The 2011 Summer Reading Challenge is on! BookSparks PR, Little Bird Publicity and Get Red PR, have partnered to bring you the 15 hottest books of the summer. Each week, we are highlight a new book. Read along with us or at your own pace. Each week there will be great opportunities to win fabulous prizes, connect with your favorite authors and meet other book lovers. For more information, visit the Summer Reading Challenge page and register, RSVP to our Facebook event or see our previous summer reading blog post.

Here’s Book #5: STAY by Allie Larkin.

ABOUT STAY

Savannah “Van” Leone has loved Peter since the day they met. The problem is, Peter has loved Van’s best friend, Janie, since the moment they met. And now they’re walking down the aisle, with Van standing nearby in a Halloween orange bridesmaid dress, her smile as hollow as a jack-o-lantern. After the wedding, Van drowns her sorrows in Kool Aid-vodka cocktails and reruns of Rin-Tin-Tin, and does what any woman in her situation would do: She buys a German Shepherd over the internet.

The pocket-sized puppy Van is expecting turns out to be a clumsy, hundred-pound beast that only responds to Slovakian. Van is at the end of her rope—until she realizes that this quirky giant may be the only living being who will always be loyal to her, no matter what. And thus begins a friendship that will alter Van’s life in ways she never imagined.

Joe leads Van to Dr. Alex Brandt, a rugged vet with floppy blond hair and winning smile. But just as things are starting to heat up, the newlyweds return from their honeymoon, forcing Van to decide just how much she’s willing to sacrifice in order to have everything she ever wanted. Warm and witty, poignant and funny, Stay marks the arrival of an irresistible new voice.

Here is author Allie Larkin to introduce the book:

Here is this week’s contest, which will be open now until Monday, July 25th:

Leave a comment on the BookSparks PR Facebook page telling us the name of your favorite dog book or movie (For example, Jessica’s favorite is WHERE THE RED FERN by Wilson Rawls). We’ll chose one winner to receive this week’s Philosophy Beauty Cocktail Kit.