“Stories make us more alive, more human, more courageous, more loving.”
-Madeleine L’Engle
When I think of summer and books, I think of picnics and fresh fruit/veggies and reading the day away. (As long as the picnic is indoors. Because air conditioning.)
HarperCollins Christian Publishing has the perfect tote to take along for your picnics, beach days, mountain hideaway or across town. And they are offering my readers a chance to WIN one of these totes, SIGNED by:
- Denise Hunter (author of Sweetbriar Cottage)
- Shelley Shepard Gray (co-author of An Amish Summer)
- Sarah E. Ladd
- Colleen Coble
- Katherine Reay
- Tamera Alexander
If you’re looking for some good summer-y reading choices, may I suggest the following:
When Noah and Josephine Mitchell discover their divorce was never actually finalized, their lives are turned upside down.
Following his divorce, Noah gave up his dream job, settling at a remote horse ranch in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Georgia, putting much-needed distance between himself and the former love of his life. But then Noah gets a letter from the IRS claiming he and Josephine are still married. When he confronts Josephine for the first time in months, they discover that she missed the final step in filing the paperwork and they are, in fact, still married.
Josephine is no happier about the news than Noah. Maybe the failed marriage–and okay, the botched divorce–was her fault, but her heart was shattered right alongside his, more than he would ever believe. The sooner they put this marriage behind them, the better for both of their sakes.
But when Josephine delivers the final paperwork to his ranch, the two become stranded in his cottage during the worst spring snowstorm in a decade. Being trapped with Josephine is a test of Noah’s endurance. He wrestles with resentment and an unmistakable pull to his wife–still beautiful, still brave, and still more intriguing than any woman he’s ever known.
As they find themselves confronted with each other and their shared past, old wounds surface and tempers flare. But when they are forced out into the storm, they must rely on each other in a way they never have before. Josephine finally opens up about her tragic past, and Noah realizes she’s never been loved unconditionally by anyone–including him. Will Noah accept the challenge to pursue Josephine’s heart? And can she finally find the courage to trust Noah?
Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of 30 contemporary romances. In 2016 two of Denise’s novels, The Convenient Groom and A December Bride, aired as Hallmark Original movies. When Denise isn’t orchestrating love on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, playing drums, and reading as much as humanly possible. After raising 3 boys in Indiana, she and her husband are rapidly approaching an empty nest.
A new novella collection of sweet, summer romances from some of our favorite Amish authors!
A Reunion in Pinecraft by Shelley Shepard Gray
When sisters Sharon and Sherilyn Kramer attend a wedding in Shipshewana, one of them returns with a new penpal while the other returns to her job at the bakery. After sending weekly letters back and forth, Sherry and Graham Holland arrange a reunion in Pinecraft. Upon Graham’s arrival, however, he realizes he’s been writing to the wrong sister. He decides to use the reunion as a way to get to know both sisters, but can he sort through the confusion in time to turn the worst vacation ever into something truly wonderful?
Summer Storms by Amy Clipston
Ariana is counting down the days until her wedding to Jesse. They have been friends longer than Arianna can remember, and that friendship turned into love over the past couple of years. But when Arianna’s brother Tobias, who happens to be Jesse’s best friend, gets them both into trouble, Arianna’s father puts an end to her engagement to Jesse. Some summer storms pass quickly, but Arianna is afraid the damage from this one may be too much to repair.
Lakeside Love by Kathleen Fuller
Esther has always lived in the shadow of her beautiful younger sister Sarah. Even the boy she has known—and loved—her entire life, Judah, only has eyes for Sarah. But when a handsome young Englischer comes to live with the family for a summer, everything begins to change.
One Sweet Kiss by Kelly Irvin
Everybody in little Bee County, Texas, can see the obvious: Jacob King and Martha Byler are meant to be together. Everyone, that is, but Martha. Ever since her mother died when Martha was a young girl, she has taken over the role of caregiver to her large family. And reckless Jacob, who has had a little too much fun on his rumspringa, only seems to add to the list of people to manage. But one summer changes everything, and these two may just find a way to meet in the middle and share one sweet kiss.
Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.
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Also written by:
Amy Clipston || Kathleen Fuller || Kelly Irvin
HarperCollins Christian Fiction is giving away a SIGNED tote (pictured above) to one of my readers! US only. Giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter below!
My ideal summer day is for all the work to be done, sitting on the front porch of my new home with a glass of diet citrus green tea, the fan a blowing and a good book to read. Who could ask for more?
Won’t that tote be amazing to carry out all my books and little snacks in so as not to have to be running in and out so much? 😉
Thanks for the chance!
Efficiency is key 😉
Beautiful sunshine, a nice breeze, low humidity, a glass of iced sweet tea and time to sit on my porch and R.E.A.D. Having a nice book tote would put this day over the top!
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
right?? lol
My idea of the perfect summer day is sitting under a shade tree reading a good book with a glass of iced tea.
delightful!
A lazy, breezy warm but not hot summer day lounging on a chair with a good book and a glass of cold iced tea or lemonade…
yum!
A perfect summer day for me also has to be sitting on my porch with my dog, a cup of iced sweet tea, and a book, if it is not really humid out, enjoying sunshine and watching the birds and wildlife.
i hate humidity! ugh!
My ideal summer day is sitting on my back deck and reading all day on my kindle with a large glass of ice water to sip. Thanks.
perfection!
A stormy rainy day, tucked in my reading nook listening to the sound of the rain falling down outside, while I sip some tea and read.
sounds just about perfect 🙂
My idea of a perfect Summer day is sitting in an air-conditioned room and reading a good book and a bunch of decorating magazines,too.
Marilyn
amen to that!! I like your kind of perfect 🙂
Kids outside. Me inside with my books (and Suzie because she’s quieter in here). 🙂
sounds blissful! 🙂
The kids swimming or fishing and me under the shade tree watching or reading.
as long as I don’t have to swim or fish, I’m in!
I love sitting on my porch swing on summer evenings and reading or just enjoying the scenery (my amazing mountains 🙂 ).
What a fun tote!
i so want to live near those mountains… and you, of course 🙂
A perfect summer day would include sitting by a lake with a good book and a glass of sweet iced tea.
sounds like a great plan to me!
My ideal summer day would be to be off of work. I would love to sit out on my deck with some iced tea and a good book.
sounds perfect!
My ideal day would be a picnic lunch at the lake or park followed by some reading on the porch. If I was really adventurous maybe spending some time at the beach.
lol i like your kind of adventurous 😛
Hmmm…my ideal summer day would be temps. between 70 and 80, sunny, having my daughter from CA in and spending time with her in the back yard. Haven’t seen her in two years. 🙁
aww – distance separations are tough!
My ideal summer day would be sitting on my balcony in the breezy sunshine reading a good book or two drinking my orange Sunkist soda and eating plain M&M’s. Thanks for the giveaway and good luck everyone. Have a great summer!!!
mmmm Sunkist soda sounds good right about now!
When we lived near my husband’s aunt and uncle, we used to spend the afternoon on a nearby lake in their boat. We’d swim, go tubing (I watched, lol), eat a picnic on the boat, and just relax. Those are some of my favorite memories!
lol i would only be watching too.
A quiet afternoon at the park with a picnic and a book. Boys would go fishing or something and I’d enjoy some peace and quiet.
sounds delightful!
My ideal day starts with my husband and kids all being home with me. We go out for a drive (maybe stop at a yard sale or two) and have lunch. After a short but restful nap, we enjoy the rest of the day by the pool. That night, we might roast marshmallows or catch a few fireflies!
that sounds perfect, Dianna!
My perfect summer day would be me sitting on the beach with a light breeze blowing to keep me cool. I would be under an umbrella, reading a book with something cold to drink. (It would also be great if my favorite beach buddy, Andy could be with me. We had to put him down 2 years ago, but I miss him all the time. He loved laying on the beach under the umbrella with me.)
awww <3
Perfect summer day would be to sit on the back porch with a glass of iced tea and a book! Seems like everyone has the same idea!
because it’s the best idea 😉
A perfect summer day is 75 degrees, light breeze, low humidity, a good book, and a cozy seat on the back porch to enjoy for hours.
that sounds perfectly delightful!
Swimming in the pool …. & of course reading! 🙂
of course! 🙂
Laying on the beach with a great book 🙂
yes!
Alone No Kids No Hubby Nothing to do Lay in the Sun reading listening to comedians on Sirius Radio and relaxing
amen and amen! 🙂
Sitting by the pool with a book and the radio going! Or by the beach! Must be near the water to be able to cool off frequently!
the best way to cool off is to stay inside the A/C 😉
My ideal summer day is a day at the beach/ocean with a cool slushy drink, lots of body surfing, seashell scouring and sun bathing. 🙂
bring on the slushies!
Sweetbriar Cottage sounds like a confrontation with your past and no way to get away from it. I would love to win copies of both books.
Both books will be excellent! 🙂
Relaxing with a good book in the shade with plenty of cold sweet tea is my idea of a good summer day.
sounds like a good day!
Perfect summer day? Not too hot wi th a good book and a glass of unsweeten ice tea with my Gabby (puppy) snuggled next to me. Ok, maybe not snuggle…she’ll be running around barking at anything that interests her. Possibly the hose or sprinkler!
haha!!
My ideal summer day would be reading inside (because it is HOT here in the south 😉 ) while the baby naps. Although he loves to look at books too, so reading together would also be fun! 🙂
that sounds really fun! Reading with babies is the best 🙂
My ideal and perfect summer day would be at the beach, a place which is relaxing, beautiful, and tranquil. Reading, and enjoying the breeze off the ocean. If only.
that sounds just about perfect, Anne 🙂
My perfect summer day has little to no humidity, mid 70’s temps, nice clear blue skies and possibly a private beach (with no witnesses to what I look like floating in the water.) A good book is a must have item, if I’m on that beach a shady umbrella would have to be nearby.
In all honesty, I’ll take a day in my air conditioning with a good book on my Kindle and no worries. No cooking or worrying about what someone else needs to eat or drink or what time to take medicine.
amen to all of the above!
I would be at the beach, walking and reading, with all work caught up!
oh that’s a delightful thought!
Relaxing on the back porch in my rocking chair with a good book.
sounds just about perfect 🙂
My ideal summer day would be reading by the pool and enjoying time with my family, especially the granddaughters❤️ Oh yes, lots of iced sweet tea is a must!!
perfect!
Hmm, this is hard! My perfect summer day would be warm, but not too hot (no sweating on the “perfect day)! I’d love to spend it exploring on Mackinac Island in MI with my husband and children, capped off with a nice dip in the lake (with my perfect bathing suit body that I’d have, because you know, this is my ideal summer day)! 😉
Staying in a cabin on a lake with my family (my family, my parents, and my sister’s family), watching the kids swim and play while I sit on the dock reading a good book. 🙂
My ideal summer day would be a sunny day that’s not to hot and sitting on the patio reading a book with a big glass of iced tea.
My ideal summer day is 75 to 80 degrees with no humidity and no chores to do, sitting outside with a cold drink, a good book and all 3 dogs and 2 cats joining me.
My ideal summer day is to be camping by a cool lake, with an ice-cold glass of iced tea in my hand, reading a book, relaxing, listening to the birds and nature, right after going swimming.
For me, an ideal summer day has lots of sun, coffee and time for reading books! It also consist of stress free, quality time with my husband and 3 children!
My ideal summer day involves warm (but not hot or humid) weather, time in the shade with a good book, a stroll with my husband, an afternoon nap, and bookstore shopping with a big gift card! (a girl can dream, right?!?)
My ideal summer day is cruising on the lake with a good book in my hands!