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Blurb
She wants something real. He wants something now. Together they’re trouble in USA Today bestselling author Adriana Locke’s sexy and funny twice-in-a-lifetime love story.
With his shameless grin and let’s-play swagger, carpenter Penn Etling leaves women wanting in Dogwood Lane. What do they get? Avery Perry knows: a one-night stand. She’s been there. She remembers every hot pulse as if it were yesterday. But Penn? He doesn’t remember a thing. Now he’s making new moves, and Avery’s not falling for trouble…again. Is she?
How could the beautiful stranger resist him? Avery is going to be a challenge for the bad boy. She’s the kind of woman who digs deep—deep enough to see there’s more to Penn than meets the eye. But first she has to give him a chance. She has to say yes. Could she also be the woman to make him change his playboy ways?
When these two come together, it’s hard to pull them apart. But with love and trust on the line, can Avery and Penn get what they both want? This time for keeps?
Review
“People who are ridiculously attracted to one another can be friends…right?”
4.5 fantastic stars!
I love this series of standalone small-town romances, and from the very beginning I’ve been waiting to see town playboy, Penn, meet his match, and OMG, it was just what I was hoping for! Fun, flirty, full of chemistry and with a beautiful, heartfelt romance, this is just the story I wanted for Penn, and I absolutely loved it!
Having come from a troubled background, Penn doesn’t really understand the concept of love, and he honestly doesn’t have any interest in it. He’s perfectly happy engaging in quick and easy hook-ups without getting involved, and it works pretty well for him. Because he’s Penn Etling, and he’s God’s gift to women… yes, he truly thinks that, but in a way that is endearing rather than conceited, and with the skills to back it up, he can pretty much have any woman he wants. And then Avery comes to town…
I’m in lust. Pure unadulterated lust.
Avery has captivated my attention. I don’t know what that fucking means, but I’m here for it.
Avery has just left her superficial life in LA to move to Dogwood Lane with her beloved (and hilarious) Aunt. Desperate to escape the toxic patterns of her past and enjoy a slower pace that is all about building towards the life she wants for herself, she’s determined to make smart decisions, and that doesn’t include hooking up with the town playboy. Especially because she’s been there and done that years ago, and in a delicious twist on a second-chance-romance, Penn doesn’t remember.
It’s a fabulous set-up, especially with Penn bringing his A-game and Avery thwarting him at every turn.
“Ooh, she doesn’t want your number,” Matt jokes. “Let’s write this one down in the record books, boys.”
“Will you shut the hell up?” Penn sighs. “Give the girl some time. It’s probably pretty overwhelming to meet me.” He turns slowly, his eyes full of salaciousness. “I’ll give you some time. No worries.”
Penn’s unique sense of humour is so freaking entertaining, and his constant joking, flirting and smutty inuendo had me laughing so many times.
I imagine a paintbrush in her hand and find myself curious about a lot of things. How talented is she? What else does she like to do? What is she good at?
Is she the ultimate package? I don’t know. But I’d sure as fuck like to give her mine.
But underneath it all is a damaged man who is truly struggling with everything that he is feeling.
Can I be more for her? Do I have it in me? Or should I let her go?
It’s an absolutely beautiful journey as Penn and Avery, both wanting different things but unable to stay away from each other, become close friends. Of course that deepens their attraction, and I loved watching their relationship shift and change as they figure it all out.
“Being with you makes me feel like I’m seen … You don’t look at me and see the goofy guy that everyone knows I am.” He looks up at me with a hesitation that stops my breath. “You see the guy I think my grandpa told me I could be.”
*clutches heart*
Penn and Avery are wonderful characters. Both very real, I could understand where they were at and how they were feeling, and I felt it all along with them. My heart ached for them when they hurt, and I was in a world of swoon as they came to accept and acknowledge their feelings. It’s not all smooth sailing and they have things they need to work through and hurdles to overcome, and they make mistakes along the way, but that just makes the emotion hit so much harder, and the journey all that much sweeter. Their background together adds a wonderful dimension to everything between them, and I loved watching them come together.
I don’t want to hurt her. I don’t want to fail her. I don’t want to make her anything other than happy every day of her life.
The characters from previous books appear, and there is a nice little set up there for Matt, but you can absolutely read this one as a standalone.
Funny, sexy, romantic and emotional, this is such a great read, and I loved it.
4.5 stars.
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Trouble Spotify Playlist
Dogwood Lane
Tumble (#1) (Dane & Neely)
Review
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Tangle (#2) (Trevor & Haley)
Review
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Trouble (#3) (Penn & Avery)
Review
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Giveaway
To celebrate the release of Trouble, Adriana Locke, TEN winners will win a $10 Amazon Gift Card!
The Escapist Book Blog is not responsible for this giveaway
About the Author
Adriana Locke is the USA Todaybestselling author of the Gibson Boys series and Tumble and Tangle in the Dogwood Lane series. She lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, Adriana created her own. She resides in the Midwest with her husband, sons, two dogs, two cats, and a bird. She spends a large amount of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. You can find her outside if the weather’s nice, and there’s always a piece of candy in her pocket. Besides cinnamon gummy bears, boxing, and random quotes, her next favorite thing is chatting with readers. She’d love to hear from you! Find out more at www.adrianalocke.com.
Connect with Adriana in her Facebook Group or Goodreads Group.
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👉🏼 Want a free book? Click here to download from Adriana’s website
