What do you think?
Rate this book
Steele Brothers of Starlight Cove #4
The Roommate Rules Special Edition: Special Edition Discreet Cover
Starlight Cove's prim little librarian has despised me since the first day I parked my motorcycle on her sidewalk. Now our feud has landed us as roommates…and she just asked me to teach her every dirty thing she's never experienced.
Making Penelope Shea lose her mind has been my favorite hobby since she moved here. But our infamous daily sparring backfires when the town's meddling grandma sentences us to five hundred hours of community service…or thirty days of living together.
Penelope chooses cohabitation with the enemy to protect her spotless record. I agree because watching her unravel sounds like fun.
What I don't expect is to discover my rule-enforcing roommate has secrets—namely, a hidden career penning filthy romances and a list of sinful lessons she's written about but never learned firsthand.
Like an idiot, I volunteer as her tutor.
Penelope calls it research. I call it trouble. Because somewhere between her first lesson and her first tattoo, she goes from being in my head to being in my bed.
Now she's under my skin as permanently as my ink is under hers.
Our month is almost up. But I've never been good with rules—and letting her walk away isn't one I plan to follow.
Making Penelope Shea lose her mind has been my favorite hobby since she moved here. But our infamous daily sparring backfires when the town's meddling grandma sentences us to five hundred hours of community service…or thirty days of living together.
Penelope chooses cohabitation with the enemy to protect her spotless record. I agree because watching her unravel sounds like fun.
What I don't expect is to discover my rule-enforcing roommate has secrets—namely, a hidden career penning filthy romances and a list of sinful lessons she's written about but never learned firsthand.
Like an idiot, I volunteer as her tutor.
Penelope calls it research. I call it trouble. Because somewhere between her first lesson and her first tattoo, she goes from being in my head to being in my bed.
Now she's under my skin as permanently as my ink is under hers.
Our month is almost up. But I've never been good with rules—and letting her walk away isn't one I plan to follow.
414 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2026
About the author
Brighton Walsh
54 books2,407 followersAward-winning USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Brighton Walsh spent nearly a decade as a professional photographer before taking her storytelling in a different direction and reconnecting with her first love: writing. When she’s not lost in her own made up worlds, she’s probably either reading or shopping—maybe even both at once. She lives in the Midwest with her real life hero of a husband, her two kids—both taller than her—and her dog who thinks she’s a queen. Her boy-filled house is the setting for dirty socks galore, frequent dance parties (okay, so it's mostly her, by herself, while her children look on in horror), and more laughter than she thought possible. Visit her online at brightonwalsh.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 978 reviews
May 7, 2026
There is cr@ck or something in this book
How does Brighton do it every fucking time???
I hope there are many more series to come that are set in Starlight Cove cause I want Mabel to never stop meddling lol
I keep saying Atlas is my fav but then I feel like I’m cheating on him with each of his brothers.
But for real HOW DOES BRIGHTON SO IT EVERY FCKING TIME????
It’s pure fire, pure entertainment, fire, banter, fire, so so hot, the best time, tension, fire, banter, small town shenanigans, THE BEST GROUP CHATS, Mabel, once again so hot, such a good time, thank you Mabel for your meddling, the best siblings dynamics, the best girls group, oh and have I mentioned how HOT this book is?
AND THE TENSION JUST OMG
I want to write a proper review but I don’t think I can. This book (this whole series tbh) is making me feral so it’s only fair my review holds the same vibe.
There is just something about Brighton’s writing that does it for me every single time. The execution is always flawless, the spice doesn’t get boring, and the characters are always so damn well written.
Forever grateful to be part of Brighton’s team and being blessed with yet another ARC+ALC combo.
Go check out my reading updates (please ignore all embarrassing typos, I never remember to double check and you can’t edit them after posting 💔), there are a lot of quotes in there ;)
I am not one to be excited for a book JUST based on tropes but Brighton’s lists of tropes are always so good, especially microtropes so enjoy and trust them (in this case you really can trust the book based only on the tropes):
🩷 hate to love
💜 sex lessons
🩷 bad boy/good girl
💜 roommates to lovers
🩷 grumpy x sunshine
💜 forced proximity
💃🏼 meddling town grandma aka sex toys dealer
💜 plus size FMC
🩷 roommates with benefits
💜 "eyes on me"
🩷 fancy peen
💜 he washes her hair
🩷 he takes care of her when she's sick
💜 brat tamer
🩷 public play
💜 hand necklaces
🩷 face sitting
💜 he cooks her dinner
🩷 he tattoos her
💜 caretaking when she’s sick
🩷 he calls her “rebel”
💜 post it note wars as foreplay
🩷 he antagonizes her cause he likes her mad
💜 he read *her* (like her-her) romance books
🩷 yes, you read that right, she’s a secret famous smut writer
💜 the best group chats
Oh and also f yea I KNEW it won’t be the last one 😏
Oh wait, about the audio! How could I forget? I did this read mostly in audio.
Duet narration by Charlotte North and Aiden Snow.
The narration is absolutely flawless. Hot and emotional.
It’s almost 11h which normally would take me 2-3 days to complete but I somehow (😏) did it under 24h. That’s the magic of Brighton’s writing and amazing narrators’ delivery!
How does Brighton do it every fucking time???
I hope there are many more series to come that are set in Starlight Cove cause I want Mabel to never stop meddling lol
I keep saying Atlas is my fav but then I feel like I’m cheating on him with each of his brothers.
But for real HOW DOES BRIGHTON SO IT EVERY FCKING TIME????
It’s pure fire, pure entertainment, fire, banter, fire, so so hot, the best time, tension, fire, banter, small town shenanigans, THE BEST GROUP CHATS, Mabel, once again so hot, such a good time, thank you Mabel for your meddling, the best siblings dynamics, the best girls group, oh and have I mentioned how HOT this book is?
AND THE TENSION JUST OMG
I want to write a proper review but I don’t think I can. This book (this whole series tbh) is making me feral so it’s only fair my review holds the same vibe.
There is just something about Brighton’s writing that does it for me every single time. The execution is always flawless, the spice doesn’t get boring, and the characters are always so damn well written.
Forever grateful to be part of Brighton’s team and being blessed with yet another ARC+ALC combo.
Go check out my reading updates (please ignore all embarrassing typos, I never remember to double check and you can’t edit them after posting 💔), there are a lot of quotes in there ;)
I am not one to be excited for a book JUST based on tropes but Brighton’s lists of tropes are always so good, especially microtropes so enjoy and trust them (in this case you really can trust the book based only on the tropes):
🩷 hate to love
💜 sex lessons
🩷 bad boy/good girl
💜 roommates to lovers
🩷 grumpy x sunshine
💜 forced proximity
💃🏼 meddling town grandma aka sex toys dealer
💜 plus size FMC
🩷 roommates with benefits
💜 "eyes on me"
🩷 fancy peen
💜 he washes her hair
🩷 he takes care of her when she's sick
💜 brat tamer
🩷 public play
💜 hand necklaces
🩷 face sitting
💜 he cooks her dinner
🩷 he tattoos her
💜 caretaking when she’s sick
🩷 he calls her “rebel”
💜 post it note wars as foreplay
🩷 he antagonizes her cause he likes her mad
💜 he read *her* (like her-her) romance books
🩷 yes, you read that right, she’s a secret famous smut writer
💜 the best group chats
Oh and also f yea I KNEW it won’t be the last one 😏
Oh wait, about the audio! How could I forget? I did this read mostly in audio.
Duet narration by Charlotte North and Aiden Snow.
The narration is absolutely flawless. Hot and emotional.
It’s almost 11h which normally would take me 2-3 days to complete but I somehow (😏) did it under 24h. That’s the magic of Brighton’s writing and amazing narrators’ delivery!
April 30, 2026
“I’d never believed in forever. Never allowed myself to. But holding Penelope like this? Her breaths ghosting over my skin and our hearts beating in tandem? I wanted to.
For the first time in my life, I wanted to.”
mannnnnn it’s always the quiet reserved ones that end up surprising you the most. 🤣😭
Penelope being the prim, rule-following librarian and Declan being…well, Declan—grumpy, tattooed, permanently annoyed with the world—made their dynamic so ridiculously fun to read. I LOVED the constant back and forth between them. The arguing, the tension, the way he deliberately pushed her buttons just because he liked seeing her flustered and upset with him 😂 it was so petty and so entertaining.
There’s also just something about a man who’s grumpy with everyone except the very few people he actually cares about, and watching her slowly become one of those people? 😌🤌🏼Perfect. That shift from irritation to protectiveness always gets me.
And Penelope trying to survive living with him was already hilarious from the start. 😭
honestly? fair 💀
Compared to some of the other books in the series, I’d say this one felt a little lighter emotionally. I was a little disappointed there wasn’t much backstory for either of them until the very end, because I kept waiting for a little more depth there. But even with that, the chemistry between them carried the entire book so easily that I didn’t mind as much as I thought I would.
Because the spice???
Dialledddddddd up.
Spicy lessons will always be such a fun trope to me, and this one absolutely delivered. Penelope secretly writing filthy romance while having very little personal experience herself was already such a good setup, but Declan volunteering himself as her tutor?
Sir. 🙂↕️🤚🏼 The dirty man you are 😭
There was definitely way more spice in this one than I expected, but honestly, it made complete sense with the plot and with who these characters were. It never felt random. It fit their tension, their push and pull, and all the things they weren’t saying out loud.
AND THE TATTOO SCENE??? I lost my mind 🥹
HE GIVES HER THE FIRST TAT AFTER DRAWING IT FOR HER HIMSELF?!!! AHHHH
I’m sorry but that is romance. That is intimacy. That is a love confession in permanent ink.😩😩 and the way he's been drawing her since DAY ONE???? EKKKKKK
No because I would have actually passed away right there.
I CANTTTT 😭🫶🏼🥹
I also loved the Steele family dynamic so much. The banter between all the brothers is one of my favorite parts of this series, and Brighton Walsh writes group chats so. freaking. well. They actually make me laugh out loud instead of feeling like forced quirky filler.
just a little peek at a text convo that had me giggling ↓
Atlas:
None of my roommates have ever delivered me lunch.
Xander:
And definitely not with a handwritten note.
Declan:
Did I take a wrong turn into hell? Why are you all still talking?
Lincoln:
Just looking out for you, bro."
I LOVE THEM LOL
One of my favorite softer details was how much love all the Steele brothers have for their mom. Declan being this giant grump but still hugging her, loving on her (giving her forehead kisses?! AHH WE LOVE A GENTLE MOMMA'S BOY) it was honestly one of the sweetest parts of the book for me. I love when the rough, intimidating man is secretly the softest where it matters. 😌
I need to get to Xander and Chloe’s book immediately because I LOVE a single dad x nanny trope and I already know I’m going to eat that up. (and it's the only one I haven't read in the series) But ALSO—
EXCUSE ME WHAT WAS THAT ENDING???
That cliffhanger for another book??? I refuse to stay calm about it. IS THE SERIES POSSIBLY NOT OVER????!
My hopes are so ridiculously high that Rowan is the fmc. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let that happen because I need it immediately. 😭
Very much a 4 ⭐️ read and absolutely proof that the quiet girls are always the most dangerous. 😝😝
things to know about the book ↓
📚 enemies to lovers
📚 forced proximity
📚 roommates
📚 spicy lessons
📚 he tattoos her
📚 small town meddling
📚 group chats
📚 dual POV
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
swearing: yes
Thank you Luna Literary, Smuthood & Brighton Walsh for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
If you're interested in reading my previous reviews for books in this series! ↓ ↓
#1- The Grump Nextdoor
#3- The Mr & Mrs Mistake
⸻⸻⸻
・❥・⁀➷ pre-read
YAYYY I GOT THE ARC!!
a prim librarian + a motorcycle riding bad boy 🙂↕️🤌🏼
I’m SO ready
For the first time in my life, I wanted to.”
mannnnnn it’s always the quiet reserved ones that end up surprising you the most. 🤣😭
Penelope being the prim, rule-following librarian and Declan being…well, Declan—grumpy, tattooed, permanently annoyed with the world—made their dynamic so ridiculously fun to read. I LOVED the constant back and forth between them. The arguing, the tension, the way he deliberately pushed her buttons just because he liked seeing her flustered and upset with him 😂 it was so petty and so entertaining.
There’s also just something about a man who’s grumpy with everyone except the very few people he actually cares about, and watching her slowly become one of those people? 😌🤌🏼Perfect. That shift from irritation to protectiveness always gets me.
And Penelope trying to survive living with him was already hilarious from the start. 😭
“In the search field, I typed, how to live with someone you despise without murdering them in the first week.
The results were…unhelpful. And now I was probably on a federal watch list.”
honestly? fair 💀
Compared to some of the other books in the series, I’d say this one felt a little lighter emotionally. I was a little disappointed there wasn’t much backstory for either of them until the very end, because I kept waiting for a little more depth there. But even with that, the chemistry between them carried the entire book so easily that I didn’t mind as much as I thought I would.
Because the spice???
Dialledddddddd up.
Spicy lessons will always be such a fun trope to me, and this one absolutely delivered. Penelope secretly writing filthy romance while having very little personal experience herself was already such a good setup, but Declan volunteering himself as her tutor?
Sir. 🙂↕️🤚🏼 The dirty man you are 😭
There was definitely way more spice in this one than I expected, but honestly, it made complete sense with the plot and with who these characters were. It never felt random. It fit their tension, their push and pull, and all the things they weren’t saying out loud.
AND THE TATTOO SCENE??? I lost my mind 🥹
HE GIVES HER THE FIRST TAT AFTER DRAWING IT FOR HER HIMSELF?!!! AHHHH
“My breath caught at what I saw—the pale flesh and freckles I knew so well now broken up by dark ink that looked like it had always belonged there.
Like my skin had just been waiting for it.”
I’m sorry but that is romance. That is intimacy. That is a love confession in permanent ink.😩😩 and the way he's been drawing her since DAY ONE???? EKKKKKK
“Pages upon pages filled it—some scraps with torn edges and some full size. Some drawn in pencil, some pen, some charcoal. All of them sketches of…me.”
No because I would have actually passed away right there.
I CANTTTT 😭🫶🏼🥹
I also loved the Steele family dynamic so much. The banter between all the brothers is one of my favorite parts of this series, and Brighton Walsh writes group chats so. freaking. well. They actually make me laugh out loud instead of feeling like forced quirky filler.
just a little peek at a text convo that had me giggling ↓
Atlas:
None of my roommates have ever delivered me lunch.
Xander:
And definitely not with a handwritten note.
Declan:
Did I take a wrong turn into hell? Why are you all still talking?
Lincoln:
Just looking out for you, bro."
I LOVE THEM LOL
One of my favorite softer details was how much love all the Steele brothers have for their mom. Declan being this giant grump but still hugging her, loving on her (giving her forehead kisses?! AHH WE LOVE A GENTLE MOMMA'S BOY) it was honestly one of the sweetest parts of the book for me. I love when the rough, intimidating man is secretly the softest where it matters. 😌
I need to get to Xander and Chloe’s book immediately because I LOVE a single dad x nanny trope and I already know I’m going to eat that up. (and it's the only one I haven't read in the series) But ALSO—
EXCUSE ME WHAT WAS THAT ENDING???
That cliffhanger for another book??? I refuse to stay calm about it. IS THE SERIES POSSIBLY NOT OVER????!
My hopes are so ridiculously high that Rowan is the fmc. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let that happen because I need it immediately. 😭
Very much a 4 ⭐️ read and absolutely proof that the quiet girls are always the most dangerous. 😝😝
things to know about the book ↓
📚 enemies to lovers
📚 forced proximity
📚 roommates
📚 spicy lessons
📚 he tattoos her
📚 small town meddling
📚 group chats
📚 dual POV
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
swearing: yes
Thank you Luna Literary, Smuthood & Brighton Walsh for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
If you're interested in reading my previous reviews for books in this series! ↓ ↓
#1- The Grump Nextdoor
#3- The Mr & Mrs Mistake
⸻⸻⸻
・❥・⁀➷ pre-read
YAYYY I GOT THE ARC!!
a prim librarian + a motorcycle riding bad boy 🙂↕️🤌🏼
I’m SO ready
April 28, 2026
First a huge thanks to Brighton Walsh for allowing me to read The Roomate Rules early. These are all of my honest thoughts and opinions.
I was so excited to get both an ARC and ALC. Legit screammmmed!
The audiobook? Aidan Snow is pure perfection and no one will ever change my mind. Him and Charlotte North do an amazing job narrating this one.
Penelope is such a shy innocent thing. I adore her so much. She was definitely a ray of sunshine. Declan brought her wild side out and I was living for ittttt. 😂❤️
Declan? Amazing. So damn broody and I’m all for it. When you finally start getting those glimpses of him opening up? Ugh I love it! Where can I find myself a Declan!? Like ASAP.
“That’s it. There’s my good girl. You’re such a good fucking girl for me, Penelope.”
The banter was soooo good. Penelope and Declan have this intense chemistry that holds so much tension and when it finally bursts it is so hot. 🥵 those spicy scenes 👌🏼🔥
I needed a light fun read and this was so it.
I highly recommend picking it up and if you love forced proximity as much as I do, you will eat this one right up!
Tropes:
-forced proximity
-good girl/bad boy
-hate to love
-sex lessons
Releases on May 7th
5.0/5⭐️
I was so excited to get both an ARC and ALC. Legit screammmmed!
The audiobook? Aidan Snow is pure perfection and no one will ever change my mind. Him and Charlotte North do an amazing job narrating this one.
Penelope is such a shy innocent thing. I adore her so much. She was definitely a ray of sunshine. Declan brought her wild side out and I was living for ittttt. 😂❤️
Declan? Amazing. So damn broody and I’m all for it. When you finally start getting those glimpses of him opening up? Ugh I love it! Where can I find myself a Declan!? Like ASAP.
“That’s it. There’s my good girl. You’re such a good fucking girl for me, Penelope.”
The banter was soooo good. Penelope and Declan have this intense chemistry that holds so much tension and when it finally bursts it is so hot. 🥵 those spicy scenes 👌🏼🔥
I needed a light fun read and this was so it.
I highly recommend picking it up and if you love forced proximity as much as I do, you will eat this one right up!
Tropes:
-forced proximity
-good girl/bad boy
-hate to love
-sex lessons
Releases on May 7th
5.0/5⭐️
May 14, 2026
5🌟, 3🌶️
ARC Review
If you’re looking for a book that will make you blush and cry in the best way, this is it.
Declan is the ultimate broody, tattooed dream, and watching him purposefully get under Penelope’s skin was the highlight of my week. Their transition from bickering rivals to forced roommates was such a fun ride, but what really stuck with me was how safe he made her feel. Watching them slowly heal from their pasts while the tension built up was so satisfying and sweet.
Being back in Starlight Cove with the Steele family felt like a massive hug from an old friend. Between the chaotic group texts and Mabel’s legendary meddling, I was laughing out loud every few pages. Penelope is such a relatable ray of sunshine, and I loved seeing her find her confidence when her secret side finally came out. The chemistry between her and Declan was absolutely scorching, easily making this the hottest book in the series so far.
I’m still buzzing after that ending because I did not see that final twist coming. The way their connection grew from playful banter into something so deep and supportive really got to me.
Seriously, do yourself a favor and dive into this world immediately.
~~~~
ALC Review (Audiobook) 🎧
Listening to this story was a total game-changer thanks to the incredible duet narration by Aiden Snow and Charlotte North. They captured the intense chemistry and sharp banter so perfectly that it felt like I was eavesdropping on a real couple. Aiden’s deep, broody tone for Declan and Charlotte’s portrayal of Penelope’s growing confidence made the whole experience feel so much more intimate and immersive.
The emotional depth of the story really shines through in audio, especially during the vulnerable moments. Hearing the roommate rules and the group chat chaos out loud added a whole new layer of humor that had me smiling the entire time. The narrators brought so much heat and heart to every chapter, making the spicy lessons and the emotional payoff feel even more explosive.
Do your ears a favor and grab the audio version of this one.
~~~~
I was lucky enough to receive both an ARC and an ALC, and being able to immersive read and listen to this story made the whole experience even more special.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Brighton Walsh & The Smuthood for the ARC & ALC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
ARC Review
If you’re looking for a book that will make you blush and cry in the best way, this is it.
Declan is the ultimate broody, tattooed dream, and watching him purposefully get under Penelope’s skin was the highlight of my week. Their transition from bickering rivals to forced roommates was such a fun ride, but what really stuck with me was how safe he made her feel. Watching them slowly heal from their pasts while the tension built up was so satisfying and sweet.
Being back in Starlight Cove with the Steele family felt like a massive hug from an old friend. Between the chaotic group texts and Mabel’s legendary meddling, I was laughing out loud every few pages. Penelope is such a relatable ray of sunshine, and I loved seeing her find her confidence when her secret side finally came out. The chemistry between her and Declan was absolutely scorching, easily making this the hottest book in the series so far.
I’m still buzzing after that ending because I did not see that final twist coming. The way their connection grew from playful banter into something so deep and supportive really got to me.
Seriously, do yourself a favor and dive into this world immediately.
~~~~
ALC Review (Audiobook) 🎧
Listening to this story was a total game-changer thanks to the incredible duet narration by Aiden Snow and Charlotte North. They captured the intense chemistry and sharp banter so perfectly that it felt like I was eavesdropping on a real couple. Aiden’s deep, broody tone for Declan and Charlotte’s portrayal of Penelope’s growing confidence made the whole experience feel so much more intimate and immersive.
The emotional depth of the story really shines through in audio, especially during the vulnerable moments. Hearing the roommate rules and the group chat chaos out loud added a whole new layer of humor that had me smiling the entire time. The narrators brought so much heat and heart to every chapter, making the spicy lessons and the emotional payoff feel even more explosive.
Do your ears a favor and grab the audio version of this one.
~~~~
I was lucky enough to receive both an ARC and an ALC, and being able to immersive read and listen to this story made the whole experience even more special.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Brighton Walsh & The Smuthood for the ARC & ALC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
May 21, 2026
Last time we were in this town I was meh at the couple. Now HOLY SNEAKY LINK!!!! Delcan and Pen were everything hehe. He has no reason to dislike her or bug her but since she step foot into town he liked teasing and bugging her. Just something he loves because she's so prim and proper. When she has a tiny sorta double life. Prim and good girl in public in private she's a erotica romance writer. Who ill be honest blushes to much and doesn't know guys have piercing on there dick. So yeah she was to innocent for a 31 year old... so I did enjoy these spicy lessons because he was so you get to come your needs are more important.
Besides the "sneaky" around everyone in town is like soooo when you dating? You guys aren't so smooth. 🤣🤣🤣
We also got the sweet side of Del when hes taking care of sick Pen. Like I wish men were like that.
The drama and the "break up" I understood and it wasnt bad like they brokeish up for like 1 hour in my head. And the ending..THAT bomb drop. Wtffff...
No ow/om drama, no cheating, secondary characters, tiny drama, sexy times, no virgins
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶🌶
Slowburnish
31h/30sH
Forced proximity
Tiny Primal play
Public play
Eating the 🍰
Praise kink
Masturbation
Found family
No condom
Hea
Epilogue
Besides the "sneaky" around everyone in town is like soooo when you dating? You guys aren't so smooth. 🤣🤣🤣
We also got the sweet side of Del when hes taking care of sick Pen. Like I wish men were like that.
The drama and the "break up" I understood and it wasnt bad like they brokeish up for like 1 hour in my head. And the ending..THAT bomb drop. Wtffff...
No ow/om drama, no cheating, secondary characters, tiny drama, sexy times, no virgins
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶🌶
Slowburnish
31h/30sH
Forced proximity
Tiny Primal play
Public play
Eating the 🍰
Praise kink
Masturbation
Found family
No condom
Hea
Epilogue
May 23, 2026
Spoilers ahead, and a rare 5 star rating 😂😂😂
Man Willa from the previous book ruined what was a prefect series for me because I've got yet another filthy winner 😌 and a new brother has shown up, I just know it's gonna be Rowan and her boys getting their HEA omggggggggggggggg!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait!!
Declan is the tattoo artist brother who, throughout this series has been riling up the town's librarian.
Here we finally get to properly meet Penelope, sweet and kind and loveable to everyone.... Except Declan!!! 😂
Sparks fly, complaints stack up until Mabel steps in..... End result? 30 days as roommates or community service and a mark on their record. Of course Pen can't have that so she agrees..... What could possibly go wrong?
*****
Penelope is a secret erotic author with a fucket list that she enlists Declan to help her "research" and oh boy did he 🤭.
This author does sexy times, dirty talk and chemistry really well.
I got kinda tired of Declan insisting that there was nothing else between them besides being roommates.
Reading these back to back you'll see the similarities in the plots, and why are all the brothers grumpy? Except Lincoln I guess.
Another one where it was a near thing for the third act breakup, Penelope's secret identity is exposed and she immediately thinks it's Declan. Thankfully that's cleared up immediately and the dreaded third act breakup didn't take place .
Declan has been celibate a year..... Pen moved to town a year ago 🤭 yessssss. He wanted no one else even tho he wasn't sure he could be what she deserved.
Epilogue I had to sign up for 🤦🏽♀️ it was up to 5 years out and cute as heck but no babies 😭
All in all I really enjoyed this one .
******
No cheating
H celibate a year
No condoms
h had one partner before
Man Willa from the previous book ruined what was a prefect series for me because I've got yet another filthy winner 😌 and a new brother has shown up, I just know it's gonna be Rowan and her boys getting their HEA omggggggggggggggg!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait!!
Declan is the tattoo artist brother who, throughout this series has been riling up the town's librarian.
Here we finally get to properly meet Penelope, sweet and kind and loveable to everyone.... Except Declan!!! 😂
Sparks fly, complaints stack up until Mabel steps in..... End result? 30 days as roommates or community service and a mark on their record. Of course Pen can't have that so she agrees..... What could possibly go wrong?
*****
Penelope is a secret erotic author with a fucket list that she enlists Declan to help her "research" and oh boy did he 🤭.
This author does sexy times, dirty talk and chemistry really well.
I got kinda tired of Declan insisting that there was nothing else between them besides being roommates.
Reading these back to back you'll see the similarities in the plots, and why are all the brothers grumpy? Except Lincoln I guess.
Another one where it was a near thing for the third act breakup, Penelope's secret identity is exposed and she immediately thinks it's Declan. Thankfully that's cleared up immediately and the dreaded third act breakup didn't take place .
Declan has been celibate a year..... Pen moved to town a year ago 🤭 yessssss. He wanted no one else even tho he wasn't sure he could be what she deserved.
Epilogue I had to sign up for 🤦🏽♀️ it was up to 5 years out and cute as heck but no babies 😭
All in all I really enjoyed this one .
