For me, summer is a time to rejuvenate, recharge, and read a whole heck of a lot.
With school out for summer and my curriculum ready to go, I love to catch up on my personal TBR list. Right now, I'm reading The Arc of a Scythe series by Neil Shusterman and loving it so much! I'm also planning on reading a book by Shirley Jackson, Cormac McCarthy's No Country For Old Men, and Night Circus. This time of year, I also like to read books with a beach setting, a summer vibe, and some beautiful summer dates. If you're looking for a super summer read, check out my recommendations below. These are all books that just seem to say summer to me. Do you have some great book recommendations? I'd love to hear what's on your list or what books you've loved recently. Hit reply and tell me what books I should read and review this summer. Xoxo, Author Lindsay Detwiler Books you should read this summer 1. Jane Green, The Sunshine Sisters This book is set at the beach and is about three sisters brought back together over their very frustrating mother. This one is a realistic, sweet read about family loyalty. 2. Jane Green, The Beach House This one is another perfect beach read. This was my first Jane Green book, and I really fell in love with her style .She doesn't shy away from realism in her books, and I appreciate that. 3. Jeannine Colette, Reckless Abandon If you like some spice in your romance, you're going to love this alpha romance. However, I like that Jeanine makes her alpha's likable. I also love that Jeanine sets her books in different cities. Such a fun, summer read in the romance genre. 4. Nicholas Sparks, The Choice Of course, every single Nicholas Sparks book is set at the beach. If you want some romantic drama with a touch of tears, this is the one for you. I adore this story, I adore the movie, and it probably has my absolute favorite proposal of all time in it. I think you'll love Travis because he's not your typical book boyfriend--but his loyalty to love and family is so admirable. 5. Big Little Lies, Liane Moriarty I'm a huge Moriarty fan, and Big Little Lies is the perfect book if you want some drama and some suspense. This book focuses on a group of women from wealthy families and a mystery that brings some unlikely allies together. Reese Witherspoon is involved in the HBO adaptation of this book, and it is also phenomenal. 6. Nights in Rodanthe, Nicholas Sparks Another tearjerker, this one is about second-chance romance. I love that the couple in this book is in a later stage of their life, which I think is something we need to see more of in literature. This one is also set at the beach, and it's all about summer love. Summer Reads You Should Grab Now
Do you have any summer reading recommendations? Please comment below! Also, be sure to follow me on Instagram for weekly updates on the books I'm loving.
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Honest book review of The Wife Between Us The Wife Between Us by Greer HendricksMy rating: 4 of 5 stars "Did love or control propel him?" The Wife Between Us is a story about secrets, love, and revenge. It is a winding tale that will keep the reader guessing the entire way through. The story follows a character named Vanessa who, throughout the story, is a complex woman. After a breakup with her husband, she is left in the shadows of his new wife... but can't seem to let it all go. As the tale goes on, it is difficult for the reader to know whom to trust. I enjoyed the constantly shifting perspectives in this book. Just when I thought I'd figured everything out, things shifted again and again. It was unsettling to read because of this, but kept me wanting to read. I appreciated the various twists and turns up through the last page. Furthermore, the constantly shifting timeline helped keep the book engaging. The writing was seamless; even with two authors, I couldn't tell where one's words began or ended. The description and emotion packed into the words was powerful and kept me intrigued. I do wish the ending was a little bit stronger. The final twist was interesting but could have been executed more thoroughly. View all my reviews 
A Look At All of You's Marley Jade
I’ve come to learn one thing over the years of being an adult: Life is so hard. Truly.
