Nora Roberts – The perfect Hope

The third book in the Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy series, published November 1, 2012.
Genre: contemporary romance with a dash of paranormal, ghosts
Cover: cute



The Montgomery brothers and their eccentric mother are breathing new life into the town of Boonsboro, Maryland, by restoring its historic hotel. And they're finding their own lives revamped by love. This is Ryder's story... 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. And though 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...


The third book in the trilogy made me feel like coming home, and catching up with old friends. I have fallen in love with this small town, the Inn and the cast of characters. I would love to spend a few nights there, and explore all the different rooms and the impeccable hospitality of innkeeper Hope and her assistant.
Hope and Ryder don’t seem to like each other very much, and their interactions are very funny. They are attracted to each other, but both don’t want to take the first step into action. So the resident ghost Lizzy takes matters in her own hands, and locks them in a room together. The only way of getting out of there (apart from calling for help) is to kiss each other ... Hope is willing, but Ryder not so much, he likes to make his own moves.
Still, that kiss caused some major sparks between them!

When Hope’s cheating ex-boyfriend comes looking for her, he offers her her old job back at his father’s chic hotel the Wickham, and her old position as his mistress as well ... When Hope is not interested, and highly insulted he can even think that she will knowingly be the other woman, she stays polite, and uses Ryder to prove that she is not pining for Jonathan ...
Ryder is livid though, when he finds out after Jonathan has left, what he asked of Hope. He would have loved to punch him in the face for those insults. And poaching their innkeeper, no, that won’t be tolerated either. But Hope can handle things herself, she does not need his help further. It did make them behave civilized to each other though, and clear the air between them.

In the mean time, Owen and Hope are still searching for the identity of Lizzy’s Billy, and Lizzy is finally showing herself to Hope, and telling some of her story. With the help of some old family papers, that story becomes clearer and clearer, and it is not a pretty story.

Avery’s new restaurant is close to being opened, her wedding dress has been bought, and she is ready to engage the new challenges in her life. She loves what the Montgomery brothers have done with the pub part as well, building the bar themselves. The brothers are working hard on their mothers latest project, the gym. From an ugly building, they will transform it into something pretty and high class, just like they did with the Inn.

Clare is pregnant with twins, and the whole family is overjoyed with that, although 5 boys will not be easy for them. New dogs are also in order, and I sure loved how those rescues are described. And lets not forget Ryder’s loyal sidekick, DA, or DumbAss. Hope makes room for the dog in her apartment as well, and Ryder really appreciates it. They have finally started a relationship, first just for sex, but slowly both want more, although Hope never reacts as Ryder expects. She doesn’t leave her stuff at his house, she doesn’t complain when he has to work late. But then, neither does he when she has guests to take care off. Her guests and taking care of the Inn always comes first for Hope. She loves her job and the Inn.


To put it shortly: I loved this book very much, all the familiair characters, and especially the solution to Billy and Lizzy. That was heartbreaking to read, but the ending made me happy.

Hope is hurt more than she thought by the betrayal of Jonathan and especially his family. They did give her the impression that she was their future daughter in law, they even met her own family. They had to have known about Jonathan and the woman he really intended to marry ... So now she is very careful about entering another relationship,, especially as Ryder is technically the son of her employer ... But Justine laughs about that, and really hopes they will hit it off. Ryder sure is surly at times, and doesn’t know how to deal with a woman’s tears, but he is honest and he will be faithfull to Hope.

It was fun to see Ryder and Hope struggle with their feelings, and growing closer together. Of course their friends and family knew long ago that they were in love, but they had to realize it themselves first. The interaction of Hope with her two best friends Clare and Avery is such fun, and the rougher interaction of Ryder with his two brothers Owen and Beckett is so different. Ryder also hangs out a bit more with Becket’s sons, and you really witness that grown men are still little boys at times...

I loved it, I will re-read this series for sure.

9 stars.

© 2014 Reviews by Aurian