C2’s review of Wild at Whiskey Creek (Hellcat Canyon, Book 2) by Julie Anne Long
Contemporary Romance published by Avon 29 Nov16
Ah, Faithful Reader, we all have tropes we love, and Julie Anne Long’s newest book check a couple off my list – childhood friends and best friend’s little sister. Awwww yeah! If you’re like me and love some forbidden angsty-ness, buckle up!
We briefly met Glory Greenleaf during an open mic night in Hot in Hellcat Canyon. She’s an amazing singer and guitar player (and songwriter, as it turns out). Everyone knows she needs to leave Hellcat Canyon and become a star – and that was her plan – but she’s still there and people are wondering why.
One person wondering is Sheriff’s Deputy Eli Barlow. He knows Glory has the talent to take her anywhere she wants to go, but she has to get out into the big, wide world for that to happen. Glory had been saving up to go to L.A., but she isn’t gone.
Eli and Glory grew up together. Eli and Glory’s brother Jonah were best friends all through school and beyond…until Jonah started working with a meth ring and Eli found out. Then Eli had to arrest him and now Jonah is in prison. Glory will barely speak to Eli now…and he doesn’t blame her, exactly, but he doesn’t like it.
Glory was all set to go to L.A. – she had been saving her money and had made plans. Then, BOOM, Jonah gets busted and sent to prison. That’s bad enough, but then Glory finds out he had been paying their mom’s mortgage. Welp…there goes that saved-up money. And she’s stuck in Hellcat Canyon for who knows how long. And she burned a few bridges when she thought she was leaving, so decent paying jobs are not easy to come by. She finally convinces the owners of the Misty Cat Cavern to let her waitress there, since they are short staffed. Glory does not have a rep for dealing well with customers, but she wears them down and they agree to let her try.
Eli has pretty much given up all hope of Glory ever forgiving him for arresting Jonah – she was there – much less being open to any sort of relationship with him. He isn’t even sure being with him would be best for her and that’s what he wants. He wants her to be as free and awesome as he knows she can be and would never stand in the way of that.
Finally, Glory gets a break (engineered by a very unusual Fairy Godfather) but bad luck strikes again. And Eli is in a position to help her – but can he manage to help her in time or will her big chance fall through?? Oh, Faithful Reader, I do love a self-sacrificing man.
I very much enjoyed Wild in Whiskey Creek. I think it is a good addition to this new contemporary series Ms. Long has going. I enjoy her contemporary voice and her small California mountain community is just quirky enough without going overboard. My quibble from Hot in Hellcat Canyon continued in this book, unfortunately. Again, birth control was never discussed – even remotely – and no birth control was used, as far as I could tell. Reader, I hope you agree with me that in contemporary books, birth control needs to be mentioned/discussed before any sexy times commence…it’s just the way of the world nowadays. The lack of said mention/discussion is jarring. I kind of gave it a pass in the first book because I know Ms. Long is used to writing historicals (although, HELLO editor…how you doin’??). But letting it continue in the second book? Not cool. I hope for better results in Book 3.
Now, is the lack of that sort of responsible behavior enough to keep me from enjoying the book? No. But it is disappointing. However, I can pretend they are being safe and responsible adults, can’t I? (Although, I shouldn’t have to.)
So, does this book stand alone? I say yes! I do encourage you to read Hot in Hellcat Canyon first – it’s the right thing to do! All the cool kids are reading books in order! Don’t you want to be one of the cool kids?? Of course you do!
Grade: B- (with birth control it would have been a B)
Summary:
Everyone knows the Greenleaf family puts the “Hell” in Hellcat Canyon—legend has it the only way they ever leave is in a cop car or a casket. But Glory Greenleaf has a different getaway vehicle in mind: her guitar. She has a Texas-sized talent and the ambition (and attitude) to match, but only two people have ever believed in her: her brother, who’s in jail, and his best friend . . . who put him there.
Sheriff Eli Barlow has secretly been in love with Glory since he was twelve years old. Which is how he knows her head is as hard as her heart is soft—and why she can’t forgive him for fracturing her family . . . or forget that night they surrendered to an explosive, long-simmering passion. But when a betrayal threatens Glory’s big break, Eli will risk everything to make it right . . . because the best way to love the girl from Whiskey Creek might mean setting her free forever.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
