Title: Whiskey and Wry
Series: Sinners, Book 2
Author: Rhys Ford
Genre: Romantic Suspense, M/M Romance
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: review copy provided by publisher
Published: August 19, 2013 by Dreamspinner Press
He was dead. And it was murder most foul. If erasing a man’s existence could even be called murder.
When Damien Mitchell wakes, he finds himself without a life or a name. The Montana asylum’s doctors tell him he’s delusional and his memories are all lies: he’s really Stephen Thompson, and he’d gone over the edge, obsessing about a rock star who died in a fiery crash. His chance to escape back to his own life comes when his prison burns, but a gunman is waiting for him, determined that neither Stephen Thompson nor Damien Mitchell will escape.
With the assassin on his tail, Damien flees to the City by the Bay, but keeping a low profile is the only way he’ll survive as he searches San Francisco for his best friend, Miki St. John. Falling back on what kept him fed before he made it big, Damien sings for his supper outside Finnegan’s, an Irish pub on the pier, and he soon falls in with the owner, Sionn Murphy. Damien doesn’t need a complication like Sionn, and to make matters worse, the gunman—who doesn’t mind going through Sionn or anyone else if that’s what it takes kill Damien—shows up to finish what he started.
Reviewed By: J9
In a Nutshell: Highly enjoyable read with a sexy and emotional romance and wonderful characters. Bonus points for the author referencing The Princess Bride, one of my favorite movies.
The Set Up: Damien wakes in a mental asylum being told by doctors that he’s Stephen, not the guitarist of one of the most popular rock bands in America. Damien knows the truth and escapes with an assassin following him. He runs to San Francisco and his best friend Miki. Damien starts street performing in front of an Irish pub where the owner, Sionn, slowly woos him over black coffee. But the gunman isn’t going to stop chasing Damien even as Sionn helps him get his life back together.
Why I Read this Book: Loooved Sinner’s Gin (my review), book one in the series, and started this the moment I finished book one.
What I Liked: Sionn and Damien have an emotional romance but one without forced drama. I like the sincerity of Sionn’s feelings for Damien and his willingness to own his feelings. This is illustrated when Damien’s assassin shows up at the pub and shoots the place up. Sionn could wrestle with his feelings for Damien but instead it solidifies his intent to love and protect Damien. I liked this head over heels love and could see why Damien couldn’t resist Sionn, even when he worried Sionn would eventually leave him. Damien likewise quickly owns his feelings for Sionn even though he’s scared by them. I like this intense but drama-free romance. Like all books this author writes, it’s sexually intense as well and all combine for a highly enjoyable romance.
What I Also Liked: The Morgan family from book one that I loved so much return here with their hectic, loving family and I can’t get enough of them. They provide great levity and such warmth for the leads. And the reunion between Damien and Miki is just as intense as I expected. How their significant others, Sionn and Kane, react to their friendship is loving, realistic and charming. Even Miki’s rat terrier dog is in this book and adds great humor to round out this enjoyable read.
The plot is creepy with the assassin chasing Damien and Damien trying to get his life back. How these intertwine kept my attention big time. I have to say I loved the ending, not so much the plot, though that was good, but with Kane’s brother and what he reveals to his father. This will have me nearly holding my breath for the next book in the series to be released.
What I Didn’t Like: Nothing, great read.
IMO: I enjoyed Whiskey and Wry as it lived up to my expectations from book one with its great romance, wonderful characters and strong mystery. Readers could read this solo but it would have the most emotional impact if read after book one—directly after!
J9’s Rating:
I bought this one in september but hadn't had time to read it yet :/ Looks good.
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