Bourbon Bliss (Bootleg Springs, #4)

by Claire Kingsley

[stacey_is_sassy]

An extremely satisfying read…

At the 6% mark of the book, I had tears in my eyes and I was ready to write my review. Yes, it wasn’t going to be a completely accurate review as I’d only read a smidge, but I had so much to say already. My emotions were like a geyser and in that short period of time I was extremely attached, connected and enthralled with the characters. My heart burst with love for June and her honest, at time abrupt and thoughtful take on everything going on around her. The connection she has with her loved ones, especially her Dad and sister Cassidy, came through in their sweet conversations. June may be a bit of an odd duck but she was loved not just by her family but the people of Bootleg Springs too.

I knew that June was going to be interesting, but Claire Kingsley and Lucy Score created one of the most amazing characters I’ve ever met. I don’t know if you can enhance a character, but in this case Bootleg Springs made her even better. Each interaction showed an acceptance of her quirky nature and protectiveness that showed how much they cared. Bootleg Springs has become a town that I think all small towns should aspire to. Their loyalty to each other is admirable. The shenanigans they get up to is humorous, a little dangerous and not something I could imagine happening in real life, or, more accurately, my life. Yes, they might be a wee bit gossipy and enjoy a good bar fight more than they should, but they care about their people.

Can you imagine meeting your hero/idol/person you admire, and they are completely nude? June’s reaction to meeting George was an ABSOLUTE CRACK UP!! In true June fashion, she does not hide the fact that she knows him or that she’s aware that certain parts of his anatomy were quite happy to meet her. This initial conversation and how George handled it, lead me to believe that they were perfect together.

Now it’s pretty obvious that I loved June’s character, but I loved George’s too. Even at his worst…if you could call it that, he was still sweet, considerate and caring. It was refreshing to meet an elite athlete who looked past his own nose. Yes, George could be a little ignorant and out of touch with how to live and take care of himself. It’s not surprising though considering he had staff members to handle those pesky jobs like grocery shopping and paying bills. In Bourbon Bliss George realises it’s time to reassess how he will live his future and look at what’s gone on that he was previously ignorant about.

I would say that Bourbon Bliss is a slow burn romance. What makes it different is that it’s a mutual decision between the couple to go slow and not the surrounding circumstances. In June and George’s case, it was done out of consideration and a need to establish trust in their connection. I loved that George understood June’s hesitancy and explained things in a way she could work through. It was hard for June to turn off her brain and just feel. I was completely satisfied waiting for them to get through all the bases and finally hit the home plate.

Seriously, I cannot recommend this series enough. The storylines are captivating, the characters have come to life for me and once I start reading, I can’t stop…then sad when I finish too quickly. We're still dealing with the mystery of Callie's disappearance, but I have my suspicions of what really happened. If you haven’t started the Bootleg Springs series, I suggest you start at the very beginning, a very good place to start.