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andrea_author's review against another edition
When it comes to mixing cocktails, Tiff is an artist. So when her control freak new boss starts limiting her creativity, she doesn't follow along meekly with his new plan for the bar. After the tension between them spills over into the bedroom, is there more than attraction between them?
Based on the cute illustrated cover and the book description, I was expecting this to be a light romance with maybe some rom com undertones. Instead, it's edgy steamy contemporary—nothing light about it. After the midpoint, the physical relationship begins to dominate. If you enjoy edgy steamy contemporary, you might like this novel. If you're looking for a light, fun romance, this book is not it.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Based on the cute illustrated cover and the book description, I was expecting this to be a light romance with maybe some rom com undertones. Instead, it's edgy steamy contemporary—nothing light about it. After the midpoint, the physical relationship begins to dominate. If you enjoy edgy steamy contemporary, you might like this novel. If you're looking for a light, fun romance, this book is not it.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
jennifergallo's review against another edition
3.0
A light and easy read with lgtbqia+ main characters. This enemies to lovers workplace romance is the first title I have read by the author and the second in a series of standalone novels. I would recommend this to any romance enthusiasts.
Check out Sex & Sours (The Cocktail Series Book 2) by Dani McLean wherever you buy books!
✦ Goodreads ➜ https://bit.ly/2Xud8Fd
✦ Amazon ➜ https://amzn.to/2XuddZx
✦ Apple ➜ https://apple.co/3AunYcM
✦ Kobo ➜ https://bit.ly/3ExRP6I
✦ Nook ➜ https://bit.ly/3lIuuGu
TAGS: fiction, romance, contemporary romance, workplace romance, enemies to lovers, standalone, HEA, lgtbqia+
*Thanks to NetGalley, Set The Mood Publishing & Dani McLean for providing a free eARC in exchange for my honest review #SexAndSours #NetGalley @NetGalley #SetTheMoodPublishing #DaniMcLean
Check out Sex & Sours (The Cocktail Series Book 2) by Dani McLean wherever you buy books!
✦ Goodreads ➜ https://bit.ly/2Xud8Fd
✦ Amazon ➜ https://amzn.to/2XuddZx
✦ Apple ➜ https://apple.co/3AunYcM
✦ Kobo ➜ https://bit.ly/3ExRP6I
✦ Nook ➜ https://bit.ly/3lIuuGu
TAGS: fiction, romance, contemporary romance, workplace romance, enemies to lovers, standalone, HEA, lgtbqia+
*Thanks to NetGalley, Set The Mood Publishing & Dani McLean for providing a free eARC in exchange for my honest review #SexAndSours #NetGalley @NetGalley #SetTheMoodPublishing #DaniMcLean
asteroula_t's review against another edition
3.0
You know when you start a book and you expect the heroine to be really strong and independent but she is not? Well, this is not the case here…
Tiff is indeed strong. Strong-headed, strong-willed (I might even say iron-willed), and a bit difficult… However, keep reading and you will realize that she is being difficult for people that don't appreciate being challenged or not getting their way with everything.
Our Sam appears to be like this in the beginning, but thankfully he is not.
They will fight, they will create cocktail recipes and they will make up eventually.
Even though I had fun reading this book, I would love it if it was shorter because it felt a bit long for no particular reason.
Thank you @BookSirens for the ARC!
Tiff is indeed strong. Strong-headed, strong-willed (I might even say iron-willed), and a bit difficult… However, keep reading and you will realize that she is being difficult for people that don't appreciate being challenged or not getting their way with everything.
Our Sam appears to be like this in the beginning, but thankfully he is not.
They will fight, they will create cocktail recipes and they will make up eventually.
Even though I had fun reading this book, I would love it if it was shorter because it felt a bit long for no particular reason.
Thank you @BookSirens for the ARC!
machadofam8's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to BookSirens for an ARC of Sex & Sours.
What a great follow up to Love & Rum, centered on a Chicago Bar, The Basement. This installment focuses on Tiff, the bartender. Audrey and Jackson are busy planning their wedding. Tiff is in a relationship that is going nowhere. And the bar has been turned over to Sam Cooper, brother of Harry who is busy himself with a newborn baby.
Tiff and Sam clash from the start but there is an obvious sexual tension. As in Love & Rum the story goes back and forth between Tiff's and Sam's voices and Dani McLean does an excellent job of giving depth to both of them.
This one was a little meatier than the first and I really enjoyed it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What a great follow up to Love & Rum, centered on a Chicago Bar, The Basement. This installment focuses on Tiff, the bartender. Audrey and Jackson are busy planning their wedding. Tiff is in a relationship that is going nowhere. And the bar has been turned over to Sam Cooper, brother of Harry who is busy himself with a newborn baby.
Tiff and Sam clash from the start but there is an obvious sexual tension. As in Love & Rum the story goes back and forth between Tiff's and Sam's voices and Dani McLean does an excellent job of giving depth to both of them.
