4.5 Stars so rounding up to 5

I’ll get the necessities out of the way first. This book is not a standalone…at the very minimum you need to read the first books in this series and as I stated in my review of book one in this series, I really think you need to read the Irish and Whiskey series as those characters play a pretty big role here.

OK…on to the meat of the review…I do so love Cam and Nic especially when they’re working together out in the open. I love that they don’t hide their relationship. These guys continue to work the case involving Nic’s father, his death forcing Nic to give Cam the full story of his past. Said past comes roaring back to the present and nearly drops Nic to his knees a couple of times. I am not a fan of angst, so I was thrilled to see Nic quickly dispel Cam’s insecurities and jealousies when they reared their ugly heads a couple of times. Their relationship is as strong as ever…still full of the palpable emotional and sexual chemistry we’ve come to expect from them. I think Nic might still hedge Cam slightly as my favorite of the two but it’s a close call…they both can be sweet and then turn into a bada$$ at the drop of a hat.

We meet a character that was only mentioned in passing previously but his appearance sets up nicely for future books. I would also like to see a story/series with Eddie.

I like that these guys got their HEA but am as sad to see this series end as I was the Irish and Whiskey series end. I wouldn’t complain about more from all of those characters!

Noble Hops is well-written and moves along at a steady pace, the characters are interesting, and there are plenty of questions answered in this finale. However, it ended up being just an okay read for me. There's suspense, and the author throws plenty of twists in there, but much of the story requires a little too much suspension of disbelief, and the mystery aspect fell a bit flat. On the romance side of the story, Nic and Cam certainly have chemistry, but given their professions, they're surprisingly insecure in their relationship. Some of that can be allowed for the required angst in a romance, but it wore a little thin. In the end, the story was good enough for me to want to finish it, but it isn't something I'll be thinking about days from now. This is the third in a continuing series and does not stand on its own.

The final book in the Trouble Brewing series had everything I've been both waiting for and dreading. From the moment Nic got the call, my heart was in my throat.

The final revel of the entire story behind the GS tattoo and Nic's troubled family life was all the more heartbreaking from three books of leading up to it. Even though I KNEW everything would work out, my heart broke for Cam as he struggled not to feel like everything he wanted and had fought for was slipping away.

Although the suspense elements were even stronger in this book than the first two (which I was expecting because the last book of the Whiskey and Irish series was the same), I didn't feel like it overshadowed Nic and Cam's relationship. Instead, it gave the threat even more power because they had something to lose.

As always, it was good to see all the characters from the Whiskey and Irish books back, especially with the way they make up Nic's "found family." Noble Hops was a very bittersweet but satisfying end to the series.

If you’re a fan of m/m romance, then I highly recommend author Layla Reyne. She writes some amazing books. Noble Hops is the third and final book in the Trouble Brewing series, which is an off-set of the Agents Irish and Whiskey series. I loved all of the Trouble Brewing books, but Noble Hops definitely deserves all the stars (I gave it 5 on Goodreads). I think Nic and Cam make an amazing team, both professionally and personally. I’m really bummed this is the final book in the series – maybe we’ll get a short story or two? A girl can hope.

What’s great about Noble Hops and the others in the series is that while there is a romance, there is also a lot of action and mystery. If you’re new to m/m romance, or don’t like just romance books, then I recommend all of these because you really do get a nice mix of genres! Noble Hops is a wonderful finale to the trilogy. These are books you’d want to read in order, as they not only follow Nic and Cam, but a larger story/mystery also connects them all. I thought everything came together really well, and I was definitely satisfied with the ending.

Highly recommend! If you haven’t seen them already, I also reviewed books 1 and 2 in the series: Imperial Stout and Craft Brew.

Suspense Filled, Family and True Love...an excellent book. The story of Nic and Cam is full of everything good a book should be. The love between them is palpable.

ARC provided via NetGalley for an honest review

I absolutely love Nic and Cam. This was a really good wrap up of this story. I love the MCs dynamics and holy crap when Garrett came back into the picture talk about a left curve in the story. I was hoping there would be a bit more of a splash in the last of the story, than Vaughn's karma and boy was there. It's always family drama, though.

The chunk of this story from the blurb was a bit misleading, however. The discovered family bit really only came in what seemed to be the last half of the book, if not later. I wish it had happened earlier or maybe it's just the pacing of the story. And it seemed to be more drama than any more development or relations with Nic and Cam

I was so ready to see Vaughn go down in this because he has been the slimiest bad guy in this story. More than even his father who was a jerk. So I was really happy when he got his just deserts. To that end, even though surprises were family related, I wish there was a bit more flushing out of Nic and his new family development. If not, there better be a 4th novel where someone becomes a father!

Loved it to bits!

This has been a wonderful series, and this was a great ending to Cam and Nic’s story. The story was action packed, with twist and turns along the way that kept you on your toes. The story of Nic’s past has been building throughout, and it comes full circle in this final installment of this series. I absolutely loved all the tattoos of Nic’s, and how they told his life story. Being able to finally get the full picture of the meanings behind all his tattoos, helped click the last pieces of the puzzle in place.

I truly loved the chemistry that built between Cam and Nic throughout the series, but in this book, it was truly special. They had finally committed to their relationship fully, and they were so in sync with each other. The romance between Cam and Nic was intense, and just looks and simple touches between the two was sexy. I also really enjoyed the “family” aspect of not just Cam and Nic, but others within their circle of friends and now family. Being able to re-visit with Aidan and Jamie, as part of their work team, but also their family was great! I really hope we’ll get another opportunity to re-visit with these characters as they have just been a lot of fun, and I know I will miss them!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5 stars
🔥🔥🔥🔥 Heat Level: 4 (keeps getting hotter!)

So many twists! Smashing end to the series!! OMG, just awesome!

I loved Cam & Nic! From the start their chemistry is amazing! I haven’t yet read the Agents Irish and Whiskey series these characters are originally from but I didn’t really feel like of was missing anything (other than their meet-cute). They are dynamic and masculine characters with so much heart!!

This story solves ALL the questions and I didn’t seem many of these twists coming! As with the first 2 books, it has its thrills and cases, underlying the story but in this book, all the stories/cases come to a head.

Layla does an amazing job incorporating romance and suspense perfectly! This book was the thrilling climax to an awesome spin-off series and the perfect HEA for Cam and Nic! I loved it!!

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In order to bring all the mystery and suspense elements together (as a final book), romance has to suffer. We've already established how much this pair care for each other, so it wouldn't have been a good idea to have them doubt and angst. Therefore, the plot focuses on solving the drama around Nic's father's dodgy existence, and Cam is left to be there as support, as backup, as the partner he truly is.

I love all the twists and turns. It's a great action packed read, and worth the wait to see the terrific resolution. All together now 'awwww'.

Satisfying conclusion to a thriller series. Thanks Netgalley and publishers. Due on Feb 11.

4.5 Stars! This is the 3rd book in the Trouble Brewing Series and I don't recommend reading it as a stand alone since the main plot is a continuation from book 1. However, I do highly recommend the whole series so if you haven't read book one start there!

I took .5 stars off because I wanted just a little more romance in this book because I can't get enough of Cam and Nic. The whole crew is together and working hard to bring Vaughn down and I really enjoyed watching Nic in full attorney mode building his case and going before the grand jury.
Most of this book was focused on the case and Nic's past coming back into play. I enjoyed both aspects immensely but I would have still liked a few more intimate moments between Cam and Nic. However, the moments we did get were fantastic and I loved that these two were there for each other and even when a few insecurities or doubts would creep in they were quickly put to rest.

This book had plenty of suspense and action along with a few twists (although I saw most of them coming). It was still exciting and kept me reading late into the night to finish. The loose ends were all tied up nicely and the last couple chapters gave us a wonderful HEA.

I hope this isn't the last we see of this world as I can easily see a Eddie/Garrett pairing :)

I highly recommend this book and the series as a whole

Review posted 10th February,2019 at the sites in the links section

NOBLE HOPS was a great mix of mystery, intrigue, action and romance. It was also the perfect ending to this great series.

Cam and Nick finally went head-to-head with the big bad Vaughn in this book. I have been waiting for this to happen since Book 1 and literally screamed with excitement when I was approved for this ARC but, as with final books in a series, there were a lot of expectations going in and fears that they might not be met. I am therefore very glad to report that this fully met all my expectations.

The resolution of the investigations into Vaughn was not as straightforward as you would expect(duh. lol) and I was grateful for it. It was exciting, action-filled and meandering with inter-connecting characters, past acquaintances, lovers and backgrounds that was super satisfying to discover. Concerning the mole-situation, it was a bit obvious as to who they were but, how the people were forced to come out was brilliant. I can't imagine it going any better.

Cam and Nick were fantastic together (both in and out of bed). They made each other better by encouraging strengths and being there for one another through their times of need. It was a true partnership and I loved reading about it. I just wished there had been more of them "romancing" out of bed though.

Overall, I would say this book ended the series beautifully with no loose ends and lingering questions.

Now I have one request for Layla Reyne. Can we please get a pairing between Eddie the bad boy Coast Guard and (view spoiler). It would be awesome!

Loved this final installment of Nic and Cameron's story. With their relationship on what seems like solid ground and most of their family issues dealt with these two are hoping for a little peace and quiet in life. Yeah, not going to happen! When Nic's father dies suddenly their peaceful existence is shattered as secrets, lies, and danger come to light. This story is much more action/suspense than romance but a fantastic piece to their story. I highly recommend you read the first two books in the series to really get to know these characters before diving into this one. It's a great series of books that you don't want to miss.

Nic and Cam are one of those couples where things just make sense because they both work hard at making sure the other one has everything they could need to be successful in their jobs and their personal lives. It was a refreshing take on romance that I have not seen very often. In addition to the romance, this is a mystery trilogy and I felt like the overarching case was resolved well and with an exciting ending. This finale to the trouble brewing series offered a great wrap up to what's been haunting Nic and his family as well as who's been selling out the San Francisco DOJ cases from inside the FBI and the US Attorneys Office.

<b>4.5 stars- Sad to see the end, but what a great ending it was</b>

As much as I’m sad to see this spin-off trilogy close, Noble Hops met all my expectations and more. Most definitely not a standalone, the book quickly jumps into the thick of things and grabbed my attention immediately. I loved seeing the pieces fall in place, as the case against Vaughn came to a head, the moles were revealed, and Cam and Nic’s future was cemented.

Though I anticipated a lot of my questions would be answered in Noble Hops, I was still surprised by many of the twists and reveals that came Nic and Cam’s way. All of these plot points came together to create a really exciting and satisfying conclusion. As with the rest of this and the Agents Irish and Whisky series, the action scenes and quick pacing were on point, keeping me engaged cover to cover and waiting for the next move. And of course, I loved seeing all of the team working this final case together. That close connection they’ve formed over the multiple series was palpable and a gratifying way to say goodbye to one of my very favorite groups of characters. If you’re a fan of romantic suspense novels, the Trouble Brewing series is one I’d easily recommend.

I’ve mentioned – several times now – how much I enjoyed Ms. Reyne’s first series, Irish & Whiskey, and how I though her spin-off Trouble Brewing series could turn out to be even better. With the series now complete, I can confidently say that it is better. One note for new readers – this is not a standalone!

It’s hard to do a summary of this book without referring to the events of the previous two – or giving any spoilers! The first book in the series set up Cam and Nik’s relationship, the second dealt with Cam’s demons from the past, so it makes sense that the third book would finally explore Nik’s past (his “mess” and tangle of regrets) and wrap up the Vaughn storyline once and for all. Who is the mysterious GS that Nik has tattooed on his back, and will finally revealing all of his secrets to Cam make their relationship stronger or tear them apart?

“You are a good boyfriend,” he whispered against his lips. “I wouldn’t want to go through this with anyone else, or alone.” That’s what the old Nic would have wanted, but the one holding Cameron Byrne’s hand, the one who knew he had someone to call, someone to tell his story to, someone to go home to after a no good horrible day, wanted this man with him, always.
Cam’s dark, heated eyes stared back at him. “I’m with you, baby.”


