The Stephanie Plum Series
Janet Evanovich

The Stephanie Plum Series ONE FOR THE MONEY TWO FOR THE DOUGH THREE TO GET DEADLY FOUR TO SCORE HIGH FIVE HOT SIX SEVEN UP		When this hilarious series featuring the female bounty hunter with an attitude began to circulate, it became an instant hit. Readers couldn't wait for the next book to see what predicament Stephanie would find herself in and what kind of stunt her delightfully dizzy Grandma Mazur would pull next. In fact, by the third novel, fans were hotly debating whether Stephanie would wind up with bad-boy vice cop Joe Morelli or her darkly intriguing mentor, Ranger. Plenty of action and loads of laughs are in store for readers in this current crime fiction series. SEVEN UP is now available, so start reading!

The Mitford Series
Jan Karon

The Mitford Years Series AT HOME IN MITFORD A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW THESE HIGH, GREEN HILLS OUT TO CANAAN A NEW SONG A COMMON LIFE: The Wedding Story		The tales of Mitford form a beautifully crafted series anchored in the quaint setting of this small American village populated with endearing characters, most especially Father Tim. The local rector is the heart of the story, dispensing his wise and loving guidance for the ordinary folk whose lives could mirror any small American community. From its beginning volume to the author's detailed account of Father Tim's wedding, an event that actually took place between books two and three, this charming series is a delightful escape into the serenity of "the little town with a big heart."

The Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro Series
Dennis Lehane

The Kenzie/Gennaro Series A DRINK BEFORE THE WAR DARKNESS, TAKE MY HAND SACRED GONE, BABY, GONE PRAYERS FOR RAIN		When this series debuted in 1994, it was what you might call a "sleeper." Although the first novel was a well-crafted thriller highly praised by peers and winner of the Shamus award, Lehane remained relatively unknown except by those lucky enough to stumble onto him. Today, if you're lucky enough to even find a first edition hardcover of A DRINK BEFORE THE WAR, you'll pay dearly. Dennis Lehane is hot! The series features private eye Patrick Kenzie and his reluctant partner, Angela Gennaro, who find themselves mixing it up with all forms of evil in the backstreets of Boston along with Patrick's quirky but lethal friend, Bubba Rogowski. Gritty, heart-pounding suspense and masterful dialogue make this series a great addition to your crime fiction collection.

The Lord of the Rings Series
J. R. R. Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings Series THE HOBBIT THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, THE TWO TOWERS, and THE RETURN OF THE KING		There are many who believe the whole fantasy genre owes its origins to Tolkien's THE HOBBIT and his subsequent trilogy, THE LORD OF THE RINGS. These classic tales of the Hobbits, little furry creatures who find themselves involved in an allegorical conflict between good and evil, have enchanted readers for over 60 years. Complete with dragons, wizards, and Tolkien's beautifully illustrated world of Middle-Earth, the parallels between his magnificent stories and more contemporary fantasies are obvious. Some fans include the novel THE SILMARILLION as an essential introduction to the series for providing the history of Middle-Earth leading up to his famous HOBBIT and THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, even though it was written at a later time.

The Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Mystery Series
Sue Grafton

The Alphabet Mystery Series "A" IS FOR ALIBI "B" IS FOR BURGLAR "C" IS FOR CORPSE "D" IS FOR DEADBEAT "E" IS FOR EVIDENCE "F" IS FOR FUGITIVE "G" IS FOR GUMSHOE "H" IS FOR HOMICIDE "I" IS FOR INNOCENT "J" IS FOR JUDGMENT "K" IS FOR KILLER "L" IS FOR LAWLESS "M" IS FOR MALICE "N" IS FOR NOOSE "O" IS FOR OUTLAW "P" IS FOR PERIL		No suspense series is more identifiable than Grafton's alphabetical mysteries with heroine Kinsey Millhone. A private eye with rotten luck in men and a sharper wit than fashion sense, her investigations always bring readers a delightful adventure laced with gripping action, snappy dialogue, and colorful characters. Kinsey's moral certitude and dogged determination to see justice prevail are a refreshing change of pace from her darker counterparts in most of today's current fiction. A small recurring group of characters rounds out the cast, including Kinsey's father-like friend, Henry, who's often the steadying force in Kinsey's wildly chaotic life. Why not fill your summer with a little California sunshine by reading your way from "A" to "P"?

The Dirk Pitt/NUMA Series
Clive Cussler

The Dirk Pitt/NUMA Series PACIFIC VORTEX! THE MEDITERRANEAN CAPER ICEBERG RAISE THE TITANIC! VIXEN 03 NIGHT PROBE DEEP SIX CYCLOPS TREASURE DRAGON SAHARA INCA GOLD SHOCK WAVE FLOOD TIDE ATLANTIS FOUND VALHALLA RISING (coming soon!)		"Art imitating life" was never more true than in Cussler's fictional novels starring the devilishly handsome Dirk Pitt. While the author's real life adventures may not mimic the daring deeds of his character Pitt, his authentic underwater salvage operation, NUMA, has performed some awe-inspiring feats and forms the basis for the fictional escapades of Dirk and company. Saving the world from certain destruction and winning the undying love of his lady-of-the-moment are the trademarks of a Cussler novel. And those fantastic autos in which Dirk races through the pages? They're actually part of Cussler's remarkable antique car collection, adding yet another elegant aspect to Pitt's irresistible savoir-faire. Adventure, suspense, and romance are the elements that make this series a highly entertaining summer experience.

The Kent Family Chronicles
John Jakes

The Kent Family Chronicles THE BASTARD THE REBELS THE SEEKERS THE FURIES THE TITANS THE WARRIORS THE LAWLESS THE AMERICANS		John Jakes is one the foremost historical fiction writers of our time, enthralling readers with his eight volume Kent family saga, his North-South trilogy, and his two-novel saga on the Crown family of Chicago, among others. America's history comes to life in his marvelous imagination, as the Kent family's story begins in 1790 and runs through the turn of the 20th century. Fictional characters mingle with real people and real events to give readers a wonderful overview of life in each era. This eight volume series is the perfect way to transport yourself back in time and experience their heroics, their hardships, and the engrossing drama as the family evolves through several generations.

The Wheel of Time Series
Robert Jordan

The Wheel of Time Series THE EYE OF THE WORLD THE GREAT HUNT THE DRAGON REBORN THE SHADOW RISING THE FIRES OF HEAVEN LORD OF CHAOS A CROWN OF SWORDS THE PATH OF DAGGERS WINTER'S HEART		The arrival of a sorceress and the monstrous Trollocs brings death and destruction to the world of a simple farmer, Rand al'Thor, and his two friends, Mat and Perrin. They flee the invaders and travel across Jordan's fantasy world in search of a way to battle the evil forces of the Dark One sent to destroy their lives. Adventure, humor, romance, and all the usual dragons and magical elements abound. Each book is somewhat lengthier than many fantasy novels, but with Jordan's mastery of plotting, readers will find this popular series captivating.

The Horatio Hornblower Series
C. S. Forester

The Horatio Hornblower Series MR. MIDSHIPMAN HORNBLOWER LIEUTENANT HORNBLOWER HORNBLOWER AND THE HOTSPUR HORNBLOWER DURING THE CRISIS HORNBLOWER AND THE ATROPOS HORNBLOWER: Beat to Quarters SHIP OF THE LINE FLYING COLOURS COMMODORE HORNBLOWER LORD HORNBLOWER ADMIRAL HORNBLOWER IN THE WEST INDIES		Sailing ships, exotic ports of call, and the heroics of a young man who chooses a career in Her Majesty's Navy offer readers a slice of history and some high seas adventure in Forester's classic tales of Horatio Hornblower. Long recognized as one of the masters of historical maritime fiction, Forester's novels never fail to deliver the drama that has appealed to readers all over the world. Fans of these epic sea adventures have been raving about the televised version of Forester's classics as well, but as we all know --- a television won't fit in your beach bag. Pick up this fascinating series and go enjoy the sun.

The Paul Madriani Series
Steve Martini

The Paul Madriani Series COMPELLING EVIDENCE PRIME WITNESS UNDUE INFLUENCE THE JUDGE THE ATTORNEY THE JURY (June 25th)		Paul Madriani has moved from corporate law to criminal law when the series first begins, although not by accident. His former law firm fired him, his ex-boss is found murdered, and the ex-boss's wife is accused of the crime. Unfortunately, Madriani was having an affair with the ex-wife, so things are a bit complicated, as are all his cases down the road. One of the best aspects of Martini's series is the very colorful Judge Armando Acosta, who remains Paul's nemesis throughout every book. Those of you who caught the recent television movie, "The Judge," based on Martini's fourth novel, have some idea of their adversarial relationship and the fun that's in store whenever these two do battle across the courtroom. A great selection for some summertime reading.

THE VAMPIRE CHRONICLES
Anne Rice

The Vampire Chronicles INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE THE VAMPIRE LESTAT THE QUEEN OF THE DAMNED THE TALE OF THE BODY THIEF MEMNOCH THE DEVIL THE VAMPIRE ARMAND		The myths and legends of vampires have always been popular, but Anne Rice's novels have taken the whole theme to new levels and beyond. Her original chronicles explore her infamous characters in detail: their indoctrination into the world of vampires and their lives since. Intriguing characters like Lestat and Louis form the basis for subsequent novels in the series, and Rice's command of prose captures the essence of gothic literature in its dark introspection and erotic passages. If you've been reluctant to delve into this scary world of darkness until now, just think of it this way: What safer way to encounter a vampire than on a bright, sunny afternoon at the beach?

THE LEFT BEHIND SERIES
Tim F. LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins

Left Behind Series LEFT BEHIND TRIBULATION FORCE NICOLAE: The Rise of Antichrist SOUL HARVEST: The World Takes Sides APOLLYON: The Destroyer is Unleashed ASSASSINS: The Great Tribulation Unfolds THE INDWELLING: The Beast Takes Possession THE MARK: The Beast Rules the World THE DESECRATION (coming in October)		While the Left Behind series found its first readers in the Christian book market, its fan base quickly grew outside this audience. The first book, LEFT BEHIND, begins with the Rapture and the tale of what becomes of those who are "left behind" after Christ calls for his true believers. What follows is the story of the earth's last days. While the books have one meaning to those who are well versed in the Book of Revelations, they are equally exciting to those who just want to read a series with a strong storyline and well-developed characters. Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye do an excellent job of filling in the holes for those who may be missing the importance of the biblical references. The writing is descriptive. Just as readers of THE STAND will never drive through the Lincoln Tunnel without thinking about the scene that is set there, few readers of this series will fly on an airplane again without thinking about what might happen if the Rapture occurred during their flight, as it does in the opening pages of the first book.    More...

And finally, three very short collections (the lists, not the books) that we think we'd be remiss not to mention here.

The Snopes Trilogy
William Faulkner

The Snopes Trilogy THE HAMLET THE TOWN THE MANSION		This is Faulkner's classic saga of the Snopes family in the aftermath of the Civil War. His portrayal of this influential family and the town in which they live is a remarkable study in human nature. The Snopes and the local townspeople offer a cross-section of America as it evolved in an antebellum South with all its flaws and vulnerabilities exposed. Often overlooked due to the enormous tribute paid to his other novels, this trilogy would make a wonderful summer reading experience.

THE GOOD EARTH TRILOGY
Pearl S. Buck

The Good Earth Trilogy THE GOOD EARTH SONS A HOUSE DIVIDED		The Pulitzer Prize winning novel THE GOOD EARTH was the first of many that Buck wrote about early 20th century China and its people. These three form the trilogy about a simple farmer, Wang Lung, and his family, following their struggle from peasant farmers to prosperous landowners and the sons' involvement in the revolution.

Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn
Mark Twain

Mark Twain's Books THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN		There is nothing more innately American than the writings of Mark Twain. William Faulkner was once quoted as calling Twain "the first truly American writer, and all of us since are his heirs." His tales of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn are heartwarming, comical, and capture the spirit of a simpler time. While many of you may have read these long ago, they're still as enchanting the second time around. And if you've not had your fill by the end of the second, pick up LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI, in which Twain narrates the history of the most American of all rivers, where his inspiration and the fictional Tom and Huck came to life.

   --- Ann Bruns

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