barrel proof (agents irish and whiskey #3) by layla reyne blog tour review & giveaway!

I’m thrilled to be on the Barrel Proof Blog Tour today. I’m supposed to be reviewing the final installment in the trilogy but I’m going to do a spoiler free series review instead because a.) I don’t want to spoil anything for people who haven’t started this M/M Romantic Suspense series yet and b.) with all three books now out in the world this is a perfect series to binge read as I was able to do.

There be lots of cliffhangers with Irish and Whiskey so set aside a few days and go for it!

And don't forget to enter the incredible giveaway for a Kindle Fire/swag at the end of this post!

Single Malt (Agents Irish and Whiskey #1) by Layla Reyne

Source: Purchased

Goodreads


My thoughts: FBI agent Aidan Talley (Irish) lost both his husband and his BFF/partner in a horrific car crash, where he was the driver, 8 months ago. He’s back at work with a new partner, Jamie Walker (Whiskey) who’s specialty is cyber security but is being trained by Aidan for field work.

Single Malt hooks you right in with plenty of action, thrills, and romantic tension as Aidan and Jamie navigate their new partnership, try to take down a bio-terrorism plot and delve deeper into the accident that changed Aidan’s life forever.

The chemistry is off the charts between Jamie and Aidan but Reyne does a wonderful job of portraying Aidan’s fears of falling in love again – especially with a man who, thanks to his job, is in constant danger. He just can’t risk his heart to yet another person who might be taken away from him.

The romance is balanced nicely by the bio-terrorism plot and how it ties into Aidan’s accident. Despite me rarely understanding or caring about the intricacies of hacking or crime solving, I was completely absorbed from start to finish.

There are plenty of twists, turns and an excellent supporting cast to keep you riveted and dying to dive in to book #2 right away!


Cask Strength (Agents Irish and Whiskey #2) by Leyla Reyne

Source: Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Goodreads

My thoughts: Things get messier on a personal level for Aidan and Jamie as Aidan struggles to resist a relationship that puts his heart in danger. Professionally, they are still a winning team and head back to Jamie’s home town to work undercover on theft ring involving Jamie’s old college basketball team.

Cask Strength is the twistiest, plot wise, of the series. There are a lot of old memories drudged up, secrets and betrayals revealed that have the potential to bring the agents closer or tear them apart for good.

I love this book a lot just for how much is spotlighted Jamie. He’s such a stand up guy – loyal and true. While this series is mostly about all the emotional baggage Aidan has to overcome, and catching the terrorist Renaud, Jamie really gets a lot of character growth in this installment. His choices – both personal and professional – are put to the test and the overarching plot of the cause of that accident and it’s repercussions hit a fever pitch. (you’re really going to want book #3 ready to go after you finish Cask Strength!).

Highlight for minor relationship spoiler –> As for Aiden…*smacks up side the head* I get it Boo, I do, but…I was happy Reyne didn’t show those *dates* on page. It wasn’t cheating but at least a little bit of non-Jamie smooching happened and I don’t wanna know lol


Barrel Proof (Agents Irish and Whiskey #3) by Leyla Reyne

Source: ARC provided by the published in exchange for an honest review

Goodreads

My thoughts: Barrel Proof is probably the most intense of the three books in this series. A lot of secrets and betrayals have finally come to a head. The truth about Jamie’s investigation, the accident, their quest to capture the terrorist Renaud as he continues to put everyone Aidan loves in danger spirals out of control.

I adored this conclusion. It rang so true for the characters. Both Jamie and Aidan had to do some real soul searching and make tough decisions. I loved how they worked it out individually and on their own terms. It felt right for them.

There is also the epic showdown conclusion to who caused that accident that killed Aidan’s husband and best friend.  As I mentioned a bit earlier – I’m not a huge hacking, crime solving fan. I tend to get bored easily but the tension for this case has ratcheted up with each book and the emotional fallout is so great in scope that I have been absolutely riveted the whole time.

Once again, the supporting cast of characters was very well rounded and they leverage quite a bit of emotional impact, considering the aren’t the focus.

If I have one quibble with the series, it’s that it relies on jealousy and blackmail a lot to add tension to Aiden/Jamie’s relationship. Everyone wants to sleep with these two and it got a tad tiresome and unprofessional, in some instances. It’s seriously a small thing in the grand scheme of things and no reason to avoid the books at all because the author handles it well in the end.  Jamie and Aidan have left a lot of collateral damage to the people around them in their quest to solve the case and avoid intimacy and I love how the author addressed that instead of giving them a free pass.

And to top it all off Barrel Proof gives you a well earned solid HEA!

The Agents Irish and Whiskey trilogy was a joy to binge read  with all the romantic tension and suspense and I'm anxiously looking forward to reading whatever Reyne writes next!

Barrel Proof Book Blurb:

FBI agents Aidan "Irish" Talley and Jameson "Whiskey" Walker can't get a moment's peace. Their hunt for the terrorist Renaud seems to be nearing an end, until a fire allows him to slip through their fingers—and puts Jamie's life in danger. When Jamie is nearly killed, Aidan learns how many forms loss can take.

Aidan says I love you just moments before learning that Jamie's been keeping a devastating secret about Aidan's late husband. How quickly trust and love can go up in flames. When Aidan requests a solo undercover assignment, Jamie hopes Aidan will find a way to forgive him.

But the explosions are far from over. Aidan's cover lands him in the heart of the terrorist's conspiracy, and Jamie will have to put his life, his career and his freedom on the line to save the man who has become his entire world. Partners, always is a promise he intends to keep.


“A heart-pounding, romantic conclusion to the Agents Irish and Whiskey series.”

Carina |AMZ |Nook/B&N |iBooks  |Google Play | Kobo | Audiobooks

Author Bio:

Author Layla Reyne was raised in North Carolina and now calls San Francisco home. She enjoys weaving her bi-coastal experiences into her stories, along with adrenaline-fueled suspense and heart pounding romance. When she's not writing stories to excite her readers, she downloads too many books, watches too much television, and cooks too much food with her scientist husband, much to the delight of their smushed-face, leftover-loving dogs.






Giveaway Details:


Prizes: (2) HUGE Agents Irish & Whiskey Gift Packs including: 1 Kindle Fire Tablet, 1 Agents Irish & Whiskey mug, and surprise swag! (Ships to US/Canada only; international winners will receive Amazon Gift Card: $35)





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