A slow grin spread across his face and I had to turn away from the wattage. It was like staring at the sun. The handsome sun that was making my core temperature rise and causing a hormone dump in my brain. — Shelby ThompsonPersonal trainer Jonah Bodine discovers more than he bargained for with the half-siblings he didn’t know he had in small-town West Virginia. Not only is his dead father a … Virginia. Not only is his dead father a person of interest in a cold case disappearance, but the entire town seems way too invested in Jonah’s happily ever after potential.
His summer of solitude in a lakeside cottage is ruined when his matchmaking sister saddles him with an unwanted roommate.
Adorable, snort-laughing nerd Shelby Thompson came to Bootleg Springs looking for answers and ends up getting adopted by the town’s nosy elders. Maneuvered into sharing a cottage with the handsome trainer, she makes the best of a sticky situation by offering her perpetually shirtless roommate a strings-free summer fling.
Jonah is tempted. Very tempted. But Shelby has secrets. And as the Callie Kendall mystery unravels, Shelby’s own past comes back to haunt her. The danger is very real and so are the feelings she’s developing for Jonah.
Pleasure Buttons: Small-town. Romantic comedy. Romantic suspense. Summer fling. Roommates to lovers. Rescued puppies. Family series. Mystery. Happily ever after.more
Whiskey barrel full of emotion!
This Bootleg Springs installment packs a wallop and I’m a hot mess of feelings! From workouts to weddings, this small community closes it ranks to heal the hurting, uplift the lonely, and right the wrongs. (bootleg justice, baby!) Jonah and Shelby’s romance is fraught with peril, but these two are also funny, sweet, and crazy hot! The goals they achieve (no spoilers!) had me cheering with tears of joy!
Gin Fling goes a long way to closing the circle on the “what happened to Callie Kendall” missing person case, but the threads that are left dangling are still keeping me guessing! I can’t wait for the wrap up of this series! Bootleg Springs is a crazy cool hot spot and I love it!
I always expect a lot from Lucy Score. She and Claire Kingsley are absolute masters of the small town romance. They give us characters we are absolutely invested in and not just the main characters. We want to know more about all of the secondary characters too. Well maybe all except for Misty Lynn. *eye roll* This book is amazing and exceeded my expectations.
This is not a stand alone book and should ABSOLUTELY be read in order in the Bootleg Springs series. For those of us that have been following along, this is the next installment by Lucy Score in the mystery of Callie Kendall and what happened to her and sweet romcom small town romance.
Every time I think I’ve fallen in love with the main couple, along comes the next book and I’m in love with them. Shelby and Jonah. *heart eyes forever*
Shelby is a social worker researcher working on her PhD dissertation. She’s decided that Bootleg Springs is absolutely perfect for it and she’s determined to figure out what makes this town so amazing and special. She gets railroaded by Scarlett and ends up roommates with swoonworthy Jonah Bodine of the rippling pecs. There’s some Bootleg Justice connected to this that made me cackle and try not to wake up my husband.
Jonah is a personal trainer and half brother to the Bodine brothers and Scarlett. He’s still trying to figure out how he fits into the family and town and watching him realize that he’s already been a piece of them all along made me cry.
Jonah and Shelby discovering their chemistry is HOT especially the scene in the woods. *fans self*
Toss in mystery, danger, past baggage, the Breakfast Club, and Mona Lisa McNugget the town chicken and it drove me nuts that I couldn’t finish it in one sitting. Except now that I’m done and I NEED ANSWERS. Book 6 by Claire Kingsley is coming in July and it can’t get here soon enough.
Side note: I’m obsessed with the survey questions and responses that Lucy snuck in.
OMG OMG OMG. I <3 this so hard! THE REVELATIONS. I NEED BOOK SIX, STAT!
OMG this book! This series!! It is all so amazing. Lucy and Claire know what they are doing and do not disappoint. Book 5 belongs to, my favorite, Jonah Bodine. Jonah is a little bit of a mystery, being the illegitimate son of Jonah sr., and brought with him, a lot of questions when he came to Bootleg springs. He is the Dreamy Bodine brother who we haven’t quite figured out till now. It was perfect that he was paired with Feisty Shelby as a love interest. I love Shelby, I want to be her! In the end, these two were perfect for each other. There was a couple times Lucy made me hate Jonah, but she definitely brought me to love him in the end. There is the wonderful Bootleg Springs craziness throughout the story and the Bodine family come together, as THE family you do not want to mess with. I am so excited that book 6 is not too far behind, but sad to see this series end. I want Bootleg Springs to keep living on through the words of Lucy and Claire, FOREVER! 😉
Come on…we love Jonah and Shelby but what happened to Callie??
Wow, another installment from Bootleg Springs and now we are on the edge of our sets…….theorising about what happened to Callie, and how a certain brother is involved………. argh.
Jonah is the sweetest boy / 30yr old. Huge caring heart and wants to help everyone, but also find a place where he fits in. Shelby is also trying to find her own place and she finds it in Jonahs spare bedroom.
Personal struggles, family……argh family, wild animals, happy ever afters……. i just love Bootleg Springs!!!
I loved this book and prolonged out the read so i could enjoy it for longer. I didn’t just want to devour it in 1 or 2 days.
Lucy and Claire have developed this little town and amazing characters that we all love and want to hold on to for a s long as we can.
Beautiful!!!!
Lucy never, ever, ever disappoints! Jonah and Shelby’s story is hysterical, heartwarming, and steamy!
I cannot wait for the conclusion to this series, as the previous books have set up the mystery of Callie Kendall (I have my own theory) so well as well as the anticipation of Gibson’s HEA (again, I have my own theory.) Still, I’ll be SO sad to say goodbye to the Bodines!
Holy amaze balls!!! Bootleg Springs is the place to be for sexy/bullhead men, sassy/smart women, gossip/busybody neighbors and town parties/booze….bless their hearts !!! Blessings our hearts in this book is Jonah “eight pack” Bodine Jr. with that structurally tone body. Jonah’s the youngest of the Bodine family and has all the ladies swooning during his fitness/nutrition classes. He’s gun shy about dating again but his pulse rises every time he is close quarters with the beautiful but “nerdy” Shelby Thompson. Shelby’s was original intention for visiting Bootleg Springs was write about the on going investigation of Callie Kendall’s missing person case (which may have involved Jonah’s dad). Jonah was livid when he thought Shelby was staying for that purpose. In fact, Shelby’s purpose of staying to write a thesis (bond between neighbors and community in Bootleg Springs) to obtain a PhD in psychology and to be close to her brother. The sexual tension between Jonah and Shelby intensifies when they unknowingly become roommates. The letter in the alphabet to best describe this book would be the letter “M”. So if you’re looking for mischief, misconduct, mystery, mayhem, moodiness, mud, mishaps, making (out sessions), memories, music, moving (forward with life & love), motivation, matchmaking, Mona (Lisa) McNugget (#5), making (love), matrimony and more (Bootleg Springs)!!! This book is definitely a awesome MUST read
This book was the perfect addition to Bootleg Springs. I absolutely adore Shelby and Jonah. They are such opposites, but so perfect together. Gin Fling is funny and sweet with a mystery wrapped in, I even had tears in the first chapter (happy tears, but still tears). While you do find out what happened to Callie Kendall, that answer almost leaves more questions. I can not recommend this series enough, Claire Kingsley and Lucy Score did such a fantastic job delivering a mystery, but doing it heart and humor.
What an amazing book! I have been looking forward to the final two books in this series for what seems likes YEARS!
Shelby is studying for her doctorate and arrived in Bootleg at the wrong time! The town folk assumed she was a reporter and treated her as one, until they found out the truth! What Jonah is the last to realise is that all the questions she is asking the town about is to do with her final paper.
It all comes to a head when the two end up living together in one of Scarlett’s Rental properties, of course matchmaker Scarlett knows exactly what she is doing!
Jonah Is a fitness instructor and he sees Shelby running – badly – so he agrees to help her train for an upcoming event, she admits that she has found out recently about a condition she has, and is determined to complete this event whilst she can.
What follows is a love story of two people who haven’t had it easy in life but are determined to make it better. Will their agreed summer fling turn into something ever lasting or will their past finally catch up with them, afterall, no love story runs smoothly!
As for the Callie case, well, let’s just say there are more clues and many more mysteries to solve!
Ohh my stars!! Jonah and Shelby are my new favorite Bootleggers. Their story is funny, charming and ohhh so steamy! I have been not so patiently waiting for Jonahs story to dive right back into Bootleg Springs and was not disappointed. The Bodines and all of the Bootleg family make you want to move right into town with them. If you havent read the rest of the series you will want to after this. But this standalone HEA will make you laugh out loud, cheer them on and cry right along with them. Highly recommend !!
Loved it! Kind of wish I could live in Bootleg Springs with them!
I can’t stop laughing to write this review!
Bootleg Springs series is the best! The absolute best!
I’m so sad for it to end..
FYI..I need a Bootleg Cockspurs ball cap!
~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~
Plot~ 5/5
Main Characters (hero/heroine)~ 5/5
Secondary Characters~ 5/5
The Feels~ 5/5
Pacing~ 5/5
Addictiveness~5/5
Angst~ 5/5
Steam/Hotness/Chemisty ~ 5/5
Theme or Tone~ 5/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 5/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 5/5
Originality~ 5/5
Ending~ 5/5
Book Cover~ Sexy
Series~ Bootleg Springs
Source~ Kindle eBook – Borrowed from KU
Would I read more from the author? Hell Yes
Would I recommend this book? Hell Yes
I am sitting here, writing this review, basking in the afterglow of another five star read. Gin Fling is the very definition of “all the feels” because Lucy Score will make you feel every emotion known to man. I have read the previous four books in the series, and although Gin Fling can be read as a standalone, you will have a much better insight into the Bodine family, their friends, extended family, and this entire small West Virginia town in general if you treat yourself to the other books as well. I want to live in Bootleg!!!
The first four books featured Scarlett and Devlin, Jameson and Leah Mae, Bowie and Cassidy, and June and George (GT). Book 5 features Jonah Bodine, their long lost brother and Shelby Thompson, self proclaimed nerd and sister of GT, along with all of the wonderful characters from the previous books. New characters are introduced like Jonah’s mom, Jenny, as well as George and Shelby’s parents which just further adds to my enjoyment of the story.
Lucy and co-author Claire Kingsley, have given each character such a unique personality. I adore the writing and how you feel immersed in their culture, town and family. There are so many funny moments in Gin Fling, inside jokes, and just a sense of belonging. That’s the beauty of this book because many of the characters started out feeling alone, and then this family and town embrace them, accepts them for who they are, and your cheeks will begin to hurt from smiling so hard.
Everyone has their faults, and I love how easily Shelby and Jonah bond, support, and relate to each other. It wasn’t always this way, because when they first met, Jonah had some series misconceptions about our sweet heroine so this is definitively an enemies to lovers troupe, but once his sister, the medaling and magnificent Scarlet gets involved, you will be routing for these two to turn their summer fling into something more permanent.
Jonah arrived to Bootleg a year ago to connect with the half-siblings he had never met. You love him right away and even though it was difficult for his siblings to accept the fact that their father had an affair resulting in a child, they took the time to get to know him and initiated him into Bootleg the only way they know how–with smothering affection and plenty of pranks and advice.
Jonah’s personality is so attractive. He is a personal trainer and the total package. He is loving and caring, strong and athletic, giving and protective, and a devoted brother and son. He is relatable and down to earth. He isn’t materialistic and embraces the simple things in life. He appreciates nature and helping others, and it’s obvious how much he adores Shelby. They share some trying times, and he is there for her every step of the way. It goes to show you that all you really do need is love and watching these two connect and learn to confide and depend on each other was really beautiful to read.
I love the slow burn of their friendship and how they learned to accept and trust one another, and how supportive they are of what happened to them in the past, how they are embracing the present, and how they dare to dream of a future. These are all the feels I was talking about…you will sigh and gush, worry and scream, and laugh and cry right along with them.
As readers of this series know, each book does feature a hot and steamy romance, but the true grit is the underlying mystery of the disappearance of Callie Kendall. Shelby is independent, feisty, loving and kind, and has awesome sleuthing skills and instincts. She is in the town working on her doctorial thesis in social work, a very noble profession, and comes across clues that make her question the investigation. I love her positive attitude and her sense of humor! I love her food preferences and her fear of bears, and how she is not afraid to be herself or admit when she is wrong. She is so funny and endearing, charming the readers along with Jonah every step of the way.
This book also has lots of suspense and angst and Book 5 reveals so much more as to what really happened all those years ago. Now we just have to wait until Book 6 and all of our questions will be answered. The final book will feature the reserved and temperamental oldest brother, Gibson Bodine, the last of the siblings to be engaged or married.
The last chapter of Gin Fling reveals some big time hints as to what can be expected and I basically stopped breathing and re-read it just to be certain I wasn’t hallucinating as I sometimes do when I get engrossed in a great book! I love reading all of the theories on Lucy Scores’ Spoiler Dungeon facebook page and will be sure to add my own as we anticipate Book 6 in July.
I knew Lucy and Claire wouldn’t let us down and think I am just going to revel in this book a few days before I start on another one because it was that good.
Love Shelby and Jonah’s story. I fall more in love with this series after each book. The characters and storylines are written excellent. You all need to read these books seriously. They give you a piece of hope.
Abso-freaking-lutely loved the #5 book in the Bootleg Springs series. While you could read them separately, why would you? Start with Book 1, that will add to the suspense, I PROMISE. While I am happy that we are getting closer to figuring out what happened to Callie Kendall, there are still more questions to be answered. But the juicy part of the story was the enemies to lovers and fulfilling of personal goals between Jonah Bodine and Shelby Thompson.
This book had be laughing and full of angst at the same time as these two characters found their way to each other while staying true to themselves. I LOVED every word and while I couldn’t wait to get to the end, I didn’t want it finish it!
Gin Fling is just another wonderful addition to the Bootleg Spring series! Truly, every installment in this series keeps getting better and better, and I love every single minute that I can spend in Bootleg Springs.
Jonah and Shelby started out on the wrong foot, but thanks to some sneaky moves by Miss Scarlett, they were forced into being roommates, which didn’t go well at first. But once Jonah found out the real reason behind why Shelby was in town, and Bootleg Justice was handed out, they started to truly get to know one another. Neither one of them was sure if they were going to stay in town past the summer, and a fling sounded like a good idea as there was a mutual attraction there. But, I don’t think either one of them realized how much the town of Bootleg Springs was going to grab ahold of them……and I also don’t think they were prepared to fall in love with the other.
Gin Fling gets us one step closer to finding out what happened to Callie Kendall, but once again…..we’re left with many unanswered questions. And as much as I’m excited for to find out what really happened all those years ago, I’m really not as once we get those answers, this incredible series will come to an end. And I’m not ready for that. I’ve completely fallen in love with the town of Bootleg Springs and all those who live there, and I truly wish this town was real. Yes, people are nosy and there is no privacy whatsoever – but there is a real sense of family and belonging with those who live there.
Have your tissues ready for book 6, as I’m sure the finale is going to take us on an emotional and wild ride!
Another great Bootleg Springs installment. Each book in this series can be read standalone, but you do not get the full impact of the Callie Kendall mystery if you do this, so I highly recommend you read them in order.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Jonah’s story, to be honest, because he was the least known of the siblings, and the running punchline that whomever he roomed with was next to find their soulmate. That said, this book was great to help give us more understanding of Jonah’s life before he came to Bootleg Springs.
Jonah and Shelby are a great couple. They lift each other up, challenge each other, and support each other. Add some typical Bootleg Springs shenanigans, some reliable familiar characters, and some challenges along the way, and the bond that Jonah and Shelby form really develops before your eyes, and is believable and genuine.
Lucy Score’s writing style also really speaks to me. Her books are well written, cohesive, and she takes the time to really set the scene and introduce you to the setting, characters and conflict. She always creates places that you want to visit. Plus she really upped the ‘interesting animal’ ante in Gin Fling.
Lucy’s books are always “read in one sitting the first day they are released” for me. And then reread them later on.
Lucy Score and Claire Kingsley have created an amazing series with fantastic characters, steamy romance and an intriguing cold case mystery. Gin Fling is Jonah Bodine’s story.
Jonah is the brother no one knew about. He has been welcomed by his siblings but still feels a bit on the outside. Shelby Thompson arrived in town under questionable circumstances and finds herself at odds with the Bodines. When they are forced to be roommates, sparks fly and soon both are considering a summer fling. Now, as friends and lovers, they find themselves at the heart of the mystery of what happened to Callie Kendall all those years ago.
This story is absolutely fantastic. There are many, many twists as well as a lot of hilarious Bootleg fun. I can’t wait to read Gib’s story but I’m so sad to see this series end.
We’re back to Bootleg Springs and I couldn’t be happier! Jonah Bodine takes the spotlight for book 5. Shelby is GT’s (June) sister and a doctorate candidate. She’s a nice person who is looking for a good subject for her dissertation paper and Bootleg Springs fascinates her so she decides to stay a while. Jonah and Shelby wind up being roommates due to Scarlett’s matchmaking way, however, Jonah is under the impression Shelby is a reporter so he’s not a fan. Eventually these two get together and make a great couple. There is progress on the Callie Kendall case, and some tearful (for the readers anyway) moments of triumph and lots of great Bootleg stuff we’ve become so familiar with and love. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and I can’t wait for the (bittersweet) conclusion in book 6!
I am so in love with this series and these characters that I am going to be sad to see their journey come to an end. Gin Fling is the second to the last book in the series and it is Jonah Bodine’s turn to fall and fall hard. What keeps me coming back to this series for each new book is a fantastic partnership and writing from these two authors. These characters and this town are written with such realism that they jump off the page. I literally want to summer in Bootleg Springs. Jonah and Shelby have a typical Bootleg Springs romance, meaning interference from Scarlet and the townspeople, some misunderstandings, more twists and turn in the disappearance of Callie Kendall, the conversion of some new citizens to the town, and a little Bootleg Justice. There is plenty of the witty banter and humorous dialogue we have come to expect from these authors. I love that we were introduced to Jonah’s mom and Shelby’s parents. Once again, there are plenty of twists and turns surrounding what happened to Callie Kendall that will set the conspiracy theories off and running. But at the heart of it, this series is really about the power of family and love.
I voluntarily read a digital ARC provided to me by the author.