Burning Daylight

Defying the Stars, Book 1

De: Emily McIntire

Narrado por: Andi Arndt, Aaron Shedlock

From #1 New York Times Bestselling author Emily McIntire comes a contemporary Romeo & Juliet retelling and the first interconnected standalone in an all new series Defying the Stars.

Juliette Calloway lives in a world of luxury, legacies, and lies. The daughter of Rosebrook Falls’ most powerful family, her life is a carefully crafted performance, and she’s tired of being polished to perfection. Roman Montgomery doesn’t exist. Not officially, anyway. He’s a shadow, a hidden weapon, the secret heir to an empire soaked in danger and a generations-old feud. When their paths cross, sparks fly. No names. No pasts. Just reckless smiles and a chemistry neither of them can shake. Roman is charming. Mysterious. Infuriatingly flirty. And Juliette? She’s simply. . . his.

When Roman is called back to claim his place as heir to the Montgomery empire, the truth crashes down: Their families are sworn enemies, and Roman’s very existence is a threat. Their love isn’t just forbidden, it’s impossible. Now every kiss feels like a betrayal. Every stolen moment a risk. And in a town built on secrets and blood, their passion might just be the most dangerous thing of all.

*Burning Daylight is a Contemporary Romance. It features mature themes and content that may be triggering for some. Listener Discretion is Advised. For a full list of content warnings, check the author's website.*

©2025 Emily McIntire (P)2025 Dreamscape Media

Well written book loved the story

I liked the entire book. Great spicy romance with believable characters. As are all of the books I’ve ready by this author.

Loved It!!! 😍😍😍

Aaaahhhhh! I loved this so much! This book is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet but is also very original. The banter, the angst, the yearning, the family secrets and twists and turns of the story had me hooked from the beginning and I ended up devouring this book 😍 The duet narration really brought the story to life, and the narrators performance was soooo good 🔥 This is the first book in a new series and I can’t wait for the next one! 😍

Titanic vibes

Romeo and Juliette with that Emily McIntire twist to it, making it a whole different story.

"Retelling" but also Original...Top Read for Me!

I have been a huge fan of Emily's writing for a while now, but THIS ONE?! OMG THIS ONE!! This quickly became my favorite from her, and is one of my top reads/listens this year! It was just SO FRIKKIN GOOD!

I was reading this one as an ARC, but I hadn't finished by release day (life), so I purchased the audio to finish and BLESS IT! The narrators were fantastic as our two main characters. Throw in that it is duet style (favorite!), and I was hooked! Andi Arndt & Aaron Shedlock were perfect as Trouble & Princess/Little Rose (nicknames only for this review), and they portrayed their emotions so well! I truly felt like I was feeling everything that the characters were.

This one begins a series of interconnected standalones, and what a fantastic series launch! It is a reimagined/retelling of Romeo & Juliette, & I absolutely fell in love from the characters first meeting! The instant chemistry, the BANTER, the teasing, ugh just it was great!

How they cross paths again? YES PLEASE.

How they realize their paths are connected, how their families are intertwined, the forbidden feelings, the sneaking around, the possessiveness, THE CHALLENGES! THE TWISTS?!?!!?

Y'all, I could go on and on, because I absolutely devoured every little piece of this one! I truly don't think I could convey all the things, because now I am just rambling. I finished two days ago and these characters are still all I am thinking about.

TLDR: Loved it. Read it. Listen to it. You won't be disappointed!

Modern Day Romeo & Juliet Retelling

A loose retelling of Romeo and Juliet this story brings on a modern day setting with all the original vibes only with an HEA.

Emily McIntire knows how to write a retelling. We’ve seen it with her Never After Series. She has a way of incorporating modern day stories with influences of our favorite classical stories.

Her books are always full of heart and spice!

I loved Roman and Juliette. Their relationship riddled with angst, betrayal, and love. I loved the gossip girl type vibe with the Rosebook Rag.

This book features tropes of:
🖤 star-crossed lovers
💗 small Town, Big Secrets
🖤 rivals
💗 angst
🖤 betrayal
💗dual POV

I listened to this on audio and it was brilliant. Duet Narration, Andi Arndt and Aaron Shedlock bring this story and these characters to life.

Amazing story

I will read or listen to anything by Emily McIntire! I am so glad I preordered this book. It was so good! I can’t wait for the next one

Wow

This was such a great book. The Romeo and Juliet vibe was so good. I loved this. Buddy read with friends and we all loved this book so much.

Burning Daylight

This book was one I just couldn't not put down. The story and performances were so good!

Burning Daylight is a good slow burn

Love the voices, the story line. Perfect retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Emily McIntire does it again. Love love love.

Captivating Retelling

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. I’ve always loved a good retelling, and this Romeo and Juliet–inspired story was beautifully executed. The plot was captivating and fast-paced, keeping me fully engaged the entire time. One of the standout elements for me was how the story was straightforward without being rushed—there weren’t endless misunderstandings between the main characters, which I really appreciated. Sometimes drawn-out conflicts can get frustrating as a listener, but here, everything flowed naturally and felt authentic.

The duet narration was incredible. The narrators truly brought the characters to life with their witty banter, chemistry, and emotional delivery. Every scene felt vivid and layered, and their performances made me feel like I was right there with the characters. Their ability to convey emotion made the story even more immersive.

What I also loved is how the author wove tension, passion, and vulnerability seamlessly throughout the book. The characters felt real and complex, and their connection was compelling without being overdramatic. The balance between romance and plot was spot-on.

Overall, this was a captivating, emotional, and thoroughly enjoyable listen. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who loves modern retellings, dynamic characters, and exceptional narration.