For decades now, our family’s summers have been marked by visits to the local libraries. It used to be Books & Babies, Book Buddies, and Chewsy Readers programs with added visits for summer performances and activities.
My children have grown and the pandemic ended many of our beloved summer reading activities, but these months still mean reading and racking up the books read to increase chances of more summer rewards. I’ll never tire of the return trips from the library when the usually raucous ride is silent as everyone but the driver delves into their new book.
On Thursday, July 20, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. EDT, I’ll be facilitating a Catholics Read book club meeting. We’ll be chatting about Rhonda Ortiz’s debut novel, first in the Molly Chase series, In Pieces (Chrism Press).
This historical novel set in colonial Boston, while a romance, has wide appeal. There are rogues, spies, gossipy hens, and crusty sailors. More than that, there’s a lot to contemplate on duty, marriage, family, faith, dignity, conscience, and the pursuit of truth. Those are the kinds of things I hope we’ll talk about. And whatever YOU want to discuss!
Looking for a simple summer reading program for yourself or your teen? Catholic Teen Books has you covered. Read a book in each of three broad genre categories to get a bingo, then enter to win! (See the bingo card below.)
Choose from among the nearly 100 books listed at CatholicTeenBooks.com. Categories can be found under the menu tab “Books,” so you can easily see which categories a title might fulfill.
My annual summer reading post. Am I setting myself up for failure? I have more obligations than I’ve had in summers past, and reading time is more limited. Let’s look at my track record.
Blurb: In 1760, Deborah Samson is born to Puritan parents in Plympton, Massachusetts. When her father abandons the family and her mother is unable to support them, Deborah is bound out as an indentured servant. From that moment on, she yearns for a life of liberation and adventure.
Twenty years later, as the American colonies begin to buckle in their battle for independence, Deborah, impassioned by the cause, disguises herself as a soldier and enlists in the Continental army. Her impressive height and lanky build make her transformation a convincing one, and it isn’t long before she finds herself confronting the horrors of war head-on.
But as Deborah fights for her country’s freedom, she must contend with the secret of who she is—and, ultimately, a surprising love she can’t deny.
Why I want to read it: It’s been a long time since I read an Amy Harmon book, and her popularity seems to have exploded since then. I trust her with this story, and I’ve seen great reviews from readers whose opinions I respect. I’m ready to be swept away by this historical novel.
