Sexy off Stage

by D.S. Walls

Monty Pierce once lived for the spotlight. Dance was her passion, her purpose, her everything—until the day the music stopped. Now, struggling with a life-changing diagnosis and the loss of her identity, Monty must face a future she never planned for.

Enter Callahan O’Conner—confident, relentless, and convinced he’s her forever. He doesn’t just want her heart; he wants to prove she can lean on him in ways she’s never allowed herself to before.

But Monty’s past still echoes. Abandoned by her mother, she’s sworn never to need anyone. And no matter how much Callahan shows up, trusting him might cost her the one thing she’s always clung to—control.

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 10, 2026

About the author

D.S. Walls is a wine loving, cat mom who devours books. Having spent most of her life in a plus size body, it became her mission to create the representation she wished to see. A firm believer that all women deserve love, her stories focus on complex women who aren’t always the most likeable. Her books will always give you banter, spice and a curvy woman getting all the love she deserves.

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING, I have nothing but good things to say about this book. I was reading it in public and was crying because the love being described was so strong.

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sexy off Stage is a book that has kept me on my toes. It's been eye-opening and really pushed me a outside of my comfort zone in parts. And isn't that one of the many wonderful things about reading?

Monty is a bright, talented, complex, and fiercely independent woman. When her life comes crashing down around her, she has to learn how to let others in and how to rely on them. Her issues with trust run deep, and quite rightly so.

Callahan is the delightful cinnamon role MMC. He adores Monty, and he's so sure of their future, even as she pushes him away. He just needs to know that he is enough, and that he deserves to be someone's everything.

I've never had to face racism myself, and as such, I can't even fathom how deep those scars run in Monty. Especially when it's coming from one of the people who should be protecting you and loving you the most.
What I can relate to in a small way through my own lived experience, is having a parent abandon you and start a new family. One that doesn't include you. I know it's only a fraction of what Monty has had to deal with, but I do understand what sort of lifelong impact that abandonment has on a person.

You should read this book if you love:
- Open door romance (spicy)
- Cinnamon Roll FMC
- Plus size romance
- He falls first
- Interracial romance

Sexy off Stage is available now and is the second book in the series but can be read as a stand-alone.

Thank you to D.S. Walls for the complimentary copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Keya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sexy Off-Stage is an absolute delight! For a book with heavy and sensitive subject matter this book is a wonderful read. I was tearing up at multiple points in this book and that is something that very rarely happens. This book tells the story of Monty a dancer that is great at what she does, but her heart is not really into it anymore and she goes back home to San Francisco to try to get her head back in the game. Monty ends up meeting Callahan on a brief trip to Boston and he instantly falls for her, but she’s still trying to figure herself out. Shortly after Monty receives a diagnosis that changes everything and she’s still trying to put her life in perspective, but also come to terms with abandonment issues regarding her mother as well as what she wants to do with her career and if she even have a place for love in her heart. I loved Monty‘s character. She was confident and amazing, but she really stressed me out because she was not allowing herself all the things that she deserved. I loved Callahan instantly, he is amazing a big teddy bear and so funny. I also loved how persistent he was and so sure of himself and how he made sure Monty knew everything he said he meant. This book is such a great read. It is written so beautifully and I loved it such a sweet story. A definite must read.

[Nicke M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is book #2 in this series and while you could read it without reading the first, I definitely recommend reading the first before diving into this one as it gives you insight to how the author writes her leading FMC’s and the relationship Monty ( the main FMC in this book) has with her best friend Farrah (main FMC in book #1). In my review for book #1 I mentioned how special I thought their relationship was and that’s evident tenfold in this book as well.
Monty is a layered and nuanced character and was written very well. I did get frustrated a few times like “just let that man love you!” but I’m pretty sure that was the point. 😉 Her independence, while sometimes complicated, is what makes her, her. While difficult content, the exploration of her relationship with her mom, and by proxy her dad, was interesting to read about. Callahan was a wonderful MMC. He’s one of those characters that makes you smile while reading, and boy did he love our girl Monty big time in this book! There’s a lot more I could say but I don’t want to spoil anything so I will say I really enjoyed this one and thank you to the author for the ARC opportunity!

