It’s been a while since we’ve done a book tag and I was in the mood. 🙂 Of course, as I looked for inspiration to answer the questions I kept trying to browse my bookshelves only they are all empty because I’ve packed my books already! Bwahahaha! So this was a bit more challenging than I thought it would be.
Feel free to jump into the conversation in the comment section by answering one (or more) of the questions and you’ll be entered in today’s giveaway (US and Canadian readers or International if you have a US Kindle account.)
Summer Escape Book Tag!
The Questions: (bonus points if you can pick books with a summer setting!)
- Slushie – a refreshing book
- Cotton Candy – fluffy and sweet book
- Popsicle – short and sweet (melted away far too quickly!)
- Sunshine – yellow on the cover
- Sunset – memorable happily ever after
- Sunglasses – a dark book
- Sunscreen – a book that protects you from an impending reading slump
- Sunburn – a sizzling romance
- Fireworks – an explosive plot
- Fireflies – a book that lit up your life during a difficult time
My Answers:
An engaging debut with a fresh storytelling approach.
The Golden Girls meets Love Boat vibes offset the angst / drama in the romance/mystery.
A Beauty and the Beast retelling – such a sweet, timeless story!
Happy sigh! I think it has more of an impact because the romance develops over the course of the series.
Sooooooooooo Dark!!!!!! Not for the faint of heart!
Anything Meg Langslow (there are 39 books in the series to choose from!) Also my comfort read!
I can always count on Pepper Basham for sizzle and toe-curls!
Fraught with danger, taut with emotion. Set my heart racing at breakneck speed!
And every single Hope Harbor book!!!!!
Now it’s your turn! Join the conversation and share an answer (or two or three or….) to be entered in the giveaway. I’m excited to see what books we end up chatting about.
Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 6, 2026
Kav's Best Reads 
Slushie – a refreshing book – A reminder of how things can flip in a second, positive thinking and sweet growing romance – HER RELUCTANT AMISH HEART by Pamela Desmond Wright
Cotton Candy – fluffy and sweet book – HIS DAUGHTER’S FAITHFUL COMPANION by Ciara Knight
Sunshine – yellow on the cover – MURDER AND LEMONBERRY TEA by Darci Hannah
Sunset – memorable happily ever after – AN UNCONDITIONAL LADY by Sarah E. Ladd
Sunscreen – a book that protects you from an impending reading slump – A book I so looked forward to and definitely didn’t disappoint. Impossible to put down! THE EYES OF RIVER by Cindy K. Sproles
Fireworks – an explosive plot – SCENT OF PERIL by Darlene L. Turner
2clowns at arkansas dot net
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, you’ve introduced me to two new-to-me Love Inspired authors and made me aware that I missed one of the Beacon Bookshop mysteries! How did that happen? Correcting that pronto — love the big floof of a dog in that series! Good luck, Kay!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This looks fun, getting out my notebook of May books read to see what fits-
Have a great Sunday Kav and Best Readers! 🙂 tracey14567 atgmaildotcom
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oops, Roseanna White”s book with yellow cover is The Island Bakeshop, The Island Bookshop came out last year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And I totally forgot about The Island Bakeshop releasing so thanks for the prompt! 🙂
LikeLike
Ohhhh, your first one is a mail-order bride/marriage of convenience trope and national parks! A whole series of national park settings it looks like too. Eeeep! Bwahahaha — I’m picturing you hyperventilating as you read the suspense-y book blurbs in a bookstore. Best carry some smelling salts around just in case. 🙂 Looks like Jorgia Yates’ suspense books are a hit. Last we chatted you’d only read one. Do you think the Hightower Security books can be read out of order? Some strike my fancy more than others. Happy Reading, Tracey!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ella by Kandice Geddes (new to me author) was very good. I started reading these N Park books when I was looking for some of my 50 state settings on the Historical Index. I’m a pusher over for stories with cute kids and this one has that in adorable 6 yr old Bec.
I suppose you could read the Yates books out of order, but the 1st book sets up the team so well. The 2nd book has recurring team characters, but I think anyone could have picked it up and wouldn’t have had a problem with it as long as they knew the team has a history together. The 3rd book has an author sensitive warning alert at the beginning so I’m skipping that one for now. I plan to read book 4, Passive Attack once I’ve read a few milder books and calmed my nerves, haha. She’s intense and pushed me to my limit, but she’s so good. The poor book I read after those two felt like an elementary school book after those. I think you’ll love her writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that’s interesting because I’m really drawn to the third book! Now I’m trying to imagine what kind of trigger warnings might come with it! And Passive Attack draws me in too. Decisions, decisions. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I sent you an email with the advisory in it
LikeLiked by 1 person
What fun, Kav! Just did a 3 day stint in hospital, so nice to be back in my own bed!! Shingles they weren’t concerned about as far as getting worse or infected, just said it takes time to heal in area they’re located. Could’ve told them that. My blood pressure took a stroke level spike, not sure why. They did MRI & lotsa CT scans/tests, everything was fine. Praise the Lord! BP’s been stable since I’ve been home & all neurologist recommended was an aspirin. Ain’t God good? Ok, to the good stuff!
Slushie – a refreshing book: Garden Cottage by Carrie Fancett Pagels
Cotton Candy – fluffy and sweet book: Not Exactly Mr Darcy by Carolyn Miller
Popsicle – short and sweet: All’s Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon
Sunshine – yellow on the cover: Sense and Suitability by Pepper Basham
Sunset – memorable happily ever after: Harbor Pointe by Irene Hannon
Sunglasses – a dark book: The Healing Rose of Savannah by Jenny Elaine
Sunscreen – a book that protects you from an impending reading slump: Chase the Light by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Sunburn – a sizzling romance: Of Flaw and Scorn by Vera Bell
Fireworks – an explosive plot: Hooked by Stephanie Sanders (debut by Mark B’s niece)
Fireflies – a book that lit up your life during a difficult time: A Scattering of Light by Lori Benton
Thanks, Kav, for the fun at the end of a miserable week! dianalflowers at aol dot com
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, Diane, you have been through the wringer (as they say) these past few (a lot of) months! So glad your blood pressure is stable now but, I kinda think living so long with shingles could have spiked your bp! I mean, chronic pain definitely plays a roll and yours has been debilitating. Gentle hugs and prayers.
Garden Cottage has me intrigued just from the title but Macinac Island has a setting! swoon!!! I’m remembering you have mentioned The Healing Rose of Savannah before and I was intrigued. Must bump that one up on my TBR purchases for this summer. Once I’ve moved, of course, because it’s not like I’ve bought books recently and packed them up unread because…well, because, it’s never a bad time to buy new books even if you’re in the throws of moving. 🙂 And good to know that Of Flaw and Scorn meets the sizzling romance category. And here’s hoping that this coming week is much kinder to you, Diane. Good luck!
LikeLike
I certainly agree with you about the blood pressure spike & shingles. I really feel like a person can’t go on for 2 months in continued pain & not have some blood pressure issues. It’s overcast today, barometric pressure has dropped, and the shingles hurt like crazy. There’s really nothing they did or nothing I can do but just bear it. Sending hugs back & thank you for the prayers!
As you know I won Of Flaw and Scorn on RCW and in spite of it being out of my comfort zone, it was sooo romantic! Gritty and raw in some places because of well . . . Vikings, but so good! I don’t think I wrote a review for it because I have felt so lousy, but rated it on GRs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m both attracted to and repelled by the Viking angle. lol But definitely will have to give Of Flaw and Scorn a chance sometime. Gah to two months of shingle nerve pain.
LikeLike
Just think of the Vikings like pirates . . . you have your good pirates & your malevolent ones. The main character in this book is actually based on a real life Viking! And is he ever romantic. Plenty of smelling salts & a fainting couch required!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you’re okay, Diane! Here’s to a less eventful week! 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for the well wishes, Cheryl! BP has been perfect. Shingles have been perfect-ly awful! Ugh
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ugh, Diane, I hope the shingles are gone soon! Lord, let it be so!
LikeLike
It was fun looking through my shelves at all my favorite authors. I tried to include my best ones!
dianemestrella at gmail dto com
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a stunning list of books, Diane! And it looks like all but one are historical, which is interesting too. Isn’t it fun to gaze fondly at the books on our shelves while remembering all the happy hours we spent together? lol Good luck, Diane!
LikeLike
Yellow like Sunshine The Island Bakeshop Roseanna White Popsicle short and sweet Tina Radcliffe The Sheriff’s Secret Sunset happy ever after Kim Vogel Sawyer Where We Belong
jacsmi75 at gmail dot com
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Island Bakeshop sounds like the perfect summer read. Love the yellow bakeshop — so cheery. Good luck, Jackie!
LikeLike
Sunshine -When Justice Comes by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker (maybe not a sunshiny read, but the cover has yellow on it)
Fireworks – Raging Waters by Dana Mentink
Sunscreen – Some Like it Scot by Pepper Basham ( I think most of Pepper’s books would be good for this!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, yes, Raging Waters is a great choice for the fireworks category! And I agree, how could anyone go into a reading slump when they have a Pepper Basham book in hand?! Good luck, Patty!
LikeLike
Fun! I always like choosing books I’ve read from the current year for these little games. 😜 I don’t have an answer for every prompt, but here is what I came up with. 😁 They might not be perfect, but it was fun to look over what I’ve read and see what would match the closest!
Slushie – a refreshing book – Secrets of the Revolution by Megan Soja
Popsicle – short and sweet – In Her Sights by Karen Witemeyer
Sunshine – yellow on the cover – Counterfeit Hope by Crystal Caudill
Sunset – memorable happily ever after – Mists over the Channel Islands by Sarah Sundin
Sunburn – a sizzling romance – Their Burden to Bear by Heather Tabers
Fireworks – an explosive plot – Sung in the Shadows by Crystal Caudill
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m the same way about these challenges — fitting a book to a prompt is like a reader’s version of a jigsaw puzzle! That Mists Over the Channel Islands HEA – so beautiful but poignant too. Definitely memorable. I see you have a historical sweep with your choices. 🙂 Good luck, Bridget!
LikeLike
Slushie – a refreshing book: The Good Fortune of Miss Robbins by Melanie Dickerson
Cotton Candy – fluffy and sweet book: The Heart of Splendid Lake by Amy Clipston
Popsicle – short and sweet: Secrets & Suitors by Joanna Barker
Sunshine – yellow on the cover: He Should Have Told the Bees by Amanda Cox
Sunset – memorable happily ever after: Bride of Beguilement by Debbie Lynne Costello
Sunglasses – a dark book: One Nine by Sara Davison
Sunscreen – a book that protects you from an impending reading slump: Flame Theory by C.F.E. Black
Sunburn – a sizzling romance: Queen of Reckoning by Kelly Fernlake & Jill Williamson
Fireworks – an explosive plot: Every Deadly Suspicion by Janice Cantore
Fireflies – a book that lit up your life during a difficult time: Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
Kav, I hope you are able to free your books from captivity soon! These prompts are such fun. Have a blessed week.
psalm103and138atgmaildotcom
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great choice on the sunglasses prompt. One Nine by Sara Davison was fantastic! I need to read more of her books. You’ve introduced me to a few new-to-me authors in your list which is all kinds of fun. I’m taking notes and checking them out! So much fun to see what other people have been reading. Good luck, Caryl!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fun conversation today, Kav! I’ve only got time this evening to mention one category:
Sunshine – yellow on the cover – Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson
Thought it was timely to mention this one because it is coming out as a movie this month! (On Great American Family, GFam+, and Great American Pure Flix.) So excited for her!
ckbarker at gmail dot com
LikeLiked by 1 person
Meet Me in the Margins is the perfect choice for yellow on the cover and it will be interesting to see how true the movie production is to the novel. Good luck, Cheryl!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fireworks! The Rivenlea Sphere duology by Lindsay A. Franklin had an explosive plot!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I still haven’t read anything by Lindsay A. Franklin but her book does look intriguing. Good luck, Elly!
LikeLike
Refreshing and fun -To Catch a Cornet by Grace Hitchcock
Melted Away Far Too Quickly—On a Summer Tide by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Yellow on Cover – Happy Life of Isadora by Courtney Walsh
Memorable Happy Ever After – Brighter than Before by Courtney Walsh
Our of Reading Slump – Indigo by T.I. Lowe
Fluffy and Sweet – Claire Holloway Is Winging It by Angela Ruth Strong
Sunburn – A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman
Dark – Lost Girl by Kate Angelo
Fireworks – Edge of Truth by Janice Cantrell
Life You up During Difficult times – The Good Fortune of Miss Robbins by Melanie Dickerson
I’m glad your move is going well. It’s hard to not have access to your books. Thanks for all you do.
Nora Finding Hope yahoo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! Thanks for joining in. Love your book selections, Nora. Julie Lessman is definitely the right choice for sizzling romance!!!!! Good luck!
LikeLike
After looking through the books I’ve read, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m very lacking in the “fluffy and sweet” book category! Although some of these listed could probably fit there…. Maybe. 🙂
Slushie – Making Waves by Lorna Seilstad
Popsicle – To Love a Beast by Karen Witemeyer
Sunshine – Sheltered by the Doctor by Danielle Grandinetti
Sunset – With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander
Sunglasses – Lost In Darkness by Michelle Griep
Sunscreen – Counterfeit Love by Crystal Caudill
Sunburn – The Runaway Bride by Jody Hedlund
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha — I like the double take on your slushie pick – waves are very refreshing and so is that story! 🙂 So you are a more intense reader then, Sabrina? No fluff for you? Love your line up though. Good luck!
LikeLike
How fun! Looks like a lot of great books have been listed!
Slushie–A Most Enticing Enigma by Rebecca Connolly
Cotton Candy–Ruling Out Robyn by Deborah Hathaway
Popsicle–The Sheriff’s Secret Past by Tina Radcliffe
Sunshine–The Girl from Tomorrow’s Town by Naomi Musch
Sunset–The Top of the World by Elizabeth Camden
Sunscreen–The Life She Forgot by Joanna Davidson Politano
Sunburn–A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham
Fireworks–Raging Waters by Dana Mentink
Fireflies–In Pursuit of Civility by Jen Turano
whthomas13 at yahoo dot com
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I’m getting lots of inspiration for future reading lists! So many great books. I love seeing what everyone is reading. And you’ve reminded me that In Pursuit of Civility is already released and I don’t have it yet! Good luck, Winnie!
LikeLike
I’ve loved all of the suggestions. I didn’t have time to complete all categories,0 but here are some of my choices.
Slushie – Part of Your World by Karen Witemeyer–Little Mermaid retelling in 1886 Galveston. Releases in 2 weeks but I have an early ARC due to being on her launch team.
Cotton Candy – Find Me in the Lyrics by Christina Miller--Jonathon Island Season 2
Popsicle – The Sheriff’s Secret Past by Tina Radcliffe. Tina’s books are always treats for me!
Sunshine – An Amish Flower Garden by Mindy Steele==An early book that helped get Mindy’s name out there! She’s one of my former library patrons and a resident in my Kentucky county. Beautiful sunflowers on the cover!
Sunset – After the Fall by Lynn Blackburn–It took three books in the Gossamer Falls series, but Bronwyn and Mo finally got their happily ever after!
Sunglasses – I’ve found all of Nancy Mehl’s latest books to be fascinating psychological thrillers. I’m always amazed that she can create such evil and disturbed characters but still offer threads of redemption!
Sunscreen – The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M. Wirght. Never a reading slump with her books. I love her historical fiction but her two books in the Awakened series have made me a fan of Romantasy!
Fireflies – A Chance for Kallie May by Ann H. Gabhart==Her books always light up my life, and I don’t have to be experiencing a bad time! This book is very special to me because it supports reading and literacy! It is historical fiction that features the true story of Cora Wilson Stewart. In 1911, she began a Moonlight School in Morehead, KY to help adults learn to read. The school sessions were held on moonlit nights so that they could work during the day but still see to travel in the dark! Morehead, KY is about 30 miles from my home, and I’m so proud that Gabhart represents my state so eloquently!
Connie
cps1950ATgmailDOTcom
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am soooooo looking forward to Part of Your World – absolutely love that series. I’ve preordered it and am anxiously waiting! That multi-authored Jonathan Island series looks interesting. I haven’t read any of the books and they are already onto season 2! Ack! Nancy Mehl is the perfect sunglasses author pick. Her thrillers haven gotten so disturbing that I can’t read them anymore. I’m too chicken! Ohhh, I might have to make The Collector of Burned Books one of my hoopla picks this month! Thanks for the nudge. I love your connection with Ann H. Gabhart’s book. I was already interested in reading A Chance for Kallie Mae, but you’ve definitely sold me on it now. Good luck, Connie!
LikeLike
Whew! I had to put pen to paper to get this list together because I have read so slowly this year. Not all of them are just for this year, so I hope that’s OK. There’s a good mix, so here they are:
perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com
LikeLiked by 1 person
Didn’t mean to make you think so hard — and any book that strikes your fancy regardless of when you read it works. Pepper Basham is a great choice for a refreshing book for sure! You have a nice eclectic mix of reading choices here, Perrianne. I’ve read a bunch of them but I still haven’t read a Janyre Tromp novel yet! (she says, hanging her head in shame.) Ohhhhh and Daddy-Long-Legs!!!! Loved that book when I was a kid and I’ve read it numerous times over my adult years. Happy , comfy reading memories there. Good luck, Perrianne!
LikeLike
1. Slushie – a refreshing book — A Simple Kindness in Flatsboro by Heather Norman Smith
2. Cotton Candy – fluffy and sweet book – The Confidentiality Clause by Annah Conwell
3. Popsicle – short and sweet (melted away far too quickly!) — Snowed Inn by Ashley Clark — soo good but I wanted more!
4. Sunshine – yellow on the cover — The Bitter End Birding Society by Amanda Cox
5. Sunset – memorable happily ever after – Where We Belong by Kim Vogel Sawyer
6. Sunglasses – a dark book – The Girl Upstairs by Jessica R. Patch
7. Sunscreen – a book that protects you from an impending reading slump – A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham – 5+ stars!
8. Sunburn – a sizzling romance – More than Friends by Denise Hunter
9. Fireworks – an explosive plot – The Truth We Seek by Lisa Harris
10. Fireflies – a book that lit up your life during a difficult time — The Lumberjack from the Cabin Next Door by Emily Hampton – 5+ stars!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Read your firs book and though, ‘How could I forget about A Simple Kindness in Flatsboro’? It ticks so many of the boxes!!!!! And Anna Conwell is a great choice for fluffy and sweet books. I’m trying to read all her books this year but I have a ways to go yet. And I can’t believe I’m saying this but I’m ready for some snowed in books so that Ashley Clark book is going on my Christmas in July list. Oh, and I just started reading The Lumberjack from the Cabin Next Door thanks to a recommendation by Tracey and now here you are giving it 5+ stars! I am really enjoying her writing style so far…just starting in on chapter three. Good luck, Trixi!
LikeLike
Sunscreen
The Codebreaker’s Daughter by Amy Lynn Green – Bethany House Publishers, June 17, 2025 Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House lanehillhouse(at)gmail(dot)com
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good luck, Kathleen!
LikeLike
Some books In some catagories.
paulamarys49ATgmailDOTcom
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love a book that meets multiple prompts. 🙂 Good luck, Paula!
LikeLike