Love Songs and Ferry Tales

Greensea Island Adventure #1

by Julie Farley

Romance is what Ferry Tales are made of...

Jac
It's been a not-so-great year. Divorce. Check. Living on Pennies. Check. All I need is a quiet summer back at my childhood home on Greensea Island--sitting on the deck with a glass of rosé, savoring one of Dad's legendary charcuterie boards, and catching up on all the Sherman Family news. But instead, I find myself in an unexpected conversation with a random British guy in my parents' kitchen who just casually mentioned he's rented their house for the summer. My carefully laid out plan has just hit a turbulent wave.

Johnny
She honestly doesn't know who I am. I can see it in her gigantic green eyes. I didn't get the oh-my-gosh-you're Johnny-Nickel eyes or the swoon here-are-my-underpants look. She's standing at the end of the kitchen counter, brown hair in one of those cattywampus buns, in an oversized white tee hanging off one shoulder and ripped jeans. Looking hella sexy even if she tried to stab me with a house key when I walked in. I just wonder how long I can keep my true identity hidden from her....

And now they're stuck together...for better or worse!

Love Songs and Ferry Tales is a hidden identity, forced proximity, closed door rom-com with a quirky small town and an anonymous gossip reporter. You won't want to miss it!

Genres: Romance, Ebooks, Contemporary, Forced Proximity

244 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2023

About the author

Julie Farley loves writing books filled with big families, lots of heart, and plenty of laughs. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and four amazing kids. Julie has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a graduate degree from DePaul University. When she’s not busy with her family or writing books, you’ll find her watching reality TV…of any sort!

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored this! Cute storyline and lovely characters (except Paul).

[Cherie Goyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story. Super short compared to what I am used to, so I read it quickly. I loved the cute little things. Overall a great read! Perfect for summer in the PNW.

[inkspillreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

About 30 pages into this book, I hopped on Amazon to order the second book in the series. Not only did I literally LOL and smile so much while reading, I can’t wait to see where the other Sherman siblings lives take them. The perfect summer read and small town island living. I also love following Julie on Instagram, she shares the most wonderful photos to help paint Greensea in your head!
Highly Recommend!

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Likeable characters and a pretty decent story. I kind of wanted a bit more epilogue to explain what’s going to happen with her job afterwards. I am pretty sure her being quasi famous will have a negative impact on her ability to teach kids in grade 1!

ETA: I didn’t like the bonus scene. Too much zany hijinks and second hand embarrassment for me! I really don’t like that he had a public proposal planned. Ugh! I hate those.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lowkey ate

[Jill Hubbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked it because it was a local author and ended up loving the short cute book. Characters so likable that I am going to get the rest in the series.

[Taylor Suhr (Fontes) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ Cute slow burn on a small island! Nosy neighbours, protective brothers, cute MMC. There were places I wished we knew more about some of the plot, but overall cute read, will be reading the rest of the series!

[Heather Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute story about a cute island! I've only visited the PNW, not lived there, but I can *definitely* see how this book would really speak to someone who grew up on a type of Greensea island. It was quirky (in a good way) and the characters around town were people I could picture meeting on an island.

The story was sweet, no ridiculous steamy scenes, this was a pretty PG romance (no complaints). I liked the FMC and her overprotective brothers, who made for some funny goings on. Not to mention the Greensea Gazette, a gossip column outing the personal lives of pretty much everyone on the island (ha!) which was pretty hilarious.

A nice light read, recommended for fans of the PNW, tight families, mistaken identity, a romantic comedies.

[Linda Dominick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book, the small island living where everyone knows your business and even if they don’t the Gazette will happily report everything to everyone. I also really like that Jac is working to turn her situation around and that just like in real life, all plans do not go as intended. I believe Jac and John were meant to meet. She showed him it was okay to be himself around her. He showed her she is enough just as she is schoolteacher and sticky glue fingers. Of course, love is not all smooth ferry rides, but that’s okay if you have each other.
Takeaway: Life has a funny way of bringing you to your destiny. Enjoy your life!!

[Patricia A · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming romance between a world class rock star and a simple girl trying for a second start .

A famous rock star seeking stress relief on an isolated island off the U.S coast meets an All American girl next door looking for a second start in life. Ms Farley relates her tale of a society which regards its eccentrics with a light, amusing voice and fond tolerance. On the way to their HEA she pokes fun at reality TV, homegrown holiday celebrations, and vacilating public opinion. A delightfu,l and quick, read.

[Darcy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I'm just getting to old to appreciate drama from 25 year olds who don't have a fully frontal lobe developed.
It was a cute and rather sweet book, closed door/fade to black for those sorts of 'activities' - which is fine - I just like giving people a heads up. The ending seemed rushed and overall..the story not much meat to it's development. The town of Greensea *was* charming, that I will concede and I wouldn't mind visiting such a place, if it were to exist in real life.

[Teddy G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the characters and especially the island.
Jac and Johnny seemed great together and I wish there had been more moments between them.
Pacing was off.
The beginning was really good and I felt like things were developing but the end was very rushed.
It literally felt like the author was running through the end…we’re going here, now we’re going here but even with the bonus scene it didn’t feel like an ending.

[Kelli Reinhardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great little closed door, forced proximity, summer romance set on a fictional island in the PNW. As a local, I loved how Seattle/ferry/island culture shone through, and the inside jokes made me smile. There were a few loose ends I wish had been tied up by the end, but I suppose that left me looking forward to the rest of the series!

[Amber Peters · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book so badly!

The idea brought me back to living on my own favorite island, but this book has so many little cringy moments between the love interests; twice in the book the couples brushed toes and that is two times to many for me.

[Samantha Glass · Rating 4 out of 5]

New to me author, and a great start to a super cute new series. Love the PNW setting and all the island touches that come with it. Extra supportive family (both blood and town). Can’t wait to read the next one.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute escapist read! I think Abby Jimenez fans would like the story. Writing lacks the depth of Jimenez, but enjoyable and perfect for those of us living in the same region as the setting of the book.

[Lauren Valcourt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this cute and easy read with an almost believable plot. I think it helped that I was imagining Johnny Nickel as Harry Styles (a weird crush of mine). The ending reminded me of Adam Sandler in the Wedding Singer but I’m super happy I read this book!

[Julie Slaikjer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this cozy story. As a frequent visitor to Bainbridge Island and Poulsbo, Washington, so many little details were familiar. I loved Jac and her story with Johnny. I can totally see why he wanted to get to know her without her knowing he was famous.
Such a nice read for a summer vacation.

[Caitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute and fun read! I loved the niche perspective of living on an island in the PNW. As someone who has lived on a small island, I totally related to so many of the small details that I feel like you only catch if you have lived on an island before. Charming, silly, and cute.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

really beautiful

Yes it had all the woes and honesty of heartbreak and chaos, but there were nuggets of inspiration that only two people can create in happiness without money or fame. I’ll be pressed to read the rest now, I’m sure they are just as enjoyable.

[Wendy Droke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute play on hidden identity and small town life. I loved the dual points of view interspersed with snippets from the town gossip column. Well done.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was cute. I love books that take place up here in Washington so although I'm not much for romance books I gave this one a try. I'm glad that I did!

[Ali Pfautz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, sweet romance read. I enjoyed the PNW descriptions, and the peek into island life.

[Heather]

Not bad. Not a believable plot, but it kept me entertained nonetheless.

[Alyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ Sweet romcom

[JTR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Local author gem. Like your favorite romcom TV show all wrapped up in a package of Pacific Northwest island life quirks.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book while at a small bookstore in Poulsbo, WA (and yes I took the ferry to get there). I was hooked within the first chapter. It's such a sweet rom-com that had me rooting for the two main characters. Looking forward to picking up the next in the series the next time I'm in Poulsbo!

[IH :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet story based in the PNW. Can't wait to read the rest of the series!