What do you think?
Rate this book
Wine & Song #1-3
Wine & Song: Books 1 - 3
From botched mugging to unlikely love.
Songs You Know by Heart
When David was younger, he spent a lot of Saturday nights on his knees: in alleys, in men's rooms, occasionally behind a hedge in Central Park. He liked it rough and he still does, but he tries to be safer about his choice of partners and locations these days.
He didn't expect an attempted mugging to be the cause of his relapse. The guy shoves him up against a tree and puts a knife to his throat, and something in his voice makes David want to offer him anything - so he does.
It was a stupid idea - David's had a million of them - but he got it out of his system. When his mugger shows up at his door in the rain like a lost puppy, it's hard to say who is more surprised when David invites him to come inside.
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.
Singing in the Wilderness
David's taste for rough sex has landed him in trouble before, but never like this. Until recently, capital-R Relationships were things that happened to other people, and he liked it that way. Now he's living with his new boyfriend--or at least he was, until Jazz left to tour with his band. Suddenly, David's finding it hard to sleep alone and wondering what he'll do if Jazz doesn't come back.
Added to that is his slow fall into real submission for the first time in his life. Jazz is more willing to push him over the phone but, despite David's promises, they still haven't had that little chat about limits and safewords. Jazz is afraid of going too far, and David's afraid he won't go far enough.
Songs You Know by Heart
When David was younger, he spent a lot of Saturday nights on his knees: in alleys, in men's rooms, occasionally behind a hedge in Central Park. He liked it rough and he still does, but he tries to be safer about his choice of partners and locations these days.
He didn't expect an attempted mugging to be the cause of his relapse. The guy shoves him up against a tree and puts a knife to his throat, and something in his voice makes David want to offer him anything - so he does.
It was a stupid idea - David's had a million of them - but he got it out of his system. When his mugger shows up at his door in the rain like a lost puppy, it's hard to say who is more surprised when David invites him to come inside.
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.
Singing in the Wilderness
David's taste for rough sex has landed him in trouble before, but never like this. Until recently, capital-R Relationships were things that happened to other people, and he liked it that way. Now he's living with his new boyfriend--or at least he was, until Jazz left to tour with his band. Suddenly, David's finding it hard to sleep alone and wondering what he'll do if Jazz doesn't come back.
Added to that is his slow fall into real submission for the first time in his life. Jazz is more willing to push him over the phone but, despite David's promises, they still haven't had that little chat about limits and safewords. Jazz is afraid of going too far, and David's afraid he won't go far enough.
396 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 11, 2015
About the author
Eleanor Kos
10 books81 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 19, 2022
Praise the book gods for sending this series my way.
Or rather, congrats to ME for sniffing it out on a friend’s shelf. I deserve a pat on the back.
Objectively speaking, I’m not sure if this is a five star book. Probably not for most other readers, but I don’t care; I always rate based on enjoyment, and this book (or I should say, the three novellas) seemed like it’d been written just for me. I don’t know anything about this author, this series has barely any ratings — WHY??!! — but I didn’t even finish the sample before I bought it. By the end of the first chapter, I knew I was the perfect target audience.
When it comes to BDSM romance/erotica, I have a particular weakness for this (unfortunately) unusual dynamic: an older, experienced, jaded sub + a younger, just-learning-the-ropes, what-the-hell-am-I-doing Dom. (Think For Real by Alexis Hall, but with even more complicated characters.) Wine & Song delivered just that, with a pretty — and a little angsty — bow on top. I was in book heaven.
Now, I am NOT saying that this was a good representation of a healthy D/s relationship. Remember, this is fiction. (I think they’re getting there, though.)
Stylistically, I had absolutely no complaints. The writing was clear and coherent (and blessedly typo-free), but nonetheless managed to convey some BIG FEELINGS perfectly, all without resorting to rambling or purple prose. 👏
Hope the rest of the series will be just as good. 🤞
Or rather, congrats to ME for sniffing it out on a friend’s shelf. I deserve a pat on the back.
Objectively speaking, I’m not sure if this is a five star book. Probably not for most other readers, but I don’t care; I always rate based on enjoyment, and this book (or I should say, the three novellas) seemed like it’d been written just for me. I don’t know anything about this author, this series has barely any ratings — WHY??!! — but I didn’t even finish the sample before I bought it. By the end of the first chapter, I knew I was the perfect target audience.
When it comes to BDSM romance/erotica, I have a particular weakness for this (unfortunately) unusual dynamic: an older, experienced, jaded sub + a younger, just-learning-the-ropes, what-the-hell-am-I-doing Dom. (Think For Real by Alexis Hall, but with even more complicated characters.) Wine & Song delivered just that, with a pretty — and a little angsty — bow on top. I was in book heaven.
Now, I am NOT saying that this was a good representation of a healthy D/s relationship. Remember, this is fiction. (I think they’re getting there, though.)
Stylistically, I had absolutely no complaints. The writing was clear and coherent (and blessedly typo-free), but nonetheless managed to convey some BIG FEELINGS perfectly, all without resorting to rambling or purple prose. 👏
Hope the rest of the series will be just as good. 🤞
September 23, 2019
David's personality just cracks me up! Definitely loving this series.
December 16, 2018
The first novella opened with a bang and I loved it, as I expressed exactly that in my review.
But the second book was less exciting for me, it kind of petered out. I honestly expected more BDSM, which didn't really happen because... well... it's hard to explain. There are a lot of reasons, first of all because even though both David and Jaxx was getting off on weird stuff, David decided not telling Jaxx about the lifestyle was a good idea, because he didn't like the rules, he wanted to be scared, he felt it exhilarating when he didn't know if he told Jaxx to stop, he would actually stop, or ignore his request; he liked the unknown, liked it when it was dangerous.
But then Jaxx was hesitant, cause he didn't want to actually hurt David, even thought he liked hurting him, but he needed to know where was the limit.
So anyway there was more guessing on both of their parts, cause they refused to communicate, well David refused.
It wasn't the fuckfest I was expecting and I can’t decide if that's a good thing or a bad thing. It was almost like the author wanted you to feel ready for the heavy BDSM, and all the feels. But it still seems I have to wait for that. Maybe in the 4th and 5th book?
It also turned out in the second book, that there's a big age gap, like 20 years. I would've liked to know that sooner. Usually I can tell how old are the MCs and maybe I should've this time too, but I honestly thought David acting like a cranky old man is just in his nature. He's in his late thirties though. Jaxx is 21, and it shows, but I guessed his age around 25.
The third book brought the smexy. Not heavy BDSM, but pain/pleasure manipulations and a bit of humiliation. Awesome! But they also started to fall in love with each other, so there was cuddling too. <3
This installment was written in dual POV, and it felt unnecessary at first. But then as the story progressed I felt more and more, that I need to know Jaxx better. He isn't the fun, laid-back guy he appeared to be in the first book. I think he has some anxiety from his past.
One thing I'm not sure what to do with, is that we don't know much about their past. They talk rarely about their parents. Daddy issues with Jaxx for sure. Not sure what's the deal with David though. I want more background story. But I'm not viewing this as a negative thing yet, because their relationship is in the early stages, they know each other for... like... 2 months I think, and they were apart for 1 month. And these are shorter novels, so there's still time to get that information in the next installments.
Please read Kaje Harper's review. She summarized it perfectly. Every information is in there that should help you decide if this series is for you.
3.5 stars from me, overall it's really enjoyable.
Triggers:
But the second book was less exciting for me, it kind of petered out. I honestly expected more BDSM, which didn't really happen because... well... it's hard to explain. There are a lot of reasons, first of all because even though both David and Jaxx was getting off on weird stuff, David decided not telling Jaxx about the lifestyle was a good idea, because he didn't like the rules, he wanted to be scared, he felt it exhilarating when he didn't know if he told Jaxx to stop, he would actually stop, or ignore his request; he liked the unknown, liked it when it was dangerous.
But then Jaxx was hesitant, cause he didn't want to actually hurt David, even thought he liked hurting him, but he needed to know where was the limit.
So anyway there was more guessing on both of their parts, cause they refused to communicate, well David refused.
It wasn't the fuckfest I was expecting and I can’t decide if that's a good thing or a bad thing. It was almost like the author wanted you to feel ready for the heavy BDSM, and all the feels. But it still seems I have to wait for that. Maybe in the 4th and 5th book?
It also turned out in the second book, that there's a big age gap, like 20 years. I would've liked to know that sooner. Usually I can tell how old are the MCs and maybe I should've this time too, but I honestly thought David acting like a cranky old man is just in his nature. He's in his late thirties though. Jaxx is 21, and it shows, but I guessed his age around 25.
The third book brought the smexy. Not heavy BDSM, but pain/pleasure manipulations and a bit of humiliation. Awesome! But they also started to fall in love with each other, so there was cuddling too. <3
This installment was written in dual POV, and it felt unnecessary at first. But then as the story progressed I felt more and more, that I need to know Jaxx better. He isn't the fun, laid-back guy he appeared to be in the first book. I think he has some anxiety from his past.
One thing I'm not sure what to do with, is that we don't know much about their past. They talk rarely about their parents. Daddy issues with Jaxx for sure. Not sure what's the deal with David though. I want more background story. But I'm not viewing this as a negative thing yet, because their relationship is in the early stages, they know each other for... like... 2 months I think, and they were apart for 1 month. And these are shorter novels, so there's still time to get that information in the next installments.
Please read Kaje Harper's review. She summarized it perfectly. Every information is in there that should help you decide if this series is for you.
3.5 stars from me, overall it's really enjoyable.
Triggers:
September 20, 2019
4.5 stars
January 17, 2023
4.5 ⭐️I really liked this, it’s different from what I was expecting .
November 15, 2024
Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before, unafraid to reference or not reference, put it in a blender, shit on it, vomit on it, eat it, give birth to it.
December 30, 2018
read and reviewed as individual novellas
August 10, 2024
The writing style and characters are just so good. David and Jazz and kink negotiation and also relationship negotiation are such real things that are HARD. Love to read about the reality of this.
May 24, 2022
Wine & Song: Books 1-3 is a collection of three novellas written by Eleanor Kos in the Wine & Song series that follows the growing relationship between David and Jazz.
Songs You Know by Heart introduces us to these characters. David, a busy businessman who runs his own business and craves rough and dangerous encounters. Jazz, an up and rising pianist and amateur mugger, who happens to be in the right place at the right time to fulfill David’s needs.
But when Jazz shows up on David’s doorstep, it's hard to say who is more surprised when he gets invited inside.
Music in a Dry Country follows these two men as they embark on a work trip to the Argentine wine country. While David wants a nice trip, 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.
Jazz does his best to go with the flow, but David’s withdrawal, founded on old insecurities and the memory of loss, is a real threat to their new relationship and is increasingly difficult for the younger man to navigate.
Singing in the Wilderness is the deepest dive we’ve seen into David and Jazz’s world. They have to navigate their budding relationship while Jazz goes on tour with his band, and while they say distance makes the heart grow fonder, it’s also a breeding ground for insecurity and uncertainty.
What will happen when Jazz worries he’s pushed too far, but David doesn’t think he’s pushed far enough?
I… didn’t like these books. I want to get that out there before I say anything else.
While these are novellas and are, as such, restricted to a limited word count, I truly didn’t find a single one of these books long enough to tell the story it tried telling.
The story-telling is beyond brief, and while I was reading, I often felt like we were moving on to the next scene before I’d had a chance to digest what had just happened in any meaningful way. There was very little reflection, very little introspection, and in the end, I was left feeling like I didn't quite know the characters I was reading about.
In all honesty, I feel like a lot of important, even crucial, story-telling was left out in order for Kos to throw in another sex scene… and then another sex scene after that. In truth, I actually enjoyed some of the sex scenes more than a lot of the “plot”, if it can be called that.
After reading these three novellas, I still don’t know what David looks like, or how old he is. Like, did I just completely miss this or is it never touched on? I definitely feel like it was never touched on?
Beyond that, though, I still don’t understand almost any of David’s actions, because I don’t know the motivations behind them. Why he absolutely refuses to have a meaningful conversation with Jazz about the sex they’re having is… beyond me. This is such an important part of their tremulous relationship that stretches out between all three of these novellas, and it's something that is only barely addressed in Singing in the Wilderness.
The sexual relationship that David and Jazz have continuously caused one or both of them emotional harm. Their romantic relationship is built on a series of assumptions rather than actual conversations.
Going into this series, I didn’t know what to expect. However, from what I read about these novellas—both in the form of their book blurbs and other reviews—I wasn’t expecting what I received. If you do give these books a chance, please go into it knowing that it shows a very unsafe representation of BDSM and an unhealthy relationship.
Songs You Know by Heart introduces us to these characters. David, a busy businessman who runs his own business and craves rough and dangerous encounters. Jazz, an up and rising pianist and amateur mugger, who happens to be in the right place at the right time to fulfill David’s needs.
