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Sunrise Cove #5
The Bright Spot
Luna Wright is a lot of things, but sweet and trusting isn’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 the owner Silas, who they secretly call The Grinch, passes away, Luna discovers the farm is now under control of 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 help from 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 the owner Silas, who they secretly call The Grinch, passes away, Luna discovers the farm is now under control of 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 help from her friends—has to dig deep to find true strength and the real meaning of love and family.
365 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 16, 2024
About the author
Jill Shalvis
363 books13.4k followers Multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is … mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning heartwarming and full of humor novels wherever books are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures. Her newest Sunrise Cove novel, THE SUMMER ESCAPE, is out now, and BETTER THAN FRIENDS comes out in January 2025!
Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning novels wherever books are sold. Visit http://www.jillshalvis.com for a complete book list and fun blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.
Connect with Jill:
http://instagram.com/jillshalvis
http://facebook.com/JillShalvis
http://twitter.com/jillshalvis
Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning novels wherever books are sold. Visit http://www.jillshalvis.com for a complete book list and fun blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.
Connect with Jill:
http://instagram.com/jillshalvis
http://facebook.com/JillShalvis
http://twitter.com/jillshalvis
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 778 reviews
December 9, 2023
Every time I start a new book by Jill Shalvis I’m always pleasantly surprised by how much I love it from page one. It’s like I know from the start that I’m reading a special book, and one that will be five shiny stars and it’s such a great feeling! This is the fifth book in her Sunrise Cove series but each reads separately, the only thing they have in common is the location and each installment focuses on a brand new set of characters. All of that to say, you can jump in right here or read them out of order and it doesn’t matter one bit but they are all totally delightful and come highly recommended by me.
The Bright Spot follows Luna and Jameson and a whole group of misfits who make up the community Luna has created at Apple Ridge Farm. Found family is one of my favorite tropes and I don’t know if I’ve ever read a better example of it than in this book. All of the secondary characters were so freaking good and added so much to the story. Mainly humor, I swear the authors books are always funny but this one had some extra humor that I loved. Luna and Jameson both have several issues they’re trying to work through but trust issues are high on the list and seeing them navigate this together was so sweet. I adored their relationship, their chemistry was so hot but they were also tender and sweet and their banter was excellent as well. There was an emotional depth to the story as well as plenty of sexy romance, family drama and sparkling wit. If you want a book that feels like a warm and cozy hug this is it, I absolutely loved it!
The Bright Spot follows Luna and Jameson and a whole group of misfits who make up the community Luna has created at Apple Ridge Farm. Found family is one of my favorite tropes and I don’t know if I’ve ever read a better example of it than in this book. All of the secondary characters were so freaking good and added so much to the story. Mainly humor, I swear the authors books are always funny but this one had some extra humor that I loved. Luna and Jameson both have several issues they’re trying to work through but trust issues are high on the list and seeing them navigate this together was so sweet. I adored their relationship, their chemistry was so hot but they were also tender and sweet and their banter was excellent as well. There was an emotional depth to the story as well as plenty of sexy romance, family drama and sparkling wit. If you want a book that feels like a warm and cozy hug this is it, I absolutely loved it!
January 16, 2024
I absolutely fell in love with Apple Ridge Farm and the motley crew that Luna Wright calls both her employees and family. From the goat in pajamas to ornery birds, I loved the sprawling farm, farm to table cafe, flowers and rescue animals.
Luna Wright will tell you it’s the best home she has ever had. When Silas, the owner, dies and leaves a hefty balloon mortgage, she and her new co-owner, Jameson Hayes, will have to make some tough decisions. The farm is losing money, but Luna is determined.
I loved the meet cute between Luna and Jameson. From the start there were sparks, but when she learns he is the new co-owner and Silas wasn’t exactly upfront about how much the farm was losing, she is seeing red. But she’ll do anything to save the farm. Jameson handles finances for a living and the numbers aren’t adding up, but maybe everything isn’t about the spreadsheets.
I loved the slow-building romance and all the side stories in-between. This was a feel good, pull together kind of story with a heroine you cannot help but root for. Jameson was a worthy hero, and I enjoyed quite a few chuckles, watching him slip into the folds of this unique family.
If your looking for a sweet romance with a dash of heat, lots of laughter and feel good moments, you’ll want to stay indoors and curl up with Bright Spot. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Luna Wright will tell you it’s the best home she has ever had. When Silas, the owner, dies and leaves a hefty balloon mortgage, she and her new co-owner, Jameson Hayes, will have to make some tough decisions. The farm is losing money, but Luna is determined.
I loved the meet cute between Luna and Jameson. From the start there were sparks, but when she learns he is the new co-owner and Silas wasn’t exactly upfront about how much the farm was losing, she is seeing red. But she’ll do anything to save the farm. Jameson handles finances for a living and the numbers aren’t adding up, but maybe everything isn’t about the spreadsheets.
I loved the slow-building romance and all the side stories in-between. This was a feel good, pull together kind of story with a heroine you cannot help but root for. Jameson was a worthy hero, and I enjoyed quite a few chuckles, watching him slip into the folds of this unique family.
If your looking for a sweet romance with a dash of heat, lots of laughter and feel good moments, you’ll want to stay indoors and curl up with Bright Spot. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
March 13, 2024
This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was a wonderful story! I have been a big fan of Jill Shalvis’s writing for a while now so I was pretty excited to pick this book up. Once I started reading this book, I did not want to stop. I just had to know how this group of characters were going to save the farm and their way of life. It was so easy to slip into this highly entertaining story.
Luna was so easy to like and I enjoyed getting to know the entire cast of characters and loved the family that they created together. I thought the relationship between Luna and Jameson felt authentic and I felt like they had wonderful chemistry with each other. They have both been through some hard things in their past and it was nice to see them start to open up to each other. I enjoyed that we got to see a second romance between Luna’s best friend, Willow, and her estranged husband. The animal characters were a bonus.
Andi Arndt did a fantastic job with the narration, as she always seems to do. She was the perfect narrator to tackle this book. Her character voices were incredibly well done which helped to bring this story to life. She added just the right amount of emotion to her reading and was able to elevate the humor within the story. I am certain that her performance added a lot to my enjoyment of this story.
I will be recommending this one to others. I fell for this sometimes quirky group of characters right away and was invested in the outcome of the story. Jill Shalvis seems to be able to write the best found families and this book was no exception. I cannot wait to read more of this author’s work.
I received a review copy of this book from Avon Books.
This was a wonderful story! I have been a big fan of Jill Shalvis’s writing for a while now so I was pretty excited to pick this book up. Once I started reading this book, I did not want to stop. I just had to know how this group of characters were going to save the farm and their way of life. It was so easy to slip into this highly entertaining story.
Luna was so easy to like and I enjoyed getting to know the entire cast of characters and loved the family that they created together. I thought the relationship between Luna and Jameson felt authentic and I felt like they had wonderful chemistry with each other. They have both been through some hard things in their past and it was nice to see them start to open up to each other. I enjoyed that we got to see a second romance between Luna’s best friend, Willow, and her estranged husband. The animal characters were a bonus.
Andi Arndt did a fantastic job with the narration, as she always seems to do. She was the perfect narrator to tackle this book. Her character voices were incredibly well done which helped to bring this story to life. She added just the right amount of emotion to her reading and was able to elevate the humor within the story. I am certain that her performance added a lot to my enjoyment of this story.
I will be recommending this one to others. I fell for this sometimes quirky group of characters right away and was invested in the outcome of the story. Jill Shalvis seems to be able to write the best found families and this book was no exception. I cannot wait to read more of this author’s work.
I received a review copy of this book from Avon Books.
