I've been reading a lot outside lately, trying to soak up that elusive sun here in Montreal. Got some great books I'm looking forward to reading this summer, hopefully in the sun.

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at A Girl and Her Books. It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Mari Reads is hosting for the month of May. You can view the touring blog list at Mailbox Monday blog for the upcoming months.

This is what I got in the mailbox last week:

Waterfall: The River of Time Series by Lisa T. Bergren (Bought at The Book Depository. I saw this on several blogs and just had to have it!)

Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Bentarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives with their parents, famed Etruscan scholars, among the romantic hills. Stuck among the rubble of medieval castles in rural Tuscany on yet another hot, dusty archeological site, Gabi and Lia are bored out of their minds… until Gabi places her hand atop a handprint in an ancient tomb and finds herself in fourteenth-century Italy. And worse yet, in the middle of a fierce battle between knights of two opposing forces.

And thus does she come to be rescued by the knight-prince Marcello Falassi, who takes her back to his father’s castle—a castle Gabi has seen in ruins in another life. Suddenly Gabi’s summer in Italy is much, much more interesting. But what do you do when your knight in shining armor lives, literally, in a different world?

Young Michelangelo: The Path to the Sistine: A Biography by John T. Spike (This signed copy was sent to me by the publisher with a note saying "For the 'Italy in Books' competition." Thank you so much!)

In this compelling account, renowned art historian John Spike paints a vivid portrait of one of the world’s greatest artists and the places and people—Lorenzo de’ Medici, Leonardo, Machiavelli—that inspired and defined his early life and career. Spike’s masterful text probes the thinking, evolution, and desires of a young man whose awareness of his exceptional talent never wavered. Michelangelo’s complex personality is revealed through lively examinations of the Pietà, the David, and all other major works. Drawing on a rich background of Italian Renaissance politics and culture, Spike deftly navigates the fiery Florentine master’s struggle to surpass da Vinci’s artistic mastery, and his troubled relationships with Julius II and other key figures of the era.

There's Lead in Your Lipstick: Toxins in Our Everyday Body Care and How to Avoid Them by Gillian Deacon (This was a win from Rayment's Readings, Rants and Ramblings. Included was also an organic lip balm set from All The Better to Kiss You With.)

We are living in a toxic haze, exposed every day to substances that are harmful to our health and the environment. Phthalates, parabens, lead, triclosan, mercury, coal tar-these and other toxins are hidden in common body care products, from shampoo and sunscreen to lipstick and eyeliner. Gillian Deacon explains how you can easily reduce your "chemical body burden"-the number of harmful chemicals your body has accumulated-simply by knowing what to avoid. She not only helps you identify the dangerous ingredients in all types of body care products, but also recommends the best alternative products and where you can find them. There's Lead in Your Lipstick brims with advice, tips, and head-to-toe solutions for living a healthier, greener life.

So what did you get in your mailbox last week?

SIMILAR ARTICLES