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not my first D.S.Walls book so i did know that there is complexity within the romcom but this hit me like a stack of brick. I won't go into to much details as to not spoil anything but what i will say is that it rocked me. From the beginning you could already feel a switch from the Monty we met in steamy on set. The author mixes up perfectly light silly moments withing the difficult subjects featured in the story. Books like these where you deal with raw real and ugly makes me appreciate their beauty even more. I want to say that Monty is the bad ass i wish i was and Callahan is the best green flag book boyfriend around because they are but the truth is so much more complex. They are imperfect, scared and carry a boat load of baggage that is normal in life and not so much in romance. It makes them feel so real. I cried and laughed and yelled and will forever love this book with all my heart.

[Tracy D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotional and swoony romantic that will make you believe in soulmates.

Monty is dealing with a life Chang event and realizes that her longterm friends with benefits is never going to step up and be what she needs. Callahan is who she thought would be a one night stand but he is determined to stay and be the man she needs. Monty has childhood trauma that means she doesn’t want to need anyone but Callahan keeps show up.

This deals with tough topics with a sense of humour while remaining real. You will fall in love with this couple yup as they fall in love with eachother. This book is spicy and those scenes deliver.

Thanks to the author for the early review copy.

Contents include racism, toxic relationships, parent abandonment, sexual content, medical content, cancer, and infertility.

[Randi Gulledge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can true romance flourish in even the darkest times? This is what D.S Walls explores in Sexy Off Stage. I appreciate how Walls took a subject like mortality (no spoilers) and did not shy away from hard truths. She showed how futures can change in the blink of an eye and so can the people around you.I like how she did not try to pull a “miraculous cure” for Monty(the FMC) . Though it was a HEA it was one that was a non traditional happy ending. It wasn’t a magical bandaid but it demonstrated what happens when you have hope that things will get better. My main issue was Callahans characterization. I wish she would have included scenes of them keeping in contact after her visit or maybe more moments with them In Boston . Other than that i hope more writers learn to not shy away from reality when including dark subjects like this

[readingwithkaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE LOVE AND SUPPORT MONTY HAD DURING HER JOURNEY WERE SO HEARTWARMING. THE SIDE CHARACTERS IN THIS STORY HELPED BEING IT ALL TOGETHER. I LOVE IT WHEN THEY HAVE JUST AS MUCH OF AN IMPACT AS THE MAIN CHARACTERS. I LAUGHED A LOT READING THIS LOVE STORY. THE HUMOR CAME IN THE RIGHT PLACES. DEFINITELY GIVES ROMANTIC COMEDY VIBES. BOTH CHARACTERS OVERCAME THEIR PERSONAL GRIEVANCES AS THEY GREW ON EACH PAGE. THE ONLY THING I THINK WAS UNNECESSARY WAS CHARLIE! HE WAS TAKING UP TOO MUCH SPACE ON THE PAGES. TEAM CALLAHAN FROM CHAPTER ONE! I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND EVERYONE READ THIS BOOK WHEN IT IS RELEASED IN APRIL.

[Cecile Sheff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so for me this book had a bit of a slow start. There were a few ick moments, which I now realize were probably more a me thing than a book thing. But once it got going, I found I couldn't put it down! I loved the interplay of Monty's relationship and how each kind of ebbs and flows, helping her to heal or leaving damage in its wake as she sorts through who she should keep and who she needs to discard. Is the end expected? Well, of course! It was pretty much announced near the beginning of the book (you'll have to read to find out about that.)! But the journey was worth the read and very fulfilling. Great story!!

[Olga Kassimova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sexy off stage is as powerful as it is sexy. Balancing difficult themes of health, womanhood, commitment, and race with a light-hearted cinnamon roll MMC, spicy sex, and romance.

[PrettyLadyMaine Writes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book