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One Distant Summer
One summer can change everything.
Jacinda Prescott spent one life-changing summer in Sweet Breeze Bay, New Zealand, and left disaster in her wake. Since then, she’s thrown herself into her music career, and her life in LA. But when the price of fame threatens to become more than she’s willing to pay, the distant bay calls her back.
Liam Ward walked away from everything he knew after the death of his talented brother, the guy Jacinda loved and lost. When he finally returns to the bay, looking for closure, she’s the last person he expects to find—and the last woman he should fall for.
Stuck as neighbors for the summer, their off-limits attraction is hotter than the South Pacific sun. But the secret that ties them together is the one thing that could destroy her career, and break their hearts all over again. As the bay works its magic, they realize that this time, one distant summer might bring them closer than they ever expected…
Jacinda Prescott spent one life-changing summer in Sweet Breeze Bay, New Zealand, and left disaster in her wake. Since then, she’s thrown herself into her music career, and her life in LA. But when the price of fame threatens to become more than she’s willing to pay, the distant bay calls her back.
Liam Ward walked away from everything he knew after the death of his talented brother, the guy Jacinda loved and lost. When he finally returns to the bay, looking for closure, she’s the last person he expects to find—and the last woman he should fall for.
Stuck as neighbors for the summer, their off-limits attraction is hotter than the South Pacific sun. But the secret that ties them together is the one thing that could destroy her career, and break their hearts all over again. As the bay works its magic, they realize that this time, one distant summer might bring them closer than they ever expected…
316 pages, Paperback
Published January 30, 2017
81 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Serena Clarke
8 books186 followersSerena Clarke writes escapist romantic fiction set all over the world. Readers have described her books as engaging page-turners, with sigh-worthy happy endings that will leave you smiling.
Her own story? She's lived in thirty-nine houses, in seven cities, in four countries. She's been a riding instructor, edited a medical journal, worked at a London law firm, and taught English as a second language to wayward teenagers. And now she's found her own happy ending — living near the beach in beautiful New Zealand with her family, writing the kind of feel-good books she loves to read. She hopes you’ll love them too!
Serena's newsletter: https://www.serenaclarke.com/newsletter/
Apple Books: http://apple.co/1JVwcJU
Amazon: viewAuthor.at/SerenaClarke
BookBub: bookbub.com/profile/serena-clarke
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Facebook: facebook.com/SerenaClarkeAuthor
Her own story? She's lived in thirty-nine houses, in seven cities, in four countries. She's been a riding instructor, edited a medical journal, worked at a London law firm, and taught English as a second language to wayward teenagers. And now she's found her own happy ending — living near the beach in beautiful New Zealand with her family, writing the kind of feel-good books she loves to read. She hopes you’ll love them too!
Serena's newsletter: https://www.serenaclarke.com/newsletter/
Apple Books: http://apple.co/1JVwcJU
Amazon: viewAuthor.at/SerenaClarke
BookBub: bookbub.com/profile/serena-clarke
Instagram: instagram.com/serenaclarkeauthor
Facebook: facebook.com/SerenaClarkeAuthor
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 4, 2018
What an emotional read! I really enjoyed this book- the setting was beautiful and I felt that both Jacinda and Liam were deeply developed characters- both with a shared tragic event in their past that has shaped their lives. The chemistry between them was undeniable- and I enjoyed following them along the will-they-or-won't-they journey.
**I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy**
**I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy**
February 18, 2018
I was blown away by this story. Perhaps it was because it's about an American in New Zealand, but I couldn't put it down. Clarke's characters are relatable and her love scenes left me wanting more! I'm not big on sex scenes but the way Clarke writes them were so sweet, yet sexy, and I found myself yearning for that sort of passion myself! This book is one of my favourite escapes, no question.
August 24, 2017
This is my first book by Serena Clarke and I'm glad I took a chance on an advanced copy! The love story between Liam and Jacinda was written well and I enjoyed every chapter; I could not get enough. This is a great romance read!! I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
October 14, 2020
Enjoy
String characters. Wonderful scenery drawn strong with strong description, as much of the plot as the characters themselves. A HEA you sometimes aren't sure is obtainable.
String characters. Wonderful scenery drawn strong with strong description, as much of the plot as the characters themselves. A HEA you sometimes aren't sure is obtainable.
February 15, 2017
One Distant Summary by Serena Clarke is a touching story filled with broken teenage hearts, loss, disappointment, hope, love and more. This is the first book I've read by this author and I was pleasantly enthralled with the story and the characters. My heart broke as I read some of the events that happened to both Jacinda and Liam that in some part shaped their lives, but at the same time, I felt the butterflies of something unexpected and unexplored that ignites between the two of them when they are together.
The story is occurs mostly in New Zealand and we learn about an escape, a place that seems to be home in more ways than one. There we also meet friends from the past, as well as, new ones who bring some hilarious fun and conversations that are needed to give this story a bit of a lighter side to in the midst of the graying darkness that lurks about. The storyline was well developed, to include the characters, and flowed well from chapter-to-chapter. A story I loved as I read more and more... one that I would also highly recommend!! Add it to your TBR list today!!
The story is occurs mostly in New Zealand and we learn about an escape, a place that seems to be home in more ways than one. There we also meet friends from the past, as well as, new ones who bring some hilarious fun and conversations that are needed to give this story a bit of a lighter side to in the midst of the graying darkness that lurks about. The storyline was well developed, to include the characters, and flowed well from chapter-to-chapter. A story I loved as I read more and more... one that I would also highly recommend!! Add it to your TBR list today!!
February 18, 2017
New Zealand Beach 4.5
February 2, 2017
What a cool book! Jacinda Scott goes to New Zealand to take time off from the pressures of LA life. She doesn’t bank on staying next door to Liam Ward, cute younger brother of her decade-old teenage fling.
One Distant Summer isn’t a simple story. Author Serena Clarke does a phenomenal job giving us something more than just unrequited love or “I fell for the wrong guy.” Jacinda has her own life with fun and loyal friends. She focuses on a successful career, but not to the detriment of her own welfare. She’s a whole person… who just happens to fall into Liam’s neighborhood. Subplots abound — always in support of the main storyline.
Without too much angst, Liam and Jacinda fall in and out of like and lust, trying to determine what will hurt the least. There are lots of gatherings with friends, sandy beach talks, and stolen moments with guitars, as the couple journeys to find a resolution. Serena Clarke successfully takes the reader on that journey — the characters feeling like my own friends, and New Zealand feeling home.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://randombookmuses.com/2017/01/2...
The author provided an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
One Distant Summer isn’t a simple story. Author Serena Clarke does a phenomenal job giving us something more than just unrequited love or “I fell for the wrong guy.” Jacinda has her own life with fun and loyal friends. She focuses on a successful career, but not to the detriment of her own welfare. She’s a whole person… who just happens to fall into Liam’s neighborhood. Subplots abound — always in support of the main storyline.
Without too much angst, Liam and Jacinda fall in and out of like and lust, trying to determine what will hurt the least. There are lots of gatherings with friends, sandy beach talks, and stolen moments with guitars, as the couple journeys to find a resolution. Serena Clarke successfully takes the reader on that journey — the characters feeling like my own friends, and New Zealand feeling home.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://randombookmuses.com/2017/01/2...
The author provided an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 29, 2017
*I received a copy of this for my honest received*
Need to escape the mundane of your day? Hit up One Distant Summer.
Join Jacinda as she escapes her life in LA for the quiet seaside life in New Zealand. You will quickly realise that her history with the town isn't all what it seams. Throw into the mix an extremely gorgeous and brooding next door neighbour with a history, a fabulously cute guitar loving 9 year old cousin and kittens!!! What more could you ask for from a beachside rom-com story.
My biggest question the whole way through was will they won't they...it's probably why I read through it so quick and couldn't put it down.
The definition of a good book for me is one where I cannot put it down. The definition of a great book is one where you get to escape your reality, whether that be for a moment or for hours - This story definitely did that!
I loved it! I'm actually a little disappointed it's over -now what am I going to read on the train?
N.b. Please remember that Pavlova is definitely an Australian dessert though #rivalry #iguesswecanshare
Need to escape the mundane of your day? Hit up One Distant Summer.
Join Jacinda as she escapes her life in LA for the quiet seaside life in New Zealand. You will quickly realise that her history with the town isn't all what it seams. Throw into the mix an extremely gorgeous and brooding next door neighbour with a history, a fabulously cute guitar loving 9 year old cousin and kittens!!! What more could you ask for from a beachside rom-com story.
My biggest question the whole way through was will they won't they...it's probably why I read through it so quick and couldn't put it down.
The definition of a good book for me is one where I cannot put it down. The definition of a great book is one where you get to escape your reality, whether that be for a moment or for hours - This story definitely did that!
I loved it! I'm actually a little disappointed it's over -now what am I going to read on the train?
N.b. Please remember that Pavlova is definitely an Australian dessert though #rivalry #iguesswecanshare
January 31, 2017
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book!
I found this book to be slow and not very enjoyable. I DNF it due to the fact I found no connection to the characters and found the story to generic.
I found this book to be slow and not very enjoyable. I DNF it due to the fact I found no connection to the characters and found the story to generic.
March 30, 2017
What can I say. I love Serena's books and this one was so familiar in it's setting it brought back great memories of Devonport and the beautiful beaches in Auckland, New Zealand. Oh and the hot sex and gorgeous men didn't hurt either. A great, fun, summer read.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews