A fun, sexy, and emotionally riveting new standalone romance by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster. USA Today bestseller THE GRITTY TRUTH is the perfect love story for those who enjoy fiercely loyal and insanely sexy alpha heroes, smart, sassy heroines, strong family bonds, bikers, babies, and more!Recovering drug addict Quincy Gritt has fought his demons. He’s confessed to his … confessed to his crimes and conquered his addictions. He’s finally ready to go after sweet, sexy Roni, the gorgeous brunette who won a date with him in a charity auction five months ago and has been putting him off, and driving him wild, ever since.
Dancer Veronica “Roni” Wescott worked hard to escape the seedy area where she was raised and followed her dreams to Julliard, only to have them shattered in the blink of an eye. She fought hard and regained her footing, but then the rug was pulled out from under her again when the grandmother who raised her passed away, leaving Roni feeling adrift in a world she knows very little about outside of dance. And then there’s Charlie Hunnam–lookalike Quincy Gritt—the man whose late-night texts pulled her through her grief and have been setting her heart aflutter for months.
Quincy pulls out all the stops, determined to prove that their friendship is only the beginning of what’s destined to be so much more. Romantic nights lead to smoldering passion and a deep connection too strong to be denied. But when Quincy’s past comes back to haunt him, can he and Roni accept their new gritty truth, or will Quincy spiral back into the darkness and lose the future he fought so hard to have?
For more Whiskey love stories, check out Melissa’s other Whiskey novels.
TRU BLUE
TRULY MADLY WHISKEY
DRIVING WHISKEY WILD
WICKED WHISKEY LOVE
MAD ABOUT MOON
TAMING MY WHISKEY
Don’t miss RIVER OF LOVE (Sam Braden), the first story in which the Whiskeys were introduced!
The Whiskeys are perfect beach reads with depth of story, strong family ties, and a wealth of emotions. Small town love stories with happily ever afters guaranteed.
What Readers Are Saying About The Whiskeys:
“The Whiskey series has become my happy place…As a matter of fact this book is one of the best out of the entire series.” – Britt, Red Hatter Book Blog
“The journey to Jed and Josie’s HEA was all kinds of sweet, smexy and even ovary exploding goodness…Their bantering was fun, their heart to hearts made mine melt and the smexy was HAWT.” – Kahea, Evermore Books
“I don’t even have words on how spellbinding Jed’s book is!!! Melissa Foster just brought the Whiskey series to a whole new level of excellence!” – Heather, Audio Loves
“From heartache to heartwarming, these bad boy bikers will cast a spell on your heart.” – Isha, Hopeless Romantic
“This story captured my emotions and my heart from the first page, and kept me enthralled until the end. I was emotionally wrung out at the end!” – Pam, Goodreads
“Bikers, steamy sex, a strong woman, and a man who loves her and her little boy. There are some parts that’ll bring tears to your eyes. I always thought TRU BLUE would always be my favorite but this one is right up there with it.” – Whispers from Mountains
“I really loved the way (Foster) conveyed the sense of family throughout the entire story and the fact that family isn’t just blood, it’s so much more than that.” – Janeen, Goodreads
“Melissa Foster always digs deep into her characters and brings out all the raw emotions. I would expect nothing less.” – Helene, Goodreads
“Melissa Foster writes worlds that draw you in, with strong heroes and brave heroines surrounded by a community that makes you want to crawl right on through the page and live there. – New York Times bestselling author Julia Kent
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This book is so emotional and amazing to read. This is my first introduction to this characters and I love everything about this book. This characters are vulnerable about their pasts and I love how acceptable and supportive Roni is with Quincy. I really love and enjoy reading this book. I received an advance reader copy in exchange of my honest review.
this whole series is wonderful….one of my favorites…..and to add Quincy’s story is just icing on the cake…..his backstory is told more completely in previous books….but this book bringing his character to the forefront with all of its flaws is heartfelt heart wrenching and wonderful….
The Gritty Truth (The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Peaceful Harbor #7) by Melissa Foster was an emotional read. This story hit home for me in so many ways. Loving a recovering addict can be a roller coaster and Quincy’s story shows that struggle so well. I really hate to cry but this story was so emotional I couldn’t help but be moved to tears. I loved that not only Quincy had struggles in his past, Roni did as well and she was so much stronger for them. I was so happy to jump back in to the Whiskey world and I can’t wait for more.
