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Empire Records #1
Whiskey and Honey
Celebrity Chef, Lyla Turner escapes Chicago for her hometown, in sunny California, and the comfort of her two best friends.
Running from the ashes of her career, destroyed by someone she trusted, she finds herself making more trouble when she meets the handsome and alluring, Cole. A tall sexy lumberjack of a man who just so happens to be her new roommate and strictly forbidden. Unable to fight the sheet burning chemistry the two fall hard, his kindness and understanding melt her heart but at the expense of losing a long time friendship.
When trouble comes to her front door, will the two be able to survive the fallout?
Running from the ashes of her career, destroyed by someone she trusted, she finds herself making more trouble when she meets the handsome and alluring, Cole. A tall sexy lumberjack of a man who just so happens to be her new roommate and strictly forbidden. Unable to fight the sheet burning chemistry the two fall hard, his kindness and understanding melt her heart but at the expense of losing a long time friendship.
When trouble comes to her front door, will the two be able to survive the fallout?
162 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 3, 2021
13 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Heather Lauren
26 books357 followersHeather Lauren is a polly pocket size writer of steamy romantic comedies with big burly bearded men and adorkable strong heroines. She now lives back in her small hometown in Iowa where the corn fields are high but so is her bookshelf.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 3, 2021
I can honestly tell you I fell in love with this story. I hadn't read this author before, but I'm so glad I found her. Whiskey and Honey are about Celebrity Chef Layla Turner who lost everything because her partner was a crook. When her best friend Marcus comes to help her, he takes her home to where she meets Cole for the first time. Cole and Marcus have been friends and roommates for a year and he's doing Marcus a favor by letting his friend move in. However, when they both meet spark does fly and you can feel them jump off the page. As Layla tries to find her footing in her new life her attraction to Cole just seems to become more. But someone is out there to get her and it's up to Cole to try to save her before it's to late. Fall in love not only with this couple, but also the characters in this story, because I did.
February 4, 2021
With her career destroyed by her shady business partner, chef Layla moves to California to start fresh. When her best friend, helps her out by offering her a place to stay little did she know her troubles were just beginning. With a sexy roommate whose off limits and an old partner’s shady business deals following her...what’s a girl to do?
October 28, 2021
Honey
Sweet and sexy instalove story! I love how feisty Lyla is regardless of her recent troubles. So much going on in this story! And the chemistry between her and Cole is off the charts hot! I love the scenes with the honey! Hot stuff!!
Sweet and sexy instalove story! I love how feisty Lyla is regardless of her recent troubles. So much going on in this story! And the chemistry between her and Cole is off the charts hot! I love the scenes with the honey! Hot stuff!!
April 5, 2021
Great read
Suspense and Romance combined in this epic read. Pretty well written and easy to follow. Great thought out plot with lovable characters.
Suspense and Romance combined in this epic read. Pretty well written and easy to follow. Great thought out plot with lovable characters.
January 30, 2021
4
I love the forbidden romance between Lyla and Cole. Their chemistry is off the charts even though Lyla has to relearn where she fits into life.
I also loved the suspense and dramatic danger throughout the book, it definitely kept me on my toes.
I’d definitely recommend this HEA.
I love the forbidden romance between Lyla and Cole. Their chemistry is off the charts even though Lyla has to relearn where she fits into life.
I also loved the suspense and dramatic danger throughout the book, it definitely kept me on my toes.
I’d definitely recommend this HEA.
March 3, 2021
Whiskey and Honey is one of those books that pulls you in right from the start, gets you excited to turn those pages. However, for me the middle of the book was a let down. I wasnt too disappointed in it, as I completed the book, but that was due to me wanting to know what actually happened with certian events that were told in the beginning of the book. The ending then drew me back in, but for me ultimately fell flat.
So, let's start at the beginning. Lyla is this strong willed, take no attitude type of woman, who has her entire life decimated. She calls on her best friend, and he basically takes her home to start over. She still showed her attitude and her fire, even when she was crumbling. Enter best friends other friend. Immediate sparks! The chemistry she has with Cole is panty scorching. Best friend lays down the law with them. They don't listen, and man they heated up those pages. While dealing with more issues from when her life got decimated, best friend find Lyla and Cole in a very compromised position on the kitchen counter. Hot, right.
But this is where it fell flat for me. I was expecting more from that whole situation. I had assumed that the three of them would have some knock out fights and eventually come to head, where best friend realised he was being a jerk, not because he was in love with Lyla, but because he saw how good her and Cole were for each other. But nope! It was basically ignored, pushed aside. Which to me didnt fit Lylas personality at all. There was no fight for her best friend. She was just like whatever, peace out with that. Cole was basically the same way, in regards to the best friend. During that time, I feel Lyla and Cole became to soft, for how their characters were originally portrayed. There were alot of small chapters that didnt really pack a punch for the story. However, the story did keep moving into the shady stuff Lyla was dealing with from the aftermath of her life falling apart.
Now, shady stuff, Lyla is basically being hounded and issues need to be dealt with. Stalking, phone calls, notes, messages sent. Okay cool, I'm thinking here we go, time to up the ante again. Nope. The suspenseful moments, were not all that suspenseful. I didnt get that. I got more of ok, this is what happened. But there was no real moment within the ending that had me on the edge of my seat with anticipation. Again, I feel the authod didnt write Lyla to how she was originally portrayed in the beginning. It seemed she had no fight, while fighting for her life.
So, let's start at the beginning. Lyla is this strong willed, take no attitude type of woman, who has her entire life decimated. She calls on her best friend, and he basically takes her home to start over. She still showed her attitude and her fire, even when she was crumbling. Enter best friends other friend. Immediate sparks! The chemistry she has with Cole is panty scorching. Best friend lays down the law with them. They don't listen, and man they heated up those pages. While dealing with more issues from when her life got decimated, best friend find Lyla and Cole in a very compromised position on the kitchen counter. Hot, right.
But this is where it fell flat for me. I was expecting more from that whole situation. I had assumed that the three of them would have some knock out fights and eventually come to head, where best friend realised he was being a jerk, not because he was in love with Lyla, but because he saw how good her and Cole were for each other. But nope! It was basically ignored, pushed aside. Which to me didnt fit Lylas personality at all. There was no fight for her best friend. She was just like whatever, peace out with that. Cole was basically the same way, in regards to the best friend. During that time, I feel Lyla and Cole became to soft, for how their characters were originally portrayed. There were alot of small chapters that didnt really pack a punch for the story. However, the story did keep moving into the shady stuff Lyla was dealing with from the aftermath of her life falling apart.
Now, shady stuff, Lyla is basically being hounded and issues need to be dealt with. Stalking, phone calls, notes, messages sent. Okay cool, I'm thinking here we go, time to up the ante again. Nope. The suspenseful moments, were not all that suspenseful. I didnt get that. I got more of ok, this is what happened. But there was no real moment within the ending that had me on the edge of my seat with anticipation. Again, I feel the authod didnt write Lyla to how she was originally portrayed in the beginning. It seemed she had no fight, while fighting for her life.
February 20, 2021
What a wonderful debut novel by the author! After Lyla’s business was seized by the feds for alleged money laundering by her business partner, she relies on her friend Marcus to help her pick up the pieces. Everyone needs a friend like Marcus. Not only did he fly to Chicago, he also fly her back to SD and gave her a place to stay. His only request was that she and their other roommate Cole NOT hook up. The attraction was instant between Cole and Lyla; it was hard not to recognize that. But the pull towards each other was far greater than Marcus’ edict. As Lyla gets settled and working for Cole, the attraction only grows until there’s no denying it. There’s also some trouble related to her business in Chicago that Cole helps her to figure out. It’s the mutual love that Cole and Marcus have for Lyla that has them putting aside their differences and coming to her aid.
There were some parts of the story that dragged a bit and the dialogue seemed stilted but overall, this was a great story about being at rock bottom and finding a way back to the top with the help of some great friends.
I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.
There were some parts of the story that dragged a bit and the dialogue seemed stilted but overall, this was a great story about being at rock bottom and finding a way back to the top with the help of some great friends.
I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.
February 23, 2021
Lyla had it all and was on top of the world but then her world came crashing down..It takes the help of her best friends to make a new change for her. She was a top chef and had people waiting out the door for her food. When she's taken by surprise and her world rocked, Marcus saves the day.. Being back in Cali means opportunties for her, a fresh start..Oh and hoping that the news hadn't spread about her. Marcus is busy being a dad and running his record company so she is free to explore. Meeting her roommate and warned to stay away is harder then she thought it would be.. Cole is hot and tempting.. The moment they meet, there's a spark between them. They don't want to cross the line and hurt their friend but they can't help the attraction they feel for each other.. These two have some steamy times together and it gets them in trouble.. This group is close one and I love despite how busy they get, they still make time to get together and have dinner. Cole and Lyla push the button alot in this book. They are cute together. I liked this book alot and can't wait for more!
