That Summer

by Joan Wolf

A New York Times Bestselling Author Growing up in Virginia horse country, Anne Foster helped her father train prize Thoroughbreds at the Wellington family's racing farm, and longed for the boy beyond her reach, Liam Wellington. But something shattered those dreams, and Anne fled. Ten years later, she returns as a successful veterinarian to face the man she still loves and the dangerous, explosive truth.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Contemporary

500 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2003

About the author

Joan Wolf is a USA TODAY bestselling American writer, whose acclaimed Regency romances have earned her national recognition as a master of the genre. Her many historical and contemporary romances, some of which have been chosen as Literary Guild selections, have been highly praised by reviewers and authors alike.

Joan was born in 1951 and she grew up in the Bronx, New York. A former English teacher, she obtained a Bachelor's degree in Mercy College and Master in English and Comparative Literature at Hunter College. An avid rider and horse owner, Joan lives in Connecticut with her husband Joe and two grown children, Jay and Pam.

Reviews

[Gerrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up to 3

[Maddy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted so badly to love this book because the plot seemed so interesting to me. We have a girl who's been in love with someone her whole life and they have the possibility of being together again, a farm/ranch on the edge of ruin, a murder and a death in the family. This things together seem like the beginnings of a great book. However, things fell very flat for me- with the exception of the racing, which I think was very well done- and the writing was very clunky in parts. I honestly don't know what Kevin was doing in the book except to make Liam jealous, which was really awkwardly done. The love story between Annie and Liam seemed so forced and one-sided.

I honestly think we are dealing with 2, maybe 3 different stories here. It seemed as if the author wanted to write about a come-from-behind horse racing/love story and just kind of sprinkled on a murder to make things a bit more interesting. Even the way the murder case concluded seemed to fall flat like it was an afterthought. I'm sorry, but it wasn't my favorite story.

[Becky · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not great romance on Virgina thoughbred horse racing farm. Kevin, the live- in cousin on the farm with main love interest Liam, is made out to be a danger, not to be trusted, but he isn't at all and there is no arc to his character. Heroine Annie thinks its a good idea to make Liam jealous by flirting with and dating Kevin though both Kevin and Liam are suspisioned of killing a beautiful girl ten years ago. They now really hate and distrust each other and you think there is some real danger to Annie in so cavalierly playing them off against each other. But there isn't and that story line peters out without resolution either. The reader suspicions the father Mr. Wellington in the 10- year- old murderer, and he is partly responsible, but he gets off with no criminal responsibility though he is a despicle character. Why unpunished? Finally, the last two pages of wrap up Liam is going to surprise Annie with a Christmas present but then the book abruptly ends. Don't know what the gift is. WHAT? The plot just does not hang together.

[Theresa]

What a disgusting group of people. A girl dies. Someone should be held accountable. Anne knows her future in-laws are murders and she wants to cover it all up. Anne is a veterinarian. She should find herself a decent family to marry into. Nancy doesn't encourage her daughter to grow and move on. Anne is dating everyone and sleeping with everyone. I did not like the characters. The book did not explore Nancy's grief or Kevin or Michael. How did Liam change course so fast? ...a low caliber book.

[P.S. Seaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Wolf's best, by any means. Too much horse. It stops abruptly, has somewhat methodical and repetitive obsessing conversations, and a manipulative heroine. Even the usual hero seems a hodgepodge of the men she has written about before, but this time he only has horses on his mind. Several good characters are left stranded with no place to go.
I'll delete this one.

[joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joan Wolf always delivers

Joan Wolf is one of my favorite authors. She always always creates the best characters, unique plots, and descriptive settings.

[Genesa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quite possibly the worst book I have ever read. The writing was poor and there were paragraphs that had absoultely nothing to do with the story, other than to make it longer. The only reason I finished the book was because it was somewhat of an intersting story and I wanted to see how it ended. Based on writing alone, this book should have never been published.

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

I needed something light-hearted & easy to read for my weekend visiting family for Christmas & this book fit the bill perfectly. Quite predictable, and quite implausible (the criminal law aspect could have used a lot more research), but overall an okay read to break up the heavier stuff I had been reading.

[Melissa (Always Behind) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love story with a bit of mystery, but I'm not very interested in horse racing and breeding.