Top 5 Summer Clean Reads

The sun is out, birds are singing, most of us want to spend our days at the beach or in the grass instead of an office. To fully relax a good book in hand takes us to a whole other world!

I don't know about you, but I believe not all books are made for all year round especially for summer reads. Reading a good summer book is like picking the perfect song for the perfect moment. 

My set criteria for a good summer read is as follows:

1. The book has to be happy! I prefer not to ball my eyes out while sitting on my picnic blanket and enjoying  a nice warm day. I want to feel excited, giddy even, like my book is pure sunshine itself. Now I am not saying it can’t have conflict, but it can not, I repeat can not be sad all the way till the end!

2. The book needs to be short and sweet. I think it's the fact that I do not like to think over my summer vacation, but I like my summer reads to be 200-300 pages. It might also be that if I am going on vacation I want to be able to pack at least 5 books with me. ;) 

3. The charters need to be vacation or summer mode themselves! If the characters are not giving the summery vibes, it is difficult for me to continue. This can include but not limited to vacations, summer breaks, spring breaks, beach days, road trips, ie avoiding responsibilities. 

4. Last and honestly least important is the COVER! Now I am not usually the type to judge a book by a cover, because as you know, as someone who looks for books that are clean I have been fooled once or twice by the cover. But a good summer read needs a good summer cover. These covers usually are bright colored, funny, or having the characters just enjoying themselves. 

Now,  you will notice that some of the books that slip in here may miss one or two of my marks, but I assure you, you will enjoy them this summer!

Finally my TOP 5: 

1.Beachside Kisses With My Bodyguard by Kristin Canary. 

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

Content: No swearing, No innuendos, Only Kisses 

Synopsis From Good reads: “ All I wanted to do was throw my brother a surprise early wedding. As the prince of a small country, his wedding day has been eclipsed by pomp and circumstance-and he and his fiancée deserve more. So when I find myself in a charming small town on the coast of California, I decide to plan them the perfect royal wedding without all the cameras and expectations. But as a princess, I can't be here alone. So my brother sends along the country's top bodyguard-his best mate, Frederick. Who ALSO happens to be the man I'm completely mad about. Not that either of them know that. Then, assumptions are made ... That's right. The townspeople who are helping me plan the wedding assume that I'm the bride-and that Frederick's the groom. But it makes the perfect cover story. They'll never suspect it's actually Prince Topher's nuptials I'm planning. We can keep this royal wedding under wraps from the press. A fake engagement is the perfect plan. But I didn't quite think through how it would be to pretend with him. To hug him. To share a room with him. To kiss him. In fact, it's going to take all the mental and emotional strength I have to remember that this fake engagement to my brother's best friend... isn't real. No matter how brilliantly we might fit together.”

Why It’s A Summer Must Read: 

It’s a Royal Vacation! 

This story takes place in a small town, a place for  the Princess to vacation. Everyone is nice and welcoming. There is only sunshine. Slight comedic banter between the Princess and her bodyguard. And a HEA! 

It checks everything off my summer read list! I highly recommend this be read on a beach or pool side, because once starting you’ll wish you are on vacation too! 

(P.S. The second is to be released real soon!) 

2. A Spot of Trouble By Teri Wilson

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

Content: No Swear words, No innuendos, Only Kissing. 

Synopsis From Goodreads: Violet March and Sam Nash are as different as night and day and have been enemies ever since Violet accused Sam of dognapping her beloved Dalmatian. Sam knows that’s impossible—for one thing, his dog Cinder is a well-trained fire safety dog who never steps out of line. Violet’s dog Sprinkles, on the other hand, has never met a command that she didn’t ignore completely, much like her bubbly owner. So when Sprinkles and Cinder accidentally switch places during the annual police vs. fire department softball tournament, Violet is thrilled by her dog’s sudden perfect behavior, while stubborn-yet-charming Sam is horrified to find that his dog no longer listens.

But when the dogs are eventually switched back, Sam and Violet are shocked to find that not everything is as simple as it seems. And a little puppy love might be just the thing they’ve been missing...

Why It’s A Summer Must Read: 

Once again a win for small towns!! 

We are in a beachside town which always equals summer mood. Not only is the town beachside the characters meet on the beach and live on the beach. ( Ahhh the Dream) If only we could all live on the beach with our favorite dog and good looking firefighter next door. Though that is not true for us all we can live vicariously through this book and enjoy all the joy that comes from this book. Not only is this book sweet, but also a laugh out loud! I could not hold in my laugh when reading this book and that is what summers are all about. Having so much joy it is so hard to contain. Yes, this book is high on the list of must reads during the summer. 

