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COLT
I was content with my life.
I was perfectly fine with the idea of spending my life alone, focusing on my work and nothing more. I had tried the romance thing, and it just wasn’t in the cards for me.
That was okay.
Until she went on a date with my son, and I realized that maybe, I was ready to try one more time.
She’s half my age, she’s my employee, and she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
I can’t have her, but now I have to figure out how I’m going to stay away from her.
ROWAN
The world hasn’t been kind to me.
I’ve struggled with chronic illness and survived cruelty at the hands of my father after losing my mom.
I’m left caring for my younger sister and trying to give her a chance.
I’ve never allowed myself to want more. Never been brave enough to try to take it.
When the man I work for starts to treat me like I might be worth something, I find myself willing to risk everything to finally have what I want.
I was content with my life.
I was perfectly fine with the idea of spending my life alone, focusing on my work and nothing more. I had tried the romance thing, and it just wasn’t in the cards for me.
That was okay.
Until she went on a date with my son, and I realized that maybe, I was ready to try one more time.
She’s half my age, she’s my employee, and she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
I can’t have her, but now I have to figure out how I’m going to stay away from her.
ROWAN
The world hasn’t been kind to me.
I’ve struggled with chronic illness and survived cruelty at the hands of my father after losing my mom.
I’m left caring for my younger sister and trying to give her a chance.
I’ve never allowed myself to want more. Never been brave enough to try to take it.
When the man I work for starts to treat me like I might be worth something, I find myself willing to risk everything to finally have what I want.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 3, 2024
About the author
Aubrey Hawke
7 books84 followersAubrey Hawke is an independently-published author with a passion for telling character-driven stories that tug at the heart and take her readers on an emotional journey.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
December 21, 2024
4/5
TROPE:
-age gap (21h, 40H)
-boss/employee
-forced proximity
-disabled heroine
-forbidden love
-friends to lovers
-slooow burn
This was a good, solid read. I enjoyed it.
The heroine is the hero’s assistant. Feelings develop, especially when her father (who is an alcoholic) does something to make her run, with her kid sister in tow. The hero steps up and invites them into his home. They fight their feelings, the hero is very wishy-washy, but eventually they both give in.
I loved the disability rep! The hero takes care of her so well. 💗
I didn’t like how the heroine went on a date with his son (who is two years older than her) literally the day after her first date with the hero. 🫠 Nothing happened with the son, though, and they just remain friends.
SAFETY:
virgin heroine, celibate hero
OM/OW: the hero’s son and the hero’s previous hookup. he goes on a date with her but nothing happens.
no cheating/sharing
triggers: alcoholism (heroine’s father), verbal abuse (heroine’s father)
HEA
TROPE:
-age gap (21h, 40H)
-boss/employee
-forced proximity
-disabled heroine
-forbidden love
-friends to lovers
-slooow burn
This was a good, solid read. I enjoyed it.
The heroine is the hero’s assistant. Feelings develop, especially when her father (who is an alcoholic) does something to make her run, with her kid sister in tow. The hero steps up and invites them into his home. They fight their feelings, the hero is very wishy-washy, but eventually they both give in.
I loved the disability rep! The hero takes care of her so well. 💗
I didn’t like how the heroine went on a date with his son (who is two years older than her) literally the day after her first date with the hero. 🫠 Nothing happened with the son, though, and they just remain friends.
SAFETY:
virgin heroine, celibate hero
OM/OW: the hero’s son and the hero’s previous hookup. he goes on a date with her but nothing happens.
no cheating/sharing
triggers: alcoholism (heroine’s father), verbal abuse (heroine’s father)
HEA
September 8, 2024
Swoon!
Oh Daddy Colt! What a great tale of unconditional love even when it's unexpected and unconventional. I loved Rowan and Colt's dynamic.
Oh Daddy Colt! What a great tale of unconditional love even when it's unexpected and unconventional. I loved Rowan and Colt's dynamic.
April 27, 2025
Colt and Rowan are 🤌🏻 so good! @aubreyhawkebooks can truly do no wrong haha
Rowan is out bubbly, happy, joyful despite it all girl, she spends her time working and going home to take care of her sister Macie. After she has a few flirty moments with Colt he invites her to a clients party as his date, and they do what any logical adults do after a fancy party... they get burgers haha. After which they kiss and so starts their little will they won't they, which becomes a they will cause that chemistry and banter is 🤌🏻.
Colt is our slightly grumpy, but always happy for Rowan man haha. After kissing Rowan he's conflicted on how he feels and what he should do, when she calls him after getting custody of her sister and their dad starting a fight (Heath deserves nothing good, no cold side of the pillow and every room he's barefoot in will magically fill with Legos) Colt goes to get our girls and has them move in with him to give them a good life.
Watching them slowly fall in love was truly one of the most beautiful progressions of love in a story that I've read, Colt never sees her for less of a person with her health issues, he will do anything for her to make her smile! Including carrying her on his back for a mile to find her a place to sit when her body starts to hurt from walking, the love her has for her is never ending, and the love he has for Maci is never ending! That man will do it all for his girls including their happily ever after in the end 🖤
Rowan is out bubbly, happy, joyful despite it all girl, she spends her time working and going home to take care of her sister Macie. After she has a few flirty moments with Colt he invites her to a clients party as his date, and they do what any logical adults do after a fancy party... they get burgers haha. After which they kiss and so starts their little will they won't they, which becomes a they will cause that chemistry and banter is 🤌🏻.
Colt is our slightly grumpy, but always happy for Rowan man haha. After kissing Rowan he's conflicted on how he feels and what he should do, when she calls him after getting custody of her sister and their dad starting a fight (Heath deserves nothing good, no cold side of the pillow and every room he's barefoot in will magically fill with Legos) Colt goes to get our girls and has them move in with him to give them a good life.
Watching them slowly fall in love was truly one of the most beautiful progressions of love in a story that I've read, Colt never sees her for less of a person with her health issues, he will do anything for her to make her smile! Including carrying her on his back for a mile to find her a place to sit when her body starts to hurt from walking, the love her has for her is never ending, and the love he has for Maci is never ending! That man will do it all for his girls including their happily ever after in the end 🖤
June 7, 2024
I feel like I’m just getting duds lately.
This book started off strong. Work place, age gap, disability rep, and interesting characters.
Then it just fell flat. Felt like there was some pacing issues. I also disliked how the main female character didn’t seem to stick to her personality the author created. Actually same for ALL the characters. They changed so much that I felt I was reading the wrong characters.
The book is also unnecessarily long. I was 60% and just ready for it to be over. Nothing was happening to warrant such a long book. It was on Kindle Unlimited so I understand why authors write longer books. They get paid per page read (or used to maybe this changed?!).
This book started off strong. Work place, age gap, disability rep, and interesting characters.
Then it just fell flat. Felt like there was some pacing issues. I also disliked how the main female character didn’t seem to stick to her personality the author created. Actually same for ALL the characters. They changed so much that I felt I was reading the wrong characters.
The book is also unnecessarily long. I was 60% and just ready for it to be over. Nothing was happening to warrant such a long book. It was on Kindle Unlimited so I understand why authors write longer books. They get paid per page read (or used to maybe this changed?!).
March 10, 2024
Great read!
Bravo on a fantastic debut. All the best parts of a forbidden age gap with a delicious amount of angst. I can’t wait to read the next in the series.
The characters were well developed and the plot was perfectly mixed with spice. This is definitely a one click read, and I’m excited to see what this author comes out with next!
Bravo on a fantastic debut. All the best parts of a forbidden age gap with a delicious amount of angst. I can’t wait to read the next in the series.
The characters were well developed and the plot was perfectly mixed with spice. This is definitely a one click read, and I’m excited to see what this author comes out with next!
June 20, 2025
I had expectations but literally there are so many things going wrong in this book. I reached 66% by struggling with the characters.
First Colt tries to set up his assistant with his son and then he gets anxious that they might hit it off and when they don’t he decides to take her on a date. Rejects her then acts angry with her then sympathetic, tries to play it dom but turns soooo not.
“ “Yes sir” please don’t call me that” yeah not.
Rowan is being abused by her drunk father (not sexually) and is responsible for her little sister. After being rejected she gets drunk to punish Colt but never told him(another scene just to fill the pages). She decided to take custody of her sister and when things turn bad she calls colt to save the day. Then she climbs him rushing out of her v card(of course she was a virgin) . Then a few days later she leaves her little sister with the nanny and goes on a trip with colt. I was 😒 almost on every chapter but kept reading because that’s what I do, giving chances until proven wrong but… dnf.
Let alone that before they even got together she groped him in her 5year old sister’s birthday party with a bunch of other kids around. Wtf!?
No connection between the characters, felt empty, rushed and written just to be written. Regretting buying all 3 books at once 😖
First Colt tries to set up his assistant with his son and then he gets anxious that they might hit it off and when they don’t he decides to take her on a date. Rejects her then acts angry with her then sympathetic, tries to play it dom but turns soooo not.
“ “Yes sir” please don’t call me that” yeah not.
Rowan is being abused by her drunk father (not sexually) and is responsible for her little sister. After being rejected she gets drunk to punish Colt but never told him(another scene just to fill the pages). She decided to take custody of her sister and when things turn bad she calls colt to save the day. Then she climbs him rushing out of her v card(of course she was a virgin) . Then a few days later she leaves her little sister with the nanny and goes on a trip with colt. I was 😒 almost on every chapter but kept reading because that’s what I do, giving chances until proven wrong but… dnf.
Let alone that before they even got together she groped him in her 5year old sister’s birthday party with a bunch of other kids around. Wtf!?
No connection between the characters, felt empty, rushed and written just to be written. Regretting buying all 3 books at once 😖
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2024
Was ok
The blueprint was good but the execution fell a little short for me. The personalities in this book were inconsistent for instance Rowan would flip flop between being this shy she'll of a person then all of a sudden she's this bold vixen who's making moves left and right.. then she'd be upset with Colt about how he was indecisive on wanting to be with her when if I remember correctly she was the one who 100% made all the first moves.. he didn't make a move until after you did so what are you confused about? Also I am a little disappointed in there being no talk about protection or BC or anything and then after going to town 52 times she tells him she wants to be a mom and have a family and she asks him and he's like naw I'm done having kids and she's like mkay cool 😎 and then goes on their merry way.. until the epilogue and he's like we just couldn't wait it didn't make sense at least show a conversation about him changing his mind or something.
I think it was a good start of a series and these are just my opinions and maybe one more look through and an edit for missing/misspelled words it could be a really great.
The blueprint was good but the execution fell a little short for me. The personalities in this book were inconsistent for instance Rowan would flip flop between being this shy she'll of a person then all of a sudden she's this bold vixen who's making moves left and right.. then she'd be upset with Colt about how he was indecisive on wanting to be with her when if I remember correctly she was the one who 100% made all the first moves.. he didn't make a move until after you did so what are you confused about? Also I am a little disappointed in there being no talk about protection or BC or anything and then after going to town 52 times she tells him she wants to be a mom and have a family and she asks him and he's like naw I'm done having kids and she's like mkay cool 😎 and then goes on their merry way.. until the epilogue and he's like we just couldn't wait it didn't make sense at least show a conversation about him changing his mind or something.
I think it was a good start of a series and these are just my opinions and maybe one more look through and an edit for missing/misspelled words it could be a really great.
August 4, 2025
Book title: Colt
Author: Aubrey Hawke
Pages: 254
Stars: 🌟🌟🌟5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Colt and Rowan
❣️Review does slight contain spoilers:❣️
I liked this little snippet book. Rowan has such a hard life and there Colt is to be her prince. I do wish the author mentioned possibly what Rowan might have because we are just left thinking about what chronic illness she has. I also wish she talked about contraception because one moment is she is a virgin and the next…she has had a homerun without a condom or them talking about it. To me that is bizarre. The book could have been longer and more spicy in my opinion, but I didn’t mind it! I will be looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
👀You would love this book if you like: 👀
Age Gap (19 years)
Workplace/Boss X Employee
Slow Burn
Forced Proximity
Chronic Illness
Author: Aubrey Hawke
Pages: 254
Stars: 🌟🌟🌟5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Colt and Rowan
❣️Review does slight contain spoilers:❣️
I liked this little snippet book. Rowan has such a hard life and there Colt is to be her prince. I do wish the author mentioned possibly what Rowan might have because we are just left thinking about what chronic illness she has. I also wish she talked about contraception because one moment is she is a virgin and the next…she has had a homerun without a condom or them talking about it. To me that is bizarre. The book could have been longer and more spicy in my opinion, but I didn’t mind it! I will be looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
👀You would love this book if you like: 👀
Age Gap (19 years)
Workplace/Boss X Employee
Slow Burn
Forced Proximity
Chronic Illness
July 8, 2024
An emotional masterpiece! The spice was just a bonus compared to the story told here. Aubrey Hawke really draws you in to some real life situations. While I was reading I laughed out loud, I got frustrated, I questioned my own thought process, I almost cried. All things I love to do when I read! I wish the story was longer! Both characters inner monologues were such a breath of fresh air. They were asking REAL questions. Bringing in REAL emotions. I don’t know how many times I can say the word “real” but I’m a fantasy snob because books that relate to the real world often bore me. This had me glued!
March 26, 2024
So I won the digital copy of Colt!!
I came here to leave a review. I won these digital copy of Colt and just finished reading. This book is so cute! I really enjoyed watching them grow together. I was really hoping for a pregnancy, lol! But it's cute definitely worth the read. Colt is daddy af.
I came here to leave a review. I won these digital copy of Colt and just finished reading. This book is so cute! I really enjoyed watching them grow together. I was really hoping for a pregnancy, lol! But it's cute definitely worth the read. Colt is daddy af.
March 30, 2024
Soft, sweet and sexy
A very easy going romance straight from the get go really. Whilst there's trauma, and issues like any new relationship (especially those oh so forbidden office romances) they're all dealt with by the wonderful Colt. Even when he messes up, he's there for Rowan and ready to fix it.
