I feel like the title and the cover don't do the book justice. Yes, it's a steamy romance, but it's also so much more. I'm a sucker for a story about foodies, mixologists, sommeliers, etc. and this book didn't disappoint. I wanted to try the drinks that Tiff was creating and immerse myself in the story even more. This was the perfect recipe for a romantic comedy:

*enemies to lovers
*spitfire female protagonist
*told from both perspectives
*brooding, slightly grumpy boss

Besides the snarky dialogue there was plenty of depth & growth to the characters. I really enjoyed this one!

Content warning from the author: strong language, sex scenes, mild kink, and references to bi-erasure

you know i'm always here for an office romance with some grumpy sunshine trope and a good amount of segssual tension. mix this whole with some alcool and thank you for some epic drunk scenes. this was funny, segssy and curiously had its touch of sensibility. a great read! 3.5/5

This was a great addition to the series and I really love that the main character is bisexual. There aren't enough books with these types of characters.

4/5 STARS

I absolutely enjoyed this one ! I read the entire book and only after did i realize it was book 2- which is NOT a bad thing because if this is anything to go off, I'm gonna love it!

Tiff, our mc and bartender just stole the show for me. I love a badass female!
And when Tiff and Sam meet...TENSION!
I'm a total sucker for tension and this just ticked all the boxes!

Thank you Netgalley for the arc.

Tiff is the head bartender and feeling the itch to move on, so when the new owner, Sam, shows up and takes over, they don’t get along, and Tiff sees the perfect opportunity to quit. Sam admits to needing Tiff’s help to refresh the bar until she leaves, and their banter turns to passion. This story of Tiff and Sam was cute and spicy, and the characters’ personalities feel real.

I liked the development of their relationship but when issues arose, the resolutions didn’t feel well thought out. I liked this story, and read it as a stand-alone, but would read more from this author.

I got an ARC of Sex & Sours by Dani McLean from NetGalley last week. This is actually already released if you want to check it out. I got approved for it the day it was released so I’m a little late with my review. I just finished it last night.
I had decided to read the first book in the series, Love & Rum, first because I like to read in order even if the books can be read stand alone. I definitely liked Sex & Sours the most of the two. I liked them well enough that I would read the next book when it comes out.
Anyway so this book, the main trope is enemies to lovers (we love), and Boss/Employee, great banter. Tiff is head bartender and manager at The Basement and the owner sells it to his brother Sam. Sam comes in and wants to take over and change things up and they immediately butt heads. The sexual tension between them happens fairly quickly and eventually they end up sleeping together and catching feelings. There is of course some conflict but we do get a happy ending.
I did not expect the spice in this! Like I mean I expected it would happen but it was 🔥 🚦 good. Pleasantly surprised. I also really appreciated that the heroine is bisexual and that bi erasure was discussed in the book. I actually liked both of the characters and thought they were funny and relatable.
Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read this! I’ll definitely read any future releases from this author.

4⭐️

This was everything I needed from an enemies to lovers romance. I couldn’t stop myself from falling for the budding romance between Tiff and Sam. I loved seeing them grow, and accept their feelings for each other.

When it comes to mixing cocktails, Tiff is an artist. So when her control freak new boss starts limiting her creativity, she doesn't follow along meekly with his new plan for the bar. After the tension between them spills over into the bedroom, is there more than attraction between them?

Based on the cute illustrated cover and the book description, I was expecting this to be a light romance with maybe some rom com undertones. Instead, it's edgy steamy contemporary—nothing light about it. After the midpoint, the physical relationship begins to dominate. If you enjoy edgy steamy contemporary, you might like this novel. If you're looking for a light, fun romance, this book is not it.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Sex & Sours
Dani McLean
Releases October 5th 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5 stars
🌶🌶/ 5 Spice

This book took me awhile to get through. It is a good read, just not something that grabbed me.

I found our heroine was very strong but almost too aggressive where it didn’t feel real. Our hero was so sweet and I liked towards the middle we got a background on him. I felt his story was rushed towards the end and the conflict came fast and left even faster.

The author did an amazing job at Bi culture and talking about some of the struggles. This was one of the first bi heroines I’ve read about that’s not RH. I really enjoyed that and I love an enemies to lover. There was great spice.

The side characters are great and easy to follow along with and enjoy.

Overall the book was good and I think the right reader will really enjoy it!

I was given an ARC to give my honest review.

I enjoyed the second book in this series by Dani McLean (though I liked the first book a little better.) Tiff is such a great character and I was so excited she was getting her own book. I’d give this 3.5 stars overall - there were parts I really enjoyed and others that didn’t work for me. But I look forward to continuing to read this series.

After enjoying basically running her bar, Tiff bristles when a new owner comes swooping in with plans for big changes. The new owner, Sam, is back in Chicago to run the bar he owns with his brother only to find Tiff, a headstrong and sassy head bartender who instantly gets under his skin. Their connection is lightning from the beginning and they have to decide if they can harness that energy to work together to ensure the success of the bar.

