Whiskey Wednesdays

Another great addition to the Palm Springs Poolside series.
Single dad retired hockey player - sign me up!
I loved both 'Belly' and Connor, but little Elodie definitely stole the show.
Crossing my fingers for a Titus book next 🤞🏻

Net Galley has been dishing me TONS of good reads lately. Whiskey Wednesdays was just another banger. It was engaging with likable characters who are a little hot-tempered, but smart and they always try to do the right thing. The main female character, Isabella, runs into her father’s employer on his estate, who’s a single dad and a newly retired Canadian hockey player. Pretty spicy scenes, with laugh-out-loud funny moments and discussions about adult toys and strange sexual fetishes. Mental illness, death of a parent, and terminal illnesses are discussed, but no serious triggers. Loved the supporting characters, Elodie the little girl, and especially Titus. Great addition to this series! Big fan of all J.L. Brannick's books!

I was kind of surprised by this. It had a slightly different vibe that I was expecting. First of all, the communication when is comes to sexual activities in this book was the most I’ve ever seen. I love that Connor wanted to know what she liked and help her try new things in a safe/comfortable way. I think because of this it made it feel very cozy and warm. So cute and very dirty spice.

The character development is good and the spice is spot on. The writing is compelling and narration is gripping. I loved the description of Hockey. And the back stories of each character were poignant. I felt connected to the characters. The book has perfect balance of spice, mystery and romance. It has twists too.

Connor McCoy is a retired hockey player and single Dad. Elodie is his five year old daughter and she is so cute. While, Isabella Cruz has come to visit her father and finish her Master’s in physical therapy. Her father works for Connor as his landscaper and property manager. There was a lot of misunderstanding between Connor and Isabella but eventually they begin to understand each other. Connor is a good listener, wise and a patient man. Isabella is fierce, loyal and protects her dignity at all cost. When they come together, their bond was unbreakable and I love how little Elodie added such a special moments in their life. I loved how Elodie connected with Isabella, her father and their cat. I loved every bit of it. The spice, chemistry and bond between the characters is so heartwarming. Loved friendship between Titus and Isabella too.


I am grateful to the Author, Publisher and Netgalley.

Blimey, what a ride! This book was such a joy. The fun bounced off the page. Isa is excellent and joyful, kind and deserving of the best. The plot is addictive and I struggled to put it down. The frequent sex and dirty talk were well-written and suited the plot. The community of friends and family members added to what was going on with Isa breaking down walls to be a great friend.
I just loved this fresh modern read.

Lots of spice in this one🌶 It had a great storyline, and lovable characters. If hockey romances are your thing, you will love this one! Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Rating:
Spice:

JL Brannick as done it again. Whiskey Wednesday is 3rd book in the Palm Springs Poolside series. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

This book is about Isabella and Conner. Conner is a retired hockey player and Isabella a PA. They meet through Isabella’s dad who works at Conner’s home. Conner is a single dad to Elodie and is in the process of sorting out his past. Isabella ends up being a PA for Conner’s team, befriending Elodie and the hockey team. From here let the romance commence.

Conner and Elodie have strong chemistry and the sexual chemistry is off the charts hot. Throughout this story you watch Conner falling in love and saving his family. In turn Isabella is falling in love while growing up and finding herself. The fun of this story comes with Elodie. She is so sweet and plays matchmaker with Isabella’s dad. There are so many great side characters new and old, it was hard to put this book down.

What to Expect:
💛Age Gap
💛Close Proximity
💛Alpha Male
💛A Single Dad
💛Retired Hockey Player
💛Hot and Spicy
💛Heartwarming

Thank you to Net Galley and the author for this ARC.

Quick Summary: Isabella Cruz is your typical PA student - overworked and underpaid. When she takes a clinical rotation in California to be closer to her dad she meets his employer, Connor McCoy. Connor is a retired hockey play, a single dad, and Isa thinks he’s pretty awful. After falling in love with his daughter, Elodie, Isa starts to spend more time than she’d like with Mr. McCoy. They soon find that there are some things that are just inevitable.


My thoughts: After a bit of a slow start, this book really found its groove as Isa and Connor’s relationship developed. Titus, Javy and Elodie add so much love and joy to the story and the way they support the people they love is really well-written. I am a sucker for a book with well-incorporated friendships and familial relationships. There’s just enough angst/drama in this to keep you guessing without it feeling like too much. Isa is a strong, smart, well-written FMC and the story allows for her to be all that she is without it seeming forced.

There are quite a few side characters that I would have understood better if I’d read the first 2 books I the series but its definitely a good stand-alone read and I’ll be interested in reading what ones next (Hopefully with Titus…)

Connor a grumpy single dad could not care less when he ran into Isabella, his house keepers daughter. When Connor’s 5 year old daughter Elodie came to live with him full time he asked Isabella’s father to be her nanny. Connor and Isabella are total opposites but see each other often with forced proximity. I absolutely loved reading this book, Isabella is an independent woman close to graduating with her PA degree and doesn’t want anything or anyone to get in her way. She knows exactly what she wants and works hard to get it. Connor is a rich billionaire that has every materialistic thing in the world and smart mature daughter but has a ton of baggage in his past relationship. I enjoyed Javy and Bella’s father daughter dynamic, they have a close relationship and it was so heartwarming! This book had good level of spice that I enjoyed, I highly recommend reading this!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you @netgalley and @booksirens for this ARC copy!!

Pub date: 1/24 🗓️

I love this series series! The Palm Springs poolside series is such a fun, sexy series, and I was super excited to be able to review Whiskey Wednesdays by J.L. Brannick. Connor is a haughty ex-hockey player and Isabella is the smart and sassy daughter of Connor’s landscaper. This was really sexy, with a little bit of kink. Isabella is an awesome FMC - a fun enemies-to-lovers story!

4.5 stars. Whiskey Wednesdays comes out 24 January 2024, so be sure to mark your calendars if you enjoy age gap, spicy sports romance books with a hilarious, smart and strong female protagonist.
Although this is the third book in the Palm Springs series, it does stand on its own and interacts with the previous book characters kind of sporadically so the setting still managed to feel new and I really enjoyed that.
The tension between Isa and Connor was on another level from the beginning! I absolutely loved Isa's personality and temperament, I could relate to her so easily. I really enjoyed seeing the way Connor pursued her, he wasn't shy about it and even went to her dad to let him know he was serious *swoon*. I also really liked how the friendships she managed to make didn't feel forced or superficial, they each seemed to have their own backstory that I enjoyed.
J.L. Brannick did an amazing job at bringing each personality to life, no one person was the same or felt like their stories were copy pasted, each person feels very genuine. I already have my eye on who the next installment will be about, so I'm excited to see who Brannick chooses to expand on in this universe.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In J.L. Brannick's captivating novel, "Whiskey Wednesdays," Connor McCoy, a hockey player known as "The Hammer," crosses paths with Riley Johnson, an intern at his hockey team, in a turbulent and unexpected way. Riley's initial encounter with McCoy is less than ideal, marked by abrupt orders, interruptions, and a near-arrest for felony burglary. Despite her initial aversion to McCoy's rough exterior, she finds herself unable to avoid him when he hires her father to be his daughter's nanny. As Riley navigates her internship and her father's new job, she discovers a different side to McCoy. Beneath his gruff demeanor lies a passionate and intense man who ignites a fire within her. Their connection deepens, and they find themselves exploring the boundaries of their desires, both in and out of the bedroom. However, their relationship is not without its challenges. McCoy's troubled past and their vast differences threaten to tear them apart. Additionally, Riley's growing friendship with McCoy's hockey team adds another layer of complexity to their dynamic. "Whiskey Wednesdays" is a compelling journey of love, passion, and self-discovery. Brannick skillfully weaves together moments of humor, steamy romance, and emotional depth, creating a story that will keep readers captivated from beginning to end. With its well-developed characters, engaging plot, and sizzling chemistry, this novel is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance.

Whiskey Wednesdays is the third book in the Palm Springs Poolside series. Single Dad Hockey Romance— say less! Isa can’t seem to escape Conner, her dad’s boss, especially now that her dad is his daughter’s nanny! Forced proximity seems to push them together over and over again. Elodie, Conner’s daughter, is definitely a favorite for me! She forms a great bond with Isa and her dad that just melts the heart. While there is this sweet connection, this book is also filled with spice! There is a great chemistry between Conner and Isa and it makes it all the more exciting to read!

If you are looking for a book filled with drama, love, and passion, check out Isa and Conner’s story! I couldn’t not put it down and it left me wanting more in this series.

I love this little series set in Palm Springs. A big part of loving this book is that I had Aunts who lived in Palm Springs growing up. My family and I as I got older I would go there often. This book just brought so many memories back.

Connor is a retired hockey player who is now a single dad of five year old Elodie. Connor can be a bit grumpy at times but aren’t we all. He is also part owner of a hockey team. Isabella aka as Isa as she has come to Palm Springs to finisher her Master’s degree in Physical Therapy. She is working at a local clinic and also as an intern for the hockey team. Connor and Isa meet while she working with the hockey team. As time goes by and sparks fly, Connor and Isa slowly get to know each other which may be good or bad. As Connor and Isa’s relationship begins Isa is very reluctant as is an arrogant Connor but things turn around as Connor slowly becomes less grumpy and arrogant. Connor starts to let Isa into his life and she meets his daughter whom she finds sweet and adorable. As time goes by Connor finally admits that he has been infatuated with Isa since he met her but she wanted nothing to do with him. Connor with the help of Isa’s father, who works for Connor, were able to turn things around. Connor and Isa relationship grows and they become blissfully happy.

The chemistry was amazing especially when they gave into their attraction for each other. It was nice to see this relationship evolve even with a 10 year age gap between Connor and Isa. This was a fun book to read.

Thank you Netgalley, Smart Mouth Publishing LLC and J.L. Brannick for the ARC.