What a fantastic sequel!
While I wanted to shake Aiden through the first half of the book, I still thought the story was incredible and even better than the first book. I think this is my favorite series of the year so far.

While starting book 1, I thought the name was going to make the story a little bit cheesy, but it is anything but.

Very fast paced and the character (main and otherwise) are so Well developed.

The only part I didn't "love" was Danny's involvement with FBI business. It seemed a little far-fetched, but I loved him and Mel, so I looked passed all that.

All in all I give this a 5*

I thought the first book was amazing. This second book was even better. I don't think a person would need to have read Single Malt to enjoy Cask Strength, but it would give the back story needed to understand the things going on in the background and 'behind' the front plot. This second book does an amazing job of telling its story so that I don't think anyone would be too lost, but they would definitely want to know more.

If you had read the first book then I hope like me these two men captured your heart just as thoroughly as they did mine. In this book Jamie has so many struggles, secrets and pressures to deal with while Aidan fights like the devil with his worst enemy- himself, all the while working cases and solving crimes. The suspense was not as high strung as the first book but definitely present and kept me keyed up. The sexy scenes were even hotter. And the emotion evoked top notch. I loved this book so much I didn't want it to end and I desperately need the third book. This series is heating up in so many ways and I just need more! I very highly recommend this book and this series.

My first thought upon finishing this book was “OH MY GOD YOU DID NOT JUST LEAVE ME HANGING LIKE THAT!” Then my second thought was “Damn, that was a fantastic read!”. After Single Malt had drawn me in to Aidan and Jamie’s lives so thoroughly, I couldn’t wait to get more in Cask Strength. What I didn’t anticipate was frustration, higher suspense levels and that freaking ending.

Yes, I said frustration…that I solidly lay at the feet of Aidan Talley. He is so terrified of loving and losing again that no matter what his heart is telling him, he’s blocking it all out. I wanted to shake some sense into him, because my own heart was feeling the strain for Jamie, and Aidan’s words and actions made me disappointed in and exasperated with him. Speaking of Jamie, there’s a lot to be said about his professionalism and inner strength that he could continue to do his job—and do it amazingly well—given that he still has to work side by side with Aidan the whole time.

This story was exceptionally high on the suspense and intrigue, and while I wasn’t surprised at most of the bad guys, there was definitely one that I never saw coming in the undercover case. Don’t even get me started on what might come from the very end of the book. And yes—this means there’s a cliffhanger, one that will have you shouting exactly what I did at the beginning of my review. But don’t let that put you off this series. What you’ll find is a truly gripping story that you won’t want to put down—not just for the tremendous amount of excitement and action you’ll find, but also because of the ongoing tension (sexual and otherwise) between Aidan and Jamie.

Another 5 stars for Cask Strength—even with as frustrated as Aidan made me—and a definite recommendation for M/M romantic suspense fans! This story and series is for readers 18+ for adult language and M/M sexual content. Now I have to figure out what to do with myself until the third book comes out because that cliffhanger is driving me nuts!

Excuse any typos or misguided sentences in this review. My fingers are still tingly and on fire from how damn hot this was. Seriously, Jamie and Aidan own the intense UST and off the charts passion in this book!

Phew. Let’s do this review deal, shall we?

We start five months after Single Malt ended, with our FBI agents moving casually into a romantic relationship and firmly into their professional partnership. On Jamie’s end, he is all in no matter what he promised to Aidan about keeping it casual between them because Jamie has been so gone for Aidan long before anything physical happened between them. He knows Aidan was a man whore before his marriage to Gabe and half listened to Aidan’s points on not being serious – blah blah blah - but Jamie is his own man and he’ll do what he wants as long as he keeps it to himself. There are a few other things he is keeping to himself as well, like knowing the connection between Gabe, Tom and Renaud and not telling Aidan about it nor that Mel has him digging deeper into the accident and all that it involves.

“There’s no substitute for the real thing.”

I have to say that when I first learned about the men Aidan was seeing on the side I saw red and not just the natural color of Aidan’s hair. I was pissed off but then I turned the page and got Aidan’s POV and settled down. Self-preservation is the solace of owns own mind and though you don’t agree, you can’t pass judgment because it’s each person’s own validity. Aidan is so terrified to lose Jamie that he tries to keep him at arms-length by “dating” copy cats of Jamie and swearing there is no feelings between them. It’s a dick move but when Jamie calls him out on it, we do get some delicious UST that unfortunately leads to more dick moves and then Mel giving them a case back in Jamie’s home town with them undercover and an Au Naturale Aidan as Ian… *swoon* Call him what you want, Agent Irish is edible as his natural ginger self.

