Single Malt by Layla Reyne (Agents Irish and Whiskey #1)
Released: Febuary 27, 2017
M/M Romantic Suspense
Carina Press
Reviewed by Mandi
What drew me into this book is that both heroes are FBI agents and one is nicknamed Irish and the other Whiskey – I love that. I also love m/m FBI stories (hello Ty and Zane!) This was an okay read but I found my attention wandering in the second half. Let me also state up front that it ends in a bit of a cliffhanger. The relationship is progressing smoothly but the story isn’t done yet and the author drops a bit of a bomb on one of the heroes on the last page.
Eight months ago, Aidan Talley lost his husband in a car crash. Ruled an accident, Aidan can’t shake the feeling that the car crash might not be that innocent, but the police ruled it as one and he is at a dead end. He feels as though he is ready to return to work and finds himself out of undercover work and into cyber security. He is still mourning the death of his husband, but can’t help to notice his new partner is not too bad to look at.
Dusty, worn Chucks, battered Levis, a gray Giants jersey hanging open over a snug black tee, revealing a sculpted torso and cut biceps. It took all of Aidan’s considerable undercover work to hide the spark of desire rocketing through him. Eight months since his husband’s death, ten years since he’d felt a flicker of interest in another man besides Gabe, and it was this one – his new partner, his mentee, a straight man by all accounts – who stoked those embers to life.
Jameson Walker (gay but unknown to Aidan at the beginning) , or Whiskey, is a former NBA star who quit to use his brain skills as a cyber expert for the FBI. He has the classic “jock look” and always has to convince people he is more than just sexy muscles – that he is very smart. Jamie has had a crush on Aidan for a few years, and can’t believe he will get to work with him now. He respects that Aidan is still dealing with the loss of his husband, and they are work partners – so he doesn’t make an advance or anything. When cyber attacks start to occur at a top bio-lab, Jamie and Aidan are on the case.
I initially really liked these two guys – they are both very personable, charming, and I was interested in their work as FBI agents.Who doesn’t love a bio-terrorism threat? But to be honest, by the halfway point I started to get wandering eyes. First, the suspense takes over the book and I wanted the romance to be more pronounced. This will be an ongoing series with these two so the author has the time to really let these two get to know each other. But darn it I wanted more nakey. Or at least more sexual tension.
I felt the romantic relationship was a see-saw. Sometimes Aidan would act so interested in Jamie, only to brush him off because he felt guilty about his late husband. And when things do heat up between them, the tension just wasn’t there. I liked them together, but with all of those bottled up feelings Aidan has over losing his husband, combined with the hidden lust Jamie has felt for the past three years towards Aidan- when they do get together it was a bit of a let down. I know – I complain when they were not together, and I complain when they finally got together. Fickle – I am!!
The cliffhanger isn’t so much with the romance but more with a new suspense thing that will happen in the next book. I didn’t find the cliffhanger to be all that horrible, for you cliffie-haters out there.
Grade: C+
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