The Next Always (2011) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Summary edit see section history

Characters edit see section history

• Beckett Montgomery: Youngest of the Montgomery brothers. He's an architect with ambitious plans and a longstanding crush on Clare. He, along with his brothers, are renovating the BoonsBoro Inn. He's tall with brown hair and blue eyes.
• Clare Murphy Brewster: A young army widow and bookstore owner. Mother of three boys. She's blond with gray-green eyes.
• Owen Montgomery: Middle of the Montgomery brothers. He's known as the most organized one.
• Ryder Montgomery: Eldest of the Montgomery brothers. Head of Montgomery Family Contractors.
• Avery McTavish: Owner of Vesta Pizzeria and Family Restaurant. Clare's friend.
• Hope Beaumont: Hired as innkeeper for the renovated Inn BoonsBoro. She is a friend of Avery and Clare and has short, dark hair.
• Justine Montgomery: Mother of the Montgomery boys. She has dark hair and is tall and slender. Very close with her sister Carolee.
• Liam Brewster: Clare's middle son
• Murphy Brewster: Clare's youngest son who is just starting kindergarten. Born after her husband's death.
• Harry Brewster: Clare's oldest son who is just starting the third grade
• Alva Ridenour: Babysits the Brewster boys. Retired high school math teacher.
• Sam Freemont: Occasionally works at his father's car dealership. Interested in dating Clare.
• Carolee: Justine's sister. She's blond and petite and very close to her sister
• Franny: Avery's second in command at Vesta.
• Laurie: Employee at Turn the Page
• Cassie: Employee at Turn the Page
• Lindsay: One of Clare's customers
• Zoe: Lindsay's daughter
• Rosie Murphy: Clare's mother
• Ed Murphy: Clare's father
• Madeline: Hired to run Gifts Inn Boonsboro
• Charlie Reeder: Police officer. Married to Charlene
• Charlene Reeder: Employee at bookstore. Married to Charlie, local law enforcement.
• Elizabeth "Lizzy": The ghost who haunts the Inn.
• Dumbass: Ryder's mixed breed dog
• Atticus (Cus) and Finch: Justine Morgan's dogs
• Clint Brewster: Clare's deceased husband. Served three tours in Iraq with the Army.
• Ben and Yoda: Clare's kids' dogs

Quotes edit see section history

• “See what happens when you get hooked up?” Ryder shook his head, sadly. “No more time for pizza and beer with your brothers.” “Beck’s a family man now,” Owen said soberly. “You’d better start thinking about beefing up your retirement plan and life insurance.” “Kiss my ass. And I’m not a—”“No more poker tournaments, no more partying.” Ryder gave Beckett a sympathetic rap on the shoulder. “And you can forget the tittie bars, man. It’s all about saving for that vacation at Disney World now. Poor bastard. Come on, Owen, we’ll eat and drink his share.” “His oats.” Owen sighed as he walked out. “They have all been sowed.”

  Ryder and Owen to Beckett

• “"What the hell do you want?" "Good morning to you, too. I'm walking out of Sheetz, with coffee and donuts. They've got a new clerk on the morning shift. She's pretty hot." "I'll kill you with a hammer."”

  Beckett and Owen

• “"Didn't you read the text I sent you?" "Which one? I'm gone two days and you sent me a million freaking texts."”

  Owen and Beckett

• “"Some days I feel like the ringmaster in a three-ring circus inhabited by demons."”

  Clare to Beckett

• “"When you know the answer, it's not being hardheaded. It's just being right."”

  Beckett to Clare

• “"You're the woman in my life. Another thing about me and my brothers? We look after the women in our lives. We don't know any other way."”

  Beckett to Clare

• “"I don't know how you guys missed the memo, but it doesn't mean dick when a woman's wrong."”

  Ryder to Beckett and Owen

• “"Men. You're all just boys in bigger packages."”

  Clare to Beckett

• “"Who the hell are you supposed to be?" Ryder demanded.Beckett dipped his chin, checked Owen's work. "I'm Carpenter X. Faster than a skill saw, more powerful than a nail gun. I fight for truth, justice, and plumb corners."”

  Ryder and Beckett

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Boonsboro, Maryland, USA
• Turn the Page: Clare's bookstore

Organizations edit see section history

• Vesta Pizzeria: Avery's business

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Series & Lists edit see section history

Followed by The Last Boyfriend.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Nora Roberts (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: PS3568.O243 N49 2011
• Dewey: 813

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Sexual content, profanity and mature themes

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Romance › Contemporary
• Books › Literature & Fiction

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

• Nora Roberts: Author's website

More Books Like This edit see section history