Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Tumble is a second chance book. Ten years ago, Neely left the tiny town of Dogwood Lane, Tennessee for New York City with a broken heart and a vow to not return. And yes, the town is named Dogwood Lane. Took me a few chapters to figure out it was not the street she lived on but the actual name of the town. I digress. So after quitting her job due to being passed over for a promotion she deserved, she decides to finally return home hoping she can at least avoid the man who broke her heart so badly she hasn’t recovered, one Dane Madden. Of course life is never so kind or so easy. It doesn’t take long before these two are drawn to one another and even though Neely knows it’s a bad idea, she can’t seem to stay away from Dane. So, the good. It’s well written. Side characters are engaging and bring life to the story. The kid, Mia, is great if a bit too put together for a ten year old. Dane will certainly capture some readers’ hearts and Neely has a good dose of humor at times. Now.............stop reading this if you hate spoilers. Let me say again, spoilers ahead mate. ************************* SPOILER ALERT ******************************* Let me get right into it. This book made me want to scream. I have to go the spoiler route so you understand why I feel this way. Yes, Dane broke her heart. How? He slept with her best friend AND got her pregnant!! The kid Mia? Yeah, that’s the kid he had with Neely’s best friend!! Oh it gets better. Why, oh why, would he do this to the girl/woman he loved oh so much? For her own benefit. Yep. Hand to God his rationale for breaking up with her was so she would go to college since all he wanted to do was stay in town and work at the mill. He put up this oh so grand sacrifice for her of course. Kill me now. Oh and he 1000% tried to pull a Ross excusing his sleeping with and impregnating her best friend by saying they were broken up. And then, then folks, he said he always thought she would be back and he could pick up with her then so he actually has the flipping gall to be angry with her and give her a guilt trip when she shows up in town still pissed at him. So what does she do? Tell him to pound sand? Nope. Make him beg for forgiveness? Nope. She apologizes to him!!!!!! I thought I was going to bust a blood vessel reading that. The book goes on with some angst about her leaving town again. The kid is cute. He acts (kinda) like perfect Dad and boyfriend. But I can’t get over that part about what he did. I just can’t. Guess my petty game is strong. Ultimately there is a HEA and they all live happily ever after. Dane, Neely, and the constant reminder of his betrayal, the cute kid Mia - who he wants Neely to be a mother to. Yeah sure why not. She already apologized to him for his betrayal, left her entire career for him, and agreed to everything he wanted. Step-mom too! Bring it on. This is yet another second chance book I didn’t like even though I’ve given them honest tries again and again. This trope is clearly not for me. I think people who like this trope will likely be more forgiving than me. They’ll likely love these two together. The writing is quite good, the town, characters, and dialogue are all very well done. It’s rather sweet in general with a medium to low heat level.. So my rating may be an anamoly but it is what it is. This wasn’t the book for me. Two stars.