Zoe Anderson heads to picturesque Lake George to heal, reboot her life. But the family cottage holding so many happy memories is now a run-down shack. Neighboring resort mogul Jason Rolland whisks in to the rescue. But a fling turns into something neither expects. Can the playboy win Zoe’s heart?
Manhattan domestic violence counselor Zoe Anderson is going on the most important vacation of her life.
Before she can move on, help other women, Zoe needs to heal herself. Her Cinderella life shattered three years ago one fateful night, leaving her a young widow, scarred inside and out. In an attempt to reclaim her life, bury her demons, and save her job, Zoe sets out for picturesque Lake George to claim the treasured family cottage she recently inherited. Her therapist’s advice: Reboot, restore to an earlier time.
What she finds is a rundown shack.
The neighboring resort mogul, Jason Rolland, whisks in to her rescue, insisting Zoe stay at his upscale Lakeview Lodge. The wealthy, handsome bachelor has a bank account as big as his ego, along with his own nighttime radio show where he plays the love guru of Jason’s Lair. He figures he might use the gifts God gave him to convince the sexy redheaded stranger to give up the crumbling eye-sore next door. A challenge he’s definitely up for. Besides, he’s been trying to buy the cabin—and demolish it—for years: the last reminder of his own tragic, childhood memories.
Zoe can’t deny her attraction to the tall, dark-haired Jason with his pool-water blue eyes. Definitely fling material—if she can just get past those flashbacks from the night everything changed. And the knowledge that when it comes to happy-ever-after, you usually don’t get a second chance. Certainly not possible with the Tiger of Jason’s Lair.
What Jason doesn’t figure on is Zoe’s charms melting his emotional armor, exposing his own bruised, battered heart. But with his reputation, can he ever win her trust & love? Can a tiger really change his stripes? Or will their pasts come back to bite them both?
Excerpt
Jason hd raised his eyes to meet hers. Zoe studied them, knowing hers were still hidden behind her sunglasses.
God, they’re so blue. A light, translucent, electrifying shade of blue.
There it was. That same tingling sensation in her core as the first time she laid eyes on him. But not just since that day in the office. Since almost twenty years ago.
He stared at her in silence as she waited for his reply. Surely, if he grew up here, the way things looked back then still held some nostalgia for him too, wouldn’t it?
Apparently not.
A bulldozer. The thought sent a shiver down her spine.
She was so engrossed in her own reverie, she was completely taken off guard when Jason, without saying a word, lifted his hand very slowly and slid her sunglasses away from her face.
“I can’t tell what you’re thinking if I can’t see those celadon eyes,” he said.
Celadon? Seriously? What man even knows that word?
“Your usual alpha male thing isn’t going to work with me, Rolland. And by the way, they’re not celery, or whatever you just called them. They’re just plain old green.” Zoe had started to tremble a little. She wasn’t sure if it was from anger or . . . something else. Either way, she had to end this conversation soon before she turned into a sideshow.
She snatched her glasses out of Jason’s hand and perched them on top of her head. Unfortunately, she forgot she had the beach hat on. The glasses tumbled into the sand, and she heard Jason chuckle as he bent to retrieve them.
He straightened, but made no move to hand them over. Slowly, he brought them to his lips and, staring into her eyes the entire time, blew gently on the lenses, one at a time, to free them of sand.
Christ.
Heat, coming not from the brilliant sun overhead but from a spot just above the line of her bikini bottom, spiraled up her body. As though she were stepping into a hot tub, she felt the tell-tale flush on her skin. She knew her cheeks were burning, bright pink. She felt her nipples strain against the lining of her bikini top. Thank God she was hidden beneath her cover-up.
She sucked in a quavering breath, and then let out a soft, exasperated growl.
“Give me those,” she said, grabbing the glasses out of his hand.
Professional Reviews
Love at Lake George
Another wonderful story by Claire Gem. After a horrible ordeal, Zoe tries to pull her life back together and get away for awhile. She decides to go back to her childhood home and try to capture some of her happier memories. The story rings true for many of us. We all , at some point, want to go back and visit the home where we grew up. But, as time goes by, these places change and aren't the same as we remember. But, we still have our memories tucked away in our hearts. Zoe meets Jason, an arrogant,playboy resort owner . But, is he really that kind of person or has he had some unhappy childhood memories too. He works hard, plays hard, but deep down is a kind, loving person that Zoe seems to bring out in him. (trying no not leave any spoilers here) Medina is a wonderful friend to Zoe and we all hope to have a friendship like theirs in our lives.This story is filled with emotional moments, some funny moments, true friendship , family traditions and romance. I never pass up the chance to read a book by this author. Her writing style pulls you into the story and you feel like you know the characters personally and are right there with them.
From Angel Hart from Hart's Reviews
This book had me in tears and rage at the same time. Zoe Anderson lost the love of her life 3 years prior as well as her sense of safety due to being brutally raped. She has scars inside and out. She finds the strength to visit her childhood summer escape at her Aunt Delia’s cabin on Lake George that she had inherited. Jason is a man troubled by being in his father’s shadow. He does all he can to live his life and enjoy the companionship of women when he feels like it. Avoiding relationships like the plague because he feels as if he is damaged and unable to fall in love, but he ends up doing just that. I spent my time going from hating Jason to loving him to hating him again. I felt empathetic to Zoe’s plight as well as her need for an emotional and mental reboot. This book had a great pace, plenty of “face fanning because they are giving me a hot flash” sex scenes, and it sucked me into their story. Now to find my own “Jason”…
