Bourbon & Secrets

The Bourbon Boys #2

by Victoria Wilder

In Fiasco, Kentucky, there is one rule: never fall for a Foxx brother.

Any woman who did, ended up dead. It wasn’t just a rumor. It was my reality. I buried my wife along with too many secrets surrounding the night she died.

Now, I’m a single dad with two priorities above everything else: raising my two girls and making great bourbon.

But when Faye Calloway returns after I ran her out of my small town—looking like a fantasy on stage and nothing like the cop she was trained to be—I know for a fact that she’s hiding more secrets than the one she blackmailed me to keep.

While everyone is focused on the teasingly beautiful burlesque dancer, I’m distracted by the woman with a hidden agenda. The smart-mouth, who says what she wants. And the instigator, who prefers a very specific way to drink her bourbon.

But as secrets begin to unravel, I realize she’s fiercely protective of the ones she loves. When she puts herself in danger to right the past, the rules stop mattering.

Only two things have the power to keep my family from falling apart and losing the woman I love—bourbon and secrets.

Genres: Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Romantic Suspense, Small Town Romance, Contemporary Romance, Suspense, Found Family

482 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 6, 2024

About the author

Forever a hopeful romantic, I write deliciously witty and wild characters. My stories range from small-town swoon-worthy men to fiercely powerful families and lead characters who aren't afraid to ask for what they want.

You will always find a little bit of fate, a whole lot of steam, and a wildly romantic ride.

Reviews

[Marianna Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. I’ve come to the conclusion this series is not for me. I feel bamboozled because the first 50 pages had me extremely hopeful that this was going to be so much better than book 1 (which I liked but it was just average), but it turned out to somehow be worse?? Don’t get me wrong I love me a single daddy who wears glasses, but I fear Lincoln gave me absolutely nothing other than the ick… I’m so sorry. This book is so popular and I tried so hard to like it I did!!! But the insta lust was just too much for me and the smut overpowered the romance, they had zero chemistry. I also am finding I’m not a romantic suspense girlie… maybe I’ve just yet to read a good one but every single time the plot is so predictable to the point where I want to bash the characters heads in for being so stupid…. So like yeah, I’m probably the problem but what else is new? Yeah no I will not be continuing this series.

[manas (suffering) · Rating 2 out of 5]

yawn.

[Laura Jane ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You make me feel like I don’t need to pretend when I’m around you. That I can be exactly who I am without being anything other than a man infatuated with a beautiful woman.”

Okay, wait I enjoyed this so much more than the first one!! Nothing makes me happier than reading a small town romance that has me kicking my feet! Also someone needs to tell me why was I tearing up towards the end?

I absolutely loved Lincoln & Faye's dynamic, the hate to love was so much fun. This was the perfect amount of tension, romance, secrets and twists, all whilst being super cute and wholesome! Listen the spice was steamy (these guys are so hot) but it is balanced so well with a suspenseful & engaging plot! I love how our MCs have their own back stories to go over, giving them depth that allowed me to feel connected to them and their emotions. I really loved this one, I was so invested!! This was so refreshing after some heavier reads.

Faye is such a baddie!! A private investigator and burlesque dancer!! We love an independent queen! She literally had his man on this knees in the middle of dance floor. Get. It. Girl.

Lincoln... urm HELLO?! Hot nerdy single daddy, who wears glasses and has dimples. He can spit bourbon in my mouth any day of the week (and I hate bourbon) iykyk. Don't judge me, I'm just a girl.

’You are what love looks like to me’

This was super cute and fun. I would definitely recommend it if you enjoy a small town romance with plenty of romance and suspense!
The scenes with Linc, his girls and Faye were just the sweetest 🥹
Grandad Griz is giving big Harvey Eaton energy!!!

“People always think that you get one great love of your life, but I think whatever asshat said that never considered all the different kinds of love that could show up over the course of a lifetime.”

“You scared yet?”
“Since the moment you called me Peach,”

Since book one I have been dying for Ace’s book. Him and Hadley have me sat already!! He is SO grumpy and serious, and she is constantly calling him Daddy!! I am screaming! Roll on June 6th 🤭
Also after that epilogue I know we’re going to be in for another suspenseful ride with these guys!