My brain is a jumbled mess right now as I try to process everything we have learned. Not only about the accident that killed Gabe and Tom but about all this crap in Charlotte with basketball and people wanting a piece of both Jamie and Aidan that they will stop at nothing to get it. The undercover case was nothing less than fascinating and full of informational detail that doesn’t weight the reader down. It was easy to follow, the betting etc. and fueled every aspect of the story line. As with the first book, this is full of cinematic action and swoon worthy moments along with intense passionate games of er, um pool? Yeah, we will call it games of pool and how scorching the game of billiards can be, or at least just the use of the table.

“Basketball. The Court. The Game.”

It was great to see Jamie in his roots with basketball even though it was undercover. We get a lot of him as the FBI Agent and hacker, but I loved seeing how much his first love meant to him in real time. We know why he left the game and that he has thrived in his life as an FBI Agent but he lived and breathed basketball for so long that is also suffocated his inability to be out with his sexual orientation. Of course, being home brings up drama that is unavoidable but did it ever make for some intense moments between Jamie and Aidan that had me melting. I mean, jealousy can be a good thing when its labors bring about a change.

Again I have to bring in the title of this book. I love that the author is sticking to the whiskey themed titles and that Cask Strength, points at the production in whiskey straight from the barrel and its maturity. Ha! Maturity. I think in this case we can either talk about Aidan being older but older doesn’t always mean better or for that matter Jamie if we talk about whiskey maturing and losing some of its potency, known as the angel’s share. We learn a lot about Jamie when we go home with him undercover as himself to catch the insiders betting on basketball and stealing identifies. Aidan is of the assumption that his younger lover is so damn pure because Aidan thinks he is so damn tainted and yet learns that his own Whiskey at cask strength has a burn that overpowers the subtlety of his own flavors. Hmm… Aidan, be careful that scent you like to inhale so much from Jamie’s neck doesn’t burn your nose hairs. Kay?

“Another person in his inner circle who’d betrayed him. Another person at risk.”

Goodness. As Jamie, Danny and Mel work the case behind Aidan’s back more secrets come out of the closet like a needed yard sale of a hoarder. It was crazy how many ties to Aidan all of this has and how Jamie will tell him. The manner of which Aidan goes about working the case, how he goes about lying to his lover, his partner and the man he loves leads us to an heart stopping conclusion and cliffhanger to the story. Seriously, I yelled at the end and contemplated how long my resolve would take to break before I ran to request the last book because OMG! That end was amazing.

So, declarations have been exchanged and promises have been made but when Jamie comes clean with Aidan with the whole story about Gabe etc., he may need his own stock of cask strength liquor to drown out the memory of what could have been. OR, will this new love between partners and lovers be strong enough to not be diluted. Only two fingers of the finest Barrel Proof will tell for sure.

Spoilers ahead: If you haven’t read the first book in the Agents Irish & Whiskey series, Single Malt, it ended with a cliffhanger and this review contains spoilers.

Single Malt concluded with Aidan Talley (Irish) and Jameson Walker (Whiskey) solving their case, but Ms. Reyne left us with cliffhanger concerning a terrorist plot that has personal and professional ties to Aidan’s past. Jamie, at the behest of his boss, Special Agent Melissa Cruz, is still secretly investigating the car crash that killed Aiden’s husband Gabe (also Melissa’s brother) and his FBI partner Tom Crane. When Single Malt concluded, Jamie had discovered a link between the terrorist Renaud, Gabe and Tom, and he knows that the information will devastate Aidan. Aidan and Jamie are lovers, but Aidan’s fear of losing another lover and Jamie’s investigation threaten to derail their relationship before it can really begin.

Layla Reyne kicks off book two on a high note. Arriving at Jamie’s San Francisco townhouse, Aidan tells him they’re at the top of the FBI’s clearance board and proposes a celebration. They’re riding high professionally and personally and Cask Strength lulls you in with their happy celebration – a super hot and intense kitchen sex scene. Then, well, it breaks your heart, because shortly afterwards, Aidan announces he has to go. When Jamie suggests they go away for the weekend instead, Aidan tells him he can’t, because he’s got a date with Dominic – Nic – Price, the federal prosecutor on the Galveston case. In short order we discover Aidan, still unwilling to commit to Jamie, has decided that dating other men is the only way to maintain his distance. Jamie is gutted each time Aidan goes on one of these dates, and so are we.

