-
REVIEW: Angel’s Share by Layla Reyne
Agents Irish and Whiskey: Angel’s Share by Layla Reyne
Husbands Aidan Talley and Jameson Walker team up again as Agents Irish & Whiskey for their most precarious case yet in this established couple gay romantic suspense novel.
FBI agent Aidan Talley just wanted to spend the holiday weekend cheering on his husband’s basketball team. Instead, he’s investigating a cargo theft for the family business and coming face-to-face with a loose end from the case that almost tore him and Jamie apart.
Coach Jameson Walker may spend his days on the sidelines now, but Jamie refuses to stay there when it comes to his husband. When Aidan is cornered by his past, Jamie will do whatever it takes to ground him in the present, including stepping back into his hacker shoes for the Bureau.
Aidan and Jamie thought they’d seen it all, but the City of Angels has more than one ghost in store for them. As revenge and redemption collide, Agents Irish and Whiskey will have to trust in their love and their partnership to solve the case for the family they have, for the one they lost, and for the one they want to call their own.
Angel’s Share is the final book in the Agents Irish and Whiskey LGBTQIA+ romantic suspense series. While it can be read as a standalone, it is best enjoyed after reading the other books in the series.
Agents Irish and Whiskey by Layla Reyne were among the earliest MM books I’ve read (2017!). I never left Whiskeyverse because the succeeding spinoffs, Fog City, Trouble Brewing, and Perfect Play, kept me immersed in the City of Angels.
Angel’s Share surprised me because I didn’t expect we’d get another Aidan and Jamie story after the wedding novella. I didn’t want their series to end! I went from rating the first book, Single Malt 2 stars to one of the most memorable couples in MM romance.
This series finale opens with a luxury cargo stolen from no less than a Talley Enterprise ship. It led to a thrilling car chase with Jamie showing off his death-defying driving skills and Aidan meeting the last person he expected to see.
Angel is Aidan’s godson and the nephew of his late husband, Gabe. It seemed that the boy and his mother, Izzy, had fallen into hard times after they became estranged from their family due to their homophobic views. Aidan, in his survivor’s guilt after Gabe’s death, also distanced himself and had no idea that his underage godson was involved in illegal activities.
The plot brings the series full circle, interweaving Irish and Whiskey’s current lives with the case, exorcising past demons, and bringing closure to open threads. As Aidan is the SAC and Jamie is now a basketball coach and occasional FBI consultant/hacker, most of the action was told rather than shown. The rescue of Angel’s friend, Bev, would have been suspenseful, but it was mostly off-page.
This one is a me problem. I can’t exactly point a finger at a specific sentence, but the author has a way of writing, or maybe it’s the narrator’s style of delivery, that makes things seem more dramatic than they actually are. This is why I can’t finish the Perfect Play series. I kept rolling my eyes at how overly emo things sound. Here, it’s not as emo, and the story is very compelling.
Gripes aside, I loved the book! It felt like catching up with old friends! I am thrilled with everyone making appearances, from my fave badass babes, Mel and Helena, to Nick and Cam, even Levi, Marsh and their son, David, and of course Danny (my fave Talley). Even the other FBI agents who have their own books or I wish have their own books brought something fun to the table.
The newer characters were standouts as well. Angel went from a surly teenager to a protective friend and eager mechanic apprentice. It was a brief mention of them talking on the balcony but I’m totally shipping Angel and David. Hopefully, we get a book when they’re older.
Bev, our girl is feisty, sassy, and hella smart. Years of abuse and foster care didn’t dampen her spirits, and I’m happy she finally found her home.
And, of course, Aidan and Jamie giving me life with their strength and unconditional support to each other! It’s not so common to see the lives of married couples after the wedding, apart from epilogues. So I enjoyed seeing an established couple working together, saving their loved ones, with that absolute faith that his husband has his back no matter what.
Still with that palpable chemistry, that deep emotional connection, and that seamless synchronicity in work and personal life that makes Irish and Whiskey unforgettable even after all these years!
I complained about the “tell” parts earlier. The thrilling takedown made up for it, bringing in the big guns, bounty hunter Mel, and ninja assassin Helena, with Aidan’s team taking down mobsters, and dodging explosions. This is the action I’ve been waiting for!
Angel’s Share is about loss, grief, and long-buried fears, but it also reminded Aiden and Jamie of what matters most: love and the family we have or found. Fast-paced, and emotional, it’s happy forever we could wish for our Irish and Whiskey!
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: The Angel’s Share
Artist: Elly
Album: The Angel’s ShareP.S.
Agents Irish and Whiskey books are best read in order. Don’t miss the spinoffs, especially Trouble Brewing (Nick and Cam are top faves!), and Fog City (Silent Knight wrecked me!). Don’t listen to me about Perfect Play. I think most people will like that series.
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Angel’s Share. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
ANGEL’S SHARE: Kindle I Audiobook
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
NEW RELEASE: A Taste Of Danger by Morgan Brice (Excerpt & Giveaway)
-
NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Dread by J. Hali Steele (Excerpt & Giveaway)
-
REVIEW: Corpse at Captain’s Seat by Josh Lanyon
Secrets and Scrabble: Corpse at Captain’s Seat – Josh Lanyon
At long last, the renovations of stately Captain’s Seat are complete, and to celebrate, mystery bookseller and sometimes amateur sleuth Ellery Page decides to throw a house-warming party and invite all his New York theater friends to stay for the weekend.
When a freak snowstorm leaves the house-party cut off from the village of Pirate’s Cove, there’s nothing to do but drink, reminisce, and play board games. Or so Ellery thinks.
Until he’s trapped in a real-life game of Clue.
Since the beginning of Secrets and Scrabble, when Ellery Page moved to Pirate’s Cove and inherited Crow’s Nest, a bookstore, and Captain’s Seat, he has been lamenting the sorry state of his sprawling ancestral mansion.
Fast forward to Corpse at Captain’s Seat, Book 8 of the cozy mystery series the titular house is now renovated. Ellery is hosting a housewarming party with his friends from the island and his old friends from Tisch in New York.
His New York friends arrived and were suitably awed by Captain’s Seat. But with a snowstorm coming, the party was canceled. Ellery and his friends hunkered down with wine and some board games. It wasn’t long before old habits and old grudges surfaced, the atmosphere made even tenser by the news of an escaped axe murderer loose in Buck Island.
I loved this! Josh Lanyon was having fun with metas. She’s done it before, but here, she’s layering the meta stuff pretty thick.
First, Ellery was a former actor, not an especially good one, he’s first to admit. He starred in a cult-favorite slasher series and is known as the Final Boy. He’s set to reprise his role in another sequel of his horror movie franchise. And now, there’s a missing hatchet, and he may or may not be trapped in a house with an axe murderer.
Ellery is also the owner of a bookstore specializing in mysteries. And he frequently stumbles upon mysteries whether he wants to or not. Even when there is no actual mystery yet, he’s roped in by his friends to solve some historical mystery because of his reputation as an amateur sleuth.
Here, he was reading Wikipedia about a missing diamond pendant stolen by the ancestor of the axe murderer while his group speculated where it is hidden on the island.
His fiancé, Jack Carson, is the chief of police. Jack met and quickly assessed Ellery’s college friends. Upon learning that one of their group, Noah, died in a hit-and-run when they were still students, Jack became intrigued with the circumstances of his death and started asking questions.
Ellery’s friends are mostly jobbing actors:
Tosh – a talented actress and special events organizer at a theater. She used to be married to Freddie, but she hooked up with Oscar during their stay in Captain’s Seat. Her split with Freddie was amicable
Oscar – works in film and television. He has a thing for Tosh since their college days.
Lenny – she’s a Goth girl and is close to Flip.
Phillip, a.k.a. Flip – is considered the better actor in the group. He and Lenny bunked together during their stay
Freddie – is a passable actor, but his good looks make him more appealing to the masses. His genial personality made him well-liked. He has a regular stint in the tv drama, LAPD Blues, as a detective
Chelsea – is the more talented actress but less attractive. She’s bitter about a lot of things. She’s known to pull pranks. She also stole the box of old photos Tosh brought with her. She more or less threw herself all over Freddie causing friction with Tosh
Belle – she’s engaged to a viscount. She’s a no-show because of a cancelled flight.
The group reminisces about a murder mystery play they starred in. They found themselves in an actual murder mystery in Captain’s Seat when one of them was lying dead in the secret passageway with an axe to the head. This person allegedly knew something about Noah’s death.
They played Clue to pass the time while waiting for the police to arrive. Per Jack’s instructions, because they were snowed in and roads still had to be cleared, Ellery is also gathering preliminary statements and securing the crime scene.
Captain’s Seat, with its countless secret passageways and underground tunnels, is an enigma on its own. Ellery’s ancestor, Horatio Page, was a famous pirate hunter. Buck Island was a notorious haven for pirates, and is full of underground tunnels and hidden lairs.
I lost count of the tropes and layers here, but this was the best installment so far! Ellery appreciates Jack’s solid dependability and trustworthiness more than ever. The supporting characters all stood out, whether in a good or bad way. The plot was mostly wining, dining, and snarking, but I was engrossed with the group’s history and dynamics.
However, the resolution was rushed, the big reveal was anti-climactic, and the confession was too convenient.
Corpse at Captain’s Seat is a reunion of old friends, opening of old wounds, and creating new memories. All in all, a highly entertaining cozy mystery where a party for old time’s sake ends in murder for old crime’s sake.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Old Friend
Artist: Elderbrook
Album: FriendsP.S.
Secrets and Scrabbles must be read in order. Witness Ellery go from fish out of water to Buck Island’s very own amateur sleuth in the following:
Murder at Pirate’s Cove
Secret At Skull House
Mystery at the Masquerade
Scandal at the Salty Dog
Body at Buccaneer’s Bay
Lament at Loon Landing
Death at the Deep Dive
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Corpse at Captain’s Seat. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
CORPSE AT CAPTAIN’S SEAT: Kindle I Audiobook
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
RELEASE BLITZ: Angel’s Share by Layla Reyne
-
NEW RELEASE: Loren by Crea Reitan
-
COVER REVEAL: Angel’s Share by Layla Reyne
-
COVER REVEAL: Ready To Cash Out by K.L. Hiers (Giveaway)
-
RELEASE BLITZ: Best Play by Layla Reyne
-
REVIEW: Death In The Spires by K.J. Charles
Death In The Spires – K.J. Charles
The newspapers called us the Seven Wonders. We were a group of friends, that’s all, and then Toby died. Was killed. Murdered.
1905. A decade after the grisly murder of Oxford student Toby Feynsham, the case remains hauntingly unsolved. For Jeremy Kite, the crime not only stole his best friend, it destroyed his whole life. When an anonymous letter lands on his desk, accusing him of having killed Toby, Jem becomes obsessed with finally uncovering the truth.
Jem begins to track down the people who were there the night Toby died – a close circle of friends once known as the ‘Seven Wonders’ for their charm and talent – only to find them as tormented and broken as himself. All of them knew and loved Toby at Oxford. Could one of them really be his killer?
As Jem grows closer to uncovering what happened that night, his pursuer grows bolder, making increasingly terrifying attempts to silence him for good. Will exposing Toby’s killer put to rest the shadows that have darkened Jem’s life for so long? Or will the gruesome truth only put him in more danger?
Some secrets are better left buried…
From the bestselling, acclaimed author of The Magpie Lord and The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen comes a chilling historical mystery with a sting in the tail. You won’t be able to put this gripping story down!
Death In the Spires is foremost a murder mystery. While there are some queer romantic elements, it is one man’s quest to solve the decade-old murder of his friend, an incident that destroyed his life.
The story is set in Oxford at the turn of the century and in Jeremy Kite’s POV. Jeremy, a mathematics major, is there on a scholarship. He’s painfully conscious of his club foot and provincial accent, especially when surrounded by sons of lords and maharajahs.
On his first day, he was adopted into a group that became known as the Feynsham set.
Toby Feynsham – a marquis’s son and fearless leader of the group. He has the audacity of someone who doesn’t worry about the consequences.
Nicky Rook – Toby’s best friend since childhood. Nicky is blunt and sarcastic. He’s also known to be in love with Toby. Later became Jem’s lover.
Hugo Morley-Adam – a rich man’s son and a celebrated athlete. He and Nicky were fencing rivals. Hugo is a likable fellow and has political ambitions
Ella – Toby’s twin sister and the more cerebral of the two. A statuesque woman, Ella is a chemistry major. She and Aaron started dating later on
Pru – Ella’s friend and a mathematics major. Pru is petite, more introverted and, like Jem, came from a working class background
Aaron – an African man majoring in medicine. Aaron is also into athletics and frequently runs with Hugo. They also discovered he cannot act when the group auditioned for a Shakespearean play.The group made waves around the campus and even starred in Cymbeline, a hit among the students. At their peak, the Feynsham set was glorious. Then Toby was found dead, everyone was suspect.
Ten years later, Jem received a letter accusing him of the murder, so he decided to investigate.
I love Jem! He’s smol, he’s tired, he’s jobless and almost broke, and his leg hurts, but our boy’s not leaving any stones unturned. He’s a man who wants to start living his life and he can only do that if he puts spectres of the past to rest once and for all.
The plot alternates between flashbacks to university days and the present day. Jem was forced to swallow bitter truths, reopen old wounds, and reveal secret crimes during his investigation.
The complicated relationships of different personalities, their spectacularly vitriolic fallout, and their begrudging reunion interweave with the author’s go-to themes of class difference, excesses of privilege, the importance of consent, and the right to bodily autonomy.
Jem also reunites with Nicky. The romance here is very HFN. I didn’t like it but we were warned this is not romance-centric.
I love the dark academia vibe! K.J. Charles always has a way of making her settings immersive. Gaslit streets, pea soup fog, imposing ancient buildings, and shadowy figures stalking Jem popped up like movie scenes in my mind.
The mystery was twisty-turny, suspenseful, and very effectively made me thoroughly invested in finding the truth. I thought I had a handle on it, knowing the author’s style, but she still pulled off some unexpected reveals.
And, of course, the writing. Apart from the nuanced characters and plot twists, the author’s sharp wit, humor, and overall word wizardry make reading a breeze while also being a masterclass in writing.
Overall, Death In The Spires is a vision of youth through rose-colored glasses and jaundiced eyes. Brilliantly written, wonderfully atmospheric and as gripping and addictive as promised!
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Shake It Out
Artist: Florence + The Machine
Album: Ceremonials
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Death In The Spires. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
DEATH IN THE SPIRES: Kindle I Audiobook
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
