Romance and old secrets beckon in this small North Carolina lake town. When her parents die in a tragic accident, Molly Bennett and her siblings pull together to fulfill their parents’ dream of turning their historic Bluebell, North Carolina, home back into an inn. Staying in town would be temporary–three years at most–then they plan to sell the inn, and Molly can get back to chasing her own … chasing her own dreams.
Adam Bradford (aka bestselling author Nathaniel Quinn) is a reclusive novelist with a bad case of writer’s block. Desperate for inspiration as his deadline approaches, he travels to the setting of his next book, a North Carolina lake town. There, he meets his muse, a young innkeeper who fancies herself in love with his alter ego.
Molly and Adam strike up an instant friendship. When Molly finds a long-lost letter in the walls of her inn, she and Adam embark on a mission to find the star-crossed lovers and bring them the closure they deserve. But Adam has secrets he isn’t ready to share. Past and present collide as truths surface, and Molly and Adam will have to decide if love is worth trusting.
“Nobody does summer romance better than Denise Hunter.” –JULIE LESSMAN, award-winning author
- Full-length romance novel
- Includes Discussion Questions for Book Clubs
- First book in the Bluebell Inn Romance series
- Book One: Lake Season
- Book Two: Carolina Breeze (available May 2020)
- Book Three: Autumn Skies (available October 2020)
more
Lake Season
Lake Season is a really awesome story. It was a fast reading book. This is a beginning of a new series. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Molly and her siblings are finishing up remodeling the inn after their parents pass away. Molly finds a letter from 1962. The letter never make it to whom it was written to. Molly wants to get it delivered. She seeks Adams help in doing so. He is staying at the inn. Will they be able to find the owner of the letter?
I loved books that are set in past and present time. Part of the is in 1962 and goes to present time. Most of it was in present time but helped the story to go back in time.
Molly was so determined to find the owner of the letter. What would you do?
I received an advanced copy of the book from the publisher through Celebrate. This book review is my own opinion.
My Thoughts on Lake Season:
This is such a fun book! It’s a contemporary romance but with a small bit of history and mystery threw in which means I’m all for it! I love mystery novels but I also like romance novels and I love history! This note in the wall just about made me swoon. Why can’t that be real life for me!?
I thoroughly enjoyed Adam and his alter ego. That is such a fun storyline and I always love books that have that going on in them. Plus the inn becoming what it once was. Yeah, I’d totally go there to spend a vacation.
Now for the hard part. Can Molly and Adam work together to solve the mystery of the note? What about the secrets they hold from each other? Will all truth come to life and romance still remain?
I couldn’t stop reading! I loved the book and highly recommend it. The characters all won my heart and I loved them, but have to say the inn won my heart for the longest. I’m forever going to be wanting that place now!
Anyone else up for booking a trip to North Carolina now? Just me?
Well, maybe you need to read this book first! Then let’s get going on that vacation at a historic inn!
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
Lake Season by Denise Hunter is the first book in her A Bluebell Inn Romance series. When Molly Bennett’s parents are killed in an accident the three kids put their lives on hold, to fulfill their parents’ dream of opening an inn in Bluebell, North Carolina. Adam Bradford is their first guest. He and Molly strike up a friendship, and together they embark on a summer filled with love, heart-ache, old and new secrets and a journey to finding lasting peace, contentment, joy and love. Molly was such a delightful character. Nothing kept her down for long except her fear of losing those close to her. Adam’s ability to overcome his father’s rejection showed an inner strength and courage not many people find. I loved the plot twist at the end! Didn’t quite see that one coming. I can’t wait for the next installment.
I received this book from Celebrate-Lit for my honest review.
Book 1 of author Denise Hunter’s new Bluebell Inn series takes us lakeside to North Carolina. The descriptions of the area make it sound lovely. Maybe a great place to vacation! I love that the siblings in the story are dedicated to caring for each other, even sacrificing dreams to give the youngest what she needs during a time of tragedy. That was very heartwarming. Throw in a bit of mystery and you have a fun twist.
I’d really like to tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed this book and give it four or five stars, but I just can’t. Typically I find Hunter’s books delightful, however this one just didn’t grab me. And the main characters irked me for some reason. It doesn’t mean the book is bad; it was simply a personal preference. Maybe it was just my mood at the time so I plan to go back at a later date and try again. If anything changes I’ll update my review.
If you’ve enjoyed Ms. Hunter’s books in the past then give this one a shot. Hopefully you’ll be like many others and love it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
Lake Season, A Bluebell Inn Romance, by talented award winning author Denise Hunter is a Contemporary Christian Romance. It was a delightful family story with a sweet romance. As I read it I could picture seeing this pop up as a Hallmark movie one day.
Author Hunter is a prolific wordsmith. I have read many of her works and can honestly say that she has never disappointed me. Her style of writing draws readers into the the story. I felt like I was there. The conversation was natural and not stiff. Lake Season is a beautiful novel.
This is the story of Molly Bennett and her siblings. Both of their parents were killed in an accident and the children want to see their parents’ dream to fruition. Enter a romance writer, hidden love letter from years ago and this becomes a captivating book that is such a page turner it cannot be put down.
I loved this tale and truly hope to see it on Hallmark. I highly recommend it. It definitely gets a 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.
Wow, what an absolutely stunning novel! There are no words I can say that will come close to doing this beautiful story justice. I have read and enjoyed this author’s books in the past, but hadn’t read one of hers in quite a while. I didn’t know anything about this story until I was presented with the opportunity to review it, but something about the description grabbed hold of my heart and I knew I had to read it, so I jumped at the chance to request a review copy! I loved everything about this book so much, I can’t even begin to express how much I loved it! I absolutely loved that it was a time-slip novel since those are one of my favorite things. The characters were fantastic. I love Adam so much, he was just so amazing and swoon worthy, I think he is my favorite hero of 2019, and he totally made me melt throughout the entire story, be still my heart!
Lake Season is a true masterpiece! It gave me all the feels and I never wanted it to end, needless to say I will most definitely be rereading this one many times in the future!
This story is so gorgeous and multi layered. I did predict the twist in the plot early on, but that did not hinder my enjoyment of the story in any way, in fact quite the contrary, I was super excited to discover that my prediction was correct!
This book is perfection, and is my favorite of Denise Hunter’s novels that I have read!
I could go on gushing all day about how phenomenal this novel is. Lake Season is a book that made me so happy, it made my heart sing the entire time I was reading it, and I am someone who never cries at books but this one had me in happy tears!
Lake Season is an absolute must read that is not to be missed! I most highly recommend it and wish I could give it more than five stars! I cannot wait for the next book in the series!
(5 Stars!)
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. Which did not influence my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own!
Good gracious! This wasn’t what I was expecting from Denise Hunter, but in the BEST way possible! I’ve loved her past heroes (Oh, Zac Callahan!), and was surprised as I started getting to know Adam. He’s so different, his vulnerability fresh and unique, that he instantly won me over. And I adored the heroine in every way, from her love of books to her genuine heart. Add in the sibling relationships and the setting of a charming inn on a lake, and this all created the perfect novel. An extra bonus was the time-split aspect, teaming the reader up with the main characters to solve the mystery of a past romance. Perfection!
Denise Hunter is fast becoming an author whose back catalogue I would like to own. I’ve only read one of her other books, but several are on my Christmas list. I don’t typically read summery novels in the winter, but I liked the back cover copy. And I wasn’t disappointed. The love story was well paced and just the right amount of attraction and tension, the mystery was intriguing and there was a fantastic twist I did not see coming. If you’re looking for a new series that’ll transport you to a beautiful lakeside time and warm your heart this is the one.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I loved this story right from the start—a charming B&B, siblings working together to fulfill their parents’ dream, small town flair, and an author (I love authors writing about authors)—but when Ms. Hunter snuck that love story from the past into her pages, I fell in love!
Oh how well Molly guarded her heart. But oh! how she got caught up in the mystery of the love letter.
Yet I identified most with Adam, not for keeping such a profound secret, but for his reason—he felt a failure to his parents. I applauded him for pursuing his dream in spite of it.
The layers—and the surprise twist—that Ms. Hunter folded into this story are rich and poignant, heart breaking and uplifting, and I eagerly read page after page. This is my first book from this author, but it surely won’t be my last!
ROBIN’S FEATHERS
FOUR FEATHERS
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.
#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, Lake Season, Denise Hunter, Celebrate Lit
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
Being alone, after the deaths of both parents, Molly Bennett, her brother and sister decided to fulfill their parents dreams opening a bed and breakfast. When Adam Bradford drops in unexpected and desperate for a place to stay, Molly agrees to let him stay in one of their finished rooms. But she never expected what would happen.
This is such a wonderful read! Life was not easy for the three siblings, but their determination paid off. Author Dennis Hunter does a wonderful job creating her characters for this book, and they develop so well as the plot moves forward. Reading the story was such a smooth and calming feeling. Even though there are several twists that have readers wanting to know what happens, this story has a wonderful ending. I’m trying to write this review and not give away anything to ruin it for you. You need to read the story for yourself. This is just a wonderful story that deals with issues that have happened to people in real life. And I like the way Ms. Hunter deals with the issues. And to use Scripture throughout the book is an added blessing. Lake Season is an awesome book that can be read anytime! I sure hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
A copy of this book was given to me by the author or publisher. I am not required to write a positive review. The opinions here in this review are totally mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
When their parents die in a tragic car accident, Molly Bennett and her siblings Grace and Levi work together to finish what their parents started, converting their home in the historic Bluebell, North Carolina into an inn. Molly puts on hold up her coveted internship in Italy for her hospitality degree, Levi moves back home to help, along with their youngest Grace as she finishes high school.
Adam Bradford (aka bestselling author Nathanial Quinn) has a bad case of writer’s block and decide to write his next best seller in a lake town to gain more inspiration. His books have been turned into movies and he has yet to reveal himself to the public. He meets Molly, as a guest in her inn, and their attraction to each other was unmistakable. Adam knew that Molly would be his muse.
Molly Bennett in her spare time, loves reading her romance novels by Nathanial Quinn, who is her favorite author, and have read his books over a dozen times. What happens when she overhears that one of her guests may be the elusive author?
Also, during the renovations, Molly finds a long-lost love letter in the walls of her inn, where it was a post office at a time. Knowing Adam is doing research about Bluebell, she partners with him to find the couple.
I enjoyed this book! The love story that develops between Molly and Adam was so sweet and tender that gave me flutters. I love how they met, and how their attraction for each other developed – though with some misunderstanding along the way. I enjoyed how the story was told in two time frames and how it collided beautifully into the present. What a fantastic read that I highly recommend.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV
There are so many things to like about a book that often mentions this Bible verse. Three siblings determined to fulfill the dream of their recently deceased parents. A highly successful author who keeps his identity a secret because he has never been able to live up to his father’s expectations. A love affair that occurred over fifty years ago and recently discovered when a letter is found in a wall of an inn that is being renovated. As Molly Bennett and Adam Bradford try to find how Ben and Lizzie’s lives turned out, they themselves begin to see each other as more than an innkeeper and her guest. But there are so many obstacles! Can Molly escape her grief and get over the hurt caused by her boyfriend? Would her trust be further damaged if she knew that Adam is the author that she adores? Will Adam ever feel worthy? Did Ben and Lizzie find happiness?
Denise Hunter has written a wonderful story filled with romance, faith, mystery, and a reminder that God orchestrates every part of our lives.These two romances, past and present, share a similar theme and I was especially moved by the ending. I look forward to following Molly and her siblings Levi and Grace as they continue managing the Bluebell Inn.
I highly recommend Lake Season to all who enjoy contemporary romantic fiction.
I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
“Lake Season” by Denise Hunter available November 12, 2019
Levi, Molly and Grace are mourning the devastating deaths of their parents in “Lake Season” by Denise Hunter. What do they do now? Grace is still in high school, Levi has a job and his own life and Molly is nearly finished with college. They have a lot of decisions to make. Do they sell the house-make Grace move and leave her friends to go to school in a strange town? How can they make this work for each of them?
