Summer Pleasures

by Nora Roberts

They were talented, ambitious women with exciting careers...But a single, spectacular summer would explode their tidy worlds.

Second Nature (1986)
Wangling an exclusive with notoriously reclusive Hunter Brown was a real coup for Celebrity magazine reporter Lee Radcliffe. But alone on a camping trip with the seductively mysterious author, she discovered it was Hunter she wanted . . . exclusively.

One Summer (1986)
A summer spent traveling across America with cynical, brooding photojournalist Shade Colby was not Celebrity photographer Bryan Mitchell's idea of a dream assignment. They disagreed about everything -- everything, that is, except the fierce attraction they could not deny.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Adult, Anthologies

506 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 2002

About the author

Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

Reviews

[Tiffany PSquared · Rating 3 out of 5]

❝One summer, ... One fascinating summer. ❞

Summer Pleasures contains both Second Nature and One Summer by Nora Roberts

I can honestly review both of these books together because they were so similar. Woman and man meet in the midst of their professional careers during summertime. They make certain negative assumptions about each other, then get stuck together, become lovers, try to fight against the relationship, but end up falling madly in love forever and ever.

I started listening to the audiobook of Summer Pleasures, but I had to end up going to the library to finish it out - long story. I wish I had more of a review for this book (these books), but they were typical Nora Roberts: strong-willed females who become vulnerable as soon as love enters the mix; and arrogant, handsome men who are, at times, a little too handsy for my personal taste.

Not a favorite title of hers for me, but nothing was particularly wrong with either story, so 3 stars.

[Jenn · Rating 1 out of 5]

oh Nora, what happened?
I understand that you have a system, and that the system works. But can't you mix it up a bit? I've just finished the first "book" in this and I've never wanted to slap a man so badly. If you've read of these types of books, you've read them all so I don't feel I’m giving anything away when I tell you the "plotline" : Girl meets boy, boy is mean, girl works on boy and finds he's really just a teddy bear. Boy changes and becomes nicer for girl or risks losing her. Both live happily ever after.
Well good grief - this starts that way, but the "boy becomes nicer" somehow falls down a rabbit hole. She's supposed to interview him: he answers absolutely no questions, makes fun of her, forces her into situations she's uncomfortable with, sneers at her, pretty much cyber stalked her so he knows all about HER but finds it completely unnecessary to give any information about HIM (the whole reason he agreed to the interview after all), and makes her time with him as uncomfortable for her as he can – while judging her on her response to him. And her, knowing she must have this interview, is forced to deal with it…... and yet every other page she finds herself falling more madly in love with him and just takes each abuse in stride?? What kind of masochistic woman is she? If I were her I would have packed up my bags and left his ass deserted in the middle of nowhere. Most likely after shoving it off a cliff. Nora Roberts novels are supposed to be escapism. I realize there is no real every-day love stories in most of her novels, but there is absolutely nothing about this man that would make the other fall for him, much less want to be around him for more than a half hour. I'm truly truly disappointed in this book.

[Analia · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 estrellas

"—Hueles a lluvia, a primavera —musitó—. ¿Por qué eso me vuelve loco? Las palabras vibraron en su interior, tan excitantes como una caricia. —Muéstramelo. Muéstramelo otra vez."

¿Por qué taaan cortito? Era para un libro de más de trescientas páginas. Hunter Brown, el escritor de novelas de terror es un romántico que ¡oh! se me aflojaron las rodillas con las cosas que le dice y le hace sentir a Lee Radcliffe, redactora de la revista Celebrity. Él todo misterio, ermitaño pero cuando logra hacer química con Lee es atento, tierno y cariñoso.

"—Estás preciosa a la luz de la luna —murmuró, acariciando su pelo—. La princesa y el dragón. Su corazón empezó a latir acelerado, como el de una adolescente.
—Hoy en día las mujeres matan sus propios dragones.
—Hoy en día hay menos romance —murmuró él, buscando sus labios—. Si estuviéramos en la Edad Media y aparecieses en medio de la oscuridad te tomaría de inmediato. Deja que te haga el amor, Lenore. Deja que te haga el amor como si fuera la primera vez".

Una novela PRECIOSA, corta con muy buena ambientación y que me devoré en horas. Lee se descubrirá así misma gracias a un hombre como Hunter. ¡LENALA! Es para un fin de semana; Y sí, me gustó mucho más que "amor en verano".

[Leane · Rating 1 out of 5]

Now, I am a Nora Roberts fan, so I picked up this book duo for some light reading over the summer. It was horrible!! The first story, "Second Nature" is absolutely ridiculous. I hated Hunter's character and thought he was definitely more creepy than romantic. If I were Lee, I would have thought for sure he was going to rape me. I mean, what kind of woman agrees to go on a two week camping trip with a man she barely knows but knows wants to sleep with her in the Arizonian desert? It's a miracle she came out alive! I honestly would have stopped reading, but it was a very slow weekend for me.
The second story, "One Summer" is slightly better than the first but not by much. I liked the character of Bryan, but didn't fancy Shade all that much. The photography trip across the country was an interesting setting, but it was just so freaking predictable.
Come on Nora! What about the great classics you've written like "Montana Sky" and "The Reef"? Now those are books I will never, ever forget.

[sakura_txell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estas dos historias me encantan. No son nada del otro mundo, pero me las leo siempre que puedo porque terminas con buen sabor de boca. Quizá la primera me guste más que la segunda, pero las dos son muy buenas: son frescas, son sencillas y son bonitas.

[Audel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ce roman nous raconte l’histoire de deux amies : lenore et Bryan. Pour se faire le livre est divisé en deux parties chacune consacrée à l’une des deux amies.
Ainsi, c’est Lenore qui ouvre le feu. L’auteure se concentre ici sur les prémices de la relation amoureuse. L’intrigue se déroule sur quelques semaines durant lesquels Lenore et Hunter vont faire connaissance. On assiste à l’évolution de leurs sentiments : d’abord simple attirance physique puis profond attachement émotionnel.
On retrouve les éléments standards de ce genre de romance : une héroïne forte et indépendante qui ne veut rien devoir à personne et un héros énigmatique avec un secret qui va mener la vie dure à l’héroïne.
Bien que l’histoire soit courte, elle n’en est pas moins efficace. On prend plaisir à assister à la naissance de la romance de ces deux personnages. Grace à l’alternance des points de vue, le lecteur en sait juste un peu plus que les protagonistes. Cependant, l’histoire est un peu plus tournée vers Lenore dont la rencontre avec Hunter va littéralement chambouler la vie.
Par ailleurs, la première partie de l’histoire est une mise en abyme de l’écriture. Hunter, un écrivain va tenter de transmettre et de faire comprendre sa passion des mots à Lenore ce qui nous donne une réflexion sur l’écriture, les genres littéraires etc. Et c’est également à travers ces entretiens qu’on va en apprendre plus sur les deux personnages.
La deuxième partie racontant l’histoire de Bryan est construite de la même manière que la précédente. Ainsi, on retrouve deux personnes qui vont devoir passer du temps seul ensemble pour leur travail, ici un reportage photo.
Il s’agit ici d’un road trip à travers les Etats-Unis dans lequel nous découvrant deux photographes aux techniques très différentes. Là encore il est question des prémices de la relation amoureuse suivi d’une ellipse temporelle pour l’épilogue.
Contrairement à la première partie, l’huis-clos s’étale ici sur un peu plus de deux mois. Le récit s’étend donc un peu plus ce qui se traduit vers les deux tiers par un léger ralentissement de l’intrigue.
En conclusion, deux romances légères, drôles et sympathiques. Idéales comme lecture de vacances !

[Morgan Benner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't even read this recently but I have been thinking so much about this book recently when trying to find a romance that I don't experience as cheesy, emotionally vapid, and problematic. I read this combo book when I was in high school, and my mom was obsessed with Nora Roberts so I got a few secondhand books from her.

I think especially the second story about 2 photographers, a celebrity portrait photographer and an overseas war/conflict photographer, hired to travel across the country together to photograph and capture the American Summer. I miss how characters used to have serious conversations that weren't always fights, and playful conversations that actually helped them understand each other and that weren't always innuendo. I also feel like (while some might disagree) there's something about a romance novel that isn't half text messages and emails. There's something timeless about how these characters interact together and Roberts just doesn't insert pop culture references the way it seems like EVERY romance novel does recently.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both books in this edition are about the creative process, the first about writing and the second about photography. Although I found both interesting, the description of the terrain, the unbelievably beautiful parts of our country that Ms. Roberts captures so tellingly, was what caught and held my attention. It made me want to get in my car and visit ever state in the country, explore to my heart's content. The trek across America described in the second book really captures the essence of the country, both the good and the bad, the gritty and the lovely, the sad and the delightful.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a compilation of two of Roberts' earlier romance novels. While they lack the mystery, suspense elements that are a part of her later novels, they are still well written and enjoyable. Both novels deal with women who work for Celebrity magazine, one as a reporter and one as a photographer. They both experience life-changing summers.

[María José · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una novela muy tranquila y romántica típica de los años 80, un clásico de Nora.

[Darcys_Lesestuebchen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sommerträume von Nora Roberts ist ein Sammelband mit den Geschichten " Nur für einen Sommer" und "Sommer, Sonne und dein Lächeln. Ich werde zu jeder Geschichte kurz etwas zu dem Inhalt sagen und dann meine Meinung dazu wiedergeben; anschließend gibt es ein Gesamtfazit.

Meine Meinung:
Nora Roberts ist einfach keine Autorin für mich. Vor Jahren las ich "Grün wie die Hoffnung" von ihr und das konnte mich damals auch nicht begeistern. Den Stil fand ich etwas anstrengend und kitschig, aber mir gefiel es, wie detailreich sie erzählte. Und seitdem lagen meine restlichen Bücher von ihr auch auf SuB, bis ich nun einen neuen Versuch startete. Ich erwartete nichts und hoffte auch eine schöne Unterhaltung, was sie beim Stil in gewisser Art und Weise schaffte, aber ansonsten sprachen mich die Geschichten erneut nicht an.

Das Cover hat mir auf jeden Fall sehr gut gefallen. Es passt super zu dem Titel, weniger zu den Geschichten, aber das stört mich nicht. Die Kulisse und das Paar strahlen durchaus Sommer aus und diese Sepiaoptik ist schön; irgendwie macht es ja schon Lust auf Urlaub.

1. Nur für einen Sommer:
Die erste Geschichte gefiel mir leider kaum. Hier ging es um Hunter und Lee, die für ein Interview zusammen auf einen Campingtrip gingen.

Zwar fand ich die Szenerie durchaus interessant, aber mir war es einfach zu kitschig und unrealistisch. Ja, wer jetzt sagen sollte, was ich denn hier erwartete....zumindest etwas mehr Tiefgang und kein Tempo, bei dem mir schwindlig wurde. Zwar ging es die erste Zeit auch um ihren Campingtrip, aber den Umschwung danach fand ich einfach nicht gut. Ich habe es auch nicht ganz verstanden haben, warum die beiden das komplett alleine machten, obwohl sie sich gar nicht kannten und bei Hunter stets betont wurde, dass er zurückgezogen lebte und dafür seine Gründe hatte. Vor allem fand ich es nicht sehr nachvollziehbar, dass er von sich aus so schnell mit seinem Privatleben und seinen Geheimnissen rausrückte. Zwar gönnte ich ihnen ihr Happy End, aber das Tempo war etwas irritierend und ich habe manche Aussagen und Handlungen nicht nachvollziehen können.

Die Charaktere sprachen mich auch nicht wirklich an und ich konnte leider nicht die Chemie zwischen Hunter und Lee spüren. Die Stimmungswechsel, bzw. die Wechsel ihrer Persönlichkeiten waren für mich nicht verständlich und mir waren sie nicht sehr sympathisch. Vor allem Lees Art sprach mich nicht an und mich würde es echt stören, wenn mich jemand ständig "Bastard" nennen würde. Ich weiß nicht, ob damit einfach nur ihre taffe Art gezeigt werden sollte, aber ich fand es unpassend. Zudem waren zum Schluss auch diese obligatorischen Dramen anstrengend. Sie wühlte als Reporterin viel in der Privatsphäre anderer Menschen rum, wurde aber augenblicklich aggressiv, wenn auch nur eine harmlose Frage an sie gestellt wurde und war immer gleich beleidigt.

2. Sommer, Sonne und dein Lächeln:
Die Fotografin Blanche und ihr Kollege Sidney reisen quer durch die USA, um für einen Auftrag passende Motive zu finden. Schnell kommen die beiden sich näher, auch wenn sie Angst vor Nähe und mehr haben.

