Wino Wednesday – Ancient Roots Red Blend

Wino Wednesday is back! Today I’m pairing Ancient Roots Red Blend with Jennifer L. Armentrout’s wonderful Titan novel, The Return.

This California red blend features strong flavors of dark cherry and vanilla with a nice chocolately aroma. With a $7.99 price tag, Ancient Roots Red Blend is what I like to call a very yummy “everyday wine.” Not too fancy, not too blah, just the right amount of kick to it for girls’ night in!

I’ve been scouring the wine section in every store I found myself, in order to find the perfect pair for Armentrout’s The Return, the first book in the Titan series which is a spin-off of her Covenant series. I thought Seth’s reappearance in the world of paranormal new adult romance deserved a wine for celebration. Since this book features Greek gods, I thought Ancient Roots would be a fitting wine because Seth himself has ancient roots. And he’s hot. Like super hot. If you don’t believe me, then see what leading lady Josie has to say about it…

“What are you?” she asked, her nose scrunching as she spoke. “Other than a heart-stopping hot guy with obvious boundary issues and problems with anger management?”

I blinked at her. She thought I was a heart-stopping hot guy? Well, of course she did.

The Return, Jennifer L. Armentrout, p. 23

So in celebration of Seth’s return, grab yourself a bottle of Ancient Roots Red Blend and a copy of The Return. You will be in Greek god bliss before you know it!

Happy reading and happy drinking, my friends! ❤

See below for a full review of The Return and how you can get yourself a bottle of Ancient Roots Red Blend.

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Story (5 out of 5)                               Hottness (4 out of 5)

                         

Hottness rating caveat: No sex, but descriptive words definitely used!

Book Description

The Fates are cackling their bony asses off…

It’s been a year since Seth made the deal with the gods that pledged his life to them. And so far, the jobs they’ve given him have been violent and bloody–which is kind of all right with him. But now Apollo has something else in mind for Seth. He’s got to play protector while keeping his hands and fingers off, and for someone who really has a problem with restraint, this new assignment might be the most challenging yet.

Josie has no idea what this crazy hot guy’s deal might be, but it’s a good bet that his arrival means the new life she started after leaving home is about to be thrown into an Olympian-sized blender turned up to puree. Either Josie is going insane or a nightmare straight out of ancient myth is gunning for her.

But it might be the unlikely attraction simmering between her and the golden-eyed, secret-keeping Seth that may prove to be the most dangerous thing of all.

Because history has once again been flipped to repeat.

Amazon.com

Review

Yay! Seth is back! In preparation for The Return, I reread the entire Covenant Series. I’m really happy that I did because a handful of the main characters show up in The Return and Seth’s behavior is a direct result of what happened in that series. Technically, I guess you could read this book without reading that series. There is a point in the book where the events that took place are recapped, but it barely skimmed the surface of what Seth thought and felt. It was more just a play-by-play from an outsider. So I would suggest reading the Covenant series before delving into this book. You will appreciate it so much more!

Happy Hallo-Wine!

Happy Hallo-wine, my book and wine lovers! I decided for this dark holiday that I would re-read a spooktacular book to fit the season. I couldn’t help myself so I grabbed J.R. Ward’s Dark Lover, the first book in her Black Dagger Brotherhood series (there are a TON of books in this series and I’m totally sucked in and have to read them all again!). And of course Vampire Cabernet Sauvignon makes the perfect pairing! This wine is absolutely delicious with blackberry and dark cherry aromas. The oakiness is spot on and pairs well with…all the Halloween candy I may or may not be eating. 😉

With a book in one hand, a glass of wine in the other, and maybe a bowl of candy that didn’t make it to the trick-or-treaters next to me, I am in vampire bliss!

Happy reading, drinking, and candy eating, my loves!

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Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | Paperback

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Wino Wednesday – Flirt

It’s Wino Wednesday! Today I’m pairing Flirt red wine with J. Daniels’ third Sweet Addiction book,  Sweet Obsession.

Flirt is a blend of Syrah, Tempranillo and Zinfandel giving it warm flavors of red plum, cherry cola, vanilla, and butterscotch, or so says the bottle! This is a very sweet wine which I should have known based on the blend of these three particular reds. I definitely taste juicy plum and cherry flavors with a hint of cherry cola going on there and if I put my imagination to it, I can taste the butterscotch. I wouldn’t have thought that without prompting though, so I’m clearly not a sommelier, but I try! If you like sweet reds, this is definitely a very tasty one!

I chose to pair Flirt with Sweet Obsession because the leading lady, Brooke Wicks, is the biggest flirt of them all! Exhibit A:

I match his expression, only, I can’t simply teeter the line of flirtation. I jump right over it.

I lean forward, running my hand down my leg, angling my body down the slightest bit until Mason takes notice of my cleavage. I play with the chain hanging around my neck, which just so happens to tickle between my breasts. He doesn’t remove his gaze, and my nipples quickly harden under his scrutiny. Then I slowly sit back, crossing my one leg over the other, waiting until he looks up at me before I leisurely raise my glass to my lips and taste my wine. His eyes flair with desire as my tongue licks the residue from the corner of my mouth.

Sweet Obsession, J. Daniels, Ch. 7

If you’re feeling in the mood or want to get there, try Flirt, a sexy wine that pairs brilliantly with the even sexier Sweet Obsession.

Happy reading and happy drinking, my friends! ❤

See below for a full review of Sweet Obsession and how you can get yourself a bottle of Flirt Red Wine.

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Story (5 out of 5)                               Hottness (4 out of 5)

                            

Book Description

Everyone knows Brooke Wicks loves to have a good time.

She’s not interested in getting serious, settling down, or limiting herself to one man. So when she meets the sexy, irresistible Mason King, she sees another opportunity to let loose and go wild. But the gorgeous Aussie isn’t interested in just a quick fling with Brooke, and if she wants to get into his bed, she’s going to have to do it on his terms.

Loving fast and hard has always been Mason’s philosophy.

He doesn’t want a meaningless connection, he wants it all, and he wants it with Brooke. When she makes her one desire known—to hit it and quit it—Mason wages a plan to ensure Brooke keeps coming back for more. Or so he hopes.

Getting her attention was the easy part. Keeping it might be damn near impossible.

Sweet Obsession is where the Sweet Addiction series meets the Alabama Summer series.

Amazon.com

Review

J. Daniels does it again! Sweet Obsession is flirty, sexy, sweet, and fun! I love all of the characters Daniels’ creates and Brooke Wicks is definitely one of my favorites. When I found out she was getting her own story, I was beyond ecstatic. I knew that crazy horny Brooke’s story would break the romance novel mold. And boy does it!

Wino Wednesday – Monogamy Cabernet Sauvignon

Today’s Wino Wednesday is a pairing of Monogamy Cabernet Sauvignon with Catherine Bybee’s final Weekday Bride book, Treasured by Thursday.

With aromas of black olive, black currant, plum, and dried herbs, Monogamy Cabernet Sauvignon explodes on your tongue in all its blackberry, black cherry, currant, and plum flavored glory! Its velvety texture and toasty finish will have you going back for just one or two or three more glasses. Yet another lovely red to add to my “must buy and drink immediately again” list!

I was so happy when I received this wine as a gift from my bestie (love you, Carrie!) because I knew I had the perfect book to pair it with! In comes Treasured by Thursday, where Gabi Masini finds herself in a marriage in name only to the enigmatic billionaire, Hunter Blackwell. Gabi doesn’t mess around when it comes to monogamy, even if it is a fake marriage…

“Any extramarital affair going public…assumed or proven, will cost one million per affair.”

That made him pause. “Really, Gabi?”

“I hate being made a fool.”

Treasured by Thursday, Catherine Bybee, p. 46

Fall truly madly deeply in love with Bybee’s Treasured by Thursday and Monogamy Cabernet Sauvignon! Trust me, both will leave you undeniably satisfied!

Happy reading and happy drinking, my friends! ❤

See below for a full review of Treasured by Thursday and how you can get yourself a bottle of Monogamy Cabernet Sauvignon.

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Story (5 out of 5)                               Hottness (4 out of 5)

                            

Book Description

The seventh and final tale in the dazzling, heartwarming, and pulse-racing Weekday Brides series.

Gabriella Masini: She’s a woman haunted by her past, with the scars to prove it. She believes that fairy tales are for other people. An elite matchmaker at Alliance, she’s great at crunching numbers, but something doesn’t add up with her latest prospective client: a billionaire bad boy with his own secrets. When Gabi refuses to be his temporary wife, Hunter forces her hand with an offer she can’t refuse. But marriage to a man like that could never last…or could it?

Hunter Blackwell: Only his bank account is bigger than his ruthless ability to obtain anything he wants. These days, he has a secret reason to settle down, at least for a while—and he thinks the sensual and sassy Gabi will fit the bill perfectly. But when their marriage of convenience becomes downright dangerous, Hunter must decide how far to take his vow to honor and protect Gabi forever.

Amazon.com

Review

Catherine Bybee is a goddess when it comes to writing romance novels! Her books have the perfect balance of sex, sweetness, tension, drama, and action. Her plots are always perfectly paced and satisfyingly complete. Treasured by Thursday is the beautiful finishing touch of icing on the cake that is the Weekday Brides series.

Wino Wednesday – Handsome Devil Malbec

You know what day of the week it is…Wino Wednesday! Today I’m pairing the crazy delicious Handsome Devil Malbec with Jennifer L. Armentrout’s wonderful Dark Elements finale, Every Last Breath.

Handsome Devil Malbec has a fantastic mix of blackberry, cranberry, and white pepper flavors with hints of toasty vanilla and violets. The tannins are smooth and not too bitter giving a velvety texture that will keep you pouring more of this bad boy. This red has definitely made its way on to my top five favorite wines. I will be buying more of this and gifting it to family and friends for every occasion.  Who am I kidding? I’m keeping it all to my selfish self!

In order to pay homage to the perfect labeled wine, I am pairing it with Every Last Breath, which features my favorite handsome devil of them all, Roth. Sexy, sinful, and gosh darn handsome as hell!

“But Roth was like this little devil on my shoulder, urging me to be bad and to enjoy every freaking moment of it. Except he wasn’t a little devil. He was the Crown Prince of Hell.”

Stone Cold Touch, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Ch. 21

(Ok, this quote is not from Every Last Breath, but from the previous book in the trilogy, Stone Cold Touch. I couldn’t pass up how perfect this quote was for this wine pairing!)

Grab yourself a bottle (or two!) of Handsome Devil Malbec and a copy of Every Last Breath and get sucked into the dark world of demons, wardens, and Hell itself!

Happy reading and happy drinking, my friends! ❤

See below for a full review of Every Last Breath and how you can get yourself a bottle of Handsome Devil Malbec.

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Story (5 out of 5)                               Hottness (2 out of 5)

                            

Book Description

Some loves will last ’til your dying breath 

Every choice has consequences—but seventeen-year-old Layla faces tougher choices than most. Light or darkness. Wickedly sexy demon prince Roth, or Zayne, the gorgeous, protective Warden she never thought could be hers. Hardest of all, Layla has to decide which side of herself to trust.

Layla has a new problem, too. A Lilin—the deadliest of demons—has been unleashed, wreaking havoc on those around her…including her best friend. To keep Sam from a fate much, much worse than death, Layla must strike a deal with the enemy while saving her city—and her race—from destruction.

Torn between two worlds and two different boys, Layla has no certainties, least of all survival, especially when an old bargain comes back to haunt them all. But sometimes, when secrets are everywhere and the truth seems unknowable, you have to listen to your heart, pick a side—and then fight like hell…

Amazon.com

Review

Every Last Breath is the final installment of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s Dark Elements trilogy. This was my most anticipated book for the year and I was not disappointed. While reading (and re-reading) the first two books, I was just as confused as Layla. What was she? And what was really going on? Finally we get all the answers we’ve been dying to know!!!

Wino Wednesday – Purple Cowboy Tenacious Red

I’m baa-aack! AND It’s Wino Wednesday, my favorite day of the week! Today I’m pairing the delectable Purple Cowboy Tenacious Red with Sawyer Bennett’s sinfully sexy Wicked Fall.

Purple Cowboy Tenacious Red is a red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, which gives us a slightly sweet, very rich, full-bodied wine. With aromas of red berries and cherries along with hunts of cola and cinnamon, your mind will be blown after one sip and the bottle will be gone before you know it. This is a wine that I poured glass after glass and mourned my loss after the last drop.

Obviously with a wine called  ” Purple Cowboy Tenacious Red,” I had to find the perfect pair featuring a cowboy, so why not pair it with the dirtiest and most tenacious cowboy I could find. That would be Woolf Jennings, ranch owner by day and sex club owner by night.

“His hand tightens on the back of my neck, and for some weird reason, it makes me want to drop to my knees in front of him.”

Wicked Fall, Sawyer Bennett, Ch. 2

Hot damn! You may need two bottles of  Purple Cowboy Tenacious Red to cool you off while reading this one, ladies (and gents)! So seriously, grab yourself a bottle of  Purple Cowboy Tenacious Red and a copy of Wicked Fall, find a quiet corner, and get absolutely lost in this shockingly sexy story!

Happy reading and happy drinking, my friends! ❤

See below for a full review of Wicked Fall and how you can get yourself a bottle of  Purple Cowboy Tenacious Red.

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Story (4 out of 5)                               Hottness (5 out of 5)

                                  

Book Description

Never in your wildest dreams could you begin to imagine all the filthy and depraved things that go on inside The Wicked Horse. Step inside and Woolf Jennings will make every one of your dirty fantasies come true.

He’s covered in a facade of deception. An enticing blend of multi-millionaire and hot-as-hell Wyoming rancher, those that think they know Woolf Jennings admire his abilities to preside as CEO of his family’s cattle and oil empire. But only a privileged few truly understand what fuels the glitter of depravity in those gorgeous blue eyes. Only a few know he’s opened up a sinfully erotic and private sex club named The Wicked Horse right at the base of the beautiful Teton Mountain range.

Sweet Callie Hayes has returned home to Wyoming and is looking forward to starting her life over again. After a night of impetuosity, she’s managed to put herself right in Woolf’s line of sight… the man who she foolishly offered up her virginity to years ago and was flatly turned down.

Now Woolf is seeing that Callie is all grown up and has a kinky side to her that leaves him as confused as it does turned on. Worse yet, both Callie’s dirty desires and sweet heart are getting under his skin, and making Woolf question everything he’s ever believed about himself.

Amazon.com

Review

This is a story about finding your way back to the one you never had, yet never could forget. When fate, or more accurately a cheating fiancé, brings Callie back to Wyoming, Woolf isn’t sure if he should grab her and never let go or run for the hills. After fantasizing about her for most of his adult life, he’s unsure if his college acquired predilections will be the end before the beginning when sweet and innocent Callie comes back into his life. Running a cattle ranch by day and his newly opened sex club by night, Woolf is a busy man yet can feel that something is missing in his life. Maybe Callie will be his redemption…or his undoing.

Wino Wednesday – Fuchsia Rosé

It’s baa-aack! Wino Wednesday! Woop! Today I am pairing Fuchsia Rosé with Claudia Connor’s Worth the Fall.

With aromas of red cherry, cranberry, strawberry and a hint of peach along with raspberry, strawberry and peach flavors,  Fuchsia Rosé is a light and refreshing wine that will quench your thirst and have you asking for just one more glass.  As someone who is not a big sweet wine drinker, I was pleasantly surprised that I truly did want more than one glass. It was the perfect wine on a hot summer day. Speaking of hot summer days, I chose this wine to pair with Connor’s wonderful Worth the Fall because meeting your soulmate on the beach should be celebrated with a beach themed wine label!

A sweet wine like Fuchsia Rosé deserves a pairing with a sweet book like Worth the Fall. You don’t get much sweeter than Matt McKinney, who not only falls in love with Abby, but also her four children.

“And he knew. Knew without a doubt, he was holding his heart and soul in his arms. And he never wanted to let her go.”

Worth the Fall, Claudia Connor, Ch. 12

Grab yourself a bottle of Fuchsia Rosé and a copy of Claudia Connor’s sweet novel, Worth the Fall! I dare you not to fall in love!

Happy reading and happy drinking, my friends! ❤

See below for a full review of Worth the Fall and how you can get yourself a bottle of Fuchsia Rosé.

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Story (5 out of 5)                               Hottness (3 out of 5)

                        

Book Description

They meet on a beach. . . . Abby Davis isn’t wearing a skimpy bikini or sipping umbrella drinks, not when she’s busy chasing around four little ones. And Matt McKinney isn’t looking for fun—he’s a Navy SEAL, a grown man with a long list of missions . . . and fallen brothers.

They only have a week. . . . Abby has brought her children to this beach to start over, to give them the enjoyable memories they deserve. Matt’s been sidelined by a combat injury, and haunted by the best friend he lost and the promise he made: to remain a SEAL—focused and dedicated. This leaves no time for what he’s always wanted: a family.

But a week is all it takes. . . . Matt opens her heart while Abby soothes his soul. And though they plan to say good-bye when the week is over, something magical happens on that beach, something neither can forget. Something utterly, completely worth falling for.

Amazon.com

Review

This book right here is a frickin’ winner! The characters are well-rounded, real, and perfectly imperfect. The writing is beautiful, emotional, and well-paced. The story itself is

Wino Wednesday – Silly Goose

It’s Wino Wednesday with a pairing of the delicious Silly Goose Shiraz with Sawyer Bennett’s Zack.

Silly Goose has full bodied flavors of berries and spices. Even though this is not the best shiraz out there, it is pretty darn good when you take into account the $4.99 price tag slapped on it. Being a light and fruity wine, Silly Goose can be paired with just about everything. In fact, today I’m pairing it with the most recent Cold Fury Hockey novel by Sawyer Bennett, Zack, because the leading lady, Kate Francis, is one silly goose herself. You can’t help but smile, no matter how gloomy your mood, when you read all the funny names she comes up with to try and make Zack smile. Take it from Zack himself:

Now that I know what lies beneath, I can clearly imagine it in my head. You add that to the fact that Kate is one of the most outgoing people I know, who uses humor and silliness to make people laugh, and you have a woman who is an absolute open book just begging to be read.

 Zack, Sawyer Bennett, Ch. 9

Get your happy on while reading Zack and drink yourself a glass or two of Silly Goose Shiraz!

Happy reading and happy drinking, my friends! ❤

See below for a full review of Zack and how you can get yourself a bottle of Silly Goose Shiraz.

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Story (5 out of 5)                               Hottness (4 out of 5)

                           

Book Description

Warning: The following contains spoilers from a cliffhanger in Garrett.

Rising star Zack Grantham has been stuck in a downward spiral of grief that has put his career on hold. Back on the road with the Carolina Cold Fury, still crippled by emotional baggage, and now a single dad, he’s in need of some serious help with his son. But while the nerdy new nanny wins his son’s heart, Zack isn’t sure he’s ready for a woman’s touch—even after getting a glimpse of the killer curves she’s hiding under those baggy clothes.

Kate Francis usually keeps men like Zack at a distance. Though his athlete’s body is honed to perfection, he refuses to move on with his life—and besides, he’s her boss. Still, the sparks between them are undeniable, tempting Kate to turn their professional relationship into a personal one. But before she makes a power play for Zack’s wounded heart, Kate will have to open him up again and show him that love is worth the fight.

Amazon.com

Review

Yet again, Sawyer Bennett has tugged at my heartstrings and forced me to

Wino Wednesday – Jam Jar

It’s that day of the week again…Wino Wednesday! Today I am pairing the luscious Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz with Claire Contreras’ Catch Me.

Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz – think chocolate covered berries and alcohol and that’s what you get! This is a very sweet wine that is meant to be served slightly chilled and I will definitely agree with that instruction. I had it warm before reading the bottle (this is why reading instructions is so important, people!) and I was all “eh” about it. After about 10 minutes in the fridge, this wine was golden! Still a little on the sweet side for my taste, but based on the label (i.e. SWEET shiraz), I knew what I was getting into. I think this wine would be best on a hot summer day when your craving something sweet and chocolatey.

I decided to pair this wine with Contreras’ Catch Me because the bottle immediately reminded me of

Throw Back Thursday – Wino Wednesday style

I can’t believe it has been a year since I had the genius idea to pair wine with books. Since then I discovered that I actually enjoy red wine, when I usually swore it off. I learned a lot about different grape varieties, flavors of wine, and wine regions. Who knew that drinking would be an education?

I hope that you have enjoyed my Wino Wednesday posts because I plan on keeping them coming! I have a whole closet filled with wine just waiting for the perfect book.

If you have a wine to suggest, please let me know in the comment section below. I’m always looking for more to add to my collection!

Check out my Book & Wine pairings.

White Wine ONLY

Red Wine ONLY