Whiskey & Roses (The Xander King Series Book 1)

This was a surprising book with a wide-variety of characters: a rich self-employed assassin (but a good guy? Yes!) who owns a horse about to ride in the Kentucky Derby; a CIA agent assigned to watch him; an international movie star; and others.

Factor in the assassins, international intrigue, and you have a thriller that keeps you not wanting to put the book down.

This was a fast paced read with enjoyable characters. If the thought of a one man army taking out scum bags sounds good to you, you will like this book! The only negative thing I have to say is the use of the words "bro" and "man" were a bit much.

Captivating...action filled every minute..great read....

I chose this based on being similar to Dirk Pitt series by Cussler...I've enjoyed Cussler novels immensely...though skeptical, I purchased this book... and it was worth it...just as captivating, action filled and hard to put down chapter after chapter....couldn't wait for book 2.....

Really crappy, childish - a 13 year old boy might have written this. Clumsy prose. Yet another shallow billionaire playing hero. Ridiculous, not remotely believable. It would take more cables than the Golden Gate bridge to suspend enough disbelief for this. Terrible book. I got about 50 pages in and bailed.

I could not finish it. I normally read Lee Child, Stephen Hunter, John Sandford, David Baldacci, Jeffrey Deaver, and have never a James Bond novel I didn't like. But, I really could not get into this story. The characters are unbelievable, and the writing is sophomoric.

I binge-read both books in this series over a single weekend and cannot wait for the next one to come out! Xander is the kind of guy women dream about, and men want to befriend. The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is because there are several parts that are just not believable (his father, and then the horse at the end, to pick out two without ruining it for everyone). But... stories like this will always have unbelievable parts in them or else they wouldn't be near as exciting, eh? If you like Mitch Rapp, you'll enjoy Xander.

Great story line, lots of action, but a little predictable. There were times I thought the story could have ended but it kept going. Xander's friends/accomplices have bad things happen to them which has a huge impact in him, but nothing bad seems to happen to Xander himself. At least the Alexander Hawke character (from a different writer/series) has had some terrible things happen to him personally during his missions which he has to try to overcome. Overall it was a good read if you can get past the perfect characters...the hottest women ever, the best SEAL in the history of the SEALs who is rich beyond belief and also has a potential Triple Crown winner in King's Ransom...that sort of thing. Starting the next book in the series now.

I enjoyed reading the book, but found King’s talents beyond believable. This fits in the super hero category. For someone who is professed to be an experienced SEAL, he showed little appreciation for adequately planning in his last mission. Action in Syria was hardly realistic. If you want an action-packed read, this is it. Be prepared to suspend reality.

How can any book about a rich, good looking, powerful billionaire who also happens to avenge the murder of his parents by being a ex-Navy Seal Black Ops trained assassin be anything other than a great read? It's an easy read, but draws you in so completely that you want to stay up till 3 am to finish it!

Adventures too many to count, his fighting skills a little over the top
but makes a fun read. Of course his choice of women excellent even
those with whom he works. Look forward not next addition.

I actually enjoyed this book. If your looking for the next bad to the bone, can kill 20 men by himself, rid the world of evil guy and doing it while being super cool, sexy and getting the hot chick along the way.....Then here is a good book for you. Is it the best book out there...no...but I really enjoyed it. I have seen reviews about too much cursing??....I don't know how people thing navy seals and black ops trained killers talk, but I am sure there may be a curse word here or there. It read fast, has some interesting characters that play off of each other pretty well. It is the typical James Bondish "he'll never get out of this one alive" scenario and then he does and he does it in a cool bad ass way. I was very entertained and when I am reading this type of book that is exactly what I am looking for. I already pre-ordered the next one.

I found this book through an ad on my Facebook feed. I am so glad I picked up a Kindle copy. I do love the Mitch Rapp and Scott Harvath characters. Xander ranks right up there. Very well thought out story with a romance twist that was also well written. Action scenes left me wanting to see this made into a movie! Very much a page turner.

Looking forward to Book 2 in October.

Well done Mr. Wright!

Decent book, but of all the scrapes Zandergets into, he always has a miracle happen to get him out if it. Little too much coincidence in his narrow escapes and help showing up just in the nick if time.

Fun book! I don't want to disrespect the writer, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and it was a great escape. But the writing was a tad amateurish. Very cliche and a little too rosy. The characters are a little too perfect, especially the lead character. I never felt danger for the characters not did I find it difficult to guess what would happen next. Overall I enjoy the character and look forward to the series.

A very interesting plot!! Characters are very well identified so you can visualize what they look like!! Plot is very interesting & well written!! Holds your interest throughout the book! Good writing Bradley Wright, keep writing!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and will definitely read the next installment. The author paints excellent word pictures that draw the reader into the characters and what is happening. The action scenes are detailed and gripping. So why only 4 Stars? As is the case with many independently published books, this one just needs the final polish of a professional editor. There were more than a few grammar and word usage issues that had the effect spoiling an otherwise exciting passage of the story.

This was my first book by this author and I was thoroughly pleased with the story line, the twists and especially loved the characters! I am currently reading a second book in the series and it is just a good

Like the story line and concept. Seemed just a little weak in some action sequences, but still kept me interested in what was going to happen next. Not high octane rating but I think this author will indeed become high octane. Worth reading and then trying follow up books as I am sure it will only get better!

Dander King, rumor has it, was one badass Navy Seal. This is an extraordinary high energy, action packed thriller. Xander and his crew Kyle, his best friend and Sam ex Mi 5. There business, they eliminate bad people. Did I mention Xander is an assassin? I enjoyed this book tremendously!

This was an interesting read however, it's so unbelievable in premise and action. Hopefully, as the characters become more developed the long wind ups to situations will shorten and become more realistic. I will read the next edition to see how it unfolds but if the story line remains the same I'll save money on future editions.

I am truly disappointed in the fact that I actually PURCHASED this as a REAL book and not kindle, since I wasted those extra bucks. There is no way that this author can compete with Vince Flynn or Brad Thor or Ben Coes. I can understand that Xander can be a real bad ass, but some of his "missions" were just plain unbelievable. This read more like Batman and his side kick Robin. And seriously, if he is supposed to be so "focused" and so lethal, throwing in the women and sex is totally unnecessary. Takes away from the real story. So, Bradley Wright, maybe if you become a more polished and serious writer, I might give you another try. Until then, I'm sticking with those authors who have done much more research when it comes to military hardware and missions. You really missed the mark.

The main character's back story is strikingly similar to Ted Bell's character - wealthy beyond imagination, parents killed in front of him when a boy, etc. The story is reasonably entertaining, as are the characters, but it really annoyed me that the book has so many typos and grammatical errors. A rookie proof reader would have caught most of them. I did enjoy the book enough that I am currently reading the second volume.

A really good James Bond type hero with all the advantages of wealth and good looks. This tale is loaded with an unimaginable amount of guts and glory. A good editor would have a field day with the grammatical errors. Made my fingers ache for a red felt tip pen.

The unlikely playboy living a double life. Though the thought of a double life is very plausible being a one person hurricane is not! Although the main character borders on the impossible at least the other characters are real humans.

This was OK, but didn't really like the whole fantastic setup of a billionaire rouge ex-Navy Seal kind of like a Batman without the cape doing good, charming the women and avenging the violent death of his parents. Good action scenes but didn't really like the plot

Mr Wright comes along to fill the gap created by the loss of two of my favorite authors. Clancy and Vince Flynn. Unique perspective on the black ops lives of our country's last recourse of protection. I love Whiskey and Roses and will be reading every new XK story as they come forward. Awesome work Bradley!

I gave it a valiant effort and rarely drop a book but I couldn't keep reading this after getting about 60% through it. The actions scenes were unbelievable. I know this is fiction but come on. There is no way one man is going to infiltrate a walled-in, guarded, two-story drug house, have conversations with his targets, kill about 6 people that are spread out on different levels, get to the basement to save some hostages, have conversations with the hostages, get back to the 2nd story for the exit, and escape back to the exfiltration point in 12 minutes. Not to mention, all of his shots are perfect head shots. Ridiculous. Additionally, he's filthy rich and handsome, in love with an A-list movie star, and way too much time is spent on their sex scenes in between Xander's superhero assassinations. It's just way over the top. Bradley is going to need more seasoning in his writing before I consider reading another one of his products.

I would recommend Mark Dawson (start with the John Milton series) and CG Cooper (Corps Justice) if you are interested in branching out to other authors whos characters resemble Reacher and Rapp.

So like many on here I got an ad on Facebook saying if you love Mitch Rapp you will love this book...I did not.

I am always skeptical of Facebook marketing so I read the reviews on here and on Goodreads and it seemed like most of the top reviews has positive things to say about the book. The book is not good. I am normally willing to read quite a bit and I love some less then amazing writing that is some good pulp fiction John Ringo Black Tide Rising series is a great example but again this is not. I struggle where even to start here.

The best way I can describe the book is take a teenagers fantasy if he could have every wish granted and this is his book. The plot makes absurdly no sense at all. Why a former seal is quoting twilight is among one of the most laughable things. The description of the characters is not fleshed out as well. A former seal would not be carrying a magnum dessert eagle or paintball gun on missions. Also the time it takes missions is absurd how somebody can go through and entire mansion and have a shootout and rescue people in like 11 minutes is just insane. While having said all this there were a few pieces where I thought maybe it was coming together mainly in the non fighting scenes.

This was a great book. Take it from a retired law enforcement officer. Outstanding research done and backed up. Fast paced, with a great character Xander King. If you like Dirk Pitt, Scot Horvath, or Jack Reacher, Xander is right there ! Well done, Bradley Wright. You have a loyal reader.

I was hoping to find another author I liked...Nope. This book is poorly written, misspelled words, overuse of "Amazing" and he obviously did no research whatsoever. I do not believe a "black walnut oak tree" exists...And the storyline is so unbelievable, muddled, and disorganized I had a lot of trouble even following the story. I think he needs to write romances, as he certainly has failed with this book. I know he is a new author, and maybe his writing will improve. But meanwhile I am not going to waste my time trying to read this drivel.

Most boring BS book. So SEAL Superman BS. Unbelievable cliche filled crap. In between each exaggeration is filled w clothing descriptions. This recipe pulled together by this author is a terrible failure!! Hated opening this book to keep reading. I made it 2/3rds of the way. That was mostly skimming. Flipping past page after page of drivel. Finally I just slid the tracking bar to the end and finished the review. CRAP!! I want my money back!!

