Book review: MIDNIGHT PRINCE, by J. Saman

Once Upon Ever After #2

Rowan & Marcella

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! This book absolutely shines, taking everything wonderful from the first two installments and raising the stakes in the best way. After following King Sebastian’s journey, we step into Prince Rowan’s story and go back into the suspense, the mystery, the menace of the curse, and it’s impossible not to fall right in.

Rowan has always been the charming prince in the background, but here he becomes a man longing for something real, something tender, something his brother found with Bellamy. And when he crosses paths with a mysterious woman who steals his breath—and leaves behind only a diamond earring—he’s caught and is a man on a mission.

Marcella is the heart of this book. Strong, abused, brave, and desperate for freedom, she’s a heroine who grabs you from the first moment. Watching her step into the palace as a simple maid, trying to build an honest life while carrying the weight of her past, is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Initially, she was carrying out a job to honor her slain brother, then she realized the truth and decided to honor that truth, not her owner’s. Her chemistry with Rowan is electric, full of longing, tension, and a sweetness that sneaks up on both of them.

What makes this story unforgettable is how seamlessly it blends romance with danger, secrets, and jaw‑dropping revelations. The last chapters brought new twists, new truths, and new emotional punches.  My jaw was touching the floor, I was so surprised. The suspense keeps you glued to the page, but the love story is what makes your heart ache in the best way.

Rowan’s devotion, Marcella’s courage, the royal family’s warmth, and the unraveling of long‑buried mysteries all come together in a tale that is passionate, tender, and thrilling. It’s a story about healing, choosing love over fear, and finding your place in a world that once tried to erase you.

A captivating, emotional, nail‑biting romance that left me smiling, swooning, and eager for the next chapter in this royal saga.

Purchase links

http://geni.us/MidnightPrince

About the author

J. Saman is a USA Today and Amazon top 40 bestselling author who writes sassy, swoony, and scorching contemporary romances. She is addicted to Diet Coke, sour candy, and indie rock. She swears way too much (especially after a glass of wine) and has a penchant for sarcasm (or so her husband and children like to tell her).

J. is an admitted lover of second chance romances, enemies to lovers, and the perfect amount of angst. She is best known for writing funny and emotional romances filled with smart, strong women, and sexy alphas who have a softer side—especially for their women.

Connect with J. Saman

Website: https://www.jsamanbooks.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14923699.J_Saman

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/J.-Saman/author/B01FOIUR46

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jsamanbooks

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/jsamansradtasticreaders

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jsamanbooks

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jsamanbooks

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/j-saman

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jsamanbooks/

Book review: KACE, by Sawyer Bennett

Pittsburgh Titans #20

Kace & Lauren

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This story was such a delight. Kace Elliot—Pittsburgh Titans goalie by day, secret MIT physics brain by night—completely stole my heart. His double life as “William,” the remote research assistant helping Dr. Laurel Kent with her polymer‑latices study, sets up one of the most entertaining love triangles… with himself.

Their early messages are crisp and professional, but slowly they start sharing little pieces of their lives. Kace falls first but keeps his distance, convinced Laurel would never want to date her research assistant. Laurel likes William too, but she wants someone real and present, so she lets her best friend drag her to a speed‑dating event. She tells William. He warns her off. She goes anyway. And Kace shows up—as Kace.

Laurel has sworn off athletes, but he charms her into one date, then another, and suddenly she’s falling for the man in front of her while feeling guilty about the man behind the screen. Meanwhile, Kace is jealous of… himself. It’s messy, funny, and so human.

The family visit was one of my favorite parts. Laurel’s parents adore Kace instantly—especially her dad, a massive Titans fan—and for the first time, Laurel feels like she fits in her own home. Kace helps her bridge that gap, and those scenes were warm and lovely.

Of course, the truth eventually blows everything up. The betrayal and hurt land hard, and I genuinely didn’t know how the author would fix it. But with the babe brigade, the team, and some perfectly timed emotional honesty, everything comes together beautifully.

Kace’s double role, the internal rivalry, the sweetness with Laurel’s parents, and the hilarious chaos brought by Lucky, Atlas, North, and the rest of the Titans crew made this such a joyful read. I finished the story smiling.

Purchase links

https://geni.us/SB_Kace

About the author

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both women’s and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.

If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).

Connect with Sawyer Bennett:

https://geni.us/SawyerBennett

Book review: LOST IN OVERTIME, by Claudia Burgoa

This book follows Vesper, Monty, and Cally — three people who grew up together during three summers, loved each other deeply, and then broke apart after one night they weren’t ready for. Years later, life pulls them back into the same place, with old feelings still burning and old wounds still hurting.

Vesper returns home because her father and the family hockey camp need help. She hasn’t been back in years — the camp holds too many memories of her mother and of the boys she loved and lost. Monty and Cally show up immediately, ready to support her, even though they can barely stand being in the same room. Their rivalry is strong, their chemistry is stronger, and their love for Vesper is the thing they can’t escape.

The story becomes a slow, emotional rebuild of their connection. There’s a lot of caretaking, a lot of tension, and eventually a lot of honesty. Monty and Cally’s relationship is the standout — their push‑pull, their fear, their attraction, and the way they slowly let themselves trust each other again. The throuple dynamic grows naturally, with real tenderness and communication.

Vesper is complicated. She’s loyal and stubborn, but she also refuses help even when she desperately needs it. She hides behind sarcasm and insists she’s fine while falling apart. The guys adore her, but I sometimes struggled to see the version of her they see — she spends a lot of time complaining or shutting down instead of showing the spark they love.

My biggest issue was the pacing. There’s a lot of internal monologue — pages and pages of feelings repeated in different ways. I wanted more action, more dialogue, more moments where the characters show who they are instead of telling me over and over. When things actually happen, the book shines. When it slows down into emotional babble, I found myself skimming.

Still, the romance pays off. The throuple feels real and committed, the hockey moments are fun, and the final stretch gives them a future that feels earned.

Final thought:

A heartfelt, emotional triad romance with amazing chemistry between the men and a satisfying ending. I just wish the story had been tighter and relied more on action than repetition.

Purchase links

https://loom.ly/OHQQYYY

About the author

Claudia is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. 

She writes alluring, thrilling stories about complicated women and the men who take their breaths away. Her books are the perfect blend of steamy and heartfelt, filled with emotional characters and explosive chemistry. Her writing takes readers to new heights, providing a variety of tears, laughs, and shocking moments that leave fans on the edge of their seats.

She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, her youngest two children, and three fluffy dogs.

When Claudia is not writing, you can find her reading, knitting, or just hanging out with her family. At nights, she likes to binge watches shows or movies with her equally geeky husband.

Connect with Claudia Burgoa:

https://claudiayburgoa.com/wp/links/ 

Book review: THEN THERE WAS YOU, by S.L. Scott

This book felt like watching two lonely souls finally find the one person who sees them. Keats Mathews grew up with nothing—an alcoholic mother who chose the bar over him, a childhood built on ramen and white bread, and a life where he had to raise himself. And yet, he’s this quiet, hardworking, beautiful soul who studies finance on a scholarship, writes in secret, and works every job he can find just to stay afloat.

The moment that truly got me was the way he answers the second line of a poem she quotes, like it came straight from his heart. Thud. I melted.

Sosie Stansbury is his opposite on paper—billionaire daughter, fancy life, all the resources in the world. But she’s neglected, paraded around for show, and basically raised by staff while her parents chase their social calendar. Even her birthday isn’t hers. She’s rich in money and poor in love.

Their first meeting on Christmas Eve felt magical. She steals a cigarette from him and accidentally steals his heart too. They spend one night together that is absolutely not a hookup—it’s two people recognizing each other’s loneliness and offering warmth. He can’t promise her much, but he offers himself completely, and she accepts.

And then her father destroys everything. The threats, the manipulation, the way she sacrifices her own happiness to protect Keats—it broke me. When Keats shows up to return her phone and gets threatened too, both of them walk away shattered.

Years pass. Keats becomes the golden boy of his firm. Sosie becomes the perfect daughter in a fake relationship. They meet again, twice, and both times it feels like fate is trying so hard to push them together, but life keeps getting in the way. Star‑crossed lovers indeed.

When Greg traps her with a public proposal and she runs—runs—straight to Keats, I cheered. From that moment, they choose each other, even when everything else falls apart. She gets cut off, loses her cards, her job, her safety net. He gets mugged and she finds him unconscious in a hospital, staying by his side until he’s discharged. They rebuild their lives together, piece by piece.

Sosie gets a job, picks up photography again, starts healing. Keats reconnects with his mother, who is finally sober and trying. Their worlds slowly knit into something warm and real.

The wedding scene—simple, intimate, with only the people who truly love them—was perfect. And the ending, with Sosie showing him the positive pregnancy test, felt like the softest, sweetest full‑circle moment.

This story is about love, yes, but also about choosing yourself, choosing healing, choosing the person who sees you when no one else ever did. It’s tender, hopeful, and full of heart. I loved every page.

Purchase links

https://geni.us/TTWYAm

Available in KU 

About the author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, S.L. Scott, writes character driven, heart-racing suspense, and swoony romances that will leave you glued to the page. With stories ranging from witty beach reads to heart wrenching and heart healing, her stories are highly regarded as emotional, relatable, and captivating.

Her books are more than escapes for the voracious readers of today. They are journeys of the heart that always come with a happily ever after reward at the end.

For more information, visit her website and sign up for her newsletter. She also loves to connect with readers on social media.

Connect with S.L. Scott:

https://linktr.ee/s.l.scott

Book review: THE HOCKEY PROBLEM, by Kendall Ryan

Off The Ice #1

Zayden & Tori

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sometimes a book arrives at the exact right moment it’s needed, and The Hockey Problem was exactly that for me — absolutely cute, perfectly emotional, and just the right amount of swoony.

This hockey romance has everything I love: a feisty, principled heroine, a broody, quietly tender single dad, a six‑year‑old super sweet scene‑stealer (a,k.a. Maisie), and that delicious “we really shouldn’t… but oh no, we’re already falling” tension!

Tori is the kind of heroine I root for immediately. She’s smart, disciplined, and determined to protect her hard‑earned reputation in a field where women are scrutinized twice as hard. She has seen colleagues lose their reputation by getting involved with a player, so she’s determined to never date a player. And yet… enter Zayden.

A French‑Canadian hockey player and single dad who is doing his absolute best while running on emotional fumes. He’s not the typical cocky sports hero — he’s thoughtful, serious, and deeply devoted to his daughter. Many times in the story, we see him exhausted, not only physically but mentally. That vulnerability? Irresistible.

From the moment Tori is assigned to treat his shoulder, the spark is instant. Their therapy sessions become this slow, careful dance — both of them trying to stay professional while failing spectacularly. He looks at her like she’s the first person who’s really seen him in years, and she tries so hard to remember her mantra: no players.  But their chats flow so easily, there’s instant trust.

Maisie is pure sunshine, she likes Tori immediately. Their bond grows naturally and tenderly through accidental babysitting moments, giggles, trust. Maisie blossoms under Tori’s attentions and it makes Zayden sigh in happiness. Watching this little found family form was one of my favorite parts.

There’s a sleazy teammate who crosses boundaries and retaliates when rejected — a storyline handled with care and realism. Zayden stepping up for Tori, taking responsibility, and advocating for her? That’s the kind of heroism I love: quiet, steady, and rooted in respect.

There are side characters that shine: Banks and Winnie. I’m already invested!  I was thinking as I read that they would make a perfect couple, and to my delight, they are next book’s couple! Win!

This story is soft in all the right ways — a gentle romance built on trust, friendship, and the slow realization that sometimes the person you’re not supposed to fall for is exactly the one who feels like home. It’s found family, healing, and a man who finally gets to exhale because he’s found someone who stays. Same for Maisie!

I loved this story. Five stars, easily. 

Purchase links

Kindle: https://amzn.to/3NIjzyQ

Paperback: https://amzn.to/4sGBKnU

Audible: https://geni.us/AudioHockeyProblem

Goodreads: https://geni.us/hockeyprbGR

About the author

Kendall Ryan writes contemporary romance. Her books have been featured on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestsellers lists a combined total of more than 100 times. 

Connect with Kendall:

➜ WEBSITE www.kendallryanbooks.com

➜ NEWSLETTER www.kendallryanbooks.com/newsletter

➜ FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/kendallryanbooks

➜ INSTAGRAM www.instagram.com/kendallryan1

➜ TWITTER www.twitter.com/kendallryan1