Love and Whiskey by Allie Able
Series: Magnolia Distillery #1
Publication date: May 26th, 2020
Cover Credit: Amanda Walker PA and Design Services
Synopsis (according to Goodreads):
Lillian Chant is determined to float through life without forming any real attachments. Abandoned and thrust into the world at an early age taught her one valuable lesson--the only person you can really count on is yourself. She's spent her adult life moving from state to state, recreating herself using her smile and well-crafted lies to get by. The last thing she expects is to meet a man who resists all of her efforts to push him away, but that's exactly what happens when her world collides with Matthew Breaux.
Matt is fascinated by Lily. For the past ten years, his sole focus has been on building his business, but now he finds himself distracted by her beautiful gray eyes and the secrets she's trying so hard to keep.
Will she drop her walls enough to let him in, or will her darkness swallow her whole?
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Praise for Love and Whiskey
"This book was refreshing with their carefree manner of falling for one another and I couldn't put it down. I loved all the characters and can't wait to learn more about The Magnolia Distillery." -- Kelly at Words We Love By
"A great story that I want more of! From romance to drama and even suspense the storyline is one you need to read." -- Jamie at Within The Pages Book Blog
Excerpt
"You are stalking me!" she shouts, surprising the hell out of me for a minute.
I recover quickly and shake my head as I let out a quiet chuckle. "I assure you that I am not."
She doesn't look like she believes me, and she also looks ready to bolt at any second.
"I live right there," I say, pointing in the direction of my condo. "I was just leaving to go grab a drink when I saw you walking out of the gallery. I'm sorry if I startled you."
She sighs and waves away my apology. "It's fine."
She turns to walk away, and I scramble to think of an excuse to talk to her a little longer. This woman makes me feel irrational. She clearly wants nothing to do with me, yet I still can't seem to give up.
"Would you like to have a drink with me?" I ask her back as she walks away.
She briefly glances at me over her shoulder. "No."
There is zero hesitation in her answer, and for some reason, her abrupt tone just makes me laugh. I jog to catch up to her, and she looks over at me with an annoyed expression.
"Why not?" I ask with a smile.
"God, you're annoying," she mumbles. She abruptly stops and turns to me. "I don't date, Matt. I'm sure there are hundreds of single, straight women in this city who would love to go on a date with you. Go find one of them."
She doesn't give me a chance to respond before she continues walking.
That's the first time she's ever said my name, and I take it as a good sign that she actually remembers it.
"I wasn't asking you on a date, Lily. I was asking if you would like to have a drink with me."
"You would drive someone to drink. That's for sure."
I chuckle and shake my head. "You don't mince your words, do you?"
"Why would I? So many people feel the need to sugarcoat their words, and it's bullshit if you ask me. If you're firm from the get-go and people know where you stand, it cuts out a lot of useless clutter."
"You're beautiful, and I find you extremely fascinating."
"Why?" she asks.
"Why what?"
She doesn't immediately respond. We walk a couple more steps before she stops again to face me.
"Why do you find me fascinating?"
I have a feeling the next words out of my mouth are going to make or break me, so I take a second to really think about my response.
Dropping my smile for a minute, I hope she can hear the sincerity in my words. "Because you wear your darkness well. I want to know all about your secrets and the pain you try to hide behind those gorgeous eyes. You're beautiful and different, and I've always liked that sort of thing."
I recover quickly and shake my head as I let out a quiet chuckle. "I assure you that I am not."
She doesn't look like she believes me, and she also looks ready to bolt at any second.
"I live right there," I say, pointing in the direction of my condo. "I was just leaving to go grab a drink when I saw you walking out of the gallery. I'm sorry if I startled you."
She sighs and waves away my apology. "It's fine."
She turns to walk away, and I scramble to think of an excuse to talk to her a little longer. This woman makes me feel irrational. She clearly wants nothing to do with me, yet I still can't seem to give up.
"Would you like to have a drink with me?" I ask her back as she walks away.
She briefly glances at me over her shoulder. "No."
There is zero hesitation in her answer, and for some reason, her abrupt tone just makes me laugh. I jog to catch up to her, and she looks over at me with an annoyed expression.
"Why not?" I ask with a smile.
"God, you're annoying," she mumbles. She abruptly stops and turns to me. "I don't date, Matt. I'm sure there are hundreds of single, straight women in this city who would love to go on a date with you. Go find one of them."
She doesn't give me a chance to respond before she continues walking.
That's the first time she's ever said my name, and I take it as a good sign that she actually remembers it.
"I wasn't asking you on a date, Lily. I was asking if you would like to have a drink with me."
"You would drive someone to drink. That's for sure."
I chuckle and shake my head. "You don't mince your words, do you?"
"Why would I? So many people feel the need to sugarcoat their words, and it's bullshit if you ask me. If you're firm from the get-go and people know where you stand, it cuts out a lot of useless clutter."
"You're beautiful, and I find you extremely fascinating."
"Why?" she asks.
"Why what?"
She doesn't immediately respond. We walk a couple more steps before she stops again to face me.
"Why do you find me fascinating?"
I have a feeling the next words out of my mouth are going to make or break me, so I take a second to really think about my response.
Dropping my smile for a minute, I hope she can hear the sincerity in my words. "Because you wear your darkness well. I want to know all about your secrets and the pain you try to hide behind those gorgeous eyes. You're beautiful and different, and I've always liked that sort of thing."
About the Author:
Allie Able is a romance writer who tries to juggle her time between being a mother and an author. Allie was raised in a small town in Mississippi and now resides in Florida. Reading and writing romance has always been her first love. She decided to pursue her dreams of becoming a writer full-time, when the characters dancing around in her head wouldn't stop demanding her attention. Now she can be found sitting at her desk, feeding her coffee addiction, as she creates heartbreaking romance with spicy ever afters.
I love getting to know fellow romance authors and readers, so stop by anytime for a chat.
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