I’m linking this post up to Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer’s Sunday Blog Share. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.
This week has been another up and down week for me. The beginning of the week was particularly difficult when my already severe pain levels increased further but thankfully they’ve settled a bit since. I’ve had a useful medical appointment this week that is hopefully going to finally lead on to me getting help with the pain. I’m also due to have another MRI scan tomorrow to check that there is nothing else going on in my spine that could be aggravating my pain.
I’m still only managing to concentrate for small periods of time so I’m not getting to read as much as I’d like. I’m grateful to be able to read even a little though and am hoping it will get easier in time. I did manage to finish some books this week that I’ve been reading for a few weeks so I was pleased about that.
It’s been a good week where my blog is concerned though. Thanks to my new scheduling pattern, I had enough posts set up ready to go so that my blog kept going as planned even when I wasn’t around much. It gives me real satisfaction to keep my blog running, even during the tough times so I was really glad that I’d worked out scheduling before this rough patch.
This week I’ve managed to finish reading five books (most of these books I’ve been reading for a few weeks and just finished this week):
Twisted River by Siobhan MacDonald
I really enjoyed reading this book, it was one of those reads that is really hard to put down once you’ve started reading it. It was different to anything else I’ve read recently and kept me guessing all the way through. I’m on the blog tour for this book today and so look out for my interview with Siobhan MacDonald.
Wonder Cruise by Ursula Bloom
Wonder Cruise is such a lovely novel, I found that I wanted to read it slowly to savour it and I really didn’t want it to end. I hope to get my review up this week. I’ll definitely be looking out for more of Ursula Bloom’s novels in the future.
The Second Love of My Life by Victoria Walters
This book is such a gorgeous read, I absolutely loved it! It had such depth to it and yet was never heavy-going. I hope to have my review of this up on my blog this week.
Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell
This is a novella released for World Book Day and my first ever Rainbow Rowell book! I loved it, it’s such an adorable read! This is the only book I managed to read from start to finish in the course of this week.
Shame by Jasvinder Sanghera
This is a fascinating read about a young woman who runs away from her family to escape an arranged marriage, but that is only the beginning of what happened to Jasvinder. This is ultimately an inspiring read and I recommend it. I hope to have my review ready to post very soon.
I’ve blogged twelve times this week (well, eleven times plus a re-blog of my guest post on another blog):
Sunday: Weekly Wrap-Up Post
Monday: Q&A with Kayte Nunn (author of Rose’s Vintage) plus giveaway of ebooks
Blog post: Addicted to Blogging (all about writing my first 200 posts!)
Tuesday: Review of In Too Deep by Samantha Hayes
Wednesday: WWW Wednesday Post
Review of The Boy with the Boxes (Meet Cute) by Katey Lovell
Thursday: Review of The Boy on the Bus (Meet Cute) by Katey Lovell
Q&A with Mike Russell (author of the short story collection, Nothing is Strange)
Friday: Guest post by Heidi Perks (author of Beneath the Surface) about marketing a book on a limited budget
Re-blog from Laura at 125Pages where I wrote a guest post for her about how I approach blogging.
Saturday: Stacking the Shelves Post
Coming up on my blog this week:
My usual WWW Wednesday Post, Stacking the Shelves Post and Weekly Wrap-Up Post. Plus more reviews and an author Q&A/guest post.
This is what I’m currently reading:
Shtum by Jem Lester
This book has got better as it’s gone along and I’m quite enjoying it now.
The Midnight Watch by David Dyer
It’s so frustrating that I can only read in short bursts at the moment because this is a book I would have devoured normally. It’s a brilliant novel though and I highly recommend it. When I’m not able to read I’m thinking about this book and wishing I could get back to it.
Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave
I’ve only managed to read the first few chapters of this due to my lack of concentration but I’ve loved what I’ve read and I’m so looking forward to reading more. They writing is so beautiful and every single page feels like a treat.
What have you been reading this week? Please feel free to link to your weekly wrap-up post, or if you don’t have a blog please share in the comments below! I love to hear what you’re all reading. 
RatherTooFondofBooks 
Your new books look tempting…I am curious about Kindred Spirits, as I’ve enjoyed three books by this author. Have a great week!
Thank you. I plan to review Kindred Spirits soon but I’d definitely recommend it – it’s only about 60pages so a really quick read.
I am glad you are getting some answers and things are being looked at more closely! Back pain can ruin everything. I have permanent back damage. I have to pay careful attention to the different stresses I am going through and my pain levels. I hope you get a better picture of what is going on.
Thank you. I’m sorry you have permanent damage to your back. My condition is permanent too so we’re just looking for better ways to manage the worst of the symptoms. Hopefully something can be done.
Sorry t hear your pain spiked this week, good luck with your appt! Hopefully they can help. It does really take some of the pressure off when posts are scheduled, I found that too after winging it for the longest time lol.
Twisted River does look good, I’ll have to check out your author interview.
Hope you have a great week!
Thank you. It’s made such a difference to me being able to schedule my posts, it takes the pressure off when life is tough or busy. My interview with Siobhan MacDonald is on my blog today and I plan to share my review this week – I finished reading late last night and it was a really good book. Hope you have a good week too.
I’m sorry your pain has been worse again, Hayley 😦 *hugs* I hope the MRI and your appointment last week will help you with that.
YAY for the scheduling! It makes things so much easier, doesn’t it?
I hope next week will be wonderful, and that you’ll get even more reading in 🙂
Thank you so much. Scheduling has made such a huge difference to me, it means I can write and get posts set to publish when I feel ok and when I’m not too well I know it’s all organised. Thanks, I’m hoping to be able to read more this week. 🙂
Yes… I recall the relief I felt when I learnt how to schedule. Hope they can find ways of managing your pain. My life was transformed when I managed to get on top my sciatic nerve pain by the use of a TENS machine… I just wish someone had suggested it earlier! All the best with coping with the pain and huge congratulations – another storming week with 11 posts and managing to complete 5 books. You should be proud.
I’m looking forward to hearing your verdict on Everyone Brave Is Forgiven – I swithered but in the end decided against requesting it… I hope you have a good week, with as little pain as possible:).
It’s such a relief to be able to schedule my blog posts ahead of time, especially when it’s for blog tours that have a set date.
I’ve got a TENS machine and it helps with some of the pain some of the time but not the worst of it. I just take each day as it comes with the pain and I make the most of the times when it eases off a bit.
I missed requesting Everyone Brave is forgiven but then the publisher got in touch and offered to send me a finished hardback copy and I just couldn’t refuse. I love Chris Cleave’s writing, I’ve enjoyed all his previous books that I’ve read. I’m enjoying this one so far too, his writing just feels like a treat to me as it’s so good. I’ll definitely review it once I’ve read it.
Thank you so much, I hope you have a good week too.
I’m glad you can gain a bit of relief. I’ve been very lucky in that once the initial injury sorted itself out, the residual damage was to the sciatic nerve.
It’s clearly a testament to you as a reviewer that the publisher was so keen to offer you a copy – well done:). I haven’t encountered Chris Cleave’s writing at all, so that is definitely someone to put on my TBR list. Thank you for swinging by my post and I hope you have the best possible week.
And… this my link for my weekly wrap-up! https://sjhigbee.wordpress.com/2016/04/24/weekly-wrap-up-24th-april/
I’ll go read your post now, thanks for leaving your link. 🙂
Reblogged this on ahouseofbooks.
Very curious about Shtum, I’ve seen everywhere! Have a great week 🙂
It’s an ok read but it’s not as brilliant as I was expecting it to be given all the hype. I’m still only halfway through it though and I’ve heard the second half is better so I’ll see how it goes.
Hope you have a great week too 🙂
I hope you find a permanent way to manage your pain. I just recently injured my back and now I know what everyone means about the pain. Enjoying your books this week. Most are new authors to me and that’s always a good thing:)
My Sunday Post
I’ve only heard of Carry On out of these, but I really want to read it! It sounds so fun! Twisted River looks interesting too.
I hear you on the only being able to read in short burst things! It’s so frustrating.
And by Carry On I meant Kindred Spirits, oh my god. I need more coffee.
Haha – I guessed you probably meant Kindred Spirits. It was a sweet read, I really enjoyed it.
Twisted River was really good, I hope to have my review ready to share this week. I’d recommend the book though.
It’s so frustrating only being able to read for a short time, I get that I’m really enjoying a book and think I’ll be able to keep reading and then 10-15 mins in my mind starts to wander.
I look forward to reading it 😀
And right! I really enjoy what I’m reading, but then suddenly I’ll start thinking about the most irrelevant things haha.
It is super hard to read when in pain so it’s great you managed to finish some books. I hope they can help you with the pain soon. Hugs.