Wine. Weddings. Romance. It only takes those three words to describe my new trilogy. Of course I came up with a premise using a few more of them: One failing winery, two feuding families, three unforgettable pairings. And the first book of the three, CRUSH ON YOU, is out this month.
Alessandra Baci is the youngest of three sisters and is known affectionately around her town as the "Nun of Napa," after a wedding-that-didn't-happen five years before. She's concocted a new revenue stream for the 100-year-old family winery...offering it as a wedding venue. But with the first event scheduled for the end of the month, she's desperate to get the construction finished on the historic cottage where the nuptials will be held. When her contractor runs out on her, she's forced to turn to the man-next-door, Penn Bennett, who is the star of Hollywood's hottest home renovation TV show. Though they rub each other the wrong way--mostly because they want to rub each other the right way too much--Penn agrees if she'll be the second in a two-person crew. Oh, that creates opportunities to get to know each other and to get close...close enough for these too wary people to fall in love.
This is romance without guns or fangs or a historical backdrop. But there are family legends, a missing treasure, and most of all, the unfolding story of two engaging people falling in love. I've had a blast doing research (drinking wine! Watching movies like Bottle Shock! Spending a long weekend with my husband exploring Napa!) but imagining the winery weddings has been the most fun of all. I've been asking everyone their fantasy wedding--mine is barefoot on the beach in a flowing dress.
Yours? A lucky commenter will win a duo of Christie Ridgway books.
You can learn more about Christie at her website and also follow her at Riding with the Top Down where she blogs with nine other fabulous authors.
27 comments:
a hawaii or paris wedding for me
congrats on teh book an dgreat reveiws
kh
Congrats on the new release, Christie. A beach wedding does sound romantic and if I were to have one I would want it to take place in Tahiti. I think a Vegas wedding would work, too. Less hassle and you don't need to spend too much money.
I *loved* Crush on You and can't wait to read about the other Baci sisters.
If I ever say "I Do" again, it's gonna have to be in some totally awesome place like Bali or Tuscany. However the more I think about it, the fantasy would be marrying someone who'd put $500K in a savings account in my name only since I'd be giving up my alimony. I know... I sound very jaded. Divorce does that to you. :-( But I still love my romance novels with a HEA.
Hi Christie! Congrats on the release of Crush on You. I adored it! Can't wait to read the rest of the books!
If I ever got married again I'd be following Playground Monitor to Tuscany. I just saw Letters to Juliet and that's the wedding I want: lots of family and friends celebrating with wine, music and dance, surrounded by a beautiful Tuscan vineyard - and let's not forget the handsome, sexy groom who rides in on horseback. ::Sigh::
Crush on You sounds fantastic...congratulations on its release!
When I was a child my dream wedding was one that was huge and elaborate, with limos, tons of flowers, and a hoop-skirted meringue dress (too much influence from Hollywood movies like Father of the Bride, I guess). But now, personally, I feel like that kind of wedding is too superficial, and distracts from the real purpose of weddings. I want my wedding be about just me and my future husband, celebrating our commitment and love, not a show of money with tons of guests I don't know. So, my dream wedding now is a very small one, with just close friends and family, a simple dress, good food and wine, all in a beautiful garden. Now I just need a groom...=)
I must secretly be 5 years old. My dream wedding would be at Disneyworld in the Wedding Pavillion at sunset with Cinderella's castle in the window. Then an outdoor reception at the Italy Isola at Epcot overlooking the fireworks. Or in the Living Seas at Epcot surrounded by the cool aquarium.
Mine would be one surrounded by close family and friends, like my first wedding, only this time in a renovated Scottish castle.
Welcome to the Playground, Christie! Can you tell us more about how you came up for the idea of this trilogy?
Angel
The winery setting does sound perfect! I've never been to the NAPA Valley but I definitely would like to visit a winery or two or three!
My spot for a wedding... the Greek chapel on the hill in Mama Mia. Loved that site!
I'm always looking for any books that you write!!
Welcome Christie! This book sounds fabulous and I can't wait to read it.
