If you're looking for a spy-themed contemporary romance, I recommend The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter instead.If you're looking for a spy-themed contemporary romance, I recommend The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter instead....more
Tropes *grumpy + sunshine Pros: *humorous situations and banter between characters *lots of action makes for binge-worthy reading Cons *over too soon Spice LTropes *grumpy + sunshine Pros: *humorous situations and banter between characters *lots of action makes for binge-worthy reading Cons *over too soon Spice Level *Fade-to-black (unfortunately) Will I read any sequels? *Yes...more
Ruby Spencer’s Whisky Year is a fun contemporary romance about a woman who does what I imagine many of us dream of doing–dropping evRating: 3.5 stars
Ruby Spencer’s Whisky Year is a fun contemporary romance about a woman who does what I imagine many of us dream of doing–dropping everything and moving to Scotland for a year. She’s trying to write a cookbook and start a new career, but she ends up finding love instead.
Contemporary romance isn’t my favorite romance sub-genre, but I found this novel to be charming. I loved the setting of Thistlecross, and I enjoyed Ruby’s sarcasm and positivity, though I can see how other readers might find it grating. I thought it was fun. However, I did not enjoy the novel’s “self-aware” moments as much. There are a few passages throughout the book where Ruby and Brochan joke,“Well if this were a romance novel…” I thought these scenes were overly cheesy to the point of being annoying, rather than being clever.
These moments were few and far between, though, and I don’t think they get in the way of enjoying Ruby and Brochan’s romance. Brochan is an excellent romance hero. He’s rugged and masculine without being pushy or domineering. Instead, he has an artistic side, and he isn’t afraid to share that with Ruby. I loved the slow build of their relationship; the pacing felt realistic. The two also have great chemistry, though this doesn’t always translate into well-written sex scenes. In fact, I thought the book felt weirdly…prudish? It’s an open door romance, meaning it describes the characters having sex, but Billow shies away from using explicit language. Not every romance needs to be explicit or open-door, but the reliance on metaphors felt like an odd choice considering Ruby’s declarations about refusing to feel ashamed for her sexual history at the book’s beginning.
Overall, I’m glad I read Ruby Spencer’s Whisky Year. It was a fun read, especially for February and Valentine’s Day. I recommend it for contemporary romance fans, or readers who wish they could also drop everything and run away to the Highlands. Fans of super spicy books, though, might be disappointed.
P.S. Readers who love well-written food scenes might also enjoy this book. Ruby loves to cook, and she’s always cooking and experimenting with recipes....more
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