The Darling Songbirds (The Songbirds of Darling Bay, #1) by Rachael Herron

The Darling Songbirds (The Songbirds of Darling Bay, #1) Reviews

• 
  Sharon

  Really just could not get behind this couple at all. The female lead was so completely unlikable - there was just no redemption for her selfish behavior both in the past and in the time of the current story. I kept wishing he'd get smart and leave town.
• 
  Anne OK

  Sweet and pretty standard fare for a little family drama, some country music, an old saloon left to three sisters by their uncle who they haven't seen in 11 years. Once they were a popular group - family troubles caused a parting of ways between the sisters. Throw in a hunky bartender who has a bit of an opinion regarding the way the girls left, never to return, leaving their elderly uncle alone as he aged with no other family around to care for him.
  
  Well written and an easy read. A nice change of pace from the dark and gritty road I've been on for awhile now.
• 
  Crazy for Books (Stephanie)

  I didn't love it. It was okay as an audiobook. I don't know if I would have finished reading if I had to actually read it myself.
  
• 
  Kristen Holt

  DNF
  
  I'm sorry, but as a natural born Texan, with most of my relatives living in, or being from Texas or Oklahoma, I just can't get behind a trio of girls who grew up four hours north of San Francisco saying 'Howdy' and 'ya'll'.
• 
  Joni Fisher

  This poignant, funny story reveals the complex relationships between sisters. As teenagers they sang in harmony as the Darling Songbirds, reaching for their shared musical career. When the group broke up, the sisters relationships fell apart as well. When Adele returns to their hometown of Darling Bay, her longing for her lost family is palpable. She hopes to rebuild the past through the inheritance of Uncle Hugh's saloon, to lure her sisters to return. Complications mount when Adele learns that charming bartender Nate Houston believes he is entitled to the saloon.
  Rachel Herron weaves a beautiful story with depth and heart in The Darling Songbirds.
• 
  Katie Moore

  A sweet country music story. There wasn’t much unexpected in this story. But nothing I didn’t like. Overall good story.
• 
  Jackie

  I felt like slapping Adele a few times but finished story despite her as really like the secondary characters in it.
• 
  Beatrix

  3,5 csillag, mert nagyon lassú volt a cselekmény számomra.
• 
  Tea

  Despite the good storytelling...
  
  and the very real feel to the way plot played out, I found it hard to get past my dislike of Adele, the main character. She's not a horrible person, but she did two horrible things eleven years prior to the events of the book, and by the last page, she hasn't truly learned how much she hurt the pebelieveshe loves the most. (Even in the book's present day, she continues to unwittingly hurt people because she's stuck so deep in her own head, she can't see that others feel differently than she does. She manages miss all of the brightly flashing hints of it and dismisses at least one instance when she's told outright.) Though she seems on track to gaining that understanding, I didn't really feel that she had earned an almost-happy ending.
  
  Nate is far more likeable, but comes with his own frustrating traits. I didn't understand why he fell for Adele. I got why he might have THOUGHT he loved her -- he's got a dysfunctional caretaker tendency that broke my heart to read -- but I would guess that in real life, they either wouldn't last or he'd be destroyed by her benign selfishness. (I call it benign because she actually believed that she was HELPING every person she hurt. Only, her ideas of what was best for other people left a string of broken people in her wake.)
  
• 
  Carolyn

  Rachael is a dear friend of mine and a fantastic writer. This is one of her lighter books--for romance lovers. She also writes weightier tomes such as Splinters of Light and Pack Up the Moon, books I found devastatingly good. So I'm giving this one 4 stars versus those 5 star masterpieces. However if you are a romance lover and that's what you want to hear about, you should consider this a 5-star recommendation.
• 
  A Reader's Heaven

  (I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
  
  Adele, Molly and Lana are the Darling Songbirds, the country-singing sisters who gained fame in their teens for their smart lyrics and sweet harmonies. But when their father died suddenly on the eve of their big tour, the group acrimoniously broke up. Now, eleven years on, Adele arrives back in Darling Bay, the sleepy gold-rush town founded by her great-grandfather. For Uncle Hugh has bequeathed to the sisters his hotel and bar the Golden Spike. Except this is not the welcoming saloon Adele remembers from her childhood. The building is a ruin, the business is broke and customers are scarce. Add into the mix Nate Houston - the handsome, guitar-playing barman who had always believed he would be the next owner - and Adele has one potent cocktail on her hands. She needs Molly and Lana now more than ever - but the heartache still runs deep. Can a rundown saloon in a sleepy town finally offer the sisters a way back home?
  
  I would have written this off as another feel-good women's fiction novel pretty early on if it hadn't have been for one thing - the characters. Before I get to that though, I just want to tick off the other things that this book does well - backstory, light romance, atmosphere...but really only enough to make this a 3 star book at best...
  
  And then there are the three sisters. Adele and Nate take what could have been a run-of-the-mill romance novel and turn it into something quite a bit more. How? Well, you see, there's the rub - there is nothing, for me, that stands out and says "This is why this book is so good!" It is a feeling, I guess, that I had when reading the book that the author really "got" these characters and knew how they would interact with the town around them - and each other. I totally believed these two and really enjoyed the journey they went through.
  
  A more than average romance novel, written well with great characters!
  
  
  Paul
  ARH
• 
  Jennifer Lara

  The Darling Songbirds by Rachael Herron is the first book in the Songbirds of Darling Bay series. Adele Darling comes back to Darling Bay after the death of her uncle to the sleepy gold-rush town that her great-grandfather founded. Her uncle had run the saloon, hotel and diner in the small town and Adele was looking forward to either taking over the business or selling. However, when she comes back, she finds that the business is in ruin, broken and the customers are rare. She wasn’t expecting the handsome, guitar-playing bartender. Nate Houston has always believed he would be the next owner but Adele puts a winkle in this plan. Can their affection for the rundown saloon led to a greater love?
  The Darling Songbirds is a sweet, spicy romance set in a small town in Northern California. I thoroughly enjoyed Adele and Nate as individuals and as a couple. Both are dealing with deep hurts from the past and seeking forgiveness and a brighter future. While Adele was hard to like at times as she focused on her wants, needs and desires without thought to how it would affect those around her. However, by the end, I felt she had some great personal growth. I also enjoyed the supporting characters, especially Dixie, the other bartender, and Molly, Adele’s sister. Overall, I thoroughly enjoy the story and I look forward to the rest of the series. If you enjoy sweet, spicy romance, I recommend The Darling Songbirds.
  
  
  The Darling Songbirds is paperback, eBook and audiobook
  
• 
  Annika

  Oh I wanted to like this so much. I like the concept, so let's start there. A trio of singing sisters whose last name is "Darling" become country music stars and tour all over. They are big big names in the country music scene. Even the "Dixie Chicks" are mentioned but not favorably. I guess like that.
  
  So there is disaster and trauma and the group splits. The oldest sister, probably the most headstrong, heads "home" to where most of her childhood was spent, at a bar. Yes, at a bar. Her beloved uncle had died 2 weeks prior and she didn't know, wasn't around, whatever, and had no clue because for eleven years she hasn't been around.
  
  The bar is a dump. Like it all tried to put too much in one place...it's a hotel, restaurant, saloon, etc etc. And it's disgusting. I guess each element of the place will be taken over by a subsequent sister as the series continues but I'm not sure how invested I am.
  
  Adele was okay, but shouting country singer names in place of swearing was ridiculous. It was cute the first time she yelled "Reba!"...and now it's not cute.
  
  Nate was awful. He kept being surly for NO reason, and the grown-up concept of talking and communicating with another adult who was obviously clueless and not hostile...lost on him. He had no reason to dislike Adele, really, but he wanted to find a reason, so he was rude to her. Also, of COURSE he's hot and of COURSE he's a musician. Of COURSE the country music star has ideas for him taking his band/act further, which is kind of condescending. I wish he'd been just a bartender and maybe a fisherman or something. Musician was overkill.
  
  The reviews keep talking about the explicit sex. I don't even remember it, and I finished reading this 9 days ago. That should tell you something. Maybe that I'm old or none of it was memorable. I'm wondering what I missed because I didn't catch that things were impossible (as other reviews keep protesting.)
  
  In all, not a terrible book. I may continue with the next one because I'm kind of interested in the other sisters especially the one who refuses to talk to Adele.
• 
  Courtney

  I have super mixed feelings about this book. I felt like the relationship between H and h was poorly developed in the first part of the book which made their relationship in the second part less meaningful. However, I found the h to be far more enjoyable in the first half of the book than in the second half; she came across and too wishy-washy. The H however, was always a little confusing. His plan is never really clear and at one point in time they say some pretty mean crap to each other and while she finds a way to make it up to him, I feel like he never makes any efforts at an apology. It's kinda just like: sex, fight, awkward avoidance, more sex, another fight where they both say mean things, she apologizes, they claim they've always loved each other (I disagree but whatever), and then it's over.
  
  I mean, overall it was mostly enjoyable. Adele had her moments and when Nate didn't try his hand at scheming, I actually liked him a lot. I mean, I didn't quite swoon but he had the makings of a good love interest.
• 
  Leta McCurry

  This is an entertaining story set in a Northern California coastal town – Darling Bay. Herron does a good job of bringing the setting to life. He town reminded me of Bodega Bay or maybe Jenner. The characters were well developed, quirky and interesting. Adele, a country singer- songwriter, is at loose ends, estranged from her two sisters, she comes to Darling Bay to settle the estate of her recently deceased uncle. The estate is a dilapidated, rustic saloon, café and hotel. Adele has a lot more problems than the hunky bartender who is determined to buy the property and will do almost anything to make that happen. Although this is the first book I n a series, it does stand alone. I can see many love stories ahead for the residents of Darling Bay. A fun read. (There are a couple of pretty graphic sex scenes.)
  
• 
  Julie Barrett

  The Darling Songbirds by Rachael Herron
  Have read other works by this author and have enjoyed them.
  This one is about Adele and she's returned to Darling Bay in Oregon where the last of older generation of the family has died, Uncle Hugh.
  He ran his own saloon, cafe and hotel but it's not how she finds the place.
  Story also follow Nate who has been one of the most helpful throughout Hugh's life and working at the bar.
  They do get along with one another-he's a fixer and she wants to do things herself. Lots of heated sex scenes.
  Like the locals and what they stand for, scenery, different ideas of how to make it in the saloon world.
  Like how this story ends. Author bio at the end, links to connect along with other works by the author.
  Excerpt from the next book in the series is included.
  
  
• 
  Beth

  I tried. This book is over-the-top "we're so country", but I can handle that at times. I almost stopped reading when one of the farmers in the book wore a red John Deere hat. Look, you don't have to know a lot about farm implements, but if you are going to make a book (apparently the start of a series) about country music you have to know that John Deere's brand is green. There is a SONG called John Deere Green. It's a thing. A very basic thing.
  
  To be fair to the author, I looked up red hats to see if JD makes them. Maybe I was wrong! I didn't find any.
  
  I kept reading and the characters didn't develop into anyone I'd want to meet. The main character also has a cutesy/obnoxious habit of saying a female country singer's name instead of swearing. I'm getting annoyed just typing that.
  
  I quit halfway through.
• 
  Schellie

  Finding Home Again
  
  Adele is back in Darling Bay to sell the family business. Her uncle Hugh passed away, and neither she or her sisters came home for the service. Nate has been taking care of things at The Golden Spike with Hugh for over a decade. His dream is to own the saloon, however Hugh keeps talking about his Songbirds coming back to run it. Nate is sure that will never happen, until one day it does! Nate walks in the saloon and there she is, Adele Darling, and all his dreams fly right out the door! Sparks fly whenever Adele and Nate are near each other. Their chemistry is through the roof hot but they don’t want to like each other. He wants the saloon, she wants to find home again! Make sure you check this book out today, it was a sexy, steamy, melt you Kindle kind of story!
• 
  Savsandy

  Singing Good Fun
  
  When I finished "The Darling Songbirds" I realized how much I've missed reading a really well written Rachel Herron transports us to Darling Bay, the quintessential small town on California's coast. This is a story about homecoming, redemption and, as always, hope for the future. Herron knows how to breathe life into her characters. Adele Darling and Nate Houston are true-to-life; as conflicted as the rest of us, at times stubborn or indecisive, but also caring, generous and loving people. I'll skip the synopsis and just tell you this is a sweet rom-com but not sugary or syrupy sweet. The too sweet ones made my teeth hurt. No toothaches here. And as a side note, what a pleasure not to have to trip over a slew of typos. Sweet!
• 
  Birgit

  Adele Darling comes back to Darling Bay after the death of her Uncle Hugh. Adele and her two sisters, Molly and Lana, used to be the Darling Songbirds, a famous country band, until they separated after a fight. Now, of the saloon, hotel, and cafe which their ancestors built in Darling Bay, only the saloon is still functionable, and managed by Nate Houston, the good looking barkeep who seems to have cared for the business and Uncle Hugh during the sisters' absence.
  For Adele, the only way seems to be to fix what can be fixed, and sell the whole thing, but Nate is a distraction - very much so.
  Well written, with likeable and quite realistic characters, a good and interesting plot - quite enjoyable to read and making me want to get the next books in this series.
  
• 
  Meagan Smith

  Y'all....Y'ALL. This book has my heart. THE DARLING SONGBIRDS is a happy surprise of a romance. The characters are so well done; I want to be their friends. I want to drink at the Golden Spike. I want to lament with Adele. I want to pet the dang parrot. I want to help rebuild the grounds. The prose is noteworthy, and the arc for the two Mains are small on the surface, but when you think about how that seemingly small adjustment changes their lives...isn't that how real life is most of the time? Small pieces of change making large impacts on us? Adore. Will reread. Will continue in series.
• 
  Elizabeth Edwards

  i prefer my book cover ... a guitar laying on grass, with blooms coming from the center (i am not a guitar expert but i searched "sound hole" and the name was that?? i pray i am correct on that??! lol.) of the guitar. it is such a more cheerful book cover. my thoughts on that!! any who ... i am new to Rachael's writing. i will read more. free on Amazon. i got it free as well. u go on and check it out. series. 3 books so far. "The Songbirds of Darling Bay". out March 1, 2016. romantic comedy. contemporary romance. fun times.
• 
  Norma Reasor

  I don’t usually read reviews before reading the book unless I’m undecided after the reading the book description. I looked at a few after I finished and it seemed they either liked the 5 stars worth, or mostly liked it ****, or thought it was just okay ***. I’m really liked it*****. Not so very realistic maybe, but I loved the romance, the conflict, the character interaction, and the down home feeling. I will definitely read the other two in this series.
• 
  Carrie

  Very enjoyable start to a series that follows three retired country music singing sisters and their restoration of their family property on the Northern California coast. That's right, this book hits on two of my favorite things that don't always line up - country music and Northern California! Good story - and I liked having it told from both protagonist's perspectives. Definitely set me up to want to read the next of the series.
• 
  Sue Parker

  Adele comes home to sell the saloon she inherited. Only once she sees how run down it has become she wants to fix it up. She is a fixer but can’t seem to fix her relationship with her sisters. Nate has been working at the saloon for years and wants to buy it. Of course they wind up coming together and this is a real sweet story.