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The Blackburns
Zara
As heiress to lead the seven families and a renowned hitman, I was requested by my family to marry and produce an heir, despite the fact that I'm a lesbian. Tradition is everything in the Blackburn family; it's been this way for generations--which is why we're the most powerful of the seven families. When our power is threatened by the Galloway's over our lack of producing an heir, my father orders me--along with my three lesbian sisters--to find wives and start families. I had no interest in this predicament--until I locked eyes with Emma Moore, the most beautiful creature I'd ever seen. The Blackburn's are known for finding their future spouses through love at first sight, something I never believed was real until now. Though she clearly wanted to escape my presence, I understand why. My world is full of bloodshed and sin, yet that won't stop me from keeping Emma she's mine.
Rumors flew that the infamous Blackburn sisters were seeking out wives, and I could scarcely believe it. The most powerful and deadly crime family in Michigan had sent out invitations for a meet and greet as they searched for women to marry and strengthen their family bloodline. I didn't expect an invitation—but when Mya, my best friend and roommate, forgot hers, I dashed to present it to her. My eyes met Zara Blackburn, the oldest of the four sisters and by far the most beautiful and dangerous. I was no stranger to the underworld these women ran, as I had worked hard to escape its dark embrace. But something about me captivated Zara, and she made it clear that she intended on keeping me for herself - as her wife, no matter how much I tried to flee.
Rumors flew that the infamous Blackburn sisters were seeking out wives, and I could scarcely believe it. The most powerful and deadly crime family in Michigan had sent out invitations for a meet and greet as they searched for women to marry and strengthen their family bloodline. I didn't expect an invitation—but when Mya, my best friend and roommate, forgot hers, I dashed to present it to her. My eyes met Zara Blackburn, the oldest of the four sisters and by far the most beautiful and dangerous. I was no stranger to the underworld these women ran, as I had worked hard to escape its dark embrace. But something about me captivated Zara, and she made it clear that she intended on keeping me for herself - as her wife, no matter how much I tried to flee.
106 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 16, 2023
102 people are currently reading
362 people want to read
About the author
Jenna Kent
60 books145 followersSteamy Lesbian Romance Author-fast-paced instalove romance. Expect them to be over-the-top, absurdly ridiculous–but always with a happy ending.
You can find me on instagram @jennakentauthor
You can find me on instagram @jennakentauthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
December 24, 2023
This book is SO RIDICULOUS, I lost count on how many time I rolled my eyes and laughed at the ridiculous shit happening, but i will read the rest of the series 😭😂😂😂😂😂
Update after finishing the series: FUCK YOU ZARA
Update after finishing the series: FUCK YOU ZARA
December 29, 2023
this is easily one of the worst things i've ever read in my life, but it was so laughably bad that i had an absolute fucken blast reading it and WILL be picking up anything else jenna kent puts out for free on amazon. 2 stars for the experience.
there is absolutely no semblance of consistency here regarding the tenses. i couldn't tell you if it was written in past or present tense — the tense would change mid-sentence so often that eventually my brain just started autocorrecting it all to be in present tense. (shoutout to my years of rewriting bad fanfic in my head for preparing me for this!!!). half the time i couldn't tell which character was talking and would have to jigsaw puzzle it together. the writing isn't great by any means, but there were some banger lines like, "i'm not moist for her," "her clit of sweet taste," "emerging from the shower feeling refreshed yet vulnerable," and, my personal favorite, "i knew one thing for certain — it's time to eat her pussy." i had tears streaming down my face from laughing so hard by the time i finished this novella.
the plot is fucken bonkers. completely ridiculous in every possible way. instalove to the max with a no-way-this-is-real dark mafia twist. there are kidnappings, break-ins, murders, terrifyingly sexual family dinners...you name it, it's in here. but hey, sapphics can have horrible, toxic, dark romances, too!
also idk what it is about ku wlw authors, but why is there such a focus on women being virgins until they've experienced penetrative sex???? i thought it was just a tryst six venom thing but it's here, too???? y'all sex is soooooo much more expansive than just penetration and the day indie authors understand that will be the day i ascend. (the spice was fine in general, but if you're looking for good kinky sapphic spice, save yourself and read some nikki markam.)
a true highlight: every time the love interest, emma, says fuck, it is *always* in all caps with an exclamation point, so i was angrily yelling it in my head right along with her. "FUCK!" indeed!
also they name their kid zerk so. what the fuck is that about.
anyway read this if you wanna laugh your ass off for ~90pgs <3
there is absolutely no semblance of consistency here regarding the tenses. i couldn't tell you if it was written in past or present tense — the tense would change mid-sentence so often that eventually my brain just started autocorrecting it all to be in present tense. (shoutout to my years of rewriting bad fanfic in my head for preparing me for this!!!). half the time i couldn't tell which character was talking and would have to jigsaw puzzle it together. the writing isn't great by any means, but there were some banger lines like, "i'm not moist for her," "her clit of sweet taste," "emerging from the shower feeling refreshed yet vulnerable," and, my personal favorite, "i knew one thing for certain — it's time to eat her pussy." i had tears streaming down my face from laughing so hard by the time i finished this novella.
the plot is fucken bonkers. completely ridiculous in every possible way. instalove to the max with a no-way-this-is-real dark mafia twist. there are kidnappings, break-ins, murders, terrifyingly sexual family dinners...you name it, it's in here. but hey, sapphics can have horrible, toxic, dark romances, too!
also idk what it is about ku wlw authors, but why is there such a focus on women being virgins until they've experienced penetrative sex???? i thought it was just a tryst six venom thing but it's here, too???? y'all sex is soooooo much more expansive than just penetration and the day indie authors understand that will be the day i ascend. (the spice was fine in general, but if you're looking for good kinky sapphic spice, save yourself and read some nikki markam.)
a true highlight: every time the love interest, emma, says fuck, it is *always* in all caps with an exclamation point, so i was angrily yelling it in my head right along with her. "FUCK!" indeed!
also they name their kid zerk so. what the fuck is that about.
anyway read this if you wanna laugh your ass off for ~90pgs <3
January 23, 2024
ay cok kotuydu kizlar hic begenmedim cok uzgunum
January 22, 2025
This was just a silly good time. Everything was over the top & honestly for a mafia romance with less than 100 pages I’d expect it to be. I had fun. It was good little palette cleanser.
January 23, 2024
꧁ZARA꧂
the blackthorns #1
R E V I E W
Tropes:
– sapphic
– arranged/forced marriage
– crime family
– possessive FMC
– FMC with traumatic past
I don‘t know what to think of this. Not my cup of tea obviously…but I don‘t hate it (I’m just glad it’s over) I think the whole the-father-needs-a-male-heir-story line is weird and doesn‘t make sense.
It‘s a quick read. But it could use more editing.
2/5⭐️
🌶️🌶️
the blackthorns #1
R E V I E W
Tropes:
– sapphic
– arranged/forced marriage
– crime family
– possessive FMC
– FMC with traumatic past
I don‘t know what to think of this. Not my cup of tea obviously…but I don‘t hate it (I’m just glad it’s over) I think the whole the-father-needs-a-male-heir-story line is weird and doesn‘t make sense.
It‘s a quick read. But it could use more editing.
2/5⭐️
🌶️🌶️
September 28, 2024
this book was absolutely horrendous. 1 star is far too generous for this atrocity.
September 27, 2023
1.5 ⭐
*Got the book on Stuff Your Kindle Day*
I suppose I should have known what I was in for from the series' title - 'Blackburns' does not need an apostrophe.
The plot of the book was ... fine. It was exactly what had been presented in the title. My issue was mostly with the grammar; the writing style; and the overall 'r/menwritingwomen'-type prose. I read the phrase 'bouncy tits' at least thrice, and had to check more than once that the author wasn't, in fact, a man, with the way the women were described.
The tense continually shifted from present to past - sometimes in the same sentence; there were times when it wasn't clear who was talking in the moment, as the way the dialogue was presented implied Emma was speaking when it was actually Zara, and vice versa; the longest sex scene was four paragraphs and long, and again all felt very ... perfunctory, and didn't really add or subtract to the overall story, although they were clearly meant to add; and every time Emma said 'FUCK' I giggled, because it was the only time any word was said in ALL CAPS, and she never said anything before or after as a follow-up. It was just always simply 'FUCK!' when surprised. I imagined this every time; just standing there and yelling One Word Only before falling silent again: 🧍♀️ "FUCK!"
Also ... they're naming their child ZERK ?! Jesus Christ. If anything deserves an Emma-esque surprise-in-horror reaction, it's that. "FUCK!" indeed.
*I'm considering reading the other three in the series and seeing whether anything changes overall. 'Zara' was a quick read and it wasn't terrible overall ... I was able to finish it. It just also was very not good.
*Got the book on Stuff Your Kindle Day*
I suppose I should have known what I was in for from the series' title - 'Blackburns' does not need an apostrophe.
The plot of the book was ... fine. It was exactly what had been presented in the title. My issue was mostly with the grammar; the writing style; and the overall 'r/menwritingwomen'-type prose. I read the phrase 'bouncy tits' at least thrice, and had to check more than once that the author wasn't, in fact, a man, with the way the women were described.
The tense continually shifted from present to past - sometimes in the same sentence; there were times when it wasn't clear who was talking in the moment, as the way the dialogue was presented implied Emma was speaking when it was actually Zara, and vice versa; the longest sex scene was four paragraphs and long, and again all felt very ... perfunctory, and didn't really add or subtract to the overall story, although they were clearly meant to add; and every time Emma said 'FUCK' I giggled, because it was the only time any word was said in ALL CAPS, and she never said anything before or after as a follow-up. It was just always simply 'FUCK!' when surprised. I imagined this every time; just standing there and yelling One Word Only before falling silent again: 🧍♀️ "FUCK!"
Also ... they're naming their child ZERK ?! Jesus Christ. If anything deserves an Emma-esque surprise-in-horror reaction, it's that. "FUCK!" indeed.
*I'm considering reading the other three in the series and seeing whether anything changes overall. 'Zara' was a quick read and it wasn't terrible overall ... I was able to finish it. It just also was very not good.
July 11, 2024
This book was unhinged so tell me why I’m obsessed with Zara! 🤦🏽♀️😂 I’ve read many of Jenna’s books and they never disappoint. If u enjoy over the top, fast paced, insta-love, dark romance books, you’ll enjoy this!
January 20, 2025
Actual rating: 3.5 ⭐️
Amazingly over-the-top & ridiculous…I LOVED IT. Super quick read, aided in getting me out my book slump. FMC is crazy unhinged…it was entertaining as hell!
READ THE DAMN BLURB. This series will not be for everybody. The only reason this is not a 4-star read for me is because I like when the prey push back a little more/harder. Will definitely be continuing with the series!!
Amazingly over-the-top & ridiculous…I LOVED IT. Super quick read, aided in getting me out my book slump. FMC is crazy unhinged…it was entertaining as hell!
READ THE DAMN BLURB. This series will not be for everybody. The only reason this is not a 4-star read for me is because I like when the prey push back a little more/harder. Will definitely be continuing with the series!!
May 11, 2024
Waittttt…..🤣🤣 are we really running with quickly using 2 fingers “took Emma’s virginity” 💀 I can NOTTT 🤣🤣
AND that insta-love is a genetic trait?!?! 😂😂😂😂
This was my first (AND ONLY) AI narrated audiobook. I only listened because I wanted to hear what the AI sounded like and it was a novella, so quick listen. The AI audio narration is terrible and hilarious at the same time 😂 and when I say hilarious, I mean hilarious at the absolute *wrong times*…
Honestly, the story is actually OK — but the AI narration absolutely killed it for me. And I want to mentally be able to separate the two, but I just can’t. Honestly, I wish I never listen to it and just read it on my Kindle, I’m pretty sure I would have thought better about this book, if I did.
