Things are finally starting to settle down for Parker Valentine. Her winery, Vino Valentine, is thriving. Her relationships, both personal and business, are flourishing with local chef and owner of Spoons restaurant, Reid Wallace. Nothing can get in their way. . . except for his family. Reid’s family expects more from their son with his choice of career. He is the odd one out in a family of lawyers and doctors. Not one to cave to his parent’s demands, Reid forged ahead and followed his dream of owning a restaurant. As a last-ditch effort to try and talk some sense into their son, Reid’s mom, dad, and brothers make the trip to Boulder, Colorado for a not-so-subtle visit. Parker tries her best to win over his parents during dinner at Spoons, but it just seems nothing and no one is good enough for their little boy. When Reid’s longtime friend and sous chef is murdered after that fateful family dinner, the blame is immediately cast on Reid. And as Reid’s family turn their backs, Parker is determined to clear her boyfriend’s name, no matter what the cost.

A PAIRING TO DIE FOR is a phenomenal addition to the Colorado Wine Mystery series. With its beautifully descriptive setting of Colorado in the fall, you can almost feel yourself in Boulder among the hustle and bustle of a new season. Meeting Reid’s family was a real conundrum, but it gave readers more of a backstory to get to know the mysterious Reid a little bit more. The overall character development in this installment was superb. It was nice to catch up with Parker’s brother Liam, her mother, best friend Sage, and old friend turned detective, Eli. The relationships are very relatable in their own way, and their growth in this book will leave readers looking forward to their future stories. The plotline was wonderful, and it flowed effortlessly with many twists and turns that will keep readers on their toes until the very end.

Grab A PAIRING TO DIE FOR for your next cozy read. But do yourself a favor and skim the recipes and pairings in the back of the book first so you are prepared to fully immerse yourself in this second installment of the Colorado Wine Mystery series.