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The Wells Brothers
Try Again, Baby
I met Ben Wells at an airport on one of the worst days of my life.
We talked, laughed, connected, and survived a travel disaster.
Then we shared one wild, passionate night together.
That was where the story was supposed to end.
Ben went back to his life as a professional rugby player, and I went back to mine as a college student.
Except mine came with a positive pregnancy test and a life I never planned for.
One Ben made it clear he wanted no part of.
I didn’t fall apart or chase him. I picked myself up and brushed myself off, raised my daughter, and fought my way into law school.
For five years, we did just fine without him.
We were happy, even.
Then, out of nowhere, Ben crashes back into our lives, smiling like nothing ever happened, and everything I thought I knew comes undone. Because some misunderstandings don’t just break hearts. They steal years.
Now Ben is determined to make up for lost time, and not just with our daughter.
The passion we shared is still alive and well, but the stakes are much higher now. But if there’s one thing Ben is good at—besides being relentlessly cheerful and sexy in his rugby uniform—it’s persistence. He doesn’t give up.
If Ben has it his way, the end of our story will be only the beginning.
We talked, laughed, connected, and survived a travel disaster.
Then we shared one wild, passionate night together.
That was where the story was supposed to end.
Ben went back to his life as a professional rugby player, and I went back to mine as a college student.
Except mine came with a positive pregnancy test and a life I never planned for.
One Ben made it clear he wanted no part of.
I didn’t fall apart or chase him. I picked myself up and brushed myself off, raised my daughter, and fought my way into law school.
For five years, we did just fine without him.
We were happy, even.
Then, out of nowhere, Ben crashes back into our lives, smiling like nothing ever happened, and everything I thought I knew comes undone. Because some misunderstandings don’t just break hearts. They steal years.
Now Ben is determined to make up for lost time, and not just with our daughter.
The passion we shared is still alive and well, but the stakes are much higher now. But if there’s one thing Ben is good at—besides being relentlessly cheerful and sexy in his rugby uniform—it’s persistence. He doesn’t give up.
If Ben has it his way, the end of our story will be only the beginning.
375 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 25, 2026
About the author
Julia Wolf
51 books3,750 followersJulia lives in Maryland with her patient husband and three crazy, beautiful kids!
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May 30, 2026
**********
I feel like I should edit this to mention something, the initial comments and my thoughts at the bottom were before reading this book. The plot had myself and some other readers concerned about the direction the book would take. Arc readers offered assurance that it wasn't going there so I took a chance on this book. I generally don't bother deleting my initial thoughts but I don't want to confuse anyone that's why I separated it. I read it so my review is based on my own thoughts and opinions of the book.
Spoilers ahead , when I say spoilers I mean the whole damn book is probably laid out so skip this review
ACTUAL REVIEW
1)Ben and Mazzy met on a plane ride from New Zealand, she'd just found out her bf was cheating and was having a meltdown at the airport. He paid for her ticket home , they sat next to each other, the plane had to make an overnight stop. They got drunk, hooked up.... apparently missed a condom and parted ways the next day.
* She knew his name was Ben and he played rugby professionally.
2)Months later a missed period sent her searching for Ben at the rugby stadium. She sees "Ben". He's different tho, and claims not to know her. She proceeded to let this man know she's pregnant and having his child but of course she doesn't want anything from him.....ALL WITHOUT SAYING HIS NAME 😂😂😂. Not Ben I'm pregnant, not don't you remember me Ben? Nothing!!!! Lmfao. "Ben" of course being a "celebrity" proceeds to inform the crazy lady claiming to be pregnant for him,to stay away from him and he'd sue the pants of her if she contacted him again. I cracked up so damn hard at this scene because....trying so hard aren't we. It would've been better if he'd never told her his sport and they'd accidentally run into each other, this scene was a shit show. All she had to do was say his name and she'd know it was actually his identical twin. But then how would the plot progress 😒.
3)Mazzy went on with her life, she had her amazing daughter.....who required surgery at months old to correct her vision 😔. Now listen, Ben had told her he had money, idk bout y'all but I'm about so fucking sick of my h's struggling while these heroes go along living their best life. He didn't know because of the stupidest reason to ever exist.....well girl your child needs his fucking money!!!!!!!!!! Grow a pair and find him again!!!!!!!!! Let him know his daughter's bills are piling up and fuck you if you didn't use a condom then you should pay cock tax!! Wtf is this? Why are we martyrs? Why are we always the one having to suffer? What's this mother Theresa syndrome? Whyyyyyyyyy?????? Your child needs MONEY!!!!! Ughhhhhhhh these bitches are always weak in the knees man it irks me down to my soul. Anyway moving on.
4) Then Mazzy's dad gets sick, now mind you they've got bills from her daughter, so with this. Plus poor Mazzy is working and going to school.... it's just too much. Her dad says they need help, they don't try to contact the sperm donor again.they contact Aunt Barb who thankfully takes them in and helps Mazzy......and then her DAD dies!! Because you don't hate this poor girl enough, nah her only support system , her baby's loving Dido dies. Ma'am.....miss author ma'am? All this served to bring them back to the H's city and Mazzys cousin contacts him and gives him a piece of her mind.(All this while Ben is living his best awesome life as a professional rugby player with best friends and his brothers and being a great uncle to his nephew or whatever the fuck)
5)Benny boy comes in, he's wrecked...omg I missed four years of my daughter's life. He's all in. He's aiming for daddy of the year and hey, throw in boyfriend of the year too. He's 10 years older than her.Hes rich, he's got a big family, he's sexy I mean he's a dream come true.....🙄 everything is running smoothly until his estranged mom reappears and this dickhead can't deal with his feelings about that situation.
6)Benny boy decides he wants to go and play for a New Zealand rugby team, for a year or two at the most. He's almost to the end of his career and this is the best team in the world. He doesn't discuss it with Mazzy, he's excited, he expects her to be excited to LEAVE her job, Pause her education and Take her child away from her newfound family and friends and school and go to New Zealand with him.....just uproot herself and her child and go with him for him to chase this amazing opportunity. Aside from Mazzy did he think of his fucking child???? I thought she was his number one priority 🤔hmmmm. Anyway when Benny boy doesn't get the reaction he wants he has a knee jerk reaction to threaten to take the child away. Of course he's immediately sorry etc etc. the fact that he even entertained the thought? Much less that the words came out his mouth? Whew.
7) Anyway Mazzys boss counselled her and offered her a leave and she went to him hat in hand and willing to go with her man to New Zealand like a good little bird, but see Benny boy had finally grown a pair and he realised that all he needed was his girls.....awwwwww(hopefully he doesn't change his mind next year)
There was also a time in there with no condom where he thought he wouldn't mind if she got pregnant again.....what about her? She's in school, she's twenty four years old and spent four years raising a child and part of that time nursing her sick dad.....what about her Benny boy what about if SHE isn't ready to pop out another child huh??
This puts a cap in my golden retriever mmcs...... absolutely not for me..... selfish dickhead
*********
Ben seemed to get around quite a bit
5 years before they had a ONS
In the years in between the poor h didn't have anyone 🙄
Ben didn't explicitly say he'd been fucking but when they didn't use a condom he said he'd been tested, he would only need to be tested if he's sexually active so one can imply he'd of course been fucking during the 5 years.
**If he hadn't had sex he'd have said something like there's been no one since you but who's surprised that the fmc has had to carry the weight of the world and hasn't had time for dating while the mmc gets to fuck around as he please?
Just another reason I hated good ol' Benny boy the fucking golden retriever
If I have to get a fucking dog it won't even be a golden retriever that's how much I hate you Benny boy 👋🏽🤬
*************************
Thought's while reading
Do I even want to write my review 😂this might be the longest review I've ever written 😂
The reason why the h didn't find him 😂😂😂😒😒😒😒😒omfgggggggggggg I'm going to set my kindle down *gently* and be back because that scene has got to be the STUPIDEST thing I've ever had the misfortune to witness!!!!! She simply could've said Ben, it's me Mazzy? Or you asshole Ben! Or Ben what the hell do you mean? Anything involving his name would've cleared that entire scene up.......but then this book wouldn't exist would it. I'll be back to finish this review........
I think golden retriever mmcs aren't for me 🤔 I never end up liking them 😫 so many ppl raved about Ben when all I'm seeing is a giant man child and what he did in the end there? I'd have let him go to New Zealand and moved on with my life the utter fucking AUDACITY!!!!! But it's a MAN, for them audacity is free so they have that shit to spare.......
From my pre read thoughts I should've left this book alone 😂😂😂😂😂😂
**********************
Original thoughts before reading
ETA..... AGAIN.....😂 Thanks to Michelle Irene and Amber we now know it was due to a misunderstanding and not the usual contemporary romance set up for this trope where the authors glorify dead beat dads.
Time will tell the book is due to be released soon and I for one will be reading it immediately 😂
This is one of the times I'd like to roll back my own personal stance on ARCs 😂😂😂😂🤭
********
ETA....... Thanks to Michelle for her comment below I'm once again optimistic about this book 🤭
Original thoughts
Note to self
Now Julia😒 I fucks with you but girllllllllll 😑 had me excited for this until I actually read the blurb!!! Wtf is this???? If this man left her to raise his child while he whored around?? And if she took him back easily after he left her and their CHILD like it was nothing????? Imma lose my fucking mindddddddddddd!!!!
Imma need some review before I try this one.......is this turning into another Cate C Wells situation where I found an author I love but I can no longer trust 😱😭😭😭😭😭😭
I feel like I should edit this to mention something, the initial comments and my thoughts at the bottom were before reading this book. The plot had myself and some other readers concerned about the direction the book would take. Arc readers offered assurance that it wasn't going there so I took a chance on this book. I generally don't bother deleting my initial thoughts but I don't want to confuse anyone that's why I separated it. I read it so my review is based on my own thoughts and opinions of the book.
Spoilers ahead , when I say spoilers I mean the whole damn book is probably laid out so skip this review
ACTUAL REVIEW
1)Ben and Mazzy met on a plane ride from New Zealand, she'd just found out her bf was cheating and was having a meltdown at the airport. He paid for her ticket home , they sat next to each other, the plane had to make an overnight stop. They got drunk, hooked up.... apparently missed a condom and parted ways the next day.
* She knew his name was Ben and he played rugby professionally.
2)Months later a missed period sent her searching for Ben at the rugby stadium. She sees "Ben". He's different tho, and claims not to know her. She proceeded to let this man know she's pregnant and having his child but of course she doesn't want anything from him.....ALL WITHOUT SAYING HIS NAME 😂😂😂. Not Ben I'm pregnant, not don't you remember me Ben? Nothing!!!! Lmfao. "Ben" of course being a "celebrity" proceeds to inform the crazy lady claiming to be pregnant for him,to stay away from him and he'd sue the pants of her if she contacted him again. I cracked up so damn hard at this scene because....trying so hard aren't we. It would've been better if he'd never told her his sport and they'd accidentally run into each other, this scene was a shit show. All she had to do was say his name and she'd know it was actually his identical twin. But then how would the plot progress 😒.
