Title: The Last Boyfriend
Author: Nora Roberts
First published May 1, 2012
11 pages, Audio CD
ISBN: 9781455806935 (ISBN10: 1455806935)
Rating: 4.09
Overview
The Montgomery brothers have always been known for their construction business and their impeccable planning skills. Owen, the eldest of the brothers, is no exception.
His latest project, the Inn BoonsBoro, is about to open, and everything is right on schedule. However, Avery MacTavish, the owner of the pizza place across the street, is about to throw a wrench in his perfectly planned life.
Owen and Avery have a history, having been each other’s first love as kids. When they reconnect, the attraction between them is undeniable.
But Avery is hesitant to open up and let Owen in. As they navigate their newfound relationship, they must also navigate the opening of the inn and the expectations of the whole town.
Owen knows that Avery is worth the effort and is determined to show her that he’s not just her first love, but her last. Nora Roberts’ The Last Boyfriend is a heartwarming tale of second chances and the power of love.
About the Author
With over 200 novels under her belt, Nora Roberts has cemented herself as a #1 New York Times bestselling author. Her works include Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, and Legacy, with The Becoming, the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy series, set to release in November 2021.
Nora also writes the futuristic suspenseful In Death series under the pen name J.D. Robb. With a staggering 500 million copies of her books in print, Nora Roberts is a beloved and prolific writer.
Editoral Review
Nora Roberts is a best-selling author known for her captivating romantic suspense novels. Her 2012 book, The Last Boyfriend, is the second installment in her Inn Boonsboro trilogy, which follows a family of brothers as they renovate and run an historic inn in Maryland.
Roberts weaves romance, mystery, and small-town charm into this engaging novel, making it an enjoyable read for fans of the genre. The Last Boyfriend picks up where the first novel, The Next Always, left off.
The protagonist, Owen Montgomery, has finally found love with childhood friend Avery McTavish. They navigate the challenges of their budding relationship amidst preparations for the grand opening of the inn.
Meanwhile, Owen’s older brother, Beckett, is struggling with his own conflicted emotions when it comes to his longtime crush, baker Clare Brewster. As Beckett and Clare try to figure out their feelings for each other, a series of strange and dangerous incidents threaten to derail the Montgomery family’s hopes for the inn.
Roberts’ writing style is easy-to-read and engaging, with vivid descriptions that bring the quaint town of Boonsboro to life. The romantic tension between the characters is palpable but not overdone, and the mystery elements add an extra layer of intrigue.
Roberts deftly balances these different elements, keeping readers invested in both the romance and the mystery. One of the strengths of The Last Boyfriend is Roberts’ ability to create multidimensional characters.
Each member of the Montgomery family has their own unique personality and backstory, and their interactions with each other feel authentic and relatable. Beckett and Clare’s slow-burn romance is particularly well-done, as Roberts explores the complexity of their emotional baggage and the obstacles in their way.
However, the book does suffer from some pacing issues. The first half feels slow and meandering as the characters go about their daily business at the inn.
It’s not until the second half that the plot really picks up and the danger ramps up. Additionally, some of the secondary characters and subplots feel extraneous and could have been trimmed to streamline the story.
Despite these flaws, The Last Boyfriend is a satisfying read for fans of romantic suspense. The Inn Boonsboro trilogy’s focus on family, small-town charm, and old-fashioned values will appeal to readers looking for a cozy escape.
While it may not break new ground, Nora Roberts’ expert storytelling and compelling characters make The Last Boyfriend a worthy addition to her extensive catalogue. Overall Rating: 3.5/5 stars.
While it’s not Roberts’ strongest work, The Last Boyfriend is an enjoyable continuation of the Inn Boonsboro series that will satisfy readers looking for a romantic suspense fix.
