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Lakeside Cottage #1
Living at 40
Is it an accidental pregnancy, if it’s purposefully planned?
Autumn Kulis wants a baby. It’s that simple and that complicated, because one thing stands in her way - she doesn’t have a man in her life. And at almost forty, she isn’t getting any younger. On a two-week trip to her brother’s lakeside cottage, a plan forms. Make a list of three men. Sleep with each of them. Allow nature to take its course. Only, a certain someone gets in her way.
Logan Anders goes with the flow of life. Divorced, single dad, he works hard, and occasionally plays harder. When his college roommate invites him to Lakeside Cottage for two weeks, he hadn’t remembered his best friend’s little sister being so hot. Nor was he a fan of her plan to find a baby daddy. He’s determined to make her list, then tear it to shreds leaving him the only man horizontal with her.
A crush revealed exposes the desire for her brother’s best friend and a simple proposition could be the second chance they both need to really live.
+ + +
It’s The Big Chill of 2021, including a reunion of friends gone awry when someone wants to get pregnant and someone else wants to be the one to give her everything.
Welcome to Lakeside Cottage, a new adventure in over 40 romance and second chances at love by L.B. Dunbar.
Autumn Kulis wants a baby. It’s that simple and that complicated, because one thing stands in her way - she doesn’t have a man in her life. And at almost forty, she isn’t getting any younger. On a two-week trip to her brother’s lakeside cottage, a plan forms. Make a list of three men. Sleep with each of them. Allow nature to take its course. Only, a certain someone gets in her way.
Logan Anders goes with the flow of life. Divorced, single dad, he works hard, and occasionally plays harder. When his college roommate invites him to Lakeside Cottage for two weeks, he hadn’t remembered his best friend’s little sister being so hot. Nor was he a fan of her plan to find a baby daddy. He’s determined to make her list, then tear it to shreds leaving him the only man horizontal with her.
A crush revealed exposes the desire for her brother’s best friend and a simple proposition could be the second chance they both need to really live.
+ + +
It’s The Big Chill of 2021, including a reunion of friends gone awry when someone wants to get pregnant and someone else wants to be the one to give her everything.
Welcome to Lakeside Cottage, a new adventure in over 40 romance and second chances at love by L.B. Dunbar.
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 3, 2021
574 people are currently reading
1236 people want to read
About the author
L.B. Dunbar
97 books3,273 followersL.B. Dunbar loves sexy silver foxes, second chances, and small towns. If you enjoy older characters in your romance reads, including a hero with a little silver in his scruff and a heroine rediscovering her worth, then welcome to romance for those over 40. L.B. Dunbar’s signature works include women and men in their prime taking another turn at love and happily ever after. She’s a USA TODAY Bestseller as well as #1 Bestseller on Amazon in Later in Life Romance with her Sterling Falls, Lakeside Cottage, and Road Trips & Romance series. L.B. lives in Chicago with her own sexy silver fox.
To get all the scoop about the self-proclaimed queen of silver fox romance, join her on Facebook at Loving L.B. or receive her weekly newsletter, Love Notes.
To get all the scoop about the self-proclaimed queen of silver fox romance, join her on Facebook at Loving L.B. or receive her weekly newsletter, Love Notes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 337 reviews
January 26, 2023
4.5 More Real Than Not Stars
* * * * 1/2 Spoiler Free
There is this saying, "we must taste the bitter to appreciate the sweet". I only know that life gives us experiences and we grow from all of them, hopefully. I think one of L.B. Dunbar's expertise is taking on these types of journeys and showing us the way to grow and understand. And it is in this understanding that things evolve from our younger years, that makes us who we are today, that is so important.
Living At 40 is just that. We have lived through the horrible teen years, dealt with the '20s, and made inroads in our '30s. Hopefully, by our '40s we have a better idea of who we are and what we want from our lives. What we are willing to give up for a bigger choice is highlighted throughout this book.
Autumn Kulis has made a life for herself. She has worked hard to birth her cafe and devotes all of her free time to making it the success it is. She has not been successful in the relationship department and has come to the realization, that she may have to achieve her next goal on her own.
Autumn wants to be a mom, she wants to have a baby. It is something she has been thinking about and has checked off many of the needed boxes to believe she could do this on her own. Finances are not an issue. Her business is solid and she has savings set aside to provide. Her last relationship was a bust, so the main quandary is the man. This is as far as she has gotten with this idea and she happens to share her baby wishes with her sister-in-law during a casual conversation at their lakeside cottage.
This two-week vacation was arranged by her older brother Ben. Ben wanted all of his crew together for a blast from the past type of time. Ben and his friends have stayed close since they were kids and when they were kids they would hang out at this cottage for the summers bonding like brothers. That is how strong their bond has been through the years.
They are all in their '40s now, with individual life experiences that have molded them into the people they are. Each of these men when boys would deal with Autumn as Ben's little sister and put up with her tagging along. There was one friend, though, who was nicer, sweeter than the others...Logan Anders.
Logan has had his own challenges over the years. He's a divorced dad with a teenage daughter. He works crazy hours at a company that demands so much. He has had to change his lifestyle and juggle new ways of dealing with things and the outcome has been mentally and physically positive, yet sometimes, he still feels insecure. Getting away from every day for this vacation was special, and making time for friends was important.
This story takes off when Ben's wife lets Autumn's musing about wanting to have a baby slip out around all the guys. Two of them are single and Logan is hit with the desire it should be him who makes this baby. The fact that both of them in the past had feelings for each other kept secret allows this undercurrent to propel an idea of maybe there could be some baby-making happening.
This book takes us on a very grown-up journey. It is so much more than baby-making. It touches on past hurts, and insecurities we develop from our teen years that stay throughout our adulthood, and looks at what is really important when we have to look at serious challenges in the eye.
Do we blink, run and hide, or do we take it all in and go forward with our eyes and hearts wide open. L.B. Dunbar took all of this and gave me a terrific experience, something very human and real. It was fun, sexy, sad, and heartwarming. It took me through character arcs and gave me hints of what is coming next. It never felt heavyhanded although it could have. It also was sexy as hell between Logan and Autumn. Really hot...
What I loved was how every part could stand on its own. It is hard to start a new series. There are so many things that have to happen...create the environment, the characters, the interest in these characters, and have the main storyline for the book besides setting something up. That's a lot to accomplish and Dunbar did it all with a flourish.
I know there are more books coming and I will be wanting them as soon as they are released, you should too.
Living at 40 (Lakeside Cottage #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Learning at 40 (Lakeside Cottage, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Loving at 40 (Lakeside Cottage #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Letting Go At 40 (Lakeside Cottage #4)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
April 29, 2021
It Was Just Supposed To Be A Vacation...
Go To The Brother's Cottage...
See Some Old Friends...
Kick Back And Take A Moment...
But At 40...
Autumn Kulis Had One Serious Goal...
She Wanted To Be A Mommy...
Have The Whole Experience...
Pregnancy, Birth, The Whole Nine Yards...
Except She Was Missing A Vital Part...
She Had No Guy...
And Her Click Was Tick Tick Ticking...
So While She Is At This Magical Lakeside Cottage...
A Plan Of How To Fulfill Her Dream Comes Together...
Decide on Three Men She Knows
None Criminals Or Weirdos...
Do The Deed With Each And Bingo...
One Will Knock Her Up...
Easy Peasy, Lemon Squeezy...
Not If Logan Anders Has His Way...
He Has Lived...
Divorced, Single Dad, Now Working Hard...
He Thinks He Is The Perfect Candidate...
The Trick Is Getting On The List...
Kicking Every One Else Off And Showing...
He's The One Autumn Should Choose...
To Start...
Living at 40 (Lakeside Cottage #1)-June 3, 2021
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * * 1/2 Spoiler Free
There is this saying, "we must taste the bitter to appreciate the sweet". I only know that life gives us experiences and we grow from all of them, hopefully. I think one of L.B. Dunbar's expertise is taking on these types of journeys and showing us the way to grow and understand. And it is in this understanding that things evolve from our younger years, that makes us who we are today, that is so important.
Living At 40 is just that. We have lived through the horrible teen years, dealt with the '20s, and made inroads in our '30s. Hopefully, by our '40s we have a better idea of who we are and what we want from our lives. What we are willing to give up for a bigger choice is highlighted throughout this book.
Autumn Kulis has made a life for herself. She has worked hard to birth her cafe and devotes all of her free time to making it the success it is. She has not been successful in the relationship department and has come to the realization, that she may have to achieve her next goal on her own.
Autumn wants to be a mom, she wants to have a baby. It is something she has been thinking about and has checked off many of the needed boxes to believe she could do this on her own. Finances are not an issue. Her business is solid and she has savings set aside to provide. Her last relationship was a bust, so the main quandary is the man. This is as far as she has gotten with this idea and she happens to share her baby wishes with her sister-in-law during a casual conversation at their lakeside cottage.
This two-week vacation was arranged by her older brother Ben. Ben wanted all of his crew together for a blast from the past type of time. Ben and his friends have stayed close since they were kids and when they were kids they would hang out at this cottage for the summers bonding like brothers. That is how strong their bond has been through the years.
They are all in their '40s now, with individual life experiences that have molded them into the people they are. Each of these men when boys would deal with Autumn as Ben's little sister and put up with her tagging along. There was one friend, though, who was nicer, sweeter than the others...Logan Anders.
Logan has had his own challenges over the years. He's a divorced dad with a teenage daughter. He works crazy hours at a company that demands so much. He has had to change his lifestyle and juggle new ways of dealing with things and the outcome has been mentally and physically positive, yet sometimes, he still feels insecure. Getting away from every day for this vacation was special, and making time for friends was important.
This story takes off when Ben's wife lets Autumn's musing about wanting to have a baby slip out around all the guys. Two of them are single and Logan is hit with the desire it should be him who makes this baby. The fact that both of them in the past had feelings for each other kept secret allows this undercurrent to propel an idea of maybe there could be some baby-making happening.
This book takes us on a very grown-up journey. It is so much more than baby-making. It touches on past hurts, and insecurities we develop from our teen years that stay throughout our adulthood, and looks at what is really important when we have to look at serious challenges in the eye.
Do we blink, run and hide, or do we take it all in and go forward with our eyes and hearts wide open. L.B. Dunbar took all of this and gave me a terrific experience, something very human and real. It was fun, sexy, sad, and heartwarming. It took me through character arcs and gave me hints of what is coming next. It never felt heavyhanded although it could have. It also was sexy as hell between Logan and Autumn. Really hot...
What I loved was how every part could stand on its own. It is hard to start a new series. There are so many things that have to happen...create the environment, the characters, the interest in these characters, and have the main storyline for the book besides setting something up. That's a lot to accomplish and Dunbar did it all with a flourish.
I know there are more books coming and I will be wanting them as soon as they are released, you should too.
Living at 40 (Lakeside Cottage #1)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Learning at 40 (Lakeside Cottage, #2)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Loving at 40 (Lakeside Cottage #3)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Letting Go At 40 (Lakeside Cottage #4)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
April 29, 2021
It Was Just Supposed To Be A Vacation...
Go To The Brother's Cottage...
See Some Old Friends...
Kick Back And Take A Moment...
But At 40...
Autumn Kulis Had One Serious Goal...
She Wanted To Be A Mommy...
Have The Whole Experience...
Pregnancy, Birth, The Whole Nine Yards...
Except She Was Missing A Vital Part...
She Had No Guy...
And Her Click Was Tick Tick Ticking...
So While She Is At This Magical Lakeside Cottage...
A Plan Of How To Fulfill Her Dream Comes Together...
Decide on Three Men She Knows
None Criminals Or Weirdos...
Do The Deed With Each And Bingo...
One Will Knock Her Up...
Easy Peasy, Lemon Squeezy...
Not If Logan Anders Has His Way...
He Has Lived...
Divorced, Single Dad, Now Working Hard...
He Thinks He Is The Perfect Candidate...
The Trick Is Getting On The List...
Kicking Every One Else Off And Showing...
He's The One Autumn Should Choose...
To Start...
Living at 40 (Lakeside Cottage #1)-June 3, 2021
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
May 27, 2021
It crept on my soul so quietly, I didn't realize at what point I fell in love with this story. Such kind of books are written rare and few in the indie world awash with fluff and rainbows
I'm always excited to start a new Dunbar book, cause I'm promised a sensible, mature love story with real world problems. And she delivers in spades every time!! Her name has come to be a synonymous with over 40 romances but let me assure you, love in her books remains same with intricate emotions and Heartbreaking sentiments all around.
Two things. The Blurb is misleading. By reading it you'd think it was just a midlife struggle of a girl trying to have a baby and a mature man trying to fulfill her wish....
But it's so much MORE than that!!!
This story is about Living Your Life till the last breath you take. Not merely Existing, but LIVING it.
You could be 20, 40 or 60, earning money or struggling to make ends meet...but when LB asks the most important question- Are. You. Happy? It made me re-evaluate my own life.
This book focuses on prioritizing memories and happy moments as the end goal.
"You seed. You plant. You grow. You harvest."
Opening your heart for hurt and laughter, pain and love, family and friends. Making every breath count, turning your fears inside out and taking the plunge. Be it in work, relations or love.
"Live. Love. Loss. Learn."
I got to learn so much just by observing these bunch of best friends - Ben, Zack, Mason & Logan.. The Four points Of The Compass .
When they take a two week break at Lakeside Cottage in Michigan with kids and Ben's sister, Autumn Kulis...dormant fires flares up again.
"He wanted these two weeks to hang with his friends. To remind himself that life is short, and we need to be thankful for what we have and who we have in our lives."
Autumn had crushed hard on Logan when they were teens, and had fallen flat on her Ass. That humiliation and dejecting is still lodged like a spear in her heart.
What starts as a funny gag suggestion by Ben's wife Anna.. “I think Autumn should make a list of three men, sleep with each of them, and let nature do its thing.”
Soon turns awry with men fighting over her and she in a conundrum whether as to go along or put her foot down, right where her heart resides.
But that's just a small part of the story. the friendship, the brotherhood and how it is tested to its ultimate limits is the major part of the story.
