Catherine Bybee’s latest book in the D’Angelo Series, Beginning of Forever recently released on June 27, 2023. To help celebrate the release, I have info and an excerpt of the book as well as where you can purchase down below. Catherine writes engaging and romantic stories of not just the hero and heroine, but also involving family and friends. If you have not read anything from her yet, I encourage you to check out this book and the rest in the series!
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee comes the story of two wine enthusiasts who ride the ups and downs of love in the vineyards of Tuscany.
Tasting wine is not enough: sommelier Giovanni D’Angelo wants to create it. To put his family first, he’s always deferred his dreams—a vineyard to run, a woman to marry. But a three-week vineyard tour in Italy could set him back on track.
For Emma Rutledge, wine is in her blood. Intent to run the family wine business one day, she finds that the men in her family are only intent to push her out of it. But that’s fine—she’s got a plan.
When Gio and Emma meet on a wine tour in Tuscany, their shared aspirations fuel an undeniable chemistry. Returning home to California, they work toward setting up Emma’s vineyard and a label of their own. But when Emma receives a life-altering diagnosis, she worries it’s all been for nothing.
As Emma works to cement her family legacy while dealing with this unexpected challenge, Gio tries to convince her that their future isn’t just wine.
It’s each other.
EXCERPT:
And when Gio paused long enough to shove some food into his mouth, his mother offered a sweet smile and tapped her fingers on the table.
“You’ve said nothing about Emma.”
Gio chewed slowly and looked around the table.
Everyone was quietly watching him.
He slowly swallowed with a grin and followed it with a drink of water. “What do you want to know?”
Mari lost her smile. Slapped a hand on the table. “What do I want to know?” She rolled her eyes, lifted a hand in the air, and switched to Italian. “For an hour you’ve talked about everyone but the woman you introduced us to.”
“C’mon, Gio . . . give it up,” Chloe said, kicking him under the table.
“Hey.”
“Is she your girlfriend?” Franny asked without hesitation.
Gio winked at his niece. “Emma is someone I hope you will all meet very soon.”
“Bene, bene . . .” His mother was smiling again.
“I won’t say she’s a girlfriend, but we are more than friends.”
Mari’s smile fell to a flat line. “Why not a girlfriend?”
“Mama, we’ve only known each other a few weeks.”
“This means nothing to me. When you know, you know.” Mari swirled spaghetti with her fork. “Your father and I—”
“Yes, Mama, we know. Instant love, marriage, and babies. It isn’t like that nowadays.”
Brooke cleared her throat and placed a hand on her protruding baby bump. “I disagree.”
Dante laughed. “It took Chloe and I more time.”
Mari tossed around gestures with her free hand. “You were childhood friends. That’s different. And since you eloped without a whisper to the family, something must have been instant. Not that I want you to share.”
Dante stood down.
Smart man.
“This Emma is beautiful, and the way you smiled at her . . .”
“It was sappy adorable, Gio,” Chloe said in agreement with their mother.
He was infatuated with the woman, there was no pretending otherwise. “Her guard is up a bit. She’s been married before.”
“Children?” Mari asked.
“No, Mama. But when someone is divorced it takes a little longer to trust.”
All eyes turned to Luca. The only person at the table who had any personal authority on the subject.
Gio waited for his brother to agree.
Instead, Luca placed a hand over Brooke’s at the table and shook his head. “Not when you find the right person.”
Gio rolled his eyes. “It still takes time.”
“Wasting time, you mean,” his mother said.
Gio spread his hands to each side of the table, indicating his sister and brother. “Mama, two weddings in one year . . . isn’t that enough?”
“No,” she said flat out. “My youngest son still isn’t married. There is still room at this table. So, no. It’s not enough. When you’re married, it will be enough.”
“It’s a trap, Gio,” Dante said.
Chloe hit his arm.
“Not marriage . . . the enough part. Soon as you’re married the question switches to babies.”
The two things Emma said she didn’t want.
“Oh,” Chloe sighed. “That’s true.”
“None of this when you meet Emma. We don’t talk about my lack of being a husband or anyone’s biological clock. I don’t want anyone scaring her off.”
“What’s a biological clock?” Franny asked.
Dante started laughing.
“I mean it!” Gio pointed his fork at his sister and mother.
“She means something to you,” Luca said quietly.
Gio paused, thought of her smile, her laugh. The freckles on her face and how crazy her hair turned in the humidity. “Yeah. She does.”
“Then we will do our best to keep our opinions about weddings and babies to ourselves. Don’t you think, Mama?” Luca asked.
Mari released a deep sigh. “Fine. I can do that.”
Gio felt the tension in his shoulders ease.
Franny leaned over, tapped his arm. “What’s a biological clock?”
About the Author
Catherine is a #1 Wall Street Journal, Amazon, and Indie Reader bestselling author. In addition, her books have also graced The New York Times and USA Today bestsellers lists. In total she has written thirty-nine beloved books that have collectively sold more than 10 million copies and have been translated into more than twenty languages.
Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in the hope of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full time and has penned the Not Quite series, The Weekday Brides series, the Most Likely To series, and the First Wives series. Learn more about Catherine and her books at www.catherinebybee.com
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