Reviewed by Roberta

TITLE: Cask Strength

SERIES: Agents Irish and Whiskey, Book 2

AUTHOR: Layla Reyne

PUBLISHER: Carina Press

LENGTH: 205 Pages

RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2017

BLURB:

Professionally, the FBI team of Aidan “Irish” Talley and Jameson “Whiskey” Walker is as good as it gets, closing cases faster than any team at the Bureau. Personally, it’s a different story. Aidan’s feelings for Jamie scare the hell out of him: he won’t risk losing another love no matter how heart-tripping the intimacy between them. And loss is a grim reality with the terrorist Renaud still on their trail, leaving a pile of bodies in his wake.

Going undercover on a new case gets them out of town and off the killer’s radar. They’re assigned to investigate an identity theft ring involving a college basketball team in Jamie’s home state, where Jamie’s past makes him perfect for the role of coach. But returning to the court brings more than old memories.

As secrets and shocking betrayals abound, none may be more dangerous than the one Jamie’s been keeping: a secret about the death of Aidan’s husband that could blow his partner’s world apart and destroy forever the fragile bonds of trust and love building between them.

REVIEW:

Yeah…I read the first book on my own and couldn’t believe how wrapped into the story I was.  When I saw that the second book was up for review…I totally grabbed it and couldn’t wait to get my hot hands on it.

I was NOT disappointed in the least with this story…in fact…I was really freaking upset when it ended!!

This book picks up about 5 months after Single Malt.  Things have been going well on the partnership at work and going along-ish in the personal aspect.  The story picks up with our guys becoming the Top Team in the Bureau and celebrating in the most fun way possible…then…starts the upheaval in the personal life.  Aiden is back into his man-eater ways as a way to keep him protected from his growing feelings for Jamie.

This one gets good from the very first word and stays that way until the very last word.  I love that we got to go back to Charlotte and see a bit of what life is like back there.  See if from Jamie’s perspective. I liked that he has a home there and that he’s comfortable there.

This case is just a hoping from the very beginning.  Jamie going back as Whiskey Walker, former NBA & NCAA star and going back as a coach was nice to see.  To see Jamie falling back into his first love…basketball…that was really great.  To see the players and the camaraderie and their competitiveness (i.e. jealousy). I liked that we get to see so much  more into Jamie’s mind.  To see just how much he really, truly loves Aiden. I love seeing more than just the hacker and seeing part of him that was really hinted at in the first book. To see just how much basketball was his first love.  I have to say that seeing just what a wonderful man that Jamie is…makes me fall just a bit more in heart love with him.

Aiden…My Sweet, Conflicted Aiden. It was interesting to see that Aiden is truly in love with Jamie and yet, how he kept trying to delude himself into thinking that he wasn’t in love with him. The Man-Eater ways…the flirting and the leaving him alone…well…Aiden was an IDIOT!!!  I still totally get where he’s coming from and that makes it so hard to stay mad at him. Because he cares so much, especially after he’s lost so damn much…I get it.  I really do…but I still wanted to shake him and tell him to get his head outta his ass.  But…it was interesting to see him go UC and see (hear) him use his Irish accent.  To see him be all suave and debonair and more relaxed as this character that he’s playing.

In reading the books, it kind of reminds me of Ty and Zane.  I can’t help it…however, I will say that these books stand up and stand on their own merit and totally kick some serious booty!!

I have to say that this was another winner for Layla and I CAN’T WAIT for the next book.  August is going to take forever to get here.  If you’ve not read the first book, you should totally get it and read it and then read this book.  These books need to be read together as it’s an on-going investigation that runs throughout the series.

RATING: 

BUY LINKS:

Carina Press

Amazon