Summer is here, which means fireworks, barbecues, vacations, blockbuster movies, and reading some good books. We’ve got a list of books that will keep you entertained while taking that road trip or lazing away a sunny afternoon at the beach or poolside. 

Take Your Breath Away by Linwood Barclay: You just can’t go wrong with Linwood Barclay. He’s proven time and again just how good he is and has even earned the praise of Stephen King. He demonstrates this once again with Take Your Breath Away. While Andy Mason is away on a weekend fishing trip with a buddy, his wife Brie vanishes without a trace. Brie’s family holds Andy responsible, as does the police, even though he’s innocent. Six years pass, Andy’s moved on with his life with a new girlfriend named Jayne. However, one day, Brie just reappears out of the blue. The people behind her disappearance are panicked and Andy has to find her, especially since his life’s in peril too. You’ll find yourself turning the pages so fast that you have to be careful you don’t rip them. Easily one of Barclay’s best. 

The Self-Made Widow by Fabian Nicieza: A writer best known for his work in comic books, Nicieza – who’s had celebrated runs on Marvel’s X-Men titles and is Deadpool’s co-creator – proves he’s just as at home in the Jersey ‘burbs as he is with Wolverine in the Danger Room. He blends the lightheartedness of Janet Evanovich and the grittiness of Elmore Leonard – two disparate styles – and makes it work. The sequel to Suburban Dicks (which earned Nicieza an Edgar Nomination), ex-FBI profiler Andrea Stern, now a mother of five, and journalist Kenny Lee join forces again. After Queen Bee Molly Goode’s husband dies of a heart attack, Andrea suspects he was murdered – by Molly. As Andrea learns about money-laundering scams and secret affairs, she discovers just how formidable Molly is. Nicieza creates an antagonist who is just as cold and cunning as Amy Dunne in Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl. 

Monkey in the Middle by Loren D. Estleman: The prolific Eslteman, who lives in Whitmore Lake, returns with his 30th adventure featuring Detroit-based hard-boiled gumshoe Amos Walker. The novel begins with Walker learning his ex-wife died. Needing to get his mind off her, he gets that in spades when a young, ambitious journalist needs his protection after crossing the wrong people while investigating a story. However, he is suspiciously vague about the identities of these people. If he doesn’t have enough on his plate, Walker must contend with a deadly assassin with whom he has a long, ugly history. A descendant of Chandler and Hammett, Estleman proves he’s at the top of his game. 

The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci: Baldacci introduces his newest hero: Travis Devine, an ex-Army Ranger who works on Wall Street at Cowl & Comely. When his ex-girlfriend/colleague Sara Ewes’ death goes from being a suicide to homicide, a clandestine organization recruits Devine after threatening to expose his dark secret from his military career to conduct an investigation into Sara’s death, which leads to the investment firm’s CEO Brad Cowl. Despite its 432 pages, Baldacci has this ability to make you pore through it quickly, showing why he’s a master of suspense. 

Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Sacrifice by Brian Freeman: The late Ludlum’s famous character Jason Bourne (brought to life in the movies by Matt Damon) is under the care of Freeman, who does right by Bourne’s creator. The deadly assassin called Lennon is back, leaving behind a trail of bodies. Only Bourne can stop him. However, Lennon is always one step ahead. To make it personal for Bourne, Lennon’s targeting reporter Abbey Laurent, Bourne’s ex-lover. Like the movies, Freeman takes you on quite the rollercoaster ride in his third Bourne adventure.

The Locked Room by Elly Griffith: The 14th Dr. Ruth Galloway installment occurs at her late mother’s Norfolk cottage in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. There, she and her daughter Kate meet a new neighbor named Zoe. Meanwhile, Nelson investigates the deaths of several women who may have been murdered. Seeking ou Ruth’s help, Nelson discovers Ruth, Kate, and Zoe have gone missing. The twist at the end is one that’ll stay with you long after you’re done. 

The Handler by M.P. Woodward: A former U.S. intelligence operative, Woodward writes with a sense of authenticity and urgency. CIA case officer Meredith Morris-Dale learns a CIA mole in Iran’s uranium enrichment program wants out after the death of his daughter, leaving the world on the brink. He demands to work with his former handler John Dale – Meredith’s ex-husband – who’s a disgrace to the CIA. Now John and Meredith have to put aside their personal feelings – which isn’t easy to do – and save this individual. Woodward’s attention to detail is uncanny, his characters are fully fleshed out, and his knowledge of the geopolitical landscape is second to none in this pulse-pounding thriller. 

Ginger Good developed a keen eye for vintage goods as a youngster. Thrifting with her mom was a favorite pastime. When her children were born, she often found their clothes at second hand shops and then began to sell items online. In 2019, Good Goods Vintage shifted from children’s clothes to home goods. 

Good Goods Vintage Shop operates primarily from Instagram. Items are listed there with prices and descriptions and can be shipped to you. Prices are based on research and sold at affordable prices, making these unique pieces available to everyone. 

Branching out from strictly online sales, Good Goods Vintage Shop is now participating in local pop-up shops and festivals. 

“There’s a certain energy to selling things in person. A lot of the pop-up shops are small businesses trying to help each other.” Ginger says. Currently, Good Goods Vintage also has items for sale at The Dollop Shop, which Ginger helped design, in Cricket West. 

Considering that Ginger is such a creative design guru with kids herself, we asked her for advice on how to create a put-together home amidst the inevitable chaos of family life.

Keeping it cool with kids

There are a lot of different ways to keep your home “stylish” or “cool” even with kids, which essentially amounts to damage control. Ginger recommends sturdy, second hand furniture as it has proven to maintain its integrity over time. Floor lamps (as opposed to table lamps) can reduce the chances of  something breaking. 

“We use a lot of color and texture in our community spaces,” she says. “We do a lot of soft spaces. Throw blankets, washable rugs.” 

The amount kids bring home from school or camp can be overwhelming, so second hand shops are a great place to find cheap frames to display their creativity. Picture ledges are a creative way to show off kids’ masterpieces and keep things out of reach. Having an array of different frames gives the opportunity to create a gallery and easily switch out artwork.

When it comes to storage, Ginger notes that “baskets are our friends! They’re super easy to find secondhand, come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and easily match any decor.”

When your kiddo has a special interest, there are typically two choices: lean in or lean back. You can lean in by going with coordinating color schemes and using toys as display pieces. Lean back by going to neutral storage with cool baskets or containers to keep it simple. 

You will do better in Toledo

Good Goods items are often sourced from stores in Toledo and other nearby cities such as Detroit, Cleveland, Dayton and Findlay. Traveling for sourcing is a great reminder that “You will do Better in Toledo.” Our city has a lot of singular features to offer, and creating inviting spaces is one way to continue to draw people in.

“Toledo has a lot of potential, and the culture is shifting to where people don’t want just good food or coffee; they are also looking for an atmosphere and experience.” Ginger says. “With social media, people want cool backgrounds, and there’s no need to go searching for that when it’s in your own city.”

 In light of this culture shift, Ginger is taking her design skills to the next level and willing to design spaces or help source items for local businesses or parties. Taking on the Dollop Shop was a stretch outside of her comfort zone and a great first step to meeting the desires of someone’s space outside of her own. 

Sustainable consumption

Beyond saving money and being trendy, thrifting also helps from an environmental perspective. In an economy where clothes and furniture are not made to last as they once were, Americans are disposing of 12 million tons of furnishings every year. According to the EPA, 80 percent of that ends up in landfills. 

“I think a  lot of times people struggle with how to make their lives more sustainable. Vintage and second hand in your home are a huge way to do it,” adds Ginger. “Vintage items are built to last.”

 Instead of starting with all new items, especially those of lower quality, Good Goods Vintage specializes in finding items that probably already exist, they just have to be found.