Life isn’t a game. Life isn’t an empty bottle of bourbon spinning on a warehouse floor as I hold my breath. I feel weak when others perceive me as strong. I’m passionate though I appear to hate the world around me.I see beauty in all ugly things. I feel pain when I laugh. No one knows the truth.Well, no one knew the truth until now.Somehow, Brody Pearson understands more about me than anyone else … understands more about me than anyone else in my life. The severed connection should mean something significant, but I don’t know if I can forget all my self-proclaimed promises.
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Wow!! Journey’s life has literally been a journey. This girl has been through more then most. But her story, it’s so much more then that. Every time I pick up one of Ms. Ryan’s books I get lost. Lost in the story, lost in the emotion, lost in the love, just lost. And when I’m reading that’s what I love more then anything. Just to get lost and not realize what’s going on right in front of me. Ms. Ryan does that and more when I pick up one of her books! And Journey and Brody’s story is no different!
Well now I know that the amazingness that was Book #1 in this series was no fluke, because this book, woah, it just blew me away! This story is so chock full of heart and soul that there is just no way you can not feel everything these characters feel. I love Journey’s character so much and what an unbelievable “journey” of loss, regret and heartache she has been on in her life so far. I was right there with her through her struggles and that is totally due to the fantastic descriptive and heartfelt writing of Shari Ryan. But now Journey can add great and wholly unexpected love to her personal journey thanks to one Brody Pearson a very unlikely second chance at love and life for both of them really. But simply put, they just work. They have great chemistry and an easy way between them. And boy do I love this sweet, funny and tender single dad, Brody! He never once gives up on Journey despite how hard she makes it for him at times. The dynamic that develops between Brody, Journey and Brody’s daughter Hannah felt so natural as did the way this whole story develops. I loved it so much and cannot wait for more in this series!!
This story was beyond beautiful and told to perfection with so many emotions, heartache and regret as Journey truly learns to forgive herself from the past with Brody by her side pushing to the limit It is not easy living with so much guilt and heartache.
The words flowed so easy and beautifully I couldn’t put it down. I am loving this series.
Cue the waterworks for this amazing second chance romance. You are taken on an incredible Journey of finding hope, love and second chances at life. Journey and Brody have both suffered so much and you feel everything with them. Love truly can conqueror all. But will it help them both heal? This series is a can’t miss and this story is even better than the first.
We have another exceptional story in the Bourbon House series. Journey and Brody seem like an unlikely couple, but aren’t those just the one’s that make the best story?! This is a slow burn story with a lot of mystery. A heroine who has closed herself off from the world and broody hero who we need to know much more about, but together it equals a smooth tasting winner.
We met the Quinn sisters in Bourbon Love Notes. Bourbon on the Rocks picks up their story in roughly where the first book left off, but this time focusing on older sister Journey.
Where Love Notes dealt with painful issues happening in the present (and a budding relationship), On the Rocks lets us see Journey decide and then begin a relationship with Brody while also dealing with nearly 15 years of baggage and self sabotage.
I liked both Journey and Brody and enjoyed seeing them reconnect. I appreciated the fact that there was a bit of bristling and a true progression from people who barely knew each other to friends to more. This was a good mix of pursuit, friendship, and room to grow.
Told entirely from Journey’s point of view, her character does the heavy lifting in term of emotional growth and blossoming to be ready for a relationship. Ms Ryan had a very compassionate hand in addressing the grief and guilt that Journey carries and has to address before she can make changes in her everyday life.
Similar to Bourbon Love Notes, this is a well written book that includes a building relationship as a parallel plot to the emotional growth and healing of the female lead. I am curious about the upcoming books in this series as they appear to be the male side of the stories as told by Brett and Brody.
Bourbon on the Rocks
Book 2 The Barrel House Series
Shari Ryan
Amazing masterpiece! What a great slow burn romance! What an emotional roller coaster! Loved!! Highly recommend. I can not wait for the next book!!
““It’s better to have loved, then have never loved at all.” Best friends first. Best friends always.”
Bourbon On The Rocks is a slow burn that gives you hope, heartbreak and a lot of love. This series is definitely becoming a favorite and it only has two books in it so far. I’m excited for what’s next in this series.
Bourbon on the Rocks is my favorite of the series so far. Journey’s story was well-written and I loved the entertaining banter between her and Brody. Brody was the absolute best! He was the perfect match for Journey and I can’t wait until his book is released.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary Advance Reader Copy.
Bourbon on the Rocks is book two in the Barrel House series and while each book can be read as a standalone, you will connect a more deeper connection and meaning of many things in life after reading one or both of them. Love the title as this has so much more to do with just the Barrel and ice. In this story we will see secondary characters and a story of two companies; however, we see a side of Journey that was well hidden in the first book (she was a secondary character in the first book). Journey’s name holds true for not only herself, but the story of live. It goes to show you that when bad things happen and takes you on a Journey you did not expect, with this could come the good. It may not seem like this at the moment, but you learn from them and see how things in life come full circle. Journey is strong, but weak and you will see why. It is a huge hurdle to overcome and who better to help bring her out of her comfort zone than Brody. The tension between these two is strong, but the banter these two put out make up for it. He pushes her to in a way that makes her see her decision is worth it. You will feel the tension, heat, sadness and love endured by all characters while reading this. Those letters will leave your heart full. I highly recommend this book over a good drink of Bourbon (or your drink of choice).
Amazing! This book easily skyrockets to the top of my Heartfelt list! It’s so much more than I ever anticipated. I stumbled across a short clip with these characters in Take Me to Bed anthology, and I just had to have their story! I started with the first book in this standalone series (which I recommend). Both Journey and Brody have lived so much life since their 7 minutes in heaven closet encounter. It’s been 15 years since Brody Kissed Journey breathless in the dark, and now he’s back and won’t leave her alone. You get such a fun and feel good, playful feeling from these two. Journey is dealing with the passing of her father and we know she has things in her past but she keeps them so close to her heart. I never saw her story coming. It will be burned in my mind forever. One second can change everything. My heart split wide open for her and I shed so many tears! She’s such a wonderful character. Her story is tragic, she lives with her past every day. I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason and even though Journey’s has unimaginable things, everything after that fell into place so extraordinarily. Brody is so wonderful and sexy, he makes you weak. I loved everything about him, his determination and understanding went a long way. I think these two were so perfect for each other. I’m so glad I stumbled upon this excerpt, This is one unforgettable read. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t even know where to begin with this book. It was another where it felt like I blinked, and the book was already over. After reading the previous book, I was invested in seeing where Journey and Brody would take us before I even cracked this title open. Where they took us was an emotional roller-coaster ride characteristic of a Shari J Ryan read. (One of these days I’ll learn my lesson to have the tissues handy before I start reading.) Journey has led an “interesting” life, in every sense of that curse. She also has a flair for blunt honesty that meant even while I wanted to cry my eyes out, I was also laughing my backside off. These characters are living, breathing creations in my imagination now. I’ve gone and fallen in love with them and I can’t wait to read even more about the collective Quinn and Pearson families.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through Foreword PR & Marketing.
4.5 *
A beautiful heartfelt emotional story. Loved Journey and Brody’s story. I was excited to read Journey’s story after reading Bourbon Love Notes I was curious what her story was. My heart goes out to Journey. Just before graduation and getting ready to leave for college Journey throws a New Year’s party in which she shared a passionate kids with Brody, right after a tragic accident happens and Journey’s life is completely turned around. Years later now Journey is struggling with the loss of her father, she runs into Brody who is now a divorced single dad. As much as she tries to push him away there is a connection between these two that was there in the past and present. As Brody carefully tears down the walls Journey has put up around her heart we slowly learn what she has been going through and all the baggage she has been carrying. I believe her name fits her well because her life has been quite a journey. I really loved both books, they leave me wanting more. I look forward to the next book in this story.
