Dauntless by Victoria Denault [Review]

Dauntless (In Vino Veritas) by Victoria Denault
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: June 27, 2023

In Vino Veritas
Wildfire
Counterpoint
Unmanageable
Underdog
Wonderland
Dauntless - Paperback | Kindle

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
The Busy Bean
1. Sweetheart

Moo U
1. Boyfriend

Speakeasy
1. Touchstone

True North
1. Bittersweet

Vino and Veritas
1. Roommate

Victoria Denault
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

He’s everything I’ve ever wanted, at the worst possible moment.

One and done. That’s always been my motto when it comes to guys, because I’m not about to pull someone else into the closet my parents have locked me inside. I’ve been waiting years to claim my inheritance and live the life I want to live–out, free, and oh yeah, rich.

So why is the universe dropping the sexy farm boy with the lazy smile into my life right now? When Bowen Whitlock says he’ll join my band, and later my bed, I know one time won’t be enough.

But loving Bowen is dangerous for me. And he has his own struggles, like keeping his family afloat and trying not to get fired from his job at Vino and Veritas. But he lives his life with an authenticity that gives me a tantalizing taste of living my truth.

My secret relationship with Bowen is everything, until someone betrays us in the worst possible way…

Thoughts on Dauntless: Oh man. Chase, the mostly closeted guy who's just trying to get through the next few months until his upcoming birthday, and Bowen, the hot hemp farmer who is not a great bar worker, are up and YESSSSSS.

First off, Bowen is not doing so hot at his job at V&V. He's trying, but he's relentlessly clumsy and he needs this job enough to keep trying even though his lack of forward progress on not breaking glasses every shift is starting to wear on him. Hold up. Maybe relentlessly clumsy was too harsh. They guy is pure gold behind a drum kit, so he's not clumsy-clumsy, but he doesn't do well with glasses, beer kegs, and other assorted bar goings on. That said, his drumming is a thing of beauty and he loves losing himself when he gets behind the kit.

Then there's Chase. He's smart, determined, and he's bound up so tightly by the terms of his grandfather's will that he can barely breathe. Due to said will, being openly with another guy isn't an option. Yet he can't stop coming back to Bowen after their one and done moment. Having a secret relationship isn't ideal, but Bowen gets it. Throw in Chase's family plus some family (and family friends) political stuff that mucks things up even further and these two (but mostly Chase) have a lot on their plate.

Familiar faces (love that V&V crew!), complicated family dynamics, a sticky mayoral race, a man who desperately wants to be himself, and another who is finding his feet again after a terrible tragedy. GOOD STUFF.