Notice for Review Requests

I receive review requests weekly. However, my personal schedule is hectic and I no longer review actively. (I also manage another blog called The Toronto Cafe and Food Blog). I do read every request sent but I apologize in advance that I do not reply to them all.

If I do take on a request, I will forewarn that it may take some time before I can review it. I am now looking to review adult fiction and self-help books instead of young adult fiction because I have grown out of it. If you are to request a review for either adult fiction or self-help, I will more likely to give it a shot.

In the meantime, Stop, Drop, and Read! serves as an archive book review blog. When I have the time, I may post a review. Thank you for understanding.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

A servant from The King's Rose

The King's Rose by Alisa M. Libby is about a young woman who's life completely changes when she wedded King Henry VIII. In this post, it is through a servant's perspective as she watches the new queen dance at the ball.

~~~

August, 1540, Hampton Court Palace, England

Our new queen does look a pretty thing in that gown, all velvet and jeweled and royal purple. She does sparkle, this little Catherine Howard does, I will say that for her. But I’ve seen the ones who’ve come and gone before her, and I don’t know where all these rounds of dancing and banqueting will lead unless—may the Lord bless us so—she already have a prince lying in wait in her belly. Surely Henry thinks of this when he looks at her; he is our old lusty king Hal again, after years of sourness and dismay. A bit rounder than he was in younger years, of course, for nothing pairs so well with dismay as unwatered wine and an extra pudding or two, but that is not for me to worry about. Let little Catherine figure how to make the great king happy; I am content to watch from the shadows.

The young queen twirls on the dance floor, that wide gown swishing around her and her bodice and fingers all a-twinkle with gems. I am only a servant here, a cook’s helper no less. But I will tell you this: I would not dally with this king for all the velvet and jewels in the world, not with all of Henry’s dead ghost-wives nipping like dogs at my heels. I can see them all in the hall right now: the first Catherine is blowing out candles, Jane Seymour plucks a sour note on a lute string, Anne Boleyn rakes her fingernails across the tapestries. Little Catherine does not see them, no, not yet. Her eyes are blinded by diamonds. But if ghosts don’t take her down, the living will. They surround her, too, smiling, always smiling, with eyes like those I see on dead fish.

May she fill a bassinet with a red-haired Tudor babe, Amen. A son, of course, Amen, again to that—and may she be so lucky as to live to tell the tale. Luckier than all the rest before her. Amen.

~~~

Historical fiction lovers should definitely look into this YA novel! You can win a signed copy of The King's Rose here! Or if you already have it, you can win a shirt of Alisa's debut, The Blood Confession! Or just take a shot at both to win one or the other!

And Alisa is awesome enough to take a snapshot of congratulations! Thank you!

Prize(s): A signed copy of the King's Rose OR The Blood Confession T-shirt
# of Winners: 2
Eligibility:
US

How to get entries:
(please put keep it in the format below when you comment!)
+1 Comment
(TELL ME WHICH ONE YOU WANT TO BE ENTERED IN IF NOT BOTH)
+1 New follower
+2 Old follower

+1 Linking this contest once somewhere else around the web

post signature

50 comments:

MissA said...

I love historical fiction!
I would like a copy of the King's Rose
+2 I'm an old follower (actually i'm young, haha my poor attempt at humor :)

Anonymous said...

Oooo, that sounds bloody brilliant. I love all the old-England-history. *is a dork*

Copy of The King's Rose
+1 Comment
+2 Old Follower
+1 Linked (WORD for Teens Contest Page)

tawndam said...

sounds great! Will definitely have to look for this one... that is, if I don't win it! (I like both, though... ;-))
+1 comment
+2 old follower (why does saying that always make me feel OLD? lol)

Kelsey said...

I would love to win The King's Rose(:

+1- comment
+2- old follower

kelseythebookscout@gmail.com

Fantastic Book Review said...

Great Contests!

+1 I would love a copy of The King's Rose

+2 Old Follower

Tynga said...

