Summer tends to be when I catch up on all the things that I haven’t had time for in the previous few months. Tops on my list has been tackling my to-be read books. I have lots of books to read. I don’t have a stack or a shelf, I have two full bookcases and two large boxes of books to read. But it isn’t hording if it’s books, right? 
In my defense, I did manage to walk out of not just one but two bookstores last week without buying anything. My friend Crystal asked if I was feeling all right. I do occasionally find the willpower to say no.
Goodreads. I like to log the books I’ve read on Goo reads as a way of remembering what I have and haven’t read, as well as what I own. I find this is really important especially because I read a lot of series and can’t always remember ‘was it book 6 or books 7’ that I read last. I also tend to buy books out of order. If I can find a cheap copy of book 5 in a series, I’ll grab it even if I’ve only read books 1 and 2. Book 5 sits on the shelf until I get around to reading books 3 and 4.
At the beginning of every year, I sign up for the Goodreads challenge and I set a high goal for myself. This year I said I would read 175 books and I seem to be a little behind according to their counter. I have managed to finish 80 books so far, but really need to be devoting more time to this.
Notable reads from this summer: (In no particular order)
- Burn for Me (Hidden Saga #1) by Ilona Andrews. I loved the Kate Daniels series and this one has grabbed me as well.
- The Good Liar, Smoke, and Spin all three by Catherine McKenzie. I met Catherine at the Southern Kentucky Book Fest (SOKY) several years ago and grabbed some of her earlier works. She was back this year and I stocked up again!
- The Sound of Rain by Sarah Laudin Thomas. I attended a writer’s workshop she did on imagery at SOKY this year and was mesmerized!
- These Healing Hills by Ann H. Gabhard. This too was a SOKY find. I’m a sucker for historicals and this one really caught my attention.
- Mary Rose by Geoffery Girard. Another SOKY author. (Are you sensing a theme and a huge book buy at that event?) I’d previously picked up several of his books and he never disappoints.
- A Darker Domain by Val McDermid. This was a Bookbub deal. While I love physical books, I do have a Kindle Paperwhite for travel. “Deal books” (free, $0.99, and $1.99) go here. My friend, Mert gave me one of McDermid’s books about ten years ago and I’ve been a fan ever since.
- The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley. This was another Bookbub deal by an author that I love.
Next in the queue:
Three novels by Katharine Ashe. Katharine was the speaker at this month’s Georgia Romance Writer’s meeting. I always enjoy meeting other academics who write genre fiction and I bought The Earl, The Duke, and The Prince from her Devil’s Duke series.
So what are you reading this summer? Leave your answers in the comments below. Feel free to share your favorite summer reads- old or new! Keep cool and I’ll see y’all in two weeks.