If Own It, the first book in author Elisabeth Barrett’s new It Factor series, is indicative of the quality we can expect in what is to come in this unpredictable, exciting, and compelling family based series then readers are in for a treat. ~ Slick, Guilty Pleasures
Description:
Aidan Phelan has finally gained control over Wolfshead, his family’s craft brewery and distillery, but there’s one catch—his curvy firecracker of an ex-wife has also inherited a share. It was Aidan’s stubborn pride that destroyed their marriage to begin with, and now he has a daily reminder of that failure strutting around in sexy heels and pencil skirts. But he has bigger problems—namely establishing himself as CEO by successfully launching Wolfshead’s new whiskey without his family driving him insane.
Emma Crandall is shocked when she finds out she’s part-owner of Aidan’s family business, the company that drove a wedge between the two of them. Aidan offers to buy her out, but she’s not biting. She’s just started up a freelance marketing consulting business, and working with Wolfshead could open the door to bigger and better clients. Besides, it’s high time she proved to herself that she can handle her arrogant ex, even if he is big, bearded, and hot as hell.
Forced to work together, Aidan and Emma must confront their darkest fears and deepest desires. But owning Wolfshead comes with a price neither of them anticipated…their hearts.
If Own It, the first book in author Elisabeth Barrett’s new It Factor series, is indicative of the quality we can expect in what is to come in this 
unpredictable, exciting, and compelling family based series then readers are in for a treat. Own It is a second chance at love story and really by the time the book is over, it’s a third chance at love story. The couple in this book were divorced and two years later are brought back together because of a meddling old man’s will and his desire to see them both happy. While at times I got frustrated with them both, it did not escape my notice that no matter what went on between them, the love they had for one another was still there. With a wide divide between them, finding their way back to one another proves difficult even though they still relate extremely well on a physical level.
No one is more surprised than Emma Crandall when she finds out her ex-husband’s grandfather has left her 1/8 of the family business, well no one except perhaps Aidan Phelan, her ex. Being in the same room together reminds them of everything that was right between them and everything that went so very wrong. It was interesting watching these two try and work together all while trying to deny the feelings they still had for one another. Emma was smart, spunky, and dedicated to her new marketing and branding business and her family, so it was no surprise that she immediately began to work hard improving Wolfshead Brewing and their new distilling endeavor. I believed underneath Aiden was a good man, perhaps even a great man, but he was so stubborn that at times he was his own worst enemy. What bothered me was that he made the same type of mistake over and over and I’m not really sure he learned from them. I was a little disappointed that we never really got a clear picture as to why Aiden shut down in their marriage; it felt like something was missing in regards to that part of the story. Physically they were equally matched, but emotionally they had a tough road and I hope that as this series goes on we’ll continue to get a glimpse into how their relationship is progressing.
Sometimes the first book in a series is tough because the author is laying the groundwork for the series and introducing all the characters and there are a lot of characters in this series as Aiden has three brothers and three cousins all of whom are involved in the family business and all with very distinct personalities and interests. I feel that Ms. Barrett did a fantastic job of keeping the focus on Emma and Aiden, but still letting the readers get comfortable with what this series is about as well as a bit of a look at the other six Phelan men. While my eyes glazed over a bit at some of the technical aspects of the business, I also realize this was needed so the reader gets a clear understanding of how each of the men fit into the family business.
Complicated, emotional, and so very, very sexy Own It was a fantastic start to an exciting new series and Ms. Barrett will no doubt have readers howling as the stories of the six remaining men that make up Wolfshead Brewery find the loves of their lives.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
4.5 stars
Thanks for the review Slick