Whiskey Kisses by Anna Martin

 

e-book

70 pages

 

Blurb

 

In a small town about an hours' drive outside Dublin, there’s a whiskey distillery.

Jim has worked in the distillery as its business manager since he returned to his home town after getting his degree. Whiskey is a slow business and rural life is quiet, but Jim takes it in his stride. That is, until the handsome and mysterious Mr Aiden Rooney moves into a room above the local pub and sets off a flurry of gossip.

Aiden’s an artist, and his devil-may-care attitude is a revelation to Jim. But he still lives in a small town in rural Ireland, and he’s not even sure if he wants to be out and proud. The choices they make could change everything, if only Jim dares to follow his heart.

 

Review                   

 

This is a charming little story with just the right amount of soul-searching vs. easy, simple, and beautiful love. There’s a spot of instant attraction, a not completely issue free coming out, and some small-town pettiness, but overall it’s an angst-free and delightful read. Of course, the fact that this tale is set in Ireland, was a huge added bonus.

Quite a few things made me smile. The spoken language that once or twice feared a little in the ‘begosh and begorrah’ direction. Or the fear of being outed because the town is small, rural, and conservative (the story was published in 2017, two years after the marriage equality referendum) but the same place providing food deliveries.

But, that’s me reading as someone who lives in a tiny, rural, Irish town. The descriptions and dialogue in this book would be perfect for any reader who has never been to Ireland. In fact, they were so good it made me think about how I describe things in my own stories, what my dialogue may or may not sound like to readers. I don’t rule out that my fear of stereotyping the Irish results in me making them bland metro-nationals (is that a thing?).

Long reflection short: Whiskey kisses is a wonderful read if you find yourself with an hour or two on your hands and feel like spending them in Ireland in the company of two interesting and sexy men.