Imperial Stout

Trouble Brewing #1

by Layla Reyne

Layla Reyne spins off from her pulse-pounding Agents Irish and Whiskey books with Imperial Stout , the first installment in the Trouble Brewing series

It’s a good thing assistant US attorney Dominic Price co-owns a brewery. He could use a cold one. Nic’s star witness has just been kidnapped, his joint operation with the FBI is in jeopardy, his father’s shady past is catching up with him and the hot new special agent in San Francisco is the kind of distraction best handled with a stiff drink.

Kidnap and rescue expert Cameron Byrne has his own ideas about how to handle Nic, but his skills are currently needed elsewhere. The by-the-book FBI agent goes deep undercover as a member of an infamous heist crew in order to save Nic’s witness, break up the crew and close the case before anyone else gets hurt. Nic in particular.

Things heat up when Cam falls for Nic, and the witness falls for Cam. As the crew’s suspicions grow, Cam must decide how far he’s willing to go—and how far into his own dark past he’s willing to dive—to get everyone out alive.

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise : all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

This book is approximately 62,000 words

Carina Press acknowledges the editorial services of Deborah Nemeth

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Mystery, Contemporary, Audiobook, Crime, LGBT

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 23, 2018

About the author

Layla Reyne is the author of What We May Be and the Agents Irish and Whiskey, Fog City, and Perfect Play series. She writes sexy, intense LGBTQIA+ romance featuring competent adults in kitchens, sports arenas, car chases, and other high-stakes situations. Whether it’s adrenaline-fueled suspense, rival athletes, vampires and shifters in alt-realms, or love mixed with mouth-watering foodie goodness, queer folks finding happily-ever-afters is guaranteed.

Reviews

[Judith]

NR, DNF @around 20%.





This is a spin off from the Agents Irish and Whiskey series.I hadn't read that series but how hard could a spin off be to get into?

Turns out....very hard


This is full on action from the first page(my head was spinning),there's no introduction here and I had absolutely no idea what was going on and even after reading the beginning a few times I still didn't get it any better.Too much of a convoluted plot thrown at you,characters I didn't connect to or care about.

Review copy provided by the Publisher,via NetGalley

[Shile (Hazard's Version) on-hiatus · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

I believe this should not be read as a stand alone. It is a spinoff of Agents Irish and Whiskey Series.

I enjoyed this book more that i did Irish and Whiskey book 1, Of course, that being said, Jamie will forever be a darling.

The writing is good, I enjoyed the mystery a just a bit. It was not the edge of your seat kind, but still good.

The characters are very likable. I did not like Nic in Agent and Irish series, i mean anyone who messes with my Jamie, deserves a grudge, but, i can't believe i am saying this, i am liking him more than Cam. Maybe it is because he is a Silver Fox and i have a weakness for Silver Fox Men.



Their relationship is still at an early stage, i want to see how this one develops. I enjoyed Nic and Cam's interactions and banter.

Onto book 2. Nic and Cam.



For an amazing comprehensive review, see lovely Simone's Review.

[Simone - on indefinite hiatus - · Rating 5 out of 5]

***4.5 Stars***

Sometimes the past just catches up with you, whether you want it to or not, and some skeletons simply refuse to stay in the closet.

US Attorney Nic Price can tell you a thing or two about it...

As if dealing with a complicated case to bring down a cunning and ruthless heist crew and save his key witness in the process while fighting a dangerous attraction to a certain Assistant FBI Special Agent in Charge and being up against a devious boss who puts obstacles in his way left, right and center weren't already enough, someone apparently painted a target on his back and a loan shark his estranged father is up to his ears indebted to, sends out his goons in an attempt at intimidation. But all of them reckoned without their host...

... and also without the former kidnap and rescue expert, turned into the newest addition to the FBI field team in San Francisco, Cameron Byrne...

... who has also set his eyes on the hot attorney and who definitely wants a follow-up to the one kiss they shared, determined to protect Nic no matter what. But going undercover to infiltrate said heist crew revives his own ghosts of the past and coming out of this alive, preferably with Nic's witness doing the same, while maintaining his carefully built up new life is suddenly crucial to have a chance at a relationship with Nic and to lay some of the ghosts to rest for good.

Pheeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwww .... *deep sigh of relief*

I have to admit, I was a wee bit worried that this spin-off wouldn't live up to my expectations. I'm a huge fan of the Agents Irish & Whiskey series and coming remotely close to Jamie and Aidan would be a tough act to follow as it is. Don't get me wrong, I already loved Cam in this series and saying his somewhat sad and mysterious aura made me curious about his story would be a big understatement. Nic always remained a bit detached and aloof for me, though, so kudos to Ms. Reyne for making me getting more and more attached to him. So much so that I loved him and Cam alike in the end and I didn't even mind the -admittedly small- age-gap of ten years between these two. Lots of UST here, their chemistry is simply scorchin' and the few times they got down and dirty were equally hot.

What the hell is it with me and books that make me sigh so much lately??? LOL. Next sigh of relief goes to the story itself which was quite action-packed and thrilling... Not much technobabble this time and although there are quite a few subplots, not a second did I have problems to follow the storyline. I have to say, though, that I might have been lost if I haven't read the other series first. I would call Trouble Brewing not so much a spin-off, but rather a bit of a continuance of the Agents Irish & Whiskey series, only with Cam and Nic being the focus, so I would recommend to read this series first to get more background on the whole team. Oh, and just like the other series, this one has a continuing plot, and even if I wouldn't call the ending a cliffhanger in the classical sense, it's still an open end, just in case you wanna know. ;-)

***Thanks to my lovely ladies Karen and Christelle for reading this book with me and for doubling the fun I had with it. October can't come soon enough, girls. Oh, and oops, I might have stolen your pic, Karen, I hope you don't mind. ;-)

[~Mindy Lynn~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars!

It really does pain me to not give this story a higher rating. I was extremely excited to get approved for this book because Dominic and Cameron's story is one I had been really looking forward to. Unfortunately the story wasn't as smoothly done as the authors previous series, AIW.

I've read all the books that were in the other series including the shorty. Still I found myself confused through the beginning of this book. Right off we are thrown into an OP that is going down and both MC's are worried about the other, but why? Are they seeing each other? Have the started a relationship? Have they hooked up and shared more than just a kiss? I have no idea cause the author just drops you into some action and left out the delicious build up I was wanting the MC's to have so I could get to know them better. It continues this way for awhile. I wanted more character development. I wanted to feel a better connection between the 2 MC's. The book was very much heavy handed with the case they were working and not so much on the romance side. I wouldn't have minded that if I felt like I could connect with the characters better and felt the characters were more connected as well. Don't get me wrong, I really loved Cam and Nic together when they were actually alone together. But they didn't get much alone page time. Most of their time was spent working their case. So I guess I'm just disappointed that I didn't get more from the characters as I had wanted. We get some details of their past but not enough to satisfy me. I hope the next book is more character detailed and that it balances out with the action and the stuff going on around Nic.

Happy reading dolls! xx

ARC given by Netgalley and publisher

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imperial Stout (Trouble Brewing #1) is a spinoff of the Irish & Whiskey series by Layla Reyne, where we first meet Nic and Cam. You could tell there was an attraction between the two and I couldn’t wait to get their story.

Assistant US Attorney Dominic “Nic” Price and FBI Special Agent Cameron Bryne are working a case together and trying to keep their CI alive. When things don’t go as planned, Cam has to put his life on the line. Nic is struggling, not only with his new budding relationship with Cam, but someone is threatening Nic. He know his father is involved, but he needs to find out the details to finally put an end to it.

I loved both Nic and Cam and their very slow burn romance. Their chemistry is off the charts and there are a few pretty hot sex scenes. Plus, you get to see the whole gang again, even Danny. Although I did have one little niggle. Right from the beginning, there is a lot going on, maybe too much. I struggled to figure out who was who and I even thought I skipped a book. It does all work out, and by 15% I settled in and I started to understand more.

Since this does end with a HFN, I am anxious to get my hands on book 2. I think there is so much to learn about both Nic and Cam.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Mirjana **DTR - Down to Read** · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4.5 Stars***

I LOVED THIS!!

They might both get burned, but he was done watching the fire from a distance, holding himself back from the heat.

Before I get into my review, I want to address one important thing. This series is a spin-off from the Agents Irish and Whisky series which first introduced Nic and Cam as secondary characters. And while I really want to say that this can be read as a standalone, I'd be lying. I don't really think it can be.

Layla Reyne does a really good job of trying to bring you up to speed on who everyone is so new readers won't be confused, but unforunately, that also comes off as a bit of an information dump in the first few chapters. Also, you miss out on the nuances of all the relationship dynamics. The little things that make this story pop because you're already invested in this group of individuals who have become a family. Without having read the prior series, I just don't think a new reader will get the level of connection to these characters as is intended. And a lot of the small inside jokes and shared histories are missed out on.

BUT, good news is if you haven't read the Agents Irish and Whisky series then you have another AMAZING series to add to your eyeballs!! That series is one of my favorites. Period. Full stop. The romance between Aiden "Irish" and Jamie "Whiskey" will make you swoon. They quickly skyrocketed onto my favorite couples list by the end of the first book...and the second one (my favorite)....IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT DOWN! So my advice? Go read it all!!



Okay, let's jump into this book now.

Right from the beginning you're thrown into the suspense plot of this book. In the middle of an op, Cam and Nic are working together to take down a group of individiuals trying to steal some valuable artifacts. Balancing the outcome of the mission and the fear for each other's safety has the reader thrown right into all that tension. This sooooo worked for me. I was gripped from the opening pages!

The blurb does a perfect job of giving you a look at the plot, so I'll just focus on the feels.

TENSION!!! That's what you're going to get. Tension from the suspense element...obstacles were being thrown at them from every direction. Just when they'd find a leg up, something else would pop up. I was at the edge of my seat and glued to my kindle.

And the sexual tension OOOOHHHHH I. WAS. DYING...in the most delicious of ways. You sensed a sizzle between these two in the previous series, and then they shared a kiss at Jamie and Aidan's wedding in Blended Whisky...but here, all that yearning for another taste is bubbling underneath the surface. The secret touches. The interrupted moments. The whispered promises. The anticipation.

Their second kiss was wild and desperate, as scorching, as the first, and Nic already wanted a third. Wanted them all.

And Layla Reyne makes you wait for it! But she also makes that wait worth it. Soooooo worth it.

Cam trailed his open mouth along Nic's stubbled jaw and up to his ear.

"Boston..." A warning wrapped in so much desire it might as well have been a plea.

Nic and Cam had explosive chemistry. Layla Reyne is all about quality over quantity and the quality here had both me and my kindle melting.

"This is not you fucking me. This is me fucking you."

"Christ, the mouth on you..."

Cam looked up, devilish dark eyes twinkling. "Do you want it on you?"

"Fuck, yes."

"Hands on the fucking bar, then."

These were two strong willed men. Highly trained and respected in both their fields. Their work is dangerous. And with feelings quickly escalating, that danger rattled the walls around their hearts. They shared things with each other that very few people, and in some cases no one, knew.

They opened themselves up to the possibility of more....to the promise of something truly special.

While one suspense element is resolved here, there's another dealing with Nic's past that's still in a delicate position. Nic and Cam are in a solid HFN and trying to figure out the best way to tackle the issues with Nic's father.

They're committed to giving their relationship a true chance. Parts of their past are still hidden behind locked doors, but each man has already begun pulling out the key.

I'm off to dive into the next book and see where we go from here...

***ARC courtesy of publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for a review***

[Christelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 2019 reading year is promising : plenty of series finally fully released, so I can dive into them. The trouble brewing is one of them.
Rereading this first part before continuing drooling over Nic and Cam : even better than my first time as this time, I paid more attention to all the details and nuances 😍

Ready to discover more !!!

---------------------------
Initial review :
Not a standalone at all. The series “Agents Irish and Whiskey”, including the novella, has to be read first (not a hardship imo) : it introduces most of the characters and gives the first interactions between the MCs. Then this book is the first part of the story of Cam and Nic (I assume it’s a trilogy with "Craft Brew" and "Noble Ops" to be released in a few months).

Cam, (35) an FBI agent, works closely with Nic, (45) US attorney, to bring down a theft team. However, they face a lot of troubles : the investigation is a real minefield, a loan shark is after Nic’s father and somebody is trying to kill Nic. As if Cam and Nic didn’t have enough in their plates, the attraction brewing between them is only boiling up and getting harder to ignore.

Hold the press for a second : Jamie was THE star of the previous series for a lot of readers, myself included. Here, Nic is a solid competitor : the more I learned about Nic and the more I enjoyed this character.

Just as the previous series, it’s entertaining : suspense, twists and action add a nice edge to the development of the relationship between the MCs. And it’s hot : plenty of sexual tension and the beginning of sweaty sex promises for more goodness in the next instalments. The wait is going to be long **sigh**

BR with my partners in crime : Simone and Karen. Thanks for sharing this entertaining time with me. For sure, another BR date to set up when the rest of the series is released, yeah !!!

