Helena Hunting is one of my favorite authors and I couldn't wait to dive into this Pucked series spin-off. A Lie for a Lie is a combination of several different tropes, but at its heart, it's a very sweet second chance sports romance. It's a little less romcom than some of her other books, but there are still plenty of laughs as well as feels. While it's not necessary to read the Pucked series first, fans of that series will be delighted by all the cameos and appearances by some of Helena Hunting's most beloved characters.

Rook and Lainey were so cute together. They had a silly and awkward meet cute, but I loved that things developed pretty gradually between them. Yes, there is a bit of instalust and some forced proximity, but they also took the time to get to know the other. Together, they find a true connection as well as a sense of peace, comfort, and safety. They just get to be, without any judgments or expectations. I did have a little issue with their eventual separation (it is a second chance romance after all!) and the repercussions of their actions, but it's understandable given their abrupt ending and omission of a few key facts. I really appreciated that once Lainey and Rook reconnect however, he is all in and there wasn't a lot of unnecessary angst or drama. It's a true second chance for them. The ending and epilogue were the perfect way to bring everything between Lainey and Rook full circle and to also open the door to more in this world.

I was extremely lucky to enjoy both the audiobook and ebook versions of this story. The audiobook casting could not have been more perfect. Jason Clarke and Stella Bloom were amazing as Rook and Lainey! Jason Clarke's versatility and range were showcased so well and he voiced each character incredibly, regardless of age or gender. I had no problem distinguishing between characters and enjoyed his female voices just as much as the male. What really killed me though was when he voiced a certain little Scottish boy. *swoon* I could not contain the smile that took over my face. Stella Bloom was equally fantastic as anxious and awkward Lainey. Her comedic timing was wonderful, but she also delivered during the more emotional scenes as well.

Spin-off series can be a tricky balancing act. The author needs to establish a new world that can stand on its own, while also incorporating elements of a favorite world to bridge the stories together. A Lie for a Lie is a perfect example of a spin-off done right. I can't wait to see what's next in the series!

Audiobook Review
Overall 4.5 stars
Performance 5+ stars
Story 4 stars

*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*

4.5 Stars!

I absolutely love Helena's books and I think her hockey books are her best and this book did not disappoint. I was not sure what to expect going into this book besides it was a spin off of the Puck series. I am glad that I was pleasantly surprised with the storyline. Lainey and Rook story is a second chance romance with a twist. They meet in by chance on their way to Alaska for extended vacations and soon find that they are staying pretty close to each other. I loved how although they were opposites they were instantly drawn to each other. I loved how they had time to get to know each other with no one else in the equation. I loved how Lainey had been through a lot and she was navigating through life inspite of it all. I loved how Rook was so protective of her and goal was to make her feel safe.
The first half of the book was great but the second half was outstanding. Lainey and Rook grew and matured in their time apart. The story draws you in and takes you on an emotional journey. As a read I was consumed by the story, I swooned quite often, and there was some laughing of course. I loved the cameos of the Puck gang. Great story. Another must read by Helena!

How you doin' Rook?
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Well, y'all will be happy to know I have found another trope I love. Hockey romance. Yum.freakin.me
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I loved this one. Pretty much everything about it. It checked all the boxes for me.

Beautiful setting
Sports romance
Perfect steam
Likable characters.

I could go on and on.

This novel brought some issues that I appreciated and helped us see what a person looks like who is smart and sexy...but also completely relate able. Just genuinely good characters who are flawed.

I was also so excited to find out this is a new series. I am all here for it.

Simply put...I love Helena Hunting....I think she does no wrong....I would also read her version of the phone book.

This is a second chance romance between our main characters Lainie and RJ that starts in Alaska and expands to Chicago. If you read her pucked series then you will so many familiar characters in this book.

It does seem like I am the minority here because everyone else loved it while I think it was cute. A way to spend a cozy night reading, but nothing memorable or something I would pick up again.

Our characters were good and had great chemistry. However, as far as secrets go, I could tell what Lainey’s was early on. While I’m grateful that there wasn’t really angst, some of this book could have been cut out and this could have been a novella.

The next book is about his sister and I’m excited about it because it sounds like it’s going to be a hell of a meet-cute!

A Lie for a Lie is a fun and sexy second-chance contemporary romance. Rook is confident and a reformed player, and Lainey is somewhat of a sweet, nervous and naive type. They say opposites attract and that was definitely the case for this couple. I enjoyed the way they met and the setting of the story in the first half of the book. It was just the two of them and I really liked how their relationship developed. RJ was helpful and very protective of Lainey. But he also saw that she was strong, determined and fierce when she didn't herself. These two characters complimented each other perfectly. I enjoyed seeing them grow closer together, and it definitely had some swoon-worthy moments.

However, all good things must come to an end, and especially if you lied about things. When they are reunited a year later, RJ needs to do a lot of groveling and prove that he has the best intentions, and that he deserves another chance. In this past year Lainey grew immensely as a character, she still had her sweetness but she wasn't as naive as she was a year ago. I loved seeing this growth in her. I love second-chance romances, so I enjoyed this one a lot. What I loved the most was the personality of the characters, and the love they had for each other. There was no unnecessary drama, and the pacing of everything was great. A Lie for a Lie was another great romance novel by Helena Hunting, and I definitely need to read her other books I haven't yet.

A Lie for A Lie has to be the authors best book yet as I read it with a permanent smile on my face from start to finish and really didn’t want it to end! I enjoyed it wholeheartedly!
The whole storyline had my attention and the characters were just beautiful both in their own right!
RJ or Rook was the most swoonworthy, charming man but also he has an absolute heart of gold! He trumps so many book boyfriends for me and I just fell in love with him!
Lainey is a woman trying to be more independent and when she meets RJ in a rather funny way, needless to say their story is definitely something incredibly special!
I feel like this book could be made into a romance movie, thats how much this book became special to me. Its all about a love story that captures your heart and this book has it in spades!
A definite must read and one of my top reads of 2019!!

An emotionally, persuasive, addicting, and enticing romance novel that will have you weak on your knees for more of Lainey and Rookie...

So I have been in such a massive book slump, a book slump that has me so behind on my Goodreads book challenge. Of course, Helena Hunting knows how to swoop in and destroy all my emotions and make me fall head over heels with her writing all over again. Not that I wasn't already, but this book slump has been killing me in the worst of ways. Lainey and Rookie have found a way to finally get me in the groove of just simply being enamored with them.

Their story is one of a kind story that had me swooning, enthralled and had me feeling so many new emotions! Everyone must read their story because it is one you don't want to miss out on ;)

„I know we weren’t together long. And maybe we never talked about it being anything beyond a fling, but I wanted it to be more.”


I haven’t read this book… I devoured it! The moment I found out that Rookie would get his own story, I couldn't control my excitement. But I never expected that I would be so flooded with emotions after this read! Although A Lie for a Lie still contains some of Helena Hunting's typical humor, it's also imbued with sensitivity and tenderness. This second chance romance warmed my heart and made me swoon!


Rook Bowman, captain of Chicago’s NHL hockey team and notorious playboy, was a bit exhausted with the fame and puck bunnies. So when he accidentally met Lainey, who has no idea who he is, he was instantly smitten. It was refreshing and amazing to find somebody, who liked him for who he is, not for his money or stats. They spent some cozy moments in Alaska together and Rookie never got over her. Now, a year later, fate brought her back on his path. But how can he convince her that he deserves a second chance, after withholding information about who he really is? Can he convince her that everything you can read about him is out of date? And how he’ll take the fact that Lainey has her own secret? Maybe a year is not a long break, but after that time Rook and Lainey need to get to know each other again. Especially after the changes that took place during these 12 months…


The bigger they are, the harder they fall- that phrase holds so much truth! I just knew from the start that Rookie’s story will be great and that he’ll need to work hard when his woman will come along. But what Helena Hunting did, that was EPIC! Rook is so much more than ladies man and party animal we thought he was. He can be so thoughtful, caring and loving! I can’t count how many times I have swooned over this guy. I have also a big girl-crush on Lainey. She’s a strong and confident woman, who has gone through some hard times, but didn’t let that impact her life. She’s brave, courageous and independent. Most important- she doesn't care about the privileges from being with a hockey star. She just wants the charming man she met in Alaska.


I loved this story! A Lie for a Lie is touching and sweet second chance romance with emotional note. Helena’s writing got me totally hooked and I was instantly enamoured with characters and the storyline. I’m also delighted with appearance of the characters from beloved Pucked series! This spin-off series started with a bang and I can’t wait for more!

5 star Review A Lie For A Lie (All In #1) by Helena Hunting

I loved the Pucked series so when I heard there was a spin off series planned I was so excited and couldn’t wait to read.

RJ needs to escape the chaos of Chicago and being an NHL team captain; where better to go than Alaska? Imagine his delight when he meets Lainey and realises she has no idea who he is.

When their passionate interlude ends abruptly, neither expect to meet again since they neglected to swap contact information. However fate has other plans for RJ and Lainey.

Will Lainey be able to forgive RJ his lies, or will she run from the feelings he brings out? Will Rook forgive Lainey?

A Lie For A Lie is a second chance at love story which ticked all the boxes for me as RJ and Lainey’s story unfolded.

The chemistry between RJ and Lainey was intense, almost electrifying. I fell hard and fast for RJ, Ms. Hunting has given us a story that had me falling head over heels for him. I also loved how feisty, sassy Lainey is, she was a fabulous match for RJ.

I love Ms. Hunting's style of writing, she ensures that her characters are not “perfect”and I found it easy to relate to RJ and Lainey.

From start to finish Helena Hunting wove together a story that I simply could not put down, she had me totally engrossed and staying up way past my bedtime. This was an entertaining, at times humorous story with angst, secrets and lies.

I cannot wait to learn more about these characters and I look forward to reading more in the aeries.

I received an copy of this book through the publisher via Netgalley

Ughhhh. I'm upset. I went into this thinking I was going to get a cute, second-chance romance set in Alaska and instead I got an accidental pregnancy story set mostly in Chicago. If you don't mind that trope, you'll probably enjoy this as it wasn't necessarily a terrible book! However, that trope is literally my least favorite romance trope and it ruined the entire book for me. I definitely think that the synopsis of this book should be re-worked before release because it is extremely misleading.

Loved this book! I am a huge Helena Hunting fan and this spinoff series did not disappoint! Glad we got to see some of our most loved characters from the Pucked series again! This one was sweet and funny and steamy! Definitely recommend it!

I loved the Pucked series so much that I think I was a little disappointed that this book was different. Yes, this is a spin-off and we do get to see the Pucked crew again (including their kids), but the most noticeable difference is that this book is not a rom-com. This story is highly emotional, with a touch of suspense that I don't think was done that well. I also feel that the steam is toned down compared to the Pucked or Shacking Up series.

As much as I love Helena Hunting, this book contains one of my least favorite tropes and it won't become a favorite or a reread for me. I applaud her for the addictive writing that made me fly through the book, but this just isn't something that I like to read about. I did adore the hero, Rookie, but I couldn't quite figure out the heroine, Lainey and I think that took some of my enjoyment away because there were events in her POV that I wished I had seen from Rook's. This book spans a long time period since we start in present day, then flash back to what happened a year ago, and then come back to present day before fast forwarding for an epilogue. I love a good second chance romance and getting to see both them initially falling for each other and their second chance is fun.

I'm sad that the Pucked era is over, but the ending of this book does hint that we'll continue to see some of the original characters throughout this series.

Thanks to Montlake Romance and Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars
I love all things Helena Hunting. She makes me laugh with her adorable characters and then crazy situations they get into. A couple meeting and ending up together in Alaska?? LOVE IT! !Lainey was quirky and crazy. Loved this book! Laughed and cried !!

This is my first book by Helena Hunting, and after reading this book, I'm not sure why I've waited so long to read her other books lol! I found out about this book when the publisher sent out an email and this book was included in it! The synopsis sounded intriguing, so I decided to read it! After reading, I can say that I absolutely adored this book! The plot had me hooked right from the first chapter and I found myself reading a few more chapters every chance I had! I loved the direction that the author took the plot in and there was enough in it! There was plenty of romance in the plot too, which allowed for quite a few seriously hot scenes! The plot also had a big twist in it and it did have a big impact on the characters, but it actually brought them closer! The characters were also amazing and made this book even better! Rook was the main male character, and in this book he did make a mistake by not telling his love interest who he really was! I understood why Rook hid it because he just wanted to be normal and not a celebrity! I loved Rook in this book! He was seriously hot and was very loving! He also stepped up in this book and gave his love interest the space she needed, but also refused to let her go! Lainey was the main female character and love interest of Rook! I loved Lainey in this book! She was very shy and was in a bit of a difficult situation that she wasn't expecting! Lainey was also very smart and worked hard with her job! Lainey hid her own secret from Rook in this book, but I guess in a way it wasn't a secret, but more that she just couldn't tell him! I admired Lainey because she did feel betrayed, but she let it go and was able to move on! I loved that this book was written from both Rook and Lainey's point of views! The synopsis gives the impression that this book is only going to be written from the male character's point of view, but I'm really happy that it was written from dual point of view! It allowed for more things to happen in the plot, especially as the characters did spend time apart and were separated for some of the plot! It helped me connect and understand Rook and Lainey more too! I now can't wait to read the next book in this series! I know that it's going to be a standalone book, so it's going to focus on new characters! I'm not sure who the main characters are going to be because the synopsis doesn't mention them by name lol! I'm still very excited to read it because the synopsis sounds intriguing! The next book releases at the end of January next year, which isn't that long of a wait if you think about it lol! I still have all of this author's other books to keep me busy until then lol! The cover for this book is also absolutely stunning! I love it a lot and it would definitely draw me to the book if I didn't already know the author's name! The cover model is the perfect Rook as well!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! Somewhere I missed that we would be getting some love from the Pucked family!!!!! That made me so happy! I love them all!!!!

