End of Summer Reads

Greetings! Summer is coming to a close, and now that the kids are back in school, I’m back to work. So, I’m sharing one last end-of-summer reading list with you before I jump into the autumn thriller/mystery season. Fall is amazing. It’s a time of vibrant landscapes, pumpkin spice lattes, soups and stews, football, and it’s a time when writers can justify wearing yoga/sweat pants all day. Even though a lot of us have probably been wearing our jammies or yesterday’s workout gear all along, it is not universally accepted until the weather turns chilly. Then, who cares? We’re all too busy looking at pumpkins and leaves to notice. 

So, here goes. I’ve picked some books I want to read, and a couple I wouldn’t normally read, but probably should. Perhaps, you’ll find a book you come to love somewhere on this list. In any case, enjoy the day and whatever you’re reading!

Bay of Sighs by Nora Roberts

The title of this fantasy romance sounds so intriguing I may just buy the book to have it in my library. It helps that Roberts is an amazingly versatile author. She’s written enough books to fill several libraries, and can move between genres, like it’s no big deal. The third book of The Guardians Trilogy is coming in December, so there is plenty of time to read Bay of Sighs and Stars of Fortune before Island of Glass launches.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bay-of-sighs-nora-roberts/1122935473?ean=9780425280119#productInfoTabs

Curious Minds by Janet Evanovich and Phoef Sutton

A new series from a couple of solid authors. Evanovich made a splash with the humorous Stephanie Plum series, and is collaborating again with Phoef Sutton (they co-authored Wicked Charms) to launch the Knight and Moon series. Looks like a fun one. 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/curious-minds-janet-evanovich/1123476321?ean=9780553392685

The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer

Comedy is subjective. What one person might find funny another may not. I find humor in a lot of things, but a lot depends on the situation and my viewpoint. What I’m saying, is while I don’t watch Amy Schumer, I have found some of her clips and a couple feature articles about her funny. She’s kind of a big deal right now, so it might be an interesting read.

Notes from Barnes & Noble Overview (from B&N site)

“In The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, Amy mines her past for stories about her teenage years, her family, relationships, and sex and shares the experiences that have shaped who she is—a woman with the courage to bare her soul to stand up for what she believes in, all while making us laugh.”

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-girl-with-the-lower-back-tattoo-amy-schumer/1123499310?ean=9781501139888

Sweet Tomorrows by Debbie Macomber

The conclusion of the Rose Harbor series received a number of positive reviews, I read more of those now that I’m an author, and this might be a series to consider binge reading as the summer heat wanes.

Notes from Barnes & Noble Overview (from B&N site)

“With Debbie Macomber’s trademark charm and wisdom, Sweet Tomorrows brings to a close the journeys of cherished characters who feel like old friends. Macomber has created an enchanting place in the Rose Harbor Inn that readers will never forget.”

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sweet-tomorrows-debbie-macomber/1123626872?ean=9780553391848#productInfoTabs

Summer Reads

I began blogging about summer reads a few years ago and have just enough time between chapters and kid camps to share some new suggestions. Grab a good book, spread a beach towel and enjoy the summer! Feel free to share your recommendations too.

The Pursuit by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

Evanovich fans should try this new series with FBI specialist Kate O’Hare and international con man Nicolas Fox. O’Hare caught Fox after a long search, then the FBI recruited him to help take down some of the world’s most dangerous criminals. Now, O’Hare has to work with the thief she stalked and captured. Fox and O’Hare share witty banter, and explore their romantic feelings, as they race to stop ex-Serbian military officer, Dragan Kovic, before he endangers thousands of American lives. I just finished The Pursuit and would say it’s a great summer read.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-pursuit-janet-evanovich/1123601703?ean=9781101965931

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

I picked this up in a local bookstore and just started reading. So far, I like main character Flavia de Luce, an 11-year-old sleuth with a brain and some pluck. I’m interested to follow her on her investigation of a murder in the English countryside circa 1950.

https://www.amazon.com/Sweetness-Bottom-Pie-Flavia-Mystery/dp/0385343493

Stone Cold by C.J. Box

After finishing my first C.J. Box thriller, I immediately went out and bought another. I enjoyed Box’s description of wide-open spaces and the dangers inherent in the remote Wyoming wilderness. In this book, Game Warden, Joe Pickett, has been assigned the task of looking into a suspicious ranch owner in the remote Black Hills of Wyoming. Danger lurks beneath the surface and it’s sure to be a wild ride to the end.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stone-cold-c-j-box/1115700115?ean=9780425272824

Summer Entertainment: Books & Movies

Summer is the perfect time to get swept away in a good book or movie. Over at NPR, they've come up with more than 100 movie and book recommendations and staff picks. It's worth checking out just to see the graphics of all those book and film covers. My to be read and watched lists just grew exponentially. Thanks for all the ideas, NPR. :)

Summer Reads: Kid Reads

Our family loves books! This week while searching for interesting kid books, I found some suggestions worth sharing from The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC).

Kids can learn and get so much enjoyment from books, so read with them, it really does make a difference! I grouped these by age to make things easier for parents, aunties, and anyone looking for children’s books.

What do you like to read to your kids, neices/nephews, grandkids? Feel free to add to this list in the comments section. 

Listed with books good for grades K-2 (ALSC)

Hi Koo! A Year of Seasons by Jon J. Muth

Like pandas? How about Haiku? Koo the panda is back and discovering each season through poetry.  This looks fun!

How Big Were Dinosaurs? by Lita Judge

Because…dinosaurs.

In a series of charming portraits, dinos of all sizes are compared to real-life objects in the modern world.

Listed under books good for grades 3-5 (ALSC)

The Chicken Squad: The First Misadventure by Doreen Cronin

Crime-solving chickens. Why didn’t I think of this?

Meet the Chicken Squad: Dirt, Sugar, Poppy, and Sweetie. These chicks are out to solve some mysteries. First in a series.

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff

Twelve-year-old Rump goes on a quest to discover his true identity and to break a magical curse in this humorous take on the classic fairy tale.

Listed under books good for grades 6-8 (ALSC)

Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan

In an epic novel, three children find their lives changed through a magic harmonica and their own self-resilience.

Magic harmonica. ‘Nuf said.

Lowriders in Space by Cathy Camper

So. Curious.

Flapjack, Elirio, and Lupe build a custom out-of-this-world lowrider car to enter in the Universal Car Competition. They hope to win the cash prize and open their dream garage. First in a series.

Summer Reads: Five for Friday

This week I noticed a lot more back-to-school chatter. Summer vacation has ended for some, and is coming to a close for others. This is both good and bad news. Yay, school and learning! Boo, end of lazy, summer days (if you had a chance to enjoy any)!

There are still sunny days left before we head back. I want to spend most of them playing outdoors with the kiddos and reading great books long after sunset without an alarm at reveille. So, here’s a Five for Friday list in case you want more summer reading ideas.

Now go, pack in as much fun as you can, and squeeze in a few more good books before summer sails off into the horizon.

Enjoy!

Voices in the Ocean: A Journey into the Wild and Haunting World of Dolphins by Susan Casey

If the title and the cover are any indication, this is going to be an incredible book.

Inspired by a chance encounter with spinner dolphins off the coast of Maui, Casey decided she wanted to learn more about dolphins. The book is said to explore dolphin science and cultural meaning, but also discusses the importance of protecting the species from hunters.

This sounds like the perfect blend of heart and science. The kind of summer read that reminds us all of earth’s many wondrous creatures.

X by Sue Grafton

Kinsey Millhone is a pretty strong character. She’s a private investigator who’s seen her share of bad guys. In her latest installment of the alphabet series, X, Millhone has to identify and help catch a serial killer before he catches her.

Reviews are listing this as an “intense” and “chilling” novel. Grafton crafts Millhone with the characteristic pluck, intensity, and humor readers enjoy while creating a psycho serial killer to ratchet up the anxiety while Millhone works her investigative magic.

Leaving Berlin: A Novel by Joseph Kanon

Looked so interesting, I may just have to buy it right now.

Excerpt of Amazon's Overview:

The acclaimed author of The Good German “deftly captures the ambience” (The New York Times Book Review) of postwar East Berlin in his “thought-provoking, pulse-pounding” (Wall Street Journal) New York Times bestseller—a sweeping spy thriller about a city caught between political idealism and the harsh realities of Soviet occupation.

All the Old Knives: A Novel by Olen Steinhauer

This book delves into a CIA hostage rescue mission that went sideways. The Vienna agents on duty, lovers at the time of the incident, meet up six years later to piece together what really happened, and find out if one of their own had been compromised.

The Little Paris Bookshop: A Novel by Nina George

A man named Monsieur Perdu is a self-described literary apothecary. He runs a bookstore from a barge floating on the Seine, prescribing “novels for the hardships in life.” (Amazon) He just has trouble finding the right prescription for his own loss, until he reads a letter from a great, lost love.

This book is on Oprah’s Book List under the tab ‘Books for When Your Brain is Melted’. Sit back, relax and travel with Perdu as he ventures out to heal others, and possibly, himself.

Summer Reads for Your Journey

Photo Copyright: Windswept Sands by K.Gibson

I compiled this book list for a variety of summer readers. Here are three interesting picks for those who wish to take a literary journey; leap into pet-parenthood with their kids; or adventure with authors to new lands.

Whether you read one or not, I invite you to find and share your favorite summer reads in the comments.

Enjoy!

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Summer is the perfect time to get swept away. This Pulitzer Prize winner could do just that. Some of the reviews I read are saying this beautifully written book has well-drawn characters and a story that flows. If those aren’t good enough, the page-long overview on Barnes & Noble might help sway you.

Here’s part of the Overview from Barnes & Noble:

Doerr’s “stunning sense of physical detail and gorgeous metaphors” (San Francisco Chronicle) are dazzling. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, he illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another. Ten years in the writing, a National Book Award finalist, All the Light We Cannot See is a magnificent, deeply moving novel from a writer “whose sentences never fail to thrill” (Los Angeles Times).

What Pet Should I Get? by Dr. Seuss

Are your little ones asking for a pet? This could be a fun book to help you settle on the right one, or just get the conversation rolling in a fun way. Since our kids have been asking for everything from puppies to ponies, it’s time we pick this one up and read together.

Not sure? Here’s a brief clip from Barnes & Noble:

This never-ever-before-seen picture book by Dr. Seuss about making up one’s mind is the literary equivalent of buried treasure! What happens when a brother and sister visit a pet store to pick a pet? Naturally, they can’t choose just one! The tale captures a classic childhood moment—choosing a pet—and uses it to illuminate a life lesson: that it is hard to make up your mind, but sometimes you just have to do it!

An Innocent Abroad by Don George

Anthologies are a recurring theme for me this summer. I enjoy them because you can sample short stories from a variety of authors. It’s a great way to find out whether I like a writer’s style before committing to a longer length novel.

This anthology sounds just right for all those rushing to fit in last-minute travels before heading back-to-school.

Overview from B&N:

An Innocent Abroad: Life Changing Trips From 35 Great Writers is everything a travel anthology should be, ranging from funny to touching to heartbreaking while always remaining engrossing. The anthology features a diverse and wide ranging number of contributors, from writers Dave Eggers and Ann Patchett to seasoned travel chroniclers like Jan Morris.

Latest Summer Reads & Brief Review of The Liar

The Liar by Nora Roberts

I admit this was a long book, but it didn’t feel long. Roberts does an incredible job of weaving in backstory as Shelby Foxworth works to put her life back together after the death of her husband.

It’s nice that Roberts didn’t make Shelby a whiner, or I’d have stopped reading. There were times I understood and sympathized with Shelby's role as a young mom of a three-year-old daughter. She juggles a lot, but puts her head down and keeps going. A hard-working, relatable character is one you root for in a story like this.

Roberts shows her mastery of character, setting, and story development—with a mystery to solve, a steamy romance (who doesn’t love a handsome man who works well with his hands?), and plenty of down-home comfort, this book is a definite summer read.

Here’s an overview from Barnes & Noble:

Shelby Foxworth lost her husband. Then she lost her illusions…

The man who took her from Tennessee to an exclusive Philadelphia suburb left her in crippling debt. He was an adulterer and a liar, and when Shelby tracks down his safe-deposit box, she finds multiple IDs. The man she loved wasn’t just dead. He never really existed.

Shelby takes her three-year-old daughter and heads south to seek comfort in her hometown, where she meets someone new: Griff Lott, a successful contractor. But her husband had secrets she has yet to discover. Even in this small town, surrounded by loved ones, danger is closer than she knows—and threatens Griff, as well. And an attempted murder is only the beginning...

*Booklist (starred review)

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

Controversial is an understatement when it comes to this book. Rumors and questions surrounded the publishing of the book so long after To Kill a Mockingbird. Was this what Harper Lee really wanted? Was it pushed out now because of money?  Oh boy, the conversations before the launch were lively, and now, they’re even louder.

Some folks love it, and are glad to read something else of Lee’s even fifty years later. Some can’t believe Harper Lee actually agreed to publish this as the character Atticus Finch is controversial in this one. (Word is the character inspired by Lee’s own father is shockingly different from the one we learned about in grade school.)

Either way, this book will be talked about for some time. So, if you’re curious, or want in on the discussion, you should probably check it out.

Overview from Barnes & Noble:

A historic literary event: the publication of a newly discovered novel, the earliest known work from Harper Lee, the beloved, bestselling author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning classic, To Kill a Mockingbird.

Originally written in the mid-1950s, Go Set a Watchman was the novel Harper Lee first submitted to her publishers before To Kill a Mockingbird. Assumed to have been lost, the manuscript was discovered in late 2014…

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

I posted the overview from Barnes & Noble (B&N) because it made me want to read this book. It just sounds interesting (King Lear and a pandemic? Whoa!). Maybe you’ll think so, and put it on your book list, too.

P.S. Mine is really long, and also eclectic.

Overview from B&N:

It seems like over the last few years a bunch of novelists got together and made a pact to pen postapocalyptic stories. If you choose to check out just one of them, Station Eleven, Arthur C. Clarke Award winnner and National Book Award finalist, is a great pick. In its opening pages, famous actor Arthur Leander collapses onstage during a production of King Lear. His death (though unrelated) heralds the beginning of a worldwide flu pandemic. The novel moves back and forth through time to describe what happens as the illness and panic spreads…

Time for New Summer Reads!

Summer is officially here! Time to relax, rejuvenate and read! Here are a few books you may want whether you’re headed to the beach, or the backyard.  

Invasion of Privacy by Christopher Reich

Let’s face it, technology is everywhere. The wife of gunned down FBI agent Joe Grant receives a strange voicemail from her husband that later disappears. When Mary digs into her husband’s death ‘she finds herself on the trail of a secret that could transform the world, and the target of a dangerous psychopath.’ (Paraphrased from Barnes & Noble)

The Wright Brothers by David McCullough

This is for my peeps from the Birthplace of Aviation! If you like this kind of story, you may also want to check out American Genius on the National Geographic Channel. They put together a documentary on the heated race for flight between the Wright Brothers and Glenn Curtiss (as well as some other very interesting rivalries).

“In 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved flight. In his new book, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner David McCullough explores the lives of these two men from Dayton, Ohio—preacher’s sons who did not attend college, and who were bicycle makers and salesmen prior to their invention of the first powered airplane. He sheds light on the skeptical reaction they received from a general public that did not understand their accomplishments, and takes a look at the contributions of their overlooked sister, Katharine. The truths he uncovers are startling and inspirational.” (Barnes & Noble)

Wicked Charms by Janet Evanovich and Phoef Sutton

“Evanovich introduced her New York Times best-selling Lizzy and Diesel series with 2010's Wicked Appetite, featuring dazzling Salem, MA, baker Elizabeth Tucker (her cupcakes drive men mad) and the seductive Diesel, first seen in Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books. Here she brings on multi-award-winning writer/producer/novelist Sutton to help. Each tale involves the search for an ancient relic mysteriously linked to one of the seven deadly sins—in this case, greed.” (Library Journal)