“A sweet, sexy read, featuring a couple that feels both true-to-life and aspirational.” Kirkus Review, Starred Review American Angie Donovan has never wanted much. When you grow up getting bounced from foster home to foster home, you learn not to become attached to anything, anyone, or any place. But it only took her two days to fall in love with Australia. With her visa clock ticking, surely … clock ticking, surely she can fall in love with an Australian–and get hitched–in two months. Especially if he’s as hot and funny as her next-door neighbor…
Jace Walters has never wanted much–except a bathroom he didn’t have to share. The last cookie all to himself. And solitude. But when you grow up in a family of seven, you can kiss those things goodbye. He’s finally living alone and working on his syndicated comic strip in privacy. Sure, his American neighbor is distractingly sexy and annoyingly nosy, but she’ll be gone in a few months…
Except now she’s determined to find her perfect match by checking out every eligible male in the town, and her choices are even more distracting. So why does it suddenly feel like he–and his obnoxious tight-knit family, and even these two wayward dogs–could be exactly what she needs?
Each book in the Patterson’s Bluff series is STANDALONE:
* The Aussie Next Door
* Her Aussie Holiday
more
Light, sweet, read filled with quirks and humor.
This felt like the perfect read to wind down summer with. I enjoyed the Walters family and since this looks to be the first in a series I’m hoping we get more of them in the next book!
Angie’s time is ticking to fall in love and get married to ensure her stay in Australia. Jace just wants solitude and routine but when his mother volunteers him to dog sit and Angie confesses her plan to find a husband his routine is thrown out the window.
I enjoyed the friendship between Angie and Jace. The lust was pretty immediate but the romance was a sweet build up. I definitely plan to read more by Stefanie London
I was very fortunate to have been an early reader on this book, and I can honestly say, Stefanie London knocked this one out of the ball park! Jace, her hero on-the-spectrum, is amazing, portrayed in an honest, realistic, non-pitying way. Her heroine, Angie, has been though a lot, yet she is strong, loving, and resilient. Jace and Angie have chemistry off the charts. I loved every part of this book…extra bonus points for the Australian setting and the two crazy but very lovable dogs!
Angie is an American who hightailed it to Australia to escape her notoriety back home. Not the good kind either, she is like a celebrity without celebrity status. No one can know her true identity because she pleasant little life will self-destruct. She finds herself a quaint little cottage to rent off a super hot, if not very serious, landlord and she is set. Well that is until her visa is set to expire and she is out of extensions. Well there is just one left, get married in less than 60 days.
Jace loves routine, his body craves it actually, he has ever minute of every day planned out in advance. He was diagnosed as high functioning autistic spectrum when he was younger and routine helps keep his mind in order. You could never tell by just looking at him on the outside but his inside gets all jumbled up during even the simplest things. He has a hard time with facial expressions, knowing when to keep a conversation going, and forget about sarcasm, it goes right over his head. When a friend of his mother’s asks him, well bamboozles, him into dog sitting her 2 dogs his nice calm life just went out the window. Factor in Angie’s hair brained scheme to find a husband in 60 days and he just may explode.
Angie wants the fairy tale, to fall in love with someone and build a future and a family. Family is something that she never had growing up. She lives in a world of hope and smiles and happiness, even as your heart is breaking you put on a smile. She hopes to convince Jace that he wants that too, but his feelings are the complete opposite of hers. She wonders why he feels so strongly against marriage?
Jace and Angie traverse life in Australia with all its confusion and happiness front and center. Although first appearing extremely different, the more I read the more similar they became. Each with their own set of idiosyncrasies and quarks that make them more relatable to the audience. Having a family member on the autism spectrum made this book even more special as he now can have a voice out there like his.
I am an uber fan of Ms London and will continue to devour her novels as quickly as she writes them. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy without expectations. I enjoyed hearing more about Ms. London’s homeland of Australia, Angie threw in quite a few “sayings and slang” to enjoy. 4 ½ stars for this ripper of a book, Good on Ya Stefanie.
This was a tremendous book. I wish the book had been longer to delve a little more into the secondary characters. Perhaps Stefanie will write more books and make this a start of a series. Would love to see Jace’s brothers and sister get their own books. That said, their are so many things to love about this story. The main thing to me (as always) is the characters. I have to be able to feel the characters and to connect in some way. Stefanie never lets me down. Every character in the book was written so well. Jace was written very true, I have a son on the high end of the autism spectrum, so I know. The face on the refrigerator reference when Jace was a child – I did the same thing. The connection between Angie and Jace was beautifully written. Neither one seemed less than the other, The balance was well crafted.
The setting was described beautifully. It was interesting to hear some of the Aussie slang. And of course we got to interact with a deadly critter – yikes. And, who could not love all the puppy love.
