What happens if you lose the one person you need the most?
Cressida
Cressida Bennett had learned the hard way not to leave her heart unguarded. She hadn’t been looking for a relationship, especially from her closest friend. But Declan had a way of drawing her in, making her ache for things she shouldn’t. She had to choose; keep herself safe, or risk it all for love.
Declan
She’d stolen his heart years ago. No matter how hard he’d tried, Declan McKinley couldn’t keep Cressida out of his head. But she was his subordinate, and more importantly, his friend. Keeping her at arm's length was the only way to have her in his life. Losing her wasn't an option.
One Night
One incredible night changes everything. Despite their best efforts, they can’t go back to the easy world they’d once known. When a handsome American millionaire sets his sights on Cressida, Declan becomes desperate to hold on to what they were. But this man wants more from her than they know. As the lies unravel, Cressida finds herself caught in the crosshairs of a dangerous scheme, one that leads her back into the arms of the only man she can trust.
Can Declan keep her safe, or will they sever the ties between them forever?
A.V. Asher was one of those kids who always got in trouble for reading in class. Although she has been creating wild stories since childhood, she only recently began writing them down.
A former elementary school teacher, she now dedicates her time to her family and to chasing her publishing dreams. A.V. lives in Northern Nevada with her husband and three children.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC; all opinions are my own.
I loved the first two books of this series that followed Alec and Mercedes (Sadie). Asher’s stories are full of suspense and intrigue and in the first two books we get to meet Declan and Cressida, who I instantly fell in love with. I’m glad I got to read their story and can’t wait for the next.
Trigger warnings include, but are not limited to: guns, assault, mentions of past rape, attempted rape, violence, trauma
Quick Synopsis: After the conclusion of Sadie and Alec’s story to finally be together and overcome their enemies, the team is back together in the UK, prepping to take on new clients within the security firm. Declan, Alec’s cousin and generally an absurdly attractive human being, has been in love with one of the firm’s programmers for years. Not wanting to ruin their friendship or put their relationship into a precarious position, Declan has never said anything, but when one birthday party leads to a hot and heavy night between the two, Cressida struggles with her own past trauma to be open to these changes. Meanwhile, forces are plotting against them to coerce Cressida into completing a platform that would allow harmful technology to change the political landscape forever.
Here’s what I liked: - I loved Declan and Cressida together. You can feel the tension between the two for sure. - I enjoyed how the tension was built between the two after they first get together, but also how respectful Declan is of her decisions. He’s also understanding of her trauma, what she has gone through, and how it affects her experiences in the present. -Declan is a book boyfriend for sure. - The author is clearly listening and learning from book reviewers and includes many of the tropes/phrases we all like most in the book. From the classic praise kink to the seggsy scenes, there’s a lot of content that seems a direct response to regular book feedback (which I like). - The plot is really interesting - I have never heard about deep fakes but the whole storyline centered around this technology that I now need to go learn more about. - I loved the set up for the next book and I am so excited for it. I love the morally gray character, and I cannot wait to read that book.
Here’s what I struggled with: - From what I remember of Cressida in the first book, she was a spitfire and a super strong woman. In this book however, she seemed a bit more meek than I remember and that I would’ve liked. We do get some background around why she feels the way she does, her past trauma that leads to her hesitancy, however I do wish we had gotten more of the attitude she exhibited. - I do wish I had just gotten to know the characters a little bit better. We had two books to get to know Sadie and Alex, what their preferences are in various forms, but I feel like we could’ve gotten more from this book. This didn’t hinder the book at all however, just something I might’ve enjoyed. E.g. what are their quirks? What are their food preferences? Etc.
Overall, I think this was a great addition to the series and I’m honestly thrilled to have finally gotten to read Declan and Cressida’s story. I can’t wait for the next.
ARC REVIEW of “And Then We Sever” Author : A. V. Asher Genre: Romantic Suspense Series: Book #3, Can also be read as a standalone Review Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Audience: 18+ for explicit content What you get: Friends to lovers, second chance Trigger Warning: including but not limited to: violence, assault, attempted rape, stabbing, previous domestic abuse, previous rape, emotional trauma, PTSD, divorce, explicit sexual content
ARC REVIEW Thank you A.V. Asher for this book. I was provided this book, prior to release; in order to write a book review.
What I Liked About This Book: “And Then We Sever” flowed really well. It was easy to get into the story and to be invested in Cressida and Declan’s friendship. Declan is everybody’s dream book boyfriend. He is patient, loyal, trustworthy, and protective (in an non creepy way). He listens and actually “hears” Cressida, he is observant, he is supportive of Cressida’s independence, he is not threatened by Cressida’s talents, and Declan is attentive to key “smaller” details of things Cressida likes – just to make her happy. Perfect book boyfriend material!
What I Did Not Like About This Book I would have liked to see Cressida’s growth from her past experiences and working through the subsequent PTSD, as motivated from something other than the intense sexual chemistry between her and Declan.
Why You Should Read This Book “Do you enjoy a good romantic suspense story about best friends turned to lovers? Are you looking for your next book boyfriend? If so, “And Then We Sever” is for you!” – Brandi Reads –
Note: Please reference the Author’s note for trigger warnings prior to reading.
This is the first book I've read from this author. I loved it. It has everything you need. So much going on. I need to read more from A.V. Asher. I enjoyed her writing.
Cressida Bennett had learned the hard way not to leave her heart unguarded. She hadn’t been looking for a relationship, especially from her closest friend. But Declan had a way of drawing her in, making her ache for things she shouldn’t. She had to choose; keep herself safe, or risk it all for love.
𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗻
She’d stolen his heart years ago. No matter how hard he’d tried, Declan McKinley couldn’t keep Cressida out of his head. But she was his subordinate, and more importantly, his friend. Keeping her at arm's length was the only way to have her in his life. Losing her wasn't an option.
𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁
One incredible night changes everything. Despite their best efforts, they can’t go back to the easy world they’d once known. When a handsome American millionaire sets his sights on Cressida, Declan becomes desperate to hold on to what they were.
But this man wants more from her than they know. As the lies unravel, Cressida finds herself caught in the crosshairs of a dangerous scheme, one that leads her back into the arms of the only man she can trust.
Can Declan keep her safe, or will they sever the ties between them forever?
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: -I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review.- I read The Truth Keeps Silent and The Lies That Shatter and I DID NOT KNOW I needed Romantic Suspense in my life. This was my first so I didn’t have anything to compare it to. I noticed the chemistry between Declan and Cressida in the first book and I was already dying to know what was going on between them and the author gave me what I wanted and I LOVED Declan’s protective side. I’m not a person who analyzes another’s writing well because it’s their world and I’m just peeking in but I have to say the author does a fabulous job at sucking you in with the action, suspense, and the tension between the two of them. I look forward to reading more from her! Also, I would like to mention that there are some triggering things in the book so be cautious.
Wow what a book! It is a long one, but very worth taking the time to read. It is broken into parts, making it easier to read, and the plot movies quickly. I absolutely love Cressida and Declan, and was excited to see how they find their way to each other in their story. This story definitely draws you in, you want to know where it is going. The plot has a good mixture of action and suspense. Cressida is amazing, I liked how she used all her skills like acting to get information for the team, even in dangerous situations. You can not help but fall for Declan; he is so sweet and protective. There is so much in this book to keep you reading, I highly recommend you read it. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the third book in this series, and this is Declan and Cressida’s story. Cressida struggles with past trauma, and the last thing she is looking for is a relationship. Declan is a security expert, who is a great friend to Cressida, and unbeknown to her she stole his heart years before. When these two spend a steamy night together, and they complement each other perfectly. When an American millionaire has his sights set on Cressida, Declan is determined to get his girl. This is a well written story which has lies, danger, suspense, trust, tension, action, intrigue, and love, which leads to a riveting and steamy page turner. I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I recommend. Be aware there may be triggers for some readers due to the sensitive content. I received a free copy of this book via Give Me Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I haven’t read many action-filled romances, but I’m loving all of AV Asher’s work! This follow-up to her exhilarating duet was just as exciting and consuming. Thank goodness Declan was a security expert because Cressida got herself into pinch after pinch after pinch. They made a great team and their love scenes were smoking! Deepfake technology is so fascinating to me, so I really enjoyed that aspect as well. I’m loving this world Ms Asher has created and I’m eager to read about Barlow and Mara next!
I didn't know I needed a Declan and Cressida story until I read this. I enjoyed their characters in the other books, but their story is just beautiful. Cressida is the 'everyday' woman who wants something she thinks she cannot have and doesn't deserve. Declan thinks she doesn't see him that way. But when these two come together they are electric! The push and pull of these two characters make your heart 'Sever' and then mends it.
Ladies and Gents, grab your wine and favorite snack you are gonna need them for this read.
A.V. Asher has another hit on her hands with her newest release, "And Then We Sever." This book is part of her "Truth and Lies" series.
Cressida is a woman on a mission: do her job well, keep her friends safe and guard her heart from being broken. Declan has been in love with Cressida for years but has hidden it because she's his best friend and subordinate. Cressida harbors the same feelings for Declan but doesn't want to jeopardize their friendship or her career. However, one night may change their relationship forever.
I acquired this book as an ARC. I'm not a part of many ARC groups anymore but I make an exception for A.V. Asher because I absolutely love her books.
Rating on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being exceptional), this is how I rank the following aspects of "And Then We Sever": - Quality of writing: 10/10 - Pace: 10/10 - Plot development: 10/10 - Characters: 10/10 - Enjoyability: 10/10 - Ease of Reading: 9/10
In addition, I'm beyond happy Asher decided to write Declan's and Cressida's story because I absolutely loved both of their characters in her previous books. I absolutely love the banter between Declan and Cressida. Declan is positively swoon-worthy (& Scottish); he's thoughtful, he puts others before himself, he's strong, he's kick-a$$ and he cares tremendously for his friends and family. The spiciness in this book was spectacular (I may have drooled a time or two, lol).
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy suspense, romance and friends-to-lovers tropes. Overall, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. ☆☆☆☆☆
After catching the blurb for And Then We Sever, I knew it would be my first read from A.V. Asher. This one was go go go from the start and didn't let up until the end.
I liked Cressida. She was smart and willing to do what it took to get the job done. She knew when to hold her tongue and when not to back down from a challenge. The one thing she could never quite figure out though were her feelings for Declan.
Oh that Declan. He kept things close to the vest, especially his feelings for Cressida. But when a job takes a dangerous turn that puts her in the cross hairs, all bets were off. I loved seeing his protective side. How he stood beside her and fought with her to get to the bottom of and stop things.
While Cressida and Declan's high on danger, low-ish on drama, friends-to-lovers, workplace romance was a hair predictable, my heart was still racing while everything hung in the balance. I couldn't read those final few chapters fast enough to see how everything played out.
I've been in a reading slump, kinda forgot about this book but then came back to it. I read it in less than 2 days 😍 oh my gosh, just obsessed!!! I was hesitant to read it because I was still hooked on Alec and Sadie (those two books RUINED ME for days). I wasn't ready to move on to another couple! But Cressida and Declan were another pining, misunderstanding angst couple 😭 The plot is fast paced and keeps you going. I enjoyed seeing this side of Cressida. It definitely felt a little like a rehash of the first two books, but I enjoyed the banter and build up of their relationship. I wish we could've gotten a little more depth out of the characters like Sadie and Alec but those two had two books. I've been trying to get on Avies ARC for awhile, thank you so much for letting me!!! I love the writing style and imagery, the way you rip my heart out and stomp on it and I beg you for more 😂😍🥰
This is a complete stand-alone it doesn't need to be read with the previous two in the duet to understand the couple in this book. We follow along with Cressida and Declan and the unique blossom of their love story. I received this as an ARC for an honest review. You have done it again, another masterpiece 👏. If I could, I would give this book more than five ⭐. Once I started reading, I knew that I was hooked and wanted to read more. I cannot wait to read more from A.V. The cover of the book drew me in, then I read the synopsis, and I fell in love with the book even more 🥰
I absolutely love this series!!! This is Cressida and Declan's story and it is another fantastic romance with lots of twists and turns. Cressida is the tech genius and works for Alex and Declan in their security firm. Declan is having trouble keeping his feelings for Cressida at bay but when her life is placed in danger he can no longer hold back his feelings. This story will keep you on the edge of your seat and unable to put this book down. Cressida and Declan have a chemistry that jumps off the page and will keep you reading. I highly recommend this book and the first two in the series to read Mercedes and Alex's story as well!!!
ARC Review of And Then We Sever (Book 3 of the Truth & Lies series) by A.V. Asher * * * * * Talk about mixed emotions and feelings and total misunderstandings between these two! They want but shouldn't have. They fight it but yearn it. They try to move past it but keep clashing together! Cressida and Declan should know better because they are just destined to be. Totally hot and swoon worth of course when one particular jerk gets handsy and Declan steps in. Then of course a few drinks and teasing helps out. Who cares if he's the boss?! Then again...the next morning gets weird. Followed by a whole other lot of drama! Will Declan fight for her? Or will he loose her? Really enjoyed it!
I love the Truth and Lies series so much. This book fits in so well! The angst, the romance, the spice, the storyline! Love love love! I feel like I have been waiting for Declan and Cressida's story for forever! It was so worth the wait. Everything I wanted to learn about them was in this book. I devoured it!! I could not put it down. The angst nearly tore me apart in the best way! This story was just perfect for Declan and Cress. I just loved it!
I am not one to give 5 star reviews often. I'm not an easy reader to please. So when I say this book, as well as the entire set, is truly amazing, know I'm not blowing smoke. Unpredictable plots, alpha men, smart women, incredible settings, steamy romance, and hot sex … Literally, this book has it all.
My only complaint is I have to wait for the next book! Asher’s story telling sucks you in! I’ve finished all of her books in a day! I can’t get enough of these characters! I’m going back to read the first book this weekend! Please don’t stop writing!
Truly a book of friends to lovers. Asher does a great job of making you feel like you’re in the book. You have moments of feeling anxious feeling hurt and feeling happy.
This was my first book from AV Asher and it did not disappoint! The plot moved along quickly and the characters kept me wanting more. Declan has made the short list of book boyfriends!