This is my second Helena Hunting ARC. I got this from the Montlake Romance website through NetGalley. I was very excited for this one thats why I devoured this overnight.

If you're looking for an angsty and heavy drama read, then this is not the one for you. This is a feel-good romance... One that would leave you with warm, fuzzy feels... If you're having a sucky day and you feel like the entire universe is being a jerk to you, then this is the book to pick-up... It's inspiring and heartwarming, and it'll definitely lift your spirits up. Reading this book will make you sigh and swoon with heart-eyes emojis flying all-over.

And I felt like it was meant to be, at least for me because I'm a huge Chicago Blackhawks fan... although the book didn't mention specifically about the Blackhawks, there is no other... and although I'm a Duncan Keith fan, I kept on picturing out a younger looking Patrick Sharp or Brandon Saad in my head for RJ, lol.

The pacing was great, the characters were awesome and the overall story is focused on love and family. Reading this book will make you realize that things happen for a reason... and that everything will work out if you're willing to put in the work and take risks.

This one is definitely something I'd get in a paperback to add to my bookshelf collection.

"I'm not a regular guy. Being a professional hockey player in Chicago is like being Britney Spears in Vegas."

I'm a big fan of the author's romantic comedies. While there are many funny moments in A Lie for a Lie, that's not what is most memorable for me. It's the feels that got me in this one. Yes, he's a chick magnet and he's earned his bad reputation. But, it's gotten kind of old not knowing who is just after his money and fame. Can you blame him for enjoying the attention of a beautiful woman who doesn't know who he is?

Just a regular guy and a regular girl with no expectations. Sounds like a great vacation, right? Freedom to explore and relax and enjoy being together. It was all of that... until it wasn't. Talk about a rude awakening! Neither expected their time in their love nest to end quite so abruptly. It wasn't their intention to never see or talk to each other again. But, they kinda procrastinated about sharing their personal details with each other. Yeah, they were so #LustStruck that every time they were together their clothes fell off and their brains turned to mush.

I read the synopsis, so I knew they were going to get separated and not be able to contact each other. But that didn't keep me from being as upset as they were when it happened. They seemed so perfect for each other that I was already planning their wedding when the carriage turned back into a pumpkin and I realized my fairy godmother magic wand was only in my mind.

I didn't take a full breath until he found her again and the big reveal happened. Could he convince her to hear him out? Would they still feel the same about each other after so long apart? Who am I kidding with that question? Once you've experienced their vacation in Alaska you'll know the answer. As expected, "—it's as if someone has flicked a lighter in an ocean of gasoline." But, the true question is if she'll allow herself to forgive him for the lie. Will she give in to her feelings that are still there, even if she chooses not to admit it?

There's so much more that happens that I can't tell you about. Just prepare in advance knowing you won't be able to stop reading once you start. You have to go 'all in' and understand that bookmarks are for quitters and book hangovers are a part of life. I'm so thrilled this is only the first installment of a new series and can't wait for more. The line forms here...

Rook Bowman needed a break from all the extra curricular activities that come from being a the new Captain of the hockey team. He decides to get away to Alaska for a break. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect a gorgeous stranger to fall in his lap on the plane...literally!! A breath of fresh air who has no clue who he is. A year later he still can’t forget that girl he met, so imagine his surprise when said ”Alaska Girl”, Lainey Carver, shows up in his city! The only problem...he wasn’t completely honest with who he really is. Can these two get back what they had or will his lies be too much? If you have read the pucked series then you remember “Rookie”. We also get all the pucked men in cameos, so Bonus!! This is a great romantic comedy that I enjoyed from beginning to end. Lots of laughs and steamy moments. Lainey reminds me a lot of Violet and her runaway tongue lol. Rook is totally swoon worthy & I want some of his safety cuddles ;) This one might of stolen my heart from Yeti Miller!!! Told in dual POV

4.5 Stars

Helena Hunting dazzles us with this serendipitous romance!

I really enjoyed reading Lainey and Rook’s story. Lainey is such an expressive and joyful spirit. She’s intelligent, quirky and a bit naïve. She suffers from crippling anxiety yet is brave enough to face new challenges and adventures. I could easily relate to her and I was so proud of her.

Rook is a gorgeous professional hockey player that made some mistakes when he was younger but is trying to put the past behind him. He’s strong, chivalric, and such a romantic! Rook stood absolutely no chance against Lainey’s infectious smile, falling hard and fast for the studious female. It’s too bad he’s a liar McLiarpants!

Rook’s deception, I felt, was justified to a point, but I also loved that Lainey just didn’t fall back into his arms. She made him work for it. I also loved how Rook knew he messed up and how he fought so much to be in Lainey’s life and to earn her trust back. The chemistry was palpable, and their love story was beautiful! I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love right along side Lainey.

I think the only thing that really bugs me about this book is the title. It has such a negative connotation and it’s a little deceptive—no pun intended. Lainey’s “lie” was not equal to Rook’s blatant omission of truth. But I think that’s just me being picky. The title doesn’t affect they way I feel about the story, but it may make a difference to other readers.

The secondary characters were great, and I felt they complemented the storyline well. We see some familiar faces in here since this book is a spin-off of the author’s Pucked series (if it’s not then it should be).

This romance has all the feels and made me so happy to read. I’m looking forward to the next book and curious to find out what the author has in store for us next.

Lainey tends to have a wandering eye, "the door swings open, and I’m greeted by a chest. A bare chest. A big, bare chest. Oh my. I allow my gaze to drop a little lower. Sweet heavens..." RJ is quite taken with how his woman takes charge, "she drags her nails down my back. “Let me finish you on top.” I love it when she says things like that. I don’t know what it is about the phrasing, but it intimates a possessiveness that sets me off..." I liked this book, I loved Lainey and RJ.

I don't even know where to start with this awesome book! I could not be more excited for a spin-off from the Pucked world, and seeing those characters again made me SO happy. But, it's RJ and Lainey who I loved from that first airplane ride. Second chances, secrets, and lies were woven so perfectly into a story that kept me turning the pages and rooting for everyone to have the HEA they deserve! I loved that her background story was timely and real, and I loved how RJ's love for her made them both stronger. I cannot wait for more from this series!

This is Lainey and Rook book, Rook or RJ is a captain of an NHL hockey team! Sometimes he just wants to escape from all the demands, the puck bunny‘s, the fame, the limelight, so He leaves Chicago for some peace and quiet in Alaska! Him and his brother and their father used to go to his place up in Alaska before his father passed away. He just wants to be a normal guy for a little while! The last thing he expects is a gorgeous woman to literally fall right in his lap on the short flight to Alaska even better she has absolutely no idea who he is! Lainey is a quirky, kind of a nerd type girl. And she wants an escape and goes to Alaska just to get away from everything. She doesn’t expect to be so dorky and trip and fall into a gorgeous man’s lap on her flight to Alaska! As these two Progress and being somewhat neighbors in Alaska the heat gets definitely turned up! I really loved Laney’s character she was so, kind of weird but I like that about her LOL this book was definitely an enjoyable read and I highly recommend reading it! Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!