What do you think?
Play You Home: A Swoony, Rockstar x Fan Romance: Port Fortune #2
- GenresSecond ChanceRomance
246 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2026
About the author
Claudia Ambrose
5 books27 followersClaudia Ambrose has loved writing for as long as she can remember. BUILD YOU UP is her debut novel. When she's not writing, she lives in Virginia with her husband and far too many cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
September 23, 2026
3.75🌟 | 1.5🌶️
The second-chance romance, small-town charm, and rockstar fantasy made this such an easy book to settle into.
There’s something satisfying about watching two people with history find their way back to each other, especially when one of them has to prove he’s grown since they last parted ways.
Sasha was easy to root for, and Dahl’s growth gave their relationship more depth than I expected. His struggles with fame and mental health were handled with care, while the Port Fortune community brought plenty of warmth and fun around the romance. Their chemistry worked best in the quieter moments where they were rebuilding their connection.
I did wish some of their past and emotional conversations had been explored a little more, since certain moments moved by quickly, but the overall story still felt cozy and genuinely enjoyable.
The sweeter romance, found family, and second-chance dynamic came together nicely for a lovely read.
~~~~
A sincere thank you to Claudia Ambrose and House of Hearts Lit for the ARC! 🥰📚
I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨
The second-chance romance, small-town charm, and rockstar fantasy made this such an easy book to settle into.
There’s something satisfying about watching two people with history find their way back to each other, especially when one of them has to prove he’s grown since they last parted ways.
Sasha was easy to root for, and Dahl’s growth gave their relationship more depth than I expected. His struggles with fame and mental health were handled with care, while the Port Fortune community brought plenty of warmth and fun around the romance. Their chemistry worked best in the quieter moments where they were rebuilding their connection.
I did wish some of their past and emotional conversations had been explored a little more, since certain moments moved by quickly, but the overall story still felt cozy and genuinely enjoyable.
The sweeter romance, found family, and second-chance dynamic came together nicely for a lovely read.
~~~~
A sincere thank you to Claudia Ambrose and House of Hearts Lit for the ARC! 🥰📚
I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨
September 11, 2026
Ugh I hate rating books this low, but man, there was like 5% of plot in this entire book 😭
I went into this excited for some groveling, but there was in fact, very little groveling and very fast forgiveness.
The MMC was often described as being seen wearing hoochy-man shorts…no thank you. Words cannot express how unattractive that sounded to me. There were just so many truly cringeworthy parts that I imagine not even a child would find funny.
Perhaps if the smut had been more poppin then there could have been something to save this pointless story, but alas, the smut was mostly fade-to-black 😪
The actual writing wasn’t terrible, it was easy to read, but there was literally nothing to work towards once the FMC forgave the MMC for being a dick and seeing as that happened relatively relatively early on in the story, the rest of the story dragged.
The most redeeming aspect of this story was how the main characters weren’t rushing into marriage and children. I probably would have 1 starred it if she got pregnant seeing as they had been together a whole total of like 12 months including the time they were together in the past.
Thank you so much for gifting me this eARC. All thoughts and comments are my own.
I went into this excited for some groveling, but there was in fact, very little groveling and very fast forgiveness.
The MMC was often described as being seen wearing hoochy-man shorts…no thank you. Words cannot express how unattractive that sounded to me. There were just so many truly cringeworthy parts that I imagine not even a child would find funny.
Perhaps if the smut had been more poppin then there could have been something to save this pointless story, but alas, the smut was mostly fade-to-black 😪
The actual writing wasn’t terrible, it was easy to read, but there was literally nothing to work towards once the FMC forgave the MMC for being a dick and seeing as that happened relatively relatively early on in the story, the rest of the story dragged.
The most redeeming aspect of this story was how the main characters weren’t rushing into marriage and children. I probably would have 1 starred it if she got pregnant seeing as they had been together a whole total of like 12 months including the time they were together in the past.
Thank you so much for gifting me this eARC. All thoughts and comments are my own.
September 21, 2026
this book was okay. I wanted more out of it, but it wasn’t not a bad book. I think I would’ve enjoyed it a little more if I read the first in the series first. Also I think the mmc needed to do a little more groveling to be forgiven from what originally happened. Thanks to Claudia Ambrose and House of Hearts for the gifted copy — all opinions are my own.
September 27, 2026
★★✩✩✩
i feel like there wasn’t enough groveling and she forgave him way too easily. i also didn’t read the first book, which probably made it harder for me to get into the story. overall, i couldn’t really get into the book, although i did like the chemistry between the characters. the ending was alright, but overall this just wasn’t really for me.
i feel like there wasn’t enough groveling and she forgave him way too easily. i also didn’t read the first book, which probably made it harder for me to get into the story. overall, i couldn’t really get into the book, although i did like the chemistry between the characters. the ending was alright, but overall this just wasn’t really for me.
September 8, 2026
✨ Romance Comfort-Read Alert ✨
I’ll always fill you in on:
🛑 Cheating / OW-OM drama: NO
💞 Angst: low
🚫💔 Third-act breakup: NOPE 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
🔥 🌶️.5
🏡 HEA ALWAYS
This is an ARC read. Thanks to Claudia Ambrose and House of Hearts for the gifted copy. As always, all opinions are my own. :)
Tropes:
🎸 (Sorta) Rockstar Romance
✨ Small Town but Big City Adjacent
🎸 Celebrity and Average Girl
✨ Second Chance
🎸 A little bit of groveling, but not a lot
✨ Men's mental health rep
Dahl and Sasha's second-chance story is a fairly quick read. It's sweet and enjoyable, especially the small-town parts. It has that "everyone knows everyone/Stars Hollow vibe."
Backstory: Dahl met Sasha when he and his band were nobodies who were hoping to make it big. Sasha was front and center at their shows, and she eventually had a brief relationship with Dahl; like, a few weeks. While it was brief, it was important to both of them.
Dahl's band was emerging into the spotlight, and he was a bit of a prick and ended things with her. He was self-absorbed, self-important, and he said some pretty cruel things to Sasha when he ended things.
Fast-forward several years, and she's a nurse in the ER (the author kept abbreviating it as ED and that just threw me off.) where Dahl comes b/c he's injured himself with a weedeater. Sasha is pretty thrown when she sees him again. He really broke her heart.
He and his band are working on a new album, which brings him to her small town, Port Fortune. Of course, their paths keep crossing, and Dahl eventually works back into Sasha's life. She becomes his muse.
Things I loved/didn't like:
😍 Dahl seemed to have really matured and was genuinely humbled by the way he treated Sasha. I mean, the man said some crappy things, then proceeded to block HER. Like, whaaaat? He did grovel a little bit, but he was genuinely apologetic and understanding if she wanted nothing to do with him.
👎 I did not like that it was written in third-person. That is a personal preference.
😍 I liked that there were messy moments w/in their story. Not everything in life is perfect, and even though this was short, it didn't move so fast, and then everything was tied with a pretty, perfect bow. They had to communicate and work things out.
👎 There were elements of what I felt like were "the other person isn't being made a priority even though I said you were." If that makes sense? For example, if my partner were on the other side of the country/different timezone, I would make it a point to prioritize our phone dates. Not to be a doormat for them, but to let them know they were important.
😍 I am here for a book that sheds light on men's mental health struggles. It's not talked about enough, and I appreciated that Dahl's struggles were addressed and openly talked about.
If you are into romance that is more like "cracked door" than full-on open door-this one is for you!
This is my first time reading this author, and I would read other books, for sure!
I’ll always fill you in on:
🛑 Cheating / OW-OM drama: NO
💞 Angst: low
🚫💔 Third-act breakup: NOPE 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
🔥 🌶️.5
🏡 HEA ALWAYS
This is an ARC read. Thanks to Claudia Ambrose and House of Hearts for the gifted copy. As always, all opinions are my own. :)
Tropes:
🎸 (Sorta) Rockstar Romance
✨ Small Town but Big City Adjacent
🎸 Celebrity and Average Girl
✨ Second Chance
🎸 A little bit of groveling, but not a lot
✨ Men's mental health rep
Dahl and Sasha's second-chance story is a fairly quick read. It's sweet and enjoyable, especially the small-town parts. It has that "everyone knows everyone/Stars Hollow vibe."
Backstory: Dahl met Sasha when he and his band were nobodies who were hoping to make it big. Sasha was front and center at their shows, and she eventually had a brief relationship with Dahl; like, a few weeks. While it was brief, it was important to both of them.
Dahl's band was emerging into the spotlight, and he was a bit of a prick and ended things with her. He was self-absorbed, self-important, and he said some pretty cruel things to Sasha when he ended things.
Fast-forward several years, and she's a nurse in the ER (the author kept abbreviating it as ED and that just threw me off.) where Dahl comes b/c he's injured himself with a weedeater. Sasha is pretty thrown when she sees him again. He really broke her heart.
He and his band are working on a new album, which brings him to her small town, Port Fortune. Of course, their paths keep crossing, and Dahl eventually works back into Sasha's life. She becomes his muse.
Things I loved/didn't like:
😍 Dahl seemed to have really matured and was genuinely humbled by the way he treated Sasha. I mean, the man said some crappy things, then proceeded to block HER. Like, whaaaat? He did grovel a little bit, but he was genuinely apologetic and understanding if she wanted nothing to do with him.
👎 I did not like that it was written in third-person. That is a personal preference.
😍 I liked that there were messy moments w/in their story. Not everything in life is perfect, and even though this was short, it didn't move so fast, and then everything was tied with a pretty, perfect bow. They had to communicate and work things out.
👎 There were elements of what I felt like were "the other person isn't being made a priority even though I said you were." If that makes sense? For example, if my partner were on the other side of the country/different timezone, I would make it a point to prioritize our phone dates. Not to be a doormat for them, but to let them know they were important.
😍 I am here for a book that sheds light on men's mental health struggles. It's not talked about enough, and I appreciated that Dahl's struggles were addressed and openly talked about.
If you are into romance that is more like "cracked door" than full-on open door-this one is for you!
This is my first time reading this author, and I would read other books, for sure!
September 20, 2026
Amazon
Sasha hasn't spent her time since Dahl moping over him, but she can admit that seeing him again in the ER has thrown her. She keeps dreaming about him, and that's not acceptable. At least she won't have to keep seeing him, as she's asked him to kindly avoid contacting her again. But he's determined to at least apologize and get some closure. Unfortunately, that will be a hard sell, considering how he pushed her away and spouted off some hurtful words.
Short and sweet, but I admit, a bit fluffy. There wasn't a whole lot of spice, which would been a good way to strengthen their connection. As it is, though, I liked Sasha - she's smart and hard working, and clearly has a huge heart. As for Dahl, he didn't grovel as much as he should have, but it was clear he really had worked on himself since they parted, and I liked that Sasha could see it.
ARC provided by House of Hearts Literary Services for an honest review.
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September 13, 2026
Vibes
Second Chance
Rockstar X Fan
Found Family
Small Town
Characters-9
I loved Sasha and Dahl. I thought they were great characters with outstanding personalities to follow throughout the story. Sasha and Dahl had a past, and over the course of the story, they found each other again and still recalled memories of the past, good and painful. I loved that Sasha was a nurse because although she wasn’t in the music industry, she could still help Dahl when he needed it just by talking to him. I loved how mental health was discussed in this book. The families and friends in this book were great, and I loved following their stories along with Sasha’s and Dahl’s. The characters were charming, and I was drawn to them from beginning to end.
Atmosphere-9.5
The town of Port Fortune, Virginia, was charming, and I loved being brought into the town. I loved all the small-town businesses and their owners that you meet as the story progresses. The community was like one large family and supported each other.
Writing-9
Claudia Ambrose is a charming writer. I loved that Play You Home was Dual POV. A mid-chapter POV change doesn’t always work for me, but in Play You Home it suited the story because it pushed it forward or let the characters recall memories from the past. Play You Home was a perfect mix of fun and light scenes, and heavier, important character moments.
Plot-9
Play You Home was a story about growth just as much as it was a romance. I loved how Sasha and Dahl grew over the course of the story. I love the second chance trope, and Play You Home was filled with yearning and passion. It was also a story about family, both blood and found, which I loved.
Enjoyment-9
I loved this story. The characters were great, and the story was a mix of fun and heartwarming moments. This was my first time reading by Claudia Ambrose, and I can’t wait to read more.
Second Chance
Rockstar X Fan
Found Family
Small Town
Characters-9
I loved Sasha and Dahl. I thought they were great characters with outstanding personalities to follow throughout the story. Sasha and Dahl had a past, and over the course of the story, they found each other again and still recalled memories of the past, good and painful. I loved that Sasha was a nurse because although she wasn’t in the music industry, she could still help Dahl when he needed it just by talking to him. I loved how mental health was discussed in this book. The families and friends in this book were great, and I loved following their stories along with Sasha’s and Dahl’s. The characters were charming, and I was drawn to them from beginning to end.
Atmosphere-9.5
The town of Port Fortune, Virginia, was charming, and I loved being brought into the town. I loved all the small-town businesses and their owners that you meet as the story progresses. The community was like one large family and supported each other.
Writing-9
Claudia Ambrose is a charming writer. I loved that Play You Home was Dual POV. A mid-chapter POV change doesn’t always work for me, but in Play You Home it suited the story because it pushed it forward or let the characters recall memories from the past. Play You Home was a perfect mix of fun and light scenes, and heavier, important character moments.
Plot-9
Play You Home was a story about growth just as much as it was a romance. I loved how Sasha and Dahl grew over the course of the story. I love the second chance trope, and Play You Home was filled with yearning and passion. It was also a story about family, both blood and found, which I loved.
Enjoyment-9
I loved this story. The characters were great, and the story was a mix of fun and heartwarming moments. This was my first time reading by Claudia Ambrose, and I can’t wait to read more.
September 18, 2026
🎸 Second Chance Romance
🎸 Exes reunited
🎸 Celebrity x ordinary girl romance
🎸 A short, quick read
I really enjoyed this cozy, 2nd chance romance. It was really sweet, a little spice (a bit more talk and thoughts, instead of action) and something I kept reading until I finished the story.
👍 What I liked:
- I always love books that switch back and forth POVs. I find that helps keep the pace moving and it keeps me interested.
- The characters were good. I felt that Sasha and Dahl were fully formed and their wants/needs/goals were clear. I appreciated how the light tension was found in putting those experiences and expectations together to form a possible future.
- The supporting characters were also really fun. It is nice that the first book (Bake You Mine) is referenced but not required to be read. I hope to see more of the Port Fortune Community (looking at you 👀, Ashley and Ben's Story?!?)
👎 What I didn't like:
- There were some tone shifts that threw me (kind of "wait, what?" moments). It would happen mid conversations or even mid chapters. I wanted some of the more sentimental or serious moments to last a bit longer instead of a brush with banter.
- I wanted some more headspace moments. A lot of it gets glossed over for a speedy resolution.
- Flashbacks would have really helped with the story. Anytime the "past" was referenced, I wanted to know more. I wanted to relive the "Boston" incident in more details.
