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The Brave and the Reckless
Saddle up for this steamy enemies to lovers romance for fans of Elsie Silver and Lyla Sage.
Moving to the Wild West wasn't exactly part of Esra Taner's life plan. . .
But when she dropped out of medical school and her brother suggested she join him at Bravetown, the Wild West theme park he's working at, she couldn't find a good enough reason to say no.
Esra happens to fit the costumes for Bravetown's resident damsel in distress, which means she's about to spend the summer being dramatically abducted by Ace Ryder, the lawless cowboy.
Ace is a definite yes please with an evil smirk to make you lose your morals, but the man behind the costume, Noah Young, seems to hate Esra at first sight – and the feeling is mutual.
Noah and Esra argue their way through the performances. But as the tension builds, and their futures at Bravetown are put at risk, it doesn’t take long for them to realise the attraction between their characters might not all be for show. . .
Moving to the Wild West wasn't exactly part of Esra Taner's life plan. . .
But when she dropped out of medical school and her brother suggested she join him at Bravetown, the Wild West theme park he's working at, she couldn't find a good enough reason to say no.
Esra happens to fit the costumes for Bravetown's resident damsel in distress, which means she's about to spend the summer being dramatically abducted by Ace Ryder, the lawless cowboy.
Ace is a definite yes please with an evil smirk to make you lose your morals, but the man behind the costume, Noah Young, seems to hate Esra at first sight – and the feeling is mutual.
Noah and Esra argue their way through the performances. But as the tension builds, and their futures at Bravetown are put at risk, it doesn’t take long for them to realise the attraction between their characters might not all be for show. . .
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 29, 2025
29 people are currently reading
1557 people want to read
About the author
Dilan Dyer
6 books330 followersDilan is the bestselling author of the Princess Crossover series. Constantly on the move, she has lived in countless cities across five countries and dreams of a camper van to take her life on the road. She just needs to find one big enough for her pets, her vintage tea cup collection and her staggering TBR.
Having outgrown her slut phase, Dilan now channels her thirst in spicy romance novels with swoon-worthy HEAs.
Having outgrown her slut phase, Dilan now channels her thirst in spicy romance novels with swoon-worthy HEAs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 375 reviews
November 17, 2025
Spicy, fun, easy to binge.
What’s to love…
- Quick and easy to binge.
- Very spicy. 🌶️
- Great chronic illness rep
- Fun concept - Set in a Wild West Theme Park
- great banter
- hate to love
- loved the side characters
- A+ chemistry/tension
- medium-burn
- sheltered city girl / independent small town boy
- dual POV
- self-discovery journey (FMC)
What’s not to love…
- I did not enjoy our FMC for the first chunk of this book. She was acting a fool! We do eventually learn the circumstances for her actions and it endured me to her eventually but it was really touch and go at first.
- This feels like a fresh take on the cowboy romance but I would probably put it in the small-town category. Yes our MMC owns a ranch/horses but it’s not very central to the plot. If you go into this one wanting heavy on the cowboys you may find yourself disappointed.
I really liked the concept of this one and I thought the writing was solid, the characters were well developed, the banter was perfection and I really did have a good time. I think the main reason I didn’t have a GREAT time is bc our FMC is immature, which is appropriate for her age and life experiences, but I found it harder to connect and spent a lot of time rolling my eyes.
🌶️- Ch 15 and so so so many more. Excellently executed & frequent spicy scenes.
4⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine/Dell for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
What’s to love…
- Quick and easy to binge.
- Very spicy. 🌶️
- Great chronic illness rep
- Fun concept - Set in a Wild West Theme Park
- great banter
- hate to love
- loved the side characters
- A+ chemistry/tension
- medium-burn
- sheltered city girl / independent small town boy
- dual POV
- self-discovery journey (FMC)
What’s not to love…
- I did not enjoy our FMC for the first chunk of this book. She was acting a fool! We do eventually learn the circumstances for her actions and it endured me to her eventually but it was really touch and go at first.
- This feels like a fresh take on the cowboy romance but I would probably put it in the small-town category. Yes our MMC owns a ranch/horses but it’s not very central to the plot. If you go into this one wanting heavy on the cowboys you may find yourself disappointed.
I really liked the concept of this one and I thought the writing was solid, the characters were well developed, the banter was perfection and I really did have a good time. I think the main reason I didn’t have a GREAT time is bc our FMC is immature, which is appropriate for her age and life experiences, but I found it harder to connect and spent a lot of time rolling my eyes.
🌶️- Ch 15 and so so so many more. Excellently executed & frequent spicy scenes.
4⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine/Dell for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
July 22, 2025
The premise of this small town cowboy romance is truly so unique and I was so excited to jump in.
But unfortunately this one didn’t hit for me entirely.
What did work was the chronic illness rep and the journey of finding your place and growing in yourself, from Esra’s perspective. But she really needed to grow on me. I had a lot of trouble connecting with her in the beginning. Noah was grumpy but also caring and attentive.
My main problem with this was the lack of plot and character development. I really love when romance books have both characters grow in themselves and well as show the unconditional love grow within and as a couple. I unfortunately didn’t feel either of these things were present reading this.
Thank you Dell romance for the opportunity to read this early in exchange for an honest review.
But unfortunately this one didn’t hit for me entirely.
What did work was the chronic illness rep and the journey of finding your place and growing in yourself, from Esra’s perspective. But she really needed to grow on me. I had a lot of trouble connecting with her in the beginning. Noah was grumpy but also caring and attentive.
My main problem with this was the lack of plot and character development. I really love when romance books have both characters grow in themselves and well as show the unconditional love grow within and as a couple. I unfortunately didn’t feel either of these things were present reading this.
Thank you Dell romance for the opportunity to read this early in exchange for an honest review.
July 29, 2025
You know, I always love to give props to authors for going out on a limb and giving us something fresh and unique.
How many cowboy romances are there out in the wild?
Quite a few…
How many cowboy romances are there set in a Wild West theme park?
I had a good time.
I liked the concept.
Noah & Esra
Loved the loathe to lovers.
Banter & bickering
Forced proximity
Best friends little sister
Grumpy x sunshine
Chronic illness rep
He plays a villain… mask play
Theme park ride 🌶️
Netgalley arc review ✨
How many cowboy romances are there out in the wild?
Quite a few…
How many cowboy romances are there set in a Wild West theme park?
I had a good time.
I liked the concept.
Noah & Esra
Loved the loathe to lovers.
Banter & bickering
Forced proximity
Best friends little sister
Grumpy x sunshine
Chronic illness rep
He plays a villain… mask play
Theme park ride 🌶️
Netgalley arc review ✨
July 15, 2025
4.25/5
i swear the title of this book is also a title for a soap opera...
as a lover of the honeywood series by julie olivia, i was thrilled to stumble across another small town romance in a small town theme park. esra is our main character and she is having a life crisis at the age 23. she leaves home and her med school future to go to bravetown, a small theme park, to work with her brother. she gets there expecting to be just another employee but she then gets forced into playing a role in the show, she becomes annie lou. noah is her brothers best friend and he plays the villain in the show. the two of them do not get along to start and this leads to tensions rising and connections forming!!!
the romance between these two was just so amazing to read. i think the way this author implements forced proximity into the story was so good, every seven minute scene was so hot and so perfect!! noah and esra each have other things going on in their lives but when they get together and share their lives they get to be there for each other and i loved it! seeing esra's illness explained and seeing how that affected her life was so interesting. noah's ranch plans were so sweet and honestly i wish we saw more of them because it really was making me swoon.
this book really surprised me. by the end of the book i was just so connected to these people and their found family in bravetown. yes, there were moments where esra is quite frustrating but its understandable given how her life has gone so far. i feel like the pacing was a bit rocky around 45 percent, when they got together for the first time, but everything else flowed smoothly and i hope this becomes a series of interconnected standalones!!! adriana story when ???
*thank you netgalley and dell for the arc!*
i swear the title of this book is also a title for a soap opera...
as a lover of the honeywood series by julie olivia, i was thrilled to stumble across another small town romance in a small town theme park. esra is our main character and she is having a life crisis at the age 23. she leaves home and her med school future to go to bravetown, a small theme park, to work with her brother. she gets there expecting to be just another employee but she then gets forced into playing a role in the show, she becomes annie lou. noah is her brothers best friend and he plays the villain in the show. the two of them do not get along to start and this leads to tensions rising and connections forming!!!
the romance between these two was just so amazing to read. i think the way this author implements forced proximity into the story was so good, every seven minute scene was so hot and so perfect!! noah and esra each have other things going on in their lives but when they get together and share their lives they get to be there for each other and i loved it! seeing esra's illness explained and seeing how that affected her life was so interesting. noah's ranch plans were so sweet and honestly i wish we saw more of them because it really was making me swoon.
this book really surprised me. by the end of the book i was just so connected to these people and their found family in bravetown. yes, there were moments where esra is quite frustrating but its understandable given how her life has gone so far. i feel like the pacing was a bit rocky around 45 percent, when they got together for the first time, but everything else flowed smoothly and i hope this becomes a series of interconnected standalones!!! adriana story when ???
*thank you netgalley and dell for the arc!*
July 9, 2025
3.75 stars, rounded up to 4
This was a unique take on the small-town cowboy romance. Set at an old-timey themed amusement park, Noah and Esra—two entertainment leads—butt heads before, during, and after the shows. I enjoyed their interactions and the banter between them.
What really shined for me was the setting. It was fun, fresh, and I loved the side characters. While trope-heavy, the story was quick, cute, and enjoyable. Great disability representation and a lovely found-family aspect.
Esra wasn’t my favorite character, but I understood her being a bit unlikable early on as part of her character growth. I really hope this becomes a series—Bravetown definitely deserves more books!
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the advance copy!
This was a unique take on the small-town cowboy romance. Set at an old-timey themed amusement park, Noah and Esra—two entertainment leads—butt heads before, during, and after the shows. I enjoyed their interactions and the banter between them.
What really shined for me was the setting. It was fun, fresh, and I loved the side characters. While trope-heavy, the story was quick, cute, and enjoyable. Great disability representation and a lovely found-family aspect.
Esra wasn’t my favorite character, but I understood her being a bit unlikable early on as part of her character growth. I really hope this becomes a series—Bravetown definitely deserves more books!
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the advance copy!
August 23, 2025
This book was so cuuuuutie!! I am such a sucker for a good cowboy romance and this put such a fun twist on the typical rancher/cowboys you typically see in the genre 🤠 This was a highly anticipated read for me this year and it did not disappoint!!
I absolutely loved the relationship between Esra and Noah! I thought Esra had the best personality and I loved (she's just a girl! 🩷) I absolutely need to get some of the shirts she wore. This book was also spicy 🔥 🌶️ one of the steamier books of read this year and it was so fun!
If youve been looking for a fun read or if you love the cowboy romance genre you need to pick this up!! you won't regret it 💋🫶🩷
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
I absolutely loved the relationship between Esra and Noah! I thought Esra had the best personality and I loved (she's just a girl! 🩷) I absolutely need to get some of the shirts she wore. This book was also spicy 🔥 🌶️ one of the steamier books of read this year and it was so fun!
If youve been looking for a fun read or if you love the cowboy romance genre you need to pick this up!! you won't regret it 💋🫶🩷
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
May 18, 2025
Juicy perfection. Only drawback is that I can’t move to Bravetown and that’s messed up. Yee-haw 🩷
August 31, 2025
I didn’t read the blurb, I just saw cowboy romance and went for it 🤠
And while this is a cowboy romance it was a lot different than I was expecting- not in a bad way! This book is set in a Wild West themed amusement park where our FMC is hired as a character to work alongside the “villian” Noah. I loved seeing them butt heads and loved their banter… and loved seeing their bickering turn into more! Overall, a cute read!
And while this is a cowboy romance it was a lot different than I was expecting- not in a bad way! This book is set in a Wild West themed amusement park where our FMC is hired as a character to work alongside the “villian” Noah. I loved seeing them butt heads and loved their banter… and loved seeing their bickering turn into more! Overall, a cute read!
July 14, 2025
Western theme park where the characters play the same role over and over… this sounds a lot like West world minus the robots. I loved how the world building really pulled you in. I could imagine the park and the roles the main characters played. I like seeing behind the scenes of the park and linking the people with the characters they were cast as.
Esra’s life was on track to please her parents and earn her some big money, but when she drops out of medical school she’s cut off from her funds. Her brother gets her a job at Bravetown, a wild western themed theme park. Now she has to learn how to take care of herself while navigating her new surroundings.
Esra is given the role of playing the damsel in distress who’s kidnapped by the lawless cowboy. It’s far from the Ice cream vendor she was hoping to play. She has to work hard to fit the role and learn some life skills along the way.
In reality Esra is stumbling to shake the irritation of her brother’s best friend. Every time Noah’s around she’s making simple life mistakes.
Can Esra get her act together while staying true to herself?
This book was really fun. I liked the dynamics between Esra and Noah. They had great banter, hot chemistry and a connection that faded everyone else into the background. The western theme park was a great setting and I loved falling for the small town cowboy.
✅ Grumpy/ Sunshine
✅ Enemies to lovers, it started with a sandwich
✅ Small town
✅Cowboy
✅ Wild Western
✅ Theme Park
✅ Modern day western romance
Esra’s life was on track to please her parents and earn her some big money, but when she drops out of medical school she’s cut off from her funds. Her brother gets her a job at Bravetown, a wild western themed theme park. Now she has to learn how to take care of herself while navigating her new surroundings.
Esra is given the role of playing the damsel in distress who’s kidnapped by the lawless cowboy. It’s far from the Ice cream vendor she was hoping to play. She has to work hard to fit the role and learn some life skills along the way.
In reality Esra is stumbling to shake the irritation of her brother’s best friend. Every time Noah’s around she’s making simple life mistakes.
Can Esra get her act together while staying true to herself?
This book was really fun. I liked the dynamics between Esra and Noah. They had great banter, hot chemistry and a connection that faded everyone else into the background. The western theme park was a great setting and I loved falling for the small town cowboy.
✅ Grumpy/ Sunshine
✅ Enemies to lovers, it started with a sandwich
✅ Small town
✅Cowboy
✅ Wild Western
✅ Theme Park
✅ Modern day western romance
July 27, 2025
Unfortunately, this wasn’t a hit for me.
It had potential with the tropes it promised and I appreciate trying to do something different with the cowboy/Wild West genre. But, simply put, I was bored. I just never felt that connection or spark with the story or any of the characters. I found some of the dialogue and behaviours quite cringe and juvenile. Overall, this story, unfortunately, fell flat for me.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
It had potential with the tropes it promised and I appreciate trying to do something different with the cowboy/Wild West genre. But, simply put, I was bored. I just never felt that connection or spark with the story or any of the characters. I found some of the dialogue and behaviours quite cringe and juvenile. Overall, this story, unfortunately, fell flat for me.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
June 22, 2025
If you like small town romance with a city girl fmc and small town mmc then you should give this a read. The fmc goes to this small town to figure out life and ehat she wants to do next. She gets a job working in a show which means she has to spend town in the mmc who is the grumpy cowboy. There was alot of tension between the main characters and it was not a slow burn but also not instant love. The romance was dislike to love and the banter and smut was hot in this one. The fmc was a but annoying but she did get better as the book went on. I liked the chronic illness rep and overall it was an okay romance. Thanks to Dell for this arc for an honest review.
April 30, 2025
I feel seen by this book.
Esra is stubborn & independent to a fault. After being bubble wrapped by her family for most of her life, she's had enough.
Having her dream job 'stolen' from her by her "silly little body" (felt that), she needs a new plan.
Enter Bravetown.
It was meant to be an escape from reality and it ended up being exactly what she needed.
Reading this book has shown me how much representation matters.
I've spent a long time being gaslit/ questioned about my health. To see an FMC display the same condition and dealing with the things you deal with daily is mind blowing
This book is something else and I'll be thinking about for a long time.
Can't wait to recommend it to all my Spoonie friends.
Hoping we get an Adrianna x Brooks book next.
5*
My favourite book of the year
Esra is stubborn & independent to a fault. After being bubble wrapped by her family for most of her life, she's had enough.
Having her dream job 'stolen' from her by her "silly little body" (felt that), she needs a new plan.
Enter Bravetown.
It was meant to be an escape from reality and it ended up being exactly what she needed.
Reading this book has shown me how much representation matters.
I've spent a long time being gaslit/ questioned about my health. To see an FMC display the same condition and dealing with the things you deal with daily is mind blowing
This book is something else and I'll be thinking about for a long time.
Can't wait to recommend it to all my Spoonie friends.
Hoping we get an Adrianna x Brooks book next.
5*
My favourite book of the year
July 8, 2025
3.75/4⭐️
Thank you to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Dilan in her cowboy romance era is something I didn’t know I needed, and I honestly had such a fun time with this one. I really appreciated how much detail went into creating the small-town setting, with its theme park twist—it felt unique, fun, and added a really playful charm to the whole story. The southern vibes, the close-knit community, and the slightly larger-than-life backdrop of Bravetown all worked together to create a setting that felt easy to sink into and perfect for a cosy cowboy romance.
I really liked Noah. He came across as authentic, and you could sense there was more to him beneath the surface. I have to admit, though, I found myself struggling a little with Esra. She’s younger than Noah, and at times that came through in her actions and behaviours. I think the intention was to capture the impulsiveness and recklessness that can come with being in your early twenties, which I completely understand, but for me, it didn’t always quite land. I also appreciated the inclusion of her chronic illness, but sometimes her choices felt a little at odds with that aspect of her character. Because of this, some of the more tender moments between her and Noah didn’t fully connect for me; though there were still plenty of sweet scenes, and I really loved how attentive and caring Noah was towards her.
All in all, I had such a great time in Bravetown, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what Dilan has in store for the rest of this series!
Thank you to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Dilan in her cowboy romance era is something I didn’t know I needed, and I honestly had such a fun time with this one. I really appreciated how much detail went into creating the small-town setting, with its theme park twist—it felt unique, fun, and added a really playful charm to the whole story. The southern vibes, the close-knit community, and the slightly larger-than-life backdrop of Bravetown all worked together to create a setting that felt easy to sink into and perfect for a cosy cowboy romance.
I really liked Noah. He came across as authentic, and you could sense there was more to him beneath the surface. I have to admit, though, I found myself struggling a little with Esra. She’s younger than Noah, and at times that came through in her actions and behaviours. I think the intention was to capture the impulsiveness and recklessness that can come with being in your early twenties, which I completely understand, but for me, it didn’t always quite land. I also appreciated the inclusion of her chronic illness, but sometimes her choices felt a little at odds with that aspect of her character. Because of this, some of the more tender moments between her and Noah didn’t fully connect for me; though there were still plenty of sweet scenes, and I really loved how attentive and caring Noah was towards her.
All in all, I had such a great time in Bravetown, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what Dilan has in store for the rest of this series!
August 4, 2025
Dnf @ page 106
The writing/ dialogue is so juvenile and the characters (especially esra) are beyond annoying. There’s absolutely no chemistry or tension between her and Noah. I think I lost some brain cells trying to read this.
The writing/ dialogue is so juvenile and the characters (especially esra) are beyond annoying. There’s absolutely no chemistry or tension between her and Noah. I think I lost some brain cells trying to read this.
May 17, 2025
Omg, WHERE DO I BEGIN?!
I loved the setting for this story - Wild West Theme Park!!!!!!!!! Hello?! I want to visit! I want to live! I need in real life! I've never read a book where the story takes place in a small town theme park but I had so much fun! I loved beginning of each chapter and how it was giving you backstory about the characters in Bravetown. I was hooked from the very first chapter and I had to stop my other reads because this one needed ALL of my attention. This was such a fast paced read and before I knew it I was over halfway through the book.
"Always remember: In the face of adversity, kindness can be the bravest act of all."
Esra, the city girl, dropped out of med school and ran to live in the same town as her brother Sinan. She needs a job and hopes to serve icecream in the park but ends up getting the part of Annie Lou in the play that runs six days out of the week. Noah, already lives there and is casted as Ace in the play but also can't stand Esra from the first time they meet because she eats his food. Banter right out the bat was HOT hot hot. The supporting characters are some of my favorites-- Vivi, Adriana, Luke, Zuri, Sinan, and TORNADO! Loved that Ez and Sanny sign to each other to communicate and how much Ez's chronic illness is a big part of this story, even if she doesn't want to flat out talk about it with Noah.
"A glaring reminder that caring for someone didn't mean taking care of them and handling their every issue yourself. Caring for someone meant providing them with tools. It meant helping them live independently as much as possible."
The spice in this book, chefs kiss!! The foreplay. The roleplay. The banter. The chemistry. Just everything had me giggling and kicking my feet and I think I read the book too fast because I miss them now. Halfway through reading this I went and placed my preorder because I just need a physical trophy of The Brave and the Reckless like I need air to breathe.
If you love:
grumpy x sunshine
and they were roommates...
brother's best friend
chronic illness rep
open door spice
This releases July 29, 2025 and you should so pick it up. You can thank me later!!!
————————
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for my honest review. all thoughts are my own.
I loved the setting for this story - Wild West Theme Park!!!!!!!!! Hello?! I want to visit! I want to live! I need in real life! I've never read a book where the story takes place in a small town theme park but I had so much fun! I loved beginning of each chapter and how it was giving you backstory about the characters in Bravetown. I was hooked from the very first chapter and I had to stop my other reads because this one needed ALL of my attention. This was such a fast paced read and before I knew it I was over halfway through the book.