[bee (on and off) · Rating 4 out of 5]

─ 4 ★'s

ᯓwhat to expect:

𐚁 romantic suspense
𐚁 small town
𐚁 single dad
𐚁 hate-to-love
𐚁 found family
𐚁 secrets & blackmail

ᯓmini summary:

faye calloway a burlesque dancer and private investigator returns to her hometown fiasco after being ran out by lincoln foxx five years ago. faye is hiding something and lincoln is determined to find out what it is. but as secrets begin to unravel and he gets closer to faye danger lurks nearby and he must protect his family and the ones he loves...

❝ I never planned on loving you, Peach. But now, I never plan on stopping. ❞

ᯓcharacters:

─ ⟢ faye is my new favorite fmc. she was such a baddie 😩🍑 i don't know if i want to be her or be with her. a independent badass that takes care of everyone else.

─ ⟢ lincoln a hot nerdy dad with glasses what's not to like. i was down so bad for this man and i loved seeing him with lily and lark.

and the spice!! 🥵🥵🔥🔥
let me just tell you this man was so obsessed and needy
i was loving it
🫠🫠🫠🫠

❝ I'm going to need to fuck you now. Please tell me I can. ❞

❝ Tell me what you want. I'll do anything you beg me for right now. ❞

i have so many favorite parts!!
༝ the rodeo scene 😮‍💨🔥🔥
༝ seeing the girls growing up - lily with her crystals and lark with her band tees
༝ kit & dottie
༝ seeing uncle grant and aunt laney
༝ all of faye's performances

this is my comfort series. perfect amount of plot and spice with great characters. i just want to live in fiasco with the foxx family 😩😩

big thank you to victoria wilder and the author agency for the advanced e-arc
all thoughts are my own
⊱──────────── 🥃 ────────────⊰
⌞pre-read⌝

yesssssss i got a arc for my most anticipated release!!

putting everything on hold for daddy lincoln 🤠🥃

[veerali · Rating 4 out of 5]

my spine is now lincoln and faye's personal red carpet.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I swear I fall more in love with this series and Victoria Wilder's writing and storytelling each time I read a new book by her. I loved Faye from the beginning and how she is a private investigator and burlesque dancer. She ran away from her small town after a tragedy happened and she couldn't stay any longer. There were too many secrets and too many people who could get hurt, so she left and abandoned her dreams of becoming a police officer. Now, she's back in town to work a case and has to confront her damaged relationship with her sister. That means moving across the street from Lincoln Foxx and his two adorable daughters.

As a single parent romance, the girls were AMAZING and I loved how fun and important their characters were. Linc has damage of his own and he would do anything to protect his girls and give them an amazing life. The birthday part scene?? Adorable. I loooovvedddd, though, how hard and fast Linc and Faye fell for each other. This is definitely a bit of a hate to love moment, but they have such an insane attraction that they just can't deny for very long. They both know they shouldn't be falling for each other because their lives and the secrets they carry just don't mesh, but the way Faye fits so easily into their daily lives was just so adorable.

The suspense in here was great and definitely kept me on my toes, especially in the last 20%. And I am already dying for the next book!!! I couldn't recommend picking up this series enough!

[megan ◡̈ · Rating 5 out of 5]

fucking hell this was so good

[Brittany Ferraro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five of the biggest, fattest stars for this book/audiobook. I genuinely don’t know how it gets any better than this.

I love the romantic suspense in this series, the plot and the whole bourbon world make this small-town romance so much more interesting than just the relationship between the main characters. And this one pulled on all my heartstrings. There’s just something about a single dad… and when you wrap young kids into the mix it’s instant emotional overload. Watching those kids slowly fall in love with Faye was the sweetest thing. Seeing them warm up to her added such a beautiful layer to the story, and I adored watching those relationships develop.

But fuck a moment for Lincoln motherfucking Fox. This man had me running back parts of the audio twenty times just to hear him say dirty things. And the nickname “Peach”? Perfection. If I don’t find myself a bourbon cowboy who calls me Peach, I might not survive. I’ve loved him since book one his personality, the way he carries himself, those slutty little glasses and he did not disappoint. He exceeded my expectations and then some. He just always did and said the right things.

And Faye is for sure one of my favorite FMC‘s. I love when a woman can command a room, and I love even more when she has a man wrapped around her pretty little finger. She rides hard for the people that she loves. A GODDESS


The chemistry between Lincoln and Faye? Literally unmatched. Their banter was FIRE 🔥 , the way they pushed each other, and the mouth on both of them… oh my God. I couldn’t get enough. I was thinking about them all day. I am actually obsessed.

This book just felt like me. It had everything I love in a romance, the plot, the relationships, the tension and it was executed flawlessly. On top of that, it was unbelievably romantic and had this delicious, super-angsty pull that made me feral. And when you think it can’t get any better, it shows up with some of the absolute best spice I have ever read, the bourbon play!? LAWD 🥵

There’s just something unmatched about a book where the romance and the story could each stand on their own. Both were equally compelling, and that’s the perfect storm in my eyes. It just flowed perfectly. Zero notes. Actual perfection. I can already see this being a comfort read for me.

I could scream about this one for pages, but I’ll keep it simple: if you haven’t started this series yet, you are missing out on small-town romance masterpiece. I cannot wait for the last book I might just fuck around and start it ASAP👀🤭

[carolina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like the odd man out because this book has such a high goodreads rating and there’s so many great reviews, but it didn’t work for me. I enjoyed the first book in the series, despite feeling a bit underwhelmed, because it could’ve been better, but Bourbon & Secrets did nothing for me 🫠 I was enjoying it at the start but it got so repetitive, the chapters are long and the plot drags. The mystery wasn’t engaging and some things make no sense. And this is a great example of a book where the smut overpowers the romance. There were so many sex scenes and I didn’t enjoy them (I ended up skipping the last few). The characters acted like horny teenagers ALL. THE. TIME! They let their lust speak louder and in moments where they should’ve add a mature conversation, they chose to fuck. It was boring! I didn’t feel the love between them and the love declarations at the end were cringey. If the author had taken the time to build the romantic relationship, instead of focusing on the sex, the romance would’ve been better.

There’s more I could say but I can’t be bothered to do it. I may give the next book in the series a chance, but if Hadley spends the whole time calling Ace “daddy”, I’ll immediately DNF it 🫡

[littlegirlbigbook · Rating 4 out of 5]

4✨ they say never fall in love with a foxx brother. but how can i help myself? i am simply just a girl and i’ve been falling for foxx brothers since day one.

faye “peach” calloway. if reading this doesn’t immediately make you want to become a burlesque dancer, i’m not convinced you read the same book as me. this girl is such a fucking badass. a private investigator seductress burlesque dancer? who takes down criminals and makes strangers fall in love and fantasize about her?? who brings a foxx man to his knee??? yes. fucking. please. her character is nothing but strength and effort. considering everything she’s experienced and how her life was thrown completely off course. it’s unfair. i feel bad for her. she’s an outcast in her own town. she’s basically hated by her sister. she’s been banished by her (hot) neighbour. i couldn’t believe everything that had happened to her and where her story started compared to where it ended up. and the way she catches her foxx completely by surprise every time is just delicious. she is literally perfect for him.

lincoln motherfucking foxx. the hot, outgoing, boisterous, always first to laugh single dad. his character had a very different & unique take on the widower father and i loved it. it’s not something you see often and i thought it was spectacular. it added so much depth to his character and personality. grant was quiet, unseen, the recluse. lincoln is a single dad, always on display, always showing his brightest smile and putting his best foot forward. it’s not surprising that he’s the town favourite. the favourite foxx brother. and fiasco is gonna lose their shit when they see he’s officially off the market. the way this man is with and loves his girls…everything he does for them, the way he knows them, it’s just so beautiful. he is incredible. the way he loves his peach…goddamn. a person would do anything to be that to someone else. it’s like he’s really able to be himself with her and that is no small thing. he’s so soft for her and it’s so special after everything he’s been through and how “on” he has to be all the time with everyone else.

i loved everything about faye and lincoln together. peach & foxx. their journey, where they started and where they ended up. the banter, the tension, the longing. everything with the girls, the evolution of their relationship, everything it meant. it was unexpected and so needed and perfect. and while i was just (not so) patiently waiting for them to fall in love, there’s so much more to this story. the found family is so different because it’s like finding your family again. i’m still waiting for lincoln to finally be fully open & honest with his brothers about olivia and their marriage and everything that happened. i want it so bad. but everything with faye and maggie…the way that relationship slowly changed with things coming to light and them fiiinally becoming sisters again. it was so special.

this didn’t suspense the way i was expecting or hoping it would like in bourbon & lies. at the beginning i thought it was suspensing so hard but then the suspense kinda faded and was only mentioned here & there but it didn’t really become a focus or get going until 80%. naturally i was comparing it to bourbon & lies which was (a masterpiece) more suspenseful. i also would’ve liked to see more of the bourbon. lincoln’s job was always being the master distiller but i feel like there wasn’t enough of that. whereas in B&L there was more bourbon/distillery/work substance. that being said, i still absolutely loved the plot of this. the way the story went really tracked and worked out so well with their characters and jobs and everything in between. more character than plot driven but amazing nonetheless. they were incredible. i also loved the lil hints & easter eggs at ace and hadley and i am stupid excited for bourbon & proof. i don’t like bourbon but damn if i wouldn’t take it any way a foxx brother wanted to give it to me.

“I’ll give you anything you want, Foxx. You just have to ask.”

“How do you like your bourbon?”
“Any way you want to give it to me, Foxx.”

“I want to be around you. I like me more when I’m around you. So let me be around you, Peach. And we figure it out as we go along. Lean into what feels right.”

“With Lincoln Foxx, it feels bigger than a simple word like love. When I'm with him, it feels like home.”

“You are so many things, Faye, but the only thing I'm really hoping that you never want to stop being is ours.”

“I never planned on loving you, Peach. But now, I never plan on stopping.”

• age gap
• single dad
• hate to love
• blackmail
• romantic suspense
• neighbours
• burlesque dancer fmc
• he wears glasses
• bourbon “tasting”
• found family

a million thank you’s to victoria for the arc 🫶🏼

[Noi (in & out) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“People always think that you get one great love of your life, but I think whatever asshat said that never considered all the different kinds of love that could show up over the course of a lifetime.”
-----------
I got it 🤭
-----------
Waiting for the audio, release date is July 11th, 2025

[Kimberlylovesreadingbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only is the cover pretty but so is the story, that's what you call balance🤭

I thought the first book was mind blowing but this one takes the cake.😍♥️🎀

I'm falling in love with Victoria because this series so far has been my highlight of this year and we're in March😭♥️

My love Lincoln; single dad to two lovely nosy daughters Lark and Lily. My God these two children are my Roman empire in this book. His wife dies due to an aneurysm and he's left to take care of the kids.

In comes Faye Calloway a fiery private investigator and a burlesque dancer 🤭♥️. The last time they met he told her to get out of his town but when they meet again years later sparks fly 🥵💋

And yes this does have a bourbon scene🤭😮‍💨I mean it's the Lincoln Foxx. I can't wait for Ace and Hadley's book because of the way she keeps on picking on him and calling him daddy 🤣🤣

My favourite quotes;

Faye : Where is your dad?
Lily : Currently staring at your house. But don’t tell him I told you that.
🤣🤣 This child

And I didn’t know how you were feeling this morning, so I did a black coffee, hot—like mine. And an iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk and cinnamon.”😮‍💨

“I know you’re watching me walk away,” I call out as I turn my head to the side.
“Hard not to when you consider how much I liked watching you come,” he says, far too loudly.
🤭 He said this in front of people!!!!!

This also has romantic suspense with secrets and blackmail 🙂

[Antonella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bourbon. Secrets. And one unforgettable second chance.

This book was everything I wanted from a romantic suspense—gripping, emotional, and laced with tension that had me flipping pages like my life depended on it. Set in the atmospheric small town of Fiasco, Kentucky (honestly, best town name ever), the story delivered high-stakes secrets, a deliciously grumpy single dad, and a heroine with grit, sass, and a mysterious past.


If you love complex characters, moody small towns, found family, and a little bourbon-fueled heat, this is the book for you

🎶"Black Sheep" – Hailey Whitters
🎶"Tequila" – Dan + Shay
🎶"Settling Down" – Miranda Lambert
🎶"Love Me Like You Mean It" – Kelsea Ballerini
🎶"Throw It Away" – Delta Rae
🎶"Good Girl" – Carrie Underwood
🎶"Girl Crush" – Little Big Town
🎶"Like My Mother Does" – Lauren Alaina

[Anila · Rating 2 out of 5]

After really enjoying the first book, the follow-up was a complete disappointment.

This book was so boring and slow. It felt like nothing happened and I was fighting sleep trying to finish it. I mean at the halfway point, I honestly had no idea what the plot was. Everything felt pointless. Each chapter was just Faye and Lincoln doing trivial things that added nothing to the story. The romance couldn’t even save this book for me because there was absolutely no romance. The leads had no chemistry and were just lusting after each other. I liked the smut in the previous book, but it was way too much here. I was honestly skimming or skipping all those chapters.

All in all, this was a let down and I’m hesitant now to read the third book.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

♾️/5✨️ 3/5🌶

Happy Release Day to Bourbon and Secrets✨️🥃❤️🔥

Victoria has us back in Fiasco, Kentucky, with the Foxx brothers, but this time for Lincoln and Faye. As we enter the world of burlesque and speakeasies, you will be instantly brought back to those old Hollywood vibes. This story kept me on my TOES with suspense, found family, spice, secrets, and lots and lots of bourbon.

As Faye and Lincoln's story begins, Faye has returned home. But one night out, Lincoln soon recognized none other than Faye, aka Rosie Gold. Lincoln finds himself captivated with the woman on stage, but he should stay away, as his daughters and bourbon are his life. Yet what starts as hatred of past secrets they share, soon turns into two people who keep catching each other's eye. As they spar it out, my Kindle and I needed a cool down as there are scenes in this book that will live RENT-FREE in my head. What they share with one other and Lincoln's girls, let me just say, these four needed each other, and wow, will they have a house full of love.

Faye is the modern-day Marilyn Monroe, but she always carries a weapon on her garter belt. Hott!! I ADORE Faye; she appears tough throughout the story, but, she's always handled whatever life throws at her. She was incredibly empowering and caring. Lincoln…. Welcome to your favorite new snack. I was already in love with him from book one, and Victoria had to go and give him the hottest glasses on earth, science loving, broken boy vibes, and made him a man who liked to tiptoe the line between good and bad. I AM A GONER. This story would not be complete without Lincoln's daughters; Lark and Lily we're heartwarming I loved the sisterhood throughout the story.

I'm just obsessed, that it's been awhile since I loved a couple and book like I do this one. I want to be a part of the Foxx family and move to Kentucky. If you haven't met the Foxx Brothers, you definitely need to make it a priority before Ace and Hadley's book.
 
Huge, thank you, to Victoria, for the ARC. ❤️

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one even more! So engaging, thrilling, sexy, and heartwarming.

Victoria Wilder is becoming a fast favorite of mine. Her stories are so compelling and her characters feel so rich and lively.

Fiasco may be more dangerous than your average small town, but I really wannt visit. Are there any Foxx brothers left for me?

Burlesque and secrets, old threats and new chemistry. I loved watching the games Faye had to play clash with Lincoln's animosity. They both had reasons to be wary of one another, but as soon as they have a confrontation.... well, they are practically flammable.

I also loved their dynamic. It's not so much that either of them is in charge, but they do love to tease each other and change it up now and then. I also LOVED that, once Lincoln knows they are serious, he enjoys watching her performances and knowing she's coming home with him. I adore a possessive man, but I like it even more when he's confident and can share. Share at view, at least.

Finally, Lark & Lily, Lincs's daughters. They were adorable. There is also an adorable cow and dog that will steal your heart. That made this extra special.

I am in love with this series. I'm so impressed and I can't wait for Bourbon & Proof!

5 Stars
4 on the spice scale

CW: Violence and death on page, gore, violence toward women, discussion of deceased parents and family, discussion of animal death and cruelty, PTSD

*Thank you to the author for an ARC of this title.*

[Megan Coggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know I’ve never thought a book could be “sexy” until this series.
Holy 🔥

Lincoln Foxx: bourbon boy & single daddy
Go look at the cover. Look at that man. Just look at him.
Dear god.

Faye: bad*ss 🍑
Side note: Burlesque with Christina Aguilera and Cher is one of my all time comfort movies.
So having her be a burlesque dancer and having that aspect was too good🙌

Romantic suspense: popping, the storyline is good in this series.

Bourbon tasting 🥃
Hate to love
Returning home
Found family
Small town suspense
Secrets & blackmail

Fiasco Kentucky 📍✈️
Arc review ✨

[Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS

I started falling in love with Faye Calloway on the edge of a cornfield, on a stage, over a bottle of bourbon, and every time she’s been in my arms since.

Did I add this book for the cover aline? Absolutely I did. The intriguing blurb was just the cherry on top. Did I also do things in my usual back @sswards way and read book 2 in the series before reading book one? I did indeed and I have no regrets! But also, I will immediately be reading the first book. But I digress...

You sound so pretty when you’re pissed off and moaning for me.”

As a lover of small-town romance, suspense, dirty talking MMCs, kickass FMCs, single dad and enemies to lovers trope, boy did this book hit the spot for me. And it hit it so hard!

The second Lincoln and Faye appear on the pages together, I was instantly sucked in! And when Faye comes back to the town she grew up in and no longer welcome in for a secret job, I was completely enraptured. This woman was so fascinating with her sass and strength. She was impossible not to love. And even though there was no love lost between her and Lina, he couldn't stay out of her orbit for too long either. No matter how he tried to fight it.

Oh my god,” I moan. He smiles up at me. “Yeah, Peach, I can be that for you too.”

The suspenseful plot and the mystery that unravels in parallel to the romance was perfectly paced. And the romance was perfectly sprinkled in so you get a great dose of both story and spice. And let me just tell y'all, the spice was SPICING.

Don’t you fucking stop, Foxx. I want to hear you moan like a man.”

Did I mention that I absolutely loved Faye?

I really enjoyed this story and especially the secondary characters of Linc's daughters. The family dynamics are fascinating and the story managed to also take me by surprise in parts, which rarely happens to me these days.

I'm definitely hooked hard on this series now and can't wait for Ace's book next. These Foxx boys are so addictive!

ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review

Find me on:

[Katie Friday · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 50%
I just can’t.
Officially done with these books. I gave the first one 2 stars, and I realise that was generous and exclusively because the covers are amazing. But wow, are these bad. I have so many issues I don’t even know where to start.
Oooof, first off, TOO FUCKING LONG. Long boring chapters where nothing happens. It’s the exact same issue I had with the first book, I suspect the author is incapable of writing character development, because it’s non existent here. All the characters have secrets, these secrets motivate their behaviour. All of the characters keep their freaking secrets till the end, so you get chapter after chapter where nobody talks, puts anything together, grows, develops feelings, talks out past hurts, NOTHING. I’m at a point where the FMC and the MMC are hooking up, but why????? It’s come out of the clear blue sky and it’s on page 150. They have no relationship to speak of, they haven’t spoken at all about what happened in the past, what the fuck is going on?!?
There are so many characters in this book too, I can’t keep anybody straight. The plot remains a mystery at this point as well, FMC’s job is I guess also a secret even to herself. She’s an investigator/burlesque dancer who’s investigating a man, but she doesn’t know why, or what she’s looking for. WHAT THE FUCK? Why wouldn’t she know this? That’s makes no sense. Page 150, she doesn’t know why or what she’s looking for. All this fucking garbage nonsense so everything (even her fucking job) can be revealed at the end. So hundreds and hundreds of pages go by, a whole fucking chapter where we meet 5 new pointless characters and she gets her roots dyed.
Is she repairing her relationship with her sister? Nope! That’s a secret too! Why is she mad at her? Why was she beaten and thrown in jail! That’s a secret too for some reason.
The set up where she’s killed/buried a man (don’t know what happened there), who was that? Did the police not investigate? Why is nobody talking about a missing person.
The MMC also keeping his fucking secrets. His wife dies at the start of the book, why did she die? Who knows! What did she reveal to him just before she died? Don’t know. Why is he attracted to a woman he blackmailed to leave town? Why did he do that? Why did she blackmail him?
I could handle a mystery if the characters were interesting and came together and stuff happened, but nothing is happening.
However, once again 5 stars for the cover. No notes.

[Southern Lady Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5/5) Absolutely loved the first book in this series, and Bourbon & Secrets was just as good!! First of all - I’m a girl’s girl. So when I see a girl handling her business, I’m into it!! Our heroine Faye is fantastic for this reason.

This is also a fantastically easy-to-read series. I feel like I’m not ready to give up on them, so I’m SO excited to be getting another book about the Foxx brothers!

**The main character is an undercover burlesque dancer - and if you loved the movie Burlesque - you’ll love this!!
***Interconnected standalone in the series but can be read out of order and it would still be fine!

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a great suprisse for me.
This universe of small town, romance and suspense is very interesting and entertaining.
I liked a lot the chemistry between this couple.
It’s worth reading.

[Jill (readinginpjs) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“How do you like your bourbon?”
“Any way you want to give it to me, Foxx.”

I absolutely LOVED the delicious tension between Faye & Lincoln, and everything about this book 🔥

Thank you Home Cooked Books for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

✦ tropes & stuff:
✨romantic suspense
👨‍👧‍👧 single dad (2 daughters) & widow
💥 hate to love
🔎 private investigator
🏡 return to hometown/small town
🫶🏼 family + found family
💞 dual 1st person pov + duet narration

•┈••✦ review ✦••┈•

🎧 audio+ebook | ⭐️: 5 | 🌶️: 4 |

💭 what I loved about this one:
- the dynamic & tension between Faye + Lincoln from start to finish had me HOOKED
- he calls her Peach 🍑
- Lincoln’s daughters & their animal adoptions 😅
- Faye’s confidence, especially in her body
- bourbon tasting 😉

🎧 audiobook thoughts:
Duet narration is my fav style, and Megan Wicks & Lee Samuels were absolutely PERFECT as Faye & Lincoln!

📖 Bourbon & Secrets by Victoria Wilder
📚 book 2 • The Bourbon Boys series
🥃: romantic suspense

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[Romancing the Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Babies, I told you guys I KNEW the rest of this series was going to slap. I fell in such loud love with Bourbon & Lies, I knew the rest of the Bourbon Boys wouldn’t let me down. And I was right!

📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Bourbon & Secrets by Victoria Wilder

📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: The Bourbon Boys character series. Book 2.

📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book ARC on Kindle. 🆓 on KU.

📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Romantic suspense

📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Single dad, burlesque dancer, small town, hate to love, found family.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Fate returns to Fiasco under the guise of a burlesque residency to help investigate suspicious behavior in the area. She’s not welcomed home - not by her sister, or the town, or Lincoln Foxx, the man who forbid her from coming home ever again.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: I knew picking up back in Fiasco would be a solid read, so I procrastinated with this ARC. Not only did it end up saving me from a book slump, but it also stopped me from doing chores and getting anything done around my house for a whole day.

I love this series so much. Something about the setting - small town, rural Kentucky on a bourbon estate - that pulls a reader in. And Faye’s character was so much fun. Between her, Lincoln and the Foxx family shenanigans, it felt like coming home.

But add in the burlesque, and I can simply say this book was sexy to its core. It was a great next chapter in the Bourbon Boys series, and I can’t wait for Ace and Hadley next spring.

Side note - this could be read as a standalone, but it would be SO much better if you read Bourbon & Lies first. Shameless plug for one of my favorite books of the year.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3/5 🌶🌶🌶

𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘.

[DIVINITY🌙 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5🌟

I really enjoyed myself but didn’t quite love it as much as the first book.
The chemistry and spice between the characters were so on point but I didn’t feel the transition to their relationship.

[Jay Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Please be Ace and Hadley!

⭐⭐ Update its looking like the MMC is Lincoln & the FMC is the woman we got introduced to in the last chapter of Bourbon & Lies

[mikayla ✿ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ i’m still not sold on this series. bourbon and secrets is the second book in the series, and i’m still so underwhelmed. it checks all the trope boxes but somehow the execution falls as flat as week old lemonade. i like the small town setting and the bourbon focus is cute. the characters have potential. it should be alluring and sensual, but it’s downright cringey. this series feels hollow. soulless. like it’s going through the motions.

the setup of this book mirrors the first book a little too closely. insta-lust but something isn’t right. there’s always a reason for the mmc to be suspicious of the fmc. i do enjoy that these aren’t purely romance books. there is an element of mystery and suspense. but again, it’s just not working for me.

i’ve been intrigued by ace and hadley since book one. so i will eventually read bourbon and proof - even though i hear it’s equally as underwhelming. we’ll see if it surprises me… or if i’m signing up for another round of bourbon-flavoured disappointment.

[Irina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Bourbon Boys series left me with the same mixed feelings as book 1. I can only repeat what I've already said about 'Bourbon and Lies': I really liked both main characters and all the secondary characters, but I had a hard time with the dragging plot. I was so bored! Also, the crime part is not only too prominent/big for my taste, but also illogical, confusing and not very believable.

I don't think I'll pick up another book by this author. Her stories are not for me.

[andrea.el · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5⭐️ 🏜️

[sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love love love single dads who wear glasses and moan

[☆EmilyEverAfter☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alexa play Weren't For The Wind by Ella Langley

I absolutely LOVE Faye. She's confident, strong, sexy, and badass! Lincoln was a prefect gentleman, a man with slutty little glasses, a delicious little bourbon spit play kink 😏 two lovely kids. They are the total package. I love the suspense and mystery aspect! Who knew all the small town drama could turn into such a big time news! Horse racing IS a pretty big deal. Waz and Wheeler are terrible individuals.. Can't wait to read Ace and Hadley's book. I hope Finch gets whats coming to him!