Having two dogs myself, I loved the time spent with the pups. This book was just a joy to read.
The Aussie Next Door is such a fun cute read. I really enjoyed this one. Jace is amazing and he will just steal your heart. Angie is fun and I love how she brings out a different side of Jace. You will love the chemistry between them as they try to navigate from neighbors to more. This is such a fun warmhearted read that you won’t be able to put down. Jace and Angie are just amazing and I can’t wait for more from the Patterson’s Bluff series.
*** ARC Received for Honest Review ***
4 stars
Super cute love story. This is a complete beach read. I could have sat somewhere with a big hat and a cold drink and read this book all day long.
What a cute story about the quirky and h-o-t, Australian and his talkative and sweet neighbor/tenant. I fell in love with not only Jace and Angie, but with Jace’s entire family. It looks like there will be more to come and I cannot wait! (Review by Terrie “Jane”)
The Aussie Next Door is a small town, friends to lovers, sweet contemporary romance. I liked that this is a slow build romance. Jace and Angie went from him wanting nothing to do with her, to friends, to giving into their attraction. They both dealt with issues growing up and have very different personalities. Jace liked the quiet, low-maintenance life. He was serious, artsy, and a bit of a loner. Angie is for the most part, upbeat, talkative, and a go getter. What I really liked about this read is that the lead male is not your typical lead. The dogs provide a humorous touch and the meddling family members add to the charm of the story. A wonderful blend of serious undertones, heart, humor, and chemistry.
Angie grew up in foster care and never had a home or family of her own. She starts to travel and ends up in Australia. She falls in love with Patterson’s Bluff, a quaint little town. She rents a little apartment from Jace. Her visa is up in two weeks and she doesn’t want to leave, so she’s determined to fall in love and get married. Jace writes a comic and likes to be alone and stick to a strict schedule. Then his mother ropes him into taking care of two dogs while the woman is away on a cruise. Can they both handle each other’s quirks and find their own happily ever after?
Awesome story with romance and sex. Funny with two people who have different ideas for the future. I cracked up at several scenes and needed a cold shower for others.
* Voluntarily read and reviewed this for NetGalley *
https://nanasbookreviews.blogspot.com/2019/08/review-aussie-next-door-by-stefanie.html
The Aussie Next Door is a sweet contemporary romance that is focused on Jace, a man with high functioning autism, and Angie, a girl with a troublesome past.
The story is pleasant, slow-paced with a good plot and great characters. It has a humorous side, with the misbehaved dogs and the meddling family members. The romantic part had a slow build-up, they went from neighbors to friends and then they fell in love. I feel that their situation is quite relatable because on some level you’ll find something you can connect with (or you have experienced).
The characters were both complicated but easy to love. Angie was like a traumatized kid who just wanted a home and someone to care for her. She had an adorable quirkiness and a love for helping everyone. Jace was the opposite. After what happened to him he chose to live as a hermit, focusing on his job trying to avoid any human contact.
In conclusion, it’s an easy read that keeps your interest until the end. I fell in love with it and I will rate it with 4.5 stars.
This is the first book by Stefanie that I’ve read and I enjoyed very much! Being set in Australia was different for me and I enjoyed a change of scenery. Angie is an American who left to get away from her past. She ended up in a small town in Australia. She worked really hard to always put a smile on her face and to help others. But inside she was afraid. Afraid she wasn’t worthy or could be loved. Jace keeps to himself. He has to have a routine to even function; or so he thought. Jace has Autism and likes order and quiet. But between two adorable dogs and a beautiful woman that all started to change. Angie needed to stay in the country and Jace didn’t want her to leave. So they came up with a plan. But between both of their fears they almost blew it! Angie realized that she is worth it and can be loved. And Jace realized he didn’t want to be alone and would be ok with out order every once in awhile. The dogs in this book made me smile a lot! This is a great book that I definitely recommend.
What a sweet and sincere love story. This was the first book I have read from this author, but it won’t be my last. I definitely recommend this book and this author.
I absolutely loved this book. Refreshing yet held me captive. It had the humor, drama and romance but also kept the story incredibly real.
Can Jace learn to live outside his routine? Will Angie find her happy place? The backdrop was set. The writing was on point and the pacing of the book was excellent.
There’s nothing like a feel good book with a beautiful epilogue!
A truly fabulous read!
Fun, entertaining read. Two emotionally challenged persons, find their way through past heartbreaks, deceit, transgressions, a quagmire of trust issues. Sweet couple with puppy sidekicks and lots of family fun, along with a head of steam. Don’t miss this one.
