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Blackburn
From USA Today Bestselling Author Brynne Asher
An action-packed, workplace romance like you've never read before.
She’s my employee.
I’m her boss’s boss. Hell, I own the company.
Pursuing Lillian Burkette was a line I shouldn’t cross.
Until a work trip from hell changed everything.
I didn’t just step over the line. I annihilated the damn thing.
When it comes to her, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do. I’d even kill for her.
When they say the corporate world is a jungle … they have no idea.
An action-packed, workplace romance like you've never read before.
She’s my employee.
I’m her boss’s boss. Hell, I own the company.
Pursuing Lillian Burkette was a line I shouldn’t cross.
Until a work trip from hell changed everything.
I didn’t just step over the line. I annihilated the damn thing.
When it comes to her, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do. I’d even kill for her.
When they say the corporate world is a jungle … they have no idea.
134 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 26, 2018
771 people are currently reading
1546 people want to read
About the author
Brynne Asher
31 books4,118 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author Brynne Asher. Writer of romance. Lover of caffeine and cocktails.
Brynne lives in the Midwest with her husband, three children, and her perfect dog. When she isn't creating pretend people and drama, she's running her kids around and doing laundry. Brynne thrives on skincare and online shopping while being fabulous in her favorite ratty pajamas.
Sign up for Brynne's newsletter, it's a spam-free zone: http://eepurl.com/gFVMUP
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Join Brynne's author group, where humans are nice and cows are cool: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Brynn...
Brynne lives in the Midwest with her husband, three children, and her perfect dog. When she isn't creating pretend people and drama, she's running her kids around and doing laundry. Brynne thrives on skincare and online shopping while being fabulous in her favorite ratty pajamas.
Sign up for Brynne's newsletter, it's a spam-free zone: http://eepurl.com/gFVMUP
Follow Brynne on the Freakybook: https://www.facebook.com/brynneashera...
Join Brynne's author group, where humans are nice and cows are cool: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Brynn...
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July 12, 2018
Blackburn is my very first book by Brynne Asher. I am now asking myself WHY, WHY, WHY is that so?! It was so good. I could not stop reading!
Lillian Burkette started her new job four months ago working in sales for the tech company. She didn’t meet the big boss, her boss’s boss, Gabriel Blackburn, until after she was hired. Lillian was a happy person. She seemed to bring sunshine with her wherever she went. Everyone loved her. Except Gabe. He seemed to glower at her constantly, never seems happy with her work. They are currently on a sales trip to Nicaragua and she did a great job but you wouldn’t know it from Gabe’s attitude. He’s actually one of the most beautiful men she’s ever seen, except for the frown that seems permanently affixed to his face.
Gabe has been tortured since Lillian came to work for him. He can’t seem to be near her without thinking about all the things he wants to do to her. But there is a line he cannot cross. He’s the boss. So he’ll do whatever he has to do to keep his distance. Even if it means making her think he dislikes her.
Things on this trip were going great, until they weren’t. Now they are in a fight for their lives. Gabe will keep Lillian safe and then she will be his. No more worrying about that line. He’s the boss, he can do what he wants. Now all he has to do is convince Lillian that his behavior these past few months isn’t really how he feels. That all he really wants is her.
“Forever is a sappy word used in the romance novels my sisters would whisper about. But right here, right now with Lillian, it’s the only word cycling in my mind.”
Gabe used to be an Army Ranger before he started his business and let me tell you, this man has ALL the skills. And, he will need every one of them to get them out of this situation. Through it all, Lillian stays strong, doesn’t complain. He can’t believe he wasted all this time trying to stay away from her. Lillian is amazed at this new side to her boss. He’s sweet, kind, caring, and patient, when he’s not killing the bad guys that are after them.
“I’m a strong man, but you could break me, Lillian. Only you could bring a man like me to my knees.”
“I’d never break you, Gabe. Never.”
“But you could. And that makes you the most powerful woman in my world.”
I loved this book! It’s not very long and thank goodness for that because I couldn’t put it down. It’s the perfect combination of sweet, suspenseful, and crazy hot. Gabe was pretty much my dream Hero. It also has the sweetest epilogue. I love epilogues! If you haven’t read anything by Brynne Asher yet, I strongly urge you to do so. Now I need to look through all her other books to see what I’ve been missing!
Lillian Burkette started her new job four months ago working in sales for the tech company. She didn’t meet the big boss, her boss’s boss, Gabriel Blackburn, until after she was hired. Lillian was a happy person. She seemed to bring sunshine with her wherever she went. Everyone loved her. Except Gabe. He seemed to glower at her constantly, never seems happy with her work. They are currently on a sales trip to Nicaragua and she did a great job but you wouldn’t know it from Gabe’s attitude. He’s actually one of the most beautiful men she’s ever seen, except for the frown that seems permanently affixed to his face.
Gabe has been tortured since Lillian came to work for him. He can’t seem to be near her without thinking about all the things he wants to do to her. But there is a line he cannot cross. He’s the boss. So he’ll do whatever he has to do to keep his distance. Even if it means making her think he dislikes her.
Things on this trip were going great, until they weren’t. Now they are in a fight for their lives. Gabe will keep Lillian safe and then she will be his. No more worrying about that line. He’s the boss, he can do what he wants. Now all he has to do is convince Lillian that his behavior these past few months isn’t really how he feels. That all he really wants is her.
“Forever is a sappy word used in the romance novels my sisters would whisper about. But right here, right now with Lillian, it’s the only word cycling in my mind.”
Gabe used to be an Army Ranger before he started his business and let me tell you, this man has ALL the skills. And, he will need every one of them to get them out of this situation. Through it all, Lillian stays strong, doesn’t complain. He can’t believe he wasted all this time trying to stay away from her. Lillian is amazed at this new side to her boss. He’s sweet, kind, caring, and patient, when he’s not killing the bad guys that are after them.
“I’m a strong man, but you could break me, Lillian. Only you could bring a man like me to my knees.”
“I’d never break you, Gabe. Never.”
“But you could. And that makes you the most powerful woman in my world.”
I loved this book! It’s not very long and thank goodness for that because I couldn’t put it down. It’s the perfect combination of sweet, suspenseful, and crazy hot. Gabe was pretty much my dream Hero. It also has the sweetest epilogue. I love epilogues! If you haven’t read anything by Brynne Asher yet, I strongly urge you to do so. Now I need to look through all her other books to see what I’ve been missing!
June 26, 2018
It's Live!
I absolutely loved this story! When this hit my Kindle, I had no idea what a treat I was in for. I actually slowed down when reading it because I didn't want it to end. Action and romance take a front seat and both aspects were done well.
HERO~ Gabe Blackburn. Two words "hubba hubba". He was a lovable jerk. Yes, I know it's an oxymoron but just go with it. He was the boss's boss and tried to always be professional. He was was keeping as far away from Lillian as he could, even coming off as not liking her. Broody, sexy and take charge, when he went into protective mode, I was fanning myself!
HEROINE~ Lillian was a fantastic heroine. I'm usually pretty tough on heroines but Lillian was amazing. She was smart, sweet, funny and strong. I don't like an alpha heroine who is kicking people's butts, however her quiet strength during a rough experience was perfection. She didnt give up or whine but she had funny little zingers that made her endearing. Great formula for a wonderful heroine.
SEXUAL HISTORY~ Neither were virgins but their history wasn't dwelled upon. Gabe wasn't portrayed as a manwhore at all.
OM/OW DRAMA ~ ZERO!
STEAM It didn't have a lot of steam but what it had was really good. It had a great build up
VIOLENCE None of a sexual nature
SECONDARY CHARACTERS We see a snippet of Susan Stokers "Tex" who just happens to be my favorite SS hero. We also got a smidge of Grady whom I adored!
SAFETY Safe! Neither with others after meeting.
ENDING~ Great epilogue 6 months, then 4 years later. It was absolutely adorable and I still wanted more but I dont think I could ever get enough of this couple!
I absolutely loved this story! When this hit my Kindle, I had no idea what a treat I was in for. I actually slowed down when reading it because I didn't want it to end. Action and romance take a front seat and both aspects were done well.
HERO~ Gabe Blackburn. Two words "hubba hubba". He was a lovable jerk. Yes, I know it's an oxymoron but just go with it. He was the boss's boss and tried to always be professional. He was was keeping as far away from Lillian as he could, even coming off as not liking her. Broody, sexy and take charge, when he went into protective mode, I was fanning myself!
HEROINE~ Lillian was a fantastic heroine. I'm usually pretty tough on heroines but Lillian was amazing. She was smart, sweet, funny and strong. I don't like an alpha heroine who is kicking people's butts, however her quiet strength during a rough experience was perfection. She didnt give up or whine but she had funny little zingers that made her endearing. Great formula for a wonderful heroine.
SEXUAL HISTORY~ Neither were virgins but their history wasn't dwelled upon. Gabe wasn't portrayed as a manwhore at all.
OM/OW DRAMA ~ ZERO!
STEAM It didn't have a lot of steam but what it had was really good. It had a great build up
VIOLENCE None of a sexual nature
SECONDARY CHARACTERS We see a snippet of Susan Stokers "Tex" who just happens to be my favorite SS hero. We also got a smidge of Grady whom I adored!
SAFETY Safe! Neither with others after meeting.
ENDING~ Great epilogue 6 months, then 4 years later. It was absolutely adorable and I still wanted more but I dont think I could ever get enough of this couple!
June 26, 2018
NOW LIVE!
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Blackburn was one of Brynne Asher's shorter books, but it still packed that punch of intrigue and excitement that I love from her stories. It honestly reminded me of the books that first got me into reading, where the romance is still there but there's a lot of other things going on so it takes a backseat and is a little on the light side. Yet in this story I never missed the connection between Gabriel and Lillian. It was also pretty unconventional for a boss/employee romance and took it out of the office and right into the jungle. Crazy, right?
Overall, I loved this book and the writing really sucked me in. Really, my only complaint was that it was too short, though I always find myself sad when a book ends that had me as captivated as this one did.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Blackburn was one of Brynne Asher's shorter books, but it still packed that punch of intrigue and excitement that I love from her stories. It honestly reminded me of the books that first got me into reading, where the romance is still there but there's a lot of other things going on so it takes a backseat and is a little on the light side. Yet in this story I never missed the connection between Gabriel and Lillian. It was also pretty unconventional for a boss/employee romance and took it out of the office and right into the jungle. Crazy, right?
Overall, I loved this book and the writing really sucked me in. Really, my only complaint was that it was too short, though I always find myself sad when a book ends that had me as captivated as this one did.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2018
An office romance with a twist! I loved it! It was funny, serious, steamy and full of action that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Gabe is a hero with many levels to his personality. He's the hot CEO who's a bit of a nerd, can be kind of an asshole, has military training that makes him a badass, and when he went full on protection mode, boy was he intense.
Lillian is the sweet heroine who has a backbone that knows when to stand up for herself and doesn't whine when put under pressure. She's all woman and Gabe wants hers with an intensity that was hot!
This was a fun novella and I didn't want it to end. It had the right amount of suspense and romance for a shorter story. Plus two epilogues!
Gabe is a hero with many levels to his personality. He's the hot CEO who's a bit of a nerd, can be kind of an asshole, has military training that makes him a badass, and when he went full on protection mode, boy was he intense.
Lillian is the sweet heroine who has a backbone that knows when to stand up for herself and doesn't whine when put under pressure. She's all woman and Gabe wants hers with an intensity that was hot!
This was a fun novella and I didn't want it to end. It had the right amount of suspense and romance for a shorter story. Plus two epilogues!
September 17, 2018
4.5/5
“I’m a strong man, but you could break me, Lillian. Only you could bring a man like me to my knees.”
I loved it!
My first read from this author was definitely a winner. I really did enjoy this book and I loved almost everything about it.
Amazing brooding hero. Check.
Lovely heroine. Check.
Nice plot. Check.
Well-written suspense. Check.
Hot, yet beautiful romance. Check.
No pushing away. Check.
Forbidden relationship. Check, check, check!
It was such a page-turner that once I started, I couldn't stop! My only complaint is that it was a bit too short. I still want more of Gabe and Lillian's romance!
Highly recommended!
“I’m a strong man, but you could break me, Lillian. Only you could bring a man like me to my knees.”
I loved it!
My first read from this author was definitely a winner. I really did enjoy this book and I loved almost everything about it.
Amazing brooding hero. Check.
Lovely heroine. Check.
Nice plot. Check.
Well-written suspense. Check.
Hot, yet beautiful romance. Check.
No pushing away. Check.
Forbidden relationship. Check, check, check!
It was such a page-turner that once I started, I couldn't stop! My only complaint is that it was a bit too short. I still want more of Gabe and Lillian's romance!
Highly recommended!
June 16, 2018
When you’ve found a good thing…
I’d like to think I’m somewhat of a connoisseur of romance stories. Can you be a connoisseur of romance reads? The definition for a connoisseur is –
Hmmm…I know a lot about romance and enjoy reading them immensely. Writing romance is an art form isn’t it? I can judge quality and skill in the subject. Time for a banner change...
Not bragging or anything (MUCH!!) but I like to think my skills fall in finding brilliant and remarkable authors who write contemporary, historical and paranormal romance. When I find a new “good thing” I want to share that “good thing” with the world. Brynne Asher, she’s a bloody “good thing”. Every time I get the opportunity to read a new story by her, I’m immediately sighing with delight. There’s something about her characters that make you feel like their friends and you’ve known them for years. Her words flow in a way that’s easy, comfortable and just plain old good.
Blackburn was a fantastic little story and I found myself sucked in from the very first page. It’s a small package of goodness, filled with action, adventure, steam, sizzle and sigh-worthy moments. He’s bossy, tough and a man with many talents. She’s a smart and attractive woman who tries to look for the best in every situation. You could tell from the very start that his gruffness was a front. He wanted her sweetness but didn’t know how much until her life was in danger. There was no way that either could fight the attraction that was always sizzling below the surface.
Now, I’ve convinced you that Brynne Asher has MAD skills, haven’t I? Well, just trust me, she’s good. So, you’re probably wondering why this little package of goodness didn’t get 5 stars? Well, my friends, it’s the old…the small package didn’t hit the spot. I needed more. I wanted more. I had to have more. I needed to see the office dynamics when Gabriel Blackburn was a douchewaffle. I wanted to know why Lillian Burkette chose Spanish and how she came to love Central America. I had to have more Gabriel fighting the baddies to protect the woman he’s coming to care for. I just wanted more of the nitty gritty and because I KNOW Brynne Asher is a “good thing”, I know it would have been better longer.
But, alas, I have to settle for the little package and wait patiently for Brynne Asher’s next big thing to come along. I’m sure that one will have the length and breadth to hit the right spot. 😉
Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
I’d like to think I’m somewhat of a connoisseur of romance stories. Can you be a connoisseur of romance reads? The definition for a connoisseur is –
a person who knows a lot about and enjoys one of the arts, or food, drink, etc. and can judge quality and skill in that subject
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dict...
Hmmm…I know a lot about romance and enjoy reading them immensely. Writing romance is an art form isn’t it? I can judge quality and skill in the subject. Time for a banner change...
Not bragging or anything (MUCH!!) but I like to think my skills fall in finding brilliant and remarkable authors who write contemporary, historical and paranormal romance. When I find a new “good thing” I want to share that “good thing” with the world. Brynne Asher, she’s a bloody “good thing”. Every time I get the opportunity to read a new story by her, I’m immediately sighing with delight. There’s something about her characters that make you feel like their friends and you’ve known them for years. Her words flow in a way that’s easy, comfortable and just plain old good.
Blackburn was a fantastic little story and I found myself sucked in from the very first page. It’s a small package of goodness, filled with action, adventure, steam, sizzle and sigh-worthy moments. He’s bossy, tough and a man with many talents. She’s a smart and attractive woman who tries to look for the best in every situation. You could tell from the very start that his gruffness was a front. He wanted her sweetness but didn’t know how much until her life was in danger. There was no way that either could fight the attraction that was always sizzling below the surface.
Now, I’ve convinced you that Brynne Asher has MAD skills, haven’t I? Well, just trust me, she’s good. So, you’re probably wondering why this little package of goodness didn’t get 5 stars? Well, my friends, it’s the old…the small package didn’t hit the spot. I needed more. I wanted more. I had to have more. I needed to see the office dynamics when Gabriel Blackburn was a douchewaffle. I wanted to know why Lillian Burkette chose Spanish and how she came to love Central America. I had to have more Gabriel fighting the baddies to protect the woman he’s coming to care for. I just wanted more of the nitty gritty and because I KNOW Brynne Asher is a “good thing”, I know it would have been better longer.
But, alas, I have to settle for the little package and wait patiently for Brynne Asher’s next big thing to come along. I’m sure that one will have the length and breadth to hit the right spot. 😉
Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
November 29, 2021
an unconventional workplace romance where you fall insta-madly-in-love with your boss in the middle of Nicaragua rainforest?? oh, i’d want nothing more! this book was a little extra, but in the best ways possible.
i wish it wasnt novella sized, but then its also already perfect as it is. now the cover, i pray it gets redesigned. i’d totally recommend this if you want your romance quick AND sexy, sweet, suspenseful, and action-packed.
i wish it wasnt novella sized, but then its also already perfect as it is. now the cover, i pray it gets redesigned. i’d totally recommend this if you want your romance quick AND sexy, sweet, suspenseful, and action-packed.
April 20, 2022
What a perfect little book. I really enjoyed this read. It was quick and sweet and jam packed with action. Gabe was a great grumpy boss/action hero and Lillian was a funny and sweet sunshiney heroine. The epilogue was hilarious and I loved their dynamic. This was low angst and great to read.
Never read this author before but she’s definitely going on my list.
Never read this author before but she’s definitely going on my list.
June 18, 2018
I can’t stop from grinning! Gabe Blackburn is completely incorrigible! How this author came up with such a diverse hero is truly magic from the writer gods!
Lillian’s boss’ boss is aggravating, rude, scowly, and the most handsome man she’s ever laid eyes on. It’s taking all she has to remain sweet and polite but a week in Nicaragua with the man and his grumbly ways is wearing her out. When their trip takes an alarming and deadly turn everything she thought she knew about Gabe Blackburn is blown away with the gun smoke.
Gabe has fought hard the last four months to not yield to his attraction to his employee. She’s beautiful and sweet, everyone likes her and she bakes! The fact that she has stopped sharing her beautiful smile and offering her goods to him should make him happy. He’s her boss’ boss for christ sake! But when her life is suddenly in danger all rules of boss and employee etiquette are obliterated. He’s staking a claim and he’s doing it now.
This had everything you could ask for in a book and it’s all contained in a novella. Filled with intense action, scary good drama, and even a few pages of heart wrenching sadness, it checks all the boxes for a great story. Add in the perfect amount of humor, from Gabe nonetheless with his inner monologues of taxidermied cats and his cocky ways of working around Lillian’s protestations, and you’ve just added icing to an already tasty morsel.
I loved both of these characters individually and as a couple. Gabe’s humor delightfully surprised me. I didn’t see that coming but once I met him I can’t see him any other way. Lillian didn’t give him much of a fight but who could because…Gabe. Together their chemistry was sizzling. And when Lillian has an issue back at home, Gabe extends his protection provided to her in the jungle to her home life. Sexy, stable, protective and knows how to use a gun? What’s not to love?
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
And for all the epilogue hussies, this one has TWO and they are freaking awesome!!!
Lillian’s boss’ boss is aggravating, rude, scowly, and the most handsome man she’s ever laid eyes on. It’s taking all she has to remain sweet and polite but a week in Nicaragua with the man and his grumbly ways is wearing her out. When their trip takes an alarming and deadly turn everything she thought she knew about Gabe Blackburn is blown away with the gun smoke.
Gabe has fought hard the last four months to not yield to his attraction to his employee. She’s beautiful and sweet, everyone likes her and she bakes! The fact that she has stopped sharing her beautiful smile and offering her goods to him should make him happy. He’s her boss’ boss for christ sake! But when her life is suddenly in danger all rules of boss and employee etiquette are obliterated. He’s staking a claim and he’s doing it now.
This had everything you could ask for in a book and it’s all contained in a novella. Filled with intense action, scary good drama, and even a few pages of heart wrenching sadness, it checks all the boxes for a great story. Add in the perfect amount of humor, from Gabe nonetheless with his inner monologues of taxidermied cats and his cocky ways of working around Lillian’s protestations, and you’ve just added icing to an already tasty morsel.
I loved both of these characters individually and as a couple. Gabe’s humor delightfully surprised me. I didn’t see that coming but once I met him I can’t see him any other way. Lillian didn’t give him much of a fight but who could because…Gabe. Together their chemistry was sizzling. And when Lillian has an issue back at home, Gabe extends his protection provided to her in the jungle to her home life. Sexy, stable, protective and knows how to use a gun? What’s not to love?
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
And for all the epilogue hussies, this one has TWO and they are freaking awesome!!!
dnf
August 11, 2018*stretches relaxingly* that was a good nap!
Book? What book?
#itsmenotyou
Book? What book?
#itsmenotyou
June 26, 2018
5 'Adventurous Love' Stars
WOW... Talk about finding love in the most unexpected of places... And Situations!
Brynne Asher is knocking these novellas out of park. From an amazing love story to a added suspense and plenty of steamy moments, they have it all!
Blackburn is an unconventional office romance story, that gets you hooked from the very first page to the last!
Lillian finds herself in the middle of Central America with her boss - or better, her boss's boss - Gabriel Black Burn, who she thinks can't stand her.
Oh, shoot. I think I just felt-up my boss. Well, my boss’s boss.
What she has no idea is that his behavior is result of months fighting his immediate attraction to her.
He's been struggling with it for so long, and in such manner it just makes their interactions more delicious to see through is eyes, and Ms. Ashers gave us a spectacular view of his inner battle through his POV. I loved being inside his head, and witnessing his inner battle.
What’s not to love? She’s perfect.
Which is why I’m in utter, fucking, hell.
A night with Lillian Burkette.
I had no idea I could fall deeper into hell, but here I am.
Their chemistry is impossible to deny, as his both their struggle with it, but they find themselves alone and in an unforeseen and dangerous situation, those barriers they so carefully built stand no chance. All the perfect elements for a 'forbidden' office romance.
So, I listen but focus on Gabriel Blackburn. My boss’s boss, the person who I pray can get us out of this mess, and the man I’m seeing in a whole new light.
I just ADORED both these characters, Lillian's snaky humor, her fire but also fragility that were a perfect match to Gabe's sarcastic lines and protective nature. We could just feel that amazing built up blossoming and I enjoyed every second of it!
“If listening to you snore means I get to sleep next to you, baby, my ears are open and willing for as long as you’ll have me.”
Not only the physical attraction played a role, but you could feel their feeling growing and their relationship developing. The difficult circumstances just gave them the little pushed they needed.
For all of Gabe's initial (self imposed and pretended) standoffish attitude towards Lillian, I never doubted how much he wanted her from the get go. He proved to be the definition of swoon worthy Hero, and every way!
“I’ll make you see what I know. Swear it. I’ll do anything for you,”
If she’s my prey, then she’s running straight into the lion’s den.
“Lillian.” He gives my hair a little pull and I open my eyes to look at him. “I’ll be the one holding your hand."
The love story really was the core of it all, the romance the forefront of all the fast paced storyline.
I truly adored this story from beginning to end. The humor, the adventure, the steam and the LOVE were all present in this enticing story with a superb writing. Ms. Asher sure knows how to give us all, no matter if novella or novel length and after this PERFECT little story, I'm already counting down the days until we get more Brynne Asher's delicious and memorable words.
“I’m a strong man, but you could break me, Lillian. Only you could bring a man like me to my knees.”
I put my lips to his neck where my face is pressed and where I never want to leave. “I’d never break you, Gabe. Never.”
“But you could,” he murmurs in my ear and presses his cock into me one more time. Fisting my hair, he holds me steady and looks straight into my eyes. “And that makes you the most powerful woman in the world.”
ARC kindly provided by the author for an honest review
WOW... Talk about finding love in the most unexpected of places... And Situations!
Brynne Asher is knocking these novellas out of park. From an amazing love story to a added suspense and plenty of steamy moments, they have it all!
Blackburn is an unconventional office romance story, that gets you hooked from the very first page to the last!
Lillian finds herself in the middle of Central America with her boss - or better, her boss's boss - Gabriel Black Burn, who she thinks can't stand her.
Oh, shoot. I think I just felt-up my boss. Well, my boss’s boss.
What she has no idea is that his behavior is result of months fighting his immediate attraction to her.
He's been struggling with it for so long, and in such manner it just makes their interactions more delicious to see through is eyes, and Ms. Ashers gave us a spectacular view of his inner battle through his POV. I loved being inside his head, and witnessing his inner battle.
What’s not to love? She’s perfect.
Which is why I’m in utter, fucking, hell.
A night with Lillian Burkette.
I had no idea I could fall deeper into hell, but here I am.
Their chemistry is impossible to deny, as his both their struggle with it, but they find themselves alone and in an unforeseen and dangerous situation, those barriers they so carefully built stand no chance. All the perfect elements for a 'forbidden' office romance.
So, I listen but focus on Gabriel Blackburn. My boss’s boss, the person who I pray can get us out of this mess, and the man I’m seeing in a whole new light.
I just ADORED both these characters, Lillian's snaky humor, her fire but also fragility that were a perfect match to Gabe's sarcastic lines and protective nature. We could just feel that amazing built up blossoming and I enjoyed every second of it!
“If listening to you snore means I get to sleep next to you, baby, my ears are open and willing for as long as you’ll have me.”
Not only the physical attraction played a role, but you could feel their feeling growing and their relationship developing. The difficult circumstances just gave them the little pushed they needed.
For all of Gabe's initial (self imposed and pretended) standoffish attitude towards Lillian, I never doubted how much he wanted her from the get go. He proved to be the definition of swoon worthy Hero, and every way!
“I’ll make you see what I know. Swear it. I’ll do anything for you,”
If she’s my prey, then she’s running straight into the lion’s den.
“Lillian.” He gives my hair a little pull and I open my eyes to look at him. “I’ll be the one holding your hand."
The love story really was the core of it all, the romance the forefront of all the fast paced storyline.
I truly adored this story from beginning to end. The humor, the adventure, the steam and the LOVE were all present in this enticing story with a superb writing. Ms. Asher sure knows how to give us all, no matter if novella or novel length and after this PERFECT little story, I'm already counting down the days until we get more Brynne Asher's delicious and memorable words.
“I’m a strong man, but you could break me, Lillian. Only you could bring a man like me to my knees.”
I put my lips to his neck where my face is pressed and where I never want to leave. “I’d never break you, Gabe. Never.”
“But you could,” he murmurs in my ear and presses his cock into me one more time. Fisting my hair, he holds me steady and looks straight into my eyes. “And that makes you the most powerful woman in the world.”
ARC kindly provided by the author for an honest review
April 28, 2022
**4.5/5 stars**
Pretty exciting novel I must admit! And the best part of it was it was free when I acquired it. Something that I really liked was that we were dipped straight into the action. And from there, I felt very engaged with the characters and the story.
Lillian was a super sweet and positive heroine, which was very refreshing. I'm genuinely getting tired of characters who are always very negative about themselves or life in general. Her positiveness was credible even in the situation she was in. I liked that she was smart and wasn't scared to talk to Gabriel the way she did, not really smug but in a charming way, slightly teasing him. I liked that she kept her cool when she needed to, she didn't crumble and let anxiety get the best of her.
As for Gabriel (side note: I always loved this name), he was grumpy mostly with Lillian because he didn't want to let on that he was crushing hard on her. Being her boss's boss, he didn't want to cross a line. He was very caring, competent, resourceful and protective. Something else that I noticed was how respectful he was of Lillian. He didn't try to seduce her when her emotions were all over the place with her ill beloved grand-mother. Sometimes, steamy scenes feel very misplaced but here, everything flowed well between the two.
The chemistry between them could've been better, and by that, I don't mean it was bad at all. But I thought there could've been room for more development, a longer story, and THAT would've enhanced everything. More descriptions, more time to connect. The story in itself was technically complete, but it did give me a sense of rushness where the author didn't really take the time to develop the plot and action as much as she could. Thankfully, the next standalones seem to have more pages, so I'm looking forward to them.
And finally, what made me drop my rating a little bit was the situation with the parents which honestly felt a bit stereotypical...caricatural? They didn't really add anything to the story and they didn't appear long enough to even be relevant. For how short the book was, I think the author could've skipped the parents being snob muttonheads. Had there been more space to lay out the relationship between Lillian and her parents, only then it actually might've been interesting and fitting to include them.
✔️HEA
✔️Novella
✔️Dual POV
✔️Age gap
✔️Boss-Employee
✔️Grumpy/Protective H
✔️Sweet/Sunshine h
✔️No OW/OM
✔️No cheating
✔️Slowish burn
🔥 Steam level: 2.5/5
⚡Content warning
⚡Trigger warning
Would I recommend this short novel? Absolutely. It was quick, action packed, sexy and the conclusion was beautiful.
Pretty exciting novel I must admit! And the best part of it was it was free when I acquired it. Something that I really liked was that we were dipped straight into the action. And from there, I felt very engaged with the characters and the story.
Lillian was a super sweet and positive heroine, which was very refreshing. I'm genuinely getting tired of characters who are always very negative about themselves or life in general. Her positiveness was credible even in the situation she was in. I liked that she was smart and wasn't scared to talk to Gabriel the way she did, not really smug but in a charming way, slightly teasing him. I liked that she kept her cool when she needed to, she didn't crumble and let anxiety get the best of her.
[...] in a world full of ugliness and divisiveness, there’s no universal language more effective than a bit of joy worn on one’s face when given freely to another.
-Lillian
As for Gabriel (side note: I always loved this name), he was grumpy mostly with Lillian because he didn't want to let on that he was crushing hard on her. Being her boss's boss, he didn't want to cross a line. He was very caring, competent, resourceful and protective. Something else that I noticed was how respectful he was of Lillian. He didn't try to seduce her when her emotions were all over the place with her ill beloved grand-mother. Sometimes, steamy scenes feel very misplaced but here, everything flowed well between the two.
“If you even think about leaving my arms, Lillian, we’re gonna have issues.”-Gabriel
The chemistry between them could've been better, and by that, I don't mean it was bad at all. But I thought there could've been room for more development, a longer story, and THAT would've enhanced everything. More descriptions, more time to connect. The story in itself was technically complete, but it did give me a sense of rushness where the author didn't really take the time to develop the plot and action as much as she could. Thankfully, the next standalones seem to have more pages, so I'm looking forward to them.
And finally, what made me drop my rating a little bit was the situation with the parents which honestly felt a bit stereotypical...caricatural? They didn't really add anything to the story and they didn't appear long enough to even be relevant. For how short the book was, I think the author could've skipped the parents being snob muttonheads. Had there been more space to lay out the relationship between Lillian and her parents, only then it actually might've been interesting and fitting to include them.
✔️HEA
✔️Novella
✔️Dual POV
✔️Age gap
✔️Boss-Employee
✔️Grumpy/Protective H
✔️Sweet/Sunshine h
✔️No OW/OM
✔️No cheating
✔️Slowish burn
🔥 Steam level: 2.5/5
⚡Content warning
⚡Trigger warning
Would I recommend this short novel? Absolutely. It was quick, action packed, sexy and the conclusion was beautiful.
November 15, 2018
5+++++ Stars
It's my first time to read Brynne Asher's book and I loved it! It's amazing! The story is beautiful and I freaking loved Gabriel! He's the perfect OTT alpha male.
The story is about Gabriel and Lillian.
He's her boss's boss and the owner of the company. She's working for him the last four months and she thought he hated her. He's an a-hole to her. She just didn't know he's attracted to her the first time he laid eyes on her and that he had to force himself to be like that because he didn't want to step over the line.
Spending a week together for a business trip didn't end well. They're in danger and had to fight for their lives.
I loved how Gabe fought for her. I loved how he kept her safe. I loved how proud he was about their relationship. He's just perfect! Lillian's a great heroine. She knew when to fight and when to just let Gabe protect her.
Amazing H and h, amazing story with a perfect beautiful epilogue.
SAFETY:
It's my first time to read Brynne Asher's book and I loved it! It's amazing! The story is beautiful and I freaking loved Gabriel! He's the perfect OTT alpha male.
The story is about Gabriel and Lillian.
He's her boss's boss and the owner of the company. She's working for him the last four months and she thought he hated her. He's an a-hole to her. She just didn't know he's attracted to her the first time he laid eyes on her and that he had to force himself to be like that because he didn't want to step over the line.
Spending a week together for a business trip didn't end well. They're in danger and had to fight for their lives.
I loved how Gabe fought for her. I loved how he kept her safe. I loved how proud he was about their relationship. He's just perfect! Lillian's a great heroine. She knew when to fight and when to just let Gabe protect her.
Amazing H and h, amazing story with a perfect beautiful epilogue.
SAFETY:
February 13, 2024
3.75✨, 2🌶️
Fun, fun, fun! It's giving quick contemporary romance but with an added twist of a Central America-set action adventure. Our main characters Gabe Blackburn (MMC) and Lillian (FMC) are in Nicaragua doing business when they nearly get corralled into a hostage trap, with their captors hoping to cash in on what they think is the big bucks a business billionaire like Blackburn is worth. Lillian just happened to be caught in the fray, accompanying Blackburn on this trip in an assistant role and for her bilingualism in English and Spanish.
Now on the run, Gabe and Lillian have to survive in their own on the jungle to reach safety and civilization again, and fight, or give into, their unresolved sexual tension along the way.
Before this trip, the pair have a tense relationship on the surface. Lillian is sunny and warm, trying to break Blackburn's icy and stoic demeanor with sweet treats she bakes for the office, but he never budges. And Blackburn knows, based on his visceral attraction to her, if he budges he'll break. If he budges, he'll fall and never look back.
Sometimes I'm not really a total fan of the "I'm gonna be rude or avoid you because I'm just too attracted to you" trope that sometimes happens in romance, but it was OK here, in the sense that it didn't overshadow the story too much for me. I think Blackburn redeems himself heavily in the end, showing his true feelings and expressing deep and unwavering commitment, so I think I forgave him lol.
Good spice, good chemistry between the mains, and a fun and easy to read palate cleanser between thicker or heavier reads💜
Fun, fun, fun! It's giving quick contemporary romance but with an added twist of a Central America-set action adventure. Our main characters Gabe Blackburn (MMC) and Lillian (FMC) are in Nicaragua doing business when they nearly get corralled into a hostage trap, with their captors hoping to cash in on what they think is the big bucks a business billionaire like Blackburn is worth. Lillian just happened to be caught in the fray, accompanying Blackburn on this trip in an assistant role and for her bilingualism in English and Spanish.
Now on the run, Gabe and Lillian have to survive in their own on the jungle to reach safety and civilization again, and fight, or give into, their unresolved sexual tension along the way.
Before this trip, the pair have a tense relationship on the surface. Lillian is sunny and warm, trying to break Blackburn's icy and stoic demeanor with sweet treats she bakes for the office, but he never budges. And Blackburn knows, based on his visceral attraction to her, if he budges he'll break. If he budges, he'll fall and never look back.
Sometimes I'm not really a total fan of the "I'm gonna be rude or avoid you because I'm just too attracted to you" trope that sometimes happens in romance, but it was OK here, in the sense that it didn't overshadow the story too much for me. I think Blackburn redeems himself heavily in the end, showing his true feelings and expressing deep and unwavering commitment, so I think I forgave him lol.
Good spice, good chemistry between the mains, and a fun and easy to read palate cleanser between thicker or heavier reads💜
May 19, 2025
11/18/20
Now available in audio!! 🎧
Audible link: https://www.audible.com/pd/Blackburn-...
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Blackburn-Spec...
4.5 Stars!!
Blackburn starts with Lillian, a sales rep for a software tech company and Gabriel “Gabe” Blackburn, CEO and owner of the tech software company and Lillian’s boss on a business trip in Nicaraga when they run into a bit of trouble......actually a whole lot of trouble.
Gabe has been completely aware of Lillian since the day he met her. He has had to work hard to avoid her because everyone knows you don't sleep with your employees, that’s a line he just won’t cross. So he has done everything in his power to avoid her to the point of being rude.
Lillian loves her new job. She loves everything about it except Gabriel Blackburn. At least she keeps telling herself that......Gabe is always rude and moody and she wants nothing to do with him. But because of her bilingual skills she is stuck with him on several South American sales seminars when her immediate supervisor has to cancel and Gabe attends in his place.
I’m not going to write a lengthy review since this is a novella and I don’t want to give to much away. This novellas had it all! Action, sexy times, family drama, and great epilogue. For a novella this book packs quite a punch, I loved every minute!!!
Read Dates:
06/30/2018
11/18/2020
05/19/2025
Now available in audio!! 🎧
Audible link: https://www.audible.com/pd/Blackburn-...
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Blackburn-Spec...
