Trouble

Dogwood Lane, Book 3

By: Adriana Locke

Narrated by: Rock Engle, Laurie West

Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's Summary

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?

©2020 Adriana Locke (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Roll with it and win.

A return back to Dogwood where Pen doesn’t know what hit him. Avery came to Dogwood Lake to live with her Aunt to escape LA and found Pen. This story has it all fun characters, great interactions, heart and strong sexual energy.

This is a book in an interconnecting series, so no prior reading is needed. If you have read the other books. You already know about Pen but in this book you get another side of him and really get to know him.

Penn Owns My Heart

Hands down this is my favorite book of the Dogwood Lane series and maybe of all of Adriana Locke's books. I love beautifully broken characters and both Avery and Penn have been broken by their upbringing and families. While Penn has always been the one-night stand kind of guy, what he finds in Avery-a girl who helped him on his darkest night in the past-is more than he is prepared to accept.
He sees himself as unworthy and unlovable but Avery sees the man beneath, as do all his friends and neighbors.
Avery has secrets of her own, but refusing to divulge she's been in Penn's life before causes a great deal of turmoil in their lives. As a couple they are explosive and happy, apart they are both miserable, so Ms. Locke does what she does best: mend the characters and their hearts and giving them their HEA.
I listened to this amazing story and was totally pulled into the story by Laura West and Rock Engle, who may very well be my new favorite narrator. His rumbling voice and smooth Southern edge gave Penn just the right characterization. Ms. West was equally enjoyable as Avery. I hope to listen to more from this duo, together or separately.

I love Penn!

Penn Etling. Man, where have you been my whole life?

Dogwood Lane, apparently. Out there living his own life, refusing to believe he could fall in love, yet subconsciously holding on to the memories of a girl from long ago.

Penn broke my heart while simultaneously making me fall in love with him. His humor, his heart, his...ability to love and care for others (not where you thought I'd take that, now was it?!).

Because he does have a huge heart on him. He'd give you the shirt off his back. He'd fix your steps without you asking.

Because he's that kind of guy.

You want this story.
No one does small town romance like Adriana Locke.

Small town romance

I love the hometown feel of Adriana Lockes Dogwood Lane books. The small town comfort of everyone knowing each other & the casual banter between close friends is fun. Although I liked Penn as the fun friend in previous books, I had some trouble connecting to him as the romantic lead. I guess I’ve known too many man/child Romeo’s to see his appeal, but that’s just me. On a whole it was a good book from an entertaining series. Narration a little too heavy on the southern charm.

Loved the story not so much the narration

I really enjoyed this story and would have loved it so much more if it hadn't been the narration. Penn is awesome but the narrator for him just didn't fit him. The book itself definitely gets a 5 star rating.

Oh Penn! You finally met your match.

Penn’s sarcasm and innuendos were just as funny as I knew they’d be. I thought Avery was such a sweet character with a lot of maturity and heart.

This book was a pretty easy and breezy read with a ton of small town charm. The characters were fun and light hearted. There were a few deep, emotional moments shared between the hero and heroine that really worked for the story. Especially the smack upside the back of Penn’s head at the end. Penn was certainly more than meets the eye, but only someone like Avery was lucky enough to see it. I liked the way the characters navigated their feelings and learned a lot about themselves along the way. The ending was cute and a satisfying HEA.

Listened to this book on audio. I couldn’t stand the male narrator! He was completely wrong for Penn’s character because he sounded way too old. Didn’t sound nearly laid back and care free enough either. Female narrator was great and saved the book.

Good small town romance

I've been eagerly waiting for Penn's story. He is a tough nut to crack! I love that under that tough exterior is truly a marshmallow that only Avery can bring out. Both Penn and Avery drew the short stick with parents, but they are so perfect for each other!

I loved returning to the small town of Dogwood Lane and catching up with previous couples. Watching Avery and Penn let their walls down and let each other in was heartwarming. A great read in the series!

I really enjoyed the narration of the story. They really brought it to life. Sometimes the male's female voice though made me cringe, but overall a great job.

The Narration Did Nothing to Enhance This Book

I listened to the audiobook. I wonder if I would have liked this book more if I had read the e-book. I wasn't sure if Penn had a southern accent, was supposed to have a southern accent, or what type of accent he had. Whatever it was, it wasn't consistent.

I kind of liked Penn, and didn't think I would. He wasn't nearly as shallow as he was made out to be in previous books. There were more layers to him, and more pain. It seemed to me that Penn's friends treated him as though he was shallow, a man whore, and not dependable. Admittedly, he fed into that, but they could see all of the ways he was there for other people. Then, when Penn was down on himself, they wanted to be upset with him for feeling like he wasn't good enough.

Avery was ok. I didn't feel one way or another about her. I couldn't quite reconcile the chemistry between Penn and Avery. It was also inconsistent. At one point, there seemed to be real chemistry happening, and then there was nothing, no connection at all. I also didn't understand why she didn't tell Penn what she had figured out at the very beginning.

I don't know if this qualifies as a second chance romance or not. There were some sweet moments. Overall, the book was just ok. I would give it 2.5 stars. I think the narration did nothing to enhance the story.

Beautiful!

Such a beautiful story!! Love it love it!! Emotional, funny, performed fantastically! I want Matt’s story next!!

Performance could have been better

I didn't care for the performance. The accents and voices didn't work. Adults often sounded like they were children whining or having a tantrum. The attempt at a southern drawl was way over the top. I am from the south and know exactly what they sound like. This wasn't it. All of it distracted me from the story. I did like the story and the others in the series as well. The audible for the other titles was definitely better.

OK

this would of been so much better if they kept to the same narrator's as previously because these narrators ruined it totally they made then sound stupid with the slow southern drawl omg I've never heard anything so annoying I sent the book back as they ruined Penn for me!