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Burnt Bridges
After seven years of marriage, Xavier and Rhonda Curry are getting divorced. Like so many divorces, the Curry’s divorce gets messy because Xavier refuses to agree to give Rhonda partial ownership of the multi-million dollar company he built prior to their marriage. Before the presiding judge renders a verdict, he requires the Curry’s to go through a mediation session to see if they can come to an amicable resolution.
Accompanied by their feisty attorneys, the Curry’s enter the mediation session ready for war. Once the mediation session starts, and Xavier and Rhonda tell their sides of the story, it becomes clear that the Curry’s don’t have a money problem or an infidelity problem or even an intimacy problem. What they have is a “Sierra” problem. Who is Sierra? Sierra is Rhonda’s manipulative, irresponsible, and entitled daughter.
Sierra’s poor decisions, manipulative ways, and ulterior motives, push her stepfather, Xavier, over the edge and puts Rhonda in the unenviable position of having to defend her only child from Xavier’s wrath.
Things get even messier when Rhonda makes one final request of Xavier. The request is so jaw-dropping that the Curry’s agree to not tell their respective attorneys or the mediator while Xavier decides if he’s going to grant Rhonda’s wish.
Award winning, best-selling author, Brian W. Smith, has returned with another intense, thought-provoking novel that will have readers debating about which character is at fault. Although this story shows how the path to family harmony can sometimes be challenging and unclear, the one thing that will be crystal clear to all who read this novel is why you should never burn a bridge you may have to cross again.
Accompanied by their feisty attorneys, the Curry’s enter the mediation session ready for war. Once the mediation session starts, and Xavier and Rhonda tell their sides of the story, it becomes clear that the Curry’s don’t have a money problem or an infidelity problem or even an intimacy problem. What they have is a “Sierra” problem. Who is Sierra? Sierra is Rhonda’s manipulative, irresponsible, and entitled daughter.
Sierra’s poor decisions, manipulative ways, and ulterior motives, push her stepfather, Xavier, over the edge and puts Rhonda in the unenviable position of having to defend her only child from Xavier’s wrath.
Things get even messier when Rhonda makes one final request of Xavier. The request is so jaw-dropping that the Curry’s agree to not tell their respective attorneys or the mediator while Xavier decides if he’s going to grant Rhonda’s wish.
Award winning, best-selling author, Brian W. Smith, has returned with another intense, thought-provoking novel that will have readers debating about which character is at fault. Although this story shows how the path to family harmony can sometimes be challenging and unclear, the one thing that will be crystal clear to all who read this novel is why you should never burn a bridge you may have to cross again.
177 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 6, 2025
11 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 9, 2026
Don’t Bite the Hand That Feeds You
Brian W. Smith has done it *again*. His writing style has always pulled me in, and just when you think you’ve figured it out—boom— here comes that twist at the end. And no, I’m not spoiling it. Just know… it’s a doozy.
The story centers around Xavier Curry, who is beyond fed up in his marriage to Rhonda. They’re headed straight for divorce court—but the real issue isn’t just between them. Enter Sierra, the underappreciative stepdaughter who had me clutching my pearls and yelling at the pages.
You’ll have to read it to fully experience Sierra’s antics, but whew —as a mother of four daughters myself, I kept asking: *How could any daughter want to sabotage her mother’s happiness?* I couldn’t imagine allowing that level of disrespect toward a stepfather who stepped up and accepted both mother and. child.
Sierra is the textbook definition of an entitled, spoiled, no-accountability millennial (yes, I said it ). And Rhonda? Baby… I was screaming at her through the pages wondering how she could allow so much foolishness—especially after finding a man willing to love her and her daughter as a package deal.
As always, I highly recommend this novel.
My only downside? The small print. Listen—I absolutely needed my reading glasses handy. No shame in my seasoned-reader game.
I’m already looking forward to Brian W. Smith’s next novel.
SiStar Tea Rating:
4.5 STARS
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Brian W. Smith has done it *again*. His writing style has always pulled me in, and just when you think you’ve figured it out—boom— here comes that twist at the end. And no, I’m not spoiling it. Just know… it’s a doozy.
The story centers around Xavier Curry, who is beyond fed up in his marriage to Rhonda. They’re headed straight for divorce court—but the real issue isn’t just between them. Enter Sierra, the underappreciative stepdaughter who had me clutching my pearls and yelling at the pages.
You’ll have to read it to fully experience Sierra’s antics, but whew —as a mother of four daughters myself, I kept asking: *How could any daughter want to sabotage her mother’s happiness?* I couldn’t imagine allowing that level of disrespect toward a stepfather who stepped up and accepted both mother and. child.
Sierra is the textbook definition of an entitled, spoiled, no-accountability millennial (yes, I said it ). And Rhonda? Baby… I was screaming at her through the pages wondering how she could allow so much foolishness—especially after finding a man willing to love her and her daughter as a package deal.
As always, I highly recommend this novel.
My only downside? The small print. Listen—I absolutely needed my reading glasses handy. No shame in my seasoned-reader game.
I’m already looking forward to Brian W. Smith’s next novel.
SiStar Tea Rating:
4.5 STARS
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Read
October 17, 2025BRIAN
BRIAN DUBJA
Brian W. Smith
COME TO THE FRONT RAT NAH!!!
I've asked you before don't do this to me!! Yet HERE WE ARE AT 00:51 O'CLOCK YOU'VE DONE IT AGAIN!!😣
PROLOGUE Ok I'm ready
I get into it LEARN ALL THE PLAYERS (pick my favorite)
I'm riding ok This is Ok...
29 Chapters 173 pages I'm not Sleepy I Got this!!
(Excuse my Language)
DAMNIT LAST PAGE LAST PARAGRAPH LAST LINE 🤦🏾♀️
Lord Yet again I've Fallen off the cliff
The End!!
I'M 😶
NO WORDS 🤐
The way you write it's just a conversation flowing...
Roads Streets I see Trees Flowers even pass a few Ditches, dip in Holes and A few Speed Bumps... I'm still There I'M ROLLING
AWW YEAH THIS IS GOOD...
LOOK Up
THE END
Now I'M AT the bottom of the mountain Asking myself WHAT JUST HAPPENED?🤷🏾♀️
Good night I'm going to bed!!!
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 YOU'VE DONE IT SIR 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
BRIAN DUBJA
Brian W. Smith
COME TO THE FRONT RAT NAH!!!
I've asked you before don't do this to me!! Yet HERE WE ARE AT 00:51 O'CLOCK YOU'VE DONE IT AGAIN!!😣
PROLOGUE Ok I'm ready
I get into it LEARN ALL THE PLAYERS (pick my favorite)
I'm riding ok This is Ok...
29 Chapters 173 pages I'm not Sleepy I Got this!!
(Excuse my Language)
DAMNIT LAST PAGE LAST PARAGRAPH LAST LINE 🤦🏾♀️
Lord Yet again I've Fallen off the cliff
The End!!
I'M 😶
NO WORDS 🤐
The way you write it's just a conversation flowing...
Roads Streets I see Trees Flowers even pass a few Ditches, dip in Holes and A few Speed Bumps... I'm still There I'M ROLLING
AWW YEAH THIS IS GOOD...
LOOK Up
THE END
Now I'M AT the bottom of the mountain Asking myself WHAT JUST HAPPENED?🤷🏾♀️
Good night I'm going to bed!!!
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 YOU'VE DONE IT SIR 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
November 28, 2025
Why were they all so annoying and unlikable… Rhonda was weak, Sierra was stupid and conniving and Xavier was an arrogant a$$hole. The whole story taking place in divorce “court” made the story so drawn out. The dialogue between characters taking place in a round table discussion format made the flow and pacing boring.
The wedding scene was so childish. As much I couldn’t stand Sierra, Xavier being willing to cancel the ceremony because he couldn’t walk his step daughter * one he didn’t like* down the aisle was weak as hell. Talking about a wedding he paid for as if he didn’t give her the money BEFORE knowing she would ask him to walk her. TBH there shouldn’t have been a wedding because Darius was trash, they all knew it but, supported this bull$hit a$$ union.
The ending was laughable and made zero sense. Sierra was never sick throughout the story now all of a sudden she will die without a Kidney and Xavier is her only match.
The wedding scene was so childish. As much I couldn’t stand Sierra, Xavier being willing to cancel the ceremony because he couldn’t walk his step daughter * one he didn’t like* down the aisle was weak as hell. Talking about a wedding he paid for as if he didn’t give her the money BEFORE knowing she would ask him to walk her. TBH there shouldn’t have been a wedding because Darius was trash, they all knew it but, supported this bull$hit a$$ union.
The ending was laughable and made zero sense. Sierra was never sick throughout the story now all of a sudden she will die without a Kidney and Xavier is her only match.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2025
You won’t believe the ending!
A broken marriage, a fractured family, and a back story that keeps you guessing “what next?” literally until the last sentence.
I literally read it in one sitting…then went back and reread the last few pages, because the ending was so surprising.
A broken marriage, a fractured family, and a back story that keeps you guessing “what next?” literally until the last sentence.
I literally read it in one sitting…then went back and reread the last few pages, because the ending was so surprising.
December 20, 2025
Engaging and thought provoking
I read this in one sitting. The characters are well developed, the pacing is superb and the situation is both familiar and heartbreaking. It’s unusual to be able to so vividly imagine, and understand, the actions and decisions of two warring main characters.
I read this in one sitting. The characters are well developed, the pacing is superb and the situation is both familiar and heartbreaking. It’s unusual to be able to so vividly imagine, and understand, the actions and decisions of two warring main characters.
January 24, 2026
Awesome read!
This book was a really great read! It's been a while since I've read so this was the perfect one for me to get back into the swing of things. It had my attention from the start all the way until the end. Each story told had me in total shock especially the end! Awesome job once again by the author!
This book was a really great read! It's been a while since I've read so this was the perfect one for me to get back into the swing of things. It had my attention from the start all the way until the end. Each story told had me in total shock especially the end! Awesome job once again by the author!
October 15, 2025
ooooooweeeeee
Such a great read. I struggled because I felt like all of them had some type of accountability that they needed to own however I still connected with the book and couldn’t put it down!!!
Such a great read. I struggled because I felt like all of them had some type of accountability that they needed to own however I still connected with the book and couldn’t put it down!!!
October 31, 2025
Fantastic Reading
This story pushes just how much a person can take. Eventually the main character finally reached the breaking point. This is an excellent story, you will not be disappointed but very surprised by the end.
This story pushes just how much a person can take. Eventually the main character finally reached the breaking point. This is an excellent story, you will not be disappointed but very surprised by the end.
November 4, 2025
Don’t Burn Bridges-Whew!!! Great Read
Burnt Bridges really means what it says. Don’t burn bridges. Like the saying don’t look down on others and think you’re so high because you never know who you will need coming back down. Every day realities. Please read. Enjoy!
Burnt Bridges really means what it says. Don’t burn bridges. Like the saying don’t look down on others and think you’re so high because you never know who you will need coming back down. Every day realities. Please read. Enjoy!
January 8, 2026
You Understand
Excellent
Excellent writing on “Burnt Bridges “
So…relatable!!!
It’s not my experience, but I do know ppl who have had stepchildren and have gone through situations with them
Btw…the answer to the end without giving the ending away “NO”!
Excellent
Excellent writing on “Burnt Bridges “
So…relatable!!!
It’s not my experience, but I do know ppl who have had stepchildren and have gone through situations with them
Btw…the answer to the end without giving the ending away “NO”!
November 23, 2025
An amazing book. You won't regret reading this nor any other book by this awesome author. A book that will make you think and not put down until done and then you'd still want more.
November 25, 2025
Excellent read. A page turner
January 20, 2026
Good read. I mean it really talks how about how far can you push someone until they are done. The answer would be a NO for me
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews