I enjoy small town romance storylines and this one does not disappoint. Teagan and Aaron’s chemistry is on fire. Their story will captivate you and have you rooting for them together and as individuals. A great addition to this series.

Aaron stole my heart and he’s never going to give it back.

HOLY SH*T! This book was amazing! Aaron…there are no words for how I feel about this character. He is everything. In my opinion this book was better than book 1, but book was good, so yes read both lol.

Aaron Saunders is Dillon’s (book 1) good friend. He works for her family’s construction company. He’s lived a hard life, and has had to make some hard choices growing up. But everything changed his senior year in college. He dropped out and shut himself down, barely living. Worked hard during the day and fooled around with woman on the other side of the lake at night. Well until one of them went psycho and he stopped that too. So all he had was work and he was fine with just living, well that was until Teagan showed up. She was a light in his darkness, but he knew he had to stay away, he had enough problems of his own. So he avoided her at all cost.

Teagan Firestone is Van’s (Book 1) younger sister. She is twenty-six and lives and works with her father. She has always been a yes girl. Never wanting to hurt anyone and has always put herself last in all situations. She came from a wealthy background until it all changed (that story in book 1). Her world is turn upside down and still she does everything to please her family, not herself. Until one day she stood up and said she was moving to Pearl Lake with her brother and quitting the job she never loved. She picked up a few jobs in Pearl Lake and kept running into HOT AS HELL Aaron.

Teagan has made it her mission to figure out why Aaron seems to dislike her so much when he flirts with all of the other women in town. She pushes, she questions and she makes him treats for him to open up. What is it about Aaron that she can’t stay away from? He clearly doesn’t like her, right? Can Teagan get Aaron to open up and face his demons or will she get lost in her own demons, and loss everything she has ever dreamed off?

I loved this book and the struggles that each character had to go through. Wow, it broke me at some points for Aaron. He went through so much and still loved Teagan with everything he has and waited for her to deal with her demons. My favorite quote was “I will love you twice as much on the days when you find it hard to love yourself.” I cried. It was everything. I loved how we got both POVs in the book but I won’t lie, I wish I got more of Aaron in some of the interactions.

Received this ARC for my honest review and opinion.

What an engaging read! Aaron is one of the sexiest men Teagan has every set here eyes on, and the way he flirts with the ladies...well everyone but her that is. Moving to Peral Lake and starting her life over after a huge upheaval Teagan is trying to find where she fits in. She's wonderfully helpful to all, works a different job everyday of the week and gets involved in the community and she wants get something going with Aaron, you know just something she's just filling her time. Aaron himself has a reputation about his friendliness with the ladies on the other side of the lake and as Teagan gets to know him it's apparent that there's more to him than his need to work shirtless in her apartment. Great read about family love, keeping secrets, exposing realities and connections with plenty of heat, love and healing.

While Helena Hunting is well known for her laugh out loud rom coms, this book really hits with a different feeling.

Love isn’t always easy, and sometimes we have to take a pause to work on ourselves first. Teagan and Aaron both come together with emotional baggage, both dealing with their own grief and secrets. While they have amazing chemistry, their romance felt sweet and heartfelt throughout.

I loved being back at Pearl Lake again, this book came with the best things I love about small town romances, familiar faces, lovable side characters, and everyone knowing your business.

I’m crossing my fingers that we’ll have another book in this series, I’m not ready to let these characters go!

5 Star Review Love On The Lake by Helena Hunting
I love stories set in small towns such as Pearl Lake and this story ticked every box for me. This is Aaron Saunders and Teagan Firestone’s story. After years of sacrifice it’s time for Teagan to spread her wings and live.
Neither Aaron and Teagan were looking for love but sometimes fate has other plans for you. From the first chapter to the last I was riveted to the story that Helena Hunting wove. I fell hard and fast for both Aaron and Teagan, both separately and especially together. These two are two halves of a whole and I really wanted their relationship to succeed.
Both Aaron and Teagan have baggage and it impacts their relationship but they are so supportive of one another that you cannot help but smile. These two have both been through so much and my heart broke for both of them at times but their strength and determination is one I admired.
Love On The Lake had me laughing and crying at times and was extremely well written. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley

Another hit from Helena Hunting.

Helena has combined her wonderful storytelling skills with beautifully written & developed characters to give us a love story that feels real and made me swoon.

Aaron and Teagan both have issues from their past they need to overcome to move on with their lives. Teagan seems to have things together, she's made changes to life but is it really that easy to change. Aaron on the other hand keeps his life close to his chest. He has secrets which have made him detach himself from his life, he flirts but doesn't connect.

Helena’s portrayal of a person with anxiety and ADHD feels realistic and is dealt with a great deal of empathy, & compassion.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

Basically I loved this book and I love this town. The Town of Pearl Lake is the kind of charming that we all wish for. Teagan Firestone is on a mission to find her place, and find what makes her happy. She manages to charm the whole community. She loves to help people, and doesn't want to let anyone down, but fails to acknowledge or admit when she needs help.
Aaron Saunders is the ultimate nice guy with a little grump. He falls hard for Teagan and that is a surprise since that was not his plan. Aaron has parts of his life that he has been hiding from everyone also. This book is a wonderful sweet and a little sexy romance, with a little bit of real life problems, some hidden addiction and some abandonment issues. I loved how the issues are confronted and addressed. I love this couple and can't wait to see more of them in this series.

Love on the Lake is the second book in the Lakeside series and a great follow-up to Love Next Door. This book focuses on Van's sister, Teagan, and Helena wrote an honest story about Teagan's struggles mentally and physically. No family member has handled the unexpected death of Teagan and Van's mom, particularly their dad. Even though she died when Teagan was a small girl, Teagan is still dealing with the fallout of mishandled grief, an inattentive father (who is not handling his misery), and some questionable diagnoses. All this has led Teagan to an unbalanced life. She's a sweet girl, but you can see the trainwreck coming. Helena deftly writes her story with compassion and adds the romance and spice with the fantastic Aaron (who has his own unhandled issues) to create an engaging and highly enjoyable read. Not to mention we get a cameo from Stevie (A Favor for A Favor) and mentions of other hockey wives who are making themselves known in the Pearl Lake community. I love the focus on the "townies" on their side of the lake and the people who make up the community of Pearl Lake. Aaron and Teagan's story is of struggle, forgiveness, healing, and falling in love. It wasn't an easy journey, but it was worth the steps. I cannot wait for the next Lakeside book.

Teagan and Aaron light up this second in the series of Lakeside books. Both characters are so happy and flirty and full of life. Yet, Aaron seems to be stuck in a place he can't find his way out from under. Aaron's life is full of secrets and guilt and he plods along pretending everything is fine. Teagan arrives in Pearl Lake after a family crisis because she feels the need to find herself, what she is good at and happy doing. Together Aaron and Teagan have amazing chemistry and the attraction is there too. Problem is Aaron is buried in secrets and Teagan has lifetime of hurt to unpack and a secret of her own as well. The beautiful thing is how this story unfolds. Full of humor and laughter. These two together could easily be a train wreck but with the authors guidance they allow themselves to open up and trust. As much as Aaron and Teagan love and respect one another they also need one another and the commitment they make to help one another is beautiful. They allow the other to love and support them through the pain. LOVE this story and all of Pearl Lake's characters. Beautiful, funny and inspiring!

4.5 🌟

This Lakeside series by Helena Hunting is definitely more on the contemporary romance side of things. Just like the first story, this one also hits on real life issues and problems that people face everyday. We see into the mind of someone who doesn’t see what they are doing as wrong, even when it’s pointed out to them by a loved one.

When I dove into this story, I expected a sweet, small town romance. A small town guy and a big town girl coming together to make a humble match. But what I got was a much stronger and deeper book than I envisioned or anticipated. To be clear, I loved that this story went deeper than surface level like a lot of books in general do anymore.

Aaron and Teagan fall fast for one another once the barriers are down. It’s a whirlwind of a romance for these two, which was so sweet. But then we came into the problematic areas for both Aaron and Teagan.

Aaron was able to overcome his a lot sooner, but he also has years worth of time on his side to jump that hurdle quicker. He might be grumpy at the beginning but he has a soft spot for Teagan like none other.

Teagan had a few more obstacles when trying to find herself after the debacle of her youngest brother going to jail and her life being upheaved. At first I thought she was doing well, but then when things became too much, her plate becoming too full… it takes a turn for the worse.

While this story is very soulful with some angst involved, I greatly appreciated the look into the mind of someone like Teagan. I feel it’s something that’s often overlooked in our world, or they’re so good at hiding it that we don’t know until it’s too late.

This story touched me on a much deeper level than a book has for a long time. Give Aaron and Teagan a chance to prove themselves to you. You’ll be surprised at what they give you with their love story at Pearl Lake.

Love on the Lake brings us back to the small town of Lakeside for a sweet and angsty story that I couldn't put down.

Even with the briefest introductions in book 1, I was so intrigued by Teagan + Aaron and couldn't wait for their story. These characters were so much more than I ever expected, both the definition of "don't judge a book by its cover." Even from the very beginning these two just fit, whether they wanted to admit it or not. And as the layers were peeled back on each one, you realize even more just how perfect they are for one another. This is a second chance of sorts, with Teagan + Aaron each discovering who they are, learning to accept their truths, and accepting the world they each live in.

"I will love you even when you can't love yourself."

This story is the perfect balance of sweet + spicy, with addicting banter and plenty of laughs. While there are moments that got pretty heavy, it still left me with a full heart and a smile on my face!

**ARC received in exchange for an honest review**

I fell head over heels in Love with Love on the Lake! Teagan and Aaron are an amazing romance novel couple! I was so excited to get my eyes on this book and Helena Hunting didn't disappoint in the slightest. This book is an onion for sure! It has so many layers. Both Teagan and Aaron have secrets. and their reveal gave me all the anxious anticipatory feelings I love in a book. As a couple these two are hot and heavy and their chemistry is awesome. There is a little sprinkle of grumpy sunshine, a lot of romance, but in true Helena Hunting fashion she layered in some deep serious topics. Done so expertly I felt every emotion with Aaron and Teagan and adored every second.

This is a stand alone in the Lakeside series, but you do get to see some old friends including Dillon and Van, and some Easter Eggs from the Pucked and All In series'.

This is a traditional published book by Montlake, so while it does have spice the descriptive nature of the spice is light.

I love love love love Teagan and Aaron's story! All the stars! Definite must read!

What I have learnt over the years, is that communication is key. Whether it’s with your significant other, your kids and extended family or your job - it’s pretty important, and some might say vital to healthy relationships. There are many reasons why communications can break down between any of these groups. It could be a tragedy or even hiding secrets we don’t want discovered. But as any good mother will tell you, all secrets will eventually arise, and hopefully before they eat you up from the inside out.

Teagan is loved by all. Her dad, her two brothers and her friends. Even the whole town of Pearl Lake love her, and she’s only just arrived. She’s very clever and has many skills and it’s why she can have 3-4 part time jobs in different sectors of employment. Her reasoning is, she wants to get a taste of different jobs to see where her passion lies. The truth is a lot more deeper than that. She has some issues that extend from her mothers death at aged six, and it has spiraled into something bigger than she can hold in. She’s the sweetest character with her need to be liked or loved but also not wanting to disappoint anyone. She simple can not say no to helping out and it’s why’s she’s a yes person. The fear of failure is a hard burden to bear.

Aaron is a little gruff to begin with, but he’s just a big soft teddy bear. He also has secrets, and when discovered, it was a weight off his shoulders and helped him moved on from his own demons. It also gave him clarity to see what was happening with Teagan. He is the hero you want in your corner when things get real and hard because he’s incredibly supportive and understanding. He is the shoulder that Teagan needs, he will wait for her until she’s ready to not only love herself again but accept the love of others.

I think it’s worth mentioning that the first half of the story is carefree and super sweet, setting up their romance that jumped right in from the start, which happens in a lot of relationships. And like a lot of relationships, once you get to know someone, really know them, you see cracks and problems. It’s how you deal with them and how committed you are, that sees you through to the other side. This book is a roller coaster of situations and emotions that still come full circle with Teagan and Aaron finding their happy ending.

Love on the Lake is the second book in the Lakeside series and this one had me from the very, very beginning. Not only do I love the town of Pearl Lake, but I was drawn to both Teagan and Aaron both as individuals and a couple.

Teagan Firestone has been through a tough time lately with a breakup and not being happy in her job. She still lives at home with her Dad and when she finds out his girlfriend is going to move in, she decides to take a trip to visit her brother and future sister-in-law in Pearl Lake. Once she's there, she thinks maybe it would be good to spend some time there for the foreseeable future and she puts a plan in motion to do just that.

Aaron Saunders has lived in Pearl Lake most of his life. He left for a period when he attended college, but he dropped out just short of graduation and he's been working at the local construction company since he returned. He's known as a ladies man in town, especially on the upper class side of the lake.

Aaron and Teagan end up forming a friendship after Aaron realizes that Teagan isn't everything he thought given what he can see on the surface. As they spend more and more time together, they both start to open up to one another more than they have with anyone else. They've both had difficult times in their lives and they are both holding on to those past hurts, so will the two of them be able to be stronger together? Or will circumstances end what seems to be a very strong relationship?

This was a very well written book. I felt all the emotions while reading it. I swooned, I cried, I laughed and I hurt for both Aaron and Teagan. I was able to really identify with Teagan given some of her issues and I was so happy to see someone stick by her and support her the way Aaron did. I loved this book and I'm looking forward to spending more time in Pearl Lake!

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

What an amazing read that had me hooked to my kindle. Aaron & Teagan are a couple that will have everyone rooting for them. Aaron & Teagan both have struggles and will need each other more then ever. Truly an amazing read with absolutely phenomenal characters.

Oh my heart!

Helena Hunting is a masterful storyteller, and the reality is, not all stories are sunshine and rainbows - even when you have characters who appear like sunshine and rainbows at first glance.

Love on the Lake is a beautiful story with heart-wrenching themes of loss, loneliness, and anxiety, featuring two incredibly strong characters who learn to fight for themselves amidst the darkness.

Teagan and Aaron’s story drew me in from the very first page. There’s something so relatable about Teagan. I found myself cheering for her as she sets out to figure out who she is and what she wants. I also found my own angst and anxiety building as the story progressed and she tries so hard to be everything for everyone, at the risk of her own health. And Aaron! I won’t spoil the mystery, but I will give fellow readers this advice: Have tissues ready.

I received an early copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I loved this. It's about Teagan (her brother was the hero from book one) and Aaron. At first, he really brushes her off, even seems surly with her while friendly and flirty with everyone else. But come to find out, it's just because he is scared of all the potential feelings. I think they were so cute together and she really helps him fix some things in his life. The first half of this book isn't very heavy, and even though they're working on things, it's nothing they can't handle.

However, in the second half, the struggle gets real, in a way that I should have seen coming but didn't. I felt so bad for them and it was so hard and a rough road for sure. And even right up until the end I didn't know how it was going to turn out. Decisions were made that surprised me, but I could understand it. And I really enjoyed the journey, and their happy ever after.

**3.5 Stars**

I really liked the beginning half of this book. Aaron and Teagan had really great chemistry and I loved their fun, fairly lighthearted journey together. They were both very supportive of each other and were pretty perfect for each other. They definitely had their own baggage and I was very curious about Aaron's big secret from the moment it was introduced. With Teagan, I liked how much of a go-getter she was and that she was genuinely trying to give herself a better, more independent life.

Where it went somewhat wrong for me and ultimately made me knock a 1/2 star off, was the back half of the book. It felt a bit too much to have both Aaron and Teagan have issues. Teagan's almost felt like they came out of left field even when there were very tiny, minute hints at things. I do think that that whole situation was handled well, I just think it was a bit too much with everything else already going on.

That being said, I did like this one a lot. It was a really entertaining read and I read it fairly quickly. So overall, I do recommend it.

<i>ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review </i>

Love on the Lake had a little bit of everything. I loved the beginning with Aaron and Teagan wearily circling each other until the chemistry over powered everything. Aaron didn’t want to like Teagan so he was gruff and avoided her, of course it didn’t take him long to realize he was wrong about her but then he didn’t know how to act so he seemed to resort to grade school rules which had me laughing. The romance was great at the beginning, neither of them really knew how to be in a relationship with someone they wanted so they kind of learned with each other. However, this series seems to touch on tough topics and this book was no exception. Aaron was keeping secrets from everyone until he was caught and forced to come clean. It was sad to hear about everything he went through and struggled with for years but I loved watching him open up and slowly heal. I really enjoyed Teagan’s lightheartedness at the beginning and how eager she was to learn about so many different tasks to find out what made her happy. Anytime she needed help to fix something she wouldn’t just ask Aaron to do it, she would ask him to show her how and that was great! Holy crud, her constant coffee and energy drinks (not to mention Aarons sweet tooth) was making my teeth hurt while reading, I wanted to constantly chug water just to make myself feel better. As a reader, it was easy to see problems arising but unfortunately Teagan’s issues ran deep and she wasn’t yet willing to admit there was a problem which was a struggle to read. I loved that everyone in her life was there for her throughout everything but it was sad to watch her spiraling and continue pushing everyone away. As much as I hated that everything didn’t have an easy and instant fix, I loved that Helena Hunting showed how real the struggle was for Teagan, not just to get help but to focus on herself afterwards. She didn’t jump right back into life, she struggled and wanted to make sure she was healthy and strong enough before moving on.

So pumped that this book was about Teagan!! I loved her in the first Lakeside book so getting to know more about her and getting her story was perfect!

Teagan is such a relatable heroine for me. She has the biggest heart, and wants to make everyone happy. But what she doesn’t realize is what that costs her mentally and physically. She grew so much throughout this entire story and watching her navigate through her struggles was seriously inspiring.

And Aaron…holy hotness. That man has inner demons and is the broody bad boy with a reputation. But when he loves he loves hard, and we see a softer side of Aaron throughout this book.

This was a story that took me on a journey that I wasn’t expecting, but it was one of strength and determination, and I loved every minute of it. I think Teagan and Aaron are two of my favorite Helena characters. Their back and forth was hilarious and swoony at times, and the chemistry between these two was off the charts. This story had some seriously heart wrenching moments, but it’s so freaking good. This is one you don’t want to miss out on!