Sweet Little Lies: A Heartbreaker Bay Novel (Heartbreaker Bay, 1)

Opening up the first book in a series is always, for me, filled with anticipation. Especially when it’s from one of my favorite Romance authors, – yes like most readers I have many favorites yet Jill Shalvis ranks right up there toward the top of that list. I crave the comfort of the types of stories I’ve loved before, but being a contrary human I also want something different, something I haven’t experienced from them yet. I wasn’t too far into Sweet Little Lies before I knew that this was the beginning of one enticing, engaging series. When you can hook me by the end of the first chapter into needing to know what happens to Finn and Pru – then you’ve started a journey for me that I will stick to until the end of that series and completely enjoy myself.The Heartbreaker Bay series centers around a tight-knit group of friends who have seen each other through rough times, good times and are more comfortable with each other than family in many cases. Sweet Little Lies brings the focus on Finn and the Irish Pub he owns that is often the gathering place for everyone to touch base at. Finn’s and his brother Sean’s lives were touched by tragedy when Finn was just starting out in adult life. Their father’s death put him as the one person to make a good life for himself and his brother. Of course sacrifices, changes in plans had to be made but Finn never hesitated and to this day Finn and Sean have a tight if at times rocky relationship. Finn’s life is full, busy, satisfying and he’s not looking for romance especially after the way his most recent foray into dating ended as it did. Yet there’s something about the new girl in the square. Her eyes speak of sadness but her manner shouts of something indescribable and special… something that Finn is drawn to and surprisingly wants to discover more about. His gut tells him she’s going to be important – he simply doesn’t realize just how important yet.For all of Pru’s adult life she has been on a mission to right wrongs done to so many others. Quietly, without fanfare simply doing what is right. She knows she can never make up for the actions of another but she can and will help where she can. Years ago she’d already helped Finn and Sean without them being aware of it. Yet she feels a need to know that Finn is alright, that his life has turned out the way he wanted. She wouldn’t have said she needed to be in his life but she did need to know that he was happy. It doesn’t make sense to her either but it’s how she’s felt for a long time now. What she hadn’t expected was the strong, fiery attraction between them or for it to blaze into flames so easily or quickly. Pru knows that she has to tell Finn the truth before they get in too deep, before hearts can be broken and lives changed… trouble is, they’re already in too deep and there’s no turning back now.Sweet Little Lies will grab your attention, capture your heart and hold you hostage until the final page. Pru is, well she’s just a sweetheart. Strong even if she doesn’t always believe that of herself, set on a course that most people would have never taken. What she’s not telling Finn is huge and the longer she waits the more difficult it’s becoming. She hadn’t planned on falling for him and now that she fears she’s going to lose him her world is crashing in on her. Finn is definitely hot and stubborn and totally committed to Pru, even if he’s not using quite that word just yet. Together they are the perfect match with enough real quirks to make them totally believable. But this isn’t just a story about Pru and Finn, it’s also about their tribe, that group of people who make up a family that will be there for them throughout anything life tosses their way. The fun part is going to be discovering all of their stories along the way in the Heartbreaker Bay series.If you enjoy believable, realistic stories with people who you could walk past in your own neighborhood, then Sweet Little Lies is a story that you’ll want to dive into. I’d recommend this one for any Romance reader who loves having the secondary characters be almost as important to the story as the main couple. It’s a really good story, and an excellent beginning to the series.I own a Kindle edition of this story.

This is a charming and sweet novel. Jill Shalvis has a comforting writing style that has an easy and familiar feel and has a nice level of humor and reality. I love that this story has a strong group of friends at the center of it and that this group is very supportive of the hero and heroine as they navigate their love story. Jill Shalvis creates characters that feel fleshed out and make me excited to read all of their stories.I really enjoyed Finn and Pru's love story. I love that they learn to understand that certain preconceived notions are not always the truth. I love that they both learn what is truly important when it comes to their pasts and their futures. And I love the delightful relationship they develop with each other, as well as, the wonderful support they have from their friends.This was a great start to a series that can be read as standalone novels (I have read this series very out of order and I am still delighted by each novel). Highly recommend this novel if you love a romance that has a small town feel (without being small town), that has a nice moderate level of steam that is not closed door and a couple who can spend their time exploring what their relationship could be.

My Review:Happy sigh...a new series from Jill Shalvis. I cannot tell you just how excited I am about this new series. I preordered way before the books were even released, but now that I've read book #1, I'm even more so. I love the setup for this series.It takes place in San Francisco and centers around a group of friends who all work and live in the historic area of town. Pru is new to the area and the building. She's a ships captain who does day tours around the bay for Jake. While she's been doing the job for a while, she moved to this particular building for a reason...to get close to Finn and his younger brother Sean. She has ulterior motives. She's spent her entire adult life taking care of the people who were directly affected by the car accident that killed her parents...a car accident that was their fault because her father was drunk. Sean and Finn are the last people on her list that she still feel need her intervention, because they're the ones who lost just as much as her in that accident. She lost both her parents. They lost their one remaining parent, their father.Finn was 21, and Sean was 14 when their parents died. Finn has spent every moment since then trying to make sure Sean has a good life, something that he doesn't fully appreciate. Finn is married to the bar trying to make it a success for both of them. Sean plays. Finn has decided that life is okay this way. He doesn't have to worry about getting his heart broken. He's certainly not looking for love.The thing that made this story for me was the building with its historic charm and magical fountain and the group of friends who all work there. They are a varied group...and there's a lot of them, but they love one another and take care of each other, even if they do gossip like firemen (lol). I loved the legend of the fountain and the dumbwaiter in the building that proved to have some interesting plot points. Even the homeless guy has amazing charm and insight into this group of people who all interact here. There was a magical quality to the story just because of all those depths. And I LOVED that about it.I also really loved why Pru was here, and her history with Jake...wow, they have a complex friendship, but I liked that. The little glimpses of her life as a boat captain were interesting and I also loved the nights at the pub. It was simply a great book and I can pretty much guarantee that this series will have an honored place on my keeper shelf.I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review, but I'd already ordered a print copy of it ages ago, because Jill Shalvis is an auto-read author for me.

This is the first book in Jill Shalvis's Heartbreaker Bay series and it is a fantastic start.- one that draws you in to the place and makes you connect with the interesting people that live there and of course there is the fountain and Eddie.If you want to start a new series that is thoroughly enjoyable then buy this - it is about Pru a cruise ship captain and Finn a bar owner. Pru has a major secret concerning the past about Finn that she should tell him before starting a relatiohnship but can not tell due to her growing feeling that she tries to fight and the fear of losing his friendship so this equals a great romance with a twist.This book is about repaying debts, family, friends, laughs and love a great combination for a fabulous love story. The characters are engaging and lovable and I look forward to the rest of the series that I know will keep me entertained.

I love Jill Shalvis books and this one is no exception.No matter what series of books i read of hers they are always brilliant, she draws you in to the stories and makes you care about the characters and what happens to them, you want to be their friends and you can't help laughing out loud at the antics they get up to and swooning over the romance, I swear my jaw always aches after reading her books as i've been smiling so long without even realising it half the time.I love this new group of characters and i cannot wait to read the next one in the series.If you love a good funny romance book and enjoy getting to know a group of characters and watching what happens to them all you wont be disappointed.

This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I glad she did as I really enjoyed it!This book is the first installment in the Heartbreaker Bay series and is about boat Captain Pru Harris and Finn O'Riley. All Pru wants in for Finn to find happiness for certain reasons, but as she gets to know him better things take a different turn.This was a lovely, delightful read. The characters were well developed and you can't help but want to root for them from the beginning.I will definitely be keeping my eyes out for book 2 in the series!

It's written really well. Finn is the owner of a bar when Pru enters and there is a definite interest on his part. She has a secret that involves him and keeps putting off telling him. It's a slow burn and told really well.

Loved all the characters in this book but especially Pru and Finn the main characters pure escapism which is great