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247 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 7, 2024
A small-town romance with a touch of spice. Reminiscent of classic romances from the 90s, Whiskey Glasses blends the heat and fast-paced nature of older romance novels with a modern and bright twist. The attention to detail and strong character development presents a distinct improvement on a genre staple-style novel while never losing sight of the blossoming romantic narrative that best exemplifies similar stories.
Abigail is not your typical romance novel heroine acting as nothing more than a cardboard cutout to self-insert the reader into; she has a distinct voice and motives that, while still in line with what one would expect from a romance novel, still read as true to a unique individual rather than bland, interchangeable place filler. She is feisty and driven with an ability to pursue her interests with a single-minded doggedness that is both fun to read and engaging to witness.
In point of fact, all of the characters in Whiskey Glasses very much feel as though they are people you would not be surprised to encounter in any small town. Their sense of community and cohesion is interesting and comfortable. In many ways, this novel feels like sinking into a warm bath; a pleasant respite from the daily with all the comforts of small town americana you could possibly want.
There is a sense of nostalgia and homesickness that pervades the early chapters, a longing for something else, something more; that gently and organically flows into the feeling of belonging and joy of being around those who welcome you for who you are. This is not to say that Whiskey Glasses lacks in the drama department.
While the sweetly romantic tone of the novel is the most prevalent aspect of the narrative, there are just enough pops of uncertainty and angst to keep you engaged. There is none of the will they, won’t they drama that feels at best contrived and at worst disingenuous; instead, this book presents genuine conflicts that people really do face. Uncertainty of the future, baggage from the past, the turmoil of realizing you have outgrown something you thought you would always have.
In a word, tantalizing. Like a sprinkle of salt atop a mound of sweet, sticky caramel, the conflicts in this book dissolves on your tongue leaving you feeling fulfilled and giddy with excitement for what could come next.
Whiskey Glasses is certainly a must-read for fans of the genre looking for something new that improves upon the classics.