Decoding Emma

by Marie Tuhart

Asher

After my ex-wife’s betrayal, trust isn’t just hard¬, it’s dangerous. At Fantasies, Inc., I keep things controlled and professional. Until Emma walks in. Brilliant, beautiful, and impossible to ignore. She’s supposed to strengthen our software. Instead, she’s breaking down every wall I’ve built.

Emma

Men have always my family name or my sister. Never me. I stopped believing in a real connection a long time ago. Working with Asher is…different. Beneath his annoying control, meant to keep everyone at arm’s length, is a man as wounded as I am. And the closer we get, the harder it is to pretend we’re not falling for each other.

Our past traumas define us, or so we thought. We never set out to save each other, yet here we are.

290 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 23, 2025

About the author

Marie Tuhart lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her muses, Tommy and Trina her two rescue dogs. Marie loves to read and write, when she’s not writing, she spends time with family, traveling and enjoying life.

Marie Tuhart is a multi-published author of hot contemporary romance for readers fascinated by approachable alpha males in and out of the bedroom. Mare’s fun, safe and sexy stories offer a captivating romantic escape in the arms of likeable characters who know which buttons to push and which are off limits. Go on, embrace the temptation… https://www.marietuhart.com.

To be alerted on new releases on Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/marietuhart or Book Bub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marie....

Also you can join Marie’s newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor... where she gives her group advance information on her books, runs contests and does giveaways just for newsletter readers. Marie can also be found on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/marietuhart/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/marietuhart, and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marietuhart

Reviews

[QuinnReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gloves Are Off

3.5 starts - I liked seeing shy Emma Palmer come out of her shell when she finds a place where she feels like she belongs.

The urge to reach out, to touch her, startled me. I was reacting to Emma in a way that surprised me.
-- Asher Donahue

Asher Donahue... I liked him but not overwhelmingly so. I think part of that is because it feels like some of the story is missing. For example, they're supposed to have a talk about his intimate preferences and dominance, but unless I skipped an entire section, that never happens.

Overall, I love the found family and general support Emma finds; she's a very likable character. Asher is a bit of a tool sometimes but nothing horrific. Even though some of it is beyond my expertise, I liked the hacking related part and how it played out.

I do look forward to more from this author as she seems to have the key ingredients. Hopefully, the things that didn't work for me are an anomaly, but there's only one way to confirm. 😉

[Beth Von Voigt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma works for a tech company and is contracted out to help Fantasies, Inc. expand their computer systems. Asher is the head of Technology at FI and has Emma working closely with him on their system. Emma has had to fight her way through the tech world and overcome a lot because of who her parents are. Given her past dealings in the corporate world, she keeps to herself and doesn’t expect much from others. As Asher gets to know her better, and they dive into work, Emma gets to see what it feels like to be respected and become part of a team.

This book is a slow burn. Emma and Asher have subtle sparks flying from the start, but both are wary to pursue them or commit due to their pasts. Their relationship has that sweet friendship foundation, which makes their connection more meaningful. While the author does get quite technical with computer related terms throughout the book, it doesn’t take away from the story. I enjoyed reading this book and seeing the relationship develop between Emma and Asher as well as Emma making her way in the corporate world. You can’t help but cheer for Emma throughout the story and hope she gets her HEA along with some spice thrown in. *A special thanks to the author for an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, easy to follow multiple pov

[Sue Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow... I'm enjoying these stories at Fantasies Inc.
This is the second book in the series, and it's Asher's turn.
Trying to stand on her on two feet in a very male dominated workforce, Emma is contracted to do some coding work for a company that she didn't research before starting!!
Asher remembered Emma from a party a few months previous but didn't get the opportunity to introduce himself, so when he discovers who his new employee is, it's game on!!
Wonderful storyline with great characters and loved the HEA.
I received an ARC copy of this book, and I'm willingly leaving an honest review.

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

IT expert Emma is sent to help Asher and his staff with some tech issues. Her whole life, she’s fought tooth and nail to be accepted. Her family wanted her to be a trophy wife, like her sister. She’s worked hard to earn respect in a male-dominated industry. She’s smart and doesn’t believe in love. That is, until she meets Asher. He treats her with respect. The more they work together, the more she sees his controlling nature is a front for a man wounded and in need of understanding. Emma tries to keep it professional, but passion soon turns to something more. It can’t be love, can it?

Decoding Emma is a steamy workplace romance I couldn’t put down. This is book two in the series, but each one is a standalone. I enjoyed the characters immensely. Emma is a smart heroine with deep-seated wounds. Asher has trust issues, thanks to his ex-wife. Both characters no longer believe in love yet wind up saving each other. I like that. The connection between Emma and Asher is so strong, they help each other heal.

Marie Tuhart has penned another emotional romance with blistering heat. She writes tormented characters who find love. Decoding Emma is worth reading, especially for those readers who love STEM heroines.

My rating: 5+ stars

Reviewed by: Nancy

This review first appeared: https://substack.com/@nnlightsbookhea...

[Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma has fought for respect her whole life to be accepted in her career path. First from her family, who expected her to be a trophy wife. And also from males she encountered that used her to get closer to her family or used her talents to further their own career. When she is hired on as a contractor at Fantasies Inc., her co-workers acknowledge what she can do and treat her as an equal. A woman working in the STEM field has to work harder and as the story progresses, it was great to see Emma recognize her self-worth with Asher's help. The book does contain a lot of computer terminology, but it did not take away from a fantastic story.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of "DECODING EMMA"was dealing with wanting respect, self worth, trust, past betrayals, feelings of attraction keeps you reading.
Emma doesn't have a good family relationship getting a job at At Fantasies Inc. she always fought for respect being a woman in a mans world, she was expected to be a trophy wife, no not her.
Asher was betrayed by his ex-wife making him have trust issues, hes controlled & professional until he sees Emma she makes him desire her, she beautuful, smart & there to strengthen their softwear.
Will Emma & Asher come together two damaged souls from their past, saving one another to get a HEA a must read you don't want to miss.

[Bernie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asher is the IT head and controller at Fantasies Inc. Emna is an IT technician contracted to work with improving the systems. Also a trying to make herself visible, open to display on opinions on her ability and competing in their environment. Asher has thoughts and feelings regarding relationships following the dealings with his ex wife. Emma is looking for something and he might be the one to be able help her find it.

[Linda Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decoding Emma by Marie Tuhart is a lovely romance about introverted IT Emma who is sent on a contract to Fantasies Inc to help with their IT. There she meets Asher who is very interested in her. He takes it slow, trying to learn and understand her without scaring her off. This is a sweet slow romance with a little bit of intrigue. Nicely done.

[Debbie Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm voluntarily leaving a review after receiving a free copy. I liked how Emma came into her own. I liked how Asher and Emma's relationship developed into love. They are very good for each other.