Overall: ⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
HEA: 💖
Type: Standalone
Audiobook: AI Narration (it’s terrible, worst audiobook experience ever)
LGBT Rep: 🏳️🌈 f/f
Why-Choose: 🚫
Highlights:
🖤 dark sapphic romance
🖤 mafia
🖤 virgin FMC
AND that insta-love is a genetic trait?!?! 😂😂😂😂
This was my first (AND ONLY) AI narrated audiobook. I only listened because I wanted to hear what the AI sounded like and it was a novella, so quick listen. The AI audio narration is terrible and hilarious at the same time 😂 and when I say hilarious, I mean hilarious at the absolute *wrong times*…
Honestly, the story is actually OK — but the AI narration absolutely killed it for me. And I want to mentally be able to separate the two, but I just can’t. Honestly, I wish I never listen to it and just read it on my Kindle, I’m pretty sure I would have thought better about this book, if I did.
Overall: ⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
HEA: 💖
Type: Standalone
Audiobook: AI Narration (it’s terrible, worst audiobook experience ever)
LGBT Rep: 🏳️🌈 f/f
Why-Choose: 🚫
Highlights:
🖤 dark sapphic romance
🖤 mafia
🖤 virgin FMC
September 4, 2024
I wasn't going to leave a review, but seeing as a lot of people (on Goodreads) don't know how to read the blurb (it was very telling already) or check the author's genres before picking a book and then get mad at them for writing it, let me tell ya: don't read this! If you cannot stand instalove/lust, OTT shit and dark romance, move on, otherwise you'll be in for a very bumpy ride.
With that out of the way. Omg, everyone is so unhinged, I had to laugh out loud too many times with their antics and bad bitch disposition. Zara is craycray, Emma is a doormat and that normally would bother me, but it didn't (well, okay, occasionally it did). In the end I'm actually invested in how each sister will fall in love and what pet names their LI will get.
And the wanker, I mean Jacob, I want to see him suffer and I barely met him.
Now I gotta find a way to make this review publishable by Amazon
With that out of the way. Omg, everyone is so unhinged, I had to laugh out loud too many times with their antics and bad bitch disposition. Zara is craycray, Emma is a doormat and that normally would bother me, but it didn't (well, okay, occasionally it did). In the end I'm actually invested in how each sister will fall in love and what pet names their LI will get.
And the wanker, I mean Jacob, I want to see him suffer and I barely met him.
Now I gotta find a way to make this review publishable by Amazon
May 31, 2024
Can't believe how bad it was. The whole thing made no sense and it looked like it tried to.
The audacity of Zara to even spank her for saying "FUCK" was absolutely baffling and there was no reason for her to do so other than her being disgusting about the whole submission thing. Felt like I was reading something badly written by a man and I'll never get back the time I spent on this novel.
I hate that I wanted to like this
Overall, 1 star for effort and 0 for the everything else
The audacity of Zara to even spank her for saying "FUCK" was absolutely baffling and there was no reason for her to do so other than her being disgusting about the whole submission thing. Felt like I was reading something badly written by a man and I'll never get back the time I spent on this novel.
I hate that I wanted to like this
Overall, 1 star for effort and 0 for the everything else
August 16, 2024
The Blackburns - Zara
I am a huge Jenna Kent fan! Her short, page-turning, over-the-top, possessive, insta-love sapphic stories are my guilty pleasure, but I don't feel an ounce of guilt! I love them!
I can't believe it took me a while to start this series, but here I am! And I'm excited to continue. The Blackburn sisters are dangerous and mysterious...and I wanna know what's in store for them!
I am a huge Jenna Kent fan! Her short, page-turning, over-the-top, possessive, insta-love sapphic stories are my guilty pleasure, but I don't feel an ounce of guilt! I love them!
I can't believe it took me a while to start this series, but here I am! And I'm excited to continue. The Blackburn sisters are dangerous and mysterious...and I wanna know what's in store for them!
February 19, 2025
Did I finish this? Yes. Am I kinda mad about it? Also yes. I had high hopes for this being a sapphic mafia romance and I couldn’t wait to get into it BUT I was not vibing with this story. Now I will say that the spice was very good which is why I’m giving it a 2 ⭐️. I just wish the rest of the story matched that energy. This was a 100 ish page story and I was willing to give grace when it came to that aspect but this was not what I was hoping for. There were sentences that were in present tense and then others were in past tense so that took me out of the story on top of not being that invested in the couple/storyline. I want to find sapphic mafia romance and will keep looking since this was not for me.
June 11, 2024
I wasn’t a fan of this book. This was the third book by this author that I’ve read and I’m just not a fan. I like the ideas of her stories but I don’t like the way they are written. This didn’t feel like a dark romance either. Yes, there were dark aspects to it but the writing didn’t really make it feel dark, if that makes sense. I keep trying because they seem so good and the covers are so pretty but they kind of remind me of Wattpad books. They’re not bad, just not my type. If you like over the top, instalove wlw romances then you would love her books though. This one wasn’t as $mutty as the other two that I read either.
🔫Mafia
🏳️🌈Sapphic
🤍V!rg!n MC
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
🔫Mafia
🏳️🌈Sapphic
🤍V!rg!n MC
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
June 16, 2025
3/5 spice 🌶️
•dark sapphic
•mafia
•arranged marriage
•insta-love
“One look into your beautiful dark brown eyes, Emma, and I just knew. I knew you were meant to be with me forever.”
take a shot everytime Zara says sweetheart
honestly this was just a silly good time. nothing special just super quick & super sexy. i loved how unhinged Zara was. I did want a little more push back from Emma but they were hot together.
———-make sure yall read the blurb. cause it’s very telling. this series won’t be for everyone.
ready to eat up the other books in this series. i love how each sister gets a book. i just know Zariah is about to be a dark, good time
•dark sapphic
•mafia
•arranged marriage
•insta-love
“One look into your beautiful dark brown eyes, Emma, and I just knew. I knew you were meant to be with me forever.”
take a shot everytime Zara says sweetheart
honestly this was just a silly good time. nothing special just super quick & super sexy. i loved how unhinged Zara was. I did want a little more push back from Emma but they were hot together.
———-make sure yall read the blurb. cause it’s very telling. this series won’t be for everyone.
ready to eat up the other books in this series. i love how each sister gets a book. i just know Zariah is about to be a dark, good time
August 2, 2023
2 stars. The way my dumbass thought this was a love story between twins because the author hates me and decided to name the heroines Zara and Zuri (with another character named Zoe just to really stick it to me) 🤦🏿♀️ I kid you not. THIS REVIEW IS INTENDED FOR BOOK TWO, NOT THIS ONE BUT MY POINT STILL STANDS. I spent the first 10% confused and scared. I should’ve just heeded Sky’s review but no I had to be nosy! What was this?
If you see me picking up the sequel when it comes out just mind ya business.
If you see me picking up the sequel when it comes out just mind ya business.
August 26, 2023
i start this so exited cause i’ve been looking for a sapphic dark romance but this was so bad written that make absolutely no sense, i didn’t care about the characters and the smut was throw there without any reason at all.
I believe the writter got all the elements of any dark romance on a list and was throwing them to the writting without even thinking if it make sense for this people to be like this or be doing this or that.
The trope are too so exaggerated that the ick that something will always in this book, ITS GOES UP 100% MORE like i couldn’t believe what i was reading.
I believe the writter got all the elements of any dark romance on a list and was throwing them to the writting without even thinking if it make sense for this people to be like this or be doing this or that.
The trope are too so exaggerated that the ick that something will always in this book, ITS GOES UP 100% MORE like i couldn’t believe what i was reading.
March 22, 2024
꧁ZARA꧂
the blackthorns #1
R E V I E W
Tropes:
– sapphic
– arranged/forced marriage
– crime family
– possessive FMC
– FMC with traumatic past
I don‘t know what to think of this. Not my cup of tea obviously…but I don‘t hate it (I’m just glad it’s over) I think the whole the-father-needs-a-male-heir-story line is weird and doesn‘t make sense.
It‘s a quick read. But it could use more editing.
2/5⭐️
🌶️🌶️
the blackthorns #1
R E V I E W
Tropes:
– sapphic
– arranged/forced marriage
– crime family
– possessive FMC
– FMC with traumatic past
I don‘t know what to think of this. Not my cup of tea obviously…but I don‘t hate it (I’m just glad it’s over) I think the whole the-father-needs-a-male-heir-story line is weird and doesn‘t make sense.
It‘s a quick read. But it could use more editing.
2/5⭐️
🌶️🌶️
September 24, 2023
Never read a lesbian instalove before. Well alright, this was different. It wasn't to the point I had to DNF but it was wild. I'm not sure I'm into the whole instalove angle but it was a good read. I'm going to read the rest of the series. The Zariah character seems the most interesting out of the story. Too bad the book doesn't come out until next year. :-(
February 27, 2024
First lesbian romance and I was sadly disappointed. I know it’s a “short romance” but everything moved way too fast; the relationship, the “intimacy”, the storyline itself. I know this is a series but there’s not much story background. I got very much Uhaul vibes. And the random F bombs weren’t my thing.
March 30, 2024
I loosely give this book 3 stars. I love mafia and I love sapphic. So it gets a star for that. But everything else was a little hard for me. Some of my complaints were just my taste in story. I do not like administering spankings as "punishment" but that is a preference thing not a writing thing. I liked it enough that I may check out another.
December 31, 2024
This feels like it was written by a man.
Read this with my friend and we laughed the full way through it.
Consent doesn't exist in this story, the situations in this book are so weird its hilarious. The blackburns and the seven families are all inbred so makes sense that this is a hillbilly Mafia.
Will I probably read the rest? Yeah
Read this with my friend and we laughed the full way through it.
Consent doesn't exist in this story, the situations in this book are so weird its hilarious. The blackburns and the seven families are all inbred so makes sense that this is a hillbilly Mafia.
Will I probably read the rest? Yeah
September 20, 2023
Here from Stuff Your Kindle Day!
A very quick easy read! The story wasn’t too outrageous that I felt the need to DNF it so I flew through this.
Though my only complaint was the use of ‘FUCK’ through the book.
T o T I would of preferred a more wordy cuss out lol
A very quick easy read! The story wasn’t too outrageous that I felt the need to DNF it so I flew through this.
Though my only complaint was the use of ‘FUCK’ through the book.
T o T I would of preferred a more wordy cuss out lol
September 24, 2023
in the beginning i was reilly excited because there arent many dark lesbian romances but you realise pretty early on that this book just doesn' t make any sense and it just narates physical and psicological abuse. it just does not make any sense. it's ridiculous.
September 24, 2023
Here from stuff your kindle. Not a bad book. Didn't like that it was instalove for a dark romance but still not a bad book. Should have read the title and description first before downloading. I'm going to read the rest of the books because they are entertaining.
September 27, 2023
I like it!
This book is insane but I guess that’s why I like it. When she said it was instalove she meant it! It was so fast paced I couldn’t take anything serious. I was laughing my ass off half the time.
This book is insane but I guess that’s why I like it. When she said it was instalove she meant it! It was so fast paced I couldn’t take anything serious. I was laughing my ass off half the time.
Read
September 28, 2023DNF @ 28%
I really kind of enjoyed the first little bit of this with the back story on the sisters, and then started the OTT stuff. which, i went into this knowing it would be that way but it’s so unbelievable it starts to feel comical. loved the cover art though!
I really kind of enjoyed the first little bit of this with the back story on the sisters, and then started the OTT stuff. which, i went into this knowing it would be that way but it’s so unbelievable it starts to feel comical. loved the cover art though!
October 28, 2023
I couldn’t even finish this book. I’m just asking myself who fantasizes about this kind of thing and decides to write about it. This book made no sense to me and I stopped reading it because it is a waste of time and I would rather read something written by a normal person.
February 6, 2024
While I enjoyed this book, there was something missing for me. I'm not sure exactly what it was though. I found that there could have been more detail added to the spicy scenes but it was still enjoyable. I might continue on with the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews