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Book Review – The Darkest Sunrise Duet by Aly Martinez

The Darkest Sunrise and The Brightest Sunset by Aly Martinez

Emotional Contemporary Standalone Duet. Must be read together, in order.

ALL THE STARS!!! Wow. I finished The Darkest Sunrise Duet by Aly Martinez yesterday and tried starting 5 different books after. Nothing worked. I’m clearly in the middle of a MAJOR BOOK HANGOVER. I haven’t been this utterly CONSUMED by a story in a really long time, possible years. I can’t remember the last time I read two books in two days. My husband told me I kept saying “Oh My God, this book is so freaking good!” over and over (I remember a few times, but he says it was more like 50).

The Darkest Sunrise Duet is so far out of my comfort zone it’s ridiculous. For goodness sakes, if it says dark in the title, I know it’s not for me. But I was in a book funk and saw some people I trust RAVING about it. Aly will be at Wicked Book Weekend in April, so I grabbed it on impulse without even reading the blurb. I’m so glad; I don’t know if I would have read it had I read the blurb first.

So here is my warning: While this review will be spoiler free and vague, click the link and buy it and read it, then come back and read this to see if we agree. Because going in blind was great. Or just read on for a totally spoiler free review.

Charlotte was completely and totally broken. A hugely successful, workaholic pulmonary Doctor, Charlotte lived in the worst darkness a mother could ever dream of. Until him.

“Hi. I’m Porter Reese.” I didn’t know it yet. But those four simple words changed my life all over again.

Porter immediately recognized the darkness Charlotte tried so hard to hide. He saw his own darkness reflected back in her eyes, and their connection was tangible. Porter was so swoony. A widow with a tragic past and two kids, one with breathing problems, Porter was an amazing dad, but his gentleness and understanding of Charlotte’s darkness made him perfect.

This agreement he set up gave Charlotte the freedom to finally let go and stop faking the fact that she is barely surviving her grief and guilt. Though they had different darkness, they understood each other.

“Our situations were different, but the same shade of black painted both of our souls.”

Yet together, they smiled. Charlotte laughed a real laugh for the first time in 10 years. They were bringing life back to each other.

“Porter might have wanted company in the darkness. But, with a single taste of the warmth, I wanted to bask in the sunlight.”

Right from the beginning, you start to predict what is going to happen, then you doubt yourself more and more, then you think something totally different, and then Aly surprises you and gives you something else. But to tell you the truth, even if I did know the end at the beginning, the journey in this duet was the best part. Watching this couple come alive only when they are together is wonderful. But sadly they can’t really be together. His kids are his #1 priority and she can’t be around kids at all. There are so many obstacles for them to overcome, but together they may be able to overcome some.

“I know who you are, Charlotte. And I know it doesn’t feel like the darkness when we’re together.”

Until darkness descends even further on them.

OMG, my heart. I went through SO MANY EMOTIONS reading this series! I was so crazy engrossed in it, I haven’t read a story so breathlessly in years. I will say, that one or two things bothered me in the second book enough to bring it from a super rare 10 star read to 5+++++ stars (Book 1 is still 10 for me) but it wasn’t enough to take away from the amazing way that Aly just stole my heart with her words.

Likes:

  • The writing kept me glued to the pages more than any other recent book I can think of.
  • Porter was so freaking swoony, he never pushed too hard, but knew just what she needed.
  • So many emotions and ups and downs through the entire series.
  • You think you know, then you think again.
  • The balance of highs and lows. Just when it gets too heavy, we get a bright spot.
  • Older, more relatable characters.
  • I love books with kids.
  • Despite the emotion, it was still sexy.

Dislikes:

  • Though there were a few minor things, they would just be little nitpicks, and they pale in comparison to the positives.

The Down & Dirty:

The Darkest Sunrise Duet will be at the top of my Best of 2017 list, without a doubt. It kept me up all night turning pages, crying, laughing, swooning, getting mad and second guessing all of my predictions. The only thing I stopped reading to do was post about how much I was loving this duet. These were completely out of my comfort zone —I don’t do ugly cries often (but when I do, I admit, they usually end up on my favorites list) but I am so glad I shook things up for The Darkest Sunrise Duet, because it will have a place on my all-time-favorite list.

Rating: 5+++++++ Stars, 4 Heat

Purchase The Darkest Sunrise by Aly MartinezPurchase The Brightest Sunset by Aly Martinez

Meet Aly and get these signed at Wicked Book Weekend Ft. Lauderdale in April
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Comments

  7. Shannon Cole says

    OMG!!! I love your review and I cannot wait to read this duet!
    I’ve been anxiously awaiting for book 2 so I could enjoy them back to back!!!
    I’ve heard so many great things about this read and now that I’ve read your review, I’m definitely ready to dive in!!!

    Reply

  8. Carolina León says

    I’m a fan of this author and I’m happy to see that this duet is everything and more that people expected to be. Thanks?❤

    Reply

  9. Melissa Jones says

    Wow, your review has me even more anxious to read but I’ve got a couple of arc’s up first….aaahhh I want to read this SOOOOO badly!!!

    Reply

  13. Joy says

    Great review! This is a fabulous duet. I love Porter Reese and had a book hangover too! Aly did an amazing job.

    Reply

  19. Susan says

    This book sounds like a must read after reading the reviews I’m definitely going to check out the books I. The series

    Reply

  25. Michelle Monroe says

    Great review! Can’t wait to read them, especially now that book 2 is live. I hate waiting. ???

    Reply

  26. Lori williams says

    Congratulations on this 5 star book release ? I have never been so influenced mezmorized and amazed at a review like this before from an author ??? this book is a must-have must want and must read for me so now that I have read your free review I will most definitely be purchasing the paperback and when I am done reading it I will leave my review thank you for sharing with me and giving me such a detailed Insight on this wonderful book that I just cannot wait to get my hands a hold on and start reading it ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤??

    Reply

  37. Andie Reads Books says

    Darkest Sunrise series is on my tbr, now it sure moved into the top 🙂 great review 🙂

    Reply

    • Karina Kantas says

      Okay, I just read your not accepting any new requests. I can imagine how long your TBR list is. If you ever open it up again, please let me know. Keep up the awesome work you’re doing.
      KK

      Reply

  52. Katie Reads says

    I keep hearing great things about this duet. It sounds like I really need to read it now!

    Reply

  53. Ana says

    Beautiful review! ?
    It’s reviews like this that helps the reader in a great way! So, thank you ?

    Reply

  56. Marcy Meyer says

    I’m going in blind, so I didn’t read your review yet. I love that you gave it ‘all the stars’. I’m sure it will be really good.

    Reply

  60. Wendy LeGrand says

    LOVE your review!! Just finished The Brightest Sunset last night and still reeling from it. This duet is just so….everything!! I want so much more of their story.

    Reply

  63. Katie says

    Great review. I’m half way through book 2 and if I wasn’t at a baseball tournament in San Diego (from Seattle) and if my son wasn’t pitching, I’d be reading now. 🙂

    Reply

  68. Cassie Geary says

    I love reading your reviews! I I’m looking forward to reading the 2nd book this weekend.

    Reply

  69. Michelle Abascal Monroy says

    OMG I LOVEE your review!!! Can’t wait to read this duet!! I’m so excited

    Reply

  73. Sarah Scholz says

    Wow! What a great review ? This sounds like a great duet! I will definitely be adding them to my TBR list ☺️

    Reply

  79. Maida Khalid says

    FAB review, lovely! I absolutely love Aly’s writing. She always manages to draw me in right from page 1. I can’t wait to binge read this duet. Happy you loved it! 🙂 xo

    Reply

  81. Mette Toft says

    Holy moly!!! I 1-clicked The Darkest Sunrise after seeing your post on Facebook earlier today. Finished it two minutes ago. I praise my lucky star that the Brightest Sunset is out today, I wouldn’t know what to do if it wasn’t…

    Reply

  84. Chris Gutowski says

    I love that your negatives were so few that you didn’t mention them! This sounds like a great read. Adding to my tbr list for sure!

    Reply

  87. MJ Symmonds says

    I have heard nothing but amazing things about these books. I’m definitely gonna have to get my one click on.

    Reply

  90. Monique Cashmere says

    These look awesome! Can’t wait to read them at once.
    Thanks for highlighting them and great review.

    Reply

  94. Heather Scully says

    I am trying, so very hard not to read these at present, cause I know they will gut me entirely and right now that would be THE WORST thing ever, considering where my head is…BUT YOU ARE TEMPTING ME SO HARDCORE! GAH! It’s on my TBR, and I WILL read them. It’s a guarantee, I love Aly’s books. She’s an amazing storyteller. But man…these will kill me. #JustSaying I’ll let you know where to send flowers. No lilies tho. Totally allergic and I hate roses. Lol Freaking temptress… ???❤?

    Reply

  110. Jami Birnbaum says

    I’ve only heard good things about this duet and after reading your review, makes me want to read it sooner rather than later…

    Reply

  112. Tammy V says

    I like when there are highs and lows in a book. Keeps it interesting. Also that he doesn’t push is a big plus for me.

    Reply

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