I could not have asked for a better way to return to Dogwood Lane! I love this town and all the stories in it and have been anxiously awaiting Penn's story. The bad boy player and group goofball, who will never be tied down, finally meets his match and it gives you all the feels. I am a total sucker for this kind of hero and my love for Penn was instant. Avery is making some life changes and I loved her commitment to herself and that she didn't cave or settle for anything less than what she knew she deserved. I also loved getting to see more of Matt and his personality in this story, he handed Penn's ass to him a few times and I hope he gets a story too, because he has unsuspecting Alpha written all over him. I anxiously awaited this book since meeting Penn in Tumble and it did not disappoint. This series is a must read!

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and voluntarily give my review.

I've loved this series so far; Adriana Locke's forte is character development, and Dogwood Lane is no exception. In this book, Penn is a fun, lovable guy who doesn't think he's meant for a long-term relationship, and Avery is escaping family/friend drama in LA in favor of small town USA while looking for lasting love. I found this book a bit slow at the beginning, but halfway through it found a good pace and had an enjoyable ending. Worth a read!

This story was everything I wanted in a romance novel. I devoured it in one day. It was witty and funny, with plenty of heat. The character growth for the two main characters was natural and relatable. I adored Penn as a main character, as well as the small-town setting.

Penn Etling is just... *sigh*. This is probably one of my favourite Adriana Locke books ever. I devoured it in one sitting. I love her small town romances, and the previous two books in the Dogwood Lane series were amazing, but Trouble is another level of fantastic. A definite must read for 2020.

Finally we get to the story of Peck! Avery will give him a run for his money because she’s just as against relationships as he is. But when they are together sparks fly and they try to keep their relationship a secret from the rest of their friends. You will laugh and you will feel while reading this book. I love the Dogwood Lane crowd!

“Trouble” by Adriana Locke is the third book released in the Dogwood Lane series and can be read as a stand-alone. It features Penn, who is tough on the outside and sweet on the inside, and Avery, an artist and hairdresser who relocated from Hollywood, CA, to make it on her own.

Both of these characters are immediately drawn to one another, and Penn can not fight the pull he feels for Avery; the instant connection as well as the longing. He feels as if he knows her and he’s not sure from where.

These two do have a past and all will be revealed in this slow-burn romance. You will feel as if you are right there in Dogwood with them as they go about their daily lives and jobs, interact with friends and family, and let each other in bit by bit. Penn is someone you just want to hug and let him know what a great guy he is, because he doesn’t believe it himself. Avery is quick to realize this and lets him know in no uncertain terms just how special and desirable he is.

I really admired Avery who was almost 30 and knows what she wants in a relationship. She didn’t just want to a fling, she wanted to be someone’s forever and I really enjoyed the scenes where she voiced how she envisioned her future husband.

Adriana writes so well...you get all the feels and will be quickly wrapped up in their budding romance and all the happenings in this small town where everyone knows each other. This book did progress slower than the others, but the pace is important because all of the little details matter as they get to know one another. Things will be revealed about their past as they learn to trust and forgive one another, and you will be smiling ear to ear by the last chapter.

Penn and Avery's story is utterly "awesome." These two had me laughing, occasionally shedding a few tears and sighing in bliss at different times throughout this exceptional read.

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!