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.

Nightshade - Briar Black
Nightshade - Briar Black

“The things we desperately crave, irrevocably need – they ruin us. Or save us. Usually both.”

Meet The Characters

Briar Black’s spicy mystery romance Bane: Amelia’s becomes entangled with the bad boy she never forgot. And he’s in trouble. Can she save him? Should she?

Hugh

Desperate To Be A Better Man

Michael Bane is that guy. Since he hit puberty everyone’s either wanted him or wanted to be him. All Michael ever wanted to do was play football and continue to be that guy. But his sister needed him. And family always comes first. A lesson he learned when his father failed at it so spectacularly and left him holding the bag (and the deflated football) way too young. Michael paid his due. He’s done the impossible, broken the cycle, saved his sister from the foster system, saved his niece from struggling like he did. But it left him…angry. Empty. Struggling to find meaning in the material gain he worked his arse off to make. Long hot sex and short goodbyes became his hallmark; punching first and regretting it later his calling card. Until he punches the wrong guy, and for once, someone else steps up to save him.

Suzie

Chasing A Childhood Fantasy

Amelia is your typical geek; the ugly duckling who revelled in Star Trek, devoured books, and identified so strongly with Belle she still wonders why nobody has kidnapped her and locked her in a multi-story library yet. Tired of waiting, she decided to build her own and became the high-fashion marketeer with a love for the latest Louis Vuittons, a meticulously styled mane of caramel blonde hair, and a Lexus (EV, natch) in the driveway. It took her years to reconcile both sides of herself into a version she could embrace. Now, finding a man who can keep pace with her seems an impossible task. Beauty has found her peace, but she’s still searching for her beast. And she has zero interest in taming him.

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, Briar’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.

Eve Was Framed by Briar Black, a Feminist tale of Women's Fiction and Female Empowerment

Book Reviews

What The Bookworms Think

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.

Chiara @wordsbychiara, Amazon

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.

Heather, Amazon

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.

Maria | pagesofmaria, Amazon

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.

Samantha Robertson, Amazon

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.

Vanessa, Amazon

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.

Emma Ashley, Amazon

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.

Chere McKee, Amazon

Loved the characters and how the story draws you in. Thoroughly enjoyable story would highly recommend.

Steve and Deb, Amazon