The Long Hot Summer

The Blackstones of Virginia #1

by Rochelle Alers

Veterinarian Ryan Blackstone has a chip on his shoulder that keeps him firmly unattached. He's got a young son he adores, a legacy and a family to be proud of. He's not looking for anything else. And the last thing on Kelly Andrews's mind is romance when she accepts a job at the famous Blackstone stud farm. But when she meets sexy Ryan, she begins to question her resolve to remain faithful to her deceased husband's memory. Soon tensions and passions create a heat wave of unspoken need and maybe a chance for new beginnings.

Genres: Romance, African American Romance, Harlequin, Harlequin Desire, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, African American

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 23, 2004

About the author

Rochelle Alers was born in Manhattan, New York, USA, where she raised. She obtained degrees in Sociology and Psychology, before started to work. She is a member of the Iota Theta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and her interests include gourmet cooking and traveling. She has traveled to countries in North, Central and South America, and Europe. She is also in accomplished in knitting, crocheting and needlepoint.

Published since 1988, today a full-time writer, has been hailed by readers and booksellers alike as one of today's most prolific and popular African-American authors of romance and women's fiction. With more than fifty titles and nearly two million copies of her novels in print, she is a regular on the Waldenbooks, Borders and Essence bestseller lists, regularly chosen by Black Expressions Book Club, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Gold Pen Award, the Emma Award, Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award. She also wrote as Susan James and Rena McLeary.

Rochelle Alers lives in a charming hamlet on Long Island.

Reviews

[Sheronda]

A cute and quick romance.

[Shonnie]

I'm gonna say this book was just okay. If I purchase a electronic book or a book online (for home delivery), I try to read the reviews first. With this book, it had more 4 and 5 stars so one may consider this to be a good read. Well I got bad news, it was just okay. I think the reviewers must be the author's friends (JK)

I didn't feel the characters. It felt like a write by colors assignment (draw the lines game). Even though it was short, I felt like the author ran out of thing to say so sheadded fluff. Most of the fluff didn't add value to the story. I would've like to have seen more turmoil and see it get resolves that to have no real point to the story.

[Janina]

I love this book. The romance was subtle and sweet. Ryan and his son are just so cute. Especially his 4 year old son. The things kids know! Kelly was a sweetheart but she didn't let anyone run over her, which i liked..A strong women. The romance was great. It had all the components that i want in a romance book. The dad was funny. With his ways. and i loved the glimpse of the brother. I can't wait to read his book. Jeremy the hot tempered quiet brother.

[Lisa]

Hot!!!!

Great read. Some grammatical errors but overall a nice love story. The trust issues, losses, and uncertainties made it hard for the couple to move on to their happily ever after but in the end love won!

[Bridget]

I have read other books by this author that were so much better than this one.

[Iasia]

this book kept my attention!

[Brenda]

LOVED THIS SERIES. READ THIS A WHILE BACK AND REALLY ENJOYED IT!

[Whitney]

loved it!!

[Laura]

a very good book....

[Jennell Brown]

Interesting..................

[Kathleen Johnstone]

Loved it
It was sweet and an easy read

[Melissa Hongisto]

Sad backstory. Heartwarming love story.

[Muntu]

Kelly and Ryan’s romance is an insta squared love. Both have lost their spouses, one through death and the other through divorce. Their Uber quick romance seemed unrealistic. A week after their initial meeting and a day after their first date they were in love. Yep, not in like, in love. The writing was also over the top and cliched. I think it was done to force a deep connection, I found it hilarious and cringe worthy instead. The book’s saving grace was the kids, they were a hoot, as young ones always are.

[Mary Calton Gerard]

Excellent

This book is stimulating to the quiet senses. Enjoyed that the "Blackstone family" received their stories. A laid back storyline without the fluff. Apart from the grammar missteps, the editor was napping.

[Ava Smith-forrest]

The Long Hot Summer

Kelly Andrews fell in to the arms of Ryan Blackstone and was able to move on from the loss of her husband. Ryan was ready for love again but didn't realize it until he looked into Kelly's eye.

[A. Reader]

Vintage romance.

[amaya crosby]

Really awesome book

Because i read about them in her other books and wanted to read theirs and I really like them a lot

[Barbara Beasley]

A long hot summer

Ms. Alers had done it again. Great novel with plenty of love and the Blackstone's. Her tragedy placed Kelly in a place she could move on with her life.

[Brenda]

MsLady

A easy read, a clean love story. Can’t wait to read the next book in the series. I true enjoy the book.

[Anika]

If you're used to the faced paced novels of recent years, you may find this slow-moving and hard to get into. The dialogue between the characters were a bit antiquated and the story could have gone a bit deeper without sacrificing the novel's sweetness. For example, our heroine loses her first husband, but doesn't really struggle with risking losing her heart again. Also, the hero's son is abandoned by his biological mother but his issues never surface and he adapts too quickly for it to be an interesting plot point. I think addressing both of those emotions a bit more would have gone a long way in making this a more authentic read.

On the other hand, for those of us who just want to escape for a while to a horse ranch in the South and a chivalrous love story (like me!), this could be a satisfying read. :)

[Toni]

This book was ok, I've read better by this author. it seemed to drag in parts of the storyline.

[Tigger]

Second time, maybe third time reading this story, still enjoyed it

Now on to the second book in this series

[Teresa Matthews]

A very nice romance novel.

[Dalesha R]

A nice romance novel :-) I've read some of her other books

[Ariana]

Loved the book, probably won't read the others in the series though as they don't seem to interest me.

[Harlequin Books]

Categories
Contemporary Romance, Multicultural & Interracial Romance, Romance, African American Romance

Miniseries
The Blackstones of Virginia

[Erotic Horizon]

The Long Hot Summer by Rochelle Alers (2005)

[Agatha Olive]

this one was so lovely with a sweet love story