Top Beach Reads for 2013

Spring is finally here and 30 degrees is a less than a fond memory.  Summer reading is rapidly approaching along with days at the pool or ocean.  I always count on a handful of authors with new summer titles:

(click on the author's name to visit his/her website for more information)

Mary Kay Andrews, Ladies’ Night (release June 4, 2013) From the author's website: 'The New York Times bestselling author is back with another page-turning beach read about a woman whose life is turned upside down when she discovers her husband cheating on her.'

Dorothea Benton Frank, Last Original Wife (release June 11, 2013)

Elin Hilderbrand, Beautiful Day (release June 25, 2013) From the author's website: 'The Carmichaels and the Grahams have gathered on Nantucket for a wedding. Plans are being made according to the wishes of the bride's late mother, who left behind The Notebook: specific instructions for every detail of her youngest daughter's future nuptials. Everything should be falling into place for the beautiful event--but in reality, things are far from perfect.'

Barbara Delinsky, Sweet Salt Air (release June 18, 2013) From the author's website:  'Charlotte and Nicole were once the best of friends, spending summers together in the Maine island house owned by Nicole’s family, but they have since grown apart. A successful travel writer, Charlotte lives on the road, while Nicole, a food blogger, lives in Philadelphia with her surgeon-husband, Julian.'

Stephanie Evanovich, Big Girl Panties (release July 9, 2013) From the author's website: 'a rollicking and poignant romantic comedy about a young widow who decides to get in shape...and winds up getting her groove back—and a whole lot more!   Holly Brennan used food to comfort herself through her husband’s illness and death. Now she’s alone at age thirty-two.'

Jude Devereaux, True Love (release July 9, 2013)

Nancy Thayer, Island Girls (release June 18, 2013)

Susan Mallory, BlackberryIsland Trilogy (first two already in release.)

Eloisa James, Once Upon a Tower (released May 23, 2013)

Chris Grabenstein, Fun House (released May 1, 2012) From Amazon review:

'The latest novel in the award-winning John Ceepak mystery series, set on the Jersey Shore. What if a reality TV show like Jersey Shore set up production in the fictional seaside resort Sea Haven? What if hitting the gym, tanning, and doing a little laundry aren't the only things the contestants get into?
By-the-book officer John Ceepak and his wisecracking young partner, Danny Boyle, have to babysit the buff and boozy kids partying it up in a Jersey shore rental house for TV’s summertime hit Fun House while simultaneously trying to stop the rowdy kids from breaking the law up and down the beach.'

More serious reading will start again in October.  By then the reserve list for the new Dan Brown book Inferno will be finished and I can take a copy from the shelf.

-S. Bakos

It's fun to follow many of these authors on Facebook for updates on their next titles, author tours and and sometimes free books!