Summer Reading: Does Summer Change Your Readerly Life?

The summer season is upon us, and with it, comes one of my favorite bookish traditions: the summer reading lists on all the different books sites. 

But as I've scanned through these lists (and bought WAY too many books, lol), it made me wonder what it is about summer that gets us thinking differently about reading? Yes, the kids are out of school, but I would imagine that most of us (if you're not a teacher) don't get summers off. And if you're a stay at home parent, summers are actually even more intense than the school year because you have to occupy your kids ALL DAY LONG EVERY DAY. 

For me, summer is still just as busy as any other time. I still have deadlines. I also have the Romance Writers of America conference, which requires a decent amount of preparation and takes me away from my writing for a week. I'm lucky in that I send my kidlet to day camp so I still have my work day, but otherwise, I don't have extra time off. 

So why do I still have this idyllic picture in my head that I'm going to be leisurely reading oceanside or something all summer? Lol. I don't know. But for some reason, I still feel the noticeable shift in my head when summer hits. I think I've never fully escaped that mentality of the lazy days of summer from childhood where I could read as much as I wanted (and kill it on those PIzza Hut Book It Read-a-Thon challenges, lol.)

Also, I find it really interesting that there's this whole genre label of "beach reads." I'm still not sure exactly what that means, and sometimes I get annoyed with that label because it's often code for "silly lady's book" which all romance gets lumped into by the non-romance world along with a certain type of women's fiction. (Do dude books ever get labeled beach reads? Dudes go to the beach.) But what does "beach read" mean? If it has a body of water and some sand on the cover, I know they're telling me it's supposed to be a beach read. But does that mean easy read? Fun read? A trashy one? A book that takes place in summer? I don't know.

I think my idea of a perfect summer read includes some or most of the following...

• Takes place in summer or somewhere warm.
• Transports me to a vacation-like location.
• Has a happy ending.
• Is a page-turner and completely engrossing.

The book I blogged about last week, Every Wild Heart by Meg Donohue, fit these criteria. And right now, I'm reading The Dry by Jane Harper and although it's a dark book and I have no idea what the ending will be like, it takes place during a drought in Australia. So it's warm, transports me to somewhere I haven't been, and is a page-turner. Summer read.

I got both of these off Modern Mrs. Darcy's Summer Reading Guide, which is fantastic list, though sadly, doesn't cover the romance genre. I'm still looking for a great summer reading list for romance. (If you know of one, leave a comment!)

But my question for you is, do you change your reading habits and the types of books you read during summer? What do you seek out to read? How does your reading life change (if it does at all)? What's your idea of the perfect summer read?

A Summer Read with a Gilmore Girls Vibe

It has been a mentally taxing few weeks and sometimes you just need a book that is lovely and warm and low on angst. (And that's coming from someone who LOVES the angst.) Enter my read for the week: Every Wild Heart by Meg Donohue.

I came across this book through Modern Mrs. Darcy's Summer Reading Guide, which is a fantastic place to find new recs (For non-romance books. Sadly, romance isn't a genre she covers.) But I picked up this book and read it this week and was so glad I did.

This book is a mother-daughter focused story (told in alternating POVs) and reminded me a lot of Gilmore Girls. Plus, the heroine is based on the DJ Delilah (of Delilah After Dark fame.) I used to listen to Delilah when I was younger and that totally made me want to read this. There is a mild suspense element in this book, but it's handled with a gentle touch. And there's a bit of romance for both these ladies, which I, of course, loved.

So if you're looking for a cozy, quick, don't-have-to-angst read, this is a good one to grab. I really enjoyed the whole ride.

Here's the official summary:

From USA Today bestselling author Meg Donohue comes a mystery, a love story, and a mother-daughter tale about two women on a precarious journey to uncover their true selves.

Passionate and funny, radio personality Gail Gideon is a true original. Nine years ago when Gail’s husband announced that he wanted a divorce, her ensuing on-air rant propelled her local radio show into the national spotlight. Now, “The Gail Gideon Show” is beloved by millions of single women who tune-in for her advice on the power of self-reinvention. But fame comes at a price. After all, what does a woman who has staked her career on being single do when she finds herself falling in love? And is the person who is harassing her in increasingly troubling ways a misguided fan or a true danger to Gail and her daughter, Nic? 

Fourteen-year-old Nic has always felt that she pales in comparison to her vibrant, outgoing mother. Plagued by a fear of social situations, she is most comfortable at the stable where she spends her afternoons. But when a riding accident lands Nic in the hospital, she awakens from her coma changed. Suddenly, she has no fear at all and her disconcerting behavior lands her in one risky situation after another. And no one, least of all her mother, can guess what she will do next…

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Have a good Monday!

COVER REVEAL for The Ones Who Got Away!

Heroes and Heartbreakers is revealing the cover for The Ones Who Got Away, book one in my brand new contemporary romance series coming from Sourcebooks! They're also giving you an exclusive sneak peek at the FIRST THREE CHAPTERS! Go! Now! Do it!

Click on over to see the cover and let me know what you think! :D

And if you like to plan ahead, feel free to pre-order the book. I won't stop you. ;) 

Have a great weekend!

Recommended Reads:Cowboys, Quarterbacks & Being Fearless

It's Friday, woot! Hope you all have something fun planned this weekend. I'm getting taken out for a Mother's Day brunch so yay for that. But I wanted to pop in and share a few recommended reads since I've been a little quiet over here (because I'm WRITING MY ASS OFF, lol.)

However, writing my butt off doesn't mean I stop reading. When I stop reading, the words stop coming, so it's part of my process. 

Anyhoo, here's what I've got for you.

First up are two books from Maisey Yates' Copper Ridge series. These are fun, sexy, feel good contemporary romances that will having you laughing on one page and fanning yourself on the next. Hot cowboys in Oregon. Need I say more? Okay, fine, here's the only endorsement you need. I don't think I've read two books in the same series back to back in YEARS. Honestly. My TBR is so big that I jump around and hardly ever read the same author or series back to back. So that tells you how much I enjoyed these. You can jump in anywhere in the series but they do connect. 

Brokedown Cowboy has your grieving widowed hero who is just super grumpy and in need of love and healing.

Bad News Cowboy has one of my favorite romance tropes, the hero falling for his best friend's little sister. Plus, the hero is also my favorite kind of hero to read (and write!)--the bad boy, cocky, quick with a joke man-slut who is secretly in need of a relationship. 

For the writers in the crowd, I read Fearless Writing this week, and I really got a lot out of it. Even though I've been doing this writing thing for a good while now, I still feel like my process is evolving and can always be improved. I suffer with writer's block often (mainly because I'm a high-strung perfectionist) but this book has really great advice about finding the "flow" in writing and how to write with confidence. Lots of great info about fighting back those insecurity demons in your head, too. 

What I'm Reading Right Now

The Hot Shot - Full disclosure, I know Kristen, but y'all know I don't recommend books unless I love them. I'm about halfway through this one and it's so much fun. Hot quarterback. My hometown of New Orleans. Sassy heroine. Sexy sexiness. You can't lose. :) 

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All right, those are mine, now show me yours! What have you read lately that was amazing? What are you reading now?

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And ICYMI: My newest book, BY THE HOUR, is out and only $4.99! 

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