Musical Monday: A Taste of Honey ~ Herb Alpert

 

I'm still finding it hard to believe that I didn't post this several months ago when I re-released A Taste of Honey. It seemed like a missed opportunity. However, now that the Omnibus is here, I guess I get a second chance...which is the theme of so much of my work. 

Anyway...

Yes, the book took its title from this song. I was looking for titles to fit the five senses, and Taste was an obvious and immediate no-brainer. I've been listening to this album for most of my life. It definitely fits the Oberon vibe. I don't know anything about Herb Alpert as a person, but this morning (the reason I'm thinking about this now) I saw a recent article about him still going strong -- and still putting out albums! -- at 89. Definitely #LifeGoals You can read it HERE if you subscribe to The New York Times (I don't, so I haven't read it, although I'm sure it's fascinating).

The album this song appears on is called Whipped Cream and Other Delights and features an iconic cover: 

I remember being fascinated by this as a child. Come to think of it, the subconscious connection is probably the reason for the whipped cream scene in the book. 

But again, I digress.

If you'd like to listen to the entire album, you can find it here (although it may be a little glitchy): https://youtu.be/4X6sEzwSS34?si=eZTFKQnDTfsxhsYJ

If you'd like to read the whipped cream scene (and others) it's included in the FREE Prequel Novella Such Fleeting Pleasures, which can be downloaded here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/5xxljdbblb

OR, if you'd like to read the newly released Omnibus Two (books 4 - 6) that can be found here:https://books2read.com/Return-to-Oberon

Wine Wednesday: William Chris Enchante

 

I think William Chris has to be one of my very favorite Texas wineries--not so much for the wine as for their website and the fabulous tasting notes. Here's the link to the page for Enchante:

https://williamchriswines.com/product/2021-enchante

I love their Winemaking and Vineyard notes. I wish EVERY winery would do this. This is, in fact, one of my favorite things about wine tasting. I find it endlessly fascinating to learn how long the grapes were fermented, and in what and for how long. I love knowing what percentage of what type of grapes has gone into the wine I'm drinking and where those grapes were grown. 

So, well done Willian Chris. 

On the other hand, I'm not sure I'd describe this (or any other) wine as they have done as, "brooding, wild, and sexy." I mean...really? Just how much wine did they drink to reach that conclusion?

It's a very nice wine, however. I definitely got the "lingering black cherry finish" along with the blackberry jam nose and cinnamon. And I think my recent favorite term--off dry--has now been supplanted by the ineffable, "almost full body." 

In any event...one thing they don't say on the website--but which I've learned thanks to the research I've done for one of the books I'm currently working on--is that  this wine is what's known as a Meritage. 

Here's an excerpt from the book (whose title has not yet been announced--really NOTHING about this series has been announced, and that's mostly my fault since my book is the one that's not finished yet). These are song lyrics, meant to be sung to the tune of I am the Very Model of a Modern Major General. And since the book is set in California, that's in the title and lyrics. But the wine doesn't HAVE to be from California to be a Meritage. Enjoy! 

And if you want to be among the first to learn more about this book/series, you can either  subscribe to my newsletter (https://www.pgforte.com/newsletter ) or join my reader group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheCronesNest/).

I am a Pricey Bottle of a California Meritage©

(Sung to the tune of “I am the very Model of a Modern Major General”)

 

I am a pricey bottle of a California Meritage,

(A word that combines merit in a portmanteau with heritage).

I’m only made from “noble” wines, those vintned from a Bordeaux vine,

’Cause that is what it takes to make a California Meritage.

 

You start with two or more of these particular varieties,

Cabernet (Sauvingnon or Franc), St. Macaire or Carménère,

Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, or possibly some Gros Verdot,

For that is what you’ll need, you know, for a California Meritage.

 

You have to use the very best of these specific vintages,

Adjusted with a sweet finesse like all the best of marriages,

To best ensure my taste is great, no single grape can dominate,

’Cause otherwise I will not rate as a California Meritage.

 

I’m known for being robust with a silky-smooth complexity,

I’m good to drink while young but I’m renowned for aging beautifully,

I’m more than just a simple blend, and that is why I am a TREND!

And why you pay the big bucks for a California Meritage.

Romance Writers Weekly ~ Season ~ #LoveChatWrite

 This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we're asked, "What season inspires your writing the most and why?"

This is tough. Because I find all the seasons inspirational. But I suppose I'll have to go with the holiday season, because I do love writing holiday-themed stories. I'm actually planning to release one new (or newish) story each Sunday this December.

You can find more details here: https://www.pgforte.com/only-for-the-holidays

I think what I find inspirational is all the infinite variations on similar themes. Plus, an element of magic is almost expected, and since I like to add that into even my most contemporary books, that's very much in my wheel house! 

I also like the challenge of including as many of the traditional holiday romcom "elements" as I can in my books. In last year's release, Christmas Angel I even included a checklist. You can find that HERE

Now, hop on over to Jill Haymaker's page to learn what season inspires her. And don't forget to check out her book, Colorado Golden Sunset.

Colorado Golden Sunset

There’s no better place to fall in love than the Colorado mountains in autumn. When Kelly Charm relocates to the small mountain town of Peakview with her son, the last thing on her mind is romance. That is until Handsome EMT, Jake Midnight shows up. Can the weeks leading up to Christmas also lead to love?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07828MFF1

The Spirit of the Place

Oberon Book 6

SpiritPlace

The Spirit of the Place

Oberon Book 6.0

​'Tis the season to be jolly, but Jasmine Quinn is far from happy about her mother's  latest folly: her upcoming wedding to former Wall Street financier, Sam Sterling.  Jasmine doesn't like her future stepfather, or his values.  Anybody with as much money as Sam, should be spreading it around, aiding worthy causes, making it count for something.  Instead, he seems intent on using his wealth to embarrass her mother by throwing a ridiculously lavish wedding.  But there's one thing about Sam that Jasmine can't help but admire, no matter how much she'd like to--the graduate student he's hired as an intern.

​

 Brandon Ablemarle is also finding it hard to get into the holiday spirit.  Especially since his dream job has just become a nightmare, thanks in part to the fiery redhead with some of the goofiest ideas he's ever heard of.  But what else can you expect from the daughter of a self-proclaimed psychic?   Marsha Quinn has a lot to answer for.  Not only has she encouraged her daughter's esoteric craziness, she's also turned one of the most brilliant stock analysts Wall Street had ever seen into a nutcase as well.  One who actually appears to believe that the answers to the stock market can be found in the stars!

 

 It's a clash of ideologies when Jasmine and Brandon get together.  Can the spirit of the season, and the spirit of the place help them to see beyond their differences?

Musical Monday: Drops of Jupiter by Train

 

So...last week Facebook shared a memory from 2015 in which I talked about a wine I'd recently (as of nine years ago) found called Drops of Jupiter which was a collaboration between the musical group Train (who wrote the song by the same name) and a wine company called the Save Me, San Francisco Wine Co. And ever since, I've had that earworm running through my head. The funny thing is that I saw this on the same day that Return to Oberon released and that omnibus includes the book Touch of a Vanished Hand, which I wrote in...2002, I think? Right about the time that song was popular. I'm pretty sure that was the same summer that Train appeared at the Mid State Fair, which is held every year in Paso Robles, which is where I was living at that time. So. Tons of coincidences and ironies. And memories. Good times. 

Return to Oberon

Omnibus Two: Books 4 - 6

 

A Taste of Honey

Touch of a Vanished Hand

The Spirit of the Place 

 

Second Chances, Enemies to Lovers, Opposites Attract, First Love, Holiday Magic, Suspense, Angels.

https://books2read.com/Return-to-Oberon

New Release: Return to Oberon (Omnibus # 2)

 

RETURN TO OBERON

Oberon Omnibus Two: Books 4 - 6

A Taste of Honey

Touch of a Vanished Hand

The Spirit of the Place 

Second Chances, Enemies to Lovers, Opposites Attract, First Love, Holiday Magic, Suspense, Angels

https://Books2Read.com/Return-to-Oberon

Wine Wednesday: FLASHBACK! Drops of Jupiter ~ Save Me, San Francisco Wine Co.

 

I have no idea what I thought of this wine. This was a collaboration between the Save Me, San Francisco Wine Company and the musical group, Train. I listened to Train's song Drops of Jupiter a lot while I was writing the fifth Oberon book, Touch of a Vanished Hand, which (coincidentally?) is set on a winery.  Touch was re-released this summer is available again now either on its own in digital or in paperback format OR you can also find it included in the second Oberon Omnibus, Return to Oberon which just released yesterday! 

Here's info on the Save Me, San Francisco Wine Co: https://www.savemesanfranciscowineco.com/

And here's info on the Omnibus:

 

Return to Oberon

Omnibus Two: Books 4 - 6

 

A Taste of Honey

Touch of a Vanished Hand

The Spirit of the Place 

 

Second Chances, Enemies to Lovers, Opposites Attract, First Love, Holiday Magic, Suspense, Angels.

https://books2read.com/Return-to-Oberon

Romance Writers Weekly ~Excerpt! ~ #LoveChatWrite

 This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we're asked to, "Share an excerpt from your current or most recent work."

I wasn't sure what to share. I have a new release today--the second of three Oberon omnibuses--so my first thought was to post something from one of those books. BUT I have a new Oberon story coming out this December and that's the book I'm working on now, so...here you go. This is the first look at Spicy Nick, releasing later this year.

Two days before Christmas

 

There aren’t a lot of things that I'm willing to admit having been a fool about. I live in a small town. I have a certain reputation to live up to. Foolish is not a good look for me. But there is a list (albeit a short one) and at the top of it is my wife. I’ve been a fool for her since the day we met.  

In my defense, were both pretty young when we first crossed paths. Or, more accurately, I was pretty young. Scout, on the other hand, was very young. Unfortunately young. Young enough to lie about her age. And (one would think) young enough that I should have immediately seen through the lie. Which I didn’t—which goes back to my first point. In retrospect, it was probably a good thing that she left town when she did. Not that it felt that way, of course. And despite the lies, despite the betrayal, despite all the years we were apart, I never forgot her. 

When she finally resurfaced, just over five years ago, we picked up right where we left off. And I don’t think I’m incorrect in saying that we’ve both been as happy as I always knew we could be.  

Except at Christmas time. Which is crazy, right? I mean, who doesn’t like Christmas? Well…my wife, that’s who. 

I blame my father-in-law. Not that I really knew the man. We met only once, back in the day, and I count myself lucky that he never found out about my relationship with his daughter. I’m sure he had his good points, but he didn’t provide his daughter with the most stable home life. Growing up the way she did, it seems the holidays were one disappointment after another for Scout. As of yet, she hasn’t been able to let that go. If I’m honest, I’m not sure she ever will. 

Which is not to suggest that she doesn’t put on a good act. She’s a talented actress. She fakes Holiday Spirit the way some women fake orgasms—employing so much skill and enthusiasm that if I didn’t know her as well as I do, I’d almost believe that she was enjoying herself. But I’m not that big a fool. I’ve seen her grit her teeth when the topic of Christmas shopping is raised—and trust me, it’s not the money; she has plenty of that. I’ve seen her yawn her way through our extended-family gatherings. And I’ve seen how she rolls her eyes whenever I get busy decking her halls. And can I just say that she has some great halls to deck? Because man… 

And no! That is not a euphemism. I’m talking about the house we live in. The gorgeous, Queen Anne not-quite-a-mansion that Scout inherited from her stepmom. A house whose halls were positively made to wear boughs of holly. Also tinsel, candles, strings of lights, and (obviously) mistletoe.

I like to think that, deep down inside, Scout likes the fact that there’s one of us who makes a big deal about the holidays. And that it doesn’t have to be her. And I know she appreciates the decorations once I’ve got them up. But I’ve also seen her sigh with relief when January rolls around. And I suspect she’s just as happy once the last of the baubles and bows have been packed away in the attic for the next ten-or-so months. Left to her own devices, I’m pretty sure she’d simply skip the whole process.

So, on the surface, this year is simply more of the same. And you might think that I shouldn’t be concerned about Scout’s customary lack of Holly Jollity.  I am though. Because I can’t help feeling that something’s different this time around. I don’t know what, exactly, but something feels off.

Now, hop on over to Jenna Da Sie's page and see what she's got for you this week.

It's Release Day!

https://books2read.com/Return-to-Oberon

The second Oberon omnibus is here!

RETURN TO OBERON

Contains books 4 through 6:

 

A Taste of Honey

Touch of a Vanished Hand

The Spirit of the Place 

Second Chances, Enemies to Lovers, Opposites Attract, First Love, Holiday Magic, Suspense, Angels.

https://books2read.com/Spicy-Nick

It’s beginning to look a lot like NIX-mas!

 

Nick Greco is getting worried. His wife has never been a big fan of the holiday season, but this year she seems more distant than ever before. In fact, the last time that he can remember seeing her this distracted was right before their wedding—when she tried to back out of marrying him.

 

Can you get cold feet after the fact? Is Scout feeling overwhelmed by the holidays? Or underwhelmed by…gulp…him?

 

Whatever the cause, Nick has a plan. He’s going to spice up their marriage and put the heat back in the holidays. And when he’s done, Scout won’t be saying, “Bah Humbug!” She’ll be saying, “ho, ho…OH!”

Musical Monday: Our Love is Like a Holiday (Michael Bolton)

 This doesn't need much explanation. I'm working on Spicy Nick and this is part of my playlist. Check back tomorrow for an excerpt/sneak peek.

It’s beginning to look a lot like NIX-mas!

 

Nick Greco is getting worried. His wife has never been a big fan of the holiday season, but this year she seems more distant than ever before. In fact, the last time that he can remember seeing her this distracted was right before their wedding—when she tried to back out of marrying him.

 

Can you get cold feet after the fact? Is Scout feeling overwhelmed by the holidays? Or underwhelmed by…gulp…him?

 

Whatever the cause, Nick has a plan. He’s going to spice up their marriage and put the heat back in the holidays. And when he’s done, Scout won’t be saying, “Bah Humbug!” She’ll be saying, “ho, ho…OH!”  

Release Date: December 8, 2024

 

Now available for pre-order:

https://books2read.com/Spicy-Nick

 

Part of The Naughty List collection:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CR64WY72

Wine Wednesday: William Chris Proprietor's Red

 

William Chris's Proprietor's Red is a decent enough table wine. The winery's website has these suggestions for pairings: steak, Buffalo sauce, aged cheeses and walnuts. 

I have no idea how that would translate into a meal. I drank it with Mexican street corn and something called "Barbacoa Doughnuts" at Dos Olivos in Buda, TX. Which are basically spicy blue corn cakes topped with BBQ beef in a Chipotle glaze. They were delicious and the wine went perfectly with them.

I was surprised to learn the wine (a blend of Cabernet, Merlot, Zinfandel and Sangiovese) didn't have any Syrah, because it had that peppery taste that I tend to associate with Syrah. It's a very dry wine (something that's hard to find in Texas wines). It has a medium dark garnet color. Light to medium body. Flavors of cocoa, leather, casis, lemon zest and maybe a hint of cranberry? 

The wine was served chilled (why?) so it was hard to identify much in terms of aroma until it had warmed up a little. Then it smelled of cocoa, dried fig, and something herbaceous that put me in mind of Chaparral.

Romance Writers Weekly ~ Current Events ~

 This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we're asked, "How do current events impact your stories? Give an example."

For the most part, current events only matter in terms of how they affect my characters. I'm currently working on a book set in Napa, California, and the fires that occurred there in 2017 and 2018 were very traumatizing to my hero, who had been eighteen/nineteen years old at the time. That changed the course of his life...or at least the past six years.

In the Oberon series I really notice the effect of current events because A. the books are now twenty+ years old, so what's current within the world of the series is not the same as what's current now, and sometimes that really shows.

In my most recent re-release (The Spirit of the Place) for example, my characters talk a lot about politics--upon which they don't always agree. But disagreement then looked VERY different than disagreement now. So re-releasing it in an election year has been...interesting.

In my most recent NEW release (Giada Mazzi is Living her Best Life) on the other hand, current events are still very current and show up very obviously in the first few pages where my title character throws shade at a very well known TERF.

I think the biggest problem with using current events in stories is that it undeniably dates your books. A good example of this is in my upcoming re-release (Visions Before Midnight) where two characters discuss California's marriage equality situation, but at this distance, what they're saying could be misinterpreted to mean the opposite to how it sounds. Kind of how that TERF I mentioned earlier, had she been alluded to in a book set ten years ago, would have evoked a very different mood. And had she been mentioned in a book set twenty years ago, that would have suggested something different once again. 

Luckily, I'm currently annotating the Oberon series, so I get the chance to explain myself...and give the reader a little history lesson in the process. It's been a fascinating journey.

Now, hop on over to Leslie Hachtel's page to find out how she feels about settings. And don't forget to check out her book, Texas Summer.

What if your car broke down on a deserted highway in the middle of Texas?  Would you think it was fate and that it would change your life?

When Wylie Nichols walked toward the nearest town, his future was forever altered.  The problem when you’re a stranger in a small town is you never know what you might discover.  In this particular place, there is murder, greed, lust.

But waiting is earthy, sexy, enigmatic Kennedy.  With a convoluted family history and the power to make his dreams come true. 

https://amzn.to/42b3KlL

The Spirit of the Place

A Oberon Book 6.0

https://books2read.com/SpiritPlace

'Tis the season to be jolly, but Jasmine Quinn is far from happy about her mother's  latest folly: her upcoming wedding to former Wall Street financier, Sam Sterling.  Jasmine doesn't like her future stepfather, or his values.  Anybody with as much money as Sam, should be spreading it around, aiding worthy causes, making it count for something.  Instead, he seems intent on using his wealth to embarrass her mother by throwing a ridiculously lavish wedding.  But there's one thing about Sam that Jasmine can't help but admire, no matter how much she'd like to--the graduate student he's hired as an intern.
​
Brandon Ablemarle is also finding it hard to get into the holiday spirit.  Especially since his dream job has just become a nightmare, thanks in part to the fiery redhead with some of the goofiest ideas he's ever heard of.  But what else can you expect from the daughter of a self-proclaimed psychic?   Marsha Quinn has a lot to answer for.  Not only has she encouraged her daughter's esoteric craziness, she's also turned one of the most brilliant stock analysts Wall Street had ever seen into a nutcase as well.  One who actually appears to believe that the answers to the stock market can be found in the stars!
 
It's a clash of ideologies when Jasmine and Brandon get together.  Can the spirit of the season, and the spirit of the place help them to see beyond their differences?

Musical Monday: Footprints in the Snow Jamie Lawson

 

Right. So. I'm in the midst of writing and editing Christmas stories (and will be for most of the rest of the year) so that means, you can expect a lot of these Monday posts to be very, very seasonal. 

This is a heart wrenching song. Beautiful, but sooooo sad. The story I'm currently working on isn't THAT sad. It's got it's angsty moments, and this song definitely works for those. But mostly this song makes me think of my dog. It's been over a year now since I lost him and I'm definitely not over it. 

Fall Fantasy Book Fair!

WELCOME TO THE FALL FANTASY BOOK FAIR 2024!

 

ALL BOOKS FEATURED ARE ON SALE FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. CLICK THE IMAGES BELOW TO GRAB YOUR COPY AT YOUR LOCAL RETAILER.

https://www.skgauthorservices.com/fall-fantasy-book-fair.html

New Release! Love and Espresso

Love and Espresso

(A Limited Edition Contemporary Romance Anthology)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CSKS814M/ 

This collection features meet-cutes that take place in a bookstore/coffee shop. The heroines are looking for their HEA but never expected it to happen while picking up a cup of coffee or picking out their next book boyfriend.

 

Includes my new Atlas Beach story, Giada Mazzi is Living her Best Life:

​

Blurb: 

"Life is more than just the lies we try and tell ourselves about what we’ve done and who we are.

​

 I guess the truth is that I never stopped loving Ben. And I never stopped imagining how different my life might have been if he were only the person I needed him to be, instead of the person that he is. Which is silly, right? I mean, truly; it’s laughable. Because if he were someone else, he wouldn’t be him.  And the world is already full of people like that. What good is one more gonna do me?

​

Besides, if I’m honest, Ben wasn’t ever the problem. That was me. I was never the person he believed me to be. Oh, I thought I was, in the beginning. I tried hard to be, and that worked for a while. Sort of. But eventually I reached the point where I had to make a choice between living life for myself, or for everyone else.

​

And when it came right down to that…how could I not choose me?"