Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Adriano is going home to Waldo, Florida, a town famous for having one of two official US speed traps and a flea market. Not much else is going on... Or is it?

A celebrated chef, Adriano has had to quit his job at a posh Beverly Hills restaurant because during his recovery from stage four cancer, chemo killed his taste buds. He can't even taste his own cuisine. About the only thing that penetrates the dull sensation is coffee, so he's bought a cafe in Waldo, hoping to find a new life in spite of his memory of it being a rigidly conservative town.

 

Looking forward to recuperating and spending time his mom, Adriano soon finds that Colin Mackenzie-the first man he ever loved, the only man he has ever wanted-never left Waldo. He apparently hasn't forgotten Adriano either. But Colin, who once seduced then dumped him, seems to be playing games. He keeps coming into the cafe ordering his coffee-tall with room...for milk-but he doesn't seem to have room for Adriano. Soon, the love they once shared is re-ignited in an explosive way, but what is going on in Waldo? Why do things seem so...haunted by the past?

 

 

 

Reader Advisory: This book contains seductive descriptions of southern cooking at its finest, including unusual uses for honey butter!

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Book Review

'Tall with room' is not only the key phrase used by one of the main characters in this book, but also a good description of the message of hope this story carries. The idea of a tall coffee (a treat as such for any coffee lover), with room for milk, i.e., your own personal note, is exactly what this book is about for me. While it carries a serious if positive message, and is quite emotional, it also contains a lot of humor and some very funny observations and comments that made me laugh. In that sense, it was a lot like life.

Adriano is in a pretty tough situation. He may have survived the cancer and the chemo, but he lost the ability to taste food (other than coffee). Since he is a chef, that prevents him from doing his job. Still wanting to do something with food he decides to take over one of the two cafés in his home town. He wants to spend time with his mother, even though she never accepted he's gay, and will put up with a lot to make that happen. The business is a success, but some of the old memories come back, and those are very hard to deal with.

One of those memories is Colin, his first lover. He is still there, keeps coming into the café, but doesn't seem to want Adriano in his life. Or does he? Adriano tries to find out, tries to find Colin, but weird things start happening. Desperate for the man he still loves, Adriano swears he won’t give up. And he doesn't. But the resolution of that search is pretty surprising and, in a surprising twist, everything suddenly makes sense.

If you like stories with lots of fun details and the unusual setting of Waldo, Florida, if you enjoy trying to puzzle out the solution to a mystery as you read, and if you believe that love conquers all, you will probably like this book as much as I did.

 

 

 

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Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novella, 53 pages/15672 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	22-October-2012
Price	$3.50 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.pride-publishing.com/book/tall-with-room