I have always had a love of reading. The last year I have not read as much as I would have liked. You know how it is, we get busy with life and doing so many other things that we sometimes forget about taking the time to do the things that bring us joy. Even though we have been at home so much more I have been very busy with classes and starting my design business, but I decided I also was going to make time for myself and to do what makes me happy. I had accumulated quite a few books that I had yet to read so that was my plan this summer, get back to my love of reading. These are just a few of the books I have been enjoying this summer.

My absolute hands-down favorite read of the summer is the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. Thank you to fellow blogger Kristina Braly for the recommendation. The books have been made into a series on Sundance and I am watching it right now. The books are definitely better but I enjoy watching the characters come to life and compare them to what my vision was from reading the books. The trilogy is based on a witch and vampire love story and travels through time. A definite grown-up version of other vampire series. I intend to read the trilogy again because I am certain I will get so much more out of it the second time around.

I couldn’t resist Tinsley Mortimer’s Southern Charm. You may know her from The Real Housewives of New York City. I feel like this is a little bit based on Tinsley and her life. She was the “it girl” of New York society married to Topper Mortimer and fell from grace. Just a fun, beachy summer read.

A Palm Beach Wife by Susannah Marren is another perfect summertime read. Palm Beach is the epitome of summer and social scene. It’s a tale of not everything is as it appears to be. Is Faith Harrison the person everyone in Palm Beach thinks she is, the perfect wife, friend, and mother, or is she hiding something? This is a tale of secrets, lies, and ambition mixed with the vibe of Palm Beach.

Rebecca Wells Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and Little Altars Everywhere are classics. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood follows four lifelong friends from Louisiana on their journey through life, love, and loss. Little Altars Everywhere is the companion book and introduces the rest of the Walker family to us. These are a must-read for everyone and I am planning on reading them again.

Since deciding to work on starting my own business I thought a few business books would be appropriate. Business Boutique by Christy Wright is a must-read for any businesswoman. It is written and geared toward women business owners.

The last books I have been reading are motivational and about our purpose. Oprah’s Words That Matter is a collection of short stories to inspire and guide you. The Emotional Dictionary to the Soulful Self was written by Ingrid Essawova, who I am lucky enough to call my friend. This book deals with the emotional challenges that we face in life and gives solutions and ways to heal. It is in bullet-point form and easy to navigate and find what you are needing help with at any given moment.

As we get into the fall and winter season I plan on continuing reading even more. I enjoy an evening curled up by the fire, Finn and Ruby Sue in my lap, a cup of tea, and a great book. Let me know if you read any of these books, I would love to hear your thoughts on them. I would also love any suggestions for some new reads too.

Until next week,

Carrie