Nightshade
A once-burned forever-shy beekeeper who swore off love.
A duty-bound heir unable to walk away from his wife.
A summer that will break them…or save them.
Nightshade
A once-burned forever-shy beekeeper who swore off love.
A duty-bound heir unable to walk away from his wife.
A summer that will break them…or save them.
After an unexpected run-in with the ex who wrecked her, Suzie heads home for a quiet, simple summer. All she wants is to save Hugh Delaware’s bees and figure out how to be happy.
But Delaware Grange has a wild magic.
Something’s very wrong on the estate. And as Suzie digs deeper she finds herself hopelessly drawn to Hugh – the brooding heir. A botanist who built an impossible tea farm on an English hillside, and desperately needs her help to salvage it.
With a crumbling marriage and the weight of a fading legacy on his shoulders, Hugh’s world couldn’t be further from Suzie’s council-house upbringing. It’s an unattainable, irresistible connection that could destroy them both. But what started as an intriguing puzzle rapidly becomes something far darker, threatening the lives of everyone on the estate – not just the bees.
Suddenly, forbidden desire is the least dangerous thing about Delaware Grange.
Nightshade is a romantic suspense with slow-burn heat, a Byronic hero who’s off-limits, and a woman trying to find her way home. If you love forbidden romance, small-town secrets, and lush cottagecore with a darker edge, this one’s for you.
“The things we desperately crave, irrevocably need – they ruin us. Or save us. Usually both.”
Meet The Characters
A Slow Burn Forbidden Love Story About
Lust
Knowing it’s bad for you only makes it taste sweeter.
Love
The extraordinary lengths we will run to for those we love.
Longing
That burning need for one person who will truly see us.
Briar Black
Penning Spicy Romances With Mysterious Twists
Growing up and working in the scenic countryside of Cheshire, England, Briark’s tales are deeply infused with the local landscape and its vibrant cast of quirky characters. Weaving together romance and intrigue, Briar’s tales create enchanting settings that feel both familiar and fantastical. Bane is set in the fictional town of Ashfordby, crafted from Briar’s intimate knowledge of Cheshire’s various towns and villages. Each story is a tiny microcosm bottling the essence of Northern England and transporting readers into a world that exists somewhere between reality and imagination. Explore the tangled affairs of the heart, peppered with searing spice and a dash of the mysterious unknown.
Book Reviews
What The Bookworms Think
This was such a cute read… I couldn’t put it down and read it in a few days… I highly recommend it to other readers.
Nightshade was able to capture my heart! The mystery is very well done, increasing in intensity as the story progresses. The one between Suzie and Hugh is a slow burn of the real ones.
A beautifully written slow burn small town romance that quietly pulls you in and doesn’t let go… Briar crafts a rich, emotionally layered story… Suzie’s humour… adds such warmth and levity to the story… Hugh is a quiet force of his own. Overall, Nightshade is a quiet, powerful story about healing, connection, and choosing love after hardship.
An absolute easy read, and I loved the back and forth banter between the two main characters. This is a murder mystery turned love story, and I’m all for it. Something that kept you wanting to continue the read until it was finished.
The Cheshire Set is becoming one of my favorite series. Seeing her find love with Hugh… I was really passionate about the mystery of bees, linked to an even bigger story.
Intriguing small town romance with a unique mystery plot I really liked… The slow burn is scorching, but the payoff is worth the pain! The way the countryside comes alive in this one… is just beautiful.
Loved the characters and how the story draws you in. Thoroughly enjoyable story would highly recommend.
Nightshade by Briar Black absolutely swept me away. This wasn’t just a story, it was a whole mood. The romance was swoony, the mystery was perfectly layered, and the small-town vibes made it feel both cozy and chilling.
The age-gap romance? Swoony, slow-burn perfection. Every stolen glance, every moment of restraint, was delicious tension. That mix of warmth and danger made the murder mystery all the more gripping.
