Once Upon Ever After #3
Desta & Ferrin
A magical, emotional, high‑adventure romance that kept my heart racing!
Desta is finally found, and what a discovery it is! She has spent over sixteen years hidden away in a lonely cottage with a tall tower attached, her room tucked at the very top. With her long blond hair and the way she gazes out at a world she’s never touched, she gave me a soft Rapunzel feeling — a girl full of light, locked away from everything she deserves to experience.
At the start, she’s called Genevieve, and she knows almost nothing about life beyond her walls. All she’s ever been told is that the world is dangerous, violent, and that her mother keeps her hidden for her own protection. It’s heartbreaking and isolating, and you feel her desperation from the very first pages.
Everything changes the day a jewel thief stumbles upon the cottage. Genevieve sees her chance and takes it. She remembers a festival from her childhood — something bright and magical — and she wants to see it again. So she escapes with Ferrin (who is going by Rhys at the time), and from that moment on, the story becomes a whirlwind of adventure, secrecy, and danger.
There’s tension, betrayal, dark deals, and constant pursuit. I’ll admit I was confused at first about who was connected to what, but the pieces fall into place beautifully as the story moves forward. And through it all, I was impatient (more like desperate!) for Genevieve/Desta to find her family.
Ferrin is fascinating. He insists he’s a bad man, shaped by a rough childhood and choices he’s not proud of. He even describes himself as “charcoal grey,” which made me laugh. But when he meets Desta, something in him shifts. She’s sunshine — curious, bold, irreverent, and unexpectedly fierce. She challenges him, surprises him, and keeps him on his toes. And slowly, he lets the good inside him come forward.
Desta’s arc is one of my favorite parts. She starts afraid and sheltered, but she grows into her strength. She stands up for herself, pushes back, and shows Ferrin she’s not a fragile thing. Their dynamic is warm, funny, and full of heart.
The whole story feels like an out‑of‑control train ride — sharp turns, close calls, escapes, and then suddenly running right back into danger again. It’s exhilarating, emotional, and anxiety‑provoking in a fun way.
The final scenes with the family are beautiful, and there are still unanswered questions, which makes me excited for the next book. I loved watching a charcoal‑grey man and a sunny‑yellow girl find each other, fit together, and bring out the best in one another.
Five nail‑biting stars.
Purchase links
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/
