Suddenly Dating (A Lake Haven Novel, 2)

When I started this book I was in a reading slump and hoped this would not reflect on my opinion of the book. But I enjoyed it so much, it helped me overcome my slump.
I have read lots of romance over the years and I have come across all tropes. But this was a fresh take on a modern relationship. Lola Dunne comes from a broken home and had to raise her siblings single-handedly. She is used to helping everybody with everything and is routinely taken advantage of by everybody. even when her marriage breaks down, she feels she hasn't done enough. But having to leave the company where she and her husband were both employed finally gives her the opportunity to finally stop being a doormat and see if she can write a book.
Engineer Harry Westbrook comes from a completely different background. He has a rich family, went to an Ivy League school, worked for a top company. But he only wants to build bridges. So he he sank all his savings in his own company, trying to make a name for himself while competing with the bigger fish for jobs. When his girlfriend is fed up with never seeing him and never having any money and leaves him, he has to prove he can swim (or sink together with all his life savings).
A series of misunderstandings make them reluctant roommates in a lovely mansion on Lake Haven. Through a period of difficult adjustment (perfectionist Harry finds it difficult to put up with the mess Lola leaves all over the place) they learn to appreciate each other. Lola may be a great cook, but she is also a lovely vibrant woman with zest for life. Handsome Harry can be bit stick-in-the-mud, but he is also reliable and can be a rock in difficult times. Together they learn to lean on each other and be there for each other. It's not so much opposites attracting but puzzle pieces falling together and making one whole, supporting each other in pursuing their dreams.

We meet our couple when they are both at a crossroads in their lives and ready for some change. While being there together starts out to be far from ideal, they choose to make the best of it with sometimes quite humorous results. Lola is a full-blown people-pleaser. Having spent her ENTIRE life doing for and unto others, her divorce is just what she needs to force her to try new things and follow her dream of becoming an author. Harry is an engineer with dreams of building bridges. Born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth, his girlfriend considers his choice to start his own business ridiculous and him failing. When she leaves him for the last time, he finally has the impetus to make the changes he needs.

These two characters were fantastic. The constant squabbles, the back and forth, being polar opposites is all great cover for their amazing chemistry. Julia really did a superb job helping us get to know them and as we did, the plot moved along at a great pace, perfectly character driven. I especially enjoyed watching Lola be able to grow and change. As someone who has spent way too many hours and dollars in therapy to do the same thing, it was great to be able to cheer for this character. The secondary characters were also colorful and provided interesting people for Lola and Harry to play off of. Seeing as this is the second novel set in Lake Haven, It was fun to see those loveable quirky folks again.

Trying not to go into a bunch of spoilers, the situation involving inappropriate groping, sex and cocaine really threw me for a loop. I felt it was used inappropriately in the plot when it should have been a HUGE issue for Lola based on her background. If not for that, this would have been a solid 5 Stars for sure. If you are looking for a unique and modern take on a 30 something Contemporary romance, this is still a really good book to try.

**** 4 Stars ****

***I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. ***

Suddenly Dating is about finding the courage to take chances, leaving your comfort zone, and that second chances at love can happen. The characters are quirky, lovable and realistic. The story is heartwarming, funny at times and flows with passion. Lola Dunne has lived a tough life, protecting her siblings and taking care of her abusive mother. She was dumped by the man who promised to love her forever and is still reeling from it. She decides to quit her job and write a novel. Harry Westbrook quit his cushy job to start his own company and follow his dreams. His girlfriend is not happy with the changes and leaves him. They are both given secretive permission to live in a house on Lake Haven and the adventure ensues. What starts as animosity towards each other changes to sparks of desire and they must decide if love can happen a second time around.

There are characters that are obviously perfect for each other. And then there are characters that are more like Harry and Lola, characters that are imperfectly perfect. It's obvious to everyone that they were meant for each other, but the way they become a couple makes you shake your head a bit. It's a comedy of errors and I loved every single moment of it. I loved their banter and how they struggled living with each other. The constant rules and the fun they have testing each other's limits. The moment they finally come together and the little rough patches they face afterwards. Everything wasn't perfect for them, but I don't think they'd change one moment in their budding relationship. I loved how real they were. Both Harry and Lola are strong individuals that work hard to accomplish their dreams. Two characters that you just want to see succeed so badly and you want to see them happy that I may have had a happy sigh at the end of the book.

