4.5 Stars

I’d heard this is the author’s debut, and if so, what a great debut it is. Single Malt was smart, funny and sizzling and Irish and Whiskey are definitely my new favorite crime-fighting duo. Their characters were well-developed and well-represented and I really connected with them. The case they were working on was front and center and it didn’t just serve as background noise for their romance. The investigation and ensuing action was intense, fast-paced and altogether impressively detailed, and the overarching mystery surrounding Aidan's accident was expertly teased. The MCs had great work rapport and intense chemistry and the progression of their overall relationship felt very natural. The book ended with a HFN and a mild cliffhanger and I cannot wait for book two. 

Edited to add: I liked the overall writing, but the MCs sure do gasp a lot in surprise for FBI agents :) Also, I thought their kiss in the car (you'll know the scene when you read it) was unrealistic considering the circumstances lol

This was such a pleasant surprise for me! I wasn't expecting the mystery to be so involved and intricate, and it really helped balance out the love story side of the plot. Obviously Reyne knows what she's talking about with hacking, and it showed. The characters and plot were great! Highly recommended!

An enjoyable, if unremarkable, mm thriller. Those names though, for real?

I really wanted to be eloquent with this review. I wanted to do the writing justice with a symbiotic review that really explained how much I adored this book. I wanted to do a lot of things, say a lot of things but the only thing that comes to mind now that I’ve got fingers to the keyboard is… FUCK. You know, that four letter word can be used in so many ways and I used it over and again while reading this. The romance? Fuck. The mystery? Fuck! The emotions? Fuck. The intimacy? Fuck… me. Yeah. That word is perfect and while it’s a bit vulgar, it’s what simply comes to mind when I think of what I just read. 

I’ll admit, when I first read the blurb for this the nicknames are what caught my eye, I am a sucker for them but the reminiscence of one of my favorite couples who just happen to be in the FBI and partners while being secret lovers made me jump up and volunteer for it. I could not have trusted my instincts more with this story. It was amazing, just so good and while I mentioned the similarity to that couple from another series… the chemistry with Jamie and Adrian blows them out of the water. If you know what I mean, then you know what I mean. You know? 

Anyway. 

Told from the dual POV’s (Thank Gawd!) of Secret Agents Adrian “Irish” Talley and Jameson “Whiskey” Walker, we are brought into the story 8 months after a tragic accident took the life of not only Adrian’s partner but also his husband. Adrian is beside himself as he deals with his loss but when his sister in law and boss, arrives to give him his new assignment and new partner, Adrian is ready to get back to work though hesitant to be around Walker. Of course Adrian lets us in on the numerous reasons why he is hesitant but once they are on the same page together? I just wanted to smoosh them together and make them kiss. It was way too early but a girl can hold out for the right moment. 

Let me get this out and say the UST with this book is palatable. You can feel it, you can taste it and you so want it to come to a point where they give in because you need it as much as they do. Phew… is it hot in here? Does anyone have a fan? 

Again… anyway. 

Adrian fancies the young and talented FBI Agent/Ex-Basketball champion/hacker that is Jamie and Jamie has had a crush on Adrian for three years but always respected his marriage. These two, they have chemistry that Walter White would envy (don’t roll your eyes at me!) but the respect they have for one another as partners and as professionals is what really matters. You can’t have a romance if you don’t have respect and these two, they are just so wonderful. I adored being in both their POV’s and I think it helped the story that we got both Adrian and Jamie as they not only worked the on and off the book cases but as they worked out their feelings for one another. 

Oh Adrian, my poor fellow clueless ginger who hides his fire. What am I going to do with you aside from getting you drunk on bourbon so you can loosen up and ask the right questions? I loved your dedication to your marriage, to being a widower and honoring the memory of Gabe and the life you shared with him. I ached for you loss on your anniversary and yet turned into a puddle at what happens with Jamie. I felt the pull as you tried to fight it and boy your jealousy when it comes to Whiskey was off the charts hot. Dude, growling is always hot when you are basically marking your territory around your man. Just saying. But ultimately, you are an amazing and honorable man who loves family and fears losing what you love. You’ve lost so much already that I get compartmentalizing your emotions, but Jamie… he is so worthy. 