******
No cheating
H celibate a year
No condoms
h had one partner before
May 7, 2026
This one was SO fun, fast paced, and honestly… the hottest of the series 🔥
Declan Steele = broody, tattooed bad boy with a huge heart. I loved him more with every chapter. And Penelope? A “quiet” librarian who secretly writes spicy romance?? She was adorable, funny, and so easy to root for.
What starts as enemies ➝ roommates (forced proximity 👀) quickly turns into undeniable tension, and the shift into something deeper was SO well done.
What I loved most is how their relationship grows beyond the banter. She feels safe with him, and he truly respects and supports her. He never makes her feel small instead, he helps her build confidence while still letting her stay in control 🥺
Also… the brothers’ group text + the girls’ chat?? HILARIOUS. And Holly (his mom) + Penelope = the sweetest found family moment.
🎧 Audiobook: duet narrated by Aiden Snow & Charlotte North. It’s a WHOLE experience. Highly recommend if you love immersive audiobooks.
And that cliffhanger?? Yeah… I need the next book ASAP.
Thank you so much to Brighton for sending me the ARC & ALC before release day 🫶 Being able to do an immersive read with the audiobook made this experience even better.
Declan Steele = broody, tattooed bad boy with a huge heart. I loved him more with every chapter. And Penelope? A “quiet” librarian who secretly writes spicy romance?? She was adorable, funny, and so easy to root for.
What starts as enemies ➝ roommates (forced proximity 👀) quickly turns into undeniable tension, and the shift into something deeper was SO well done.
What I loved most is how their relationship grows beyond the banter. She feels safe with him, and he truly respects and supports her. He never makes her feel small instead, he helps her build confidence while still letting her stay in control 🥺
Also… the brothers’ group text + the girls’ chat?? HILARIOUS. And Holly (his mom) + Penelope = the sweetest found family moment.
🎧 Audiobook: duet narrated by Aiden Snow & Charlotte North. It’s a WHOLE experience. Highly recommend if you love immersive audiobooks.
And that cliffhanger?? Yeah… I need the next book ASAP.
Thank you so much to Brighton for sending me the ARC & ALC before release day 🫶 Being able to do an immersive read with the audiobook made this experience even better.
May 10, 2026
5 Stars
Spice: 3
I’ve been waiting for Declan’s book and it did not disappoint. Declan is a tattoo artist / business owner who is down bad for the town Librarian. He lives to get on her last nerve.
Penelope is the town Librarian who is hiding a secret identity. Declan is the bane of her existence.
Both are carrying the weight of trauma from their childhoods.
Fate, by the name of Mabel “the town menace / meddler”, intervenes and forces them to trust in one another to conquer their past / insecurities. There’s also a side, very spicy check off list.
There was nothing I didn’t love about this book. All the Steele brothers are present as well as the ladies they love. Mother Steele is back too (love those family dinners and how she keeps those sons in line). The text chains never disappoint. I want a Mabel in my life.
That last paragraph in the epilogue was unexpected but I’m thankful there’s going to be another book in this series.
Don’t sleep on the bonus epilogue.
Spice: 3
I’ve been waiting for Declan’s book and it did not disappoint. Declan is a tattoo artist / business owner who is down bad for the town Librarian. He lives to get on her last nerve.
Penelope is the town Librarian who is hiding a secret identity. Declan is the bane of her existence.
Both are carrying the weight of trauma from their childhoods.
Fate, by the name of Mabel “the town menace / meddler”, intervenes and forces them to trust in one another to conquer their past / insecurities. There’s also a side, very spicy check off list.
There was nothing I didn’t love about this book. All the Steele brothers are present as well as the ladies they love. Mother Steele is back too (love those family dinners and how she keeps those sons in line). The text chains never disappoint. I want a Mabel in my life.
That last paragraph in the epilogue was unexpected but I’m thankful there’s going to be another book in this series.
Don’t sleep on the bonus epilogue.
May 10, 2026
DNF @ 25%
1) you expect us to believe that a writer and reader of “kinky” smut (the FMC) didn’t know about dick piercings?
2) i lost track of how many times the FMC got caught staring at the MMC’s dick, and it became too egregious and obnoxious to ignore
1) you expect us to believe that a writer and reader of “kinky” smut (the FMC) didn’t know about dick piercings?
2) i lost track of how many times the FMC got caught staring at the MMC’s dick, and it became too egregious and obnoxious to ignore
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2026
If tension had a sound, it would be the crackle between Declan and Penelope in The Roommate Rules by Brighton Walsh. From the very first interaction, their banter is sharp, addictive, and laced with just enough bite to keep you hooked. Every exchange feels like a challenge and neither of them is willing to lose.
Declan is all broody control and barely-contained intensity, while Penelope meets him head-on with wit, fire, and zero intention of backing down. Watching their walls crack, piece by piece, is just as satisfying as the sparks flying between them.
And yes this book brings the heat. The chemistry isn’t just hinted at, it’s front and center, making every moment feel charged and impossible to ignore. But what really elevates it is how the emotional tension builds right alongside the physical, giving you a romance that feels both explosive and earned.
Smart, sexy, and ridiculously addictive this is one of those reads where the “just one more chapter” promise turns into finishing the whole thing in one sitting.
Thank you to Brighton Walsh for the advance reader and advance listener copy! This audio was fantastic.
💕Favorite Quote💕
I’d never believed in forever. Never allowed myself to. But holding Penelope like this? Her breaths ghosting over my skin and our hearts beating in tandem? I wanted to. For the first time in my life, I wanted to.
Declan is all broody control and barely-contained intensity, while Penelope meets him head-on with wit, fire, and zero intention of backing down. Watching their walls crack, piece by piece, is just as satisfying as the sparks flying between them.
And yes this book brings the heat. The chemistry isn’t just hinted at, it’s front and center, making every moment feel charged and impossible to ignore. But what really elevates it is how the emotional tension builds right alongside the physical, giving you a romance that feels both explosive and earned.
Smart, sexy, and ridiculously addictive this is one of those reads where the “just one more chapter” promise turns into finishing the whole thing in one sitting.
Thank you to Brighton Walsh for the advance reader and advance listener copy! This audio was fantastic.
💕Favorite Quote💕
I’d never believed in forever. Never allowed myself to. But holding Penelope like this? Her breaths ghosting over my skin and our hearts beating in tandem? I wanted to. For the first time in my life, I wanted to.
May 4, 2026
The Roommate Rules by Brighton Walsh is book 4 in the Steele Brothers of Starlight Cove series. I was so excited for Declan’s book, and he did not disappoint.
What can you expect?
🌿Small-town romance
❤️Hate to love
☀️Grumpy x Sunshine
🏡Roommates to lovers
😈Bad boy x good girl
🔥Sex lessons
🚪Forced proximity
4.5 ⭐ | 3.5 🌶️
Audiobook: The audiobook was narrated in duet by Aiden Snow and Charlotte North. 10/10 narration. I loved every second of it, and their performance was excellent. If you can listen to the audiobook, I highly recommend it, it’s a whole experience.
Penelope is basically new to town, she’s been there for a year, and works as a librarian. On the other hand, there’s Declan, and since she’s in town, you know he loves to push her buttons, like when he parked his motorcycle in a spot at the library where he’s not supposed to. She leaves him a ton of sticky notes, and getting her riled up is one of his daily highlights. Because of that, Mabel is now deputized, and due to their rivalry, they’re given two options: 500 hours of community service or living together for 30 days. Penelope doesn’t want anything on her record, so she reluctantly agrees to live with Declan for 30 days.
They move in together, and her cat, Darcy, loves Declan right away. Their first week together is hilarious, she leaves notes everywhere, and the infamous “roommate rules” she drafts for them to follow while living together become a whole thing. Declan keeps messing with her until one day he discovers one of her deepest secrets: behind that prim librarian persona is an erotic author. And that’s basically the beginning of her “sex lessons.”
She’s writing a new book, so she confides in him and asks for help since she wants to write those experiences accurately. And those lessons? OMG! Declan takes them very seriously, and the man’s mouth should come with a warning. I was blushing and sweating. The spice in this book is off the charts. I loved every scene, especially the alley scene and the tattoo shop session.
What I loved most is that beyond their hate dynamic, things slowly shift. She starts feeling safe with him, and he truly respects, supports and it’s proud of her work. He never laughs at her questions or makes fun of her doubts. Instead, he puts her in control and helps her build confidence. Oh, and he’s pierced 😏. The spicy microtropes in this book are elite.
I love that he calls her “rebel.” She’s very organized and likes things done a specific way, but over time that starts to shift—her color-coded world slowly blurs. She struggles with trust and abandonment, so letting people in doesn’t come easy. But in Declan, she finds friends and a family she never expected. Declan has his own issues too; all his life he’s worked not to become like his father, who left, so his mission is to stay and never leave. When things get complicated between them, he never walks away. He was all in.
I loved the brothers’ group text and the girls’ group chat, they were hilarious. I also loved Holly, Declan’s mom, and Penelope’s relationship with her; she becomes the mother figure Penelope was missing. The whole town rooting for them while they’re in denial? Obsessed.
Declan has basically been attracted to her since she moved in, which is why he loved pushing her buttons so much. Together, they break down each other’s walls and slowly start to heal old wounds. Their banter at the beginning is amazing, but watching their relationship evolve is even better.
I could keep going, but I don’t want to spoil anything. The character growth in this book was incredible. I loved their relationship and how perfect they were for each other.
That epilogue though?? Brighton PLEASE 😭 I never saw that coming.
Thank you so much to Brighton Walsh and her Queen B team for the ARC/ALC. This review reflects my honest thoughts.
What can you expect?
🌿Small-town romance
❤️Hate to love
☀️Grumpy x Sunshine
🏡Roommates to lovers
😈Bad boy x good girl
🔥Sex lessons
🚪Forced proximity
4.5 ⭐ | 3.5 🌶️
Audiobook: The audiobook was narrated in duet by Aiden Snow and Charlotte North. 10/10 narration. I loved every second of it, and their performance was excellent. If you can listen to the audiobook, I highly recommend it, it’s a whole experience.
Penelope is basically new to town, she’s been there for a year, and works as a librarian. On the other hand, there’s Declan, and since she’s in town, you know he loves to push her buttons, like when he parked his motorcycle in a spot at the library where he’s not supposed to. She leaves him a ton of sticky notes, and getting her riled up is one of his daily highlights. Because of that, Mabel is now deputized, and due to their rivalry, they’re given two options: 500 hours of community service or living together for 30 days. Penelope doesn’t want anything on her record, so she reluctantly agrees to live with Declan for 30 days.
They move in together, and her cat, Darcy, loves Declan right away. Their first week together is hilarious, she leaves notes everywhere, and the infamous “roommate rules” she drafts for them to follow while living together become a whole thing. Declan keeps messing with her until one day he discovers one of her deepest secrets: behind that prim librarian persona is an erotic author. And that’s basically the beginning of her “sex lessons.”
She’s writing a new book, so she confides in him and asks for help since she wants to write those experiences accurately. And those lessons? OMG! Declan takes them very seriously, and the man’s mouth should come with a warning. I was blushing and sweating. The spice in this book is off the charts. I loved every scene, especially the alley scene and the tattoo shop session.
What I loved most is that beyond their hate dynamic, things slowly shift. She starts feeling safe with him, and he truly respects, supports and it’s proud of her work. He never laughs at her questions or makes fun of her doubts. Instead, he puts her in control and helps her build confidence. Oh, and he’s pierced 😏. The spicy microtropes in this book are elite.
I love that he calls her “rebel.” She’s very organized and likes things done a specific way, but over time that starts to shift—her color-coded world slowly blurs. She struggles with trust and abandonment, so letting people in doesn’t come easy. But in Declan, she finds friends and a family she never expected. Declan has his own issues too; all his life he’s worked not to become like his father, who left, so his mission is to stay and never leave. When things get complicated between them, he never walks away. He was all in.
I loved the brothers’ group text and the girls’ group chat, they were hilarious. I also loved Holly, Declan’s mom, and Penelope’s relationship with her; she becomes the mother figure Penelope was missing. The whole town rooting for them while they’re in denial? Obsessed.
Declan has basically been attracted to her since she moved in, which is why he loved pushing her buttons so much. Together, they break down each other’s walls and slowly start to heal old wounds. Their banter at the beginning is amazing, but watching their relationship evolve is even better.
I could keep going, but I don’t want to spoil anything. The character growth in this book was incredible. I loved their relationship and how perfect they were for each other.
That epilogue though?? Brighton PLEASE 😭 I never saw that coming.
Thank you so much to Brighton Walsh and her Queen B team for the ARC/ALC. This review reflects my honest thoughts.
May 8, 2026
4 stars.
I LOVE Brighton Walsh's Steele Brothers series, and "The Rommate Rules" is no exception! A tattooed grump and a polished and prim librarian with a secret identity who are enemies but are stuck together in a forced proximity situation when he's been pining for her forever!? I CAN FEEL THE SWOONING AND THE FLIRTING FROM HERE!! The banter between Penelope and Declan is top-tier. God, they are SO argumentative in the best way. I LOVED their back-and-forth ribbing of one another, the way they get under each other's skin and push each other's buttons for better and for worse. The chemistry between them is INSANE, and they are scorching hot together! The public play?? The exploration and lessons?? The....*extra* adornments?? Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaah, baby! I do think the physical aspect of their relationship outweighs the emotional parts until later on in the book, but it did get there for me. It's not hard to see why considering "lessons" play a major part in this book's plot. But there are many sweet, tender moments, too. The way Declan takes care of Penelope when she gets sick? The way Penelope lets Declan tattoo her? The understanding and grace they give one another to be who they really are towards the end? I really enjoyed this book! I also loved getting glimpses of the couples from the other books here! I thought this was well-paced, well-written, and very, very fun, especially where Penelope's authorial alter ego is concerned. I loved how Declan kept her secret, even when he didn't have to. Finally, Aiden Snow and Charlotte North do an amazing dual narration here. Snow wholly embodies the grumpy, gruff Declan, and North is perfect as the prim, uptight Penelope. They are SO GOOD!!! Definitely a wonderful addition to this series!
Thank you to Brighton Walsh for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
I LOVE Brighton Walsh's Steele Brothers series, and "The Rommate Rules" is no exception! A tattooed grump and a polished and prim librarian with a secret identity who are enemies but are stuck together in a forced proximity situation when he's been pining for her forever!? I CAN FEEL THE SWOONING AND THE FLIRTING FROM HERE!! The banter between Penelope and Declan is top-tier. God, they are SO argumentative in the best way. I LOVED their back-and-forth ribbing of one another, the way they get under each other's skin and push each other's buttons for better and for worse. The chemistry between them is INSANE, and they are scorching hot together! The public play?? The exploration and lessons?? The....*extra* adornments?? Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaah, baby! I do think the physical aspect of their relationship outweighs the emotional parts until later on in the book, but it did get there for me. It's not hard to see why considering "lessons" play a major part in this book's plot. But there are many sweet, tender moments, too. The way Declan takes care of Penelope when she gets sick? The way Penelope lets Declan tattoo her? The understanding and grace they give one another to be who they really are towards the end? I really enjoyed this book! I also loved getting glimpses of the couples from the other books here! I thought this was well-paced, well-written, and very, very fun, especially where Penelope's authorial alter ego is concerned. I loved how Declan kept her secret, even when he didn't have to. Finally, Aiden Snow and Charlotte North do an amazing dual narration here. Snow wholly embodies the grumpy, gruff Declan, and North is perfect as the prim, uptight Penelope. They are SO GOOD!!! Definitely a wonderful addition to this series!
Thank you to Brighton Walsh for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
May 7, 2026
~Alc Review~
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶
~The Roommate Rules~Steel Brothers of Starlight Cove Book 4~Brighton Walsh~
~Duet Narration~Aiden Snow & Charlotte North~
~Production~One Night Stand Studios~
"She might’ve been the epitome of sunshine with every other soul on the planet, but I seemed to be the one and only person who could stoke her irritation like no other."
♡I have loved every single brother in this series so far but I think I have a new favorite & his name is Declan Steel....shh don't tell the others! Do you like an only sweet for her bad boy with tattoos & a dirty mouth that will melt you into a puddle on the floor cuz SAME! Also lets not forget Penelope our super sweet librarian who is a total sassy spit fire when Declan is around! Did I mention they are forced to live under the same roof?!
The duet narration for this audiobook was fantastic! Aiden & Charlotte did an awesome job bringing this story & it's characters to life. I can't wait to see what's next for Starlight Cove.
If you love small-town romances with banter for days, & top-tier spice look no further!♡
~As Always Happy Reading~
~Thank you Brighton for this Alc copy in exchange for an honest review~
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶
~The Roommate Rules~Steel Brothers of Starlight Cove Book 4~Brighton Walsh~
~Duet Narration~Aiden Snow & Charlotte North~
~Production~One Night Stand Studios~
"She might’ve been the epitome of sunshine with every other soul on the planet, but I seemed to be the one and only person who could stoke her irritation like no other."
♡I have loved every single brother in this series so far but I think I have a new favorite & his name is Declan Steel....shh don't tell the others! Do you like an only sweet for her bad boy with tattoos & a dirty mouth that will melt you into a puddle on the floor cuz SAME! Also lets not forget Penelope our super sweet librarian who is a total sassy spit fire when Declan is around! Did I mention they are forced to live under the same roof?!
The duet narration for this audiobook was fantastic! Aiden & Charlotte did an awesome job bringing this story & it's characters to life. I can't wait to see what's next for Starlight Cove.
If you love small-town romances with banter for days, & top-tier spice look no further!♡
~As Always Happy Reading~
~Thank you Brighton for this Alc copy in exchange for an honest review~
May 2, 2026
Thank you to Brighton Walsh for the Advanced Listening Copy of The Roommate Rules, book four in the Steele Brothers of Starlight Cove series.
I was IMMEDIATELY pulled in by the antagonistic banter and tension between Declan and Penelope. He is the town bad boy and thrives on stirring the pot and getting under people’s skin. She’s the librarian who loves order and following the rules. When their feud is taken a bit too far, the newly (forced her way into it) deputized Margot (her gavel took me out 🤣) decides they should live together to solve the issue…
The town is filled with quirky characters, the banter is exceptional, a motorcycle riding tattoo artist, a secretly naughty librarian, some spicy “research”, unexpected thoughtfulness and care, fantastic spice, small town charm, a quirky cat… all the things I wanted and more from this one! Loved it.
I was IMMEDIATELY pulled in by the antagonistic banter and tension between Declan and Penelope. He is the town bad boy and thrives on stirring the pot and getting under people’s skin. She’s the librarian who loves order and following the rules. When their feud is taken a bit too far, the newly (forced her way into it) deputized Margot (her gavel took me out 🤣) decides they should live together to solve the issue…
The town is filled with quirky characters, the banter is exceptional, a motorcycle riding tattoo artist, a secretly naughty librarian, some spicy “research”, unexpected thoughtfulness and care, fantastic spice, small town charm, a quirky cat… all the things I wanted and more from this one! Loved it.
April 30, 2026
I love each and every brother but I knew Declan would be on another level and he sure is, wow! Who doesn’t love a tattooed bad boy that is only soft for her but has a mouth on him that could melt panties!
Dec and Penelope were everything! Their banter was on fire from the start. Since we already got glimpses of them in the previous books I had a feeling that these two would bring the heat and they sure did!
What I loved most about the entire series is the family group chat. Always the grump Atlas and witty Linc, I could not get enough.
These four are so different but are always there for each other and their mom and I love that about them.
Can not wait for what is coming next…
Dec and Penelope were everything! Their banter was on fire from the start. Since we already got glimpses of them in the previous books I had a feeling that these two would bring the heat and they sure did!
What I loved most about the entire series is the family group chat. Always the grump Atlas and witty Linc, I could not get enough.
These four are so different but are always there for each other and their mom and I love that about them.
Can not wait for what is coming next…
June 7, 2026
Listen, if a book has spicy lessons I am going to eat it up every time and it's always better in audio bc it be having me BLUSHING. Penelope is frustrated with Declan as he keeps parking illegally outside of her work. Declan loves to just rile her up.
After the town sheriff has had enough he proposes that they have to live together for 30 days or have a long time of community service...
*Enemies (but not really) to lovers
*He falls first (and harder)
*Spicy lessons
*Librarian (& secret spicy author) x tattoo artist
*Forced proximity/roommates
After the town sheriff has had enough he proposes that they have to live together for 30 days or have a long time of community service...
*Enemies (but not really) to lovers
*He falls first (and harder)
*Spicy lessons
*Librarian (& secret spicy author) x tattoo artist
*Forced proximity/roommates
May 8, 2026
🔥 𝑰𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒆, 𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆? 🔥
Oh my, my, my... Brighton Walsh sure knows how to write toe-curling romance! Whenever I had to put the book down, my mind stayed on it, anticipating when I could pick it back up.
Penelope and Declan's story begins with a bike parked where it doesn't belong, overdue library books, a smirk here, a biting retort there, each quickly getting under the other's skin.
“𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑏𝑒ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑟 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑚𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑦𝑝𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑦 𝑦𝑜𝑢’𝑟𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑤𝑖𝑛.”
“𝑀𝑎𝑦𝑏𝑒 𝐼 𝑎𝑚 𝑡𝑟𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑤𝑖𝑛, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑜𝑛’𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑦𝑒𝑡.”
𝑨𝒏𝒅 ...
“𝑆𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑜 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑦𝑠 𝑦𝑜𝑢? 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑎 𝑠𝑘𝑒𝑡𝑐ℎ𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘?”
“𝑂𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦’𝑟𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑢𝑑 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑡.”
“𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑’𝑣𝑒 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑡.”
“𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒’𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑢𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡?”
For those of you who've read any of the previous Steele Brothers of Starlight Cove, you'll be happy to know that Declan's brothers, their significant others, and Mabel, the town's loveable menace, make plenty of appearances.
The banter is fire and the s€xual tension ummm... I'll leave that for you to discover. Five stars, no notes!
Declan and Linc are my favorite Steele brothers. Shhh... don't tell the others. 🤫 Linc continues his favorite pastime, pushing his brothers' buttons, and this time, Declan's his target. I can't even count the number of times I laughed at what came out of his mouth. Also, every time he called Willa "wife," I melted.
𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔 & 𝑳𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔
“𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡’𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘, 𝑟𝑒𝑏𝑒𝑙. 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑜𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑦 𝑓𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒.”
𝐼’𝑑 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑣𝑒, 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦’𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑛’𝑡 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑡ℎ 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟. 𝐴𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑠—𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑔𝑜𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑒𝑟. 𝐶ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑎 𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝐼’𝑑 𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒.
𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐼 𝑑𝑖𝑑 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑘—𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑦 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡—𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑛’𝑡 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐼’𝑑 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑒.
𝑀𝑖𝑛𝑒... 𝐵𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑛’𝑡 𝑏𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝𝑠, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑒𝑛 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑚𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑛’𝑡 𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑚 𝑤𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑟... 𝐵𝑢𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑛'𝑡 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐼 𝑎𝑙𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑦 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑠.
“𝐵𝑢𝑡 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚. 𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑓𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑢𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑡ℎ.”
• f*cket list
• s€x lessons
• cardigan-wearing librarian
• pierced tattoo artist
• forced proximity
• comfort/care
• roommates with benefits
• bad boy x good girl
• grumpy x sunshine
Oh my, my, my... Brighton Walsh sure knows how to write toe-curling romance! Whenever I had to put the book down, my mind stayed on it, anticipating when I could pick it back up.
Penelope and Declan's story begins with a bike parked where it doesn't belong, overdue library books, a smirk here, a biting retort there, each quickly getting under the other's skin.
“𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑏𝑒ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑟 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑚𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑦𝑝𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑦 𝑦𝑜𝑢’𝑟𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑡𝑟𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑤𝑖𝑛.”
“𝑀𝑎𝑦𝑏𝑒 𝐼 𝑎𝑚 𝑡𝑟𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑤𝑖𝑛, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑜𝑛’𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑦𝑒𝑡.”
𝑨𝒏𝒅 ...
“𝑆𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑜 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑦𝑠 𝑦𝑜𝑢? 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑎 𝑠𝑘𝑒𝑡𝑐ℎ𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘?”
“𝑂𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦’𝑟𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑢𝑑 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑡.”
“𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑’𝑣𝑒 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑡.”
“𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒’𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑢𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡?”
For those of you who've read any of the previous Steele Brothers of Starlight Cove, you'll be happy to know that Declan's brothers, their significant others, and Mabel, the town's loveable menace, make plenty of appearances.
The banter is fire and the s€xual tension ummm... I'll leave that for you to discover. Five stars, no notes!
Declan and Linc are my favorite Steele brothers. Shhh... don't tell the others. 🤫 Linc continues his favorite pastime, pushing his brothers' buttons, and this time, Declan's his target. I can't even count the number of times I laughed at what came out of his mouth. Also, every time he called Willa "wife," I melted.
𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔 & 𝑳𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔
“𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡’𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘, 𝑟𝑒𝑏𝑒𝑙. 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑜𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑦 𝑓𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒.”
𝐼’𝑑 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑣𝑒, 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦’𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑛’𝑡 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑡ℎ 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟. 𝐴𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑠—𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑔𝑜𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑒𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑒𝑟. 𝐶ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑎 𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝐼’𝑑 𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒.
𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐼 𝑑𝑖𝑑 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑘—𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑦 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡—𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑛’𝑡 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐼’𝑑 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑒.
𝑀𝑖𝑛𝑒... 𝐵𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑛’𝑡 𝑏𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝𝑠, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑒𝑛 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑚𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑛’𝑡 𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑚 𝑤𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑟... 𝐵𝑢𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑛'𝑡 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐼 𝑎𝑙𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑦 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑠.
“𝐵𝑢𝑡 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚. 𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑓𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑢𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑡ℎ.”
• f*cket list
• s€x lessons
• cardigan-wearing librarian
• pierced tattoo artist
• forced proximity
• comfort/care
• roommates with benefits
• bad boy x good girl
• grumpy x sunshine
May 20, 2026
ARC/ALC REVIEW: 3.5 ⭐️ for the story. Narration was 5 ⭐️ Welp, that was a disappointing way to end a series that I had such high hopes for after book 1 blew me away. I was so bored at 15% and it's gotta be said...the premise of this story was downright stupid. The level of immaturity of both MCs was grating. And I'm sorry but any unhinged smut author who doesn't recognize what the fuck a dick piercing is isn't an author I'd like to read (been there, done that and it's a no for me, dawg). Like be so for real. And I fucking hate stupid smart women, which is clearly what this librarian FMC is. Newsflash! If you don't want your roommate to find out your secret (I have more to say on this) THEN LEAVE YOUR FUCKING COMPUTER IN YOUR GODDAMN ROOM! The fact that she got upset at him figuring out she's an author because of HER actions is asinine. Oh, and if you decline a homecooked meal that your roommate made you, you're nothing but a cunt. Now we finally get to them banging and I think it really says a lot when the first time is her bent over the couch and them not looking at each other. To each their own, but in this type of small town romance book, I think that speaks volumes to how unsuited these two are. Finally when it was time for the third act thing, I clocked the post it note from a mile away. It's like deja vu because of course it's Penelope's own fault AGAIN that someone finds out her secret, yet her first instinct is to think Declan told someone... you, Penelope, are a selfish cunt. Plain and simple.
And now coming back to her big secret of being a romance author... not only did it show what a close minded/judgmental asshole Penelope is, but it's also a huge Starlight Cove plot hole IMO because we've already been down this road before with Aiden McKenzie in Reckless Heart. It's already been proven that the people of Starlight Cove are open and accepting of romance authors. And if you can crossover with Brady in the beginning of this story, you sure as fuck can crossover with Aiden when you're repeating a storyline that's already been done before. Oh, and last thing. Declan's mother getting to hear that Penelope loves him before he got to hear it, irks me like none other. I'll give it that the spicy list/teach me stuff was hot, but there needs to be more for me to enjoy a book. I'll be taking a pause on this author for a bit. When I only truly loved 1 book out of a 4 book series, it's time to read other authors that aren't going to make me rage with insufferable FMCs.
And now coming back to her big secret of being a romance author... not only did it show what a close minded/judgmental asshole Penelope is, but it's also a huge Starlight Cove plot hole IMO because we've already been down this road before with Aiden McKenzie in Reckless Heart. It's already been proven that the people of Starlight Cove are open and accepting of romance authors. And if you can crossover with Brady in the beginning of this story, you sure as fuck can crossover with Aiden when you're repeating a storyline that's already been done before. Oh, and last thing. Declan's mother getting to hear that Penelope loves him before he got to hear it, irks me like none other. I'll give it that the spicy list/teach me stuff was hot, but there needs to be more for me to enjoy a book. I'll be taking a pause on this author for a bit. When I only truly loved 1 book out of a 4 book series, it's time to read other authors that aren't going to make me rage with insufferable FMCs.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2026
This book is utterly ridiculous. The setup is so unrealistic. Two townspeople don't get along so a woman who's not even a police officer decides to make them live together for 30 days in an effort to MAKE them get along.
Yeah okay. In what world.
You just have to go with it, honestly. If you're capable of that - this book is hilarious and cute and hot in all the best ways.
As with most sex lessons-based stories, there's a LOT of spice in this book. It is literally the entire plot of the story. And outside of some minor shenanigans with Penelope's secret erotica authorship, there's really not much else that happens in this book at all.
Despite the fact that I don't usually enjoy books that are NOTHING but spice - I had a pretty good time with this one.
The banter between the prim, straight-laced librarian and the grumpy, tatted up town troublemaker was peak entertainment. And when things between them went from funny and sexy to deeply emotional - I loved that, too.
This book is all about the little teeny things in between all the spice. The fact that this man's been drawing the object of his obsession for months, long before they ever got stuck living together. The way everybody in their lives gives them hell because they can see the chemistry and tension rolling off the two of them in waves, even when they both refuse to admit it to themselves.
It's in the subtle shifts in their personalities, and the way they learn to trust one another - like when she's at his family's table and he takes the pressure off her by changing the topic when the girls start gushing about the book she wrote and when she's sick and he's there to take care of her.
It's in the heat they share when she finally lets him tattoo the art he drew for her on her body.
It's in the SHOCK of a surprise ending and the fact that this series probably isn't over.
I've enjoyed every single book in this series and this one doesn't disappoint either. These are the sorts of stories that just suck you in somehow, even when there's not a grand plot or major development. You just enjoy hanging out with the characters.
Yeah okay. In what world.
You just have to go with it, honestly. If you're capable of that - this book is hilarious and cute and hot in all the best ways.
As with most sex lessons-based stories, there's a LOT of spice in this book. It is literally the entire plot of the story. And outside of some minor shenanigans with Penelope's secret erotica authorship, there's really not much else that happens in this book at all.
Despite the fact that I don't usually enjoy books that are NOTHING but spice - I had a pretty good time with this one.
The banter between the prim, straight-laced librarian and the grumpy, tatted up town troublemaker was peak entertainment. And when things between them went from funny and sexy to deeply emotional - I loved that, too.
This book is all about the little teeny things in between all the spice. The fact that this man's been drawing the object of his obsession for months, long before they ever got stuck living together. The way everybody in their lives gives them hell because they can see the chemistry and tension rolling off the two of them in waves, even when they both refuse to admit it to themselves.
It's in the subtle shifts in their personalities, and the way they learn to trust one another - like when she's at his family's table and he takes the pressure off her by changing the topic when the girls start gushing about the book she wrote and when she's sick and he's there to take care of her.
It's in the heat they share when she finally lets him tattoo the art he drew for her on her body.
It's in the SHOCK of a surprise ending and the fact that this series probably isn't over.
I've enjoyed every single book in this series and this one doesn't disappoint either. These are the sorts of stories that just suck you in somehow, even when there's not a grand plot or major development. You just enjoy hanging out with the characters.
May 11, 2026
ARC & ALC REVIEW
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narrated by: Aiden Snow & Charlotte North
Ahhhhhhhhhh Brighton did NOT disappoint with Declan’s story! Gosh the way I love this tender man 🥹 Declan Steele is so selfless and his ability to be someone safe space and care for them with his whole being is truly so beautiful 🥹 The way he is so present, so attentive and caring with Penelope had me swooning 🥹 I just love him so mad, and the filth that comes out of his mouth, HOT DAMN 🥵🥵
Penelope Shea is an FMC I truly enjoyed! She’s smart, resilient and put everyone’s needs before her own, despite being handed a shitty upbringing. Her ability to make others around her feel so happy and loved, she was truly just a ray of sunshine.🥹 The evolution and vulnerability of Penelope and Declan’s relationship was incredible, and they were the most honest and fragile with each other. They each had their own struggles but I think they make each other feel safe enough to be who they truly are and realize how much they deserve to be so loved ❤️
This audio performance was amazing!!! I had such an incredible time, and I feel like the narrators truly adopted the emotions that each character was going through! ❤️
Special shoutout to Holly, the Steele’s brothers’ mom and Penelope’s coworker at the library, who is seriously such an aspirational fictional mom 🙌🏻🥹🩷 & to Mabel for making Penelope and Declan get into that forced proximity in the first place 🤭🥰
Thank you so much Brighton for this ALC and ARC opportunity🩷
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narrated by: Aiden Snow & Charlotte North
Ahhhhhhhhhh Brighton did NOT disappoint with Declan’s story! Gosh the way I love this tender man 🥹 Declan Steele is so selfless and his ability to be someone safe space and care for them with his whole being is truly so beautiful 🥹 The way he is so present, so attentive and caring with Penelope had me swooning 🥹 I just love him so mad, and the filth that comes out of his mouth, HOT DAMN 🥵🥵
Penelope Shea is an FMC I truly enjoyed! She’s smart, resilient and put everyone’s needs before her own, despite being handed a shitty upbringing. Her ability to make others around her feel so happy and loved, she was truly just a ray of sunshine.🥹 The evolution and vulnerability of Penelope and Declan’s relationship was incredible, and they were the most honest and fragile with each other. They each had their own struggles but I think they make each other feel safe enough to be who they truly are and realize how much they deserve to be so loved ❤️
This audio performance was amazing!!! I had such an incredible time, and I feel like the narrators truly adopted the emotions that each character was going through! ❤️
Special shoutout to Holly, the Steele’s brothers’ mom and Penelope’s coworker at the library, who is seriously such an aspirational fictional mom 🙌🏻🥹🩷 & to Mabel for making Penelope and Declan get into that forced proximity in the first place 🤭🥰
Thank you so much Brighton for this ALC and ARC opportunity🩷
April 27, 2026
Well, well, well…what have we here, Brighton? Is it a new favorite Steele brother?
I swear, I read each of these and first off, can’t put them down, secondly I’m all this one is my favorite, then no this one is my favorite, nothing can top this! Then, Brighton says hold my beer, and somehow I fall more in love with the next book. Honestly, I didn’t expect to like Declan, but I knew I was going to love Penelope…I mean librarian? Hello? I love her based on her career choices alone. But this one, what did you put in this book ma’am?! This is hands down, the hottest book I’ve read this year. And somehow…I also caught feelings? What is this sorcery?!
This book is coming out early next month, and I highly recommend you read this one, the entire series is amazing, but it can be read as a standalone. Also, that last page? I swear Brighton must be feeling herself right now after doing this to us readers, and girl, thank you.
I am sooo happy to be part of her Queen B’s and that I got to read this early, I did this in half audio, half ebook, and this narration is also chef’s kiss…but you are going to probably want headphones if you are listening in public like I was…
I swear, I read each of these and first off, can’t put them down, secondly I’m all this one is my favorite, then no this one is my favorite, nothing can top this! Then, Brighton says hold my beer, and somehow I fall more in love with the next book. Honestly, I didn’t expect to like Declan, but I knew I was going to love Penelope…I mean librarian? Hello? I love her based on her career choices alone. But this one, what did you put in this book ma’am?! This is hands down, the hottest book I’ve read this year. And somehow…I also caught feelings? What is this sorcery?!
This book is coming out early next month, and I highly recommend you read this one, the entire series is amazing, but it can be read as a standalone. Also, that last page? I swear Brighton must be feeling herself right now after doing this to us readers, and girl, thank you.
I am sooo happy to be part of her Queen B’s and that I got to read this early, I did this in half audio, half ebook, and this narration is also chef’s kiss…but you are going to probably want headphones if you are listening in public like I was…
April 26, 2026
I am always down for one of Brighton's books, so I don't even read the synopsis any longer.
I think this book is the one I've been waiting for. Antagonizing as a form of flirting is one of my favorite things ever and these two have it down to an art form. I loved reading Penelope and Declan try to figure out feeling amongst all of the rules.
Plot wise, it's fast paced and oh so spicy. Of course, theres loads of button pushing, so many hilarious group chats, and (my favorite) one scene with absolutely everyone together. The conflict is short and swiftly resolved and the last chapter is perfection.
Overall, this is my favorite of the series and I am beyond excited at the set up for a book 5. (!!!)
**Huge thanks to Brighton for providing the arc free of charge**
I think this book is the one I've been waiting for. Antagonizing as a form of flirting is one of my favorite things ever and these two have it down to an art form. I loved reading Penelope and Declan try to figure out feeling amongst all of the rules.
Plot wise, it's fast paced and oh so spicy. Of course, theres loads of button pushing, so many hilarious group chats, and (my favorite) one scene with absolutely everyone together. The conflict is short and swiftly resolved and the last chapter is perfection.
Overall, this is my favorite of the series and I am beyond excited at the set up for a book 5. (!!!)
**Huge thanks to Brighton for providing the arc free of charge**
May 11, 2026
4.25 ⭐️
2.5 🔥
Small Town Romance
Hate to Love
Forced Proximity
Smex Lessons
Grumpy & Sunshine
Roommates to Lovers
Bad Boy & Good Girl
Tattoo Artist MMC
Librarian FMC
Top Tier Banter
Fantastic on Audio! 🎧
Whew! Brighton’s spiciest one yet! 🥵 This one was so much fun! This is book four of the Steele Brothers of Starlight Cove, but can be read as a complete standalone. We follow Penelope, our prim and proper librarian, with a spicy little secret. She despises Declan, our tattooed, illegal motorcycle parking, grump of a bad boy. These two love nothing more than to get one another riled up! But, the townspeople have had enough, and they are forced to either coexist in the same space for a month, or do 500 hours of community service, for disturbing the peace. With forced proximity, these two have to learn to get along, and Penelope finds herself looking for help in the spice department, for research of course! This series was so good and so much fun!! I can’t wait to see what Brighton comes up with next!
Thank you Brighton Walsh of the ARC & ALC!
2.5 🔥
Small Town Romance
Hate to Love
Forced Proximity
Smex Lessons
Grumpy & Sunshine
Roommates to Lovers
Bad Boy & Good Girl
Tattoo Artist MMC
Librarian FMC
Top Tier Banter
Fantastic on Audio! 🎧
Whew! Brighton’s spiciest one yet! 🥵 This one was so much fun! This is book four of the Steele Brothers of Starlight Cove, but can be read as a complete standalone. We follow Penelope, our prim and proper librarian, with a spicy little secret. She despises Declan, our tattooed, illegal motorcycle parking, grump of a bad boy. These two love nothing more than to get one another riled up! But, the townspeople have had enough, and they are forced to either coexist in the same space for a month, or do 500 hours of community service, for disturbing the peace. With forced proximity, these two have to learn to get along, and Penelope finds herself looking for help in the spice department, for research of course! This series was so good and so much fun!! I can’t wait to see what Brighton comes up with next!
Thank you Brighton Walsh of the ARC & ALC!
April 25, 2026
This was PERFECTION!!!
I loved Declan and Pen so much, their bickering and bad boy good girl dynamic was so good! The spicy lessons were such a TREAT! 🔥👌🏽 my god that man was making me blush with the things he was saying!
The Steele brothers just know how to treat their women and know EXACTLY what to say in the bedroom that’s for sure!
The alleyway scene 🤭🥵🔥 damnnnnn
I love every book in this series and can’t wait to see what comes next 🤭😅
Thank you Brighton Walsh for the chance to read your eARC! I love being a Queen B!!
I loved Declan and Pen so much, their bickering and bad boy good girl dynamic was so good! The spicy lessons were such a TREAT! 🔥👌🏽 my god that man was making me blush with the things he was saying!
The Steele brothers just know how to treat their women and know EXACTLY what to say in the bedroom that’s for sure!
The alleyway scene 🤭🥵🔥 damnnnnn
I love every book in this series and can’t wait to see what comes next 🤭😅
Thank you Brighton Walsh for the chance to read your eARC! I love being a Queen B!!
May 5, 2026
4.5⭐️
Yess, I loved this one!! This entire starlight cove series has my heart & this one was so good!!
Aiden Snow & Charlotte North were so perfect for this book. I loved the narration so much!!
Penelope, she is such a lovable, sweet, and just innocent ray of sunshine. I absolutely loved her character! Declan shows up and absolutely pulls out some of her wild side and I loved to see it!! Declan was the broody, slow to open up tattoo artist MMC, & I was absolutely here for it! These two together was perfection!!
This book had it all! The banter, the tension, the absolute chemistry, and the spice 🥵🔥yes pleaseee! The spice scenes were everything!! He tattoos her 🤭👀
This was overall jsut a fun, easy, quick read that kept me sucked in and had me loving everything about these two!! If you love a forced proximity, good girl/bad boy, with spicy lessons, this one is absolutely for you!!
Thank you Brighton & team for this early ARC/ALC!
Yess, I loved this one!! This entire starlight cove series has my heart & this one was so good!!
Aiden Snow & Charlotte North were so perfect for this book. I loved the narration so much!!
Penelope, she is such a lovable, sweet, and just innocent ray of sunshine. I absolutely loved her character! Declan shows up and absolutely pulls out some of her wild side and I loved to see it!! Declan was the broody, slow to open up tattoo artist MMC, & I was absolutely here for it! These two together was perfection!!
This book had it all! The banter, the tension, the absolute chemistry, and the spice 🥵🔥yes pleaseee! The spice scenes were everything!! He tattoos her 🤭👀
This was overall jsut a fun, easy, quick read that kept me sucked in and had me loving everything about these two!! If you love a forced proximity, good girl/bad boy, with spicy lessons, this one is absolutely for you!!
Thank you Brighton & team for this early ARC/ALC!
May 12, 2026
Brighton did it again… I say every book in the series is my favorite but this one is my favorite!
Broody, grumpy Declan pretty much hates everyone but loves to get on the sweet Penelope’s last nerve. Where he is broody and grumpy, she is happiness and sunshine. He owns the towns tattoo shop and she is the town librarian and they are about to be forced to live together for 30 days. What could possibly happen?
Broody, grumpy Declan pretty much hates everyone but loves to get on the sweet Penelope’s last nerve. Where he is broody and grumpy, she is happiness and sunshine. He owns the towns tattoo shop and she is the town librarian and they are about to be forced to live together for 30 days. What could possibly happen?
May 13, 2026
✨ARC Review✨
We finally get to see Declan’s book and of course he didn't disappoint. I enjoyed the chemistry between Penelope and Him; however, I am a bit ashamed
to admit that I enjoyed seeing him push her buttons. I think it was kind of funny how they both found themselves in the roomie situation and how everybody knew what was happening before they even realized it. I had such a fun time reading this book and being back in this little town.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We finally get to see Declan’s book and of course he didn't disappoint. I enjoyed the chemistry between Penelope and Him; however, I am a bit ashamed
to admit that I enjoyed seeing him push her buttons. I think it was kind of funny how they both found themselves in the roomie situation and how everybody knew what was happening before they even realized it. I had such a fun time reading this book and being back in this little town.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 19, 2026
this one should come with a SPICYYY warning label but hot dang, I loved it🥵❤️🔥
Declan and Penelope become temporary roommates for thirty days as a result of one too many verbal sparring matches (honestly, the reason for it is very rom-com coded but just go with it okay)
Penelope has a secret life as a successful romance author, but she’s struggling to write her next book. Declan is more than happy to provide some inspiration for her as she doesn’t have a lot of real life experience.
I had such a fun time with this read and can’t wait to see what Brighton cooks up next!!!!!
Declan and Penelope become temporary roommates for thirty days as a result of one too many verbal sparring matches (honestly, the reason for it is very rom-com coded but just go with it okay)
Penelope has a secret life as a successful romance author, but she’s struggling to write her next book. Declan is more than happy to provide some inspiration for her as she doesn’t have a lot of real life experience.
I had such a fun time with this read and can’t wait to see what Brighton cooks up next!!!!!
May 11, 2026
I went in to this book knowing I already loved the town and it's residents, but was disappointed with the superficial level of this long awaited romance. The premise was weak and just made for a lot of smut and not enough character engagement. Unfortunately, this part of a series I have been enjoying fell a little short.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 978 reviews