This book is absolutely adorable. A clever, and sexy twist on the classic transformative tale of a woman coming into her own skin. In true Tara Sivec style, this modern day fairy tale is chock full of laughs, steam and swoony moments sure to satisfy the need for a grown up princess story with one hell of a HEA. The cast of supporting characters is hilarious, with perfectly timed deadpans that actually made me laugh out loud. I really enjoyed the heroine’s journey from scorned housewife to the strong stripper/entrepreneur that she was always meant to be (you read that right and trust me, this book will have you rooting for all single Mom strippers!). My favorite part was the ending.

The way the story came together true to the classic fairy tale without being cheesy or overdone was total perfection. I adored the ending! I’m so happy this Princess found her Prince Charming in the most unique and unconventional way! She proved to all the Cinderellas out there that a man should never define you but instead, let you shine when you’re being your absolute best self...whatever that might be! I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series. I think Belle is up next!

At the Stroke of Midnight is sort of a parallel universe to the Disney princesses that we’ve come to know. Basically, it’s a mash-up of Weeds, and the Desperate Housewives of Fairytale Lane. Cynthia’s husband left her and her daughter to go traipsing around with the babysitter. He took all their money, stole from his parents, left divorce papers on the table, and just left the country. Cynthia has no idea how this could have happened. She grew up in a trailer park with her step-mom and step-sisters, Brian (her ex) drove up, swept her off her feet, and whisked her away to Fairytale Lane where she was supposed to live happily ever after. She’s done everything a respectable housewife in her position should do. She dressed the part, acted the part, was head of the PTA, organized all the neighborhood events, and kept all of her emotions in check. She was pretty much a Stepford wife. That is, until the moment her husband leaves her scrambling with no money and bills to pay. Pretty soon she finds herself teaming up with a couple of neighbors (Belle and Ariel) to start their own Naughty Princess Club stripper hotline. You pick the princess of your fantasies from their website, and that princess will show up to your party and strip for you. Needless to say, this was one riot of a story.

Cynthia is this prim and proper housewife. She doesn’t get angry, show emotion, or really step out of line from her cookie-cutter life. Even with her husband gone for half a year, and having to sell just about all their furnishings and possessions, she still puts on the illusion that everything is fine and her husband is just away on business. It takes Ariel to call her out on her crap to ultimately break her out of her shell. Cynthia was VERY uptight and if it wasn’t for Ariel, I probably would have been bored to tears. Ariel was the neighborhood “hussy” that all the pearl-wearing housewives gossiped about. She dressed the way she wanted, spoke what was on her mind, and I was cracking up every time she was in the story. I honestly can’t wait until her story comes around. However, this is Cindy’s story and I have to say, while I wasn’t a fan of her in the beginning, I loved that you slowly saw her go from uptight to being more of who she is. And boy, when she lets her hair down, watch out!

I loved the way the author meshed modern-day with the fairytale. It’s honestly like a parallel universe. With Cindy living with her step-mother who treated her like a little slave, her rags to riches story, the fact that she falls for a certain PJ Charming, and there’s even a scene with the iconic shoe. Except it was all a realistic take, and I loved it. I loved the rawness of these characters and their situation. Belle is a twenty-something young woman who still lives at home with her father. She also works at the library. Ariel is a wild and carefree character. She loves collecting antiques and her ex-husband left her to be with another man and became a performer for a cruise line. That’s not even touching base with PJ, Eric, or “Beast” that we meet in this story. I just thought the author did an amazing job taking something we all know and completely making it their own.

At the Stroke of Midnight is the perfect balance of a fun retelling with insane amounts of humor and some steamy scenes mixed throughout. I enjoyed my time reading this story immensely. I will be honest, these three princesses are not my favorite when you think of a Disney Princess. However, the author was able to make me fall in love with them. I love that one of the chapters is titled, “A Prude, a Mouth, and a Librarian Walk Into a Strip Club.” There were just so many laugh out loud moments that I didn’t want to put the book down. This seriously needs to become a TV show. For now, I will be crossing my fingers that it gets released in paperback or hardcover. I need to have a physical copy of this book on my shelves.

Thanks to Netgalley for this book, here my HONEST opinion...

