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That Summer #1
That Summer: Part One
From Book 1: WARNING: I don't write about fairy tales and as much as I love Disney... I don't promise my readers or guarantee my characters a 'Happy Ever After...' Happy endings are harmonious but they're not always real life. I'm a sucker for bittersweet endings so please prepare yourself for one of them before purchasing one of my novels. Hearts and flowers won't be found in my writing and neither will perfect conclusions to my stories.
“Why now?” My therapist asks, leaning forward in her seat. “What’s made you decide to talk about him now?"
I contemplate her question whilst gazing out of the window to my left, admiring the clear blue sky and the flowers in the garden.
“Desperation, I suppose.” I reply truthfully. “I still can’t get him out of my head. I guess I’m hoping that by talking about him now… all of this will go away. I’m praying that by talking about what happened, it will release me from it, release me from my memories.”
“That makes sense.” She encourages me, smiling warmly.
“There’s also the fact that I saw him yesterday.” I add, casually folding my arms across my chest as though it’s no big deal.
“You saw him? You saw Cole?” She asks, unable to hide her shock and surprise from me.
“Yes. I saw him at the park when I was on my way home.”
She gapes at me in astonishment and concern, clearly worried about my revelation. She doesn’t quite know how to handle it and I can’t say that I blame her.
"Are you ok? What was his reaction when he saw you?”
“He didn’t see me.” I explain. “I’m pretty certain I’d be in the hospital right now if that had happened.”
“You do remember that you should never, ever approach him, don’t you?” She reminds me firmly.
As though I could ever forget…
“I don’t really think I would dare… even if I am tempted.”
“For your own safety and emotional wellbeing you must never do this, Serena.” She advises me, making a note of this in her notepad.
“I know.” I respond vacantly, my mind already elsewhere.
“Where would you like to start with all of this, Serena? What do you want to tell me?”
“I suppose I should start at the beginning… that way you will understand. You will be able to understand what happened to me that summer.”
I know I have to go back. I know I need to remember it all. How I first came to meet Cole and how he changed my life forever…
He crashed into my world like a tornado, destroying everything in its path. He shattered my heart and made sure he was the only one who knew how to place the broken pieces back together. He made me fall in love with him and I had absolutely no control and no choice in the matter.
I was an addict and he was my only drug of choice. That summer I was already in too deep, too far gone to fix it all. I had already fallen head over heels in love with him by the time I discovered the truth.
The man I could not live without, the man I needed to survive was also something else. He was also my half-brother.
He once said that I shed light on the darkness inside of him. He said I took the fragmented pieces of his soul and put it back together again. He said I made him whole and that I somehow managed to heal the part of him he had convinced himself was broken. He told me I was his hope, his future, his weakness and his strength.
He eventually found out that I was his half-sister.
“Why now?” My therapist asks, leaning forward in her seat. “What’s made you decide to talk about him now?"
I contemplate her question whilst gazing out of the window to my left, admiring the clear blue sky and the flowers in the garden.
“Desperation, I suppose.” I reply truthfully. “I still can’t get him out of my head. I guess I’m hoping that by talking about him now… all of this will go away. I’m praying that by talking about what happened, it will release me from it, release me from my memories.”
“That makes sense.” She encourages me, smiling warmly.
“There’s also the fact that I saw him yesterday.” I add, casually folding my arms across my chest as though it’s no big deal.
“You saw him? You saw Cole?” She asks, unable to hide her shock and surprise from me.
“Yes. I saw him at the park when I was on my way home.”
She gapes at me in astonishment and concern, clearly worried about my revelation. She doesn’t quite know how to handle it and I can’t say that I blame her.
"Are you ok? What was his reaction when he saw you?”
“He didn’t see me.” I explain. “I’m pretty certain I’d be in the hospital right now if that had happened.”
“You do remember that you should never, ever approach him, don’t you?” She reminds me firmly.
As though I could ever forget…
“I don’t really think I would dare… even if I am tempted.”
“For your own safety and emotional wellbeing you must never do this, Serena.” She advises me, making a note of this in her notepad.
“I know.” I respond vacantly, my mind already elsewhere.
“Where would you like to start with all of this, Serena? What do you want to tell me?”
“I suppose I should start at the beginning… that way you will understand. You will be able to understand what happened to me that summer.”
