In My Mailbox (1)

I always love reading the fabulous (created by The Story Siren) "In My Mailbox" posts so I figured we would start it up!

Briana:

For Review (Simon Pulse):

Pure by Terra Elan McVoy

Tabitha and her four best friends all wear purity rings, symbols of the virginity-until-marriage pledge they made years ago. Now Tab is fifteen, and her ring has come to mean so much more. It's a symbol of who she is and what she believes — a reminder of her promises to herself, and her bond to her friends.
But when Tab meets a boy whose kisses make her knees go weak, everything suddenly seems a lot more complicated. Tab's best friend, Morgan, is far from supportive, and for the first time, Tabitha is forced to keep secrets from the one person with whom she's always shared everything. When one of those secrets breaks to the surface, Tab finds herself at the center of an unthinkable betrayal that splits her friends apart. As Tab's entire world comes crashing down around her, she's forced to re-examine her friendships, her faith, and what exactly it means to be pure.

I can't wait to read this book mostly because I have decided to make the pledge to stay pure until marriage. It seems like I might be able to relate to the characters and I would love to learn what's going on in their heads while resisting the temptation.

Bought:

The Vampire Diaries (The Awakening & The Struggle) by L.J. Smith

Elena: the golden girl, the leader, the one who can have any boy she wants.

Stefan: brooding and mysterious, he seems to be the only one who can resist Elena, even as he struggles to protect her from the horrors that haunt his past.

Damon: sexy, dangerous, and driven by an urge for revenge against Stefan, the brother who betrayed him. Determined to have Elena, he'd kill to possess her.

Collected here in one volume for the first time, volumes one and two of The Vampire Diaries, the tale of two vampire brothers and the beautiful girl torn between them.

I am very excited to read this book. I've heard so much great stuff about the series from Marisa, and there's a TV series coming out in the Fall! After I read it, I'll let you know and give you the link to Marisa's review, which I will add mine to.

1001 Things Every College Student Needs to Know: (Like Buying Your Books Before Exams Start) by Harry H. Harrison

Students entering college may think they know just about everything, but…

Whether it's their first year or fourth, college students (who think they already know everything) can always use powerful and proven tips on how to make the most of their experience. In 1001 Things Every College Student Needs to Know, Harry H. Harrison Jr.'s latest dose of trademark wit and wisdom provides practical advice ranging from class enrollment, living on campus, study habits and more, that every student-and parent-will benefit from...like buying their books before exams start!

Well, I'm going away to college in the fall and since I'm shaking in my boots, I was looking for online tips. I came across this book and decided to go to Barnes and Noble and pick it up. I read a few tips already and some are helpful, but then some are obvious. I hope it's helpful!

Beautiful Disaster (Privilege Series #2) by Kate Brian

She's Back....

After wasting away in a mental institution for a year and a half, Ariana Osgood is finally back where she belongs. She has a new look, a new name, and a new life — all thanks to her former friend Briana Leigh Covington.

Now enrolled as a junior at the exclusive Atherton-Pryce boarding school just outside of D.C., Ariana sleeps in Frette sheets, flirts with the captain of the crew team, and gossips with the most beautiful girls on campus. She killed to get back her life of privilege. Just how far will she go to keep it?

I received the first book, Privilege, from Simon Pulse and wasn't extremely excited about reading it, but then I opened it. I could not put it down! It was absolutely amazing, so when I went to Barnes and Noble to pick up 1001 Things Every College Student Needs to Know: (Like Buying Your Books Before Exams Start), of course I had to check out the New Releases in the Young Adult section. That's when I saw it! I didn't even think about picking it up. I just grabbed it and rushed to the register to pay! Basically, I'm extremely excited to read this!

DVDS (for New Movie Monday):

Based on an extraordinary true story, DEFIANCE is an epic tale of family, honour, vengeance and salvation in World War II. The year is 1941 and the Jews of Eastern Europe are being massacred by the thousands. Managing to escape certain death, three brothers take refuge in the dense surrounding woods they have known since childhood. There they begin their desperate battle against the Nazis. Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell star as brothers who turn a primitive struggle to survive into something far more consequential – a way to avenge the deaths of their loved ones by saving thousands of others.
At first it is all they can do to stay alive. But gradually, as whispers of their daring spreads, they begin to attract others – men and women, young and old – willing to risk everything for the sake of even a moment’s freedom. Tuvia (CRAIG) is a reluctant leader and his decisions are challenged by his brother, Zus (SCHREIBER) who worries that Tuvia’s idealistic plans will doom them all. Asael (BELL) is the youngest – caught between his brothers’ fierce rivalry. As a brutal winter descends, they work to create a community, and to keep faith alive when all humanity appeared to be lost.

You guys may know by now that I love learning about the Holocaust, if not, now you know. I already watched this and all I can say for now is ... WOW. You'll definitely hear everything I have to say about this movie on Monday.

It’s a classic single-woman scenario: you really like this guy, but he’s giving mixed messages. You make excuses, decide he’s confused, afraid of commitment. Behrendt, a former executive story editor for Sex and the City—and a formerly single (now happily married) guy who knows all the excuses—provides a simple answer: he’s just not that into you. Stop kidding yourself, let go and look for someone else who will be. After all, as Behrendt sensibly puts it, "if a (sane) guy really likes you, there ain’t nothing that’s going to get in his way." If you’re not convinced yet, by all means read this smart, funny and surprisingly upbeat little book, full of q’s and a’s covering every excuse woman has ever made to avoid admitting to herself that a man just wasn’t that smitten with her.

Just so you know, I took the synopsis from the book since movie summaries are usually so ridiculously long!

I'm going to be honest, this movie doesn't appeal to me that much. I really hope it proves me wrong, but for now, it just looks like a regular, forgettable chick flick.

Arielle and Marisa may post later.