Victoria wilder

Bourbon & Secrets

Happy Friday! Bourbon and Secrets is out today, thank you to the author for the ARC.

There is something so sexy about this series! The writing is lush, the characters are smart and confident, and the steamy scenes are spicyyyy. It’s not noir but I get those same slinky, sensual, vibes.

This is book two in the series, which features Lincoln, the middle Foxx brother and widowed single dad. He shares a slightly complicated past with our FMC Faye (including a little blackmail over events which ran her out of town five years ago) but she’s back under suspicious circumstances and the two just can’t seem to stay away from each other. 

They start off very antagonistically with lots of banter and jabs but it quickly turns into more, despite them both hiding a lot of secrets. I loved how their relationship changed and evolved and it was a delight to watch them fall.

Aside from the romance, which I loved, I also loved Faye’s relationships with Lincoln’s daughters and also her newly found friends in Hadley and Laney, who we met in book one. I also all around love the Foxx family, the distillery setting is just stunning, and I just really really love this series! 

December Midnights

This magical holiday romance releases today on audio! Thank you to the author for the ALC. The ebook is also available in KU.

This is a small town romance set at an inn in Maine during the winter solstice. A matchmaker has told Aurora she will meet her soulmate this solstice, but the only man she’s drawn to is Gray, a former baseball player, now investor at the Inn where she works. He’s leaving town soon to pursue a new career so this can’t be the man for her, right?

Full of magic and whimsy and spice, this is a quick reading and unique novella.  

I eyeball read this last year and was happy to reread it again this year on audio. The MMC, Gray, is a bit grumpy and growly, and Tor Thom’s narration fits that perfectly, especially during the dirty talk scenes. Savannah Peachwood was also perfect for Aurora’s whimsical and hopeful nature. The duet narration between them was just a delight, and I recommend checking this one out on audio if you can!

Bourbon & Lies

Oooh did I love this book! This is my first by the author but it certainly won’t be the last. This cover is stunning and what initially drew me to the book but the contents were just as good.

It’s a forced proximity romance between Laney, a woman on the run, and Grant, the youngest son of a bourbon distilling family dynasty. She needs a safe place to hide out for a while and Fiasco, Kentucky is just that place.

I loved both of them individually and together. Grant has suffered a lot of loss in his life which has led him to become somewhat of a recluse, cut off emotionally from his family if not physically. He’s very grumpy about this woman who showed up out of nowhere who he can’t seem to avoid. Laney was so resilient and I love that she did not take Grant’s shit at all, and threw it back at him even harder. They were such a great match! And WHEW the sparks were flying between them from the get go.

This was such a sexy book. The writing, the scenery, the descriptions, all sexy (also, you know, the sex was sexy too). There’s also a bit of suspense which I love! I loved the small town and supporting characters and I’m genuinely so excited to get to read more from this world. 

This is easily my favorite book I’ve read in June and it’s on my top reads of 2024 list!