In Interview with Summer in Napa's Marina Adair + Giveaway

Marina Adair may have been raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but with a southern father and a live-in granny, growing up was closer to the Clampetts than the Cleavers. Marina graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Film Studies and is working toward a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at San Jose State University. A member of The Romance Writers of America, she currently resides in the majestic redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains with her husband, daughter, and three cats.
 

Connect with Marina Adair:

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I’m REALLY excited to have Marina Adair stopping by the blog today. Marina writes romances set in Napa Valley with hot and sexy Italians. Just thinking about the guys has my eyes going all glossy. Welcome to RYWBR.

That works, because I’m REALLY excited to be here today! Especially since we get to talk hot guys, wine, and romance. All we need is Eggo waffles and it’s a party!

Your St. Helena Vineyard Novel Series is about a family of Italians who run a family winery in Napa Valley. Could you please tell me about the family?

The St. Helena Vineyard series follows all five of the DeLuca siblings as they come to terms with the death of their parents, and in turn open themselves up to the possibility of love. Even Nonna ChiChi, if she can get her nose out of her grandkid’s business long enough, gets her second chance at love.

Gabriel is the eldest DeLuca, charged with running the family business, he often finds himself running his family’s lives instead.

Nathaniel, the second eldest and most uptight of the brothers, is the winemaker of the family who finds himself in a land dispute with the one woman who drives him crazy.

Marco, the middle sibling and business mogul of the family, goes against the grain and chooses hospitality over wine, opening the Napa Grand, a high-end boutique hotel in St. Helena.

Abigail, the only sister in a family of alpha-Italians, is tired of her suffocating brothers nosing their way into her business, so she goes into business for herself designing wineries.

And finally, the baby of the family, Trey is head of sales for DeLuca Wines and has made a life out of new towns, new beds—and always a new woman. So when, one by one, his brothers trade in their man-card for a minivan, Trey decides he needs space—space that doesn’t stink of domestication. Too bad fate—and his interfering Nonna—have other ideas.

The first book in the series came out last year, and featured Gabe DeLuca (portraying the big tough brother, who would do anything to protect his family) and Regan Martin (the “threat” to his family). The second book, Summer in Napa, features Marco DeLuca and Alexis Moreau. Could you please tell me about those two?

Marc and Lexi has been my favorite romance to write. I mean, what is more fun than two people who are not only fighting the need to get naked every time they see each other, but also fighting against their past—Lexi’s cheat of an ex-husband just so happens to be Marco’s childhood best friend. So finding a good reason for Marc to break man-law and fall for—and in bed with—his best-bro’s ex was entertaining.

When writing/creating the characters of Marco and Alexis, did you draw inspiration from anyone in your life or any actor or actress?

OMG! Marc is country singer Luke Bryan. That man obviously loves woman, just like Marc and he’s smooth and funny and has enough swagger to fill a stadium. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I listened to his Tailgates & Tanlines album whole writing this book.

While the Kissing Under the Mistletoe and Summer in Napa are standalones, I have to ask about Gabe. What happened to him? It’s like he has COMPLETELY gave up eating and drinking like a normal person.

His wife Regan was a single mom before they met and fell in love, forced to go at the whole parenting thing alone. So when they discover that she is pregnant again, Gabe, determined that she will never feel alone again, decides to go through the entire pregnancy with her. As in, if Regan can’t drink beer, neither can Gabe, if the only thing she can stomach is Rocky Road, then it’s what’s for dinner—and breakfast and lunch. If you ask me, that is true love! I mean, any man can bring you flowers, but one who foregoes football and brews so you don’t feel alone is a real hero!

That’s REALLY sweet and all. But I felt so sorry for him. It’s like he wasn’t the Gabe from the previous book. Plus he had to take all the harassment from his brothers because of it. Which, leads me to my next question. There are SO many laughable moments in this book. What was your favorite scene to write and why?

I loved writing the bathroom scene at ChiChi’s house where all five sibling, their significant others, and esteemed guests all smash into the bathroom to question Lexi on the “status” of her relationship with Marc. Pretty much, the grannies want to know if Marc sealed the deal. To me, that moment is a perfect example of the DeLucas who inspired me to write this series. That big, loud, Italian family who I fell in love with, who are always all up in each other’s business but love each other fiercely.

(Laughing) That was a funny scene. Poor Marc. I love that you gave us glimpses into other possible relationships. Are there going to be other books in the series?

Nate’s book, AUTUMN IN THE VINEYARD, comes out October 29, 2013. And Trey’s book (No title yet) comes out January 2014, just in time for Valentine’s Day. And although I don’t have a pub date yet, Abby’s book will wrap up the DeLuca family saga…but not necessarily the series. There are still three very sexy, very single Baudouin brothers who deserve their shot at true love.

I CAN’T WAIT for those three books. It’s going to be so much fun watching Nate, Trey and Abby try to run away from love. Tell me more about AUTUMN IN THE VINEYARD.

AUTUMN AT THE VINEYARD centers around Nate, the brother who always has a well-laid plan for every occasion, which is how he lands the most sought after vineyard in the Napa Valley—twenty-prime-acres that ignited a sixty-year standing feud between the DeLucas and Baudouins. So when he finds himself locked in a land dispute, and forced to cohabitate, with a hot-headed, irrational, and incredibly sexy Baudouin, who doesn’t have a logical bone in her luscious body, Nate is surprised to discover that chaos could be so much fun—especially when she sleeps in nothing but lace.

For Frankie Baudouin, Steel Red Cellars isn’t just a vineyard, it is her last chance to prove to her family, and to herself, that she has what it takes to be an award-winning winemaker. And she’ll stop at nothing to ensure her success—even if it means playing nice with the over-starched Italian who cost her her job, her grandfather’s respect, and her standing in the family winery. But when Frankie discovers that she is in over her head with more than just her wine, she fears that come harvest it will be more than just her grapes that will be crushed.

JUST FOR FUN:

Favorite wine?

1996 Cafaro Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Summer or Winter?

Summer

Favorite color?

The color of Eggo Waffles covered in syrup

Eclairs or Cream Puffs?

Cream Puff

Okay, maybe not so fun… Tucker brothers or DeLuca brothers? (smiles)

DeLuca. To date, Marc DeLuca is my favorite hero that I have written.

I LOVED Marc too. Thanks Marina for stopping by. Is there anything else you would like to add that I might have missed?

Just, thanks for having me!

Click HERE to be taken to my review of SUMMER IN NAPA.

Amazon Link

Amazon Link

   

 

Marina is offering up a signed paperback ARC of Summer in Napa. The contest is opened to US readers only. Please follow the Rafflecopter for instructions.

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