This was a super fun and fresh take on the cowboy romance. This took place on a Wild West theme park where the MCs were acting in the theme park. The romance built up nice and slowly in the beginning and there was amazing world building for a romance.

I did like the MMC but the FMC annoyed me a bit at times especially in the third act conflict. But overall I did really enjoy this silly fun spicy romance with a unique setting.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this arc.

This was such a unique take on a cowboy romance! Set in a Wild West theme park, The Brave and the Reckless follows Ezra as she drops out of med school and moves to Bravetown after her brother gets her a job there. The setting was fun and different and it gave the story a vibe that really worked!

I genuinely enjoyed the plot and really liked the characters. Ezra and Noah were obviously my favourites, but I also appreciated the side characters. They didn’t just feel like background filler, Bravetown actually felt like its own little community!

As someone who also has hEDS, I really appreciated the chronic illness rep in this book. It was refreshing to see a main character dealing with similar challenges to my own. That said, my one small critique is that the actual name of the condition Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome isn’t actually mentioned until the 99% mark in the epilogue, and even then it’s written as “Hypermobile EDS.” Throughout the book it’s mostly referred to vaguely as “weak tissues” or “issues with tissues.” etc. I personally would have liked to see the condition named and acknowledged earlier on especially for visibility and awareness.

Overall, this was a heartfelt, original romance with great characters and a charming setting. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever Dilan Dyer writes next, I have a feeling book 2 is going to be Adriana’s story and I’m here for it!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Esra meets Noah when she takes a job at a wild west theme park. It was a great setting and a fun read, looking forward to the next books in this series

I seem to be drawn to these small town romance reads lately! This one was a fun, easy and spicy read! Absolutely loved where it was set!

I actually found this a really refreshing read! It’s not a stereotypical cowboy romance as it’s set in a classic Wild West town that puts on shows within a cowboy themed park but it gave all the right vibes! Esra and Noah had tonnes of tension, personality and slow burn enemies to lovers moment. It all felt really natural and not rushed. The way Ezra’s illness was portrayed was also very natural and well written. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it!

The premise of this book was solid and it was overall a good book, however, I found it hard to connect with the story as I kept losing interest due to the pacing. It felt like some moments were there just to be there, they didn’t add anything to the story. However, I loved the romance and the development between the FMC and MMC. I will definitely be giving this author another shot.

Thank you NetGalley for this free arc exchange for an honest review of this book from a cowgirl through and through

This book was super unique and had the perfect twist on the traditional cowboys. I’ve never picked up or read a book that was based in an amusement park so this was fun and new to me.

I did find our female a bit annoying in the first portion of this but later on I grew to enjoy her quirk . I like the tension and spice in this was well written. I also Love the inclusion of disability’s

I loved the setting of this book, the old Wild West themed park was such a fun place, and there were some hilarious parts to this too.

But to be perfectly candid, this is a very basic romance. There was not enough tension or chemistry for my liking, and the banter crossed the line into immature a few too many times. I think the author relied on humour too much, and this meant that an emotional connection was not developed enough.

The spice was very good, with some hot scenes and plenty of dirty talk, I loved how you could feel the trust between Noah and Esra during the intimate moments. But banter and sex are not enough for me to believe that a couple are genuinely good together, when there is no further substance to their relationship.

I don't even know what to say about the third act conflict tbh. I am tired of women in romance books wanting people around them to read their minds, and acting like spoilt little girls.

I did like that it was dual POV though, to get insight into both Esra and Noah's thoughts. I also thought that Esra's chronic illness was portrayed respectfully, and I loved the ending.

This was so fun and different to other books I’ve read before. I absolutely LOVED the theme park aspect. I loved the shows they put on and I loved how much Esra and Noah hated eachother because we all know how that goes 🤭

I loved how Esra and Noah made each other better within themselves. Esra helped Noah to have more fun and Noah helped Esra to calm down. They are the perfect recipe for a couple.

I’d love more into the world of Bravetown, Adriana was such an interesting character and I’d love more of her.

Thank you NetGalley for this free arc exchange for an honest review!!

This book was super unique and had the perfect twist on the traditional cowboys. I’ve never read a book that was based in an amusement park.

I did find our fmc a bit unlikeable in the first portion of this but later on I lovvvveeeddd. I like the tension and spice in this. Loved the disability rep aswell!

The Brave and the Reckless such a unique take on a cowboy romance!
I really loved the theme park setting and the small town, found family vibes that came along with it!
The chemistry and tension between Esra and Noah was steamy and I really enjoyed seeing their relationship develop throughout the book.
I found the story really easy to binge and the characters were well developed. I thought the chronic illness representation was really well done too.
I also really like the little passages at the start of every chapter giving us a deeper look into Bravetown’s history.
I’m hoping that there will be further books set in Bravetown in the future!

3.75 ⭐️

🩷Small town with and old west theme park
🩷Hate to love
🩷Brothers best friend
🩷Chronic illness rep
🩷City girl & country boy

I thought this was a really fun take on a small town romance as this small town had an old west theme park and the main characters work there as the villain and damsel.

I really thought Ezra's character development was really good, she started out being not that likeable but as you got to know her I really liked her. I also loved seeing the chronic illness representation that she had. I thought that Ezra and Theo had such great banter and made me feel like there was so much tension between them.

Noah was just such a grump and I loved that. I really liked how he looked after Ezra even when she did not want his help, he was just such a big softie for her. He had me giggling and kicking my feet a few times especially when he made sure he was the one walking next to the road and not Ezra.

I really want to see more books from this world as there is a character that I loved and really want their story.

This was a fun and unique read, with good vibes! The fact that it easy cowboy themed, but set in a West World theme park made it even more interesting.

The immediate introduction to all the characters were done in such a great way. I didn’t struggle to keep up with who’s who, and what their role is. The bickering and banter she had with Noah was just *chef’s kiss*. It was everything I look for in an enemies to lovers trope. I absolutely loved to see how they went from hating each other, while also being severely obsessed with each other, to not wanting to be apart.

I found her a bit childish at times, but that’s to be expected when you’re used to having to follow rules in a strict way, have your life planned out for you by parents and also struggling with chronic illness. Which I think this book was a great rep of. The ending felt a bit rushed, but didn’t affect how much I liked the story!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book so much. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House!

Some favourite quotes and scenes:
🥜 “I usually liked silence, but I hated hers.”

🥜 “She was sinking her claws into me, figuratively and literally, and I was going to say thank you and ask for seconds.”

🥜 “He’s mine. Don’t even think about stealing my Peanut Butter, got it?” the cutest!

This was the spin on cowboy romance that I didn’t know I needed. Noah and Esra both work for a Wild West theme park, where they both play characters in the parks show. Noah the dastardly bandit and Esra the mayors pretty daughter. Of course Noah is a real cowboy too, but the Wild West theme was so much fun. This story honestly checked all my boxes, brothers best friend, disability rep, cowboys and grumpy sunshine. This is literally some of my favourite things in books.
The tension between Noah and Esra was absolutely delectable, they really started off on the WRONG foot- with so much disdain for each other- which turned to a different kind of passion.
If you enjoyed Elsie Silver, Lyla Sage or Bailey Hannah, I would sincerely recommend trying this book. You honestly won’t be disappointed, it’s so funny and so sweet, I loved every minute of it.

A theme park romance with fake kidnappings, cowboy roleplay, and sizzling banter? Say less.

Esra ditches med school for Bravetown, where she’s “rescued” daily by Noah—aka the grumpiest, hottest cowboy actor alive.

What I loved:

The banter is 10/10—equal parts whip-smart and unhinged. Chronic illness rep handled with care and depth. The setting? A chaotic, Wild West theme park?? Iconic. Spice lovers, you're in for a ride.

Why it’s not a full 5:

Esra’s early immaturity made me want to gently shake her. Noah? Love him, but could’ve used a tad more emotional depth.

Overall, this is a flirty, fast-paced summer read with real heart —this one’s your rodeo. 🤠

3.75/4 ⭐️

Thank you to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Dilan in her cowboy romance era is something I didn’t know I needed, and I honestly had such a fun time with this one. I really appreciated how much detail went into creating the small-town setting, with its theme park twist—it felt unique, fun, and added a really playful charm to the whole story. The southern vibes, the close-knit community, and the slightly larger-than-life backdrop of Bravetown all worked together to create a setting that felt easy to sink into and perfect for a cosy cowboy romance.

I really liked Noah. He came across as authentic, and you could sense there was more to him beneath the surface. I have to admit, though, I found myself struggling a little with Esra. She’s younger than Noah, and at times that came through in her actions and behaviours. I think the intention was to capture the impulsiveness and recklessness that can come with being in your early twenties, which I completely understand, but for me, it didn’t always quite land. I also appreciated the inclusion of her chronic illness, but sometimes her choices felt a little at odds with that aspect of her character. Because of this, some of the more tender moments between her and Noah didn’t fully connect for me; though there were still plenty of sweet scenes, and I really loved how attentive and caring Noah was towards her.

All in all, I had such a great time in Bravetown, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what Dilan has in store for the rest of this series!

When I got the Netgalley arc I SCREAMED WITH JOY!! I even got to meet Dilan Dyer at RARE in London and we had a massive fangirl over Noah and our love of Disney!

I will admit, I found this very slow to begin with and took a while for me to get in to, but the banter was amazing! I sort of went in blind, thinking this was really a cowboy romance (yes, I judged by the cover), but it's western themed, which is actually a very unique setting.

Noah was such a heart throb! How he is with horses is so sweet, but he is not a cowboy. He only plays a villain and owns a ranch and horses but it's not central to the story.

Esra took a while for me to like.. I get wanting to live a little after having your life planned out for you. But she grew up a lot throughout the book.

The spice was really good and I even BLUSHED in one scene... Dilan and I had words🤭😍 The foreplay! the roleplay! It was *chef's kiss*

What to expect -
💕Loved the loathe to lovers.
💕Banter & bickering
💕Forced proximity
💕Brother's Best Friend
💕Grumpy x sunshine
💕Very spicy
💕Chronic illness rep
💕He plays a villain… mask play
💕Theme park ride 🌶️

I liked this book, but I didn’t love it the way I hoped to.

The premise is incredibly fun: Esra, a recent med school dropout, flees to Bravetown, a dusty Wild West theme park where her brother works, intending to spend the summer scooping ice cream and ignoring her parents’ voicemails. Instead, she gets wrangled into performing in a live-action stunt show alongside Noah—a grumpy, actor cowboy with a complicated past and a short fuse. Sparks fly. Emotions flare. Guns are fake, but the tension is real.

The setting is the real star here. Bravetown is rendered with charm and clarity—dusty trails, kitschy saloons, costumes, and all. It’s immersive and vibrant.

But the character work is a little shakier. I appreciated that Esra wasn’t a standard “reluctant girl with anxiety.” She’s clearly rebelling against a life defined by chronic illness and overbearing parents. That said, I struggled with her. A lot. Her reckless behavior made sense in theory, but in execution, it often came off as selfish and immature.

I understood that Esra didn’t want to be treated like she was fragile—but for someone who had lived with a chronic illness her whole life, she was surprisingly careless about her own health. I get the desire not to be defined by your illness, but at some point, you have to work with your body, not against it. Add in her lack of communication—expecting her brother and Noah to read her mind—and it was honestly frustrating to watch. I’m still not sure whether she needed a character arc or just a nap and a good therapist.

Still, despite its flaws, The Brave and the Reckless has a ton of charm. The world is compelling, the supporting cast is lovable, and there are moments of genuine wit and warmth. There’s real potential here—Dyer has something special in Bravetown.

A solid debut with a standout setting, a complicated heroine, and a romance that simmers—just not always in the way you want it to.

“Always remember: In the face of adversity, kindness can be the bravest act of all.”

Okay I don’t even know where to start. I LOVE Dilan’s writing and how I easily get sucked into the world and characters she creates. I had so much fun with this read. It had summer local town theme park vibes with excellent character development, witty banter, and a swoony grumpy bandit MMC.

“This was exactly what had gotten us into this mess. I had to resist his stupidity-inducing hotness.”

Esra Taner is looking for a fresh start, leaving city life behind and trying to make it on her own accord. Living with chronic illness, she is stepping out of her comfort zone and is challenging herself to have the best summer ever full of new experiences and people!
Noah Young is local and has been working to save money to renovate and establish his family property into his dream property. As Bravetown’s surly bandit Ace Ryder he is a fixture of the park. This year the theme park has to get a new “Pretty Annie Lou”, the damsel in distress who Ace rides away with in the daily show. Esra needs a job and her brother who has worked at Bravetown gets her in to scoop ice cream, but last minute plans change when the new Annie Lou falls through.
All in all I LOVED this!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

*Chronic Illness Rep
*Cowboy Theme Park
*Protective MMC
*Grumpy/ Sunshine
*He Takes Care Of Her
*Strong Capable FMC
*He Role Plays For Her

I enjoyed the setting of this book and thought it was a really fun angle on the cowboy romance. But unfortunately there were elements of both Esra and Noah that didn’t quite click with me and it made it difficult for me to connect with the romance element of the story. I did like the individual arcs that the two charterers went on and it was great to see a character be so unapologetically herself in Esra.