One of my favorite parts of romance novels is how, ideally, the relationship between the main characters makes them stronger, better versions of themselves than they are apart. Ms. Reyne does this beautifully, and honestly, while the suspense plot is excellent as always, it’s the nuances of Cam and Nik’s relationship that keep me coming back for more. With Nik dealing with the death of his father and his grieving process – or lack of it – Cam is an amazing rock and knows exactly when to push and when to let Nik be. My favorite part was, when Nik is trying to figure out, after being raised as an only child, how to deal with his new-found family, he emulates how Cam interacts with his family. It was a delightfully sweet moment and just one more example of how well they complement each other. They’re very much an established couple by this point in the series, and while there are tests to their relationship – mostly due to Nik’s need to protect Cam, and, well, everyone – they’re dealt with quickly.

“But they weren’t safe. Not since he’d gone after Vaughn, hastening the inevitable confrontation. He hadn’t thought there was anyone but trained professionals in the line of fire, and hell, he’d tried to keep them out of it for over a year.”


The suspense plot focuses more on Nic’s work as the AUSA this time, though we do get to see Cam in action, as well. It was a nice change from previous books, and it was wonderful to watch him build the case to take down Vaughn one piece at a time. The department moles are also ferreted out and exposed – no surprises there, though I found the reveal immensely satisfying due to how awful one of them was. While I expected the plot to be pretty predictable – there’s been a lot of breadcrumbs laid down in previous books – there were actually a few twists and turns that were pleasantly surprising. Living in the SF Bay Area, I was also pleased to see some references to southern Silicon Valley (shoutout to Morgan Hill!).

I’m hoping my suspicions are true and that the hints of a new couple in this book materialize into a new series. While I’ll miss Cam and Nic, I’m more excited than ever for wherever Ms. Reyne goes next!

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

*~~*ARC kindly provided to me for an honest review *~~*

- Review to come

Review originally posted on my blog with added content on Mikku-chan / A world full of words

A fast paced action filled romance that features 2 strong alpha males. Cam and Nic have weathered alot but together they are unstoppable. Murder, kidnapping and death threats abound but the guys handle it with style and strength. Also add some signature beer and all is right in their world. A great read.

Exciting, dangerous and set in the Bay Area! What more could you want? Cam and Nic are an awesome power couple and surrounded by the best family ever!

Cam and Nic are doing their best to make their relationship work. But life keeps getting in the way. So close to nailing the bad guy and his mole(s). Discovering that the two of them together make things happen and that with their trusted friends and colleagues they are unstoppable.

Nic and Cam finally get their happy ending. Not without bad guys, intrigue, a little blood, a dead father, and a family found. Cam creates the perfect brew for his man in what I’m assuming is the final book of this series. The two of them together work, although I felt that their relationship was secondary in this book. I’m not against action at all, I just would of liked more one on one time with them. I did enjoy their story.

3.5 Stars

“Noble Hops” is the finale to the “Trouble Brewing” series and here the fairly dormant villain introduced at the start of the trilogy finally made a move. As the case against the villain and his cohort had been developing - albeit slowly - since “Trouble Brewing” and our heroes had suspects in mind, it’s safe to say this entry served as the ultimate closure and tying up some loose ends. Which naturally was done, with a twist.

The action-packed, fast-moving pace tale was told alternately from Cam and Nic’s POV. It started at a sprint and didn’t let up until the end. As I mentioned earlier, Cam and Nic actually had predicted the culprit of the crime - it was the matter of gathering evidence and proved they were the guilty parties. Which bring me to part that rather frustrated me. Without being too spoilery, while the majority of time the good guys intentionally did/said things to trap the mole(s), they were (also) taken off-guard once too many by the villains in this book. I also thought - although they were illustrated as ruthless crime lord - the thorn in Nic’s backside weren’t portrayed that cruel and cold-blooded here. One could say what started the whole thing had been a misguided romantic sense..

On the romance front, much as Cam and Nic’s relationship developing into an open and IMPROVED one, that uncertainty still struck our MCs in unfortunate times had me gritted my teeth. In all fairness, with the past they had, it lent a credible situation in a fairly new relationship. And they were rather adorable when they had their moments. But I swear these duo could be ridiculously over the top with their insecurity at times - I mean, they were practically the top honchos of their respective office! Have more confidence, why doncha!!

Rants aside, I quite liked “Noble Hops,” especially the extended side characters on the good people camp. There were two characters that particularly intrigued me (both were people from Nic’s “past lives”) and I dearly wish they’d get their own stories sometimes. Here’s hoping.


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