Review of 'Plus One at Brighton Court' by Amber Jakeman

Review of 'Plus One at Brighton Court' by Amber Jakeman

Release date: June 20, 2026

Publisher: Lorikeet Press

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What the story is about:

Jobless and dateless, teacher Angelica Martin is furious with Davey Carmichael, her annoying Brighton Court neighbor.

The hot baker keeps revving his motorbike outside her window before dawn.

Trouble is, Davey is exactly the man Angelica needs at the last minute – the perfect fake date to accompany her to her bossy sister’s Christmas event.

Davey dreams big and avoids commitment, earning the nickname of “Plus One” at Brighton Court. “Sweet Ange” knocks Davey sideways with her insistence he confront his troubled past, and before long, Davey craves a real date with her.

Facing her own home truths, Ange must toughen up to win some work – fast.

What will it take for the newly empowered Ange to give Davey a real seat at her family table?

A fresh “enemies to lovers” tale about fake dates and next door neighbours, from feel-good fiction author Amber Jakeman.

REVIEW

 

I have enjoyed all of Amber Jakeman’s novels. But book two of the Brighton Court series, just might be my favourite as it really pulled me into its profound depth, bold themes and outstanding delivery. Amber’s books are classified as romances but their meticulous psychological explorations always add more layers and substance to the storyline. Yes, there is a romance with a happy ending but there is so much more happening here. Being a past student of psychology and sociology, I see their elements at work in her stories and it is obvious she knows what she is talking about and expresses those understandings of human behaviour through her solid character developments. We not only get glimpses into their hearts but also their heads to analyse what makes a person think and act a certain way. And society’s responses to those actions. Her stories often present the issues women face— particularly of being marginalised. Plus One at Brighton Court steps up in all these areas and more and shows us what that looks like. I was thoroughly engaged from start to finish due to Amber’s writing style and ability with words to move and inspire readers. Her acute perception is even more visible in this story and that says a lot as she already was an impressive accomplished writer.

The Prologue opens with an all too familiar problem: being woken by a revving motorcycle at four in the morning (well, maybe not the 4 am part but definitely a noisy bike!). Disturbance of our peace is not appreciated. We all like to rest in quiet but depending where you live, you don’t always get your wish. Ange lives in a nice building but has a neighbour that drives her mad with his early rising and loud motorcycle. She has formed a negative mental picture of him but her neighbour Vikki tells her Davey is a kind and generous man—not the monster she is picturing. How often do we judge people incorrectly or by the things they do that annoy us—never really knowing why they are the way they are or why they do what they do. Ange finds out quite quickly she is wrong about Davey as he becomes her shelter in the storm, her protector and friend when her world comes crashing down—after a wickedly bad day at her job.

Ange is a teacher who loves her job but has just gotten word on the last day of school before Christmas holidays that she is being given a farewell party. This shocks her as she never resigned. Has she been fired? What she learns sets her in such an angry mode, her normal quiet polite self turns red. Ange’s boyfriend has overstepped the line. She recognises that nobody is perfect but Trent’s constant overpowering of her free will has met its end. And there is a moment in a dark alley ‘scattered with the children’s gifts’ when she sees their ‘relationship clearly for the first time.’ She is determined to break this bad habit of his control.

Ange’s boyfriend Trent is a real nightmare. He is incredibly dominant and treats her with no concern or respect. After a major incident he has caused, she decides then and there she is done being nice. She breaks off with him but he is not listening and for a while he tries to bully her back into a relationship. But she stands up to him with a new fierce fire in protecting her ability to choose and her rights as a grown woman. Her sister is another one. She has dominated Ange’s life since the death of the parents. Ange appreciates her older sister for taking care of her after their parents died, but she is grown woman now and can make her own decisions. She begins to stand up to anyone who tries to belittle her. Some of this new fire is a result of her friendship with Davey and his support.

Davey is a sous chef and the biker waking up Ange in the wee hours. But he is actually a very nice guy and he remedies the loud noise when told. He has been through a loss and has some regrets as far as the past is concerned. He has become a Plus One for many women who need a date but not a relationship. Yet when he meets Ange, his life and views take a turn. When Ange talks him into going home to see this family, he is rightly hesitant. Davey comes from a Christian family with his father being a minister. Yet he is not sure how they will respond to a sudden visit. After disappearing from their lives with no warning or communication for five years, his attempt to reappear could potentially go very wrong. Or maybe these people practice what they preach? I won’t give that outcome away but will say the issue is handled by the author with honesty and clarity.

There are many things I love about this story. We bump into a few people from the first book who live in the apartment complex like Lucy and Dirk. This adds a nice touch of continuity. The writing is very strong and I can see that Amber has stepped up another notch in her skills. There is a new confidence and bravery tackling some of the romantic scenes. The dialogue is perfect and the story just sails along with excellent visuals, character depth and plot development. The themes are excellent: forgiveness being a big one.

Ange may have been a positive influence on Davey but he also has rocked her world. She goes for rides with him on his motorcycle and it opens up another new realm for her of adventure and freedom. Also, when she buys a grill, it’s her first new hobby! It also is another step toward displaying her independence and in restoring her identity. The grill reminds her of her late Dad’s cooking. The smells, the emotions, the youthful awakenings to her surroundings and love of learning. Which fuelled her passion for teaching.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

With its deeper relationship issues, Plus One at Brighton Court, leaps off a high cliff but lands on solid ground. One huge message in this novel is— we cannot change the past but we certainly can change the future. This novel glows with fresh starts, personal empowerment, family restoration, entrepreneur opportunities, plus one ‘fake’ dating, unexpected neighbour/friend/lover relationship changes. I was cheering at the end for both Amber and Davey. Ange’s new found strength to stand up to bullies and Davey’s new courage to forgive himself from mistakes of the past—left me feeling uplifted. This is a solid, heart-warming, sincere and beautiful story that will stay with me a very long time. An unforgettable jewel that shines as bright as the sun. Love it! Brighter than 5 Stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+

 Thanks to Amber Jakeman for a review copy.