CR Review: The Last Boyfriend by Nora Roberts

 

The Last Boyfriend 

by Nora Roberts 

Book #2 in The Inn BoonsBoro series
Buy: Amazon - B&N
RATING: ★★★

Owen Montgomery and Avery MacTavish have been best friends forever. The organizer of the Montgomery clan, Owen runs the family’s construction business with an iron will and an inflexible spreadsheet. His brothers might tease Owen about his compulsive list-making, but everyone knows he played a key role in seeing Inn BoonsBoro opened right on schedule. 

From her popular pizzeria right across the street from the inn, Avery MacTavish boasted a front row seat to its amazing renovation—and she found a new appreciation for Owen. She considers Owen her first boyfriend, due to a childhood crush, and a bubblegum ring. But she can't claim the attraction she feels for him now as child-like or 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 her to let down her guard may take longer than he expected—as will convincing Avery her first boyfriend is going to be her last. 

Review: 

Avery MacTavish and Owen Montgomery have known each other almost all of their lives and are great friends. They find themselves suddenly with a deeper attraction for each other and are trying to figure out what to make of it. Is this something comfortable that might mess with the friendship they treasure or is it really something more for both of them?

The renovation of the Inn BoonsBoro is almost complete and they ready for the opening. While I enjoyed learning of the details of the project in the first book, I found myself wearying of it in this one, especially since the first couple of chapters seemed to focus on it entirely. However, the story seemed to regain its rhythm and the relationship between Avery and Owen took center stage. I liked that they didn't spend a lot of time debating whether they should or shouldn't give in to their attraction but actually thought about its repercussions and prepared for it. This was truly an adult level relationship and both handled later conflicts like you would hope two mature people who care about each other would. This was the most outstanding aspects of the story, in my opinion as both stayed true to character.

Another high point of the book was the continuation of the characters from the first story as all prepared for Clare and Beckett's wedding. Those adorable boys have their moments and keep it fun. The Montgomery boys also have to contend with a new to them relationship involving their mother, Justine, that is belly laugh funny. The character continuation was integrated with Owen and Avery's and didn't overpower their story. There is also more to learn about the Inn's resident ghost, Lizzy.

This may not be the greatest story but it is one I enjoyed and am looking forward to the next in the series. There were some complex relationship issues tackled here and give Avery and Owen's relationship serious credibility.