Rumors & Whiskey
*The limited deluxe edition will include gorgeous designed edges*
From USA Today bestselling author Victoria Wilder comes the first in an all-new small-town romantic suspense series with all the steam, drama, and banter you could ask for, perfect for fans of Paisley Hope, Catherine Cowles, and Elsie Silver.
In Rumor, Tennessee, one family sits at the center of every whisper.
The Crowne women have survived decades of salacious gossip. Everyone knows you can count on them for a shot of whiskey and a wild night, but their best kept secret is how they deliver quiet revenge.
I survived a living nightmare. Forced to stay away from my sisters, I've been sworn to secrecy about who I am. Somehow, though, I started over again. But all it takes to mess everything up is a sexy stranger--a charming jeweler with a sinful smile, deliciously dirty promises, and far too many questions.
Now, I'm back in my small town, craving routine, hiding my past, and trying not to drown in the pressure to be the old me.
I never expected to see him again. Especially once I discover that the gossip and rumors swirling around my family aren't the work of bored townies, but of hidden truths.
Between a dead body, a missing cop, and a job that's connected him to my family, Julian Colton insists on staying here. I should keep my distance--not provoke and flirt with him at every turn. But even with layers of secrets between us, he soothes my anxious thoughts and feeds my touch-starved, broken body.
When his past catches up with him, and mine threatens to repeat itself, it's my family, their rumors, and our whiskey that'll save us.
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Community Reviews
Rumors & Whiskey has plenty of spice, but I kept waiting for the rest of the plot to catch up. Wyn Crowne returns to Rumor, Tennessee after surviving a horrific kidnapping and spending years in witness protection. She comes home to her whiskey making family, their vigilante secrets, and Julian Colton. Julian is a man from her hidden life who has followed her back to town. The backstory gave Victoria Wilder plenty to work with, but the storytelling never came together for me.
The timeline was an issue for me. The narrative jumps between Wyn’s traumatic past and her present life with very little support connecting the two. I could move from a disturbing scene involving her captivity to Wyn bartending with her whiskey mafia family so abruptly that I experienced narrative whiplash. The flashbacks should have added depth to Wyn’s return home and her struggle to reclaim her life. The transitions made the two timelines feel disconnected instead.
The romance had a similar problem. Wyn and Julian clearly have intense physical chemistry. Their intimate scenes receive far more development than their relationship. I reached the final pages without understanding why these two wanted each other beyond sexual attraction. Julian’s devotion should have come across as a blaring siren considering he tracks Wyn down after witness protection. I needed more conversations, outside of the bedroom intimacy, and relationship development to understand their attachment.
Wyn was at her strongest when she took control. Her confidence with Julian in the bedroom was refreshing. I liked that she was comfortable telling him exactly what she wanted. Their bedroom dynamic was easily the strongest part of the romance. The intimate scenes were written with considerably more confidence than the surrounding plot.
The Crowne women had the potential to become a fascinating family. A group of women running a bar, making whiskey, and delivering vigilante justice in a small Tennessee town sounds messy. I wanted considerably more from their family relationships and secret operation. These character building elements often felt secondary to Wyn and Julian’s physical relationship. I wanted the characters and suspense to receive the same attention as the intimate scenes. The heat was certainly present. The emotional connection and cohesive storytelling were not.
Pick up Rumors & Whiskey if you are looking for a very spicy dark romance with an obsessive man, a dominant woman, family secrets, and a touch of romantic suspense.
It never fails! I absolutely love this authors writing style! I’m obsessed with the characters and the fact we got to see the Bourbons make an appearance was amazing! I love the Crown women and Julian is ultimate book boyfriend vibes. Also I hope we get some books for Rhodes and Jameson. 🥰 As always the narrators kicked butt with the story!!