A blogger with writer's block--go figure

It never fails; in the beginning of the month I’m brimming with blog ideas, then they kind of taper off. But I figure I gotta give you something, and we’re still featuring Historical Fiction this month (oh yeah, remember flavor of the month?), so here’s a list of books to read. They’re from the artful reads bookmark, the choices and descriptions respectfully taken from Novelist. This bookmark describes books that tell a story about a famous painting, or what was going on at the time a piece of art was created--very fun stuff. And please bear with me as I gear up for next month!

The Sisters Mortland by Sally Beauman
Before the summer is over, a catastrophic event changes the life of three young sisters in 1967 England.

Portrait of an Unknown Woman
by Vanora Bennett
In an epic tale set against a backdrop of civil-war torn sixteenth-century Europe, portraitist Hans Holbein the Younger flees to the safety of Tudor England in order to escape artistic censorship.

A Richer Dust by Amy Boaz
In 1924, young painter Doll travels from London as she follows social philosopher Abe Bronstone and his wife Vera to Taos, New Mexico, to start a new life.

The God of Spring by Arabella Edge
A tale inspired by the life of painter Thâeodore Gâericault traces the creation of one of his sensational works, "Raft of the Medusa."

The Ruby Ring by Diane Haeger
Seeking refuge in a convent following the untimely death of her lover, master painter Raphael, a penniless Margherita Luti is forced to surrender her ruby engagement ring to a representative of the Pope.

The Painted Kiss by Elizabeth Hickey
Meeting painter Gustav Klimt at the age of twelve, Emilie Flèoge, the youngest daughter of a Viennese businessman, matures into a sanguine adult and becomes the artist's mistress as well as the owner of an exclusive fashion house.

Symphony by Jude Morgan
Joining an early-nineteenth-century English Shakespeare company en route to Paris, Irish actress Harriet Smithson finds herself embroiled in one of history's most notorious love affairs involving the young composer Hector Berlioz.

The Last Van Gogh by Alyson Richman
In 1890, Van Gogh arrives at a peaceful French village to spend the summer under the care of Doctor Gachet, where the painter will spend the final days of his life creating more than seventy paintings, including two portraits of young Marguerite Gachet, who finds herself drawn to the troubled artist.

Luncheon of the Boating Party by Susan Vreeland
Renoir is inspired to paint "Luncheon of the boating party" when he is drawn into lives of the thirteen people featured in it as they enjoy a Parisian summer during the late 1800s.