I've been an avid reader ever since I was a little girl. One of my earliest memories was reading Fantastic Mr Fox in one sitting, right until the early hours of the morning under the covers, and getting in trouble for being exhausted the following day. There's something incredible about devouring a book and entering someone else's imagination, escaping away from our own reality and creating a completely different one - if only for a moment. In a world that's so connected, and working in a job that sees me permanently attached to some form of technology, I absolutely embrace the ability to sit down with a good book. Although my escapism used to happen during my daily commute, since working from home that's changed a little into blasts of opportunity around mini breaks and getaways. One of the simplest and most enjoyable things in life is laying on a beach with a great book and lazing the day away... So I've pulled together a list of five reads that are perfect for your summer holidays. Pina Colada not included.
1. The Queen Of The Tearling by Erika Johansen
Although you may start off thinking the heroine of the book is anything but, this slow burning story illustrates we're all capable of being more than we're necessarily destined to be. Kelsea Glynn is the sole heir to the throne of Tearling, but has been raised in secret after her mother was murdered for ruining her kingdom. For 18 years the Tearling has been ruled by Kelsea?s uncle, a puppet of the sorceress ?Red Queen...