What do you think?
Rate this book
Starlight Cove #1
Defiant Heart
I’ve slapped my cuffs on Luna Lancaster too many times to count and not a single one was for fun.
As the sheriff of Starlight Cove, I shouldn't crave her, but I do. She’s chaos, mayhem, and sunshine wrapped up in too-tight yoga pants. The lawbreaker might have the town enamored with her free spirit, but she’s a thorn in my side, even if she is the sexiest woman I've ever seen.
I want her out of my town and out of my head.
Trouble is, she's made it perfectly clear she's not going anywhere. And her spree of minor infractions—who runs a yoga class without a license?—is hitting dangerously close to home. Her latest protest has her chained to a tree on the boundary of my family’s resort. The last thing we need is bad press ruining the short tourism season when the resort is already one bad month away from bankruptcy.
I'll do whatever it takes to save Starlight Cove. Even if that means handcuffing Luna to my bed.
As the sheriff of Starlight Cove, I shouldn't crave her, but I do. She’s chaos, mayhem, and sunshine wrapped up in too-tight yoga pants. The lawbreaker might have the town enamored with her free spirit, but she’s a thorn in my side, even if she is the sexiest woman I've ever seen.
I want her out of my town and out of my head.
Trouble is, she's made it perfectly clear she's not going anywhere. And her spree of minor infractions—who runs a yoga class without a license?—is hitting dangerously close to home. Her latest protest has her chained to a tree on the boundary of my family’s resort. The last thing we need is bad press ruining the short tourism season when the resort is already one bad month away from bankruptcy.
I'll do whatever it takes to save Starlight Cove. Even if that means handcuffing Luna to my bed.
314 pages, Paperback
First published June 14, 2022
2,351 people are currently reading
19k people want to read
About the author
Brighton Walsh
47 books1,816 followersAward-winning USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Brighton Walsh spent nearly a decade as a professional photographer before taking her storytelling in a different direction and reconnecting with her first love: writing. When she’s not lost in her own made up worlds, she’s probably either reading or shopping—maybe even both at once. She lives in the Midwest with her real life hero of a husband, her two kids—both taller than her—and her dog who thinks she’s a queen. Her boy-filled house is the setting for dirty socks galore, frequent dance parties (okay, so it's mostly her, by herself, while her children look on in horror), and more laughter than she thought possible. Visit her online at brightonwalsh.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 598 reviews
July 17, 2022
A quick, okay read. It did feel a little too hallmark-y for me though (with the sex of course). Low angst and drama, but also little development. They pretty much just had sex the entire book with what felt like hardly any conversations except for maybe like 1 deep one. The rest was sex or talking about their resort. I did like the premise (strict cop/independent hippie) but it just lacked excitement for me. I am interested in a couple of the side characters though so I might try to read their books.
Safety: safe
No ow/om drama
No cheating/sharing
No talk of past relationships
No virgins/manhoe
Safety: safe
No ow/om drama
No cheating/sharing
No talk of past relationships
No virgins/manhoe
January 22, 2024
3.5 stars
An entertaining contemporary romance with a more relaxed, hippie-ish, and environmentally conscious h and a small town sheriff H who’s rule-following, somewhat grumpy, and dedicated to family. The tropes of dislike to love and opposites attract each added tension. The mains are at cross purposes initially with the h in town to stop a developer and the H wanting her not to draw negative attention, as it would reflect badly on the town and thus his family’s resort. Written in first person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and neither are virgins (I consider the H to have been celibate since it’s mentioned he didn’t have time for any level of relationship and that it had been a while).
I did feel that the relationship was more lust-based and needed to find more balance with emotional intimacy. They were just so horny for each other, which ok cool, but even sweeter moments sometimes devolved into whether she was wearing panties for example lol. The steam was HOT though, this author always writes some top notch spice. Some funny banter, some cuteness (goat yoga! a festival!), a bit of vulnerability sharing regarding their upbringings. I liked them together, I just needed more to fully feel their love story.
This small town is so fun with a couple of characters, like a nosy, Facebook Live obsessed elderly lady, and the H’s family, who each have/will have their own romances. The h’s family were on page less but also had some interesting scenes.
Some repetition of thoughts (including about their horniness for each other) bugged me slightly. There’s also a not-quite third act breakup where the H jumps to conclusions and hurts the h. He does give a nice make-up speech, though the moment was somewhat marred by how his family weren’t disagreeing with him. HFN ending but they show up in later books in the series and are adorable together. Of the three books I’ve now read in this series, book 2 is by far my personal favorite and the final chapter in this one is a lead in to that book. I’ve forgotten what I said for book 4’s review now but I think I had some of the same thoughts.
An entertaining contemporary romance with a more relaxed, hippie-ish, and environmentally conscious h and a small town sheriff H who’s rule-following, somewhat grumpy, and dedicated to family. The tropes of dislike to love and opposites attract each added tension. The mains are at cross purposes initially with the h in town to stop a developer and the H wanting her not to draw negative attention, as it would reflect badly on the town and thus his family’s resort. Written in first person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and neither are virgins (I consider the H to have been celibate since it’s mentioned he didn’t have time for any level of relationship and that it had been a while).
I did feel that the relationship was more lust-based and needed to find more balance with emotional intimacy. They were just so horny for each other, which ok cool, but even sweeter moments sometimes devolved into whether she was wearing panties for example lol. The steam was HOT though, this author always writes some top notch spice. Some funny banter, some cuteness (goat yoga! a festival!), a bit of vulnerability sharing regarding their upbringings. I liked them together, I just needed more to fully feel their love story.
This small town is so fun with a couple of characters, like a nosy, Facebook Live obsessed elderly lady, and the H’s family, who each have/will have their own romances. The h’s family were on page less but also had some interesting scenes.
Some repetition of thoughts (including about their horniness for each other) bugged me slightly. There’s also a not-quite third act breakup where the H jumps to conclusions and hurts the h. He does give a nice make-up speech, though the moment was somewhat marred by how his family weren’t disagreeing with him. HFN ending but they show up in later books in the series and are adorable together. Of the three books I’ve now read in this series, book 2 is by far my personal favorite and the final chapter in this one is a lead in to that book. I’ve forgotten what I said for book 4’s review now but I think I had some of the same thoughts.
July 27, 2023
Grumpy/Sunshine
Small Town
Opposites Attract
Es la primera vez que leo a esta a autora y me llevé una grata sorpresa, es un poco el estilo de Melanie Harlow, una historia ligera y sin tanto drama.
Brady es el sheriff de un pueblo costero y su familia es dueña de un complejo turístico que está en crisis y depende de un reportaje para una prestigiosa revista pero se ve amenazado por Luna una mujer activista que está luchando para que no deforesten un área para hacer un centro comercial y según ello eso es mala prensa.
Ella ha hecho de todo hasta encadenarse a un árbol y ha sido arrestada por Brady varias veces y es su dolor de cabeza.
Ellos hacen un trato para que ella no estropeé la entrevista decide no protestar mientras están en el proceso de selección a cambio de que la dejen hacer Yoga en el complejo y que Brady asista a dos de sus clases.
Ellos son totalmente opuestos ella es un alma libre que no tiene nada planeado sino lo que le dicte su corazón en el momento y Brady siempre tiene que tener todo planeado pero sobre todo le encanta el control, ella lleva las emociones en la superficie mientras él las encierra.
Si creo que le faltó un poco más desarrollo a la relación, pero fue una lectura entretendia que me sacó de un bloqueo.
Los siguiente libros son Friends to lovers y Matrimonio por Conveniencia.
Small Town
Opposites Attract
Es la primera vez que leo a esta a autora y me llevé una grata sorpresa, es un poco el estilo de Melanie Harlow, una historia ligera y sin tanto drama.
Brady es el sheriff de un pueblo costero y su familia es dueña de un complejo turístico que está en crisis y depende de un reportaje para una prestigiosa revista pero se ve amenazado por Luna una mujer activista que está luchando para que no deforesten un área para hacer un centro comercial y según ello eso es mala prensa.
Ella ha hecho de todo hasta encadenarse a un árbol y ha sido arrestada por Brady varias veces y es su dolor de cabeza.
Ellos hacen un trato para que ella no estropeé la entrevista decide no protestar mientras están en el proceso de selección a cambio de que la dejen hacer Yoga en el complejo y que Brady asista a dos de sus clases.
Ellos son totalmente opuestos ella es un alma libre que no tiene nada planeado sino lo que le dicte su corazón en el momento y Brady siempre tiene que tener todo planeado pero sobre todo le encanta el control, ella lleva las emociones en la superficie mientras él las encierra.
Si creo que le faltó un poco más desarrollo a la relación, pero fue una lectura entretendia que me sacó de un bloqueo.
Los siguiente libros son Friends to lovers y Matrimonio por Conveniencia.
February 15, 2025
This had potential, but something was off.
THE AUDIO WAS A DUET AND WAS GOOD (just had to highlight that fact)
The smut was both good and bad.
The MMC was protective but also had one-off lines that made me dislike him.
The FMC was opinionated, which is okay, but not when she had zero information about the situation she was talking about.
This was also a two-week story or something.
How?
And the 3rd act conflict was silly.
"Like a 5’4” pain in my ass who just wouldn’t leave.
Or do what she was told.
Or follow the laws so I could stop arresting her."
I mean, I was all in after reading that, sadly it didn't quite hit the mark.
THE AUDIO WAS A DUET AND WAS GOOD (just had to highlight that fact)
The smut was both good and bad.
The MMC was protective but also had one-off lines that made me dislike him.
The FMC was opinionated, which is okay, but not when she had zero information about the situation she was talking about.
This was also a two-week story or something.
How?
And the 3rd act conflict was silly.
"Like a 5’4” pain in my ass who just wouldn’t leave.
Or do what she was told.
Or follow the laws so I could stop arresting her."
I mean, I was all in after reading that, sadly it didn't quite hit the mark.
June 6, 2022
I’m always here for something that Brighton writes, but after seeing grumpy Brady in the crossover novella, I was extra excited.
I loved Luna and Brady. She’s passionate and loyal. Brady is stoic and by-the-book. He is all crunchy exterior against her whimsy and I was here for all of it. They have instant banter and that antagonizing quickly turns to chemistry to more. Oh, and Brady’s siblings are fantastic, I hope everyone gets a book.
Plot wise, it was good. There are a few moving pieces and it all worked well. I especially loved the meddling Mabel and her social media hijinks. The only thing I wanted more of was a futuretake, but I’m being greedy and I hope I’ll see more of them in the next book (which was set up gloriously.)
Overall, this was a fun start to a new series and I’ll just be over here waiting for the next story.
**Huge thanks to Brighton for providing the arc free of charge**
I loved Luna and Brady. She’s passionate and loyal. Brady is stoic and by-the-book. He is all crunchy exterior against her whimsy and I was here for all of it. They have instant banter and that antagonizing quickly turns to chemistry to more. Oh, and Brady’s siblings are fantastic, I hope everyone gets a book.
Plot wise, it was good. There are a few moving pieces and it all worked well. I especially loved the meddling Mabel and her social media hijinks. The only thing I wanted more of was a futuretake, but I’m being greedy and I hope I’ll see more of them in the next book (which was set up gloriously.)
Overall, this was a fun start to a new series and I’ll just be over here waiting for the next story.
**Huge thanks to Brighton for providing the arc free of charge**
June 30, 2023
2⭑
Insta love, a two week long relationship and a very stupid third act break up. What a waste of my time
Insta love, a two week long relationship and a very stupid third act break up. What a waste of my time
May 7, 2024
Such a fun intro to this series and the plot was so interesting 🤌🏻👏🏻 and carefree heroine who keeps having run ins with the grumpy sheriff 🤭
VERY interested in the next one 👀
VERY interested in the next one 👀
December 7, 2022
DNF 42%— I don't care about any of what is happening. Sorry, book, it's probably me.
Shelved as 'dnf'
September 30, 2023dnf @ 38%
This was like, fine, I guess, I just didn't really care? And when I'm 38% into a romance novel, I should care about what's happening.
The beginning was a little unrealistic (like her requesting a kiss as part of the deal? please) and perhaps would have been better if we knew anything about the characters beyond she liked to protest things (unclear why) and he was the sheriff and didn't work at his family property/hotel but it meant the world to him (unclear why he didn't work there or exactly why it was so important, assume it's something to do with his Mum who he mentioned a few times and appears to be dead?). It kind of felt like I was reading the second or third book in the series because it seemed it wanted me to fill in the gaps with info it had not provided me, but I didn't have enough context to do so. And because of that, I didn't care about either character or the plot that was evolving, despite being almost halfway through the book. On top of that, the characters didn't really have any chemistry and I didn't see any emotional connection, there were a few physical moments done well (like when he just got up and kissed her when they made the deal), but I couldn't really see why they should be together and again, just didn't care if they were or not. And for me, not caring about the characters is basically the worst response I can have to a romance novel - I want to feel something, you know?
This is my second Brighton Walsh and my second dnf and I think that might be it for me - I always find the premise interesting but the execution just doesn't really hit for me, I find the writing style a bit boring.
This was like, fine, I guess, I just didn't really care? And when I'm 38% into a romance novel, I should care about what's happening.
The beginning was a little unrealistic (like her requesting a kiss as part of the deal? please) and perhaps would have been better if we knew anything about the characters beyond she liked to protest things (unclear why) and he was the sheriff and didn't work at his family property/hotel but it meant the world to him (unclear why he didn't work there or exactly why it was so important, assume it's something to do with his Mum who he mentioned a few times and appears to be dead?). It kind of felt like I was reading the second or third book in the series because it seemed it wanted me to fill in the gaps with info it had not provided me, but I didn't have enough context to do so. And because of that, I didn't care about either character or the plot that was evolving, despite being almost halfway through the book. On top of that, the characters didn't really have any chemistry and I didn't see any emotional connection, there were a few physical moments done well (like when he just got up and kissed her when they made the deal), but I couldn't really see why they should be together and again, just didn't care if they were or not. And for me, not caring about the characters is basically the worst response I can have to a romance novel - I want to feel something, you know?
This is my second Brighton Walsh and my second dnf and I think that might be it for me - I always find the premise interesting but the execution just doesn't really hit for me, I find the writing style a bit boring.
May 4, 2024
Do I like this book? Yes
Do I love it? No
Will I reread it? Probably not
Do I love it? No
Will I reread it? Probably not
February 6, 2024
I had to dnf this book. It’s a kindle unlimited read and I wanted to check it out. I was confused since the first page, from the beginning the story wasn’t sticking to my mind and as I kept reading I was left with saying what’s going on.
Normally when I read books I will get this picture and or movie scene in my head as I read long picturing what the characters look like and their setting. I didn’t get that at all because I was trying to understand the book/ grasp the concept of what was happening within the 5 chapters. Didn’t feel like there was plot or anything was going to build up at all.
The book just fell flat to me. Which is sad because I like a good enemies to lovers romance, but this is not that at all
Normally when I read books I will get this picture and or movie scene in my head as I read long picturing what the characters look like and their setting. I didn’t get that at all because I was trying to understand the book/ grasp the concept of what was happening within the 5 chapters. Didn’t feel like there was plot or anything was going to build up at all.
The book just fell flat to me. Which is sad because I like a good enemies to lovers romance, but this is not that at all
June 14, 2022
Well, Sheriff Brady McKenzie, you could arrest me and handcuff me to your bed anytime as long as that filthy mouth of yours is going.
Brady and Luna scorched the pages of this with their banter and hot love scenes. Watching the push and pull between them ease into love was wonderful. The secondary characters were also fascinating. Brady's family will be awesome to read about, and I hope we see more of Mabel and her Facebook live videos :)
Brady and Luna scorched the pages of this with their banter and hot love scenes. Watching the push and pull between them ease into love was wonderful. The secondary characters were also fascinating. Brady's family will be awesome to read about, and I hope we see more of Mabel and her Facebook live videos :)
July 16, 2022
2.5
wouldve been a 3.5 if for not the fucking booktok reference that made me roll my eyes so far back that they got stuck
apart from that it was compelling and quick to read. nothing too boring and once i got it going i couldnt stop!
wouldve been a 3.5 if for not the fucking booktok reference that made me roll my eyes so far back that they got stuck
apart from that it was compelling and quick to read. nothing too boring and once i got it going i couldnt stop!
November 5, 2024
Enemies to lovers banter 🔥
My favorite
Luna: the free spirit
Brady: the grumpy cop (another of my favorites)
He arrests her.
A small coastal town crumbling family resort setting.
I think I’ll continue this series.
My favorite
Luna: the free spirit
Brady: the grumpy cop (another of my favorites)
He arrests her.
A small coastal town crumbling family resort setting.
I think I’ll continue this series.
June 7, 2022
Rated 4.5 Stars
Defiant Heart was an absolute joy to read. It was steamy. It was sexy. It was sweet and very much enjoyable. It was funny. I loved the banter between Brady and Luna. I loved the relationship dynamics between them and between Brady and his siblings. I loved the town too and I’m very much looking forward to visiting again. I cannot wait to devour the rest of the series. I think it’s a solid start to an awesome new series and I highly recommend it.
Copy provided by author
Defiant Heart was an absolute joy to read. It was steamy. It was sexy. It was sweet and very much enjoyable. It was funny. I loved the banter between Brady and Luna. I loved the relationship dynamics between them and between Brady and his siblings. I loved the town too and I’m very much looking forward to visiting again. I cannot wait to devour the rest of the series. I think it’s a solid start to an awesome new series and I highly recommend it.
Copy provided by author
August 9, 2022
the chemistry is pretty much non existent. there is no build up, no sexual tension (which is important for an enemies to lovers trope) that’s why it kinda felt flat to me. with the way it is always stated how “attracted” they are to each other, i think the author is convincing everyone (and herself) that the mcs would be a great couple but it just feels forced. they just decided that they’re attracted to each other and ran with it lol
June 16, 2024
Defiant Heart - Brighton Walsh
*BOOK REC*
“𝑴𝒔. 𝑳𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓. 𝑫𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒄𝒖𝒇𝒇𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒐𝒓 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆?”
GUYS...GUYS...Read this. Holy hot balls. I have been seeing this series around Instagram and decided to jump on the train and CHOO CHOO 🥵🥵 I am on this ride for the long whole. Not only was this fast paced, but the story was adorable, it's small town and the SPICE...my lord the spice. So many highlights to share 😆 AND this was technically insta-love and I still enjoyed it!! It didn't FEEL like it or even read like it which if you know me at all, is the only wait I'll read any kind of insta lol
“𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒖𝒔𝒔𝒚 𝒃𝒂𝒓𝒆, 𝒍𝒂𝒘𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒓?”
Brady is from the small town that Luna plops here sassy, free spirited butt in to protest the "Big" shops from coming into town to save the trees, animals etc. Brady being the Sheriff in town of course arrests her....several times. Circumstances force them to spend some...quality time 😏 together and well...you know how that usually goes. PLEASE read this you won't regret it.
"𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒅, 𝒔𝒐 𝒊𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒖𝒔𝒔𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒚 𝒃𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑵𝒐𝒘 𝒔𝒊𝒕 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒖𝒕 𝒖𝒑 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝑰 𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
🚓Small Town
🧘🏼Forced Proximity
🚓Goat Yoga
🧘🏼Grumpy Sunshine
*BOOK REC*
“𝑴𝒔. 𝑳𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓. 𝑫𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒄𝒖𝒇𝒇𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒐𝒓 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆?”
GUYS...GUYS...Read this. Holy hot balls. I have been seeing this series around Instagram and decided to jump on the train and CHOO CHOO 🥵🥵 I am on this ride for the long whole. Not only was this fast paced, but the story was adorable, it's small town and the SPICE...my lord the spice. So many highlights to share 😆 AND this was technically insta-love and I still enjoyed it!! It didn't FEEL like it or even read like it which if you know me at all, is the only wait I'll read any kind of insta lol
“𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒖𝒔𝒔𝒚 𝒃𝒂𝒓𝒆, 𝒍𝒂𝒘𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒓?”
Brady is from the small town that Luna plops here sassy, free spirited butt in to protest the "Big" shops from coming into town to save the trees, animals etc. Brady being the Sheriff in town of course arrests her....several times. Circumstances force them to spend some...quality time 😏 together and well...you know how that usually goes. PLEASE read this you won't regret it.
"𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒅, 𝒔𝒐 𝒊𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒖𝒔𝒔𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒚 𝒃𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑵𝒐𝒘 𝒔𝒊𝒕 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒖𝒕 𝒖𝒑 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝑰 𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
🚓Small Town
🧘🏼Forced Proximity
🚓Goat Yoga
🧘🏼Grumpy Sunshine
June 13, 2022
Special thanks to Brighton Walsh and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. 3.75 stars rounded up!
Ever since discovering Walsh's Havenbrook series earlier this year, I've become a big fan of her small-town romances. I love her main characters, small-town charm, quirky side characters and the steamy yet heartfelt and absolutely swoony romances! I thought Defiant Heart was a fun start to an exciting new series set in small-town Starlight Cove. 😍
I really enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers/grumpy-sunshine/opposites attract vibe between Brady and Luna and honestly, their chemistry was wildly explosive! I loved the charm of the small-town sheriff falling for the yogi activist rulebreaker who he couldn't stop arresting. 😂 There were moments that I questioned how they'd actually be together considering how opposite they were but I thought Walsh handled the resolution of this conflict well. Brady is the Very Serious™️ small-town sheriff who has always prioritised his family and the residents of his beloved Starlight Cove. He has no time for relationships, hook-ups, or any kind of fun so when Luna steps into his town, he's thrown completely off-kilter by the feelings she stirs in him. He and his siblings have suffered a lot of loss in their lives and the lack of control he felt then stoked his need to feel in control now. Luna was very much the opposite of Brady in every respect and basically goes through life without a plan. She's spiritual and is the whole "yogi-vegetarian-save-the-planet" package who lives out of a camper van after selling her house on a whim. She had really great energy and it was fun to read from her perspective!
I loved the play on how opposite they were and it made for some pretty funny moments but it also allowed for the sexual tension to really grow and oof—the build-up of the tension was absolutely delicious! 🔥 Brady is one of the #HeroesWhoEat 👀 so if the gruff simp is something you enjoy reading in your romances, you'll definitely enjoy their steamy moments. Other than those two, I really enjoyed meeting his siblings and learning about their different roles in town—I can't wait to get their stories and I'm already super excited for Beck's friends-to-lovers romance next!
Although the book is just over 300 pages, I felt that it was a little too short and because of that, I felt like the character development we got was a little surface level and it felt like the change in their attitude toward each other was sudden. Their chemistry was undeniable but it would've been nice to see them spend more time and get to know each other better before the end came around.
Ever since discovering Walsh's Havenbrook series earlier this year, I've become a big fan of her small-town romances. I love her main characters, small-town charm, quirky side characters and the steamy yet heartfelt and absolutely swoony romances! I thought Defiant Heart was a fun start to an exciting new series set in small-town Starlight Cove. 😍
I really enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers/grumpy-sunshine/opposites attract vibe between Brady and Luna and honestly, their chemistry was wildly explosive! I loved the charm of the small-town sheriff falling for the yogi activist rulebreaker who he couldn't stop arresting. 😂 There were moments that I questioned how they'd actually be together considering how opposite they were but I thought Walsh handled the resolution of this conflict well. Brady is the Very Serious™️ small-town sheriff who has always prioritised his family and the residents of his beloved Starlight Cove. He has no time for relationships, hook-ups, or any kind of fun so when Luna steps into his town, he's thrown completely off-kilter by the feelings she stirs in him. He and his siblings have suffered a lot of loss in their lives and the lack of control he felt then stoked his need to feel in control now. Luna was very much the opposite of Brady in every respect and basically goes through life without a plan. She's spiritual and is the whole "yogi-vegetarian-save-the-planet" package who lives out of a camper van after selling her house on a whim. She had really great energy and it was fun to read from her perspective!
I loved the play on how opposite they were and it made for some pretty funny moments but it also allowed for the sexual tension to really grow and oof—the build-up of the tension was absolutely delicious! 🔥 Brady is one of the #HeroesWhoEat 👀 so if the gruff simp is something you enjoy reading in your romances, you'll definitely enjoy their steamy moments. Other than those two, I really enjoyed meeting his siblings and learning about their different roles in town—I can't wait to get their stories and I'm already super excited for Beck's friends-to-lovers romance next!
Although the book is just over 300 pages, I felt that it was a little too short and because of that, I felt like the character development we got was a little surface level and it felt like the change in their attitude toward each other was sudden. Their chemistry was undeniable but it would've been nice to see them spend more time and get to know each other better before the end came around.
July 11, 2023
honestly, a generous 3⭐️ are all my recent reads 3 stars or am I in a huge reading slump after finishing the ACOTAR series?!
April 5, 2023
🎧🎧AUDIO REVIEW🎧🎧
I first read this story when it released last summer (2022) and my notes were not *good* lol When I was done, I had more negative thoughts than positive, so I just chalked it up to me not being in the right headspace for it and moved on. #FunFact, if you notice I’ve shelved a book on Goodreads as an ARC or something along those lines and there’s no review, more than likely it just wasn’t for me, or I just couldn’t be constructive with my review at the time and then I forgot later LOL #IYKYK
Now it’s a year later and Brighton created an audiobook team, and this story was first up to bat. Well, I’ve had several experiences with books where the audio completely turned the story for me and vice versa ao being the audiobook junkie that I am, I jumped at the chance to listen. It should be noted that I also love Brighton so I’m always going to give anything she does a try. Always. Okay, not paranormal, but now I’m derailing.
Troy Duran and Vanessa Edwin did not ”save the day”, so to speak, with their narration, but I did feel less twitchy about a lot of the things that bothered me in my reading experience. Two things still held steadfast as twitchy and one more was actually added LOL (not funny but kinda *shrug*)
✔️ The sexual connection and chemistry were clear, but it wasn’t enough for me. I can’t really pinpoint this or that that caused me to feel this sense of blah about the two of them, but it was there and it was very prominent. So much so that it started to irk me! I felt like I was the one in a funk when it was them that was funky LOL Okay, that sentence might have derailed but I hope I’m explaining this somewhat well because it’s important to understand my overall experience with this story. Because of this feeling, I just couldn’t connect on an emotional level to their journey and it irked me to no end. I tried … *cries* but I really loved the story!! (that’s bananas, right? YES, it’s bananas, but it is what it is *shrug*)
✔️ I know this book has been live for almost a year now so I could technically get all detailed about this next point, but I don’t feel like ranting, but it’s important enough that a year later I feel the need to at least mention it. Brady’s past is an important factor in who he is today. I’m not inferring this from the reading, it’s actually told to us in various ways, etc etc. What is not done, is actually fleshing out his past, especially his relationship with his father, in a way that allows the reader to connect with the history. It’s like this big thing that’s just floating out there and nothing is really done about it. I don’t know if I’m alone in this but … why? Again, I’m not in the mood to rant so I’m just leaving it at that.
✔️ And now for the added twitch (lol) due to the narration … so, this is a duet narration (very different from dual) and duet narrations are hard. Actually, I shouldn’t say hard, because I’m not a narrator, so what do I know lol but I know as the listener, that it can go off the rails fast & easy. So, in duet narration, Troy will be the voice of not just Brady but also all male characters everywhere they appear in the book, regardless of who’s POV a chapter might be in. Same goes for the female narrator. Everyone with me? In my opinion, to pull this off, you have to be a very versatile narrator with a lot of experience. Before I say what comes next ‘d like to shout I LOVE TROY DURAN AND VANESSA EDWIN and I’ve listened to countless stories narrated by both. However, in this particular audiobook, Troy didn’t do a very good job with the distinction of the male characters and Vanessa made Addison and Luna sound very similar, in my opinion. Again, just an opinion. When this happens, though, it takes me out of the story itself and I have to pause and think who the heck is actually talking and then I get frowny *shrug*
So there you have it, my thoughts :) do with them what you will :)
Sidenote: Why is this series not called something along the lines of The McKenzie of Starlight Cove … things that make you go hmmmmm LOL
I first read this story when it released last summer (2022) and my notes were not *good* lol When I was done, I had more negative thoughts than positive, so I just chalked it up to me not being in the right headspace for it and moved on. #FunFact, if you notice I’ve shelved a book on Goodreads as an ARC or something along those lines and there’s no review, more than likely it just wasn’t for me, or I just couldn’t be constructive with my review at the time and then I forgot later LOL #IYKYK
Now it’s a year later and Brighton created an audiobook team, and this story was first up to bat. Well, I’ve had several experiences with books where the audio completely turned the story for me and vice versa ao being the audiobook junkie that I am, I jumped at the chance to listen. It should be noted that I also love Brighton so I’m always going to give anything she does a try. Always. Okay, not paranormal, but now I’m derailing.
Troy Duran and Vanessa Edwin did not ”save the day”, so to speak, with their narration, but I did feel less twitchy about a lot of the things that bothered me in my reading experience. Two things still held steadfast as twitchy and one more was actually added LOL (not funny but kinda *shrug*)
✔️ The sexual connection and chemistry were clear, but it wasn’t enough for me. I can’t really pinpoint this or that that caused me to feel this sense of blah about the two of them, but it was there and it was very prominent. So much so that it started to irk me! I felt like I was the one in a funk when it was them that was funky LOL Okay, that sentence might have derailed but I hope I’m explaining this somewhat well because it’s important to understand my overall experience with this story. Because of this feeling, I just couldn’t connect on an emotional level to their journey and it irked me to no end. I tried … *cries* but I really loved the story!! (that’s bananas, right? YES, it’s bananas, but it is what it is *shrug*)
✔️ I know this book has been live for almost a year now so I could technically get all detailed about this next point, but I don’t feel like ranting, but it’s important enough that a year later I feel the need to at least mention it. Brady’s past is an important factor in who he is today. I’m not inferring this from the reading, it’s actually told to us in various ways, etc etc. What is not done, is actually fleshing out his past, especially his relationship with his father, in a way that allows the reader to connect with the history. It’s like this big thing that’s just floating out there and nothing is really done about it. I don’t know if I’m alone in this but … why? Again, I’m not in the mood to rant so I’m just leaving it at that.
✔️ And now for the added twitch (lol) due to the narration … so, this is a duet narration (very different from dual) and duet narrations are hard. Actually, I shouldn’t say hard, because I’m not a narrator, so what do I know lol but I know as the listener, that it can go off the rails fast & easy. So, in duet narration, Troy will be the voice of not just Brady but also all male characters everywhere they appear in the book, regardless of who’s POV a chapter might be in. Same goes for the female narrator. Everyone with me? In my opinion, to pull this off, you have to be a very versatile narrator with a lot of experience. Before I say what comes next ‘d like to shout I LOVE TROY DURAN AND VANESSA EDWIN and I’ve listened to countless stories narrated by both. However, in this particular audiobook, Troy didn’t do a very good job with the distinction of the male characters and Vanessa made Addison and Luna sound very similar, in my opinion. Again, just an opinion. When this happens, though, it takes me out of the story itself and I have to pause and think who the heck is actually talking and then I get frowny *shrug*
So there you have it, my thoughts :) do with them what you will :)
Sidenote: Why is this series not called something along the lines of The McKenzie of Starlight Cove … things that make you go hmmmmm LOL
September 21, 2024
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review
Defiant Heart immediately grabbed my attention since I read the blurb, and having read Brighton Walsh before, my expectations for the story were huge, especially with the chemistry between its main characters, and I'm the happiest because Brady & Luna were much more than I expected in all aspects, but not only them, I also liked the rest of the McKenzie siblings a lot and I think Starlight Cove couldn't have started in a better way.
I always love female characters whose personalities are considered "too much", because they seem to me the most genuine, real and inspiring, and Luna was the perfect example, she is a kind woman, with a beautifull heart, a determined personality, strong and VERY brave, but what I LOVED most about her was her determination to follow her ideals, her loyalty to herself and her self-love, plus, she seemed like a super mature character, able to fix his disagreements with Brady by talking, without much drama and in a very funny way too. Luna is a rather peculiar and interesting character: she teaches yoga, gives massages, has a collection of crystals, loves essential oils, makes her own ointments and is willing to protest against what she considers wrong, something that drives Brady completely crazy and that makes him arrest her on more than one occasion.
Brady is the sheriff of Starlight Cove, the typical grumpy workaholic who has no personal life, loves his family unconditionally, tries to protect them, keep them safe and his biggest fear it's failing them and their mom's memory, something that made my heart a little tight, just like the rest of the McKenzies story, but it also helped me a lot to understand their attitude towards Luna at the beginning. I liked him much more than I expected, his personality stole my heart immediately and what I enjoyed the most about his character was his ability to recognize his mistakes on his own and to open his heart to Luna with the most complicated aspects of his life.
Luna & Brady are the definition of fire, since their first meeting the chemistry they share is totally evident and very strong, plus Brighton wrote the sexual tension between them perfectly and made Brady my favorite dirty talker. But these two are not only their sexual chemistry: both Brady and Luna get to know each other unintentionally, to trust and care about each other's desires and dreams, Luna reaffirms her value as a person, but also manages to find a someone who falls in love with her as she is, and Brady risks opening his heart again, seeing the world in a different way and breaking the rules a little, and although they are very different from each other their love story is perfect, very funny and made me fall in love with Stalaight Cove right away.
🎧Audiobook Review (September 20, 2024)
Thank you so much to Brighton Walsh and her team for providing me with this audiobook!
I read Defiant Heart when it was released two years ago and I remember loving Brady & Luna's story so much and these two like such a fun couple, I also have to say that there were plot details and certain scenes that I had forgotten about, and I LOVED rediscovering and falling in love again with the beginning of Starlight Cove with this audiobook.
For starters, I really like that the narration is a duet because it makes the book so much more dynamic, plus, Troy Duran & Vanessa Edwin are perfect as Brady & Luna and made me love this story so much more. I loved hearing how opposite their personalities are, Brady's struggle to maintain control, follow the rules, and resist Luna's chaotic charm. The sensitive plot moments also hit in a different way in the audiobook, they're even more heartbreaking & moving, and I think EVERYTHING about the audiobook just enhances what Defiant Heart is!
👮🏻♂️Brady: 5/5
🧘🏻♀️Luna: 5/5
👮🏻♂️Plot: 5/5
🧘🏻♀️Love story: 5/5
👮🏻♂️Secondary characters: 5/5
🧘🏻♀️Cover: 5/5
🌶️: 5/5
🇪🇸
ARC amablemente proporcionada a cambio de una reseña honesta
Defiant Heart se robó mi atención de inmediato desde que leí el blurb, y habiendo leído antes a Brighton Walsh mis expectativas con la historia eran enormes, especialmente con la química entre sus personajes principales, y soy la más feliz porque Brady & Luna fueron mucho más de lo que esperaba en todos los aspectos, pero no solo ellos, el resto de los hermanos McKenzie también me gustaron muchísimo y creo que Starlight Cove no pudo haber empezado de una mejor manera.
Yo siempre amo los personajes femeninos cuyas personalidades son consideradas "demasiado", porque me parecen los más genuinos, reales e inspiradores, y Luna fue el ejemplo perfecto, es una mujer amable, con un corazón hermoso, una personalidad decidida, fuerte y MUY valiente, pero lo que AMÉ más de ella fue su determinación a seguir sus ideales, su lealtad a ella misma y su amor propio, además de que me pareció un personaje súper maduro, capaz de arreglar sus desencuentros con Brady hablando, sin mucho drama y de una manera muy divertida también. Luna es un personaje bastante peculiar a interesante: enseña yoga, da masajes, tiene una colección de cristales, ama los aceites esenciales y hace sus propios ungüentos y esta dispuesta a protestar en contra de lo que considera incorrecto, algo que vuelve completamente loco a Brady y que hace que la arreste en más de una ocasión.
Brady es el sheriff de Starlight Cove, el típico gruñón adicto al trabajo que no tiene vida personal, ama incondicionalmente a su familia, intenta protegerlos, mantenerlos a salvo y su mayor miedo es fallarles a ellos y a la memoria de su mamá, algo que me encogió un poco el corazón, al igual que el resto de la historia de los hermanos McKenzie, pero que también me ayudó mucho a comprender su actitud hacia Luna al inicio. Él me gustó mucho más de lo que esperaba, su personalidad me robo el corazón de inmediato y lo que más disfruté de su personaje fue su capacidad de reconocer sus errores por si mismo y de abrirle su corazón a Luna con los aspectos más complicados de su vida.
Luna & Brady son la definición de fuego, desde su primer encuentro la química que comparten es totalmente evidente y muy fuerte, además de que Brighton escribió la tensión sexual entre ellos de manera perfecta e hizo a Brady mi dirty talker favorito. Pero estos dos no son solo su química sexual: tanto Brady como Luna llegan a conocerse sin quererlo, a confiar y preocuparse por los deseos y sueños del otro, además de que Luna reafirma su valor como persona, pero también logra encontrar a alguien que se enamora de ella tal cual es, y Brady se arriesga a abrir su corazón de nuevo, a ver el mundo de una manera diferente y a romper un poco las reglas, y aunque son muy diferentes del uno del otro su historia de amor es perfecta, muy divertida y me hizo enamorarme de inmediato de Stalaight Cove.
🎧Reseña del audiolibro (20 de septiembre de 2024)
Muchas gracias a Brighton Walsh y su equipo por proporcionarme este audiolibro!
Leí Defiant Heart cuando se publicó hace dos años y recuerdo que amé muchísimo la historia de Brady & Luna y que estos dos son una pareja muy divertida, también tengo que decir que había detalles de la trama y ciertas escenas que había olvidado y que AMÉ redescubrir y volver a enamorarme del inicio de Starlight Cove con esta audiolibro.
Para empezar, me gusta muchísimo que la narración sea en dueto porque eso hace el libro mucho más dinámico, además, Troy Duran & Vanessa Edwin con los perfectos Brady & Luna y me hicieron amar mucho más esta historie, me gustó escuchar lo opuestas que son sus personalidades, la lucha de Brady para mantener el control, seguir las reglas y resistirse al caótico encanto de Luna. Los momentos sensibles de la trama también golpean de una forma diferente en el audiolibro, son aún más desgarradores & conmovedores, y creo que TODO acerca del audiolibro potencia mucho más lo que es Defiant Heart!
👮🏻♂️Brady: 5/5
🧘🏻♀️Luna: 5/5
👮🏻♂️Trama: 5/5
🧘🏻♀️Historia de amor: 5/5
👮🏻♂️Personajes secundarios: 5/5
🧘🏻♀️Portada: 5/5
🌶️: 5/5
Defiant Heart immediately grabbed my attention since I read the blurb, and having read Brighton Walsh before, my expectations for the story were huge, especially with the chemistry between its main characters, and I'm the happiest because Brady & Luna were much more than I expected in all aspects, but not only them, I also liked the rest of the McKenzie siblings a lot and I think Starlight Cove couldn't have started in a better way.
I always love female characters whose personalities are considered "too much", because they seem to me the most genuine, real and inspiring, and Luna was the perfect example, she is a kind woman, with a beautifull heart, a determined personality, strong and VERY brave, but what I LOVED most about her was her determination to follow her ideals, her loyalty to herself and her self-love, plus, she seemed like a super mature character, able to fix his disagreements with Brady by talking, without much drama and in a very funny way too. Luna is a rather peculiar and interesting character: she teaches yoga, gives massages, has a collection of crystals, loves essential oils, makes her own ointments and is willing to protest against what she considers wrong, something that drives Brady completely crazy and that makes him arrest her on more than one occasion.
Brady is the sheriff of Starlight Cove, the typical grumpy workaholic who has no personal life, loves his family unconditionally, tries to protect them, keep them safe and his biggest fear it's failing them and their mom's memory, something that made my heart a little tight, just like the rest of the McKenzies story, but it also helped me a lot to understand their attitude towards Luna at the beginning. I liked him much more than I expected, his personality stole my heart immediately and what I enjoyed the most about his character was his ability to recognize his mistakes on his own and to open his heart to Luna with the most complicated aspects of his life.
Luna & Brady are the definition of fire, since their first meeting the chemistry they share is totally evident and very strong, plus Brighton wrote the sexual tension between them perfectly and made Brady my favorite dirty talker. But these two are not only their sexual chemistry: both Brady and Luna get to know each other unintentionally, to trust and care about each other's desires and dreams, Luna reaffirms her value as a person, but also manages to find a someone who falls in love with her as she is, and Brady risks opening his heart again, seeing the world in a different way and breaking the rules a little, and although they are very different from each other their love story is perfect, very funny and made me fall in love with Stalaight Cove right away.
🎧Audiobook Review (September 20, 2024)
Thank you so much to Brighton Walsh and her team for providing me with this audiobook!
I read Defiant Heart when it was released two years ago and I remember loving Brady & Luna's story so much and these two like such a fun couple, I also have to say that there were plot details and certain scenes that I had forgotten about, and I LOVED rediscovering and falling in love again with the beginning of Starlight Cove with this audiobook.
For starters, I really like that the narration is a duet because it makes the book so much more dynamic, plus, Troy Duran & Vanessa Edwin are perfect as Brady & Luna and made me love this story so much more. I loved hearing how opposite their personalities are, Brady's struggle to maintain control, follow the rules, and resist Luna's chaotic charm. The sensitive plot moments also hit in a different way in the audiobook, they're even more heartbreaking & moving, and I think EVERYTHING about the audiobook just enhances what Defiant Heart is!
👮🏻♂️Brady: 5/5
🧘🏻♀️Luna: 5/5
👮🏻♂️Plot: 5/5
🧘🏻♀️Love story: 5/5
👮🏻♂️Secondary characters: 5/5
🧘🏻♀️Cover: 5/5
🌶️: 5/5
🇪🇸
ARC amablemente proporcionada a cambio de una reseña honesta
Defiant Heart se robó mi atención de inmediato desde que leí el blurb, y habiendo leído antes a Brighton Walsh mis expectativas con la historia eran enormes, especialmente con la química entre sus personajes principales, y soy la más feliz porque Brady & Luna fueron mucho más de lo que esperaba en todos los aspectos, pero no solo ellos, el resto de los hermanos McKenzie también me gustaron muchísimo y creo que Starlight Cove no pudo haber empezado de una mejor manera.
Yo siempre amo los personajes femeninos cuyas personalidades son consideradas "demasiado", porque me parecen los más genuinos, reales e inspiradores, y Luna fue el ejemplo perfecto, es una mujer amable, con un corazón hermoso, una personalidad decidida, fuerte y MUY valiente, pero lo que AMÉ más de ella fue su determinación a seguir sus ideales, su lealtad a ella misma y su amor propio, además de que me pareció un personaje súper maduro, capaz de arreglar sus desencuentros con Brady hablando, sin mucho drama y de una manera muy divertida también. Luna es un personaje bastante peculiar a interesante: enseña yoga, da masajes, tiene una colección de cristales, ama los aceites esenciales y hace sus propios ungüentos y esta dispuesta a protestar en contra de lo que considera incorrecto, algo que vuelve completamente loco a Brady y que hace que la arreste en más de una ocasión.
Brady es el sheriff de Starlight Cove, el típico gruñón adicto al trabajo que no tiene vida personal, ama incondicionalmente a su familia, intenta protegerlos, mantenerlos a salvo y su mayor miedo es fallarles a ellos y a la memoria de su mamá, algo que me encogió un poco el corazón, al igual que el resto de la historia de los hermanos McKenzie, pero que también me ayudó mucho a comprender su actitud hacia Luna al inicio. Él me gustó mucho más de lo que esperaba, su personalidad me robo el corazón de inmediato y lo que más disfruté de su personaje fue su capacidad de reconocer sus errores por si mismo y de abrirle su corazón a Luna con los aspectos más complicados de su vida.
Luna & Brady son la definición de fuego, desde su primer encuentro la química que comparten es totalmente evidente y muy fuerte, además de que Brighton escribió la tensión sexual entre ellos de manera perfecta e hizo a Brady mi dirty talker favorito. Pero estos dos no son solo su química sexual: tanto Brady como Luna llegan a conocerse sin quererlo, a confiar y preocuparse por los deseos y sueños del otro, además de que Luna reafirma su valor como persona, pero también logra encontrar a alguien que se enamora de ella tal cual es, y Brady se arriesga a abrir su corazón de nuevo, a ver el mundo de una manera diferente y a romper un poco las reglas, y aunque son muy diferentes del uno del otro su historia de amor es perfecta, muy divertida y me hizo enamorarme de inmediato de Stalaight Cove.
🎧Reseña del audiolibro (20 de septiembre de 2024)
Muchas gracias a Brighton Walsh y su equipo por proporcionarme este audiolibro!
Leí Defiant Heart cuando se publicó hace dos años y recuerdo que amé muchísimo la historia de Brady & Luna y que estos dos son una pareja muy divertida, también tengo que decir que había detalles de la trama y ciertas escenas que había olvidado y que AMÉ redescubrir y volver a enamorarme del inicio de Starlight Cove con esta audiolibro.
Para empezar, me gusta muchísimo que la narración sea en dueto porque eso hace el libro mucho más dinámico, además, Troy Duran & Vanessa Edwin con los perfectos Brady & Luna y me hicieron amar mucho más esta historie, me gustó escuchar lo opuestas que son sus personalidades, la lucha de Brady para mantener el control, seguir las reglas y resistirse al caótico encanto de Luna. Los momentos sensibles de la trama también golpean de una forma diferente en el audiolibro, son aún más desgarradores & conmovedores, y creo que TODO acerca del audiolibro potencia mucho más lo que es Defiant Heart!
👮🏻♂️Brady: 5/5
🧘🏻♀️Luna: 5/5
👮🏻♂️Trama: 5/5
🧘🏻♀️Historia de amor: 5/5
👮🏻♂️Personajes secundarios: 5/5
🧘🏻♀️Portada: 5/5
🌶️: 5/5
June 6, 2022
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.
I was so excited to read Defiant Heart after getting a peak at the setting and characters in Brighton Walsh's novella Stranded in Starlight Cove. I'm happy Walsh is going to give us another small-town series filled with tight knit siblings. After reading Defiant Heart, I can tell you it's going to be so much fun!
Defiant Heart was a great start to the Starlight Cove series. It was a grump/sunshine romance between a small-town cop and a visiting tree hugging yoga instructor. I loved the Starlight Cove setting, especially Brady's family's resort and his house.
Brady was the best kind of grumpy. He had his reasons for living life the way he did, and I respected that. I loved how Luna threw him off his game and constantly gave him grief. Their frustrations with each other made their chemistry even hotter than it would have been without that dynamic.
I actually wasn't so sure I was going to love tree hugging Luna at first. It took me a bit to warm up to her. I'm not sure what it was about her. Maybe Brady's vision of her influenced me. It was in the moments after their relationship progressed from enemies that I ended up loving Luna.
Brady and Luna's "relationship" obviously wasn't smooth sailing. They had different objectives at first, so they had to get past their differences to get to know each other better and get to the heart of their reasons for how they acted. Once they did that, FIRE. They were explosive together in all the right ways.
Brady's siblings didn't steal the spotlight, but I was just as interested in them as I was him. They all have such different personalities and jobs. We're in for a fun series with them. Especially when we have the town gossip, Mabel, to help liven things up.
Defiant Heart is a romance that is going to make Brighton Walsh's fans happy. It was fun to read and tugged at the heart a bit. I can't wait to read what's coming next in the series.
You can find this review and others like it at A Novel Glimpse .
I was so excited to read Defiant Heart after getting a peak at the setting and characters in Brighton Walsh's novella Stranded in Starlight Cove. I'm happy Walsh is going to give us another small-town series filled with tight knit siblings. After reading Defiant Heart, I can tell you it's going to be so much fun!
Defiant Heart was a great start to the Starlight Cove series. It was a grump/sunshine romance between a small-town cop and a visiting tree hugging yoga instructor. I loved the Starlight Cove setting, especially Brady's family's resort and his house.
Brady was the best kind of grumpy. He had his reasons for living life the way he did, and I respected that. I loved how Luna threw him off his game and constantly gave him grief. Their frustrations with each other made their chemistry even hotter than it would have been without that dynamic.
I actually wasn't so sure I was going to love tree hugging Luna at first. It took me a bit to warm up to her. I'm not sure what it was about her. Maybe Brady's vision of her influenced me. It was in the moments after their relationship progressed from enemies that I ended up loving Luna.
Brady and Luna's "relationship" obviously wasn't smooth sailing. They had different objectives at first, so they had to get past their differences to get to know each other better and get to the heart of their reasons for how they acted. Once they did that, FIRE. They were explosive together in all the right ways.
Brady's siblings didn't steal the spotlight, but I was just as interested in them as I was him. They all have such different personalities and jobs. We're in for a fun series with them. Especially when we have the town gossip, Mabel, to help liven things up.
Defiant Heart is a romance that is going to make Brighton Walsh's fans happy. It was fun to read and tugged at the heart a bit. I can't wait to read what's coming next in the series.
You can find this review and others like it at A Novel Glimpse .
January 28, 2024
Defiant Heart- Brighton Walsh
Narrated by Troy Duran and Vanessa Edwin
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Narration 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
This was such a cute and quick small town, enemies to lovers, opposites attract romance. I looooved the banter, not only between Brady and Luna, but between Brady’s siblings as well. I can’t wait to get to know the whole family! I especially loved meddling Mabel and her Facebook live and TikTok antics. I hope we see her throughout the series.
Troy and Vanessa did an incredible job and playing Brady and Luna. Troy does an amazing job playing the grumpy, broody guy with a dirty mouth with such perfection. And Vanessa did such an amazing job portraying Luna’s eccentric, carefree personality.
Narrated by Troy Duran and Vanessa Edwin
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Narration 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
This was such a cute and quick small town, enemies to lovers, opposites attract romance. I looooved the banter, not only between Brady and Luna, but between Brady’s siblings as well. I can’t wait to get to know the whole family! I especially loved meddling Mabel and her Facebook live and TikTok antics. I hope we see her throughout the series.
Troy and Vanessa did an incredible job and playing Brady and Luna. Troy does an amazing job playing the grumpy, broody guy with a dirty mouth with such perfection. And Vanessa did such an amazing job portraying Luna’s eccentric, carefree personality.
January 29, 2024
This book was absolutely phenomenal! This book kept my attention since the very first page and even the dedication. I cannot wait to read the rest of this series!
Luna is new to town and is making herself very acquainted with the town sheriff as she has been arrested for chaining herself to a tree in hopes for a new development to not being built and doing yoga on a resort property without a license. Brady soon realizes that what he needs in his strict, following the rules life, is someone who is totally opposite of him.
opposites attract
grumpy / sunshine
small town
v spicy
Luna is new to town and is making herself very acquainted with the town sheriff as she has been arrested for chaining herself to a tree in hopes for a new development to not being built and doing yoga on a resort property without a license. Brady soon realizes that what he needs in his strict, following the rules life, is someone who is totally opposite of him.
opposites attract
grumpy / sunshine
small town
v spicy
August 15, 2022
I really enjoyed this book! It was a steamy, sexy, yet sweet enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract, forced proximity, small town romance. I loved the banter between Brady and Luna. I loved the way their relationship developed as well as the tension and chemistry between the two.
I loved the small town vibes and the family dynamics in this book. Brady’s family was interesting and I can’t wait to read their stories! This was a fun romance and I really liked these two unlikely individuals coming together.
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I loved the small town vibes and the family dynamics in this book. Brady’s family was interesting and I can’t wait to read their stories! This was a fun romance and I really liked these two unlikely individuals coming together.
Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
November 30, 2023
Tbh, a bit meta. I know it's a weird thing, but I'm not a fan of referencing tiktok and booktok in books. Which is funny cause I knew about this book because of tiktok.
It was an ok book. Spicy scenes were good. I liked the premise, but the execution was lacking. I would have liked more deep conversations between the two so they could understand each other better. It seemed kinda rushed
It was an ok book. Spicy scenes were good. I liked the premise, but the execution was lacking. I would have liked more deep conversations between the two so they could understand each other better. It seemed kinda rushed
August 2, 2022
3/5 the beginning was boring. overall mid
August 22, 2022
Honestly I DNF’d with like 10 pages to go. It is a cute and sweet story. Palette cleanser I guess. I just already knew the ending and was bored. If you like sweet and cute then this is a good one.
June 9, 2024
This was cute! I liked the Dharma and Greg vibes, but I think the relationship between Brady and Luna needed some more development.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 598 reviews