California Wine

California Romance #2

by Casey Dawes

Single mother Elizabeth Ladina is done with men. From her father on down, all they want to do is control her life.

Deciding to take her life into her own hands, she ends her five-year relationship and goes to Italy to visit Liguria, her family’s original home and rediscover the thrill of being on her own. A visit to an upscale skin care boutique in Italy inspires her. Dreaming she could create an upscale lotion line that is splashed across the pages of the best glossy fashion magazines, she’s eager to get home to California and make her vision into reality.

Italian Marcos Gamari has one goal in life – to create the world’s finest wine from the best vineyards in the world. His vineyards in Italy and France are producing prime wines that are already garnering awards and he has no time or desire for romance in his life. Emotional entanglements only lead to pain. His ex-wife had proved that.

Still, when he sees the pretty American eating alone in a hotel dining room in Liguria, he’s compelled to strike up a conversation, which leads to dinner and Elizabeth’s invitation to see the vineyards of the Santa Cruz Mountains near her home in California. She claims they are equal, and cheaper, than anything he’ll find in Napa, his original destination.

Sparks fly when they meet again in Costanoa. Elizabeth and Marcos are determined to maintain their single-track focus on their businesses. But can they keep romance out of their lives forever?

Genres: Contemporary Romance

222 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2012

About the author

Casey Dawes writes non-steamy contemporary romance and inspirational women’s fiction with romantic elements.

She and her husband are traveling the US in a small trailer with the cat who owns them. When not writing or editing, she is exploring national parks, haunting independent bookstores, and lurking in spinning and yarn stores trying not to get caught fondling the fiber!

Claim your free collection of short stories! Go to her website, www.CaseyDawes.com, to discover how.

Reviews

[Pam B Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved California Wine! The characters are so real, the issues they deal with consuming and often seem insurmountable. And what's not to love about an independent heroine or a gorgeous Italian wine connoisseur? Casey Dawes writes with humor and compassion about real life problems with too real consequences. Her romance California Sunset set the tone for love stories in the hilly California wine country. This story takes you deeper into the earthy, passionate and complex lives of characters that could be your neighbors and best friends. Love seems out of reach for Elizabeth. She certainly is not interested in love as she faces serious questions about her future, the changing relationship with her daughter and dealing with a business she's lost interest in. Her life needs no more complications and then... a man, a stranger, suddenly enters her life. She refuses to let him in. But he's not a man to take no for an answer. For those of you who love contemporary romances, this is one for your shelves. Vivid characters you get to know intimately, real problems that need real solutions and ultimately decisions that may be wrong, but could be oh, so right... all woven together beautifully in a lovely landscape of wine, food and music... the essence of good living. I highly recommend California Wine.

[Fyreball · Rating 2 out of 5]

It may be a style thing but this didn't work for me. There was lots of interesting potential, after all, who can resist a good looking Italian like Marcos? For me, though, the life coach angle made it much more chick lit than I like. On the plus side, the story is about Elizabeth, a mom with a daughter off at college. Oh, boy! I've got kids in college so that means I'm about the same age. Uhh, not quite. She's 38, a bit young I thought... which created another distraction. I couldn't get the age math to work between Elizabeth's age, her daughter's age and several other plot points (which I won't give away). The HEA took far too long for my taste; it was literally the last couple of pages. I picked this up as a Kindle Deal of the Day and won't be going for more in the Crimson imprint or by this author, just not my speed.

[Peggy Bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second in the series of books about the people of Costanoa, this one tells the story of Elizabeth Ladina and Marcos Gamari. She's a Californian who owns her own business, he's an Italian with vineyards in France and Italy. She goes to Italy to rediscover her roots after she ends a long-term relationship. He meets her when she's eating dinner alone in Liguria where he lives.

They discover painful things in common--betrayal both personal and professional for starters--and Elizabeth is hesitant to begin a long distance relationship that might not work.

Once again, Casey Dawes had brought to life a cast of characters looking for love but often fighting it when they find it. Her life coach, Carol, from the first book plays a role in helping Elizabeth make her way through the past to find a happy present and future. You can't help rooting for them to succeed.

[Ellen Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Near the end of her first visit to Italy, Elizabeth Ladina, a California businesswoman and mother of a college age daughter, is surprised at her reaction to a handsome man in the restaurant. She’s not looking for romance. Perhaps it’s the Italian air, but she accepts his offer of a tour of his winery. And that kiss – just one – becomes her most lasting memory of the vacation.
Marcos Gamari is a vintner with ambition. He wants to purchase a California winery to add to his holdings in Italy and France and grow the best varieties for the soil and climate. Elizabeth proves irresistible to this man that has been avoiding any serious relationships since his marriage ended years ago.
These characters grow on each page. They face their pasts and start on the uneven path to the future. This second-in-a-series reads well as a stand-alone.

[Paullette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liked the bones of what was there--really enjoyed reading about how the middle-aged leads handled their business difficulties--but the book could have been SO much better! The male romantic lead (hot Italian winemaker!) and settings (Italy! California wine country!) were great, but the female protagonist's continued feeble excuses for avoiding sex/romance quickly became tiresome. My advice is to keep the business intrigue and ramp up the sex: then, this could be a really *hot* and satisfying series. As it stands...it's not a book I would recommend.

[Cary Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little bit of Italy, a little bit of California, a lovely, determined and independent American, Elizabeth Ladina, and a hunky, independent, and driven Italian, Marcos Gamari, all come together to create a fun, endearing story about compromise, acceptance, and meeting in the middle. Richly rewarding and well worth the time. Well done.
I purchased this book online and have given this review freely and without compensation of any kind.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my kind of book, but the author sent me a complimentary copy, therefore I read and, for the most part, enjoyed the simple romance story. I quick read for a summer beach or mountain visit. MS Dawes has a knack for an interesting story teller.

In compliance with FTC guidelines, please disclose in your review that you received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

[Bette Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The storyline is good. To people living their lives but not happy. After meeting by chance Marco is ready to see what life could be together but Elizabeth is too afraid to give them a chance. Too much back and forth in the story but it was ok.

[Luisa Rivas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice story, no fireworks, just romance. It deals with long distance romance between a California girl and an Italian vineyard owner. The story feels,old because the hero is very old fashioned and so gentlemanly. It was a nice and quiet read.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the travel and description of vineyards and feel of a different world. Blending the two worlds was beautifully painted. Picturesque in words.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again I come off off a big read "the luminaries ". 800 plus pages I picked a simple read. I was not disappointed. A little redundant in "over thinking" but fun!

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as part of holiday flings.