The Bourbon Thief by Tiffany Reisz

The Bourbon Thief

by Tiffany Reisz

Betrayal, revenge and a family scandal that bore a 150-year-old mystery. When Cooper McQueen wakes up from a night with a beautiful stranger, it's to discover he's been robbed. The only item stolen--a million-dollar bottle of bourbon. The thief, a mysterious woman named Paris, claims the bottle is rightfully hers. After all, the label itself says it's property of the Maddox family who owned and operated Red Thread Bourbon distillery since the last days of the Civil War, until the company went out of business for reasons no one knows... no one except Paris. In the small hours of a Louisville morning, Paris unspools the lurid tale of the Maddox family and Tamara, heiress to the distillery that became an empire. Theirs is a legacy of wealth and power, but also of lies, secrets and sins of omission. Why Paris wants the bottle of Red Thread remains a secret until the truth of her identity is at last revealed, and the century-old vengeance Tamara vowed against her family can finally be completed.

Reviewed by kimbacaffeinate on

4 of 5 stars

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The Bourbon Thief is a departure from Reisz’s erotic fiction giving us a gothic tale that begins in the wee hours of the morning as a women dressed in red known only as Paris shares the tale of Tamara Maddox, heiress to the distillery that became an empire. Cooper McQueen wakes after a night of heated sex with a beautiful stranger only to discover she has attempted to steal a million dollar bottle of Red Thread Bourbon. The woman named Paris claims the bottle is rightfully hers. Before he has her arrested, he agrees to hear her story; one she claims will have him handing the bottle to her willingly.

I absolutely loved the method in which Reisz delivered this captivating, dark, tale about the Maddox family. It is said the Maddox family has bourbon in their blood, but we soon learn that there is also blood in their bourbon. McQueen falls under Paris’s spell as she share this captivating tale, The reader will soon find themselves snuggling down with a glass of spirits and losing time as this tale of power, wealth, forbidden love, dark secrets and horrific deeds pulls them back to the beginning where Red Thread began.

Tamara Maddox’s story completely held me captive as Reisz shared her dark tale and in doing so shedding light on slavery, sins, quest for power, and the ruthless drive of a man who would sell his soul to the devil to see his dynasty continue. She brought the south to life painting the plush landscape and revealing what took place behind closed doors. In the midst of this, a forbidden romance forms . It is one that will grab your heart and blur lines of right and wrong. I found myself weeping for characters, and cringing in horror as the story slowly reveals the Maddox family's darkest secrets.

Bourbon Thief unraveled slowly with its beautiful and seductive writing. Reisz is a masterful storyteller, brings their story of lose, betrayal, revenge and darkness to life. The story is based on real events in Kentucky’s history lending the story an authentic feel. Fans of family sagas, dark secrets, and history involving rich southern families who made their money off the labor of others will devour the tale.

Paris’s identity was revealed and the ending left me satisfied and emotional spent. While we get answers, McQueen and I were left hoping that Paris will one day return, so we could pour a glass of bourbon and she could tell us more.

Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 29 May, 2016: Finished reading
  • 29 May, 2016: Reviewed