New Release from Sawyer Bennett The Feud (Bluegrass Empires, Book #1)
Synopsis:
New York Times bestselling author, Sawyer Bennett, welcomes you to Bluegrass Empires, a sweeping series of sexy romance standalones. Set among the rolling hills of Kentucky horse farms and bourbon distilleries, these seductive tales are steeped in bloodline feuds that run deep and without forgiveness.
As the oldest of his siblings, Ethan Blackburn bears the weight of responsibility for the day-to-day operations of Blackburn Farms, the largest Saddlebred breeding and training facility in Kentucky. Serious, gruff and solely focused on the success of the family business, Ethan isn’t one to mince words or waste time on anything that doesn’t further his interests. But when his meticulous world is upended by a shadowed secret brought into the light, Ethan is sent into a tailspin.
Marcie DeLeon just navigated her way through a bitter divorce, now intent on reimagining her life as a single career woman. She’s not looking to revisit the burden of a relationship anytime soon but when Ethan turns to her for help, she can’t help but lend a sympathetic ear to the handsome and broody man.
Ethan and Marcie are strangers who find a common thread to weave them together, creating a bond neither were seeking but both are loathe to walk away from. When Ethan faces a high-stakes battle against his family’s bitter enemy, he knows without a doubt there is nothing he won’t do to win the fight. Ready to give of himself completely, Ethan prepares to face-off with his foe hoping that no matter what the outcome, Marcie will be by his side in the end.
The Feud: A Blackburn Novel is a friends to lovers novel within the Bluegrass Empires series. All books in the series can be enjoyed as standalones.
New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both women’s and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.
A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.
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Grab your copy of The Feud directly from Sawyer by shopping the Sawyer Bennett Bookstore!
E-Book: https://bit.ly/STORE_TheFeud Audio (narrated by Sean Masters and Kit Swann): https://bit.ly/STORE_TheFeudAudio Signed paperback (available to US mailing addresses): https://bit.ly/STORE_TheFeudPB
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Try it before you buy it! Click below to READ or HEAR a sample of The Feud:
READ the first three chapters | HEAR the first chapter
4 Star Review by Trinette Dungee
Ethan Blackburn’s life has always revolved around the family business. With his father now retired it's his entire life; until life throws him a curve ball in the form of a thirteen-year-old daughter, Sylvie. Not only is he blindsided by the fact that he has a daughter he never knew about, but he also learns she is the result of one night spent with Alaine Mardraggon, the daughter of his family’s sworn enemy. The Blackburns and Mardraggons are the modern day Hatfields and McCoys and now Sylvie is caught in the middle of battle that has been going on for decades on top of dealing with the loss of her mother.
Sylvie is currently living with her mother’s parents who have not painted Ethan in the best light, but Alaine’s directives were for Sylvie to live with her father. Now, along with getting to know his daughter, he has to undo any damage Sylvie’s grandparents have done to his and his family’s character. Ethan finds an ally in Marcie DeLeon, the Principal of Sylvie’s new school, and the aunt of one of the riding students on his ranch.
Marcie DeLeon is navigating her own life after being recently divorced. Upon meeting Sylvie and Ethan she instantly recognizes the newly introduce father and daughter could use her help in getting along with each other. Marcie is determined to do what is best for Sylvie and tries her best to remain neutral when it comes to helping Sylvie navigate the relationships she has with her mother’s and father’s family. She also has to deal with the small crush she had on Ethan (like every other woman in the county).
The first introduction to the Blackburn Family was in Code Name: Omega, Kellan McCord’s and Abby Blackburn’s story, when Abby’s family comes to her rescue. From the moment we met the Blackburn siblings I hoped we’d get a story for them. Well, I got my first story, and I was not disappointed. This story was a bit of a departure from most recent Sawyer books, but a return to some of the older Sawyer books, if that makes any sense. The steam/spice level is relatively low, but the chemistry that only Sawyer can deliver was there!