I received an ARC and volunteered to leave a review.
This was a highly anticipated next book in the series! I loved every minute of it. Journey is Melody’s sister from the first book. She was a total mystery to me and now we have her story. Brody is Brent’s brother and kind of immature at first. He is a single father of preteen daughter. This story was an emotional second chance that is definitely worth reading. We also get to see more of Melody and Brent and the family’s bourbon business. I am eagerly awaiting for the next book in the series.
Thank you for the privilege of reading this book! Well done
Life isn’t a game.
Life isn’t an empty bottle of bourbon spinning on a warehouse floor as I hold my breath.
I feel weak when others perceive me as strong.
I’m passionate though I appear to hate the world around me.
I see beauty in all ugly things.
I feel pain when I laugh.
No one knows the truth.
Well, no one knew the truth until now.
Somehow, Brody Pearson understands more about me than anyone else in my life. The severed connection should mean something significant, but I don’t know if I can forget all my self-proclaimed promises.
Wow! Journey and Brody’s story was flawlessly written and heartfelt. Their story captured me from the first few pages and will take you on an emotional roller coaster. This book was so amazing and sadly my review won’t begin to do it justice.
4.5 Touching Stars!
Journey – the perfect name for the female lead in this one. Shari has a way of taking broken characters and making you fall in love with them, become invested in their stories and rooting for them and she did that with Journey in this one. Add Brody and you have a sweet romance that simmers, just when you think he can’t get any better, he pulls something else off that just makes you fall deeper….
Dad’s Bourbon Notes – “Sigh”, I think this series is going to make me a lover of Bourbon
Beautifully written, easy to fall into and cozy up with ~ this one is a definite recommendation!
Impacting EMOTIONS!
An intense emotionally charged read that quickly grabs hold of you and keeps you turning the pages. Beautifully written, an endless flow of emotions with a few shed tears, gripping twists and consuming slow burn suspense. An amazing story with everything in one heck of an impacting punch that definitely needs to be read again and again.
Journey was getting ready to go away for college when the unthinkable happened. Now she’s just trying to understand everything. When she comes face to face with someone from the past, what will she do? Brody is a single father trying to do the best he can. His reaction to Journey is nothing like he’s felt before but will he go after what he wants?
Shari has us chasing that slow burn in Bourbon On The Rocks and it’s full of heartache, regret, hope and so much love. You need to read this book for Hannah, the party, the restaurant, Vegas and the Bourbon bottle alone. This story took my heart on an emotional rollercoaster ride. Journey and Brody bring the sarcasm, but they also have such a witty relationship and boy can they bring the heat. I love how Brody pushes Journey out of her comfort zone. She is so much stronger than she gives herself credit for. I appreciate how Shari is not afraid to tackle real life issues in her books and this story is no exception. Like me, I hope you think the title of this book is perfect as it brings everything full circle. Bourbon On The Rocks reminds you accidents can change your life forever, but that doesn’t mean you should stop living life and following your dreams. Everyone has a Journey they are supposed to be on. Shari, thank you for reminding me that forgiving ourselves is one of the hardest things for us to do, but everyone deserves a second chance to move forward. If you have lived life at all, you have experienced some type on “Bourbon On The Rocks.”
Tracey, Life Reads With Friends Book Blog
The second installment of The Barrel House Series was a heartbreaking slowburn masterpiece.
Journey has not had a easy life. Her story is heartbreaking. She has so much guilt over one event in her life that happened that she feels responsible for, and she won’t let herself move on. I loved Journey.
Brody is a single father, and when he sees Journey again at a PTA meeting he does every thing he can to push his way back into her life. I loved Brody. He was always there for her, even when she was trying to push him away.
Brody was perfect for Journey. I definitely loved their banter. Especially their text messages. Loved the scenes with Journey and Hannah.
Hannah cracked me up. She was definitely a handful. Shari definitely described the perfect tween.
This is a must read for anyone who wants a book that is an emotional second chance
I received a free copy via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review