Stilettos and Whiskey
Author: Gail Koger
Reviewer: Sophia Rose
Rating: A-
What I’m Talking About:
Her best bud and adopted sister has been her ‘ride or die’ partner in the sheriff’s department. With Gemma away and the family enemies in jail, Julie expects a day on patrol with only the usual callouts coming her way. But no, a sociopath and his militant home-grown militia family have her in their sights, and it will take all her adopted family and friends in law enforcement backing her up- oh, and a stiff shot of whiskey.
Gail Koger’s Gemma Stone series, a blend of romantic suspense and comedy, has been highly anticipated reading entertainment through all first four books. I was delighted that the spotlight was shifting to Gemma’s bestie, Julie, and I enjoyed getting her background and how she came to be part of the Stone family herd as well as getting a new action-packed story with Julie at the center.
Julie and Lucas Stone have been circling each other for a while and I was glad to see that come to a boiling point as well.
More zany patrol adventures, and wowsers I thought I had absurd neighbors, but Julie’s take the cake. Boy howdy, the Evans’ group were some real whackjobs with lethal firepower, but they took on Julie’s adopted family full of military-trained, law enforcement types and it was quite a scrap. Good surprise twist tucked into the plot.
All in all, Stilettos and Whiskey was another high-octane entertaining read from the Gemma Stone series that puts the romp in romantic suspense.
My Rating: A-
Sophia Rose
About the Book:
My name may be Julie Garza, but I’m a member of the Stone family through and through. I was only eight years old when my parents were murdered and I came to live with them. It was then I vowed to make law enforcement my life’s work and bring my birth parents’ killer to justice. But I’ve been a Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputy for five years now, and so far, that hasn’t happened.
My personal life isn’t much better. I’ve been in love with my adopted brother, Lucas Stone, since I was thirteen, but he thinks of me more like an annoying kid sister than a full-grown woman, but what can I do? I had gotten good at suppressing my feelings until the kiss. For a brief moment, I thought he had feelings for me too, until he puked on my sneakers.
Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse. I find myself in the crosshairs of a murderous deputy and my estranged grandfather gets released from prison and promptly sues for custody of me. Hello? Did he forget I’m an adult?
Law enforcement isn’t for the fainthearted. Are you brave enough to enter my world? This time Armageddon is coming to Arizona.
Release Date: August 13, 2025
Publisher: self-published
Series: Deputy Gemma Stone #5
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Comedy
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Author