Customer Reviews

One Summer (Eagle Large Print)

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Everyone always said that Johnny Harris was headed for nowhere, and their predictions were confirmed when this rebel was put in jail for killing his girlfriend.

Only Rachel Grant, his English teacher, believed that he was innocent. When her former student was put on parole, he came back to their small town to accept the job Rachel offers him in her family's hardware store.

As Rachel expects, Johnny creates quite a stir in town. What she does not expect is that he just isn't a boy anymore, but a man she is attracted to.

Like everyone else who's written reviews, I find that Johnny Harris is the BEST hero I have ever read about in a romance novel. I find myself reading this book over and over. Rachel Grant isn't so bad herself, and her actions are usually believable and real.

Although this book seems to have less going for it in the mystery department, it's still a good book and worth buying.

I am slowly going through KR's books and this is one of her older ones- but it was worth reading! It kind of reminded me of LaVyrle Spencer's books (she's great if you haven't discovered her yet). The chemistry between Johnny and Rachel was great- made for a good story!

Johnny Harris is from the "other side of the tracks." Everyone said he was trouble just because of his last name was Harris- but it was "proven" when he was sent to prison for the murder of his girlfriend. Now 11 years later he is placed parole and granted a job in the town's local hardware store due to the grace of Rachel Grant, his "old" English teacher from high school. (She always did doubt his being guilty of murder.)

Boy, does Johnny cause a stir in the town when he arrives and it doesn't help his having a "bad-boy" attitude. Rachel is constantly getting him out of scrapes. But he starts revealing his hurt to her, allowing her a look within his heart- while he also reveals the feelings he has always had for her going back to when she taught him in high school. He is no longer the fine lookin' "bad-boy" in school, but is now the strikingly handsome man from prison and, remember, there is a 5 year age difference but does that really matter now? And he sure isn't what Rachel would have considered "her type" of man but what about those feelings Johnny is now making her acknowledge as having?

Then another murder takes place- eleven years later with all of the same familiarities of the first one. How is Johnny connected to it? It gets very unrealistic towards the end- hey, it makes for a good story... I would definitely rate this one as being an "oldie but goodie!"

High school teacher Rachel Grant gets more than she bargained for when a former student is about to be paroled for the murder of the town's golden girl and turns to her for help getting his life back. Getting him a job and an apartment are the least she can do, since she is convinced that he was innocent. No one is more surprised than Rachel when she picks him up and instead of coming face to face with a gawky teen; a sexy alpha man is waiting for her. As Johnny fights for his right to return to his hometown, and the town heavies try to make his life miserable to drive him out, Rachel finds herself attracted to him, and acting on that passion sends them both on a collision course with the real culprit behind the slayings. When another former lover turns up dead, Johnny is the only suspect, but this time Rachel is his alibi.

Much is made about the teacher-student romance, but the age gap is a mere five years (and the romance did not start until both were adults). And do they ever sizzle. But the story is also sensitive, particularly in the dramatization of Johnny's fractured home life. The two make a striking duo, and their story will capture the reader's attention. Despite numerous red herrings and possible suspects, the revelation of the killer was truly implausible and felt like Robards would do anything to keep the culprit a surprise. My first Robards novel, I periodically return to the sizzling story again and again, making Robards an automatic purchase for me.

This is my first Karen Robards' book. Though the book was published back in '93, the story was still great even read now - 8 years later. It had a good plot and good blend of mystery and romance. I liked it that the writer made the herione sounded like a real person with not a perfect body, a less attractive look, but a good heart. I also liked that the heroine and hero were reasonable and responsible persons. The writer's writing was good too, it was mature and did not engage in time wasting jibberish, which explained why the 350-page book was such an easy read.

If KR's other books are of the same standard as this one, her books definitely have an edge over other mystery/romance writers like Linda Howard, or Sandra Brown. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a dose of smile, warmth, and excitement.

Robards is in top form with this incendiary novel about an older woman,a younger man and a murderer on the loose.

