Review: Speakeasy

Speakeasy by Sarina Bowen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think I've run out of superlatives for this series. Let's just say three snaps in the shape of a Winner!

Alec Rossi is the older brother of Zara (Bountiful) and runs a bar in Vermont called the Gin Mill which specialises in craft beers - yep I wanna go there too. He has disliked the Shipley family ever since the father sacked his Dad and he never saw his father again. Then the eldest Shipley sibling, Griffin dumped his sister to start dating Audrey (Bittersweet) and he really has a hate on. Factor in that the Shipleys are akin to the Waltons (all apple pie and family dinners) whereas the Rossis are more trailer trash and tattoos and you have a bit of a feud.

One night he's tending bar when he recognises a woman locking lips with another woman in one of the booths as May Shipley's girlfriend. Conflicted about whether to tell May or let sleeping dogs lie matters are taken out of his hands when May walks into the bar and starts a fight. Her live-in girlfriend has started dating her ex behind May's back!

Poor May, the bi-sexual, alcoholic screw-up of the perfect Shipley family, she can just see her family's faces as they regard her with pity yet again when she drags her possessions back to the family farm. Living at home again! The only person who doesn't treat her like she's made of glass is Alec Rossi, the big ol' man-hoe. He makes her laugh with his corny jokes and seems to think that she's still a fun girl. When a favour turns into a raunchy one-night stand May thinks she may have found a way to get away from her family's helicopter caring and get in touch with her wild side again. But it's just friends with benefits right?

Oh Alec, how I love you. From your cool bar, glorious apartment, hot tub, corny jokes, family values and general hotness (shallow? like a puddle). I also loved May, so different rom her family, she struggled with guilt for being an alcoholic when she hadn't really had it tough compared to so many others.

Maybe all that sounds a bit angsty, but I promise it isn't. In fact, this is probably the least angsty of the series since Bittersweet. What made it a five star rating for me was that Sarina Bowen made me fall a little in love with these two as they make lewd puns. They demonstrate what love is really all about, feeling better just for being with someone, sharing laughs in and out of bed (or a truck or a hot tub) all set in the cutest, sexiest little town in Vermont.

When do we get Benito's book? I wann it!!

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