As I mentioned earlier, the second important thing is the character of Logan Anders. I felt as if his personality hijacked the story as his own. I wanted to see and hear him at every page, every sentence, every thought, every word. One of the most endearing character LB has ever created. He has physical limitations as well as emotional. Nothing is rushed in his world, he takes time to ponder over every consequence, explore every possibility and weigh in his capabilities and only then does he make a call.
His responsibilities added to his solid dependability. A good man and an even better father, I'd go as far as to say, I wanted him to come alive and be in my life!!
Autumn and Logan hesitantly fall in love, so softly and slowly away from prying eyes. Every touch, every stolen kiss, every brush of hands, the way their eyes look for each other, it will undo you. Their struggle to stay out of it but uncontrollably getting entangled in each others lives, will melt your heart and you will end up rooting for them. Like soft waves at the lake shore this story will relentlessly lap at your feet till you wade in and immerse in the deep end.
5 stars for Stupid Jerk boys and beautiful women
Follow me on:
Email🌻 Bookbub 🌻 Twitter🌻 Instagram🌻 Blog🌻 Facebook🌻 Amazon 🌻
I'm always excited to start a new Dunbar book, cause I'm promised a sensible, mature love story with real world problems. And she delivers in spades every time!! Her name has come to be a synonymous with over 40 romances but let me assure you, love in her books remains same with intricate emotions and Heartbreaking sentiments all around.
Two things. The Blurb is misleading. By reading it you'd think it was just a midlife struggle of a girl trying to have a baby and a mature man trying to fulfill her wish....
But it's so much MORE than that!!!
This story is about Living Your Life till the last breath you take. Not merely Existing, but LIVING it.
You could be 20, 40 or 60, earning money or struggling to make ends meet...but when LB asks the most important question- Are. You. Happy? It made me re-evaluate my own life.
This book focuses on prioritizing memories and happy moments as the end goal.
"You seed. You plant. You grow. You harvest."
Opening your heart for hurt and laughter, pain and love, family and friends. Making every breath count, turning your fears inside out and taking the plunge. Be it in work, relations or love.
"Live. Love. Loss. Learn."
I got to learn so much just by observing these bunch of best friends - Ben, Zack, Mason & Logan.. The Four points Of The Compass .
When they take a two week break at Lakeside Cottage in Michigan with kids and Ben's sister, Autumn Kulis...dormant fires flares up again.
"He wanted these two weeks to hang with his friends. To remind himself that life is short, and we need to be thankful for what we have and who we have in our lives."
Autumn had crushed hard on Logan when they were teens, and had fallen flat on her Ass. That humiliation and dejecting is still lodged like a spear in her heart.
What starts as a funny gag suggestion by Ben's wife Anna.. “I think Autumn should make a list of three men, sleep with each of them, and let nature do its thing.”
Soon turns awry with men fighting over her and she in a conundrum whether as to go along or put her foot down, right where her heart resides.
But that's just a small part of the story. the friendship, the brotherhood and how it is tested to its ultimate limits is the major part of the story.
As I mentioned earlier, the second important thing is the character of Logan Anders. I felt as if his personality hijacked the story as his own. I wanted to see and hear him at every page, every sentence, every thought, every word. One of the most endearing character LB has ever created. He has physical limitations as well as emotional. Nothing is rushed in his world, he takes time to ponder over every consequence, explore every possibility and weigh in his capabilities and only then does he make a call.
His responsibilities added to his solid dependability. A good man and an even better father, I'd go as far as to say, I wanted him to come alive and be in my life!!
Autumn and Logan hesitantly fall in love, so softly and slowly away from prying eyes. Every touch, every stolen kiss, every brush of hands, the way their eyes look for each other, it will undo you. Their struggle to stay out of it but uncontrollably getting entangled in each others lives, will melt your heart and you will end up rooting for them. Like soft waves at the lake shore this story will relentlessly lap at your feet till you wade in and immerse in the deep end.
5 stars for Stupid Jerk boys and beautiful women
Follow me on:
Email🌻 Bookbub 🌻 Twitter🌻 Instagram🌻 Blog🌻 Facebook🌻 Amazon 🌻
June 14, 2021
2.5 Stars
I liked the premise of this story and the title led me to believe that there would be a mature cast of characters leading the charge. However, that wasn't the case. Overall, I didn't care for the presentation and those characters hitting mid-life crisis hadn't ever grown up in the first place. There was still far too much of their long-ago college antics at play, along with a nauseating overload of vividly described sexual conquests copy and pasted throughout. For the most part, these were characters who were married or divorced, had children, and careers. And the ones still single left a lot to be desired on the maturity scale. It felt icky and unmeaningful -- especially in light of the situation the two main characters found themselves in.
There were some bright spots and sad, too. I wished things could have ended a little differently but you realize early on that won't be the case, and that was a real loss for this group going forward in my opinion. I'm not sure I'm going to continue on with this series.
January 28, 2023
Ben has invited his three best mates to spend two weeks over summer with him, his wife Anna and their kids. Mason is single and likes to avoid any sort of commitment. Logan is recently divorced and shares custody of his daughter. Zach is a father of two boys, married but looking to potentially part ways with his wife in the very near future..
Ben’s sister Autumn will also be joining in on the holiday fun, she lives in the nearby town and runs her own successful cafe. Autumn has never really found the person she wants to settle down with and her biological clock is ticking. She has accepted that she has skipped the falling in love with someone phase of her life and now just wants to become a mother before it’s too late.
When the guys hear about Autumn’s quest to find a sperm donor, both Mason and Logan are immediately interested in discussing this further. Mason is a no strings attached kind of guy who is incredibly good looking, he would give her the baby she wants and happily leave her to raise it on her own. In fact, he would prefer that arrangement than facing the lifetime responsibility of raising a child. His reputation as a player is not something that endears him to Autumn though.
Logan on the other hand is the boy she crushed on as a teenager. He is two years older than her and when she tried to show him how she felt when she was only 16, he firmly rejected her. Seeing him now after all these years brings all those memories flooding back, he is no longer that teenage boy who broke her heart, he is very much a gorgeous, fully grown adult.
As a teen, Logan had body issues that really knocked his confidence. He was used to not getting the girl and he madly crushed on - Ben’s younger sister Autumn. Now that they have lived a bit of life and had some experiences that have shaped them, Logan is not afraid to go after what he wants. Autumn is like his dream girl and if the only second chance he has of being with her is by being her baby daddy he is all in. He just needs to convince Autumn to choose him.
This is the first story in the new Lakeside Cottage series and based on what I have read so far about the secondary characters to this story, there is a lot to look forward to.
Ben’s sister Autumn will also be joining in on the holiday fun, she lives in the nearby town and runs her own successful cafe. Autumn has never really found the person she wants to settle down with and her biological clock is ticking. She has accepted that she has skipped the falling in love with someone phase of her life and now just wants to become a mother before it’s too late.
When the guys hear about Autumn’s quest to find a sperm donor, both Mason and Logan are immediately interested in discussing this further. Mason is a no strings attached kind of guy who is incredibly good looking, he would give her the baby she wants and happily leave her to raise it on her own. In fact, he would prefer that arrangement than facing the lifetime responsibility of raising a child. His reputation as a player is not something that endears him to Autumn though.
Logan on the other hand is the boy she crushed on as a teenager. He is two years older than her and when she tried to show him how she felt when she was only 16, he firmly rejected her. Seeing him now after all these years brings all those memories flooding back, he is no longer that teenage boy who broke her heart, he is very much a gorgeous, fully grown adult.
As a teen, Logan had body issues that really knocked his confidence. He was used to not getting the girl and he madly crushed on - Ben’s younger sister Autumn. Now that they have lived a bit of life and had some experiences that have shaped them, Logan is not afraid to go after what he wants. Autumn is like his dream girl and if the only second chance he has of being with her is by being her baby daddy he is all in. He just needs to convince Autumn to choose him.
This is the first story in the new Lakeside Cottage series and based on what I have read so far about the secondary characters to this story, there is a lot to look forward to.
June 3, 2021
“It’s your life … are you living it or just existing in it?”
4.5 stars!
This is such a gorgeous story! An emotional and heartfelt brother’s-best-friend/friends-to-lovers romance between a couple approaching their 40s, a heroine desperate for a baby, and a hero all too happy to help her out.
Autumn is 36 years old, and she wants a baby. After a string of disappointing relationships, she has given up on the idea of love, marriage and then babies, she just wants a child, and she’ll do it alone if she has to. But spending two weeks at her brother’s lake house with his family for a reunion with his three best friends provides a unique opportunity when her plan is revealed, and her childhood crush offers to help.
Logan is a divorced single father who is stunned to see Ben’s younger sister all grown up and looking gorgeous. When it is jokingly suggested that Autumn spend the next two weeks sleeping with her brother’s friends to see if one of them can knock her up, he realises that he wants it to be him and only him with her, and he holds nothing back in letting her know that. The flirting and banter is great, and the sexual tension builds as Logan works to convince Autumn that he is the guy she needs, and when she finally agrees, it’s all on.
This book is so freaking sexy. The attraction between Logan and Autumn sizzles, and their chemistry is sensational! There’s lots of sex and it’s steamy, descriptive and so, so hot, and it creates a deep connection that neither of them were anticipating.
I love these two together! Sure, their arrangement is initially just for sex, but their friendship forms a base and they grow close and learn so much about each other. They are honest and open, and there are some really beautiful, romantic moments as they spend time together and fall into a sort-of relationship. But their two week holiday is coming to an end and it’s time for Logan to return home, and then real life drops some big bombs that will change their lives forever.
This story grew on me the more I read, and though it was a bit of a slow warm-up, I grew to love it, and couldn’t read fast enough. Autumn and Logan are fantastic characters, and the issues they are facing are real and relatable. The twists and turns in their lives (though predictable) really bring the feels, and I felt everything right along with them. Their friends and families are a huge part of the story, and the group dynamics are fantastic. There is a lot that they all go through together, and from the funny, teasing banter, to the deep and meaningful moments, it was all so well written. There is some drama and angst, but it works to enhance the story, bringing the emotion and intensity, and I loved watching it all unfold.
Logan and Autumn’s story is beautifully written. It’s a dramatic love story that is fun, sweet, passionate, emotional and gorgeously swoony. I fell in love with these characters, and this book made me laugh and cry. This is a great bunch of characters, and I’m so keen to continue on with this series as each of the boys find their happy endings.
4.5 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars!
This is such a gorgeous story! An emotional and heartfelt brother’s-best-friend/friends-to-lovers romance between a couple approaching their 40s, a heroine desperate for a baby, and a hero all too happy to help her out.
Autumn is 36 years old, and she wants a baby. After a string of disappointing relationships, she has given up on the idea of love, marriage and then babies, she just wants a child, and she’ll do it alone if she has to. But spending two weeks at her brother’s lake house with his family for a reunion with his three best friends provides a unique opportunity when her plan is revealed, and her childhood crush offers to help.
Logan is a divorced single father who is stunned to see Ben’s younger sister all grown up and looking gorgeous. When it is jokingly suggested that Autumn spend the next two weeks sleeping with her brother’s friends to see if one of them can knock her up, he realises that he wants it to be him and only him with her, and he holds nothing back in letting her know that. The flirting and banter is great, and the sexual tension builds as Logan works to convince Autumn that he is the guy she needs, and when she finally agrees, it’s all on.
This book is so freaking sexy. The attraction between Logan and Autumn sizzles, and their chemistry is sensational! There’s lots of sex and it’s steamy, descriptive and so, so hot, and it creates a deep connection that neither of them were anticipating.
I want her baby to be mine. I want her to be mine.
I love these two together! Sure, their arrangement is initially just for sex, but their friendship forms a base and they grow close and learn so much about each other. They are honest and open, and there are some really beautiful, romantic moments as they spend time together and fall into a sort-of relationship. But their two week holiday is coming to an end and it’s time for Logan to return home, and then real life drops some big bombs that will change their lives forever.
“You are more than a fleeting moment because I do not know how I am supposed to live without you after all this ends.”
This story grew on me the more I read, and though it was a bit of a slow warm-up, I grew to love it, and couldn’t read fast enough. Autumn and Logan are fantastic characters, and the issues they are facing are real and relatable. The twists and turns in their lives (though predictable) really bring the feels, and I felt everything right along with them. Their friends and families are a huge part of the story, and the group dynamics are fantastic. There is a lot that they all go through together, and from the funny, teasing banter, to the deep and meaningful moments, it was all so well written. There is some drama and angst, but it works to enhance the story, bringing the emotion and intensity, and I loved watching it all unfold.
“You hold me in the palm of your hand. You hold my heart. And I’m going to carry yours.”
Logan and Autumn’s story is beautifully written. It’s a dramatic love story that is fun, sweet, passionate, emotional and gorgeously swoony. I fell in love with these characters, and this book made me laugh and cry. This is a great bunch of characters, and I’m so keen to continue on with this series as each of the boys find their happy endings.
4.5 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
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August 26, 2021Now live:
An all-new contemporary romance from L.B. Dunbar centered around lifelong friendships, a lake house, and second chances at love over 40.
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** KINDLE UNLIMITED **
ALSO IN AUDIOBOOKS:
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An all-new contemporary romance from L.B. Dunbar centered around lifelong friendships, a lake house, and second chances at love over 40.
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2L7fLXw
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/3pDGZnK
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2LceazQ
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3ai0fkc
** KINDLE UNLIMITED **
ALSO IN AUDIOBOOKS:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3k3xUmr
Audible: https://adbl.co/3xScm16
Apple: https://apple.co/2UBN3D1
June 3, 2021
LB is the queen of the 40+ romance! Damn, she makes getting old and more experienced sexy!!
This is so good! But I feel like the blurb is misleading. This is not about an accidental pregnancy or any actual pregnancy. It’s about the journey and the possibility and … the hope. And, hilariously about a few potential candidates vying for the opportunity to practice baby making.
Autumn has her act together. She’s close with her family and owns her own business. However, she falls for duds. Duds who need saving. So she’s decided that she will forgo the actual relationship and just have a child on her own.
Her brother,Ben, brings his friends together for a reunion and you just know that one is going to end up being the sperm donor. Or maybe more! I love how LB can introduce us to a passel of characters and make us care about all of them. Once you hear about Autumn’s teenage crush, though, you can’t help but root for Logan. However, there are obstacles from the past and present in their way. But one of those obstacles is not chemistry, because these two are smokin’ hot together.
Throughout the whole book, you know something more is coming and when that happens, it just guts you. And it’s also an important reminder to live your life in the moment and not waste a second.
I love how this wraps up and I am so looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received an advance reader copy from the author and these are my honest opinions.
This is so good! But I feel like the blurb is misleading. This is not about an accidental pregnancy or any actual pregnancy. It’s about the journey and the possibility and … the hope. And, hilariously about a few potential candidates vying for the opportunity to practice baby making.
Autumn has her act together. She’s close with her family and owns her own business. However, she falls for duds. Duds who need saving. So she’s decided that she will forgo the actual relationship and just have a child on her own.
Her brother,Ben, brings his friends together for a reunion and you just know that one is going to end up being the sperm donor. Or maybe more! I love how LB can introduce us to a passel of characters and make us care about all of them. Once you hear about Autumn’s teenage crush, though, you can’t help but root for Logan. However, there are obstacles from the past and present in their way. But one of those obstacles is not chemistry, because these two are smokin’ hot together.
Throughout the whole book, you know something more is coming and when that happens, it just guts you. And it’s also an important reminder to live your life in the moment and not waste a second.
I love how this wraps up and I am so looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received an advance reader copy from the author and these are my honest opinions.
June 21, 2021
2.5⭐️
May 17, 2021
*I received a free copy of Living at 40. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review which is honest and unbiased.*
It is difficult to properly rate this story, as I was not enthralled with it in the beginning, but from around halfway through, I loved it! The characters were between 36 and 40 years old, but in some ways, the beginning did not mirror their ages. It was as if they were college students inside of more mature bodies - even the ones who were married and had children, and that felt really weird to me.
However, as the story progressed, so did the characters, and their storylines were very well done. I cried quite a bit at one point, and I laughed out loud at other points. And of course, the romantic, sexy moments were perfect!
The writing is good, and I enjoyed getting to know this group of friends - how they were there for each other decades after meeting, and that they were still able to try to figure out what, exactly, is important in life.
It is difficult to properly rate this story, as I was not enthralled with it in the beginning, but from around halfway through, I loved it! The characters were between 36 and 40 years old, but in some ways, the beginning did not mirror their ages. It was as if they were college students inside of more mature bodies - even the ones who were married and had children, and that felt really weird to me.
However, as the story progressed, so did the characters, and their storylines were very well done. I cried quite a bit at one point, and I laughed out loud at other points. And of course, the romantic, sexy moments were perfect!
The writing is good, and I enjoyed getting to know this group of friends - how they were there for each other decades after meeting, and that they were still able to try to figure out what, exactly, is important in life.
August 1, 2022
This was just a no. I’ve never said “wtf” as much as I did while reading this. The breeding kink seemed promising but the story got bogged down by all the other characters, the hero was not that much of a catch, and the heroine was BEYOND baby obsessed. I thought older = maturer acting characters…but omg they all acted like children. The writing style itself just seemed so hectic and not well-fleshed out. Won’t be finishing this series.
May 24, 2021
L.B. Dunbar had me hooked on this book with the words, The Big Chill of 2021. You see, that is one of my favorite movies of all times. And although, I am a few years (20) older than 40, I can still relate to the characters in Living at 40.
I think more than anything this book is about realizations. Autumn realizes that to get what she wants; she may have to do it on her own. Logan realizes that Autumn has changed and maybe he missed his chance. The back and forth, twists and turns in their relationship give the storyline all the emotions and will have you turning pages to get their full story.
With highly charged sentiments surrounding the other characters and their own stories, it all blends into an unforgettable read with an incredible finish. 5 Stars #2OCCMS
I think more than anything this book is about realizations. Autumn realizes that to get what she wants; she may have to do it on her own. Logan realizes that Autumn has changed and maybe he missed his chance. The back and forth, twists and turns in their relationship give the storyline all the emotions and will have you turning pages to get their full story.
With highly charged sentiments surrounding the other characters and their own stories, it all blends into an unforgettable read with an incredible finish. 5 Stars #2OCCMS
May 26, 2021
5 star review of Living At 40 (Lakeside Cottage #1) by L. B. Dunbar
I was so excited when I learnt that L.B.Dunbar was launching a new series. I love her style of written, she writes characters that are strong and easy to relate to. This is Autumn Kulis and Logan Anders‘s story and it ticked all the boxes for me. From the first to the last chapter I was hooked on the story that Ms.Dunbar wove.
I really enjoy stories where the main characters are more mature. Autumn wants a baby but the problem is she doesn’t have a man in her life, while Logan is a divorced single dad. On a trip to her brother’s lakeside cottage, Autumn runs reconnects with Logan, her brother Ben’s best friend.
Years ago Autumn had a crush on Logan and now the tables have turned. When Logan learns of her plans to find a baby daddy he makes his own plans to be on the short list. There were twists and turns when Autumn embarks on her journey and at times some humorous situations. The chemistry between Logan and Autumn is intense, the friendships real.
I love stories with a groups of friends surrounding the man characters, it always seems to add an additional layer to the stories. Several of the situations that the characters find themselves in I found easy to relate too. This is a realistic story which touches on situations that we all find ourselves in.
The journey will be rocky but if they can get through the twists and turns then they have a chance at something wonderful. I cannot wait to see what Ms.Dunbar has in store for this series.
I was so excited when I learnt that L.B.Dunbar was launching a new series. I love her style of written, she writes characters that are strong and easy to relate to. This is Autumn Kulis and Logan Anders‘s story and it ticked all the boxes for me. From the first to the last chapter I was hooked on the story that Ms.Dunbar wove.
I really enjoy stories where the main characters are more mature. Autumn wants a baby but the problem is she doesn’t have a man in her life, while Logan is a divorced single dad. On a trip to her brother’s lakeside cottage, Autumn runs reconnects with Logan, her brother Ben’s best friend.
Years ago Autumn had a crush on Logan and now the tables have turned. When Logan learns of her plans to find a baby daddy he makes his own plans to be on the short list. There were twists and turns when Autumn embarks on her journey and at times some humorous situations. The chemistry between Logan and Autumn is intense, the friendships real.
I love stories with a groups of friends surrounding the man characters, it always seems to add an additional layer to the stories. Several of the situations that the characters find themselves in I found easy to relate too. This is a realistic story which touches on situations that we all find ourselves in.
The journey will be rocky but if they can get through the twists and turns then they have a chance at something wonderful. I cannot wait to see what Ms.Dunbar has in store for this series.
June 11, 2021
Living at 40 is a refreshing take on the "accidental pregnancy" trope, especially since our heroine Autumn is looking to get pregnant. The trouble is she's not in any kind of relationship, and when her sister in law recommends she make a list of eligible fathers and leaves it to fate, she finds herself in the crosshairs of two very interested men.
This is the first book by L.B. Dunbar that I've read and I really enjoyed the "older" characters and the history between them. Centered on Autumn Kulis and her brother Ben and his wife Anna, the story mostly takes place over a two week "vacation/retreat" where' Ben's college buddies are gathered by his request. But are these men one's Autumn should consider? It seems that everyone has an opinion on this.
I loved the complexity of the characters and the well developed plot. Dunbar does not shy away from creating conflict but she leaves enough space for the characters to dig themselves out of idiotic decisions and keeps the boys loyal to each other. Neither does Dunbar shy away from some hard to swallow emotions and sadness. It all felt very authentic to me and I appreciated how she navigated some complex and sorrowful live moments. She balances this with some very sexy times where emotions and chemistry collide. I highly recommend this book with a warning to keep a box of tissues close by . 4.5 Stars
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
This is the first book by L.B. Dunbar that I've read and I really enjoyed the "older" characters and the history between them. Centered on Autumn Kulis and her brother Ben and his wife Anna, the story mostly takes place over a two week "vacation/retreat" where' Ben's college buddies are gathered by his request. But are these men one's Autumn should consider? It seems that everyone has an opinion on this.
I loved the complexity of the characters and the well developed plot. Dunbar does not shy away from creating conflict but she leaves enough space for the characters to dig themselves out of idiotic decisions and keeps the boys loyal to each other. Neither does Dunbar shy away from some hard to swallow emotions and sadness. It all felt very authentic to me and I appreciated how she navigated some complex and sorrowful live moments. She balances this with some very sexy times where emotions and chemistry collide. I highly recommend this book with a warning to keep a box of tissues close by . 4.5 Stars
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
February 23, 2023
Second Chance Romance
Autumn is around 37, newly single and wants a baby of her own. Logan is best friends with Autumn brother but it's been awhile since they've interacted. Her brother invites his 3 best friends to his and his wife's summer home on Lake Michigan for a 2 week vacation. Almost immediately the joke is that Autumn is looking for a baby daddy. Logan is more than ready for the task. There's a lot of other things that happen of course and this was just the beginning.
I really liked the two main characters a lot. Autumn has had one too many bad relationships and Logan is recently divorced and has an 11 year old daughter. They live 3 hours apart from each other. And that's not the only obstacle. This is a pretty spicy read but still heartwarming at times. I really liked it and plan to read book 2 soon featuring another of the best friends. Recommended!
Autumn is around 37, newly single and wants a baby of her own. Logan is best friends with Autumn brother but it's been awhile since they've interacted. Her brother invites his 3 best friends to his and his wife's summer home on Lake Michigan for a 2 week vacation. Almost immediately the joke is that Autumn is looking for a baby daddy. Logan is more than ready for the task. There's a lot of other things that happen of course and this was just the beginning.
I really liked the two main characters a lot. Autumn has had one too many bad relationships and Logan is recently divorced and has an 11 year old daughter. They live 3 hours apart from each other. And that's not the only obstacle. This is a pretty spicy read but still heartwarming at times. I really liked it and plan to read book 2 soon featuring another of the best friends. Recommended!
May 21, 2021
When a book makes me laugh and cry (and how I cried, it was not pretty), when I love all of the characters (not really all, I don't like Chloe and Jeannine), when the setting is so beatiful, that I want to go there immediately, and when I can't put the book away, that's the moment L.B. Dunbar released a new book. And with this one (part one in a new series) she's outdone herself.
I really don't want to reveal what's going to happen in this book but be prepared for the unexpected and for your world beeing shaken. The suspense was killing me, from the beginning I wanted to know what's going on. And when I learned what's going to happen it killed me even more.
This book is not only a perfect lovestory, it also has one of the best bromances I've ever read. Autumn and Logan are absolutely perfect for each other, but what the four men mean to and do for each other is inspiring.
I loved every word and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
You need this book in your life, you'll miss something if you don't read this beautiful story about friendship and love. Thank you, L.B. Dunbar, for sharing these characters and their story with us. Living at 40 is one of the best stories I've read this year.
I really don't want to reveal what's going to happen in this book but be prepared for the unexpected and for your world beeing shaken. The suspense was killing me, from the beginning I wanted to know what's going on. And when I learned what's going to happen it killed me even more.
This book is not only a perfect lovestory, it also has one of the best bromances I've ever read. Autumn and Logan are absolutely perfect for each other, but what the four men mean to and do for each other is inspiring.
I loved every word and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
You need this book in your life, you'll miss something if you don't read this beautiful story about friendship and love. Thank you, L.B. Dunbar, for sharing these characters and their story with us. Living at 40 is one of the best stories I've read this year.
June 5, 2021
Things I enjoyed about this book:
1. The beginning of a new series (new characters and storyline)
2. Most of the characters are over 40 (although I am older!)
3. Little sister and one of brother’s best friends
4. People who have real problems: marriage, divorce, kids, jobs, health
5. Hot fun figuring out where to do it amongst lots of people
I truly enjoyed the whole premise of this story, and can’t wait to find out what happens to everyone. It is definitely relatable to what I have gone through in my own life.
1. The beginning of a new series (new characters and storyline)
2. Most of the characters are over 40 (although I am older!)
3. Little sister and one of brother’s best friends
4. People who have real problems: marriage, divorce, kids, jobs, health
5. Hot fun figuring out where to do it amongst lots of people
I truly enjoyed the whole premise of this story, and can’t wait to find out what happens to everyone. It is definitely relatable to what I have gone through in my own life.
June 6, 2021
Boy did this one do a number on me! Heart wrenching! Death and new life! Such an amazing story!
September 19, 2021
****4.5 stars!****
Crap! Well, this was an emotional rollercoaster. Full review to follow once my puffy eyes are back to normal.
Crap! Well, this was an emotional rollercoaster. Full review to follow once my puffy eyes are back to normal.
July 31, 2023
Ah, Kindle Unlimited. You never know what you’re gonna get. In my case, I got a strong desire to get back the afternoon I wasted on this book. Many spelling errors, 2 main characters who were garbage and the definition of selfish, spicy scenes that were anything but, and a plot that felt less about mature 40somethings and more like it was new adult. Very disappointing as over 40 romances, let alone stories, are few and far between.
October 25, 2021
This series about a group of over 40yr old friends dealing with love , loss, divorce, teenage kids, all thrown together is perfect and so real. I swooned, laughed, cried, laughed again but overall hoping that the first couples story, Logan and Autumn's, turned out to be a happy one. There are lots of tears to this one and it's a combination of Second Chance, Brothers best friend, Single dad, all in one book.
June 3, 2021
This author continues to inspire me. I'm at a stage in my life where I want to read about couples my own age. She always come through with exactly what I need.
This story will require all the tissues. I loved the friendship of the four men. Their friendship has lasted over twenty years. Logan was the sexy one you just couldn't help but to love. Autumn has crushed on him for years. Her quest for a baby led to so much more.
I felt this book deep in my heart.
This story will require all the tissues. I loved the friendship of the four men. Their friendship has lasted over twenty years. Logan was the sexy one you just couldn't help but to love. Autumn has crushed on him for years. Her quest for a baby led to so much more.
I felt this book deep in my heart.
July 13, 2025
MMC is a complete jerk. He does absolutely nothing in the end to redeem himself and the FMC willingly takes him back.
May 12, 2021
A gathering of friends for two weeks at the cottage turns into so much more.
Autumn Kulis is a woman who has a great life, her own business but the one thing she wants is a child of her own but what she doesn’t expect is the man who shows up for her brothers best friend’s getaway.
Logan Anders single dad to Lorna and some of his other friends from college are invited to a two week getaway at the request of their friend Ben but when he shows up he can’t believe how different his sister looks and he feels the attraction immediately.
Autumn & Logan have a lot going on in their lives but what she wants he can give her but there are so many hurdles and obstacles that they will have to overcome to understand that life is fragile and you must live in the now. Finding their HEA is important and Logan & Autumn will find that out as long as they do it together.
Autumn Kulis is a woman who has a great life, her own business but the one thing she wants is a child of her own but what she doesn’t expect is the man who shows up for her brothers best friend’s getaway.
Logan Anders single dad to Lorna and some of his other friends from college are invited to a two week getaway at the request of their friend Ben but when he shows up he can’t believe how different his sister looks and he feels the attraction immediately.
Autumn & Logan have a lot going on in their lives but what she wants he can give her but there are so many hurdles and obstacles that they will have to overcome to understand that life is fragile and you must live in the now. Finding their HEA is important and Logan & Autumn will find that out as long as they do it together.
June 6, 2021
The story was going in circles as well as my rating of it... it was engaging, boring, funny, full of heartbreak and insensitive...The book actually has an interesting plot, but somewhere near the middle I lost the interest in main characters and was more invested in Anna&Ben and Anna&Mason story.
June 3, 2021
L.B. Dunbar has done an amazing job letting readers know that romance and love are not just for the twenty-somethings!! Her books with mature characters with everyday problems and real life happenings are utterly amazing. Autumn finds herself being tormented by that biological clock all women have. She has no serious prospects for love, let alone a father to a child. When a two week vacation for a group of her brother’s friends come around, her sister-in law decides she should make a list and have some fun making a baby. Logan is a single dad and the childhood crush of Autumn. When they both find themselves drawn to each other, things get complicated. This book gave me all the feels and had me drying my eyes several times. I couldn’t put it down until I finished. This is the exact reason L.B. Dunbar is a go to author for me. ~Helen
"4.5 Stars
Everything happens for a reason. For the characters in this story turning/approaching 40 seems to be the catalyst for life changes. The four base of friends, Ben (the devoted dad and husband), Mason (the forever manwhore), Zack (tied to an unhappy relationship) and Logan (the divorcee) are all brother's of the heart. Autumn,Ben's sister has always been part of the guys, but now approaching 4o, she wants a baby to love. Her declaration and being with the one guy that she always crushed on proves to be too much. I couldn't help but root for Autumn and Logan while L.B. crushes a part of my heart.
This is a story of ""living your life, making everyday count"" type of story. It took me a bit to really get into the story but once engaged, It was an easy consuming read. This is a multi-faceted story with many characters and simultaneous story lines. I wanted to shake some characters, wrap others in hugs and often wanted to throw my kindle across the room. This story also had humor and heart, and made me smile with incredible swoon-worthy moments. I am excited to read more of the Lakeside Cottage series. " ~Cindy
"4.5 Stars
Everything happens for a reason. For the characters in this story turning/approaching 40 seems to be the catalyst for life changes. The four base of friends, Ben (the devoted dad and husband), Mason (the forever manwhore), Zack (tied to an unhappy relationship) and Logan (the divorcee) are all brother's of the heart. Autumn,Ben's sister has always been part of the guys, but now approaching 4o, she wants a baby to love. Her declaration and being with the one guy that she always crushed on proves to be too much. I couldn't help but root for Autumn and Logan while L.B. crushes a part of my heart.
This is a story of ""living your life, making everyday count"" type of story. It took me a bit to really get into the story but once engaged, It was an easy consuming read. This is a multi-faceted story with many characters and simultaneous story lines. I wanted to shake some characters, wrap others in hugs and often wanted to throw my kindle across the room. This story also had humor and heart, and made me smile with incredible swoon-worthy moments. I am excited to read more of the Lakeside Cottage series. " ~Cindy
June 9, 2023
Autumn Kulis and Logan Anders are not strangers: Logan is Autumn's brother's best friend and Autumn is the little girl who had a crush, is now grown up, and has been unlucky in love.
Though the blurb would have a reader think the plot revolves around Autumn wanting a willing body and sperm donor to have a baby, Autumn is really undecided about how she wants to go about it, and she and Logan eventually settle on a deal due to close proximity, family influences, and the apparent attraction between them.
Logan is already a good single dad, he has his own demons of the past to battle, and he is sure that Autumn need not audition any other man for her needs. This characterization and motivation given to Logan make him a male lead that has good depth: he is not perfect and he has a great heart. He even had more depth than Autumn, IMO, but Autumn does put her heart on the line much more clearly than Logan does, in the end.
I did a dive into this series and finished all 4 books. This one and book 2 both tie as my favorite couples and as the strongest in the series for me. I love that the characters are more mature, though that doesn't stop the male leads from taking a bit longer than the females to get all the way on board, but that may because in the first two books, the male leads are already parents and have had failed marriages. The women they fall for have to be right for their children and worth diving in again. As for the women, they are not younger and the author does a good job with the understanding that having more kids in your late 30s and early forties is not abnormal, but it is okay if it doesn't happen either. I appreciated this.
The overarching conflict and theme is how one lives his or her life, in the face of death and in the face of longing. Autumn's brother Ben is the common link among all these couples, and his fate serves as a shadow, a ghost, an angelic reminder -what have you- for all of this family, found family, and kindling love to flourished and not be wasted.
And the setting....helped.
Happy Reading.
Though the blurb would have a reader think the plot revolves around Autumn wanting a willing body and sperm donor to have a baby, Autumn is really undecided about how she wants to go about it, and she and Logan eventually settle on a deal due to close proximity, family influences, and the apparent attraction between them.
Logan is already a good single dad, he has his own demons of the past to battle, and he is sure that Autumn need not audition any other man for her needs. This characterization and motivation given to Logan make him a male lead that has good depth: he is not perfect and he has a great heart. He even had more depth than Autumn, IMO, but Autumn does put her heart on the line much more clearly than Logan does, in the end.
I did a dive into this series and finished all 4 books. This one and book 2 both tie as my favorite couples and as the strongest in the series for me. I love that the characters are more mature, though that doesn't stop the male leads from taking a bit longer than the females to get all the way on board, but that may because in the first two books, the male leads are already parents and have had failed marriages. The women they fall for have to be right for their children and worth diving in again. As for the women, they are not younger and the author does a good job with the understanding that having more kids in your late 30s and early forties is not abnormal, but it is okay if it doesn't happen either. I appreciated this.
The overarching conflict and theme is how one lives his or her life, in the face of death and in the face of longing. Autumn's brother Ben is the common link among all these couples, and his fate serves as a shadow, a ghost, an angelic reminder -what have you- for all of this family, found family, and kindling love to flourished and not be wasted.
And the setting....helped.
Happy Reading.
June 6, 2021
Living at 40 is a fun, sweet, read with a little angst and pain that I enjoyed very much. Autumn is getting ready to spend a summer vacation with her brother Ben and his wife Anna. Joining them at their vacation home is Ben's longtime friends. It is a celebration of sorts. Getting the group back together like the “old days.” The friends are a mixed bag that run the gamut of happily married to long-time playboy. They all have a backstory that we will get in the series.
One of the entertaining aspects of the story, is when Autumn reveals to Anna that she wants to be a mother. She has terrible luck with men. So instead of a meaningful relationship, she is going to have a baby with a one-night stand or maybe multiple one-night stands. This plan is revealed to Ben’s friends which begins the teasing and vying for the opportunity to help Autumn out. There are some good funny moments at Autumn’s expense. I love how real the family “slip” is, and how embarrassing for Autumn.
Autumn has a long-time crush on Logan that began in high school. However, to Logan’s surprise, he put Autumn down at one point making fun of her at a party. She never forgot the hurt, but still
The writing is good. I like Dunbar's mature characters. We all make bad decisions, hurt people intentionally and unintentionally, but with growth we learn how to live a good life, make amends, and hope for the future.The author does a good job showing who the characters were and who they are today.
Living at 40 is the first book in a new series. If you like good romances, with mature adult characters, situations, and resolutions, I highly recommend, L.B Dunbar’s Living at 40. It is a satisfying romantic journey.
Full review on
One of the entertaining aspects of the story, is when Autumn reveals to Anna that she wants to be a mother. She has terrible luck with men. So instead of a meaningful relationship, she is going to have a baby with a one-night stand or maybe multiple one-night stands. This plan is revealed to Ben’s friends which begins the teasing and vying for the opportunity to help Autumn out. There are some good funny moments at Autumn’s expense. I love how real the family “slip” is, and how embarrassing for Autumn.
Autumn has a long-time crush on Logan that began in high school. However, to Logan’s surprise, he put Autumn down at one point making fun of her at a party. She never forgot the hurt, but still
The writing is good. I like Dunbar's mature characters. We all make bad decisions, hurt people intentionally and unintentionally, but with growth we learn how to live a good life, make amends, and hope for the future.The author does a good job showing who the characters were and who they are today.
Living at 40 is the first book in a new series. If you like good romances, with mature adult characters, situations, and resolutions, I highly recommend, L.B Dunbar’s Living at 40. It is a satisfying romantic journey.
Full review on
May 28, 2021
This is an ARC review. All opinions are solely my own.
I don't even know where to start with this accidental book by L.B. Dunbar. Living at 40 is so much more than a romance. But I've come to expect that with L.B. Dunbar. This book is about more than a romance. It's about real life stuff. This book will make you feel all the emotions and require a few tissues.
Living at 40 is blurbed (is that a word?) as an accidental pregnancy, second chance romance. I think this book is about life. It's about real life that is messy and definitely not perfect.
Autumn had a crush on Logan growing up since he was friends with her older brother. Time has passed and they are back at a friend vacation after not having seen each other for several years. Autumn has recently become single, again, and thinks she should start trying to have a baby alone. Some shenanigans ensue and love starts taking hold.
Living at 40 is the first book of the new Lakeside Cottage series by L.B. Dunbar. This book introduces us to 4 friends who are navigating the world being 40, their friendships,their loves, and real life issues.
I don't even know where to start with this accidental book by L.B. Dunbar. Living at 40 is so much more than a romance. But I've come to expect that with L.B. Dunbar. This book is about more than a romance. It's about real life stuff. This book will make you feel all the emotions and require a few tissues.
Living at 40 is blurbed (is that a word?) as an accidental pregnancy, second chance romance. I think this book is about life. It's about real life that is messy and definitely not perfect.
Autumn had a crush on Logan growing up since he was friends with her older brother. Time has passed and they are back at a friend vacation after not having seen each other for several years. Autumn has recently become single, again, and thinks she should start trying to have a baby alone. Some shenanigans ensue and love starts taking hold.
Living at 40 is the first book of the new Lakeside Cottage series by L.B. Dunbar. This book introduces us to 4 friends who are navigating the world being 40, their friendships,their loves, and real life issues.
June 1, 2021
What a fantastic start to the new Lakeside Cottage Series, if Living at 40 is anything to go by Ms Dunbar will certainly have another hit series on her hands. This is Autumn Kulls and Logan Ander’s journey and it’s a story with all the feels. I was drawn in and captivated from the first chapter to the last line because once again we get to meet characters we can really relate too.
Autumn crushed on Logan for many years but now it’s Logan’s turn to fall and when he finds out she is looking for a baby daddy he makes sure he is on her short list so will this couple come out the other side with their friendship in tact or will they move onto the next level and finally become lovers....
This is a friends to lovers, second chance romance, it has all the feels you want in a great read, you will laugh, you will swoon, you will smile but most importantly you will relate to this wonderful group of friends. The chemistry is sizzling, the banter is witty and the journey will have some twists and turns as you get to know Autumn, Logan and their group of friends so I guess all I need to say is please one click this wonderful read because I’m sure like me you will be excited for what’s to come from the residents of Lakeside Cotrage.
Autumn crushed on Logan for many years but now it’s Logan’s turn to fall and when he finds out she is looking for a baby daddy he makes sure he is on her short list so will this couple come out the other side with their friendship in tact or will they move onto the next level and finally become lovers....
This is a friends to lovers, second chance romance, it has all the feels you want in a great read, you will laugh, you will swoon, you will smile but most importantly you will relate to this wonderful group of friends. The chemistry is sizzling, the banter is witty and the journey will have some twists and turns as you get to know Autumn, Logan and their group of friends so I guess all I need to say is please one click this wonderful read because I’m sure like me you will be excited for what’s to come from the residents of Lakeside Cotrage.
June 6, 2021
Oh my heavens how I loved the words L.B. gave us in Living at 40. It is a new series and let me tell you I fell in love with this wonderful cast of characters right out of the gate. This is the story of Autumn and Logan but we find ourselves deep in the past, present and futures of their wonderful group of friends and family. As the lovely Autumn finds her biological clock ticking and making her sweat a list is devised . A list of men that she will have a summer fling with and hopefully find herself pregnant. She has decided she doesn't need a knight in shining armor and this is the way to finally get what she wants. It is summer and her brother has invited his childhood friends back to visit and reminisce. Logan is a single dad that has been a bit sweet on his friends sister but the bro code always remained in his head. When he over hears the list that Autumn has comprised he soon realizes he should be at the top.
It is a sweet, emotional, funny, and yes heart wrenching tale that will have you wanting to see where the rest of these characters take us.
~~Michele McMullen ~~
It is a sweet, emotional, funny, and yes heart wrenching tale that will have you wanting to see where the rest of these characters take us.
~~Michele McMullen ~~
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