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Fallon Foster is Whiskey Springs' self-proclaimed token lesbian. She isn't a token any longer. After her year-long affair with best friend, Andi Maguire ends, Fallon hopes to earn the trust and win the heart of the town's newest resident, Riley Main. Ghosts from the past still haunt Fallon and Riley. Informed by loss and betrayal, the pair endeavors to find their way to each other. Along the way, their growing affection and burgeoning relationship will change the lives and the paths of more people than Riley and Fallon could imagine. As Fallon and Riley begin to discover life together, Andi must learn how to live alone. A trip back to her former home in San Diego for Riley, family upheaval for Andi, and a visit from an old flame for Fallon will put their hearts and their relationships to the test. Against the backdrop of a small Vermont town, three women will learn that love always requires a little bit of letting go. Rich with a colorful cast of characters, Whiskey Springs is a place where even if everybody doesn't know your name, somebody knows your business. Enjoy a pint at Murphy's Law with Fallon, Riley, Andi, Ida, Carol and their colorful friends and discover that life is all about finding a place to call home. Cigar Club is the second installment in the OPEN TAB series by best-selling author, JA Armstrong.

246 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 6, 2018

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J.A. Armstrong

70 books492 followers

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5 stars
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79 (8%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
Profile Image for Diane Wallace.
1,448 reviews170 followers
July 31, 2021
**'Are you looking for the meaning of life when it comes to a story because no matter where you as readers are, you'll be reading about conflicts and dramas...'

Okay read!
...a few lengthy paragraphs and sentences could have been omitted to avoid it's repetitive nature but still a readable series...
Profile Image for Arn.
400 reviews117 followers
March 12, 2018
2 stars. Probably the most repetitive book to come out this year so far. Around 10% of the beginning of the book was copy/pasted from first book's ending so I skimmed it.

The story in this sequel is basically about how everyone loves everyone all the time except Olivia and Dean who both are massive twats. There's almost no meaningful story progression or character growth when compared to the first book which was considerably better.

Then there are some grammar issues with unfinished words here and there and these page long paragraphs are still annoying, makes it harder to read than it should.

And Olivia.
Profile Image for Jo reece.
551 reviews60 followers
March 5, 2018
3.5 It was alright. Bit repetitive in parts. Got a little fed up of how Fallon as come across a 'Goddess' and everyone fuss's around her. Riley needs to 'man up' a bit too... I'd have bitch slapped Olivia by now. But I did enjoy and It, looking forward to the next one. Really looking to see how Andi's character grows.
Profile Image for Yoly.
710 reviews48 followers
June 14, 2018
So, this one is as good as the first book (very good) but with more drama :)
MOAR DRAMA!!!
I can't wait until the next one for MOAR DRAMA!!!
Profile Image for Val.
412 reviews16 followers
March 15, 2018
4.5. I am loving this series by JA Armstrong. I liked the first one and I liked this even more. There is SO much drama in this little town and while I would hate that in my own life, I find it fascinating to read about. I highlighted several passages in this book that talk about fear and love and loss. I identified with both these characters and their need to let the past go and choose to not live in fear. As I’ve said before, if a book causes you to examine your own life and gain insight into your behavior then the author has truly been successful. It’s still driving me f’in crazy that these books are so short and I can’t wait for the next installment. Hurry up, JA!
Profile Image for Kara.
720 reviews1,269 followers
September 17, 2018
“Cigar Club (Whisky Springs #2)” benefits tremendously from the complex introduction of characters and setup of multiple plot lines from “Open Tab (Whisky Springs #1).

Now things start seriously happening! MC Riley and MC Fallon begin exploring their relationship, which is as complicated as things can get. Theirs doesn’t promise to be a typical, safe relationship, but they recognize that “safety is not fulfilling” - what a great observation and comment!!!. Still, Riley has a difficult time moving forward; she doesn’t want to be unfaithful to her deceased husband, whom she will always love. Fallon has to deal with the aftermath of Andi ending their adulterous relationship, and recognizing that Andi loved Fallon.

Andi accepts that she let herself get out of balance, and needs to relearn who Andi is. With a husband and two adult children, her path isn’t easy.

Andi and Fallon’s relationship isn’t the only one addressing infidelity…both physical and mental; there are several others….past and current. Riley’s meddling sister returns to the story, and Fallon’s manipulative ex-gf enters the story.

As with Book #1, the characters are often people you’d love to be around, and they’re often role models for people you cannot imagine ever wanting to spend much time with. They’re complex. They’re flawed.

But unlike Book #1, it’s more clear who the villains are, and overall the good people make better decisions and build healthier relationships, some as friends and some as lovers and some as partners.

I was glad to see Riley’s character move from being the unattainable paragon of virtue to a woman with a sexual identity, and with a serious backbone!

I enjoyed “Cigar Club” very much, more than “Open Tab”, and I rate this second book in the series 4.5*, rounded up to 5*, and I really look forward to Book #3 (“Night Cap”) being released as an audiobook!
Profile Image for vacatedboat.
153 reviews
March 5, 2018
I really wanted to like this, as in LIKE it, but I think that’s mostly due to the Vermont setting. I can’t say it’s awful because it’s not. Overall, this series is written well enough and the storyline is focused, but I’m left underwhelmed. I don’t care what happens to/between the MCs; I want to so hard, but I don’t. They aren’t unlikable, they’re just too perfect and everyone loves them and it’s just so obvious that they’re meant to be together because everyone in their universe tells us it’s so. Yes, their lives are messy, but it doesn’t deter from how perfect they are. I guess I’m just not the type for sickeningly sweet perfection and everyone loving everyone else. Seriously, ‘love,’ ‘loved,’ ‘lover’ or some other variation of the word is mentioned 360times in this book (I did the damn search). It’s only 150 pages or so...that’s just too friggin’ much love.
Profile Image for C.
737 reviews77 followers
March 24, 2018
I liked it...4.5*

As I've said before Armstrong is one of my favorite kU authors. This is the second in the series and its a good addition and helps progress Fallon and Riley's relationship. We get a better feel for Riley and are introduced to her mom and sister. It also makes you love Andi the more and makes me very very hopefully she is not the one to kick the bucket...or beth cause I like her too even though her role in this book is kinda small. Is it bad I hope Dean or Oliva bites the dust but we all know that won't happen.
Anyways, if you liked the first one you will like this one. Just be prepared for it to be a bit repetative in terms of lecturing Fallon a bit. Overall, a good read. Looking forward to the next one.
Profile Image for Megan.
294 reviews8 followers
March 19, 2018
This book was okay. I enjoyed the first one so I figured I would give this one a try. It was repetitive and dragged on and on. This book was not even that long but it felt a lot longer. This book did not have enough depth to keep me interested. I wish it was better. I like the characters in the first book and wanted to continue their story. I would not recommend this one.
Profile Image for Linda.
864 reviews134 followers
June 18, 2018
2nd book for the Open Tab series. An interesting/intriguing storyline which had me baffled at times. The ‘villain’ in Olivia’s character is something... She seemed to have people wrapped around her little finger with the arrangement she had set-up for herself! She found her match with Riley (my Guess?). Like the 1st book, this one ends with a cliffhanger as well so Let’s wait for the 3rd instalment and see what happened next....
Profile Image for Kexx.
2,331 reviews100 followers
March 9, 2024
It goes on a bit, but story slowly spreading out to other characters. Will continue to read series but feels a bit like adding new, more dramatic, storylines to keep the reader interested. We shall see.
365 reviews42 followers
March 23, 2018
Add a pinch of philosophy to a big kettle of soap opera and get Cigar Club.

Just about everyone in Whiskey Springs agrees on one thing. Fallon Foster makes the sun rise and the moon set. A vast array, both of the populace and visitors, want a piece of that pie. Fallon, or Fawon in Owen's special three year old lingo, inspires flights of fancy in the hearts of friends, lovers, exes, coeds and her extended family. Fallon loves them all in her gentle and accepting way, but Riley is her everything. Riley struggles to get past the spirit of her lost husband in order to believe that she has the choice of a future with Fallon. Their friendship masks a deeper kind of relationship and hiding from the truth can cause so much pain.

The assortment of characters in the Whiskey Springs series only come out to play when Fallon or Riley are involved. It's hard to see them as anything but bit players and that is a shame. Riley Main has her own set of peeps back in CA. On her visit back home to see them, Riley introduces Fallon Foster by way of conversations held to reveal where her heart calls home. While Riley and Owen are away from Whiskey Springs, Fallon decides to pour her considerable energy into refashioning her house to reflect her hearts desire.

J. A. Armstrong is a prolific writer with several different book series going strong. Lesbians, love, marriage, extended families and children loom large in these ongoing stories. The Whiskey Springs characters, though cast in reflected light, sparkle and shine. The plot revolves around the big leap that Fallon and Riley will have to take to claim their prize package. No past or present romantic relationship can remain intact if either woman hopes to move forward together. I really liked this novel. I can overlook some typos, too many exclamation points, kid speak and some overwrought displays of emotion over Fallon Foster. I do wish that the typeset accommodated a larger reading size. When I tried to increase it, on my Kindle reader, words were lost from the text and I had to reduce the font size to get them back. Overall, I'd rate the book at 4.5 stars which seems to reflect the Goodreads consensus. Not that it's necessary, but I happily recommend Cigar Club and look forward to the next installment called Night Cap.
Profile Image for Jane Shambler.
799 reviews32 followers
July 15, 2018
Excellent

Well Armstrong has done it again. This series is exceptional. I look at Armstrong as the queen of soap operas in books. Who needs T.V. when you have Armstrong producing quality like this.

The characters could be your neighbours. You know the quirky ones. You can really connect with them. Also Armstrong is an awesome story teller. I look forward to number three. Enjoy!
Profile Image for Luce.
521 reviews
did-not-finish
March 28, 2018
I really loved the first book. The start of this book annoyed me to no end. The repetitiveness and all the italics of what they wanted to say but didn’t - I just had to stop. I may return in a different mood. I still have all the feels for Andi - Hmmm I may return to the book just to see if she gets her HEA. Or at the very least search all the parts with her...
Profile Image for Calliope.
33 reviews10 followers
March 5, 2018
4.5 Stars: I love a JA Armstrong series...

They go on and on, and keep getting better. This one has it all; love, drama, sex, sweetness, hero's and villains...lol.
Can't wait for the 3rd book!
Profile Image for Maze.
86 reviews2 followers
March 3, 2018
Ok so yeah I tried. I really did. I liked the first book. As a matter of fact I rated the first book a 5. However, with this one I just couldn't. I didn't even finish it. I skipped the first 11-15% because of course I had read it before. And then starting from there it just got even more redundant. Every other paragraph was "I love Fallon" or "I love Andi" or "I love your mom." I mean I get where the author is going but sheesh. Maybe the storyline is a bit too awkward for me right now, too messy. *Shrugs* I don't know. Maybe in the future I will try to read it again but for now I'm moving on.
Profile Image for Carol Hutchinson.
1,124 reviews72 followers
June 3, 2020
It was great to be back in Whiskey Springs!!!

Fallon is keen to prove her love for newest resident Riley, and when she finds the courage to do so she is relieved to the feelings are mutual. Riley heads home to see her family, and while away the revelation hits her that this is no longer her home, and that her heart is securely rooted in Whiskey Springs with Fallon. She heads home, excited to see where the future will lead with Fallon but the past is still haunting them both. Taking things slowly, Riley and Fallon let their love blossom and continue to try to overcome the past demons that keep cropping up, sometimes unexpectedly.

This was amazing! I already loved the Whiskey Springs series from reading the first book Open Tab, but now I am completely in love with the place and the characters! It’s such a lovely little community, and Fallon is there, and its undeniable, everyone loves Fallon! And although this story is very much about Fallon and Riley’s relationship, the rest of the amazing cast are on hand to add to all the drama and fun of the spirited little community.

Owen, Riley’s little boy was a complete show stealer! If he doesn’t steal your heart like he did Fallon’s, their little moments together will. Fallon with Owen is without a doubt the cutest thing ever, and with Riley they are such a perfect little family. I loved seeing Fallon trip over herself as she is falling madly in love with both Riley and Owen, and planning a little future with them.

As always, there was a lot going on in Whiskey Springs, with their friends at the bar, and Andi. Fallon did a lot of ‘grown up’ connecting with Jacob (Andi’s son) and a lot of overcoming her own fears that were potentially holding her back, with Andi’s guidance, of course. I just love the dynamic going on in these stories and can’t wait to see the actual series that JA Armstrong is working hard on. It is going to be just as amazing as the books and I am super excited about it!

I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and see where Riley and Fallon’s love is going to take them to next! A great addition to a fantastic series that I can’t recommend enough. It’s lovely, it’s cosy, and it’s like home. Your next stop should definitely be Whiskey Springs, it’s worth the visits!
Profile Image for Jay  Tuma.
48 reviews8 followers
March 2, 2018
When is the next one coming out?

