Blending the subplots of romance, winemaking and murder, Ms. Delaney does a seamless job in integrating all the parts of the whole. The story unfolds as Ellen helps her niece and nephew-in-law as they take over management and winemaking duties at a local winery. The big gala dinner derails when the chef is murdered, and then the brouhaha begins! Ellen’s cop-fiancé walks a fine line in finding the killer, since Ellen’s niece Sabrina, and then Mark, the nephew-in-law, stand accused of the crime. Another murder follows, and the heart of the book revolves around the ins and outs of the "whodunit."

Readers will put this book down with some reluctance when they are finished; the knowledge imparted about winemaking is fascinating, the twists and turns in Ellen’s relationship are clever, and the choice of murderer is interesting. There are some stereotypical characters: the temperamental chef, the assertive wants-to-be boyfriend, the small town itself, which is portrayed much like J. B. Fletcher’s Cabot Cove. Yet these recurring ideas do not detract from Ms. Delaney’s characters, and the story is fast-paced and clever. I appreciated its stand-alone nature; the reading of the previous two titles is not necessary to get into the swing of the characters. A perfect summer book, pack it in your lunch basket and take it along to the beach!