Hinted

Moonlit Lake Matchmaker #1

by Kristeen Groth

Rowan and Elle believed their love was lost forever... until fate brought them together again. Or so it seemed.

Elle Albright returns to her small hometown of Moonlit Lake feeling like a failure, and finds her first love, Rowan, proposing to someone else. The need to prove herself and make up for her biggest regret, has her opening a clothing boutique to show Rowan she's here to stay. She’s certain she wants a life with Rowan, but something keeps getting in her way. Is she strong enough to do what it takes for them to be together, or lose him for good?

After years of pining for his lost love, Rowan realizes it’s time to move on. He decides to marry someone who loves his family farm as much as he does. But as soon as he pops the question, he looks up and sees the one who holds his heart watching from across the bar. Will he choose a comfortable marriage of convenience, or take a chance on the woman who destroyed his heart years ago?

This sweet, small-town, second chance romance blends light-hearted humor with a smattering of mystery and will keep you up late at night to see them get their HEA.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Second Chance, Clean Romance, Contemporary Romance, Adult

292 pages, Paperback

Published March 11, 2024

About the author

Author also writes under Kris Groth

Reviews

[Maven_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hinted: A Sweet Small‑Town Second Chance Romantic Comedy by Kristeen Groth is a warm, small‑town, second chance romance about Elle Albright, a fashion designer whose dreams in New York crash spectacularly, forcing her to return home to Moonlit Lake only to discover her first love, Rowan, proposing to someone else almost as soon as she arrives. Determined to prove she belongs and hasn’t given up on life or love, Elle opens a women’s clothing boutique to rebuild herself, while Rowan is quietly wrestling with his own hopes, family expectations, and the tug of a love he never truly stopped feeling. Together they navigate old hurts, fresh misunderstandings, and plenty of quirky small‑town charm as they try to see if what once was can become what will be again.

From the opening pages I felt the kind of gentle heart‑tug that comes with stories about “coming home,” especially when home means facing the person who first captured your heart. Elle’s journey back to Moonlit Lake had me cheering for her resilience, not just because she wants Rowan again, but because her road to self‑worth is as tender as her lingering affection for him. Rowan’s love for his family farm and his careful, sometimes fumbling attempts to understand Elle made their dynamic feel richly human, even when their choices felt frustrating and very real.

I loved the way Groth weaves light‑hearted humor, meddling matchmaker energy, and a touch of mystery (including obstacles to Elle’s business success) into a story that felt cozy, relatable, and unashamedly romantic. The small‑town setting and the ensemble of supporting characters made Moonlit Lake itself feel like a place I could wander into anytime, full of sunshine, spirited banter, and plenty of well‑meaning advice about love and second chances.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. I’m giving Hinted this rating because it balanced sweetness, genuine emotional growth, and laugh‑out‑loud small‑town moments in a way that genuinely warmed my heart. There are familiar tropes at play, but the earnest characters, real stakes, and heartfelt storytelling made me care about Elle and Rowan’s reunion from start to finish.

[C.R. Alam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love finding a new romance series. If you enjoy sweet small town romances, this one could be a good one for you. It has all the elements: a loving family, friends, nosy small-town people, a "wise" elder who seems to push all the buttons in the background, and of course romance with a hint of passion and suspense.

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hinted is a sweet, second chance romance featuring Eleanor (Elle) Albright and Rowan Rhodes.

Elle and Rowan were madly in love, but Elle was worried she'd get trapped in the small town of Moonlit Lake, MN and never realize her dreams. She ran off to NYC where she worked in design... until her manager filed a sexual harassment claim after she refused his advances. After 14 years away, she decided to return home.

Rowan never got over Elle, but after eavesdropping on a conversation, he understood that unless he got married within the year, he would not be able to inherit his beloved family's Willowbrook Farm, where he toiled each and every day. Knowing how his heart never healed from his breakup with Elle, but still wanting the farm and a family, he proposed a marriage of convenience with his farm hand, Becky Hader. This proposal was witnessed by none other than Elle, on her first night home.

Trying to both make a new life for herself in Moonlit Lake, as well as show Rowan that she wasn't leaving again, she located a rental space, secured a bank loan, and set to work renovating the space to open her own women's clothing boutique, Elegance Couture.

As work advances on her boutique, Rowan and Elle have a big talk and agree to give their relationship another try, but first he needs to break things off with Becky who is thrilled with their engagement. In addition, weird things keep happening that hinder her progress towards her grand opening and start to take their toll on Elle both mentally and financially.

This was a cute, small town story about two people who are destined to be together but still having to do the work to find their way back to each other. It also had a side dose of mystery surrounding Elle's boutique. It was an easy and fun read, accompanied by some interesting lines that made me giggle, such as nasty narcissistic nutsack

Groth included a plethora of other characters in the book, including Rowan's many siblings, leaving the door open for other Moonlit Lake love stories. Looks like his sister Raven and best friend Nash are up first in Nudged, expected March 2024.

