Review (New Release): Tumble by Adriana Locke

From USA Today bestselling author Adriana Locke comes a witty romance about first love and second chances.

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?

My Thoughts~~~

Tumble is a romance that fits in the small town, single parent, and second chance trope categories. It's the first book in Adriana Locke's new Dogwood Lane series and it had both elements that were satisfying and some that were less so. Locke is great at world building. The fictional town of Dogwood Lane and the characters who live there are really given life. It feels like a place you could imagine to be real. A place you'd feel at home and welcome- like a small town from a Hallmark movie. Unfortunately for me, that connection didn't translate to the relationship of focus; the romance lacked real feeling and depth. Dane and Neely's relationship is meant to be a love renewed, but I didn't find myself invested in their reignited passion. It fell sort of flat. Seeing as this is a romance involving a single parent, I also like to take into account the third party's interactions and feelings towards the child. Neely was always very friendly with Mia, and she eventually spoke about her with words of love and affection, BUT I didn't FEEL that love, and that's an important part for me. In the end, I did not 'tumble' or fall for Neely and Dane's story, but I did get hooked on Dogwood Lane. I'd still be very open and interested in reading any further novels in the series.