Syrah
By Nessa L. Warin
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TEST

When Shawn races into Royce’s Portland wine shop on Christmas eve to grab a couple of bottles of wine for the family dinner, little does either one know that this bump on a snowy winter night will be the start of something big. At least it’s the start of a gentle gay romance with only a few hiccups along the way.

Royce has started All Corked Up with money he inherited from his grandfather who used the term when he was ready to go home from a bar. Royce has worked hard to make the shop with its periodic wine tastings a success, so he’s had little time for romance, instead making his employees his friends and nearly family. His best friend Clint who works in the shop wants much more for Royce.

So when Shawn comes in and Royce feels a spark between them, Clint’s ready to play matchmaker, as is Shawn’s best friend Anastasia, who must often leave Shawn alone when she ships out for her Navy job. Learning that Shawn is interested in Royce, however, she’s ready to attend wine tastings with him.

Shawn’s life dream is to buy Henry, the restaurant in which he works, from its 80-something owner when the man retires. He’s been saving for the down payment and has gotten a verbal promise from Henry that the eatery will be Shawn’s soon.

But when Henry learns that Shawn is dating a man, Henry confronts Shawn and says he can’t sell to a man who flaunts his sinful sexuality because it will disgrace the restaurant and drive away the loyal customers. It’s not that Henry didn’t know Shawn was gay, but rather, it’s that Henry doesn’t want to look as if he condones it. Reluctantly Shawn decides to date Royce in secret in order to keep his dream alive.

Both Shawn and Royce are likeable enough fellows, and both work hard at the jobs. Royce is more focused than Shawn because at the start of the book, he’s got the shop to oversee, and he’s got plans to add a restaurant to the wine shop featuring the wines he’s chosen for sale. Once the reader learns about his expansion plans, the solution to Shawn’s problem becomes crystal clear, only it takes the characters much too long to see it too.

Also, readers will be put off, just as I was, about the amount of time Shawn puts up with Henry’s homophobia and bends to it. Henry’s treading legally murky waters suggesting that a favorite employee change his sexual orientation even though Shawn keeps excusing Henry because of his age and because he’s just behind the times. Sexual discrimination, to me, has no excuse, and Warin doesn’t make a good enough case for me to accept either Henry’s viewpoint or Shawn’s willingness to put up with it.

Shawn’s complacency through much of the story is off-putting enough that what could be a very good book became only good enough for me. Shawn eventually does grow a spine and with Royce’s backing and the promise of a new job Shawn finds his pride, but the journey is just a little too long.

Reviewed by Pat Henshaw

Grade: C+

Book Type: Queer Romance

Sensuality: Kisses

Review Date: 19/10/13

Publication Date: 2013/08

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Recent Comments …

  3. excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.

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