❤️ Thanks to Claudia Ambrose and House of Hearts for the gifted copy - all opinions are my own.
This was a good book, but would have wanted just a bit more deeper story. However, I loved being able to live out a Rock star fan girl fantasy and will be reaching for more of Claudia's books in the future.
🎸 Exes reunited
🎸 Celebrity x ordinary girl romance
🎸 A short, quick read
I really enjoyed this cozy, 2nd chance romance. It was really sweet, a little spice (a bit more talk and thoughts, instead of action) and something I kept reading until I finished the story.
👍 What I liked:
- I always love books that switch back and forth POVs. I find that helps keep the pace moving and it keeps me interested.
- The characters were good. I felt that Sasha and Dahl were fully formed and their wants/needs/goals were clear. I appreciated how the light tension was found in putting those experiences and expectations together to form a possible future.
- The supporting characters were also really fun. It is nice that the first book (Bake You Mine) is referenced but not required to be read. I hope to see more of the Port Fortune Community (looking at you 👀, Ashley and Ben's Story?!?)
👎 What I didn't like:
- There were some tone shifts that threw me (kind of "wait, what?" moments). It would happen mid conversations or even mid chapters. I wanted some of the more sentimental or serious moments to last a bit longer instead of a brush with banter.
- I wanted some more headspace moments. A lot of it gets glossed over for a speedy resolution.
- Flashbacks would have really helped with the story. Anytime the "past" was referenced, I wanted to know more. I wanted to relive the "Boston" incident in more details.
❤️ Thanks to Claudia Ambrose and House of Hearts for the gifted copy - all opinions are my own.
This was a good book, but would have wanted just a bit more deeper story. However, I loved being able to live out a Rock star fan girl fantasy and will be reaching for more of Claudia's books in the future.
September 16, 2026
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book for free, and this is my honest review.
A heartfelt second‑chance romance with small‑town charm, celebrity complications, and two people trying to finish the love song they once left unfinished.
Claudia Ambrose delivers an emotional, music‑tinged story as Sasha Linley—now a nurse in DC—crosses paths with the one man she swore she’d moved on from. Two years ago, dating her rockstar idol felt like a dream… until Dahl Sturgiss’s rise to fame wrecked his mental health and led him to block her everywhere instead of letting her see him fall apart. Their breakup left a wound Sasha thought had long healed.
But fate has a wicked sense of humor. Dahl shows up in her ER—injured, humbled, and determined to prove he’s not the selfish mess he once was. Sasha refuses to let him rewrite their ending… until he ends up spending the summer in her hometown of Port Fortune. What follows is a stretch of fairytale weeks: small‑town sunsets, soft reconnection, and a glimpse of the life they could have had if fame hadn’t torn them sideways.
Ambrose balances celebrity‑ordinary‑girl tension, gentle groveling, and the fear of repeating old mistakes as Dahl prepares to return to the road. Sasha’s worry that history will repeat itself gives the story its emotional weight, grounding the romance in real vulnerability and growth.
A warm, quick 4‑star read perfect for fans of exes‑reunited, celebrity romance, and small‑town second chances where love gets one more shot at being written right.
A heartfelt second‑chance romance with small‑town charm, celebrity complications, and two people trying to finish the love song they once left unfinished.
Claudia Ambrose delivers an emotional, music‑tinged story as Sasha Linley—now a nurse in DC—crosses paths with the one man she swore she’d moved on from. Two years ago, dating her rockstar idol felt like a dream… until Dahl Sturgiss’s rise to fame wrecked his mental health and led him to block her everywhere instead of letting her see him fall apart. Their breakup left a wound Sasha thought had long healed.
But fate has a wicked sense of humor. Dahl shows up in her ER—injured, humbled, and determined to prove he’s not the selfish mess he once was. Sasha refuses to let him rewrite their ending… until he ends up spending the summer in her hometown of Port Fortune. What follows is a stretch of fairytale weeks: small‑town sunsets, soft reconnection, and a glimpse of the life they could have had if fame hadn’t torn them sideways.
Ambrose balances celebrity‑ordinary‑girl tension, gentle groveling, and the fear of repeating old mistakes as Dahl prepares to return to the road. Sasha’s worry that history will repeat itself gives the story its emotional weight, grounding the romance in real vulnerability and growth.
A warm, quick 4‑star read perfect for fans of exes‑reunited, celebrity romance, and small‑town second chances where love gets one more shot at being written right.
September 8, 2026
🎸 Brooding (ok not really) rockstar
🎸 Second Chance Romance
🎸 Big city (DC) x small town (Port Fortune, Virginia) charm
🎸 Exes reunited
🎸 A wee bit of groveling
🎸 Celebrity x ordinary girl romance
There’s something about a second-chance romance where two people have unfinished business that always pulls me in. I really liked the FMC (Sasha); she’s strong, independent, and understandably guarded after the way the MMC (Dahl) walked away from her two years ago. Seeing him show up in her ER as a patient was such a fun way to throw these two back together. Dahl working to prove that he wasn’t the same selfish man Sasha remembered was really enjoyable, and I enjoy a flawed MMC who attempts to right his wrongs.
Dahl’s struggles with fame and his mental health added some nice depth to his character. I appreciated that his past mistakes weren’t brushed aside and that he had to actually work to rebuild Sasha’s trust. Their time together in Port Fortune gave the romance such a cozy, almost dreamy feel, and I loved watching them slowly find their way back to each other.
The romance is definitely on the sweeter side with lower spice, so if you’re looking for a super spicy rockstar romance, this may not be it. For me, though, the emotional connection and second-chance theme were great.
I surprisingly also really enjoyed the rockstar x fan dynamic and the small-town summer vibes.
🎸 Second Chance Romance
🎸 Big city (DC) x small town (Port Fortune, Virginia) charm
🎸 Exes reunited
🎸 A wee bit of groveling
🎸 Celebrity x ordinary girl romance
There’s something about a second-chance romance where two people have unfinished business that always pulls me in. I really liked the FMC (Sasha); she’s strong, independent, and understandably guarded after the way the MMC (Dahl) walked away from her two years ago. Seeing him show up in her ER as a patient was such a fun way to throw these two back together. Dahl working to prove that he wasn’t the same selfish man Sasha remembered was really enjoyable, and I enjoy a flawed MMC who attempts to right his wrongs.
Dahl’s struggles with fame and his mental health added some nice depth to his character. I appreciated that his past mistakes weren’t brushed aside and that he had to actually work to rebuild Sasha’s trust. Their time together in Port Fortune gave the romance such a cozy, almost dreamy feel, and I loved watching them slowly find their way back to each other.
The romance is definitely on the sweeter side with lower spice, so if you’re looking for a super spicy rockstar romance, this may not be it. For me, though, the emotional connection and second-chance theme were great.
I surprisingly also really enjoyed the rockstar x fan dynamic and the small-town summer vibes.
September 22, 2026
He drew his fingertips down her cheek. “I’m not talking about your resting bitch face, which I genuinely admire. Or about burying your emotions, which you should really work on, by the way. You make me nervous because, well,you’re you.This kind of terrifying woman I screwed over. I need to keep my armor up around you.”
This book was SO cute! I really enjoyed this one!! I've been craving a rockstar romance read ever since If Not For My Baby, and this book really did deliver what I was looking for!! 🥰I do wish the groveling that Dahl had to do was more in depth than it was, or that the stakes were a bit higher at times, even though I did enjoy the heavy cozy romance vibes of the story. I also loved the second-chance romance plotline of it all, and I really appreciated that Sasha didn't hold back on her feelings and didn't forgive him super easily. Dahl's struggles with anxiety were really relatable at times, and I always admire a main character that goes through serious growth & shows it!
Thank you to the author and House of Hearts Lit. for the ARC, all thoughts are my own! 🧡
🎸 Rockstar x Fan
🎤 Second-Chance Romance (& some groveling)
🎸 Anxiety Rep
🎤 Small City x Big City Charm
🎵 Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🎵 Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🎵 Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🎵 World Building: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🎵 Spice (If Any): ️🌶️️/5
🎵 Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
This book was SO cute! I really enjoyed this one!! I've been craving a rockstar romance read ever since If Not For My Baby, and this book really did deliver what I was looking for!! 🥰I do wish the groveling that Dahl had to do was more in depth than it was, or that the stakes were a bit higher at times, even though I did enjoy the heavy cozy romance vibes of the story. I also loved the second-chance romance plotline of it all, and I really appreciated that Sasha didn't hold back on her feelings and didn't forgive him super easily. Dahl's struggles with anxiety were really relatable at times, and I always admire a main character that goes through serious growth & shows it!
Thank you to the author and House of Hearts Lit. for the ARC, all thoughts are my own! 🧡
🎸 Rockstar x Fan
🎤 Second-Chance Romance (& some groveling)
🎸 Anxiety Rep
🎤 Small City x Big City Charm
🎵 Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🎵 Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🎵 Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🎵 World Building: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🎵 Spice (If Any): ️🌶️️/5
🎵 Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Review of advance copy
Review:
✨Play You Home✨
Port Fortune #2
By Claudia Ambrose
✨ Rockstar Romance
✨ Second Chance
✨ Small Town
⭐ 4/5
Sasha and Dahl
This story follows Sasha and Dahl. A second chance romance which is a little more complicated.
They started a few years ago as romance between a rockstar and his fan. But it wasn’t a simple fling. They were together for a while, she even got on tour with him and the band.But Dahl struggled with his life and his words and actions had Sasha leave at one point. In a foreign city after, alone. Now years later and with therapy going on, Dahl meets Sasha again. In a hospital where she works as a nurse. His accident: incoincidentally, Choice of hospital: not so much. But Sasha is still hurt and wants nothing to do with Dahl, or his will to apologize.
But Dahl is determined and figures to wear her down at some point. He is not the same as he was then and slowly Sasha involves him into her hectic new life.
But old fears still cling to her. Because Dahl still is a rockstar and has obligations. Can they make it work this time?
Insecurities and fears with the struggles and issues of life itself. A story that is relatable because we see everything and everyone has his flaws.
Thanks to Claudia Ambrose and House of Hearts for the gifted copy - all opinions are my own.
✨Play You Home✨
Port Fortune #2
By Claudia Ambrose
✨ Rockstar Romance
✨ Second Chance
✨ Small Town
⭐ 4/5
Sasha and Dahl
This story follows Sasha and Dahl. A second chance romance which is a little more complicated.
They started a few years ago as romance between a rockstar and his fan. But it wasn’t a simple fling. They were together for a while, she even got on tour with him and the band.But Dahl struggled with his life and his words and actions had Sasha leave at one point. In a foreign city after, alone. Now years later and with therapy going on, Dahl meets Sasha again. In a hospital where she works as a nurse. His accident: incoincidentally, Choice of hospital: not so much. But Sasha is still hurt and wants nothing to do with Dahl, or his will to apologize.
But Dahl is determined and figures to wear her down at some point. He is not the same as he was then and slowly Sasha involves him into her hectic new life.
But old fears still cling to her. Because Dahl still is a rockstar and has obligations. Can they make it work this time?
Insecurities and fears with the struggles and issues of life itself. A story that is relatable because we see everything and everyone has his flaws.
Thanks to Claudia Ambrose and House of Hearts for the gifted copy - all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
4/5...This was such a sweet, cozy second-chance romance with plenty of heart. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Sasha and Dahl, especially watching them navigate their complicated history and find their way back to each other. The small-town setting added to the warm, comforting vibe, and I loved the low-spice approach—it kept the focus on the emotional connection and romance. Dahl’s struggles with fame and mental health added some depth to his character, and I appreciated seeing him take accountability for his past mistakes. Sasha was easy to root for, and her hesitation about trusting him again felt realistic. I did feel like some parts moved a little too quickly, and I wanted a bit more development in certain areas. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Play You Home is a cute, quick second-chance romance with plenty of cozy vibes.
Sasha was once one of the biggest fans of Dahl, the front man of one of DC’s most famous bands. The two had their moment, but it was brief, and when Dahl left, he left Sasha with a broken heart.
Now he’s back, determined to make amends and win back his muse.
I enjoyed the second-chance aspect of Sasha and Dahl’s story, especially watching Dahl get the opportunity to make things right and prove that what happened between them the first time doesn’t have to be the end of their story.
This was a quick, easy read with a fun rockstar romance setup, cozy vibes, and a second chance at love. If you’re looking for something light and swoony that you can breeze through, this is a sweet addition to the Port Fortune series.
Thank you to Claudia Ambrose and House of Hearts for the gifted ARC. All opinions are my own.
Sasha was once one of the biggest fans of Dahl, the front man of one of DC’s most famous bands. The two had their moment, but it was brief, and when Dahl left, he left Sasha with a broken heart.
Now he’s back, determined to make amends and win back his muse.
I enjoyed the second-chance aspect of Sasha and Dahl’s story, especially watching Dahl get the opportunity to make things right and prove that what happened between them the first time doesn’t have to be the end of their story.
This was a quick, easy read with a fun rockstar romance setup, cozy vibes, and a second chance at love. If you’re looking for something light and swoony that you can breeze through, this is a sweet addition to the Port Fortune series.
Thank you to Claudia Ambrose and House of Hearts for the gifted ARC. All opinions are my own.
September 12, 2026
ARC Review
Romance Comfort Read
🎤 Second Chance Romance
🎸 HEA
🎤 Rockstar × Fan
🎸 Men's Mental Health Rep
🎤 Low Spice
🎸 Cozy Vibe
I want to start off with saying thank you to both @claudiaambrose and @house of hearts for this opportunity.
I enjoyed all the characters in the book. And I loved Sasha and Dahl's second chance story it was really cute and I'm glad they were able to work through the issues they had and get back together. They are so cute/perfect together in my opinion. I also liked the anxiety rep with both MCs. As I had about 5 chapters left to go in the book I was thinking to myself 'I wish the book wasn't about to end' because I just wanted to keep reading more of their story. And then I find out at the end of the book there's another one coming out in November continuing their story, and I got so happy about that!! I can't wait to read it!!
Romance Comfort Read
🎤 Second Chance Romance
🎸 HEA
🎤 Rockstar × Fan
🎸 Men's Mental Health Rep
🎤 Low Spice
🎸 Cozy Vibe
I want to start off with saying thank you to both @claudiaambrose and @house of hearts for this opportunity.
I enjoyed all the characters in the book. And I loved Sasha and Dahl's second chance story it was really cute and I'm glad they were able to work through the issues they had and get back together. They are so cute/perfect together in my opinion. I also liked the anxiety rep with both MCs. As I had about 5 chapters left to go in the book I was thinking to myself 'I wish the book wasn't about to end' because I just wanted to keep reading more of their story. And then I find out at the end of the book there's another one coming out in November continuing their story, and I got so happy about that!! I can't wait to read it!!
September 14, 2026
First of all, thank you house of hearts for this ARC.
I really wanted to love this one, but unfortunately it just didn’t fully work for me. 😭
The ending felt rushed, and the timeline was honestly a little confusing at times, which made the chemistry between the MCs feel lacking and made it harder for me to get invested in their relationship.
I would have liked more details, or even an actual throwback to the past, so we could understand in more detail what happened and get a better sense of whether the grovel was really there or not. With the information we were given, the grovel felt nonexistent to me, and the issue was resolved pretty quickly.
Overall, this had a lot of potential for a really satisfying second-chance romance, but I needed more grovel, more chemistry, and honestly… more story.
I really wanted to love this one, but unfortunately it just didn’t fully work for me. 😭
The ending felt rushed, and the timeline was honestly a little confusing at times, which made the chemistry between the MCs feel lacking and made it harder for me to get invested in their relationship.
I would have liked more details, or even an actual throwback to the past, so we could understand in more detail what happened and get a better sense of whether the grovel was really there or not. With the information we were given, the grovel felt nonexistent to me, and the issue was resolved pretty quickly.
Overall, this had a lot of potential for a really satisfying second-chance romance, but I needed more grovel, more chemistry, and honestly… more story.
September 8, 2026
Thank you to Claudia Ambrose and @houseofheartslit for this ARC.
There are books that devastate and move you emotionally that you barely recover from them, and there are books where it’s just like a cup of afternoon tea on a light, rainy day. Play You Home is the latter.
It’s light and sweet and while not a bad read, I have to admit it’s not my cup of tea. I needed more of the back story and more emotional turmoil to merit the second chance love. But that could just be me. I also prefer open-door romances though I don’t mind closed-door ones. This time though, I wanted more. I needed more reason to root for Sasha and Dahl.
The chemistry was there, the promise, too. It just needed more in my opinion. But do check it out because like I said, it might not just be my jam.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
There are books that devastate and move you emotionally that you barely recover from them, and there are books where it’s just like a cup of afternoon tea on a light, rainy day. Play You Home is the latter.
It’s light and sweet and while not a bad read, I have to admit it’s not my cup of tea. I needed more of the back story and more emotional turmoil to merit the second chance love. But that could just be me. I also prefer open-door romances though I don’t mind closed-door ones. This time though, I wanted more. I needed more reason to root for Sasha and Dahl.
The chemistry was there, the promise, too. It just needed more in my opinion. But do check it out because like I said, it might not just be my jam.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
September 9, 2026
I got an ARC of this through an agency. I have never heard of this author before so this is my first read by her.
It took me a week to fully get into this book and finish it. This book is very slow to pick up even though the characters have a past and it could have been easier to speed the timeline up some.
Both of the characters are shown to have major anxiety which makes the book harder to get through also as that is a big focus in the story. It does NOT detract from the story just harder to get through.
The MMC is shown speaking to his therapist on more than one occasion and due to their gears these two communicate a lot better than most couples and that was nice to see.
I really enjoyed their healing journey and second chance. I loved the last chapter and epilogue but have to say that I was relieved when it was done only to find out the author has plans for a second book for these characters lol
I honestly don’t know if I want to read that one or not. Time will tell.
Side note this book is I would say about a 1.5 on the pepper scale. There are a few intimate scenes in the book some with light descriptions and some with a hint at more.
It took me a week to fully get into this book and finish it. This book is very slow to pick up even though the characters have a past and it could have been easier to speed the timeline up some.
Both of the characters are shown to have major anxiety which makes the book harder to get through also as that is a big focus in the story. It does NOT detract from the story just harder to get through.
The MMC is shown speaking to his therapist on more than one occasion and due to their gears these two communicate a lot better than most couples and that was nice to see.
I really enjoyed their healing journey and second chance. I loved the last chapter and epilogue but have to say that I was relieved when it was done only to find out the author has plans for a second book for these characters lol
I honestly don’t know if I want to read that one or not. Time will tell.
Side note this book is I would say about a 1.5 on the pepper scale. There are a few intimate scenes in the book some with light descriptions and some with a hint at more.
September 13, 2026
I received an advanced copy of Play You Home from House of Hearts Lit in exchange for my honest review.
This was my first read by Claudia Ambrose, and while it was a quick and easy read, it actually took me about a week to finish. I found myself struggling to want to pick it back up and had a hard time staying fully invested in the story.
Overall, though, it was a sweet romance with little to no spice. There were definitely moments I enjoyed, but it just didn’t completely pull me in the way I hoped it would.
A cute, low-spice read that may be a better fit for someone looking for a lighter romance. 💕
This was my first read by Claudia Ambrose, and while it was a quick and easy read, it actually took me about a week to finish. I found myself struggling to want to pick it back up and had a hard time staying fully invested in the story.
Overall, though, it was a sweet romance with little to no spice. There were definitely moments I enjoyed, but it just didn’t completely pull me in the way I hoped it would.
A cute, low-spice read that may be a better fit for someone looking for a lighter romance. 💕
October 11, 2026
While I did enjoy the book, it did drag a little - Sasha is nurse, and had a relationship with Dahl, our rockstar; he did her dirty and left her hanging when his band was taking off. Now he is a big star, and is revisiting his life - he deliberately goes to the hospital she works at - for stitches, for a questionable injury.
The chemistry is still there, but she wants nothing to do with him - she is cordial, but he pushes, shows up places unexpectedly - he is trying so hard to earn her forgiveness.
While I can't give away all the details of the book - Sasha and Dahl carve out a new friendship, and he is there when she needs him - comes through, no questions asked.
The chemistry is still there, but she wants nothing to do with him - she is cordial, but he pushes, shows up places unexpectedly - he is trying so hard to earn her forgiveness.
While I can't give away all the details of the book - Sasha and Dahl carve out a new friendship, and he is there when she needs him - comes through, no questions asked.
September 6, 2026
Play You Home is a story about Sasha and Dahl - a second chance, rockstar/fan romance. There is a lot of tension between the two of them and walls that have been built that they both need to overcome to be together for the second time. I enjoyed seeing how they worked together to get to know the real people behind the facades, no fears in the way. It was nice seeing the real them shine through, letting readers know that everything is not always perfect in order to get to that happy ending.
Thank you to the author and House of Hearts Literary Services for the copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you to the author and House of Hearts Literary Services for the copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 9, 2026
This was a sweet and cozy, quick read and I enjoyed it so much! This was my first book by Claudia Ambrose and I am so grateful to House of Hearts Lit for the chance to read her writing! It was packed lots of swoon, tons of heart and warmth. I loved reading about these two exes reuniting and reconnecting. The book was well-balanced within the tropes and themes, small town x big city; rockstar x nurse; romance sprinkled with emotional and mental health struggles. Such a good book and I really enjoyed it!
September 10, 2026
Thank you to House of Hearts and Claudia Ambrose for this ARC. I enjoyed the two complex characters in this story. The turmoil the characters have faced is brought to the surface after the rock start ends up in her ER. He is not only a rock star but her ex. He wants to apologize. Can she forgive him? Now they are both living in the same small town she grew up in. Can they reconcile, ignore each other or meet each other where they are with understanding, forgiveness and grace? Be careful what you say it might just end up in a song.
September 15, 2026
I got this book as an ARC and I am happy to say I loved it. This was such a fun book. Even with it being shorter it still packed with so much. I never felt like I was missing any parts or that I was ever confused of what’s happening. I also didn’t think there was ever a time this book was rushed or had some kind of inconvenience just to move the plot along. It was a second chance romance and was between a fan and a rockstar. You could see how they grew while they were apart and how they were perfect for each other. I really like Claudia Ambrose’s work and excited for the next in the series.
September 21, 2026
This was an easy and gentle read, and an excellent palate cleanser but as much as I wanted to love it, there wasn't enough tension to push the story through. The low angst plot was slow and the characters were just a little...not quite real. The MMC's entire personality seemed to be that he went to therapy, and the FMC's motivation for forgiveness wasn't really uncovered. Having said all that, it was a pleasant way to spend a couple of days and I'll probably pick up the next one in the series.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 13, 2026
Sasha and Dahl had a break up during one of Dahl’s tour. Several years later, Dahl ends up in the ED where Sasha works. A series of events bring them together in Sasha’s hometown. Sasha is helping her brother and sister-in-law, and Dahl is working on his band’s new album. Sasha and Dahl are just too cute together. Dahl goes above and beyond to make Sasha forgive him. The banter is great between the two and there are some great supporting characters.
September 9, 2026
Worthwhile read. This romance story is about Dahl, a rockstar trying to make amends to Sasha and wanting her back in his life. I would have liked the story to have given more detail into their past, Dahl had a lot of problems and treated Sasha terribly. Thanks to Claudia Ambrose and House of Hearts for the Advance Readers Copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
This book is different from the others. It's more personal, as Dahl's struggles with mental health reflect my own. The vibes are a little less "cozy" than the first book in this series, Bake You Mine. But I still hope readers will connect with this story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Love this rockstar romance
This was a really sweet, easy and fast paced book to read! It was on the shorter side, so we did not have to wait so long for the MCs to get back together after a couple years apart.
Sasha and Dahl has a whirlwind relationship a couple years ago, and although they were only officially together for a few weeks, they were definitely end game. However, his fame had gotten in the way. Once they reconnected, Dahl was in a much better head space, and they were able to start fresh.
I loved this second chance romance and how quickly they were able to forgive each other and start fresh. They ended up being perfect together and this second time around they were able to work throughout their distance. I loved this second chance romance and loved seeing them with their families as well as getting their HEA.
This was a really sweet, easy and fast paced book to read! It was on the shorter side, so we did not have to wait so long for the MCs to get back together after a couple years apart.
Sasha and Dahl has a whirlwind relationship a couple years ago, and although they were only officially together for a few weeks, they were definitely end game. However, his fame had gotten in the way. Once they reconnected, Dahl was in a much better head space, and they were able to start fresh.
I loved this second chance romance and how quickly they were able to forgive each other and start fresh. They ended up being perfect together and this second time around they were able to work throughout their distance. I loved this second chance romance and loved seeing them with their families as well as getting their HEA.
September 9, 2026
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thanks to Claudia Ambrose and House of Hearts for the gifted copy — all opinions are my own.
I thought the book was good but without the spice I wasn’t really into it but I still pushed through.
I thought the book was good but without the spice I wasn’t really into it but I still pushed through.
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