I know I have to go back. I know I need to remember it all. How I first came to meet Cole and how he changed my life forever…
He crashed into my world like a tornado, destroying everything in its path. He shattered my heart and made sure he was the only one who knew how to place the broken pieces back together. He made me fall in love with him and I had absolutely no control and no choice in the matter.
I was an addict and he was my only drug of choice. That summer I was already in too deep, too far gone to fix it all. I had already fallen head over heels in love with him by the time I discovered the truth.
The man I could not live without, the man I needed to survive was also something else. He was also my half-brother.
He once said that I shed light on the darkness inside of him. He said I took the fragmented pieces of his soul and put it back together again. He said I made him whole and that I somehow managed to heal the part of him he had convinced himself was broken. He told me I was his hope, his future, his weakness and his strength.
He eventually found out that I was his half-sister.
215 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2015
16 people are currently reading
581 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Crossley
16 books148 followersHi there, I'm 26 years old, I live in the UK and published my first book 'Always & Forever.' In 2014. I spent two years working on my first book and can't begin to count the hours I put in trying to figure out how to publish my first novel! 'Forever & Always' is the second and final instalment in the series.
'Wrong Girl' was originally supposed to be a standalone novel but I decided to make it part of a series and wrote 'Now It's Just Us' which is a short novella as well as 'Right Girl' which is the third and final instalment in the series.
(Due to high demand, I am currently working on an alternate ending to 'Right Girl' which will be released at some point in 2017)
'That Summer' (Part One & Two) are also available and deal with the highly controversial subject matter of two half-siblings who meet as young adults and fall in love.
Part One of 'The Secret' is available to download and part two will soon follow.
I've uploaded my darkest romance 'Monstrous Love' on Wattpad but have also published the complete novel on Amazon.
Part One of 'In Love with Lies' is also available on Amazon and you can read the first ten chapters on Wattpad. Part Two will soon follow and you will be able to buy the complete novel once part two has also been completed.
I am a hopeless romantic and love reading books within the New Adult genre. My own books tend to focus on the darker side of love, the side that comes along with crazy, obsessive, jealous and possessive heroes.
I really hope that you will enjoy reading my stories and will continue to check back here now and then to keep up to date with my progress.
My Wattpad username is: MissLauren26 or you can click the direct link below:
https://www.wattpad.com/user/MissLaur...
I have an email address which is laurencrossleyauthor@gmail.com
My readers can contact me on this if they wish to do so and I look forward to hearing back from you!
You can also find my author page on Amazon where I have each of my books listed:
https://www.amazon.com/Lauren-Crossle...
Thanks for reading, Lauren xx
'Wrong Girl' was originally supposed to be a standalone novel but I decided to make it part of a series and wrote 'Now It's Just Us' which is a short novella as well as 'Right Girl' which is the third and final instalment in the series.
(Due to high demand, I am currently working on an alternate ending to 'Right Girl' which will be released at some point in 2017)
'That Summer' (Part One & Two) are also available and deal with the highly controversial subject matter of two half-siblings who meet as young adults and fall in love.
Part One of 'The Secret' is available to download and part two will soon follow.
I've uploaded my darkest romance 'Monstrous Love' on Wattpad but have also published the complete novel on Amazon.
Part One of 'In Love with Lies' is also available on Amazon and you can read the first ten chapters on Wattpad. Part Two will soon follow and you will be able to buy the complete novel once part two has also been completed.
I am a hopeless romantic and love reading books within the New Adult genre. My own books tend to focus on the darker side of love, the side that comes along with crazy, obsessive, jealous and possessive heroes.
I really hope that you will enjoy reading my stories and will continue to check back here now and then to keep up to date with my progress.
My Wattpad username is: MissLauren26 or you can click the direct link below:
https://www.wattpad.com/user/MissLaur...
I have an email address which is laurencrossleyauthor@gmail.com
My readers can contact me on this if they wish to do so and I look forward to hearing back from you!
You can also find my author page on Amazon where I have each of my books listed:
https://www.amazon.com/Lauren-Crossle...
Thanks for reading, Lauren xx
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 22, 2015
Hold On For a Ride
This was honestly one of the most interesting, intense books I've ever read. I would have given it 5 stars if at one point the author wouldn't have written Jake instead of Cole. I got completely taken out of the story and looked back and forth trying to see what I mixed. The cliffhanger left me wanting the next book immediately...I'm not patient!
Yes, this book is not for everyone. But I'm hooked, and if you can get over the taboo you will be too. That Summer is an intense romance that deserves to be read. You won't regret it.
This was honestly one of the most interesting, intense books I've ever read. I would have given it 5 stars if at one point the author wouldn't have written Jake instead of Cole. I got completely taken out of the story and looked back and forth trying to see what I mixed. The cliffhanger left me wanting the next book immediately...I'm not patient!
Yes, this book is not for everyone. But I'm hooked, and if you can get over the taboo you will be too. That Summer is an intense romance that deserves to be read. You won't regret it.
April 10, 2015
I enjoyed reading part one and I'm looking forward to the next one. This is different as the element of incest is added to it but it is heartbreaking as they obviously didn't know and they are too deep in love to be apart and make the rational decision. Then the last chapter breaks my heart...Hopefully we'll get a HEA in the end.
April 29, 2020
Not for everyone-half siblings alert and no HEA in book 2 but it’s an intense read and I liked it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2015
This gif is enough to express what I feel for this book. Sorry.
1 star!
1 star!
November 12, 2015
I read this one in a day. Really enjoyed it. The H was SUPER, INSANE, CRAZY for the h. This is a controversial story but I didn't mind. It ends in a cliffhanger and I honestly don't know how this couple will get a HEA. I am reading the next one right away. There was no real sex which sucked and the h was such a doormat that never stood up to her bullies. Really glad I finally found something to get me out of my MONTHS long reading slump.
Read
December 8, 2019This book has the same cover as:
1. Existence by Abbi Glines;
2. That Summer by Lauren Crossley;
3. Dangerous Deception by Judy Angelo;
4. Last Stand by Niki Burnham
and
5. Kiss of the Phantom by Julie Leto
......
I know that not all books can allow to buy a fresh cover, but still... 5 books? A little bit too much
1. Existence by Abbi Glines;
2. That Summer by Lauren Crossley;
3. Dangerous Deception by Judy Angelo;
4. Last Stand by Niki Burnham
and
5. Kiss of the Phantom by Julie Leto
......
I know that not all books can allow to buy a fresh cover, but still... 5 books? A little bit too much
October 14, 2015
Wow
Ok so this is a little weird. So lot weird but really good. I feel bad for both Serena and Cole but would love for them to be together. I'll just have to read the rest to find out
Ok so this is a little weird. So lot weird but really good. I feel bad for both Serena and Cole but would love for them to be together. I'll just have to read the rest to find out
Want to read
January 21, 2015
August 10, 2015
i love it . can't wait for the next book
July 28, 2015
**review to come**
August 9, 2015
intense book! could not put down! my only complaint is how whiney the heroine is at the beginning.
September 1, 2015
I LOVED IT CAN'T WAIT TO READ THE OTHER BOOK I HATED THE TYPO'S BUT OTHER THAN THAT I ENJOYED THE BOOK
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2018
Worst book I ever read
I’m sorry but this book was torture to get through. I pushed through it with hopes it would get better but total fail.
I’m sorry but this book was torture to get through. I pushed through it with hopes it would get better but total fail.
April 16, 2025
Nothing could redeem that boy. He's living in his own narcissistic little world that revolves around just himself.
June 22, 2015
It was okay
When Cole's name changed to Jake I was confused a little maybe some one can fix that . I felt like they kept going over the same things . Like she another want to make her jealous so why does she keep asking ' did you do that to make me jealous' . I did like Cole . Also she didn't want to have sex with him until he got his test results back and until she got the pill so what since does it make to give him a blowjob if you think he might have diseases.
When Cole's name changed to Jake I was confused a little maybe some one can fix that . I felt like they kept going over the same things . Like she another want to make her jealous so why does she keep asking ' did you do that to make me jealous' . I did like Cole . Also she didn't want to have sex with him until he got his test results back and until she got the pill so what since does it make to give him a blowjob if you think he might have diseases.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2015
After always and forever i was expecting more from this book but i think it was too rushed that i can't understand this instant obssessive love he has for serina and can't sympathize with him at all maybe if it was longer i could have connect with them more but of course iam waiting for part 2
September 28, 2016
This had SERIOUS continuity errors.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews