Champagne Rules

I kept being drawn toward Champagne Rules by Susan Lyons during trips to the bookstore. After reading the review of it by Paperback Reader, I decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did, because the book is very good: 4 out of 5.

When Suzanne Brennan met Jaxon 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 . . .

The story starts in Crete, where Suzanne and Jaxon meet on the beach and subsequently find a cave where they have sex. They don't exchange names or numbers, they just spend an afternoon together, then walk away.

Four years pass, but Jaxon and Suzanne haven't forgotten about each other. Suzanne finally decides to post an online ad to try and find her one-time lover, and Jaxon finds it because he has been searching the Web regularly to try and track her down.

What follows is a reunion that starts as a continuation of their previous affair, but which ultimately grows into something more. It's this process that I found most interesting. They start with what Suzanne calls the Champagne Rules--they'll meet on occasion and enjoy each other, just as you would enjoy the occasional champagne.

Jaxon is focused on his career and doesn't think he has time for a real relationship. Suzanne wants to get married and have a steady home life, and doesn't think she can have one with her fantasy man. But their feelings for each other soon overcome their plans.

I like the characters--Suzanne and Jaxon struck me as very real people. At times I thought there was a little too much interaction with the friends. Suzanne's circle of friends helped distinguish her as a person, but they also dominated the story at times. Still, I enjoyed Champagne Rules and would definitely recommend it. I plan to pick up Lyons's next story.