Angie and Jace’s love story in The Aussie Next Door by Stefanie London, book one in her Patterson’s Bluff series, was a wonderful story. Angie and Jace are two misfits who believe they will never be loved nor appreciated for the talents each one shares with the world. Angie was a foster kid who escaped to Australia to hide but when her visa clock is ticking she needs to find a way to stay. Maybe getting married to an Australian isn’t the smartest idea but it would allow her stay. All thoughts goes to falling in love with her landlord and next-door neighbor, Jace, who’s hot and funny. Jace loves the solitude of being alone. After getting a diagnosis of being on spectrum edge, he’s found his niche working on a syndicated comic strip; one that reflects his life. Angie is his opposite, loud and outgoing, while also being beautiful and sexy. When Angie helps Jace take care of two dogs they discover an attraction that is mesmerizing and chemistry that could fuel fireworks. Not wanting to have a deadline hanging over them be the make or break decision for these two and their relationship, they figure out an alternate path to follow to give themselves time to understand each other and grow the love between them.

Ms. London wrote a wonderful, steamy, suspenseful and emotional story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with sexual chemistry, amusing banter, and endearing characters giving Angie and Jace a chance at having a true and forever love. I highly recommend The Aussie Next Door to other readers and look forward to the next book in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Stefanie London’s The Aussie Next Door ­is an absolute pleasure to read — refreshing, funny, romantic, endearing and heartfelt. Angie moved to Australia to get a fresh start and fell in love with the country, and, now, she wants to stay permanently. Unfortunately, she needs to get married in the next two months to do so, and she doesn’t have any prospects, although she’s attracted to her broody, quiet landlord, Jace. He’s not easy to read and has never indicated that he returns her feelings, but when he discovers her predicament, things begin to shift between them. Their relationship evolves fairly rapidly, but it feels natural and genuine, especially when they reveal their authentic selves to one another. Both have interesting backstories and are very likeable, but Jace is an intensely compelling character. He’s on the autism spectrum, and London presents him with insight and compassion but without overly focusing on his condition and taking away from the central romance. He quickly won my heart and is one of my favorite heroes. The Aussie Next Door has an interesting and emotional storyline with a beautiful setting, well-placed humor and unique, charming characters, and it truly stands out.

The Aussie Next Door by Stefanie London is an entertaining read. I enjoyed the story, along with the two dogs that teach the main characters how to trust and love.

With Jace Walters suffering from the Autism spectrum and Angie Donovan who had suffered from child abuse in foster homes we find that these two will really have to work to fit with each other. As a high-functioning autistic adult, Jace thrives on structure and routine. After having his former fiancé leave him due to his quirks, Jace knows he could never be the man Angie needs. But, he’d rather have her in his life as a friend than not have her in his life at all.

Needing to escape her life in America, Angie flees to a quaint little town in Australia. Angie becomes involved in small town life, finally finding peace. Until her quiet life is suddenly falling apart with the news that her visa is expiring. With only two months remaining on her visa, Angie vows to find her HEA as that is the only way she can remain in Australia.

I liked this book, however, the pace of the first half dragged considerably. The second half of book was quite engaging and I was rooting for Angie and Jace to get their forever together!

<i>ARC was generously provided in exchange for an honest review.</i>

So much heart!! This book captured the very essence of heart from the very beginning of the book and gets you completely invested in all of the characters mentioned. Stefanie London does a great job of feeling invested in not only the characters, but also the story.

Jace and Angie are two completely different people, but in their core, both are amazing and just trying to survive. They both had major hang ups on being able to find love whether it be their personality or not having much love growing up.

All in all this was a heartfelt book that hits you right in the feels! It has humor, heat, and a great story-- I recommend you checking this out!

I would like to thank Stefanie London, Netgalley, Entangled Publishing, and Social Butterfly PR for allowing me an advanced copy of the book to read and review honestly!

I adore this book. Jace was a hero we haven’t read before. Angie had a unique story as well, but not as unique as Jace. This book was one that I read pretty quickly because I got into it. Definitely recommend this book.

A sweetly fun, emotionally thrilling, action packed romantic journey filled with interesting charters, witty banter, laugh out loud moments and undeniable will not be ignored passion.... really enjoyed this story from beginning to end. Really a great summer read!

Angie Donovan has always dreamed of a day where she’d have a family to call her own. After bouncing from one foster home to the next, Angie finds herself in the spotlight. Needing to escape her life in America, Angie flees to a quaint little town in Australia. Angie becomes involved in small town life, finally finding peace. Until her quiet life is suddenly falling apart with the news that her visa is expiring. With only two months remaining on her visa, Angie vows to find her HEA as that is the only way she can remain in Australia.

Growing up in a family of seven, Jace Walters wanted nothing except peace and quiet. As a high-functioning autistic adult, Jace thrives on structure and routine. Wanting to shake up his life a bit, Jace’s mom tricks him into dog sitting two dogs for a few months. The dogs, combined with his chatty, beautiful next door neighbor, has his life is suddenly out of control. When he discovers Angie’s plan of love and marriage in the next two months, he takes on the role of her wingman. After having his former fiancé leave him due to his quirks, Jace knows he could never be the man Angie needs. But, he’d rather have her in his life as a friend than not have her in his life at all.

I absolutely LOVED Jace and Angie! I was sooo “team Jace”. Everything came easily for his siblings. I wanted it ALL for Jace, not Trent. I know there are good, decent foster families out there. The abuse children endure so their “parents” can claim a check is horrific! This story is realistic, thought provoking, and inspiring. It’s heart wrenching to think a child has never felt love. I’m extremely happy Angie found her HEA, her home. I also enjoyed the reference to Calvin and Hobbes, my all-time favorite comic growing up. I read a gifted copy and all opinions stated are my own.

Angie and Jace are an unlikely couple, but when Angie’s visa is about to run out for her stay in Australia, she and Jace team up in an unlikely way. I really liked the chemistry between these two characters. They are unique and it was good to read a story about original characters.

This one took me by surprise. It was sweet and satisfying but not what I expected. Two people who were not and should not have worked but when they finally settled into a friendship these two became two halves of a puzzle that fit together.

**Received this ARC for review from the publisher via NetGalley**

The Aussie Next Door by Stefanie London is an entertaining read. I enjoyed the story, along with the two dogs that teach the main characters how to trust and love.

Angie Donovan grew up in the American foster care system, and learned at a very young age that the only person she could count on was herself. When her brutal upbringing was publicized nationwide by a corrupt attorney, she escaped to Australia to start a new life where no one knew about her past. She found peace and acceptance in the small coastal town of Patterson's Bluff, however, her visa is due to expire very soon. Angie needs a husband in order to remain in Australia, and a marriage of convenience is not what she wants for her future. Angie is after the real thing, a loving husband.

Comics artist Jace Walters is a good looking guy who prefers to live in solitude with a daily routine that he can count on. Although Angie has been his neighbor and tenant for the past six months, Jace really doesn't know her very well. He has no desire to be in a relationship, however, being around Angie makes him happy and calm. They become friends and he even helps her seek out a potential husband. Luckily, they both realize they are both perfect for each other.

I liked this book, however, the pace of the first half dragged considerably. Happily, the second half of book was quite engaging and I was rooting for Angie and Jace to get their forever together in the land down under. This is the first book from the author's brand new series, Patterson's Bluff, and it can be read as a standalone.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

“She’d always known she would marry for love — because her life would have been very different if she’d had love…from anyone.”

The Aussie Next Door, Stefanie London’s newest book, is a story of two unlikely people falling in love in an unlikely situation. Angie, a U.S. citizen, is trying to stay in Australia, the place where she has finally found peace. The problem is the courts don’t agree, and she must leave Australia and return to the country of her birth, much to her dismay. One angle: find a man who will fall in love with her and marry her to keep her in Australia. Enter Jace, Angie’s landlord and next-door neighbor. Jace and Angie are attracted to each other, but very different. Jace, a comic creator, likes his solitude and routine. Everything has a very specific place in his life. Coming from a large family where there was constant chaos lead Jace to his very exacting life. Add in his being on the autistic spectrum, and routine and solitude are necessary. Unfortunately, his neighbor who is attractive is the opposite. She loves to talk and is generally messy. However, whenever she is around, Jace fixates on her. As the story progresses, these two fight their feelings for each other as Angie tries to find a husband. Eventually, the two cannot deny it, but can Jace fall in love with Angie? Will he marry her and keep her in Australia? Even more, can two seemingly opposites find love?

I was intrigued by this story from its blurb. Opposites attract? Check. Australia? Check. $exy hero and heroine? Check. All of the boxes were checked just in the blurb. Then, I received the book for an honest review, and Stefanie London blew me away for a number of reasons.

London gives us Jace. Yes, he’s handsome. Yes, he’s attentive. But he’s also on the autism spectrum. Obviously, he’s very high-functioning. However, his autism informs his daily living, and this adds a complication to any relationship. For most of the book, Jace doesn’t believe he can actually maintain a relationship. His heart is broken early on by a former girlfriend, and he lives with self-doubt. Jace is not an alpha-hero. He carries a bit of brokenness and self-doubt around, and it causes some of the angst of the story. And I loved this about him. When he finally falls, he’s sweet, cute, and cherishes Angie. His sensitivity becomes his super-power, and the reason I love him in this story.

London then gives us Angie. I am a sucker for broken characters, and Angie is one. Except that she covers it with a smile and a profound love for helping people. Of anyone in the story, Angie should live under a dark cloud. She’s a former foster child. She’s been taken advantage of by the system that was meant to protect her. She’s lived a life with very little love. Yet, she’s the most profound person in the story. She volunteers, brings light into the lives of the seniors and other townspeople, and quite frankly, she challenges Jace out of his comfort zone. “He didn’t want Angie to leave, that much he knew. She made the place brighter. Happier.“ Angie embodies love, even when she has never felt it. Her brokenness comes in her want of it, in her defense in hiding her true self in order to be loved. But it’s Jace who finally fills her love quota to overflowing.

I love the setting of this book. I’m quickly becoming a fan of romance novels found in other countries and continents. I think it exposes us to different cultures, and above anything else, books should challenge us. London gives us the Aussie culture, expanding our understanding of the world. She helps us see the difficulty of staying in a place that feels like home when you’re a foreigner.
The Aussie Next Door was such a pleasant surprise. I hadn’t read Stefanie London previously, but I am intrigued with reading more from her, especially if we get more books in this series. What London has crafted is a story of broken souls: one who thinks he can never be good enough to be loved because he is different and one whose true self has never been seen because she needed to fit in to find love. Together, these two souls are mended by love. And it’s the most beautiful part of this book.

Another five star read from Stefanie London. Angie hasn't had an easy life by any means. As a child she went through the foster system. One placement in particular was so bad. Thanks to a solicitor looking to make their mark. Everyone knows who Angie is. So she flees the USA to Australia. Life in Patterson's Bluff is good for Angie. She is volunteering at a retirement community has a place to stay. She is finally feeling like she has found a home. Unfortunately her visa is coming to an end. Its looking like she will have to return home. Jace leads a very routine lead life. Thanks to having Autism he finds interacting with people difficult. Jace is Angie's landlord. When Angie tells him of her plan to find a husband before her visa expires. He isn't very happy about it. Along with having to babysit two mischievous dogs. Life is about to get very interesting for our hero and heroine. The Aussie Next Door is the first in a new series. I look forward to getting back to Patterson's Bluff and finding whats in store for the residents. ARC received via NetGalley. This is my voluntary review.

The Aussie Next Door is so much more than a small town romance. This book really touched me, and I hope I can do justice in my review to give this story the praise it deserves.

Angie has been searching her entire life for a place to fit in, and she has finally found it in a small town on the coast of Australia, where no one knows the sordid details of her childhood. Meanwhile, Jace comes from a large, loving, involved family, which was often a struggle for someone growing up with autism. While Jace is on the high functioning spectrum, structure and routine are critical.

When Angie is faced with deportation back to America, she immediately begins the hunt for a love match that will keep her in the country, and she pulls Jace into her scheme to find the perfect man.

As the two spend more time together, neither of them can resist the attraction that's been boiling under the surface since she rented the granny unit on his property.

Both of these characters have underlying issues that throw challenges their way, and navigating their relationship is a challenge for both of them. It's so rare that we get a protagonist in a story that has a disability, and Stephanie London portrayed Jace with amazing care, while holding true to the struggles faced by people on the autism spectrum in their every day life. This was a beautifully written love story about two flawed humans who are absolutely perfect for one another.

jace walters is totally my new book boyfriend. diagnosed on the autism spectrum, he is high-functioning and thrives on routine and order. but his mom, on the advice of his doctors, knows that occasionally he needs to be shaken out of his rut.

and okay, i know i just posted a whole thing about family butting into someone's business, and while i wasn't a huge fan of the opening with the dog-sitting machinations. that is really the biggest chunk of it, and we don't actually spend too much time with characters who aren't jace and angie in the aussie next door. i mean, you get to know some of the townspeople, and for sure there is the possibility of more stories there, but on the whole, it is very delightful.

angie and jace have such great chemistry. and when they actually talk to each other and trust in each other they are perfect together. this was such a delightful story, i hope we see more from this world.

**the aussie next door will publish on august 27, 2019. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (amara) in exchange for my honest review.

This story is a fun ride of finding love when you least expect it and breaking from the bonds of routine. As a mom to a high functioning ASD child, I felt everything the author put into for Jace. I see my daughter in Jace with the order to his life. But then you throw in Angie, who throws him off kilter and has no idea the whirlwind that is heading for him. But what I loved is how they worked together through things. Granted there were moments Jace was stubborn but so was Angie. Their chemistry was sizzling from the start, especially when they finally acted on it!
Overall, this was a great unique read that will keep you on your toes with giggles and swoon worthy moments. I felt what these characters felt and that to me is a stunning story!

After reading the description of this book I had really high hopes for it. I wanted to love this book, but I couldn't. I honestly had to force myself to finish it, and that does not happen often. So needless to say, this book is not my cup of tea.

The pacing was slow, the arguments were circular, the characters one-dimensional, and for being as long as it was, the story was not fleshed out in the least. There was so much potential, and yet it fell short. I'm particularly upset that such a sweet romantic gesture was wasted on this book. The end to the comic was beautiful. This story could have been so good.

In my opinion, one (or two) major plot point(s) should have been included in the description, but they were not. So semi-spoilers ahead, but things that I think people should know going into this book.

Where do I begin? I'm going to start with Angie, since she is mentioned first in the description. We were told "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." Now, her story is not that she was bounced from home to home. No, this is a gross understatement. It's that she was horrifically abused, had a very public trial, and fled the States. We never do get her full story, and yet somehow, it is literally the only personality trait that she has. She is so painfully (and annoyingly) one dimensional, and I'm so sick of this female-characters-must-be-treated-terribly-in-order-to-have-a-personality trend. There were so many ways her side of this story could have been done, but it was just. so. bad.

Now, for the plot point that readers should really be made aware of: Jace has autism. But what are we told in the description? "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." If you want to write a story about a lone-wolf type character, do that. It really and truly felt like the author took every cliché stereotype she has heard about individuals with autism over the years and attributed them to her character whenever it was convenient. It felt so disingenuous, ill-researched, and insincere attempt at representation. It left such a sour taste in my mouth.

With there being other own-voices books being released in the last couple of years that have been beautifully done, it made it painful to read this book. I was so put off that I truly don't see myself reading other books by this author; with how poorly everything was handled in this book, how could I trust her to handle other situations/characters in other books?

I would go so far as to recommend people not read this. I'm sure that the author did not write the story this way intentionally or with ill wishes in mind; and her other books could be lovely. I don't like to be this blunt and harsh in my reviews, but that's just how bad this book made me feel.

This was my first time reading anything by Stefanie London and I have to say that I am in love with her writing. When the opportunity came up to read an early copy of this book I took it. I was not disappointed.

Angie and Jace's story is not your typical boy meets girl and they fall in love. Both of these characters come from different worlds but both struggle. Angie doesn't want to go back to the U.S. she is loving life in Australia. Jace is set in his routine and does not ever stray from it. They are brought together through Angie's journey to Australia and their attraction though not obvious to each other is obvious to everyone in their small town.

I loved Ms. London's writing and how she takes us on this journey with Angie and Jace. Such a perfect summer read. I can not wait to dive in to more of Ms. London's books. Absolutely a must read! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

I have to say, this one was a big disappointment for me. First of all, the blurb doesn't fully explain the premise of the book. A rather big part of Jace's arc is left out, and it's quite crucial to the story. So imagine my shock when I learned what's going on with Jace.

And that's another problem I had with this story. Jace's being on the autism spectrum is portrayed in the most stereotypical and clinical way. It's as if London read a descriptions of a few characteristics, and then spat them out to be more "believable". The language used is not one that would be accepted by reputable organisations (Autism Speaks can go f*ck right off).

It would have been beneficial if the author had run this past someone with more knowledge of the subject, or a sensitivity reader at the very least. I have read other books this year which have handled the subject with more depth and care than was done here, so there is no excuse on London's part.

I really wanted to like this book. Sadly, I did not. However, it will not stop me from continuing to read the author's future books. The characters, dialogue, and prose are all exceptionally enjoyable. This was most likely a one-off.

When Jace Walters is forced into dog sitting a family friend’s two adorable dogs, his life is turned upside down. Ms. London's start to The Aussie Next Door is adorable and engaging. I loved the small town setting and the strong sense of family and community. The slower pace seemed to fit the story, and there is just enough humor to add a sense of charm and appeal to the characters and plot.

The author treated Jace, an on-the-spectrum character, respectfully; she clearly made an effort to present his struggles without making the character pitiful. The character’s self doubts (especially relative to his siblings) and his avoidance of social gatherings and people is clearly evident.

I liked Angie’s bubbly personality and involvement in her adopted country. Her past is tragic because readers are told it is. Her backstory was not explored enough to make her a sympathetic character to me. In fact both main characters’ issues are developed just enough for them to be relationship hurdles and to depict two awkward adults whose insecurities and social struggles limit their ability to fit in. Exploring Angie and Jace’s backstory further would have given The Aussie Next Door more depth.

I loved the Walters clan. They’re a big, warm family. I felt drawn to each of these secondary characters.

When Jace's ex comes back in town, and I anticipated some juicy conflict and plot tension. However, their eventual meet up provides the epiphany that allows Jace to pursue Angie and help her stay in the country. While my anticipated drama would have been meatier, the reappearance of the ex-fiance did provide a nice catalyst for change.

Angie’s pursuit of immigration fraud put me off from the start. It is not a premise that I find acceptable, and that definitely colored my perception of the story and characters. I picked up the book because I’ve read and enjoyed some of Ms. London’s previous books, and if I had paid more attention to the description, I would have passed on this story. While the book and writing are not without merit, I can’t enthusiastically recommend the story because of the premise.

Title: The Aussie Next Door
Author: Stefanie London
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"The Aussie Next Door" by Stefanie London

My Rationalization:

I truly enjoyed this sweet charming well-written romance of 'The Aussie Next Door' that featured Jace and Angie. With Jace Walters suffering from 'the Autism spectrum' and Angie Donovan who had suffered from child abuse in foster homes we find that these two will really have to work to fit in the 'outside world' in order to find comfort that each other greatly needed as each of them had been greatly hurt in the past.

What will happen when Angle flees the states for a home in Patterson's Bluff, Australia, and her visa extension is denied? What will she have presented to her in order to stay in Patterson's Bluff? What will happen when these two Jace and Angie realize they have feelings for one another? To get the answers and so much more you will have to pick up the good read to see how the author takes you there. I will say I loved how this author handled both of the main character's problems all with 'a gentle touch being well addressed in a respectful way.'

I really enjoyed Jace's family and Eugenie's dogs Tilly and Truffles that really added to this story. I also enjoyed seeing how this author was able to give the readers quite a story of even though they had their insecurities it didn't stand in their way of finding love for each other.

If you are looking for a 'fun, humor, sexy, sweet, sorrow, entertaining and heartwarming story' with some real-life issues you have come to the right place for "The Aussie Next Door" will give it all to you and more.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and a voluntarily leaving a review.