Because I want to focus a bit more on my reads I haven’t been accepting as many ARCs lately. Granted, sometimes some of those come without being requested and it’s very nice of course but they may just have to wait a bit longer on the nightstand.

I do want to share with you some of the ARCs I’m especially thrilled about though.

First, is The Missing Ink by Karen E. Olson. I really enjoyed Karen’s Annie Seymour series and can’t wait to read this one which is the start of her new Tattoo Shop mystery series. A postcard came with the ARc which has the cover art for the book and it’s quite cool. Not only that, but I’m happy to host Karen during her blog tour in July.

Next is More Than It Hurts You by Darin Strauss. From the back cover: Strauss’s extraordinary novel is set in a world turned upside down – where doctors try to save babies from their parents, police use the law to tear families apart, and the people you think you know best end up surprising you the most.

Then I got a book from a new to me publisher, Other Press. I’ve just briefly looked through their catalog and am already adding more books to my list but first, I’ll get to read The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist. This dystopian novel takes the reader to a world where women over fifty and men over sixty who are childless, and do not contribute in ways deemed productive for society, are designated as “dispensable,” and are expected to contribute in other ways. They are taken to a special reserve bank for physical and psychological experiments. Being that my husband and I are childless I am at once curious and a bit anxious to read this one.

So, I’ve got some interesting reading ahead of me don’t you think? What about you? What ARCs/books have you received lately that you are excited about?

Oh and don’t forget my giveaway. I’ll post the winners sometime later on Friday.

I’ve finished off two good reads which I promise to tell you about soon but now let me tell you about my current reads. Yep, I’ve started three books in the past two days.

First, is the very atmospheric story of My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier. This is a tale of suspicions and death complete with a brooding young master and a beguiling woman. I’m loving it. Just read this passage of what Philip thinks of the woman he blames for the death of his uncle:

“Since my journey to the villa she had become a monster, larger than life itself. Her eyes were black as sloes, her features aquiline like Rainaldi’s, and she moved about those musty villa rooms sinuous and silent, like a snake.”

Oh but what a surprise for Philip when he finally meets Cousin Rachel. Has anyone read this? I’ve only read Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier but I get the feeling I’ll be searching for more of her books after I finish this one.

My next read is a book for the Southern Reading challenge, Sights Unseen by Kaye Gibbons. In a small North Carolina town, young Hattie grows up only knowing her mother as the changeable stranger. The woman who can be adoring one minute and the next might be having fits over strangers who she thinks are stealing her soul.

“Mother was depressed almost always, and her sadness was fractured only by wild, delusional turns of mind, with brief periods of stability that were celebrated and remembered by my family as though they were spectacular occurrences, like total eclipses or meteor showers.”

I couldn’t stop reading this and in just one sitting got up to page fifty.

Finally this evening I started The Lighthouse by P.D. James. I’ve read a couple of James’ books and like the series. This one happens to be the 13th book and you know me, I wouldn’t normally skip ahead but it’s the read for my mystery book group which meets next week.

So far I know that Inspector Adam Dalgliesh is going to have to go to Combe Island. A place where the country’s important and powerful men go to getaway from the rigors of their professional lives. There are no casual visitors allowed and no cell phones.

Hmm, sounds nice aside from the fact that someone died and all signs point to murder.

Alright, my cup of tea and these very good reads are waiting for me now. More book talk tomorrow.