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jmoura01's review against another edition
4.0
Risks and Whiskey
by Dani McLean
Pub Date: 24 Mar 2022
Wes and Liv are actors on a hugely popular tv series. He’s been silently crushing on her for six years. Obviously, Wes knows how to be patient. Liv on the other hand can’t wait. Sparks fly between the two on this sizzling friends-to-lovers slow burn romance.
I’ve never read a book by Dani McLean and now I wonder why. Loved Wes. Liz started out sounding immature, or was it just young? I really liked seeing her grow and take ownership of her future. This was such an enjoyable read! I look forward to catching up on Dani McLean’s previously released books.
Thanks to NetGalley and Set the Mood Publishing for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
by Dani McLean
Pub Date: 24 Mar 2022
Wes and Liv are actors on a hugely popular tv series. He’s been silently crushing on her for six years. Obviously, Wes knows how to be patient. Liv on the other hand can’t wait. Sparks fly between the two on this sizzling friends-to-lovers slow burn romance.
I’ve never read a book by Dani McLean and now I wonder why. Loved Wes. Liz started out sounding immature, or was it just young? I really liked seeing her grow and take ownership of her future. This was such an enjoyable read! I look forward to catching up on Dani McLean’s previously released books.
Thanks to NetGalley and Set the Mood Publishing for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
machadofam8's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to Booksirens for an ARC of Risks & Whiskey. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Like whiskey, this series is smooth with a nice burn. Third in the series we get to know Wes and Liv in this installment. Stars of a fantasy TV series, Wes and Liv have always been in love with each other but neither has acted upon their feelings. When Liv's career looks like it is about to implode thanks to photos of her with her boss that she made sure were leaked, she looks to Wes to help her sort things out.
Enough sizzle to keep me reading and great character development.
Like whiskey, this series is smooth with a nice burn. Third in the series we get to know Wes and Liv in this installment. Stars of a fantasy TV series, Wes and Liv have always been in love with each other but neither has acted upon their feelings. When Liv's career looks like it is about to implode thanks to photos of her with her boss that she made sure were leaked, she looks to Wes to help her sort things out.
Enough sizzle to keep me reading and great character development.
donnareadathon2021's review against another edition
5.0
The story
Olivia is a 25 year old actress in a YA fantasy show that has huge success. When the press outs her relationship with the 40-something director, she isn’t prepared for the fallout. She was hoping it would be good for their relationship, but he drops her and the producers drop him. Her co-star Wes has been in love with Olivia for the last six years since they met at acting school in LA. But he has kept his feelings well hidden behind a playboy persona. Both Liv and Wes have personal demons to deal with. She has lost her mother to cancer and he grew up with wealthy but cold parents. Will either be able to admit their true feelings for each other?
My thoughts
I read a previous book in this series (Sex & Sours) last year, and it stood out then for its honest portrayal of feelings, backed by some healthy spice. The emotional content of this story felt stronger to me, and it was less about the spice (which is definitely still there). I loved how, bit by bit, Liv and Wes were able to open up about their feelings for each other, think over things the other stood up for, and always advocated for each other. It’s a lovely read - I highly recommend! ❤️
I read an eARC copy courtesy of Booksirens and the author.
Olivia is a 25 year old actress in a YA fantasy show that has huge success. When the press outs her relationship with the 40-something director, she isn’t prepared for the fallout. She was hoping it would be good for their relationship, but he drops her and the producers drop him. Her co-star Wes has been in love with Olivia for the last six years since they met at acting school in LA. But he has kept his feelings well hidden behind a playboy persona. Both Liv and Wes have personal demons to deal with. She has lost her mother to cancer and he grew up with wealthy but cold parents. Will either be able to admit their true feelings for each other?
My thoughts
I read a previous book in this series (Sex & Sours) last year, and it stood out then for its honest portrayal of feelings, backed by some healthy spice. The emotional content of this story felt stronger to me, and it was less about the spice (which is definitely still there). I loved how, bit by bit, Liv and Wes were able to open up about their feelings for each other, think over things the other stood up for, and always advocated for each other. It’s a lovely read - I highly recommend! ❤️
I read an eARC copy courtesy of Booksirens and the author.
stucknbooks14's review against another edition
5.0
(I received an ARC for this book)
Trigger Warnings include:
references to parental death (cancer), and parental neglect.
A friends to lovers with great communication?! How did I get so lucky!? I felt Liv and Wes’s magnetic pull from the start. I was so excited to see how long it would take them before they didn't have a choice but to give in to it. Some forced proximity sure did the trick! Liv and Wes have been friends and working side by side for years. And in that time, they create such a beautiful bond that is unbreakable. We see it tested! But it never falters. I love how playful and carefree they are with each other. Their characters are in love, they're in love, and everything’s a secret. I couldn’t handle how wonderful it was! Wes’s witty humor brought me to tears; I loved it so much! And his gentle heart and unimaginable love for Liv…oh be still my heart! (I missed Tiff and I all but screamed when she squeezed her way in) The way Wes talked and thought about Liv, I got a crush on her! All those years kissing each other on camera, Wes has never slipped. All those nights with Liv’s cute ‘sit-wiggle-sigh’, he still never slipped. Just a couple days locked up together in his LA home…he’s hit his limit! Communication, communication, communication! About what they want out of life, their careers, their futures, their friendship, how they truly feel about each other. But no matter what, Liv achieving her dreams was what was most important to Wes, no matter what that cost him. As someone who was a teenager through the One Tree Hill years and the terrible things that have come out since about our favorite WB teen dramas, and getting to watch Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams fall in love on screen…I love this story SO much!
Doll count: 14
My Favorite Quotes:
• ‘Everything I thought I knew about love had come from a book or movie. And Liv.’
• “I’m with the sexiest woman on earth. What could I possibly complain about?”
• “I’ve always liked you.”
• “You changed my life.”
• “It’s only for you.”
• “The way I want to kiss you isn’t rated for general audiences.”
• “You’re not some itch I need to scratch.”
• “If you keep looking at me like that, I can’t be held responsible for me actions.”
• “I think you need something wet.”
• “You have to tell me what you want. Anything. I’ll give it to you.”
• “You’re so goddamn beautiful when you come.”
• “I won’t be able to take my eyes off you tonight.”
• “I’ve fallen so hard for you, I can’t remember a time before it. I don’t ever want to remember.”
• “They never lived up.”
• “Tell me again.”
8/10 Dirty Birdy
10/10 Friends to Lovers
7/10 Slow Burn
8/10 Workplace Romance
This is my review for Sex & Sours
Trigger Warnings include:
references to parental death (cancer), and parental neglect.
A friends to lovers with great communication?! How did I get so lucky!? I felt Liv and Wes’s magnetic pull from the start. I was so excited to see how long it would take them before they didn't have a choice but to give in to it. Some forced proximity sure did the trick! Liv and Wes have been friends and working side by side for years. And in that time, they create such a beautiful bond that is unbreakable. We see it tested! But it never falters. I love how playful and carefree they are with each other. Their characters are in love, they're in love, and everything’s a secret. I couldn’t handle how wonderful it was! Wes’s witty humor brought me to tears; I loved it so much! And his gentle heart and unimaginable love for Liv…oh be still my heart! (I missed Tiff and I all but screamed when she squeezed her way in) The way Wes talked and thought about Liv, I got a crush on her! All those years kissing each other on camera, Wes has never slipped. All those nights with Liv’s cute ‘sit-wiggle-sigh’, he still never slipped. Just a couple days locked up together in his LA home…he’s hit his limit! Communication, communication, communication! About what they want out of life, their careers, their futures, their friendship, how they truly feel about each other. But no matter what, Liv achieving her dreams was what was most important to Wes, no matter what that cost him. As someone who was a teenager through the One Tree Hill years and the terrible things that have come out since about our favorite WB teen dramas, and getting to watch Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams fall in love on screen…I love this story SO much!
Doll count: 14
My Favorite Quotes:
• ‘Everything I thought I knew about love had come from a book or movie. And Liv.’
• “I’m with the sexiest woman on earth. What could I possibly complain about?”
• “I’ve always liked you.”
• “You changed my life.”
• “It’s only for you.”
• “The way I want to kiss you isn’t rated for general audiences.”
• “You’re not some itch I need to scratch.”
• “If you keep looking at me like that, I can’t be held responsible for me actions.”
• “I think you need something wet.”
• “You have to tell me what you want. Anything. I’ll give it to you.”
• “You’re so goddamn beautiful when you come.”
• “I won’t be able to take my eyes off you tonight.”
• “I’ve fallen so hard for you, I can’t remember a time before it. I don’t ever want to remember.”
• “They never lived up.”
• “Tell me again.”
8/10 Dirty Birdy
10/10 Friends to Lovers
7/10 Slow Burn
8/10 Workplace Romance
This is my review for Sex & Sours
sikonat's review
3.0
'Risks and Whiskey' - the third in Dani McLean's cocktail series - is a slow burn friends-to-lovers story set in the background of showbusiness.
Wes has been in love with his best friend and co-star Liv after meeting her at university. Liv, meanwhile has had a two year secret romance with their showrunner, which, after paparazzi out them, ends with Liv dumped.
Unfortunately it is too slow-burn, I felt the starting chapters were way too slow with unncessary things that could've moved the story along faster, while still retaining that slow burn.
Also the author could've done more research about Hollywood works.
While I liked that the showrunner was fired for his relationship with Liv, I found it completely unrealistic. (But I'm happy for this plot development!)
Also if anything, a romance between two much loved co-stars would not have made them unpopular with the producers of the show, if anything there are far more fake relationships between co-stars for publicity. I would've preferred if this was more the machinations of Jen, Liv's controlling manager Jen.
And speaking of Jen. In Hollywood, a manager cannot negotiate deals, only an agent can. So her manager wouldn't have been able to sign those brand deals on her behalf.
Also, why was Wes unrepresented to sign his contract without his agent present or his agent and legal team looking over it first? Liv had her manager there! Also its unclear if the new manager Wes recommended to Liv was also his manager. I realise this is fiction and sometimes you need to cut out details, but it should've been more authentic.
The other error I found is Wes met Liv at 'film school' but its implied they were doing acting classes together (and yeah you can take electives but which is it? Film school is filmmaking. Yes these little details matter if you're going to put them in!)
Refreshingly though this book was miscommunication free. The third act seperation was done in a much more authentic way. I also enjoyed the empotional growth both Liv and Wes had to deal with, and how they both are a soruce of strength for each other to deal with it - Liv grieving her mum, and Wes dealing with neglectful, rich parents and his brother who cut him off. I think this was the best bits out of the book.
Overall this book could've been better at its pacing and Hollywood authenticity. However I intend to read the earlier books in this series, particularly the one with Wes and Liv's co-star Jackson.
Wes has been in love with his best friend and co-star Liv after meeting her at university. Liv, meanwhile has had a two year secret romance with their showrunner, which, after paparazzi out them, ends with Liv dumped.
Unfortunately it is too slow-burn, I felt the starting chapters were way too slow with unncessary things that could've moved the story along faster, while still retaining that slow burn.
Also the author could've done more research about Hollywood works.
While I liked that the showrunner was fired for his relationship with Liv, I found it completely unrealistic. (But I'm happy for this plot development!)
Also if anything, a romance between two much loved co-stars would not have made them unpopular with the producers of the show, if anything there are far more fake relationships between co-stars for publicity. I would've preferred if this was more the machinations of Jen, Liv's controlling manager Jen.
And speaking of Jen. In Hollywood, a manager cannot negotiate deals, only an agent can. So her manager wouldn't have been able to sign those brand deals on her behalf.
Also, why was Wes unrepresented to sign his contract without his agent present or his agent and legal team looking over it first? Liv had her manager there! Also its unclear if the new manager Wes recommended to Liv was also his manager. I realise this is fiction and sometimes you need to cut out details, but it should've been more authentic.
The other error I found is Wes met Liv at 'film school' but its implied they were doing acting classes together (and yeah you can take electives but which is it? Film school is filmmaking. Yes these little details matter if you're going to put them in!)
