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Saddlebrook Falls #1
Sunshine
Friday Night Lights meets Yellowstone in this scorching new romance series about a fictional small town in East Texas and a lawless family of ranchers who are hellbent on pushing back against the people who fear them.
Layla Hayes never wanted love. With eyes full of stars, she’s always dreamt of leaving Saddlebrook Falls in the dust, determined to escape her small town and the “traditional” future her mother has planned for her. But then she falls for her town’s golden boy—the older, gorgeous starting quarterback, Jason Moore—and her dreams of living life for herself begin to disappear like smoke. Still, despite planning her forever with Jason, she’s intent on chasing her own dreams and heads to NYU for college.
When a devastating loss forces her to return to her hometown, Layla must reconsider everything she thought she knew about herself. It doesn’t take long for her to realize the future she craves may have been right in front of her all along.
Layla Hayes never wanted love. With eyes full of stars, she’s always dreamt of leaving Saddlebrook Falls in the dust, determined to escape her small town and the “traditional” future her mother has planned for her. But then she falls for her town’s golden boy—the older, gorgeous starting quarterback, Jason Moore—and her dreams of living life for herself begin to disappear like smoke. Still, despite planning her forever with Jason, she’s intent on chasing her own dreams and heads to NYU for college.
When a devastating loss forces her to return to her hometown, Layla must reconsider everything she thought she knew about herself. It doesn’t take long for her to realize the future she craves may have been right in front of her all along.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 30, 2024
390 people are currently reading
4073 people want to read
About the author
Michaela Jean Taylor
8 books195 followersMichaela Jean Taylor is a hopeless romantic from the western desert who writes grippingly tender romance novels featuring diverse characters and messy, beautifully relatable storylines.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 419 reviews
September 10, 2024
This book destroyed me in the best way. I fear it has altered my brain chemistry and ruined me for eternity
May 6, 2025
a small town, cowboy romance with some angst and emotions told in a dual timeline. tragedy strikes and she has to return home and face a new reality. i’d say it’s got a forbidden romance vibe, a ~we shouldn’t but we can’t stop~ kinda situation. if you want a man who YEARNS, this is it.
August 20, 2024
4.5/5
This book may have a really cute cover, but it is so much more than a cute book.
I have to start off by saying that Wells is a new book boyfriend. He’s one of those guys that is always taking note of your favorite things or when you feel uncomfortable and making sure that you feel safe. He is the guy that you know will always be there for you.
I love how this book alternated between the past and the present. It helped add so much to the book and let you understand everything the characters had gone through up to this point.
The beginning of the book really hurt my heart for Layla. I enjoyed watching her grow and come into who she truly was and what she needed as a person as the book went on. She found out that there was love and hope after heartbreak and grief.
This book may have a really cute cover, but it is so much more than a cute book.
I have to start off by saying that Wells is a new book boyfriend. He’s one of those guys that is always taking note of your favorite things or when you feel uncomfortable and making sure that you feel safe. He is the guy that you know will always be there for you.
I love how this book alternated between the past and the present. It helped add so much to the book and let you understand everything the characters had gone through up to this point.
The beginning of the book really hurt my heart for Layla. I enjoyed watching her grow and come into who she truly was and what she needed as a person as the book went on. She found out that there was love and hope after heartbreak and grief.
May 13, 2025
No. And very sad about that no. Cause what do you mean the wholeeeee book is a back and forth/dual timeline every chapter of her with her despicable boyfriend and then current day falling for her late boyfriend’s best friend.
Soo we learn in the very beginning of the book her boyfriend since high school has died and was cheating on her. So then the entirety of the book is her meeting, falling, loving said boyfriend for years. Starting in high school, through going to separate colleges, etc. I just didn’t care and would have rather more time spent on the actual hero of the story, her late boyfriend’s best friend who had been into her for years. Cause yeah the things he has done and did for her was so good but like I didn’t care about the crappy boyfriend and needing the whole book of that relationship when we saw how it ended in the beginning. Sigh. The writing was good but the plot and story I just could not. I fully expected to love this.
Soo we learn in the very beginning of the book her boyfriend since high school has died and was cheating on her. So then the entirety of the book is her meeting, falling, loving said boyfriend for years. Starting in high school, through going to separate colleges, etc. I just didn’t care and would have rather more time spent on the actual hero of the story, her late boyfriend’s best friend who had been into her for years. Cause yeah the things he has done and did for her was so good but like I didn’t care about the crappy boyfriend and needing the whole book of that relationship when we saw how it ended in the beginning. Sigh. The writing was good but the plot and story I just could not. I fully expected to love this.
April 18, 2025
I am a SUCKER for dual timelines!!!! And this one is 👩🏻🍳 💋 Wells must be protected at all cost. The angst and tension in this story was perfection.
Thank you Michaela for an early copy of the audiobook!!!
Thank you Michaela for an early copy of the audiobook!!!
May 1, 2025
This was so a breath of fresh air. What a great small town romance. You want a man who yearns?!? Who aches?!?! Here you go 🤠really well done and just gorgeous. A must for cowboy romance lovers
Thank you team Michaela for the ALC ☀️
Thank you team Michaela for the ALC ☀️
August 24, 2024
I want to thank the author for the arc, I loved reading end game so I was so excited to discover sunshine!🥰
I don’t usually read cowboy romance books, and I honestly loved the vibes in this one! the story was easy to read, and I really enjoyed the way it was paced with the dual timeline. layla grew so much throughout the story, and I loved how wells really understands her. also, the way he was a simp from the start was the cutest thing ever! I’m very intrigued by all the bennett family drama going on (especially with rhett) and I really hope we’ll get to find out more about them!!
overall, sunshine was a very good read, it was sweet but also very touching🫶🏼
I don’t usually read cowboy romance books, and I honestly loved the vibes in this one! the story was easy to read, and I really enjoyed the way it was paced with the dual timeline. layla grew so much throughout the story, and I loved how wells really understands her. also, the way he was a simp from the start was the cutest thing ever! I’m very intrigued by all the bennett family drama going on (especially with rhett) and I really hope we’ll get to find out more about them!!
overall, sunshine was a very good read, it was sweet but also very touching🫶🏼
July 20, 2025
Layla has had a lifelong dream to make a name for herself far away from Saddlebrook Falls, Texas. Currently a student at NYU and in a long-distance relationship with her high school sweetheart, everything goes sideways when she finds out her boyfriend, Jason, passed away after a car accident. Layla and Jason had their whole lives planned ahead of them, and now with him gone, she's lost. Being back in her hometown without him is empty, but his best friend, Wells, is right where Layla left him.
Due to my three-star rating on this book, I want to discuss why I rated it that way. Thus, there will be some minor spoilers from here on out. Nothing major, just plot points!
I've been looking forward to this book for a HOT minute, and when Michaela Jean Taylor put the special editions for this series up on her website, I SNAGGED them. I'm sad to say this book didn't absolutely hit the mark for me, however I am still obsessed with this couple and had a BLAST reading this. It was so good!
Firstly and mostly, this book should have been way longer. It is not often I wish for a longer book and mean it, but this book NEEDED it. Essentially, the plot is that Wells has loved Layla since the moment he met her, but Layla has always been about Jason. What bothered me is that Layla is grieving Jason despite finding out and reflecting on the fact that he wasn't a great partner. The love confession happened too early on for me, unfortunately. It's like one minute she was painfully grieving, and the next minute she was all about Wells.
As a couple, we didn't see them together much. This book is 384 pages, including the acknowledgements, but at least 50% of this is a past timeline of Layla and Jason's love story and the backstory between her friendship with Wells. Only when she gets with Wells does she realize, both in the present and the narrative of the past timeline, that Jason never really prioritized her in ANYTHING. For the most part, Jean Taylor seemed to skim over a lot of fun scenes! Scenes at restaurants, sex scenes, rodeos, etc. Most of the fluffy scenes were in the past timeline, but most of the other fluffy scenes were told, not shown.
I just think that this book moved too quickly to be enjoyed. Even Layla's relationship with her mother feels fragmented, but we don't know as much as we should. I really wish this couple had more time, because I could be OBSESSED with Wells. This book also ends on a cliffhanger. I do own the next book, Peaches, but I'm pretty positive that book is about a different couple. The cliffhanger I assume is to push readers to pick up Peaches, but I haven't seen cliffhangers much in this genre!
Due to my three-star rating on this book, I want to discuss why I rated it that way. Thus, there will be some minor spoilers from here on out. Nothing major, just plot points!
I've been looking forward to this book for a HOT minute, and when Michaela Jean Taylor put the special editions for this series up on her website, I SNAGGED them. I'm sad to say this book didn't absolutely hit the mark for me, however I am still obsessed with this couple and had a BLAST reading this. It was so good!
Firstly and mostly, this book should have been way longer. It is not often I wish for a longer book and mean it, but this book NEEDED it. Essentially, the plot is that Wells has loved Layla since the moment he met her, but Layla has always been about Jason. What bothered me is that Layla is grieving Jason despite finding out and reflecting on the fact that he wasn't a great partner. The love confession happened too early on for me, unfortunately. It's like one minute she was painfully grieving, and the next minute she was all about Wells.
As a couple, we didn't see them together much. This book is 384 pages, including the acknowledgements, but at least 50% of this is a past timeline of Layla and Jason's love story and the backstory between her friendship with Wells. Only when she gets with Wells does she realize, both in the present and the narrative of the past timeline, that Jason never really prioritized her in ANYTHING. For the most part, Jean Taylor seemed to skim over a lot of fun scenes! Scenes at restaurants, sex scenes, rodeos, etc. Most of the fluffy scenes were in the past timeline, but most of the other fluffy scenes were told, not shown.
I just think that this book moved too quickly to be enjoyed. Even Layla's relationship with her mother feels fragmented, but we don't know as much as we should. I really wish this couple had more time, because I could be OBSESSED with Wells. This book also ends on a cliffhanger. I do own the next book, Peaches, but I'm pretty positive that book is about a different couple. The cliffhanger I assume is to push readers to pick up Peaches, but I haven't seen cliffhangers much in this genre!
August 30, 2024
this book!!!!!! i’m going to scream forever about how much i loved this book, wells is the perfect book boyfriend and i love him and Layla so much!!!
special thanks to the author for the arc! 💛
special thanks to the author for the arc! 💛
April 30, 2025
-4.5 stars-
thank you michaela for the ALC! the audio was phenomenal <3
thank you michaela for the ALC! the audio was phenomenal <3
August 28, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up
Tropes-
Cowboy romance
Dual timeline
Small town
Boyfriend's best friend
Slow Burn
One Bed
It's always been you
Nicknames
“I’m right here, in your arms, and there’s nowhere else in the world I’d rather be.”
"I want to spend the entire day figuring out how I can make you smile, because when you do it’s like a drug, and I get so fucking high from it.”
✨️My bestie, @readswith_marissa, were both fortunate enough to get this ARC. We made it a bit of a buddy read. It was nice to be able to message her to discuss. Especially because of all of the emotions this book put me through.
I was angry, felt gut punched, cried, laughed, and everything in between. Michaela put me through the ringer. But, I enjoyed every minute of it. I highly recommend you give this book a read if you are a fan of a small town or cowboy romance. Oh, and Wells Bennett is one of my new favorite book boyfriends.
I can't wait to read the next book in the Saddlebrook Falls series!!
Thank you for allowing me to read and review!
This book will be released August 30th! Be sure to give it a read ❤️❤️❤️!
Tropes-
Cowboy romance
Dual timeline
Small town
Boyfriend's best friend
Slow Burn
One Bed
It's always been you
Nicknames
“I’m right here, in your arms, and there’s nowhere else in the world I’d rather be.”
"I want to spend the entire day figuring out how I can make you smile, because when you do it’s like a drug, and I get so fucking high from it.”
✨️My bestie, @readswith_marissa, were both fortunate enough to get this ARC. We made it a bit of a buddy read. It was nice to be able to message her to discuss. Especially because of all of the emotions this book put me through.
I was angry, felt gut punched, cried, laughed, and everything in between. Michaela put me through the ringer. But, I enjoyed every minute of it. I highly recommend you give this book a read if you are a fan of a small town or cowboy romance. Oh, and Wells Bennett is one of my new favorite book boyfriends.
I can't wait to read the next book in the Saddlebrook Falls series!!
Thank you for allowing me to read and review!
This book will be released August 30th! Be sure to give it a read ❤️❤️❤️!
September 9, 2024
3.25/5
my obsession with cowboy romances with cute covers will never be topped, but maybe i should start doing some research...
one person on tik tok made a video about liking this book and i read the summary, which seemed very angsty, and downloaded it immediately. this was a very odd book, our main character is a college student who has to come home because of a tragedy and she falls in love with someone new. this book was told in then and now timelines which i loved but the now was kinda bland. with a story like this there should be more tension or angst, layla didn't really struggle to fall for someone new. i get that there were reasons why she shouldn't care but she wasted no time which was surprising to me. i just think that with a little more buildup for the platonic relationship, the romantic relationship would've hit harder.
(some spoilers below)
wells was okay, that was another reason this book felt meh. i wanted him to serve bad boy cowboy, not bland boy cowboy. that was an awful joke, i'm sorry. anyway he was just kinda there, he had some good lines but ultimately i didn't care that much about him. which is why the "cliffhanger" pissed me off. it's just annoying that he's keeping secrets from her which we know she hates and the secret has nothing to do with them as a couple.
two other small points before i end this review. layla coming home at the end was annoying. she has spent her whole life trying to get out of texas, then she gets a better boyfriend and decides that she should just live on the ranch??? jason's death also annoyed me because i totally thought we were gonna get more explanation. he was drunk driving and they were all acting shocked and confused about why he died???
this was very middle of the road for me but i feel sort of inclined to read the next one... maybe... melody better not fucking die...
my obsession with cowboy romances with cute covers will never be topped, but maybe i should start doing some research...
one person on tik tok made a video about liking this book and i read the summary, which seemed very angsty, and downloaded it immediately. this was a very odd book, our main character is a college student who has to come home because of a tragedy and she falls in love with someone new. this book was told in then and now timelines which i loved but the now was kinda bland. with a story like this there should be more tension or angst, layla didn't really struggle to fall for someone new. i get that there were reasons why she shouldn't care but she wasted no time which was surprising to me. i just think that with a little more buildup for the platonic relationship, the romantic relationship would've hit harder.
(some spoilers below)
wells was okay, that was another reason this book felt meh. i wanted him to serve bad boy cowboy, not bland boy cowboy. that was an awful joke, i'm sorry. anyway he was just kinda there, he had some good lines but ultimately i didn't care that much about him. which is why the "cliffhanger" pissed me off. it's just annoying that he's keeping secrets from her which we know she hates and the secret has nothing to do with them as a couple.
two other small points before i end this review. layla coming home at the end was annoying. she has spent her whole life trying to get out of texas, then she gets a better boyfriend and decides that she should just live on the ranch??? jason's death also annoyed me because i totally thought we were gonna get more explanation. he was drunk driving and they were all acting shocked and confused about why he died???
this was very middle of the road for me but i feel sort of inclined to read the next one... maybe... melody better not fucking die...
September 2, 2024
Rating: 9/10⭐️
Spice: .5/5🌶
Tropes: duel timeline; small town; slow burn
Favorite Quote:
This book hurt but gosh did I love it SO MUCH from the first chapter I was HOOKED
BUT, let me tell you... I went into this book thinking one thing and in the first chapter i was like OMGOSH WHAT IS GOING ON? I was thrown for a LOOPPPP and I wasn't mad at it. I don't want to give to much away because i felt like going into this book completely blind made the experience so I will just tell you this... you will not regret reading this book! it was so so good & gave PERFECT Friday Night Lights meets Yellowstone vibes. The duel timeline was done SO WELL and made the book so easy to binge because you felt like you were completely immersed into two different love stories. the burn in this book was SO SLOW and it was SO ANGSTY & I ate that ish up.
Spice: .5/5🌶
Tropes: duel timeline; small town; slow burn
Favorite Quote:
This book hurt but gosh did I love it SO MUCH from the first chapter I was HOOKED
BUT, let me tell you... I went into this book thinking one thing and in the first chapter i was like OMGOSH WHAT IS GOING ON? I was thrown for a LOOPPPP and I wasn't mad at it. I don't want to give to much away because i felt like going into this book completely blind made the experience so I will just tell you this... you will not regret reading this book! it was so so good & gave PERFECT Friday Night Lights meets Yellowstone vibes. The duel timeline was done SO WELL and made the book so easy to binge because you felt like you were completely immersed into two different love stories. the burn in this book was SO SLOW and it was SO ANGSTY & I ate that ish up.
March 29, 2025
All I knew going into this was “Friday night lights meets Yellowstone” and that it had a yellow cover and it was enough to apply for the ARC of it.
It 100% grabbed my attention from the beginning, I really enjoyed it, definitely a perfect summer read.
I don’t personally enjoy dual timelines that jump back to high school only because it feels a little cringey at times, so thats the ONLY reason this wasn’t rated higher. But it was important for the storyline. Sunshine showed a dynamic that unfortunately a lot of girls deal with. Giving up so much of themselves for someone else.
I definitely wanted more Wells! I’m hoping the next books are about all the Bennet brothers because that ending?!?!
It 100% grabbed my attention from the beginning, I really enjoyed it, definitely a perfect summer read.
I don’t personally enjoy dual timelines that jump back to high school only because it feels a little cringey at times, so thats the ONLY reason this wasn’t rated higher. But it was important for the storyline. Sunshine showed a dynamic that unfortunately a lot of girls deal with. Giving up so much of themselves for someone else.
I definitely wanted more Wells! I’m hoping the next books are about all the Bennet brothers because that ending?!?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2024
this book destroyed me and then brought me back together :')
August 30, 2024
This is one of those cases where I wonder what I did to be lucky enough to get the chance to read a book in advance. I'm telling you...Sunshine is sooo goooood!
I was hooked from the dedication and I loved everything about this book.
The dual timeline was divinely written. While reading, I could not wait to find out what happened in the past and, at the same time, I could not wait for the present story to unfold.
The protagonists of the story are instantly relatable and lovable. Layla is a free spirit, an indipendent girl that can't be tamed, and I just admire her so much. Wells is the taciturn and apparently grumpy guy who actually has a heart of gold. I voted him best book boyfriend of the year in like one second. I immediately identified and empathized with them both and I just love them so much!
Layla and Wells have an undeniable chemistry. Their love story is tortuous, unpredictable, complicated and, above all, it is meaningful and beautiful. Trust me when I say it is impossible not to root for them from the start! The tension, the desire, the angst, the romance, and the spice (according to me, Michaela writes some of the best spicy scenes ever!)... everything about this book is sublime!
My advice to you is to go into this story as blindly as possible. Loose yourself in this so well built small town world, and let yourself be carried away by all the plot twists of this amazing love story. Trust me, it's worth it!
Ps: Can't wait to go back to Saddlebrook Falls with the other books of the series!
I was hooked from the dedication and I loved everything about this book.
The dual timeline was divinely written. While reading, I could not wait to find out what happened in the past and, at the same time, I could not wait for the present story to unfold.
The protagonists of the story are instantly relatable and lovable. Layla is a free spirit, an indipendent girl that can't be tamed, and I just admire her so much. Wells is the taciturn and apparently grumpy guy who actually has a heart of gold. I voted him best book boyfriend of the year in like one second. I immediately identified and empathized with them both and I just love them so much!
Layla and Wells have an undeniable chemistry. Their love story is tortuous, unpredictable, complicated and, above all, it is meaningful and beautiful. Trust me when I say it is impossible not to root for them from the start! The tension, the desire, the angst, the romance, and the spice (according to me, Michaela writes some of the best spicy scenes ever!)... everything about this book is sublime!
My advice to you is to go into this story as blindly as possible. Loose yourself in this so well built small town world, and let yourself be carried away by all the plot twists of this amazing love story. Trust me, it's worth it!
Ps: Can't wait to go back to Saddlebrook Falls with the other books of the series!
March 14, 2025
RATING: 5 'Cowboy & Sunshine' HEARTS! <3
Sunshine is a beautiful amalgamation of identity, heartache, and tender love, every lyrical word almost visceral in its intensity of emotion.
“This isn’t the end of your story, Layla. You’ll fall in love again, and it’ll be with someone who can love you back and give you everything you need. You won’t have to earn it.”
Layla is a truly genuine heroine, not overdone in any way, winning us over with her oscillating grief and anger as she navigates the loss of her boyfriend, betrayal as secrets are unveiled, and a second chance at a tentative friendship with her boyfriend’s best friend. Wells is as real as Layla is, keeping a tight lid on his emotions for the world but allowing himself to be vulnerable with Layla as they share in their grief. While initially his feelings for Layla are shadowed not only by small-town gossip but also by the ghost of his best friend, but once he’s all in, he makes it clear how much he wants her and a life with her. He’s incredibly patient with Layla as she tries to figure herself out, never rushing her into declarations of love and forever, but rather content to be by her side as she completes herself and then shares her newfound wholeness with him.
“I’ve loved you every day since the first time I laid eyes on you, Layla Hayes.”
The romance between the two is friendship set on fire—a glimmer of hope and an air of expectancy dovetailing into an emotionally raw and tantalizing passionate love.
"You are where my heart belongs, where my home is. And I don’t want to live for another moment without you knowing that I love you, too.”
Overall, Sunshine is an emotionally rich and romantic story, delighting with layered and complex characters who effortlessly slide under our skin and plant roots, refusing to budge no matter how many books we read after we close the back cover.
IF YOU LOVE:
♥ small town
♥ cowboy MMC
♥ love after loss
♥ “it’s always been you”
♥ slow burn
♥ shared grief
Posted: March 15, 2025
August 28, 2024
“Having you like this . . . it’s like touching the sunrise. You might pull me in so deep that I burn to ashes, but I don’t care. It’s already worth it.”
💭Thoughts💭
THIS BOOK 😮💨 I have never felt so many whiplash emotions as this author made me feel throughout the entirety of this book.
The grief, the trauma, the mental health struggles, THE LOVE, there was definitely so much of that. You literally feel all of these emotions with the characters. The author did such a great job making it all relatable, believable and truly enjoyable all the way until the end.
To say that Wells is one of my top 3 favorite book boyfriend cowboys is an understatement. 🤠🥵
“None of them are as brave as you, my sunshine girl.”
I recommend this to all of my book besties who are also in their cowboy romance era and have no plan on returning to normal life books. 😘
Thank you to Michaela Jean Taylor for the ARC of this book! 💗
💭Thoughts💭
THIS BOOK 😮💨 I have never felt so many whiplash emotions as this author made me feel throughout the entirety of this book.
The grief, the trauma, the mental health struggles, THE LOVE, there was definitely so much of that. You literally feel all of these emotions with the characters. The author did such a great job making it all relatable, believable and truly enjoyable all the way until the end.
To say that Wells is one of my top 3 favorite book boyfriend cowboys is an understatement. 🤠🥵
“None of them are as brave as you, my sunshine girl.”
I recommend this to all of my book besties who are also in their cowboy romance era and have no plan on returning to normal life books. 😘
Thank you to Michaela Jean Taylor for the ARC of this book! 💗
August 31, 2024
Such a beautifully written story about love and loss.
This might be Michaela Jean Taylor's best book yet! If you like cowboy love stories, you’ll enjoy this one, but it doesn’t shy away from difficult topics—those trigger warnings are there for a reason.
☀️dual timelines
☀️cowboy MMC
☀️small town
☀️spicy
☀️He falls first
☀️shared grief
The alternating timelines between past and present bring extra depth, letting you step into FMC Layla’s memories and allow for them to be reconsidered from a different perspective. Ultimately this leads Layla to our MMC Wells. Where Wells is earnest, caring and respectful, we slowly find that perhaps Jason, her boyfriend and possible future husband was perhaps not.
Sunshine was equally as heart wrenching as it was uplifting. Wells never puts his own needs first, even when he’s struggling. Layla’s happiness and dreams always have and will come before his, and despite how hard it is, he remains true to that.
I cannot wait for the next instalment of the Saddlebrook Falls series! This one ended on a cliffhanger and I’m dying to know what happens next!!!
* A big thank you to Michaela and Bookfunnel for the opportunity to read this ARC
This might be Michaela Jean Taylor's best book yet! If you like cowboy love stories, you’ll enjoy this one, but it doesn’t shy away from difficult topics—those trigger warnings are there for a reason.
☀️dual timelines
☀️cowboy MMC
☀️small town
☀️spicy
☀️He falls first
☀️shared grief
The alternating timelines between past and present bring extra depth, letting you step into FMC Layla’s memories and allow for them to be reconsidered from a different perspective. Ultimately this leads Layla to our MMC Wells. Where Wells is earnest, caring and respectful, we slowly find that perhaps Jason, her boyfriend and possible future husband was perhaps not.
Sunshine was equally as heart wrenching as it was uplifting. Wells never puts his own needs first, even when he’s struggling. Layla’s happiness and dreams always have and will come before his, and despite how hard it is, he remains true to that.
I cannot wait for the next instalment of the Saddlebrook Falls series! This one ended on a cliffhanger and I’m dying to know what happens next!!!
* A big thank you to Michaela and Bookfunnel for the opportunity to read this ARC
May 14, 2025
Struggling with my feelings with this one. I was reaaaaalllly excited to get into it based on the synopsis and reviews, and while the beginning was really strong for me (crying within the first chapter), it just kinda fizzled out. I initially liked the now vs then timelines but I think there were too many “then” chapters that took away from the present storyline.. I understand the reasoning behind it but it did feel like I didn’t need all the backstory to understand their shared history. Idk, maybe if there were more “now” chapters to give more emphasis on the relationship progressing romantically it would’ve worked better. It still packed a heavy emotional punch and I loved Wells. Just felt like something was missing.
Trigger warning for mental health, possible suicide, and large amounts of working through grief and trauma
Trigger warning for mental health, possible suicide, and large amounts of working through grief and trauma
September 25, 2025
I don’t know… this was fine but I have mixed feelings about the romance. I felt like too much time was spent in the past when she was with her prior boy friend / the best friend of the mmc and not enough time was spent in the present. I get that it needed to be single POV with the dual timeline but as a result I feel I know so little about the mmc.
(Spoiler) Also for the fmc nearly the entire book say that she doesn’t want to be in the small town and wants to be her own person somewhere else, just to choose to return to her small town for the mmc? I didn’t like that.
⏰ dual timeline
👀 ex boyfriends best friend
🏡 small town
🤠 cowboy
🛏️ only one bed
single POV
3/5 stars ⭐️
1/5 spice level 🌶️
(Spoiler) Also for the fmc nearly the entire book say that she doesn’t want to be in the small town and wants to be her own person somewhere else, just to choose to return to her small town for the mmc? I didn’t like that.
⏰ dual timeline
👀 ex boyfriends best friend
🏡 small town
🤠 cowboy
🛏️ only one bed
single POV
3/5 stars ⭐️
1/5 spice level 🌶️
September 2, 2024
I was so excited to read this book when I saw the tropes and I have to be so careful with my review because the author has done an amazing job at marketing it so carefully.
This book grabbed me from chapter one and held on so tight. The emotional rollercoaster that was this book. It was phenomenal and it kept you needing more. Putting this book down to do something else was next to impossible! Michaela Jean Taylor, I am in awe of you.
I really can’t tell you anything about this book but if you’re on the fence, just read chapter one. Just do it. Then make your decision.
Amazing amazing amazing I’m obsessed. Please be prepared to be sick of me because I am going to love this book forever and annoy everyone till they read it.
5⭐️ | 2🌶️
This book grabbed me from chapter one and held on so tight. The emotional rollercoaster that was this book. It was phenomenal and it kept you needing more. Putting this book down to do something else was next to impossible! Michaela Jean Taylor, I am in awe of you.
I really can’t tell you anything about this book but if you’re on the fence, just read chapter one. Just do it. Then make your decision.
Amazing amazing amazing I’m obsessed. Please be prepared to be sick of me because I am going to love this book forever and annoy everyone till they read it.
5⭐️ | 2🌶️
September 17, 2024
I've seriously been considering Kindle Unlimited like bad, indie books that just shouldn't be published (but are). BUT Sunshine kind of changed my mind.
This was not earth shattering, this did not change the chemicals in my brain, I did not cry and this isn't one I carried with me for days after - but - for a free book, it was good.
I liked the way the story toggled back and forth, I liked the slow reveal of the past and how it got Wells and Layla to the point they're at now. I did find some of the details about Layla and Jason to be a bit boring, her relationship with her mother was tired and unsurprising. I think when I write the book, I'm looking for that big "stand up" moment where she walks away from her family - I don't think necessarily going back to where she was before (college - or whatever) necessarily fulfilled that (for me) but it was a decent read!
This was not earth shattering, this did not change the chemicals in my brain, I did not cry and this isn't one I carried with me for days after - but - for a free book, it was good.
I liked the way the story toggled back and forth, I liked the slow reveal of the past and how it got Wells and Layla to the point they're at now. I did find some of the details about Layla and Jason to be a bit boring, her relationship with her mother was tired and unsurprising. I think when I write the book, I'm looking for that big "stand up" moment where she walks away from her family - I don't think necessarily going back to where she was before (college - or whatever) necessarily fulfilled that (for me) but it was a decent read!
