It’s been another slow mail week, though I’ve been expecting a few books. I know it’s due to the rapidly approaching holiday weekend as my postman hasn’t arrived to deliver mail before 6 p.m. and when he does arrive, he looks absolutely panicked.

I have not received any of the books I’ve traded for or any of the review books I’m expecting, but I did buy a couple books that arrived this week so I thought I’d share them instead of posting the picture of the empty mailbox again.

I also got accepted for a review book from NetGalley which I can’t wait to read as it’s on my 2012 Debut Author Challenge list.

And I got the most amazing signed postcard in the mail on Saturday that I have not been able to stop staring at.

As I am sharing what I received in my mailbox this week, I’m giving credit to Kristi at The Story Siren who came up with the idea of sharing what’s in her mailbox each week.

I received two of the copies of Clockwork Prince that I ordered. One of which is the Barnes & Noble special edition and one is just the first edition collectors edition. If the copies that I get from Books of Wonder arrive next week, then I’ll be giving away at least one of these.

I also purchased a copy of the first printing of Obsidian even though I have the eBook. I’ve heard that there is a special scene in this – though I’m now curious as to whether the eBook version contains that scene, too.

And the eBook I received this week for review from NetGalley is Slide by Jill Hathaway. While I traded for an ARC, I actually loaned it to a blogger friend, but when I saw it on NetGalley I figured I’d request it for review and let her keep the printed ARC.

And here is the pretty, pretty postcard I received in the mail on Saturday from Abbi Glines, author of Existence. It arrived super quick!

On release date, I saw that the author was offering a copy of this amazing postcard – with a lovely passage on the back – signed. And I couldn’t help myself. And, yes, it’s way more gorgeous in person. If you think a jpeg of those eyes is something, it’s nothing compared to the real thing.

Anyway, I’m sure a few of those review books will turn up this week, or after the holiday, which is just fine as I’m swamped. But I am trying to squeeze in a few more books before the year ends and here are just two of them….

Here are the books I have in my reading pile this week.

(December 18-December 24, 2011)

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First up is Divergent by Veronica Roth. Yes, I know, I’m the only person who hasn’t yet read this amazing book. I’ve had the eBook on my Kindle since it downloaded on release day.

This is the only book from my original 2011 Debut Author Challenge list that I haven’t yet read. And I know this book is amazing. I know that everyone is in love with Four and yet I never got the opportunity to read it… until now.

I wanted to read it when it was first released, but I just didn’t have the time. And because I saw the print edition – and even bought a couple for giveaway – I knew that it wasn’t a short book and so it just kept getting moved further down in the pile.

I am really excited to find out what the chatter is all about – I’ve been pretty good at avoiding most of it and haven’t even looked at the book’s description since I originally chose it for the DAC. I haven’t even read either Four’s or Tris’s advocacy posts in the Crush Tourney and the Heroines Tourney for fear of spoilers.

I can’t wait to find out which faction Tris chooses, what her secret is and just how her love life fits in.

I may have been staring at the first page of the book on many of my multiple eReaders fighting the urge to keep reading for the past several weeks. So, I’m super glad that it’s the first book on the pile this week, though I may not get to start reading it until Wednesday.

Next up on the pile is Cinder by Marissa Meyer. I received the audiobook download from the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for review and as it will be releasing on January 3, I thought I’d add it to the pile this week so that I could start listening.

I am going outside my comfort zone on this as I am not typically a fan of science fiction. But I’d heard great things about this book and having listened to the narrator for the audiobook for a few minutes, I think this will be a book I will really enjoy.

Even though there are those elements of science fiction that I don’t immediately connect with - the main character is a cyborg and there is an “intergalactic struggle” – there are those elements that I do – forbidden love, a girl with secrets that must be uncovered, and one who has the fate of the world depending on her.

I love this cover, it’s slightly creepy, and find myself drawn to it again and again.

I hope to get to start listening to Cinder later this week, but if not it will be at the very top of the pile next week.

Wishful Thinking reads:

Tammara Webber’s Good For You is definitely on the top of my wishful thinking reads list. If I somehow manage to plow through all my past due books and reviews, I will try to squeeze this one in. Because I’m dying to read it and find out just what happens to Reid Alexander.

And of course, yet again, I’d love to be able to add Death Sentence by Alexander Gordon Smith to the pile this week. Yes. Again. Nothing says holiday fun like the Escape from Furnace series. Nothing.

