One Night (Avon Romance)

Why I Read this Book: I had only read one other book by this author, Hannah's List (my review), and I really enjoyed it. I liked the characters and the developing love story. It was a heart felt read and I knew I wanted to read more by this author.

What I Liked: One Night was a fun and humorous read. I love reading romance novels where the romance starts of with tension between the hero and heroine. There was definitely some thick tension between Carrie and Kyle. They're constantly bumping heads and just can't seem to get along. But then it starts causing problems at the station they both work at so now they need to learn to get along or find new jobs.

Debbie Macomber totally caught me off guard and surprised the hell out of me with the steamy love scenes in this book! I've only read one other book by her and let me just say that the loves scenes, they were pretty much non-existent. I thought, okay, it's not the author's style to write steamy love scenes and I can appreciate that. After all, I read Nicholas Sparks' novels and we know he doesn't write out heated love scenes. But in One Night, Debbie Macomber spiced it up! I had to check the author of the book a few times to make sure that I was indeed reading a Debbie Macomber novel. No complaints, believe you me, just a bit surprising. Which makes me wonder, how many of her other novels also have steamy scenes? If you know of any, please let me know.

What I Didn't Like: During an certain situation in the book, I thought to myself how do these people NOT have cell phones? I didn't get it. I didn't realize until I was typing up this review that this book was originally released in 1994 - before cell phones hit the population in the masses. Makes sense but it's something I wish I had realized while I was reading the book because I just couldn't get over it. I had thought this book was a newer release because I recently saw it at Target. The storyline definitely would have been different if there were cell phones in the picture.

You can't tell by just reading the blurb but there's a bit of mystery and suspense going on in this book. In a case like this, I wish there would have been at least a little bit of a hint of the mystery/suspense element in the blurb so I know what to expect because it felt like it came out of no where.

Overall Impression: One Night was a fun, light read that goes by fast. The book didn't completely meet my expectations but I'm definitely intrigued enough to read more by Debbie Macomber.

I always like to put a song to my reviews and the one I have selected for this Macomber book is "I've Got you under my skin" Frank Sinatra's version. Mrs. Macomber must have watched the 1934 movie "It Happened One Night" with Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert to form her idea for this story. This is a 21c version of that movie. Kyle and Cassie are two radio personalities in Kansas City on a morning talk show who hate each other. Cassie and Kyle put each other down on the air each day. The tension is so bad that it's not funny to the listeners anymore and Clyde the owner of the radio station let's them both go unless they behave. Clyde decides to send them both on an adventure to Dallas knowing full well that they are going to fall in love although Cassie and Kyle don't know it. The morning talk show hosts drive from Kansas City to Dallas and you have the old movie "It happened One Night". The drive to Dallas takes longer then they expected due to a subplot with a surprise ending. If you enjoyed the movie "It Happened one night" you will certainly enjoy this book. You can almost hear Kyle singing to Cassie "I've got you under my skin" after they discover how much they do have in common.

I really liked this book and stayed up reading way past my bedtime. I liked the characters and also liked the mystery in the book and was quite surprised. I have read most of Debbie Macomber's books and certainly wasn't disappointed. I feel this book is a must read if you like any of Debbie Macomber's books.

Carrie and Kyle work together at a radio station. They can't stand each other. Their boss fires both of them. The only thing they can do to save their jobs is to show the boss they can get along. They decide to go to a radio convention together. This starts their adventure. With many twists and turns, intrigue, mystery, and a lot of romance, they find out they can get along VERY well. This a great book to read on vacation. In fact, I bought it at the grocery store where I was on vacation. Be sure to get yours from the store for the best deal.

Can opposites attract? Can two completely different personalities fall head over heels in love in a matter of "one night"? This is the premise of One Night by Debbie Macomber. Carrie Jamison and Kyle Harris are radio personalities at a Kansas City radio station---Carrie as morning deejay, Kyle as a news producer. They can NOT get along at all. They both think the very least of the other, and it is affecting the radio station. Because they can't get along, their station manager fires both of them, unless they can learn to get along. They decide to travel to a radio convention together, in Dallas, as a means to keeping their current jobs and maybe, just maybe, learn to be civil to one another. What is supposed to be a simple trip to a convention takes many twists and turns, some of which are hilarious (getting arrested for jaywalking) and some very serious (being on the run from a potential murderer). Along the way, Carrie and Kyle find that they are head over heels in love and after "one night" are also expecting a child together. In the end, love prevails as does happily ever after.

One Night was a very quick read. ( I read it over the course of 2 nights.) The story line with it's twists and turns kept me interested and curious as to what would happen next. There was more harlequin type story telling (ie. sexual content) in this story than in other Macomber books that I have read. There wasn't a great sense of character development. The story began with two completely opposite personalities and instead of playing off this tension throughout the book, Macomber takes care of it in the early part of the book and instead chooses to focus on their sexual compatibility and attractiveness. It is kind of hard to believe that these two main characters who barely know one another automatically fall in love after only 1 night together. It seems too good to be true, although the romantic side of myself loves the idea.

Overall, One Night was a fun, quick read. It was perfect for reading those cold nights, snuggled up under the covers and wanting to enjoy a story for being just that---a great story.

I chose this book because the author can be relied on for simple, enjoyable stories refreshingly devoid of cussing and unnecessarily explicit descriptions. Her characters are fun and easy to like. I gave it 3 stars because, while I liked the book, it was not one that I couldn't put down. I would recommend it for light reading - what I call "mind candy."

I have never been remotely interested in reading romance novels, probably only because of the reputation they have for being corny & unrealistic about the supposed perfection of their heros (I.E. muscle-bound, gorgeous, sensitive stallion of a man meets tanned, toned, beautiful, strong-but-desperately-lovelorn heroine for the most amazing sex ever had on the planet, which somehow comes to represent everlasting 'true love'). But, a friend told me about Debbie Macomber's books, and praised them for combining good romance, with more realistic relationship development. She recommended "One Night," which started out engaging, but ultimately left me somewhat disappointed.
The story started out great with Carrie & Kyle as complete opposite personality types, and 2 people who very realistically (and humorously) got on each other's nerves. But, instead of maximizing on that tension, while having them get to know each other better over the course of the book, Macomber resolves all tension very early in the book, and introduces a very serious (and to be honest, considering how lighthearted the story of Carrie & Kyle started, a real downer) of a plot twist. (I won't give it away, b/c people revealing things in reviews is one of my biggest pet peeves!). Nevertheless, from there the story turns into an uneven chronicling of frustrating interactions between the two protagonists, and a VERY ludicrous attempt to convince the reader that the two are truly and deeply 'in love'. They barely knew each other! Literally. Macomber could've developed their relationship at least a little bit more to make any of this so-called love seem plausible, but instead she adds on a tangential storyline about an escaped con following them. And the way that storyline gets wrapped up is actually the most absurd part of the whole book.
Not to be overly harsh - "One Night" does have fun, humorous moments, but they get sacrificed too early for melodrama, as the narrative hastened to its cornball conclusion.

Of all the Debbie Macomber books that I read, this has to be one of the ones that I was most dissapointed. It starts out as a quite likable story, with two characters who strongly dislike each other but find out that they will be canned by their boss if they don't start to get along. So they put their differences aside and go on a road trip! As they travel together, this book starts to crumble. It starts to get so unbelievable that it's not enjoyable. Had me hooked at first but then I just wanted to hurry up and get the reading over with. Definitely not one of Macomber's best.

I'm reviewing this book because I think, along with all other Debbie Macomber books, that it is truly a classic love story. It starts off with two radio personalities who can not get along with each other for anything! The opportunity arises for both of them to travel cross-country to attend a convention...together! What a disaster!!! Along the way they share fights, laughs, and in the end, love, proving that even the worst of enemies can get along or in this case, fall in love. I hope you go out and buy this book and add it to your own home library.

I have been reading Debbie Macomber's books for about 2 months now. I read the Cedar Cove series and I'm waiting on book No. 8. I thought they were just fabulous. I also read one of the angel series. I thought it was excellent. "One Night" was so much like a corny Harlequin. There seemed to be "too much" excitement with sex and too much "in love" business going on. It was an ok read, but I much prefer books written like Cedar Cove.