N is for NEVER. NEVER go anywhere without a book! For me that means any car ride whether shuttling my kids around or as a passenger on a long ride, public transportation including buses and airplanes, backpacking trips, beach or pool days, doctors’ appointments…the list is endless. A book is an excellent vehicle to while away the time, escape to a more interesting locale, relax with a favorite literary character, or distract from worries. “…it’s a smile, it’s a kiss, it’s a sip of wine…it’s summertime!” —Kenney Chesney
When I was a girl, summer meant sun, beach, and decadent amounts of reading. As an adult, I aspire to preserve that same scheme: Sun. Beach. Reading. Nothing says luxury to me like a good book, toes in the sand, a cool libation, and sun-kissed skin. Many a summer was spent reading everything from historical fiction, paranormal romance, chick lit, and the classics. Reading remains my escape—and dare I say, fountain of youth? “I almost wish we were butterflies and liv’d but three summer days–three such days with you I could fill with more delight than fifty common years could ever contain.” —John Keats, Bright Star: Love Letters and Poems of John Keats to Fanny Brawne
Whilst lazing about with my sunburnt nose in a novel, I couldn’t help but fall in-love with countless literary heroes. The Hardy Boys. Almanzo Wilder. Rhett Butler. Horatio Hornblower. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Jamie Fraser. Edward Cullen. Christian Grey… (Yes, the list is long and varied over my forty-eight years. I beg of you, don’t judge.) These summer romances even extended into winter; some are life-long love affairs that I often rekindle, withstanding my own Mr. B’s good humor, indulgence, and forbearance.
“So each had a private little sun for her soul to bask in; some dream, some affection, some hobby, or at least some remote and distant hope…” —Thomas Hardy, Tess of the D’Urbervilles This summer whilst you “sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure” (Jane Austen), are en route to your holiday destination, sit in the car waiting for your children to finish swim practice, or cuddle like a cat in your favorite reading nook, make sure you are NEVER without an enjoyable read. Thank you for joining the #ChickLitScavengerHunt–have fun and good luck!
Want to win a Kindle Paperwhite + a $100 Amazon gift card? Visit each of the 26 stops on the #ChickLitMay A to Z Scavenger Hunt and collect the alphabet word at each stop (A, B, C, D, etc.), then submit the A-Z list of words via e-mail to traciebanister@gmail.com with the subject “A to Z Scavenger Hunt Entry.” Entries will be accepted until Sunday, May 22 at midnight E.D.T. A winner will be chosen on Monday, May 23. Good luck!
If you’d like to start back at the beginning of the Scavenger Hunt (the letter “A”), go here: https://katieoliver.com/ko/2016/05/chick-lit-a-to-z-scavenger-hunt/
The next stop on the Scavenger Hunt is the letter “O” and is here: https://www.moniquemcdonellauthor.com/blog
I can recommend many—but to kick-off your summer reading, I’ll recommend my own Sun-kissed: Effusions of Summer— a collaboration with some of Meryton Press’s most popular and award-winning authors that fetches sweet and often heart-pounding moments as well as laugh-out-loud romantic comedy. You will be transported to fictional sea-sides in contemporary Georgia USA and Jane Austen’s England, led on a ramble about the fabled Pemberley, tendered a glimpse into Paris as Fitzwilliam Darcy is first educated in the ways of amour, and even return to a modern-day romance once thought lost forever. As with a box of chocolates, you will surely discover your own favorites…each dreamt as a perfect summer refreshment to bring a smile to your own sun-kissed face. Enjoy!
Short stories by:
KaraLynne Mackrory ● Karen M. Cox * Linda Beutler ● J. Marie Croft ● Abigail Bok ● Natalie Richards ● Sophia Rose ● Morgan K Wyatt
https://www.amazon.com/Sun-Kissed-Effusions-Summer-Christina-Boyd-ebook/dp/B00YOSCQ5Q
Join us for the #SunKissedRoadTrip and travel 8,767 miles across North America and back. Just like the Then Comes Winter Road Trip, the summer anthology, Sun-Kissed, sets out on a warm weather trip to visit all its authors. As the book journeys on, it will collect little souvenirs and autographs from its 8 authors and editor. The only undefined stop is its final one which will be defined by a rafflecopter drawing. You could be that destination and win the collection of goodies and what will be the only copy of the anthology signed by all the authors. Entries for the drawing end July 15, 2016. https://merytonpress.com/skroadtrip/
Sheila L. M.
The link to the first stop (A) came up empty. Having read these two anthologies all I can say is that I hope others do so and know that they will enjoy them as did I.
Christina Boyd
Sorry Sheila but this Scavenger Hunt doesn’t begin until tomorrow MONDAY, May 16 so some of the links aren’t up yet. Sunday at 12pm EDT was the deadline for all links to be posted so that admin could check all links are working. Please check back tomorrow. Thanks for your interest.
Tracy Krimmer
I never go anywhere without a book, either. I either have a paperback with me or my Kindle!
Christina Boyd
I used to be a book vs kindle snob–thinking books were the only honest way to read a book. Oh please. What pretentious slock.
My kindle is one of my favorite things. And love that I have so many favorites at my fingertips…anytime. Anywhere.