In My Mailbox #31

Thanks to Kristi, The Story Siren, for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

This week, I got a few different things.

The Caldecott Chronicles No. 2 by RG Bullet

The Earl of Rothshire has decided to leave Caldecott manor and find his son, Albert. His plans to ride his surviving horse, Willow, to London have derailed and the only other way to get there is to venture forth in a newfangled horseless carriage. Saffy insists on accompanying him, and together they make their way through the local villages encountering fights with undead and...the living.

And... the greatest thing my mailman has brought me in AGES:

That's right. My swag from the So Silver Bright book trailer contest!! Lisa sent me, not only the t-shirt I was hoping to win, but a bunch of other cool things too!

Sweet greeting-like cards

A backstage pass magnet

A thank you card

And there was also a backstage pass bracelet that I was wearing at the time, so I didn't get a photo of it. Here's a close up of my Team Nate t-shirt:

How cool is that? Thanks Lisa!!

Daring You to Read - Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

Daring You to Read is hosted every week by Tynga over at Tynga's Reviews.

Here's how it works:

- You choose a book you’ve read, loved and would dare your readers to read!

- The book you choose must be an older release (at least 6 months ago), because let’s be honest, we’re all quite aware of the latest releases.

- Write your own blog post, using the button and linking back to Tynga’s Reviews, inviting your readers to read your chosen book.

- Come back on Tynga’s Reviews and put your link in the linking tool.

- Browse other bloggers Dare and let them know if you’ve read their featured book, or plan on reading it.

- Super easy and an awesome way to discover that special book who might have slipped off your radar!

This week I'm daring you to read Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev.

All her world’s a stage
Enter Stage Right
Beatrice Shakespeare Smith (Bertie): Our heroine.
Nate: A dashing pirate who will do anything to protect Bertie.
Cobweb, Moth, Mustardseed, and Peaseblossom: Four tiny, mischievous fairies, and Bertie’s loyal sidekicks.
Ariel: A seductive air spirit. Disaster follows in his wake, but Bertie simply cannot resist him.
Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the characters of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. The actors are bound to the Théâtre by The Book, an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of the actors, but they are her family. And she is about to lose them all because The Book has been threatened, and along with it the Théâtre. It’s the only home Bertie has ever known, and she has to find a way to save it. But first, there’s the small problem of two handsome men, both vying for her attention. The course of true love never did run smooth. . . .

Open Curtain

I loved this book. I had to read through the beginning a couple of times to understand what was going on... but that was only because I'd never read another book like it.

The faeries were great. They were troublemakers but had good intentions. Most of the time. Nate was my hero. Who doesn't love a dashing pirate? Bertie is your run of the mill teenage girl with bright blue hair who can write things in to being. And Ariel... Ariel is a gorgeous air elemental (who is followed by butterflies everywhere he goes) and competing for Bertie's heart with the handsome pirate mentioned earlier. Bertie? She's fighting to keep her place in the theater.

She's caused her fair share of trouble and is on the brink of being booted out by the stage manager. But for one condition: she has to play the part of stage manager herself and sell out a show. To do that she has to get all the players in the theater to work together and it's REALLY hard to do that. Will she be able to? Or will she have to leave for good?

This is a wonderfully original book that will captivate you and leave you dying for the next installment.

So go on and read it.

I dare you.

Review - Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

So I started and finished Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev within the last 36 hours. Took me about 10 pages to understand how it worked, but after that I absolutely loved it! Another one that is completely different than anything I've ever read before. And I love Bertie. She's great. Her little Faerie friends are too funny!

I'm totally rooting for Nate over Ariel anyway. Of course, that could just be because I totally dig pirates. :-P And unless Ariel finds a way to redeem himself in the 2nd book, I'm still not going to like him. LoL.

Completely surprise twist about Berties mom (no spoilers!) that I loved as well.

Definitely a must read. I can't wait to go pick up the second book. I know it's been out for a long time, but I've been waiting for my tax return to buy this one. I give it two thumbs up! Check it out.