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Endless Summer: One Summer / Lessons Learned

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Both novels previously published in 1986.

One Summer

Celebrity photographer Bryan Mitchell specializes in seeing the best in people, but the cynical, brooding photojournalist Shade Colby is making her life a living hell. Being forced to spend the summer on a cross-country photo shoot is less than ideal. Bryan and Shade disagree about everything—everything, that is, except the fierce attraction they have for each other. But they will have to set their differences aside if they want to give their love a shot!

Lessons Learned

Publicist Juliet Trent never mixes business with pleasure, but her newest client, charming ladies’ man and chef Carlo Franconi, is determined to whet her appetite for love. Juliet has a plan—by the time the publicity tour is over, Carlo will be the world’s sexiest chef. Women everywhere will fantasize about him preparing an intimate meal for two. But Juliet didn’t count on being part of the dinner plans. Candlelight, pasta and romance…Carlo enchants her with his charms—and sends her heart simmering.

472 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

385 people are currently reading
412 people want to read

About the author

Nora Roberts

1,209 books59.7k followers
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.

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5 stars
144 (27%)
4 stars
178 (34%)
3 stars
150 (28%)
2 stars
33 (6%)
1 star
14 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
Profile Image for clemen't.
147 reviews2 followers
January 9, 2024
le pongo 4 estrellas nomas porque la primer historia no me gustó tanto. PERO LA SEGUNDA DIOS, chefs kiss. Tenía muchas escenas similares a la primera pero bueeno. Es muy tierna locoo😭
Profile Image for Ana.
86 reviews5 followers
December 14, 2018
So this was my first Nora Roberts book. Endless Summer actually has two novels and I just finished reading the first one: One Summer


I honestly liked it more than I thought I would. I wish there were more details though. But the story is nice, the characters are interesting and I loved their task. I love how each one has different perspectives when taking pictures. And I also loved how they learned to work together and ended up falling in love. Overall it was a very good book. I would give it 3.5 stars just because I believe it had potential to be even better..😊


Lessons Learned (Endless Summer 2nd Novel) is beautiful. I loved the story, the characters. Juliet and Carlo are both stubborn and it was so funny to see them falling in love. I do wish the book was longer and with more details. But Nora Roberts writes beautifully, I love how she writes from the point of view of all the characters. I am so glad I decided to read some of her work. 💕
Profile Image for Kathyayani.
21 reviews1 follower
September 6, 2018
I loved reading this book, truly enjoyed.

Romance is expressed so well by the author, hoping to read more of her novels!
Profile Image for Carol Jones-Campbell.
2,027 reviews
May 28, 2021
Trying to move on after heartbreak is hard for some but harder for others. Ryan Persaud and Keva Nixon learn this firsthand as she struggles to move on and rebuild with the pieces left behind after her fiancé's death and he recovers from an ugly breakup that threatens to deter his views on trust.

Desperate with good intentions, Ryan (CEO of Rapider Technology, Inc.) thoughtlessly poses as an average guy while on vacation in the U.S. He never expected to build a connection with another woman so soon after his breakup, but then he meets Keva (owner of a small café in Cincinnati). She sparks his interest in a way that keeps him coming back. But he needs to know that she wants him for him, and the only way to do this is to withhold his real name and career status.

Keva is real and loyal as they come; however, she struggles to let go of the dead, for that is where her heart still resides. That is until she encounters Todd Fleming: a cook from London or so he tells her. He manages to woo her in with his acute charm and keen intellect while cruising his way into her heart.

Their budding romance is fueled with promise. However, the pages bound to this love story tell a different one than what the cover shows. His lie, blended with a sea of concerns, threatens to interrupt their bliss. How this story ends depends on a wounded heart and trust.

Trying to move on after heartbreak is hard for some but harder for others. Ryan Persaud and Keva Nixon learn this firsthand as she struggles to move on and rebuild with the pieces left behind after her fiancé's death and he recovers from an ugly breakup that threatens to deter his views on trust.

Desperate with good intentions, Ryan (CEO of Rapider Technology, Inc.) thoughtlessly poses as an average guy while on vacation in the U.S. He never expected to build a connection with another woman so soon after his breakup, but then he meets Keva (owner of a small café in Cincinnati). She sparks his interest in a way that keeps him coming back. But he needs to know that she wants him for him, and the only way to do this is to withhold his real name and career status.

Keva is real and loyal as they come; however, she struggles to let go of the dead, for that is where her heart still resides. That is until she encounters Todd Fleming: a cook from London or so he tells her. He manages to woo her in with his acute charm and keen intellect while cruising his way into her heart.

Their budding romance is fueled with promise. However, the pages bound to this love story tell a different one than what the cover shows. His lie, blended with a sea of concerns, threatens to interrupt their bliss. How this story ends depends on a wounded heart and trust.

Trying to move on after heartbreak is hard for some but harder for others. Ryan Persaud and Keva Nixon learn this firsthand as she struggles to move on and rebuild with the pieces left behind after her fiancé's death and he recovers from an ugly breakup that threatens to deter his views on trust.

Desperate with good intentions, Ryan (CEO of Rapider Technology, Inc.) thoughtlessly poses as an average guy while on vacation in the U.S. He never expected to build a connection with another woman so soon after his breakup, but then he meets Keva (owner of a small café in Cincinnati). She sparks his interest in a way that keeps him coming back. But he needs to know that she wants him for him, and the only way to do this is to withhold his real name and career status.

Keva is real and loyal as they come; however, she struggles to let go of the dead, for that is where her heart still resides. That is until she encounters Todd Fleming: a cook from London or so he tells her. He manages to woo her in with his acute charm and keen intellect while cruising his way into her heart.

Their budding romance is fueled with promise. However, the pages bound to this love story tell a different one than what the cover shows. His lie, blended with a sea of concerns, threatens to interrupt their bliss. How this story ends depends on a wounded heart and trust. Book Cover by L.C. RileyBook Cover
by L.C. Riley (Goodreads Author)

Release date: Apr 16, 2021

Trying to move on after heartbreak is hard for some but harder for others. Ryan Persaud and Keva Nixon learn this firsthand as she struggles to move on and rebuild with the pieces left behind after her fiancé's death and he recovers from an ugly breakup that threatens to deter his views on trust.

Desperate with good intentions, Ryan (CEO of Rapider Technology, Inc.) thoughtlessly poses as an average guy while on vacation in the U.S. He never expected to build a connection with another woman so soon after his breakup, but then he meets Keva (owner of a small café in Cincinnati). She sparks his interest in a way that keeps him coming back. But he needs to know that she wants him for him, and the only way to do this is to withhold his real name and career status.

Keva is real and loyal as they come; however, she struggles to let go of the dead, for that is where her heart still resides. That is until she encounters Todd Fleming: a cook from London or so he tells her. He manages to woo her in with his acute charm and keen intellect while cruising his way into her heart.

Their budding romance is fueled with promise. However, the pages bound to this love story tell a different one than what the cover shows. His lie, blended with a sea of concerns, thrBook Cover by L.C. RileyBook Cover
by L.C. Riley (Goodreads Author)

Release date: Apr 16, 2021

Trying to move on after heartbreak is hard for some but harder for others. Ryan Persaud and Keva Nixon learn this firsthand as she struggles to move on and rebuild with the pieces left behind after her fiancé's death and he recovers from an ugly breakup that threatens to deter his views on trust.

Desperate with good intentions, Ryan (CEO of Rapider Technology, Inc.) thoughtlessly poses as an average guy while on vacation in the U.S. He never expected to build a connection with another woman so soon after his breakup, but then he meets Keva (owner of a small café in Cincinnati). She sparks his interest in a way that keeps him coming back. But he needs to know that she wants him for him, and the only way to do this is to withhold his real name and career status.

Keva is real and loyal as they come; however, she struggles to let go of the dead, for that is where her heart still resides. That is until she encounters Todd Fleming: a cook from London or so he tells her. He manages to woo her in with his acute charm and keen intellect while cruising his way into her heart.

Their budding romance is fueled with promise. However, the pages bound to this love story tell a different one than what the cover shows. His lie, blended with a sea of concerns, threatens to interrupt their bliss. How this story ends depends on a wounded heart and trust. She threatens to interrupt their bliss. How this story ends depends on a wounded heart and trust.
Profile Image for Judy Churchill.
2,567 reviews31 followers
October 10, 2019
Maybe the finest story I’ve ever read of two people falling in love.
Profile Image for Gina.
778 reviews20 followers
May 7, 2019
Endless Summer: One Summer / Lessons Learned
by Nora Roberts (Goodreads Author) (Reader), Jill Apple (Reading-One Summer), Nellie Chalfant (Reading-Lessons Learned)

This is 2 short books/stories in one audiobook.
One Summer - It was pretty good, an interesting story. The reader - Jill Apple, however, was not good. She has a lisp and while her voice is pleasant to listen to, she can't do voices for different characters. Most of the time you couldn't tell when Bryan was speaking or when the dialog switched to Shade.

Lessons Learned - A horrible, horrible book from beginning to end. Written in 1986 it is very Harlequin-esque. i.e. Young stupid girl is "determined" but loses all her brain cells when "he" speaks, breathes, farts. The writing is not great and the ending was very chaotic and jumped around. As did I. I got so bored with this book that I started skipping ahead to the next chapter.
The reader - Nellie Chalfant, was good but I thought she was a little over the top with the Italian accent at times. In this story I noticed, not for the first time, that Roberts introduces a "women's issue" like "being taken seriously at work, not being content to stay with a woman's job of being wife, etc." and skirts right up to the edge where she could make a really profound statement, then stops. She did the same thing in The Liar. I don't know if NR doesn't really want to go "there" or if she just doesn't get it, but I've now noticed her doing this in at least 2 or 3 books.

Recommend: If you really want something to read/listen to, read the first story, skip the second.
Profile Image for Francis M. Prensa.
1,693 reviews17 followers
January 9, 2020
I did not realize that there were two books in one.

One Summer, I liked this read, pretty much its a story of two photographers, two very different styles fused together for a summer project for a magazine. Bryan and Shade were off for the summer to travel all of the US and take pictures pretty much. Aside from Shade being so damn uptight it took a while for them to get into each other or for Shade to make his initial moves. The story moved really fast, I loved how their romance blossomed, it felt like if they were meant to be together all along. Shade finally gave in to Bryan and her crazy ways and finally let his heart go and just love. I am a sucker for romance novels! I saw this all the time! The ending was ADORABLE by the way.

Lessons Learned was OMG! I wish this was a stand alone all the way, like a whole book, alone, about the love story of Juliet and Carlo. I had this feeling that of course they will end up together, but how it all worked out? amazing! I believe this is my fave story of the two. Juliet is Carlo's publicist for a book tour in the states, she is aware of him being this playboy that hes perceived as. Which of course I find out that he really isn't, hes just this HUGE flirt. But anyway Juliet falls for him, they end up really liking each other, he is seriously in love with this woman, even teaches her how to cook. He surprises her with the ultimate gift, she freaks out but she comes around, OMG I i just wish this book was longer, this love story would've been a good one to dive into. I gave it all those stars just because of this novella, and face it Nora Roberts sure knows how to get to me.
59 reviews
September 7, 2025
Two stories:
One Summer; Shade Colby & Bryan Mitchell both photographers with different views in their art are assigned to a 3 month photo project of the Summer. It was stiff and uncomfortable to start but things loosened and their lives began to gel.

Lessons Learned; Juliet Trent, publicist and Carlo Franconi, Chef and cook book author, set out on a book tour. Juliet knew Carlo’s reputation with women and even though he was gorgeous, she promised herself not to get involved. All good plans go astray sometimes.
34 reviews
June 8, 2019
A wonderful story.

Fans will truly appreciate this book. A story we can all dream about as you read each line. A very strong young woman who is determined to have career and make it on her, Juliet is very brave to follow her heart.
Strongly recommend this book and look forward to more by Nora Roberts .
355 reviews
January 12, 2019
Good sappy romantic novel - predictable like a Hallmark movie.
2 single photographers get put together on a job that takes them across the country all summer long. They work together and fall in love. Great starting read for a new year.
199 reviews1 follower
April 24, 2019
I adored both these stories. Loved Bryan & Juliet who were strong yet tender women. They both found their place in the world and followed their hearts. I fell in love with Shade and Carlo!! I thank you Nora for bringing me such joy with your stories!
8 reviews
July 20, 2019
Always read NR

Nora Roberts is my favorite author! I have read most of her books and have never been disappointed. This one, although not one (or two) of her best, still was an enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Kim  Clancy.
27 reviews
February 26, 2019
Two stories in one book. I found the second, Lessons Learned was better then the first. This is not one of Nora Roberts better books
11 reviews
March 12, 2019
Love

Once again Nora Roberts makes my heart happy. She never fails me when I need a fantastic love story! A must read!!
Profile Image for Dionne.
62 reviews2 followers
April 3, 2019
Perfect for the brain break I needed. I read it in one sitting.
Profile Image for Linda Weaver.
5 reviews
May 12, 2019
Great summer read

It’s possible I read this book twenty years ago. Back then I was reading every thing she wrote. Fun story of a publicist and a very handsome Italian chef.

12 reviews
September 15, 2019
2 Books in one

Pleasant reads of 2 different summer romances that became lifelong relationships. Nicely woven as new professional relationships blend together to become personal.
77 reviews
June 10, 2020
Loved both stories

The stories are well written with enough suspense that'll have you hooked in till the very end of the book
Profile Image for Sammi.
17 reviews
July 9, 2020
One Summer ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lessons Learned ⭐️
3 reviews
August 31, 2021
It is a great summer read full of adventure and romance. The characters are likable.
Profile Image for Shirley Anne.
16 reviews1 follower
January 29, 2023
Nothing to write home about. Turns out it was a two-fer
Nora Robert’s does that a lot. So it’s a super condensed version of a love story.
She has way better books than this one
Profile Image for Tiffany Cavanaugh .
168 reviews3 followers
May 6, 2023
The first story was really good typical Roberts but the second one should have been scrapped.
Profile Image for Kristy Trauzzi.
313 reviews3 followers
January 8, 2025
I really hated one summer. It was brutal. Lessons learned was cuter. Probably would have given it a 3/5 if it was by itself.
Profile Image for Susan.
32 reviews
October 8, 2025
Endless Summer by Nora Roberts is actually two previously published books (One Summer and Lessons Learned). I got halfway through the first story and decided this was worthy of a DNF. I just can't get into the story, the characters, or the writing.

Update: I finished the first story on an airplane (hoping maybe if I had nothing to do, I could get through it) but my initial assessment stands: just can't get into the story, the characters, or the writing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews

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