[Allison · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 30%. I was recommended this as a clean/closed door romance, which I was excited about. I'm trying to think of a way to review this without sounding mean so I'll just say the writing style wasn't for me.

[Cath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book one of the Moonlit Lake Matchmaker series and the main characters are Rowan Rhodes, a farmer, and Elle Albright, a junior fashion designer. Elle had left the small town of Moonlit Lake and her love Rowan, to pursue her dreams of working in fashion in New York. Now, nearly fifteen years later, all her dreams have come crashing down around her feet and she has to return to her mother’s home to lick her wounds, as she wonders what too do next. Rowan’s dream was to one day run the family farm and raise a family there, like his own parents had for so many years. Only he mishears a conversation between his mother Honey and Tillie, and believes he will lose the farm t9 one of his other siblings, if he isn’t married within the next year! He has only been dating their farmhand Becky for a few weeks, but knows there is no real spark between them and was going to break up with her. With this news, he decides to sound out how she would feel about a loveless marriage, with the benefit of the farm to run together and raise a family on. She is super keen and even though his friends warn him, he jumps ahead with his plans and proposes to her in the local restaurant.

Just as he gets back up, he thinks he saw his old love Elle, but that has to be impossible, right? He would have know. If she was back in town, with the speed news travels in their small town. But he will soon find out she is back, and has ideas for a fashion boutique in town, using all her previous connections in New York and her years of experience to make a go of it. Things move fast and Rowan is soon regretting his speedy engagement, especially when Becky makes it plain that she wants matters to move ahead rapidly, now she has caught her man! He made a commitment to her and now has to stand behind it, even though he had never really gotten over Elle. Matters get into a real middle pretty quickly, as Rowan and Elle finally come face to face and have a heart to heart about the past and the hurry it caused them both. Elle hopes that her luck has changed and she can prove to Rowan that she is back for good and won’t leave him ever again, but it seems that her bad luck is following her, as things begin to go wrong.

Rowan believed he could live without love and live on the farm like his parents have, but their main ingredient was love and it could have led them anywhere, so long as they were together. Elle is ready to fight for his love and do anything she can too get her man, only she has a bit of competition, who isn’t ready to let go! Strange occurrences and a possible tornado, will have both of them re-evaluating their futures and figuring out what is really the most important. Beware a woman scorned and watch a well raised young man struggle with the dilemma of his own making, as he tries to recapture his lost love, without harming the one he had chosen. A lovely small town romance, with a touch of magical hints from Tillie as she provides a reading for him and pushes him in the right direction for his future. He has to go through a few painful moments as he treads the path to true love, which is never quite as easy and smooth as desired.

I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Parhelion · Rating 2 out of 5]

As far as these types of clean romance books go, this was pretty standard. It was fairly well-written, well-edited, had a moving plot that touched the beats, had good chemistry between the mains, had an interesting cast of characters. It relied a bit much on dialogue, spelling out thoughts/feelings, and repetition, but that's not unexpected. It was a little boring in places. I would have given it a 3 star rating. Pretty average. But then...

I did not like the main characters. I realise there is nothing wrong with unlikeable characters as a rule in literature, but this isn't any old literature. This is a romance. Both the male and female lead proved themselves to be incredibly selfish and untrustworthy, and they don't overcome these character flaws by the end. Instead, they are rewarded. Because true love. Rowan deliberately gets engaged to a girl he does not love, kisses another woman (Elle), and ends up dumping the other girl with no consideration for how humiliating or hurtful this is until the woman goes off the rails. Elle saw him propose but she is the one who kisses him first, and she PROMISES him she will not break his heart again by going back to New York, but guess what she does in a couple of short weeks? Takes up a job in New York. But it's okay for her to break her promise because though devastated, he ends up going with her, right? Sorry, but neither character grows. If anything, they are worse by the end of the book than when they started. And that killed it for me.

[Lorna H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hinted is a charming second-chance romance set in the small town of Moonlit Lake, MN, following Elle and Rowan, who were once madly in love but drifted apart. After Elle spends 14 years in NYC, her life derails when a sexual harassment claim forces her to return home. She plans to start fresh by opening a boutique, Elegance Couture, but things aren't easy.

Rowan, still in love with Elle, faces a dilemma when he learns he must marry within the year to inherit his family’s farm. In a desperate move, he proposes to his farmhand, Becky Hader. However, Elle witnesses the proposal upon her return, and tensions rise as she tries to rebuild her life while navigating old emotions.

The romance between Elle and Rowan is sweet, though Rowan’s initial proposal to Becky drags on a bit longer than necessary, leading to some frustration. The small-town setting is endearing, with fun supporting characters, especially Rowan’s large family. However, the love triangle and “marriage of convenience” subplot didn’t entirely work for me, and the repeated mentions of “reading of cards” felt out of place.

Despite these drawbacks, Hinted delivers a heartwarming story about healing, forgiveness, and love. The book has a nice balance of romance, family, and mystery surrounding Elle’s boutique. It’s a solid read for fans of small-town romance, with the potential for more stories about Rowan’s siblings.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Terry T · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet second chance romantic comedy with small town charm, a meddling matchmaker, a touch of mystery and no cliffhanger.

Soome of the lines I liked -- To All those who believe in second chances. Wish to receive a second chance. Have given someone a second chance. Or simply embrace the power of forgiveness, healing, and love to get life challenges. --
Ugh. Wasn't that guy done yet? And doesn't he realize I can't eavesdrop with all his noise? --
"Just follow your heart, and you'll figure it out. You have a big heart, my boy, and a lot of love to give. Don't give up to easily." --
"Don't let your past disappointments determine your future, Rowan. They don't deserve to drive your bus, so don't give them the keys." --
"Just because it was right doesn't mean it was easy. In fact, the best decisions are often the hardest to make, and the ones that scare you the most."
Who's trying to destroy Elle's reputation? Who's sabotaging the opening of Elle's boutique? These and other questions will all be answered.
I loved "Hinted" and can't wait to read her next book. I received a free ARC and this is my honest opinion.

[Emily M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not typically a sweet romance reader but this one just had me hooked from the start and I couldn't put it down. I blame Tillie! She was such a fun background character that served a huge purpose. I was anticipating a typical homecoming romance kind of story. You know the kind, girl leaves her high school sweetheart behind to pursue her dreams in the big city, she returns home years later to find her man is still single and pining away, she decides to give up on her dreams completely and moves home to be with him. Instead we got a nice twist on the trope that had me cheering. I just loved Rowan's family antics! The banter with his brothers and sisters had me laughing out loud. The Raven and Nash history has me so intrigued. I can't wait for their story! What happened between them?!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook: This was my first experience with this author's work, and it was delightful. This story was based on one of my favorite tropes that of second chances as Elle and Rowan were sweethearts when they were younger, but she left to pursue her dream career. After Elle's career imploded and she returned home, I appreciated the small-town setting with its considerate and caring neighbors. I enjoyed the moments of humor. The narration was provided by multiple AI voices, and I thought they were surprisingly good as they were easy to listen to and follow. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.

[Sandy T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook review: The narration was done by AI and although it was multiple voices, sometimes the voices didn't match . But overall the narration was good for AI.

Story review: I would rate this a 2.5 if possible. It was very predictable especially the subplot of Elle's troubles. Additionally I felt it was too much as her troubles escalated.

I was also confused in several parts about Becky and Rowan's relationship. There were contradictions throughout about their understanding. Not sure if this was more glaring since I was listening to the book and wasn't able to go back and read the written words.

I loved Tillie's character and the family support both main characters received. I also liked the ending.

[Denice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this first book in the Moonlit Lake Series. She is a new to me author and let me say, I wasn’t disappointed, I loved this book and didn’t want to put it down, I loved her writing style and the way the story moved along. Rowen is such a good, loyal man who has had a burning for his high school sweetheart Elle for 14 years. She left that long ago to pursue her dream of becoming a fashion designer. This book has so many feel-good feelings, swoony moments, a great second chance story that had me laughing at times. It has love and suspense that will keep you reading on. I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to the next one.

[Michaela | Reading in the Heartland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely a different kind of second chance romance. This book had some nice romance and a heavy helping of family and friends in a small town. Having a bit of a “love triangle, marriage of convenience” part with another woman was painful for me. It wasn’t a large part of the story, but opening with the “reading of cards” and subsequent mentions of that was also a detractor for me.
I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters and the siblings on this ranch. I liked the small town life portrayed and the healing of old hurts. This is my first book by this author and it was a nice read.

I received an ARC of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rowan and Elle's story was heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time... I loved that Elle got to return home, and reconnect with people she never thought would accept her back.

I loved Tillie, and the various side characters in the book. Rowan's family (who is the focus of this series) are also a lot of fun...

I take my hat off to Elle as a character for dealing with all she did through this book with as much grace as she did. I certainly would not have been able to do so. And I loved how Rowan corrected his mistake from the past...

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marie Bourgery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rowan is determined to settle on someone to marry and live with on his family farm when his ex Elle comes back to town with dreams of opening her own clothing boutique. But someone is just as determined to prevent her from being successful and repeatedly sabotages her new business. And when she’s offered the opportunity of a lifetime at her old employer’s where she was fired because of a malicious coworker will she give up on the chance of second love after all the setbacks? Rowan was too quick to dismiss someone as a threat that was pretty obvious to me from the beginning. And Elle shouldn’t have assumed all the things that were happening to her was just bad luck.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect feel good romance, with doses of small town and lots of inhabitants of this town that makes you want to move in! Who wouldn't want a Tillie in their lives or a best friend that always knows when you need her?
I liked the added mistery drama, and even more the introduction of other characters that left you hanging for their stories, looking forward to reading more of Moonlit Lake love stories

[Suze82 · Rating 4 out of 5]

great start
I wouldn´t want to be in Rowan and Elle´s shoes: when they meet again, a second chance seems impossible, they have to decide whether to follow their hearts snd risk getting hurt for a second time and hurt others´feelings in the process. The family interaction put the fun in this book, I can´t wait to read the next one in this series.
I received this book as a review copy and leave my review voluntarily.

[Joy RS · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, sweet rom-com romance, my first of this author's, and I loved the small-town setting with its promise of more to come. I wanted to shake Rowan a few times, but then so did several of his family members and some of his friends, so I was in good company. I read Hinted in bed over a couple of evenings and it made me smile and go to sleep happy. And there's another book coming out in a few days!! Enjoy :)

[Mary Ann Speel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this book, kept my interest through out the story due to the mystery thread through out the romance. You will love the hero and the heroine Rowan and Elle. You will also love their families and the way they support their children although they are grown adults in their 30’s. Due to one of the characters a mystery is woven throughout the story once it gets started, it will keep you reading to find out all that happens. Recommend book to everyone. Enjoy!

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet romance renewed after 14 years apart, and struggles to make it work, but not because of time. No, this romance story is different and has so many obstacles, that I almost gave up on love.
A lot of soul searching and careful consideration about a second chance at love with so many things going wrong, and you will think you have it all figured out. You won't get the total picture until... oh just read it and see for yourself.
Great characters, sweet romance, family, and complex plot shenanigans add up to a fun romantic read. First in a series so the fun continues.

[Sandra Hartzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had an audio copy of this book. When Elle Albright returns to her hometown of Moonlight Lake, she feels like a failure due to the circumstances surrounding losing her job with a major design house, but she decides to open a boutique, and begins dating her lost love, Rowan. Disaster follows her, and things don’t go well with the boutique as someone is sabotaging her. An engaging story about working through adversity, staying true to self and love.

[Jacqueline Johnston Cotton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully sweet, small-town, second chance romance. The story was entertaining with light hearted humor, love and a touch of mystery. I loved that the characters were real and relatable, who were so compassionate and supportive of each other. I was glued to the story until the end. I highly recommend this book!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rowan and Elle’s love story was definitely dramatic with unexpected twists and turns. Their devotion to each other and their ups and downs made this second chance romance more satisfying when they finally got their happy ending! I appreciated Elle’s career and I liked the small town setting, as well as Elle’s best friend Gina. Thanks to the author for my ARC; all opinions are mine.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun rollercoaster ride of a love story or Rowen and Elle. This was a run read at a good pace and plenty of intrigue and chuckles throughout this story. Tillie, a shop owner in town and a sweet grandma figure added a lot to this story as well.

I received an early, free copy, ARC, for my honest and voluntary review.

[Bonny Rambarran · Rating 5 out of 5]

He hears a conversation about him needing a date!
WHAT? Sure he would love to get married, and have an amazing life partner!!! And then he hears that he has to get married or he loses the farm!!! HELP!!! Superb book!!!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own.

[Lillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Kristeen Groth for allowing me to read a copy of this book. I really enjoyed it, and I prefer the second book personally. However, I think this was a good introduction to the world. And honestly, Becky's personality was kinda bland to me. I loved Rowan and Elle's story though, and I'm a sucker for second chance romances. I cannot wait to read more from Groth in the future.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not the first book I have read by Kristeen Groth. This one is a sweet second chance romance with a beautifully written story. I really liked Rowan and Elle as characters because they are both well written and easy to understand. I also quite liked their chemistry together.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jeanne Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read written by Kristeen Groth; I can’t wait to read more of her books.

This is the first book in the Moonlit Lake Matchmaker Series; it is a stand-alone book. The story is about Elle & Rowan; fourteen years ago she left town and left him behind. Now she’s back and wants another chance problem is he just got engaged.

[Miranda Summerset · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5 STARS! This is a 2nd chance romance/ matchmaking/city girl +small town farm boy romance. Very lightweight and easy to read. Audiobook was easy to listen to & well narrated. But, I was pretty bored with the characters & thought the whole crazy ex thing wasn’t really necessary. Okay book, just didn’t love it.

[Dee/ bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hinted was a different book. Someone you least expect is the 'bad guy' and the ending was a surprise. So, if you are in the mood for a detour from a normal HEA, try this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.