[Ky · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Imperial Stout" is the first book in Layla Reyne's new series, which is a spin off of her well-known Agents Irish and Whiskey series. The MCs, Cam and Nic, were first introduced to us there, but this time we get their story and it can be read as a starting point.

This book is clearly the beginning of more to come and you can't miss that after reading it. The ending is leaving a lot of things hanging and throughtout the story we are getting teases about the characters' pasts, but never the whole truth about what happened. It became a little frustrating because of all the half thoughts and implications, the darkness that surrounded their pasts was never adressed full on and we're left wanting the facts of what affected them so much and shaped them to be who they are.

It's a story that invites you to suspend your disbelief in order to enjoy it, or at least I had to do so because othewise I would have ended up constantry researching the things that seemed weird to me and unlikely to happen. For one thing, you couldn't figure out who was the boss, who called the shots and who everyone had to answer to. They were all tangled together and butting heads.

Also, Nic is a prosecutor but he had an active role in the investigation and did field work. In my mind the prosecutor goes in after the investigation, gathers all the facts and evidence and builds a case. His time is in the courtroom, not on the streets chasing suspects and running opperations.

You want another example? How about the fact that Cam hadn't picked a lock in twenty years, but he was still able to bust into a top of the art vault? I would have thought that technology would have progressed somewhat in two decades. So, as I said, be prepared to let some things slide and you're in for an exciting ride!

The case they were working was one with constant curve balls thrown in the way and they had to constantly adjust to the new variables. Aidan and Jamie were present here and it was nice to see them once more, but again there was the issue of who was in what possition and who was the boss of whom. Danny and Mel also found themselves mixed in the happenings, but I haven't read their book so to me they were just two secondary characters that I'd met in the original series.

The side plot that isn't resolved revolves around Nic's father and his financial status. It seems like there is danger all over the place for Nic so we'll see how that will turn out.

About the romance here, I would have prefered for them to have been more subtle with it especially since there are more books coming so there is time for them to be open once they've been together for a while and not right from the start. My issue here for wanting them to hide is that they work together and, from what I understood, their involvement is against the rules. So, it would have been more sensible to keep their relationship under wraps until they are sure of a future together and then see how they can keep their jobs and be together at the same time.

"Imperial Stout" was a nice start for this new series, with interesting charcters, nice action and deep secrets to be revealed.

4 stars



*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. *

[*J* Too Many Books Too Little Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

Great start to a new series, which is a spin-off from the Irish and Whiskey series. And I really loved that series.

Ever since meeting Nic and Cam I've been wanting their book. And it looks like this one will be a series much like Irish and Whiskey, as this one had more of a HFN ending.

This was a great mix of the suspense and romance. I thought Cam and Nic had great chemistry. They kind of danced around each other for awhile, let things build up.

I of course loved getting more Aiden (and a bit of Jaime). And I definitely can't wait for more of Nic and Cam.

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Cadiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I might even love these more than Irish and Whiskey ;)

Well that was just as good, if not even better, as an opener for this follow up to the Irish and Whiskey series.

Assistant Attorney Dominic and Aiden's number two - Jamie's best friend Cam - are even more alpha male than their fellow law enforcement colleagues and there's a slow burn with intense chemistry going on here.

Another really good plot, involving historical artefacts and a seriously twisted double crossing FBI plot sits alongside threats to Nic's life from his estranged father's actions.

As with the first series, the book's story wraps in this one, with the main narrative arc continuing through the series.

I'm loving it!

[CrabbyPatty · Rating 3 out of 5]

We met Nic and Cam briefly in Layla Reyne's excellent Agents Irish and Whiskey series and the two men shared a brief passionate kiss in "Blended Whiskey" (#4.5 in the series) at Aidan and Jaime's wedding. So I thought I was up-to-speed and ready to hit the ground running with the new Trouble Brewing series.

Except .... yeah, not so much. "Imperial Stout" drops us cold right in the middle of a convoluted operation involving Cam, Nic, Lauren, Bowers and Aidan, and their confidential informant Abby undercover in a criminal crew about to steal a priceless art collection. I spent the first 15-20% of the book trying to remember who was who (Cam was Jamie's partner and best friend, Bowers is the annoying jerkish boss), who had slept with who (for those keeping track at home, Nic slept with Aidan) and trying to decipher exactly what the heck was going on. I desperately needed a brief reintroduction to characters!

The book focuses primarily on the case Nic and Cam are working, with only hints of sexual tension and unresolved feelings. Since we don't know much more about Nic and Cam other than they are very attracted to one another, it's hard to get a sense of where their heads are regarding any sort of relationship. They share a (second) kiss about halfway through, and we finally get some honest-to-god sexual contact around 70%. Don't get me wrong, it's definitely worth the wait, but again, it was like being dropped in cold trying to figure out the relationship since there is only minimal character development for Nic and Cam.

At times, the pace of the story felt slow, perhaps because the art heist plot wasn't very interesting to me, and Nic and Cam's relationship was such a slow, slow burn. Also, we get loads of foreshadowing about their respective difficult pasts throughout the book (mostly the library card Cam always carries, and Nic's tattoo), but little in the way of more concrete details. And although the art heist is resolved by book end, the ending left me unsatisfied as there is just so little revealed about the two MCs and so many loose ends left to develop.

3.5 stars for the book, hoping that the next book(s) in the series will give us more in-depth characterization and start unraveling the mysteries involving both men's past.

I received an ARC from Carina Press, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!

[haletostilinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cam and Nic's books, the couple I have been waiting for, are here! And the start of their story does NOT disappoint!



I saw that these two had chemistry in the third book, and wondered if we'd get a book for them - luckily we're getting a whole damn series :D

This series starts two weeks after where Blended Whiskey left off. Cam and Nic kiss, but stop there, and haven't kissed since.

But now they're working on a case together, and becomes more complicated than either was bargaining for.

And part of the case forces Cam to face parts of his past, the not so pleasant parts, and hints at a tragedy he might have gone through, while Nic's past literally comes back to haunt him - or well, it's more his estranged father's mess, but it starts to open parts of Nic's past he wants to stay buried.

But this starts their love story, and of course I LOVED it. Their chemistry...UGH their chemistry was off the charts. The UST was ached sooo good, that there were so many moments I wanted them to just go at it, but then also the wait was sooo damn good!

This starts with them working pretty closely together because Aiden and Jamie are on their honeymoon at the start (ashfkasfh I wish we could get a short story of their honeymoon!) but then they come back around halfway through or thereabouts and while we didn't really get much of any couple-y moments with them, just the fact that they're married and happy and in love made me giddy. I have a feeling these two will help Nic and Cam get their butts in gear at some point down the line, because they had to fight through shit for their happy ending too.

But anyway! The story was just so good. The case takes up a big portion of the story, but it was interesting and exciting and you were wondering who they could trust and who they couldn't and who was behind it all and why.

And when Cam has to go undercover, it's like - I knew he would never turn, like at all, but I still ended up worrying anyway, or more, worrying over what Cam would have to do going undercover. But there was some fun things that come out of Cam being undercover for Cam and Nic, so that was fun to read.

Danny and Mel make an appearance as well in this, and its always fun to see them.

Nic's boss, though...that dude is so shady, and a complete asshole. I wonder if he's hiding something and if he's gonna be a big factor in future stories...hmmm. Just know that this guy will piss you off a lot. He even ruins an operation they have by freaking out their informant and it all goes to shit because of him and then he has the GALL to blame Cam and Nic. UGH. He'll be fun to hate, that's for sure.

Also, since this is the start of their love story, it ends on a very tentative, barely there HFN. But so much shit happens that by the time the case is over they've barely started their relationship, so that's why it's so tentative. Also, these two are still hiding things from each other (obviously, as drawn as they are to each other, they don't quite trust each other enough for all the deep shit yet) and it ends on a "yay they're happy and together and starting something!" but also a "oh shit angst will happen for sureee, better be prepared."

But I'm not too worried because off of Reyne's stories have ended on a happy note, but I actually can't wait to go even further into Cam and Nic's relationship. They're just so interesting and hot and passionate together.

And they're definitely in the little family unit now of Aiden, Jamie, Mel and Danny. They've all become so close and trust each other so implicitly and it's wonderful. Having people like that in your life is a lucky thing to have, and I just love the close relationships they've all come to develop.

Also, the sex...it takes a bit for us to get it but when we do...whoo boy ;) was it hotttt. Needed a fan after.

I just love these two, I love this book and I'm hooked, ready for more of their story. HIGHLY recommend, especially if you loved the Irish and Whiskey series, because this story follows along the lines of that, and it has another couple to love and root for and go "hot damn!" when they get into bed together ;).

Loved this!! So much! Two enthusiastic thumbs up from me :D



***ARC generously provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.***

[Jennifer☠Pher☠ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I really liked this! I had a pretty good idea that I would but you never know right? There really was only one thing unfortunately that kept this from being a 5★ perfect read for me and made it a 4 ★ almost perfect read instead, but 4★'s is pretty good, yeah? Yeah.

But before we get to that, I have to say this and get it off my chest; disclaimer of sorts. First and foremost, if you have not read the Agents Irish and Whiskey Series stop and go do that. Do not read further. Turn around and start there. I know this is technically a brand new series but it is truly more than just a spin-off so I do not think you should start here. To me a spin-off tells the story of a secondary character maybe in the same town living his/her life. This is not that. This is so intertwined with the original series they just can’t be read separately in my opinion. So much of this will not make sense to you if you have not read the AIW series. Yeah, I know, I have a thing for reading orders but this isn’t about that. I’ve seen some reviews from people who started with this and they just didn’t get it. I believe it! There is so much crossover and history it would be a hard read without the backstory. Not to mention, that is where we see the initial kiss with Cam and Nic. So, yeah, don’t start here guys! It is just not fair to Cam and Nic.

With that out of the way, let’s get down to it and start with the setup. A kiss. The first and only kiss and that did not even happen in this book. That is pretty much it and it is important that you experienced it because this book starts with us thrown right into the action of an ongoing case Cam and Nic are working on. Boom!! Right into the thick of things. This is exciting, don’t get me wrong, the story starts with a bang but it also starts with a familiarity and care between Cam and Nic that I feel like I totally missed out on even though I have read everything before this book. I love the get to know each other period. I love the insane chemistry and looks and all that fun stuff that happens when two people are getting together, I feel we were just kind of expected to believe it happened. More than that, I wanted to see the arguing. Sounds like it was fantastic foreplay. But, we didn’t get that really. Just the idea of it and that kind of sucked.

So that's it. My only real issue with the book actually, but guys, this didn’t ruin the experience for me, not at all. I kind of loved the book anyway. I loved the case and the excitement and the danger. I loved that the gang was all here and accounted for. I even loved Mel, kind of. I know with this being a series there will be more time for us to get into it with Cam and Nic. I expect to learn a lot and see a lot and feel a lot with the upcoming books since this is going to be a series. I get that there will be a build to the HEA we all crave and I can dig that. I just wish this book had built a better foundation for Cam and Nic but I’ll be ok with the one it did build and I’m very anxious for the next book.

So yeah, overall this was a fantastic read to me I just feel a tad bit cheated on the get to know you phase of their relationship and I really missed it. Everything else was perfection.

**ARC provided by A Novel Take Promotions in exchange for an honest review.**

[Debra ~~ seriously slacking on her reviews ~~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good start to the spin-off from the Agents Irish & Whiskey series. While this is a spin-off, I would suggest you don't go into it without having read the previous series - it's fantastic so I don't think it would be much of a chore - since Cam & Nic's story started there and the reader is just dropped into the middle of things at the start. Everyone from Irish & Whiskey is back and playing a part here. I imagine there would be plenty of confusion as to the players and the relationships if you just jump in.

Once again there is plenty of action, secrets and chemistry between the two MCs. The romantic relationship is just starting and I would have liked the two to have a bit more one-on-one time, but the time they do spend together is enough to feel how much they already care.

While the main case is wrapped up, there are still some hanging storylines that will continue and I'll be immediately jumping into book two.

[⚣Michaelle⚣]

OMG I want this so much I could cry...

Wheeee:
ARC provided via Netgalley and Carina Press in exchange for honest review.

[Santy · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, a BIG shout out to my lovely PMC thread on the Turning Pages At Midnight Group who finally got me read this book. Thanks Stephanie!

I loved this book from beginning to end.

This is a spin-off from the Irish & Whiskey series so you might have to read at least the last book in that series before you can fully enjoy this book.

It was a fast paced, no holds barred trip that left me begging for more. Cam and Nic were perfect for each other and there was just the right amount of angst and mystery surrounding certain events in their lives that gave it the perfect set up for the next book in the series.

From initial reviews, looks like Book 2 is going to be even better than this one and since I have already pre-ordered it, you KNOW i'm more than ready to read it.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up to 5 because still no 1/2 stars here on GR and this one was too good to round down on...full review to follow...soonish...I hope!

[Dísir · Rating 1 out of 5]

‘Imperial Stout’ is me stepping out of my comfort zone when it comes to M/M fiction, though Layla Reyne isn’t a new author to me. Written in a fairly different style from what I’m used to, and not having read Reyne’s ‘Agents Irish and Whiskey’ series, this is me coming in as a newbie. So with a very busy first chapter that included not only an action scene but a load of history between the protagonists which sort of involved also a best friend’s partner and ex-flame, I was a little lost, though duly warned about the kind of romance this path would take.

Still, I found it hard to engage with this one with the convoluted way the plot was initially presented, not like the way I was engaged in Reyne’s ‘Changing Lanes’ series, with my attention constantly pulled between the intrigue, the brewery, the huge number of characters mentioned or dropping in and the romance that was supposedly building. The pairing—between a US Attorney and a kidnap and rescue specialist with the FBI—, while intriguing, seemed to fade behind the never-ceasing activity that kept going on and I never quite lost the feeling of trying to play catch up having walked straight into a tv-series mid-season just as the action was heating up.

‘Imperial Stout’ is safe to say, probably more a book for Reyne’s stalwart followers of her previous series who want to continue into this spin-off in this particular world of whiskey, agents and lawyers. That said, while I still do like Reyne’s writing, I’m going to take a pass on this book and the series. I did try to get into Nic/Cam as much as possible, skimming the pages just to see how things finally fell into place for them, but ultimately, I just didn’t feel as though I made any headway into them at all. And without the base appeal of the main pairing in this romance, I couldn’t quite see the point going on.

*ARC by the publisher via Netgalley

[Caz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've given this a C at AAR.

I enjoyed Layla Reyne’s  Agents Irish and Whiskey  romantic suspense novels, and was delighted when the author announced she would be writing a spin-off series featuring two of the prominent secondary characters from those books, Assistant US Attorney (and former Navy SEAL) Dominic Price, and Special Agent Cameron Byrne, one of the FBI’s top kidnap and rescue specialists.  I’ve been looking forward to Imperial Stout (book one in the  Trouble Brewing  series) for some time, so I really wanted to love it… but sadly, I didn’t.  Many of the things that worked so well in the previous books are absent here; the principals and their backstories are underdeveloped, and while Nic and Cam have chemistry in spades, there’s no emotional connection or sense of a relationship developing between them.  Add to that the large suspensions of disbelief required by the sometimes frenetically paced plot, and I came away from the book feeling disappointed.

Imperial Stout opens in media res as we find Nic and Cam in the middle of an operation to apprehend a gang intending to steal a number of priceless Serbian artefacts from recently arrived dignitary Stefan Kristić and his wife.  But something goes wrong, Anica Kristić is killed, and most of the gang gets away – but not before someone starts shooting at the van containing Nic and the surveillance team.  Nic gets to show his badass ex-SEAL side by taking out the shooter, but it’s too late to save the operation, which has gone badly sideways.  When their informant is kidnapped and Nic’s boss – an all-round pompous git and complete idiot – manages to screw up their scheme to rescue her (I had to ask myself how the hell such a stupid man had managed to keep such a high-powered job), they are left with only one option. The exhibition featuring the Serbian artefacts is only days away from opening, and if Cam and Nic are to apprehend the gang, rescue their informant and bring Anica Kristić’s murderer to justice, they need to put someone on the inside; and Cam, whose murky past seems to have prepared him for such a role, is the best choice.  It’s not going to be easy, and Cam has reasons of his own for being apprehensive, but it’s him or no one and time is running out.

Running alongside this storyline is the one that looks set to run throughout the series, in which Nic discovers that his father, real estate magnate Curtis Price, is up to his eyeballs in debt to some not-very-nice people. Nic and his father haven’t spoken a word to each other in twenty-seven years – ever since Nic came out – but the man to whom Price owes a small fortune isn’t interested in that. If he can’t use Nic as leverage against his father, then he’ll force Nic to pay what his father owes.

Imperial Stout had a lot of potential, but very little (if any) of it is fulfilled, and it seems that character development has been sacrificed for the sake of the plot which, it has to be said, is rather superficial. While Nic and Cam featured in the previous series, they were secondary characters, so I’d hoped Ms. Reyne would be starting afresh as it were, re- introducing them to readers as leads and allowing us to get to know them at the same time as the suspense plot gradually unfolded and brought them together. Instead, we’re told they shared a passionate kiss a few weeks earlier (at Aidan and Jamie’s wedding), and from both their PoVs, we know they want more; but lots of mental lusting is no substitute for watching two people forge a strong emotional connection as they get to know and invest in one another.

I said earlier that a rather large suspension of disbelief is required when reading Imperial Stout, and I found myself frequently taken out of the story as I came across something that seemed completely implausible. For example – I confess I’m not all that up on how the American law-enforcement and justice systems work, but is it usual for an Assistant US Attorney to be present (and armed) during a take-down? And then for him to take an active role in the investigation? Isn’t his job to gather facts and evidence and build a case and present it in the courtroom after the operation is concluded? I know the lawyer-as-investigator is a common character in police procedurals, which contributed to the overall feeling I had that I was reading something akin to a TV cop show, with its almost break-neck pacing and action-fuelled set pieces. Cam infiltrates a supposedly dangerous criminal gang with ease in a matter of hours; he’s up on all the latest ways to crack safes, pick locks and hack electronic security, and his fear that he risks crossing a line he hasn’t crossed in twenty years seems melodramatic and highly unlikely.

Much as it pains me to say it, I can’t really recommend <Imperial Stout to fans of m/m romantic suspense, although I’ll probably read the next book because I’m intrigued by Nic’s storyline and want to see how it plays out. I’ll cross my fingers and hope that Craft Brew – due out this October – marks a return to form for Ms. Reyne.

[Anna]

ETA: Listened to the audio book for my second read. I have the advantage of having already read the last two books as well, since my initial read of Imperial Stout, so I was able to pay attention to how Layla laid out the overarching plot and the little hints she dropped into this book.

Tristan James does a fantastic job at narrating and it was delightful to hear Jamie and Aidan again, on top of Cam and Nic.

Original review: Yes, yes, yes, MORE.

I loved this, and I'm signing up for Team Nic. I know a lot of folks will ask, "how like AIW is this?" And the answer is "Not the same, but if you loved those books, you'll love these."

The pace is a tiny bit slower to me? I don't know why I feel that, but it's okay. The suspense part is front-loaded, too. Lots of UST. Cam and Nic already know there's something between them. They're not fighting around grief. Nor around keeping secrets. But they are fighting against the fact that they both have pasts and that they're more or less co-workers.

The story is good, too, and I am really interested in the over-arching plot.

And I really, really hope Bowers ends up at the bottom of the ocean before this is done. What a tool.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit slow for me and took awhile to heat up. I found myself getting a bit distracted at times - it sure if it was a case of me and not the book ! I can see this will be a solid spin off from Whisky & Irish so I’m in for book 2 with Nic & Cam - happy to see where it goes.

[Skirmish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Reaction: https://neverhollowed.com/2018/10/28/...
Rating: 3.5 Stars - that place between like and love

[Sara]

5 Hearts

First thing first: I am going to implore any of you that see this book and go into reading it as a standalone to not do it. Yes, I know it’s listed as first in a series and well, I guess you could read the whole universe it’s involved in backwards but I don’t recommend it. This is a spinoff of one of my favorite series: Agents Irish and Whiskey Series and in that series is where we first meet Assistant US District Attorney Dominic Price and Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Cameron Byrne. There is history with these two long before you open this book and you really need to witness their sexual tension that leads up to a kiss at a wedding.Then gets ramped up to 11 in this book as they are working a case together. Nic and Cam were so special in the AIW series that I was begging for them to get their own series and when the author teased about it and then confirmed, I was so ready. See, they were so freaking good as supporting characters for Aidan and Jamie that they would have to blow my socks off in their own series and boy did they ever! This is just the first book, a book that amazed me, had me riveted to the page and squirming with all the sexual tension between Nic and Cam that I melted right off my chair when they finally give in. The book is a good one. The series it came from is stunning and I would love for everyone to meet all the players that show up in this to get the full experience.

Okay?
Thanks.
Now to try and review this…

An attraction that had boiled over in that one kiss…

This story is one hell of a ride. We begin straight away with the action as Nic and Cam are running an operation that gets turned upside down and puts both men in danger. Told from Nic’s POV first, we know his thoughts keep straying to keeping Cam safe and that he wants nothing more than to have a second kiss. Gunfire and shit hitting the fan leads the men and their combined team efforts to find out what with wrong with the op when a dignitary’s wife is killed and we get thrust into Cam’s POV. Why am I telling you this? Because it’s important to set up the beginning of this book, to let us know that no matter what the argument is, these two are in over their heads and pretty much head over feet for one another, they just don’t know how to handle it yet. So, back to Cam’s POV and his worry regarding basically everything that comes along with crushing on Ex-Navy SEAL and Assistant US District Attorney Dominic Price when they are thrust into a deeper situation than either man predicted.

Wow.

Okay, I am talking in major circles so let’s just put this simply: Nic and Cam are working together on a case that is actually led by Aidan Talley, who is currently on his honeymoon. The men have to deal with asshole US District Attorney Bowers, who I wanted to punch repeatedly throughout this book. I still don’t know what was up the dude’s ass when it came to the entire team other than he is just an asshole, but anyway. They have to consider what their CI may know about her girlfriend’s plan and how the third party came into play during the operation she was working on with them.

Good lord. I have to say that when I first met Dominic Price as someone involved with Aidan I didn’t like him and my dislike was purely due to the fact that Aidan belonged with Jamie. But through the AIW series and Nic’s actions, he started to grow on me. When Jamie’s best friend and the FBI’s best kidnap and rescue agent Cam is brought in to help and he meets Nic, the spark of attraction was palpable between them and I started to see Nic different. I started to adore Nic more times than not and I really fell hard for him once the series was done and then that small POV in Blended Whiskey tipped the scales. I love Nic and we get so much more of him than I could have expected with his back story. And not just of his SEAL days, but what he has gone through with his family and the father he hasn’t spoken to in 27 years. I also love that we get parts of him with his brewery, his feelings about Jamie, Aidan, Mel, Danny and more important about Cam. Nic is so lost in what he wants from Cam but he doesn’t know how to reach out and grab hold of it.

Now, Cameron is another story. I’ve loved him from the moment I met him on the page and thinking of his Boston accent coming through makes me grin. Once again, Cameron has a heartbreaking backstory that is visited here and only hinted at a deeper story that led him to his passion of being a kidnap and rescue agent. A reminder is always on Cameron of someone lost and while we get the who towards the end of the story, it is in no way a closed case, literally. But Cam, I love being in his head seeing how he works as an agent and seeing how much he wants Nic. How these two see one another, I wish they could put it to film and play it for each other so they would know how deep the feelings between them go before that second kiss every happens.

Oh yeah, that second kiss. This story is so freaking fracking full of UST, it’s insane and I am absolutely crazy for it. The way they dance and circle around the attraction is so good and it hurt so badly, but I would totally ask for more. Knowing that their attraction and being witness to their first kiss helped ramp up the tension between then. I have to say, UST done well is fantastic. Reyne gives it to us again and again in a way you don’t mind, because you know UST this good will have an explosion of emotions when the men let themselves become intimate. And… it’s totally worth it. Trust me on that.

When it comes to stories like that of high level attorneys, FBI agents and the like I am always floored by how the author can pull someone like me into the story. I know nothing about being a SEAL, a JAG officer, a AUS or a ASAC, about running covert operations or thievery of Siberian artifacts, but OMG I was so in this story. Reyne’s words are always cinematic and I was in the thick of it every stop of the way. I was as entrenched in the storm of bullets as they flew and I was feeling the sexual tension that I needed a release just as bad as Cam and Nic! It’s just so good and while reading all of this, I felt like I knew what I was doing because the characters did.

Of course, I love that we get to see Aidan and Jamie again as well as Mel and Danny. I was so happy that Lauren was working with the team because she really does excel as a Mini Jamie and her wit always cracks me up. Getting to see a new side of Cam kinda like we did with Aidan as Ian gave more to the story and the romance between him and Nic and I just ate it up. I read and I read even when I wasn’t supposed to be reading at work. The files on my desk have piled high and I will have to scramble to meet deadline but I don’t care. The book was that good and everything including the secrets were worth it, because I know there is at least one more book after this. More Nic and Cam is not a bad thing at all.

So after all that, I need to add one more thing.

I have fixation with book titles and that moment in the story that it clicks, that the title makes sense. What I loved about the AIW series is how I could relate the whiskey to the romance and guess what? I can relate the beer to this series too.

You see. Imperial Stouts were created to be stronger beer, a more aggressive brew that could survive its temporary and yet difficult stay without spoiling and with that they became a different and new style of beer. With this book, we have the same universe, yet a new style of coupling between Nic and Dom and how they blend their world of the US Attorney’s office and FBI together. What we also get is their temporary, but difficult stay of not breaking rules or crossing line by being intimate with one another without spoiling all the yummy UST. You see where I am going with this? Imperial stouts are brewed to be formidable and have the ability to weather the storm in the cold climates where they were originally favored. Formidable and able to weather the storm are pretty much the same descriptions you could use for Dominic and Cameron’s new found relationship and romance. Both men are formidable in their careers and both men have been through much more than I would have expected, but they can outlast the past and together they can push the envelope of what is the accepted standard and create something new. Something that is just theirs while harboring no disrespect to heritage or tradition, but simply broadening it with who they are. Yup, this title works and I will leave you with this: The combination of roasted barley and other dark characters malts will give an imperial stout a bittersweet personality… barley, which is known to be milder when combined with a dark character.

Hmm…

***ARC provided by Carina Press via NetGalley***

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review from 2018

B for narration; C for content.

I’ve been looking forward to this latest book from Layla Reyne for months. I loved her Agents Irish and Whiskey series of fast-paced, steamy romantic suspense novels, and was over the moon when she announced that she’d be writing a spin-off series featuring two of the major secondary characters from those books – Special Agent Cameron Byrne, one of the FBI’s top K&R (kidnap and rescue) specialists and Assistant US Attorney Nic Price. Imperial Stout is book one in the Trouble Brewing series (as well as his day job as a legal eagle, Nic co-owns a craft brewery) and I was looking forward to more of the same; a fast-paced, tightly plotted and complex story and two fully rounded, engaging characters I could root for. Sadly, however, Imperial Stout doesn’t deliver on any of those things. There’s an attempt to follow a similar pattern as the I&W books, in that there’s one thread that looks set to run through the whole series, accompanied by a self-contained plot that is wrapped up by the end of each book; but while the long-running thread is certainly intriguing, the self-contained plot is pretty lacklustre, the villain is a caricature and the large suspensions of disbelief required on the part of the listener in order to make it work are just too much.

I should also say that while this is the first in a new series, I suspect that newbies might find themselves rather lost as the opening chapters assume listeners are familiar with both protagonists and the various other secondary characters who either appear or are name-checked.

The book opens as Nic and Cam are in the middle of an operation to take down a dangerous gang of thieves who are attempting to steal some priceless Serbian artefacts that are due to form a high-profile museum exhibit. Nic is on edge, fretting over the idea of Cam being injured, when someone starts shooting at the van containing him and the surveillance team. A former Navy SEAL, Nic isn’t going to just sit back and get shot at, so he goes after the shooter; meanwhile the operation to capture the gang goes awry, and the wife of the Serbian dignitary who escorted the artefacts to the US is killed.

Some of the gang members are apprehended during the raid, but none of them are talking; and when Nic’s star witness and confidential informant, Abby Monroe, is kidnapped from under their noses, it looks as though the chances of bringing them down permanently is slipping away. The situation is helped not at all by the fact that Nic’s boss is engaged in a long-standing game of one-upmanship with Aiden Talley, who is now Special Agent in Charge of the San Francisco office of the FBI, and in Aiden’s absence (he’s on his honeymoon) is stirring up as much trouble for Cam (Aiden’s second-in-command) and Nic as possible. (I couldn’t help asking myself how such a complete idiot had risen to a position of such authority – seriously, the man is a complete dickhead!) Thanks to his interference, the rescue operation Nic and Cam put together is completely screwed up, which leaves them with only one alternative option to foil the plot to steal the artefacts, bring Anica Kristić’s killer to justice and rescue Abby. They need to put someone on the inside, and fast – and it seems that Cam’s somewhat murky past makes him the ideal man for the job. Cam has deeply buried reasons of his own for being wary, but time is running out; it’s him or no-one, and there’s no way he’s not stepping up to the plate.

Most of the problems I experienced with this story are in this part of the plot, which is full of holes, inconsistencies and stretches the listener’s credulity to the limit. So many of the plot points just don’t ring true; it usual for a US Attorney to attend a shake down and take an active role in an investigation? Would he go around armed, regardless of his background or training? How is Cam able to infiltrate a supposedly deadly dangerous gang so easily? How come he’s up to date on all the latest ways to crack safes, pick locks and hack electronic security? (a sort of explanation is given, but it’s pretty lame); and most of all, his concerns about going undercover are just ridiculous. He’s been an FBI agent for twenty years and he’s worried about falling back into his old habits and way of life? Come ON.

While I liked Nic and Cam, I was sorely disappointed at the lack of depth to their characterisation and lack of backstory for them both. We’ve met them before as secondary characters, it’s true, but in their own book I had expected we would get to know them in much the same way as we got to know Aiden and Jamie in the previous series, with the author gradually revealing more about them as the suspense plot wove around them and gradually pulled them together. But here, we’re told that Cam and Nic shared a passionate kiss a few weeks earlier (at Aiden and Jamie’s wedding) and that they’re both hankering for more but are still dancing around each other … for reasons I couldn’t quite fathom. In chapter 4, in Cam’s PoV we’re told that Nic is “the man who’d grown to mean more to him than he should”, but we don’t know why that is, or how it happened. And later, in Nic’s, that Cam has “grown to mean more to him than any other in a long time.” In both cases, we’re TOLD. Not shown. There’s definitely strong sexual chemistry between the pair, but I wasn’t feeling anything deeper; and lots of mental lusting is no substitute for developing an actual romance and emotional connection between your protagonists.

Nic’s plotline is much more promising and is the reason I will pick up the next book. His father, a property magnate, is in serious financial trouble and has borrowed money from some very unsavoury characters. Father and son are estranged and have been ever since Nic came out twenty-seven years earlier, but Curtis Price’s creditors don’t care; if they can’t use Nic as a bargaining chip, they’ll extort the debt out of him when his father can’t pay.

While the story was disappointing, however, the narration was not. The last narration by Tristan James I listened to (in Rhys Ford’s Rebel) wasn’t up to his usual standard, but I was pleased to hear him back on form here. His pacing is generally a little on the slow side, but that’s not something that bothers me, and his delivery is much more upbeat than the last time I listened to him. His character differentiation is pretty good all round; there are a large number of male speaking parts in the story, and while some of the minor roles sound similar, for the most part, the characters are clearly delineated and Nic, Cam and Aiden are easy to tell apart. It helps that Cam and Aiden both have accents; Cam’s Boston accent is referred to often, as is Aiden’s Irish one, and Mr. James does a good job with them both (I listened to some examples of the Boston “Southie” accent that’s described in the text so I could get an idea of what I was listening out for!) – but my favourite vocalisation out of the three was the slightly deepened, authoritative tone he adopts to portray Nic, which fit the image of him in my head perfectly. My main criticism of the performance is that Mr. James’ female voices aren’t great. They’re by no means horrible and he doesn’t pitch them into the stratosphere, they’re just a little … unsubtle sometimes.

Unfortunately, however, Mr. James’ more than decent narration isn’t enough to paper over the cracks in the story, and I’d hesitate to recommend Imperial Stout.

[Under the Covers Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


I've been wanting to read Layla Reyne for a while and I just couldn't pass up reading IMPERIAL STOUT even though it's a spin off series.  While I was scared I would be a little lost or would feel there was something missing, I'm happy to report that the author did a good job at dropping the few tidbits of information that pertain to the connection to the previous series and I had no problem jumping into this one and enjoying it.

It's no secret that I love my m/m packed full of alpha males and this book delivered!  Nic and Cam are both take charge men.  They're badass and great at their job.  I loved the dynamics between them in this book.  There was a kiss before this book started but they were still staying away from each other and they are working an important case here.  It's always nice when the author gives enough importance to the suspense plot around the romance and not let the romance hinder that.  I thought that balance was nicely done here.

Overall, I can't wait to continue reading this series!  And I definitely need to catch up with the first series because I have a feeling this can turn into one of my go-to m/m authors.

Favorite Quotes:

All sings pointed to danger.
So of course his fucking dick wanted to run right to it.

"I really want to kiss you again."
Nic smirked. "Why do you think I brought the stout?"
"Cause it's my favorite."
Using his hand around Cam's neck, Nic angled the other man's face in and licked his lips. Tasting, teasing. "No, Boston. 'Cause I like the taste of my beer on you."

*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Francesca❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤

[~Kristin~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 Stars
I loved the Irish Wisky series, and really liked both of these MC in that series, but I had a hard time connecting to them in this story. I’m not sure what it was but, the magic just wasn’t there for me until close to the end. I’m going to go ahead and give book two a chance, but I’m not giving it days like I did this one. If not for my love of the first series, I wouldn’t have stuck it out...fingers crossed we get some real chemistry in the next book.

[Gerbera_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked Irish and Whiskey series by Layla Reyne, and with mixed reviews I was a little reluctant to start this spin-off. Well, I actually liked these two MCs better. Yes, I enjoyed Cam and Nic's story more. There was such intensity between them and considering how complex and secretive these two men are I expect it will only get better in the next book.

Dominic Price is a high-powered prosecutor, he is successful and well-connected. And on top of everything else he is a decent man with life lived to the fullest. He has friends, his own business and nothing can be better except to have a loving man at his side. Throughout the book bit by bit Nic's story is told in little snippets that show what exactly shaped the man.

Cameron Byrne is a dedicated agent, in fact he is one of the best. But what drives him to be best? He has made many mistakes in the past for which he feels he needs to atone. He thinks that he is unworthy of Nic, and Nic in turn thinks that he is not good for Cam. They circle around each other for months, they know what they want but neither takes that first step. It all changes when a case goes haywire, and Cam has to go undercover and resurrect skills buried deep and better left untouched. He has to use cunning intelligence to survive and save innocent lives. He is scared that he will go off the deep end, but Nic is there to pull him out, to be the anchor Cam desperately needs. Together with their team of agents who become their family they uncover a nasty plot and put away the culprits for good.

But in the meantime Nic finds himself in danger from a known criminal due to his past coming to claim what is rightfully his, and Nic will do everything possible to keep the people he loves safe and keep his well-built life crumbling like a deck of cards. The bullets fly, people lie and threats abound and he is forced to ask for help. In the end it's evident that the threat is more than he can deal with on his own. I loved the action and intrigue of the case, not knowing who was on whose side, the subterfuge was awesome. I loved how Cam and Nic were together, how they struggled and supported each other. And I loved all the characters who came back from the previous series, they made the read great. There were funny, thrilling, tender and steamy moments and it was all well-balanced. I think the next book will be smashing! I highly recommend it!

[Em · Rating 2 out of 5]

Based on my COMPLETE AND TOTAL love for all things Agents Irish and Whisky, Imperial Stout should have been a home run for me. Unfortunately, Ms. Reyne sacrifices the development of her primary characters in favor of a not-very-compelling suspense plot, and the novel suffers.

In this first book of the new Imperial Stout series, I hoped to get to know Cameron and Dominic and their individual backstories. Had Ms. Reyne spent more time developing these two, I would have been more invested in the suspense plot that brings them together. Instead, Ms. Reyne assumes her reader knows and already loves these two, and has them lusting after each other every time they meet. They're both territorial, stereotypical alphas who always go it alone/are the best at everything they do/are plagued with demons from the past.

Look, I like a super capable alpha, but lawyers who sit at a desk or in a courtroom all day (Dominic) are rarely bad asses in a street fight or when facing unknown 'baddies.' And guys who barely know the case in question (Cameron) & also have a possible conflict of interest, aren't what I would consider a 'convincing pick" to be inserted deep undercover with a criminal gang - or accepted by the violent/active gang based on little more than the recommendation of someone, somehow affiliated with said gang - regardless of fake tattoos, hair dye and makeovers that make them look street tough. Folks, if that's the vetting process, no wonder they get caught. Please. The whole undercover operation was totally ridiculous.

The villains are over the top caricatures who catch a lot of breaks/smoke a lot of dope/have a lot of sex...and barely plot or connive to do much of anything.

Nothing about this novel rang true or authentic and it was a disappointment from start to finish.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.5 stars

mperial Stout is the first book in Layla Reyne’s new Trouble Brewing series, focused on two side characters from her fabulous Agents Irish and Whiskey series. I absolutely love that first series and so I was thrilled to see that Reyne was spinning off Cam and Nic into a series of their own. While these guys are new MCs and you could technically read this as a standalone, I think you will appreciate this book much more if you are familiar with Irish and Whiskey as the major players from that series all appear here in side roles. While their background and relationship to Nic and Cam are explained, it is nice to have that framework of their personalities and backstories here.

Reyne is so fabulous at romantic suspense and I think she really demonstrates that here. The investigation is fast paced and exciting. I found it complex enough to keep me engaged, but not so overwhelming that I couldn’t follow the intricacies of what is going on. Things come together in very clever ways and I found this aspect of the story so well done. Adding in what is going with Cam and his father, and this book is full of excitement and suspense.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.

[Diane Dannenfeldt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad that Ms Reyne did a spin-off of the Irish and Whiskey series and it features Nic and Cam. These two do dance around each other for a large part of the book, but once they finally some the dancing, the fireworks exploded. This book picks up not long after Blended Whisky and their first kiss. Now they are working on a case together involving attempted theft from a dignitary who is going to show them at a museum opening. Things go FUBAR and Cam ends up going undercover. We find out about some of Cam’s past and he has to call on that experience to make it out alive. There were times that I was really worried that things were going to go terribly wrong. And while all this is going on, the people that Nic’s estranged father owes a huge amount of money to, start taking potshots at Nic. This was definitely a sit on the edge of your seat read. Oh and I so hate Nic’s boss and want to know what is driving his anger and hatred. I can’t wait for the next book in this series, so Ms Reyne, write faster ;)

I am so glad this came out in audio, the talent Tristan James did an amazing job narrating this one!
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.