I like this author a whole lot. Her books are funny, lighthearted and normally really sweet. This one was no exception.

I didn’t realize when I picked this book that is was book 3 in a series. I hadn’t read the other ones, so maybe this is why I felt so disconnected. I really wanted to love this book.

I usually really enjoy book by Adriana Locke, but I just couldn’t get into this book. I almost felt like I was reading a different author. I got about 45% of the way through and gave up. Although I didn’t connect to this particular book, I will definitely read another book by this author since I’ve loved her other books.

***3.5 ‘Team Avery’ Stars***

This one has me in a bit of a conundrum. Because I loved being back in Dogwood Lane with all the unique characters ~ Lorene is AMAZING ~ and, for the most part I enjoyed the ride that Avery and Penn took me on, but I was also kind of turned off by it. I know it doesn’t really make sense, hence “conundrum”, but that’s where my head is with this one. I enjoyed it...but…

Anyways, Avery and Penn. I FLOVED Avery. I loved her sass, her heart and simply how she owned all that she was. She knew what would make her happy and went for it. Penn, is my ‘conundrum’ He’s a sweet, charming man who at times is a bit too cheesy when he’s laying on the charm, but still a good man...but. Yeah, I know the “but. But he is so wrapped up in how worthless he believes himself to be that he is all about self-sabotaging. I got why. I could empathize to a point, but man it got to a point where I wanted to reach through the Kindle and Gibbs smack him. I still loved the guy, but boy did he try me.

As for their journey to their HEA, I did enjoy it. Avery and Penn had a ton of chemistry and it jumped off the page. I gave Avery a ton of credit for rolling with the punches when it came to Penn, but more so for sticking to her guns and knowing her worth. I could have personally done with a little more grovelling after the big sinkhole happened, but in the end I was happy for them both.

Despite my issues, this was a fun read overall. I loved getting to spend some time with the Dogwood Lane crew and catching up with them, Lorene is amazing and I loved Harper. Meredith was a still a trip, but a good one and I really liked Jake but I’m totally looking forward to seeing what woman will capture Matt’s heart because he totally rocked in this baby and needs some good lovin’ in his life.

~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~

With his shameless grin and let’s-play swagger, carpenter Penn Etling leaves women wanting in Dogwood Lane. What do they get? Avery Perry knows: a one-night stand. She’s been there. She remembers every hot pulse as if it were yesterday. But Penn? He doesn’t remember a thing. Now he’s making new moves, and Avery’s not falling for trouble…again. Is she? How could the beautiful stranger resist him? Avery is going to be a challenge for the bad boy. She’s the kind of woman who digs deep—deep enough to see there’s more to Penn than meets the eye. But first she has to give him a chance. She has to say yes. Could she also be the woman to make him change his playboy ways? When these two come together, it’s hard to pull them apart. But with love and trust on the line, can Avery and Penn get what they both want? This time for keeps?
This was a pretty good book. The story was well paced. The main characters were really exciting to follow on their journey. I hadn’t read this author before so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was not disappointed!
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

I really enjoyed Penn and Avery! Adriana Locke does a beautiful job creating rich, well developed characters with dynamic supporting characters. It's a sweet, small town romance. I highly recommend if you are looking for a cute, easy read.

Bestselling author #Adriana Locke will delight you with this read for my naughty and nice weekend.He being Penn Etling is a bad boy who doesn’t remember her.And she’s going to give him a chance that will be funny,sexy and love story that’s real.Enjoy.
Thank you #Netgalley,#Montlake Romance And #Adriana Locke

I really enjoyed this book! This series is so cute. This book can be read as a standalone but it is nice to know the other characters stories before going into this one! You know Penn from the very first book of this series. I could not wait for his story. The "ladies man" of the friend group. You will not be disappointed with the ride this author takes you on! I love her writing style and small town romances are just one of my favorites!!! I highly recommend this book and series to anyone who wants to fall in love with a small town and the people who live in it!

Oh Penn!! This man was definitely trouble for sure, but in a really good way. Adriana has been showing us Penn’s love ‘em and leave ‘em ways since the start of this Dogwood Lane series. So seeing that Penn had so many more layers was all I had hoped for and more. Initially I thought okay this is gonna be your typical ‘man/boy figures his crap out when he falls in love’ story, which all on board for but Adriana threw us a surprise. Avery was the surprise because from her we learn that this is a second chance, even if she’s bound and determined to not give into the Penn Etling charm.

I loved the dual pov. I loved both Penn and Avery’s inner dialogue and their interactions with friends. Both of these characters are struggling with their feelings for each other, their pasts, and for Penn trying to let go of all the negative things he thinks about himself. Avery is struggling with the feelings she has for Penn and what she wants for herself. With all these things working against them, can they push past the doubts and trust in their feelings?! That was the question, and Penn broke my heart at times and surprised me in others. In the end he’s truly the best kind of trouble.

Did not disappoint. As usual I loved this authors book. This series is one of my favorites by far

The title says it all. This tells me I am in for a major ride and I will not be disappointed in what I am going to read. Total fan of Adriana stories and really enjoyed this one.

‘Gotta roll with it’

I really really liked this book.
Avery comes back to this small town to live with her aunt.

But what she was not expecting was that her one time crush hunk will walk in and flirt hard with her..

Penn sees Avery in the hairdresser shop and is taken by the Beauty...

There is a lot of teasing, funny jokes, and it’s an adult book...

It’s really an easy read, the pace is very nice.

I am loving the Dogwood Lane series by Adriana Locke so much and in Trouble, we get another sweet and charming small town romance with so many feels and great characters. Penn and Avery had amazing chemistry and I loved the banter between them. Avery was strong and caring. Penn was very likable but wanted nothing to do with commitment. Their story was fun, sexy and captivating.

Happy reading!

This is a first book by Adriana Locke but I must say, I am definitely a fan now. The only thing I regret is that this is my first Dogwood Lane book...and this is the 3rd in the series. I will definitely read that other books in the series but it is possible to read this as a standalone. I really connected with H. I also loved the premise in this book of how a encounter with someone can affect two people so intensely. Good book!

I was provided an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks so much for a wonderful read! Loved the interactions with main characters, the chemistry was on point. I would love to read more from this author! Great job!

I have been waiting on this book and was so excited when it landed on my kindle. I loved Penn he was such a lovable character.

Penn and Avery have crazy intense chemistry, you can’t help but hope they end up together. These two are the perfect match for each other. Penn lives in a small town where he grew up and doesn’t do commitment. Avery knows what she wants and has no problem making Penn fight for her attention. When these two give in they make the cutest couple that will have you swoon.

This was a one sitting read for me. I loved Trouble and highly recommend it.

I had a hard time getting into this book, and while I'm not 100% sure why, I think it probably had to do with the characters at the beginning being somewhat unreadable and in the case of Penn, unlikable. By about the halfway point, though, they were more fleshed-out and making more of a connection with each other, so I was invested. I liked that they had actually reconnected from a previous meeting in life, and the ending was sweet.

Absolutely loved this book a lot! Locke has a magic way with words that will wrap you into her story and make it so you never want to leave!

Trouble by Adriana Locke is the third book in the Dogwood Lane series. It can be read as a standalone.
This was my first book from this author and I must say I look forward to reading more. Trouble is a second chance romance, the love interest Penn doesn't remember the new hairstylist on first glance. The characters were fully fleshed out, I felt their personality on the page. Penn came off as cocky and arrogant at first but under all those muscles and smooth skin was a heart of gold. I loved their back and forth banter and the attraction was palpable with each interaction. I love a small-town romance and this book has the perfect recipe, I felt that I was in a small town from the settings. Avery is a strong woman looking to find her place I enjoyed her character, I was cheering for her by the sidelines the whole book. After reading this book I am going to revisit the other books in the series.

TROUBLE (Dogwood Lane Book #3) by Adriana Locke is another great contemporary romance in the Dogwood Lane series. This romance has another of the lifelong friends meeting their match with all of the fun, sex and emotional angst I have come to expect in Ms. Locke’s romances. This book can be read as a standalone romance, but being set in a small-town all of the main characters crossover.

Penn Etling had a rough start growing up, but he is now the laid-back, fun loving friend who is always willing to help. He is a player, but everyone knows and understands what they will get from him. No harm and no foul.

Avery Perry has moved to Dogwood Lane to live and work with her aunt. She can no longer take the type of life she was expected to live in L.A. as the daughter of a movie star. She is excited to make real friends who want to know her without expectations. As she is attempting to hang a speaker, she falls right into Penn’s arms. Avery knows guys like Penn and she is not willing to go there. She wants a real relationship, not a one-night stand.

When these two come together the sparks fly, but is Penn willing to give more of himself than ever before and stop his playboy ways? And will Avery tell Penn the secret she is keeping and give him a chance to prove he can change?

I absolutely love Penn. His hard body, bad boy persona, but his soft heart are why all the girls want him and he is the perfect opposite for Avery. And yet, they were not opposite in their emotional scars from their upbringings. Avery is the type of heroine I like because even though she falls, she is still willing to pull away and stick up for what she truly wants in her life. All the secondary characters are fully fleshed out and many carry over from the previous two books.

In this series, Ms. Locke has written realistic and fun dialogue, sex scenes that sizzle and burn up the pages and characters in this small-town setting that make you want to be friends with them all.

I recommend this contemporary romance and all the books in the series!