Great story of two people finding themself and love. A lot can happen in New Orleans for Avery and Declan. At the end they have to decide is love worth it.

Moonlight & Whiskey is a rockstar romance taking place in the sultry city of New Orleans. On a vacation from her stuffy job, Avery decides she's going to let her freak flag fly. At home she dresses in unflattering, drab pantsuits - trying to hide the fact that she's a woman in a misogynistic workplace - she hides her real self behind glass walls, not daring to show who she is for fear of losing her job. But in N'Orleans, Avery embraces every inch of her real self. A rocker chick, with a mouth like a sailor, who's looking for some company.

Declan McGinn is the lead singer of BlackSmith. Tall, tattooed, and with a fucked up past. Trouble on legs. And Avery is just his type - "Declan prefers his women as curvy as his guitars".

When she is waiting in the lobby with her best friend Kat and some douche, albeit a hot douche, runs straight into her injuring her ankle she doesn't hold back anything.

"Why don't you watch where the fuck you're going?" I snapped, glancing at the hand on my arm.

"Yeah." He scratch the black stubble on his head as those impossibly green eyes dances under the lobby lights. "Guess I deserve that. I was walking backward, waving at someone - not too bright."

When a bead of sweat ran between my shoulder blades, i flashed an image of his mouth following the same path down my spine. My brows drew together; I was annoyed with my body's reaction. "Perhaps you should give some thought to the other people that inhabit this planet, asshole."

"What? I uh-" He stepped back, eyes widened.

"Tell me, did you just use your entire vocabulary in that last sentence? Because you won't get by on your looks forever, beefcake."

And so begins an amazingly sassy love story between a plus size rocker chic and the tattooed rockstar. What starts out as a vacation fling turns serious faster than they could handle, and after only a week in N'Orleans Avery has some tough decisions to make.

This has become my new favorite standalone romance of all time. I was so surprised how much I loved this. I've never read anything by Tricia Lynne, but that is definitely going to change. This was everything I didn't know I wanted.

I related to Avery so much. I'm also what is considered a plus size woman, working in a male dominated field, so I understand the struggle of trying to hold on to your femininity and not letting people walk all over you. I appreciated that she eventually came to terms with her body issues and gained confidence, although I will say it just barely skirted the line of "the female MC gains body confidence but only because some hot guy told her he thought she was cute".

Declan was hot. You can't get a better love interest than someone irish with tattoos who also happens to be a rockstar. Their love scenes were explosive and dirty, and I appreciated that Tricia went where most romance novels usually don't when it comes to the kink side of things.

There was a great female friendship between Avery and her bestie Kat, their conversations were something I lived for. They were both vulgar and hilarious, and anytime they were in a room together it was sure to have me dying with laughter.

In fact I think the best part about this book was the fact that some scenes were so serious, dark, and gritty but from the beginning this book had me laughing. The balance between the two was such a surprise, and the moments of lightness really made the more serious moments connect more, in my opinion.

We got some insight into Kat's life that I thought was really great. There was amazing discussion about how now that she's not a model she's put on some weight, but that she feels more confident, not less, and I loved that.

I loved all the side characters. I ended up liking Mattie in the end but I have to admit throughout the story his scheming and flirting got on my nerves.

On that note, there were admittedly a few things that annoyed me, but not enough to detract from my rating or overall enjoyment of the story. The first thing that comes to mind is Declan's swift personality change when Avery ended up leaving New Orleans. He seemed like someone who really valued his friends and his business, so the fact that he turned into a drunk and beat up on his friends was just not cool and seemed a bit out of character for him. The other thing was that they were kind of toxic to each other for a lot of the novel. Avery seemed to revel in poking his dark places and seeing how out of control she could make him, he was the same, lashing out when he thought she was going to leave him. The way that they talked to each other, dragging up each other's dirty laundry and airing it for the world to hear was really shitty, if you think about this relationship as something happening in real life.

While these things did vaguely annoy me at times, I will say it did add to the overall drama and tension of the story and I don't think that this book would be what it is without all of these things.

For me the best part of this was that even though they were hooking up, the relationship side of things was "slow burn". The entire time you're screaming in your head at either of the two MC's to just TELL THE OTHER PERSON HOW YOU FEEL ALREADY and when they finally come together...It was amazing.

"I love you, Avery Barrows. With all that I am. Whatever I am, it belongs to you."

"I'm gonna marry you, sweetness. You're gonna be my wife."

"Yes," There was no hesitation. "Can I shave your head?"

I would highly recommend this book, and if this is a series (or becomes one) I will definitely be reading the other books in it.

Fun, sexy story. Love reading about desirable, curvy woman, and how strong and determined they can become. Will definitely read more from this author!

Moonlight & Whiskey is a fabulous debut that is sure both scorch your heart and ignite your very soul. This story shocked my system with its superb realism, sizzling heat, and breathtaking honesty. My heart was utterly shattered, unabashedly cherished, and supremely set aflame. What I found within these pages transformed the way I see people around me. I understand now that there is so much more then will ever be seen at one glance. People are infinitely more complex than any story that will ever be written, but at their heart their needs and desires are all the same. Life sometimes twists us into overly complex people in how we learn to deal with those around us. However, our hearts beat the same and no matter how we fight it, we need each other more then we will ever know.

A simple vacation for Avery Barrows sets her on a life-changing journey that challenges the way she sees herself and opens her heart to the greatest adventure she could ever ask for. Just when she finds herself on the cusp of something new and freeing, Declan Barrows shows her what has been painfully missing. His captivating eyes forever challenge her to push her boundaries while his rough hands savor every delicate inch of her. Unfamiliar with the lavish and overpowering attention of a man with honest intentions, Avery is unsure if she can afford to let her heart lead her down the path that is set before her. Confused and dazed Avery finds herself balancing on a precipice that will either send her barreling towards an ecstasy induced heaven or a painfully bitter heartache. Will Declan be there to catch her when she falls, or will Avery find herself enduring the excruciating pain of moving forward without the powerful presence and gentle care of the enigmatic yet loving Declan.

Declan and Avery took my heart by storm. I wasn’t prepared for them or the power of their story. My heart couldn’t contain everything I felt during this incredible story. It was too big, too complex, and too rich for just one person to house. This needs to be felt and experienced by everything strong enough to endure a real yet rewarding love story firmly rooted in real life. While I enjoy fiction for its innate virtues, my heart thrives on emotions and people and situations that reflect reality moreso then imagination alone. Power is born from vulnerability, and this story celebrates and revels in it. Never be afraid or ashamed of allowing others to see the real you. Only then can we form the deep connections that our very soul needs in order to live and thrive.

Tricia Lynne has created a superb masterpiece that is sure to delight, entertain, and set your very soul on fire! Nothing is as pure and perfect as writing from the depths of your heart, and Lynne has proved that with flying colors. I am completely and totally in love with this book and the marvelous characters that fill it. This author has graced us with a gold standard story, and has raised the bar for other debut authors! I see great things in Lynne’s future, and I am excited to see what she creates next!

This book was a story of personal growth while being raw and real and face melting hot! I loved everything about Avery and Declan's love story. I didn't like the way the book changed POVs more than half way through and then ping ponged back and forth the rest of it. I wish the two views that been made from the beginning or just left Avery only. Regardless, highly recommend this book. 4 chilli peppers of hotness! Thanks NetGalley and Loveswept for the ARC.

MOONLIGHT AND WHISKEY by Tricia Lynne is filled with drama and angst, what a book! The story of Avery and Declan takes place in New Orleans. It has an important message not only to females but everyone about self image. Declan is a lead singer in a rock band and Avery is an engineer in vacation in New Orleans. Definitely a book to read!

Fun, light read - perfect for those needing a break from their typical stories. Some readers may find the main character (Avery) off-putting, but I found her realistic with insecurities common for most women in today's world. Declan is the standard romance figure. Beautifully descriptive without being overwhelming.

*Received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Whew! Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle! Avery and Declan were lit! Loved this book! I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I received an Arc in exchange for an honest review. I really liked the beginning of this book, but as it continued on I started disliking it. I was excited that Avery was a plus size woman and for the most fact they covered some of the issues she went through pretty realistically. I really didn't care about Declan and Avery's relationship by the end of the book. I liked that the author really described New Orleans and you felt as if you were there. I did not like that the sex scenes just became too much and I ended up skimming them.

Avery and Kat are hilarious, I laughed so hard. Declan is sex walking. But to tell you the truth it sounds like the whole band is. The mouth on Avery gets her in trouble more than once. But oh, it's so fun being bad.

I started this book really enjoying the premise and the characters. Avery is insecure about her weight due to prior bad experiences (although from the descriptions in the book, she doesn’t really seem that overweight) and always comparing herself to her best friend who is a former model. She bumps into Declan, a local rock musician, randomly in a hotel and they have an animated conversation that makes you feel the sparks flying around them. Avery and Declan’s relationship was able to develop into something real because they began to communicate with each other about their pasts and emotional/trust issues and, as a result, they connected with each other on a deeper level. I was hooked at that point. However, I did struggle towards the end when both of their insecurities seemed to take over the book, which resulted in massive misunderstandings. I wanted the resolution to happen faster than it did only because, previously in the book, they had talked things out and all of a sudden, there was no talking or trying to understand one another.

There were several side characters, Mattie in particular, that I found even more intriguing and would definitely pick up a book about them.

Overall, I did enjoy the book and I’m glad that I tried a book from an author I had never read before, as I will look for any follow-up books involving this group of characters.

I really enjoyed this read, and am excited about this new author! I loved the characters, the setting, and especially the dialogue. I highly recommend.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I seriously enjoyed this book! I loved the New Orleans setting, loved all the characters and their interactions. It was fun and sexy - my favorite elements for a modern romance. I couldn't put it down! However, this was one of the most poorly edited advance copies I've ever received. I hope the print edition makes all the needed corrections, since I'd so love to be able to recommend this one to friends.

Soul mates. Love is not easy for Avery and Declan but with time and a little help from friends, it happens. Hot sex.

ARC received for review

I read curvy girl and thought about Alexa Riley heroines, but Avery is nothing like them. Declan is all kinds of yummy and the two of them together are HOT! But then they both have to get all angsty. Drama ensues and heartbreak, then best friend to the rescue and HEA. I hope Ms. Lynne has another book planned for Matthais.

I love finding new author's! I am so stoked to have found Moonlight and Whiskey, just waiting on me to devour in a DAY!
This is just the book I was looking for and a new author, which I have been craving. The writing is really fantastic! I am a super smart mouth so I related so much to Avery on so many levels. I am also a curvy girl who loves my curves and have a man who loves them as well. This story is a lesson in self acceptance and loving one's self for exactly who you are. Even the "beautiful people" have self doubt and are always finding some flaw, we all do. When Avery and Declan meet, it is fireworks instantly and I was 100% in. The verbiage used to describe our leads, was spot on, I had a clear mental picture of what Avery and Declan looked like and my imagination went wild.

Avery, is everything we want in a leading lady. She doesn't hold back on much of anything, she says whatever comes to mind and sometimes that gets her into trouble... or asked out.
Declan , is a super hot guy who has no business being attracted to Avery (according to Avery) but oh is he. One touch and the electricity shoots through both of them and there is no denying something is going to happen. Declan, is a super sexy rock singer and so much more.
Explosive does not even begin to cover the fireworks that Avery and Declan share when they decide to give into their shared passion. What is suppose to be a vacation fling is setting up to be something that is so much more. Both are harboring secrets that are eating them up inside. Avery, is afraid to let herself go and just living her best life, free of judgement and consequence. While Declan, has some serious issues with his past and is steadfast in believing, if he falls for someone he will end up just hurting them, so why bother. He never counted on Avery coming into his life.
It is a very interesting story as we see Avery, come into her own and accept herself for the fabulous person she is. She realizes that she is worthy of a good man and respect from her job. NO more is she willing to be the doormat to be walked on, by anyone.
Declan, on the other had is having a tough time figuring out how to come to terms with his feelings for Avery. He feels like he will never measure up to the people in Avery's life. Little does he know, he is far beyond better than the narrow minded people Avery works with.
The author went deep with the supporting cast. Avery's best friend is the best kind of friend. Kat, calls Avery to the mat when she is too hard on herself, she is supportive and hilarious! Kat and Avery, could easily have a series of books written about their adventures. Jamie, Shaun and Mattie are the band members, but each of them play a part in this story that leaves us wanting to know more about them. I want their stories as well. The cast is rich and wonderfully developed.
The Avery and Declan, story gives you angst, humor, sexiness and resolution. It is a fantastic read.
I connected with Avery, in a way I have NEVER connected with another leading lady.

"Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review."

Loved this book very much. It had just enough sweet, sexy romance and the storyline was great! I highly recommend!

For a debut novel this was well written. I found a few spelling errors in the advance copy (engineer spelled wrong) but I can imagine it will be corrected.

The story is really good. It's set in New Orleans and the experiences of sights, sounds, tastes, and smells is truly as the author portrays.
The characters are fun. On vacation they meet some guys and have vacation romance. Getting feelings hurt as they get to know each other was special because they kept learning more about themselves and their lover.

The intimate scenes we're very hot. Declan was very loving. Something special was created in each scene so it seemed real and not merely plugged in.

Nice work. Can't wait for more from this author.

Hmm I wasn't crazy about Avery she kept saying she was this badass b*tch but was constantly whining, her first meeting with Declan was ridiculous she didn't have to go all Rambo to him, I honestly didn't know why he liked her. These two drove me crazy with there back and forth, with holding walls up not making decisions. Please there comes a time in your life that you need to man up and make a firm decision., yes they eventually got back together after both flipping out of two misunderstandings.. I personally liked the secondary characters better. But I doubt I will read the rest..

Originally, I wasn’t going to give feedback but I was so irritated that I wanted to warn other readers. I’m all for equal rights between men and women on all fronts, but I have a hard time reading about women that feel the need to cuss, drink, swagger, yell and fight like a man. We are smarter and better than that. Just because we can doesn’t mean we should. I was excited to finally read about a legit plus size character who loved herself, but Avery seemed more damaged than happy.

I was provided an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.