4.5
Whiskey Bargain is exactly the kind of small-town romance that hooks you with its chaos and keeps you invested with a couple whose chemistry practically crackles off the page or with a pairing you’d never expect to work, yet somehow absolutely does.
The setup is delightfully messy: Campbell, an event planner is forced to plan the wedding of her ex… to the cousin who betrayed her. If that isn’t enough drama, enter Durban Hennessy: former ranch cowboy, current distiller, and full-time grump with a surprisingly soft center.
At the beginning, I struggled to connect with the characters and the story: especially Campbell. I honestly didn’t think someone like her could handle everything being thrown her way. She gave me the impression of someone who would have told everyone to go to hell and then run off into the sunset. Instead, as the story unfolds, she proves me completely wrong. She takes responsibility, stays quiet when she could (and maybe should) scream, and doesn’t dump her stress onto her family. I genuinely don’t know how she coped before Durban showed up, so hats off to her.
Durban is
THAT MAN
: intense, silent, a little superior in a way that weirdly works, and the perfect perfect person to pull Campbell out of the emotional storm she’s in. At first, I wasn’t entirely convinced about their pairing. Durban often seemed frustrated with Campbell, seeing her as scatterbrained, frequently late, or not always considerate of others, which made it hard to imagine how they could truly connect. But once again, the author surprised me. As the story progresses, you can see the shift, how their “stress relief” arrangement slowly deepens not just through the spice, but through stolen moments, quiet conversations, and genuine vulnerability. It becomes something sweeter, more meaningful, and far more dangerous for both of them.
What I loved:
✨ the slow-build chemistry and cute banter
✨ a small-town setting full of charm and secondary characters that breathe life into every scene
✨ how the casual arrangement naturally deepens into intimacy and vulnerability
✨ the perfect balance of heat and heart
Despite how much I enjoyed this story (I can’t wait to read about Elodie and Cruz — I’m dying to know their story!), I did have a few hesitations. The wedding drama and some of the family dynamics are pretty wild, and there were moments when I wished Campbell had more space to process everything or push back a little. Plus, I needed to see whether the characters could develop something deeper, which kept me from giving it a full 5 stars. But as a romance? It absolutely delivers. It’s addictive, spicy, heartfelt, and effortlessly bingeable in one sitting.
If you love grumpy cowboys, messy-but-fun drama, small towns with big personalities, and a romance that goes from “bad idea” to “oh no, feelings,” this book is perfect for you.
Walker Rose is a new author for me, but I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on her future stories… this whiskey series is already shaping up to be such a treat. 🥃💖
Many thanks to #TheAuthorAgency and #WalkerRose for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.