I thought I had it all figured out…And then he showed up. Growing up in a small town, I had one singular goal — get the heck out. After high school graduation, I never planned on coming back.But, sometimes life can throw some serious curveballs, and when I’m fired from my job, I go to the one safe place I can think of — my family’s inn.And that’s where I meet him.Aiden Fisher is a British … where I meet him.
Aiden Fisher is a British artist who has taken up residence across the hallway. He’s wicked hot, a huge flirt and has one of the sexiest accents I’ve ever heard.
Suddenly the idea of this small town doesn’t sound so horrible.
But can I trust a man I just met… with my heart?
more
Aiden knows how to goad Millie, “well, a guy has to eat.” She muttered obscenities all the way to the car as I followed close behind, trying not to laugh.” Millie very much appreciates when her man walks around half naked, “something wrong?” I turned to see a very sweaty, very sexy Aiden standing in the doorway. He’d just come in from the patio, and I smiled, happy that the shirt he’d left there was still absent from his body.” Millie’s mom tends to catch her and her man in awkward situations, “her eyes went briefly to Aiden’s hand and my *** before focusing back on mine. “As much as it pains me to do so, I must remind you that the inn is a place of business and—” I loved this book, I fell in love with Aiden.
The lies I told
What a beautiful story. Loved Aidan and Millie from the beginning. They showed that with patience and love, you can overcome any obstacles and no Dream is unachievable. So glad they found their way. A five star read.
I get Aiden not telling Millie about his condition. He wanted to remain “him” for as long as possible. What I don’t get is why it has to stay a mystery for the reader. So annoying. For the most part I enjoyed this. Aside from the former comment and the fact I felt a bit lost for a minute after their hook-up, this was my favorite.
If you haven’t read J.L. Berg before, I’m here to offer you a bit of reassurance. Although ‘The Lies I’ve Told’ is the third book in the By the Bay series, it is easily read as a stand alone novel. Please don’t let that #3 scare you away from giving this romance your immediate attention.
This is the story of Aiden Fisher and Millie McIntyre, two people that each suffer a life-changing jolt. The Prologue sets up the book so perfectly, I won’t even try …
“Somewhere, in the dead of night, in a small, sleepy town, surrounded by the sea, two things happened almost simultaneously.
Two things that would seal the fate of two unassuming strangers.
A crime was committed, and a woman went into labor.
As the stone carving of the town’s beloved memorial was crushed in anger, the perpetrator reducing it to nothing but rubble and the woman cried out for her husband in the middle of the night, two strangers, though worlds apart, had no idea their lives were about to change.
For better … for worse … forever.
And wasn’t that the way with this crazy little thing we called love?”
Aiden is a successful sculptor. Originally from London, he now makes his home in New York City, As the book opens, he has just been delivered with devastating personal news. Reeling from shock, he next receives a call for help to replace a vandalized memorial sculpture in the remote beach town of Orcacoke, North Carolina. Aiden doesn’t hesitate to flee the city and put some distance between him and his predicament.
Millie McIntyre is an ambitious career woman, working her way up in the fashion world. She walks into work one morning expecting a promotion, only to be publicly humiliated and resign by lunchtime. With nothing to occupy her time, she decides to take a trip to her hometown in the Outer Banks. Millie’s sister has given birth slightly ahead of schedule, and so Millie agrees to help out with the family’s bed and breakfast inn. Her first assignment is to pick up a VIP guest at the local airport and bring him to the B&B where he will stay while he works on replacing the town’s iconic centerpiece.
Upon their introduction, both Aiden and Millie are not in the best of moods but make an impulsive decision to have a drink together, which leads to more drinks, which leads to the morning after when Aiden has bared his soul to a captivating woman and Millie wakes up in his bed, not remembering an iota of it.
From here, Aiden and Millie are unsure how to proceed. They like one another a great deal, but neither has intentions of remaining in North Carolina for long. They both have secrets they’d rather keep to themselves, but they also can’t resist the attraction that builds between them. Eventually, they are unable to resist temptation, convinced they can enjoy their island romance and then return to the rest of their lives without complications. And as we all know, the road to hell is paved with best intentions …
The Lies I’ve Told is a great introduction to the writings of J.L. Berg. I connected with Aiden and Millie, cheered for them, and shed a tear or two as reality eventually closed in around them. The cozy setting of Ocracoke Island is full of well-developed and interesting characters. As soon as I finish writing this review, I’ll be adding Book 1 in the By the Bay series (The Choices I’ve Made) to my Kindle. Having now read Book 2 (The Scars I Bare) and Book 3, there are no doubts it will be an enjoyable journey. If you’re a fan of heart-warming, beachside romances and are looking for a new series to immerse yourself in, I happily recommend this book.
Based on the title of the newest book in J.L. Berg’s By the Bay series, I knew that I was heading into an emotionally charged journey – one that would take time to understand the main characters’ respective pasts and what their hidden truths and their concealed secrets would mean in the present and if any kind of future could be built between them when it’s unclear if they truly know one another given the lies they’ve not only told to others but perhaps even believe themselves.
Millie McIntyre and Aiden Fisher clearly have one thing in common from the start; instead of facing their problems head-on, they run away, which allows them to almost forget about the very reasons that sent them running in the first place…But, as their lies seem to compound, creating a deeper hole that could bury them, they’re so focused on staying ahead of the truth that when the lies are finally revealed, there’s nowhere to hide, which means that anything that was created under false pretenses has the ability to do irrevocable damage to Millie and Aiden’s head and heart.
I’m always interested in learning the whys when it comes to characters’ desires to move away from their hometown as soon as possible; Millie’s desire to be part of the fashion world is her reason for the abrupt departure, but the fact that she comes back home to escape the ‘reality’ of everything that happened to her down in Florida speaks to the fact that coming home again might just be her best decision.
Like Millie’s initial reaction, Aiden Fisher intrigued me from the moment he was introduced; there’s just nothing like a handsome man with a sexy British accent, but beneath Aiden’s attractive physique is a man who seems to have the weight of the world on his shoulders – a pressure that creates a darkness around him, but until he’s ready to face the truth, his lies will continue to prevent him from moving forward and perhaps finding something worthwhile with Millie.
The small island town of Ocracoke, North Carolina, is the perfect place for Millie and Aiden to run because it has a comforting calmness to it, which is a need for both of them given the chaos that is swirling around in their heads.
The Lies I’ve Told is a sweet and sexy romance that has Berg’s signature emotional feel in it. Try as they might, Millie nor Aiden can fight their attraction to each other, so while they attempt to keep their defenses up and hold onto their insecurities, the passion that is just beneath the surface as well as the desire to bare all of their sins and lies to each other is what will have them going all in because even if what’s revealed destroys what they’re building, at least they stopped running from the truth for once in their life.
4.5 Poison Apples
So, I read The Lies I’ve Told over the weekend and I am still trying to come up with the words to articulate just how much I loved this story. Seriously, I’ve been hooked on this amazing By the Bay series since book one The Choices I’ve Made, and have been waiting for Millie’s story since then. And whoa, who knew I’d find myself with a new favorite couple, but I just absolutely adore everything about Millie and Aiden.
Their romance isn’t easy—they’re both hiding some truths, some really big truths that will turn around and bite them on the ass. But as the truth is revealed, I couldn’t help but root for them to get over themselves, to get over their hurt and really get it together because they’re so damn perfect for each other!
I loved their connection, their fun, their quirkiness. Their hella-sexiness too! *fans self* I loved all the little moments. The seemingly small things that they wanted to remember—to keep etched in their minds. Because even in the most mundane things, love builds and grows. That’s true love and pure romance at its finest. And that ending. Jeez, I’m teary just thinking about it. Time for more tissues. ~ Missy, 5 stars (really more like 25 stars!)
J.L. Berg continues to blow me away! I have been a fan of this series from the very first book. Each book is a standalone, and each one has distinct characters and distinct storylines.
I met Millie throughout the first two books. It’s amazing how I had one impression about her, and I discovered I didn’t know a thing about her. She seems to have it all, a great life and a great career. In the blink of an eye, all of that changes and she returns to her island home in NC.
Like Millie, Aiden seems to be living his dream, and in one moment, his life as he knows is turned completely upside down. Unlike Millie, he is facing a much harder road in the future.
These two strangers would probably have never met if fate hadn’t stepped in to bring them together. Both are hurt and in pain and reach out to each other to find comfort, but what they discover is much deeper.
The title for the book is spot on. It aptly describes exactly what the book is all about. Each is keeping a secret from one another, and to a certain extent, they are lying to themselves. However, as emotional and heartbreaking as the book is at times, it is also an incredibly beautiful love story. Both characters also discover important things about themselves as they get to know one another.
As always, Berg strikes the perfect balance between steam and sweetness. The chemistry and connection between Millie and Aiden jumps off the pages of the book instantly. It is a romance that will curl your toes and also leave you with a fuller heart, and that is what makes J.L. Berg so special. That is what always brings me back to her time and time again!!!!
Oh my heart!!! This was such an amazing, beautiful, heart wrenching read! I absolutely loved every single moment of it!
Millie gave up on her dreams in order to help push others toward their aspirations.
In the process, she’s lost so much of herself and what she truly wants. She returns home to Ocracoke broken in a way she never would have imagined.
Aiden has been given news that will alter his future. Living in New York, he’s tried to honor the memory of a loved one by dedicating his life to his talent, a talent that in his mind, is not his own.
When he returns to Ocracoke to replace the destroyed memorial he had carved for the town, he’s really just running away. He’s never felt fully whole due to his past, but now he is completely broken and lost. Bidding his time until the inevitable, the last thing he expected was Millie.
Together they begin to let go of their fears and open to one another and in the process perhaps find what they each truly want out of life.
This couple absolutely stole my heart! I loved that they each supported the other and encouraged them to reach further than they ever had before. Than either of them ever imagined.
This is a story rich in emotion and steeped among all the insecurities is the foundation of love. It is laced with humor, infused with passion, and perfection is its name. It will touch your heart and leave you wrecked but in the very best possible way.
J.L. Berg continues her By the Bay series with the third, stand-alone book, The Lies I’ve Told, and it’s another phenomenal addition to a fantastic series. Neither Aiden nor Millie are looking for love when they find themselves temporarily on the small island town of Ocracoke, North Carolina, but something powerful and effortless ignites between them almost instantaneously after they meet. Both have complicated lives that are in transition, and they attempt to resist their attraction and burgeoning feelings, but find themselves intensely drawn to each other with an almost unrelenting pull. But Aiden has secrets and needs to lower his defenses and bare all, if they have a chance at a future together.
Berg isn’t afraid to deliver an emotional, heartrending punch in her love stories, which makes her storytelling so compelling and authentic. She balances reality and fantasy perfectly and ensures that the reader feels deeply, and this is especially true with The Lies I’ve Told. It is a moving, sexy and heartfelt romance that will stay with you long after you read it.
Recommendation appeared @ USA Today’s Happy Ever After on June 5, 2018
ARC provided, but this review was voluntarily and honestly written.
4.5 Simply Amazing Stars!
I can always count on Jennifer to write a story that invokes a range of emotions in a beautifully written little package…and Aiden and Millie’s story was no different. Millie has lost herself through the years, even though she did well and seemed happy. Aiden found himself through the his art, but is now faced with a life changing condition that he does not want to deal with. Fate brought these two together – they are fun and sexy, strong and sweet. This is truly a story of GROWTH and learning sprinkled with LOVE making it hard to put down and even more difficult to forget! Can’t wait for Aiden & Millie updates in future By The Bay installments.
J.L. Berg is destroying me piece by piece with this series.
The books in this series keep getting better and better and more heart wrenching. I was not expecting this book to hit me the way it did. Aiden and Millie will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. This book was fun at times, sexy, and soul searcing. Berg did a great job writing this story it was beautifully written. My words won’t do this book justice. Buy a copy and read it. I promise it is worth it.
Aiden Fisher just got news he didn’t want. Millie McIntyre made some wrong choices and is heading back home. The Lies I’ve Told pulls you in with their sad predicaments and hope for better days. Both are looking for a temporary fix and neither expects to find their missing piece. Like the other 2 books in the series, Millie and Aiden’s story is unique and heartwarming. Their sweet chemistry and fun banter captures the beauty of their growing relationship. Of course, it isn’t without some heartache but all worthwhile relationships have to go through it. Millie and Aiden’s story has it all – a little humor, a little sadness, a whole lot of love. And you get to take a trip back to Ocracoke to see what’s going on with the other couples from the series. The lives of the people are a sweet reminder that life and love work in mysterious ways.
This was a great 4 star story that had me sucked in so deep that I had a difficult to crawl my way out of.
Millie returns to her home town with shame. She was going up in the fashion world but one indiscretion ends it all for her. Aiden is running away from his problems. He finds himself in a small coastal town. They will connect but can he open up to Millie and let her in?
A great story about courage and letting people in. I loved the story and plot . I just didn’t connect with Millie all that much. I found her superficial. I loved Aiden just fine. This author was able to keep me guessing until the end. So I was intrigued.
This is the third book in the series By The Bay, but I think it’s safe to say it can be read as a standalone. Told in a dual POV with an HEA. I recommend this story.
I’ve loved all the book in this series, and this is not an exception. They’ve each been packed with stories of overcoming circumstances, healing from life-changing surprises, and heartwarming love stories. The Lies I’ve Told was an emotional roller coaster from the off, and those rises and falls didn’t slow down until we reached the fabulous finish line of the book.
I was surprised by how fond I was of Millie in this book since she seemed a little too snobbish and aloof in the first two novels for me to care for. Once she was off and running in The Lies I’ve Told – back in her childhood home – she seemed to be an entirely different person, devoid of the mask she’d had to wear when she was a cog in the fashion machine she’d been in for so long. That girl, the one who’d been so badly burned, was a thing of beauty. She was so much stronger, smarter, and caring than I had given her credit for. She definitely won me over.
Aiden broke my heart. From the undisclosed bombshell that had been dropped on him just before the story began, to his childhood, to the unmeasurable losses he’d suffered so early in his life, he was broken in a way that called to my soul. There were a few times when he made some impossibly frustrating choices, but in light of all he was dealing with, it was hard to hate him for those decisions.
The connection between Aiden and Millie jumped off the page. Their bond was electric, and it sparked and danced with every interaction they had. They both had been missing something from their lives for so long; it was lovely to get to see how they each filled the missing pieces of the other’s soul. Witnessing them each begin to realize what they’d been missing, and how much richer and more rewarding life could be with the right person to share it with was moving.
The only wish I had for this story was to have seen more of the first night they spent together. It seemed like such an important part of the story, but beyond a few little flashbacks we never really got to see how or why it was so monumental to Aiden. I think it would have reinforced the depth of his feelings for her.
The Lies I’ve Told is the third book in JL Berg’s By the Bay series. These books are interconnected standalones and, while they do not need to be read in order, the experience is much richer if you read all the book in the order intended. The Lies I’ve Told is written in dual first-person perspective, narrated by Millie and Aiden.
JL Berg has done a wonderful job of crafting the world of her By the Bay series. Each new book adds more layers of love and connection to this series. I’ve loved each of these books for different reasons. She packs an emotional punch with her writing and had made me crave each new story she releases.
* A review copy was provided by the author *
The Lies I’ve Told has had my interest piqued since it was announced. I just had to know what the secrets were going to be that Millie and Aiden were hiding.
I am glad to say I wasn’t disappointed in this story at all. This, like The Scars I Bare, was another emotional ride for me. I was happy, sad, and angry throughout this whole book. I will say I did end up with a HUGE smile on my face after the epilogue. I LOVED the epilogue 😉
Just like with any J.L. Berg series, I am absolutely loving this one. I have truly loved all the characters she has introduced us to. And the storylines have been entertaining and emotional. Just the perfect mix of steamy and pulling on your heart strings.
The Lies I’ve Told is a standalone novel and is told in Dual POV. But like with any interconnected series standalones, I would definitely read these in order. They don’t have to be, but to get the full understanding and dynamic of these characters, I feel it’s best to read them in order. I thought the pace and flow of this story worked well. I know I was sucked into this story and I really didn’t want it to end.
In this story we follow Millie and Aiden. We’ve met Millie in the previous books, she is Molly’s (heroine book 1) sister. Millie has run into some trouble and is forced to leave her job. So when Molly goes into labor, Millie offers to come for a while and look after the Inn for Molly. Aiden is a sculptor and did the memorial structure after the ferry accident. But when that is vandalized, Dean calls in a favor to Aiden asking if he would make a new one. Aiden just getting bad news decides to go to Ocracoke to do a new piece for the city. Needing a place to stay Dean puts Aiden up at the only Inn in town. From here we have a journey of two people trying to put their lives back together. Can Millie and Aiden find their HEA?? Read this book to find out.
I loved that we got to see all the past characters and keep up with what they have been doing.
I would 100% recommend this book to everyone who likes a love story that makes all your emotions come alive. If you are a fan of JL Berg’s books then you don’t want to miss out on this series. I look forward to the next book in this series to come out.
I love all the books in the By the Bay series and this is a perfect addition! Aiden and Millie were just amazing! JL Berg is an amazing story teller. This story has all the feels that you have come to expect for her! I cannot wait for more from her!