Lies and Lullabies (Hush Note, #1)

by Sarina Bowen

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.

• ISBN10: 1950155072
• ISBN13: 9781950155071
• Publish Date: 22 September 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Tuxbury Publishing LLC
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 276
• Language: English

Reviews

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

Lies and Lullabies is book one in the Hush Note series and Sarina Bowen's contribution. Having read books 2 and 3 Rifts and Refrain and Muses and Melodies, both of which I loved, I looked forward to reading about Jonas, Hush Note lead singer. Now I went into this book with high expectations, however my experience did not go as expected. The story in of itself wasn't bad, but the heroine rubbed me the wrong way. The secret baby trope doesn't sit well with me, but I read the book anyway because of the desire to complete the series.

Five years ago, Jonas went to Maine for a break from the band and to get his creative juices flowing. While there, he met Kira. A special bond developed between after weeks spending time together. On his last night in Maine, they shared an unforgettable night of passion. Fast forward four years later, Jonas returned to Maine with the band, hoping to reconnect with Kira. Upon his return, he discovered he had fathered a daughter. A discovery which brought changes, which at first appeared insurmountable. However, his determination and love Kira and his daughter gave him the strength needed to overcome.

Earlier, I mentioned how the heroine rubbed me the wrong way. Here is the reason. She had no justifiable reason to keep the child a secret. No attempts were made on her part to inform Jonas that he was a father. I understood her fear of being rejected, seeing how she has poured out her heart to him, which he never responded to. However, it still did not justify her actions. There were many routes she could have taken to inform him.

Despite his imperfections, Jonas was an exceptional hero. He readily acknowledged his mistakes and willingly embraced being a father. His willingness to acknowledge his mistakes, coupled with his love for Kira, made it easier for him to forgive her. Also, her actions throughout the story reeked of insecurities. Because of her insecurities, she spent most of the time pushing Jonas away.

The romance was beautiful. Jonas put his all into making his relationship with Kira and his daughter work. A busy schedule and nosy band mates would not be a deterrent.

Overall, although not my favorite of the series, I thought the story was fairly good.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading

Ok but the song at the end of the audiobook

[Canadian Girl Book Blog]

        

Five years ago in small town Maine, was a summer that both Jonas and Kira would never forget. Jonas was hiding out from his famous rockstar life and Kira was a college student with dreams of opening her own restaurant. They became best friends, enjoyed the whole summer together and one magical night that would change their lives forever. Five years later, in the same small town, Jonas and Kira reconnect only for the secret of their baby to be revealed.

Jonas and Kira had a connection with each other right from the beginning of the book and the little girl they produced Vivi was so adorable that you just wanted to hug her. Kira's brother Adam was a great little comedic relief and had me laughing out loud a few times. The other members of the band are intriguing and I can not wait to read their stories and head back into their world. Sarina Bowen has been on my TBR for a very long time and I am glad that I have finally read/listened to a book by her.

Lies & Lullabies is a small town, rockstar, surprise baby, second chance romance and the first book of the Hush Note series from Sarina Bowen, Devney Perry and Rebecca Yarros. Lies & Lullabies can be read as a standalone or as part of the series.

Audio: Tim Paige and Erin Mallon both did a great job portraying the story. After the little surprise at the end of the audiobook, Tim Paige has now officially become my favourite male narrator.

                 

          

[stacey_is_sassy]

A Rockstar Prince Charming…

I am absolutely loving the way audiobooks have evolved.

HE SANG TO ME!

It’s hard to explain but it feels like there is more of a personal touch/emotional connection when the narrators do more than just read the story to me. In Lies & Lullabies, Tim Paige and Erin Mallon are Jonas and Kiri. I felt the emotional connection between the characters, and I ‘saw’ them as they were meant to be seen, vulnerabilities and all.

My heart broke for Kiri as she dealt with the aftermath of betrayal and the devastation of feeling abandoned. It wasn’t just Jonas who broke her heart, Kiri’s father and the people in her town are horrible when they find out she’s pregnant and the father is nowhere to be seen. It’s only Adam, her brother who she can count on in the tough times. It’s easier to move away from the negativity and start afresh, hoping that her heart will mend with her busy new life.

Jonas has fame but it comes at a cost. Everyone around Jonas wants something from him but not a lot are willing to give. When he meets and falls for Kiri, he has convinced himself that there are better men out there for her. Jonas walks away and stays away thinking he’s doing best for her. Yes, he probably should have been a little more transparent, but Jonas didn’t want her to treat him differently. It’s only five years later he realises that keeping his secrets cost him everything he never knew he wanted.

I think the trick with falling in love with a Rockstar is to catch them when they have already got the ‘hooking up’ and ‘partying hard’ out of their system. Jonas turns into Prince Charming and is determined to right the wrongs he had previously made. In this story, both Kira and Jonas do a lot of growing in between their initial meeting and when they catch up again. Kira has to learn to trust Jonas and he needs to prove that he’s more than a Rockstar. I absolutely LOVED the more mature Jonas. ‘Seeing’ inside his head was a treat and getting to witness his love and devotion to his new family was so sweet.

If I could find any fault with this story it was probably that I wanted a little more depth and understanding. When Kiri admits to Jonas that she'd been previously hurt, I wanted to 'see' how she recovered, and who helped her the most. It was maybe implied that Jonas starts her healing but not what happened after he left. I also would have liked to understand why Kiri didn't reach out to Jonas once she knew who he really was. This seemed to be skimmed over a wee bit.

I enjoyed getting to know the additional characters, but my favourite was Adam… especially when he was on painkillers. Cracked me up! Then again, Ethan was pretty awesome too. I would LOVE a story for Ethan, and after reading Lies & Lullabies you will know exactly who I want for him. Vivi, Kiri and Jonas’s daughter is a cutie patootie and I loved her negotiation abilities. At this stage, Quinn and Nixon have a wee bit to prove but I’m sure (hoping) Devney Perry and Rebecca Yarros will bring them good.

This was my very first ALC (Advanced Listening Copy) and I really enjoyed the experience. I went in knowing that I couldn’t be distracted or have outside influences distract me. With Sarina Bowen’s excellent storytelling ability, and the fantastic narration, it made it an easy task.

This first instalment of the Hush Note series was an absolute pleasure to listen to, but I’m honestly not surprised. Sarina Bowen is one of my favourite authors and I know I can count on her to leave me satisfied. The narrators do an excellent job portraying the characters, and I loved Tim Paige's, Sweetness. If you’re looking for a great romance where the Rockstar wants nothing but a happy ever after with his family by his side, I highly recommend giving Lies & Lullabies a try.

Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced audio copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.