The Last Boyfriend

The Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy, Book 2

By: Nora Roberts

Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews

Length: 10 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's Summary

Owen is the organizer of the Montgomery clan, running the family’s construction business with an iron fist - and an even less flexible spreadsheet. And though his brothers give him grief for his compulsive list making, the Inn BoonsBoro is about to open right on schedule. The only thing Owen didn’t plan for was Avery MacTavish....

Avery’s popular pizza place is right across the street from the inn, giving her a first-hand look at its amazing renovation - and a newfound appreciation for Owen. Since he was her first boyfriend when they were kids, Owen has never been far from Avery’s thoughts. But the attraction she’s feeling for him now is far from innocent.

As Avery and Owen cautiously take their relationship to another level, the opening of the inn gives the whole town of BoonsBoro a reason to celebrate. But Owen’s hard work has only begun. Getting Avery to let down her guard is going to take longer than he expected - and so will getting her to realize that her first boyfriend is going to be her last….

©2012 Nora Roberts (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic Reviews

“No one writes relationships as well as Ms. Roberts, with the subtleties and quirkiness of the give-and-take of friendship and romance.” ( Fresh Fiction)

Oh so sugar sweet romance....not for everyone

This is a sugary sweet romance story with a little too much real life for me. There were some funny moments, some interesting characters (Ryder) and a ghost for a little mystery. However, I found the everyday life of "building" the Inn boring. Too much focus on remodeling, shelves, mirrors and light fixtures. At times I felt like I was listening to "This Old House" (BORING)

I liked the narrator (personal preference) and didn't feel as though he took away from the story.

I will listen to the next book in this trilogy because it's Ryder's story and I really found him to be the most interesting character. Let's just hope it's less about light fixtures and crown molding.

Speed up your MP3 Player!

I really enjoyed this story. The narration was driving me INSANE - he speaks so slowly and deliberately. Then I found the setting to speed up the audiobook playback to faster. WHAT a relief, I am actually enjoying the story now. His female voices are still poor, in fact all the characters sound very similar except Ryder. Too bad this is Owen's story. I like the family, I like the locale, and I like the pets; seems like you often have dogs in a Nora story! As are most of her trilogies, these are romances so the relationships are the main focus of the story. It is interesting because there are some story arcs that span all three books and others that complete within each volume.

The Inn Boonsboro Trilogy is also very unusual, in that Boonsboro is a real town and the businesses named really exist and are actually owned by Nora Roberts and/or her family. They rehabbed the historic inn, had a terrible fire while it was under construction and had to start over. You can actually go and stay in the rooms, which are all named after famous fictional couples, although I suspect the ghost in the Elizabeth & Darcy room is a literary device! I also thought it was great fun that they have an Eve & Roarke room, the husband and wife team that is featured in 40+ Eve Dallas stories by Nora Roberts writing as J.D. Robb (my all-time FAVORITE series, with fantastic narration by Susan Erickson; what a joy they are to listen to!)

Turn the Page Bookstore is owned by the Roberts and it is where all her book signings take place, in fact it is the only bookstore to offered books signed by the Nora. Vesta Pizza is real and really offers room service to the Inn, and Gifts Inn Boonsboro is real too. If you go to Nora's website there is a link to the bookstore and Inn.

I think it is fun that she used her actual experiences of going through the rehab, setting her fictional characters against a true setting. But I think I would like it better if Nora was open about her connection to these businesses. Without the open acknowledgement, it smacks a bit of a sneaky marketing ploy. I wouldn't mind if she was up front about the connection. Perhaps there will be an acknowledgement at the end of the third book when it comes out.

Still, I am enjoying the series very much and will probably listen again, now that I found out how to set my audiobook playback to FASTER! Sure wish we did not have to wait so long for the final installment!

Bad Narration - AGAIN

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The narration of this book is awful. The first book of this trilogy was narrated by the same individual and it received many reviews indicating poor narration. I had really hoped that there would be a change in narrator. The female characters all sound alike and are so nasal sounding that it is extremely hard to listen to. It is really unfair to the author to have her book represented in such a poor manner.

How could the performance have been better?

Get a new narrator.

Sweet, funny and beautiful

The story of Owen and Avery overall is a beautiful story of self discovery, acceptance and at the end of the day love. It had a few places that were slow and you wanted to say come on but the heart of the story was strong enough to pull you on through. The unsuspected moments of laughter were timely and absolutely on the mark. As the middle book in the trilogy I thought at times I might not make it to the last book. But I did and not to give the wrong impression; I guess I will offer this as a way of trying to explain. This is a glass of wine, slow rain, lazy couch book reading day. Comfort reading.

Great continuation of series.

Would you listen to The Last Boyfriend again? Why?

Yes!!! I've already listened to it twice, in spite of the narrator. It's nice to hear a man speak the male part.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

He's not the best at female or children's voices.

Reading

I did not like whomever was reading the story. It just didn't appeal to me so I didn't finish listening...

WHY A MAN??

I could not bring myself to finish this book. I'm am so upset that a man was picked to narrate this story. ESPECIALLY considering the audience this book is ever so clearly aimed towards. It was embarrassing to listen to him pretending to be a woman. I truly believe this book was have been so much better with a woman narrator. Either way, the story was pretty weak. But the guy.... really pissed me off!

Just ok

Would you try another book from Nora Roberts and/or MacLeod Andrews?

I have several Nora Roberts that I absolutely LOVE, so yes on Nora Robert. No on MacLeod Andrews.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Just ok with male voices (in a limited amount) but Absolutely BRUTAL on women and children voices. Nasal whining voices on every woman and child. Just BRUTAL

Could you see The Last Boyfriend being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

NO

Any additional comments?

Only half way thru this book and not sure yet I can finish. Authors, if you have any input on narrators, PLEASE think about how your story is being narrated or mutilated.

Loved the story, needed a different voice.

This story is one of the best but I couldn't give it 5 stars because of the male narrator.

Nothing special

The story was ok. I got this book on sale so when I run out of things to read I fall back on my unread books. Can't say it was terrible but the story did not bind me to the book either. Ok characters and the usual slightly more than desired amount of mind ramble put in there by Nora Roberts was what I expected however, if I could go back I would not purchase this one.

Opening the Inn

As the Inn is prepared to open, Owen falls for Avery. Personally, I found Avery to be a bit of a "nippy sweetie" as we say; and I would have liked Owen to fall for someone else! Ha! However, the story continues, leaving way for the final segment and brother to find a mate.

Better on audio.

Loved the way it was read. Well done MacLeod Andrews. Looking forward to the third book.

Much ado about nothinh

poor story. no real plot. excessively verbose about everything. Will do the third for completeness only

Enjoyment

Where does The Last Boyfriend rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

As it's the first I've listened to it can only be prime.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Avery, she is such a complex character.

Have you listened to any of MacLeod Andrews’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but I become engrossed in many books and want to keep going.

Any additional comments?

Whilst I enjoyed the book and the reading I feel that a female voice, reading the women's parts, would improve the audio. A man is limited in how many different female voices he can produce.

Great ending to the trilogy

What did you like most about The Last Boyfriend?

The way the story brings together the characters from the previous 2 books and the third girl gets the third Montgomery brother

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ryder Montgomery, as he is a grumpy guy with 2 brothers who have both got the girl but he cannot see what's happening to him.

Have you listened to any of MacLeod Andrews’s other performances? How does this one compare?

He has a great voice for audio books and made the stories very easy to listen to.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both, the characters draw you in the their lives and there are some emotional chapters and some comic conversations.

Any additional comments?

Nora Roberts is a master at stories like this.

fabulous

A really relaxing heart melting love story. Enjoy with the other books in the trilogy

Another amazing audible journey

Another brilliant story from Nora Roberts and superbly narrated by Macleod Andrews - he is fast becoming my favourite narrator of all time. Where most people listen to music on their commute to work - I have listened to Owen MacGomery fall in love with Avery and the inns and outs of the MacGomery family as they complete the Inn in Boonsboro. I feel I know them all! Have already bought and started on Book 3.