What an incredible vacation I have just returned from. A tour through 12 vineyards in 4 days and oh the wines we tasted! From a behind the scenes tour of the Castello de Amorosa to the mini museum on Francis Ford Coppola's winery, home of the prestigious Inglenook wines. Beautiful grape vines and luscious wines from the Lobo Cabernet to the fantastic Fantasia, but I digress. This edition is not about pairing foods and wines, which B Cellars and Darioush did most elegantly it is about an unexpected pairing between the pages of a book and the grapes on the vine.
I had requested several books for review and had not had the chance to get to them earlier this year. I expected to have some free time on the plane while traveling from coast to coast. Incidentally it is a somewhat odd sensation to race against the setting of the sun via airplane. Once we were settled into our seats, belts fastened, drink choice selected, and cool air blowing I pulled out the Kindle. I love a cozy mystery and had several new ones to choose from but was drawn to this particular one. Mind you, I have no way to know what the book cover looks like after it gets to my e-reader and I requested them so long ago that I did not remember what the cover looked like in the first place. I was quite elated to realize that I had picked a story that takes place in the wine country!
Our main character and heroine, Kelsey McKenna is a destination wedding planner who finds herself being the person of interest after discovering a fellow wedding planner and self proclaimed "Queen of Wine Country Weddings", Babs Norton, dead. It does not help that Bab's assistant, Stefan (aka the ankle biter) is going around telling people that Kelsey killed Babs to get her clients. This case becomes as complex as the flavors of a 2005 IL BARONE Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, which we did indeed sample at the castle when it seems that there is no end to the possible criminals from the deceased's sister to a father of the bride and it doesn't help when people unexpectedly glimpse Kelsey's murder board and see their names notated. No cozy mystery is complete without a little romance and while this book waits until the last few chapters it does not disappoint as Kelsey learns that she should have listened to her photographer pal, Brody, and let him play cupid sooner. Much like a fine wine, better late than never.
I almost always learn something new and interesting while reading fiction that actually turns out to be a nonfiction fact, and this one was no different. Do you know why roses are planted at the ends of the rows of grape vines? Or why the vineyards are building caves? I didn't know the answers either and you'll just have to read the book to find out. So grab a glass of wine and relax with this great read.
