Escape to new world with some hot summer reads.

Whether you spend your summer days lazing in a hammock or on the beach, summer is the perfect time for reading. Here are some of my top picks for this summer:

TOP FIVE FOR WOMEN

Damaged by H.M. Ward
A blind date turned disaster leaves young Sidney embarrassed, but just when she thinks her steamy date is gone for good, he shows up as her teacher. This book has all the potential for a good summer novel to read guiltily on the beach — it's ranked fourth on the New York Times Bestseller list for fiction.

Wedding Night: A Novel by Sophie Kinsella
Best-selling author of the popular Shopaholic series, Kinsella's witty banter shines in her newest novel, Wedding Night. An impulse wedding with a childhood friend has concerned co-workers and family attempting to thwart an irreversible mistake. This book offers up a sweet cup of light reading.

The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks
An unlikely love fostered during high school between Amanda Collier and Dawson Cole ends in two unexpected paths. Twenty-five years later, the death of a close friend forces the flame to emerge from the embers between the two lovers, and everything they thought they knew is put to the test. Sparks offers up his typical love story with a darker varied plot — think The Notebook.

Where We Belong by Emily Giffin
Successful Marian Caldwell has it all: an established career, a happy relationship and a fast-paced life in New York City, until the product of a long past love affair shows up on her doorstep. Her perfectly crafted veneer starts to crumble and she is forced to rediscover her values. Giffin's bestseller will leave you satisfied and wanting to read her five other blockbuster novels.

The Wanderer by Robyn Carr
Cooper never thought he would find a reason to stay in the small Oregon town with its craggy beaches... until he met Sarah. A serial drifter, Cooper finds himself debating between dropping anchor or sailing away back to his old life. This summertime love story will leave readers asking, “Why can't that be me?”

TOP FIVE FOR MEN

Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as the Duck Commander by Phil Robertson
Duck commander Phil Robertson, from the hit show Duck Dynasty, recounts his climb to the top that started with creating his famous Louisiana duck caller. The semi-autobiographical novel has Robertson crediting his faith with his success and his ability to provide for his family the way he always imagined. Robertson offers up a funny and honest account behind the success of the wildly popular Duck Dynasty.

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
The first novel in the fantasy series turned television show, A Game of Thrones opens the door to the seven kingdoms. A web of interwoven plots of sex, backstabbing and war, it is a perfect read for fans and non-fans of fantasy alike. The book offers a more detailed, immersive depiction of the world of Westeros than the television show. After you've finished this book, there are four more in the series already waiting at a bookstore for you.

Calico Joe by John Grisham
Calico Joe bats a different game than Grisham's average legal thrillers. Young Paul Tracey, son of New York Mets pitcher Warren Tracey, becomes enraptured with the newest all-star rookie Joe Castle from Calico Rock, Arkansas. The climatic story comes when Calico Joe and Warren Tracey face off on the pitch. One life-changing fastball later, baseball fans have got an intriguing sports read.

Inferno by Dan Brown
The author of the Da Vinci Code once again revisits his use of symbols and the mysteries behind ancient literary pieces. The world is at risk and Harvard professor Robert Langdon holds the key to unlocking the famous epic poem Dante's Inferno. A fast-paced race to the truth promises to be a gripping read. This is a great novel to be read during the vulnerability of dusk, as readers get lost in secret passageways.

Defending Jacob by William Landay
Well-respected lawyer Andy Barber does what any father would do: protect his son. That is, until his son is charged with murder. A marriage, family and reputation balance precariously as Barber discovers shocking facts that spiral out of control. Defending Jacob takes a compelling look at simple actions that can tear down a carefully built life.