I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
The Last Boyfriend
by
Nora Roberts
in eBook edition that was published by Berkley on May 1, 2012 and has 353 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Irish Hearts, Montana Sky, Carnal Innocence, Playing the Odds, Second Nature, One Summer, Nora Robert, Serena * Caine, Daniel * Ian, Rebellion, Alan * Grant, The Witness, The Search, Time and Again, Shadow Spell, Blood Magick, The Next Always, The Perfect Hope, Irish Rebel, Year One, Of Blood and Bone, Legacy
Second in The Inn Boonsboro Trilogy cozy romance series and revolving around the three Montgomery brothers. The couple focus is on Avery MacTavish and Owen Montgomery.
My Take
I do love this series. It’s so warm and cozy with supportive characters and a great idea! I adore old buildings for their history and character, and this series revolves around an old inn the Montgomery family is restoring into the most romantic sounding B&B. Each of the rooms is named for an in-love couple from literature which inspires the individual décor — yes, Eve and Roarke are in here along with Elizabeth and Darcy, Westley and Buttercup, Jane and Rochester, Marguerite and Percy, Nick and Nora, and Titania and Oberon. My imagination goes wild wanting to visit each of these rooms!
It’s a small town, with that family-oriented Main Street vibe. The kind of place in which we’d love to live. You will absolutely adore how Beckett and his brothers interact with Clare’s boys, teaching them how to use a hammer, do framing… The way Beckett empowers the boys after the attack in The Next Always, 1, how he makes them feel, will fill your heart. And they’re already calling Justine Gran.
The romance is very low-key and long-winded — since they were like five or six with a bubble-gum ring. A lot like Owen really with his methodical approach and need to think and re-think. And his “pursuit” is a crack-up. He’s gotta think about that too. Look at all the angles.
“Owen, that’s called spontaneity. You’re not really familiar with the concept.”
The Last Boyfriend just keeps going with the laughter. Owen runs into a “nightmare” in his mom’s kitchen and the boys’ reaction is too funny for words: Ry figures Willy B is big, but he’s old. He can take him. LOL, Avery wants to know if the boys don’t want their mother to have the best; I loved that conversation, *more laughter*.
“‘You’re gonna be our uncle.’
‘That’s what I hear.’
‘So you have to buy us Christmas presents.’
‘I guess I do.’
‘I got a list.’
‘A man after my own heart.'”
Harry cracks me up with his “number one”! And everyone is so perfect about losing all the time. To a kid!!
“‘Well, you said we were to treat her like family. So, do you want me to be polite to her, or treat her like family?’
…
‘Think you’re clever?’
‘Yes’m. I take after my mama.’
…
‘I’m being polite.’
‘Did it hurt?’
‘Not yet. Might be sore later.'”
Oooweee, Owen sticks his foot in it over the restaurant idea: MacT’s Restaurant and Tap Room. And Avery is totally right about his reasons. And ya gotta love Owen for being able to say that he’s wrong.
Oh, man, there’s a back history on why Willy B had to raise Avery on his own. And why Avery cooks the way she does. Self-defense all the way, lol. As for that New Year’s party…I was so jealous of how easily Owen put it all together. I’ve never been able to do that. Maybe I need to go live in a book where I can write my perfect life…? God knows I can’t seem to live it in the real world, lol.
Then there’s Avery’s mother. What. A. Piece. Of. Work. Such a contrast to Justine who comes out with the most reassuring speech. Ever. It’s a beautiful talk she has with Avery.
Fortunately, planning Clare’s April wedding, finding THE wedding dress
makes up for it all.
There’s conflict in here. Minor ones with Lizzy and the new restaurant, with Owen’s need to think, but the really big one is with Avery’s abandonment issues and how it affects her approach to men, to Owen. The overlying series conflict is Lizzy. Who was she? Who and where is Billy? It’s a nice tie-in that tickles your wonder.
And Justine gets another brilliant idea that has her boys groaning, lol.
The Story
Owen is the organizer of the Montgomery clan, running the family’s construction business with an iron fist — and an even less flexible spreadsheet. And though his brothers bust on his compulsive list-making, the Inn BoonsBoro is about to open right on schedule. The only thing Owen didn’t plan for was Avery McTavish.
Avery’s popular pizza place is right across the street from the inn, giving her a first-hand look at its amazing renovation — and a newfound appreciation for Owen. Since he was her first boyfriend when they were kids, Owen has never been far from Avery’s thoughts. But the attraction she’s feeling for him now is far from innocent. As Avery and Owen cautiously take their relationship to another level, the opening of the inn gives the whole town of Boonsboro a reason to celebrate.
But Owen’s hard work has only begun. Getting Avery to let down her guard is going to take longer than he expected — and so will getting her to realize that her first boyfriend is going to be her last.
The Characters
Avery “The Little Red Machine” MacTavish is a sassy little redhead who owns and runs the Vesta Pizzeria and Family Restaurant. She’s now living in Beckett’s old apartment above the restaurant (The Next Always). And she’s best friends with Clare and Hope. The shy Willy B is Avery’s dad who raised her alone. He was Tommy Montgomery‘s best friend. Traci is the mother who ran off. Steve is the love of her life.
Franny is one of Avery’s waitresses and her second-in-command. Dave is another of her employees getting a root canal.
Owen Montgomery is the detail- and list-obsessed brother in the Montgomery Family Contractors business. Ryder focuses on the actual construction. Dumbass is Ryder’s dog; D.A. for short. Their mother, Justine, is the ideas woman who’s doing the decorating of the inn — and it sounds incredibly gorgeous. I wanna book a room. Carolee is Justine’s sister and the assistant innkeeper. Eliza “Lizzy” Ford of the New York Fords is the ghost who resides in Elizabeth and Darcy waiting for her Billy. Atticus “Cus” and Finch are Justine’s dogs.
Beckett is the architect brother who’s marrying Clare. Ben and Yoda are the new puppies Beckett got the boys. Yep, Clare has three sons: Harry, Liam, and Murphy. Clare runs Turn the Page, the village bookstore with Laurie and Charlene Reeder as her employees. Alva Ridenour is a retired schoolteacher who babysits the boys. Rosie is Clare’s mother. Clint was Clare’s first husband.
Luther is doing the iron work. Hope Beaumont is a lucky find; they hired her to be the innkeeper after the personal disasters erupted in her life in The Next Always. Jonathan is the reason the Montgomerys got so lucky.
The Liberty House School was founded in 1878 by Catherine Darby to educate girls. She was Hope’s great-great-great-grandmother.
Charlie Reeder is an old friend and the town cop. Spence is a Montgomery cousin. Lynn Barney is getting a kitchen rehab. Bast seems to be a primary supplier of the inn’s furnishings. Kirby Anderson was a boyfriend-stealing slut, although Jason Wexel was an interference. Madeline runs the arts gallery. Jim and Karyn broke up. Harmony is the slut who can deliver the subtext. Beth and Garrett are getting married.
The Cover and Title
The cover is an interior shot of one of the rooms — I’m thinking it’s the one Carolee spent so much time on. Soft green walls and cream furnishings with a small peach bouquet on the round table in the foreground. The author’s name is a shade of peach at the top while the title disappears at the bottom.
The title is about Owen; he’s the first boyfriend and The Last Boyfriend.
