Blog Tour ~ That One Summer by C.J. Duggan ~ Review + Giveaway!

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour hosted by The Three Bookateers!
You can follow the full tour HERE!

That One Summer (Summer #3)
by C.J. Duggan

Release Date: December 17, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Pages: eBook
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Source: Author
Purchase: Releases Tuesday!
Summer series on Amazon
Haunt Author: Website | Facebook | Twitter

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.

ADD TO GOODREADS

I love escaping to Onslow. I'm always guaranteed a good time. I wish I lived there mostly for the Onslow boys. Chris is the more serious and shy Onslow boy. He has mostly been in the background of the last two books working hard and I love that I finally got to see more of him. Tammy is new to the group and quite shy and reserved. She hasn't felt like she fits in with the group so she is unsure about going on the New Years camping trip. Deciding to join in at the last minute she has to ride alone with Chris.

I hate camping but now I really want to go on a camping trip. LOL But what I have really loved about this series is the great cast of characters. It follows different couples but all my old favorites are still very much a large part of the plot and I love that I haven't had to say goodbye to anyone. In some ways the Onslow boys remind me of my group of friends.

Chris really surprised during the trip and he was very sweet and thoughtful.
When Tammy was doubting him I was too at first but then it would turn out he was doing something for her and I would melt. Plus is is obviously hot! ;-) And is a great friend. He likes to be serious so that people can depend on him. He holds the group together. I also enjoyed that he travel in a shaggin wagon.

Tammy was another character I didn't know much about until this book. She is best friends with Amy and into fitness. I guess because she has a bangin body as Ringer would say, I expected her to be confident. Tammy didn't have a ton of confidence at the beginning of the trip but I enjoyed seeing her come out of her comfort zone. She often would take two steps forward and one step back and second guess herself. Then finally she had the courage to say what she meant.

Chris and Tammy had lots of great scenes together. I loved their late night dip. I felt their chemistry that it progressed realistically. Romance, friendship and always a great summer read. This series makes me miss summer so much and I love going back to that season. Forever Summer is next and it is Adam and Ellie's story. I'm still hoping for a Stan and Ringer story too. Definitely not ready to say goodbye to the Onslow boys.




"Because if I'd had to choose perfect, I would have just chosen you."

"Tammy, there is no place else I would rather be than right here, right now, with you."

"What I'm saying is I want to go to the ends of the Earth with you."

Rating: 5/5 

Excerpt

“So what do you think?” Chris stood with his elbow leaning casually on the open door of his jet black panel van. He looked up at me expectantly. “Pretty sweet ride, huh?”

“If you’re a serial killer,” I said, cautiously descending the steps.

Chris’s head snapped around with surprise, his eyes almost as dark as the van itself. He slammed the car door and folded his arms, glowering at me as I approached.

“I’ll have you know, Toby and I have spent the better part of six months fixing this old girl up.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Really?”

“It’s got a 308 and a four barrel carby.”

“Why, it could be grease lightning,” I smirked.

I didn’t think a death stare could vary in so many ways, but Chris had mastered a variety of pissed-off stares like no other. The one he was now casting me was a whole new level of anger.

Oops.

I cleared my throat and looked away, suddenly super aware that the last thing I should do was alienate my ride, but then the thought did occur to me: did I want to be trapped in a car with Chris Henderson for three days? Three long, insufferable days – could I subject myself to any more death stares, sneers, scoffs and deep sighs? Maybe I would be doing myself a favour if I gave him good reason to leave me behind. Before I fully acclimated to the idea, my attention was snapped back to the present and the duffle bag that landed at my feet.

I frowned toward the verandah where Chris had moved and was readying himself to turf my other bag down.

“Hey! Watch it,” I snapped. “You might break something.” It was a possibility, though I didn’t know exactly what. Maybe Mum had slipped in a crockery set? Who could honestly guess?

“Let me guess,” Chris said with a smirk as he slung my beach bag over his shoulder and trotted down the steps. “Hairdryer?” He threw a cocky smile and grazed my shoulder as he passed, heading for the van. My eyes burned into his back as he opened the double doors to chuck in my bag. He turned to me expectantly, his hand out for me to pass him the duffle. I snatched it up, trying not to let the strain of its weight show as I lugged it over and carefully placed it into the back. I attempted to, anyway. With a rather inelegant lack of grace, I hitched it up onto my knee, trying to be all cool and casual, as if I was totally in control …

I so wasn’t.

Chris plucked it from me as if the bag weighed nothing and turfed it into the back.

Check out the entire Summer series!

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.

Website│Twitter│Goodreads│Facebook

~Giveaway~

a Rafflecopter giveaway