Sunday, June 1, 2014

Nic's Picks: Sizzling Summer Reads

Now is the perfect time to pick up some sizzling summer reads, because before you know it, school will be out, the beach will beckon, and you'll be ready to dive into your carefully compiled To Be Read pile.
 
My own TBR pile is already tall and teetering. What's in it? I'm so glad you asked! Here are my Top 5 Picks for summer reading:
 
5. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
 
I'm a sucker for an underdog story and Addison's Sci Fi novel promises to be a humdinger. In the novel, 18 year-old half-goblin Maia returns from banishment, navigates the Elvish court, and takes his place as the unwanted Goblin Emperor after his father and elder brothers are killed in a suspicious zeppelin crash. Court intrigue abounds. And Maia must overcome a myriad of challenges. Now that's an underdog story that promises new tricks.
 
4. America Is Elsewhere: The Noir Tradition in the Age of Consumer Culture by Erik Dussere
 

If you've ever felt like an outsider, Noir is for you. From Dashiell Hammett to today's writers, Noir speaks to all of us because, somehow, it's about all of us. Nominated for Mystery Writers of America's prestigious Edgar Award, America Is Elsewhere takes a look at the connection between Noir and the ideas we live with today about masculinity, purchasing power, and success. Hmmm...
 
3. Hunted by Elizabeth Heiter
 
This may be debut author Elizabeth Heiter's first novel, but I'm betting fans won't let it be her last. When a serial killer turns the tables on FBI profiler Evelyn Baine, she becomes the hunted. I hope you'll hunt down a copy as soon as you can.
 
2. The Boy in the Smoke by Maureen Johnson
 
Voted UK's 2012 Teen Queen by Young Adult fiction fans throughout the British Isles, Johnson penned this novella in celebration of this year's World Book Day. In it, she gives fans a glimpse into the backstory behind her popular Shades of London series--and I'm a decided fan. If you aren't familiar with Johnson's Shades, but would love to see how YA, paranormal mystery, and Jack the Ripper lore can come together, check out the first novel in the series, The Name of the Star. Whichever selection you read, you'll never look at the strangers you pass on the street the same way again.
 
1. Cover of Snow by Jenny Milchman
 
 
 
 Milchman's novel is the winner of this year's Mary Higgins Clark Award and as if that weren't yummy enough, it's a psychological thriller about a woman's quest to solve the mystery behind her husband's maybe-not-so-self-inflicted suicide. I plan to read mine with the lights on. And maybe pick up a signed copy since Jenny Milchman will be on tour. Her schedule is jam-packed with possibilities to meet the author as you can see by clicking here.
 
So there you have it! These are Nic's Picks for Summer Reading. Now that I've shown you mine, how about you show me yours? What books are you planning to pull of the TBR pile this summer?

12 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for including HUNTED on your list, Nic! :)

    My TBR pile (as always) is out of control. Some of the books on there right now are Shelley Coriell's The Broken, Sophie Littlefield's House of Glass, Harlan Coben's Caught, and a handful of research books for my own work-in-progress.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Elizabeth! I bet HUNTED is on many TBR lists this summer. And what great suggestions you've got! Both Shelley Coriell's novel and Harlan Coben's book are on my mile-high pile, too!

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  2. Great list, Nic. Hope to pick up several of these titles to read this summer. I'm always trolling for new books and new voices. You've given me some here today. Thanks!

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    1. Hi, Mackenzie! I'm glad you enjoyed my list. What will you be reading this summer? Or will you be working, working, working on a new release for us readers?

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  3. Hi, Nichole. I'm definitely looking forward to reading "Hunted". I'm also looking forward to Diana Gabaldon's latest, "Written in my Own Blood".

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  4. Hello McKenzie

    It's always good news when Diana Gabaldon has a new book out, and the 'noir' America is Elsewhere sounds very interesting.

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  5. Well, I will be working on new releases for readers. I have a new one coming out August 13th, Courting Cinderella. And I'm always working on the next book. ;0)

    However, I'm an avid reader and squeeze in as many books as I can. Some of my favorites are coming out with new releases this summer, so I've already pre-ordered most of them and I'll read them hot off the Kindle. These titles include: Then Came You (An Animal Magnetism Novel) by Jill Shalvis. It's In His Kiss (A Lucky Harbor Novel) by Jill Shalvis, Straddling the Line by Jaci Burton, What I Love About You by Rachel Gibson, Falling for Max by Shannon Stacy, and Heroes Are My Weakness by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I'm sure I'll read many others as I find them and their titles, but that's the core of my summer reading.

    I will branch out to other things besides romance, but my main staple will be romance novels because that's what I love and what I write. So I love hearing what everyone else is reading.

    Have a great week!

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  6. Nic! You know, I feel so shallow for saying this, because what's inside is what counts (of course), but could you have chosen a batch of sexier covers? Each of these is 100% yum. I'd totally sidle up to one in a bookstore, introduce myself and ask if it wanted to come home with me.

    Kidding aside, what a great list!!

    Nalini Singh's latest Psi/Chaneling novel releases tomorrow (6/3). "Shield of Winter." Can't wait. Great series.

    In August, Cherise Sinclair's "Show Me, Baby," comes out, the latest in her Club Shadowlands series.

    Also in August I'll plunk myself down with "Unbinding," a Tale of the Lupi book from the talented Eileen Wilks.

    Just listing the books makes me feel greedy!

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  7. Hi Connie,

    It's great to see you here! I'd forgotten the new Gabaldon is coming out! Goodness, my list just got longer. Thanks for sharing!

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  8. Hi Natalie,

    A couple years ago, I started trying to intentionally add at least one non-fic selection to my TBR list. Dussere is making it easy this year with his interesting take on Noir. Are you a Noir film or fiction fan, too?

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  9. Mackenzie,

    COURTING CINDERELLA sounds like a winner! And August is still summer, so I can still add it to my summer reading list, right? Right!

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  10. Keely,

    I'm so glad you're digging the eye candy covers! They are tempting, aren't they?

    You know, I understand Dussere takes a long look at Noir film in his non-fic book. And I know you love film!

    Thanks for sharing your TBR pile. Your description of the new Eileen Wilks' novel really caught my attention. Maybe, I'll give it a try, too!

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