They quickly realize they cannot stand another loss in selling their family home. They decide to work together and finish what their parents started. They will all stay together and work together to make the house the Bluebell Inn, as their parents had dreamed of. They know it will be a big commitment, and they know it is the right thing to do. When Molly finds a letter that was lost years ago during the renovation, no one knew the ripple effects it would cause.
“Whoever knew that a stranger walking through the door to the Bluebell Inn could have such an impact on Molly’s life? A person that she shares the mystery of the letter with, has feelings for, is hurt by, but that she cannot get out of her mind? Could Molly and Author Adam’s lives have intersected for a reason? Such a great story, a heartwarming, clean romance, with a small-town feel. I loved this story! 5 stars!”-Green Gables Book Reviews
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read “Lake Season” before its release date!
“Lake Season” by Denise Hunter
Pages-352
Published by-Thomas Nelson
Sold by-HarperCollins Publishing
A sweet summer romance
My rating is 4.5 stars
Adam was adorably bookish. I loved that his nose was crooked from being broken – by a large book! He had a habit of spouting random facts when he was nervous. And with the research he did for his books, he had plenty of random facts to spout!
He was also very insecure as his father had always made him feel as if he was lacking because he was more cerebral than athletic. So he wrote under a pseudonym, fearing that his readers would reject him for not being more like the heroes he wrote about.
Paralyzed by grief, letting fear dictate her actions and color her perception of the world, Molly struggled with trust. Especially after being hurt and lied to in such a big way.
The mystery of the letter from the past was very cleverly woven into the story. I liked the excerpts from Ben and Lizzie’s summer romance. There was just enough to not distract from the main storyline and enough to make me want to find out what happened to them. And I will say that I was completely shocked by the truth Adam and Molly discovered!
This was a very enjoyable story, filled with romance and mystery. There are hints of spiritual elements that come through especially as Molly learns to overcome her fear and her grief and as Adam learns to be confident in the man he is.
If you enjoy sweet summer romances, Lake Season is a great story to add to your library.
Read my review of Lake Season by Denise Hunter at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
God has a way of working things out
Have you ever felt like the world was crashing in on you and you couldn’t see God’s light in the tunnel? Well that was Molly’s life in Lake Season. She knew God was with her, even when he parents were taken from her and her sibling in a sudden and traggic way. But she was deffinatly looking for a life line.
Lake Season was a page turner for me. When I should have been doing my own work, I was busy reading away at this captivating story. I couldn’t contain the need to see what would happen next. Boy was I left feeling fulfilled.
Molly’s life is on a rollercoaster ride of sorts. She losses her parents and completes their family project of turning their large family home into an inn. She was most definitely not counting on the mysterious and charming book nerd, Adam. He had her in all sorts of knots and to my frustration, she was missing all the queues.
Now, let me unpack Adam. Being a writer, I get it. All of it. If you wonder what it is like to be a writer, pay close attention. His insecurities for his childhood poured into his adult life. Personally and professionally. I can relate to that 100%. Sometimes those insecurities can be debilitating. Thank God for putting people in the path to pull him (&me) out.
** I was given a copy of this book by the publisher through CelebrateLit. The views expressed are all my own and a favorable review was not required.
Molly and her siblings decide to follow through with opening the inn her parents dreamed of despite giving up plans they had for their own lives. Adam Bradford is in town for business and needs a place to stay. Molly thought he was a friend of Levi’s sent to help her with something, then offers him a place to stay at the inn after she finds out otherwise. After finding an old letter dated from the 60’s, she asks Adam for his help. The story jumps back and forth between the people in the letter and current day, while Molly and Adam try to find what happened to Ben and Lizzie. This story draws you right in and keeps the pages turning while we learn about the past and wonder what’s going to happen in the present and future. Easy to relate to characters. I loved the description of the inn and Bluebell and can’t wait to read about Grace and Levi in the upcoming stories of this trilogy.
A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher through NetGalley. A review was no required and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Lake Season is a novel from the heart. Denise Hunter has beautifully penned of story of three siblings dealing with the sudden loss of their parents in an auto accident. Levi Bennett is the eldest of the three. With a business degree, he is pursuing a career in California. Grace Bennett is the youngest. Still in high school, she balks at the idea of selling the family home in Bluebell Lake, NC. Her friends, her school, her life and support system is here, as is the rambling inn their parents had dreamed of turning into a lakefront bed and breakfast. Molly Bennett is in the middle. She has almost graduated college with a hospitality degree and is looking forward to an internship in Italy the following fall. Molly has dreamed of this ever since a friend sent her a postcard. She had even learned Italian in preparation for this day. And yet it is Molly that proposes that she and Levi come home and make a go of the inn, doing what she thinks will be best for Grace and the memory of their parents.
With hard work, the three diligently move toward their goal of opening the inn in time for lake season. Just prior to opening, an awkward and unassuming young man begs Molly for a room and she relents, which Levi points out could cost them their license. But Levi relents, allowing Adam Bradford to stay until they are licensed as a friend of the family. In the area for research, author Adam is taken by Molly, and, in exchange for his few days free, Adam agrees to help Molly do research on an old letter found in the wall.
This is a lovely story of family, friendship, and a surprising quest. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!
In the newest release by Ms. Hunter, Lake Season is the first book in the Bluebell Inn series. This charming, romantic book is a great edition for any fan of Ms. Hunter. If you have never read one of her books, I highly suggest you read this one. As you turn the page, the story will continue to draw you in to see how it ends. After reading this book, I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this series. I cannot wait to read what happens after this book! This book focuses on one of the Bennett siblings, Molly. Together with her other two siblings, they are trying to have a prosperous business at their inn. As they began on this journey, Molly meets Adam who is looking for a place to stay in their town. Adam is actually Molly’s favorite author, but no one knows who the real writer is. Molly gets Adam’s creativity churning after he has a dry writing spell. Then, Molly discovers a long-lost letter. Together with Adam they embark on a journey to reunite the writer and the intended recipient of the letter. This was an awesome story to read! I highly recommend you read this book! You will not be disappointed!
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, I have purchased her books before.
This book was a classic feel good, and make you warm inside type of a book. From the first chapter little by little Denise Hunter drew me in, she fed me little nuggets of information about the characters, arousing my curiosity about how the book would end. It was great getting to meet a famous author and a new innkeeper and her family. Plus, Denise Hunter threw in a bit of a mystery with an ending I totally didn’t see coming. All the characters (not just the main ones, as this book is the first in a series) were developed in such a way that I felt personally invested in their lives. By the end of the book I felt like I genuinely knew the characters and their struggles, which doesn’t always happen in books. It was also interesting to see how Denise Hunter weaved in a dual plot-line; I really loved the glimpses into the past. I think I am already looking forward to learning about the rest of the family in Bluebell, NC.
I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars for the hint of mystery, the end I totally did not see coming, and for leaving me in want of the next book in the series. Personally, I think that the best books are about what really happens in life and the ways that God can use anything for His good. In Lake Season, Denise Hunter put this into perspective for her characters and for anyone who reads Lake Season.
I’m always happy to pick up a new book by author Denise Hunter. I’ve been reading her books for a long time and always enjoy the stories she creates. This is the first book in a new series and it’s off to a good start!
If you love sweet, gentle romances, this is your book. It’s predictable like a Hallmark movie but I LOVE Hallmark movies! It kind of has a story within a story with some flashbacks to the past as Molly and Adam are trying to find the people associated with a long, lost letter. In the beginning the story progression was slow. It seemed to spin in the same place for a long time before moving forward but it really gave me time to get to know the characters of Molly and Adam- who are endearing and so easy to root for.
I don’t think this is my favorite book by Denise Hunter but I did enjoy it and I’m looking forward to the next book!
Content: kissing, Christian fiction elements
– I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.