Patricia W. (booklady5) reviewed on + 4 more book reviews
First I'd like to say I am an Iris Johansen fan. I have read her from when she first started in Loveswept and the early small series books, her Delaney series, you name it. I have followed her into her large romantic suspense books and feel she is an exceptional writer. With that said, I have to say I was disappointed in Dark Summer. I really liked the beginning, I was hooked and was ready to sit for a long, lovely read.
Marrok, the male lead, was very abrupt and commanding in the beginning and it was understood. Pressure, worry and trying to protect so many. Short sentences, vague referrals, not forthcoming. He continued like this to a point about 1/2 through the book and then he couldn't stop talking. He explained All the background to the mystery and now we knew what they're facing and why. He then, at some rambling point in all of his hindsight and inner musings, decided he wanted Devon, the female lead. Hint, suggest and then plain speaking that I'm going to have you and you know you want me and it's just a matter of time before we do it. He is described as going out and joining the SEALS. You don't join. You give it your all and then you give more to become a SEAL. There are other parts that grate like being on a ranch in Nevada but people come and go like it's in downtown Burbank. It's supposed to be a secret hide-out yet people drive in and fly in from all over. And cell phones that work Everywhere, even in the middle of nowhere!?
Devon, a vet that uses her dog to help with rescues, has saved Marrok's dog. He disappears leaving her a note telling her to take him home and he'd see her later. So she takes Ned, the dog, home and tries to get back to her vet practice. We are introduced to 3 very likeable characters that I personally would definitely like to hear more about, with their wit and humor. We do not get the chance. Her practice is destroyed, her home and buildings burned to the ground. Her ex-husband can call her anywhere, making threats to torture her, even admitting to killing people that have helped her, and she tries to talk to him and deny his claims? How many years has she tried this and it's never worked? And no one can tape these calls for proof that he is psycho. She can control her mask and her feelings, then boom, she can't control her mask or feelings. First this way and then that way.
Both the main characters seemed dis-connected. I never got the attraction between them. There was no sexual tension building, or pull, or love. He wanted. NO she didn't. Then again, boom she decided she did want. After he kept telling over and over it's going to happen, she decided, okay, lets get it on, Now. Ugh. The sex scenes were short and clinical yet this was supposed to rock their worlds. "It was great for me, was it great for you?" "Yeah" "Are you ready for another go?" "Yeah." Really???
If this had been the first IJ book I had ever read, I would not rush out to get another one. I loved the dogs in the story and felt they were key to the glue that kept this story going. The secondary characters were very important adding to the context but deserved more. There was a little paranormal but it also helped not hindered.
I know Ms. Johansen can write a great book but this was okay, not great.
Marrok, the male lead, was very abrupt and commanding in the beginning and it was understood. Pressure, worry and trying to protect so many. Short sentences, vague referrals, not forthcoming. He continued like this to a point about 1/2 through the book and then he couldn't stop talking. He explained All the background to the mystery and now we knew what they're facing and why. He then, at some rambling point in all of his hindsight and inner musings, decided he wanted Devon, the female lead. Hint, suggest and then plain speaking that I'm going to have you and you know you want me and it's just a matter of time before we do it. He is described as going out and joining the SEALS. You don't join. You give it your all and then you give more to become a SEAL. There are other parts that grate like being on a ranch in Nevada but people come and go like it's in downtown Burbank. It's supposed to be a secret hide-out yet people drive in and fly in from all over. And cell phones that work Everywhere, even in the middle of nowhere!?
Devon, a vet that uses her dog to help with rescues, has saved Marrok's dog. He disappears leaving her a note telling her to take him home and he'd see her later. So she takes Ned, the dog, home and tries to get back to her vet practice. We are introduced to 3 very likeable characters that I personally would definitely like to hear more about, with their wit and humor. We do not get the chance. Her practice is destroyed, her home and buildings burned to the ground. Her ex-husband can call her anywhere, making threats to torture her, even admitting to killing people that have helped her, and she tries to talk to him and deny his claims? How many years has she tried this and it's never worked? And no one can tape these calls for proof that he is psycho. She can control her mask and her feelings, then boom, she can't control her mask or feelings. First this way and then that way.
Both the main characters seemed dis-connected. I never got the attraction between them. There was no sexual tension building, or pull, or love. He wanted. NO she didn't. Then again, boom she decided she did want. After he kept telling over and over it's going to happen, she decided, okay, lets get it on, Now. Ugh. The sex scenes were short and clinical yet this was supposed to rock their worlds. "It was great for me, was it great for you?" "Yeah" "Are you ready for another go?" "Yeah." Really???
If this had been the first IJ book I had ever read, I would not rush out to get another one. I loved the dogs in the story and felt they were key to the glue that kept this story going. The secondary characters were very important adding to the context but deserved more. There was a little paranormal but it also helped not hindered.
I know Ms. Johansen can write a great book but this was okay, not great.
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