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?

Book 1
Buy Links

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~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Second chance romance

Neely has come home to figure out what her next steps are. Despite having a brilliant mind and an amazing job, when she is faced with some disappointing news, she knows her only way forward is to start again. Having left her hometown and not returned for years, she knows she'll have to face some ghosts too. It still is hard for her to see her first love, Dane, but she wants to feel the peace and quiet of her hometown and she'll put up with him in order to achieve that.

Dane is a successful carpenter with his own crew. He knows that he has some huge regrets, but he also loves his life. When he sees Neely again for the first time in years, it takes him a minute to catch his breath. He knows that he made a huge mistake with her and nothing he says will ever truly make it right. But Dane also knows that he has never stopped loving her.

Neely and Dane have this slow burn chemistry that they let simmer for a while. I really enjoyed watching them learn each other again. They aired their past hurts, but at the same time, while they were able to forgive, neither will forget. Dane has to show Neely that he knows better this time around and Neely has to decide if Dane is worth the risk.

It's a small town with tons of people hoping that they will get back together. When Neely is faced with a similar decision of staying or leaving, she'll have to decide whether or not having all of her boxes checked is more important than changing what goes in those boxes.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the first book in a new series, set in a small town where everyone knows everything. Neely left 10 years ago and has avoided returning, mainly due to her ex-boyfriend, Dane, getting her best friend pregnant just as she went to college. She refuses to talk about it with her mother and has lived in denial ever since.

However, she quit her job in New York and came home for some comfort from her mum. And, of course, sees one-time love, Dane. The story unfolds slightly predictably, but with some very sweet twists and turns, and made for a very easy read.

I have to admit I looked at some of the reviews and was genuinely surprised that there was a huge backlash about Dane's behaviour ten years ago – it wasn't a stellar thing to do, but it seemed far from unforgivable for a confused 19 year old (I am guessing Katie should take some responsibility here too), and he undoubtedly has done the right thing since, against the odds. Each to their own, I guess.

For me, this was a rather sweet story, where someone was reminded that maybe the thing they were meant to be wasn't so far from home after all, and it took experience and love to make a change for the better.

USA Today bestselling author Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys dreamed up by other authors, she decided to create her own. She is the author of Tumble, the first novel in her Dogwood Lane series; the Exception series; the Gibson Brothers series; and the Landry Family series.

She resides in the Midwest with her husband, her sons, two dogs, two cats, and a bird. 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. Besides cinnamon gummy bears, boxing, and random quotes, her next favorite thing is chatting with readers. She’d love to hear from you!

Connect with Adriana

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Tumble (Dogwood Lane #1) by Adriana Locke to read and review.