Lilies for Lauren

by Kasey Kennedy

She’s set her sights on the big city. He adores the untouched wilderness. Are they hiking toward heartbreak or happily ever after?Lauren Largent keeps her ducks in a row. With ambitious plans for an international career, the determined twenty-two-year-old stays laser-focused on her long-term goals. So she refuses to be distracted after agreeing to organize a community fundraiser alongside a handsome guy with a wild past.

Hawk Springer devotes all his spare time to helping others. And since the reformed volunteer is used to falling hard and getting left in the dust, he vows to keep his new project strictly business. But the outdoorsy computer programmer can’t stop himself from admiring his gorgeous partner’s grace, grit, and gumption.

Suddenly having trouble picking a grad-school destination, Lauren tries to push through the stress by doubling down on her single-minded path to success. And as Hawk struggles to balance fostering a child with their delightful dates, he’s worried his split attention has signed him up for another round of misery.

Will they end up lost in a wasteland of regrets, or reach ever higher peaks of joy?

Lilies for Lauren is the charming third book in the In Bloom sweet romance series. If you like unexpected pairings, nurturing male characters, and upbeat adventures, then you’ll love Kasey Kennedy’s flight of fancy.

Buy Lilies for Lauren to arrange a bouquet of delights today!Each book in this series can be read as a standalone, but you have the benefit of seeing recurring characters throughout the books when you read the series.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Ebooks, New Adult, Amazon

254 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 25, 2023

About the author

Kasey Kennedy loves reading books and writing the stories in her head. She has a B.A. in English from Southern Illinois University; is a member of the Chicago Writers Association; Chicago North Romance Writers Association; and a 2021 participant in StoryStudio Chicago’s Novel in a Year program.

Reviews

[Janna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this energetic story! Two people who think they are completely incompatible, but little do they know, they are just right for each other! I'm so excited! Looking forward to reading the next installment of this fantastic and fun series!

Thanks to the author for providing this book for my honest review!

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet and lovely story. Lauren is driven to succeed and achieve, while Hawk is looking for love and family. In spite of their differences, their attraction to each other becomes more as they spend time together. There is a pretty significant obstacle to their relationship becoming more serious, and it was not an easy change. I appreciated that change and consideration of compromise developed over time and as their feelings grew. They also (mostly) communicated like adults, which I like. There may have been a little more daily activity description than I thought necessary in a place or two, but that’s really my only complaint. (And it wasn’t much.) Both Lauren and Hawk were great characters. Hawk especially being a sweetheart and all-around good guy. This is a low-angst, sweet and clean story. It can be read as a standalone perfectly fine, although there is lots of character crossover in the series. If you read this book, you definitely want to get the free extra epilogue from the author. It’s really cute.

[Sortior · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book

This is the third in the series by Kasey. I think her writing style gets stronger with each book. The characters are very relatable. I enjoy the central Illinois setting, being from Illinois myself. The flower shop is charming and as we get to know the cast of characters it feels like home. The book stands just fine by itself but as a series its great. Congrats to Kasey on her fine effort.

[Kristina Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my third book by Kasey Kennedy, and once again, she has nailed it! While this book can be read as a standalone, it is also part of a series following women who work for In Bloom, a flower shop. Lillies for Lauren focuses on Lauren and Hawk, two characters who could not be more different…Is that such a bad thing?!? Kasey’s way with storytelling will have you drawn in from page 1 and feeling like you’ve been part of the group for a while! You’ll swoon. You’ll chuckle. You even may find yourself growing frustrated with both MCs and want to shake them to wake them up! The dual POV is a great way to really get to know each character throughout the book. Hawk is a man you can’t help but fall for, especially when you learn more about his dreams and watch how he is with friends and others. Lauren is the girl with the plan and is having to figure out what she actually wants. Yet again, I found myself sneaking in all the free moments I could find to read and then was thinking about the book when I couldn’t read. It’s safe to say that I’m excited for the next part of this series and am once again going to be in withdrawal until it comes out! If you love a clean rom-com with lovable characters and a warm your heart HEA, grab yourself a warm blanket and your favorite drink, and get cozy! You’ll love it!

[Beezy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute and entertaining!!

[V. M. Lyton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute! Read this in 2 days but probably could have pulled it off in one. Docking 1 star due to some typos and some scenes that described repetitive every day life. BUT overall a cute, light-hearted, clean read. I found myself rooting for the characters and couldn’t stop reading!

Tropes: medium age-gap (7ish years), wedding party, planner/adventurer, slow burn

[Laura Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

This is a sweet contemporary, new adult romance. Lauren is college age and works at a flower shop with the girls from the previous books in the series. I love the unique, fun setting.

I liked how Lauren and Hawk balanced each other out and how they each had different lives and experience to share with one another. Hawk learned to enjoy flying and Lauren learned to enjoy hiking and road trips. The addition of foster parenting was done well and loved how Lauren and Hawk supported each others dreams and goals.

This was a slow burn and I felt that there wasn’t enough romantic tension throughout the book. Hawk and Lauren felt like good friends for the majority of it.
Overall it was a good and enjoyable read!

[Patty Baumeister · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Book Review
Lilies For Lauren
A Novel Written By Kasey Kennedy
Fiction - Romance
Published April 25, 2023
256 Pages
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is Book 3 in the author’s In Bloom Series. All three books in the series are cute, clean romances. The main character in each book is one of the workers at the In Bloom Flower Shop owned by Anna Lee. This book focuses on Lauren Langent and Hawk Springer. They meet because they will be part of the same wedding party. This book is a classic case of opposites attracting.

Lauren and Hawk each have a plan for their lives. Do their plans include each other? Hawk is older and is established in his career. He volunteers at a youth center. He has been unlucky in love. He is seriously considering being a foster parent. Lauren is graduating from college. Graduate school is part of her plan. Starting a new romance is not written in her plan. Can they alter their plans to create their own “dream team”?

Kasey Kennedy has a knack for creating cute love stories with cute characters.

“…I’ve found that letting logic rule the heart can end in loneliness and heartache.”

[Evelyn V · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thank Kasey Kennedy and White Eagle Rock Publishing for the ARC and I am voluntarily leaving a review. Lauren is a go-getter to the tenth degree. She has a plan and does not want it to be altered. Enter Hawk who is happy to be just where he is. Even though he doesn't have her ambitious nature,she can't seem to stop herself from being attracted to him. When she finds out about Hawk's plans for the future,will she be scared or go with the flow? First off,Hawk is a yummy book boyfriend. Can he be any sweeter? Not going to lie,Lauren can be exasperating at times.I think that Hawk is just what Lauren needed.The way things end up is lovely! I have loved all of the stories in this "bouquet" of books!

[Sarah Lawton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, a good read. Lauren and Hawk, as well as the other characters, were sweet and loveable. I enjoyed being able to read this as a standalone and not feeling as if I was missing out on a whole lot.

This was just a fluff read I picked up on Kindle Deals, so I wasn't expecting too much out of it. I did miss the Christianity aspect of the romance, since that's the type of book I regularly read. However, the romance didn't get too spicy, and I was pleased with the restraint the author showed through the characters in that way.

[Naomi Kovach · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really want this series to be 5 stars but the ends rush the entire slow burn of the book it almost ruins it for me. Aside from a lot of repetitive statements within the 3 books, it’s really a very cute story of the girls who work at Anna Lee’s floral shop.
Each of the stories have such a good potential but end up rushing the final 2 chapters making the whole thing meh. I have one book left of the series for the 4 girls. Hopefully this one’s end is a better close than the previous three.

[Katelynn Brennan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very cheesy but a quick and super easy read

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ cute story, pretty simplistic writing

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot: Lauren has been trying to figure out what to do post graduation for months. Her parents put so much pressure on her, and she doesn’t feel like she has ever made a decision for herself. When her friend gets married and she meets one of the groomsmen, Hawk, they couldn’t be more opposite. He can’t stop thinking about her and she can’t stop thinking about him. When they end up working together for a mutual cause, their feelings grow. Can they have the happy life they both deserve? What will happen with her plans? Will he ever move?

What I liked: I liked that Hawk was so respectful and sweet with her. He never made her feel inferior, like her parents did.

What I didn’t like: I didn’t like that her parents were so pushy about things. I also didn’t like that they made their relationship with her so transactional

Swearing: none

Physical intimacy level: closed door

Star rating: 3 stars

Trope: friends to lovers (kinda), opposites attract, small town, age gap (kinda)

[Jessica Avalos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly it was a good read. I like the addition of foster parent and the idea of a team. Support team in a dating relationship that supports each others dream. Long distance is something interesting and these two seem like they’d manage.

Super slow burn!! But I like these two together because they introduce each other to new things. Such as Hawk introducing road trip and hiking. Lauren introduced the idea of flying and traveling to new locations.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.