* Thanks again for the reminder, Jenna!

The lazy days of summer are visibly shorter and about 10 degrees cooler.  And even for those of us who don’t have children, that back-to-school feeling (time to get new pencils and notebooks!) is in the air.

For better or worse, Labor Day weekend is just ahead, providing us with a chance for one last barbecue, day at the beach or dip in the pool. What will you be reading to mark the end of summer ’12 in the Northern Hemisphere?

Check out the suggestions below for some end-of-summer treats to pass the long weekend with.

Spice up the summer even as it winds down. The End of Summer by Alex M. Smith is a fast-paced story you will appreciate if you long for one last sexy summer read. When Rebecca goes to New York to visit her daughter Lyn, she finds a brief escape from her unhappy marriage. She also finds Richard—a much younger man who she falls for immediately. Richard is a friend of her daughter’s and it seems he is just what Rebecca needed. However, at the end of summer anything can happen. As a storm descends, emotions run hot. What will become of these mismatched lovers?

What will you be serving at your BBQ? Love of Cooking: Labor Day by Maggie Brooks is the second book in the Love of Cooking Holiday Series. This yummy collection of recipes is authored by a mother-daughter team from Texas who now live in Atlanta. Both women have a passion for cooking and entertaining. With recipes like Kickin Pimento Cheese Finger Sandwiches and Grasshopper Pie, there is something for every kind of barbecue in this book. These recipes have the best of both Texas’ spicy southwest cuisine, and Georgia’s charming southern spreads—delicious no matter where you flip your burgers. Download Love of Cooking: Labor Day and fire up your Kindle as you fire up the grill!

How about one last heartfelt drama to wrap up the season? End of Summer by Michael Potts, PhD chronicles the life of Jeffrey Conley, as he returns home to Tennessee after the death of his grandmother. Recalling the death of his beloved grandfather when he was nine, Jeffrey goes to The Thicket where he spent many memorable days with his grandfather. Jeffrey reflects on his childhood as boy who lost his twin just two hours after they were born. As if that wasn’t enough of a burden for a child to carry, his parents were killed in an accident when he was just two years old. Reflecting on the beauty of a childhood spent with his loving grandparents, Jeffrey journeys from field to thicket which parallels his journey through life. Grown up Jeffrey’s trip home gives meaning to the pain of dying and helps Jeffrey to understand why he is obsessed with death. A serious but compelling way to close out the summer, why not check out this emotional title?

Looking for a mature YA title to end the summer with? Because of Low by Abbi Glines (#10 on The List Where Indies Count) introduces Marcus Hardy, who looks forward to attending college and leaving last summer in the past. Instead of being able to do so, he is called right back to Alabama to care for his ailing mother while his father runs around with a woman not much older than Marcus. It’s not all bad however, as Marcus meets Willow (aka Low) who is a friend of his roommate, Cage. Low stays over frequently and seems to enjoy Marcus’s company as much as he is fascinated by her whimsical presence. Cage is possessive of Low, but is also busy with other girls. How will this one turn out? Read on as you laze in the hammock!

Enjoy Because of Low and crave more of bad-boy Cage? Try out Abbi’s #2 title on The List Where Indies Count this week: While it Lasts. This one is NOT for YA reading, however. As per Abbi/IR, “Warning: This is not a young adult book. It is impossible to get into Cage York’s head and keep it clean enough for YA. Language, sex, and alcohol were used in the making of this book… wait that sounds wrong doesn’t it?”

Intrigued? We were—pick up the story of Cage and Eva and enjoy as Fall approaches.

Searching for a suspenseful thriller to cap off your summer escapades? How about Lahn’s Edge by Chuck Driskell—with the allure of psychological thriller/murder mystery, this book is charged with deception and sensual suspense. Sergeant Patrick Lacher is a model soldier—or so the Army thinks. He is also a thief who is about to be visited by a twist of fate. Rebekka is a sexy young criminal with beauty, brains, and the training of a professional psychiatrist. Has Patrick met his match in Rebekka? She will undoubtedly lure him to her, but can she trap him and complete her mission? Crack open a cold one while perusing these pages—it may get hot!

We Are Absolutely Not Okay should be an end of summer staple. As we think about heading back to school, let’s not forget that it is damn hard to be young and going through life as it slams us with trauma. From self-harm to gang life, there is a story in here for anyone and everyone. This beautiful collaboration is the work of fourteen high school students led by their teacher, Marjie Bowker along with author Ingrid Ricks. If you only have time for one more book this summer and you want to be inspired, empowered and touched—this is it.

We hope you find something that appeals to you in this variety pack of summer’s end delights. If you have further suggestions please let us know. We are always on the lookout for the next indie superstar. Enjoy your cookouts, and remember to bring your sunblock, a tall glass of something chilled and an awesome indie to enjoy!

**********************************************************

What are your plans for Labor Day?  Fireworks at the beach? Barbeque with friends? Staying at home to avoid the last weekend of summer traffic?