That One Summer by CJ Duggan
Series: Summer #3 (this is a series of companions and can be read as standalones)
Published: December 17th, 2013
Publisher: Self-published
348 pages (ebook)
Genre: Contemporary new adult
Acquired this book: From the author as part
of the blog, in exchange for an honest review
Warning: May contain spoilers
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Loving Chris
Henderson would be wrong. Diabolically disastrous. I mean, what is there about
him to love? He’s moody, bossy, brooding, a control freak, and that’s on a good
day…but there was one achingly obvious fact that haunted my every thought,
every minute of every day…
He sure could kiss.
As the countdown to the new millennium begins, there is one thing everyone
agrees on: no one wants to be in Onslow for New Year’s Eve.
So that can only mean one thing: road trip!
No longer the mousey, invisible, shy girl from years ago, Tammy Maskala is
finally making up for all those lost summers. A new year with new friends,
which astoundingly includes the bossy boy behind the bar, Chris Henderson.
She likes her new friends (at least most of them), so why does she secretly
feel so out of place?
After chickening out on the trip, a last-minute change of heart sees Tammy
racing to the Onslow Hotel, fearing she’s missed her chance for a ride. The
last thing she expected to meet was a less-than-happy Onslow Boy leaning
against his black panel van.
Now the countdown begins to reach the others at Point Shank before the party is
over and the new year has begun. Alone in a car with only the infuriating Chris
Henderson, Tammy can’t help but feel this is a disastrous start to what could
have been a great adventure. But when the awkward road trip takes an unexpected
turn, Tammy soon discovers that the way her traitorous heart feels about Chris
is the biggest disaster of all.
Fogged up windows, moonlight swimming, bad karaoke and unearthed secrets; after
this one summer nothing will ever be the same again.
It’s official: I
want to marry an Onslow boy. I discovered the Summer series this past summer
and fell instantly in love with Tess and Toby. I was as fascinated with the
Onslow boys as Tess and Ellie were, and I enjoyed watching their story continue
in Amy and Sean’s book, and now Tammy and Chris’s book.
It was easy to love
Toby and Sean - they were pretty much the epitome of swoonworthy. I was
intrigued with Chris from the beginning and hoped he’d get his own story so
we’d learn more about him, so I was psyched when I found out That One Summer was his story. He’s an example of ‘still waters run deep’ - he’s
bossy, sullen, broody, and seems like a buzzkill, but there’s so much
more to him than that. He’s a loyal friend, a dedicated and hardworking
businessman, and he has this unexpected side to him that’s sweet, tender, and
funny. CJ Duggan has a knack for writing boys that are easy to fall in love
with, and Chris was no exception.
My only issue with
this book was, funnily enough, Tammy. There were times when she drove me
absolutely batty. She let her insecurities get the better of her time and time
again, and it caused her to jump to conclusions, overreact, feel sorry for
herself, and get mad over little things. I wanted to wring her neck so many
times, but I appreciated that she finally started to grow and open up her eyes
and her heart, and not just to Chris, but to the others as well. At the
beginning she didn’t feel like she fit in - the others were ‘Amy’s friends’ -
but when she stopped feeling sorry for herself, she saw that the others cared
about her and wanted her to be part of their group.
I loved the road
trip aspect of the book. It was nice to get away from Onslow and see something
completely different, plus I love a good road trip story. Let's just say I wouldn’t mind
being stuck in a car with Chris for a few days! As with any good road trip
story, it was as much an emotional journey as a physical one, and I enjoyed
watching Tammy and Chris get to know each other, and the lessons Tammy learned.
There were some really sweet moments between the two, and there were also
moments that were so sexy I practically needed a cold shower. Besides having a
knack for writing swoonworthy boys, Duggan also has a knack for writing
scorching sexytimes!
As much as I love
the romance in CJ’s books - and I do love the romance - I also love the
friendship aspect of the book. I’d love to be part of the Onslow gang. They
have a really special friendship, and unlike a lot of close-knit groups,
they’re willing to open their arms and hearts to new people.
That One Summer is
sweet, funny, sexy, and romantic. The Summer series is incredibly addictive,
and a definite favourite of mine. It’s one of the series I recommend most, and I’m
going to do it again - if you enjoy contemporary upper YA/NA with great
friendships, swoonworthy and memorable romances, and fun storylines, the Summer
series is a must read. I can’t wait for Forever Summer to be reunited with
these wonderful characters!
C.J Duggan is an Australian author who lives
with her husband in a rural border town of New South Wales, Australia.
The Boys of Summer is Book One in her
Mature Young Adult Romance Series.
One lucky winner will get an e-copy of The Boys of Summer AND An Endless Summer! This is open internationally.
Have you read That One Summer or any of the other Summer series books? What did you think? If you haven't read them, are they on your TBR?
