4.5 stars- The excitement continues in this installment that picks up where the previous book left off. Aidan is still trying to keep things casual between him and Jamie as a way to protect himself from caring too much about someone he could potentially lose, just as had happened with his husband. Jamie wants more, but he is still under orders to keep what he knows about the death of Aidan’s husband under wraps. While it is killing him to do so, he plans to continue connecting the dots until he has the full story before coming clean with Aidan.

After another near miss on Aidan’s life where Renaurd is concerned, the guys are sent to lay low pursuing another case at the college where Jamie used to play ball. They go undercover, Jamie as the assistant coach and Aidan as his agent, in an effort to uncover an illegal gambling ring.

So, there are basically three things going on here with tons of branches heading in different directions from each. First, is the initial case of tracking down Renaurd and the events and coincidences surrounding the death of Aidan’s husband, as well as the attempts on his own life; then there is the cyber-gambling ring they are currently trying to uncover; and third is their relationship, which finally takes a more solid positive turn as they realize how much they love each other.

However, just as with the first book, there are secrets and more secrets, with more ties to more people being involved, most of whom appear to be betraying Aidan or those he loves. We are getting closer to the answers, but I just hope these two will survive when it is all said and done. Aidan and Jamie make a fabulous couple. They have amazing chemistry, both on the job and off, and really fit each other well.

This was another exciting and nail biting installment, and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book. These really need to be read in order, and this one also ends in a somewhat cliffhanger that left me ready to dive right into the next one to continue the story. If that’s an issue for you, you might want to wait for them all to be published, but I definitely recommend you keep them on your list and ready to go when the time comes!

I freaking LOVE these two. Seriously, they're smart, funny, smexy as all get out and the suspense is top notch. I'm not a great book reviewer, seriously... I'm just not. If I like something I just like it and talk about how great it is and if something is problematic for me, I'll post that too. The path to true love does not run smooth for Agents Irish and Whiskey, but it is beautiful to see. I am so stupid in live with this series!

OMG! Layla Reyne continues to deliver with Cask Strength, book two, with the sexy, addictive, and tantalizing series, Agents Irish and Whiskey, aka Jameson Walker and Aidan Talley. 

Wow, wow, wow, these two are so perfect for each other—know each other's strengths and weaknesses—yet jealousy still rears its ugly head, which in my opinion, only adds to the deliciousness of the sexual tension that continues to mount to explosive heights.

and...whoa! does it ever!

Cask Strength picks up immediately where Single Malt left off so this should not be read as a standalone. Jamie is tasked with a horrible assignment which means keeping secrets from Aidan and it's killing him. They're still looking for Renaud—the man behind the attacks that took Aidan's husband—but he is closing in so in order to get out of his sights for a while they take on an undercover assignment back to Jamie's hometown. 

This only adds further complications on an already shaky relationship between Jamie and Aidan. Now there's an ex in the picture, more secrets from Jamie's past that he hasn't dealt with on top of the already confusing signals he is getting from Aidan. 

Deception is everywhere, the suspense will have you reading with one eye open while holding your breath but turning the pages as fast as you can. Riveting and an on the edge of your seat plot that will keep you pulled into the story from start to finish. You will question the loyalties of those you trust, make new enemies, gain new friends, but you will never lose hope that Jamie and Aidan have each other's back. 

Cask Strength ends on a cliffhanger, the same as Single Malt, so if you can't handle the wait, you may want to wait :) however, this series is a must read. The slow burn and romantic suspenseful buildup are one of my absolute most favorites and Layla Reyne works it perfectly giving the reader everything they could want in this push and pull nail biting suspenseful and sexy series. 

Barrel Proof is next bringing this amazing, no-holds-barred, series to a close, and I have no doubts it will be a thrilling and magnificent ending. I, for one, can not wait. 

5 HUGE STARS

My Review:
OMG, I am loving this series so, so hard. Whiskey and Irish (Jamie and Aidan) are such incredible characters and lovers, but in this book they're in a bit of a painful place.

Aidan's husband who he had and loved for 10 years died and that loss broke him. As a result, he doesn't want to give his heart completely again. No matter how much he loves Jamie, he wouldn't survive another loss like that...so he's dating several men...and slowly breaking Jamie's heart. Gah...I thought the beginning of this book was going to kill me.

The thing is, Jamie understands and is allowing it. He's afraid if he gives Aidan an ultimatum than he will lose access to any part of Aidan. He's not willing to take that risk. Seriously, it's heartbreaking.

But then the case they're called out on puts Jamie in a position that he's really uncomfortable with. Eight years ago, he walked away from basketball because he refused to be the gay player. But now he has to go back into that closet...and there's company there...his ex-boyfriend. Despite that bit of uncomfortableness is the other side of the coin...basketball...the game he loved, and the discovery that he's really, really good at coaching. Maybe this thing with Aidan is a sign. Maybe it's time to give up the FBI and go back to his first love...the game he was so good at.

The thing that I'm coming to love about Layla Reyne's writing is her mastery of emotional conflict. I'm a girl who loves some angst in her reading. Ms. Reyne delivers in spades for emotional hits. These books are romantic suspense so there are moments of high-adrenaline-filled action and drama and she infuses those scenes with heart-stopping emotion. Seriously, brilliant use of emotional hits in her writing and I LOVE THAT!!

This is book #2 of 3 in this series. Note...you NEED to read all these books. They don't work as stand-alones as the background story and relationship is building upon itself. And OMG, that ending...where is book #3?!? I need it now...or yesterday, in truth. I love this series.

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

This is an excellent addition to the Irish and Whiskey series. Great balance between the investigative plots (both of them), and the building relationship between the two agents.

Whiskey as coach gives us an insight into his life before he became a fed, and a chance for him to get some closure. As he gets when he meets up with his ex, who had forced Jamie to make decisions he has regretted. That was a nice bit of writing.

Aidan remains a chameleon. Able to fit into an undercover disguise seamlessly, able to remain professional when faced with danger, but we know his thoughts, we hear his uncertainties and we watch him face up to few truths.

Then, of course, right at the end, everything goes wrong. So this is a cliff-hanger, a dropping point, and it'll be hard to wait for the next one, which I believe is the last? Maybe?

Copy provided by publisher and Netgalley and read with thanks. Highly recommended for people who like to mix a little action and danger with their mm romance. Out on May 1st.

4..5 stars!  Cask Strength is the second book in the Agents Irish and Whiskey series and is NOT a stand-alone. It's been 5 months since Jamie and Aidan became partners and professionally they are at the top of the Bureau's case clearance board. Personally, their relationship remains hot and very very steamy, but Aidan keeps throwing up boundaries, determined to keep things casual.

"Aidan was afraid to commit, afraid to lose someone else he loved. While Jamie understood, it hadn’t stopped him from falling."

Jamie isn't willing to push Aidan into a commitment until he can discover how the terrorist Renaud and Aidan's dead husband Gabe are linked. And when more bloodshed touches the partners they are sent undercover, with Jamie becoming a Division II assistant basketball coach in order to solve a case of online sports betting used as a means of identity theft. Once again Layla Reyne does a great job of immersing us into the action while continuing to explore the relationship between Jamie and Aidan. And like the first book in the series, this one ends in a cliffhanger of sorts where the identify theft case is solved, but new information is revealed that brings everyone involved closer to the deadly resolution of the Renaud case.

I love how this installment of the series continues to explore Jamie and Aidan's relationship -
which seemed to have already achieved its happy ending in Single Malt - as it deepens and changes. The plot held my interest every step of the way and I'm looking forward to the final book in the Agents Irish and Whiskey series, Barrel Proof, coming August 7, 2017.

In hindsight, it might be better for me to wait to read this series until the whole stories completed. Only I'm not as patient! 

The 2nd entry to Agents Irish and Whiskey series, Cask Strength continued Aidan Talley and Jameson Walker's stab at solving unsanctioned case that had killed Aidan's husband and partner over a year ago. The lead kept leaving casualties left and right; and so - to shake the deadly shadow - their superior assign them new case out of California, going undercover in gambling and identity theft case at Jamie's home-state. 

Compared to in Single Malt, here the protagonists had a much more complex relationship and emotionally involved. The hot and cold treatment due to the fear frustrated me at times; but given the author's writing, the pace of the story, and of course the case(s) - yep, I do mean the official and unsanctioned ones - I could overlook the selfish indecision! Layla Reyne is fast becoming another favorite author for me. She could get me to symphatize with this sort of behaviour from mature character! ;-)

That saying, I was quite miffed with these agents for the sloppiness that resulted in the "blackmail" and the bug. I mean, for agents of their calibre - the best in their field office? - that was just beyond careless; making it look like they were underestimating the villains just because they're not some maniac, psycho or terrorist. 

I also noticed a pattern on how each entry concluded; throw a new fact there and dangle it for next book. Now, on different author I might resent this sort of ending. Yet somehow with this series - so far - it still works. I for one can't wait for what next installment would bring. 


Advanced copy of this book is kindly provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

**Live 5/1**

What I Loved:

I loved the case!  The idea of Jamie going undercover as himself back in NC, taking a coaching job like he’s leaving the FBI.  It’s completely unrealistic, but still so much fun.  Maybe I enjoyed it so much because it reminded me of one of my favorite Nancy Drew Files books, Two Points to Murder, when Nancy takes a case at her boyfriends school, Emerson College, to stop a stalker.  I loved Ned Nickerson… anyway, I digress, it had that undercover sporty thing going on and I liked reading Walker questioning his decisions and wondering if he made the right choice when he left the game behind.  (Especially with Aiden acting like such a twat.)

Again, I still loved the heat between Aiden and Jamie.  Even though Aiden was trying to push Jamie away, not wanting to get hurt again, you could still feel all the need between them.  Also, Aiden never lied and said he didn’t have feelings for Jamie, he was upfront in that it was how deeply he cared that was the reason he needed to keep his distance.  Their jobs are dangerous and he couldn’t loose another lover.  It was very understandable.

Not to repeat myself, but I wish we got more about Danny and Mel.  I think I’d like reading that.

What I Struggled With:

Still with that pesky secret.  The angst of it was out of control in the second installment, and to be perfectly honest, I’m glad I’m not reading the third and final book until August.  I need a break before the big reveal.  In part, that’s because I’m dreading it, but it’s also because I just think it’s stupid.

*this honest review is given thanks to the ARC from Carina Press via NetGalley.*

This book, this series is killing me. In all kinds of good ways. I absolutely love everything about this story, these characters, just......everything. Aidan and Jamie are two of the best MC's I've read in ages. And after reading this second installment of this series, I'm even more in love with them. I love the no nonsense, no angst, mature way they deal with each other and the situations they get into. I actually felt physical pain and sorrow for Jamie's breaking heart in the beginning of this book. I felt awful for him, the way Aidan treated him and even the words he said to him when giving his "reasons" for it. I kinda hated Aidan in those moments. But, that never lasted and I loved him all over again. I really liked the story here. FBI plots are plentiful in books and usually are all pretty similar to each other. This case was different and a welcome fresh change from the norm. 
This book, along with #1 in the series, has earned it's spot on my favorite shelf.
Now, I'll prepare myself for book #3. I have a feeling the shit's about to hit the fan! And I can't wait to see how our heroes get through it all.

Cask Strength is a continuation of Single Malt and the heat and excitement ratchets up! Like the previous book, the story was engages one from the start. Both Jamie and Aidan are still navigating their personal relationship – their working relationship is just fine, (except for the secret Jamie is keeping from Aidan). 
There are situations that occur along the way- Aidan ‘dating’ other people in order to keep Jamie at arm’s length, Jamie trying to keep his cool in the face of this and both still trying to get a lead on the investigation involving the terrorist (Renaud). The latter taking another deadly turn. 
Now both agents have a target on their back, so they’re sent undercover to work on a case that is close to Jamie’s heart – basketball.
The story is well written, interesting. Again, I had to suspend by belief at some of the things that happened, (but this is fiction, so anything goes). All in all it is a really good follow up and I’m looking forward to the next installment. 
This book is not a standalone and it ends on a slight cliffhanger, but if you’ve come this far, you’re in it to the end ☺

Jamie and Aidan also known as Whiskey and Irish are quickly finding their way to the top of my favorite couple list. Now if you have not read and enjoyed the first book in this series, Single Malt you’ll want to do that before you purchase this book. This is a series that must be read in order. Also if you have not read Single Malt you may find some spoilerish things within this review. 
Cask Strength begins five months after Galveston and Jamie is sure that Aidan is trying to kill him. Jamie is head over heels for Aidan and he’s at the point even if he could stop what they have between them he doesn’t want to. Aidan wants to keep things casual so much so that he is doing things that are completely wrecking Jamie emotionally. Aidan’s already lost his husband to a man that is still out there and clearly still after him and his new partner. Aidan has to protect what’s left of his heart and Jamie. Jamie is quickly working his way into the void that that has been in Aidan’s heart since Gabe was killed. 
Yes, there is a lot going on here and the entire time you’re reading and loving the second installment in this series you’re waiting for the numerous other shoes to drop. Jamie has to tell Aidan about Project Angel. We also know from the first book that there is something there as to why Jamie left basketball that he has to come clean about. The case they are working in this book puts Jamie back in North Carolina and back on the court as a coach. All sorts of old feelings and desires bubble up. So many shoes waiting to drop, I couldn’t put this book down. 
Layla Reyne has a way of hooking the reader. Just like the ending of Single Malt the case here is tidily wrapped up. Our men are at a good happy for now place. One of those shoes drops at the end though and it was loaded for bear. I don’t see this as a cliffhanger but I am dying to get my fingers on the next book, Barrel Proof.

Copy from netgalley

Okay so I kinda said how much I loved the first book in this series...but this one...OMG.. this one was just...MORE!! It was more everything! 
The story itself had me reading so fast, scared about what was coming next but unable to stop. The characters are so well rounded and real that I was invested deeply into their relationship and jobs. The whole passion between them...oh god...I swear I could feel every bit of that in my stomach...I could FEEL it all! 

All in all this book was fucking amazing....and there is nothing I can write that would do it justice. I am about to start the next book...not because I want to....but because I NEED to!!

Cask Strength is the second book in the "Agents Irish and Whiskey" series. I would not recommend reading it as a standalone, as a lot of the plot from the first book is continued into this one and you would probably be lost. 
Jamie take a hard case that brings him back to his first love and Aidan is right beside him but at this point only as friends. It take Jamie being kidnap for Aidan it admit his feeling for Jamie. But the secret Jamie still carries still may destroy their future together.

RATING: 2.5 out of 5

** THIS REVIEW IS SLIGHTLY SPOILER-Y, PROCEED WITH CAUTION **

I wasn’t happy — strike that, I was frustrated with the relationship drama in this one. I thought both men were being idiot (Aidan’s case) and whiny (Jamie’s case). I am going to rant now — so excuse my language — because Cask Strength was totally NOT what I was expecting the sequel of the promising Single Malt to be, at least in terms of the relationship.

So five months later, Aidan is back to his old ways of being a horndog, refusing to commit to Jamie. He is dating other men, even if he still has sex with Jamie. His reasons? Because he doesn’t want to get close to his “Whiskey”, because people getting close to him tend to be in harm’s way, and he doesn’t want to risk it.

Well, BULLSH*T. They are FBI agents, for God’s sake. Their job can be dangerous in the first place. What kind of a reason is that?! So f*cking lame. Plus I truly disliked Aidan being written a player when just few months ago Aidan was worrying and feeling guilty of jumping into new relationship with Jamie too fast. You know, considering his husband has only recently DIED! What the f*cking wrong with you, Aidan?

Sorry, it was NOT how I pictured Aidan would behave, and it left bitter taste in my mouth. Does Aidan have a complete character surgery somewhere between the release of Single Malt and this one?

Then there was Jamie — smart and competent Jamie — who is sadly being reduced into someone who becomes jealous of Aidan’s other men, then getting extremely upset because he realizes he doesn’t want to share Aidan, and he is falling for the older man … that it sort of interrupting how Jamie do his job. But then Jamie is going undercover, and BAM, there is his ex-lover there, muddling this already complicated relationship with Aidan. It made me want to scream, “Get your head out of your a**, Jamie! For God’s sake!”

Oh, how I am NOT a fan when the relationship drama disturbs the working professionalism *grumbles*. Maybe this kind of supposed to offer angst for readers … but instead of being emotionally engaged, I found myself fuming and wanting to knock some senses to both men instead.

NOT a good reading experience, I tell you. Which is why I have to settle with my low rating.

On a better note — I was kind of intrigued with the gambling/identity theft case involving the basketball players. It was also fun seeing Jamie acting as the assistant coach, even if it was only for undercover and only for a little while.

Things were also moving forward with the other case surrounding the death of Aidan’s husband, Greg, as well as his work partner, Tom. Jamie was able to find more clues and answers — even if it still ended it a big twist! That twist is a great hook to ensure that I will NOT miss book #3 for sure. Let’s just hope that Aidan and Jamie clean up their mess and being a solid couple/partner next time I read them.

5* Loved this continuation of the guys' adventures and romance.

With this book, I've realised that there's been a master plan on this author's part, as there's an underlying arc that's panning out over the three tales in this series. This one ends on a cliffhanger in regards the latter, but not in regards the leads' romance - yay!

I loved how open and honest Jamie/Whiskey was about his attraction to Aidan and his jealousy when the latter insisted on keeping things casual and 'dated' other guys. I loved that Jamie didn't give him an ultimatum per se, but did declare his love, what that meant for him, and to him, and left Aidan to deal with however he interpreted that. I loved that Aidan then saw the light, came clean and admitted his feelings, openly and honestly. I am not quite so sure that he's dealt with his bereavement entirely, though, as that will no doubt come in the reveals in book 3. But, this book leaves the guys in a good place emotionally and trust-wise too, and the sex scenes there were in this were hot, sexy and varied. 

There was also yet another storyline in the tale, i.e. it wasn't simply a vehicle to let the guys have time together away from the office and have sex, and it was a good one, too. I could definitely see why these guys would get sent on the mission and the way they dealt with it worked. There was still a few too many tech bits in it for me to fully understand, sorry, but that's my bad, and lots and lots of acronyms to keep up with - a glossary would have been helpful, but hey, it wasn't a deal-breaker. 

I can't wait til book 3, but this one has certainly put this author on my 'Authors To Look Out For' radar.

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

This book picks up about 5 months down the road from the end of the last one. The guys are still working together and seeing each other personally. Their love life threw me off to be honest. I thought the last book ended with them in a good place. When this starts though Aidan is being a jerk. A huge jerk.....and I was not a happy reader.

Jaime is still working the case of the murder of Aidan's husband and work partner but Aidan doesn't know what he's found. Jaime continues to make huge discoveries and continues to hide what he's finding from Aidan. I was on pins and needles waiting for this to blow up in his face. The main case of this story though takes them back to where Jaime lived before and has him working undercover as a basketball coach. I liked this plot much better than the one in the first book. I thought this was less confusing and flowed much better. Their actions felt more realistic also.

There were both emotional and smexy scenes and I really felt the chemistry of these two together. Again, I felt this was stronger than in the first book. I've come to really like these two as a couple.

The book ends much as the first one did. Not necessarily a cliffhanger but definitely a big "oh my god, I didn't see that coming" moment. I'm quite curious as to how things will end. It looks like from the epilogue there will be one more book in the series. I'm kind of bummed about that cuz I think this had potential to be a longer series

I don't think this should be read as a standalone. It could be but you'd miss a lot of important things from book one. I like this series though and it's one I would recommend.

**ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

First I have to say is book 3 out yet? Oh wait this one isn't even out yet, dang. I really like Whiskey & Irish. I didn't like the beginning where Aiden is dating/sleeping with other guys trying to prove to Jamie that they are not serious (I'm really glad that Aiden was not sleeping with anyone else, if he had been I probably would not have finished the book. Also, I didn't like the almost love triangle when Jamie went back home, w/his ex, as I don't like those in a story, some people this might not bother but it does me. This book is full of action and still full of emotional angst. OMG that ending? Never saw it coming. I'm just hoping that it's the one way and not the other. No I'm not telling you anything about it, you will need to pick up the book & read it for yourself.

Cask Strength,  Layla Reyne

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:  romance, LGBTQIA

Well wow – I loved book one, and this second part was another fast moving, sensual read. There’s a couple of things that bothered me, I’ll get them out first, they didn’t affect how I feel about the book overall but need a mention. 
Acronyms...Gah, I hate these and yet all books seem to be full of them. I'm not sure there's a way round them, can't write everything about each into a book or it'd get too unwiedly and dull, but mabye a glossary? 
As a UK reader I’m not familiar with US legal systems and what the various alphabet agencies actually are, who does what, which takes precedence etc. and then dammit more acronyms crop up in the sports part of this book too.  Baseball/basketball/ice hockey all make up a huge part of US romance reads, and seemed to be filled with abbreviations that I’m unfamiliar with and don’t know what they mean.
Its bad enough trying to work out the plots, who’s who in the police dept, how the US college/uni system works, drafts, boosters and then for this read, betting systems. There are so many characters here its not easy to keep track. When everyone and every organisation ( or so it seems) are described with a mix of letters denoting who and what they are and do I tend to get just a wee bit confused ;-) Thankfully the paperwhite look up dictionary function can explain a lot! 
Still, none of that stopped me loving this story, I could kind of guess many of them and got enough context to work most of it out. The storyline is strong enough to carry a few confusions without spoiling ;-) 

Aiden, he made me so angry last time, I understood very well his grief, but dating others, determined to keep Jamie as casual when the tension between them just sizzles off the page, when he’s furious when anyone else looks Jamie’s way. C’mon man, just give in! 
Then there’s Jamie and boy, he is one hot man. I love his intellect, his passion, both for his job, for IT and for sport, and we get a good dose of all here. He’s so good at what he does, yet manages to be sort of self effacing so he doesn’t come over as a braggart, except in times of humour. 
Its clear he’s head over heels for Aiden, and very hurt by being kept at arms length. He’s been through a bad breakup before, and yet he’s willing to try again. Now he and Aiden are back in his old stomping ground, back in the sport he loves, and there’s a surprise for both of them when an old ex turns up. 

There’s a lot of technical stuff here which went over my head for the most part... but which I understood enough to get the essence of what was going on and why. 
The plot from book one that was running through as a secondary carries on here, and dammit – that ending! Just when I thought it was safe to stop reading Layla drops in a couple of lines which have me all upside down in my thinking once more. 

Terrific storylines, great characters, serious heat (oops, typo spelt out head there at first, real Freudian slip that one!!)  – its a story to love! 

Stars: Five, a great suspense, and sensual romance. roll on book three.  

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

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 wandering, 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 trough 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.