A very good read! Avery isn't an over feminine woman, she grew up a little bit of a tomboy, she downplays her feminine curves as she strives to make a place with her male coworkers, but deep down she's a little gruff and unsure of her luscious curves. When a vacation in NOLA with her bestfriend brings out all sorts of new experiences Avery's not sure she's ready or if it's in ernest. Declan had no idea how his life would change after running into a sassy foul mouth bundle of curves and he sure didn't know how to handle her! Hot passions and tempers and hurting souls make this a dark passionate tale lit with humor and sass.

How did I loathe this book? Let me count the ways.

Quite early on this book annoyed me with it's lazy writing. I mean, the female MC and her best friend call each other names as a way of proving that they're close. I had ONE friend with whom I did this in high school. Then I grew up. I don't know any adult women who talk to each other this way, and rather than showing us how close they are through action, we have them spewing vulgar comments at each other. And I know Lynne wants to show this powerful connection between the MC and her love interest, but writing that she's about to orgasm just from the feel of his hand on the small of her back makes me think the MC has a serious medical condition because that's just not normal.

Then the author gets lost in descriptions of New Orleans (think of Anne Rice spending four paragraphs to describe a table), but cuts corners elsewhere. For example: how many shades of red lipstick are there? Let's go with 20 throughout all the brands, just to be conservative. Then what shade am I to picture when the author writes "...the bathroom was done in lipstick red subway tiles"? Ruby? Fire Engine? Candy Apple? This seems to be a recurring issue with the author. The MC refers to her "generous hips" (fat women only think about them as hips), can apparently tell the designer of a suit by looking (I can tell if a suit is bespoke, but honestly who can tell the difference between an Armani and Hugo Boss just by looking?), and has the magical power to know that band members have second-hand instruments. I mean, how? Because they're worn down and old looking? Isn't it possible that they're just well-used? (Think Glen Hansard in the movie "Once".)

Then there's the fat shaming disguised as body positivity, which always depresses me when written by women in general, but even more so when it's an author who isn't a size 6 herself. The fact that all the men seem to want this woman, even though her self-image is lower than a snail's belly. The push-pull which goes on forever, until they sleep together at which time every single scene is sex. For about five chapters! When I start wanting to skip through the sex scenes you know something is seriously wrong.

On top of that we have hints of vodun that never go anywhere, smirks and looks between the male characters that never amount to anything, secrets that are blown out of proportion, and a plethora of editing mistakes that should never make it to this stage. (Talking rum instead of rum talking, and apparently neither the author nor her editor knows the difference between passed and past; one is good for slipping through folds, the other not so much.)

Finally, after approximately 85% of the book being single POV, we're suddenly subjected to alternating POVs. No. If you've made it this far without, there's no need to start. Also, while I hate when the men refer to the women as "baby", it's even more disgusting when it's overused by the female MC. (She: Hey, baby? He: Yeah? She: What should we do today, baby? He: Whatever you want. She: I love you, baby. Me: Kill me now.)

Now some might say that I'm expecting too much from a debut novel, but I disagree. I have read self-published books that were miles ahead of this. I have no patience for drama for the sake of drama, trite tropes, and lazy writing. And no one else should either.

Would I recommend this book? Yes. I recommend everyone stay away.

A case of me, not the book. I went in with certain expectations and they just didn't pan out.

I had a hard time connecting with Avery - her character was too blunt and in-your-face aggressive. I felt like she was portrayed one way but the wrong image came across and not as intended.

I liked Declan, he seemed a decent hero but I wasn't seeing a convincing reason why he would be so attracted to a woman who would act and treat him the way Avery did. It got old fast how quick she was to jump to conclusions. The saying about when you assume really came to life in this one and not in a good way.

Bottom line, I couldn't relate to the characters enough to really get into the story. Bummer because the blurb really sells it.

.......I just couldn’t get into it. The story is so cliche and slow not my favorite.Couldnt finish it.

***4 Stars***

Not gonna lie, the word Whiskey was the hook and then I saw curves and New Orleans and I knew I had to dive in and I really enjoyed this book. From the first page I was hooked and even though I wanted to reach out and Gibbs smack some of the characters (numerous times) the sweet, swoon worthy and smexy moments more than made up for them and kept me turning the pages until the very end.

I loved Avery. She’s sassy, snarky and yet is still searching for who she wants to be. She has all the key components, but she’s unsure of where to go with them. Though she comes across as strong and confident, her body image issues have a way of messing with her head, which held her back in a lot of situations. Declan is all kinds of laid back alpha male. He is a bad boy gentleman with more charisma than he knows what to do with. He has a few demons riding him hard and they tend to hold him back from what he wants most.

Declan and Avery’s journey was an enjoyable one. The chemistry between them was obvious from their first collision, but boy did their issues get in their way many, many times. I swear the urge to reach out and shake them was strong as they decided they KNEW what the other wanted or what was best for them...and all of it was decided as they had conversations in their own heads with themselves. It was maddening. But I couldn’t deny that they WERE good together and had the chance to be great for each other if they could only get over themselves. Things of course go south, and it was rough, and though I found what brought them to their senses was actually a great way to do it, I would have liked a little more...grovelling, but all in all I’m happy with how it all worked out for them.