January 19, 2026
5/5⭐️
2/5🌶️
Another book boyfriend emerges! I'm obsessed with this book, this premise, these characters, this family. I knew I should have started this book earlier, because now I'm completely obsessed. We have dual timeline, boyfriend's best friend, devastation in the first act; there were simply so many delicious tropes and plot devices in this book. It was a little taboo too, which I think made it all the more exciting to read. Wells has been so down bad for so long, and the war inside himself made him appear aloof and sometimes mean, but in reality he was in knots over our girl. I love a man who is down so badly!!!! He's so sweet and so obsessed... and I just want to maul him. CHEF'S. FLIPPING. KISS!! I can't wait to see what else this series brings us. On top of all that, the covers are absolute perfection and the more I stare at them the more obsessed I become!!
PICK THIS UP NOW IT'S SO GOOD OMG
2/5🌶️
Another book boyfriend emerges! I'm obsessed with this book, this premise, these characters, this family. I knew I should have started this book earlier, because now I'm completely obsessed. We have dual timeline, boyfriend's best friend, devastation in the first act; there were simply so many delicious tropes and plot devices in this book. It was a little taboo too, which I think made it all the more exciting to read. Wells has been so down bad for so long, and the war inside himself made him appear aloof and sometimes mean, but in reality he was in knots over our girl. I love a man who is down so badly!!!! He's so sweet and so obsessed... and I just want to maul him. CHEF'S. FLIPPING. KISS!! I can't wait to see what else this series brings us. On top of all that, the covers are absolute perfection and the more I stare at them the more obsessed I become!!
PICK THIS UP NOW IT'S SO GOOD OMG
September 2, 2024
I read this book during my 12 hour flight home from South Korea, and finished it 5 hours in. It was just that good that I could not put it down in favor of sleeping, but it was well worth it. This book took me for a trip and back, pulling on all the angsty heart strings that hurt so good and the right amount of cliche fluff I needed. The plot was unique, with the essence of both a second chance romance and a long slow burn between two people who felt like they had an invisible string tying them to one another. the topics of grief and anger, and navigating that grief while also being angry at someone who you’ve loved is so intricate and confusing and well written.
August 29, 2024
This was a really good and emotional read that dives into the grief journey and healing from that. I loved Wells so much, and I would have LOVED some chapters from his POV. Layla had pretty solid character growth and enjoyed watching her evolve from being what a man wanted her to be to feeling like she could be her own person. The book ends on a cliffhanger but it’s related to other family members and the main characters have their HEA 🩷
February 2, 2026
This was a really sweet and emotional book. I liked the characters a lot and felt connected to them pretty quickly. The relationships were definitely the best part.
This book hit me right in the gut at some points, especially since I’ve gone through something similar in my own life. Because of that, some scenes felt really personal and emotional for me.
I loved that it was a HEA & left you on a little cliffy !
This book hit me right in the gut at some points, especially since I’ve gone through something similar in my own life. Because of that, some scenes felt really personal and emotional for me.
I loved that it was a HEA & left you on a little cliffy !
March 27, 2025
I enjoyed reading this book! The one thing I would have liked to see was the characters being a bit older…I liked how Layla came into her own and I’m telling you wells is my new book boyfriend! Pain and loss in this book is palpable but I love how Wells and Layla came together through that loss and suffering and began something beautiful! Can’t wait to read the next!
August 20, 2024
ARC Review
Sunshine ☀️
Author: Michaela Jean Taylor
Release date: AUGUST 30, 2024
Oh. My. Goodness! This book was one of the best reads I’ve read in a long time. I am a sucker for small town romance and this just gave me alllll the feels. You go through sooo many emotions with Layla on this book. The book has a dual timeline so just when you’re on the edge wanting to know what happens next you’re taken to another place in time, which makes “one more chapter” turn into 6!😂 I cannot wait for book #2 in this series and I really hope it’s sooner rather than later!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sunshine ☀️
Author: Michaela Jean Taylor
Release date: AUGUST 30, 2024
Oh. My. Goodness! This book was one of the best reads I’ve read in a long time. I am a sucker for small town romance and this just gave me alllll the feels. You go through sooo many emotions with Layla on this book. The book has a dual timeline so just when you’re on the edge wanting to know what happens next you’re taken to another place in time, which makes “one more chapter” turn into 6!😂 I cannot wait for book #2 in this series and I really hope it’s sooner rather than later!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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