His eyes have the power to undo all the hurt caused by my family.“Don’t let them see you cry.”After months of refusing, I finally agree to move to America, where my fiancé’s waiting for me.Just like my mother, an arranged marriage lies in my near future.Just like my mother, I’m probably going to be shoved aside in a couple of years after providing the Cutler family with an heir.Being a Korean … family with an heir.
Being a Korean girl from a culture that’s very different from the west, it makes me stand out like a sore thumb. There’s nothing I can do but to accept the fate arranged by my father and his mistress. My marriage to Lake Cutler will be a business deal and nothing else.
My plan is simple. Make him hate me enough to break off the engagement so I can return to Korea.
But I didn’t account for those caring brown eyes.
What started as a mission to save myself from an unhappy arranged marriage soon turns into a battle to not lose my heart.
I dare him to walk away, but instead, he shows me any bridge can be crossed.
#ArrangedMarriage #NewAdult #CollegeRomance
Please note:
This is Book 3 in The Trinity Academy Series.
All 3 books are interconnected, and some plots are carried over from the previous 2 books in this series.
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Oh wow…. What a perfect ending to this series. Lake, the 3rd and final novel in the Trinity Academy series was an emotional yet engrossing read that had me glued to the pages from beginning to end.
This slow burn arranged marriage story will tug at your heartstrings and evoke a range of emotions. You will love Lake and Lee-Ann and will enjoy seeing how their relationship blossoms from strangers to something more.
Of course the other characters from the previous books were present in the story and provided great balance and support to the main characters. I love the dynamics between this group of friends and the author gave us an ending that was absolutely perfect for them.
Lake was a fantastic read and an excellent conclusion to this series. I loved it and would highly recommend it to all lovers of NA romance.
I really loved this series but was expecting a little more from Lake. Don’t get me wrong, it is well written and sweet and romantic but lacked the punch the other two had. Lake is sweet, caring, and has a heart of gold. Lee couldn’t have been paired with a better partner. He definitely had me swooning with how considerate he is of Lee and her customs. I love that these all continue from where the previous book leaves off so you get more of all the characters. It ends with the possibility of maybe a spin off or two. I am really hoping for Julian’s and Preston’s.
After reading and thoroughly enjoying Falcon and then Mason it was a fore gone conclusion that Lake would be just as wonderful. I wasn’t wrong.
Lake Cutler is such a sweet, caring character yet he shows there is a lot more to him than his softer side. Everything continues to make you like him more and more. Park Lee-Ann is such a contrast as far as characters go but absolutely perfect for him. From the beginning you want to make sure she gets away from her revolting father and his mistress.
As with the previous two books in this series there is a reasonable amount of drama which, through very detailed descriptions, takes you on an emotional journey. Likewise, there is the same fabulous sense of humour that has you chuckling and leaves a big smile on your face. Meeting up with old characters is an added bonus too, thank you.
This story is about a sweet romance and at its centre is total innocence, and a purity of soul that is refreshing. There’s an element of sadness with the end of the trio and their upcoming graduation but also an excitement about the future as well. A story well told and a beautiful ending to boot.
5 Cranky Stars
I did something I never do when I learned Lake had made a safe landing on my Kindle. I ditched my current read mid-way to finally get some answers and closure. I was excited to see the laughable always dependable always hungry Lake get his HEA.
Lake always knew his place in the family business. Falcon would go on to open his own business while Mason would run the company and Lake would agree to an arranged marriage to Park Lee Ann to secure a sound investment for the company. Little did Lake know that Lee would rock his world. He fell for her through a series of texts and video calls and when they finally meet her in real life, he sees this innocent face staring at him, and he vows he will protect her at all cost. Even from the man who calls himself her father and his wicked witch of a mistress. He sets out to woo Lee and take things are her pace but when tragedy strikes, and he finds out her fathers true nature he knows he has to make her his wife sooner than later to save her.
Park Lee Ann lived a very simple life in her village. She didn’t have the best of everything and often worked many jobs to provide for her and her mother. It’s not until her mom makes her rush home does she learn her father, the man she never really met, has arranged a marriage for her and if she doesn’t accept her mother will suffer for it. Lee is on foreign soil and trying to find her place trading her customs for more Western customs becomes quiet a challenge. When her very foundation is rocked to its core she must make decisions that will change her. She turns to Lake and realizes he isn’t a bad man. He makes her feel safe and is willing to learn all about her and make her happy. She falls and she falls hard for Lake and his friends.
I love Lake he is just it for me. He is such a kind gentle soul who finds so much good in this crazy world. He accepted his fate and didn’t throw a fit the whole time. He embraced Lee and I was all swoony over it. I mean I got a tooth ache from how sweet Lake is and I loved it. Yet let’s not forget how strong and brilliant Lee is. The girl just went ok this is something I must do and it’s against custom to throw a fit. That girl should have thrown customs out the window a long time ago with how they treated her. The love between these two made me smile and go wow ok true love does exist. We should all have a person who will protect us till the end and be the light in the dark. I know I have someone like that. We also get to see some familiar faces in this story as well and It just made this story that much sweeter. As Lake and Lee say “In this life, the next, and thereafter” I can’t wait to see where we go next.
Cuteness Overload Perfection!
Lake was just EPIC! I couldn’t get enough of the whole Trinity Academy crew, and totally milked the last half of this book just to make it last. Lake and Lee were just amazing from beginning to end. Michelle totally broke my heart since the prologue and slowly put me back together with each page. I can not get over this book and I’m glad I have my own Kingsley stash to get through this book hangover.
“Seeing the real Park Lee-ann in her element will be imprinted on my heart and in my memory forever.” -Lake
And she will be in mine too. Lee is one badass that shines so much through her innocence yet with so much strength. And the patience and kindness shines so much through Lake, it’s just too adorable.
“I’ve only really known him a week, and in the dark night of my soul, he’s become my lighthouse.” -Lee
I love how this author wrapped up the series in Lake’s book. We also get some surprise cameos from Michelle’s Enemies to Lovers series that just landed the cherry on top of this awesomeness sundae. This is one of the reasons Michelle Heard is one of my automatic 1Click authors. Anything she writes is pure gold, and this series is no different. Cant wait to see what’s coming next!
The Trinity Academy is perfection in every way, the feels and emotion along with all the laughs was everything. These boys will grab you and not let go I’ve never seen such a close bond that will never be broken and I’m in awe. Lake and Lee are written to perfection and beautiful and It will leave you with so much love for them you cheer all the way through. One of the best series I have ever read and never forget.
Lake by Michelle Heard is the third book in her Trinity Academy series. Picking up where book two, Mason, left off with a cliffhanger, book three is a little less dramatic than the previous two books. It gently wraps up the story arcs of all three best friends, Falcon, Mason & Lake and their ladies they love. This story focuses mainly on Lake and his arranged marriage with Park Lee-Ann, a Korean business man’s daughter. The marriage is arranged to help solidify a deal between CRC holdings and Lee’s father’s company as investor but when a few things come to light about Lee’s life back in Korea, her father’s involvement (or lack thereof) and the machinations of his mistress… plans change. Told in dual POV between Lake and Lee with an occasional POV from another main character this story wraps up with a happy ending and some serious family bonding. Enjoy!
Lake is the third but not final installment of the Trinity Academy. I was so nervous before starting Lake because Mason ended in a dramatic cliffhanger. (I feel terrible snickering at my choice of words and I know it makes me a terrible person.)
Lake and Lee are destined to be married. You think I mean the arranged marriage but nope, I mean destined. Daddy gets to end his book with a new Mommy for the kids! I love the dynamic of the kids. They are friends to the end and back. It’s refreshing to see guys so in touch with their emotions. Even better to see them sharing their lives with THE ONE!
Enjoy Lake and keep your eyes open for Julian!
Reviewed for Sweet Spot Sisterhood
After reading Falcon and Mason, I couldn’t wait for Lake’s story. These three are the best of friends, more like brothers. And I love how the author allows them to have emotions and express their love for each other. It’s very heartwarming. Lake has an arranged marriage with Lee, and this story tells of their meeting, the buildup of their relationship and the possibility of it ending in love. I truly enjoyed this series. It tells the story of friendship, camaraderie, togetherness, family and love. Do yourself a favor and read Falcon, Mason, then Lake. You will then understand how wonderful they are.
Love this series
Intense emotional broken heart stopping love story of Lee and Lake
So ready for more
Wow what a trilogy this has been.
Definitely sad to see it go, but was glad to see there will be spin offs.
This book was extra special by the way you could tell the author put a lot of thought and research into it.
This is one series not to be missed, the friendships will inspire all who read.
I have been wanting to read Lake’s book since the very beginning of Falcon’s story. This guy is just pure goodness but not in a superficial or boring way. I know that sounds awful, but sometimes when reading books about the quintessential “good guy”, it means that they are kind of lame. Let’s just say that Lake is NOT like that. He is sweet but not TOO sweet and still has an edge to him.
This story almost broke my heard with the connection that he had and was trying to form with Lee. She was an enigma and finding out how she came to be there was just devastating. The good news though? She had Lake to pull her through her heartbreak and show her that she has value and her thoughts and feelings were wanted.
All in all, this story was absolutely beautiful, but of course there were a lot of trials and tribulations. It would not be a love story if it wasn’t. I COMPLETELY recommend you reading this book, but do suggest reading Falcon and Mason’s stories first. They build on each other and you know what is going on better. Gah, I freaking loved this book and the surprise that Michelle Heard threw in towards the end just made my heart almost explode— thank you, thank you, thank you for that!! 5 stars for sure from this girl!
PS: Thank you to Michelle Heard and Candi Kane PR for allowing me a free copy of the book to read and review this book honestly and go on this wild ride with them!
Ok 9 hours later and I am just NOW coming up for air. This book was heartbreaking, beautiful and I loved Lake and Lee. So much chemistry, laughter, tenderness, heartwarming and so good.
Lake by Michelle Heard is book three in the Trinity Academy Series. Lake Cutler, Falcon Reyes, and Mason Chargill are best friends since childhood. They are the heir apparents to CRC Holdings and the gods of Trinity Academy. Trinity Academy is an elite school for only the extremely wealthy. Lake and his friends have everyone’s utmost respect. They should – their grandfathers started Trinity Academy. And this is their last year before joining the legacy of their fore fathers. Lake Cutler has an agreement with his two best friends. At the end of the school year – Mason will take his place as President of CRC Holdings, Falcon will start a new business, and Lake will complete the business deal by marrying a wealthy investors daughter from Korea.
Lake has never met Lee-Ann Park but he is willing to do his part and marry her to secure the three friends financial futures.
Lee-Ann was sixteen years old and working two jobs while going to school, to help her mom make ends meet. When she is called home one day by her mother, she meets the man her mother says is her father, Chairman Park. Her mother has been allowed to raise her for sixteen years and her father Chairman Park, has just shown up to let her know that when she turns eighteen she will marry Lake Cutler, in America, whether she likes it or not. Using Lee-Ann’s mother as leverage, Chairman Park and his mistress have only one goal, making this marriage work for their own financial benefit. Lee-Ann does as she is asked for the sake of her mother. And after spending several months in contact with Lake, she makes the trip to America to finally meet him.
Lee-Ann has one goal – to make Lake hate her enough to call off the wedding so she can return to her mother in Korea. She has no idea she will be met with the most kindest of souls in Lake Cutler. And she quickly falls for her future husband.
Lake Cutler will do anything for his best friends. Even agree to an arranged marriage. He has spent the last several months preparing to meet his future wife. He texts with her and once a week they video chat. But he can’t stop the strange feeling that is eating away at him that something seems off. But he will do everything in his power to make Lee-Ann comfortable and feel safe when she is with him. Lee-Ann is a shy character who amazingly adjusted quite quickly to life in the United States. I enjoyed her experiencing new things and adjusting to her life that has taken a drastic turn. The only downfall was that the book felt rushed.
I enjoyed the relationship between Lake and Lee-Ann, I also loved how the other characters welcomed her into their lives. But it happened very quickly. I wish it would have taken more time to develop all the relationships more.
You can feel the love between Lake and Lee-Ann grow and I look forward to hopefully reading more about all the characters in the future.
I hope there is follow up books for all of the characters on where their lives take them. Because they are the type of characters you are just never ready to put away!
Well worth the read and book three in the Trinity Academy series.
Lake is the third book in the Trinity Academy series and what a fantastic read.
Out of Falcon, Mason and Lake, Lake is my absolute favourite of the series. The story of Lake and Lee is perfection of what love can truly be no matter what background you are from. Love between Lake and Lee was beautiful, hot and sweet.There were sad and happy tears throughout the book. Loved every word, moments and characters of the series. One of my best series I’ve read this year and recommend reading this series.
I thank the author for providing a copy for review.
Belinda, Book Haven Book Blog
Mason and Falcon know what Lake has given up for them, he’s the one that is having the arranged marriage so they can have a relationship with whom ever they want and now the woman he’s going to marry has arrived in America.
Lee never wanted to marry Mr Lake, but her father made a deal and all she sees is she’s moving from one prison to another, with nothing she can do with her father and his mistress threatening her mother if anything goes wrong.
Lake starts to realise that Lee doesn’t see him as the stranger he was, she’s relaxing, the more he learns the more he’s feeling for her. Talking with Mason and Falcon, they remember they pact they made, F$$$ work, F@@@ family, F@@@ everything but them, they all realise that there moving in different directions.
Lee can’t believe it when Lake wants to take her home to see her mother, he’s nothing like she ever expected, even if the deal falls through, he wants to date her. Lee knows she doesn’t hate him and wants to know what it could really be like. She never thought that Lake, the man she wanted to make hate her would become her Lighthouse and she would want to give him her heart.
With everything they go through and the reality that no matter what the boys will always have the same bond – only one person can leave them all speechless and in tears of laughter – Miss Sebastian.
Without a doubt the Trinity Academy series has quickly become one of my favorite series and Lake was the perfect way to draw this series to an end.
