A Vintage Affair in Q&A with Josh Lanyon

Jun 22, 2010 Ami rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2-or-2-and-a-half-stars-rating, mm-romance-or-erotica

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Oh, Gosh, I am so TORN in giving stars for this one. On the good/positive side, I truly enjoy the world of winery, wine tasting, the knowledge about wine -- as well as the crazy characters of the Southern family. I think Austin is adorable as a person with a job as Master of Wine, that still needs to prove himself to other people about his job. Jeff, well, he is a reminiscence of Josh Lanyon's usual trademark of a jerk of a boyfriend (a.k.a. anti-hero) that is commonly appear in his other storie ...more

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Jun 28, 2010 Jaime rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorite-reads

He didn't know it, but Mr. Lanyon was under a lot of pressure here. I will make the shameful confession right off the top that this is the first Josh Lanyon book I've read. Not the first one I own, but the first I've gotten around to reading. Being that he's an icon in my own genre, that is a huge oversight on my part. He's kind of like the guy we all want to write like, (and he's also an acquaintance and all round good guy). However, his work automatically goes into that category for me of "wha He didn't know it, but Mr. Lanyon was under a lot of pressure here. I will make the shameful confession right off the top that this is the first Josh Lanyon book I've read. Not the first one I own, but the first I've gotten around to reading. Being that he's an icon in my own genre, that is a huge oversight on my part. He's kind of like the guy we all want to write like, (and he's also an acquaintance and all round good guy). However, his work automatically goes into that category for me of "what's all this fuss about, then" Like blockbuster movies that I never seem to get the point of why everyone thought they were so great. Not so this time. Mr. Lanyon most definitely lives up to the hype and then some.

First off, there is some lovely description in this story. I wouldn't have thought there were so many ways to talk about wine. I enjoyed the little ways Mr. Lanyon pulled the theme through the whole book by using those same descriptions, through the main character's point of view, to describe some of what he comes into contact with, even when it had nothing to do with wine. It became a filter through which Austin sees the world, and really helps the reader to get into his skin and see what he sees, and that, in turn, helps to feel what he feels.

Every character in this book has a little something that makes them more than just a place holder. Mr. Lanyon has a gift for bringing each character to unique and interesting life, even if they're on the page only for a fleeting moment.

The mystery plot of this book might be its weakest point. It's pretty peripheral to the romance, I thought, and mostly happens off stage and through exposition. This story is definitely a romance with a hint at a murder mystery that is mostly backdrop and a device to bring Austin and Jeff together.

When the characters do come together, there is instant chemistry, instant tension, and when the sparks fly, it doesn't take long for the fire to follow. I would guess, just from this one book, that Mr. Lanyon doesn't lean toward writing a lot of sex scenes. The ones in this book are well placed and flow naturally with the rest of the narrative and, give the reader a lot of insight into the characters of both men. They're also the best chance we have of getting to know Jeff. While the physical descriptions of the scenes are understated, the emotional impact is phenomenal. He's somehow managed to skirt the more graphic details and dig right into the characters' hearts and souls, giving us a way more intimate view of what's going on that bed.

This is a romance in the true sense of the word, with love at first sight, clashing ideals and desires, passion and anger and self discovery. The characters grow and in the end, become who they were destined to be all along.

There was pretty much something to enjoy on every page. Josh Lanyon has earned the reputation he has by being bloody good at what he does. Well deserved, and I confess, I'm kinda sorry I didn't take the plunge sooner. I've got a lot of catching up to do.

My Recommendation: If you're a Josh Lanyon fan, or, like me, a neophyte, A Vintage Affair is a must read, with a definite feel-good flair.

.... And I still want to write like him when I grow up. ...more

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Mar 22, 2012 Emily G rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, erotica, gay-male, het, murder-mystery, books-2012

I knew I would enjoy this book - I mean, come on, a book featuring wine and gay romance? What's not to love?

Austin and Jeff were incredibly likeable characters with very believable hang ups and issues, which kept them gravitating towards each other but never quite meeting, in terms of what they wanted from each other. Of course, you can't escape gravity forever ;-)!

I have to admit though I'm only going to give it 4.5 stars because one of the other things that sold this book to me was the m/f/m t ...more

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Aug 26, 2013 Liz (Bugetta) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, e-book, novellas-and-short-stories, m-m-romance, audiobook, mystery-and-suspense

Not my favorite Josh Lanyon book. I liked Austin a lot but Jeff, not so much. I think if we'd had more time with him I would have felt like he'd redeemed himself but this story was just too short to really get the character development I needed to like him enough to think he deserved Austin at the end. Also, this has one of the least sexy sex scenes I've read since A Lady Awakened and the way it was orchestrated didn't help my opinion of Jeff at all. The mystery was good. There were way too many ...more

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Jun 21, 2010 L.B. Gregg rated it it was amazing

Wine is one of my favorite things...and Josh Lanyon...and M/M.

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Sep 26, 2012 Ann rated it liked it

Shelves: ebook, romance, contemporary, a-free, glbt

This was going to be a five-star read for me, but then chapters 9-10 happened. I see other reviewers have already covered this much better than I could have. Let's just say I was disappointed and this wasn't for me. ...more

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