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

3.5 ⭐
This book is described as a forbidden love story and I don't understand the reason why. Alright, Maddie is a young ballerina with an injured ankle and James is her therapist for 6 weeks. The 10 years age gap is also not that big but they make it sound huge.
The story is a pleasant read, slow-paced but with enjoyable characters and some good life lessons.

The most heartfelt read of the year. This is the perfect follow up to the Brightest Light of Sunshine. Lisina Coney has a real gift.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.
Darkest Corner of the Heart is the second book in the Brightest Light series. It can be read as a standalone, but I believe it is best enjoyed if you have read the first book, due to references that go back to the first book.
Maddie is a bright up and coming ballet dancer who becomes injured and has her dreams crushed. She meets James, her handsome and grumpy physical therapist. They form a special bond that turns into more, despite fighting the urges to be together.
I really enjoyed this book. I read the first book, which made it that much more enjoyable for me.
Grumpy vs Sunshine
Age Gap
#DarkestCorneroftheHeart #Netgalley

It can be hard for me to be patient with a slow burn, but let me tell you.... it was worth it! This book blew me away in more ways than one and this author has real talent. Highly recommend!

Rating: 3.5/5 ✩

I really loved getting back into this world and seeing Maddie all grown up!!! I liked seeing her in a completely new perspective and who she’s grown up to be.

I found the overall storyline to be interesting and I did really enjoy understanding Maddie and this new phase of her life she’s in, coupled with her injury that makes her have to reflect a lot. As someone who is also 21, it was definitely something I could relate to and there were a lot of moments where I really connected to what she was feeling at her life stage.

James was such a classic grumpy, broody character that definitely intrigued me. I liked how he could connect with Maddie and understand her through their shared experiences, and he really brought a whole new energy to her life. I’m not a cat person in real life, but I did enjoy seeing James and his cats haha!

I also loved seeing Grace and Cal pop up throughout the story and see the their relationship with Maddie has evolved over time. It was just so wholesome and made me smile every time!

I do wish there was just a bit more to the story. While I enjoyed it, I wanted to connect a bit more to James’ character. Most of the time he was just very fixated on the age gap, which got a little annoying after a point. I also really wanted to see more from James and Graham’s friendship.

Overall, a cute and enjoyable read!!

Oh I devoured this one! I thought the immense slow-burn was going to turn me away but really it only made me more invested in the story and the romance at its core. This book was sunshine but also had so much darkness within it, because let's be honest - no one has a perfect life. I loved that Lisina Coney took the time to handle these topics with care and give Maddie her own chance at love and being seen.

The Darkest Corner of the Heart - Lisina Coney 🫀

⭐⭐⭐

The second book in The Brightest Light series by Lisina Coney which I adored.

I absolutely loved reading Cal and Grace's story in the first book and really looked forward to reading about a grown up Maddie in this one.

Getting a glimpse into the characters lives years later was really interesting and it was nice to so them all have a happy ending.

This was a tough read and had so many heart breaking moments throughout but ended on a good note.

I would definitely recommend this series but make sure to read the trigger warnings.

Thank you to NetGalley and Page & Vine for sending me this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own*

#NetGalley #TheDarkestCorneroftheHeart

MISS coney. Usuually an age-gap romance would give me the absolute ick, but goddamn, Maddie you were the definition of sunshine, and cat-dad James i am free next thursday for a date if you are free next thursday for a date. Usually older men and younger girls give me IMMENSE pause, but Lisina you are a literary genius i dont know how you made me love them so much!!