Happy Wednesday everyone. How is your week going? I hope you are all doing well. This week, I’m thrilled to have fellow BAQWA (Bay Area Queer Writers Association learn more here.) writer Rochelle Merrill over to share ten things about her new book A Match Made in Spain. Let’s jump in and see what Rochelle has to share.
Big thanks to M.D. Neu for sharing the news about my latest release, A Match Made in Spain. I’ve been anxiously awaiting the release of this book and hope you will all take a vicarious journey with me through this book. Here’s the blurb:
A small-town ASL teacher is reluctantly captivated by the Catalonian vintner determined to woo her across the Spanish countryside. Can a match made on a tour of Spain be a fairytale second chance for this grumpy/sunshine pair?
The ink on Cecilia's divorce papers might be dry, but she’s in no hurry to connect with another traveling businessman, especially the spatially challenged one seated beside her on a crack-of-dawn flight from San Francisco to Madrid.
Felip should be on top of the world running his family’s cava empire, however life has left him feeling unfulfilled as of late. Good conversation and a hard-won smile from his seatmate—a grumpy but lovely American hearing-impaired teacher—have him wondering if maybe fairytales are possible—or if he’s lost his mind, especially when a series of mishaps lands him in the role of the substitute tour guide for her group.
Over the course of twelve days, Felip’s irresistible charm and lust for life break down Cecilia’s carefully constructed walls as he competes with needy teenagers and pulls off a daring rescue to show her they are a good match. Will Cecilia see that their worlds are closer together than she thinks, and that faith and compromise can give them a real happily ever after?
Perfect for fans of Shipped by Angie Hockman and People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry. And those who miss the excitement of exploring a new place with a special someone by your side will appreciate the journey.
Ten Things about A Match Made in Spain:
My family and I actually took this tour in 2018 with my daughter’s school. All of the places the group visits in the story were places we went…the names have been changed to protect the innocent-ish
The first time I went to Spain was in 2001 and I fell in love with Granada, which we did not visit in 2018. The Alhambra is the most beautiful place I’ve ever been!
My daughter was most likely conceived in Barcelona.
Author Laura Bailo read the book for me and gave me lots of great tips about the culture and language, including things specific to Catalonia, which is where she’s from.
Author Kilby Blades, a good pal of mine, is a sommelier. Before writing this book I had no idea what that was. She gave me lots of great feedback on the cava industry in Spain.
Author Eva Moore was very helpful with the winery scene. She understands me and my dislike of wine. Yeah, I said it. I don’t like wine. BUT I like cava and some sparkling wines. Sangria is awesome…
We happened to be in Bilbao the day they had their Pride celebration and it was really special to be there with my family. They had about a dozen party boats decorated in rainbows and glitter and folks dancing to great music. It looked like so much fun. Someday I want to be on one of those boats.
We attended Festival San Juan in Bilbao and it was truly magic. I actually was offered my second book contract via email while standing on top of a hill surrounded by new and wonderful friends next to a bonfire while listening to Basque heavy metal.
We actually did have a medical emergency, but it was not like the one in the book. Three of us went to a clinic and we used our limited Spanish to help our colleague communicate with the doctor. It was so different than any American medical clinic I’ve ever been to.
Someday I plan to spend an extended amount of time in Spain. If I disappear, well, you know where to look for me. I just have to convince my husband…
Thank you so much for stopping by today, Rochelle. This sounds like a wonderful read and I’m looking forward to diving in.
Did you read my last Top Ten Lists, click here to get caught up:
Top Ten List: What’s Your Tribe, with Eddie Newton. Click here.
What a great piece by Rochelle Merrill. I hope you all enjoyed the top ten list. If you know folks who may appreciate this new story, go ahead and share this post and help spread the word. Until next time I hope you stay safe and have a great week.
About Rochelle Merrill:
Fun, Fresh Fiction with Feeling
If R.L. Merrill is your local hard rock/metal radio station, Rochelle is her Adult Contemporary alter ego. Spinning feel-good stories to make you laugh and swoon, Ro writes romance for grown-ups who use their words (mostly) and take care of business. She’s a mom and wife who’s on hiatus from a career in education while she explores the new terrain of mid-life adventures. You can catch her walking and gardening in her neighborhood by the Bay, spoiling her rescue pets, and dreaming of attending concerts and theaters again someday. Stay Tuned for more hits coming your way…
Where to find Rochelle Merrill:
Find Rochelle’s Website here.
Check her out on Facebook here.
Follow her on Instagram here.
See what she’s up to on Twitter here.