A review from:

Title: Nose
Author: James Conaway
Categories: Adult, Literary Fiction, Mystery, 

Format: Paperback, 336 pages

Published: March 12th 2013 by Thomas Dunne Books

Source: Won a free review copy from a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway

Rating:  (Two Stars)

Recommend? Yes, for those who love and/or interested in wine, Napa Valley, those who like slower character driven novels, mysteries.

  Bonfire of the Vanities meets Sideways—a saga of secrets, family, and a mystery bottle of wine that could change everything foreverIn a gorgeous wine valley in northern California, the economic downturn has put a number of dreams on hold.  But above it all is esteemed critic Clyde Craven-Jones, a man whose ego nearly surpasses his substantial girth. As the novel opens he blind taste-tastes a sampling of Cabernets and to his confounded delight discovers one worthy of his highest score (a 20, on the Craven-Jones-on-wine scale), an accolade he's never before awarded.

But the bottle has no origin—and that's a problem for a renowned critic. An investigation into the mystery Cabernet commences, lead by the critic's wife, Claire, and a couple of underdogs—one a determined throw-back to ancient viticulture, the other a wine-stained, Pygmalion-esque scribbler—who by wit and luck rise on incoming tides of money, notoriety and, yes, love.

The stage is set for this true theatre of the varietals—where the reader joins the local vinous glitterati and subterranean enthusiasts hanging out in a seedy bar called the Glass Act. Soon Clyde Craven-Jones finds himself in a compromised position in a fermentation tank, a prominent family finds its internal squabble a public scandal, and a lowly vintner seeks redemption for a decades-old wrongdoing. This is a witty, delectable, and fast-paced novel that, like a good Cabernet, only grows more enjoyable once opened.

The List ...because brevity is not my strong suit

• very detailed and informative about wine and it is very approachable. I’m a total n00b on the subject and was able to understand it and found it fascinating
• the second half really ramps things up and I enjoyed watching the characters scramble to deal with the consequences
• very descriptive writing, which mostly worked and I’m sure will be well received if you like the style
• the characters are very dynamic, interesting and flawed people
• the end was appropriate, caused me to smirk, and I can’t see it ending any other way 
  To order my novel, Nose, click on:  
  

  http://www.amazon.com/Nose-Novel-James-Conaway/dp/1250006848/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362180145&sr=1-1&keywords=nose

  To see my bio, click on: http://cjonwine.blogspot.com/2013/02/heres-concise-bio-for-those-who-have.html