THE FEUD (Bluegrass Empires 1) by Sawyer Bennett

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 25, 2024

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.

••••••

REVIEW:  THE FEUD is the first instalment in Sawyer Bennett’s contemporary, adult BLUEGRASS EMPIRES romance series focusing on the Blackburn and the Mardraggon families. This is thirty-seven year old, ranch owner/bourbon distillery owner Ethan Blackburn, and thirty-four year old, grade school principal Marcie DeLeon’s story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Ethan and Marcie) THE FEUD follows the friends to lovers relationship between our story line couple. The Blackburn and Mardraggon families have been in a proverbial war for over two-hundred years, and the hatred continues with the current generation. Ethan Blackburn doesn’t do relationships but a one-night stand with Alaine Mardraggon ten years earlier is about to send the entire family into a spiral including our story line hero. Meanwhile, Marcie DeLeon’s sister Michelle is hoping to buy a show horse from the Blackburn ranch, taking Marcie along for the ride but Marcie and Ethan’s paths are about to cross in another setting, and with Marcie’s help, Ethan will set into motion a new direction and future for his family.

The world building follows several intersecting paths that culminate in the Mardraggon and Blackburn families merging in the face of betrayal and madness. As Ethan struggles with the fall-out of the ongoing hatred between the two bourbon dynasties, Marcie become Ethan’s safe-place and support when everything begins to spiral out of control.

The relationship between Marcie and Ethan is a friends to lovers whose paths will cross on numerous occasions as Ethan’s personal life is no longer his own. Falling for Marcie is easy but his life is about to change as his their future. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and dynamic secondary and supporting characters including Ethan’s siblings,-Trey, Wade and Kat; their parents Fiona and Tommy Blackburn, as well as Marcie’s sister Michelle, and several members of the Mardraggon family including Lionel and Rosemund, and their son Gabe. Gabe Mardraggon and Kat Blackburn’s story line is next.

THE FEUD is a story of betrayal and vengeance, secrets and lies, power and control, greed and avarice, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The premise is heart breaking, emotional and captivating; the romance is subtle but impassioned; the characters are determined, dynamic and stubborn.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists on multiple occasions.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.

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