Review: Dream Lake

Rating: ★★★★☆

Author: Lisa Kleypas

Genre: Romance; Paranormal

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Publication Date:  August 7, 2012

Pages: 384

Format: E-book; Mass Market Paperback

Series: Friday Harbor #3

Content Rating: R

“A woman could do that to you - reach that place in your soul where the best and worst of you was kept. And once she was there, she owned that place and never left.”  ~ Lisa Kleypas, Dream Lake

Overview

Dream Lake takes readers once again to the exquisite setting of Friday Harbor, and tells the story of Zoe Hoffman, an innkeeper who has all but given up on love. She’s a gentle, romantic soul, but has been so hurt in the past that she dare not trust her heart with anyone. Especially not Alex Nolan. Alex is the most haunted of all the Nolan brothers. He drinks to keep his demons at bay and not only has he given up on love, he has never, ever believed in it. Zoe and Alex are oil and water, fire and ice, sunshine and shadow. But sometimes, it takes only a glimmer of light to chase away the dark. (St.Martins Griffin)

Review

The publisher of Dream Lake claims it " is classic Lisa Kleypas: romantic, powerful, emotional, and magical," and I would have to completely agree. Kleypas is my go to author for a moving and picturesque romance and Dream Lake held true to that legacy.

Throughout her Friday Harbor series, Kleypas has explored subtle paranormal elements and for the most part (Rainshadow Road book #2 in this series excluded) it has been completely plausible and fitting.  Dream Lake is her best so far in weaving in a bit of mystic.  Alex and Zoe's story blends beautifully with that of the "Ghost" that is connected to Alex.  I cannot tell you whose happily-ever-after I wanted more, the "Ghost"or Alex.  

What ranks Kleypas as one of my favorite authors are her heroes.  Women worldwide are dreaming of the angst-ridden and damaged Christian Grey from E.L. James blockbuster Fifty Shades of Grey, but for me Kleypas is the queen of the tortured hero.  Alex Nolan ranks right up there with some of Kleypas' best bad boys.  He is cold, haunted (literally and figuratively) and wrecked.  Those elements pull you in and have you longing for a monumental redemption for his own sake and for Zoe's as well.

The other element Kleypas does exceptionally well is creating heroines that perfectly complement her heroes.  Zoe Hoffman is no exception.  She is sweet, sensitive and almost too kind.  I couldn't help but to be won over by her (and her cooking.)  She is the opposite of Alex in almost every way and it was fascinating to see how they balance each other out so perfectly.

I have enjoyed the Friday Harbor series, but Dream Lake is by far the best of this series thus far.  It is original, moving and captivating.  Another plus for many is that it works well in the series but can also be read as a stand alone.  Most of the main plot points from the previous novels are rehashed in this story so it can work either way.  

The next novel in the Friday Harbor series, Crystal Cove, is Zoe's cousin Justine's story.  It is scheduled to be released February 2013.  Also, the first novel of this series, Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor, has been made into a coveted Hallmark Hall of Fame Christmas movie set to air this December.  Read more about the movie here.