“I didn’t reply. I couldn’t. Seeing this man’s naked private parts had not rendered me speechless but watching him lick ice cream off his finger had.” – June TuckerJune Tucker doesn’t understand people. Numbers, data, and statistics? Those make sense. People? Not so much. In a town of Friday night fighters and moonshine-swilling line dancers, she’s the odd duck. And that suits her just fine. But … suits her just fine. But her sister and friends are pairing off, and the change is unsettling.
George “GT” Thompson was at the top of his game—one of the best receivers in football. But a career-ending injury sidelined him for good. Now he’s hoping to find relief in the healing waters of this tiny West Virginia town. And maybe an idea of what life has in store for him next.
He doesn’t expect the no-nonsense girl at the hot spring, telling him he’s not supposed to be there. And pointing out his sizeable… equipment.
George is fascinated by June, with her head full of statistics and blunt honesty. He appreciates her in a way most others don’t. And when the local missing persons case takes a shocking turn, he’s by Scooby-June’s side as she digs for the truth.
He was her fantasy receiver. Now he’s her real-life boyfriend. But as their relationship heats up, June worries she’s not capable of the kind of intimacy he needs. He’s convinced his campaign to get her out of her own head—to stop thinking and feel—will work. But his own crisis could drive them further apart.
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Bourbon Bliss is book four in the Bootleg Springs series by Claire Kingsley and Lucy Score. I have been waiting not so patiently for Junie’s book. I really had no idea how her story would go but it was most definitely worth the wait.
We’ve known June Tucker since the beginning of this series. She is Cassidy’s (from the previous book) sister. Their dad is the town sheriff. June is a bit unique. She is more or less a genius. She has a head for numbers above all else. She works from home as an actuary for large corporations and makes great money at it. In return, she invests in many local businesses to help out small business owners. I guess we could say that June is a logical woman. She has trouble relating to emotions. Her sister and Scarlet forced her to socialize throughout her childhood and adult years.
“People were odd. They said things they didn’t mean and did things that bore no relationship to what they said. I found them unpredictable and therefore uncomfortable. Numbers, on the other hand, made sense. They were reliable.”
Because of her love of numbers, of statistics, June loves sports. She loves the numbers of it. She excels at fantasy football. But her favorite player, GT Thompson, was out for the season with an ACL injury.
George (GT) Thompson was thirty two years old and had enjoyed a successful career in professional football in Philadelphia. But this was his second torn ACL injury and it would end his career. His sister was currently in Bootleg Springs, West Virginia and had been telling him about the rumored healing properties of the hot springs there so she invited him to come for a stay. He really had nothing else going on so he thought it would be worth a try.
When June first saw George, she knew who he was immediately. What she couldn’t understand was her reaction. She thought maybe she had picked up a virus. Her stomach was doing all sorts of strange things and her pulse was accelerated. She’d never encountered such symptoms before.
George was immediately enamored with June. Her bluntness, her analytical brain, all of it was a turn on to him. He couldn’t stop thinking about her and definitely wanted to get to know her better. The longer he was in Bootleg Springs, the more he liked it. He was in no hurry to leave.
George and June begin seeing each other. They are both taken with each other but June had not experienced much luck with her previous relationships. She was afraid that she wasn’t wired for intimacy and the more she was with George, the more she worried about it. Of one thing she was sure, she loved kissing him.
“Kissing you makes me feel like magic exists.”
As George and June’s relationship proceeds, there are some very shocking new developments in the Callie Kendall case. If you’ve read any of the previous books, you know that Callie went missing from Bootleg Springs thirteen years ago and the case has never been solved. DNA has now tied the case to the deceased father of the Bodine siblings. I think my jaw hit the floor when developments were revealed. But Junie wants more information. Something feels off. So she decides to play detective and George is right by her side.
But then, George has a crisis develop in his own life. Something he wants to handle himself, not drag June into. Their relationship is brand new and he fears that this might be the end of things before they’ve even had a chance to begin.
“George. My feelings of fondness for you have grown to a state of committed affection, punctuated by tenderness and infatuation.”
I loved every page of this book. I’ve always loved Junie and to see her bloom was such a beautiful thing. The patience that George took with her was so touching. They really were perfect for each other. The parts regarding Callie Kendall were jaw dropping. Even though there is a recurring story line throughout this series, you really can read this as a stand alone. There are enough details to get you by but really, you would enjoy it all so much more to start at the beginning so you can fall in love with each of these characters from the start. Because I assure you, you will. I love all my visits to Bootleg Springs, more with every book. And I hope you do as well!
An adorable, addictive and quirky read, Bourbon Bliss (Bootleg Springs Book 4) is 2019’s first MUST read romance. June and George’s story is sweet, funny, and romantic, with a bite of suspense and a vein of humor that’s undeniable. And it HAS to be said: Unique, smart, and ballsy, June Bug shows both growth and the ability to stay true to herself, making her one of the most well-rounded characters I’ve ever met. I can’t wait for more of this series!
I love this book (book 4 in the Bootleg Springs series) and I have been waiting since book 1 for June Bug’s story. I am so happy to see June Bug finally get her HEA. I just love June’s quirks, her personality and the way she tries to solve problems, including the missing person case. She meets her football player hero George “GT” Thompson who she liked as a player-she knew all of his stats from every game he played in & then gets to see who he is as a person. It was also fun to see June grow as a person & learn more about herself in this book. I just love June & George’s story & can’t wait to go back to Bootleg Springs.
An extremely satisfying read…
At the 6% mark of the book, I had tears in my eyes and I was ready to write my review. Yes, it wasn’t going to be a completely accurate review as I’d only read a smidge, but I had so much to say already. My emotions were like a geyser and in that short period of time I was extremely attached, connected and enthralled with the characters. My heart burst with love for June and her honest, at time abrupt and thoughtful take on everything going on around her. The connection she has with her loved ones, especially her Dad and sister Cassidy, came through in their sweet conversations. June may be a bit of an odd duck but she was loved not just by her family but the people of Bootleg Springs too.
I knew that June was going to be interesting, but Claire Kingsley and Lucy Score created one of the most amazing characters I’ve ever met. I don’t know if you can enhance a character, but in this case Bootleg Springs made her even better. Each interaction showed an acceptance of her quirky nature and protectiveness that showed how much they cared. Bootleg Springs has become a town that I think all small towns should aspire to. Their loyalty to each other is admirable. The shenanigans they get up to is humorous, a little dangerous and not something I could imagine happening in real life, or, more accurately, my life. Yes, they might be a wee bit gossipy and enjoy a good bar fight more than they should, but they care about their people.
Can you imagine meeting your hero/idol/person you admire, and they are completely nude? June’s reaction to meeting George was an ABSOLUTE CRACK UP!! In true June fashion, she does not hide the fact that she knows him or that she’s aware that certain parts of his anatomy were quite happy to meet her. This initial conversation and how George handled it, lead me to believe that they were perfect together.
Now it’s pretty obvious that I loved June’s character, but I loved George’s too. Even at his worst…if you could call it that, he was still sweet, considerate and caring. It was refreshing to meet an elite athlete who looked past his own nose. Yes, George could be a little ignorant and out of touch with how to live and take care of himself. It’s not surprising though considering he had staff members to handle those pesky jobs like grocery shopping and paying bills. In Bourbon Bliss George realises it’s time to reassess how he will live his future and look at what’s gone on that he was previously ignorant about.
I would say that Bourbon Bliss is a slow burn romance. What makes it different is that it’s a mutual decision between the couple to go slow and not the surrounding circumstances. In June and George’s case, it was done out of consideration and a need to establish trust in their connection. I loved that George understood June’s hesitancy and explained things in a way she could work through. It was hard for June to turn off her brain and just feel. I was completely satisfied waiting for them to get through all the bases and finally hit the home plate.
Seriously, I cannot recommend this series enough. The storylines are captivating, the characters have come to life for me and once I start reading, I can’t stop…then sad when I finish too quickly. We’re still dealing with the mystery of Callie’s disappearance, but I have my suspicions of what really happened. If you haven’t started the Bootleg Springs series, I suggest you start at the very beginning, a very good place to start.
Well, what did I expect, really? Each book has surpassed the book before it–and I don’t even know how that’s possible. I’ve loved each and every single character in this series. And Bootleg Springs is included in that list of things I love! This series is one of those you don’t want to put down and the fact there are only two more books in this series makes me a bit sad.
Start at the beginning so you get the feel for the underlying mystery, but you can read this on its own if you just want the love story and HEA.
I absolutely love this book! It maybe my favorite Bootleg Springs book yet. June & George are adorable. I love their interactions & their unique conversations & relationship. i love how you transformed an awkward, brainiac with social anxiety to someone in a romantic relationship with of all people a football star. Then there’s the Callie mystery & the plot thickens!
The Bootleg Springs series is written by two beautiful geniuses who get better with age like wine and cheese. I would like to buy them both very expensive luxury never ending supply of tacos so they never have to leave their writing caves:-)
Bourbon Bliss is book 4 in Bootleg Springs series and I would recommend reading these series in order. While Bourbon Bliss is its own story with HEA for June and GT, there is an underlying mystery running through the series and will not be completely resolved until book 6. The Bootleg Spring series is amazingly written, with extremely well developed charachters and every time a new book comes out I get lost in the story and feel as if I am transported to Bootleg and hang out with my best friends. The characters are so real, you feel like you’ve known them growing up and are visiting back in your home town. If you like your romance sweet, swooney, steamy and with a bit of mystery, you are going to love Bourbon Bliss!
Bootleg Springs, it’s great to be back again! I’m so happy to finally have June’s story! I have to admit, I was very hesitant on whether or not I would like June’s story. Well, I happy to say that Claire Kingsley NAILED this story. Bourbon Bliss is my favorite story of the series, hands down.
June is a different type of person. She is very intelligent, factual and not an overly emotional person. But when George “GT” Thompson comes to town, all of the sudden June starts to feel all of the things! George is in town to check out the healing power of the springs when he decides to stay awhile and get to know June better 😉
I truly enjoyed everything about this story. From June’s intelligence and quirks, George’s understanding nature and seeing June for who she really is, to more of the Callie Kendall mystery and the Bodine family as well, it was all fantastic. There is one part of the book that left me in tears and I felt that it brought so much to the story and was perfectly done (but I don’t want to give it away!). Bourbon Bliss was chalk full of every emotion you could possibly have and it was utterly delightful.
Claire Kingsley and Lucy Score have really made Bootleg Springs one of the best series I have ever read. I highly recommend the series and I cannot wait to read the next installment!
I couldn’t wait to read Jane’s story because she’s “different” and not your typical heroine at all. The authors did not disappoint! I absolutely adored this story.
My love for June Tucker grew with every glimpse we were given of her in previous books in the series and Ms. Kingsley exceeded my expectations for June’s book. I absolutely loved every word, every page, and most especially the perfect-for-her man, GT. Oh, and little Marshmellow of course.
Gorgeous writing, unique characters, and a truly lovely story!
THANK YOU Claire, this book was beautiful. I love how you portrayed the inner workings of a mind as unique as June’s! I think many people will relate to her and be inspired by this story. I wish I could read it for the first time all over again!
June Tucker is a quirky girl. Misunderstood most of her life she meets a former NFL player in her
hot springs in Bootleg, VA. George is taken with her as her no nonsense approach to life and
matter of fact way of speaking takes him in from the get go. The banter between June and George
is a laugh out loud story of how George brings out the normal in June. But normal isn’t always
the best way to live and love. Together they find a path they can both take. This series is a
wonderful look into how a family copes with life, love and losses. I have enjoyed the books about
Bootleg, VA. Claire Kingsley and Lucy Score have a winner.
I read this book last spring along with the rest of the Bootleg Springs books and I LOVE THIS SERIES. If you’re looking for a romcom series with humor, mystery and steam then trust me and take a trip to Bootleg Springs.
When I heard that the audio was available I knew it’d be my next audio book. June’s character is SO unique and I was dying to hear her speak. The narrators absolutely killed it. Perfection. (And George’s voice is HOT.)
George is refreshing and I love pro athlete stories that show the soft, loving side of the guy. June is quirky and adorable and the way George helped her get out of her genius little brain and actually feel was so sweet. I loved the story, the characters, and revisiting Bootleg Springs. Can I live there, please?
Book four in the Bootleg Springs series. Full length told in dual POV, can be read as stand-alone. Each book is about a different Bodine sibling with secondary characters the same throughout the series, there is also a small-town mystery theme that will not be solved until book six. I loved June! She is straight-forward, and her character did not change when she met George. George was the perfect boyfriend for June. He was understanding and communicated, but best of all he was patient and committed. This is my favorite book in the series!!
June has really met the man of her dreams in Bourbon Bliss. Or at least the man of her Fantasy Football Team dreams. And as George and “Scooby-June” embark on adventures and build their relationship, we get to know June as much more than the quirky friend and sister from the previous Bootleg Springs books. I love the way George recognizes right away that there is something special about June, when in the past people haven’t been able to see past her quirks to really see and appreciate all of her. I love that they really connect instantly in a way that happens often in books, but don’t always come across as genuine or believable. This is a truly believable and genuine-seeming connection.
Claire Kingsley and Lucy Score are telling an amazing set of stories in this series, and even though there is no Bodine in this couple, June is still family in the biggest and best sense of the word.
The narration by Stephen Dexter and Natalie Duke was great. Stephen captured a lot of George’s playfulness, and he oozed appeal and charm when it came to romancing our Junebug. Natalie Duke portrayed June as capable, determined, and willing to try to learn when she wasn’t the expert. She was quirky, but still endearing.
Loved this book.
I just LOVE LOVE June Tucker! I love everything about her! Her big brain and how she doesn’t care that she is different, she just goes on and lives her life. I love how the people that love her don’t try to change her and make her fit into their world. They help her navigate it, but allow her to be her.
I love George Thompson! I love how he fell for June Bug for who she was not because she had quirks or was different. I loved how he understood her and tried to fit into her world. Their love story was HOT!. How can it not be? Watching June try to navigate her feelings was adorable. George didn’t rush her, he let her move at her own pace and was there for her. Their relationship blossomed and grew with tenderness and love. I just HEART this book soo much!
Claire and Lucy truly created characters that just just can’t help but love and cherish.
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE—I was not looking forward to June’s story. I cant say I was dreading it– but I just wasn’t all that excited about her book–I wanted to skip to Jonah and Gibson’s book HOWEVER, once I started reading– within the first few pages I was totally hooked. June was such a unique character and George really complimented her. Such a great rom-com with a mix of mystery!!!
June Tucker is one of the most unique characters that I’ve ever run across. She blunt, brutally honest, has genius level intelligence and is as quirky as they come. George GT Thompson is a star athlete who’s forced into retirement due to injury. He was the star of June’s fantasy football team and now he’s in Bootleg Springs to rehab his knee and figure out what’s next in his life. What he didn’t count on was June. This woman without artifice calls to him like no other. He “gets” her. Teaching his June Bug about feelings, intimacy and relationships may be his single greatest accomplishment. The Callie Kendall case takes a bizarre twist when new information comes to light and the an even more bizarre twist when amateur sleuth June does some fact checkin on her own.
At first glance, June seems odd, but it’s incredible how relatable she really is. At least to me. Her practicality and inability to get out of her own head, for example. Even the way numbers make more sense to her than people. I adored her character even more than I thought I would.
George is the only one who could win June over. His extreme level of patience with her is so endearing. He is super sweet, too. And I love the way her just goes along with her little detective schemes. They are just so darn cute together.
Things are heating up with the Callie case. I have my own theory, but the truth remains to be seen.
June Bug & George, oh how I loved you two!!
June…such a quirky and beautiful and honest and smart and awkwardly blunt gal who just wants to be good enough.
George is the perfect one for her. He’s intrigued by her, he’s attracted to her, he’s patient with her.
He GETS her.
The authors did a fabulous job of making ME get her. Perfectly and vividly expressing her thoughts, I understood her.
George has some personal troubles. After an injury causes him to retire from the NFL, he comes to Bootleg Springs to get away from it all, to get some peace and quiet. His sister, Shelby suggested it.
And he fits in quite nicely. The Bodine brothers took to him right away. He gets the expected hazing from them because he’s dating “one of their own”. That’s pretty much acceptance right there.
He and June are so good together.
She’s a beautiful, refreshing change.
He’s an understanding gentleman with manners.
And he has an adorable dwarf bunny named Marshmellow. Doesn’t get much swoonier than that.
More clues and wrong turns in the Callie Kendall case!
Onto book 5!