Champagne on Vice by Victoria Weyland

3/5 Stars

This book was definitely not what I was expecting! I went in assuming it would be a New Orleans erotica novel with not a lot of plot, but instead it was such a nice story of the main character Mattie finding herself, her empowerment, finding friends, and of course, some monster fucking.

I didn’t expect this to be a magical, monster romance. Daniel – in my eyes isn’t really a monster though, just a shifter.

There were so many moments where I adored this book, I loved the drama and the close relationships between friends and partners.

I can’t wait to see what else Victoria has in store for the other characters if she chooses to write for them!

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a review

I was surprised at how enamored I was with this read! The cover and title certainly caught my eye, but the wonderful writing, complex characters and drama and emotions the drive between them is what kept me turning pages!

Mattie Logan is not living the life she wants. In 1920's Louisianna she's living in a loveless marriage and dying a little more every day while under the thumb of her repressive religious husband. Mattie decides she's going to live life on her own terms. She ends up in the world of The House of Verity. Her new world seems to sparkle in the underworld of New Orleans, and she's even found someone she might be able to share it with. Her new life is everything she wants, until her husband shows back up.

If you're looking for a book with more open sexual roles and a lot of play, this is the book for you.

I received this arc for free in exchange for a honest review.
I really enjoyed this book! When I started, I expected a supernatural erotic tale in prohibition era New Orleans, but I quickly realized it was so much more than that. Victoria Weyland did an excellent job blending erotica and plot and built compelling and diverse characters. You could really feel the love everyone in House Variety felt for each other, whether it was romantic or platonic. Even the side characters felt well developed.
If you are looking for a fast paced read full of heat and heart, I definitely recommend this one!

I went into this thinking it was just a regular romance. Nope. The story was internet and the characters were lovely. The only thing I would’ve loved to have seen more, was world building. There are so many interesting characters and we barely break the surface on any of them.

This novel is set in New Orleans, and follows the character of Mattie, who has left her small town and bad marriage for a new life. Fantastical and intriguing, the scene of the 1920's comes through in the writing, and the imagery of New Orleans is great.

This novel was a little more spicy than I anticipated, but the story was great.

Thank you Netgalley and The Wild Rose Press, Inc for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Spicy fantasy at its best!

Champagne on Vice is a beautiful read set in 1920 New Orleans. Mattie Logan has kicked off her new life of living on her own terms and not being restricted to a small town and bad marriage. Upon arriving in New Orleans she meets a new set of friends and slowly grows into the woman she wants to be; all while learning how to spice up her life if you know what I mean. She meets a handsome guy with a gorgeous set of eyes named Daniel that is with her every step of the way.

Based in a great era, in an amazing city with a fantasy element weaved into it Champagne on Vice was a phenomenal read. I will be keeping an eye out for what I hope will be a continuation of this world or fantasy, spice and excess at House Verity.

Champagne on Vice by Victoria Weyland was an interesting book.
Set in New Orleans, the main character is Maddie, running away from a loveless marriage on a dull farm.
New Orleans is full of fanciful "creatures" come to life.
Your standard vampires of course, but also gargoyles, and other interesting folk.
There are plenty of hot scenes, and a fair amount of consensual BDSM.
However the story is also good, and held my interest.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

“As the House Verity motto states, “Baise tes Amis.” It translates to ‘kiss your friends’ but we use it to mean… fuck your friends, bunny” – Daniel the Gargoyle

Champagne on Vice, House Verity book one, is a story about Mattie Logan and how she finds herself in a place that dazzles the mind. The story is set in 1924 and speaks about how Mattie ran away from her stiff husband Lenny, to find a life that is not filled with lectures, sin phobia, and the highlight of the week is attending church every Sunday. On her way to find White Dove Boardinghouse, Mattie finds a small crow being tormented by a couple of ragamuffins. She yells at them to leave the bird alone and starts attending to the crow when Clementine finds her and offers to help her. She takes her to the Lady where the crow turns out to be Jo, the beautiful crow-girl dancer. There, she finds a house filled with magic, drop-dead gorgeous gargoyles, a vampire, a beautiful regal lady, and an oracle covered from head to toe with tattoos.