"Always remember: In the face of adversity, kindness can be the bravest act of all."
Esra, the city girl, dropped out of med school and ran to live in the same town as her brother Sinan. She needs a job and hopes to serve icecream in the park but ends up getting the part of Annie Lou in the play that runs six days out of the week. Noah, already lives there and is casted as Ace in the play but also can't stand Esra from the first time they meet because she eats his food. Banter right out the bat was HOT hot hot. The supporting characters are some of my favorites-- Vivi, Adriana, Luke, Zuri, Sinan, and TORNADO! Loved that Ez and Sanny sign to each other to communicate and how much Ez's chronic illness is a big part of this story, even if she doesn't want to flat out talk about it with Noah.
"A glaring reminder that caring for someone didn't mean taking care of them and handling their every issue yourself. Caring for someone meant providing them with tools. It meant helping them live independently as much as possible."
The spice in this book, chefs kiss!! The foreplay. The roleplay. The banter. The chemistry. Just everything had me giggling and kicking my feet and I think I read the book too fast because I miss them now. Halfway through reading this I went and placed my preorder because I just need a physical trophy of The Brave and the Reckless like I need air to breathe.
If you love:
grumpy x sunshine
and they were roommates...
brother's best friend
chronic illness rep
open door spice
This releases July 29, 2025 and you should so pick it up. You can thank me later!!!
————————
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for my honest review. all thoughts are my own.
September 25, 2025
"just sit down and let me tell you that i've fallen stupidly in love with you.” ── .✦
wasn't too impressed with this book, sadly. i've read both of dilan dyer's previous books and i enjoyed them for what they were; i remember liking the writing and her ability to form out characters and relationships pretty well. and when i heard this was set at a western theme park, i was already hooked. i love a good theme park romance, so i was really hoping this would be my favorite novel by this author.
unfortunately, it just fell so flat for me. the writing was bland and lacking the signature dyer-ness that i had liked previously, and some of the scenes felt so choppily included, the characters were so flat and could have used some much needed development, the romance was questionable at best considering there was like no real chemistry between esra and noah and they did a random 180 from being annoyed with each other to hooking up, the plot was absolutely nonexistent, and i just couldn't find it in myself to care for anything; the characters, their insecurities, their struggles, nothing. everything just felt so one dimensional to me, sadly.
i really went into this just looking for something fun and a little mindless, but this wasn't even that. most likely won't be continuing this series, which stinks because the covers are so darn pretty, but alas!
cawpile system┊characters 2/10, atmosphere/setting 3/10, writing 3/10, plot 2/10, intrigue 1/10, logic/relationships 2/10, enjoyment 2/10 ⊹₊⟡⋆
wasn't too impressed with this book, sadly. i've read both of dilan dyer's previous books and i enjoyed them for what they were; i remember liking the writing and her ability to form out characters and relationships pretty well. and when i heard this was set at a western theme park, i was already hooked. i love a good theme park romance, so i was really hoping this would be my favorite novel by this author.
unfortunately, it just fell so flat for me. the writing was bland and lacking the signature dyer-ness that i had liked previously, and some of the scenes felt so choppily included, the characters were so flat and could have used some much needed development, the romance was questionable at best considering there was like no real chemistry between esra and noah and they did a random 180 from being annoyed with each other to hooking up, the plot was absolutely nonexistent, and i just couldn't find it in myself to care for anything; the characters, their insecurities, their struggles, nothing. everything just felt so one dimensional to me, sadly.
i really went into this just looking for something fun and a little mindless, but this wasn't even that. most likely won't be continuing this series, which stinks because the covers are so darn pretty, but alas!
cawpile system┊characters 2/10, atmosphere/setting 3/10, writing 3/10, plot 2/10, intrigue 1/10, logic/relationships 2/10, enjoyment 2/10 ⊹₊⟡⋆
May 28, 2025
ARC provided by NetGalley
Rating:- ⭐⭐⭐.75/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice rating:- 🌶🌶🌶.5/🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
Tropes:-
✨Small town romance
🐴Brother's best friend
✨City girl x Town boy
🐴Grumpy guy
✨Cowboy romance
Esra, a city girl (who according to me was kinda spoiled), goes to Bravetown for the summer after leaving the city and has no plans about what she's going to do with her life after summer. Esra gets a job in the town's famous show as the 'Pretty Annie Lou' however, the job requires spending a lot of time with Noah, the grumpy cowboy, who also happens to be her brother's best friend who lives next door.
Now let's start with their first meet, which spoiler alert! is not cute, but kinda funny. Anyway, this was my very first cowboy romance and... Yk they say, 'First impression is the last impression,' I really hope that it's true cuz my first impression of cowboy romance is really good... In fact, this might become one of my favorite tropes.
Now let's move on to the smut... The smut!!! Yk, there's something about the smut in Dilan's books. Maybe it's the foreplay or maybe it's the tension between the couples... Or maybe it's both, but whatever that is, it makes the smut so fucking gooooodddd!! Like, the smut written by her can NEVER disappoint me.
Last but not least, I really hope that Adriana (Esra's bsf) gets her own book with Lucky Luke, cuz they'd just make the perfect couple.
Ps:- I looove Tornado, the horse.
Rating:- ⭐⭐⭐.75/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice rating:- 🌶🌶🌶.5/🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
Tropes:-
✨Small town romance
🐴Brother's best friend
✨City girl x Town boy
🐴Grumpy guy
✨Cowboy romance
Esra, a city girl (who according to me was kinda spoiled), goes to Bravetown for the summer after leaving the city and has no plans about what she's going to do with her life after summer. Esra gets a job in the town's famous show as the 'Pretty Annie Lou' however, the job requires spending a lot of time with Noah, the grumpy cowboy, who also happens to be her brother's best friend who lives next door.
Now let's start with their first meet, which spoiler alert! is not cute, but kinda funny. Anyway, this was my very first cowboy romance and... Yk they say, 'First impression is the last impression,' I really hope that it's true cuz my first impression of cowboy romance is really good... In fact, this might become one of my favorite tropes.
Now let's move on to the smut... The smut!!! Yk, there's something about the smut in Dilan's books. Maybe it's the foreplay or maybe it's the tension between the couples... Or maybe it's both, but whatever that is, it makes the smut so fucking gooooodddd!! Like, the smut written by her can NEVER disappoint me.
Last but not least, I really hope that Adriana (Esra's bsf) gets her own book with Lucky Luke, cuz they'd just make the perfect couple.
Ps:- I looove Tornado, the horse.
July 30, 2025
cowboy romance? theme park setting? sign me up. i was immediately drawn in from chapter one curious to where this was gonna go. the banter between noah and esra is everything!! he is so grumpy and she knows how to get under his skin. it had me giggling the entire time. i haven’t really read many theme park setting romances but now im hooked. i was visualizing everything in my head. i knew i was going to enjoy this because it has a lot of my favorite tropes (listed below). towards the end, there was some miscommunication but i think it was needed for esra to realize where she belongs. i will definitely be reading more from dilan.
thank you to the publisher for the e-arc!!!!
esra moves to the wild west which wasn’t part of her life plan but she drops out of med school and her brother suggests she joins him at bravetown (the wild west theme park that he works at). upon arrival, she happens to be the “perfect fit” for the costume of bravetown’s “resident damsel in distress”, annie lou. with this role, that means she will be dramatically abducted by ace ryder, the park’s “lawless cowboy”. enter noah (who plays ace) who is extremely grumpy and doesn’t know how to have fun. they initially have zero interest in one another besides within their performance but soon realize they have an attraction that “might not all be for show.”
tropes: bother’s best friend, grumpy cowboy x sunshine city girl, chronic illness rep, forced proximity, loathe to love, roommates, small town wild west theme park setting, dual pov
🎢🤠🐎🥜🎭
thank you to the publisher for the e-arc!!!!
esra moves to the wild west which wasn’t part of her life plan but she drops out of med school and her brother suggests she joins him at bravetown (the wild west theme park that he works at). upon arrival, she happens to be the “perfect fit” for the costume of bravetown’s “resident damsel in distress”, annie lou. with this role, that means she will be dramatically abducted by ace ryder, the park’s “lawless cowboy”. enter noah (who plays ace) who is extremely grumpy and doesn’t know how to have fun. they initially have zero interest in one another besides within their performance but soon realize they have an attraction that “might not all be for show.”
tropes: bother’s best friend, grumpy cowboy x sunshine city girl, chronic illness rep, forced proximity, loathe to love, roommates, small town wild west theme park setting, dual pov
🎢🤠🐎🥜🎭
July 9, 2025
This was a really different take on a cowboy romance which is definitely a genre that has lots to choose from. I loved the unique setting of an old timey Wild West theme park where the main characters play the bandit and damsel in distress. Noah and Esra instantly dislike one another despite having to work and live closely together. Noah is also close friends with Esra’s brother which adds layer of conflict to their eventual romance. And yes, despite their initial irritation with one another, these two wild kids of course start a secret romance.
Esra and Noah both come with their own baggage and it does shape their romance. Esra struggles with gaining and maintaining her independence while managing her chronic illness while Noah deals with the need to protect everything he cares for. This ultimately causes a very exaggerated third act conflict that really could have been solved with some simple communication but rarely does that happen in real life so why should we expect it in a book?
Overall, I really enjoyed this book because it’s truly unique and different among the other western romances. The setting and found family aspect leads to a lot of interesting interactions and i hope the author continues to set books there!
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine and Dell for this eARC in exchange for an honest review
Esra and Noah both come with their own baggage and it does shape their romance. Esra struggles with gaining and maintaining her independence while managing her chronic illness while Noah deals with the need to protect everything he cares for. This ultimately causes a very exaggerated third act conflict that really could have been solved with some simple communication but rarely does that happen in real life so why should we expect it in a book?
Overall, I really enjoyed this book because it’s truly unique and different among the other western romances. The setting and found family aspect leads to a lot of interesting interactions and i hope the author continues to set books there!
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine and Dell for this eARC in exchange for an honest review
June 15, 2025
Cowboy take me away!
I was gifted this ARC from NetGalley and Random House Publishing and Ballantine and I was so grateful to be able to read it!
The setting of a western theme park immediately drew me in as it brought up fun childhood memories of my own visiting western parks. The one I visited definitely didn’t have hot cowboys though and I was more than happy to dive into the Brave Town world with Ace. Ace Ryder is the villain of the town, played by Noah Young. He is broody, doesn’t trust many people or have the desire to make lasting relationships. That is until the tornado of a woman, Esra, comes into to town. Esra is an in your face, loud, quirky girl ready to start a new life and get away from her perfectly planned out life back home. Esra and Noah butt heads immediately but find themselves forced to work together.
