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You know the Agents Irish and Whiskey Series by Layla Reyne has been one of our favorites and we are so excited for the third book, Barrel Proof, which is being released today! We loved this one too and can’t wait for you to check it out! We’ve got a great excerpt to share with you today as well as a fantastic giveaway and our thoughts on the book. But first, you know the drill–here’s the 411 on Barrel Proof by Layla Reyne:
***About the Book***
Barrel Proof by Layla Reyne Also by this author: Single Malt, Cask Strength
Series: Agents Irish and Whiskey #3
Also in this series: Single Malt, Cask Strength
Published by Carina Press on August 7, 2017
Genres: M/M Romance, Romantic Suspense
Character(s): Detectives
Pages: 189
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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.
***EXCERPT***
Aidan snatched his hands away. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“She ordered me not to.”
“Wrong answer.” He rocketed out of the chair, snatched a tumbler off the table by the door and hurled it at the opposite wall, glass shattering.
Keep Reading the Excerpt for Barrel Proof
Keep Reading the Excerpt for Barrel Proof
“Aidan, please, stop.” Jamie used a bedpost to haul himself to standing, swaying. He moved toward his partner, putting as little weight as possible on the braced leg, the pain excruciating but not as unbearable as the thought of losing Aidan. “You’re going to hurt yourself.”
Aidan grabbed another glass and heaved again, keeping him back. “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to break your heart until I knew the whole story.”
“Too late, baby.” He spat the cherished endearment, full of spite and hatred.
The verbal punch landed right where he intended, robbing Jamie of breath. “Irish, please,” he whispered hoarsely. “I’m sorry.”
Aidan shot forward, forcing Jamie back to seated. “I trusted you, with my back and my heart, and you lied to me for months.”
“I’m sorry, I thought I was protecting you.” Jamie reached for him, and Aidan batted his hand away.
“Wrong! We protect each other. Keeping critical information from me about our case, about Gabe and Tom, about my family, is not protection. It’s lying. And me not knowing the full story means I can’t protect them or you.” His shrill voice pained Jamie’s ears.
“Baby, please.”
“Renaud came after my husband, he came after my partner, he came after me. Fuck, Jamie, he keeps coming after me, and now he’s coming after you too. And my brother and my best friend. Maybe even my goddaughter. You didn’t think I needed to know that? I could lose them. I could lose you! I told you what would happen if I loved and lost you.”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Jamie stood and reached for Aidan’s arm again.
Aidan wrestled him off, shoving his chest two-handed and sending him splaying back on the bed. “I can’t, Whiskey.” Chest heaving, his harsh breaths and harsher words came out a strangled blow. “I can’t do this.”
***About Layla Reyne***
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.
***Our Thoughts***
Erin: Hang on to your seats and strap in ladies and gentlemen, Barrel Proof, the last book of Layla Reyne’s Agents Irish and Whiskey series, is finally here! And I’m not kidding when I strap in, because from the first page until the last, Barrel Proof is a wild, emotional, on the edge of your seat roller coaster of a book. Aidan “Irish” Talley and Jameson “Whiskey” Walker are back, and they are closing in on terrorist Renaud. This is the finale of the series, and these are NOT stand-alone books by any means. You don’t want to deprive yourself of any of the action of the previous books anyway, so be sure you’re caught up before starting Barrel Proof. Okay, everyone ready? Here we go.
Barrel Proof starts off with a bang, literally. I don’t know that I was able to breathe for about the first 15% then from there, it was “oh my God, no!” over and over. There is A LOT thrown at you in the beginning of the book. Secrets revealed, hearts broken, lives forever changed. Cryptic, I know, but I don’t want to spoil anything.
Once things even out a little bit, Aidan and Jamie are once again getting closer and closer to tracking down Renaud, the terrorist responsible for the death of Aidan’s late husband, Gabe, and his former FBI partner, Thomas. Others as well, and as Layla Reyne brings all the threads together, you’ll find yourself gasping with each new reveal. This is some brilliant writing folks, not even kidding. She’s been able to keep all these seemingly un-relatable events and people straight and then as she weaves the story and answers questions, things make so much sense.
The romance is still present, though maybe not as quite in the forefront as in the previous two books, but I think that’s to be expected as the case that’s been at the center of the series gets closer to its conclusion. I missed more of the Aidan and Jamie time, but what’s here, is every bit as fantastic as we’ve come to expect throughout the series.
“I can’t.”
If Aidan’s eyes were open, Jamie was sure he’d see the heartbreak painted all over his face, as sure as he heard it in his cracked, “Baby.”
“I can’t do this anymore,” Aidan said, repeating those terrible words that had played a starring role in Jamie’s nightmares.
“Aidan, please,” he started, only to be cut off by Aidan leaning forward, not away, and pressing their foreheads together.
“I can’t deny I was angry, but I can’t deny I love you more. I can’t stay away.”
Jamie’s heart swelled, pounding his ribs. He framed Aidan’s face with his hands. “You don’t have to.”
Aidan opened his eyes on a big, relieved breath. They were bright with the same love and hope coursing through Jamie, filling his heart.
“Kiss me, Irish.”
All. The. Sighs!
I gotta say, the supporting cast throughout the series has been nothing short of spectacular. I grew to love Dominic “Nic” Price, Aidan’s sister-in-law and boss, Mel Cruz was awesome, and Aidan’s brother, Danny, was really a surprise and provided not only some light-hearted moments but was kick ass when he needed to be. By far my favorite was Cameron Byrne. He’s just … I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed that there’s a spin-off and he’s the star. I need more Cam in my life, Layla, just saying!
I am so impressed with Layla Reyne’s writing, her ability to balance romance and suspense and the way she keeps her readers thoroughly engaged and entertained through three books. She has definitely moved to my auto-buy authors and I am dying to see what she comes up with next! Be sure to check the entire Agents Irish and Whiskey series out, y’all. You’re in for one hell of an adventure!
She's a Texan, though she drinks her tea plain and NOT sweet. She loves cheesecake, strawberry limeade's from Sonic and her favorite color is purple. In her books, she loves an HEA, but she never minds if the road is rough to get there, as long as the reward is worth the struggle.
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| Overall: | 5 |
***GIVEAWAY***
Good luck, Pretties!
