Another Rousing Edition of Penny's Quirky Summer Reading List!

What does "Summer Reading" actually mean?

Mindless? Easy-breezy? Entertaining? Stuff you can read on the beach and it's okay if some sand gets on your pages?

Not sure exactly, but I'm assuming it's the opposite of "The History of Bosnia" which is--true story--a book my husband once brought to the beach. 

Anyway, I have seen a lot of "Summer Reading Lists" over the last couple of months, so I decided it was time to put together something a little bit quirky and varied and eclectic. 

Time for...PENNY'S QUIRKY SUMMER READING SUGGESTIONS, a weird mish-mash of some of my favorite reads.** 

**Includes horror, mystery, gothic thriller, romance, women's fiction, a cozy, and of course a bonus HARLEQUIN PRESENTS. 

Here we go...

1. THE CITY BAKER'S GUIDE TO COUNTRY LIVING by Louise Miller

Women's Fiction

Fun and charming tale about a city girl-baker who moves to Vermont. Excellent choice for a foodie fiction lover. Also includes quirky characters, lots of Vermont details, and a meandering story that is summed up with one word: ADORABLE.

2. CROCODILE ON THE SANDBANK by Elizabeth Peters AMELIA PEABODY SERIES

Mystery

This series is absolutely brilliant and so very entertaining. Amelia Peabody is the no-nonsense hilarious protagonist, as well as budding archaeologist and Egyptologist. This series has it all...mystery, romance, history, humor. Guaranteed to get you addicted. You can read the whole series this summer while you work on your tan.

3. GLASS HOUSES by Louise Penny

Mystery

Book #13 in the Gamache Series. Another entertaining installment of this wonderful mystery series, filled with fascinating tidbits about human nature, history, humor, and poetic prose. I love Louise Penny!

4. INFESTATION by William Meikle

Horror

This was my first story by this author, and I heartily enjoyed the fast pace, interesting cast of characters, and horrifying sci fi creatures. Good summer fun for horror-lovers!

5. SILENT IN THE SANCTUARY by Deanna Raybourn

Historical Thriller/Gothic

Raybourn hits all of my high notes with this book. Includes the perfect balance of humor, plot, excellent writing, fabulous characterization, and eerie gothic creepiness. I just love Raybourn's subtle sense of humor and the sparkling dialogue. Recommended to me by my friend Laura K. Curtis, and now I'm addicted to this series. Thanks, Laura!

Lovely book. Read it.

6. THE MARINE'S SECRET DAUGHTER by Carrie Nichols

Harlequin Special Edition

A discovery on social media! Carrie is a friend on Facebook, so I decided to check out her book. Low on the angst, high on the sweet romance. Set in New England. Love the family dynamics. Perfect beach read.

7. WANT IT by Elisabeth Barrett

Contemporary Romance 

Love this author's writing and voice. It's fresh and fun and impressive. This series has a bunch of beardy brothers, their distillery business, and some angsty romantic melodrama. It is set in Portland, and includes family drama, lots of laugh-out-loud humor, and sex. Yep, it's pretty sexy. *Penny blushes and tries to look nonplussed* In other words...go ahead, people, say it with meaning...THE PERFECT SUMMER READING! 

Very good!

8. THE SUBURBS HAVE SECRETS by Barbara Wallace

Cozy mystery w/ romance

This is the start of a brand-new cozy series, and it's adorable. 40-something heroine, a very sexy chief-of-police, lots of blonde bitchy mummies in the 'burbs, and excellent secondary characters who pop off the page. It's a winner!

9. SUMMER AGAIN by Julia Gabriel

Contemporary romance

Yeah, you sort of have to include a book with the title SUMMER AGAIN on a summer reading list. 

Fun 2nd chance romance set at a family camp...has a real "Dirty Dancing" vibe which I loved. Very romantic. Swoony goodness!

10. THE HATING GAME by Sally Thorne

Contemporary romance

This book was unexpected and funny and sexy. The beginning has one of the best starts to a novel I've read in the last ten years. Spot-on humor and charming details and LOADS of sexual tension make this one totally worth a read, especially if you're sitting under an umbrella on the beach with an icy cold frozen cocktail. MAKE THAT HAPPEN!

Now time for the BONUS HARLEQUIN PRESENTS...

This was a pretty difficult decision, since I've read probably 2,000 HPs over the last year. Geez! But this one is a favorite...


**HP BONUS ROUND** 

REDEMPTION OF A RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE by Lucy Ellis

Harlequin Presents

I'm not embarrassed to say I've already read this one about a dozen times. SWOOOOOOON-I-LICIOUS! I have a thing about Russian heroes. Oh boy. This has Russian hero + adorable widow heroine with quirky daughter + scheming grandfather + charming British village, all mixed together with the perfect amount of angst and conflict = The Perfect Summer Treat.

Also, one of the funniest, most awesome "meet-cutes" ever. I laugh every time I read it!


Also...I'm going to recommend you eat some ice-cream...

...and pick some flowers...

...to round out your summer fun.

Badge of honor for list-makers...

Please share with your readers!

HAPPY SUMMER TO ALL!

Love, Nina/Penny

✼

Reading Update and Reminder for Carolyn Crane Interview and Give Away

Happy Monday, Yinz Guys (for those of you not familiar with Pittsburgh-ese, Yinz or Yunz is a Pittsburgh-y way of saying "You"). Okay, reading update time (cue news music....)

I heartily enjoyed Loreen Augeri's debut novel, Tormented Hearts, which will be released on May 28, 2010 by The Wild Rose Press. It is a satisfying and emotional historical about a tormented hero (my favorite kind!) and a strong-willed heroine escaping the evil clutches of her abusive husband. The premise for the book is rather clichéd, but the characters are extremely well developed, and Augeri's writing style is very impressive for a debut author. I especially loved Brett, the hero, who is struggling with alcoholism to dull the pain of his first wife's death. I am looking forward to reading more of her novels.

I also inhaled Elizabeth Peter's A River In The Sky this past weekend. Peters has not published an Amelia Peabody story for years, so I was super excited for this book. The beginning started out very strong, the ending was a bit lack luster. The chemistry between Amelia and Emerson is so fabulous, I just can't get enough of those two. I love the dry wit of Peters' writing, the fantastic banter between the characters, the fascinating and beautifully described settings, and the archaeological backdrop. However, the "suspense" part of this mystery was not very engaging; in fact, it was rather dull. The "Indiana Jones" feeling that we usually get with Ramses' adventures wasn't happening this time. Since this book is not a chronological sequel to the last one, it takes place before Nephret and Ramses have gotten married, and so the wonderful romantic chemistry between these two characters was missing, too. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the book, and I'm hoping that EP has some cool stories coming up with Nephret and Ramses' naughty twins.

Finally, I just wanted to remind everyone that tomorrow I am hosting Carolyn Crane for an interview and give-away. I was completely blown out of the water by her marvelous debut novel Mind Games (see Penelope's review here). We will be having a good time talking about Willy Wonka-inspired hypochondria issues, Woody Allen, and succulent love scenes. Please stop by!

Penelope