The Brightest Sunset

by Aly Martinez

[stacey_is_sassy]

***IT'S ALIVE!!!***

A partnership is about sharing the burden.

You know the drill, if you want to skip the waffling and head straight to the book stuff, start at the paragraph that begins with ***

This is going to sound really silly but try and bear with me a sec. I finished The Brightest Sunset and was struggling with what I would write in my review. I was trying to think of ways to describe the emotional journey without telling all the good and bad bits. I would describe this duet as like wearing transition lenses. You know, the ones that look like normal lenses inside, but when you step into the sunlight they change to sunglasses. At times, you can see everything really clearly. You’re moving along, living your life and your path is clear. Then, you step into the bright light and feel disorientated. It’s too bright, you can’t see, and you have to wait for things to clear. The sunglasses adjust and give you that vague feeling of protection, almost like a shield. Eventually, you step out of the light…and into the dark. So dark, you’re scared to move. One step in the wrong direction could be dangerous. Sometimes, when the lens becomes clear, it's scary and you want to go back to the dark. Clear isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and you almost prefer your dim outlook.

Does that make sense?

I, myself, always struggled with transition lenses. I don’t like adjusting to change. If I have sunglasses on, I’m wearing protection for a reason. If I choose to wear my glasses, I’m ready to face things front on. I don't like things to change without warning. Sometimes it's hard to adjust to the light and sometimes it's hard to adjust to the dark.

Anyways…so, I really enjoyed this duet. It was bloody emotional and had me crying like a baby one minute and then screeching at the kids for laughing too loud the next. Of course, I later apologised, but they’re so used to me that they asked what was wrong with my book. Which of course sent me on a path of lecturing them about appreciating each day and living their lives to the fullest. My poor boys.

***Have you ever felt like stepping into the pages of your books? Well, in the beginning, I soooo wanted to go in and have Porter’s back that it was making me a little frustrated that I couldn’t. There are two particular blokes in this book that I would have loved to have the opportunity to sit down and lecture for an hour or two. Bloody hell! Those bloody numbnuts made my blood boil. Eventually, they settle down, but they really didn’t redeem themselves in my eyes, to be honest.

I’m not sure if you will get this, but sometimes I can be reading along and something monumental happens and it doesn’t shock me as much as it should. It’s not because it was predictable, it’s just because you don’t actually believe what you are seeing. I had one of these moments. I even questioned myself a few times as to why I wasn’t reacting. I felt wrong because I wasn’t popping eyeballs or shaking and shivering. Do you get me? Turns out…I just knew.

The one thing that made this duet outstanding for me, was seeing the couple share their burdens. When one was feeling low, the other would prop them up. When one was feeling high, the other was waiting to share the glow. When they were both feeling down, they took each other’s hands and shared the burden. That is what a good and realistic relationship looks like.

The Darkest Sunrise duet was emotionally packed and amazing. Plenty of highs and lows mixed in with sweet and steamy scenes too. The characters were amazing, the storyline original and the chemistry between Porter and Charlotte jumped off the pages. I definitely recommend checking it out if you don’t mind…crying, shaking with rage, laughing like a loon and swooning. It’s got it all.




I’m an Aussie chick who loves to read and review romance, drink coffee, be a Style Setter and stalk David Gandy. To see more of my reviews, fashion, food and pervathons -