Collections Connections - June 2025

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June 2025

Back to the Beach

Summertime…and the living is easy.

The sun is shining bright. A breeze blows across the bay. A mysterious stranger walks down the beach with a well-worn library paperback in hand and drops it on your towel.  

In this issue of Collections Connections, we will be exploring the beach, the shore, and the sea in the broadest sense. So pick up some choice beach reads, breathe in some fresh air, and put your toes in the sand.

Fiction
Nonfiction
In the Library of Congress Collections
Quick Picks

Fiction

Beach Friends and Family

Beach Trip: A Novel DB78648
Holton, Cathy
15 hours, 53 minutes. Read by Teresa Willis.

Four former college friends reunite at a North Carolina beach house twenty-three years after graduation. Lola, Annie, Mel, and Sara relive the past, confront misunderstandings, reveal secrets, and reestablish their commitment to stay in touch. And one decides to drastically change her life. Some strong language. 2009.

Also:
The Five-Star Weekend DB115142 Hilderbrand, Elin. 12 hours, 49 minutes. Read by Erin Bennett.BR24939 5 volumes 
Summer Rental DB74258 A Andrews, Mary Kay. 12 hours, 34 minutes. Read by Kristin Allison. Summer Sisters: A Novel DB46337 Blume, Judy. 8 hours, 49 minutes. Read by Madelyn Buzzard.
A Walk along the Beach DB99515 Macomber, Debbie. 9 hours, 7 minutes. Read by Roger Wayne; Sandy Rustin.
The Beach at Painter's Cove: A Novel DBC06237 Noble, Shelley. 11 hours, 6 minutes. Read by Ann Victor.
Beachcombing for a Shipwrecked God DB42938  Coomer, Joe. 9 hours, 42 minutes. Beaches DB25015 Dart, Iris Rainer. 9 hours, 2 minutes. Read by Suzanne Toren.
Beachside Beginnings DB108467 Roberts, Sheila. 9 hours, 31 minutes. Read by Ann Marie Gideon.
Family Reunion: A Novel DB108604 Thayer, Nancy. 10 hours, 47 minutes. Read by Cecelia Riddett.
Ferris Beach: A Novel DB32481 McCorkle, Jill. 11 hours, 7 minutes. Read by Carole Coons.
Glass Beach DB48411 Landis, Jill Marie. 11 hours, 45 minutes. Read by Anne Hancock.
Same Beach, Next Year: A Novel DB88086 Frank, Dorothea Benton. 13 hours, 8 minutes. Read by Carol Jacobanis.
Saving Sandcastles DB111281 Summers, Meredith. 5 hours, 30 minutes. Read by Hollis McCarthy.
Summer on Highland Beach: A Novel DB122115 Hostin, Sunny. 10 hours, 11 minutes. Read by January LaVoy.
Welcome to Beach Town: A Novel DB116498 Wiggs, Susan. 10 hours, 41 minutes. Read by Brittany Pressley.

Classic Beach Bookstore

The Beach Reads Bookshop DB117048
McClain, Lee Tobin
8 hours, 57 minutes. Read by Tanya Eby

"Running a bookstore on a quaint Chesapeake island is exactly the life Deena Clark would have chosen for herself. But helping billionaire businessman Luis Dominguez figure out fatherhood is part of the package. Can bonding over books and one little girl help them open their hearts to each other?" — Provided by publisher. Commercial audiobook. BR25249 1 volume

Also:
The Bookstore on the Beach DB103241 Novak, Brenda. 12 hours, 40 minutes. Read by Amy McFadden.
Driftwood Summer: A Novel DB71559 Henry, Patti Callahan. 9 hours, 33 minutes. Read by Julia Whelan. 
On Folly Beach DBC05164 White, Karen. 11 hours, 38 minutes. Read by Allison Allgood. A production of South Carolina State Library, Talking Book Services.

Cozy Beach Cottage Romance

Beach Cottage Books 1-2 DB103986
DeMaio, Joanne
5 hours, 48 minutes. Read by Gabriella Cavallero.

Two novellas written in 2020 and 2021. In "The Beach Cottage," Mack and Avery Martinelli are newlyweds honeymooning at Mack’s family beach house on the Connecticut shore. However, when they get there, their plans have to change. Also includes Back to the Beach Cottage. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2021.

Also:
Happy Place: A Novel DB114742 Henry, Emily. 11 hours, 6 minutes. Read by Julia Whelan.
The Cafe at Beach End DB122975 Thayne, RaeAnne. 8 hours, 21 minutes. Read by Vanessa Johansson.
The Cottages on Silver Beach DB92150 Thayne, RaeAnne. 7 hours, 51 minutes. Read by Vanessa Johansson.
An Island Summer DB125593 Hale, Jenny. 7 hours, 52 minutes. Read by Laura Hatch.

Back to Our Beach House

The Beach House DB71556
Monroe, Mary Alice
14 hours, 17 minutes. Read by the author.

When her mother becomes ill, Caretta Rutledge leaves Chicago for her southern Low Country hometown on a South Carolina beach. Caretta makes amends with her mom, renews old acquaintances, and falls in love with a local naturalist. Strong language. Commercial audiobook. 2002.

Also in the series:
Beach House Memories DB83651 Monroe, Mary Alice. 13 hours, 47 minutes. Read by Martha Harmon Pardee.
Swimming Lessons DB71557 Monroe, Mary Alice. 11 hours, 29 minutes. Read by the author. Beach House For Rent DB88511 Monroe, Mary Alice. 11 hours, 35 minutes. Read by Gabriella Cavallero.
Beach House Reunion DB92113 Monroe, Mary Alice. 11 hours, 4 minutes. Read by the author.
On Ocean Boulevard DB99725 Monroe, Mary Alice. 11 hours, 40 minutes. Read by Cassandra Campbell.
The Summer of Lost and Found DB103655 Monroe, Mary Alice. 9 hours, 57 minutes. Read by Cassandra Campbell.
The Beach House DB67236 Green, Jane. 10 hours, 30 minutes. Read by Martha Harmon Pardee.
Seabreeze Shores DB111536 Moran, Jan. 7 hours, 22 minutes. Read by Erin Bennett.

Beach Party Romance

Beach Girls  DB59071
Rice, Luanne
11 hours, 34 minutes. Read by Colleen Delany.  

Hubbard’s Point, Connecticut. Nine-year-old Nell seeks links to her deceased mother, Emma. Jack, Nell’s father, shelters her from his sister Maddie, who knows a painful secret about Emma’s untimely death. Emma’s reclusive childhood friend, Stevie, feels drawn to Nell and to Jack. Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2004.

Writers' Beach Romance

Beach Read DB99724
Henry, Emily 
10 hours, 15 minutes. Read by Julia Whelan.

January Andrews is a romance writer who no longer believes in love. Augustus Everett is a celebrated literary writer stuck in a rut. When the two writers wind up in neighboring beach houses, they decide to try an experiment and swap genres. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller. 2020.

New England Beach Romance

Nantucket Beach Plum Cove. Books 1-3 DB101725
Kelley, Pamela M.
15 hours, 11 minutes. Read by Mare Trevathan.

Three novels of family and love set in Nantucket. In "The Nantucket Inn," Lisa Hodges finds out her late husband had a gambling addiction and decides to turn her family home into a bed-and-breakfast with the help of her four grown children. Also includes "Nantucket Neighbors" and "Nantucket White Christmas." 2019.

Also in the series:
Nantucket Beach Plum Cove. Books 4-6 DB102358 Kelley, Pamela M. 13 hours, 40 minutes. Read by Eva Wilhelm.
Nantucket Homes: A Beach Plum Cove Novel DB122507 Kelley, Pamela M. 5 hours, 56 minutes. Read by Leslie Howard

Also:
Life's a Beach DBC11606 Cook, Claire  6 hours, 32 minutes. Read by Judie Yuill. A production of Perkins Library, Perkins School for the Blind.
The Beach Club DB90215 Hilderbrand, Elin. 14 hours, 34 minutes. Read by Christina Delaine.

New York Beach Fiction

Same Time Next Summer DB115078
Monaghan, Annabel 
7 hours, 0 minutes. Read by Dan Bittner; Brittany Pressley.

"Beach Rules: Do take long walks on the sand. Do put an umbrella in every cocktail. Do NOT run into your first love. Sam’s life is on track. She has the perfect doctor fiancé, Jack (his strict routines are a good thing, really), a great job in Manhattan (unless they fire her), and is about to tour a wedding venue near her family’s Long Island beach house. Everything should go to plan, yet the minute she arrives, Sam senses something is off. Wyatt is here. Her Wyatt. But there’s no reason for a thirty-year-old engaged woman to feel panicked around the guy who broke her heart when she was seventeen. Right?" — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

Also:
The High Season: A Novel DB91239 Blundell, Judy. 10 hours, 45 minutes. Read by Julia Whelan.
Montauk DB95558 Harrison, Nicola. 14 hours, 15 minutes. Read by Erin Bennett.

Maryland Beach Romance

The Inn at Eagle Point DB68939
Woods, Sherryl
10 hours, 5 minutes. Read by Erin Jones.

New York portfolio manager Abby O'Brien Winters returns to her Maryland hometown at the request of her sister Jess, who is renovating an inn. Jess faces foreclosure and the banker in charge, Trace Riley, is Abby's former boyfriend. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2009.

Also in this series:
Flowers on Main DB69238 Woods, Sherryl. 9 hours, 49 minutes. Read by Erin Jones.
Harbor Lights DB69253 Woods, Sherryl. 9 hours, 32 minutes. Read by Erin Jones. 
A Chesapeake Shores Christmas DB72244 Woods, Sherryl. 5 hours, 23 minutes. Read by Erin Jones.
Driftwood Cottage DB73196 Woods, Sherryl. 8 hours, 57 minutes. Read by Erin Jones. Moonlight Cove DB73206 Woods, Sherryl. 8 hours, 56 minutes. Read by Erin Jones.
Beach Lane DB73517 Woods, Sherryl. 8 hours, 59 minutes. Read by Erin Jones.
An O'Brien Family Christmas DB74637 Woods, Sherryl. 6 hours, 30 minutes. Read by Christina Traister. 
The Summer Garden DB74638 Woods, Sherryl. 9 hours, 49 minutes. Read by Christina Traister.
A Seaside Christmas: A Chesapeake Shore Novel DB77788 Woods, Sherryl. 5 hours, 54 minutes. Read by Kristin Allison.
The Christmas Bouquet DB80916 Woods, Sherryl. 7 hours, 15 minutes. Kerry Dukin.
Dogwood Hill DB80800 Woods, Sherryl. 9 hours, 30 minutes. Read by Teresa Willis.
Willow Brook Road DB83504 Woods, Sherryl. 11 hours, 27 minutes. Read by Emily Maixner.
Lilac Lane DB89844 Woods, Sherryl. 11 hours, 37 minutes. Read by Elizabeth Rose.

Also:
Coming Home: The Chesapeake Diaries DB71451 Stewart, Mariah. 9 hours, 13 minutes. Read by Gabriella Cavallero.
Home Again: The Chesapeake Diaries DB73337 Stewart, Mariah. 11 hours, 37 minutes. Read by Gabriella Cavallero.
Hometown Girl: The Chesapeake Diaries DB75124 Stewart, Mariah. 8 hours, 42 minutes. Read by Gabriella Cavallero.
Almost Home: The Chesapeake Diaries DB73014 Stewart, Mariah. 9 hours, 33 minutes. Read by Gabriella Cavallero.
Home for the Summer: The Chesapeake Diaries DB75311 Stewart, Mariah. 8 hours, 54 minutes. Read by Gabriella Cavallero.
The Long Way Home: The Chesapeake Diaries DB76231 Stewart, Mariah. 9 hours, 45 minutes. Read by Gabriella Cavallero.
At the River's Edge: The Chesapeake Diaries DB78305 Stewart, Mariah. 10 hours, 1 minute. Read by Gabriella Cavallero.
On Sunset Beach: The Chesapeake Diaries DB80096 Stewart, Mariah. 8 hours, 44 minutes. Read by Kristin Allison.
That Chesapeake Summer DB88842 Stewart, Mariah. 8 hours, 24 minutes. Read by Xe Sands.
Driftwood Point DB90134 Stewart, Mariah. 8 hours, 2 minutes. Read by Xe Sands.
The Chesapeake Bride DB90419 Stewart, Mariah. 9 hours, 53 minutes. Read by MacKenzie Beyer.
Dune Drive DB92583 Stewart, Mariah. 10 hours, 30 minutes. Read by Joy Osmanski

North Carolina Beach Romance

Beachcomber DB57271
Robards, Karen
10 hours, 28 minutes. Read by Erin Jones. 

Christy Petrino quits her job when she discovers that the law firm she works for and her fiancé are involved with the mob. Now, with her life at stake, she must deliver a package to Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, where she faces more danger—a serial killer. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2003. BR14931 3 volumes

Also:
Same Beach, Next Year: A Novel DB88086 Frank, Dorothea Benton. 13 hours, 8 minutes. Read by Carol Jacobanis.
Summer by the Tides DB99845 Hunter, Denise. 9 hours, 27 minutes. Read by Nan Kelley.

North Carolina Beach, with a Dash of Suspense and Religious Romance

Tidewater Inn DB111083
Coble, Colleen 
10 hours, 21 minutes. Read by Libby McKnight.

"Libby can't believe her luck when she learns she has inherited a beautiful old hotel on the Outer Banks. The inn cries out for her restorer's talent and love of history. She's delighted to learn of the family she never knew she had. And the handsome Coast Guard lieutenant she's met there on the island could definitely be the man of her dreams. But Libby soon realizes that the only way she can afford the upkeep on the inn is to sell it to developers who are stalking the island." -- Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

Florida Beach Romance

Beach Town DB82313
Andrews, Mary Kay 
14 hours, 33 minutes. Read by Eva Wilhelm. Location scout Greer Hennessy has found the perfect Florida beach town for a film, but local mayor Eben Thibadeaux doesn't want movie people descending on his town. While romance blooms between Eben and Greer, drama on the movie set causes problems. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2015.

Also:
The Beach House on Amelia Island DB122228 Holloway, Hope. 8 hours, 51 minutes. Read by Anne Marie Damman.
Dreamland DB110362 Sparks, Nicholas. 9 hours, 50 minutes. Read by Austin Nichols; Thérèse Plummer; Nicholas Sparks
A Haven in the Keys DB115607 Holloway, Hope. 8 hours, 3 minutes. Read by Laura Hatch.
South Beach Sizzle DB61411 Weyn, Suzanne; González, Diana. 4 hours, 10 minutes. Read by Gabra Zackman.

Beach Romance, Florida Gulf Coast

Sanibel Dreams 1: A Shellseeker Beach Novel DB119582
Holloway, Hope
7 hours, 42 minutes. Read by Jill Fox.

"When 53-year-old Eliza Whitney loses both her beloved husband and her high-powered job in the same month, she's uncertain what the next chapter of her life will look like. Then her estranged father's widow contacts her and asks her to come to Sanibel Island to help settle his affairs. Eliza sees the trip to a place called Shellseeker Beach as a distraction from her loss, and maybe a way to get some closure on the difficult relationship she'd had with her father.”

Also in this series:
Sanibel Treasures: A Shellseeker Beach Novel DB120001 Holloway, Hope. 8 hours, 10 minutes. Read by Laura Hatch
Sanibel Mornings: A Shellseeker Beach Novel: Book Three DB120011 Holloway, Hope. 8 hours, 17 minutes. Read by Mary March.
Sanibel Sisters: A Shellseeker Beach Novel: Book Four DB120451 Holloway, Hope. 9 hours, 52 minutes. Read by Victoria Westlake.
Sanibel Tides: a Shellseeker Beach Novel: Book Five DB120460 Holloway, Hope. 10 hours, 13 minutes. Read by Victoria Westlake.
Sanibel Sunsets: A Shellseeker Beach Novel: Book Six DB120574 Holloway, Hope. 8 hours, 49 minutes. Read by Anne Marie Damman.

Also on the Gulf Coast of Florida:
Rosemary Beach. Books 1-3 DB98300
Glines, Abbi
19 hours, 58 minutes. Read by Theresa Conkin.

Three contemporary romances written between 2012 and 2013. In "Fallen Too Far," Blaire moves to Rosemary Beach, Florida, to live with her father after her mother dies and falls for her stepbrother, Rush. Their relationship continues in "Never Too Far" and "Forever Too Far." Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex. 2013.

Also in the series:
Rush Too Far: A Rosemary Beach Novel DB118195 Glines, Abbi. 6 hours, 41 minutes. Read by Sebastian York.
Twisted Perfection DB119176 Glines, Abbi. 6 hours, 55 minutes. Read by Elizabeth Louise; Sebastian York.
Simple Perfection DB118879 Glines, Abbi. 6 hours, 28 minutes. Read by Elizabeth Louise; Sebastian York.
Take a Chance: A Novel DB120699 Glines, Abbi. 7 hours, 37 minutes. Read by Jack DuPont; Shayna Thibodeaux.
One More Chance DB121321 Glines, Abbi. 6 hours, 35 minutes. Read by Jack DuPont; Shayna Thibodeaux.
You Were Mine DB122973 Glines, Abbi. 6 hours, 9 minutes. Elizabeth Louise; Sebastian York.
When I'm Gone: A Rosemary Beach Novel DB124752 Glines, Abbi. 6 hours, 43 minutes. Read by Grace Grant; Jason Carpenter.
When You're Back DB125910 Glines, Abbi. 6 hours, 35 minutes. Read by Grace Grant; Jason Carpenter
The Best Goodbye DB125738 Glines, Abbi. 6 hours, 25 minutes. Read by Jason Carpenter; Olivia Song.
Up in Flames: A Rosemary Beach Novel DB126145 Glines, Abbi. 6 hours, 30 minutes. Read by Sophie Eastlake; Jeremy York.
Going Too Far DB126490 Glines, Abbi. 6 hours, 47 minutes. Read by Eric G. Dove; Stefanie Kay.

Alabama Beach Romance

Seabreeze Inn DB104164
Moran, Jan
8 hours, 48 minutes. Read by Erin Bennett.

When art teacher Ivy Marin finds her late husband spent their life savings on a historical beach house, she and her sister transform it into an inn. If only it didn't contain hidden secrets, and the mayor wasn't her former high school crush. Commercial audiobook.

Also in the series:
Seabreeze Summer DB104358 Moran, Jan. 9 hours, 34 minutes. Read by Erin Bennett. Seabreeze Sunset DB104431 Moran, Jan. 9 hours, 31 minutes. Read by Erin Bennett.
Seabreeze Christmas: Summer Beach, Book 4 DB104895 Moran, Jan. 7 hours, 44 minutes. Read by Erin Bennett.
Seabreeze Wedding DB109478 Moran, Jan. 7 hours, 35 minutes. Read by Erin Bennett. Seabreeze Book Club DB111407 Moran, Jan. 7 hours, 53 minutes. Read by Erin Bennett. Seabreeze Shores DB111536 Moran, Jan. 7 hours, 22 minutes. Read by Erin Bennett.
Seabreeze Reunion DB122926 Moran, Jan. 6 hours, 40 minutes. Read by Erin Bennett. Seabreeze Honeymoon DB123175 Moran, Jan. 8 hours, 4 minutes. Read by Erin Bennett. Seabreeze Gala DB123270 Moran, Jan. 6 hours, 45 minutes. Read by Erin Bennett.

Mississippi Beach

The Beach Trees DB74348
White, Karen
14 hours, 51 minutes. Read by Jill Fox. 

Julie Holt becomes the guardian of her late friend Monica's five-year-old son Beau and inherits a beach house in Biloxi, Mississippi. While introducing Beau to Monica's estranged family in New Orleans, Julie gradually rebuilds her life—and discovers why Monica had left home. 2011.

California Beach

Malibu Rising DB103564
Reid, Taylor Jenkins
11 hours, 8 minutes. Read by Julia Whelan.

In the summer of 1983, Nina Riva was hosting her annual celebrity-filled party, despite the impending end of her marriage. Nina and her three siblings, all connected to the world of surfing, might have survived their unconventional upbringing, but each is hiding secrets. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2021.

Also:
Beach Vibes DB128431 Mallery, Susan. 10 hours, 55 minutes. Read by Tanya Eby.
The Dirty Book Club: A Novel DBC29922 Harrison, Lisi. 8 hours, 15 minutes. Read by Joy Osmanski A production of Braille and Talking Book Library, California State Library.
Welcome to Beach Town: A Novel DB116498 Wiggs, Susan. 10 hours, 41 minutes. Read by Brittany Pressley.

Oregon Coastal Romance

Moonshell Beach: A Shelter Bay Novel DB75374
Ross, JoAnn 
9 hours, 23 minutes. Read by Carol Dines.

Shelter Bay, Oregon. When Irish movie star Mary Joyce agrees to attend the town's first film festival, former marine J.T. Douchett reluctantly falls in love with the star as he protects her from overzealous fans. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2012.

Oregon Coastal Romance with a Touch of Religious Fiction and Cranberry Farming in the Mix

Hope Harbor: A Novel DB104516
Hannon, Irene
9 hours, 44 minutes. Read by Thérèse Plummer.

Tracy Campbell never wanted to leave Hope Harbor, Oregon, or the idyllic three-generation cranberry farm where she grew up. But life altered her plans. Now she's home again, with a floundering farm to run, a tragic secret, and a wounded heart. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2015.

Also in the series:
Sea Rose Lane: A Hope Harbor Novel DB104792 Hannon, Irene. 10 hours, 16 minutes.  Sandpiper Cove: A Hope Harbor Novel DB104850 Hannon, Irene. 9 hours, 49 minutes. Read by Thérèse Plummer.
Pelican Point: A Hope Harbor Novel DB104891 Hannon, Irene. 9 hours, 49 minutes. Read by Thérèse Plummer.
Driftwood Bay: A Hope Harbor Novel DB105163 Hannon, Irene. 9 hours, 3 minutes. Read by Thérèse Plummer.
Starfish Pier: A Hope Harbor Novel DB105203 Hannon, Irene. 9 hours, 41 minutes. Read by Thérèse Plummer.
Blackberry Beach: A Hope Harbor novel DB105635 Hannon, Irene. 9 hours, 45 minutes. Read by Thérèse Plummer.
Sea Glass Cottage DB108079 Hannon, Irene. 9 hours, 51 minutes. Read by Thérèse Plummer. Windswept Way: A Hope Harbor Novel DB114296 Hannon, Irene. 10 hours, 52 minutes. Read by Thérèse Plummer.
Sandcastle Inn: A Hope Harbor Novel DB120616 Hannon, Irene. 10 hours, 17 minutes. Read by Thérèse Plummer.

Washington Beach Romance

Welcome to Moonlight Harbor DB104821 
Roberts, Sheila  10 hours, 31 minutes. Read by Ann Marie Gideon.

Jenna Jones is turning forty, and this year for her birthday she's getting a divorce. Although she is barely able to support herself and her teenage daughter, her deadbeat artist ex wants spousal support. Jenna's Aunt Edie invites her to Moonlight Harbor in coastal Washington to help run an inn. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2018.

Also in the series:
Winter at the Beach DB105545 Roberts, Sheila. 9 hours, 11 minutes. Read by Ann Marie Gideon.
The Summer Retreat DB106951 Roberts, Sheila. 8 hours, 28 minutes. Read by Ann Marie Gideon.
Beachside Beginnings DB108467 Roberts, Sheila. 9 hours, 31 minutes. Read by Ann Marie Gideon.
Sunset on Moonlight Beach DB109030 Roberts, Sheila. 10 hours, 17 minutes. Read by Ann Marie Gideon.
Sand Dollar Lane DB113218 Roberts, Sheila. 9 hours, 31 minutes. Read by Ann Marie Gideon. Mermaid Beach DB115145 Roberts, Sheila. 10 hours, 16 minutes. Read by Ann Marie Gideon. The Best Life Book Club DB127545 Roberts, Sheila. 10 hours, 12 minutes. Read by Ann Marie Gideon.

Also set in Washington State:
That Summer Place DB67082 9 hours, 18 minutes. Read by Madelyn Buzzard.

Scottish, Cornish, Irish and Italian Beach Romance

The Café by the Sea: A Novel DB88776
Colgan, Jenny 
10 hours, 30 minutes. Abigail Maupin.

Flora fled the small Scottish island of her youth years ago and built a life in London, but she heads back to deal with the American developer planning a resort on the island. While home, she discovers a passion for cooking and opens a local cafe. Strong language. 2016.

Also:
The Endless Beach DB99242 Colgan, Jenny. 10 hours, 4 minutes. Read by Sarah Barron.
Little Beach Street Bakery DB89863 Colgan, Jenny. 12 hours, 35 minutes. Read by Veida Dehmlow.
Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery DB94415 Colgan, Jenny. 10 hours, 55 minutes. Read by Alison Larkin.
The Lost Girls of Ireland DB114376 O'Leary, Susanne. 8 hours, 11 minutes. Read by Jennifer Fitzgerald.
One Night on the Island DB106692 Silver, Josie. 10 hours, 24 minutes. Read by Davis Brooks; Eleanor Tomlinson.
One Italian Summer DB107174 Serle, Rebecca. 6 hours, 23 minutes. Read by Lauren Graham.

Thailand Beach Adventure

The Beach DB45577
Garland, Alex 
11 hours, 51 minutes. Read by Randy Davidson.

During his stay in a Bangkok flophouse, a young western adventurer comes upon a secret map showing the way to an uncharted coastal paradise. He and a French couple embark on a perilous trek to the idyllic beach, and once there, they join a commune inhabited by bizarre individuals. Strong language and violence.

West African Landlocked Beach Adventure

Brazzaville Beach: A Novel DB33035
Boyd, William
12 hours, 12 minutes. Read by Mitzi Friedlander.

Hope Clearwater fled England for Africa, where she signed on as an ecologist to study the habits of chimpanzees. Now living at Brazzaville Beach on the African coast, she tries to patch together the pieces of her life. Hope reflects on her unhappy marriage to an eccentric mathematician, her discovery that chimps are capable of murder, and her capture by rebel armies fighting in Angola. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller.

Beach Mystery

Death by Beach Read DB109688
Gates, Eva
8 hours, 52 minutes. Read by Elise Arsenault.

“It’s spring in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Lucy and Connor have moved into their new home, at last, a historic cottage on the Nags Head beach. Lucy is now happily immersed in her work at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, planning her wedding, and decorating the house. But then a dead body disrupts their peaceful new abode. The first night Lucy’s alone in the house, with the company of Charles the library cat, she hears sounds. While investigating, Lucy is reminded that the house is said to be haunted: forty years ago the teenage daughter of the owners fled in the night, and never again stepped foot inside her family home. But the sounds have an all-too-human origin.” — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

Also:
Bad Summer People DBC29748 Rosenblum, Emma. 9 hours, 43 minutes. Read by Patricia Muir. A production of Minnesota State Services for the Blind, Communication Center.
Summer of Lost and Found DB85438 Behrens, Rebecca. 6 hours, 53 minutes. Read by Martha Harmon Pardee.
The Body on the Beach DB99163 Brett, Simon. 7 hours, 0 minutes. Read by Ralph Cosham. Body on the Beach: Vangie Vale Mysteries DB105684 Syme, R.L. 7 hours, 18 minutes. Read by Lindsey Pierce.
A Deadly Bone to Pick DB115258 Rothschild, Peggy. 8 hours, 33 minutes. Read by Thérèse Plummer.
Death on a Vineyard Beach: A Martha’s Vineyard Mystery DB67233 Craig, Philip R. 8 hours, 16 minutes. Read by Michael Russotto.
Grandad, There's a Head on the Beach DB101547 Cotterill, Colin. 9 hours, 16 minutes. Read by Kim Mai Guest.
Liar's Beach DB114890 Cotugno, Katie. 8 hours, 37 minutes. Graham Halstead.
Murder at Brighton Beach DB116414 Strauss, Lee.4 hours, 38 minutes. Read by Elizabeth Klett.
Murder at the Rusty Anchor DB122848 Day, Maddie. 7 hours, 3 minutes. Read by Rachel Dulude.
Orchid Beach: A Novel DB47651 Woods, Stuart. 9 hours, 58 minutes. Read by Annie Wauters. Liar's Point DB122134 Griffin, Laura. 9 hours, 29 minutes. Read by Teri Clark Linden.
Dead as a Duck: A Washington Whodunit DB121873 Shogan, Colleen. 8 hours, 10 minutes. Read by Laura Hatch.
Mad Hatter's Holiday: A Sergeant Cribb Mystery DB112987 Lovesey, Peter. 7 hours, 2 minutes. Read by David Thorpe.
The Pope of Palm Beach DB90295 Dorsey, Tim. 9 hours, 5 minutes. Read by David Hartley-Margolin.
April in Spain: A Novel DB114975 Banville, John. 8 hours, 46 minutes. Read by John Rafter Lee.

Some Supernatural Horror at the Beach

Duma Key DB65691
King, Stephen
23 hours, 15 minutes. Read by David Hartley-Margolin.

An accident left self-made construction millionaire Edgar Freemantle brain damaged and without an arm. When Edgar’s rage results in divorce, his therapist suggests he spend a year painting in Florida. With his phantom arm’s help, Edgar soon produces incredible, but dangerous, artwork. Violence and strong language. Bestseller. 2008.

Also:
The Hotel Nantucket DB109007 Hilderbrand, Elin. 13 hours, 48 minutes. Read by Paige O'Malley; Erin Bennett.BR24451 5 volumes 
The Drowning House DB123375 Priest, Cherie. 11 hours, 36 minutes. Read by Mara Wilson. Thirteen Days by Sunset Beach DB94701 Campbell, Ramsey. 9 hours, 59 minutes. Read by Bill Delaney.
The Trouble at Turtle Beach DB123201 Bedford, Carrie. 9 hours, 43 minutes. Read by Elizabeth Rose.

Science Fiction of the Sea

Oceanspace DB53612
Steele, Allen M. 
11 hours, 33 minutes. Read Jim Zeiger.

In 2011 Joe Niedzwiecki and Peter Lipscomb are scientists aboard the first manned undersea research station, situated hundreds of feet under the Atlantic's surface. When Joe films a sea serpent Pete sends for his wife, Judith, a marine biologist, and his niece, Andie, to join them. Some violence and some strong language. 2000.

Also:
Abduction DB51403 Cook, Robin. 11 hours, 14 minutes. Read by Richard Hauenstein.
Across the Sea of Suns DB41574 Benford, Gregory. 4 hours, 23 minutes. Read by Gary Tipton. Adrift DB112076 Gear, W. Michael. 21 hours, 15 minutes. Read by Alyssa Bresnahan. Depth DB83158 Rosen, Lev AC. 8 hours, 35 minutes. Read by Jason Culp.
Lost Ark Dreaming DB122032 Okungbowa, Suyi Davies 4 hours, 41 minutes. Read by Mare Trevathan.
Saucer: Savage Planet DBC12753 Coonts, Stephen. 10 hours, 6 minutes. Read by Susie Baldwin. A production of Florida Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services.
The Songs of Distant Earth DB23048 Clarke, Arthur C. 7 hours, 3 minutes. Read by John Polk. 
Starfish DB53446 Watts, Peter. 11 hours, 58 minutes. Read by Jack Fox.
Wave Rider DB120355 Diener, Michelle. 8 hours, 7 minutes. Read by Gabriella Cavallero.
Weird Fishes DB111001 Mariz, Rae. 4 hours, 23 minutes. Read by Mary March.

Prehistoric Time Travel Science Fiction on a Jurassic-era Beach

Dinosaur Beach DB12930
Laumer, Keith 
5 hours, 30 minutes. Read by John Polk.

An agent from the remote future jumps from one time period to another in his efforts to combat successive tamperings with history that threaten the survival of mankind.      

Beach Science Fiction, for Kids

The Secret Oceans DB43637
Ballantine, Betty 
2 hours, 16 minutes. Read by John Stratton.

An international team of scientists boards a high-tech submersible on an expedition to communicate with whales. The team encounters the cetasapiens, a previously unknown type of super-dolphin, from whom they learn much about the creatures of the deep and the fragile ecology of the oceans. For grades 5-8.

Also:
The Boy on the Beach DBC12279 Meacham, Margaret. 3 hours, 6 minutes. Read by Katherine Klavana. A production of Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

Young Adult Beach

Beach Cute DB121253
Reekles, Beth 
10 hours, 20 minutes. Read by Yasmin Mwanza; Imogen Wilde; Katy Sobey.

“Luna, Rory and Jodie are strangers in need of a vacation … Luna has unexpectedly broken up with her boyfriend. Rory has to come up with a creative way to break it to her family that she wants to pursue her art passion. As for Jodie—she feels lost in both life and love. But these three strangers have one other thing in common … they are on their way to the same resort. As their lives collide in unexpected ways, will they have the summer they’ll never forget?”—Publisher description. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.

Also:
The Prince of Venice Beach DB81704 Nelson, Blake. 4 hours, 56 minutes. Read by Mike Stefanelli. For senior high and older readers. 2014.
The Summer I Turned Pretty DB116483 Han, Jenny. 6 hours, 1 minute. Read by Lola Tung.

Middle Grade Beach Adventure

Beach Party Surf Monkey DBC12764
Grabenstein, Chris 
4 hours, 34 minutes. Read by Ellen Rabin 

A production of Florida Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services. P.T. and his friend Gloria have to convince producers that their Wonderland motel is the perfect filming location for the upcoming Beach Party Surf Monkey movie. Sequel to Welcome to Wonderland: Home Sweet Motel DBC12773. For grades 3-6.

Also:
Beach Battle Blowout DBC28475 Grabenstein, Chris. 4 hours, 12 minutes. Read by Ellen Rabin A production of Florida Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services.

Middle Grade Beach Mystery

The Bobbsey Twins: The Secret at the Seashore DB13236
Hope, Laura Lee 
2 hours, 59 minutes. Read by Bets Thompson.

During their vacation at the seashore, the Bobbsey twins become involved in a mystery in an amusement park and help to find a missing airplane pilot. For grades 3-6. BR08305 1 volume.

Friends and Family at the Beach, for Kids

Eva at the Beach DB116003
Elliott, Rebecca 
26 minutes. Read by Kristin Allison.

"Eva is very excited about a beach vacation with her family and best friend Lucy, but her secret fear of swimming where there might be hungry sharks could keep her from finding the legendary mermowls." — Provided by publisher. For grades K-3.

Inspirational Beach Party Fiction, for Kids

Cara's Beach Party Disaster DB41477
Schulte, Elaine L.
3 hours, 11 minutes. Read by Martha Harmon Pardee.

Cara Hernandez can't understand why her seventeen-year-old half sister, Paige, is so mean to her. Paige has even caused the members of the Twelve Candles Club to be upset with Cara. But the Christian club members are quick to forgive Cara, and she takes a lesson from this. Maybe she should try to please God and learn to forgive. Meanwhile the club continues to raise money working at parties, baby-sitting, and washing cars. For grades 3-6.

At the Beach, for Small Kids

A Day at the Beach with the Very Hungry Caterpillar DB125677
Roth, Megan.
4 minutes. Read by Kevin R. Free.

“The Very Hungry Caterpillar discovers fun things to do at the beach including playing with beach toys, collecting seashells, and splashing in the water.”—From publisher. Commercial audiobook. For preschool-grade 2.

Also:
Bats at the Beach DBC04502 Lies, Brian. 4 minutes. Read by Fred Griffeth. A production of Braille and Talking Book Library, Perkins School for the Blind.
Beach Pug DB121839 May, Kyla. 31 minutes. Read by Andrew Randall. For Preschool-grade 2.
The Happy Lion's Vacation DBC02411 Fatio, Louise. 17 minutes. Read by Wendy Devilbiss. A production of Kansas State Library, Kansas Talking Books Regional Library. For preschool-grade 2.
Little Toot DB40469 Gramatky, Hardie. 11 minutes. Read by Andy Chappell.
Mia, the Beach Cat: A Story DB44773 Hänel, Wolfram; James, J. Alison. 16 minutes. Read by Nancy Kronenfeld. For grades 2-4.
Mice at the Beach DB30544 Yamashita, Haruo. 5 minutes. Read by Martha Spivey. For preschool-grade 2.
Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach DBC06856 Dean, James. 7 minutes. Read by Erin Ziedman. A production of Washington Talking Book and Braille Library.
Stella, Star of the Sea DB84835 Gay, Marie-Louise. 6 minutes. Read by Colleen Delany. For preschool-grade 2.

The Literary Beach

On Chesil Beach DB64458
McEwan, Ian 
4 hours, 29 minutes. Read by the author. England, 1962.

Twenty-two-year-old musician Florence Ponting and twenty-three-year-old history student Edward Mayhew, both sexually innocent, fall in love and travel to the Dorset coast for their honeymoon. A momentary misunderstanding on their wedding night changes everything. Commercial audiobook. 2007.

Also:
Reunion Beach: Stories Inspired by Dorothea Benton Frank DB103365 Bennett, Susan. 11 hours, 49 minutes. Read by Susan Bennett.
The Sea, The Sea DB14251 Murdoch, Iris. 21 hours, 11 minutes. Read by Norman Barrs.
The Seaside Sisters DB122112 Kelley, Pamela M. 8 hours, 25 minutes. Read by Stephanie Németh-Parker.

Some Classic Tales o’ the Sea

The Old Man and the Sea DB10319
Hemingway, Ernest.
2 hours, 13 minutes. Read by Ray Hagen.

Classic tale of the old Cuban fisherman Santiago and his days-long struggle with a magnificent marlin on open water in a frail skiff. Pulitzer Prize. 1952. BR10599 1 volume

Also: The Old Man and the Sea DB53792 Hemingway, Ernest. 2 hours, 36 minutes. Read by Rick Wiseman.
The Old Man and the Sea DB72116 Hemingway, Ernest. 2 hours, 23 minutes. Read by Alexander Scourby.

Also o´the Sea:

The Bounty Trilogy: Comprising the Three Volumes, Mutiny on the Bounty, Men against the Sea & Pitcairn's island DB72062 Nordhoff, Charles; Hall, James Norman.  27 hours, 4 minutes. Read by Jack Fox. BRG02542 6 volumes
Captains Courageous DB24206 Kipling, Rudyard. 6 hours, 54 minutes. Read by Harold Parker. BR05592 2 volumes
Captain Blood DB56172 Sabatini, Rafael. 12 hours, 27 minutes. Read by Roy Avers. BR14666 3 volumes Sabatini, Rafael. 3 volumes.
Master and Commander DB33485 O'Brian, Patrick. 5 hours, 2 minutes. Read by Steven Crossley. BR08654 4 volumes
Mr. Midshipman Hornblower DB26915 Forester, C.S. 8 hours, 45 minutes. Read by Patrick Horgan. BR11552 2 volumes
Moby-Dick, or, The Whale DB34184 Melville, Herman. 25 hours, 36 minutes.  Read by Gordon Gould. BR14641 5 volumes
Treasure Island DB52436 Stevenson, Robert Louis. 7 hours, 38 minutes. Read by Erik Sandvold. BR13682 2 volumes
The Sea Wolf DB22855 London, Jack. 10 hours, 36 minutes. Read by Roy Avers.

Da-dum…da-dum…da-dum da-dum da-dum…(Don’t Go in the Water)

Jaws DB07150
Benchley, Peter
8 hours, 39 minutes. Read by John Stratton.

A Long Island resort town tries to cover up a young woman's death when pieces of her shark-ridden body are found along the beach. But the shark strikes again. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1977.

Also:
Jaws DB62714 Benchley, Peter. 9 hours, 34 minutes. Read by Michael Russotto.
Jaws Two DB12324 Searls, Hank Reading time: 7 hours, 28 minutes. Read by John Rayburn. Jaws, the Revenge: A Novel DB26034 Searls, Hank. 8 hours, 48 minutes. Read by John Stratton. 
Cruel Jaws: The Novelization DB123740 Carter, Brad; Scarlata, Stephen. 8 hours, 50 minutes. Read by Trip Hopper.

Classic Coming of Age Drama in an Eastern Seaboard Beach Town with a Boy Named Eugene

Brighton Beach Memoirs DB30748
Simon, Neil
2 hours, 42 minutes. Read by George Guidall-Shapiro.

This autobiographical play is set in Brighton Beach, New York, in 1937, during the later years of the Great Depression, and humorously depicts the family spirit. Eugene, the fifteen-year-old narrator, dreams of becoming a writer and of fulfilling his sexual curiosity. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for best play of 1983.

Fictional Naval Adventure from a Decorated Submariner, Officer, Author, Lecturer

Run Silent, Run Deep DB26547
Beach, Edward Latimer
12 hours, 0 minutes. Read by Roy Avers. 

From the author's World War II experiences, a novel about a submarine war patrol that pursues a Japanese ship in the Pacific Ocean. 1955.

Also:
Cold Is the Sea DB14885  Beach, Edward Latimer. 13 hours, 59 minutes. Read by Robert Donley.
Dust on the Sea DB45403 Beach, Edward Latimer. 17 hours, 9 minutes. Read by Robert Sams.

Nonfiction                                                 back to top

Back to the Beginning of Beaches

The Beach: The History of Paradise on Earth DB47785
Lenc̆ek, Lena; Bosker, Gideon.
15 hours, 36 minutes. Read by Gabriella Cavallero.  

Describes the geological development of beaches and their use throughout history by different cultures. Compares recreational and therapeutic activities associated with shorelines from ancient Roman times to the twentieth century. Predicts a dim future for coastal playgrounds as a result of pollution, overdevelopment, and storms.

Eroding Beaches

Against the Tide: The Battle for America's Beaches DB49167
Dean, Cornelia 
11 hours, 39 minutes. Read by Kerry Dukin.

The New York Times science editor explores the history, science, and dire future of beach erosion, primarily on the east coast, where storms and hurricanes threaten (mostly private) property. Discusses the high cost and eventual failure of man-made barriers and suggests alternatives. 1999.

The Sea and Miss Carson

The Sea around Us DB18521 
Carson, Rachel 
10 hours, 21 minutes. Read by Phil Regensdorf.

A revised edition of an award-winning classic. An eminent marine biologist reveals the science and poetry of the sea from its primeval beginnings billions of years ago to scientific probings of its tantalizing mysteries. The most important new findings since the first edition (1950) are appended in notes.

Also:
Under the Sea Wind DB35033 Carson, Rachel. 7 hours, 6 minutes. Read by Miriam Wagner.
The Edge of the Sea DB17779 Carson, Rachel. 9 hours, 7 minutes. Read by Dale Carter. 

Strange Global Beach Adventures

Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea and of the Beachcombers, Oceanographers, Environmentalists, and Fools, Including the Author, Who Went in Search of Them DB88563
Hohn, Donovan 
15 hours, 39 minutes. Read by Christopher Evan.

A journalist tracks the journey of over 28,000 bath toys--including rubber ducks. These toys were released into the sea when a ship lost a number of containers during a storm in 1992. Details the author's findings about ocean currents, maritime regulations, weather, climate, the novel "Moby Dick," and fatherhood. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2011.

Authentic Beach Journey of Self-Discovery and Friendship

The Outer Beach: A Thousand-Mile Walk on Cape Cod's Atlantic Shore DB88459
Finch, Robert
15 hours, 45 minutes. Read by Richard Davidson.

Chronicles his nearly fifty years' residency on Cape Cod and walking its Outer Beach. Ranging from south to north, he reflects as a shorebound observer on the ways the beach has changed over the years.

Also:
The Outermost House: A Year of Life on the Great Beach of Cape Cod DBC04217 Beston, Henry. 4 hours, 43 minutes. Read by Julia Terry. A production of Massachusetts Braille and Talking Book Library, Perkins School for the Blind.
A Walk on the Beach: Tales of Wisdom from an Unconventional Woman DBC09878 Anderson, Joan. 5 hours, 56 minutes. Read by Beth Steinberg. A production of Connecticut Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

The Literary Beach, Nonfiction

Revere Beach Elegy: A Memoir of Home and Beyond DBC04429
Merullo, Roland
5 hours, 22 minutes. Read by Eric Dahl. A production of Braille and Talking Book Library, Perkins School for the Blind.

Vivid vignettes compose the author's autobiography: his growing up in Revere, Massachusetts under the guidance of his first-generation Italian-American father; his move to elite Exeter Academy and later to an Ivy League college; his travels to the USSR and his Peace Corp assignment, and his return to Boston.

True Crime at the Beach

Madness under the Royal Palms: Love and Death behind the Gates of Palm Beach DB107178
Leamer, Laurence
11 hours, 8 minutes. Read by Todd McLaren.

Investigation of moneyed society in Palm Beach, Florida, and various scandals that have happened within it. People profiled are categorized as social climbers, trophy wives, sugar daddies, glamorous widows, sociopathic multimillionaires, and elegant society queens. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2009.

Also:
Ripple: A Long Strange Search for a Killer DB109611 Cosgrove, Jim. 6 hours, 41 minutes. Read by the author.

The Humorous Beach

Vacationland: True Stories from Painful Beaches DB89405
Hodgman, John
5 hours, 26 minutes. Read by John Hodgman.

Comedian recounts trips to beaches in New England as a child and an adult. Shares tales of learning about freshwater clams, the evolutionary purpose of the mustache, and the difference between poisonous and pet-worthy animals. Reflects on facing middle age. Narrated by the author. Unrated. Commercial audiobook. 2017.

Boating

Boating for the Handicapped: Guidelines for the Physically Disabled DB16251
Hedley, Eugene; Human Resources Center (Albertson, N.Y.) 
3 hours, 15 minutes. Read by Phyllis Fabara.

Provides information for physically handicapped individuals who are involved in recreational boating activities. Offers guidelines in independence afloat, safety afloat, emergency procedures, access, and boats and boating.

Also:
Sailing for Beginners DB27264 Farnham, Moulton H. 10 hours, 49 minutes. Read by Butch Hoover.
Sail's Best Little Learn to Sail Book Ever DBC17043 Dellenbaugh, Brad. 1 hour. Read by Kate Lin. A production of Washington Talking Book and Braille Library.
On the Water: Discovering America in a Rowboat DBC05538 Stone, Nathaniel. 12 hours, 26 minutes. Read by Sonnie Osborne. A production of Connecticut State Library, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
Venturing: An Introduction to Sailing DB27804 Burchard, Peter. 3 hours, 8 minutes. Read by Fern Maynard. For grades 6-9 and older readers.

Boats for Kids

On the Waters of the USA: Ships and Boats in American Life DB58233
Sandler, Martin W.
1 hour, 47 minutes. Read by Miriam Wagner.
Explores the evolving role of boats and ships in America, from Native American birch bark canoes to twenty-first-century container ships and supertankers. For grades 4-7. 2003.

Some Sea Adventures

Fatal Forecast: An Incredible True Tale of Disaster and Survival at Sea DBC03787
Tougias, Mike 
7 hours, 9 minutes. Read by Mike Feldstein.

A spellbinding story of miraculous survival, this moment-by-moment account follows the deep sea ordeal of two small lobster boats trapped in a furious storm off the coast of Cape Cod.

Also:
Lost at Sea: An American Tragedy DB51089 Dillon, Patrick. 8 hours, 30 minutes. Read by Steven Carpenter. BR12712 2 volumes  
The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue DB75859 Tougias, Mike; Sherman, Casey. 5 hours, 59 minutes. Read by Malcolm Hillgartner.
Simple Courage: A True Story of Peril on the Sea DB62150 Delaney, Frank. 9 hours, 38 minutes. Read by Frank Delaney.

Nonfiction Naval Adventure from a Decorated Submariner, Officer, Author, Lecturer

The United States Navy: A 200-Year History DB36087
Beach, Edward Latimer
20 hours, 29 minutes. Read by Bob Butz.

A retired naval officer tells the story of the navy from the time George Washington commissioned ships in support of the Continental army. Beach explains how the navy developed through World War II and "conditioned by his own personal history," he speculates on its future. 1986.

Off of American Beaches, German Submarines

The Burning Shore: How Hitler's U-boats Brought World War II to America DB81501
Offley, Edward 
9 hours, 49 minutes. Read by Andy Pyle.  

Military reporter Ed Offley presents an account of the bloody German U-boat offensive launched along America's East Coast during the first half of 1942. Particular focus is given to the story of U-boat commander Horst Degen's three war patrols. Some violence. 2014.

Also:
The Mathews Men: Seven Brothers and the War against Hitler's U-boats DB97933 Geroux, William. 12 hours, 26 minutes. Read by Arthur Morey.
Torpedoes in the Gulf: Galveston and the U-boats, 1942-1943 DBC14632 Wiggins, Melanie. 10 hours, 43 minutes. Read by Jack Gazzale.
Splinter Fleet: The Wooden Subchasers of World War II DBC06701 Treadwell, Theodore R. 10 hours, 42 minutes. Read by Bob Carlson.

The Hallowed Beaches of Normandy

D-Day, June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II DB38858
Ambrose, Stephen E.
25 hours, 3 minutes. Read by Jake Williams.

From an interview with Supreme Commander General Eisenhower in 1964 through the recollections of hundreds of Allied and German veterans, a military historian reconstructs the most decisive day of World War II. Some strong language. Bestseller.

Also:
D-Day: The Battle for Normandy DB70368 Beevor, Antony. 20 hours, 54 minutes. Read by Lou Harpenau.
D-Day: The World War II Invasion That Changed History DB92954 Hopkinson, Deborah. 6 hours, 26 minutes. Read by Michael Yurchak.
Citizen Soldiers: The U.S. Army from the Normandy Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany, June 7, 1944–May 7, 1945 DB45003 Ambrose, Stephen E. 19 hours, 29 minutes. Read by Jake Williams.
Every Man a Hero DB96041 Lambert, Ray; DeFelice, Jim. 7 hours, 41 minutes. Read by Kaleo Griffith. 
Overlord: D-Day and the Battle for Normandy DB60179 Hastings, Max. 17 hours, 23 minutes. Read by John Polk.
The Bedford Boys: One American Town's Ultimate D-Day Sacrifice DB66325 Kershaw, Alex. 9 hours, 29 minutes. Read by Ray Foushee.

Sound of the Sea

Sing Like Fish: How Sound Rules Life Under Water DB122053
Kingdon, Amorina
8 hours, 54 minutes. Read by Angelina Rocca.

"Award-winning science journalist Amorina Kingdon synthesizes historical discoveries with the latest scientific research in a compelling portrait of the sonic undersea world. For centuries, humans ignored sound in the ‘silent world’ of the ocean, assuming that what we couldn't perceive, didn't exist. But we couldn't have been more wrong." — Provided by publisher. Unrated. Commercial audiobook.

She Sells Seashells on the Sea Shore

Spirals in Time: The Secret Life and Curious Afterlife of Seashells DB83486
Scales, Helen
12 hours, 0 minutes. Read by Kerry Dukin. 

Marine biologist details the lifecycle of seashells. Describes the making of shells by certain organisms, the ways shells are used by other sea life and humans, and the effect of human interference in the environment.

Finding Your Beach Body

The South Beach Diet: The Delicious, Doctor-Designed, Foolproof Plan for Fast and Healthy Weight Loss DB56409
Agatston, Arthur
9 hours, 20 minutes. Read by Mark Ashby.

Description of a three-phase program developed by a Florida cardiologist to help his overweight patients. The plan involves eating the right carbohydrates and the right fats in order to correct the way the body reacts to foods that previously caused weight problems. Includes suggested menus and recipes. Bestseller. 2003.

Also:
The South Beach Diet Cookbook DB58161 Agatston, Arthur. 8 hours, 19 minutes. Read by Mark Ashby.
The South Beach Diet Quick & Easy Cookbook: 200 Delicious Recipes Ready in 30 Minutes or Less DB61176 Agatston, Arthur. 8 hours, 56 minutes. Read by Mark Ashby.
The South Beach Diet Supercharged: Faster Weight Loss and Better Health for Life DB67298 Agatston, Arthur; Signorile, Joseph F. 11 hours, 50 minutes. Read by Gary Tipton.

Beach Flavors

An Ocean of Flavor: The Japanese Way with Fish and Seafood DB29062
Andoh, Elizabeth
8 hours, 15 minutes. Read by Yolande Bavan.

Through her dozens of classic recipes, Andoh introduces the home cook to the produce of Japan's seas and describes the myriad ways the Japanese use fish, not all of them employing seafood in raw state. Andoh's straightforward exposition of Japanese cooking methods takes away the aura of mystery so often surrounding Japanese cuisine.

Also:
Bottomfeeder: How to Eat Ethically in a World of Vanishing Seafood DBG08041 Grescoe, Taras. 15 hours, 45 minutes. Read by Simon Curwen.
A New England Table DB53284 Turner, Ainslie; Mystic Seaport Museum. 12 hours, 33 minutes. Read by Laura Giannarelli.
Chesapeake Bay Cooking with John Shields: The Companion Cookbook to the Public Television Series DB48367 Shields, John. 12 hours, 55 minutes. Read by John Richardson.
The Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Cookbook DB39877 2 hours, 41 minutes. Read by Jamie Horton.

Some Beach Poetry

Until I Saw the Sea: A Collection of Seashore Poems DBC04164 
Shaw, Alison
16 minutes. Read by Elizabeth Anderson.

The ocean—its sound, feel, meaning—is explored in this anthology of poems written by a wide range of poets, from e.e. cummings to Robert Louis Stevenson, Lilian Moore, and many more. For readers of all ages.

Some Beach Poetry, for Kids

Those Summers DB43608
Aliki
6 minutes. Read by Suzanne Toren.

A tone poem describes an extended family's summers at the seashore sharing a big shady house. The children spend their days playing at the beach, their evenings on the boardwalk, and rainy days reading and playing games. For preschool-grade 2.

Also:
It's a Seashell Day DBC11253 Ochiltree, Dianne. 7 minutes. Read by Melissa Daglioglu. A production of Florida Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services. For grades K-3.

The Science of the Beach for Kids

The Seashore: A Saltwater Web of Life DB68529
Johansson, Philip 
39 minutes. Read by Carol Dines.

A naturalist defines a seashore biome by discussing some of the plants and animals that live and interact on sandy beaches by the ocean. For grades 3-6. 2008.

Also:
A Day in the Life of a Sandy Beach DB09453 Stephens, William M. 45 minutes. Read by Clio Vias.

Lifeguards, Surfing, and the Legend of the California Beach

Surf and Rescue: George Freeth and the Birth of California Beach Culture DB112266
Moser, Patrick
9 hours, 39 minutes. Read by Bill Wallace.

"Hawaiian athlete George Freeth brought surfing to Venice, California, in 1907. Over the next twelve years, Freeth taught Southern Californians to surf and swim while creating a modern lifeguard service that transformed the beach into a destination for fun, leisure, and excitement. Patrick Moser places Freeth’s inspiring life story against the rise of the Southern California beach culture he helped shape and define." — Provided by publisher.

The Beach Boys

I Am Brian Wilson: A Memoir DB86546
Wilson, Brian; Greenman, Ben
11 hours, 3 minutes. Read by Gary Tipton. 

One of the founding members of the Beach Boys reflects on his life, his music, and his battles with mental illness. Wilson discusses the abuse he experienced from his father and his psychiatrist, and his battle back to health, happiness, and making music. Some strong language. Bestseller.

Also:
Wouldn't It Be Nice: My Own Story DB34660 Wilson, Brian; Gold, Todd. 14 hours, 50 minutes. Read by Ray Foushee.
Catch a Wave: The Rise, Fall and Redemption of the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson DB63773 Carlin, Peter Ames.16 hours, 27 minutes. Read by Bill Wallace.
Good Vibrations: My Life as a Beach Boy DB85547 Love, Mike. 15 hours, 9 minutes. Read by the author.
Heroes and Villains: The True Story of the Beach Boys DB26792 Gaines, Steven S. 12 hours, 29 minutes. Read by Ray Hagen.

Getting the Old Beach Party Movie Gang Back Together

A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: My Story DB39298
Funicello, Annette; Romanowski, Patricia
8 hours, 25 minutes. Read by Kimberly Schraf.  

Annette Funicello began her career as one of Walt Disney's Mouseketeers on "The Mickey Mouse Club" television program, which debuted in 1955 when Annette was twelve. She went on to become a singer and starred in beach party movies with Frankie Avalon. Then, except for a few appearances, Annette retired from show business to raise a family. In 1987, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Also:
Frankie Avalon's Italian Family Cookbook: From Mom's Kitchen to Mine and Yours DB83770 Avalon, Frankie; Rodgers, Rick: 6 hours, 21 minutes. Read by Patrick Downer.
Camera Man: Buster Keaton, the Dawn of Cinema, and the Invention of the Twentieth Century DB106782 Stevens, Dana. 12 hours, 13 minutes. Read by the author.
Vincent Price: A Daughter's Biography DB49706 Price, Victoria. 21 hours, 17 minutes. Read by Mary Kane.
Dear Boris: The Life of William Henry Pratt a.k.a. Boris Karloff DB12731 Lindsay, Cynthia. 5 hours, 22 minutes. Read by Eda Seasongood. 

Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes

A Pirate Looks at Fifty DB46339
Buffett, Jimmy 
15 hours, 12 minutes. Read by Jim Zeiger.

A musician and bestselling author tells of a trip he took to celebrate his fiftieth birthday and relates stories from his past that the trip brings to mind. A lover of both planes and boats, Buffett recalls his adventures in Central and South America and the Caribbean. Some strong language. Bestseller.

Also:
Jimmy Buffett: A Good Life All the Way DB111717 White, Ryan. 11 hours, 0 minutes. Read by Gibson Frazier.
Jimmy Buffett: The Man from Margaritaville Revealed DB45447 Eng, Steve.17 hours, 13 minutes. Read by Brian Conn.Top of page

Back to the Beach in the Library of Congress Collections     back to top

Little Mountain Fish Goes to Sea
www.loc.gov/item/2021689942
Božo Cerar read his children's book, "Little Mountain Fish Goes to Sea," that he originally wrote for his grandchildren. After the reading, he answered questions from 40 pre-K students from Oyster-Adams Bilingual School in the District of Columbia. This program was presented in collaboration with the Kids Euro Festival of the European Union.

Sea Creatures: 2018 National Book Festival
www.loc.gov/item/2021692325
Juli Berwald presents "Spineless: The Science of Jellyfish and the Art of Growing a Backbone" and Sy Montgomery presents "Tamed and Untamed: Close Encounters of the Animal Kind" and "The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness" at the 2018 Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

A Deep Dive Into Sea Shanties
https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2021/01/a-deep-dive-into-sea-shanties 
The popular Library of Congress blog Folklore Today outlines some of the shanty collections at the American Folklife Center, the traditional song style of the high seas.

Sea Monsters on Medieval & Renaissance Maps
www.loc.gov/item/2021687542 
Author Chet Van Duzer discusses the representations of sea monsters on medieval and Renaissance maps.

Admiral James Stavridis: 2017 National Book Festival
www.loc.gov/item/2021690935
Adm. James Stavridis discusses "Sea Power: The History and Geopolitics of the World's Oceans" at the 2017 Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Popeye the Sailor Meets Sinbad the Sailor
www.loc.gov/item/2023602008
In Sindbad, the title character (Bluto with a few changes in his attire) catches sight of Popeye's ship through his spyglass and is instantly smitten with Olive Oyl. He instructs his pet Rokh to sink the ship, but bring Olive to him. Of course, Popeye manages to save himself, Wimpy and Olive, and settles Bluto's hash.

Kohala Mountain Boys: Traditional Music from Hawai'i Island
www.loc.gov/item/webcast-11682
Led by Boots Lupenui, the Kohala Mountain Boys uncover and preserve musical treasures that helped to define the moku of Kohala on Hawai'i Island. Old-time Kohala music is soulful, playful, poetic and fierce, the manifold voice of a vibrant and extraordinary people.  

Quick Picks from NLS Librarians, Newly Available on BARD   
back to top

True Stories of Swimming Safety in the Surf:
Calm in the Chaos: True Tales from Elite U.S. Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmers DB129253 Dickinson, Brian
8 hours, 44 minutes. Read by Justin Price.

Another Popular Cheese-Based Sandwich Mystery:
No Parm No Foul DB128576
Reilly, Linda S.
8 hours, 52 minutes. Read by Mia Gaskin.

Conquering Your Fear of Film:
Horror for Weenies: Everything You Need to Know about the Films You're Too Scared to Watch DB126004
Hughes, Emily C.
11 hours, 5 minutes. Read by Markey, Kathryn.

Actor-Authored Religious Suspense Fiction:
Truly Like Lightning: A Novel DB128739 
Duchovny, David
13 hours, 56 minutes. Read by the author.

Biodiversity Begins at Home:
How Can I Help? Saving Nature with Your Yard DB128677
Tallamy, Douglas W.
12 hours, 45 minutes. Read by Adam Barr.

The Source of our (Dis)Order:
Computing through The Ages: From Bones to Binary DB126827
Woods, Michael; Woods, Mary B.
1 hour, 54 minutes. Read by Eva Wilhelm.

And It All Suddenly Becomes Crystal Clear:
Crystal Zodiac for Beginners: A Practical Guide to Harnessing the Power of Astrology and Crystals DB128423
Pfender, April
4 hours, 28 minutes. Read by Rachel L. Jacobs.

Author Explores the Life-Altering Books in Her Life:
Bibliophobia DB128936
Chihaya, Sarah
6 hours, 56 minutes. Read by Traci Kato-Kiriyama.

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