This has to be my favorite second chance book in awhile.

Dane and Neely were so cute together. When they meet up a second time, it is electric. Mistakes were made when they were younger but now they know themselves and where they belong in the world. These were two individuals who clearly weren't over each other.

I loved reading about Neely falling back in love with not only Dane but with her hometown. She has amazing friends and townspeople who obviously care very deeply for her.

I really liked the central story line but there were two others that I enjoyed just as much. Neely and Mia and Penn. Reading about Neely taking a mothering role to Mia was adorable to read. Mia was an amazing little girl. I also really enjoyed Penn. He had some of the funniest lines. I think we all wish we had a friend like him. He was funny and loyal.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tumble is a second chance book. Ten years ago, Neely left the tiny town of Dogwood Lane, Tennessee for New York City with a broken heart and a vow to not return. And yes, the town is named Dogwood Lane. Took me a few chapters to figure out it was not the street she lived on but the actual name of the town. I digress. So after quitting her job due to being passed over for a promotion she deserved, she decides to finally return home hoping she can at least avoid the man who broke her heart so badly she hasn’t recovered, one Dane Madden. Of course life is never so kind or so easy. It doesn’t take long before these two are drawn to one another and even though Neely knows it’s a bad idea, she can’t seem to stay away from Dane.

So, the good. It’s well written. Side characters are engaging and bring life to the story. The kid, Mia, is great if a bit too put together for a ten year old. Dane will certainly capture some readers’ hearts and Neely has a good dose of humor at times.

Now.............stop reading this if you hate spoilers.

Let me say again, spoilers ahead mate.

************************* SPOILER ALERT *******************************

Let me get right into it. This book made me want to scream. I have to go the spoiler route so you understand why I feel this way.

Yes, Dane broke her heart. How? He slept with her best friend AND got her pregnant!! The kid Mia? Yeah, that’s the kid he had with Neely’s best friend!! Oh it gets better. Why, oh why, would he do this to the girl/woman he loved oh so much? For her own benefit. Yep. Hand to God his rationale for breaking up with her was so she would go to college since all he wanted to do was stay in town and work at the mill. He put up this oh so grand sacrifice for her of course. Kill me now.

Oh and he 1000% tried to pull a Ross excusing his sleeping with and impregnating her best friend by saying they were broken up. And then, then folks, he said he always thought she would be back and he could pick up with her then so he actually has the flipping gall to be angry with her and give her a guilt trip when she shows up in town still pissed at him.

So what does she do? Tell him to pound sand? Nope. Make him beg for forgiveness? Nope. She apologizes to him!!!!!! I thought I was going to bust a blood vessel reading that.

The book goes on with some angst about her leaving town again. The kid is cute. He acts (kinda) like perfect Dad and boyfriend. But I can’t get over that part about what he did. I just can’t. Guess my petty game is strong.

Ultimately there is a HEA and they all live happily ever after. Dane, Neely, and the constant reminder of his betrayal, the cute kid Mia - who he wants Neely to be a mother to. Yeah sure why not. She already apologized to him for his betrayal, left her entire career for him, and agreed to everything he wanted. Step-mom too! Bring it on.

This is yet another second chance book I didn’t like even though I’ve given them honest tries again and again. This trope is clearly not for me.

I think people who like this trope will likely be more forgiving than me. They’ll likely love these two together. The writing is quite good, the town, characters, and dialogue are all very well done. It’s rather sweet in general with a medium to low heat level.. So my rating may be an anamoly but it is what it is. This wasn’t the book for me.

Two stars.

This is a fantastic second-chance, single dad romance. It’s the first book in a new series and I know the follow up stories are going to be just as amazing. The characters and storyline put you through a wave of emotions that make you want so much more of them. Neely and Dane are relatable and Mia is a spitfire that has you laughing and simply adoring her. I cannot wait for more and look forward to hopefully revisiting these characters in the future.

“Neely isn’t someone I can gamble with. There’s no kissing and forgetting. There’s only wanting more. Needing more. Desiring more. And not being able to have it.”

I read Tumble all in one sitting. I will admit at first I was having a hard time getting into it. I’m one of those if you don’t grab me from the jump then I get antsy, but once Tumble started rolling (I had to) then I couldn’t put it down! This is a small town, second chance romance that is as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking. Neely left Dogwood Lane for college with a broken heart and never came back. Dane broke that heart, he’s sorry, but he wouldn’t take it back for anything.

