Call of the Loon

by K. Sinko

It’s 2020. Tea Richards sold off all of her apartment furniture and watched her master’s graduation on Zoom, with no future job prospects and nowhere to go. Her mother is on the front lines working at hospitals to fight the disease, so going home to New Jersey wouldn’t be safe. Instead, her mother suggests joining her grandparents at their cabin up at Silver Falls in Minnesota for the summer, a place she has avoided since her last visit when she was eighteen. It’s the only choice she has, even if it forces her to finally face her grief. But at least there’s open air, blue skies, golden sunsets, and less people she’ll have to deal with.

Until the boy next door knocks on the screen door.

Archer Vincent has spent every summer at the lake helping his family run Wild Pines Resort, and this year is his first as the resort’s manager. But throw a global pandemic into the mix, and nothing seems to be going to plan. Especially now that Tea Richards is back for the summer, and even though he hasn’t seen her in years, his boyhood crush on her remains. Despite his best made plans to keep everyone at the resort safe, Archer can’t help breaking his own rules over and over again, all so he can get one step closer to the girl that got away.

302 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 5, 2025

About the author

K.Sinko is an indie published author with a deep love for love stories. She is the author of Call Of The Loon, Sunday Supper, Please Be Mine, and the Scoops Series—a trilogy of stand-alone romances featuring the of a fictional ice cream shop. Her debut novel Safe Harbor became an Amazon best seller for young adult contemporary romance and is the winner of two Indieverse Awards. Follow her on Instagram and sign up for her newsletter to get the latest book updates.

Reviews

[K. Sinko · Rating 5 out of 5]

The day is here! ✨ Call Of The Loon is officially available to read via paperback and KU.

This book is special to me for a lot of reasons. Summers by the lake. The gorgeous backdrop of Minnesota. The small sparkles of hope we experienced during one of the most trying times as a society. This story has been living in my head rent free for a LONG time now, and I am beyond excited to share it with all of you.

The book is available on Amazon and Etsy, and it will be available to order through bookstores and libraries within the week. 💛

Enjoy your summer by the lake, and welcome to Silver Falls. ⛵️✨

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐️
This was mehh. Like fine I guess. The covid part was a little throw back but wouldn’t say I enjoyed going back in time to that place. This one had potential with a great second chance romance and a sweet setting at the lake. And maybe I would’ve enjoyed it more if I hadn’t just finished Meet Me at the Lake, because they seemed very similar, this book just came off a little immature, there was an attempt at depth but it fell flat for me.

[Sophie Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished this in one sitting!!! Devoured, left no crumbs!! Left me feeling so happy! This was written by one of my favourite indie authors and I can honestly say I love anything this author writes!

She created this world I fell in love with. The people, the family dynamics, the atmosphere, the romance. This all takes place at a summer cottage resort in the middle of the pandemic and touched on all the feelings I think we all had during that difficult time.

Her ability to make this place feel so real, her characters so loveable really made me love this book so much! Reading this book at my cottage gave me all the feels and it truly made this the perfect summer read!

I swear I could hear the loons calling, smell the fresh coffee brewing in the morning and hear the fire crackling at night. I can’t imagine falling in love during the pandemic was easy but Archer & Teas story made it seem like the most romantic thing in the world! The grief depiction in this book was done so well and made this story feel so realistic. This is a must read this summer!♥️

“He loved her laugh, the way it sweetened any room she was in, like honey in a hot cup of tea.”

[Cait | GoodeyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

SUMMERTIME LOVE.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK

I loved how much this felt like SUMMER. It really made me want to run off and find a lake and sailboat to enjoy a hot day on the water. I love when a book can bring out such beautiful and engaging setting.

Having dual POV is always a bonus for me and I loved getting both Archer and Tea’s thoughts and mannerisms. I liked the instant rekindling of chemistry they had upon seeing each other and that they finally communicated a bit to be able to most forward from the past. I don’t love flashback chapters so it was great not to have those in this second chance romance. I felt like I still got the information I needed and it made the pacing much more smooth.

I just don’t think I was quite ready for a pandemic romance though. I don’t feel far enough removed from those years to be able to read about them. I do think the author wrote those aspects with care and mindfulness so that’s not an issue at all.

I love having heated closed door authors to read and K. Sinko continues to be a favorite. I always look forward to her characters, romance, and storylines.

Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: mild – moderate
- Romance: vague/low explicit fade to black
- Violence: low
- Content Warnings; COVID pandemic, loss of a parent (recounted)

[Anisa Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet Closed door romance about taking chances and navigating love while grieving the loss of a loved one. The story also implemented fun facts about the birds called Loons, which was informative and interesting. Dual POV, some language, friends to lovers, forced proximity. The story takes place durring the pandemic (a covid romance 🤣)

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

I received a review copy. These are my thoughts:

There’s a global pandemic and Tea’s future, much like everyone else’s, is now uncertain. Her internship has been put on hold; her mother works at a hospital so coming home to her is not the best option. The solution: go spend the next three months of summer at her family’s cabin by a lake in Minnesota with her grandparents. A great solution if Tea didn’t have unfinished business with a certain seasonal resident of Silver Falls Lake resort. Once there, both Tea and Archer realise that this summer is either going to see them face their issues and bring them back together or tear them further apart.

I loved the summer vibes. The slow living of the holidays by the lake and the community at Silver Falls Lake.

Tea and Archer had grown up as best friends, spending every summer together but hadn’t seem each other in 8 years and they were not in a good place.

The MCs were very relatable - they both felt the pressure of the situation (COVID) in a way that others around them didn’t seem to. They were also troubled by the uncertainty of what was to come. At first, they tried to avoid what had happened between them in the past and they weren’t the best at communicating. Tea was still grieving a loss and didn’t want to face her fears. But Archer was so in love with her I was glad he didn’t let her go that easily. Their chemistry and connection was incredible. Once they were willing to be “friends” again, they fell right into step with each other. They were an amazing team and frankly, perfect partners.

Shout out to Tea’s mother and Nan for their brutal but honest “pep talks”, which were spot on and exactly what she needed to hear in order to finally make a decision that lead her towards happiness.

I very much liked that this book made me reflect about my own life and choices.

Call of the Loon will make a great summer read!

[Spice: closed door/fade-to-black].

[Kayla Kummerow Hilliker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you K. Sinko for making me a part of your ARC team! This was absolutely another hit in your adult romances!

There were so many things about this book that I absolutely loved: the setting of a summer on the lake, second chance romance, emotional storylines. It had everything I want in a summer romance.

I found the two main characters to be compelling. I thought that they both had a lot of depth to them and also had a lot of chemistry. I was disappointed that this was more closed door, but I do think it worked especially with flashbacks to when they were teenagers.

I did actually enjoy the COVID setting oddly enough. It really made the stakes higher and also emphasized the found family and sense of home and community for the main characters.

Overall, I really had a great time with this one. I did read it over a longer period of time which I think impacted my investment a bit. But it is such a cute, sweet, emotional summer romance and I think anyone would enjoy!

[susu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was beautiful. The DEFINITION of a summer read.

I can’t wait for more people to read this. K.sinko always delivers with her romances, and this is DID NOT DISAPPOINT 👏👏

I wish I was there with Tea and Archer, in one of the lake cabins. Not only so I can watch them fall in love with each other again, but also so I can spy on the interesting neighbors of this community. This has found family, second chance, it’s always been you, and so much more.

K.sinko’s books just have this FEEL to them. Beautiful love, cozy community, but she will not hold back from giving you a punch in the gut. Tea grapples with the grief of losing her father, and Archer fears rejection from multiple places.

But when they’re together, their hearts feel less heavy. That’s the beauty of love isn’t? Being able to share the heavy load with someone you trust.

[Lark _thebookchamber · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I’m not living like that anymore, Tea. I want you. All of you. And I know that you want the same.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because even when mates leave their nest, they always return to each other. They always come back home. You told me you wanted a place to call yours. Let me be that for you, Sweet Tea. I’ll take care of you. I’ll create that space for you. I’ll be your home.”

Reading about the pandemic brought back a lot of different emotions, however I think she handled the delicate subject of COVID well in Tea and Archer’s story. This summer romance made me feel a lot of things- from grief and sadness to love and coziness. I remember reading Sunday Supper and thinking “this writing seriously feels like a much needed hug” and it just remains true with this story as well.

I loved seeing Tea and Archer’s rekindle their relationship. I loved the community and side characters. And I absolutely loved the Loon facts and how they related to what Tea was experiencing in that moment. Overall, a beautiful second chance romance that is a must read this summer! 💖

[Jamie (jamie.bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved every book I’ve read by K Sinko and I’m happy to add her newest release to the list.

This is the perfect summer read!

Set in a cottage resort during the peak of the pandemic (don’t let that scare you away), it brought a uniqueness to the usual summer romance.

I can picture the setting so clearly, hear the loons, smell the crisp nature air. I loved the little tidbits about loons throughout the book - the sound of a loon equals summer to me.

This is a second chance love story, featuring childhood friends and topped off with grief and exploring a world no one ever imagined. Tea and Archer and their families were such a joy to spend time with.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge K. Sinko fan, I was literally counting down to the release of Call of the Loon. I was beyond ecstatic when I was chosen to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I just love her writing and was so excited to kick off June reading about life on a Lake resort. Being a nature lover, the setting immediately appealed to me, and that’s just the beginning of all the things that make this book so great!

Archer Vincent has been watching his family run Wild Pines Resort for many years. So many summers were spent making memories with them, along with his friends, and most of all, Tea Richards, his longtime crush. At the start of the pandemic, Archer finds his job closing down and decides to spend the summer as the Resort Manager, so that his Dad can finally retire. After a fallout many years ago, and 8 years apart, he’s totally not expecting Tea to return for a summer with her grandparents. An already chaotic start to the season is about to get even crazier.

I’m not going to lie, reading about Covid challenges was a little stressful at times. I had a bad experience and found it a little triggering, but I knew the premise going in and no way was I missing out on this book because of when it took place. Honestly, reading about it now and remembering what things were like is surreal. Those were wild times! But it was a great setting for Archer & Tea’s reunion.

I absolutely loved their relationship and how they reignited both their friendship and love for one another. I’m a sucker for a friends to lovers trope, and an even bigger sucker for Second Chances, and this was both! It had so many cute & swoony moments, but also some sadness & reflection, as well as funny moments that made me chuckle. The evolution of their newly rekindled friendship was so lovely to read. And life on the resort was just the escape I needed right now. I also loved the facts about Loons sprinkled throughout the book. I didn’t know much about them, but I can tell K. Sinko must have had to do a fair amount of research to include this!

If you love a good romance with all the warm & fuzzies (and the perfect amount of 🌶️), I highly recommend you read Call of the Loon. And if this is your first K. Sinko book, you need to read them all! ⛵️

[Alyssa Zearbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

“And Tea admitted the truth: Being just friends with Archer Vincent would never be enough.”

Thank you @authorksinko for this opportunity (with some outsider too😉) for getting this ARC in exchange for an honest review! Call of the Loon is out this Thursday (6/5)!!

Can I have my own Archer Vincent??? Please. THIS is how you do a second chance summer romance, people!! Tea and Archer’s love story is sweeter than maple syrup.

This being set in peak 2020 pandemic took me back to my least favorite time of my life. However, I found it incredibly unique how it was used to bring this resort’s community together and the lovebirds back in love. K. Sinko turned an uncertain era into something filled with hope and love. A detail I absolutely loved: all of the loon facts! How cool was it that she had the facts reflect Tea’s feelings/revelations!?

I’ve said it many times before, and I will say it again: K. Sinko writes friendships and side characters WONDERFULLY. I feel like I am a part of their community and truly caring for all of these fictional people.

As Tea continues to grieve her dad and the crazy state the pandemic has left them in, I felt all of her doubts and desires for stability and security. I lover her mind and care for others, even when she was unsure of where to go/where she will end up. And then there’s Archer! So sweet, caring, overworked, and a tad bit anxious. I related to both of them a lot, and their quips back and forth made me giggle. I think they are so perfect for each other, it HURT when they questioned where they stood with each other.

If you love a good boy-next-door, second chance, summer at the lake romance, this is for you!!

[Cami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two things first: 1) thank you K Sinko for the ARC read. 2) K Sinko is one of my favorite authors and this book is no exception.

I’ll be honest, I trust K Sinko so much I barely read the blurb and forgot it was set during COVID in 2020. This threw me off and first and I was a bit nervous to read about something that happened so recent in collective memory. But she handled this topic with so much care. I felt like I was back in the early pandemic times, but it didn’t feel uncomfortable. This brought some closure to all of those experiences, in my opinion.

She also navigated Tea’s grief so well. It’s a hard topic to get right, and as someone who emotes similarity to Tea, it was nice to read about how grief and impact someone’s life years later.

Now, getting into the juicy parts. Tea and Archer - my oh my I felt the chemistry leap off the page. I wanted to know what happened to them so badly, and that little mystery kept me hooked! I loved watching their relationship change throughout the story, and really loved how they had to relearn each other. It was a really beautiful love story.

I also adored the found family characters, the blurbs about loons (I had to google what a loon was tbh), the midwest summer setting - all of it was so well done.

This book got me out of a month long reading slump and it’s the perfect addition to your summer TBR!

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 | As a big K. Sinko fan and a Minnesotan I was SO READY for Call of the Loon and it delivered in the sweetest most heartfelt way. Thank you for letting me be an ARC reader! 🫶🏼

Call of the Loon is a second chance, friends to lovers romance set on a sweet little lake resort in Northern Minnesota. It’s the epitome of a summer romance! Archer was just an anxious and caring softie with his tattoos and love for crafting cocktails. We ♡ archer!!!

I will admit, I was nervous about a book set in the pandemic times. I wasn’t sure I really wanted to relieve it in my romance reads but in @authorksinko we trust! ✨ I’m so pleased to say this ended up being an absolutely beautiful depiction of that time in our lives. By the end I felt like the setting couldn’t have been any more perfect for Archer and Tea’s love story.

K. Sinko’s books are never fluffy romcoms, they weave in emotional topics such as the grief Tea is dealing with and the rejection archer feels. It’s never trauma for the sake of trauma and always adds to the depth of the characters.

I truly adore the community of side characters in this one! They were so lovable without being too meddling and they added so much to the story.

K. Sinko’s books haven’t disappointed me yet and I always look forward to reading them!!

[Alexis Wierenga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book! Once again, K. Sinko creates a world that I wish I was in, with 2 compelling leads in Archer and Tea who are easy to root for, with interesting supporting characters and family that make it feel grounded and real. And I learned a lot about loons! There are so many delightful summer at the lake scenes with the perfect balance of romance and humor- and the dual POV worked well to capture the longing and real emotional stakes between Tea and Archer! Read it by the lake with a glass of wine (or be mentally transported to this state while reading on your couch).

Huge thank you to K. Sinko for the opportunity to read an advance copy!

[Jillian Fairfax · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this was such a sweet second chance romance that takes place in the summer on the lake! 🥰

If you loved going to summer camp when you were younger, you’ll love the vibe of this book!

I absolutely swooned over Archer, the MMC! He was a perfect package of emotions, humor, and tattoos! 😉

I also loved Tea’s character, our FMC. She was facing some internal struggles throughout the book, but to see her character progression from beginning to end truly made this book fantastic! I loved every second of it!

If you need a good summer read, this is the book for you!!! ❤️

[Trish • Wewineaboutbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
I loved this! 🥹 A slow burn, second chance romance with emotional depth and tension due to forced proximity and years apart. The lakeside setting provided a serene backdrop that enhanced the romantic atmosphere. My favorite moments were slow mornings sipping coffee, sunsets over the lake, stolen glances over wine and boating on the water. The story took place during the summer of 2020, an uncertain period marked by global events that influenced the characters’ journeys. Tea and Archer were both relatable and likable and I loved watching them reconnect over memories from the past.
The facts about loons was a fun addition and I appreciated the connection to their love story. A perfect summer read!

[MyBookNest7 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Archer and his Sweet Tea’s story pulled me in from the very beginning and got me hoping for neither of them to be silly enough to lose each other again. Yeah, I yelled at them to see what is in front of them as well, but it just never works. What does work, instead, is the desperate and eager turning of pages to the end to ensure that all is well with the silly kids. As it always is!

Apart from their romance, I absolutely adored the resort their story is set at and all the characters we were introduced to as well. I definitely wouldn’t complain if we got more stories about them too.

[Mélissa Levert · Rating 5 out of 5]

un genre de 4.8 étoiles ⭐️!!!!
j’ai beaucoup aimé cette romance et je me suis attachée aux personnages principaux (tea & archer). j’aime leur amour!! mais le fait que cela se déroulait durant la pandémie de la covid-19 m’a un mini peu fait décrocher, car je n’ai pas trop envie de me rappeler de cette époque hihi.
somme toute, une magnifique histoire, un page turner.
j’ai beaucoup aimé la petite touche avant les chapitres de Tea, lorsqu’un « fun fact » sur les loon était évoqué pour mettre la table sur ce qui allait être traité dans le chapitre suivant!
👩🏻‍🦰👱🏼‍♂️⛵️🦆🌲🪵🌳🌞🍵💻🗄️📇📖🧡

[Lindsay Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was incredible. I was literally hooked from the first page. The summer lake vibes. The loons. The love between Archer and Tea. It was all just so GOOD. The writing just flowed so well and I was surprised that even though it was dual POV third person, I still felt really connected to both the characters. I was so proud of Tea for all that she overcame. This was a story that made you laugh and cry and remember what’s important.

[Strawberry Milkshake · Rating 5 out of 5]

K. Sinko has done it again!!! 💌 I absolutely adored spending the summer by the lake with Tea and Archer. Getting to watch their love story unfold was pure magic and perfect for anyone looking for a cute summer read! 🌞 This book is so much more than just a romance; it's a story about healing and finding your way back to yourself. P.S I want my own Archer!!

Huge thanks to K for sending me an ARC ✨

[Kelsey Low · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this author so much. This one is perfect for summer. Lake vibes, second-chance love & quintessential self love & growth wrapped together to create a fun, beautiful read. I was a little nervous about it being set during COVID, but I feel like she did a great job showing the scary reality we all felt but mixed with the hope & “normalcy” that we have come to know. I cannot recommend this author enough!

[theravingbooknerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Archer and Tea are some of my favorite K. Sinko characters so far!!

The grief, trauma, second chances in this book were all too real. Written to take place during COVID, Tea goes back to the lake where her world was ultimately shattered and has a very interesting summer. (*wink wink*)

I absolutely adore this book!

[Emily Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MUST for your Summer TBR ✨

This book transported me lakeside in the Summer and I was immediately drawn into the characters as they navigated the difficulties of the pandemic and everything that comes with it.

This story is full of so much nostalgia and heart and feet-kicking slow burn romance goodness. I was thoroughly charmed by it!

[Krystal Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy summer read! I instantly loved the dynamics between Tea and Archer. I loved the small town community feel and the lake! The characters felt real and are going through real life challenges. Well done!

[booksbymonth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a unique premise for a story. It Takes place during the COVID 19 pandemic. Brought back many memories for myself and I think it will for many people. I liked the lake setting but it was a little hard to read with the pandemic. I think it was still a little too fresh.

[Randi (readsrandiread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book (and I promise that’s really saying something for me). I didn’t want to stop being pulled into the chemistry and tension between Tea and Archer. It was palpable and so satisfying!⁣
⁣
Read if you enjoy:⁣
Second chance romance⁣
Some depth and pain to your romances⁣
Waterskiing and summer fun⁣
Casts of characters that make you laugh and shake your head⁣
Tension, and anticipation, and swooning, and chemistry!!!⁣

[Samantha Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, we love a good tatted man 😌

This was a sweet, summer read that takes place during the summer of 2020. The addition of covid added a new & real layer to your typical summer at the lake read.

This was overall a cute summer read, but I just felt like there was something missing to really pull it all together.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very sweet love story. The pace of the ending seemed a little quick for me, but also on brand for the characters. I loved the Epilogue.

The setting is truly what makes this book such a great summer read. I say that as a midwesterner gal. ❤️

[Abs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I have my own Archer Vincent please???