Suddenly Dating may have only been the 2nd book of Julia's that I've read, but I know it will not be my last. I love her characters to pieces. Her writing style is so much fun. She made me giggle at times, I ugly cried along with Lola. And of course I sighed when they expressed their true feelings. At the end of the day, I loved coming into this book after going through a bit of a reading slump because it rejuvenated me. I don't know who the couple will be in the next book. All I know is that I can't wait to fall in love with more of Julia's characters.

Advance copy gifted from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I received an e-advanced reader copy of the book for my honest review

Suddenly Dating is a love story about Harry and Lola. I liked that the characters have a real life and real problems. And inevitably fall in love. The characters quirks seem to balance each other.
It was a fun fast read - read it in day

This is the first book I've read by author Julia London and I've been an avid romance reader for 30 years. How on earth have I never read a book by her?! I'm looking forward to the next installment and will definitely look for others to read as well

Arc provided for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, Suddenly in Love, and couldn't wait for this one to be available. And it did not disappoint. Harry and Lola were characters you could relate to, and sympathize with, even as you were yelling at the pages for them to see what was right in front of them :) I enjoyed seeing some other Lake Haven characters interact with these two, and the overall story as well.

Dropped into sharing a house by dueling divorcing friends, neither wants to share. And I wouldn't either. I wanted to move into an extra room myself from the description! But they make the best of it, and find themselves getting drawn farther into each others lives, and learning about themselves and each other along the way.

I recommend the book, and am again eagerly awaiting another installment.

I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

A comical romance! Take two strangers, both a friend of one-half of a married couple, then put them in the same house unexpectedly. Harry is an engineer attempting to get his new business off the ground and going through some tough times, both professionally and personally. Luckily, he has a good friend in the middle of a divorce with a lake house sitting untouched and unused...as far as he knows.

Lola is a woman with a passion and a dream to be a writer. She needs a change of scenery and time away in order to focus on her book. Luckily, she has a friend going through a lengthy divorce with a lake house that is sitting untouched with only a caretaker in attendance, or so she thinks. Who's up for a roommate?!?

This summer Harry and Lola share the house and pose as a couple among the lofty East Beach crowd. But where does the pretend end and reality begin?

I really enjoyed this book! The comical and feisty Lola and the more reserved and straight-laced Harry are quite the characters. They both have their faults, but that just makes them more interesting. The conversations between them are rather hilarious and the secondary characters add a colorful element to the story. Highly recommend to read!

Lola is trying to move on from her divorce when a friend gives her the opportunity to live out her life long dream of writing a book.
Harry is the overworked bridge building engineer trying to get his new company off the ground. He's working too many hours to keep any relationship going.
By fate (or mutual friends going through a divorce), they are both staying at a lake house to reorganize their lives unbeknownst to each. Little pet peeves start to get in the way like Harry's neat freak tendencies and Lola's just one HOT mess!
Crazy antics ensue with friends, family, an ex-girlfriend and famous novelist that you can't help but laugh out loud and love this story of two totally opposite people falling in love right before your eyes!
It's a must read book and I highly recommend it!
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)

I received and ARC from netgalley for an honest review

I started and finished this book in one night. I enjoy how Julia London makes the characters feel so real and how you think you'd like them if you met them. Lola and Harry are adorable. Lola-I love the name- is very relatable. I wish I had the nerve to do what she did and take some time to follow a dream. Pick it up and I guarantee a great and fun read.

Suddenly Dating is the 2nd book in the Lake Haven series. Although, the first book, Suddenly in Love, doesn’t need to be read before this, I thoroughly recommend it because it was a great book. I really enjoyed the characters and story-line in Suddenly in Dating. I really connected with Lola who is always putting others before herself and is basically a doormat for her family and friends. I tend to have that problem also and it was nice to see a realistic issue being written about. It is hard to change that behavior and can’t be instantly done. I’m glad that Lola didn’t just become a totally different person by the end of the book and is still a “work in progress”. The banter and the situations between Lola and Harry trying to figure out their living arrangements was so funny and I couldn’t get enough of it. Overall I would totally recommend this book to someone looking for a funny contemporary romance book. I can’t wait to see who else pops up with stories in this series.