Sports romance is one of my absolute favorite tropes to read so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Rook and Lainey’s story.

Rook and Lainey first meet on a flight to Alaska where they have an instant connection. They spend a steamy few weeks together before circumstances take them in different directions without a way of contacting each other.

A year later they reconnect in Chicago and what follows is a lovely and sweet second chance romance.

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This book was sooo good! I can't wait until book two with his sister. I knew that he's sister was going to end up with his sister... but I wonder who the guy is though!

But anyway I glad that Lainey forgave Rook and taken him back even though he lied about his job, which I understood why he lied about it. But I was kind of iffy when he was rude when she was telling him about her have a four-month-old. But also felt bad for him when Lainey didn't want him to hold Kody... but glad she gave him a chance to hold him and get to know his son and come back into her life.

Also, that guy Walter was a stalker if you looked at because of the way he was acting and knew when Lainey leaves her home and come back. I was like what a creep. & then he tried to come for Rook, but I was glad and happy when they was still together and fool Walter who thought he was going to be there for Lainey when RJ was going on the road... I am kind of excited to learn about the new guys from the Seattle NHL team ... since I got to know the guys from the Chicago team. Besides except the one guy "Darren" from Pucked Love. Since I haven't gotten the chance to read tha... no, I did get a chance but hadn't finished it. Which I think I'm on chapter one or two. But anyway...

I understood why Lainey's parents hated RJ but also understood Rook too because it was a reason for his LIE and him not contacting her too. It goes for Lainey too. She also LIED about her not driving; and also keeping her pregnancy to herself. I doubt she would've told him; but Eden said it was fate that brought them together (RJ and Rook).... it was meant for Lainey to move Chicago... I was glad she did because you could tell they cared about each other. I also knew that well was hoping that she would've ended up pregnant and she did not only that I want her best friend Eden to move to Seattle and get with one of the guys from the team.

Also, I wasn't disappointed with this book. It pulled me in from beginning to end. I can't wait until January of 2020 for the next book to come out!!!!!!!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44776456-a-lie-for-a-lie

I've read a few books by Helena Hunting and have really enjoyed them.
Unfortunately, this has one of my least favorite tropes, one I actively avoid, so my opinion was definitely clouded by that. It wasn't a bad book, so if you don't mind the trope then you'll probably like this book just fine.

That said, it definitely won't keep me from reading more Helena Hunting in the future – I'll just need to be sure of the tropes!

I absolutely loved this book. The story kept my attention, the characters were extremely likeable. Can't wait to read the other books in this series.

Thank you for sending this book my way. While I do enjoy Helena Hunting stories this one was not for me. I will not be leaving a full review.

I am always drawn to books based on Alaska so....

Rook is taking his annual fishing trip to Alaska to escape the real world and give tribute to his departed dad. When his brother cancels on him last minute, he decides to go it alone anyway.

Enter Lainey and her first meeting with Rook is clumsily falling in his lap on the plane.  Turns out they are headed to the same place and Rook offers her a ride.

These two...lol! They were pretty funny together.  Poor Lainey has been duped into a crappy rental cabin....bugs, dirt, leaks and all.....and Rook is there to save her on a few occasions. And Lainey is a bit emotional and jumpy from something she went through in her past.

But Rook is keeping a secret or it is a lie by omission? I couldn't wait for the reveal.....but they lose touch. Never exchanged numbers or last names....ugh!!!

This was a really cute, low drama book.  It definitely pulled me out of my slump!

Once again HH outdoes herself with another steam filled hockey romance! I absolutely adored this one and immediated picked up all the other books in this series! I can’t wait to dive in more with this author!

A Lie for A Lie by Helena Hunting is a must read hockey sports romance with a twist that I for one stood up and cheered for!

I didn't realize prior to starting A Lie for A Lie that it was a spin-off of the Pucked series, but I swear getting to hang out with the old gang, no matter how sparingly, brought a tear to my eye! Our heroine, Lainey, dealt with anxiety issues and the girls from the aforementioned series helped her in ways that Rook alone never could have.

A Lie for A Lie was kind of split up into two chunks, the past, when Rook and Lainey met, and the present where they reconnect. I was just getting tired of the past point of view when it switched back to the present. So, the pacing was good. And it wasn't so much that I didn't enjoy reading about them meeting, it was that I knew that something would happen to drive them apart.

