Omg I loved this slow burn tension enemies to lovers book. 4 out of 5 stars for me. 2.5 out 5 chilli peppers on the spice scale for me. What happens is amazing and hot. I would recommend this no end and will be adding the other works to my tbr!

Risk and Whiskey is the third book in the serie and focuses on the relationship between Wesley and Liv two minor characters in the previous books.
.
Both are actors in a television series playing Ares and a sorceress, and for six years they were just friends and for six years Wes hid what he felt and dedicated himself to being by her side as a friend. But when Liv faces press scrutiny for a relationship with a co-worker and their relationship abruptly ends, putting the future of her career on the line, Wes is the one who stands by her side and helps her regain her confidence.
.
Wes becomes essential to her and following him everywhere she realizes that her feelings are more than just of a great friendship.
.
Another book by Dani McLean is another memorable slow burn romance
.
Her characters are so full of color and depth that some of them always stays in my head a bit longer. They both have painful pasts, childhood neglect and the loss of a parent are difficult topics but my heart was completely won over by Wes, the heartbreak and loneliness he felt became more palpable to me. I have a kind of love hate with unrequited love and my heart always goes with the character waiting to be loved
.
A must read if you like slow burn romances, friends to lovers, same work place romance, actors and stage background and all time movie references with a twist of whiskey
.
Thanks to Dani Mclean and Victory editing for give me this beautiful book in exchange for my honest opinion I really enjoyed reading it

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC!

Disclaimer: I have not read the first two in this series: Love & Rum & Sex & Sours.

What a delight this was. I went into this with no expectations except to enjoy a cute lil romcom.
It did not disappoint! I love books with actors/actresses in a fantasy tv series for some reason (I miss GoT, okay?). This was really sweet, but still spicy, with a hell of a slow burn. I could really feel Liz and Wes' connection. The author dealt with emotional issues (family trauma/family death) in a delicate and appropriate way. I may have shed a tear or two. Neither characters' issues overwhelmed them in a way that it took away from their story. I am a cynic, so naturally I was waiting for the third act miscommunication, but it never happened! I could not be happier about that. (WE HATE A MISCOMMUNCATION IN THE THIRD ACT!!!). They both persevered and dealt with their issues in the end, which I wholeheartedly appreciate. I will definitely be picking up the first two in this series ASAP. I wish I would have read the others in the series before this one, so I could have understood the nuances of the already established characters—but it did not take away from my reading experience overall.

Anyways, highly recommend if you're looking for a sweet and spicy contemporary romance!

Wow! This book took me by surprise. I had no idea that this was the third installment in the cocktail series but suddenly I am buying every book Dani McLean has ever written. This had everything I love in a romance. I mean friends to lovers, forced proximity, and not to mention he falls first. Not only was the romance steamy and heartfelt, but the comedy was also top tier. I was audibly giggling while reading this. Wes and Liv were just so easy to fall in love with. Definitely recommending to everyone!

I didn’t realize that this was the 3rd book in a series when I first started reading. If this is to be a stand-alone I feel like a few things needed to be clarified like the setting and timeline. I was so confused when the character just casually mentioned like 3 chapters in that they lived in Chicago.

(Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for a honest review)

Publication date: 24 March 2022
Publisher: Set the Mood Publishing

Plot:

Wesley is the guy who always fakes his feelings for others to be happy, due to his family and how he was raised. That is why he has no problem hiding his true feelings of love for his best friend and co-actor, Olivia and he gets it away with meaningless flirting.
Olivia is tired of being a side character always, her ex boyfriend whom dumped her after they were found out made it a lot worst and her life became transparent for the world to critique. Due to this, Wes and her friendship starts to sink due to the tension.
Their friendship picks up speed and spice the more Wes spends time with Olivia. They talk for hours throughout the night and they have seductive banter which puts them both onto the same spot. Would this hot and passionate romance impact Olivia and her career?

Thoughts:

This is my first book from the author and in the series. This book had the trope of friend/best friends to lovers and I thought the build-up to establish that was quite good because it showed the time needed to full trust one another. Liv and Wes were more honest and open with their feelings over time. I liked how Wes was protective of Olivia and Olivia reciprocated by caring for Wes. The dual POV also made it easier to understand the MC's feelings.
My only dislike for this book was that it was too long so it may make readers skim through instead of reading. The background stories or other characters also felt a little redundant because the focus was taken off from the MCs at times. Overall, an easy and light read.

Thank you again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC for this book!! I really enjoyed this one and absolutely loved the emotional depth that came along with the (rather iconic) spice we all are reading for. I haven’t actually read the others in the series but really didn’t feel like I was missing out, but I’ll be certainly picking them up after this! The chemistry between the two was insane and if the others are anything like that they may just be my new favourite books. A stand out to me was the dual narrative, which in books like this I really appreciate because I want to be inside both of their heads at once!! Really enjoyed my read of this and for sure will be picking up the physical of this.

Risks and Whiskey
by Dani McLean
Pub Date: 24 Mar 2022

Wes and Liv are actors on a hugely popular tv series. He’s been silently crushing on her for six years. Obviously, Wes knows how to be patient. Liv on the other hand can’t wait. Sparks fly between the two on this sizzling friends-to-lovers slow burn romance.

I’ve never read a book by Dani McLean and now I wonder why. Loved Wes. Liz started out sounding immature, or was it just young? I really liked seeing her grow and take ownership of her future. This was such an enjoyable read! I look forward to catching up on Dani McLean’s previously released books.

Thanks to NetGalley and Set the Mood Publishing for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The book centers on the relationship of Olivia and Wesley, two actors of a fantasy tv series. Right from the beginning you get a sense that these two characters are best-friends but Wesley is hip-dip in the friend-zone... After the revelation of Olivia's secret relationship to the show's producer, her world comes crumbling down but, as always, Wes comes to the rescue, a knight in shinning armor bearing hot chocolate with extra marshmallows! I absolutely devoured this book, it is really well writen and the build up to their envolvement is absolute perfection! Usually in a book, you have the story told from one point of view, the main character's; I love the constant back and forth between Wes and Liv's points of view... I found it very refreshing. If there was one book I would like to forget just so I could read it again, this would be a top contender!

It seems that Wesley has loved Olivia for the past six years but has had to accept that she might just simply be a friend. When her relationship with her producer, making the tabloid news and not in a good way, she feels that the only one who understands her is Wesley. When her publicist suggests she should keep a low profile, Olivia decides to take Wesley up on his offer to stay with him in LA, whilst he attends his parents’ wedding anniversary. Yet as they spend time together, Wesley finds it more and more difficult to be just the friend, whilst Olivia begins to feel that maybe there is something more between them, especially when she finds there is no-one else she would rather be with.
I was hooked from the first page, with Wes revealing his feelings at the start but soon realising the situation he was facing when he catches Olivia with the producer. The dual POV was another great facet to the book, where the angst and frustration felt by the two characters is almost a mirror image. I loved the fact that both had such strong feelings for the other but were fearful of losing a friendship. I found Wes to be such a romantic and honourable character, always thinking of Liv before his own intense feelings. Seeing Liv grow in confidence as a consequence of their friendship and romance, was rewarding. Having just finished this book, this will be one that I will definitely reread in the near future. Not having read any of the two previous books, I am so excited to now have a new author to follow.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.