Burn Bright

Cobalt Empire, Book 1

By: Becca Ritchie, Krista Ritchie

Narrated by: Andria Mae, Alastair Haynesbridge

Love burns hottest when it's blue.

Ben Cobalt is number six. Not sixth place. In fact, he’d be considered at least third draft pick for the NHL if he didn’t quit hockey during college. And he’s not sixth-in-line for any throne. Though, most consider his larger-than-life, billionaire family American royalty.

He is the sixth-born Cobalt. Out of a normal family of seven, he might get lost in the shuffle. But being the black sheep of the Cobalt Empire comes with its own intense spotlight. After he hits a major low at college in Philly, his four older brothers convince him to move in with them in New York City.

Transferring to Manhattan Valley University—piece of cake. Living in an apartment with all of his brothers while harboring a giant secret among a family who’s more tight-knit than a secret society—total effing chaos.

He has to find a way out of the tense living arrangement, especially as he clashes with his oldest brother, Charlie. Ben turns to an unlikely source for help—a grumpy, punk-rock girl with a troubled past who's already pissed off one Cobalt brother.

So when an undeniable attraction ignites, Harriet Fisher is expecting the flames to die out. Except...what happens when they don’t? Falling for a Cobalt brother with secrets might be a Shakespearean tragedy she can't rewind.

BURN BRIGHT is the first book in the Cobalt Empire series, a new adult romance series about legacy, loyalty, and love.

©2025 K. B. Ritchie LLC (P)2025 Dreamscape Media

Beautifully broken

Listening to this, Ben will break your heart and scream at him all at the same time. Harriet is broken in her own ways. But together they help heal each other and they want to be better, to do better. Goodness hearing this brought out all of the emotions. I felt it from all of his brothers, from him and how they can come together. I loved the ending and I can’t wait for the next book!

So much to love

This is a fantastic start to a new series and while, it is designed and written where you can pick it up from here I highly recommend you go back to the beginning and start with the addicted series, it will just be that much better for you. All that being said I love these characters and their love story, there were some twists and turns I didn't see coming , the family dynamics are really what makes these authors so good. As for the narration, duet it my absolute favorite and this one was done so well. I'm not sure there could have been a more perfect Harriet, never had I heard one that matched the voice in my head so closely!

“How long have you been the sun?”

Ben Cobalt 🫱🏼‍🫲🏻 Harriet Fisher. This duo were super cute. Am a fan of the friends to lovers trope. Also love how they each were so protective of one another.

The Cobalt siblings will always be perfection together in my opinion. Cobalt Wednesday night dinners with everyone. The brothers all in the penthouse and their antics, amazing. Love getting teases of other characters we love from KBR’s universes.

All that said, I know this book is heavily marketed as being able to be read without reading anything else and while I do think you can catch up easily enough, I also feel like the experience of reading BB and diving into this new Cobalt Empire series was made that much richer because I’ve read the series that come prior and already feel invested and intrigued by this family and the majority of the side characters.

All in all a great read. Leans heavily as a character driven college/new adult romance, golden retriever/black cat, with an emphasis on family dynamics, found family, and mental health.

Good narrator

Enjoyable but too long and repetitive. Dialogue does flow. Likeable characters. will read next book. characters very young so indepent behaviour not completely believable. Enjoyable YA book.

Loved the voices 😍😍 5 star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

As I have come to expect from the Ritchie Sisters the ladies have delivered another fabulous story. One that is woven with the personalities of the families and lots of new friends too.

This book made me fall in love, laugh, cry and get mad so it hit all the high spots. I highly recommend this story along with all of their other work. Simply Phenomenal writing!