• Dark Summer

  • By: Iris Johansen
  • Narrated by: Joyce Bean
  • Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (311 ratings)

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Dark Summer  By  cover art

Dark Summer

By: Iris Johansen
Narrated by: Joyce Bean
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Publisher's summary

Devon Brady is a devoted veterinarian working in a makeshift hospital at an island search and rescue site. When Jude Marrok arrives with his wounded black lab Ned, she has no idea that she is about to be plunged into a whirlwind of terror, destruction, and unstoppable passion.

The last thing Devon needs is to be drawn into Marrok's high-stakes game. And while she feels increasingly drawn to him and his extraordinary dog, she doesn't trust him. Then the bullets start flying and she has nowhere else to run. The body counts gets higher while a mortal mystery swirls around a pack of gifted canines called the "Dogs of Summer."

Is Jude her salvation or her damnation? Are the secrets he's protecting worth killing...or dying for? With lighting-fast pace, unforgettable characters, gut-wrenching action, and sizzling sensuality, Dark Summer is compelling new terrain for this master storyteller.

©2008 Iris Johansen (P)2008 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about Dark Summer

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
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    48
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Performance
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    59
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    28
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Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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    102
  • 4 Stars
    58
  • 3 Stars
    31
  • 2 Stars
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    8

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Trite Bodice Ripper

I purchased this book because I love dogs and thrillers. It is _not_ a thriller but a poorly written romance novel with the two main characters panting after each other within a sketchy thriller-type setting.

The characters are predictable. The strong but vulnerable woman and the handsome tough guy with a heart of gold falling for a woman for the first time.

There are many repetitive phrases; "he twisted his lips" is a favorite, whatever that means. Also "if he touches me I will [burst into flames] [melt]" etc.; pick one.

If you like panting romances you might like this book but if you are looking for a thriller give this one a pass.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Mediocre w/Bad Narration

I have read or listened to many, if not most of Iris Johansen's books, but I just can't finish this one. I am about half way through and have decided to move on to another book. I may or may not return to this one later. I have never left any of her other works unfinished.

This is the most mediocre of her books. These characters feel like bad copies of her other characters. On a very basic level, many of her books can be summed up as: "Strong, independent woman meets mysterious strong man. Woman resists the desire to give into animalistic urges. Man tells her he must have her. Mystery solved, bad guy dead, happily ever after." Usually, her storytelling is enjoyable enough to make this pattern a non-issue. Not so with this book (at least up to the point that I called it quits).

The narrator makes it almost painful to listen to. We have all stumbled upon the odd book where the author narrates the audio version and really shouldn't have. This is a tiny bit better than that. Jennifer Van Dyke does a great job with narrating many of Iris Johansen's other books, I wish she had done this one. I might have finished it.

Hope others like this more than I did...consider yourself warned though.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Maybe a good romance novel - maybe

Very disappointing. Not a believable plot, nor believable situations. Save your money, unless you like sappy romance novels.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable escape through the spoken word.

Being a dog lover and thoroughly enjoying a story with engaging characters and a story that pulls my imagination along with every scene, every question, and every revelation, I must say I very much enjoyed this story. A delightful vacation for my mind. At the end of the book I was smiling, happy and hoping Iris Johansen had written more books like this one.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable with dogs

Entertaining with some good plot twists, although in a few places I rolled my eyes.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good Read

This author rarely fails to give a good read and she didn't this time

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it

Good story and great narration. I did not want the story to end. It was totally awesome.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of her best

Lots of twists and turns. Characters are unique and well thought out; this writer never misses,; I’ve read most of her books but this is the first of this series. Love the deep insight into the animals and the surprised ending.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Definitely not the best of Iris Johansen

The story was disjointed and, at times, dull. The narration was awful.; too many men's voices sounded too similar. The hero sounded autistic, which I think was an attempt at some sort of Native American way of speaking. If I were Native American, I'd have been offended. I'd have given up before the end, if I hadn't paid for it.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Narrator not good with so many voices

The story was ok for a commuter trip, not something I could have gotten through any other way and the narrator is good with women voices and accents but not so much with men’s voices. Overall if you like harlequin romance it’s right up your alley.

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