Kimberly Urbane has been in love with Jake Taylor since junior high. Too bad Jake has always thought of her as one of his best friend’s little sisters, and Kimberly has always been too shy to prove him otherwise. That is until he unexpectedly comes back into town, needing a room to rent, and Kimberly has one available. Well, sort of. Jake Taylor is no longer interested in love thanks to a bitter … to a bitter divorce years ago. His life as an international journalist, traveling around the world with nothing to tie him down, suits him just fine – until a visit back to his hometown threatens to change his mind.
Jake never paid much attention to his friend’s kid sister and her obvious crush on him, but now they’re both all grown up and she’s so much harder to resist. Jake knows he can’t possibly give Kimberly the future and family she wants and deserves, but as his feelings for her grow so does his fear of ultimately letting her down.
Even though long days, and even longer nights, prove that there’s an undeniable attraction between Kimberly and Jake, Kimberly fears it isn’t enough to convince Jake to stay.
Loving Jake will take you on a wild roller coaster of emotions following Jake and Kimberly as they go from friends to lovers in this sexy romance.
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In a good way, this was so frustrating. Jake, Kimberly, get it together is what I found myself thinking on more than one occasion. When they finally did get it.. and boy did they get it..it was great. I don’t normally read this style, but found myself interested in the friends to lovers trope and the author did a great job of bringing them together and bringing me along for the ride. If you enjoy this style then this is a must read.
This was my first read of Lisa Lanay’s work and I immediately fell in love with her writing style. The story was sweet, with some seriously hot moments! A definite page turner.
Kimberly loved Jake for such a long time, and they would be a perfect match. I was rooting for him to overcome his problems, and the author kept me on my toes wondering if he ever would!
This was a cute read. Jake did tempt me to smack him upside the head a couple of times but I understood his reluctance after having to deal with his ex.
Lisa Lanay, ‘Loving Jake’.
The Almost Perfect Series.
As a Hidden Gems ARC reader I received a free copy and promised an honest review. Here it is.
Rating: 3 (of 5 stars).
In general: Second chance for youth crush.
Main characters:
– Kimberly Urbane.
She’s a fashion photographer for a magazine.
Since her youth Kim had a crush on Jake, her brother George’s best friend. But she was too shy to show it and Jake felt that you shouldn’t date the sister of your best friend.
– Jake Taylor.
He’s an international reporter. Jake left his home town 4 years ago. He married and divorced because he couldn’t have children and his wife didn’t accept his aversion against new medical tests. Now he returns to his home town to look after his old granddad. He’s offered a room in Kim’s house by Carly, a matchmaking sister of Kim and George. But Jake convinced himself that he’s unsuitable to have a permanent relationship in spite of his growing feelings for Kimberly.
The author, Lisa Lanay, then describes how Kimberly tries to let her new roommate fall in love with her yet. And they have a great connection, but can Jake overcome his frustrations from his first marriage? The author creates an interesting, but not very original plot in the answer on this question.
But left me with one big question: How is it possible that an intelligent journalist, after the discussions with his first wife about the subject, needs the help of a lovely old lady in a plane to realize that adoption is also a possibility to overcome his problems with Kim? Or, at all, why doesn’t he know that all his fears about his health could be unfound?
But all in all I enjoyed reading about the love life of these two wonderful main characters.
R. Huiszoon.
Loving Jake by Lisa Lanay is the first book in the Almost Perfect series and it looks like the first book released by Ms.
Lanay.
Kimberly is like most women who have older brothers, at one point she had a crush/was in love with his hot best friend as a kid. She hasn’t seen Jake in years but that doesn’t stop the butterflies when she does see him for the first time in five years.
I think I too may be in love with Jake, or at the very least crushing on him. The way he was with Kimberly melted my heart just a little and don’t even get me started on his relationship with his grandfather.
This book was a nice escape from a bunch of chaos and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Loving Jake written by Lisa Lanay is the first installment in the Almost Perfect series. I decided to read this book on a whim because it seemed like one that I would enjoy… I was correct. This was a short and sweet book that I highly liked! The writing in this book is flawless and paired with the perfect character descriptions and catchy story line, it was hard to put down. The characters in this book were likable as well as being easy to relate to. This story is more than the simple “two people meet and fall in love” because Jake and Kimberly have known each other most of their lives. Throughout this whole story I was on the back and forth of “man ya’ll need to get it together” and “no, don’t do that”. It was frustrating at times with some decisions that were being made but in all honesty I can see why things were the characters were making those awful decisions. Things finally fall in to place and IT WAS PERFECT! The ending of the book is the sweetest thing ever. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in the series!
