Summer (Beach) Reads by Diana Flegal

Summer - and the livin' is easy!

        Less hurried, more time to read and write. :-)

We would like to offer some great suggestions for your reading pleasure no matter what genre is your favorite.

Let's start with the favorite Beach read: Romance

Summers Love by Stu Summers (Romantic Comedy)

Laughter, tears and good times in the warm glow of summer s love is the perfect recipe for laughs and tears. --Viral Books

Sadie Bletchler's Trip Out West (Mennonite Romance (short story)The Snyder County Quilting Bee - Volume 2. Sadie and friend Katrina take a bus tour vacation trip out west. Sadie, a widow, meets a man and spends enjoyable time with him. 

Bride by Necessity by Linda Glaz (Inspirational Romance)  When the master of Kent Park takes in the orphaned daughter of a tenant, Jonathan doesn't expect his young charge to be a stunning woman. Or for a predatory relative to lay claim to her. Marriage may be the only way to protect Payton from an unthinkable fate. 

Biblical Fiction:  

Ruth: Mother of Kings by Diana Wallis Taylor (Biblical Fiction with romantic thread) Experience Ruth's elation as a young bride and her grief at finding herself a widow far before her time. Witness the unspeakable relief of Naomi upon hearing her daughter-in-law promise never to leave her. And celebrate with Boaz when, after years as a widower, he discovers love again, with a woman he first found gleaning in his field. The story of this remarkable woman to whom Jesus Christ traced His lineage comes to life in the pages of this dramatic retelling.

The Mitting by Dee Yoder (Amish Fiction) Leah is seventeen and Amish. Like many her age, she has lots of questions, but the temporary flight of freedom known as rumspringen is not the answer for her. Leah is seeking to understand her relationship with God, to deepen and broaden her faith by joining a Bible study hosted by an ex-Amish couple. Leah walks away from the Old Order Amish life that is all she has known. The miting—shunning—that will now be Leah’s unendurable oppression every day is beyond her most devoted attempts to believe or understand. All the bishop and her family ask is that she abandon her practice of reading the Bible. Is that a price she is willing to pay?

Historical Romance:

For Love or Country by Jennifer Hudson Taylor (Colonial Romance) At the height of the Revolutionary War, Tyra MacGregor is successful at thwarting the British Army with her colonial spy efforts. But her sleuthing ways come to a screeching halt when Captain Donahue "Hugh" Morgan puts her under house arrest.

Suspense:

Fatal Exchange by Lisa Harris (Romantic Suspense) Fatal Exchange draws readers into a complex matrix of intertwining lives and unraveling secrets, where every answer creates more questions. Fans will hardly want to come up for air.

Separation of Church and State by Joseph Max Lewis (Courtroom Suspense) Murder in the halls of the Supreme Court! Tim Lewis is an up and coming young journalist, a protégé of powerful news executive Anthony Merkel and guest host of the award winning program, Law for Lunch. When Lewis unwittingly records one of Merkel’s private conversations, he discovers his boss is a secret member of the murderous Society for Human Enlightenment and party to a plot to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Kahn.

Writing Help:

Writing in Obedience: A Writing Skill Reference Guide by Terry Burns & Linda W. Yezek. A primer for Christian Fiction Writers. How do we know what the Lord wants us to do? Are we being called to write or do we want to write for Him as an offering? What is required of the author using their writing for the Lord and how do they go about it? What do we really want to achieve with our writing, and how do we define success?

Proofreading Secrets of Bestselling Authors by Kathy Ide (Writing Help). Learn how best-selling authors proofread their manuscripts to avoid typos, inconsistencies, inaccuracies, and errors in punctuation, usage, grammar, and spelling. Kathy Ide identifies the industry-standard references for books, magazines, and newspapers (which are different from the guidelines for other types of writing, such as college term papers). Using these official references, she highlights the most common mistakes writers make in the areas of punctuation, usage, grammar, and spelling (for which she uses the acronym PUGS). She also includes guidelines from The Christian Writer's Manual of Style for authors and editors who work in the inspirational market.

Children's and Young Adult:

Below the Surface by Tim Shoemaker (Mystery- age 11-14) Something is wrong with Cooper. He’s plagued by a fear he doesn’t understand and can’t control. Cooper just wants to escape, and a summer vacation aboard the restored cabin cruiser, The Getaway, with best friends Gordy, Hiro, and Lunk seems like the perfect way to do it. Two weeks of fun—with no mysteries or life-and-death danger. That’s the plan.

Contemplation and Bible Study:

Messiah to the Messed Up: Because I'm a mess, you're a mess, and we all need a Messiah by Sue Ciullo (Christian Living)
Spend some time with Jesus and something profound is bound to happen to your heart. Messiah to the Messed Up interlaces rich Scripture narratives with twenty-first century stories. These threads, woven together, create an unforgettable tapestry of the life of Jesus, an image so real that you will feel His presence.

Hobbits, You, and the Spiritual World of Middle-Earth by Jill Richardson (Christian Devotional). What can the bravery of a hobbit, the faith of a elf, or the greed of a dragon teach us about ourselves? How can their stories lead us to the real Kingdom where God is weaving His fantasy world into reality? Discover the deep spiritual truths found in J.R.R. Tolkien's classic characters and learn how to apply then in your own epic story.

Tell us what books you are reading or looking forward to reading.

Enjoy your summer!