Grab a beach bag and throw a few great reads in it to relax this summer, whether or not you're by the pool or just in your own backyard!
Friendship and forgiveness is celebrated in "The Art of Forgetting" by Camille Noe Pagan.
Marissa has always been the faithful best friend of the flamboyant Julia. Julia might be a bit needy, but Marissa doesn't mind being needed by her, and Julia makes up for her bad qualities with good ones. And then one day everything changes when Julia is hit by a car. Brain damage has taken a lot of her memories and forever altered her personality and even her voice. Marissa is still standing by her best friend, who now views her as a stranger, as even Marissa sees this Julia as a stranger. But when Julia uncovers a memory of the man she made Marissa give up as a price of their friendship, long hidden resentments come to the surface for Marissa. Will their friendship be forever altered? How will this affect Marissa's new relationship?
This is a powerful, touching and warm story about the ups and downs of friendship. Marissa is a strong character, and both women are very relatable.
"The Art of Forgetting" is published by Plume. It is $16 and 284 pages long.
Sally MacKenzie combines humor and romance in her historical romance novel, "Bedding Lord Ned."
All Nell has wanted is to be the wife of Lord "Ned" Edward, the famed matchmaking Duchess of Greycliffe's son. But he chose her best friend over her. Years later, and still a family friend, Nell has been invited to the Duchess' annual ball in the hopes of setting her up with a husband. Nell's ready to choose a man just to have a child, but Ned is also attending after several years of mourning his wife's death. Could Ned be ready for a wife again? And thanks to his mother's mischievous cat's penchant for stealing things, he's starting to see Nell in a whole new light. Could Nell's long dream finally come true?
This book has wicked humor, a fun and flirty romance that will please historical romance fans. MacKenzie writes characters that are a definite treat!
"Bedding Lord Ned" is published by Zebra. It is $7.99 and 426 pages long, including a novella.
New York Times bestselling authors Lisa Jackson, Cathy Lamb, Holly Chamberlin and Rosalind Noonan bring some summer romance in "Beach Season."
In Cathy Lamb's "June's Lace," a former lawyer is recovering from her divorce by designing wedding dresses on the Oregon coast. When out for a walk on the beach, she is hit by a wave and rescued by the handsome Reece. But for someone who has vowed never to love again, can Reece change her mind?
In Holly Chamberlain's "Second Chance Sweethearts," Thea is recuperating from a bad marriage by taking an apartment in a small tourist town. She almost has a panic attack when who should she see drinking coffee at a diner than her first love - Hugh! Can seeing Hugh jostle her out of the isolation she has put herself in? Can they rekindle their old romance? Or will Thea's ex ruin everything?
In Rosalind Noonan's "Carolina Summer," Jane needs to get out of New York. Dangerous men are after her. Driving all night toward Florida, a storm and an accident strands her in small town in North Carolina. But this small town comes equipped with a hot local sheriff named Cooper who is sweet and strong and just might be the protection Jane needed all along. But when her big city life catches up with her, has Jane put her new friends and herself in danger?
In Lisa Jackson's "The Brass Ring," Shawna is anxiously awaiting her perfect wedding to Parker the next day. But tragedy strikes when he is involved in a terrible car accident. Parker is in a coma and may not survive. Shawna stays by his side only to be thrilled when he awakens, but crushed when his first question to her is "Do I know you?" It appears the brain damage has taken Parker's memories of her. Shawna is determined to help him as he begins to heal from his accident and to help him remember again and rekindle their romance. But just when things are starting to look brighter, a strange woman shows up and claims that Parker fathered her child! Is their entire relationship broken forever?
This is a great anthology that will thrill romance fans and keep them entertained on the beach!
"Beach Season" is published by Kensington. It is $15 and 462 pages long.
Contact Amy Phelps at aphelps@newsandsentinel.com
