Review: The Lies I've Told by J.L. Berg (By the Bay #3)


Note: An advanced reader copy (ARC) was provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR.

The Lies I've Told is the third and latest novel in the By the Bay series created by bestselling author J.L. Berg, set in the seaside town of Ocracoke Island, North Carolina. This is the story of thirty-three-year-old celebrated sculptor Aiden Fisher and twenty-eight-year-old jobless but promising designer Millie McIntyre. Both of them believed the world was their oyster--that is, until a cold bucket of reality was thrown at them, leaving each one floundering. The British artist knows time is ticking away, but when he meets the feisty woman stepping in for her sister at the By the Bay Inn, he wonders if she could be the glimmer of light he desperately needs in the darkness that threatens to overwhelm him. One night together has Aiden considering that she could be "the one", but Millie wakes up to barely any memories of what occurred between them. Maybe he can convince her to give what he knows they share a fair chance. However, life isn't fair, and the sad truth is it isn't that one night that can't remember that may be doomed to end things--it's the lies that they've told and the secrets that remain in dark that may shatter them.

In the first couple of chapters of this book, I honestly thought I was going to have more difficulty liking Aiden than I would Millie. And then they both arrived in Ocracoke, and everything flipped for me. I loved Aiden. From his vulnerable moments to his firm belief that Millie was a game changer for him, the man had me rooting for him. I'm not going to divulge what particular challenge he was facing here. You're going to have to read the book to find that out, but suffice it to say that while how things played out on that front were more inevitable than miraculous, it was also realistic and inspiring. On the other hand, we have Millie. For a good portion of this book, the woman grated on me. There wasn't as much of a connection to this main character than I would have hoped for. Still, because Aiden's feelings for her were growing by the day, I wanted them to get to a happy ending. There were parts of the story that played out differently than I would have expected. Most of it got a thumbs up from me, but there were a couple that didn't. That being said, The Lies I've Told You is still an overall four-starred romantic read. ♥

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Read my reviews for the By the Bay series:


 The Choices I've Made (book one) - three stars - My Review

The Scars I Bare (book two) - 4.5 stars - My Review

The Lies I've Told (book three) - four stars - My Review (posted above)

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Release Date: 04 June 2018

Date Read: 04 June 2018

Learn more about J.L. Berg.

Purchase The Lies I've Told on Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo.

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