From the New York Times bestselling author of the Pucked series comes a romantic comedy about instant attraction, second chances, and not-so-little white lies.Sometimes I need an escape from the demands, the puck bunnies, and the notoriety that come with being an NHL team captain. I just want to be a normal guy for a few weeks. So when I leave Chicago for some peace and quiet, the last thing I … quiet, the last thing I expect is for a gorgeous woman to literally fall into my lap on a flight to Alaska. Even better, she has absolutely no idea who I am.
Lainey is the perfect escape from my life. My plan for seclusion becomes a monthlong sex fest punctuated with domestic bliss. But it ends just as abruptly as it began. When I’m called away on a family emergency, I realize too late that I have no way to contact Lainey.
A year later, a chance encounter throws Lainey and me together again. But I still have a lie hanging over my head, and Lainey’s keeping secrets of her own. With more than lust at stake, the truth may be our game changer.
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Great start to this new series with characters we will all recognize from the Pucked series. RJ is on his annual vacation to Alaska when he meets Lainey. She is like a breath of fresh air in his crazy life and he doesn’t tell her who he really is and when he has to quickly leave he doesn’t have her contact info. Over a year later and after nursing a broken heart for that long he discovers her at the Chicago Aquarium when one of his teammates throws a birthday party for their kids. She has moved and is working in research there and soon their lives collide. Seems the morning he left, he also left something else and she now has his 4-month-old son. These two were made for each other and RJ makes a great dad and together they make a great team. I cannot wait to see where this series goes and knowing Alex and Violet will be along for the ride it can only mean it will be crazy.
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher/author. All opinions in my review are my own.
Helena Hunting is a storyteller that never lets me down. This is her third book that I have read and I am equally impressed with every book.
These characters really fly off the pages. It is so easy to fall into their worlds. Lainey is the kind of quirky, nerdy leading lady that I adore. Rook is a ladies man that wants to get away from all the attention he receives for a change. Both main characters have great character development. I also really love how all of the secondary characters are just as important as the main characters.
The romance in the story felt very effortless and genuine. Their story is one that will consume you. There are so many emotions and there is so much to love about their love story. It is a love story that you feel deep in your bones.
I enjoyed the plot of the story. Unfortunately, early reviews spoiled the surprise in the plot for me, but I still really enjoyed the story. Hunting is a fantastic storyteller that has a way with words and plot structure. I just love her writing style. She never disappoints me.
Overall, this is an engrossing story that will draw you in and hook you. The characters are so relatable and the story is plotted brilliantly. This is a spin-off series from her Pucked series but this book can be read as a standalone. I haven’t previously read the Pucked series but now I am totally itching to. Helena Hunting is definitely a go-to author for me when I want to read a story that I know will rock my socks off. She is on my auto-buy list for sure.
Lainey and Rook were just simply magic together! They had it all, they said it all, and they put it all on the line. Evenly matched, with strengths and weaknesses aligning, to form a crazy strong bond. Then they broke my heart, and as they weaved it back together, they found the sweetest HEA, that they so richly deserved
Love it all, loved them both, loved the peek at the Pucked crew, and loved the story, so, easy to say, I loved this book!
A Lie for a Lie is the first book in a spin-off series from Helena Hunting’s Pucked series. It is a second chance sports romance told in dual pov.
Rookie (met him in Pucked books) is flying to Alaska to stay at his cabin during his down time. Before the flight takes off, he meets Lainey by her falling in his lap. Again, on a later flight on a very small plane they meet again and Rook helps her get thru the flight as it was rough ride.
With what seems like quite the coincidence they are staying a few miles from each other. Rook in his beautiful huge cabin and her in a rental that is a run-down shack. Along comes a storm and now they are both under the same roof. They end up spending the next six weeks together in the big cabin. Until Rook gets an emergency call and abruptly has to leave and in a lapse in judgment does not exchange numbers with Lainey to get hold of him.
A year passes by and Rook goes to one of his teammates kids’ birthday parties and accidently run into Lainey. It becomes obvious that they are both keeping secrets. I don’t want to spoil anything so that is all I am going to say. I enjoyed this story from start to finish and can’t wait for the second book coming.
I loved spending time with the Pucked family, and oh boy I’ll just say omg Violet!!
Another absolutely fantastic book by this extremely talented author. I have always wondered what would become of Rookie when we met his manwhoring ways in the Pucked series, and man-oh-man this author did NOT disappoint! Watching Lainey and Rook’s journey was amazing – many many laugh out loud moments and the swoon factor was off the charts.
Getting glimpses into the lives of the Pucked family, made my heart happy!
This story was on my TBR list. When I got selected for an ARC of A Favor for a Favor, I drove in. An amazing 10 star story that I read in one sitting.
This story is so beautifully written and mastered that I couldn’t put it down for very long. It’s so addicting and captivating. Amazing characters that made me fall in love with them.
Standalone told in a dual POV with an HEA. I strongly recommend this story.
First of all, I have to say how much I loved the Pucked series that I read earlier this year. I’ve come to like hockey romances a lot in the last year and I’ve been devouring them. An athlete is an athlete whether they are playing a sport I know or not. So, when I saw A Lie for A Lie, I was excited to read it for two reasons, it was a Helena Hunting book and it was a sports romance. Once I started reading, I finally put two and two together and realized this was a spin off series from the Pucked series! I met Rook in that series and he was just coming into the league. I’d thought about him getting a book of his own. It was so freaking nice to see Violet & Alex, Randy & Lily, Poppy & Lance, Miller & Sunny, and Charlene! I loved those characters and they all kept me laughing out loud as they did in this book too. Seeing them as parents was pretty awesome too.
But I digress and will tell you my thoughts about A Lie for A Lie. I loved this book so freaking much. I loved the pacing of it and that the romance between Lainey and RJ did. It feel forced or rushed at all. I loved how it started with RJ seeing Lainey again and then jumping to 14 months ago so that we got to see the connection and relationship they had while in Alaska. They were quite cute together and had chemistry for days! And RJ was so darn sweet with Lainey and was always willing to help her deal with her problems and provide comfort when needed. I hated that RJ liked and never got the chance to tell Lainey the truth while they were in Alaska but I totally understood his motives.
The story got a bit angsty once the couple was reunited. The big secret Lainey was keeping wasn’t really one for me. I pretty much guessed it from the start since I realized what happened when Lainey and RJ said goodbye in Alaska. The beginning of their reunion was frustrating with Lainey being unwilling to listen to anything RJ had to say and for keeping a secret from him. I understood his motives so I wanted her to understand too! But when everything was put in the open i was so happy. I loved again how natural their second chance played out. Nothing was rushed and seeing the two of them get to know each other again and work as a team was so amazing. They were such a perfect couple and fit well together.
I loved Stevie, Kody, Kyle, Joy, and Max as well as Lainey’s parents and RJ’s mom. I cannot wait to see more of these characters in A Favor for a Favor. Stevie is going to be a fun character to read about and I’m excited for the cameos from other characters! This is going to be another one do my favorite series by Helena Hunting!
I loved everything about A Lie for A Lie. It was a second chance, sports romance with one more trope I love but won’t say because I’m not going to spoil anything! It was well written and naturally progressed and was such a hard book to put down!
***Received an Advanced Readers Copy through NetGalley in exchange for honest review***
After reading Helena Hunting’s Pucked series I almost cried when it concluded.
You can imagine my joy to find she has moved into another series with the Pucked characters playing background characters. Honestly, those characters stand out with me even when they are behind the scenes.
The flow, the characters, and realism I love in a sports rom bundled into the perfect package with a big red bow on top.
You don’t have to read Pucked to enjoy this book, it just adds to the fun of reading it.
Ms Hunting has a way of writing about big strong hockey players who turn to mush when they meet “the one”. I love every minute I spent reading and to say I’m anxious for book 2 is an understatement.
A Lie for a Lie is an absolutely adorable, fun romantic read by Helena Hunting. Staying within her hockey romances, A Lie for a Lie, is an adventure where the smallest lies have the BIGGEST impact on lives. And with that the journey to find true self, happiness and love begin. The quest that Rook and Lainey set off on kept a smile plastered on my face while reading the whole time.
