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Wild at Whiskey Creek offers a twist on the friends-to-lovers theme, with the long-standing friendship between the hero and heroine having recently fallen apart. Unfortunately, however, I found the book difficult to get into, and put it down multiple times. Neither the hero nor heroine captured my interest while the book gave off the vibe of being another small town romance filled with quirky characters. But slowly the story started to pick up, and by the end I loved both principal characters.
Deputy Eli Barlow has been called to the Plugged Nickel – a dive bar in Hellcat Canyon – because something bad is going to happen. When Eli arrives he learns a group of seedy poker players have been arguing, and have a bet going involving a woman. The author’s writing brings the scene to life, giving a clear picture of the action, and people, in the bar. While the Plugged Nickel and its patrons are colorful, it’s not a place most women alone would want to step inside. But that’s where we first encounter our heroine, Glory Greenleaf, the subject of the bet.
Glory is the younger sister of Eli’s former best friend Jonah. Glory’s entire family is notorious for being daredevils. In contrast, Eli’s father was a cop, and despite having a law degree, Eli came back to the small town and became a Deputy Sheriff. But the differences in their backgrounds never really mattered to Jonah, Elia, and Glory growing up. We slowly learn that although Glory and Eli have dated other people, they’d started inching toward each other, and shared one passionate kiss. Everything blew up two nights after the kiss, when Eli arrested Jonah for meth transport. Glory has frozen Eli out in the months since it happened, but meeting in the bar forces him into her orbit.
The chemistry between Eli and Glory sizzles and it’s obvious they know each other inside and out. Eli longs for Glory and can’t get her out of his mind; thoughts of her come to him throughout the day at unexpected times. While Glory is similarly affected, she can’t forgive Eli yet for arresting her brother. As the book moves forward and the two begin to repair their relationship the question becomes this: even if Glory can forgive Eli, do the two of them have a chance? Eli’s career is in Hellcat Canyon while Glory wants to leave.
Glory works at a variety of odd jobs, but she’s also a songwriter and does live mic nights in the area. She’s determined to leave Hellcat Canyon and make a name in the music business, but ends up giving money to her mother and younger brother, both largely useless characters. But when Glory spots a poster for an up-and-coming band that’s going to play in a local bar she refocuses her energy on connecting with the band and getting out of town.
Perhaps if I’d read the first book in the series I would have liked this one more from the beginning. At first I thought Hellcat Canyon was a dying town populated solely by people like the characters in the Plugged Nickel, or the over-the-top senior citizens Eli deals with on calls. But the town is clearly more than that, as a TV show is shooting in the area, and one of the actors decides he wants to get involved with Glory.
I began to like both Glory and Eli as the author revealed more about them. We learn that Glory will fight to the death for people she cares about, and she’s cared about Eli – loved Eli – since she was a girl. Eli still loves Glory, and the steps he takes to help her achieve her dreams, even if it means losing her for good, prove the depth of his character.
Ultimately I came to love both Glory and Eli, and loved where they ended up in their relationship. But given what I’ve said about the book being difficult to get into – had it continued along the same lines as the opening chapters, it would have been a C grade read – I’m giving it a qualified recommendation overall.
Grade: B-
Book Type: Contemporary Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 30/11/16
Publication Date: 11/2016
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.
My first memory is sitting with my mother on a blanket in our backyard surrounded by books and she is reading one of them to me. My love of reading was encouraged by my parents and it continues to today. I’ve gone through a lot of different genres over the years, but I currently primarily read mysteries (historical mysteries are my favorites) and romances (focusing on contemporaries, categories, and steampunk). When I’m not reading or working, I love to travel, knit, and work on various community projects.
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Looking forward to reading this as soon as I finish my current book. Like Amanda I think it’s helpful to know it has a slow start. I’ve always felt that Long as a very modern voice as an author, and so even though I love historicals and tend to read them more than any other genre, I think contemporaries may be a better fit for her.
OMG! DOES J.T.’s nemesis Franco Francone show up to thwart Eli? I really liked the first book, even though I didn’t care for the insertion of the manipulative actress ex-girlfriend. But I loved Britt and she was a hoot as the heroine and John Tennessee is definitely my kind of hero. Saving this book for the holidays when I have a lot of time off and I’m pretty sure I’m going to love it because JAL has such a great sense of the absurd…..she’s so damn funny!
There’s lots of Franco and he’s hilarious.
I had a similar problem with the first book in this series. It took me a long time to get into, but once I did I really loved the romance. It does mess with the grading, because the end sticks in your mind more, but if you’re recommending it you definitely need to let people know that they need to stick through the slow start.
I like the book two a lot more than book one.
This is on my list to read as soon as I finish the new Sarah Morgan. Good to note that it starts off slowly (sometimes if I know to expect this, I’ll be a bit more patient!)
I liked this more than LinnieGayl although I do think it got off to a slow start. I like the world Ms. Long is building and I think this might be her funniest book. When I interviewed her (here, in case you missed it), she talked about how different it is to write contemporary romance where the heroines can be sexually experience and have more sexual agency. I miss her historicals, but I feel as though she’s finding her stride in this second book of the series.