Just wanted to let you know I just gave you an award =)
http://tyngasreviews.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-first-award.html

Anonymous said...

Awesome contest, thanks! I would like the copy of King's Rose.
+2 old follower
adrienne2093(at)comcast(dot)net

Hot Off the Shelves said...

+1 Comment The book sounds great! Please enter me!

+2 Old follower

Valorie said...

+1 I would love to win The King's Rose.

+1 New follower.

+1 Blogged: http://www.morbid-romantic.net/2009/08/13/book-giveaways-08-10-08-16/.

Valorie
morbidromantic@gmail.com

Jolynn said...

+1 I would like the book.
+1 new follower
Jolynn_Reads @yahoo dot com

M.A.D. said...

Mary D
zenrei57 (at) hotmail (dot) com

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and I would so love to win this!

+1 comment
+1 I am a new follower (well, am not REALLY new, will turn 52 soon --- argh :P ) lol

A Passion For Books said...

That sounds good.

Diana you have a award
http://casey62588.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-first-award.html

Casey

Cecelia said...

I'd love to be entered for the book!
+1 comment
+2 old follower
+1 linking this contest on my blog sidebar

Thanks for the chance to win!

Cecelia said...

And...I forgot to list my email address. It's celialarsen(at)gmail(dot)com

Erica said...

I would love to entered to win either - I absolutely loooovvvveee historical fiction!


+1 comment
+2 Old follower

:) Erica
thebookcellar@wi.rr.com

Beth (BBRB) said...

I'd like either. They both sound great!

+1 comment
+1 new follower

Anonymous said...

cintiaq@aol.com

+1 Comment
+1 New follower
+1 Linking this contest at a blog in pulseit http://pulseit.simonandschuster.com/_1st-blogoversary/blog/513482/107649.html

mrsshukra said...

+1 I would like to be entered for The King's Rose

+2 Old follower

deliah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

Ooh, ooh, ooh! I would love to win a copy of the King's Rose. I really enjoy reading Tudor fiction.

+1 Comment
+1 New follower

throuthehaze said...

I would love a copy of the King's Rose

+1 comment
+1 new follower

throuthehaze at gmail dot com

Alyssa F said...

Ahhhh! I want to win the King's Rose sooooooooooo bad! Please, please, please, enter me!

Okay pleading over now, I promise. :)

+1 Please enter me for the King's Rose
+2 Old follower through Bloglines
+1 Linked this contest at my blog:http://theshadyglade.blogspot.com/2009/08/contest-roundup-august-17th.html

Cher said...

I would love to read the book as it sounds awesome! (The tee sounds great too, but I haven't read the book yet.)

+1 Comment
+1 New follower

Anonymous said...

+1 comment
+1 New Follower
+1 linked: http://biki209.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!88898F4A49C6F88D!371.entry

thanks!~

chichai_hana(at)hotmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

+1 I would like to enter for both
+1 new follower
+1 tweet

http://twitter.com/bridget3420/status/3366382894

bjhopper(at)me(dot)com

Unknown said...

I would love to win a copy of The King's Rose.

+1 Comment
+2 Old follower
+1 added to sidebar
neverendingshelf.blogspot.com

Kate
neverendingshelf@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

OOOHHH! Exciting! I would love to win Preferably this book, but please enter me in the t-shirt contest too
+1 Comment
+1 New follower
andreaartist24@yahoo.com

+1 I Linked this contest on my blog
www.elenagraffino.wordpress.com

Brittany said...

What an exciting picture!

I would love a copy of The King's Rose
+1 Comment
+1 new follower
+1 linked on sidebar

Ninja Fanpire said...

+1 Commenting
ninjafanpire@hotmail.com
+1 New follower
+1 Linked to contests in blog post: http://ninjafanpire.blogspot.com/2009/08/contests_15.html

Genevieve said...

I'd love a copy of The King's Rose! Historical fiction is so much fun to read.


