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

Champagne Crush by Caroline O'Connell

Series: Les Femmes Series

Publication date: September 16th, 2025

Synopsis:

For fans of Emily In Paris (on Netflix). "Pop the cork on this sparkling romance where champagne dreams and career schemes collide in the vineyards of Napa and the glamour of New York. Catherine Reynolds is ready to reinvent herself, but a flirty CEO, fizzing ambition, and a splash of betrayal shake up her plans. From vineyard drama to high-stakes PR, love and bubbles rise to the top. Perfect for fans of witty banter, slow-burn tension, and second chances with a twist." -- Los Angeles Book Review

Catherine Reynolds has enjoyed a life of luxury, but her diplomat parents have cut her off financially, leaving her flat broke. She is determined to turn things around and gain her independence--so, when an old family friend offers her a lifeline as a PR consultant for his sparkling wine company, she jumps at the chance. But working with Chris McDermott, the company's sexy, stubborn president, is anything but easy.

A purist at heart, Chris clashes with Catherine's glitzy marketing flair; still, the chemistry between them is undeniable. As they travel from New York to Napa, Paris, and the Champagne region of France, their partnership blossoms amid high-stakes industry rivalries and a launch that could make or break them.

When sabotage threatens to shatter their dreams, Catherine must dig deep to prove her worth. With the dazzling unveiling of their new sparkling wine in Bordeaux in jeopardy, will she and Chris overcome the challenges of the past and present to secure their future--and find love in the process?

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Excerpt

Trevor took the microphone. "Good evening, folks." He went into a short monologue recapping the day's events and cracking jokes at the expense of high-profile guests. He closed with, "Let's take the plunge. We have many exceptional bottles to auction off to reach our goal. Please open your wallets and bid with abandon."

There were other things Chris wanted to pursue with abandon, starting with Catherine's bare back. Her slinky dress was killing him. Unaware of his train of thought, she was in an animated conversation with Will.

The bidding became heated, and Chris directed his attention to the stage. As each lot was auctioned off, Chris and Ken jotted down notes in the margins of their programs and bantered back and forth about the prices they were fetching. Unlike the blind tasting, this process was highly visible. Chris assumed some buyers were making winning bids for the prestige and bragging rights, as much as for the unique bottles and contribution to the cause. In this case, glitz overrode substance. He said as much to Ken--not grasping he was about to fall into the same quest to be victorious.

Pleased with the competitive bidding, Trevor congratulated the crowd on their good taste. The lots were fetching higher prices than anticipated. After forty-five minutes, one final bottle remained. "Well folks, you've risen to the occasion. The California Sparkling Wine Producers thank you," Trevor said. "And now we have a special surprise for our last bottle." The crowd drew quiet. "The high bidder on this rare Trianon 1952 vintage jeroboam will also receive a two-night stay at romantic Les Cravéres in Champagne and a gourmet dinner for two in their Michelin-starred restaurant, along with a private tour of the kitchen and toast with the chef."

When Catherine stood up, Chris figured she was going to the ladies' room, so he was taken off balance by Trevor's next words. "Catherine Reynolds, representing Trianon, has agreed to join the winning bidder in a toast and to lead off the first dance of the evening." He beckoned her to the stage.

Did I say I wanted a woman full of surprises? Uh-oh. He'd be damned if anyone else was getting this prize. he was feeling awfully possessive at the moment.

They were off and running. A number of attractive men participated in the early bidding, including Chris, Patrick Tournelle, Will Frost, and even Sean Dunlavy. When the dollar figure exceeded $4,000 the bidding contest narrowed to only two: Chris and Will. Trevor chided the combatants. "Looks like we have a horse race, ladies and gentlemen. Miss Reynolds, would you care to weigh in on the contest?"

All she murmured was, "I'm glad they're supportive of the cause," which prompted twitters.

When Chris made it clear he planned to bid whatever it took, his friend Will bowed out. Finally. Do I have a broadcast my interest any louder?

"Fair warning," Trevor announced, indicating the bidding was about to stop, and gavel came down. "Sold to Chris McDermott for $5,000."

Amid applause, Chris walked onto the stage, shook hands with Trevor, and enfolded Catherine in a warm embrace that sent cameras flashing. Doug Barr joined the trio to pose for photos. A waiter materialized with four glasses of champagne that they sipped while the stage was being cleared.

The band took their places. Vanessa stepped up to the microphone and started performing her signature version of "Knocks Me Off My Feet."

"I believe this dance is mine," Chris whispered in Catherine's ear, before he whisked her onto the dance floor.

"You sure know how to make a splash," Catherine said. "Hope this doesn't appear like we're fraternizing."

"All for the cause," Chris murmured, holding her possessively close. She felt so good in his arms while they moved in time to the music. Vanessa sang the refrain, and he caught the message of the song--a love so strong it made you weak.

Other couples joined them on the dance floor, and Chris steered Catherine to a less conspicuous spot in an alcove behind one of the pillars. "About that bare back," he murmured and pulled her closer in his embrace.

CAROLINE O'CONNELL has written five travel guides and numerous travel articles for magazines, newspapers, and websites. Her Romance In Paris guide has won widespread praise: "There is no better person to guide you through Paris than Caroline" -- Peter Greenburg, the Travel Detective, radio host, and Travel Editor on CBS-TV. And Library Journal raved -- "Reading this breezy but informative guide to Paris is like having a series of conversations with a well-traveled friend..."

Her debut novel, THE CAMPAGNE CRUSH: A Romance Novel (Spark Press), is due out on September 16th, 2025.

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Champagne for the Holidays Blitz

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Review: Dawn of Flames by Tessa Hale

Dawn of Flames by Tessa Hale

Series: Dragons of Ember Hollow #3

Publication date: July 19th, 2024

Pages: 262

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Synopsis:

Ripped from my mates. Taken by an evil who has it out for us all. And it's all I can do to hold on, just hoping that they will find me before it's too late.

Because I'm in the clutches of someone who only wants one thing... power. Power that only I can give them. And I'm a second away from breaking.

But my captor is revealing secrets. Ones that have the potential to bring my world crumbling down. And now just mine but the entire dragon species', too.

Now, we're racing against the clock to keep those secrets buried and me safe. But our enemies are circling. And sometimes the deadliest are the ones you least expect...

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Review:

I am emboldened to say that the final book in the trilogy was slightly better than the second. Let me explain, I feel like a lot of the plot was fleshed out a lot more. The connections were more fundamental and structured within the various dynamics. Even with Maddox still being a pain in the ass, the bonds were flourishing. Hayden was coming into her own and learning who she was and how she fit within her new life. I was emotionally invested in her captivity and the fact that she took it all so stoically. Before that instance she usually was the damsel in distress that the other dragons would swoop in and save at the last minute. This time she was left on her own for weeks to suffer through it and come out a stronger person. It gave Hayden a lot more depth than she had before for me. I suddenly was rooting for her. 

The medley of villains in the book was a little overwhelming. I feel that if the story had stuck with the Corbett family instead of interjecting this Counsel and the corrupt members of it, then it would have been a much more concise book. There were many avenues where they could flesh out the antagonists and breathe more life into the push and pull of their struggles. It would have been nice, even if unnecessary, to see the inner workings of the Corbett clan a bit more. It seemed like they were more a mosquito than much else. They just kind of showed up, did something to stir up the hornets nest, then retreated only to rinse and repeat. There is the capability of giving villains a back story and some foundation without having the reader's favor sway. 

I feel like as much as they built up Hayden's first heat it was really tame and lackluster. It almost felt as if the author grew tired of writing the smutty scenes and just decided to fade-to-black most of the parts that would have made it seem as intense as they had illuded to it being. There were a lot of instances in the book where I wanted the author to go deeper but she remained at surface level. It took a lot of the appeal away from the book which would have likely given it at the minimum a 4 star review. 

I am intrigued enough by the world the author is writing that I may read the spinoff series featuring Wren somewhere down the line. I will say that this series was not bad. I have read bad series before and this was not one of them. I just wanted more from it. I wanted to lose myself in the characters and their lives but I was unable to achieve that. I would say that my standards can be a little high and I can be a bit more critical than the average reader so I urge others to give it a shot for themselves and feel free to let me know if you catch anything I may have missed. 

Audiobook Blitz with Giveaway: Her Filthy Enemy by Adele Knight @XpressoTours

Her Filthy Enemy by Adele Knight

Series: Her Sweet Seduction

Publication date: November 28th, 2025

Synopsis:

What do you do when snowed in alone with an arrogant flirt?

Don't walk in on him in the shower.

Too late.

I can't look away, and Noah loves the attention.

But it doesn't mean anything...

He's the guy who never goes home alone, and I'm the shy book nerd whose idea of a good time is staying late at the library and binging on red licorice.

Noah thinks I'm so forgettable that he can't remember my name, even though we share the same group of friends. So when the roads clear and our mutual friends finally turn up, including Eric--the sweet guy who wants to be more than friends--I'm determined to forget about water dripping off muscles and fists wrapped around...

But now Noah's acting differently. Sitting close to me, touching me, calling me by my actual name...

It's almost like he's jealous, but that's ridiculous.

Except, I swear the bathroom door was unlocked before I walked in.

Noah didn't leave it open on purpose... or did he?

Contains MF, FF scenes, and an MMC who likes to watch.

This is a short and steamy novella in Her Sweet Seduction Series. Each novella is stand-alone with new characters and spicy scenarios to enjoy anytime--but especially fun as a bedtime treat.

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ADELE KNIGHT likes her red wine with chocolate and her sweet romances with lots of heat. Her spicy stories are a bedtime treat with enough spark to warm your sheets and alluring characters to make you beg for more.

When she's not writing, Adele can be found lost in other fantasy worlds. Whether it's a hairy beast and a talking candle-stick or black leather and heels, Adele loves her heroines feisty and her heroes irresistible.

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Her Filthy Enemy Blitz

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Review: Midnight of Ashes by Tessa Hale

Midnight of Ashes by Tessa Hale

Series: Dragons of Ember Hollow #2

Publication date: April 19th, 2024

Pages: 252
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Synopsis:

One moment changed everything. A split-second decision to try to save one of my five dragon mates nearly cost my life. And now nothing is the same.

Knox, Cáel, and Cillian treat me like I'll break at any moment, while Maddox keeps a careful distance. And Easton won't look at me at all.

We're supposed to be fated by the stars, but we're falling apart. Enemies still lurk around every corner, but the guys vow we'll be ready when they come.

But evil has a way of striking when you least expect it. And none of us are ready for who might be pulling the strings...

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Review:

When I read the first book I was less than impressed the structure of the story. However, there was enough in the cliffhanger that made me want to know what happened next. So, as soon as I finished my review I delved into the second book and I was pleased to see that the second book was a little better than the first but there was still a few things I got a little burnt out on.

The resistance of Easton and Maddox is good for a little bit of antagonistic play within the protagonists. The choice made it so that the bond was not sunshine and rainbows from the start. However, over time it started to become a little redundant. Easton resists Hayden because he saw how his brother reacted after losing his mate and didn't want to risk losing his mind the say way if anything should happened to Hayden. That can be understandable to an extent. I do feel that being in a bond with 4 other men that he could possibly find some solace in the fact that where he may fail to protect her, they could possibly take up the mantle and ease some of his worry. But, Maddox's issues kind of flip flop around to make them inconsistent. At first, Maddox was all for the bond, except that he knew he couldn't touch her until she had graduated since he was a professor. He seemed open to the bond except for that simple reasoning. Then somewhere along the way it feels like the author realized that would not be able to be maintained so suddenly Maddox had this traumatic past of him losing his girlfriend and not wanting the same to befall Hayden. Similar to Easton but to the point where he was becoming a hindrance to the rest of the bonds. That started to be feel very forced and disingenuous. It brought about a feeling that the author was desperate to keep the resistance in place and knew that him simply not wanting to mess around with a student would not be a strong foundation to stand on. Maddox went from my favorite character to my absolute least since he suddenly just seemed like a jerk for jerk's sake.

I did enjoy seeing the author push past whatever awkwardness she may have felt in writing sex scenes to give a little more detail of what was happening. There were still a few details that made it hard to figure out what was going on. Who was doing what? What position were they in? All that with so little foreplay and zero pain? It still felt a little lacking but perhaps that is my own high standards after reading books from the likes of H.D. Carlton, Leigh Rivers, and Tate James who are heavy on the details. I wouldn't say it was a complete negative because I could see the improvement, but more a personal standard I had hoped would be utilized.

I will say that the fact that Hayden is constantly getting injured and needing rescuing is getting very old. She offers little to no resistance and continues to constantly be the victim. I would like to see her have a little more fight in her. There was an instance where she wasn't even fighting off a supernatural being and she still couldn't seem to hold her own well enough to not need saving. She's a supernatural creature, how many times is she going to almost die? I assume it is an attempt to show how fragile she is to make Easton and Maddox's resistance more believable but in those situations I would think those two would be more apt to pull her closer because she almost kicked off rather than intensify their distance. I can see the reasoning for it, but can the woman please not be mortally wounded almost every other chapter?

I saw the improvement of the book. I recognized the effort the author made to try to expand on the first book and make it better for her readers. For that, I have to improve my rating. But there are still areas where I would have liked to see more (or less) to make the book something that I would proudly display on my shelf and suggest to fellow readers while waxing on and on about how amazing it is. It remains middle of the road, but I will reserve harsher judgement for when I reach the end of the series.