With: Alexia Adams
Congratulations to "Anita H.", the winner in Alexia's giveaway. Thank you to all who participated!
“Wine a bit, you’ll feel better.” A few years ago my mother bought me a t-shirt with this slogan emblazoned in tiny bedazzling. Ah, she knows me so well. When my second child became a teenager, I wanted to go to the liquor store and ask if they offered a discount for parents of multiple teens. Not that I’m advocating over-drinking or using alcohol as a way to avoid one’s problems, but a glass a day is a sure-fire way to warm this stressed momma’s heart.
So, it seemed almost inevitable that one day I’d write about a vintner. Your heroes may be military men, first responders, doctors or teachers… and I appreciate all these, too. But let’s face it, without winemakers the world would be a much sadder place.
However, as glamorous as it sounds, a vintner is really just a grape farmer who processes his crop rather delightfully. And with the uncertain world of agriculture and fickle consumer trends, winemaking is a hard business to make any decent money, unless you have multiple vineyards and a huge conglomerate backing you.
But I write very rich alpha males who have it all, or so they think. How could I write a vintner who also filled these criteria? Unfortunately for Jacques, I had to give him another job. Although he’d rather be making wine full-time, the majority of his day is spent chairing board meetings and studying projected income forecasts and return on investment numbers. To add insult to injury, I then had a sexy, irrepressible biker chick come to claim ten hectares of his best grape vines. Poor Jacques, he thought his world was under his control until he met Maya. Here’s a snippet of their conversation about her inheritance:
“I’m supposed to meet with your grandfather at ten.”
He pulled apart a croissant. “Consider me as his stand-in. I left him a note saying you’d be with me today.”
“That was presumptuous of you.”
“I prefer the term self-assured. Makes me sound less obnoxious.”
“If you say so.” But she did want to see her inheritance. “Will you show me the ten hectares I own?”
His mouth tightened. “We need to discuss that. The land is an integral part of the winery and the whole estate. You must sell it back to the family.”
“I must do nothing.” She put down her cup and crossed her arms.
“Are you always this disagreeable?”
“Always. Still want to show me your estate?”
He sighed, although it was accompanied by a wicked smile. “I can see no other way.”
“Bite me.”
“With pleasure.”
Giveaway:
The Vintner and The Vixen releases on Monday, January 25th. Until then it’s at a special pre-release price of $1.99. To celebrate this first book in the Vintage Love series to be published, I’m giving away a $10 Amazon gift card to one commenter on this blog post. Just tell me what your favorite wine is, or if you don’t drink wine, what you enjoy imbibing at the end of a long day. And don’t forget to pre-order your copy of Jacques and Maya’s story before the price goes up on Monday.
Here’s to all the wines I’ve loved before…
Cheers, everyone!
It’s
all fun and games until someone falls in love.
Maya
Tessier needs a fresh start after her last boyfriend dragged her deep into an
organized crime ring, putting her life in danger. After inheriting a cottage
and acreage in France from her great-grandmother, she hopes to escape her turbulent
past to concentrate on her art. Unfortunately, her inheritance is within the
estate of a privacy-obsessed billionaire. And he wants it all back.
Jacques
de Launay has led a life of rigid control, working hard to repair the family’s
fortunes after his playboy father nearly destroyed them. His one attempt at happiness
ended in tragedy when his pregnant wife was killed in a car crash. He’d rather
be the last in the illustrious de Launay family line than open himself up to
that kind of heartache again. Then Maya Tessier arrives on his doorstep and he
discovers it’s not only the ancestral land he wants to reclaim.
But
if he lets her stay, more than his heart may be at risk.
Buy Links:
Amazon | iBooks | Barnes and Noble | Kobo
Author Bio:
Alexia once traveled the world, meeting new people,
experiencing new sights and tastes. She’s lived in Canada, New Zealand,
Australia, England, and France, as well as spent time in Panama and Russia.
When life demanded that she stay rooted in one place, she took to vicarious
voyages through the characters she created in her romance novels. Her stories
reflect her love of travel and feature locations as diverse as the wind-swept
prairies of Canada to hot and humid cities in Asia. To discover other books
written by Alexia or read her blog on inspirational destinations, Journey to
Love at http://Alexia-Adams.com and sign up for her newsletter to
keep up-to-date with new books and adventures.
Social Media Links:
Website: http://alexia-adams.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexiaAdamsAuth
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/alexiaadamsauth/
Amazon
Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Alexia-Adams/e/B00CNIDYN2/
Books:
Miss Guided
(a Guide to Love novella)
Played bythe Billionaire (a Guide to Love novel)
His BillionDollar Dilemma (a Guide to Love novel)
SingaporeFling
Giveaway ends 11:59pm EST Jan 22nd. Please supply your email in the post. You may use spaces or full text for security. (ex. jsmith at gmail dot com) If you do not wish to supply your email, or have trouble posting, please email maureen@JustContemporaryRomance.com with a subject title of JCR GIVEAWAY to be entered in the current giveaway.
Giveaway ends 11:59pm EST Jan 22nd. Please supply your email in the post. You may use spaces or full text for security. (ex. jsmith at gmail dot com) If you do not wish to supply your email, or have trouble posting, please email maureen@JustContemporaryRomance.com with a subject title of JCR GIVEAWAY to be entered in the current giveaway.
I don't drink anymore, but I remember liking "Rocca Bernarda Friulano" very much. It's a fruity wine that comes from my region and the one that, like its aftertaste, left a lasting impression on me.
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt, great banter! I can't wait to read more.
natalija(dot)shkomare(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Natalija. I'm going to look for Rocca Bernarda Friulano next time I'm in the liquor store.
DeleteCheers,
Alexia
I don't drink wine but I always enjoy a good cup of cocoa with plenty of whipped cream to end my night
ReplyDeleteahui89 (at) hotmail (dot) com
Hi Ada, I drink my hot chocolate with eleventy billion marshmallows. My children laugh at me because the ratio of marshmallows to hot chocolate is about even. Thanks for stopping by and commenting today.
DeleteAlexia
Since getting diabetes, I can't drink wine. When I COULD drink wine, I had no favorites.
ReplyDeleteToday I am able to enjoy having a cold beer (or two) after a long day (per doctor's suggestion). Before turning 50, I could drink maybe half a beer at a time before the smell got to me. But then my friends started making me shandies, which are half beer and half ginger ale/Sprite. Next thing I knew, I could drink a whole beer at a time, then two, then three! Wicked!
Maureen has my email address.
Hi Laney4, sucks about the diabetes. I had gestational diabetes with 3 of my pregnancies but fortunately it went away after each birth. My husband drinks shandies (he's British) and that's about the only way I can drink beer as well (except for Stella and Corona). Thanks for stopping by and commenting today.
DeleteAlexia
Not a big drinker... once in a blue moon... but I like Yago San Gria... sometimes around the holidays, my family has wines from Brotherhood... otherwise it is a frozen strawberry daiquiri for me.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the diaquiri, Colleen. Although wine is my staple, in the summer I whip up a batch of diaquiris in my blender and sit on the deck and read. Thanks for commenting today.
DeleteCheers,
Alexia
I suspect a vintner would have to sit down on hearing that my favourite wine is a blend - any blend that contains the aroma of chocolate! My favourite wind-down drink is a "home-made" chocolate port that I fortified with Screech rum! Now THAT helps a Mom of a 19-year-old who takes his car out on the Sea-to-Sky highway at 11 PM to see friends in Squamish sleep a little better until she hears the door open again at 4 AM...
ReplyDeleteAlready pre-ordered the book. Waiting with anticipation!
Wow, chocolate port and rum. I'll be over in a few minutes, Donna. I found a recipe on Facebook for Bailey's Irish cream, vanilla vodka and coffee (I use hazelnut/vanilla coffee) ice cubes. That's mighty fine, too. Every time we get home safe after traveling the Sea-to-Sky I feel like kissing the ground in relief. I can't image knowing your son is driving it at night. You definitely need a fortifying drink. Cheers, Alexia
DeleteWine - from the gods I'm certain! I love most reds, particularly big hearty dry reds, almost strong enough to chew. I like my drinks strong and flavourful - why I love single malt Scotches from Islay (peaty, heavy), and why I love Guinness instead of any beer. Although I've been known to sip on a light dry white wine in the summer if it's very very very hot - a rare occurrence. Cheers! (clink)
ReplyDeleteA lot of red wines give me a headache so I mostly drink white. My husband bought me a bottle of single malt whisky back from the UK but it is so smokey it's almost undrinkable, such a disappointment. I'll have to bring you a bit when we next meet so you can try it. Thanks for coming by today. Cheers, Alexia
Deletehot chocolate
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
Hot chocolate is a great comfort drink.
DeleteI have never liked wine. Water is mu favorite drink. I the only thing I usually drink each day wight he rare hot chocolate or lemonade exceptions. yenastone at aol dot com
ReplyDeleteHi Tammy, thanks for stopping by and commenting. Water really is the best, good for you.
DeleteCheers,
Alexia
I'm not a drinker of wine but I love good cup of earl grey tea, just perfect nightcap while I read before bed!
ReplyDeletethebigbluewall77 AT gmail DOT com
I'm with you, Anita. I don't think I would survive without my daily Earl Grey fix. I usually have at least 3 cups a day. But I can't drink caffeinated tea after 3pm. Love your avatar, by the way. Earl Grey is great with cookies, or biscuits if you're British. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
DeleteCheers,
Alexia
Living in Fort Collins, CO, where there are 20 or so breweries, I'd have to forgo wine in favor of local beer.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is Seize the Night Dark Kettle Sour brewed by a family owned brewery called Horse and Dragon.
corozondemono at gmail dot com
Craft breweries are big where I live, too and friends have just started a cidery (if that's what it's called). Thanks for commenting, Mandy. Enjoy the weekend.
DeleteAlexia
I love a good Zinfandel, although my home state of Texas produces some wonderful Merlot wines. Heck who am I kidding, if it's wine I probably love it. Congratulations on your release!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Angela. I'm partial to a good Zinfandel, too, especially in the summer.
DeleteCheers,
Alexia