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!