When we’re young, we picture everything working out exactly as we want. We set out our life plan, picture our rosey vision for the future, and feel like the pieces will all fall into place. Sometimes, though, that’s not what happens. Whether it’s hauntings from our past or unexpected hurdles that surface, our lives are never, ever a perfect path to happiness. Suffering, hard choices, sadness, and pain are all a part of the human experience. When I sat down to write All of You, I’d just finished writing the first book in my beachy series, Lines in the Sand. I love writing romantic comedies because it’s fun to explore the humor in life and expand upon it. However, as a writer, I also pride myself on not being one-dimensional. I want to capture real life, which means that for every romantic comedy, somewhere deep within is also a romantic drama. Marley Jade from All of You is a very different character than so many of my female protagonists. She’s got a heavy past, probably the heaviest I’ve written. Her life is scarred by relics of a past she can’t quite get over. Like so many of my characters, her twenties aren’t exactly what she had pictured for herself. However, unlike my other characters, Marley Jade feels trapped by loyalty, responsibility, and the ensnaring power of her past. Marley Jade was the first piece of the puzzle in writing All of You. As I started writing for Hot Tree Publishing Rescue Me collection, I knew for a fact that I didn’t want to just write about a physical rescue. I wanted to tackle something a little bit bigger and somewhat more taboo in our world-- I wanted to tackle the realism of a mental and emotional rescue. I wanted to highlight that in real life, the emotional and mental rescues are sometimes even harder to endure and to pull off. More than that, I didn’t want Marley Jade to be the victim or the rescued. Sure, she has her issues. However, I saw in her a resilience and a strength I hadn’t detected in any of my other characters. In her signature red hat and somewhat wild sense of fashion, she exudes confidence in a way only those who have survived the unsurvivable can. Alex Evans saves Marley Jade in more ways than one… but he is also saved by her. Living a serious life dictated by familial expectations and pressure, Alex doesn’t even realize he needs saved from a life that isn’t his own. As Marley and Alex’s characters developed, I realized that there was a simple beauty in their love story that wasn’t in any other book I’d written. Out of the wreckage of sadness that swirls in this book came a love story more beautiful, more powerful because it was such a contrast to the heavy moments presented. All of You isn’t a light read. It deals with hard issues and topics we don’t always like to talk about. However, for me, that’s what makes this a book I’m proud of. It’s real. It’s raw. It’s true to life. Scroll down to read the blurb for All of You and see if this sounds like your kind of book. Feel free to hit reply and tell me if Marley and Alex’s love story sounds like your kind of read and if you’re ready to add it to your Goodreads TBR list. All of You Blurb: There’s no such thing as impossible when it comes to saving the one who holds your heart. A sexy doctor who’s restricted by expectations. A quirky poet who’s defined by her dark past. All it takes is Alex Evans saving Marley Jade one fateful night for their futures to be realigned. And when a passion sparks between them, they must decide if they can piece each other back together and make love work. XoXo, Lindsay Detwiler Visit me on Facebook for more info about my next release, All of You 
Genuine, Heartfelt Love Stories
Love isn't just about sex.
It's the one thing I learned from my favorite writer, Nicholas Sparks. From the time I first opened one of his books in junior high, I realized how beautiful, magical, tragic, and complex love truly was. Watching two very diverse people with different struggles, backgrounds, and beliefs find their way to each other was magnetizing. I loved to see how they would meet, how they would overcome their hesitancy, and, most of all, how they would grow and change each other. The power of the love story wasn't in the physical connection--although the first kiss scenes were always some of my favorites. The true power was in their emotional connection, their ability to overcome odds, and the ability to show that love could triumph even where it was thought to be forever lost. Perhaps, without even knowing it, my love of Nicholas Sparks' books was preparing me for my own writing journey later on. When I wrote Voice of Innocence, my first novel, I didn't plan on writing sweet romance--it just came naturally. It was where I thought the depth of the story was. It was where the emotional side of life was resting that I wanted to uncover. It wasn't necessarily an intentional choice to write on the sweeter side of the genre--it was simply what flowed from my pen sitting on my parents' deck that summer when I was twenty-one. And each story follows the same path. I don't set out with the rigid rule for myself to keep my books clean. I don't set out to keep the focus on the emotional rather than the physical. It's just what the characters and the stories decide. In many ways, I think Nicholas Sparks is to blame. He showed me that the true depth of emotion was resting in the connection, in the sweet looks, in the inspiring gestures. Perhaps this is why when I write romance, I focus on the emotional connection, on the love that's experienced in everyday life, and on the love experienced outside of the bedroom walls. My characters in my eight novels aren't celibate. They love and share and bond. They get into heated situations, and their sexual tension is certainly palpable in many scenes. They give in to lust and primal feelings. They are, after all, human. They are in love. Sex is a part of love. It's just not the only part. So although my characters experience their share of intimacy, my books focus on the other areas of intimacy--emotional connection, trust, friendship, laughter, empathy, and strength. They focus on the hardest times in life--loss of loved ones, disappointments, failures, and betrayal--and how love can help us overcome these times. They focus on all of the gritty, raw emotions that are part of the human experience. My characters are real in their journeys, their words, and their choices. They get angry. They swear. They change their minds and get confused. They fail and make bad decisions. They doubt themselves and each other. They are also real in their relationships. They aren't perfect, just like in real life. This has always been my goal with my writing. And, most importantly, just like in real life, their relationships aren't just about sex. Their love stories are complex, weighty journeys filled with all sorts of emotions and connections. Just like in real life, their love stories are not defined by sexuality or physicality. They are defined by multifaceted aspects that contribute to who they are and what they change into. Love, in the real world, isn't just about sex. Thus, I have always felt like it was my duty to show that romance can be real.... and can be about more than just one thing. Romance that's real. Romance that's sweet. That's my mission with my writing. Feel free to join me on my mission to show that the romance genre can reflect real life... and be beautiful because of it. 
