Lilacs and Whiskey

by Aspen Winters

Genres: Omegaverse

697 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 21, 2026

About the author

Aspen Winters is from Bettendorf, Iowa. She has a slight obsession with stingrays and anything that has to do with chocolate and wine. On the days she isn’t working, she is either typing or is letting her artistic side out by painting or doing any other art project she has set her mind too. She has many books planned out and can’t wait to share them.

Reviews

[Kylie Hayes · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author needs a new editor, or maybe just needs one in general. Kol, one of the alpha characters, completely changes his story and part of his personality half way through the book. At first it’s mentioned many times how terrible he is at cooking. Sets fires in the kitchen, burned eggs, then all of a sudden he’s planning a date with aster where he cooks this amazing meal that he learned from his grandmother and says the cooking is all he’s good for.

His backstory also changes, he started as the only alpha in his family of 4 beta sisters. Half way through the book his sisters change to brothers and their all alphas.

Disappointed in the lack of continuity

[Natalie Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s got good bones…

This book has potential but there are things that really pulled me out of it by chapter 40. Many of the language, the conversations that the main characters have, the responses to certain things, the spicy scenes, the beginning of many chapters and the end of many chapters all sounded the same. The authors style of writing is VERY repetitive. I think I read some variation of “he made a sound - something between a laugh and a groan” 30 times. There were some plot holes, especially involving the antagonist, but also including the background of characters. Kol started not being able to cook: the accident prone / golden retriever character, to cooking being the only thing he’s good at? 4 Beta sisters turned to 5 Alpha brothers?? The gifts she makes them in the end: a bandana, a journal cover, a tote bag, and a scarf all turned into pouches??? Idk, I was really frustrated with the book by the end and I couldn’t ignore the inconsistencies any more. It’s got good bones but it should’ve been thoroughly edited.

[Emma Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the idea of this book but the story inconsistencies drove me nuts. I finished it, but it got rough about 2/3s in with repeated scenes, little story tweaks that broke my brain and an ending that felt rushed. E.g. the gifts she made for her alphas changed, what the alphas were good at changed, their family and backgrounds changed…
If the next one is like this one, I’ll be sad because the plot is great and the ideas are too - just needs a little polish / proof reading to finish it off

[Wyndie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you

Seriously, Aspen, thank you for not breaking this up into two books. It is a hefty read, but satisfying. I was hooked, and the emotion that this book evoked should not be split.

There were a few continuity errors, but nothing I could t deal with.

Overall a really good read

[Louise Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read

This was a sweet and cozy read with a story that just draws you in. I found that I really enjoyed reading it and fell in love with the characters. I would recommend giving it a read.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost 4 stars, but …

I really like the storyline, but I noticed that the point of view sometimes changed from first person to third person, even in the middle of a paragraph. And I also noticed some repetition of conversations.. So almost 4 stars but …

[Lori Potter · Rating 4 out of 5]

sweet and slow building romance

A very sweet love story. Triggers, trauma, past mistakes. Living separate until given a chance. This story is a slow building romance. Lots of healing and finally connecting.

[Livia · Rating 1 out of 5]

The continuity errors were egregious, and the normal grammar issues (shifted perspective, spelling, sentence structure) drove me nuts. I DNF’d at 60%. Shame because it was a promising premise but it really needed an editor.

[Rhonda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Editing

I really liked the story concept, but the characterization of the men and the repeat of a scenes with just little changes drove me nuts. This isn't the first story this author has done this. I keep trying with her books, but this one just was to much. She needs proof readers and a really good editor. She needs to take more time before publishing. I hate to stop reading independent authors who have a real good story idea, but this book was the final straw for me with this author.