January 26, 2024
Women's Romance Fiction / Contemporary Romance
Publication date : January 16, 2024
Narrated by: Andi Arndt
THE BRIGHT SPOT started out with great potential but when author started POV shifts from Luna to Jameson (Luna's new partner) and Willow (Luna's BFF), I started to loose focus. I wanted to discover with Luna about Jameson, but when I get to read his perspective as well, then all the wondering and mystery is gone for me because as a reader I know all the time what he's thinking and feeling.
There's also Willow's POV but for me it added nothing to the story.
Perhaps partly because of multi-POVs, the characters felt one-dimensional and they weren't fully developed. The characters had many past issues but mostly author didn't bother to explain more clearly why or what. Also thanks to the multi-POVs the story was predictible and it was apparent how it would end... The animals and farm life sounded cute and sweet which made story more enjoyable.
Publication date : January 16, 2024
Narrated by: Andi Arndt
THE BRIGHT SPOT started out with great potential but when author started POV shifts from Luna to Jameson (Luna's new partner) and Willow (Luna's BFF), I started to loose focus. I wanted to discover with Luna about Jameson, but when I get to read his perspective as well, then all the wondering and mystery is gone for me because as a reader I know all the time what he's thinking and feeling.
There's also Willow's POV but for me it added nothing to the story.
Perhaps partly because of multi-POVs, the characters felt one-dimensional and they weren't fully developed. The characters had many past issues but mostly author didn't bother to explain more clearly why or what. Also thanks to the multi-POVs the story was predictible and it was apparent how it would end... The animals and farm life sounded cute and sweet which made story more enjoyable.
January 16, 2024
Luna was adopted at birth and knows nearly nothing about her biological family but has created her own circle to help her run the struggling Apple Ridge Farm. The charming farm is the best home she’s known. When the owner dies, the farm is now owned by her and Jameson, his investment manager, and they need to find a way to keep the farm afloat.
The Bright Spot was absolutely charming and a pleasure to read. Luna is smart and strong and I loved her character. Then there’s Jameson and I just loved him from the start! It was a cute storyline and they had undeniable chemistry. With every encounter, their connection deepened, and I couldn’t help but root for their happily ever after. The story was a delightful blend of romance, humor, and heartwarming moments that I just couldn’t get enough of! If you’re looking for a story that’ll make you smile and make you believe in the power of love and family, then this is the book for you!
Thank you so much Avon and BiblioLifestyle for the gifted copy and the chance to review it honestly.
Happy reading!
The Bright Spot was absolutely charming and a pleasure to read. Luna is smart and strong and I loved her character. Then there’s Jameson and I just loved him from the start! It was a cute storyline and they had undeniable chemistry. With every encounter, their connection deepened, and I couldn’t help but root for their happily ever after. The story was a delightful blend of romance, humor, and heartwarming moments that I just couldn’t get enough of! If you’re looking for a story that’ll make you smile and make you believe in the power of love and family, then this is the book for you!
Thank you so much Avon and BiblioLifestyle for the gifted copy and the chance to review it honestly.
Happy reading!
January 10, 2024
3 Stars!
The Bright Spot is the fifth addition to Jill Shalvis' Sunrise Cove series, and as an avid reader of this author's work features a cast of characters (Animal & Human) that you can't help but fall-in-like with and root for right up to the end.
Jameson and Luna, like all the characters in the previous books of the series are people carrying around their fair share of baggage, and Willow (Luna's BFF) adds in a little more flavour as the third POV in the book.
I am giving this one three stars, not from lack of enjoyment because all the usual Shalvis, banter, one-liners and humorous inner-monologues is included a-plenty, but it was the lack of any real padding out of any of the main three characters back stories, past issues were mentioned but then most of the time never given any real in depth explanation which when you are dealing with flawed characters is something you need to balance out their extremes. I think my main bug bear was all the secrecy around Silas and his connection to Luna, and there not really ever being a proper explanation, even a letter from him included with his will or something just to explain the reasonings behind his actions would have gone a long way towards letting the reader understand Luna more.
I also found the whole blase response to the financial dire straights the farm was in for most of the book to be a little ridiculous too. I have never been a fan of the bury-your-head-in-the-sand ethos when it comes to things like that and although I know it's a work of fiction I felt like I was more worried about the debt than that characters were for most of the story, which is wholly ridiculous I know!
All in all, it was no struggle to read, I just felt the plot and character expansion was a little superficial, Willow and Shayne would have been better off getting their own book and leaving this one with Jameson and Luna to be fully developed.
ARC generously provided by the author, in exchange for the above honest review.
The Bright Spot is the fifth addition to Jill Shalvis' Sunrise Cove series, and as an avid reader of this author's work features a cast of characters (Animal & Human) that you can't help but fall-in-like with and root for right up to the end.
Jameson and Luna, like all the characters in the previous books of the series are people carrying around their fair share of baggage, and Willow (Luna's BFF) adds in a little more flavour as the third POV in the book.
I am giving this one three stars, not from lack of enjoyment because all the usual Shalvis, banter, one-liners and humorous inner-monologues is included a-plenty, but it was the lack of any real padding out of any of the main three characters back stories, past issues were mentioned but then most of the time never given any real in depth explanation which when you are dealing with flawed characters is something you need to balance out their extremes. I think my main bug bear was all the secrecy around Silas and his connection to Luna, and there not really ever being a proper explanation, even a letter from him included with his will or something just to explain the reasonings behind his actions would have gone a long way towards letting the reader understand Luna more.
I also found the whole blase response to the financial dire straights the farm was in for most of the book to be a little ridiculous too. I have never been a fan of the bury-your-head-in-the-sand ethos when it comes to things like that and although I know it's a work of fiction I felt like I was more worried about the debt than that characters were for most of the story, which is wholly ridiculous I know!
All in all, it was no struggle to read, I just felt the plot and character expansion was a little superficial, Willow and Shayne would have been better off getting their own book and leaving this one with Jameson and Luna to be fully developed.
ARC generously provided by the author, in exchange for the above honest review.
February 3, 2024
4 1/2
With The Bright Spot, we’re returning to Sunrise Cove (and the series) on the shores of beautiful Lake Tahoe. Luna Wright is managing an idyllic (IMHO) farm that has gardens, rescue animals, a café among other wonderful features. The farm is owned by a grumpy old man, Silas, who has been pretty much hands off. When Silas dies, leaving half of the farm to Luna, she discovers a stunning secret about Silas and then is equally stunned when a suit arrives in the form of Jameson Hayes. With his arrival, the true state of the farm is revealed, forcing the crew of Apple Ridge Farm to unite and innovate for the survival of the farm.
Reading a Jill Shalvis book is like opening the curtains on a dreary winter’s day, letting in the sunshine to snuggle around you. In The Bright Spot we have the addition of Dammit Ziggy, a baby goat with a mind of his own (I want a Dammit Ziggy!!!) to provide a little extra warmth and chuckles. 🐐❤💖
I enjoyed the characters in The Bright Spot with Luna’s (adopted) grandmother Stella, whose quirky, nosy, fortune-telling brings laughs, being my favorite. Least favorite was Luna’s BFF who I’ll just call Whiny Willow who lets life happen to her and then gets bitter about it. The romance between Luna and Jameson felt right, although the necessary (is it necessary in women’s fiction though?) momentary rift diminished Luna’s character.
As with all David and Goliath stories in which the underdog is fighting against someone/something much larger, The Bright Spot had that moment of warm-heartedness where everyone pulls together that just makes you feel all gooey inside.
A lovely addition to an excellent series.
Many thanks to Avon Books for sending me a copy.
With The Bright Spot, we’re returning to Sunrise Cove (and the series) on the shores of beautiful Lake Tahoe. Luna Wright is managing an idyllic (IMHO) farm that has gardens, rescue animals, a café among other wonderful features. The farm is owned by a grumpy old man, Silas, who has been pretty much hands off. When Silas dies, leaving half of the farm to Luna, she discovers a stunning secret about Silas and then is equally stunned when a suit arrives in the form of Jameson Hayes. With his arrival, the true state of the farm is revealed, forcing the crew of Apple Ridge Farm to unite and innovate for the survival of the farm.
Reading a Jill Shalvis book is like opening the curtains on a dreary winter’s day, letting in the sunshine to snuggle around you. In The Bright Spot we have the addition of Dammit Ziggy, a baby goat with a mind of his own (I want a Dammit Ziggy!!!) to provide a little extra warmth and chuckles. 🐐❤💖
I enjoyed the characters in The Bright Spot with Luna’s (adopted) grandmother Stella, whose quirky, nosy, fortune-telling brings laughs, being my favorite. Least favorite was Luna’s BFF who I’ll just call Whiny Willow who lets life happen to her and then gets bitter about it. The romance between Luna and Jameson felt right, although the necessary (is it necessary in women’s fiction though?) momentary rift diminished Luna’s character.
As with all David and Goliath stories in which the underdog is fighting against someone/something much larger, The Bright Spot had that moment of warm-heartedness where everyone pulls together that just makes you feel all gooey inside.
A lovely addition to an excellent series.
Many thanks to Avon Books for sending me a copy.
December 29, 2023
I can't believe we are on book 5 in Sunrise Cove already but am oh so grateful. Pun intended, but a new Jill Shalvis release is always such a bright spot in the year for me.
Luna and Jameson's romance didn't fail to deliver. Very much like The Backup Plan in the series, a parental figure has passed away and left behind something that leads to a project for our two strangers to work on together. This plot line is familiar and comfortable and honestly works every time because Jill brings a fun and refreshing spin on the plot line along with such lovable side characters. The project in this book is saving the farm both Luna and Jameson both inherited 50% of from Luna's grandfather.
Luna is a true Jill Shalvis heroine; she was stubborn as hell but will give you the shirt off her back and is ride or die for the people she loves. Jameson is a true Jill Shalvis hero; he is a total suit who enters the heroine's community and finds the family he didn't realize he'd been searching for along with a girl he's crazy over but who won't make it easy for him. Part of what I adored about Jameson falling for Luna is you also see him falling for and embracing her people...and rescue animals (yes, DZ!) and vice versa.
I laughed out loud, especially at Stella. I swooned so hard, especially with Willow and her husband who was trying so hard to win her back. There is just so much to love about this book. I can't wait for the next book!
Luna and Jameson's romance didn't fail to deliver. Very much like The Backup Plan in the series, a parental figure has passed away and left behind something that leads to a project for our two strangers to work on together. This plot line is familiar and comfortable and honestly works every time because Jill brings a fun and refreshing spin on the plot line along with such lovable side characters. The project in this book is saving the farm both Luna and Jameson both inherited 50% of from Luna's grandfather.
Luna is a true Jill Shalvis heroine; she was stubborn as hell but will give you the shirt off her back and is ride or die for the people she loves. Jameson is a true Jill Shalvis hero; he is a total suit who enters the heroine's community and finds the family he didn't realize he'd been searching for along with a girl he's crazy over but who won't make it easy for him. Part of what I adored about Jameson falling for Luna is you also see him falling for and embracing her people...and rescue animals (yes, DZ!) and vice versa.
I laughed out loud, especially at Stella. I swooned so hard, especially with Willow and her husband who was trying so hard to win her back. There is just so much to love about this book. I can't wait for the next book!
December 28, 2023
*I received a free copy of The Bright Spot. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review which is honest and unbiased.*
The Bright Spot is a cute story with deeper subjects included. Luna is the glue that keeps a whole farm together, taking care of employees, animals, the business - all while trying to keep afloat. When the owner of the farm dies, Luna inherits half of it. A finance manager from LA inherits the rest. And Luna learns that she has found her birth grand father - only after he passed away.
Luna is close to most of the employees at the farm, and now, she's afraid to share with them that she's a half owner, because she doesn't want to become the same kind of person Silas was. At the same time, the chemistry between her and Jameson is completely off the charts. But Luna does not want to mix business with pleasure. Plus, Jameson might decide to sell his part of the farm off and leave, just like most other people in Luna's life have done so far.
If you're up for a sweet romance with complicated relationships, and high stakes about keeping employment for several people, The Bright Spot is your story.
The Bright Spot is a cute story with deeper subjects included. Luna is the glue that keeps a whole farm together, taking care of employees, animals, the business - all while trying to keep afloat. When the owner of the farm dies, Luna inherits half of it. A finance manager from LA inherits the rest. And Luna learns that she has found her birth grand father - only after he passed away.
Luna is close to most of the employees at the farm, and now, she's afraid to share with them that she's a half owner, because she doesn't want to become the same kind of person Silas was. At the same time, the chemistry between her and Jameson is completely off the charts. But Luna does not want to mix business with pleasure. Plus, Jameson might decide to sell his part of the farm off and leave, just like most other people in Luna's life have done so far.
If you're up for a sweet romance with complicated relationships, and high stakes about keeping employment for several people, The Bright Spot is your story.
February 19, 2024
Usually I enjoy this authors stories more. This book was just so nice, with such good characters.... It was so predictable, everything fell into place so easily, it was just meh.
December 31, 2023
This is book 5 in the Sunrise Cove series and though you definitely can benefit from reading the prior books in the series, this can be enjoyed as a stand-alone. I have read all the books in the series and this may possibly be my favorite as there were moments that made me chuckle, and there were life lessons and Luna was so dang relatable- A girl who eats her feelings and says what she thinks without a filter. And of course there were all the animals! Rescued, unwanted, blind, animals that other didn’t want or could no longer care for, like a sweet baby goat named Dammit Ziggy that has a huge personality, there’s not much to love about this book.
Jameson is a hunky investor who’s come in to try to save the farm that her grandfather left her and when he bonds with the animals too, talk about swoon worthy.
If you love stories about found family, like a tarot card reading Grandmother type and realizing that you don’t have to change who you are to be good enough, then you will love this series and especially this book.
I could easily see this being made into a Hallmark movie and falling for this story.
Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
Jameson is a hunky investor who’s come in to try to save the farm that her grandfather left her and when he bonds with the animals too, talk about swoon worthy.
If you love stories about found family, like a tarot card reading Grandmother type and realizing that you don’t have to change who you are to be good enough, then you will love this series and especially this book.
I could easily see this being made into a Hallmark movie and falling for this story.
Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
January 10, 2024
3.25 stars - Reviewed for
Wit and Sin
A sunny, welcoming farmer, her beloved family and friends, and a protagonist in a suit who is on leave from his big city job are all that stand between greedy people and saving a farm with adorable rescue animals. This may sound like a Hallmark movie formula, but the cast of characters are signature Jill Shalvis. The Bright Spot is fast-paced and lively, with ridiculously cute animals and bubbly characters who are easy to adore.
Luna is a farmer who has a gift for making people love her. She works tirelessly to make Apple Ridge Farm a success, but when the owner passes away, she learns she has inherited half of the farm with the other half going to some stiff-necked investment manager. Only Jameson isn’t just a numbers geek in a suit. He’s kind, caring, and fits right into the misfit family that makes up Apple Ridge Farm. He and Luna have sparks from the beginning and it’s not long before they’re falling fast for each other.
The Bright Spot follows a predictable path, but it’s a path Shalvis does well. The quirky characters – who have zero boundaries when it comes to their friends who are like family – are familiar to anyone who enjoys Shalvis’s work. As much as I enjoyed them, because I am so familiar with Shalvis’s books I didn’t feel much fresh and new, nor did the characters feel like they had much depth. This didn’t bother me overmuch, to be honest (I enjoy a good, fluffy read). The only real snag I hit with this book was the secondary plotline involving Luna’s best friend, Willow. This could just be reader preference, but I found her a bit irritating and irrational. Even though Shalvis showed why, there wasn’t enough depth to her for me to feel connected or understanding enough that I was invested in Willow’s story.
