Book Blitz with Excerpt + Teasers + Giveaway: The Champagne Crush by Caroline O'Connell @XpressoTours

The Champagne Crush by Caroline O'Connell

Series: Les Femmes Series

Publication date: August 20th, 2026

Format: Unabridged Audiobook

Performance: Single Narration by acclaimed British stage actress Karen Gundersen

Audio Features: Fully voiced character accents and deep emotional range

Primary Tropes: Workplace Romance, Opposites Attract, Slow-Burn

Audiobook Vibe: High-tension with a romantic, high-heat fade-to-black intimacy level (the intense build-up is on the page, but the camera pulls away before explicit details)

Synopsis:

Perfect for fans of Emily in Paris--with the sophistication of the wine world and a slow-burn, opposites-attract love story. A glitzy PR expert and a traditional wine president clash on a high-stakes global launch--where rivalry, reinvention, and romance collide.

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Chris McDermott's Family Ranch in Napa, CA

(Dinner after an all-day TV shoot in the vineyards)

When they were finished the fig tart dessert with freshly whipped cream from their dairy, his dad leaned over to Chris. "Why don't you show Catherine our current operation? It's not much yet, but she'll be able to say she saw a world class winery in its early stages." He stood up and grabbed his plate. "I'll help Maura clear the dishes. You two can take off."

Chris didn't need prompting. He was feeling inexplicably drawn to Catherine. The temperature outside dropped quickly, so he bundled her up in one of his warm leather jackets. It was three sizes too big, which only made her look more adorable.

They stepped onto a moonlit path and walked a short distance to the temporary winery: an aluminum-sided structure that held rudimentary winemaking equipment next to cases of empty bottles. A walk-in cooler held samples of the wines they'd already produced laid horizontally on racks. On the far end of the room, a partial wall separated the "office"--an old metal desk, a long table with office equipment and a computer, one file cabinet, shelves brimming with books and magazines, and a large bulletin board with articles and graphs clipped on it.

"I know it doesn't look like much yet," Chris said. "But it's the genesis of our dream. My dad and I have been working toward this moment for many years, the chance to create our own family wine."

He held out his hand. "Let's go sit outside. It's such a clear night, we should be able to see the stars."

They sat on hay bales near the barn, and he wrapped his arms around her shoulders to keep her warm. He pointed up to the sky. "Most nights you can see the constellations and major stars, unless there's cloud cover." He pulled her closer. "There's Venus..."

"Named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty..." Catherine chimed in.

Seems the beauty is right here, sitting next to me. "How about you, Catherine Reynolds? What are your dreams?"

She tucked her hands into the jacket pockets. "Unlike you, my dreams have changed over time. When Vanessa and I were teenagers, we went into modeling." She made a face. "It's not as glamorous as people think. Now, I'd like to pursue a career in the hospitality sector." She sighed. "Still working that out."

"I'm sorry I doubted you in the beginning. I think you're a wonderful asset to the company." And to my life.

He stood up and silently offered his hand, pulling her up to face him. An owl hooted nearby, momentarily jarring him from his intent to steal a kiss. He took a deep breath and gazed into her upturned face. Her long-lashed eyes blinked as she looked into his questioningly.

"We'd better get going." He turned her around and draped his arm over her shoulders as they walked back. When they reached the guest cottage, he gave her a warm hug and walked off. She's too appealing. I'm falling fast.

CAROLINE O'CONNELL is the author of numerous travel guides, including Affordable Paris Hotels. The Champagne Crush is the first novel in the Les Femmes Series. In conjunction with the launch of the audiobook version, the ebook is discounted to $1.99 (from $9.99) on all platforms.

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The Champagne Crush Blitz

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Release Blitz with Teasers: If I Didn't Have You by Giulia Lagomarsino @crzybookladyluv @EJBookPromos

If I Didn't Have You by Giulia Lagomarsino

Series: The Last Place for Love #7

Publication date: August 24th, 2026

Cover design: artscandare

Photographer: Reggie Deanching

Model: Ryan Stanton

Synopsis:

I lost my heart a long time ago to one woman.

The love of my life.

The mother of my children.

I could weather any storm with her by my side.

But I lost sight of that somewhere along the way.

Holding her in my arms as she nearly died tore me to shreds.

I vowed a long time ago that I would never let anything happen to her, and I failed.

And now she was ready to leave.

Not because I didn't protect her, but because I lost sight of who we were.

That was all about to change.

Because if there was one thing I knew for certain, it was that life just wasn't worth living without her by my side.

