What do you think?
What Maple Heard: A Overheard Betrayal Grovel Romance
MapleI had one rule.
Don't trust men.
So when Cade Sonnenberg, the wealthiest, most respected man in town walked into my dance studio and acted like he genuinely wanted to know me, I should have run.
I didn't run. Instead, I let him in. I let him close to my little brother. I let myself believe that maybe, just this once, someone was staying.
Then I overheard him talking about me at a party.
The words were so cold, they stopped my heart mid-beat.
I left from the back door, and cut him out of my life.
But now, as I'm preparing for the fall festival performance, he's back in my studio, begging for a second chance. But I heard what I heard, and he's not getting one.
Small Town Fall Romance
Relationship in Crisis
Gut Punch Betrayal
Plenty of Groveling
High Angst
Author's This is the second book in the Words of Ruin series — short standalones linked by one devastating overheard words can destroy everything. If you enjoyed the first book in the series, you'll love this one even more. Each book, a different season, a different secret. The same earth-shattering moment of hearing something you were never meant to hear. And the grovel? The knees-on-the-floor, heart-in-your-hands, please-give-me-a-second-chance grovel? Worth every page.
Don't trust men.
So when Cade Sonnenberg, the wealthiest, most respected man in town walked into my dance studio and acted like he genuinely wanted to know me, I should have run.
I didn't run. Instead, I let him in. I let him close to my little brother. I let myself believe that maybe, just this once, someone was staying.
Then I overheard him talking about me at a party.
The words were so cold, they stopped my heart mid-beat.
I left from the back door, and cut him out of my life.
But now, as I'm preparing for the fall festival performance, he's back in my studio, begging for a second chance. But I heard what I heard, and he's not getting one.
Small Town Fall Romance
Relationship in Crisis
Gut Punch Betrayal
Plenty of Groveling
High Angst
Author's This is the second book in the Words of Ruin series — short standalones linked by one devastating overheard words can destroy everything. If you enjoyed the first book in the series, you'll love this one even more. Each book, a different season, a different secret. The same earth-shattering moment of hearing something you were never meant to hear. And the grovel? The knees-on-the-floor, heart-in-your-hands, please-give-me-a-second-chance grovel? Worth every page.
165 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 6, 2026
Meh. Call me cynical, but I didn’t really buy it. Ended up skimming a lot.
Spoilery thoughts…
FMC overhears MMC saying some truly nasty things about her at a party. She immediately ghosts him. I liked the FMC. She was a strong character.
What I didn’t buy was the MMC. From his POV, we know he truly meant every nasty word he said about FMC. When she ghosts him, he is all of a sudden in love with her and he does anything and everything to get her back.
I mean, that’s sweet and all… but really? It was such a 180 in his attitude, that I just didn’t believe it. 🤷♀️
Good gut punch in the first chapter. The rest was meh. Personality transplants in characters is a hard sell for me. I need a personal growth bridge along the way to believe these changes are possible, and there wasn’t one here.
Spoilery thoughts…
FMC overhears MMC saying some truly nasty things about her at a party. She immediately ghosts him. I liked the FMC. She was a strong character.
What I didn’t buy was the MMC. From his POV, we know he truly meant every nasty word he said about FMC. When she ghosts him, he is all of a sudden in love with her and he does anything and everything to get her back.
I mean, that’s sweet and all… but really? It was such a 180 in his attitude, that I just didn’t believe it. 🤷♀️
Good gut punch in the first chapter. The rest was meh. Personality transplants in characters is a hard sell for me. I need a personal growth bridge along the way to believe these changes are possible, and there wasn’t one here.
September 4, 2026
I love overheard betrayal that doesn’t involve cheating or OW, so after I read the blurb I was ready to jump in. I was bracing myself for one of those awful AI written books that are full of plot holes, inconsistencies, and horrible surface level writing. I’m pretty sure this is AI assisted but it seemed like the author at least read over what was written and tried to keep it cohesive. There were still some errors, inconsistencies, and phrases used that made it clear it’s AI, but surprisingly it wasn’t awful. I mean, the writing isn’t great or anything, but it at least made sense. It was a lot of show, not tell, especially towards the end. I skimmed a good bit, I was really just here for the gut punch and then a man suffering.
I am pleased to say this actually had a strong FMC, and a pretty good grovel. She really gave him nothing to work with and he still kept showing up. I am giving 3 stars for that, not for the story or writing.
There were some loose ends that never got resolved. Like the fact that he was best friends with a guy for his whole life, and he just disappeared after MMC ruined a business deal for him. Friends for over 30 years and the guy never even called to say WTF man? But then again, my expectations were on the floor so, whatever.
Also, I just had to note this because it made me laugh. The MMC is described as being a big guy, 6’2 and broad. Part of his grovel is dressing up in a tutu and being a fairy for her dance class’s play. She gives him a pair of “women’s size 10 flats”, and they fit him. Size 10 in a woman’s shoe is about an 8 in men’s. So this big, tall man is apparently walking around with proportionally tiny little feet. I was just cracking up at the visual every time the shoes were mentioned.
I looked at the blurbs of some of this author’s other books and they involve cheating, so I won’t be reading those. But if she writes more that don’t involve cheating, I can see myself reading them when I need a quick, unserious read with a decent betrayal/grovel. It didn’t really evoke any emotions but it was something to fill the time.
I don’t really recommend this book because I’d be embarrassed to tell anyone I kind of liked it. But if you go into it not expecting much at all, I think you’ll be ok.
Safety: Totally safe. No OM drama. Tiny OW drama but MMC is unreceptive and puts her in her place immediately.
I am pleased to say this actually had a strong FMC, and a pretty good grovel. She really gave him nothing to work with and he still kept showing up. I am giving 3 stars for that, not for the story or writing.
There were some loose ends that never got resolved. Like the fact that he was best friends with a guy for his whole life, and he just disappeared after MMC ruined a business deal for him. Friends for over 30 years and the guy never even called to say WTF man? But then again, my expectations were on the floor so, whatever.
Also, I just had to note this because it made me laugh. The MMC is described as being a big guy, 6’2 and broad. Part of his grovel is dressing up in a tutu and being a fairy for her dance class’s play. She gives him a pair of “women’s size 10 flats”, and they fit him. Size 10 in a woman’s shoe is about an 8 in men’s. So this big, tall man is apparently walking around with proportionally tiny little feet. I was just cracking up at the visual every time the shoes were mentioned.
I looked at the blurbs of some of this author’s other books and they involve cheating, so I won’t be reading those. But if she writes more that don’t involve cheating, I can see myself reading them when I need a quick, unserious read with a decent betrayal/grovel. It didn’t really evoke any emotions but it was something to fill the time.
I don’t really recommend this book because I’d be embarrassed to tell anyone I kind of liked it. But if you go into it not expecting much at all, I think you’ll be ok.
Safety: Totally safe. No OM drama. Tiny OW drama but MMC is unreceptive and puts her in her place immediately.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2026
★★★½ — The grovel worked. The calendar did not.
I went into What Maple Heard expecting a quick betrayal-and-grovel romance, and that is exactly what I got—except it was much sweeter than I expected in some places and considerably more confusing in others.
The strongest part of this book is that the grovel is actually a grovel. Cade doesn’t apologize twice, take his shirt off, and magically receive absolution through orgasms. He has to SHOW UP. Repeatedly. Maple doesn’t immediately trust him again, and he doesn’t pressure her to. Even after she agrees to try dating him again, they take things slowly. I loved that. I also really loved how much of the story becomes about Cade building genuine relationships with the kids around Maple rather than treating them as props in his campaign to get the girl.
There are some genuinely funny and sweet moments, and apparently nothing says personal growth quite like a wealthy 39-year-old businessman volunteering at a children’s dance studio and eventually finding himself in a tutu.
Unfortunately, this book desperately needed another editing pass. There were grammar and spelling errors, timeline problems, character inconsistencies, and a continuity error in the VERY FIRST SCENE. Where exactly did the infamous conversation happen? The study? The kitchen? We will never know. The book has chosen to preserve this mystery for future generations.
There is also a little other-woman drama, but thankfully Cade could not care less, so it never becomes the kind of irritating manufactured triangle that makes me want to throw things.
Overall, the emotional arc worked much better for me than the technical execution. The grovel was satisfying, the rebuilding of trust felt earned, and I really liked where these characters ended up. 3.5 stars.
⸻
⚠️ SPOILERS BELOW ⚠️
Cade has committed the cardinal romance sin: he likes the girl, knows he likes the girl, is actively buying books about how to help raise her little brother…and then tells his friend Kyle that she’s basically nothing serious. And he was awful!
Sir.
You bought the parenting books THAT DAY.
Maple overhears him, leaves him, and Cade begins his new full-time occupation: Showing The Fuck Up™.
Now, about Kyle.
In the first chapter, Kyle seems…nice? He’s certainly not twirling a mustache. He doesn’t seem to be aggressively pushing Cade toward anything. Cade says the stupid shit. Cade owns the stupid shit.
Later, however, we discover that Kyle is apparently an enormous asshole who has been a terrible influence and was somehow pushing this whole narrative.
How?
Excellent question.
Perhaps Kyle possesses low-level telepathy. Perhaps he was transmitting douchebaggery directly into Cade’s cerebral cortex. Perhaps there was a subliminal PowerPoint running behind him.
The text certainly didn’t show me.
I can absolutely believe Kyle was secretly an asshole. What I don’t buy is the book retroactively acting like we watched him manipulate Cade in that original scene when…we did not. If Kyle pushed that narrative, he did so using powers unavailable to the reader.
Thankfully, Cade’s redemption works much better.
He starts volunteering at Maple’s dance studio and becomes genuinely involved with the kids. Quiet little Marcus starts talking about Cade so much that David, one of the foster-home coordinators, tells Cade Marcus said he wants to be like him when he grows up. Cade nearly short-circuits because apparently nobody warned him that volunteering might result in FEELINGS.
Meanwhile, Maple’s little brother River has community service after getting into trouble. River and Brody are originally supposed to repaint a damaged wall some boring shade of institutional sadness, but Cade discovers River is artistic and helps convince the community center to let the boys create a huge fall mural instead.
Importantly, Cade doesn’t suddenly reveal a secret MFA in Fine Arts.
He cannot paint.
He does understand construction, scale and proportions, so that’s what he helps with. He keeps coming back while they work, helps with supplies and paint mixing, and River’s punishment becomes an opportunity to discover and develop something he’s actually good at.
Then the mural gets publicly revealed after the children’s performance, and River gets praised by adults who aren’t Maple or Cade. It’s a lovely full-circle moment: River damaged his community, was required to repair it, and ultimately created something the community was proud to display.
And Cade is there for the reveal.
In a tutu.
Because he has just participated in the children’s dance performance and changing clothes is apparently less important than seeing River have his moment.
I’m sorry. That’s good groveling. 😂
And Cade’s relationship with River keeps developing independently of Maple. They talk about life and girls. Cade calls River to ask permission before proposing to Maple. Eventually Cade wants to formalize their family relationship legally, and River’s response is essentially, Buddy, paperwork is the only thing we’re missing. You’re already my family.
THAT worked for me.
There’s also some other-woman nonsense floating around, but I actually appreciated how little Cade cared. There is no agonizing Oh no, which woman will he choose?! situation.
Cade has chosen.
Cade is busy.
Cade has floors to sweep, children to emotionally support, a mural to supervise, a fairy dance to rehearse and approximately fourteen years of groveling scheduled for Tuesday.
Please take your other-woman drama elsewhere.
Eventually Cade exposes Kyle’s wrongdoing to the company board, despite knowing it could cost him professionally, and his father is proud of him for choosing to do the right thing.
Then we arrive at Serious Lamb Dinner™.
Mom apparently never cooks unless Something Must Be Discussed, so when she announces she’s cooking lamb, Cade knows he’s been summoned.
She starts the conversation sounding exactly like the judgmental society mother Cade has apparently spent the entire book fearing: people are talking, you’re dancing in a children’s fairy production, Maple used to pole dance, Sonnenberg Industries, reputation, etc.
Cade essentially tells her: I love Maple, I want to spend my life with her, and if people have a problem with that, that’s their problem.
Dad: Good for you, son.
Mom, approximately twelve seconds later: Does she make you happy? 🥹 Bring her to Christmas. 🥰
MA’AM. I MISSED A STEP.
I’m completely fine with Mom changing her mind. I just needed to actually see the changing-her-mind portion of the program.
And honestly, Cade’s parents turn out to be so supportive that I started wondering whether Cade has ever met these people before.
He spends all this time expecting them to judge him and Maple. Then Dad is proud of him. Mom invites Maple to Christmas. They show up for the children’s performance. They’re supportive.
Cade, these are your parents.
You are 39.
Have you all been introduced?
And then the calendar catches fire.
Three weeks before Christmas, Cade announces he’s leaving for the Philippines for 10–14 days. He apparently spends roughly another week with Maple and River before leaving. Then he’s back, there’s Christmas, there’s a proposal, there’s a Christmas party coming up—
WHAT DATE IS IT?
I have 21 days.
You have given me approximately 47 days of plot.
Somewhere, Santa is filing a grievance.
But the actual ending is sweet. Cade proposes, Maple says yes, and the epilogue gives us the happy family—including their two children and River growing up, starting a band with Brody, and apparently being pretty damn talented musically too.
The book ends with Cade thanking Maple for giving him another chance and Maple thanking him for not giving up.
And that’s ultimately why this still worked for me.
Cade didn’t grovel with sex. He didn’t grovel with one giant gesture. He grovelled by showing up over and over and over again—for Maple, for River, for Marcus, for the other kids, and eventually for himself when he finally stood up to Kyle.
So: 3.5 stars.
Sweet romance. Good grovel. Great relationship-building with the kids. Minimal other-woman irritation. A grown man in a tutu.
Also grammar issues, character rewrites, a room that apparently teleported between the study and kitchen, a villain who may possess undisclosed mind-control abilities, and December apparently containing 63 days.
I had a good time.
I just wish the editor had brought a calendar, a floor plan, and Kyle’s superpower origin story. 😂
I went into What Maple Heard expecting a quick betrayal-and-grovel romance, and that is exactly what I got—except it was much sweeter than I expected in some places and considerably more confusing in others.
The strongest part of this book is that the grovel is actually a grovel. Cade doesn’t apologize twice, take his shirt off, and magically receive absolution through orgasms. He has to SHOW UP. Repeatedly. Maple doesn’t immediately trust him again, and he doesn’t pressure her to. Even after she agrees to try dating him again, they take things slowly. I loved that. I also really loved how much of the story becomes about Cade building genuine relationships with the kids around Maple rather than treating them as props in his campaign to get the girl.
There are some genuinely funny and sweet moments, and apparently nothing says personal growth quite like a wealthy 39-year-old businessman volunteering at a children’s dance studio and eventually finding himself in a tutu.
Unfortunately, this book desperately needed another editing pass. There were grammar and spelling errors, timeline problems, character inconsistencies, and a continuity error in the VERY FIRST SCENE. Where exactly did the infamous conversation happen? The study? The kitchen? We will never know. The book has chosen to preserve this mystery for future generations.
There is also a little other-woman drama, but thankfully Cade could not care less, so it never becomes the kind of irritating manufactured triangle that makes me want to throw things.
Overall, the emotional arc worked much better for me than the technical execution. The grovel was satisfying, the rebuilding of trust felt earned, and I really liked where these characters ended up. 3.5 stars.
⸻
⚠️ SPOILERS BELOW ⚠️
Cade has committed the cardinal romance sin: he likes the girl, knows he likes the girl, is actively buying books about how to help raise her little brother…and then tells his friend Kyle that she’s basically nothing serious. And he was awful!
Sir.
You bought the parenting books THAT DAY.
Maple overhears him, leaves him, and Cade begins his new full-time occupation: Showing The Fuck Up™.
Now, about Kyle.
In the first chapter, Kyle seems…nice? He’s certainly not twirling a mustache. He doesn’t seem to be aggressively pushing Cade toward anything. Cade says the stupid shit. Cade owns the stupid shit.
Later, however, we discover that Kyle is apparently an enormous asshole who has been a terrible influence and was somehow pushing this whole narrative.
How?
Excellent question.
Perhaps Kyle possesses low-level telepathy. Perhaps he was transmitting douchebaggery directly into Cade’s cerebral cortex. Perhaps there was a subliminal PowerPoint running behind him.
The text certainly didn’t show me.
I can absolutely believe Kyle was secretly an asshole. What I don’t buy is the book retroactively acting like we watched him manipulate Cade in that original scene when…we did not. If Kyle pushed that narrative, he did so using powers unavailable to the reader.
Thankfully, Cade’s redemption works much better.
He starts volunteering at Maple’s dance studio and becomes genuinely involved with the kids. Quiet little Marcus starts talking about Cade so much that David, one of the foster-home coordinators, tells Cade Marcus said he wants to be like him when he grows up. Cade nearly short-circuits because apparently nobody warned him that volunteering might result in FEELINGS.
Meanwhile, Maple’s little brother River has community service after getting into trouble. River and Brody are originally supposed to repaint a damaged wall some boring shade of institutional sadness, but Cade discovers River is artistic and helps convince the community center to let the boys create a huge fall mural instead.
Importantly, Cade doesn’t suddenly reveal a secret MFA in Fine Arts.
He cannot paint.
He does understand construction, scale and proportions, so that’s what he helps with. He keeps coming back while they work, helps with supplies and paint mixing, and River’s punishment becomes an opportunity to discover and develop something he’s actually good at.
Then the mural gets publicly revealed after the children’s performance, and River gets praised by adults who aren’t Maple or Cade. It’s a lovely full-circle moment: River damaged his community, was required to repair it, and ultimately created something the community was proud to display.
And Cade is there for the reveal.
In a tutu.
Because he has just participated in the children’s dance performance and changing clothes is apparently less important than seeing River have his moment.
I’m sorry. That’s good groveling. 😂
And Cade’s relationship with River keeps developing independently of Maple. They talk about life and girls. Cade calls River to ask permission before proposing to Maple. Eventually Cade wants to formalize their family relationship legally, and River’s response is essentially, Buddy, paperwork is the only thing we’re missing. You’re already my family.
THAT worked for me.
There’s also some other-woman nonsense floating around, but I actually appreciated how little Cade cared. There is no agonizing Oh no, which woman will he choose?! situation.
Cade has chosen.
Cade is busy.
Cade has floors to sweep, children to emotionally support, a mural to supervise, a fairy dance to rehearse and approximately fourteen years of groveling scheduled for Tuesday.
Please take your other-woman drama elsewhere.
Eventually Cade exposes Kyle’s wrongdoing to the company board, despite knowing it could cost him professionally, and his father is proud of him for choosing to do the right thing.
Then we arrive at Serious Lamb Dinner™.
Mom apparently never cooks unless Something Must Be Discussed, so when she announces she’s cooking lamb, Cade knows he’s been summoned.
She starts the conversation sounding exactly like the judgmental society mother Cade has apparently spent the entire book fearing: people are talking, you’re dancing in a children’s fairy production, Maple used to pole dance, Sonnenberg Industries, reputation, etc.
Cade essentially tells her: I love Maple, I want to spend my life with her, and if people have a problem with that, that’s their problem.
Dad: Good for you, son.
Mom, approximately twelve seconds later: Does she make you happy? 🥹 Bring her to Christmas. 🥰
MA’AM. I MISSED A STEP.
I’m completely fine with Mom changing her mind. I just needed to actually see the changing-her-mind portion of the program.
And honestly, Cade’s parents turn out to be so supportive that I started wondering whether Cade has ever met these people before.
He spends all this time expecting them to judge him and Maple. Then Dad is proud of him. Mom invites Maple to Christmas. They show up for the children’s performance. They’re supportive.
Cade, these are your parents.
You are 39.
Have you all been introduced?
And then the calendar catches fire.
Three weeks before Christmas, Cade announces he’s leaving for the Philippines for 10–14 days. He apparently spends roughly another week with Maple and River before leaving. Then he’s back, there’s Christmas, there’s a proposal, there’s a Christmas party coming up—
WHAT DATE IS IT?
I have 21 days.
You have given me approximately 47 days of plot.
Somewhere, Santa is filing a grievance.
But the actual ending is sweet. Cade proposes, Maple says yes, and the epilogue gives us the happy family—including their two children and River growing up, starting a band with Brody, and apparently being pretty damn talented musically too.
The book ends with Cade thanking Maple for giving him another chance and Maple thanking him for not giving up.
And that’s ultimately why this still worked for me.
Cade didn’t grovel with sex. He didn’t grovel with one giant gesture. He grovelled by showing up over and over and over again—for Maple, for River, for Marcus, for the other kids, and eventually for himself when he finally stood up to Kyle.
So: 3.5 stars.
Sweet romance. Good grovel. Great relationship-building with the kids. Minimal other-woman irritation. A grown man in a tutu.
Also grammar issues, character rewrites, a room that apparently teleported between the study and kitchen, a villain who may possess undisclosed mind-control abilities, and December apparently containing 63 days.
I had a good time.
I just wish the editor had brought a calendar, a floor plan, and Kyle’s superpower origin story. 😂
September 12, 2026
They just disappeared…
I liked this, but the two friends (Kyle and his sister Sapphire) sort of just disappeared with no real explanation. They were the troublemakers and I don’t know if I missed it, but there was no real resolution to them causing trouble.
Trope is her, the FMC Maple overhearing the MMC Cade talking trash about her. She stops talking to him, even though she thought they were building something together. The two friends engineered it. Sapphire had just gotten divorced and she was aiming at Cade because he is rich and they are not doing well.
KU and this was interesting but nothing special. I liked it fine…
I liked this, but the two friends (Kyle and his sister Sapphire) sort of just disappeared with no real explanation. They were the troublemakers and I don’t know if I missed it, but there was no real resolution to them causing trouble.
Trope is her, the FMC Maple overhearing the MMC Cade talking trash about her. She stops talking to him, even though she thought they were building something together. The two friends engineered it. Sapphire had just gotten divorced and she was aiming at Cade because he is rich and they are not doing well.
KU and this was interesting but nothing special. I liked it fine…
September 10, 2026
What he said was misogynistic AS FUCK, this man not only had 0 respect for her, he had no respect for women as a whole.
his entire argument was blaming and being scared that his rich parents wouldn't accept a pole dancer so i was expecting soap opera evil rich parents but they literally didn't give a fuck and only wanted his happiness.
His parents and choice of dickhead friends shows that what he did wasn't due to his upbringing or family like he was claiming, it was 100% his own ideas and it showed with him being besties with Kyle and Sapphire.
I couldn’t forgive a man who spoke about women of any profession that way, especially that he KNEW the reason she pole danced was because she was literally a teen herself who ran away from abuse, and was raising her 4 year old brother.
Cade deserved the worst. literally scum
his entire argument was blaming and being scared that his rich parents wouldn't accept a pole dancer so i was expecting soap opera evil rich parents but they literally didn't give a fuck and only wanted his happiness.
His parents and choice of dickhead friends shows that what he did wasn't due to his upbringing or family like he was claiming, it was 100% his own ideas and it showed with him being besties with Kyle and Sapphire.
I couldn’t forgive a man who spoke about women of any profession that way, especially that he KNEW the reason she pole danced was because she was literally a teen herself who ran away from abuse, and was raising her 4 year old brother.
Cade deserved the worst. literally scum
September 13, 2026
I didn’t enjoy this story’s structure as much as I did the first book in this series. This one the overheard moment happens in the very beginning and we spend the whole rest of the book in the redemption arc. The angst in the beginning was good but I was bored after that. The author tired to weave some angsty moments throughout the read—the H and his BFFs sister standing really close to make the h think they’re together, for one—but it didn’t work because we have so much male POV. There was too much focus on the brother and the fall community festival too.
Overall: 2.5
Overall: 2.5
September 6, 2026
Very cute
Not what I was expecting.but how can he go from being a complete bastard to a devoted boyfriend in like two weeks. It was awful what he said. It took him a while to grovel back to her but he did.it remarkably well. I thought it was pretty funny when he agreed to do the forest fairy for her in the show, and the costume sounded outrageous too. He had really bad friends though. Glad he finally saw the light. the ending was a little rushed but it was fine. Quick pleasant read.
Not what I was expecting.but how can he go from being a complete bastard to a devoted boyfriend in like two weeks. It was awful what he said. It took him a while to grovel back to her but he did.it remarkably well. I thought it was pretty funny when he agreed to do the forest fairy for her in the show, and the costume sounded outrageous too. He had really bad friends though. Glad he finally saw the light. the ending was a little rushed but it was fine. Quick pleasant read.
Did Not Finish
September 4, 2026Like page 2 is when she overhears the harsh words 🙄 like can I get an exposition before the fucking climax /conflict
son of a
son of a
September 3, 2026
Maple had a bad upbringing and left home at 17 with her brother, River (4). Her parents don't even seem to care that she took him. She supported herself and River by stripping in Las Vegas. But then she moved to a small town and opened a dance studio.
Maple meets Cade when he's in a group of guys taking salsa lessons for a wedding. Cade continues lessons and eventually walks her home, which turns into dates, which turns into a relationship. Or so she thinks.
But one day after they've been together for three months, they are at a get-together at his house, and she overhears Cade telling his best friend Kyle that Maple's just good in bed but not someone he can introduce to his mother. He admits that whenever Maple talks about their future together, he just agrees with whatever she says, but he's lying to her, because he doesn't really see a future with her.
She leaves the party without saying anything and goes home.
She comes home from the party early to find that River (now 14), influenced by a bad kid named Noah, has invited a bunch of other kids over and they are drinking and partying in her living room. So she has to deal with that.
By the time she's delt with River and his friends, she's decided that she made a mistake dating Cade, he's just another asshole, and she'll go on with her life and forget him.
After a week of being ghosted, Cade shows up at her house, acting confused and worried about what's going on. She tells him to leave and that the next time he just wants sex, he should say so. That clues him in that she overheard his conversation with Kyle. He says he did believe those things when he said them, but living without her for a week made him realize it was more than just sex. She's like, Give it another week and you'll get over it.
One day a wannabe OW, (who I think is his sister's friend), confronts Cade that he shouldn't try to get Maple back, because although he feels bad about saying it in a harsh way, the things he said were true. His parents would never accept her so he won't marry her. Maple walks into the same room, and Cade tries to approach her, but OW starts saying all kinds of stuff in front of Maple about how they used to be together, they've had sex before, etc. Maple's just like, I don't have time for this drama.
Cade makes a donation to the fall festival so the organizers will pressure Maple to let him volunteer with her dance class at the festival, which they do. She lets him sweep floors and other menial jobs. She thinks he's just like every other spoiled rich boy, he'll give up when he doesn't get sex. Days past like that; he sweeps the floors while she ignores him.
The girl who's supposed to be the tree fairy gets sick, so of course Cade agrees to be the tree fairy, and Maple plans to make him wear a leotard and sing a little song in front of the whole town.
River gets caught putting graffiti on a building with Noah. Maple calls Cade because deep down she knows he will do whatever he can to help River. River gets community service, including cleaning the graffiti.
They slowly begin to reconcile.
Maple meets Cade when he's in a group of guys taking salsa lessons for a wedding. Cade continues lessons and eventually walks her home, which turns into dates, which turns into a relationship. Or so she thinks.
But one day after they've been together for three months, they are at a get-together at his house, and she overhears Cade telling his best friend Kyle that Maple's just good in bed but not someone he can introduce to his mother. He admits that whenever Maple talks about their future together, he just agrees with whatever she says, but he's lying to her, because he doesn't really see a future with her.
She leaves the party without saying anything and goes home.
She comes home from the party early to find that River (now 14), influenced by a bad kid named Noah, has invited a bunch of other kids over and they are drinking and partying in her living room. So she has to deal with that.
By the time she's delt with River and his friends, she's decided that she made a mistake dating Cade, he's just another asshole, and she'll go on with her life and forget him.
After a week of being ghosted, Cade shows up at her house, acting confused and worried about what's going on. She tells him to leave and that the next time he just wants sex, he should say so. That clues him in that she overheard his conversation with Kyle. He says he did believe those things when he said them, but living without her for a week made him realize it was more than just sex. She's like, Give it another week and you'll get over it.
One day a wannabe OW, (who I think is his sister's friend), confronts Cade that he shouldn't try to get Maple back, because although he feels bad about saying it in a harsh way, the things he said were true. His parents would never accept her so he won't marry her. Maple walks into the same room, and Cade tries to approach her, but OW starts saying all kinds of stuff in front of Maple about how they used to be together, they've had sex before, etc. Maple's just like, I don't have time for this drama.
Cade makes a donation to the fall festival so the organizers will pressure Maple to let him volunteer with her dance class at the festival, which they do. She lets him sweep floors and other menial jobs. She thinks he's just like every other spoiled rich boy, he'll give up when he doesn't get sex. Days past like that; he sweeps the floors while she ignores him.
The girl who's supposed to be the tree fairy gets sick, so of course Cade agrees to be the tree fairy, and Maple plans to make him wear a leotard and sing a little song in front of the whole town.
River gets caught putting graffiti on a building with Noah. Maple calls Cade because deep down she knows he will do whatever he can to help River. River gets community service, including cleaning the graffiti.
They slowly begin to reconcile.
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September 7, 2026Olivia gets strep and can't perform six weeks in the future? Strep throat doesn't last that long with appropriate medical care.
It is mentioned that Cade knows his parents will see him perform, so why is he surprised at 79% when they find out about the dance?
It is mentioned that Cade knows his parents will see him perform, so why is he surprised at 79% when they find out about the dance?
September 19, 2026
It was not bad but I was not convinced after Mmc said those awful words then done a 180 in a week. Character transplant in the works. And the villians? The best friend and his sister were not villians at all.
September 30, 2026
More a 1.5 than a 2 star. I thought I was in for a great angsty read, but it suddenly fell flat. Loved the start, the rest wasn't worth the paper it was written on!
September 16, 2026
Notes for me
Cade - family money
Maple
Dating a few months and he’s a great boyfriend. Seems to care and remembers the small things.
Party at his house and Maple overhears him telling his best friend she’s only good for one thing. She’s not good enough to be in his entire life and meet his parents.
Maple had to leave home at 17 with her 4 year old brother due to abuse. She worked hard to support her brother even stripping.
Obviously she’s heartbroken and leaves. He pursues her.
His best friend and his sister set them up to break up.
He meant the words at the time. Maple leaving is what woke him up.
Cade worked so hard to win her back.
His parents loved her and River.
He cut his best friend and sister out of his life.
Liked it more than first book.
Cade - family money
Maple
Dating a few months and he’s a great boyfriend. Seems to care and remembers the small things.
Party at his house and Maple overhears him telling his best friend she’s only good for one thing. She’s not good enough to be in his entire life and meet his parents.
Maple had to leave home at 17 with her 4 year old brother due to abuse. She worked hard to support her brother even stripping.
Obviously she’s heartbroken and leaves. He pursues her.
His best friend and his sister set them up to break up.
He meant the words at the time. Maple leaving is what woke him up.
Cade worked so hard to win her back.
His parents loved her and River.
He cut his best friend and sister out of his life.
Liked it more than first book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2026
Good
A quick easy read and had some humour in it .Maple hears her boyfriend cafe bad mouth her and she done ,maple has had it tough raising her brother River since he was 4 so resorted to pole dancing ,nothing more just dancing and now teaches dance .Cade realises he loves her so goes all in to prove it is even dressing up as a woodland fairy for a fall production .It was sweet and funny and had a lovely HEA
A quick easy read and had some humour in it .Maple hears her boyfriend cafe bad mouth her and she done ,maple has had it tough raising her brother River since he was 4 so resorted to pole dancing ,nothing more just dancing and now teaches dance .Cade realises he loves her so goes all in to prove it is even dressing up as a woodland fairy for a fall production .It was sweet and funny and had a lovely HEA
September 21, 2026
👌🏼 and Silly
There were more than a few grammatical and spelling errors but the story was interesting enough for it not to matter too much beyond noticing they existed. The whole tutu, grovel bit, was beyond ridiculous. So far beyond ridiculous that it managed to be charming. My vindictive little heart would have like to know what happened to Kyle and Sapphire but overall, this was another decent filler read.
There were more than a few grammatical and spelling errors but the story was interesting enough for it not to matter too much beyond noticing they existed. The whole tutu, grovel bit, was beyond ridiculous. So far beyond ridiculous that it managed to be charming. My vindictive little heart would have like to know what happened to Kyle and Sapphire but overall, this was another decent filler read.
September 13, 2026
Great story
This story was so touching and so real to life. I will forever keep imagining Cade as the fairy now. Since I was born in 1971, I'm not sure how I feel about those songs being considered oldies. I'm a forever young 1980s teenager. I would recommend this book to everyone who loves a cute grovel story.
This story was so touching and so real to life. I will forever keep imagining Cade as the fairy now. Since I was born in 1971, I'm not sure how I feel about those songs being considered oldies. I'm a forever young 1980s teenager. I would recommend this book to everyone who loves a cute grovel story.
September 6, 2026
I DNF this book. The MMC is supposed to be a 38 y.o. billionaire but honestly he sounded more like a teenager. The MFC is only in her early 20's and sounded more responsible and mature. Between that and bad proofreading I stopped reading about 25% through.
September 12, 2026
Cruel words
When cruel words are over heard, it can be devastating and have lasting effects. Such is the basis of this well written story. It was entertaining to see the lengths taken to make up for it.
When cruel words are over heard, it can be devastating and have lasting effects. Such is the basis of this well written story. It was entertaining to see the lengths taken to make up for it.
September 5, 2026
Tags: age-gaaap, damaged-broken_heroine, grovel-remorseful, hero-hurts-heroine, heroine-stripper, hurtful-words-overheard, mean-mean-girls-women, older-hero-younger-heroine, read, rich-hero
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September 8, 2026rtc
September 28, 2026
The plot was fine, but the writing was hurried and certain words didn't make sense in the sentence.
September 20, 2026
Almost too sweet. Definitely a feel-good read.
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