This was a realistic look at what being a single mom looks like, the constant need to go, go, go since it seems as if you slow down, everything is going to fall apart.

Every single thing that happened in this book was believable and did not seem forced in the book, as I've felt with other books. Usually, a speedy marriage seems unbelievable but in this setting, it makes so much sense.

I especially loved that the child was not an afterthought and a prop to propel the story forward, she actually felt like part of the story, I've read so many books where children were mini-adults and it felt off-putting, but little Coconut (such a cute nickname) actually acted how kids act and it was enjoyable to read.

This book was an amazing read and I highly recommend this book.

This was a decent story and I somewhat enjoyed both the hero and the heroine, Dax and Krya. And I do enjoy a good single mom romance. However, nothing really stood out making it a great book.

This may be one of my favorite contemporary series, instead of following a set group of people, it is about a location and the different people that call Lake Haven home. In this book Kyra Kokinos is a single mother to young Ruby, who is just trying to make it. She wants a roof over their heads and positive balance in the bank. Not to much to ask for, right? So she packs up and moves out of the big city to small town Lake Haven to start again.
Dax Bishop moved to Lake Haven to get a way from his painful divorce and hid from people and a reality he doesn't want to face: his ex-wife married his former colleague and they are now having his baby. Not exactly the picture perfect life he had imagined.
Dax was doing a good job of holing up in his small cabin, making furniture, until Ruby crawled through the fence, bringing along her mother, and together they tossed his world upside down.
This is story about what happens when life throws unexpected curves balls and how love, laughter, and hope can make all the difference.

Kyra Kokinos became unexpectedly pregnant after a brief affair on holiday. Kyra knew that it would be tough, and it has been but she has been raising her beautiful daughter Ruby and struggling a bit a long the way. Her daughter is headstrong and has decided she wants to befriend her new neighbor Dax Bishop, more importantly his dog Otto.

Dax is a grump, he has made it clear that Ruby needs to stay on her side of the fence but she is in a world of her own and makes mischief everywhere she goes. Dax is determined to stay single after a bad marriage but Kyra and Ruby are getting under his skin and the grump is finding new hope that he may just have found his perfect match. What will happen when a hurdle is thrown their way though?

This was great, loved Ruby she is a mini spitfire in the making. Dax has a back story I was not expecting at all. Kyra was wonderful she is trying to keep it together and doing the best she can do. Wonderful story, loved the side characters and look forward to more in this series.

Single mother Kyra Kokinos spends her days waiting tables, her nights working on her real estate license, and every spare moment with her precocious six-year-old daughter, Ruby—especially when Ruby won’t stop pestering their grumpy next-door neighbor. At first glance, Dax Bishop seems like the kind of gruff, solitary guy who’d be unlikely to offer a cup of sugar, let alone a marriage proposal. But that’s exactly what happens when Ruby needs life-saving surgery. Dax showed up in East Beach a year ago, fresh from a painful divorce and looking for a place where he could make furniture and avoid people. Suddenly his life is invaded by an inquisitive munchkin in sparkly cowboy boots—and her frazzled, too-tempting mother. So he presents a practical plan: his insurance will help Ruby, and then they can divorce—zero strings attached. But soon Kyra and Dax find their engagement of convenience is simple in name only. As their attraction deepens, a figure from the past reappears, offering a way out. Can Kyra and Dax let go so easily, or has their sudden engagement become something more?
This was a decent story. The characters were well written and and easy to care for. However, the story is definitely slow moving and the main plot of the story doesn’t happen until later in the book.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

AbsoFREAKINGlutely NAILED IT!!!! After a worrisome turn of events in the previous installment of this unique and creative series, I was anxious to see how things would sort out for China, Jackson and Clark et. all. Couldn’t have guessed, couldn’t have imagined better than what Ms. Snow delivered!

China starts out just as torn between two equally awesome men and begins down the same path I hated previously but then, she does an about-face and determines to do the right thing, at her own expense. Who knew what the consequences of that decision would be! With enough twists and turns to tie even the most calloused reader in knots, “Save Me” had me anxiously turning pages, chewing my nails (completely gone now) to the very last page. It was heart-breaking, yet satisfying and that is an almost impossible task to accomplish. Yet, this author did it to perfection.

So.... how soon can we gobble up the yummy sequel on the man who lost out??!?!?!

This was my first contemporary romance by Julia London and I have to say that really enjoyed it. The story felt like looking into the lives of and reading the story of your good friends' road to love. I couldn't put the book down! There were a few twist, turns and some "what?! that did not just happen!" moments which really kept me engaged as a reader. I would definitely recommend reading this one, you will not be disappointed.

What a beautiful story. I enjoyed every minute of it! Life is messy. This is the tale of two people who are just trying to get through it the best they can and discovering that maybe together they can do it better. Add in a rambunctious 6 year old and a stubborn dog for humor. Great read!

I absolutely loved Julia London's Suddenly Engaged. It was an amazing addition to her Lake Haven series.

What heartwarming romance! I enjoyed all the characters and look forward to reading the preceding books.

This was my least favourite in the series so far.
I loved the character of Ruby. Very cute and precocious. The writing so well done, it was easy to see how she got the gruff Dax to fall in love with her.

I really liked Kyra and Dax as a couple. I wanted to bang their heads together a couple of times. But like the previous couples, these just fit together well and you root for them the whole way through.

The secondary characters were what probably made this better for me. I thought they were very entertaining and funny.

Even though I didn’t enjoy this as much as I have done Julia’s other books. I still found this enjoyable in its own way.

It was a nice easy read. Perfect reading at the end of a hard day.
I still highly recommend this author. I however, would not start with this one 😊

Read and reviewed courtesy of Netgalley

I think I enjoyed the friendship between little Ruby and Dax even more than the romance. This kid is adorable.

Kyra had it all. She landed a job at a magazine and took her first steps into the world of publishing. She could see all her dreams coming true. Until a little too much alcohol at a destination wedding lead to some unprotected sex and a scary little oops. That’s bad enough, but when she calls the man responsible, he wants her to get rid of the baby since he is getting married in a few months to his long-time girlfriend.

Seven years later, Kyra’s a single mother and her dreams have all changed quite a bit. She dreams of being able to go to the bathroom by herself, enough time to make a decent meal for her daughter and maybe enough money at the end of the month to take some of the strain off her life.

Kyra and Ruby have just moved into a quiet little cabin on a lake in the much cheaper, and infinitely nicer neighborhood in Lake Haven, NY. The summer crowd is jumping and Kyra has a chance to make some decent tips but until school starts again, Kyra is going to have to find a babysitter who will accept what little she can pay. Especially since Ruby seems to have a fondness for their cranky new neighbor, a man who has holds nothing back in his desire to have Ruby remain on her own side of the fence.

It is Dax, a former paramedic, who notices Ruby’s medical problem and who jumped in to help Kyra get the medical coverage Ruby needed by offering to marry her. Dax and Kyra had just started enjoying their close proximity, so being forced to jump into a quicky marriage throws this blossoming relations off-kilter, but it is Dax who recovers first and gets excited at the prospect of their new family.

While the story is supposed to be the romance between Kyra and Dax, I think I enjoyed reading Dax and Ruby’s interactions more. I thought Robert Downey Jr would be perfect for Dax as he always has the same dry humor in almost any part he plays. Ruby would come find Dax. She would ask if he wants her tell him about her day. He would tell her no, thanks but then sit and listen to the girl talk. Dax wasn’t interested in getting to know the family next door and while he was rude to her, Ruby was never put off by him and Dax was never vicious or angry in his desire to not be bothered by the neighbor’s kid.

This was a very enjoyable story and I did pick up one of the earlier stories after finishing because it had gone on sale. This was the third story in the series, but I didn’t feel like I was missing anything. So this definitely can be read as a stand alone.

This was my second Julia London story and I had a lot of issues with the last one so I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this one. I guess it does pay to give an author a second chance.

I was so captivated by this book. I loved the whole story.
My heart broke for poor Ruby. Krya did the best she could, and I feel her pain as a mom.
I would love to gush about this story, but I don't want to give anything away.
LOVED!!!!

*I received my copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This might be the grumpiest Hero I have ever read in a story and I liked him. Dax is completely anti-social and borderline rude, not only to adults but to Ruby, our cute little six year old in this story. Instead of him coming off as a jerk, it was more funny to me than anything.

Ruby was cute but she was a bit of a brat as well. The way Dax handled her was adorable to read about. Even later in the story when she got him wrapped around his finger, he changed the way he was with her and it just endeared him even more.

Kyra was just an ok character for me. I don't really have anything against her, I just felt the book was more about Dax.

This had a small town setting but I will admit, some of the side characters where not likeable. Overall, I enjoyed this read and would read more by this author. I found the writing mature and the story kept my attention.

I love little Ruby!! She is the most adorable thing. A mark of a good book, when you totally fall for one of the secondary characters. And I did.

Kyra is a struggling single mom but she's doing the best she can with what she has, and for that I wholly admire her and any single mom or dad. And Ruby is a precocious little thing so trying to rein in her spirit was a full-time job in itself.

Dax is just trying to get through the day, building and making furniture when this little pixie Ruby keeps coming over to his house to pet his dog. Which I can't blame her for, I'd probably do the same thing! But Dax has had some tougher times and he just wants to keep to himself. But Ruby and her mom are just enough to convince him to stop being a hermit.

This story grabbed me immediately. I had to know how Dax and Kyra would get together and how Ruby fit in and what other mischief she would get into next.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I had a harder time getting into this book than the previous in the series. Kyra and Dax were ok as a couple, but it took so long to get to the point of "engaged" that it wasn't really that sudden.

Suddenly Engaged is a great romance. The book is well written with a good plot. I always enjoy a book that includes children. I haven't read this author before but I enjoyed her writing and will be looking at more books. I recommend to readers who enjoy a good romance.

Kyra had partied a little too much while working in NYC, but getting pregnant from a wedding weekend hookup was not planned. She decides to become a single mother and has never looked back. Sure, it's hard raising a child alone, but every sacrifice she makes is for her daughter.

Dax is renting the house next door to Kyra and Ruby. He wants solitude after his divorce. He finds solace in making unique furniture pieces which are in demand in this expensive, tourist town.

When Ruby begins to visit Dax, he sends her away every time. Dax is nothing, but a big grouch and Kyra tries to keep Ruby out of his hair. Soon it becomes apparent that the babysitting situation is inadequate and Dax offers to help out. Soon Kyra and Dax get to know one another and realize that first impressions aren't always right and the definition of family isn't always as simple as we'd like it to be.

I liked this book until about 3/4 of the way through. Then, it lost my interest a little and I found myself rushing to finish it.

I absolutely loved this book. There was palpable emotion spilling from its pages that drew me in like a moth to a flame.

Kyra Kokinos moved to East Beach with her six year old daughter, Ruby. She was looking for a better living situation for them with hopes to provide more stability in their lives. East Beach was a tourist town during the summer but she had moved into a lake cottage year-round. The rent was cheap and she had a decent job as a waitress at a little bistro in town. Things were finally looking up for them.

Dax Bishop lived next door in one of the lake cottages. He had moved to East Beach a year earlier after a devastatingly painful divorce. He was grump and surly and shut off from others. He had locked his heart in a box and thrown away the key until this little munchkin with red hair and sparkly light-up boots snuck thru the fence and stole his heart.

Dax was an amazing character in this story with a heart of gold. I won't give away the details but suffice it say it was worth my time and hours of lost sleep.

I was given an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sandy M’s review of Suddenly Engaged (Lake Haven, Book 3) by Julia London
Contemporary Romance published by Montlake Romance 25 Jul 17

This is one of those times I’m apparently totally oblivious when it comes to new series and new books by authors I’ve enjoyed in the past. Yeah, this is the third book in Julia London’s Lake Haven series, so I’m behind the times more than usual. But I’m glad I started with Dax, Kyra, and Ruby as my introduction to the series. Dax and Ruby will also steal your heart during those wonderful scenes when she’s making a nuisance of herself and grumpy Dax is about to lose his heart to her.

It’s the banging screen door, the fencing climbing, and the general interrupting his day that Dax has had enough of after the Coconuts – Dax’s mispronouciation of the Kokinos’ last name – have moved in next door to him at East Beach. He’s had enough of people and life, after his ex leaves him for a woman and then becomes pregnant using his sperm without his knowledge. But little Ruby is as precocious as they come, and every time she makes it under, over, or around something to get to his place, you can just see his barrier falling after each interaction. Then there’s the mother, Kyra. Another entanglement he doesn’t need.

Being a single mother doing her best for her only child is the most difficult but the best time of her life. Though she was played by Ruby’s father six years ago, Kyra wouldn’t have it any other way now. Well, a little help from the jackass sperm donor would be nice so she wouldn’t have to work so hard to make ends meet, but she and Ruby do have a good life together. Now if she could only keep her daughter from bothering the reclusive neighbor next door, life might go a bit more smoothly.

But I’m so happy things are a bit bumpy for a while, because the humor that comes from the scenes with Ruby’s logic, Dax’s unseen first gentle and then take-charge nature, and Kyra’s need for control somewhat slipping are some of the best in the book. It’s later things take an awful turn, Ruby’s father showing up, and Dax and Kyra realizing what could be between them and life is now one big confusing shakeup. Dax finally has what he wants, Kyra has to do what’s best for Ruby, and Ruby could have everything a little girl could ever need. But will it happen when finances and health issues raise their ugly heads?

This is a fun and loving story, and I enjoyed every last word of it. So much so I’m going to be delving into the first two books I’ve missed very soon. I loved those main characters who are now secondary in this book, so I know I’ll enjoy those just as much.

Grade: B+