This one was a little meatier than the first and I really enjoyed it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
ebartsch85's review against another edition
3.0
This book's main female character is bisexual and deals with some bi-erasure towards the beginning of the story. I appreciated learning about an experience that can be very real for some people, however when I saw the trigger warning I definitely expected much more of the story to include this aspect. It felt more like an overarching example of why Tiffany may react in certain ways and not a basis of the story. Just an FYI for future readers.
I enjoyed the level of spice (I'd rate it level 2 or 3 on the spicy scale) and appreciated the conversations and dialogue that Tiffany and Sam have in regards to their sexual relationship. Reading about these things may help others to see how beneficial and necessary the conversations can be without being awful or awkward.
This was a quick and easy read that I think anyone could appreciate. I just never truly lost myself in the book, nor connected to the characters in a deep and emotional way but sometimes we're just looking for a book exactly like this one.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed the level of spice (I'd rate it level 2 or 3 on the spicy scale) and appreciated the conversations and dialogue that Tiffany and Sam have in regards to their sexual relationship. Reading about these things may help others to see how beneficial and necessary the conversations can be without being awful or awkward.
This was a quick and easy read that I think anyone could appreciate. I just never truly lost myself in the book, nor connected to the characters in a deep and emotional way but sometimes we're just looking for a book exactly like this one.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
donnareadathon2021's review against another edition
4.0
The story
Tiffany is the head bartender and manager of a Chicago bar. The owner Harry has always managed the financial aspects but stayed away from the day to day management and left this to Tiffany. When he sells the bar to his brother Sam, Tiffany is not impressed. Called to Monday meeting at 10am, he is arrogant to Tiffany. She holds in there though, knowing that the other staff need her while appreciating that it may be time to move on. Sam has lost his other bars to his ex-partner and comes back to Chicago after the bad break up. He is trying not to be attracted to Tiffany, but how long can it last.
My thoughts
This is a pretty steamy story that doesn’t hold back on the details of what is going on in the bedroom (and the kitchen and the office and the lounge)
Tiffany is the head bartender and manager of a Chicago bar. The owner Harry has always managed the financial aspects but stayed away from the day to day management and left this to Tiffany. When he sells the bar to his brother Sam, Tiffany is not impressed. Called to Monday meeting at 10am, he is arrogant to Tiffany. She holds in there though, knowing that the other staff need her while appreciating that it may be time to move on. Sam has lost his other bars to his ex-partner and comes back to Chicago after the bad break up. He is trying not to be attracted to Tiffany, but how long can it last.
My thoughts
This is a pretty steamy story that doesn’t hold back on the details of what is going on in the bedroom (and the kitchen and the office and the lounge)
stucknbooks14's review against another edition
5.0
(I received an ARC for this book)
Trigger Warning: this book involves bi-erasure.
The Hating Game but in a bar. Things start off rocky. There’s an imbalance of power, opinions already pre-made and ready to explode. Sam comes in to save his brother’s bar, and strips Tiff of all her management. And in some ways, degrading her abilities. So obviously, she lets him know just how unhappy she is with his existence. And it is glorious. They were the perfect enemies in the workplace match! But then one day, Sam saw her. Really looked at Tiff and saw her for who she is. And then he couldn’t look away. The situation that brought them to that moment broke my heart, but I’m glad Sam was there to keep her from falling. There to hold her until she could hold her own crown up. Of course they working truce didn’t last long. And when they started firing off complaints about each other back and forth, I started to count down the seconds until they ripped each other’s clothes off. (I didn’t count very high.) While they may have butt heads down in the bar, they found comfort, trust, and understanding perfectly upstairs in his apartment (and in his office). The slowburn enemies to lovers in the workplace was really just a disguise for all the dirty things to come! What’s so great about the book, is while it’s both sweet and spicy, it would have still been the exact same story without the A+ sex scenes! But those were absolutely a wonderful bonus!
My Favorite Quotes:
•’She was gunpowder, kerosene, and oxygen to my system.’
•”Do it, Sam. Take what you need.”
•”How do you feel about submission?” “Yours or mine?” “That is the right question.”
•”Are you going to give me what I want, Sam? Are you going to f!ck me into this desk until I come? Can you do that for me?”
•”Always so good. Needed this. Needed you.”
•”I’m trying to tell you I’m in love with you. Do you have to interrupt?”
•”Everything that I want, I want with you.”
7/10 Dirty Birdy
5/10 Enemies to Lovers
8/10 Workplace Romance
This is my review for Risks & Whiskey
Trigger Warning: this book involves bi-erasure.
The Hating Game but in a bar. Things start off rocky. There’s an imbalance of power, opinions already pre-made and ready to explode. Sam comes in to save his brother’s bar, and strips Tiff of all her management. And in some ways, degrading her abilities. So obviously, she lets him know just how unhappy she is with his existence. And it is glorious. They were the perfect enemies in the workplace match! But then one day, Sam saw her. Really looked at Tiff and saw her for who she is. And then he couldn’t look away. The situation that brought them to that moment broke my heart, but I’m glad Sam was there to keep her from falling. There to hold her until she could hold her own crown up. Of course they working truce didn’t last long. And when they started firing off complaints about each other back and forth, I started to count down the seconds until they ripped each other’s clothes off. (I didn’t count very high.) While they may have butt heads down in the bar, they found comfort, trust, and understanding perfectly upstairs in his apartment (and in his office). The slowburn enemies to lovers in the workplace was really just a disguise for all the dirty things to come! What’s so great about the book, is while it’s both sweet and spicy, it would have still been the exact same story without the A+ sex scenes! But those were absolutely a wonderful bonus!
My Favorite Quotes:
•’She was gunpowder, kerosene, and oxygen to my system.’
•”Do it, Sam. Take what you need.”
•”How do you feel about submission?” “Yours or mine?” “That is the right question.”
•”Are you going to give me what I want, Sam? Are you going to f!ck me into this desk until I come? Can you do that for me?”
•”Always so good. Needed this. Needed you.”
•”I’m trying to tell you I’m in love with you. Do you have to interrupt?”
•”Everything that I want, I want with you.”
7/10 Dirty Birdy
5/10 Enemies to Lovers
8/10 Workplace Romance
This is my review for Risks & Whiskey
stinamoore1971's review
3.0
I was very excited for this book to be available because I enjoyed the first one in the series very much and really enjoyed Tiffany's character. She was so great that I couldn't wait to read her story. However, I was a bit disappointed. This book did not at all compare to the first one in terms of dialogue, writing quality or editing. I found so many errors, entire words missing from sentences ("I hope you don't me tagging along."), and continuity issues (Sam refers to having said he's better at making dinner before he actually says it.)
I couldn't put the first book down and this one I struggled to pick up. I just couldn't get into it. I'm not sure if it was the plot, the writing or the lack of chemistry between the main characters. I never felt like the characters really fell in love or were meant to be together. There just was a constant rehashing of their prior relationships and flaws with romance. This book felt like the author rushed through it and didn't give it the attention it deserved. I believe Dani to be a much better writer than what she gave us in Sex and Sours. I did, however, really enjoy the link provided with some of Tiff's recipes.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I couldn't put the first book down and this one I struggled to pick up. I just couldn't get into it. I'm not sure if it was the plot, the writing or the lack of chemistry between the main characters. I never felt like the characters really fell in love or were meant to be together. There just was a constant rehashing of their prior relationships and flaws with romance. This book felt like the author rushed through it and didn't give it the attention it deserved. I believe Dani to be a much better writer than what she gave us in Sex and Sours. I did, however, really enjoy the link provided with some of Tiff's recipes.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
lynn_webb's review against another edition
4.0
Sex & Sours is book two in The Cocktail Series. It tells the tumultuous evolution of Tiffany Young and Sam Cooper’s relationship.
Tiffany has been the manager of The Basement for four years. She is loyal with a no-nonsense attitude and has done everything short of own the joint. That is until the owner, Harry, decides to hand the business over to his brother.
Sam has been away growing his own success. After losing everything, he decides to return home and take over the bar his brother has been running. Little does he know, Tiff has ideas of her own making working together to save the bar difficult. Will their differences be exactly what they need or will a common enemy be successful in bringing everything down around them?
While I enjoyed the first book, the second was so much better mainly because of Tiffany. She was a stand-out in Audrey and Jackson’s story and what a best friend should be. I found myself laughing often at her antics yet hated her need to defend herself against those close to her.
The story itself was playfully written while the characters and their relationships were relatable. The icing on the cake was seeing that another book will be released in the series. I cannot wait to read it.
Voluntarily reviewed after receiving a free copy courtesy of BookSirens and the author, Dani McLean.
Tiffany has been the manager of The Basement for four years. She is loyal with a no-nonsense attitude and has done everything short of own the joint. That is until the owner, Harry, decides to hand the business over to his brother.
Sam has been away growing his own success. After losing everything, he decides to return home and take over the bar his brother has been running. Little does he know, Tiff has ideas of her own making working together to save the bar difficult. Will their differences be exactly what they need or will a common enemy be successful in bringing everything down around them?
While I enjoyed the first book, the second was so much better mainly because of Tiffany. She was a stand-out in Audrey and Jackson’s story and what a best friend should be. I found myself laughing often at her antics yet hated her need to defend herself against those close to her.
The story itself was playfully written while the characters and their relationships were relatable. The icing on the cake was seeing that another book will be released in the series. I cannot wait to read it.
Voluntarily reviewed after receiving a free copy courtesy of BookSirens and the author, Dani McLean.