I have not been feeling particularly well today and I had a distraction with me, so all I’ve managed so far is a slow walk around town and the purchase of a single book, The Needle in the Blood by Sarah Bower. We stayed in for Valentine’s Day yesterday and mostly just ate, which may be the source of my current blah-ness. Since my favorite distraction just left, I decided that since I am going to be reading for the rest of the evening, I might as well write about where I’m spending the next few hours!
So, I’m almost halfway through The King’s Rose by Alisa M. Libby. It’s an ARC and I picked it up thinking that since I’m now scheduling reviews in March, I should start reading the ARCs that have to be reviewed then and lessen the pressure when essay season starts up again (well, actually, I’ll be starting research this week, so the more I read now the better). I didn’t realize that this one doesn’t need to be posted until the 19th though, so it will be a good long while before the review actually shows up. I’m enjoying it though. It’s YA historical fiction about Catherine Howard, so while I like it, my insides are cringing anticipating the ending. I can’t imagine what it would be like reading a book about Anne Boleyn or Catherine Howard (or Lady Jane Grey, for that matter) and not know the ending. I think I’d be absolutely devastated because it’s often very easy to become attached to them. At least this way I can mentally prepare myself as the novel moves on. I just realized that this may be a spoiler, so I hope everyone reading knows at least that bit of Tudor history. *crosses fingers* 
Just yesterday I finished Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn and let me tell you, I adored it from beginning to end. That’s a review I can’t wait to write and I’m busy being overjoyed and impatiently waiting for Silent in the Sanctuary to come in the mail so I can get to it. I already have an ARC of Silent on the Moor. I can’t wait for Lady Julia Grey to come visit my beloved Yorkshire and I’m very pleased with my new author discovery.
Next up will be The Brightest Moon of the Century by Christopher Meeks. I’ve been excited about this book since it arrived in the mail last month. I loved Meeks’ two short story collections and this is his first novel, so I suspect my eagerness is justified.
So, great stuff for me ahead this week! What’s next on your reading list?
sounds like you’re keeping busy with all those arcs.
can’t wait to read your review of The King’s Rose!
marie’s last blog post..REVIEW: Notes on Democracy, by H.L. Mencken
I’ve heard great things from other bloggers about The King’s Rose. I can only imagine how hard reading the ending must be if it’s unexpected. Not that being expected makes it easy, but like you said, at least we can prepare ourselves.
Is Valentine’s Day big over there? It wasn’t when we lived in France. I hope you’re back to 100% soon.
Kathy’s last blog post..Weekly Link Round-Up
LOL… don’t feel bad, I hadn’t started reading Matrimony until this morning. I really like Josh, but I’d pegged this book as another ho-hum get-married-get-divorced, Big Chill kind of book and had been dragging my feet about reading it. BUT, I could NOT have been more wrong! I just started it this morning, and really started reading it in earnest after dinner, and I’m almost a third of the way through. So far it’s been quirky and funny, with the kind of characters that really stick in your memory. I’m just now beginning to get into more dramatic and emotional content, which is to be expected if a book is to represent real life.
If you’d like to join in the Matrimony blog ring, I could pass your info on to Josh
The Kool-Aid Mom’s last blog post..Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis
That’s a great cover on The Needle in the Blood, it looks interesting! I’ve read both of the earlier SILENT books and I loved them too. I’m looking forward to getting to Moor.
Hope you are feeling better!
Carey’s last blog post..Happy Valentine’s Day Blogland!!
I mean to read Silent in the Grave soon!
Kerrie’s last blog post..Literature Maps – finding new authors
Those all sound like great books – especially Needle in the Blood. I guess my TBR pile just got a little taller! Hope your blah-ness goes away real soon.
JLS Hall’s last blog post..Tuesday Thingers: Swap This Book
I really loved the Raybourn book when I read it, and really want to read The King’s Rose!
I’m doing the same thing with a lot of review books – reading and scheduling the reviews so I don’t fall behind later!
S. Krishna’s last blog post..The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo – Stieg Larsson
I’m almost done with Silent in the Sanctuary. I’ve really been enjoying the Raybourn books. I hope you receive the second book soon (if you haven’t already)!
Alyce’s last blog post..Book Giveaway Carnival