I was hooked on this book, right from the beginning. The way the author portrays the characters is amazing! Victoria Wayland uses the right form of lingo that suits the 1920s, especially words that sound so damn adorable and funny but at the same time exactly fitting. Examples would be, one of them mentioned above, ragamuffins, let’s get a wiggle on, jitterbugging, and more! Another word that I loved was “Ab-so-lute-ly”, every time I read it out loud, I would shake my head left and right to accentuate the meaning that the author wanted.

I was fascinated by the minuscule details that the author described throughout the book. I was able to imagine everything! From the New Orleans streets to the run-down buildings, from the sparkly chandeliers to the red lush carpet, from the long tapestries to the bar filled with age-old wine and alcohol. Everything was written in a way so exquisite that did not feel as if it was a description from an art gallery but simply as part of the story.

Now on to the spice…. Let me just say that I actually wolf-whistled at one scene that happened with Mattie. I felt my cheeks flame every once in a while. That’s how HOT this book is! Damn, honestly the spice was on another level, and when they did it on the church’s rooftop? Oh, sweet baby Jesus, I feel slightly guilty for enjoying it, but it was so freaking steamy!! The way it was described was incredible, and the fact that he was in his gargoyle form, hehehe well, let me just say, I think Mattie liked Daniel that way more.

This ARC was sent to me by NetGalley and Backlit PR.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for sending this to me! I absolutely love this story. It was interesting-- it's spicy but there is still plot to the story. I believe that there is so much potential, and many stories left to tell between the main characters and side characters. At first, I didn't know that this story was turning to fantasy, but I has happily surprised. Totally recommend you read this!

I did not expect this to be a paranormal historical romance, which is not typically my thing, but I still enjoyed it! I have only read a few monster romances and this one was HOT. I think the description doesn't really do the book justice because I really had no idea what I was in for.

The story follows Mattie as she arrives in New Orleans looking to spread her wings for the first time, and she ends up working at The Verity House, a speakeasy downtown.

- Multiple POVs
- a lot of discussion about consent
- open relationship
- SPICE
- gargoyles, vampires, and a whole slew of magical beings

Victoria wrote an amazing story. It was definitely on point with the historical tome line. I loved that it was yes different because of the main female character working in a Speakeasy. And the smut in this book was amazing and the fact the Victoria paid attention to detail. Fantastic read!

At first, I thought the book would be revolving around a love story, but it turned out to be much more than that. We will find self love, respect, consent, empowerment, love, and finding yourself as the main
In the beginning, I was confused with the plot. The magical part was overwhelming because I was not used to , but shortly, the characters took shape, the plot became very interesting, and the message was simply wonderful. Victoria Weyland really delivered the erotic genre. She balanced out the explicit sex with the story focusing in love, respect, and consent. Anyone will fall in love with Mattie and Daniel, and the Variety House.
The lifestyle of the House of Verity is clear. Consent is taken really serious.Respecting one’s wishes is a primary rule to any member. The Lady really enforces the importance of freedom of choice.
Another important aspect of the book is the contrast between the traditional and untraditional families. Mattie came from a traditional family setting and was emotionally abused by her husband. She felt as an object not an as important piece in his life. She couldn’t find in Lenny the love, companionship, and protection that one would seek in a relationship. Mattie had no freedom, no opinion, no life.
At the other size of the spectrum is the House of Variety and the untraditional family setting. Lady treated all the members as family and institute a culture of caring and watching for one another. They go out of their way for the other members. Mattie found happiness, freedom, respect, and love in the House. Daniel helped her to see how important and necessary she was for people’s life. She made friends. She felt home in the House and specially with Daniel. She seemed for him during good, new, and scary moments of her life.
I completely fell in love with this story, and at times, forgot they were magical and different beings. I will give a 5 star to this book and will look for future Victoria Weyland publications.

Thank you Wild Rose Press for this ARC and thank you NetGalley for facilitating it!

This book was not what I was expecting. The book blurb did not adequately prepare me for the journey that lay ahead. I rate this book a 3.5 I rounded up to 4 stars because my issues with this book are not that it wasn't well written, it's that the content was not what I was looking for.

