Sandy M’s review of The Perfect Hope (Inn BoonsBoro, Book 3) by Nora Roberts
Contemporary Paranormal Romance published by Berkley Trade 6 Nov 12
I have been anxiously waiting for Ryder and Hope’s story while also mourning the end of this wonderfully emotional trilogy. I’m amazed as the rest of you that Nora Roberts is able to come up with original ideas, write beautiful stories, all with such frequency even after all these years. Thank the heavens she does. She’s kept me spellbound for months now with her Inn BoonsBoro characters and fun. I could go for another three or four books, but I know she moved on to her next project ages ago. Now doesn’t that make you curious as all get-out?
Ryder Montgomery and Hope Beaumont haven’t exactly gotten along since she became the innkeeper of the family inn. He’s a man of very few words, many of them sarcastic when aimed at her. Hope is the big-city girl who just may be too big for her new small-town britches, or so he thinks. At least that’s how they’ve looked at one another up to this point in time. But when they share another kiss, thoughts are hard to keep on their respective work. I love how straight-talking and honest they each are. After getting an earful from family and friends about how the sparks fly between from, Hope asks Ryder if he’s considering having sex with her. Can’t misinterpret that, now can you? And he doesn’t. Takes him a day to answer, but since that question hit him between the eyes, he can’t help but consider it. Thus, they schedule a date and time to get to know each other better. Doesn’t go quite as planned when the time comes, but that’s half the fun.
The other half is the intensity that follows them after that first night together. Along with the fact he can’t keep his hands off Hope, Ryder finds himself opening up, talking more than ever before. The woman does something to him. Then when her ex shows up, giving her an offer the jerk thinks she won’t be able to refuse, followed by the man’s jealous wife, Ryder takes the initiative in resolving the problem his own way. Though I can see where Hope is coming from when she protests his actions, to me this is Ryder saying “I love you” more than anything else, but neither of them realize that at the time.
I really enjoy the friendships in this series. All along Hope, Avery, and Clare are best friends, have those heart-to-heart girl talks that women need in their everyday lives. They share everything from pregnancy to careers to sex and everything in between. These ladies are also friends with their mother-in-law, who is one hip mother/friend/grandma/boss and a few others to make her an all-round great person anyone would love to know. The brothers are also best of friends. They poke at each other all the time, ribbing about all things male, but you know they’d fight to the end if any of them were in trouble.
Then there’s the resident ghost of the inn. We’ve followed Lizzy’s story since the first book, learning her plight and why she’s still haunting the very place she more than likely died. She’s also a friend of sorts to these characters, bringing them together when they drag their feet, defending them when the situation calls for it, and giving them clues to find her Billy and hopefully, finally giving her the peaceful rest she deserves. I like that Ms. Roberts throws us a curveball near the end, keeping us off guard when it comes to Lizzy, just as she does to everyone else involved. I know some folks out there won’t or aren’t thrilled with this paranormal aspect of the storyline, but I think it’s perfect with the history of both the town and the building that has gotten a new life, thanks to the Montgomery family.
As usual, Nora Roberts gives her fans fun, laughter, mystery, and love and romance to remember for a long time to come. I enjoyed every word of this trilogy and will miss these characters now that the end is here.
Grade: A+
Summary:
Ryder is the hardest Montgomery brother to figure out—with a tough-as-nails outside and possibly nothing too soft underneath. He’s surly and unsociable, but when he straps on a tool belt, no woman can resist his sexy swagger. Except apparently Hope Beaumont, the innkeeper of his own Inn BoonsBoro…
As the former manager of a D.C. hotel, Hope is used to excitement and glamour, but that doesn’t mean she can’t appreciate the joys of small-town living. She’s where she wants to be—except for in her love life. Her only interaction with the opposite sex has been sparring with the infuriating Ryder, who always seems to get under her skin. Still, no one can deny the electricity that crackles between them…a spark that ignited with a New Year’s Eve kiss.
While the Inn is running smoothly, thanks to Hope’s experience and unerring instincts, her big-city past is about to make an unwelcome—and embarrassing—appearance. Seeing Hope vulnerable stirs up Ryder’s emotions and makes him realize that while Hope may not be perfect, she just might be perfect for him…
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
Sandy M thank you for the review,but I must ask you a serious question and I would like a straightforward answer to this… In your opinion does Nora have “passion” in her books? I mean don’t you notice that in her books she is “too cerebral?” I mean I don’t want to be talked to death about wants and needs I want to FEEL that these two people have the PASSION and really want each other bad!!!! I know for a fact that NO ONE does the word RELATIONSHIP like Nora. She is my go to author if I want to read her take on relationships. I also read other authors which have an extremely good handle on passion and relationships and I FEEL IT when I’m reading it. Just had to get that off my chest since I am in the process of reading this book right now. You can agree to disagree but I really would like an unvarnished opinion of what I just stated. Its all good and with much respect. Look forward to hearing from you. Later Days Monica T.
For me there is passion in Nora’s books. Not the full-out passion of an erotic novel, but I still feel it between these characters. The first time they make love is full of passion, plus every time afterward to one degree or another. I believe Ryder even admits he can’t keep his hands to himself when he’s near Hope and she portrays the same feeling when they’re together. Also, Nora goes a step further and gives her characters passion for other things in life. I know that’s not exactly what you’re asking, but that’s the whole experience of a Nora Roberts book for me. I never feel as though any part of life has been left out in her stories, from the bedroom to other areas. That makes their loving more passionate for me. And I’m not really sure you can totally separate passion from relationship. It’s a fine line. I don’t read romance to have my hero and heroine separate because their relationship isn’t passionate all the time. You’re obviously not feeling the passion, the want in this book. Any particular part(s) you can point to that doesn’t work for you? And why? I agree there’s not passion a million times (yes, an exaggeration) like in a Maya Banks or Lorelei James novel, but I’m glad Nora doesn’t write like either of those authors. They each have their own way of getting passion across, so I can’t compare them. Who do you look at as a master of passion? Would you want a good portion of the authors you read to do the same all the time? After all this, I guess I’ll say that this is really a subjective subject. Just as reading is. What I love you may hate and vice versa. But that’s the beauty of romance!
Hey Sandy, thanks for answering my questions for the most part. I can say this.. I have a majority of nora’s books and again NO ONE does the word RELATIONSHIP like she does. I of late have been requiring more in my authors and while I still appreciate Nora, I will be moving on to others that have what I love right now in the telling of some wonderful stories that really do entertain me as a reader of their books. You are correct in that this is in the “eye of the beholder” and Nora’s what I like to call ZIPPY LOVE SCENES have driven me to thorough DISTRACTION! In the book The Perfect Hope they have what I like to call a NR go to thing.. they have ZIPPY SEX. Meaning all the need and wants are said in the character’s head and in this particular case NOT VOICED TO THE PERSON YOU HAVE UNDER YOU AT THE TIME. I felt after reading this time and time again in her books. Its gotten to the point of being quite amusing to me. I don’t in the current case of Hope and Ryder, feel any kind of passion towards each other. Again I will use my word “CEREBRAL” too much thinking not enough telling what it is you WANT from me and how you plan to get it from me as well. You are also correct in stating there are other authors many in fact that I read that convey what I mean. I just wish as fantastic as NR is that she could do the same. Again purely SUBJECTIVE. I buy that. I look to the following authors for what I crave and they deliver the goods very well. Jaci Burton’s PLAY -BY-PLAY SERIES, Lauren Dane’s Brown Family Series, Jasmine Haynes, PERIOD, Lisa Kleypas’s and Elizabeth Hoyt Historicals amd just recently found the wonderful and damn sexy Kate Pearce. House of Pleasure novels. I love them all and they are well written and contantly prove that messy people deserve love and passion as well. I do also love Jill Shalvis , she is good and of course Lorelei James. I love this genre and even though I will be cutting back on NR I just found a whole slew of new people to read and enjoy. You are right, that is the beauty of romance there is something for EVERYONE. Laters Days and Happy Holidays to you and yours. Monica T.