I enjoyed A Lie For A Lie and I cannot wait to read more books in this new series!This is another fun,sweet and sexy read!It's fast paced and left me breathless!I loved the characters and their connection is sexy and intense!
 
Rook met Lainey a year ago when they were both in Alaska at the same time. They spent all the summer together but fate pull them apart until they see each other again a year later!I aodred Rook (RJ) and Lainey, and I loved their relationship!

If you need a fun and sexy read, this is for you!

I loved this book even more than I thought I would!!

Rook and Lainey have the sweetest relationship, and unlike some romcoms where it's alllll heat and no real substance, I felt like they actually had true feelings and love for each other. The character of Lainey - anxious, homeschooled, sheltered - was someone I could absolutely related to, and I loved that she found some strength and independence in the course of the story. (definitely helped that she had a handsome hockey player to help her out ;)). Rook is sweet but didn't feel contrived or fake. 

There's a lot more to this story than I was expecting when I picked it up, and I'm really glad there was - this is definitely one of my favorite romances of the year!

Hells yes!! Ms. Hunting is taking the readers back to her world of hockey!! 

This is a spin-off from her wildly popular Pucked series.

This is the story of RJ/Rook and Lainey.  A chance meeting on the way to the Alaska wilderness.  A fantastic summer together and then circumstances separate them for a year.

Lies by omission and secrets are revealed as the story plays out.

Lainey is a fantastic character, even with her sheltered upbringing and some catastrophic events in her life, she has pushed through and become stronger for it.  She is a lovely mix of independent and a fresh innocence to some things that makes her special.  I admired her strength, honesty and she was not afraid to tell the people that she loved what she wanted and needed.

Oh Rook, you swoony man! I could understand why he kept some of his world away from Lainey.  He wanted to finally be "seen" by a girl that he was really into. When his world gets flipped, he grabs what he loves and holds on tightly.  Who doesn't love a hero like that?

Oh and the best thing!! Seeing past characters making an appearance! It was like a family reunion and it was wonderful catching up and seeing what was new in their world.  Now this doesn't take away from the main story, it just adds more to it!  

I am hoping for so much more from this world!

Quite possibly my new fav from Helena Hunting! I loved the setting for this book, the characters and the trope – wins all around! Ms Hunting writes the best meet-cutes – seriously!

I love a reformed bad boy and RJ was that in spades, while his behavior hadn’t always been the most honorable, his heart was soft in spite of the walls that he had built around it. Lainey, is a super sweet, slightly naïve small town girl, whose family still treat her like she is 12. But I love her sense of adventure and willingness to go beyond her comfort zone.

Separated physically but never far from each other’s thoughts, they have another chance encounter a year later! However, so much more is on the line for both of them, and secrets will be revealed.

RJ did what he needed to do to gain back Lainey’s trust, he put the time an effort in to get to know her and what she needed. Lainey in turn opened up her heart and refused to let bitterness and her own frustrations color how she saw him! Their chemistry was so intense and yet really sweet, and I really felt that their relationship wasn’t contrived at all. 

I am looking so forward to the next one in the series! 

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I am crazy in love with this romantic, witty and breathtaking story. Ms Hunting created fantastic novel which every book lover should read.
A Lie for A Lie was totally emotional rollercoaster with beautiful and heart squeezing moments. Excellent begining of the new, 'All In', standalone series.

Rook and Lainey and their twisted relationship totally mesmerized me and many times swept me of off my feet.Their first meeting was a little disaster but full of humorous events and from that moment on I was hooked to this story.
Rook/Rookie/RJ - call him as you like but oh my gosh, what a handsome and great man he is! I wanted to steal him from this book for my own. Even thought he was wealth and famous NHL player Rookus Bowman and every one call him womanizer and Playboy, he was truly a sweetheart and gentleman.
Yes, he lied to Lainey but I could totally understand his actions and decisions he made.
Lainey was smart, intelligent and sexy young woman. Little bit clamsy and much of a talker but in adorable manner and that makes her like a wave of fresh air for the man who was always surrounded by fake women whom only were interested in his status. She was struggling with so much anxiety but I admire her for determination and pursuit of her goals.
Their chemistry was strong and flicked from the very first sight. It was intensely hot summer fling. Unfortunately they suddenly lost contact with each other, leaving lies and unspoken words between them.
I couldn't predict where this story will lead me afterwards, but I knew that it's going to be refreshing and captivating novel. All unexpected turns of events drown me deeper  and deeper into the story. 

I loved author sense of humor in this book. She definitely knows how to warm up hopeless romantic heart and speed its rate. Add a little blush on my cheeks with steamy sexy scenes and you've got huge fan of Helen Hunting stories.

A brand new series by the fabulous Helena Hunting! 

A Lie for a Lie, book one in the All In series, is another hit by this author! I devoured this book in every moment I’d have time. 

Rook & Lainey meet on the plane on the way to Alaska. Him, very well known hockey player, she, absolutely no clue about hockey and who he is!
Rook enjoys this a lot, being liked for himself and not his fame.
Circumstances make them lose touch, because he had to leave.
Neither of them can forget the other. Will they find back to each other?!

Great story, funny, quirky, sexy, sporty, lovely. Helena Hunting has a way to grip my attention. Loved this story and can’t wait for the next book!

I kindly received an arc and voluntarily left a review

I'm a big fan of Helena Hunting. She can write just about anything, and I will read it and enjoy it. A Life For A Lie is a great romance novel, and it does not disappoint.

Rook/RJ meets Lainey when he winds up taking his family's annual fishing trip as a solo trip. Lainey is a quirky, fun, smart woman, and RJ is instantly smitten with her. They kindle a friendship that quickly blossoms into more over the 6 weeks that they spend in the Alaskan wilderness, but then RJ needs to leave suddenly for a family emergency, and they are separated. They don't have any way to contact each other, so they are separated for a year before they meet again by chance.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. RJ and Lainey were both well-crafted individuals. I enjoy characters that have depth and that have flaws that they embrace and acknowledge. RJ owned his mistakes and was fully committed to making up his absence to Lainey the second he saw her again. He was all-in, but realized that he needed to take things slow and make sure that Lainey knew he was not just committed "for now" but committed forever.

Plus I got to catch up with some of my Pucked series favorites, and it's always fun to see familiar characters and see the next steps for them.

I loved this!! I loved both Rook & Lainey and their romance was so cute, I never wanted to stop reading about them. I also loved seeing all the characters from the pucked series! Fantastic hockey romance!

You know how one little lie can sort of spiral into something waaaaay bigger than someone intends? Yeah. Rook's lie is seemingly small, just a teeeeny lie of omission, really, but it causes some big waves down the line.

Not that it was entirely his fault. There was a decided lack of planning for a future (contact numbers are important, man!) for the two of them and THAT led to other waves.

On Lainey's end, she makes the conscious decision to step outside her comfort zone ONE time and things get complicated. She meets a man who makes her heart sing and just as quickly loses touch with him. Which kinda sucks. But the lady rallies and finds a way to carve out a life for herself where she's doing the things she wants to be doing the way she wants to be doing them. Running into Rook/RJ again throws her life into turmoil.

Bottom line: I liked Rook and Lainey. They found one another, things happened and they went their separate ways, and then they ended up within each others' orbit again. (As an aside, I love seeing familiar faces, so Rook's teammates made me grin.) GOOD STUFF.

4.5 Stars

RJ/Rook was supposed to go fishing in Alaska with his brother. He needs these few weeks every year to get away from being a famous hockey player in Chicago.

But this year his brother needs to stay at home with his pregnant wife.

But RJ is still going. And he's not alone for long. On the flight he meets Lainey. She's so refreshingly adorable and so not a hockey fan. He loves that she doesn't know him. And he also loves that she needs his help surviving in the Alaskan wilderness.

But he's also not telling her his real name and profession ...

Let the fun times begin...

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH LAINEY & RJ?
WILL THERE BE A HAPPILY EVER AFTER?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT! ☺

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ADORABLE!

Another adorable and funny and sparky and sexy Helena Hunting romance!

I just adored RJ and Lainey!

I also loved the sexy Alaska cabin moments.☺

I just hated that he didn't tell her the truth. He didn't really lie lie, but he omitted. It's just so unnecessary. It should've been written differently. There's NO logical reason for him to lie. We immediately know Lainey is a sweet and genuine person and that she has NO idea about any kind of sport! So I really hated that he didn't tell her. BUT - without that we wouldn't have the unnecessary drama that follows once they meet again in Chicago a year later :/

And then the other 'secret' - I mean! If you don't already know what that 'secret' is once you're done reading the blurb, then I can't help you! It's way too obvious and Lainey always uses weird excuses to not let the reader know what that secret is until we finally find out about the 'surprise' around the middle of the book! Pfff.

Ugh, how I hate unnecessary drama. But romance novels seem to need those dramas. No idea why. With a bit of originality the story would be so much more beautiful.

Not that this wasn't a sweet romance, but it's just all so predictable! I hated that a bit. But I loved ALL the other things in this book. The people and animals and the stars from previous book.

It was a really adorable love story.... that would've been more amazing with a bit more originality!

BUT - I loved it. Nuff Said. Can't wait to read the second book. I LOVE the cover guy of the second book. The guy on this one is a bit too crooked for my tastes. Like he went too many rounds in the boxing ring with his nose :/ Poor guy.

► A LIE FOR A LIE was an adorable & funny & sexy wilderness/hockey/not-so-secret-secret romace! Run to your nearest amazon for your own RJ - this one is MINE!!!!

4 stars! We meet Rook and Lainey. 
Lainey is a timid VERY (very) sheltered woman.  Rook, hockey captain and all around ladies man.  An unexpected pair that have an amazing month together away from everyone and everything. They fell fast and hard. They were unexpectedly separated and when they stumble upon each other later...real life hits them.  Secrets have been kept. This makes for an interesting reunion. 
Great story, Helena Hunting has a way of captivating you right away. My only issue was just how sheltered Lainey was. It was hard to connect with. Loved Rook and his patience and persistence.

A lie by omission is still a lie. And sometimes a little white lie is what severs ties and breaks hearts. But the truth and perseverance can mend hearts...right?

Alaska is the idyllic setting where we first meet Rook and Lainey. Seriously, an oversized human teddy bear to keep you warm and safe? Sign me up. It's a total meet-cute (HH fans will get what I mean here!), but as beautiful as things are when you're in a secluded bubble, things are not quite the same when you return to reality.

Rook is a good man. He's already sowed his oats as a pro hockey player and is now ready to settle into life and his career. I found his character to be a beautiful balance of kind, sweet, and sinfully sexy. His interactions with Lainey left my heart singing with happiness and craving more. And Lainey reminded me so much of Violet but with a filter. So there was insta-love for this character on my part. And somehow they are so well matched to each other.

Now, Hunting never writes a boring story; you're always going to get a magnificent plot with well-developed characters who are dynamic and have so much to say. Lainey and Rook? Yeah, buckle in because there are lots of cleverly written plot twists which will keep you glued to your kindle. The only mistake you'll make with this book is not reading it.

This book was amazing! I could not stop reading it. At first it bothered me that Rook treated Lainey like she was a child but then I realized he wasn’t doing that he was just being protective of her! I loved this and can’t wait for the rest of the series!!! So damn good, and steamy, and cute. Just all the things!!

***ARC generously provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***

This series is the spin-off of one of my absolute favorite sports romance series, Pucked series.
This book is about Rookie, now the captain of the team.

Rookie: I absolutely loved Rookie. His days of party and girls are over and he is tired of that lifestyle. Every year, he used to go for some peace and quiet with his dad and his brother to Alaska. But ever since his dad died, he hasn't been back. This is his first time and due to certain circumstances, he has to go alone. On the journey, he meets Lainey. Rookie was extremely sweet, thoughtful, and a swoon-worthy hero. He knew what he wanted and he went for it. Except, he tells one lie to Lainey. 

Lainey: She is a very intelligent, a little naive, but very brave heroine. She is the baby of the family and they are extremely protective of her, to go as far as homeschooling her and oppressing her. But she is strong and moves out soon. She is passionate for everything that she pursues. When she decides to go to Alaska to study whales mating, she does not expect to meet a handsome, thoughtful and funny guy. Rookie. She does not expect to get swooped into a whirlwind of romance. She does not expect to eventually get separated due to certain circumstances.

What follows is a very sweet, second chance romance story. They reunite at the most unexpected and hilarious circumstances. The story that follows is extremely sweet, a delicious slow burn with hilarious encounters. I'm also so so happy we got to see the gang of Pucked series. They weren't here much but their appearance wasn't too little too. They mattered in the story and I loved that. 

This was a classic Helena Hunting book. I couldn't stop reading. I highly recommend if you've read and loved Pucked series. It's also standalone. ANd you can pick this up even if you haven't read Pucked series.

I enjoyed this book from the moment Lainey fell into Rook's lap to the very end. There are several fun and sexy moments in this story of second chances. I was laughing, swooning and there was a certain character I wanted to knock out of the way. Helena Hunting always leaves me looking forward to more.

I was head over heels for this book almost immediately!! Seriously I loved every second of RJ and Lainey. RJ has such a protective, but not overly was with Lainey and it is just so sweet. He is such a good guy and you really see that in the way he cares for her. Lainey is adorable and I love that she is sweet and cute, but she is still strong. Their chemistry oozed off the page and I was pulled into their relationship so much. I loved the way the book was set up and the way their storyline played out. 
I loved the little glimpse of the Pucked gang and I was just giddy. I am so excited to see how this new hockey world expands and this first book could not have kicked it off better!

3.5 STARS 

A Lie for a Lie wasn’t a totally disappointment, but it also didn’t meet my high Pucked series spinoff expectations. I really wanted to laugh. There were a few moments, but overall I didn’t laugh enough. 

I did love the small glances of old favs. I enjoyed the characters. I also felt like the heroine was one big contradiction. All the pieces were cool and interesting, but sometimes they didn’t fit the puzzle. Trigger warning: a shooting is mentioned briefly. 

Overall it was an ok read. I’m still looking forward to A Favor for a Favor. It is coming out this January. 

I voluntarily read an early copy.

First off, let me just start by saying I LOVE SPORTS ROMANCES. Even the horrendously bad ones will keep my attention and most likely leave me in a fit of gleeful giggles. This was not a horrible book. Not by any stretch of the imagination! It was fun, flirty and had that perfect Bridget-Jones’ level of awkwardness. If you’re after a quick and adorable HEA read with a nerdy, shy-as-all-get-out gal and hunky, considerate, athletic guy then you’re in the right place!

Helena Hunting delivers a steamy and super sweet romance AGAIN and if you’re a fan of her previous work, you won’t be disappointed with this!

When RJ’s (Rookie) season ends, he decides to take some time away from the limelight of being an NHL team captain to escape to the Alaskan coast in an effort to rekindle the lost tradition set by his father. Along the way he meets Lainey. Incredibly intelligent, beautiful and just a TEENSY bit awkward. What starts out as a sweet summer fling to keep them entertained in the quiet, stunningly beautiful background of Alaska soon becomes something more. When a family emergency forces RJ to leave Alaska early he has no choice but to go. Except… he forgot Lainey’s number and has no way to contact her.

Pining for his lost chance at the perfect fling and someone who could have been a whole lot MORE, RJ is shocked to run in to Lainey a year later. Except nothing’s that simple. Caught in a tangle of white lies Lainey and RJ’s secrets might just be the ultimate game-changer!

My thoughts:
This story caught my attention immediately and held it throughout the book. I managed to finish ALFAL in one sitting and was reduced to a romantic fangirl by the end of the book! The story was well paced and the dialogue was hilarious. Honestly, Lainey’s AWKWARD dialogue kept me laughing and engaged the whole way through.

While this was an enjoyable read it was by no means original or unpredictable. There were a few moments that REALLY caught me by surprise and improved my opinion of the book but this wasn’t a new take on the genre. If anything, I would say this was the perfect read for someone expecting the cliches and cut and dry summer fling romance story line. Not to say that it’s not worth reading though! Just… what the premise reads is what you get.

The characters were your quintessential opposites attract and I loved that! They weren’t overly original or really even all that memorable but what really sold this book for me were the tropes. Without giving much away, let me just say that this has a great selection of my ALL TIME FAV tropes in it and if they’re yours too then you’ll be leaving this book smiling!

I’ve rated this four stars because I GENUINELY LOVED it and found myself smiling/laughing/giggling/ranting all of the way through. I was engaged. I was happy. This is feel good and it’s great! If you want me to be critical and rate it as if I didn’t love all of these tropes, HOCKEY ROMANCES and blah characters then I’d rate it maybe a 2 1/2 stars. So… bear that in mind I suppose.

But really… when I go in to a sports romance I’m after certain tropes and character dynamics (I’m not looking to remake the wheel). This book perfectly displayed those and was a joy to read!

I love the hockey world Helena created with the Pucked Series.  Though this is a stand alone from those books, I was happy to see some familiar faces in A Lie For A Lie.  Rook and Lainey's story is just as magical.  I love it when an author writes a man vulnerable. Rook is no exception.  The missed opportunities in the book, and the way fate brings them back together...So good!!  I actually read this twice in a row, and I cannot wait for the audiobook.

It's been quite a while since i've read one of Helena's stories and i'd almost forgotten just how good her writing can be. She has this knack for writing about wonderful characters that easily play off of each other, she gives us plenty of romance, fun and the odd comic moment that add up to give an all round enjoyable and satisfying read.
A Lie for a Lie was such a great story featuring RJ (Rook) and Lainey. They had a great connection and a romance that burned slowly at first but soon became a full on inferno. I really enjoyed the banter between them, it was hilarious and the journey they must take to get to their HEA was at times a little sad and intense, but i'm a drama girl and it kept the story interesting and gripping to read.
What more can I say than I loved it, every page was an absolute pleasure to read and I will be looking out for more books in this series as they release.