My Kindle app seemed very convinced that I would like Bourbon & Lies by Victoria Wilder. It recommended this book to me constantly, for months, until I decided it was time to give it a try. I went into this book thinking it would be something akin to a cowboy romance, just with a family bourbon business instead of a family ranch. I was only half right. Bourbon & Lies has a lot of that energy, but with a slightly darker vibe.
Laney stopped a monster, saved a life, and now has to leave New York behind to start a whole new life in Witness Protection. Her handler, in an attempt to keep her completely under the radar, takes her to Fiasco, Kentucky, and puts her with the only people Agent Harper can trust, the Foxx family.
The Foxx family runs the best bourbon distillery in the state, if not the country. The three Foxx brothers run the business together, which sounds like a dream, if it weren’t for the curse. Any woman a Foxx brother falls for ends up dead.
Grant Foxx was a cop who lost his partner and lover five years ago. She was killed in action, chasing a lead, leaving Grant utterly devastated. Ever since, he’s kept to himself, working for the family business with his brothers, and keeping everyone else at arm’s length.
Until Laney shows up and changes everything. Grant can tell she’s hiding something, and he’s determined to figure out what she’s keeping from them. The attraction between them is undeniable, despite his suspicions, and there’s danger lurking in the shadows just waiting to strike the small town of Fiasco, Kentucky.
These characters are fun to read as they fight each other and themselves, but I didn’t quite connect with them on any sort of deeper level. They’re interesting on the surface, but despite all they’ve been through, it seemed like the reader stayed on the surface with these two.
The plot escalates very quickly after many chapters of slow building, which was exciting, but left it with an ending that felt rushed. However, all the questions raised at the beginning definitely had me engaged and hungry to learn the whole story, so at no point was I bored while reading this story.
Far and away, my favorite thing about Bourbon & Lies was the spice. Grant and Laney had an instant attraction, despite obvious obstacles, which led to lots of delicious sexual tension. They dance around each other beautifully, and the dirty talk is off the charts. It’s always the quiet, broody heroes that have the filthiest mouths.
Bourbon & Lies is a fun, spicy read that’s perfect for a lazy weekend. The plot and romance are both exciting, and although the story and character building feel a little rushed, this book is still worth reading if you are looking for something light and filled with delicious drama.
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