Now, Jamie. Good lord how could I not adore you? You are the quintessential computer nerd/hacker with the natural athletic ability to make anyone jealous and yet you are as humble as pie. You are such a southern gentleman with amazing way of describing someone eyes that it’s no wonder men and women fall at your feet. It’s a shame the women don’t catch on that you are only into men but it’s a blessing that you get to spend more time with Adrian and make him really see you. 

Wow. This one has me rambling but I haven’t even said anything. 

Let me get to the point. This story is amazing. The writing is stellar. The romance is ridiculously swoon worthy and the mystery is superb. I was impressed by all the twists and turns both cases the men are working on and how they were all coming together. I loved reading all about Jamie and what he not only did for the FBI but in his own personal hacker time. The man truly is talented with those fingers of his and I loved getting more of Adrian’s family as well. Danny was amazing and Mel, as Adrian’s sister in law/boss/late husband’s sister was one hell of a bad ass woman. The action sequences in this were cinematic and the emotions had me on edge. I was either gasping in shock, rage or pure lust with this book and I loved every damn page of it. 

As I write this, I realize that I have a stupid amount of highlights and notes and haven’t used a single one. I think I will keep it that way because I am not ready to share yet. Sorry. I am greedy when it comes to these two and all that they are becoming to one another. 

I will say that this book blew me away and THIS. IS. ROMANTIC. So romantic and so action packed and layered that I can’t get enough. That end??? HOLY SHIT! My mouth hung open as I read it and knew I needed the second book immediately. I am a bit sad seeing as there are only three books listed – as of now - for this series as this is one I could read long term. 

And before I forget, that title is amazing. OMG is it amazing. According to my late father, a second generation Scottish American, the single malt is a myth. It is in fact a blended whisky but a special blend from a single distillery. Giving Jamie two names referencing the amber liquor and giving him the two “lives” of the high profile basketball player and the hide in the basement cyber hacker FBI agent blending into the single man was done brilliantly. Adding in the title of Single Malt and you have me applauding.  Bravo, dear author. Bravo
. 
Wow. 

Le Sigh and Le Unf. 

I’ll stop my rambling and end with this. 

Single Malt… Agents Irish and Whiskey… The Romance… The Intrigue… It was perfect. I want more. Hit me again, bartender.

Like a nice smooth blend, this one goes down easy....

M/M Romantic Mystery   4.5 stars    Advance ebook from Carina Press

I really enjoyed the character interactions in this novel. There was a nice slow buildup before any hanky panky took place that made the main character's relationship so much more believeable.  The slow build also contributed toward their developing relationship as work partners. Kudos to Ms Rreyne. The author has set the scene for a series quite well, that I for one plan to continue reading. 

Posted to Amazon and Goodreads

Single Malt is a romantic suspense, that leaves us with a happy for now. I for one don't like HFN I love HEA and I guess I'm going to be picking up the next book to see where this series goes.

Layla is a new to me author, and I think she did a decent job writing a balanced romantic suspense, the chemistry between the main characters is there, but there was to much going on to keep me happy.

My Review:
I have a new favorite romantic suspense m/m couple. OMG, I was completely blown away by this book. It was so good. There were moments in it that were so poignant and emotional that I had to stop reading for a few minutes just to catch my breath. (I LOVE THAT!)

So this book is about two FBI agents. Until 8 months ago, Aidan was a field agent, but a wreck ruined everything...killing both his FBI partner and his husband. Aidan was the only one to survive the hit and run crash...but he only really survived physically...mentally, he's pretty much shattered. But as the book begins, he's about to start work again...with a new partner.

His new partner is a cyber crimes expert, Jamie...or Whisky as he's known to the world. Once a pro NBA player, he's charming, handsome, athletic...and yes, he's also had a crush on Aidan for the last 3 years (and yes, you're doing the math on that right...he had a crush while Aidan was still married). 

Aidan is still grieving for his husband. They were together for 10 years. That doesn't just go away because there's someone new in his life. So, Aidan is also dealing with some guilt. He planned to spend his life committed to one man...that mindset doesn't just change overnight no matter how much he likes Jamie. And he does really like and is attracted to Jamie. 

Jamie hasn't ever done field work, but he has great instincts which just attracts Aidan to him even more. He's smart and extremely efficient at being an agent. 

From the moment I started this book, I was completely swept up into the story. There's a lot of action and definite moments of deep emotion...especially for Aidan. My heart broke for him...and for Jamie, in turn. Even with the doubts, I loved them together. They have a great partnership that I honestly would be happy reading about, even without the sexual aspect. The sexual chemistry just makes it all that much better. 

In the middle of all this are several investigations happening...one that ends on a bit of a cliffhanger...although not really. There's a minor shocking point at the end, but no worries...this isn't one of those books that ends on such a shocker that you want to throw your kindle across the room because the next two words are The End. No, instead it's just enough that you'll be scrambling to Amazon to find out when the next book comes out. I personally can't wait to read it. So excited...

I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Aiden Talley’s life was changed when a car crash robbed him of his husband, Gabe, his FBI partner, Tom, and almost his own life. Eight months later he returns to work, able, but not necessarily ready to move on. Jameson Walker is Aiden’s new partner - his much younger, sports champion and computer genius, partner. Walker has been attracted to Aiden since he left the academy.

Mel – one smart cookie, sister-in-law, and section commander, gives Aiden the news that the accident wasn’t a hit and run, as first thought, and seemingly someone high in the chain wants the whole thing forgotten about. Therefore, any investigation must run under the radar.

Single Malt isn’t only about the drama, car chases and gun fights. It’s also about the investigative process, which in this instance, is captivating. Oh, the adrenaline junkie side is in there too – oh myyy, is it. What is also good is that despite the ghost of the Aiden’s ‘accident’ being a factor of the story – other cases are solved, too. Add to that the not overdone, personal/family side, and what we have is a nicely rounded novel that ticked all my boxes.

Jamie has an inviting personality, is handsome, is a geek, and he follows orders – what was not to like. Almost too good to be true, but this is fiction, right, so why the hell not? As well as Jamie’s personable nature smoothing departmental co-operation; those traits offer Aiden an extra set of problems. Aiden is attracted to Jamie, which fosters feelings of guilt. His battle is heartbreaking. Gabe was the love of his life, and he doesn’t believe he can move on from that.

Jamie understands the hold Gabe continues to have, and tries to be the partner he needs. Especially, when Aiden is feeling raw, experiencing flashbacks and needs help getting back on track. Jamie ain’t no wilting flower though, and holds his own both mentally and physically. Those moments make the boys closer and fuel their attraction.

There is a well thought out backstory to the main characters that has a bearing on the scenes. And what I was treated to was a range of flirting jealousy, action, heat, drama, angst, OMG times as well as the heartbreaking and aww moments. There are, will they won’t they elements all the way through, to which departmental barriers, add to the hesitation. You’ll have to read it to find the outcome.

As I said earlier, the high-end FBI action is there providing heart-in-the-mouth moments – so fear not.

The novel can be read on its own, with none of those angst-ridden cliffhangers – emphasis on the angst elements. However, it does leave enough hooks for me to look forward to the next book in the sequence, which comes out in the spring. Single Malt is a superb start to what promises to be an awesome series.

Aiden Talley has healed enough to go back out into the world and resume his job. His husband and his partner are both dead, but the world hasn’t stopped and Aiden is still on it. He’s dealt a new blow when he finds out the accident that killed his husband and partner wasn’t an accident. He enlists his new partner, Jameson Walker, as help. “Whiskey” Walker can hack anything. He’s also a former NBA star who left due to a career ending injury. Whiskey wanted Aiden from the moment he first saw him. As a recent widower Aiden is just as untouchable as he was married. It doesn’t take long for Aiden to realize Whiskey is an incredibly talented agent. When they’re sent to an investigation in Texas Aiden is forced to deal with the fact he is beginning to feel something more than respect and friendship for his new partner. During their investigation they are in a car accident. Like the accident that killed Aiden’s husband and partner, this one isn’t an accident. Aiden realizes he’s not ready to let himself be vulnerable.

This series has potential to be crack. There’s delicious suspense, mysterious baddies, reluctant heroes, heartache, and more. Okay, before I get too excited, I did say there is potential to be crack. This book had some pretty cheesy moments and some highly implausible moments. In terms of relationship development there was a lot of telling. As much as I am hooked on the relationship between these guys, I feel the strength of this book is really in the mystery. There are two intertwined mysteries in Single Malt. Who orchestrated the car crash that killed Aiden’s husband and partner, and who is responsible for the hacks at a bio-research facility. I was pleasantly surprised with how the mystery of the hacks progressed. There was a good mix of things I didn’t see coming and things I could easily figure out. My need to know about the mystery of the car crash is ongoing. It is also a hook sunk deeply into my flesh, slowly reeling me in. I need to know who, how, what, when, where, and why that crash was set in motion.

I’m not usually someone who choses a main character over another, but in this case I believe I can better “see” what Whiskey is going through. Whiskey is subjected to constant slights and reminders of what he sees as his own inadequacies. Whiskey is hurt. We know Aiden feels guilt and fear because he tells us. I don’t know if it’s my own perception we’re being shown Whiskey and told Aiden, a rhetorical device, or what. It’s not horrible, but as I’ve said numerous times, my preference is for showing.

This is definitely a book to pick up. Not only pick up, I’d say move it towards the top of your TBR. I’m very eager for the next one. Thankfully it’s only a couple of months away.

4.5 - 5... I'm really gonna like these guys ;)

I've got a few fellow readers/bloggers whose advice I take when they send me a book recommendation, no questions asked. That's why that even though Layla Reyne was a new author, when I was told Single Malt was a book that I needed to read, I jumped on it. One book in and I can already tell that I'll be pouncing on each book in the Agents Irish & Whiskey as soon as they're available.

Aidan was broken, but he had a huge support system, which included his boss/sister-in-law. Jamie's been attracted to Aiden for years, but out of respect for Jamie's marriage he never acted on those feelings. Of course things get complicated when they become partners.

I loved the connection between Aidan and Jamie, but there were a lot of other things going on in Single Malt. There was danger, mystery, guilt and strong family/friend connections that introduce a lot of great characters that I can't wait to get to know better. It basically looks like Agents Irish & Whiskey is going to have pretty much everything I love about romantic suspense.

Then there was the ending... let's just say things are going to get really interesting and the second book in the series, Cask Strength can't come soon enough.

Excitement, action, tension of every kind, and intense emotion and heat? Yes please...and thank you! I loved Single Malt-it reached out and snatched my attention right from the start and just would not let go. The characters were very well rounded and had plenty of depth, you can easily see there is so much more to these men. Then the case itself had me guessing all along, first thinking one person was the leak on the team, but then thinking it was someone else...only to go back to the first person again. It's the kind of story that really pulls you so far in you think you're riding along right alongside the characters.

I felt for Aidan from the moment I knew his story, and hurt together with him. Jamie was fantastic-incredibly intelligent and really amazing at his job, and he matches up so well with Aidan. The heat and undeniable chemistry between them is evident immediately, and it leads to some torturous sexual tension that adds to the suspense of the cases to keep you on the edge of your seat. And you know what happens when all of that comes to a head, right? Jamie and Aidan are completely explosive together, and even though Aidan tries to hold Jamie at a distance you can see exactly where the two of them will end up. The fun part of it is how the author gets you there-by dangling your heart from a crazy thin wire while the action just continues to get more and more intense.

Everything about this book kept me guessing, and with the bit of a cliffhanger at the end I am so far past hooked for this series! Aidan and Jamie together are not to be missed, it's a rollercoaster ride through every page and I don't think I could have enjoyed this story more. I'm already counting down the days until the next book in the series comes out. The only thing I was a tad unsure about was the role Aidan's brother Danny played later in the story when the climax of the case was playing out at the port since he's not an agent and that fell under my heading of "would it really happen like that in the real world?"...but otherwise this story was one of the most engaging, exciting reads I've had so far this year.

Single Malt was a fantastic 5-star read for me, and I highly recommend this to any fan of M/M romantic suspense-it will certainly add some excitement to your reading time! This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and M/M sexual content.

To say this was a highly suspenseful read is putting it lightly! I love action with my romance and Aidan and Jameson gave it to me in spades. Their romance wasn't an easy one and it really caused Aidan pause with his feelings. It was an emotionally gripping book with some hot sex scenes. The tension build, whether it was sexual or suspenseful, was excellent. I felt on the edge of my seat until the very end. And what an ending! It is a bit cliffhangarish. This book is concluded with a few things undone but the ending is the opening for the next book and I absolutely NEED it! I can not wait to find out what these two hot FBI agents get into next. I know it will be an emotional roller coaster and hopefully the same amount of suspense. I highly recommend this book!

11 days to finish this book. 

This had major potential for me. I love feds-spooks-spies stories. I like age-gap stories. Two guys with different backgrounds get together to  a case that's interesting enough. I'm still not sure  on how much of it can be real for actual FED's, I mean driving a new benz, stating in the rich digs, and the amount of facetious was a bit much. I did like book characters and some of the side characters. 

 I like when the case is involved with the story line as well.  What I don't like is the case taking up most of the atmosphere. The case overpowered the potential relationship between these two. I mean, I wasn't sold on them from the beginning. It seemed forced. I don't think Aidan should have been pushed so much into Jameson because he is still grieving, and its not fair to the other person if you aren't going to give them your all. On Jameson's part, I didn't really think it was an attraction. They never seemed to meet before being partners so I guess throwing them together created some semblance of him being attracted to Aidan. Can I just say the nickname thing was cute for the first few times, it just got on my nerves by the end of the book. Hopefully book two will tone it down.  It was a ton of information about each guy separately, the case, and little things here and there that distracted the shit out of me. I don't even know who is who's brother/sister/cousin at this point. It was too much. Add the writing really not working for me, but I was able to push through. I will say I liked it enough to give book 2 a try. 

Once I got over the various actions involved in the plot it was pretty good. It of course was connected to Aidan's husband and brothers' death. A little far fetch but this author is able to keep me interested the rest of the story. It ends on a cliffhanger, but the possibilities of book 2 are greater for me by the end of the book. I think this was an okay book for the author's first published book.

5 Hearts Reviewed by Aerin (Separate link to come)

I devoured this book and I couldn't get enough. I like crime shows on TV so this book was right up my alley. I loved everything about it, the plot, the characters, the suspense, the romance... Jesus fuck the romance was exquisite! 

I'm an absolute sucker for emotionally damaged characters and for brainiacs who are sexy as hell, and this book gave me the best of both worlds. Jameson "Whiskey" Walker is a hotter than hell brainiac smarty pants hacker extraordinaire. Ex basketball star who gave up his career in order to become an FBI agent, Whiskey is one of the bureau's best hackers and Aiden Talley's new partner. Whiskey is ten years Aiden's junior and he's been nurturing a crush on Aiden for the past three years, ever since he joined the bureau. 

Aiden Talley is a damaged man who's dead inside after losing both his husband and his partner in a car accident 8 months ago. Recently returning to his job, Aiden finds himself partnered with 30 year old Whiskey, who makes his head spin and makes him want things he shouldn't. Caught between the strong need to feel alive again and his guilt at betraying his husband's memory, Aiden is fighting his attraction towards Whiskey, but the need to feel alive is stronger than the guilt.

The chemistry these two have is the real deal; it seriously made the hair stand up on my body. I was sucked into this overwhelming attraction between them and was rooting for them the whole time. I loved that even though there are plenty of things happening and many bad guys to catch, the emotional connection between Aiden and Whiskey was still the main focus of the book, perfectly etched into the plot. And when they finally gave into the chemistry, I forgot all about the bad guys or the fact that there are criminals to catch and bombs to deactivate. 

This book was the perfect start to an awesome series, even though Aiden and Whiskey will continue to work toward their happily ever after in the next two books. I'm a fan!

Single Malt is Ms. Reyne’s début novel and the first in her new Agents Irish and Whiskey series of romantic suspense novels.  Lucky us!  Both author and series show great promise and I enjoyed the book a lot, so much so that as soon as I’d finished reading it, I checked to see when the next one is coming out; I’ll save you some time and just tell you it’s May.  For me, that’s not a moment too soon as I can’t wait to catch up with my new favorite crime solving duo. Before I go on, however, here’s a note of caution for cliffhanger haters:  Single Malt features a pair (Aidan Talley, ‘Irish’, and Jameson (Jamie) Walker, ‘Whiskey’) whose relationship evolves over the three book series.  There’s also a big case introduced that relates to Aiden’s past which unfolds over the course of all three novels, and isn’t resolved until the last book.  So Single Malt is mostly focused on the evolving partnership/relationship between Irish and Whiskey, and the first case they solve together.  It’s a fast paced suspense thriller that satisfied both my need for closure and desire for more.

FBI agent Aidan Talley is ready to get back to work eight months after losing both his husband and his FBI partner in a horrific car crash.  The lone survivor, he’s convinced the crash was no accident and is intent on finding the evidence to prove it.  Crushed with survivor’s guilt and fueled by his suspicions, Aidan is determined to move on and move forward.  A concerned visit from his FBI boss – who also happens to be his dead husband’s sister – wherein she provides additional evidence to support his theory about the crash, and reminds him he can take more time if he needs it, only intensifies his desire to get back to solving cases.  When Single Malt begins, it’s Aidan’s first day back at work and his focus is on a new case and new partner, Jameson Walker.

Walker left behind a promising NBA career and long-term partner to join the FBIUnwilling, as a professional athlete, to expose his private life to the public, or to find himself in a situation where his sexuality was an issue, he used his college computer science degree to become an expert in cyber crime.  Though he’s spent most of his career hidden away in the FBI technology cave, he’s eager to prove himself in the field.  When his boss, Special Agent in charge of the San Francisco FBI office, Melissa Cruz, informs Jamie his new partner is top San Francisco agent Aidan Talley (her brother-in-law), the man he’s lusted for for three years, he’s excited but nervous.  In a surprise move, she also brings up Aidan’s history and her suspicions about the accident that killed Gabe and Aidan’s partner.  Melissa asks Jamie to take another look at the evidence, but keep it from Aidan.  Jamie’s willing and agrees, but he’s wary of keeping secrets from his new partner.

Aidan isn’t prepared for his instant attraction to his smart, handsome and younger (by twelve years) new partner, but even if he wanted to do something about it, he won’t.  They’re partners – which makes Jamie off-limits.  And anyway, even if he feels a spark every time they’re together, Jamie’s not even gay (He’s pretty sure. Ahem. Nice detective work).  In dual PoVs, readers discover how intensely both men react to this first meeting, and how committed they both are to not doing anything about it.  Yep. Sure.  Anyway, it’s not long before the two men hit the ground running on their first case together – an investigation into a hacking attempt on a high-security biocontainment facility in Galveston, Texas.  After working the case from San Francisco, it becomes clear they need to be on-site. They opt to stay together in a condo (yes!) that rather fortuitously is owned by Aidan’s family.  Jamie’s cyber skills are put to good use as they race to solve the case and stop the hacker, and Aidan is kept busy interviewing and short listing their suspect list.  When they link the hacks to a possible terrorist attack, it’s a race against the clock to stop the hacker and determine just who and why is targeting the facility.

The case Irish and Whiskey are tasked with solving is interesting (if a bit confusing), and Ms. Reyne masterfully drops little crumbs that eventually come together to reveal the master plan.  The suspect list is complex, and the local FBI agents assigned to help them – one of whom has his eye on Jamie – only seem to complicate the case further.   When they discover the hacking is linked to a terrorist Aidan has tracked in the past, and Jamie uncovers new information about Gabe, the car crash and it’s intended target(s) that he can’t share with Aidan, Ms. Reyne deftly wraps up one case and sets the stage for what’s to come.  There are red herrings, explosions, mixed martial arts… it all works.

But you want to know about the romance don’t you?  IT’S DELICIOUS and intense and the chemistry between Irish and Whiskey is off the charts hot.  It’s also super frustrating.  Aidan loved Gabe and being married, and after the accident, he’s vowed to keep all future relationships casual in order to protect himself.  Afraid to fall in love again, and filled with guilt about his attraction to Jamie, he does everything and anything he can to maintain a purely professional relationship with his partner.  Lucky for us, Jamie wants Aidan from the start.  He’s sensitive to his partner’s past and knows Aidan’s fears (especially given their jobs), but he wants Aidan to admit there’s something special between them.  The first half of the book is a s-l-o-w burn as they struggle to keep their distance except… Aidan can’t control his jealousy whenever Oscar (Jamie’s cyber counterpart in TX) flirts with his partner.

The tension is thick, and readers, it’s so hard to wait for Aidan to accept Jamie’s tender affection and desire.  I found myself sneaking away to read because I just knew when they got together, it would be explosive.  It was.  It is.  Ms. Reyne delivers on all that suppressed lust in a scorching (but tender – you’ll see) love scene.  In fact, though I loved the casework and the relationship building, Ms. Reyne’s  writing absolutely shines in these physical expressions of Aidan and Jamie’s feelings for each other.   Irish and Whiskey are my new favorite romantic pair – and I loved how their career relationship mirrors and overlaps their personal one.  They’re both so protective and intensely aware of their partner/lover/friend, it’s brilliant.

Single Malt concludes with Irish and Whiskey solving the Galveston case (after a nice frenzied last few chapters), but Ms. Reyne leaves us with a terrorist plot cliffhanger that has personal and professional ties to Aidan’s past.  Jamie is still secretly investigating the car crash, and new discoveries threaten his relationship with Aidan.  Aidan and Jamie are lovers, but have very different feelings about what their relationship looks like moving forward.

This is a tremendous debut from Ms. Reyne.  I can’t wait for book two, Cask Strength.

Here is another promising series starter!

Jameson (Jamie) Walker, aka “Whiskey,” is an ex-pro basketball player who left the sport to get out of the spotlight for various reasons we learn about later on. He is also a master hacker who is working his way up through the FBI and now hoping to be cleared for field work.

Jamie is partnered with Aidan Talley (“Irish”) an FBI veteran who is trying to get back into the game after losing his partner and lover to the job almost a year ago. He is a bit reluctant to take on a new partner, but it quickly becomes clear that these guys are the perfect match, on the job initially, and then off the job later on, though there are quite a few obstacles in their way in that regard.

Jame has been interested in Aidan for years, and while the spark is definitely there, Aidan is clearly not ready for anything more, still feeling the grief and guilt which prevent him from moving on. This story focuses more on their building trust as work partners in solving the mystery and catching the criminals, an addition to digging a bit deeper into Aidan’s past and the crash that changed his life.

There is quite a bit of set up in this installment, who can be trusted, who is withholding information, etc. By the end, we have some of those answers, but definitely not all, and it looks like things are going to get worse for these two and their partnership before they get better.

This ends in somewhat of a cliffhanger in that the guys are in an okay place with their partnership and “relationship” but it is by no means solidified, and things could get a lot more interesting in the next installment, which I’m really excited about diving into. I hope the wait isn’t too long and that Ms. Reyne has a lot more planned for these two, because I’m definitely hooked on Irish and Whiskey!

Good intro to this author. Well-written, decent story that doesn't rely on sex (there's a tiny bit, though!)
This tale is well-written, has a decent premise, decent leads in the bereaved Aidan and the rookie field agent, Jameson/Jamie, decent side characters, and also a side story going on - after eight months, Aidan finds out that the accident that killed his husband and late partner, was in fact not an accident.

There's very little sex in the tale, though it's made clear that there's an attraction on both guys' part from the very start. Jameson has been watching Aidan from the shadows for over three years, but had never considered making a move as he Aidan was happily married, and Aidan has always been aware of him, but was never interested as he was happily married. What there is between them, from the very start, is a decent working relationship. There's respect, liking and both interact incredibly well of each other.

The tale is rather heavy on tech stuff, though most of it isn't too hard to understand, but the storyline is easy to follow. It's not a heavy read, and tbh, I'm glad of that, as tech is not my friend. It's also a slow burn romance, as Aidan hasn't gotten over his loss and there's no HEA here, nor really a hint of one, but the tale ends with the leads giving in to the attraction between them and ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. I think that perhaps their relationship is going to be tested by a secret that Jamie is forced to keep, at the request of their boss.

I'm glad to see that there's not too long a wait before the second book comes out in May 2017, and the third in August 2017.

ARC courtesy of Carina Press and NetGalley for my reading pleasure.

Review by Gillian

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times: I love workplace romances. It doesn’t matter if you work in an office, a restaurant, at a school, or driving a Mack truck – if you give me a couple of co-workers and a forbidden relationship (forbidden by HR, anyway) I’m all in.

Good thing then, that Single Malt, is the story of FBI agent Aiden ‘Irish’ Talley and his new partner, Jameson ‘Whiskey’ Walker. Aiden ends up partnered with Jamie when he is cleared to return to work after recovering from injuries he sustained in a car accident eight months earlier. That same accident claimed the life of his husband, Gabe and his agent partner, Tom and Aiden has been dealing with his unwarranted guilt over the crash and the gut feeling that it was no accident – despite the case being closed as one. At the encouragement of his boss (and sister in law), Aiden unofficially enlists Jamie’s help to determine if the accident really was just that – an accident.

While the two men have been aware of each other over the past couple of years, Aiden’s status as a married man kept him firmly in the “look but don’t touch camp.” However, things are different this time.

And while Aiden isn’t completely ready to move on, he is attracted to Jamie, and Jamie makes it perfectly clear that he is attracted to Aiden.

“Whoa, there.” Walker rushed toward him, arm outstretched. “You okay, Irish?”

Aiden skirted out of reach, cursing himself for betraying his husband in a moment of weakness, for taking comfort in the arms of another man in the place that had been theirs. It hadn’t been long enough. He wasn’t ready to move on, no matter what his sisters or anyone else said. Gabe was the love of his life. There was no moving on from that.

When the two men become involved in a case of cyber hacking (Jamie’s expertise), the action and the tension ratchets up a notch. This is where I began to get more involved with the story and was able to see more of the attraction between the two men. I would have appreciated being shown rather than told that Aiden feels guilty over his feelings for Jamie (and almost rated this a 3.5 star read because of it) but his conflicting emotions are put into perspective when a near-disaster occurs:

“Because you saved us. Because we were alive. Because I needed to remember what that felt like.” He’d been dead inside for months. Actually being near death had brought that fact into startling focus.

Walker pulled him back into his arms, cheek to cheek. “Understandable.”

“I need…” The corner of his mouth brushed Walker’s jaw.

“What do you need?” Walker angled his face in, more than a mere brush, noses nudging each other, mouths inches apart.

Life –big, beautiful life – and an end to the emptiness was right there for the taking.

“I need to feel alive again.”

(Just as an aside, following this scene, the two guys get pretty hot and heavy. However, this came on the heels of an accident that caused some injuries and put one of them in the hospital – albeit, briefly – with a head injury. Not sure if *I* would be feeling very sexy at that particular moment but these guys are clearly superheroes).

As all this is going on, there is an actual plot in play, and it’s pretty good. The hacking of the laboratory leads to some interesting information about in-house spies, FBI moles and some unpleasantness that may have to do with Gabe’s death. It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, but one that made me very interested to see where this story is going to go. So yeah, I’m all in for book two.

Overall, I found this to be a fast-paced story with a decent storyline and interesting characters. I think it has the potential to be a strong series if the author can pump up our emotions in the next book and show us more of Aiden’s internal conflict over his growing attachment of Jamie, and how the bombshell dropped on Jamie at the end of the book will impact their relationship, both personally and professionally.

Aside from the schmaltzy titles with the forced association with whisky, this is a reasonably well put together tale. I enjoyed the twist and thought most of the plotting was clever, but the main characters didn't really resonate with me. I found myself not really caring much about the relationship. I can't pin down any one reason for it, as this is quite well written, but I guess I'm so spoilt now with the fantastic writing in the MM field that I can afford to be picky. Don't get me wrong, this is a good tale and if you read it for the mystery then you won't be disappointed, but I care more for sexual tension and that just wasn't there.

I loved this book- it hooked me from page one. Who doesn't want to heal a hot, Irish widower with a broken heart? Who wouldn't want to be charmed by a young, southern stud? Add a little crime action and some humor and you get a great novel, beginning to end. I can't wait to read the sequel!