Dog-Eared Days of Summer

Summer reads hit differently than stories we enjoy cozied up by the fire in winter or the brainy back-to-school tomes we enjoy in the fall.

The sun lingers in the sky, so readers can savor beloved favorites or newer discoveries even longer. The beach, the pool, and quiet weekends in the woods allow for indulging a little more than usual.

Vacations

Travel inspires me to read novels set in the location I’m visiting. I like to learn something about the culture and history of new places.

I took an Alaskan cruise a couple of years ago, and my favorite day was cruising by Glacier Bay National Park, snuggled under a blanket on my balcony with hot beverages and James Michener’s Alaska. I learned so much about Alaskan history. If I had the chance to go back, I wouldn’t mind escaping the heat of the dog days of summer.

Some folks from BRRC wrote books set in Alaska—Darlene Turner (Abducted in Alaska) and Maryann Landers (Alaska Chance) to name a couple.

For Caribbean or Florida travel, I enjoy pirate stories, like Eddie Jones’s Caribbean Chronicles. Eva Marie Everson’s Cedar Key Series would be a great beach read.

I haven’t been to Europe, but if I do get the chance to go, I’ll bring along some of Hallee Bridgeman’s historical fiction, such as The Virtues and Valor Series. There are always classics like C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Dickens for British travel.

Lyneta Smith talks about the dog-eared days of summer on this week's blog. Share on X

Waterfront Reads

Typically, I’m a Kindle kind of girl, but for the beach or the pool, I like a paperback or two. Though e-readers are great for airplanes (so many books in one tiny receptacle), they’re hard to read in bright sunlight, not to mention the damage-causing sand and spray.

I also love supernatural fiction, sci-fi, and fantasy for lake, ocean, and pool entertainment. Did you know Edie Melson wrote a fun Robin Hood steampunk story? Other favorites of mine include Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti.

As an aside, I have not one but two selfies with Frank Peretti. Years ago, I attended another conference where he was the keynote speaker and saved the photo I took with him. When he spoke at Blue Ridge, I took the second selfie with him and showed him the first one. He said, “I still have that shirt!”

Isn’t meeting your favorite author fun? Then you can hear their voice in your head while you read their next book.

Mountain Caper

Escaping the heat in a cabin out in the woods? Try K-9 Mountain Promise, by Helena Smrcek and Mountain Fugitive, by Lynette Eason. Although I might think twice before I read suspense if I’m on a solo cabin retreat. What’s that noise?

The Smoky Mountains are near and dear to our hearts, since that’s where Blue Ridge Conference writers gather each year.  It’s always wonderful to enjoy books written by friends I’ve met in those mountains over the years. One I’m reading right now is Lori Roeleveld’s new devotional, God’s Abundant Mercy.

Lately, I’ve enjoyed a lot of Southern fiction, including the works of Cindy Sproles, Eva Marie Everson, and Charles Martin. I recommend Cindy’s books to any author struggling to grasp the concept of voice. I can hear her Appalachian accent in my mind as I read. She’s a master. Any of her books would be my top choice for a cabin vacation in the Smokies.

Summer Is for Making Memories

 My first published book is a memoir, and to my knowledge, no one has ever accused Curtain Call of being a beach read. But for someone dealing with past childhood trauma, or for a reader who hopes to find a path to healing and redeeming the past, it may be the story you connect with this summer.

Whatever you happen to be reading through the dog-eared days of summer, I would love to hear about it. Tell me in the comments what your favorite books have been this season. Do you have any recommendations for specific vacation locales? Do you like the comfort of familiar classics, or do you seek new summer adventures?

Meet Lyneta Smith

Lyneta Smith edits and writes from her home in Middle Tennessee, where she and her husband live as happy empty nesters. She’s the author of the multiple-award-winning Curtain Call: A Memoir and hundreds of other articles and stories in anthologies, devotionals, and magazines. She earned a professional editing certificate from Berkeley in 2023 and loves to help her clients develop excellent books. When she’s not working, she’s happily catering to her grandchildren’s every whim or mentoring and teaching in her local church.