February 7, 2021
3.5 Honey stars
⭐⭐⭐
Whiskey and Honey by Heather Lauren ,a first in a series ,the Empire Records.. This year I decided to take on new authors and to expand my reading boundary.. She is a new to me author, and I Just love her..
A perfect dish made with love, add on a sprinkle of suspense,and you get a sizzling HEA. I'm a sucker for culinary romance,its my favourite trope,so obviously as soon as I saw CHEF ,I had to read it. And OH God!the things I read left me all hot and bothered. What I loved most about this book is ,the characters aren't shy of expressing their feelings,of what they want. All the characters are beautifully written , and that suspense definitely keeps you hooked up.. I highly recommend this sizzling HEA...
P.S Heather Lauren, you girl, definitely ruined Honey for me.. Everytime when I'll see that bottle, Cole and Lyla will play on my mind🤗.
⭐⭐⭐
Whiskey and Honey by Heather Lauren ,a first in a series ,the Empire Records.. This year I decided to take on new authors and to expand my reading boundary.. She is a new to me author, and I Just love her..
A perfect dish made with love, add on a sprinkle of suspense,and you get a sizzling HEA. I'm a sucker for culinary romance,its my favourite trope,so obviously as soon as I saw CHEF ,I had to read it. And OH God!the things I read left me all hot and bothered. What I loved most about this book is ,the characters aren't shy of expressing their feelings,of what they want. All the characters are beautifully written , and that suspense definitely keeps you hooked up.. I highly recommend this sizzling HEA...
P.S Heather Lauren, you girl, definitely ruined Honey for me.. Everytime when I'll see that bottle, Cole and Lyla will play on my mind🤗.
April 2, 2021
Whiskey and Honey is great love at first romance.
When Lyla life is turn upside she turns to her best friend Marcus for help. He brings Lyla back home where she meets new roommate Cole and you can see the chemistry between them. Marcus tells both of them no mess around because they have no good track record. But they don’t listen and at first things are up and down but they are always friends. Cole founds Lyla is in danger due to the mess she left in Chicago it will lead them on a path to discover their feelings for each other while keep Lyla safe. It is great watching them get their hea.
Heather Lauren gives us great characters. I love Lyla because she is a strong caring loving and feisty female character. Whiskey and Honey was written quite well. I would definitely recommend this book.
When Lyla life is turn upside she turns to her best friend Marcus for help. He brings Lyla back home where she meets new roommate Cole and you can see the chemistry between them. Marcus tells both of them no mess around because they have no good track record. But they don’t listen and at first things are up and down but they are always friends. Cole founds Lyla is in danger due to the mess she left in Chicago it will lead them on a path to discover their feelings for each other while keep Lyla safe. It is great watching them get their hea.
Heather Lauren gives us great characters. I love Lyla because she is a strong caring loving and feisty female character. Whiskey and Honey was written quite well. I would definitely recommend this book.
February 7, 2021
Love doesn't follow the rules
Lyla is a famous chef with one of the most successful restaurants in Chicago. But when her business partner leaves her with no money and the police on her doorstep she tucks her tail between her legs and run home to the only family she knows. Only this time, she's got a hot lumberjack as her roommate.
This is an amazing debut novel! Cole is so amazingly hot and im extremely jealous of Lyla. I love how Heather has made her heroine unafraid of her sexuality, and taking what she wants. Plus she has greater such an interesting crew that I hope will all be getting their own books. Plus the little hit of suspense really caps off this book to make it an incredible story.
Lyla is a famous chef with one of the most successful restaurants in Chicago. But when her business partner leaves her with no money and the police on her doorstep she tucks her tail between her legs and run home to the only family she knows. Only this time, she's got a hot lumberjack as her roommate.
This is an amazing debut novel! Cole is so amazingly hot and im extremely jealous of Lyla. I love how Heather has made her heroine unafraid of her sexuality, and taking what she wants. Plus she has greater such an interesting crew that I hope will all be getting their own books. Plus the little hit of suspense really caps off this book to make it an incredible story.
February 5, 2021
This is the 1st in a new series and is Cole and Lyla’s story. Lyla is a celebrity chef when thanks to a shady business partner, her career is destroyed, and when she returns to her hometown, she ends up with sexy lumberjack Cole as a roommate. Can Cole keep Lyla safe and protected when danger comes calling? The sparks fly between these two and the off the charts’ chemistry is intense and undeniable. This is a well written story which is filed with drama, suspense, danger, and love. This story had me intrigued throughout and I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I recommend.
March 6, 2021
The first book in the The Empire Records Series a well written story that kept me turning pages. Celebrity Chef, Lyla ran from Chicago after her partner did a number on her and the business she owned. She has come back to her hometown in California to the people she loves. She ends up with Cole as her roommate, but Marcus the friend that saved her is also Cole's friend and warns her to stay away from him. There is suspense, drama, danger, twists, turns, and romance. This is a new Author to me and it looks like this is her debut book. A story that was well worth reading. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 31, 2021
Celebrity chef Lyla is taken by her partner and the story immediately pulls you in with the drama and the words in which are written. This being my first time reading a story by Heather Lauren, it definitely won't be my last story. Cole enters the picture by being Lyla's friends roommate and the heat ticks up a bunch especially with the back and forth between Cole and Lyla. This story was interesting and kept my attention for the most part. There had some middle of the book standstill moments for me, but definitely starting peeking back up as you continued to read the story. I totally fell in love with the characters so easily.
March 8, 2021
I received an ARC from the author thru Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving my review. I thought that Cole and Lyla have a great love story. She has her life nearly ruined and a good friend, Marcus, steps in to help. Cole is supposed to be off limits and vice versa but that changes. The more time they spend together, it becomes harder to deny their attraction. There are some obstacles in their path to happiness though. If they can get past them, they have a chance at a future together.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 22, 2021
Lyla calls her best friend Marcus to literally bail her out when her business partner takes her to the cleaners and leaves her in trouble with the law and more! Cole is best friends and roommates with Marcus now. When Lyla and Cole meet the sparks fly but Marcus puts his foot down. The fun and exciting romance between Cole and Lyla is filled with passion, danger, betrayal, lies, intrigue and loyalty of friends that become a family. Good read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 25, 2021
Ok
Ok
I adored everything about Lyla and Cole! Them together is like...perfect! They just damn work! The way they balance each other out but still make their “ship” about fun and being carefree...it’s the most realistic situationship turned relationship i’ve read in a loooooong time! And boy did the story M O V E ! It was super quick! Almost, too quick? Ready to read the rest of the series!
Ok
I adored everything about Lyla and Cole! Them together is like...perfect! They just damn work! The way they balance each other out but still make their “ship” about fun and being carefree...it’s the most realistic situationship turned relationship i’ve read in a loooooong time! And boy did the story M O V E ! It was super quick! Almost, too quick? Ready to read the rest of the series!
March 9, 2021
This book doesnt even feel like a debut, the way Heather has written the story, It holds you down to it. Just with the name of the book you cannot expect what this book has to offer. It will surprise you in such a way that will leave your mouth hanging. The characters are so much fun especially Marcus. I really look forward to his part of the story <3
February 11, 2021
This was okay. I have no strong feelings toward it overall. I’m curious to see how Heather Lauren’s writing grows as she writes more.
My few critiques are the dialogue felt clunky and the extra plot point vanished for a chunk of the book?
My few critiques are the dialogue felt clunky and the extra plot point vanished for a chunk of the book?
April 1, 2021
Spunky N Sassy Rating: 4.0
~~~~~~~~~~Lindsey's ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review~~~~~~~~~~
Great Book
This book was a great afternoon read. I was hooked from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait for book two!
~~~~~~~~~~Lindsey's ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review~~~~~~~~~~
Great Book
This book was a great afternoon read. I was hooked from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait for book two!
February 14, 2021
Sweet
A sweet tale of two souls connecting. I was just a little disappointed that the whole storyline regarding the money laundering wasn't quite as gripping as I expected.
A sweet tale of two souls connecting. I was just a little disappointed that the whole storyline regarding the money laundering wasn't quite as gripping as I expected.
September 2, 2021
Definitely loved this insta-love romance ❤️ Heather knows how to draw you in the first chapter that makes you not want to put it down! Can’t wait to read more for her
January 6, 2022
Sweet, sexy, suspenseful. A highly entertaining romance and a first time author for me.
April 3, 2021
[1.25 star] i'm probably the few people who did not like the book. it was really boring, didn't connect with the characters nor the book. there wasn't enough background of the characters to further understand them either. overall, not great.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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