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.

Book Summary

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…