4.5 Stars!!
Blackburn starts with Lillian, a sales rep for a software tech company and Gabriel “Gabe” Blackburn, CEO and owner of the tech software company and Lillian’s boss on a business trip in Nicaraga when they run into a bit of trouble......actually a whole lot of trouble.
Gabe has been completely aware of Lillian since the day he met her. He has had to work hard to avoid her because everyone knows you don't sleep with your employees, that’s a line he just won’t cross. So he has done everything in his power to avoid her to the point of being rude.
Lillian loves her new job. She loves everything about it except Gabriel Blackburn. At least she keeps telling herself that......Gabe is always rude and moody and she wants nothing to do with him. But because of her bilingual skills she is stuck with him on several South American sales seminars when her immediate supervisor has to cancel and Gabe attends in his place.
I’m not going to write a lengthy review since this is a novella and I don’t want to give to much away. This novellas had it all! Action, sexy times, family drama, and great epilogue. For a novella this book packs quite a punch, I loved every minute!!!
Read Dates:
06/30/2018
11/18/2020
05/19/2025
April 18, 2022
4.5 stars… seriously just 🤌🏻 sooo good. This is a novella, but didn’t feel like it at all. My only complaint is that I didn’t get a longer story with this delicious hero.
And that epilogue?? 🥺🥺 Loved it!
Safe, no om/ow, no cheating
And that epilogue?? 🥺🥺 Loved it!
Safe, no om/ow, no cheating
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2020
Audiobook: Narrators - Virginia Rose and Aaron Shedlock
Oh my gosh!!! These narrators totally owned this story!!! Each of them became their character and I couldn’t help but fall in love with Gabe and Lillian. Ms. Rose did such an incredible job with her southern accent which added so much more to her character. Add that with Mr. Shedlock’s performance, that fit exactly what I would imagine Gabe talked like, and I couldn’t stop listening.
I can’t stop from grinning! Gabe Blackburn is completely incorrigible! How this author came up with such a diverse hero is truly magic from the writer gods!
This had everything you could ask for in a book and it’s all contained in a novella. Filled with intense action, scary good drama, and even a few pages of heart wrenching sadness, it checks all the boxes for a great story. Add in the perfect amount of humor, from Gabe nonetheless with his inner monologues of taxidermied cats and his cocky ways of working around Lillian’s protestations, and you’ve just added icing to an already tasty morsel.
Oh my gosh!!! These narrators totally owned this story!!! Each of them became their character and I couldn’t help but fall in love with Gabe and Lillian. Ms. Rose did such an incredible job with her southern accent which added so much more to her character. Add that with Mr. Shedlock’s performance, that fit exactly what I would imagine Gabe talked like, and I couldn’t stop listening.
I can’t stop from grinning! Gabe Blackburn is completely incorrigible! How this author came up with such a diverse hero is truly magic from the writer gods!
This had everything you could ask for in a book and it’s all contained in a novella. Filled with intense action, scary good drama, and even a few pages of heart wrenching sadness, it checks all the boxes for a great story. Add in the perfect amount of humor, from Gabe nonetheless with his inner monologues of taxidermied cats and his cocky ways of working around Lillian’s protestations, and you’ve just added icing to an already tasty morsel.
November 29, 2023
If I had to hear the phrase “my boss’ boss” one more time……
June 26, 2018
4.5/5
Safe read
-Both not virgins
-Both Celibate
-no real mention of sexual past
-no OW Drama
-Insta connection >Love
-Alpha Male
-HEA with epilogue
A must read
Safe read
-Both not virgins
-Both Celibate
-no real mention of sexual past
-no OW Drama
-Insta connection >Love
-Alpha Male
-HEA with epilogue
A must read
June 29, 2021
”We need to eat, shower, and find somewhere safe to stay so I can get my mouth on you again where we’re not surrounded by dead bodies.”
Wow. I never imagined anyone could make my panties wet while talking about dead bodies, but Gabriel Blackburn sure did it.”
**Synopsis:**
On a business trip to Central America, Gabe and Lillian find themselves in the middle of a gun battle that ends with them fleeing into the rainforest for safety.
~ ”Yesterday I watched six people get killed—five of them by my boss in order to save us. Today must be better, right?”
Gabe (who owns the company) has hidden his attraction to Lillian for months. However, the constant closeness during their fight to survive proves to be too much temptation to deny.
~ ”I find myself doing something I know I shouldn’t. Maybe it’s being around her so much over the past week, or being stranded together, or sharing this awful fucking experience, but I can’t sit here, listen to her cry, and not touch her. “Come here.”
** The following are my thoughts about this book: **
* * I was hooked from the beginning. It starts off face paced and doesn’t let up.
* * I liked the chemistry between H/h. I thought they complimented each other well. Also, I thought the author did a good job of establishing the “hidden attraction” that Gabe had and the reasons he acted the way he did.
* * Gabe was the total package. Enough of a badass with perfect “underground” connections to save them. Plus, smart enough to own a tech company. And of course…..speaking of “package” - he had that covered too 🍆 😉
* * I liked that once Gabe “stepped over the line” he didn’t cower and owned up to what he wanted. He was by Lillian’s side no matter what others thought.
* * Lillian might have been scared, but she wasn’t a pathetic, whimpering female. She had a few times where she broke down a little bit (understandable), but on the whole she was strong and courageous.
* * pretty short story, but I didn’t feel like it lacked anything.
* * Not sure if the overarching plot continues in a different book, but whoever was behind the kidnapping/ransom wasn’t revealed.
**Overview:**
- Content Warning: none
- Setting: mostly in the jungle of Central America
- Do you need to read previous books in series?: I think there were characters from previous books that made an appearance in this book. But, this book stands on its own and no need to read something else before this one.
- POV: Dual POV
- Tropes: boss/employee, romantic suspense
- Who is the Hero? Gabriel Blackburn (age: 35). Owner / CEO of internet security software company
* The following words/phrases were used to describe Hero: broody, a “techie”, was a Ranger in the Army, has a commanding presence
* H likable? Yes. Once he took command of their life threatening situation in Central America and you saw the real Gabe…..yup, he was awesome!!
- Who is the Heroine? Lillian Burkette (age: 26). Works in sales for an internet security software company.
* The following words/phrases were used to describe Heroine: the margarita is half-full” kind of gal, fluent in Spanish, smart, damn good at her job, has the type of personality that draws everyone into her orbit
* h likable? Yes. A bit snarky and very easy to like.
- h virgin? No
- First time they kiss: 43%
- First time they sleep together: 79%
- steamy? Yes. Descriptive bedroom scenes
- OW/OM drama? No
- H/h cheat? No
- Time apart? No
- Did I skip pages? No
- Big secrets? No
- Did I cry? No
- Did I laugh? No
- Did I swoon🥰? oh yes!! Gabe was downright swoony
- Cliffhanger? No
- HEA? Yes
- Epilogue? six months later and 4 years later
- Recommend? yes
**Quotes**
“Gabe Blackburn can turn his personality meter up to charming, with a strong side of sexy intelligence and the clients melt into a pile of big, gloppy goo in his strong, veined hands.”
“He wouldn’t have been able to charm the salt off a margarita glass.”
“His winning personality has really clawed its way through my be-happy mantra over the last six days, causing all my deeply ingrained etiquette lessons to dissolve as fast as my deodorant in this rainforest.”
“It would suck—metaphorically speaking—to expect the blowjob of all blowjobs, only to be let down by poor suction, no ball stimulation, or—shoot me with my own gun—if she ignored the tip. It’s better to stick to my fantasy than be plagued by bad-blowjob reality.”
“If you could sing the Supercalifragilistic song and click your heels together, I could use a fruity rum drink with a happy umbrella stuck in the top.”
Wow. I never imagined anyone could make my panties wet while talking about dead bodies, but Gabriel Blackburn sure did it.”
**Synopsis:**
On a business trip to Central America, Gabe and Lillian find themselves in the middle of a gun battle that ends with them fleeing into the rainforest for safety.
~ ”Yesterday I watched six people get killed—five of them by my boss in order to save us. Today must be better, right?”
Gabe (who owns the company) has hidden his attraction to Lillian for months. However, the constant closeness during their fight to survive proves to be too much temptation to deny.
~ ”I find myself doing something I know I shouldn’t. Maybe it’s being around her so much over the past week, or being stranded together, or sharing this awful fucking experience, but I can’t sit here, listen to her cry, and not touch her. “Come here.”
** The following are my thoughts about this book: **
* * I was hooked from the beginning. It starts off face paced and doesn’t let up.
* * I liked the chemistry between H/h. I thought they complimented each other well. Also, I thought the author did a good job of establishing the “hidden attraction” that Gabe had and the reasons he acted the way he did.
* * Gabe was the total package. Enough of a badass with perfect “underground” connections to save them. Plus, smart enough to own a tech company. And of course…..speaking of “package” - he had that covered too 🍆 😉
* * I liked that once Gabe “stepped over the line” he didn’t cower and owned up to what he wanted. He was by Lillian’s side no matter what others thought.
* * Lillian might have been scared, but she wasn’t a pathetic, whimpering female. She had a few times where she broke down a little bit (understandable), but on the whole she was strong and courageous.
* * pretty short story, but I didn’t feel like it lacked anything.
* * Not sure if the overarching plot continues in a different book, but whoever was behind the kidnapping/ransom wasn’t revealed.
**Overview:**
- Content Warning: none
- Setting: mostly in the jungle of Central America
- Do you need to read previous books in series?: I think there were characters from previous books that made an appearance in this book. But, this book stands on its own and no need to read something else before this one.
- POV: Dual POV
- Tropes: boss/employee, romantic suspense
- Who is the Hero? Gabriel Blackburn (age: 35). Owner / CEO of internet security software company
* The following words/phrases were used to describe Hero: broody, a “techie”, was a Ranger in the Army, has a commanding presence
* H likable? Yes. Once he took command of their life threatening situation in Central America and you saw the real Gabe…..yup, he was awesome!!
- Who is the Heroine? Lillian Burkette (age: 26). Works in sales for an internet security software company.
* The following words/phrases were used to describe Heroine: the margarita is half-full” kind of gal, fluent in Spanish, smart, damn good at her job, has the type of personality that draws everyone into her orbit
* h likable? Yes. A bit snarky and very easy to like.
- h virgin? No
- First time they kiss: 43%
- First time they sleep together: 79%
- steamy? Yes. Descriptive bedroom scenes
- OW/OM drama? No
- H/h cheat? No
- Time apart? No
- Did I skip pages? No
- Big secrets? No
- Did I cry? No
- Did I laugh? No
- Did I swoon🥰? oh yes!! Gabe was downright swoony
- Cliffhanger? No
- HEA? Yes
- Epilogue? six months later and 4 years later
- Recommend? yes
**Quotes**
“Gabe Blackburn can turn his personality meter up to charming, with a strong side of sexy intelligence and the clients melt into a pile of big, gloppy goo in his strong, veined hands.”
“He wouldn’t have been able to charm the salt off a margarita glass.”
“His winning personality has really clawed its way through my be-happy mantra over the last six days, causing all my deeply ingrained etiquette lessons to dissolve as fast as my deodorant in this rainforest.”
“It would suck—metaphorically speaking—to expect the blowjob of all blowjobs, only to be let down by poor suction, no ball stimulation, or—shoot me with my own gun—if she ignored the tip. It’s better to stick to my fantasy than be plagued by bad-blowjob reality.”
“If you could sing the Supercalifragilistic song and click your heels together, I could use a fruity rum drink with a happy umbrella stuck in the top.”
October 30, 2023
MCs:
- Gabe, 35
- Lillian, 26
Book info;
- Novella
- Grumpy-sunshine
- Kidnapping
- Romantic suspense
- No cheating, opd, third act breakup
- Non-virgin MCs
- HEA (with epilogue, married and two daughters)
“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒚 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒔, 𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒚. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅.”
Quick, short, hot, and fun novella.
Lillian and Gabe were in Nicaragua for a business meeting, but they got ambushed and kidnapped. They escaped successfully thanks to Gabe's army training. This incident also pushed him to finally claim his woman. You see, they've been working for four months—well, not really directly because Gabe is her boss's boss. But in the past four months, he's been obsessing over her and doesn't want to cross that line with his employee. Anyway, with this ambush, he realized he could no longer ignore his attraction to her, and both of them eventually gave in to that pull.
Overall, I had fun reading this novella. It was short but still had a good plot. I liked the MCs, and I loved their grumpy-sunshine combo. The epilogue is such a good aspect too; I truly enjoyed seeing glimpses of the characters lives in the future.
Anyway, I loved it, and it's worth reading if readers want a quick read.
- Gabe, 35
- Lillian, 26
Book info;
- Novella
- Grumpy-sunshine
- Kidnapping
- Romantic suspense
- No cheating, opd, third act breakup
- Non-virgin MCs
- HEA (with epilogue, married and two daughters)
“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒚 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒔, 𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒚. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅.”
Quick, short, hot, and fun novella.
Lillian and Gabe were in Nicaragua for a business meeting, but they got ambushed and kidnapped. They escaped successfully thanks to Gabe's army training. This incident also pushed him to finally claim his woman. You see, they've been working for four months—well, not really directly because Gabe is her boss's boss. But in the past four months, he's been obsessing over her and doesn't want to cross that line with his employee. Anyway, with this ambush, he realized he could no longer ignore his attraction to her, and both of them eventually gave in to that pull.
Overall, I had fun reading this novella. It was short but still had a good plot. I liked the MCs, and I loved their grumpy-sunshine combo. The epilogue is such a good aspect too; I truly enjoyed seeing glimpses of the characters lives in the future.
Anyway, I loved it, and it's worth reading if readers want a quick read.
July 10, 2018
Anthor great read by the fabulous Ms. Asher I Loved it! LOVED IT! Nuff said!
November 4, 2020
So I should mention, I have never listened to a romance novel with more explicit scenes being read aloud. And for some reason, it really struck me as funny. But I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was just interesting to listen to them talk about what they were doing, trying to sound sultry I suppose. I'll just say, listening to it was humorous, watching it would probably be much less so...
I did have one tiny issue, I wasn't a huge fan of the voice of Lillian. In the book, she was described to have a soft southern accent, but the narrator actually had a, kinda, southern accent that seemed to cut in and out. Not a huge deal, but still a little eyebrow raising at times.
The story jumps right in and I was hooked. Did not realize there was a decent amount of violence and action, but was pleasantly surprised. More so by the action and not the violence. Ya know. But then it just keeps on popping from one exciting thing to the next. One of my favorite, if not the favorite, part was when It just cracks me up!!!
The romance was fun and interesting. There was never a dull moment and it was so short that I couldn't help but really like it. I recommend this to romance lovers who love a good alpha male.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Spectrum Audio for allowing me to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion!
Check out this review and others on my blog @ https://shannarareads.com/?p=169
I did have one tiny issue, I wasn't a huge fan of the voice of Lillian. In the book, she was described to have a soft southern accent, but the narrator actually had a, kinda, southern accent that seemed to cut in and out. Not a huge deal, but still a little eyebrow raising at times.
The story jumps right in and I was hooked. Did not realize there was a decent amount of violence and action, but was pleasantly surprised. More so by the action and not the violence. Ya know. But then it just keeps on popping from one exciting thing to the next. One of my favorite, if not the favorite, part was when It just cracks me up!!!
The romance was fun and interesting. There was never a dull moment and it was so short that I couldn't help but really like it. I recommend this to romance lovers who love a good alpha male.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Spectrum Audio for allowing me to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion!
Check out this review and others on my blog @ https://shannarareads.com/?p=169
August 17, 2018
I did like this. It just took a little while for them to get together as they were both trying to be professional, but once they got together, they were only separated by distance for a week and a half. The h did think that the kidnappers were going to rape her, but nothing ever happened, he saved them. Great read.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCCw3...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCCw3...
July 15, 2018
This was great!
It was a quick read, but it didn't feel rushed and that alone makes it a win.
Plus, this was funny as hell. I had much fun 😁
It was a quick read, but it didn't feel rushed and that alone makes it a win.
Plus, this was funny as hell. I had much fun 😁
June 28, 2018
Thanks to Samantha K for the reco!
I really enjoyed this novella. I haven't read a Rom/Suspense book in quite a while.
I really enjoyed the suspense part of the of this story. The first 40% or so was pretty intense.
Intense turned to hot and sexy times for Gabe and Lillian. Gabe and Lillian each surprised the other with their specialized talents in a desperate situation.
This is 1st person POV, alternating Gabe/Lillian, but a little more with Lillian's POV. I would love to know more of Gabe's backstory. I want to check out the next book with another couple that was briefly mentioned in the epilogue.
I got this through KU.
I really enjoyed this novella. I haven't read a Rom/Suspense book in quite a while.
I really enjoyed the suspense part of the of this story. The first 40% or so was pretty intense.
Intense turned to hot and sexy times for Gabe and Lillian. Gabe and Lillian each surprised the other with their specialized talents in a desperate situation.
This is 1st person POV, alternating Gabe/Lillian, but a little more with Lillian's POV. I would love to know more of Gabe's backstory. I want to check out the next book with another couple that was briefly mentioned in the epilogue.
I got this through KU.
June 27, 2018
This was the perfect novella! Fast paced story, fantastic characters and enough heat to melt your kindle. This one has it all.
It's an office romance, but definitely not your average boss/employee read. It felt really fresh and there were so many LOL moments I woke hubby with my laughing. Hilarious dialogue, cat phobias, smart/sassy heroine and a dual POV (my favourite). You also get some serious action moments that had my heart pounding and some real emotion packed moments to balance out the funny. I love how this author writes about families - she captures that affection perfectly.
And did I mention the heat - Wowsa!! Wall sex, plane sex and just the right amount of dirty talk & filthy kisses to curl your toes. All of this, makes it a 2018 Favourite Read for me. Gabe is DELICIOUS 🔥🔥
Definitely recommend!!
I received an arc of this book.
It's an office romance, but definitely not your average boss/employee read. It felt really fresh and there were so many LOL moments I woke hubby with my laughing. Hilarious dialogue, cat phobias, smart/sassy heroine and a dual POV (my favourite). You also get some serious action moments that had my heart pounding and some real emotion packed moments to balance out the funny. I love how this author writes about families - she captures that affection perfectly.
And did I mention the heat - Wowsa!! Wall sex, plane sex and just the right amount of dirty talk & filthy kisses to curl your toes. All of this, makes it a 2018 Favourite Read for me. Gabe is DELICIOUS 🔥🔥
Definitely recommend!!
I received an arc of this book.
November 23, 2020
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Blackburn by Brynne Fisher began on an exciting note, however, somewhere along the journey it lost the excitement and ended up being an average read for this reader.
This is the first book in the Special Forces Operation Alpha series. It tells the story of Gabe Blackburn and Lillian Burkette. Gabe is a tech genius, a former ranger owner and CEO of a top tech company. Lillian is a marketing rep in Gabe’s company. Gabe’s attracted to Lillian, but being his employee, he keeps her at a distance with his frosty attitude. So, when he stepped in to accompany her on a business trip to Nicaragua, because her immediate boss could not make it, she was not enthused. Then, to make matters worse, while returning from conducting business with a potential client, they got caught in an ambush.
The author delivered a story broken down in to two parts. I found the first part of the story exciting. Fraught with danger, Gabe and Lillian found themselves in a perilous situation while trying to stay alive and make their way safely back to the States. In the middle of their crisis, Lillian will learn of Gabe’s protective nature, which made her see him in a different light. Lillian may not have been a kick-ass heroine, but she proved to be strong and never allowed her fears to overwhelm her. It disappointed me to see how this aspect of the story played out. It ended abruptly and left me with questions as to the identity of the mastermind of the ambush and the primary reason for it.
The second half of the story focused on Lillian’s issues with her family upon her return to the states. I am not clear as to the reason for inclusion, as it had no connection to character’s experience in Nicaragua.
Narration
The narrators Virginia Rose and Aaron Shedlock did a great job in bringing the story to life and in portraying the voices of the characters. I would listen to them again if given the chance.
Conclusion/Recommendation
This had the potential to be a four-star or higher read, however, because of unfinished storylines and the lack of fluidity between the two plotlines it ended up being a three-star read for me. That being said, I would read more of the author’s work.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
This is the first book in the Special Forces Operation Alpha series. It tells the story of Gabe Blackburn and Lillian Burkette. Gabe is a tech genius, a former ranger owner and CEO of a top tech company. Lillian is a marketing rep in Gabe’s company. Gabe’s attracted to Lillian, but being his employee, he keeps her at a distance with his frosty attitude. So, when he stepped in to accompany her on a business trip to Nicaragua, because her immediate boss could not make it, she was not enthused. Then, to make matters worse, while returning from conducting business with a potential client, they got caught in an ambush.
The author delivered a story broken down in to two parts. I found the first part of the story exciting. Fraught with danger, Gabe and Lillian found themselves in a perilous situation while trying to stay alive and make their way safely back to the States. In the middle of their crisis, Lillian will learn of Gabe’s protective nature, which made her see him in a different light. Lillian may not have been a kick-ass heroine, but she proved to be strong and never allowed her fears to overwhelm her. It disappointed me to see how this aspect of the story played out. It ended abruptly and left me with questions as to the identity of the mastermind of the ambush and the primary reason for it.
The second half of the story focused on Lillian’s issues with her family upon her return to the states. I am not clear as to the reason for inclusion, as it had no connection to character’s experience in Nicaragua.
Narration
The narrators Virginia Rose and Aaron Shedlock did a great job in bringing the story to life and in portraying the voices of the characters. I would listen to them again if given the chance.
Conclusion/Recommendation
This had the potential to be a four-star or higher read, however, because of unfinished storylines and the lack of fluidity between the two plotlines it ended up being a three-star read for me. That being said, I would read more of the author’s work.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
July 1, 2018
OMG, Grady Cain made an appearance in this one! I love that this apparently takes place in the same universe as her Killers books.
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October 16, 2020
5 quick and dirty stars.
Sweet, quick and perfect! Just what I needed today! Amazing narrators. Fun and witty story with some suspense, sexy times and an alpha to bring you joy and lose yourself for a few hours. If you haven't picked up a Brynne Asher book, you definitely need to!!
Sweet, quick and perfect! Just what I needed today! Amazing narrators. Fun and witty story with some suspense, sexy times and an alpha to bring you joy and lose yourself for a few hours. If you haven't picked up a Brynne Asher book, you definitely need to!!
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