Light Summer Reading Recommendations

Posted 12 Comments by dogear6

I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately.  It’s one of my very favorite things to do and summer is a great time for kicking back and getting lost in a book.

One of my fellow bloggers, Louise Behiel, recently published a great little romance called “Family Ties“.  If you get a chance, check out her blog.  She’s been doing a series on different types of personalities and while she meant it as an outgrowth of her job as a counseling psychologist, I’ve found it useful for understanding the people in my life.  Others have found it a great guide for developing characters in their fiction.

The book itself is not a run-of-the-mill romance.  Yes, there is some sex but it’s not the focal point of the story and it didn’t happen until well into the story either.  The story revolves around new neighbors getting to know each other, supporting each other, and falling in love as they solve the problems in each of their lives.  It was a gradual process of developing affection and love, much more like normal life than books often portray.

I’m also enjoying the Nell Sweeney books by P.B. Ryan.  The first one is available right now for no charge, but I enjoyed it so much, I bought all the other ones too.  They’re reasonably priced and the author does a good job of maintaining the tension between Nell Sweeney’s past that she conceals and her falling in love with her employer’s son (which does finally resolve in the last book of the series).

The story is set in Boston at the end of the Civil War.  Nell is Irish and encounters a great deal of discrimination for it, even though she is a governess for a wealthy and established family.  Her story is fascinating, from the obstacles she has overcome in her life to fitting into her new life and her ability to solve crimes.

[Note to my daughter – you can stop reading now and go do something else.  Go.  Go on.  Bye bye.]

[You too Mom.  Go.  Now.]

If you want some steamy reading, Lora Leigh’s “Nauti Boys” series will make you need a fan and something cold to drink.  The plots are much better than I expected.  The sex is a bit improbable, but I enjoyed it anyhow :)

So that’s some ideas if you have some free time.  If you’re more into non-fiction, here’s some reviews I did earlier this year for some other great reads:

Tolstoy and The Purple Chair by Nina Sankovitch

The Wilder Life by Wendy McClure

And for heavier summer reads, there’s always Walden by Henry David Thoreau or Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.  They’re both great books, but it will take most of the summer to read them through.

Have fun!

Of course, woman doesn’t live by books alone, although I’d love to try it.  She still needs fresh air and exercise.  What better way to do both than with a trip to Colonial Williamsburg, exploring the gardens and stalking pictures with her favorite camera!  This is so great to only be an hour drive away from such a neat place.

Path in Colonial Williamsburg. It’s so much fun to go exploring!

Reading Virginia Williamsburg

dogear6 View All →

I am a backyard adventurer, philosopher and observer, recording my life in journals and photographs. Visit my blog at www.livingtheseasons.com.

12 Comments Leave a comment ›

  3. When I was in high school, a girlfriend and I would make these long summer reading lists. It was a matter of some importance and much debate would ensue until we each approved of the others list. We would walk to the local library each week and talk about our favorites, pros and cons of whatever we had just finished.
    I think I need to start doing that again. There are so many intriguing books that I hear about or read reviews – and think – I need to read that. But I don’t. So- once again – I am inspired to get a list started (and I may need to call my old friend and see if I can get her okay on my choices) Thanks, Nancy, happy reading! K

    • If you have a good library nearby, use it. I love checking out all kinds of things. I don’t have to read them if I don’t like them, but I’ve discovered all kinds of new authors to follow because I brought home books that only cost me time and effort to go and get.

      Our library has an extensive lease section. I can only do five at a time for two weeks, but I can often get new books without a long wait. Unfortunately, they cannot be reserved but you can see if they’ve been checked in from your home computer.

      Ask you friend if she wants to try the Lora Leigh books and just see how fast she agrees with your choices – big smile on that one!

    • Summer is the best time for it, especially with it so hot and humid lately. I hope you try the books – Louise’s book was really good and I couldn’t believe this was the first book she’d written (or published). The Nell Sweeney ones are good too and you can’t beat free for the first one.

  5. That’s a lovely gate – and a great ending. It’s gotten boring with being stuck indoors with heat/mosquitoes/rain – you are so lucky to be close to Williamsburg – always something new to find there. Have fun

    • Thanks Karen. I agree that being stuck indoors is the pits. When I can’t walk during lunch, I go to the gym in our facility. The instructors laugh at me each time I show up. They know how much I hate using the gym and that the weather has to be be pretty bad for me to stay inside. Which it is.

      It really is great being so close to Williamsburg. While the passes aren’t cheap, we make up there cost within several visits. The botanical garden here is another great little gem that I’m happy to have so close by.

      • We lived there when I was in Elementary school. The best place ever for kids – free passes to everything through the college. (although back then we were free range children: polite and kept out of trouble – all the guides knew us…we had the speeches memorized, too.) So much to explore. Certainly worth the heat/humidity for the fun

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