Winery manager Nikki Sands thinks life is just great. She's
just moved in with her boyfriend, owner of Napa Valley's
Malveaux Estate, Derek Malveaux, and she's settling in.
Derek is called out of town for an important business
meeting at the same time a New Age spiritual retreat is
scheduled at the winery's hotel and spa. Although herself
not a fan of Guru Sansibaba (aka Alan Sansi), Nikki still
thinks she can handle things without any serious problems.
Things are relatively serene until one of the guru's
followers is murdered on the Napa Valley Wine Train.
Nikki is surprised when the police actually request her
assistance in this investigation. There are just too many
followers and too few police officers to manage the case
without some help. With the reluctant help of Simon, Derek's
brother, and his partner Marco—both members of Source
Enlightened Elite or S.E.E.—Nikki tries to learn what deep,
dark secrets these so-called enlightened folks are hiding.
As Nikki learns more about the S.E.E. members she finds all
the traditional motives for murder. Did a bad business deal
leave hard feelings between some members? Were thwarted
lovers behind the killing? Is Alan Sansi's family as
spiritually uplifted as he is? What's going on with Derek in
New York? What's up between Marco and Simon? Will Nikki find
herself next on the killer's list of victims?
Fifth in the Wine Lover's Mystery series, CORKED BY CABERNET
is a light, enjoyable read. It's probably best for readers
to read the series in order for better understanding of the
characters and events. Ms. Scott includes recipes and wine
pairings for readers with culinary talents.
Nikki Sands is exactly where she wants to be as the Manager
of the Malveaux Estates in Napa Valley—and ‘shacking up’
with the owner, her boyfriend Derek Malveaux. But she starts
to lose control when some self-helpers arrive and steal her
peace of mind…
Nikki couldn’t be happier settling into the vineyard with
her boyfriend Derek. But when a guru and his followers check
into the winery’s boutique hotel and spa for a retreat, she
feels far from enlightened as she’s forced to take on the
role of event coordinator. Their first outing on the famous
Napa Valley Wine train reinforces her doubt when a member
goes missing. The guru’s devotee is found in the wine
storage car where someone quite literally—and fatally—put a
cork in him. It’s up to Nikki to stop a killer who’s
developed a real taste for murder…