If you have read Helena’s Pucked series, you will love some of the characters that come back to support their teammate Rook but if you haven’t you will want to go ahead and read the series and the silly antics these characters have gone through to find their happiness seen years later when they support the lives and love of Rook and Lainey.
well guys,
Helena did it again. when she announced on a new series I was so happy! I can`t get enough of my hockey players.
Meet RJ aka “Rook” the new team captain. when went to his vacation in Alaska he never thought he will meet the girl of his dreams. Lainey was reverting he wanted. she was funny and real
but their vacation came to and end and their was a big lie standing between them .
what will happen ? well you need to read it !
this book amazing, I loved every thing about it . the writing as always was so so good!.
the story was real and raw. I loved love loved it !!
A Lie for a life…
Pretty much everyone you know has lied at one point or another. Whether small “white” lies or big whoppers, most people have told a “fib” or two.
RJ lied for a chance at a normal life. His big mistake was never coming clean.
She’s the one who got away. The love of his life. He will do nothing to get her back but first he has to come clean. A Lie for a Lie means he’s not the only one hiding something!
This sweet second chance romance what every hockey fan can root for. RJ is hoping for a win, a big win. Lainey is in the goal will she block it or will ge score?!
Swoon overload, ovaries exploded!
From The Pucked Series, Helena come back with a new series and this first book is so sweet, my ovaries exploded!
The first chapter we got bonus from the former characters of the Pucked series. We got glimpses of their future HEA. I love how we can still see them in new scenes as family.
Now about RJ and Lainey…. love them from the start.
Tired of the puck bunnies and the world of being famous NHL player, RJ choose secluded Alaska for vacation when a girl accidentally falls on his lap. And when he realise she doesn’t know who he is, a little lie slip out about who and what he do for living.
Chemistry between them is sizzling. Lainey sweetness captured RJ in the most endearing way. His attentiveness makes her feel safe. Their time together is swoon and dreamy. But when he have to leave in sudden without both of them have ways to stay in contact, how can they be sure it’s not all just summer fling? That what they have is the real deal?
I love these couple from the first page! RJ is swoony. He’s easy to love. So different from the Rookie we meet from the Pucked series. Lainey definitly not like the pucked wifes and definitly not Violet
She’s more reserved. More skittish. Her nerdy side is sexy. And I love how these two take out the best from each other. Love the way Helena Hunting create her characters. Love her dialogue. Love love love the steamy parts. She’s been my one click auto author from the first Puckes series book. Can’t wait to read the next book and I don’t even need to read the blurb!
First in the new All In series of books about none other than Pro Hockey players. Helena Hunting is the queen of writing Pro Hockey romance. If you have not read the “Pucked” series you need to start now! These stories got me so interested in Hockey I have yet to miss a game from our home team this season!
I also really Enjoyed a “Lie for a Lie.” The main character Rook is likable and relatable. He meets the girl of his dreams on an Alaskan vacation. Then it all quickly falls apart. You must read to see what happens to Rook and Lainey! Now awaiting the second in the series. “A Favor for a Favor” can never get enough Helena Hunting!
Rook is the captain of Chicago’s NHL team looking for some much-needed peace and quiet. Lainey is a smart small town girl in pursuit of her third Masters degree. When a chance meeting on an airplane ignites a fiery love affair, and said love affair abruptly ends because of a family emergency, the real question becomes whether or not Rook and Lainey can find their way back to each other. Especially since they both have something to hide.
I’m going to preface this by saying that Helena Hunting is reason I have been converted to the hockey romance. Hunting’s Pucked series is masterful in its blend of witty humor, athletics, enviable friendships, realistically flawed and fully fleshed-out characters, and white hot sex scenes. She creates characters that jump of the page, and who you want to know in real life. ‘A Lie for a Lie’ continues in this great tradition, and is a spin-off of the Pucked series. And it was so enjoyable to see characters from the Pucked series pop up in this novel.
First off: Lainey. Oh how I love this heroine. She’s smart, kind, sensitive, and resilient. She also suffers from anxiety, and I appreciate Hunting’s accurate depiction of what anxiety looks like and how it can manifest itself. And as someone who experiences this firsthand, I love that it’s not diminished or sensationalized in this book. It just is a part of who Lainey is.
Rook is a great hero. And he’s the perfect balance to Lainey. They’re both strong on their own, which makes their partnership all the more satisfying. I love how he’s quick to own up to his flaws and how he throws himself into earning back Lainey’s respect and trust. And safety cuddles?! Totally swoon-worthy. I also think he might be one of my most favorite romantic heroes of all time. So there’s that.
It was so good I read it in one sitting. Consequently, if contemporary romance is your thing (and even if it’s not), you should definitely add this book to your TBR pile. Immediately.
A Lie for a Lie by Helena Hunting is an outstanding sexy sports romance that will captivate you from the first chapter. It is everything you come to expect from Helena’s book! I love them all and would recommend them all.
* A review copy was provided by the author. *
I thought this book was a fun and entertaining read.
I was hooked into the storyline right from the start. I found the characters likable and relatable. As with other Helena Hunting books that I have read, I found this book kind of slow in parts. That is why I couldn’t give this book 5 stars. There were sections of the story I thought could’ve been shortened or taken out completely to make this story move along a little quicker. That of course is just my opinion.
In this book we follow the story of RJ and Lainey. These two meet by chance but then spark up a month long fling….that is until RJ is pulled away for a family emergency and they have no way of contacting each other. Now a year later, RJ is at a friend’s kids birthday party at the aquarium, little did he know that Lainey has a new job at the same aquarium. Things are not smooth sailing when they see each other again. Can Lainey forgive RJ for lying to her?? What happens when RJ finds out that Lainey has a secret of her own?? Can these two find their HEA??
I would recommend this book to all romance readers. This story will have you laughing, yelling, swooning and over all falling in love. If you are a fan of Helena Hunting’s books, you don’t want to miss this story!!!
“My skin burns. My heart stutters. I should tell him my own truth. But for now we’re tied: a lie for a lie.”
A Lie for a Lie is a perfect start to a promising spin-off series. I was sucked in right from the beginning. Rook and Lainey’s first encounter and their time they spend in the Alaskan wilderness is just epic and I couldn’t get enough of both characters. They fit so flawlessly together, and I loved the fact that Lainey made Rook work for it.
A Lie For A Lie is a beautiful second chance romance with two people who first fell for each other heart in a blissful bubble outside of the real world. However life and love is not easy like that. Back in the real world, one year later, facing truths that hadn’t been shared before and obstacles thrown in their way, it comes clear that you have to work for trust and true love.
This beautiful, heartfelt and steamy story with funny and highly entertaining elements will capture your heart without effort.
“Every part of you is mine, just like every part of me is yours.”
I really enjoyed this book. Loved the Alaska setting and the hockey player hero. RJ was amazing.
Good lord, I loved this book!! It ticked off all my favorite trope boxes: second-chance romance, sports romance, secret identity.
I loved the instant attraction between RJ “Rook” and Lainey. Loved their summer romance–one that ended too soon. And I loved their reconnection–even when the lies told are finally revealed, along with some secrets too.
A Lie for a Lie is a wonderful sweet, sexy romance. Lainey’s growth and maturity were realistic and heartfelt. She discovered her strength through her situation. And Rook. Damn, his growth and lessons learned made him downright swoon worthy. The progression of the romance after their reunion was perfectly paced for me.
And left me wanting more. I can’t wait until the next one!
What a beautiful, fun & passionate start to this spin off series! The adorably anxious Lainey was Helena Hunting’s most relatable heroine for me- a refreshing blend of cute, awkward & nerdy. She was so achingly vulnerable while displaying great strength & resilience. I nearly cried when I started piecing together her backstory & the reasons for her anxiety attacks. And Rook was her perfect knight- disarmingly charming & sexy while always being exceptionally patient with her. Their friends to lovers romance built slowly then soared until their inevitable separation & secrets threatened to keep them apart. I loved that when the characters from the original Pucked books made appearances they mattered to the story, not just meaningless cameos. As for the audiobook, Jason Clarke is always wonderful & made an swoon-worthy Rook while Stella Bloom did a superlative job bringing Lainey to life.