Welcome Christie and congratulations on the new release! I love trilogies and of course romance and weddings! I'm still working on the wine part. :-D
My fantasy wedding would also be on the beach, barefoot wearing a flowing dress. I love the beach, and I hate wearing shoes. LOL
Crush on You sounds great and I can't wait to read it!
Congrats on the release, sounds good!
Hi Christie, I think a wedding on a beach would be awesome!
I am sorry to say I have not read your books before but they sound fabulous! I will have to start watching for your books so I may try them! Thanks for the chance to win!
A destination wedding in Hawaii. Your book sounds great. I love the cover.
I am with Smarty Pants my dream wedding would be at Disney World.
If I couldn't get that I would love to have a dream wedding in a Castle in Ireland or Scotland. A wedding like something out of the historical books I love to read.
I know someone who got married at Disneyworld. It sounded like so much fun.
If not the beach, Paris or Tuscany would also be fine by me. Or yes, that fab church from Mama Mia. (I want the bride's dress and flowers too).
Angel: I'd originally proposed setting the book in the hills above Malibu (there's actually a winery there) which was the setting of my last trilogy, but my editor said, "Why not Napa?" and so I changed venues. But fun thing is, I weave a little bit of that other trilogy into the new one (hero Penn has a home in Malibu, in book 2 heroine of book 1 mentions visiting the knitting shop from previous trilogy). I also dropped a line in Book 2 that references a previous book of mine that's several years old. Having fun with little things like that.
I know my daughter would have loved the Disney wedding but her grandma wouldn't have gone (she's 86) but she did have her honeymoon there. She was married in outside a historical hotel with a gazeebo.
For me I had the original church wedding 41 yrs. ago next monday - longest day shortest night lol. Today I think I would like an outside wedding. Pgh. has a Phipps Conservatory with gorgeous flowers and plants.
I've actually been to two weddings at wineries in Northern California - one in Calistoga and the other in Sonoma. Beautiful settings for a wedding and a romance novel.
Congratulations Christie!
I think a wedding on a nice warm beach when it's winter at home would be ideal!
I love Calistoga, Smarty Pants. That's where we stayed the last time we were there.
Hey, since a lot of you guys are writers, I thought I'd mention this Write or Die thing by Dr. Wicked that I just saw mentioned on Twitter. Anyone tried it? Ck it out by googling if you get a chance. Looks like it might work.
Christie,
Beautiful cover for a beautiful book.
I think a wedding in Jamacia would be beautiful.
a sunrise service at the beach :)
karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
Christie,
Welcome and I have read some of your previous novels, so I will look forward to this read.
I am with Playground Monitor, IF I ever say "I do" again, that in itself will be a magic moment/miracle. If I did so, I would want something very simple with my family and I would want everyone at the beach. And like PM, I still love my romance novels.
robertsonreads
congrats on Crush on You; I would love this book and b/c it is a series so to speak the others also.
I've had a church wedding and a backyard wedding. The yard wedding was just for family and attendants and then there was a reception in a town hall for others. Kind of a come and go but everyone stayed, lol.
My brother-in-law cut his grass and made two hearts(big) with my initial R in one and dh's initial M in the other and we had potted plants all over. There was a small table with a lace tablecloth for the book signing. The families sat on chairs. It was lovely.
I don't want to have a chance to have another wedding, lol, but if I did I think I'd like it to be very informal after the ceremony. Perhaps a BBQ with everyone in casual clothes and a tent set up.
RobynL: I looove the idea of initials in the grass! So darling. I'm giving a bridal shower this summer and wonder if I can manage something similar...
I don't know about the rest of you, but I am hooked on "Say Yes to the Dress." It's how I get my vicarious wedding dress thrills. I have 2 sons, so watching this show gives me the sense of dress shopping w/a daughter w/o the cost and the possible tears.
I just saw Bottle Schock a couple months ago and loved it, the story, the scenery, such a great little unsung indie movie. Your book sounds every bit as appealing to me.
As for a dream wedding, Napa does look beautiful, or a beach.
Summer: Bottle Shock is a really fun movie. Everyone, I highly recommend!
You are a New Author for me. I've been reading some great reviews about this book !
My dream wedding, I love flowers, I think i would pick Garden wedding, with lots lots of flowers around me :)
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