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Her Sweetest Mistake: a One Night Scandals novel
A second-chance romance with an ex-husband, a small-town bakery, and the Marine who never stopped loving her.
Cupcake baker Alysse Dresden likes her life sweet, simple, and drama-free. But one surprise delivery brings her face-to-face with the man she swore she’d never fall for again—her ex-husband, former Marine Jay Michener.
Their weeklong marriage ended years ago, but the chemistry? Still explosive.
Jay’s back in town with one last shot to fix everything before he reenlists. Alysse knows letting him in again could shatter her carefully rebuilt heart. Jay believes they were always meant to be—if he can prove he’s no longer the man who walked away.
Old wounds. Undeniable heat. One last chance at the love they never got right.
Alysse must decide whether trusting Jay again is the sweetest risk she’ll ever take…or her biggest mistake all over again.
Cupcake baker Alysse Dresden likes her life sweet, simple, and drama-free. But one surprise delivery brings her face-to-face with the man she swore she’d never fall for again—her ex-husband, former Marine Jay Michener.
Their weeklong marriage ended years ago, but the chemistry? Still explosive.
Jay’s back in town with one last shot to fix everything before he reenlists. Alysse knows letting him in again could shatter her carefully rebuilt heart. Jay believes they were always meant to be—if he can prove he’s no longer the man who walked away.
Old wounds. Undeniable heat. One last chance at the love they never got right.
Alysse must decide whether trusting Jay again is the sweetest risk she’ll ever take…or her biggest mistake all over again.
- GenresSecond Chance
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 19, 2026
About the author
Katherine Garbera
820 books664 followersKatherine Garbera is a USA TODAY bestselling author of more than 100 novels, which have been translated into over two dozen languages and sold millions of copies worldwide. She is the mother of two incredibly creative and snarky grown children. Katherine enjoys drinking champagne, reading, walking and traveling with her husband. She lives in Kent, UK, where she is working on her next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 21, 2026
3 stars- HER SWEETEST MISTAKE is the first instalment in Katherine Garbera’s contemporary, adult ONE NIGHT SCANDALS erotica romance series. This is Marine sniper Jay Michener, and baker Alysse Dresden’s story line.
Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Jay and Alysse) HER SWEETEST MISTAKE focuses on the second chance relationship between our story line couple. Approximately four years earlier, a trip to Las Vegas found Alysse Dresden married to US Marine Jay Michener, a man she had only met days before. Ten days together ended when Jay ghosted our story line heroine, resulting in Alysse filing for divorce. Fast forward to present day, Jay Michener has returned stateside to reconsider his future, whether to re-enlist or properly seduce the woman whose heart he destroyed.
The world building follows the rekindling romance and relationship between our story line couple but Jay is struggling with issues of low self esteem, while Alysse is battling between head and heart, unable to trust the man who broke her heart. Alysse has established herself as a small business owner, why Jay continues to waffle on his plans for the future. The $ex scenes are erotic, and provocative, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text but I did not feel any palpable sexual attraction.
We are introduced to Alysse’s co-worker Staci; and Jay’s fellow Marine turned security expert Lucien.
HER SWEETEST MISTAKE is story of struggle and heart break, forgiveness and love.The premise is entertaining but was dry and often blase. Jay’s inability to make a decision (waffling back and forth about his future) was matched by both Jay and Alysse’s constant miscommunication. The characters were flawed yet determined; the romance was spirited but felt like they were going through the motions. As this is my first KG read, I am not sure if this is the norm or I expected something more.
copy supplied for review
Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Jay and Alysse) HER SWEETEST MISTAKE focuses on the second chance relationship between our story line couple. Approximately four years earlier, a trip to Las Vegas found Alysse Dresden married to US Marine Jay Michener, a man she had only met days before. Ten days together ended when Jay ghosted our story line heroine, resulting in Alysse filing for divorce. Fast forward to present day, Jay Michener has returned stateside to reconsider his future, whether to re-enlist or properly seduce the woman whose heart he destroyed.
The world building follows the rekindling romance and relationship between our story line couple but Jay is struggling with issues of low self esteem, while Alysse is battling between head and heart, unable to trust the man who broke her heart. Alysse has established herself as a small business owner, why Jay continues to waffle on his plans for the future. The $ex scenes are erotic, and provocative, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text but I did not feel any palpable sexual attraction.
We are introduced to Alysse’s co-worker Staci; and Jay’s fellow Marine turned security expert Lucien.
HER SWEETEST MISTAKE is story of struggle and heart break, forgiveness and love.The premise is entertaining but was dry and often blase. Jay’s inability to make a decision (waffling back and forth about his future) was matched by both Jay and Alysse’s constant miscommunication. The characters were flawed yet determined; the romance was spirited but felt like they were going through the motions. As this is my first KG read, I am not sure if this is the norm or I expected something more.
copy supplied for review
Review of advance copy received from Author
𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞
𝐛𝐲 𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐚 𐙚 ˚🍰 ⋆｡˚ ᡣ𐭩
Happy Release Week @katherinegarbera ✨️
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭
🧁 Small Town Romance
🍓 Second Chance
🧁 Bakery Owner FMC
🍓 Former Marine MMC
🧁 Ex Husband
⋆⁺₊⋆ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ⋆⁺₊⋆
𝐏𝐑 | 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐝 A huge thank you to Katherine Garbera for sending me an early copy and for letting me be part of your ARC team ✨️
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
2.5⭐️
Her Sweetest Mistake was a short, fun small town romance that was easy to read. I picked it up one evening and finished it the next night, which really speaks to how readable it was. I love Katherine’s writing style and how effortless it feels to get through her books.
