“…the thing is, disappointing people is only human. It’s bound to happen. The good thing is forgiveness is also human.”
Whiskey on Our Shoes by Tonya Preece is a super engaging glimpse of the snares of a past bad relationship and the challenge of avoiding the harsh celebrity limelight. The book’s title evokes the impression of a simple, humorous, and romantic adventure, which is awesome, but this story offers so much more.
The first-person narration oscillates between the two main characters, Eva and Alex, providing readers with lots of internal turmoil and musings. Twenty-year-old Eva Covington is the daughter of a supermodel and a famous musician but has stayed under the radar her entire life. Alex Marshall is just a regular guy trying to get off academic probation at the University of Texas in Austin before his parents find out while dodging a persistent and much older stalker ex-girlfriend. How Eva and Alex meet is a rogue shot in the dark because no way would a small-town boy like Alex ever find himself in Eva’s famous yet secluded orbit. But that first meeting is amusing, the attraction is instant, and the rest is history. Sort of.
Some prominent themes in Whiskey on Our Shoes include family, trust, second chances, respecting boundaries, and following dreams. The romance between Eva and Alex scores high on the love meter, with some sexy scenes toward the end adding a generous pinch of spice to the overall story. While naughty language is minimal, drama is quite abundant. So be ready for plenty of theatrics and a few malicious characters causing trouble and getting on everyone’s nerves.
The pace of Whiskey on Our Shoes is quite rapid because Tonya Preece knows exactly how to hook readers from the start and then keep them constantly wanting more. A favorite aspect is Eva’s interest in tiny homes made from repurposed material. As a daughter of rich and famous parents, Eva does not need a job and always has a place to live, such as with her much older half-brother, Lor, in his massive mansion in Austin. But small spaces make her feel safe, so a tiny home sounds absolutely perfect, especially if it’s on wheels. While the company Eva works for in this story is called Austin Creative Repurposing (ACR), there is an actual business in Austin called Austin Creative Reuse (ACR). So cool!
While Eva and Alex are building their relationship, other factors (and people) are conspiring against them. No spoilers, but I can say that quite a bit of malevolence and misunderstanding is afoot. Tonya Preece is a master at characterization and plot development, giving readers flawed yet believable main characters and a storyline that is both dynamic and fresh.
If you want more saucy romance and bountiful dramatics in your life, then Whiskey on Our Shoes will not disappoint.
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I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
oooh. saucy romance & bountiful dramatics. YES, please! Thanks for a great review.
Thank you so much for the great review, Ruthie! Glad you enjoyed the book.