This book gave all the feels and all the emotions, in addition to humor. This wasn’t just Ethan’s journey, or Ethan’s and Marcie’s journey, but it was Sylvie’s journey as well. Often when the storyline is of a single parent, the child in the story seems to get lost and the story seems to focus more on the couple. Sylvie was just as much a part of this story as Ethan and Marcie. I’d actually go so far as to say Sylvie was more a part of the story than Marcie.
Sylvie’s mother raised her primarily in France, so she was fluent in French. The scenes where she mocked Ethan in French were hilarious! And I thought Ethan’s solution in dealing with her French dialogue were brilliant.
I loved all of the characters in this book, be they main or supporting characters. When it comes to series, especially a family series Sawyer is very good at setting up the upcoming storylines without having you lose focus of the current storyline. As Sylvie’s uncle, Gabe was introduced as one of the antagonists, but you quickly realize there is more to this guy, and he most definitely is someone who wants the best for his niece. With that being said, next up in this Bluegrass series we’ll get Gabe Maddragon’s and Kat Blackburn’s story.
I actually did double duty on this story with a visual and audio read. With the narrators selected for these characters, Sean Masterson and Kit Swann it was easy to transition from one to the other. I’ve listened to, and have enjoyed these narrators in other books, but this wasn’t my favorite for either of them. I think I enjoyed the visual read a bit more. But the audio is definitely worth the listen.
Sylvie is currently living with her mother’s parents who have not painted Ethan in the best light, but Alaine’s directives were for Sylvie to live with her father. Now, along with getting to know his daughter, he has to undo any damage Sylvie’s grandparents have done to his and his family’s character. Ethan finds an ally in Marcie DeLeon, the Principal of Sylvie’s new school, and the aunt of one of the riding students on his ranch.
Marcie DeLeon is navigating her own life after being recently divorced. Upon meeting Sylvie and Ethan she instantly recognizes the newly introduce father and daughter could use her help in getting along with each other. Marcie is determined to do what is best for Sylvie and tries her best to remain neutral when it comes to helping Sylvie navigate the relationships she has with her mother’s and father’s family. She also has to deal with the small crush she had on Ethan (like every other woman in the county).
The first introduction to the Blackburn Family was in Code Name: Omega, Kellan McCord’s and Abby Blackburn’s story, when Abby’s family comes to her rescue. From the moment we met the Blackburn siblings I hoped we’d get a story for them. Well, I got my first story, and I was not disappointed. This story was a bit of a departure from most recent Sawyer books, but a return to some of the older Sawyer books, if that makes any sense. The steam/spice level is relatively low, but the chemistry that only Sawyer can deliver was there!
This book gave all the feels and all the emotions, in addition to humor. This wasn’t just Ethan’s journey, or Ethan’s and Marcie’s journey, but it was Sylvie’s journey as well. Often when the storyline is of a single parent, the child in the story seems to get lost and the story seems to focus more on the couple. Sylvie was just as much a part of this story as Ethan and Marcie. I’d actually go so far as to say Sylvie was more a part of the story than Marcie.
Sylvie’s mother raised her primarily in France, so she was fluent in French. The scenes where she mocked Ethan in French were hilarious! And I thought Ethan’s solution in dealing with her French dialogue were brilliant.
I loved all of the characters in this book, be they main or supporting characters. When it comes to series, especially a family series Sawyer is very good at setting up the upcoming storylines without having you lose focus of the current storyline. As Sylvie’s uncle, Gabe was introduced as one of the antagonists, but you quickly realize there is more to this guy, and he most definitely is someone who wants the best for his niece. With that being said, next up in this Bluegrass series we’ll get Gabe Maddragon’s and Kat Blackburn’s story.
I actually did double duty on this story with a visual and audio read. With the narrators selected for these characters, Sean Masterson and Kit Swann it was easy to transition from one to the other. I’ve listened to, and have enjoyed these narrators in other books, but this wasn’t my favorite for either of them. I think I enjoyed the visual read a bit more. But the audio is definitely worth the listen.
About the Author:
New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both women’s and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.
A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.
If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).
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