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The Wine Dark Sea
Daniel is an elegant chair…He’s a handsome Englishman. A successful writer living in Paris, writing guidebooks that help people discover the secret delights of the city and country he loves. As for discovering the secrets to navigating the treacherous Paris social scene, Daniel himself relies on a book, which imparts some unusual advice—be an elegant chair, seen and not heard. And he’s getting a lot of practice. His last lover, Alain, is undergoing a tremendous transformation that he didn’t confide in Daniel. His current lover, Francois, is a celebrated artist, as arrogant as he is amorous. Their needs and dramas overshadow everything, including Daniel.He is a very elegant chair…Against a backdrop of the world’s most romantic city, between rounds of sizzling sex and sensational betrayal, Alain and Francois teach Daniel about passion and pain, loss and lust, gentle humor and poignant heartache.It will take someone else, someone unexpected, to teach him about love.
- GenresM M RomanceGay
145 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 25, 2010
1 person is currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Llewellyn
288 books452 followersA.J. Llewellyn lives in California, but dreams of living in Hawaii. Frequent trips to all the islands, bags of Kona coffee in the fridge and a healthy collection of Hawaiian records keep this writer refueled.
A.J’s passion for the islands led to writing a play about the last ruling monarch of Hawaii, Queen Lili’uokalani as well as a non-erotic novel about the overthrow of her kingdom written in diary form from her maid’s point of view.
A.J. never lacks inspiritation for male/male erotic romances and on the rare occasion this happens, pursues other passions such as collecting books on Hawaiiana, surfing and spending time with friends and animal companions.
A.J. Llewellyn believes that love is a song best sung out loud.
A.J’s passion for the islands led to writing a play about the last ruling monarch of Hawaii, Queen Lili’uokalani as well as a non-erotic novel about the overthrow of her kingdom written in diary form from her maid’s point of view.
A.J. never lacks inspiritation for male/male erotic romances and on the rare occasion this happens, pursues other passions such as collecting books on Hawaiiana, surfing and spending time with friends and animal companions.
A.J. Llewellyn believes that love is a song best sung out loud.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 16, 2015
This is an amazing book, on so many levels. The main character, Daniel, is desperate for someone to truly love him. The two secondary characters, Francois and Daniel's former lover Alain, have painful realizations of their own waiting for them. Then there is the mysterious man who will finally teach Daniel about love.
I loved the vivid descriptions of the characters, the situations they found themselves in, Paris as a city, the Parisian society. I felt like I was there, and having visited Paris a few times, recognized many of the places I love.
Daniel has a hard path to go from a man who accepts what others do to him to becoming a man who can stand on his own two feet and enter a relationship from a position of strength. I felt for him and cheered him on every step of the way.
Francois, the "stupide" French boyfriend, deserves accolades of his own - but not because he is nice or even likeable. I hated him with a vengeance - while admiring A.J.'s ability to describe such a horrible character with consistency and mind-boggling realism. The sad part is that people like this actually exist!
Alain is a story all of its own, and I can't say anything about it without spoiling the surprise. I admire A.J. for drawing him, too, with utter realism and treating his journey with enormous sensitivity.
All in all, this is a book well worth reading! Be ready to be delighted, surprised and shocked in equal measure. This is a story I will definitely read again - and never be able to forget.
I loved the vivid descriptions of the characters, the situations they found themselves in, Paris as a city, the Parisian society. I felt like I was there, and having visited Paris a few times, recognized many of the places I love.
Daniel has a hard path to go from a man who accepts what others do to him to becoming a man who can stand on his own two feet and enter a relationship from a position of strength. I felt for him and cheered him on every step of the way.
Francois, the "stupide" French boyfriend, deserves accolades of his own - but not because he is nice or even likeable. I hated him with a vengeance - while admiring A.J.'s ability to describe such a horrible character with consistency and mind-boggling realism. The sad part is that people like this actually exist!
Alain is a story all of its own, and I can't say anything about it without spoiling the surprise. I admire A.J. for drawing him, too, with utter realism and treating his journey with enormous sensitivity.
All in all, this is a book well worth reading! Be ready to be delighted, surprised and shocked in equal measure. This is a story I will definitely read again - and never be able to forget.
January 23, 2011
Reading this book was really an experience. I don't think it's angsty, but I read it with the feeling I was waiting for the other shoe to drop since the beginning. And I must warn you that this book is a beast with a lot of legs, so the shoes are aplenty.
I am not going to write a summary about this book, I think the blurb is at the same time eloquent and deceiving. I am going to write about the feelings I had while reading this book, and I'll have to leave many things out in order not to spoil the plot.
Daniel is the main character of the book. He is a very compassionate and generous writer, but the best definition of him is that he's a doormat (I don't know if the metaphor is lost to an English reader, but in Italian we use it for those people who are used and mistreated and still they heed the calls of those who behaved badly to them). I can't tell you how many times I silently screamed in my mind because Daniel was always running to the rescue of his lover and ex-lover. His ex-lover is clinging to Daniel after having lied to him about something very important. His present lover, François, is an abusive bastard. The whole circle of Daniel and François' friends is made of the most annoying assholes you could imagine. They are all more or less artists or intellectuals and they were all following these unwritten rules, without never speaking their minds. Really, Daniel, what were you doing with them?
My answer to this question is that he was possibly expiating his own shitty behavior of the first chapter. Daniel is a good man, but there's a lot of insecurity in him and that prevents him from reading people correctly and taking a stand for his own good. Once he takes his life in his hands, everything gets better. The path that leads to that is painful, but you can't imagine how happy it made me when, while talking to his father, Daniel described the point he was in his life in a very lucid way.
There was just a touch of serendipity in the book, but I am a romance reader, so I'll buy it anytime. I couldn't read this book fast enough. I am not giving a full 5-stars rating, because there were times when I felt the transition from a scene to another or to a line of dialog to another wasn't really flowing and sometimes there's not enough warmth, but since there's only one point-of-view in the narration, it might be that the most passionate point-of-view (that of my favorite character that I managed not to mention in this review) stayed out of reach.
I am not going to write a summary about this book, I think the blurb is at the same time eloquent and deceiving. I am going to write about the feelings I had while reading this book, and I'll have to leave many things out in order not to spoil the plot.
Daniel is the main character of the book. He is a very compassionate and generous writer, but the best definition of him is that he's a doormat (I don't know if the metaphor is lost to an English reader, but in Italian we use it for those people who are used and mistreated and still they heed the calls of those who behaved badly to them). I can't tell you how many times I silently screamed in my mind because Daniel was always running to the rescue of his lover and ex-lover. His ex-lover is clinging to Daniel after having lied to him about something very important. His present lover, François, is an abusive bastard. The whole circle of Daniel and François' friends is made of the most annoying assholes you could imagine. They are all more or less artists or intellectuals and they were all following these unwritten rules, without never speaking their minds. Really, Daniel, what were you doing with them?
My answer to this question is that he was possibly expiating his own shitty behavior of the first chapter. Daniel is a good man, but there's a lot of insecurity in him and that prevents him from reading people correctly and taking a stand for his own good. Once he takes his life in his hands, everything gets better. The path that leads to that is painful, but you can't imagine how happy it made me when, while talking to his father, Daniel described the point he was in his life in a very lucid way.
There was just a touch of serendipity in the book, but I am a romance reader, so I'll buy it anytime. I couldn't read this book fast enough. I am not giving a full 5-stars rating, because there were times when I felt the transition from a scene to another or to a line of dialog to another wasn't really flowing and sometimes there's not enough warmth, but since there's only one point-of-view in the narration, it might be that the most passionate point-of-view (that of my favorite character that I managed not to mention in this review) stayed out of reach.
October 26, 2015
2010 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
September 19, 2010
Set in France, this book features an expatriote British author who writes travel guides. A strange encounter with an outstandingly beautiful African man makes Daniel leave the small Normandy village where he's taken up residence. Dumped by his former lover, Alain, Daniel starts a relationship with excentric, arrogant, selfish artist Francois, whom he loves despite the fact that he realizes how Francois takes advantage of him in many ways.
Only when Daniel meets Kofi, he realizes love is supposed to go both ways.
This book was great. The author's slightly exaggerated picturing of "the French" is SO to the point; I sometimes felt as if I was watching "M. Hulot's Holidays". The French setting, particularly Paris, was very convincing. This book transported the distinctive "French" feeling which is so hard to achieve. It didn't hurt that the writing was fast-paced and skillful, the plot twists hilarious at times and the love story heartwrenchingly sweet without the slightest hint of saccharine. Chapeau, Mr. Llewellyn!
A highly recommended, funny, entertaining read with deep emotions, surprising plot twists and an enticing French setting.
Only when Daniel meets Kofi, he realizes love is supposed to go both ways.
This book was great. The author's slightly exaggerated picturing of "the French" is SO to the point; I sometimes felt as if I was watching "M. Hulot's Holidays". The French setting, particularly Paris, was very convincing. This book transported the distinctive "French" feeling which is so hard to achieve. It didn't hurt that the writing was fast-paced and skillful, the plot twists hilarious at times and the love story heartwrenchingly sweet without the slightest hint of saccharine. Chapeau, Mr. Llewellyn!
A highly recommended, funny, entertaining read with deep emotions, surprising plot twists and an enticing French setting.
July 12, 2011
Amazing! The best work that I've read of AJ's so far!
January 20, 2017
This is an amazing book on so many levels. The main character, Daniel, is desperate for someone to truly love him. The two secondary characters, Francois and Daniel's former lover, Alain, have painful realizations of their own waiting for them. Then there is the mysterious man who finally teaches Daniel about love. An exceptional group of people who pulled me into the story and kept my attention throughout. I just want to know what would happen to them!
I loved the vivid descriptions of the characters, the situations they found themselves in, Paris as a city, the Parisian society. I felt as though I was there, and having visited Paris a few times, recognized many of the places I love.
Daniel has a hard path to go from a man who accepts what others do to him to becoming a man who can stand on his own two feet and enter a relationship from a position of strength. I felt for him and cheered him on every step of the way.
Francois, the "stupide" French boyfriend, deserves accolades of his own - but not because he is nice or even likeable. I hated him with a vengeance - while admiring A.J.'s ability to describe such a horrible character with consistency and mind-boggling realism. The sad part is that people like this actually exist!
Alain is a story all of his own, and I can't say anything about him without spoiling the surprise. I admire A.J. for drawing him, too, with utter realism and treating his journey with enormous sensitivity.
All in all, this is a book well worth reading! Be ready to be delighted, surprised, and shocked in equal measure. This is a story I will definitely read again - and never be able to forget.
I loved the vivid descriptions of the characters, the situations they found themselves in, Paris as a city, the Parisian society. I felt as though I was there, and having visited Paris a few times, recognized many of the places I love.
Daniel has a hard path to go from a man who accepts what others do to him to becoming a man who can stand on his own two feet and enter a relationship from a position of strength. I felt for him and cheered him on every step of the way.
Francois, the "stupide" French boyfriend, deserves accolades of his own - but not because he is nice or even likeable. I hated him with a vengeance - while admiring A.J.'s ability to describe such a horrible character with consistency and mind-boggling realism. The sad part is that people like this actually exist!
Alain is a story all of his own, and I can't say anything about him without spoiling the surprise. I admire A.J. for drawing him, too, with utter realism and treating his journey with enormous sensitivity.
All in all, this is a book well worth reading! Be ready to be delighted, surprised, and shocked in equal measure. This is a story I will definitely read again - and never be able to forget.
April 16, 2011
3.5 stars
For some reason the character of Daniel didn't appeal to me in the beginning but as I continued to read the story I finally "got" him. There are quite a few twist and turns in this one and while some situations didn't work for me overall I enjoyed the story.
For some reason the character of Daniel didn't appeal to me in the beginning but as I continued to read the story I finally "got" him. There are quite a few twist and turns in this one and while some situations didn't work for me overall I enjoyed the story.
October 5, 2013
4 stars for the last part after Francois...
July 13, 2025
Daniel is a pathetic little doormat, so desperate for love and affection that he'll take it from any old dickhead. We've all been there.
I loved how all the characters were written. The progress of Daniel realising that he deserves so much more, growing a backbone, and learning to love himself is always so satisfying to read and it felt well earnt. Alain, whose journey I can't even begin to relate to, was written as both sympathetic and selfish and vengeful without making them out to be a villain. Francois, the utter bastard, who came across as both sleezy and charming and resulting in the pathetic little toad he always was.
The one that confused me was .
I loved the setting in Paris, but there was a bit too much of explaining geography to me. I know the Notre Dame, I know roughly where it is, you don't need to explain to me all the roads someone had to walk down to get there. I get Daniel writes travel books, so he would need to be a bit more specific in directions, but this isn't a travel book, and I don't care.
The 'fine dining' experience on the boat felt a bit out of place, and for some reason I was being described all these fancy dishes, which, why?
The characters were the highlight for me, but there was a lot of superfluous nonsense that brings the rating down.
I loved how all the characters were written. The progress of Daniel realising that he deserves so much more, growing a backbone, and learning to love himself is always so satisfying to read and it felt well earnt. Alain, whose journey I can't even begin to relate to, was written as both sympathetic and selfish and vengeful without making them out to be a villain. Francois, the utter bastard, who came across as both sleezy and charming and resulting in the pathetic little toad he always was.
The one that confused me was .
I loved the setting in Paris, but there was a bit too much of explaining geography to me. I know the Notre Dame, I know roughly where it is, you don't need to explain to me all the roads someone had to walk down to get there. I get Daniel writes travel books, so he would need to be a bit more specific in directions, but this isn't a travel book, and I don't care.
The 'fine dining' experience on the boat felt a bit out of place, and for some reason I was being described all these fancy dishes, which, why?
The characters were the highlight for me, but there was a lot of superfluous nonsense that brings the rating down.
August 14, 2014
I'm beginning to think it's going to be hit and miss with this author. Which is actually fine for me. The first one I read wasn't a huge hit but I enjoyed it.
I honestly don't know what I just read. Nothing really got explained about how Daniel met Francois. Daniel met Kofi in chapter 1 and it ended with him running out the door. Then in the start of Chapter 2 Daniel is having a meal with Francois, his lover. Um...what? And it went downhill from there for me. I was so confused and disconnected from the story. I couldn't connect to any character or anything that happened. I'm being very generous with 2 stars because other than my lack of understanding the author did a good job.
I honestly don't know what I just read. Nothing really got explained about how Daniel met Francois. Daniel met Kofi in chapter 1 and it ended with him running out the door. Then in the start of Chapter 2 Daniel is having a meal with Francois, his lover. Um...what? And it went downhill from there for me. I was so confused and disconnected from the story. I couldn't connect to any character or anything that happened. I'm being very generous with 2 stars because other than my lack of understanding the author did a good job.
September 3, 2016
I enjoyed the author's writing and how the story flowed. I also like the little side trips, so to speak... the turkey round-up, the cab art show. Very interesting. And the characters just jump off the pages... Loved them all, even the ones I hated (he knows who he is :) I've read it twice already this year. Highly recommended
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews