Books
x dismiss this message

Did you know you can edit this page?

see page history

Description edit see section history

Owen is the organizer of the Montgomery clan, running the family's construction business with an iron fist - and an even less flexible spreadsheet. And though his brothers give him grief for his compulsive list making, the Inn BoonsBoro is about to open right on schedule. The only thing Owen... read more

Summary edit see section history

Owen Montgomery and Avery MacTavish have been best friends forever. The organizer of the Montgomery clan, Owen runs the family’s construction business with an iron will and an inflexible spreadsheet. His brothers might tease Owen about his compulsive list-making, but everyone knows he played... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Owen Montgomery and Avery MacTavish have been best friends forever. The organizer of the Montgomery clan, Owen runs the family’s construction business with an iron will and an inflexible spreadsheet. His brothers might tease Owen about his compulsive list-making, but everyone knows he played a key role in seeing Inn BoonsBoro opened right on schedule.

From her popular pizzeria right across the street from the inn, Avery MacTavish boasted a front row seat to its amazing renovation—and she found a new appreciation for Owen. She considers Owen her first boyfriend, due to a childhood crush, and a bubblegum ring. But she can't claim the attraction she feels for him now as child-like or innocent.

As Avery and Owen cautiously take their relationship to another level, the opening of the inn gives the whole town of Boonsboro a reason to celebrate. But Owen’s hard work has only begun. Getting her to let down her guard may take longer than he expected—as will convincing Avery her first boyfriend is going to be her last.

Characters edit see section history

  • Owen Montgomery: Middle of the Montgomery brothers. Organizer of the Montgomery Family Contractor business. Obsessively organized, likes lists. First boyfriend of Avery.
  • Avery McTavish: Owner of Vesta Pizzeria and Family Restaurant. Best friend of Hope and Clare. She has red hair (normally) and blue eyes. Creator of the soon to be new restaurant in town. She has known the Montgomery's all her life. Was Owen's first girlfriend when she was 5 and he was 8.
  • Ryder Montgomery: Eldest of the Montgomery brothers. Part of Montgomery Family Contractors - in charge of all the construction jobs. A bit on the surly side.
  • Hope Beaumont: Inn BoonsBoro Innkeeper. She used to run a major hotel and recently moved to the area after a failed relationship. Best friend of Avery and Clare.
  • Beckett Montgomery: Youngest of the Montgomery brothers. Architect. Marrying Clare.
  • Clare Brewster: Owner of Turn the Page, a bookstore. Widowed mother of three boys. Marrying Beckett. Best friend of Avery and Hope.
  • Justine Montgomery: Mother of the Montgomery boys. She is the idea woman behind Montgomery Family Contractors.
  • Harry Brewster: Clare's oldest son. He's in the third grade.
  • Liam Brewster: Clare's middle son.
  • Murphy Brewster: Clare's youngest son. He's in kindergarten.
  • Rosie and Ed Murphy: Clare's parents
  • Carolee: Justine's sister & aunt of the Montgomery boys. She's blond and petite and very close to her sister.
  • Willy B MacTavish: Avery's father and friend to the Montgomery family.
  • Traci: Avery's mother who abandoned her husband and daughter when Avery was 12.
  • "Lizzy": Ghost who inhabits the Inn Boonsboro.
  • Franny: Works for Avery.
  • Dumbass: Ryder's dog, nicknamed D.A.
  • Atticus: Justine's dog, nicknamed Cus
  • Finch: Justine's dog
  • Ben and Yoda: Beckett and Clare's dogs
Show all 20 characters
Popular Covers

Loading covers…

Choose your book’s cover

Quotes edit see section history

  • “He’d shaved, Owen noted, and looked bright-eyed. Maybe a little wild-eyed, as he imagined most men did with three kids under the age of ten and the school morning chaos that created. He remembered his own school mornings well enough, and wondered how his parents had resisted doing major drugs.”
    Owen observing Beckett
  • “He had his hands on her? Okay. He's big but he's old. I can take him.”
    Ryder
  • “You're gonna be our uncle." "That's what I hear." "So you have to buy us Christmas presents." "I guess I do." "I got a list.”
    Liam to Owen
  • “That dog'll roll in the snow, run in the snow, eat the damn snow, but he won't walk through it to shit. I don't clear the path, he shits right by the door.  Why is that?”
    Ryder about his dog, Dumbass

Organizations edit see section history

First Sentence edit see section history

A fat winter moon poured light over the old stone and brick of the inn on The Square.

Table of Contents edit see section history

Chapters 1 - 20

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 2 of 4 in Inn Boonsboro Trilogy. (standard series)

Preceded by The Next Always, and followed by The Perfect Hope.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Nora Roberts (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Penguin Group
Country: USA
Publication Date: May 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-425-24603-0
Page Count: 360

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: PS3568.O243 L37 2012
  • Dewey: 813

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Adults

Profanity. Sexual content

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • Vision in White
  • Jewels of the Sun
  • Tears of the Moon
  • Born in Fire
  • Born in Ice

Books with Additional Background Information edit see section history

   
  • The Next Always
  • The Perfect Hope

We’re hiding the glossary entries, themes, errata, awards, movie connections, books that influenced this book, books influenced by this book, books that cite this book and books cited by this book sections. If you would like to add content to them, you must first make them visible.