Wine Wednesday: William Cris Winery Skeleton Key Sauvignon Blanc

 

Unfortunately, this was another white wine that was served to cold to have any kind of nose. I did pick up some lemon, maybe a little honey, but that's about it. According to the tasting notes I'm supposed to have noticed "wilting white flowers, beeswax and roasted nut". Not sure what beeswax smells like, and what type of nut? 

But, I digress. 

This is a Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blend, aged in oak, giving it a Chardonnay feel. II paired this with a very TEXAS entree: the 'Forbidden Taco' at North Street Curry Shop in San Marcos. It's an Indian/TexMex fusion dish and I think they went together well. The wine stood up to the spice, cut through the creaminess and provided balance. 

There were notes of peach and melon, traces of salinity, and hints of baking spice. 

Romance Writers Weekly ~ Summer Setting ~ #LoveChatWrite

This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we're asked, "Which summer setting do you love most for yourself or your stories: lakeside cabin, vineyard, small-town fair, or coastal inn?"

Sounds like an easy question, doesn't it? Well, it's not. I love all of those settings--both in real life and in books. I'm pretty sure I've written stories set in all of them. Or, at least most. Maybe not the lakeside cabin...yet.

The Oberon series has all three of the others. Games We Play is set in a coastal inn. Que Sera, Syrah is set in a vineyard. I guess the lakeside cabin is still in my writing future.  

Anyway, hop on over to Brenda Margriet's page to learn about her favorite summer settings. And don't forget to check out her book, Mountain Fire.

A mountaintop mystery leads two conservationists to dangerous obsessions and violent passions

Natural resources student June Brandt climbs Longworth Mountain for some alone time. But when Conservation Officer Alex Weaver arrives to look into the death of a grizzly bear, June is caught up in the investigation—and fascinated by Alex.

Alex is attracted by June's competence and coolness under fire—as well as her lithe body and honey-blonde hair. Although their mutual interest in protecting the natural wonders of the area brings them together, they soon realize they view love from very different angles. He offers passion and pleasure, but June wants more. 

When one of Alex’s colleagues is murdered, June and Alex must work together to find the poacher before other lives are lost. And Alex must look deep inside to discover if he can give June what she deserves.

https://books2read.com/MountainFire

Christmas in July!

https://books.bookfunnel.com/mmchristmasjuly/axz26pawrn

Musical Monday: You Can Close Your Eyes (James Taylor and Carly Simon)

 So this is an old song that has nothing to do with anything I'm writing, but two years ago today I lost my dog and I'm feeling weepy and sad. I miss him.

Romance Writers Weekly ~ Go-to Summer Read ~ #LoveChatWrite

This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we're asked, "What’s your go-to summer read when you want heat, heart, and happily-ever-after?"

Wow.  This is surprisingly difficult. As a kid, I had several books that I wanted to read again each summer. Nowadays? Not so much. I mean...Daphne DuMaurier's Rebecca, I guess? Or Jayne Ann Krentz' Eclipse Bay trilogy? 

I guess I really want to say my Oberon series, because it feels like so much of that series was set in summer--the first, fifth and ninth books in the series, and at least two of the novellas. Also I definitely spent several summers writing it, so...

Here's a link to a free download to the series' prequel novella: Such Fleeting Pleasures. 

 TL Schaefer has a book that also feels like summer to me, The Summerland. https://tlschaefer.com/books/summerland/

Kelly Jamieson has TWO series that also say summer to me--although I can't remember offhand if they are actually set in the summer.  But, on the other hand, they're set in Southern California, so they'll feel like summer to most people, anyway. lol! 

The Last Shot Series 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVWPPDFS

San Amaro Singles

https://www.amazon.com/San-Amaro-Singles-Kelly-Jamieson-ebook/dp/B07B281YCR/

You can find more buy links on her website. 

Then, of course, there's the new POUR DECISIONS trilogy, most of which takes place over the course of one summer. 

https://books2read.com/Pour-Decisions

Anyway, hop on over to Leslie Hachtel's page to learn about her go-to summer reads. And don't forget to check out her book, Come Back to Me.

This week only! Book One in my time travel series, “Come Back to Me” is on sale for .99!!!!!

What would you do if you could go back in time to find your soulmate? For Skye Blaine, the answer is clear: she would do whatever it takes to be with the one she loves. Follow her as she travels through time in search of her heart's desire, finding that the path to true love is never easy, but always worth it. Will she find her happy ending? This page-turning story of love, sacrifice, and courage is sure to captivate and inspire. Don't miss out on this unforgettable journey through time!

https://amzn.to/3thW8BR

POUR DECISIONS

Check out this new, Multi-Author Series.

Meet the Martinelli sisters: Rosa, Bianca and Allegra. These partners in wine have just inherited a once-storied winery in the heart of Napa Valley. They’re living the dream, right?

 

Not so fast! Because, as it turns out, not everybody is happy for them. And that includes their Uncle Geno who’d assumed the property would come to him.

 

There are hoops to jump through, barrels to get over, and a mountain of regulations they'll have to scale. But the sisters are crushing it—and we don’t just mean the grapes. They’re making wine, falling in love, and working together to restore their inheritance to its former glory, one pour decision at a time.

https://Books2Read.com/Pour-Decisions

Musical Monday: Independence Day (Martina McBride with Pat Benatar)

 

Okay, so the timing of this is obvious, I guess. A little ironic, but what can you do? This is my favorite version. It's a live collaboration between Martina McBride and Pat Benatar. I saw both ladies live, in open air concerts in the early 2000s, so this kind of brings me back to those years. Enjoy. 

Musical Monday: Old Phone (Ed Sheeran)

 

So, last week I took an unexpected trip to New Jersey to attend the memorial for one of my cousins who had died. At this point, I have lost exactly half of my first cousins, which is...a sobering reality. But I got to spend time with ALL the cousins I have left, which...I can't even remember the last time that happened.  It was nice. And we talked about getting together again--intentionally, and outside of funerals. Which would also be nice, if it happens. 

I guess we'll see. 

Wine Wednesday: Wimberley Valley Winery White Reserve

 So one of the things I find interesting about this winery is the fact that they use ONLY stainless steel tanks--no oak whatsoever. Now, I'm usually a big fan of oak, but I have to admit that I find these wines intriguing. And while I still like my big, buttery Chardonnays, the crispness here is also nice. 

This is a light bodied wine. It was served very cold, so there was no nose to speak of. The tasting notes on the website talks about lime zest and green apple, I didn't get either of those. I got grapefruit and a bit of salinity. Basically, this wine is reminiscent of a Paloma. 

I paired this with butternut squash ravioli, which I think worked well.