Friday, September 07, 2012

The Next Always by Nora Roberts

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Inn Boonsboro #1
Publication Date: 1st November 2011
Book Source: Own audio
Narrator: Macleod Andrews
Time: 11 hours/356 pages

Synopsis: The historic hotel in BoonsBoro, Maryland, has endured war and peace, changing hands, even rumored hauntings. Now it’s getting a major facelift from the Montgomery brothers and their eccentric mother. As the architect of the family, Beckett’s social life consists mostly of talking shop over pizza and beer. But there’s another project he’s got his eye on: the girl he’s been waiting to kiss since he was fifteen…

My Thoughts:
Let me just start by saying I loved the story but the narrator killed it. If he had of spoken any slower I may have slipped into a coma and his tone for the female characters and kids was hideously fake. Altering the audio speed did help but when the narrator got excited he sounded like a chipmunk on speed ... guess it won't come as a surprise that I'll be reading the 2nd book not listening to it. 

Nora Roberts has a knack with characters and I don't think anybody writes brothers like her (except maybe Jill Shalvis lol.) The Quinn brothers from the Chesapeake series are among my favourites but I adored the Montgomery brothers. The banter between Beckett, Ryder and Owen is absolutely hilarious ... typical brotherly razzing and quite a few f-bombs. 

I loved Clare, a young widow with three precocious boys and owner of the local book store, Turn the Page. Clare's friends are girls I'd want to be friends with, Clare's boys aren't cookie cutter kids, they're fun, exhausting, whiny, loving, everything that boys should be and Beckett's relationship with them is really cute.  

Nora Roberts owns Inn Boonsboro, her husband the local bookstore, Turn the Page, and her son owns Vestra, the pizzeria mentioned in The Next Always. I felt it added authenticity and I loved hearing all the planning and renovation details. Sure, the publicity wouldn't have hurt but for me it came across as writing what you know and love. I for one googled Inn Boonsboro - with rooms themed to literary couples - my pick would be the Elizabeth & Darcy room :)

You know you're going to get a HEA with Nora Roberts, no surprises there ... that's why I read them and Clare and Beckett's sweet romance put a smile on my face but it was the Montgomery brothers that added that something extra to this one. 




9 comments:

  1. I've been meaning to try this series so I'll probably read instead of listen. I appreciate the audio comments!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I was a little more cynical than you about the whole Boonsboro setting.

    I do agree that Nora Roberts does have a particular skill in writing strong groups of friends and brothers. This isn't my favourite of her series though

    ReplyDelete
  3. Shhhhhhhhhhh don't tell anyone, *wink* but I am not a Nora fan... I have tried and tried and tried... but I ALWAYS struggle with Nora's books!! YIKES!!!! I hope that doesn't make me a book sinner???? :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Glad I choose to read this series! Just finished the second book.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I haven't touched Nora Roberts in a very long time. This one sounds like a good one.

    That's why I hate audiobooks. It almost sounds like the narrator didn't care about the feel of the story at all.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I never read any books written by this author. I'm not a huge fan of these kind of books, but I do keep hearing great things about her books. Wondering if I should try a short book written by her... Know any good short ones? Great review!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Nora is always good whenever I need a HEA fix, and love that she incorporates her life in this one! Enjoyed your review!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I so have to try one of her books!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hmmm. Sounds like a self serving book?

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to leave some comment love, I'm a 'comment back' kinda girl. Don't forget to check the 'Notify me' box