Name: Love Next Door
ISBN: 9781542029308

Helena Hunting

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Helena Hunting comes an evocative small-town romance about family loyalty, finding oneself, and falling in love. When Dillion Stitch left her hometown, she had no intention of going back. But when her brother gets into trouble, Dillion reluctantly agrees to return home to take her place at the family business. Being back in Pearl Lake after all these years feels familiar but also brings a few surprises. She's quick to notice that someone new has shown up at the cottage next door. Dillion gets more than an eyeful when she goes to check out the newcomer and meets Donovan "Van" Firestone--her beloved neighbor's grandson--in all his unclothed glory. Having gotten off to a rocky start, it's not long before they begin bickering with each other all over town. All that back-and-forth inevitably sparks an undeniable attraction. But Dillion's family has issues, Van's family resents him, and neither Dillion nor Van feels truly at ease in the small town. For these Pearl Lake exiles, home isn't just where the heart is--it's where things get complicated.

Love Next Door

Lynn Braden

When Dillion Stitch loses her job, her boyfriend, and her apartment in Chicago, she decides that going home to Pearl Lake to help her family after her brother is injured in a car accident is a good idea.  Her arrival proves to be easier than she imagines except for her neighbor, Donovan Firestone, who is in hiding at his grandmother's cottage while the chaos over a missing three million dollars from his mother's foundation settles down.  However, what Dillion and Van find is more than just a temporary respite from city problems, as issues with their families test their newfound happiness.

Love Next Door is a well crafted story, but even though it is written in a dual first person POV style, the characters seem a little flat in a story that is underwhelming.  One strength of the book is the representation of an individual dealing with a growing mental illness.  Unfortunately, the romance lacks spark and the mystery is too easily solved.  Also the third act conflict that shows a lack of trust between the characters comes to an underdeveloped resolution.  Overall, Love Next Door is a disappointment from an author whose work I've often enjoyed.