"Back Lane Wineries of Napa" by Tilar Mazzeo for anyone who has ever enjoyed a sip of Napa wine

Some of the best wines in the world are California Wines, and some of the best California wines come from the twin valleys of Napa and Sonoma. I have the great fortune to live in the midst of California wine country; an hour drive from Napa, hour plus from Sonoma, thirty minutes from Lodi to the South and Amador to the North. So making day trips to wine country is something my husband and I do often, however, as often as we have been to Napa and visited wineries along Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail, little did we know there were wonderful back lane wineries we didn't know existed. Wineries that Napa locals knew about but not readily shared with outsiders.  Now thanks to Tilar J. Mazzeo the cat is out of the bag because his wonderful  "Back Lane Wineries of Napa" lets us in on the secret. Whether you are a seasoned wine aficionado, a novice, or someone who just enjoys a great bottle of wine this book is for you.  The Introduction sets the scene, enticing you to picture sitting on a veranda overlooking beautiful country with a great glass of wine in your hand, a wine that none of your friends have ever tasted or even heard of. Then there is a chapter on how to use the book, which has some good tips on selecting a tasting area for either a day trip or a longer visit. The bulk of the book is all about the little known wineries divided into nine different tasting areas. Each of these tasting areas are chapters that list a selection of wineries, their histories, types of wine produced, some wine prices and the tasting fees.  You will learn that some of these small wineries are owned by vintners who had their start at some of the more famous wineries in France, Italy and Napa/Sonoma. No wonder these wines are worth searching out. Once you begin reading this wonderful little book you will want to plan a vacation to Napa Valley for an amazing stay in some of the most beautiful country in Northern California, savoring great wine and great food while visiting local spa's and hot springs and staying in comfort in the area's accommodations. Which are all included in each chapter. Whatever you do, don't forget to pack this gem of a book as you will want to refer to it over and over again. This book now has a permanent place in the glove box of my car for my future forays to the valley. I just wish I had picked up this book years ago.

Lose yourself in a wonderful story, "The Muse of Edouard Manet" by M.Clifford

One of the great things about Twitter is meeting new book lovers, booksellers, editors and authors. One such author I became acquainted with through Twitter is M. Clifford, the author of the wonderful book THE MUSE OF EDOUARD MANET. Reading the synopsis of the book I knew it would be something that would interest me as it deals with art, mystery, murder and time-travel. Yes, time-travel, how cool is that! Little did I realize when ordering the book from my favorite Indy bookseller, The Avid Reader, how much I would love this book. Once I read the Note From The Author and moved on I knew this was a book that would grab me and not let go until I turned the last page. Not only is it a great story of romance and intrigue, it provides information about an important artist who helped usher in the age of impressionism, Edouard Manet. This is a work of fiction, but it does provide us with information regarding the artist's life, his friends, his family and how he was received in the 19th century Paris art world. THE MUSE OF EDOUARD MANET also imparts interesting interpretations of the paintings of Manet, which lead me to look up the artists work and view it with different eyes. You become fond of Emily who is an art conservator at the Art Institute who discovers letters under Manet's paintings. These letters lead Emily to experience the art at it's source. Early in the book you are introduced to what you may think is a minor character, Garrett, but he becomes the agent that assists Emily in her time-travel where she meets the artist Manet and becomes his Muse. This is a story of intrigue, love, friendship, art and time-travel. What more could you possibly want. Do yourself a favor, pick up THE MUSE OF EDOUARD MANET and lose yourself in a wonderful story.
(Previously posted May 2012)

“Defending Jacob” by William Landay

Defending Jacob is a terrific legal thriller, family drama, and in a sense a political thriller that deals with the wrangling and inner workings of a local political office.  Andy Barber is an Assistant District Attorney near Boston who becomes involved with a murder case of a 14 year old boy who attends the same school as his son, Jacob.  Ben Rifkin was found stabbed to death in a wooded area between his home and the school, just off the path that is traveled by many of the youths that live in the area and attend the same school as Ben. The same path traveled daily by Jacob Barber.  As the Assistant DA it is Andy’s job to see that justice is done. That is until his son Jacob is accused of the murder.  As a prosecutor, Andy knows exactly how the legal system works and how it can fail, and it is his wish that his son not to be one of the failures of the justice system.  Jacob professes his innocence and, being his father, Andy believes him.  After all, what parent can believe their child capable of murder? 

Once Jacob is accused, Andy is relieved of his duties at the DA’s office for the duration of the investigation and trial that will surely follow. Neal Logiudice (la-JOO-dis), a prosecutor who wants Andy’s job, is now the prosecutor on the Ben Rifkin murder case and it appears that he will stop at nothing to find Jacob Barber guilty and Andy guilty by association. 

The book jumps back and forth between the investigation and trial of the murder and a Grand Jury session where Prosecutor Logiudice is questioning ex-Assistant DA Andy Barber.  We do not know what crime the Grand Jury has been convened to determine whether to indict, however, this was a very effective way to inform the reader there was much more going on than the trial of Jacob Barber.  

The author’s cleverness in unfolding the story of the investigation and trial will lead you to vacillate between Jacob’s guilt and his innocence, and the Grand Jury sessions, even though not part of the Ben Rifkin murder trial, contribute to the vacillation. However, Andy never waivers from belief in his son’s innocence even as evidence mounts.  When shocking revelations about Jacob surface, and Andy is forced to confront his own past, one that he was so effective in hiding from his family as well as himself, does he consider perhaps he might somehow have failed is son. 

Defending Jacob is a gripping story, one that I could not put down and caused me to go to work with tired eyes from staying up late reading.  Highly recommended.
(Previously posted March 2012)

Want a good Irish thriller to read try "Hidden River" by Adrian McKinty

Ever since I read the Irish thrillers by Stuart Neville I have been looking for more, and fortunately I found  Adrian McKinty, a writer from Northern Ireland, who is satisfying my craving.  My first foray into McKinty’s books is with HIDDEN RIVER a complex story of a good man, Alex Lawson, living a life on the edge.  Once a rising star in the Northern Ireland police force unusual circumstances lead him down a road that would take him away from his promising career and into a dark existence of heroin addiction. When an ex-girlfriend is murdered in Denver, Colorado he escapes his Irish tormentors and heads to the Rocky Mountains to uncover the truth of Victoria's murder and hopefully find her killer. This book has many layers and each layer is dealt with extensively so that at times it seems like the story has slowed down, but in reality the author is giving you the opportunity to live in Alex's shoes, live his existence and become friends with the people he befriends.  I highly recommend this for thriller lovers, especially those looking for a good Irish thriller.  I am looking forward to reading DEAD I WELL MAY BE, the first in a noir trilogy.
(Previously posted April 2012)