3)Mazzy went on with her life, she had her amazing daughter.....who required surgery at months old to correct her vision 😔. Now listen, Ben had told her he had money, idk bout y'all but I'm about so fucking sick of my h's struggling while these heroes go along living their best life. He didn't know because of the stupidest reason to ever exist.....well girl your child needs his fucking money!!!!!!!!!! Grow a pair and find him again!!!!!!!!! Let him know his daughter's bills are piling up and fuck you if you didn't use a condom then you should pay cock tax!! Wtf is this? Why are we martyrs? Why are we always the one having to suffer? What's this mother Theresa syndrome? Whyyyyyyyyy?????? Your child needs MONEY!!!!! Ughhhhhhhh these bitches are always weak in the knees man it irks me down to my soul. Anyway moving on.
4) Then Mazzy's dad gets sick, now mind you they've got bills from her daughter, so with this. Plus poor Mazzy is working and going to school.... it's just too much. Her dad says they need help, they don't try to contact the sperm donor again.they contact Aunt Barb who thankfully takes them in and helps Mazzy......and then her DAD dies!! Because you don't hate this poor girl enough, nah her only support system , her baby's loving Dido dies. Ma'am.....miss author ma'am? All this served to bring them back to the H's city and Mazzys cousin contacts him and gives him a piece of her mind.(All this while Ben is living his best awesome life as a professional rugby player with best friends and his brothers and being a great uncle to his nephew or whatever the fuck)
5)Benny boy comes in, he's wrecked...omg I missed four years of my daughter's life. He's all in. He's aiming for daddy of the year and hey, throw in boyfriend of the year too. He's 10 years older than her.Hes rich, he's got a big family, he's sexy I mean he's a dream come true.....🙄 everything is running smoothly until his estranged mom reappears and this dickhead can't deal with his feelings about that situation.
6)Benny boy decides he wants to go and play for a New Zealand rugby team, for a year or two at the most. He's almost to the end of his career and this is the best team in the world. He doesn't discuss it with Mazzy, he's excited, he expects her to be excited to LEAVE her job, Pause her education and Take her child away from her newfound family and friends and school and go to New Zealand with him.....just uproot herself and her child and go with him for him to chase this amazing opportunity. Aside from Mazzy did he think of his fucking child???? I thought she was his number one priority 🤔hmmmm. Anyway when Benny boy doesn't get the reaction he wants he has a knee jerk reaction to threaten to take the child away. Of course he's immediately sorry etc etc. the fact that he even entertained the thought? Much less that the words came out his mouth? Whew.
7) Anyway Mazzys boss counselled her and offered her a leave and she went to him hat in hand and willing to go with her man to New Zealand like a good little bird, but see Benny boy had finally grown a pair and he realised that all he needed was his girls.....awwwwww(hopefully he doesn't change his mind next year)
There was also a time in there with no condom where he thought he wouldn't mind if she got pregnant again.....what about her? She's in school, she's twenty four years old and spent four years raising a child and part of that time nursing her sick dad.....what about her Benny boy what about if SHE isn't ready to pop out another child huh??
This puts a cap in my golden retriever mmcs...... absolutely not for me..... selfish dickhead
*********
Ben seemed to get around quite a bit
5 years before they had a ONS
In the years in between the poor h didn't have anyone 🙄
Ben didn't explicitly say he'd been fucking but when they didn't use a condom he said he'd been tested, he would only need to be tested if he's sexually active so one can imply he'd of course been fucking during the 5 years.
**If he hadn't had sex he'd have said something like there's been no one since you but who's surprised that the fmc has had to carry the weight of the world and hasn't had time for dating while the mmc gets to fuck around as he please?
Just another reason I hated good ol' Benny boy the fucking golden retriever
If I have to get a fucking dog it won't even be a golden retriever that's how much I hate you Benny boy 👋🏽🤬
*************************
Thought's while reading
Do I even want to write my review 😂this might be the longest review I've ever written 😂
The reason why the h didn't find him 😂😂😂😒😒😒😒😒omfgggggggggggg I'm going to set my kindle down *gently* and be back because that scene has got to be the STUPIDEST thing I've ever had the misfortune to witness!!!!! She simply could've said Ben, it's me Mazzy? Or you asshole Ben! Or Ben what the hell do you mean? Anything involving his name would've cleared that entire scene up.......but then this book wouldn't exist would it. I'll be back to finish this review........
I think golden retriever mmcs aren't for me 🤔 I never end up liking them 😫 so many ppl raved about Ben when all I'm seeing is a giant man child and what he did in the end there? I'd have let him go to New Zealand and moved on with my life the utter fucking AUDACITY!!!!! But it's a MAN, for them audacity is free so they have that shit to spare.......
From my pre read thoughts I should've left this book alone 😂😂😂😂😂😂
**********************
Original thoughts before reading
ETA..... AGAIN.....😂 Thanks to Michelle Irene and Amber we now know it was due to a misunderstanding and not the usual contemporary romance set up for this trope where the authors glorify dead beat dads.
Time will tell the book is due to be released soon and I for one will be reading it immediately 😂
This is one of the times I'd like to roll back my own personal stance on ARCs 😂😂😂😂🤭
********
ETA....... Thanks to Michelle for her comment below I'm once again optimistic about this book 🤭
Original thoughts
Note to self
Now Julia😒 I fucks with you but girllllllllll 😑 had me excited for this until I actually read the blurb!!! Wtf is this???? If this man left her to raise his child while he whored around?? And if she took him back easily after he left her and their CHILD like it was nothing????? Imma lose my fucking mindddddddddddd!!!!
Imma need some review before I try this one.......is this turning into another Cate C Wells situation where I found an author I love but I can no longer trust 😱😭😭😭😭😭😭
June 26, 2026
3 ⭐️
This had all the makings of a book I'd happily bully everyone into reading.
The airport meet-cute? I was obsessed. The emotional twist? Hooked me immediately. Soft Dad Benny? Elite.
Then somewhere around the halfway mark, I realised I was loving the characters a lot more than I was loving the story itself.
What worked for me
(aka: the reasons I cared)
Ben Wells was sunshine wrapped in six-foot-whatever of rugby-playing golden retriever energy with the emotional intelligence of a man who actually listens. His airport kindness completely won me over and watching him discover fatherhood was easily the strongest part of the story. The man barely found out he had a daughter before he was rearranging his entire life around her and I ate that up.
Katty was another huge win. Child characters can be hit or miss for me but she genuinely felt like a four-year-old. She was funny, sweet, unintentionally chaotic and every scene with her and Ben melted my cold little heart.
I also really enjoyed the found family vibes. Ben's brothers immediately embracing Katty, the sibling banter and the growing sense that this little girl wasn't just gaining a dad but an entire family gave the book so much warmth.
And the chemistry? Still there. Ben and Mazzy had effortless banter from the moment they met and I loved that the romance eventually grew from attraction into friendship, co-parenting and something much deeper.
Where it lost me
(aka: where the cracks started to show)
The misunderstanding needed more...misunderstanding
The mistaken identity twist was heartbreaking in the moment. The problem is that it had to sustain four and a half years of separation.
I could absolutely believe Mazzy walking away after that devastating first encounter. What became harder and harder to believe was that she never truly tried again.
I understand not wanting Ben's money. I understand wanting to protect your pride. But child support isn't about being a gold digger - it's about advocating for your child. For someone as practical, resilient and fiercely devoted to Katty as Mazzy was portrayed throughout the rest of the book, her complete lack of follow-up eventually felt more like a plot convenience than a decision that fit her character.
The second half forgot it needed a plot
Once the misunderstanding was resolved, the story became....everyone being adorable together. And don't get me wrong - I liked spending time with this family.
But after a while, it started feeling like scene after scene was accomplishing the same emotional beat. Ben was an amazing dad. Katty was adorable. Mazzy smiled. I smiled. Repeat.
I kept waiting for another layer of conflict or momentum that never really came. Even when potential drama appeared, it was resolved almost as quickly as it was introduced.
By the end, the romance was doing almost all of the heavy lifting. Which isn't a bad thing but it needed more than good vibes to get it over the finish line.
I wanted more than good vibes
The characters deserved a stronger story.
I never stopped caring about Ben, Mazzy and Katty. I just wanted their journey to keep evolving. Instead, the emotional highs of the first half gave way to a much slower, sweeter second half that never quite recaptured the same momentum.
Final thoughts
Ben completely lived up to the redemption arc I wanted and Katty was the cutest little scene thief.
But the central misunderstanding became harder to buy the longer I thought about it and once that was resolved, the pacing slowed considerably. I needed a little more substance alongside all the sweetness.
Final verdict
3 ⭐️ - Sir...your redemption arc was never the problem. The plot just couldn't quite keep up.
If nothing else, this book convinced me I need more rugby romances in my reading life.
Tropes and Vibes:
• Rugby romance
• Surprise pregnancy
• Second chance romance
• Soft Dad MMC
• Sunshine hero
• Father-daughter bonding
• Found family
• Healing & forgiveness
• Great chemistry & banter
• Domestic family vibes
• Mistaken identity
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Pre-read:
I live in a country where rugby is basically a national personality trait and I've just realised...I don't read nearly enough rugby romances. Time to correct that oversight 🏉
A rugby player. A surprise baby. Five years of missed birthdays. Sir...your redemption arc better be generational 🤞🏻✨️
This had all the makings of a book I'd happily bully everyone into reading.
The airport meet-cute? I was obsessed. The emotional twist? Hooked me immediately. Soft Dad Benny? Elite.
Then somewhere around the halfway mark, I realised I was loving the characters a lot more than I was loving the story itself.
What worked for me
(aka: the reasons I cared)
Ben Wells was sunshine wrapped in six-foot-whatever of rugby-playing golden retriever energy with the emotional intelligence of a man who actually listens. His airport kindness completely won me over and watching him discover fatherhood was easily the strongest part of the story. The man barely found out he had a daughter before he was rearranging his entire life around her and I ate that up.
Katty was another huge win. Child characters can be hit or miss for me but she genuinely felt like a four-year-old. She was funny, sweet, unintentionally chaotic and every scene with her and Ben melted my cold little heart.
I also really enjoyed the found family vibes. Ben's brothers immediately embracing Katty, the sibling banter and the growing sense that this little girl wasn't just gaining a dad but an entire family gave the book so much warmth.
And the chemistry? Still there. Ben and Mazzy had effortless banter from the moment they met and I loved that the romance eventually grew from attraction into friendship, co-parenting and something much deeper.
Where it lost me
(aka: where the cracks started to show)
The misunderstanding needed more...misunderstanding
The mistaken identity twist was heartbreaking in the moment. The problem is that it had to sustain four and a half years of separation.
I could absolutely believe Mazzy walking away after that devastating first encounter. What became harder and harder to believe was that she never truly tried again.
I understand not wanting Ben's money. I understand wanting to protect your pride. But child support isn't about being a gold digger - it's about advocating for your child. For someone as practical, resilient and fiercely devoted to Katty as Mazzy was portrayed throughout the rest of the book, her complete lack of follow-up eventually felt more like a plot convenience than a decision that fit her character.
The second half forgot it needed a plot
Once the misunderstanding was resolved, the story became....everyone being adorable together. And don't get me wrong - I liked spending time with this family.
But after a while, it started feeling like scene after scene was accomplishing the same emotional beat. Ben was an amazing dad. Katty was adorable. Mazzy smiled. I smiled. Repeat.
I kept waiting for another layer of conflict or momentum that never really came. Even when potential drama appeared, it was resolved almost as quickly as it was introduced.
By the end, the romance was doing almost all of the heavy lifting. Which isn't a bad thing but it needed more than good vibes to get it over the finish line.
I wanted more than good vibes
The characters deserved a stronger story.
I never stopped caring about Ben, Mazzy and Katty. I just wanted their journey to keep evolving. Instead, the emotional highs of the first half gave way to a much slower, sweeter second half that never quite recaptured the same momentum.
Final thoughts
Ben completely lived up to the redemption arc I wanted and Katty was the cutest little scene thief.
But the central misunderstanding became harder to buy the longer I thought about it and once that was resolved, the pacing slowed considerably. I needed a little more substance alongside all the sweetness.
Final verdict
3 ⭐️ - Sir...your redemption arc was never the problem. The plot just couldn't quite keep up.
If nothing else, this book convinced me I need more rugby romances in my reading life.
Tropes and Vibes:
• Rugby romance
• Surprise pregnancy
• Second chance romance
• Soft Dad MMC
• Sunshine hero
• Father-daughter bonding
• Found family
• Healing & forgiveness
• Great chemistry & banter
• Domestic family vibes
• Mistaken identity
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Pre-read:
I live in a country where rugby is basically a national personality trait and I've just realised...I don't read nearly enough rugby romances. Time to correct that oversight 🏉
A rugby player. A surprise baby. Five years of missed birthdays. Sir...your redemption arc better be generational 🤞🏻✨️
June 27, 2026
Reread in Sept 2026
.
.
.
.
Well, I knew Ben Wells was gonna rip out my heart and stitch it back together again. I've loved him since he first came on the scene in By The Letter. He was jovial, kind, and supportive back then, and we all couldn't wait to see what his story would be.
So when I heard his own romance with Mazzy was gonna be a Secret Baby trope… I knew it was time to buckle up and settle in. And even though it played out pretty much how I expected, it still brought me so much joy. Ben and his family have grown a lot since By The Letter and that was so rewarding to see. It makes me so excited for the rest of this series.
Every moment of heartbreak and disappointment in the first 20% of this book. Every tear Mazzy cries and every missed milestone. You just know how Ben will want to make it up to her. And boy, does he ever.
Just so beautiful to read. I can't wait for more.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
CW: Death of a parent
*Thank you to the author for an ARC of this title.*
.
.
.
.
Well, I knew Ben Wells was gonna rip out my heart and stitch it back together again. I've loved him since he first came on the scene in By The Letter. He was jovial, kind, and supportive back then, and we all couldn't wait to see what his story would be.
So when I heard his own romance with Mazzy was gonna be a Secret Baby trope… I knew it was time to buckle up and settle in. And even though it played out pretty much how I expected, it still brought me so much joy. Ben and his family have grown a lot since By The Letter and that was so rewarding to see. It makes me so excited for the rest of this series.
Every moment of heartbreak and disappointment in the first 20% of this book. Every tear Mazzy cries and every missed milestone. You just know how Ben will want to make it up to her. And boy, does he ever.
Just so beautiful to read. I can't wait for more.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
CW: Death of a parent
*Thank you to the author for an ARC of this title.*
Read
June 26, 2026This reads more like a novella. It's too freaking cheesy and insta-lovey. Safe in a way that there's no OW and no real OM. But as usual with second-chance romances, the FMC was celibate all throughout the years, and while it's not explicitly stated, I'm going to assume that the MMC wasn't. I think his line of "I'm tested, all clear" when they got into the moment and forgot a condom again kind of proved my assumption.
Anyway, it was okay. I liked kids in my romance books, and that's the only reason that made me finish this. I liked Mazzy for having a career and for being a wonderful mom. Ben was portrayed as a golden retriever who's infatuated with both of his girls. So if you could get past that he wasn't celibate in all those five years, maybe you'd enjoy the story, idk.
Anyway, it was okay. I liked kids in my romance books, and that's the only reason that made me finish this. I liked Mazzy for having a career and for being a wonderful mom. Ben was portrayed as a golden retriever who's infatuated with both of his girls. So if you could get past that he wasn't celibate in all those five years, maybe you'd enjoy the story, idk.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.25 stars
Try Again, Baby is another fantastic read from Julia Wolf, with, quite possibly, one of her best heroes to date! Ben Wells is one heckuva guy!
Ben and Mazzy meet in such a fun way. I loved the first impression Ben gave her at the airport (he’s the best!) and the connection they shared. Then… my least favorite troupe enters the chat. Thankfully, this book did it well. It wasn’t malicious on anyone’s part, and the misunderstanding totally made sense to me.
Ben, Mazzy, and Katty were fantastic characters. Anytime any of them were on the page, I had such a big smile on my face. At the end of the book, there were some stressful parts, but it came together nicely. I also loved seeing all my favorites from this ‘universe’. I adore Julia’s writing, and this book was a win for me!
Try Again, Baby is another fantastic read from Julia Wolf, with, quite possibly, one of her best heroes to date! Ben Wells is one heckuva guy!
Ben and Mazzy meet in such a fun way. I loved the first impression Ben gave her at the airport (he’s the best!) and the connection they shared. Then… my least favorite troupe enters the chat. Thankfully, this book did it well. It wasn’t malicious on anyone’s part, and the misunderstanding totally made sense to me.
Ben, Mazzy, and Katty were fantastic characters. Anytime any of them were on the page, I had such a big smile on my face. At the end of the book, there were some stressful parts, but it came together nicely. I also loved seeing all my favorites from this ‘universe’. I adore Julia’s writing, and this book was a win for me!
July 3, 2026
I knew this book was going to get me the second I found out it was Ben’s turn, and it mostly did. Seeing him on the other side, not just the easygoing brother we already knew but as Katty’s dad, was what got me the most. That little girl stole every scene she was in.
Mazzy won me over too, she’s not the typical heroine who lets herself get walked over, she’s got backbone. But I’ll be honest, past a certain point the story started to drag and lost some of the spark it had at the beginning, which is why it’s not higher for me.
Still, the family dynamics and the Wells siblings’ arc keep being the best part of the series.
Already looking forward to the next one
Mazzy won me over too, she’s not the typical heroine who lets herself get walked over, she’s got backbone. But I’ll be honest, past a certain point the story started to drag and lost some of the spark it had at the beginning, which is why it’s not higher for me.
Still, the family dynamics and the Wells siblings’ arc keep being the best part of the series.
Already looking forward to the next one
July 5, 2026
Mazzie and Ben met on the plane and were a instant connection. And they had a ons and left it as that. But Mazzie found out she was pregnant and went to tell "Ben" and welp it didnt go as planned since he didn't remember her. 😒😒😒
Fast forward few years Mazzie been through alot losing her father, law school and taking care of her child. When she meets Ben again thanks to her cousin. Both are confused when she said they have a kid. But we found out Mazzie never talked to Ben it was his Twin brother Roman. So hes sorta forgiven since he really didnt know he had a child and missed out.
So we see them banter and slowly becoming a family. Lots of cute moments 😭 I did cry on some parts but we'll blame my period for that lol. The moments between Ben and Katy were just to cute!! And the big family moments are adorable.
There is drama that has Ben doing some stupid things like trying to make choices for Mazzie and his daughter and said something that made Mazzie alittle hurt and pull away.
It gets worked out the last 9% of the book.
No ow/om drama, no cheating, slight secondary character, tiny drama, sexy times, no virgins
Recommend-maybe
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶
Slowburnish
Age gap
Seperation few years
Praise kink
Found family
Ons
Mentions of parent death
Mentions of parent neglect
Secret/surprise pregnancy
No condom
Hea
Epilogue
Fast forward few years Mazzie been through alot losing her father, law school and taking care of her child. When she meets Ben again thanks to her cousin. Both are confused when she said they have a kid. But we found out Mazzie never talked to Ben it was his Twin brother Roman. So hes sorta forgiven since he really didnt know he had a child and missed out.
So we see them banter and slowly becoming a family. Lots of cute moments 😭 I did cry on some parts but we'll blame my period for that lol. The moments between Ben and Katy were just to cute!! And the big family moments are adorable.
There is drama that has Ben doing some stupid things like trying to make choices for Mazzie and his daughter and said something that made Mazzie alittle hurt and pull away.
It gets worked out the last 9% of the book.
No ow/om drama, no cheating, slight secondary character, tiny drama, sexy times, no virgins
Recommend-maybe
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶
Slowburnish
Age gap
Seperation few years
Praise kink
Found family
Ons
Mentions of parent death
Mentions of parent neglect
Secret/surprise pregnancy
No condom
Hea
Epilogue
June 28, 2026
Honestly what’s not to love about a secret baby sports romance with an MMC who eats box like it’s his job?!
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- one night stand
- surprise pregnancy/secret baby
- pro rugby player + law student
- second chance
- age gap (10 years)
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- one night stand
- surprise pregnancy/secret baby
- pro rugby player + law student
- second chance
- age gap (10 years)
May 22, 2026
This book… I know we’ve been waiting a hot minute for Benny’s book and let me tell you he is 1000% worth the wait.
The most golden retriever MMC that Julia has ever given us… and that’s saying a lot because she also gave us Miles in Not So Truly Yours (who I ADORE!) Ben is the definition of DOWN BAD. 😉
From the moment our two main characters meet you can just instantly tell that they were truly meant for one another. I really loved seeing their relationship evolve throughout the book. And the relationship he builds with their daughter is so freaking sweet and beautiful.
Mazzy (our FMC) & sweet little Katty were absolutely wonderful additions to this little universe she’s building.
I will be on the edge of my seat waiting for what’s next. 😏
Thank you as always to the author for allowing me to experience this book early! 🩷
The most golden retriever MMC that Julia has ever given us… and that’s saying a lot because she also gave us Miles in Not So Truly Yours (who I ADORE!) Ben is the definition of DOWN BAD. 😉
From the moment our two main characters meet you can just instantly tell that they were truly meant for one another. I really loved seeing their relationship evolve throughout the book. And the relationship he builds with their daughter is so freaking sweet and beautiful.
Mazzy (our FMC) & sweet little Katty were absolutely wonderful additions to this little universe she’s building.
I will be on the edge of my seat waiting for what’s next. 😏
Thank you as always to the author for allowing me to experience this book early! 🩷
June 28, 2026
This could have been 10 pages long and accomplish just as much.
July 31, 2026
⋆˚꩜｡ Secret baby trope, oh how I missed you ⋆˚꩜｡
Julia Wolf continues her Wells Brothers series with Try Again, Baby! I've been meaning to start this since it came out and I could finally read it yay <3 I'm lowkey in love with her books and always have a good time reading them. Somehow I've only read her pregnancy/baby books tho lmao but they are actually some of my favorite out there.
I loved Ben and Mazzy so much. They were ADORABLEEE 🥇 Ben is that Golden Retriever hero we all love to read about, he's huge and plays rugby. He is half in love with Mazzy from the moment he first sees her, so when he finds out they have a kid together years later? Oh, he's in for the long ride. I loved the little angsty moment we had when Mazzy went to tell Ben they were having a baby together and "he" told her to get lost. What she didn't know is that that was actually his twin brother Roman and Mazzy confused them lol. It was so sad and I fell so bad for her but it created that painful, angsty feeling I loved to read in romance books! YESSSS that meant that when they reunited in the future, she won't want to talk to him right away lmao.
Overall, the book was such a good book. I had so much fun and I read it very quickly. Maybe I felt like the ending was too harsh on my girl Mazzy and I thought Ben needed to get down on his knees, beg and apologize *sobs* I know he said that and didn't mean it because humans are flawed and when we argue we can say stuff we don't mean, but omg I FELT THAT IN MY HEART. I don't want to spoil so I won't say anything but ૮(˶ㅠ︿ㅠ)ა <- that was me
I love a good ol' feel good romance novel, so this is very low on the angst if you want to know that before reading! There's little plot going on, you see them hanging out and being happy together for a lot of time, which is fine by me. I love when you get the slice-of-life moments between the characters. I maybe needed a little more umff something-plot-angst-problem to rate it 5 stars tho.
Julia Wolf continues her Wells Brothers series with Try Again, Baby! I've been meaning to start this since it came out and I could finally read it yay <3 I'm lowkey in love with her books and always have a good time reading them. Somehow I've only read her pregnancy/baby books tho lmao but they are actually some of my favorite out there.
I loved Ben and Mazzy so much. They were ADORABLEEE 🥇 Ben is that Golden Retriever hero we all love to read about, he's huge and plays rugby. He is half in love with Mazzy from the moment he first sees her, so when he finds out they have a kid together years later? Oh, he's in for the long ride. I loved the little angsty moment we had when Mazzy went to tell Ben they were having a baby together and "he" told her to get lost. What she didn't know is that that was actually his twin brother Roman and Mazzy confused them lol. It was so sad and I fell so bad for her but it created that painful, angsty feeling I loved to read in romance books! YESSSS that meant that when they reunited in the future, she won't want to talk to him right away lmao.
Overall, the book was such a good book. I had so much fun and I read it very quickly. Maybe I felt like the ending was too harsh on my girl Mazzy and I thought Ben needed to get down on his knees, beg and apologize *sobs* I know he said that and didn't mean it because humans are flawed and when we argue we can say stuff we don't mean, but omg I FELT THAT IN MY HEART. I don't want to spoil so I won't say anything but ૮(˶ㅠ︿ㅠ)ა <- that was me
I love a good ol' feel good romance novel, so this is very low on the angst if you want to know that before reading! There's little plot going on, you see them hanging out and being happy together for a lot of time, which is fine by me. I love when you get the slice-of-life moments between the characters. I maybe needed a little more umff something-plot-angst-problem to rate it 5 stars tho.
October 28, 2026
Ben Wells no podías ser mas divertido y perfecto, no? 🧚🏻♀️
Mazzy y Ben se conocen en un aeropuerto después de que ella descubriera que su novio llevaba meses engañandola y cuando se encuentra llorando porque no consigue boletos para volver a casa nuestro chico de buen corazón decide comprarle un boleto en primera clase y termina viajando juntos y también quedan varados juntos después de un incidente en el avión lo que los deja pasando una noche hermosa donde ella olvida su tristeza ya que el es el hombre mas divertido del mundo y digamos que una cosa lleva a la otra y pum meses después Mazzy descubre que esta embarazada y decide buscarlo solo que hay un pequeño problema, Ben tiene un gemelo idéntico; Roman y el muy imbécil (con amor porque lo amo) cuando ella aparece frente a el no es el hombre mas amable del mundo y la trata súper feo y la amenaza diciendo que está mintiendo ya que no la conoce (y es verdad no la conoce) y por esa razón pasa años criando a su bebé sola y Ben sin saber de la existencia de su hija.
La historia me encanto, Ben fue un hombre responsable desde el primer momento y la verdad es que el dolor que el sintió al descubrir la existencia de su hija me partió el corazón porque basto ese solo instante para saber que el hubiera asumido su rol de padre sin dudas y que hubiera sido un gran compañero para Mazzy 😭, no juzgo su actitud con Roman porque no era fácil aceptar que perdió tantos años lejos de su hija y la mujer que robó su corazón y mucha menos las dificultades que tuvieron estando solas sin alguien que les brindará seguridad.
El romance y dinámica familiar fueron muy lindos y ame cada escena que había, además me gusto que no fueran derecho a lo sentimental y pusieran como prioridad el ser coopadres para que Ben se adapte a su nueva vida familiar, ambos tuvieran que superar problemas personales para estra juntos, Mazzy tuvo que lidiar con el miedo al abandono porque fue adoptada y nunca conoció a su "familia" y Ben con el echo de que no tenía que fingir ser perfecto para recibir el amor de las personas y que a veces esta bien pedir ayuda y mostrar lo que nos duele para poder tener confianza y dar y recibir amor mutuamente ♥️
Mazzy y Ben se conocen en un aeropuerto después de que ella descubriera que su novio llevaba meses engañandola y cuando se encuentra llorando porque no consigue boletos para volver a casa nuestro chico de buen corazón decide comprarle un boleto en primera clase y termina viajando juntos y también quedan varados juntos después de un incidente en el avión lo que los deja pasando una noche hermosa donde ella olvida su tristeza ya que el es el hombre mas divertido del mundo y digamos que una cosa lleva a la otra y pum meses después Mazzy descubre que esta embarazada y decide buscarlo solo que hay un pequeño problema, Ben tiene un gemelo idéntico; Roman y el muy imbécil (con amor porque lo amo) cuando ella aparece frente a el no es el hombre mas amable del mundo y la trata súper feo y la amenaza diciendo que está mintiendo ya que no la conoce (y es verdad no la conoce) y por esa razón pasa años criando a su bebé sola y Ben sin saber de la existencia de su hija.
La historia me encanto, Ben fue un hombre responsable desde el primer momento y la verdad es que el dolor que el sintió al descubrir la existencia de su hija me partió el corazón porque basto ese solo instante para saber que el hubiera asumido su rol de padre sin dudas y que hubiera sido un gran compañero para Mazzy 😭, no juzgo su actitud con Roman porque no era fácil aceptar que perdió tantos años lejos de su hija y la mujer que robó su corazón y mucha menos las dificultades que tuvieron estando solas sin alguien que les brindará seguridad.
El romance y dinámica familiar fueron muy lindos y ame cada escena que había, además me gusto que no fueran derecho a lo sentimental y pusieran como prioridad el ser coopadres para que Ben se adapte a su nueva vida familiar, ambos tuvieran que superar problemas personales para estra juntos, Mazzy tuvo que lidiar con el miedo al abandono porque fue adoptada y nunca conoció a su "familia" y Ben con el echo de que no tenía que fingir ser perfecto para recibir el amor de las personas y que a veces esta bien pedir ayuda y mostrar lo que nos duele para poder tener confianza y dar y recibir amor mutuamente ♥️
July 13, 2026
Я прочитаю все, що напише авторка 😻
Це було мило, інколи занадто, але я не змогла поставити меншу оцінку. Неймовірні персонажі, легкий сюжет та міцна родина, це все мене підкорило. Також головна героїня з України, я дуже здивувалась, а дочці вона дала українське ім’я, це дуже круто.
Це було мило, інколи занадто, але я не змогла поставити меншу оцінку. Неймовірні персонажі, легкий сюжет та міцна родина, це все мене підкорило. Також головна героїня з України, я дуже здивувалась, а дочці вона дала українське ім’я, це дуже круто.
August 9, 2026
3⭐️
This was a sweet book with fantastic main characters However; this would have been better written as a novella. The misunderstanding about the pregnancy was resolved too fast and there was not enough angst to justify the page count. 🥱 🤷
This was a sweet book with fantastic main characters However; this would have been better written as a novella. The misunderstanding about the pregnancy was resolved too fast and there was not enough angst to justify the page count. 🥱 🤷
June 25, 2026
5🌟, 3🌶️
I had the biggest smile on my face from the very first chapter.
This was such a heartfelt, comforting read that completely pulled me out of my reading slump, and I never wanted to leave Ben, Mazzy, and Katty behind.
Ben is easily one of the sweetest book boyfriends I’ve ever read. Watching him embrace fatherhood and build a relationship with his daughter had me smiling one minute and tearing up the next. Mazzy was such a strong, lovable heroine, and together they had effortless chemistry, fun banter, and a romance that felt natural and full of heart. Katty completely stole every scene she was in, and the found family made everything even better.
This story made me laugh, cry, and fall in love with every member of this little family. I especially loved how much it emphasized honesty, communication, and choosing love despite past hurts.
It was emotional, uplifting, and left me so excited for the rest of the series.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Julia Wolf and The Author Agency for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
I had the biggest smile on my face from the very first chapter.
This was such a heartfelt, comforting read that completely pulled me out of my reading slump, and I never wanted to leave Ben, Mazzy, and Katty behind.
Ben is easily one of the sweetest book boyfriends I’ve ever read. Watching him embrace fatherhood and build a relationship with his daughter had me smiling one minute and tearing up the next. Mazzy was such a strong, lovable heroine, and together they had effortless chemistry, fun banter, and a romance that felt natural and full of heart. Katty completely stole every scene she was in, and the found family made everything even better.
This story made me laugh, cry, and fall in love with every member of this little family. I especially loved how much it emphasized honesty, communication, and choosing love despite past hurts.
It was emotional, uplifting, and left me so excited for the rest of the series.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Julia Wolf and The Author Agency for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
June 25, 2026
Try Again, Baby is a low angst, big feels romance and the book I'd want by my side on a beach or in a hammock under a nice shady umbrella..... IF I hadn't devoured it in record time already! Put this one on your reading list, it's so much fun and might be one of Julia Wolf's most smile-inducing,
light-hearted books ever, with a few twists along the way to keep things interesting.
And, ohhh, these characters! I ADORED Mazzy Emerson and Ben Wells- they were reigning from top of my Julia Wolf couples list by the end. They were meant to be together, like ice cream and apple pie, but the obstacles they face, together and apart, were what made me love them even more with each chapter I read.
They first crossed paths far from home, forming an instant bond and connecting so easily they decide to take a chance and see where the night might take them. What Mazzy wasn't expecting when she said goodbye, was the surprise she came home with after their passionate encounter. Contacting Ben months later, didn’t turn out as planned and the anguish she felt was hard to come back from. I felt her pain and was dabbing my own tears along with Mazzy.
Despite being challenged again and again, Mazzy's biggest joy is being the best mom she can to her sweet, now four+ year old daughter. Kateryna. This little girl is a bright little cookie monster and a heart-breaker in training, stealing the show wherever she goes...remind you of anyone??
Their story takes an interesting turn when her well-meaning (or match-making?) cousin (who needs her own book, please) takes matters into her own hands, digging in and challenging Ben in a way he never expected in his wildest dreams.
What I loved most about Mazzy and Ben, meeting again- aka, getting to the good stuff- is what happens after the puzzle of misunderstandings pieces itself together. Mazzy knows what it's like not having him there, but when Ben realizes he's been deprived of Katty's magic for so long, he's heartsick and devastated, but makes up for lost time with his own hilarious brand of 'new dad' moments you'll have to read for yourself to fully appreciate.
Ben wears his big heart on his sleeve and there isn't a moment when he keeps in his deepest feelings to himself. Keep a few tissues handy-Julia wrote his Ben-iest moments with so much emotion, you could feel the overwhelming love and adoration he exudes for both his fascinating mini-me and always, always Mazzy-Mazz.
She's trying to slow his roll, but it's impossible to ignore Ben's warm, upbeat teddy bear charm when he lights her up from head to toe by just being near. He makes sure to let her know, with every steamy glance or over the top gesture, that she's exactly what he needs, melting her like butter on a hot summer day. HOT, Hot and hotter!!! These Ben wooing his woman moments are not to be missed.
It may have taken a wee bit longer for this couple to find their way back to each other, but the happiness of all three of these perfectly matched lovebugs will always come first- real, enchanting and always quirky- and they wouldn't have it any other way.
Try Again, Baby was an absolute delight to read, with it's engaging cast of characters to catch up with and new ones to learn more about in the future. May the silly texts and witty, banter-filled Wells brothers love-light continue to shine brightly in upcoming books in this series.
* I was given an early copy of this book and this is my honest and freely given review of Try Again, Baby!
light-hearted books ever, with a few twists along the way to keep things interesting.
And, ohhh, these characters! I ADORED Mazzy Emerson and Ben Wells- they were reigning from top of my Julia Wolf couples list by the end. They were meant to be together, like ice cream and apple pie, but the obstacles they face, together and apart, were what made me love them even more with each chapter I read.
They first crossed paths far from home, forming an instant bond and connecting so easily they decide to take a chance and see where the night might take them. What Mazzy wasn't expecting when she said goodbye, was the surprise she came home with after their passionate encounter. Contacting Ben months later, didn’t turn out as planned and the anguish she felt was hard to come back from. I felt her pain and was dabbing my own tears along with Mazzy.
Despite being challenged again and again, Mazzy's biggest joy is being the best mom she can to her sweet, now four+ year old daughter. Kateryna. This little girl is a bright little cookie monster and a heart-breaker in training, stealing the show wherever she goes...remind you of anyone??
Their story takes an interesting turn when her well-meaning (or match-making?) cousin (who needs her own book, please) takes matters into her own hands, digging in and challenging Ben in a way he never expected in his wildest dreams.
What I loved most about Mazzy and Ben, meeting again- aka, getting to the good stuff- is what happens after the puzzle of misunderstandings pieces itself together. Mazzy knows what it's like not having him there, but when Ben realizes he's been deprived of Katty's magic for so long, he's heartsick and devastated, but makes up for lost time with his own hilarious brand of 'new dad' moments you'll have to read for yourself to fully appreciate.
Ben wears his big heart on his sleeve and there isn't a moment when he keeps in his deepest feelings to himself. Keep a few tissues handy-Julia wrote his Ben-iest moments with so much emotion, you could feel the overwhelming love and adoration he exudes for both his fascinating mini-me and always, always Mazzy-Mazz.
She's trying to slow his roll, but it's impossible to ignore Ben's warm, upbeat teddy bear charm when he lights her up from head to toe by just being near. He makes sure to let her know, with every steamy glance or over the top gesture, that she's exactly what he needs, melting her like butter on a hot summer day. HOT, Hot and hotter!!! These Ben wooing his woman moments are not to be missed.
It may have taken a wee bit longer for this couple to find their way back to each other, but the happiness of all three of these perfectly matched lovebugs will always come first- real, enchanting and always quirky- and they wouldn't have it any other way.
Try Again, Baby was an absolute delight to read, with it's engaging cast of characters to catch up with and new ones to learn more about in the future. May the silly texts and witty, banter-filled Wells brothers love-light continue to shine brightly in upcoming books in this series.
* I was given an early copy of this book and this is my honest and freely given review of Try Again, Baby!
August 6, 2026
2.25 stars ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ Try Again Baby!☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★
🤰₊˚ෆ🩷ෆ˚₊✨ ♡ THOUGHTS ♡ ✨₊˚ෆ🩷ෆ˚₊🤰
It lost me 23 pages in when he was ogling her chest. Bring back yearning!!! Yes, he liked her personality, but does he have to be so descriptive about her body… romance is lost, I fear. Also, why is he sucking her finger 30 pages in? Granted, they were drunk, but HUH 😟. At least give us some buildup!! I don't care if they want to suck fingers, but dang… wait until page 100. It was entirely too predictable that it was his twin brother she spoke to the day she attempted to tell Ben she was pregnant. I also don't think Roman was at fault, nor should Ben have been upset with Roman. At the end of the day, he had no reason to trust a random person telling him she was pregnant considering he had never met her before. Even though it was a case of mistaken identity, he had every reason to deny her and cut her off. I'm pretty sure he just thought this was another person attempting to get closer to him for the money, especially if this had happened to him before. So Ben holding a grudge against his brother was a stretch when, honestly, she should've tried a little harder to tell him.
Things could've gone so differently, but to put the blame on Roman when he was just a bystander in all of this and literally had no idea this was a girl his brother had met on vacation… what was he supposed to do? So for Ben to not talk to him for weeks and keep his distance because he was upset felt a little petty, and I hated it. Honestly, I didn't care about the romance between these two. I didn't from the start. I think it was, quite frankly, a little too instant for my liking, and I just didn't believe they fell that hard after one interaction. Honestly, I just wasn't rooting for them. Why are they arguing about custody at the 90% mark? At that point, they should be wrapping up the HEA. I think Ben's mommy issues should have been unpacked way earlier and not at the end of the book with a sudden realization that it was all tied together.
My pet peeve, as someone who loves sports, is when someone has to give up their dream or find a new dream to settle for family when you can have both. It would take sacrifices from both people in the relationship, but it could be possible. Everyone making him out to be the villain for wanting to accept a job with his dream team is outrageous. He can be a family man and still have a career. This was frustrating. He shouldn't have been placed in this ultimatum where he had to settle. I wish he could have taken her up on moving to New Zealand for at least one year and closed out his career with a bang. I'm disappointed. Granted, she was SO valid for wanting to stay and continue school. He was wrong for expecting her to pack up and leave for his dreams and then threatening her with custody. That was a red flag, and they lost me. AGAIN. At that point, just split up, coparent, and follow your dreams, people 🫡.
🍼₊˚ෆ🩷ෆ˚₊✨ ♡ OVERALL ♡ ✨₊˚ෆ🩷ෆ˚₊🍼
I fear I didn't like them. This one was a miss for me. It's not like it went over my head. I know he picked his family and found true meaning with them, and his purpose shifted from rugby to being a dad but 🍅🍅🍅 again… why not both!
☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★ Try Again Baby!☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★
🤰₊˚ෆ🩷ෆ˚₊✨ ♡ THOUGHTS ♡ ✨₊˚ෆ🩷ෆ˚₊🤰
“That was just my finger. I’m sure other parts of me taste even better.”
“Was that—are you flirting with me?”
“Maybe. You’re big and cute and I’ve had a lot to drink. Plus, I think you flirted first.”
It lost me 23 pages in when he was ogling her chest. Bring back yearning!!! Yes, he liked her personality, but does he have to be so descriptive about her body… romance is lost, I fear. Also, why is he sucking her finger 30 pages in? Granted, they were drunk, but HUH 😟. At least give us some buildup!! I don't care if they want to suck fingers, but dang… wait until page 100. It was entirely too predictable that it was his twin brother she spoke to the day she attempted to tell Ben she was pregnant. I also don't think Roman was at fault, nor should Ben have been upset with Roman. At the end of the day, he had no reason to trust a random person telling him she was pregnant considering he had never met her before. Even though it was a case of mistaken identity, he had every reason to deny her and cut her off. I'm pretty sure he just thought this was another person attempting to get closer to him for the money, especially if this had happened to him before. So Ben holding a grudge against his brother was a stretch when, honestly, she should've tried a little harder to tell him.
“No.” His eyes flew open. “No, I need you to explain like I’m a complete stranger, because the last time I saw you was at the airport in LA.”
“That isn’t true.”
Things could've gone so differently, but to put the blame on Roman when he was just a bystander in all of this and literally had no idea this was a girl his brother had met on vacation… what was he supposed to do? So for Ben to not talk to him for weeks and keep his distance because he was upset felt a little petty, and I hated it. Honestly, I didn't care about the romance between these two. I didn't from the start. I think it was, quite frankly, a little too instant for my liking, and I just didn't believe they fell that hard after one interaction. Honestly, I just wasn't rooting for them. Why are they arguing about custody at the 90% mark? At that point, they should be wrapping up the HEA. I think Ben's mommy issues should have been unpacked way earlier and not at the end of the book with a sudden realization that it was all tied together.
“I have a daughter, Natey. A little girl.” I didn’t even know what she looked like. Why hadn’t I asked to see a picture? “She’s four and a half.”
“No, no,” Roman grumbled. “That’s not right. When is this person saying this happened? And how do you know it’s true? You can’t just go by some random woman’s word.
My pet peeve, as someone who loves sports, is when someone has to give up their dream or find a new dream to settle for family when you can have both. It would take sacrifices from both people in the relationship, but it could be possible. Everyone making him out to be the villain for wanting to accept a job with his dream team is outrageous. He can be a family man and still have a career. This was frustrating. He shouldn't have been placed in this ultimatum where he had to settle. I wish he could have taken her up on moving to New Zealand for at least one year and closed out his career with a bang. I'm disappointed. Granted, she was SO valid for wanting to stay and continue school. He was wrong for expecting her to pack up and leave for his dreams and then threatening her with custody. That was a red flag, and they lost me. AGAIN. At that point, just split up, coparent, and follow your dreams, people 🫡.
🍼₊˚ෆ🩷ෆ˚₊✨ ♡ OVERALL ♡ ✨₊˚ෆ🩷ෆ˚₊🍼
I fear I didn't like them. This one was a miss for me. It's not like it went over my head. I know he picked his family and found true meaning with them, and his purpose shifted from rugby to being a dad but 🍅🍅🍅 again… why not both!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2026
⭐️⭐️
This book was the literary equivalent of watching two people stand on opposite sides of a room, making eye contact, and then deciding communication simply wasn’t for them.
The entire plot hinges on one giant misunderstanding that could’ve been solved if Mazzy had just said Ben’s name when she went looking for him. That’s it. That’s the conflict. Instead, we got five years of unnecessary heartache because everyone collectively forgot that words exist.
I usually love Julia Wolf’s books, so this one was such a disappointment. The writing felt surprisingly clunky, the pacing never quite found its rhythm, and I struggled to connect with either of the main characters emotionally.
Ben, in particular, tested every ounce of my patience. I know he didn’t know about his daughter, but it was hard to ignore the contrast between his life and Mazzy’s. He spent five years with a successful rugby career, financial security, and a loving family surrounding him, while Mazzy was left raising their daughter alone, putting herself through law school, and carrying the weight of everything. Meanwhile, Ben just existed, smiling his golden retriever smile, expecting me to immediately forgive him.
Unfortunately, I did not.
Mazzy deserved so much better. She was resilient, hardworking, and sacrificed everything for her daughter, while I spent most of the book wondering why Ben was considered the prize.
I kept waiting for the emotional payoff that never really came. Instead, I was mostly frustrated that an entire novel revolved around a problem that could’ve been fixed with one sentence.
This wasn’t a terrible book, but it definitely wasn’t for me. If you’re a fan of the miscommunication trope doing Olympic-level heavy lifting, you’ll probably enjoy it more than I did.
Some stories leave you with a full heart. This one just left me wanting to hand the characters a phone and a little bit of common sense.
This book was the literary equivalent of watching two people stand on opposite sides of a room, making eye contact, and then deciding communication simply wasn’t for them.
The entire plot hinges on one giant misunderstanding that could’ve been solved if Mazzy had just said Ben’s name when she went looking for him. That’s it. That’s the conflict. Instead, we got five years of unnecessary heartache because everyone collectively forgot that words exist.
I usually love Julia Wolf’s books, so this one was such a disappointment. The writing felt surprisingly clunky, the pacing never quite found its rhythm, and I struggled to connect with either of the main characters emotionally.
Ben, in particular, tested every ounce of my patience. I know he didn’t know about his daughter, but it was hard to ignore the contrast between his life and Mazzy’s. He spent five years with a successful rugby career, financial security, and a loving family surrounding him, while Mazzy was left raising their daughter alone, putting herself through law school, and carrying the weight of everything. Meanwhile, Ben just existed, smiling his golden retriever smile, expecting me to immediately forgive him.
Unfortunately, I did not.
Mazzy deserved so much better. She was resilient, hardworking, and sacrificed everything for her daughter, while I spent most of the book wondering why Ben was considered the prize.
I kept waiting for the emotional payoff that never really came. Instead, I was mostly frustrated that an entire novel revolved around a problem that could’ve been fixed with one sentence.
This wasn’t a terrible book, but it definitely wasn’t for me. If you’re a fan of the miscommunication trope doing Olympic-level heavy lifting, you’ll probably enjoy it more than I did.
Some stories leave you with a full heart. This one just left me wanting to hand the characters a phone and a little bit of common sense.
July 11, 2026
Wonderful!
Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Trope: secret baby
Angst: 😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Absolutely wonderful story with characters that get you all twisted up inside. This one had me laughing out loud and even shedding More than a couple tears. It did slow down a bit about the 2⁄3 of the way mark, but picked right back up again and had a wonderful ending. I do wish there was a little more closure with the mom, but it was wonderful regardless.
Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Trope: secret baby
Angst: 😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Absolutely wonderful story with characters that get you all twisted up inside. This one had me laughing out loud and even shedding More than a couple tears. It did slow down a bit about the 2⁄3 of the way mark, but picked right back up again and had a wonderful ending. I do wish there was a little more closure with the mom, but it was wonderful regardless.
July 7, 2026
No me gustó que Ben hiciera planes sin siquiera hablarlo con Mazzy.
Pésimo consejo el de Miranda.
Durante cinco años, Mazzy hizo que toda su vida girara en torno a su hija y cuando por fin las cosas empiezan a mejorar, resulta que es ella quien debe posponer sus estudios para acompañar a Ben a otro país, siendo que él ni siquiera la tomó en cuenta al tomar esa decisión.
Cuando Mazzy le dice que no, él incluso la amenaza con quitarle a su hija. Sí, sé que se arrepiente de inmediato, pero, como dije, ¿por qué siempre tiene que ser ella quien ceda y haga todos los sacrificios?
Afortunadamente, al final Ben recapacitó y comprendió que había llegado el momento de decidir qué era realmente más importante para él, si el deporte o su familia.
Pésimo consejo el de Miranda.
Durante cinco años, Mazzy hizo que toda su vida girara en torno a su hija y cuando por fin las cosas empiezan a mejorar, resulta que es ella quien debe posponer sus estudios para acompañar a Ben a otro país, siendo que él ni siquiera la tomó en cuenta al tomar esa decisión.
Cuando Mazzy le dice que no, él incluso la amenaza con quitarle a su hija. Sí, sé que se arrepiente de inmediato, pero, como dije, ¿por qué siempre tiene que ser ella quien ceda y haga todos los sacrificios?
Afortunadamente, al final Ben recapacitó y comprendió que había llegado el momento de decidir qué era realmente más importante para él, si el deporte o su familia.
June 26, 2026
I enjoyed this book, I was invested quickly. Mazzy and Ben meet at the New Zealand airport, both returning home. Mazzy is leaving the cheating boyfriend behind, plane has troubles and they land on a tropical island for a night. Ben is attracted to Mazzy’s beauty and helps her purchase a ticket. One thing leads to another and then two pink lines. She tries to tell Ben about her situation, but he doesn’t get the message.
Fast forward five years, Ben gets an ear full from Mazzy’s cousin about his daughter. He is immediately all in about the woman he could not stop thinking about and his daughter.
Once reunited Mazzy, Katty and Ben are a cute family, although it takes Mazzy a bit to warm up to the idea. Ben is wonderful with both his girls, making up for lost time. Mazzy and Ben were worth the wait, and I am excited to see what comes next.
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
Fast forward five years, Ben gets an ear full from Mazzy’s cousin about his daughter. He is immediately all in about the woman he could not stop thinking about and his daughter.
Once reunited Mazzy, Katty and Ben are a cute family, although it takes Mazzy a bit to warm up to the idea. Ben is wonderful with both his girls, making up for lost time. Mazzy and Ben were worth the wait, and I am excited to see what comes next.
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
July 13, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
🌶️🌶️🌶
💕 One Night Stand
✨️ Second Chance
💕 Age Gap (10 YRS)
✨️ Pro Rugby Player x Law Student
💕 Found Family
✨️ Surprise Pregnancy/ Secret Baby
✨️ 📚 ARC 📖 REVIEW ✨️
I always love a great sports romance that ends with a surprise pregnancy! But when you have an MMC can show his woman that he cares, and wants nothing more than her to feel the pleasure she brings him. This man was out here eating like it was his job. It was a way of feeding himself!
This book is full of tear inducing scenes, SPICY times that will have you standing in from of the AC Unit, and some laughs you can't help but feel it all way in your belly.
I can't say enough good things about this book. SO JUST GO READ it!
Thank you 🫶🏻 to ✨️ Julia Wolf & The Author Agency ✨️ for the complimentary 📚 ARC 📚. ✨️ All opinions are my own, honest, and voluntary✨️.
🌶️🌶️🌶
💕 One Night Stand
✨️ Second Chance
💕 Age Gap (10 YRS)
✨️ Pro Rugby Player x Law Student
💕 Found Family
✨️ Surprise Pregnancy/ Secret Baby
✨️ 📚 ARC 📖 REVIEW ✨️
I always love a great sports romance that ends with a surprise pregnancy! But when you have an MMC can show his woman that he cares, and wants nothing more than her to feel the pleasure she brings him. This man was out here eating like it was his job. It was a way of feeding himself!
This book is full of tear inducing scenes, SPICY times that will have you standing in from of the AC Unit, and some laughs you can't help but feel it all way in your belly.
I can't say enough good things about this book. SO JUST GO READ it!
Thank you 🫶🏻 to ✨️ Julia Wolf & The Author Agency ✨️ for the complimentary 📚 ARC 📚. ✨️ All opinions are my own, honest, and voluntary✨️.
July 16, 2026
Ben, you emotionally available unicorn 🦄
I have such mixed feelings about this one!
First of all... can we have a round of applause for Ben? 👏 In a genre where the hero often spends half the book denying his feelings, running away from responsibility, or generally acting like a walking red flag, this man did the complete opposite. Finding out he had a child? He embraced it. He showed up. He wasn't afraid to cry or be vulnerable, and honestly, that was so refreshing to read. 🥹
The romance was sweet, and I genuinely enjoyed the characters, but... I started checking my reading progress a little too often. 😅 It felt like the story had everything it needed to wrap up, and then it just... kept... going. By the end I was ready to gently escort the book to the finish line myself 🏁😂
I have such mixed feelings about this one!
First of all... can we have a round of applause for Ben? 👏 In a genre where the hero often spends half the book denying his feelings, running away from responsibility, or generally acting like a walking red flag, this man did the complete opposite. Finding out he had a child? He embraced it. He showed up. He wasn't afraid to cry or be vulnerable, and honestly, that was so refreshing to read. 🥹
The romance was sweet, and I genuinely enjoyed the characters, but... I started checking my reading progress a little too often. 😅 It felt like the story had everything it needed to wrap up, and then it just... kept... going. By the end I was ready to gently escort the book to the finish line myself 🏁😂
September 10, 2026
It was a sweet book for the most part. Low drama.
I tend to love dark romances more, so that probably does affect how I rate the tamer books.
Possible spoilers ahead
Ben (H) and Mazzy (h) meet at the airport. Her life has imploded and Ben ends up buying her a plane ticket. They talk, share some laughs- then the plane is grounded due to issues. They get drunk, then smash all night long. They go their separate ways the next day.
There’s a 10 year age gap. Mazzy is 20. Ben is 30
Months later, h is pregnant. All she knows about Ben is he plays Rugby. She goes to tell him and he acts different. He’s not that nice. It’s because it’s NOT Ben, it’s Ben’s identical twin, Roman. Mazzy won’t find that out, though…until 5 years later. Who even knows why she didn’t say “Ben” or mention anything about their airport hookup. Why wouldn’t she google Ben and Rugby and look through all the pictures of the players?
Anyway, Mazzy’s cousin runs into Ben like 5 years later and he gets Mazzy’s phone number. She shows up and they have a little miscommunication until he realizes he’s got a daughter. Mazzy realizes she didn’t actually talk to Ben years ago. I did love when she grabbed his hand and comforted him. I liked how they slowed way down, and actually communicated and cleared the confusion up quickly.
Mazzy is now 24, and Ben is 34. Their daughter is 4.
🌟Star Daddy Mode Activated 🌟
Ben takes to being a daddy immediately. Mazzy is still very cautious, but she does let him be a daddy. The interactions between Ben and Katty were adorable. Katty’s age was believable. Katty always talking about her BFF at school, Declan, had me laughing. I hope and pray there is a future book where Katty and Declan are MCs. (If there is please let me know)
I appreciate the fact that Ben paid her back child support. She tried to deny it at first (and I started to get annoyed) because let’s be for real- he absolutely did need to. I groaned when he wanted to buy the kid gifts but Mazzy told him no. Ughhhhh!
Through NO FAULT of this man (other than no condom) he did nothing wrong here. He lost 4 yrs of his kid’s life. Let him spoil her a little.
Anyway, the interaction with the kid was cute. Ben was funny and seemed like a nice guy.
(Mazzy has been celibate. There’s no mention of Ben and what he did for the past 5 years, but you have to assume he wasn’t celibate)
Mazzy and Ben slowly start to develop a romantic relationship. Mazzy makes him enter into a custody agreement BEFORE they start to date. Her reasoning- she wants something legal just in case they don’t work out then there is already a firm agreement in place. I guess I understand her. 🤷♀️
Anyway, everything is going great. Mazzy and the kid firmly mix in with Ben’s family. Everybody is perfect. The kids are perfect, the wives all mix together perfectly, and it’s all so freaking perfect. Everybody is super duper supportive. Idk maybe it’s just my family that’s insane. 🤪
So Ben and his brothers have trauma due to their mother. She just left them when they were kids. Well, mom shows back up. She’s dying, and I guess she wants to reconcile with her sons before she dies. Ben wants nothing to do with her. (I get it. That’s his boundaries and he has the right to feel however about it)
Ben gets an offer to play in New Zealand.
The audacity of this man thinking Mazzy will just be okay uprooting her and the kid’s whole life was like whoa! 🙃 Then he said the absolute #1 thing you NEVER say to a single mom- and that’s threatening to take their kid. Oh hell naw 🔪🔪🔪🔪 *HULK RAGE* (He was sorry as soon as he said it) That would usually be a firm reason for me to forever hate this guy. I did snort when he tried to backtrack fast. He knew he messed up. 😂😂
Both MCs get told by others to get their heads out of their arse. . Mazzy goes to him and explains that they will go to New Zealand with him. Then he tells her no, that he’s staying and finishing out his career. Sooooo….that fight ended up being a big nothing.
The epilogue is the wedding a year later. HEA
I did enjoy the book. I had a few laughs and I thought both MCs acted reasonable. I did really like that they communicated well, for the most part.
There were a few things that I didn’t care for. The biggest issue was I felt it was too long. Some things happened that were a little too convenient.
Ben was an awesome guy, but I felt he was a little too perfect.
There was one spicy scene that was awkward. It involved a shower, tongue, anal, and a ball sack. I’m sorry, but visions of a wrinkled ball sack do not scream sexy, hot, or spicy. YMMV
If you like sweet romance with a dash of spice (and ball sacks) and very low drama- then you may like this.
I’d probably read the next book in the series. Maybe! 🤔 I will at least add it to TBR list.
I thought the author’s note at the end was cute. She mentioned that her high school daughter does all her cover art on her book covers. ❤️
I tend to love dark romances more, so that probably does affect how I rate the tamer books.
Possible spoilers ahead
Ben (H) and Mazzy (h) meet at the airport. Her life has imploded and Ben ends up buying her a plane ticket. They talk, share some laughs- then the plane is grounded due to issues. They get drunk, then smash all night long. They go their separate ways the next day.
There’s a 10 year age gap. Mazzy is 20. Ben is 30
Months later, h is pregnant. All she knows about Ben is he plays Rugby. She goes to tell him and he acts different. He’s not that nice. It’s because it’s NOT Ben, it’s Ben’s identical twin, Roman. Mazzy won’t find that out, though…until 5 years later. Who even knows why she didn’t say “Ben” or mention anything about their airport hookup. Why wouldn’t she google Ben and Rugby and look through all the pictures of the players?
Anyway, Mazzy’s cousin runs into Ben like 5 years later and he gets Mazzy’s phone number. She shows up and they have a little miscommunication until he realizes he’s got a daughter. Mazzy realizes she didn’t actually talk to Ben years ago. I did love when she grabbed his hand and comforted him. I liked how they slowed way down, and actually communicated and cleared the confusion up quickly.
Mazzy is now 24, and Ben is 34. Their daughter is 4.
🌟Star Daddy Mode Activated 🌟
Ben takes to being a daddy immediately. Mazzy is still very cautious, but she does let him be a daddy. The interactions between Ben and Katty were adorable. Katty’s age was believable. Katty always talking about her BFF at school, Declan, had me laughing. I hope and pray there is a future book where Katty and Declan are MCs. (If there is please let me know)
I appreciate the fact that Ben paid her back child support. She tried to deny it at first (and I started to get annoyed) because let’s be for real- he absolutely did need to. I groaned when he wanted to buy the kid gifts but Mazzy told him no. Ughhhhh!
Through NO FAULT of this man (other than no condom) he did nothing wrong here. He lost 4 yrs of his kid’s life. Let him spoil her a little.
Anyway, the interaction with the kid was cute. Ben was funny and seemed like a nice guy.
(Mazzy has been celibate. There’s no mention of Ben and what he did for the past 5 years, but you have to assume he wasn’t celibate)
Mazzy and Ben slowly start to develop a romantic relationship. Mazzy makes him enter into a custody agreement BEFORE they start to date. Her reasoning- she wants something legal just in case they don’t work out then there is already a firm agreement in place. I guess I understand her. 🤷♀️
Anyway, everything is going great. Mazzy and the kid firmly mix in with Ben’s family. Everybody is perfect. The kids are perfect, the wives all mix together perfectly, and it’s all so freaking perfect. Everybody is super duper supportive. Idk maybe it’s just my family that’s insane. 🤪
So Ben and his brothers have trauma due to their mother. She just left them when they were kids. Well, mom shows back up. She’s dying, and I guess she wants to reconcile with her sons before she dies. Ben wants nothing to do with her. (I get it. That’s his boundaries and he has the right to feel however about it)
Ben gets an offer to play in New Zealand.
The audacity of this man thinking Mazzy will just be okay uprooting her and the kid’s whole life was like whoa! 🙃 Then he said the absolute #1 thing you NEVER say to a single mom- and that’s threatening to take their kid. Oh hell naw 🔪🔪🔪🔪 *HULK RAGE* (He was sorry as soon as he said it) That would usually be a firm reason for me to forever hate this guy. I did snort when he tried to backtrack fast. He knew he messed up. 😂😂
Both MCs get told by others to get their heads out of their arse. . Mazzy goes to him and explains that they will go to New Zealand with him. Then he tells her no, that he’s staying and finishing out his career. Sooooo….that fight ended up being a big nothing.
The epilogue is the wedding a year later. HEA
I did enjoy the book. I had a few laughs and I thought both MCs acted reasonable. I did really like that they communicated well, for the most part.
There were a few things that I didn’t care for. The biggest issue was I felt it was too long. Some things happened that were a little too convenient.
Ben was an awesome guy, but I felt he was a little too perfect.
There was one spicy scene that was awkward. It involved a shower, tongue, anal, and a ball sack. I’m sorry, but visions of a wrinkled ball sack do not scream sexy, hot, or spicy. YMMV
If you like sweet romance with a dash of spice (and ball sacks) and very low drama- then you may like this.
I’d probably read the next book in the series. Maybe! 🤔 I will at least add it to TBR list.
I thought the author’s note at the end was cute. She mentioned that her high school daughter does all her cover art on her book covers. ❤️
June 29, 2026
4.5⭐️
I have been impatiently waiting for Ben's story ever since we met him in By the Letter. Out of all the Wells brothers, his was the one I needed in my hands immediately. His easygoing personality, endless optimism, and ability to make everyone around him smile made him unforgettable. I honestly didn't think it was possible to love him more than I already did... and then I read this book.
I'll admit, when I first saw the blurb, I was completely confused. Based on what we'd already seen of Ben, the premise just didn't add up. The most golden of golden retrievers knowingly choosing not to be part of his child's life? No way. Not my Ben. I knew there had to be more to the story, and I trusted Julia Wolf to make it make sense. Sure enough, she delivered, unraveling everything in a way that felt believable without ever sacrificing the Ben I'd already fallen in love with.
What really got me wasn't just the romance—it was Ben's journey into fatherhood. The moment he learns the truth, he's all in. No hesitation. No unnecessary drama. Just a man determined to make up for every second he lost. Watching Ben flip through Katty's baby album and realize everything he missed absolutely wrecked me. His grief felt so real because he doesn't simply accept that he has his daughter now and move on. He mourns the birthdays, the firsts, the everyday moments he'll never get back. It was heartbreaking in the best way.
And then there were all the little moments that completely melted me. Ben standing in Katty's doorway, unable to stop watching her sleep until Mazzy practically had to drag him away? My heart didn't stand a chance. The way he spoke about Mazzy—not just as the mother of his child, but as someone he genuinely admired and respected—was equally swoony. He's easily one of the sweetest book boyfriends I've ever read.
I also loved that this wasn't a romance that rushed to put everything back together. Instead, the story lets Ben build a relationship with his daughter first, and I appreciated that so much. It made everything that developed between him and Mazzy feel earned. Watching them naturally evolve from co-parents into partners was beautiful because it happened through trust, friendship, and showing up for each other day after day. Despite everything she'd been through, Mazzy never let the past make her bitter or cynical. She embraced co-parenting without making things unnecessarily complicated, and together they had effortless chemistry, playful banter, and so much heart.
Ben's inner monologue anytime Mazzy was anywhere near another man was absolutely hysterical. For someone who's basically sunshine in human form, the jealous spirals happening in his own head were comedy gold. Those lighter moments balanced the emotional weight of the story perfectly and reminded me why Ben is just so incredibly lovable. And I have to give a special shoutout to the Wells brothers' group chat because I will never get tired of siblings relentlessly roasting each other. Their banter was hilarious, and every interaction made me want to spend even more time with this family.
It was also so much fun getting to catch up with Roman and Shira after loving their story, and seeing the entire Wells family together only made me more invested in this new series. If Ben's book is any indication of what's to come, I already know I'll be counting down the days until Nate and Adrian get their own happily ever afters.
💫Thank you to Julia Wolf and The Author Agency for this ARC!💫
I have been impatiently waiting for Ben's story ever since we met him in By the Letter. Out of all the Wells brothers, his was the one I needed in my hands immediately. His easygoing personality, endless optimism, and ability to make everyone around him smile made him unforgettable. I honestly didn't think it was possible to love him more than I already did... and then I read this book.
I'll admit, when I first saw the blurb, I was completely confused. Based on what we'd already seen of Ben, the premise just didn't add up. The most golden of golden retrievers knowingly choosing not to be part of his child's life? No way. Not my Ben. I knew there had to be more to the story, and I trusted Julia Wolf to make it make sense. Sure enough, she delivered, unraveling everything in a way that felt believable without ever sacrificing the Ben I'd already fallen in love with.
What really got me wasn't just the romance—it was Ben's journey into fatherhood. The moment he learns the truth, he's all in. No hesitation. No unnecessary drama. Just a man determined to make up for every second he lost. Watching Ben flip through Katty's baby album and realize everything he missed absolutely wrecked me. His grief felt so real because he doesn't simply accept that he has his daughter now and move on. He mourns the birthdays, the firsts, the everyday moments he'll never get back. It was heartbreaking in the best way.
And then there were all the little moments that completely melted me. Ben standing in Katty's doorway, unable to stop watching her sleep until Mazzy practically had to drag him away? My heart didn't stand a chance. The way he spoke about Mazzy—not just as the mother of his child, but as someone he genuinely admired and respected—was equally swoony. He's easily one of the sweetest book boyfriends I've ever read.
I also loved that this wasn't a romance that rushed to put everything back together. Instead, the story lets Ben build a relationship with his daughter first, and I appreciated that so much. It made everything that developed between him and Mazzy feel earned. Watching them naturally evolve from co-parents into partners was beautiful because it happened through trust, friendship, and showing up for each other day after day. Despite everything she'd been through, Mazzy never let the past make her bitter or cynical. She embraced co-parenting without making things unnecessarily complicated, and together they had effortless chemistry, playful banter, and so much heart.
Ben's inner monologue anytime Mazzy was anywhere near another man was absolutely hysterical. For someone who's basically sunshine in human form, the jealous spirals happening in his own head were comedy gold. Those lighter moments balanced the emotional weight of the story perfectly and reminded me why Ben is just so incredibly lovable. And I have to give a special shoutout to the Wells brothers' group chat because I will never get tired of siblings relentlessly roasting each other. Their banter was hilarious, and every interaction made me want to spend even more time with this family.
It was also so much fun getting to catch up with Roman and Shira after loving their story, and seeing the entire Wells family together only made me more invested in this new series. If Ben's book is any indication of what's to come, I already know I'll be counting down the days until Nate and Adrian get their own happily ever afters.
💫Thank you to Julia Wolf and The Author Agency for this ARC!💫
June 26, 2026
⭐ 4.5/5 Stars
I absolutely loved how Julia Wolf took her time with Ben and Mazzy's relationship. Instead of rushing them into romance because of the accidental pregnancy trope, she let Ben and Mazzy first figure out how to be parents together and slowly build a friendship before anything romantic happened. It made their eventual relationship feel so effortless and believable.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was Ben's grief over missing the first five years of Katty's life. So many books brush past something like that, but Julia Wolf didn't. Ben doesn't simply shrug it off and move on because he has his daughter now. He mourns the years he can never get back, and I thought that was such an honest and heartbreaking portrayal of what any loving parent would feel in his position.
I also adored Mazzy. Despite everything she had been through and the misunderstandings between them, she never let her past turn her bitter or cynical. She embraced co-parenting with Ben without making things unnecessarily complicated, and watching the two of them naturally slip from co-parents to partners was honestly beautiful.
Now... Julia Wolf, I need to have a word with you.
I picked this book up expecting a sweet, light-hearted accidental pregnancy romance with an adorable kid. Instead, you emotionally sucker-punched me. The storyline involving Mazzy's father absolutely shattered me. I was sobbing through those chapters, and I genuinely wasn't prepared for just how emotional this book would become.
My only real complaint was the third-act breakup. It wasn't the breakup itself that bothered me as much as Ben's initial reaction. After everything we'd learned about his character, some of his actions and words during that conflict didn't quite feel like him, which made that section harder for me to fully buy into.
That said, I actually appreciated what the conflict represented. It was a reminder that even the strongest relationships can be shaken by fear, misunderstandings, and unexpected circumstances. Sometimes love isn't enough in the moment—you have to step back, work through your fears instead of letting them control you, and then find your way back to each other. I thought that message was beautifully done.
Julia Wolf continues to be one of those authors who simply doesn't disappoint me. The Harder They Fall remains one of my all-time favorite romance series, and after finishing this book, I'm even more excited to go back and finally read Roman and Shira's story.
I absolutely loved how Julia Wolf took her time with Ben and Mazzy's relationship. Instead of rushing them into romance because of the accidental pregnancy trope, she let Ben and Mazzy first figure out how to be parents together and slowly build a friendship before anything romantic happened. It made their eventual relationship feel so effortless and believable.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was Ben's grief over missing the first five years of Katty's life. So many books brush past something like that, but Julia Wolf didn't. Ben doesn't simply shrug it off and move on because he has his daughter now. He mourns the years he can never get back, and I thought that was such an honest and heartbreaking portrayal of what any loving parent would feel in his position.
I also adored Mazzy. Despite everything she had been through and the misunderstandings between them, she never let her past turn her bitter or cynical. She embraced co-parenting with Ben without making things unnecessarily complicated, and watching the two of them naturally slip from co-parents to partners was honestly beautiful.
Now... Julia Wolf, I need to have a word with you.
I picked this book up expecting a sweet, light-hearted accidental pregnancy romance with an adorable kid. Instead, you emotionally sucker-punched me. The storyline involving Mazzy's father absolutely shattered me. I was sobbing through those chapters, and I genuinely wasn't prepared for just how emotional this book would become.
My only real complaint was the third-act breakup. It wasn't the breakup itself that bothered me as much as Ben's initial reaction. After everything we'd learned about his character, some of his actions and words during that conflict didn't quite feel like him, which made that section harder for me to fully buy into.
That said, I actually appreciated what the conflict represented. It was a reminder that even the strongest relationships can be shaken by fear, misunderstandings, and unexpected circumstances. Sometimes love isn't enough in the moment—you have to step back, work through your fears instead of letting them control you, and then find your way back to each other. I thought that message was beautifully done.
Julia Wolf continues to be one of those authors who simply doesn't disappoint me. The Harder They Fall remains one of my all-time favorite romance series, and after finishing this book, I'm even more excited to go back and finally read Roman and Shira's story.
June 13, 2026
When I read To the Letter, I knew I needed a Ben book. He was so fun and just a big kid in Shira and Roman’s that I’m like he needs an HEA. And to be written with one of my favorite tropes, accidental pregnancy, yes, love that so much.
Mazzy was absolutely perfect for Ben in every way because she embraced who Ben was through and through. She loved how silly he was and how he was totally entranced by their daughter, Katty, by just hearing they had a daughter. Mazzy was wise beyond her years and that really showed with her relationship not only with Ben but their daughter, how wholly she loved her.
Ben is such a goof in this but he is so boyish too, you can’t help but love him. His and his brothers dynamic though, I’m so happy we got even more of it in this and that Mazzy and Katty got to have that family with all of them. Oh, Ben and his brothers were the biggest softies for that little girl. Also, not Ben melting over his daughter wearing glasses and how cute she was in them.
The real star of this book was Katty. That little girl was so cute and so blunt. I loved how Julia showed how kids have such big feelings and don’t know how to express them. I could not get over her glasses either and I just picture the cutest little kid in them!
What I loved the most in this was that both MC’s came from abandonment backgrounds but chose each other over and over again. The found family in this is beautiful and I loved being able to read past characters again.
Thank you to Julia Wolf and The Author Agency for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes:
✨One night stand
✨Surprise pregnancy
✨Secret baby
✨Rugby player MMC
✨Golden retriever MMC
✨Plus size law student FMC
✨Age gap
Mazzy was absolutely perfect for Ben in every way because she embraced who Ben was through and through. She loved how silly he was and how he was totally entranced by their daughter, Katty, by just hearing they had a daughter. Mazzy was wise beyond her years and that really showed with her relationship not only with Ben but their daughter, how wholly she loved her.
Ben is such a goof in this but he is so boyish too, you can’t help but love him. His and his brothers dynamic though, I’m so happy we got even more of it in this and that Mazzy and Katty got to have that family with all of them. Oh, Ben and his brothers were the biggest softies for that little girl. Also, not Ben melting over his daughter wearing glasses and how cute she was in them.
The real star of this book was Katty. That little girl was so cute and so blunt. I loved how Julia showed how kids have such big feelings and don’t know how to express them. I could not get over her glasses either and I just picture the cutest little kid in them!
What I loved the most in this was that both MC’s came from abandonment backgrounds but chose each other over and over again. The found family in this is beautiful and I loved being able to read past characters again.
Thank you to Julia Wolf and The Author Agency for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes:
✨One night stand
✨Surprise pregnancy
✨Secret baby
✨Rugby player MMC
✨Golden retriever MMC
✨Plus size law student FMC
✨Age gap
June 28, 2026
Try Again, Baby is my first book by Julia, and I’m really excited to read more books by her. I couldn’t put this book down!
Tropes:
🏉 Rugby Player x Law Student
🏉 One Night Stand
🏉 Accidental Pregnancy (off page)
🏉 Secret Baby
🏉 Age Gap
🏉 Golden Retriever MMC
Mazzy and Ben end up next to each other on a plane and have instant chemistry. The plane has to emergency land on an island, and they spend the night together. Months later when she finds out she’s pregnant, she goes to let Ben know, and he turns her away. Five years later, Mazzy’s cousin runs into Ben and gives him a piece of her mind, and he has no idea what she’s talking about. But he wants to know his daughter, and he wants to continue getting to know Mazzy.
You can’t help but fall in love with Ben. His character is electric and just So. Good. He is pure sunshine. Their story is heartbreaking in the beginning, and you want to wrap everyone up in a hug. Mazzy is tough as nails and is so good as well. Ben’s brothers and how they took to Mazzy and Katty, giving them an instant family was so lovely. This book gave my heart the warm fuzzies.
🌶️🌶️.5
Thank you, Julia and TAA, for sending me a copy of this book!
Tropes:
🏉 Rugby Player x Law Student
🏉 One Night Stand
🏉 Accidental Pregnancy (off page)
🏉 Secret Baby
🏉 Age Gap
🏉 Golden Retriever MMC
Mazzy and Ben end up next to each other on a plane and have instant chemistry. The plane has to emergency land on an island, and they spend the night together. Months later when she finds out she’s pregnant, she goes to let Ben know, and he turns her away. Five years later, Mazzy’s cousin runs into Ben and gives him a piece of her mind, and he has no idea what she’s talking about. But he wants to know his daughter, and he wants to continue getting to know Mazzy.
You can’t help but fall in love with Ben. His character is electric and just So. Good. He is pure sunshine. Their story is heartbreaking in the beginning, and you want to wrap everyone up in a hug. Mazzy is tough as nails and is so good as well. Ben’s brothers and how they took to Mazzy and Katty, giving them an instant family was so lovely. This book gave my heart the warm fuzzies.
🌶️🌶️.5
Thank you, Julia and TAA, for sending me a copy of this book!
July 5, 2026
ARC Review
Book: Try Again, Baby
Author: Julia Wolf
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was really excited when I found out that Ben was getting his own book, and I was not disappointed. This was such a fun read from page one, I fell in love with these characters.
Five years ago, Ben and Mazzy had a one night stand and she got pregnant. When Mazzy tried to tell him and he denied knowing her. What she didn’t know was that she spoke to her twin brother and Ben didn’t really knew he was going to be a dad.
When they get the second chance to meet and he finds out he had a daughter, it hurts him to know that she took care of their daughter alone all these years. Now he’s determined to take care of them, be the best dad he can be and show Mazzy that he’s not going anywhere.
I loved Ben’s personality, he’s always optimistic, playful, a devoted dad,
Regards, and so patient and compassionate towards Mazzy.
If you love a second chance, sports romance, with a golden retriever MMC, this book is for you!
Thank you @authorjuliawolf for this amazing ARC!
Book: Try Again, Baby
Author: Julia Wolf
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was really excited when I found out that Ben was getting his own book, and I was not disappointed. This was such a fun read from page one, I fell in love with these characters.
Five years ago, Ben and Mazzy had a one night stand and she got pregnant. When Mazzy tried to tell him and he denied knowing her. What she didn’t know was that she spoke to her twin brother and Ben didn’t really knew he was going to be a dad.
When they get the second chance to meet and he finds out he had a daughter, it hurts him to know that she took care of their daughter alone all these years. Now he’s determined to take care of them, be the best dad he can be and show Mazzy that he’s not going anywhere.
I loved Ben’s personality, he’s always optimistic, playful, a devoted dad,
Regards, and so patient and compassionate towards Mazzy.
If you love a second chance, sports romance, with a golden retriever MMC, this book is for you!
Thank you @authorjuliawolf for this amazing ARC!
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