+1 Comment
+1 New follower
+1 Linking this contest once somewhere else around the web. My sidebar:
http://caprubia.blogspot.com/

caprubia(at)gmail(dot)com

Marie said...

I would love to read either one :-)

I am a new follower.

marielay@gmail.com

~The Book Pixie said...

I want to read The King's Rose sooo bad!

+1 comment. I want The King's Rose
+2 old follower
+1 Linked to sidebar: http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/

~Briana
thebookpixie(at)yahoo(dot)com

Liviania said...

You know what I did my last day in England? That's right, I went to Hampton Court. Cost me 12 pounds to get there, but I did it.

I'd like to be entered to win THE KING'S ROSE.

+1 Comment
+2 Old Follower

inbedwithbooks AT yahoo DOT com

Sarah said...

I'm a sucker for historical fiction. I'd love to be entered for this contest!(for both, that is)

+2 I'm an old follower
+1 And this is up on my sidebar!

Thanks for the contest!
Limerick
two_of_hearts_101 at yahoo dot com

BookFanatic said...

I'm Ecstatic about this Contest!

Email: i_yamileth_h_11(at)hotmail(dot)com

+1 Comment
+2 Old follower
+1 Linking this contest once somewhere else around the web

Katie said...

I would love to be entered to win a copy of The King's Rose. It sounds really good.

+1 comment
+2 follower

katieb206@gmail.com

Midnight Cowgirl said...

I would love a copy of The King's Rose

+1 Comment

butterflythunder(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

Shawna L. said...

Shawna Lewis
weloveourdogs@juno.com

+1 I twetted http://twitter.com/theblindcupid/status/3520282867

Shawna L. said...

Shawna Lewis
weloveourdogs@juno.com


I am a old follower

Shawna L. said...

Shawna Lewis
weloveourdogs@juno.com


I would love the book for I haven't read it and would love to do so.

Shawna L. said...

Shawna Lewis
weloveourdogs@juno.com


+1 Thanks for this chance to win
Smiles & Winks ;o) Shawna

Dominique said...

+1 I already have a copy of The King's Rose :D Please just count me in for the t-shirt (my sister loved The Blood Confession!!) Thank you!

+2 I'm an old follower

thanks!! :)
Dominique
bookvault(at)yahoo.com

Beth said...

+1 please enter me. I would love to win The King's Rose

nfmgirl said...

+1 I'd love The King's Rose.

+1 New follower

+1 Blogged:
http://cerebralgirl.blogspot.com/2009/08/book-giveaways-in-blogworld-08-22-09.html

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

CherylS22 said...

+1 Please enter me for the signed copy of "The King's Rose"

+1 New follower

Thanks ~ megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

Margo said...

+1 comment

+2 follower

I'd really like the King's Rose!

Ellz said...

Please count me in! I'd love to win the book, or the shirt, I'd like to be entered for both. Thanks.
+1 comment
+1 new follower
zenfoxflowerATyahooDOTcom

L said...

I'd love to be entered for both please!

+1 Comment
+2 Old follower
+1 sidebar:
http://violeteyesroaming.blogspot.com/

lovinfitch(at)aol(dot)com

Book Sp(l)ot said...

I didn't know she'd written THe Blood Confesion--now I know she's written two books about two of the historical periods/people I found most interesting...I'll definitely have to check them out!!!

I'd like to be entered for either

+1 for commenting
+1 for following (apparently I wasn't already no matter how much I thought so)

book.splotATgmailDOTcom

booksrmysoul said...

Blair W
blairwlewis@gmail.com

Thank you for this chance to win this book!! Sign me up for both please!!!

+1 Commenting
+1 New Follower
+1 I twetted http://twitter.com/booksrmysoul/status/3893457789

3 points

CassandraBelikov440 said...

+1. commenting
+2 old follower
+1 posted about it in my blog

http://irishprincess440.blogspot.com/


Cassandra Conley
cassy133@yahoo.com