Review: Single Malt (Agents Irish and Whiskey #1) by Layla Reyne

The heart’s a resilient beast

Eight months after the car crash that changed everything, FBI agent Aidan Talley is back at work. New department, new case and a new partner. Smart, athletic and handsome, Jameson Walker is twelve years his junior. Even if Aidan was ready to move on—and he's not—Jamie is off-limits.

Jamie's lusted after Aidan for three years, and the chance to work with San Francisco's top agent directly is too good to pass up. Aidan is prickly—to put it mildly—but a growing cyber threat soon proves Jamie's skills invaluable.

Jamie's talents paint a target on his back, and Aidan is determined to protect him. But with hack after hack threatening a high-security biocontainment facility, time is running out to thwart a deadly terrorist attack. They'll have to filter out distractions, on the case and in their partnership, to identify the real enemy, solve the case and save thousands of lives, including their own.

Or ALL THE HEARTS EVER!!!!

I really wanted to be eloquent with this review. I wanted to do the writing justice with a symbiotic review that really explained how much I adored this book. I wanted to do a lot of things, say a lot of things but the only thing that comes to mind now that I’ve got fingers to the keyboard is… FUCK. You know, that four letter word can be used in so many ways and I used it over and again while reading this. The romance? Fuck. The mystery? Fuck! The emotions? Fuck. The intimacy? Fuck… me. Yeah. That word is perfect and while it’s a bit vulgar, it’s what simply comes to mind when I think of what I just read.

I’ll admit, when I first read the blurb for this the nicknames are what caught my eye, I am a sucker for them but the reminiscence of one of my favorite couples who just happen to be in the FBI and partners while being secret lovers made me jump up and volunteer for it. I could not have trusted my instincts more with this story. It was amazing, just so good and while I mentioned the similarity to that couple from another series… the chemistry with Jamie and Adrian blows them out of the water. If you know what I mean, then you know what I mean. You know?

Anyway.

Told from the dual POV’s (Thank Gawd!) of Secret Agents Adrian “Irish” Talley and Jameson “Whiskey” Walker, we are brought into the story 8 months after a tragic accident took the life of not only Adrian’s partner, but also his husband. Adrian is beside himself as he deals with his loss but when his sister in law and boss, arrives to give him his new assignment and new partner, Adrian is ready to get back to work though hesitant to be around Walker. Of course Adrian lets us in on the numerous reasons why he is hesitant but once they are on the same page together? I just wanted to smoosh them together and make them kiss. It was way too early but a girl can hold out for the right moment.

Let me get this out and say the UST with this book is palatable. You can feel it, you can taste it and you so want it to come to a point where they give in because you need it as much as they do. Phew… is it hot in here? Does anyone have a fan?

Again… anyway.

Adrian fancies the young and talented FBI Agent/Ex-Basketball champion/hacker that is Jamie and Jamie has had a crush on Adrian for three years but always respected his marriage. These two, they have chemistry that Walter White would envy (don’t roll your eyes at me!) but the respect they have for one another as partners and as professionals is what really matters. You can’t have a romance if you don’t have respect and these two, they are just so wonderful. I adored being in both their POV’s and I think it helped the story that we got both Adrian and Jamie as they not only worked the on and off the book cases but as they worked out their feelings for one another.

Oh Adrian, my poor fellow clueless ginger who hides his fire. What am I going to do with you aside from getting you drunk on bourbon so you can loosen up and ask the right questions? I loved your dedication to your marriage, to being a widower and honoring the memory of Gabe and the life you shared with him. I ached for you loss on your anniversary and yet turned into a puddle at what happens with Jamie. I felt the pull as you tried to fight it and boy your jealousy when it comes to Whiskey was off the charts hot. Dude, growling is always hot when you are basically marking your territory around your man. Just saying. But ultimately, you are an amazing and honorable man who loves family and fears losing what you love. You’ve lost so much already that I get compartmentalizing your emotions, but Jamie… he is so worthy.

Now, Jamie. Good lord how could I not adore you? You are the quintessential computer nerd/hacker with the natural athletic ability to make anyone jealous and yet you are as humble as pie. You are such a southern gentleman with amazing way of describing someone eyes that it’s no wonder men and women fall at your feet. It’s a shame the women don’t catch on that you are only into men, but it’s a blessing that you get to spend more time with Adrian and make him really see you.

Wow. This one has me rambling but I haven’t even said anything.

Let me get to the point. This story is amazing. The writing is stellar. The romance is ridiculously swoon worthy and the mystery is superb. I was impressed by all the twists and turns both cases the men are working on and how they were all coming together. I loved reading all about Jamie and what he not only did for the FBI but in his own personal hacker time. The man truly is talented with those fingers of his and I loved getting more of Adrian’s family as well. Danny was amazing and Mel, as Adrian’s sister in law/boss/late husband’s sister was one hell of a bad ass woman. The action sequences in this were cinematic and the emotions had me on edge. I was either gasping in shock, rage or pure lust with this book and I loved every damn page of it.

As I write this, I realize that I have a stupid amount of highlights and notes and haven’t used a single one. I think I will keep it that way because I am not ready to share yet. Sorry. I am greedy when it comes to these two and all that they are becoming to one another.

I will say that this book blew me away and THIS. IS. ROMANTIC. So romantic and so action packed and layered that I can’t get enough. That end??? HOLY SHIT! My mouth hung open as I read it and knew I needed the second book immediately. I am a bit sad seeing as there are only three books listed – as of now - for this series as this is one I could read long term.

And before I forget, that title is amazing. OMG is it amazing. According to my late father, a second generation Scottish American, the single malt is a myth. It is in fact a blended whiskey, but a special blend from a single distillery. Giving Jamie two names referencing the amber liquor and giving him the two “lives” of the high profile basketball player and the hide in the basement cyber hacker FBI agent blending into the single man was done brilliantly. Adding in the title of Single Malt and you have me applauding. Bravo, dear author. Bravo.

Wow.

Le Sigh and Le Unf.

I’ll stop my rambling and end with this.

Single Malt… Agents Irish and Whiskey… The Romance… The Intrigue… It was perfect. I want more. Hit me again, bartender.


A copy provided via Netgalley for an honest review.

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