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I'm a stay at home mom that loves to read. Some of my favorite titles are Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Horatio Hornblower. I started writing when I was trying to come up with suggestions on ways I could help bring in some extra money. I came up with the idea that I could donate plasma because you could earn an extra $500/month. My husband responded with, "No. Find something else. Write a blog. Write a book." I didn't think I had anything to share on blog that a thousand other mothers hadn't already thought of. I decided to take his challenge seriously and sat down to write my first book, Jack. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed writing. From there, the stories continued to flow and I haven't been able to stop. I hope my readers enjoy my books as much as I enjoy writing them. Between reading, writing, and taking care of three small kids, my days are quite full.

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Review: Crown of War and Shadow by J.R. Ward

Crown of War and Shadow by J.R. Ward

Series: Kingdoms of the Compass #1

Publication date: February 17th, 2026

Pages: 480

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Synopsis:

An outcast burdened with a curse and a mercenary who's out for himself collide in this star-crossed, slow-burn, high-stakes romantic fantasy.

In the dead of night, passions rise and empires fall.

Welcome to Kingdoms of the Compass.

The Fulcrum is failing, and demons are slipping into the mortal world, stalking the night.

No one is safe.

Especially not Sorrel. An orphan and an outcast, she's spent her whole life within the walls of her small village, ostracized by her mystical abilities. She wants to survive... and maybe find somewhere she can call her true home. But Fate has other plans.

Sorrel has been chosen. Cursed.

She must cross the Badlands to return the Queen's crown and convince the fearsome female to save their world from destruction.

Well are she's no brave hero, Sorrel makes a dangerous deal with Merc, a brooding, commanding mercenary known only by his unscrupulous profession.

The deal? A night in his bed that she will never forget, in exchange for her safe passage.

But Merc has secrets of his own, and even though passion runs hot between them, enemies are around every corner, and danger and betrayal threaten at every turn.

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Story:

J.R. Ward has been a household name for me for many years. Her Black Dagger Brotherhood series was what got me enthralled with reading so when I heard she was putting out an entirely new series that was different from what she normally wrote I was all for it. The story was interesting. A girl with no real past to speak of and isolated from her community due to the fact she was a healer, suddenly finds herself on a journey first to freedom of those who sought her harm and then in a bid to keep the Fulcrum that holds demons at bay from the human realm functioning. Her enlisting the help of a dark mercenary that happened into her hometown days before she was run out of it set the tone for the entire story. I liked that it was deeply rooted in fantasy instead of more paranormal as her other books were. The connection between the two main characters was built through perseverance and strength. While there was sexual content it was not nearly as prevalent nor tawdry as her previous books. I liked the foundation and would love to read more about Sorrel's life as she steps into her new identity.

Characters:

• Sorrel - I truly felt sorry for Sorrel in how isolated she was. Nobody seemed to care much for her and even was openly cruel to her. She accepted it without much pushback until she was forced out onto the road to keep herself alive. When faced with the chance of death at every turn she was forced to develop a bit of a backbone. Merc testing her every second they were in each other's company also played a hand in it. I felt like throughout the story she grew into a new person. A stronger person who was willing to fight not just for herself but for all the people that, let's face it, don't really deserve it. The revelation at the end as far as who Sorrel is was fascinating and I want to continue to see her grow throughout the series.

• Merc - I'll be honest... I didn't like Merc much. He was always so fickle with how he felt about Sorrel and the fact he was in charge of her safety. The fact he kept calling her a working girl almost every second they found any form of intimacy really grated on my nerves. He should have been smart enough to look at how she cowered away from people and how she covered her face at a near constant clip and realized she may not be like the other women in the brothel. The fact he tried to assuage himself of his feelings for Sorrel with another woman also pissed me off. I would have much rather Sorrel be involved with Thane over Merc. At least with Thane you knew what you were getting.

Writing:

J.R. Ward is a wordsmith of the highest order. Even if the book flopped (which this one didn't) it would still be a stupendous representation of writing just in the way she tells her stories. The verbiage and the plotting of the story was well structured and even had a few twists and turns that I would not have expected unless I was already well acquainted with the Warden's writing. While the overall story was new and different for her, she still had that way of speaking that makes a person relax into the read and let the flowing words take them away to the land of dragons, curses, demons, and self-discovery. 

Overall:

I thought the book was really well done. But I expect nothing less from the Warden. I found the world to be a mystifying world of fantasy complete with the customary dragons and the journey of self-discovery. I would have liked if Merc was a little more likeable but you can't have everything all the time. I would be very interested in reading the rest of the series as they come out.

Review: Hollow by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti

Hollow by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti

Series: Crown of Hearts and Chaos #1

Publication date: November 25th, 2025

Pages: 560

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Synopsis:

Don't listen to the whispers of the woods.

Don't trust the man cloaked in shadow.

Don't earn the wrath of the scattered spirits.

Don't go out after dark.

The Great Hunt begins once every fifty years and only the Champions willing to face death to shatter the curse dare to enter.

The Champions... and me.

I'm no warrior, no swordsmith, and certainly no Fae, but the forest is my only hope. To enter those trees is to walk willingly to my demise. But I need the boon the forest will grant the winner and I'm willing to risk it all for a chance at claiming it.

I just never expected to face him beneath those trees. The beast who strikes fear into the desperate people of all lands. The monster who commands the legion of Hollows and made our plight a thousand times worse.

The Hollows are empty of all things but none are so heartless as him.

Prince Bane intends to be the death of me. But I have an oath to fulfill before I'll let him have me. And I'll do whatever it takes to achieve it.

I am Ferris Creed and I'm going to unite the lost spirits who once bound the wandering trees in place, return the scattered amulets to the core of its corruption, and use the winner's boon to change my fate. Come wretchedness or torment, through trickery and deception, I will get what I came here for. And no one will stand in my way. Not even Prince Bane.

*** Hollow is a dark Romantasy from the bestselling authors of Zodiac Academy, Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti. It is a heady cocktail of Summoners, seduction and spirits, set to get your heart racing and feet kicking. There will be a ruinous, black hearted love interest, a rebellious, ruthless FMC, plot twists, cliff hangers, dark humor and a healthy seasoning of make-you-blush spice. It is not for the faint of heart. All those who enter the forest are bound by its terms--will you walk willingly into the dark? ***

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Story:

We all loved the Hunger Games movies/books to some degree. It was completely original to think of a dystopian world where citizens had to fight to entertain the rich in order to have a better life for their families. This book reminded me a lot of that series. While it is not a televised reality show it was a hunt to try to win the boon from the forest to better the lives of the champions who entered or the overall populace at large. I would have liked if some of the other characters outside of the main duo would have shared what they wanted their boon to be. If that comparison was made it would have maybe had people joining forces a lot more readily. Also would have opened the door to more betrayal and evil plotting which I don't feel a book can ever have too much of. I liked the fact that in the case of Ferris and Hendrix their desires were equal parts selfish and unselfish in what they wanted. I liked the hunt for the amulets, the danger each of them encounter either with others like themselves or the forest beasts at large. I wanted to see just what each of the spirits could do when tamed and hope to see more of them in the subsequent books. I like how the story is plotted out and how the second book was teased to be an entirely different adventure the two are forced into encountering together.

Characters:

• Ferris - I loved Ferris so much. She was not just some clueless girl who went into the forest during The Great Hunt to try to free her sister, but a well read and smart female. She studied things she knew the other champions never would so that she could survive longer and with the lack of help of the others. She knew that eventually everyone would be out for themselves to collect the amulets and be given the boon for whatever selfish reason they held for needing it. When she ran into Hendrix she was determined to show that she was worth more than what he accused her of being. She was a character that demanded respect and I loved that she would accept nothing less. She was the strong female main character that a lot of books lack and the fact that the authors were also able to make her hold onto a dash of innocence in all of it was... chef's kiss. I was rooting for Ferris every step of the way. She approached things by using her brain and her kindness rather than the domineering attitude of the rest of the champions. In short, there wasn't a lot I would have changed about Ferris.

• Hendrix - Hendrix on the other hand... I found myself so absolutely frustrated by him. He would get angry at Ferris and treat her badly every step of the way. The way he just assumed that Ferris would give up her hope of freeing her sister for his own sad story of redemption made him seem like such a self-centered asshole. Granted, that was exactly what his character was supposed to be like. However, I thought that eventually he would put his own selfish needs aside for the woman he was falling for. Henny don't play that way unfortunately. He is every bit the selfish Fae that Ferris always described his people as being. I was disappointed in him over and over again. I hope that the next book in the series we are able to see Hendrix and Ferris form a more cohesive pairing than how they seemed towards the end of the book. I would love if Hendrix would try his hand at being honest for once.

Writing:

I will never had a bad word to say about Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti's writing styles. They have a way of weaving this tapestry of description that puts you firmly in the world they are referencing. I could see every leaf, every horrifically detailed horror within the trees, and every spirit in my mind with pristine accuracy. Granted the map in the front of the book also helped visualize where everyone was and how they were navigating the forest. There were even some words used that I had to look up and that hasn't happened for me in years. Any books written by these two authors will be like a fever dream of imagery with characters you either love or love to hate.

Overall:

I really liked the book overall but I am unsurprised by that. Anything Peckham & Valenti is guaranteed to be a win for me. I really can't wait until the next book comes out so I can see what the future holds for two characters I am interested in seeing grow even more. However, maybe give the book a little more heat to cement the characters together in the face of even more obstacles they may have awaiting them.