I know some readers will have issues with their past and why they are a second chance, but to me it feels real and makes the characters real. If someone stays away for ten years, then their break up has to have been major. I like that the author made the reasons so heavy and hard. Makes Neely staying gone understandable.

I spent the half the book smiling and the other half swapping between sad tears and happy tears. There’s a great cast of characters along with the mains. You really get that small town vibe from this one which if you like those stories you know what I mean.

Tumble just feels real. It’s predictable in that feel good way. You know there will be a happy ending just how will we get there. It’s an emotional ride that will bring you smiles and tears. What’s better than that in a contemporary romance?

**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the ARC in exchange for an honest review** #Tumble#NetGalley
4 amazing stars .....It was a sweet/ cute story of love, a beautiful, heartwarming book about second chance love!! I absolutely loved the chemistry between Neely and Dane. Mia was adorable!! Although the story is good, you can feel from the start how the story would end! Overall it was a fantastic read.... I'd totally recommend this story!!

Tumble is the first book in a brand new ‘Dogwood Lane’ series by Adriana Locke. I have to admit, the series title threw me for a bit as I thought this was a street name rather than the town. But, that aside, I freaking adored this book and every character within its amazing pages. Well, nearly every character, there were some who deserved a throat punch, but thankfully not the ones that matter.
Right from the first page, I knew this was going to be a good ‘un. The wholesome, small town feel, the quirky characters, including Blue, the hound dog all just mixed together to create something special. Something uniquely Adriana.
Dane Madden and Neely Kimber were once high school sweethearts, they were completely in love and meant to be together, but when it came time to leave, only one got in the car and drove away, with a broken heart and a misunderstanding that led to them spending the last ten years apart.
Neely has been in New York carving out a career for herself but at the expense of a loving relationship.
Dane has been hard at work building his father’s business up and making a life for himself and his child.
When they bump into each other for the first time, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. The writing was that poignant and filled with old feelings, both good and bad. Neither has forgotten the other or what made them split up and it takes some time before they get over it.
This new relationship grew slowly and organically. It was sweet and tender, and there were so many scenes where I just smiled happily or swooned, but when you add in their interactions with Dane’s young daughter, Mia, then it tops the ‘awww’ scale. Watching them become a unit was simply lovely and even though they hit a slight bump in the road, I just knew it would end well.
Who is up next for a wander through Dogwood Lane? I don’t know, but I bet they have an absolute blast while they are there. I know I did.
This is one new series NOT to be missed, grab your copy and snuggle down for a sweet and sexy read.

As with all Adriana books, the feels! This is the first book of a new series and I absolutely loved it. Adriana pulls all your heart strings in her books. An amazing 2nd chance romance

This newest series beginner, told from dual first person POV's, from Adriana Locke comes as a light, second chance romance that's really enjoyable. I sat with my Kindle and read about 75% in one sitting (then finished this morning) absorbed in the characters, camaraderie, and setting in Dogwood Lane. Locke's story telling flows easily thanks to her lovely writing and the low angst yet palpable tension we get from her main characters.

As high school sweethearts who haven't seen each other for ten years after some seemingly irreparable damage, Dane and Neely are once again in each other's orbits. I liked how Locke gave us briefs of their pasts without dedicating whole chapters to it. The story stays in the present and guides us through the journey of these two finding their way back to each other. Each of them with trials to face as far as who they are individually as well as together. Neely especially examines what's most important to her. There's some secondary characters throughout this story too that really illuminate it. I hope we get their stories in the Dogwood Lane books to come.

While you could say the plot is predictable within it's traits of second chance romance, Adriana Locke unfolds Tumble so effortlessly that it entertains beautifully. I found it serene, romantic and full of charm and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Read my 5-star review of Tumble by Adriana Locke

I have had this book on preorder since the summer so when I got a chance from the Publisher to read it as an ARC, I jumped on it. I love Adriana Locke’s books but this is going to be my favorite one by her! I love second chance romances and single parents. This is a perfect example of both! The chemistry between Dane and Neely brings you into their lives so effortlessly! Definitely take a chance on Tumble! I can’t wait to see who the next Dogwood book will be about!

Absolutely LOVED this book!! LOVED it! I love all adriana’s books and every one has me in a swoony mess!! God, my heart! An absolute EPIC read, highly recommend reading ❤️

I'm usually a huge, huge fan of second chance romance novels. and I wanted to love this story, but I found it too angsty and slow moving. I live for chemistry, for passion, for deep love. Neely and Dane don't reconcile until halfway through the novel, and even then, their connection felt strained.

ARC Kindle Copy from Review from Net Galley and Montlake Romance.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Going home for a visit is never easy after being away from years. Losing her dream job as a journalist, she decides regroup her way back to the top of her career. But things do not go as plan as soon as she returns to her hometown.

Fate has her running into her first love a bad boy who she shared her first kiss with and had her headed to New York. What will happen to these two when they realized that they still have feeling for each other? Will history repeat itself as they both want other things?

It is a sweet story of love coming full circle after years apart. There are some bad boys who you will never forget.

“Second chances, 5 stars”



Neely is home for the first time in years. The last time she was there she ran and now she’s running back. The question all of us are wondering is will she stay? Dane crushed her once upon a time will she be able to let the past go? The chemistry is still there, will she fall into it once again?

Dane had to let Neely go years ago even though it crushed him. When she stumbles back into town, he can’t help but want the only woman who has ever made his heart skip a beat. Will she give him a chance to figure out who she is now? Will she accept the other woman in his life? Only one way to find out.

Tumble is the start of the Dogwood Lane series for Locke and I absolutely loved it. Locke has a way with small town romances that just make me happy. I loved Dane and his reserved ways. Neely was all strong independent woman. Then toss in the secondary characters who make you fall for them and you get sucked in. I cannot wait to see where Locke goes with this series and I have a feeling it may become my favorite of hers.

Plot-5/5

Characters-5/5

Heat-5/5

Writing style-5/5

Overall-5/5

I'm not sure were to start...

The writing for this book was really good, I think it had amazing potential with me.

I was excited about the second chance romance with a single dad. However, when the truth was revealed about their past, I checked out.

I could not bring myself to liking Dane at ALL!! I felt angry for Neely, and hated how when she expressed her anger, which faded to quickly, he played the upset victim. She ended up apologizing.

This is a NO for me.

This is a second chance romance .
Dane Madden and Neely Kimber were sweethearts . He was her first everything.
But when he hurts her , she follows her dreams and moves to NYC. Ten years later, she is back home after a betrayal at work. Her stay is temporary as she “refuels” and finds a new job.
When they see each other on the first day of her return, it’s obvious that the hurt as well as the attraction is still there. But she’s now a “city girl” and he’s a single Dad.
As time goes on feelings deepen but will Neely leave again and leave him and her hometown behind, or will she realize that home is where the heart is and her town is really not a bad place to be?
It was a sweet story. Was it memorable? No, but it was entertaining and even keeled.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Montlake Romance. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Abosolutely love this!

I'm a sucker for single dad's and this one no exception!

Dane and Neely's story had all the feels from hate to love and in between.

Can't wait to see what is next for this Dogwood lane crew!!

Once again Adriana Locke delivers a world I want to be a part of!

I was so excited to read this book since it's the start of another wonderful, engaging series from this author! As with her other series, there are wonderful, well-developed, interesting, hilarious secondary characters that I hope to meet in future books, but the real bones of this plot come from the two main characters--Dane and Neely. This is the same type of contemporary romance we've come to expect and love from Adriana Locke--sexy & sweet, adorable & hot, happy & angsty -- everything that makes a contemporary rom-com an enjoyable read. You will want to visit Dogwood Lane and immerse yourself in these characters and the small, hometown feel that makes these books so enjoyable. Can't wait to read Dogwood Lane #2! I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC for NetGalley.

Tumble is my first Adriana Locke story and it won't be the last. Very solid story with great character development and a second-chance romance plot. Certainly not new but well done. I adored the interactions between Neely and Mia. Definitely looking forward to reading more of this series!

Oh, my heart. Tumble is an emotional second chance romance that tugged at my heartstrings. I fell in love with Dane, with Mia, and with Dogwood Lane.

Dane was sweet, patient, and such a great daddy. Neely was tough and independent but so great with Mia and her friends. They were absolutely perfect together.

The plot was steady with a slow build up of anticipation and hope. Despite being a second chance romance like so many others, Tumble had a unique storyline. It hooked me in the first few pages and kept me reading into the wee hours.

Tumble is book one in the Dogwood Lane series but can easily be read as a stand-alone. I am relatively new to this author, but I must say I am impressed. I can’t wait for more of the series to be published! I really hope Matt’s story is next, as I am quite intrigued with him.

This book was so sweet! Neely and Dane connected so well as characters and the book was very well paced. Single dad story lines get me every time.