summer-reading-list

Summer Reading List: Giveaways won, Where do I Start and What’s on Your List?

momssmallvictories-summer reading

I really enjoyed participating in the Spring Reading Challenge (which amazingly I won a prize) and checking off the list of books I planned to read.  I thought I’d make my summer reading list and catch up on these amazing books that have arrived in the mail during my streak of good luck winning several Armchair BEA giveaways. My goal is to read as many of these as I can through the end of August.

I always tell my kids to do “work” first, then play so I’ve split up my list between what I have committed to read and then dive into the books I won. I also wanted to give a shout out and sincere thanks to the blogs where I won all these books that will keep me busy and entertained for the rest of the year!

Must Reads: (links to Goodreads)
1. Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
2. Make Today Count by John Maxwell
3. Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
4. Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan C. Bradley
5. Morning Light by Holland Kane
6. Monsoon Memories by Renita D’Silva
7. Here We Are & There We Go: Teaching & Traveling with Kids in Tow by Jill Dobbe

Giveaway Wins:
8. Operation Oleander by Valerie Patterson, won from The Book Monsters
9. American Grown by Michelle Obama, won signed copy from Love at First Book
10. Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop & Cafe by Mary Simses, that Rebecca at Love at First Book sent me as a bonus cause she thought I’d like it. Super sweet surprise!
11. The Passions of Dr. Darcy by Sharon Lathan, won signed copy from the author
12. The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum, won from Sharon Lathan
13. Magic Kingdom for Sale by Terry Brooks, won from Sharon Lathan
14. Love at First Flight by Marie Force, won from Sharon Lathan
15. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, won from Sharon Lathan
16. To Conquer Mr. Darcy by Abigail Reynolds, won from Sharon Lathan
17. The Best of Us by Sarah Pekannen, won from Jenn’s Bookshelves during the Dewey’s Readathon
18. Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple, won from Bookmark to Blog
19. The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coehlo, won from (un)Conventional BookViews
20. Brida by Paulo Coehlo, won from (un)Conventional BookViews
21. The Winner Stands Alone by Paulo Coehlo, won from (un)Conventional BookViews
22. The River of No Return by Bee Ridgeway, won from Truth, Beauty, Freedom and Books
23. Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran, won from Historical Fiction Notebook
24. Rizzoli & Isles: Last to Die by Tess Gerritsen, won from Always with a Book

Whew, it’s a long list! Where do I start? Have you read any of these books or authors? Which do you recommend? What’s on your summer reading list? As always, happy reading!

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21 Comments

  1. Pingback: High Summer Readathon July 22-July 28, 2013 - Mom's Small Victories

  2. There’s nothing like a good book, and a free one at that! I know a lot of people that say that “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” is a great book. I know someone that reads it about once a year and says he learns something new every time.

    1. I’m glad to hear that 7 Habits is one of those you can re-read. I need to read it to maintain a professional certification and have been procrastinating. I always enjoy books that I can learn something from, whether it’s fiction or not. Thanks for visiting Elizabeth, I look forward to getting to know you better!

    1. Yes! It was like winning the jackpot! I won several different giveaways during the Armchair Book Expo, a book blogging event. Have you read any of them Colleen? I loved your Kate Middleton post, absolutely hilarious and I shared it in lots of places!

    1. I’ve put a ban on myself too from getting any more books even from the library (besides the book club books), because I own so many I haven’t read yet. Which made it really tough when you said World Without You was on sale on the Kindle…*sarcastically* you’re not helping me with my problem, Allison! 🙂

  8. I simply cannot tell you how much I LOVED “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie”. I adored the plucky protagonist.

    Did you really WIN all of those books?! WOW!! Go play the lottery RIGHT NOW!! You have awesome luck!!!
    I think I’ve only read “Where’d You Go, Bernadette” from your enormous win pile. It was cute. (Although anything with Mr. Darcy in it would be right up my alley!) –Lisa

    1. Oh yay! I’m so glad you loved Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, I haven’t heard from too many people that read it.

      Yea, I did win all those books, sadly my lottery luck is not as good. My luck in general is not that good so I was flabbergasted by that week I won those all and the grand prize in some cases! Yep, there are a couple Darcy books I look forward to reading.

  10. I’d start with Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop & Cafe by Mary Simses. I’ve read Ender’s Game (and the series) and Magic Kingdom for sale-sold (and most of the series). I enjoyed both but if I was to pick one of them to re-read tomorrow it would be Magic Kingdom.

    Congrats on your run of good luck and happy reading

    1. Well I am glad you enjoyed Magic Kingdom, I had not heard of it before. And I saw from the cover that Ender’s Game is a movie coming out soon. I love reading books I had not heard of and authors that are new to me. The Irresisitble Blueberry Bakeshop cover is delectable! Thanks Gina and happy reading to you too!

  11. Wow! I am so jealous…that’s like Christmas or even Heaven! Lol. Ender’s Game is a great read and they’re making it into a movie this November!

    1. Hi Jennine, “i know, right?” as my son says…it is seriously like Christmas/Heaven to me! Glad to hear Ender’s Game is so good, that’ll be good to read before the movie comes out! Thanks as always for stopping by!

  12. Holy smokes! You’ve had a run of great luck 🙂

    I see Bernadette on that list. I can’t recommend that highly enough. I thought it was fab 🙂

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