Title: Tumble
Dogwood Lane #1
Author: Adriana Locke
Release Date: February 26th
Releases In: Kindle Unlimited, Paperback, Audiobook
From USA Today bestselling author Adriana Locke comes a witty romance about first love and second chances. This is a standalone, small-town, blue-collar love story.
After being burned by her dream job in New York City, sports journalist Neely Kimber suddenly finds herself jobless and paying a long-overdue visit to her hometown in Tennessee. Her plan? Relax, reset, and head back up the corporate ladder. There’s just one unexpected step. Neely’s back in Dogwood Lane for barely a day when she sees the man she ran from nine years ago: the bad boy next door who was her first kiss, her first love, and her first heartbreak.
Devoted single dad Dane Madden knows he hurt Neely in the worst way. He’s got a lot to make up for. And as passionate as their reconnection is, it’s a lot to hope for. Having her back in his arms feels so right. But falling in love all over again with a woman who wants to live a world away is bound to go so wrong.
What’s it going to take for Neely to give him—and Dogwood Lane—just one more chance?
If you own the ebook, you can add the Audible narration for just $1.99.
Audio Features:
Narrated by the talented Aiden Snow and Summer Morton, this audio will rock your socks!
Splat!
The sound of the hammer crushing my thumb—swung with more force than was necessary, to boot—ricochets across the front lawn. The tool falls from my hand, striking against the sawhorse, and flips into the soft grass with a gentle thud.
“Son of a...!” My hand shakes, the top of my thumb threatening to explode. I tilt my head to the sky and try to find some peace in the clouds.
I come up empty. “Matt!” I call to my younger brother. “I’m taking ten.”
He nods from halfway up the ladder leaned against the side of the house.
Wrapping my good hand around my thumb, I head toward my truck. Sounds of construction ring out behind me. It’s usually music to my ears, the lifeblood of the Madden name. But each cut of a sawblade, buzz of a power drill, and swing of a hammer feels like a distraction this morning. I have a throbbing thumb to show for it.
Beads of sweat cluster along my forehead. I remove my hat with my good hand and run the back of my forearm along my brow.
“Damn it.” Everything feels sticky. Mildly irritating. And the progress on the project that usually energizes me has failed me epically this morning. I just don’t want to be here. Not that I have a better place to be. Quite frankly, I have a lot of places I shouldn’t be, and with Neely, or thinking about Neely, is one of them.
I would’ve recognized her anywhere. Same gray eyes that glimmer like she’s about to tell you a secret. Full lips that spread into a smile so infectious you can’t help but feel your own mouth following suit. The hint of floral perfume, the golden hair that may as well be silk, and the aura about her that’s just as strong as the day she left Dogwood Lane and me—it’s all the same. It’s like time forgot to age her. She somehow has become more beautiful, sexier, stronger.
The world hates me. I’ve postulated this for a long time, but it’s obvious today.
The tailgate of my truck lowers. Scooping a handful of ice from the cooler in the bed into a bandanna, I wrap it around my injured digit. The relief lasts only a few moments.
“What are you doing down here?” Penn rests his forearms over the side of the truck, the tattoos carved in his skin like mini masterpieces on full display. He eyes my makeshift bandage. “What happened to you?”
“Hammer,” I groan, adjusting the ice.
“That’s interesting.”
“How you figure?”
“Never knew you to hit yourself with a hammer before. I find that interesting.”
“If that’s interesting, you need a hobby. Or you could work like I’m paying you to do . . .”
“I have a hobby, thank you, and you should’ve seen her last night,” he says, smacking his lips together. “Lord Almighty, she’s a—”
“Penn.”
“Yeah?”
The tip of my finger sticks out of the bandanna. It’s bright red and hot to the touch despite the ice packed around it. “All your escapades really sound the same at this point.”
“Is that jealousy I hear?” He cups his hand to his ear. “I thought so. Not my fault you’re in a dry spell.”
Leaning against the truck, I look at him. “Jealousy isn’t how I’d describe it. But if that makes ya feel good, go for it.”
“My hobby makes me feel good.” He moves his lips around, like he’s fighting the next words trying to pop out. He does this when he knows he shouldn’t say something but can’t quite convince himself not to. “From the looks of you, I’d say you’re more than jealous. I’d say you’re . . . tempted.”
My tongue presses on the roof of my mouth. “Tempted to what?”
He leans against the truck, too, the gold St. Christopher’s medal he’s worn since elementary school clamoring against the side. The corners of his lips nearly touch the corners of his eyes. He knows.
“Word travels fast, huh?” I say, prodding around to see if my guess is right.
He slow blinks. Twice.
“What?” I ask.
“That’s all you have to say about Neely being back in town? ‘Word travels fast.’ What’s wrong with you?”
We don’t have time for that conversation.
I sigh. “What do you want me to say?”
“I’d love to have been a fly on the wall for that little run-in.” Penn snickers. “Did you stutter around like I imagine? Or did you not manage to say an entire sentence?”
Working my jaw back and forth, I point a finger his way. “You better stop while you’re ahead.”
He reads me correctly, and his animation drops a notch. “Really, though. How’d it go? But before you answer that, let me toss out there that I heard sparks were flying all over the iner so hot Claire had to call the fire department.”
I shake my head. “Shut up.”
“Just telling you what I heard.”
“The firemen were there to order food, you idiot.”
He thinks he’s onto something. There’s a glee in his face that means only one thing: it’s going to be a long day around here.
“So, what happened?” he asks, resting his arms over the truck bed.
“You know, sometimes I think you should’ve been a girl with all the gossiping you do.”
“This isn’t gossip,” he contends. “This is Neely-freaking-Kimber, man. Every memory I have of my entire adolescence has her in it. She bailed me out of jail when I was too scared to call my dad and you and Matt were passed out on moonshine. Remember that?”
My chuckle is so hard, it causes my thumb to throb. “I forgot about that. She was pissed.”
“Neely came through, though. God, I miss her.”
Those last words echo through my mind.
I have shoved her out of my head for the last few years. Took over Dad’s business, took care of my business. Trudged forward without her because that was the only choice I had. I hardly even think about her anymore unless someone brings her up in conversation.
So why do I itch to crawl into the truck and hunt her down?
Neely left Dogwood Lane without looking back. The love of her life had betrayed her, and she was ready for an exciting career in New York. Years later, career at a halt, she goes home for the first time to visit.
Going home was not what she expected. She quickly falls into her old group, including Dane, the love of her life. Neely has to figure out what is what she really wants: her high powered career or the man she loves and his little girl.
This book was sweet. I liked the concept of going back home, and it felt right. Definitely read this!
Second chances...but more than just love. What would you do if you could go back home? Neely left her small town for New York with ever intending to go back, but 10 years later, that is exactly what happens. There she runs into her ex, the one man she always loved, Dane, who has a daughter now. But it's more than him, she falls back into her old relationships with her friends. She missed them all. When a great job offer comes, will she leave again?
Overall, I enjoyed this book. There were times when I was rolling my eyes and shaking my head, plus there was some repetition. That said, the characters were good and the plot was interesting. Sometimes you can go home. I liked the story and enjoyed reading it. I recommend you one click this one today. 3.5 stars
This is a second chance romance that has some angst and steamy scenes. I would this book a 3.5 stars and recommend to others. This book was a bit predictable IMO but did read smoothly and had a decent story line. Not my fav from this author but it was good non the less.
Life takes a turn for Neely and she finds herself back in her home town to visit her mom, the town she fled from because of a broken heart... but when the man who broke her heart comes tumbling back into her life like a tornado will she be able to forgive him for the past? Or will she choose herself over what he brings to the table?
Dane made a huge mistake in his past but he can't regret it because of the gift he received in return, but when Neely comes back in town will he finally get a second chance with her or will she up and leave again leaving his heart in shambles this time?
Get to one clicking to see what happens!
I do love me second chance romances.
Neeley left her small town behind more than 10 years ago. She quit her job in NYC without thinking of the consequences and returns to her hometown until she can figure out her next move. Back in town, she runs into her ex and the sparks still flame. But her stay in Dogwood is limited.
Neeley also realizes that she left behind not only Dane (the ex) but all her friends too. Dane wants nothing more than for Neeley to stay. She fit right back into his life like the missing puzzle piece, even his daughter adores her.
Once it seems like Neeley is back in a groove she receives a job offer. The question is, does she take it or has she found a new better being back home?
One click now.