I figured out early on that Lake would be the one to squeeze my heart the tightest and I wasn’t wrong. Lake has always struck me as a bit of an old soul. He’s someone who always sees the good in others and others naturally gravitated towards him. He’s such a gentleman but could also be the fiercest opponent. He definitely makes me think of the saying, “Still waters run deep.” I swooned so hard with how fiercely this man loved and adored the beautifully sweet moments he shared with Lee.
LeeAnn Park was a truly beautiful surprise. I was eagerly looking forward to the meeting between these two and I enjoyed how Lake easily saw through to the real Lee and went after what he wanted. I loved watching and learning about her through his eyes. She was such an inherently good person no matter what life threw her way. These two were the yin to the other’s yang and balanced each other out so well.
As I devoured Lake and Lee’s story as quickly as I could I wasn’t prepared for the surge of emotions they would elicit from me. They tugged so hard at my heartstrings both individually and together. I won’t lie there were definitely tears as I read this book because it was an amazingly beautiful story and because saying goodbye was bittersweet. I honestly never wanted their story to end but with that said I am a bit intrigued about what’s to come next. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that both Julian and Preston get their very own stories in the future!
4.5 Stars
Lake Cutler is one of the shareholders of CRC Holdings along with his best friend Falcon Reyes and Mason Chargill. Each of the friends made a deal with CRC and Lake agreed to enter into an arranged marriage with Lee-Ann Park in order to secure a deal with a company from Korea run by her father, Chairman Park.
Lee-Ann Park never knew who her father was growing up and now she is being forced to move to a new country and enter into a marriage with someone she doesn’t even know in order to secure a business deal. Her plan is to make Lake realize what a bad match they are so she can return home to her mom.
After meeting Lee, Lake realizes that everything is not adding up and there is more to the story than he has received. Slowly Lee begins to open up to Lake and the two realize they have a connection and Lake tries to make Lee as comfortable as he can with her situation.
When Lee realizes how far Lake will go to make her happy is she willing to open up her heart to him and new opportunities?
This is another awesome book in the series and I don’t want it to end!!
I think I fell in love with Lake in the first book as he was definitely the guy who was the most aware of what was going on with everyone and always there for the other guys and their girls. He was willing to do what he could to help CRC Holdings and that included marrying someone he didn’t know.
My heart truly broke for Lee and how she grew up with her mom yet at the same time her dedication to her mom felt like she wasn’t missing anything in her life. I was so mad when her dad showed up and everything changed for her. I knew why Lee didn’t want a relationship with Lake and why she wanted to just return to her mom.
I liked when Lee began to open up to Lake and he really understood what was going on. I loved how much Layla and Kingsley helped Lee with adjusting to her new home.
I loved the continuation of the story involving Serena and Clare in this book!
I was so happy with what Lake and CRC Holdings did for Lee and how they put “family” first! I also liked that they got involved with Indie Ink Publishing and we got a visit from some of our favorite past characters!
The end was awesome and I loved the fact that although all the guys have found their future paths they are all still connected.
I really hope we get more though as I would love a book on Preston! – By Rebecca
OMG!!!! This series has been so great! Lake was perfect! I absolutely loved his and Lee’s story! Michelle Heard has written their story in the best of ways. It is so heartfelt and at the same Lake continues to provide plenty of laughs as he did the in the first two books of this series. Lee is such a strong and beautiful character. Together, they are wonderful and I hated to see their story end
This book had me all over the place with my emotions, first I’m laughing, then I’m crying, then I’m laughing so hard I’m crying, lets just say I was a mess. I have really been enjoying this series and have come to care about the characters so much so that I was ecstatic when I saw that the series wasn’t ending with Lake’s story and we were going to get Julian’s story and hopefully Preston’s story as well. Was I doing the Happy Dance? You bet your ass I was!
Lake is the “father” of the group, he is the one that is most grounded and sensible but there were times in this book where he let his emotions get the best of him and that really warmed my heart to see. Park Lee-Ann was an interesting character that brought another dimension to the group of friends, not only with her culture but with her insecurities and sweet demeanor. Don’t get me wrong Kingsley and Layla are sweet but they are more on the spunky, I don’t take crap from anyone, side.
Falcon, Mason, and Lake have come a long way together and as they prepare for their life after college it’s heartwarming to see that although they are heading in different directions they will still be as close as ever. I have mentioned in my reviews of the first two books that there were a few characters that really, really were hateful and I hate to say it but justice has been served in this book and it may surprise you in the way it was done.
Falcon was the first book by Michelle Heard that I have read, and now that I have read all three books that have been currently released in this series I am going to check out her other series The Enemies to Lovers Series, because some of those characters made an appearance in this book and they had me rolling!!!
Remember Lake is the Third book in this series and it needs to be read in order because of the way the story is told each book ends with a little cliffhanger that brings us into the next book and there is a running story through all three books.
Happy Reading!!!