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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Excerpt
Chris
McDermott’s Family Ranch in Napa, CA
(Dinner
after an all-day TV shoot in the vineyards)
The
kitchen door swung open and Catherine walked in. She’d changed for
dinner into black skinny jeans and a caramel V-neck sweater that
accented her honey-blonde hair, which she wore down. Chris couldn’t
help staring. Now that’s my type. She looks
delectable.
He
went behind the bar to pour her a drink. “What
is your pleasure, Miss Reynolds?”
“I’ll
have what you’re drinking.” She stepped over to join him.
“Excellent
choice.” He held the bottle for her to inspect then poured wine
into her glass.
“I
don’t know that label. Kenmare Cabernet.” Catherine swirled the
wine in the glass, put her nose
over the rim to sniff, and took her first
sip. “This is good. Is it a local wine?”
“I’m
glad you approve. You’re one of the select few to sample the first
cabernet sauvignon
from the McDermotts’ new wine label, Kenmare—my mother’s maiden
name and a town in Ireland where our family is from.”
She
took another sip. “You mentioned a family wine. I didn’t know you
were this far along. Is it sold anywhere?”
“Not
yet.” Chris explained how anyone could produce a custom wine with
their own label by buying grapes from quality growers, renting winery
equipment, and using an experienced winemaker. Chris and his dad knew
the valley well, so they were able to choose the best grapes and
oversee the process themselves.
The
last five years they’d been using grapes solely
grown on their property. Since they intended to build their own
winery, these bottles were a preview they’d been sharing with local
restaurants and distributors.
“This
reminds me of wines I’ve tasted in Bordeaux,”
Catherine said.
“Yes,
wines labeled Bordeaux are usually a blend of cabernet sauvignon and
merlot,” he said. “We’ll see how they compare when we’re in
Bordeaux for Vinexpo.”
Maura
appeared at the door. “Dinner’s on.”
“Sounds
good. I’m famished,” his
dad said.
They
carried their wineglasses into the dining room. His dad pulled out
Maura’s chair next to him and sat at the head of the table. Chris
pulled out a chair for Catherine on the other side of his father and
sat next to her.
“Everything
smells delicious,”
Catherine said.
“Thanks,
dearie.” Maura passed the platter of chicken marsala with parmesan
risotto for Catherine to serve herself first.
Chris
noticed how close the two women seemed to have become in just one
day. In this setting, Catherine seemed more relaxed. It appealed to
him. Chris topped off their wine while his dad filled water glasses
from the pitcher on the table.
“This
roasted asparagus looks so fresh,” Catherine said.
“I
found it at the farmers market
yesterday,”
Maura said.
With
Catherine’s interested prodding, the
conversation at dinner continued with Chris and his father explaining
their plans for the McDermott winery.
When
they were finishing 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 arm 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.
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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