August 17 2009: I just finished the book today. I recommend this book for anyone who is a fan of Iris Johansen. I recommend this book to anyone who hasn't read Iris Johansen but likes Thrillers and / or stories that involve things like interesting mental powers. ( )

I enjoyed the story very much. I love how the author brings her characters into other stories so we always get a glimpse of them. The twist at the end was great. ( )

Dark Summer is about a group of gifted dogs that are in danger. Jude Marrock and Devon Brady join forces to protect the dogs. Devon is a veternarian who is not excited about being forced to work with Marrock.

Though I liked the book, it isn't my favorite of Johansen's. She brings Sarah Logan into this story briefly which was interesting, but overall, I missed some of the sizzle that her other books have.

Maybe I'm just ready to be back on the hunt for Bonnie.... ( )

It starts out slow but is worth the read in the end. I love the care given to the animals in the book. The characters were not as likable or as believable as the animals. ( )

Love Johansen ( )

A fun read - definitely fast-paced and wild. You'll recognize some of the characters from other Iris Johansen novels. ( )

"Dark Summer" is a kind of side story that builds on characters from Iris Johansen's earlier books. It has her trademark quick pacing and is much more action oriented than many of her early books which has irritated many of her fans.

One minute Devon is working a South American island disaster as a rescue dog handler and site vet, the next a strange man with an even stranger dog shows up demanding she remove the bullet in the dog. A few hours later, the man is gone and left a note asking her to care for Ned (the dog) and take him home with her back to the States! Within a week, Devon's been shot at, kidnapped, her office ransacked and two co-workers killed, and her home burned to the ground. As far as she's concerned...it's all HIS fault!

Jude Marrok is a former SEAL with a wretched past and an iffy future. He's been living with a target on his back for four long years; all the while trying to protect four very special dogs from an insane megalomaniac. Now his secrets are being revealed and he doesn't have much time before he has to face the powerful man who tortured and killed the only family Jude could claim. And since he met Devon, he can't stop these 'feelings' and it's driving him nuts! How can he protect his dogs, his friends, AND Devon?

I enjoyed the wild ride! The events in the book take place in less than two weeks so everything is on fast-forward from page one. The attraction between Jude and Devon is sometimes funny, sometimes sad, sometimes frustrating, but always hot. Neither is particularly happy with the attraction at first, and even in the middle of the story both are still conflicted. These characters have a depth that will suck you in and keep you reading. When I finished the book, I felt like I had just finished a race. My heartrate was up and I was breathing faster than normal...now THAT's a story!!

I'll be eager to see if she continues with this story line and some of the secondary characters in another book. ( )