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One Summer
He was pure, unadulterated trouble. Johnny Harris is home again, his too-tight jeans and damn-your-eyes belligerence honed to perfection by a ten-year stretch in federal prison for murder. Now he's out on parole and ready for the job Rachel Grant has promised to help him begin a new life. Unlike the rest of the town, Rachel has always believed in her former student's innocence. But one thing has changed...
The sullenly handsome boy she remembers is still sullen, still handsome...but no longer a boy. And now the small Kentucky town is alive with gossip and whispers of a scandal, as friendship turns to passion and Rachel abandons a lifetime of propriety in the ex-con's arms. Then the killer strikes again. All evidence points to Johnny Harris, but Rachel knows he is innocent. And she knows she is next...as a shattering truth is uncovered and dark passions explode in the relentless summer heat.
From the Paperback edition.
The sullenly handsome boy she remembers is still sullen, still handsome...but no longer a boy. And now the small Kentucky town is alive with gossip and whispers of a scandal, as friendship turns to passion and Rachel abandons a lifetime of propriety in the ex-con's arms. Then the killer strikes again. All evidence points to Johnny Harris, but Rachel knows he is innocent. And she knows she is next...as a shattering truth is uncovered and dark passions explode in the relentless summer heat.
From the Paperback edition.
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
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About the author
Karen Robards
126 books3,246 followersKaren Robards is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than fifty books and one novella. She has won multiple awards including six Affaire de Coeur Silver Pen Awards for favorite author.
Karen has been writing since she was very young, and was first published nationally in the December 1973 Reader's Digest. She sold her first romance novel, ISLAND FLAME, when she was 24. It was published by Leisure Books in 1981 and is still in print. After that, she dropped out of law school to pursue her writing career.
Karen was recently described by The Daily Mail as "one of the most reliable thriller....writers in the world."
Karen has been writing since she was very young, and was first published nationally in the December 1973 Reader's Digest. She sold her first romance novel, ISLAND FLAME, when she was 24. It was published by Leisure Books in 1981 and is still in print. After that, she dropped out of law school to pursue her writing career.
Karen was recently described by The Daily Mail as "one of the most reliable thriller....writers in the world."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 291 reviews
September 2, 2009
Rachel Grant is a thirty-four year old teacher in a small town in Kentucky who causes a big stir when she allows Johnny Harris, a man who was convicted of murdering his girlfriend during their senior year of high school, to work in her hardware store on parole from prison. Rachel was Johnny’s English teacher in high school, where Johnny was the typical bad boy from the poor part of town but she was able to bond with him over a shared love of reading. Rachel does not believe Johnny killed the girl but he was convicted despite a lack of evidence partly because he had a bad reputation as a hell raiser.
Rachel is pretty much Johnny’s only advocate in a small town that hates him. Johnny has a huge chip on his shoulder after spending 10 years in jail and doesn’t exactly try to warm himself to the town or to Rachel. She sees a softer side of Johnny and tries to appeal to that but Johnny tries to push her buttons a lot, mostly by coming on to her. He lets her know he always had a crush on her, even in high school, and he wouldn’t mind living out some of his fantasies about her.
Rachel is not exactly happy with her life as it is. She wants to get married and have babies but is running out of time and feels she might have to settle for the staid businessman she has been dating. When she was a young woman straight out of college, she wanted to go see the world but got stuck at home helping her mother after her father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She has a secret side of her life that no one really sees, a part of her that loves to dream and longs for a man who loves reading as much as she does and will understand that part of her. As unlikely as it sounds, Johnny does understand that part of her which is what draws them together.
Johnny is a leather-wearing bad boy on a motorcycle who tempts Rachel into starting a hot affair. He does have a lot of hidden depths, despite his attempts at hiding them. He had a very bad childhood with an abusive father then spent 10 horrible years in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. Rachel is very attracted to him but doesn’t see how she can have a future with him and she is running out of time to have the children she dreams of.
Rachel and Johnny start to work out a relationship, where Rachel realizes that if she stays with him she will probably have to leave her hometown because Johnny is so hated there, while Johnny knows he needs to clean up his act and start living more like an adult than a rebellious teenager. They feel deeply for each other and have a very passionate relationship. But as they start their relationship, the original murderer is still on the loose in the small town and starts to stalk and hurt those who get close to Johnny.
This book was a great read that pulled me in from the first page and kept me enthralled until the end. Johnny was really rebellious but I felt so bad for him because so many horrible things happened to him. He was treated like trash all his life, abused by his father, then sent to prison for 10 years for something he didn’t do. He has a nasty attitude when he gets out of prison which is understandable, especially because everyone continues to treat him like dirt. Rachel is one of the only people who continually stands up for Johnny, she tries to make people treat him better which seems to be a losing battle but I like the way she was always willing to go to bat for him. The chemistry between Rachel and Johnny was explosive, there was a lot of sexual tension that eventually led to some hot love scenes. I like the idea of the quiet small town good girl falling for the motorcycle-riding, leather-wearing bad boy who is willing to try to reform a little for her sake – hey he is still keeping the motorcycle. The suspense in the story was interesting but the romance is what kept me reading. I was very impressed with the story, my emotions were really drawn in and I was rooting for Rachel to break through to Johnny (Wayne) Harris and tame his wild side.
Rachel is pretty much Johnny’s only advocate in a small town that hates him. Johnny has a huge chip on his shoulder after spending 10 years in jail and doesn’t exactly try to warm himself to the town or to Rachel. She sees a softer side of Johnny and tries to appeal to that but Johnny tries to push her buttons a lot, mostly by coming on to her. He lets her know he always had a crush on her, even in high school, and he wouldn’t mind living out some of his fantasies about her.
Rachel is not exactly happy with her life as it is. She wants to get married and have babies but is running out of time and feels she might have to settle for the staid businessman she has been dating. When she was a young woman straight out of college, she wanted to go see the world but got stuck at home helping her mother after her father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She has a secret side of her life that no one really sees, a part of her that loves to dream and longs for a man who loves reading as much as she does and will understand that part of her. As unlikely as it sounds, Johnny does understand that part of her which is what draws them together.
Johnny is a leather-wearing bad boy on a motorcycle who tempts Rachel into starting a hot affair. He does have a lot of hidden depths, despite his attempts at hiding them. He had a very bad childhood with an abusive father then spent 10 horrible years in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. Rachel is very attracted to him but doesn’t see how she can have a future with him and she is running out of time to have the children she dreams of.
Rachel and Johnny start to work out a relationship, where Rachel realizes that if she stays with him she will probably have to leave her hometown because Johnny is so hated there, while Johnny knows he needs to clean up his act and start living more like an adult than a rebellious teenager. They feel deeply for each other and have a very passionate relationship. But as they start their relationship, the original murderer is still on the loose in the small town and starts to stalk and hurt those who get close to Johnny.