Tiff and Sam had great chemistry and I really enjoyed seeing their relationship blossom. I had trouble following the main conflict in the book - it felt like there wasn’t enough history or backstory to be invested in it. I appreciated that the author touches on bierasure and how that impacts Tiff’s relationships and self worth. Readers should be aware of that content (it is included in the author’s content warning at the beginning of the book which I loved!)

Thanks to the author, Book Sirens and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you o the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an earc.

I wasn't aware this was a companion to a series but you don't need to read the first one to read this. This was a good, decent read. I don't have too much to say the characters were fine if a little bland. I liked the storyline with the bar and the sex was hot. Just wished there would have been a little more debt.

Points for the bisexual main character especially making her get with a man, you don't see that very often.

Sex & Sours was such a delightful surprise. I went into it without really knowing anything about it, and I could not put in down!
The story follows Tiff, a snarky, badass, award-winning bartender who basically runs the bar where she works - until she's surprised by the arrival of the new owner, Sam, who's a lot more hands-on and opinionated than his predecessor, and is not willing to let her get away with bossing everyone around anymore.
Tiff and Sam immediately clash, and all their interactions are explosive. They can't decide if they want to scream at each other or kiss at any given moment, and it's delicious.
Tiff's struggles with being accepted as bisexual were also beautifully and consciously handled. I loved how the author allowed the characters to fully be who they were; everyone's personalities got to really shine.
This is my first Dani McLean romance, but it will definitely not be my last.
Special thanks to NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book.

I haven't read such a well-written Romance with Bisexual Characters for a long time.
Without sweetening anything or erasing traces of their personality according to the partner they choose. Written with great respect and affection towards its readers, giving an incredible sense to its characters
.
Tiffany has been the head of "The Basement" the bar where she works for four years, helping its owner and taking care of everything until he decides to step aside and leave the place to his brother Sam who returns home after several years in Vegas. For Sam it is time to start over after a bad breakup, this time he is determined not to mix pleasure with business and less with the attractive Bartender who also has a girlfriend, but logic escapes all consideration with Tiffany who has her own ideas and knows either what she want or in principle what she dosen't
.
It is a breath of fresh air to read such mature characters with relationships where their problems are not a cliché .Every Tiffany storyline was very good, the memories of her grandmother and her family and her dialogues speaking for every bisexual out there
.
I enjoy this book very much, thanks to Dani Mclean and Set the Mood Publishing for give me this beautiful book in exchange for my honest opinion

Thank you Netgally for this ARC for an exchange of an honest review.

I thought it was a fun read.

This book was an excellent example of bi erasure. I loved how the author created a main character who fought through this without changing who she is. This book was also a great romance novel! The book was an easy read, contained lovable characters, and avoids many stereotypes. I loved the honesty and realness within the characters, showing both their weaknesses and their strengths. I also loved all of the steam!

Personalities and hearts clash when head bartender Tiff and new bar owner Sam meet. Hilarity ensues!

This was an enjoyable light hearted romance, contemporary style enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract story. This is the second book in the Cocktails series and it was a wonderful follow-up to the debut, Love & Rum.

Both Sam and Tiff were so relatable in different aspects, but Tiff's story just tugged at my heart because it was so relatable to me. Not only was The Mummy formative in my own life, having someone completely deny who you are as a person, especially someone who you have grown to care for, is gut-wrenching. While I would have addressed it right away, I think the author presented the issue of bi-erasure and had her MC handle it well without compromising who she was at her core.

All in all this was a sweet story of two opposite people just trying to find their person who can accept them - mistakes and all - without any question.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book in return for an honest review.

Rating: 3⭐

Sex and Sours is the second in the series but I haven't read the first book and wasn't confused so I am sure that this can be read as a standalone.

Tiff is openly bisexual and is in a relationship with a woman at the beginning of the book (NO cheating happens) which I thought was an interesting way because usually, if a character is bisexual, then it is usually just mentioned in passing that they have been with another gender other than the opposite of what they are. I will say that there is biphobia and bi-erasure on the part of one of the characters (neither of the main ones so don't worry about that) and I was so mad on Tiff's behalf.

Sam is dealing with the aftermath of being in a relationship with his business partner so he is a little prickly and cautious which is the catalyst of the enemies to lovers trope within this book. Both Sam and Tiff are switches which was so refreshing to read, especially in the steamy scenes!!

It was a fun, quick read.

Would I Read It Again? No but I would read the other books in this series
Would I Recommend it? Yes

Thank you NetGalley & Set the Mood publishing for a copy of Dani McLean's upcoming novel that pubs on October 5th.

Wow! Once I started this book I couldn't put it down. I was looking for a break from my usual thriller reads and this enemies-to-lovers story seriously delivered. I've already ordered the 1st in the series that I haven't read yet and absolutely can't wait to see what this author comes up with next.

This one made me chuckle, swoon, and so much more. Beware - this one is STEAMY as can be. 🔥🔥🔥 Highly recommended and an absolute 5-star read for me. The perfect mix of funny, sweet and seriously sexy.