Emily McIntire delivers a potent blend of forbidden romance and family drama in Burning Daylight, the first installment of her new Defying the Stars series. This contemporary romance proves that some stories burn brightest when they’re built on dangerous foundations, even if the execution doesn’t always match the ambitious scope of its premise.
The Heart of the Story
At its core, Burning Daylight explores what happens when two souls from feuding families find solace in each other’s arms. Juliette Calloway exists in the suffocating world of Rosebrook Falls’ elite, where every smile is calculated and every choice is predetermined by family legacy. Her life reads like a carefully choreographed performance until she encounters a mysterious artist who goes by no name.
Roman Montgomery—though Juliette knows him only as “Ryder” initially—carries the weight of secrets that could destroy everything he touches. McIntire crafts him as a character caught between duty and desire, wielding art as both weapon and salvation. Their connection sparks through stolen moments and shared vulnerabilities, creating an undeniable chemistry that drives the narrative forward.
The forbidden nature of their romance stems not just from family rivalry, but from the very real dangers that Roman’s existence poses to both their worlds. When the truth emerges about their family names, every kiss becomes a betrayal, every moment together a risk that could ignite generations of carefully buried hatred.
Character Development and Dual Perspectives
McIntire employs alternating first-person perspectives that allow readers to experience both Juliette’s sheltered rebellion and Roman’s tortured heroism. Juliette’s character arc traces her journey from compliant daughter to a woman willing to fight for her own happiness, though her growth occasionally feels constrained by the very societal expectations the story attempts to critique.
Roman emerges as a more complex figure—an artist with blood on his hands, a son returning to claim an inheritance built on violence. His internal struggles between protecting those he loves and embracing his dark legacy provide some of the novel’s most compelling moments. However, his brooding nature sometimes veers into territory that feels familiar rather than fresh.
The supporting cast, particularly the mysterious figures from Roman’s past and Juliette’s tight-knit friend group, adds layers to the world-building without overwhelming the central romance. McIntire demonstrates skill in creating a sense of community and family dynamics that feel authentic, even when the circumstances are heightened.
Writing Style and Pacing
McIntire’s prose carries an emotional weight that suits the intensity of her characters’ situations. Her writing style adapts to each narrator’s voice effectively—Juliette’s sections feel more introspective and yearning, while Roman’s chapters pulse with darker undertones and barely contained violence.
The pacing builds tension effectively through the first half, using their initial meetings and growing attraction to establish stakes before revealing the full scope of their family feud. However, the middle section occasionally slows as the weight of external conflicts threatens to overshadow the romantic development.
Where the novel truly shines is in its intimate moments. McIntire writes desire with a deft hand, creating scenes that feel both emotionally resonant and physically charged. The chemistry between Juliette and Roman feels lived-in and authentic, grounded in genuine emotional connection rather than mere physical attraction.
Themes and Contemporary Relevance
The novel explores themes of family loyalty versus personal happiness, the price of legacy, and the possibility of redemption through love. McIntire weaves these elements through a contemporary lens that makes ancient feuds feel relevant to modern readers.
The book also tackles issues of addiction, family trauma, and the way violence echoes through generations. While these heavier elements add depth to the romance, they occasionally feel underdeveloped, leaving readers wanting more exploration of their psychological impact.
The author’s handling of family expectations and societal pressure particularly resonates, especially through Juliette’s struggle to maintain her authentic self while fulfilling her role as the perfect daughter. This internal conflict drives much of the emotional tension and will likely connect with readers who’ve felt trapped by others’ expectations.
Strengths and Areas for Growth
What Works:
- Compelling chemistry between the main characters that feels both immediate and earned
- Rich world-building that creates a believable setting for high-stakes romance
- Emotional depth in exploring family trauma and its impact on romantic relationships
- Strong supporting characters who enhance rather than distract from the main story
- Effective use of art and creativity as metaphors for freedom and self-expression
Areas That Could Be Stronger:
- Some plot revelations feel rushed, particularly in the final act where multiple secrets emerge simultaneously
- The external conflicts sometimes overshadow character development, leaving certain emotional beats feeling unearned
- Pacing issues in the middle section where tension occasionally dissipates
- Certain dramatic moments feel more orchestrated than organic to the story’s natural progression
Place in McIntire’s Body of Work
Readers familiar with McIntire’s previous series, including the dark fairy tale retellings of The Never After Series (Hooked, Scarred, Wretched, Twisted, Crossed, Hexed) and the contemporary romances of The Sugarlake Series (Beneath the Stars, Beneath the Stands, Beneath the Hood, Beneath the Surface), will recognize her signature blend of emotional intensity and morally complex characters.
Burning Daylight marks a departure toward more contemporary settings while maintaining the dark undertones that characterize her work. The book serves as an effective series starter, establishing both the central romance and larger world conflicts that will presumably continue throughout the Defying the Stars series.
Final Verdict
Burning Daylight succeeds as an emotionally engaging contemporary romance that offers both heat and heart. While it doesn’t break new ground in the forbidden love subgenre, it executes familiar tropes with enough skill and emotional resonance to satisfy romance readers seeking both passion and depth.
McIntire’s ability to create characters who feel genuinely torn between love and loyalty elevates the material beyond simple forbidden romance. The book works best when focusing on the intimate moments between Juliette and Roman, where the writing truly captures the desperate intensity of their connection.
The novel leaves several plot threads unresolved, clearly setting up future installments in the series. While this serves the series structure, it occasionally leaves individual story beats feeling incomplete within this volume.
For readers who enjoy contemporary romance with family drama, forbidden love, and morally complex characters, Burning Daylight offers an engaging if not groundbreaking reading experience. The chemistry between the leads and McIntire’s emotional writing style make it a worthy addition to the contemporary romance landscape.
Reader Recommendations
If you enjoyed Burning Daylight, you might also like:
- Credence by Penelope Douglas – For forbidden romance with family complications
- Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas – For enemies-to-lovers with hidden identities
- Corrupt by Penelope Douglas – For dark contemporary romance with family legacy themes
- Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas – For age gap forbidden romance elements
- The Ravenhood Series by Kate Stewart – For morally gray heroes and complex family dynamics
- The All Saints High Series by L.J. Shen – For contemporary romance with dark themes
- Vicious by L.J. Shen – For enemies-to-lovers contemporary romance
- The Hades Hangmen Series by Tillie Cole – For dark romance with family loyalty themes
Burning Daylight establishes Emily McIntire’s Defying the Stars series as a promising new addition to contemporary romance, offering enough emotional depth and character complexity to keep readers invested in the journey ahead. While not without its flaws, the novel succeeds in creating a world and characters worth revisiting in future installments.