This book was a great read that pulled me in from the first page and kept me enthralled until the end. Johnny was really rebellious but I felt so bad for him because so many horrible things happened to him. He was treated like trash all his life, abused by his father, then sent to prison for 10 years for something he didn’t do. He has a nasty attitude when he gets out of prison which is understandable, especially because everyone continues to treat him like dirt. Rachel is one of the only people who continually stands up for Johnny, she tries to make people treat him better which seems to be a losing battle but I like the way she was always willing to go to bat for him. The chemistry between Rachel and Johnny was explosive, there was a lot of sexual tension that eventually led to some hot love scenes. I like the idea of the quiet small town good girl falling for the motorcycle-riding, leather-wearing bad boy who is willing to try to reform a little for her sake – hey he is still keeping the motorcycle. The suspense in the story was interesting but the romance is what kept me reading. I was very impressed with the story, my emotions were really drawn in and I was rooting for Rachel to break through to Johnny (Wayne) Harris and tame his wild side.
September 13, 2017
Una lectura exquisita, realmente deliciosa. ¡Qué buen rato pasé leyéndola! Tiene el componente justo de romanticismo, sensualidad, pasión, erotismo, misterio y uno que otro sutil toque paranormal llegando a los últimos capítulos. Personajes que enamoran desde la primera página y que, a pesar de este pequeño pueblo conservador que vive de las habladurías y los prejuicios, no se amilanan respecto de sus sentimientos.
Primera novela que leo de Karen Robards y seguro no será la última.
Primera novela que leo de Karen Robards y seguro no será la última.
April 6, 2015
5 stars – Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense
If you’re a romance lover who enjoys emotionally moving stories that tug the heartstrings, then I highly recommend this fantastic read. Thank you Melissab for giving notice to this great book because it would have been a real shame to miss out on it!
Johnny Harris is the local hell raising bad boy of his small Kentucky hometown who comes from the wrong side of the tracks. His father is an abusive drunk, and he and his siblings are all considered no good “white trash” troublemakers. When Johnny’s more affluent girlfriend is found murdered and he was the last person to see her alive, it doesn’t take long for the police and entire town to convict and condemn him, regardless of the evidence. The only person who believed in his innocence was Johnny’s high school English teacher, Rachel Grant, who saw a compassionate heart and bright mind underneath his cocky, arrogant, bad boy demeanor.
Now, after serving 10 years in federal prison for the murder he was unjustly convicted of, Johnny’s out on parole and has returned to his home town, with the condition that he maintain a job in Rachel Grant’s family’s hardware store. Rachel’s family has an affluent social status within the town and she’s determined to give Johnny a fair chance to start over, but she’s the only one who sees him as anything but a murderer. It doesn’t help matters that his attitude, defensiveness, and 'chip on his shoulder' anger fuel the fire of people’s prejudice and hatred, and Rachel finds herself caught right in the middle.
To complicate things further, Johnny lets Rachel know that he harbored a secret crush on her when he was her student, and that he’s still wildly attracted to her. Now that he’s a dangerously sexy man of 29 and she’s 34, Rachel finds herself unable to deny the explosive chemistry, intense attraction, and deep, emotional connection between them, regardless of the consequences of getting involved amidst so much turmoil. But when the murderer from the past reappears and seems hell-bent on causing more trouble for Johnny, putting Rachel in jeopardy, will their relationship prove fatal, or can their love save them both?
Johnny’s suffering and emotional anguish was completely heartbreaking. I wanted so much just to wrap my arms around him, protect him, and never let anyone hurt him ever again. What to say about Johnny and Rachel? Their romance is beautiful, believable, passionate, and deeply touching, and they both find something within each other that heals those cold, lonely, dormant places within the heart left bruised by past hurts and heartbreak. The sexual tension between them is combustible, and there were a couple of pretty steamy love scenes, which surprised me since the book is from the early 1990’s.
The moving story, genuine characters, emotional intensity, and heartfelt romance gripped me from page one and kept me totally captivated, and then I was sad for it to come to an end. I didn’t want to say goodbye to Rachel and Johnny, and oh how I’d love for there to be a sequel to this story. I’ll just have to be content to think of them happy together, riding his bike into the sunset of life. I highly recommend this emotionally stirring read to all you romance lovers! 5 stars!
If you’re a romance lover who enjoys emotionally moving stories that tug the heartstrings, then I highly recommend this fantastic read. Thank you Melissab for giving notice to this great book because it would have been a real shame to miss out on it!
Johnny Harris is the local hell raising bad boy of his small Kentucky hometown who comes from the wrong side of the tracks. His father is an abusive drunk, and he and his siblings are all considered no good “white trash” troublemakers. When Johnny’s more affluent girlfriend is found murdered and he was the last person to see her alive, it doesn’t take long for the police and entire town to convict and condemn him, regardless of the evidence. The only person who believed in his innocence was Johnny’s high school English teacher, Rachel Grant, who saw a compassionate heart and bright mind underneath his cocky, arrogant, bad boy demeanor.
Now, after serving 10 years in federal prison for the murder he was unjustly convicted of, Johnny’s out on parole and has returned to his home town, with the condition that he maintain a job in Rachel Grant’s family’s hardware store. Rachel’s family has an affluent social status within the town and she’s determined to give Johnny a fair chance to start over, but she’s the only one who sees him as anything but a murderer. It doesn’t help matters that his attitude, defensiveness, and 'chip on his shoulder' anger fuel the fire of people’s prejudice and hatred, and Rachel finds herself caught right in the middle.
To complicate things further, Johnny lets Rachel know that he harbored a secret crush on her when he was her student, and that he’s still wildly attracted to her. Now that he’s a dangerously sexy man of 29 and she’s 34, Rachel finds herself unable to deny the explosive chemistry, intense attraction, and deep, emotional connection between them, regardless of the consequences of getting involved amidst so much turmoil. But when the murderer from the past reappears and seems hell-bent on causing more trouble for Johnny, putting Rachel in jeopardy, will their relationship prove fatal, or can their love save them both?
Johnny’s suffering and emotional anguish was completely heartbreaking. I wanted so much just to wrap my arms around him, protect him, and never let anyone hurt him ever again. What to say about Johnny and Rachel? Their romance is beautiful, believable, passionate, and deeply touching, and they both find something within each other that heals those cold, lonely, dormant places within the heart left bruised by past hurts and heartbreak. The sexual tension between them is combustible, and there were a couple of pretty steamy love scenes, which surprised me since the book is from the early 1990’s.
The moving story, genuine characters, emotional intensity, and heartfelt romance gripped me from page one and kept me totally captivated, and then I was sad for it to come to an end. I didn’t want to say goodbye to Rachel and Johnny, and oh how I’d love for there to be a sequel to this story. I’ll just have to be content to think of them happy together, riding his bike into the sunset of life. I highly recommend this emotionally stirring read to all you romance lovers! 5 stars!
September 16, 2017
He devorado este libro en prácticamente dos días. Es la primera vez que leo un libro de Karen Robards y no será el último. He disfrutado mucho de esta trama de suspense en un pequeño pueblo y de la historia de amor de sus dos protagonistas. A pesar de ser dos clichés andantes, sus tiras y aflojas, su química, sinceridad y lealtad me han llegado al corazón. El segundo nombre de Johnny Harris no puede ser más acertado. Le doy un 4,5.
May 22, 2018
2.5, maybe.
I was a little disappointed with this one actually. Think my expectations were too high! Could not really connect with either character. She came across as the more naive of the two.
I haven't much more to say about it really. LOL. Not sure if it was because it was a paperback and not on my iPad or Kindle that I struggled a bit with it.
I was a little disappointed with this one actually. Think my expectations were too high! Could not really connect with either character. She came across as the more naive of the two.
He leaned toward her. His face was close to hers, too close.
He was making her uncomfortable again, as he no doubt intended.
That notion stiffened her spine.
"What?" she all but snapped.
"I had a major case of the hots for you when I was in high school. I still do.”
I haven't much more to say about it really. LOL. Not sure if it was because it was a paperback and not on my iPad or Kindle that I struggled a bit with it.
"The countless generations like autumn leaves go by: Love only is eternal, love only does not die."
April 27, 2017
Siempre que llevo un tiempo sin que ningún libro me enganche verdaderamente sé que en algún momento llegará uno que romperá esa racha. En esta ocasión ha sido este, no importa que sólo haya dormido tres horas porque tenía que terminarlo. Lo deboré en un día sin tener tiempo para leer!
Este es un libro de esos donde los protagonistas son de universos opuestos, no sólo por su relación de exlaumno-profesora, sino que tambien nos encontramos con las clásicas diferencias niña rica-niño pobre, chico malo-chica buena. Sí, un cliché andante, pero que le vamos a hacer los clichés son exactamente eso porque funcionan, como en este caso.
Al principio pensé que la diferencia de edad iba a ser mucho más grande con la cosa de profesora-alumno, lo que no era de mi gusto pero resulto que sólo es de 5 años. Y es difícil no cogerle cariño a Johnny.
Además, el suspense del asesino le da otro toque interesante. Y sí, llega un punto en que se puede intuir quién es, o al menos yo lo intuí pero también leo mucho suspense. Sin embargo, el final es tan peliculero que me acabó encantando.
Si tengo que decir algo malo es que la autora continuamente está nombrando a los personajes por su nombre y apellido, incluso a los protagonistas, y me sacaba un poco de quicio.
Este es un libro de esos donde los protagonistas son de universos opuestos, no sólo por su relación de exlaumno-profesora, sino que tambien nos encontramos con las clásicas diferencias niña rica-niño pobre, chico malo-chica buena. Sí, un cliché andante, pero que le vamos a hacer los clichés son exactamente eso porque funcionan, como en este caso.
Al principio pensé que la diferencia de edad iba a ser mucho más grande con la cosa de profesora-alumno, lo que no era de mi gusto pero resulto que sólo es de 5 años. Y es difícil no cogerle cariño a Johnny.
Además, el suspense del asesino le da otro toque interesante. Y sí, llega un punto en que se puede intuir quién es, o al menos yo lo intuí pero también leo mucho suspense. Sin embargo, el final es tan peliculero que me acabó encantando.
Si tengo que decir algo malo es que la autora continuamente está nombrando a los personajes por su nombre y apellido, incluso a los protagonistas, y me sacaba un poco de quicio.
September 15, 2009
I loved this book! Thank you so much Melissab for bringing it my attention!
First I want to say that the age difference between the H&H is 5 years. He is 29, she is 34. I don’t consider that a May December romance in my opinion.
Johnny was unjustly convicted of murder 11 years ago. He’s just gotten out of prison and returned to his small home town in Kentucky. Johnny’s family was considered white trash. His father was an awful mean abusive drunk. He was the classic rebel teen that was always in trouble. He was railroaded of the crime of murder basically because of who he was, and he was the only person that admitted to being with the girl the night she died. He’d asked his high school teacher, Rachel, if she would give him a job in her family’s hardware store when he got out. Rachel, who was Johnny’s only ally agreed. She never believed he’d murdered anyone.
Rachel is the total opposite of Johnny in social status. She lives her family’s large mansion with servants. She is still an English teacher in the small town. She never knew that Johnny harbored a secret crush on her while he was her student. When she sees him get off the bus his first day back, she started by how attractive he is. He is no longer a boy.
The story continues with Rachel being one of the only people in town that treats Johnny with respect. He has a bad attitude which I believe he has right to, because people consistently treat him like crap.
Rachel starts to fall for Johnny even though she doesn’t want to. She wants to get married and have children, and is currently dating a ‘nice man’ that she likes, but just doesn’t have that spark. Rachel and Johnny start to have a secret steamy affair. Both have very strong feelings for each other, but have to decide if they want their relationship to be permanent.
The murderer from the past pops up again and there is some good mystery and suspense in trying to figure out who it is/was. I was surprised.
*spoiler below*
In the end, Johnny is cleared of everything, and he pulls a Danny Zuko and ditches his leather jacket starts wearing suits and whisks Rachel off to a wonderful HEA.
A wonderful story I recommend for all romance lovers!
First I want to say that the age difference between the H&H is 5 years. He is 29, she is 34. I don’t consider that a May December romance in my opinion.
Johnny was unjustly convicted of murder 11 years ago. He’s just gotten out of prison and returned to his small home town in Kentucky. Johnny’s family was considered white trash. His father was an awful mean abusive drunk. He was the classic rebel teen that was always in trouble. He was railroaded of the crime of murder basically because of who he was, and he was the only person that admitted to being with the girl the night she died. He’d asked his high school teacher, Rachel, if she would give him a job in her family’s hardware store when he got out. Rachel, who was Johnny’s only ally agreed. She never believed he’d murdered anyone.
Rachel is the total opposite of Johnny in social status. She lives her family’s large mansion with servants. She is still an English teacher in the small town. She never knew that Johnny harbored a secret crush on her while he was her student. When she sees him get off the bus his first day back, she started by how attractive he is. He is no longer a boy.
The story continues with Rachel being one of the only people in town that treats Johnny with respect. He has a bad attitude which I believe he has right to, because people consistently treat him like crap.
Rachel starts to fall for Johnny even though she doesn’t want to. She wants to get married and have children, and is currently dating a ‘nice man’ that she likes, but just doesn’t have that spark. Rachel and Johnny start to have a secret steamy affair. Both have very strong feelings for each other, but have to decide if they want their relationship to be permanent.
The murderer from the past pops up again and there is some good mystery and suspense in trying to figure out who it is/was. I was surprised.
*spoiler below*
In the end, Johnny is cleared of everything, and he pulls a Danny Zuko and ditches his leather jacket starts wearing suits and whisks Rachel off to a wonderful HEA.
A wonderful story I recommend for all romance lovers!
April 29, 2016
Primer libro que leo de Karen Robards y me ha impresionado muy bien.
Relato impecable, muy buena historia.
El protagonista te roba el corazón apenas comenzas la lectura.
Muy buen libro de suspense romantico.
Relato impecable, muy buena historia.
El protagonista te roba el corazón apenas comenzas la lectura.
Muy buen libro de suspense romantico.
September 6, 2024
Me ha gustado me lo he leído en 3 días. Super adictivo se lee muy fácil.
Pero me ha parecido un culebrón total los protagonistas que el tiene 29 y ella 34 a veces actuaban como adolescentes.
Johnny Harris aunque a veces actuaba como adolescente me ha encantado y va evolucionando de chico malo recién salido de la cárcel a evolucionar por ella. Pero tenía unas frases con la protagonista que te hacen suspirar.
Y es ella la que no me ha gustado tanto porque se las daba de gran dama pero al principio me parecía muy hipócrita por no querer que la relacionarán con el muy pendiente del que diran. Pero como digo eso es al principio luego como a mitad de libro aceptan que se quieren y los dos están dispuestos a enfrentarse al mundo. La verdad es que los dos se declaran su amor mucho antes del final lo cual me ha descolocado porque estoy acostumbrada a qué hasta las últimas páginas no lo reconozcan.
La historia como he dicho es un poco culebronesca porque al principio parece que tengan todo en contra.
Y el final ha sido muy peliculero ya me veía venir quien podía ser el malo. Y tiene también toques paranormales. También tiene un plop twist que no me veía venir pero me ha alegrado mucho. Y en ese punto ha conseguido emocionarme.
Luego el epílogo podría haber sido más extenso después de tener a todo el pueblo en contra. Me hubiera gustado saber cómo el pueblo se enteró que era inocente. Y bueno aunque tiene sus fallos lo he disfrutado mucho y por eso le doy un 4.
Pero me ha parecido un culebrón total los protagonistas que el tiene 29 y ella 34 a veces actuaban como adolescentes.
Johnny Harris aunque a veces actuaba como adolescente me ha encantado y va evolucionando de chico malo recién salido de la cárcel a evolucionar por ella. Pero tenía unas frases con la protagonista que te hacen suspirar.
Y es ella la que no me ha gustado tanto porque se las daba de gran dama pero al principio me parecía muy hipócrita por no querer que la relacionarán con el muy pendiente del que diran. Pero como digo eso es al principio luego como a mitad de libro aceptan que se quieren y los dos están dispuestos a enfrentarse al mundo. La verdad es que los dos se declaran su amor mucho antes del final lo cual me ha descolocado porque estoy acostumbrada a qué hasta las últimas páginas no lo reconozcan.
La historia como he dicho es un poco culebronesca porque al principio parece que tengan todo en contra.
Y el final ha sido muy peliculero ya me veía venir quien podía ser el malo. Y tiene también toques paranormales. También tiene un plop twist que no me veía venir pero me ha alegrado mucho. Y en ese punto ha conseguido emocionarme.
Luego el epílogo podría haber sido más extenso después de tener a todo el pueblo en contra. Me hubiera gustado saber cómo el pueblo se enteró que era inocente. Y bueno aunque tiene sus fallos lo he disfrutado mucho y por eso le doy un 4.
May 13, 2020
Una historia romántica y con toques de suspenso, desarrollada en Kentucky, un pueblo pequeño lleno de estereotipos sociales que dan grima, Jhonny es un ex convicto condenado por un crimen que no cometió, regresa a su pueblo después de 10 años con libertad condicional, gracias a la oportunidad de trabajo que solicita a Rachel quien fue su profesora, siendo él un adolescente y quien aún sigue siendo la profesora del pueblo, además de muy querida y respetada por todos, el solo hecho de relacionarse con el logra que todos comenten a sus espaldas, pero ella siempre creyó en su inocencia y ha decidido apoyarlo a pesar de todo, el trato agresivo que le da Jhonny a Rachel al inicio, no me gustó para nada, pero luego vemos como va cambiando y mejorando cada día, a mi parecer le ha faltado desarrollo a la relación entre ellos y el tema del misterio tiene un desarrollo un poco raro, pero igual te mantiene expectante, me hubiera gustado que el final no sea tan apresurado.
September 21, 2017
Nuestra reseña en A la cama con... un libro
Lo comencé a leer sin pretensiones y ha sido una sorpresa muy agradable.
Lo comencé a leer sin pretensiones y ha sido una sorpresa muy agradable.
October 13, 2017
Terminado por fin.
Karen Robards es una autora que me gusta mucho, pero en esta ocasión la historia ha dejado mucho que desear en mi humilde opinión.
Para empezar la historia romántica de los personajes me ha parecido muy pasada por encima. Al principio me atraía al ser una relación que involucra ex-profesora - alumno, pero aunque tenía muy buena base, para mi gusto ha acabado siendo una relación en la que lo que prima es el deseo y no el amor. Johnny me ha parecido un personaje que bailaba entre la bipolaridad y la inmadurez a pesar de tener casi 30 años. Y con ella me ha pasado otro tanto. Era como ver dos adolescentes.
Los secundarios tampoco me han llamado mucho, sobre todo la hermana de la protagonista, que no parecía ser sino la típica hermana que desea todo lo que su hermana mayor tiene. Mi único interés era el misterioso vigilante que está acechando a Johnny y por el cual fue condenado por un crimen que no cometió y ni eso cumplió mis expectativas.
Puede que haya sido yo, que no he logrado conectar con la historia y además a falta de tiempo no he podido darle todo el tiempo que me habría gustado, pero no, no me ha gustado.
Espero poder leer en el futuro novelas de esta autora que me gusta y disfrutarlas más.
Karen Robards es una autora que me gusta mucho, pero en esta ocasión la historia ha dejado mucho que desear en mi humilde opinión.
Para empezar la historia romántica de los personajes me ha parecido muy pasada por encima. Al principio me atraía al ser una relación que involucra ex-profesora - alumno, pero aunque tenía muy buena base, para mi gusto ha acabado siendo una relación en la que lo que prima es el deseo y no el amor. Johnny me ha parecido un personaje que bailaba entre la bipolaridad y la inmadurez a pesar de tener casi 30 años. Y con ella me ha pasado otro tanto. Era como ver dos adolescentes.
Los secundarios tampoco me han llamado mucho, sobre todo la hermana de la protagonista, que no parecía ser sino la típica hermana que desea todo lo que su hermana mayor tiene. Mi único interés era el misterioso vigilante que está acechando a Johnny y por el cual fue condenado por un crimen que no cometió y ni eso cumplió mis expectativas.
Puede que haya sido yo, que no he logrado conectar con la historia y además a falta de tiempo no he podido darle todo el tiempo que me habría gustado, pero no, no me ha gustado.
Espero poder leer en el futuro novelas de esta autora que me gusta y disfrutarlas más.
March 7, 2019
un bellissimo libro, dove non manca nulla, l'autrice è riuscita ad inserire argomenti anche difficili come la violenza sui minori o i preconcetti della gente, trattandoli nel giusto modo. Lui è un uomo meraviglioso dolce e spigoloso al momento giusto. Consiglio vivamente questo libro
August 7, 2021
This was very compelling. Definitely dated but still a good time.
4/5 stars
4/5 stars
May 14, 2013
This book got me soaring. SOARING!
Oh. My. Gosh.
"You know what I used to dream about, in stir?" His voice was hoarse, the words low and fast and faintly guttural. "I used to dream about you. You were the only clean and good and decent thing left in my life, and I would dream about you. I used to dream about taking your clothes off piece by piece, and what you would look like naked, and how it would feel to fuck you really good. I used to dream about that in high school, too. In fact, I got off almost every night for the last fourteen years, dreaming about you."
First i need to wipe this grin off my face and collect my mind.
.
.
.
AHHHH!!!!!!!! I can't help it! This book left me completely giddy! I love it to bits! I love our loving and trusting Heroine, I worship our hero! Every bits of him screams HOT! HOT! HOT! It was SMOKING!
After 10 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, 29 year-old Johnny- sexy, gorgeous, biker-boy-ahem-man Johnny! was finally release from parole and was offered a job by the only one who believed he's innocence; 34 year-old Ms. Rachel Grant. He's old high school teacher.
Sparks flew, chemistry sizzle, sexual tension was thick thick thick! Older woman/younger man was never my cup of tea. EVER. I don't like it. I try to avoid it. But i gave this a try and decided that if the first chapter didn't hold my interest- im gone. BUt it did! It was a page turner!
AT first you get conscious about the age difference until you have met the characters and it they become just another man and woman- falling madly inlove. Our heroine is a dreamer and has an air of adorable naitivity, our hero is a tough, hardened man mature beyond he's years.
He's family practically sucked. He was treated like trash he's whole life and the 10-year imprisonment didn't help pacify that.
But there was an indescribable connection between the two.
Although, they were different. Too different. Rachel is a lady with fancy car and wealth. Johnny had had a hard life, he grew up in poverty and child abuse.
"Rachel," he said in what was scarcely more than a husky whisper, while his eyes drilled into hers, "don't sleep with him. Sleep with me instead."
The book was about Johnny's sruggle to conquer and make peace with he's past and the attraction between him and Rachel which sooned bloomed into a wonderful love.
"Then I'd get fat, and you wouldn't like me."
"You still don't get it, do you, teacher? I'd like you any way I could get you, any way at all. Besides, I bet you'd be cute fat. A little round dumpling."
Johnny took me by surprise. I thought he'll be the stoic, silent type but instead he was funny, sarcastic, and a huge flirt. He intrigued me! I was freaking inlove!
There were a few bumps along the ways; her family and the whole town's opinion, the mystery behind the past murder, and when history repeats itself, things get messier.
The mystery was interesting and did kept me guessing. Though the conclusion was kinda...weird; but hey! since when does the the mind of a sociopath ever make sense right?
Totally recommended.
Oh. My. Gosh.
"You know what I used to dream about, in stir?" His voice was hoarse, the words low and fast and faintly guttural. "I used to dream about you. You were the only clean and good and decent thing left in my life, and I would dream about you. I used to dream about taking your clothes off piece by piece, and what you would look like naked, and how it would feel to fuck you really good. I used to dream about that in high school, too. In fact, I got off almost every night for the last fourteen years, dreaming about you."
First i need to wipe this grin off my face and collect my mind.
.
.
.
AHHHH!!!!!!!! I can't help it! This book left me completely giddy! I love it to bits! I love our loving and trusting Heroine, I worship our hero! Every bits of him screams HOT! HOT! HOT! It was SMOKING!
After 10 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, 29 year-old Johnny- sexy, gorgeous, biker-boy-ahem-man Johnny! was finally release from parole and was offered a job by the only one who believed he's innocence; 34 year-old Ms. Rachel Grant. He's old high school teacher.
Sparks flew, chemistry sizzle, sexual tension was thick thick thick! Older woman/younger man was never my cup of tea. EVER. I don't like it. I try to avoid it. But i gave this a try and decided that if the first chapter didn't hold my interest- im gone. BUt it did! It was a page turner!
AT first you get conscious about the age difference until you have met the characters and it they become just another man and woman- falling madly inlove. Our heroine is a dreamer and has an air of adorable naitivity, our hero is a tough, hardened man mature beyond he's years.
He's family practically sucked. He was treated like trash he's whole life and the 10-year imprisonment didn't help pacify that.
But there was an indescribable connection between the two.
Although, they were different. Too different. Rachel is a lady with fancy car and wealth. Johnny had had a hard life, he grew up in poverty and child abuse.
"Rachel," he said in what was scarcely more than a husky whisper, while his eyes drilled into hers, "don't sleep with him. Sleep with me instead."
The book was about Johnny's sruggle to conquer and make peace with he's past and the attraction between him and Rachel which sooned bloomed into a wonderful love.
"Then I'd get fat, and you wouldn't like me."
"You still don't get it, do you, teacher? I'd like you any way I could get you, any way at all. Besides, I bet you'd be cute fat. A little round dumpling."
Johnny took me by surprise. I thought he'll be the stoic, silent type but instead he was funny, sarcastic, and a huge flirt. He intrigued me! I was freaking inlove!
There were a few bumps along the ways; her family and the whole town's opinion, the mystery behind the past murder, and when history repeats itself, things get messier.
The mystery was interesting and did kept me guessing. Though the conclusion was kinda...weird; but hey! since when does the the mind of a sociopath ever make sense right?
Totally recommended.
November 14, 2010
The first 60% of the book was depressing, but the rest was very good romantic suspense and emotionally fulfilling.
STORY BRIEF:
Johnny and his siblings were raised by an abusive, hateful, low income father. Rachel was Johnny’s high school English teacher. She saw Johnny’s love of reading which he hid from others. She cared for him as a teacher. A girl Johnny slept with was killed. At age 19, Johnny was wrongly convicted of the murder and sent to jail. Ten years later he writes to Rachel asking her help. If he can get a job, they will release him on parole. She hires him to work in her family’s hardware story. When he comes to town, almost everyone mistreats him. A restaurant refuses to serve him. The victim’s brother starts a fight with him. The cops treat him unfairly. Rachel has always believed he was innocent and is his only defender. Then the killer strikes again. The new victim is a female friend of Johnny’s.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
Johnny was a good guy who suffered his whole life, his hateful father, other kids looking down on him for being from the wrong side of the tracks, years in prison, and now everywhere he goes he suffers bad treatment from the townspeople. It was sad. Rachel is drawn to him, yet community forces are against her being with him. She might lose her job teaching if she associates with a “felon.” But the last part of the book was very good. I enjoyed their developing relationship. I enjoyed learning more about Johnny and seeing changes he made for Rachel. He is smart. There is suspense because the killer is now after Rachel. There is a scary but happy ending. I think fans of romantic suspense will like this as long as they don’t mind feeling down during the first 233 pages.
Some readers may question the killer’s motives and beliefs. I found them strange and irrational, but since the killer had other mental problems, I didn’t try to see any logic. Also there is a touch of paranormal going on with some secondary characters.
CAUTION SEMI SPOILER:
I felt the author was playing a trick – being dishonest with the readers. At various times during the book we are in the mind of the killer, whom the author refers to as “he.” When we later learn the identity of the killer, we find it is a she, not a he. The killer also has a split personality. So I thought maybe one of those was a he, but no both of the personalities were “she’s.” I was annoyed with this deception. The author furthers the deception when a victim hears the killer talking and believes it is a man’s voice. A good writer would keep us guessing the identity without masking the sex of the killer. I didn’t like this gimmick to create more mystery.
DATA:
Story length: 389 pages. Swearing language: moderate, including religious swear words. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: 4. Total number of sex scene pages: 18. Setting: current day Tylerville, Kentucky. Copyright: 1993. Genre: romantic suspense.
STORY BRIEF:
Johnny and his siblings were raised by an abusive, hateful, low income father. Rachel was Johnny’s high school English teacher. She saw Johnny’s love of reading which he hid from others. She cared for him as a teacher. A girl Johnny slept with was killed. At age 19, Johnny was wrongly convicted of the murder and sent to jail. Ten years later he writes to Rachel asking her help. If he can get a job, they will release him on parole. She hires him to work in her family’s hardware story. When he comes to town, almost everyone mistreats him. A restaurant refuses to serve him. The victim’s brother starts a fight with him. The cops treat him unfairly. Rachel has always believed he was innocent and is his only defender. Then the killer strikes again. The new victim is a female friend of Johnny’s.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
Johnny was a good guy who suffered his whole life, his hateful father, other kids looking down on him for being from the wrong side of the tracks, years in prison, and now everywhere he goes he suffers bad treatment from the townspeople. It was sad. Rachel is drawn to him, yet community forces are against her being with him. She might lose her job teaching if she associates with a “felon.” But the last part of the book was very good. I enjoyed their developing relationship. I enjoyed learning more about Johnny and seeing changes he made for Rachel. He is smart. There is suspense because the killer is now after Rachel. There is a scary but happy ending. I think fans of romantic suspense will like this as long as they don’t mind feeling down during the first 233 pages.
Some readers may question the killer’s motives and beliefs. I found them strange and irrational, but since the killer had other mental problems, I didn’t try to see any logic. Also there is a touch of paranormal going on with some secondary characters.
CAUTION SEMI SPOILER:
I felt the author was playing a trick – being dishonest with the readers. At various times during the book we are in the mind of the killer, whom the author refers to as “he.” When we later learn the identity of the killer, we find it is a she, not a he. The killer also has a split personality. So I thought maybe one of those was a he, but no both of the personalities were “she’s.” I was annoyed with this deception. The author furthers the deception when a victim hears the killer talking and believes it is a man’s voice. A good writer would keep us guessing the identity without masking the sex of the killer. I didn’t like this gimmick to create more mystery.
DATA:
Story length: 389 pages. Swearing language: moderate, including religious swear words. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: 4. Total number of sex scene pages: 18. Setting: current day Tylerville, Kentucky. Copyright: 1993. Genre: romantic suspense.
March 29, 2017
1/5; 1 star; D
I actually finished listening to this but am not glad I did. I kept hoping for some massive improvement.
Things I liked:
The narrator, Anna Fields
The portrayal of the kids and their mom.
Things I didn't like:
Everything else. Besides the fact that most of the characters were thoroughly unlikable, the mechanics of the book were clumsy and poorly executed.
I don't think I'd recommend this to any of my romance reading friends or my suspense friends or even my paranormal reading friends. It didn't work for me on any level.
I actually finished listening to this but am not glad I did. I kept hoping for some massive improvement.
Things I liked:
The narrator, Anna Fields
The portrayal of the kids and their mom.
Things I didn't like:
Everything else. Besides the fact that most of the characters were thoroughly unlikable, the mechanics of the book were clumsy and poorly executed.
I don't think I'd recommend this to any of my romance reading friends or my suspense friends or even my paranormal reading friends. It didn't work for me on any level.
September 19, 2017
Lo mejor ,la protagonista, me ha encantado. Sin embargo la parte final me ha recordado demasiado un telefilm. No ha estado mal
May 9, 2020
#retorita4 #ritakaren
Otro libro que me leo de la autora para el reto y me ha gustado mucho, igual que el primer libro que leí de ella, me gusta como escribe y me ha parecido muy entretenido.
Tanto la historia, como los protagonistas me han encantado, me ha tenido enganchada desde el primer capítulo
Otro libro que me leo de la autora para el reto y me ha gustado mucho, igual que el primer libro que leí de ella, me gusta como escribe y me ha parecido muy entretenido.
Tanto la historia, como los protagonistas me han encantado, me ha tenido enganchada desde el primer capítulo
March 26, 2008
I absolutely LOVE this book!!! I just read it for the 2nd time today and loved it just as much as the first time. Cover to cover, I just enjoyed every element of the book. I will admit, though, that's it's probably not for everyone. I know some really dislike romance stories where the woman is older than the guy, and I know some wouldn't like how crude and abrasive Johnny is for over half the book. Plus there's a small paranormal element to the story that some would hate. But if you don't mind all that, it's a fantastic story.
The chemistry between Johnny and Rachel is wonderful. They originally connected when he was in high school, enjoying talking about books, poetry, politics, and whatever else together. Johnny had the hots for her, but their relationship then was completely platonic. It builds a nice base for the present tense of the story. Then when the meet again, they just can't stay away from each other no matter how different they are. Rachel is a prim and proper teacher, and Johnny is the quintessential bad boy. If there's one complaint I have about their romance, it's that you don't get a clear understanding of the progression of Johnny's feelings. He admits from the start that he's "hot" for her, but Robards doesn't really give you the how or the why those feelings progressed to him being in love with her. I would have liked to know that.
As for the plot. Interesting storyline, even if at it's base it's a tad predictable. It was pretty easy to guess that with Johnny back in town, another woman would die to try to make him look guilty. But Robards does a great job creating twists and turns to make the storyline unique and interesting. I never would have guessed the identity of the attacker or the reasons behind it all, though it all made sense...in a twisted, metaphysical sort of way. You have to allow your mind to stretch a bit to accept the reasoning in the plot. And there's a certain surprise element at the end that was a great addition.
Just a fantastic all around story. I love the opposites attract romance and the great suspense plot. One Summer is one of my all-time favorite books.
The chemistry between Johnny and Rachel is wonderful. They originally connected when he was in high school, enjoying talking about books, poetry, politics, and whatever else together. Johnny had the hots for her, but their relationship then was completely platonic. It builds a nice base for the present tense of the story. Then when the meet again, they just can't stay away from each other no matter how different they are. Rachel is a prim and proper teacher, and Johnny is the quintessential bad boy. If there's one complaint I have about their romance, it's that you don't get a clear understanding of the progression of Johnny's feelings. He admits from the start that he's "hot" for her, but Robards doesn't really give you the how or the why those feelings progressed to him being in love with her. I would have liked to know that.
As for the plot. Interesting storyline, even if at it's base it's a tad predictable. It was pretty easy to guess that with Johnny back in town, another woman would die to try to make him look guilty. But Robards does a great job creating twists and turns to make the storyline unique and interesting. I never would have guessed the identity of the attacker or the reasons behind it all, though it all made sense...in a twisted, metaphysical sort of way. You have to allow your mind to stretch a bit to accept the reasoning in the plot. And there's a certain surprise element at the end that was a great addition.
Just a fantastic all around story. I love the opposites attract romance and the great suspense plot. One Summer is one of my all-time favorite books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2025
I loved this. Read it in one sitting. Student-teacher pairing, but they meet again when they are adults. Not a big age gap, I am not fond of them, only 5 years apart, which is perfect for my taste. They met when he was a student and she was a teacher, but aside from his crush on her, nothing ever happened.
Johnny was so surly and HOT. But I also loved him when he also cleaned up his act, cut his hair, and planned to change this life. I needed something sweet.
Another trope is rich girl with poor boy. I loved this pairing. Their mutual fascination with each other, but also their bond over literature. It was also good that while he might have, as a kid, had crazy dreams about being with his English teacher, it was clear that he loved the real woman, Rachel.
The small town politics and gossip was very well-done. The big overarching plot is the murder mystery, and it was hard to guess who it was!
Also loved how Karen Robards treated her characters, particularly depicting class. Some romance novels are quite simplistic, either showing one side as evil or tasteless, romanticizing the other side as noble or authentic. I really loved her portrayal of Glenda and one of her kids, Jeremy.
Johnny was so surly and HOT. But I also loved him when he also cleaned up his act, cut his hair, and planned to change this life. I needed something sweet.
Another trope is rich girl with poor boy. I loved this pairing. Their mutual fascination with each other, but also their bond over literature. It was also good that while he might have, as a kid, had crazy dreams about being with his English teacher, it was clear that he loved the real woman, Rachel.
The small town politics and gossip was very well-done. The big overarching plot is the murder mystery, and it was hard to guess who it was!
Also loved how Karen Robards treated her characters, particularly depicting class. Some romance novels are quite simplistic, either showing one side as evil or tasteless, romanticizing the other side as noble or authentic. I really loved her portrayal of Glenda and one of her kids, Jeremy.
May 16, 2020
Novela que iba para 2 estrellas pero el tercio final repuntó.
Suspense-romántico
Lo que me gustó.
Pareja despareja: Johnny, un chico malo (con moto y campera de cuero) que estuvo 10 años en la cárcel aunque por un crimen que no cometió, vuelve al conservador pueblo donde ocurrió el delito. Rachel es una maestra de clase media alta, de "buena familia" pero cinco años mayor que él, que le da trabajo para que pueda salir en libertad condicional. Había sido su alumno. Buenas escenas hot.
El misterio. O sea, hace 10 años hubo un crimen y, dado que Johnny es inocente, el asesino todavía anda suelto en este pequeño pueblo. Y quizá no haya terminado su "trabajo". Aún. Final cinematográfico.
Lo que no me gustó:
No sé si influyó la pandemia o que no me gustan los dramas, pero la primera mitad de la historia me produjo una depresión importante. Johnny tuvo una infancia terrible, padre violento, pérdidas, en la cárcel la pasó mal, etc. A Rachel no le faltó comida ni educación pero su vida anterior fue una cadena de frustraciones sentimentales y profesionales. Además, padre senil.
Bueno, cuando estaba por pegarme un tiro, la cosa empezó a mejorar. Por lo menos por los bajos.
He leído a KR en varias ocasiones y es una autora que me gusta. Es más "Susurros a medianoche" es uno de mis favoritos releído muchas veces. Es también suspense-romántico, pero más alegre.
Este es un 3 estrellas justito, justito.
Suspense-romántico
Lo que me gustó.
Pareja despareja: Johnny, un chico malo (con moto y campera de cuero) que estuvo 10 años en la cárcel aunque por un crimen que no cometió, vuelve al conservador pueblo donde ocurrió el delito. Rachel es una maestra de clase media alta, de "buena familia" pero cinco años mayor que él, que le da trabajo para que pueda salir en libertad condicional. Había sido su alumno. Buenas escenas hot.
El misterio. O sea, hace 10 años hubo un crimen y, dado que Johnny es inocente, el asesino todavía anda suelto en este pequeño pueblo. Y quizá no haya terminado su "trabajo". Aún. Final cinematográfico.
Lo que no me gustó:
No sé si influyó la pandemia o que no me gustan los dramas, pero la primera mitad de la historia me produjo una depresión importante. Johnny tuvo una infancia terrible, padre violento, pérdidas, en la cárcel la pasó mal, etc. A Rachel no le faltó comida ni educación pero su vida anterior fue una cadena de frustraciones sentimentales y profesionales. Además, padre senil.
Bueno, cuando estaba por pegarme un tiro, la cosa empezó a mejorar. Por lo menos por los bajos.
He leído a KR en varias ocasiones y es una autora que me gusta. Es más "Susurros a medianoche" es uno de mis favoritos releído muchas veces. Es también suspense-romántico, pero más alegre.
Este es un 3 estrellas justito, justito.
April 13, 2022
3,5 ⭐️
Да дадеш шанс на аутсайдерите, на тези, които обществото по презумпция приема за боклук, не е лесно.
Една учителка в малко градче го прави за свой ученик от класата на белите боклуци, въпреки че той е осъден после на 10 години за убийство. Тя единствена си позволява да се усъмни, че такива като него само за това стават - престъпления, пиянство и гадости.
Добре се е получила историята, единствено криминслната нишка е излишна и крайно скучна. Трябвало е авторката да го остави драма или любовен роман.
Да дадеш шанс на аутсайдерите, на тези, които обществото по презумпция приема за боклук, не е лесно.
Една учителка в малко градче го прави за свой ученик от класата на белите боклуци, въпреки че той е осъден после на 10 години за убийство. Тя единствена си позволява да се усъмни, че такива като него само за това стават - престъпления, пиянство и гадости.
Добре се е получила историята, единствено криминслната нишка е излишна и крайно скучна. Трябвало е авторката да го остави драма или любовен роман.
February 6, 2017
Well-done whodunit suspense story with a wickedly bad boy hero and an honorable intelligent heroine with a bad driving record.
Rachel was Johnny's teacher when he was accused and found guilty of murdering his latest squeeze. When he's up for parole he asks her for a job as she is the only one whothinks knows he's innocent. That and his ulterior reason that he's been in love with her for years. Before you go, "Euw", he is only five years younger than her, and she never had feelings for him when he was her student. When they meet up again, he's 29 and she's 34. Not so bad. A lot is made of the age difference among other aspects of their inappropriate relationship: he's an ex-con, poor, comes from a bad family, and has the typical bad-boy rep girls love.
Is he guilty or not is the crux of the book. As their romantic and sexual tension increases between the two, another murder happens in the same mode the first. He has a ONS with an old friend of his. At this point, Rachel doesn't really know how much he feels of her. He's mad at himself. Just a head's up for those that may find it a deal-breaker. In regard to the murder, luckily for Johnny, Rachel was picking him and dropping him off at his apartment when it happened, and the victim's son exonerates him. That doesn't mean that the small town crowd doesn't think he's guilty.
The suspense regarding the murders builds dramatically towards the end of the book, and there were a couple of hair-raising and gruesome surprises at the end. Nothing graphic, but still kinda scary.
The couple are great together, and Johnny's intense without being cruel. His story of his family as well as his time in prison is well done,poignant and a little stomach turning.
A great suspense plus romance. 3.5 stars.
Rachel was Johnny's teacher when he was accused and found guilty of murdering his latest squeeze. When he's up for parole he asks her for a job as she is the only one who
Is he guilty or not is the crux of the book. As their romantic and sexual tension increases between the two, another murder happens in the same mode the first. He has a ONS with an old friend of his. At this point, Rachel doesn't really know how much he feels of her. He's mad at himself. Just a head's up for those that may find it a deal-breaker. In regard to the murder, luckily for Johnny, Rachel was picking him and dropping him off at his apartment when it happened, and the victim's son exonerates him. That doesn't mean that the small town crowd doesn't think he's guilty.
The suspense regarding the murders builds dramatically towards the end of the book, and there were a couple of hair-raising and gruesome surprises at the end. Nothing graphic, but still kinda scary.
The couple are great together, and Johnny's intense without being cruel. His story of his family as well as his time in prison is well done,poignant and a little stomach turning.
A great suspense plus romance. 3.5 stars.
May 13, 2020
4/5
Primera novela que leo de esta autora y me ha gustado más de lo que me esperaba. No tiene un argumento para echar cohetes ni es nada del otro mundo pero creo que funciona muy bien. Me ha tenido enganchada durante todo el libro y me ha gustado mucho el personaje de Johnny, el malote que no lo es tanto.
La historia de amor me ha parecido muy bonita y tierna.
Voy a repetir con esta autora
Primera novela que leo de esta autora y me ha gustado más de lo que me esperaba. No tiene un argumento para echar cohetes ni es nada del otro mundo pero creo que funciona muy bien. Me ha tenido enganchada durante todo el libro y me ha gustado mucho el personaje de Johnny, el malote que no lo es tanto.
La historia de amor me ha parecido muy bonita y tierna.
Voy a repetir con esta autora
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March 14, 2023
I read this in the height of my Karen Robards binge, last December, and it's certainly one of her better works. We have Johnny, the swaggering ex-con; Rachel, his former English teacher, tall and slim in the style of all Robards heroines; and a killer on the loose with a penchant for murdering Johnny's girlfriends.
The romance is decent, the thriller plot fast-paced, and I didn't guess the killer. Four stars.
The romance is decent, the thriller plot fast-paced, and I didn't guess the killer. Four stars.
September 8, 2015
Es el segundo libro que leo de esta autora, me gusta mucho su narrativa, resulta muy entretenida, en ningun momento te aburre, por momentos queria saltarme parrafos pero no por aburrimiento, era por ansias de saber quien demonios era el asesino que le arruino la vida a Johnny, la parte romantica una vez que explota resulta muy dulce por todo lo que hace Johnny por Rachel. Un buen libro si te gusta el suspense/romance.
Durante toda la lectura me imagine asi a Johnny...
Y ya mas lueguito cuando se arreglo un poquito, asi...
y Rachel..
Durante toda la lectura me imagine asi a Johnny...
Y ya mas lueguito cuando se arreglo un poquito, asi...
y Rachel..
May 11, 2020
3,5 estrellas
Empecé este libro a ciegas, pensando que iba a ser simplemente una historia de amor, y ha acabado siendo una película de sobremesa, muy entretenida y disfrutable, eso si.
La relación que entablan Rachel y Johnny me ha parecido tierna, basada al principio en la atracción latente que existe entre ellos desde años atrás. Rachel es el típico personaje poquita cosa, amable, que no destaca, pero que se conoce perfectamente y con el suficiente carácter para imponer su voluntad y tomar las riendas de su vida. Johnny es el chico malo, atractivo a rabiar, con un pasado duro y un presente no demasiado prometedor, al que le importa poco el qué dirán pero que tiene un corazón tierno y unas ganas tremendas de progresar. Rachel se ve arrastrada por el huracán que es Johnny, por su tremendo atractivo en todos los sentidos, y sabe ver en él a su alma gemela.
La parte misteriosa me ha sorprendido (no vi venir al culpable) pero la resolución me ha parecido fantasiosa y cogida con pinzas.
En resumen, historia amena y ágil que me ha hecho pasar un buen rato.
Empecé este libro a ciegas, pensando que iba a ser simplemente una historia de amor, y ha acabado siendo una película de sobremesa, muy entretenida y disfrutable, eso si.
La relación que entablan Rachel y Johnny me ha parecido tierna, basada al principio en la atracción latente que existe entre ellos desde años atrás. Rachel es el típico personaje poquita cosa, amable, que no destaca, pero que se conoce perfectamente y con el suficiente carácter para imponer su voluntad y tomar las riendas de su vida. Johnny es el chico malo, atractivo a rabiar, con un pasado duro y un presente no demasiado prometedor, al que le importa poco el qué dirán pero que tiene un corazón tierno y unas ganas tremendas de progresar. Rachel se ve arrastrada por el huracán que es Johnny, por su tremendo atractivo en todos los sentidos, y sabe ver en él a su alma gemela.
La parte misteriosa me ha sorprendido (no vi venir al culpable) pero la resolución me ha parecido fantasiosa y cogida con pinzas.
En resumen, historia amena y ágil que me ha hecho pasar un buen rato.
October 6, 2017
Bastante previsible, personajes obvios, situaciones demasiado vistas.- Estereotipos y clichés a montones.- No me convenció.-
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