It can be hard for me to be patient with a slow burn, but let me tell you.... it was worth it! This book blew me away in more ways than one and this author has real talent. Highly recommend!

Rating: 3.5/5 ✩

I really loved getting back into this world and seeing Maddie all grown up!!! I liked seeing her in a completely new perspective and who she’s grown up to be.

I found the overall storyline to be interesting and I did really enjoy understanding Maddie and this new phase of her life she’s in, coupled with her injury that makes her have to reflect a lot. As someone who is also 21, it was definitely something I could relate to and there were a lot of moments where I really connected to what she was feeling at her life stage.

James was such a classic grumpy, broody character that definitely intrigued me. I liked how he could connect with Maddie and understand her through their shared experiences, and he really brought a whole new energy to her life. I’m not a cat person in real life, but I did enjoy seeing James and his cats haha!

I also loved seeing Grace and Cal pop up throughout the story and see the their relationship with Maddie has evolved over time. It was just so wholesome and made me smile every time!

I do wish there was just a bit more to the story. While I enjoyed it, I wanted to connect a bit more to James’ character. Most of the time he was just very fixated on the age gap, which got a little annoying after a point. I also really wanted to see more from James and Graham’s friendship.

Overall, a cute and enjoyable read!!

Oh I devoured this one! I thought the immense slow-burn was going to turn me away but really it only made me more invested in the story and the romance at its core. This book was sunshine but also had so much darkness within it, because let's be honest - no one has a perfect life. I loved that Lisina Coney took the time to handle these topics with care and give Maddie her own chance at love and being seen.

The Darkest Corner of the Heart - Lisina Coney 🫀

⭐⭐⭐

The second book in The Brightest Light series by Lisina Coney which I adored.

I absolutely loved reading Cal and Grace's story in the first book and really looked forward to reading about a grown up Maddie in this one.

Getting a glimpse into the characters lives years later was really interesting and it was nice to so them all have a happy ending.

This was a tough read and had so many heart breaking moments throughout but ended on a good note.

I would definitely recommend this series but make sure to read the trigger warnings.

Thank you to NetGalley and Page & Vine for sending me this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own*

#NetGalley #TheDarkestCorneroftheHeart

MISS coney. Usuually an age-gap romance would give me the absolute ick, but goddamn, Maddie you were the definition of sunshine, and cat-dad James i am free next thursday for a date if you are free next thursday for a date. Usually older men and younger girls give me IMMENSE pause, but Lisina you are a literary genius i dont know how you made me love them so much!!

Such a great romance! I really loved and it couldn't put it down, however, some aspects did fall a bit flat for me. I guess I was expecting a bit of a slower burn, but they got together fairly quickly and after that i felt like we lost all of the tension and excitement. Still a good story, but not nearly as good as the first book which is one of my favorite romances ever!

I love that the story did not deviate from the title, and it wasn't an afterthought too. Finding your person and understanding their darkness and the feeling of safety showing it, some people can only hope for that, and this book makes me hope for mine. It is an emotional read, but i loved how the book showed rays of light and stars in the story thru how their lo ed progressed and the love of people around them. This book is about not feeling guilty of the choices you made, the anger you feel. I loved it but i thinki understand it being slow burn, but i hope the twist and turns on some point were lessened but nevertheless a good read.

Thanks Netgally and publisher for the e-Arc✨️

Thank you NetGalley for this Arc.

This was so cute and so unexpected. I loved this book so much.

But even though this was a slow burn I still felt like it took to long some how and when we got to the romance the couple where still confused about the relationship.

Over all i really enjoyed this, her dad/brother was adorable and her niece was such a cutey. A definite recommend.

In Lisina Coney's poignant and introspective novel, "Darkest Corner of the Heart," we encounter Maddie Stevens, a young woman plagued by a persistent sense of inadequacy. Haunted by the belief that she is not worthy of love, independence, or success, Maddie's spirit has been dimmed, eclipsed by the shadows of self-doubt. Her aspirations, including her dreams of a flourishing ballet career, seem to crumble at her feet following an unfortunate injury. As Maddie navigates her path, destiny brings her face to face with James Simmons, a physical therapist whose imposing physique and gruff demeanor contrast sharply with his gentle touch and compassionate nature. Despite the age difference that separates them, Maddie finds herself drawn to James's strength and enigmatic charm. However, their connection is fraught with obstacles, not least of which is her own self-sabotaging beliefs. Through her interactions with James, Maddie begins a journey of self-discovery and healing. James's unwavering support and encouragement slowly chip away at the fortress she has built around her heart. He helps her recognize her resilience, her potential, and her inherent worthiness of love. As their forbidden desire intensifies, Maddie must confront her deepest fears and insecurities. Coney's writing is both evocative and insightful, capturing the complexities of human emotion with raw honesty. She explores the profound impact of trauma and self-perception on our relationships and our ability to live fulfilling lives. Through Maddie's story, she reminds us that it is never too late to break free from the chains of self-doubt and embrace the transformative power of love and acceptance. Ultimately, "Darkest Corner of the Heart" is a testament to the transformative power of human connection. It is a story about overcoming adversity, finding strength within oneself, and embracing the possibility of a brighter future. Coney leaves us with a profound message of hope and resilience, reminding us that even in the darkest corners of our hearts, the light of love can prevail.

This book is the definition of a super-slow burn, as the first signs of a budding romance aren't until about the halfway mark. However, I did appreciate that their relationship was described as doctor and patient while he was treating her, and then it began to unfold afterwards. Lisina did a great job building tension and anticipation between the characters, making the eventual romance feel earned and satisfying.

I would say the only thing that annoyed me was how focused the characters were on their age gap, especially with all the other way more pressing things that were happening at the same time. Overall, I enjoyed how mature and real this book felt; it had such vulnerable and relatable moments that dragged you into the story. Maddie and James were quite a cute couple, and I loved the insight that we had into their relationship 10 years later.

"I love you. So fucking much. I will love you every moment until the day I take my last breath and all over again in my next life."

ARC Review
Pub date: February 20
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

There are many things to like about this book and was excited to read the sequel to The Brightest Light of Sunshine. Darkest Corner of the Heart follows Maddie, a professional dancer, and the younger sister of Cal, the protagonist from TBLOS (Maddie was 4 years old in the first book). Practicing for an audition, she injures her angle and is in need of physical therapy if she has any hope of continuing her dream as a professional ballerina. Enter Dr. James Simmons- a broody, mature, and off limits physical therapist who becomes her only chance at a full recovery.

It's a good taboo, age-gap romance (i think the age difference fit this book, but sill 10 years, when the FMC is in her early 20s feels odd to me), but I feel like it dragged on quite a bit and some aspects were a bit clunky to me. I also didn't love the 3rd act breakup as it highlighted exactly how young and immature Maddie is. This one was entertaining for the most part, but I still like the first book more!

Read if you like:
- age gap
- taboo relationship
- ballerina FMC

Darkest Corner of the Heart by Lisina Coney is the second book in the series The Brightest Light. This book has age gap, slow burn, forbidden romance written all over it and I’m here for it. I finished this book in a day, it was a nice easy romance read for me. I would recommend this book and reading the first book The Brightest Light of Sunshine.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

It was okay, but it read a bit like a fan fiction at times. The ten year age gap seemed to be a plot point that was pushed repetitively. I think that both characters had some immature qualities (which may be from past trauma), so as a reader it didn’t feel like the MMC was ten years older. I am conflicted because the characters did have some cute moments, but overall seemed to lack genuine chemistry.

🐚 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 🐚
📖| The Darkest Corner of the Heart - Lisina Coney
5 ⭐

𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: forbidden, slow burn, ballerina x physical therapist, age gap, grumpy x sunshine, cat dad, doctor x patient

𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀: alcoholism, dr*gs, death, abandonment, panick attacks

This book is truly a masterpiece. If The Brightest Light of Sunshine was fabulous, wait when you read Maddie and James's story.

Maddie is now a woman ready to take the biggest step in her career, only this dream is shattered when she suffers an injury and had to do physical therapy to get back on her feet. Now we truly discover Maddie and see her fears, insecurities and dreams better, but also how the past affected her and built her into the woman she is today.

James is her doctor, who does much more than treat her. After the period in which Maddie is his patient, they begin to know each other better and more deeply than an ex-doctor would do with an ex-patient. He is a character you can't help but fall in love with. He is grumpy, older than her, has cats and falls in love with Maddie very quickly, who doesn't fear to show her how deep he cares about her.

I loved how the author wrote the development of the characters and how she brought parts of the past into the present and finally gave Maddie the peace of mind she needed, but also the pure chemistry and relationships between her and James.

I loved this book, and I can't wait to see what this author surprises us with in her next book.

Thank you Lisina Coney and Page & Vine for the opportunity to read this amazing book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was provided via NetGalley.

A good romance story. It was easy to get into this book. I’d like to read more from this author. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Super easy to read romance with a lot of tough subjects involved. Loved the connection between the two main characters, even if their age gap was a little big. However you can see they do love each other, and have put a lot of thought into the age gap and what it would mean for their relationship.

Tropes;
-Forbiddddden baby!
- PT and dancer
-sunshine and the grumpiest of grumps
-anxiety rep
-Cat Daddy (yall remember that song?)

Where to begin? I heard about this book on Twitter and I am so glad I got a chance to live in this story with Maddie and James. I am always and forever interested in books about dancers. The mental health rep was so well explored. I was having Twilight flashbacks when he'd say he wouldn't answer her questions haha. I love this book, and I didn't read the first one yet, which means it didn't impact my reading experience at all not having read the first. THANK YOU!

I finished this book in a day!!! I loved the relationship between these two. I love a protective man for her. I have already ordered a hard copy.

I actually found out about this book due to some "drama" on booktwitter, regarding the forbidden love trope in this book. One look at the artwork and the blurb, I knew I both had to read this and would love it. It didn't disappoint. I haven't read the first book in this series with Sammy and Grace, but I definitely will be reading it soon. Maddie and James are just dreamy. I absolutely adored seeing James' wall coming down and Maddie working her way in. I loved the mix of the current love storyline as well as the individual journeys the characters went on. I thoroughly recommend this!

Maddie’s hopes of becoming a professional ballet dancer are dashed after a devastating injury. She is drawn to her PT James, who supports her during treatment and beyond. Whilst Maddie navigates this forbidden romance she also deals with past trauma and current family issues.

I think I would have loved this book in my 20’s. I didn’t feel the age gap was as significant as the characters did, which made the slow burn and complications feel a little unnecessary.

However I thought the portrayal of Maddie and James growth was insightful and engaging. There are a number of challenging topics in this book relating to mental health, substance use, neglect and adjustment, which were handled sensitively and reflectively. I particularly liked the cameos from James’ cats, and Lila and Grace. Overall an enjoyable read, and would highly recommend for readers who enjoy books such as After.

Thank you Victory Editing Co-op, Page and Vine, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.