Angie and Jace will grab your heart in this romance. He’s a regimented person with a touch of autism. She’s an American foster system grad with a need for a husband in order to get a visa. The story is so much more than the blurb indicates. It’s a heartwarming story with lots of depth. The characters are well-developed and the story is emotional and engaging. I read an arc copy via Net Galley and voluntarily chose to write a review.
4.5
Loved it!
What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue
I look forward to reading more from this author.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC from NetGalley.
What a great romance about two people trying to find where they belong. Angie is an American who relocated to Australia to start over, she had a horribly traumatic childhood and wanted to be somewhere that her past was all people saw about her. Jace is the middle sibling trying to find his place when he feels he is so different from his siblings and so set in his ways that he thinks no one will love him as he is. These two find each other when Angie rents a house from Jace on his property, she basically forces him into conversations because she is trying to fit in so she becomes chatty. Jace isn’t quite sure what to make of Angie yet he is still attracted to her. These two were a great couple and when they finally stopped fighting the attraction they were quite the hot, sexy couple. I loved how they were able to figure out who they were as a couple and work through the challenges that were working against them.
**I received a copy of The Aussie Next door from Net Galley and Entangled Publishing in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. My opinions were not solicited in any way.**
The Aussie Next Door by Stefanie London is I hope a new series featuring the town of Patterson Bluff and the Walters family. I loved this book and even though I’ve only read one other book by Ms. London (Beauty and the Greek Billionaire) her books are just fantastic. This is Jace, a comic artist and Angie’s story with a sassy group of senior citizens the Poker Ladies, and of course Tilly and Truffle a pair of dogs that are mismatched, a Chihuahua and a German Shepard, but will keep you in giggles until the early hours of the morning.
Angie Donovan grew up in the foster care system in the US and a when one of her parents abused left her with scars both inside and outside. But she’s come to Patterson’s Bluff, Australia where she not hounded by the press but is just Angie it helps her landlord Jace Walters but wonderful people who don’t care who she is or or why she’s there. But after only two days she’s fell in love with the town and it’s people oh and Jace. But can she win over the board of the local care center as well as Jace who’s orderly world has been turned upside down and now includes dog sitting for his mother’s friend.
Jace Walters has always been different than the rest of his brothers and sister he loves routine and order calmed his “high functioning” autism. When he gets talked into watching Tilly and Truffle for 2 months will throw his schedule off, now if he can just get beyond his writer’s block for his comic. When he finds out Angie may have to leave because her visa extension is denied and if she wants to stay she’ll need to get married. Will he watch while she researches the towns bachelors or will he offer himself because she’s become very important to his life?
A Diamond in the Rough…..
This story plucked my heart strings something fierce. Jace and Angie’s story took me by surprise, in a really good way. Jace Walters lived his life by a regimented timetable that always suited him and served his purpose in his life. He craved being by himself and in his own world. Coming from a family of seven, he yearned for alone time. As soon as he was able, he moved out of his family home to seek quiet solitude, and to live the hermit lifestyle. No fuss, no muss.
Jace’s world was hit by a force that went by the name Angie Donovan. Angie was American, hot and sexy. She was extroverted with a capital “E”, in other words the total opposite of him. Angie came from a tumultuous past that had her moving to Australia so she could start a new life. But starting a new life does not always go to plan. The sand in her hourglass was running out in the form of her Visa expiring and sending her back to her rocky past. Angie develops a plan but it isn’t as easy as she anticipates.
I found this romance more than ordinary. It was emotionally powerful. Once in a blue moon, if we are lucky we find a gem of a story that impacts your life. This one definitely did that to me.
Stefanie London has created the perfect getaway in Patterson’s Bluff that feels so wonderful and real. It’s the kind of vacation you never want to end!
There’s so much to love about Angie and Jace. Their story isn’t over the top. There’s nothing outlandish and it’s so refreshing to simply enjoy the characters because they’re relatable. You want to hug them and see them happy. They’re the kind of people you’d want as friends and neighbors.
‘I thought that maybe we’re actually perfect for each other. Maybe everything that’s caused us pain is exactly the reason we’ll work.’
Angie and Jace are each the underdog of their own story. They’re wonderfully flawed but with the right push they’re able to transform into the best version of themselves. They compliment each other so well and with their sizzling chemistry, they’re unstoppable.
Stefanie London has truly given us an incredible and absolutely heartwarming, slow burn romance!
Reading this was a wonderful surprise and now I have another author to add to my ‘favorite’ list. The heroine had a rough life in the US foster care system and has decided to start fresh in Australia. Impulsive, fun-loving and chock full of an adventurous spirit, she’s bent on making this town she wants to make her permanent home a better place. The hero is on the high-functioning autism spectrum who demands order in his life and craves routine. His adorable tenant has other ideas. A sweet story filled with sparks, humor, and heart.