summer reading

I love reading, and there's nothing better than laying by a pool with a glass of lemonade and a good book.  Something about the sunshine and the smells of summer that just make me want to read!

I've read several books lately that I've really enjoyed.

 I know, I know... I'm years late in hopping on the Karen Kingsbury train.  But I started the Baxter family series a couple of months ago and I'm over halfway through the second series about family.  Finishing this series is definitely on my "to-read" for the summer.  If you haven't read these, I highly recommend them.  You'll laugh, cry and finish the book secretly wishing you could be a Baxter!

I read this book in about a day and a half.  I had heard so much hype about this book, and sometimes I think that ruins things.  I don't know what I was expecting, but something more for sure.  It was an excellent story line, with characters who made me love them and hate them.  And as someone who isn't that much of an animal person, I found myself crying at the cruel treatment of the animals on the circus.  So, I liked the book a lot, I just wish I had read the book BEFORE everyone told me how amazing it was! 

I read another book by Kristin Hannah last year, Firefly Lane.  I loved her writing style, so when I saw this book on the sale rack at Barnes & Noble, I had to pick it up.  The story line started a little slow, but quickly picked up speed less than halfway through the book.  Much like with Firefly Lane, once this book sucked me in, I was hooked.  Hannah is an excellent writer when it comes to evoking emotion from the readers.  I cried huge tears at multiple times in this book.

So there you have it- that's what I've been reading.  What do YOU think I should put on my bookshelf for this summer?  I'll post again in a week or so with my summer book list.