Who says street smart can’t be book smart, too? We found some perfect summer reads from female authors in each of our four Tidbits cities to keep you company during your vacay.

NEW ORLEANS
Who’s up for a book that will have you feeling hot under the covers? Check out Between the Sheets, an anthology of erotic short stories by 10 writers, 1 of which, pen-named Asali, is local to Nola. Stay tuned for the book launch on July 30th.

If you’re in the market for a fabulous coffee table book, get your hands on the just released Statuesque New Orleans by local photographer Ashley Merlin. This page-turner features 197 stunning color images of our picturesque city and makes for a great housewarming gift.

HOUSTON
Heights hipster Katherine Center writes what she knows best – being a mom – but this isn’t boring baby-lit. Her characters’ lives in Houston are hilarious and just a tad heart-wrenching. We love all her books, including just-released Get Lucky, about a NYC ad exec who returns home to play surrogate for her sis.

AUSTIN
Jennifer Ross weaves a sweet tale – girl gets dumped by no-good fiancé, moves to Manhattan and copes by baking and frosting. The Icing on the Cupcake: A Novel includes tempting recipes throughout, like Shot Through The Heart cupcakes, along with the story of how a Dallas gal’s charm mixes with life and love in the big city.

SAN ANTONIO
Entertainment Weekly writer Karen Valby decided life in a place called Utopia, Texas, had to be pretty darn idyllic. So the Trinity Universtiy grad left New York and moved to the Hill Country town of 241 people. Her non-fiction chronicle, Welcome to Utopia, is getting all sorts of nationwide attention, and Valby says she surprised herself by deciding to settle in Texas when she was done.