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Rachael Herron
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The Darling Songbirds (The Songbirds of Darling Bay Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Rachael Herron (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,985 ratings

She’s almost forgotten how to write the songs that made her and her sisters famous. Will falling in love retune her heart?

“Relationships are at the heart of women’s fiction, and Herron could teach a master class on creating them.” Chicklit Central

From international bestseller Rachael Herron comes a book too delightful to put down:

Adele Darling has washed up in the sleepy gold-rush town her great-grandfather had given his name to, the town she’d left for good a long time ago.

The saloon is a ruin, the business is broke and customers are scarce. Add into the mix Nate Houston - the handsome, guitar-playing bartender who had always believed he would be the next owner of the Golden Spike - and Adele has one potent cocktail on her hands.

This heartwarming, hilarious, and red-hot contemporary romance will leave you wishing for a marina view (or maybe a hot cowboy) of your very own.

Scroll up and click Buy Now!

tropes: homecoming, heartwarming romance, country romance, nashville romance, beach reads, cowboy, small-town romance, comedy, sisters, sister romance,

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  1. Book 1 of 3
    The Songbirds of Darling Bay
  2. Print length
    298 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    March 1, 2016
  5. File size
    2.3 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Rachael Herron's novels:
  • "While the journey these women must face together is heartbreaking, their story is ultimately uplifting: a poignant, profound ode to the enduring and redemptive power of love." - Library Journal

From the Author

From international bestseller Rachael Herron, comes the start of a trilogy too delightful to put down:   The saloon had always looked old-fashioned, but now it resembled a set in a ghost town. The problem was that Adele wasn't in an old western, or a ghost town. Darling Bay was the sleepy gold-rush town her great-grandfather had given his name to.
The town she'd left for good a long time ago.

The building is a ruin, the business is broke and customers are scarce. Add into the mix Nate Houston - the handsome, guitar-playing bartender who had always believed he would be the next owner - and Adele has one potent cocktail on her hands.

Can a rundown saloon in a sleepy town finally offer Adele a way into love? Relationships are at the heart of women's fiction, and Herron could teach a master class on creating them. Chicklit Central This heartwarming, hilarious, and red-hot contemporary romance will leave you wishing for a marina view of your very own. From sisters to second chances, this small-town romance will make you laugh and cry. Herron's characters are grounded and relatable, but her twists and turns leave you satisfied as a reader.  For a good time, pack this beach read on your vacation! You'll love this book. Rachael Herron seamlessly blends romance, friendship, and laughter. Barbara Bretton, USA Today Bestselling Author A FULL-LENGTH STANDALONE, a great entry into the world of Rachael Herron's sexy and hilarious books.  Scroll up and Click Buy! 

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B019HXWINC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HGA Publishing (March 1, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 1, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.3 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 298 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,985 ratings

About the author

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Rachael Herron

Rachael Herron

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Rachael Herron is the bestselling author of more than two dozen books, including thriller (under R.H. Herron), mainstream fiction, feminist romance, memoir, and nonfiction about writing. She received her MFA in writing from Mills College, Oakland, and she's taught writing extension workshops at both UC Berkeley and Stanford.A New Zealand citizen as well as an American, she lives in Wellington, New Zealand with her banjo-playing wife and brick-eating dog.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
1,985 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story engaging and enjoyable. They love the characters and their unique voices. The romance is sweet, romantic, and delightful. Readers appreciate the pacing and resolution of the story. However, some find the book boring and repetitive, while others consider it a fun and entertaining read. Opinions differ on the emotional level, with some finding it realistic and human, while others feel the emotions are unrealistic or overdone.

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Story qualityEnjoymentCharacter developmentRomancePacingEmotion levelReadability
64 customers mention "Story quality"64 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging story with compelling characters and an interesting plot. They find the writing style easy to read and the author's ability to draw them deeply into the story. Readers appreciate the original storyline and the Darling family. The prose is noted, and the love story is true-to-life.

"...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..." Read more

"...Enjoyable and informative storyline of determining your purpose, what is important, and how to accomplish it...." Read more

"...The story itself was written so well it was easy to read. The story flowed so effortlessly. I loved the quirky characters inhabiting this small town...." Read more

"...Fun characters, western atmosphere, good intentions. A cute story that made me smile." Read more

55 customers mention "Enjoyment"55 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it interesting and a quick read with just the right romance. Many appreciate the well-done descriptions of the location and characters. The ending is also appreciated. Readers fall in love with the writing style and enjoy the country music twist.

"...Enjoyable and informative storyline of determining your purpose, what is important, and how to accomplish it...." Read more

"...I loved the quirky characters inhabiting this small town. This was a really fun, quick read with just the right romance and heat...." Read more

"Just go with the suspension of disbelief and enjoy your vacation in Darling Bay. Fun characters, western atmosphere, good intentions...." Read more

"...Orange underwear? Who saw that coming? Overall, an enjoyable read. Looking forward to reading Molly and Lana's stories now." Read more

30 customers mention "Character development"30 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the well-developed characters. They find the storyline engaging with a variety of characters and interesting backstories. The plot is described as heartfelt and full of doubts.

"...Herron knows how to breathe life into her characters...." Read more

"...Believable characters with distinct personalities and thought-provoking dialogue. No desire to re-read this story...." Read more

"...Fun characters, western atmosphere, good intentions. A cute story that made me smile." Read more

"...The reader really roots for these two. The backstory of both characters is interesting and believable...." Read more

17 customers mention "Romance"17 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in the book. They find it sweet, delightful, and enchanting. The characters are well-developed and the story has a touch of chic lit.

"...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...." Read more

"This short novel hit on all emotions. Love the setting, ocean side of Northern California, Virgin River style!..." Read more

"...Do yourself a favor and read this book! It will pull you out of a bad mood, a difficult time in your life, whatever you're going through...." Read more

"Very sweet and entertaining story. The characters were really good together, good chemistry...." Read more

15 customers mention "Pacing"13 positive2 negative

Customers find the book's pacing engaging. They say it starts slowly but quickly picks up pace, with plenty of twists and turns along the way. The characters are described as loveable, quirky, and real.

"...No editing errors, gratuitous violence or drag-you-down drama...." Read more

"...This was a really fun, quick read with just the right romance and heat...." Read more

"...The characters were well developed, quirky and interesting...." Read more

"...And the plot - WOW! Twists, turns and a lot of fun along the way. I can't recommend it enough :)" Read more

6 customers mention "Emotion level"4 positive2 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's emotional level. Some find the emotions realistic and human, with caring and generous characters. Others feel the background sadness makes the book feel angsty and sad.

"...us, at times stubborn or indecisive, but also caring, generous and loving people...." Read more

"...It makes the whole book feels very angst-y and sad." Read more

"...The characters are like able and believable and the emotions felt very real. I enjoyed it a lot...." Read more

"I absolutely loved this book. It's just so human and real. It could be a true story! First time reading this Author and she has a fan for life...." Read more

4 customers mention "Readability"0 positive4 negative

Customers find the book boring and repetitive. They find it difficult to keep their interest throughout the story.

"...Wasted time reading this and has a hanging ending. Nah don’t bother." Read more

"...It is a bit slow and is difficult holding you interest. Then it resolves very quickly. Meh read." Read more

"This was an awful book. So much to dislike about the main characters. It was like it was on an endless loop and it was boring...." Read more

"...I found the book slow, repetitive, and tiresome." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Savsandy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Singing Good Fun
    Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    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!
    30 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Bookzilla
    4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining
    Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Easy to follow stand-alone. No editing errors, gratuitous violence or drag-you-down drama.

    Enjoyable and informative storyline of determining your purpose, what is important, and how to accomplish it. Descriptive and humorous writing that draws the reader into each scene. Believable characters with distinct personalities and thought-provoking dialogue.

    No desire to re-read this story. I am always interested in works by this author.
    Helpful
     Report
  • CINDY F.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! This was Fantastic!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this story so much I just ordered the next two books in this series. The story itself was written so well it was easy to read. The story flowed so effortlessly. I loved the quirky characters inhabiting this small town. This was a really fun, quick read with just the right romance and heat. I had to admire Adele's gumption and had work, I would have never expected that since she was once a big star. I also loved Nate right from the start. The way he was able to make something of himself, after being raised the way he was, was something to behold. I also loved the way he took the downtrodded under his wing and made sure they got the things they needed, without running rough-shod over them.

    I would highly recommend this book!
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Native Texan
    3.0 out of 5 stars Cute
    Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Just go with the suspension of disbelief and enjoy your vacation in Darling Bay. Fun characters, western atmosphere, good intentions. A cute story that made me smile.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Melodious One
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very Enjoyable
    Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I really liked this story. Rachael Herron creates a lovely story with great characters and situations that are totally believable. I loved Adele's can fix anything attitude and Nate is a sweetheart. The reader really roots for these two. The backstory of both characters is interesting and believable. Sometimes, authors let their subjects get too emotional and whiny in their reactions and one just says " oh please". But not here. The storyline plays out beautifully. I also like the author's humor. The chapter about the open mic night had me laughing out loud. Orange underwear? Who saw that coming? Overall, an enjoyable read. Looking forward to reading Molly and Lana's stories now.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • zladyx
    4.0 out of 5 stars A fun read.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    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.)
    31 people found this helpful
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  • Kay Delano
    5.0 out of 5 stars easy reading. just enough spice!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This short novel hit on all emotions. Love the setting, ocean side of Northern California, Virgin River style! Would love to read more from this author in this setting.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Jazzy Jazzbo
    5.0 out of 5 stars My new favorite series!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I am so crazy in love with this series! The author pulls you deeply into the story and each character's voice is refreshingly unique. I fell in love with love all over again through these books. Do yourself a favor and read this book! It will pull you out of a bad mood, a difficult time in your life, whatever you're going through. This is a true escape, written by a class A wordsmith. And the plot - WOW! Twists, turns and a lot of fun along the way. I can't recommend it enough :)
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Hoener, Birgit
    3.0 out of 5 stars Could not put it down
    Reviewed in Germany on April 9, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    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.
    Report
  • C Gregory
    5.0 out of 5 stars Really great story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 26, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Really enjoyed this book! It kept me reading and wanting to know what would happen next. Not everything is rosy in Darling Bay and perhaps more will come out in further books, but the main storyline was good.
    Report
  • Banshailang Rynjah
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in India on January 29, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Very good
    Report
  • Smita
    4.0 out of 5 stars A memory lane trip that turns out good
    Reviewed in India on March 8, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    It is story of Adele and Nate who meet for first time in darling bay, home of Adele and adopted home for Nate. No villian nor anything too dramatic. A simple good hearted story one would love to read
    Report
  • Tess
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 21, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Enjoyed this book although it did seem to loose its way at times
    Report

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