This is a raw, dark and emotional read, with well developed characters and great detail to the city of New Orleans. Avery's insecurities were a little too much sometimes, but overall a great book. I would definitely read more by this author.

The description drew me in and I checked out this author’s work for the first time because of it. I was also curious about the hero. I had a love/hate relationship with this story. I enjoyed it yet found myself growing tired of all the literal ball busting comments and actions. Yes, it was part of the character’s traits but it sometimes was a bit much. Also, the scene where the women were discussing their dates’ genitals, etc. in the hotel room in front of the men was awkward. Loved when the story was about the H/H by themselves.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I liked the progression of the relationship between Avery and Declan, and I liked the side romance between Kat and Jamie!

The love between Declan and Avery should have felt rushed since they only had the week she was in New Orleans for vacation. However, Lynne did a really good job of making it seem completely natural. I do wish that she had introduced Declan's point of view earlier in the story so we got a glimpse of his feelings as they fell in love. Having the perspective suddenly switch to him about three-quarters of the way through the book was jarring. Also, it just would have been good to get an idea of where his head was at, since he didn't always seem like he was being straight with Avery. One second he was telling her they needed to keep it casual, and the next was saying that things between them could never be just casual.

I also didn't like the random drama with the band groupie at 83% of the way through the book. I can see how it fit into the larger storyline, but it also felt a little like drama for the sake of drama. Especially since Lynne also threw in the extra drama the next morning with Matt. I did like the final resolution though, and how everything tied together to give Declan and Avery a happy ending!

This was a new to me author, and absolutely loved this book, well written and all the characters were interesting really hoping this isn't the last of them.

I love New Orleans and could just picture (smell and taste) everything Avery and Kat got into in the Big Easy.!

I can't wait to read more from this author!

This book had a lot of promise and a lot of elements I liked, but never gelled together into something I was crazy about.

What I liked:
- Atmospheric visit to New Orleans
- The author's unique voice
- The heroine's temper (and to some of the other reviewers who insist romance heroines must be "ladylike"? Please join us in 2018. We won't wait, but will be happy to get you a glass of wine as soon as you've ditched the fainting couch and clutching pearls.)
- The relationship between the heroine and her best friend

What I didn't:
- There was more than a pinch of "not like all the other girls" in Avery. I get that she's defensive (and for good reason) but you don't have to dump on other women to love yourself (the hero at one point thinks there's "nothing to hold on to" on a skinny woman, which...not true and unnecessary)
- I didn't buy an HEA for these two. Don't get me wrong, they were hot as hell. But I thought they both stretched over the line from "has a temper" to "has anger management issues."
- He seemed emotionally stunted to me as well. To say "I don't do relationships" on night 1 and then to get VERY ANNOYED with her for protecting herself the next morning because overnight he's changed his mind but hasn't yet told her? Dude. Use your words.
- Several times they do communicate that they're both ready for more and then somehow an emotional reset button gets hit and they're back to thinking the other thinks it's just a fling for no reason that I could see.
- I'm personally not nuts about a hero who takes out his feels with his fists. And (view spoiler)

So, ultimately, not for me. But, as always, tastes differ and if you give the author a try, I truly hope you do enjoy it!

I was given an Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book, fell in love with Avery and Declan. Avery is a person I could relate to with her lack of confidence and self consciousness in herself. She also has the bestest friend in Kat, a bestie everyone should have. And she makes new friends with Declan’s band mates to help her along the way to see Declan’s feelings......I definitely will look for more books by Tricia Lynne

This was an unexpected surprise. I have a thing for hot Irish rockers and Declan was definitely the hottest. Avery starts out self conscious about her body but Declan loved her body and worshipped it every way he could. This book takes place in New Orleans and it made me want to go. I loved this book but I'll warn it's not a quick read, much longer than I expected but I didnt mind.

I have a Plus-size love for Moonlight & Whiskey! This was a touching and beautiful story, and one I can relate to. Avery was a boss and Declan was the only one deserving of everything she had to offer. The magic of NOLA is always intriguing and it was a great background for this story. Hopefully, we'll get to see how the other lives of BlackSmith play out.

OMG thank you so much Netgalley for this ARC of Moonlight & Whiskey !!!This book is off the charts & out of the celestial galaxy!!! ⭐️⭐️

New Author for me & I am now following Tricia Lynne - def a Top 10 ten read for me this year !! I could relate to this book on so many levels but alas no Declan but quite alright since I’m married to my very own HEA...

Where to start ... well this book ticked a # of my boxes :

Amazing main & secondary characters
Angst & more ANGST
Smoldering sexy chemistry 🔥🔥🔥
Extremely well written storyline
Laugh out loud moments
Was Avery feisty enough for u with her wicked little temper ( so glad at times she kicked her good girl to the curb ) U rocked it girl - if u were real I would ❤️❤️ u as my bestie ( although Kat was right up there - loved her as well)

Declan - well he needs no words other than to say the author encompasses everything u could possibly want in this alpha hero !!

Can’t wait to purchase my own cc when available & check out what else is coming from this author !!

You will absolutely ❤️❤️ this book do not miss it !!

This review is based on my honest opinion!! Opinions expressed are my own !!

I received a generous ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was not a huge fan of this book. I was initially drawn in because of the premise - it seemed to touch on a subset of women that NA typically ignores.

I thought certain parts of the book were a bit over the top, dramatic, and unrealistic. The part in the graveyard was a bit much and kind of weird. Also, Avery was insufferable for 99% of the novel. She was rude but only for the sake of being shocking and it was just annoying; not sure how Declan put up with it or how he found it attractive, because no one likes a bitter woman.

I do believe that the author is a fantastic writer - I think it was the characters that didn't really do it for me unfortunately but I will definitely read more by her in the future. :)

THIS IS WHAT I CALL CHEMISTRY!!
This book had me captivated from the moment I opened the book! Declan and Avery's romance was so well written, I'm actually so sad I finished the book! Even though there romance developed in a week, it did not feel fake or rushed. I also loved the supporting characters and am looking to see their stories.

I would recommend this book and may even come back to reread!

Oh my goodness. This is the best book I have read in a long time. I have never read this author, but I certainly will now!! I loved Declan and Avery. Avery is a plus size girl who has been wronged by men in the past and lacks self confidence because of it. Declan is a rock band singer and bar owner who is georgeous but has confidence issues of his own due to his past. They find each other and plan for just a vacation tryst but that changed very quickly!! So well written and a beautiful story!!! Love it!!

Very raw emotion! Avery is insecure about her weight due to prior bad experiences I relate to! But it was a lot of he side of view and I would I like to hear from him more than two chapters two!

I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting from this book, but turns out it wasn’t what it actually was.

I liked both the MCs to an extent. I could really relate to Avery’s insecurities because of her curves which are only compounded here due to her trying so hard to make it in a man’s profession. I applauded her trying to be more confident in her skin and believe that she is sexy and worthy. Declan is the usual broody bad boy we all love in our romance novels and I liked the way he treated her. However, both of them have too many walls in place so that they never get hurt again with short tempers to go along, which leads to quite a few misunderstandings. I might have liked the angst and the eventual resolution in another book but I couldn’t enjoy it here because every time one of them felt threatened, they decided to humiliate each other with words and I really hated it.

The writing is very easy to read and I finished it fairly quickly. The author also brings New Orleans to life with her words and I was mesmerized by the descriptions of the city - I just want to visit it once now. I also really liked the side characters here, both of their friends are great and supportive and brought some light moments to this very intense love story. I might even be interested in reading their individual stories next.

This had all the elements of a romance I usually like - chemistry, passion, intensity and the whole soulmates thing - but I just couldn’t warm up to the main characters enough. However, this might still be the right one for you and you should take my review with a grain of salt.

Great story of two people finding themself and love. A lot can happen in New Orleans for Avery and Declan. At the end they have to decide is love worth it.

Moonlight & Whiskey is a rockstar romance taking place in the sultry city of New Orleans. On a vacation from her stuffy job, Avery decides she's going to let her freak flag fly. At home she dresses in unflattering, drab pantsuits - trying to hide the fact that she's a woman in a misogynistic workplace - she hides her real self behind glass walls, not daring to show who she is for fear of losing her job. But in N'Orleans, Avery embraces every inch of her real self. A rocker chick, with a mouth like a sailor, who's looking for some company.

Declan McGinn is the lead singer of BlackSmith. Tall, tattooed, and with a fucked up past. Trouble on legs. And Avery is just his type - "Declan prefers his women as curvy as his guitars".

When she is waiting in the lobby with her best friend Kat and some douche, albeit a hot douche, runs straight into her injuring her ankle she doesn't hold back anything.

"Why don't you watch where the fuck you're going?" I snapped, glancing at the hand on my arm.

"Yeah." He scratch the black stubble on his head as those impossibly green eyes dances under the lobby lights. "Guess I deserve that. I was walking backward, waving at someone - not too bright."

When a bead of sweat ran between my shoulder blades, i flashed an image of his mouth following the same path down my spine. My brows drew together; I was annoyed with my body's reaction. "Perhaps you should give some thought to the other people that inhabit this planet, asshole."

"What? I uh-" He stepped back, eyes widened.

"Tell me, did you just use your entire vocabulary in that last sentence? Because you won't get by on your looks forever, beefcake."

And so begins an amazingly sassy love story between a plus size rocker chic and the tattooed rockstar. What starts out as a vacation fling turns serious faster than they could handle, and after only a week in N'Orleans Avery has some tough decisions to make.

This has become my new favorite standalone romance of all time. I was so surprised how much I loved this. I've never read anything by Tricia Lynne, but that is definitely going to change. This was everything I didn't know I wanted.

I related to Avery so much. I'm also what is considered a plus size woman, working in a male dominated field, so I understand the struggle of trying to hold on to your femininity and not letting people walk all over you. I appreciated that she eventually came to terms with her body issues and gained confidence, although I will say it just barely skirted the line of "the female MC gains body confidence but only because some hot guy told her he thought she was cute".

Declan was hot. You can't get a better love interest than someone irish with tattoos who also happens to be a rockstar. Their love scenes were explosive and dirty, and I appreciated that Tricia went where most romance novels usually don't when it comes to the kink side of things.

There was a great female friendship between Avery and her bestie Kat, their conversations were something I lived for. They were both vulgar and hilarious, and anytime they were in a room together it was sure to have me dying with laughter.

In fact I think the best part about this book was the fact that some scenes were so serious, dark, and gritty but from the beginning this book had me laughing. The balance between the two was such a surprise, and the moments of lightness really made the more serious moments connect more, in my opinion.

We got some insight into Kat's life that I thought was really great. There was amazing discussion about how now that she's not a model she's put on some weight, but that she feels more confident, not less, and I loved that.

I loved all the side characters. I ended up liking Mattie in the end but I have to admit throughout the story his scheming and flirting got on my nerves.

On that note, there were admittedly a few things that annoyed me, but not enough to detract from my rating or overall enjoyment of the story. The first thing that comes to mind is Declan's swift personality change when Avery ended up leaving New Orleans. He seemed like someone who really valued his friends and his business, so the fact that he turned into a drunk and beat up on his friends was just not cool and seemed a bit out of character for him. The other thing was that they were kind of toxic to each other for a lot of the novel. Avery seemed to revel in poking his dark places and seeing how out of control she could make him, he was the same, lashing out when he thought she was going to leave him. The way that they talked to each other, dragging up each other's dirty laundry and airing it for the world to hear was really shitty, if you think about this relationship as something happening in real life.

While these things did vaguely annoy me at times, I will say it did add to the overall drama and tension of the story and I don't think that this book would be what it is without all of these things.

For me the best part of this was that even though they were hooking up, the relationship side of things was "slow burn". The entire time you're screaming in your head at either of the two MC's to just TELL THE OTHER PERSON HOW YOU FEEL ALREADY and when they finally come together...It was amazing.

"I love you, Avery Barrows. With all that I am. Whatever I am, it belongs to you."

"I'm gonna marry you, sweetness. You're gonna be my wife."

"Yes," There was no hesitation. "Can I shave your head?"

I would highly recommend this book, and if this is a series (or becomes one) I will definitely be reading the other books in it.

Fun, sexy story. Love reading about desirable, curvy woman, and how strong and determined they can become. Will definitely read more from this author!

Moonlight & Whiskey is a fabulous debut that is sure both scorch your heart and ignite your very soul. This story shocked my system with its superb realism, sizzling heat, and breathtaking honesty. My heart was utterly shattered, unabashedly cherished, and supremely set aflame. What I found within these pages transformed the way I see people around me. I understand now that there is so much more then will ever be seen at one glance. People are infinitely more complex than any story that will ever be written, but at their heart their needs and desires are all the same. Life sometimes twists us into overly complex people in how we learn to deal with those around us. However, our hearts beat the same and no matter how we fight it, we need each other more then we will ever know.

A simple vacation for Avery Barrows sets her on a life-changing journey that challenges the way she sees herself and opens her heart to the greatest adventure she could ever ask for. Just when she finds herself on the cusp of something new and freeing, Declan Barrows shows her what has been painfully missing. His captivating eyes forever challenge her to push her boundaries while his rough hands savor every delicate inch of her. Unfamiliar with the lavish and overpowering attention of a man with honest intentions, Avery is unsure if she can afford to let her heart lead her down the path that is set before her. Confused and dazed Avery finds herself balancing on a precipice that will either send her barreling towards an ecstasy induced heaven or a painfully bitter heartache. Will Declan be there to catch her when she falls, or will Avery find herself enduring the excruciating pain of moving forward without the powerful presence and gentle care of the enigmatic yet loving Declan.

Declan and Avery took my heart by storm. I wasn’t prepared for them or the power of their story. My heart couldn’t contain everything I felt during this incredible story. It was too big, too complex, and too rich for just one person to house. This needs to be felt and experienced by everything strong enough to endure a real yet rewarding love story firmly rooted in real life. While I enjoy fiction for its innate virtues, my heart thrives on emotions and people and situations that reflect reality moreso then imagination alone. Power is born from vulnerability, and this story celebrates and revels in it. Never be afraid or ashamed of allowing others to see the real you. Only then can we form the deep connections that our very soul needs in order to live and thrive.

Tricia Lynne has created a superb masterpiece that is sure to delight, entertain, and set your very soul on fire! Nothing is as pure and perfect as writing from the depths of your heart, and Lynne has proved that with flying colors. I am completely and totally in love with this book and the marvelous characters that fill it. This author has graced us with a gold standard story, and has raised the bar for other debut authors! I see great things in Lynne’s future, and I am excited to see what she creates next!

This book was a story of personal growth while being raw and real and face melting hot! I loved everything about Avery and Declan's love story. I didn't like the way the book changed POVs more than half way through and then ping ponged back and forth the rest of it. I wish the two views that been made from the beginning or just left Avery only. Regardless, highly recommend this book. 4 chilli peppers of hotness! Thanks NetGalley and Loveswept for the ARC.

MOONLIGHT AND WHISKEY by Tricia Lynne is filled with drama and angst, what a book! The story of Avery and Declan takes place in New Orleans. It has an important message not only to females but everyone about self image. Declan is a lead singer in a rock band and Avery is an engineer in vacation in New Orleans. Definitely a book to read!