Die zweite Geschichte gefiel mir durchaus einen ticken besser, aber dennoch sprach sie mich nicht wirklich an. Zwar fand ich die Reise an sich interessant und man spürte auch bei beiden ihre Leidenschaft für die Fotografie, aber irgendwie las es sich auch etwas langweilig. Im Grunde ist es wie die erste Geschichte, nur mit einer leicht abgeänderten Hintergrundgeschichte und anderen Namen, ansonsten genau das gleiche Schema. Ein Mann und eine Frau kommen sich auf einer Reise näher, haben dann aber doch Angst vor der Nähe und bevor sie sich die ewige Liebe gestehen, gibt es noch etwas Drama. Eigentlich stört mich das ja nicht, aber es war nicht sinnlich, charmant oder interessant und das war schade. Nur fand ich die Chemie zwischen Blanche und Sidney hier durchaus greifbarer.

Der Schreibstil bei beiden Geschichten gefiel mir nicht sonderlich, aber er hatte auch etwas für sich. Mir war es zu kitschig, dramatisch und die Erotik nicht wirklich sinnlich, aber ich liebte es, wie sie Szenarien beschrieb. Da hatte ich wirklich das Gefühl, in einem Wald zu stehen, die frische Morgenluft zu atmen oder auf einem Roadtrip all die wechselnden Orte zu besichtigen. Roberts hat wirklich ein Händchen dafür, ein inneres Bild zu erschaffen, nur leider konnte mich alles andere nicht überzeugen. Mir fehlten authentische und nachvollziehbare Gefühle, sowie Tiefgang, mir war es einfach zu oberflächlich.

Gesamtfazit:
Der zweite Versuch zeigte mir, dass Nora Roberts keine Autorin für mich ist. Ihre Leserschaft weiß, was sie an ihr hat, aber mir sind die Geschichten zu ähnlich, boten keine interessante Handlung, die mich auf irgendeine Weise berührte oder mitriss, aber ich fand es klasse, wie detailliert sie Orte und Szenen beschrieb. Da dachte man, man wäre wirklich dort. Nur schade, dass weder die Charaktere, noch ihre Liebesgeschichten mich begeistern konnten.

[Jazzypom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a twofer, about a reporter and a photographer who work for Celebrity, a magazine in the same breath as Harper's Bazar or Vanity Fair - with slick writing, high gloss pictures, and more celebrities that you can throw a stick at.

I didn't like the first story much Second Nature, what with Hunter and Lee, because well... I guess I should tell you the plot first.

Lee is desperate to interview Hunter Brown. Brown is a horror writer, in the likes of Stephen King territory, and doesn't do interviews, or does he have pictures of himself on a dust jacket ( you know that this book is old, because in the naughties? Would never happen). So on a tip, Lee gets herself to Arizona, thinking that she'll just get an interview with Hunter, and takes her unfinished manuscript as a cover of being a fledging writer shopping for a contract. Lee gets rumbled by Hunter, and Hunter, impressed by Lee's coolness and icy reserve, invites her to camping. The pair hook up, Lee finds out certain secrets about Hunter, faces some truths about herself and hiding her talent under a bushel and they come to an understanding.

I have issues with Hunter's deceit of Lee, despite the fact that his reasons are reasonable, and his pushing her on when Lee has never had to camp before (trust me, as someone who goes on camping trips herself, it's a concern) didn't really endear him to me. But since it's not my panties he's finessing, I guess it doesn't matter.

One Summer in contrast, is really quite good. Bryan is offered the opportunity of a lifetime to do a pictorial portrait of America with her idol, Shade Colby. Of course, that's before she found out that Shade is grim, and arrogant (because he's like, a Rembrandt with a camera), and too attractive. Shade on his part thinks that Bryan is too open, too easy, and too much of a reminder of what he was before he got emotionally scarred on an assignment in Asia some time ago.

Cross country treks are really satisfying if done very well. Ms Roberts does this very well. Over the course of six weeks, the characters fall in love. The pacing was delicious, not too fast - with photographic highlights and the country painting the tapestry of their feelings as it goes on. The book isn't too slow where you’re bogged down with technical ‘how to’s either.

Reading it is like a salve on sunburn at the end of a very good and busy day. It's really hard to write a good romance, without the ADD of magic, and suspense, because the writer has to paint the emotions on a page. It's grand when it's done right, and One Summer does it right. Recommended.

[Natalia Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer pleasure is definitely recommended for adults!
it has a lot of sexual parts where it gets too intense for younger teenagers to read!
its a very passionate story, where two couples end up falling endless in love with their soul mates, but total opposite attracts!
1) a reporter meets the famous author brown who doesn't have not one single picture of himself anywhere!
Him and the reporter make an agreement and go camping together in order for her to get her info about him for her job and convenient for him because he gets to get a little action from her here and there! at the end they end up falling in love with each other and she moves out the city into a whole new life style! and becomes an author herself instead of a reporter!

2)One summer that turned into a whole new life style and to opposites becoming together as well. Where they are assigned to on a tour for photography among places in america and they disagree on everything and anything, besides the fierce attraction they can't deny.

[Maria FantastikaRomance · Rating 4 out of 5]

A joy to read. Both books revolve around two friends that work for the same glossy magazine, Celebrity. One as a journalist and the other as a photographer. In One summer you meet Bryan and Shade. Bryan seems to be the epiphany of a Californian laid back beach girl and Shade is a very organized loner. They get an assignment where they should travel through America and document the summer.

The other book, Second nature, deals with Lenore and Hunter. Lenore is a journalist that can give her right arm to get the interview she´s after and Hunter are a successful horror writer who is a very seclusive person. Lenore tracks Hunter down and a sizzling love story begins.

In this book Nora Roberts are really showing her style. The language flows and the scenery is absolutely fantastic. I can´t say one was better than the other. As I said in the beginning, they were a joy to read!

[Maya · Rating 1 out of 5]

I stopped reading this because there's blatant misogyny, toxic masculinity, gaslighting, double standards, some classism and sexist stereotypes, not to mention poor characterization. Every character is a caricature which makes me wonder if the author has any idea who people in the real world are actually like. Sets a dangerous framework by insinuating manipulative behavior as an "opposites attract" thing.

I mean I guess I wasn't expecting to love it, listened to an audiobook out of availability/curiosity; it does seem that there are better titles of hers but yikes like 1000%. Nothing to redeem it.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked Second nature. Well I liked it better than One Summer. It wasn't my favorite of Nora Roberts. But I liked the camping backdrop and Hunter's relationship with his daughter and sister.

One Summer had potential to be good but it was missing something. I liked both characters but the story was slow even though I liked the backdrop of traveling. It didn't captivate. And really I kept waiting for hot darkroom sex and then nothing. Sweet but eh.

[Bonnie Staughton · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Summer Pleasures" was another "hard to put down" book for me. There are actually 2 stories in this book but they are related as the 2 females in these books both worked together, are friends and meet up for a visit in the 2nd story. One is a reporter "on the rise" at "Celebrity" magazine and the other is a photographer of celebrities at the magazine. Both ladies "take a risk" to further their careers and unexpectedly find the men of their dreams. I enjoyed both stories equally.

[Amar · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book about Hunter and Lee was decent but when compared to the second book, with Bryan and Shade, it really pales in comparison...really liked both of them as people and how well matched they were. Loved their chemistry...

[Maryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the last book more than the first. I loved Shade's sense of humor. It was a great story with wonderful characters. Roberts did a great job with the descriptions in regards to a photographer's point of view.

[monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

En exclusiva

Me a gustado mucho.la manera sencilla de la historia y como la autora presenta lo que sienten los personajes es interesante y muy lindo.la recomiendo la disfrute un monton.

[Francesca · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ho preso questa raccolta di due libri aspettandomi una lettura leggera per l’estate ed invece ne sono rimasta delusissima.
Due storie orribili (la seconda non ho neanche finito di leggerla per quanto mi stava annoiando).
I personaggi e le storie sono prevedibili e piatte.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy Nora Roberts, no matter what it is.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light fun read. Certainly not a challenge, but a good summer beach book.

[Jenna Peters]

Nice easy reading. Good love stories.

[Vika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun Summer Read!

[Kellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, light read.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love anything Nora Roberts

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun reads-I love that they are connected stories.

[Christine Kirchoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this awhile ago but forgot to post it here. Good book!

[Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

2023