Seven of Hearts

by Maggie C. Gates

All I ever wanted was to be perfect. That wasn’t too much to ask, right? It was the only way to change how people saw me and my past.

I, Logan Solomon, could not screw up.

Going home to Beaufort, North Carolina, for my sister’s wedding was a painful reminder of everything I had tried to leave behind.

One perfect drink with her maid of honor turned into five.
And those perfect drinks turned into one night that would change everything.

My sister’s best friend had always been on the other side of a line I wasn’t supposed to cross.

Now, there are two more lines.

And they’re pink.

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers, Found Family, Surprise Pregnancy, Small Town Romance, Contemporary Romance, Forced Proximity

Paperback

First published February 24, 2025

About the author

Maggie Gates writes raw, relatable, romance novels packed full of heat and humor. Maggie calls North Carolina home. In her spare time she enjoys daydreaming about her characters, jamming to country music, and eating all the barbecue and tacos she can find! Her Kindle is always within reach due to a love of small town romances that borders on obsession.

Reviews

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a new to me author and I loved this romance! I love an accidental pregnancy, in fiction, of course! This was also a Best Friend's brother situation, where things got a little out of hand at a wedding. Even better!

Both Logan and Leah have had crushes on one another but they were off limits due to Logan's sister. But then they cross that line and nothing will ever be the same. Though they may never have continued on with anything if not for the pregnancy, they still have a genuine connection and I loved the community of found family around them that urged them together.

They both have complicated relationships and there are hurdles in their way from scars in the past. But I think they did a great job communicating and supporting one another through it. That is always heartwarming to see.

Finally, I love some good pregnancy sex/intimacy. I'm just saying! It has to be said. The way Logan builds Leah up and supports her while making her feel sexy.... damn, I love it. There's even a scene where he rubs lotion on her to help with her stretch marks and... nothing is more real than that. I love it!

Narrated by Alex Knox and Nikki Grey. They were great! I don't think I've listened to them before, but I really enjoyed their performance.

4.5 Stars
2.5 on the spice scale

*Thank you to Must Love Audio and the author for an ALC of this title.*

[Chiara^•^ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seven Of Hearts by Maggie Gates
5/5⭐
2,5/5🌶️

"I found perfection the day I found you. You've given me more than I could have ever dreamed of, and I will exhaust my last breath trying to be a man worthy of your goodness."

This book has become my favorite accidental pregnancy story! The way the relationship between the main characters develops feels so genuine. I could relate to their struggles, and their chemistry is just amazing. I also enjoyed the writing style—everything flows so smoothly, and it was a joy to see the characters grow throughout the story.

Logan has had a secret crush on his sister's best friend, Leah, for years but never took the plunge—until the night of his sister's wedding. After chatting and enjoying some drinks, they spend the night together and go their separate ways. However, a few weeks later, Leah finds out she’s pregnant!

Logan is a perfectionist—he’s had a tough life due to his parents' past, and he promised himself he wouldn’t do anything reckless. He’s hardworking, organized, and avoids problems at all costs. So, finding out he got his sister's best friend pregnant wasn’t on his agenda. But what I admired about him was his determination to step up. He supports Leah, stands by her against her parents, and becomes her rock. I loved how protective he was and how much he cared for her. You can just feel his love for Leah through the pages, and it made me root for him even more!

Leah is a strong and independent woman. She’s always wanted a baby, so even though she was shocked at first, she also feels excited about the pregnancy. Her journey through it all is so relatable and real. Her parents are terrible (they do come around in the end), but I felt bad for her. Luckily, she has Logan by her side!

The family dynamics in this book are fantastic! I’m new to these characters, but I could sense how close and supportive they are of each other right from the start. The bond and love they share are so strong, especially between Logan and Will. I loved how they all helped Logan and Leah on their journey. After reading this, I'm excited to read the Poker Club series to learn more about these characters! The ending and epilogue were truly exceptional—emotional and so satisfying! I genuinely couldn’t have asked for a better conclusion.

"I've had good things. But you are the best thing that's ever happened to me. There is no life for me, apart from the one where you're my friend, my love, and the mother of my child. I could not ask for more than this."

[Shanna Ferris · Rating 4 out of 5]

• Best Friend's brother
• One night stand
• Accidental Pregnancy
• Found Family
• Side characters from previous books
• Straight forward MMC
• He takes such good care of her
• Past trauma

“I’ve had good things. But you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

MAGGIE GATES DOES IT AGAIN!! I have been looking forward to this book so much! She always brings the best found family vibes, so when I found out who the book was about, I jumped on the opportunity. And seeing them come together was EVERYTHING!

These two were absolutely perfect together. From the start, their relationship went off with a bang (pun intended). I'm such a sucker for accidental pregnancy, especially in the beginning of a book, and when you throw in delicious angst and he takes such good care of her moments, I DEVOUR it!

THEN we find out that these two have ALWAYS had feelings for each other and the pining was mutual! YESSSSS! Maggie truly did such a wonderful job on their story!

Logan was a stand-up MMC. TOP NOTCH. He took such great care of Leah even before he found out she was pregnant. And I loved watching this man get the family he deserved. Especially given his past.

"Logan Solomon had been the one I had always wanted, the one who got away, and the one I could never have."

Leah was such a complex, brilliant character. From the start, she had my full attention. She was feisty and bold, but also so very tender. Sometimes too tender. But the way Logan always swooped in and reassured her was so well done. I loved the balance in their relationship.

“Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve always wanted you. Maybe it’s some primal instinct that makes me crave you more than all those other things combined. But it’s always been you. A lot’s changing for us, and it scares me too. But one thing has stayed the same. For me, it’s never been anyone but you.”

Sweet. Tender. Low drama. Beautifully written. Incredible progression. Maggie did such a great job on this book! 💗

•Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
•Plot:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
•Humor: 🙃🙃
•Spice:🌶🌶
•Relationship pace: Fast, ONS
•Ending: HEA

•Tropes: Best friends brother, ONS, childhood friends, accidental pregnancy, mutual pining, Bi-s*xual rep, found family

•Spicy Microtropes: Eyes on me, she watches him 💥, Dirty talking MMC, He has a recording of them

•TW: Past trauma, Manipulative parents

[ya.vl · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️
Книга дуже легка, дуже мила і така якась добра
Мені зараз важко шось читати але цю книгу я просто проковтнула😻
Троп «несподівана вагітність» я чесно сказати його терпіти не можу але мене так зацікавив Логан як чоловік
Цікаво було прочитати як він буде поводитись і що він буде робити
Він мене не розчарував, трохи на початку перелякався але з часом все змінилось
Він став дуже хорошим партнером і батьком😻
Лія теж дуже хороша, така добра, вміє поводитись з дітьми і вона точно стала дуже хорошою мамою
Трохи мене напрягали її батьки, я шось ніколи не можу зрозуміти таких людей
Брати і сестри Логана теж дуже цікаві, я шось так би хотіла прочитати про когось з них
Про Вілла і Крістіну було б цікаво
Так то книгу можу рекомендувати, мені дуже сподобалась ❤️

[пустунка · Rating 5 out of 5]

це вау! така комфортна і тепла історія. тепер одна з улюблених у Меггі.

я просто обожнюю Лоґана і те, як на кожному кроці він вчинками поводив усім навколо, що він хороша людина насамперед, і прекрасний чоловік, і що він буде таким же неймовірним батьком. бо він такий. не було жодної сторінки, де він не турбувався і не робив максимуму: до всього терплячий і надійний. стовідсотковий грін флег (є клепка в голові). я закохалася!!

з Лією вони чудова пара. лише боялася трохи, що паскудні батьки десь нерви попсують, але все добре.

p.s. це що ж, троп «випадкова вагітність» стає моїм улюбленим?)

5/5 ⭐️

[Sonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Божечки мені здається це найкраще,що я читала за останній час 🥹❤️‍🩹
Я настільки обожнюю книжки авторки
Це було так чудово 😭😍🩷
Як бальзам на душу
Я і сльозу пустила, і купа чудових думок відмітила
І який же тут правильний чоловік🤌🏻
Я тільки і думала собі, будь ласка, хоть би ти правильно вчинив
І я завжди з обережністю відношусь до тропу "неочікувана вагітність" і оця от налякана реакція Логана на початку 🥺
Але потім він робив все настільки чудово і правильно,що в мене не було слів
Наскільки це прекрасно ❤️‍🩹
Оцінка : 5/5⭐

[TTP · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Best friends brother
- Secret crushes
- One night stand
- Pregnancy
- It’s always been you
- h 28, H 29

This was such a sweet and lovely book. They have known each other since they were kids, both had shitty parents. h is best friends with his sister.
Sister is getting married and she’s maid of honor, as the H is for the groom, and after their wedding they have a ons - and she ends up pregnant.

This book had so many swoony moments, I totally could read it again.

And the ending, I can’t remember the last time I cried that much from reading a book. It was so cute, the baby’s name and how sweet Logan was during the delivery.

Safety:
- No owd, no omd, no ex drama
- h is bi, her ex gf shows up, no drama, h is over her and even tho they dated 6 years they didn’t have a good relationship.
- H never dating anyone long enough to get serious. Not a player, never did ONS (before h). H been celibate 1.5 years.
- Both were celibate since their hookup, couldn’t stop thinking about each other
- Otherwise no talk about history, something I really liked in this scenario
- Dual crush: they knew each other since they were kids. H never allowed himself to want more because after their parents got arrested his sister lost a lot of friends and people were mean, but the h supported him and his sister thought it all, and he never wanted to ruin that for his sister. Usually don’t like when they had crushes but still was with other people, but both are experienced and their crushes were only harmless before, and it helpt that the H never was serious with anyone, never did ons and wasn’t a manwhore they was I felt it, and that he fell fast when they first acted on their chemistry.

The book is mostly about they finding their footing in their relationship and becoming parents. So if you don’t like pregnancy tropes, this might not be for you.

[Halya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Так, поревіти ✅
Згадати свої пологи ✅
Логан-бусінка✅

Комічність ситуації з вагітністю звісно - це заздрість для реального життя😅
Але Логан випхав голову з піску і зробив саме те, що мав робити кожен чоловік з вагітною жінкою
Бути підтримкою і опорою, розділяти всі негаразди і слухати бубніння. Звісно подушку для вагітної міг і швидше купити🤣

Думала, що батьки Лії будуть до кінця йобнутими, але нє, прогрес на лице
Вілл - один з класних другорядних персонажів в цій книзі, він дав багато маленьких поштовхів для Логана. І це класно

Думаю, якби я не була ще на гормонах від маленької, то може це б не була тверда 5
Але на разі - це саме те, що треба

[Kateryna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Як завжди нова книжечка Меггі пішла поза чергою і не розчаровувала 😍 це була неймовірна історія! Така прекрасна і дуже тепла! Я відчувала стільки любові під час читання 🫀 переживала, що не зайде троп "несподівана вагітність", але авторка так добре його розкрила 🥹 а який тут чоловік, з таким нічого не страшно) дружба, партнерство, кохання - все це було настільки природнім між героями, я просто насолоджувалась всю книгу, бо це справді було красиво. Це однозначно 10/10 і піде в найкраще за місяць 💝

[Alina]

Dnf
The whole "it's always been you but let me date and hook up with others" just irritates me, there is never a good reason for not pursuing each other yet they pursue other people

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY HEART! 😭

This book starts with a one-night stand, but what truly captivated me was watching Logan and Leah learn about each other and fall in love. The way Logan loves and takes care of Leah?! My gosh! So freaking amazing. If you love a caretaking trope, this book is perfect. Logan is literally the caretaking king.

The story is heartwarming, and the ending had me in tears. My husband even asked, “What’s wrong?” and all I could say was, “Nothing…it’s just so beautiful.”

For fans of the Poker Club series, this book feels like a warm family reunion. But don’t worry! You don’t need to have read the series to enjoy it. It completely stands on its own while still giving that nostalgic, comforting feeling for longtime readers.

If you love:
✔️ Accidental Pregnancy
✔️ Best Friend’s Brother
✔️ A Caretaking King
✔️ Found Family
✔️ Small-Town Romance
✔️ Healthy Communication
✔️ Standing Your Ground Against Toxic People

Then you need to check this book out!

[Mariana Fonseca · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐

I don't know how to feel. I think maybe this was meant to be a cozy reading but I find myself being bored, the problems were never that big, or that's what I felt.

Tho, I love so much Logan's relationship with Will, it was definitely the best of the book. Logan, the man you are!

My problem it's mostly about the writing style, felt like we were going nowhere, the rhythm wasn't there, the big important things weren't... Idk just felt off

[Kseniia ✨️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Мімімішна історія без розриву в 3 акті та зайвої драми

[Sara Pereira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finnished this ARC in less than 24 hours! Let me tell you—it was completely worth it. I still have tears in my eyes from that ending! 🥹

Knowing all the original characters from the Beaufort Poker Club series made this experience even more special. Understanding their relationships added so much emotion, especially when it came to Will and Logan—their bond was one of my absolute favorite parts of the book.

I already loved Logan in In Spades, but this book made me love him even more. Watching his growth was incredible—I swear, I felt like their long-lost sister with how ridiculously proud I was of him! 🤣

And Leah—oh, I adored everything about her. She’s that friend who’s always there for you, the one who just belongs, even before she realizes it herself. The way she fit into their world felt so natural, and the fact that she was his sister’s best friend? That was just the cherry on top!

This book was perfect, and I would recommend it to everyone. I want to scream about it from the rooftops! ❤️

[Ruth♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Después de pasar una semana organizando la boda de su hermana Logan está ansioso de irse, disfruta mucho a su familia pero prefiere esa soledad, el día de la boda Leah la mejor amiga de su hermana y también la chica que le ayudo en la organización le da una noche increíble, ambos se divierten en la fiesta y después de ella 😏🔥 pero no saben que esa noche cambiará su vida para siempre con una sorpresa que llegará en nueve meses.

Esta fue una recomendación de Tik tok de las cuales casi nunca hago caso pero algo me decía que está podría ser una linda historia y no estaba equivocada.

Quiero decirles que en si el libro no tiene mucho drama, es solo como estos dos se adaptan a su nueva vida y como van a funcionar, en general a la gente le puedo parecer aburrido pero a mí me encanta, después de tanta fantasía esto fue lo que necesitaba 🤌🏻 ambos protagonistas fueron re lindos el como empezaron a convivir viendo lo diferente que eran pero como van encajando muy bien en sus vidas, además Logan es un belloooooo, neta no saben todo lo que este hombre hacía por los dos, siempre preocupado en al pendiente 😍 (tuvos sus momentos de estupidez pero los supo arreglar) Leah también me encantó como ponía límites, ella fue una guerrera por su familia, y no se dejó por nadie.

La verdad fue una historia muy tranquila pero linda, me gustó mucho y me doy cuenta que es un tipo de spin off de otra saga así que claro que me verán leyendo esa y tal vez todo lo de la autora por qué me gustó mucho como escribe.

