Mid Summer Issue (Current Issue July-August)
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On The Cover: Kevin Costner
108 Pages
Dear Readers,
As summer peaks in the Valley, the city hums with monsoon storms, laughter on shaded patios, and the quiet beauty of museum halls. On our cover, we celebrate Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, where Kevin Costner was honored with the Western Spirit Award—highlighting a decade of preserving Western heritage.
This season isn’t just about staying cool, but living smartly. “Cool Home, Hot Savings” shares tips to keep homes comfortable and energy bills down, while “Splash Safely” and “Prevent Drowning” offer must-know pool safety advice. And for pet owners, “Fur-ever Friends” helps cats and dogs live together peacefully during lively summer days.
Food lovers will find plenty to savor. “Sweet Escapes with a View” reveals Phoenix’s coolest indoor dessert spots, and “Summer Happy Hours” lists the best dining deals in Old Town Scottsdale. Adventurous readers can explore “Exotic Culinary Delights,” featuring goat stew with cassava and vegan lavender ice cream.
Beyond dining, we spotlight movement and conservation: “Workout Cool” showcases the inclusive Ability360 Sports & Fitness Center, while “Saving Every Drop of Water!” highlights SRP’s innovative efforts to protect our desert’s most vital resource.
When the city heat lingers, “High Country Treks” invites you to cooler trails in Northern Arizona. And indoors, our “Book Reviews” recommend titles like “The Wide Wide Sea,” “Original Sin,” “Never Flinch,” and “Nightshade”—perfect reads for summer afternoons.
What truly makes Phoenix summers special isn’t just how we cool off, but how we come together as neighbors, families, and explorers. We hope this issue inspires you to discover, taste, and celebrate the best of our region.
Warmly,
Marie Taylor
Editorial Director
Discover The Phoenix Region Magazine
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DTPR JULY THROUGH AUGUST 2025 / BOOK REVIEWS
BookReviews
Reviewers
THE WIDE WIDE SEA
-Ryan Williams
ORIGINAL SIN
-Marie Taylor
NEVER FLINCH
-Rick Rome
NIGHTSHADE
-Serena Winslow
Summer in the Valley often brings triple-digit heat, but this season’s bookshelf offers its own kind
of burn: sharp exposés, nautical adventures, noir thrills, and a surprising stumble from a literary
legend. Hampton Sides’ “The Wide Wide Sea” sails readers back to the 18th century, charting the
final, fateful voyage of Captain Cook with storytelling as sweeping as the Pacific itself. Jake Tapper’s
“Original Sin,” co-authored with Alex Thompson, delivers a blistering political portrait that questions
how far loyalty can stretch before it fractures the truth. Meanwhile, Michael Connelly returns to
crime fiction’s darker corners in “Nightshade,” weaving a fresh tale of danger and deduction. And
then there’s Stephen King’s “Never Flinch”—a title that feels oddly fitting for a novel that has divided
fans, hinting at creative fatigue from the master of modern horror. Together, these works capture a
restless cultural mood: an era caught between confronting old myths, exposing hidden flaws, and
wrestling with the shadows we create ourselves. Whether you’re lounging poolside, hiding from the
sun indoors, or waiting out a monsoon storm, these books promise journeys that are as complex,
unpredictable, and fiercely alive as a Phoenix summer itself. -Marie Taylor, Editorial Director
Photography by: Bash Katov