When Helena began to tease her triumphant return to hockey romance, I could not be more excited for her to kick off a new series. I adore her hockey romances and am so excited to have a Toronto-set hockey romance. This book is perfect for existing and new fans of Helena’s work alike who want their hockey romance scorchingly hot but also laugh-out-loud funny.

I am a Helena Hunting review team member, but I remain honest and genuine in my reviews.

A brand new standalone hate-to-love, brother’s best friend hockey romance.

My new roommates are two pro hockey players.
First, my manwhore older brother, and second, his seriously hot best friend (who I seriously hate).
This was a last resort.
No one should be sleeping on a futon that smells like Cheetos and ball sweat.
But here I am, trying to get my life together.

Tristan Stiles is the bane of my existence.
He never wears a shirt.
We can’t seem to stop fighting.
He’s an arrogant playboy with a filthy reputation.
Sure, I had a crush on him when I was fourteen, but that was a long time ago.
I know better than to trust him.

I just need to survive long enough to find a new job and get a new place.
And not accidentally let Tristan rail me into next week.

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Beatrix and Tristan are the lead characters and when we meet them they hate each other. Tristan is a hockey player on the same team as Beatrix’s brother Flip and the boys are also roommates. Beatrix, or Trix ends up moving in when she needs to get out of her unsafe apartment the only problem is that she and Tristan hate each other. The early part of the book has them bickering and playing tricks on one another, but over time the facades they put up melt away. Tristan has such a sweetness in him and I loved when Trix brought that out. It would be rude to not mention how many wonderful side characters Helena introduces from the other hockey players to the group of girls Trix befriends, it is the girls, especially with their heartwarming found family that will have readers begging for future instalments.
• Setting: I was ecstatic to start this and see Helena set a book in Toronto! She lives in the GTA and rarely writes about her home, even rarer for us to get hockey romances set in Canada so I loved the Canadian touch this one had.
• Pacing: I did find the beginning of this book a little slow and it took me a few characters to be invested in why Trix and Tristan hated each other. Warning you as well that it is decently chunky so it did take me quite a few hours to read, but at the same time, I was having such a wonderful time with all the characters and having a longer book did set up many potential future books to look forward to.
• Romance: Helena announced a while ago that this was the spiciest book she had ever written, and after reading the vast majority of her backlist I was super intrigued to see what she was going to throw at us readers. All I can say is after I read Chapter 12 (winky face and I am never looking at a cucumber the same way again) I understood why this was Helena’s steamiest yet! I adored all of it from the crazy spice to the Helena Hunting signature sometimes out-of-pocket banter. It is hard not to cheer on Tristan and Beatrix as they sneak around her brother and deny the depth of their feelings for each other. For all the talk of spice and banter, this book is quite emotional and I welled up at times when Trix and Tristan were navigating how they could be together. The tension, sparks, and chemistry are off the charts so this is an essential read for hockey romance fans everywhere!

If You Hate Me receives 4.5/5 stars.

You can pick up the story below…

Amazon | Paperback | Audio

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Thank you again to Helena and her team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Helena Hunting’s If You Hate Me ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

Pucked is still one of my favourite hockey romance series I have ever read! When I first heard about this prequel I was ecstatic to be back in this universe, and to get a glimpse into a love story I never thought I would get to read.

I am a Helena Hunting review team member, but I remain honest and genuine in my reviews.

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Helena Hunting comes a new story in her Pucked series. The untold story of Skye and Sidney, and the origin story where Vi and Miller are teens when their parents start dating and fall in love…

I accidentally grabbed the wrong drink at the coffee shop. On the upside, the hot guy it belonged to chased me down to kindly swap with me. On the down side, the reason I grabbed the wrong drink in the first place is because the hot guy had just caught me checking out his ass…sets.

In my defense, his rear view is rather magnificent.

In true, humiliating form, I word-vomited a bunch of horrible nonsense. Including an unnecessary explanation of the trauma I’d evaded thanks to his chasing me down. Nothing could ruin my lactose-intolerant day faster than my one true dairy.

I did not expect him to ask me out on a date after that.

I also didn’t expect the date to go well since my tendency to truth-vomit is high, and not everyone finds that quality endearing.

But apparently he does. Because he asks me out again.
And again.

Sidney Butterson (yes, it’s a weird last name) ticks all my boxes.
He’s smart, he’s funny, he’s employed and he’s ridiculously hot.
There’s one catch.

We’re both single parents. With teens.

And if our kids don’t like each other?
Well, we’re doomed.

* *Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.* *

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: I adore all the Pucked characters so much! This is the first time we have been in Skye and Sidney’s heads and I was so excited for this prequel. For Skye, you cannot help but root for the strong single mom who really does best by her daughter. You can see where Violet gets so many of her character quirks from the lactose intolerance to the blurting of thoughts. Speaking of Vi, I loved the insight into teenage Violet, because what fan of Pucked does not have a soft spot for the quirky queen herself. We also got a peak at teenager Miller, through Sidney and oh boy was it fun to see the hockey star as a teen boy throwing rockous house parties. Finally a word of Sidney, the swoony gentleman who did not just sweep Skye off her feet but us all.
• Pacing: This is billed as a novella, but do not fear it is quite a long one. I really enjoyed the length of time we spent with Skye and Sidney. So often these prequel stories are too short to really grow invested in the relationship and that was not the case with this one.
• Romance: I loved Skye and Sidney so much, and from their coffee shop meet cute I was rooting for them! I loved all the spice Helena gave us in a prequel about the parents! It was a lovely amount of steamy and tension for a couple finding their second chance at love a bit later in life. It was also really refreshing to read a single-parent romance, wherein they aren’t just both single parents, but they are parenting teenagers. Often the trope just features little kids, but little adults throw in a whole new dynamic to building a relationship. Ultimately though for fans of the Pucked series, this will feel like returning home, it is so nostalgic and just a wonderful time.

Where It Begins receives five out of five stars.

You can pick up the story here.

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Thank you again to Helena and her team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Helena Hunting’s Where It Begins ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

The next story in this set of second-generation Pucked novels is just as heartbreaking and heartrending as its predecessors. I adore this series so much and was so happy with BJ’s story. All the fans who have been waiting to get in his head will be very happy.

I am a Helena Hunting review team member, but I remain honest and genuine in my reviews.

The first time I met Winter Marks, I almost took her out with my Jeep.
To be fair, she came out of nowhere.

I flirted with her, and she flipped me off and disappeared into the woods on her bike.
But she left me a souvenir: a single hockey skate.

Seemed to me that divine intervention shouldn’t be ignored.

She was my icy Cinderella and I would be her Prince Not-So-Charming.

Winter was more than just a sassy, badass hockey-playing hottie.
She’s stuck in a prison of a life. And I’m the perfect escape.

Neither of us expected to fall.
Or for the truth to shatter us.

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: BJ Ballistic is our hero (I know the name is quite the mouthful, gotta love the humour of the Pucked series seeping into this one) and I loved him. He is a figure skater, a nice switch-up from the hockey players of previous novels. He was selfless and caring. He was the perfect guy for Winter. She needed BJ and his friends and family to step in and help her from her life’s attempt at drowning her. She is a dedicated hockey player with a heart of gold. I love the wider cast of characters just so damn much. I loved seeing Lily and Randy as parents and it’s not like BJ keeps it easy for them to be super loving and understanding. The way they welcomed Winter into their family warmed my heart.
• Setting: This story is set in the lakeside community where the Pucked families have vacation houses. Most of this book takes place over a summer break. I loved this blip that BJ and Winter lived through, a summer fling that grows into so much more. One of my favourite parts of this story is all the time spent at the ice rink. It is such an important setting for so many aspects of the book. Side note I loved Alex’s girls hockey program and how the Canadian welfare state inspired giving back to these girls.
• Pacing: I truly escaped into the first part of this story, as I reflected on earlier I got so attached to the summer love story, that I even needed time to adjust once they went back to school in the fall. This story progressed in the beginning and as story beats were hit I couldn’t help but be brought to tears. I couldn’t recommend adding this to a binge read and making sure you have taken in the joy that is
• Romance: This romance was just perfect. Winter and BJ were so in need of a great love and they deserved to find each other. This relationship was tested constantly, Helena did not make it easy of these guys. You are going to root for them every step of the way. They do get pretty hot and heavy though and Helena never disappoints in that department. When a relationship gets me hot and bothered while making me cry my eyes out I know it’s a good one.

Shattered Truths receives five out of five stars.

You can pick up the story here.

