One Stolen Moment: A Forbidden, Forced Proximity Romance

by Sara Tallary

Locked in a room. With no power. Together.

When a faulty doorknob locks me in the break room at work with no one other than Weston Taylors—my boss and boyfriend’s brother—I have no other choice but to hold my head high and grin through it.

Weston’s gaze is steely, hard, and unrelenting. His sharp tongue has no problem dishing out a lashing of a lifetime. His distaste for me is clear as day and unleashes something inside of me I can’t name.

When fate pushes us together, it’s almost more than I can stand. His hands find my skin, his touch gentle and addicting. It’s everything I shouldn’t want.

But despite how forbidden it is, I can’t help but lean back and open myself up to him.

In more ways than one.

One Stolen Moment is the first book in my forbidden novella series. It’s a forced proximity forbidden romance. This is NOT a full-length novel but a novella. Intended for audiences 18+.

Genres: Amazon, Slow Burn, Enemies To Lovers

128 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 22, 2025

About the author

Sara Tallary lives in eastern Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids, and dog. When she isn’t spending her days writing or brainstorming new ideas for stories, she’s homeschooling her kids, cuddling up with her gorgeous Malinois pup, and binge-watching TV shows with her husband or playing Mario Kart (and winning, hah!). Though she tries to stay on a healthy diet, she has a love for sweets, is constantly adding books to her TBR, and loves a good laugh.

For upcoming releases and all things writing related, join her newsletter: saratallaryauthor.myflodesk.com/newsl...

Reviews

[ReadWithPeaches · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
🌶️

This was my first book by Sara Tallary. I enjoyed it and would read more by her for sure.

I tend to have a hard time with rating novellas. Even more so when it comes to spicy. This was such a quick read. I think I read it in two or three hours.

Did I love the story line and characters? Yes, I did. I love a good grumpy x sunshine in my books. I want to know Weston’s story. He has such a hard exterior that you know there is a sweet man in there. To top it all off, these two loved pushed each others buttons. Weston though was the fastest to soften up.

I left wanting more of these characters and their story, that is for sure. I am really hope we get more of them. I also love how she wrote these characters in the fact that they knew each other before.

Thank you Sara for allowing me to read an ARC of this book!

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

“𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶.”

Novellas are kind of hard to rate in my opinion, but I honestly enjoyed every second of this one. For a short story, it packs one heck of a tension-filled punch. I devoured it!

You know it’s good when you’re left wanting more, and I definitely wanted more Weston & Olivia. Please tell me we are getting more haha! This had all the angst I love to feel from a forbidden romance.

▪️ᴇɴᴇᴍɪᴇꜱ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀꜱ
▪️ꜰᴏʀʙɪᴅᴅᴇɴ
▪️ꜰᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴘʀᴏxɪᴍɪᴛʏ
▪️ʙᴏʏꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ’ꜱ ᴏʟᴅᴇʀ ʙʀᴏᴛʜᴇʀ
▪️ʙᴏꜱꜱ x ᴇᴍᴘʟᴏʏᴇᴇ
▪️ɢʀᴜᴍᴘʏ ᴍᴍᴄ
▪️ꜰɪᴇꜱᴛʏ ꜰᴍᴄ

[rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

One Stolen Moment
by Sara Tallary

Rating Factors:
Characters: ⭐️⭐️
Romance: ⭐️
Spice: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Storyline: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing/Pacing: ⭐️⭐️

Final Rating: 2.2 ⭐️ (Rounded to 2 ⭐️)
Spice Rating: 🌶️.5

Review

Characters: ⭐️⭐️
I’ll be honest, I did not enjoy these characters. I thought the MMC was insufferable and couldn’t understand why the FMC would even give him the time of day, I don’t care how attractive he was suppose to be.

Romance: ⭐️
I get it was suppose to be an angsty, enemies to lovers(?) novella, but there was just nothing enjoyable about their dynamic.

Spice: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I did like the spicy scene, it was the best part of the novella in my opinion.

Storyline: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The storyline was promising, I just didn’t love the execution.

Writing/Pacing: ⭐️⭐️
I thought for a novella, the pacing was pretty good. It didn’t feel too rushed even though it was all taking place in one night. I liked the writing style, but the choices for the characters were not the best.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️
Overall, I did not enjoy this read. I just couldn’t understand why the FMC would even bother with the MMC. It lost me.

Thank you to Sara Tallary and Love Notes PR for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Emmy Wong · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short, not exactly sweet, but fun romance novella. This plot was good, a love a good forced proximity, especially if she’s with her boyfriends hot as hell brother. By the way, yes it’s cheating, but if it makes you feel any better she was planning to break up with him. Obviously it felt wrong, but their chemistry can’t be ignored. Weston is the hot, broody one, while Leston is charming and gives golden boy vibes. Like girl I dont blame you for going for Weston. Being jealous of your boyfriend’s girlfriend isn’t exactly my favourite motivator, but I mean it seemed justified for her to be really jealous at that point. But that doesn’t really justify cheating. He’s been really rude to her ever since she started dating his brother, but this man has been secretly pining. And I live for the “fuck it” moment when he snaps. Love a good “sorta enemies to lovers vibe” with “taboo, forbidden romance”? This is for you. I give this a 3.5/5, purely because the ending was vague and some stuff messes with my ethics.

[Natacha Silva · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestamente, novellas por norma não são a minha praia. Além disso, senti 0 conexão com os personagens sinceramente 🥲
Nem o Lennon, nem o Weston, nem a Olivia.
Achei que havia uma enorme falta de comunicação entre os personagens, e que as situações que aconteceram no livro não me faziam assim tanto sentido.
Gostei, no entanto, da tensão entre o Weston e a Olivia. Mas apenas isso.

[Sara Tallary · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Stolen Moment is now available in paperback and ebook.

Tropes you can expect:
💘 boyfriend’s (soon to be ex’s) brother
✨ forced proximity
🖤 enemies to lovers
⛈️ he’s super grumpy
⛅️ she’s partly sunny
🧳 workplace
🔥 slow burn
💕 stolen moment
🫣 secret pining
🚫 cheating

[ShannonKay12 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sparks flew while the power went out in this quick novella that brought it's own lighting during the storm raging both inside and out.

I absolutely loved Olivia and Weston! Both had that push and pull that drove each other to the point of no return and finally the truth comes out, in more ways than one.

[Bree Vass · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing wasn't my favorite style, but the story itself was a perfect little bite-sized novella.

[Allie Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

I received this Novella as an ARC and I am more being paid for my review.

This was my first novella and I think I need to get used to the fact that there is not as much character development as I am used to. I live a good slow burn and this did give that feeling even with it being in the shorter side. It had yearning at the start, and jealousy and enemies to lovers all inside and I was captivated!

[🖤 alyssa 🩶 · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Stolen Moment totally swept me up, and was a fantastic read 🩷 It was short and addictive, but packed so much emotion and also a bit of tension in the plot! The chemistry between Weston and Olivia is immediate, tense, and you can feel the pull between them instantly, despite their back and forth (which I found super funny and enjoyable 🤭). The forced proximity and forbidden vibes create a tense, intimate, and utterly compelling plot 🤍 The banter between Olivia and Weston was very well written, and I thought it was so funny how they switched to more so immature/childish comments and behaviors at points, and it all flowed and felt so natural and real 🩷

Olivia is such a sweet, strong, and brave character, and her migraines make her feel human and vulnerable 😌 The way Weston steps up in those moments really highlight his softer, protective, and caring sides reserved for her 🤍 The change of him being cold and hardened, to so gentle made a lot of the scenes hit extra hard, and created that perfect tension! I really loved how she set boundaries and was respectful, it really added to her character 🩷 She also had me laughing multiple times at the way she acted and how her dialogue with Weston would switch from casual, to almost childlike type teasing, which was absolutely hilarious! 😂

