The Concrete Vineyard

Retired history professor Edward Mitchell was surely not long for the grave, so why would someone risk life in prison to kill him? Picking up the clues is the reluctant Homicide Chief Detective, Bryan Dee. Thinking he might be out of his depth he is happy to enlist the aid of his friend, Kris Gage. But when Dee reads the deceased's last entry in his diary, time to take care of K. Gage's; he becomes torn between investigation and friendship. As an urban planner, Gage understands real estate and the bureaucracy of planning. Following the money, he soon finds himself in the middle of corrupt developers who seek to take all the charm out of the area. Over two hundred years after the War of 1812, is Niagara-on-the-Lake, once again, on-the-Take?

"too few Brocks... As the townsfolk of Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL), the 'First Capital of Upper Canada', gather on the hallowed grounds of Fort George to celebrate the nation's 150th birthday, Edward Mitchell, the town's modern-day patriarch, lies dying in a nearby vineyard. The old man, a retired history professor, was clearly murdered ... but by who? A revered man with no apparent enemies, the only potential clue to his death is a 'for sale' sign that was erected earlier that day at the front of his grand, historic estate-the most valuable and coveted piece of property in town. But as the murder investigation unfolds, it seems that real estate is perhaps not the only motive for Edward Mitchell's murder. At first, inexperienced, unenthusiastic homicide detective, Bryan Dee, hopes solving the murder will be a slam-dunk, but he soon realizes he is in over his head. Knowing nothing about property law, he turns to his boyhood friend, Kris Gage, an urban planner who has conveniently returned to his home town to help his parents move. Gage is convinced that if they follow the money trail, they'll find their suspect ... but Dee soon discovers that his seemingly innocent best friend has a connection to the dead man that can't be explained. Then, when another prominent citizen-the dead man's best friend-goes missing, the heat is on. Together Bryan and Kris try to make sense of what is going on. What would motivate the chilling death of one man and the disappearance of the other? Was land acquisition the motive for the murder? Was their devotion to heritage preservation upsetting local builders? Did it have anything to do with allocating federal funds given to the town to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday? Or was someone simply out to settle a score? Meanwhile, Bryan must decide whether to trust his best friend or not as they try to weed out who the greedy culprits destroying the charm and history of their beautiful, little hometown are, making them both wonder why, 200 years after the War of 1812, a different battle is being waged ... and whether Niagara-on-the-lake has become Niagara-on-the-take. ...and too many Willcocks!"

"too few Brocks... As the townsfolk of Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL), the 'First Capital of Upper Canada', gather on the hallowed grounds of Fort George to celebrate the nation's 150th birthday, Edward Mitchell, the town's modern-day patriarch, lies dying in a nearby vineyard. The old man, a retired history professor, was clearly murdered ... but by who? A revered man with no apparent enemies, the only potential clue to his death is a 'for sale' sign that was erected earlier that day at the front of his grand, historic estate-the most valuable and coveted piece of property in town. But as the murder investigation unfolds, it seems that real estate is perhaps not the only motive for Edward Mitchell's murder. At first, inexperienced, unenthusiastic homicide detective, Bryan Dee, hopes solving the murder will be a slam-dunk, but he soon realizes he is in over his head. Knowing nothing about property law, he turns to his boyhood friend, Kris Gage, an urban planner who has conveniently returned to his home town to help his parents move. Gage is convinced that if they follow the money trail, they'll find their suspect ... but Dee soon discovers that his seemingly innocent best friend has a connection to the dead man that can't be explained. Then, when another prominent citizen-the dead man's best friend-goes missing, the heat is on. Together Bryan and Kris try to make sense of what is going on. What would motivate the chilling death of one man and the disappearance of the other? Was land acquisition the motive for the murder? Was their devotion to heritage preservation upsetting local builders? Did it have anything to do with allocating federal funds given to the town to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday? Or was someone simply out to settle a score? Meanwhile, Bryan must decide whether to trust his best friend or not as they try to weed out who the greedy culprits destroying the charm and history of their beautiful, little hometown are, making them both wonder why, 200 years after the War of 1812, a different battle is being waged ... and whether Niagara-on-the-lake has become Niagara-on-the-take. ...and too many Willcocks!"

Celebrate the sophisticated blend of agriculture and style that defines California wine country. With well-told stories and stunning photography, author Heather Hebert features the architecture of 25 California wineries in her alluring new book, The New Architecture of Wine. As wine tourism has increased, California vintners have embraced the call to create splendid spaces where visitors can taste their unique varieties and enjoy conversation about wine. In place of imitating old-world European estates, grand architectural statements or quirky forays into bohemianism, the new architecture of wine has evolved into a celebration of California’s topography, agricultural heritage, historic architectural vernacular, and forward-thinking passion for sustainability and design. The 25 wineries featured in The New Architecture of Wine, all built within the last ten years, include buildings designed by top architects Juan Carlos Fernandez and Howard Backen, among others. Together, these wineries form an authentic expression of the winemakers’ passion for the land and its heritage—an homage to California. Heather Hebert, formerly the director of marketing for a San Francisco-based architecture firm with an international practice, spent 25+ years guiding the firm's marketing, brand identity, and positioning on a global scale. She works directly with clients to develop their brand strategy and design stories for their hotel, resort, winery, multi-family residential and urban mixed-use projects. Heather lives in Marin County, California, with her husband and four children. The New Architecture of Wine is her first book.

"Just like the complex Pinot Noir crafted by Sokol Blosser, Susan's life story is layered and rich. Recounting her journey with passion and humor, we share in the professional challenges Susan faced as an Oregon wine industry pioneer, as well as the personal rewards of raising a family and finding self-fulfillment. Even if you're not a wine lover, you will love reading this touching memoir."—Leslie Sbrocco, author of Wine for Women: A Guide to Buying, Pairing, and Sharing Wine "At last, an intelligent, literate, first-hand observation of the beginnings of the Oregon wine industry. Susan Sokol Blosser was there when we were no more than a handful of families with naïve dreams and very dirty boots. Not only does At Home in the Vineyard capture those early experiences with exuberant detail and humor, but it also provides insight into her family's private challenges of managing vineyards and a successful winery."—David Adelsheim, President, Adelsheim Vineyard "This is a coming-of-age story of a wine region and of a woman. It is about finding and following your destiny, but also shaping it yourself. It is about using every success and setback to fuel your own energy, to do the right thing, and to feed your heart. How could this book be both deeply inspiring and funny? Well, that is Susan Sokol Blosser."—Andrea (Immer) Robinson, Master Sommelier and author, Andrea's Complete Wine Course for Everyone

CKB088000 [BISAC]