But when Jazz shows up on David’s doorstep, it's hard to say who is more surprised when he gets invited inside.
Music in a Dry Country follows these two men as they embark on a work trip to the Argentine wine country. While David wants a nice trip, 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.
Jazz does his best to go with the flow, but David’s withdrawal, founded on old insecurities and the memory of loss, is a real threat to their new relationship and is increasingly difficult for the younger man to navigate.
Singing in the Wilderness is the deepest dive we’ve seen into David and Jazz’s world. They have to navigate their budding relationship while Jazz goes on tour with his band, and while they say distance makes the heart grow fonder, it’s also a breeding ground for insecurity and uncertainty.
What will happen when Jazz worries he’s pushed too far, but David doesn’t think he’s pushed far enough?
I… didn’t like these books. I want to get that out there before I say anything else.
While these are novellas and are, as such, restricted to a limited word count, I truly didn’t find a single one of these books long enough to tell the story it tried telling.
The story-telling is beyond brief, and while I was reading, I often felt like we were moving on to the next scene before I’d had a chance to digest what had just happened in any meaningful way. There was very little reflection, very little introspection, and in the end, I was left feeling like I didn't quite know the characters I was reading about.
In all honesty, I feel like a lot of important, even crucial, story-telling was left out in order for Kos to throw in another sex scene… and then another sex scene after that. In truth, I actually enjoyed some of the sex scenes more than a lot of the “plot”, if it can be called that.
After reading these three novellas, I still don’t know what David looks like, or how old he is. Like, did I just completely miss this or is it never touched on? I definitely feel like it was never touched on?
Beyond that, though, I still don’t understand almost any of David’s actions, because I don’t know the motivations behind them. Why he absolutely refuses to have a meaningful conversation with Jazz about the sex they’re having is… beyond me. This is such an important part of their tremulous relationship that stretches out between all three of these novellas, and it's something that is only barely addressed in Singing in the Wilderness.
The sexual relationship that David and Jazz have continuously caused one or both of them emotional harm. Their romantic relationship is built on a series of assumptions rather than actual conversations.
Going into this series, I didn’t know what to expect. However, from what I read about these novellas—both in the form of their book blurbs and other reviews—I wasn’t expecting what I received. If you do give these books a chance, please go into it knowing that it shows a very unsafe representation of BDSM and an unhealthy relationship.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2024
Re-read May 2024
First read February 2023
Download the bonus content - Homecoming: A David & Jazz High School AU Novella from here
Other bonus short stories - Patreon ($1/month)
Review for the entire series:
Kinky, sweet, and heartfelt with all the emotional ebbs and flows, still hands-down the best erotic romance with younger Dom/older sub pairing I've read in years. The cascade of angst, intimacy, and affection washed over me, leaving me dazzled and dreamy. I even found Jazz's penchant for terms of endearment cute... *melted into a puddle of aww* Yes, there was a lot of sex in it, yet none of the sex scenes felt gratuitous. Each one served its purpose, mirroring and catalysing the progression of their relationship.
Think of those rare occasions in Romancelandia when what the author wanted to write perfectly aligned with what you wanted to read, and you were simply too engrossed in the story to do any nitpicking. That's exactly how I felt about this series.
First read February 2023
Download the bonus content - Homecoming: A David & Jazz High School AU Novella from here
Other bonus short stories - Patreon ($1/month)
Review for the entire series:
Kinky, sweet, and heartfelt with all the emotional ebbs and flows, still hands-down the best erotic romance with younger Dom/older sub pairing I've read in years. The cascade of angst, intimacy, and affection washed over me, leaving me dazzled and dreamy. I even found Jazz's penchant for terms of endearment cute... *melted into a puddle of aww* Yes, there was a lot of sex in it, yet none of the sex scenes felt gratuitous. Each one served its purpose, mirroring and catalysing the progression of their relationship.
Think of those rare occasions in Romancelandia when what the author wanted to write perfectly aligned with what you wanted to read, and you were simply too engrossed in the story to do any nitpicking. That's exactly how I felt about this series.
December 20, 2022
3.5 stars. I liked the first third of this book but as we got deeper into the D/s aspect of Jazz and David's relationship I had a hard time understanding it. Both of them seemed to be totally screwed up, but with just a few hints about each of their pasts, I just couldn't get any reasons or justifications for what went on. This certainly wasn't any D/s relationship I had read about before. I know there are two more books and perhaps I'll get my answers in those.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews