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? Pro Tip: If you own the e-book, 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! 4 Star Review by Ashley Adriana Locke is an author I read blind so I wasn't sure what I was getting and I wasn't prepared for the slow ache that this gave me. Sigh. It took me a hot minute to figure out what was happening in Tumble. Holy smokes- talk about small-town drama and this one is juicy! I liked Neely. She was strong-willed and confident but also burnt out. Dedicated to her job, she lives a lonely life in the big city. She had poured all of her time and passion into making her dream a reality and got stuck with a nightmare. Not one to take things laying down, she decided to catch her breath with a visit at her hometown, a place she hadn't been in a decade. And she didn't leave on the best of terms. She left with a shattered heart. Thanks to Dane. Oh Dane. Immediately I didn't like him because he had hurt Neely. And when I learned exactly what he had done, my rage flag was flying. Did I get his rationale after he was given a chance to explain himself, kind of. He was just a kid at the time and in his mind and heart he was doing the right thing. Even though it wasn't. However, the more I saw him with sweet and adventurous Mia, the more he wore me down. And Neely too. Though she did require a bit more a nudge in the direction of forgiveness. I kept waiting for the big dramatic blow-up to happen. I knew it was coming, especially since Neely kept telling everyone she was headed back to New York. But I was prepared for her departure to hurt as much as it did. In her short time back at Dogwood Lane, she mad a big impact. But she had her dreams to chase and given the opportunity to do so, she couldn't say 'no'. So where did that leave Dane and Mia? Gah! My heart almost couldn't take it. I'm just going to take a moment and swoon over 'the big gesture' because this one was epic- on both accounts (and that's all I'm going to say about it). No lie, Tumble was everything I didn't know I wanted in this small-town, second-chance romance. There was heartache and heat and humor and hope. It was powerful but in a subtle way. Not in your face, but one of those that hits you when it's over and you put it all together. Dane and Neely are the proof that chasing your dreams opens doors you didn't even know were possible. Especially when there is a whole lot of love in the mix. And I am very much looking forward to returning to Dogwood Lane to get more of this fun cast of characters! 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 diner 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? Enter the GIVEAWAY: http://bit.ly/2TQRgwK Preorder Tangle, Book #2, for just $3.99: https://amzn.to/2GTJQXV About the Author USA Today Bestselling author Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, Adriana has created her own.
She resides in the Midwest with her husband, sons, and two dogs. She spends a large amount of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. You can find her outside if the weather's nice and there's always a piece of candy in her pocket. For sneak peeks, giveaways, and more, please join Adriana's Facebook Group, Books by Adriana Locke, or her Goodreads group, All Locked Up. AUTHOR LINKS Website: http://www.adrianalocke.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoradrianalocke Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorALocke Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8379774.Adriana_Locke Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoradrianalocke Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authoradrianalo Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/adrianalocke Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/BBALGroup Goodreads Group: http://bit.ly/AllLockedUp Newsletter: http://bit.ly/LockeList
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