The Champagne Crush
Caroline O’ Connell
(Les Femmes Series)
Publication date: September 16th 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
For fans of The Paradise Problem, a slow-burn romance about a socialite in over her head in a high-stakes job promoting a new sparkling wine with a difficult boss who wants to see her fail—despite the electric sparks flying between them.
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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Also check out Caroline’s other book, Affordable Paris Hotels!
Your Ultimate Guide to a Perfect Trip to Paris is the must-have resource for travelers who want charm, comfort, and location—without the luxury hotel price tag.
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Interview with Caroline O’Connell, author of THE CHAMPAGNE CRUSH
What is your favorite part of the book?
Midway through the story there is a black-tie gala party at the Plaza Hotel in New York. All the main characters are there. The evening starts with a blind tasting of California sparkling wine and French champagne; lots of drama there. It’s followed by a reception and gourmet dinner prepared by famed French chef Alain Ducasse. At the after-dinner auction, our hero bids for the last vintage bottle and (the “cherry on top”) to lead off the dancing with our heroine.
Does your book have a lesson? Moral?
Yes, I started by deciding on a theme that would resonate throughout the story: the importance of Trust and Communication. A subtheme involves “Substance vs. Glitz.”
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
Some of the secondary characters are based off real people, especially the Champagne experts. And since I use real restaurants, the chefs mentioned are real. The main characters are created by me.
Of all the characters you have created, who is your favorite and why?
I’m in love with the hero, Chris. He’s my dream guy. I think for a romance to be good, the hero has to be “swoony.” He is literally tall, dark, and handsome; has a good sense of humor, smart, successful, and in love with the heroine.
What character in your book are you least likely to get along with?
There is one person, but I don’t want to give away the story, so I can’t say. Should be obvious to the reader by the end.
What would the main character in your book have to say about you?
Thanks for creating me. It’s been a fun ride.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
The Champagne Crush is the first book in the Les Femmes Series (about a group of girls who went to an international boarding school in Switzerland). It is set in the world of sparkling wine in Napa, New York, and France. It is a standalone story.
The second book (due out at the end of 2026) is set in the art world in Tuscany. The main characters from the first book will play secondary roles in the second book. The heroines in each novel are best friends from the boarding school.
[Caroline can be reached at www.CarolineOC.com]
Author Bio:
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 Greenberg, 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 CHAMPAGNE CRUSH: A Romance Novel (Spark Press), is due out on September 16, 2025.
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