Those left behind:

I did not get a chance to read Bloodrose last week. I also didn’t get a chance to re-read Wolfsbane like I’d wanted to. I won’t be able to read either book this week, but I hope to be able to add them back to the pile next week so that I can have my review of Bloodrose posted by the book’s release date.

I am also seriously behind on my reviews for books I’ve read, which I hope to catch up on this week or next. But with the upcoming tournament match, and the week of Top Ten posts, I’m not sure just how many of these past-due reviews I will be able to write.

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I still haven’t heard back about my request for Fugitives on NetGalley, but I did hear back about another book I’d requested and the answer was NO. So, I will not be reading Wanderlove for review before its release.

I did end up caving and requesting Slide this week for review from HarperTeen on NetGalley. I was thrilled to no end that I got approved for that book. And since the release date isn’t for quite some time I’m not concerned about being able to read and review it before release.

I can’t believe the year is almost over and that I’ll only have one more reading pile post before next year. I am still hopeful of reading at least five books over the next two weeks, but I’d be happy if I managed to read three.

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Do you create a reading pile?

If so, what’s in your pile this week?

Back with another “Extras” post. As some of you may already know…

Whenever I find either a legal free download, an excerpt or sneak peek of a book online, I try to link to it in a related post or include the link in my sidebar (to your right).

But once a month I’ll pop them into a post for a “one-stop shop” with a brief description. You may have previously seen some of these in my sidebar and one or two may still be lingering, well here they are once more in case you missed them. (My sidebar tends to have a LOT of info.)

We have a few peeks at upcoming releases, just released books and some of them are just items that have been offered for free for awhile but you might have missed.

And yes, I know it’s not June yet, but it’s a monthly post that I do around this time each month in anticipation.

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma will be released on June 14, 2011.

I love this cover and think it is beautiful and so captivating. The colors are just amazing. But apparently the story is dark and haunting, in stark contract to this bright and vivid cover.

I haven’t yet read the sample chapters, as I don’t want to have to stop reading this book once I start, but I can’t wait until it’s released in June.

Scribd is giving readers a peek at the first four chapters, HERE.

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne by Kady Cross was released on May 1, 2011. It is a prequel novella to The Girl in the Steel Corset which will be released on May 24th in hardcover format and as an eBook on June 1st.

It is being offered as a free eBook download from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Of course I downloaded both versions for my eReaders. I’m excited to get a peek at the story prior to the full-length novel’s release.

I will be reading this eBook just prior to reading The Girl in the Steel Corset and can’t wait to find out more about the world the author creates in this steampunk novel.

I think the cover for The Girl in the Steel Corset is absolutely stunning and is what drew me to the book in the first place.

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini will be released on May 31, 2011.

I am really excited to read this book and have refrained from checking out the excerpt as I also want to read this in full.

This is another book with an absolutely gorgeous cover. And it seems like a lifetime since I’ve read a book about Greek mythology, so I’m really looking forward to start reading this one.

Yet again, the awesome HarperTeen is giving readers a long look inside at the first 99 pages HERE.

Graveminder by Melissa Marr will be released on May 17, 2011.

Author Melissa Marr has written a creepy and disturbing-sounding novel in Graveminder and I cannot wait to read it. Graveminder is not a young adult title, but I’m not a young adult so it’s perfect.

Even this cover is super creepy. And I did check out the excerpt and now really can’t wait until this comes out next week.

The publisher, William Morrow, is giving readers a look inside, HERE.

Daimon by Jennifer L. Armentrout was released on April 19, 2011. It is a prequel novella to the author’s upcoming book Half-Blood which will be releasing on September 15, 2011.

This is an amazing book and leads right into the full-length novel. Daimon is not one of those short eBooks that just tease you with a few pages. This has a real storyline that gives you a great sense of the characters and even gives you a peek at the beginning of full-length book.

As of May 10th, the folks at Spencer Hill Press have made this available for free download in multiple formats. CLICK HERE to download.

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And for one more chance to take a peek, here are a few books that are available now.

Illusions by Aprilynne Pike was released on May 3, 2011. It is the third book in the Wings series.

I adore this series. It’s sweet and fun and has a love triangle that will drive you mad.

I don’t recommend reading this excerpt if you haven’t read the first two books in the series. But if you have, it gives you a nice peek.

The folks at HarperTeen are giving readers a chance to look inside, HERE.

Divergent by Veronica Roth was released on May 3, 2011 and is the debut novel for the author.

I can’t wait to start reading this book as it’s had such high praise. I have not checked out the excerpt as I do own the book, which I will be reading soon.

As always, HarperTeen is offering a peek inside, HERE.

The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson was released on April 26, 2011.

This book is a great follow-up to 13 Little Blue Envelopes and continues the story a few months after the first book ends.

HarperTeen is giving readers a sneak peek HERE.

(I just love HarperTeen’s Browse Inside section on their site and stalk it regularly.)

Summer and the City by Candace Bushnell was released on April 26, 2011.

I have not checked out this young adult series by the author, but I know it’s quite popular and I think this cover is adorable. What girl doesn’t want a quilted, pink clutch purse?

Once again, HarperTeen is offering a look inside at the first 99 pages HERE.

The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong was released on April 12, 2011.

This is a new series by the author in the same world as her Darkest Powers series which will, at some point, cross over with that one. I can’t wait. I loved that series and am really enjoying this new one.

An excerpt is available on the author’s website, HERE.

The publisher is offering a longer excerpt on their website. CLICK HERE to read.

Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter was released on March 29, 2011. It is the first book in her new Shadow Falls series.

I think this is a great new series by this author. I can’t wait until the second book, Awake at Dawn, comes out this fall – in October.

For those who have read it and want to check out some deleted scenes, CLICK HERE.

I don’t recommend reading it if you haven’t yet read the book.

Turned at Dark by C.C. Hunter was released on March 15, 2011. It is a bonus story in the Shadow Falls series.

What I like about this prequel novella is that it gives you a peek at a secondary character from the series, Della, and the events leading up to her arriving in Shadow Falls.

It’s a nice, quick read and you don’t have to have read Born at Midnight to enjoy it.

It is currently available as a free eBook download from Amazon. To download, CLICK HERE.

Fallen From Grace by M.J. Putney was released on March 15, 2011 and is a bonus Dark Mirror short story.

I haven’t yet read Dark Mirror so I’m not certain whether this can be read without having read the full-length book. I own both books, but to be on the safe side, I’ll be reading the full-length novel first.

It is currently being offered as a free eBook download from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

It’s a freebie, so of course I had to download and can’t wait to check it out.

I’ve run the entrants through the list generator at Random.org and the winner is…

Lindsaywrites you have 48 hours to respond to my email or I will offer the books to the next name on the list.

Thank you everyone for entering my quickie giveaway. I have these every so often either for new books or books I’m clearing off my bookshelf, so feel free to check back.

Planned giveaways are listed on my contests page.

This week was a great week for debut authors and whenever I can, I love to support them. So, I happened to be wandering through my local bookstore and couldn’t resist walking out with a few lovely books to share.

I was only able to find two debut author’s books released this week on the shelves, so that is what I’ll be giving away.

The giveaway:

Moonglass by Jessi Kirby (unsigned) AND Divergent by Veronica Roth (unsigned) + random signed and unsigned swag.

The details:

- Must be 13 or older to enter

- Giveaway is International

- There will be ONE WINNER for both books

- Complete the form to enter

- Random.org will be choosing the winner

- Giveaway ends at midnight tonight

- Winner has 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen

- Books will be sent via U.S. mail

There is no requirement to follow or tweet but there are a couple extra entry opportunities for this giveaway.

Entry form:

A few more of the May trailers have been released – courtesy of HarperTeen. As promised, here they are for your viewing pleasure!

I’ve also added in a newly released June trailer for a book that I’m dying to read.

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Divergent by Veronica Roth

Release date: May 3, 2011

(HarperTeen)

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Compulsion by Heidi Ayarbe

Release date: May 3, 2011

(HarperTeen)

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Die for Me by Amy Plum

Release date: May 10, 2011

(HarperTeen)

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Something Deadly This Way Comes by Kim Harrison

Release date: May 24, 2011

(HarperTeen)

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Passion by Lauren Kate

Release date: June 14, 2011

(RandomBooks)

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The Dark Days of Supernatural – Summer Tour 2011

(HarperTeen) – Not a book trailer per se. Spotlights books on the tour this summer.

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Below are the YA books coming out this week that I am spotlighting for my “Book Watch: Releasing This Week” post.

These are books for the week of May 3rd-May 9th that I have pre-ordered.

Bite Club by Rachel Caine is the 10th book in The Morganville Vampires series. It will be released in the U.S. on May 3, 2011 in hardcover, eBook and audio formats.