Knowing something like that would happen made me so incredibly antsy that I wanted to skip forward and find what happened, but I was listening to A Lie for A Lie on audio, which was free with my kindle unlimited subscriptions.

I want to tell you more about A Lie for A Lie but I think it could be a bit of a spoiler, but let's just say that it's my favorite trope. It's a sexy read filled with laughter and heartache. It's a little more emotional than the start of of the Pucked series, but less so than Lance's book.

Just grab it and read it. If you are looking for a sports romance, I'm sure it will hit the spot!

First, let me thank netgalley and the publishers for approving my request for an early release of this book. All reviews of my netgalley books can be found on goodreads and youtube. Please be sure to check out the links attached.

4.5 Stars

I so enjoyed this book, I love the stories and characters Helena Hunting creates and I really adored RJ and Lainey! I was hooked on their story from the very start, it is sweet and fun and I loved the appearance of Pucked characters!

A famous hockey player looking for some anonymity and a shy woman wanting to forget, a six week fling in Alaska - the makings of a great story! These two come together so naturally and I loved seeing their relationship build. They have such great chemistry together and while there are definitely some twists and challenges, I could feel the connection between them. I loved their quirky, funny moments and just could not put them down.

Another great read from Helena Hunting, a fantastic mix of humor, heart and sexiness. I was definitely rooting for these right from the start and this book just made my heart so happy!

Rook has a tradition of going on a fishing trip in Alaska with his brother and his father every year.  His father passed a few years ago and now he just goes with his brother.  It makes him sad that his father’s not there, but he loves to get away from his celebrity as a famous NHL player.  When Rook gets to Alaska he hears from his brother that he can’t go either because his wife was diagnosed with gestational diabetes.  Since their father died from diabetes, this is a big deal.  Rook decides to stay on in Alaska and have some peace and quiet.

On the plane Rook meets Lainey.  She doesn’t follow sports at all and wouldn’t know who Rook was, even if he decided to tell her what he did for a living.  Every time she asks, he changes the subject or misdirects.  Frustrating.  He tells her that he was raised on an alpaca farm in New York.  When asked if that’s what he does now, he tells her that that’s what he grew up doing.  Yeah, not what she asked, dumbass. Lol

Once in Alaska Lainey discovers that her rental is a complete POS and she ends up staying with Rook whose house is down the street.  They end up spending the summer together, falling into bed in love.  When Rook is called away because of his brother’s wife, Rook has every intention of reconnecting with Lainey, but a series of mistakes separates the two for the next year.

When Lainey and Rook run into each other again the truth comes out about Rook’s job and Lainey’s pissed.  It’s discovered that there are secrets on both sides and the getting-to-know you period is extended.  The pair manage to find their way but not before some serious soul-searching is done.

This was a cute book.  I liked a lot about it – especially the first part of the story.  They way they meet and come together (even though it’s pretty convoluted) was cute.  The couple’s entire time in Alaska was good even though the whole lying about his career pissed me off. The chemistry between the couple as well as the fun times they had made me smile despite Rook’s huge mistake.

Unfortunately the second part of the book wasn’t as good for me.  Meeting up again and finding out secrets was a bit anti-climactic.  Getting to know the family, etc., just wasn’t all that thrilling.  Good, but not great.

Overall a cute story but a little slow in the second half.

Rating: 3.25/3.5 out of 5

If you haven’t read a Helena Hunting book you need to pick it up immediately! Her books are addictive and you fall in love with all the characters. Now to wait patiently for the next one in the series!

At this point, I've already read A LIE FOR A LIE twice, and both times I couldn’t put it down until I’d finished reading it. I absolutely adored this book!!! It has drama and some angst, but mostly it’s just charming and full of feel-good moments that lure you in and keep you smiling! I'm already chomping at the bit to pick it up and read it all over again--this was without a doubt my top book for 2019 and I loved it so, so much!

This Book In 5 Words:
Heart-warming. Sexy. Sweet. Riveting. Adorable.

RJ and Lainey were absolutely amazing and the romance was steamy, intense, and also so ridiculously adorable in the best possible way! I loved that it’s a spin-off of Helena’s Pucked series (but still works completely as an all-new standalone series), so it was wonderful to get to see some of our favourite Pucked characters, but I also loved meeting Lainey and getting to know our leading man, RJ, better. I'm pretty much always a fan of Helena's leading characters, but I have a serious soft spot for RJ. I love him so, so much. He was sweet, generous, loving, and gives the best safety cuddles. ;)

If you can't tell already, I basically loved everything about A LIE FOR A LIE. I loved the romance. I loved the story. I loved the way that the story itself was set up--parts of it happen in the past and I thought that Helena did an amazing job in weaving the two storylines together. I also loved the friendships, and getting to see RJ and Lainey grow closer was truly wonderful. I also really, really loved that so much of this story focused on RJ and Lainey getting to know each other, and on how their relationship evolved. We actually get to enjoy a pretty large chunk of the story where we see them bond rather than just face drama and let me tell you...it...is...so refreshing! I can't remember a time before this where you're given a chunk of a book to just savor the actual relationship part of a romance. It was spectacular! :D

I'll stop now because I could just go on and on forever about how amazing A LIE FOR A LIE was, so I'll wrap this up and I have to say that I can’t wait to see what happens next in the All In series! I’ve already read (and LOVED) the next book, A FAVOR FOR A FAVOR, and now I'm really looking forward to seeing my new faves in the final book, A SECRET FOR A SECRET!!!

Star Rating:
★★★★★

I highly recommend A LIE FOR A LIE to Helena Hunting fans, sports romance fans, and anyone who loves romances that are full of heartwarming moments that will leave you feeling like you’ve just been given safety cuddles/snuggles and a comforting cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows!

***5 Stars***

I’m all kinds of swoony and twitterpatted after reading this book, ALL. KINDS. OF. and kicking myself for not getting to it sooner but #lifehappens. But I gotta say this one surprised me in the best of the ways and once I started, putting it down wasn’t an option.

I ADORED RJ and Lainey. RJ is all kinds of book boyfriend goodness. Sweet, compassionate, protective...this man, simply put, gave me the swoons in a big, big way. Lainey is sweet, sassy, awkward ~ but in the best of ways. I loved her heart and her honesty.

Their journey to their HEA was a lot of fun to watch. I loved how they first collided and got to know each other without any distractions. True, there was an omission/lie, but they got to see just who the other was and though things happened quickly, it was so obvious how good they were together because they truly adored each other. Their second collision wasn’t as smooth, but considering everything they had dealt with since their sudden separation, it was necessary, but I truly enjoyed how everything played out between them and where they ended up.

I’ve read a few of the authors books, though I will admit that the Pucked series isn’t one of them, but this one may just be my fav of the bunch. She did a great job with all the characters, each were unique and easy to connect with in one way or another. But what I liked the best was how she kept everything balanced out when it came to the drama and the humor. This really was a great read and I’m definitely looking forward to the rest of the series!

~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~

What an awesome read! I’m super excited for what’s to come in this series!! Helena Hunting is such an incredible storyteller. I devoured this one! Took and Lainey set my kindle on fire. Set in Alaska was a win already for me! This can definitely be read as a standalone hockey romance in the All In series by her. If you love hockey and a HEA this is the book for you!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I don’t know what I loved more, the characters or the plot or the author’s writing. This was one book I enjoyed from the first line to the last and would have loved to go on reading about Lainey and Rook (or RJ). They are both so adorable together!

Rook is the captain of Chicago’s hockey team. He took over from Alex Winters (Pucked), who stepped down last year. Once a year, during downtime, Rook takes off for a few weeks to Kodiak island in Alaska with his father and brother and chill out there, boating and fishing. His father died two years ago, but Rook and his brother continue the tradition. This year, he needs it more than ever, after the craziness of his first year as captain. Unfortunately, his brother couldn’t make it this year, so he’s traveling solo. In the last two legs of his trip, he meets Lainey, who is also traveling to Kodiak, to work on her thesis about the mating rituals of whales and dolphins.

Lainey suffers from extreme anxiety and panic attacks. She doesn’t do good in public, where there are crowds and noise. She was home-schooled and very sheltered by her parents and raised to be afraid of the outer world. She feels smothered by her parents, so she’s branching out and daring out into the world, studying for her third Masters degree. Since she’s awkward, shy and anxious, she’s scared out of her mind on the plane flights and RJ feels compelled to help her. He tells her he’s her human teddy bear, so endearing! He finds her refreshing, adorable and intelligent, a combination that turns out to be just perfect for him.

They spend six wonderful weeks in Alaska and when he suddenly has to leave due to a family emergency, they lost contact. Fast forward one year later...


Rook is attending a birthday party of a teammate’s kid at the Chicago Aquarium and gets a huge surprise. The woman he’s been pining for during the past year is there working as a tour guide. Their reunion is not a happy one because he forgot to mention a very important detail, that he’s the captain of the hockey team. She thought he was an alpaca farmer. Turmoil ensues because Rook was really into Lainey and wants another chance but Lainey is angry about the lies. She also hates that he’s such a famous public person. And then more secrets surface.

The story has all the elements I love in a book, wonderful love story, some angst, some humor and great pace. I loved Rook and Lainey and loved the way their story developed. Lainey gave him hell for his lies and kept up the anger for an appropriate time. I was so glad she didn’t turn this into a drama case!

I also loved meeting up with old friends from the Pucked series. It was such a page-turner, entertaining read. I loved how Rook was so understanding about Lainey’s anxiousness and how he always maneuvered to ease her way into his life which is hectic, public and noisy. He didn’t push her to accept his life, but rather he adapted to her life and meshed his friends, their spouses or girlfriends and made a happy group of people for Lainey that also served as her support group. He was courteous and respectful with her parents, even though they weren’t exactly nice the first times they met. Lainey’s mother was loving but horribly over-bearing. I loved Lainey, she was super intelligent, caring and open minded. Once she makes up her mind to enter Rook’s world, she was a good sport and very thoughtful. They were a perfect couple, he calmed her anxiety and she centered him. Together, they made the other the best person they could be, and as a team they were strong. Loved it!

This book was everything I have come to expect from Helena Hunting’s books: humor, heat, and just the right amount of romance. I started reading this author’s books with one of her other series and haven’t gotten to the Pucked series yet but I seamlessly got into this book without feeling like I was missing anything. Overall I really loved this book and can’t wait to read more by this author.

Loved Loved Loved this story...all of the Puck feels! I have hearts in my eyes! Rook and Lainey seemed fated for one another. These two come into each other's life and as hard as they crash circumstances tear them apart. You just knew they needed to find each other again. But when Rook and Lainey meet again, misunderstandings might keep them apart. The chemistry between the two sizzles and I was yelling...just give Rook a chance! This was a sweet and swoony second chance romance that I never wanted to end.

I read the first two books in this series back to back and it was interesting to see how different they were in some ways and yet how very Helena Hunting they were in others.



In A Lie for a Lie, the narrative was told partially in the present and partially in the past. Initially I was admittedly a little put off by the flashback because I was eager to get into the 'now' part of the story but that was dumb on my part. Having the context and the background helped establish RJ and Lainey's history and connection and had that been glossed over, I definitely would've felt like the novel was missing something. That being said, I was impatient to get to see how RJ and Lainey would work out once they reconnected and let's just say it didn't go as smoothly as RJ would've liked; Lainey really made him work for every ounce of attention she gave him and even though how they initially remained separated was really neither of their faults, I understood why she was so pissed and hurt.



What made A Lie for a Lie different was that the big reveal and conflict seemed to happen earlier than I expected and so it made the aftermath and resolution really feel developed and concluded by the end. I enjoyed the heart of RJ and the quirks of Lainey and immediately jumped into A Favor for a Favor to see which characters would get the Helena Hunting treatment next.

A Lie for a Lie is the first book in a brand new series called All In by Helena Hunting. Each novel will be a stand-alone. Lainey and Rook's story ends in this book. The blurb covers up very well what the book is about and that's all you need to know. Ok. almost all you need to know.

The first thing you should be aware of is that Rook slept with anyone who was willing a while back and I know that some readers are not fans of characters like that, so they might what to know that before they pick this book to read next. There is no direct mention of him sleeping with other women after his night with Lainey, but I might not remember correctly.

The second thing you should know is that a part of the story happens in the past and particularly we get to see the events of the time Lainey and Rook spent together over a year ago. Personally, I would have preferred to not have the past told in so many details because I felt like we needed to focus on the present and how the characters were going to handle their situation. I feel like the "second part" was a little rushed and it needed to be explored in more.

Overall though, I liked the book and for the most part, I didn't have a problem with the story. Some little things came up only after I had finished the book and had the whole experience from reading tthe story settle in my mind. I would recommend it.