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One Summer  By  cover art

One Summer

By: David Baldacci
Narrated by: Ron McLarty,Orlagh Cassidy
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Publisher's summary

David Baldacci delivers a moving, family drama about learning to love again after terrible heartbreak and loss in this classic New York Times best seller - soon to be a Hallmark original movie.

It's almost Christmas, but there is no joy in the house of terminally ill Jack and his family. With only a short time left to live, he spends his last days preparing to say goodbye to his devoted wife, Lizzie, and their three children. Then, unthinkably, tragedy strikes again: Lizzie is killed in a car accident. With no one able to care for them, the children are separated from each other and sent to live with family members around the country.

Just when all seems lost, Jack begins to recover in a miraculous turn of events. He rises from what should have been his deathbed, determined to bring his fractured family back together. Struggling to rebuild their lives after Lizzie's death, he reunites everyone at Lizzie's childhood home on the oceanfront in South Carolina. And there, over one unforgettable summer, Jack will begin to learn to love again, and he and his children will learn how to become a family once more.

©2011 David Baldacci (P)2011 Hachette

What listeners say about One Summer

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Ebook producers, please listen!

I love David Baldacci's books, any genre. And I think Ron McLarty is a wonderful narrator (and author). That said, I have no idea whether this book was any good because I simply could not tolerate the way it was produced. Those of us devoted to audiobooks love BOOKS of all kinds, and audio is just another way to "read" them. Unless a book is expressly written to be a PLAY, please do not try to make it into one by having other narrators inject quotes by different characters. Great narrators like McLarty have their own way of creating different, identifiable characters (male and female) in an understated way; this works well and doesn't disrupt the flow of the story. Using multiple narrators works in some cases, such as "The Help," because there are whole sections coming from the point of view of a certain character; note, in those cases each narrator will do all the quotes in a section.

This is the second Audible book in as many weeks that I have abandoned due to this annoying method of production.

(Apologies to Mr. Baldacci - maybe I'll get this one on my Kindle.)

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54 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Not what you expect from Baldacci but

One Summer is a wonderful book. Those who have not experienced real, enduring romantic love will not understand the book. Atheists will hate it for its allusions to God and will be turned off by its "mysticism". Those who have not yet been parents may not appreciate One Summer.

I had read every book written by David Baldacci except One Summer. The negative reviews at Amazon convinced me that I would not enjoy One Summer. Finally, I gave in just to understand the complaints.

Thank you, Mr. Baldacci, for this marvelous book!

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28 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

David Baldacci is missing!

I think someone--probably Nicholas Sparks-- took over David Baldacci's body and wrote this. This was so disappointing. I have loved Baldacci's other books and couldn't believe that this came from him. Totally predictable and quite boring.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Giant Dose of Cheese

I really enjoy David Baldacci's books, and Ron McLarty's performances of them, so I expected to settle in with this one and be pleasantly entertained with a different type of story from an author I much admired. What I got was a cheesy gloppy sappy predictable mess. Added to the predictability of the plot was over the top schmaltzy piano music that made me want to gag. I am so disappointed. Baldacci fans will want to avoid this one.

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Where are the tissues?

A great listen, didn’t want it to end. This book is right up there with WISH YOU WELL. I love it when an author steps out of the box and he does it so well:)

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Love David Baldacci's books that are not mysteries

I personally don't like high suspense mysteries as is the case with most of David's books. This one and the Christmas Train were ones that I absolutely loved. Reading Wish you well now and loving it too!

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

A Good Read But Not a Really Enjoyable Listen

The book itself was a decent read, but the female voices were like chalk on a blackboard. I could not figure out which one I disliked more. I found the attitude of the daughter......even for a teen!.......unbelievable under the circumstances and the voice given by the reader magnified it. Let's let a seasoned narrator like Ron McLarty do his own voices.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

not what I like to listen to

I seldom write about my listener experience... however, this novel is pretty bad... not well written and more of a "chick" flick despite the faat that I am an elderly "chick"

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great read

First Baldacci book I read; I really enjoyed it & It kept my interest. I'm sure I'll read more.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

David Baldacci or Nicholas Sparks?

I couldn't believe how much this seemed like some of Sparks' novels-death, beach setting, the dialogue. Several years ago Baldacci wrote "Wish You Well". It was not his typical novel but it was a wonderful story, well written and great characters. It reminded me of "To Kill a Mockingbird".I can't say the same for this one.
I like Ron McLarty's performance but didn't enjoy Orlagh Cassidy's.

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7 people found this helpful