Another lovely story from Denise Hunter! It was such a sweet romance and gave me all the small town vibes that I love.

I adored the main characters in this book, On one hand we have Molly, who owns an inn along with her siblings, Grace and Levi. After their parents sudden passing ten months prior, they decide to go ahead and follow their parents dream to open the inn. Adam, a popular author whose pen name is Nathaniel Grey, arrives at the inn after hearing all about the charms of Bluebell from his mother, He’s been going through some writers block and hopes a new place will give him the insight he needs. Oh and Molly, of course, happens to infatuated with his alter ego, Nathaniel. The two are both so sweet together. I just think they both have such kind and gentle personalities that go perfectly together. Plus they’re both book lovers which I can definitely appreciate.

There’s also a little bit of a mystery connected to the past, when Molly finds a long lost letter about an old romance. Both Molly and Adam work together to find closure for the two lovers. And as their investigation goes on, they both slowly start to fall in love themselves. Overall, I thought it was such a feel good romance. I’m excited to read the rest of these series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions stated in this review are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's very heart-warming. Have your tissues handy, and be prepared to laugh too. There's a mystery from the past that ends up having an interesting resolution. I liked Hunter's treatment of loss and love, trust and fear. The characters were fun to get to know. I look forward to more in this series!

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

#LakeSeason #NetGalley

'Lake Season' is a lovely story about genuinely nice people with real-life, poignant problems. I was gently led to an ending I had already guessed, but the journey was truly beautiful. I can't recommend this book highly enough, and I hope to have follow up stories on Molly's siblings. I'd give it more stars if I could.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Set in a small lakeside town called Bluebell in the North Carolina in the present time with flashbacks to the 1960’s. Levi, Molly and Grace Bennett are trying to fulfill their parents dream of renovating their family home into an Inn. Their parents were killed in an accident.
Molly gives up her dream of taking up an internship in a hotel in Italy to help run the Inn with her brother and younger sister.
Their house was historic and years earlier had once been a post office. The builders find a letter that had managed to get caught between the post box and the timber cladding.
Molly sets out to find out about the sender of the letter. She is helped by a guest staying at the Inn. I loved this story. It was written in the present time and the 1960’s. It is a romance about families, grief, relationships, secrets and identity.

Lake Season begins Denise Hunter’s newest series, Bluebell Inn Romance. Readers are introduced to the Bennett sisters. After the death of their parents, the girls decide to honor them by making their home into an inn. While needing inspiration for his new writing in progress, bestselling author, Adam goes on a retreat in the Bennett’s inn. He soon finds himself trying to solve old mystery with the oldest Bennett sister, Molly.
I enjoyed Lake Season. I honestly was not sure about it at first really. I did not care too much for Molly. She quickly grew on me. By the quarter of the way through the story, I was hooked and could not put it down until I read to the end. I had it read in one day.
I am giving Lake Season four and a half stars. I can not wait to see what happens next in the Bluebell Inn Romance series.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

****Lake Season is two love stories, one past, one present. Innkeeper Molly finds a letter stuck in the wall from when her inn was a post office. Finding the lady who wrote it and the man it was addressed to becomes her obsession. Adam has come to town to work on a new novel. He is highly successful under his nom de plume, who just happens to be Molly’s favorite author. Will he be able to reveal his true identity to her as they work together to find the writer and intended recipient of the letter? Molly has been deceived before by a boyfriend and has major trust issues. Adam never lived up to his fathers expectations and has insecurity issues. The journey through the story is a pleasant if somewhat angsty one with some big reveals that took this reader by surprise. The writing is good even though I sometimes wished the story was a little tighter. I got impatient and wanted the mystery to be resolved because I was caught up in the story...not the author’s fault. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley.

I didn't think I'd ever read a Denise Hunter book that would replace Falling Like Snowflakes as my favorite read by her. However, Lake Season came along and tugged at all my heartstrings, and I can now wholeheartedly proclaim that this is my new favorite. I never wanted this lovely tale to end, and I got a little frustrated when real life got in the way of my enjoyment of it.

This particular title is written a little different than Denise's previous books have been, and I found it a refreshing change. Lake Season introduces the Bennett siblings; a group of three who've recently lost their parent's in a tragic accident. Their parent's dream was to turn their historic family home into an inn, and together they decide to try and make this dream a reality in remembrance of them. This story gives us readers the middle sister, Molly's story, and revolves around the inn's completion, and hosting its first guests. A unique component of the story is that the reader gets two romances in one. The majority of the story is focused on Molly and her budding relationship with a reclusive writer who's also the inn's first guest. However, a letter that is found tucked behind the inn's walls during construction lead Molly and her new friend Adam to a discovery of a long forgotten romance. As the two work together to try and find the couple mentioned in the letter, the story also jumps back into the 1960's showcasing that couple's romance to the reader as well.

This was one of the sweetest romances I've ever personally had the pleasure of reading, and I couldn't stop thinking about it long after finishing it. Molly and Adam's story was charming, but also heart wrenching as both are struggling to overcome insecurities and truly learn that everything comes together for the purpose of His ultimate plan. I loved that Molly was a bookworm, I adored that Adam struggles so heavily with his feelings, and resorts to speaking in Italian when he wants to truly express himself to Molly. The inn setting was idyllic and picturesque, and this book as a whole was everything I was hoping for and more. I hope that this one soon gets optioned by Hallmark as several of Denise's other titles have, as I'd love to see it brought to life on the screen.

I can't recommend this beautiful title enough, and if you've never read a Denise Hunter book before, then this is definitely the perfect one to start with. Denise Hunter has a gift for storytelling that truly brings her stories to life for her readers, and I already can't wait to read the next title in the Bluebell Inn Romance trilogy.

Final Rating: 5/5

I loved every single page, and this is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year so far.

Thanks so Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the opportunity to advance read this!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher (Thomas Nelson) via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not required to give a positive review.

I love any story by Denise Hunter and Lake Season is no exception. Sometimes you just need to escape into a sweet story where you get involved in a couple’s lives and pull for them to fall in love. Lake Season doesn’t let you down. The author knows how to keep your attention. The setting makes you long to be there and walk through that old house. I am usually not a fan of the books that go back in time to another story but the author pulls this one off. Hope Denise keeps the stories coming.

I love Denise Hunter's books! This new series is off to a promising start. Molly and Adam are both very sweet people, and I can always appreciate a male love interest who isn't super macho and perfect all the time. Both main characters came across as very real and having very human emotions.

When I first read the summary of this new series by one-of-my-favorite-authors-Denise-Hunter, I was extra excited....what a fun premise! I will tell you up front, I was not disappointed and can't wait for the next book.

The Bennett siblings (Adults Levi and Molly, high school senior Grace) are still reeling from the unexpected death of their beloved parents, who were in the process of renovating their historic house to open an inn that was to be their retirement. After some pleading and contemplation, Levi and Molly agree to stay in Bluebell, finish the renovations, and open the Bluebell Inn for a while to allow Grace to finish high school.

Adam Bradford is a successful author who writes under a pseudonym. Through a series of amusing mistaken identity events, he winds up staying at the Bluebell Inn prior to their soft opening. Molly, a devoted reader of all Nathaniel Quinn novels (two guesses as to who Nathaniel Quinn really is) might be drawn to Adam but is still recovering from a painful dishonest relationship. She has sworn she will never be taken in again by anyone or anything that is less than truthful.

When Molly finds an old letter wedged behind the old mail slot (from when the historical house was the post office!) she is determined to return it to it's rightful recipient. With some "past days" woven in to complete the story, this book is a treat of whimsical mystery and romance and fun. It is easy to recommend this book.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Lake Season is the first book in the Bluebell Inn trilogy and it starts the series off with a bang! When siblings Molly, Grace and Levi face the tragic loss of their parents, they come together to fulfill their parents' dream: turning their historic family home into a Bed and Breakfast. During construction Molly finds a lost love letter from the 1960's which never reached its intended recipient. Determined to solve this mystery, Molly sets out to finally deliver the letter - but she can't do it alone! Willing to help is the very first guest at the Inn - Adam Bradford, who is actually a best selling author keeping his real identity private by using a pseudonym. Adam is on a deadline to get his new book written but gladly offers to help Molly. Denise takes us on a beautiful journey of love both past and present as we sit back and watch the mystery unfold. What a refreshing story, lovable and real characters, twists and turns and a plot that keeps us hooked. We are already eager for the next book in the series!

I enjoy reading Denise Hunter's books and her new one is exceptional. Although, she wrote a formula romance, it has quite a few redeeming qualities.

Levi, Molly, and Grace are newly orphaned, grown children of a couple who wished to update the family home to an inn. The building itself has a storied history--being a stagecoach inn, a post office, a governor's home, and now the Bennett family home. Grace still has some high school to finish and doesn't want to leave Bluebell, NC, and really doesn't want to give up the family house. The house isn't sellable, as it is in the midst of renovations, so Molly, Levi, and Grace band together to finish out their parents' dream, as well as allow Grace to finish school.

Just a few days before the final inspection for opening, Adam Bradford shows up at the Inn, looking for lodging. Every other room in Bluebell is sold out. Molly puts him into the only room that is completely finished. Levi has a fit and falls in it because the license isn't in effect yet. This is where boy meets girl.

As renovations continues, Molly finds a letter stuck in the hole the contractors were cutting for a new window. There had been a mail slot where the letter was found, but the letter never found its way into a postal employee's hand to be delivered to its intended recipient. Molly becomes intrigued and shares the letter with Adam who also finds it a puzzle worth investigating.

As the summer goes on, Molly and Adam become closer and closer as they investigate the letter and who the principals were in the letter. This is where boy gets the girl.

What Molly doesn't know is that Adam is the author she so dearly loves. (I love characters in books who like to read.) As the summer goes on, Adam and Molly get closer and closer to the point of falling in love, but Adam is still hiding his alter-ego from Molly. This leads to boy losing girl.

One critique I have is that Molly is hurt/feeling deceived about a man who uses two identities in his life, and Molly knows that her favorite author uses a nom de plume. Molly wasn't truly deceived--not to the degree she portrays in the book. Given her fragility in having been duped before, I can see where she would take this a bit too far, but still, her reaction was a bit over the top.

This is the only criticism I have for the book. It is still a great read, and the peripheral characters flesh out the story quite well. It's a five star book (actually 4.5 stars, but I rounded up), with two thumbs up, and one of Miss Della's muffins to eat while you read.

Thomas Nelson Publishing and NetGalley.com provided the galley I read for this review.

Lovely heart warming festive read. I really enjoyed reading it. It was well written and flowed well. Excellent read for over the festive period

An astounding start to a new series. Denise Hunter is an accomplished author who, in my estimation knows how to write a page-turner with all the necessary elements: great characters, excellent narrative, and a meaningful purpose. First let me say the characters in this book are endearing and down to earth. Molly and Adam are authentic and realistic characters and look beyond the outward appearance of each other. “Brawn and athleticism fade,” she said, “Brains endure a lifetime.” The story took place in an idyllic setting, and the pace was perfect for a slow blossoming love story. There are many valuable takeaways from this novel with an overriding theme of a person’s value and purpose. “My worth, everyone’s worth, is based on God-given value.” “Fear is often just a lack of faith.”
I received an advanced copy from the publishers on NetGalley. The opinions in this review are my own.

A fantastic, sweet romance worth reading. An interesting group of siblings who are overcoming tragedy. A lovely beginning to this new series by Denise Hunter. I am looking forward to seeing where this series takes us.

Lake Season” by Denise Hunter available November 12, 2019

Levi, Molly and Grace are mourning the devastating deaths of their parents in “Lake Season” by Denise Hunter. What do they do now? Grace is still in high school, Levi has a job and his own life and Molly is nearly finished with college. They have a lot of decisions to make. Do they sell the house-make Grace move and leave her friends to go to school in a strange town? How can they make this work for each of them?

They quickly realize they cannot stand another loss in selling their family home. They decide to work together and finish what their parents started. They will all stay together and work together to make the house the Bluebell Inn, as their parents had dreamed of. They know it will be a big commitment, and they know it is the right thing to do. When Molly finds a letter that was lost years ago during the renovation, no one knew the ripple effects it would cause.

“Whoever knew that a stranger walking through the door to the Bluebell Inn could have such an impact on Molly’s life? A person that she shares the mystery of the letter with, has feelings for, is hurt by, but that she cannot get out of her mind? Could Molly and Author Adam’s lives have intersected for a reason? Such a great story, a heartwarming, clean romance, with a small-town feel. I loved this story! 5 stars!”-Green Gables Book Reviews

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read “Lake Season” before its release date!

“Lake Season” by Denise Hunter

Lake Season
By Denise Hunter
What a charming and fun mystery and romance.
After the death of her parents, Molly and her siblings decide to continue with their parent's plans to turn their home back to the Bluebell inn. While renovating the house Molly discovers a letter in the walls. Drawn to the letter Molly enlists the help of their first unofficial guest, Adam Bradford. Soon the past and the present get tangled into a mystery Molly and Adam are determined to discover.
I think that this was a great and easy read. There was romance, history, and mystery! I stayed up too late reading this and I didn’t regret it.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

'You've been so busy trying to protect yourself, you won't let anybody in.'

Denise Hunter begins a new series with this novel, set in a small Bluebell, NC. The Bennett siblings, Molly, Levi, and Grace lost their parents unexpectedly in a car accident and decide to finish turning their home into an inn as their parents were doing at the time of their death. When a reclusive author comes to stay, trying to cure his writer's block, he finds a muse in Molly Bennett. She loves his books but doesn't know he is the author because he writes under a pseudonym. No, Molly thinks she is in love with the author, not the real guy. Molly finds an old letter when they are remodeling the inn, which used to be the post office, and shares it with Adam, the writer, who she doesn't know is the writer. They decided to research this letter and maybe try to find the person who wrote it and the one to whom she wrote it. Thus begins a delightful and moving story, what we've come to expect from Hunter's work.

I found it difficult to tear myself away from this book long enough to do life. I fell in love with Bluebell and the Bennett family. I'm so glad each sibling will get a story. Hunter builds on each character until we are fully vested in their lives. It's as if we can get into their hears and minds and feel their emotions. I was in tears during several scenes. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next two in the series. Highly recommended.

* I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers through Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was a perfect beach read. I was engaged from the start and did not want to put it down. The storyline was captivating and I really enjoyed the characters.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

What a wonderful start to a new series by Denise Hunter and a fabulous new family to fall in love with! I love that Denise Hunter has ventured into writing a dual timeline novel, which still includes the contemporary romance that she is known for.

Readers will enjoy the romance and the intrigue in the story as innkeeper Molly Bennett and Bluebell Inn guest Adam Bradford begin a quest to find the recipient of an old letter found in the walls of the inn. This was such an enjoyable book, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.