If you need hot on the page sex, these books probably aren't for you
A bookworm at heart and a lover of the romance genre since junior high, I always dreamed of being an author. For me, though, being an author was a wild, crazy dream, one of those things you daydream about but never think will happen to you.
In my last year of college, I took a class called “The Literature of Health & Healing.” It changed everything. Suddenly, we were talking about bucket lists and dreams. I realized I had no reason to wait to chase my wildest dream--writing a novel. I went home, sat on my parents’ deck, and started writing what would become my first novel, a sweet contemporary romance set in a town very similar to my own. Voice of Innocence is about a couple who are high school sweethearts when Corbin is wrongfully convicted of a crime. Told from their perspective decades later, it’s a tale filled with regrets, sorrow, and the idea that first love truly never fades away. My husband, the man who also taught me what love looks like, is the one who encouraged me to send my first book to publishers. After a long journey, I found a publisher and got to see my wildest dream come true. Now, my eighth novel just released with my amazing publisher I am proud to call home, Hot Tree Publishing. It’s been a wild and crazy journey, just as wild and crazy as my dream. I am so blessed that a small-town girl like me gets to live out my biggest dreams. What are my books like? Sweet, genuine, and realistic. That’s how reviewers describe me. I’m in the romance genre, but my books aren’t only about love triangles and finding “the one.” They’re sometimes gritty and raw. They’re about impossible situations, frightening tragedies, and also some hilarious settings. I write both chick lit and romantic drama, so out of my eight novels, there’s a balance of humor and tears. If you’re looking for hot sex on the page, these aren’t for you. My books focus on the emotional side of love--with a touch of spice thrown in. After all, everyone can appreciate some hot foreplay, smoldering kisses, and nice abs now and again, right? Still, my focus is on the buildup and the emotional side of romance. These tend to be books you can share with all of the women in your life--your mom, your grandma, your best friend--and not blush too much. My books focus on realism. I want women to see themselves in my characters. I want their complexities, their confusions, and their struggles to feel so real that you forget you’re reading a book. I want you to see yourself, your best friend, your coworker in the strong, emotional characters of my books. I want you to see your own version of romance in the pages. My characters aren’t perfect because I’m not perfect. None of us are. They change their minds, make mistakes, get lost, doubt themselves, and find joy in the simple things. They are raw and honest. They are complex. Real romance. Genuine romance. Heartfelt romance. That’s what I’m focusing on. If you’d like to join me in proving that the romance genre can be realistic, genuine, and powerfully emotional, join my VIP Fan Club where you can get all sorts of freebies, exclusives, and fun surprises: http://bit.ly/2u42BjU Find out more about my work on my blog: http://www.lindsaydetwiler.com/ Check out all of my novels on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lindsay-Detw...
Love Notes by Lindsay Detwiler
Do you like getting mail...that isn't junk mail or a bill? I'm going old school and sending out some fun surprises related to my new release, Inked Hearts. Get your exclusive free gift in the mail by filling out this simple form! Feel free to share with your friends!
Love Notes by Lindsay Detwiler
Do you like getting mail...that isn't junk mail or a bill? I'm going old school and sending out some fun surprises related to my new release, Inked Hearts. Get your exclusive free gift in the mail by filling out this simple form! Feel free to share with your friends! 
#Fridayreads at a great price!
Incredible chick-lit romances at super low prices. #LimitedTimeOffer
+ Enter the $50 Amazon gift card giveaway! ALL LINKS & GIVEAWAY: www.hottreepublishing.com/chick-lit #romance #chicklit #HT_chicklit #giveaway #99cents  The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark MansonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars "As Freud once said, 'One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.'" "When we feel that we're choosing our problems, we feel empowered. When we feel that our problems are being forced upon us against our will, we feel victimized and miserable." "Whether we like it or not, we are always taking an active role in what's occurring to and within us. We are always interpreting the meaning of every moment and every occurrence." Let me start by saying I am not a huge reader of "self-help" books. I find them lofty and sometimes difficult to apply in life. This book definitely is the exception. Manson's not-so-subtle examination of life, the problems with society, and the true meaning of joy are hilarious, honest, frank, and real. There is absolutely no sugarcoating in this book, which is what makes it so amazing. He is a pro at telling it like it is but holding onto a sense of optimism. This book is weirdly optimistic despite the messages in it that can seem pessimistic at times. Then again, that seems to be the point: By appreciating that life often sucks, we can better appreciate the journey and the beauty. "We all get dealt cards. Some of us get better cards than others. And while it's easy to get hung up on our cards, and feel we got screwed over, the real game lies in the choice we make with those cards, the risks we decide to take, and the consequences we choose to live with." This book is filled with lovely tidbits to cling to. I found myself marking so many quotes throughout the book that were both insightful and real. So many self-help books simply regurgitate facts and quotes we've all heard. Manson does a great job at being unique in his insights but also relevant. I felt like I could actually the information he presented. More importantly, I actually felt inspired to. Nothing felt so lofty that it was out of my grasp. My favorite concept in this book is the power of choice. Manson argues that we all have the choice to be unhappy or happy. Even if we are dealing with horrible struggles, which he argues we all do, we have the power to choose how we react to these struggles. The choice is where our power and the optimism resides; few of us take the time to realize that, however. "At some point, most of us reach a place where we're afraid to fail, where we instinctively avoid failure and stick only to what is placed in front of us or only what we're already good at." I also really liked the ideas about failure. Manson provides many inspiring stories about failure. These stories are not cheesy attempts to uplift us and make us believe hard work and determination always pays off. Instead, Manson provides stories of failure to show us that we must be willing to suffer in order to head toward our goals. This does not guarantee success. Some of the anecdotes provided certainly prove this. However, Manson encourages us all, with some strongly-worded language, to figure out what suffering we are willing to endure and what we want to endure it for. This book is a look at what matters most and finding your true identity through realism, acknowledgement of the difficulties of life, and a whole lot of profanity. I found this book to be one of the most realistic, empowering, and intelligent books I've read this year. I highly recommend it for anyone and everyone. Don't let the title fool you. This book will make you care more about what matters most and find a drive within to accomplish your true goals. View all my reviews 
Lindsay Detwiler's 8th Novel Is Set in Ocean City, Maryland
Everyone has that place that speaks to their soul, that reminds them of why life is beautiful.
For me, that place has always been Ocean City, Maryland. There's something about the salty air, the endless sand, and the thwacking of my flip-flops on the splintery boards of the famous boardwalk that speaks to me. Since I was a young child, it's been my yearly respite from the realities of Central Pennsylvania life and from the humdrum yet hectic exhaustion of the day to day monotony. Ocean City has always been my sanctuary, my escape. It's where I feel most at peace, most alive, and most thankful for another year. So, when I started down this writing journey, I always knew I'd write a book someday with Ocean City as the backdrop. I knew the excitement of Trimper's rides, the smell of boardwalk fries, and the simple charm of mini golf would be a perfect setting for a couple to fall in love in the most genuine of ways. The call of the salty waves, the feel of the warm sand on one's toes, and the general excitement for summer was the perfect home for my characters to find themselves... and to find each other. Most of all, Ocean City provides exactly what my main character, Avery Johannas, needed... a fresh start, a freer life, and a place to explore her creativity. Lines in the Sand is a series about finding one's true passion and not being afraid to take risks, something I've learned in my many vacations to the place that soothes my soul every single year. Ready for a sexy seaside romance set in Ocean City, Maryland? Grab Inked Hearts and get ready for a love story filled with passion, salt water, and freedom.
“Six years, a complex about my freckles, a love for pastrami, and a fear of failure.
That’s what he gave me before slaughtering my heart and my faith in men.” Suffering from the sting of betrayal, twenty-eight-year-old Avery Johannas quits her job and moves hundreds of miles away to Ocean City, the beach town of her dreams. With the help of her zany roommate, Jodie, Avery finds a new career, home, and freedom. Throughout her self-exploration, she makes only one rule: She won’t give her heart to a man again. She’s living for herself this time. But then she meets Jesse. A tattoo shop owner, the green-eyed Jesse Pearce is wild with a touch of mystery. As Jesse and Avery explore Ocean City and their friendship, they’ll have a hard time drawing a line in the sand between their hearts. When summer nights get a little more heated than either expected, they’ll have to ask themselves: Can they let go of their notions of love, or will their hearts be permanently inked by past pain? |
 
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