This book was ok, not great, it was just ok.

Maybe because we didn’t get to know the characters really well? Maybe the writing? I didn't find this book very exciting or emotional.

The Lies We Live is the first book in Nora Blooms Forever and Always series and the first book I’ve read by this author. I was excited for this book, drawn to it by the beautiful cover and blurb and more importantly discovering a new to me author. But the high hopes I’d had for this book were dashed a few pages in.
I loved the first interaction between Oliver and Lisa at the bar in the small Alaskan town where the story is based. I even liked the subsequent ones where Oliver came in night after night in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the mysterious waitress that had entranced him. But that’s where the loved ended. Lisa became exactly that - mysterious, but blending into the background.. There was no hint of a backstory or explanation as to why she’d picked this tiny town to throw down roots, what had driven her there. She’d simply arrived, taken up residence and that was that. Then the predictability kicked in. When another mysterious stranger suddenly arrives, flashing a photo of her and asking questions, Lisa is suddenly spooked and on the run, pushing Oliver into the role of protector and dashing hero. From this point the story is both exhilarating and overwhelming, with important information dumps which at times left you with more questions than actual answers and over descriptions of emotions and feelings. Overall the pacing of the story is all over the place - sometimes slow and others so fast paced it gave me whiplash. In all honesty there was no proper character building which was sad because both main characters were likeable on many levels. The author also failed to tie up loose ends on numerous of her storyline's that needed proper closure. I love small town romances and I wish that the blurb had lived up to its expectations. At this time I’m unsure if I’ll continue with the story as I’m afraid it will be a rinse and repeat of this book just with different characters and dramas!

It is painfully short. There's not enough development, and the whole thing is riddled with cliches. It would be a good premise, but there's not enough flesh to the story.

2⭐️⭐️


✨ small town romance
✨ Alaska



✨ It could have been more.
The story line of Oliver as a fisherman and of course Lisa as new in town and they got together. Yes….. I’m aware that the trope and story line was a typical romance vibe. I just thought there could be more…
I mean more like twisted fate, or anything that it doesn’t look like a typical small town romance. The story did not stand out to me .

⭐️ I love the book cover though but the story lines were not great. Sorry🥹




✨ Thankyou netgalley for the arc copy of this book for a honest review.



🫶🏼 shaye.reads

This was an OK read for me, sweet romance, some action, suspense and twist. I didn’t love this book but I didn’t hate it. I do love the author’s description of Alaska, but sometimes the story was a little bit of drawn out descriptions, especially when she was talking about the main characters. Overall it wasn’t a terrible read, but it didn’t wow me, I give it a solid three star.

Copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book wasn't for me at all, despite featuring tropes I usually love. The execution felt lackluster, with too many drawn-out details and descriptions, especially when describing Lisa’s or Oliver’s feelings. The narration was confusing, and the timeline in the first few chapters was all over the place. The author repeatedly used certain words like "embers," "lighthouse," and phrases such as "woven into fabric" and "tapestry of moments." By the middle of the story, I just wanted to reach the end.

I didn't feel any chemistry or connection between the main characters. While the plot was predictable, which was actually why I chose this book, I believe there's an audience for that. However, after all the fighting and running from Trey, discovering that Lisa had her cell phone the whole time and only called for help in the last scene when Oliver told her to was the last straw for me. I did enjoy the small-town Alaska vibes, and for that alone, I’m giving it two stars.

I love the book's cover! I was hoping to love the story just as much. The descriptions of Alaska were great, but I never felt super connected to the main characters. I appreciate NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book for this review. Three stars.

When reading a romance book, definitely take into consideration that it is fiction. At the same time, there needs to be a bit of realism involved. Lisa starts a new job and sits with Oliver because he wants ‘some company.’ Not realistic on any new job; she should be waiting on customers. Within 24 hours of meeting, Oliver decides Lisa has ‘a way of listening that makes people want to talk.’ ??? Oliver is signaling to Maggie, the owner of the bar, to serve him and Lisa another drink when she should be working? A fishing trip? Basically, with a stranger? And, his friend? Although I did read further, I could go on, but think it best to stop here at 4% according to my kindle. You will not see a review as I do not believe in bashing publicly.

I honestly almost didnt finish this book. The writing was almost too poetic. It didnt really pull you in the or get you invested in the characters. I only stuck through with it because im such a quick reader. Definitely wont read again or recommend.

Lisa went to a small town in Alaska to start over. The first person she met was Oliver, a generation of fishermen. They seemed to hit it off and Oliver visited her every night as she waitressed in a tavern. Oliver knew Lisa had secrets but hoped to earn her trust. Given Lisa’s secrets, she did a great job of trying to fit in and be a part of the community. I enjoyed the life in Alaska and how Oliver made her feel special. The community rallied around Lisa to make her feel welcome and safe.

This was a great start to a new series! I loved the premise and background of the novel set in Alaska.
Lisa is looking to start somewhere new to escape her past, and she hopes to find that in the small Alaskan fishing town. She meets a handful of warm villagers, including Oliver, a local fisherman.
I enjoyed reading how Lisa and Oliver’s romance blossomed throughout the book, and Oliver was dreamy! Can’t wait to read more of this series.

This book has tropes that I love, but honestly the delivery felt lackluster.
The narration was super confusing, and the timeline from the first chapter was all over the place. I felt no chemistry or connection between the main characters.
The plot was predictable but I actually picked this book because of that, so I believe there is an audience for that.
I did love the small town in Alaska vibes, and for that alone I’m giving it two starts.

Thank you so much NetGalley, Buoy Media and Nora Bloom for the ARC in exchange for an honest

Thank you NetGalley for a free copy for an honest review.

This book was ok, not great, it was just ok.

I don’t know what it is, maybe the writing? Maybe the fact that it seemed rush?
Maybe because we didn’t get to know the characters really well?

This seemed like just the average “wife running away from abusive husband and finds safety in a small community and said husband comes back to get/hurt her, while she finds love with local”.

Maybe if you’re just starting out to read romance with a bit of domestic thriller this would be a good start.

I’m going to do the author and publisher a favor and not review or rate this on my platforms. This short story was not for me. The pacing was very fast and the writing style bland.

Lisa moved to a small Alaskan town, where she was immediately an “enigma” and everyone “loved her”, including fisherman Oliver. Mind you, we know absolutely nothing about Lisa as we are being told she’s spectacular because she’s a great listener and yadda yadda, but she’s also mysterious and elusive. There was a whole lot of “tell” without “show” regarding Oliver and Lisa’s feelings towards each other. I felt no chemistry, emotion or investment towards these characters or their relationship. The whole suspense and conflict part was a bore and while the ending was better, the entire story and characters were poorly developed.

Nora Bloom presents 'The Lies We Live By,' a novel that delves into the tale of a newcomer who lands in a quaint Alaskan town and lands a job as a waitress at the local tavern. There, she forms a deep connection with a resident fisherman, only for their budding romance to face turmoil when her mysterious past resurfaces, bringing chaos to both the town and Oliver's life. As trouble brews, the narrative takes an unexpected twist. Will their love endure the storm? With this installment marking the start of a promising series, I eagerly await the next chapter!