Johnny is absolutely dee-licious!I could eat him up with a spoon. And the way he seduces Rachel both verbally and physically left me weak-kneed in the drug store where I first saw this book. I bought it and found that yes, it was not just a chance encounter with hormones. This book has steam rolling off of it from the get-go.

Part of it may be attributed to the forbidden quality of the romance between a female teacher and a male student. The only part that seemed implausible was the placement of a freshly graduated college girl as a teacher in a high school, but that's entirely beside the point.

Buy this book and savor it.

I'm not kidding. This man is THE sexiest man that could ever possibly have existed. All the junk that has happened to him just makes you just want to hold him REAL tight and-- Or you could do what Rachel does, just lean over and. . . .

Johnny is seriously the best hero of any romance novel I've ever read. Rachel is ALMOST good enough for him, though in my definition no one really is.

However, there are two parts of the book that are too hard to believe. 1. Rachel believes he just couldn't have committed a murder because she used to speak to him about poetry. Come on, POETS can be capable of killing! Although her firm belief in his innocence ends up being right, you still don't see how she could have thought so unless she had had highly unprofessional feelings for him while she taught him. 2. Glenda. You have to read the story to know most of what I am talking about, but also her whole relationship with Johnny. Why would he bother with her if he had any feelings for Rachel?

I absolutely LOVE this book!!! I just read it for the 2nd time today and loved it just as much as the first time. Cover to cover, I just enjoyed every element of the book. I will admit, though, that's it's probably not for everyone. I know some really dislike romance stories where the woman is older than the guy, and I know some wouldn't like how crude and abrasive Johnny is for over half the book. Plus there's a small paranormal element to the story that some would hate. But if you don't mind all that, it's a fantastic story.

The chemistry between Johnny and Rachel is wonderful. They originally connected when he was in high school, enjoying talking about books, poetry, politics, and whatever else together. Johnny had the hots for her, but their relationship then was completely platonic. It builds a nice base for the present tense of the story. Then when the meet again, they just can't stay away from each other no matter how different they are. Rachel is a prim and proper teacher, and Johnny is the quintessential bad boy. If there's one complaint I have about their romance, it's that you don't get a clear understanding of the progression of Johnny's feelings. He admits from the start that he's "hot" for her, but Robards doesn't really give you the how or the why those feelings progressed to him being in love with her. I would have liked to know that.

As for the plot. Interesting storyline, even if at it's base it's a tad predictable. It was pretty easy to guess that with Johnny back in town, another woman would die to try to make him look guilty. But Robards does a great job creating twists and turns to make the storyline unique and interesting. I never would have guessed the identity of the attacker or the reasons behind it all, though it all made sense...in a twisted, metaphysical sort of way. You have to allow your mind to stretch a bit to accept the reasoning in the plot. And there's a certain surprise element at the end that was a great addition.

Just a fantastic all around story. I love the opposites attract romance and the great suspense plot. One Summer is one of my all-time favorite books.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Karen Robards is a master in the art of romance writing. And this is her best book ever! My heart went out to Johnny - who, by the way, is what I think is every woman's fantasy - mine included! He's gorgeous, sexy, and great in bed. But he's also had a tough life. On the outside, Johnny seems rough and wild, but really he's caring, sweet, and beautiful and only really wants someone to love him. Rachel feels sorry for Johnny and believes in his innocence. She's strong and courageous and cares about him when no one else does. She sticks by him, no matter what it costs her. This is truly a beautiful love story. It's the best book I've ever read - and I've read many. You will not be dissapointed.

Basically the headline says it all! I loved this book!! The characters, the plot, and the mystery were all A+. I did not know until the very end who the killer was, the mystery was that good! I loved Johnny Harris and Rachel! The pages sizzle and the love scenes are very full of passion. This book is definitely a keeper and it will be one that I will keep re-reading!

I happened across this book at a garage sale.....put off reading it because it was written about 18 years ago. Picked it up and started reading it and I was hooked. The characters were wonderful, the chemistry sizzling and the story engaging. The hero Johnny just kept on getting better and better. Worth reading.