Overall, The Bright Spot is bright, fluffy, and fun to read. The animals (especially DZ the goat) were a definite bright spot but the humans were mostly charming as well. This is a solid beach read with the humor and heart I’ve come to expect from anything Jill Shalvis writes.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A sunny, welcoming farmer, her beloved family and friends, and a protagonist in a suit who is on leave from his big city job are all that stand between greedy people and saving a farm with adorable rescue animals. This may sound like a Hallmark movie formula, but the cast of characters are signature Jill Shalvis. The Bright Spot is fast-paced and lively, with ridiculously cute animals and bubbly characters who are easy to adore.
Luna is a farmer who has a gift for making people love her. She works tirelessly to make Apple Ridge Farm a success, but when the owner passes away, she learns she has inherited half of the farm with the other half going to some stiff-necked investment manager. Only Jameson isn’t just a numbers geek in a suit. He’s kind, caring, and fits right into the misfit family that makes up Apple Ridge Farm. He and Luna have sparks from the beginning and it’s not long before they’re falling fast for each other.
The Bright Spot follows a predictable path, but it’s a path Shalvis does well. The quirky characters – who have zero boundaries when it comes to their friends who are like family – are familiar to anyone who enjoys Shalvis’s work. As much as I enjoyed them, because I am so familiar with Shalvis’s books I didn’t feel much fresh and new, nor did the characters feel like they had much depth. This didn’t bother me overmuch, to be honest (I enjoy a good, fluffy read). The only real snag I hit with this book was the secondary plotline involving Luna’s best friend, Willow. This could just be reader preference, but I found her a bit irritating and irrational. Even though Shalvis showed why, there wasn’t enough depth to her for me to feel connected or understanding enough that I was invested in Willow’s story.
Overall, The Bright Spot is bright, fluffy, and fun to read. The animals (especially DZ the goat) were a definite bright spot but the humans were mostly charming as well. This is a solid beach read with the humor and heart I’ve come to expect from anything Jill Shalvis writes.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
January 22, 2024
The Bright Spot was just what I needed to pull me out of my massive book slump. I absolutely adored every single one of Luna and Jameson’s interactions. From enemies to friends to lovers to their happily ever after, I was hooked from the start. I continuously found myself smiling and laughing aloud—to the point that my husband must have asked me ten times what was so funny before he finally stopped asking! LOL
Run, don’t walk to pick up your copy of The Bright Spot right now. And while you’re one-clicking, pick up the rest of the fantastic Sunset Cove series too. ~ Missy, 5 stars
Run, don’t walk to pick up your copy of The Bright Spot right now. And while you’re one-clicking, pick up the rest of the fantastic Sunset Cove series too. ~ Missy, 5 stars
January 28, 2024
Luna Wright run the farm of the fun but crazy team of humans and pets at the Apple Ridge Farm. They're like family to her but now that the boss died and left her part-owner of the business, Luna is worried that it's going to change their perceptions and the work's dynamic. Same for the arrival of Jameson Hayes, the other owner and "number guy", who also happens to be the man she flirted with at the bar on a previous day.
Once again, Jill Shalvis bring us a comfort read that feels like a warm blanket and a hug, with a little bit of spice and chocolate thrown in the mix. If you're an animals lover, the critters will make your heart melt !
Once again, Jill Shalvis bring us a comfort read that feels like a warm blanket and a hug, with a little bit of spice and chocolate thrown in the mix. If you're an animals lover, the critters will make your heart melt !
April 8, 2024
At this point of my reading repertoire, Jill Shalvis' books are like one of those comfortable old blankets. I know what I will get from it. Friendship, found family, animals, wonderful sense of community, laughter, banter, and tender kind of romance. There is drama but it never crosses the line to be dramatic.
I loved Luna and Jameson's romance. I loved ALL those farm animals with their own personality (Dammit Ziggy definitely a scene stealer). And the part where everyone rallied up to save the farm is the BEST!
I loved Luna and Jameson's romance. I loved ALL those farm animals with their own personality (Dammit Ziggy definitely a scene stealer). And the part where everyone rallied up to save the farm is the BEST!
February 27, 2024
I got almost halfway through and then realizedd I just couldn't read any more of this nonsense. I liked the rest in the series but this one is too stupid to believe.
November 29, 2023
"The Bright Spot" is book number 5 of The Sunrise Cove series. It can be read as a standalone book easily without the reader feeling that they are missing something in the storyline.
I received an ARC copy of The Bright Spot from Jill Shalvis as part of a promotion. In no way did this influence my review of this book.
That said, I have to say that I absolutely LOVED this book. It has to be one of my top favorites that Shalvis has written. I make notes when I read a book to review and I have so many things that I have written down that I loved, made me chuckle, or even a lesson that the reader should take take away from the book.
I'll start with the characters. The main characters, Luna and Jameson, have such great chemistry. Luna is definitely someone that I would want to befriend. I like her - "I do like to eat my feels" - me too girlfriend, me too! (page 234 in the book) Her loyalty and love that she has for her friends/made family is admirable. Jameson is someone that really understands her. He is resourceful, trustworthy and swoon worthy.
The secondary characters, both human and animals, in this book are also really well written. I adore Stella. She is so much fun. Who doesn't want a palm reading grandmother that is hip with the current slang and has just enough ornery in her to keep you on your toes?!? Stella is definitely a favorite of mine. I also really loved the sweet baby goat, Dammit Ziggy. (You had me at baby goat, Jill!) DZ has a big personality and I just love how he makes Jameson his person and how Jameson saw the writing on the wall and gave in to it. (A hunky man with a baby animal giving love and cuddles - swoon worthiness in my book!)
In this book the characters are all a self-made family of friends, and I really can connect with that. Sometimes, we have to forge our own family in life.
The reader should walk away from this book with several reminders. One: you should never have to change who you are to be loved. Be true to yourself. Two: Never save the good stuff for later.
I could easily see this book being a fantastic Hallmark movie. You readers are in for a true delight.
I have to say THANK YOU to Jill Shalvis for sending me an ARC copy and trusting me to give an honest review for you. I can hardly wait to get my hands on the next release!!
The book synopsis is taken from Amazon:
New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis returns to Sunrise Cove with a heartwarming story about the choices we make and the love we let into our lives...
Luna Wright is a lot of things, but sweet and trusting isn’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 the owner Silas, who they secretly call The Grinch, passes away, Luna discovers the farm is now under control of 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 help from her friends—has to dig deep to find true strength and the real meaning of love and family.
I received an ARC copy of The Bright Spot from Jill Shalvis as part of a promotion. In no way did this influence my review of this book.
That said, I have to say that I absolutely LOVED this book. It has to be one of my top favorites that Shalvis has written. I make notes when I read a book to review and I have so many things that I have written down that I loved, made me chuckle, or even a lesson that the reader should take take away from the book.
I'll start with the characters. The main characters, Luna and Jameson, have such great chemistry. Luna is definitely someone that I would want to befriend. I like her - "I do like to eat my feels" - me too girlfriend, me too! (page 234 in the book) Her loyalty and love that she has for her friends/made family is admirable. Jameson is someone that really understands her. He is resourceful, trustworthy and swoon worthy.
The secondary characters, both human and animals, in this book are also really well written. I adore Stella. She is so much fun. Who doesn't want a palm reading grandmother that is hip with the current slang and has just enough ornery in her to keep you on your toes?!? Stella is definitely a favorite of mine. I also really loved the sweet baby goat, Dammit Ziggy. (You had me at baby goat, Jill!) DZ has a big personality and I just love how he makes Jameson his person and how Jameson saw the writing on the wall and gave in to it. (A hunky man with a baby animal giving love and cuddles - swoon worthiness in my book!)
In this book the characters are all a self-made family of friends, and I really can connect with that. Sometimes, we have to forge our own family in life.
The reader should walk away from this book with several reminders. One: you should never have to change who you are to be loved. Be true to yourself. Two: Never save the good stuff for later.
I could easily see this book being a fantastic Hallmark movie. You readers are in for a true delight.
I have to say THANK YOU to Jill Shalvis for sending me an ARC copy and trusting me to give an honest review for you. I can hardly wait to get my hands on the next release!!
The book synopsis is taken from Amazon:
New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis returns to Sunrise Cove with a heartwarming story about the choices we make and the love we let into our lives...
Luna Wright is a lot of things, but sweet and trusting isn’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 the owner Silas, who they secretly call The Grinch, passes away, Luna discovers the farm is now under control of 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 help from her friends—has to dig deep to find true strength and the real meaning of love and family.
January 16, 2024
Jill Shalvis has been my go-to author and a constant in my reading world for years. With an outstanding cast of quirky characters (including an adorable goat), the promise of an opposites attract love story, and a mountain town community with heart, The Bright Spot lit up my world and is sure to delight any reader. A definite 5 star recommendation.
January 19, 2024
This was absolutely adorable. From the farm's misfit crew, Luna's batshit crazy best friend Willow to all the animal rescues (like the baby goat "Dammit Ziggy"), you can't help yourself from falling for each one of them. They all loved and supported each other. Family of the heart! A really fun read.
December 2, 2023
A good read.
Thanks to Goodreads for the copy.
Thanks to Goodreads for the copy.
January 17, 2024
THE BRIGHT SPOT BY JILL SHALVIS. REVIEW
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY JILL!!
BOOK DESCRIPTION
New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis returns to Sunrise Cove with a heartwarming story about the choices we make and the love we let into our lives...
The perfect family can be the one that you choose . . .
Luna Wright is many things, but sweet and trusting aren't on the list. However, she is a sucker for an underdog story. Adopted at birth, she's created her own makeshift family to help her run the struggling but charming Apple Ridge Farm.
With a farm-to-table café and a menagerie of rescued animals - complete with a mischievous baby goat - it's the best home she's ever known. But when the farm's grumpy owner Silas passes away, Luna discovers that it's now under the control of his investment manager, the enigmatic and secretive Jameson Hayes and . . . her.
With her idyllic corner of the world under threat, Luna - along with a little help from her friends - must dig deep to find true strength and learn the real meaning of family.
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Bright Spot' by Jill Shalvis.
Read and reviewed for Jill Shalvis, NetGalley and Headline Publishers.
Publication date 16th January 2024..
This is the third book I have read by this author. It is also the fifth book in 'The Sunrise Cove' series but can be read as a standalone. I have also read 'The Backup Plan' which is the third book in this stunning series and 'The Sweetheart List' which is the fourth book in this series.
I was originally drawn to this book by its intriguing cover and its hilarious sounding synopsis and title. I am a huge fan of Jill Shalvis and if this is book is even a quarter as gorgeous as 'The Backup Plan' and 'The Sweetheart List' it is guaranteed to be a pageturner. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Headline Books. I have yet to read a book published by Headline Books that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 30 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Lake Tahoe, USA 🇺🇸.
What an absolutely fantastic laugh a minute, heart warming, stunning must read!!! Absolutely loved it fairplay!!! This book has fantastic descriptions that set you straight in the scenes. The cover, title and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly.
The storyline itself was absolutely unputdownable so make sure you clear your schedules before starting to read it!!
OMG!!! I absolutely love, LOVE, LOVED this absolutely gorgeous book!!! I must say it has got to be one of the best romances I have ever read!! In this stunning story we meet Luna Wright who runs Apple Ridge farm with her makeshift unique family looking after a menagerie of rescued animals, having ex boyfriend Chef run The Bright Spot café, her Gram Stella telling fortunes and her best friend Willow running the plant and flower side of things. After the owner of the farm Silas passes away and Luna discovers he was really her Grandfather and that he has handed over 50% of the farm to her and the other 50% to investment manager Jameson Hayes Luna discovers the farm is in more trouble than she knew but can she and Jameson save it in time or will they all lose their beloved farm, their make shift family and their homes?? This is yet another stunner by Jill with multiple layers and many unique and unforgettable characters as well as so much going on!!! Pick up your copy of this stunner and get ready to jump on a rollercoaster ride of emotions from love, angst, anger, happiness where you will laugh out loud and cry with happiness as well as sadness!!! It is filled with friendship, family, secrets, banter, loyalty, surprises, animals, trust, self discovery, drama along with a cheeky kid called DZ (Dammit Ziggy!!!! I absolutely loved the addition of the staff and volunteers being a makeshift family including an ex Chef, the ex's new partner Milo, a best friend Willow, her husband that she's broken up with Shayne, an adopted Gram who tells fortunes Stella, and many more which made the storyline all the more realistic and loveable for me!!! They also provide a fascinating insight into how each of the characters interact and engage with each other along with giving a deeper insight into their personalities. I was absolutely absorbed in this book and just could not put it down!!! There was no chance of just one more chapter and I ended up devouring it in a day!!! I cannot wait to get the first two books in the series 'The Family You Make' and 'The Friendship Pact' and just any book I can get hold of by this extremely talented author including 'The Summer Escape' which is the newest book in the series and is coming out in the Summer!! The setting and atmosphere were all absolutely gorgeous and I loved walking around Apple Ridge farm and meeting all the amazing characters both human and animal. This book really is one of those feel good books that is perfect to read curled up in front of a fire or lying on the beach. There was a perfect mix of tragedy, heartbreak, romance, laughter and much more that it definitely the go to book if you want a pick me up!! I really hope Jill continues with this series as it is one of those I don't think I could ever get bored with!! It is so much more than your everyday romance with the intriguing and multi layered storylines as there is more than just the one. I could go on and on but seriously just get your copy and get sucked in. Your really won't regret it!!
Although this is the fifth book in the series I had would have had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.
An absolutely stunning, page turning MUST READ!!
The characters were all an eclectic mix and each one of them were realistic and strong. I absolutely fell in love with all of them for different reasons and I was absolutely devastated to say goodbye. I absolutely adored watching their relationships and friendships grow and develop throughout the storyline. They each became stronger and learnt so much not only about each other but about themselves. I absolutely loved Luna's attitude and became completely invested in her immediately. She made me laugh with her say it as it is attitude and her determination in life. I adore the fact that she gets what she wants done with others telling Willow that she should learn to sweet talk like Luna!! Luna is kind, understanding, loyal and an extremely memorable character!!! The fact that she loves animals and rescues them resonates with me as I also run a rescue, although I run Golden Oldies cat rescue and Hospice and not a farm. Any books with animals in are a huge bonus for me being an animal lover and there were so many amazing and adorable ones in this book but I must admit DZ the kid and Estelle the emu were my favourites!! Jameson is definitely a sexy, sweet and romantic character and I absolutely adored watching him and Luna getting closer. Jameson has had a rough childhood himself and most definitely deserves happiness. I also absolutely adored Luna's adoptive and makeshift family and the relationships between each and every one of them was just beautiful to read about!!! They all made me laugh out loud so many times I lost count how many strange looks I got from others who hadn't had the immense pleasure of reading this stunning book!! Luna and Chef were together for years before he realised he prefers men but instead of going seperate ways Chef runs Luna's café and his boyfriend Milo also stays at the farm while writing his book. Willow is Luna's best friend and separated from her fireman boyfriend Shayne after he kept deciding what to do with both their lives and not considering what Willow wants but even though they are separated their bodies don't seem to understand!! Shep is her farmhand who is a sweet boy who struggled to look at her face after seeing her in her pyjamas. Stella is her absolutely hilarious and larger than life Gram who has her own shop on the farm and tells fortunes. There are many other characters as well as the animals and I could talk all day about them but you'll have to discover them for yourself. Every single character had their own unique personalities and quirks and they are all characters that I already miss and have only just closed the pages !!! Jill made them all leap out of the pages and I genuinely wanted to grab them and keep them out. I really hope to meet them all again so please, please, please keep bringing out more books in this series that include these characters Jill!!! I cannot wait to get stuck in to the previous books and I hope they are in them also. In fact I think I'll end up crying if they are not!! Their personalities are fantastic and I don't want to go in to too many more detail as I don't want to spoil or for future readers by telling them too much. These characters were one of the best group of people I've ever 'met' and they will stay with me for a long time!!
A MASSIVE WELL DONE to Jill on another HUGE success!!! I loved every page of your book and I cannot wait to read more past and future amazing books. This is exactly why you are one of my top 3 romance author list!! Here's to your next success 🥂!
Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the first chapter of Jill's 'The Summer Escape' which promises to be as gorgeous as this book is!! It is also the next book in this stunning series and will be available on June 11th 2024 but can be pre-ordered now by clicking https://amzn.eu/d/3nqvqOB
Overall a stunning unputdownable, unforgettable, stunning romcom that will have you staying up late at night to finish it.
368 pages.
This book is just £4.99 to purchase on kindle and £10.11 in paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#TheBrightSpot #TheSunriseCoveSeries #JillShalvis #HeadlinePublishing #HeadlineEternal #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #Goodreads #Amazon #AmazonKindle #Bookstagram #Bookblogger
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AUTHOR BIO
Multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is … mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning heartwarming and full of humor romance novels wherever books are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures. Her newest Sunrise Cove novel, THE BRIGHT SPOT, is out now, and THE SUMMER ESCAPE comes out in June!
Facebook @JillShalvis
Instagram Jill Shalvis
PURCHASE LINKS
AMAZON UK: https://amzn.eu/d/dN5kWfH
AMAZON US: https://amzn.eu/d/dN5kWfH
HEADLINE: https://store.headline.co.uk/products...
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY JILL!!
BOOK DESCRIPTION
New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis returns to Sunrise Cove with a heartwarming story about the choices we make and the love we let into our lives...
The perfect family can be the one that you choose . . .
Luna Wright is many things, but sweet and trusting aren't on the list. However, she is a sucker for an underdog story. Adopted at birth, she's created her own makeshift family to help her run the struggling but charming Apple Ridge Farm.
With a farm-to-table café and a menagerie of rescued animals - complete with a mischievous baby goat - it's the best home she's ever known. But when the farm's grumpy owner Silas passes away, Luna discovers that it's now under the control of his investment manager, the enigmatic and secretive Jameson Hayes and . . . her.
With her idyllic corner of the world under threat, Luna - along with a little help from her friends - must dig deep to find true strength and learn the real meaning of family.
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Bright Spot' by Jill Shalvis.
Read and reviewed for Jill Shalvis, NetGalley and Headline Publishers.
Publication date 16th January 2024..
This is the third book I have read by this author. It is also the fifth book in 'The Sunrise Cove' series but can be read as a standalone. I have also read 'The Backup Plan' which is the third book in this stunning series and 'The Sweetheart List' which is the fourth book in this series.
I was originally drawn to this book by its intriguing cover and its hilarious sounding synopsis and title. I am a huge fan of Jill Shalvis and if this is book is even a quarter as gorgeous as 'The Backup Plan' and 'The Sweetheart List' it is guaranteed to be a pageturner. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Headline Books. I have yet to read a book published by Headline Books that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 30 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Lake Tahoe, USA 🇺🇸.
What an absolutely fantastic laugh a minute, heart warming, stunning must read!!! Absolutely loved it fairplay!!! This book has fantastic descriptions that set you straight in the scenes. The cover, title and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly.
The storyline itself was absolutely unputdownable so make sure you clear your schedules before starting to read it!!
OMG!!! I absolutely love, LOVE, LOVED this absolutely gorgeous book!!! I must say it has got to be one of the best romances I have ever read!! In this stunning story we meet Luna Wright who runs Apple Ridge farm with her makeshift unique family looking after a menagerie of rescued animals, having ex boyfriend Chef run The Bright Spot café, her Gram Stella telling fortunes and her best friend Willow running the plant and flower side of things. After the owner of the farm Silas passes away and Luna discovers he was really her Grandfather and that he has handed over 50% of the farm to her and the other 50% to investment manager Jameson Hayes Luna discovers the farm is in more trouble than she knew but can she and Jameson save it in time or will they all lose their beloved farm, their make shift family and their homes?? This is yet another stunner by Jill with multiple layers and many unique and unforgettable characters as well as so much going on!!! Pick up your copy of this stunner and get ready to jump on a rollercoaster ride of emotions from love, angst, anger, happiness where you will laugh out loud and cry with happiness as well as sadness!!! It is filled with friendship, family, secrets, banter, loyalty, surprises, animals, trust, self discovery, drama along with a cheeky kid called DZ (Dammit Ziggy!!!! I absolutely loved the addition of the staff and volunteers being a makeshift family including an ex Chef, the ex's new partner Milo, a best friend Willow, her husband that she's broken up with Shayne, an adopted Gram who tells fortunes Stella, and many more which made the storyline all the more realistic and loveable for me!!! They also provide a fascinating insight into how each of the characters interact and engage with each other along with giving a deeper insight into their personalities. I was absolutely absorbed in this book and just could not put it down!!! There was no chance of just one more chapter and I ended up devouring it in a day!!! I cannot wait to get the first two books in the series 'The Family You Make' and 'The Friendship Pact' and just any book I can get hold of by this extremely talented author including 'The Summer Escape' which is the newest book in the series and is coming out in the Summer!! The setting and atmosphere were all absolutely gorgeous and I loved walking around Apple Ridge farm and meeting all the amazing characters both human and animal. This book really is one of those feel good books that is perfect to read curled up in front of a fire or lying on the beach. There was a perfect mix of tragedy, heartbreak, romance, laughter and much more that it definitely the go to book if you want a pick me up!! I really hope Jill continues with this series as it is one of those I don't think I could ever get bored with!! It is so much more than your everyday romance with the intriguing and multi layered storylines as there is more than just the one. I could go on and on but seriously just get your copy and get sucked in. Your really won't regret it!!
Although this is the fifth book in the series I had would have had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.
An absolutely stunning, page turning MUST READ!!
The characters were all an eclectic mix and each one of them were realistic and strong. I absolutely fell in love with all of them for different reasons and I was absolutely devastated to say goodbye. I absolutely adored watching their relationships and friendships grow and develop throughout the storyline. They each became stronger and learnt so much not only about each other but about themselves. I absolutely loved Luna's attitude and became completely invested in her immediately. She made me laugh with her say it as it is attitude and her determination in life. I adore the fact that she gets what she wants done with others telling Willow that she should learn to sweet talk like Luna!! Luna is kind, understanding, loyal and an extremely memorable character!!! The fact that she loves animals and rescues them resonates with me as I also run a rescue, although I run Golden Oldies cat rescue and Hospice and not a farm. Any books with animals in are a huge bonus for me being an animal lover and there were so many amazing and adorable ones in this book but I must admit DZ the kid and Estelle the emu were my favourites!! Jameson is definitely a sexy, sweet and romantic character and I absolutely adored watching him and Luna getting closer. Jameson has had a rough childhood himself and most definitely deserves happiness. I also absolutely adored Luna's adoptive and makeshift family and the relationships between each and every one of them was just beautiful to read about!!! They all made me laugh out loud so many times I lost count how many strange looks I got from others who hadn't had the immense pleasure of reading this stunning book!! Luna and Chef were together for years before he realised he prefers men but instead of going seperate ways Chef runs Luna's café and his boyfriend Milo also stays at the farm while writing his book. Willow is Luna's best friend and separated from her fireman boyfriend Shayne after he kept deciding what to do with both their lives and not considering what Willow wants but even though they are separated their bodies don't seem to understand!! Shep is her farmhand who is a sweet boy who struggled to look at her face after seeing her in her pyjamas. Stella is her absolutely hilarious and larger than life Gram who has her own shop on the farm and tells fortunes. There are many other characters as well as the animals and I could talk all day about them but you'll have to discover them for yourself. Every single character had their own unique personalities and quirks and they are all characters that I already miss and have only just closed the pages !!! Jill made them all leap out of the pages and I genuinely wanted to grab them and keep them out. I really hope to meet them all again so please, please, please keep bringing out more books in this series that include these characters Jill!!! I cannot wait to get stuck in to the previous books and I hope they are in them also. In fact I think I'll end up crying if they are not!! Their personalities are fantastic and I don't want to go in to too many more detail as I don't want to spoil or for future readers by telling them too much. These characters were one of the best group of people I've ever 'met' and they will stay with me for a long time!!
A MASSIVE WELL DONE to Jill on another HUGE success!!! I loved every page of your book and I cannot wait to read more past and future amazing books. This is exactly why you are one of my top 3 romance author list!! Here's to your next success 🥂!
Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the first chapter of Jill's 'The Summer Escape' which promises to be as gorgeous as this book is!! It is also the next book in this stunning series and will be available on June 11th 2024 but can be pre-ordered now by clicking https://amzn.eu/d/3nqvqOB
Overall a stunning unputdownable, unforgettable, stunning romcom that will have you staying up late at night to finish it.
368 pages.
This book is just £4.99 to purchase on kindle and £10.11 in paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#TheBrightSpot #TheSunriseCoveSeries #JillShalvis #HeadlinePublishing #HeadlineEternal #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #Goodreads #Amazon #AmazonKindle #Bookstagram #Bookblogger
@TheBrightSpot @TheSunriseCoveSeries @JillShalvis @HeadlinePublishing @HeadlineEternal @NetGalley @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @Goodreads @Netgalley @Amazon @AmazonKindle @Bookstagram @BookBlogger
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AUTHOR BIO
Multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is … mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning heartwarming and full of humor romance novels wherever books are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures. Her newest Sunrise Cove novel, THE BRIGHT SPOT, is out now, and THE SUMMER ESCAPE comes out in June!
Facebook @JillShalvis
Instagram Jill Shalvis
PURCHASE LINKS
AMAZON UK: https://amzn.eu/d/dN5kWfH
AMAZON US: https://amzn.eu/d/dN5kWfH
HEADLINE: https://store.headline.co.uk/products...
January 15, 2024
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Shalvis takes her readers back to Sunrise Cove in her newest release, The Bright Spot. Although part of a series, the story works well as a stand-alone. None of the stories in the series are related. The one thing they have in common is the location. However, after reading this instalment, you’re going to want to read the previous books in the series. The Bright Spot delivered a feel-good story that can lighten the heart and mind even at the darkest and gloomiest of times.
This latest instalment of the Sunrise Cove series introduces readers to Luna. Adopted as a child, Luna never gelled with her adoptive parents. They loved each other, but Luna never fit into the mould they created for her. She forged her own path, which led to her current position as the manager of the Apple Ridge Farm. The people she works with are more like family than employees. Her BFF, Willow, her ex-boyfriend Chef and his partner Milo and her grandmother.
Luna pours her heart and soul into the farm, and she believes that all is well. However, when the owner of the farm, Silas, died and left her with a fifty percent stake, she discovers that not all is well despite all the hard work she put into managing the farm.
Jameson Hayes, an investment manager, inherited the other fifty percent. He came to Sunrise Cove as per Silas’s request to guide Luna in whatever decision she made regarding the farm. Not only was his presence helpful, in turning the farm around, it also helped Luna to be more open about her feelings.
Without a doubt, these two shared an undeniable chemistry from the get-go. However, past issues endangered their relationship. Luna’s belief that she was not enough proved to be the biggest obstacle. A feeling which was further compounded by a recent discovery regarding her biological family. This overwhelming feeling prevented her from recognizing that everyone she came in contact with admired and loved her. So much so, they willingly supported her efforts in rescuing the farm.
Jameson also experienced his share of blows in the past. Although he had someone who believed in him and helped to secure a stable future, he led a solitary life. Spending time at the farm proved a game-changer, as he recognized that there was more to life than maths and spreadsheets. Not only did he feel accepted, he gained a family. Also, he played a major role in helping Luna see she was definitely more than enough.
As with all the previous books in the series, The Bright Spot delivered not one but two storylines. The secondary storyline focused on Willow, Luna’s best friend. Yes! It’s understandable that she had a lot to deal with …. The uncertainties surrounding her marriage and her future goals. The dreams she had as a young girl did not materialize, and so she considered herself a failure. These feelings spilled over into her marriage. Also, the lack of communication between her and her spouse further compounded the situation. However, from her actions, one would have thought she didn’t achieve something. Honestly, Willow grated on my nerves. I found her actions annoying and selfish. Eventually, she realised dreams can change directions, and she just needs to embrace the goals achieved thus far, even if they differ from what she envisioned.
The return to Sunrise Cove proved a delight. The Bright Spot was a heart-warming story filled with humour and romance.
This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
Shalvis takes her readers back to Sunrise Cove in her newest release, The Bright Spot. Although part of a series, the story works well as a stand-alone. None of the stories in the series are related. The one thing they have in common is the location. However, after reading this instalment, you’re going to want to read the previous books in the series. The Bright Spot delivered a feel-good story that can lighten the heart and mind even at the darkest and gloomiest of times.
This latest instalment of the Sunrise Cove series introduces readers to Luna. Adopted as a child, Luna never gelled with her adoptive parents. They loved each other, but Luna never fit into the mould they created for her. She forged her own path, which led to her current position as the manager of the Apple Ridge Farm. The people she works with are more like family than employees. Her BFF, Willow, her ex-boyfriend Chef and his partner Milo and her grandmother.
Luna pours her heart and soul into the farm, and she believes that all is well. However, when the owner of the farm, Silas, died and left her with a fifty percent stake, she discovers that not all is well despite all the hard work she put into managing the farm.
Jameson Hayes, an investment manager, inherited the other fifty percent. He came to Sunrise Cove as per Silas’s request to guide Luna in whatever decision she made regarding the farm. Not only was his presence helpful, in turning the farm around, it also helped Luna to be more open about her feelings.
Without a doubt, these two shared an undeniable chemistry from the get-go. However, past issues endangered their relationship. Luna’s belief that she was not enough proved to be the biggest obstacle. A feeling which was further compounded by a recent discovery regarding her biological family. This overwhelming feeling prevented her from recognizing that everyone she came in contact with admired and loved her. So much so, they willingly supported her efforts in rescuing the farm.
Jameson also experienced his share of blows in the past. Although he had someone who believed in him and helped to secure a stable future, he led a solitary life. Spending time at the farm proved a game-changer, as he recognized that there was more to life than maths and spreadsheets. Not only did he feel accepted, he gained a family. Also, he played a major role in helping Luna see she was definitely more than enough.
As with all the previous books in the series, The Bright Spot delivered not one but two storylines. The secondary storyline focused on Willow, Luna’s best friend. Yes! It’s understandable that she had a lot to deal with …. The uncertainties surrounding her marriage and her future goals. The dreams she had as a young girl did not materialize, and so she considered herself a failure. These feelings spilled over into her marriage. Also, the lack of communication between her and her spouse further compounded the situation. However, from her actions, one would have thought she didn’t achieve something. Honestly, Willow grated on my nerves. I found her actions annoying and selfish. Eventually, she realised dreams can change directions, and she just needs to embrace the goals achieved thus far, even if they differ from what she envisioned.
The return to Sunrise Cove proved a delight. The Bright Spot was a heart-warming story filled with humour and romance.
This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
June 27, 2024
Luna Wright is the manager of Apple Ridge Farm. She is an employees' dream, and they love working for her. When the owner dies, Luna discovers that she has inherited the farm, at least half the farm. The other half was left to Jameson, his business advisor, aka The Suit. Luna was adopted at birth, and with little knowledge of her biological family, she’s created her found family, including her BFF, Willow, who helps her run the struggling Apple Ridge Farm. What she finds out after Silas, the owner's death, is that he was her biological grandfather. Jameson arrives with the goal to make the farm successful or to sell it. Luna isn't happy with Jameson's interference, but realizes that she has no choice if she wants the farm with its Farm to Table restaurant and a host of rescue animals to succeed.
This is the fifth book in the Sunrise Cove series, but each one can be read as a standalone book. Luna and Jameson were both great characters. Luna was the soul of Apple Ridge Farm. She gave 100% to the endeavour and would do whatever she had to for the animals and those who worked for her. She is loyal and won't fire or lay off her employees, and definitely wasn't getting rid of the animals. Luna doesn't see herself in the same way as everyone else. She is insecure and feels that she is never enough. Jameson sees the real Luna, the caring, independent, loyal, hard worker. She is respected by everyone, including him. Jameson is a workaholic, loner, but he begins to see a different way to live while at the farm. He and Luna were good for each other, both helping the other to see something different. I love a theme of found family and this book's backbone is made up of that. Willow, has her own storyline that comes to fruition as well, with her dreams not necessarily being what is best for her. I have to mention the animals in this one. The antics of the various animals made me laugh many times and I loved how they made Jameson change his mind about the menagerie that did nothing but cost money in his mind. Overall, this was another wonderful story by Jill Shalvis with great characters and themes. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Andi Arndt. I always enjoy her performances with the great voices, tone and expression you puts into the story always adding to my enjoyment of the book.
This is the fifth book in the Sunrise Cove series, but each one can be read as a standalone book. Luna and Jameson were both great characters. Luna was the soul of Apple Ridge Farm. She gave 100% to the endeavour and would do whatever she had to for the animals and those who worked for her. She is loyal and won't fire or lay off her employees, and definitely wasn't getting rid of the animals. Luna doesn't see herself in the same way as everyone else. She is insecure and feels that she is never enough. Jameson sees the real Luna, the caring, independent, loyal, hard worker. She is respected by everyone, including him. Jameson is a workaholic, loner, but he begins to see a different way to live while at the farm. He and Luna were good for each other, both helping the other to see something different. I love a theme of found family and this book's backbone is made up of that. Willow, has her own storyline that comes to fruition as well, with her dreams not necessarily being what is best for her. I have to mention the animals in this one. The antics of the various animals made me laugh many times and I loved how they made Jameson change his mind about the menagerie that did nothing but cost money in his mind. Overall, this was another wonderful story by Jill Shalvis with great characters and themes. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Andi Arndt. I always enjoy her performances with the great voices, tone and expression you puts into the story always adding to my enjoyment of the book.
May 28, 2024
It was okay.
August 18, 2024
Respectfully, one of the worst books I’ve read in a while
July 28, 2024
Literally a Hallmark movie in a book. Good for a light, easy pool read, but not very good otherwise.
Read
January 29, 2024Found family shines through in Shalvis' latest addition to the Sunrise Cove series. Add in baby goats in pajamas and the world's most entertaining grandma, and this one is a winner!
February 4, 2024
The Bright Spot is a wonderful story about two people and how the opposites attract. The story line of Luna journey and Apple Ridge farm is amazing. All the animals on farm have shall amazing personalities. All the antics in the story make you laugh so hard. You can definitely read this as a stand alone but why not read the first four books in the series. If you enjoy heartwarming stories with humor this is a must read. I did receive an advance copy but Jill Shalvis is one of regular authors I read so this is a honest review.
January 12, 2024
☀️ The Bright Spot ☀️
“It makes you real. And real is my very favorite thing about you.”
Another delightful Jill Shalvis read! Her books are comfort reads for me. I always know what to expect - swoony, thoughtful MMC, hilarious banter, and flawed but real characters. She always manages to write characters who are working through things, but find what they need in partners and are loved as they are, without changing.
The Bright Spot is no different! Set on Apple Ridge Farm, run by the charming Luna, who rescues animals and collects people alike. She’s fighting to keep the place alive when the owner, who she didn’t realize was her grandfather, passes away and leaves her half the farm. The other half is left to Jameson, “a suit”, who swoops in to see the books and try to get the farm back in the black before the circling investors swoop in to close them down.
Jameson and Luna can’t fight their attraction to one another as they fight to save the place they both love. They find each other and the unwavering support of their found family at the farm.
A lighthearted, quick comfort read that I loved.
Check this one out if you’re looking for:
☀️ Emotional support baby goats
☀️ Coworkers to lovers
☀️ Sassy side characters
☀️ Found family
☀️ Being loved as you are
I received an ARC from Netgalley and Avon. My opinions are my down. The Bright Spot is on shelves January 16, 2024!
“It makes you real. And real is my very favorite thing about you.”
Another delightful Jill Shalvis read! Her books are comfort reads for me. I always know what to expect - swoony, thoughtful MMC, hilarious banter, and flawed but real characters. She always manages to write characters who are working through things, but find what they need in partners and are loved as they are, without changing.
The Bright Spot is no different! Set on Apple Ridge Farm, run by the charming Luna, who rescues animals and collects people alike. She’s fighting to keep the place alive when the owner, who she didn’t realize was her grandfather, passes away and leaves her half the farm. The other half is left to Jameson, “a suit”, who swoops in to see the books and try to get the farm back in the black before the circling investors swoop in to close them down.
Jameson and Luna can’t fight their attraction to one another as they fight to save the place they both love. They find each other and the unwavering support of their found family at the farm.
A lighthearted, quick comfort read that I loved.
Check this one out if you’re looking for:
☀️ Emotional support baby goats
☀️ Coworkers to lovers
☀️ Sassy side characters
☀️ Found family
☀️ Being loved as you are
I received an ARC from Netgalley and Avon. My opinions are my down. The Bright Spot is on shelves January 16, 2024!
December 19, 2023
First, thank you to Avon books, Jill Shalvis, and Goodreads for the advanced reader's copy.
This is the first book I've read by Shalvis and there are some entertaining points. The grandmother and DZ were absolutely charming. Overall, the characters were entertaining. However, my enjoyment of the book was in the dwelling on trust/abandonment issues that the main characters faced. Although, I'm not sure that's exactly the way to put it. I liked the characters in the book immensely. They were flawed but also struggling to make their way in their world. However, their emotional issues took up too much of the book and overwhelmed their ability to be charming.
The plot is one that has been done before, but the quirky characters help compensate for that. Simply put, Luna runs the farm. The owner dies and leaves her half the farm. He leaves the other half of the farm to a man he helped raise. The two fall in love. Complications happen. Secrets are revealed. Farm is saved. Happily ever after. None of that is any surprise.
Shalvis has a way with dialogue, but still the character's inner emotional turmoil overpowers that. I think I would have found this book more enjoyable if about half of the inner turmoil was cut out and there was more of a focus on the relationships between the characters.
This is the first book I've read by Shalvis and there are some entertaining points. The grandmother and DZ were absolutely charming. Overall, the characters were entertaining. However, my enjoyment of the book was in the dwelling on trust/abandonment issues that the main characters faced. Although, I'm not sure that's exactly the way to put it. I liked the characters in the book immensely. They were flawed but also struggling to make their way in their world. However, their emotional issues took up too much of the book and overwhelmed their ability to be charming.
The plot is one that has been done before, but the quirky characters help compensate for that. Simply put, Luna runs the farm. The owner dies and leaves her half the farm. He leaves the other half of the farm to a man he helped raise. The two fall in love. Complications happen. Secrets are revealed. Farm is saved. Happily ever after. None of that is any surprise.
Shalvis has a way with dialogue, but still the character's inner emotional turmoil overpowers that. I think I would have found this book more enjoyable if about half of the inner turmoil was cut out and there was more of a focus on the relationships between the characters.
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