From Me to You ... Video, Photography and Book Reviews: Blog Tour - Made the Grade: A Taste of Merlot by Heather Heyford

Today I'm turning my blog over to Heather Heyford, with a review of her latest novel "A Taste of Merlot," which is the second novel in her Napa Wine Heiresses Series!!

ALSO -- Be sure to check out Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post to be able to sign up for this blog stop's GIVEAWAY(s)!! [Blog Tour & Giveaway will run TODAY -- January 2, 2015]

- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Paperback - Pages: 187; Kindle Edition - File Size: 1196 KB | Release Date: January 5, 2015 | Publisher: Lyrical Press | Obtained: Goddess Fish Promotions / NetGalley

"A Taste of Merlot" [The Napa Wine Heiresses Series, Book 2] by Heather Heyford

Author's Book Description : Raise your glass and join Heather Heyford as she pours a second serving in her series following these headstrong wine heiresses in their quest to strike out on their own...

Merlot St. Pierre is struggling to break free from her family name. Her college classmates whisper behind her back that her passion for jewelry design is little more than a hobby, since she’ll always have her father’s fortune. But Meri is determined to prove them wrong, and with the help of a handsome jewelry buyer, she just may taste her first sip of success—as long as she can hide who she really is...

Mark Newman’s family owns a chain of high-end jewelry stores, and he’s working hard to get out from under his aunt’s thumb and prove he has a good eye and a head for business. He’s certain Meri’s designs could be the next big thing, but he’ll have to convince her that she can use her famous last name to her advantage. As their business partnership takes root, an attraction begins to flourish—but they’ll both find that love, like wine, takes time to perfect...

My Book Review : 3.5 out of 5 stars! Two people, both from famous families, find each through jewelry and learn more about themselves then they could have ever hoped for, now if they’ll only trust each other with all their past secrets everything should be fine.

This novel I found to be more “smoke and mirrors” when it came to Merlot (Meri) and Mark’s past secrets because of the way they are laid out for the reader. Yet, because of those secrets and how they are displayed made me intrigued for more and more. Nevertheless, I enjoyed with how Meri and Mark meet, interact, and come into their relationship. I especially enjoyed how Meri dealt with her jealousy issues when it came to Mark working with her archenemy. Plus, to top it off I really liked Meri’s sisters and Mark’s friends since they lightened up this novel just enough to like the main characters that much more.

It makes me intrigued to see where else to this series will go. I recommend this novel to those who like contemporary romances!

-- On a side note --

The only character I say for a fact that I didn't like was Meri's father Xavier St. Pierre because he might "take care" of his daughters but I'm not sure he really cares for them or their feelings.

Purchase This Book and/or The Other Books From It's Series Here : Alibris : A TASTE OF CHARDONNAY | Kobo : A TASTE OF CHARDONNAY | Kobo : A TASTE OF MERLOT | Kobo : A TASTE OF SAUVIGNON

Author's Novel Extras : Pinterest: "A Taste of Merlot" | BLOG TOURS

Author's Series Extras : The Napa Wine Heiresses Series - Overview | Pinterest: "A Taste of Chardonnay" | Pinterest: "A Taste of Sauvignon" | Pinterest: "A Taste of Sake" | Meet Ryder McBride from A Taste of Chardonnay!

Book Teaser(s) :

The first time he'd called, he'd been told the professor he needed to speak to was already gone for the semester break. Mark had clearly identified himself as a buyer from Harrington's. Tried to sweet-talk the receptionist into understanding that all he wanted to do was help Gilty advance in her career, but nothing he said would budge her. She was sorry, but she was not permitted to release personal information of any student.
Now, when he'd finally gotten through to Gilty's returning jewelry prof only to hear that the student in question was no longer enrolled in the school, Labor Day had come and gone.
His long-simmering frustration had boiled over, leading him to shout questions at the person on the other end of the phone. The answer had been a click and a dial tone. No surprise, there. After all his stalking, they had him pegged as a nut job.
Greaaaat. ~ within Chapter 5

For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Heather, then please check out her website.

About the Author :

Born in the Northeast, Heather Heyford learned to walk and talk in Texas, and then moved to England. (“Ya’ll want some scones?”) While in Europe, Heather was forced by her cruel parents to spend Saturdays in the leopard vinyl back seat of their Peugeot, motoring from one medieval pile to the next for the lame purpose of ‘learning something.’ What she soon learned was how to allay the boredom by stashing a Cosmo under the seat. Now a recovering teacher, Heather writes love stories, feeds hardboiled eggs to suburban foxes, and makes art in the Mid-Atlantic. See more at HeatherHeyford.com, or visit me on facebook, twitter, and pinterest.

Book Excerpt :

“Dammit, Merlot. Stop. Let’s talk. Not about business. About us.”
Her hand stilled on her door handle momentarily, and then she angled her lithe body to slide in, disappearing from view.
Before she could lock him out, Mark yanked open the passenger side and bent to peer in at her.
“If you drive away now, we’ll both be sorry.” He wouldn’t get in her car against her will. But he still wasn’t ready to let her end things like this.
Instead of reaching for the ignition button, she slumped back in her seat.
“Can I get in?”
She hesitated, then gave the briefest of nods.
He climbed in beside her. For a moment they sat motionless, staring through the windshield at the multicolored neon glow of shop signs punctuating the night sky of the quiet town.
When he spoke again, his voice was a few decibels lower, and he’d managed to force calm into it despite his near panic over almost losing her.
“Did you think I could just walk away? Tonight was about more than the orders. At least, for me it was.” He looked her way, his agitation rearing up again. “I was sold on your talent from the first time I saw your work, back in early June. I spent all summer—all summer, Meri—searching high and low for you, making phone calls, trolling the Internet, never dreaming that when I finally found you, you were going to look like—like this.” He strained to see her expression in the dimness, desperate for a crumb of understanding. “Once we started talking, it kept getting better and better. Jeezus, you’re massively talented. . . . You’re smart. . . .”
She was practically perfect. There wasn’t a damn thing wrong with her. . . .
Get a grip, Mark. He took a steadying breath. Nothing wrong, except a stubborn streak fifty miles long. The distance from San Francisco to Napa, his town to hers.
He strained in the darkness to study her profile. His voice had gotten loud again, he realized with dismay. He should just shut up now.
“I’m sorry. I can’t figure you out, but I won’t grill you anymore. Promise.” He offered her his hand, and she let out an ironic laugh at the absurdity of shaking hands after what they’d just done in her studio.
“We’ll stick to safe topics for the rest of the night, deal? The weather. The ’Niners. Whatever. You pick.”
She eyed him doubtfully.
“I swear. No more questioning your decisions.” He hoped he could stick to his word. He had to.
She conceded with a tiny hint of a smile. “Tonight was about more than the orders for me, too.”
To his immense relief, she met him in the middle of the seat.
He dipped his head to kiss her, and her soft, moist lips parted. His kiss was intended to be consoling, not the start of anything new. Until she nudged closer, encouraging him with her tongue, and powerless to resist her, he responded in spite of himself. Soon, their breathing became audible in the hushed silence of the enclosed space, the fogged windows adding to the illusion of privacy.
He hauled her across his lap, cradling her head in the crook of his right elbow. The sight of her chest rising and falling had him ready to go again…

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Find Heather Heyford :

Friday, January 2, 2015

Blog Tour - Made the Grade: A Taste of Merlot by Heather Heyford | Review & e-Book Copy Giveaway

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