“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.
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I loved this book. What a perfect ending to a series. I do feel like I’m leaving old friends though. A big thank you to the authors of this series.
Gibson has always had a chip on his shoulder. He has carried the weight of knowing that his parents felt that his very existence ruined their lives. He’s a deep and tormented soul. As if growing up with his parents’ blame wasn’t enough, we found out earlier in the series that the Bodine’s father may have been responsible for what happened to Callie Kendall.
You really need to read the other books in the series first. These books aren’t meant to be stand alones.
Holy smokes – Highball Rush…….how frickin’ amazing was this story y’all?? Gibson’s story was totally worth the wait and the best way to end the Bootleg Springs series! From his broodiness and growling, to seeing him soften up and fall in love with the girl that stole his heart (when he calls her love, swoon!) – Highball Rush is pure perfection from start to finish. I laughed and cried and smiled my way through this story that will steal a little piece of your heart.
Besides Gibson finding the girl of his dreams, the mystery and details surrounding the disappearance of Callie Kendall are finally revealed – and while some of it was quite a shock, the resolution to that storyline couldn’t be anymore satisfying.
I’ll be honest, when I first started this series, I wasn’t totally sold on it. But a good friend encouraged me to keep reading, and as I did I couldn’t help but fall in love with the stories and found myself caught up in the magic of Bootleg Springs…….and it has quickly become one of my all-time favorite series. Just everything about it was amazing and I hate having to say goodbye.
What happens when two amazingly talented authors join their creative talents and craft a six books, small town sibling series? Pure. Magic. I’m all over the place with my emotions now that the Bootleg Springs series has concluded with Highball Rush. I’m ecstatic and on cloud nine, but also having very bittersweet thoughts. I will miss them terribly.
Highball Rush ties everything up and that’s all I’m going to say about that!
If you haven’t read the series yet, you’re in for a treat. This has been THE MOST FUN ever because both Claire Kingsley and Lucy Score fans have been crazy over this series and the fan groups were full of theories, but y’all (see Bootleg rubbed off on this Philly girl!) it was pure fun! Thank you to both authors for this amazing series and I can’t wait for more co-written ()
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!
This series, so beautifully and carefully crafted by Mrs. Claire Kingsley and Mrs. Lucy Score is something else. Their writings blend so well that it would be nearly impossible to figure out who wrote what without being told, and yet they each brought something uniquely them to the story. These authors are some of the very best out there and this series is EVERYTHING!!!! The experiences, emotions, and mystery throughout had me glued to the pages wanting more. I’ve cried, laughed, screamed “Bootleg justice” and loved with this town and now, I’m a little sad to see it end.
I suggest reading these in order. The mystery woven throughout each book is so intriguing that it could’ve been written as a stand-alone.
I want to say so much more about this story but can’t risk spoiling the fun for anyone else. I will say…….you will laugh, you will cry, you may break a little, but Bootleg Springs will put you back together, and you will love.
I am in awe…. this was the perfect ending to an amazing series! It has all the feels, comedy, suspense, and red hot romance between Gibson and his true love. This is a must read! I’m having a hard time letting go of Bootleg Springs… I only wish that someday Claire and Lucy will write a spin off series!
I’ve never been more satisfied with a series ending book than I am right now. I just can’t even begin to tell you how many feels I experienced while reading this book.
Gibson Bodine is the grumpy Bodine. But I swear he’s a lovable grumpy. You just want to pull him into a hug and never let go. But you won’t do that because it’s Gibs and he’s not a fan of hugs. Or people. Or anything, really.
So much happens in this book. So much and I refuse to say anything because it’s just not right. If I spoil it, someone (probably Bootleg) would come after me with their own brand of Bootleg Justice and I just can’t have that.
Now, I will say, this is book six and this book will answer ALL your questions. So, if you haven’t read 1-5 and didn’t know there were questions that needed answering, well, I think you should start with the first book. You’ll knock them out in no time because they are so freaking addicting.
If you don’t want to live in Bootleg Springs by the time you’re finished with this series, I don’t think we can be friends.
But seriously, AMAZING BOOK.
“I won’t hurt you, honey. I just wanna get a little dirty with you.”
The finale in the Bootleg Springs series, and oh what a finale it is! Brilliantly written, with a wonderful storyline and characters that come alive on the pages, Highball Rush is filled with gut-wretching emotions, secrets, suspense, mystery, humor, witty banter, drama, twists and turns, meddling town folk, danger, some steam, love and of course, a happily ever after. This is a perfect slow burn read… from the first page to the last… you are hooked.
I volunteered to review an advance reader copy of this book.
Y’all. Seriously, this book is E V E R Y T H I N G.
Highball Rush is book six in the Bootleg Springs series and gives us the story of the oldest Bodine sibling, Gibson. We also get the whole highly-anticipated story that we’ve been following throughout the series–what actually happened to Callie Kendall, the girl that mysteriously went missing from this small town thirteen years ago.
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Gibson Bodine was absolutely everything I wanted him to be and MORE. If you’ve read the rest of the series (and you HAVE to read this series in order,) you’ve probably had your suspicions/hopes/worries about who his heroine would be. He and his lady love were just perfection together and no matter who you hoped he would end up with, you WILL be rooting for this couple to find their HEA.
I don’t want to give anything away, as this whole book is basically one big spoiler so I will just say it was the perfect ending to a brilliant series. Claire Kingsley and Lucy Score prove that not only are they amazing authors independently, but when they team up, magic ensues. Bootleg Springs will forever be one of my favorite fictional places. Y’all, if you haven’t read this series yet, grab ya some moonshine, settle in for a spell and enjoy. I highly recommend this whole series!
And now, I’ll just leave you with a quote:
“For us–for all of us–Bootleg Springs was our happily ever after.”
Yes. Yes it was.
Ya know, I thought I would be saddened reading the last of Bootleg Springs, and the Bodine family. However, Gibson’s eye-opening finale brings together everything and everyone. Leaving me sated, smiling, and happy!
If you were ever on the fence about the town of Bootleg Springs, I promise after reading this you will have formed a solid opinion on the townsfolk down to the animals that run freely.
All those questions that have been building up.. answers will come, and then some!
Gibson- oh, my that growly persona works for him! ( and explains so much too ) His road to happiness is a bumpy one, but when you’ve got the Bodine family backing you up… anything is possible. The woman in his sights is one lucky lady! He quickly moved up my list of favorite Bodine Brothers!
A twisty tale, with emotions running on high, dangerous, and full of justice only Bootleg can provide. This steamy, dreamy, fists of fury, humor laden ending to a spectacular series is more than I had anticipated.
One you MUST read for yourself to fully enjoy!
5 Moonshine Filled Stars!
From the very start, Claire Kingsley and Lucy Score created pure magic with the Bootleg Spring series and I have to say, they have outdone themselves in Highball Rush! I have been in awe of their writing since Whiskey Chaser and have loved EVERY minute of this series!
Highball Rush is the conclusion to this amazing series and the ladies definitely saved the best for last! Gibson Bodine is one hell of an uptight guy with good reason. However, throughout the book, you see him finally come into his own and work through the past. I loved Gibson so much and am happy to see him get the happy ending he deserves.
I enjoyed every moment of this journey with the Bodine family along with the town of Bootleg Springs! CK and LS wrote this series like nothing I’ve ever read before. You can see yourself in the town, walking down the street, talking with the Bodine’s and helping out with a little Bootleg Justice 😉
This was the perfect ending to a fantastic series. I highly recommend you make it your next binge read!
First thing to note – you want to read this entire series in order. While each book is a self-contained love story with an HEA, there is an interwoven mystery that spans the 6 books, and you do yourself a great disservice if you do not read this book last. You absolutely must read this book last!
Gibson Bodine – what can I say that would adequately express how amazing this man’s development has been? Gibson has always been the grumpiest of the Bodine brothers, and his transformation throughout this book was amazing. You understand how he became the grumpy guy we all loved throughout the series, and you understand why he has distanced himself from the rest of the town. They say that you are your own toughest critic, and Gibson is definitely that. For years, he’s been harboring a lot of resentment, self-doubt and general self-worth issues that make him feel like people will only ever see him as “less than” even if that is not justified. Luckily he finds a woman that helps him break that funk and truly experience love.
