Dive in with some great beach reads

Before you head to the beach, you need a good beach read! But, how do you know which one to pick?

Margie Reed from Barrington Books joined The Rhode Show with some of her picks for summer's best reads.

Gold by Chris Cleave
The Olympics are all about the competition and the athletes. In Gold, Chris Cleave’s well-timed and latest fictional masterpiece (Simon & Schuster, July 2012) we get an in depth look at both.

We meet  Zoe, Jack and Kate, each world-class cyclists, as they train for their last chance at an Olympic medal; all while Jack and Kate’s eight-year-old daughter, Sophie battles a recurrence of childhood leukemia.

Rounding out the character mix is Tom, the woman’s coach, who has known them all since they were kids themselves and who has be coaching the trio through so much more than the sport of cycling.

“Gold is a story about just how much it can mean to win… and to lose… the race of your life.”

Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
A huge hit now available in paperback.

The books spins a compelling story of competition between two young magicians who find love and drama under a big top...only open at night.  

The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty
The best kind of historical fiction is that which educates you on a piece of our past but also delights with an incredible story  line.  Moriarty has combined the two in a read you won't be able to put down.

A young Kansas girl leaves home in hopes of stardom but tagging along is a Chaperone that will someday make her experiences even more fulfilling.

Sacre Bleu by Christopher Moore
“In July 1890, Vincent van Gogh went into a cornfield and shot himself. Or did he?”

Sacre Bleu is at once a mystery, a comedy and a dazzling adventure through the art world of Impressionist-era Paris. Moore masterfully combines historical accuracy, fantasy and mildly offensive humor and the result is nothing short of fabulously fun caper.

Yes, Chef A Memoir by Marcus Samuelsson
The author brings together vast memories of a lifetime through a common denominator: food. The interesting life of an Ethiopian boy adopted by a Swedish family who finally puts down roots in Harlem, New York. 

Samuelsson found his place in life by putting his two feet determinedly in the kitchen.

Island Practice by Pam Belluck
This is the spirited, true story of a colorful, contrarian doctor on the island of Nantucket. Dr. Timothy Lepore treats the famous and infamous, makes house calls and will accept anything - even an oatmeal raisin cookie -  as payment.  

For the Tweens:

The Land of Stories - The Wishing Spell
A more mature Magic Tree House, famous Glee star, Chris Colfer  explores the Land of Stories where fairy tales are real.

Bink & Gollie Two For One by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee
The adventures of two best friends, who are complete opposites, at the State Fair. From Whack A Duck to talent contests, the duo drum up some excitement.