Description
Olivia Vandenberg used to live a monotonous life in Seattle as the Director of Human Resources for a tech company before moving to Stehekin. It was a remote place, a lot different from the bustling city she was used to. Stehekin was a countryside where the locals were more close-knit, the scenery was beautiful, and it attracted tourists who went horseback riding, kayaking, and for culinary delights. Through her connections in school, she landed a role at a tech company in its early stages, which became very successful later on.
Olivia worked round the clock with her boyfriend Bill, although she had made a boatload of money. She eventually gets diagnosed with a rare medical condition and is also shattered by her partner abandoning her. She flees to Stehekin to start afresh and battle her illness. There she meets wonderful people, enjoys activities that make her feel alive, and also meets Luka.
Luka Novak left Croatia to live in Stehekin after the civil war. He had scars from the war, and the memories of it still haunt him, including dreams of his lover Anya. Interestingly, he was an Olympic gold medalist and was quite popular in his homeland. Luka and Olivia connect through their circle of friends. Situated in a corner in the North Cascades, life is more adventurous as they go kayaking, horseback riding, hiking, or fishing. Feelings start growing between Luka and Olivia, but they are both held back by their pasts. Will they overcome it?
Adding to the main story are characters like Ingrid, Greta, West, and Bill, which make the novel much more interesting. Bill is a typical boss who is only focused on results and wants employees to work every minute of their lives. Of course, this leads to an unhealthy lifestyle and jeopardizes the health of workers. Olivia’s runaway boyfriend shows how people we rely on can leave when we need them the most. The novel also reminds readers of the devastating impact of war, as the experience is hardly forgotten by the victims, especially with the scars they carry and the loved ones lost.
As an adventurous person, I enjoyed reading all about horseback riding, kayaking, and hiking. It allowed me to immerse myself in the story. The plot was well paced, and the novel had enough characters to keep you engaged throughout. Restless Lake by Teri Fink will be perfect for fans of fiction novels with themes of romance, adventure, hope, friendship, and survival.