Blackburn by Brynne Asher Pages: 113
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Setting: Nicaragua, Wilmington NC
Source: Amazon
Goodreads
She’s my employee.
I’m her boss’s boss. Hell, I own the company.
Pursuing Lillian Burkette was a line I shouldn’t cross.
Until a work trip from hell changed everything.
I didn’t just step over the line. I annihilated the damn thing.
When it comes to her, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do. I’d even kill for her.
When they say the corporate world is a jungle … they have no idea.
Blackburn is part of the new Special Forces Alpha series created by Susan Stoker after Kindle Worlds ended. Brynne Asher has written a few other books that I enjoyed in the past so I was thrilled to pick this one up!
Gabe Blackburn is a tech genius, billionaire, and ex special forces soldier. After an employee is too ill to travel, he has to accompany Lillian, a marketing rep for his company. He is captivated by Lillian but because she is an employee, he has been frosty to her. Because of this behavior, Lillian is looking forward to the trip to Central America with Gabe about as much as a root canal.
The book can really be thought of as part 1 and part 2. Part 1 takes place in Nicaragua. Gabe and Lillian were presenting their software to a potential buyer and on the way back to the hotel, their ride is ambushed and they barely escape. They face a harrowing time in the rain forest trying to stay alive and get back to civilization.
Part 2 occurs after they are safely back in the states. Lillian’s beloved grandmother is dying and she flies to be by her side. She also has to deal with the horrible humans she calls mom and dad. I really loved part 1. The danger and suspense of the jungle was intriguing. However, it kind of ended quickly and wasn’t really wrapped up well. Who set them up? Why? Part 2 focused on Lillian’s family issues and was just kind of weird and disjointed. Had the book stuck with the plot from part 1 and fleshed that out more, this would have been a 4 star read for me. Asher writes likable characters and I enjoyed her Carpino series. I think this book was hampered by trying to cram too much into a novella.
- POV: dual 1st
- Tears: no
- Trope: kidnapping, family drama, office romance
- Triggers: none
- Series/Standalone: stand alone
- Cliffhanger: View Spoiler »
- HEA: View Spoiler »
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Authors like Maryann Jordan, Susan Stoker, Anne Conley…then you will probably like Blackburn!
Blackburn
I got this on Kindle Unlimited because the cover and the blurb intrigued me so thanks for reviewing this because I’m even more intrigued. Great review, Samantha!