In a world where they’re forbidden to each other, Maddie Stevens finds herself grappling with feelings she never expected. Struggling with a sense of inadequacy and thwarted dreams, she faces a pivotal ballet audition that could define her future. But when an injury threatens to derail her aspirations, fate throws her into the orbit of James Simmons, her gruff but handsome physical therapist. Despite the age gap and professional boundaries, their forced closeness ignites an undeniable attraction. As desire collides with restraint, Maddie and James must navigate the treacherous waters of forbidden love. Yet, with each passing day, resisting temptation becomes increasingly futile.

Repetition was a major problem because of the age difference and her mental health problems. Though it is officially a stand-alone novel, this book is the second in the series. The writing of Maddie and James is exquisite, and the subjects are tenderly touched upon without skirting the edges. This book tells us that it’s acceptable for life to not go as planned.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and finished it in a few days. I like that the author chose to depict the connection truthfully rather than using clichés that are frequently connected to forbidden romances in fiction. Although there are issues in this book that are better suited for mature readers, the author handled those delicate subjects very well, in my opinion, and the book was handled with care. I can’t wait to read The Brightest Light trilogy’s third and final instalment.

Note: This book contains mature themes and explicit content. Recommended for adult readers.

I obviously LOVED this book. I fell in love with Lisina's writing after I read The Brightest Light of Sunshine. That book is still in my top 10 favorite books. Getting to read little Maddie's story now!?!?!?

I devoured the book! Seriously, devoured it!

This is one of those books where I know I'll find myself rereading time and time again because I just will not get tired of it. Just like I did with TBLOS.

If you haven't read this book, or the one before it, what are you even doing?????

Honestly, what are you waiting for? Do yourself a favor and pick up this series. I accept absolutely no criticism on either of the books in this series, just like I'm sure I'll accept no criticism on the upcoming book.

You will not regret reading this book. And if you do, well I'm not sure what to tell you because my brain can't wrap around that possibility.

LOVE THIS BOOK, LOVE THIS AUTHOR, LOVE THIS SERIES! I cannot wait for the next one. 5 stars all around!

I absolutely loved this book! Definitely going to read it again. Lisina Coney does an amazing job connecting to the characters and I was invested in them all through book! I definitely need a new book immediately.

I absolutely loved reading the Darkest Corner of the Heart! After reading the Brightest Light of Sunshine this was one of my most anticipated reads. This book had some of my favourite book tropes slow burn, dual pov and forbidden romance.

Maddie and James book was such a cute story and I loved reading about them both. I also seeing the snippets of Cal and Grace from the first book too.

I so wanted to love this! Especially because I did enjoy book one, and I was excited for these characters. But unfortunately I didn't-and parts of it fell super flat. I found the pacing to be off, it was hard for me to dig into the characters and their story, the chemistry felt rushed and not fully developed, and the 3rd act break-up just felt really unecessary and immature, which highlighted our heroine's lack of emotional maturity. Book 1 had some pacing issues (it def felt like wattpad writing in places) but the characters were so charming, the chemistry palpable, and the ending cute, and this follow-up had similar issues without the charm of the first. There's still a lot to like here and a great set-up, just didn't quite live up to my expectations.

I really loved this book, the characters were very interesting. I really loved their background and how their relationship developped with one another. Overall, really great book with great character and a great story. I recommend.

Lisina's writing is beautiful and I really enjoyed the second book in this series. This book has both age gap and a little forbidden aspect and I really enjoyed the chemistry between the characters. The mental health representation was great as well!

Thank you #netgalley for an early read of #darkestcorneroftheheart in exchange for my honest review!

In the pages of this book, Maddie's journey resonated deeply with me, especially seeing her struggle with self-doubt and the pressure to conform to expectations. As we get to know Maddie through her journey, her emotional turmoil felt so real to me, and her strength to persevere even when facing such a huge injury really stuck out to me.

I really enjoyed how the author crafted the intimate scenes with the two main characters. These scenes were sensual and vulnerable and did a good job showing the complex feelings the characters had.

As someone who appreciates a well-crafted romance, I found myself wholly engrossed in Maddie and James's forbidden love story.

4⭐️

Maddie had always had a dream of becoming a professional dancer and when she gets the opportunity to dance for Norcastle Ballet she is ecstatic. Until right before auditions, when she pushed herself practicing too hard and hurt her ankle, her dreams vanished right in front of her.

Dr. Simmons aka James is Maddie’s physical therapist and he immediately can see himself in Maddie when he got injured years ago and could no longer play football.

Slowly they build a relationship outside of PT, even though they shouldn’t and once she’s no longer his patient the only thing that’s truly keeping them apart is the belief that their age difference is too much.

My thoughts:
I enjoyed this, I really liked the characters and the storyline was decent but I idk why I just couldn’t completely get into it. I’d also say I enjoyed the first book a little more (The Brightest Light of Sunshine).
And I still couldn’t believe the one line when Cal finds out and he’s like you know how much older you are than her. And I was thinking dude I can’t believe you just said that since him and Grace from TBLOS are 8 years apart


-age gap romance (10 years)
-slow burn
-he’s her physical therapist

I really enjoyed this second book in the series! While I enjoyed the first book more, and felt more connected to the characters, I still really enjoyed Maddie’s story.

In this book, Maddie Stevens grapples with self-doubt and familial expectations while facing a potentially career-ending injury. As she navigates a tumultuous relationship with her older, aloof physical therapist, James Simmons, forbidden feelings begin to stir. Despite the age gap and professional boundaries, their growing connection proves irresistible. The novel skillfully weaves a tale of love, temptation, and personal growth, captivating readers with its emotional depth and complex characters. With a compelling blend of romance and introspection, this story earns four stars for its engaging narrative and exploration of forbidden desires that defy societal norms.

Maddie Stevens often grapples with feelings of inadequacy, doubting her worthiness of her parents' love, her ability to be independent, and her capacity to shape the future she envisions. I'll admit, I missed out on the first book, but after reading this, I'm eager to track down a copy and dive into it, especially given the glowing reviews of its predecessor. While some may argue that the second book might shine brighter when read in sequence, I found it quite enjoyable as a standalone.The narrative centers around a forbidden romance, mainly because Maddie's love interest is her physical therapist, who happens to be a decade older than her. (Personally, I don't consider a 10-year age gap significant.) I felt that James, the love interest, dwelled excessively on their age difference, which became repetitive and somewhat monotonous, overshadowing other aspects of the story that deserved more attention. Despite this, the undeniable chemistry between them added depth to their relationship.The pacing of the story was a bit inconsistent; some parts felt rushed and lacked depth, while others meandered unnecessarily.A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and Page & Vine for providing this eARC.

The second book in this series did not disappoint! Lisina has a way of keeping you invested with all these mini twists and turns and the love chemistry is palpable!! This one had its deep moments like the first one, but played more on the struggle of mental healing. I kept highlighting so many quotes!! I cannot wait for the 3rd one!

The Darkest Corner of the Heart by Lisina Coney is such a beautiful story that talks about the importance of physical and mental health. Its also covers the hardships of growing up without a stable biological mum and dad, and the guilt one faces over still having a safe space with other guardians. Maddie is a 21-year-old graduate who is currently trying her best to become a professional dancer. When she gets injured, she realises she has nothing else to look forward to besides ballet. Enter James, the hot physiotherapist helping her rehab her ankle. James has his ups and downs but is perfect for Maddie if only he could see it himself.

This book made me cry multiple times, while also screaming from the cuteness or giggling because James was James. I am currently doing physiotherapy for pelvic pain and when I tell you, my physio isn't a James (which is very upsetting). This simply broke my heart since I thought he could be. I am glad he isn't. James has such a soft spot in my heart but this book did take a while for me to read, due to it making me question my ethics. Patient and Professional relationships in medical field is always a bit gross, but since its only her physio and not her doctor or gynaecologist, I'll let it pass. Maddie at times felt like she was over reacting to things, but when you look into the book and get past 60% we realise why. It truly broke my heart. I want Maddie to get everything she has ever dreamed of. Same to James. They deserved so much better than the got.

Thank you to NetGalley for this amazing read!

(Sorry for not posting this sooner)

I have been provided with a review copy of this title from NetGalley for an impartial review. This book was just so easy to get lost in. I completely got lost in the story and I just loved getting to see these new characters come together. I just absolutely love this story and I just didn’t want to put it down. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

Such an extremely emotional read, and overall I did enjoy it. I will say, I did not enjoy the total radio silence for way too long of the book and it did make it lose interest for a while. The ending of book really makes up for this though so it's worth the read!

Lisina Coney is so underrated and I need more of you to get ONTO HER!! (I mean that in the most respectful, appropriate way possible btw 😅)
No but seriously, this woman writes emotions in a way where they fly off the freaking page and burrow themselves into your heart! The character’s backstories, their romance, and their individual arcs are so beautiful and I just adore this little family of swoon-worthy men and fierce AF women! And now we get one more book from them so I don’t have to say goodbye just yet! I will say, the pacing is a bit rushed at times and too slow at others so maybe evening out the plot development could help and adding a bit more dimension to the characters so they don’t feel like caricatures of each other can help distinguish this story from it’s counterparts. But I really love witnessing Coney’s rise to success and can’t wait to see what beauties she writes up for us next!

Lisina Coney's "The Darkest Corner of the Heart" is a total page-turner! I was hooked right from the start. The characters are so real, with all their flaws and feelings laid bare. The story takes you on a wild ride of emotions, from heartache to hope, and it's impossible to put down.

It's all about love, loss, and redemption – the good stuff! Coney's writing draws you in, and you'll find yourself rooting for these characters like they're old friends. By the end, I was left feeling uplifted and inspired by the resilience of the human spirit.

If you're in the mood for a captivating read that'll tug at your heartstrings, "The Darkest Corner of the Heart" is it. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Ever since I read the first book in this series last year, I have been desperate for a book about Maddie. The sweet little girl is not so little anymore. She is grown up with a heavy heart. With a tragic past about her parents and having her older brother to step in as Dad, Maddie hasn't had a simple upbringing. An injury is a disaster for the ballerina. She starts to see a physiotherapist and can't help but be attracted to the handsome, brooding and strong James. Lines are crossed for the better.

I do not love a slow burn, but this was just perfection. There was so much angst with push and pull with an age gap that provided so much tension. I just loved it. (and I just loved seeing Grace & Cal again)

After reading the first book I was so excited to read about Maddie after everything but I was not feeling it James and Maddie lacked chemistry for me I didn't love the character as much as I loved the first one 3/5 star read for me ko