Penn, oh Penn how I love him! What a great story, and another book boyfriend to add to my ever growing list. Penn and Avery are so fun to watch navigate getting to know each other. Adriana never disappoints.

Great book! Great Series! I loved every word of Penn & Avery’s book and almost had it finished in one sitting, but work got in the way!

Welcome back to Dogwood Lane. Penn is a man every woman in Dogwood Lane wants to be with. He's a right now kind of guy, not one for relationships or settling down. He's never heard the word no from a woman, that is, until Avery moves into town.

I really enjoyed this story. Penn is one of the sweetest characters that Adriana has ever written, and Avery is the woman who can bring him to his knees. If you like sweet romantic stories and a hometown feeling that creeps into your bones, then Trouble and the Dogwood Lane series is a must read.

My reading slump of 2020 continues. I really wanted to love this book, it had great promise and I love my romance novels but I just couldn’t get into it. I think the main area that bothered me was Penn and his sexual innuendos that were constant throughout the book but didn’t provide any serious steam to go with it. This book felt like a circle that keeps going around and around the same issues and doesn’t get resolved until the end. I’ve heard people loved this book, which is great, it just wasn’t for me.

3.5 Stars

I have loved everything that Adriana Locke has written. She has a way of developing characters that are so likeable and have such personalities- and Penn Etling is definitely one of those characters! One of my favorite things about Trouble, the third book in Locke's Dogwood Lane series, is the banter that Penn had with Avery. I loved how she constantly shot him down, and I loved Penn's persistence. I will say, I had more difficulty getting sucked into Trouble than I normally do with Locke's books, but as a whole, I very much enjoyed Trouble!

I really hope that there is more in Dogwood Lane (I'd love to get Jake's HEA!)

*4.5 Stars*

ARC kindly received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have been looking forward to Penn's story from the start. He's the loveable flirt of the group, so I was curious to see what we would get from him.

Penn and Avery are both quite independent characters, but with completely opposite views about what they want from life. They have an instant connection, and plenty of chemistry and sparks fly with all the banter that goes on between them.

Penn being the commitment phobe that he is, doesn't want to see what's staring him in the face, even though everyone around him can. Avery knows what she deserves and life is trying to make a positive change. She fits right in in Dogwood Lane, and it's great to have a strong character like her.

It was fun watching things unfold between these two, even if I did want to slap Penn silly sometimes. Loved having our other fun characters from the town in the story too.

Can't wait to see what comes next in this series.

A cute addition to the Dogwood Lane series! A quick, easy, small town read that you’ll definitely enjoy. If you’re into second chance romance this will be for you. I just adored Penn and Avery. Their banter between each other was fun and real. Penn, overall is just someone you would want to be with whether it’s romantic or platonic. He’s not that hot headed alpha or a doormat either. Avery is likable and someone you can see yourself being friends with. I would love to see more of them especially them asa couple.

Penn pulled at my heartstrings when I read him in previous books in The Dogwood Lane Series but in this book, he grabbed hold and became one of my favorite Locke characters. He had it all the charm, cockiness, silly, broken and a heart of gold. Avery was the exact type of woman he needed she was sweet but also a woman who knew what she deserved and wasn't willing to settle.

Trouble. That's Penn Etling to a tee. His ego is big enough to fill a football stadium and he's about as deep as a toddler’s wading pool. At first glance, that is. His easy charm and swoony smile let him get away with most everything and makes all the girls in town vie for his attention. But as we get to know him, the multitude of layers peel back and his unrepentant, devil-may-care attitude hides the part of him who's still that little boy his parents couldn’t love due to their own inadequacies and brokenness.

Avery has lived all of her life trying to stay out of the spotlight of her famous parents. She’s hoping her move to Dogwood Lane, TN, will help her build real friendships with people who see her for who she really is, rather than someone to take advantage of for their own selfish purposes. And Penn clearly has one thing in mind when it comes to Avery, but she apparently hasn’t gotten the same memo all the other single women of Dogwood Lane have, because time and time again, she shoots Penn down.

Settle in and prepare yourself for a romping good time with these two, because they're just so darn fun! The tension, push and pull, and banter between Penn and Avery will have you gobbling up their story, and the heart tugs will have you deep in a well of emotions. I’ll admit, I was underwhelmed by Penn to begin with, but it wasn’t long before he owned me, heart and soul.

Dogwood Lane is one of those small towns I’d love to live in, with the quaint, inviting setting and colorful secondary characters. If this writer is new to you, this is a perfect place to start since the books in this series stand alone. There’s a reason she has so many loyal readers, because once you read one book, you'll be eager for more from this talented lady. Grab your copy today and get ready to fall in love with the best kind of trouble!

This book was grin-and-sigh-your-way-through romantic. So romantic. Avery is such a likable heroine. She's kind and she knows what she wants and won't take less than she deserves. Penn is imperfect and unsure of himself and the world around him, but he's easy to empathize with. He's also charming and funny. This slow burn book was such a feel good read as we watch Penn grow while Avery relentlessly stands up for what she wants. And throughout it all, the dialogues are spot on and each characters motivations are relatable, you really toor for these two. Oh, and Penn's friend Matt, you may fall in love with him too. If Matt gets a book, I will be the first in line for it.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Trouble is a wonderful romantic read with a great cast of characters. This story involve Penn and Avery, Avery has moved to Dogwood from L.A.to get away from the falseness of it all including her family, she is living with her aunt and helping out in her beauty salon.
Penn a real player where woman are concerned comes in for a haircut and is instantly attracted to Avery, but amazed when she turns down the offer of meeting up with him for a drink, he’s totally unused to been turned down girls normally falling over themselves to be with him.
Avery although feels something for Penn and although he does not remember her 10 years previously they had a one night stand, but she is determined not to be used she’d had that in spades when in L.A.
Penn is a wonderful character, funny and has a greater depth to him than he realises although he comes across as cocky and over confident.
Their relationship develops beautifully, Penn has a difficult past which has made him retreat from any developing relationship, so to read the questioning and angst he goes through raises this book to more than just a romance.
Thoroughly enjoyable and a real page turner.
My thanks to net galley and publisher Montlake for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

Trouble is the third book in the Dogwood Lane series and focuses on Penn. Avery is determined to turn her life around and become more independent so she’s not looking for romance, but Penn is difficult to resist. This was a sweet romance story with a tiny bit of angst at the end. I’m a sucker for small-town, interconnected romances so I enjoyed this book. I also look forward to reading Matt’s story.

Penn Etling is a man who deserves all the stars ALL THE STARS PEOPLE!

He’s the funny playboy of a small town! He lives by his own rules and everyone knows he’s Trouble with a capital T! What they don’t see are the scars that line his heart and mar his soul; no one until Avery! Avery carries her own pain and is looking for more from life! Though these two want different things there’s something that keeps the tethered together and “friends” isn’t always going to be enough!

I absolutely loved learning who Penn is and seeing him find his way! He is definitely one of my fave hero’s because in the end he was the one who got saved! Avery did take a little while to warm up to but only because she was so hesitant about everything. As the story unfolded and we got to know her more I realized that she had so much depth to her and she became a character that I really loved in this book! She had so much pain from her upbringing and I loved how Locke let us get to know her as she got to know herself!

We finally get Penn's story! I've been waiting for his HEA since Tumble, and I was not disappointed in the least.

Adriana Locke keeps getting better with every book I read, and Trouble is my favorite book of the Dogwood Lane series so far. Also, I have to note that Adriana is one of THE BEST authors at banter between characters. Seriously. I can't get enough of it.

Penn Etling was hot as hell, cocky and confident, but he also showed a different, sweeter side of himself that made him even better.

Avery Perry was an excellent addition to Dogwood Lane. She was strong, sassy and smart: the perfect complement for Penn.

Ok. I'm ready for Matt's story now.

***I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy generously provided by the author.***

Penn Etling. I’ve been waiting for Penn’s story since he first made his appearance in Tumble. The witty, funny guys that have undeniable chemistry with nearly everything they come in contact with are the ones that always win my heart and he is no exception.
Avery, his perfect match really put up a fight against his wooing. I loved seeing her dish it all back to him and in the end make him see his true worth.
Trouble was the perfect third installment in the series. I can’t get enough of this small town and all the characters living in it.

4.5 stars

Ohhh Penn. He finally caved!!

While the beginning started off a bit slow, the second half packed a punch. Really exploring the things we hide behind and that hold us back. Lovely to be back in Dogwood Lane.

But now I really need Matt and Claire to get their own.

This is the third book and I don't know about you guys but I have been waiting for it, I love Penn and his craziness. He gets reacquainted with Avery but he doesn't remember it, ouch, however don't go getting all upset for Avery yet, see when he met her she was a teenager going thru some stuff so she was emo- black hair, dark lips and going by the name of Abby, so I get. He broke my heart with his feeling of worthlessness that he hid with his easy going manwhorish ways, yes at times I got mad at him when he would diminish he relationship with Avery which cheapened it and at the same time breaking her heart slowly but surely. He needed someone to hit him with a 2 by four to wake him up so that he did not lose the best thing that happened to him, and Matt did the job and I can't wait for his book I have loved him from the beginning. Enjoy!

Five Stars for ‘Trouble’ by Adriana Locke

Many thanks to NetGalley, Montlake Publishing, and Adriana Locke for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review of Trouble (Dogwood Lane #3). My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

Here is a synopsis:

“She wants something real. He wants something now. Together they’re trouble in USA Today bestselling author Adriana Locke’s sexy and funny twice-in-a-lifetime love story.

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?”

Penn, in the previous books in this series, is kind of a funny character. He’s full of swagger and braggadocio that you’re not quite sure he can back up. But when it comes to his book, he is finally revealed to be a remarkable and vulnerable character who is equally matched by Avery, a newcomer to Dogwood Lane. This book is a slow burn in which Penn is slowly revealed to be an incredibly tender-hearted and kind man to those he loves but a very foolish man nonetheless who doesn’t believe he is deserving of love. He truly comes into his own in this book and becomes the book boyfriend and hero we all knew him to be.

Avery is the first woman to turn Penn down, much to the delight of Penn’s friends. She is also the first person to truly see Penn as more than who he presents himself to be to the world. At first, I think Penn is in it for the challenge Avery represents to him and then he slowly gets to know her and values her friendship. Friendship becomes something more but then Penn gets in his own way. Will he be able to fix it?

This is a beautiful book. It describes two people’s different difficult relationships with their families and the damage that does to them and their own love lives. The town of Dogwood Lane is also a significant character in the book as well and a welcome one! It’s absolutely delightful. I loved Penn and Avery’s story. I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend!

I have watched Penn as a side character for several books now. He’s always been one of those guys that I roll my eyes at and move along. I did not expect to love his book as much as I did! I found Penn to be honest and worthy of his own book. The growth between both Avery and Penn was lovely. Watch out for the slow burn!! After reading the first chapter, you might wonder how on Earth a slow burn I possible, but Locke is pretty much a genius. Happy reading!

She wants something real - a tag line that could not be more appropriate. Adriana Locke I bow down to you. I have loved the first two books in the series but this one is heads above the others. True, honest, emotional and captivating are only a few things that come to mind after I finished the book. It captivated me from the opening pages and Penn and Avery's relationship had so many layers. Between the baggage they both survived through and the way they both made each other better is the epitome of the perfect HEA. You broke the mold Adriana - job well done!! This deserves more than 5 stars.