Welcome to my “Six Sweet Summer Reads” post with some fabulous book recommendations just for you, PLUS the SUMMER LOVING BLOG TOUR with my fellow Anaiah Press authors! We have some amazing bookish prizes and the giveaway is on right now…
The blog tour runs from June 22-July 2, and all the details about authors and prizes can be found HERE! Be sure to enter to win at the link at the end of this post!
Now for my six sweet summer reads… what do they all have in common? Why romance, of course. All very different, all new to me, all page-turners. If you’re looking for some inspiration, I hope you’ll check out these lovelies. My Amazon affiliate links are on the titles in case you want to grab a copy (full disclosure here) which means I get a tiny commission while you pay the regular price for any of the books:
THE WATER KEEPER by Charles Martin (Christian fiction)
There is so much I adore about this book—a love story so deep, so heartbreaking, so vivid, yet action-packed with twists and tension throughout. Murphy Shepherd has seen much loss personally and continues to experience indescribable atrocities in his vocation as rescuer of women in peril. In an attempt to lay his past to rest, he heads down Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway only to find Summer, a woman in dire need of rescuing. With skillful character development and fast-paced adventure, this story of redemption is page-turning brilliance.
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THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY by Natalie Jenner (historical fiction)
If you enjoyed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, this could be your next great read! Set in Chawton, England just after WWII, an unlikely group of Jane Austen fans band together in efforts to protect the late Jane Austen’s home and legacy. Each brilliantly-crafted character is dealing with grief or loss of some kind, finding deep comfort in the words of their beloved local author. Avid Jane Austen fans will adore the literary references made—yet prior Austen knowledge is certainly not essential to be utterly swept up in this rich, beautiful story!
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SECRETS OF A CHARMED LIFE by Susan Meissner (historical fiction)
If like me, you are a fan of WWII fiction, this story of love, loss, and redemption will have you hooked. It begins in current-day England with a history student interviewing Isabel, an elderly Blitz survivor and keeper of secrets. As the interview begins, we are transported to 1940s England and follow the tragic lives of two young sisters, Emmy and Juliet, who are evacuated during the war from their London home to the countryside of the Cotswolds. Shattered dreams and a family wrenched apart result in Emmy reinventing her life and burying the past. Until now. This descriptive read evoked fond memories of my own visits to both the Cotswolds and London, and I couldn’t put it down!
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BECAUSE YOU’RE MINE by Colleen Coble (Christian romantic suspense)
Gothic vibes, Celtic music, and a car-bombing are all featured in this Christian suspense set in South Carolina. A talented young married couple, Alanna and Liam, are in a Celtic band heading for stardom—until Liam is killed leaving his pregnant wife to navigate family drama. Finding herself in a marriage of convenience as a form of rescue, Alanna soon discovers life in the Charleston mansion is not as it seems. I’m a fan of all things Colleen Coble, and enjoyed the spark of feisty Irish combined with a dark, brooding mood throughout.
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THE ROOM ON RUE AMELIE by Kristin Harmel (historical fiction)
This heartbreaking romance is set in the city of Paris during the turbulent WWII years—therefore I simply HAD to read it! When an adventurous American woman named Ruby is swept off her feet by a handsome Frenchman, she willingly follows him to Paris as his bride at the cusp of the war—only to lose him. But with the desire to make a difference in her new homeland and to also protect Charlotte, her young Jewish neighbor, Ruby puts her own life in grave danger. The French resistance, an RAF pilot, courage, love, and the unthinkable horrors of war, all play out in this gripping novel.
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THE ORPHAN BEACH by Laura Thomas (Christian romantic suspense)
I don’t usually include one of my own books, but as The Orphan Beach is one of the prizes in the “Summer Loving Blog Tour”, I thought you might want to know about my latest in the Flight to Freedom series… here’s the back page blurb:
“Life is spiraling out of control for pediatric nurse, Juliet Farr. Heart-broken, grief-stricken, and experiencing a crisis of faith—now she is the prime target for a crazed killer. When her ex-boyfriend, detective Max Bennett, returns to work the case in the Oregon Coast, he knows sharing the truth behind their break-up will destroy any possibility of a second chance together. A manuscript, a maniac, and a mother’s love propel Juliet’s flight to a beach in Mexico as she desperately pursues hope and healing. Will she ever find freedom from the ache of abandonment? And when a troubled soul chooses Juliet as his perfect victim, can Max prove his love for her by risking his own life? Or will Orphan Beach be the end of their story?”
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Now for the giveaway… which includes a stack of e-books, a paperback, and lots of bookish goodies, simply enter:
HERE!
And feel free to follow the blog tour and enter every day until July 2. Hope you win!
I’d be so grateful if you leave me a comment below and let me know what you are reading this summer—let’s share the book love!
Happy reading, friends,
P.S. In case you need MORE fiction recommendations, sign up for my monthly newsletter HERE (always a giveaway, recipe, book reviews) and you will receive my FREE “20 Fiction Favorites”!
Linking up with some fabulous encouragers! Check them out: