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Briar Mountain #1-4
Briar Mountain: The Complete Series
As the Thorpe sisters close ranks to protect their own, one by one they find themselves tested by new loves and old enemies.
And each of them will have a choice to Keep their hearts locked away and safe…or risk everything for love.
Book 1: Trusting Heart“What are you hiding from me?”
That’s the question I’ve been avoiding ever since I ran into my high school crush in the most mortifying way possible.
Because even though his touch sets my body on fire and I’ve been dreaming about a wild, passionate night with Noah Bradley for what feels like forever, some questions are best left unanswered.
But I’m not the only one with secrets. And when Noah’s past collides with our present, it’s no longer just my heart on the line.
It’s my life.
Book 2: Courageous Heart
I’ve already lost the love of my life once. I’ll be damned if I risk it happening again.
Letting the hot firefighter who saved my sister’s life stay with me while he heals is one thing. Giving into the way he makes me burn for him is another thing altogether.
But then the gifts start showing up. Someone’s been watching us. Someone who has sworn to serve and protect.
The question is, who’s going to protect us from him?
Book 3: Knowing Heart
Some rules are made to be broken. And some rules are made to break you.
I’m a by the book kind of girl. But there’s no rule book for discovering your one-night stand is the new Dean. And he holds your future in his very talented hands.
Not only am I stuck working alongside him as his new teaching assistant, he keeps showing up everywhere. Even at dinner with my parents, who happen to adore him.
But fighting my feelings for Dean Robert Decker isn’t the worst of my problems. Someone powerful has it out for my family.
And now he has his sights set on the only man I’ve ever loved.
Book 4: Victorious Heart
Two pink lines changed everything. And put everyone I love in danger.
All I want is a normal life, back in the town I love, surrounded by the family and friends I’ve been separated from for too long.
Then he came along, making me want things I have no business wanting. We’re both too broken, too scarred to be any good for each other.
But when the man who nearly ended me comes crashing back into my life, I’m forced to trust Daniel with more than just my heart.
Because one way or another, this ends now. And hell hath no fury like a mother with everything to lose.
Book 4.5: Falling Heart--Briar Mountain PrequelI need to pass math for my degree.
David is the tutor assigned to help me.
I’m not supposed to fall for him.
We come from different worlds, but the chemistry between us demands to be heard.
In order to be with him, I’ll have to give up everything.
Sometime the hardest decisions to make become the easiest to live with.
Author's Briar Mountain features the Thorpe family and their journey to find love. Suspense, angst, and some humor.
And each of them will have a choice to Keep their hearts locked away and safe…or risk everything for love.
Book 1: Trusting Heart“What are you hiding from me?”
That’s the question I’ve been avoiding ever since I ran into my high school crush in the most mortifying way possible.
Because even though his touch sets my body on fire and I’ve been dreaming about a wild, passionate night with Noah Bradley for what feels like forever, some questions are best left unanswered.
But I’m not the only one with secrets. And when Noah’s past collides with our present, it’s no longer just my heart on the line.
It’s my life.
Book 2: Courageous Heart
I’ve already lost the love of my life once. I’ll be damned if I risk it happening again.
Letting the hot firefighter who saved my sister’s life stay with me while he heals is one thing. Giving into the way he makes me burn for him is another thing altogether.
But then the gifts start showing up. Someone’s been watching us. Someone who has sworn to serve and protect.
The question is, who’s going to protect us from him?
Book 3: Knowing Heart
Some rules are made to be broken. And some rules are made to break you.
I’m a by the book kind of girl. But there’s no rule book for discovering your one-night stand is the new Dean. And he holds your future in his very talented hands.
Not only am I stuck working alongside him as his new teaching assistant, he keeps showing up everywhere. Even at dinner with my parents, who happen to adore him.
But fighting my feelings for Dean Robert Decker isn’t the worst of my problems. Someone powerful has it out for my family.
And now he has his sights set on the only man I’ve ever loved.
Book 4: Victorious Heart
Two pink lines changed everything. And put everyone I love in danger.
All I want is a normal life, back in the town I love, surrounded by the family and friends I’ve been separated from for too long.
Then he came along, making me want things I have no business wanting. We’re both too broken, too scarred to be any good for each other.
But when the man who nearly ended me comes crashing back into my life, I’m forced to trust Daniel with more than just my heart.
Because one way or another, this ends now. And hell hath no fury like a mother with everything to lose.
Book 4.5: Falling Heart--Briar Mountain PrequelI need to pass math for my degree.
David is the tutor assigned to help me.
I’m not supposed to fall for him.
We come from different worlds, but the chemistry between us demands to be heard.
In order to be with him, I’ll have to give up everything.
Sometime the hardest decisions to make become the easiest to live with.
Author's Briar Mountain features the Thorpe family and their journey to find love. Suspense, angst, and some humor.
1395 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 2, 2024
5 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 21, 2024
The Briar Mountain box set is a 4.5 book set. It is based around the Thorpe family with each sister having her own book and the .5 is a short novella telling the parents story. Book 1 is Trusting Heart and features Abigail and Noah. Their romance is a slow burn as they get to know each other by playing 20 questions. Book 2 is Courageous Heart and features Lizzy and Josh. This is a friends to lovers, nurse and firefighter story. Book 3 is Knowing Heart and features Kat and Robert. It is kinda a student teacher, slightly forbidden story. Book 4 is Victorious Heart and features Victoria and Daniel. It's a small town romance where they both had a difficult past. Last but definitely not least is book .5 called Falling Heart. It features David and Gloria Thorpe, the parents of the sisters and tells the story of how they got together.
This set is fantastic, the sisters and the men who captured their hearts each have their own troubles to contend with before they get their own HEA. The sisters are strong even though they dont think they are and the guys while not perfect, they fit together perfectly with their chosen sister. I thoroughly enjoyed the great banter and chemistry between the couples. I also loved the close knit family and community and how they all rallied round to take care of their own against the baddies. I also really enjoyed how parts of each book are told along the same timeline but from the view of the couple whose book it is which I've not seen before.
I definitely recommend this box set.
This set is fantastic, the sisters and the men who captured their hearts each have their own troubles to contend with before they get their own HEA. The sisters are strong even though they dont think they are and the guys while not perfect, they fit together perfectly with their chosen sister. I thoroughly enjoyed the great banter and chemistry between the couples. I also loved the close knit family and community and how they all rallied round to take care of their own against the baddies. I also really enjoyed how parts of each book are told along the same timeline but from the view of the couple whose book it is which I've not seen before.
I definitely recommend this box set.
December 2, 2024
This book set was a fantastic read. It centres around the four Thorpe sisters and the men who claim their hearts. The sisters prove to be stronger than they think, resourceful, resilient and determined to keep moving forward in the face of adversity or resistance. The men who claim their hearts are not perfect, but they are absolutely right for them. They are protective and supportive without trying to control the sister they love or the situation. Each couple faces a formidable challenge before they can look to a future together, but with the help the close knit Thorpe family, a wonderful group of friends and a community that takes care of their own, they finally get a chance to claim a happily ever after. Each book includes some very funny moments, along with very emotional ones and lots of spicy scenes. The addition of a dose of danger and suspense in each story only adds to the reading enjoyment.
I highly recommend this extraordinary box set.
I highly recommend this extraordinary box set.
December 4, 2024
Realistic romances based on healing and hope!
I do not read romantic novels. I am uncomfortable reading sex scenes, and usually, if I run across a book with them in a book, I will not read any further. I put the book down and walk away.
When I stumbled across the Briar Mountain books, I was prepared to walk away; instead, I skipped the sex scenes and found a compelling story about hope and healing after tragedy and trauma—characters who supported each other in realistic ways. If you are looking for positive, hopeful views of relationships based on healing, come to Briar Mountain, where there is suspense, comedy, and overflowing love.
I do not read romantic novels. I am uncomfortable reading sex scenes, and usually, if I run across a book with them in a book, I will not read any further. I put the book down and walk away.
When I stumbled across the Briar Mountain books, I was prepared to walk away; instead, I skipped the sex scenes and found a compelling story about hope and healing after tragedy and trauma—characters who supported each other in realistic ways. If you are looking for positive, hopeful views of relationships based on healing, come to Briar Mountain, where there is suspense, comedy, and overflowing love.
December 7, 2024
I read this book after I read the Boulder Canyon Series…this should be read before that one. It sets the ground work for a lot of what the men in that series do for work & the company they work for. That being said I enjoyed this series, my favorite was Victorious Heart. The level of suspense and how the story keeps unfolding throughout this series was great. I enjoyed Falling Heart which is the Novella featuring the Thorpe sisters parents, David and Gloria. I loved reading how they fell in-love and grow together!
December 20, 2024
This took me a little bit to get through, but I liked it! This set definitely sets the tone for the next series! Lizzy and Josh were my favorite as Lizzy is very relatable with her anxiety. Her story is so sad. Great series!
January 26, 2025
Great collection
I've read each of these individually when they first came out but had to re visit everyone when I saw this collection come out.
Great series to check out. It has plot and spice and a bit of suspense.
I've read each of these individually when they first came out but had to re visit everyone when I saw this collection come out.
Great series to check out. It has plot and spice and a bit of suspense.
January 21, 2025
Book 1 - Trusting Heart
This is Abigail and Noah's story and these two are really likeable characters, they’re very real and relatable but wow, does Ms Smith put them through some drama. Of course, the drama gives us a very interesting story with an ex, a high school mean girl, determined to get back the man she feels belongs to her.
It's a slow burn romance as they take their time getting to know one another before rushing the intimacy, this brings great conversation and through text messaging, a writing point that illuminates so much about both of them, throughout the story.
With some other sub plots with all the sisters having other minor stories going on, that we get varying degrees of exposure to, mainly Vic's history coming back to bite and very much playing into the main drama in the story.
It's easy to read, plenty of heat between these two as they steam up the pages, and overall, an enjoyable story.
Book 2 - Courageous Heart
Told along the same timeline as Trusting Heart (Book 1 in the series – best read in order), the main story events are the same, just told from the perspective of Lizzy and Josh with some progression in the main story plot with a unexpected twist involving an event in Lizzy’s past.
I was quickly and thoroughly pulled into the emotional dynamics of this couple. He lost his father at a pivotal point in his life and then virtually lost his mother to her grief, and as an adult is still struggling with that relationship or lack thereof.
A tragic incident in Lizzy’s past has formed her life and relationships since, as she struggles to carry not just her guilt but that of the entire town.
These two get pretty hot and heavy as they rapidly become the most important figures in each other’s lives as the story progresses.
The story also sets up the coming couplings for the remaining two Thorpe sisters.
Stay for the bonus epilogue… comedy gold!
Book 3 - Knowing Heart - 4 stars – Kat and Robert
We are still living in the same time zone and major events of the first two books in the series, this time from the point of view of Kat and new history Dean, Robert.
The telling of their growing relationship truly brings out the evil of Brett Ashby, one of the big bads in this series, and his ties inside the university and beyond.
I enjoyed this easy to read story from Ms. Smith getting more immersed in the Thorpe family and their friends. I did however, find some of this repetitive, like I had read whole passages before, I guess that’s the downside of four different perspectives of the same ongoing events; the upside, we get to see all the drama, in depth, from all different sides.
I did like the slow burn (after their hot one night stand start), will they, won’t they, relationship development between the main characters.
One sister to go…
Book 4 - Victorious Heart - Victoria and Daniel
Victorious Heart is the last of the series and for me the outstanding volume of the Briar Mountain books.
Set in the same time frame as the other three stories, the only thing saving this from being tired and overdone is that the story progresses the timeline significantly and the overall story relating to the Thorpe’s and the nefarious doings of the Ashby family.
