Here’s a list I put together with books that are a great read for those sunny summer afternoons while you curl up on a lounge chair. Summer is arriving quickly, so get out there and start reading.

Burnt Toast by Teri Hatcher
In the hope that her foibles and insights might inspire and motivate other women, Teri opens up about the little moments that have sustained her through good times and bad. From the everyday to the rare, the message at the heart of Burnt Toast that happiness and success are choices that we owe it to ourselves to make is sure to resonate with women everywhere.

Cesar’s Way by Cesar Millan
There are at least 68 million dogs in America, and their owners lavish billions of dollars on them every year. So why do so many pampered pets have problems? In this definitive and accessible guide, Cesar Millan—star of National Geographic Channel’s hit show Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan—reveals what dogs truly need to live a happy and fulfilled life.

Dispatches from the Edge by Anderson Cooper
Few people have witnessed more scenes of chaos and conflict around the world than Anderson Cooper, whose groundbreaking coverage on CNN has changed the way we watch the news. In this gripping, candid, and remarkably powerful memoir, he offers an unstinting, up-close view of the most harrowing crises of our time, and the profound impact they have had on his life.

Forensic Files by Dr. Henry Lee
Legendary forensic scientist Lee continues to build his popular bibliography with his latest collaboration with medical doctor Labriola, but those seeking revelations about the two notorious cases cited in the subtitle will be disappointed. The investigation of Scott Peterson, the Elizabeth Smart abduction, and the case that closes the book, involving a plot worthy of fiction—two suspects accusing each other of the murder of the wife of one of them—challenged Lee’s skills to reconstruct who was actually guilty.

Home With God by Neale Donald Walsch
Through his profound and personal dialogue with God, Walsch explores the process by which all human beings must end their days here on Earth and begin their new life in God’s Kingdom, to which all eventually return, regardless of their earthly deeds. This astonishing spiritual work offers hope, comfort, and surprising revelations for all humankind.

Note: Book descriptions and images are from Amazon. Order these books and others online at Amazon.com or Amazon.ca.