Genre: Contemporary
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Caspian Pumkin-Watts is at the end of his rope. Facing a career crossroads, when he’s offered a chance to spend nine months filming a reality TV show on a French holiday island, he grabs it with both hands.
There are only two problems. His co-star is his ex-husband, and the producer is Caspian’s replacement in his ex-husband’s bed.
Max La Forge of La Forge Oyster Farms knows he’s peculiar.He has a penchant for blue rubber, for instance, and only drinks from a blue mug. He loves driftwood and seashells and hates being touched without his permission. Living alone in his little hexagonal house suits him perfectly, until his dog discovers a young Englishman unconscious on his driveway. Inexplicably drawn to the lonely, complicated stranger, Max garners courage to set out on his first ever romantic exploration.
Author’s note: as always, I write with a light touch, but please heed the trigger warnings for anxiety disorder and deliberate self-harm (on page).
The Review
Caspian is a man who needs someone to care for and protect him. Max needs someone to care for, and has the need to protect someone. Will these two very different men find a way to join together and create something beautiful?
Another delightful Fearne Hill story from France. With Vine, the third installment in the “Island Love” series, the author has created the most wonderful character in Max La Forge, who has been in the series from the start and now shares his full story.
Max constantly goes over each situation in his head so he doesn’t over react. His dry sense of humor is sweet, and there are no gray areas for him. He has all the right emotions: empathy, sympathy, and loyalty. As long has he sticks with his process and doesn’t panic, he can figure anything out.
Hill does a spectacular job with the conversations with Caspian. I really liked the ones he has with Nico and their Dad about being gay. Max has a one track mind, and just sticks to what he needs to discuss.
Caspian is a bit of sad. Even though his ex cheated, he struggles with still feeling love for him. He continues to hurt himself by staying involved, even if it’s just pretend. He lets his ex, and ex-friend Jonas, continually use him for their own benefit. It’s hard to see Caspian cause himself harm, and Max tries to get through to him to get him to stop.
Eti and Emma are an important part of the lives of both Max and Caspian. Eti has been there for Max whenever he needs clarification or a better understanding of things that he doesn’t know how to cope with. They get along excellently. And Emma has really supported Caspian, and has taught him much about the cultivation of grape vines. Even with her own situation, she and Caspian find a comfort zone to help them both through their dilemmas.
Max is surrounded by family and good friends, and he lets them into his story: Florian, (my favorite), who Max had a long time crush on, is still with his partner Charles. And Nico, who is married to Eti, and Dad La Forge and Collette.
I’m giving a double recommendation for Vine. With the first book, Salt, I learned a little French, a lot about salt farming, and enjoyed Florian. In the second book, Oyster, I learned about the La Forges and oyster farming, and Eti in the soccer world.
With Vine, I’ve learned all about growing and cultivating grape vines, and Max makes this novel outstanding. I don’t know what Hill has planned next for the “Island Love” series, but I’m sure it will be an entertaining read!
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
