Violet Caliendo escorts couples into the illusion of “happily ever after” as wedding coordinator at Willow Valley’s five-star Caliendo Resort. But Violet doesn’t believe in love or “happily ever after” anymore. She’s guarded herself from love so deeply since her divorce that some even call her the “Ice Queen.” When she has to plan her ex-husband’s wedding, even her Ice Queen persona takes a … hit.With her emotions in high gear, she takes out her frustrations by having sex with her ex’s best man, Ryder Carlex. Ryder is a playboy type and Violet figures it’s a simple one-time fling. But Ryder actually is attracted to Violet in a way he’s never known before. Neither of them ever imagines that the sparks between them will ignite a fire hotter than anything they’ve ever encountered – slowly breaking down both their walls. Will Violet be able to let go of her past and embrace a possible future with Ryder? Will Ryder let Violet into his own deep, dark secrets? Or will their trust issues forever doom them both from achieving their own “happily ever after”?This book can be read as a stand alone, but for more enjoyment read them in the order of the series, as all the characters appear in future books. Read the full BY THE LAKE SERIES: MCADAMS SISTERS BOOK 1: Lakeshore Secrets BOOK 2: Lakeshore Legend BOOK 3: Lakeshore Love BOOK 4: Lakeshore CandyBOOK 5: Lakeshore LyricsTHE CALIENDO RESORT:BOOK 1: Sunset ThunderBOOK 2: Sunset RivalryBOOK 3: Sunset SaleBOOK 4: Sunset FlareBOOK 5: Sunset Shelter
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Violet Caliendo is all about keeping it together ; her appearance, her job, her life. She is selling happily ever after dreams to soon-to-be married couples but she never got hers. Every men in her life deceived her except her brother….men are lying money hungry cheaters or playboys.
Ryder Carlex‘s life changed dramatically over the years. Women are not to be trusted and he doesn’t have time nor will he risk his heart for a relationship; he’s all about taking over his father’s business and caring for him.
Violet never liked Ryder; he was a selfish spoiled rich playboy.
Ryder wouldn’t even think twice about the Ice Queen Violet was. So why are they attracted to each other despise their mutual reluctance towards each other?
Can misunderstandings, betrayals and secrets keep them apart or will it make them finally open to others ? Is love strong enough to start over again in life and finally have a Happily Ever After?
OMG I was hooked! Turns of events I couldn’t even suspect kept me on edge until the end.
Once again Shannyn Leah was able to bring a turmoil of emotions throughout this amazing book .
As the event coordinator at her family’s resort, Violet is overseeing the details of her ex-husband’s wedding. When the stress of it as well as the interference from her family become too much, she stalks Ryder in order to have a quickie. He’s a playboy through and through and she knows it will be a one and done deal.
Ryder is seeing an entirely different side of the Ice Queen than her ex-husband has described. While one minute she’s ice cold, the next she’s teeming with passion. Who is the real Violet Caliendo?
This was an enjoyable read with lots of fun, and sometimes deep, secondary characters. The steam level is nice with a fade to black and the dynamics between the hero and heroine keep you on your toes. I loved watching this couple fall in love in spite of all the negativity they had been fed about each other. The ending was wrapped up very nicely following the acknowledgment of a few secrets that had set everyone up to take their own individual journeys.
The thing that makes this writers books so good is the twist. You never know just how everything is going to work out, except that the couples will persevere. There is plenty of action and there is passion but mostly there is just some screwed up garbage going on because of that man that held folks under his thumb. Still trying to right the wrongs of the father we had straight to Violet and her forced marriage. As the lies and secrets are recognized, acknowledged and brought to light hea’s happen and not just for Violet and Ryder. Ryder who there is so much more to than every thought. Violet who isn’t the ice queen she has earned the reputation for. Behind the characters this author writes is always someone that has been hidden, by deeds to or deeds done. There is always more than meets the eye and to the story. Another great read.
Awesome read. Loved the smooth flowing storyline
Book one in the Caliendo Resort series. So we met the Caliendo’s in book one of the McAdams Sisters series and now we get their stories which I was dying to read. This time it is Violet who works as the wedding planner at the resort and for some wacky reason she strangely agreed to plan her ex-husbands wedding to his new bride there. While trying to deal with her stress Violet sexually attacks Ryder, the best man, in the bathroom for a one and done. The problem is that they both enjoyed it too much to stop at only one time so what follows is them trying to stay away from one another yet failing catastrophically. This really raises the heat level which I was enjoying I must admit. This is a wonderfully written contemporary romance novel that will keep the reader hooked until they reach the very last page and wish they had book two ready to go. I loved every single minute of it so I give it 5/5 stars.
Violet and Ryder are so amazing together. It was quite the roller coaster to take with them as they traveled through the heartache and pain of family secrets. I loved absolutely every twist of this story. So many things came together to make this a page turner that I just couldn’t put down. The love that Violet and Ryder share is something everyone can hope to have. I can’t wait to see what happen to the next Caliendo!
Hard to believe what Robert Caliendo got his family into. This book got a five star from me because of the suspense and the love that developed between Violet and Ryder. Strong characters to pull you in from the start.
What Violet knew about Ryder was that he is a playboy always with a different woman on his arm and he is her ex husband Joel’s best friend and best man for his new wedding. Violet is the wedding planner at the resort and is in charge of the wedding of her ex husband Joel and his girlfriend Missy, being the professional that she is she is trying to keep it together. When she begins to have a panic attack she jumps in the bathroom to compose herself she sees Ryder the one man in the world she should stay away from but she jumps him. Ryder has always been told by her ex husband that she is an ice queen but Ryder is having a hard time putting truth to the stories Joel has been telling him. Violet and Ryder feel something deep with each other but Violet has a hard time trusting someone but Ryder begs her to trust him. This being the first book in the Caliendo family it’s is awesome and I can’t wait to read more
3.5 that I’m reluctantly bumping up to 4. That reluctance comes more from editing and grammatical errors than from the story. The errors did sometimes interfere with reading. This is the second book I’ve read by this author. I didn’t notice these errors in the first book that I read so I checked the publication dates and found that this one is from 2015, the first one I read was from 2017. So, I’m going to say that the errors were due to being a newer writer rather than an experienced author and bumping the rating up. Now, about the story……
Violet is an independent, determined woman who is integral to running a family resort business. She is also divorced and raising her two children with little support from her ex-husband. Oh, he’s present, when he feels like being bothered, but theirs is a contentious relationship. Now, Joel is getting married to Missy. His “true love,” you know, the one that he was cheating with while still married to Violet, Missy’s boss. Yep, Missy was a maid at the Caliendo Resort. Guess where the wedding is going to be held? Why, at the Caliendo Resort where Violet is the wedding planner! What could possibly go wrong?
Enter Ryder, Joel’s best friend, who was best man at Joel’s first wedding and will be again at his second wedding. Ryder, the notorious playboy whose exploits have been touted by Joel for years. Whose exploits Violet has had to hear about, from Joel, for years. But, is Ryder really who Joel has portrayed him to be? Joel and Ryder used to be close, but not so much anymore. Why exactly is that?
There are many betrayals, on many different levels, in this story. The story is interesting and at times complex. It’s worth the 4 stars if you can get past the writing errors.
I absolutely loved Violet and Ryders’ story – 5 Stars!
In Sunset Thunder, we are back to the world of the Caliendo siblings who we first read about in Lakeshore Secrets – Marc Caliendo and Kate McAdams’ story. Each book is a stand-a-lone and is essentially about the fallout of a dead man who was disgustingly far-reaching and manipulative, who helped others achieve their goal, but at a massive and unbelievable cost. It’s about secrets, lies and heartbreak, and realising how far the implications of those lies and blackmail can reach into the fabric of the society within which it lives.
Now it is Violets story, and we see just how much Robert Caliendo had played with, and manipulated the lives of his own children, forcing her into a marriage with Joel Benson, making sure there was no chance at happiness for either of them. After two children and nine years of marriage, they’re divorced, and she is co-ordinating his wedding to his fiancé at their family resort.
Joel’s best friend Ryder has only ever heard Joel describe Violet as an ‘Ice Queen’, “a heartless, cold, and rigid lover,” and, upon meeting her again during the lead up to Joel’s wedding, discovers that nothing is further from the truth! Ryder is keen, and loathe to give up on the fiery attraction between them, but, Violet has been burned by relationships before, and pours cold water on the very idea of them.
Ryder’s not giving up, and it is Joel’s own laziness in his relationship with his children that gives him the opportunity to get to know Violet better – as a warm and loving, fiercely independent mother and a hot and sexy woman. Although in the end, it appears that the legacy laid down by Robert Caliendo is too strong to overcome, unless it comes with the help of a mother’s love, discovered almost too late. 5 Stars!
This is the first book I have read by author Shannyn Leah and I have to say it will not be my last. While this book is a great enemies to lovers romance, there were so many plot twists that just kept surprising me. Violet is planning her ex-husband’s wedding at the family resort when she has an interesting encounter with the Best Man, Ryder. Not only has she never liked Ryder, her ex-husband has always bragged about what playboy he is. Or is he?
The Caliendo family certainly has more than their fair share of secrets! Every member of the family has such unique personalities and their own secrets that I am excited to continue this series just to find out those secrets. Talk about family drama!
Violet Caliendo is the head wedding coordinator for her family’s resort. It seems like an odd profession for someone forced into a cold loveless marriage by her father. She normally feels satisfaction & joy in helping them make their visions come to life but not with this wedding. Her ex asked her to help with his wedding to the woman he had an affair with & she said yes. After all, Caliendos must keep up appearances.
Ryder was the best man at his friend Joel’s first wedding to Violet. Now he’s been coerced into standing up for him again. Over the years, Joel has been telling Ryder about the “ice queen” & after the divorce, has been bitterly putting filling his head with lies about her. Ryder didn’t realize that at the time. Ryder has his own secrets he’s trying to keep & really doesn’t want to be part of the wedding. Imagine his surprise when he’s accosted in the men’s room by Violet & they have a chance encounter. Can they see past the lies & build a relationship? Why is Joel trying to interfere?
This is only the second book by Shannon Leah that I have read & I’m already a fan. Her characters are well developed & realistic. The common theme is how Robert Caliendo manipulated & lied to control his kids lives & those of others. The characters all have flaws & those flaws work to derail their relationships until the lies have been revealed & dealt with. Violets children add another dimension because it gives her another reason to be concerned & try to conceal the truth. Appearances must be kept.
So much goodness wrapped up in secrets and lies!
Violet and Ryder’s love story is built on pain, misunderstandings and lots of heat! They are two list would with a connection so deep and filled with half truths and a few secrets. But theirs is a story of triumph over it all.
I loved every chapter and way it brought all of the darkness to light.
This second book in the series was just alright. There was too many things that I found myself unable to believe. Too much wishy washy between the two. They also claimed love way too fast for my liking.
Very well-written story. I was surprised at how this story grabbed my imagination and left me wanting more.
A surprising story line. Liked the second ending better.
Wonderful
This story has to to with Violet this timer. I don’t know how these children became stronger except for their mother and the future partners. Violet HSS been divorced for 2 years from Joel. But she has agreed to do his wedding to his new wife. Ryder is Joel’s friend but their is a spark that puts a lot of bad away once and for all.
Really cute book that is well written and the character development. Fun story and great story.
Excellent reading. I enjoyed it so much. I highly recommend this book.
Enjoyed reading this book. looking forward other books by this author.