Happy Wednesday, friends. Today I’m excited to have my friend Debb Hackett guest posting today. She’s such an awesome supporter of authors, an avid reader, a gifted speaker and writer. I know you’ll enjoy her post. Have a great week!
Hey, Inspired readers, it’s a real joy to be with you today. I hope this post finds you extremely well. I realize for some, summer is now in the rearview for 2023, but here in England, schools don’t go back until the first full week of September. My family is still refining vacation plans, so I’m firmly considering what stories I bring along.
What I do know, is that without the chance to curl up for a little bit most days, it won’t feel like a break. Certain members of my family like to use vacation to see and do and visit. That’s fine, but for me, putting my feet up needs to happen as well, and there’s no better place for that than in pages of great escapism.
There’s a reason beach reads are a thing. For most of us reading this blog, stories are a place we come up for air. We curl up or stretch out with a good book to relax and unwind. So, I wanted to share some thoughts on what to take for great vacation reading and suggest some excellent books I’ve encountered lately.
The great format debate. While an e-reader is extremely useful for being able to bring hundreds of books in one tablet, purists prefer something they can hold and touch. You also have to consider the glint of the sun (hopefully) off the screen of some e-readers, and the dire consequences of getting one wet.
Do you like to take road trips, walk on the beach, or go for hikes on vacation? In this case, audiobooks are a great option, especially if you have family along that enjoys stories too.
As we gear up to hit the road, for physical books, I’m taking Pixels and Paint by Kristi Ann Hunter. I enjoy her historical romances, so suspect this contemporary romance will hit the spot. I can also recommend The Love Script by Toni Shiloh and Positively Penelope by Pepper Basham, both just released this month.
For my tablet, I have Shadows at Dusk by Elizabeth Goddard. I do love a good suspense novel, and this one is set in Alaska, a place that fascinates me. Other recent romantic suspense I can recommend include Facing the Enemy by DiAnn Mills, and Countdown by Lynette Eason.
Finally, for listening, I’m partway through Counterfeit Faith by Crystal Caudill. This is a historical romantic suspense, so a little bit of everything. The narrator is excellent too. Then I’ll flip to the third in the Remington Stone series from Susan May Warren, which is a time travel adventure over six books and our hero is still in deep trouble!
Whether up a mountain, under an umbrella on the beach, or camping in a field, tell me what you’ve read or plan to read on vacation this year…
Writer, broadcaster, and speaker Debb Hackett has been a radio journalist for more than twenty years. Married to a test pilot, Debb lives just outside London, England, with her husband and their two daughters. Her first work of fiction won the Foundation Award at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and was an ACFW Genesis Award finalist. When she’s not writing, Debb can be found leading worship, cheering for Green Bay or skiing. If you can swing by her house while she’s making scones, that would be a win. She blogs at: https://debbhackett.com
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Debb, It’s great to see you guest-posting here! I couldn’t agree more that books offer “pages of great escapism” during vacations. I LOVE reading and resting while on a trip. In my case, I’m a relatively recent convert to the Kindle Paperwhite which is both glare-free in sunlight and waterproof. I stick it in a book cozy, toss it in my suitcase, and I’m off! 🙂
Ooh. I might need to add one to my Christmas list, because glare is an issue!
Hi, Debb, and welcome to Inspired by Life and Fiction. I am primarily an audiobook reader (using both Audible and Scribd). I also read on my Kindle Oasis and iPad Mini so I have over a thousand books with me, just in case. On my recent vacation, I listened to Rain by Dana McNeely, as well as Yellowstone Summers by Jane Galloway Demaray and Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by The Countess of Carnarvon (both for research for my current historical romance series). Although no longer on vacation, right now I’m listening to Fairest of Heart by our own Karen Witemeyer.
Oh I loved Fairest of Heart – those dwarves. You have great choices, Robin and it’s a real privilege to be here.
A book I recently read that reminded me of Hucklebery Finn–traveling the river–was In the Shadow of the River, by Ann H. Gabhart. Instead of a raft, the characters travel the river on a showboat, the Kingston Floating Palace. There is mystery, there is romance, there is humor, there is family moments. A wonderful read!
Second, I would highly recommend Yesterday’s Tides, by Roseanna M. White–a dual timeline, WW1 to WW2, set in the Outer Banks of NC. Well plotted, wonderful, diverse characters, and a feel-good, warm-fuzzy feeling throughout. I loved it!
Martha – yes, I think Ann Gabhart is a beautiful writer, and I was gripped by Yesterday’s Tides. But I’m married to a military man and WW2 is an area he’s an expert in, so I love stories set there. Even the sad ones.
Hi Debb, it makes perfect sense that several of the books next up on my TBR pile are some that you recommended – Counterfeit Faith, The Love Script, and Positively Penelope! I’m a total e-book reader and can even get hubby to listen to a well-written romance (especially historical or rom-com) on a driving vacation!