Champagne Rules [Paperback]

Susan Lyons (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 31, 2006

When Suzanne Brennan met Jaxson Navarre, she had yet to experience the ultimate in pleasure...but his tender initiation made her wildest dreams come true. Their brief, passionate affair had nothing at all to do with...forever. Four years later, the same rules apply. Keep it light. Keep it simple. And keep it sexy. Very, very sexy. In Jax's bed, Suzanne finds that desire goes deeper than she ever imagined and erotic pleasure has a whole new meaning. But when it comes right down to it, she's ready to break every rule in the book for him...

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Susan Lyons is a publicity writer and consultant. This is her first book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Kensington Publishing (January 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758214065
• ISBN-13: 978-0758214065
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #552,470 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great romance--steamy sex, girlfirend-bonding, and a strong romantic conflict, January 25, 2006

By 

booksforabuck "BooksForABuck" (Long Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Champagne Rules (Paperback)

He was the best lover she'd ever had, but she'd never even gotten his name. It had been the last day of her vacation in Crete and Suzanne met him on a nude beach. The connection was instant, but purely physical, of course--how could it have been anything else since they barely talked. Still, four years later, Suzanne remembers it fondly. So fondly that when, on one of her regular nights out with girlfriends, she reveals her secret in their discussion of best-sex. To her surprise, her girlfriends insist that she track him down--not as hard as she'd thought with the Internet and Google available. In fact, dozens of guys respond to her ad claiming to be the man of her dreams, or at least willing to give it a good try.

Jaxon never forgot the afternoon in Crete--not even during his brief marriage. He's intent on proving himself, making partner in his San Francisco law firm, getting ahead in a white world, and leaving the stigma of being the poor kid from Jamaica behind him. Still, Crete meant a lot and he often searches the Internet for some hint that his mystery mermaid remembered it as well. When he Googles her ad, he knows it's her, and he can't help responding even though he really needs to spend his time working.

Suzanne wants family, children, the Leave it to Beaver lifestyle--but all that is in the future. For now, she can settle for hot sex, right. And Jaxon is ideal. The two agree to 'champagne rules,' keeping their relationship special, never letting the bubbles go flat, with no talk about the future or work or boring things. Still, the rules get bent and it's the kind and caring Jaxon she starts to care about. But a Jaxon so driven by work he'll sacrifice anything to get ahead can't be right, can it? Especially not when one of the things he's willing to sacrifice is her.

Author Susan Lyons dishes up hot steamy sex, best girlfriend bonding, and a strong romantic conflict in a compelling story. Jaxon makes a super-sexy hero, with his hot chocolate athlete body and his sharp lawyer-brain. Suzanne is torn between her normal self and her sexy-twin-self--the woman she feels herself to be when she's with Jaxon. Can she really be both?

It may not be fair, it clearly violates the champagne rules the two agreed upon, but ultimately Suzanne needs Jaxon to be something more for her--needs a relationship. When that moment comes, champagne rules get in the way--which is rough when Suzanne learns that they might be the only think keeping them together. You'll definitely want to find out whether the two can progress from hot and steamy to hot, steamy and committed.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Living It Up with "Champagne Rules", February 19, 2006

By 

Stacy ~ "book lover" (Chicago 'burbs) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Champagne Rules (Paperback)

They were two strangers who met on a nude beach in Crete, drawn to each other and the magic of the location. Without words, and overcome by their powerful attraction, they find a cave where they spend the afternoon making love. Afterwards, they go their separate ways with the agreement that it was just a moment in time for both of them, and not meant to last beyond that afternoon....

Only Suzanne Brennan and Jaxon Navarre haven't forgotten each other. It's now four years later, and they still dream about that cave, and the intense connection between them. During a discussion with the the rest of the Awesome Foursome, Suzanne, who lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, confesses to her girlfriends about the most amazing sexual experience she's ever had. The encounter has affected her so strongly that it doesn't take much for her friends to convince her to try and contact her dream lover. Placing an ad on the internet, she is bombarded with cheesy and suggestive emails, but before long, she comes across one that convinces her she has found her man... It seems rather unbelievable, but San Francisco resident Jaxon does come across the internet ad from the woman who rocked his world in Crete. Unable to get their interlude out of his head, he's searched the internet periodically over the years for a glimpse of his sexy blonde. Not really thinking he'd find her, he's more than a little surprised to read an ad that sounds like the unforgettable experience he had so long ago....

After contact is made, and names are exchanged, they agree they both would like to see each other again. Jaxon flies to Vancouver to meet Suzanne, and once again it happens on a beach. The attraction is just as hot as it was all those years ago, and before the night is over, the two indulge in some very sexy and erotic lovemaking. Unable to give up their physical relationship, they both agree to the "Champagne Rules"; to keep their relationship fun and effervescent and not go flat. This means not talking about their personal life, even to the point of not talking about what they each do for a living. The situation works for both of them: Jaxon is on the fast track to becoming a partner in his law firm and Suzanne has set her sights on marrying a Ward Cleaver- type of man, someday far in the future. Neither one of them is looking for a relationship, just great sex. But life doesn't always go according to plan....

This is Susan Lyons' first published story, and it holds a lot of promise for her future career. Writing for the erotic Aphrodisia line from Kensington, Susan has included a lot of the heat associated with today's stories of erotica, but she does it in a more traditional way. Jaxon and Suzanne have an exclusive relationship, with no additional partners to muddy the waters. Fans who like to read hot, yet traditional romances will enjoy this story a lot. I respect how the story touches on the interracial aspects of their relationship but doesn't dwell on them. Jaxon and Suzanne are just two people extremely attracted to each other, and unwilling to believe that the magic between them could lead to love. Other obstacles are realistic and believable, though they may have been resolved a bit too quickly by the end of the story. However there is a lot of substance to this story which allows readers to understand more about each character's choices in their lives. If you're like me, you'll be anxious to read more about the Awesome Foursome, and to find out more about Jaxon and Suzanne. I'm really looking forward to the next addition: "Hot In Here".

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smoking Hot!, February 17, 2006

By 

M. Nix - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Champagne Rules (Paperback)

A chance encounter with Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Handsome leads Suzanne Brennan to the best sex ever! Four years later she still dreams of the cave on Crete and that luscious man. Yet Suzanne is not exactly sure those mind-blowing orgasms were real. After all, she did drink a good bit of wine with her lunch that day. She does remember the nude beach, the beautiful man, the instant connection, the intimate cave, and then waking up alone in her hotel room. No names were exchanged. The whole affair was very unlike the conservative Vancouver student. Perhaps it was just a delicious dream. After sharing her past exploits with her girlfriends, they encourage Suzanne to find her dream man. With a little help from her friends and the internet, she may get a second chance.

Up and coming San Francisco lawyer Jaxon "Jax" Navarre still remembers the uninhibited blonde he met on Crete. The afternoon they spent making love still haunts him. If only he had gotten her name, maybe he wouldn't be wasting his time Googling for terms that result in adult travel sites and personal ads. Jax keeps searching, and one night he finds her! The two begin corresponding via email and find that the spark is still there. Agreeing to meet again, Jax plans a trip to Canada. Where will this go? Will it be more simple erotic fun, or maybe something more?

Smoking from page one, Champagne Rules is a hot, yet touching erotic romance. Straight-laced Suzanne relives her walk on the wild side and learns that she might want more than the Leave It to Beaver marriage she had always imagined. Jaxon also needs more than just the sexy island girl of his dreams, but he is too busy with his work and goals to realize it. I loved watching their sensual escapade evolve. They were real people in an extraordinary situation. Rules were meant to be broken, and Champagne Rules shows why!

Cheryl

Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed