MONDAY FROM THE INTERIOR: MAILBOX MONDAY & WHAT ARE YOU READING? — APRIL 2

Welcome to another Monday from the Interior, in which we share about the books we received in the mail (or bought), and talk about our bookish week, past and future.

For April, Mailbox Monday is hosted by Cindy’s Love of Books.

Sheila, at Book Journey, brings us What Are You Reading?

MAILBOX MONDAY:

I received three books in the mail this week: one review book and two contest wins from Patty, at Books, Thoughts, and a Few Adventures.

Then I went a little crazy downloading onto Sparky, my Kindle,  adding four more books.

So here goes the list:

1.  Kiss Crush Collide, by Christina Meredith (contest win)

Kiss
What Leah did—only she really shouldn’t have—one hot night at a country club party.

Crush
What Leah has—only she really shouldn’t have—on the guy with the green eyes, the guy who is not her perfect boyfriend, the guy who does not fit in her picture-perfect life, the guy her sisters will only mock and her mother will never approve of. Not in a million years.

Collide
What happens when everything you always thought you wanted—having cool friends, being class valedictorian and homecoming queen—runs smack into everything it turns out you really do want.

Kiss. Crush. Collide.
For Leah and Porter, summer is only the beginning.

2.  The File on Angelyn Stark, by Catherine Atkins

Angelyn Stark has a secret.

One day, her neighbor and friend, Nathan, saw something happen. Something between Angelyn and her stepfather. Then he told his grandmother, who was always looking out for Angelyn, and it turned into a mess. But Nathan didn’t know what he was talking about then, and he doesn’t know now.

Three years later, Angelyn is in high school and she thinks she’s getting along fine–but there’s a young teacher who wants to help her. He says she has potential she isn’t living up to. Nobody has ever cared this way about Angelyn, not since Nathan’s grandmother, anyway. But what does Mr. Rossi really want from her? And once Angelyn starts falling for him, does she really care?

3.  A Silence of Mockingbirds, by Karen Spears Zacharias (Review Book from Publicist)

This is not a simple love story. It is the troubling tale of a father’s love for the daughter he was unable to protect.  Investigative journalist and author Karen Spears Zacharias never anticipated that she would become one of the characters involved in a high-profile murder. But when she reconnects with a young woman named Sarah, who lived in the Zacharias home at one time and was treated like family, Karen discovers that something unspeakable has happened to Sarah’s daughter, Karly. Compelled to consider her own culpability in this tragic case, Karen pieces together what happened to Karly through court documents, investigators’ interviews, and interviews with friends, family, law enforcement officials, and key witnesses.

4.  Memento Mori, (e-book), by Muriel Spark

In late 1950s London, something uncanny besets a group of elderly friends: an insinuating voice on the telephone informs each, “Remember you must die.” Their geriatric feathers are soon thoroughly ruffled by these seemingly supernatural phone calls, and in the resulting flurry many old secrets are dusted off. Beneath the once decorous surface of their lives, unsavories like blackmail and adultery are now to be glimpsed. As spooky as it is witty, poignant and wickedly hilarious, Memento Mori may ostensibly concern death, but it is a book which leaves one relishing life all the more.

5.  Mimosas, Mischief, & Murder (e-book), by Sara Rosett

Super-organized Ellie Avery thinks she’s prepared for everything when she and her family set off for an extended visit with her in-laws–clothes, books, and enough games and toys to entertain two stir-crazy kids on a six-hour drive. But the one thing she hasn’t planned for is cold-blooded murder. . .

As soon as Ellie and her husband, Mitch, arrive at his parents’ gracious home in Smarr, Alabama, they are shocked to learn that Mitch’s Grandpa Fanklin has passed away. More shockingly, a too-quickly-closed police investigation raises more questions about Franklin’s death than it answers. As the quirky, extended Avery family clan closes ranks around their own, she realizes that quite a few relatives stood to profit from Franklin’s passing, and she can’t help looking for motives among the mourners. When a little more sleuthing reveals Franklin’s mysterious ties to a famous, reclusive local author whose writings are worth megabucks, something doesn’t sit right with Ellie. . .and it’s not just the homemade grits.

As genteel Southern tradition collides with greedy and possibly murderous passions, another disturbing death confirms Ellie’s suspicions. With Alabama’s biggest book festival fast approaching, she sees danger brewing faster than sweet tea. Who can she trust? Looking over her shoulder for a killer who’s definitely onto her, Ellie needs to act fast if she wants to save her family. . .and herself!

Don’t miss Ellie Avery’s great tips for preserving family treasures!

6.  An Appetite for Murder (e-book), by Lucy Burdette

Hayley Snow’s life always revolved around food. But when she applies to be a food critic for a Key West style magazine, she discovers that her new boss would be Kristen Faulkner-the woman Hayley caught in bed with her boyfriend! Hayley thinks things are as bad as they can get-until the police pull her in as a suspect in Kristen’s murder. Kristen was killed by a poisoned key lime pie. Now Hayley must find out who used meringue to murder before she takes all the blame.

7.  Six Pack of Blood, by Betty Dravis and Barbara Watkins, et. al

“Six-Pack of Blood” received Zodiac Entertainment’s “Best Paranormal/Horror” Award. It’s a compilation of six short, malevolent stories by award-winning authors Betty Dravis and Barbara Watkins. Be sure to lock your doors and leave the lights on before reading these bloodcurdling, terrifying tales of revenge, lust, murder, cannibalism, witchcraft and more. Who in the world is safe when such benign things as snow domes, dolls, a Caribbean cruise and an innocent Sunday outing turn malevolent? Blood is everywhere…

***

And that’s my mailbox!

***

WHAT ARE YOU READING?

Our Monday reading event encompasses the world of blogging and reviewing.  It’s our chance to really enjoy what the community of bloggers is doing throughout the week.

As many of you know, we’re doing Bloggiesta this weekend.  You can still join in, if you haven’t yet.  Just click the link to take you to Suey’s place and have fun!

My focus has been over at my Curl up and Read site; but I’ve also meandered over to a couple of other sites, too.

While I was scurrying around at Curl up and Read, I managed to post my March Reading Wrap-Up.

You can also find some assorted posts around, beginning with Thursday Potpourri, followed up by Another Cozy Mystery at Chocolate & Mimosas; then I did a Weekend Potpourri.

Next I posted an excerpt from one of my manuscripts over at Snow Chronicles:  Rediscovering that Love Connection; and Bloggiesta and The Urge to Create at Story Corner.

Here’s what I read and reviewed-click titles:

Review:    Good-Bye and Amen, by Beth Gutcheon

Review:    Lone Wolf, by Jodi Picoult

Review:    Witch Woman (e-book), by Jeanette Baker

What’s Up Next?

Still Reading:  The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

Click Titles and/or Book Covers to Learn More:

1.  American Pastoral, by Philip Roth (From my TBR stacks)

2.  Matrimony, by Joshua Henkin (From my TBR stacks)

3.  Arranged, by Catherine McKenzie

***

I hope to get some reading done this week…I have grandkids visiting throughout the week while on spring vacation, so I purposely kept the list shorter.

What are the rest of you doing?  Any plans for some favorite books?