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Good morning! I hope that you enjoyed your 4th of July celebrations(if you celebrate) and are perhaps taking a little time off. I have been enjoying a little time at the beach, some relaxing time with friends, boating, chatting and eating and of course doing some reading.
These are a few of the books that I have read in the last couple of weeks. I think you may like them; I will warn you that not all of them are “light” beach reading but they are still very good stories.
From the Publisher:
Long considered cool, distant, and absolutely reliable, an American-born hit man, working throughout Europe, grows increasingly distracted and begins to develop an unexpected passion for architecture and art while engaged in his deadly profession. Although he welcomes this energizing break from his routine, he comes to realize that it is an unwise trajectory for a man in his business, particularly when he is sent on the most difficult job of his career.
Set in London, Paris, New York, and Barcelona, Calling Mr. King is at once a colorful suspense tale, laced with dark humor, and a psychological self-portrait of a character who is attempting, against the odds, to become someone else.
From the Publisher:
When his girlfriend takes a job in Thailand, Mischa Berlinski goes along for the ride, planning to enjoy himself and work as little as possible. But one evening a fellow expatriate tips him off to a story: a charismatic American anthropologist, Martiya van der Leun, has been found dead–a suicide–in the Thai prison where she was serving a life sentence for murder. Curious at first, Mischa is soon immersed in the details of her story. This brilliant, haunting novel expands into a mystery set among the Thai hill tribes, whose way of life became a battleground for the missionaries and the scientists living among them.
The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen
From the Publisher:
Many rumors abound about a mysterious gentleman said to be the love of Jane’s life—finally, the truth may have been found. . . .
What if, hidden in an old attic chest, Jane Austen’s memoirs were discovered after hundreds of years? What if those pages revealed the untold story of a life-changing love affair? That’s the premise behind this spellbinding novel, which delves into the secrets of Jane Austen’s life, giving us untold insights into her mind and heart.
Jane Austen has given up her writing when, on a fateful trip to Lyme, she meets the well-read and charming Mr. Ashford, a man who is her equal in intellect and temperament. Inspired by the people and places around her, and encouraged by his faith in her, Jane begins revising Sense and Sensibility, a book she began years earlier, hoping to be published at last.
Deft and witty, written in a style that echoes Austen’s own, this unforgettable novel offers a delightfully possible scenario for the inspiration behind this beloved author’s romantic tales. It’s a remarkable book, irresistible to anyone who loves Jane Austen—and to anyone who loves a great story.
From the Publisher:
It’s the opportunity Elena Alvarez has been waiting for–the challenge of running her own kitchen in a world-class restaurant. Haunted by an accident of which she was the lone survivor, Elena knows better than anyone how to survive the odds. With her faithful dog, Alvin, and her grandmother’s recipes, Elena arrives in Colorado to find a restaurant in as desperate need of a fresh start as she is–and a man whose passionate approach to food and life rivals her own. Owner Julian Liswood is a name many people know but a man few do. He’s come to Aspen with a troubled teenage daughter and a dream of the kind of stability and love only a family can provide. But for Elena, old ghosts don’t die quietly, yet a chance to find happiness at last is worth the risk.
If you missed my first Summer Book List you can find it HERE, as well as, links to some favorite blogger reading lists.
I hope you have a great weekend! Enjoy!
If you feel like baking something rich, chocolaty and delicious come over and visit Once Upon a Chocolate Life.

Hi Elizabeth, hope you had a wonderful July 4th. I am back and missed being in blogland, fun to catch up with everyone. Always enjoy and take note of your book recommendations…thanks!
Always love your
recs, my friend!
So happy to hear
that you are having
fun at the beach.
E N J O Y ! ! !
xo Suzanne
The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen loos very good!
Your 4th sounds relaxing. I'm always interested in hearing your book suggestions. Have a great weekend. Bonnie
I have been on a ready frenzy this summer, so always enjoy a good recommendation. These are new titles to me, so excited to check them out!!
I'm currently reading the Yonahlossee Riding School for girls (great!) and loved A Hundred Summers!
Happy summer!
xo Elizabeth
Some fine suggestions for reading, Elizabeth!