REVIEW: Lantern Lake by Lily Everett

Lantern Lake by Lily Everett is the third novella in the Billionaire Bachelor’s trilogy. All three novella’s take place around Miles’ wedding on Sanctuary Island. Mile’s has bet his three bachelor friends that they too will find true love on Sanctuary Island. In Lantern Lake, instead of finding a new love, Cooper rediscovers a past love, the only one he’s ever loved. The one who broke his heart years ago. He’s never forgotten her and has never really moved on from that devastation. He still holds a huge grudge and now that he sees her again, he is determined to extract revenge.

Vivian is not the same woman who walked away from Cooper though. She has shadows and secrets in her eyes…but the attraction between Cooper and Vivian is just as magnetic now as it was then. Cooper is determined to protect his heart this time though. He intends to get one last night with Vivian, then walking away and hurting her. Vivian knows that one night might be all she gets with Cooper, and she’s willing to take that. But can Cooper do that? Deep inside is that what he really desires? To love her and leave her?

Cooper and Violet have a lot of history together, but a lot of time has passed and they are both different people now. The strong feelings between them remain, and are palpable to the reader. What did happen to make Vivian leave? When everything is out in the open can they both forgive the past, and let it go? Or will they both walk away this time, still broken and hurting?

The feelings and actions of Cooper and Violet are written so realistically that sometimes they are very annoying, other times they really catch your heart…just like real life. The pace and length of the novella was adequate to tell their story, but it’s also a story that could easily be expanded into a full length book so we could get that deeper understanding of them. That said, Violet and Cooper’s journey is a good one!

Lantern Lake is a quick read romance with rich descriptions of both emotions and scenery that will take you right to the magic of Sanctuary Island. If you’ve read the other books in this series you will recognize many of the characters Lily brings us. It’s a fun series because they all take place at the same time, you get each billionaire bachelor’s story separately. I think Lantern Lake will be more enjoyable if you’ve read the other novellas.

I’d recommend Lantern Lake to romance readers looking for a quick read about a reunited love.

Book Info:

Published January 21st 2014 by St. Martin’s Paperbacks | Billionaire Bachelor’s trilogy #3

They’re single, they’re rich, and now these billionaire bachelors are heading to Sanctuary Island in a new e-original novella series from Lily Everett! Fall in love with the heartwarming island’s latest catch.

Leo, Zane, and Cooper made a pact to stay bachelors and enjoy the single life forever, and when they receive an invitation to their friend Miles’ wedding, they head down to Sanctuary Island determined to talk some sense into the errant groom before he makes a life-changing mistake. But Miles knows his own mind, and he makes a vow of his own: before he walks down the aisle, he’ll have Leo, Zane, and Cooper changing their tune about matrimony. Because Miles knows, better than anyone, that all it takes is a little Sanctuary Island magic to turn romantic cynics into true believers.

Cooper Haynes can’t believe how easily his friends have all succumbed to the lure of romance. Luckily, he knows he’s safe, since the one woman he ever loved is lost to him forever. But when he gets a look at the wedding program and sees the list of bridesmaids, Cooper knows he’s in trouble, because there she is: Vivian Banks. After her shattering break-up with Cooper, Vivian never wanted to see him again, but when Greta asks her to be a bridesmaid, Vivian can’t refuse…even knowing it’ll bring her face to face with the man who broke her heart and stomped on the pieces. But Sanctuary Island has a way of reminding people of what really matters, and teaching them the power of the human heart to forgive, heal, and fall in love all over again.