A LIE FOR A LIE – HELENA HUNTING

**Spoilers Ahead, Read On With Caution**

I always found sport romance reads interesting, but since last year when we went to Boston and saw the Bruins play at TD Gardens, it made reading NHL related romances much better! Essentially it’s because I can visualise it all in my head because I’ve actually witnessed it. I’ve read a few other books by Helena Hunting, THE GOOD LUCK CHARM was hockey related and I really enjoyed that, so here goes!   

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 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 realise 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. 

I’m always drawn to books the give me the duel perspectives, getting the story both protagonist’s POV’s is always a bonus to any romance really. And with both RJ and Lainey being interesting and different people, it really sucks you right in. The perfect balance of humour, action and romance, we really get a fun ride into the lives of both characters. We also get reintroduced to some of the main characters from the PUCKED series, which was a nice touch. I’ll go go back and finish the series, since I’ve only read the first two! 

I really enjoyed the meet cute between the two, and then the slow growth and timid realisation of falling in love in Alaska; I do with we could have had a few more descriptions of the scenic views that make up the state of Alaska. Most of the Alaska side of their story is inside RJ’s cabin, but I’d have loved to see them Whale and Dolphin explore for Lainey’s thesis. 

Another part of this book that’s incredibly well written is how they first find each other again. I loved the aquarium, and how it was thought out, and not just an accidental bumping into each other again; it all made sense. I absolutely adored the second half of the book, meeting Kody especially, and witnessing the coming together and how beautiful it can be. Getting to see RJ and Kody interact, and see Lainey slip seamlessly into this new circumstance was a fun ride. I absolutely applaud that there was no typical downfall of the couple about 6 chapters before the end like most romances have. I loved that Helena wrote them to be confident enough to not break down, to forgive a final time. So many books in the romance genre follow this plot line, that it can get a bit repetitive, this book was a breath of fresh air in that regard. 

Shall be moving onto reading A FAVOUR FOR A FAVOUR now…