I did feel like it took about 50% for the story to really move forward and that there was a lot of unnecessary side plot. Once the story really started moving I couldn’t put it down. There is internal struggles in both Noah and Esra from their past that they both work through during the story and show true growth as their relationship blooms. It really captured the essence of a romcom with the angry banter and tension building and then finally a hot romance with two people that can’t get enough of each other. The steam was so steamy and I loved every second of it!
Thank you Dilan Dyer for this book. I had so much fun being immersed into a western world of cowboys and romance!
I was gifted this ARC from NetGalley and Random House Publishing and Ballantine and I was so grateful to be able to read it!
The setting of a western theme park immediately drew me in as it brought up fun childhood memories of my own visiting western parks. The one I visited definitely didn’t have hot cowboys though and I was more than happy to dive into the Brave Town world with Ace. Ace Ryder is the villain of the town, played by Noah Young. He is broody, doesn’t trust many people or have the desire to make lasting relationships. That is until the tornado of a woman, Esra, comes into to town. Esra is an in your face, loud, quirky girl ready to start a new life and get away from her perfectly planned out life back home. Esra and Noah butt heads immediately but find themselves forced to work together.
I did feel like it took about 50% for the story to really move forward and that there was a lot of unnecessary side plot. Once the story really started moving I couldn’t put it down. There is internal struggles in both Noah and Esra from their past that they both work through during the story and show true growth as their relationship blooms. It really captured the essence of a romcom with the angry banter and tension building and then finally a hot romance with two people that can’t get enough of each other. The steam was so steamy and I loved every second of it!
Thank you Dilan Dyer for this book. I had so much fun being immersed into a western world of cowboys and romance!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2025
4.25⭐️ such a unique and fun take on a cowboy romance!!
This book immediately caught my attention when I saw it took place at a Wild West theme park. Esra recently dropped out of med school and has run away to this small town to work at a theme park her brother also works at. This theme park is Wild West themed and the author did such an incredible job with all the aspects. Esra is hired to play a damsel in distress and the mmc Noah plays the villian who kidnaps her every single day.
The dynamic between the two main characters was hilarious. They were bickering and at each others throats the second they met and there were multiple scenes that had me laughing out loud. Overall had the best time reading this!!
🎟️ Cowboy romance with a twist
🎟️ Wild West theme park
🎟️ chronic illness rep
🎟️ witty fmc x grumpy mmc
🎟️ dual pov
🎟️ spicy
Thank you to Dell Romance and Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This book immediately caught my attention when I saw it took place at a Wild West theme park. Esra recently dropped out of med school and has run away to this small town to work at a theme park her brother also works at. This theme park is Wild West themed and the author did such an incredible job with all the aspects. Esra is hired to play a damsel in distress and the mmc Noah plays the villian who kidnaps her every single day.
The dynamic between the two main characters was hilarious. They were bickering and at each others throats the second they met and there were multiple scenes that had me laughing out loud. Overall had the best time reading this!!
🎟️ Cowboy romance with a twist
🎟️ Wild West theme park
🎟️ chronic illness rep
🎟️ witty fmc x grumpy mmc
🎟️ dual pov
🎟️ spicy
Thank you to Dell Romance and Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
July 10, 2025
This was a fun and unique read, with good vibes! The fact that it easy cowboy themed, but set in a West World theme park made it even more interesting.
The immediate introduction to all the characters were done in such a great way. I didn’t struggle to keep up with who’s who, and what their role is. The bickering and banter she had with Noah was just *chef’s kiss*. It was everything I look for in an enemies to lovers trope. I absolutely loved to see how they went from hating each other, while also being severely obsessed with each other, to not wanting to be apart.
I found her a bit childish at times, but that’s to be expected when you’re used to having to follow rules in a strict way, have your life planned out for you by parents and also struggling with chronic illness. Which I think this book was a great rep of. The ending felt a bit rushed, but didn’t affect how much I liked the story!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book so much. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House!
Some favourite quotes and scenes:
🥜 “I usually liked silence, but I hated hers.”
🥜 “She was sinking her claws into me, figuratively and literally, and I was going to say thank you and ask for seconds.”
🥜 “He’s mine. Don’t even think about stealing my Peanut Butter, got it?” the cutest!
The immediate introduction to all the characters were done in such a great way. I didn’t struggle to keep up with who’s who, and what their role is. The bickering and banter she had with Noah was just *chef’s kiss*. It was everything I look for in an enemies to lovers trope. I absolutely loved to see how they went from hating each other, while also being severely obsessed with each other, to not wanting to be apart.
I found her a bit childish at times, but that’s to be expected when you’re used to having to follow rules in a strict way, have your life planned out for you by parents and also struggling with chronic illness. Which I think this book was a great rep of. The ending felt a bit rushed, but didn’t affect how much I liked the story!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book so much. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House!
Some favourite quotes and scenes:
🥜 “I usually liked silence, but I hated hers.”
🥜 “She was sinking her claws into me, figuratively and literally, and I was going to say thank you and ask for seconds.”
🥜 “He’s mine. Don’t even think about stealing my Peanut Butter, got it?” the cutest!
May 17, 2025
This book has me in a tizzy. I literally have no complaints here. Esra and Noah are just perfect, not to mention every side character was so delightful I could barely stand it. Even characters that you see for 2 seconds. There is a scene where a little girl is yelling at the main characters and it’s just the best scene. It reminded me so much of my daughter.
