Bourbon and Lies by Victoria Wilder — Genre’d Podcast Episode 5
- genredpodcast
- Aug 28
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 22
About the episode:
This week on Genre’d Podcast, we’re diving into Bourbon and Lies by Victoria Wilder, a spicy small-town romance packed with family curses, bourbon distilleries, and a whole lot of slow-burn tension.
And to make things even more fun, Elyse prepared a full Romance 101 presentation — complete with slides on tropes, romance beats, and why Fabio covers belong in a museum. (Yes, we’ve uploaded the slides for you — scroll down to check them out).
What we cover in this episode:
The Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce engagement news that broke right before recording (and why it felt like a romance novel in itself)
Elyse’s Romance 101 presentation for Katy — from “meet-cutes” to “third-act breakups”
Our one-line plots for Bourbon and Lies (spoiler: barns may or may not catch fire)
Trope talk: cowboy romances, found family, witness protection, and small-town drama
Cocktail pairings for the key players: Grant, Lainey, Grizz, and even Fiasco, Kentucky itself
Why listen?
If you’ve been searching for a Bourbon and Lies review, love small-town cowboy romances, or just want to hear sisters debate romance tropes, smut levels, and bourbon trivia, this episode is for you.
We also break down why this book feels like “Sexy Hallmark” meets “Lifetime Mystery” — with just enough bourbon facts to make you want a distillery tour.
Mentions & Links:
📖 Elyse’s Romance 101 Slides → View Presentation
🐶 Shoutout to Julep the dog, the real hero of this story
Our ratings:
Katy: ⭐⭐⭐½ — “Sexy Hallmark, but I liked it more than I expected.”
Elyse: 👍👍 — “Two thumbs up, no notes (except maybe more bourbon).”
Join the conversation:
What did you think of Bourbon and Lies? Drop us a comment with your favorite trope, your own cocktail pairing idea, or whether you think this counts as a true cowboy romance.
Fast facts: Bourbon & Lies
Is it part of a series? Reading order?
Book 1 of The Bourbon Boys series. Recommended order: Bourbon & Lies → Bourbon & Secrets → Bourbon & Proof.
What tropes are in it?
Small town (Kentucky bourbon country), romantic suspense, grumpy × sunshine, found family/brothers, protector MMC (ex‑cop), heroine on the run, curse/legend vibes.
Spice level (0–5 chilis)?
5/5: open‑door, steamy scenes with explicit language; balanced with suspense plot. Check content notes for violence.
If I loved it, what should I read next?
Bourbon & Secrets (book 2, more Foxx family), Bourbon & Proof (book 3), The Bridge Kingdom (political romance + danger), The Simple Wild (small‑town slow burn, found family).
Audiobook narrator?
Connor Crais & Samantha Brentmoor (duet narration on Audible). This is a really fun way to listen to the book.
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