Finally, Penn is mine...(rolls eyes and huffs out) okay, OURS

4.5 stars

Penn Etling is the best friend you need. He's kind, caring, and wildly inappropriate. He is my dream BFF because he's also real pretty to look at! 😂 Under that devil may care attitude and innuendo is a man afraid. He's afraid of love, letting others down, and not being enough. Penn, darling, you are more than enough!

My unrequited love affair with Penn began in Tumble. No matter how you try and label Penn, "resident bad boy" just doesn't work. You can call him Don Juan... You can call him a lot of things scoundrel, manwhore, playboy but none would be accurate. Penn is more complicated than a label. Of course labels tend to get Penn in trouble any way.

While you dont need to have read Tumble and Tangle before diving into Trouble, I highly recommend it. To get the full Penn experience and to fall in love with my favorite Dogwood Lane resident, you need more of his interactions with his friends - the external perspective. Whether or not our lovable rake is your kind of guy, Penn has my heart. I gave it to him back in Tumble and I never asked for it back. I'm just glad he finally gave his heart to someone who will keep it safe.

See! Love means caring about them more than yourself. His happiness means more to me than his 8 inches ever could....probably. I mean it feels like a dare...Lol. Pre-Avery, I might have gotten him to accept that challenge. 😘

I hope that Adriana Locke has more Dogwood Lane coming because I can't get enough.

This is the third book in the Dogwood Lane series. It has loveable characters, easy to read and a page turner. Its wonderful written and a wonderful storyline. I thought Penn and Avery are wonderful I enjoyed reading their story. I loved the secondary characters. I was hooked from the first chapter and it held my attention throughout the story.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this story.
I read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book All thoughts and opinions are of my own.

oh Penn, he is quite the charmer, and so much more as he totally made me swoon!! Penn is friendly, funny, and kind. Despite being liked by everyone, they see him as irresponsible. Avery is tired of being used by everyone, including her parents. She picks up her life in California and moves to Dogwood Lane and in with her Aunt Harper. She yearns for a new life with genuine connections. Penn has always had it easy connecting with people and getting anyone he wants with his smooth talk and charming grin. He was completely thrown when it didn't work on Avery. The harder he tried to get Avery in his bed, and failed, the more amused his friends were. Avery is so daring, creative, and funny. She is the perfect challenge and match for Penn. But she has seen it all, and no matter how attracted she is to him, she doesn't want to be another notch on his bedpost. I loved the fun banter along with the fiery chemistry between Penn and Avery. The progression of their relationship felt so genuine, and real, just like them. I love their friends and family as well. They were so quirky, and fun, and loved to raz each other but were completely loyal and supportive. This is such touching, heartfelt romance with rich characters, hilarious banter and sizzling passion! I am so in love with Dogwood Lane! It's the kind of place that draws you in, and makes you feel right at home. This is a great series, and I can't wait for more!

Sweet heat and witty banter that instantly draw you into Penn and Avery's story.

Trouble is an enjoyable addition to the Dogwood Lane series, but I was really expecting to fall in love with Penn's story since he's such a dynamic character in Tumble and Tangle. He's a shameless flirt and I really expected the repartee between Penn and Avery to build up more steamy tension, but the story kind of got stuck in a repetitive loop that didn't allow Penn and Avery's story to reach it's full impactful potential.

Matt, Claire and Jake make for some great secondary characters and I really hope the Dogwood Lane series will include their stories - especially Matt, who shined in Trouble!

An easy read with great banter and just a touch of steamy, Trouble is sure to entertain.

Adriana Locke’s Dogwood Lane series is one of my fave series and Trouble is new book. Trouble is absolutely amazing!!! I loved this book so hard cause Penn Etling just maybe the best book boyfriend but he’s not wanting to admit it. He wants to keep his street cred ladies of being a bad boy and ladies man but he’s secretly caring and thoughtful. Harper’s niece, Avery comes back to town and Penn has lost smooth ways cause he can’t stop thinking about her. Avery has moved Dogwood Lane to get away from Hollywood and her parents and have some normal for once. This book had me laughing and loving these characters. Adriana Locke writes incredible characters thats why her series are the best. I loved this book!

This is book three in the Dogwood Lane series and I have to say that no one writes small town romances like Adriana Locke.
She has a unique and incredible talent of making you feel that you’re right there amongst the characters and their crazy lives.
I live for her storylines and seeing what antics the characters get up to next and this story was no different.
There’s never a dull moment!
This story is up there as one my all time favourites and I can’t wait for more from this author.
I absolutely loved this read!!

Trouble by Adriana Locke is a twist on a second chance romance. Not gonna lie-the beginning of the story had me cringing in uncomfortable-ness. Penn is such a man whore he doesn't even remember sleeping with Avery. He hits on her during their "first" meeting and it was so over the top I was a little uncomfortable. Like, if a guy acted that way in real life, I would be creeped out because it was nothing but innuendo and double entendre.

Penn is a little difficult to like. He really just seems to think that life is one big party and monogamy is a bad word. However, you do see that when no one is watching, he isn't always THAT guy. Avery is much more relatable as a character. She is running from her problems back in Hollywood. I think that Avery was a little like Penn when she was living in LA but she has realized that life doesn't work for her. And I felt so much sympathy for her when she realized Penn didn't even recognize her.

Obviously, Penn is trouble, but this is a romance, so even the bad boys can be brought to their knees by the right woman. While I found Penn kind of cringeworthy at times, the story is interesting and its a unique twist on a second chance story. Plus, if you haven't met the townsfolk of Dogwood, you are in for a treat! They are perfect secondary characters that provide lots of entertainment.

Love, love, love this!

Penn and Avery are wonderful characters. Avery is the female character that we all want to be friends with and Penn is absolutely hysterical. Oh yeah and gorgeous.

Avery is the new girl in town, Penn is the town heartbreaker. Not interested in a relationship he’s not the serious type. Not until Avery that is.....

These two are funny, sweet and sexy. It’s a great addition to a series I love. The town, the people, they bring a smile to my face and I’ve really enjoyed reading their stories. Check it out!

4 1/2 out of 5 stars

I love this author! She writes romances that just feel like I'm watching my friends fall in love every time. From their first (or is it a second) meeting, Penn and Avery have something they can't fight. I loved reading their story and getting to know them. For a "bad boy", Penn was swoony as heck! The charm of Dogwood Lane continues in Penn's tale and I only wish we would never run out of characters to hear about here. Ms. Locke writes from her heart and you can feel it on every page. I don't think there was a single page in the novel where I wasn't smiling and enjoying the read. Everything about Penn and Avery made my heart sing.

What happens when two people, one who is completely disillusioned with life and love (Avery), and the other has issues with commitment, doesn't want or need a relationship and is fully prepared to spend his life filling it with meaningless one-or-two night stands (Penn) meet at the perfect time? Trouble by Adriana Locke is what happens....and it's SPECTACULAR!!!

I fell so hard and so fast for Penn after I realized that he WASN'T just a man-whore who had no idea how to love! When Avery arrived to stay with her aunt in Dogwood Lane after she'd had enough of life with her empty, unfulfilling life in California and she meets Penn...it was like two very different worlds colliding and the GLORIOUS aftermath is this EPIC love story!

I can't say enough about this book...just that you MUST read it and I KNOW you'll love it as much as I did! Adriana Locke has done it again...just when I thought she couldn't make me love two characters more than the last, Penn and Avery are my NEW AL faves!!!

“People who are ridiculously attracted to one another can be friends…right?”

4.5 fantastic stars!

I love this series of standalone small-town romances, and from the very beginning I’ve been waiting to see town playboy, Penn, meet his match, and OMG, it was just what I was hoping for! Fun, flirty, full of chemistry and with a beautiful, heartfelt romance, this is just the story I wanted for Penn, and I absolutely loved it!

Having come from a troubled background, Penn doesn’t really understand the concept of love, and he honestly doesn’t have any interest in it. He’s perfectly happy engaging in quick and easy hook-ups without getting involved, and it works pretty well for him. Because he’s Penn Etling, and he’s God’s gift to women… yes, he truly thinks that, but in a way that is endearing rather than conceited, and with the skills to back it up, he can pretty much have any woman he wants. And then Avery comes to town…

"I’m in lust. Pure unadulterated lust.
Avery has captivated my attention. I don’t know what that fucking means, but I’m here for it."

Avery has just left her superficial life in LA to move to Dogwood Lane with her beloved (and hilarious) Aunt. Desperate to escape the toxic patterns of her past and enjoy a slower pace that is all about building towards the life she wants for herself, she’s determined to make smart decisions, and that doesn’t include hooking up with the town playboy. Especially because she’s been there and done that years ago, and in a delicious twist on a second-chance-romance, Penn doesn’t remember.

It's a fabulous set-up, especially with Penn bringing his A-game and Avery thwarting him at every turn.

“Ooh, she doesn’t want your number,” Matt jokes. “Let’s write this one down in the record books, boys.”
“Will you shut the hell up?” Penn sighs. “Give the girl some time. It’s probably pretty overwhelming to meet me.” He turns slowly, his eyes full of salaciousness. “I’ll give you some time. No worries.”

Penn’s unique sense of humour is so freaking entertaining, and his constant joking, flirting and smutty inuendo had me laughing so many times.

"I imagine a paintbrush in her hand and find myself curious about a lot of things. How talented is she? What else does she like to do? What is she good at?
Is she the ultimate package? I don’t know. But I’d sure as fuck like to give her mine."

But underneath it all is a damaged man who is truly struggling with everything that he is feeling.

"Can I be more for her? Do I have it in me? Or should I let her go?"

It’s an absolutely beautiful journey as Penn and Avery, both wanting different things but unable to stay away from each other, become close friends. Of course that deepens their attraction, and I loved watching their relationship shift and change as they figure it all out.

“Being with you makes me feel like I’m seen … You don’t look at me and see the goofy guy that everyone knows I am.” He looks up at me with a hesitation that stops my breath. “You see the guy I think my grandpa told me I could be.”

*clutches heart*

Penn and Avery are wonderful characters. Both very real, I could understand where they were at and how they were feeling, and I felt it all along with them. My heart ached for them when they hurt, and I was in a world of swoon as they came to accept and acknowledge their feelings. It’s not all smooth sailing and they have things they need to work through and hurdles to overcome, and they make mistakes along the way, but that just makes the emotion hit so much harder, and the journey all that much sweeter. Their background together adds a wonderful dimension to everything between them, and I loved watching them come together.

"I don’t want to hurt her. I don’t want to fail her. I don’t want to make her anything other than happy every day of her life."

The characters from previous books appear, and there is a nice little set up there for Matt, but you can absolutely read this one as a standalone.

Funny, sexy, romantic and emotional, this is such a great read, and I loved it.

Be still my freaking heart! Adriana Locke unleashed the beast of feelings and I had no defense against it! Penn and Avery's sweet, heartaching and emotional story has won my heart fair and square! Trouble was trouble for my heart and soul!

I have a weakness for small town romance. Because they have this vibrant, warm and intimate experience with all the little adorable details and great people. And Adriana Locke nailed the feeling in Trouble. Avery has escaped to Dogwood to her aunt leaving behind her suffocating and lonely life with her controlling celebrity parents and fake friends. And she meets Penn. The proverbial manwh@re. Gorgeous. Charming. Firty. Funny. With a good heart and devil's sex appeal. But Penn has a bad upbringing that made his sceptical about relationship. In fact he actively avoids them. But Avery fascinates him. He wants to know her, make her happy and be with her. They becomes good friends but what about the complicated feelings in their heart? Will Penn face his issues or will Avery be in trouble for falling for the bad boy?


First of all, the slow burn in this story is pure torture. Seriously. Adriana Locke took me through each curve, each up and down and each twist in an absolutely maddening pace. Their chemistry starts with playful banters and somewhere down the line they slip into this easy friendship. They become open and trusting and close. But the undercurrent of desire and passion was put in everything so beautifully! Penn is so amazing! He can be a real a$$hole with his ways regarding women but he is actually a vulnerable guy hiding behind all light and silly talks. And my heart is breaking for him. Avery is so adorable! I love how she showed courage to give her life a new start and how she values her self worth above everything. She did not get herself carried away by Penn's charm even when her body and heart wanted it. But she also stood by him and understood him and was patient with him. They had their share of mistakes and misunderstandings but that's what made me love this story even more.

Trouble by Adriana Locke was full of delicious passion, soul deep emotions and true characters. The writing was just brilliant. I am in love with everything in Trouble.

Received ARC for honest review.

**ARC received from the publisher via Netgalley**

I really adore Adriana Locke’s ability to transport you into the worlds of her books with words. The small town vibe was quaint and homey and you felt it.

Penn Etling is the bad boy of Dogwood Lane. The forever bachelor with a string of “friends” he’s not looking to settle down. Not until Avery blows into town and shakes everything up for him. Now he’s acting jealous and thinking about the future.

Their relationship was so real and easy to believe. I wanted to cheer for them because I loved them as characters. They struggled and came together honestly. I loved how invested I became in them.

Penn Etling now has a piece of my heart.

Wow. Adriana Locke’s done it again. Trouble, the third book in the Dogwood Lane series, is everything a romance novel should be: a sweet but strong heroine, a charming and cocky hero with a vulnerable side, a little drama, and set in a gorgeous small southern town with great secondary characters too. I loved it!

Avery has moved to Dogwood Lane to escape the stress and pressure of her life in LA. As the daughter of a famous actress, she hates not knowing if people are using her for her mother’s connections so loves the anonymity of Dogwood Lane. She moves in with her aunt Harper, who she visited years ago when she was eighteen. On that visit, she met a boy, who she opened up to and spent the night with, and never saw again. The last thing she expects when she arrives on her first day at Harper’s salon is to run into him again.

Penn Etling is the resident playboy of Dogwood Lane, known for never wanting to settle down or commit to anyone. He is the joker of his friendship group and always sweeps ladies off their feet the first time they meet. So, imagine his surprise when he meets Avery, a woman he feels he already knows, and she refuses his advances. Avery has promised herself to not settle for anything less than what she wants and Penn’s philosophy on casual relationships are not that. She tells him from the start that they can only be friends.

Friends is not a word Penn knows when it comes to women but he knows there is something different about Avery so he agrees. AS they begin to get closer, they open up about their pasts and childhood, having both not had the most pleasant of time. Their chemistry grows, especially as they are working everyday together, until they finally give in and wow, is it explosive. However, when it all gets a bit much for Penn, can he push through his past hurt to really and truly let Avery in, especially when he realises who she is, or will he let his past continue to dictate his future?
These characters are great. Avery is amazing. I absolutely adored how she stood up to Penn at first and turned him down every time he asked her out, even when she knew she wanted him. She wasn’t afraid to stand up and put herself first, when she knew she should be treated better. I loved how she made sure to build a friendship with Penn before anything happened, it made their story that much better.

Penn, I didn’t expect him to be so three-dimensional. He had so many layers behind the façade he put out to the world and I loved seeing him reveal each one slowly to Avery as he began to trust her more. There were times when my heart ached for him and I wanted to jump inside the book and give him a hug. It was impossible not to fall in love with him and his heart of gold. Avery and Penn were perfect for one another and I loved watching as they navigated their new relationship together.

The friendships in Trouble were also a highlight, especially between Matt and Penn and Penn and Harper. Matt was there for Penn whenever he needed him, as a sounding board for his feelings but also to give him a kick up the backside when he needed it. You could feel how strong their friendship was and I can’t wait for Matt’s story, which I hope is next. Harper was there for both Penn and Avery too, but I think her banter and friendship with Penn was my favourite, you could see his charming ways come out when he spoke to her!

Trouble is a fairly easy read with little drama which I devoured in a day. It’s well written with great characters and a storyline that pulls you in, making you say just one more chapter until suddenly you’ve finished it. I can’t wait for book four!

*I received a copy of Trouble in exchange for my honest review.*

4 - "Roll with it…" Stars!

New author to me; Adriana Locke gives the perfect blend of chemistry, banter and sexy-times in book three; Trouble from her Dogwood Lane series.

I loved Penn and Avery, and because of that was rooting for them from the get-go to get together. The writing style was easy to get along with and the drama/angst was kept very much on a low boil, add in an entertaining cast of secondary characters and I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this book!

Amazon have done me a solid as well because the first two books in the series, at the time of writing this review are currently 99p, so that’s my weekend sorted too!

Does anyone write small town romance with such heart as well as Adriana Locke? I think not. Case in point, Trouble. I've been waiting for Penn's story since my first trip to Dogwood Lane and I was not let down at all.

He's always been in the periphery. Putting a smile on everyone's face with his jokes and lightness. However, below the laughter and good time was a man who had been hurt and felt deeply. But that was a side he didn't let anyone see, not even those closest to him. He didn't want to let anyone see it, until Avery showed up in town.

I loved that Avery didn't bow to Penn's charms. But she wasn't immune. Little by little he wore down her defenses. It was his kindness. His wit. His ability to make her laugh even when she didn't want to. But Avery had a secret, one that was bound to come out sooner or later. When it did, Penn's defenses all went back up.

Cue the misty eyes and aching chest. Gah! I am just so enamored by this small town and the people that dwell there. The sense of community. The friendships (and let me take a moment to say GO MATT! He was a rock star in this book). Penn and Avery's slow-burning romance gave me all the feels and made me swoon for days.

Trouble is the third book in Adriana Locke's, Dogwood Lane Series. Trouble can be read as a standalone read, but in my opinion, books are always better when read in series order.
Adriana Locke, is an author who is new to me, and is quickly becoming one of my favorites.
Trouble has everything I look for when reading a book. The characters are well written and compliment each other to make the book very enjoyable to read, and the story line flows nicely.
If you are looking for your next, new read, I recommend Trouble l, by Adriana Locke.

Adriana Locke writes small towns that just steal your heart. Trouble is third in her Dogwood Lane series but could easily stand alone.
Avery Perry, the daughter of a famous actress, moves to Dogwood Lane because she is completely done with LA. Penn Etling is a sexy and confident man local to Dogwood Lane who is known for outrageously flirting with every woman around but never getting serious. When Penn walks into the hair salon where Avery is working, their connection is instant. Avery remembers Penn from an impactful visit to Dogwood Lane years ago, but he doesn’t seem to remember her.
I really enjoyed watching Avery and Penn’s friendship develop, and their emotional growth. The innuendo and jokes were great fun, and as always, Ms. Locke’s town and characters feel tangibly real. The friends and supporting characters serve as a lovely foundation for this couple. After the build up of Penn’s playboy ways in the prior books, the payoff of his deeper thoughts and feelings does not disappoint. These two have a lot in common and they find a match in each other that goes deeper than physical attraction. We get to see them be flawed and real. This story was very sweet (sometimes almost too sweet) and rewarding.

Penn!! Yes! I've been waiting and waiting for this one. I knew he'd be Trouble when he first graced us with his presence.
This is the quintessential Adriana Locke book. You'll love the small town, you'll love the characters, and you'll love this book.

Penn is everything I've been waiting for.

The perfect small town romance. Heart, heat, friendships and lots of laughs.

Penn Etling is the carpenter playboy of Dogwood Lane. He's a charmer with his looks and likes his life just fine. He's not a relationship type of guy. Avery Perry is new to town, escaping from her old life in LA. Penn is instantly attracted to her but she's looking for something real and knows Penn isn't the guy for that. She holds out as long as she can before finally giving in to Penn's southern charm.

I loved these characters so much!! The secondary characters are awesome too. Matt is the perfect best friend to Penn and the only guy to knock sense into him when needed. Southern charm and small town friendships at it's best.