In partnership with Villa Maria and Hachette
Welcome to Capsule’s new book club! We’re SO excited to bring you a new book each month to devour and savour. Whether you indulge in a few hours of luxurious alone time each Sunday, or finish your day with a chapter or two, we invite you to relax and enjoy, and if you’re so inclined, connect with fellow Capsule readers and your own family and friends to have a yarn about the book you’ve just read. We’ll be mixing up the titles we feature every month, so you’re in for an eclectic monthly journey.
And, thanks to our new partners Villa Maria, each book will be expertly wine matched with a great bottle of Villa’s finest – this month, we bring you their divine good Villa Maria Hawkes Bay Syrah 2019.
We’ll also provide discussion points on our Instagram @capsule_nz throughout the month, and for more exclusive offers, event invitations and bonus content, please do sign up to our newsletter here!
JUNE’S BOOK CLUB PICK – LEGACY BY NORA ROBERTS
Last month, thanks to the wonderful book club pick Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times we learned a thing or two about the power of taking this season to look inward, rest and mindfully practice self-care. Well, now that the weather has well and truly packed in and winter is really upon us, we’ve found the perfect book to hunker down with – ideal for nights by the fire (with a glass of vino!) or for taking to bed to wind down with at the end of a busy day.
We think you will love Legacy by Nora Roberts as much as we have.
Now, many of you will be very familiar with author Nora Roberts who has somehow written an outrageous number of books – more than TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE over the last four decades, to be precise. She’s known for writing romance novels, thrillers and even fantasy trilogies, but also writes the In Death series – a futuristic detective series under pen-name J.D. Robb
Yet, somehow despite her books being everywhere, to my shame I had never picked up a copy. Well, lemme tell you – this book came as one heck of a surprise. For a start, it’s barely a romance novel (it’s there, don’t worry! But more of a sub plot). It’s a novel about family, about connections, about friends, about ambition, about the balance of life and death (and the thin line that exists between them) AND it’s also a crime/thriller which builds up to a page-turning climax.
Legacy is like a delicious pick-and-mix of different genres, meaning there’s something for everyone, all within the one book.
It starts off by getting straight to the chase – seven-year-old Adrian Rizzo meets her father for the first time, in the most brutal of situations, where he attempts to take her life. There is a violent struggle, during which her mother – Lina – ends up killing him in an act of self-defense. Shortly after, Lina packs up young Adrian to live with her grandparents in their small hometown for the summer while she hits the road to promote her billion-dollar fitness brand, Yoga Baby.
From there, we travel through the twists and turns of Adrian’s life as she navigates her own foray into building a fitness empire, family connections (some tight, some very distant), friendship and eventually a little romance. But all the while, another storyline hums as a subplot – like clockwork, menacing handwritten poems turn up in her post-office box and over time become more frequent and more explicit in their threats of murder. From time to time, we also get glimpses into this person’s movements – and the killing spree they appear to be on – as they inch closer to Adrian. But who are they and why do they have Adrian in their sights?
I really enjoyed this book, and I have a feeling you will too. The characters are all so rich and well-written and despite all the subplots and themes it’s surprisingly easy to follow. It’s complex, layered, but totally loveable and delicious!
VILLA MARIA WINE MATCH with Villa’s Wine Expert, Jessica Bell
Legacy is so much more than a romance novel or crime/thriller – it’s a rich, complex book that has layers upon layers to it, all woven together to create one delicious read.
Which is why it’s the perfect pairing for a glass (or two!) of Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawkes Bay Syrah 2019!
This Syrah is, quite frankly, delicious. It’s expressively juicy with sweet blueberry and red plum with layers of peppered spice aromas and a lifted floral character. A powerful wine with a gorgeous, silky texture to it.
In Legacy, when Adrian isn’t drinking kale smoothies, she likes to kick back and practice moderation with a glass or two of a rich red – particularly if she’s entertaining guests. Her grandparents – who run Italian restaurant Rizzo’s (a local institution!) – love nothing more than having a big dining table, heaving with family, friends, beloved old recipes and delicious wine, and it’s a love they have passed on to Adrian. She loves whipping up a meal for friends, and sparks certainly fly when she treats a special guest to a pairing of a rich red with her grandfather’s secret lasagne recipe!
So, make like Adrian and pop a pot of spaghetti puttanesca on the stove, stoke the fire, pour a glass of Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawkes Bay Syrah 2019 and get lost in her world.
Miss last month’s book selection? Check out our match of Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times, paired with the delicious Villa Maria Pinot Noir Reserve.