I am enjoying this series. Real life is often messy and painful. I'm frequently confounded by the friendships that emerge in the aftermath of long term relationships. I am personally not friends with any of my ex's and neither is my partner. I know it happens but I have no experience with it. It is hard for me to imagine. This series is giving some insight in that area. I'm looking forward to what goes on with And I and Billie, and anxious about Olivia. This series deals with more than just two characters, and that is another reason I like it. Waiting (im)patiently for the next book.
Profile Image for MEC.
390 reviews41 followers
April 6, 2019
Second in the series. If you enjoyed the first book, definitely read this one.

I've been in a bit of reading funk - picking up a book, reading a chapter and moving on to another one, reading a chapter and moving on again. These books were light enough and well written enough to pull me out of it. I'm not sure if I was in "power read" mode, but I found I blew through this book really fast - I didn't check the page count, but it seemed short.

This book focuses more on the two MCs and their relationship and the author is setting up one of the secondary characters to be front and centre in the next one. There's more angst in this one - not a lot, but more than the first as there's a villian who may want to destroy the MCs' relationship (damned exes) and some of the backstory between characters is filled in.

For some reason, when I've been reading these books, I've been reminded of Jericho. Something about the two MC and their banter perhaps.

Profile Image for Sam Way.
119 reviews3 followers
March 17, 2018
As per my review of the first book, the same repetition use of Fallon’s name irritated me, that alongside the phrase “this much I know/this much I do know/this much Riley knew” etc etc

Owen is still incredibly cute, Andi is a martyr and Olivia does my nut in.

I love the relationships between every character, the small town vibe is sweet and I look forward to the next in the series.
Profile Image for Karen.
887 reviews11 followers
June 20, 2021
From the title, I thought someone was opening up a cigar club in Whiskey Springs. I was wrong, but I did find out about the cigar club. This was fun to read. I had a hard time getting involved in my previous book so I started this one and zipped right through it since it absorbed me from the beginning.

This continues Fallon and Riley’s story, and includes their friends and family, including Olivia, Fallon’s ex. The relationships in Fallon’s family are strangely complex but also simple. Andi also deals with some family drama and her own changes. I liked that some of the other characters and their backstories from Open Tab were more developed here. There are a lot of threads being weaved throughout this story. This made me think a lot about family, found family, and love. The line about life being a mixture of chance and choice really resonated. I’m looking forward to the next in the series.
Profile Image for Kaye.
4,346 reviews71 followers
February 12, 2022
Second in the series and the prologue chapter is literally the final chapter from the first book. This moves the relationships forward although at a slow pace. Riley and Fallon are coming together as a couple and everyone loves and understands everybody. Except for the selfish ex-Olivia who is stirring the trouble pot. Riley continues to be the younger and wiser of the couple. She does have to deal with letting go of her feelings for her dead husband before really moving forward. Sweet, nurturing and a little repetitive. I know there are only four books in this series and I already feel that may not be enough. (3.5 stars)
Profile Image for Maryp.
62 reviews8 followers
September 10, 2020
Drama on top if drama, u loved every bit of it. And someone take out Olivia please.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
352 reviews46 followers
March 13, 2018
Sequel to Open....a continuation of life in Whiskey Springs, Vermont. This was a quick read and rapped up some of the story lines left dangling in the first. You definitely need to read the first or you will be lost. I wish the author had drawn out the angst just a little more. But reading it for free with Kindle Unlimited was most awesome! If you liked the first book-you will want to read this one!
6 reviews4 followers
November 14, 2018
The author portrays a group of women who deal with, generally, the shifting relationship of love and being in love that they endure and enjoy. The book portrays a low key set of relationships with a limited intensity focusing on two women, Fallon and Riley. these two are attempting to establish a permanent relationship despite the intervening. The low key nature of the various relationships provides the book with a sense of reality.
Profile Image for Susan.
671 reviews3 followers
May 16, 2018
Wonderful!

This well written second installment of the story of Fallon and Riley's story finds both women confronting the demons from the past that haunt each of them. The people closest to the women can clearly see the attraction between the two, even if they don't see it themselves. Fallon's love affair with her married best friend keeps her blinders on. Riley is trying to move beyond the memory of her dead husband. From the night that Fallon rescues Riley and her son from a raging winter storm upon their arrival in town, Owen latches onto Fallon. Fallon loves children, a fact that her ex has exploited since the moment she walked out on Fallon. The cast of characters are well developed and the storyline flows easily along, despite all of the turmoil. When Fallon and Riley realize their feelings are beyond mere friendship, both balk. Any relationship between them will impact more lives than either of them could imagine. Put this book on your must-read list and come along for the ride.
(Not really a cliff-hanger)
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