The Aussie Next Door
(Patterson’s Bluff #1)
by Stefanie London 

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 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. He doesn’t want to, but he’s going to have to intervene and help her if he ever hopes to get back to his quiet life.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

Jace’s -brother was the kind of guy who seemed immune to worrying too much about his relationships— which had less staying power than the latest viral cat video. Along with his famous charm, Trent had the attention span of a goldfish, hence why their eldest brother, Adam, called him the One-Month Wonder.

 His elderly neighbor, Mrs. Marsh, had stood on his doorstep, still wearing her nightgown and slippers, her hair wrapped in a silk scarf and Truffle on a leash… Mrs. Marsh said she’d found Truffle humping her beloved beagle, Archer. Or, in her words, bringing “the devil” into her home.

Please never have children, Nick. We’ll find them lined +up in the backyard getting their nightly hose-down instead of having a shower.

 “I had to make sure you weren’t an ax murderer.” “As opposed to some other type of murderer? Would it be less of an issue if I didn’t use an ax?”

My Review:

 

This was an enjoyable and amusing story with an interesting premise but also deftly handled some perplexing real-life issues with sensitivity and thoughtful insights in an entertaining and agile manner. Both main characters were endearing and likable while riddled with idiosyncrasies and unique personal challenges that required accommodation and understanding.   I adored and admired them both well before reaching that well deserved HEA.