The Next Always by Nora Roberts (Inn Boonsboro Trilogy #1)
Contemporary Romance
November 1, 2011
Reviewed by Mandi
Beckett Montgomery along with his brothers Ryder and Owen all work together at their family owned business, Montgomery Family Contractors. Along with their mother, they have purchased a dilapidated inn in western Maryland and have been putting 100% effort into making it an amazing bed and breakfast. But it still needs a lot of work. Beckett is the architect of the group, and is very busy with all the plans.
Clare Brewster owns a cute little bookstore, right across from the Inn. She is a widow, having lost her husband five years ago in Iraq. After his death, she moved back to her hometown. She has three young boys and throw on working full time and being a single parent, she is very busy. Beckett has always had a little crush on Clare since high school. Recently they’ve been dancing around each other as they are both in the right place in their lives to try out this dating thing.
The Next Always is the first in a new trilogy that follows along the Montgomery brothers. This book is heavy on the details of remodeling the inn. It really paints a picture in your head of what this old inn will eventually look like – although I do think these details really slow down the story. We also get much page time devoted to the residents of this small Maryland town. Beckett’s brothers Ryder and Owen work together, and also give each other a hard time throughout most of the book. Their heroines are quietly hinted at – enough that will make you interested to pick up each of their books. Clare’s friends are there to support her as she tries to raise three rowdy boys – and give her some sense of sanity. There is a nice small town feel to this book.
With that said, I do think the romance falls a little flat. Partly because Beckett and Clare just don’t have a lot of page time together. I thought it felt realistic that their romance is impeded by Clare’s kids and both of their hectic schedules, but I wanted to see them fall in love more than we do. I like that Clare pushes for the relationship and they have a very easy going feel to it all. But I think we miss some of the more intimate moments where they go from “hey let’s try dating” to the “I want this to be serious.”
Also Clare is being stalked by this man she knows. She keeps it to herself for awhile (at first it really isn’t that big of a deal) but as the story progresses, this stalker become a little more – persistent. The stalker storyline didn’t really do much for me, but at the end it does come down to a big moment, and this is where I lost a little respect for this book.
Throughout the book there is a ghost, which, I don’t love ghosts in my contemporary romances, but I get that this is an old inn, so I went with it. Beckett becomes more involved with the ghost – talking to her (to himself really). Sometimes a door in a certain room would open or close. But at the very end the ghost does something that really weakens the plot. Almost like it was an easy out to get the heroine out of trouble. I was really disappointed by this and it made me roll my eyes.
Overall, this book is just okay for me. It is cute, but a little slow at times. I wish the romance was focused on a little more, but I liked both hero and heroine. And as I said above, I did not like the ghost aspect at all.
Rating: C
Recent Reviews:
Hanging With Bells – 3.75/5
Errant Dreams Reviews – 3.5/5
Goodreads
Author’s Website l Series Listing
Great review Mandi! I feel the same way, the ghost thing just pissed me off, especially at the end… WTF???
Yeah..ghost was a big WTF. Boo! (ahaha..get it?)
you’re too funny (kinda)
I do like Nora Roberts books ,and I want to read this one for myself. But, I do love ghosts in my books, so looking forward to reading it.
Oh good…I’m interested to hear your thoughts!
Yeah I wasn’t feeling the ghost. It started off interesting and went straight to Are you freaking serious! I really think it could have worked. Great review. ;)
This one didn’t appeal to me so I passed on reading it. Catherine really liked it though. Sorry the ghostie did nothing for you. :)
I cut my teeth on Nora Roberts-but I just can’t get into her anymore. I don’t think this one is for me.
Eh pass from me. I could try her Bride series, but this new series does not catch my attention
Great review Mandi. I like old Nora Roberts. GHosts are great but this one sounds off.
Mandi, you don’t like ghosts in books? Awww…, it must be a new small trend because Lisja Kleypas mentioned she will have a ghost in an upcoming contemp. (Not Rainshadow Road, but the one after that.)
I’m still gonna read the Nora book because I love her straight contemps. Hopefully the books will get better as the series continues.
Yeah – I tend to not like them. I feel like rolling my eyes when I read about them for some reason :)
I do like the set up for the other two brothers so I will probably read on
I used to devour everything she read when I first started reading romance novels which was eons ago. And she has written some of my favorite books, although I’d have a hard time actually recalling any of them.
but after a while, and I don’t mean this in a mean way, Nora Roberts is like grocery store sushi.
It’s pretty.
It’s convenient.
It has all the right ingredients (children, ghosts, inns).
and it will do in a pinch….
but it is just never as good as you think it is going to be or want it to be because it’s too prepackaged and the rice has always been around too long. ;-)
snort..grocery store sushi..LOL
Hi Mandi!
I haven’t read this book but I’m afraid that it will be a huge endorsement of the business Nora has in Boonsboro. She actually owns an inn, a gym, and God knows what else. When I saw the book’s title I was immediately suspicious about it even though I’m like Nora’s biggest fan and I should be blind to her imperfections (I’m not kidding, I’m a crazy fan-girl), but still, it all seemed a bit fishy to me… I’ll have to read the book and see.
I actually didn’t know she owned this inn until after I read it. The details for the inn definitely weigh down the story.
Someone on Twitter said it read as an infomerical…I kinda agree
You need to read some Lisa Shearin and Richelle Mead!!!!!!!!!! lol
I didn’t read the review, just came by to see the grade. I have to say I’m not really surprised. Her last few books have not been that great (for me)… I think I’ll borrow from library this time.
Yeah – def a borrow from a library type book
I haven’t read the book yet but given the reviews and comments above, I’m now curious enough to get a copy. I’ve always been a fan of Nora Roberts and I’ve loved her series that have had brothers as the main characters in the past. I’m sincerely hoping that this won’t just be an “ok” read.
I think she does a nice job with the brothers relationship…I liked that aspect
Has anybody but me wondered if Nora isn’t writing her own books anymore….
Currently reading this book, almost finished. It went kinda slow for me in the beginning but than it took off!!! I have really enjoyed the material and am looking forward to the sequels. :)
I will probably read the next one. I like the brothers :)