Not long after this, Jamie discovers a financial link between Renaud and the same two FBI agents who shut down the investigation into Aidan’s car accident. Nic tips Aidan off as to their location, and he’s on his way to intercept them when Jamie senses something isn’t quite right. Shots ring out and chaos ensues. Spotting Aidan prone on sidewalk, Jamie races to his side. Quickly ascertaining the blood on the pavement isn’t Aidan’s but that the other two agents are dead, he’s relieved to discover Aidan is alive but unconscious. Jamie doesn’t linger – a manhunt is underway and the scene needs to be secured. By the time Jamie arrives at Aidan’s hospital room, he’s frantic with worry, nearly losing it when he discovers Nic already there, and angrily orders him out. As soon as Nic leaves, Jamie breaks down, confessing his fears and love for Aidan – until Aidan, who’s already had his own mini-freak out and decided he can’t go through this again, abruptly breaks up with him.

With Renaud ratcheting up the pressure in San Francisco, Special Agent Cruz reassigns the men to North Carolina (Jamie’s home state) to investigate an identity theft ring involving a college basketball team. Despite the obvious schism in their partnership, she insists they work together. Jamie, a former standout college and NBA player, is placed on the team as an assistant coach. At a press conference, he tells reporters he’s decided to leave law enforcement and return to his first love – basketball. Aidan goes undercover as Jamie’s agent, Ian Daley, in town to negotiate his contract. Jamie’s in a perfect position to identify suspect players and coaches; Aidan, in his guise as Jamie’s agent, can shortlist possible guilty athletic department and administration suspects.

Though the identity theft case is interesting and really, it’s just the sort of brilliant scam you hope isn’t actually happening in college sports, Cask Strength is mostly about the relationship between Jamie and Aidan. Secondary characters – the athletic director, Ethan Reynolds, for whom Aidan pretends an attraction in order to infiltrate the criminal ring, and Jamie’s former lover Derrick Pope – also play pivotal roles. Jamie loves Aidan and wants him to give a romantic relationship a try. Jamie is consumed with jealousy about Aidan’s other boyfriends; he particularly hates the flirtatious (fake) relationship Aidan has with Ethan. Aidan loves Jamie, but he fears losing another lover.

There’s a lot of complex casework in Cask Strength and it both grounds the story and keeps Jamie and Aidan in close proximity. This time out they’re in Jamie’s home state, and wind up living together in a home Jamie owns in the area. Much like how the relationship evolved in Barrel Strength, living together and keeping their affections under wraps proves all but impossible. After a delicious scene in the NC airport when Jamie picks up Aidan and nearly flips out when he sees his partner undercover as Ian, these two circle around their intense attraction to each other while living together. They struggle to live and work together, and over games of pool (Aidan is a pool shark; Jamie is terrible) they vent their pent up sexual and emotional frustrations while Jamie drinks expensive Scotch and they privately long for each other. Ms. Reyne keeps ratcheting up the professional and personal tension until something has to give. And it does. BIG TIME FOLKS. IT’S AWESOME.

When Aidan and Jamie finally have sex again it’s scorching hot and Ms. Reyne (again) vividly finds a way to balance their intense chemistry and tender affection. Friends, these too are so hot and awesome together. Sexy, intense, romantic…more please! Aidan finally confesses he loves Jamie, and I may have squealed with happiness. (Okay. I did.) But much like that first evil chapter, just when their affection is at an all-time high – things go sideways. The identity theft case intersects with their personal relationship (I didn’t love this development) and the reunion comes to an abrupt end. In a frantic final few chapters, the case is split wide open, Aidan is forced to confront his fear of losing Jamie, and Jamie makes new discoveries in the on-going Renaud investigation.

When Cask Strength concludes, Irish and Whiskey are partners, both professionally and personally. But Renaud is still on the loose, and Jamie is still keeping secrets from Aidan about his husband and former partner. In a cliffhanger, the novel abruptly concludes when they discover someone they trust might be working with the terrorist. The revelation will leave you (me) shouting “no!” at the screen, and quickly checking when the next book is out. Not soon enough my friends! Not soon enough.

I'm really enjoying this series so far. It's captivating and suspenseful and there is character growth with every book. It's only been two books so far, but you can see great strides in both leads. I'm not always captivated my romance suspense, but this is really REALLY good!

Spoilers ahead: If you haven’t read the first book in the Agents Irish & Whiskey series, Single Malt, it ended with a cliffhanger and this review contains spoilers.

Single Malt concluded with Aidan Talley (Irish) and Jameson Walker (Whiskey) solving their case, but Ms. Reyne left us with cliffhanger concerning a terrorist plot that has personal and professional ties to Aidan’s past. Jamie, at the behest of his boss, Special Agent Melissa Cruz, is still secretly investigating the car crash that killed Aiden’s husband Gabe (also Melissa’s brother) and his FBI partner Tom Crane. When Single Malt concluded, Jamie had discovered a link between the terrorist Renaud, Gabe and Tom, and he knows that the information will devastate Aidan. Aidan and Jamie are lovers, but Aidan’s fear of losing another lover and Jamie’s investigation threaten to derail their relationship before it can really begin.

Layla Reyne kicks off book two on a high note. Arriving at Jamie’s San Francisco townhouse, Aidan tells him they’re at the top of the FBI’s clearance board and proposes a celebration. They’re riding high professionally and personally and Cask Strength lulls you in with their happy celebration - a super hot and intense kitchen sex scene. Then, well, it breaks your heart, because shortly afterwards, Aidan announces he has to go. When Jamie suggests they go away for the weekend instead, Aidan tells him he can’t, because he’s got a date with Dominic - Nic - Price, the federal prosecutor on the Galveston case. In short order we discover Aidan, still unwilling to commit to Jamie, has decided that dating other men is the only way to maintain his distance. Jamie is gutted each time Aidan goes on one of these dates, and so are we.

Not long after this, Jamie discovers a financial link between Renaud and same two FBI agents who shut down the investigation into Aidan’s car accident. Nic tips Aidan off as to their location, and he’s on his way to intercept them when Jamie senses something isn’t quite right. Shots ring out and chaos ensues. Spotting Aidan prone on sidewalk, Jamie races to his side. Quickly ascertaining the blood on the pavement isn’t Aidan’s but that the other two agents are dead, he’s relieved to discover Aidan is alive but unconscious. Jamie doesn’t linger - a manhunt is underway and the scene needs to be secured. By the time Jamie arrives at Aidan’s hospital room, he’s frantic with worry, nearly losing it when he discovers Nic already there, and angrily orders him out. As soon as Nic leaves, Jamie breaks down, confessing his fears and love for Aidan - until Aidan, who’s already had his own mini-freak out and decided he can’t go through this again, abruptly breaks up with him.

With Renaud ratcheting up the pressure in San Francisco, Special Agent Cruz reassigns the men to North Carolina (Jamie’s home state) to investigate an identity theft ring involving a college basketball team. Despite the obvious schism in their partnership, she insists they work together. Jamie, a former standout college and NBA player, is placed on the team as an assistant coach. At a press conference, he tells reporters he’s decided to leave law enforcement and return to his first love - basketball. Aidan goes undercover as Jamie’s agent, Ian Daley, in town to negotiate his contract. Jamie’s in a perfect position to identify suspect players and coaches; Aidan, in his guise as Jamie’s agent, can shortlist possible guilty athletic department and administration suspects.

Though the identity theft case is interesting and really, it’s just the sort of brilliant scam you hope isn’t actually happening in college sports, Cask Strength is mostly about the relationship between Jamie and Aidan. Secondary characters - the athletic director, Ethan Reynolds, for whom Aidan pretends an attraction in order to infiltrate the criminal ring, and Jamie’s former lover Derrick Pope - also play pivotal roles. Jamie loves Aidan and wants him to give a romantic relationship a try. Jamie is consumed with jealousy about Aidan’s other boyfriends; he particularly hates the flirtatious (fake) relationship Aidan has with Ethan. Aidan loves Jamie, but he fears losing another lover.

There’s a lot of complex casework in Cask Strength and it both grounds the story and keeps Jamie and Aidan in close proximity. This time out they’re in Jamie’s home state, and wind up living together in a home Jamie owns in the area. Much like how the relationship evolved in Barrel Strength, living together and keeping their affections under wraps proves all but impossible. After a delicious scene in the NC airport when Jamie picks up Aidan and nearly flips out when he sees his partner undercover as Ian, these two circle around their intense attraction to each other while living together. They struggle to live and work together, and over games of pool (Aidan is a pool shark; Jamie is terrible) they vent their pent up sexual and emotional frustrations while Jamie drinks expensive Scotch and they privately long for each other. Ms. Reyne keeps ratcheting up the professional and personal tension until something has to give. And it does. BIG TIME FOLKS. IT’S AWESOME.

When Aidan and Jamie finally have sex again it’s scorching hot and Ms. Reyne (again) vividly finds a way to balance their intense chemistry and tender affection. Friends, these too are so hot and awesome together. Sexy, intense, romantic...more please! Aidan finally confesses he loves Jamie, and I may have squealed with happiness. (Okay. I did.) But much like that first evil chapter, just when their affection is at an all-time high - things go sideways. The identity theft case intersects with their personal relationship (I didn’t love this development) and the reunion comes to an abrupt end. In a frantic final few chapters, the case is split wide open, Aidan is forced to confront his fear of losing Jamie, and Jamie makes new discoveries in the on-going Renaud investigation.
When Cask Strength concludes, Irish and Whiskey are partners, both professionally and personally. But Renaud is still on the loose, and Jamie is still keeping secrets from Aidan about his husband and former partner. In a cliffhanger, the novel abruptly concludes when they discover someone they trust might be working with the terrorist. The revelation will leave you (me) shouting “no!” at the screen, and quickly checking when the next book is out. Not soon enough my friends! Not soon enough.

Warning : Serious angst here and of course another cliffhanger!

Okay, I might be the only one to say this but I was a bit confused with his one. So here we are, fast forward five months later where Jamie and Aiden are nothing more than FWB or even possibly CWB (colleagues with benefits). Of course we learn that Aiden is back to his dickhead ways while Jamie's heart is set on said dickhead. We get to hear of Aiden’s 'dates' with other men, and this is where I get a bit confused. See it sounds like he is going back to his old ways; however, the way the author writes I cannot be certain if he truly has sex with them or if it’s just all for show.

Case in point(s) :
"With "Jamie" came warm, alluring, heartbeat-tripping memories of an intimacy he hadn't shared with him since. Or with any of the other men he'd dated the past five months, despite what Jamie thought about his promiscuity."

AND

"He needed distance- he'd let Jamie continue to think he fucked other men, if that's what pushed him away- but Aidan also needed him to understand not just any man would do."

Yet, one of Aiden’s side pieces sees the marks that Jamie leaves on his back.

"You leave those marks on him last weekend?"

Therefore I can only conclude that something happened between them in order for Nic to see the marks on Aiden's back. I just want/need to know to what extent.

In book two, the boys are on the trail of the terrorist, Renaud. Unfortunately, he seems to know their every move and is quickly getting rid of any outstanding liability; leaving bodies in his wake. Their boss Mel ends up getting the two out-of-town on another case to hopefully stop Renaud's pursuits, and get the boys out of harm's way. However, Mel and Jamie continue to work the Renaud Case unbeknownst to Aiden.

What’s this new case you ask? Well, Jamie is sent undercover as an assistant coach at Charlotte University as his old self, Whiskey Walker while Aiden goes under as his Sports Agent, Ian Daley. Their mission is to find out who is behind an online sports gambling site that is actually a front for an Identity Theft ring. For the most part, I really enjoyed this part of the storyline. What I didn’t like was the jealousy that almost sabotaged their sting. They are professionals for goodness sakes! One would think with what is at stake with their mission (there is more than meets the eyes), that they wouldn’t want to jeopardize it nor one another. But hey, what do I know right?!? I just felt it was out of line for the two Professional FBI agents that the author created; IMO it just didn't fit/feel right.

In the end, we are left with another cliffhanger, which I feel is not as gripping as the first book nor can I believe it given what we know up to this point. It's not that it is ridiculous, but given all prior information IMO it just doesn't seem likely. Now, the author might shock the heck out of me and bring new things to light and if that's the case....HECK YES! Because I love it when I cannot see what's coming. All in all, I'm excited to see what is next for these two. I am still waiting for the fallout/repercussions that will happen between Irish, Whiskey and Mel. Oh, and when that does happen.....that will definitely be some serious angst!

I am one of many reviewers at Gay Book Reviews and can be found here: http://gaybook.reviews/author/steph/

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars- The excitement continues in this installment that picks up where the previous book left off. Aidan is still trying to keep things casual between him and Jamie as a way to protect himself from caring too much about someone he could potentially lose, just as had happened with his husband. Jamie wants more, but he is still under orders to keep what he knows about the death of Aidan’s husband under wraps. While it is killing him to do so, he plans to continue connecting the dots until he has the full story before coming clean with Aidan.

After another near miss on Aidan’s life where Renaurd is concerned, the guys are sent to lay low pursuing another case at the college where Jamie used to play ball. They go undercover, Jamie as the assistant coach and Aidan as his agent, in an effort to uncover an illegal gambling ring.

So, there are basically three things going on here with tons of branches heading in different directions from each. First, is the initial case of tracking down Renaurd and the events and coincidences surrounding the death of Aidan’s husband, as well as the attempts on his own life; then there is the cyber-gambling ring they are currently trying to uncover; and third is their relationship, which finally takes a more solid positive turn as they realize how much they love each other.

However, just as with the first book, there are secrets and more secrets, with more ties to more people being involved, most of whom appear to be betraying Aidan or those he loves. We are getting closer to the answers, but I just hope these two will survive when it is all said and done. Aidan and Jamie make a fabulous couple. They have amazing chemistry, both on the job and off, and really fit each other well.

This was another exciting and nail biting installment, and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book. These really need to be read in order, and this one also ends in a somewhat cliffhanger that left me ready to dive right into the next one to continue the story. If that’s an issue for you, you might want to wait for them all to be published, but I definitely recommend you keep them on your list and ready to go when the time comes!

I freaking LOVE these two. Seriously, they're smart, funny, smexy as all get out and the suspense is top notch. I'm not a great book reviewer, seriously... I'm just not. If I like something I just like it and talk about how great it is and if something is problematic for me, I'll post that too. The path to true love does not run smooth for Agents Irish and Whiskey, but it is beautiful to see. I am so stupid in live with this series!

This is an excellent addition to the Irish and Whiskey series. Great balance between the investigative plots (both of them), and the building relationship between the two agents.

Whiskey as coach gives us an insight into his life before he became a fed, and a chance for him to get some closure. As he gets when he meets up with his ex, who had forced Jamie to make decisions he has regretted. That was a nice bit of writing.

Aidan remains a chameleon. Able to fit into an undercover disguise seamlessly, able to remain professional when faced with danger, but we know his thoughts, we hear his uncertainties and we watch him face up to few truths.

Then, of course, right at the end, everything goes wrong. So this is a cliff-hanger, a dropping point, and it'll be hard to wait for the next one, which I believe is the last? Maybe?

Copy provided by publisher and Netgalley and read with thanks. Highly recommended for people who like to mix a little action and danger with their mm romance. Out on May 1st.

4..5 stars! Cask Strength is the second book in the Agents Irish and Whiskey series and is NOT a stand-alone. It's been 5 months since Jamie and Aidan became partners and professionally they are at the top of the Bureau's case clearance board. Personally, their relationship remains hot and very very steamy, but Aidan keeps throwing up boundaries, determined to keep things casual.

"Aidan was afraid to commit, afraid to lose someone else he loved. While Jamie understood, it hadn’t stopped him from falling."

Jamie isn't willing to push Aidan into a commitment until he can discover how the terrorist Renaud and Aidan's dead husband Gabe are linked. And when more bloodshed touches the partners they are sent undercover, with Jamie becoming a Division II assistant basketball coach in order to solve a case of online sports betting used as a means of identity theft. Once again Layla Reyne does a great job of immersing us into the action while continuing to explore the relationship between Jamie and Aidan. And like the first book in the series, this one ends in a cliffhanger of sorts where the identify theft case is solved, but new information is revealed that brings everyone involved closer to the deadly resolution of the Renaud case.

I love how this installment of the series continues to explore Jamie and Aidan's relationship -
which seemed to have already achieved its happy ending in Single Malt - as it deepens and changes. The plot held my interest every step of the way and I'm looking forward to the final book in the Agents Irish and Whiskey series, Barrel Proof, coming August 7, 2017.

