The Feud | Sawyer Bennett

I was entranced by the Blackburn family after Abby’s brothers rushed to Philadelphia in Code Name; Omega.  So when Sawyer Bennett announced we were going to be getting books for her siblings I was ecstatic….and the wait seemed so long.  But friends, I am here to tell you it was so so very worth it!  Ethan Blackburn made an impression on readers for being a major grump and so very bossy….and not always in a good way! But in The Fued we really got to see who Ethan is at his heart.  He is a family man that loves his family more than anything, he loves his family’s land, the farm, and horses so much. He also takes so much pride in the business generations of his family have created.  So when he is thrown for an epic loop and becomes a father to an extremely precocious little girl he does what he does best; he steps up to be the best father he can be.  While he might have been shocked at first Ethan stepped into the role quickly and with grace.  He was constantly putting Sylvie’s needs before his own, and really trying to see things naturally and from his daughter’s perspective.  

Marcie DeLoen is an accomplished educator and the principal of the local elementary school and after her recent divorce is working to find herself again.  Marcie loves her job and adores her students and is devoted to her sister and niece.  But in a sense she is looking for a partnership, someone to love and be loved by.  So when Ethan Blackburn asks for help she is willing to help.  And while she might have a little crush on Ethan she takes being an advocate for children to heart and does such an amazing job of putting Sylvie’s needs and privacy first.  And I think that it made me love Marcie and Ethan more because they both agreed that Sylvie needed someone to confide in and advocate for her needs.    

I appreciate how Ethan and Marcie’s relationship grew from friendship and a mutual respect the pair had for one another.  They both relied on one another emotionally and their bond grew to more and they took their time becoming intimate.  In general I like a steamy book, but that would no way make sense for Ethan and Marcie, and that is not to say they don’t have a connection and serious chemistry because they certainly do. 

This setting in the hills of Kentucky was absolutely stunning, and the inside peek of the workings of a horse farm was fascinating and it was clear that Sawyer knew exactly what she was talking about when it comes to horses and riding.  And the Blackburn family is just simply amazing! The banter, the support and love they have for one another is so clear throughout the entire book, and they way they immediately took to Sylvie and adored her from the first moment they laid eyes on her.  And the long sordid history with the Mardraggon family just added so much to this book and to say I am eagerly awaiting the release of book 2 is a giant understatement.  If you love a small town, a rivalry, a family series, and some serious sibling banter this book must be on your TBR!

BOOK DETAILS:

• Rating: 5 Stars
• POV: First person, dual POV
• POP: 80%
• Series: Blackburn Series 
• Type of Series: First in interconnected family series
• Tropes: Single dad, secret baby, Grumpy/Sunshine, small town, family series, SLOOOOWWW BURN.
• Release Date: 6/25/24Available on all retailers today!