Summer Beach Reads - Part 2

Got some great responses yesterday from readers and from Facebook friends!  Thanks for the input- here's a few of their suggestions:

Mary: The Family Man by Elinor Lipman - fun read!


From Lee: "get ready, I have got some good summer books for you!
I love Florida, and we discovered these great authors who write about Florida. They are hilarious reads
Tim Dorsey-He writes about Serge Storms and his buddy, Coleman.
Robert Tacoma- also funny, and good reads, he writes more about the Keys
Bob Morris-He writes about the Caribbean, also very good
Carl Hiassen- another Florida author, funny and suspenseful
I recently read a book by Claire Cook- Life's a Beach. Light reading, a beach book, but she is a sea glass jewelry artist, so I enjoyed it.
Try these authors, you won't be sorry!"

Have to be honest with all of you - I LOVE Carl Hiassen!  I think I have read every single one of his books.  Great bad guys - stooopid bad guys, hilarious characters.  So far from the norm, that they are actually believable!  All take place in Florida - good and bad Florida; swamps, Miami Beach, the Keys... 

If you are an Elmore Leonard fan, Carl Hiassen's books will remind you a little of the style of  "Get Shorty" and Chili Palmer.  If you have not ever read any Elmore Leonard, you should try one of these too.  I started reading Elmore Leonard when I lived in Hawaii and spent many many happy hours laying in the white sand at Bellows Beach. 

Then there is my favorite Jimmy Buffet book - "A Salty Piece of Land". Kicking myself for lending this to a friend a few years ago, the worst part is, I don't know who I lent it to!  Crazy characters, living crazy dreams - and it all works out.  

For some Laugh Out Loud stories - try the Stephanie Plum series! Starts with "One for the Money" and goes all the way up to the latest book "Sizzling Sixteen".  I just finished "Fearless Fourteen",  Stephanie Plum is a really really bad bounty hunter, is always broke, and usually wrecks a car or two in each book, quick funny books - perfect for an afternoon by the pool!

Was introduced to Mary Kay Andrews a few summers ago - love her books! All take place in Georgia, on the coast and in Savannah - guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

I started with Savannah Breeze and then moved on to Deep Dish, and then the Fixer Upper.  All fun - great reads with wonderful characters. 

Well, there's a few more for your beach bag! 

More tomorrow!