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Thank you again to Helena and her team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Helena Hunting’s Shattered Truths ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

Helena Hunting writes such charming romantic comedies. This book is perfect for animal lovers and haters alike, being very much a story of two people who have faced their own separate hardships finding someone to share that burden. Plus there are tons of cute animals, both cats and dogs.

I am a Helena Hunting review team member, but I remain honest and genuine in my reviews.

The fur is about to fly between a cheerful cat sitter and a grumpy hockey nerd in this hilarious and charming rom-com by the New York Times bestselling author of Meet Cute.

Kitty Hart has become internet famous as the Kitty Whisperer for her expertise on all things feline, and as a result, her cat-sitting business is booming. But lately, she has a terrible feeling that maybe her life isn’t quite going where it’s supposed to—especially after falling face-first into her newest client. Not exactly the best first impression.

Fortunately, Miles Thorn is just as bad at first impressions. Strike one: he doesn’t like cats, especially Prince Francis, the haughty and mischievous Sphynx his mom left in his care. Strike two: tackling Kitty to the floor in a misguided attempt to save the pet he continually calls “the gremlin.”

As awkwardness slides into attraction and things start to turn purr-sonal, will these two complete opposites ever be able to find their furry-tail ending?

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: The first character we meet is the hockey nerd Miles. He is a data guy for the local hockey team, spending his time at work analyzing player data to maximize performance. Mr. Suit and Tie is actually trying to keep his life together as he starts off on this new job. Miles ends up needing the services of a cat sitter, enter Kitty. From the moment she stepped foot on the page I fell in love with her personality. She was quirky in a way that was so endearing and relatable. I loved how loyal she was to friends and family. She is dedicated to her job, maybe a bit too much and is reluctant to introduce much change in her life. They have both had to face incredible hardships, as you read it will all be brought to light and you will keep asking yourself how this cute romantic comedy is bringing you to tears.
• Setting: The story is set in Toronto and the surrounding area. As a Canadian who has never been there, I cannot speak to the references, but as a GTA native, I trust that Helena has thrown in some easter eggs for those who will understand. The city did not take up a special place in the story outside of it was nice to see this story set in Canada, by a Canadian author.
• Pacing: From the first few pages this book brought a smile to my face and it made me chuckle countless times. This book started off with lots of comedy, then Helena hit us with some damn hard emotional punches.
• Romance: When Kitty and Miles meet she never thinks it will work out, instead of an adorable meet cute they have an awkward first meeting with Kitty falling flat on her face. How could a romance be possible between a dog person and a cat person, well Kitty and Miles defeat the odds. I loved watching these two have their feelings gradually grow as their physical and emotional attraction only grew with the depth of their feelings. The sex scenes were refreshingly different, they felt relatable with the missteps in choreography, the giggling, and the charming words. This is a couple readers will adore rooting for!

A Love Catastrophe receives four out of five stars.

You can pick up the story here.

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Thank you again to Helena and her teams for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Helena Hunting’s A Love Catastrophe ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

I adore this Spark House series and now that each sister’s story is complete I cannot wait to recommend binging these three stories back to back.

I am a Helena Hunting review team member, but I remain honest and genuine in my reviews.

With her signature charm and sense of humor, bestselling author Helena Hunting creates a novel about love, family, and second chances in Make a Wish.

Ever have a defining life moment you wish you could do over? Harley Spark has one. The time she almost kissed the widowed father of the toddler she nannied for. It was so bad they moved across the state and she never saw them again.

Fast forward seven years and she’s totally over it. At least she thinks she is. Until Gavin Rhodes and his adorable now nine-year-old daughter, Peyton, reappear at a princess-themed birthday party hosted by Spark House, Harley’s family’s event hotel. Despite trying to avoid the awkwardness of the situation, she can’t help but notice how unbearably sexy he looks in a tutu. Add to that a spontaneous hives breakout, and it’s clear she’s not even remotely over the mortification of her egregious error all those years ago.

Except Gavin seems oblivious to her inner turmoil. So much so that he suggests they get together for lunch. For Peyton’s sake, of course. It’s the perfect opportunity to heal old wounds. Or it could just reopen them. This is one of those times Harley wishes she could see the future…

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Harley is the youngest Spark sister and is seemingly the most lost about her role in the future of Spark House. As much as these books have been about the sisters and their love interests, it has also been cool to see the evolution of Spark House. Harley is the type of character that is easy to love, a super nice person and caring to all. Her love interest is Gavin, and oh my poor boy! I really loved how dynamic his character was. He doesn’t really have it all together much either, both of our characters are struggling with this. For Gavin, his story is just as much a story of someone figuring out how to live with their grief instead of pushing it down.
• Setting: This story is set in Colorado Springs, with the Spark House playing a major role. I enjoyed that the Spark House represented different things for each Spark sister. For Harley, it is a stressor, but some aspects that are seemingly becoming obsolete bring her joy. If you have read these books in the order you will appreciate the inner workings of the Spark House and Mills Co. acquisition, you’ll love it even more if you have read the books about the Mills’ (Shacking Up, Hooking Up).
• Pacing: Helena really concocted these stories at such a perfect length. I was said when it ended because I am sad to leave the Spark sisters behind.
• Romance: This was an interesting romance. I have seen takes on this trope before, the nanny/babysitter and the single dad falling in love. I have never seen someone write it in this way, that the first temptation happened so many years before and then we flash forward years later. When the heroine is a bit older and a bit more ready for this relationship to surpass just a crush or flirtation. Helena always does a good job of balancing the hot, intensity of the characters hooking up in secret. Balanced nicely with the way that feelings could not help but grow between Harley and Gavin.

Make a Wish receives five out of five stars.

You can pick up the story below…

Apple Books | Nook | Kobo | Google Play | Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon Universal

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Thank you again to Helena and her team for the review opportunity.

The post Helena Hunting’s Make a Wish ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

My excitement for this book is unreal! I loved our first Pucked second-generation story, Little Lies. I am ecstatic that Helena is giving us another Waters child and a teacher-student romance!

I am a member of Helena Hunting’s review team, but I remain honest and genuine in my reviews.

From the outside looking in, I live a charmed life: hockey legend for a father, my own promising future in the league, a great family, awesome friends. It’s not untrue, but it’s not quite that simple either.

My dad’s advice has always been to make hockey my number-one priority—at least until I make it to the pros. So, going into my senior year of college, I have a plan. I’ll put in the effort required to pass my classes, play hockey like my life depends on it, and avoid relationships. All I have to do is stay focused on the end game, and I’ll walk away with a degree and into a career in the NHL.

It should be easy.

But when a woman literally floats into my dock, just before summer ends and my senior year begins, I can’t resist one last hookup. What harm could a one-night stand do? It’s not like we even exchanged numbers.

Everything is fine until I run into her on campus.

It’s a big school. I should be able to avoid her.

Except she happens to be in my class.

And she’s not a student.

She’s my professor.

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Maverick Waters is our hero. If you have read Pucked you’ll be familiar with the Waters family. If you haven’t read Pucked then you better stop reading this and don’t come back until you have read all the Pucked books and Little Lies. Maverick is the son of Violet and Alex Waters and is the brother of Violet from the first story in this series. Mav is a man with a plan when we meet him, finish university and get called up to NHL training camp. To no one’s surprise, I fell in love with another Waters man. Mav has the charms of his father, with even more depth. Our heroine is Clover Sweet, a summer hookup for Mav that becomes a creative writing professor. I admired Clover and her strengths. We meet her in the process of trying to get her dickbag of an ex-husband to sign the divorce papers. Neither of them has an easy story to read, they both have different traumas past and present to work through. Mav’s trauma and bad nightmares had my heart hurting for him. One of my favourite character interactions was seeing Alex and Vi as parents, we especially got lots of Father Alex time and I loved seeing this new dimension to a character I have loved for a long time.
• Setting: The story is mostly set at the university. I loved how they lived in the same neighbourhood, only a few streets apart in fact. This setup made for lots of sneaking around. Despite many other second-generation Pucked characters living with Mav, we did not get much time with the wider cast, because much of the story was quite insular.
• Pacing: I loved how much this book kept surprising me. I never thought Maverick’s story would make me cry so much, did not pick up on the sad vibes when we met him in Little Lies. This book was the perfect length, with A+ pacing.
• Romance: This romance starts with such a funny meet cute. Clover literally floats downstream at Peral Lake and she washes up on Mav’s shore. They hook up, then a few weeks later we get the satisfaction of the I didn’t know she would be my teacher trope. In such a short time I was so emotionally attached to this couple and their future together. I loved that we started with more of a slow burn, mostly because they could not really be officially together yet. Plus all the time they denied themselves each other’s affection. The slow burn aspects really made when they did come together so much more satisfying. The sex scenes were hot, and Mav’s overabundant consent check-ins were so considerate.

Bitter Sweet Heart receives five out of five stars.

You can pick up the story below…

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon World | Paperback |
Paperback World | Audio

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Thank you again to Helena and her team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post H. Hunting’s Bitter Sweet Heart ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

I cannot wait to return to Spark House, after very much enjoying When Sparks Fly. Now it is time for another Spark sister to fall in love.

I am a member of Helena Hunting’s review team, but I stand by my reviews remaining honest and true.

“Charming, hilarious, and emotional, Starry-Eyed Love is Helena Hunting at her very best!

Having just broken up with her boyfriend, London Spark is not in the mood to be hit on. Especially not when she’s out celebrating her single status with her sisters. So when a very attractive man pays for their drinks and then slips her his number, she passes it right back to him with a ‘thanks, but no thanks’. As the business administrator for their family’s event hotel, the Spark House, London has more important things to worry about, like bringing in new clientele.

As luck would have it, a multi-million-dollar company calls a few months later asking for a meeting to discuss a potential partnership, and London is eager to prove to her sisters, and herself, that she can land this deal. Just when she thinks she has nailed her presentation, the company’s CEO, Jackson Holt, walks in and inserts himself into the meeting. Not only that, but he also happens to be the same guy she turned down at the bar a few months ago.

As they begin to spend more time together, their working relationship blossoms into something more. It isn’t until their professional entanglements are finally over, that London and Jackson are finally ready to take the next step in their relationship. But between Jackson’s secretive past and London’s struggle with her sisters, London must question where she really stands – not just with Jackson, but with the Spark House, too.”

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Our heroine is London Spark, the middle sister of the three Spark girls. The Sparks run their family’s bed and breakfast, the Spark House. London takes up more of the business side of things, at the expense of her more creative side. I really liked London, she is my favourite of the sisters so far. Her dynamic with her sisters was interesting, especially to watch her interact with Avery. Her hero is Jackson. He is the CEO of a massive corporation that links businesses with green initiatives together. I liked how caring Jackson was, but his secretive nature kept me warry. I found it often fueled unnecessary conflicts. There were so many cameos from Helena’s other series with St. Martin’s, these characters are Jackson’s friends we meet in the story.
• Setting: The Spark House is in Colorado, and it is so quaint and lovely. It is so interesting to see how the Spark house ties these sisters together. We also get to spend some quality time in New York, I particularly like a particular scene of some early morning crepes between friends.
• Pacing: The story was paced very well. It felt like a very natural build towards all the conflicts of the story. Of the push and pull between the working and more personal relationship between Jackson and London. As well as the bubbling up of the anxieties London has around running the Spark House.
• Romance: This story starts with one of the best meet-cutes I have read in a long time. I loved suave Jackson waltzes in and London turns him down, just to see him later as the boss of the new deal she is crafting for the Spark House. The early part of the story showcased an initial crash and burn for London, which is relatable for so many readers out there. London and Jackson’s relationship is exactly the right person at the wrong time. I loved how the calm, cool and collected London gets all blushy and trips up her words when she’s around Jackson. It was so cute to see them do things that people do who are dating, but then be like no we are not dating. I got very invested in London and Jackson’s relationship. I felt every butterfly and every heartbreak along with them. This is much more of an emotive, sweet romance. There is a bit of steam, but this is much more of a lighthearted romantic comedy. Something we all need sometimes.

Starry-Eyed Love receives five out of five stars.

You can pick up the story below…

Apple Books | Nook | Kobo | Google Play | Amazon World

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Thank you again to Helena Hunting and her team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Helena Hunting’s Starry-Eyed Love ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

I adored the first Lakeside book, Love Next Door so I was very excited to review the next instalment. This is also our first Helena Hunting release of the year and I could not be more excited to be working with her again this year!

I am a member of Helena Hunting’s review team, but I stand by my reviews remaining honest and true.

“Teagan Firestone has always been the dutiful daughter, especially since her mom died. But as her father finally begins to move on, it’s her turn to do the same. Her destination: Pearl Lake, a close-knit community with an entrepreneurial spirit and secrets of its own.

One of them is Aaron Saunders, who dropped out of college to work construction for Pearl Lake’s upper class. He’s a mystery and has a playboy reputation—that is, until he meets Teagan. Neither of them is looking for love, but in a town this small, it’s hard not to let your heart get involved.

