The plot thickens... Single Malt ended with quite a revelation - that Jamie promised not to share with Aidan. It also left Jamie in a very precarious position. He was getting closer to Aidan and secrets between lovers never ends well.

I gotta say, I'm loving this series and Cask Strength cemented that feeling. Even though these two characters broke my heart - more than once. Jamie was all in when it came to his feelings about Aidan. The only thing was that Aidan was only all in when he was physically with Jamie. Nothing's ever exactly what it seems and things started getting really interesting when the agents went under cover.

I don't want to give too much away, but both Jamie and Aidan thought they had reason to be jealous. Jamie seemed to be in his element when he got back on the court. Then lines started blurring when Aidan worked under cover way too well.

As things in the identity theft case started to wrap up, the case they left behind took another strange turn. The cliff hanger in Cask Strength wasn't quite as crazy... well, not in the same way, anyway... as Single Malt. That doesn't mean that I can't wait to pick up Barrel Proof. Even though I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be ready to say goodbye to Jamie or Aidan, Cask Strength ended in a twist that I never saw coming and I'm kinda hoping that there's a perfectly reasonable explanation, but...

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angie – ☆☆☆☆☆
Holy crap! I was hesitant with this book because the previous book was really wordy in my opinion, but I wanted to know what was on that jump drive and what really happened to Gabe. Let me tell you, I didn't want to put this book down! I was ticked when I had to stop reading and go to work! This book was awesome. I liked the storyline and loved how much Aiden and Jamie we got. Of course, the hot sex was good too! The story ends on a high note but with a bit of a cliffhanger. I seriously need the next book now!


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆☆
Five months on since we left our FBI pair and the story begins with a very hot scene between Aiden and Jamie. We quickly learn things have a changed a little between them and Aiden has pulled away emotionally. I was shocked. I was also pissed at Aiden and my desire smack him in the back of the head until he came to he senses was strong.

Terrorist Renaud is continuing to cause problems for our pair, and to keep them out of the line of fire, Aiden and Jamie are sent undercover to bust a sports betting/identity fraud ring. Jamie goes undercover as an assistant coach for a college basketball team, which puts his old life on a collision course with this new one. This, in turn, causes more issues between him and Aiden.

Cask Strength is a fantastic blend of crime fighting, heart pumping action, and heart squeezing emotion. I love crime solving mixed with relationship drama and this book has done it perfectly. An unexpected twist in the story has left me hanging for the next instalment of this series. I can't wait for more.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The second book in the series, the plot grows increasingly complicated as they prod the secrets surrounding Aiden’s husband’s and partner’s deaths. While that investigation runs through the whole series, this book focuses on an undercover assignment where Irish and Whiskey investigate an illegal sports betting ring.

The plot construction in these books is fantastic. This is a fast paced read with threads of several layered storylines running through it. I love the secrets, the tiny clues, and the way the author makes us suspicious of everyone.

The relationship between Aiden and Jamie is even more complicated in the second book. As work partners, they complement each other perfectly. I love the banter, the instinctive trust, and the generation gap. Their personal relationship is more complicated. Aiden insists on no-strings attached sex. Jamie wants to stay closeted. Neither man has much emotional intelligence. And in this book, Aiden isn’t the only one with an ex.

Jamie’s history as a famous ball player is at the heart of this book. The sports action adds a whole new layer of excitement to the series about gunrunners and FBI corruption. I enjoyed the college setting for this book and I loved the undercover element of the investigation.

I am completely hooked on this series and I can’t wait for the next book. These are such great stories!


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is book two in the series, and thankfully, book three is not too far off publication, as there is a bit of a cliffhanger here. I really think you should read book one before you read this, as the story is ongoing.

Aiden and Jamie had succumbed to their attraction – but it is not appropriate given they are partnered FBI agents. This leads to an uncomfortable situation for both of them, which is incredibly frustrating to watch, but plays into the FBI plot. As in the first book, there is a top layer plot, which is interesting, with the Renaud terrorism angle flowing through it too.

As things start to become clearer in their private lives, the mystery surrounding Gabe may finally be resolved – but you will have to read to find out!

This series has just pulled me in, and it refuses to let me go. On one hand, each book so far had presented an open and shut case, with just enough mystery and danger to keep me frantically flipping pages. Then, the thrill of the over-arching plot has me desperately jumping into book three.

Yet wait, there's more! Order your drink now and she'll make it a double, with pages of steam and a garnish of angst, the kind of swooning romance that will leave you light headed, your world tilting just a little. 

