Whiskey Flirt

Foster House, Book 2

By: Walker Rose

Narrated by: Kelsey Navarro Foster, Tim Paige

I returned to Huckleberry Springs to start over with my name on a bakery and my past sealed up tighter than a mason jar. I plan to run my business, keep my history to myself, and ignore handsome flirts like local distillery owner and rancher, Cruz Foster.

Cruz might make me forget how to frost a cookie, but I’ve been taken in by guys like him before. When he turns up the charm, I punch his efforts down like a first proof of sourdough.

He backs off but continues being sweet. My car dies, and he’s there. I need a ride, and he’s there. I want to tell him that I miss the whiskey flirt with the lopsided smile, and he’s there with a sizzling kiss.

The real Cruz is even better than the one he shows everyone else. I fall harder for the guy who loves his family, works hard, and shares his troubled childhood with me. A man who fixes himself is my weakness

But secrets like mine don’t stay buried in small towns. If I don’t want Cruz sinking to the bottom with me faster than blueberries in cake batter, I need to break my heart and go back to minding my own business.

©2025 Walker Rose (P)2026 Walker Rose

Captivating scenes, plus scrumptious voices inDUET

🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 Cruz Foster can call Elodie, “Sugar,” in Tim Paige’s voice any day of the week and I will melt! ❤️‍🔥🫠

Whiskey Bargain is still my favorite in the series so far. But, Elodie and Cruz are hot and give amazing tease—so deserving of DUET narration by Kelsey Navarro Foster & Tim Paige. 😜 I love when they open up to each other about their pasts, which give us some suspense romance vibes. My favorite part of Whiskey Flirt is how captivating the scenes are—plus scrumptious voices performing all the fun in, did I mention, DUET?!!

Cruz and Elodie

5 ⭐ 2.5 🌶️ 5 🎧

Another fantastic addition to the Foster House series. I adored Cruz and Elodie so dang much. I wanted to give them both hugs so much and was so happy they found each other. Both of their back stories were heartbreaking, but watching them fall in love despite their hangups made me swoon.

Cruz is an absolute consent king and I loved watching him traverse the black cat that was Elodie. He listened to her every request, even when she wasn't sure that was actually what she wanted. It was angsty and entertaining at times.

The spice was perfect. A little less than the first two books of the series because this was a muchhh slower burn.

The audio was fantastic. I loved Time Paige and Kelsey Navarro in this DUET narration, they did such a wonderful job bringing these characters to life. Thank you so much to Ear Candy Promotions for the advanced copy!

heartfelt, depth-driven romance

The second book in the Huckleberry Spring series, Whiskey Flirt by Walker Rose, is a heartfelt, depth-driven romance that proves how the right person can help you overcome a difficult past. Narrated flawlessly by Tim Paige and Kelsey Navarro Foster, this story brings a raw emotional layer to the blossoming relationship between a charming distillery owner and a guarded baker.

The plot follows Cruz Foster, a local rancher and whiskey distiller who has carried a torch for Elodie for years. While the sweet cover might suggest a light, fluffy read, the narrative is much more complex. Both characters are "two sides of the same coin," each working hard to redefine themselves after surviving troubled childhoods and significant baggage.

Cruz’s character is a highlight of the book; despite his reputation as the town flirt, he is remarkably devoted and far from a "player." His loyalty shines through his patience, as he remains focused solely on Elodie even in the face of her repeated rejections. He is a hardworking man who has turned his life around, slowly dismantling her defenses with genuine kindness and a lopsided smile.

Elodie is a strong, independent protagonist who has buried her history "tighter than a mason jar." She is determined to run her bakery and keep her secrets to herself, often pushing Cruz away like a first proof of sourdough. While her stubbornness and refusal to ask for help—even when facing a legitimate threat—can be frustrating, her journey toward vulnerability is deeply relatable.

She eventually discovers that the "real" Cruz, who is willing to share his own scars with her, is a weakness she can’t resist. Their dynamic is defined by delicious tension, sweet banter, and "stay-out-of-the-kitchen" heat. Watching them navigate their push-and-pull relationship makes for a truly satisfying emotional arc.

The story is further enriched by appearances from beloved characters in the Huckleberry Springs "found family," making the setting feel lived-in and warm. Walker Rose has delivered an empowering tale of trust and resilience, showing that you don't have to let your past define your future.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Love it

Cruz and Elodie

Great addition to the series. Can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed reading/listening to Cruz and Elodie's story. This was a cute, sweet, funny, sexy story. Both characters are traumatized from their past. I really liked what Cruz did to help Elodie when she is being blackmailed.

Whiskey Flirt: Foster House Book 2

I want to talk about narration first because I am throwing so much confetti over it it’s on my eyelids! Well done 👏👏Tim Paige & Kelsey Navarro Foster👏👏. Their voices melded together like a symphonic harmony. It’s like they’re two halves of one “thing”. Make sense? Honestly, I’ve listened to a lot of different castings, and this one is next level epic. They worked ridiculously well together and took the story of Cruz & Elodie to vivid levels! I experienced this story. I didn’t just enjoy it, I lived it. That’s a concept that I’ve always found difficult to express in a way that definitively explains how I feel in the hours I find myself lost in the story, but these two exceptional narrators did that and I could just kiss them on the mouth for it! LOL

This time around I had the opportunity to read-along while I listened which if you couldn’t tell by now, it turned more into a full-on listening experience. I was lost to the story from practically the beginning so it is safe to say that in the which way will give you the mostest (not a word, I know) joy game I love to play, audio #wins 10/10. Obviously, these 2 cents only apply to readers in their audiobook era so, you know, don’t spend them all at once! :)

About this story … I was hooked from the start. That scene at the beginning when Cruz catches Elodie dancing like no one is watching set the tone for me for the entire story and it was fantastic! Honestly, Chapter 1 in its entirety set the vibe and I knew the story would be tension fueled with a push/pull dynamic and I was here for it. The circumstances that Elodie “carries” call for this type of vibe in order for the story to be realistic and the relationship unfold organically and with a relatable tone. I couldn’t be more excited for the world to get ahold of this story right now! I loved how the story had chemistry even when or MCs maybe/kinda didn’t, and when they both had it, the story exploded!

I’m gonna be happy in this “world” over and over again, I feel it. I haven’t had the chance to jump back into Walker Rose’s backlist quite yet but it will happen and something tells me it’s gonna be a ride I will not easily forget!