Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Whiskey to Wine 
SERIES: Leaning N#3, Dreamspun Desires #78
AUTHOR: BA Tortuga
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 181 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 19, 2019
BLURB:
Leaning N
Love is hitting the slopes, and the competition is fierce.
It’s Gay Ski Week in Aspen, and blind sculptor Bleu Bridey and his ex-fiancé, Dan, are at the Leaning N Ranch to unveil Bleu’s latest commission.
Former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Shields is there too… and he’s Bleu’s true love who got away. Seeing Bleu again, Ryan remembers how they couldn’t get enough of each other in college.
Too bad it looks like Bleu is with Dan now, because Ryan would love to remind Bleu how good they were together, in and out of the sheets.
Between Ski Week parties, a bunch of exes, a private ski lesson, and one terrible accident that leaves Bleu stranded and Ryan in rescue mode, it’ll be a wonder if these two manage to survive, much less find a few seconds alone to remember how much love they have to keep them warm even in the worst of storms.
REVIEW:
The Leaning N is a ranch resort that, at certain times of the year also has ski slopes. Bleu and Dan are there to reveal a commissioned sculpture that Bleu made. Bleu is blind, and Dan used to be his boyfriend but is now a good friend. Ryan is a retired ski champion and is the ex that was the love of Bleu’s life. For Ryan, Bleu was the one who got away. They were everything to each other, sadly at the wrong time in their lives. Older and wiser, what happens when they meet again at the Leaning N during ski season – especially when Ryan is also sharing a cabin with his manager and ex-lover, Phil. There is bound to be some confusion.
I’m not sure where the title Whiskey To Wine Comes from – other than the Whiskey is a fav tipple. Nevertheless, that’s just me wondering. Anyhoo, the story is told in the third person from various pov’s. An exceptional portion is dialogue, using a conversational tone. Generally, I’m not a super supporter of discussion dense prose, but this is one instance where it worked for me.
From the blurb, it would seem that the story is a battle of the exes, and to a degree it is, but not in the way that many would assume. It’s more a case of battle of the protective friends who used to be lovers. Neither Phil or Dan are under any illusion that their respective romances are over. However, both men care for Ryan and Bleu.
One element that comes through loud and clear is that, despite being blind, Bleu has no intention of shutting himself away and letting another person look after him or allowing life to pass by. He wants to get out there and experience everything it is possible to experience. I found him inspirational. Reading about life from the blind perspective and the way Bleu takes the piss out of himself was so endearing that I couldn’t help love him. Dan wants to wrap Bleu up in cotton wool. Phil wants to protect his investment in Ryan and ideally have the odd booty call. Ryan and Bleu still have feelings they want to explore while coming to terms with what went wrong the first time.
I found this story absolutely charming to read. The triangle within a triangle that wasn’t a love triangle was fun, while the extended cast added good value. There’s also some drama, which I’m not going to give spoilers for, that added that bit of something extra to the mix.
Whiskey To Wine, for me, was that read any time anywhere book, that leaves a person humbled and grateful, while moved. Bleu isn’t an ‘isn’t it a shame for me’ type character. He owns his body and mind, and fully intends to make the best of it.
RATING: 
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