All these elements are coming together wonderfully, never trying to outdo the other, just melding into a story I can sip neat all evening. ~ George, 4 Stars

This is actually the second book in the Agents Irish and Whiskey series. I feel like I’ve been saying this a lot, but I requested it not realizing there was a book before this one – with the same  characters. While it’s something I’d like to read at some point, I didn’t feel lost starting with the second book. There is an overarching mystery that the author does a good job filling you in on, and then there is a more prominent mystery that is unique to this particular book. As for Irish and Whiskey, this is the book where the two finally start to admit to more than physical attraction for each other. Well, Whiskey has long fallen for Irish, but after losing his husband, Irish isn’t so sure he can handle getting too close to anyone else.

I thought the partnership between these two men was great. Yes, they had the romance element, but in general, they fit well together. They always had each other’s back and genuinely cared about the other’s safety and well being. The mysteries in the book were well done and I never really knew what was happening throughout. It kept me in suspense and happy to read. The overarching mystery has new layers added to it in this book, which will be focused on in the third book. As for the mystery for this particular book, everything is revealed and wrapped up, so all in all, there isn’t much of a cliffhanger. Granted, I still can’t wait for the next book!

5 Hearts Reviewed by Aerin (Link to come)

Cask Strength is pretty much exactly what I expected considering how the first book ended. I honestly don't understand why some people expected Aiden and Jamie's journey to be lean waters when we've been told from the blurb and from the final chapter of Single Malt that stormy waters and a rocky road is ahead of them both. And just in case you're wondering, the big secret that Jamie is keeping from Aiden is still threatening to ruin their relationship. The third and final book in this trilogy will be the most angsty and emotional of them all, but I have complete faith in these two.

Aiden finds it hard to come to terms with his new feelings for Jamie and he's scared to death of losing the only other person he's ever loved. Aiden is trying hard to keep things casual with Jamie by going out with other guys; we all know he's only lying to himself, but I'm ok with temporary self-delusion as long as Aiden finally gets on the love train. With the risk of spoiling this part of the story, I have to assure you that Aiden doesn't have sex with any of the guys he goes out with! He leads Jamie to believe that he does, and that's because he's trying really hard to keep their relationship casual. Aiden lost the love of his life, give this scared, confused guy a break; he'll come through and make it worth every exasperated moment.

Trying to draw attention away from themselves after terrorist Renaud starts killing all persons of interest in Gabe and Tom's murder; Aiden and Jamie go undercover on a new case. This brings Jamie up close and personal with the career he loved more than anything and his ex-lover, the one responsible for Jamie giving up on the game he loved so much. You know how sometimes a blast from the past makes you question your decisions and wonder if you made the wrong one? Jamie's ex might be a beautiful man who wants Jamie back, but even though Aiden leads Jamie to believe things between them will never be serious, Jamie's heart knows exactly who it wants. For Jamie, Aiden is home.

This book is action packed, much like the first one has been, and the action served as a distraction from the emotional angst. While I loved the first book more than this one, Cask Strength didn't disappoint. The sexual tension and chemistry between Aiden and Jamie is still there, just as strong as always, especially after Aiden stops being a commitment phobe.

I wish there wasn't such a long wait until Barrel Proof comes out, because based on how Cask Strength ended, it will either be emotional as fuck or emotional as fuck. Have your pick.

What a fantastic sequel!
While I wanted to shake Aiden through the first half of the book, I still thought the story was incredible and even better than the first book. I think this is my favorite series of the year so far.

While starting book 1, I thought the name was going to make the story a little bit cheesy, but it is anything but. 

Very fast paced and the character (main and otherwise) are so Well developed. 

The only part I didn't "love" was Danny's involvement with FBI business. It seemed a little far-fetched, but I loved him and Mel, so I looked passed all that. 

All in all I give this a 5*

I thought the first book was amazing. This second book was even better. I don't think a person would need to have read Single Malt to enjoy Cask Strength, but it would give the back story needed to understand the things going on in the background and 'behind' the front plot. This second book does an amazing job of telling its story so that I don't think anyone would be too lost, but they would definitely want to know more.

If you had read the first book then I hope like me these two men captured your heart just as thoroughly as they did mine.  In this book Jamie has so many struggles, secrets and pressures to deal with while Aidan fights like the devil with his worst enemy- himself, all the while working cases and solving crimes. The suspense was not as high strung as the first book but definitely present and kept me keyed up. The sexy scenes were even hotter. And the emotion evoked top notch. I loved this book so much I didn't want it to end and I desperately need the third book. This series is heating up in so many ways and I just need more! I very highly recommend this book and this series.

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!

Excuse any typos or misguided sentences in this review. My fingers are still tingly and on fire from how damn hot this was. Seriously, Jamie and Aidan own the intense UST and off the charts passion in this book!

Phew. Let’s do this review deal, shall we? 

We start five months after Single Malt ended, with our FBI agents moving casually into a romantic relationship and firmly into their professional partnership. On Jamie’s end, he is all in no matter what he promised to Aidan about keeping it casual between them because Jamie has been so gone for Aidan long before anything physical happened between them. He knows Aidan was a man whore before his marriage to Gabe and half listened to Aidan’s points on not being serious – blah blah blah - but Jamie is his own man and he’ll do what he wants as long as he keeps it to himself. There are a few other things he is keeping to himself as well, like knowing the connection between Gabe, Tom and Renaud and not telling Aidan about it nor that Mel has him digging deeper into the accident and all that it involves. 

“There’s no substitute for the real thing.”

I have to say that when I first learned about the men Aidan was seeing on the side I saw red and not just the natural color of Aidan’s hair. I was pissed off but then I turned the page and got Aidan’s POV and settled down. Self-preservation is the solace of owns own mind and though you don’t agree, you can’t pass judgment because it’s each person’s own validity. Aidan is so terrified to lose Jamie that he tries to keep him at arms-length by “dating” copy cats of Jamie and swearing there is no feelings between them. It’s a dick move but when Jamie calls him out on it, we do get some delicious UST that unfortunately leads to more dick moves and then Mel giving them a case back in Jamie’s home town with them undercover and an Au Naturale Aidan as Ian… *swoon* Call him what you want, Agent Irish is edible as his natural ginger self. 

My brain is a jumbled mess right now as I try to process everything we have learned. Not only about the accident that killed Gabe and Tom but about all this crap in Charlotte with basketball and people wanting a piece of both Jamie and Aidan that they will stop at nothing to get it. The undercover case was nothing less than fascinating and full of informational detail that doesn’t weight the reader down. It was easy to follow, the betting etc. and fueled every aspect of the story line. As with the first book, this is full of cinematic action and swoon worthy moments along with intense passionate games of er, um pool? Yeah, we will call it games of pool and how scorching the game of billiards can be, or at least just the use of the table. 

“Basketball. The Court. The Game.”

It was great to see Jamie in his roots with basketball even though it was undercover. We get a lot of him as the FBI Agent and hacker, but I loved seeing how much his first love meant to him in real time. We know why he left the game and that he has thrived in his life as an FBI Agent but he lived and breathed basketball for so long that is also suffocated his inability to be out with his sexual orientation. Of course, being home brings up drama that is unavoidable but did it ever make for some intense moments between Jamie and Aidan that had me melting. I mean, jealousy can be a good thing when its labors bring about a change. 

Again I have to bring in the title of this book. I love that the author is sticking to the whiskey themed titles and that Cask Strength, points at the production in whiskey straight from the barrel and its maturity. Ha! Maturity. I think in this case we can either talk about Aidan being older but older doesn’t always mean better or for that matter Jamie if we talk about whiskey maturing and losing some of its potency, known as the angel’s share. We learn a lot about Jamie when we go home with him undercover as himself to catch the insiders betting on basketball and stealing identifies. Aidan is of the assumption that his younger lover is so damn pure because Aidan thinks he is so damn tainted and yet learns that his own Whiskey at cask strength has a burn that overpowers the subtlety of his own flavors. Hmm… Aidan, be careful that scent you like to inhale so much from Jamie’s neck doesn’t burn your nose hairs. Kay? 

“Another person in his inner circle who’d betrayed him. Another person at risk.”

Goodness. As Jamie, Danny and Mel work the case behind Aidan’s back more secrets come out of the closet like a needed yard sale of a hoarder. It was crazy how many ties to Aidan all of this has and how Jamie will tell him. The manner of which Aidan goes about working the case, how he goes about lying to his lover, his partner and the man he loves leads us to an heart stopping conclusion and cliffhanger to the story. Seriously, I yelled at the end and contemplated how long my resolve would take to break before I ran to request the last book because OMG! That end was amazing. 

So, declarations have been exchanged and promises have been made but when Jamie comes clean with Aidan with the whole story about Gabe etc., he may need his own stock of cask strength liquor to drown out the memory of what could have been. OR, will this new love between partners and lovers be strong enough to not be diluted. Only two fingers of the finest Barrel Proof will tell for sure.

Well now!!! I absolutely love this series but a certain FBI agent of Irish descent was in serious danger of getting a smack at the beginning of this book :)

Aidan is seriously fighting the attraction between him and Jamie because he fears the devastation that will come with losing someone he loves again. This leads him to do some stupid, stupid things that break Jamie's heart and make me want to slap him. Thankfully, this issue is not dragged out over long cos I hate unnecessary angst but I think Layla Reyne got this spot on.

The mysteries in this series are also really good and the ongoing story arc just gets better and better but the secrets Jamie is being forced to keep are a major worry. Gimme more.

I did a little wuhoo when this book came through to my inbox. Cask Strength is book 2 in the Irish & Whiskey series. Be warned though, read book one before opening a page of this one - otherwise, you’ll be confused to hell. On the good side, both books are bloody great.

In Cask Strength, I got to revisit the world of FBI Agents Jameson ‘Whiskey’ Walker and Aidan ‘Irish’ Talley. Two strong-willed, talented, and totally hot men who’s weakness and strength is each other. For more than one reason, a fan may need to be present while reading.

I’ll apologise in advance if this review seems a touch disjointed. But, I enjoyed the story so much that I forgot to make notes as I read. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the pages. The story is full on from start to end. And there’s the final book to follow….

Anyhow, back to some sanity and my attempt at a review.

The opening scenes are hot and heavy immediately satisfying any reader’s need for hard bodies and something to gulp at. Jamie and Aiden are partners with benefits; mainly because after Aiden’s husband Gabe was murdered (see book 1 for more details), Aiden doesn’t want to get hurt again. But, Jamie wants more – enter one of the several sources of friction. Until he can get more, he hides his feelings and takes what he can even though he knows they aren’t exclusive. Well, Aiden isn’t acting exclusive. Aiden knows his Casanova tendencies, and mentions of other men are hurting Jamie, but he can’t risk getting close. He believes he’s doing what is best for both of them.

Master criminal, Renaud, is still on the loose and causing havoc. The investigation into Gabe’s murder is heating up, and the boys need to get out of town. They are sent undercover to a place Jamie has a history. It’s a place and life he left years ago, and for a good reason. OMG, what an investigation they have there. The plot involves basketball, betting and so much more. I’ll admit, I didn’t understand any of the basketball terminologies, but it was negligible to the bigger story.

So, there are two investigations on the go, secrets being kept that can destroy, and some secrets being blown wide open. And, action – oh yes, there’s action.

Technically, nothing irked me, and I loved some of the phrasings. This author has a style that I adore.

From the off, I felt for Jamie, and as such, in this book, he is the character in the limelight. The to-and-fro heartache between Aiden and Jamie is palpable. Yet, through the case, they support each other and have their share of spats too – especially when Jamie’s ex makes a move on him.

It was also great to see Cam return in short but memorable bursts.

The thing I like about this series is that there are conclusions, leaving no ;throw the book up the wall’ cliffies. However, there is the prime investigation of Renaud to conclude, and the hook for that remains, with an extra worm on the end.

In short – I loved it and can’t wait for the final book in the series.

Spoilers ahead:  If you haven’t read the first book in the Agents Irish & Whiskey series, Single Malt, it ended with a cliffhanger and this review contains spoilers.

Single Malt concluded with Aidan Talley (Irish) and Jameson Walker (Whiskey) solving their case, but Ms. Reyne left us with cliffhanger concerning a terrorist plot that has  personal and professional ties to Aidan’s past.  Jamie, at the behest of his boss, Special Agent Melissa Cruz, is still secretly investigating the car crash that killed Aiden’s husband Gabe (also Melissa’s brother) and his FBI partner Tom Crane.  When Single Malt concluded, Jamie had discovered a link between the terrorist Renaud, Gabe and Tom, and he knows that the information will devastate Aidan.  Aidan and Jamie are lovers, but Aidan’s fear of losing another lover and Jamie’s investigation threaten to derail their relationship before it can really begin.

Layla Reyne kicks off book two on a high note.  Arriving at Jamie’s San Francisco townhouse, Aidan tells him they’re at the top of the FBI’s clearance board and proposes a celebration.  They’re riding high professionally and personally and Cask Strength lulls you in with their happy celebration – a super hot and intense kitchen sex scene.  Then, well, it breaks your heart, because shortly afterwards, Aidan announces he has to go.  When Jamie suggests they go away for the weekend instead, Aidan tells him he can’t, because he’s got a date with Dominic – Nic – Price, the federal prosecutor on the Galveston case.  In short order we discover Aidan, still unwilling to commit to Jamie, has decided that dating other men is the only way to maintain his distance.  Jamie is gutted each time Aidan goes on one of these dates, and so are we.

Not long after this, Jamie discovers a financial link between Renaud and the same two FBI agents who shut down the investigation into Aidan’s car accident.  Nic tips Aidan off as to their location, and he’s on his way to intercept them when Jamie senses something isn’t quite right.  Shots ring out and chaos ensues.  Spotting Aidan prone on sidewalk, Jamie races to his side.  Quickly ascertaining the blood on the pavement isn’t Aidan’s but that the other two agents are dead, he’s relieved to discover Aidan is alive but unconscious.  Jamie doesn’t linger – a manhunt is underway and the scene needs to be secured.  By the time Jamie arrives at Aidan’s hospital room, he’s frantic with worry, nearly losing it when he discovers Nic already there, and angrily orders him out.  As soon as Nic leaves, Jamie breaks down, confessing his fears and love for Aidan – until Aidan, who’s already had his own mini-freak out and decided he can’t go through this again, abruptly breaks up with him.

With Renaud ratcheting up the pressure in San Francisco, Special Agent Cruz reassigns the men to North Carolina (Jamie’s home state) to investigate an identity theft ring involving a college basketball team.  Despite the obvious schism in their partnership, she insists they work together.  Jamie, a former standout college and NBA player, is placed on the team as an assistant coach.  At a press conference, he tells reporters he’s decided to leave law enforcement and return to his first love – basketball.  Aidan goes undercover as Jamie’s agent, Ian Daley, in town to negotiate his contract.  Jamie’s in a perfect position to identify suspect players and coaches; Aidan, in his guise as Jamie’s agent, can shortlist possible guilty athletic department and administration suspects.

Though the identity theft case is interesting and really, it’s just the sort of brilliant scam you hope isn’t actually happening in college sports, Cask Strength is mostly about the relationship between Jamie and Aidan.  Secondary characters – the athletic director, Ethan Reynolds, for whom Aidan pretends an attraction in order to infiltrate the criminal ring, and Jamie’s former lover Derrick Pope – also play pivotal roles.  Jamie loves Aidan and wants him to give a romantic relationship a try.  Jamie is consumed with jealousy about Aidan’s other boyfriends; he particularly hates the flirtatious (fake) relationship Aidan has with Ethan.  Aidan loves Jamie, but he fears losing another lover.

There’s a lot of complex casework in Cask Strength and it both grounds the story and keeps Jamie and Aidan in close proximity.  This time out they’re in Jamie’s home state, and wind up living together in a home Jamie owns in the area.  Much like how the relationship evolved in Barrel Strength, living together and keeping their affections under wraps proves all but impossible.  After a delicious scene in the NC airport when Jamie picks up Aidan and nearly flips out when he sees his partner undercover as Ian, these two circle around their intense attraction to each other while living together. They struggle to live and work together, and over games of pool (Aidan is a pool shark; Jamie is terrible) they vent their pent up sexual and emotional frustrations while Jamie drinks expensive Scotch and they privately long for each other.  Ms. Reyne keeps ratcheting up the professional and personal tension until something has to give.  And it does.  BIG TIME FOLKS.  IT’S AWESOME.

When Aidan and Jamie finally have sex again it’s scorching hot and Ms. Reyne (again) vividly finds a way to balance their intense chemistry and tender affection.  Friends, these too are so hot and awesome together.  Sexy, intense, romantic…more please!  Aidan finally confesses he loves Jamie, and I may have squealed with happiness.  (Okay.  I did.)  But much like that first evil chapter, just when their affection is at an all-time high – things go sideways.  The identity theft case intersects with their personal relationship (I didn’t love this development) and the reunion comes to an abrupt end.  In a frantic final few chapters, the case is split wide open, Aidan is forced to confront his fear of losing Jamie, and Jamie makes new discoveries in the on-going Renaud investigation.

When Cask Strength concludes, Irish and Whiskey are partners, both professionally and personally.  But Renaud is still on the loose, and Jamie is still keeping secrets from Aidan about his husband and former partner.  In a cliffhanger, the novel abruptly concludes when they discover someone they trust might be working with the terrorist. The revelation will leave you (me) shouting “no!” at the screen, and quickly checking when the next book is out.  Not soon enough my friends!  Not soon enough.

Agents Talley and Walker are on a professional high. Their off the clock personal time is good, but it’s not quite what Jamie wants. Jamie is head over heals in love with Aidan, and Aidan is doing all he can to distance himself from Jamie and his own emotions. When the two officers that investigated the crash that killed Aidan’s husband are shot neither man handles himself well. The investigation into Renaud has become too dangerous and both men need to disappear for a time. There is a case in North Carolina that will get them out of the way and can use their particular strengths and talents. Jamie finds himself back on the court as a coach. Surprisingly, his ex-boyfriend shows up. Seeing Jamie doing something he loves, in a place he loves, with someone he deeply loved helps Aidan realize what he has to lose.

I am captivated by this story. I have no clue why, but I have a need to know what’s happening next. Yes, a need. What was Gabe doing, what did he know? Everyone surrounding Aidan seems to be involved in some level of terrorist activity. Or rather, everyone who did surround him. Renaud is killing everyone involved in his orchestrations. Who else is Aidan going to lose to Renaud?

In addition to the Renaud situation Jamie and Aidan have to get over themselves and their own hang ups. Jamie does a lot of bending over backwards for Aidan, as soon as he stops Aidan ends things. I’m not sure how I feel about that. It’s their issue to work out, I suppose. It’s not something that would make me stop reading or anything. I don’t even feel the relationship is all that imbalanced, but Aidan is definitely a bit of a d-bag. And of course Jaime has his big secret he’s been keeping for months. This is another thing I’m unsure about. I don’t know if I’d be all that upset Jaime has spent months trying to exonerate Gabe. As a plot device this feels a little drummed up to me.

So, the writing. This book is pretty much all telling. That’s not awful, but it’s not my thing. I’m also not really in love with some of the prose. I don’t want to say it’s cheesy or sappy, but I can see a general drift in some instances toward something I’d call sappy. Overall, I’d have to say I love the mystery/suspense arc, and I love reading the trials and tribulations of Jaime and Aidan’s relationship, but I’m not particularly impressed with the craft. Thankfully, I feel story is more important than craft.

I'm really enjoying this series so far. It's captivating and suspenseful and there is character growth with every book. It's only been two books so far, but you can see great strides in both leads. I'm not always captivated my romance suspense, but this is really REALLY good!

I really enjoyed the first book, but found some of the plot elements in this second book harder to suspend my disbelief about. The romance is a strength and I do enjoy a little bit of drama, of which this had plenty. In all, a good follow up, but not my favorite in the series.

Spoilers ahead:  If you haven’t read the first book in the Agents Irish & Whiskey series, Single Malt, it ended with a cliffhanger and this review contains spoilers.

Single Malt concluded with Aidan Talley (Irish) and Jameson Walker (Whiskey) solving their case, but Ms. Reyne left us with cliffhanger concerning a terrorist plot that has  personal and professional ties to Aidan’s past.  Jamie, at the behest of his boss, Special Agent Melissa Cruz, is still secretly investigating the car crash that killed Aiden’s husband Gabe (also Melissa’s brother) and his FBI partner Tom Crane.  When Single Malt concluded, Jamie had discovered a link between the terrorist Renaud, Gabe and Tom, and he knows that the information will devastate Aidan.  Aidan and Jamie are lovers, but Aidan’s fear of losing another lover and Jamie’s investigation threaten to derail their relationship before it can really begin.

Layla Reyne kicks off book two on a high note.  Arriving at Jamie’s San Francisco townhouse, Aidan tells him they’re at the top of the FBI’s clearance board and proposes a celebration.  They’re riding high professionally and personally and Cask Strength lulls you in with their happy celebration - a super hot and intense kitchen sex scene.  Then, well, it breaks your heart, because shortly afterwards, Aidan announces he has to go.  When Jamie suggests they go away for the weekend instead, Aidan tells him he can’t, because he’s got a date with Dominic - Nic - Price, the federal prosecutor on the Galveston case.  In short order we discover Aidan, still unwilling to commit to Jamie, has decided that dating other men is the only way to maintain his distance.  Jamie is gutted each time Aidan goes on one of these dates, and so are we.

Not long after this, Jamie discovers a financial link between Renaud and same two FBI agents who shut down the investigation into Aidan’s car accident.  Nic tips Aidan off as to their location, and he’s on his way to intercept them when Jamie senses something isn’t quite right.  Shots ring out and chaos ensues.  Spotting Aidan prone on sidewalk, Jamie races to his side.  Quickly ascertaining the blood on the pavement isn’t Aidan’s but that the other two agents are dead, he’s relieved to discover Aidan is alive but unconscious.  Jamie doesn’t linger - a manhunt is underway and the scene needs to be secured.  By the time Jamie arrives at Aidan’s hospital room, he’s frantic with worry, nearly losing it when he discovers Nic already there, and angrily orders him out.  As soon as Nic leaves, Jamie breaks down, confessing his fears and love for Aidan - until Aidan, who’s already had his own mini-freak out and decided he can’t go through this again, abruptly breaks up with him.

With Renaud ratcheting up the pressure in San Francisco, Special Agent Cruz reassigns the men to North Carolina (Jamie’s home state) to investigate an identity theft ring involving a college basketball team.  Despite the obvious schism in their partnership, she insists they work together.  Jamie, a former standout college and NBA player, is placed on the team as an assistant coach.  At a press conference, he tells reporters he’s decided to leave law enforcement and return to his first love - basketball.  Aidan goes undercover as Jamie’s agent, Ian Daley, in town to negotiate his contract.  Jamie’s in a perfect position to identify suspect players and coaches; Aidan, in his guise as Jamie’s agent, can shortlist possible guilty athletic department and administration suspects.

Though the identity theft case is interesting and really, it’s just the sort of brilliant scam you hope isn’t actually happening in college sports, Cask Strength is mostly about the relationship between Jamie and Aidan.  Secondary characters - the athletic director, Ethan Reynolds, for whom Aidan pretends an attraction in order to infiltrate the criminal ring, and Jamie’s former lover Derrick Pope - also play pivotal roles.  Jamie loves Aidan and wants him to give a romantic relationship a try.  Jamie is consumed with jealousy about Aidan’s other boyfriends; he particularly hates the flirtatious (fake) relationship Aidan has with Ethan.  Aidan loves Jamie, but he fears losing another lover.

