Title: Brighter Shades of Light
Author: Jaclyn Osborn
Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited
Length: 338 Pages
Category: Contemporary
At a Glance: While there were elements of the story I liked—I thought both MCs were very sweet, and I loved the connection they had—there were also elements that detracted from my enjoyment. As we reviewers like to sometimes say, your mileage may vary.
Reviewed By: Jules
Blurb: I never meant to fall for my college professor. He has a reputation for being cold… so why do I see that soft look in his eyes when he’s talking to me? Why does my heart feel like it’s beating out of my chest? I want his lips on mine. I want to see what’s beneath that icy exterior. And in class, I imagine him shoving me onto his desk and taking me right there.
Nothing can happen between us. Even if he wasn’t off-limits, I won’t be staying here after graduation. In exchange for paying for my college, I have a 5 year commitment to the Marine Corps, starting the day I get my degree.
Whatever I feel for Dr. Sebastian Vale…it just can’t happen.
Or can it?
Review: This bums me out so much to say, but…dissenting opinion ahead, guys. *sigh* I was so excited to read this book. I completely expected to love it. I loved Axios with my whole heart, and the author stated a few times on social media that Brighter Shades of Light was perhaps her second favorite thing she’d ever written. That sounds like a slam dunk, right? I thought so, too. But unfortunately, for me, somehow the shot was off the mark.
Even though it wasn’t necessarily a hit for me, though, that doesn’t mean it was all miss either. As is the case with many books I don’t entirely connect with, there were some things I did like. I thought both MCs were very sweet for one thing. Even Sebastian! Though he was a bit prickly for much of the beginning. 😉 Cody was a total love. He was kind, a good friend, and so sincere. I loved his reasons for joining the NROTC program, and how much he genuinely wanted to be a Marine and serve his country. I also loved how smart he was, and where the author took his story with regard to his plans after he was out of the Corps.
I also loved the connection the guys had. Sebastian isn’t easy to get to know, and often has a difficult time forming and maintaining relationships. But, luckily for him, Cody sets his sights on the professor, and doesn’t easily take no for an answer. Once they start spending time together, Sebastian finds it easy to open up to Cody, and soon finds himself getting attached. They are both so caring and good for each other. It was lovely to see them each assuming a caretaker role at different points in the story—Cody with always reminding his professor to eat, for example, and Sebastian taking care of Cody’s truck repairs.
Along with that lovely connection, however, came lots of extremely purple prose, some scenes and dialogue that were just a bit too over the top for me, and lots of melodrama. There was drama between Cody and his best friend/roommate, between Sebastian and his ex-wife, between Sebastian and his co-worker, and between Cody and a classmate. So much of it seemed unnecessary to me, especially some of the scenes between Sebastian and his ex.
So, while there were elements of the story I liked, there were also elements that detracted from my enjoyment. Where it was a little too overdramatic or sappy for me, other readers will have nothing but praise. As we reviewers like to sometimes say, your mileage may vary. If you’re looking for a super sweet love story with an age gap and a sexy professor, then this might be a great read for you!
You can buy Brighter Shades of Light here:
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