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Every July I skip off for the whole month to West Cork to read, kayak, dream, think, eat and just do a whole load of nothing. I pack up my jeep with a big box of books as I like to have lots of choice. All kinds of books: novels, biographies, picture books, bird books. Here’s a photo of some of those books for summer 2014: This year I started amassing my reading cache early (dare I admit it, in March). I ADORE planning my holiday reading. And nope, I don’t have a Kindle and I don’t intend to get one anytime soon. I spend a large chunk of my life in front of a screen, writing and the last thing I want is to spend my precious holiday reading time in front of a screen. And you can’t take a Kindle kayaking or sailing. Well you can, but if you tend to capsize like me or splash about, you probably shouldn’t!
So far I have about twenty books put aside including:
The Twin by Gerbrand Bakker – a novel by a Dutch writer I met at a book festival recently;
The Apple Tart of Hope by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald – a new teen novel by an Irish writer I greatly admire;
and The Boy That Never Was by Karen Perry – a thriller by a writer I know called Paul Perry and his friend, Karen Gileece. I can’t wait to get stuck in to all three.
What kind of books do YOU like to read on holiday? Do you have any recommendations for me?
Recently I’ve reviewed some books that I think would make idea summer holiday reads so I’d like to share them with you. In Part 2 I’ll share more great books with you including the new Sophia Bennett book, The Castle.
First up is the brand new book by the one and only Cathy Cassidy: Sweet Honey in The Chocolate Box Girls series. Here are the details from Cathy’s website:
Honey is going to live with her dad in Australia. Determined to make a fresh start, she couldn't be further away from the tough times at Tanglewood.
Her new life is a dream come true - until school begins. The girls are different from Honey's friends in England and the only person who seems to understand her is the cute boy from the beach she's chatting to online. But when he, the girls at school and even her dad start breaking promises, who can she trust?
All alone on the other side of the world, Honey's past is about to catch up with her…
And here is another book I enjoyed recently that you might like too!
Evie Brooks is Marooned in Manhattan by Sheila Agnew
Writer, Sheila Agnew
Set in New York, this debut novel by Irish writer, Sheila Agnew is full of warmth and humour. Evie Brooks is a bright, likable twelve-year-old and the book opens just after her (single) mum has died and Evie is sent to live with her Uncle Scott, a New York vet. She misses Ireland and her friends and at first is reluctant to stay there.
Scott’s lawyer girlfriend, Leela isn’t impressed with his new ‘family’ lifestyle. A beautiful but selfish woman, she hates sharing him with his new ward and schemes to get Evie back to Ireland. But what is best for Evie? And will she ever feel at home in the Big Apple?
A resident of New York for many years, Agnew knows her stuff and the book has a brilliant sense of place. From city diners to Central Park, the reader gets a whistle stop tour of Manhattan and shares Evie’s sense of wonder and discovery.
Scott’s vet clinic is full of remarkable creatures and their equally remarkable owners, from a black rabbit called Dr Pepper, to Arnie, the overweight pot-bellied pig, and Agnew’s passion for animals shines through on every page.
Overall this is a charming, sweet and moving book that will delight any Judi Curtin or Cathy Cassidy fan. UK readers can order it online.
Other recommended books for the summer:
Looking at the Stars by Girls Heart Book’s Jo Cotterill
A tale of love and war, family and friendship. Jo writes beautifully and this book is well worth reading.
Primperfect by Deirdre Sullivan
Further adventures of the wonderful Primrose Leary. If you like sweet, funny and hard-hitting stories, this is the book for you.
Flora in Love by Natasha Farrant
The life in words and film of Bluebell Gadsby. I read After Iris last year, the first book about Bluebell and I fell in love with this wonderful, quirky family.
Happy reading! Sarah XXX
This post first appeared on the Girls Heart Books website - www.girlsheartbooks.com