There’s a lot of complex casework in Cask Strength and it both grounds the story and keeps Jamie and Aidan in close proximity.  This time out they’re in Jamie’s home state, and wind up living together in a home Jamie owns in the area.  Much like how the relationship evolved in Barrel Strength, living together and keeping their affections under wraps proves all but impossible.  After a delicious scene in the NC airport when Jamie picks up Aidan and nearly flips out when he sees his partner undercover as Ian, these two circle around their intense attraction to each other while living together. They struggle to live and work together, and over games of pool (Aidan is a pool shark; Jamie is terrible) they vent their pent up sexual and emotional frustrations while Jamie drinks expensive Scotch and they privately long for each other.  Ms. Reyne keeps ratcheting up the professional and personal tension until something has to give.  And it does.  BIG TIME FOLKS.  IT’S AWESOME.

When Aidan and Jamie finally have sex again it’s scorching hot and Ms. Reyne (again) vividly finds a way to balance their intense chemistry and tender affection.  Friends, these too are so hot and awesome together.  Sexy, intense, romantic...more please!  Aidan finally confesses he loves Jamie, and I may have squealed with happiness.  (Okay.  I did.)  But much like that first evil chapter, just when their affection is at an all-time high - things go sideways.  The identity theft case intersects with their personal relationship (I didn’t love this development) and the reunion comes to an abrupt end.  In a frantic final few chapters, the case is split wide open, Aidan is forced to confront his fear of losing Jamie, and Jamie makes new discoveries in the on-going Renaud investigation.
When Cask Strength concludes, Irish and Whiskey are partners, both professionally and personally.  But Renaud is still on the loose, and Jamie is still keeping secrets from Aidan about his husband and former partner.  In a cliffhanger, the novel abruptly concludes when they discover someone they trust might be working with the terrorist. The revelation will leave you (me) shouting “no!” at the screen, and quickly checking when the next book is out.  Not soon enough my friends!  Not soon enough.

I admit, I had high expectations going in seeing as how Single Malt swept me off my feet but happily for me, Cask Strength was another top shelf read in the author’s debut series Agents Irish and Whiskey.

Cask Strength picks up five months after the first book left off. Professionally, our heroes Aidan and Jamie are kicking ass and taking names, while on the side, their hunt for the mysterious international terrorist Renaud continues with mixed results. On a personal level however, the two men have firmly fallen into the “friends with benefits” category.

Aidan and Jamie’s relationship was far from ideal, especially when you factor in the big secret that Jamie’s keeping from Aidan about his deceased husband’s possible ties to Renaud. I admit, there was a lot of SMDH and eyerolls on my part directed at Aidan because of his refusal to take things further with Jamie, [ALERT: minor spoiler] even going so far as to date other men in the guise of keeping it casual. He managed to redeem himself somewhat but still cut it way too close for my tastes considering the way the book ended – you guessed it, with another cliffhanger finish.

The few things that bothered me in book one came back to mock me. This was unsurprising – keep in mind that a lot of it’s a matter of personal taste or preference rather than any legitimate complaint on my part. For instance, I couldn’t help but cringe every time one of our big strong heroes “gasped” (and it happened often enough) – let’s just say that neither Aidan nor Jamie strike me as the type to show their surprise in such an obvious and dramatic manner. And I still found the flashy display of wealth (Aidan’s in particular) a bit jarring especially for an FBI agent. Jamie’s no pauper either thanks to his former basketball career but I found him infinitely more relatable with his casual manner and slovenly ways.

Also, I hate to admit it – and again this is probably just me – but two books into the series and I still had trouble telling our heroes apart sometimes. I mean sure the whole “Whiskey” and “Irish” nicknames are cute but they’re not particularly helpful when both men are tall, well-built, smart, wealthy, white, alphas, love fast cars… I could probably go on but I think you get the idea. And of course, both their given names are traditional Irish names. I guess I just wished their character voices were a little more distinct. It also didn’t help that my brain kept imagining Jamie as a gorgeous blue-eyed, light-skinned Black man (think Michael Ealy)… like I said, most of it boils down to personal tastes. Or in this case, my stupid, wayward brain.

The writing was sharp and detailed which was no surprise but always worth pointing out and applauding.  However, a few moments seemed off to me, like when Aidan took a moment to ID a suspect, even after Jamie had just relayed the info to him. And then the opposite happened a little later when Jamie gave Aidan the address of a secret location with no indication how he got the information. I mean, presumably he hacked it because that’s what he does best, but considering the circumstances he was in at the time, that information seemed to appear out of nowhere.

The book may not have had the bombs and car chases of its predecessor but their undercover stint had a very personal and human element that I really appreciated. Jamie’s love for basketball and for being home really shone through, as did his struggle when faced with the temptation of all the things he’d ever dreamed of in life presented to him on a platter – not least of which was his ex-love, Derrick.

Overall, Cask Strength was a great second act in the Agents Irish and Whiskey trilogy. Both the over-arching mystery and Aidan and Jamie’s relationship are left unreconciled but the groundwork was laid for what should be an explosive finish. As fast-paced as the books are, I’m almost a little concerned that the romance might end up taking a back seat to all the action in the final installment of the series. However, between the sharp writing, compelling plot and steamy romance, this series has me completely hooked so you can bet I’ll be tuning in when Barrel Proof releases in the fall. Besides, I need to see if my guess for one of the culprits is correct – it hit me really early on, and I’ve been dying for some confirmation since. Bring it!

I really enjoyed this continuation of Aidan and Jamie's story, which started in Single Malt. (Head's up, this is definitely a series you must read in order. Definitely not a standalone.) Cask Strength takes us a few months after the ending of Single Malt. Jamie and Aidan are work partners and totally killing it at work. Jamie's still working on his secret project that Aidan doesn't know about. And they're still together... physically... but they aren't a couple. Aidan's fighting it no matter how much Jamie tries to convince him otherwise.

The investigation in this book was pretty straightforward. Not really much mystery, but it was well plotted and kept me interested. There's some continuation of the investigation from Galveston in Single Malt, and Jamie is still working his secret project guided by Mel.

The character growth in this book was pretty great. For Jamie, at least. Aidan gave me a bit of a headache with how much he protested committing to Jamie and some of the things he was doing because he thought he could stop from becoming emotionally invested in his partner. But Jamie showed a lot of growth. He winds up back in NC on the investigation and we learn a lot about him at the same time he learns a lot about himself. Meeting some people from his past and seeing him in his original element filled his character in well and made him more three-dimensional. I really loved Jamie in this book.

This is the second in a trilogy, so definitely go in expecting that cliffhanger ending. I'm excited to finish out this series. I can't wait to see how the author brings it all full circle. I'll admit, some of the "secret" investigation has me a little exasperated, but I'm holding onto faith that Layla Reyne will bring it all together and make all the drama worth it by the end of book three. And please, lord, let Aidan get his shit together.

Warning : Serious angst here and of course another cliffhanger!

Okay, I might be the only one to say this but I was a bit confused with his one. So here we are, fast forward five months later where Jamie and Aiden are nothing more than FWB or even possibly CWB (colleagues with benefits). Of course we learn that Aiden is back to his dickhead ways while Jamie's heart is set on said dickhead. We get to hear of Aiden’s 'dates' with other men, and this is where I get a bit confused. See it sounds like he is going back to his old ways; however, the way the author writes I cannot be certain if he truly has sex with them or if it’s just all for show. 

Case in point(s) :
"With "Jamie" came warm, alluring, heartbeat-tripping memories of an intimacy he hadn't shared with him since. Or with any of the other men he'd dated the past five months, despite what Jamie thought about his promiscuity."

AND

"He needed distance- he'd let Jamie continue to think he fucked other men, if that's what pushed him away- but Aidan also needed him to understand not just any man would do."

Yet, one of Aiden’s side pieces sees the marks that Jamie leaves on his back. 

"You leave those marks on him last weekend?"

Therefore I can only conclude that something happened between them in order for Nic to see the marks on Aiden's back. I just want/need to know to what extent. 

In book two, the boys are on the trail of the terrorist, Renaud. Unfortunately, he seems to know their every move and is quickly getting rid of any outstanding liability; leaving bodies in his wake. Their boss Mel ends up getting the two out-of-town on another case to hopefully stop Renaud's pursuits, and get the boys out of harm's way. However, Mel and Jamie continue to work the Renaud Case unbeknownst to Aiden. 

What’s this new case you ask? Well, Jamie is sent undercover as an assistant coach at Charlotte University as his old self, Whiskey Walker while Aiden goes under as his Sports Agent, Ian Daley. Their mission is to find out who is behind an online sports gambling site that is actually a front for an Identity Theft ring. For the most part, I really enjoyed this part of the storyline. What I didn’t like was the jealousy that almost sabotaged their sting. They are professionals for goodness sakes! One would think with what is at stake with their mission (there is more than meets the eyes), that they wouldn’t want to jeopardize it nor one another. But hey, what do I know right?!? I just felt it was out of line for the two Professional FBI agents that the author created; IMO it just didn't fit/feel right. 

In the end, we are left with another cliffhanger, which I feel is not as gripping as the first book nor can I believe it given what we know up to this point. It's not that it is ridiculous, but given all prior information IMO it just doesn't seem likely. Now, the author might shock the heck out of me and bring new things to light and if that's the case....HECK YES! Because I love it when I cannot see what's coming. All in all, I'm excited to see what is next for these two. I am still waiting for the fallout/repercussions that will happen between Irish, Whiskey and Mel. Oh, and when that does happen.....that will definitely be some serious angst!

I am one of many reviewers at Gay Book Reviews and can be found here: http://gaybook.reviews/author/steph/

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.