REVIEW: Stone Bridges by Carla Neggers

Stone Bridges by Carla Neggers finds Adrienne Portale settling in Knights Bridge, taking a job as an innkeeper in order to get to know her recently discovered father, Vic. Adam Sloan is the quietest of the Sloan brothers, staying at Vic’s guesthouse. Adam doesn’t want to get attached–Adrienne has a history of not staying in one place too long. But can Adrienne finally find a place to call home in Knights Bridge?

This is the ninth book in the series, and I would suggest reading them in order. I haven’t read any of the books in the series, and it felt like all the characters had been previously introduced to readers. I also felt like I was missing the background on how Adrienne and Vic originally met, because it kept being referenced and mentioned that Adrienne had lied to everyone. This makes them a little reluctant to trust her, and I kept wondering what exactly she did to warrant that distrust. Feeling like I was missing information did take away a little from the story for me.

The book felt like it moved slowly. It takes a while for Adrienne and Adam to finally work up to being a couple. As much as I liked them individually as people, I thought the chemistry between them was somewhat lacking. It felt like Adam was holding himself back from Adrienne, probably because he kept expecting her to leave.

One of Adrienne’s main reasons for moving to Knights Bridge and accepting the innkeeper job was to get to know her father, yet Vic is gone for most of the book for some mysterious new job that’s never revealed. She tells him she’s ok with that, but I have a hard time believing that she wouldn’t be at least disappointed, if not mad, that she wasn’t getting to spend time with him.

Overall I enjoyed the story and would recommend it to readers who enjoy small town romances. I liked how close the Sloan family is and how they support one another. The setting and the characters are interesting and well-written, and I’m looking forward to going back and reading the other books in the series.
 

Book Info:

Publication: March 26, 2019 | MIRA | Swift River Valley #9

Adrienne Portale has never settled in one place for long, but takes a job as innkeeper in tiny Knights Bridge, Massachusetts, to spend some time getting to know the father she only recently found. When three small boys get lost in the wilderness that borders the inn, Adam Sloan leads the search. His family ties to the town go back generations. Adrienne sees the bond that people in a small town have as they band together to find the missing children.

Adam is impressed with her calm strength, but he’s sure she won’t find what she’s looking for in his quiet hometown. Despite their differences, Adam and Adrienne discover they have more in common than they’d expected. They love to explore old stone walls and bridges, and she adores his dog. As summer bleeds into the gorgeous New England fall, the attraction between them grows, and they must decide where–and who–makes a place home.