Welcome back to Lakeside Cottage!

A grumpy, newly divorced, single father meets a ray of sunshine in this small town, second-chance romance

 

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Blurb

She didn’t want a one-night stand. He couldn’t promise more than a ten-day fling. Sometimes compromise is all you need.

Zack Weller is timely, orderly, and meticulous. Too bad his seven-year-old, twin sons are hellions. With his divorce final, a two-week vacation beckons him to his best friend’s cottage. Unfortunately, he can’t help the magnetic pull of memories from the house next door—the one that was once his childhood home – or fight the force of nature in the naked woman sunbathing in that backyard.

River Nagle is a free spirit. She understands the trials and tribulations some people face and offers the compassion to deal with them head on. When she inherits a lakeside home, she takes the blessing for what it’s worth: a gift and a new beginning. Until one day two little boys make themselves at home in the tree fort in her backyard and she meets their hot, growly dad who steals her wine, her time, and her heart.

Newly divorced, single father grump meets a ray of sunshine, next-door neighbor in this small town, second chance romance where learning to love over 40 works with the right teacher.

 

 

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Review

4 stars

This is the second book in the Lakeside Cottage series, an opposites-attract romance that is fast moving but full of emotion, and a beautiful story of family and fresh starts.

Zack is a serious and broody, newly divorced workaholic with rambunctious seven-year-old twin boys. He is somewhat detached from his kids, but they’re taking a two week family vacation back to the small town of Lakeside, where they will reunite with his best friends for their annual getaway. The house where they are staying belongs to his best friend, and he grew up in the house next door, before his family imploded. So while he’s glad to be with his friends again, seeing the house next door brings up bad memories… until he sees the new owner sunbathing naked in the backyard.

River is a free spirited nurse who has recently inherited the beautiful cliffside cottage, and she’s making the most of her new home. It’s a fresh start for her after enduring heartbreak, and she’s cherishing every moment. So when two little boys come crashing into her yard and claim the backyard tree-fort as their own, she’s happy to let them. And then their growly, grumpy father comes along.

Zack and River have chemistry from the start. Sparks fly from their first encounter, which is full of banter, teasing and flirting, and when they agree to a short-term fling while Zack is in town, they get right into exploring all of that attraction, and oh holy hotness!

River has a wild streak, and I want her to help me reclaim mine.

These two are on fire together, and all of that sexual tension quickly develops into more as River is welcomed into Zack’s group of friends and the two of them begin to spend non-naked time together. River is a natural with Zack’s kids, who naturally and instantly bond with her, and Zack begins to see what he’s been missing – in love and with his children, and suddenly he’s reassessing everything in his life, and River is at the very heart of that.

The woman shocks me to my core, but I love it, and I’m at great risk of falling for her.
Or flying.

It’s such a beautiful story. Zack is pretty much blind going into the thing with River. He’s spent years in a loveless marriage, he’s never felt anything like he feels for River, and his willingness to just let go and embrace it is gorgeous!

“I want to be with you. There’s no doubt I want between your thighs and inside you, but let me be clear, it’s more than fucking you. I want to know who you are and why you’re so kind. I want to understand how my boys fell in love with you so fast and if I can get there too because I am falling. Definitely falling.”

He throws himself into the role of boyfriend, and his possessiveness and protectiveness is so entertaining. And I loved the character growth we see as Zack opens himself up to all that River has to offer, and allows her to help him move on from his past, reconnect with his boys, and open up to love for the first time in his life.

“Please push me … Push me to be a better man. Push me to be what you see in me.”

River is such a great heroine. She’s been through her own dramas, but her strength and perseverance have carried her through, and she has kept her sunny disposition and positive outlook on life. I love her outlook, I love the way she doesn’t hold back from going for what she wants, and she also doesn’t hold back from putting Zack in his place when he needs it. Watching the two of them open up to each other is so gorgeous, and I loved how easily she accepted him, and all that she feels for him.

I wonder briefly if anyone considers the other. The one who quickly falls in love with both children and father. What happens to her when her heart bursts with feelings for more than one Weller boy?

There is family drama, and a little bit of romantic drama, but for the most parts, it’s an angst-free love story. Zack and River have things they need to overcome, and River is right there, pushing Zack through it, and he learns and grow so much, and I loved watching their love story develop.

“God, I love you so much. I never thought I’d feel so free…free to just love.”

Zack’s boys, Oliver and Trevor, are so sweet. There are some moments between the boys and their Dad, and the boys and River, that really pull at the heartstrings, and I really enjoyed the strong theme of family and friendship that continues on from the first book.

We get to see all of the main characters from the series, and just quietly, I am SO freaking excited for Mason’s book. The next book detours away from the main group to tell the story of newcomer, Asher, but the build-up for Mason is there, and I am here for it!

Such a sweet love story, I loved it!

4 stars!

An Advanced Reader Copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

Lakeside Cottage