The Encore Effect

Midnight Storm #1

by Cara Dion

A love they thought they’d lost. A lie they can’t take back. A second chance to get it right.

Katerina Luna knows better than to fall for a pop star—been there, done that, got the emotional damage to prove it. For ten years, she’s steered clear of the tattooed bad boy who broke her heart, except when she’s writing romance novels inspired by him. And agreeing to manage his band’s comeback tour. Oops.

Beckett Hayes regrets nothing more than letting Kat walk away. Then his brother jeopardizes the band’s reputation and Beckett moves in to do damage control—by telling the paparazzi that Kat is his fiancée. Now he’s got one month to keep the press away from his brother’s secrets, help Kat secure her end-of-tour bonus, and prove he’s ready to be her real life book boyfriend.

With her future—and heart—on the line, Kat can’t afford to blur the line between fiction and reality. But as each tour stop brings them closer, Beckett is determined to make Kat see that only the best love stories get an encore.

The Encore Effect is a standalone, spicy romance between a brooding pop star and the curvy woman he never got over. Perfect for fans of early 2000s boy bands, road trips with only one bed, and dirty-talking heroes in a steamy fake dating romance with a guaranteed HEA.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 16, 2026

Reviews

[Ruxi Avram]

Arc review
Thank you, Cara Dion and The Author Agency for this gorgeous love story!
I don't usually read contemporary romance, but the music factor got me interested and I applied for the ARC. It as a great decision on my part, as I breathed this book in, as fresh air! It is a touching love story between Beckett and Katerina, he- pop star, she- contemporary romance book writer. A love that lasted over 10 years. Between two people that started young in the relationship and were not able to communicate, tho people that completed each other in many ways, but were unable to see things that were around them, at the time.
Now, after 10 years, they reunite: Beckett and Jackson, his twin brother reunite the band and start touring, under Kat's management. For Kat,it would be the last tour under the label, as she wants to start living from writing, and that is just not possible as tour manager.
For Beckett is also the last tour: he wants to retire, and his band mates too, except for Jackson. And, as his entire life revolves around his brother, Beckett is stuck, always watching out, always guarding him from paparazzi, always measuring his alcohol intake and scandals.
And his relationship with Kat went to hell once because of that, 10 years in the past. Now? Will he be able to open up to Kat? He is all green flags, a perfectly good guy! He read all Kat's books just to find their story between the pages, and dream about her.
A lovely story, that hooked me up! I could see the characters and I could relate age wise. The banter between the guys in the band is delightful, the life they live outside the paparazzi 's camera is as common as everyone elses and that is so refreshing!
I loved this story! And I am now rather invested in Midnight Storm guys, and the books that I do hope will bring the all into light!
I have received this book as ARC and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nickole]

Rcvd an advanced reader copy from the author and the author agency.

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We meet boyband Midnight Storm on tour. Kat is back as their tour manager after a stint away. She has explicit instructions to keep the boys out of bad press and she will get a bonus. Kat is also a romance author and the bonus will help her to just write. The only problem Kat has is that her ex happens to be a member of the band...Beckett. it had been 10 years since she walked out on him and he still makes her heart flutter. We meet Beckett, boy bander who is tired of touring. He is also sore as hell with his knee. A bad accident left it in a no so good condition and he's a typical male telling everyone he is fine. He is happy Kat is back but hia heart misses her. His twin Jackson has a drinking problem but doesn't know who to help him. One night they are called to a footballers house to get Jackson but the house is surrounded by paps. Beck gets an idea and he kissed Kat and tells thr paps she is his fiance. WTH! Their boss Dean and his wife Jo ask them to keep up with the fake fiance charade until the end of the tour. Kat thinks it is absolutely nuts. They need ground rules so she doesn't get hwr heart shattered again. Becks is still in love with her and has read all her books and he knows they are based on their past. Kat is way in over her head with keeping her feelings in check, making sure Jackson doesn't end up in the wrong end of the press and making sure she keeps Becks at a distance. Being fake engaged to the one you love....what's thr worst thing that can happen? Drama...lots of drama. Forgiveness, love and doing the right thing makes thisa good read.

[Kris]

Midnight Storm: Beckett & Katerina “Kat”

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️.5

I absolutely loved this book. It hooked me from the beginning, and Beckett and Kat had me completely invested.

However… There is one trope here that I really dislike.
Beckett has supposedly been in love with Kat for ten years, but instead of doing anything about it, he spends that time with groupies and only finally makes his move once she’s back in his life. And even then, he’s still keeping secrets.
That drove me a little crazy!

BUT… somehow I still couldn't put this book down.

I really enjoyed the fake engagement, second-chance romance, pop-star drama, and road-trip/tour setting. There were some emotional moments that really got to me, and the chemistry between Beckett and Kat definitely brought the heat.

I also loved this as an introduction to the Midnight Storm series and will definitely be checking out the rest. A few hints throughout…. I spy a possible step-sibling story soon???

So yes, I had some frustrations… but I still absolutely loved the book.
Sometimes a book can make you yell at the characters and keep you turning pages at the same time. A winner.

[Amilia Poling]

Oh I really loved this book!! The story was great, the characters were wonderful, and overall it was just really fun! I loved getting to see so much more of Kat, and seeing her drive to achieve her goals and do her jobs well! Watching her open up and learn to accept the praise she deserves was really beautiful! And Beckett was so amazing to see as he learned to open his eyes to the world around him more clearly and accept where the people he cared about were struggling! His journey of self realization and accepting his own needs and wants was really amazing to see blossom! I loved watching these two come together, and re-learn each other! And all the Midnight Storm characters made the whole journey so much fun! I can't wait to see more of the band!! Overall, this one was so good and had me needing to keep going to see what came next! 4.5 stars; 3.5 chili peppers

Tropes:
- Fake Dating
- Rockstar Romance
- Forced Proximity
- Second Chance
- "It's Always Been You"
- Tour Shenanigans

[Ashley Cole]

This book sucked me in from the very beginning! I loved the boy band/2000s vibe of the whole book!

Beckett and Kay broke up years ago but she is back helping to keep the band out of trouble. Beckett is still in love with Kat and his feelings have never changed. I love a good fake engagement and second-chance romance and this had me hooked! Kat and Beckett still had amazing chemistry and the tension between them was incredible. They were made for each other! I loved all of the drama between everyone!

Thank you to the Author Agency and Cara for this early review copy!