Ashley Jayden Hayes arrives in Long Island Wine Country and soon finds her world turned upside down.
The protagonist of the new novel, “Harvest Road,” Ashley takes a job at a fictional North Fork winery. She soon meets sexy chef Kyle Murano and finds herself questioning her career, upcoming marriage and her long held vision of the future.
Pick up a copy North Fork native Melissa Martin’s debut novel to find out what Ashley decides.
“Take a ride through the tangled vines, and be a part of a wild story filled with powerful players, suspense and the strength to follow your heart, no matter what the cost,” reads the book’s synopsis on its website.
“It’s great summer reading,” said Martin, 34, a married mom who lives in Baiting Hollow. “It’s a romantic drama all about wine country. I could see people enjoying a copy on the beach.”
The story begins at the time of bud break in early June and culminates with the fall harvest, hence its title. The official release date, when the novel will be available on Amazon and wherever books are sold, is Aug. 26. It is now available through Martin’s website.
“The timing worked out perfectly,” she said.
Native North Forkers will recognize locations like Wayside Market in Southold and North Fork Table & Inn when they pop up in the story albeit under fictional names.
“(The locations) are something special for the local who knows everything,” Martin said.
After studying writing at Long Island University and working three years for Raphael vineyard in Peconic, Martin said she drew the inspiration to write her first novel from her family and two-year-old daughter Anabeth.
She also runs the marketing consulting firm Creative Island.
Martin will sign copies of the book at a release party at Raphael in Peconic on July 3 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. She will also sign copies at Claudio’s Restaurant in Greenport on July 12 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and at the North Fork Tasting Room in Riverhead on July 13 from noon to 3 p.m.