Refreshingly though this book was miscommunication free. The third act seperation was done in a much more authentic way. I also enjoyed the empotional growth both Liv and Wes had to deal with, and how they both are a soruce of strength for each other to deal with it - Liv grieving her mum, and Wes dealing with neglectful, rich parents and his brother who cut him off. I think this was the best bits out of the book.
Overall this book could've been better at its pacing and Hollywood authenticity. However I intend to read the earlier books in this series, particularly the one with Wes and Liv's co-star Jackson.
stinamoore1971's review against another edition
4.0
This is the writing by Dani McLean that I missed in the second book of the series. I'm glad she stepped it up for this 3rd installment. The chemistry between the characters was back and hot. I really enjoyed the back stories of both Wes and Liv. I also liked the visits from the main characters from the past 2 books of the series. There did appear to be some continuity errors, but maybe I overlooked something because I read the book so quickly. I just couldn't put it down, even though I knew there would be a HEA ending. I had to see how it all played out. The only thing I would have added is more Whiskey and maybe some Whiskey drink recipes to go along with the theme of the book, but since neither of the main characters were involved in drink or bar industry, it wasn't odd that this was missing.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
lynn_webb's review against another edition
4.0
Risks and Whiskey is the third book of the series and finally looks at Liv, Wes, and their undeniable connection. I love the initial friendship that Liv and Wes have. It’s playful yet genuine, and when they transition into more, it seems to stay the same except with the added physical component. Their sheer willingness to risk it all to be with each other was nothing more than beautiful.
The story itself is fun and relatable, consistently keeping my interest throughout the book. The same can be said for the diverse characters and the inter-family relationships, which were incredibly relatable. I cannot wait to read more.
Voluntarily reviewed after receiving a free copy courtesy of BookSirens and the author, Dani McLean.
The story itself is fun and relatable, consistently keeping my interest throughout the book. The same can be said for the diverse characters and the inter-family relationships, which were incredibly relatable. I cannot wait to read more.
Voluntarily reviewed after receiving a free copy courtesy of BookSirens and the author, Dani McLean.
jenniwren's review against another edition
4.0
OMG. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. This book is a slow burn, friends to lovers that simmers until it boils over. It's about Wes and Olivia, two co-stars who happen to be into each other but too afraid to admit it. When the tension breaks its sheer perfection and I can't praise this enough. It's sweet and cute. It's on the lighter side of romance.
TW:
loss of a parent (off page before story)
family discord. (mild)
TW:
loss of a parent (off page before story)
family discord. (mild)
might's review against another edition
4.0
This book had some nice slow-burn vibes, and I really liked it! I started this series at book 2, and was underwhelmed, but this book is so much better. It helped for me that Wes and Liv are in deep so early in the story, as opposed to Book 2 where the leads were practically romantically ambivalent to one another for most of the book.
Liv and Wes are co-stars on a popular WB type fantasy show (I think the author was describing more of a Game of Thrones type show, but all I could imagine was Supernatural and Wes was giving me full Sam & Dean vibes, which I’m very into), and while Liv is dating the show’s director, Wes has spent 6 years in unrequited love/best friend land. When Liv’s relationship blows up in the media and the director calls things off, Liv turns to her best friend for support. But wait…Liv has always secretly had a crush on Wes too? Cue the angst and all the feels. I always enjoy Hollywood romances, and the media scrutiny and Executive machinations kept the story interesting.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Liv and Wes are co-stars on a popular WB type fantasy show (I think the author was describing more of a Game of Thrones type show, but all I could imagine was Supernatural and Wes was giving me full Sam & Dean vibes, which I’m very into), and while Liv is dating the show’s director, Wes has spent 6 years in unrequited love/best friend land. When Liv’s relationship blows up in the media and the director calls things off, Liv turns to her best friend for support. But wait…Liv has always secretly had a crush on Wes too? Cue the angst and all the feels. I always enjoy Hollywood romances, and the media scrutiny and Executive machinations kept the story interesting.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
katiedermody's review
4.0
Friends to lovers with the mutual pining is slowly becoming one of my fave tropes! This version did a great job of me just being swept up in it and rooting for them to finally get it and be together versus being frustrated at one or both for not seeing what's in front of them.