I loved it from start to finish 💛
A very easy going romance straight from the get go really. Whilst there's trauma, and issues like any new relationship (especially those oh so forbidden office romances) they're all dealt with by the wonderful Colt. Even when he messes up, he's there for Rowan and ready to fix it.
I loved it from start to finish 💛
July 31, 2024
I loved this book. Age-gap is not my usual romance genre but I really loved this one.
Rowan is dealing with a lot. Health issues, loosing her mom to an accident, loosing her dad to alcohol and trying to raise her little sister.
Colt is a good guy. One of the really good ones. He is a single dad who works hard and is attracted to his younger assistant.
I highly recommend this book.
Rowan is dealing with a lot. Health issues, loosing her mom to an accident, loosing her dad to alcohol and trying to raise her little sister.
Colt is a good guy. One of the really good ones. He is a single dad who works hard and is attracted to his younger assistant.
I highly recommend this book.
January 18, 2025
A great debut novel. I love a nice and angsty age gap. I was really happy with Rowan as an FMC. She was strong and independent but sweet and vulnerable also. Colt immediately had me swooning and his praise game was on point! The spice was so good. There was also emotion and humor. Davis is a trip and I can’t wait to read his story next.
February 22, 2024
Aubrey Hawke has hit it out of the park with her debut novel! Delightful characters, good pacing, and the perfect amount of spice round out a solid plot. I enjoyed this so much and can’t wait to read more of the series. I was provided an ARC copy and this is my honest review.
March 23, 2024
This was sooo good.
I blew through this book, you feel immersed with the characters and the immediate attraction between Rowan and Colt is jaw dropping.
The way colt takes care of Rowan and her little sister is heartwarming
I loved reading their story and the ending made my heart sooo happy
I blew through this book, you feel immersed with the characters and the immediate attraction between Rowan and Colt is jaw dropping.
The way colt takes care of Rowan and her little sister is heartwarming
I loved reading their story and the ending made my heart sooo happy
May 2, 2024
Best representation I've ever seen of a chronic illness. As someone with POTS which was super similar to what the fmc had, it was spot on. I don't think I've ever highlighted a book the way I did this one. For sure a good book for any chronically ill girlies
May 31, 2024
My heart is very happy. I love the age gap romances, and Aubrey Hawke nailed it. My heart goes out to Rowan, and everything she endures. Colt is a real knight in shining armor. I'm stoked to start Davis!!!!
July 30, 2024
HOLY COW!! That’s all I really have to say about this book. I went through so many emotions reading it, and loved every second of it. It made me so happy and at some points it pissed me off but it was such a wonderful read!
February 10, 2025
Omg why did I wait so long to read this. Colt an Rowan have my heart. This man is what every woman is looking for. My heart goes out for Rowan and what she had gone through. I give props to Colt tho he stood up an took care of a little girl that didn’t belong to him.
January 11, 2026
Age Gap Romances are my squeeze.
4.25 Stars. 🩷💜❤️💙
This was done so well, I really enjoyed everyones backstories and the writing was just chefs kiss 😘 Definitely going to continue the series, cant wait to see what happens with Davis.
4.25 Stars. 🩷💜❤️💙
This was done so well, I really enjoyed everyones backstories and the writing was just chefs kiss 😘 Definitely going to continue the series, cant wait to see what happens with Davis.
February 3, 2026
As someone that lives with a chronic invisible illness everyday, this book made me feel seen and honestly my own fears of dating or being in a relationship flashed before the pages. I have met a lot of frogs 🐸 but I still have hope I will find my prince 🤴
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2026
New-to-me author!
I was pleasantly surprised while reading this story. It was a good blend of emotional, spicy, and relatable. Rowan's trauma and Colt's life experience were real enough to keep me turning the page! Looking forward to reading more by this author.
I was pleasantly surprised while reading this story. It was a good blend of emotional, spicy, and relatable. Rowan's trauma and Colt's life experience were real enough to keep me turning the page! Looking forward to reading more by this author.
July 23, 2024
2.75⭐️
August 14, 2024
I loved this book from start to finish! It was one of the most enjoyable books I have ever read!
September 23, 2024
Colt & Rowan’s story was such a wonderful journey. Age gap,billionaire boss, the works. I immediatly ran to pick up book 2 when I finished this!
October 14, 2024
2.5 Stars
February 8, 2025
First book in a while that I've had to stop reading, the start was strong but then just got very boring very quickly :(
June 5, 2025
loved this, read it in one afternoon. I will say, no one on earth would have called my oral skills "expertly" the first...or second time I ever did them 😂 but I loved this book
June 29, 2025
3,5/5⭐️
July 26, 2025
Quick, fun read. Love an age gap romance.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews