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Lakeside #2
Soul Searching
Werden sie die Vergangenheit hinter sich lassen können, um für eine gemeinsame Zukunft zu kämpfen?
Teagan Firestone braucht eine Veränderung in ihrem Leben. Und so zieht sie in die kleine Stadt Pearl Lake, in der auch schon ihr Bruder Van ein Zuhause gefunden hat. Dort trifft sie auf den attraktiven Aaron Saunders, der zwar einen Ruf als Playboy hat, allerdings sonst nicht viel von sich preis gibt. Doch die Anziehung zwischen den beiden ist so stark, dass sie gar nicht anders können, als Zeit miteinander zu verbringen. Und je öfter sie sich sehen, desto mehr blicken sie hinter die Masken, die beide schon seit Jahren tragen. Haben Teagan und Aaron endlich den einen Menschen gefunden, bei dem sie ganz sie selbst sein können? Oder wiegen die Geheimnisse ihrer Vergangenheit zu schwer, um ihre Herzen vollkommen zu öffnen?
"Wenn du Grumpy x Sunshine und Small Town Tropes magst, wirst du diese Geschichte lieben!" Erin Evelyn Reads
Band 2 der PEARL-LAKE -Dilogie
Teagan Firestone braucht eine Veränderung in ihrem Leben. Und so zieht sie in die kleine Stadt Pearl Lake, in der auch schon ihr Bruder Van ein Zuhause gefunden hat. Dort trifft sie auf den attraktiven Aaron Saunders, der zwar einen Ruf als Playboy hat, allerdings sonst nicht viel von sich preis gibt. Doch die Anziehung zwischen den beiden ist so stark, dass sie gar nicht anders können, als Zeit miteinander zu verbringen. Und je öfter sie sich sehen, desto mehr blicken sie hinter die Masken, die beide schon seit Jahren tragen. Haben Teagan und Aaron endlich den einen Menschen gefunden, bei dem sie ganz sie selbst sein können? Oder wiegen die Geheimnisse ihrer Vergangenheit zu schwer, um ihre Herzen vollkommen zu öffnen?
"Wenn du Grumpy x Sunshine und Small Town Tropes magst, wirst du diese Geschichte lieben!" Erin Evelyn Reads
Band 2 der PEARL-LAKE -Dilogie
420 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2022
910 people are currently reading
15750 people want to read
About the author
Helena Hunting
75 books26.5k followersHelena Hunting is the author of The USA Today and NYT bestselling PUCKED Series. She lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She writes everything from romantic sports comedy to new adult angst.
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March 15, 2022NOW AVAILABLE!
I shriek when it whirs to life and I realize belatedly that it’s a saw. The loud noise ceases, and both the board and the saw clatter to the floor.
“What the shit?” The man unfurls from his crouched position, rising to his full and very intimidating height. From the back he’s incredible to look at, but from the front—he’s just. Wow. He’s not a snack. He’s a seven-course meal, including the decadent dessert.
His dark hair is covered by a backward baseball cap, the ends curling around his ears and the snapback. His eyes are the color of snow on a moonless winter night, a murky kind of gray that shifts and changes like shadows. His nose is slightly crooked, as if it’s been broken and not set properly; his lips are full and ridiculously kissable. He has a scar on his chin, which I only notice because his cheeks and chin are decorated in what I’d guess to be a couple of days’ worth of stubble, and a pale, hairless line is evident.
His shoulders are broad, and his chest, defined and thick, has a smattering of that dark-brown hair. His abs ripple and his thick biceps flex as he yanks the giant headphones off. His worn, paint-splattered, and tattered jeans hang low on his hips and are dragged farther down by the tool belt around his waist, exposing that glorious V of muscle, which leads my eye south to the magic wand that is hidden behind his fly.
He will absolutely be starring in my fantasies in the very near future.
Except he won’t be angry like he is now.
❤
🌟💙 Available Now! 💙🌟
Amazon US → https://amzn.to/3ses05X
Amazon CA → https://amzn.to/3s8YMVR
Amazon UK → https://amzn.to/2VEaawE
Amazon AU → https://amzn.to/3AeR3IK
Amazon Universal → https://geni.us/LoveontheLakeHH
Audio → https://amzn.to/3ivMofv
Add it to Goodreads → https://geni.us/LoveontheLakeGR
Vote for it on Goodreads Most Anticipated March Releases → https://geni.us/MostAnticipatedMarch
I shriek when it whirs to life and I realize belatedly that it’s a saw. The loud noise ceases, and both the board and the saw clatter to the floor.
“What the shit?” The man unfurls from his crouched position, rising to his full and very intimidating height. From the back he’s incredible to look at, but from the front—he’s just. Wow. He’s not a snack. He’s a seven-course meal, including the decadent dessert.
His dark hair is covered by a backward baseball cap, the ends curling around his ears and the snapback. His eyes are the color of snow on a moonless winter night, a murky kind of gray that shifts and changes like shadows. His nose is slightly crooked, as if it’s been broken and not set properly; his lips are full and ridiculously kissable. He has a scar on his chin, which I only notice because his cheeks and chin are decorated in what I’d guess to be a couple of days’ worth of stubble, and a pale, hairless line is evident.
His shoulders are broad, and his chest, defined and thick, has a smattering of that dark-brown hair. His abs ripple and his thick biceps flex as he yanks the giant headphones off. His worn, paint-splattered, and tattered jeans hang low on his hips and are dragged farther down by the tool belt around his waist, exposing that glorious V of muscle, which leads my eye south to the magic wand that is hidden behind his fly.
He will absolutely be starring in my fantasies in the very near future.
Except he won’t be angry like he is now.
❤
🌟💙 Available Now! 💙🌟
Amazon US → https://amzn.to/3ses05X
Amazon CA → https://amzn.to/3s8YMVR
Amazon UK → https://amzn.to/2VEaawE
Amazon AU → https://amzn.to/3AeR3IK
Amazon Universal → https://geni.us/LoveontheLakeHH
Audio → https://amzn.to/3ivMofv
Add it to Goodreads → https://geni.us/LoveontheLakeGR
Vote for it on Goodreads Most Anticipated March Releases → https://geni.us/MostAnticipatedMarch
April 4, 2022
really enjoyed the first 60% or so and then it just went completely downhill from there.
this started off pretty strong. it is a massive case of insta-love with really no basis for their feelings whatsoever, but i found the story and the characters cute enough that i honestly didnt mind it. i was really feeling the easy, breezy vibes of it all. i picked this up for a story i could just sit back, not think, and have fun, and it delivered.
but then its like a switch was flipped and i suddenly wasnt enjoying the story anymore. it went in a direction i did not have fun reading about - it really sucked the wind out my sails and made the entire book end on a downer. i understand that mental health is an important topic and it sound be represented more in stories, but the extent to which it was explored and the effects of it really dragged down a pretty upbeat story.
so im walking away with this feeling pretty disappointed, unfortunately.
↠ 3 stars
this started off pretty strong. it is a massive case of insta-love with really no basis for their feelings whatsoever, but i found the story and the characters cute enough that i honestly didnt mind it. i was really feeling the easy, breezy vibes of it all. i picked this up for a story i could just sit back, not think, and have fun, and it delivered.
but then its like a switch was flipped and i suddenly wasnt enjoying the story anymore. it went in a direction i did not have fun reading about - it really sucked the wind out my sails and made the entire book end on a downer. i understand that mental health is an important topic and it sound be represented more in stories, but the extent to which it was explored and the effects of it really dragged down a pretty upbeat story.
so im walking away with this feeling pretty disappointed, unfortunately.
↠ 3 stars
March 17, 2022
I’m loving lake life!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💛🖤💜💙❤️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌎🌍🌏🌎🌏
Character development: 😕🤬🤯😎🥰
The heroine(s): Teagan Firestone - she is twenty-six, lives with her father and she works at his financial company. She comes from a very wealthy background but found out that it was all a mirage and they were deeply in debt. So she stayed with her father to help him change his life and get out of the hole they were in. Meanwhile moving from a mansion into an affordable house on a budget.
The Hero: Aaron Saunders - lives in Pearl Lake and works at the construction company owned by Teagan’s brothers fiancé’s family. He does construction projects on many of the McMansions across the lake and has a reputation for “mowing the lawns” of many of the rich bored women from that side of the lake.
The Story: When Teagan’s father moves his girlfriend into his house, Teagan figures it is time she starts to live for herself and figure out what she wants in life. So she moves into the garage apartment of her brother Van in Pearl lake. She meets Aaron and they get off to an acrimonious start.
Teagan can’t figure out why Aaron seems to dislike her so much when he flirts with all of the other women in the small town of Pearl Lake. Aaron is the kind of guy to star in fantasies. He is 6’5”, hard muscles and handsome to boot.
I really liked this book. Helena Hunting is really good at writing chemistry between her characters. I could feel the heat between these two from the start. I also loved the fact that they were like real people. Not an anti-hero and a virginal good girl. I didn’t have to wait half or three quarters of the book for the steam between them to ignite.
There is nothing wrong with two people enjoy being intimate so I don’t know why so many romances have to have either virginal heroines or women ashamed of their pasts. I like it when the heroine can own her sexuality without it being an issue.
This book was dual POV and included some mystery with both Aaron and Teagan having secrets and issues. The world building was terrific. I have a lake home in a small town in Wisconsin where some of the homes are modest and filled with locals and some are grand mansion getaways for the wealthy. I could easily imagine the world of Pearl Lake and its residents. Either way, life on the lake is a great getaway. I haven’t been to my lake home in a while so this was nice.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💛🖤💜💙❤️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌎🌍🌏🌎🌏
Character development: 😕🤬🤯😎🥰
The heroine(s): Teagan Firestone - she is twenty-six, lives with her father and she works at his financial company. She comes from a very wealthy background but found out that it was all a mirage and they were deeply in debt. So she stayed with her father to help him change his life and get out of the hole they were in. Meanwhile moving from a mansion into an affordable house on a budget.
The Hero: Aaron Saunders - lives in Pearl Lake and works at the construction company owned by Teagan’s brothers fiancé’s family. He does construction projects on many of the McMansions across the lake and has a reputation for “mowing the lawns” of many of the rich bored women from that side of the lake.
The Story: When Teagan’s father moves his girlfriend into his house, Teagan figures it is time she starts to live for herself and figure out what she wants in life. So she moves into the garage apartment of her brother Van in Pearl lake. She meets Aaron and they get off to an acrimonious start.
Teagan can’t figure out why Aaron seems to dislike her so much when he flirts with all of the other women in the small town of Pearl Lake. Aaron is the kind of guy to star in fantasies. He is 6’5”, hard muscles and handsome to boot.
I really liked this book. Helena Hunting is really good at writing chemistry between her characters. I could feel the heat between these two from the start. I also loved the fact that they were like real people. Not an anti-hero and a virginal good girl. I didn’t have to wait half or three quarters of the book for the steam between them to ignite.
There is nothing wrong with two people enjoy being intimate so I don’t know why so many romances have to have either virginal heroines or women ashamed of their pasts. I like it when the heroine can own her sexuality without it being an issue.
This book was dual POV and included some mystery with both Aaron and Teagan having secrets and issues. The world building was terrific. I have a lake home in a small town in Wisconsin where some of the homes are modest and filled with locals and some are grand mansion getaways for the wealthy. I could easily imagine the world of Pearl Lake and its residents. Either way, life on the lake is a great getaway. I haven’t been to my lake home in a while so this was nice.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
August 7, 2022
This was cute, and highlighted some important issues, but I honestly felt like sometimes I was on the outside of a window, looking in and listening to someone tell a story, instead of being in it, feeling it.. I'm not sure that makes sense, but I didn't feel as much of a connection to the characters as I would have liked. I also felt the end part was rushed and we were just told a lot of things, instead of experiencing them.
Nevertheless, this was a cute follow up to the first book, and I loved the setting of Pearl Lake. It was also free on KU!
Nevertheless, this was a cute follow up to the first book, and I loved the setting of Pearl Lake. It was also free on KU!
April 20, 2022
3.5 stars
Love on the Lake is the second book in Helena Hunting's 'Lakeside' series. This is a small town romance that starts out so charming, but ends up getting a little more serious as the book continues.
Teagan is a overachiever and people pleaser and she brings the energy to the small town of Lakeside. She's staying on her brother's property and is looking for a fresh start, after leaving Chicago. She meets Aaron right away and their meeting doesn't go as good as she hopes. I loved the start of this one. Watching the two of them start to become friends and then more.
As their relationship starts to develop, we know that Aaron is hiding something but we don't know what and neither does Teagan. On top of that, Teagan is going through a lot . I did like this one, but the ending got too heavy for me. I wasn't quite ready or in the mood for that kind of book, so it was definitely a me thing and not the book thing. As always Helena's writing and characters are great and I enjoyed this for the most part.
Love on the Lake is the second book in Helena Hunting's 'Lakeside' series. This is a small town romance that starts out so charming, but ends up getting a little more serious as the book continues.
Teagan is a overachiever and people pleaser and she brings the energy to the small town of Lakeside. She's staying on her brother's property and is looking for a fresh start, after leaving Chicago. She meets Aaron right away and their meeting doesn't go as good as she hopes. I loved the start of this one. Watching the two of them start to become friends and then more.
As their relationship starts to develop, we know that Aaron is hiding something but we don't know what and neither does Teagan. On top of that, Teagan is going through a lot . I did like this one, but the ending got too heavy for me. I wasn't quite ready or in the mood for that kind of book, so it was definitely a me thing and not the book thing. As always Helena's writing and characters are great and I enjoyed this for the most part.
Audio book source: Audible
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: Aaron Shedlock & CJ Bloom
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 8h 53m
March 15, 2022
Teagan + Aaron
Teagan is still living with her dad - at 26 years old. But now that his girlfriend is moving in, it's time for Teagan to start her own life.
Off she goes to live in the above-the-garage apartment of her brother and future sister-in-law's lake cottage.
Within a week she already has three jobs and is busy decorating her new place.
Everything could be so perfect and new and exciting - but there's this grumpy and unkind and so very hot construction guy Aaron!
Why doesn't he like her? What's his deal?
LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN ... 😍
════════════════
Adorable!
I already loved the story of Teagan's brother and this second book was just as cute.
An adorable small-town romance.
It's funny and sweet and sparky. But we also get a bit of heartbreak and some personal struggles and some mystery too. Why doesn't Aaron like Teagan? What is Teagan hiding? What is Aaron hiding? We might find out! 😎
I really enjoyed reading this!
It was so cute and small towny, but also so very struggly - for both our darlings. Aaron has a few secret things from his past that he hasn't really dealt with. And poor Teagan is working herself to death, because she doesn't know how to stop. And because no one ever taught her how to deal with things the right way.
But of course this is a sweet romance - so we'll get that happy end - but it's a bit of a fight for our two cuties!
But anyway - I really liked reading this!
Can't wait to read the next book! Will the jailed brother get his own story or Dillion's borther?? GIMME!
LOVE ON THE LAKE was an adorable + funny + sparky + sexy + heartbreaking small town love story! Run to your nearest amazon for your own Aaron - he'll be sold out in no time!
💜
💜
March 15, 2022
***AVAILABLE NOW***
5 STARS
This is my favorite Helena Hunting standalone. I’m calling it now. It was charming, steamy, but, most importantly, it showcased a relationship that loves on the best and worst days.
Aaron. My man. He will be a top book boyfriend for me. A bit grumpy when we first meet him, he ended up being truly charming and supportive in all things. He did the hard work and loved unconditionally. He was the complete swoon factor.
Teagan. My heart. I loved her. I’m so many ways I resonated with her (I don’t want to give too much away about her). I just really connected with her plights and struggles. She has the biggest heart, and she does the hard work.
While Love on the Lake has all the Helena humor and romcom goodness and steam, it is also a story of loving yourself. It is a story of finding someone who loves you on the days you can’t or the days you find it hard to. It is a story of self-care & self love as much as it is a romance. I couldn’t have loved this one any more.
Pearl Lake might be my new favorite destination. I wished and hoped for this couple, and they didn’t disappoint. But they also surprised me with a story I didn’t even know I needed.
ARC PAPERBACK
5 STARS
This is my favorite Helena Hunting standalone. I’m calling it now. It was charming, steamy, but, most importantly, it showcased a relationship that loves on the best and worst days.
Aaron. My man. He will be a top book boyfriend for me. A bit grumpy when we first meet him, he ended up being truly charming and supportive in all things. He did the hard work and loved unconditionally. He was the complete swoon factor.
Teagan. My heart. I loved her. I’m so many ways I resonated with her (I don’t want to give too much away about her). I just really connected with her plights and struggles. She has the biggest heart, and she does the hard work.
While Love on the Lake has all the Helena humor and romcom goodness and steam, it is also a story of loving yourself. It is a story of finding someone who loves you on the days you can’t or the days you find it hard to. It is a story of self-care & self love as much as it is a romance. I couldn’t have loved this one any more.
Pearl Lake might be my new favorite destination. I wished and hoped for this couple, and they didn’t disappoint. But they also surprised me with a story I didn’t even know I needed.
ARC PAPERBACK
March 20, 2022
5 Stars!
(ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR)
-"Sometimes it's better not to think too much. Sometimes all we need to do is feel."
Teagan Firestone is twenty six, single, and still living at home in Chicago with her father. Since her mom passed away she’s tried to be the rock of the family, and the perfect daughter. She’s always putting others needs ahead of her own and lately has lost herself a little. As her father begins to move forward and embrace change, she realizes it’s past time she did the same. She steps out of her comfort zone and heads to a small town called Pearl Lake. It’s a place full of community and charm. She’s ready for a fresh start and wants to try new things. Then she crosses paths with the town bachelor and she definitely likes what she sees. Aaron Saunders has a reputation for being a ladies man. He’s a shameless flirt, a bit grumpy, but she’s still intrigued. He’s gorgeous, mysterious, and keeps everyone at arm’s length, but Teagan is drawn to him and wants to know his story. As they spend time together she enjoys his company and discovering all the new layers that make up this beautiful man. They have major chemistry and share an unspoken connection they want to explore. They’re having fun while trying not to get too attached when secrets are revealed that threaten to destroy what’s between them. Between fighting inner demons and struggling with a past that can’t be escaped, they are both existing, but not truly living. As everything becomes complicated it’s unsure if their story will end in a happily ever after or heartbreak.
-Aaron Saunders has a presence. Something about him makes the room buzz with new energy.
-From the back he's incredible to look at, but from the front-he's just. Wow. He's not a snack. He's a seven-course meal, including the decadent dessert.
Love on the Lake (Lakeside, #2) by Helena Hunting is the second standalone in this fantastic series. This is the story of Van’s younger sister Teagan. It’s a steamy, emotional, small town romance about friendship, family, secrets, self discovery and being vulnerable. This book captivated me from the start and kept me wanting more of this couple. It is full of heart and will hit you in all the feels! Just LOVED it!!! <333
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/3KNm6Aw
(ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR)
-"Sometimes it's better not to think too much. Sometimes all we need to do is feel."
Teagan Firestone is twenty six, single, and still living at home in Chicago with her father. Since her mom passed away she’s tried to be the rock of the family, and the perfect daughter. She’s always putting others needs ahead of her own and lately has lost herself a little. As her father begins to move forward and embrace change, she realizes it’s past time she did the same. She steps out of her comfort zone and heads to a small town called Pearl Lake. It’s a place full of community and charm. She’s ready for a fresh start and wants to try new things. Then she crosses paths with the town bachelor and she definitely likes what she sees. Aaron Saunders has a reputation for being a ladies man. He’s a shameless flirt, a bit grumpy, but she’s still intrigued. He’s gorgeous, mysterious, and keeps everyone at arm’s length, but Teagan is drawn to him and wants to know his story. As they spend time together she enjoys his company and discovering all the new layers that make up this beautiful man. They have major chemistry and share an unspoken connection they want to explore. They’re having fun while trying not to get too attached when secrets are revealed that threaten to destroy what’s between them. Between fighting inner demons and struggling with a past that can’t be escaped, they are both existing, but not truly living. As everything becomes complicated it’s unsure if their story will end in a happily ever after or heartbreak.
-Aaron Saunders has a presence. Something about him makes the room buzz with new energy.
-From the back he's incredible to look at, but from the front-he's just. Wow. He's not a snack. He's a seven-course meal, including the decadent dessert.
Love on the Lake (Lakeside, #2) by Helena Hunting is the second standalone in this fantastic series. This is the story of Van’s younger sister Teagan. It’s a steamy, emotional, small town romance about friendship, family, secrets, self discovery and being vulnerable. This book captivated me from the start and kept me wanting more of this couple. It is full of heart and will hit you in all the feels! Just LOVED it!!! <333
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/3KNm6Aw
January 26, 2022
Teagan Firestone has lived with her dad for as long as she can remember. After her mom passed away when Teagan was a young child, she's been the one to look after her dad. Teagan is kind and sweet and often finds herself the one keeping the peace. But soon Teagan finds herself moving out of her house with her dad to live next to her brother Van in the small lake town of Pearl Lake.
Aaron doesn't like uppity women and Teagan is exactly that. An uppity complication that he doesn't want time for. Soon Aaron finds himself spending more and more time with Teagan and finds out she's more down to earth than he thought. Aaron and Teagan end up spending a lot of time together and Aaron feels like he can be himself and let down his guard around her. But Teagan isn't so easy to open up and soon Aaron finds out things about Teagan that she's been hiding from him. Will they find a way to work through their issues to be together or will they tear them apart?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher
Aaron doesn't like uppity women and Teagan is exactly that. An uppity complication that he doesn't want time for. Soon Aaron finds himself spending more and more time with Teagan and finds out she's more down to earth than he thought. Aaron and Teagan end up spending a lot of time together and Aaron feels like he can be himself and let down his guard around her. But Teagan isn't so easy to open up and soon Aaron finds out things about Teagan that she's been hiding from him. Will they find a way to work through their issues to be together or will they tear them apart?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher
March 15, 2022
4 'I love every version of you' Stars!
ARC provided via Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.
Small-town romance is one of my top favorites to read and Helena Hunting is doing a great job with her Lakeside series. As much as I enjoyed the first installment, I have to say this one is even better. Helena deepens into these complex characters and their brokenness as years pass. Aaron and Teagan still gave the best of what a small-town romance is, but they also show us the consequences of dealing with loss and how that affects their relationship. So yeah, this is not the easiest book to read at times, but the happy ending is totally worth it!
So, Love on the Lake is the second installment in this series and it focuses on Teagan Firestone’s story after she decides to make some changes in her life and start a new one in Pearl Lake with her brother and her new fiancée (who we all remember from the previous book in the series). Enter Aaron Saunders, an apparent playboy who lives a very mysterious life and he is not liking what Teagan is making him feel. Like at all. A back and forth starts between these two until they finally act on their feelings. But what happens when secrets get in the way of their happiness?
There’s something about Teagan. Under the metallic-pink ridiculousness and that bright, sunshine smile and her bubbly personality is a layered and complex human being. One I sincerely want to get to know better. Because I feel like behind all that sunshine is some darkness. The kind of murky shadows that might match mine.
Well, this was a crazy roller coaster! While I felt Love Next Door was a bit less dramatic, I can assure now that Love on the Lake gets you right in the chest with a whole array of feels. Both main characters are dealing with consequences of their past and it’s not easy to read how they deal with that sometimes. While Aaron feels extremely guilty about his secrets, Teagan is dealing with anxiety, insomnia and consequently an addiction to medication. That complicates their relationship to a whole other level, but it also makes it even more special when they are finally able to face their fears and find their much-deserved happy ending. I loved this couple and I am so glad they found happiness together.
“You deserve a better version of me.”
“I’ll love every version of you.”
Therefore, I am rating Love on the Lake with 4 STARS because, while it maintains the small-town romance feel, it’s a love story of two broken people who heal thanks to their love and support for each other. This book definitely is more emotional than the first installment, but it was just as good. I loved Aaron and Teagan together and I loved seeing more of these characters we met in the previous novel. I am not sure if we are getting more stories in the series, but I do hope Helena Hunting writes more small-town romances because she is doing a great job with this series!
ARC provided via Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.
Small-town romance is one of my top favorites to read and Helena Hunting is doing a great job with her Lakeside series. As much as I enjoyed the first installment, I have to say this one is even better. Helena deepens into these complex characters and their brokenness as years pass. Aaron and Teagan still gave the best of what a small-town romance is, but they also show us the consequences of dealing with loss and how that affects their relationship. So yeah, this is not the easiest book to read at times, but the happy ending is totally worth it!
So, Love on the Lake is the second installment in this series and it focuses on Teagan Firestone’s story after she decides to make some changes in her life and start a new one in Pearl Lake with her brother and her new fiancée (who we all remember from the previous book in the series). Enter Aaron Saunders, an apparent playboy who lives a very mysterious life and he is not liking what Teagan is making him feel. Like at all. A back and forth starts between these two until they finally act on their feelings. But what happens when secrets get in the way of their happiness?
There’s something about Teagan. Under the metallic-pink ridiculousness and that bright, sunshine smile and her bubbly personality is a layered and complex human being. One I sincerely want to get to know better. Because I feel like behind all that sunshine is some darkness. The kind of murky shadows that might match mine.
Well, this was a crazy roller coaster! While I felt Love Next Door was a bit less dramatic, I can assure now that Love on the Lake gets you right in the chest with a whole array of feels. Both main characters are dealing with consequences of their past and it’s not easy to read how they deal with that sometimes. While Aaron feels extremely guilty about his secrets, Teagan is dealing with anxiety, insomnia and consequently an addiction to medication. That complicates their relationship to a whole other level, but it also makes it even more special when they are finally able to face their fears and find their much-deserved happy ending. I loved this couple and I am so glad they found happiness together.
“You deserve a better version of me.”
“I’ll love every version of you.”
Therefore, I am rating Love on the Lake with 4 STARS because, while it maintains the small-town romance feel, it’s a love story of two broken people who heal thanks to their love and support for each other. This book definitely is more emotional than the first installment, but it was just as good. I loved Aaron and Teagan together and I loved seeing more of these characters we met in the previous novel. I am not sure if we are getting more stories in the series, but I do hope Helena Hunting writes more small-town romances because she is doing a great job with this series!
March 3, 2022
I am in absolute awe.
I adored every single thing about this book.
Teagan and Aaron were everything I never knew I needed and then some, their story captivated me and sunk its claws into me until the very last page.
I don’t want to go into much detail because I would hate to give anything away about the characters or their story but I just have to say Teagan is an incredibly strong and loyal woman. She has an incredibly big heart and loves to help others. She has her problems and struggles that I connected with in ways I didn’t think I would so my love for her was instant. Aaron is another incredible character going through his own problems. He’s a little grumpy but filled with so much more when we get to know him. He’s easy to love and has definitely become one of my favourite male characters. He’s incredibly swoony.
The whole storyline surrounding them is hard to read, hard for one to go through but their strength in this book shines so damn brightly. It has you rooting for them, hoping for them and wanting all the best for them.
Their story, their struggles, everything wrapped together perfectly with their book. The hard moments, the fun moments, everything just pulled you in more and more.
In true Helena Hunting style she had you laughing out loud and then grabbing the tissues because your eyes start leaking. Truly incredible.
Helena truly knows how to write an incredible story for her characters. She brought them to life and made them real. If you like the grumpy hero + sunshine heroine then you’ll enjoy this little beauty. They work together perfectly.
I adored every single thing about this book.
Teagan and Aaron were everything I never knew I needed and then some, their story captivated me and sunk its claws into me until the very last page.
I don’t want to go into much detail because I would hate to give anything away about the characters or their story but I just have to say Teagan is an incredibly strong and loyal woman. She has an incredibly big heart and loves to help others. She has her problems and struggles that I connected with in ways I didn’t think I would so my love for her was instant. Aaron is another incredible character going through his own problems. He’s a little grumpy but filled with so much more when we get to know him. He’s easy to love and has definitely become one of my favourite male characters. He’s incredibly swoony.
The whole storyline surrounding them is hard to read, hard for one to go through but their strength in this book shines so damn brightly. It has you rooting for them, hoping for them and wanting all the best for them.
Their story, their struggles, everything wrapped together perfectly with their book. The hard moments, the fun moments, everything just pulled you in more and more.
In true Helena Hunting style she had you laughing out loud and then grabbing the tissues because your eyes start leaking. Truly incredible.
Helena truly knows how to write an incredible story for her characters. She brought them to life and made them real. If you like the grumpy hero + sunshine heroine then you’ll enjoy this little beauty. They work together perfectly.
January 1, 2022
If you’ve been around for a bit, you’ve probably noticed that Helena Hunting is one of my favorite authors. Her Lakeside series debuted in 2021 and the characters immediately wormed their way into my heart so when the synopsis for book 2 was available and I learned which characters would be the focus, naturally I was over the moon. Love on the Lake deals with some heavier topics like addiction & abandonment while also giving us the love and steam we’ve come to love from HH novels. This one releases in Spring 2022 so don’t miss it!
Thank you to Montlake Romance for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Montlake Romance for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
March 11, 2022
This is the second story in the Lakeside series and features Teagan, Van’s younger sister.
Teagan has been living at home with her dad for a while now and has been thinking about her next move when it’s pretty much made for her. Her dad’s girlfriend is moving in and she wants to give them space they deserve to adjust to this new step in their relationship. She knows that she is welcome to stay in Pearl Lake with her brother so that’s where she is headed.
Van has been fitting out a studio apartment above his garage and it’s just about ready for Teagan to move in. She is keen to get settled and find a job as soon as she can. When she arrived, she was not expecting a shirtless guy to be in her new apartment but this man is so delicious to look at she isn’t that annoyed about it.
Aaron is the builder Van hired to do up the apartment and one thing he dislikes is fancy pancy rich girls trying to get his attention. Teagan looks just like one of them in her designer clothes and fancy car. He makes sure she knows that he is not interested. Teagan is pretty pissed at his arrogance but she can deal with grumpy, brooding no worries.
Teagan seems to have no trouble finding herself a job, in fact she ends up finding more than one and quickly immerses herself and her wardrobe into this small lakeside town. The only problem she has is her ability to say no, she is a people pleaser and keen to help as much as she can. Even Aaron begins to soften his hard exterior towards and has a startling confession to make. He wants her - his indifference towards her was him fighting his attraction. Onto the sexy time train ride they go…
Teagan and Aaron enjoy indulging in each other but they are both keeping secrets. Secrets from each other, secrets from their family members and the weight of those secrets is beginning to weigh them down. Aaron loves being around Teagan but after she confronts him about what he is hiding, he begins to see that maybe he can bring his truths into the light. However, she does not follow her own advice and despite his efforts to help her, Teagan can’t seem to face her own demons.
I was really rooting for this couple, they seemed like the perfect match but when you are trying to juggle so many balls, one is bound to drop and the fall is pretty steep. Aaron is such a loving, selfless guy and I love how much he cared for Teagan, everyone needs someone like that in their lives. Really enjoyed this second story in this series.
Teagan has been living at home with her dad for a while now and has been thinking about her next move when it’s pretty much made for her. Her dad’s girlfriend is moving in and she wants to give them space they deserve to adjust to this new step in their relationship. She knows that she is welcome to stay in Pearl Lake with her brother so that’s where she is headed.
Van has been fitting out a studio apartment above his garage and it’s just about ready for Teagan to move in. She is keen to get settled and find a job as soon as she can. When she arrived, she was not expecting a shirtless guy to be in her new apartment but this man is so delicious to look at she isn’t that annoyed about it.
Aaron is the builder Van hired to do up the apartment and one thing he dislikes is fancy pancy rich girls trying to get his attention. Teagan looks just like one of them in her designer clothes and fancy car. He makes sure she knows that he is not interested. Teagan is pretty pissed at his arrogance but she can deal with grumpy, brooding no worries.
Teagan seems to have no trouble finding herself a job, in fact she ends up finding more than one and quickly immerses herself and her wardrobe into this small lakeside town. The only problem she has is her ability to say no, she is a people pleaser and keen to help as much as she can. Even Aaron begins to soften his hard exterior towards and has a startling confession to make. He wants her - his indifference towards her was him fighting his attraction. Onto the sexy time train ride they go…
Teagan and Aaron enjoy indulging in each other but they are both keeping secrets. Secrets from each other, secrets from their family members and the weight of those secrets is beginning to weigh them down. Aaron loves being around Teagan but after she confronts him about what he is hiding, he begins to see that maybe he can bring his truths into the light. However, she does not follow her own advice and despite his efforts to help her, Teagan can’t seem to face her own demons.
I was really rooting for this couple, they seemed like the perfect match but when you are trying to juggle so many balls, one is bound to drop and the fall is pretty steep. Aaron is such a loving, selfless guy and I love how much he cared for Teagan, everyone needs someone like that in their lives. Really enjoyed this second story in this series.
August 10, 2022
Ehhhhh this one had me and then lost me and repeated the cycle twice. Teagan is still living with her father at 26, and Aaron is closed off and reserved at 27. She decides to branch out on her own and move into the guest apartment on her brother’s property and sets out to make a living on her own in small town Pearl Lake.
Aaron seems overly grouchy and put off with her, which she doesn’t understand, since she’s basically sunshine. I really liked her at first, and she seemed to have a lot of good qualities that set her apart. I didn’t really get Aaron and Teagan’s chemistry, like they went from 0 to 100 and then 0 to 100 again? Weird.
And Teagan has a problem that really devolves kind of quickly, turning her into a deeply unlikeable character, which yes can be a side effect of addition, but rang really problematic. In any case, I really liked Aaron and kind of liked Teagan. It had me at the beginning and then took a hard left turn and left me spinning.
Aaron seems overly grouchy and put off with her, which she doesn’t understand, since she’s basically sunshine. I really liked her at first, and she seemed to have a lot of good qualities that set her apart. I didn’t really get Aaron and Teagan’s chemistry, like they went from 0 to 100 and then 0 to 100 again? Weird.
And Teagan has a problem that really devolves kind of quickly, turning her into a deeply unlikeable character, which yes can be a side effect of addition, but rang really problematic. In any case, I really liked Aaron and kind of liked Teagan. It had me at the beginning and then took a hard left turn and left me spinning.
March 17, 2022
3.5 stars
TW: Anxiety, depression, substance abuse
I felt like Love on the Lake had a bit of a split personality I loved the first half of this book, but struggled with the second half and while I was pleased with the outcome I think I needed more time with this couple in the second half as they were building back the trust and their relationship. Emotional with many twists and turns, Love on the Lake was a good addition to this series.
Still dealing with the fallout that had one of her brothers framing the other and her family being in the media Teagan Firestone makes the decision to move to Pearl Lake from Chicago and reassess her life. She manages to find several part-time jobs and her people pleasing nature has her making easy friends with all she comes in to contact with except for Aaron Saunders who works for her soon to be sister in law and who seems to have something against her.
Aaron Saunders has lived in Pearl Lake all of his life except when he was in college, he’s worked hard since he returned and has quite the reputation for sleeping with women “across the lake” something he stopped after a particular incident. Teagan reminds him of those women until he realizes she’s so much more.
Both Teagan and Aaron have some heavy baggage which makes their relationship a roller coaster ride almost from start to finish. Teagan helped Aaron deal with his which took on an interesting twist, unfortunately when Teagan needed help she wanted nothing from nobody. I feel like author Helena Hunting did a great job of showing Teagan’s demise and her problems and I appreciated that there wasn’t a quick fix for her or for her relationship with Aaron. What I needed was more time with them once Teagan’s issues were addressed.
I loved the mention of the hockey wives in this series and hope that maybe one day they’ll actually make an “on page” appearance, but for now they are like a magical Easter egg for Ms. Hunting’s fans.
While I didn’t love this book, I didn’t hate it either, but for me both these characters having some serious issues to deal with made this book much heavier than I was expecting and that was a disappointment.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
TW: Anxiety, depression, substance abuse
I felt like Love on the Lake had a bit of a split personality I loved the first half of this book, but struggled with the second half and while I was pleased with the outcome I think I needed more time with this couple in the second half as they were building back the trust and their relationship. Emotional with many twists and turns, Love on the Lake was a good addition to this series.
Still dealing with the fallout that had one of her brothers framing the other and her family being in the media Teagan Firestone makes the decision to move to Pearl Lake from Chicago and reassess her life. She manages to find several part-time jobs and her people pleasing nature has her making easy friends with all she comes in to contact with except for Aaron Saunders who works for her soon to be sister in law and who seems to have something against her.
Aaron Saunders has lived in Pearl Lake all of his life except when he was in college, he’s worked hard since he returned and has quite the reputation for sleeping with women “across the lake” something he stopped after a particular incident. Teagan reminds him of those women until he realizes she’s so much more.
Both Teagan and Aaron have some heavy baggage which makes their relationship a roller coaster ride almost from start to finish. Teagan helped Aaron deal with his which took on an interesting twist, unfortunately when Teagan needed help she wanted nothing from nobody. I feel like author Helena Hunting did a great job of showing Teagan’s demise and her problems and I appreciated that there wasn’t a quick fix for her or for her relationship with Aaron. What I needed was more time with them once Teagan’s issues were addressed.
I loved the mention of the hockey wives in this series and hope that maybe one day they’ll actually make an “on page” appearance, but for now they are like a magical Easter egg for Ms. Hunting’s fans.
While I didn’t love this book, I didn’t hate it either, but for me both these characters having some serious issues to deal with made this book much heavier than I was expecting and that was a disappointment.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
April 20, 2022
THREE POINT FIVE STARS
Love on the Lake is a small-town romance.
Teagan's mom died when she was young and she has been living with her dad ever since. More as a way to keep him company once she became an adult. After a couple of decades of him not having someone special to share his life with he has found his person. To give her dad some space Teagan moves to a small lake town.
Teagan will be staying at her brother's house. He has an extra area that will allow Teagan to branch out. The contractor working on getting the area ready is Aaron. The two of them don't hit it off. Aaron is a flirt with everyone except with Teagan and she can't figure out why. When he's around her he's standoffish. Aaron is also carrying a lot of guilt that most of the townspeople know nothing about.
As it turns out, both Teagan and Aaron have some BIG things that they have to overcome before they can be in a relationship together.
LOVE ON THE LAKE
● Teagan (26) & Aaron
● 5 different jobs / construction worker
● small-town romance
● dual pov
● standalone
Love on the Lake is a small-town romance.
Teagan's mom died when she was young and she has been living with her dad ever since. More as a way to keep him company once she became an adult. After a couple of decades of him not having someone special to share his life with he has found his person. To give her dad some space Teagan moves to a small lake town.
Teagan will be staying at her brother's house. He has an extra area that will allow Teagan to branch out. The contractor working on getting the area ready is Aaron. The two of them don't hit it off. Aaron is a flirt with everyone except with Teagan and she can't figure out why. When he's around her he's standoffish. Aaron is also carrying a lot of guilt that most of the townspeople know nothing about.
As it turns out, both Teagan and Aaron have some BIG things that they have to overcome before they can be in a relationship together.
LOVE ON THE LAKE
● Teagan (26) & Aaron
● 5 different jobs / construction worker
● small-town romance
● dual pov
● standalone
Audiobook source: Audible
Narrator: CJ Bloom & Aaron Shedlock
Length: 8H 53M
January 17, 2022
I cannot tell you how happy revisiting the small town of Pearl Lake made me. Not only did I adore the first book in the Lakeside standalone series,
Love Next Door,
but Hunting’s latest offering is just as much, if not more engrossing. However, in
Love on the Lake,
she’s delved into some pretty painful matters. Not surprisingly, the author handled them with utmost care and sensitivity, but why I had trouble putting this one down was also the combination of humour, well-suited characters and her realistic storytelling.
Hunting drives home Teaghan Firestone’s unselfishness, but while observing her try to please others, I liked how she woke up to the fact that it was time to discover her true self. The question I had was if she’d be able to come to grips with an issue affecting her day-to-day life.
Why Aaron Saunders is so short-tempered with the lovely Teaghan is a conundrum of sorts, especially seeing that he’s considered to be a lady’s man. Granted, they didn’t get off to a good start, but as their friendship develops into something else, everything slowly comes to light. At times I thought Aaron was walking on hot bricks, and it could all backfire. Teaghan can’t admit her vulnerabilities, and he can’t face his tragic past. Will they open up their hearts and learn to trust each other? Wait and see what Hunting has in store.
Ooh, my word! It truly felt like Hunting had gone out of her way to wreck me. If I was giggling to myself in one scene, I was sobbing my heart out in another. I applaud the author here for her exceptional writing skills! And should I mention the scorchers? Nope, no one’s stopping you use your imagination, lol! What I loved to bits was meeting up with Van and Dillion again, the villagers per se, Teaghan’s dad, his love interest, and a supporting player who made me shed even more tears than I’d already had.
Hunting’s crafting of Teaghan and Aaron’s story has the power to bring out all the emotions in even the most sceptical of readers, so hold on tight folk—it’s going to be a bumpy ride so well-worth jumping on. I wish I could have given this poignant read double the stars. Simply bravo!
ARC kindly received from Montlake via NetGalley for an honest review.
Hunting drives home Teaghan Firestone’s unselfishness, but while observing her try to please others, I liked how she woke up to the fact that it was time to discover her true self. The question I had was if she’d be able to come to grips with an issue affecting her day-to-day life.
Why Aaron Saunders is so short-tempered with the lovely Teaghan is a conundrum of sorts, especially seeing that he’s considered to be a lady’s man. Granted, they didn’t get off to a good start, but as their friendship develops into something else, everything slowly comes to light. At times I thought Aaron was walking on hot bricks, and it could all backfire. Teaghan can’t admit her vulnerabilities, and he can’t face his tragic past. Will they open up their hearts and learn to trust each other? Wait and see what Hunting has in store.
Ooh, my word! It truly felt like Hunting had gone out of her way to wreck me. If I was giggling to myself in one scene, I was sobbing my heart out in another. I applaud the author here for her exceptional writing skills! And should I mention the scorchers? Nope, no one’s stopping you use your imagination, lol! What I loved to bits was meeting up with Van and Dillion again, the villagers per se, Teaghan’s dad, his love interest, and a supporting player who made me shed even more tears than I’d already had.
Hunting’s crafting of Teaghan and Aaron’s story has the power to bring out all the emotions in even the most sceptical of readers, so hold on tight folk—it’s going to be a bumpy ride so well-worth jumping on. I wish I could have given this poignant read double the stars. Simply bravo!
ARC kindly received from Montlake via NetGalley for an honest review.
March 20, 2022
Really really good. And very angsty...
Review to come maybe...
Review to come maybe...
June 6, 2022
Love On The Lake me sorprendio gratamente. Tal vez porque aunque el primer tomo me agrado no me enamoro y no imaginaba gran cosa de este libro, sin embargo, esta continuacion si que me gusto mucho.
La novela es muy ligera, un poco predecible y bonita, objetivamente, no es diferente a otros romances con una tematica similar pero por alguna razon, Love On The Lake consiguio engancharme, ademas de dejarme con un buen sabor de boca, especialmente porque Helena Hunting supo desarrollar muy bien la trama.
La pareja principal tambien es estupenda, me gustaron ambos, y pese a que no me hubiese molestado de haber tenido un poco mas de profundidad en sus personalidades, en linea general, son tiernos y con una quimica muy notable.
En fin, esta parte supero con creces a su predecesor, personalmente, creo que lo que narra es mas atractivo, y el que no tenga apenas drama es otro punto positivo.
P. D. : No se si ya no habra mas libros de esta saga, ojala si los haya y que uno de ellos sea la historia de Billy, merece un final feliz y puede ser muy interesante como protagonista masculino.
3.5 Estrellas!
March 18, 2022
3.5 Stars ⭐️
March 3, 2022
4.5 stars!
Love on the Lake follows Teagan as she moves to Pearl Lake to discover who she is and wants to be. She immediately begins to ingratiate herself in the community and quickly becomes irreplaceable. She also meets the brooding Aaron who seemingly dislikes her for no reason. Not to be deterred, Teagan sets out change her life and may have bit off more than she could chew.
When I immediately finished Love on the Lake, I thought that it was a cute romance with more substance than I expected. Upon further reflection, Love on the Lake is more than a cute romance that happens to be more than surface level. Love on the Lake is a genuine portrayal of addiction that isn’t shoehorned into the novel. Both Teagan and Aaron wrestle with their own issues throughout the novel and do not face them until it’s impossible to continue ignoring them.
Teagan is at the heart of this novel. She’s trying to find her place in the world while navigating her own past traumas in the only way she knows how. Hunting’s foreshadowing became obvious near the end of the novel as the climax hit. It wasn’t until I finished the novel that I appreciated the small hints peppered throughout.
What I enjoyed most about this novel was Teagan and Aaron’s relationship at the beginning. It’s a no strings attached, light, and fun coupling that is quickly obvious to readers that something more is going on. What I also loved about their relationship is how much they were still two different individuals trying to find their way, but when they came together it was explosive.
Overall, Love on the Lake was a pleasant surprise that focuses largely on Teagan’s mental health. Hunting approaches this topic with care and is genuine in her portrayal of addiction. Love on the Lake is still a Hunting novel, so Teagan and Aaron’s relationship is explosive and steamy.
*** I received an eARC from Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.
Love on the Lake follows Teagan as she moves to Pearl Lake to discover who she is and wants to be. She immediately begins to ingratiate herself in the community and quickly becomes irreplaceable. She also meets the brooding Aaron who seemingly dislikes her for no reason. Not to be deterred, Teagan sets out change her life and may have bit off more than she could chew.
When I immediately finished Love on the Lake, I thought that it was a cute romance with more substance than I expected. Upon further reflection, Love on the Lake is more than a cute romance that happens to be more than surface level. Love on the Lake is a genuine portrayal of addiction that isn’t shoehorned into the novel. Both Teagan and Aaron wrestle with their own issues throughout the novel and do not face them until it’s impossible to continue ignoring them.
Teagan is at the heart of this novel. She’s trying to find her place in the world while navigating her own past traumas in the only way she knows how. Hunting’s foreshadowing became obvious near the end of the novel as the climax hit. It wasn’t until I finished the novel that I appreciated the small hints peppered throughout.
What I enjoyed most about this novel was Teagan and Aaron’s relationship at the beginning. It’s a no strings attached, light, and fun coupling that is quickly obvious to readers that something more is going on. What I also loved about their relationship is how much they were still two different individuals trying to find their way, but when they came together it was explosive.
Overall, Love on the Lake was a pleasant surprise that focuses largely on Teagan’s mental health. Hunting approaches this topic with care and is genuine in her portrayal of addiction. Love on the Lake is still a Hunting novel, so Teagan and Aaron’s relationship is explosive and steamy.
*** I received an eARC from Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.
March 14, 2022
True love isn’t only there when times are good. Aaron Saunders and Teagan Firestone get a major life lesson on that in this second romance at Pearl Lake.
Teagan has decided that, at twenty-six-years old, it's time to move out on her own. Her father’s girlfriend moving in is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of her brother's garage apartment in the small town of Pearl Lake. Teagan has always been the perfect child and a people pleaser and it's time for her to figure out who Teagan really is.
Aaron Saunders acts as though he dislikes Van Firestone's little sister, but since he's renovating the garage apartment and works for the same company as Van, he can’t seem to avoid her. And then he sees her everywhere in town. Teagan is working at the hardware store, the bar, and the diner, as well as a few other jobs.
As these two grow closer, we learn there's a lot going on behind the scenes. Aaron is willing to own and eventually admit to his secrets, but he's starting to see that Teagan is not exactly the sunny, put-together persona she projects to everyone else. When things reach a boiling point, the strength of their love is put to the ultimate test.
This book is easily my favorite of this series. Hunting doesn’t flinch from tackling tough subjects, handling them with care and grace. These are issues we all can relate to, because if we haven’t experienced them with our family or friends, we certainly know someone who has. We've seen the ruinous devastation they leave in their wake, so it's easy to empathize with these characters.
But the true beauty of this real-life drama is seeing how far love is willing to go. True love sticks. It waits patiently, never forcing or pressuring, but is ready to pick up the pieces in order to ultimately create a stronger version of itself. Teague and Arron's story reminds us to have hope and believe in forever love, and for that alone, it's well worth reading.
Teagan has decided that, at twenty-six-years old, it's time to move out on her own. Her father’s girlfriend moving in is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of her brother's garage apartment in the small town of Pearl Lake. Teagan has always been the perfect child and a people pleaser and it's time for her to figure out who Teagan really is.
Aaron Saunders acts as though he dislikes Van Firestone's little sister, but since he's renovating the garage apartment and works for the same company as Van, he can’t seem to avoid her. And then he sees her everywhere in town. Teagan is working at the hardware store, the bar, and the diner, as well as a few other jobs.
As these two grow closer, we learn there's a lot going on behind the scenes. Aaron is willing to own and eventually admit to his secrets, but he's starting to see that Teagan is not exactly the sunny, put-together persona she projects to everyone else. When things reach a boiling point, the strength of their love is put to the ultimate test.
This book is easily my favorite of this series. Hunting doesn’t flinch from tackling tough subjects, handling them with care and grace. These are issues we all can relate to, because if we haven’t experienced them with our family or friends, we certainly know someone who has. We've seen the ruinous devastation they leave in their wake, so it's easy to empathize with these characters.
But the true beauty of this real-life drama is seeing how far love is willing to go. True love sticks. It waits patiently, never forcing or pressuring, but is ready to pick up the pieces in order to ultimately create a stronger version of itself. Teague and Arron's story reminds us to have hope and believe in forever love, and for that alone, it's well worth reading.
March 10, 2022
Love on the Lake offers a touching tale of self-discovery and romance.
Twenty-six-year-old Teagan Firestone has spent her life putting everyone else first, but now is ready to figure out what she really wants in life. She starts by moving out of her father’s house in Chicago into a garage apartment in a small-town of Pearl Lake where she gets a job as a waitress, a bartender, at a hardware store and as an interior design consultant, and stars casually dating the town’s playboy.
Aaron Saunders is a mystery. He puts on a flirty, happy front but hides behind thick and tall walls until he meets Teagan and slowly starts letting her kindness and light in. But can their relationship survive Teagan’s demons and he refusal to accept Aaron’s or her family’s help?
While Aaron and Teagan’s initial relationship is light, fun and sexy, Helena Hunting has penned a lovely story that is all about two broken characters finding their way out of darkness and into the light they each shine on each other.
Aaron must learn to forgive himself while Teagan must overcome her addiction. I really enjoy a romance where the two main characters grown into their own through the power of love. And Helena broaches the delicate topics in the story with care.
LOVE ON THE LAKE is a standalone contemporary romance by Helena Hunting. Told from both points of view, with a happy ending. Tropes: small town | tortured hero | tortured heroine |
By the numbers quick review:
🔥 World building: 🌏🌏🌏🌏
🔥 Character development: 👤👤👤👤
🔥 Plot: 📚📚📚
🔥 Romance: 💕💕💕💕
🔥 Sexiness: 🔥🔥🔥
🔥 Overall Rating: 3.6
Amazon -> https://amzn.to/35FHB7I
★ I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via Social Butterfly. The excerpts are from that copy. I am voluntarily reviewing this title.
★ Check out all my book edits over at Instagram
Twenty-six-year-old Teagan Firestone has spent her life putting everyone else first, but now is ready to figure out what she really wants in life. She starts by moving out of her father’s house in Chicago into a garage apartment in a small-town of Pearl Lake where she gets a job as a waitress, a bartender, at a hardware store and as an interior design consultant, and stars casually dating the town’s playboy.
Aaron Saunders is a mystery. He puts on a flirty, happy front but hides behind thick and tall walls until he meets Teagan and slowly starts letting her kindness and light in. But can their relationship survive Teagan’s demons and he refusal to accept Aaron’s or her family’s help?
While Aaron and Teagan’s initial relationship is light, fun and sexy, Helena Hunting has penned a lovely story that is all about two broken characters finding their way out of darkness and into the light they each shine on each other.
Aaron must learn to forgive himself while Teagan must overcome her addiction. I really enjoy a romance where the two main characters grown into their own through the power of love. And Helena broaches the delicate topics in the story with care.
LOVE ON THE LAKE is a standalone contemporary romance by Helena Hunting. Told from both points of view, with a happy ending. Tropes: small town | tortured hero | tortured heroine |
By the numbers quick review:
🔥 World building: 🌏🌏🌏🌏
🔥 Character development: 👤👤👤👤
🔥 Plot: 📚📚📚
🔥 Romance: 💕💕💕💕
🔥 Sexiness: 🔥🔥🔥
🔥 Overall Rating: 3.6
Amazon -> https://amzn.to/35FHB7I
★ I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via Social Butterfly. The excerpts are from that copy. I am voluntarily reviewing this title.