Unfortunately the married for a week in Vegas aspect did not quite hit for me and felt a little too insta love for my liking. I did however really enjoy Alysse and Jay’s reunion, which was very cutesy and one of the stronger parts of the story for me.
I was glad to see some character growth from Jay, although I felt he expected too much from Aly too quickly. I liked that he was trying to win her back, but at times it came across as a bit pushy.
I also wish Alysse had been written as a bit more headstrong. Jay left with no explanation and then shows up years later wanting her back, which was already a lot to accept. After four years they sleep together and Aly tells Jay she is going to use him for sex to get over him, which just felt a bit strange to me.
I am glad that Aly and Jay got their happy ending, and I really did enjoy Katherine’s writing overall. The plot itself just wasn't a huge hit for me.
𝐛𝐲 𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐚 𐙚 ˚🍰 ⋆｡˚ ᡣ𐭩
Happy Release Week @katherinegarbera ✨️
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭
🧁 Small Town Romance
🍓 Second Chance
🧁 Bakery Owner FMC
🍓 Former Marine MMC
🧁 Ex Husband
⋆⁺₊⋆ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ⋆⁺₊⋆
𝐏𝐑 | 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐝 A huge thank you to Katherine Garbera for sending me an early copy and for letting me be part of your ARC team ✨️
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
2.5⭐️
Her Sweetest Mistake was a short, fun small town romance that was easy to read. I picked it up one evening and finished it the next night, which really speaks to how readable it was. I love Katherine’s writing style and how effortless it feels to get through her books.
Unfortunately the married for a week in Vegas aspect did not quite hit for me and felt a little too insta love for my liking. I did however really enjoy Alysse and Jay’s reunion, which was very cutesy and one of the stronger parts of the story for me.
I was glad to see some character growth from Jay, although I felt he expected too much from Aly too quickly. I liked that he was trying to win her back, but at times it came across as a bit pushy.
I also wish Alysse had been written as a bit more headstrong. Jay left with no explanation and then shows up years later wanting her back, which was already a lot to accept. After four years they sleep together and Aly tells Jay she is going to use him for sex to get over him, which just felt a bit strange to me.
I am glad that Aly and Jay got their happy ending, and I really did enjoy Katherine’s writing overall. The plot itself just wasn't a huge hit for me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
When baker Alysse Dresden is asked to bake and deliver one of her famous desserts the last person she expects to see is her ex-husband Jay Michener. The were married for a week and then he left after the whirlwind marriage in Las Vegas.
Are there unresolved feelings, hell yes, but both don't know how to get them back to where they once were. Jay wants this chance to fix it, but doesn't know how and Alysse wants everything this time around. And she could have her heart broken and shattered and not be able to put the pieces back together if he walks away again. What will he choose and will Alysee be enough to make him stay.
This was a very heart wrenching book, but at the same time very sensual how these two are that they never forgot those feelings that brought them together in the first place. Jay is the strong, silent loner marine and Alysse is the sweetheart of everyone who knows her. She knows how her future must be. They are such opposites, yet the passion the two have burns up the pages and brings them back to a chance for a HEA. Lots of good secondary characters to add to round out this sweet, sensual story of reunited lovers.
An ARC copy was received from the Author
Are there unresolved feelings, hell yes, but both don't know how to get them back to where they once were. Jay wants this chance to fix it, but doesn't know how and Alysse wants everything this time around. And she could have her heart broken and shattered and not be able to put the pieces back together if he walks away again. What will he choose and will Alysee be enough to make him stay.
This was a very heart wrenching book, but at the same time very sensual how these two are that they never forgot those feelings that brought them together in the first place. Jay is the strong, silent loner marine and Alysse is the sweetheart of everyone who knows her. She knows how her future must be. They are such opposites, yet the passion the two have burns up the pages and brings them back to a chance for a HEA. Lots of good secondary characters to add to round out this sweet, sensual story of reunited lovers.
An ARC copy was received from the Author
February 26, 2026
Alysse fell in love with Jay when they first met. It was a superficial relationship at the time, so no surprise it ended. However, she always remembered him and no-one else ever measured up. She's made a good life for herself, and when he shows up, she's looking at their motivations for being together. They're different in personality and need to take care to not push each other into behaviour that's going to destroy them.
Jay never let go Alysse know his mind, and years later, he's back to see if what they had can become more. It's hard for him because he's never had an adult personal relationship, and the military is a place with rules, expectations, time and place that he doesn't have to figure out. He's figuring out what he can and wants to live with for the rest of his life.
Jay never let go Alysse know his mind, and years later, he's back to see if what they had can become more. It's hard for him because he's never had an adult personal relationship, and the military is a place with rules, expectations, time and place that he doesn't have to figure out. He's figuring out what he can and wants to live with for the rest of his life.
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February 23, 202630% DNF
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews