In honour of the fact that just over 25 years ago I was as cute as Queen Frostine from Candy Land (because yes, that's what I was in the picture to your left), I am celebrating by giving you all the chance to win a few of my excessive numbers of books! All of these books are ARCs, so they'll differ a wee bit from the printed final editions, but I've got hard covers of them all, so I want to share the wealth!

You can see my reviews for all of these in my Review Archive, and enter to make up your own mind about them because, remember, anything I've written about these books is purely my personal opinion. See below for full rules and details...and good luck!

Alright, for my super-awesome Birthday Bash Giveaway, you can win the following books, and there will be three winners. Random.org will pick three people. The first picked gets their choice of three books. The second picked will get two books of their choice, and the third picked will get..well, whatever is left...but I think it's still a pretty sweet deal!

The books up for grabs are:

Amaryllis in Blueberry by Christina Meldrum

Trapped by Michael Northrop

Red Moon Rising by Peter Moore

Another Pan by Daniel & Dina Nayeri

Angel in My Pocket by Ilene Cooper

Recovery Road by Blake Nelson

RULES: This giveaway is open internationally. The giveaway will end promptly at midnight (EST) on March 31st. You do NOT have to be a follower to enter the giveaway, but it's always appreciated! 

Click HERE to fill out the form to enter!

Title: Recovery Road
Author: Blake Nelson
Publisher: Scholastic
Published: March 8, 2011
Genre: YA, Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 320
Source: Publisher

From acclaimed author Blake Nelson, the story of girl meets boy...in rehab.

Madeline is sent away to Spring Meadows to help with a drinking and rage problem she has. It's a pretty intense place, but there is the weekly movie night in town--where Madeline meets Stewart, who's at another rehab place nearby. They fall for each other during a really crazy time in their lives.

Madeline gets out and tries to get back on her feet, waiting for Stewart to join her. When he does, though, it's not the ideal recovery world Madeline dreamed of. Both of them still have serious problems. And Stewart's are only getting worse....

Recovery Road is the story of two teens, Madeline and Stewart, both with blemished pasts and a brand new opportunity for a fresh start from rehab. At the lowest point in their lives, Madeline and Stewart fall for one another, giving them a sense of togetherness in a void of confusion, but when they’re released, reality strikes back. When Madeline is released, she’s determined to get her life back together, and she’s excited for Stewart to join her in healing after rehab, but when he’s released, it’s clear the darkness is still there, and they’re spiraling downwards together. Again.

I’ve been dying to read Recovery Road for a long time now, in large part because of the captivating premise and simplistic cover. Blake Nelson has created a story where the characters are every bit as addicting as the addiction itself, spinning you along on a path of destruction, self-discovery and, ultimately, the desire for redemption. The beauty if Recovery Road lies in the realistic portrayal of the devastating nature of addiction, whether it be to drugs, attention, or companionship. Addiction, in itself, becomes a character, making it a raw and real adventure.

Madeline is one of those characters that I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to relate to but somehow could. She has rage issues, drug dependency and a desperate desire to find fulfillment somewhere and, frankly, anywhere. Stewart is presented as your typical bad boy, but there’s an endearing edge to him, as well, making him someone you love to hate and hate to love. Throw in a few secondary characters with their own issues, and Recovery Road is a rollercoaster ride of emotion. I have to say that the plot was strong for Recovery Road, but the characters were stronger, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s almost as though one fuels and tempers the other, making the pacing strong and steady. The only real issue I had with the book was the chapter length. They were only a few pages apiece, and I prefer medium-length chapters. Luckily, however, it didn’t affect the pacing, so that’s just personal preference.

All in all, Recovery Road was a fabulous, fast-paced ride in which you feel for the characters every step of the way. I give it a very strong 4.5 out of 5, and I’d recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who like edgy stories and contemporary fiction, specifically.

I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

In My Mailbox is an amazing weekly meme hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren that features the books we have received during the week. It's so much fun because we get to see what our fellow bloggers stumbled upon this week and add even more to our piles of books! Without further ado, this week I received the following books:

FOR REVIEW

Recovery Road by Blake Nelson (ARC) - (Thank you, Scholastic)

Madeline is sent away to Spring Meadows to help with a drinking and rage problem she has. It's a pretty intense place, but there is the weekly movie night in town--where Madeline meets Stewart, who's at another rehab place nearby. They fall for each other during a really crazy time in their lives. Madeline gets out and tries to get back on her feet, waiting for Stewart to join her. When he does, though, it's not the ideal recovery world Madeline dreamed of. Both of them still have serious problems. And Stewart's are only getting worse....

FOR REVIEW

12.21.12 by Killian McRae - (Thank you, Killian)

Archaeologist Sheppard Smyth has staked his career and the honorable memory of his deceased wife and partner on proving his widely-panned theory: Cleopatra VII, last ruler of Ancient Egypt, was murdered. When a statue of the doomed Queen is discovered in an Olmec excavation site in Mexico, Shep rushes to investigate and, hopefully, find the proof that has evaded him for so long. Soon, he finds himself in the middle of the rivalry between the sexy, enigmatic international thief, Victoria Kent, and infamous rumored Russian mobster, Dmitri Kronastia.

GIFT FOR REVIEW

Amaryllis in Blueberry by Christina Meldrum (ARC) - (Thank you, Savy from Books with Bite)

In the stirring tradition of The Secret Life of Bees and The Poisonwood Bible, Amaryllis in Blueberry explores the complexity of human relationships set against an unforgettable backdrop. Told through the haunting voices of Dick and Seena Slepy and their four daughters, Christina Meldrum's soulful novel weaves together the past and the present of a family harmed--and healed--by buried secrets.

"Maybe, unlike hope, truth couldn't be contained in a jar..."

GIFT FOR REVIEW

Maybe this Time by Jennifer Crusie (ARC) - (Thank you, Savy from Books with Bite)

Andie Miller is ready to move on in life. She wants to marry her fiancé and leave behind everything in her past, especially her ex-husband, North Archer. But when Andie tries to gain closure with him, he asks one final favor of her before they go their separate ways forever. A very distant cousin of his has died and left North as the guardian of two orphans who have driven out three nannies already, and things are getting worse. He needs a very special person to take care of the situation and he knows Andie can handle anything.

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No vlog again this week, guys, sorry! My schedule has changed up a bit, and with all the chaos in my life, I just haven't had proper time to record a vlog. I'm hoping to get back to it soon! Remember, today is the LAST DAY to enter my international giveaway for The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card. You do NOT have to be a follower, but your support is much appreciated if you are! Click HERE to enter!