Review by hilary89 - Bourbon & Secrets

hilary89 's review for:

Bourbon & Secrets by Victoria Wilder

4.25

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I dove into Bourbon & Secrets right after finishing Bourbon & Lies, and I was fully hooked from the very first page. The duet narration was stellar—each narrator brought Lincoln and Faye to life, capturing their tension, passion, and vulnerability in a way that made the story feel incredibly real.

Faye is exactly my kind of heroine: fiercely smart, independent, sassy, and refreshingly complex. Working as a private investigator undercover as a burlesque dancer? Genius. She’s tough but sensual, and I was obsessed with her from the moment she stepped into Fiasco’s spotlight. Then there’s Lincoln—the widowed single dad with two adorable daughters and a heart of gold, but also that brooding edge that kept me intrigued. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever read a single dad as layered (and sexy) as him!

What made my heart glow, though, was Faye’s tender relationship with Lincoln’s little girls—Lark and Lily. They stole every scene they were in, and their budding bond felt authentic and heartwarming. Plus, Wilder planted some great story seeds for the rest of the Foxx brothers, which makes me even more excited for the next book in the trilogy.

The world-building in Fiasco, Kentucky is vivid and immersive—the small-town charm, the bourbon distillery, the dark secrets beneath the surface—it all came alive so clearly in my mind. The emotional stakes, the slow-building chemistry, and the suspenseful threads kept me completely engrossed.

That said, the climax felt a bit rushed and too neatly tied up, and I found myself wishing the explanation behind the mysterious dead horses near the Tennessee border had been clearer. Those two elements kept the momentum from fully hitting a five-star high.

Overall? I absolutely loved this installment. Now I’m torn—should I wait for the audiobook of book three to savor again in voice, or power through it on Kindle? Either way, I’m all in.

Content Warnings