Summer Reading Recommdendations

HAPPY SUMMER!

I have been thinking about the whole concept of "summer reading"...basically, it's supposed to be mindless stuff you can read on the beach, under an umbrella, while sipping a cold frosty drink.

Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!

Then I realized that summer reading is all about the ANTI-ANGST. Nothing too heavy, too disturbing, too conflicted. In fact, it occurred to me that I love summer reading ALL YEAR LONG. Since I love quirky, funny, light-hearted stuff. My regular reading list is pretty much "summer reading"...I know, I'm shallow. I can live with that.


So, I decided to put together a summer reading recommendation list. Some fun, light books I've read recently and not so recently.

❀PENELOPE'S TOTALLY MINDLESS, FUN SUMMER READING LIST❀

1. CASTAWAY DREAMS by Darlene Marshall

Light, sweet, romantic, adorable. And the hero and heroine are castaways on an island. PERFECT SUMMER READ! Historical romance.


2. PENELOPE by Anya Wylde

Over-the-top farce, charming and fun. Loved it! Historical romance.


3. SWEETENED WITH A KISS by Lexxi Callahan

This has some of the sexiest push-and-pull chemistry between a hero and heroine I've ever read. Also throws in an unexpected suspenseful storyline, which is another thing I really like with my summer reading. HOT! I read it TWICE over vacation I liked it so much. Contemporary romance with suspense.


4. THE FORNARINA AFFAIR by Ellis Drake

I read a lot of mysteries over the summer. And this one combined some of my favorite interests...art history, Rome, and a sexy romance. Charming! This is a short, entertaining read that will really appeal to folks in love with all things Italian and art history. Romantic mystery.


5. SPOTTED OVERCOAT by Denise Janikowski-Krewal

Poetry in the summer? Sure! I like mixing it up. Here's a snippet from "Sassy Siren of Kalamazoo"...

Lean sophistication
In her rouged lips
Flim-flam, fur fancier
Dropped waist
Flimsy tail
Beaded swinging lariat
Cooing at the Model-T followers
Slithering out of her
Bent Duesenberg
Floozy doozy

I really enjoyed this debut book of poetry by Denise. Poetry.


6. AIRE by Lena Goldfinch

Lush, lovely, romantic YA fantasy. You can never have too many HEAs in your summer reading list. YA.


7. BURN by Scarlett Parrish

From my Goodreads review:

Wow. This is not your typical erotica writer. Scarlett has major writing chops, excellent character insight, fast-paced, humorous dialogue, intelligent details, and sweat-inducing sex scenes. I am freakin' impressed. And not only did I manage to read M/M in spite of my vanilla-self, I enjoyed it.

Quick read, extremely well-written. M/M erotica.

(As an aside: I have been on a Scarlett Parrish reading bender, since I discovered her incredible writing voice, unexpected prose, and highly original love scenes. I would call her writing a hybrid literary fiction/erotica.)


8. CANADIAN MOUNTIES SERIES by Kate Bridges

I heartily enjoyed the whole series, with lots of historical melodrama and romance. If you have a week on the beach somewhere, you should download the bundle, and read them all in order. Fun! Historical romance.


9. THE AMELIA PEABODY SERIES by Elizabeth Peters

Amber at Buried By Books reminded me how totally awesome this series is! She is doing a Summer Re-Read of the whole series. These books are bloody brilliant. Larger-than-life characters, romance, suspense, Egyptology, mystery. They have it all. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.


Coming up later this week: More books that look intriguing, fun, and addictive!

Hope everyone is enjoying the lazy days of summer.

Penelope