It is currently available online for pre-order in all formats at Amazon and in hardcover and eBook formats at Barnes & Noble.

Published by NAL, the print edition is 352 pages.

I fell in love with this series when I first started reading young adult books about vampires. Although I haven’t yet read one for review purposes, I enthusiastically five-starred them all on Goodreads because I just adored the story and the characters.

I love this purple cover for Bite Club and I can’t wait for it to download this week. I’m ashamed that I haven’t yet read Ghost Town but I will be doing so really soon as I miss this world and these characters.

I didn’t read too many descriptions in case they gave away spoilers but this installment in the series seems to be about some kind of fight club with vampires, which sounds like a really dangerous endeavor. Ah, I get it now, “fight club” and “Bite Club.”

To read an excerpt of the first two chapters from Scribd, CLICK HERE.

I did end up pre-ordering a signed copy of Bite Club for giveaway on the blog. Once I get it, I’ll be sure to post all details.

Illusions is the third book in the Wings (also called Laurel) series by author Aprilynne Pike. It will be releasing in the U.S. on May 3, 2011 in hardcover and eBook formats.

It is currently available online for pre-order in both formats at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Published by HarperTeen, the print edition is 384 pages.

I was really fortunate to receive a copy of Illusions through a book trade. I have another copy coming to me, too, as I apparently traded for this one twice, but I have the eBook pre-ordered for download this week even though I’ve already reviewed it here back in March.

This is another one of my guilty pleasures series. It’s sweet and fun and the love triangle makes me crazy. I’m a Tamani fan all the way. I have the first two books on my Kindle and can’t wait for Illusions to download so that my collection will be complete.

Book trailer for Illusions:

Hounded is the first book in The Iron Druid Chronicles by author Kevin Hearne. It will be released in the U.S. on May 3, 2011 in paperback, eBook and audio formats.

It is currently available for pre-order in all formats at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Published by Del Rey, the print edition is 320 pages.

I had been following the author for awhile on Twitter and decided to check out his books on Goodreads. They sounded really cool so I pre-ordered the three books available in the series. The main character is a young tattooed Irish guy who can shapeshift and is actually centuries old even though he looks like he’s in his twenties.

This book is definitely urban fantasy, filled with shifters, vampires, werewolves and witches. And I can’t wait to see what this series has to offer.

To read a 62-page excerpt from Scribd, CLICK HERE.

Shift is the second book in the Shade series by author Jeri Smith-Ready. It will be released in the U.S. on May 3, 2011 in hardcover, eBook and audio formats.

It is currently available online for pre-order at Amazon and Barnes & Noble in all formats. And if you check out the author’s website, she has a link to the Indie Bookstore where you can order signed copies of Shift.

Published by Simon Pulse, a division of Simon & Schuster, the print edition is 384 pages.

I’ve already spotlighted this book for my Book Watch post, which has a few other links, the Shade book trailer and a few more of my ramblings, so I won’t continue to gush here, even though I am on the Shade street team to support this author and her amazing books.

I have an electronic ARC of this book from Simon & Schuster’s Galley Grab program, so I will be reviewing this book on Monday or release date. But I also have a pre-order of the eBook which will download and have also pre-ordered a personalized signed book from the Indie Bookstore to complete my collection as I got Shade signed by the author at RT.

I also have ordered a signed copy for giveaway on the blog in support of the author and to do my part for the street team. I was given a number of signed and unsigned bookmarks from the author, but what good is a signed bookmark without a nice signed book to tuck it into? So, I couldn’t not buy a copy to give away on the blog.

To read an excerpt of the first chapter on the author’s website, CLICK HERE.

To read the first 99 pages of Shade, check out the sidebar for a link to the publisher’s website.

Compulsion by Heidi Ayarbe will also be released on May 3, 2011 in the U.S. It is currently available for pre-order online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble in hardcover and eBook formats.

Published by Balzer + Bray, a division of Harper Collins, the print edition is 304 pages.

(Although the title uses the number one for the letter “I,” I have chosen to spell the book the traditional way so that it can be searchable.)

This story grabbed my attention with its cover. I knew right away it was a book about OCD and I thought that the topic would be very interesting to read about. I have not read anything else by the author, but was immediately drawn in by just the brief description provided.

This subject is very personal to me and I’m looking forward to reading this story which I heard got some terrific reviews.

Moonglass is the debut novel for author Jessi Kirby. It will be released in the U.S. on May 3, 2011 in hardcover and eBook formats.

It is currently available online for pre-order at Amazon and Barnes & Noble in both formats, although Amazon is listing the print edition as currently available.

Published by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, the print edition is 240 pages.

Moonglass is one of the books that can be chosen for the 2011 Debut Author Challenge hosted by Kristi at TheStorySiren.com.

I just finished reading and reviewing an ARC of this book a few days ago and posted my review here on the blog so I won’t go into too much detail again. But I loved this heartbreaking story and the author’s writing so I immediately added the eBook to my pre-orders as I had to pass along the ARC to another reviewer that I promised it to.

I had no idea when I started reading the book that the location was real, and once I finished I looked up the website for Crystal Cove and saw just how well the author captured the feel of this small beach community in her story.

The main character’s story is a sad one, but the author treats it with a delicacy and optimism that keep this from being heavy. There is a touch of romance, but it is not the main focus. And there is a sweet, somewhat clueless and funny friend who will make you smile. Although this takes place on a beach, it’s not a light and flirty beach story, but it won’t leave you completely gutted.

If you haven’t heard of the book, you can check out the description on Goodreads, here.

Divergent by Veronica Roth is another debut book releasing on May 3, 2011 in the U.S. It is currently available online for pre-order at Amazon and Barnes & Noble in hardcover and eBook formats.

Published by Katherine Tegen Books the print edition is 496 pages.

Divergent is one of the books that can be chosen for the 2011 Debut Author Challenge hosted by Kristi at TheStorySiren.com.

I am really looking forward to this book. I heard so many great things about it and was told I had to read it. I managed to do a trade for an ARC, but haven’t yet received it, so I’ll be either reading that copy or the final eBook that I have on pre-order for my review this week.

As I’ve mentioned in My Reading Pile post, I have not looked at any book descriptions, read any reviews or know really anything about this. I am buying this solely based on the hype. I am known to do that now and again.

The cover is amazing and as I think this is a debut novel that I will really enjoy.

The author talks a little bit about the book in this video, which I haven’t watched, but will once I’ve read Divergent.

The Vampire Diaries: Stefan’s Diaries #3: The Craving will be released in the U.S. on May 3, 2011 in paperback, eBook, library binding and audio formats.

It is currently available for pre-order in all formats at Amazon and in paperback, library binding and eBook formats at Barnes & Noble.

Published by HarperTeen, the print edition is 256 pages.

The Vampire Diaries: Stefan’s Diaries series is inspired by the books by L.J. Smith and the television show by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec. I have purchased the first two books in the series but still haven’t gotten around to reading them. I am very behind on my The Vampire Diaries books right now and so I have a lot of catching up to do.

Even though I haven’t read either of the first two of these books in the series, I had to buy this one to keep the complete collection intact. I love almost all things The Vampire Diaries and I’m sure when the television show goes on hiatus I will definitely be looking to read more about Damon, Stefan, Elena and Katherine.

A sneak peek is available from HarperTeen, HERE.

If you haven’t yet read the series, CLICK HERE to look inside the first book, Origins, courtesy of HarperTeen.

To peek inside of the second book, Bloodlust, CLICK HERE.

Dead Reckoning is the 11th book in the Southern Vampires series by author Charlaine Harris. It will be released in the U.S. on May 3, 2011 in hardcover, eBook and audio formats.

It is currently available online for pre-order at Amazon and Barnes & Noble in all formats.

Published by Ace, the print edition is 336 pages.

I have been waiting a long time for this installment in the series. I really wish I had the patience to wait two years between books so that I could read two at a time rather than being strung along year after year. I was lucky not to discover this series until after the ninth book’s release, but sadly I’ve had to wait just like everyone else for these last two books.

I have not looked at any of the excerpts as I refused to put myself through the torment this time, like I did last year. But I’m really excited that this is finally coming out so that can I find out what’s in store for Sookie and Eric. And I am hoping that the author doesn’t leave this book with a cliffhanger ending like she did book nine.

The author is offering a peek at Chapter One on her website, HERE.

There is also an excerpt from Chapter Three being offered by Penguin, HERE, for those who just can’t wait.

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This week has a ginormous amount of new releases. Ugh, my poor wallet. So not good for reducing book buys. But these are all books I want to have in my collection so I will bite the bullet.

As always, I would love to hear what you’re hoping to add to your collection this week!

And please let me know if I missed purchasing something that is a “must read” – though I’m a little afraid to have ten books download in one week…or one day as the case may be!