Review: Single Malt by Layla Reyne
SYNOPSIS:
The heart’s a resilient beast
Eight months after the car crash that changed everything, FBI agent Aidan Talley is back at work. New department, new case and a new partner. Smart, athletic and handsome, Jameson Walker is twelve years his junior. Even if Aidan was ready to move on—and he’s not—Jamie is off-limits.
Jamie’s lusted after Aidan for three years, and the chance to work with San Francisco’s top agent directly is too good to pass up. Aidan is prickly—to put it mildly—but a growing cyber threat soon proves Jamie’s skills invaluable.
Jamie’s talents paint a target on his back, and Aidan is determined to protect him. But with hack after hack threatening a high-security biocontainment facility, time is running out to thwart a deadly terrorist attack. They’ll have to filter out distractions, on the case and in their partnership, to identify the real enemy, solve the case and save thousands of lives, including their own.
REVIEW:
I have been in a book rut for a week or two now, nothing bad but nothing really grabbing my attention. This is usually a sign that I need to completely change up the genres I am reading. So while scrolling through my unread books on my Kindle, and desperately trying to avoid a re-read, I saw Single Malt. After reading the synopsis, I knew this was just the story I needed.
A suspenseful combination of mystery, betrayal, angst, hidden dangers, and romance; I couldn’t put the book down. I was desperate to know what would happen next; it seemed as soon as one question was answered, at least five more appeared. The plot was fantastically paced and this was such a wonderful surprise, as Layla Reyne is a new-to-me author. There are multiple plot lines; Aidan’s ‘accident’, Jamie’s past, the current FBI case, a potential mole, it was richly complex and had me desperate to turn the page.
In terms of the romance, it felt organic. Aidan’s grief and guilt weren’t overlooked and were artfully addressed. The tension and chemistry between Aidan and Jamie is off the charts, they work seamlessly together and seem to always be on the same frequency. Their close working quarters lends itself to a kinship and intimacy, I was just waiting for the moment when Aidan would give in. And when he finally does, well let’s just say it was worth the wait! *furiously blushing*
The story ends with a happily-for-now but I am not fooled. It seems the challenges Aidan and Jamie will face are just beginning. There are so many lingering questions regarding the cases and their tentative relationship. Which honestly, just makes me excited to dive into the next book.
LINKS:
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