In hindsight, it might be better for me to wait to read this series until the whole stories completed. Only I'm not as patient!

The 2nd entry to Agents Irish and Whiskey series, Cask Strength continued Aidan Talley and Jameson Walker's stab at solving unsanctioned case that had killed Aidan's husband and partner over a year ago. The lead kept leaving casualties left and right; and so - to shake the deadly shadow - their superior assign them new case out of California, going undercover in gambling and identity theft case at Jamie's home-state.

Compared to in Single Malt, here the protagonists had a much more complex relationship and emotionally involved. The hot and cold treatment due to the fear frustrated me at times; but given the author's writing, the pace of the story, and of course the case(s) - yep, I do mean the official and unsanctioned ones - I could overlook the selfish indecision! Layla Reyne is fast becoming another favorite author for me. She could get me to symphatize with this sort of behaviour from mature character! ;-)

That saying, I was quite miffed with these agents for the sloppiness that resulted in the "blackmail" and the bug. I mean, for agents of their calibre - the best in their field office? - that was just beyond careless; making it look like they were underestimating the villains just because they're not some maniac, psycho or terrorist.

I also noticed a pattern on how each entry concluded; throw a new fact there and dangle it for next book. Now, on different author I might resent this sort of ending. Yet somehow with this series - so far - it still works. I for one can't wait for what next installment would bring.


Advanced copy of this book is kindly provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

**Live 5/1**

What I Loved:

I loved the case! The idea of Jamie going undercover as himself back in NC, taking a coaching job like he’s leaving the FBI. It’s completely unrealistic, but still so much fun. Maybe I enjoyed it so much because it reminded me of one of my favorite Nancy Drew Files books, Two Points to Murder, when Nancy takes a case at her boyfriends school, Emerson College, to stop a stalker. I loved Ned Nickerson… anyway, I digress, it had that undercover sporty thing going on and I liked reading Walker questioning his decisions and wondering if he made the right choice when he left the game behind. (Especially with Aiden acting like such a twat.)

Again, I still loved the heat between Aiden and Jamie. Even though Aiden was trying to push Jamie away, not wanting to get hurt again, you could still feel all the need between them. Also, Aiden never lied and said he didn’t have feelings for Jamie, he was upfront in that it was how deeply he cared that was the reason he needed to keep his distance. Their jobs are dangerous and he couldn’t loose another lover. It was very understandable.

Not to repeat myself, but I wish we got more about Danny and Mel. I think I’d like reading that.

What I Struggled With:

Still with that pesky secret. The angst of it was out of control in the second installment, and to be perfectly honest, I’m glad I’m not reading the third and final book until August. I need a break before the big reveal. In part, that’s because I’m dreading it, but it’s also because I just think it’s stupid.

Jamie and Aidan also known as Whiskey and Irish are quickly finding their way to the top of my favorite couple list. Now if you have not read and enjoyed the first book in this series, Single Malt you’ll want to do that before you purchase this book. This is a series that must be read in order. Also if you have not read Single Malt you may find some spoilerish things within this review.
Cask Strength begins five months after Galveston and Jamie is sure that Aidan is trying to kill him. Jamie is head over heels for Aidan and he’s at the point even if he could stop what they have between them he doesn’t want to. Aidan wants to keep things casual so much so that he is doing things that are completely wrecking Jamie emotionally. Aidan’s already lost his husband to a man that is still out there and clearly still after him and his new partner. Aidan has to protect what’s left of his heart and Jamie. Jamie is quickly working his way into the void that that has been in Aidan’s heart since Gabe was killed.
Yes, there is a lot going on here and the entire time you’re reading and loving the second installment in this series you’re waiting for the numerous other shoes to drop. Jamie has to tell Aidan about Project Angel. We also know from the first book that there is something there as to why Jamie left basketball that he has to come clean about. The case they are working in this book puts Jamie back in North Carolina and back on the court as a coach. All sorts of old feelings and desires bubble up. So many shoes waiting to drop, I couldn’t put this book down.
Layla Reyne has a way of hooking the reader. Just like the ending of Single Malt the case here is tidily wrapped up. Our men are at a good happy for now place. One of those shoes drops at the end though and it was loaded for bear. I don’t see this as a cliffhanger but I am dying to get my fingers on the next book, Barrel Proof.

Cask Strength is the second book in the "Agents Irish and Whiskey" series. I would not recommend reading it as a standalone, as a lot of the plot from the first book is continued into this one and you would probably be lost.
Jamie take a hard case that brings him back to his first love and Aidan is right beside him but at this point only as friends. It take Jamie being kidnap for Aidan it admit his feeling for Jamie. But the secret Jamie still carries still may destroy their future together.

RATING: 2.5 out of 5

** THIS REVIEW IS SLIGHTLY SPOILER-Y, PROCEED WITH CAUTION **

I wasn’t happy — strike that, I was frustrated with the relationship drama in this one. I thought both men were being idiot (Aidan’s case) and whiny (Jamie’s case). I am going to rant now — so excuse my language — because Cask Strength was totally NOT what I was expecting the sequel of the promising Single Malt to be, at least in terms of the relationship.

So five months later, Aidan is back to his old ways of being a horndog, refusing to commit to Jamie. He is dating other men, even if he still has sex with Jamie. His reasons? Because he doesn’t want to get close to his “Whiskey”, because people getting close to him tend to be in harm’s way, and he doesn’t want to risk it.

Well, BULLSH*T. They are FBI agents, for God’s sake. Their job can be dangerous in the first place. What kind of a reason is that?! So f*cking lame. Plus I truly disliked Aidan being written a player when just few months ago Aidan was worrying and feeling guilty of jumping into new relationship with Jamie too fast. You know, considering his husband has only recently DIED! What the f*cking wrong with you, Aidan?

Sorry, it was NOT how I pictured Aidan would behave, and it left bitter taste in my mouth. Does Aidan have a complete character surgery somewhere between the release of Single Malt and this one?

Then there was Jamie — smart and competent Jamie — who is sadly being reduced into someone who becomes jealous of Aidan’s other men, then getting extremely upset because he realizes he doesn’t want to share Aidan, and he is falling for the older man … that it sort of interrupting how Jamie do his job. But then Jamie is going undercover, and BAM, there is his ex-lover there, muddling this already complicated relationship with Aidan. It made me want to scream, “Get your head out of your a**, Jamie! For God’s sake!”

Oh, how I am NOT a fan when the relationship drama disturbs the working professionalism *grumbles*. Maybe this kind of supposed to offer angst for readers … but instead of being emotionally engaged, I found myself fuming and wanting to knock some senses to both men instead.

NOT a good reading experience, I tell you. Which is why I have to settle with my low rating.

On a better note — I was kind of intrigued with the gambling/identity theft case involving the basketball players. It was also fun seeing Jamie acting as the assistant coach, even if it was only for undercover and only for a little while.

Things were also moving forward with the other case surrounding the death of Aidan’s husband, Greg, as well as his work partner, Tom. Jamie was able to find more clues and answers — even if it still ended it a big twist! That twist is a great hook to ensure that I will NOT miss book #3 for sure. Let’s just hope that Aidan and Jamie clean up their mess and being a solid couple/partner next time I read them.

5* Loved this continuation of the guys' adventures and romance.

With this book, I've realised that there's been a master plan on this author's part, as there's an underlying arc that's panning out over the three tales in this series. This one ends on a cliffhanger in regards the latter, but not in regards the leads' romance - yay!

I loved how open and honest Jamie/Whiskey was about his attraction to Aidan and his jealousy when the latter insisted on keeping things casual and 'dated' other guys. I loved that Jamie didn't give him an ultimatum per se, but did declare his love, what that meant for him, and to him, and left Aidan to deal with however he interpreted that. I loved that Aidan then saw the light, came clean and admitted his feelings, openly and honestly. I am not quite so sure that he's dealt with his bereavement entirely, though, as that will no doubt come in the reveals in book 3. But, this book leaves the guys in a good place emotionally and trust-wise too, and the sex scenes there were in this were hot, sexy and varied.

There was also yet another storyline in the tale, i.e. it wasn't simply a vehicle to let the guys have time together away from the office and have sex, and it was a good one, too. I could definitely see why these guys would get sent on the mission and the way they dealt with it worked. There was still a few too many tech bits in it for me to fully understand, sorry, but that's my bad, and lots and lots of acronyms to keep up with - a glossary would have been helpful, but hey, it wasn't a deal-breaker.

I can't wait til book 3, but this one has certainly put this author on my 'Authors To Look Out For' radar.

ARC courtesy of Carina Press and NetGalley, for my reading pleasure.