The lunch rush at Darryl Hansen's restaurant, Café Belgie, is getting to be too much for one man to handle, and Billy Weaver is a young man in search of a job—any job—to support his family. Billy gains Darryl's respect with his earnest nature and willingness to work hard, but Billy's admiring looks resurrect pain and shame from Darryl's past.
Until Darryl stumbles across Billy's secret, Billy is suffering in silence: his father died a few months earlier, leaving him struggling to raise his twin five–year–old brothers. Darryl takes Billy and the boys to the restaurant, where they'll stand together to face the smorgasbord of troubles in their future… while Davey, Donnie, and Billy all worm their way into Darryl's heart.
Review
Andrew Grey hits his stride again with A Taste of Love. I enjoyed this book immensely. This is a must read.
Grey does a great job of making what could be a novella into a novel of strength and engagement. He takes the major characters and expands the story line and plot to develop relationships and connections that enhance all expects of the story.
What is usual to the story compared to other books that Grey has written is that the main character, Darryl, carries some post traumatic event into his present life that creates a barrier to his opening himself to love. The second principal character, Billy, also has a burden – the loss of his parents and the ordeal of trying to raise his brothers. And the love they share helps heal their wounds and temper their losses.
There are two things that I noted – first, the character Sebastian was prominent in the beginning of the story, yet the storyline surrounding him isn’t really strongly developed after that point. He becomes incidental to the overall plot. Secondly, the plot twist with Billy and his brothers really was a directional change that I wasn’t able to foresee – something I truly enjoy when I am reading a story. It’s sometimes frustrating to guess the outcome before I finish the entire book.
Darryl Hansen has accomplished a lot professionally, for someone who is only thirty years old. He has realized his dream of owning and operating a Belgian restaurant in the beautiful and historic town of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. But he is alone as a gay man, and doesn't see that changing, the result of an emotionally-devastating happening in his youth. So, when charismatically attractive and eager Billy Weaver is hired as a new waiter for his business, Darryl is uncomfortable with how much he finds himself attracted to the young man. That attraction turns to admiration, when he learns that Billy is the sole financial and emotional support for his adorable five-year-old twin brothers, and he cautiously explores a relationship with Billy and plays surrogate uncle to his brothers. Both wonder if their relationship will last, but neither of them could have anticipated what happens next, which threatens to take away the boys and possibly cause Billy to leave with them.
This is the third of Grey's romantic novels I have read, and I love the smooth, even tone and realism he brings to his stories, including the subtle erotic content. Well written and engaging from the first page, this one will absolutely have you rooting for the couple against all odds. Four perfectly-cooked stars out of four!
