Reviewed by Larissa
TITLE: Turnabout
SERIES: Vino & Veritas Book #9
AUTHOR: Laurel Greer
PUBLISHER: Heart Eyes Press
LENGTH: 302 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 6, 2021
BLURB:
I don’t have time for an unplanned visit home to help out in my father’s struggling letterpress shop. My stint in Vermont will have to be short, for a couple of reasons:
One, I’m a busy executive trying to climb the corporate ladder.
Two, my ex is still my dad’s right-hand man in the shop. And I am not over him.
Nothing has changed at the Burlington shop. Auden still has his infuriatingly sexy Scottish accent. He’s still hot, and still stubborn. Between operating the antique press with his shirtsleeves rolled up, and moonlighting at Burlington’s hottest inclusive wine bar, he pushes every one of my attraction buttons.
My falling-in-love-again buttons, too. Except I’m his polar opposite. I love change, and taking chances. Everything he avoids in life.
So why am I trying to convince him to reach for more than we’ve ever dreamed of—the possibility of forever?
Turnabout is a second-chance romance with interfering family, groveling, and a large helping of artisan stationery geekery.
REVIEW:
Laurel Greer’s Turnabout is the ninth book in the Vino & Veritas series set in Sarina Bowen’s True North world. Auden and Carter’s romance has a unique trajectory, even though based on the oft-used second chance romance trope. Impossible choices made under the weight of family pressure and obligation drive the plot in this story.
Long-time boyfriends over a decade ago, Carter and Auden worked together with Carter’s father at the family’s letterpress business, Imprescott Designs. Then everything went to hell in a handbasket when Carter made a daring business proposal. He suggested they leverage Auden’s prodigious design talent, including his progressive stationary design idea, in order to expand the business into new territory.
Carter’s father, firmly mired in his old-fashioned business practices, summarily dismissed the idea: “your plans will never work here”. Those six words sounded the death knell for Carter’s future at Imprescott Designs. He refused to continue working where his contributions weren’t valued or given due consideration. Where he wasn’t valued. So he left for the proverbial greener pastures of Montreal, where he pursued and achieved a wildly successful career.
Auden was caught in the middle. Carter forced Auden to choose. Go with Carter to Montreal where Auden has no job or career. He’d be leaving his mentor, Carter’s father, behind. Or stay in Vermont at Imprescott. He’d remain loyal to Carter’s father and have financial security. But he’d lose Carter. This choice cuts deeply for Auden on an emotional level. He either breaks the bond with the man he loves or he breaks the bond with a man he considers a father-figure.
When Auden was a child back in Scotland, his parents lost the family farm and his Da ran out on them. Auden’s traumatized from this event. Presently, it manifests itself through his fear of falling victim to the Icarus Paradox. He’s currently financially secure, with a good job he enjoys. He can help his mum financially if she hits on hard times. But like Icarus flying too close to the sun, if Auden gets overconfident and aims higher, reaches for more, he could lose it all. So even though Auden wants to go with Carter, he chooses to stay. He gives into his fears and family obligation.
Ironically, the Icarus Paradox is exactly the reason why Imprescott Designs should listen to Carter and his ideas. The business found a measure of success following his father’s ideas and business practices. But now his father is blind to the fact that the business is starting to fall behind. The business practices that worked before may not work for much longer as competition using more modern ideas gains ground. What made Imprescott successful is exactly what will cause its downfall.
Given this, Carter’s frustration and anger with his father is justified on both a professional and personal level. But Auden’s frustration and anger with Carter is equally justified. I don’t feel much sympathy for Carter vis-a-vis Auden. He put Auden in the crosshairs of his conflict with his father. He compounded it by refusing Auden the opportunity to work through the impossible choice forced upon him. Nor did he give Auden the chance to explain or discuss.
Fast forward twelve years. Carter and Auden have now come full circle. Their respective anger and regret still simmers close to the surface. Their communication skills are still lacking. The backbone of this story relies on the push/pull dynamic of Carter and Auden’s relationship. However, in my view, the dynamic is frustrating for the reader and a little difficult to understand. The lack of communication and unwillingness to see things from the other’s vantage point stubbornly persists. Something is missing in the connection between these two men. I can’t put my finger on exactly what it is. But the chemistry between Carter and Auden was lacking in my view, likely because of it.
Overall, Turnabout is an enjoyable story containing solid writing. It has a unique backdrop and interesting world building, particularly concerning the letterpress business. The story was, on the whole, pretty low angst. There are even some romantic, almost swoony, moments. But something was missing and that missing piece is what prevented me from going all in for the romance between these two likeable, engaging men.
RATING: 
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