3. Royally Rearranged By: Emma St.Clair 

Genre: Contemporary romance

Content: Slight descriptive Kisses, No Innuendos, No swearing 

Synopsis From Goodreads: There WILL be a royal wedding. The only question--who will be my groom? An arranged marriage isn’t the worst fate for a princess like me. Especially because I’ve been in love with my intended groom since we were children. But when my prince shows up with an American girlfriend instead of an engagement ring, all arrangements are off. The clock is nearing midnight--I won’t turn into a pumpkin, but if I’m not wed by summer’s end, I’ll forfeit my kingdom.

Just your typical royal dilemma.

Out of sheer desperation, I make a deal with a devilish duke. Rafe de Silva is the prince’s rival and has a plan so ridiculous it just might work. One moment, Rafe seems to relish making the prince jealous. And the next… he’s making me question everything with his words, his touch, and his ability to melt my Ice Princess persona.

I’m not always given the luxury of choice, but now I have a huge one to make. I only hope I don't lose my crown, my heart, or myself in the process…

Why It’s A Summer Must Read: 

The Banter! 

That is pretty much it. If you are looking for a book to laugh over and wish you can banter with someone the way they banter in this book, this is what you are looking for. No, the characters aren’t on summer, or on vacation, but reading this book will definitely give you a vacation away from real life. We follow a Princess who has to marry a prince , I mean at least the guy is nice, right? Then we meet the brother of the groom who is nothing, but sarcastic and dare I say rakish. As a reader you can’t help but fall in love with him and hope the princess does too. This book has you hoping for your own prince one day! 

4. Spies Don’t Fall for Their Asset By: Meg Easton 

Genre: Contemporary Rom-Com

Content: Kiss, No Swear Words, No Innuendos 

Synopsis From Goodreads: He’s an international spy. She accidentally becomes his asset.

Every Tuesday, my best friend and I get together to watch spy movies, and I dream of a secret agent sweeping me off my feet.

Imagine my surprise when a) one actually does, b) I don’t realize he’s a spy (even though “secret” is in the job title, so I should’ve seen that coming), and c) his mission is to protect me. I don’t need protection. But if I did, Jace would be my top pick. I have more fun and feel more connected during the 10 minutes when he’s rescuing me from a blind date than I’ve had in the past several years of dating combined. Add a helicopter, a black-tie gala, and a motorcycle chase, and even though I’m reluctant to date anyone, I’m ready to let him protect me anytime. Yet, my (considerable) reluctance to date is nothing compared to Jace’s. He has a rule not to date anyone until he is no longer a covert intelligence operative. Something about it being a bad idea to mix love and espionage.

But am I falling anyway? Yeah, I might be falling.

Send help.

Why It’s A Summer Must Read: Laugh out Loud! 

This book takes all those daydreams we have when watching spie movies and turns it into a book. Add in some realistic scenes and a comedic FMC you have your summer adventure. During the summer I really want to avoid all responsibilities and this book gave me the perfect excuse to do just that! 

5. Games In a Ballroom By: Jentry Flint 

Genre: Regency Romance 

Content:Kiss, No Swear Words, No Innuendos 

Synopsis From Goodreads: London, 1815 Olivia Wilde has resigned herself to never finding a love match. Her father has insisted she marry a man with a title, if only to increase his own standing and reputation in society. But the men her father deems acceptable are, at best, boring and uninspiring, and at worse, are as brutish as her father, and are only looking to increase their own diminishing coffers. With her future looking dismal, Olivia decides to enjoy the last few months of freedom with her childhood friends, including the handsome Emerson Latham. His devilish smile and flirtatious teasing stirs up feelings she knows she cannot entertain. Emerson is struggling to rise to his responsibilities after the death of his father. Though he might still be learning what he needs to do as the head of his household, one thing he knows for sure is that he wants Olivia Wilde to be his wife. Having grown up as childhood friends with Olivia, Emerson long ago had fallen in love with her quick wit, beauty, and passionate heart. However, without a title, he will never be permitted to court Olivia openly. But he has a plan that may give him a chance to court her in secret. As the season kicks off, Emerson proposes a bit of fun with a playful game of tag. Olivia's friends are delighted by the idea, though Olivia is more wary. After all, the game must be played in secret and they must be discreet when tagging each other at dinners and balls and the theater. As the romance builds between Olivia and Emerson, so does the risk of being discovered. Not only are their reputations at stake, so is their safety if they are caught by Olivia's father, who has an explosive, and at times violent, temper. Can their love find a happily ever after before the game ends?

Why It’s A Summer Must Read: 

Witty and Regency! 

This book doesn’t automatically scream summer, but trust me you will be feeling so much joy when reading this. This whole book is set to bring out the child in our FMC, it also brings out our own inner child. Jokes and pranks are played throughout the book; you can't help but feel a little giddish while reading. This is the joy we all had as kids during our summer days, and gives us hope we will never lose it. 

Love to Hear From You: 

What did you think of this list? 

Any books you would add? 

Any books on this list you disagreed with?

Let me know!