As their romance heats up, Aaron’s elusive past comes to light and Teagan is there for him, bringing them even closer together. But when Teagan is forced to face her own demons, her inability to accept the support of friends and family threatens the life she’s worked so hard to build.

Can Aaron love her, even when she can’t love herself?”

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Our heroine is Teagan, she is Donovan’s sister whom you may remember from Love Next Door. We meet Teagan as she is moving out of her dad’s house and into the apartment above Donovan’s garage. The Teagan we met in the previous instalment seemed like an entitled rich girl, and now being in her head was so enlightening. I loved that she was caring, hardworking, and selfless. Helena matched these what are often seen as positive qualities and turned them on their head in the later parts of the book. Our hero is Aaron, the foul-mouthed construction worker, he works at the company that Dillon and her father run. This muscular, tattooed man comes across as a grump at first, but really he was that classic boy who did not know how to express his feelings so let’s just be moody with her instead. I did really love both of these characters and was invested not only in their romance but their personal journeys.
• Setting: This story is set in Pearl Lake. As Teagan picks up odd jobs all over town, you get to know more about Pearl Lake and its inhabitants. The town dismissed her at first, but as the story progressed she wormed her way into all their hearts. I loved this as it was very much the same journey I was having with Teagan. It was so wonderful to see Teagan and Aaron interact with the cast of side characters, I adored how Teagan formed a stronger sisterly relationship with Dillon and befriended her besties.
• Pacing: Pacing was pretty good overall. My one issue was that it felt like more time was given to Aaron’s problems than Teagan’s. We got more on-page time to see his healing process while Teagan’s used a lot of flashforwards. Despite the rushing, I really think Helena did a good job describing Teagan’s suffering and experiences.
• Romance: These two were sure hot and heavy. I loved that from the very beginning Teagan went after what she wanted. Some characters kiss and go on a first date, but that did not make as much sense for Teagan and Aaron. Their first kiss cascaded quite quickly into a delicious hookup. I adored their relationship journey, how they came to be boyfriend and girlfriend. That Teagan wore her heart on her sleeve while Aaron kept up his guard. I wanted them to work out so badly, I became such a fervent fan of them and this story!

Love on the Lake receives five out of five stars.

You can pick up the story here.

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Thank you again to Helena and her team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Helena Hunting’s Love on the Lake ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

I absolutely adore Helena’s sweet rom-com stories. Everything she has published with St. Martin’s Press has been adorable!

I am a member of Helena Hunting’s review team, but I stand by my reviews remaining honest and true.

“Running the Spark House, a hotel/event space that has been in her family for years, has been Avery Spark’s lifelong dream. After years of working hard and making personal sacrifices, Avery and her two younger sisters have turned the Spark House into the premier destination in Colorado Springs. Avery is living her best life—she works with her sisters and loves every minute of it, she has a great group of friends, and she lives in a fantastic condo with her best friend Declan. She might not have any love in her life, but she’s happy.

But everything comes to a screeching halt when Avery is in a car accident, leaving her immobile for weeks. After nearly losing Avery, Declan insists that he will be the one to take care of her while she recovers. However, as Declan becomes Avery’s caretaker, lines begin to blur.

Avery and Declan have been best friends since college and always had an attraction to one another, but when she ended up dating his best friend, Sam, they successfully stamped down any feelings they may have ever had for one another. Now, as Declan and Avery spend more time together, they each begin to wonder what would’ve happened if she’d dated him instead of Sam. What starts as a friend helping out another friend turns into foreplay and, before they realize it, they recognize how deeply they care for one another. But when things get serious their past threatens to destroy everything they have built.”