Loving Jake (Almost Perfect Series Book 1) by Lisa Lanay. I loved this contemporary romance so much! Its the story of Jake Taylor and Kimberly Urbane. Jake is recently divorced and has decided that relationships are not for him. Kimberly has always had a crush on Jake so when he suddenly needs a place to stay and she has an extra bedroom she offers it to Jake. Sparks fly once he moves in. There is an instant attraction between the two. Another issue Jake has is Kimberly is his best friend Greg’s sister which means she should be off limits. Will they give in to their attraction to each other or will Jake let his past keep him from the love he deserves? This is such a great love story and it will get you all in your feelings! Be prepared to be sucked in cause its an awesome read!
5 Star
Loving Jake (Almost Perfect Series Book 1) by Lisa Lanay is a book I absolutely loved. I literally locked myself in a room to not be disturbed while reading. I got lost in the pages, the story for me flowed and the characters are simply amazing they are relatable and very well developed. This is my first read by this Author but definitely not my last. Jake and Kimberly both of them at times frustrated me to the point where I wanted slap them but at other times they both pulled at my heartstrings. Kimberly is Greg’s sister and he is Jake’s friend which means she was off limits, but she has been in love with him since forever and everyone knew it . Jake is back in town to take care of his grandfather . He’s ata friends party and is in need of a place to stay. So he ends up at Kimberly’s ( Kim) house. There is no denying the attraction between these two, but his past is keeping him from moving forward. These two hook up and definitely raises the temperature in the room. Can he leave the past where it belongs and move forward? Can these two have a future together? Can they help each other? Find out what happens next in this absolute must read Book that I can’t recommend enough. I can’t wait to Zane’s story next.
Loving Jake (Almost Perfect Series Book 1) by Lisa Lanay
4 stars
This was a great book, I finished in a couple of hours. Jake Kimberly know each other because Jake is her brothers friend. Everyone knew Kimberly liked Jake but she never came out and said it to him and he left and got married.
Now they’re both successful in their career choices and when Jake has no place to stay for a few months, he winds up at Kimberly’s.
Both are fighting feelings but for different reasons, life and emotions get the best of them.
Read this book to find out what happens, you won’t regret it.
Loving Jake by Lisa Lanay is the first book in the Almost Perfect series. This is the type of book that will have you shouting at the characters from your living room!
Lisa Lanay is a new author to me and not one I had heard of before this book. However the moment I read the blurb I knew I had to read it. And I am so pleased that I did. The characters were absolutely brilliant. They were the right balance of cautious and completely frustrating that makes for an exciting read. And once they finally started heading in the right track the scenes between them were just perfect.
The actually writing style was great as well. The author really knew how to describe everything to just the right level of detail. I never found myself wishing she would hurry up with a scene or left feeling like I wanted more. I am so, so pleased that I gave this author a go and I cannot wait to check out more of her work!
Loving Jake is the first book in the Almost Perfect series by Lisa Lanay. It was the first time I had read any of this author’s work so was unsure what to expect. The blurb drew me in as it seemed like just the sort of book I would enjoy and I’m so glad I chose to read it as I loved it and now have a new author to add to my list.
Kimberley has loved Jake since high school where he was her brother’s friend. Now back in town for a while he needs somewhere to stay and Kimberley just happens to have a spare room.
Needless to say there’s a lot of angst as the 2 of them skirt around each other and Jake tries to fight his growing attraction to his friend’s little sister. There’s a lot of humour too as Kimberley tries everything to make Jake notice her as a grown woman and not the little girl who followed him everywhere.
This is a really great story with great characters, not only the 2 main characters. I loved Kimberley’s meddling sister who did everything to push the 2 of them together. Another character, Zane is going to be the focus of the 2nd book in this series and I can’t wait to read it.
Loving Jake by Lisa Lanay a four-star read that will bring the heat, this is number one in the Almost Perfect series and shows promise of a good series. This is well done, but can be a little predictable at times, but overall, I liked the writing. This one will have you wondering all the way, Jake and Kimberly really will make you wonder, they will play with your emotions and make you guess. Jake was well done and not overly done like we can find in some romance stories.
I was excited to read this one but once I started I wasn’t too excited anymore. It seemed boring, slow and too much in her head thinking. I thought “well too much isn’t going to happen in this book”.
But ladies….just hang in and keep going! This turns into an un-freaking-believable story. I ended up staying up until I had turned the last page.
I really started to like Jake and feel his plight as the story progressed. He seems like an honest to goodness guy who got burned. When he visited his Grandpa for a “talk”. That was so sweet and lovely. I liked being in his head for a while to know what he was thinking vs his actions and what he was saying to Kimberly.
The epilogue was great! Perfectly rounding the story out.
This is a first time author for me. This story turns out great. I worry that the beginning (maybe 20%) could cause people to give up on the story. The characters..I liked Jake. Kimberly was different but she grew on me. As secondary characters Grandpa Zach was a fav. Carly turned out to be a good friend/sister.
Loving Jake (Almost Perfect Series Book 1) by Lisa Lanay is a contemporary romance that will tug on those heart strings invoking every emotion available from hate and love, pain and happiness, envy and passion and then some. Lisa has written the wonderful characters in such a way that you cannot help falling in love with them. They are well written and well-rounded so as to be life like and Lisa has created a world that you want to be a part of, take the journey with them and try to hold them together. You want to take away the pain, the drama, the angst and fill them up with everything good. It doesn’t matter how many contemporary romances there are written if the writer does a good job and Miss Lisa did a great job.
Add this to your TBR but add it to the top.
Enjoyable Page Turner
Loving Jake (Almost Perfect series book one) by Lisa Lanay was a book with a very well thought out and well written plot, with lovable and relatable characters. The author made falling in love with Jake and Kimberly very easy.
Jake has had a hard time in the love department. With a divorce and heartbreak under his belt, he wants to avoid getting hurt. Unbeknownst to Jake, Kimberly has always had feelings for him and wanted more of a relationship. When Jake is in need of a place to stay, Kimberly offers up her home in the hopes of growing closer to Jake. Their attraction is undeniable and the fear of feeling love and falling in love again might be just enough for Jake to lose out on this love.
I fell in love with this book right away. The storyline was a quick and easy summer romance read in the friends to lovers genre. This book is a page turner and I am excited that Loving Jake is part of a series, can’t wait for the next book.
Loving Jake was a sweet slow-burn romance with a little bit of a twist to keep you on the edge. I love a good forbidden romance and this best friend’s little sister one was a great read.
Kimberly has always been in love with Jake Taylor. When he returns home to help his grandfather and needs a place to stay, it was Kim’s sister’s idea to offer up Kim’s spare room.
With Lisa Lanay being a new author to me, her writing was surprisingly good. Her characters were relatable and enjoyable to read. Really looking forward to the next book after the tease of the first chapter.
Highly recommend checking out this book/author.
What a brilliant romance book. This is my first read by Lisa Lanay but I will definitely be looking out for more reads from her after reading this.
I was hooked from the beginning with this read, I loved reading Jake & Kimberly’s story and watching them their connection develop and their relationship move forward their attraction for each other is undeniable, You can’t help but hope they get a HEA.
Each character is well thought out and well developed just as much as the well written in-depth storyline. I can’t wait to see what else this author brings, ill look forward to reading more!
Loving Jake is the first book in the Almost Perfect Series by Lisa Lanay. It is the first I have read by her, but I am anxiously awaiting book 2. The book is well written, with strong fun characters. I was upset by the direction the book was heading, but I am happy the way it ended. It wrapped up nicely, while leaving an opening for the second book in the series.
Kimberly has been in love with Jake since she was a kid. He is a friend of her brother’s and has thus been off limits. When Jake comes back to town, and shows up at a party, Kimberly’s sister decides to start the wheels turning. She lies and says Kimberly has a room for rent, when Jake mentions he will be in town for a while and needs a place to stay. At first Kimberly is shocked, embarrassed, star struck… but then she decides it could be perfect. It’s easier for someone to fall in love with you, when they are under the same roof and spending hours with you. But sometimes things don’t work out as you want them to. Buckle your seat belt and prepare for a roller coaster ride.
I really enjoyed this book. This is a new author to me and i thought this book was great. I was pulled in from page one and i was eager to get to the HEA. I read this book in one setting because i couldn’t put it down. Kimberly and Jake are our main characters and they were great. They’ve known each other since high school and she has loved Jake since then. Jake has always seen Kimberly as a little sister so her feelings weren’t returned. When he comes back to town will Kimberly be able convince him to give her a chance? Go get this book to find out! I would recommend this story to anyone that loves romance!
LOVING JAKE is a book in the “Almost Perfect” series and for me it was more than almost perfect.
This book is totally in my wheelhouse. It is a lighter romance and while there is angst, it is done in such a way that I was cheering both the H/h on. There is humor and family and a few open door sex scenes. There is also an amazing dog named Daisy (because “calling a St Bernard Lily would be silly”).
The story was detailed and easy to follow. There was a very strong beginning, middle, and end.
There are a few characters (Carly and Damien) who have a very involved backstory and I wonder if their book has already been written. As this is the first book I’ve read by this author, I will be checking out her other books.
I absolutely recommend this romcom.