I have to say that this is the best first hug I’ve ever written. Before the couple even gets down to the first kiss, their first hug hits you right in the feels. You really experience the connection, and that’s before they even go down the romance path!
ETA: The audio of this book is just amazing. Stephen Dexter and Natalie Duke narrated this entire series, and they really captured the unique personality of each character. Gibson is a grumbly, recalcitrant man for a lot of the series, and justifiably so. But he really softened some as the books went on, and you could feel that in Stephen’s performance. Natalie gave each of her characters just the right amount of spark and sass for their unique nature, and that’s true here as well.
This is a fantastic series finale that leaves you happy, satisfied, and glad that Bootleg Justice has been served.
Wow!!! Wow!!! Wow!!!! This was the perfect ending to the Bodine family. I have to say Maya was a hoot to read about. I loved the quirkiness of her character. When i picture her my mind goes to a magical unicorn.
Gibson…. well a brooding craftsman alone in the woods is like a swoon worthy type of guy. His character makes me think of a guy when he loves he loves hard and fierce. If your able to make it into his close nit circle your set you get all of him. The scenes with Henrietta had me chuckling because it’s like it is what it is and that’s it. June is still my favorite even if she only had a few lines in this book she still cracks me up.
The drama in the book was amazing! The little things like the moon shine scenes were great. All of your questions get answered and some parts are like Wowzers I didn’t see that angle. But honestly the end of the book when Gibson went through his family accomplishments had me tearing up. Such love for his family made the book so amazing.
This should be on your MUST read list it defiantly deserves more then 5 in my opinion!!!
This is the final book in the Bootleg Springs series with Lucy Score and Claire Kingsley and it did not fail to perform! This is a series that needs to be read in order to best be able to enjoy it. I loved each of the Bodine siblings, but I have to say that Gibson is my favorite.
You finally find out the whole story of Callie Kendall’s mystery. There is even a visitor from Blue Moon (another great series by Lucy Score) and it has everything you love about Bootleg Springs:
1) Truth Moonshine
2) Bootleg Justice
3) Misty Lynn getting punched in the face
Not to mention the HEA for Gibson… It’s amazing. You need to read it. TODAY.
I was so conflicted going into this book. I loved the series and was so sad to see it come to an end. On the flip-side, I had to see if my theories about whodunit would pan out. This was such a fitting way to bring this to a close.
First and foremost go read books 1-5 of the Bootleg Springs series!
This small town romance/mystery set in West Virginia is a collaborative endeavor by Lucy Score and Claire Kingsley. Their writing skills alone are fabulous so you can not only imagine but actually read their combined genius in these stories. Each addition to the series brings us another couple’s HEA while also providing nuggets and clues about the missing persons case of Callie Kendall. With every book we get a clearer picture of the culture, the supportive towns folk, and what real Bootleg Justice looks like.
As I read each of the books I fell in love a little bit more with the town, the characters, the Bodines and the Tuckers, a chicken, moonshine infused sports, the secret hot springs, and a Breakfast Club of seniors. I thought I knew which H and h were my favorites and then another couple was introduced and I’d waver and second guess myself. Now I’m resigned that I just love them ALL! And just when you think you have the mystery solved, BAM, another twist.
This is Gibson’s book and it is EVERYTHING! I don’t want to elude to anything that might spoil the reading experience. I was elated with how everything unfolds from the lingering mystery to Gibson’s love. All of these books evoke so many emotions and again I can’t emphasize enough that they should be read in order. This is an outstanding finale to one of my favorite series that will be a re-read for years to come.
Heading back to Bootleg Springs for this final installment was so bittersweet. I couldn’t wait to see who Gibson’s heroine would be, to revisit one of my favorite fictional towns and characters, and to see the threads of the mystery unraveled to reveal what happened on that night 13 years ago, but I am so sad that this is the last book. With that being said, I can’t imagine a more perfect ending for this excellent series. Grumpy Gibson revealed himself to be so much more than I anticipated and his heroine was the sunshine he needed to bring him out from under his dark cloud. The mystery as it was unveiled was heart wrenching and horrifying and had more layers than I expected. Claire Kingsley did an excellent job of answering all of my unasked questions and bringing this series to a satisfying (even though I’m sad it’s over)ending.
Reasons to read this book:
1. Claire Kingsley wrote it with Lucy Score
2. It’s Gibson 🙂
3. It’s the 6th and last book of the series
4. The mystery is solved
5. It’s Bootleg Springs
6. It’s a 5+ star read
4.5 Stars
This is a really good conclusion to this series. I knew I would like Gibson but oh man, he was even better than I anticipated!
My heart feels so full! This series has been absolutely amazing and I’m so sad that it’s over but the last book did the series complete (Bootleg) justice!!
“Then he sang the first line and my breath caught in my throat. That voice. It was deep and husky, with a sexy gravelly quality.”
Gibson Bodine is the eldest Bodine sibling, known for his grumpy, loner ways. For someone who enjoys his solitude and his privacy, he sure does love playing his guitar and singing with his band. When a video of him singing goes viral and brings a beautiful woman into his sphere, his life is about to change dramatically.
“My eyes stayed locked with hers. She smiled at me and my heart nearly beat right out of my chest. I was in big f*cking trouble.”
This was a such an incredibly addictive read, full of the goings-on in Bootleg Springs but also how Gibson Bodine goes from existing day to day to truly living his life. Under his taciturn, grumpy exterior beats a soft, loyal heart. His passion is all-consuming, possessive and protective. He totally owned me!! I thrilled at the chemistry and tension between them. Gibson is one dirty talker! They were so freakin’ hot together!
I feel so sad that this series has now come to a close. The characters have been colourful, interesting and funny! The storylines have been fantastic. The writing has been awesome. If you haven’t started reading the books yet, what are you waiting for??
Highball Rush is book six in the Bootleg Springs series by Claire Kingsley and Lucy Score. At long last, it’s the final book. The book with all the answers and the book with Gibson Bodine’s story.
I never thought about it before but it is fitting that Gibson’s book was saved for last. Gibson was the oldest of the Bodine siblings. He is thirty three years old. He’s the one that got the worst of growing up in a dysfunctional household. Now he is somewhat of a loner, living outside of town in a remote area. He’s a woodworker by trade, a cabinet maker. But he’s also a musician, a guitar player and an occasional song writer. It’s the one place he allows himself to express himself, where he pours out all his emotion. Otherwise, he’s the broody, grumpy brother, watching his siblings pair off one by one but never having any hope for himself. Until the night everything changed.
I have to say that I’ve had theories throughout this series, thoughts and ideas that popped into my head regarding the Callie Kendall mystery. Was I right? Sort of. Was I shocked? Oh my gosh, yes! There are so many surprises!
What I have to focus on, though, is this town. Not only the love between the Bodine siblings and the people they’ve fallen in love with throughout this series, but the town residents as well. The way they all band together to protect each other. To deliver their own brand of Bootleg Justice. It is said that what Bootleggers do best is eat. When things get rough, they cook and they eat. And they drink moonshine.
“These people were spilling love all over the place.”
I loved Gibson. Yes, he was all broody. But this man had a heart the size of Texas. And when he loved, he loved big. Let me tell you, that Gibson Bodine has a dirty side as well! And most of all, several times throughout the book he uses my very favorite endearment for the woman he loves. What is it? I’m not saying. If you know me, then you know what I’m talking about. I wonder if Claire Kingsley knew this when she wrote it? All he had to do was call her that, and I melt right into a puddle. Every time.
This series is best if read in order. Each book is about a different sibling. But there is an ongoing story line throughout, the mystery of the disappearance of Callie Kendall thirteen years prior. And in this final book, you will get all of the answers along with an amazing epilogue sure to make you swoon. So, buckle up, you’re going to need to for this one. But also get ready to smile, a lot, as you go back to Bootleg Springs one more time.