Review: The Perfect Hope by Nora Roberts

The Perfect Hope by Nora Roberts
published by Berkley in November 2012

Ryder is the hardest Montgomery brother to figure out-with a tough-as-nails outside and possibly nothing too soft underneath. He's surly and unsociable, but when he straps on a tool belt, no woman can resist his sexy swagger. Except apparently Hope Beaumont, the innkeeper of his own Inn BoonsBoro…

As the former manager of a D.C. hotel, Hope is used to excitement and glamour, but that doesn't mean she can't appreciate the joys of small-town living. She's where she wants to be-except for in her love life. Her only interaction with the opposite sex has been sparring with the infuriating Ryder, who always seems to get under her skin. Still, no one can deny the electricity that crackles between them…a spark that ignited with a New Year's Eve kiss.

While the Inn is running smoothly, thanks to Hope's experience and unerring instincts, her big-city past is about to make an unwelcome-and embarrassing-appearance. Seeing Hope vulnerable stirs up Ryder's emotions and makes him realize that while Hope may not be perfect, she just might be perfect for him…

Genre: Contemporary romance
Series: Inn Boonsboro trilogy, Book #3

The Story: The Perfect Hope is the latest and also the last book in the Inn Boonsboro trilogy by Ms Roberts and, without surprise, features Ryder Montgomery and Hope Beaumont as our H/H. Ryder and Hope didn't start off on a good footing. Ryder was annoyed that his mother hired the innkeeper on the spot without any real interview and without consulting him and his brothers. He was also not sure that Hope, coming from a big city, would suit the inn, fit in their town. As for Hope, from his clear reluctance and subsequent interactions with him, she found him surly and unsociable. In fact, when it comes to their personalities, the two are opposite... but despite their differences, there's no denying they have chemistry. And so Ryder and Hope decide to embark into a no-string relationship to explore the sparks.

Oh and we also get the conclusion about the ghost, Eliza, and how she connects with the inn.

My Opinion: To be honest, I did not have high expectations for The Perfect Hope when I picked it up. It's not that I didn't like Ryder or Hope from what I read previously in The Next Always and The Last Boyfriend. It's just that the first two installments, while solid, weren't exactly memorable and Ms Roberts' trilogies and quartets can be very predictable. Also, this cover is, hmmm, well ugly! The setting looks fake and the colors are bland. It just doesn't reflect the vibrant feel of the Inn Boonsboro... Ms Roberts usually gets such great covers, but The Perfect Hope's was a total miss and I was afraid it was an indication of the story itself... However, I was totally wrong and The Perfect Hope turned out to be the most enjoyable book in the trilogy for me!

It all came down to Hope and Ryder, they made the book for me :) I enjoyed their characters as they were very likable. I loved Ryder's surliness LOL. I've said it before, but it bears repeating, Ms Roberts definitively has a knack at writing surly, grumpy heroes :) Seriously though, I think I like this type of heroes so much because they are frank, have very little patience for BS and they take care of the heroines when they need to. They're really the perfect mix of alpha and beta heroes :) So yes, I liked Ryder's character and I thought it was cute that his solution to female problems was flowers LOL. As for Hope, she was also very likable. The perfect blend of sophistication and amiability. The kind of woman you can't help but be wowed by, but who's still very nice and sociable. In truth, both Hope and Ryder were your typical Nora Roberts' characters, the ones that are confident, at ease and happy with their lives. So what set them apart, why did I enjoy The Perfect Hope so much? You're going to laugh at me, but it was the no-string relationship ^_^;  This is a very popular theme in contemporary romance at the moment and I've been complaining about it so much in recent months. How tired of the trope I am, how I want something different, how the characters that get into these so-called no-string flings are just not the types that should, etc... But what can I say, Ms Roberts nailed the no-string sex that develops into something more in The Perfect Hope! LOL. What transpires between Ryder and Hope is exactly how the progression from sex to relationship should be done in my opinion. It starts with both Ryder and Hope being attracted to each other and wanting nothing more than sex... And as they have sex, they settle into a routine and get to know each other better. Then at a certain point, they don't really know what they are to each other - more than sex buddies, but not exactly boyfriend/girlfriend. As the fling continues, they develop feelings for each other, they care... and ultimately, they realize they are in love. Best of all, they don't balk at it, they don't get scared and run away! What I loved about Hope and Ryder's relationship was that it was mutual as well. And I also really appreciated the fact that the friends and the brothers didn't get all noisy and ruin it for Ryder and Hope by announcing that they were in love. Instead, they where there as sounding board, offered support and advice... but that's it. The romance was very low in conflict, but it really worked for me :)

In The Perfect Hope, we also got to follow Hope in her life, saw what being an innkeeper entailed, and kept up with the Montgomery's activities and their gatherings. The book pretty much has the same pacing as The Next Always and The Last Boyfriend. If you didn't enjoy it in those two books, chances are it's not going to work for you in The Perfect Hope either. Obviously though, it worked for me :) We got glimpses of the characters' lives showing us their personalities and their work without being bogged down by the daily routine and with a brisk timeline. I think Ms Roberts is one of the best authors at writing this kind of pacing. I've picked up a lot of contemporary romance books lately that tried to mimic this kind of pacing, but a lot of them fell into a too passive rhythm and it made for a dull story. I think Ms Roberts' secret is the use of the secondary characters, but also showing us different kind of interactions and dynamics. I loved seeing Ryder with his brothers, Hope with her best friends... but the best moments were really the family gatherings and the dynamics that involved the kids and the dogs, especially Ryder's D.A. :)

The only part that I didn't care much in The Perfect Hope was the storyline with the ghost. Ms Roberts' use of the paranormal in her trilogies and quartets are always hit or miss for me and in this case, it was a miss. I can see though that it was needed. All three novels were rather low in conflict where the romance was concerned and she couldn't just go on about the inn stuff, so she needed something, another storyline... However, Ms Roberts has had ghosts in previous trilogies, so it wasn't very original. Furthermore, I felt it was just too convenient and predictable how it connected to the Montgomerys :( So I wish Ms Roberts would have come up with something else, something more original and perhaps suspenseful.

My Grade: B. Despite the fact that the story was predictable, I still really enjoyed The Perfect Hope for the characters and the execution. It was not the most memorable story, but it was solid and I have a feeling it's going to be one that I'll be re-reading :) Also, there is a comfort factor in picking up a Nora Roberts book. The writing style, voice and pacing are so familiar, they simply me in the story :)

Review: The Next Always by Nora Roberts

Hi everyone!! How's your week-end going? Mine is great, but I feel so unproductive :( Didn't do anything.. and it's worst considering that I had Friday off as well because I went in for a doctor appointment. Sigh. Also, I haven't been reading... Just don't know what to pick up ^_^; At least, I have been re-reading, but it doesn't feel right sigh. And today, I'm meeting friends the whole day, so no reading either. Ah well, hopefully, I'll make it up this week...

Once again, no Hauling Sunday post this week as I haven't gone to the bookstore. Shocking right? LOL. But it proves that I can do it! Of course, lack of release and pre-orders play a big role. I still have my Monthly Reads post for October to post, but I didn't feel like it since I've just post September's last week. Maybe next week? :) So instead, you get this review!

I had other books I wanted to review first, but after the discussion topic of this week, I thought it would tie-in well if I reviewed The Next Always... and so The Next Always it is :) Enjoy the review!


The Next Always by Nora Roberts

published by Berkley in November 2011

The historic hotel in Boonsboro 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. Beckett is the architect of the family, and his 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.

After losing her husband and returning to her hometown, Clare Brewster soon settles into her life as the mother of three young sons while running the town’s bookstore. Busy, with little time for romance, Clare is drawn across the street by Beckett’s transformation of the old inn, wanting to take a closer look... at the building and the man behind it.

With the grand opening inching closer, Beckett’s happy to give Clare a private tour - one room at a time. It’s no first date, but these stolen moments are the beginning of something new - and open the door to the extraordinary adventure of what comes next...

Genre: Contemporary romance
Series: Inn Boonsboro trilogy, Book #1

The Story: The Montgomery brothers - Ryder, Owen and Beckett - along with their mother Justine are committed to bringing Inn Boonsboro back to its splendor and re-opening it for business. Beckett, the youngest, is the architect on this project, although he doesn't mind strapping on his tool belt to pitch in whenever necessary.

Clare Murphy Brewster married right out of high school and followed her husband who enlisted in the army to Kansas. After his death, she moved back to Boonsboro with her three boys and opened Turn the Page, her bookstore.

Beckett has been sweet on Clare since high school. With the inn bringing them closer together, Beckett seizes the opportunity to make his move on Clare and start his courtship...

My Opinion: I was a bit worried when I started this book because the reviews have been so-so... However, it turned out that I really enjoyed The Next Always! Perhaps it's because I went in with low expectations, but most probably I think it's because this book really suited my mood at that time :)

It seems to me the keyword to The Next Always was normal. Beckett and Clare live in Boonsboro where they grew up and therefore know almost everyone. They have normal lives, normal jobs, normal families. No big, dark secrets in their closets, no recent changes to adapt, no upheavals to overcome. Simply two persons who were friends and took their friendship a step further, with no obstacle standing in the way :)  It sounds simple and perhaps a little boring, but it wasn't. Sometimes, you need books like The Next Always because they're nice and feel real :)

I really liked the H/H in The Next Always. Beckett was a nice guy, fun even. He's had a crush on Clare for a long time and even now, often stops by her bookstore for books and coffee to see her :) I thought that was really sweet :) I loved how he connected with Clare's boys. He really enjoyed spending time with them and it showed. I liked that he wasn't out of his depth dealing with boys under 10 years old... Probably because he remembered being a boy of that age :) I also enjoyed Beckett's camaraderie with his own brothers. They really knew and understood each other well and had a good relationship. They also loved their mother, were a little scared of her and that was cute :) As for Clare, I liked her a lot as well. She was a great mom and her boys were happy and well adjusted. The children were definitively her priority, but she had space in her life for more :) I liked that she wasn't scared of starting a relationship with Beckett, that she didn't over-worry too much. I also liked her friendship with Avery and Hope - every woman needs girlfriends :) Ms Roberts also did a great job with the secondary cast. I loved Clare's sons, especially Murphy. They were a blast :) I liked what I've read so far of Owen, Ryder, Avery and Hope and I think Ms Roberts did a great job at keeping the sequel baiting at a minimum :)

The romance was nice and sweet :) Some feel that there wasn't enough focus on it, that Beckett and Clare didn't have enough alone time, but I didn't mind. They've known each other for a long time, so I didn't feel the need for them to always be together. Also, they were two busy persons - Beckett with the inn, Clare with the boys and the business, so it made sense to me that they couldn't always get together. However, when they did, they enjoyed it and that's what mattered :) The fact that there wasn't any big conflict worked for me, although it doesn't mean that the relationship was smooth sailing. There were a few kinks of course, but Beckett and Clare did a great job at communicating and compromising :) They were simply good together :)

One important part of the book was the inn and I know some feel that Ms Roberts focused a little bit too much on it... and most probably, they are right, but it didn't bother me. I considered the inn like another character of the book and as it is the central element to this trilogy, why not? In addition, I thought it was interesting to read about it. It made me feel part of the project. To read about Beckett and Justine's vision and reading about the brothers making it real... Also, may I say I really like the concept of the inn? The atmosphere they're aiming for, but also the rooms theme. Knowing it's real just makes it more awesome LOL. Oh and I thought the ghost was a nice touch to the story :)


The only thing that didn't really work for me is the stalker plot. I don't know, I think it didn't really fit with the mood of the book, although at the end, it was a good plot device to make Beckett and Clare's relationship advance. Also, now that I'm reviewing the book, it does seem that The Next Always is lacking a bit of depth. I mean, we really just see the surface of everything - the characters and the relationships. It doesn't bother me, but perhaps it will others ^_^;

My Grade: B. The Next Always is not Ms Roberts' most memorable book, but it worked for me. The writing was solid as usual and I liked the characters, the setting, the romance and the simplicity of the book :) I'm definitively looking forward to the next book in this trilogy, The Last Boyfriend. I really liked Owen - I find his organization skills sexy LOL.