★ Check out all my book edits over at Instagram
March 15, 2022
Pearl Lake is quickly becoming one of my favorite Helena Hunting escapes- in a large part because of how much I enjoyed Love on the Lake. Tender with feeling, brimming with Helena witty charm, and beautiful told, Love the Lake is simply charming.
Love on the Lake gives us a layered romance between Teagan and Aaron- two souls trying to find the best of themselves amidst their own past pains. Aaron starts out gruffy and broody, the telltale facade of man hiding in plain sight, a man broken by parts of his past. LIke so many Helena leading men before, his swoony side stole my heart. When he opens up his heart and how beautifully he loves Teagan, he gave me all the romantic feelings. And Teagan is such an endearing and captivating heroine-she has a spark and a fortitude that are admirable, the perfect bold and unbending force to break down Aaron’s walls. She's the best kind of try-hard, a girl full of sunshine and determination, even if her quest to make others happy comes at her own detriment. Their chemistry had that great Helena Hunting energy- the emotional tension, the magnetism, that push-pull gravitational force. As they start to find resonance in their own character journeys in facing their own baggage and exposing their own secrets, we see their vulnerabilities connect them so sweetly, how they show up for and love each other as they both struggle to find that in themself.
The characters as always are interesting, witty, and thoughtfully complex, and the small town setting continues to bring lots of charm. I did think the ending was a bit too quick for my HEA loving heart, but I fell so in love with this beautifully rendered couple and their much deserved heart-healing romance.
Love on the Lake gives us a layered romance between Teagan and Aaron- two souls trying to find the best of themselves amidst their own past pains. Aaron starts out gruffy and broody, the telltale facade of man hiding in plain sight, a man broken by parts of his past. LIke so many Helena leading men before, his swoony side stole my heart. When he opens up his heart and how beautifully he loves Teagan, he gave me all the romantic feelings. And Teagan is such an endearing and captivating heroine-she has a spark and a fortitude that are admirable, the perfect bold and unbending force to break down Aaron’s walls. She's the best kind of try-hard, a girl full of sunshine and determination, even if her quest to make others happy comes at her own detriment. Their chemistry had that great Helena Hunting energy- the emotional tension, the magnetism, that push-pull gravitational force. As they start to find resonance in their own character journeys in facing their own baggage and exposing their own secrets, we see their vulnerabilities connect them so sweetly, how they show up for and love each other as they both struggle to find that in themself.
The characters as always are interesting, witty, and thoughtfully complex, and the small town setting continues to bring lots of charm. I did think the ending was a bit too quick for my HEA loving heart, but I fell so in love with this beautifully rendered couple and their much deserved heart-healing romance.
May 8, 2022
This started off so well and I was having such a good time till about 60% of the way. It got too heavy for me personally. I did not see any tw so it really came out of left field.
March 20, 2022
I loved how this started, but I didn't really enjoy the direction this took for both the MC's. Aaron and Teagan both had a personal conflict that I just didn't really enjoy in the book. For me, it took away from the great relationship they both started out as.
February 18, 2024
First half was great but all of the therapy talk in the second half was yawnsville and I struggled to finish.
October 7, 2022
This started out good for me, but then went downhill towards the end as far as my enjoyment.
Teagan Firestone decides to visit her older brother in Pearl Lake once her father's new girlfriend is moving in. She feels like she is in their way and wants a change. Her brother lets her stay in his loft over the garage. Once she arrives in Pearl Lake, Teagan meets Aaron right away. He is actually a contractor helping her brother to finish up the room. Teagan and Aaron do not hit it off right away. This was the best part of the whole book--the two of them going from annoyance to love. I liked Teagan and Aaron together. We were told that Aaron has some big secret that takes him out of town once a month. I found the reveal of the secret to be not that exciting.
The last half of the book was where I was just hoping for it to be over. Teagan has a hard time saying no and wants to prove that she can do everything. She turns into a really unlikable character. Aaron was the perfect book boyfriend towards her and she treated him unkindly.
I listened to the audiobook of this and was wanting more from it. There was too much Teagan narration and not enough Aaron. (I know this is the story and not the narrator's fault. I just thought Aaron Shedlock was underused.) It pains me to give this review as Helena Hunting is one of my favorite authors.
Teagan Firestone decides to visit her older brother in Pearl Lake once her father's new girlfriend is moving in. She feels like she is in their way and wants a change. Her brother lets her stay in his loft over the garage. Once she arrives in Pearl Lake, Teagan meets Aaron right away. He is actually a contractor helping her brother to finish up the room. Teagan and Aaron do not hit it off right away. This was the best part of the whole book--the two of them going from annoyance to love. I liked Teagan and Aaron together. We were told that Aaron has some big secret that takes him out of town once a month. I found the reveal of the secret to be not that exciting.
The last half of the book was where I was just hoping for it to be over. Teagan has a hard time saying no and wants to prove that she can do everything. She turns into a really unlikable character. Aaron was the perfect book boyfriend towards her and she treated him unkindly.
I listened to the audiobook of this and was wanting more from it. There was too much Teagan narration and not enough Aaron. (I know this is the story and not the narrator's fault. I just thought Aaron Shedlock was underused.) It pains me to give this review as Helena Hunting is one of my favorite authors.
February 27, 2022
Another page turner from Helena. I loved Teagan and Aarons story. Real struggles, real people. Hope there will be more from this series.
March 24, 2022
Teagan Firestone needs a change. When her father’s girlfriend moves into their house, Teagan realizes she’s in the way. She decides to leave Chicago and moves to Pearl Lake to live with her brother Van while she figures out what to do. When she first arrives, she surprises Aaron, who is working in Van’s garage apartment. Aaron instantly dislikes Teagan. He thinks she’s just some entitled rich girl like the ones on the other side of the lake. As the two get to know each other, they come to realize they might have more in common than they originally thought.
Love on the Lake picks up where Love Next Door left off. The first book in the series follows Teagan’s brother Van as he moves to Pearl Lake after their grandmother dies. Teagan and Aaron are both side characters in the first book, but Love on the Lake puts them in focus.
Teagan is a wonderful character. At a crossroads in her life, Teagan throws herself into the world of Pearl Lake, taking on multiple different types of jobs to determine what she wants to do with her life. She is an absolute ray of sunshine but struggles with healthily managing everything.
Aaron is more of a mystery. Well known as the town flirt, he appears to want absolutely nothing to do with Teagan. Aaron is also haunted by the events of the past.
This is one of Helena Hunting’s heavier books. Love on the Lake deals with themes of addiction, abandonment, and grief.
I enjoyed this one! This was such a sweet story. If you enjoy the grumpy and sunshine and small-town tropes, this one is for you!
Thank you to Social Butterfly PR, Montlake Romance, and Helena Hunting for the review copy! All opinions are my own.
Love on the Lake picks up where Love Next Door left off. The first book in the series follows Teagan’s brother Van as he moves to Pearl Lake after their grandmother dies. Teagan and Aaron are both side characters in the first book, but Love on the Lake puts them in focus.
Teagan is a wonderful character. At a crossroads in her life, Teagan throws herself into the world of Pearl Lake, taking on multiple different types of jobs to determine what she wants to do with her life. She is an absolute ray of sunshine but struggles with healthily managing everything.
Aaron is more of a mystery. Well known as the town flirt, he appears to want absolutely nothing to do with Teagan. Aaron is also haunted by the events of the past.
This is one of Helena Hunting’s heavier books. Love on the Lake deals with themes of addiction, abandonment, and grief.
I enjoyed this one! This was such a sweet story. If you enjoy the grumpy and sunshine and small-town tropes, this one is for you!
Thank you to Social Butterfly PR, Montlake Romance, and Helena Hunting for the review copy! All opinions are my own.
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