Coming home to find out my ex is my new roommate is a nightmare…especially when I’ve been pretending to hate her for years.
Harper Davidson has been ingrained on my heart since we were kids, and now she’s tattooed on my skin. But she’ll never know about either. Not when she’s better off thinking we’re enemies.
Having her in my space every day and sharing a wall with her every night is a challenge I never saw coming. A challenge I’m not sure I’m up to.
Especially when our daytime games turn into nighttime dares, pushing each other to the breaking point until our neighbors know exactly who’s making her scream.
As lines blur and feelings deepen, we begin teetering on the edge of something more. And it’s becoming harder to pretend that this is nothing—that she is nothing.
Because this second chance is starting to feel like a last chance.
It’s always been her for me, but I’m broken beyond repair and don’t know how to be the man she needs. These demons in my closet are never silent, and I’ll do anything to keep them from dragging her down with me.
Even if that means letting her go again.
| Title: | Rebel Heart |
| Author: | Brighton Walsh |
| Series: | Starlight Cove (Book 6) |
| Pages: | 353 |
| Category / Genre(s): | Contemporary |
| Trope(s): | Second Chance Romance Enemies to Lovers Close Proximity Small Town Romance |
| Point of View: | First Person, Past Tense, Dual Viewpoint (H & h) |
| Location: | Starlight Cove, Maine, USA |
| HEA: | ✔️ |
| Release Date: | 1st July, 2024 |
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Perfect end to a wonderful series
This is the fifth and final book in the Starlight Cove series, the one that’s been teased throughout and the one I’ve been waiting for with ill disguised anticipation. We finally get to find out why childhood best friends, Levi and Harper, are now little more than enemies and why Levi can’t even stand to be in the same room as Harper. I’ve already read the book and I’m getting re-giddy thinking about it again. But regular caveat – this book definitely stands alone and come with its own happily ever after. Of course it’s got major cameos from the rest of the Mackenzie clan and their significant others – but you don’t need any prior knowledge to read and adore this story.
So onto Levi and Harper…
Due to the meddling of a horny little granny, Levi finds his apartment invaded by his one-time childhood friend, and ex-girlfriend Harper. It’s just for 6 weeks while Harper writes an article for the travel magazine she works for – but neither are happy or amused at the situation or being in such close proximity to the other.
The reason for their antipathy quickly becomes clear as we find out Levi’s inner most thoughts. There are definitely some valid trigger warnings with this book – particularly in relation to Levi. With that said, I suffer in much the same way as Levi and while the first chapter did hit quite hard, it definitely eased off as we move through the book as Levi starts to focus on his relationship with Harper. But for those worried, the mental health issues are dealt with realistically, sympathetically and honestly.
“… this is a story that makes you all squidgy, happy and oh so satisfied…”
Levi is obviously shaped by his issues but aside from that he’s a decent, loyal and likeable guy. Grumpy, sure, but he’s such a smitten kitten for Harper that I almost can’t bear how cute it was! Despite being all in for Harper, he tries so damn hard to resist her. He’s rubbish at doing so, but it was so delightful to watch.
Harper was my ideal type of heroine. She’s smart, sassy, honest and determined; a real independent woman – even if she’s a bit of a lone wolf. As well as her relationship with Levi, I adored watching her find her roots in Starlight Cove and finding out that she belonged there.
The chemistry in this book sizzled even if it wasn’t as ‘throw you up against the wall / fuck it’ as I expected it to be. But there was a lot of teasing and squirming and generally getting me all hot and bothered before, thankfully – thankfully – they get together.
All round, this is a story that makes you all squidgy, happy and oh so satisfied. I’m equal parts joyous and bereft that we’ve come to the end of the Starlight Cove series but I’ve loved every minute of getting to know this wonderful family in this adorable town. And I’m very much hoping that the four brothers that Harper was trying to interview for her article might just be the teasing of a very new series set in Starlight Cove. A girl can hope. But this is an excellent book, eminently readable and with all the sexiness, smuttiness, heart and romance that you’d expect from Brighton Walsh. Easily 5 stars.
* I received this book in exchange for my honest review
Award-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.
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