Weston has a major grumpy and cold side, but also a huge heart and caring side, and I absolutely loved him 😍 He might seem rough around the edges, but the little, quiet things he was doing for Olivia made me melt on multiple occasions, and the soft side he has just for Olivia is so adorable 🩷 The way he treats her and learning the reasonings behind it and all that has happened between them made the plot very interesting and deliciously tense, and it was a sweet, swoon moment when Weston finally came clean and showed his sensitive and vulnerable sides 🤍 I thought it was silly that he had a slight immature side to him, and his responses, reactions, and behaviors to Olivia had me giggling 🤭

This was a great forbidden and forced proximity read that was short, but emotionally satisfying. I loved Olivia and Weston, their relationship & personalities, and the way Olivia’s migraines were well written made her feel so real. I thought that this novella handled those emotional moments really well 🤍 This made me smile, swoon, giggle, and desperately crave more of these characters, especially after the ending!!! 🩷

[Kass · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Stolen Moment is novella one in the Forbidden Novella series and is the story of Olivia and Weston. This is a spicy, forbidden, boyfriend's brother romance.

Olivia has been dating her boyfriend Lennon for almost a year and while things have been ok, there are issues between them that she can't reconcile. When he disappoints her, yet again, Olivia just wants to leave and go home. On her way to leave she stops in the break room for medicine and accidentally shuts the door behind her, locking her and her boyfriend's brother Weston in.

Weston has been avoiding Olivia as much as possible since she started dating his brother. Distance is the only thing keeping him sane and every time they are in the same room, he can't help being a jerk to her and pushing her buttons.

When fate locks Olivia and Weston in the break room during a storm, lines get crossed and secrets are revealed. With no power and time on their hands, Weston and Olivia battle through forbidden desire and when she pushes Weston, he takes what was always meant to be his, her.

This is a short, spicy novella full of heat, desire and buried feelings. The dynamic between Weston and Olivia was electric and the chemistry was explosive. Technically there is cheating but lines had already been crossed by Olivia's boyfriend that could cause the end of their relationship prior to the events of the night in the novella. I loved the writing and the story itself and the complexity of Weston's character and how in tune Olivia is with those around her. My only comment is I would have loved more of Weston and Olivia after that night and where they end up.

I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Alli · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW:
Olivia, girlfriend of Lennon Taylors, finds herself trapped in the office break room of Taylors’ Security. Feeling dismissed by Lennon, and suffering a migraine, Olivia leaves his office birthday party early. Dropping by the break room for some pain relievers on her way out, the faulty door gets jammed and locks her in. Even worse, with one of the few people she would rather avoid… Weston Taylors.
Her boss.
Her boyfriend’s brother.

While storms are brewing, raining down outside, emotions are stirring within the four walls. Between Weston’s grumpy demeanor and Olivia’s already rough night, the two butt heads. Particularly when Weston accuses Olivia of being unfaithful to his brother… if he only knew how the relationship was really going.

Between the headache and irritation that is Weston, Olivia ends up blurting out what’s really going on and that she wants to end things with Lennon.

Everything dominos after, realizing Weston may have some feelings pent up in that attitude of his. Just as tensions are rising and things are heating up, someone comes to the rescue of the jammed door.
Leaving Weston and Olivia with just one stolen moment together….

Keep in mind, One Stolen Moment is a short 100-so- page novella. We get one night, literally one moment, with these characters, yet it’s filled of forced proximity & forbidden vibes.

I love the scenario and a good grumpy man. Something about the fmc just didn’t hit for me. There is a slight borderline “cheating” vibe I didn’t love either. Overall though, this is a good, slightly spicy, short story. While definitely not my favorite Sara Tallary book, it’s a nice little palette cleanse!
(Nothing will top Beneath the Lies 😍)
Thank you Sara for allowing me another ARC read!

[Cassi B · Rating 5 out of 5]

"...I have no issue dropping to my knees and begging when the opportunity is appropriate enough. When the person in front of me is worth my knees touching the ground for..."

🩵💙🩵💙🩵

💘 boyfriend’s (soon to be ex’s) brother
✨ forced proximity
🖤 enemies to lovers
⛈️ he’s super grumpy
⛅️ she’s partly sunny
🧳 workplace
🔥 slow burn
💕 stolen moment
🫣 secret pining
🚫 cheating

🩵💙🩵💙🩵

As the tropes indicate, there is cheating in this novella. Normally this is not something I enjoy in a book, but that's usually because it is snuck in by an author and I was blindsided. With knowing this in advance, I was able to fully enjoy this story. My biggest issue is that I want so much more from the characters. I really hope we see them somewhere else, in the future, to know where they end up. Did they or didn't they get together?!

The snark & barbs were flying nearly instantly between Weston and Olivia in this quick story. Their push & pull will have you wanting to slap both of their stubborn asses around a bit. While it wasn't clear to Olivia, it's quite clear to the reader why Weston acts the way he does.

Should Olivia & Weston have acted on the stolen moment? Probably not, but she knew she was going to be breaking up with his brother. While Lennon may not have physically cheated on her, emotional affairs & neglect are just as bad. She had made her thoughts & feelings known many times but he never set boundaries or respected how she felt.

Thank you for this ARC, Sara! Now...please give us more!!!

[All You Read is Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Stolen Moment is a forbidden romance novella that takes place over one evening. This novella is packed with all the events of the evening and there isnt a dull moment anywhere! I might be crossing my fingers for a full length novel for these two!

Weston is a broody, grumpy boss and also happens to be the brother to Olivia's boyfriend and her boss! He's so grumpy snd brings the best tension to the room. It makes the banter between then next level, which also makes the angst next level!

Olivia is partly sunny, I mean how could you be fully sunny when your soon to be ex boyfriend is letting other women get hands with him at his birthday party. She goes in search of some headache meds (much needed) when she gets locked in the room with Weston. Olivia does not let Weston and his grumpy mood bring her down though. She doesnt let him boss her around or bring her down. She really knows how to put him in his place! She is a strong snd fierce FMC!

Absolutely loved these characters, the banter, the angst and the SPICE! Saved the best for last. The spice was freaking on fire! Of course it was a slower burn, Sara's specialty! But believe me the burn was worth it because sparks were flying when the spice hits! That build up to the big moment was perfection!

Now clear out a couple hours of your evening or weekend and devour this novella! You wont be sorry! But do check the trigger warnings because it does include a stolen moment, but in my opinion its very, very well done and not an issue, but do keep that in mind going into it.

[⋆｡‧˚ʚ Chantal ɞ˚‧｡⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⟨ Love Notes PR ARC Review ⟩


Thoughts:

This story follows a woman named Olivia who's dating a man she works with named Lennon, who owns a company alongside his older brother, Weston.

When a party is thrown for Lennon's birthday at the office, Olivia watches another woman get handsy with her boyfriend. After confiding in him about her feelings of her boundaries being disrespected for quite some time she realizes she wants to break it off with him soon.

When she starts suffering from a migraine she wanders off to the break room in search of pills, but when the stopper to the door gets loose the door shuts behind her, and she notices she's not alone.

I don't really enjoy reading about cheating, but in this case... Idk. While she should've broken things off before things escalated with his brother, I admit I was rooting for her and Weston. (If you've seen TVD and remember that episode where it's revealed Damon saw/interacted with Elena first, but she ended up with his brother—it's exactly that scenario in this novella)

The chemistry was there! While he was an asshole towards her, he was burying his true feelings down because he felt like he had no real claim to her. I also loved that Olivia gave him attitude right back. Their verbal sparring was entertaining, and their intimate moments were hot.

I loved that at the end the author included a link for a free bonus chapter in his POV <3

I HATE that this is a novella because I honestly wanted more! 🥺

(I'm stuck between giving this a 4.75 or 5 stars)

[Lisa Conant · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶

Firstly, keep in mind this is a novella and just over 100 pages so of course we won't get the deep build ups etc. This scratches the surface of an encounter, or a story that could be expanded upon in a different, broader story. From that view, I think it does a good job of enticing a viewer in, to want to know more about Weston's broody background, what made him the colder, heads down in business, numbers guy he is. It is a successful novella in that I'd read a full length novel about them.

Meanwhile his brother is the fun loving, flirty, always smiling counterpart that our FMC has been with for a year. But he's also been not so loyal. A secret crush from Weston is what we know will come to ahead when he and Olivia are trapped in a locked room.

There's moments of nice tension. The overall scenario I really dug. I think I did feel like once he started talking spicy, that it felt like so many other mmc's spicy talking. I would've liked a bit more angst and tensioned restraint because he's such a buttoned up personality. Another moment or two of vulnerability would've really sweetened this novella for me. And tightened s3xual tension would've felt a bit more realistic, given his personality.

Again, it's meant to be a captured moment (like an hour or so) between two people who are confronting unspoken feelings for the past year. It was an enjoyable "scratching the surface" escape.

[XOXO · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t usually give books one star. In fact, I’ve never done it before. If I’m not enjoying a story, I usually just stop reading. But this one was only about 30,000 words, so I figured I might as well finish it.

When I first saw One Stolen Moment, I was intrigued. The premise had so much potential, the kind of idea that could make for a truly great story. Unfortunately, the execution just didn’t live up to it.

The story follows a girl dating Lemon, the funny, outgoing co-CEO of a security company. Then there’s Weston, Lemon’s older, broody brother. The setup had strong The Summer I Turned Pretty vibes, with Lemon as Jeremiah and Weston as Conrad. But while the dynamic was promising, the pacing ruined it for me.

Lemon is emotionally cheating on the main character, overly flirty, touchy, and giving other girls the attention he should be giving her. That night, she and Weston get stuck in an office together. They spend about ten chapters in that situation, but eight of those chapters are just them as enemies. Then, almost out of nowhere, Weston is suddenly confessing his feelings.

Romances like this need time to develop. Instead, it felt rushed, not just fast-paced, but lightning fast. The female lead breaks up with Lemon right away and jumps straight into something with Weston, without taking any time to process her emotions. That made the story feel unrealistic and emotionally shallow.

I genuinely believe this concept could have been amazing if given the time and depth it deserved. A novella can still have strong emotional beats, but this one was too short and too rushed to deliver on its promise.

I went in excited, even though I don’t read short novellas often. Normally, when I do, they’re at least a solid three stars. But here, I just felt disappointed and let down. The idea was there, the execution wasn’t.

[The Literature Lizard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge thank you to Love Notes PR and Sara for providing me with an eARC of One Stolen Moment. As always, my opinions are my own! ☺️

3.75 ⭐️ 2 🌶️

Olivia, the girlfriend of Lennon Taylors, attends a get together at Taylors Security to celebrate Lennon’s birthday. Suffering from a migraine, Olivia leaves the party and makes her way to the break room so she can find some pain relievers and accidentally knocks away the block keeping the broken break room door from closing; locking herself inside with the one man she’s wanted to avoid at all costs, Weston Taylors.

Trapped in the break room until someone notices them missing, Olivia and Weston banter back and forth some snippy and venomous words. Weston accused Olivia of being unloyal and deceitful.. but if only he knew. The increased stress due to Weston’s foul accusations mixed with her pounding head causes Olivia to pass out.

This triggers a set of events that lead to Olivia admitting that her relationship isn’t what it seems, and she plans to leave Lennon.. and Weston admitting to some of his well disguised secrets and them sharing a stolen moment.

This novella was very short and spicy and straight to the point. I quite enjoyed it, getting to watch as these two snipped and snapped at each other as tensions rose steadily higher!! 🔥I do wish the spicy scene was a bit longer but that’s all personal preference. And for anyone who’s not for reading about cheating depicted on page, this one might not be for you 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ARC that was written by Sara Tallary was given to me by Love Notes PR.  Before you dive into this short read remember that it is novella.  They are intended to be on the shorter side in terms of page count.  It is a quick and easy read. I devoured it!  There was a trigger warning about cheating, but I have read more traumatic cheating in other series.  So I didn’t get hung up on that warning.  The only kick in the teeth is that this story takes place on the boyfriend’s birthday.

This book truly packed a whole bunch into this story.  It is a classic enemies to lovers full of steamy tension.  There really was no surprise or shock value plot twist.  The title of this book literally leaves nothing to the imagination.  

By the end of this novella I wanted so much more from Olivia and Weston.  She accepted none of his excuses and the banter was so good.  If it had been a full novel, we could dig deeper into the brother’s relationship, why the characters are the way they are and how they got to this point.

The novella was a total success for being a short snippet in time for all of the characters.  The story ended with me wanting to read more of Weston and Olivia.  I will read the other novellas in the series.  However, I am hoping this story leads to a full deep dive novel into this couple and maybe a series spin off with different characters that we met in this book.  I need more!

[Lucia · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review

I don't really know how to feel about this book really. This book is exactly what the title describes, one stolen moment between Olivia and Weston. It is a quick read.

I liked that there was a bit of tension between Olivia and Weston. Weston yearning for Olivia whom he could not have since that was his brother's girlfriend. Then finally they have reached a breaking point.

I didn't really like that there was cheating. While there was a bit of tension between Weston and Olivia, Weston's character was not that great. I had found him to be a bit rude especially after everything had happened. At that point, I was like just go home Olivia.

I would have preferred that Olivia had went home and revaluate her life and maybe take some time to discover herself.

The ending was quite abrupt for me, I would have preferred to have gotten seen an epilogue atleast telling me what happened to Olivia and Weston after instead of just ending the book at that one scene but then again, I have said it before and I will say it again, it was just one stolen moment so I can't really argue with that. I had expected more and better for this book but unfortunately it did not meet my expectations.

But overall it was a tension filled book that can keep you on the edge with the main characters depending if you like this types of books.

Overall rating 3.3⭐️

[Kira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: One Stolen Moment (Forbidden Novellas Series)
Author: Sara Tallary
Hero/Heroine: Weston & Olivia
What to Expect: Boyfriend’s Older Brother, Workplace, Forced Proximity, Forbidden, Cheating,

tw/cw: cheating, description of chronic migraines,

✨ 3rd act break up: no
✨ heat level: 🌶️🌶️
✨ star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a short drama and tension filled novella that had me intrigued from the first page. Olivia finds herself in a slight moral dilemma when she gets locked in a room with her boyfriend’s brother who hates her (or does he?).

The storm and the blackout were cleverly used to heighten the tension between Weston and Olivia. Though barbs were traded between the two, you could tell that there was something underlying. This story does contain cheating, and as well as Olivia, it did have me as the reader considering the morality of the situation. As mentioned by Olivia, two wrongs certainly don’t make a right, and I did appreciate that the ending wasn’t tied up in a neat little bow. It left me wondering what actually happened between Weston and Olivia after that point.

An enjoyable fast paced and tension filled novella, I’m looking forward to the next in the series.

Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this to read. This is my honest review.

[Shelby Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

-Novellas are the best because they provide you with a quick instant love story while still giving you all the feels of a typical smutty romance book. And One Stolen Moment was NO EXCEPTION to this rule either because it gave us exactly as the title said, a glimpse into One Stolen Moment between the MMC and FMC. I fell in love because it gave me all the feels of all those cherished/stolen moments I have with the people I love most.

-Olivia. I get it girl. We all want what we cannot have, and let’s just say giving into temptation like you did made me wanna do things I shouldn’t. So instead of learning to give into my temptations, what I learned is that you should always speak your mind when you're not happy just like you did. So thanks for teaching me what I should and shouldn’t do. But I will say having something you shouldn’t was still HOT AF and made me realize all kinds of things, so thanks girl.

-Weston. You just remind me of why a grumpy man gets me every. single. time. Because you sir are the very definition of grumpy. What I loved about you though was the ability to see right through Olivia and to know exactly what she needed when she needed it at all times. And because of that, we understood why you wanted her so badly and then acted upon your desires. And let me tell you, the acts of your desires definitely made me question my choices. I would like more of you please.

-Lastly, I did not go into this book knowing what to expect AT ALL. It was definitely a different read for me, but I did enjoy this book in all the best ways possible. But here’s a quick PSA: If you like a cheating trope, then this is a book for you. But if you do not like it, then maybe stay away from it. And even after all this, I cannot wait to read another good novella from Sara Tallary.

[Anna ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ ARC REVIEW✨
Release date: August 22, 2025
Rating: 4 ☆
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

Thank you Love Notes PR for this ARC!

This was a quick and easy read, with lots of passion between Weston and Olivia when it was forbidden! I will say I absolutely hated Olivia’s boyfriend, but you guys can decide if he’s worth hating on your own. As for Weston, he’s broody, he’s dark, he’s sexy - he’s everything that Olivia actually needs 🤤

Forced proximity, forbidden romance, grumpy boss, enemies to lovers??? What more could you want in a steamy novella like this!

Blurb: Locked in a room. With no power. Together.
When a faulty doorknob locks me in the break room at work with no one other than Weston Taylors—my boss and boyfriend’s brother—I have no other choice but to hold my head high and grin through it. Weston’s gaze is steely, hard, and unrelenting. His sharp tongue has no problem dishing out a lashing of a lifetime. His distaste for me is clear as day and unleashes something inside of me I can’t name. When fate pushes us together, it’s almost more than I can stand. His hands find my skin, his touch gentle and addicting. It’s everything I shouldn’t want. But despite how forbidden it is, I can’t help but lean back and open myself up to him. In more ways than one.

[Lailah · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all I'd like to give a big thank you to @saratallaryauthor_archived and @lovenotes.pr for this arc read

It was such a lovely little novella and I loved every second of this book, I've never enjoyed the cheating trope but under the circumstances of he was emotionally cheating on her and not seeing wrong in his actions plus she was gonna end things. This was honestly such a nice quick paced book, boyfriends moody brother who hates the world and her for no reason? Check. Getting locked in a room together during the party, only for the power to cut out and the door to jam was Olivia's worst nightmare. Wes was horrid to her, calling her out on things he didn't understand but when her migraine gives way and she faints his true colours reveal themselves when he looks after her, carrying her over to one of the tables, after a heated row she locks herself in the bathroom, he slides one of the protein bars under the door to make sure she's okay. Some of my favorite scenes and quotes:
"Don't worry sweetheart. The biggest difference between my brother and me is that I mean what comes out of my mouth. I'm not bullshitting you when I say that I've thought about this moment for months "
"I know there are only a select few who are worthy of my time, my words, my attention"

[Sarah Furlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weston is a broody, grumpy boss and also happens to be the brother to Olivia's boyfriend and her boss! He's so grumpy and brings the best tension to the room. It makes the banter between then next level.

Olivia is in a relationship but it’s not leading to the happy ending she thought. Lennon appreciates other’s attention and has a hard time saying no when someone is in need of help and a should to cry on. And that’s why Olivia is feeling some type of way, she has walked in on Lennon in a rather occupied situation with another coworker Celeste, and she was given Lennon the benefit of the doubt which I will him credit for he tells her what happened each time, but it’s the fact that it keeps happening and she is so touchy with him and Lennon says nothing!!!!

Now I need to know if the story continues with Weston and Olivia.

But the banter, the angst and the SPICE with Olivia and Weston, did not see that coming. Holy smokes. Saved the best for last. The spice was freaking on fire! Of course it was a slower burn.


💘 boyfriend’s (soon to be ex’s) brother 
✨ forced proximity
🖤 enemies to lovers
⛈️ he’s super grumpy
⛅️ she’s partly sunny
🧳 workplace
🔥 slow burn
💕 stolen moment
🫣 secret pining

[Shelby Willeford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Love Notes PR for and ARC of this Novella.

Short and sweet. Olivia works at Taylors' security and just so happens to date younger brother Lennon Taylors. The problem? He seems to be handsy with other women and not in tuned with how Olivia really feels about it. Another problem? Broody older brother Weston gives off the ick but makes little Olivia's heart race.

Olivia finds herself locked in the break room with a faulty door jam during bad weather with mister Weston Taylors himself. The power goes out and the angst is high. All the right things for a perfect storm.. or is it??

This was a good short read and full of drama. Olivia and Weston's chemistry is high and leaves you wanting more. I honestly wish there was more. Can we please have more?? :)

This is the first novella in a series and worth the read.

This story includes:
- Forced proximity
- Boyfriend's older brother
- Forbidden romance
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Miscommunication

There are triggers so you may want to check those before picking up this read.

[Gea Rojas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Sara Tallary and Love Notes PR. for sending me this ARC in exchange for a honest review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️

Who doesn't love a good and specific novella?
This was a quick read with the perfect amount of spice for the length of it, we get the FMC that's Triton to run from her current situation and the MMC that can't stand seeing her be seemingly happy with someone else.
The chemistry was burning my fingers with every page of how hot it was.
I do feel like this could have been told completely from Olivia's POV
And please be ware this is story has cheating.

~Blurb~
When Olivia realises that her current relationship has no more legs to stand on she decides that it needs to end, but she's at her boyfriends birthday party so she can't do it right there and then. So she wanders off to another room where she ends up locked in with her boyfriend's asshole brother, oh did I mention the power goes out?

Tropes:
Boyfriend's Brother
Workplace romance
Enemies to lovers
"I saw you first"
Forced proximity

One Stolen Moment is out now!!

[Ashtami Dwivedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ One Stolen Moment by Sara Tallary is the kind of story that sweeps you up and refuses to let go. From the very first page, it had me hooked with its heartfelt writing and deeply emotional pull. The chemistry between the characters felt raw, genuine, and beautifully messy in a way that made their journey so relatable.

Sara Tallary has such a natural way of balancing passion, vulnerability, and hope—you can’t help but root for the characters to find their way, no matter how complicated the path becomes. It’s not just a romance; it’s about connection, timing, and those fragile, fleeting chances life gives us to hold on to something real.

This book felt like a bittersweet song—intense, emotional, and ultimately uplifting. If you love romance that makes you feel everything—from aching tension to heart-soaring moments—this one is absolutely worth reading.

By the time I turned the last page, I didn’t just read their love story—I felt it. And that, to me, is what makes this book so special. It’s the kind of romance that lingers in your heart long after you finish. 💫

[Kathrine Bak · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, thank you to Love Notes PR and author Sara Tallary for the opportunity to read the ARC of One Stolen Moment.

The novella-length story could easily be read in one session. But if I have to be honest, it probably would have been a DNF for me if it weren't for the fact that I had received the book as an ARC. I signed up for the ARC based on the book's description. And while it was, indeed, a forbidden, forced proximity romance, it just wasn't for me at all. The writing was fine, but I found all the main characters incredibly annoying. The FMC was a doormat to both men/brothers; her (soon-to-be-ex) boyfriend was an inconsiderate borderline-cheater, and his older brother was simply a prick.

I feel bad that I cannot give this book more than two stars (for good writing and a fairly hot spicy scene), but I have to feel more than irritation towards the characters for that to happen.

[Brie (briereadsbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a Happily Ever After kinda girl. The Happy For Now type of endings are not really my thing. I wanted to love this novella because it had a lot of the things I love; enemies to lovers, forced proximity, secret pining, grumpy/Sunshine, slow burn. I'm not a fan of cheating in books, but I make an exception if it's between the hero and heroine of the story and whoever's soon-to-be ex isn't a good person, so it even had that for me. I loved the heroines strength to walk away when she knew she wasn't being treated the way she deserved. But this didn't end happy enough for me. Unfortunately, the ending wasn't what I was rooting for, and I was left wanting more. I loved the writing, the tension between these two, the stolen moment, and the confession from Weston!!!!! I hope one day this novella turns into a full length novel, where we see the hero groveling after the heroine, because I need that for Weston and Olivia.

Thank you to the author for an ARC to read and review.