Review: Craft Brew (Trouble Brewing #2) by Layla Reyne

Assistant US attorney Dominic Price is staring down the barrel of his father’s debts. The bull’s-eye on his back makes him a threat to everyone he cares about, so when his lover wants to go public with their relationship, he bolts. Not because he isn’t in love—he can’t stomach the thought of putting Cam in danger.

Kidnap and rescue expert Cameron Byrne is determined to figure out what trouble Nic is running from, but devastating news from home brings him back to Boston and to the cold case that has haunted his family for two decades. Shoving aside his pride, he calls Nic for help.

Together they search for answers, navigating the minefield of Cam’s past. But when they get too close to the truth, Cam must use every skill in his arsenal to save the man he loves…before it’s too late.


It’s not a surprise that I loved this, it just took me longer to get to it. That’s my issue, not the book.

Craft Brew picks up where Imperial Stout left off with Nic and Cam together in bed, but Nic not ready to go public with their new relationship. Doing what Dominic Price does best, he takes a job in San Diego to run away from the intimacy with Cam that is moving as fast as Jamie Walker behind the wheel of any car. Nic is scared but Nic soon realizes that it takes more energy to be lonely than to be in love.

Cam is steadfast in what he wants from Nic and though he has questions about the untold stories inked on his lover’s body, he knows Nic is worth the wait. It’s just a shame that the goons that are after Nic’s dad can’t leave these two alone long enough for them to get a proper reunion. It’s also a shame that Cam gets a call from home with news about his mom’s health that pulls these two apart one again.

As I read and adored the Irish and Whiskey series, this echoes the formula of putting the couple together only to pull them apart. Another favorite author of mine is famous for doing this and while I really wanted Cam and Nic to be together on every single page, I also know it’s not how the world works and wouldn’t fit the men at all. Also, I will admit that having Cam leave for Boston and having Nic say he would go and just getting the feelings so deep with these two, made me swoon.

Craft Brew feels more intimate and personal for me than Imperial Stout and of course I have reasons for that which tie into the title but you’re probably over me doing all that explaining so I’ll skip it. Just know that craft brews are small, independent and traditional. Those three words alone can really describe not only the romance between Nic and Cam but also the family these two have created with the Talley’s. Oh and key points of a craft brew include: aroma, mouthfeel, appearance and flavor… toss your mind into the gutter with me for a moment and just think where those can be applied? You with me? Good.

“You rescue lost people for a living. Is it any wonder you found me?”

So, Cam is in Boston with his family after his mother has a heart attack. Being back is bittersweet for Cam because while he loves his family, he’s falling hard for Nic and his mind keeps wandering back to the US District Attorney and all he’s becoming to Cam. When Cam gets a chance to see his mother, she makes a request that Cameron can’t refuse, even if it means digging up old wounds and the chance to bleed out before he gets answers. You see, Cam’s mom wants him to basically solve his sister Eric’s disappearance once and for all and though Cam holds a weight on his heart and conscious for what he didn’t do the day Erin disappeared, he’ll do anything for his Ma.

First let me say I love how clever Cam’s mom was with all her notes in books. It’s obvious where Cam gets a lot of his character from. But man, it was hard to watch Cam do this alone even with Jamie by his side. I kept waiting for him to reach out to Nic for help and when it happened I almost fell out of my chair. We got a lot of emotions from Nic and Cam while they are apart. They get pretty deep and good at getting comfortable with being uncomfortable when it comes to falling in love. Both men have their reservation and we finally get the story behind Nic’c cypress tattoo though Cam is still left without answers. We get that Cam doesn’t tell his family everything and when Nic shows up in Boston, my heart hurt for him as the realization that Cam’s family doesn’t know he’s bisexual hits him right in the chest.

This has the same level of action, mystery and romance as this author is known to deliver. I was on the edge of my seat through the book waiting to find out what happened to Erin while trying to hold back tears for everyone when we know. Nic hurt my heart time and time again with how much he’ll do for Cam and how much he hates to be left in the fuckin' van. Cam can hold his own as he gave me enough moments of want and need for Nic that he even gave up Dunkin’ Donuts.

I have so much I want to say but will stop rambling because this is long enough.

Yeah, this book was good and I am going to move on to the next because there are still a few things that need to be dealt with.


A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

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