Please join us in welcoming author Layla Reyne today, on the virtual tour for Cask Strength, book two in the Agents Irish and Whiskey series. Layla’s sharing how she came up with the nicknames Irish and Whiskey, and there’s also a giveaway, so be sure to check out the entry details below.
Welcome, Layla!
How did you come up with the nicknames Irish and Whiskey, and how do the names fit the characters’ personalities?
I like whiskey, A LOT. Is that a good enough answer? I’m guessing you want more, LOL. Though to be fair, I do think I had a bottle of Jameson Rare open the night I scribbled down my initial notes and names for this series. Favorite whiskey aside, I’ve always loved the name Jameson, and I needed something Southern-sounding for my younger main character. I knew he was going to be from North Carolina, as am I (which is why there’s usually always a Tar Heel in my books), and I asked myself… What would my Southern friends and relatives get up to when it came to naming someone? And yeah, they’d totally do this–put two whiskey names together—Jameson and Walker—and revel in the “Whiskey” nickname to inevitably follow.
For Jamie, though, it totally fits, beyond just the whiskey reference and Southern names. On first impression, he’s smooth, charming, the perfect Southern gentleman, and pretty damn close to golden in the light, but under that pristine finish, he’s fiery, competitive, complex and still figuring out who and what he wants to be. Just like whiskey develops and gets better with age, so does Jamie, and his partnership with Aidan. Speaking of, Talley’s character and the “Irish” nickname were born out my fondness for a few things—gingers (again, an admittedly reoccurring theme), accents, and my own Scotch-Irish-descended family. There aren’t as many in my family as in Aidan’s, but the grandparents kept us while our parents worked, holiday get-togethers were always a whiskey-laced hoot, and we come together when it counts. And that’s what you find at the heart of Aidan too. Absolute devotion to his family and loved ones, to the point he tears himself apart with responsibility and guilt anytime a loved one is in harm’s way, especially Jamie.
Oh, and I also saw these cool clover cufflinks I wanted him to wear ;)
About the Book
Title: Cask Strength
Author: Layla Reyne
Release Date: May 1, 2017
Publisher: Carina Press
Series: Agents Irish & Whiskey
Genres: M/M Romantic Suspense
Word Count: 61,000
Blurb: The heart’s a resilient beast…
Professionally, the FBI team of Aidan “Irish” Talley and Jameson “Whiskey” Walker is as good as it gets, closing cases faster than any team at the Bureau. Personally, it’s a different story. Aidan’s feelings for Jamie scare the hell out of him: he won’t risk losing another love no matter how heart-tripping the intimacy between them. And loss is a grim reality with the terrorist Renaud still on their trail, leaving a pile of bodies in his wake.
Going undercover on a new case gets them out of town and off the killer’s radar. They’re assigned to investigate an identity theft ring involving a college basketball team in Jamie’s home state, where Jamie’s past makes him perfect for the role of coach. But returning to the court brings more than old memories.
As secrets and shocking betrayals abound, none may be more dangerous than the one Jamie’s been keeping: a secret about the death of Aidan’s husband that could blow his partner’s world apart and destroy forever the fragile bonds of trust and love building between them.
Find out more at: Carina Press | Amazon | Google Play | Kobo | iTunes | B&N | Goodreads
Other books in the Agents Irish & Whiskey series
Single Malt
Available Now: Carina Press | Amazon | Google Play | Kobo | iTunes | B&N| Goodreads
Barrel Proof
On Sale August 7, 2017: Carina Press | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes | Google Play | Goodreads
Tour Excerpt
Mel shifted his focus, tossing the case file on his desk. He swallowed hard, forcing the upset down. “New case?”
“I talked to Aidan this morning. I suggested you pump the brakes on Renaud.”
“You just said my mission holds.”
She surprised him with a laugh. “I didn’t expect either of you to agree, but you need to fly under the radar for a bit. Things are too hot here.”
“Here?” As in the FBI or San Francisco?
“I suggested a case out of town.”
On assignment with Aidan, with no place or way to escape, was the last thing Jamie wanted. Hearing a hotel room door open and shut, wondering who Aidan was taking into his bed instead of him, was the definition of misery. Not to mention he wasn’t keen on setting aside the Renaud case. Not when they were closing in.
“You can continue to investigate Renaud,” she said, as if reading his thoughts. “But your primary focus needs to appear to be on a different matter.”
Emotional discomfort aside, it made sense. Get them out of San Francisco, where Renaud was likely following their movements. Make it look like their investigation into him was on the back burner, while working behind the scenes. But she was being cagey about the details. “It’s a good plan,” he said. “Why are you beating around the bush?”
She smiled. “You really are his match.”
Not what he needed to hear. How good he was for a man who didn’t want him. “Mel…”
Canting forward, she nudged the file off his desk and into his lap. “You’re going undercover.”
He caught the file before it slipped to the floor. “You know my history, right? Hell, everyone knows my story. I’m not exactly easy to disguise.”
“I don’t want you to hide. You’re going undercover, as your old self.” Brow furrowed, he opened the file as she continued. “Charlotte University. NCAA Division II. Online sports betting used as means of identity theft.”
“What do you need me for?”
“The local officer who brought the case to the FBI’s attention suspects someone connected to CU’s basketball program is behind this.”
Bile resurged, stinging the back of Jamie’s throat. People bet on sports all the time, but as a former athlete and team captain, the fact that someone on the team was involved made him sick. “You want me to go in there and make an appearance? See if I can sniff it out?”
“I want you to go in there and coach.”
About the Author
2016 RWA® Golden Heart® Finalist, Layla Reyne, was raised in North Carolina and now calls San Francisco home. She enjoys weaving her bi-coastal experiences into her stories, along with adrenaline fueled suspense and heart pounding romance. When she’s not writing stories to excite her readers, she downloads too many books, watches too much television, and cooks too much food with her scientist husband, much to the delight of their smushed-face, leftover-loving dogs.
Connect with Layla: Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads
The Giveaway
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Follow the Tour
May 1st Hoards Jumble
May 1st Dog-Eared Daydreams
May 1st Vividly Victoria
May 2nd Sour Puss Reviews
May 2nd Books,Dreams,Life
May 2nd RoloPoloBookBlog
May 2nd Joyfully Jay
May 3rd Nadine’s Obsessed with Books
May 3rd The Avid Reader
May 4th Sinfully Gay Romance
May 4th OMGReads
May 5th Lisa’s Loves (Books of Course)
May 5th Joyfully Reviewed
May 5th Jen’s Reading Obsession
May 8th Bookalicious babes blog
May 8th Making it Happen
May 8th The Book Adventures of Annelise Lestrange
May 9th Booklove
May 9th Boy Meets Boy
May 10th Book Loving Pixies
May 10th The Book Quarry
May 10th The Novel Approach
May 11th Happily Ever Chapter
May 11th Alpha Book Club
May 11th MM Good Book Reviews
May 11th Read Day and Night
May 11th Becky on Books
May 12th Tangled Hearts Book Reviews
May 12th Books & Bells
May 12th Romance Playlist
If your a fan of thrillers and suspense give this Irish and Whiskey a go! I am hooked! Can’t wait for the third installment. Secrets may break or make Irish and Whiskey!
So glad you are enjoying, Maryann!
Thank you for hosting me and Cask Strength this week :)