The Library Vault

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston

Romance is popping off! Romance has always been a popular genre; however, it has entered the stage with a little more pizazz. The days of Fabio and the damsel in distress are over. The book covers consist of lighthearted bubblegum illustrations. They are wholesome and whimsical. While the covers may be cute, the contents stay true to the genre and reveal some steamy counterparts.

Romance has evolved and reached new heights and themes. The subcategories range from historical, regency, and fantasy to now paranormal and even alien romance. So, why is romance popping off? I think the answer is because people want a happy ending. In the post covid world, we are all adapting. We are constantly bombarded with negativity, as soon as we turn on the television, the newspaper we read or just running around the corner. With the constant influx of information, people may want to escape from the world they live in. Reading a whimsical romance may do the trick. I think that is maybe how I was feeling. I needed to escape, and indeed I did. I escaped to the world’s of Ashley Poston.

The first book I read by Poston was called, A Novel Love Story. It is a story about Eileen “Elsy” Merriweather, a woman who loves a good romance novel. Elsy’s car unfortunately breaks down while on her way to her book club retreat. After crossing the bridge she enters into a familiar world, known as Eloraton. Coincidently, it is the same town from her favorite romance series. This could not be possible, but it is. The charming place is suspended in time, stuck where the late author’s unfinished story ended. Convinced she’s meant to help complete the tale, Elsy steps in. Meanwhile, a mysterious resident hangs in the picture. A brooding, mint-eyed bookstore owner, who Elsy cannot recall from the series, but then who is he? As Elsy tries to restore the town’s happily-ever-after, she begins to realize her own might be tangled up within this mysterious mint-eyed character. 

I ate up this novel, a love story, ha! It was fun, lighthearted, a bit whimsical and a little steamy. It was the perfect place to escape to. Since I needed a sense of escape and enjoyed Poston’s writing, I proceeded to read her other books: The Seven Year Slip and The Dead Romantics. They were just as fulfilling and provided the much needed break from reality.

The Seven Year Slip takes place in an apartment in New York City where the residents have a tendency to slip back in time, seven years to be exact. By slipping back in time comes with wonders, but also distress, it is all centered around love. Now, The Dead Romantics centers around Florence, a ghost writer who actually sees ghosts. No pun intended. After returning home for her father’s funeral, she is confronted by a familiar face, her new handsome editor. As she helps him resolve his unfinished business, she begins to question everything she thought she knew about love, loss, and second chances.

Ashley Poston is on fire, she has a newly published novel about songwriters with a twist of magic. If you need break from the realm of your reality then pick up one of Poston’s enchanting books. I promise you won’t regret it. That begs the question, what to pair with one of these novels? Well, I think a rosé would do the trick. 

I understand it is a little chilly outside and rosé is not the most enticing wine to drink when the frigid weather hits. Well, I am not one of those people. Rosé can be consumed year round. Besides the weather, I could not think of anything better than reading a whimsical romance and drinking a whimsical bottle of wine. That wine is a German rosé from the producer Jochen Beurer: Weingut Beurer Rosé Trocken. Beurer is a pioneer in the wine industry; he has preserved varietals that have almost vanished from the region of Southwest Germany.

Beurer’s wines are biodynamic and are spontaneously fermented. Which begs the question, what is a biodynamic wine and how is something spontaneously fermented? A biodynamic wine is a holistic practice and view of agriculture. It presents that everything from the sun, earth, moon, and soil is interconnected. Therefore, his wines are spontaneous. Beurer’s rosé has been described as tasting like Gatorade, which might alarm some of you. The description of Gatorade is more like an energy, a pizazz like the romance genre. Beurer’s rosé is in some ways popping off. It is fun and whimsical like Poston’s books. It is fresh, fun and takes you on a journey to warmer days. A way to to escape this frigid weather like a whimsical romance. It is bringing you out of reality and into a happy ending. Enjoy Poston’s novels and Beurer’s rosé to escape from your current reality to a whimsical world of romance. Prost!