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Bluff Bay #1
Love Song
Catherine is a driven woman who has it all. Success, money and fame. She’s at the top of her game as a guitar/piano playing singer/songwriter based in Nashville. Supported and encouraged by her grandmother who teaches music and who raised her as an orphan, she had only one ambition in her life, to make it as a music star. But success has come at a price, and that price is loneliness.
It’s only when she returns to the small coastal town in Maine of Bluff Bay where she was raised on the death of her beloved grandmother, she realizes how much she has changed and to question whether her success has been worth it?
Reunited with her friend Max she discovers he has been carrying a torch for her since childhood. But can she give up her life for love? Does she find the happiness she now seeks? And can Max find the words he is desperate to say?
It’s only when she returns to the small coastal town in Maine of Bluff Bay where she was raised on the death of her beloved grandmother, she realizes how much she has changed and to question whether her success has been worth it?
Reunited with her friend Max she discovers he has been carrying a torch for her since childhood. But can she give up her life for love? Does she find the happiness she now seeks? And can Max find the words he is desperate to say?
192 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 9, 2021
25 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Faye Madden
9 books17 followersFaye Madden believes she is one of the lucky ones, because for her it was love at first sight. It is the moment of that first shy glance, when you know he or she is the one, your soulmate, lover and friend for the rest of your life. It is one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of the universe that two people make the biggest decision of their lives on a single look, guided only by the omnipotent hand of destiny.
Since that chance meeting with her wonderful husband David, she has raised a family, and now the children have flown the nest, she has the time to write, which is her second love.
All of her novels are sweet and wholesome, and through her richly crafted characters she explores all the heartache, pain, yet ultimately joyous happiness love brings, however that journey may unfold. Many of her novels explore this through the prism of a second chance romance, whilst others focus on love lost and found, or in unrequited love.
She shares a love of the outdoors with her husband, and together they can be found either sailing on one of the lakes near their home or trekking through the pine forests on horseback. And in the summer like a pair of snowbirds they love to holiday in pretty coastal towns with their beloved dogs, and where many of her novels are set.
Since that chance meeting with her wonderful husband David, she has raised a family, and now the children have flown the nest, she has the time to write, which is her second love.
All of her novels are sweet and wholesome, and through her richly crafted characters she explores all the heartache, pain, yet ultimately joyous happiness love brings, however that journey may unfold. Many of her novels explore this through the prism of a second chance romance, whilst others focus on love lost and found, or in unrequited love.
She shares a love of the outdoors with her husband, and together they can be found either sailing on one of the lakes near their home or trekking through the pine forests on horseback. And in the summer like a pair of snowbirds they love to holiday in pretty coastal towns with their beloved dogs, and where many of her novels are set.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 9, 2021
Catherine has it all, and she is living her dream as a singer/songwriter in Nashville, touring the nation, singing her songs. But a phone call with devastating news has her life crashing to a stop.
Max and Jenn were Catherine’s best friends growing up. But, as she left to follow her dreams, they lost touch, and things were left unsaid.
Catherine has returned to Bluff Bay, Maine. As she takes the time to regroup, she is in touch with her friends. Has she become someone else due to her celebrity? Returning to her roots, she starts looking at life differently. Love Song is Catherine’s journey to find herself again and what is essential in life going forward.
Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
Max and Jenn were Catherine’s best friends growing up. But, as she left to follow her dreams, they lost touch, and things were left unsaid.
Catherine has returned to Bluff Bay, Maine. As she takes the time to regroup, she is in touch with her friends. Has she become someone else due to her celebrity? Returning to her roots, she starts looking at life differently. Love Song is Catherine’s journey to find herself again and what is essential in life going forward.
Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
August 11, 2021
I think almost everyone knows by now how much I love music and musician themed romances. Love Song was all that, but in the form of a sweet romance, which is what Faye Madden is known for.
Catherine has everything she wants in life and is living her dream of being a singer-songwriter. The one thing she hadn’t anticipated in her dream was that the success would mean she’s lonely. She’s an orphan who was raised by her grandmother who always encouraged her passion and a phone call telling her her grandmother has passed away, changes everything for her.
Love Song is Catherine’s journey of going back to her hometown for the funeral, reconnecting with old friends-like her childhood best friend Max who has always liked her-and wondering whether paying the cost of loneliness in exchange for fame and success is really worth it all.
This was an interesting read to delve into and a relatively short one at that so it was a quick and fast paced read. The characters were quite likable despite being a little basic and predictable and the story flowed quite well. Although this was a musician romance, it wasn’t like the usual ones I read but it was still really good and the main reason I gave it a 4 is because it’s a bit clichéd. We have our usual female MC who comes from a small town, has big dreams and achieves them but then realizes what the life is truly like and how lonely it is. There wasn’t a lot that was very original about the story.
However, if you like sweet romances (and musician themed romances) that have a little bit of angst in them and some cute interactions, this book is for you:)
Catherine has everything she wants in life and is living her dream of being a singer-songwriter. The one thing she hadn’t anticipated in her dream was that the success would mean she’s lonely. She’s an orphan who was raised by her grandmother who always encouraged her passion and a phone call telling her her grandmother has passed away, changes everything for her.
Love Song is Catherine’s journey of going back to her hometown for the funeral, reconnecting with old friends-like her childhood best friend Max who has always liked her-and wondering whether paying the cost of loneliness in exchange for fame and success is really worth it all.
This was an interesting read to delve into and a relatively short one at that so it was a quick and fast paced read. The characters were quite likable despite being a little basic and predictable and the story flowed quite well. Although this was a musician romance, it wasn’t like the usual ones I read but it was still really good and the main reason I gave it a 4 is because it’s a bit clichéd. We have our usual female MC who comes from a small town, has big dreams and achieves them but then realizes what the life is truly like and how lonely it is. There wasn’t a lot that was very original about the story.
However, if you like sweet romances (and musician themed romances) that have a little bit of angst in them and some cute interactions, this book is for you:)
August 10, 2021
Catherine is living the dream as a singer and songwriter until that fateful day her world comes to a crashing stop. She has to get home to Bluff Bay due to a family emergency. She meets her old friend Max when she causes a scene trying to book in at the hotel which is at full occupancy. Fortunately for Catherine, Max is able to come up with a suitable solution to her dilemma. While in town Catherine catches up with her old friends and draws even closer to Max will he be able to get past her change in behavior now she is famous. What will happen when Cathering needs to get back to her world. Will they be able to overcome the different paths their lives have taken them on and will they be able to be together and get their hea.
I received an arc from NetGalley to give my honest review for NNBB. If you love a romance with some angst and a story with a twist you will like this one.
I received an arc from NetGalley to give my honest review for NNBB. If you love a romance with some angst and a story with a twist you will like this one.
March 11, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. I requested this book because I really liked the cover and who doesn't like love? Anyway, I was hoping to be able to say I loved it just as much as I thought I would but the truth is that while I liked the book, I would not be able to say I loved it. I liked the story line and I liked the location but I can't say that I connected with any of the characters...I'm not even sure I liked them much...it is really hard for me to enjoy or love a book if I don't connect with the main characters... It seems like I didn't agree with most of the reviews so I definitely wouldn't just take my word for it...most people seem to really like the book :)
August 3, 2021
Faye Madden is known for authoring “sweet and wholesome” romances. While this book does live up to that promise, it was not a good match for me.
I found the storyline a bit clichéd: an ambitious, talented young woman from a small town achieves fame and fortune only to find her success is hollow without love and friendship. The characters are one dimensional stereotypes, the tone overly melodramatic and the prose too sweet and flowery for my taste. Lastly, the outcome is all too predictable.
This is a quick, pleasant read for a lazy summer afternoon or a cozy weekend during inclement weather, but I can’t give it a strong endorsement.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I found the storyline a bit clichéd: an ambitious, talented young woman from a small town achieves fame and fortune only to find her success is hollow without love and friendship. The characters are one dimensional stereotypes, the tone overly melodramatic and the prose too sweet and flowery for my taste. Lastly, the outcome is all too predictable.
This is a quick, pleasant read for a lazy summer afternoon or a cozy weekend during inclement weather, but I can’t give it a strong endorsement.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 8, 2022
1 Star.
The Good:
• Lovely cover
• Bought it when it was free on Amazon
The Bad:
• No music (one song does not make a musician)
• Her friends
• Help with the "arrangements"
• Max
• The romance
The Book:
Oh boy. This book. I'm quite a fan of musician romances but this one was way off. First, she had a concert & then performed at a benefit concert. That doesn't really scream out a famous musician to me. I understand her grandmother just died but I expected to hear more about it. In the beginning when she's playing a concert she's basically saying how drained she is & how she's obvious to the crowd she is because she's so hollow but repeats over & over how much she loves music & loves to play it, yadda yadda ya. It just doesn't seem to add up. If this is what's been keeping her away from her hometown I feel like she'd have gone back multiple times before this.
Then her friends...she constantly says in the beginning how she has no friends but when she calls Jenn she's instantly called her "Best friend" but wait...I thought you didn't have any friends? & why would she think to call Jenn but not Max if all 3 of them were super close before she left? Nothing over the years seemed to have happened between them that would spell out them not talking, but just another reason to make me squint my eyes & say 'what?'
Oh! & she calls her friends over to help with arrangements of the funeral but the first time we hear anything of it is that they want Max to speak at the funeral, I feel like that should've been decided pretty early on & they don't seem to help or get anything done when talking about the 'arrangements'.
Moving along to Max. I felt no connection between the two of them. How Catherine goes from screaming like a crazy woman at Max's employees in front of him to finding out he was in love with her, to then finding comfort & love for him surprised me. It was too sugary sweet that made my teeth rot. Then Max somehow falls back in love with this woman after her screaming & then treating him like 'staff'. Ugh.
Overall, I could not & would not recommend this book. It just wasn't for me.
The Good:
• Lovely cover
• Bought it when it was free on Amazon
The Bad:
• No music (one song does not make a musician)
• Her friends
• Help with the "arrangements"
• Max
• The romance
The Book:
Oh boy. This book. I'm quite a fan of musician romances but this one was way off. First, she had a concert & then performed at a benefit concert. That doesn't really scream out a famous musician to me. I understand her grandmother just died but I expected to hear more about it. In the beginning when she's playing a concert she's basically saying how drained she is & how she's obvious to the crowd she is because she's so hollow but repeats over & over how much she loves music & loves to play it, yadda yadda ya. It just doesn't seem to add up. If this is what's been keeping her away from her hometown I feel like she'd have gone back multiple times before this.
Then her friends...she constantly says in the beginning how she has no friends but when she calls Jenn she's instantly called her "Best friend" but wait...I thought you didn't have any friends? & why would she think to call Jenn but not Max if all 3 of them were super close before she left? Nothing over the years seemed to have happened between them that would spell out them not talking, but just another reason to make me squint my eyes & say 'what?'
Oh! & she calls her friends over to help with arrangements of the funeral but the first time we hear anything of it is that they want Max to speak at the funeral, I feel like that should've been decided pretty early on & they don't seem to help or get anything done when talking about the 'arrangements'.
Moving along to Max. I felt no connection between the two of them. How Catherine goes from screaming like a crazy woman at Max's employees in front of him to finding out he was in love with her, to then finding comfort & love for him surprised me. It was too sugary sweet that made my teeth rot. Then Max somehow falls back in love with this woman after her screaming & then treating him like 'staff'. Ugh.
Overall, I could not & would not recommend this book. It just wasn't for me.
May 30, 2025
This novel is perfectly tailored for readers who delight in heartwarming contemporary romance stories, particularly those that explore the complexities and rewards of second chances. The narrative is steeped in the inviting atmosphere of small-town life, where a strong sense of community and belonging serves as a crucial backdrop for the characters' journeys. Readers will be drawn into a world where familiar faces and local traditions intertwine with the unfolding romance, creating a comforting and engaging reading experience. The central themes of finding love again and discovering one's true place in the world are handled with sensitivity and warmth, promising a satisfying and emotionally resonant story. Expect endearing characters, relatable challenges, and the sweet fulfillment of finding true connection amidst the charming backdrop of a close-knit community.
August 21, 2021
Discovering Hidden Love
Catherine has her grandmother to thank for her love of music and the ability to touch hearts with it. It took her grandmother's death to bring her back home to all that she had left when reaching for fame. Max always loved her but never told her. Her grandmother sent her out into the world, always hoping she'd return someday.
Catherine has her grandmother to thank for her love of music and the ability to touch hearts with it. It took her grandmother's death to bring her back home to all that she had left when reaching for fame. Max always loved her but never told her. Her grandmother sent her out into the world, always hoping she'd return someday.
September 25, 2021
Good
a story that's about a woman who was raised by her grandmother and she became a famous musician. the death of her grandmother.
a story that's about a woman who was raised by her grandmother and she became a famous musician. the death of her grandmother.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews