Name: Lies and Lullabies
Rating: 3.454545454545455 (11 reviews)
ISBN: 9781950155071

Sarina Bowen

Lies and Lullabies

Lies & Lullabies

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Lies and Lullabies is the first book in the "Hush Note" trilogy. I just love a good rock star romance and I have been meaning to get to this trilogy for quite some time. I really enjoyed the last trilogy that this trio author team did together. I had been told that this one is the best of the series, so I literally jumped into this one, with no warning and no research haha and boy did I regret that so much in this one. I want to say that I loved this one but I really didn't. And if it wasn't for the other aspects of the story and for the way Sarina Bowen can just pull me into a story, I am not sure I would have kept with this one. But I don't think this is an author I could ever DNF if I am being honest. I just enjoy how she writes her stories even if its a trope I despise deeply lol

The set up of the story is that Jonas and Kiri first met in Maine over the lake in the summer and they quickly became friends which ended with one night of passion. But Jonas hadn't left his contact information with Kiri. Now its been years later since they were together, four years exactly and Jonas has brought his band to this summer lake and runs into Kiri and is also faced with the fact that he has a daughter that he didn't know about. As he and his band are on tour, Jonas is determined to reconnect with Kiri and build a relationship with his little girl, but sometimes life can make it tougher than it should be...

Lies and Lullabies was an endearing read and despite the trope that I hate being in it, I still enjoyed the story. However, I really need to point out if a book has this trope written in this way, no matter how good the story is I will never five star it. I can't condone a heroine doing this and I do feel like she should have done more groveling than she actually did. But what I did like is how well fleshed out the hero was in his reaction and his anger. I do think he forgave her a bit quicker than she actually deserved because she literally had zero reasons why she wouldn't go to him for the truth. She could have contacted him and didn't. So even though I enjoyed the romance as a whole, the hero was awesome, adored seeing him build a relationship with his daughter, but I can't give this book a higher rating because of the toxicity of the heroine. I really wish that authors would stop writing heroines like this and condoning it and if they betray the hero in this way, then I do think they need to do a good long grovel!!! Now granted the hero wasn't all perfect either and he made his share of mistakes but that doesn't make what the heroine does okay. And I do expect more from heroines because they are capable of it.

Overall while I enjoyed the story as a whole, it had some toxic elements that took the joy out of the story. But its a solid rock star read and eager to continue it.

Lover of Romance 

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Introduction
Lies and Lullabies is the first book in the "Hush Note" trilogy. I just love a good rock star romance and I have been meaning to get to this trilogy for quite some time. I really enjoyed the last trilogy that this trio author team did together. I had been told that this one is the best of the series, so I literally jumped into this one, with no warning and no research haha and boy did I regret that so much in this one. I want to say that I loved this one but I really didn't. And if it wasn't for the other aspects of the story and for the way Sarina Bowen can just pull me into a story, I am not sure I would have kept with this one. But I don't think this is an author I could ever DNF if I am being honest. I just enjoy how she writes her stories even if its a trope I despise deeply lol


Summary
The set up of the story is that Jonas and Kiri first met in Maine over the lake in the summer and they quickly became friends which ended with one night of passion. But Jonas hadn't left his contact information with Kiri. Now its been years later since they were together, four years exactly and Jonas has brought his band to this summer lake and runs into Kiri and is also faced with the fact that he has a daughter that he didn't know about. As he and his band are on tour, Jonas is determined to reconnect with Kiri and build a relationship with his little girl, but sometimes life can make it tougher than it should be...

My Outlook
Lies and Lullabies was an endearing read and despite the trope that I hate being in it, I still enjoyed the story. However, I really need to point out if a book has this trope written in this way, no matter how good the story is I will never five star it. I can't condone a heroine doing this and I do feel like she should have done more groveling than she actually did. But what I did like is how well fleshed out the hero was in his reaction and his anger. I do think he forgave her a bit quicker than she actually deserved because she literally had zero reasons why she wouldn't go to him for the truth. She could have contacted him and didn't. So even though I enjoyed the romance as a whole, the hero was awesome, adored seeing him build a relationship with his daughter, but I can't give this book a higher rating because of the toxicity of the heroine. I really wish that authors would stop writing heroines like this and condoning it and if they betray the hero in this way, then I do think they need to do a good long grovel!!! Now granted the hero wasn't all perfect either and he made his share of mistakes but that doesn't make what the heroine does okay. And I do expect more from heroines because they are capable of it.

Overall View
Overall while I enjoyed the story as a whole, it had some toxic elements that took the joy out of the story. But its a solid rock star read and eager to continue it.

Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 4
World Building: 4
Cover: 5
Hero: 5
Heroine: 2.5
Steam: 4
Heart & Feels: 4
Ending: 4
Overall View: 3.5

Caitlin 

4.5⭐️
I love Sarina Bowen’s writing and I haven’t read a rockstar romance before so I was excited to read this one. I loved it! I’m definitely going to read more in the future. I saw lots of mixed reviews for this book but, personally, I really enjoyed it. I’m a sucker for a book with babies/kids in it🥺

Jonas and Kira’s relationship was so sweet. I really liked them together. They had such a strong connection. He was so gone for her and she couldn’t help but fall for him again. Jonas was also so so cute with Vivi. It was great to see the way he adapted to fatherhood and I loved seeing him build a relationship with her. It was obvious that he loved her as soon as he met her. He was so protective of both of them! My weakness is guys with kids.

I also loved the relationship between Kira and her brother, Adam. He was so supportive and he really took care of Kira and Vivi. 

Going into it, I was a bit unsure on the whole plot of keeping the baby a secret for so long, but it turned out I loved it. The story was a little slow at times, but overall it was a really good read. I’m excited to continue the series!

Candyce Kirk

Sarina Bowen is great at writing amazing characters and making you love them. She did this as well in Lies & Lullabies and I flew through this book. That being said, unfortunately this book wasn't my favorite by this author. It's hard to put my finger on it, but I wasn't blown away.

Kira and Jonas have an amazing summer together and one amazing night. I enjoyed that there were flashbacks woven through the first chapters of this book, so we could really understand the connection these two characters had. Then things happen, it's five years later and they haven't spoken since that night. That is until they run into each other at the same place they met five years ago.

Let's start out with the tropes in this book. I love second chance romances. Especially for these two characters. They both love with all of their hearts and haven't had the easiest times. It was fun seeing them connect again. There is also another trope, because there is a surprise baby. Kira got pregnant from their one night stand and never told Jonas. I have to say that's always a thing that gets to me. While part of me understands her fears, she knew who he was. That's just a personal thing for me though.

I loved seeing Jonas interact with Vivi once he knew she was his. Those moments really melted my heart. It was interesting to see them find their way back to each other with some obstacles in their way. I think this went too easy at times? So much happens, but seems not to really matter at times. And I know romances are often predictable, but this was maybe just a bit too much so?

All in all, it was a fast and fun read and I liked the characters. Even though I have to say the side characters made this book and I wouldn't mind a story about Adam (Kira's brother). Besides a bit of drama there are also steamy moments, humor and a little glimpse of the rock star life. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this trilogy!

Summer nights and star-crossed lovers! From USA Today bestselling author Sarina Bowen. Once upon a time, he gave me a summer of friendship, followed by one perfect night. We shared a lot during our short time together. But he skipped a few crucial details. I didn’t know he was a rock star. I didn’t know his real name. Neither of us knew I’d get pregnant. And I sure never expected to see him again. Five years later, his tour bus pulls up in Nest Lake, Maine. My little world is about to be shattered by loud music and the pounding of my own foolish heart. ***** Perfect for fans of: Helena Hunting, Elle Kennedy, Catherine Gayle, Avon Gale, Toni Aleo, Kristen Callihan, LJ Shen, Mona Kasten, Corinne Michaels, Jana Aston, Karina Halle, Meghan March, Jay Crownover, Anna Todd, Geneva Lee, Audrey Carlan, Jill Shalvis, Suzanne Brockmann, Helen Hoang, Christina Lauren, Kristan Higgins, Sally Thorne, Penelope Sky, Vi Keeland, Penelope Ward, Debbie Macomber, Nora Roberts, Maisey Yates, Sarah Mayberry, Elle Kennedy, Lauren Blakely, Susan Mallery, Penny Reid, Julia Kent, Kelly Jamieson, Melanie Harlow, Carrie Ann Ryan, Kendall Ryan, Kennedy Ryan, Helen Hardt, Meghan March, Julia Kent, Meli Raine, Sylvia Day, Chelle Bliss, Brenda Rothert, Natasha Madison, Kylie Scott, Helena Hunting, Sloane Kennedy, Penelope Sky, Elle Kennedy, K.A. Linde, Nana Malone, Jami Davenport, Jaci Burton, Penelope Sky, Helen Hardt, E.L. James, Anna Todd, Chelle Bliss, Kendall Ryan, Kennedy Fox, Kylie Scott, Devney Perry and Rebecca Yarros. Keywords: contemporary romance, hush note series, rockstar romance, rock stars, rock star romance, rockstars, first in a series, accidental pregnancy, secret baby, mistaken identity, friends to lovers.

Lies and Lullabies

Reviews

Highlights