The Bright Spot by Jill Shalvis | Book Review
Sunrise Cove #5
Published: January 16th 2024 by Headline Eternal
Other works: The Family You Make, The Friendship Pact,
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
I received a copy of this ebook from the publisher. This in no way affects my review.
Synopsis
Luna Wright is a lot of things, but sweet and trusting aren't on the list. However, she’s a sucker for the underdog and a hard-luck story. Adopted at birth, with scant knowledge of her biological family, she’s created her own inner circle, a motley crew which includes her bestie Willow, to help her run the struggling but charming Apple Ridge Farm.
With a farm-to-table café as well as a menagerie of rescued animals (complete with a baby goat who keeps escaping to the pantry to eat the secret stash of decidedly not organic potato chips), it’s the best home she’s ever known. But when Silas, the owner who they secretly call The Grinch, passes away, Luna discovers the farm is now under the control of both his investment manager, the enigmatic Jameson Hayes….and her. And that Silas had many, many secrets.
Now Luna’s carefully controlled corner of the world is threatened and she—along with some of her friends—has to dig deep to find true strength and the real meaning of love and family.
With a farm-to-table café as well as a menagerie of rescued animals (complete with a baby goat who keeps escaping to the pantry to eat the secret stash of decidedly not organic potato chips), it’s the best home she’s ever known. But when Silas, the owner who they secretly call The Grinch, passes away, Luna discovers the farm is now under the control of both his investment manager, the enigmatic Jameson Hayes….and her. And that Silas had many, many secrets.
Now Luna’s carefully controlled corner of the world is threatened and she—along with some of her friends—has to dig deep to find true strength and the real meaning of love and family.
Review
Warning - potential spoilers!
I was so happy to be stepping back into the town of Sunrise Cove and the world that these characters inhabit - it really brings a warming feeling whenever I get to read a Jill Shalvis book, and I've been hugely enjoying the Sunrise Cove series and its different romances.
I loved the sound of this setting, of the farm filled with different stalls and animals and providing such a welcoming atmosphere for all the town residents, and I felt really immersed in the day-to-day running of it alongside Luna. It honestly just seemed like a wonderful space for the community to have, and so I was rooting for it to be able to continue being open throughout all of its financial troubles, and this element of the story almost had me as hooked as the romance!
Adding on to this was the found family in The Bright Spot - it will always be a trope that I favour in books, and watching everyone rally around Luna in trying their hardest to save the farm, and eventually for Jameson too in wanting to see them happy together was just so sweet! I wasn't sure if I'd find it a bit odd that Luna's ex was one of these people, but after finding out what happened between them it was just nice to see how close they'd remained as friends. The one character within this circle of employees at the farm that I didn't love was Luna's best friend Willow - I felt that she made everything about herself, while simultaneously not acknowledging that her own issues had caused the breakdown of her relationship, and the near-ending of her friendship, while also not being there for her friend or taking the time to realise that other people have their own things going on too! I also wasn't completely satisfied with how she made up with everyone towards the end, but I do understand there's only so much to be said while the romance is still up in the air.
The chemistry between Luna and Jameson was great and I couldn't wait for them to finally get together! The tension was built up by Shalvis very skillfully, as I couldn't put the book down until I knew they could finally get past their issues and realise they didn't hate each other as much as they once thought (although the hate was definitely more one-sided from Luna feeling rejected). I always enjoy more of a slow-burn romance than an insta-love trope as it feels more realistic, so I was happy that it felt like their relationship came from a place of mutual respect morphing into something more. I'm never a fan of the third-act breakup before the eventual resolution, but I did like how everyone got involved in making Luna realise she was just being scared, and needed to forgive Jameson. I'm really hoping these two pop up again in future Sunrise Cove stories, as I would love an update on them!
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