My Summer 2022 Reading List

Being that I, uh, only recently completed my summer 2021 reading list, I’m keeping this list short. Find below: the book, the blurb, and why I want to read it.


Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Blurb: Gone with the Wind, novel by Margaret Mitchell, published in 1936. It won a Pulitzer Prize in 1937. Gone with the Wind is a sweeping romantic story about the American Civil War from the point of view of the Confederacy. In particular it is the story of Scarlett O’Hara, a headstrong Southern belle who survives the hardships of the war and afterward manages to establish a successful business by capitalizing on the struggle to rebuild the South. Throughout the book she is motivated by her unfulfilled love for Ashley Wilkes, an honorable man who is happily married. After a series of marriages and failed relationships with other men, notably the dashing Rhett Butler, she has a change of heart and determines to win Rhett back.

Why I want to [re-]read it: This classic is probably, next to The Outsiders, the book I’ve re-read most. And guess what? I picked it up because of the The Outsiders. It’s long been a favorite, but I haven’t re-read it in a very long time, and I’m curious what impression it will make at this point in my life.

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5 Summer Reading Recommendations for Catholic Women

These are five of the best books I’ve read so far this year, and I highly recommend each.


For the lover of romances:

The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham

Fun, sweet, romantic, and mysterious with a splash of Christmas to cool off on a hot summer day.

My daughter and I listened to the audiobook version together over a long period of time. The narration was well done and well-suited to the story.

This novel has so much to offer: history, a marriage-of-convenience romance, mystery, faith, humor, Christmas, and a plethora of literary references. All this in an engaging story of a wonderfully original, genuine heroine with bookish tendencies and a reformed hero who is as loyal as he is dashing.

I loved how Grace’s innocence and enthusiasm shined throughout. The mystery was compelling and kept the story moving. A fun romance for Christmas or any time of year.

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My Summer 2020 Reading List

I’ve got a bazillion books on my to-be-read list. There are paperbacks, hardcover books, ebooks, and audiobooks. There are books by friends and strangers. Beta reads and books to review. And they multiple like rabbits.

I will likely read many more books than these this summer. I plan to read some books aloud to my kids, read friends’ new books, and whittle those lists. (I’m looking at you, NetGalley!)

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Seven Quick Takes

7 Quick Takes

Stuff We’ve Been Up To Edition

As summer vacation winds to hot, muggy close, I’ve lost the ability to create a cohesive theme. This is stuff we’ve been doing, things pulling me in different directions as we try to savor summer.

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The Mobile Drive-In

Our township has been doing these drive-in movies at the park for several summers. Until last week, the timing and the chosen movie never worked for us. Friday night, I took my kids and one of their friends to see The Peanuts Movie (truly a great little movie) at our park. Our arrival was somewhat delayed by our inability to find where my husband hid our camp chairs, but arrive we did. The whole atmosphere was fun. The park at night, the families, the free Twizzlers handed out. Just as the movie was about to begin, the entire screen deflated. It was a full hour and several attempts at re-inflating and restarting the movie until we began. By 9:30 p.m., most of the little kids present were probably ordinarily asleep, but here we were just getting started. All in my party agreed we’d do it again IF it started on time.

mobile drive-in

Moments before the epic deflation.

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A Taste of Summer (with Recipes!)

by Guest Blogger Barb Szyszkiewicz

Happy summer! Happy Fourth of July! In honor of this summer holiday, Carolyn invited me to bring along a few of my favorite recipes. She knows that I love to cook for my family and friends! Since I can’t cook for all of you in person, sharing these recipes is the next best thing. They’re all easy to make, and both the salad and dessert are definitely picnic-worthy.

Summer recipes to savor: corn & tomato salad, shrimp scampi & CMP brownies. @franciscanmom Share on X

Let’s start with the salad. I’m a Jersey girl, and this is the time of year when the corn and tomatoes are ready to go, fresh and flavorful. This warm salad uses your garden-fresh corn, tomatoes and herbs. If you don’t have any grilled corn, you can bake it in the oven–directions are at the bottom of the recipe. Continue reading

#5Faves: Summer

Five FavouritesWhile summer technically only began two days ago, it’s felt like summer since the kids got out of school and the temperatures have stayed consistently above 60 degrees. Here are five of my favorite things about summertime! It’s a bit tough to narrow the list to five. Even lightning bugs didn’t make the cut.

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