This is the most wonderful romantic spy story! The romance is fun, a little corny, and really- well- romantic. Intertwined with the romance is really a great fast action thriller. I loved this book and am sure you would also, I certainly plan to read more of his work.

Billionaire crime fighter with murdered parents who happens to be a legendary Navy Seal and has a devoted sidekick and a Hollywood superstar girlfriend and is manipulated into working for CIA by gorgeous agent?

Other reviewers promised me Rapp, DeLeo, Child, Connelly....

I could imagine this book being written by a teenager, under his covers with a flashlight.

This book didn't do it for me. Combine an absurd plot, poor writing and overuse of meaningless adjectives--"amazing", and you have a
surefire recipe for a book that fails to rise to the level of mediocre.

This book has a great story line, but it is not very well written. Some of the dialogue is a bit childish. The Main character, Xander King, is a charmer and definitely larger than life. Some of the scrapes he manages to get out of are a little unbelievable.
All in all a good easy read, but this author is no Greg Illes!

A good read but a little heavy on the romance for my taste. Xander is a bit too much of everything...a perfect lover, a rich guy, a superior fighter and assassin, etc. Still, it got much better toward the end and I was compelled to get the second book. So, I guess over all I liked it. I do miss Dirk Pitt though.

This is one of the better starts to a series I have read. LOVE the characters. Author gives sufficient back-story on many of the characters without interrupting the flow of the main story or taking away from the evolving plot.

Xander King is rich, he's handsome and he's a top-notch assassin. It's Bruce Wayne without the cape, corny butler and way more violent!

Meet Samantha, (Sam), the toughest female "side-kick" from any series in this genre.

This book as it all. At least 3 plot twists I didn't see coming; and 1 that I figured out before it happened.

Kudos to the author for "going there" with some of the graphic violence. Probably the most realistic writing in describing what happens to our heroes when captured behind "enemy lines"

This series could be good enough to warrant stand-alone back-story by themselves as the series progresses, like Mitch Rapp & Jack Reacher.

Will we see be a Book #2???

I liked the book. It was a little slow in the beginning, but picked up the pace and finished just right. The sex scenes were drawn out. I don't read romance novels, so that part could have been limited and I would have been ok. Overall, I think the character was thoroughly developed so the following books can focus on action.

The write-up piqued my interest as I was a huge Vince F!ynn fan, having read all his books, and even having a few signed ones. I was not disappointed reading Whiskey and Roses. It kept my interest, many nights not being able to put it down. The characters were interesting and the action intense. I can't wait for more books from Bradley Wright!

Love the characters in this book! Whiskey & Roses has a little something for everyone...action, suspense, humor, and romance to name a few. Can't wait to read the next book in this series. Great read.

The story line is shallow, the writing juvenile, and Wright's penchant for sex, sex, sex reflects that of a pubescent teen boy. It does not work as a black ops vigilante story. It falls short as a romance. His characters don't mesh...I will not read anymore of Wright's books.

Decent story line, but not even in the same ballpark as Mutch Rapp books. Also, do some research - jet skis don't have headlights, or floors you can get thrown onto. I will probably give Bradley Wright another shot.

One third of this book was like a Harlequen romance novel which got old and contributed little to the story. Take that out and the story line was decent The story moved along well and held my interest.

Disclaimer: I just finished the last two Brad Thor novels.
I don't write book reviews unless I am very passionate about it. I am very passionate about my dislike for this piss poor romance novel.

I feel like the author is a hormonal driven teenager with even less exposure to the special forces world than me.

No depth to any of the characters. Everyone is beautiful. Almost everyone is wealthy. Bla bla bla.

Maybe I'm being too harsh. You decide.

This spy/thriller novel is more fantasy than thriller. Somewhat like Harry Potter meets James Bond. I had a difficult time staying with the book to the end. The author writes well but the plot is very thin. Whenever adversity arises the hero p!lucks an almost super human effort from his bag of tricks and prevails. I like a bit more realistic story line.

Somebody had a lot.of nerve comparing this cartoon super hero to Jack Reacher.. Big clue when the author spells moat (as in water around a castle) mote (as in speck of dust). Very easy to put down. Don't waste your time if you read above a middle school level.

This book was great! This category (CIA/Special Forces) of writing is the only thing that can keep my attention when I read. Bradley Wright was no different with his 1st book of the series. They way he developed the characters and how the story unfolds will keep you wanting more.

I'm a self proclaimed book nerd within this segment of writing, with Brad Thor being my favorite. I have no problem putting BW's writings right up there against Thor's. If he keeps up this pace, he will quickly become one of my favorite authors. Well done, sir! Can't wait to see what kind of trouble XK gets into next.

After having read so many books in this genre, I was pleasantly surprised to find this storyline refreshing. And I look forward to the sequel to this book...have to know where Xander is headed next!

However, the many misspellings, grammatical errors, and some incoherent paragraphs made it difficult to appreciate the quality of the story. It would be nice if publishers could find more editors that knew how to spell without using spell-checkers (a word can be spelled correctly and still be wrong...”He built a ‘mote’”? Seriously?!

The pitch was "If you loved Mitch Rapp you'll love whiskey and roses". Crap. I couldn't sleep until I finished anything Vince Flynn wrote. I had to choke this down because I bought it and hate to waste money. It was so damn cliche as to be appalling. I tried to give it no stars but the rating system wouldn't let me.

Story line was OK. Action was good. Character was almost too perfect - never missed a shot. Almost to the point of being unbelievable. Will have to read the next one to see if it gets better. My go to characters are Dirk Pitt and Jack Reacher. Tough to compete against Clive Cussler and Lee Childs when it comes to writing action thrillers, but Bradley Wright does ok.

It's bad. The author can't seem to decide whether he wants to write romance or action novels (he should stick to romance, because he seems to know very little about weapons, fighting, or tactics!). The action is clumsy, the writing at a teen level, the chapter names sophomoric. If you want to read good action hero stuff, it's easy to find much better work out there (this author would do well to read some of it). The author did not compel me to read any more of his work, and l cannot recommend this to any intelligent reader.

I was suckered by the "if you like Mitch Rapp / Scot Harvath" etc ad on Facebook. For $2 or whatever I paid I figured I'd give it a shot. I was wrong.

I'm not going to pan it too badly, as many people seem to like it. All I will say is that if you're expecting Thor or Flynn quality writing then you will be disappointed as I was.

Amateurish at best. Tries to emulate other novels of its genre, but I couldn't build any rapport with the lead or supporting characters. I emailed my take to the author and he was gracious in acknowledging my critique...to his credit.

Totally implausible story line, characters who couldn't possibly exist...I need more believability in both. So far away from a Lee Child that I am angry I was duped into reading this. Will never buy a book by this author again. Ever.

This author has just cost me three straight nights of sleep. I couldn't put theses books down until I finished all three. What a ride! The characters are all well developed and so different and interesting. The loyalty and friendship between the main characters is fun, the bantering back and forth. A man, Zander who is an ex Seal is intent on finding the person responsible for his parents death with his friends help, His friend Sam who is also a trained killer from MI6 England and together they are unstoppable.. An trained killer who also happens to be a billionaire. The action from country to country happens quickly over a short period of about a month. The female protagonist has the perfect name as a Russian plant. Art imitating life,
I hate giving plots away in reviews as I am just a reader, and dont like when things are ruined for me. I see theses books being made into movies.

If you saw the ' Man from Uncle' movie then you will definitely see Armie Hammer and Henry Cavell in these roles. I see Mila Kunis as Sam..one bad ass woman. Sam Eliot would make a great Jack. I'm just day dreaming here but these will be great movies. If you are looking for a great fast paced complicated exciting read here you go right here!

I have enjoyed this author and really look forward to more Xander, Kyle and Sam.

A lethal assassin who's kiling bad guys of the world. A definate twist in assassins one who has principles and only kills bad guys. Driven to doing this by the assassination of his parents in from of him as a kid. Driven to do this by revenge and wanting to find who did this and why. Lethally train in every form of combat was a US Navy Seal hes a juggernaut. He doesn't look the part wealthy playboy who races horses and has his own whiskey brand looks are decieving. This book is a thrill ride that keeps you glued to the edge of your from one breath taking moment to the next. Lots of twists and turns that keep you reading and interested. The writer makes you feel as if you are doing it along with all the characters. Which to me is the sign of a good book to be so involved with the characters and story line you think its happening. If you enjoy thrillers you wil enjoy this book it is a breath of fresh air. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I intend to read the prequel and second book in this series. More Please. I was given this book in exchange for an honest review which I have done.

I liked the main character and supporting characters except the all-purpose female assistant/warrior, Sam. She seemed wooden. I find this to be true many times with novels written by men who are not good at portraying a warrior woman in a way that female readers believe. It usually comes out stilted. And of course I don't like what happened to her character in that one particular scene (no spoilers here). A fantastic argument for not having women in combat situations.
Xander's early-in-the-book 1-on-1 fight scenes (or 1-on-12) were difficult to follow and seemed just a jumble. All I got was, okay, he just took out 1, 2, 3 . . . 12! Wow! What super martial arts! But could I draw a mental picture from the description? No, not in any detail. Nearly a waste of words for those not initiate in this type of fighting (this reader and probably most readers). This is mitigated by the fact that the end result of the fight scene advances the story and an understanding of the excess of minutia in the scene is not actually necessary. (Thereby the waste of words).
In contrast, the combat on the water and in the compound was very well described, exciting, and satisfying in my suspension of disbelief. The peril of the good guys was a seat-edged highlight and the outcome not a foregone conclusion. The level of engagement and situational reactions by each member of the team was varied and well coordinated with each character's build-up/background.
Xander's love interests were refreshing in their lack of sexual detail (as so many books overdo this aspect), and we were saved from the total lack of story advancement that such scenes engender. The character was credibly entertaining and charming in his social encounters (a sort-of modern 007 with monogamy in mind), and I found the social banter believable and entertaining.
In the end, negatives were worth only 1 star deduction in my overall enjoyment.
I will definitely read more in the series and recommend this title to others who enjoy this genre.

This one was a fun adventure. Wright's Xander King character is a super rich (family money from oil) ex Seal Team Six badass. I usually prefer more spartan stripped down characters like Reacher or John Rain but Wright pulled it off. It had good action and was interesting to delve into the world of a 30 something single billionaire. Everything revolved around XK seeking revenge for his parents murder. Interesting side characters. Samantha the ex MI6 agent who helps him research who killed his parents and other bad guys and plan vigilante operations murderers the law can't catch. She's all business. Serious as a heart attack. Then there is Kyle, XK's best friend since high school. Jovial and fun. Always looking to have a good time, goof around or pick up girls. The two characters closest to him couldn't be any more different. The CIA is on to XK's vigilante justice and covets his skill set. Meanwhile, XK and Kyle have a launch party for they're new Whiskey. XK meets a famous actress, jets her to the Kentucky Derby where his horse is the favorite to win. Ahh romance. The action keeps coming. Then a lead on an ISIS terrorist that may have killed his parents leads to a raid in Syria for the climactic ending. If you're not too serious and everything doesn't have to be super real, then you'll enjoy this book.

Xander King is the new James Bond! Only he's a freelancer. No stinkin' government boss for him! I liked the characters, and the plot was exciting and engaging. My big complaint is the quality of the writing. Mr. Wright, please get yourself a tough editor. Lots of grammar and punctuation errors. Also, too much dependence on describing scenes, what characters are thinking, etc. Let the dialog of the characters reveal some of that. And, yes, all that matters in one's reading experience. It matters a lot. I read the prequel first and the quality of writing was better, so I know the author is improving. I've just started the next book in the series, and I can tell it will be another cliff hanger. I can already see these books as a great series of movies. Seriously, Mr. Wright, you need to find a really good script writer, send him/her the book, convince them to write a screenpaly, and shop it around to some producers.

I loved this first book by Bradley Wright. His character of Xander King was so interesting and he was such a fascinating person. He cared so much for all his friends and family. Spoiler alert: he had a secret life as an assassin, taking out all the people in the world who were horrible and needed to be killed. Such a great book for a first book. I can't wait to read the second book to see what Xander gets into next.

I was given a copy of this book by the author for my honest opinion and this is my honest opinion. I don't give a lot of 5 star ratings, especially to a new author, but Bradley Wright earned this one. I hope you will read this one for yourself.

If you like Jason Bourke and James Bond then I introduce you to a new action hero Xander King. He is extremely rich, extremely handsonme, humorous and a very dangerous trained do it all killer. The characters are all great, X has a couple of loyal followers. Read and find out why the CIA wants him so badly any why X absolutely hates the government in any fashion or form. There are so many beautiful people and so much action that a wrecking ball could not keep up. Finally learn the meaning of this title. X will become your new action hero.

Gotta shoot straight. I don't like criticizing and hurting an author's feelings by being harsh but judging by the 5 star rave reviews and multiple books in the series, I figure Mr Wright can stomach my viewpoint while I warn off the discriminating readers.

This book reminds me of these cheap B-movies set in exotic locales that went straight to DVD. They had all beautiful people, lavish lifestyles, all the fun toys, over-the-top villains...with side order of cheesy dialogue, a hero with the perfect looks, unlimited money that could kick Superman's butt. The women were all world-class beauties but also tough as nails as they fawned over said superstud spy.

But really, my biggest gripes with the book - and why I made it only 49% into story was the boring details of how the amazing playboy superstud lived like he was on lifestyles of the rich and famous. The hoaky dialogue was only surpassed in the cheese factor by an odd, awkward love scene that had me shaking my head as it was one disjointed, run-on plagued scene written to no doubt showcase the incredible bedroom skill of our dashing and suave superhero/womanizer/philanthropist while he ruminates on how to rid the bad guys of the world.

Some books are boring because the author is over descriptive or has too much introspection by characters. But this was just a boring story. A huge chunk of the book, well the first half, was focused on launching his whiskey and his horse running in the Kentucky Derby. Oh, yeah, he did squeeze in a handful of pages about killing some evil nutjobs as an afterthought while he swagged and dazzled the world with his insanely good looks and charisma.

The character development was thin - focused on visual and monetary aspects and contains, well, weird dialogue. One chapter between two CIA agents over a phone was so corny and ludicrous, I kept waiting for author to jump in a say I was being punked. Even those minimal action scenes were laughable - like the superstud playboy, waking and immediately doing a backflip off his bed and flying 15ft through the air to throw some limp limbed kick to knockout a man who burst through the door with his gun pointed at said hero the whole time. It must have been written in slow mo, otherwise we would have missed the awe inspiring high speed combat move.

If you are looking to read a cheesy, ridiculous, boring episode of lifestyles of the rich and glamorous superhero, this books for you.

I really like revenge stories. Once the guy meets the movie star it all goes south. I know everyone jumps into bed at the drop of a spoon anymore, but it was just so disappointing. Oh it is so hard to meet nice guys we women have to be wary. Let us give it 24 hours. Total BS. Revenge seems to take on a different flavor. What a waste of time. No matter the rest of the story the stage was set badly.

What a great beginning for this author. I was gifted this edition for an honest review. What a pleasure to read the work of an author with true talent. No I'm not in the publishing business but I know what I like to read and Bradley Wright knows how to capture the minds and hearts of his readers. Kentucky derby, roses and whiskey along with international crime. An exciting new take for this reader that I found quiet enjoyable. This is an author that I look forward to placing on my watch list as I can't wait to read more of his work. Fast paced, adrenaline rush with all the thrills and nail biting scenes to keep me up turning the page for just one more or 10 pages just to see what happens next. This is bestseller quality! Gotta love it!

An excellent story. I liked all the characters except for the villains who were indeed despicable. Xander is an incredibly talented assassin who along with his team of Samatha and Kyle accomplish astounding feats of cleaning up the monsters who thrive on the innocents around them. A lot of excitement. I will definitely be following this series.

This book was full of excitement & action despite being a bit predictable. Be warned, there is a sex scene, not quite as graphic as your typically romance novel-but close.
Unfortunately, there is also a rape scene and that’s why the book gets a 3 from me. Mr. Wright writes very well but I won’t read anything of his again.

Have totally fallen in love with Xander and Kyle... Did not read the prequel... Started with Whiskey and Roses... Just finished.. What a rollercoaster ride this book is... Absolutely love all the characters. Highly recommend it.. Just starting book 2 . Vanquish...then on to Kings Ransom...Hoping the other 2 will keep me up at night reading until finished! thank you Bradley Wright. You rock

I stumbled onto this book when an ad showed up on my Facebook feed. It claimed if I liked Dirk Pitt, I would like Xander King. I've been a huge Clive Cussler fan for years, so I thought I'd give Bradley Wright and this book a shot. I'm glad I did.

This is a very fast-paced story, with interesting characters and plot developments that keep you on your toes as a reader. I appreciated the time that Wright spent developing not only the central characters, but the relationships between them. The reader gets a real sense of who Xander King is, but perhaps more importantly, what the few people in his inner circle mean to him. In my opinion, that was the driving force behind this story.

I do want to point out, as a 34-year old guy, I found some of the humor in this story to be hysterical. Specifically with regards to Xander's friend, Kyle. A few things about him reminded me of a couple friends I've got. And I'm guessing most guys who read this will relate to that as well. That being said, his humor will not resonate with everyone.

I give the book 5 stars, because I was looking for an entertaining, fast-paced action novel, and Bradley Wright delivered with Whiskey and Roses.

If this is a first book, I can't wait till I read more. A good story with interesting, premise. The CIA just can't let someone play vigilante, especially with the cases the agencies in charge haven't been able to solve. Xander doesn't have the limitations of the law holding him back. The only rule he lives by is his own and a that is there are no rules. He eliminates bad people--really bad people. Are the supposed to be good-guys gonna stop him?

This was a free gift and I voluntarily reviewed it.

Received an ARC to read and review for the author.
I did enjoy this first book in a promising series. Xander King is rich with his own bourbon, race horse and 'girl friend'.
Then he is a 'vigilante' too. He is not your average guy but very driven to avenge his families death.
All come together in an exciting plot for an exciting thrilling read. I enjoyed reading the start of this thriller! A promise of more to come.

I love book collections that follow characters through a series of scenarios. Once you get to know a character it is fun to keep reading about them and their exploits. Brad Wright's Xander King series has this quality. I would say that this budding collection is more like Ted Bell's Alex Hawke than Mitch Rapp or Brad Thor's Harvath. Xander is independently wealthy like Hawke and can do whatever he wants, but the government is always in the background. It helps to start at the beginning so read Vanquish first.

Wright is a new author who will improve his craft over time. Right now, the plots are a little simplistic, but colorful and a fun quick read. Plus at $2.99 how you can resist.

I received a copy of this book in a giveaway and voluntarily choose to review it.
The main character Xander, is a man with a traumatic past who seeks out to make the world a better place. He has two dutiful aides, Kyle and Sam.( I Hope in books to come we learn more of their background)
The book is a suspensful read, action, adventure and suprinsingly in this genre there is a little romance to lighten things. A masterful debut novel
from a new author who I think will be able to show us much more what he is capable of.
He has most certainly found a new fan and follower.

This is the first book I have read by Bradley Wright. I usually don't read male authors but I had to give this a try bc I loved the blurb to it. I was not disappointed. I really enjoyed the characters and the story. I do wish Xander was a little less shallow and did less bed hopping. It kind of messed the story up for me. I am looking forward to reading the next book and I do hope that the story continues to get better and better. I love story is very well written!

AS a fan of Brad Thor and Scott Horvath, I wasn't sure if this book would live up to the "hype". It clearly did as I couldn't wait to pre-order the next book in the Series. Xander King is a worthy star of the book and showcases a man dealing with the demons of his past and how they affect his choices today. His supporting cast is great and it reminds me of the rapport between characters in a Clive Cussler novel ( Dirk Pitt and Al Girodano). If you love either of these authors (Cussler or Horvath) you will truly enjoy Bradley Wright's Xander King. Highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a new series to get lost in.

I do like Mitch Rapp and Jack Teacher, Jack Ryan too,the book version. So now X is one of my new favorites. And he brings such a great crew with him. Strong, tough, smart, and damn loyal men and women. Can't be beat.

I've been looking for a Jason Borne type book but with a romantic angle too, and this book was perfect. Excellent writing, fast paced, very interesting characters, and Xander is SO cool (everything about him, BUT he's not cocky; awesome personality!). Can't wait to read book two!

Trifle complicated at first, but moves rapidly into a fast moving adventure...if not a little too emboldened by rapid physical recoveries towards the end..enjoyed, will probably pay for the next in the series...

I stayed up late on a work night to finish my first book by this author and don't regret it one bit (at work tomorrow may be a different matter though). Great action, drama, and friendships I'm looking forward to reading more of.

Lots of action and adventure in Whiskey & Roses. Very engaging book with non stop action, women and friendships between the group of people working together. I felt like I was in the middle of a good James Bond book. I enjoyed it very much and now I have to get the second book to continue reading about these fantastic people. Very well written and very interesting book.

Most thrilling book ever! I was captivated from the very beginning and as a military service family, I was reminded of duty and honor plus family being core values. I'd follow this writer anywhere as the integrity of the storyline was on point.

Xander King is all of those things and the government wants him on their payroll. The dark side of Xander goes where the evil is and eliminates it all while searching for the man behind the brutal murder of his parents. The light side launches a new bourbon, has his own horse on the road for the Triple Crown and is the playboy every man wishes he could be.

Quick read, great action. This was a fun book to read. What guy wouldn't like a book about a super agent-like protagonist, who also happens to own the best new bourbon distillery and whose horse wins the Kentucky Derby? I think I want to be Xander King when I grow up...again. Good debut for a new author.

I read Whiskey and Roses in one sitting and really enjoyed the main character Xander King. I have since read series two and three and they were both outstanding as well ! Can't wait for next book in the series. All the other characters add to each plot as well. Highly recommend this author !!

I enjoyed reading this book. The writing was good and the pace moved very quickly. Xander King is the center of the story, and he is a combination of James Bond and Bruce Wayne. A handsome, billionaire ex-Navy Seal out for revenge! You occasionally have to suspend your sense of disbelief in some of the action sequences, but if you are looking for a non-stop thrill ride you should read this book.

Very much enjoyed the entire Reign Crew. Xander King and the whole crew make the story. Will look forward to more books featuring the entire group. They each bring specific strengths to the narrative.

We read faster than authors can write so we are pleased to have found Bradley Wright's Whiskey and Roses. It is a good story, moves along quickly while keeping you wanting to turn the pages to see what is next. We are fans of V Flynn, B Coes and other fast action writers so Mr. Wright fits right in with his stories happening here in the US.

Bradley Wright is the new Big Man on Campus. No doubt. I read all the Harvath, Rapp, Milton, etc books. X is my new guy. This book is really well written. The story flows from page to page and the twists are well thought out. I love the introduction of this new character/series. X and his #1 Kyle are the kind of guys you'd want to hang with when your out on the town. This story pulls you in quickly. I bought the book on a Friday just before I flew out west, finished it Saturday night before I went to bed. Couldn't put it down. I downloaded Vanquish before I plane ride back. If your looking to fill the gap that Harvath/Rapp/Milton are leaving behind and this type of book/story is your kind. This is your book. You WON'T be disappointed.

The book is a pretty fast read. The thing that disappointed me was the ending. I don't like books that force a sequel on you. It's for this reason, I probably won't read the next book. I'm not a full-service kind of person.

I almost always finish a book I started, even if I don’t like it. However, I couldn’t finish this one. Boring dialog, over-the-top machismo, unrealistic fight scenes done in the hero’s skivvies, incorrect descriptions (as in what divers breathe and wear); I could go on and on. But I won’t.

This is a good book if you like the super spy impossibly a hero like a James Bond book. He can kill 20 assassins that attacked his bedroom, and save the life of the movie star lovely lady in his bed.

This is a great book and I highly recommend it for all the Jack Reacher, Mitch Rapp, Scott Horvath fans.

I am usually skeptical when I read a review that starts as my review starts above, however, I promise one thing, if you like action and a quick page turner, this is the book. Instantly grabs you and does not stop until the end. I am about to place my pre order for the next one.

Highly recommended and I challenge all you Reacher and Rapp fans to read and review this book.

Great read for fast action fans. A tad unrealistic, but takes me back to reading Ian Fleming's Bond as a kid. Suspend disbelief and enjoy the Thrills and Kills - the Dames and Dough - and get to know a cocky, confused, conflicted capital-H Hero.

Romance, international intrig, WHISKEY & ROSES has it all.The characters are intriguing and the pace is so fast I couldn't turn the page fast enough. Every time I thought I had a character or situation figured out, bam, it changed. While Xander's character is a vigilante, his love and passion for those close to him shows a softer, unexpected side. I became his biggest fan and found myself cheering him on through one situation after another. Xander proves the bad guy is sometimes the good guy in disguise.

This book was very good! Lots of action, great characters, and a excellent story that kept you reading and not putting the book down! Thank-you Mr. Wright for this story, off to read the second book in this series.

Loved both Vanquish, and Whiskey and Roses. The character, Xander KIng is in the same league as Mitch Rapp and others. But Xander KIng is a little different, as is some of the people that he works with. The action in both books, is non stop, so you will not want to put it down. If you are like me and enjoy the Mitch Rapp type character, you will love both of these books! Whiskey & Roses (The Xander King Series) (Volume 1)

Dumb, dumb, dumb. For those who like a plot, action, dialogue, believable characters, and people with good sense, look elsewhere, for you'll not be finding it here. Luckily, I read fast, so not much time was wasted, plus I skipped a bunch of pages when they were fighting the bad guys. You should too.

I am great fan of action/adventure books. It was a great read. Hard to stop reading. The characters are very believable. The book was like a cross of Batman(Bruce Wayne) and James Bond(007). Have read all the books(3 so far) looking forward to the next one.

