Reviewer: Tracy A Lie for a Lie by Helena Hunting
Series: All In #1
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Publication Date: October 15, 2019
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Point-of-View: Alternating First
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 285
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Series Rating:
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Pucked series comes a romantic comedy about instant attraction, second chances, and not-so-little white lies.
Sometimes I need an escape from the demands, the puck bunnies, and the notoriety that come with being an NHL team captain. I just want to be a normal guy for a few weeks. So when I leave Chicago for some peace and quiet, the last thing I expect is for a gorgeous woman to literally fall into my lap on a flight to Alaska. Even better, she has absolutely no idea who I am.
Lainey is the perfect escape from my life. My plan for seclusion becomes a monthlong sex fest punctuated with domestic bliss. But it ends just as abruptly as it began. When I’m called away on a family emergency, I realize too late that I have no way to contact Lainey.
A year later, a chance encounter throws Lainey and me together again. But I still have a lie hanging over my head, and Lainey’s keeping secrets of her own. With more than lust at stake, the truth may be our game changer.
Rook has a tradition of going on a fishing trip in Alaska with his brother and his father every year. His father passed a few years ago and now he just goes with his brother. It makes him sad that his father’s not there, but he loves to get away from his celebrity as a famous NHL player. When Rook gets to Alaska he hears from his brother that he can’t go either because his wife was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Since their father died from diabetes, this is a big deal. Rook decides to stay on in Alaska and have some peace and quiet.
On the plane Rook meets Lainey. She doesn’t follow sports at all and wouldn’t know who Rook was, even if he decided to tell her what he did for a living. Every time she asks, he changes the subject or misdirects. Frustrating. He tells her that he was raised on an alpaca farm in New York. When asked if that’s what he does now, he tells her that that’s what he grew up doing. Yeah, not what she asked, dumbass. Lol
Once in Alaska Lainey discovers that her rental is a complete POS and she ends up staying with Rook whose house is down the street. They end up spending the summer together, falling into bed in love. When Rook is called away because of his brother’s wife, Rook has every intention of reconnecting with Lainey, but a series of mistakes separates the two for the next year.
When Lainey and Rook run into each other again the truth comes out about Rook’s job and Lainey’s pissed. It’s discovered that there are secrets on both sides and the getting-to-know you period is extended. The pair manage to find their way but not before some serious soul-searching is done.
This was a cute book. I liked a lot about it – especially the first part of the story. They way they meet and come together (even though it’s pretty convoluted) was cute. The couple’s entire time in Alaska was good even though the whole lying about his career pissed me off. The chemistry between the couple as well as the fun times they had made me smile despite Rook’s huge mistake.
Unfortunately the second part of the book wasn’t as good for me. Meeting up again and finding out secrets was a bit anti-climactic. Getting to know the family, etc., just wasn’t all that thrilling. Good, but not great.
Overall a cute story but a little slow in the second half.
Rating: 3.25/3.5 out of 5