There’s lots of drama and mystery to keep interest high, as well as a complete look into Victoria’s life prior to her return to the family fold.
Daniel, despite his own struggles, is a character you’ll fall in love with, his inner strength and the way he stands up to protect Victoria makes for great reading.
Overall, this is a good read and a fitting end to the series wrapping everything up nicely.
This is Abigail and Noah's story and these two are really likeable characters, they’re very real and relatable but wow, does Ms Smith put them through some drama. Of course, the drama gives us a very interesting story with an ex, a high school mean girl, determined to get back the man she feels belongs to her.
It's a slow burn romance as they take their time getting to know one another before rushing the intimacy, this brings great conversation and through text messaging, a writing point that illuminates so much about both of them, throughout the story.
With some other sub plots with all the sisters having other minor stories going on, that we get varying degrees of exposure to, mainly Vic's history coming back to bite and very much playing into the main drama in the story.
It's easy to read, plenty of heat between these two as they steam up the pages, and overall, an enjoyable story.
Book 2 - Courageous Heart
Told along the same timeline as Trusting Heart (Book 1 in the series – best read in order), the main story events are the same, just told from the perspective of Lizzy and Josh with some progression in the main story plot with a unexpected twist involving an event in Lizzy’s past.
I was quickly and thoroughly pulled into the emotional dynamics of this couple. He lost his father at a pivotal point in his life and then virtually lost his mother to her grief, and as an adult is still struggling with that relationship or lack thereof.
A tragic incident in Lizzy’s past has formed her life and relationships since, as she struggles to carry not just her guilt but that of the entire town.
These two get pretty hot and heavy as they rapidly become the most important figures in each other’s lives as the story progresses.
The story also sets up the coming couplings for the remaining two Thorpe sisters.
Stay for the bonus epilogue… comedy gold!
Book 3 - Knowing Heart - 4 stars – Kat and Robert
We are still living in the same time zone and major events of the first two books in the series, this time from the point of view of Kat and new history Dean, Robert.
The telling of their growing relationship truly brings out the evil of Brett Ashby, one of the big bads in this series, and his ties inside the university and beyond.
I enjoyed this easy to read story from Ms. Smith getting more immersed in the Thorpe family and their friends. I did however, find some of this repetitive, like I had read whole passages before, I guess that’s the downside of four different perspectives of the same ongoing events; the upside, we get to see all the drama, in depth, from all different sides.
I did like the slow burn (after their hot one night stand start), will they, won’t they, relationship development between the main characters.
One sister to go…
Book 4 - Victorious Heart - Victoria and Daniel
Victorious Heart is the last of the series and for me the outstanding volume of the Briar Mountain books.
Set in the same time frame as the other three stories, the only thing saving this from being tired and overdone is that the story progresses the timeline significantly and the overall story relating to the Thorpe’s and the nefarious doings of the Ashby family.
There’s lots of drama and mystery to keep interest high, as well as a complete look into Victoria’s life prior to her return to the family fold.
Daniel, despite his own struggles, is a character you’ll fall in love with, his inner strength and the way he stands up to protect Victoria makes for great reading.
Overall, this is a good read and a fitting end to the series wrapping everything up nicely.
January 24, 2025
This series is so good! I was immediately captivated by the stories and the characters. The bond between these four sisters is so special, and their relationship with their parents adds much to this story. All four books are filled with growth, healing, resilience and beautiful, steamy love stories as they meet and fall in love with their swoony heroes. Ms. Smith writes with such wonderful humor, keeping me laughing at the sarcasm, wit and banter. The suspense of each story is very well-written, keeping me entertained and enthralled until the end. I thoroughly enjoyed every book, and I adored the bonus novella - their parents love story.
If you enjoy small-town romantic suspense and family-centered series with tons of heat and heart, I highly recommend this box set.
If you enjoy small-town romantic suspense and family-centered series with tons of heat and heart, I highly recommend this box set.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews