Hush A Bye Lady

Once Upon a Rhyme #3

by Abigail Manning

Hush little lady, don't say a word...

Sasha Bough has always been the quiet type, and that’s exactly how her family wants her to remain. When a tragic incident rocked her childhood, she was left with two never speak of what happened or suffer the consequences. When Sasha reaches the age of nineteen, then tension in her family rises when she still hasn’t secured a husband. It’s not always easy for the quietest person in the room to gain attention until that attention comes in unwanted ways.
When an unprompted attack interrupts the silence, Prince Alaric takes an interest in Sasha’s family and the events surrounding the trouble. Sasha knows he only wants to help, but the more he digs into her family’s past, the riskier being near him becomes. He shouldn’t be too difficult to push away, except that she may need his protection after all... After the attack, she learns that someone knows her secret and they’re willing to do anything to silence her.
If her secret is revealed, she’s as good as dead, and if she can’t find whoever is targeting her, they’ll simply kill her first. With a prince willing to help keep her safe, does she dare let him get close to her? Or is she better off staying hushed?

Content
This story contains depictions of emotional and mental abuse by parental figures, as well as implied physical abuse, and gaslighting. Overall story content still remains within a PG-13 rating (no graphic violence, overly-descriptive romance, or swearing.)

Once Upon A Rhyme is a collection of clean, intercepting stories, best enjoyed when read as a series.
For more information on Once Upon A Rhyme sign up for my free monthly newsletter Abigailmanningauthor.com

Genres: Fantasy, Fairy Tale Retellings, Romance, Magic, Young Adult, Retellings, Fairy Tales

379 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 16, 2023

Reviews

[Dana Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 Stars: I accidentally read it in one sitting. I have no regrets.

Thank you so much to Abigail Manning for giving me an ARC of Hush A Bye Lady in exchange for an honest review. The first time I picked it up, I planned just to read the first couple of chapters and then wound up reading the entire thing. I just didn't want to stop! I fully intend on collecting the whole Once Upon A Rhyme series (along with many more of Manning's books).

Hush A Bye Lady is book three in a series of connected (but standalone) nursery rhyme retellings by Abigail Manning. It follows nineteen-year-old Sasha Bough as she seeks to obey the wishes of her controlling and (mainly psychologically) abusive parents. To obey, Sasha must find a husband, and her parents have set their eyes on the ultimate prize: Prince Alaric. But a wrench is thrown into the Bough's plans when Sasha's nineteenth birthday ball ends with an explosion that soon reveals dark intentions toward Sasha.

It's a compelling premise laced with elements of a psychological thriller (which was very well done, in my opinion). I also loved the mystery/attacker plotline. Not only was it exciting to see Sasha fight to escape death, but it was also a wonderful driving force in Sasha's relationship with Alaric. Seriously, ladies, if you like a protective and noble prince, this book is for you.

Now, it is worth noting that Hush A Bye Lady is a fantasy romance. Because of that, it is important that the romantic relationship is compelling. The good news is that Sasha's relationship with Alaric is, in fact, compelling (btw. there's no bad news). Sasha has been forced into silence, but Alaric wants to hear her voice, and (unlike her parents) he truly cares for her safety. It's a sweet relationship that feels natural as it progresses (and I love the way it is fueled by the mystery of the attacker and Sasha's own secrets).

Hush A Bye Lady is a great retelling of a classic nursery rhyme, and if you're anything like me, you'll devour it in one sitting. Hush A Bye Lady is also completely clean (which I love), and as I mentioned earlier, it is preceded in the Once Upon A Rhyme series by The Itsy Bitsy Liar (an Itsy Bitsy Spider retelling) and Little Bo Sneak (a Little Bo Peep retelling). While you do not have to read these two books before reading Hush A Bye Lady (I didn't), they are all connected, and I fully intend on reading the whole series to get the most out of it.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The downside of discovering so many new amazing authors is that my TBR list is growing once more with more books than I can handle. It therefore took me a little longer to finish this arc I got from the author, however, I'm luckily still in time for release day. Since I haven't read the previous two books in this series I had actually no idea what to expect. When I dived in yesterday I was therefore curious and a little excited.

I ended up really loving this book. Sasha is an amazing character. In the beginning of the story it's clear she's afraid of her parents and doing whatever she can to please them and be good and kind. During the story we however learn that her parents might actually not be good people and slowly Sasha is learning to fight for herself. It's amazing to see the silent girl from the beginning growing up into a girl ready to become a queen.

I also loved the plot. Not giving Sasha's secret away is an amazing storytelling technique that kept me on the edge of my seat. Of course I was wondering what a five year old could have done that was this bad and the finale didn't disappoint. Watching all the pieces of the puzzle come together, learning what has truly happened so many years ago and seeing how much impact one small moment could have was amazing.

And then there is of course the romance. I was really happy that both characters got to spend so much time together talking and getting to know each other. And the more we saw of the prince, the more I started to love him. Especially because he seemed to be one of the few people in this book actually putting Sasha's needs, wants and most of all happiness first. The book is not without danger and pain, but I closed it with a smile and a warm heart.

[Tricia Mingerink · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved each book in this fairy tale / fantasy romances inspired by nursery rhymes, but this one was particularly compelling! The mystery and suspense was really well done, and I could NOT put this one down! It deals with some difficult themes (trigger warning for emotionally abusive, manipulative, and controlling parents), but the difficult themes were handled well.

[TaniaRina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t allow anybody to silence you
I sooo appreciate retellings that take on the “morality tale” aspect (or at least, can be interpreted as such). This is not a simple young woman-meets-prince cutesy piece of fluff. There is a lot of drama and trauma that is sadly all too true IRL.

I’ll take on the obvious one (so no spoilers) – that of parental abuse towards children. This is definitely a case of “who’s watching the watchers”. It’s one thing for parents to be very or even extremely involved in their responsibility of raising the next generation; it’s quite another to belittle, gaslight, and punish a child into submission.
True story: A friend’s tween daughter went into live-in therapy due to pressure about school AND her neighbor’s teenage daughter took her own life for the same reason.
If you know of any child or teen who is being verbally abused, please figure out a way to help. ‘Silence is misleading’ and can be mistaken for complicity. Breaking the cycle is not only for the abused to take on.

Some things we can do IRL to make this a happier world (whether it be at home or work, in the neighborhood or relationships):
Adjust each other’s crowns.
Be a ray of sunshine like Soren (great comic relief).
Seek out those who ‘never fails to hear the words you don’t speak’.
Take an unfavorable situation and use it to help others. Find your voice and yell from the rooftops!


I sooo wanna read the previous books in this series and more by this author! In the meantime, I think I'm going to go out and buy some blueberry muffins...

[Rosina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed both of the two books already in the Once Upon a Rhyme series, but I have to say, I think this is my favourite yet. It was much darker than the previous books, and I found myself genuinely really stressed and tense for a lot of it. No spoilers, but thankfully the ending made all the suffering for the characters (and me!) worth it, so if you're someone like me who struggles with a sad ending, don't worry! You're in safe hands.

I think there were also my two favourite main characters from the series. Sasha had a really great character arc to witness, and I was rooting for her constantly. Alaric was wonderful, he stole my heart completely. I loved everytime the pair were together, and I was desperate for them to get their happy ending. There were some characters who were so horrible, it was almost physically painful, so that was well done. Besides that, I was attached to a lot of other side characters and I'll miss them/be praying they pop up in another future book somehow.

If you're a bit burned out on retellings of fairytales that have already been done a lot before, and want something a bit darker, you should definitely give this book a go! But I recommend you check out the rest of the series first, seeing the connections and cameos really adds to the experience. I'm so excited for the next in the series!

Thank you to the author for kindly gifting me an ARC.

[Terry Juell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blessed and given this story as an ARC, here is my honest review.

This book is amazing! I was hooked from the very first page! It felt like a magnet pulling at my eyes and once they were planted they were glued! It was the mystery! From the very first pages the reader was left with no answers and boy did I want to know!

I felt the MFC, Sasha, was very likable. She was controlled by what I would say are very wicked parents yet, she wanted to please them. I wouldn’t say she was weak because of that. No, she was strong to put up with them! The MMC Prince Alaric was of course perfect! Well, in my eyes anyway. He also had a very supportive and likable family.

The mystery continued throughout the whole 3/4’s of the book. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure it out! So, when I finally found my answer it was NOTHING like what I expected! It was an incredible twist! I can’t say anymore on that you will have to read it for yourself!

I feel this author is a fantastic writer who knows how to pull readers in and keep them hooked. This story is a must read if you like fairytales, HEA, mystery, and surprises because this story has all of those ingredients! This will be one of my favorite reads!

[Stephanie Mccall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hush a Bye Lady is another tough novel to pin down. In some ways, it's more a 3.6-3.8. I expected much more from some key elements, but its strong points are too strong to ignore or discount. Besides that, I always have to keep in mind that even as a YA author, I'm not actually in Abigail Manning's target audience. With all that said, Hush a Bye Lady was still a fun story to read, so let's dive in.

Sasha Bough is a fascinating heroine, maybe the most interesting of the series so far. I loved the subtle symbolism Abigail attached to her. The soft consonants of her name evoke secrets and an almost urgent need to hush, a "don't wake the baby" situation, but with much higher stakes. Her pendant and the way she rocks it back and forth for comfort add to the symbolism and to her situation's danger, mystery, and tragedy. Sasha's story, more than the others so far, carries an almost Gothic edge.

Sasha is also fascinating in personality. At first I thought she was too flat because for the first half of the book, she spends so much time trapped and silenced, it's hard to get to know the real person. But later, Abigail makes clear this was necessary, and the real Sasha does come to life, without becoming unnecessarily extraverted or rebellious. She becomes, instead, a rare example of a sweet, quiet heroine done right. I've said before that I think today's authors are scared of writing "sweet" women, and I applaud Abigail for pushing past the "boss lady" expectations with Sasha.

The other characters still lean two-dimensional, but I think they're supposed to because we're still in the fairytale genre. Actually, I found the conventions of the genre made them easier to enjoy--or enjoy rooting against at times. For instance, I loved the gallant Prince Alaric, and I noticed some symbolism with him, too, like the way the hard consonants of his name and the witty, determined parts of his personality helped build Sasha up. (The phrase "iron sharpening iron" comes to mind). And even though you could call Lord and Lady Bough easy villains, they were so despicable, they had me gasping more than once. Abigail proved here, she truly knows how to craft a villain readers love to hate.

Abigail also gets kudos for her plot, yet again. Because of that somewhat slow first half, I thought I knew where she would take me. But as I should've guessed, she surprised me over and over again. The mystery of who is attacking Sasha and why reads simple enough for YA, yet carries enough intrigue to engage an adult. The actual scenes and pieces of the mystery, such as the treehouse and the unrefined stones, are original, contribute to series continuity, and add a shiver of intrigue and fright without going so dark as to be oppressive.

Abigail threw in a fairly obvious but great red herring--great in that later I laughed to myself, "How could I have fallen for that?" Well, easily--because Abigail also used one of my favorite tricks. She had the whodunit work in one direction while I looked the other way.

Major kudos too, because without spoilers, the whodunit is not at all what I expected. That is, the person and motive make sense once you see them. Yet the actual story behind that person incites real empathy, not just pity. Thus, the entire plot makes the reader question the ins and outs of real villainy, and root for Sasha and Alaric all the harder. That's not easy to pull off in a book like this, particularly if the author is working within a retelling.

Okay, so with all that praise, why take a star? More to the point, why knock this down to a 3.6-3.8? Well, again, some of it is that first half. It's pretty slow, and although Sasha's victimization is totally necessary, it does seem to take her a while to feel like a person outside of it. I'd have liked to see more of her outside the Boughs' control. I'd have liked to see her enjoying her favorite things, not just telling Alaric what they were because of a truth stone's influence. Similarly, I'd have liked to see Alaric using his training and skills as a prince and a person, not just because he was protecting Sasha. Because yes, for a while, it does look as if he cares for her out of duty or because she's a project. When he clears that up, it's completely sincere, and I loved that scene. And yet...

To go along with that, this is more a critique than a criticism, but: I'd have liked Alaric and his parents to be more aware of their kingdom. I understand they needed to fit the "sheltered royals" trope for the plot to work. Yet often, they all seem much too oblivious. With Soren, it works because he's the second born and sanguine by nature. He couldn't care less and well, he's got some maturing to do. But with Alaric, Leandro, and Eleanor--come on, you guys. How much are you going to let slip, how many innocents will suffer as Sasha did, before you clean house? Alaric clearly wanted to be involved, so I wanted Abigail to let him, in real time.

I can't go into this final big criticism because it will lead to a spoiler, but the last big thing I want to highlight is why Hush a Bye Lady almost got three stars, when taken with other, smaller problems. Leandro in particular, and by association Eleanor, make a decision I could not get on board with near the end. Leandro handwaves it as, "Well, the situation is complicated," but--no, I didn't buy it. I actually said out loud, "Um, does the word 'coercion' mean nothing to you?" Again, I understand where Abigail was coming from; the decision works for the plot. But for it to work in terms of *story,* I needed a stronger setup and much better payoff. That is, not only does Leandro make a bad decision, but then he reverses it based on what I felt was a fairly weak loophole, after making Sasha and Alaric suffer for two weeks. I was just going, What?!?!

Finally, I did have some small nitpicks with this one. The plot thread with Marilyn is one, in that I didn't think it contributed to the rest of the story, other than to give Alaric a guilt complex. Considering Alaric was already close to Soren, I'd have dropped Marilyn's thread and perhaps let something better-developed happen between the brothers. Maybe something Soren had forgiven Alaric for, but Alaric couldn't let go?

Also, once again, Abigail needs an editor, though the mistakes weren't as egregious this time. And, I'm sorry, but: Fallen as a last name did not do anything for me. I usually love the nursery rhyme connections, but this one felt pretty forced. Perhaps something with a tree connection, like Rowan or Birch or Hawthorne?

Anyway, with all that kvetching, you might think I hated this book. Like a house on an unsteady branch, it definitely has its weaknesses. But taken together, the whole story is still quite lovely. I think it's just an "unrefined stone," in that it sparkles, but could use some smoothing. I offer my recommendation, particularly to those who love fairytales and mysteries, because I think most readers will not be able to "hush" about it.

[Jessica Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was truly a gripping book. It had a mystery aspect that made it near impossible to put done. At the end of it all, I’d say I still preferred book 2 in the series, but this one was quite excellent.

This book had a fairy tale feel like the others, but with more suspense and a bit darker of a premise. The romance also had a different feel, being based more on a desire to protect rather than attraction or commonality. Unlike the others, I would NOT call this book fun and heartwarming… It was definitely good, though, and I enjoyed it.

Content:
There is significant verbal, emotional, and physical abuse in this one (parent/child). There’s no foul language and only a couple clean kisses. There is some violence but it’s minimal. There’s no mention of faith or God. There is magic.

[Mildly Mad Hatter]

Because this has a PG-13 rating for abuse, I'm going to skip it and move on to the next book. It's a personal preference and is just a topic that is too heavy at times. So I might come back to it in the future, but for now, on to the next book.

[Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nursery Rhymes re-imagined for the older crowd, yes please! I love this series and how original it is, as a fairy tale retelling fanatic this kind of falls in the same boat for me and yet different which I enjoy so much!

It is not a fluffy story by any means, there is pain, darkness, fear, and danger but it also had such a sweet romance, hope, forgiveness, and a happy ending. I was captivated and sucked into this story immediately, I never wanted to put it down and finished it as fast as I could!

I really loved how there was this thread of mystery woven throughout the story, little pieces slowly being revealed until the major plot twist and reveal at the end! This also helped the story move along fairly fast or at least it kept me reading because I HAD to know what happened next! It definitely kept me on my toes, as soon as I thought I knew what was going on something else would happen, leaving me even more curious.

I am reading this series out of order (not on purpose, this one just caught my eye 🤭) but I didn't feel lost in any way, the FMC does think about certain events that probably happened in a past book so without having read it I don't know what happened, but she gives a good enough recap that it didn't leave me feeling lost or confused.

The world building is minimal but I think that is to be expected in a series because in my experience the world building expands with each book. And that is not to say that it isn't described well, it still has beautiful imagery, and it explores everything from the castle to the slums of the city. The ruling bodies and social customs as well as the magic system are explained really well too. The magic is actually quite unique instead of individuals wielding magic, they have stones which contain it and react to certain substances and have reactions which can result in fire, ice or any multitude of things. But they are not widely available.

Now the romance! It is a forbidden love full of witty banter, secrets, hope, sweetness and so much more. Sasha the FMC, is a prisoner in her own home, forced to be perfect and a tool for her parents goal to rise on the social ladder. Suffice it to say she has had to deal with a lot of pain and heartache in her life. But despite the fears and anxiety that plague her she is brave, has a big heart, and selfless. Prince Alaric the MMC, is immediately drawn to Sasha and can see through the mask she hides behind, at least to some extent. He is observant, strong, protective, and cares for his people. Sasha is hesitant to let others in but Alaric worms his way into her heart, mind and life through the sweetest of ways I promise. They strike a deal that works for them both though neither know the others motives behind agreeing to it. Alaric just wants to see Sasha safe and protected, Sasha just wants her parents off her back. Together they make a great team, discovering the truth, the true villains, and finding love along the way. Their romance is beautiful, sweet, full of golden retriever vibes and a damsel in distress. I loved every bit of it!

Content: No- spice/kisses only, no swearing, Physical and emotional abuse, near death experiences.

[Kayt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning: This review contains spoilers!

Hush a Bye Lady was by far the best book from the highly enjoyable and original Once Upon a Rhyme series. In fact, I would venture so far as to say it was Abigail Manning’s best book to date. Other than Sole of Secrets (which contained a bit of a murder mystery) she hasn’t touched on mysteries before, but I think with Hush a Bye Lady, this talented author has uncovered a new fortè which should absolutely be explored in future books!

The prologue immediately twisted my brain up like a tangled ball of yarn, my mind already desperate to unravel the mystery of what a 5 year old kid could possibly have done, that was awful enough to require the discipline of 14 years of silence and parental abuse. In fact I was so curious – and impatient – that I even skipped ahead to find out but only got Sasha’s crazy brother wanting to make everyone go boom, so I started reading it properly again and I’m glad I did, as the convuluted secrets got revealed in stages.

In this story of lies and silence we learn that silence can sometimes be more dangerous than words, that obedience can come at a cost and that learning to forgive can sometimes be life’s greatest – and hardest - lesson. I absolutely adored how protective Prince Alaric was of Sasha and how he showed her that she was safe to be herself around him. Prince Soren’s relationship with his brother was also one I admired – their joking banter had me laughing out loud and desperately hoping that Soren will find his own happy ending in a future book - for if anyone deserves one he does! His teasing was one of the highlights in a book colourful with suspense, tension, secrets, mistreatment, protectiveness, sibling humour and thrills aplenty.

From the hook to the end of the book, Abigail’s masterful writing kept my eyes glued to the page, and were it not for that pesky thing called work and that other pesky thing called sleep I would have finished it in one sitting. It had my heart riding a carousel of emotions as I witnessed Sasha’s bravery, her parents’ abusive manipulations, the attacker’s misguided efforts to rescue his little sister by using magic stones as dangerous weapons and the princes’ kindness. This story is a powerful saga of love and redemption, which clearly shows that the truth can set us free while lies serve only to bind us further.

Hush a Bye Lady is the third installment in the Once Upon a Rhyme series yet it was easy to read as a standalone. Each tale stays true to the original rhyme while retelling it in an innovative and fascinating way that only Abigail Manning herself could achieve. Truly I cannot wait for the fourth installment of this series, for should it be anything like the first three it will be another winner. However, one can only hope that Abigail chooses to tell another mystery in the next book, because of all the genres she has explored, within the fantasy realm, this was by far the best!

I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reader’s Notes:

– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone

– this is told from Sasha‘s point of view

– Sasha’s parents are mentally, physically, & emotionally abusive as well as demanding

– (past events) people orchestrating the deaths of others – not due to war

Review:

From the very first chapter I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what secret the Boughs must be keeping that made all the events/conversations occur surrounding it throughout the story. I loved Prince Alaric so much! He was a wonderful protector of Sasha in all ways and I was so glad to see someone who truly wanted the best for her. I also loved Alaric with his brother and that we got quite a few scenes with the two of them together interacting as brothers do. I loved the character arc that Sasha had. I also loved how the nursery rhyme was weaved into her story to be so much more meaningful to the story itself. (In case you didn’t catch it yet, this was sooo good and eye opening!) I am very excited for the next book and the hints that have already been laid down in this book about that one!

Summary:

Sasha’s parents want her to be the perfect lady and marry well. But their methods of holding her to immensely high standards cause Sasha to be one of the most quiet people in the room out of fear that someone might learn of the secret she and her family are hiding. Which means that though she may appear to be a perfect lady, her marriage prospects are few and far between.

Until an attack causes a prince to step up to protect Sasha and he desires to search for the person after her. With her secret so close to being unveiled by the attacker, Sasha can’t let her parents see that this event caused unwanted attention and insists that Prince Alaric not provide protection around her home. So he he insists that she attend various functions at the palace so he can ensure her protection the best he can while adhering to her wishes. With the compromise comes the added bonus of Sasha appearing to pursue a courtship with the prince, making her parents fairly happy.

But the longer Sasha stays in Prince Alaric’s orbit, the more she sees the protector he is and just how much she likes him. And not only that, but he may be someone she can truly trust with the secret that she has kept all this time…

[Amanda Mantonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abigail Manning does suspense in her books like a genius. I say this because I almost always skip to the end of a book or Google the solution/answer in a mystery novel. But somehow the romance and character development in Manning’s books are sweet enough to keep me going…. Though possibly at a more frantic pace while growling in my reading chair and taking a break to get a snack and message her on her Facebook author page saying “whyyyy?!”

The trigger warnings on this book were appreciated because i have known people to have suffered under situations very much like Sasha did with Mr and Mrs Bough. Gaslighting and verbal abuse, making someone truly feel as though they deserve the suffering and are worthless is such a sensitive topic.

I believe this book can bring healing as it is read because for a long time you are left guessing at what Sasha’s secret is, so you believe, as she does, that she might deserve the cruelty to a certain point. Though you’re also left thinking that no matter what she did the cruelty is too much! That’s a fine line to balance where the reader is both against the villains while also left wondering if the things they are saying could be somewhat legit and just too extreme

When the secret is revealed finally I wanted to punch the many adults responsible, and hug Alaric for the way he handled it. Truth comes out and truth sets Sasha free

Much like in Itsy Bitsy Liar, I kept wondering how much of the nursery rhyme would be included in the story, and so when a tree and a fall were part of the plot I started kicking my feet and giggling while I remembered the rhyme! And the use of the word “hush” was so powerful

I may have stayed up till 1 in the morning to finish the book, and do not regret it one bit. Looking forward to the next installment with the Muffin Man and I already have a few guesses going with that.

[Moni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. This is book 3 in the Once Upon A Rhyme Series and can be read as a standalone, though I recommend reading the other books too if you haven't done so already. The book's blurb gibes you an idea of what to expect, though be aware the book deals with toxic and abusive parents and mentions of loss. Hush A Bye Lady is told through Sasha's pov and is a Hush A Bye Baby retelling that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Throughout her entire life, Sasha has been raised to be the perfect lady. She's followed her parents' commands and knows how important it is for her to secure a suitor and keep her secret to herself. When she meets Alaric, his protective and inquisitive nature challenge everything that Sasha has known and makes her want to trust him. But, the secret that she keeps is one that threatens her existence and she has to decide if she's willing to rely on Alaric.

From the moment they meet, Alaric is curious about Sasha and she knows that he's her best option at fulfilling her parents' wishes. However, that doesn't mean that Sasha doesn't care about him. He's the only one who can hear what she's not saying and she enjoys his company and friendship, even when she's worried that he will learn the truth about her. With his friendship, she gains courage to take back her voice and say what she means and wants to. It's impossible not to feel for Sasha and be upset on her behalf. But, I liked reading how she grew stronger as the story progressed. The romance is a clean one consisting of only kissing and no foul language used. Aside from the romance, I liked how the story was full of secrets and mysteries that I didn't guess at all. I couldn't wait to have the truths revealed. Sasha's story kept me hooked since the start and it was a great addition to the series.

[Diana in SC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisty and delightful YA sweet fantasy/romantic suspense
Audiobook version: 5 stars overall, 5 stars story, 5 stars narration

A 17-year-old noblewoman has been threatened to keep her secrets. Her unloving parents expect perfection so that she can marry a prince. I loved this great suspenseful story, and I highly recommend it to romantic YA fans. I couldn’t predict the great twist, so be careful to avoid spoilers. This book has a satisfying and happy ending. The sweet romance (just kissing) is a strong part of the story.

The narrator Jillian Yetter did an amazing job. She is so versatile and flawless with male and female voices, both young and old. I love her pacing, emoting, and the sound of her voice.

I appreciated the fascinating characters and their development. The wonderful heroine Sasha has a core of inner strength that has kept her going through years of threats, mistreatment, and captivity. (By the way, Sasha was one of the contestants with a minor role in the first book of the series.) The prince in this book is such a good guy: compassionate, thoughtful, determined, and intelligent. The parent villains are really despicable and one-dimensional, but that’s okay with me. They brought villainy to a new level.

I requested and received a free audio copy via the publisher, and I voluntarily wrote this honest review. #TheFlockVIPReviewTeam #NorthernLakeAudio

[Shades · Rating 4 out of 5]

CONTAINS SPOILERS:

Like all of these so far, it was not only addictive but I read it so swiftly that my brain couldn't decipher what was happening quick enough.
I usually start these reviews of which talking about the characters, but not this time. The plot was so beautifully done that it belongs first. The mystery of Sasha's backstory and discovering who was after her and her family was so devastatingly compelling that I couldn't rip my eyes away from the page. It's a psychological thriller, honestly. And the tale is far from light and easy as well.
Now, as for characters, Sasha had been through so much but was so sweet. I adored her and just wanted to protect her and prove she was worth so much more than her parents were telling her.
Alaric was great for Sasha. With everything he went through with his sister *softly hums "The Muffin Man'* he wanted to help someone since he couldn't help her. And that means little broken Sasha.
Honorable mention goes to... *drumroll* SOREN!! The rock-obsessed prince was a lovely ray of sunshine among a such a hard story.
MY CONTENT WARNING:
Language: 1/5 (I do believe there was some "in-world" words)
Violence: 3/5 (Several mentions of abuse, death, trauma, etc.)
Romance:
EXTRA: The author does began with a PG-13 warning given the abuse, gaslighting, and triggers shown in the story. So if that is something you struggle with or avoid reading, then you may want to skip this book in the series.

[Katelyn Daliath · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. Just WOW. I really don't have words to describe how beautiful this book is because it's beyond words! There was no single sentence in the book to be found boring, every bit of it was so thrilling, making you restless until you finish it. It happened with me. This book is so thrilling from the beginning with suspenses, and I loved every bit of it. I know twists are unexpected, but I was so shocked by the twist in this book, which was beyond my thoughts! I admire how beautiful Abigail kept the suspense from the beginning to the end till it was revealed. The characters are lovable, so lovable, indeed. I love Sasha and Alaric, their every moment was so wonderful! I love how Alaric is to her, caring and protective! And let's not start with the parents, I've never read more frustrating charecters and I admire how Abigail has written it, it was so beautiful! And there's a certain charecter I love after the main two ones, but it's better if I don't say it, cause it might be a spoiler. I read this book without even reading the blurb (that's how I've read most of every book) and in that way, it was even more thrilling! I highly recommend everyone to read this! I bet you'll love it! I seriously cannot wait to read more from Abigail!

[Jacquelyn 💐 {This Rapunzel Reads} [Jesus Christ, my Living Hope] · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫

This one was a bit darker than the other ones with how Sasha’s parents treated her and all that she went through. But it was so good! It got better and better as the story went on. Sasha was a strong lady! She had been through so much in her life and my heart ached for her! I really did not like her parents! They were evil! Alaric was a sweetheart! He was so kind and gentle! They were so perfectly matched and so sweet together! His brother, Soren, is a hoot! I want a book with him in it so bad! He had me cracking up! 😂 I definitely recommend this book and I can’t wait to read the next one! These are so easy to binge read! 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Quotes that I liked:

🤫 "Yay, whoopie, hoorah," Soren cheered in a monotone voice in the corner. "Can I go back to my studies now that we've made it abysmally clear that I am still single?"

🤫 I blinked shyly at our hands. "I-I'm sorry.
I shouldn't have done that." “You're right..." Alaric shifted closer, lifting my chin with one of his hands and then cupping it around the side of my head. "I should have."

🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫

[Lydia Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent Once Upon a Rhyme book finished!
I'm officially caught up on this series until the release of Twinkle Twinkle Little Scars, and I can't wait for the next one. I do regret reading these out of order, haha! While the books in the series work well as stand-alone stories, a lot things from the next two books make a lot more sense after finishing this book.
The plot pacing was excellent, and my need to know Sasha's secret kept me turning the pages! I loved Alaric's protective nature and how he could read Sasha so well. I loved how his gentleness contrasted with her parents' harshness, and I loved his attention to little details.
I had certain suspicions about Sasha's secret/predicament that proved true, but I did not see one major plot twist coming despite having already read the next books in the series (admittedly, that was almost a year ago. If I had just finished those books, I would have spoiled a lot of this one for myself). Overall, this book was a highly enjoyable read!

[Bethany Aich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not surprised that this is just another winner in a long line of great books from Abigail Manning. I especially seem to love this series of hers; the Once Upon a Rhyme books feel so unique.

The main (and some side characters….looking at you Prince Soren) in this were simply lovely. And the twist definitely took me by surprise. I’d think I knew where it was going, turn the corner, and find out I hadn’t a clue. Marvelously done.

This is clean romantically (maybe two kisses). The swoon factor was so sweet and fun, not smarmy or heated at all. Violence-wise, there are some near death occurrences and parental emotional abuse. The violence was not an issue for me. I’d say this could be safely read at age 13 and up.

The copy I read was an Advanced Reader Copy but the thoughts and opinions on this review are my own. And I will likely be rereading this at some point, even if it’s just some certain favourite scenes. ; )

[Cass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ominous Tone and Mystery

I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. From the beginning there's an ominous tone and mystery. That atmosphere is carried through most of the book.

The plot could have been annoying (silent girl knows a secret that is hurting people but is too afraid to tell the guy trying to keep people safe), but the author manages to (mostly) balance Sasha's fears with her level of preceived risk.

I think the romance would have benefited from showing Alaric's pov. His level of interest/investment early on seemed like a stretch to me based on the explanation given. (A kid telling his sister to listen to parents is not responsible or uncaring if the other kid sneaks out. Where were the palace guards or servants or parents of the princess? I get him feeling bad, but to hear the brother state it and have it keep repeating was annoying - betting she gets a book.)

[Alibi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was instantly gripped by this story, and impatient to discover what was really going on and for the secrets to be revealed- I got to say though, I was surprised by part of the twists and I love when a story throws me for a loop like that. Price Alaric was, as gliche as it sounds, a prince charming. So sweet and dedicated to Sasha and her safety without being overbearing. Sigh, could I please get a Prince like that? Sasha, what that poor girl went through had me simultaneously sad and angered (see trigger warnings-but as they say it doesn't go into details but you can easily fill in the blanks...) - but she persevered and was so strong in character despite it all. I was anxious at the end, scared for what might happen, but of course there was a great happily ever after fairytale ending so to speak, and I am more than ready for the next book! Narration was terrific, bringing the story from the pages.

[Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's so cute! Each of the once upon a rhyme books has its own distinct flavor, and this one follows that trend. The mystery of why Sasha is being attacked did not turn out the way I thought, and the way her story followed the nursery rhyme was so clever! Plus, there's a handsome prince who's so sweet and observant!

Abigail Manning tells a beautiful story that's clever in a completely different way than any of her other books. The trauma, emotions, and romance set the story apart and make the characters feel real and distinct. The world building is consistent, and I was impressed with how the book turned out. After reading, I have no criticisms for how it could have been better written because I'm not exaggerating when I say it's that good. I'm really excited to see how she'll continue the series :D

[Tammy Villiers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great retelling or perhaps interpretation of another lullaby turned into fantasy by Abigail. Truly, her unique writing is always a joy to read.

I loved this tale about Lady Sasha, abused and kept controlled by her harsh and cruel parents. She was threatened and gaslighted almost all her life, and she was so strong. Her stubborn and strong yet fragile eyes caught the turmoil of Crown prince Alaric and his need to protect anyone he cares about after losing his sister. He was such a sweet and kind knight in armour for Sasha and exactly who she needed. They were perfect for each other.

Alaric’s family is also kind, his parents and his brother Soren. The next story will be a novella featuring their lost sister, Marilyn and (perhaps) Gideon as the other significant. And I can’t wait for that. Hopefully Soren will also get his story.

[Katelin Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since I found @abigailmanningauthor books by being on the Autumn Fairy Tales series arc team, I have been dying to read her Once Upon A Rhyme series. I thought it was such a unique take in the fantasy realm to write a story based around a nursery rhyme. I wish I could’ve read them in order, and one day I’ll read them all, but this is book three and can be read as a stand-alone. I was intrigued at the beginning, reading about Sasha and a secret she has to keep and meeting Prince Alaric. I loved Alaric’s protectiveness over Sasha and finding out about magic stones and hooded figures, and finally finding out the secret she’s been hiding. It was a great read and I can’t wait to read more in the series to follow other characters story lines! Thank you Abigail for an arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Mary Mecham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please excuse me while I go and scream about the twists and turns in this book. Oh. My. Goodness.

Yet another brilliant book by Abigail Manning! I was about to be driven absolutely mad from not knowing the secret until it was revealed, and when it was... oh my heart. Trying to keep it spoiler-free...I need to see the attacker again in another book.

I was fascinated by the psychological warfare in this book! A great read for anyone who loves a good gaslighting villain and secrets and intrigue.

I adored Soren and Alaric. They are so sweet and I can't wait for Soren's story, whenever that comes. Home run of a book that will leave me gushing for ages! I'm already dying for the next installment of Once Upon a Rhyme!

[Julianna Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyed this book very much.

Sasha and her parents are keeping a secret and they want her married off so it won't be their problem anymore. they throw her a ball in hopes of marrying her off, at the ball she meets prince alaric and her parents want her to impress him so maybe he will want to court her then get married. while dancing with prince alaric there's an explosion in the fireplace once everything settles down they figure out someone put unrefined magic stones in the fireplace. Someone is trying to kill Sasha and her family but  everyone who knows their secret was taken care of or were  they. more and more bad things keep happening to sasha and her family so the prince wants to keep her safe so he invites her to parties and events at his home in hopes of keeping her safe. her parents believe that sasha has told someone and that's why they are being attacked, they want her married off to the prince so they keep pushing her to win him over. Sasha and the prince spend a lot of time together and she's starting to fall for him and she hopes he feels the same way. all the while the attacks keep happening even with the prince around he is determined to figure out who is trying to kill sasha. read the book to find out what happens to sasha and prince alaric do they solve the mystery of whos trying to kill her before it's too late

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third times the charm as I got fully invested in the story and this one was a real treat! I would like to take a guess and say that perhaps Hush A Bye Lady could be a retelling of the nursery rhyme of either 'Hush Little Baby' or 'Rock A Bye Baby', either way I really liked the story premises where it not only continues where Itzy Bitzy Liar left off for Sasha, we also get to see some strong character development from her being scared of saying anything to speaking out without fear of anything. I really liked her love interest and how good of a match he is with her. The mystery of why she couldn't tell her secret was pretty intense and I braced for the answer on why she had to keep it a secret. I am just glad that the prince and his family were so forgiving to her and on her side.

[Hollyanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hush a Bye Lade is the 3rd book in the Once Upon a Rhyme series. I have liked every book in this series so far, and this one was also good.
This book is about Sasha and prince Alaric and is told from Sasha's points of view.

Sasha is 19, and her parents want her to be married. When Prince Alaric takes an interest in her they want her to be the perfect person so he will wed her.

However, as Prince Alaric and Sasha spend time together, Alaric finds out Sasha has secrets. He wants to protect her, but Sasha is also trying to find answers to who is after her. Will Sasha finally be able to speak her mind and get her happy ending with Prince Alaric?

I liked this listen, and am excited to continue on in this series.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"For someone who's always so quiet, your silence is always so loud." This quote from the book felt very fitting.

Abiagil did a great job writing this story for the hush a by baby rhyme! It was so interesting and had all the mystery surrounding Sasha's (the main character) childhood secret. As danger strikes close to her and threats emerge, the protective Prince Alaric quickly becomes a favorite character. The story keeps the reader curious and needing to know more. Recommend reading it!!!

This book is a clean read but does have abusive parents that could be hard to read about for some.