The Case of the Voracious Vintner: A MM Romantic Mystery (Middlemark Mysteries Book 2)

“Never try to do anything that is outside of who you are. A forced smile is a sign of what feels wrong in your heart, so recognize it when it happens. Living a lie will reduce you to one.” ~ Ashly LorenzanaBo Marchand, of ‘The Case of the Voracious Vinter’ by Tara Lain, is a successful businessman, who owns a large vineyard. Bo is a southern gentleman through and through. He’s also gay, but can hardly admit it to himself, much less the rest of the world. Bo has no reason to announce it. There has never been anyone in his life who warrants such a life-changing declaration, that is, until he becomes enamored with fellow vineyard owner, the new kid on the block, Jeremy Aames. His feelings for Jeremy cause Bo to have second thoughts.Jeremy’s winery may not be one of the older established business, but he’s doing quite well. He is innovative and motivated. However, he seems to have an enemy, a nearby winery owned by Ernest Ottersen. Ottersen seems hell-bent to destroy him and no one can understand why. Jeremy’s business is much smaller and less established than his, but Ottersen is stealing his customers and his special blends, doing anything that will make Jeremy’s life difficult and force him out of business.When Jeremy and Bo meet at an event at Jeremy’s winery, he’s attracted to Bo, but reminds himself to not get too excited about a man who is obviously straight. Jeremy thinks that it would only lead to heartbreak. However, Jeremy does sense something coming from Bo that may be interest, so he begins to flirt with Bo to see where it leads. Bo is not practiced in this kind of interaction and desperately hopes he doesn’t sound like a fool. The conversation turns to Jeremy’s current problems with Ottersen, Bo sympathizes and offers his assistance. Through Bo’s efforts to help, they become close. Tired of waiting for Bo to make a move, Jeremy takes a chance and kisses Bo. It’s like opening a dam of emotion and sexual need and it’s wonderful for both of them.Bo takes a trip with Jeremy to see if they can drum up some business with wineries farther away from theirs. It’s the same story everywhere they go, someone was there before him, offering a better deal. Despondent and feeling defeated, they come back home. The next day, Ottersen’s body is discovered at Jeremy’s winery, in the tasting room. Bo gives Jeremy an alibi that is actually a lie, but it works, at least for the present. When other leads are exhausted, the main suspect is still Jeremy. At this point, Bo and Jeremy realize someone is trying to frame him for Ottersen’s death. They know that if the crime is to be solved, they will have to do it. When invited by other vintners to a very special kind of party they realize that the killer may be there or at least someone who knows who they are, and take drastic measures to find them themselves.Tara has outdone herself with this gay love story laced with secrecy, greed, murder, and of course, love. Along with giving me an education on winemaking, Tara has created a great cast of characters from great heroes to evil villains. Bo makes a great knight on a white horse and Jeremy is not quite the damsel in distress, he is brave and resilient and definitely appreciates what Bo does for him. The bad guys’ evilness is enhanced through a web of lies and deceit. I, especially, loved Bo’s ‘southerisms’. They were absolutely charmin’. Thanks, Tara, for a whirlwind of a story.Originally reviewed on Rainbow Book Reviews.

I would rate this 3.75 stars.Although this is the second Middlemark Mystery, you can read this as a standalone. Llewellyn and Blaise from book one are planning their wedding at Marchand Wineries and get drawn in to the intrigue happening amongst the cut throat wine community. Bo Marchand tried to escape Georgia and start his own vineyard in California, but Bo's whole family followed him and now live with him. As the "man of the house" at the age of 26, he is struggling with everyone's expectations. Jeremy Aames, owner of Hill Top Wineries at the ripe old age of 24, has been in the area for a year and is starting to make a name for himself until a competitor seems to be undermining him at every turn. With Jeremy not who he says he is, Bo in the closet, and a murderer on the loose with a long list of suspects, I felt like I was in a soap opera. Thank goodness, because this is a load of fun.The author shows both points of view, but Bo is so much more likeable as a character. He is the driving force in trying to save Jeremy from going out of business by teaming up to combat Ernest Ottersen, who is taking over most of the wine contracts. Eventually I got drawn in to Jeremy's background story, but being intrigued by his story and interested in him as a character are two different things. There are times I felt sorry for him, times I was impressed by his cleverness and success, and other times where I think he is too naive, especially given his background. There is not a lot about the side characters: Jeremy's assistant, Christian, Bo's best waiter RJ, the ruthless competition Ernest Ottersen and his PR person Sage, the Cop O'Hara, Bo's whole family, Jeremy's family...really they are all there to be suspects, except Bo's Momma, who is there to drive him nuts. The intrigue is very well done with different forks in the storylines. I don't want to spoil it.With this author I am used to OTT fabulous characters with a lighter plot. This book has more subdued characters and an OTT plot. There is some murky Dionysian group or secret society involved. There is also Jeremy's past coming to bite him in a big way. Yes, some of this is completely unrealistic. I love how after people get killed, no one seems at all upset or traumatized in any way. There is one little thing that bothered me. There is a scene with some dubious consent that I am not sure added anything to the book unless you have that kink. I am not sure if it was meant to be hot or funny, but it didn't work for me because it didn't seem to match the rest of the story. Also, many more people should have gone to jail. Never mind, because the rest of the book is quite entertaining. Everything gets resolved and wrapped up with multiple bows. The banter and bad jokes between Jeremy and Bo are cute. The sex scenes are hot. I wanted these guys to have their happily ever after.

WOW...what a ride is this book... I am affraid to say anything that could spoil even a little part of this incredible book. Mystery after mystery in between a murder investigation, a love story and the involvement of the charismatic MCs of book 1, this book was like an amusement park full of extreme rides... You were yet to finish the first one when the following ones are in front of you tempting into continue. Really, I just couldn't stop reading until the very end. I am simply without words. WOW!

I love Tara Lain's books, they read so easily and yet are full of witty banter and intelligent depth. I loved the characters of Jeremy and Bo. Bo, with his life hijacked by his family but not knowing how to get it back and trying not to scream at them and Jeremy who is losing his dream and his freedom but is good enough to not want to take others down with him. The twist in the ending, the solution to the mystery, was hilarious, well done.