[Tetyana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5
Тропи:
- лише одна ніч;
- несподівана вагітність;
- брат найкращої подруги;
- це завжди була ти;
- без розриву в 3 акті

Дуже ніжна і мила історія.
Мені сподобалися головні герої
Лія — весела, енергійна, зухвала і впевнена в собі дівчина. Логан — неймовірно турботливий, добрий, щирий, проникливий і захисний чоловік.
Їхні стосунки хоч і почалися задом наперед, але розвивалися дуже правильно і гармонійно. Те, як Логан намагався кожного дня ставати кращим для Лії, кращим другом, кращим партнером, кращим батьком їхньої дитини. Чоловік, який усе робить правильно, який вчинками та словами доводить свою любов та прихильність.

Мені сподобалося як показано період вагітності, відчуття ніби ти разом з Лією проходиш цей досвід. Видно, що авторка не з чуток знає, про що пише.

Чому 4? Тому що мені чогось не вистачило, можливо більшого розкриття персонажів та їхніх стосунків. Книга дуже рівно для мене йшла і не було відчуття, що я не можу відірватися від неї. Але в цілому, це дуже гарна і тепла історія. Суцільний комфорт

[Cianna ✩ · Rating 2 out of 5]

NEVER propose to me minutes after having our child.

[Christi (christireadsalot) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seven of Hearts is a small town, surprise/accidental pregnancy, best friend’s brother romance, with “it was always you” vibes!

Leah has been into Logan for years, he is her best friend’s brother and he never showed any interest in her, until he does... They end up hooking up at her best friend’s/his sister’s wedding reception and what was only supposed to be one night leads to her finding out she’s pregnant.

This was my 2nd read from this author (also tried Dust Storm) and I just don’t think their books are for me. Which I had wanted to at least try a second book before deciding that, and now I have. Like this was fine, I just wasn’t wow’d by the characters or overall story. He has some family trauma from his life and is worried he won’t be a good dad because of how his parents were, but it was nice seeing his relationship with his brother-in-law who was like a father figure to him. She collects stamps, her family is the worst, but that’s about it. As far as their relationship it just felt very easy, low angst, immediately into them hooking up and the rest of the story goes from there into the pregnancy.

I received an audio ALC, all thoughts in this review are my own.

[Jess • bestiebookshelf_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ADORED THIS BOOK. OMG - I actually think that this might be one of my favourite accidental pregnancy books I've read. I love this trope and this book is HEAVY on the pregnancy, and I ate this uppppp! I understand that Logan was a side character in a previous series of Maggie's (which I have not read) but she did a brilliant job of recapping that series. This book can (and was) read as a complete stand alone. It has definitely made me want to go back and devour that series, though.

I love Maggie's writing, and the fact that it is realistic and raw. She doesn't shy away from the realities of some situations and the way Leah and Logan's story unfolded was no different. Seeing Leah's journey throughout her pregnancy made me feel so validated. She struggled physically and emotionally and I loved that Maggie wrote it like this. Pregnancy isn't all beautiful, round bumps and rainbows --that shit is HARD. Logan loved her through it; his care taking skills are unmatched. He was so strong, never wavering and he gave Leah the strength that she needed. She had her moments of irrationality, what pregnant woman doesn't but the way that Logan was there to reassure her every step of the way was wonderful.

I really admired both of these characters. Logan was so grumpy, and I loved his dry sense of humour and the banter between him and Leah; they were such a great match honestly. They bought out the best in each other. Their chemistry poured off the page and I loved the intimacy between them.

The found family vibes in this book were absolutely epic; the scenes between Logan and Will, honestly chef's kiss. I teared up multiple times! The epilogues were beautiful and I just loved the journey Leah and Logan went on together; they showed each other that they were so worthy, of each other AND a beautiful life.

Read if you like:
- small town
- ONS
- accidental pregnancy
- best friends brother
- grumpy x sunshine
- “it’s always been you”

Thank you to The Author Agency and Maggie Gates for an advanced copy of this book!

[Sienasummerrreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows Leah and Logan. Leah is the maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding, and the best man happens to be her best friend’s brother—the man she’s always noticed but who’s never seemed to notice her. But after a beautiful wedding, a few too many drinks, and a one-night stand, they’re both faced with the consequences of their actions. But are those consequences really all that bad?

This was so relatable to me right now. I’m currently pregnant and have gestational diabetes. I love connecting with a character who is experiencing something similar to what I’m going through. I must say, though, I’m not as hormonal as Leah is. I enjoyed how emotional she gets and how supportive Logan became—ensuring he listened, attended to her needs, and allowed her to ride out her emotions. The family drama on both sides added depth to their characters. I loved the intimate, spicy moments and the overall feel-good story. I highly recommend the audiobook if you’re interested; it was a great listen.

Genre/Type: Adult Romance 18+
APK: Audiobook ALC
Audiobook Length: 9hrs 29mins
Narrators: Nikki Grey and Alex Knox - Dual
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Series or Standalone: Standalone
Tropes or Themes: Small Town, Best Friends Brother, Surprise Pregnancy, Accidental Pregnancy, One Night Stand, Mine, Family Drama, Its Always Been You, Taken Care Of, Full Pregnancy, Gestational Diabetes, Vomit, Sexual Content, Praise and Dirty Talk
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫

All Round Romance Reader 
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
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[Alicia S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fell Flat

Honestly … I was so freaking hyped for this book because I’m a sucker for a bit of surprise pregnancy - siblings best friend - but this was just ….. not it for me.

For some reason it just felt so long winded and both characters fell so flat for me.

They each had their moments but they weren’t enough to really make me go YAYYYY

[Soph · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★★. Thank you to Maggie and the Author Agency for this ARC! This review will have some spoilers, but not too much! Maggie wrote a beautiful accidental pregnancy, unrequited (in my eyes), he falls first and harder, found family book with all the banter plus spice and some heartbreaking moments.

I loved everything about this book. Logan (mmc) and Leah (fmc) were perfect soulmates for one another. Right from the beginning, you see a dynamic of two people who had a lifelong crush on each other yet didn’t do anything because of a common person; Kylie, Logan’s sister. We got little hints throughout on how they both watched each other throughout the years when they were younger and sorta pined. I liked how Maggie didn’t have either waiting on each other as they got older. This was done really well and I didn’t feel like one person was harboring more feelings than the other. While Logan fell first and harder, you see Leah also fall HARD which was amazing.

Logan, MY MAN. I loved him so much. He was the most perfect mmc ever. He reminded me of Shane (what saves us) SO MUCH. The way he immediately stepped up after his shock went away and was there for not only just the baby, but Leah. He wanted her and he got her. The protectiveness he had was PHENOMENAL. This man didn’t let her do anything without him being there. SHE COULDNT EVEN CARRY A BAG. Him staying up all night while she slept on him looking at the sonogram photo. I cried. His past hurt me. I felt bad with how he felt and how he had this need t be perfect. I loved his relationship with Will though. It truly was done so well especially if you read Will’s book.

Leah, MY WOMAN. I loved her. She was the sunshine Logan needed and I loved how she went back at him after he messed up a bit. I felt so bad for her reading her feelings when she found out she was pregnant and with her parents. She just wanted someone to be happy she was pregnant because she was and the one other person besides Logan completely got upset with her and cut her off for months. I HATED THIS SO MUCH. I felt horrible for my girl but Logan stood by his woman! I loved Leah showing Logan how to just live and be happy. She was his first friend and he was her new best friend. I already knew she was going to be an amazing mom and reading her throughout the pregnancy and the little bit with the baby, confirmed everything.

For my safety people, this is 100% safe. Both have been celibate for a year or more. Leah got out of a relationship before the book begins around 1 year before and Logan is a workaholic introvert.

“She was every summer rain that brought life to wilting flowers. She was the breeze through the night air, calm and serene. She was unbreakable like the palm trees, standing strong amidst the storm. She was every joy-filled flower that bloomed after the torrent. Leah was the lighthouse that guided me home.”

[madmanreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️ | 2 🌶️

Oh my gosh… so many feels 😭. An incredibly beautiful accidental pregnancy with so much found family goodness.

📖: Leah & Logan are best man and maid of honor for his sister’s wedding. One thing leads to another and they decide to indulge in the fantasies they’ve had about each other for one night only. Except a few weeks later, Leah finds out she’s pregnant… and the father is her best friend’s brother.

🖤 Accidental pregnancy
❤️ One night stand
🖤 Best friend’s brother
❤️ Grumpy X Sunshine
🖤 Touch her & 💀
❤️ Grand gestures
🖤 He takes care of her
❤️ “it’s always been you”

Oh where do I even start with this review…. So this is my first book I’ve read in this series 🫣 I KNOW, I’m sorry. But Maggie Gates did a great job of recapping so Seven of Hearts can absolutely be read as a standalone (but I’m so excited to go binge this series immediately).

This book healed parts of me I didn’t realize needed it. Pregnancy is so hard for a myriad of reasons. Seeing Leah’s physical and emotional struggles through pregnancy, her gestational diabetes diagnosis as well as her c-section birth, and the way Logan loved her through it all, was amazing. He was so strong and steadfast and made her feel like she could conquer anything.

I really loved that the author touched on the joys and lows of intimacy during pregnancy. The struggles with body changes, and the way a partner can perceive them. It was so beautiful and also so HOT!!! 🥵

🌶️ That one night stand scene was SO SPICY and Maggie also wrote some amazing pregnancy spice in there too, which I know can be polarizing to some. I was a fan of the way Logan always had Leah at the forefront. A MAN 👏🏼

Logan is just a perfect MMC. He was so grumpy to start and his dry sense of humor had me laughing out loud. I loved the banter and joking between him and Leah and their family and friends.

The whole poker club family was fantastic. The love between them was so palpable. This book is found family in its purest form. The scenes between Logan and Will had me in tears and I immediately downloaded the rest of the series to go read. I need more of this world! If you have already read this series, I think you’ll be overjoyed at the way it was wrapped up. 🥹

⚠️ CW - Accidental pregnancy, gestational diabetes, c-section birth, difficult parental relationships, drug use and distribution (not by MCs). Check author’s website for full list.

Thank you so much to Maggie Gates and The Author Agency for the arc of Seven Of Hearts in exchange for my honest review! 🖤

[ceilidh (yourhopefulromantic) · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’ve been a MAJOR reading slump and was able to finish this ARC in one sitting so i think that says a lot! as someone who has never read Maggie’s poker club series prior to reading this, it definitely made me want to pick it up sooner than later to see what it’s all about😍 overall, i enjoyed Logan and Leah’s story as a whole for how raw and real it was as they worked through their own insecurities and came out stronger together.

tropes:
- accidental pregnancy
- one night stand
- best friend’s brother
- it’s always been you
- small town
- found family

there were a lot of wholesome and emotional moments that Maggie packed into this book that i really appreciated. i found it gave the story more depth and allowed the reader to understand both main characters more and why they acted the way they did. both Leah and Logan share struggles with their parents and overall upbringing— so it made my heart so full seeing them be there for each other and have these important conversations as they want to be better parents for their baby. Logan was the ultimate caretaker and always made sure Leah was FED (in more ways that one😉) and the taurus girlie in me absolute ate that up! the small and mundane moments that we got to see as Logan & Leah transitioned from friends to more really made the big moments for them that much sweeter. thank you to Maggie and her team for an ARC in exchange for a review (and brb while i add the entire poker club series to my tbr now!!!)

[sky • thebookgreenery · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ★

[Kiandra 🦋 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was for sure super cute but at the same time Logan and Leah’s relationship was just lacking something for me.

[Wunmi · Rating 1 out of 5]

It would have been good if this author put a trigger warning on the FMC being a Bi. I honestly do not fancy such and had to stop reading it immediately. At first, while reading, i thought i made a mistake and had to go back to read afresh to be sure I read about the ex of the FMC who happens to be a female. I came here to see if others feel the same way, I am glad to know I am not the only one who feels this way.

[Katie]

This is a very sweet love story with 2 likable MCs and an awesome HEA. However, there are a lot of conservative folks who read romance and I feel that author should have put a trigger warning or mention on the blurb before someone wastes time & money on something that is not for them that FMC is Bi. (She had a long term relationship with a woman before they broke things off and she is not yet completely over her when she drunkenly hooks up with MMC at his sister's wedding - An MMC BTW whom she has known for a long time (since HS - she is 26 yrs old, he is 29 or 30) as she is his sister's BFF.

So if y'all are not bothered with that, then you will enjoy this story. For me, the fact that they had known each other for so long and author mentions on the blurb that FMC has wanted him for a long time which FMC describes as a crush BTW and an MMC who said he never wanted to go there with FMC because she is his kid sister's BFF, kind of ruined it because once they meet I don't want them with OP but to fall instantly in love.

That said though, my gripe here is the fact that I know a lot of folks who are conservative and don't read MM or FF romance or characters who are Bi will feel angry & misled. That is their right. What is not right is for an author to put a trigger warning on the blurb so that people don't waste their time & money if that theme is not their thing. It is misleading & false advertising when you portray two MCs on the blurb as heterosexual, only to find out in the book that it's not completely true.

Now I know that some folks may be offended by my review, but this is not a homophobic opinion so don't rush to judgement as my beliefs are pretty open and it didn't bother me. What DOES bother me is the fact that I have a lot of conservative friends here in GR that don't read MM, FF, MFM, FMF or Bi Sexual character tropes. That's their right. Some authors label books that have a Gay or ménage trope romance so people are not blind-sighted if that is something they don't care to read. This author did not which is why I am writing this review to warn anyone who is not into that.

[Page In Print · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow wow wow! Seven Of Hearts by Maggie Gates has left me nearly speechless.

Maggie covered so many incredibly delicate topics through this story in such a beautiful and real way. When Logan and his sister's best friend Leah's "one night only" arrangement ends in an accidental pregnancy the two are left facing pieces of themselves they had been avoiding.

Leah is navigating the experience of the various reactions and excitement levels people have surrounding her pregnancy while also reconciling the difference in her parent's perspective of who she is and her own.

On the other side, Logan holds himself to an unattainable standard of perfection in an effort to "earn" the life he was given. (At risk of being extremely vulnerable I have not related to a character's experience the way I related to Logan's potentially ever in my reading career.)

While these two are moving through all of these experiences they are also getting to know each other, falling in love, and creating the best family possible for their child.

If my analysis hasn't given me away I absolutely loved this story. If you have been wanting to dive into Maggie's work but are unsure of where this standalone may be the perfect place for you to start!

[Mila warnerrr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh My God. I fucking LOVED this book. If Gilmore Girls and The Summer I Turned Pretty had a baby, this would be it. Family not always being blood related, people stepping up and filling roles that they didn’t have to fill, but they did because that’s what love is. CHECK AND CHECK.
Leah and Logan are so adorable, I loved that he was gentle, kind, patient, always reassured her when she was in doubt, and always made sure she could speak her mind without doubt or fear. Logan is as green as green flags get. I loved his relationship w Will so much. Their family (yes the whole extended family) is literally so cutesy and amazing.

This book was fucking AMAZING

Logan talking about Leah ‎♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧
“She was the sun, the moon, the stars, and the rainbows. She was the full spectrum of miracles and magic that made life worth living.”

“She was every summer rain that brought life to wilting flowers. She was the breeze through the night air, calm and serene. She was unbreakable like the palm trees, standing strong amidst the storm. She was every joy-filled flower that bloomed after the torrent.
Leah was the lighthouse that guided me home.”