Small town, second chance romance? Yes PLEASE! I fell hard for Neely and Mack, and I do love a redemption story. We all make mistakes, especially as teenagers, and I appreciated seeing how much can change in 10 years. Mack's daughter, Mia, was adorable and a fantastic addition to the supporting cast. The Dogwood Lane series is one I'll have on my radar for sure- can't wait to read the next installment.

With Tumble (Dogwood Lane #1) Adriana Locke has cemented herself as one of my TOP FAVE authors in small-town romance! This is the EPIC second-chance love story of Neely Kimber and Dane Madden, chock full of alllllll the FEELS, ANGST and SWOON I've come to expect from her!

Neely returns to Dogwood Lane to visit and re-group after her unfortunate loss of her dream job as a sports journalist goes up in smoke, only to run straight into her ex, Dane. The reasons for their break-up are raw and extremely hard to swallow. Having said that, I applaud Ms. Locke for how she handled the whole situation because it felt COMPLETELY honest and HEART-BREAKINGLY REAL!!!

I fell in love with all the main characters in this one, especially the endearing, heart-stealing Mia! All the secondary characters were exceptional, as well. The heat and chemistry between Neely and Dane is addictive and I loved how they worked through and overcame some very difficult circumstances that are very true-to-life!

I can't WAIT for more of this series! Bravo Adriana!!!

Falling back in love!

Journalist Neely Kimber returned to Dogwood Lane to lick her wounds after quitting her journalism job in New York because she was passed over for a promotion. Seeing her ex-boyfriend Dane Madden that she dated until she left for college brought back memories, memories that Dane had a child with her former best friend Katie. Neely found out the little girl she had talked to was Dane’s daughter Mia and that Katie had left right after Mia’s birth leaving Dane a single parent. Contractor Dane madden would do anything for his daughter and when her gymnastic hero returned to town, he wasn’t so sure he wanted to see Neeley again because she was going back to New York City

I really liked Tumble because I love small town romances because they remind me of home with reunited lovers as a bonus make it even better. Neely and Dane finally got it together at the end with Mia making sure they got it right. Plus the groveling scene in New York City is good!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tumble is the first book in the Dogwood Lane series by the ever-talented, Adriana Locke. I was so excited when I found out she was writing a new series with all new characters in a new town. I have loved all of her books and was just as amazing. I don’t want to spoil anything so I will make this fast.

Neely hasn’t been home in ten years. Not since they day she left for college. From there she moved on to New York to become a sports journalist. She was making her way up in that world until she came crashing down. Now, she is back in Dogwood Lane for a few days to get some fresh air and to visit her mom. Once she finds a new job in NY she will be leaving the small town once again. Her life was in NY. The life she built.

Dane is a single dad to a daughter who has him wrapped around her finger. He has built his life around his little girl. He works hard. Hangs out with his friends and family and rarely dates. He misses the waking up to a woman in his arms but the only one he has even wanted there left ten years ago. Neely. And now she was back. Only for a few days but damn does he wish she would stay forever.

Dane and Neely’s relationship ended years ago but when they are in the room, the sparks are still flying. Everyone in town feels them. But, they have a past that holds them back. She also needs to feel like she has succeeded in the world. Made a difference and she doesn’t see that happening in Dogwood Lane. Even if seeing Dane with his little girl makes her heart flutter and her body swoon. Even if she could forgive him for his past mistakes, could they really move forward?

No. Yes. Maybe. You would have to read to find out the whole story. And please trust the author.

Overall...I loved the story. The characters. The banter. The fun. The heat. The love. The hate. It really has it all. I can’t wait to see who is getting a story next. I have a feeling...and omg! It’s going to be good.

Quotes:

“Well, not to be creepy or anything, but I looked him up online. I don’t know how to say this, Neely, but he’s freaking hot.”
“I know.” I moan. “I hate him for it.”
“Don’t hate him for it. Fuck him for it.”

“How are you, Penn?” She gives him a quick once-over. “You look hot.”
Penn’s jaw drops. “I’ve waited for this moment for years.”
“No, really. Make sure you drink enough so you don’t dehydrate.”

“Look at me, sitting erect,” Mia says with a hint of pride.

Tumble is a wonderful small town second chance romance that will give you all the feels !
Neely and Dane were Dogwood Lanes small town sweethearts but not all love affairs have a happy ending ….or could they! Neely had her heart broken and took it to the big city to make it as a journalist and let time heal her wounds. She now finds herself in the last place she ever wanted to be but there has to be a reason.
Dane knows that he was young as oh so stupid but now is the time to man up and prove that this single dad is worth the second chance!
Neely and Dane were so great together !
~Michele McMullen ~~

3.7 Stars
💝 Grab the Ben and Jerry's, a glass of wine and a box of tissues and settle in for a sweet second chance romance
Neely has returned home for a breather while she gets her "life plan" back on track.
It's been a decade since she left home. She is no longer that wide-eyed broken-hearted teen and while everything had changed not a whole lot is truly different. That includes her first love, her first heartache her first - everything.
When Dane sees his childhood love he also sees a second chance - A chance to right the wrongs of a young man who did all the wrong things at all the right times leaving behind him a wake of damage he might finally get the chance to fix.
Dane and Neely were "the" high school couple the whole town believed bound for marriage and babies and a HEA - that was until Dane betrayed Neely. Over a decade has passed but for Neely, the pain is still fresh. Can she find it in her to forgive Danes transgressions? Can she walk away from a life she dreamed of?
This was such a fun second chance romance. Lots of laughter and small-town drama blended with just a touch of angst.

The beginning of another hit series from Adriana Locke!!! The small town of Dogwood Lane, Tennessee will have you falling in love with it's southern charm and the people who live there.

Neely Kimber left town almost 10 years ago for the big city of New York and now she's back after quitting her job. Dane Madden holds a big part of Neely's past and he hurt her in the worst way. Seeing him now, the hurt is still there, but so is the intense chemistry and feelings she thought she had gotten over. Dane and Neely have a lot to overcome. The pain and betrayal are heartbreaking. Dane doesn't want to lose her again and will do everything he can to try to get Neely to stay this time.

A second chance romance that is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. The supporting characters are awesome and I hope we get all their stories too!!

Ahhhhhh all the feelings this book brings, I'm happy, in love, sad, angry, and frustrated, I cried, laughed, and swooned. The heartbreak, the pain, felt so real. Oh yeah this book totally packed with feelings and emotions, that hit me from the get go and since then I can't stop until I reach the words THE END. Even though it's a bit predictable, I still enjoying it nonetheless.
And the characters..ooooohhhhh I can't not love all these amazing characters, the banter between all the characters is so superb that really warms my heart and make me want to move in to Dogwood Lane , each character has it's own charms and I love each one of them.

This book is a mix between second chance romance and small town romance and with sexy single dad, feisty heroine, adorable little girl, and the camaraderie of family and friends, this one definitely a MUST-READ book for romance lovers.

Dane and Neely were a high school couple that were right for each other until they weren't. Too much to drink, a decision that you couldn't take back, 2 broken hearts and 10 years later you have Neely coming home for a few days.

She doesn't want to see Dane but of course she's running into him all over town. He's as hot as he was in high school if not hotter since he's gotten older. He's got a good heart and is still in love with Neely but has their situation really changed?

I love single dad's and Dane is a great dad to Mia. He's not perfect but he gives it a 110%. I absolutely adore their relationship.

Is Dane going to fight for Neely this time? Is Neely going to see what's right in front of her face before she goes back to her dream job in New York? Will they be able to work it out this time and get their HEA or is there too much water under the bridge?

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, I was given the chance to read an ARC of Tumble. I really enjoyed this book. This story encompassed second chance, single Dad and small town romance.

Neely leaves her small town of Dogwood Lane after a betrayal by Dane, her first love, and goes to college then New York city pursuing her dreams.

Ten years later, after a big decision, Neely leaves New York and returns to her hometown. Neely is reunited with Dane and the people she left behind. The small town feel is great. I also really enjoyed the secondary characters and their interaction. I found myself smiling and laughing along with these very loveable characters.

Dane and Neely have some big issues to get past and work through. Neely then faces a major decision regarding their future.

I really fell in love with this book. Neely is a sweet but strong young woman and Dane is a charming and swoon worthy southern man. I highly recommend giving this a read and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

3.5 stars. I love Adriana Locke books. This was a different book for her. Small town single dad second chance Romance book. Neely left Dogwood Lane after her heart was broken to follow her dreams. She’s at crossroad in life and has come back to figure out what was next in life. Dane broke Neely’s heart but never got over her. I will say it made me angry Dane justified his cheating. Mia is a great addition to the book.

One of the best small town / single parent / second chance romance books I've ever had the pleasure of reading!

This book had so many different emotional elements going on, but they tied together so seamlessly.
A lot can change in a small town when you've been away for a decade. That includes the man you left behind and the feelings you once thought you felt toward him.

Dane did what he thought was best for Neely when they were young and she had a promising future in gymnastics. He pushed her away so that she'd leave town and follow her dreams. He didn't know that his actions would push her away permanently. One mistake changed everything between them.

Neely was living it up in the big city, climbing up the corporate ladder to her dream job but constantly chasing something she didn't know that she'd ever find. After a fall out with her employer, she quits her job and travels back to her home town for a little bit of R&R. She definitely didn't expect to run into her first love the day she arrived and find herself drudging up all of those past feelings of young love, loss and betrayal.

This book was comical, witty and heartwarming!!! I thought the pace of the story was wonderful and the way every layer of Dane and Neely's past played out was perfect. Nothing felt too rushed or unrealistic between these two.

I really liked Neely's strong sense of self and desire to empower women and girls through her work. Dane proved to be a truly stand up guy and did everything he could to help those around him. It was hard not to fall head over heels for him! The supporting characters in this book were marvelous!!!! I fell pretty hard for Penn and his care free demeanor! I cannot wait to see what happens with the crew from Dogwood Lane in future books.

I won't spoil the story and how it ended but I will say that the last chapter and the epilogue were so perfect.

When much loved authors try something new, it’s exciting and a little scary too. Tumble starts a new small town series, Dogwood Lane, by Ms Locke and she definitely delivered.
Dane and Neely were high school sweethearts who had things implode on them, leading to 10 years apart until she finally comes home. I found myself liking both characters and rooting for them to get closure and find their happily ever afters.
Dane, his brother, and friend fit the Locke hero mood perfectly. That is to say that they are not perfect at all, but that they have a sense of honor and have a wonderful sense of humor that makes you want to get to know them better.
Neely is a unique and strong heroine. I loved that she let herself lash out at Dane and put the hurt out on a platter, but then felt the need to apologize. I also could relate to how her priorities changed, I think the struggle she went through is something a lot of people deal with as they mature.
This is an overall fun book. There is history and some angst, but it’s not too heavy. There is also a good balance between world building, plot, and character development. I am looking forward to more from Dogwood Lane.

This was my first book by Adriana Locke and I am hooked! 3 of my favorite tropes in one story: second-chance romance, single father, and small town romance! This book will captivate you from the start and leave you wanting more from Dogwood Lane. One of my favorite reads of the year so far!

This is the first book in a new series by this author. If you are a fan of this author this book definitely feels like an Adriana Locke book. It is well written and you get a little bit of everything in it. There were many parts of this book that I really enjoyed. While I’m sure many will love this book, I just couldn’t get into it. This author has so many amazing books but this one just missed the mark for me. There were many secondary characters that I really liked and I hope they get their stories in this series. Even though I wasn’t a fan of this one, I am definitely looking forward for more in this series.

I usually love Adriana Locke’s books. So as soon as I saw a new one, I had to get it and read it.

It’s not that I didn’t enjoy this. I did, somewhat.

I just couldn’t connect to either Neely or Dane. I just wasn’t feeling them.

They both basically said “sorry for what happened 10 years ago”. Then they jump in the sack together, knowing Neely is leaving again.

Dane wants to protect Mia from heartbreak by another woman, but yet he just lets Neely right into Mia’s life.

I did like Penn, Matt, Grace, Mia, and Hayley though.

The writing was great. The story just didn’t grab me the way that Adriana’s books normally do. And I love second chance books, especially single dad ones.

3.5 stars
Honestly, I'm not sure his stand on this book. Yes, I enjoyed it. I love a small town feel. Swoony single dad romances are always my kryptonite. The characters -main and side - were outstanding. I'm crossing my fingers that we get more stories for Matt, Claire, Penn and Haley. (Especially praying for a Matt and Claire coupling) I haven't read an Adriana Locke book in a while so it was nice to fall back into her words. For the most part, Tumble was a very well written book that I could have loved.

Here's my problem. I spent most of the book actively ignoring that Dane and Neely shared a history. I hated their story/their past so much that I legit tried to change it in my mind. I knew that this was a second chance romance. So the two main characters would have to be broken up at some point. However, how they broke up and why they broke up was so messed up, I just didn't wanna deal with it.
*Sigh, I wanted to love this book so much. When Neely and Dane were not reliving past mistakes, they were so good together. I loved their (new) chemistry. If it wasn't for Dane and Neely's circumstances it very easily could have been a 5 star read for me.

Anyways, Tumble may not have been my favorite but I'm still going to continue with this series. I still love the way Adriana Locke writes. And I genuinely liked the Dogwood Lane group of characters. *shrugs*

4 stars
Tumble is the first title in the Dogwood Lane series, a small town, second chance romance whilst poignant is also heart-warming.

The heroine Neely is strong, independent, driven and focused. Unfortunately I struggled to connect with her in the beginning of the book.

Dane is a swoon worthy hero. He made mistakes in his youth , but can't regret the outcome, despite the fact that he lost Neely in the process.

Whilst these characters are flawed, they are also realistic. I really enjoyed the banter they share, that is both witty and honest. The chemistry and connection between Dane and Neely is undeniable, and just oozes off the page.

It took me a bit to get into Tumble, but once I did this cast of characters stole my heart and captivated my interest. By the end I was incredibly eager for the next instalment of Dogwood Lane.

I haven’t read much that Adriana Locke has written, but what I have read, I’ve really liked. A lot. And this book is no exception. Tumble is the first book in this author’s next series, Dogwood Lane. It is Neely & Dane’s story.

Neely & Dane were high school sweethearts but he broke her heart in a very nearly permanent way. But now she’s back in town to unwind and reset after being stabbed in the back by her employer in New York City. Dane knows that she’ll be easy to fall in love with, again, but there’s so much more at stake this time. Can they figure out how to be together, or will life and choices keep them apart for good this time?

I LOVE second chance romance books. Mostly because that’s why my story is and the second chance was more than worth the wait. And so is Neely & Dane’s relationship. She’s been hurt by Dane and by “friends” in NYC, but she’s not jaded. Neely’s character is simply sweet. Yes, she’s angry, and rightfully so. But she’s not vengeful in her anger. She simply wants to do the best thing for herself going forward. Neely could hold a grudge, but she doesn’t. She opens up her heart and tries to figure out the best move for herself, for Dane, for everyone. And who doesn’t love a sexy single dad? Dane is a good guy who made a couple of dumb decisions when he was younger. The first one, his heart was in the right place. The second one? Just a plain dumb decision. But one he can’t bring himself to fully regret. What he does regret? Hurting Neely. And now he’s trying to make it right. For himself, for Neely, for everyone.

The characters in this book are just so loveable. I’m a southern girl from what used to be a small town, and so much of their story and their world was much like my own. I couldn’t help but fall in love with them, the town...all of it! And now I’m very much looking forward to Tangle, book two in this series!

NICUnurse’s Rating: This author weaves a great love story that weaves in themes of young love, mistakes, forgiveness...and real-life choices. I love that Neely doesn’t bow to pressure from anyone in the end. She’s fierce, strong, loving, and fair. And Dane is loyal, understanding, and protective. I give Tumble 4.5 stars and enthusiastically encourage you to read it today!

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!