Vacations are all about unplugging from life and mentally recharging. Make room in your schedule (and your beach bag) for one of the following selections from our favorite authors. These books are excellent vacation companions, but they are also the perfect escape from reality for your summer “staycation.” We have something for every taste in literature– and we are giving away a copy of each one to five lucky readers this month! Stay tuned to our Facebook page for your chance to win!

Do less: A minimalist guide to a simplified, organized, and happy life by Rachel Jonat
Vacations are about recharging and coming back to the chaos of everyday life refreshed and happier. Use your quiet time on the beach to learn new ways to rediscover the simple moments of a serene lifestyle. In a world where we are surrounded with the notion that we need more to be happy, this guide offers an alternative view and encourages readers to scale back their possessions and commitments to just what they really need.

Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan

We could easily recommend any of Corrigan’s books for your summer travels. Her latest, Glitter and Glue, focuses on her relationship with her mother and how it has changed over time. It also focuses on the difference between traveling and having “life experiences” which is something that even adults in their late twenties often struggle to identify. Corrigan shares the lessons she has learned throughout her life by telling the story of her post-college adventures—humorous and serious alike. Her experiences not only changed the way she viewed the world, but also the relationship she had with her mother. You will laugh, you will cry, but most importantly, you may relate to her experiences—both as a mother and a child.

Wings of Glass by Gina Holmes
If you are looking for a story that leaves you feeling emotionally empowered, this is the novel for you. Holmes beautifully narrates the story of Penny Carson, a seventeen-year-old girl who places her heart and her future in the hands of farmhand Trent Taylor. Soon he controls every aspect of her life—until a welding accident forces him to allow her to take a job cleaning houses. During this experience, she meets two new friends who help her realize that she possesses more inner strength than the man who abuses her. Holmes, a local author living in southern Virginia, has other novels you may wish to bring on your trip including Dry as Rain and Crossing Oceans. Her latest novel, Driftwood Tides, will be available in September.

The French House: An American Family, a Ruined Maison, and the Village That Restored Them All by Don Wallace
Set on the beautiful and charming French island Belle Isle, The French House is equal parts romance, adventure, self-discovery and travel literature. In an attempt to further their careers as novelists and to reconcile the near rock-bottom lows of their relationship, Don and Mindy purchase an old house in ruins on the shores of Belle Isle and attempt to rebuild it. Along the way they encounter locals who give them invaluable advice and friendship as they begin to reconstruct not only their new home, but also their relationship and themselves. Wallace’s ability to articulate the honest struggle that most people face while trying to find their place in life combined with his breathtaking descriptions of the French isle’s landscape make this a perfect summer read.

Factory Man by Beth Macy

You may have seen Macy’s work in several national magazines and, locally, The Roanoke Times. She is a fantastic author that writes about outsiders and underdogs. In Factory Man, she tells the story of John Bassett III, owner of Vaughan-Bassett, who employs more than 700 Virginians. Bassett’s fight to save hundreds of jobs in our area is inspirational and gives insight into the great globalization debate. Factory Man will be available on July 15^th, but we have one to give away to one lucky reader! Stay tuned to our Facebook page during the month of July for your chance to win!