At the Stroke of Midnight is so much fun! It’s clever, quirky storyline, wicked humor, endearing characters and fairytale-worthy happy-every-after make it truly one of a kind. Cynthia’s seemingly perfect marriage and idealist lifestyle is decimated when her husband leaves her for another woman, but with the help of two supportive and hilarious friends, she finds herself again and rises from the ashes of heartbreak as a stronger, more independent woman and mother. Along the way, she meets PJ Charming, who seems to understand her as her ex-husband never did and support her as she never dreamed was possible, and he proves to her disillusioned heart that there really are princes among men. Tara Sivec’s brilliant take on a classic fairytale is laugh-out-loud funny, thoroughly entertaining, sexy and heartwarming, and its subtle yet powerful message of empowerment sticks with you long after reading it. I can’t wait for the next book The Naughty Princess Club series, because I have a feeling it will be just as unforgettable as At the Stroke of Midnight.

5 funny stars

I loved At the Stroke of Midnight so much!It was a funny, lighthearted, sweet and brilliant story!This is a must read, I'm going to re read it for sure!

Cynthia,Ariel,Belle and PJ were fantastic characters!I loved the friendship between the girls, Ariel helped Cynthia to become better and feel better for herself!The romance between Cynthia and PJ is slow burn and it has some really steamy moments between them!PJ is a swoon worthy hero!He is kind,funny,sweet,adorable and so sexy!Ariel is the best she is funny,sassy and strong heroine!Belle is the cute librarian and Cynthia didn't know what she was exactly until the moment her life changed!Being friends with Belle and Ariel will make her stronger!

The plot was interesting,brilliant and smart!There were so many moments I couldn't stop laughing, the girls have some really hilarious moments!If you are looking for a book that will make you laugh out loud pick this one!It was a quick and cute read!

Cynthia was the perfect housewife, the perfect mother, the perfect member of the Fairytale Lane community – until the day her husband ran off with the babysitter, took all their money, served her divorce papers and left her with a house to pay for.

Cynthia tries desperately to keep her image up, until she goes to a community block party dressed as a princess and meets two other “Princess” with financial problems.

When the trio gets invited to a party with a request of wearing those customs, they show up thinking they are entertaining children, when in fact it is a birth of a grown man and they are mistaken for strippers. A grown man PJ Charming, that both infuriates Cindy as well as making her feel something more.

Oh, this was great. It’s been a while since I have read anything by this author, so I was going into this book blindly. Yup, I totally just wanted to read this because of the author. I knew I was going to get crude humor, great characters, and some steaminess.

I loved the trio, I loved the way Ariel bought out Cindy out of her shell so she could be an independent woman again instead of living under her husband’s life. With Ariel’s and PJ’s help, Cindy gets her independents back, takes control of her life, listens to things she wants and rebuilds the relationship with her daughter.

I loved Ariel the best, she had the mouth of a sailor, but she was also such a great supportive friend and the reason Cindy was able to break out of her shell.

The housewife to an exotic dance was an interesting trope that I myself have never explored before, but watching them navigate how this new experience and building their business around it was amusing and laugh out loud funny.

It’s a story of self-discovery, independence, growth and strong female relationships. It was just the kind of light book I needed in my life right now.

The only issue I feel like I had in this is the way PJ treated Cindy at the beginning was a bit annoying. I did not feel like she deserved it. Also, when her ex-husband shows up in the end, that whole scene I felt, could have been resolved much quicker.

I wouldn’t say that this is for everything. This book has a lot of cursing humor in it, with some steamy scenes in the end. If you are uncomfortable with it, it’s a warning in advance. Otherwise, if you are looking for something that will leave you in stitches, this is definitely a fast paced, fun ride and I cannot wait for the other two stories.

this is my first book by this author and I highly enjoyed it.
I loved this funny Rom com, the characters were entertaining, funny and lovable.
I volunteered to read a copy of this book

***5 ‘God Will Not Kill A Kitten If You Say The Word Bang’ Stars***

I don’t think a category 5 hurricane could have kept me from getting my hands on this baby. I mean how can you pass up Tara Sivec doing a romcom influenced by a fairytale (in this case Cinderella) where a stepford wife breaks free of her bonds and finds herself with the help of a stripper pole (and a few eclectic and unique friends)? You can’t. You just can’t. And what a ride this book took me on. It was snort/laugh out loud worthy with the OTT situations, but it was filled with a lot of heart, smexyness and a caste of characters I need to know more about.

Cynthia. This woman. Here’s the thing, I actually didn’t have an issue with her when she was in Stepford wife mode. I didn’t, I can’t really explain it, but I got why she was the way she was. But I adored her once she broke out of those chains. Which took quite a bit of effort, but thanks to her crew of ‘princesses’ a kind of sort of prince and her daughter, she may have been dragged and kicking through it all, but she did it. And when she did she was funny, chill, and had that ‘thing’ that made you notice her. I loved watching her become the woman she was always meant to be, it was an awkward, outrageous and heart warming process and I loved how, in the end, she owned every inch of herself.

The slow burn romance between Cynthia and her prince was a bumpy one, but so worth it in the end in every way possible. The chemistry between them was hot and was all kinds of smexyness! But it was how they connected beyond the physical that showed that if they really wanted to, then they could have a fairytale ending of their own.

I have to say that Ms. Sivec did an amazing job with this book. It is pure Tara Sivec RomCom at it’s best. It was laugh out loud funny, smexy as sin and filled with heart. loved how she took the essence of the Cinderella fairytale, stayed true to it and still made it her own. Now for Ariel and Isabelle, I adored these two, they are so different and I loved their...quirks and cannot wait to see what the author has in store for them because I know it’s going to be one hell of a ride!

I received this ARC for an honest review. This book made me laugh out loud. It was funny and emotional. I try my best not to post spoilers. This book is about Cynthia and her journey of self discovery after her husband left her. Her new best friends, Ariel and Belle, help push her towards her goals. I HIGHLY recommend this reading this book! I read this book in one day. It kept my attention, and I did not want to put it down. It was so funny and emotional.

Although it was a bit slow in the start it was a funny, fairytale themed story. I loved how Cindy evolved throughout the story. How sometimes when you hit rock bottom, it can be a dream come true when you find yourself, best friends and Prince Charming.

Imagine Desperate Housewives. The street. A cul-de-sac with all the rich-people mansions.

And then there's poor Cynthia. She's been left by her husband of 13 years. He ran away with all the money and the young babysitter. And Cynthia is trying to keep her life going. Without anyone noticing how bad things are. And people in that street are curious and nosy and mean and gossipy.

But then she meets Ariel and Isabelle and a weird friendship starts.

All three of them need money fast. What to do?

We're not on Weeds here - we're not doing the housewife-selling-drugs thing. But we might sell a little bit of ourselves - let's be strippers, they decide!!!

A chick with no filter, a prude and a librarian come into a strip-club .... ☺☺☺

Then there's this hot guy popping up everywhere ... so there might also be a new romance on the horizon! ☺

What will happen with Cynthia & her new friends??
Will we get a happily ever after??
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT! ☺

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description

description

LOL!

That was fun!

We're on this typical American suburban street with all that comes with it. The nosy neighbors, the gossip. And Cynthia doesn't want to lose her standing in the street. She's been the perfect housewife for 13 years. But her new friends and her new business might change her life a bit - or a lot!

Those three are so hilarious! Ariel, the antique dealer with absolutely NO filter. The prude housewife Cynthia. Innocent librarian Belle. They SO don't fit together as best friends, but it works perfectly.

And hottie PJ - phew! Cynthia only has to let go of all her fears first, before she can start the next chapter of her life. Both professionally and in the romance department!

I just loved reading it.

Cinderella meets Weeds & The Desperate Housewives!

Absolutely hilarious and adorable and sweet and I SO need Netflix to come and make a show out of this book! ☺

The only thing that didn't work for me ... the cover. The guy on the cover is a typical cover guy - I would totally love that. I've seen him on covers before. But then they went and photoshopped that blonde girl on there. And that is not Cynthia. It might be Ariel and mayyybe a later-in-the-book Cynthia, but definitely not early Cynthia! And it looks sooo completely wrong and photoshopped. What is her arm resting on? Not the best cover-work I've ever seen. BUT, bla bla, don't judge a book by it's weird cover and all that.☺ JUST GO AND READ IT!!!!

AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT was such a hilarious & sexy & adorable Cinderella meets Desperate Housewives meets Weeds RomCom! Run to your nearest amazon asap - you need to meet these ladies! And PJ of course ... but HANDS OFF ... he's MINE!☺

.... and now hurry Tara - I need to read Ariel's & Belle's stories asap! ☺

4.5<b> Charming </b> Stars
<b> Contemporary Romance </b>
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This is an adorable retelling of a fairy tale.. the kind where no one is actually a princess haha. But its fun and quirky and truly unique.
This story is about 3 unlikely friends dressed as princesses facing serious financial woes. Each character has their own drama and craziness. I cant wait for Ariel’s story the most but I loved Cindys story (this one) and Belle’s should be interesting as well!
These three girls end up doing something no one would ever dream of doing ..especially when they live on fairy tale lane.!
Prince Charming may be elusive. Friendship may be forever. In-laws may suck. Exes deserve a special place in hell. And this book will have you dying of laughter!

<i> Is this burning, an eternal flame is a beautiful and passionate lyric </i>
<b> If its burning eternally its probably chlamydia </b>

Wow! This book was a little slow to start and I was hesitant at first but it ended up being one of the funniest books I’ve read in a very long time! I loved the theme of the book, Cynthia’s journey to becoming who she really is is actually pretty inspiring and the fairytale theme although a bit corny at times, fit the humour of the story perfectly! I am super excited to read In Bed with the Beast when it comes out, Belle’s transformation is sure to be epic!

"Tick, tick, tick...BOOM!

When I read the synopsis for this first book in the new The Naughty Princess Club series I was very intrigued. After having previously experienced the hilarity of a Tara Sivec #RomCom I knew I was in for a treat.

Cynthia (aka Cindy, Cinderella, and Cin) is the first naughty princess to be featured in this incredible new series. But don't worry, you will still get to meet Ariel & Belle, who show up at her neighborhood Halloween party also wearing princess costumes. After comparing notes they discover that they all share a similar struggle with finances. When they receive a job offer inviting them to attend a neighbor's birthday party wearing their costumes they assume they'll be paid to entertain at a young girl's 'princess party'. Imagine their surprise when they show up and discover that there are only full-grown men in attendance.

#StripperBootCamp #FRICKandFRACKLE #NaughtyPrincess #tickTickBOOM! 💣 I had so much fun reading this entertaining story. I couldn't stop smiling and giggling. I probably looked like a fool to anyone who saw me, but I didn't care. All three women are special, but when you put them together they become extra-special with the banter and shenanigans that follow. They each have their own personalities that are very different, but they strengthen and complement each other as a team. "A Prude, a Mouth, and a Librarian Walk into a Strip Club...

I can't wait to get my hands on In Bed With The Beast, the next naughty princess novel. I've been doing some mental matchmaking and I've already got some naughty princes picked out for the remaining two women. I'm chomping at the bit to find out if I'm right. I wish I could just say bippity-boppity-boo and have it in my hands already! Until then, the line forms here...

I loved this book. Crude humour flows all the way through this book, making it one of the funniest books I've read. Drinking and steamy times (though not enough that it distracted from the story) warning for those who need it. This story also had a strong core of self discovery and friendship that added a nice depth to the plot. I need to put this author on watch list, and go back to check out previous releases. Overall, this was a great story that I know will be reread soon. * I received an ARC from Net Gallery and this is my voluntary and honest review.

At the Stroke of Midnight by Tara Sivec is the first book in the new contemporary romance Naughty Princess Club series. As one might guess from the description this series is a bit of a naughty modernized retelling of Cinderella. There’s only a hint of the fairy tale such as names involved so nothing will turn into a pumpkin but for someone such as myself that loves to remember those characters it was a lovely added touch to pull me into the book.

This first installment of the series introduces Cynthia who was the perfect housewife and mother, prim and proper always volunteering for everything, that is until Cynthia’s world was shattered when her husband left with all their money to run off with the babysitter. Now Cindy is at a loss as to how the bills are going to get paid and dealing with her rebellious teen.

At the annual Halloween block party on Fairytale Lane Cindy meets two other ladies from the neighborhood, Ariel and Isabelle, who have also come as princesses and also have their own money troubles. The three ladies get invited to work a party in their costumes and mistakenly thinking it’s a children’s “princess” party they can’t say no to the quick cash but little did they know they would be expected to strip.

As horrified as the new friends are having to run out of the wild party this gives Cindy an idea on how they can all fix their money issues. As the girls test out their new business they meet P.J. Charming who immediately catches Cindy’s eye but all she needs is another man in her life.

From the opening pages I knew I was going to absolutely love this book when I started chuckling right away. A perfect mix of humor with a touch of a classic fairy tale it was right up my alley and I happily became engrossed in the story of these “princesses”. There were so many funny moments as this group of ladies bonded and became friends and then so many sexy moments as Cindy meets her Prince Charming all the while cloroxing the stripper poles to overcome her troubles.

This cute little romance was so much more than I initially thought it was going to be. It was nice to see a strong female lead that really stepped out of her protected bubble she had been in showing a nice bit of female empowerment as she changed right before my eyes while reading. I will definitely be looking forward to reading on in this series and learning of the other ladies since they were all so different but so much fun when they came together in this first book.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I read my first Tara Sivec when I started my bookworm journey around five years ago. She was the author who introduced me to the rom-com genre, and as the years passed, I got lost in this sea of books and never got back to her, but I never forgot who made me fall in love with the genre.

Welcome to Fairytale Lane, where fairytale romances are real but naughty, the princess loves frickles and dreams to be a stripper, and the Prince Charming owns a Gentlemen's Club.

At the Stroke of Midnight had me grinning from ear to ear. And giggling. And sighing. Oh yeah. I crushed on the hero, HARD. And don't make me start talking about Cin and the girls... FUCKING LOVED THEM!! And Anastasia and her soul-eating thingy, ADORABLE!

This was one of the best fairytale re-tellings I have ever read. Tara Sivec took a very well know story and made it her own. Not only giving us a book full of laughs, heat, and heart but a story that showed us that we don't need a Prince Charming to save us, we can very well save ourselves.

So if you're looking for a sweet, sexy, laugh-out-loud funny romance, then this is your book! I can't wait to read the next one!!

Girl, just let the skank out and be sure to pick up At the Stroke of Midnight.

What an amazingly, fun book! I loved it! It had me laughing out loud and put a silly smile on my face from beginning to end. Tara Sivec nailed RomCom on it's pretty little head!

This had a bit of a modern day Cinderella theme that was cute with a touch of risque. Cynthia had the classic childhood with the evil stepmom and sisters. What Cynthia thought was her prince charming was her husband of 13 years who divorced her, took off with the babysitter and stole their life savings.

Ariel, the outcast of the subdivision, takes Cynthia under her wing to promptly pull the stick out of her stepford wife behind. Add in a naive librarian that spouts random facts and you get three women who are the most unlikely group of friends that get into all sorts of trouble together.

The risque part of the Cinderella theme may involve stripping. What could go wrong?

ARC provided by NetGalley.

Cindy is barely hanging on. Her husband has cleaned out their bank accounts and run off with the barely legal babysitter, leaving Cindy and her teenage daughter high and dry. Cindy is the head of the PTA and a “proper” woman so she tries to hide her husband’s defection for as long as possible. When she becomes friends with the neighborhood pariah, Ariel, after a bit of a rough start, she realizes that she needs to make a future for herself and her daughter as, obviously, her husband isn’t coming back.

At a Halloween block party one of Cindy’s neighbors ask her, Ariel and their friend Belle to “perform” at a party. They think that being hired as princesses for a children's party is an awesome idea but when they get there they figure out that it’s a bachelor party and they were hired to strip. They get out of that situation but the stripping idea sticks with them. They decide to start a stripping business of their own, but they need help. They head to a high-class strip joint to learn some moves from one of the girls, but the owner of the place, PJ Charming, has it out for Cindy. Or is it that he just wants her for himself?

This was an unexpectedly cute story. I obviously read the blurb before reading it but it was so much more than I expected.

Cindy was a real piece of work before her husband left, and even afterward. She had spent years trying to be the perfect wife but her life was…beige. Her clothes were beige, her shoes, home furnishings and life were all beige. Her husband leaving ends up being the best thing for her because she learned how to be herself and that wasn’t who she had been while married. Becoming friends with Ariel & Belle, and becoming an independent woman were all so good for her and I loved seeing her come into her own.

The relationship with PJ was hot and spicy and oh so good. It could also be very sweet and I loved that. PJ was a good guy who was really trying to protect Cindy (and keep her for himself). Yes, he acted like an ass a few times but I thought he more than made up for that.

Overall this was a good book and I definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a fun and humorous book to read. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, that’s for sure.

Rating: 4 out of 5

This will post as a guest review on Book Binge.
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Fairy tales are always a go to for me and this was the funniest modern version ever. Sivec turned three Disney princesses into modern day women with modern day problems and is empowering each of them one book at a time. Cynthia (Cinderella) is having a crisis of epic proportions until a dark handsome stranger comes to the rescue, but first she becomes friends with Ariel and Isabelle (have you figured it out yet?). These women have the best messed up relationship with Ariel as the smart mouth antique collector (nice nod to Little Mermaid and the comb), Belle as the librarian stuck living at home with dad, and our Cynthia slaving away for a useless husband until her own Prince Charming rescues her. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time and giggled at the old school princess references, the modern twists are smartly intertwined with the classics. I was thrilled to receive an early copy through Netgalley and have written my review voluntarily.

This is nothing personal, it’s strictly subjectif from m y part. I just couldn’t form a strong enough connection with the characters in order for me to fully enjoy this story. It didn’t held me captive enough in order to even finish it.

My love for Tara Sivec's books are certainly no secret. They are the best pick-me-up books you could possibly read and this is no exception. I adore all of the books I have read by Tara, but this has officially become my most favorite book of hers!

At the Stroke of Midnight is an insanely funny romantic comedy featuring three women who meet under the most unlikely circumstances. Cindy is the perfect wife, the perfect mom, the perfect everything - or so she thought. Her life was supposed to be the envy of everyone on her block, but now it is crumbling to pieces all around her and she can't seem to find a way to glue it all back together. Her husband has been cheating on her with the babysitter, he's taken all of their money and abandoned Cindy and their daughter leaving them with absolutely nothing.

Ariel is the new next door neighbor who is everything that Cindy and the other stick-up-their-butt wealthy women on their block gossip about. She's not afraid to show off her body or her sexuality, she's blunt, foul-mouthed, and crass, but I loved every single second of her appearances in the book. Seriously, where can I buy my very own Ariel to be my BFF?

Belle is quite the opposite of both of them. She's intelligent, quiet and reserved. She's the human version of Google and is seriously the cutest thing ever!

You may take one look at them and think that they would never be caught dead with each other and on any other occasion you'd probably be right. However, they are all experiencing stressful financial problems and seek comfort from their small group even when they're wanting to punch the daylights out of one another half the time.

It just so happens that they are invited to a party dressed as Disney princesses and are confused for strippers. Initially, they are mortified that those men confused a PTA mom, an antique collector, and a bookworm for being strippers until they finally see the light at the of the tunnel. A pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. A way out of their financial dilemma filled with singles and a stripper pole.

This book was so incredibly funny. I didn't want it to end. I was fortunate enough to get an ARC, but I'm already dying in anticipation for the next book in the series!

Special thanks to Tara Sivec and St. Martin's Press for approving my request to read this ARC through Netgalley!

A savagely desperate housewife and the most noble strip club owner ever - thank you, Tara Sivec, for one helluva modern fairytale.

Cinderella has always been one of my least favorite fairytales, but Cynthia might be my favorite Tara Sivec heroine (although I'm intrigued by weird, awkward Belle). Desperate to keep her seemingly picture perfect family life together, Cynthia finds herself in wretched circumstances: her husband has absconded with their money (and babysitter), her teen daughter is rebelling. and the bills are due. So what's a desperate housewife to do, but band together with two neighbors and start a princess-themed stripper business?

Cynthia's polite and perfect facade was annoying at first, but she truly was a force to be reckoned with once she tapped into her inner rage. Her epic "Hear Me Roar" standoff against PJ was goofy and thrilling at the same time. Woman warrior, indeed.

PJ was just adorable. A strip club owner who only hires single moms, and adores his own former stripper mom.

This was full of Tara Sivec's patented bawdy humor; I am so ready to move to Fairytale Lane for Ariel and Belle's stories. I especially loved the little glimpses of Belle and Beast.