"Lake Season" is the first book in Denise's new Bluebell Inn series which follows the Bennett siblings. Being a Denise Hunter fan for many years, I had high expectations. I certainly was NOT disappointed. The first chapter caught my attention and just wouldn't let it go. My admiration for this group of siblings grew, as I saw the responsibility each family member took, and the love they had for each other. I can't imagine a group of such young people coping on their own without their parents to guide them. Obviously, their parents had instilled Godly values in each to allow them to care and love one another so deeply.

The main theme of the book shines through loud and clear, exhibiting how fear is able to hold us back and how the power of God gives courage to overcome it. God has a path in life for all of us but we DO have to allow Him to give us the trust that we need in others as well as in ourselves.

The characters were so realistically and vividly described, that the reader easily can identify with each of them in a deep way. Molly became my friend, as I walked alongside her in her rocky journey in life. I could feel every fear, challenge and joy as she handled whatever life presented. As Molly tried so hard to please others, I felt so sorry for this young woman who had no life of her own. When Adam, the reclusive neighbour comes into the picture, there were even more challenges for Molly. Adam's friendship was so valued as proven when the mysterious letter appeared and was shared with him.

The plot was one that was well developed with many unexpected twists and turns. Love, humor and mystery made this book, one that I could not put down. The mystery of the letter and trying to find its owner, finally meeting with some success, was a very special moment that brought tears to my eyes. The dual storyline kept me intrigued from beginning to end of this book. Unravelling the mysterious letter had these two new young people find out that they could find the courage to change improve their lives.

Denise, you have written a topnotch book!!
Definitely worthy of a five star rating.

This book was received from CelebrateLit. The thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own.

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. I honestly could not get through it because it was just too boring and sweet for my tastes.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

I'm not a fan of the "clean" romance. The ones I've read are just not that well written, it's not that they don't have sex or have a religious component. A well written story stands on its' own with no need of a marketing label. "Lake Season" has a great plot and wonderful characters but, it just doesn't live for me, it has no passion. The author holds the plot and characters at arms length, telling us the story, but not letting us live it.

Molly Bennett and her brother and sister have been reeling from the tragic death of their parents and the need to pull together as a family in order to make their dream a reality. It has taken everything they had to come together, renovate and open their historic home as a bed and breakfast inn. Molly had to give up her dream of living in Italy, her brother, Levi, left a successful career in California, but together with their youngest sister, Grace, they have succeeded. But Molly's grief is never far from the surface and that, along with the betrayal of a former boyfriend, has left her wary of relationships.

Adam Bradford is their first guest. He is in Bluebill, NC scouting a location for a new book. Mild mannered Adam is the alter ego of bestselling author Nathanial Grey. Adam has kept his real name a secret from his millions of fans because where Grey's heroes are handsome, outgoing, masculine and romantic, Adam is rather a recluse who has trouble expressing his feelings. Adam takes one look at beautiful Molly and thinks he has found his muse, but he still has a serious case of writer's block.

During the final stage of renovation, Molly finds an old letter that was lost when the inn was a post office. She is intrigued with the story behind the letter and asks Adam to help her track down the star-crossed lovers. This quest takes Molly and Adam to more than the two people in the letter, it takes them on a journey to each other.

Lake Season is the first novel in Hunter's new Bluebell Inn series, which follows the Bennett siblings. Following the unexpected death of their parents, Levi, Molly, and Grace decide to complete their parents' project of turning their home into an inn. Just as the inn is about to open, reclusive author Adam shows up looking for a place to stay, and he and Molly quickly form a friendship. They soon begin a search for the author and intended recipient of a letter found in the inn's walls, a quest that takes them in places they'd never anticipated.

This novel has just what I've come to expect from a Denise Hunter romance: sympathetic characters, swoony romance, and sizzling chemistry. This book also has a bit of mystery to it, with the search for Lizzie and Benjamin, and there's also some great comedy (something I haven't noticed in Hunter's other novels).

Lake Season has a bit of a split-time aspect to it, as some scenes from Lizzie and Ben's summer together are interspersed throughout. This is the one part of the book that didn't totally work for me—I cared much more about Molly and Adam in the present, and I wouldn't have minded if Lizzie and Ben's story had been solely revealed through letters and the people who remembered them.

There's a twist in this book—a twist I saw coming a mile away. And as I got closer to what I knew would happen, I kept thinking about how obvious it was, and I was mentally removing a star from my review. But then what I expected to happen happened—and it was so beautiful, so emotionally resonant that I wanted to applaud. And I gave the star back 😀

Lake Season is a wonderful start to the Bluebell Inn series, and I can't wait to go back to the inn in the next book! 4-1/2 stars.

A nice story with an old fashioned romance, An enjoyable read. Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

A sweet, although mostly predictable romance. Too scared to admit the truth about himself, Adam gets himself in deep water when Molly mistakes his friend for himself...that's the makings of trouble! It does become clear during the process of the story that it was a natural fear that he just needed a reason to be overcome. Lovely story, with a terrific surprise ending!

I've liked this author's books, and this publisher, so when an ARC became available, I jumped at it. Thanks, Denise Hunter, Thomas Nelson Publishers & NetGalley!

#LakeSeason #NetGalley

This book was incredible! The characters were relatable and the story moved along just beautifully!
I loved the setting for the book. Bluebell seems like such a wonderful town to live in.
I loved the characters in the book...each one had their own uniqueness but blended together just perfectly!
The siblings...Levi, Molly & Grace were fun together and apart. I really liked Molly. She was so much fun and cared so much about others. Adam was what ever girl dreams about just kind and compassionate. He spoke Italian fluently what girl wouldn't swoon over that!
I liked how their was 2 stories going on at the same time. They didn't detract from each other and fit so nicely that is was so much fun to read!
I highly recommend this book and if you have never read a Denise Hunter book you need to immediately!!!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I enjoyed this story, although it took me a little bit to get into the story. I immediately liked to two main characters. At the beginning two different stories weaved together. This seemed to be a change from other of Densie Hunter's books, but it worked for this story. I look forward to reading the other books planned for this series!

This is such a lovely read. Sweet and poignant, it follows two love stories, one that began in 1962 (when the lost letter found at the inn was written) and Molly and Adam's journey in present day. I like how Hunter slowly unveils the earlier couple's story through flashbacks as Molly and Adam uncover clues. It feels like watching two romances unfold side by side, both stories equally intriguing, both couples capturing my interest and engaging my emotions.

I was with Adam and Molly every step of the way as they worked together to solve the mystery of the lost letter and cheering on their romance. They needed some help, Adam especially, but I never lost faith that he would find the courage he needed to open himself to the woman he's falling in love with. I enjoyed how it all played out and the twist at the end had more than a few tears falling.
But this is not only a romantic love story. It's also a story of families and Hunter has created one that I want to know more about. Molly and her siblings have suffered a devastating loss that has affected each of them in a different way. I enjoyed watching the dynamics of this three-sibling unit shift and change as they work together (some reluctantly) to turn their family home into an inn and I look forward to, hopefully, watching those relationships evolve as this new series continues.

If you enjoy a story that flows well, has realistic characters, plenty of heart, a setting so wonderfully depicted that I wanted to hop into my car and go there, a mystery, a happy ending, and a promise of more to come, pick up a copy of Lake Season. I hope you enjoy these characters as much as I did.
4.5 stars
ARC received for fair and unbiased review

The finding of a lost love letter leads the finder on a quest to deliver it - many years too late. Assistance from a guest at the inn is a bonus, until she finds that he is not who she thought. But the quest will eventually achieve more than she could ever have dreamed...

I'm not always keen on books with two time-threads (or whatever it's meant to be called) - at times it feels like each is a distraction from the other, and they would be better written as two separate but linked books. This was not such a case; instead, the two storylines were neatly woven in together, one finding out bits of what happened around the writing of the letter and the other expanding as appropriate to bring the letter-writer to life. Overall, the whole story was well written and developed, with some unexpected twists and some more predictable bits, but overall a highly satisfying ending. Highly recommended, and I look forward to more by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Lake Season was such a fun and enjoyable read. A nice Christian story that spans generations. A little bit of love, a little bit of mystery and a little bit of God.

Denise Hunter does it again, and Lake Season (Bluebell Inn Romance) is just another home run by Ms. Hunter, who has a way of making every novel she writes to make her readers feel all the feels. I absolutely adore stories set in North Carolina, so I knew from page one I was going to love this latest Hunter masterpiece. Molly, Grace, and Levi, who unfortunately have lost their parents in a tragic accident, are determined to achieve their parent's dream of opening the Bluebell Inn. All the while, Adam ( aka Nathan Quinn, Molly's favorite author) comes to town & quickly wins over Molly.
This book will touch your heartstrings, make you laugh, may even make you cry. With every new novel, I get to opportunity to get lost in I love Ms. Hunter more and more. Please do yourself a favor pick this up to give it a read, and then I highly suggest picking up any other book she's written. If you a Hallmark movie fan, you've probably had the pleasure of seeing a few of her books come to life. Thank you, NetGalley and Ms. Hunter, for allowing me the pleasure of obtaining a copy of Lake Season (although it had already been released) in exchange for an honest review. Hands down five stars.

Lake Season by Denise Hunter

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

______________________________________________________________________________

Story Notes

Denise Hunter begins a lovely new series based in the charming town of Bluebell with a story that is entirely engaging.

Denise Hunter is fairly new to me as a reader but I am liking what I’ve read so far very much. She doesn’t over embellish her stories but lets them flow along in a wonderful way. Her newest series begins with the tragic deaths of three sibling’s parents and the unexpected task of settling their estate. They had been working towards opening a bed and breakfast to supplement their retirement but it still needs a lot work before it could either be opened or sold. As Molly, Levi and Grace consider all their options, they agree to take some time to finish and open the Inn to honor their parent’s legacy. All is not easy and there are many hoops to jump through to bring it to opening day but as it’s a heart decision, they power through the tough days. Molly is the main focus of this story as it goes on and how she finds a way to make Bluebell her home again. She loves running the Inn and meeting all the guests but one in particular has caught her eye. Adam Bradford is a multi-novel author who has come to Bluebell in search of inspiration. Writing has always been easy for him and he has enjoyed sharing his stories with others. But a serious case of writer’s block has him scrambling for ideas to satisfy his publisher. They are also pushing him to reveal his real name to his fans and give them a chance to get to know him in real life. His anonymity has always been precious to him so he cannot make the decision lightly. Staying at the Inn gives Adam the chance to relax and refocus his mind on writing while also giving him the opportunity to experience small town life. And when Molly discovers a long lost love letter in old letterbox for the Inn, Adam is eager to help her find it’s intended recipient. Their search will bring them far closer than they ever imagined and bring to light secrets that have long been held by some of Bluebell’s oldest residents. Will Adam finally discover the family tree his mother has longed to find? Will he be willing to let Molly in on the secrets of his writing career? Or will their budding relationship crumble before it truly begins to grows? These questions and lots more will be asked and answered in this story. I loved the idea that the guy was the one with the hidden identity that came to the girl’s small town. Its a less-used plot line and Ms. Hunter developed her story very well. I loved the characters and their conversations. They had good depth and chemistry between them that kept the story flowing well. The challenges to their personalities and spiritual walks were nicely created and natural and solved with logical conclusions that will definitely satisfy readers. I will certainly be recommending this book as it was one of my favorites that were recently released. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series to find out Levi’s story.

I received this temporary and complimentary E-book from Thomas Nelson Fiction via NetGalley in order to provide an honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

Another great book by Denise Hunter. I loved finding all of the Fort Wayne tidbits since she’s from Fort Wayne and not too far from me. 😃

I have fallen in love with the new group of characters that she has created and I can't wait for more!

I loved Denise Hunter's latest book, Lake Season.
It is the first book in the Bluebell Inn series.
Bluebell is a small town in North Carolina that caters to the weekend and summer lake visitors.
The three siblings that are the center of the story, Molly, Levi and Grace, are so well written, they seem like family. Their parents died before seeing their dream of converting the family home into a bed and breakfast. Their adult children decide to set their own dreams aside and work together to make their parents dream come true.
I loved the dual time lines, gave us a whole other story. I loved Lizzie and Benjamin's story just as much as I did Molly and Adam's. And there sure were some interesting twists that I didn't see coming.
If you like emotional romance stories that are well written, I'm sure you'll enjoy this book.

This book is definitely deserving of 5 stars! I don’t know what to praise more – the perfect plot with a touch of mystery and beautiful romance or the loveable and all too relatable characters or the much needed message of embracing our true identity in Christ. Absolute perfection. And the hero... Hunter defied the classic tall, dark, and handsome and provided us with someone so normal, so real, that we cannot help but see ourselves in his struggles. This author not only brings her characters, but also her readers, full circle along a journey of truth, trust, and living life in freedom. You will not want to miss this book!

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I want to start by saying that Thomas Nelson addicted me to Christian Romances. I want to read every book from them .... LOL

Lake Season became my favorite in the genre this year, first because I loved Denise HUnter's writing and second because the story is so sweet and smooth and made me (after years not doing this) turning the night on reading. I went to sleep at 3 am today so anxious to know how the story of Molly and Adam would end.

Molly is starting a new phase of her life with her siblings, a phase she would prefer to be quite different for sure. By losing their parents in a car accident, they will drop all their plans to put their parents' dream of turning the house into a inn.

The renovation work was great as it helped Molly focus on something other than mourning. Her first guest arrives at a time when they were not yet open but because of the high season she pities him and agrees to help until he can rent a house on the lake.

The He in question is Adam a famous writer who hides under the pseudonym Nathaniel Quinn and who after talking to his mother about a creative block, she suggests he go to the idyllic city of Bluebell. But he didn't know how his life will change after that.

Molly and Adam engage in a beautiful friendship quickly, but their insecurity and her trsut issues can shake what could be a great love. Together they start a project of finding the protagonists from a love letter that she found during the renovation. I confess that sometimes I wanted to go into the book and shake Molly a lot, but in the end she redeems herself wonderfully. Adam in return is so perfectly flawed, so cuddly, so kind and devoted that I almost steal him for me.

This book completely dredged me, I couldn't let go until I saw Happily Ever After happen, and I was amazed at everything that happens until this magical moment really comes. A book about forgiveness, second chances, about finding your strength, about enjoying every moment with people that you love, and about not letting small issues get in the way of happiness.

I already want the books of Molly's siblings, especially Levi, maybe their friends too Skye and Jordan. Please, Denise!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Sweet love story by one of my favorite authors. I love that she always writes books that are family oriented and innocent love stories. I can't wait to read the next one in the series.

Denise Hunter is one of my go-to Christian romance authors. Her stories always have heart and characters that grow. This one is no different. I appreciated the 'ordinary' hero and the grieving siblings. The balance of romance and mystery is just right.

There are occasionally chapters that take place in the past (having to do with the mystery). They were good, but a little jarring (I hadn't been expecting them). The twist at the end? A little unbelievable. Yeah, I saw it coming a mile away... I wasn't sold on it at first, but after further reading, it makes sense that the author wrote it that way. It needed to happen to make the rest of the story work. So, long story short, I am satisfied with the end. Just know you'll have to suspend your disbelief a bit.

In summary, read it. It's good, although not my favorite Denise Hunter book.

This is a magical romance and family drama. Molly, Levi and Grace Bennett have lost their parents in a tragic accident and resolve to fulfill their dream of turning their historic old house into an inn. Adam Bradford arrives in North Carolina hoping to reawaken the inner talent that he as a writer that seems to be escaping him. Little does Molly know that he is an author whom she greatly admires since he keeps his other identity hidden. As the renovations continue, Molly finds an old letter in the walls of the house and she and Adam partner up to find the lovers involved in the letter. There is plenty of family drama and romance and a tad of mystery surrounding the letter. What I found most intriguing was the development of the love story between Molly and Adam. The characters were realistic, the setting was wonderful and the entire book was a quick read that pulled on my heartstrings. Fans of romance will enjoy this book for sure!