The Merger by Adriana Locke is live!

I love this book! A fantastically fun best-friend’s-brother, age gap, no strings, grumpy/sunshine romance that is flirty and sexy and wildly entertaining.

 

Amazon

 

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Blurb

Crushes are harmless—unless they involve your best friend’s grumpy, off-limits brother.

Gannon Brewer is the epitome of my type. He’s at least ten years older than me, emotionally unavailable, and highly disagreeable—a walking red flag in a tailored suit. But do I listen to that? No. In fact, when his office plants start dying, I convince myself that I can ignore the pheromones and save the philodendron.

Now I’m in his office every week, dodging sinful smirks and heated stares, reminding myself to reach for the watering can—not him. But one late-night “ivy incident” changes everything. Suddenly, we’re sneaking around, indulging in a steamy, forbidden fling that’s supposed to be nothing more than (a lot of) fun.

After all, he swears he’ll never fall in love. I assure him that I only want one thing, and it’s not his heart. But the closer we get, the more lines we blur, and the harder it becomes to keep our promises …

Especially when the secret I’m keeping threatens to shatter everything.

 

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Review

4.5 stars!

I love this book! A fantastically fun best-friend’s-brother, age gap, no strings, grumpy/sunshine romance that is flirty and sexy and wildly entertaining.

This is the fourth book in the Brewer Family series, with great character crossover, but you could easily read this one as a standalone.

Gannon Brewer is the eldest sibling in the family. He is the CEO of the Brewer Group, and managing the family’s vast empire has pretty much become his whole life. He doesn’t socialise, he has no time or any interest in a relationship, and he is known for his cold, business-like manner. Carys is Gannon’s exact opposite. Bright, bubbly and cheerful, she is the best friend of Gannon’s youngest brother, Tate, and she’s absolutely amazing. Sweet, kind and confident, she’s looking to expand her plant care business, and the Brewer Group is just the company she needs to help get it off the ground.

Gannon and Carys could not be more different, but they have secretly lusted after each other for years. They’ve never done anything about it, have barely even had a conversation, but now Carys is taking care of his plants and all over his building. And Gannon – tall, dark and handsome, all serious, brooding intensity, is just Carys’ type, and she’s determined to push every button she can to make him break.

OMG, the chemistry between these two is epic! Every interaction between them just crackles with tension, and their banter, teasing and flirting is absolutely shameless!

“She wanted to know if I was going on payroll as an employee or a subcontractor. I also don’t know how many days a week you want me to come.”
“How many days would you like to come Miss Johnson?”
A blast of heat curls in my stomach. “In a perfect world, I’d come every day.”
He licks his bottom lip, grinning coyly.
“I could even come multiple times if that’s what you wanted.” My skin’s tingling as he undresses me with his eyes.
… “In this perfect world you speak of,” he says, his voice low and thick, “I’d have you coming every day.”

I love the build-up of sexual tension between these two. They each give as good as they get, and they’re outrageously forward and it’s so fun to watch. I loved seeing Carys slowly break Gannon’s resolve – even with his cold, brusque exterior and simmering intensity, we are soon seeing eyebrow raises, lip twitches and sexy smirks, and Carys’ playful nature soon reveals a more playful, caring side of Gannon. Neither of them wants a relationship, but they can’t resist the pull to each other, so they agree to a secret no-strings arrangement that is wildly hot, and full of playfulness, and it’s about to rock both of their worlds.

I’m sure that she has the power to make a mess of my life if I let her. I’m also pretty damn sure I’d consider it, given the chance.

It’s easy and natural, and full of heat, and they find themselves easily slipping into something that neither of them anticipated. I loved watching them together, seeing them support and be there for each other and watching them grow close and embracing the growing connection between them.

“This is what it looks like when someone fights for you,” I say. “I know that might be new to you but get used to it.”

The emotion comes, and they don’t fight it, they just let it happen. It’s functional and mature, there’s no third-act break up, and it was an absolute delight watching these two fall so hard for each other, deal with what comes their way, and find their HEA.

This woman owns me … Carys Johnson went from being my little brother’s best friend to quickly becoming my entire world.

We get to see a fair bit of the Brewer crew, which I loved. Tate steals the scene every time he appears on the page, and I’m so looking forward to seeing him meet his match in the next book.

This is such an enjoyable read – easy, fun, sweet and sexy, and I absolutely loved it.

4.5 stars!

An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the author for an honest review.

 

The Brewer Family

 

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Meet Adriana

USA Today and Amazon Charts Bestselling author, Adriana Locke, writes contemporary romances about the two things she knows best—big families and small towns. Her stories are about ordinary people finding extraordinary love with the perfect combination of heart, heat, and humor.

She loves connecting with readers, fall weather, football, reading alpha heroes, everything pumpkin, and pretending to garden.

Hailing from a tiny town in the Midwest, Adriana spends her free time with her high school sweetheart (who she married over twenty years ago) and their four sons (who truly are her best work). Her kitchen may be a perpetual disaster, and if all else fails, there is always pizza.

 

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