An all-new contemporary romance from L.B. Dunbar centered around lifelong friendships, a lake house, and second chances at love over 40

 

 

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  |  Amazon AU  |  Amazon CA

 

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Blurb

Is it an accidental pregnancy, if it’s purposefully planned?

Autumn Kulis wants a baby. It’s that simple and that complicated, because one thing stands in her way – she doesn’t have a man in her life. And at almost forty, she isn’t getting any younger. On a two-week trip to her brother’s lakeside cottage, a plan forms. Make a list of three men. Sleep with each of them. Allow nature to take its course. Only, a certain someone gets in her way.

Logan Anders goes with the flow of life. Divorced, single dad, he works hard, and occasionally plays harder. When his college roommate invites him to Lakeside Cottage for two weeks, he hadn’t remembered his best friend’s little sister being so hot. Nor was he a fan of her plan to find a baby daddy. He’s determined to make her list, then tear it to shreds leaving him the only man horizontal with her.

When we were forty, we had so much life to live, and a simple proposition could be the start of a second chance at really living.

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It’s The Big Chill of 2021, including a reunion of friends gone awry when someone wants to get pregnant and someone else wants to be the one to give her everything.

Welcome to Lakeside Cottage, a new adventure in over 40 romance and second chances at love by L.B. Dunbar.

 

 

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Review

“It’s your life … are you living it or just existing in it?”

4.5 stars!

This is such a gorgeous story! An emotional and heartfelt brother’s-best-friend/friends-to-lovers romance between a couple approaching their 40s, a heroine desperate for a baby, and a hero all too happy to help her out.

Autumn is 36 years old, and she wants a baby. After a string of disappointing relationships, she has given up on the idea of love, marriage and then babies, she just wants a child, and she’ll do it alone if she has to. But spending two weeks at her brother’s lake house with his family for a reunion with his three best friends provides a unique opportunity when her plan is revealed, and her childhood crush offers to help.

Logan is a divorced single father who is stunned to see Ben’s younger sister all grown up and looking gorgeous. When it is jokingly suggested that Autumn spend the next two weeks sleeping with her brother’s friends to see if one of them can knock her up, he realises that he wants it to be him and only him with her, and he holds nothing back in letting her know that. The flirting and banter is great, and the sexual tension builds as Logan works to convince Autumn that he is the guy she needs, and when she finally agrees, it’s all on.

This book is so freaking sexy. The attraction between Logan and Autumn sizzles, and their chemistry is sensational! There’s lots of sex and it’s steamy, descriptive and so, so hot, and it creates a deep connection that neither of them were anticipating.

I want her baby to be mine. I want her to be mine.

I love these two together! Sure, their arrangement is initially just for sex, but their friendship forms a base and they grow close and learn so much about each other. They are honest and open, and there are some really beautiful, romantic moments as they spend time together and fall into a sort-of relationship. But their two week holiday is coming to an end and it’s time for Logan to return home, and then real life drops some big bombs that will change their lives forever.

“You are more than a fleeting moment because I do not know how I am supposed to live without you after all this ends.”

This story grew on me the more I read, and though it was a bit of a slow warm-up, I grew to love it, and couldn’t read fast enough. Autumn and Logan are fantastic characters, and the issues they are facing are real and relatable. The twists and turns in their lives (though predictable) really bring the feels, and I felt everything right along with them. Their friends and families are a huge part of the story, and the group dynamics are fantastic. There is a lot that they all go through together, and from the funny, teasing banter, to the deep and meaningful moments, it was all so well written. There is some drama and angst, but it works to enhance the story, bringing the emotion and intensity, and I loved watching it all unfold.

“You hold me in the palm of your hand. You hold my heart. And I’m going to carry yours.”

Logan and Autumn’s story is beautifully written. It’s a dramatic love story that is fun, sweet, passionate, emotional and gorgeously swoony. I fell in love with these characters, and this book made me laugh and cry. This is a great bunch of characters, and I’m so keen to continue on with this series as each of the boys find their happy endings.

4.5 stars!

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

Lakeside Cottage