By Marci Tate

It’s summertime and the reading is easy! I’m convinced that summer was made for light, fluffy, and fun reading. In true summer fashion, The Beach House by Jane Green features an array of characters coming together for one summer of change. Nan is the aging widow in an old-fashioned estate in Nantucket. Due to financial shortcomings, she opts to spruce up the place and rent out the rooms to a few tenants. The tenants are introduced pretty early in the book as they go about their lives that lead them to needing a place to get away. Daniel is a married father of two who has been living a lie and is ready to acknowledge his true self. Daff is a newly divorced mother of one trying to find who she was before marriage and motherhood. In the mix is Nan’s son, Michael, who is escaping from a disastrous affair with his boss. Throw in a little romance and drama and you have an enjoyable book for the dog days of summer.

The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain is hard to put down once you get involved with these characters. Cee Cee Wilkes is a young girl in love and willing to do anything to please her boyfriend. She becomes entangled in a horrible kidnapping plot that leads to one bad decision after another. In another state and under a new name, Cee Cee is now caring for a baby that is not her own, but that she comes to loves fiercely. The reader follows Cee Cee through most of her life as she goes on living her lie waiting for her past mistakes to catch up to her. It is easy to get swept up in this story of love and desperation. When it all starts to unravel for Cee Cee, be prepared to clear your schedule because you won’t want to put the book down for anything.

After reading a great review for this one, I was excited to get it until picking it up to see the cover, when I was sure it was not my type of book. However, Poison Study by Maria Snyder, surprised me with its spellbinding story weaving elements of fantasy, romance, drama and more. When describing this book, it is hard to convey just how enjoyable it is from a brief synopsis. So, if you get your hands on this one, give it a shot before dismissing it as not your type of book. Yelena has been locked in the castle awaiting execution when she is given the choice to become the food taster for the Commander. With a new lease on life, she begins tasting various poisons to prepare for the role. Her teacher, Valek, is a dangerous and mysterious man working as head of security for the Commander. Yelena becomes a pivotal force in the future of the country as she is drawn into political actions and intrigue. She is a smart, strong character who is finding her way as her own skills are coming to light. Written in a way that you feel like you are there, this medieval fantasy is enjoyable from start to finish. You won’t be disappointed for an escapist read on a long, hot summer day.

Submitted by Marci Tate of Fayetteville – happy wife, busy mom of two, avid reader (when time allows) and Library Media Specialist at Vandergriff Elementary School

By Marti Genge

Perhaps spending the summer helping your kids work on their manners is not your idea of a good time. But there’s a book on the market that might actually make it kind of fun.

365 Manners Kids Should Know by Sheryl Eberly includes games, activities and other fun ways to help children learn etiquette. (I wish I would have had this book when my kids were little.) It’s packed with role-playing ideas parents can have fun doing with their kids. The book includes a section on “How to Write a Thank You Note’. (I still have trouble setting time aside to do that myself.) On page 88, author Sheryl Eberly also suggests practicing the proper pronunciation of words such as “gonna” which means going to or “lemme” which means let me. Just by tackling a few ideas from the 365 suggestions listed, you’d likely see a difference in your kids’ manners by the time that school bell rings. This book could be a little overwhelming if you tried to use it each day, so just skim through and pick out the suggestions that jump off the page for you. Incorporate some of your own fun ideas to use and practice during travel time on vacation. We all know how critically important social skills and good manners are for kids throughout their lives.

Marti Genge is the owner of Pages of Parenting Bookstore, located at 388 E Sunbridge Dr. in Fayetteville. For more tips on great parenting books, call Marti at (479)582-3139 or e-mail her at pagesofparenting@aol.com. Click here to go to Marti’s website: www.pagesofparenting.com

contributed by Heidi Simmons

In her book “For Women Only: What You Need to Know About the Inner Lives of Men” Shaunti Feldhahn attempts the impossible – unlocking the mystery of the male mind. Shaunti takes information from surveys she did with more than 1,000 men and puts their answers in an easy-to-read guide for women. I loved this book! A combination of fact-finding and Bible study (Bible verses back up her findings), her premise is “knowledge is power” in your marriage.

It’s no secret men and women think differently. This book gives us knowledge about our husbands’ needs and insecurities so we can have the power to adjust our words and actions accordingly. I admit I was surprised by her findings. How often we say one thing but men “hear” something else. Fascinating! Topics include providing for the family, respect, insecurity and intimacy.

Fair warning, ladies. This book is about changing yourself and not your husband. I read this as part of a Bible study accompanied by a video, but you can also just buy the book. Many in the group commented how their marriages were drastically improving as a result of this book. And, great news, there’s another version of the book called “For Men Only.” Pick up these easy-to-read books if you want to invest in your marriage or simply learn something new about your mate.

You’re probably already familiar with DK books. They publish those wonderful little books with great photography – books that have helped many little ones learn their first words in the highly visual book “My First Word Book,” combining pictures and words.

Now DK publishers have joined with author Dr. Miriam Stoppard to publish, in my opinion, one of the best books for parents-to-be, especially first-timers. I’ve given this book as a great baby shower gift and will tell anyone I know what a huge help it is for new parents who are often uncertain and nervous. The detailed photos help explain various steps in the beginning stages of parenthood, and it takes parents all the way through the first year.

The first chapter of the book, “Deciding on Parenthood,” is a real bonus. The book discusses how families are changing and has a section called “Why Be a Parent?” The chapter ends with the all-important question “Is the Timing Right?”

For dads, the illustrations and visual explanations on how to change diapers will put fears at ease. This books is packed full of tools and support. Leading baby care and parenting expert Dr. Miriam Stoppard is giving new parents the confidence to become good parents with this practical information.

This review was written by Marti Genge, owner of Pages of Parenting Bookstore. Her store is located at 388 E Sunbridge Drive in Fayetteville. Marti is incredibly knowledgeable about all types of parenting books. You can call her for help finding the right book to fit your needs. Her phone number is 479-582-3139 or e-mail her at pagesofparenting@aol.com. Visit her store online at www.pagesofparenting.com.