Bravetown is magical. I wish it was real. I don’t ever want to visit Tennessee but I would to go to bravetown.
I received a free arc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Bravetown is magical. I wish it was real. I don’t ever want to visit Tennessee but I would to go to bravetown.
I received a free arc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
May 16, 2025
ARC read 4.5 ⭐️ I really went into this thinking I wouldn't like it that much, because I am not a cowboy fan but I like Dilan Dyer. I stand corrected. I enjoyed this so much! Especially the cowboy. The characters were so funny, and witty, I loved watching them find themselves and each other. I personally love slightly unhinged female main character, and Esra is that. She's so funny and so uniquely her. Also as an EDS girly the representation was SO good, and you can tell was not loosely thrown in but thoroughly researched. Especially at the end with the equine therapy. Noah is a cowboy I would save a horse for any day. His character was the perfect combination of standoffish asshole to jealous lover boy that we love to see. Plus the gun scene.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2025
This was a fun opposites attract, grumpy x sunshine, older brother's best friend, slow burn debut contemporary romance set at a Western theme park that has newcomer Esra slowly falling for her hot cowboy coworker.
There's great disability rep (Esra has hEDS), open door spice and tons of emotional depth. I loved both the main characters and highly recommend it for fans of the Dreamland billionaires or Honeywood series (other amusement park romance books).
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review! I can't wait to read the next book in the Bravetown series!
There's great disability rep (Esra has hEDS), open door spice and tons of emotional depth. I loved both the main characters and highly recommend it for fans of the Dreamland billionaires or Honeywood series (other amusement park romance books).
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review! I can't wait to read the next book in the Bravetown series!
April 25, 2025
Dilan can write anything. And I will read it.
Esra and Noah are so hot together.
I love them so much.
Thanks penguin and Netgalley for an advanced copy.
Esra and Noah are so hot together.
I love them so much.
Thanks penguin and Netgalley for an advanced copy.
August 12, 2025
this book had promise and i loved how unique the premise was. this is a setting i would never think of for a cowboy romance, but it was fun. this also ended up being heavier on the spice than i was anticipating, which wasn’t a bad thing. i loved the chronic illness rep.
however, overall, this was a bit of a miss for me. it wasn’t “bad” per se, but it just wasn’t my favorite. i found myself bored a lot of the time, hoping it would be over soon. i think this stemmed largely from the fact that i felt like there wasn’t any true conflict. i just did not feel invested in any of the characters or the plot, which was lacking. i felt like Esra and Noah had great sexual chemistry but i didn’t believe in them together in an actual relationship. both of their characters felt under developed and the transition of them hating each other to being into each other felt too abrupt.
i wanted to love this one so much more than i did.
thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine, and Dell Romance for the ARC!
however, overall, this was a bit of a miss for me. it wasn’t “bad” per se, but it just wasn’t my favorite. i found myself bored a lot of the time, hoping it would be over soon. i think this stemmed largely from the fact that i felt like there wasn’t any true conflict. i just did not feel invested in any of the characters or the plot, which was lacking. i felt like Esra and Noah had great sexual chemistry but i didn’t believe in them together in an actual relationship. both of their characters felt under developed and the transition of them hating each other to being into each other felt too abrupt.
i wanted to love this one so much more than i did.
thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine, and Dell Romance for the ARC!
June 12, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine for the advanced copy!
This book was not what I was expecting, in the least. And I say that in a good way! Mask play, best friend's little sister, chronic illness rep, cowboy.. woof. It was lovely. I love Noah and Esra. Their witty banter from the start had sparks. I love their frenemies-to-lovers bit they have going on. What I greatly appreciated about this book is how much they each grow, from being together to being apart. The side characters are wonderful and fleshed out, and if this turns into a series, I am very much looking forward to visiting Bravetown again!
This book was not what I was expecting, in the least. And I say that in a good way! Mask play, best friend's little sister, chronic illness rep, cowboy.. woof. It was lovely. I love Noah and Esra. Their witty banter from the start had sparks. I love their frenemies-to-lovers bit they have going on. What I greatly appreciated about this book is how much they each grow, from being together to being apart. The side characters are wonderful and fleshed out, and if this turns into a series, I am very much looking forward to visiting Bravetown again!
August 2, 2025
I actually soft DNFed this one after the first four chapters, I just couldn’t get into it at the time. The concept felt a little out there, especially when I was craving a classic cowboy romance.
But I’m so glad I gave it another shot (during a visit to our local amusement park, of all places)! 🎢📖
This book ended up being a one-of-a-kind ride - yes, a little too spicy at times, a little corny in parts, but it also delivered some really meaningful life lessons. It’s quirky, unexpected, and totally worth a read if you’re in the right mood.
Definitely recommend giving it a chance, you might be surprised like I was!
But I’m so glad I gave it another shot (during a visit to our local amusement park, of all places)! 🎢📖
This book ended up being a one-of-a-kind ride - yes, a little too spicy at times, a little corny in parts, but it also delivered some really meaningful life lessons. It’s quirky, unexpected, and totally worth a read if you’re in the right mood.
Definitely recommend giving it a chance, you might be surprised like I was!
November 24, 2025
I had the best time reading this!!! Whimsical small town setting, check. Chronic illness rep, check. Sexy cowboy, check. Brother’s best friend, check. Scrumptious spice, check. He is so so so down bad for her, triple check. I think that just about covers it😌
Thank you to Dell and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Dell and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
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