overwhelming grief over the death of her husband and young child, she returns to this tranquil place. There she reunites with Kit Crawford, heir to the estate and her possible salvation.
When they discover an old diary, Julia seeks out her grandmother to learn the truth behind a love affair that almost destroyed the estate. Their search takes them back to the 1940s when Harry, a former heir to Wharton Park, married his young society bride, Olivia, on the eve of World War II. When the two lovers are cruelly separated, the impact will be felt for generations to come.
This atmospheric story alternates between the magical world of Wharton Park and Thailand during World War II. Filled with twists and turns, passion and lies, and ultimately redemption, The Orchid House is a beautiful, romantic, and poignant novel. (publisher’s summary)
The Coldest Night by Robert Olmstead, unsolicited from Algonquin (Amazon/IndieBound)
Henry Childs is just seventeen when he falls into a love affair so intense it nearly consumes him. But Mercy’s family disapproves, and the two young lovers flee to New Orleans to play out their passionate affair, until Mercy’s father hunts them down, takes his daughter home, and sends Henry running for his life.
Descended from a long line of soldiers, Henry turns to the one place that might afford him an escape. He enlists in the Marines and, practically overnight, is thrown into the decisive moment of the Korean War, arriving on the eve of the brutal battle of the Chosin Reservoir, with temperatures fifty degrees below zero and an enemy force far beyond the scope of his imagining. But the challenges he meets upon his return home, scarred and haunted, are greater by far.
From the steamy streets of New Orleans to the bone-chilling Korean landscape, award-winning author Robert Olmstead takes us into one of the most physically challenging battles in history and, with just as much intensity, into an electrifying, all-consuming love affair. In Henry Childs, he has created an unforgettable portrait of survival. (publisher’s summary)
The List by Siobhan Vivian, unsolicited from Scholastic (Amazon/IndieBound)
It happens every year before homecoming — the list is posted all over school. Two girls are picked from each grade. One is named the prettiest, one the ugliest. The girls who aren’t picked are quickly forgotten. The girls who are become the center of attention. Each one has a different reaction to the experience.
Abby’s joy at being named prettiest is clouded by her sister’s resentment.
Danielle worries about how her boyfriend will take the news.
Lauren is a homeschooled girl blinded by her instant popularity.
Candace isn’t ugly, not even close, so it must be a mistake.
Bridget knows her summer transformation isn’t something to celebrate.
Sarah has always rebelled against traditional standards of beauty, and she decides to take her mutiny to the next level.
And Margo and Jennifer, ex-best friends who haven’t spoken in years, are forced to confront why their relationship ended.
With The List, Siobhan Vivian deftly takes you into the lives of eight very different girls struggling with issues of identity, self-esteem, and the judgments of their peers. Prettiest or ugliest, once you’re on the list, you’ll never be the same. (publisher’s summary)
What books did you add to your shelves recently?
Disclosure: I am an IndieBound affiliate and an Amazon associate.
© 2012 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
I think I’m just a bit jealous of two of your books. I’m going to have to get my hands on them now. Have a great week.
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I’m looking forward to to The Orchard House. The other two are new to me but sound very good. Enjoy your new books.
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I love the cover for The Orchid House. Enjoy your new books!
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Wow!! All three sound good!
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Great books! I’ve added them to my list. Hope you enjoy them all thanks for being a great hostess!!
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You’re welcome! It was great fun.
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These are new titles for me. The Orchid really sounds good.
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The Orchid House sounds delightful. Thank you for hosting for March.
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It was my pleasure!
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I still have not received Orchid House. Happy reading. The Girl is now getting unsolicited books!
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I received an e-mail from the publicist saying she had to order more books. Hopefully your copy will arrive soon!
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The Orchid House both looks and sounds gorgeous – enjoy!
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I also have orchid House and Coldest Night — they look and sound good –enjoy Anna.
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All your books sound like intense reads. Hope you enjoy them all! Thanks for having hosted MM in March.
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You’re very welcome!
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I got an unsolicited book from Scholastic last week too and have to say the one you got looks better! Enjoy your new books!
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I’ve heard good things about The Orchid House. Hope you enjoy it!
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Also, thanks for hosting MM in March 🙂
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You’re welcome! I had a great time as host!
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The Orchid House is on my wish list. Enjoy all your new reads.
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I’d love to read the Orchid House! Enjoy your books this week!
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Nice mailbox. I will have to check out The Orchid House and The Coldest Night, both sound like something I would enjoy.
Also thank you for hosting this month, you did a fantastic job!!!
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Aw, shucks! Thanks! 🙂
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The Orchid House sounds particularly good. I love historical fiction. Thanks for hosting!
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You’re welcome!
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Thanks for hosting in March! The Orchid House sounds very good. I’ve been receiving more unsolicited books lately but didn’t post them in my MM as I’m passing them on, they are not books that I am interested in reading and books that I would not have chosen to read.
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I feel like if I at least include them in my MM post, I won’t feel as bad for giving them away or not reading them until I have the time. 🙂
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The Orchid House looks lovely…enjoy your books, and thanks for hosting MM this month.
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You’re welcome! Thanks for stopping by!
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All three of the books you received sound very interesting. I am especially interested in Robert Olmstead’s The Coldest Night. I have read terrific reviews by professionals and articles discussing what a gifted and intriguing writer Olmstead is and I’ve wanted to read some of his books. I look forasrd to your thoughts on this book!
The Orchid House seems to have a lot of tragedy and sadness bbbbut also a lot of beauty. I hope you enjoy it.
Happy Reading, Anna!
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Anna, the above comment from Bigsexybob is mine, Amy! That’s an old cat blog i stopped posting on but suddenly wordpress is giving me problems commenting on WordPress blogs!
Sorry!
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I knew it was you, recognized the e-mail address! 😉 I wish they’d hurry up and fix the commenting bugs!
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The Orchid House looks delightful! Enjoy your new reads.
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All of these look great, and I love the cover of Orchid House!
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I really enjoyed The Orchid House. Thank you for hosting MM this month!
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I’ve been wanting to read it since seeing your review!
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I am liking the sound of the List 🙂
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Enjoy your books. The List sounds good to me.
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Orchid House and The List look really interesting 🙂
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Nice mailbox Anna. The List sounds especially interesting. Happy reading 🙂
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These sound quite “readable”, Anna. Terrific mailbox. Thanks for hosting this month!
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You’re very welcome, Suko!
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The Coldest Night looks really good – hope you enjoy it. Thanks for hosting in March 🙂
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My pleasure! Thanks for stopping by!
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The Orchid House looks really interesting 🙂
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I am a sucker for anything set in New Orleans, so The Coldest Night caught my attention right away. Enjoy your books!
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These all look wonderful, but I’m almost transfixed by “The Orchid House” – from the dreamy cover to the premise – I will be looking forward to your review of this one. Thanks for hosting!
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You’re welcome, Julie!
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I really can’t wait to read your review of The Orchid House…I almost accepted a copy of that one!! Enjoy your great looking books and thanks so much for hosting this month!
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You’re welcome! I should have resisted the temptation, but I’ve had my eye on that book. 😉
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[…] Visit Anna today to get links to other readers’ mailboxes. […]
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Great books you received! Enjoy them!
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The Orchid House sounds good. I hope you enjoy your books!
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What a gorgeous cover for The Orchid House! Enjoy the books. 🙂
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They all sound good in very different ways.
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They all sound wonderful. Enjoy!
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Thank you all for stopping by to see my mailbox and/or participating in MM. I really enjoyed hosting!
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