The Bright Spot - Contemporary Romance Review

Goodreads: The Bright Spot by Jill Shalvis

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  Luna Wright is a lot of things, but sweet and trusting aren't on the list. However, she’s a sucker for the underdog and a hard-luck story. Adopted at birth, with scant knowledge of her biological family, she’s created her own inner circle, a motley crew which includes her bestie Willow, to help her run the struggling but charming Apple Ridge Farm.

With a farm-to-table café as well as a menagerie of rescued animals (complete with a baby goat who keeps escaping to the pantry to eat the secret stash of decidedly not organic potato chips), it’s the best home she’s ever known. But when Silas, the owner who they secretly call The Grinch, passes away, Luna discovers the farm is now under the control of both his investment manager, the enigmatic Jameson Hayes….and her. And that Silas had many, many secrets.

Now Luna’s carefully controlled corner of the world is threatened and she—along with some of her friends—has to dig deep to find true strength and the real meaning of love and family.

Genre: Romance - Contemporary

Why I Picked This Book:  I've really enjoyed everything I've read by this author so of course I couldn't resist this one - especially when a baby goat is mentioned in the blurb.

My Impression: I'm going to be honest -for the first 30% of the book or so I was not sold on this book. There was a lot I loved - the farm setting was fantastic with a maximum amount of shenanigans.  Luna's grandmother, Stella and most of the other people at the farm were quirky and entertaining.  Jameson was dreamy - damaged but not self-destructive, a numbers guy but willing to listen to the people element, a relationship flunky but willing to try.  He was also okay with a baby goat becoming his bestie and sitting in his lap most of the time.  It wasn't hard not to love him.  

What kept the beginning of this book from being a winner was Luna and Willow.  Willow is Luna's best friend and quite determined to destroy everything she's built in her life because it doesn't meet some arbitrary benchmark she set for herself.  I don't think I ever really liked her though I did understand her a bit more by the end.  Luna also drove me crazy at the beginning.  She's facing losing the farm but is unwilling to make any changes and for awhile refused to understand what was happening.  However, while I never fully warmed to Willow, I did end up really connecting to Luna.  Yes, she's stubborn but she's also innately talented with people, gifted with multitasking, and seriously complicated.

This is a funny quirky romance with deeper issues woven within.  After a slightly slow start I was completely pulled into this story and couldn't put it down.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Of course!  I'm looking forward to reading more of this author this year.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you enjoy contemporary romance and love a good quirky group of characters - and a goat or two - this is one not to miss.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *