“Suddenly all those old country love songs I’d played so often made perfect sense.” ~ Gibson Bodine Gravel-voiced Gibson Bodine takes his lone wolf image seriously. The tough guy. The bad boy. He lives alone. Works alone. His one love—besides starting a good brawl—is sitting on a rinky-dink stage in a backwoods bar playing guitar and singing about things he’ll never have.When a video of him … have.
When a video of him playing goes viral, Gibson ignores the unwanted attention. He’s got bigger things to worry about. Like the bomb his half-brother’s mom just dropped on him. And the fallout from the memento he’s been carrying around for thirteen years.
He doesn’t have time for fame… or love… or meddling neighbors stopping by with casseroles and questions.
But one night in a bar, fifty miles from home, he meets her. And she changes everything.
In Bootleg Springs—home of the best moonshine and nosiest neighbors in West Virginia—secrets don’t keep. When the truth about Callie Kendall’s fate brings danger home, it’s up to Gibson to step up and be the hero. And maybe find what he’s been missing all along.
Love.
more
The grand finale of the Bootleg Springs is everything I hoped for. Filled with humor, romance and suspense. Great dialogue and wonderful characters. Perfection.
There are not enough words for this series. I absolutely loved Gibson’s story and Claire definitely did him right when she wrote it.
This is the epic final book in an incredible series. It’s bittersweet because yes we finally get Gibson’s book, we finally find out exactly what happened to Callie Kendall, and we finally find out who Gibson’s love will be. But it’s also the end to an amazing journey.
It’s started with four siblings wading through their alcoholic father’s funeral. Some holding tight to their resentment towards him. Along the way they’ve found a fifth sibling, discovered a family secret, reopened a 12 year old missing persons cold case, each finally felt worthy of being a part of the town they live in, found the love that centers them, a surrogate mother, redemption for their father, and made peace with their parents. Every step has made them stronger and held them closer together.
Gibson in particular was the moodiest of the bunch. Having been the target to his father’s own self loathing and the oldest attempting to protect his siblings. He’s only found happiness in a few things in life. One of those was music. When he becomes a YouTube sensation and a record company sends someone out to convince him to record the pieces of Gibson’s life while shuffle once again.
This is everything we hoped for in the final Bootleg Springs book. I’m not going to talk about the plot, y’all need to just read it! Just know it’s funny, its sexy and I cried more than once-both happy and sad tears!
Claire Kingsley and Lucy Score created this amazing world and invited us to live there for six truly remarkable books. I am so sad to leave the Bodines and all of Bootleg Springs.
5*
Gibson still believed his father had more to do with Callie’s disappearance, why else did he keep the jumper?
A representative from a record company has been sent to sign Gibson up after a video was posted of him singing on you tube.
When he spots her watching him singing he has the strangest feeling he knows her, but how and where from?
The Bodine family are such strong characters with great personalities I have loved each and every book of this amazing series. If you haven’t started it yet you definitely need to !
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
Brilliant loved it.
Swooning over this book!!! Bittersweet ending for this amazing series . Gibson Bodine is a loner. He’s rugged, sexy and very talented with his hands . He’s not only a talent singer/guitarist but great at making custom cabinets/home furniture by hand and all the ladies try to fall for his strong but brooding demeanor. There will be a girl that will not only break down that tough exterior but will finally claim his heart. Gibson and the entire Bodine family will finally have closure regarding their parent’s involvement in the long, on going investigation of Callie Kendall. The mystery of Callie Kendall’s disappearance will finally be resolved and the events leading up to the case will have you on the edge of your seats. Hold on tight and hang on because you are about to get rocked with amazing conclusion about Bootleg Springs, West Virginia. 5 stars all the way
This book was the perfect ending for this series!!! A great final visit to Bootleg Springs, a story about women and their book club, men complaining about their women, Moonshine baseball league, puppies and love. The best part, learning the whole story behind the disappearance of Callie Kendall. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a small town romance with quirky characters and a good love story.
This is a hard review to write, but only because it’s sooo good. It’s hard to come up with words that are good enough. Individually this book is amazing. Honestly one of my most anticipated books. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it, and it didn’t disappoint. I knew that I would love Gibson so hard. Grumpy Heroes are my favorite. I needed see him melt. The mystery that is intertwined in the series was fodder for online theories. I love the small town trope, and family series. This has both. Hilarious and suspenseful at the same time. As a whole, this is one of my favorite series. I will definitely reread it and recommend it to anyone that will listen.
Highball Rush, Book 6 of 6 of the Bootleg Springs series, is everything I had hoped it would be and more. Much more. Although most books in a series can be read as a standalone, I encourage you NOT to do that with Highball Rush. This book is so cleverly crafted from two of my favorite authors, Lucy Score and Claire Kingsley and not one detail was left to chance. The time they took to plan each and every character, and their foresight, is evidenced on every fabulously written and engaging page. If you can’t afford to purchase all of the books, then consider signing up for Kindle Unlimited if you don’t already have it, even if it’s just for the free trial, and binge read Bootleg Springs! And after you are done, devour the Blue Moon series by Lucy Score and then the Miles family series by Claire Kingsley.
Now on with my review of Highball Rush…Oh how I love a brooding, sexy, good with his hands cabinet maker, and guitar-playing crooner! They saved the best for last as each of the six books in this series featured a different couple who are prominently featured and interact in each edition. Gibson was the last single sibling and I just loved this family to pieces. Gibson was my every fantasy come true! He was patient and kind, protective and loving, vulnerable yet strong.
The book was set in a small town in West Virginia that was filled with so much heart and soul. You can’t help but want to move there and be friends with them. I loved everything from the Book Club, the local law enforcement, the not so legal locals who dished out Bootleg Justice, to the fun times at the bonfires and hot springs, and especially meeting new characters who visited and couldn’t bear to leave. This book was so witty while also being very emotional and endearing. It was about coming together, supporting each other, and accepting people for who they are, and fighting for what is right. It’s a book I will never forget.
One of the reasons you must start at the beginning is because it’s Scarlett’s story, the only female Bodine sibling who is a real spitfire with a giant heart. She will make you laugh from page one to the end of book six. At the end of her book there is a glimpse into the future which teases the reader unmercifully; this is brilliant because you will want to keep reading even if your eyes hurt. Another reason to start at the beginning is because a local teen went missing 13 years ago and the mystery to her disappearance unravels bit by bit and has a significant impact on the Bodine siblings and their parents who are now deceased.
Talk about character development…this book has it in spades. You will not be left with one unanswered question and will truly route and fall in love with each unique couple. My heart is so full after reading this wonderful series and I recommend it without any hesitation.
What can I say, but Gibson’s story is everything I hoped it would be. Suspense, romance, Bootleg Springs justice and a whole lot of love. The way the Bootleg community comes together to restore faith and love in families is awe inspiring. Don’t worry Misty Lynn gets what’s coming to her. Highball Rush was the perfect conclusion to the Bootleg Springs series.
If you haven’t read Bootleg Springs why not? You won’t know what you’re missing until you’ve read it. I’m very sad this is the end of the Bodines, but their love, family and community will live on forever!!!
Highball Rush was everything I could have imagined & then so much more! What an absolutely amazing end to this series! These characters were so real & good hearted. I love how every single book showed us in different ways the struggles they faced to find the truth about the older Bodines & Callie Kendall disappearance. Oh my, then there’s Gibson & his girl! Words cannot describe what a beautiful story theirs is!
I was a little sad and yet excited at the same time to get this ARC in my inbox. It is the last book in the Bootleg Springs series and I am going to miss this family. Claire and Lucy did an amazing job of creating this series and the writing was flawless. Their writings styles blend so well that as a reader I couldn’t really differentiate as to who took the lead writing which book. This is Gibson Bodines’ story and it is everything fans hoped it would be. Gibson and his heroine are perfect for each other and the story of their journey to their own happily ever after is not easy (nor would we want it to be) especially with the baggage Gibson carries with him. The storyline wraps up all of our questions and leaves the reader with a book hangover (in a good way). There is not much more that I want to say because every reader should go into this book blind, without any hint of what is to come. Other than to say this book was the perfect ending and that readers are going to fall in love with Gibson Bodines’ story and his heroine, I will leave my review at that.
I voluntarily read a digital ARC provided to me by the authors.
I don’t even know where to start. I can’t believe the Bootleg Springs series is over…I feel like my best friend moved away! This book was AMAZING – seriously – AMAZING. Claire Kingsley and Lucy Score created SUCH an awesome series – one that you DEFINITELY do not want to miss! If this is the first book you’re seeing – go back to book 1 – they must be read in order!
This book takes us on sweeping highs and terrible lows, all while making the reader feel like they were part of the story and an honorary member of Bootleg Springs. Gibson Bodine is swoony and perfectly imperfect – the brooding hero who has kept to himself throughout each book. Unraveling his complicated story couldn’t have been easy, and yet Claire did it effortlessly.
The dynamic duo of Claire and Lucy is a combination not to be missed. One can only hope this is the first of MANY collaborations…and I for one would knock small children out of my way to get to whatever either of these brilliant ladies writes next. Too much? What can I say – I’m a sucker for a book that makes the reader feel like they’re living in the town and participating in the story. All of the Bootleg Springs books have been phenomenal and I am SCREAMING at everyone to BUY THIS BOOK! You will NOT be sorry!
From the very beginning of this series the reader falls head over heels in love with all of the characters in Bootleg Springs especially the Bodine family. Between reconnecting with past loves, finding new loves and making connections that last lifetimes every book in the series was better than the last. With that being said, once again I wish I could rate this with more than 5 stars. Every chapter had me wanting more, every character was beautifully written and the storyline was heart wrenching and heart warming all at the same time. Finally secrets are spoken and answers are revealed. I am so sorry to see this series end. Claire Kingsley and Lucy Score – thank you for creating this town and thank you for the emotional journey. This will be one series I will re-read time and time again.
Wow, just wow! Claire and Lucy have really outdone themselves with this series of books. They created a world that you just want to go visit and live there. The characters feel soo real and well created that I am sad that I will not hear from them again…unless they write more to this wonderful town!!!
This final installation of the series clears up all the questions you have throughout the series. I will not give away any of the answers as you should really read them.
Gibson FINALLY has his happy ever after (I’ll call Her Mona Lisa #6). “swoon”
Gibson meets Mona Lisa #6 after a set he plays in a neighboring town. He is drawn to her. But as we learn in Bootleg Spring, danger lurks around ever corner. Mona Lisa #6 finds herself in danger and Gibson does everything he can to keep her safe.
Gibson and Mona Lisa #6’s love grows as the danger continues. The strength of these characters is soo awesome to read. The way the family and town keep them safe and how they finally bring down the bad guy.
I just love this town and how they really have each other’s backs! Thank you Claire and Lucy for writing a great family/town/series!
A perfect ending to an amazing series.
Highball Rush was everything I expected it to be and so much more. I’ve been waiting for Gibson’s story since the first installment. His story was begging to be told from the very beginning, and Claire didn’t disappoint.
I’ve been a Bootleg Springs fan since the beginning. Waiting for these stories to come has been the most beautiful form of torture. Lucy and Claire have exceeded my expectations with each release, how a co-writing duo can be so in sync and spot on is simply amazing.
As for Highball Rush, you will get all of the answers you seek. No stone is left unturned. This book is more than just the answers to all of our questions. It is a beautiful love story between Gibson and his heroine. With the many trials and tribulations they must face it brings the townspeople of Bootleg to rally around them. You will get to see your favorite Bootleg townies one last time, along with all of our favorite characters from this series.
Seeing Gibson get his happily ever after was worth the sadness of realizing this series is over. My pepperoni roll loving, country girl heart will always have a special place reserved for Bootleg, and my favorite family The Bodines.
The Perfect Ending
After five books in this series, I couldn’t wait to have the mystery of Callie Kendall’s disappearance be solved. This series had so many twists and turns and Highball Rush was a total rollercoaster ride but Gibson and his lady are such utter perfection that you can’t help but hope everything will turn out for them.
This book is one of the best I’ve ever read. It kept me on the edge of my seat and left me with a full heart and a smile on my face. I’m sad to see the end of my visits to Bootleg Springs but I can’t help but feel so much joy that all of the Bodines got their HEA.
I couldn’t be happier with the ending to this series. It was perfect (along with the bonus extended epilogue).
Gibson was such a mystery for most of this series (brooding in the background with little glimpses of his true heart) but I knew he would have many layers. And he definitely meets his perfect partner. I can’t say much without spoilers and I would never want to do that. But some things I hoped would happen did happen, all loose ends are tied up and there were many HEAs. I loved Bootleg Springs and I’ll miss it.
Great way to finish a series! I really loved how music brought the main characters together and was such a powerful element to them.
I can’t believe it’s over. I remember chomping at the bit waiting for the conclusion to the mystery of Callie and of course the HEA for the grumpy Gibson and now that it’s here, I’m actually so sad. Even if it was bittersweet, Highball Rush was absolutely fantastic!
I am not sure what else I can say in my review that has not already been said. Gibson has fascinated me from the very beginning. I love those broody heroes, and Gibson was definitely that! There were so many scenes with Gibson growling at one person or another and I definitely got that tingly feeling. So to finally see him get his happily ever after was so heartwarming. By now, the heroine has probably been named, but in this review I will not say it. All I will say is that she was just perfect for Gibson. He was finally able to let go of the pain from his past and was finally able to love, she did that for him. It was all just beautiful.
Highball Rush really had it all; an amazing ongoing mystery that finally has been solved, twists and turns that kept the story fresh, fantastic characters, fabulous chemistry, so many laugh out loud moments, and Bootleg Justice against all that deserved it! I do have to say I wish that book club pick was real.
This was the perfect conclusion to an amazing series. Highly recommend this book and all the others!