4

fun concept but the execution was a lil off! I loved grant like he’s a textbook book bf but the pacing was inconsistent, wayyyy too much bourbon terminology, and the ending was anticlimactic

This book combined so many of my favorites - the mystery, the twists, the tension between our MCs that had me screaming "just go for it". I love a good romantic suspense and this one hit in all the right places.

Laney & Grant have some of the best flirty banter I've read. Their push & pull creates wonderful tension. Laney is a firecracker - she's feisty & dishes back out whatever is thrown at her. She's a perfect match for Grant the grump, who slowly comes out of his shell. There are such playful scenes (them dancing, her skinny dipping, etc) that break the tense themes.

This is a slow burn done is the best way. While a lot of the story is on Laney, their blossoming friendship highlights Grant's growth in letting someone else in. His story is endearing and really enjoyed his POV. Also, Laney's found friendship with Hadley is so fun. She's such a great side character and hope to see more of her story (maybe with a certain Foxx brother) in a future book.

currently fanning myself- i haven’t read a lot of distillery owning men (this is the second) but it’s definitely growing to be a top tier situation. i also love the mystery aspect of this, though i wish maybe she would’ve laid out the full story all at once rather than dropping pieces everywhere
grumpy man whose an ex cop and she’s in an unofficial witness protection program (for a good reason)

overall: 4.5/5
spice: 3/5

4/5 ⭐️ 2.5/5

Loved it!

I really loved this story! I loved the twists the story took and trying to figure out how all of the pieces fit together. I loved their meeting and how she fit into his family.

✨ I received this book as an ARC for my honest review✨

Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

This book had me hooked from the moment I started reading! It’s my first by Victoria Wilder, and wow, she’s totally got me hooked. This is the start of the Bourbon Boys series, and it has everything I love—small-town vibes, suspense, hot chemistry, and a whole lot of bourbon.

The story follows Grant Foxx, a grumpy ex-cop turned bourbon maker, and Laney Young, who’s in witness protection after some serious trouble back home. She ends up staying with the Foxx family in Fiasco, Kentucky, and it’s clear from the start that their lives are about to get a lot more complicated.

Grant is instantly suspicious of Laney, but he can’t deny the pull between them. Laney’s got a fierce, no-nonsense attitude that I loved, and she doesn’t take crap from anyone—especially not him.

The banter? Chef’s kiss. It's playful and flirty, but then you get these deep heartfelt moments that made me fall for both of them.

The slow burn between them is everything, and when bourbon gets involved? It’s downright explosive.

Let me start out by saying this isn’t a cowboy romance. She calls him cowboy because he has a horse.

I really enjoyed this!! This takes place in Kentucky on Foxx land. Laney has many secrets and she must keep it that way to remain safe. She finds herself on a bourbon distillery owned by the Foxx family. There’s one guy in particular, Grant, who is weary and wondering about what she’s hiding. Also, there’s a rumor known around town that the Foxx men are cursed.

This had a mysterious & suspenseful element that had me pulled in. The chemistry between grant and Laney is hotttt. The bourbon play had me reeling. I love how things progressed with them, and how they got to know each other better. Oh and his dog was the star of the show!!

This did slow down a little in the middle of the book, but overall I loved this.