So to start I gotta say I read this at night in bed with my sleeping Husband and he was not happy. I kept laughing and giggling. This book was so funny. I loved it. I haven't read a book this funny in a while. It came just at the right time too becuase I been a book funk lately. This book is lightly based on Cinderella, BUT she don't need no man to save her! ;)

May contain slight spoilers.......

So basically you have Cynthia(Cin, Cindy, Cinderella) she is a struggling 32 year old mom/housewife/HOA/PTA member. who whole world is falling apart all around her. Then Ariel a crazy lady comes to her side just at the right time to help/push her. At first she so far in denial that its just sad. Then she starts to open her eyes and see what her life has become. This book is basically her journey from doormat to independent strong woman.

I love it. I love all the characters. I need Belle's book like yesterday. so flipping good. So funny!

8 stars-This was such an unique story I loved reading it very much, so much so that I read it again before writing the review. What happens when down on your luck princesses come together? A lot of laughs, gasps, turns, and twists that leave the reader entertained. Thank you for allowing me to read this and write about it.

This first book in the new Naughty Princess Club was hilariously amazing. The ladies of Wisteria Lane don’t have anything on the ladies of Fairtale Lane. You have to read this book to find out how Cindy, Ariel and Belle turn this prim and proper street upside down.

At the stroke of midnight is about Cindy, who was the leader of prim and proper. That is until her life is turned upside down when she comes home and discovers divorce papers, and that her husband has run off with the babysitters. Cindy is forced to do what she has to do to make ends in meet. What does she and her new friends do? I’m not saying.

This is a total must read!

this is probably more like 3.5, but it's one of those instances where i will round up because 3 is a bit harsh.

i saw this floating around goodreads and a few of my friends enjoyed it, then i saw it on netgalley so i requested it... before realising it was the same author as seduction and snacks. i know that book is popular and lots of people like it but i was not one of them. it could have been a case of 'wrong time for the right book' or it could have been a case of 'this is just a bad book' but i just didn't enjoy that one very much. so i almost changed my mind on this one but i'm glad i didn't.

it was like a mix between desperate housewives and the first wives club. cynthia could be annoying and you just want her to grow a pair, but i loved the friendship between the girls and the relationship between cynthia and her daughter. there were several bits that i actually laughed out loud whilst reading, that didn't happen for me and seduction and snacks, so instant extra star for this book. pj is an asshole when you first meet him and then a bit of a dickhead and honestly some of the shit that came out of his mouth when he wasn't an asshole dickhead just made me cringe a wee bit, but other than that, i really liked the two of them together. i'm not trying to pick the book apart, i actually did enjoy it quite a bit. it was funny and silly, predictable and fluffy but overall enjoyable. i will definitely continue with the series!

I loved the idea of this -- Cinderella, Ariel and Belle reimagined as regular women!
I thought all the retelling aspects were really clever - the woman live on Fairytale Court. Belle's a librarian. The three have a great, supportive friendship. The story did have some really funny moments. I liked Cynthia's relationship with her daughter.

Okay, now to the things I wasn't so crazy about:

The characters were a mix for me. I liked Cynthia and Belle, but Ariel was too much. I love sassy characters but there's a line between sassy and obnoxious. For me, she was often on the wrong side of that. (Her repeated jokes about a "gang bang" were just ... not funny.)

I was confused about the love interest at first. I kept saying, he's the love interest? He was one of those seemingly angry guys who was just being mad and mean because of his desperate attraction to the character ... or something? He did get nicer later, fortunately. But I'm not a huge fan of the whole "mean to you because he secretly likes you" trope.

The women start a hire-a-Disney-Princess-stripper business and ... I know it is supposed to be funny. I get it. And it definitely is in parts. But I don't think I can read two more books about strippers. The book tries really hard to make stripping seem fun and empowering. I was fine with the stripper lessons and on board until they're stripping for strangers for pay. Sorry to be a buzzkill.

I'd definitely try something else by this author, but I don't think this series is for me.

Tara Sivec's comedy's are always laugh out loud. I really enjoyed Cynthia's character but I of course loved Ariel. She had no filter and was fabulous. Cynthia and PJ journey was filled with angst, awkward moments, and naughty humor. I couldn't put it down loved every minute of it.

In this adult princess retelling, Cynthia's world is turned upside down when her husband leaves her for the babysitter. As the story develops, Cynthia makes new outrageous friends, finds love, and starts a new business. This story did make me smile. I enjoyed the new take on the classic Cinderella tale. Although Ariel was a lot to take at times, I do want to continue this series. Thank you St. Martins Press for the ARC of this book via NetGalley.

