Book Review - The Next Always by Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts is an absolute favorite of mine and she did not disappoint with the first book in her Inn Boonsboro trilogy - The Next Always.  I have been so intrigued by the idea of this book since I first learned of it a while back.  You see, Inn Boonsboro is a real place that is owned by Ms. Roberts and her family.  I have perused the website for the Inn and my husband knows that I would love oh so much to go and have a romantic and relaxing stay there.  With him, of course.  Considering that it's in Maryland and we live in California - it'll be a bit of time before we can actually go there.  So, I lived slightly vicariously through this book, and loved every moment of it.

Clare Murphy Brewster is the hometown sweetheart who left, married young, had two children rather quickly and then became a war widow - right as she learned she was pregnant again.  With two small boys and a third on the way she returned home to her parents and the small town she always loved.  In order to survice the death of her husband and create a way to support herself and her children - she opened the town bookstore Turn the Page (again, a real place in Boonsboro).  Five years later and she has made a happy family for herself and her boys and a successful business out of the bookstore.
Beckett is the youngest son of the towns beloved and much admired Montgomery family.  Together with his mother and two brothers, they are taking a crumling, historic building in town and turning it into a gorgeous Inn.  Each brother, and their mom, has their talents and they all work equally hard in bringing Inn Boonsboro to life.  And oh yes, Beckett has a very strong thing for Clare.  He has since high school but figures he'll just have to suffice with being her friend.

Fortunately for Beckett, the Inn has a resident ghost who gives Clare and Beckett a slight match making hand.  Nora Roberts has created a really lovely story about a second chance (in Clare's case) and finally getting the chance (in Beckett's case) at true love.  Toss in all of the wonderfully accurate and funny family moments that she is so talented at conveying and the mysticism of a ghost and The Next Always is a sure fire winner.

Oh, and did I mention that the cover is completely gorgeous? It is, as you can see for yourself.