This was a new one for the Cowboy romance genre for me. The brave and reckless is set in a Wild West themed amusement park, Bravetown with live daily shows following some characters from town.

Esra comes to Bravetown with the intention of working in the ice cream parlor for the summer. But when the role of the pretty Annie Lou becomes available at the last minute and Esra fits the costume, she’s throwing into the role of being the kidnapped victim of Ace Ryder, played by her brothers best friend Noah Young.
The two but heads until they ultimately decide to have a secret relationship.

I liked this book but some of the chapters felt way too long and then the ended was a little rushed. As well as the MFC just being too all over the place for me personally.

The Brave and the Reckless isn't just another Wild West tale; it's a captivating love story that blossoms amidst the dust and grit of a western theme park. It's a compelling story around two seemingly opposite characters, Noah Young and Esra Taner, who find themselves drawn together in a dance of affection and animosity. Noah, the grumpy park employee, seems content in his predictable routine, perhaps hiding a longing for something more beneath his gruff exterior. Enter Esra, the bubbly younger sister of Noah's best friend, seeking refuge and reinvention after discarding the expectations of medical school. Esra's arrival disrupts Noah's carefully constructed world, injecting a vibrant energy that both irritates and intrigues him. The initial friction between them, a delightful mix of playful banter and genuine frustration, hints at a deeper connection simmering beneath the surface. What makes "The Brave and the Reckless" so compelling is the authentic portrayal of two individuals grappling with their own desires and vulnerabilities. Noah, perhaps scarred by past experiences, struggles to embrace the possibility of happiness. Esra, on the other hand, is determined to forge her own path, even if it leads her into uncharted territory. Their journey is not just about finding love; it's about self-discovery, acceptance, and the courage to pursue what truly matters. As their love/hate dynamic intensifies, there's a moment where the simmering desires explode into a love that neither Noah nor Esra can deny, leaving the reader rooting for this unlikely pair to find their happy ending in the end.

Huge thanks to Dilan Dyer, Ballantine, Dell, and NetGalley for this ARC!

This book was such a ride! The Brave and the Reckless delivers a fiery enemies-to-lovers romance set against the backdrop of an old-fashioned Wild West theme park. From backstage bickering to surprise kisses behind the scenes, Esra and Noah’s chemistry was electric. Their tension felt authentic, and their journey from frustration to passion to vulnerability had me hooked.

The story leans into its tropes (yes to all the banter and tension-filled stage moments!), but what elevated it for me was the rich setting and the realistic emotional arcs. The disability rep felt respectful and integrated, not just a checkbox, and the found-family element gave it heart.

The miscommunication trope near the end wasn’t my favorite, but it did push the characters toward growth and resolution. All in all, this was a quick, spicy, and emotionally rewarding read. Highly recommend to fans of character-driven cowboy romances with a modern twist.

"The Brave and the Reckless" is a delightful and spicy romance that offers a fresh twist on the cowboy genre. Set in Bravetown, a Wild West-themed amusement park, the story follows Esra Taner, a med school dropout seeking a new path, and Noah Young, the grumpy cowboy who plays the villain in the park's daily shows. Their forced proximity leads to a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance filled with witty banter, sizzling chemistry, and heartfelt moments.

What sets this novel apart is its unique setting and the dynamic between the leads. The theme park backdrop adds a playful and immersive element, while the characters' growth and the development of their relationship keep readers engaged. The inclusion of chronic illness representation adds depth and authenticity to Esra's character, resonating with many readers.

While some readers may find certain tropes familiar, the execution and character development make this a standout read for fans of contemporary romance. With its blend of humor, heat, and heart, The Brave and the Reckless is a promising addition to the genre.

Rating: 5+ stars / Spice: 3.5/5 peppers

This book was everything I never knew I needed! The banter, the setting, the character growth, the spice…. Perfection! I loved everything about Bravetown, and would 100% visit annually if it existed in real life, and maybe even snag my very own Ace Ryder? Not only did this book make me giggle out loud, but I felt deep affection for every single character. I really can't recommend this book enough!

What to expect: - Wild West Theme Park - City Girl x Country Boy - Grumpy x Sunshine - Banter & Pranks - Brother's Best Friend - Secret Relationship - EDS Rep - ASL/Hearing Loss Rep

I’ve basically only read cowboy romances since the beginning of 2025. I’ve been completely hyper fixated on this form of romance for half a year. Dilan Dyer is a new to me author and overall I enjoyed this book especially the chronic illness representation. I didn’t realize the focus would be more on the theme park than Cowboys when I picked it up so heads up on that. Overall, I enjoyed this book and will continue on my cowboy romance journey!

Brava to Dilan Dyer for creating such a unique spin on the “Cowboy romance” genre. While certain parts of the dialogue were clunky, the premise really carried this reader through. Kudos for chronic disability rep.

I'm dnfing this at 51%

I just couldn't get into this book, and i felt like I couldn't connect to the characters

This is was such an enjoyable read on so many different levels.
The Brave and the Reckless simply put was just a lot of fun!
The characters were so much fun, and their chemistry was adorable.
I thought the writing was quick, fun and engaging.
Overall, I very much enjoyed reading this new title.

I liked this book, but some parts of the story lacked for me. The setting was a standout because it took place at a wild west theme park called Bravetown. Esra has just moved there to start over after she quits med school. Her brother helps her to get a job, and she is happy to spend more time with him. Noah is the best friend of Esra's brother, but he doesn't seem to get along with Esra when he meets her.

Noah and Esra are roommates, and they work together on a stage performance at Bravetown. Their enemies to lovers dynamic leads to them hooking up in secret in breaks in their performances. In the performance, he plays the villain and she plays the damsel in distress. Hooking up leads them to have real feeling for each other. The story gets very spicy, including hooking up in the mud and in the stables too.

There is a 6 year age gap, and it seemed really obvious to me. He seemed much more mature, and Esra seemed like she was smart, but she didn't have real world experience. She grew up with a chronic illness, which lead her to be inside a lot. I didn't like that she seemed reckless with her health, and her medical condition wasn't explained until much later in the book.

Overall, I would read other books in the series, but I just didn't find much romance between Esra and Noah in this story.

This story follows Esra and Noah, working together at a Wild West style amusement park as part of the immersive live entertainment. (Think Westworld meets Disneyland, minus the robots.) She plays the Mayor's daughter who is kidnapped by Ace Ryder (played by Noah), after he robs the bank, 8 times a week, so. they have to work closely together, and they even live in the same employee housing unit, but the only problem is that they can't stand each other. She's trying to figure life out and experience things she's been sheltered from, and he's trying to make it through until he's able to put his plans for life into action. They clash at every turn, but there's a thin line between love and hate.

I loved everything about this book, the bickering between the two MC's made me laugh with the way they would come at each other and the way they could both acknowledge that the other was active but absolutely hated that they felt that way because they really couldn't stand each other. Their dynamic from the start made it fun to watch how those walls slowly but surely started getting broken down, and how even after they started to break down, both were still resistant to what was happening, because it was hard for them to see it for what it was. The moment when things really started to click though might be my favorite chapter in the whole book. Seeing two people who are so vastly different finally start to understand one and another is always so fun to experience and I loved every minute of it. There was one point in the story, during the third act where things could have gone wrong, but they didn't and I could not have been happier. The resolution was everything I needed it to be in how it was handled, which isn't always the case, and that only made me love it more. Overall, this book is fairly low stakes, but it's really fun and the world within the Bravetown Amusement Park and the small town it's in was an enjoyable one to be a part of (and given their situation and setting, when it comes to the spice for the book, it lead to some very unique and creative moments)

I liked the different take on a cowboy romance. Ezra and Noah are playing parts in an old time themed park. There was great banter, found family, and chronic illness representation. It was a fun and quick read. Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

Thank you to Dilan Dyer, Dell, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Ezra is looking for a little fun after upturning her life and leaving med school. So how about working at an amusement park for a little adventure. But what happens when meaningless fun starts to become more.

I had a harder time with this one especially in the beginning. The last quarter was the best for me. But I never truly felt attached to the characters. I just didn’t feel their connection I guess. I appreciated the chronic illness representation and thought it was done with care. I enjoyed Noah a little more than Ezra, maybe he was more relatable? I did like the idea of a man creating the theme park for the town, to take care of them. But overall this just didn’t stand out to me or leave a mark, and that’s ok. Not every book is for every person.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥🔥🔥☄️

Technically a 3.5 but I'm giving it a 4 here because it did win me over near the end. The world building and enemies to lovers bantering seemed to take a while to get to some real romantic tension. I did find some of their "pranks" and things a bit childish but she is only 22, so I can forgive her for that. The spicy scenes were SPICING. I did not expect Noah to have such a filthy mouth and insatiable appetite, but he did. I didn't care for the actual show part of it but I've also never seen or experienced a cowboy type of event so maybe I'm just unfamiliar. Overall a good read but the highlight was really the spice for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for an ARC of this. I enjoyed this. It was a pretty quick read with a small town theme park romance with a cowboy theme. Some of the pacing felt off. It started off strong and pulled me in and I was engaged. Then it was a bit on and off in my opinion. I also think it’s because I didn’t like Esra that much, the female main character. I enjoyed her and Noah together, the male main character, but by herself sometimes she got on my nerves. Outside of that, I enjoyed how Noah became someone important in her life. He was there for her and cared for her. They were really a sweet couple.

I want to thank Ballentine and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of this story is so facisnating and I was so excited to read it but I feel like it was done so poorly. I loved the idea of a wild west theme park and having a romance novel centered around there but a lot of it dragged on and fell very flat for me.


what did work was the spicy scene and the chronic illness rep both thiings i feel like the author executed perfectly.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book. I really enjoyed it. I love a cowboy romance but her having some health issues definitely added to it. Also a little brothers best friend and enemies to lovers was the cherry on top. Takes place at a small western theme park where they’re all playing characters our MMC is the villain character. A great small town take.

This was such a unique and fun way to tell a romance story with tropes that have been done so many times before. The setting being an old western town amusement park instead just a regular cowboy romance, was a nice twist. The enemies to lovers trope was written with so much fun banter and physical comedy. I really could picture everything like it was a movie and not just written words. The chronic illness story line was important but didn’t overshadow the rest of the story. Also having the FMC being a Turkish American was a nice to see.
I hope to see more books in the future about some of the side characters.

I just don’t think this book was for me. It started off strong and I was pulled in. There was funny banter and some good back forth between the main characters. But the. The FMC just seemed so immature throughout the book.

*I received a copy of this book as an ARC. This review and thoughts are mine alone.*

Rating: 4.5⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️


Noah and Esra were literal PERFECTION.

The spice was spicing, the way he cared and listened about her illness, and never once judged her for leaving school and needing a job.

Just.. chefs kiss.
Truly.


Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for access to the ARC in exchange for this honest review!