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Lake House Love #2
Smooth Sailing
When work becomes foreplay, everyone gets dirty.
Interior designer Paloma Wagner has one focus: rebuilding her life and business from the ground up. She has no room for distractions—especially not landscape architect Max London, whose killer smile and meticulous eye for detail make him both the perfect business partner and the most dangerous kind of temptation.
One reckless afternoon in a client's home ignites something neither of them can control. Despite her iron-clad rules about mixing business with pleasure, Max proves masterfully skilled at dismantling her defenses. But in an industry where reputations are everything, their forbidden rendezvous could cost Paloma everything she's worked to rebuild.
Max knows he's falling hard for the ambitious designer who matches his passion project for project. But his impulsive nature has cost him before, and he's terrified of destroying his rare shot at something real.
A steamy workplace romance about breaking all the right rules.
Interior designer Paloma Wagner has one focus: rebuilding her life and business from the ground up. She has no room for distractions—especially not landscape architect Max London, whose killer smile and meticulous eye for detail make him both the perfect business partner and the most dangerous kind of temptation.
One reckless afternoon in a client's home ignites something neither of them can control. Despite her iron-clad rules about mixing business with pleasure, Max proves masterfully skilled at dismantling her defenses. But in an industry where reputations are everything, their forbidden rendezvous could cost Paloma everything she's worked to rebuild.
Max knows he's falling hard for the ambitious designer who matches his passion project for project. But his impulsive nature has cost him before, and he's terrified of destroying his rare shot at something real.
A steamy workplace romance about breaking all the right rules.
- GenresRomance
313 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 28, 2025
22 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
About the author
D.K. Marie
17 books163 followersDK Marie’s a voracious reader. Her number one love is romance and devours any and all of its genres, but also enjoys thrillers, horror, and non-fiction. Basically, if there are words on a page and a spectacular story, she’s diving in, heart and soul.
However, there’s one thing she loves even more, and that’s writing her own steamy contemporary romances. They’re a mixture of heart, heat, and humor. Brimming with confident heroines and kind heroes, all living, loving, and lusting in and around her hometown of Detroit, Michigan.
When not falling in love with her characters, DK Marie is laughing, relaxing, and planning her next adventure with her family. Okay, and also drinking boatloads of coffee, chatting on social media, and dreaming about her next travel destination.
However, there’s one thing she loves even more, and that’s writing her own steamy contemporary romances. They’re a mixture of heart, heat, and humor. Brimming with confident heroines and kind heroes, all living, loving, and lusting in and around her hometown of Detroit, Michigan.
When not falling in love with her characters, DK Marie is laughing, relaxing, and planning her next adventure with her family. Okay, and also drinking boatloads of coffee, chatting on social media, and dreaming about her next travel destination.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 2, 2025
In Smooth Sailing, DK Marie crafts a captivating romance between two driven professionals whose chemistry is undeniable yet dangerously complicated. The story centers on Paloma Wagner, an ambitious interior designer who has rebuilt her career after setbacks, and Max London, a talented landscape architect with a carefree attitude and a knack for disarming her resolve.
DK Marie excels at building the slow-burn romance between Paloma and Max, allowing readers to feel the tension and emotional stakes as the characters navigate their professional and personal boundaries. The chemistry between them is electric, yet their reluctance to give in makes their connection all the more enticing.
DK Marie excels at building the slow-burn romance between Paloma and Max, allowing readers to feel the tension and emotional stakes as the characters navigate their professional and personal boundaries. The chemistry between them is electric, yet their reluctance to give in makes their connection all the more enticing.
February 7, 2025
I am so happy I was chosen to read this sweet romance before it hits the shelves.
Paloma and Max are the 2 main characters.
Paloma is an interior designer, she was engaged but her fiancé, turns out he was taking her for all her money. He so kindly agreed to help her with her business finances.
She had an “arrangement” with a guy named Asher, no strings attached but she was hoping for more…that didn’t work in her favor either.
She goes to a bar one night, sees Asher with his neighbor, who he said was just that, his neighbour but he lied.
She’s sees Max sitting at the bar, has intentions of going home with him but he turns her down.
Max is a landscaper. Paloma gets a big job for a couple who wants an indoor garden as well, so she approaches Max, they start working together.
They agree to keep things professional, eventhough there is an attraction between them…but can they do that?….
Paloma and Max are the 2 main characters.
Paloma is an interior designer, she was engaged but her fiancé, turns out he was taking her for all her money. He so kindly agreed to help her with her business finances.
She had an “arrangement” with a guy named Asher, no strings attached but she was hoping for more…that didn’t work in her favor either.
She goes to a bar one night, sees Asher with his neighbor, who he said was just that, his neighbour but he lied.
She’s sees Max sitting at the bar, has intentions of going home with him but he turns her down.
Max is a landscaper. Paloma gets a big job for a couple who wants an indoor garden as well, so she approaches Max, they start working together.
They agree to keep things professional, eventhough there is an attraction between them…but can they do that?….
September 19, 2025
3⭐️ 2🌶️ It took me soooo long to get through this book and it was less than 300 pages🤦🏼♀️ the storyline was good at the start but then it just dragged on and on and on (and on…) with no really story to it. The ending was okay, but rushed. Not the best book ever but it was alright.
February 28, 2025
I really enjoyed reading this book, not only was it the first DK Marie book I’ve read I thoroughly enjoyed it also.
Paloma is starting off building herself back up from the bottom after a terrible partner left her high and dry and no thoughts for her at all. As life starts turning around for her things start to make a change for the better…
Max came into Paloma’s life not on the best of started either, both of them needing to find what’s missing from their life to make them happier.
Both Max & Paloma had good character development in their story & I would definitely read more by this author :)
Paloma is starting off building herself back up from the bottom after a terrible partner left her high and dry and no thoughts for her at all. As life starts turning around for her things start to make a change for the better…
Max came into Paloma’s life not on the best of started either, both of them needing to find what’s missing from their life to make them happier.
Both Max & Paloma had good character development in their story & I would definitely read more by this author :)
March 14, 2025
This story is truly heartwarming and beautifully crafted! I was completely captivated by Paloma and Max! From the very start, they both have such compelling and vulnerable stories, and it was incredible to witness their healing and growth throughout the book. Max is the ultimate swoon-worthy hero—truly the perfect book boyfriend 😍—and Paloma is such a badass! I absolutely adore her as the strong, empowering female lead. What I loved most was how neither of them tried to change who they were, but instead learned to embrace and love what they once thought were flaws, ultimately discovering the beauty in themselves.
January 31, 2025
Wow- I absolutely fell in love with Paloma and Max! These two were so utterly broken at the beginning. I love the healing journey and growth they both did! Max was so swoony- talk about a perfect book boyfriend 😍 and Paloma is so BA!! I love the strong female lead. I love that they both never changed, they just learned to accept and love what they thought were their flaws and found the beauty in them. Such a beautiful story!
February 22, 2025
"What had started with a proposition at a bar had, like their best designs, grow into something far more beautiful than either could have created alone."
This was an amazing book. I love how the characters worked together but realized there was more than just business partners. Such a cute story.
This was an amazing book. I love how the characters worked together but realized there was more than just business partners. Such a cute story.
February 14, 2025
3 stars-this book is enjoyable
Max and Paloma are hard working adults passionate about their careers. Max, a respected landscape architect and Paloma an interior designer. She is regaining her confidence after her lousy ex-fiancé made some financial decisions that impacted both her confidence and company. I enjoyed the characters' professions and how working together they came up with these creative projects. It would be neat to be able to see the pictures of their completed projects.
Max and Paloma are great work collaborators but as a couple they struggle to communicate. In terms of troupes, miscommunication/no communication is not a personal favorite. This is not a duel pov, the chapters are from both characters but the writing style seemed more duel POV than 3rd person. At times it was a bit confusing to follow the POV. The writing style was the biggest impact for me, the characters and story were enjoyable but the writing style was distracting at times.
Max and Paloma are hard working adults passionate about their careers. Max, a respected landscape architect and Paloma an interior designer. She is regaining her confidence after her lousy ex-fiancé made some financial decisions that impacted both her confidence and company. I enjoyed the characters' professions and how working together they came up with these creative projects. It would be neat to be able to see the pictures of their completed projects.
Max and Paloma are great work collaborators but as a couple they struggle to communicate. In terms of troupes, miscommunication/no communication is not a personal favorite. This is not a duel pov, the chapters are from both characters but the writing style seemed more duel POV than 3rd person. At times it was a bit confusing to follow the POV. The writing style was the biggest impact for me, the characters and story were enjoyable but the writing style was distracting at times.
March 5, 2025
In Smooth Sailing, DK Marie crafts a captivating romance between two driven professionals whose chemistry is undeniable yet dangerously complicated. The story centers on Paloma Wagner, an ambitious interior designer who has rebuilt her career after setbacks, and Max London, a talented landscape architect with a carefree attitude and a knack for disarming her resolve.
DK Marie excels at building the slow-burn romance between Paloma and Max, allowing readers to feel the tension and emotional stakes as the characters navigate their professional and personal boundaries. The chemistry between them is electric, yet their reluctance to give in makes their connection all the more enticing. ~Stephanie
Paloma and Max make a cute couple. I enjoyed how they kept blurring the lines between professional to personal. This story has so many fun moments that will make you chuckle, some steam and many swoony slow burn moments. I really enjoyed this read. ~Cindy
DK Marie excels at building the slow-burn romance between Paloma and Max, allowing readers to feel the tension and emotional stakes as the characters navigate their professional and personal boundaries. The chemistry between them is electric, yet their reluctance to give in makes their connection all the more enticing. ~Stephanie
Paloma and Max make a cute couple. I enjoyed how they kept blurring the lines between professional to personal. This story has so many fun moments that will make you chuckle, some steam and many swoony slow burn moments. I really enjoyed this read. ~Cindy
February 28, 2025
I am so grateful to have been chosen as an ARC reader for this book but, unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me.
I didn't find the story particularly engaging. Max (the MMC) has little personality beyond work, his bisexual brother seems to be mentioned solely to be able to say there's LGBTQIA+ representation in the book, and Paloma (the FMC) was insufferable to me. A fully adult woman who prides herself on being petty just really isn't a character I can get behind. There is definitely an audience who will love this type of character and be rooting for her, but I'm not it.
There were also a lot of typos, continuity errors, and instances where the author misused words which made this difficult for me to get through but I'm hoping, since this was an ARC, that these were remedied before final publication and I did not consider these issues when determining my star rating.
I didn't find the story particularly engaging. Max (the MMC) has little personality beyond work, his bisexual brother seems to be mentioned solely to be able to say there's LGBTQIA+ representation in the book, and Paloma (the FMC) was insufferable to me. A fully adult woman who prides herself on being petty just really isn't a character I can get behind. There is definitely an audience who will love this type of character and be rooting for her, but I'm not it.
There were also a lot of typos, continuity errors, and instances where the author misused words which made this difficult for me to get through but I'm hoping, since this was an ARC, that these were remedied before final publication and I did not consider these issues when determining my star rating.
March 3, 2025
The first thing to know is that this book is quasi dual POV, but is in 3rd person with no true delineation as to who you're reading in a chapter. You will have both within a chapter and sometimes struggle to remember who it is.
That being said, Max and Paloma's story is mostly enjoyable. She has a lot of trust issues and he is trying to outrun his past impulsiveness. They definitely needed to learn to actually talk and not skirt around topics.
Their chemistry didn't feel too forced and I enjoyed the quirky moments of "will they won't they".
I've rated a 3⭐ as it was middle of the road and there's nothing wrong with that.
That being said, Max and Paloma's story is mostly enjoyable. She has a lot of trust issues and he is trying to outrun his past impulsiveness. They definitely needed to learn to actually talk and not skirt around topics.
Their chemistry didn't feel too forced and I enjoyed the quirky moments of "will they won't they".
I've rated a 3⭐ as it was middle of the road and there's nothing wrong with that.
July 11, 2025
2.75⭐️
Honestly the idea was completely there, and I liked the idea of it. But I just don’t think this was for me and that’s okay. I just personally didn’t connect with the characters as much as I’d hoped.
The plot seems choppy like it didn’t flow together well, there were some moments where I was confused on how they went from one place to another and then back to a place in a sense. And there were a lot of typos that I noticed that I just had to really ignore. Overall I liked the concept and there were parts of the story that I enjoyed, and I loved that it’s a Michigan based novel🫶🏼 I will always love reading those
Honestly the idea was completely there, and I liked the idea of it. But I just don’t think this was for me and that’s okay. I just personally didn’t connect with the characters as much as I’d hoped.
The plot seems choppy like it didn’t flow together well, there were some moments where I was confused on how they went from one place to another and then back to a place in a sense. And there were a lot of typos that I noticed that I just had to really ignore. Overall I liked the concept and there were parts of the story that I enjoyed, and I loved that it’s a Michigan based novel🫶🏼 I will always love reading those
December 19, 2025
Smooth Sailing is a tantalizing blend of small town charm, slow burn romance, and workplace tension that keeps readers hooked from page one. Paloma Wagner’s journey of rebuilding her life and business is compelling, and Max London’s mix of charm, skill, and vulnerability adds layers to their irresistible chemistry. The way DK Marie explores boundaries between business and desire feels authentic and electric, and the stakes both professional and personal make every interaction crackle with anticipation. Fans of steamy, character driven romances with relatable conflicts and satisfying slow-burn progression will find themselves completely immersed in this Lake House Love installment.
March 1, 2025
This was a charged romance between Max, a landscaper and Paloma, an interior designer. They have a strong attraction but as they have a big job to do together, they need to not mix business and pleasure... But Max can't resist and tries to break Paloma down.
I did like the boundaries Paloma put on herself because of a prior relationship in a business that went south. I wish Max, even with all the chemistry they had, didn't put her in a position where she could have lost it all.
But it was an easy and fast read
I did like the boundaries Paloma put on herself because of a prior relationship in a business that went south. I wish Max, even with all the chemistry they had, didn't put her in a position where she could have lost it all.
But it was an easy and fast read
March 19, 2025
“He didn’t think there was any ‘getting Paloma out of his system.’ He’d only grow more addicted to her.”
I love Paloma and Max’s connection. The physical attraction was there from the beginning and to find out that their respective careers blend well together as well? So meant to be! But with their history, they’re both apprehensive especially since mixing business with pleasure usually does not end well.
They tried to stay professional but the pull is just too strong! It made for a delicious slow burn that’s oh so worth the wait!
A slow burn, small town, workplace romance with swoon and spice.
I love Paloma and Max’s connection. The physical attraction was there from the beginning and to find out that their respective careers blend well together as well? So meant to be! But with their history, they’re both apprehensive especially since mixing business with pleasure usually does not end well.
They tried to stay professional but the pull is just too strong! It made for a delicious slow burn that’s oh so worth the wait!
A slow burn, small town, workplace romance with swoon and spice.
January 15, 2025
I enjoyed the main characters, Max and Paloma! I appreciated their vulnerability and honesty, even when showcasing their insecurities. You'll absolutely laugh and swoon at their interactions.
"She’d believed she was too much—too intense, demanding, and hungry for life and love. But Max didn’t just handle her fire; he matched it, stoked it, and made it burn brighter. She wasn’t too much at all. She was exactly enough, exactly right, for the one person who mattered."
"She’d believed she was too much—too intense, demanding, and hungry for life and love. But Max didn’t just handle her fire; he matched it, stoked it, and made it burn brighter. She wasn’t too much at all. She was exactly enough, exactly right, for the one person who mattered."
February 6, 2025
ARC Review. I enjoyed this book. There were some great laugh out loud moments and some really sweet and vulnerable moments. I loved how the characters were so mature in expressing their feelings. Max and Paloma were a unique duo who through their insecurities found themselves and each other. For anyone who thinks they are too much, this book is a great read. Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC.
February 17, 2025
Max and Paloma are so sweet together and the attraction between them is undeniable. I enjoyed their banter and their coded "plant talk". They both had a bit of growing up to do and I was happy to see that they eventually realized that what truly made them happy was each other.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 17, 2025
My very first ARC review! I'm more of a spicy urban romance girlie.... but this was a very cute love story. The tug of war aspect of Max and Paloma's situationship left me wanting more for them. Baggage is something else especially when it follows you or you just can't seem to let go/get past it.... But running hardly ever seems to solve the problem:)
February 6, 2025
This is a super cute, fun small town romance. The characters have great chemistry, and the build of their romance is perfect. Love the HEA ending, and I love how they come together not only in a relationship personally but also professionally.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2025
Paloma and Max make a cute couple. I enjoyed how they kept blurring the lines between professional to personal. This story has so many fun moments that will make you chuckle, some steam and many swoony slow burn moments. I really enjoyed this read.
July 28, 2025
Steamy, smart, and emotionally charged. Paloma and Max’s chemistry leaps off the page, and the tension between career and desire is perfectly crafted. It’s a sexy, high stakes romance with just the right touch of vulnerability. A compelling read I’d want more of.
August 13, 2025
Loved the pacing in this quick, steamy romance… and I’ve never been more interested in plants. Honestly, my favorite part was how free and real Paloma felt. It was simply delightful to spend time with such s strong, cool-as-hell FMC!
September 18, 2025
A sweet and sassy glimpse of love, life and laughter that sticks to the soul. Smooth Sailing has a message, everyone can relate to. From humor to heartache is a wild ride that never gets old. Marie merges the boundaries emotion and attraction to deliver temptation with a capital "T".
July 27, 2025
This one just wasn't for me.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews