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Wine & Song #2
Music in a Dry Country
David wanted a nice trip to the Argentine wine country with his new boyfriend, Jazz. He wanted some new contracts for his import business, maybe a good tan, and a lot of kinky sex.
Instead, he gets an uncomfortable reminder of the difference in their ages, a stiff dose of irrational jealousy, and the realization that his feelings for Jazz are much stronger than he thought they were.
He tries to keep it all to himself and let Jazz enjoy the trip, but his withdrawal, founded on old insecurities and the memory of loss, is the real threat to their new relationship.
Instead, he gets an uncomfortable reminder of the difference in their ages, a stiff dose of irrational jealousy, and the realization that his feelings for Jazz are much stronger than he thought they were.
He tries to keep it all to himself and let Jazz enjoy the trip, but his withdrawal, founded on old insecurities and the memory of loss, is the real threat to their new relationship.
79 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 24, 2015
2 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Eleanor Kos
11 books82 followersEleanor Kos is a writer and storyteller. Peculiar obsessions include archery, grammar, and the tying of knots. Most likely demise: buried under an avalanche caused by insufficient storage space for 12 million sorts of tea.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 20, 2018
This is a review for the whole 5-novella series, since it pulled me in to where I bought one after the other without stopping, reading until 2 AM. I no longer remember individual installments, but the series as a whole was engaging, with distinct characters whom I cared about, so I'm giving it 5 stars despite any improbabilities and flaws. Each installment ends on a resting point, not a cliffhanger, but the HFNs are thin and I think it does need to be read as a whole.
David is a guy in his late thirties who needs his sex with an edge of danger and pain, humiliation and submission. When he was younger, he sought that in BDSM clubs and in bars and alleyways, knowing that he was risking his safety, unable to find satisfaction in tamer ways. One evening, walking home from a costume party, he's grabbed from behind by a young man who holds a knife to his neck and demands his money. He isn't carrying any, and as the would-be mugger gets frustrated, David finds himself turned on by the encounter, and offering his services instead. The mugger sends him on his way, but a week later David finds himself heading through the same park and gets jumped by the same guy and that encounter goes much more in the direction of his fantasies.
The improbable start to this relationship is made to seem somehow plausible by David's needs, his ennui, his taste for reckless danger with his sex, and his underlying desperation that he can never get exactly what he craves elsewhere. His satisfaction with his wealthy life is at such a low ebb that it becomes just barely plausible he would endanger it with the choices he makes towards a young stranger. The very unlikeliness of it was oddly appealing.
Jasper/Jazz turns out to be a broke 21-year-old musician, living rough, desperate for just enough cash to land a piano playing job, and far from a hardened criminal. As they dance around the edges of each other's lives for a while, they find that Jazz's natural bent toward domination fits David's need to subjugate himself to someone else. Jazz has never been with a man before, and his willingness to accept his bisexuality, D/s, and the bits of exhibitionist kink, seems a bit smooth, given his small town working class background. On the other hand, he is a musician with an artist's openness to experiences.
This is a fast-sex, slow-romance series. Jazz has never even thought about a relationship with a man, and David has always assumed he wasn't the relationship type. Jazz is prickly about finances, seventeen years younger, and still figuring out his future. There's a lot of working through on both the emotional and physical sides of things. And as David begins to include Jazz in various parts of his life, they will encounter people who have known David a long time, who have preconceptions, affections, grudges, and jealousies that can derail a determined but fairly naive young man.
As improbable as the beginning was, this still felt real, as these two very different men forge their obstacle-laden way forward. David mostly fights his own fears and habitual ways of thinking, and his perception of their age difference as an inevitable ending, with his awareness of how little Jazz has yet seen and decided about the shape of his future. Jazz deals with the wealth difference, his jealousies, and his musical ambitions set against his life with David. Both men have some family baggage that tinges their lives. The series is emotional, but not angsty, hot but not gratuitously so as each encounter plays a part in their developing relationship. The BDSM is far more D/s than SM. (In fact, my one real quibble was the degree to which David's needs and desires for sharper play seemed to soften when with Jazz.) I finished the series satisfied, and yet would read more of these two any time. Added to my favorites.
David is a guy in his late thirties who needs his sex with an edge of danger and pain, humiliation and submission. When he was younger, he sought that in BDSM clubs and in bars and alleyways, knowing that he was risking his safety, unable to find satisfaction in tamer ways. One evening, walking home from a costume party, he's grabbed from behind by a young man who holds a knife to his neck and demands his money. He isn't carrying any, and as the would-be mugger gets frustrated, David finds himself turned on by the encounter, and offering his services instead. The mugger sends him on his way, but a week later David finds himself heading through the same park and gets jumped by the same guy and that encounter goes much more in the direction of his fantasies.
The improbable start to this relationship is made to seem somehow plausible by David's needs, his ennui, his taste for reckless danger with his sex, and his underlying desperation that he can never get exactly what he craves elsewhere. His satisfaction with his wealthy life is at such a low ebb that it becomes just barely plausible he would endanger it with the choices he makes towards a young stranger. The very unlikeliness of it was oddly appealing.
Jasper/Jazz turns out to be a broke 21-year-old musician, living rough, desperate for just enough cash to land a piano playing job, and far from a hardened criminal. As they dance around the edges of each other's lives for a while, they find that Jazz's natural bent toward domination fits David's need to subjugate himself to someone else. Jazz has never been with a man before, and his willingness to accept his bisexuality, D/s, and the bits of exhibitionist kink, seems a bit smooth, given his small town working class background. On the other hand, he is a musician with an artist's openness to experiences.
This is a fast-sex, slow-romance series. Jazz has never even thought about a relationship with a man, and David has always assumed he wasn't the relationship type. Jazz is prickly about finances, seventeen years younger, and still figuring out his future. There's a lot of working through on both the emotional and physical sides of things. And as David begins to include Jazz in various parts of his life, they will encounter people who have known David a long time, who have preconceptions, affections, grudges, and jealousies that can derail a determined but fairly naive young man.
As improbable as the beginning was, this still felt real, as these two very different men forge their obstacle-laden way forward. David mostly fights his own fears and habitual ways of thinking, and his perception of their age difference as an inevitable ending, with his awareness of how little Jazz has yet seen and decided about the shape of his future. Jazz deals with the wealth difference, his jealousies, and his musical ambitions set against his life with David. Both men have some family baggage that tinges their lives. The series is emotional, but not angsty, hot but not gratuitously so as each encounter plays a part in their developing relationship. The BDSM is far more D/s than SM. (In fact, my one real quibble was the degree to which David's needs and desires for sharper play seemed to soften when with Jazz.) I finished the series satisfied, and yet would read more of these two any time. Added to my favorites.
March 3, 2019
This was hot, and I liked seeing more of Jazz and David, but it's really more of a short story than a novella.
February 1, 2023
Book two was full of cute fluffy intimate moments, tender burgeoning love and delicious age gap angst. Apart from the relationship development between David and Jazz, we also got to know a little bit more about their backstories. Loved the character development. The writing has clearly improved a lot from the first book.
July 13, 2017
The story of these two stubborn love birds continues ... and escalates. I really love these boys. Off to read books three, four, and five!!
January 15, 2023
This is getting better! More age difference talk and reality settling in, im enjoying David's personality!! going to read the next book now ~
February 20, 2016
This second volume is still very well written (seriously, Kos writes so well), and the characters are still very fun to read about. Maybe "fun" is not the right word.
What I love about this romance books, and what I love to see in other romance books, is that they are not in love at first glance (or first f*cking). I don't like when the main characters are desperately in love with each other after one week of knowing each other, or after three interactions. I'm not saying it can't happen, because obviously it can, but that I'm tired of reading about it. Obviously, they care about each other, and do stupid things for/with each other, and they don't need to be in love to do them. I like the showing of the potential of the couple, that they could fall in love and love each other.
What I love about this romance books, and what I love to see in other romance books, is that they are not in love at first glance (or first f*cking). I don't like when the main characters are desperately in love with each other after one week of knowing each other, or after three interactions. I'm not saying it can't happen, because obviously it can, but that I'm tired of reading about it. Obviously, they care about each other, and do stupid things for/with each other, and they don't need to be in love to do them. I like the showing of the potential of the couple, that they could fall in love and love each other.
July 2, 2018
I LOVE these books. Novellas. Whatever.
David is such a flawed character. He's prickly. He's a jerk. He does really terrible things for him. He probably drives Jazz super crazy, but that's just part of his (dubious) charm. I adore him anyway. I love that he's cranky and that he's a jerk. He's not a terrible person--it's more like he doesn't like other people and is more to the point about that than anything else. I feel that. :D;;
I am also extraordinarily fond of Jazz, who is pretty clueless about the entire thing, but is totally on board with the relationship. I think. I'm pretty sure it's mostly David who has like 80% of the relationship hangups, haha. Jazz has his own issues with the relationship, but David's issues take the cake.
The entire novella takes place in Argentina as David has taken Jazz with him on his business trip. The country, the surroundings, are written in such lovely tones. Just a beautiful setting. My only wish is for the book to be longer, but supposedly book 3 is novel length yay.
David is such a flawed character. He's prickly. He's a jerk. He does really terrible things for him. He probably drives Jazz super crazy, but that's just part of his (dubious) charm. I adore him anyway. I love that he's cranky and that he's a jerk. He's not a terrible person--it's more like he doesn't like other people and is more to the point about that than anything else. I feel that. :D;;
I am also extraordinarily fond of Jazz, who is pretty clueless about the entire thing, but is totally on board with the relationship. I think. I'm pretty sure it's mostly David who has like 80% of the relationship hangups, haha. Jazz has his own issues with the relationship, but David's issues take the cake.
The entire novella takes place in Argentina as David has taken Jazz with him on his business trip. The country, the surroundings, are written in such lovely tones. Just a beautiful setting. My only wish is for the book to be longer, but supposedly book 3 is novel length yay.
May 28, 2017
My only complaint is that it was too short. Going to read the next one for sure.
December 1, 2017
Highly enjoyable series! #teamdavid
February 12, 2019
Reseña de la serie completa en el primero
December 28, 2021
um i hope they get their shit together soon, but there are 3 books left. 🥲
April 28, 2023
3.5 stars
Read
September 22, 2023cute😭 x2
September 12, 2019
Picked this up immediately after reading the first one and I liked it a bit better. It's still too short but I'm growing more and more fond of the characters (particularly David).
April 9, 2025
(reread) jazz taking care of david neghfjkfkflf my fucking HEART
god, the way davids BODY communicates so much to jazz (and the way the writing conveys that!!!!):
“If you think I’m blowing you right now, think again.” “Shut up,” Jazz said. He stroked David’s sweaty hair back from his face. His hand followed the curve of his neck and spine downward, fingers sliding over the bumps of his vertebrae. “This isn’t necessary,” David said, but he didn’t try to sit up.”
god the layers to the navigation of consent and communication, i have tears in my eyes at how life-changing this, how much the writing sees the characters, but ALSO the audienc:
“What David wanted was to say no and have Jazz ignore him. He hesitated, tongue running over his lip, now faintly swollen from Jazz’s rough treatment. “What if I don’t?” he said.”
(also: a story about wanting so desperately for someone to know, and equally wrestling desperately with the reality of it)
i think i just evaporated at that scene. hdndkdkddkddkldldlldldldllldldlldl. honestly unmatched (outside of fanfiction), we DESERVE for this not to be the only depiction of kink, so rooted in emotion, this good, that exists in fiction 🥹🥹🥹🥹
like! its unnegotiated/under-negotiated cnc really. still so fucking rooted in consent and care and communication and desperation and yearning and baring your rawest desires, your basest self up for examination, to be KNOWN, to be perceived hengjfkkdfldldld
“Jazz rubbed a palm between David’s legs, and that line of thought rolled past and off into the sunset, leaving David behind.”
writing to knock you out cold!!!!
david taking care of jazz, ohhhh my heart
also reading all this to here i dreamt i was an architect!!!!
oh david, being dragged kicking and screaming, into giving a damn about somebody, into knowing someone, and being known in turn 🥹
“Jazz had no business being so much a part of his life after so short a time, no business recalling himself to David’s mind as if every word spoken in David’s hearing had a hook on the end with some inconvenient memory clinging to the barb. Instead of slowing, he walked faster.”
dfmkdkdldld
this verse should never end ❤️💔
god, the way davids BODY communicates so much to jazz (and the way the writing conveys that!!!!):
“If you think I’m blowing you right now, think again.” “Shut up,” Jazz said. He stroked David’s sweaty hair back from his face. His hand followed the curve of his neck and spine downward, fingers sliding over the bumps of his vertebrae. “This isn’t necessary,” David said, but he didn’t try to sit up.”
god the layers to the navigation of consent and communication, i have tears in my eyes at how life-changing this, how much the writing sees the characters, but ALSO the audienc:
“What David wanted was to say no and have Jazz ignore him. He hesitated, tongue running over his lip, now faintly swollen from Jazz’s rough treatment. “What if I don’t?” he said.”
(also: a story about wanting so desperately for someone to know, and equally wrestling desperately with the reality of it)
i think i just evaporated at that scene. hdndkdkddkddkldldlldldldllldldlldl. honestly unmatched (outside of fanfiction), we DESERVE for this not to be the only depiction of kink, so rooted in emotion, this good, that exists in fiction 🥹🥹🥹🥹
like! its unnegotiated/under-negotiated cnc really. still so fucking rooted in consent and care and communication and desperation and yearning and baring your rawest desires, your basest self up for examination, to be KNOWN, to be perceived hengjfkkdfldldld
“Jazz rubbed a palm between David’s legs, and that line of thought rolled past and off into the sunset, leaving David behind.”
writing to knock you out cold!!!!
david taking care of jazz, ohhhh my heart
also reading all this to here i dreamt i was an architect!!!!
oh david, being dragged kicking and screaming, into giving a damn about somebody, into knowing someone, and being known in turn 🥹
“Jazz had no business being so much a part of his life after so short a time, no business recalling himself to David’s mind as if every word spoken in David’s hearing had a hook on the end with some inconvenient memory clinging to the barb. Instead of slowing, he walked faster.”
dfmkdkdldld
this verse should never end ❤️💔
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2016
I feel cheated by how short this is. I know the third one said it's full-length novel but why do I need to read three books to get a complete story? That being said, I'm totally invested and going to read the third one.
November 11, 2024
Why tf was this SO much better compared to the previous one??
April 11, 2018
Generally I'm not interested in reading about characters going abroad or enjoying themselves abroad (bit weird I suppose), so I was surprised that I enjoyed this. This is clarly a testament to Kos' writing since her characters who kept me interested and engaged in the story when the thought of lazing around a pool in the sun made me want to switch off and perish. (Also, David tell us more about horses!)
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews