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Crushes are harmless—unless they involve your best friend’s grumpy, off-limits brother.

Gannon Brewer is the epitome of my type. He’s at least ten years older than me, emotionally unavailable, and highly disagreeable—a walking red flag in a tailored suit. But do I listen to that? No. In fact, when his office plants start dying, I convince myself that I can ignore the pheromones and save the philodendron.

Now I’m in his office every week, dodging sinful smirks and heated stares, reminding myself to reach for the watering can—not him. But one late-night “ivy incident” changes everything. Suddenly, we’re sneaking around, indulging in a steamy, forbidden fling that’s supposed to be nothing more than (a lot of) fun.

After all, he swears he’ll never fall in love. I assure him that I only want one thing, and it’s not his heart. But the closer we get, the more lines we blur, and the harder it becomes to keep our promises …

Especially when the secret I’m keeping threatens to shatter everything.

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 24, 2025

1424 people are currently reading
2118 people want to read

About the author

Adriana Locke

98 books15.9k followers
Adriana Locke is a USA Today and Amazon Charts Bestselling author with a knack for writing swoony, unforgettable contemporary romances. At nineteen, she traded her small-town roots for big-city life, only to realize her heart beats for quiet mornings and cozy chaos. These days, she’s living her happily-ever-after in Ohio with Mr. Locke—her high school sweetheart—four lively sons, and two hilariously hyper Jack Russell terriers.

When she’s not penning love stories that will leave you laughing and sighing, Adriana is battling the epic quest of missing silverware, “gardening” (a.k.a. chatting with her plants), or leaving her grocery list on the counter as she heads to the store. Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and let her books whisk you away to a world of heartwarming romance and irresistible heroes.

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5 stars
3,162 (56%)
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535 (9%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,036 reviews
Profile Image for Jamie.
1,110 reviews277 followers
March 5, 2025
2.5 rounded up
I wanted to like this a lot more than I did. I loved carys, AND I thought she was really funny. But I didn’t like Gannon for like 75% of the book. This man is 40 years old and still needed “closure” from his ex from ten years ago. He claims he never even loved her, and if that’s so why are we deciding to attend events just to spite her? And then finally feeling free after you talk to her?? It bothered me a LOT.
He completely changed after his convo with his ex, but for me it was too little too late. Just him thinking about his ex at all in more than the first half just couldn’t be erased for me. So while I liked how he acted after, I just couldn’t let go of the beginning unfortunately

“Carys deserves for me to put this whole Tatum thing to bed because if I don’t, I’ll never figure out how to move forward with her. And that’s what matters. She matters.”
I think this quote was stopped to be “romantic”, but I didn’t find it romantic that he still needed closure from this woman from TEN years ago. This woman who now has a whole husband and kids. Like….😶 and then to let her kiss his cheek…. No thank you!
Profile Image for Hope .
339 reviews1 follower
February 26, 2025
- best friend's brother
- age gap
- workplace romance
- secret relationship
- fwb to more
- surprise pregnancy

He is her best friend's brother and the man she has to propose a contract to save her business. After she starts working for him, they start a fwb since their sexual tension was off the charts. I liked how they danced around each other waiting for the other one to give up control. Their banter was so good and her going to bat for him, ready to tackle anyone that hurt him was so cute to watch. I honestly loved both the characters and how good they were together.

After they find out she's pregnant, it was adorable watching them jolt everything down in the baby book and him tearing up during the childbirth was truly wholesome.


safety - no virgins, no manwhores. both enjoy casual sex, i personally love that we are told she has a good sex life without it being rubbed in our faces. her ex fwb shows up twice and corners her but she shoos him off. He has an ex wife from a decade ago that shows up apologising to him for how she treated him and kisses him on the cheek but h sees this and misunderstands it. however it's immediately cleared by him and she's very supportive after hearing what his ex did to him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for BookAddict.
2,077 reviews207 followers
February 21, 2025
Carys Johnson is working hard to make her plant care business a success. If she can just get a contract with the Brewer Group, she'll be on more secure footing.  It doesn’t hurt that one of the owners, Tate Brewer, is her best friend, but the decision isn’t up to him. It rests with the grumpy brother, the heartless one with the surly reputation.

Gannon Brewer has always had a thing for his brother's best friend, which is why he's kept his distance from Carys all these years. He knows she needs the work and doesn’t have the heart to tell her no, but has trouble resisting her when  he sees her so frequently at the office.

This talented storyteller has a gift when it comes to crafting the family element of romances. The characters are endearing and vivid, and the fierce family loyalty and good-natured teasing is a potent combination that breathes life into the stories.

I adore this grumpy/sunshine combo and couldn’t get enough of Gannon and Carys together. This one is so charming, humorous, and full of heart that I gobbled it up in a few short hours. Steamy, witty, and heartwarming, you won’t be able to pass it up!
Profile Image for June.
121 reviews5 followers
February 22, 2025
Awe! The Merger is such a feel-good book. The Mr. Grumpy and the sunshine.... *sigh* knowing your partner has your back through the good the bad. The tough times and the times where you feel like you're riding a cloud. It's an amazing feeling. This book has it all. 5 stars!
Profile Image for Stacey's Library.
109 reviews40 followers
February 24, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️

Up && coming new business owner, Carys, is determined to become successful when almost everyone has counted her out - including her own father. Getting a little desperate, she pitches her billionaire best friend to hire her plant care company, all for him to say it would be his oldest brother's decision✨Knock Knock✨ Cue Sexy Gannon walking into the room 🤭

This is my favorite Merger to date! The feelings between Gannon && Carys are so pure 🥰 Despite their past baggage, they learn how to process && work through it together. I'm their biggest fan, along with this entire family!
Profile Image for ❤️ Nanda ❤️.
781 reviews421 followers
April 10, 2025
Gannon Brewer might be grumpy, but he stole my heart anyway

The Merger is one of those books that sneaks up on you with its charm. Gannon is the classic broody older brother type—buttoned-up, a little too serious, and completely thrown off by Carys, his younger brother’s best friend. They’ve always had a secret crush on each other, and when they finally give in? Let’s just say it’s worth the wait. The chemistry is amazing!

Their fling starts behind closed doors, but the real story is how they slowly let their walls down. Carys is dealing with family stuff and some emotional baggage, and somehow Gannon—gruff as he is—becomes her calm in the chaos, even if he also have emotional lockups.

Adriana Locke nailed the balance here: sweet, a little steamy, and full of characters you want to hang out with. The Brewer family dynamics added warmth, and the pacing kept me hooked without ever feeling rushed.

If you like brother’s best friend romances with emotional depth, great banter, and a swoony build, The Merger is a solid pick.
Profile Image for Jessica Alcazar.
4,397 reviews622 followers
April 2, 2025
🎧📚EBOOK & AUDIO REVIEW📚🎧

STORY REVIEW: 5 STARS (FEB 2025)

When I tell you that I cannot wait for this story to be in my ears, I am downplaying it! The quick wit and banter had me from the very beginning. I had a good time reading this story and I couldn’t wait to turn the pages. The chemistry between Gannon & Carys wasn’t just sexual in nature. They had chemistry as friends and as partners. All of their interactions had a spark, and I just loved it. It made me happy all the way thru. Their story wasn’t a good time every minute, because reasons (read the book lol), but even when it wasn’t, it was still a joy to be in the story.

The worlds that Adriana continues to create are always so full of heart and hope that you just can’t help but fall in love. The stories are almost always interconnected in some way because family is one of the main components and that’s the best of things. In her worlds, you don’t just get the story of a sibling, for example, and move on to the next. No, they keep reappearing in other stories, and they are very much a part of each other’s lives. That’s what makes the worlds that she creates so attractive to me. I come from a large family and when something happens to one, you had better believe we are all up in it. Feel me?

If you’re looking for a feel-good, sexy, full of spark journey between two people who have all kinds of chemistry, this is a story you do not want to miss!

AUDIO REVIEW: 5 STARS (MARCH 2025)

This was an absolute blast in my ears! When I read it, I knew it was going to be an absolute blast in my ears, and it did not disappoint! I’m new to narrator Jack Calihan so I’m gonna need more listens to form a full opinion but I can say, with great certainty, that I will be looking out for audiobooks that he has narrated in the future AND he was a perfect match for Angelina Rocca when it comes to their respective voice-overs. Meaning when she had to narrate Gannon, she was darn close to Jack’s raspy style of voice, and he was to hers as well! A match made in heaven, and it made this audio junkie the happiest of happy for 8 hours! 👏👏Excellent job to them both!!👏👏
Profile Image for Amberlee.
18 reviews13 followers
March 30, 2025
ARC~ Super cute! I adored this book for so many different things!

Gannon is a grump of a CEO/broody oldest Brewer brother. Although he’s gruff, he’s a great boss with a big, caring heart. Carys is the friend you never had: positive, supportive, and funny. She's a fiercely independent small business owner.

Opposites attract with these two! When Carys ends up contracting for Brewer Group they can no longer keep their secret feelings away from one another.

The tension and banter between Gannon and Carys is page turning.

Thank you, Adriana Locke, for the chance to read this ARC :)



ALC~ I was lucky enough to receive an ALC. The narration by Angelina Rocca and Jack Calihan was great! Their banter and tension is palpable.

I highly recommend this audiobook! It will always be a go to listen for me.

Thank you! Adriana Locke for the ALC. I enjoy listening to all your stories.
Profile Image for BookishRaquel.
750 reviews89 followers
June 28, 2025
5 ⭐️ | 3 🌶️ | 5 🎧

What to Expect:
- Best Friend's Brother
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Workplace Romance
- Opposites Attract
- Age Gap
- Secret Relationship
- Surprise Pregnancy
- Dual POV

The Merger is the fourth book in the Brewer Family series, and follows Carys Johnson and Gannon Brewer's journey to love. I devoured this book and could not put it down. This series keeps getting better and better.

Carys wants to get her plant business up and running. Landing a huge client like the Brewer Group will definitely help. Fortunately for her, she is best friends with Tate Brewer. Unfortunately for her, she'll have to convince Gannon, Tate's eldest brother, to agree to use her services. Little does she know, Gannon has had a thing for her for a while, so when she makes an offer, he simply can't refuse.

I loved Carys and Gannon together. They are complete opposites, but it works. Carys is all sunshine, feisty, and goes for what she wants. Gannon is the grumpiest grump, but he fell hard for Carys. There is nothing better than a grumpy, broody, alpha male who opens his heart up to love. Once he was all in, he was ALL IN. They had amazing chemistry and banter, and the F-it moment is *chef's kiss*. The steamy scenes were sizzling, and I loved how protective he was of Carys. Gannon just might be my new favorite Brewer brother (sorry, Jason!). Carys and Gannon's story is perfect and checks all the boxes for me. It had me swooning, smiling, and kicking my feet. Adriana Locke does not disappoint, and I can't wait for Tate's story! I have a feeling Tate will take the top spot.

Narration:
Angelina Rocca and Jack Calihan performed this audiobook in dual-style narration. Their performances were so good! Jack was the perfect broody, grumpy Gannon, and Angelina was the perfect vulnerable, determined, and sweet Carys. These two amazing voice actors really brought the characters to life and made this story feel real. This was a good time, and I highly recommend experiencing this story in audio.

Thanks to Adriana Locke for the early review opportunity. Opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for AJ.
3,244 reviews1,069 followers
February 24, 2025
4.5 stars!

I love this book! A fantastically fun best-friend’s-brother, age gap, no strings, grumpy/sunshine romance that is flirty and sexy and wildly entertaining.

This is the fourth book in the Brewer Family series, with great character crossover, but you could easily read this one as a standalone.

Gannon Brewer is the eldest sibling in the family. He is the CEO of the Brewer Group, and managing the family’s vast empire has pretty much become his whole life. He doesn’t socialise, he has no time or any interest in a relationship, and he is known for his cold, business-like manner. Carys is Gannon’s exact opposite. Bright, bubbly and cheerful, she is the best friend of Gannon’s youngest brother, Tate, and she’s absolutely amazing. Sweet, kind and confident, she’s looking to expand her plant care business, and the Brewer Group is just the company she needs to help get it off the ground.

Gannon and Carys could not be more different, but they have secretly lusted after each other for years. They’ve never done anything about it, have barely even had a conversation, but now Carys is taking care of his plants and all over his building. And Gannon - tall, dark and handsome, all serious, brooding intensity, is just Carys’ type, and she’s determined to push every button she can to make him break.

OMG, the chemistry between these two is epic! Every interaction between them just crackles with tension, and their banter, teasing and flirting is absolutely shameless!

“She wanted to know if I was going on payroll as an employee or a subcontractor. I also don’t know how many days a week you want me to come.”
“How many days would you like to
come Miss Johnson?”
A blast of heat curls in my stomach. “In a perfect world, I’d
come every day.”
He licks his bottom lip, grinning coyly.
“I could even come multiple times if that’s what you wanted.” My skin’s tingling as he undresses me with his eyes.
… “In this perfect world you speak of,” he says, his voice low and thick, “I’d have you coming every day.”

I love the build-up of sexual tension between these two. They each give as good as they get, and they’re outrageously forward and it’s so fun to watch. I loved seeing Carys slowly break Gannon’s resolve - even with his cold, brusque exterior and simmering intensity, we are soon seeing eyebrow raises, lip twitches and sexy smirks, and Carys’ playful nature soon reveals a more playful, caring side of Gannon. Neither of them wants a relationship, but they can’t resist the pull to each other, so they agree to a secret no-strings arrangement that is wildly hot, and full of playfulness, and it’s about to rock both of their worlds.

I’m sure that she has the power to make a mess of my life if I let her. I’m also pretty damn sure I’d consider it, given the chance.

It’s easy and natural, and full of heat, and they find themselves easily slipping into something that neither of them anticipated. I loved watching them together, seeing them support and be there for each other and watching them grow close and embracing the growing connection between them.

“This is what it looks like when someone fights for you,” I say. “I know that might be new to you but get used to it.”

The emotion comes, and they don’t fight it, they just let it happen. It’s functional and mature, there’s no third-act break up, and it was an absolute delight watching these two fall so hard for each other, deal with what comes their way, and find their HEA.

This woman owns me … Carys Johnson went from being my little brother’s best friend to quickly becoming my entire world.

We get to see a fair bit of the Brewer crew, which I loved. Tate steals the scene every time he appears on the page, and I’m so looking forward to seeing him meet his match in the next book.

This is such an enjoyable read – easy, fun, sweet and sexy, and I absolutely loved it.

4.5 stars!

An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the author for an honest review.


Profile Image for Cokiereads.
704 reviews37 followers
February 25, 2025
This has been my favorite Brewer brother book to date!

Gannon Brewer is a workaholic. Marriage and family aren't in the cards for him. What's in his cards? Working to be everything his father wasn't. He's grumpy, set in his beliefs, and could care less that his mother would like him to settle down.

His brothers best friend is Carys. Carys is sweet and passionate about her work, too. She's just started a new company, Plantcy, where she takes care of people's plants for them (which is really a neat job). She's happy not to be working in an insurance firm but really needs some more clients.

I wonder if her best friends brother needs someone to take care of the plants in his company...

Adriana wrote it pretty hot. I was surprised! Not in the fact that it was, but whew, that first scene!

Carys and Gannon are definitely opposites. And there's also some crushing (and maybe secret) crushing going on. But it's kinda complicated. There's other people (aka the best friend and brother) who'd definitely NOT want anything to happen between them.

It's also got a lot of humor and heart. Gannons tough exterior also hides some deep hurts.

Can't wait for book 5!
49 reviews
February 25, 2025
Easy read though not hugely believable story


Alright, so, Gannon, the ultra-busy CEO, and Cary, the plant whisperer, decide on a "friends with benefits" arrangement. They have their pre-keynote encounter, and then... well, things accelerate. Fast.

It's like they went from "casual fling" to "soulmates who also happen to enjoy discussing the best potting soil" in record time. One minute, they're navigating the complexities of a no-strings-attached situation; the next, they're having deep conversations about their feelings, and Gannon is bringing home rare, exotic plants as a gesture of affection.

Then, the pregnancy. It all happens so quickly, it's almost dizzying. It feels like the story skipped a few crucial chapters, going straight from "meet cute" to "happily ever after" with a baby thrown in for good measure. The whole thing feels a bit like watching a time-lapse video of a plant growing from seed to full bloom in a matter of seconds. It's impressive, but you can't help but wonder if they missed a few essential stages of development.
Profile Image for Gabriella Wood.
77 reviews1 follower
Read
March 11, 2025
I mean just no. i’m shocked this has such good ratings. it was so………… mid. also surprise pregnancy trope is a no from me. there was no big fight there was no betrayal there was no arc of plot and worse of all they weren’t even banging! unbelievable how fast they went from friends to casual fling to soulmates to pregnant. too much going on but still no conflict.
Profile Image for Rachel.
388 reviews2 followers
February 22, 2025
“Fuck it.”

4 ⭐️
2🌶️

Damn do I love the Brewers. This was so fun to read, banter, tension, angst. Gannon did his best to resist Carys but in the end they are a perfect pair. The unexpected pregnancy trope is literally my least favorite trope but it was actually written in so nicely, and it’s not the entire premise of the story.

Tropes:
Workplace Romance
Best Friends Brother
Secret Relationship
Age Gap
Grumpy / Sunshine
Surprise Baby

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Books4Tammy.
227 reviews13 followers
February 24, 2025
This author creates amazing characters, like Carys, who's funny, independent, and confident. She's drawn to Gannon who’s grumpy, older and her best friends brother, basically her fantasy guy, but they've both had bad relationship experiences. As they navigate casual hookups, Gannon treats Carys better than anyone ever has, making her feel seen. They must confront past demons and fears of heartbreak as they fall in love. This book is an emotional ride, making you laugh, swoon, cry, and love. ❤️

I was sent an advance copy of this book for my honest review.
Profile Image for Canan .
1,084 reviews71 followers
March 15, 2025
Diğer kardeşlere göre biraz sönük kalmış hikaye...
Bir de ne zaman "Ah, ben onu seviyorum!" moduna geçtiler anlamadım.
Pek bana geçmedi bu süreç. Sadece son yarıda bir tık tatlı anlar vardı. o kısımları sevdim.
Profile Image for Diana.
328 reviews52 followers
April 7, 2025
5 ⭐️ | 3 🌶️

The Merger
𝓑𝔂: 𝓐𝓭𝓻𝓲𝓪𝓷𝓪 𝓛𝓸𝓬𝓴𝓮
𝓝𝓸𝔀 𝓐𝓿𝓪𝓲𝓵𝓪𝓫𝓵𝓮!

I didn't think I could love this series so much more, but Adriana Locke has done it again. The Merger is the fourth book in the Brewer Family series. We explore the love story of Gannon Brewer and Carys Johnson. I adored these two!

Adriana specializes in creating small-town romances. The witty dialog and family laugh out loud moments were the chef's kiss! 💋

The chemistry between Gannon and Carys was amazing. I enjoyed the flirtatious interactions. It definitely made for a great read! I appreciated Carys's willingness to ask for what she wanted. Gannon guarded his heart, but I was happy Carys could help him peel back those layers. What began as a slow build blossomed into a secret friends with benefits and eventually into a beautiful love story.

I must mention Tate Brewer. Cary's best friend and Gannon's brother. I love Tate, but after Chapters 31 and 32, I really LOVE Tate! I can't wait for his book!

What to Expect:
🙎‍♂️ Grumpy x Sunshine
💞 Best Friend’s Brother
👩‍❤️‍👨 Age Gap
📈 Workplace Romance
🤫 Secret Relationship
🤰🏼Surprise Pregnancy

Thank you so much to Adriana Locke for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Alina.
720 reviews
August 9, 2025
Meh
Not a fan of how the fmc's ex was turned away so quickly by her for the mmc
But the mmc's wife was given grace and was allowed enough space to kiss him on the cheek and cause issues)
I hate the repetitive pattern of mmcs always allowing ow / exes to approach them
Profile Image for Monica (The Accidental Romance Blogger) Barbosa.
907 reviews38 followers
April 2, 2025
We're back with the Brewers and this is Gannon's time and the grumpy billionaire won't know what hit him. 

Carys is Gannon's brother's Tate's best friend and completely off-limits. She's ten years younger and he doesn't do relationships anyway after being hurt in the past. He tries to quietly avoid her because she elicits some dirty thoughts he can't allow to happen. But one morning, when she's coming out of Tate's office, she accidentally dumps matcha latte all over him and still has the nerve to come up with a business proposal!

Carys has had an eye on her brother's best friend since her teens. He is her dream man, the stuff of her fantasies but she knows that Tate will have a brain aneurysm if she hits on Gannon. However, the Universe just put him hiring her new services as a "specialized plant sitter" and he's just too yummy not to tease. And lo and behold, he teases back! 

It's not a secret I love Adriana's books and this one is no exception. The audiobook is narrated dual style by Angelina Rocca and Jack Callihan and they were perfectly cast. Angelina's voice  is soft but sexy making a perfect portrayal of Carys. Jack's deep voice fits Gannon to a T, giving him an "older" tone that suits this age gap romance really well. 

I loved how low angst this is while still throwing some wrenches in their relationship and not resorting to that dreaded third act break up. We even have a surprise pregnancy that's dealt in the sweetest and swooniest ways. 

I'm a sucker for cameos and even though most of them are through texts or mentions, we get to catch up with the other Brewers and also the Carmichaels (there is even some Landry in the mix). Awesome!

An enjoyable, lovely story, told through excellent narration!

Thanks, Adriana, for the audiobook! 

Content notes: toxic relationship with a parent, surprise pregnancy
Profile Image for ReadaholicDeb.
796 reviews23 followers
March 29, 2025
4.5✨ Gannon is the perfect grumpy businessman and I can never resist a grumpy hero who comes off as an alpha but secretly has a heart of gold.

Carys his younger brother’s best friend is all fun and lightheartedness, the perfect contrast to Gannon. Their attraction was undeniable from the start, but like most grumpy book boyfriends, Gannon tries to fight it. The result? Sarcastic, playful banter until they finally give in to their hidden crushes and agree to a just-for-fun secret relationship. Gannon and Carys had incredible chemistry, and I loved watching them fall, especially Gannon, with his hidden soft side and fiercely protective nature.

Both carry their own baggage, adding just the right amount of tension to what is ultimately a lighthearted, perfect grumpy-sunshine romance. And the Brewer family? They never fail to make me laugh, bringing even more witty banter into the mix.

Oh, and if you love a surprise pregnancy…just wait until the 85% mark!

I started by switching between the audiobook and ebook, but the audiobook completely pulled me in and didn’t let go. The narrators did a fantastic job bringing all the emotions, banter, and chemistry to life.
Profile Image for claire - clairesbooked.
317 reviews54 followers
April 7, 2025
To Carys, Gannon is a walking red flag in a suit. He's all sorts of grumpy, emotionally unavailable, her bestie's brother, and at least ten years older than her. All things that would normally have her running the other way. When Gannon hires Carys to tend to the plants in his office building, and Carys ends up calling him for a ride after going out with friends, all those red flags go out with the wind.

This book had a lot of good banter and fun moments in it. I also loved how characters from previous series were brought up. I'm not usually a fan of the surprise pregnancy trope, but I feel like Adriana handled this very well in this book and I love how Gannon reacted to it. There's also a slight misunderstanding between Gannon and Carys in there book which I also didn't usually like, but I'm glad they were Maddie enough to handle it well without anything blowing up. Looking forward to Tate’s book!

Angelina Rocca and Jack Callahan did a good job narrating this book. I believe it's my first time with this pairing in the same book and they worked well together. I'd definitely listen to them both again.

Thank you to the author for an advanced copy of this audiobook. Opinions are my own.

THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU IF: You enjoy fun romances that are fairly light on the spice with big families with lots of personality.
Profile Image for Lou_lovesreading.
432 reviews12 followers
February 21, 2025
Full on devoured it! Step aside Jason because Gannon just became my fave Brewer brother and I loved it!!
What a story!
Let’s start with Carys - my god I absolutely loved her from the very beginning of chapter 1 - what a FMC - strong willed, funny, strong, flirty and emotionally broken due to her awful absent father.
Gannon - I honestly have been looking forward to his story since The Proposal and Adriana did not disappoint!
I loved him, he was broken from his past relationship and obviously his relationship with his father (we all know what a piece of work he is) but Carys brought a side of him out that no one had seen before and it was amazing to read.

The scene at the restaurant with her dad was emotional - I’m so glad she stood up for herself.

Loved Rory again in this book and so glad Bianca made more of an appearance in this book and her and Foxx’s news.

Carys and Gannon’s love story was heartwarming and I absolutely loved it. Best fuck it moment EVER!!

Thank you to Adriana for this eARC in exchange for my honest review
Profile Image for Michelle.
3 reviews
February 22, 2025
Opening up an Adriana Locke book always feels like a comfortable warm hug. It feels like coming home. The Merger was no different. Adriana keeps me coming back to read her books which are notable for the amazing family dynamics (especially between boys), swoon-worthy romance and fun banter. I love that her worlds are so connected and am always on the lookout to catch-up with some of my old favorite characters! The Merger was a super sweet read that was well-paced and had some of my favorite tropes including grumpy/sunshine. I loved Gannon’s protective, caretaking nature and Carys’ fun, playful personality! It was such a fun take on best friend’s brother to have a female being best friends with a male. This definitely got me excited for Tate’s book! It’s hard to believe that another Adriana Locke series is coming to a close.

The Merger follows the eldest Brewer brother, Gannon, who is a wealthy business owner. He’s been burned by a woman in the past and is content with work being his main focus. That is until Carys comes along. Carys is a young, spunky entrepreneur who is trying to get her plant-care business off the ground. After speaking with her best friend Tate, she finds herself striking a partnership with his brother, Gannon, to take care of his plants in the workplace. As these two keep running into each other, sparks fly and the chemistry is palpable. Carys isn’t looking for feelings. Gannon says he doesn’t have a heart to give away. However, as these two keep spending more time together, they find themselves connecting over shared familial trauma and truly being the person that the other needs to lean on. Sometimes you just need one person to see you, to believe in you. And that can change your whole life.

Thank you Adriana for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Maggie | MagReadsBooks.
489 reviews16 followers
March 1, 2025
Another fun read by Adriana Locke!!

The Brewer family is giving me all the feels. I love reading through this family rising from the ashes in the wake of their father's transgressions. I also love how she is keeping the family vibe alive with so many glimpses of previous couples in the current reads!! This is so much fun!

I loooooved the mutual pining that was happening in the beginning of this book. The attraction and chemistry between Gannon and Carys was so freaking explosive I was dying for them to give in! I loved how Tate was so aware of said attraction from the beginning and fought it so hard. I was cracking up!

I loved how the story twisted and turned! I loved how the Brewer family reacted to each new piece of information without a big fuss/unnecessary drama. Even though the tropes aren't usually my favorite, I think they were executed so well and I loved them all!

Overall, another little slice of heaven from Adriana Locke!
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714 reviews11 followers
August 26, 2025
"Ella es la prioridad. Mi prioridad. La única prioridad"

Este fue un libro divertido de leer porque había mucho coqueteo del lado de los protagonistas y Carys es un personaje muy alegre y bromista todo lo contrario a Gannon pero eso no impidió que tuvieran química y atracción.

Lo de ellos comienza con una aventura ya que ambos dicen que no estan buscando el amor ni una relación a largo plazo y a medida que avanzan los capítulos vamos viendo el porque de cada uno, ella en el fondo se siente "insuficiente" porque toda su vida lucho por tener el cariño y amor de su padre y el porque una mala relación en su pasado le dejo un gran peso sobre sus hombros razón por la que creía que no era un hombre que amaría a una mujer.

La verdad es que no existe mucho drama en el libro y las cosas se solucionan rápido ellos tienen una linda comunicación y siempre supieron hablar las cosas sin lastimarse. El final es muy cute 😭♥️
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594 reviews3 followers
February 28, 2025
Once again, Adriana Locke has BLOWN ME AWAY with another Brewer brother! This time, it's Gannon and OH EM GEE, I think he's the smexiest, so far! He's the grumpy one, the one who hides the HUGEST heart, and he's also the one who falls the hardest!!! It was a pure joy to see him fall FIRST (I honestly believe he did!) Carys is one of Adriana's strongest female characters, EVER! She's smart, is driven to succeed and because of her POS father (who gets EXACTLY what he deserves) she thinks she's unlovable! But when she and Gannon are in each others vicinity, the chemistry and the innuendos are both explosive and hilarious!

This book is one of my favourites from this author! She does an FANTASTIC job creating the most heartwarming and loving family sagas and I am sooooooo looking forward to Tate's comeuppance in the last book in this series! I can't WAIT!
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166 reviews14 followers
February 24, 2025
What I Loved:
🪴 F*ck It Moment
💼 Shared Vulnerability and Mutual Support
🪴 Best Friends Brother
💼 Grumpy x Sunshine
🪴 Workplace Romance

I absolutely adored this book, and I know I’ve said this about every single book in this series, but I think this one may just taken the crown for my absolute favourite.

Carys Johnson is desperate to get her plant business ‘Plantcy’ off the ground, and start blooming 😉 If she can land a contract with The Brewer Group, she will be able to enter an untapped market: office plants, it also doesn’t hurt that her best friend is the brother of the CEO, Gannon- or that the CEO is just her type.

Gannon Brewer, has avoided his brother’s best friend Carys at all costs. She is too tempting, and therefore too dangerous. But when she turns to him for help, he can’t resist.

Adriana Locke has written another absolute feel good masterpiece. This one had me laughing, crying and giggling all at once, with absolutely the most loveable characters. The merging of two individuals who were fiercely independent by themselves was so beautifully done and very satisfying to read.

I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in this fabulous series. And while I’m waiting for it, I strongly believe if you haven’t read this series yet, you should get on it, because it is shaping up to be one of my absolute favourite series of all time.
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1,309 reviews36 followers
February 24, 2025
OMG! This book was beautiful!

Grumpy stand offish Gannon finding, we’ll not finding really as she’s been AROUND for years lol, but letting her in finally and neither one of them thinking they were whole enough for a relationship started to heal each other and then him running into his Ex at the Alumni event and finally finding closure there.. GAH!

This man ended up being so swoony!


They literally swept each other away in the current if love while holding on to each other!

They are literally so perfect for each other too! She doesn’t take his gruff exterior personally and he accepts her quirky attitude perfectly!

And the scene where they finally tell Tate that they are together and more? GLORIOUS!

This family is so much fun!
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