@ Your Library
I don’t know what the entire year will be like, but the first two months have zipped along lickety-split. I am ready to start reading some titles about spring, summer and new life. So here are a few titles I am looking forward to reading. Mary McNear is the author of a series of books set on Butternut Lake, beginning with Up at Butternut Lake, set on an imaginary lake in the northern Midwest. Lake life is so summer and makes me dream of warm days with lots of daylight.
Debbie Macomber writes sweet stories with a number taking place on Blossom Street, including Summer on Blossom Street which takes place in a knitting shop whose owner believes that knitting can help with life. And don’t forget authors like Susan Mallery whose covers definitely make me think of summer. Her novel California Girls features three sisters who all get dumped in the same week, but still get to sit in a convertible in sundresses on a sunny beach. Elin Hilderbrand seems to prefer either summer or winter for her covers, I didn’t see any spring or fall titles. If you are looking for summer try Here’s to Us for a crowded house with three romantic rivals which provides plenty of room for jealousy.
If you haven’t read Mary Casanova’s books about Rainy Lake Frozen, Ice-Out and Waterfall then now is a good time. They take place in winter, spring and summer. I haven’t asked her if she is planning a fourth title in the series set in fall. Reading books about locations you have visited, or at least heard about is such a wonderful thing. Another series set on Rainy is Diane Bradley’s Wilder’s Edge, Wilder’s Foe and Wilder’s Ghost.
I also enjoy looking at coffee table books about the area. So Kayak Lady by Mary Shideler follows the travels of a woman who canoed all 1007 lakes found in Itasca county or the historical Too Hot, Went to Lake by Peg Meier which features seasonal photos from Minnesota’s past.
Looking at those photos makes me ponder and consider what I might do with my garden to improve its ability to host company and the new book The Garden Refresh by Kier Holmes is providing me with some ideas to give my ‘yard big impact on a small budget.’ And thinking of company makes me think of recipes and I love to try new recipes out for company so Fresh Midwest by Maren Ellingboe King provides ‘modern recipes from the heartland.’ It includes a smorgasbord recipe which also made me remember our new book Boards: stylish spreads for casual gatherings by Elle Simone Scott or Snackable Bakes: 100 easy-peasy recipes for exceptionally scrumptious sweets and treats by Jessie Sheehan.
I am pretty minimalistic when it comes to decorating, but I might be persuaded if I had one or two of the projects from Here Comes Spring: fresh and fun quilt projects for your home by Jeanne Large and Shelley Wicks.