Mattie, a young wife in rural Louisiana in the 1920's ran away from her claustrophobic life/marriage. She finds The House of Verity and the Lady Lorna. On the run from her puritan-religious husband, The Lady Lorna gives her a job and a safe space to figure out her next steps. Mattie is introduced to a whole new world, of booze, sex and mythical creatures. Not all is as it seems, she has to do what she can to overcome her past and stay in this new life she loves.

This book was not my cup of tea. That being said it was SO Good. There were a few scenes though that really bothered me (ruined the whole book for me) and for those scenes I would feel very weird recommending this book to a friend without giving them a bit of warnings or throw some caution tape at them. So here that goes:

**If you like swamp monsters, vampires, succubae, oracles, gargoyles and shape shifters and sex with these creatures, this book is for you.
**If you like open friendships, this book is for you.
**If you like 1920s prohibition and throwing everything you've been brain washed with out the window and jumping off the deep end into a whole new world, this is for you.
**If you like ALOT of sexy time. No doors. Doors have done gone and left the house.... this book is for you. (I would rate this book as erotica, but it's not rated that way, soooooooo it must just be me...
**If you like restraints and plugs, this book is for you.

If you can read a book and see past all of the above for the plot, this book was really interesting and kept my attention. The mystical world is melted perfectly into 1920 French Quarter, NOLA. The author really paints a beautiful scene with her words. The characters are all lovable and the bonds based out of respect and consent really brought the darkness of the topics at hand into the light a bit and made it a bit more palatable for someone like me who has never read a fantasy book, let alone a book with content as I have listed above,

I've been warned from friends that this is a hot topic, but I thought vampires couldn't touch silver. Don't come for me and my limited knowledge, just a question.
Overall, I am not yucking someone else's yum, I just wasn't properly prepared for that. I liked it for what it is. But it's not my cup of tea, I'm a sucker for a really pretty cover. And the cover is so gosh darn pretty.

Overall, I want to say thank you to Netgalley for opening my eyes and lifting the rock that I have been hiding under. If you don't mind, I'll go back under that rock and contemplate all that I have just learned.

All the glitz and glamor of the 20's and very sexy with some supernatural twists. I couldn't put it down and found myself smiling alot.
I just reviewed Champagne on Vice by Victoria Weyland. #ChampagneonVice #NetGalley
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3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This was a quick read that had charm to it. Maddie escapes from an abusive situation and meets gargoyle Daniel through a club run by Lady Lorna in prohibition era New Orleans. The book is less romance and more open relationship monster erotica. The prose flowed well. The smut was very hot. If you enjoy paranormal erotica, you will enjoy this book.

This story will be people who absolutely love paranormal historical romances dream.

Thanks to NetGalley and The Wild Rose Press, Inc for the ARC of Champagne on Vice in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Rating 3.5⭐⭐⭐
Spice 4.5 🌶🌶🌶🌶
First of all, what caught my attention was the book cover and then the description since the author was new to me.

I'm trying to explore fantasy/paranormal this year so I decided to request for this as a start when I read the description...

I think the description undesells the book. This is deep monster romance with lots of smut 🔥🔥
But Since I'm new to this, it was a bit much for me with all these creatures.. that being said...
I Recommend this for people who are really into paranormal and historic romance. They will appreciate this book more than I did.

The author did an amazing job in her writing, since it's generally written well.

Though I didn't like the open relationship thing going on... I enjoyed the smut... amd there were a lot of it
I felt sorry for Mattie in the beginning, but well..... but i was glad she finally found her voice.
And yes I'm crushing on the mysterious Francis 😍😀. I would love to read more about him.

Once I started I could not stop. The spice 5 stars, the feminism 5 stars, the story 5 stars. I hope there's more!

Diving into a different world! This was interesting to read. Probably not something I'd be interested in continuing to read, but I am sure this would be someone's cup of tea. Definitely a lot of smut in this book. I am just not a big fan of magic.

An enjoyable novel set in the 1920's in New Orleans during prohibition. The writing style is fluid and moves along at a good clip, which made the reading fun. The character development of Mattie and Daniel is well-done and before you know it, you were rooting for Mattie! A fun read!