Brightly Burning Bridges (Kings of Capital 3) by Ivy Wild

Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Published on: 2 April 2021
Type: HEA, standalone, series
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Suspense
Author: Ivy Wild
Read: 25 March 2021
Shelved: 28 March 2021
Rating: 5 / 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Get it on Amazon: US| UK | CA | AU | JP
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Synopsis

Silas
He wasn’t my friend until he became my enemy.
His center is freezing cold,
and his edges burn me when I get too close.
He is everything I want and nothing I am.
They say not to burn bridges,
but he burned ours to the ground.

Skyler
She is the girl who wants to be seen,
but hates being noticed.
She was my friend, my tease, my confidant.
She is pure light against all my darkness.
The reason you burn down bridges,
is to build them up stronger.

Brightly Burning Bridges is a standalone romance and part of the Kings of Capital series. Start the series today. Find out more about them through my reviews.
Book 1 – The Estate
Book 2 – Infamous

Review

Coming after The Estate, readers will remember Silas Jenkins as the cut-throat competitor of Carter Ross. Little is mentioned about Silas aside from his “bad deeds.” I have questions on Silas’ life and why he turned the way he did because those deeds were not kosher – going beyond ethics. Readers do not realize that Silas has a complex mind wrought with angst, pain, and skepticism. I am happy to see that the author chose him to star in the series’ third installment – to feature an unlikely anti-hero with much potential to captivate us!

Like Silas’, Skylar’s connection is with Sophie Strong, the main character in Infamous, Book 2. Skylar was one of the integral characters in Book 2 that helped Sophie get her justice. I remember loving Skylar and her antics. I am so happy that Skylar finally gets her story – twisted as they come.

The story is written from Silas’ and Skylar’s POVs (first person – dual) and evokes so much emotion. It was impossible not to stop and take a breather at times. In the author’s authentic style, flashbacks are written unintrusively within the chapters to explain backstories. I enjoyed listening to both characters’ frustrations, angst, and pain. It was “humbling” to see this, especially for Silas – who is as human and broken as I suspected.

FYI – I had to prepare myself each time I start with this author because she pulls out a lot in me with her detailed character development that dives deep into the ugly truths. These revelations will bring in so much emotional turmoil to readers before raising them to be idols for us all to admire and revere at the end.

Silas is characterized differently from how I perceived him to be. I agree that he is a bully and a prick from the start, but it all comes from a sad and twisted past that shaped him. People like Silas do not become who they are just because – his history is one of the saddest ones I’ve read. He grew up in a troubled home with uncontrollable elements that forced him to “guard” his emotions and shut himself to the world. Being a “bully” was Silas’ coping mechanism to get through his troubles. It is sad and very passive-aggressive behavior.

I didn’t like feeling things. Not about an object and definitely not about a person. People were messy. Feelings were filthy.
— Burning Brightly Bridges, Ivy Wild

As readers dive into Silas’ story, we see a very misunderstood man. He tries to numb everyone and everything around him instead of figuring out the emotions he faced with his situation. Readers will start to understand that under the supposed “heartless, cruel man” lies a man who initially loved, lost, and found “the unexpected” in the most unlikely places.

Skylar Jackson may not be a full-on strong woman, but she is unique and intelligent enough to survive and keep to herself. The special edition’s book cover shows us an ethereal woman who amazing people like Silas with the aura and warmth she projects, even to sinners like Silas.

I hadn’t lied when I told her she was a beautiful contradiction. She hated being noticed but all she wanted in the world was to be seen. She had the sunniest disposition and a bleak outlook in life.
— Burning Brightly Bridges, Ivy Wild

Coming back to her hometown to only a waitressing job was not how Skylar wants. She had dreams and ambitions that did not pan out. Skylar knew that she had let people down, and coming back home brings many sad memories for her, most especially about Silas. Skylar’s personality is a big contradiction. She is a support for others but shrinks when it comes to her issues. She helps others but is “stuck” in not knowing how to improve her situation. She knows that she shouldn’t bother when Silas came for her. But when an offer that was too good not to accept comes her way and a jump to help her financially, how could Skylar protect herself and her heart while finding her self-worth again? If anything goes wrong, she might not survive the aftermath of the carnage that only Silas Jackson can bring.

We were such opposites. I wore my insecurities in the form of visible ink all over my body, whereas my insides were generally clean. Silas was pristine on the outside, but I knew his insides were more colorful than even my exterior.
— Burning Brightly Bridges, Ivy Wild

The conflict and ending of it was a blast from the past and unexpected. I appreciate that the story’s build-up has a lot to do with the relationship, leading us to understand the conflict and resolution better. There were too many “wrong moves.” Ultimately, both Silas and Skylar were more cunning, turning the story from being the victims to the victors. I will leave it there.

My overall impression:-
Brightly Burning Bridges is a slow build, misunderstood characters book. Silas and Skylar’s connection is a slow build. There is something that connects yet polarizes them at the same time. I am not sure if it’s both of them fearing to be vulnerable, but they do share closely guarded-enough secrets to warrant a relationship. Whether it is friends or more is another question.
I am still in awe that this author can change my perspective about Silas after ripping the character apart in Book 1! I wanted to see the worst in Silas, but it was the right amount. Silas’ façade duplexity is convincing. I would shed a tear when the author brings in Silas’ and Skylar’s painful scenes.
I cannot say that this is a full-on enemies-to-friends or a bully romance. There are “bully-like” moments wherein Silas would taunt and “tease” Skylar to the point as a self-preservation mechanism in guarding the unexplained and uncontrollable emotions whenever he was with Skylar. Some may describe Silas as cruel or entitled or Skylar as a “push-over,” but the latter does fight for herself when she sees it to be warranted nearing the end. Skylar held herself well enough to have Silas’ requests and actions just roll-over her back like water off a duck’s back than stress over it. I appreciate how she curbed herself and did not bother “reacting.” This story made me believe in true love that can conquer all, even decades after a bad enough event that supposedly severed Skylar and Silas’ relationship. A must-read for angst, love, and emotional thrill readers, if you want every “feels” in you to come out.

This wasn’t some love story of redemption. He wasn’t going to be some transformed hero. Standing beneath him, locked in the darkness that was Silas, I understood that now. But, I also understood that maybe I wasn’t meant to run. Maybe, all this time, I’d been running from the one thing I needed: a rain cloud.
— Burning Brightly Bridges, Ivy Wild

PS: I love the artworks shown, which helped readers understand the type of art produced by one of the characters. Those artworks will help readers connect and appreciate the story, like the song list provided, even more.

About the Author

Writer of all things untamed, romantic, and free, Ivy Wild never planned on becoming a romance novelist. In fact, she hated romance as a kid and was quite proud of that fact. Basically, life is weird.
Married to her own alpha hero, she currently lives in various places of the world at various times thanks to his military career.
Her current side hustle is being a lawyer.