Mailbox Monday - March 19th

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house recently, but here's a warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists!

 Created by Marcia at The Printed Page, Mailbox Monday, now has its own blog. Hosting duties are rotated every month.  March is being hosted by Anna at Diary of an Eccentric.  Be sure to stop by and discover a new and wondrous (for me anyway) addition to your blog roll and take a look at everyone's Mailbox lists.

This week, ECCO Publishers, one of Harper Collins imprints sent this ARC and I am excited!  It's set in the US during World War I, and that fits in perfectly with my current War through the Generations reading.  I'll definitely be reading this one sooner rather than later, but meantime, here's the publisher's blurb:

The New York Times bestselling author of Serena returns to Appalachia, this time at the height of World War I, with the story of a blazing but doomed love affair caught in the turmoil of a nation at war

Deep in the rugged Appalachians of North Carolina lies the cove, a dark, forbidding place where spirits and fetches wander, and even the light fears to travel. Or so the townsfolk of Mars Hill believe–just as they know that Laurel Shelton, the lonely young woman who lives within its shadows, is a witch. Alone except for her brother, Hank, newly returned from the trenches of France, she aches for her life to begin.

Then it happens–a stranger appears, carrying nothing but a beautiful silver flute and a note explaining that his name is Walter, he is mute, and is bound for New York. Laurel finds him in the woods, nearly stung to death by yellow jackets, and nurses him back to health. As the days pass, Walter slips easily into life in the cove and into Laurel's heart, bringing her the only real happiness she has ever known.

But Walter harbors a secret that could destroy everything–and danger is closer than they know. Though the war in Europe is near its end, patriotic fervor flourishes thanks to the likes of Chauncey Feith, an ambitious young army recruiter who stokes fear and outrage throughout the county. In a time of uncertainty, when fear and ignorance reign, Laurel and Walter will discover that love may not be enough to protect them.

Then the great folks at Down East Publishers here in town, dropped two small but very timely Pocket Guides in my mailbox.  I already have patrons lining up for these. If I were a hiker or biker, or even heading up to Mt. Desert, I'd be sure to grab either or both of these compact pubs that live up to the sobriquet "Pocket Guides." If you're heading for Maine this summer, be sure to check them out.

Hiking Mount Desert Island: Pocket Guide, 2nd Edition
Home to Acadia National Park, MDI boasts some of the best hiking trails in the Northeast. Earl Brechlin, an avid outdoorsman and Registered Maine Guide, has been enjoying the wilds of the island for more than 20 years and has compiled 31 of the best trails into this guidebook. Easy-to-use maps clarify the island’s often complex trail network with fascinating tidbits only a Mount Desert insider would know. Long on information, but small enough to be tucked into a day pack, this pocket guide is the perfect companion for a trip to Acadia.

Biking Mount Desert Island: Pocket Guide, 2nd Edition
With 57 miles of highly scenic, well-tended carriage paths free of automobile traffic, Acadia National Park is a very popular destination among bicyclists. Audrey Minutolo-Le provides an in-depth look at 18 of the island’s finest loop routes.
Each route is broken down by mileage, categorized by degree of difficulty, and described in detail to help riders pick routes most comfortable for their skill level. Helpful tips are included to make your trips both safe and fun for the whole family, and clearly drawn maps will keep you on the road.
Includes a new introduction and updated information on trails and routes.