If it is true love you seek, Search before the new moons peak… Nestled in the mountains, the little town of Lustre Lake is steeped in lore. Tilly Collins, the owner of the local bakery, is an absolute believer. A true romantic. Her grandparents met beside the legendary Lake on the night of a rare Black Moon and had a forever kind of love. The kind of love she yearns for with all of her heart.
For years, Tilly has pined after Drew Hicks, the rugged, surly leader of the town's elite Search and Rescue Team. Day after day, he and his spunky pup come into her shop for delectable treats and flirty banter. Although their chemistry is scorching, Drew’s grumpy, cynical nature and tortured past keep him from believing they can have a future. But, when a rash decision places Tilly in danger, he must battle his demons or risk losing her. As thunder rumbles, and the storm clouds gather, Drew must race to find her, and learn to trust the moon magic. Without it, they will never have a chance at living Happily Ever, Forever.
Lustre Lost is a short, steamy, instalove romance set in an enchanting small-town. Fans of feisty, sunshine heroines and grumpy, alpha heroes will fall in love with this series.
Although Lustre Lost is fairly light please still check the list of trigger warnings located in the front matter of this book.
I did not put this book down! I read it start to finish in one sitting(~2 hours). Tilly has me wanting to find a bakery that has cinnamon roll muffins. I also loved how Hot Dog played an important role in the book by finding Tilly for Drew.
I am looking forward to reading more about Lustre Lake!
This was such a great and unique read! Grumpy cynic Drew and romantics sunshine Tilly? First I love Tilly’s grandparents love story.. the cutest and sweetest thing of dreams. Which is why Tilly is a romantic! Now a decision puts her in a situation where they both have to make a choice!
I received this ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily, all thoughts/opinions above are my own.
This is a little novella but it doesn’t disappoint. I love when an author can squeeze so much into a short novel. The story starts off with Tilly going on a date with what I can only imagine, would be a nightmare in real life.. but she leaves him and in that is open to falling for the local hero Drew… Drew has a tragic past and suffers for it today, but with the help of his adorable little dog Hot-Dog he gets by… Draw has been crushing over Tilly since he first met her… They both have chemistry and Tilly thinks that with the magic of the lake.. they can fall in love!! This story is romantic, spicy and the type of book that leaves a smile on your face!!
Do you like cinnamon rolls? Cute dogs? How about steamy, tingle inducing spicey scenes? This book has the trifecta. This short & sweet romance was a super fun read! Hunky guys, best friend mischief, and a magic lake?! There is a lot of heart packed into these pages. Don't miss this opening book in the Lustre Lake Search and Rescue series.
Wow!! The world the author created made me want to walk down the street myself! The bond between Drew and Hot Dog was so amazing to read about! The author was a able to make me feel the emotions of the characters and I never wanted the book to end.
This was such a cute sweet little story with some very intense spice. The spicy scenes were well written. I loved this book so much I finished it in one day. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
Tilly and Drew and mad about each other until Tilly puts a plan together to get him This is a sweet love story but don’t let that fool you It’s hot and spicy I would recommend this book
First and foremost.. HOTDOG! No.. not the ever popular stadium food. Hotdog, Drew’s beloved rescue dog. What a smart, adorable little addition to this story.
Sweet Tilly, there’s something about a FMC that runs a bakery that makes me instantly love them. Tilly was no exception. Her date in the prologue had me laughing out loud.
Drew our wounded hero, struggling to thrive as his past haunts him. But he’s a lovable character.
I loved every minute of this, and want more. It’s a fast paced love story, that’s spicy with relatable characters. A perfect and unique read.
Thank you Ellie for letting me read this in advanced. I’m a big fan!
I liked the concept and the characters, especially Tilly, but everything felt extremely rushed. There was also a bit too much spice for me, but that's just a personal preference thing!
When an idea goes wrong, or did it go right? I loved this quick read and couldn't put it down. For a short story, it was well developed with a great story and amazing characters. I need rescue man Drew in my life! If you are looking for a quick lighter read with great heat, grab this now!
Blurb: •Tilly Collins, the owner of the local bakery, is an absolute believer. A true romantic. Her grandparents met beside the legendary Lake on the night of a rare Black Moon and had a forever kind of love. The kind of love she yearns for with all of her heart. For years, Tilly has pined after Drew Hicks, the rugged, surly leader of the town's elite Search and Rescue Team. Day after day, he and his spunky pup come into her shop for delectable treats and flirty banter. Although their chemistry is scorching, Drew's grumpy, cynical nature and tortured past keep him from believing they can have a future. But, when a rash decision places Tilly in danger, he must battle his demons or risk losing her. As thunder rumbles, and the storm clouds gather, Drew must race to find her, and learn to trust the moon magic. Without it, they will never have a chance at living Happily Ever, Forever.
Mini review: •I loved this book! So excited to read book two!!
•This book is instalove romance set in a small town!
•Tilly owns a bakery in her home town! She bumps into Drew one night after a terrible date and he walks her home. After him walking her home, he’s all she can think about. When Tilly gets stuck while on a hike, Drew is the one to find her and bring her back to his place so she can rest…their connection was very passionate!!🤩
•“I love you, Drew. Damaged bits and all. I don't care. You're the warmest, kindest man I know.”
Lustre Lake is the place were people find their true love. Tilly Collins owns New Moon Bakery and lives for the day when the hunky, Drew Hicks walks in the door with Hot Dog. Tilly is tired of waiting for Mr. Stoic to make a move. She and her best friend, Blyth, come up with a plan. Operation Black Moon is a go.
Drew has issues that no one understands or knows. He can only deal with a few people and Tilly is one of them. She is the sunshine in his stormy life. He can't being her into his world filled with chaos. He is afraid of what he will do; what he might do to her.
Can these two get past their fears to see that love that has been there all along? The beautiful lore of this town will lure readers to this magical place. Lustre Lake is a place to fall in love. Tilly knows what she feels. She just needs to know if Drew feels the same way. The highlight of this book is Hot Dog. He does it all; aids in search and rescues, soothes Drew, and spreads love all around. All of the Search and Rescue team have a dog companion. They teach them to hunt by smelling the victims clothes. Hot Dog is the best.
Trigger Warnings: PTSD (Military Soldier-- On Page)
Review:
I am so thankful to be an ARC Reader for Ellie Lukas for this book. I love being able to dedicate my time to burgeoning authors to be able to help them in anyway that I can. Despite the book being of a lower rating for me personally, I can still appreciate it for what it is, and that is a very cute novella.
1) Insta-Love
This is where the book gets the biggest ding for me. I am not a fan of insta-love at all. It feels fake and rushed and unfortunately this book is no exception to that rule. We are given a quick introduction to the couple in the prologue, showing us the moment they meet and the attraction is there, pulling at something more. Then in the first chapter, we are thrust forward in time to a few years later where both our MMC and FMC are pining for each other, but neither have made any sort of move.
Given that this book is a Novella, it does make sense for the story to be insta-love, especially considering there isn't much room for development, but it still leaves a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.
2) Characters / Development / Pacing
Again, this gets dinged only because of the fact that it's a novella. Novella's are tricky to read and even trickier to write as you don't have as much time to get to know the characters. Unfortunately this book falls flat in this department as well. We just aren't given enough time to learn our characters and the motivations that drive them. It leaves them feeling two dimensional and makes it hard for me to root for them to get together.
The side characters of the FMC's best friend and our MMC's co worker were a great addition to the story. I also love how dogs are a main feature in the book considering that our MMC is a search and rescue worker for the town. It was adorable seeing our furry sidekick get his moment in the sun.
3) Plot
The premise behind this book is honestly very adorable and so inspired. I think that the superstition in the town of having a lake that pushes people together in love if they unite under a new moon is a great plot. I hope that the future books in the series are more novel length to allow the development that his storyline deserves.
I loved the throwback moments that we are given for our FMC's grandparents. It gives a little more credence to the towns rumors and is an adorable story within a story. I would love for one of the books in the series to be a flashback book to her grandparents, allowing us to have the full story of how they came to be.
Overall, I think that this book would have been wonderful as a full novel instead of a novella. It just feels like there was so much going on and not enough time to really start to dig into it. Regardless, the story was adorable and the spicy scenes were spicy. I think it's a great debut and I look forward to see what else comes from this author
This was a really cute, fun quick read that makes you believe in the power of magic to bring two people so right for each other together.
Drew and Tilly meet after her horrible, failed date (and horrible may not even be the right word to describe that date) and immediately feel the pull towards one another. Both know in that moment that there is something special about the other, but know it is not the right time to make any sort of moves or begin exploring.
Fast forward a while later (maybe a couple of years?) and their attraction towards each other has only grown but both are too worried about what could happen if someone were to make a move. Drew is a broken soul who is struggling with the aftermath of the horrors he endured as a SEAL and Tilly just don't think Drew is interest. With the infamous black moon coming up, can Tilly gather the courage to get Drew to see her interest and get the same happy ending as her grandparents did years ago or is she doomed to make a fool of herself?
This story was extremely fast paced and steamy! I loved the instant connection between Tilly and Drew and how you got to see a glimpse from their past and a bit of an explanation, more so from Drew, as to what was holding them back- their ultimate fears and desires. It was both of those things that ultimately drove both of them towards each other as the final push to them discovering just how right and perfect they both were together- especially towards the end when Drew has a pretty bad PTSD episode. It was really nice to see just how some of his fears were completely unfounded and how Tilly rolled with the punches and accepted what was happening without a second thought.
I loved this story and the happily ever after that happened and can't wait to see what happens next for this little town and who gets to experience this magic!
Little Miss Sunshine Tilly Collins has been in love with rugged, grumpy Drew Hicks for years. The leader of the Search and Rescue Team makes it a point to come into her bakery on the daily, and while their chemistry is undeniable, he keeps her at an arms length.
But she’s a true romantic and believes in the magic of the lake. When Tilly makes a decision that puts her in danger, will that magic finally give her the Happily Ever After she’s been longing for?
I don’t read a lot of HEA, but I may have swooned a bit here ;-) Lustre Lost is a cute and 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ novella that gives us all hope in our own moon magic.
I really enjoyed diving into Lustre Lost! This book features: 🌲A possessive, protective, cinnamon roll hero suffering from PTSD 🌲A sunshine-filled baker who believes in the love magic of the local lake 🌲A sweet lil’ search and rescue pup named Hot Dog 🌲Spice, spice, and more spice 🥵
This is a quick (novella-esque in length), lighthearted, spicy (have I said spicy?) read and I want more of these characters and this place! The author did an amazing job setting the scene and getting the reader the details they need to know and fall in love with these characters in just 13 chapters.
❤️Favorite Quote❤️ “I am completely lost to her. Her taste, her touch; she is everything.”
Thanks so much to Ellie Lukas for the ARC of this book! I’m so excited for book 2.
I'm a sucker for a funny dog name so I mean Hotdog had me hooked immediately and what an adorable addition to this story.
The prolouge was the first one I think I've ever read that I have actually enjoyed!? I mean so often do I read prolouges that are just pointless or seems like authors trying to reach the word count but this one was funny and god so realistic.
The book was an warm, funny and just all round entertaining read. I loved every minute of this I just wish it was longer!! I can't wait to read more of Ellies work.
This was a quick and enjoyable grumpy/sunshine romance set in an adorable small town. This book somehow managed to be both cozy and spicy at the same time. Ellie Lukas had me hooked from the humorously bad date in the prologue. I can't wait to read the sequels hinted at in the epilogue!
Thanks to Ellie Lukas and Booksprout for the advance copy of Lustre Lost so I could leave a review.
I opened this book on the first and only got read the prologue mainly well because of life. I devoured this book. I picked it up last evening and finished it in one sitting. It’s rare that I do this. I LOVED this book. It held my attention from the get go. It gave me Gilmore girl town vibes and I loved every second of it
Literally couldn’t put the book down it’s so good and cute and just a feel good quick read!!! The plot was good the spice was great and just overall recommend this book it’s so good couldn’t rave about it enough
This book is a cute, short, fun read. I loved the idea of the “moon magic”. Such a unique idea! I just wish there was more. I loved it and can’t wait to read the next one!
What a great book ✨️ Personally I wanted to give it 4.5 but it's not an option 😁 Loved the two MC's. Grumpy Drew & Hotdog ♥️ Sunshine Tilly and her bakery. 🥰 And the romantic Lustre Lake and its magical story ✨️ Made me want to go and visit myself and buy one of Tillys cinnamon roll muffins. Devoured it in a day and thoroughly enjoyed it. Just needed more of them 😁🙏 Fab read ✨️
What can bring a dominant, damaged man to his true feelings? Well, a little magic and his sunshine, of course. This was super short, and I could have definitely read more, but it was a fantastic super short read.
“Tilly is sunshine, and me, well, I’m a freaking hurricane.”
Tilly is the owner of New Moon bakery. Her mother keeps setting her up on blind dates, and after a very disastrous date, a mystery man walks her home.
Drew is an ex SEAL and new to town. He runs the search and rescue team in town and when he sees a man being super toward with a woman he takes it upon himself to make sure she gets home safe. He just didn’t expect to fall for her.
The magic of the town keeps bringing them together and as fate would have it they fall for each other.
This is a super cute, steamy novella. I really wish it was longer cause I loved the whole thing!!
This is a cute short novella. Tilly will start this book with a date from hell. Drew has a past that he suffers from. But his cute dog Hot Dog is a scene stealer through the book. Tilly and Drew have amazing chemistry from their first meeting. To see them fall in love is something spicy and special. This is one novella you don’t want to pass up.
Stud Muffin turned Cinnamon Roll AKA Cinnamon Roll Muffin. I absolutely loved this fast paced spicy story from Ellie and I can’t wait to read more from Lustre Lake Search and Rescue series.
The author did wonderful world building. Drew and Tilly's story was so good I couldn't put it down. It was a perfect amount of spice and fast pace. The chemistry was good and it was well written