I really enjoyed this story and I’m so excited it says book one and there will be more!

I don’t remember Rook from the Pucked books which made this like a new book for me which was nice but it also had a few familiar faces who I love so it was just perfect.

This book has one of my favorite troupes in it which again made this book so much better. I’m a sucker for sports as well so it just got better.

I skimmed a little and Lainey got on my nerves just a little which is why this isn’t 5 stars for me. But their story is so cute and Rook is super swoony which I didn’t know I could fall for another hockey player but there I was.

“My heart is stronger for having been broken and healed by the man who gave me my greatest love. And from here, we get to watch it grow together.”

I just finished this book and its so wonderful, I truly loved this story. It is part of the Pucked series but sorta a bridge story between the Puck Series and the new Hockey series that is starting as well.

First of all I should mention I have only read the first book in the Pucked series and that was because it was free. I did like it but some of the other characters were too angysty for me and so I have only read the first book. RJ or Rook is the captain of the hockey team in Chicago. He is friends of everyone in the Pucked series and so they are featured a lot in this book.

His father has died and he is on his way to Alaska for the summer. He is staying at his families cabin and he meets Lainey on the way to Alaska. They end up being neighbors and they up as friends and get really closethat summer. But they end up losing contact until 1 year later.

The story is told in 3 parts. The first chapter is 1 year after Alaska and Rook is at a team members brthday party at the aquarium when he spots Lainey. Part 2 for me was then we go back to the previous summer a year before when he meets Lainey and their adventure. This is about 38% ofthe book. And its really wonderfully told and we really get to know the 2 characters.

Part 3 takes us back to one year later at the aquarium and moves forward where they both have lies and secrets and they are exposed in the here and now. The author did a wonderful job in keeping us guessing what Lainey's secrets are and I am not spoiling that.

Rook is the one with much bigger secrets and he has a lot to make up for with his lies that he gave Lainey when they met.I love that the author makes him work for his forgiveness and I loved how there he is for Lainey. This was a wonderful story and it has wonderful characters.

Helena Hunting never ceases to amaze me and I have become such a fan of her work in the past couple of months. It's safe to say that I love the Pucked Series and was super excited to see that there was a spinoff of the series. I didn't know that this story would be about Rook or Rookie as we know him from the Pucked Series. I started this book and read half of it in pretty much one sitting.

I'm a sucker for stories where characters have a past connection. Rook met Lainey a year ago when they were both in Alaska at the same time. Rook there for fishing and hunting during his off season and Lainey was there working on her master's thesis. They end up getting to know each other and spend the whole summer together. Fate pulls them apart and neither of them have any contact until Rook sees Lainey a year later.

Here are two characters who were so intimate with one another, and not just sexually. They genuinely cared about each other and when they reconnect there's a huge void between them because of some choice decisions that were made. I couldn't stop reading this book. I enjoyed the fact that Lainey and Rook were so mature and discussed each step of their relationship like responsible adults. They didn't let miscommunications hinder the growth of their relationship and truly wanted what was best for one another.

I enjoyed seeing familiar faces from the series :). It's always fun to revisit characters that you loved reading about. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series! A solid 4.5 star read for me.

Wow, this book titillates the reader in all the right places! I tried putting Hunting’s latest offering down at daft o’clock but to no avail ‘cause it’s far, far too addictive. And although it’s a romantic comedy, the author’s take on a delicate subject gave the story such a sensitive touch it got me sniffling into my pillow more than once. Hunting’s gone back to ice hockey with this stand-alone spinoff from the highly popular Pucked Series which also happens to be a sport I adore. A Lie for a Lie is a marvellous read in the respect that most of the characters are lovely, relatable and makes you want to be with them.

“Thank you for being my personal support person and human teddy bear.”

Chapter one and we’re in the now, RJ crossing paths with the gorgeous and timid Lainey. He picks up on her intense discomfort, calms her down and is so understanding, my heart melted. Ahh, but not being entirely frank with her could just come back and bite him where it hurts the most. Hmm...where could that be you may ask! I loved the way Hunting set the foundation of the plot so quickly, had me on edge and provoked all the feels at a page-turning pace.

‘There were a lot of women in a very short span of time. Sometimes more than one at a time. It was bad. I’m not proud.’

Well-known as a lady’s man, RJ’s got it all. NHL team captain, his drop-dead gorgeous looks attract the puck bunnies like bees to a honeypot. Not happy with the way he’s been running his personal life, he wants to escape their advances and be that normal kinda guy for a while. I really and truly liked RJ. Obviously well off, he never flaunts it. His teammates respect him, he gets on with their women, loves their kids and has a fabulous rapport with his siblings. In fact, I couldn’t find fault with him yet when he doesn’t come clean with Lainey, I could have strangled him.

“...And even if she’s willing to talk to me, once she realizes what else I left out she’ll probably never want to speak to me again.”

Lainey won be over at the drop of a hat. Her contrasting traits which funnily enough don’t clash, are so well-described that I ended up rooting for her throughout the read. To begin with, she comes across as quite nerdy. Her love of marine life habits is the reason she’s taken a trip to Alaska but she never expected her time there would evolve as it did. Everything goes wrong only to be righted. However, what would happen leaves confusion in its wake. Even though she’s shy, she’d learnt to trust RJ and thought he had the same feelings for her as she had for him. Indeed, Hunting gave the story a powerful edge with all the goings-on and in the process, my attention didn’t waver for a minute.

“My respect for you just went up a few notches. I had no idea you were into the nerdy chicks.”
“She’s not nerdy,”

Although the book isn’t split into two parts, there’s definitely a before and after-feel about it. The after hit me just as strongly since everything comes pouring out. And believe you me, I wasn’t the only person who was left stunned, shocked, even dazzled! I can’t say anything regarding the outcome of them finding each other again but wow, Hunting most certainly nipped it in the bud with her brilliant story-telling.

‘The man I was with in Alaska was kind and sweet and down-to-earth. But this . . . it’s completely different. And this is what his life is really like.’

Despite the team camaraderie and family ambience bowling me over, I had very mixed feelings for Lainley’s parents and saluted her when she stood up for herself. The title also gave me food for thought and I’d love you to decide for yourselves if not telling the truth or its omission can be considered a lie. In this case, distorting the truth and letting it slide was a lot easier than finding that perfect moment to confess. Of course, the big question here is will they forgive each other. I can’t tell you how much I loved RJ and Lainey’s story overflowing with tenderness, surprises and plenty of smiles. Bravo Hunting!

I received an arc of this book and enthusiastically and voluntarily give my review.

I should not be surprised by my instant love of all of Helena Hunting's books at this point. She has a style that grabs me instantly and causes me to experience complete joy, humor, love, loss, and lust for her characters. This story was beautiful and I am afraid to say more than that because no one wants spoilers. One thing that stood out to me was that this book was slightly different from other books in her repertoire because it was more focused on the emotional relationships between characters and there were fewer sexy scenes (don't worry they are still in there). I love Rook & Lainey and I can't wait for everyone to get to meet them. Fans of Pucked will be happy to know that we get to visit with old friends and catch up on their lives. It is no wonder to me that Helena is a one click author and one that I recommend to others constantly. Five Stars!! So excited for the rest of this new series!

This book is just one of the many Helena Hunting books that I love. It was a steamy, but laugh out loud romance that was impossible to put down. It was easy to root for Rook and Lainey because they are book likable characters.

I loved how this romance starts as insta lust that builds into more and how a good portion of this book is spent trying to figure out if their relationship is one that can last. So often romance books end shortly after they get together, but that's not the case here. It was nice to see them trying to work out every day problems and supporting each other in their struggles.

I love second chance romances and this one was done so well. The chemistry between Rook and Lainey was 🔥 and you won't be able to stop reading as the lies threaten to ruin everything. While there is so much I want to say, I can't because I don't want to give it away. Just believe me when I say this one is a must read.

Overall this second chance romance is for anybody that loves the genre. It was one of those books I finished in one sitting because it was that good. I highly recommend this one!