That One Summer by C.J. Duggan
Published December 17th 2013
Age Group: New Adult
Series: Summer #3
Source: eARC from Author
Summary:
Loving Chris Henderson would be wrong. Diabolically disastrous. I mean, what is there about him to love? He’s moody, bossy, brooding, a control freak, and that’s on a good day … but there was one achingly obvious fact that haunted my every thought, every minute of every day …
He sure could kiss.
As the countdown to the new millennium begins, there is one thing everyone agrees on: no one wants to be in Onslow for New Year’s Eve.
So that can only mean one thing: road trip!
No longer the mousey, invisible, shy girl from years ago, Tammy Maskala is finally making up for all those lost summers. A new year with new friends, which astoundingly includes the bossy boy behind the bar, Chris Henderson.
She likes her new friends (at least most of them), so why does she secretly feel so out of place?
After chickening out on the trip, a last-minute change of heart sees Tammy racing to the Onslow Hotel, fearing she’s missed her chance for a ride. The last thing she expected to meet was a less-than-happy Onslow Boy leaning against his black panel van.
Now the countdown begins to reach the others at Point Shank before the party is over and the new year has begun. Alone in a car with only the infuriating Chris Henderson, Tammy can’t help but feel this is a disastrous start to what could have been a great adventure. But when the awkward road trip takes an unexpected turn, Tammy soon discovers that the way her traitorous heart feels about Chris is the biggest disaster of all.
Fogged up windows, moonlight swimming, bad karaoke and unearthed secrets; after this one summer nothing will ever be the same again.
I have no idea how C.J. Duggan does it. This is the third book in the Boys of Summer series, and I am head over heels in love with the Onslow boys! When I read the first book, I thought this is the cutest couple ever. There is no way I am going to like any other couple as much as this one. And then I read the second book, and it took awhile, but I ended up thinking the same thing. And then I read That One Summer. This book is Tammy and Chris’ story. They captured my heart right from the start. I think they ended up being my favorite couple, but I think I still have Onslow boys stars in my eyes, so I might be a bit biased.
Tammy is interesting because she doesn’t really feel like a true part of the group. Her best friend is Amy, and Amy is the one that dragged her into the group, and I understand that it was hard for Tammy to be kind of on the outskirts because she is shy and hates confrontation. But I do have to say, she always seemed like a part of the group to me. Everyone always included her and seemed very nice to her. So I never felt like she was an outcast, but she did. Tammy is a such a nice and sweet girl that it was easy to like her. And I did, and then what pushed me up for like to love was seeing her go out and push the edges of her comfort zone. She wasn’t always the most comfortable trying new things, but she did it, and that is what matters. Its what made me love her. Plus she is hilarious.
Chris was an easier sell for me. I am a little in love with him myself. He is so smart, and determined, and the responsible one. But he never complains about it, he just quietly takes care of everyone else. And it was so easy to see that he had feelings for Tammy, but holy cow! Sometimes he had a very strange way of showing it. He runs very hot and stoic. I don’t want to say cold because he was never really mean. He was either fun loving and sweet or very reserved and void of emotion. And it was super hard to read him when he was holding back. I think that’s why Tammy couldn’t see that he liked her.
I loved that That One Summer took place on a new years camping road trip. They stopped in a bunch of different places in Australia before reaching their final destination for new years eve. That One Summer is like a romantic comedy adventure. I can’t say enough good things about this series. I want to recommend it to everyone. The group of friends is so great. They guys are rambunctious and hot and a riot and the romances are beyond adorable. C.J. Duggan keeps upping the bar with each book. I have no idea which is even my favorite- maybe this one.
C.J Duggan is an Australian author who lives with her husband in a rural border town of New South Wales, Australia.
The Boys of Summer is Book One in her Mature Young Adult Romance Series.
For more on C.J and ‘The Summer Series’, visit www.cjdugganbooks.com
Author Links:
Website: http://www.cjdugganbooks.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5779034.C_J_Duggan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cj.duggan.1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CJ_Duggan
Rules:
-open internationally
-my contest policy applies
Giselle
Me thinks I need to meet these Onslow boys for myself! I’ve been hearing so much awesomeness about them. I love the sounds of this series overall, though. The setting, the characters, and the romance all sounds like such a fun ride! Great review, doll!
Chanpreet
I think this is the one book in the Boys of Summer series I haven’t read and I need to fix that! I love books featuring shy heroines and ones who don’t really fit in. Great review!