Some book series entertain you for a weekend.
Others become places you wish you could visit.
Bootleg Springs by Lucy Score and Claire Kingsley is firmly in the second category.
If you love romance novels that make you laugh one minute, swoon the next, and then keep you up far too late because you have to know what happens next, let me introduce you to one of my all-time favorite small-town series.
This isn’t just another small-town romance series. It’s funny, emotional, wonderfully steamy, and layered with a mystery that kept me turning pages long after I planned to go to bed.
Before long, you’ll find yourself wishing Bootleg Springs were a real place.
Set in the mountains of West Virginia, Bootleg Springs is the kind of quirky small town where everyone knows everyone, gossip spreads faster than wildfire, families have generations of history, and every person seems to be hiding at least one secret.
If you’re looking for a series that delivers unforgettable characters, laugh-out-loud moments, and a mystery that unfolds across every book, this is one I recommend without hesitation.
I’ve recommended a lot of small-town romance series over the years, but Bootleg Springs continues to stand out as one of my favorites. It has the humor I love from Lucy Score’s Blue Moon series combined with the close-knit family dynamics that Claire Kingsley does so well in her Bailey Brothers books. Together, they created a town that feels completely alive, and I wasn’t ready to leave when the series ended.
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Why I Love Bootleg Springs
There are plenty of small-town romance series out there, but Bootleg Springs manages to stand out.
The town feels alive. Every side character has personality, every business feels like somewhere you’d actually stop, and before long you begin to feel like a local yourself.
One of my absolute favorite parts of the series is the Bodine family.
They’re loud, loyal, nosy, hilarious, and completely unforgettable. Their family interactions had me laughing more than once, and they’re a huge reason this series feels so warm and welcoming despite the darker mystery running beneath it all.
If every small-town romance needs one unforgettable family at its center, the Bodines are it.
The humor is one of the biggest surprises.
Lucy Score and Claire Kingsley balance emotional moments, sizzling romance, and genuinely funny scenes so effortlessly that the books never feel too heavy or too light.
More Than Just Romance
Every book features its own couple and delivers a satisfying happily ever after.
But what truly sets Bootleg Springs apart is the mystery surrounding Callie Kendall’s disappearance.
Years before the series begins, Callie vanished without a trace, leaving behind countless questions and a town full of secrets. Rather than solving the mystery in a single book, Lucy Score and Claire Kingsley weave new clues and revelations throughout the entire series.
Each romance uncovers another piece of the puzzle, making it almost impossible not to immediately pick up the next book.
I loved that every novel gave me a complete romance while still leaving me desperate to pick up the next book and finally discover what really happened to Callie.
Expect Plenty of Steam
If you’ve read Lucy Score before, you already know she writes incredible chemistry.
Bootleg Springs definitely delivers.
The romances are emotional, playful, passionate, and packed with the kind of banter that makes you smile before the characters even realize they’re falling in love.
Each couple feels different, which keeps the series fresh from beginning to end.
A Treat for Fans of Both Authors
One thing I especially loved about Bootleg Springs is that it feels like a celebration of both authors’ previous worlds.
If you’ve read Lucy Score’s Blue Moon series or Claire Kingsley’s Bailey Brothers series, you’ll notice little connections and familiar faces along the way. There are crossover moments and Easter eggs that made me smile without ever making new readers feel like they were missing something.
For longtime fans, it’s like catching up with old friends.
Lucy Score brings her signature humor, witty banter, and unforgettable small-town personalities, while Claire Kingsley delivers the heartfelt family relationships and emotional depth she’s so good at writing.
Together, they created something that feels bigger than either series alone. Bootleg Springs has the quirky charm of Blue Moon, the close-knit family dynamics that Claire Kingsley does so well, and an overarching mystery that keeps you eagerly turning the pages.
Even if you’ve never read either author’s previous work, you’ll love Bootleg Springs. But if you have, those little crossover moments make the series even more special.
Who Should Read Bootleg Springs?
You’ll probably love this series if you enjoy:
- Small-town romance
- Strong found-family vibes
- Laugh-out-loud humor
- Spicy romance
- Slow-burn chemistry
- Memorable side characters
- An ongoing mystery woven through the entire series
- Characters you’ll miss after the final page
If you’ve enjoyed series like Knockemout, Blue Moon, or Benevolence, there’s a very good chance Bootleg Springs will become another favorite.
Final Thoughts
Some romance series are easy to recommend.
Bootleg Springs is one of them.
It’s funny without becoming silly, emotional without becoming overly dramatic, and romantic without sacrificing great storytelling.
Even after finishing the final book, I still found myself thinking about the town, the characters, and everything that happened along the way.
If you enjoy romance that’s funny, heartfelt, wonderfully steamy, and filled with unforgettable characters, I can’t recommend Bootleg Springs enough. It’s still one of my favorite fictional towns to revisit, and if Lucy Score and Claire Kingsley ever decide to take us back, I’ll happily pack my bags.
Would I reread it? Absolutely. In fact, I’ve already found myself revisiting Bootleg Springs just to spend a little more time with the characters.
⭐ Rebecca’s Rating ⭐
❤️ Romance: 5/5
🌶️ Steam: 4.5/5
😂 Humor: 5/5
🏘️ Small-Town Charm: 5/5
🔍 Mystery: 5/5
📚 Binge-Worthy: Couldn’t stop reading!
Rebecca Says: I wish Bootleg Springs were a real place because I’d move there tomorrow.
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Really Rebecca – I share simple ways to create main character energy in everyday life—through routines that actually work, lifestyle favorites I reach for on repeat, and a love for romance stories that remind me how good life can feel when you’re truly in it.