Tara Sivec has just introduced a whole new world that includes stripping and princesses and I loved every second! Cynthia, Belle and Ariel from Fairytale Lane will have you laughing and wishing you had friends just like them in your life! These three women who are complete opposites of each other bond over the tough times that are going on in their lives. All it takes is a misunderstood birthday party adventure to get their wheels turning in a direction I don’t think any one of them thought they’d ever take.
I really enjoyed this hilarious and oh so sexy story! I love reading about strong friendships, sticking up for each other and influencing one to open up and letting their true self shine bright!
On top of an extreme girl power friendship there is a sexy at first site love! P.J is his name and swooning is his game! Awesome friends, hottie loving and some sexy dancing fun, Cynthia has gotten lucky and believe me after all she went through she totally deserves it!
We all make mistakes in life and some mistakes can be a blessing in disguise, to open up paths that lead us to our happily ever afters!
I’m really excited to see that I get to spend more time with these girls in Belle’s story, coming out this summer!

At the Stroke of Midnight by Tara Sivec is book one in her new Naughty Princess Club series. It is a fun romantic comedy that will have you smiling at the antics of these "princesses".

A modern twist to the classic fairytale of Cinderella, the main character Cynthia "Cindy" has spent the last six months in a nightmare after her husband, Brian, left with the babysitter. Leaving her with bills to pay (and no money) and their teenage daughter to take care of. Then one morning she gets another bought of bad news when one of her husband's one night stands ends up surprising her with news of her husband's infidelity and that she now has to be tested for herpes!

The beginning of the story lays out the backstory for Cindy and soon introduces the other princesses of Fairytale Lane: Ariel and Isabelle. Hilarity and romance ensues as these princess go from neighborhood block party to the stripper pole while finding love along the way.

Tara Sivec does an awesome job of creating a new fairytale romantic comedy about Cindy Ella and her prince-charming, PJ, the owner of Charming's Gentlemen's Club. From the moment they meet briefly at the Fairytale Lane block party, there is heat and chemistry between Cindy and PJ. I love how Cindy comes into her own throughout the novel and is doing things that make her feel confident and happy for herself. I enjoyed this story and can't wait to read the next installments to this series. Ariel and Belle were great supporting characters in this novel and I am excited to read their individual stories.

Overall, At the Stroke of Midnight by Tara Sivec is a great novel and I happily recommend.

(I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book I received for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)

Cynthia has spent 13 years of her marriage being the perfect wife. Now Cynthia’s life is in shambles. Her husband has left her penniless and run off with the babysitter. With no money and a daughter to support, she has to figure out something quick.

Cynthia soon meets Ariel and Belle. Two girls that are also down on their luck and need money. These three get the idea to create a stripper for hire business. Can the uptight “never a hair out of place” Cynthia turn herself into a sultry stripper? How does she deal with the sexy and annoying PJ Charming? Cynthia soon realizes there is more to PJ than she thought. It turns out he runs a strip club that hires single mothers. He must be a good guy to be helping so many women. It’s not long before PJ has charmed Cynthia and starts to make her feel wanted.

At the Stroke of Midnight was a fun retelling of Cinderella. The banter between PJ and Cynthia was so much fun. I think Ariel was a bit over the top but I did enjoy the banter between all three girls. I already can’t wait to get my hands on the next book, which I believe is Belle’s.
Well Done!

Cynthia Castle is a 32 yr. old beautiful woman who grew up with an evil stepmother, & had a rough childhood. She’s spent the last thirteen years trying to be the perfect mother and wife. She bakes, is head of the PTA, and has lost herself along the way. She’s the ideal housewife, so she’s completely blindsided when her husband serves her divorce papers. He runs off with the babysitter and all their money, and leaves her with nothing. Suddenly in a town where reputation is everything, she has to pay her own bills, and take charge of her life.

Cindy meets two other ladies at the annual Fairytale Lane Halloween block party. They are also going through a tough time. The women form a fabulous girl squad where they decide to save themselves. The ladies attend a house party where they are mistaken for strippers, and decide this career opportunity could fix all their financial problems. Can the uptight Cindy be spontaneous and step out of her comfort zone?

On her new journey of self discovery, Cindy crosses paths with the gorgeous blue eyed PJ Charming. At first they clash, but then as they grow closer he makes her feel confident and special. He doesn’t judge her, and she can be herself with him. He gives her everything her husband didnt including mind blowing sex.

I loved this book about three intelligent women who bond in this hilarious, wonderful story about girl power, and happily ever afters. It’s an empowering, fun book about a housewife who does something scandalous that feels freeing, and makes her feel in control. She becomes fearless, and takes her life back, all while finding her Prince Charming. I can’t wait for the next book in the Naughty Princess Club!

This is my first Tara Sivec book but it won't be my last. At the Stroke of Midnight (Naughty Princess Club #1) puts a whole new naughty spin on the traditional Cinderella story, This was laugh out loud funny and a delight to read. I LOVED the characters (Cynthia, Ariel, Belle, PJ) and the super witty dialogue. I'm eagerly awaiting In Bed with the Beast (The Naughty Princess Club #2)

This book was so fun to read! The characters are funny, smart and the dialogue was great. A definite 'can't put it down' book

One thing I know when I start a book by Tara Sivec is that it will be memorable. I was not wrong with this story because it was certainly a memorable read with the humour and loveable characters. This is one book that I did not want to finish because I wanted to read more of this story. This was a wonderful start to a new series and I cant wait to read more in this series.

This was such a fun read and exactly what I was needing. I have been reading a lot of angst with a lot of heavy stories and lots of tears. This was the perfect break from all of that! Cynthia and PJ's world couldn't have been further apart, but yet they were the perfect fit for each other. I loved the light heartedness of this read and the strength that Cynthia finds in her newly chosen path. I loved watching PJ build her self confidence and become her real-life Prince Charming.

The story was great and the writing was so spot on. These characters were well crafted and I fell in love with PJ! He was a great Prince Charming and he really saved Cynthia. I loved the word play on the names, it was all so perfect. I can't wait to see where the stories take Ariel and Belle. This had me laughing out loud and was such a great escape!

This story is adorable! After the weekend i had I needed something light and funny and this fully delivered. Cin after finding out her husband cheated on her, ran to Mexico with the babysitter and stole money from his parents company is lost. She doesn't know who she is and this story is all about breaking the mold and becoming a fierce independent happy woman. She meets Ariel who is a feisty redhead and Belle the shy quite Liberian and they decide to create a business where they go to parties and strip and do lap dances tastefully calling themselves the naughty princesses. Cin meets PJ and let me tell you I want my own PJ this man is the full package a alpha, sweet, caring, kind and he helps Cin become who she wants to be, not ordering her but standing by her giving her the confidence and love she's always craved to break out of her shell and become the feisty, opinionated, confident woman she always wanted to be. This story is just amazing and I cannot wait for Ariel and Belles story

Take your love for the craziness of Bad Mom’s and add it to your childhood dream of being Cinderella then fill it with the best laughs and you have this superb read.

Bad mom’s princess style!

I ate up every word, I loved each page. This is one of those “leave me alone”, people look at you funny cause your laughing out loud, fantabulous reads that you don’t ever want to leave and has you cheering “you go girl” all the way to the end. Filled with swoony heat and watching Cindy find her strength and become strong will have you fist pumping.

Sassy, witty dialogue, squirming in your seat chemistry mixed with addicting words and filled with the comedy we love from Tara...this book is the perfect equation for excellence.

I can’t wait to read the other stories!

3.5-4 stars

This was a fun and sexy retelling of the princesses. I was laughing so hard at the comedy and the craziness that ensues. The first book in this brand-new series is about Cynthia (Cinderella). Her life in recent months hasn’t been great so when a new opportunity comes along, what will happen? This book was entertaining and I truly enjoyed the story from beginning to end. There was heart, fun, and steam. The contemporary versions of Cinderella, Belle, and Ariel were great. These three unlikely friends are what makes this series. I just couldn’t get enough of them. I was grossly invested in this story and where it would go. Cynthia really intrigued me and seeing what will happen to her as the story progressed was fascinating. And the hero in this book-PJ?! Man he is swoonworthy-so amazing! Tara does romantic comedy really really well so I just knew that this book would be fantastic. At the Stroke of Midnight is a magnificent read. I can’t wait for the other two books in this series. Belle’s story is up next and since she is my favorite princess I’m excited to see what her book will bring.