Musical Monday: Die with a Smile (Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars)

 My husband is obsessed with this song. OBSESSED with it. He's got it on repeat somewhere on his computer and it's been running in the background for WEEKS. Thank God he has headphones (I can still hear it sometimes; like a whisper. Like an earworm) otherwise I'd be convinced he was trying to drive me out of my mind. 

Might happen anyway. We'll see.

Personally, in terms of apocalyptic songs, I prefer When the World Ends (the Oakenfold remix) from the Matrix 2 soundtrack. But that's me. 

Anyway, I'm sure this is a good song. I'm just over it. And I can't even with these costumes. 

Wine Wednesday Paso-D'Oro 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon

 

So, it's been about a year and a half since I wrote about this wine. I kind of raved about it then, so I was curious to see what I thought of it now. Mind you, it's a different vintage, the other was from 2021, this one is from 2023. 

So I still really like this wine.  The nose is still lush. Oak and leather and syrupy fruit. I'm not getting fig yet though. This vintage smells of blackberries, currants and violets with hints of spice. The taste is a little smoky, like burnt orange or Crème brûlée. But it's also not as robust a flavor as I remember. Or again, it could be this particular vintage. 

As it turns out, the weather in 2023 was cooler and rainier than average, which might have played a part. I've recently learned that it's not recommended to harvest grapes too soon after it rains because the ripe grapes actually soak up the rain water and it dilutes the wine. Of course, it's also bad to hold off harvesting the grapes too long after they ripen, so sometimes you just have to pick your poison. 

Still a nice wine, but it doesn't instantly transport me back to Paso like the '21 did. It's much softer than most Cabernets so I'm not sure what I'd pair it with. It's definitely not a steak wine or a pasta wine. Maybe a pork roast or duck a l'orange. Ooh, wait. My mom used to make a delicious Cornish game hen stuffed with wild rice with a flaming cherry sauce. It was the '70s, so what would you expect? I think this wine would go perfectly with that. 

Musical Monday: Harvest Moon (Neil Young)

 So, tonight is the Harvest Moon--hence the timing of this song. So, if there are clear skies where you are, go out and do some stargazing, or something. 

I like this song. I like most Neil Young songs. But I LOVE the video. It's just so cute. 

Wine Wednesday: William Chris 2021 Petit Verdot

 

I think I mentioned that I got to try a couple of extra wines at my recent tasting at William Chris, and this was one of the extras. 

I liked this wine quite a lot. But I don't know what the people who wrote the description of it on the WC website were thinking. They claim hints of bubble gum on the nose, which (thankfully) I did not taste AT ALL. 

It had an absolutely lovely scent, IMO; something sweetly floral with hints of caramel. It put me in mind of campfires and summer nights--all honeysuckle and toasted marshmallow, with hints of smoke. The taste was very summery as well--lots of blueberry and blackberry flavors, along with a little salinity. 

This is another medium body/medium tannin wine. Not sure what I'd pair it with. Maybe a charcuterie board, or a lighter pasta dish (something with olives and lemon, perhaps). But I think it would also make a nice wine to simply drink on its own. Particularly outside by a lake or a river.

Which reminds me. I put together a playlist for nights like that. 

Romance Writers Weekly ~ PSL, Yes or No? ~ #LoveChatWrite

This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we're asked, "Okay, let's settle this! Pumpkin Spice - yea or nay?"

Oh, that's an easy one. YEA! Although I admit I take mine half sweet/no whip because NOBODY needs as much sugar as the fully loaded kind comes with. 

Just to be clear, I actually prefer Gingerbread lattes, and Honey Lavender iced lattes probably most of all. 

And I know, I know! Liking Fall and all things PSL is considered very basic. But what can you do? A couple of years ago I actually wrote a piece of flash fiction about PSLs and PSL Season. You can find that here:

 https://rhymeswithforeplay.blogspot.com/2022/09/romance-writers-weekly-fall-flash.html

Now, hop on over to Leslie Hachtel's page to find out which side of the debate she's on. And don't forget to check out her book, Come Back to Me.

Come Back to Me

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

Westport Winery Garden Resort in Westport, WA

Saturday, October 4 1to 3 pm!

Authors Kate Davies and PG Forte will be at the Fall Festival from 1 pm to 3 pm. Meet two of the authors of the POUR DECISIONS trilogy with a special Zoom-in with third author Kelly Jamieson!

Yeah, it’s just like in the books. IYKYK.

Grab signed copies of all three books, plus some fun swag! We can't wait to meet you. Mark your calendars now!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CoPemACWf/

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: Wake Me Up When September Ends (Green Day)

 So, I didn't know the story behind this song until...well, until I went looking for a good video to post, TBH. I always thought it was about 9/11. Turns out,  Billie Joe Armstrong wrote it about losing his father to cancer.  

Wine Wednesday: William Chris 2022 Enchanté

 

So here's a fun fact for you. About a year ago (September 24, 2024, to be exact) I posted about William Chris's 2021 Enchanté. Here's the link, if you want to see what I had to say about the wine back then:

 https://rhymeswithforeplay.blogspot.com/2024/09/wine-wednesday-william-chris-enchante.html

Even though Enchanté is William Chris' flagship wine, I have to admit that it's not my favorite of their wines. Don't get me wrong. I do like it. But if I may be allowed to quote from The Parent Trap, when it comes to Cabs and Merlots, I too am partial to the softer California grape. 

I've been learning a lot about Texas wine since I moved here, and there are a lot of varietals that are grown here that I was unfamiliar with before but that I like very much. 

When it comes to wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, however, I think California is hard to beat. But, YMMV, so you might want to give it a try and see what you think.

Here's another fun fact for you. The grapes for this wine are sourced from a vineyard located in the Enchanted Rock area outside Fredericksburg. The winemakers were trying to come up with a name that would pay homage both to the location and to the fact that they were using the grapes to make a Bordeaux-style (ie French) wine. Hence Enchanté. 

I found this wine to be a little more fruit forward and acidic than many Cabs, with milder tannins and more of an emphasis on red fruit (berries and cherries) rather than black. 

I'd pair this wine with Texas barbecue, or maybe some Tex-Mex cuisine. 

Romance Writers Weekly ~ Which Would You Rather Read? ~ #LoveChatWrite

This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we're asked, "Would you rather read (or write) about a rekindled flame or a brand-new passion? Is your choice influenced by the age of the characters?"

I've said it before: I really love a good second-chance romance. New relationships are often fun but there's just something about old flames reigniting that I find irresistible. In terms of writing, they both have their challenges, but that's what makes them fun!

I've never thought about whether the age of the characters would make a difference. And I'm not sure now but I think I might feel like the older the characters are, the more I want to see them fall in love with someone new. 

Yeah, that surprised me, too. 

For one thing, it seems more unexpected, which makes it more fun. For another...after a certain age, you might be more likely to feel like you might as well make new mistakes, rather than repeating an old one?

Unless you're a vampire. Vampires play by different rules. 

Now, hop on over to Jenna Da Sie's page to find out which she prefers.

And if you're going to be in the Westport Washington area on October 4, come and make some Pour Decisions!

Westport Winery Garden Resort in Westport, WA

Saturday, October 4 1to 3 pm!

Authors Kate Davies and PG Forte will be at the Fall Festival from 1 pm to 3 pm. Meet two of the authors of the POUR DECISIONS trilogy with a special Zoom-in with third author Kelly Jamieson!

Yeah, it’s just like in the books. IYKYK.

Grab signed copies of all three books, plus some fun swag! We can't wait to meet you. Mark your calendars now!

A New, Multi-Author Series Out Now!

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: Maggie May (Rod Stewart)

 

I'm not sure what I think of this version. I generally prefer to watch live performances than static images, but I'm not sure Stewart nails the "I feel I'm being used," or "I really should be back at school," aspects of the lyrics. But what can you do? We all get older--if we're lucky. Although, these days, I find myself wondering if "lucky" is the right word to use. 

These are the days that really bring home the reason WHY the phrase, "May you live in interesting times," is considered a curse. I spent most of my life clueless about that, and I could have happily continued in that vein.  But, C'est la vie, I guess. 

Wine Wednesday: William Chris 2020 Sangiovese

 

So, I think I've mentioned that I grew up with a bottle of Chianti on the dinner table nearly every night. It's not like I was drinking it, or anything, but that's still what informed my earliest perceptions of wine. 

Chianti, of course, is made from primarily Sangiovese grapes, so it's not surprising that I would be drawn to this wine. 

The nose is redolent of spiced fruit--cinnamon, apples, plums, cherries. It's got a medium body and milder tannins. It tastes very bright. Fruit forward, but still dry, with hints of salinity. 

Pairing is tricky...or, rather the reverse. I think this is a wine that would go well with many things. Not chocolate cake, perhaps, but most meats and other savory dishes. This is the wine I brought back from my trip to Willian Chris because it tastes like home. 

Romance Writers Weekly ~ September Reset ~ #LoveChatWrite

This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we're asked, "What do you do in September to reset yourself after the crazy days of summer? What routines do you restart?"

Sheesh! Like this September hasn't been just as crazy (if not more so) than the past summer! 

But to answer the question, what I'm doing this week is going to the beach. A short trip to decompress before even more craziness ensues. Craziness like the Westport Fall Festival: 

Come make some Pour Decisions!

Westport Winery Garden Resort in Westport, WA

on Saturday, October 4!

Authors Kate Davies and PG Forte will be at the Fall Festival from 1 pm to 3 pm. Meet two of the authors of the POUR DECISIONS trilogy with a special Zoom-in with third author Kelly Jamieson!

Yeah, it’s just like in the books. IYKYK.

Grab signed copies of all three books, plus some fun swag! We can't wait to meet you. Mark your calendars now!

Now, hop on over to Brenda Margriet's page to find out how she resets herself for Fall. And don't forget to check out her book, LOVING BETWEEN THE LINES.

LOVING BETWEEN THE LINES

A one-night stand neither will forget.

She wanted a final fling before choosing science to make her a single mom. He needed an escape from the regret grinding him into dust. Her baby isn’t his…but maybe family is more than DNA.❤ single older first-time mom ❤ hockey player now coach ❤ found family ❤ small reverse age gap  ❤ steamy, open-door, slow burn

https://books2read.com/LovingBetweenTheLines

A New, Multi-Author Series Out Now!

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: September Morn (Neil Diamond)

 

The first concert I ever went to was a Neil Diamond concert--at the Wintergarden Theater in NYC. I grew up on the Jersey side of the GW Bridge, so we spent a good amount of time in Manhattan. I'm pretty sure I saw a couple of plays at the Wintergarden, as well, but I couldn't tell you which ones they were. 

There's not much else I can think to say about this song. It's on a couple of my WIP playlists because it's a second chance song and that's one of my favorite tropes.  

If you'd like to listen to more Autumn-themed music, check out my playlist here:

Wine Wednesday: William Chris Vineyards 2020 Mourvèdre

 

Mourvèdre is one of those wines that I only learned about recently. The Mataro grape produces wines that are very intense in the sort of high-tannic way that I like. 

Personally, I blame the book My Side of the Mountain for my obsessions with all things tannic (yes, I'm looking at you, too, black tea). The young protagonist used oak chips and water to tan deer hide and I've been crazed ever since. 

Mourvèdre seems an odd fit with Texas since (according to lore) the grape likes "its face in the sun and its feet in the water."  Hot sun we got, but "feet in the water" doesn't exactly match any of the Texas wine growing areas that I'm aware of. And, as I think I mentioned already, William Chris is one of the Texas wineries that have committed to using only Texas grown grapes. 

Another reason it's odd is because Texas has very specific rules about how much alcohol wines can have, and when and where those wines are sold. Under 14% they can be sold in grocery stores. Between 14 and 17% they can only be sold during certain hours. Over 17% they can only be purchased in liquor stores. Since Mourvèdre tends to be high in alcohol, that could potentially be a problem.

But I digress...

This is a very nice wine with a lot of dark, cedar/tobacco notes on the nose. Blueberry and baking spices are the dominant flavors. I would happily pair this wine with Beef Bourguignon or Italian food.

Romance Writers Weekly ~ Exploring Emotions ~ #LoveChatWrite

This week, on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we answer the question, "Do you think romance novels have a unique ability to explore emotions and relationships that other genres don’t?"

I don't know if it's necessarily unique to Romance, but I think many romance authors view it as a mandate.  I mean, what is the point of Romance if not to explore the characters' emotions of their relationships with each other? I think that's what readers come to Romance for.  

Now, hop on over to Jill Haymaker's page to find out what she thinks. And don't forget to check out her book Montana Pines Search for Love!

Montana Pines Search for Love

They’re both searching for ghosts from their past. Can Tuf and Lacey put aside their insecurities long enough to fall in love in the present, or will the past tear them apart? And when they both find what they’ve been looking for, will they realize that what they have now is even more precious? A heartwarming story of love, family and relationships that last a lifetime.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FL4RLDQV 

Games We Play, series 3

Giada Mazzi is Living her Best Life

https://books2read.com/GiadaMazzi

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?

Musical Monday: Those Were the Days (Bobby Vinton)

 

I've been leaning hard into the nostalgia these past few months. I don't think there's anything to say about that that this song doesn't already encapsulate. I will say that, politically, this is no longer the country I grew up in. 

If you'd like to listen to more Autumn-themed music, check out my playlist here:

Wine Wednesday: William Chris Vineyards 2024 Picpoul Blanc

 

The third wine I sampled at William Chris, was a Picpoul Blanc--that's a new grape for me. It's a French grape (also called Folle blanche) and is the main grape used to make cognac. 

This past summer was my Summer of Peaches the Fredericksburg peaches were AMAZING and so this wine, with its very pronounced peach flavor should probably count as my summer 2025 wine. 

The wine is crisp and dry but it also has some weight to it. It has a very floral nose. Apparently many people notice pronounced lemon and citrus notes, I did not. I mean, there were SOME but not as much as suggested. There's also that hint of salinity that I've come to expect from Texas whites. Not a criticism, just an observation. 

I'd love this with a light seafood or pasta dish, or perhaps a salad. It would also make a nice porch wine. 

Here's a post from the vineyard where the grapes for this wine were harvested in 2024: https://www.facebook.com/100057280907251/posts/picpoul-blanc-headed-to-william-chris-vineyards-altalomavineyard-harvest2024-pic/1023696889549665/ 

The grapes are SO GREEN!!

BTW, it's currently harvest time for most wine producing areas in the country (or shortly thereafter) making this the perfect time to pick up the POUR DECISIONS series, if you haven't already!

https://books2read.com/Pour-Decisions