This is my first read by the author and it was an enjoyable one. The writing was engaging, pacing good and I think she nailed it on body issues and how they affect our perceptions of ourselves. As for the secondary characters, I really liked Jaime, Matt and Shaun but Kat was definitely my favorite. But I’m hoping that there will be more from this crew, and author in the future!

~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~

4 1/2 Stars!

Avery is an engineer and works in a man's world, trying to be one of the boys so she can make partner. Her best friend Kat drags her to New Orleans to get her away from her life for a week. The first night she's there she meets Declan, a brooding rock god with a hard body full of tattoos and a velvet voice that melts her heart. The sparks between them are undeniable, so they agree to have a fling while she's on vacation because he doesn't do relationships ... ever.

I couldn't help but fall in love with Declan ... who wouldn't! He was just so enchanted with Avery that he didn't even realize that he was falling for her ... hard! And I loved the way Avery just gave it back to Declan or anyone who made her mad. But I did have a hard time with some of the phrasing that the author used in describing things and the fact that everything (in the beginning) was about Avery's weight. Also the cover doesn't fit with the book ... the guy doesn't have one tattoo! The twists and turns had me turning the pages well into the night, so that I could finish the book. And the side characters were great ... there has to be stories there. Kat and Jamie - you just know it's more than a fling. And Mattie ... his story is screaming to be told.

I received an early copy courtesy of Random House - Loveswept through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

I’m not sure I’ll be able to actually articulate my feelings on this one, but I will say that two stars might be too high.

I liked the idea of Avery and Declan. They both have some issues and I did like that they found something in the other. There was some great banter and playfulness, but nothing I was blown away by. The other characters had potential, but I wanted more from all of them.

Plot wise, it was a lot of clichés and tropes. For me, there were a lot of odd word choices, repetitive phrases, and cringe-y sex scenes. I will say that the background of New Orleans was like a love letter to the city and it might have been the best part of the story.

Overall, it could have been something I loved. Sadly, I spent a good portion of the time skimming passages and rolling my eyes.

**Huge thanks to Loveswept for providing the arc free of charge**

What happens when a successful woman in a male dominated industry takes some time off to decompress with her bestie in NOLA? Nothing but fun, laughs, steamy sex, and some drama.

From the the get go, Avery and Declan are two sides of the same coin, but they just don't know it yet. The spark and chemistry is immediate, but can they each overcome their own personal doubts and baggage? This is a steamy read with moments of laughter and moments of tears, but it all comes together when this strong woman embraces what and who she really is, and goes after what she wants for her own happy ending.

When Avery Barrows agreed to go to New Orleans with her friend, Kat, she was looking for some fun…and man did she find it! Her sassy mouth and big chest can sure get her into trouble…

Hottie bad-boy Musician Declan McGinn may have been turned on as much by Avery’s mouth as her body…a body that isn’t “model-like”, but has just the right curves for him.

I loved this fun, hot, sexy storyline and the characters were great! Avery, Declan, Katia, Matt, Jamie, all of them added so perfectly to this book! I liked the conflict and the resolution...and overall just really enjoyed this book and would recommend it!

The only thing that I wasn’t completely on board with was the way Avery was such a rude B, and yet Declan kept coming back to her. I don’t think women need to be that way to a guy, and she was over and over…especially the first time they met. Because of that I am giving it 4 stars.

Moonlight & Whiskey was a great read. Avery and Declan annoyed me at times but I did really love them. I thought they had amazing chemistry and scorching sexy scenes! I loved all the secondary characters!

Okay, this book was fun. It was a nice departure from my heavier reading and even some of the more structured Romances that I’ve been loading my time with lately. Moonlight & Whiskey is an indulgence from beginning to end. You suspend your disbelief for a little while and go crazy with the four letter expletives and just enjoy it. Overall I give it 3.5 Stars…

So here’s what I loved about the book:
+ Damn Tricia Lynne can write sexy scenes. Building tension and lust is definitely strong with this one and may the force be with her ever after. A++ for all-o-that!
+ The band wasn’t some huge international success and being called “The Hottest Rock Band in the World”. I loved that they were good but were more about small clubs and intimate settings. It felt so much more interesting and realistic that way and a break with norm.
+ New Orleans was shining! The author’s descriptions were amazing. You were really immersed in the settings, the sights and sounds and smells. Thanks for being realistic with all of that too! It was more of a realistic romanticizing. Fantastic.

And here’s what I didn’t love all that much:
- The fat girl who’s sneered at by every skinny girl EXCEPT her supermodel best friend, who’s magically the only kind super pretty girl in the world… I’m really sick of that setup. There has to be a way to indicate insecurity without dragging every other woman in the book down as well.
- I’m okay with cursing and even some juvenile quipping between friends, but the use of “balls” was way overused. It just felt unimaginative after a while.
- A lot of the book is based around Avery on vacation and letting loose and finding herself, reconciling both sides of her personality… but vacation is living in a bit of a vacuum, it can’t last, it’s idealized. Even making big changes, there’s a medium that needs to be reached. So I wish the book explored that as well, that the ending had a longer resolution. But hey! Sequel opportunity!

The good far outweighed the bad in my opinion, so I am definitely ready for more books exploring theses characters. It definitely set up the opportunity for books about the other characters, fingers crossed. I will definitely be reading more books from Tricia Lynne!

* I recieved a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was great. The characters are relatable. The pace of the story was good. Will I reading more books by this author, yes I will. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Avery Barrows is tired of being treated like crap by guys. They cannot accept that she may be a little curvier than most girls and they mostly cannot accept that she is smart and damn good at her job as a mechanical engineer. Needing a break from her real life Avery and her best friend Kat, a retired super model, decide to head to New Orleans for a week of fun.

After checking into their hotel Avery crashes into the best looking guy she has ever seen and lets loose her smart mouth attitude. What she doesn't realize is that this guy, Declan McGinn, is very attracted to her curvy figure and especially her smart mouth. After finally convincing her that he wants to take her to dinner to apologize for running into her, the sparks begin to fly. Things quickly heat up between these two but just as it looks like they will get a perfect happy ending, demons from both of their pasts come haunting back. It will take a huge leap of faith for both Avery and Declan to get to that happy ending, but they do.

I just loved this story. Both of these characters were so fun, as were their friends. Many times I'd find myself just laughing out loud while reading this. This story was also sexy and fun. I was just in New Orleans in October of 2018 so it was fun reliving all the places I had been to. Overall this was a fun, sexy read with great characters and a great first book for a new author. I look forward to reading Kat's story!

While I like a non-standard female role and a bad boy, this one took it to a different level. I can cuss with the best of them and I love some of the new terminology for parts of anatomy, it gave me a chuckle. At times though it was a little much.

I am all for pushing buttons and pushing to face ones fears, these two though seemed at times to do it for sport less than helping each other. The chemistry and passion was not to be missed, and it did burn right off the page. If you love the damaged push pull characters you will love this couple.

Great debut novel. I loved this book and can't wait for more from this author.

This story and these characters grabbed me right from the first page and then I hated to let go when I came to the end of the book. Both Avery and Declan are such strong characters but are working to overcome their own insecurities. You just know that they are meant for each other. You definitely feel their connection. Also great secondary characters who I hope will be getting their own stories told.

First sentence in the book blew me away. Just 5 short words, but sets the story for you perfectly. Loved the book, couldn't read it fast enough. Loved Avery, definitely identified with her - a lot! She had a lot to learn about herself, but once she did, look out Declan! The only thing I wasn't happy about in the story was the somewhat abrupt ending. I was left wanting more, I need to know what Avery does next and what about Kat and Jamie??

This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. All opinions are my own.

If this is the author's first romance, and from the checking around I did it seems to be, it is very impressive. In fact, the sassy, bantor, dialogue is funtastict. It is steamy sexy. The main character is an educated woman with contemporary work relatable issues doe some; woman in a man's world. Can't wait for more!

This book got off to a rousing start and maintained that pace throughout the majority of the book. I'll admit that I chuckled out loud on several occasions. There are one or two little editing errors but overall a satisfying read.

Man, these characters were intense, especially at the end. Declan is the hot tattooed singer who literally runs into Avery, a plus sized, engineer who is visiting New Orleans while on vacation with her best friend Kat. I loved the chemistry between all of these characters, especially Declan and Avery. Avery’s sassy, sharped tongued mouth was a huge bonus to this story, loved the fact that she was not the perfect sized woman, and that Declan loved that about her. If anyone has been to NOLA, a lot of the sites that are referenced in the book are very familiar, especially the cemetery, where I have personally been to and seen that exact spot, so it was pretty cool to have that familiarity with the story. The steamy scenes between these two were off the charts hot! Kat and Jamie were a couple that I would love to read about next, and Matthias is going to be another complicated story to read and enjoy. I’ve got to say, there are a lot of very intense scenes that really make you think about the dark side of ones issues in life. It really made you think about what the characters were and had gone through in their pasts, and I really loved that about this story, especially the end, just wow! Very well worth the read, will definitely add this to my paperback library.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book

A beautiful book, Moonlight & Whiskey is as much a love story about the city of New Orleans as it is the story of Avery and Declan, two strangers who meet while Avery is vacationing in the city. Tricia Lynne paints a vivid picture for the reader that makes the book very immersive. I loved that the book mostly followed the couple in real time as their relationship grew, showing how much can truly happen in a week. I will admit that it took me a little while to warm up to Avery; her body issues were a pretty major theme throughout the book, but in the first third they were nearly overwhelming. As she started to get over those issues, they took more of a backseat and the book became immensely more enjoyable to me. I didn’t have any trouble warming up to Declan, he was great from the start.

As these two very different people found a connection and unexpected similarities between them, the romance developed naturally. There is a lot to like about Moonlight & Whiskey. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and I will definitely check out more of the author’s books in the future.