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Avery and Declan are the main characters of this story. Avery owns and operates the Spark House with her two sisters. Avery is trying to navigate the dating world. She is much more of a tomboy. She is athletic and has always been the type of girl with guy friends. I loved her independent and do it herself attitude. It made for a fun dynamic when she was hurt and Declan had to care for her. Declan is Avery’s best friend. They met in university and were instant friends. He is loyal, caring and kind. I could not help but want to get to know him better as the story progressed.
• Setting: The story is set in Colorado Springs. I was a bit down that we did not get to spend much time at the Spark House. But getting to know her sisters better sure made up for it. Both London and Harley are fiercely protective and hardworking. They are all very close after losing their parents young. So what I am really hoping to see from this series are future books about the other sisters navigating love.
• Pacing: The pacing was quite good. The characters did not fall in love too slow or too fast. It felt a bit longer than the average romance story and I liked that about it. The referenced accident in the blurb does not happen in the first chapter or so. It is a bit later on and I liked the pace of all the plot points. Helena really allowed for the readers to get to know the characters first before the falling in love happened.
• Romance: So often in romance novels, the characters either do not know each other or they know each other but were never that close. It was so lovely to have the epitome of a friends-to-lovers romance. This romance really starts with two characters giving in to their whims. I do not want to spoil how they start hooking up to you but please please trust me. Any romance reader is gonna love how this all goes down!

When Sparks Fly receives five out of five stars.

You can pick up the story below…

Apple Books | Nook | Kobo | Google Play | Amazon Worldwide | Amazon Universal Paperback | Indie Bound

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Thank you again to Helena and her team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Helena Hunting’s When Sparks Fly ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.

It is always very exciting to get a traditionally published romantic comedy-style book from Helena Hunting. I have worked with Montlake Romance in the past but Helena has never written with them. Happy to see two of my faves working together.

I am a member of Helena Hunting’s review team, but I stand by my reviews remaining honest and true.

Check out the Goodreads synopsis…

“When Dillion Stitch left her hometown, she had no intention of going back. But when her brother gets into trouble, Dillion reluctantly agrees to return home to take her place at the family business.

Being back in Pearl Lake after all these years feels familiar, but also brings a few surprises. She’s quick to notice that someone new has shown up at the cottage next door. Dillion gets more than an eyeful when she goes to check out the newcomer and meets Donovan “Van” Firestone—her beloved neighbor’s grandson—in all his unclothed glory.

Having gotten off to a rocky start, it’s not long before they begin bickering with each other all over town. All that back and forth inevitably sparks an undeniable attraction. But Dillion’s family has issues, Van’s family resents him, and neither Dillion nor Van feels truly at ease in the small town. For these Pearl Lake exiles, home isn’t just where the heart is—it’s where things get complicated.”

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…

• Characters: Dillion and Van are the main characters of this romance. Dillion grew up in Pearl Lake and when she had the opportunity to move to the big city she was up and off. Now post-break up and out of a job she is back to help her family out and to have a place to land for a bit. I really loved Dillion’s character as she is that fun mix of strongwilled and stubborn. She was a great heroine and Van was a great hero. Van ends up being Dillion’s neighbour as he inherits the house next door from his late grandmother and returns to pack it up. Van spent some summers there as a kid, but by no means is he a true local. Van matches Dillion in hardheadedness, but also an immense sense of determination. All around two A+ characters. There were so many interesting side characters so I am excited to see whom the next Lakeside story would be about.
• Setting: The story is set in Pearl Lake. Helena has discussed how the setting is directly inspired by Cottage Country, Ontario, Canada. I have never been because I am a bad Canadian who has never been to Ontario. Cottage Country is very special to my boyfriend and if the pandemic had not happened. We did have plans to go to one of his friend’s place but naturally, it was not safe to go. The setting was great for this story, as it was two older people returning home to a place they both loved in their youth. I loved the dichotomy of the tourist side and the locals side. I cannot wait to read more about the town’s dynamics in future installments.
• Pacing: I really enjoyed the pace that this story took. Nothing felt too rushed, either learning about each character and the romance itself. I read this book pretty fast and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a vacation read for this summer.
• Romance: This romance was great. Dillion and Van have a major roadblock in front of them, whether or not they will both stay in Pearl Lake. It is a classic burden put in front of many romance characters. I loved how much they struggled to stay away from each other. There were so many great scenes, that I for sure do not want to spoil. So I beg you pick up Dillion and Van’s romance and get whisked away to Pearl Lake.

Love Next Door receives five out of five stars.

You can pick up the story below…

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3oFVab6

Amazon Worldwide: https://geni.us/LoveNextDoorHH

Follow Helena on all her social channels…

Instagram: http://instagram.com/helenahunting 
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Facebook Fan group: http://bit.ly/340v5tQ
Website: http://www.helenahunting.com/
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Thank you again to Helena and her team for the review opportunity. Thank you for reading and supporting my blog!

The post Helena Hunting’s Love Next Door ARC Review appeared first on ClaryNathanWill.