Cole's Book Club ~April~ Review & Giveaway

The April book for Cole's Book Club was "The Next Always" by Nora Roberts.

I'd never read anything by Nora (we're on a first name basis now) before so I was excited to dig into this book.

Book Description:

The historic hotel in Boonsboro has endured war and peace, the changing of hands, and even rumored hauntings. Now it's getting a major face-lift from the Montgomery brothers and their eccentric mother. As the architect in the family, Beckett's social life consists mostly of talking shop over pizza and beer. But there's another project he's got his eye on: the girl he's been waiting to kiss since he was sixteen.

After losing her husband and returning to her hometown, Clare Brewster soon settles into her life as the mother of three young sons while running the town's bookstore.Though busy and with little time for romance, Clare is drawn across the street by Beckett's transformation of the old inn, wanting to take a closer look...at both the building and the man behind it.

With the grand opening inching closer, Beckett is happy to give Clare a private tour -- one room at a time, in between blueprint meetings and kindergarten pickups. It's no first date, but these stolen moments are the beginning of something that could arouse the secret yearning that resides in Clare's independent heart -- and open the door to the extraordinary adventure of what comes next...
 
On to the Book Club questions:
 
1.  Did you like the book? Why/why not?
I really  did.  I enjoyed the characters, the setting and the atmosphere that Nora created.



2.  Do the characters seem real and believable? Can you relate to them/ do they remind you of people you know?
The characters did seem believeable.  So many of the "situations" that arose around the 3 young children made me chuckle because I can so relate!  I don't think I really know people like the characters but I wish they were real so that I could be friends.



3.  Is the ending satisfying? If so, why? If not, why not...and how would you change it?

I liked the ending.  Especially because I know this was the first book of a trilogy and it even had a sneak peak at the second book in the series.  I look forward to reading more about these people and this town.


4.  If you could ask the author a question, what would you ask?

Who is Lizzie!?!?  The suspense is killing me.


5.  How do characters change or evolve throughout the course of the story? If so, how/why?

The characters did evolve throughout the book.  In the beginning, Clare was all about being the best mom ever to her 3 boys.  I liked the she learned to lighten up a bit.  Beckett goes from being a true bachelor to cleaning up a spaghetti fight and tucking 3 little boys in bed.

Nora was a new-to-me author but now I look forward to reading many more of her books.  I enjoy that aspect of a Book Club.  Being introduced to new authors really broadens my reading world.


Cole has a new poll up on her sidebar to vote for May's Book Club book.  It was a difficult choice, but I know which one I voted for!
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Now for the GIVEAWAY!

I am giving away my copy of "The Next Always" to one lucky reader!

To enter just leave me a comment below letting me know that you want to be entered.  Easy as that!

I'll draw a winner on Friday, May 4th, at 12pm EST.

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Happy Reading!