Monday, May 8, 2017

Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: CASK STRENGTH by Layla Reyne (Agents Irish & Whiskey #2)


Cask Strength Release Celebration!

As FBI agents Aidan “Irish” Talley and Jameson “Whiskey” Walker struggle to separate their professional and personal relationships, they’re sent undercover—as sports agent and basketball coach—on an identity-theft case in which all their secrets are ripe for exposure. “Agents Irish and Whiskey” is perfect for fans of the “Tough Love” series by HelenKay Dimon and the “Cut & Run” series by Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban.
“The second book in the Agents Irish and Whiskey series is a romp of an M/M romantic suspense.”
—RT Book Reviews
CASK STRENGTH is now on sale! Download or add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads! Then keep reading to get a sneak peek at CASK STRENGTH and to enter the giveaway for four (4) $25 Amazon gift cards! 


CASK STRENGTH
Author: Layla Reyne
Release Date: May 1, 2017
Publisher: Carina Press
Series: Agents Irish & Whiskey
Genres: M/M Romantic Suspense
Word Count: 61,000


Synopsis

The heart’s a resilient beast…

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.
Find out more at: 


Excerpt from CASK STRENGTH
Copyright © 2017 Layla Reyne 
“I know our schedule’s f*cked, but that face of yours is awfully grim.”
Startling at the full-blast Irish accent, Jamie’s head shot up and the phone slipped from his fingers, clattering to the ground. Pick it up, some instinct ordered, but he was too busy losing the rest of his f*cking mind. The veneer of calm shattered and any hope of patience took a flying leap out the window.
Because standing in front of him was his stylishly dressed partner, a messenger bag over one shoulder, a coat tossed over the other, and silver-rimmed aviators nestled in waves of auburn hair. More times than he could count, Jamie had imagined Aidan with his natural hair color, and damn if the reality didn’t surpass each and every one of his fantasies.
Mouth dry, heart racing, cheeks burning, Jamie’s fingers twitched with the urge to weave through the long red strands. Reaching down instead, he grabbed his phone, held it between his palms, and wedged his clasped hands between his knees, forestalling his impulse. He tried to force out a “hello,” but his brain refused to cooperate, all the blood in his body having raced south where his jeans became painfully tight.
F*ck. 
He was gone. So far gone. Past casual, past a crush, past simple attraction.
This was Aidan, sans disguises, and Jamie wanted him more than he’d ever wanted anything.
“Is it that bad a dye job?” Aidan asked, interrupting his mental breakdown.
“Ai—” he started, only to be corrected with a brogue-laced, “Ian.”
Jamie blinked, reminded that this was a disguise. It sure as hell didn’t feel like one. “I wasn’t expecting this.” His eyes raked over Aidan again, taking it all in. Dressed in jeans and a navy V-neck sweater, the dark blues set off his pale skin, the freckles, his autumn eyes, that hair…
“F*ck,” he muttered out loud.
Aidan shifted on his feet in front of him. “I said I was making a few more changes.”
“Yeah, but this—” he spread his arms wide, the motion totally inadequate “—is more than a f*cking few.”
Their gazes locked, heat sparking. “Problem, Jamie?” Aidan’s eyes flickered down to the very obvious problem.
“You gotta stop that.”
He dropped his messenger bag and shrugged the coat off his shoulder. “Stop what?”
“Saying my name in that accent.”
“Mr. Walker, then,” he said with a smirk.
Way too smooth.
Jamie propped his elbows on this knees and covered his face with his hands. “God no,” he groaned. “Not that either.”
Aidan laughed as the buzzer went off on the conveyor behind them.
Leather smacked the backs of Jamie’s hands, and he snagged Aidan’s coat before it hit the ground.
Leather?
“Cover that up,” Aidan said, eyeing his crotch. “And get yourself together. Debrief in the car.” Turning, he headed for the spinning luggage carousel, giving Jamie a prime view of his sinfully fitted jeans.
Get himself together…
Yeah, right.


Carra's Review
My first thought upon finishing this book was “OH MY GOD YOU DID NOT JUST LEAVE ME HANGING LIKE THAT!”  Then my second thought was “Damn, that was a fantastic read!”.  After Single Malt had drawn me in to Aidan and Jamie’s lives so thoroughly, I couldn’t wait to get more in Cask Strength.  What I didn’t anticipate was frustration, higher suspense levels and that freaking ending.

Yes, I said frustration…that I solidly lay at the feet of Aidan Talley.  He is so terrified of loving and losing again that no matter what his heart is telling him, he’s blocking it all out.  I wanted to shake some sense into him, because my own heart was feeling the strain for Jamie, and Aidan’s words and actions made me disappointed in and exasperated with him.  Speaking of Jamie, there’s a lot to be said about his professionalism and inner strength that he could continue to do his job—and do it amazingly well—given that he still has to work side by side with Aidan the whole time.  

This story was exceptionally high on the suspense and intrigue, and while I wasn’t surprised at most of the bad guys, there was definitely one that I never saw coming in the undercover case.  Don’t even get me started on what might come from the very end of the book.  And yes—this means there’s a cliffhanger, one that will have you shouting exactly what I did at the beginning of my review.  But don’t let that put you off this series.  What you’ll find is a truly gripping story that you won’t want to put down—not just for the tremendous amount of excitement and action you’ll find, but also because of the ongoing tension (sexual and otherwise) between Aidan and Jamie.
Another 5 stars for Cask Strength—even with as frustrated as Aidan made me—and a definite recommendation for M/M romantic suspense fans!  This story and series is for readers 18+ for adult language and M/M sexual content.  Now I have to figure out what to do with myself until the third book comes out because that cliffhanger is driving me nuts!

Spread the news about CASK STRENGTH with a GIVEAWAY!
Grand Prize: Four (4) lucky winners will receive a $25 Amazon gift card!


Visit these blogs daily for more chances to win! 
May 9th  Booklove, Boy Meets Boy


Other books in the Agents Irish & Whiskey series

SINGLE MALT
Available Now: 
"Sexy, smart and suspenseful - this book has it all."—HelenKay Dimon, author of MR. & MR. SMITH

"SINGLE MALT is full of explosive chemistry, captivating characters, and edge-of-your-seat suspense. A must read for any romantic suspense fan!"—Megan Erickson, USA Today Bestselling Author



BARREL PROOF
On Sale August 7, 2017: 


About Layla Reyne

2016 RWA® Golden Heart® Finalist, 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. 



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1 comment:

  1. UnknownMay 8, 2017 at 7:12 PM

    Thanks so much for hosting and for the love! So glad you continue to enjoy the AIW series <3

    ReplyDelete

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