To many, Florida is a vacation destination full of salty palm tree lined beaches, busy theme parks, orange groves, humid weather, and vibrant cities. While all that is true, as a lifelong native Floridian, I know my home state is also wild, breathtakingly gorgeous, industrial, occasionally dangerous, weird, romantic, and sometimes frustrating.
And I am very excited to share titles that reflect these many sides of the Sunshine State. And not to mention being taught at a young age how to avoid alligators and prep for hurricanes. With a state so huge and varied it would take over 13 hours to drive from the Southernmost point in Key West to Pensacola in the Panhandle , there is an abundance to discover. There are over 80 unique and fragile ecosystems found here including the Everglades, hardwood hammock forests, rivers, scrubs, lakes, mangroves, swamps, intercoastal waterways, and oceans.
And of course, the culturally rich cities, exciting amusement parks, and island beach settings as well. Florida often finds itself as the punchline in jokes about its residents, weather, and activities. Just ask my husband Chad about the election recount. I actually spent the summer of working for the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections office, but that is a story for another time!
However, the recent book banning and limits by our state government officials are no laughing matter. It is an important uphill battle in a state normally known for its lack of elevation and hills.
Times like these make our independent bookstores true rays of literary light, like Sunshine Book Co. The Sunshine state even got its first romance bookstore when Mel Saavedra opened the fantastic Steamy Lit Bookstore in Deerfield Beach a few weeks ago. If you do find yourself visiting, I highly recommend stopping by these special shops and attending their fabulous events or supporting them from afar.