Not my first read by the author. She happens to be my top 5 favorite of authors and a very early read many moons ago. That said I have read enough of MF’s books to know that I LOVE her writing style and always look forward to her books! Also have rea d the other 6 previous books in series! This is MY FAV SERIES!
Oh my hear ton this one. I knew it was going to be emotional but I didn’t know how much. So to help out a little the hero in this is Tru’s brother from book #1. He is not only broken but lived through it. Meaning after everything both him and Tru have been through, unfortunately Quincy took a wrong turn and spend many years in his own hell. Now after 2 years of a new life for him, he is ready to move on. And wants to give it a shot with Roni, the beautiful dancer who caught his eye from day one.
Roni on the other hand, wow I mean she is strong, hurt, passionate, loving, smart and so sweet makes you want to blush with her. I absolutely loved both characters but Roni, she was something else. Coming from a broken home, she knows what it means to have lost. When these two get together it’s not just the chemistry but ALL THE FEELINGS! This heartbreaking story will put back and heal you, every feelings between Quincy and Roni is felt, make sure to have some tissue because it will get emotional. I am so happy these two got their story, and even though it was an emotional ride, I loved every minute of it!
Rating: 5 out of 5.
A MUST READ!
Romance:
Steamy:
Triggers: NA
Standalone/Series: Book 7 in Series
Type: All Tags on top of this page!
Recommended: HIGHLY
I kept me interested through the whole book
This was such an emotional addition to the Whiskey family series. I loved watching Quincy get the help he needed for his addictions that he battled for a long time. With the help of his brother Tru & the Whiskey family he has been able to overcome so many things. Roni has also had to overcome some obstacles and has kept to herself but has been teaching dance classes. When Roni’s best friend won Quincy as a date for Roni at an auction he was so happy but it took some time before she was ready. I was so blown away with their story and was so happy when they finally got the HEA. Tissues are definitely needed when reading this story.
You will probably remember Quincy and what he went through from the first book in this series, Tru Blue. It was so nice to finally get his story. Have some tissues handy before you dive into this book. It was a gut wrenching emotional roller coaster. But in a good way. I loved Quincy and Roni together. I loved how they became friends before lovers. Their first date was super cute. I also loved how the Whiskeys just embraced Not only Quincy but Roni. I loved what Roni did to show her support for Quincy. I don’t want to spoil their romance for you. Just trust me, go read it. This one definitely kept me reading into the wee hours of the night!
4.5 Stars
This book is so good. It pulls all the emotions out of me. It’s packed full of heart and feels. I loved Roni and Quincy. They are so cute together. They made my heart so happy. This book also ripped my heart out. I gasped in shock and cursed some characters. Then I was happy crying because there some truly beautiful moments between Quincy and Roni. Quincy made me swoon several times. When he is with the kids my heart just melts. I would highly recommend this one! It takes you on an emotional rollercoaster, but also a beautiful journey that pulls on the heartstrings.
Melissa has done it again! I can’t wait for the next book. You will fall in love with her characters and will be so sad when you finish the book. You will automatically order the next.
Since reading Tru Blue and meeting Tru’s brother Qunicy I have been dying to have his story told. We know he has a troubled past, but the extent was not wholly known. I knew it was going to be a tough read but never did I imagine Melissa reducing me to tears and gutting me whilst reading Quincy and Roni’s story.
Qunicy’s past threatens his relationship with Roni but they are falling hard and fast for each other, he believes in telling the truth and when he pours his heart out to her about his past, I cried right along with Roni. Quincy is a recovering drug addict, two years clean and a sponsor for others. He is on the way to making his life better and doing a damn good job at fighting the demons every single day. Roni also had a hard past, growing up with very little money in a bad part of town with the dreams of being a dancer. She gets accepted into Juliard which is a dream come true, only to have all her dreams shattered in an instant when she is caught in the crossfire or a drug deal gone wrong and gets crushed by a car. That was devastating for her career and the rehab she went through was tough.
Their pasts collide in the present and Melissa really puts the reader through the wringer with this raw, heartbreaking and gritty read. She really did Quincy’s life justice with his story and I am glad that the wait for it was worth every moment.
5 stars
Oh, Quincy. He’s squirmed his way into my heart little by little through this series. If you’ve read this series from the beginning (and you should, I love all of the Whiskeys!), you know Quincy has had a rough start. If you haven’t read the other stories, his past is delved into here so you won’t miss anything. Warning – it’ll break your heart.
There are things that happen along the way with Quincy and Roni that are definitely foreshadowed earlier on, but the journey to those things is so worth reading. These two are sweet and fire, harmony and passion, everything I want in a couple. They hit bumps along the way, but are so good at communicating and trying to understand one another. It’s a beautiful thing.
Roni doesn’t have a lot of people in her life, but the couple women she has left are fully in her corner and are fierce protectors and advocates for her. When the Whiskeys pull her into their fold, as is their nature, it’s a satisfying thing to see her gain more family. She deserves all the love and support they can and do give her.
I loved meeting the Dark Knights of Colorado in Searching for Love, and I’m excited to know we’ll be seeing them again soon. On top of that, we have upcoming stories for Jon Butterscotch as well as Penny and Scott. This wonderful story brought so much joy and love to my heart, and just got better by adding peeks into those future stories.
Melissa Foster seems to be hitting all my emotional hot spots lately. The last few books I’ve read by her have been deeply emotional for me because some of the aspects have mirrored my real life. Real life in the present and not the past. Quincy Gritt is someone I know very well. I have to commend Melissa for representing his struggles realistically and respectfully. His struggles will always be lurking in the shadows but as you read his story you will learn the beauty all around him that will help keep those struggles in the shadows. Addiction is not something ones cures or gets over, it’s a disease with no cure, only management options. Roni Wescott is also someone I know well. Actually, I know her intimately because, reasons. Their story was an emotional rollercoaster for me even when it didn’t want to be. That’s just the way the story fell for me and it was all so relatable that while my heart broke for all the things, it sang for them as well and it carried hope for all the things. It was a glorious blend of all the things!
I loved reading the development, or rather journey, between Quincy and Roni mostly because it didn’t miss a step. They began with a strong friendship connection that developed to more, organically and with conviction. Together with the support system they had, they were unstoppable. Their relationship flourished as a slow-burn romance and it was perfection. They just kept building on their foundation with honesty and hope. They were absolutely perfect and their story fit them very well. Well done once again Ms. Foster!
This book gave my heart a workout, what with it being such an emotional story about love, perseverance, and hope. Quincy and Roni were main characters who know all about hurdles and challenges being put before them. They know what it’s like to lose people and things, but these two fought back, pushing against their circumstances to move forward and make better lives for themselves. I appreciated that they were flawed, but neither one was broken. There was angst, but this also had its fair share of lighthearted moments. While there were points in the book where I got teary-eyed, there were a few more which made me smile. The not-so-gritty truth is I loved The Gritty Truth. Five stars!
What an amazing story about healing and rebuilding your life after hitting rock bottom, which Gretty has done, and finding your person in Roni, whose also had a rough go at life. These two characters compliment each other, and will have you swooning, and falling right along with them! Loved being back with the Whiskeys, and catching up with them all!
I enjoyed every page of this story, as always with Melissa’s books, you will be cheering for the couple as they face some obstacles and learn to overcome them! Grab this book asap! 5 whiskey shots for this one!!
WOW!!!! Melissa Foster gives us an emotionally gripping and remarkably real story with The Gritty Truth.
I am struggling to put into words exactly how strongly I feel about this story. I experienced every single emotion and could not put this book down the minute I started reading it. Quincy and Roni are so perfect for each other and complement each other so well. They prove that even after hitting rock bottom, as long as you have the right support behind you, you can fight your demons. Quincy had me swooning and Kennedy and Lincoln added so much cuteness to the story.
For the longest time Bear Whiskey (Truly, Madly, Whiskey) has been my Whiskey and my favourite of all of Melissa’s heroes and after reading Quincy’s story he now has to share my favourite spot. I always love heading back to Peaceful Harbor to catch up with the Whiskey’s and the Dark Knight families as they are the true definition of what a loving and supportive family is. I can not wait for Scott and Penny’s story.
As hard as this is to say, as all of her stories are great, The Gritty Truth is the best that Melissa Foster has written to date. The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Peaceful Harbor is a MUST READ series!!!!
I have been waiting for Quincy since I read Tru Blue and first fell in love with this author’s writing. Let me tell you, I expected a lot from Quincy. A LOT. And here I am entirely blown away because he was so much more than I ever expected. Quincy is not just my favorite of Melissa Foster’s heroes, he’s one of my favorite heroes of all time.
The king of first dates, his strength, his bravery, his gentleness with Roni while still coaxing her out of her shell, then seeing his heartbreaking past from his perspective…all of it just comes together to create this irresistible, magnificent man who you can’t help but fall in love with.
One of the best books I’ve ever read.
4.5 stars–THE GRITTY TRUTH is the seventh instalment in Melissa Foster’s contemporary, adult The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Peaceful Harbor, erotic romance series. This is recovering addict and bookstore employee Quincy Gritt, and twenty-four year old dance instructor Veronica ‘Roni’ Wescott’s story line. THE GRITTY TRUTH can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading TRU BLUE for back story and history. Quincy is the brother of Truman Gritt (Tru Blue #1).
Told from dual third person perspectives (Quincy and Roni) THE GRITTY TRUTH follows the building romance and relationship between recovering addict and bookstore employee Quincy Gritt, and twenty-four year old dance instructor Veronica ‘Roni’ Wescott. Months earlier Roni’s friends bid on, and won a date for Roni at the Whiskey Bro’s bachelor auction with our hero Quincy Gritt but Roni struggled to make time for the man that stirred something deep within our story line heroine. Persistent and determined to get a date with Roni Wescott, Quincy makes plans to seduce our heroine starting with a surprise picnic in the back of his truck and a scavenger hunt where anything and everything is possible. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Roni and Quincy, and the potential fall-out as Quincy’s past is determined to destroy our story line hero.
Quincy Gritt is broken; a recovering addict who struggles in the face of past regrets, mistakes and the fall-out of his own mother’s addictions on the children she left behind. Revealing the truth to Roni may threaten everything Quincy had hoped for including a future with our story line heroine. Roni Westcott was a burgeoning star at the Julliard School of Dance but an accident destroyed her hopes for the future, as well as our heroine’s self-esteem. Secrets will be revealed; issues of trust must be addressed but the past refuses to let go when the truth comes to light, and Quincy, once again, must face the demons that destroyed his life.
The relationship between Quincy and Roni is one of immediate attraction when Roni’s friends ‘won’ Quincy at the local bachelor auction. For months Quincy and Roni danced around their attraction to one another as Roni battled between head and heart believing her scars would detract from a potential love. The $ex scenes are intimate, intense and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, energetic and familiar secondary and supporting characters including Whiskey patriarch Biggs and his wife Red; Gemma, Tru, Lincoln and Kennedy (Tru Blue #1), Bear and Crystal (Truly, Madly Whiskey #2), Bullet and Finlay (Driving Whiskey Wild #3), Sarah and Bones (Wicked Whiskey Love #4), Josie and Jed (Mad About Moon #5), Dixie Whiskey and Jace Stone (Taming My Whiskey #6); Quincy’s friend Penny Wilson and Scott Beckley; Dark Knights’ nomad Desmond ‘Diesel’ Black and Tracey Kline; Simone Davidson, as well as several characters with cameo appearances. Little Lincoln is priceless and ‘booful’ Penny and Scott’s story is next in the novella In for a Penny, and Diesel and Tracey’s story Running on Diesel.
THE GRITTY TRUTH is an emotional and heart breaking story of addiction and recovery; power and abuse; secrets, revelations, vengeance and love. The premise is profound and real; the characters are animated, impassioned, broken but healing; the romance is spicy, imaginative and flirty. Melissa Foster’s THE GRITTY TRUTH looks at courage, recovery, challenges, and acceptance wrapped in a package of romance and love.
This is a tender love story of a former ballerina and a recovering drug addict. Their lives are so different, that at first glance the thought of the two them together just makes no sense. Love rarely makes sense. The road to HEA is full of potholes of self-doubt, rocks of circumstances both had to overcome and leave behind. The book cumulates with a man with a heart of gold battling inner demons and horrible circumstances. Can Quincy be able to rise unscathed? Will Roni, decide if she can be the “solid” one for Quincy, or will their love dissipate into nothingness.
This is part of the Whiskeys in the Peaceful Harbor series. The books are about the Dark Knights motorcycle club that is not outlaws but does what they can to protect the citizens of their community. Every one of Melissa Foster’s books is winners. I have yet to open one of her books that I have not devoured from the first word that opens the story all the way to the last word printed at the end of the book.
This book was an enjoyable read. It flowed nicely and the story was sweet and touching. This is the 7th book in the series and whilst it can be read as a standalone, I feel that this would have been an easier read had I been up to date with the series. Overall though I did enjoy it.