Book review: STOLEN PRINCESS, by J. Saman

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

http://geni.us/stolenprincess

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.

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

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Book review: RUSHED, by Aleatha Romig

The Coopers, book two

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was so much better than the first one—and I really enjoyed the first one. In Intercepted, Vee and Fin reunite after fifteen years apart: she’s training to take over the Coopers football franchise from her father, and he’s just been recruited as the team’s second‑string QB. She objects to his contract, management overrules her, and after some hard but necessary conversations (and Vee’s prickly attitude), they finally earn their second chance. And then that brutal cliffhanger hits: Vee walks into her father’s office to share her news, only to find her family waiting with the worst possible announcement—her father has died in a car accident on his way to work.

This book picks up right in that grief. Vee has to swallow her heartbreak and step into the role of Reid Hubbard’s daughter and heir, taking the reins of the entire organization. Immediately, she’s met with resistance from the franchise’s deeply misogynistic leadership—her Aunt Rachel’s husband, Darin, and her cousin Grant, chief among them. Her father had intended to change his will to give them partial ownership, but the new version was never signed. Suddenly, Vee is the sole heir, and the power plays begin.

Every day feels like a battlefield. Every night she comes home to Fin—who has moved in, stepped up, and become the steady, grounding partner she desperately needs.

The story delivers a couple of sharp plot twists and a low, constant thrum of suspense as Vee uncovers secrets she wishes she’d never learned. She’s climbing mountains on all sides: grief, leadership, betrayal, legacy, and the pressure of keeping a massive franchise on track for a Super Bowl run. The author’s behind‑the‑scenes detail is phenomenal—practices, game days, organizational politics—you feel fully immersed in the world.

What I loved most is that Vee and Fin are now openly together. She lets herself be vulnerable with him, and he rises to meet her every time. Their second chance feels truly earned here.

And just when you think you can breathe—another massive twist, another cliffhanger, and now we wait months for the next installment in this addictive, high‑stakes series.

Purchase links

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G2TCWZZD

About the author

Aleatha Romig is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Together with her high-school sweetheart and husband of over thirty years, they've raised three children. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she’s not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns or her new lighter side, she likes to spend her time with her family and friends. Her pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams! 

 

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Book review: A THOUSAND PERFECT LIES, by Monica Murphy

A twisty, addictive dark‑academia ride, Monica Murphy absolutely surprised me with this one. I knew she could write great romance, but I didn’t expect her to deliver such a gripping, atmospheric mystery on top of it. This book hooked me from page one and never let go. It’s the kind of story where every character feels like a suspect, every conversation feels loaded, and you’re constantly second‑guessing yourself—in the best way.

Billie Vale is the beating heart of the book, and I adored her. She’s tough, vulnerable, and so deeply loyal to her baby sister that you can’t help rooting for her as she steps into a world that was never meant for her. The elite boarding school setting is deliciously tense—full of secrets, privilege, and the kind of toxic dynamics that make you want to scream warnings at the page. Murphy builds that environment so well that you feel the pressure closing in on Billie right alongside her.

And then there’s the slow‑burn connection that develops along the way… tender, aching, and exactly the emotional counterweight the story needed. It never overshadows the mystery—it enhances it.

What impressed me most is how layered the plot is. There are so many moving pieces, but they all click together in a way that feels logical. The reveals land. The tension builds. And by the end, I was fully invested not just in the truth, but in the characters’ healing.

If you love dark academia, messy secrets, complicated families, and a romance that sneaks up on you, this one is absolutely worth your time. A standout read.

Purchase links

Amazon: https://bit.ly/4sLPBtj

Apple Books: https://bit.ly/4pRaKzI

Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/49AXMRW

Kobo: https://bit.ly/4sWuLYs

Purchase the deluxe limited edition hardcover today!

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About the author

Monica Murphy is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling romance author. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and have sold over two million copies worldwide. Both a traditionally published and independently published author, she writes young adult, new adult and contemporary romance.

A native Californian, she lives on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere with her husband, son, their goofy dog, and three cats. When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing. Or reading. Or binge watching something.

 

Connect with Monica

Website: http://monicamurphyauthor.com

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Book review: BLUEBIRD GOLD, by Devney Perry

Lost Legends #1

Ilsa & Cosi

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Settling her father’s estate in a snow‑bound Montana cottage, Ilsa Poe finds herself caught between past regrets and new beginnings. What starts as a practical task—cleaning out the cabin and preparing it for sale—quickly becomes a journey of rediscovery, both of her family history and of her own heart.

Teaching math at Dalton High proves just as challenging as the icy winters. The students are behind, the system is broken, and the parents are quick to criticize. Yet Ilsa’s determination to give them the basics shows her resilience and stubborn fire—qualities that make her stand out not only in the classroom but in her personal life.

Enter Cosi Raynes, the local police chief, whose quiet strength and devotion to his teenage son contrast beautifully with Ilsa’s fierce independence. Their connection sparks first through attraction, but what makes this romance shine is how it deepens: he admires her stubbornness and courage, she treasures his kindness and protective nature. Watching them move from guarded strangers to partners who feel safe and right together is the heart of the story.

This isn’t just about chemistry—it’s about family, healing, and second chances. The way Ilsa bonds with Cosi’s son adds tenderness, and the gradual layering of trust makes the romance feel earned. Devney Perry balances passion with plot, weaving intimacy into the narrative without letting it overwhelm. The pacing of their relationship feels natural, the intensity of their feelings perfectly measured.

What I loved most is how attraction evolves into something richer: respect, care, and the sense of home they build together. It’s a romance that blends warmth with suspense, reminding us that love often arrives when we least expect it, and that the right person makes us feel both safe and alive.

Purchase links

Kindle: https://geni.us/opeXn

Audible: https://geni.us/ZJpgAEy

Paperback: https://geni.us/6wX86z

About the author

Devney Perry is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of over forty romance novels. After working in the technology industry for a decade, she abandoned conference calls and project schedules to pursue her passion for writing. She was born and raised in Montana and now lives in Washington with her husband and two sons. 

 

Connect with Devney

Website: www.devneyperry.com

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