Cask Strength
He negotiates treaties. She starts wars. But when the barrel is tapped, they both might drown in the proof.
Ellis Barrett is the 'Face' of the Ironbarrel Distillery—the lawyer who keeps the family out of jail and the creditors at bay. He fights with ink and loopholes, protecting his rough-edged brothers from the corporate sharks circling their legacy. But the biggest shark of all is Cillian O’Shea, a rival tycoon determined to swallow the Barrett empire whole, and his weapon of choice is his brilliant daughter.
Daphne O’Shea is the 'Acquisition King.' Beautiful, brilliant, and terrifyingly efficient, she has spent her life proving she is more than just a pawn in her father's game. When she arrives in Oakhaven to finalize the hostile takeover of Ironbarrel, she expects a fight. She doesn't expect Ellis Barrett—the man she shared a whiskey-soaked, anonymous night of passion with just hours before.
Now on opposite sides of the negotiation table, the chemistry is volatile. They trade lawsuits like foreplay and secrets like currency. But as the legal battle turns into a physical siege, Daphne discovers the rot at the heart of her father’s empire. Trapped between her blood and her heart, she must make a choice: remain the loyal daughter of a monster, or break the barrel open and let the truth spill out.
The Blurb
Ellis Barrett is the 'Face' of the Ironbarrel Distillery—the lawyer who keeps the family out of jail and the creditors at bay. He fights with ink and loopholes, protecting his rough-edged brothers from the corporate sharks circling their legacy. But the biggest shark of all is Cillian O’Shea, a rival tycoon determined to swallow the Barrett empire whole, and his weapon of choice is his brilliant daughter.
Daphne O’Shea is the 'Acquisition King.' Beautiful, brilliant, and terrifyingly efficient, she has spent her life proving she is more than just a pawn in her father's game. When she arrives in Oakhaven to finalize the hostile takeover of Ironbarrel, she expects a fight. She doesn't expect Ellis Barrett—the man she shared a whiskey-soaked, anonymous night of passion with just hours before.
Now on opposite sides of the negotiation table, the chemistry is volatile. They trade lawsuits like foreplay and secrets like currency. But as the legal battle turns into a physical siege, Daphne discovers the rot at the heart of her father’s empire. Trapped between her blood and her heart, she must make a choice: remain the loyal daughter of a monster, or break the barrel open and let the truth spill out.
"The Sorkin-esque banter and high-stakes tension kept me up until 3 AM; Ellis and Daphne are the ultimate power couple, and the 'cask strength' metaphor is absolute perfection."— Amelia Thorne