For a first book of new publishing Mr. Wright did a nice job. He brought info in which was added early, then contributed to the story later. Pace was good, setup was nicely detailed so could easily picture the scenes. His research of Seals, their training and procedures were enough to give the reader sufficient detail. Read it in one day, and ready for Vanquish.

Bradley Wright's Whiskey & Roses was a fantastic read and Xander is the next Dirk Pitt (Clive Cussler), Scott Harvath (Brad Thor) and Jack Reacher (Lee Childs) all rolled into one. Bonds got nothing on this guy. WARNING: This fast paced book will keep you from making that 7:00am meeting.... Start it on a Saturday night with a good bourbon.

Filled with fast cars, private planes and all the toys a guy could want, Bradley Wright quickly teaches his reader that when it comes right down to it... its about family, true friends and the need to make things right...at all costs.

Highly recommended.

I read this book after seeing the synopsis online. My wife got it for me for our anniversary. I was pleasantly entertained by the book. Xander was very endearing and a fun protagonist. A guy you would want to hang out with but with a bad-assery about him! Though some of the book is a little over the top and he seems to be the luckiest guy on earth, it was a very fun read. Who doesn't love a guy who is taking out the armpit of the world! Can't wait to buy the next one!

I am a huge fan of political thrillers, a fan of Vince Flynn, Joel C. Rosenbeeg and Brad Thor. When" Whiskey & Roses" showed up on my FB feed I thought I should give tit a try. Bradley Wright dId not disappoint me as the mother of two Marines I like it when the good guy gets the bad guy and I don't care if the got doesn't like it. GREAT READ ! LOVE "Vanquish" too!

Billionaire, former SEAL, owner of a Derby winner and consummate assassin who leads a double life......that's Xander King. A one man wrecking crew, X is hellbent to rid the world of criminals and terrorists beyond the reach of the law and to find and eliminate his parents' killers. X wants no part of the CIA but they want him on the company's team. There is murder, romance and numerous twists and turns as the storyline unfolds.......There many are loose ends at the ending that sets the stage for Book two......bring it on.

Very great read. I'm a big fan of the Mitch Rapp series by Vince Flynn and was curious how up to par those book would be. I was very impressed and finished it quickly and went on to the next. Now I'm waiting for book three. Bradley Wright knows how to keep your attention.

I seen this advertised on FB and thought I'd take a chance with it. I really enjoyed reading this and can't wait to pick up the rest of the series. Very action packed with a great story. Definitely worth the read.

Absolutely fell in love with Xander King. Read the entire series in only a few days. Come on Bradley when's the next story? If I was able to give it more than 5 stars I would have. Fast paced and lots of action. Love love LOVED it!

the book was a great read the plot was passable and like the locations the main character is like a few other characters that I have read, Xander King is Jason Bourne, Alex Hawk, and Jack Reacher and James Bond all combine into one bad ass that you would not want him coming after you the first book was soo good that I bought the other two in the series and cannot wait for the next one Xander has become one of my favorite characters that I will follow

You just know when a book is bad, and when a writer is amateur. The story is not believable at all. The hero is a complete turd. The backstory him is laughable and torn from the pages of Batman. I rarely don't finish books but this was one I had to toss to one side. There is a limited amount of time and I can't afford to waste it reading this drivel.

This book is the first written by this new author and I highly recommend it. There is lots of action and suspense and I didn't want to put it down until I was finished. And then I got the second in the series, Vanquish.

Whiskey & Roses was a fantastic book to read after a long history of poor books that I have selected. Xander's history is told throughout the book, into the next (Vanquish), and just keeps you wanting to know the next action that will come up in the adventure of finding his parents killers.

This was a fun book to read. Looking forward to book 2. Suspension of belief is a little high at times, but that's what I enjoy about reading a book like this. Xander King reminds me of Cussler's Dirk Pitt, but with a trust fund.

This is my honest review of a book I received from the author. I DON'T RECEIVED ANY MONEY TO READ THIS BOOK. ONLY THAT IF I WISH, LEAVE AND HONEST REVIEW.

The real name of Xander needs to be: "Superheroe". I don't like been reading books were the characters are so perfect. Xander was to much...

I enjoy some parts other not so...the story was almost the same. A tragic past and...the plot in that is simple.

I'm very honest with my Reviews, not only for me, the author or other readers, how an author know when did something good or need improvement?

How another reader believe in my review? If I didn't read the book, I don't Review. If the book is good, Review. If the book isn't good, Review.

With that we all benefit, readers, authors & readers searching for something new or special. My opinions are my own.

I saw this on FB and thought it sounded pretty good. I love characters like Lee Childs' Jack Reacher. The main character certainly fit that mold and then some! He's rich, handsome, and an assassin. This was a fun page turner that I'd love to see made into a movie.

After years of reading non-fiction, I'm glad I returned to this genre with giving Whiskey and Roses a read. It was a great ride! Recommended by a friend, I found it fast and enjoyable. It had all the elements to keep me turning the page: character development, humor, romance, action, and a healthy dose of Kentucky (my home state).

With shades of popular action stars on the big screen, Xander can stand out on his own. I’ll be interested to read the follow up and see where Mr. Wright takes this character.

Watch out world, Xander King is here! Xander is a mix of James Bond and Jason Bourne. Bradley Wright hits a home run with this fast paced, action packed novel. I really didn't want it to end, so bring on the next novel!