--- title: Sharons Bookshelf-Beach Reads description: There are so many remarkable books that never make the ReadWithSharon monthly book club list. Check out these beach reads. --- [![info.sharonvirts.comhs-fshubfsSharon Virts Monogram\_white\_Small-2](https://info.sharonvirts.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/info.sharonvirts.comhs-fshubfsSharon%20Virts%20Monogram_white_Small-2.png?width=90&height=69&name=info.sharonvirts.comhs-fshubfsSharon%20Virts%20Monogram_white_Small-2.png "info.sharonvirts.comhs-fshubfsSharon Virts Monogram_white_Small-2")](http://www.sharonvirts.com) # Sharon Virts # Sharon Virts - [ABOUT SHARON](https://theartoflivinghistory.com/about) - NOVELS - [BARGAINS OF FATE](https://theartoflivinghistory.com/books/6a2f1ace5a83ac928168485a) - [MASQUE OF HONOR](https://theartoflivinghistory.com/books/6a2f1ace5a83ac9281684859) - [THE GRAYS OF TRUTH](https://theartoflivinghistory.com/books/6a2f1ace5a83ac9281684860) - [VEIL OF DOUBT](https://theartoflivinghistory.com/books/6a2f1ace5a83ac928168485f) - [FIELD OF HONOR SERIES](https://theartoflivinghistory.com/series-world) - [BOOK CLUB](https://theartoflivinghistory.com/book-club) ![Sharons Bookshelf logo](https://info.sharonvirts.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Sharons%20Bookshelf%20logo.png?width=600&height=300&name=Sharons%20Bookshelf%20logo.png "Sharons Bookshelf logo") [Join My Book Club!](https://share.hsforms.com/1SsFRdk5KSPuh0LLgQlmFJQ3sm67) --- ![January 2026 (3)-1](https://info.sharonvirts.com/hubfs/January%202026%20(3)-1.png "January 2026 (3)-1") Amazon 4.6 Goodreads 4.17 Sharon 5 Bookmarks ![Sharon Pick 5 of 5](https://info.sharonvirts.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Sharons%20Bookshelf/Sharon%20Pick%205%20of%205.png?width=380&height=200&name=Sharon%20Pick%205%20of%205.png "Sharon Pick 5 of 5") [BUY THE BOOK HERE!](https://amzn.to/4zQDJdg) #### Masque of Honor: Book One in the Fields of Honor Series by Sharon Virts ###### **Genre:** Historical Fiction • History  ###### Summary: Set in antebellum Virginia and inspired by the true events surrounding the 1819 Mason–McCarty duel, *Masque of Honor* tells the story of John “Jack” Mason McCarty and his second cousin, Armistead Mason—two young men born into Virginia aristocracy whose ambitions, flaws, and fierce pride put them on a dangerous collision course. As political rivalries, romantic entanglements, family tensions, and public scandal deepen the animosity between them, neither man is willing to back down. Despite the efforts of the women who love them, their increasingly bitter feud sets in motion a devastating chain of events. The first book in the *Fields of Honor* series, *Masque of Honor* explores honor, ambition, loyalty, and the consequences of allowing pride to dictate our choices. ###### Why I recommend this book: I’ll admit I'm partial to this one! *Masque of Honor* holds a very special place in my heart, and I couldn’t put together a collection of summer reads without including Jack and Armistead. Their story began for me with the true events surrounding the 1819 Mason–McCarty duel and opened the door to a fascinating world of family rivalries, politics, scandal, romance, and complicated relationships. It ultimately became the beginning of my *Fields of Honor* series. ###### Perfect For Readers Who... - Love historical fiction inspired by true events - Enjoy family rivalries, political intrigue, and scandal - Are drawn to complicated characters driven by ambition and honor - Like sweeping stories of romance, loyalty, and betrayal --- ![Under the Stars - Sharons Pick](https://info.sharonvirts.com/hubfs/Sharons%20Bookshelf/Under%20the%20Stars%20-%20Sharons%20Pick.png "Under the Stars - Sharons Pick") Amazon 4.3 Goodreads 3.63 Sharon 4 Bookmarks ![Sharon Pick 4 of 5](https://info.sharonvirts.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Sharons%20Bookshelf/Sharon%20Pick%204%20of%205.png?width=380&height=200&name=Sharon%20Pick%204%20of%205.png "Sharon Pick 4 of 5") [BUY THE BOOK HERE!](https://amzn.to/4bkDlJg) #### Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams ###### **Genre:** Mystery • Romance  ###### Summary: Moving between present-day New England and 1846, Under the Stars follows three women whose lives become connected across generations by a mysterious collection of paintings and secrets buried for nearly two centuries. Audrey Fisher and her famous actress mother, Meredith, reluctantly return to Winthrop Island, where Audrey discovers a hidden trove of paintings depicting the same mysterious woman. Their search for answers leads back to Providence Dare, a young woman who fled Boston aboard the steamship Atlantic in 1846 while being pursued by a detective investigating the suspicious death of her employer. As a catastrophic storm threatens the ship, Providence must protect both her identity and her life. Gradually, the mystery of her disappearance and the paintings connect the past to Audrey and Meredith’s complicated family history. ###### Why I recommend this book: I love historical fiction that uncovers a mystery piece by piece, especially when the answers are hidden across generations. Beatriz Williams gave me everything I enjoy in this kind of story—a dual timeline, family secrets, art, a historic New England setting, and a fascinating mystery rooted in a real maritime disaster. Of course, Riley Sager adds his own signature twists. The isolated island, the century-old disappearance, the mysterious diary, and the lingering question of whether something supernatural is at work create an atmosphere that is equal parts suspenseful and irresistible. I was particularly drawn to the way the stories of these three women echoed one another despite being separated by nearly two centuries. At its heart, Under the Stars was as much about mothers, daughters, and the legacies we inherit as it was about solving the mystery of Providence and the paintings. I loved watching those connections emerge and seeing how truths buried in the past could still transform lives generations later. ###### Perfect For Readers Who... - Enjoy suspense with a historical mystery at its core - Love atmospheric settings and isolated locations - Appreciate stories about old Hollywood and filmmaking - Like books that blend history, mystery, and just a touch of the supernatural --- ![An Infinate Love Story - Sharons Pick](https://info.sharonvirts.com/hubfs/Sharons%20Bookshelf/An%20Infinate%20Love%20Story%20-%20Sharons%20Pick.png "An Infinate Love Story - Sharons Pick") Amazon 4.2 Goodreads 3.96 Sharon 4 Bookmarks ![Sharon Pick 4 of 5](https://info.sharonvirts.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Sharons%20Bookshelf/Sharon%20Pick%204%20of%205.png?width=380&height=200&name=Sharon%20Pick%204%20of%205.png "Sharon Pick 4 of 5") [BUY THE BOOK HERE!](https://amzn.to/45wd87b) #### An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton ###### **Genre:** Romance • Science Fiction ###### Summary: Set against the excitement and uncertainty of the 1960s Space Race, An Infinite Love Story follows Vivian Mitchell after her astronaut husband, Joe, disappears during a 1968 space mission. As the nation watches and waits, Joe and his fellow astronauts are feared dead, leaving Vivian to grieve in the public eye while privately revisiting the extraordinary love story they shared. When the investigation blames the disaster on operator error, Vivian becomes determined to clear Joe’s name and discover what really happened. Then mysterious messages begin to arrive—messages she believes could only have come from Joe. Blending history, romance, mystery, and a touch of magical realism, the novel explores a love that may be powerful enough to transcend space and time. ###### Why I recommend this book: I was immediately intrigued by the idea of setting an epic love story against the Space Race, a period defined by extraordinary ambition, possibility, and risk. Chanel Cleeton captures both the excitement of that moment in American history and the very personal sacrifices made by the astronauts and the families who loved them. Of course, Riley Sager adds his own signature twists. The isolated island, the century-old disappearance, the mysterious diary, and the lingering question of whether something supernatural is at work create an atmosphere that is equal parts suspenseful and irresistible. What stayed with me most was Vivian’s determination not to let others write the final chapter of Joe’s story. Her search for the truth becomes inseparable from the story of their marriage and the memories she refuses to let go. An Infinite Love Story was a moving exploration of love, loss, and hope—and of how far we are willing to go for the people we love. ###### Perfect For Readers Who... - Love historical fiction inspired by the Space Race - Are fascinated by the people behind history-making moments - Appreciate a touch of magical realism - Believe some love stories can transcend time and distance --- ![The Island Club - Sharons Pick](https://info.sharonvirts.com/hubfs/Sharons%20Bookshelf/The%20Island%20Club%20-%20Sharons%20Pick.png "The Island Club - Sharons Pick") Amazon 4.0 Goodreads 3.63 Sharon 4 Bookmarks ![Sharon Pick 4 of 5](https://info.sharonvirts.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Sharons%20Bookshelf/Sharon%20Pick%204%20of%205.png?width=380&height=200&name=Sharon%20Pick%204%20of%205.png "Sharon Pick 4 of 5") [BUY THE BOOK HERE!](https://amzn.to/4blYEu4) #### The Island Club by Nicola Harrison ###### **Genre:** Chic Lit • Beach Reads ###### Summary: Set on California’s idyllic Balboa Island in 1956, The Island Club follows three very different women whose seemingly picture-perfect lives are beginning to unravel. Milly Kinkaid has moved her family to the island hoping to save her troubled marriage. Sylvia Johnson, a respected society matriarch, discovers that her husband has put their financial security—and their beloved new Island Club—at risk. And Adele Lambert has spent decades guarding a secret that could destroy the life she has carefully built. As each woman confronts the truth about her circumstances, an unlikely friendship forms, with the game of tennis bringing them together in unexpected ways. ###### Why I recommend this book: The sun-drenched setting of 1950s Balboa Island immediately caught my attention, but it was the lives of the three women behind that picture-perfect setting that kept me turning the pages. Nicola Harrison beautifully captures a time when appearances mattered enormously, particularly for women, and when the lives they were expected to lead did not always leave room for the lives they wanted. I especially enjoyed watching the friendship between Milly, Sylvia, and Adele develop as each confronted her own secrets, disappointments, and fears. With its gorgeous coastal setting, complicated relationships, and a little tennis mixed in, The Island Club felt like a natural addition to my summer reading list. ###### Perfect For Readers Who... - Love historical fiction with a glamorous mid-century setting  - Enjoy stories centered on complicated female friendships - Are drawn to family secrets and lives that aren't quite as perfect as they appear - Love coastal settings, country clubs, and a little tennis - Want a character-driven summer read with plenty of heart --- ![A Happier Life - Sharons Pick](https://info.sharonvirts.com/hubfs/Sharons%20Bookshelf/A%20Happier%20Life%20-%20Sharons%20Pick.png "A Happier Life - Sharons Pick") Amazon 4.5 Goodreads 4.11 Sharon 4 Bookmarks ![Sharon Pick 4 of 5](https://info.sharonvirts.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Sharons%20Bookshelf/Sharon%20Pick%204%20of%205.png?width=380&height=200&name=Sharon%20Pick%204%20of%205.png "Sharon Pick 4 of 5") [BUY THE BOOK HERE!](https://amzn.to/4w1K5TV) #### A Happier Life by Kristy Wooson Harvey ###### **Genre:** Mystery • Chic Lit • Beach Reads ###### Summary: In the seaside town of Beaufort, North Carolina, an abandoned family home holds the answer to a decades-old mystery: what happened to Rebecca and Townsend Saint James when they disappeared in 1976? Nearly fifty years later, their granddaughter Keaton Smith arrives in Beaufort to prepare the house for sale and finds herself immersed in the lives of grandparents she never knew. As she uncovers their belongings, traditions, and secrets, she begins to question everything she has been told about her family. Moving between Keaton’s present and Rebecca’s life in the summer of 1976, A Happier Life explores the enduring bonds of family, love, and home—and the secrets that connect generations. ###### Why I recommend this book: A family mystery, a historic home, and a seaside North Carolina setting immediately drew me to A Happier Life. I’ve always been fascinated by the stories we inherit from our families and how much our understanding of the past can shape who we become. I loved the way Kristy Woodson Harvey connected two generations through the same home, slowly revealing the truth behind a family story that had long been accepted as fact. With its wonderful sense of place, memorable characters, and a mystery at its heart, this was exactly the kind of story I love getting lost in during the summer. ###### Perfect For Readers Who... - Love dual-timeline stories that connect generations - Enjoy family mysteries and long-buried secrets - Are drawn to old homes filled with history - Love atmospheric Southern coastal settings - Appreciate stories about family, belonging, and finding your way home --- ![Our Last Vineyard Summer - Sharons Pick](https://info.sharonvirts.com/hubfs/Sharons%20Bookshelf/Our%20Last%20Vineyard%20Summer%20-%20Sharons%20Pick.png "Our Last Vineyard Summer - Sharons Pick") Amazon 4.0 Goodreads 3.60 Sharon 4 Bookmarks ![Sharon Pick 4 of 5](https://info.sharonvirts.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Sharons%20Bookshelf/Sharon%20Pick%204%20of%205.png?width=380&height=200&name=Sharon%20Pick%204%20of%205.png "Sharon Pick 4 of 5") [BUY THE BOOK HERE!](https://amzn.to/4yOkBMp) #### Our Last Vineyard Summer by Brooke Lea Foster ###### **Genre:** Family Drama • Beach Reads ###### Summary: Set on Martha’s Vineyard and moving between 1965 and 1978, Our Last Vineyard Summer follows Betsy Whiting as she returns with her sisters to their family’s beloved summer home after the death of their father, a prominent senator. When their mother announces that the house must be sold to pay his debts, the family is forced to confront far more than the loss of a cherished place. As Betsy navigates strained relationships with her mother and sisters, she begins to uncover long-held secrets surrounding her parents and a forbidden romance from the past. Against the nostalgic backdrop of summer on the Vineyard, two generations of women grapple with love, loss, family expectations, and the changing roles of women in America. ###### Why I recommend this book: Martha’s Vineyard is such an evocative summer setting, and I was immediately drawn to a story about a family returning to a beloved home filled with memories and secrets. But what interested me even more was the novel’s exploration of two generations of women during a period of enormous social change. Brooke Lea Foster beautifully captures the complicated relationships between mothers, daughters, and sisters while exploring the choices women made for themselves and the expectations placed upon them. The combination of family secrets, a dual timeline, and the nostalgia of summers on the Vineyard made this an easy choice for my summer reading list. ###### Perfect For Readers Who... - Love family sagas filled with secrets - Enjoy stories about mothers, daughters, and sisters - Are drawn to changing roles for women in the 1960s and 1970s - Love nostalgic summer settings and historic family homes - Appreciate stories where a beloved place becomes a character of its own © 2026 Sharon Virts Author |  Learn More About [Sharon Virts](http://sharonvirts.com)