One More Round by Amber Palmer is a small town, cowboy romance with a lot of heart and soul. Rating: 4.5/5

Book Title: One More Round
Author: Amber Palmer
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: April 28, 2026

Olivia Hart always dreamed of following in her father’s footsteps to become the CEO of Hartstring Records—the massive record label that’s been in her family for generations. Before he died, she vowed she’d do whatever it took to make that dream a reality, regardless of the personal cost.

Now, at thirty-seven, she’s kept her promise. Only, instead of bringing her joy, she finds herself divorced and resenting her position at the top, forced to prioritize her career over her daughter, Charlie. The days are long and the nights are lonely. She finds herself longing for a fraction of the happiness her ex has found after their divorce. When Olivia gets an unexpected call from her brother that their uncle’s health is failing, she seizes the opportunity to step away from the career that has become more of a chore and drops everything to head back to Tennessee and the charming little town she left behind.

It doesn’t take long for Olivia to realize that not everything is the same as it was before she left. Especially not her brother’s best friend.

Duke Bennett was carefree and vibrant the last time she saw him, but now his dark eyes are haunted by something that wasn’t there before. He’s brash, stubborn, and adamantly against her being back in his life for any reason. Unfortunately, his daughter and Olivia’s have become inseparable, and there’s no avoiding each other. What starts as after-school playdates and Saturday morning soccer games reluctantly becomes more. Before she knows it, her brother’s broody best friend becomes the one thing that makes her feel free for the first time in years, giving her hope for something she thought she’d never have.

As Olivia’s time in Pinecrest comes to a close, she is faced with a decision that could wreck her heart either way. Does she walk away from Pinecrest and return to the dream she thought she always wanted, or will she realize that sometimes it’s the legacy you choose that matters the most?

Tropes:
– Small Town Romance
– Single Mom *and* Single Dad
– Divorced FMC/MMC
– Brother’s Best Friend
– Grief/Comfort
– Grumpy x Sunshine
– Found Family

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | BookShop.org

Review:

God, this was good. I went into this fully thinking it was just going to be a silly goofy fun time (which would have been FINE with me, I’ve been in a weird mood lately) and it *was* that but so much more. This is the first book of the year to make me boo hoo ugly sob, and I had the best time doing it. 

I am *not* a fan of a single mom/single dad moment – children tend to give me the ick – but I’m so glad I pushed myself outside of my comfort zone for this. Our FMC was super relatable in a lot of ways. Her saying that “orgasms were easy, it was being vulnerable that’s hard” is so me coded. I loved that both the FMC and the MMC were vulnerable and not afraid to feel the big things, and discuss where their insecurities were. The smut was good, they were both so down bad for each other without being annoying. The kids and the bonus family situation were all adorable. 

Anyway, I loved this. I loved that it made me cry (twice btw) and I can’t wait to see what comes next. 

Thank you to Amber and Love on the Line for providing me with an early copy. I was under no obligation to read or review, snd all opinions are my own. 

Rating:

About The Author:

Amber Palmer is an American romance author specializing in paranormal and contemporary love stories. Born in Arizona and raised in Texas, she’s the proud parent of three mischievous cats and one playful pup. When she’s not devouring spicy romance novels, you can find her curating bookish Spotify playlists or jotting down ideas for her next project.

A fierce advocate for mental health, Amber crafts characters who face and heal from deep traumas. She’s unapologetically passionate about all things spicy—both in books and life—and loves gaming with her husband in her downtime.

Connect With Amber: Website | Goodreads | Instagram | TikTok