Falling for the Rabbi - Jennifer Wilck (HSE #3133 - Mar 2026)

Series: Matchmaker, Matchmaker (Book 1)
 
Can opposites attract when tradition stands in the way?
 
Josh Axelrod is incensed! His matchmaker date brought along her annoying best friend -- Emma something-or-other. The same Emma who's ruining the house filled with the young rabbi's childhood memories and turning it into a bookstore. Sure, she captures his attention but -- no. Just no. Emma is too impulsive. Too out there. And he's a Rabbi, for God's sake! Except now, it seems impossible to avoid her. And with every encounter, "no" feels more like "yes." Perhaps the unwitting Josh and Emma were always the match meant to be…
 
Good small-town, enemies-to-lovers story. Emma is a young woman who dreams of owning a bookstore. After years of saving, that dream is about to come true. She purchased a Victorian home just off Main Street and plans to turn the first floor into a bookstore and live on the second floor. The owner is a feisty older woman who wants to move into a senior living complex where many of her friends already live. The only fly in the ointment is Muriel's grandson, Josh.
 
Josh doesn't like change. He grew up in that house after his parents died and Muriel took over raising him. Though he is now a rabbi in Manhattan, he hates the idea of his grandmother not being in her home, despite her desire to be with her friends. His hostile attitude at the closing irritated me, and I liked how his grandmother called him on it after it was over. Being the terrific grandmother she is, she used his remorse to get him to accept a matchmaker's help finding a date.
 
In an ironic twist of fate, the matchmaker sets Josh up with Emma's best friend, Samantha. Emma and a male friend insert themselves into Josh and Samantha's first date, creating a very awkward situation. Though Josh tries to focus on Samantha, his attention keeps drifting to Emma. Meanwhile, Emma makes no secret of her opinion of Josh.
 
But it is a small town, and with Emma buying his grandmother's house, they run into each other often. It doesn't take long for them to realize that beneath the antagonism is a growing attraction. I liked seeing them get to know each other. Emma helps Josh understand that his grandmother moving on to the next stage of her life isn't the end of the world. I loved how Josh gave Emma the emotional support she doesn't get from anyone else and desperately needs. While Josh quickly understands how his feelings for Emma have grown, her experiences left her wary of believing his feelings are real. It takes time apart and some straight advice for them to get past their insecurities and find their way back to each other.
 
I enjoyed seeing Emma's determination to make her dream come true. It isn't easy, and a renovation disaster creates even more stress. At the same time, Josh is at a crossroads in his personal and professional lives and has some hard decisions to make.
 
Secondary characters play an important role in the story. The best of them was Josh's grandmother, Muriel. She is feisty, loving, and doesn't hesitate to speak her mind. Her close relationship with Josh is undeniable. I laughed at so many of her antics. On the other hand, Emma's parents and best friend were awful. Emma's parents constantly compare her to her sister and are entirely unsupportive of her bookstore plans. Though they somewhat redeemed themselves in the end, I'm not sure if it will last. Samantha was just plain awful. She is self-centered, has zero empathy for anyone else, and constantly brings up things from the past that shouldn't matter anymore. I could tell from their first date that she and Josh weren't at all suited for each other. She desperately needs an attitude adjustment, and I hope she gets it. 

 

The Maverick's Homecoming - Christine Rimmer (Harlequin - Aug 2026)

Series: Montana Mavericks: Hidden Gems Ranch (Book 1)
 
A second chance for the hometown hero?
 
After a career-ending injury, former pro athlete Finn Monahan is back home in Tenacity, Montana. The town's onetime golden boy has been drafted to revive the high school's struggling football team this fall season—putting him in the zone of his first love, school nurse Kenzie Osborne. Finn quickly hears through the grapevine that Kenzie is newly divorced… Could this be their opportunity for a second chance?
 
But Kenzie is not only adjusting to being newly single—she discovered just after her divorce that she's pregnant! Kenzie is determined to prioritize her soon-to-be-born baby, not romance, and certainly not with the too-handsome Finn Monahan. Only their feelings for each other aren't so easily sidelined…
 
Terrific small-town/second chance romance. Finn and Kenzie were high school sweethearts who went their separate ways after a heartbreaking loss. Their separation was helped along by Finn's father's dislike of Kenzie and his plans for Finn's future. Finn went on to play college and professional football while Kenzie became a nurse.
 
Fifteen years later, both have returned to their hometown of Tenacity. A torn ACL ended Finn's football career and moved him to a new career in real estate. He's settled in Tenacity, doing well in his real estate business, and is recruited to coach his high school's football team. Kenzie married and lived in Denver until divorcing her cheating husband. She returned to Tenacity and became the school nurse and the football team's medic by default.
 
They meet before school starts. Finn is still drawn to Kenzie and interested in pursuing a new relationship. But Kenzie built walls around her heart after being burned first by Finn and later by her ex. She makes it clear she will never marry again. This vow is reinforced when she discovers she is pregnant and refuses to risk her baby's security. However, friendship is safe enough, and she and Finn begin spending a lot of time together.
 
I loved their time together. Finn loves Kenzie and knows he wants her in his life. He also knows that she isn't ready to hear it. I love how well they understand each other. Kenzie understands the effect Finn's father has on him and excels at counteracting the self-doubt those confrontations cause. At the same time, Finn understands Kenzie's fears and wariness and wants to give her the time she needs. It doesn't take long for the friendship to move to friends with benefits, and it's easy to see how right they are together. Kenzie's fears keep her from admitting her feelings, even to herself. It takes an intervention from her friends to break her free and open her eyes and heart. Finn also gets some advice from an unexpected source.
 
My favorite secondary characters are Kenzie's new kittens, Tom and Ed. I loved how and why Kenzie got them, and how they gave Finn another reason to spend time with her. Their antics were adorable.

 
 

Lark's Song - Josie Jade (Calamitte Jane Pub - July 2026)

Series: Warrior Security (Book 5)
 
Lark Monroe runs Pawsitive Connections with a smile that doesn't always reach her eyes, an alpaca named Al Pacacino who thinks he's royalty, and a talent for recognizing broken people.
 
Because she's one of them.
 
She's built a sanctuary in Pawsitive. Forty acres of second chances for animals nobody else wanted and humans who've forgotten how to trust. It's easier to fix other people's problems. Safer.
 
Her own? Those stay buried.
 
But the past she left behind isn't staying there. And the man she hired to fix her fences sees straight through every wall she's spent five years building.
 
Turns out, teaching others to heal is a lot easier than letting someone do the same for her. And she's running out of time to learn...
 
Terrific conclusion to the Warrior Security series. Lark has been a recurring secondary character in the Warrior Security and Resting Warrior Ranch series. She intrigued me, as I suspected she had hidden depths, and I was excited to finally read her story.
 
Lark owns and runs Pawsitive Connection, a ranch for all types of rescued animals. She trains them as therapy animals and service animals. She is independent, caring, and empathetic, seeing people's needs and doing what she can to help. She came to Garnet Bend after leaving an abusive husband and parents who took his side. She's under a lot of stress because she is behind on her mortgage payments, and the grants she depends on have been denied. She needs a handyman/ranch hand, but can't afford to pay much more than room and board.
 
Logan is former military, has PTSD, carries guilty feelings over the death of his best friend Reid, and was hired by Warrior Security as one of their operatives. But on his first mission with them, he had an episode that could have endangered the rest of the team. Unable to trust himself, he left Warrior Security with no plan on what to do next. He has excellent communication skills and is strong, caring, and protective.
 
Logan stops for coffee on his way out of town and encounters Lark putting up a help-wanted poster. Logan is immediately drawn to her, while Lark realizes that Logan is exactly what she needs. With a little effort, Lark talks Logan into taking the job. The work is exactly what Logan needs - it keeps his hands and mind busy, and any PTSD episodes won't put anyone in danger.
 
I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. Their teamwork develops first, followed by friendship. Each has a way of spotting the other's pain or problems and coming up with solutions. I loved how Lark paired Logan and Tova, the dog. Logan learns of Lark's financial issues and helps her find ways to overcome them. Their friendship and teamwork develop into something deeper. I loved seeing Logan chip away at the walls Lark built around herself, and how Lark learned it was safe to lean on Logan.
 
But there is trouble brewing at Pawsitive Connections. Logan stumbles on signs that drug traffickers are using a remote part of the ranch to hide and move their drugs. With the assistance of his former colleagues at Warrior Security and the men of Resting Warrior Ranch, Logan vows to make Pawsitive Connections safe for Lark. The way they did it kept me glued to the pages as they dealt with the threat.
 
That's not the only danger Lark faces. She is close to losing the ranch, thanks to lost grants and an early calling of her second mortgage. She's puzzled about why grants that were shoe-ins before are suddenly being denied. Then her past comes calling, and she has more to fear than just losing her ranch. These scenes had my heart in my throat as both Lark and her animals were in deadly danger. The resolution was terrific, and I loved Tova's part in it.
 
I loved the appearances made by characters from previous books, both from Warrior Security and Resting Warrior Ranch. Their love and respect for Lark are evident in the surprise they had for her at the end. The arrival of Isaac and Fallon from Code Name: Leo was a surprise, but it made perfect sense once I found out why.
 
I can't talk about Lark and Pawsitive Connections without talking about the animals. From Al Pacacino, the spitting alpaca (love the name), to Clarence, the foul-mouthed parrot, each one had a distinctive personality and purpose. 

The Lyon's Nemesis - Belle Ami (Dragonblade - Jan 2026)

Series: Lyon's Den (Book 104)
 
He must save his earldom—or risk losing everything in a high-stakes game.
 
Short-tempered and teetering on the edge of ruin, Lexington Capel, the Earl of Essex, must marry—not for love, but for a dowry. His only hope lies with London's infamous matchmaker, and gambling-den doyenne, Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon. But on his journey to engage her services, Lex is waylaid by the notorious highwaywoman known as the Lace Bandit—a masked beauty whose daring and defiance he cannot forget.
 
She harbors a secret that, if revealed, could lead her to the gallows.
 
Lady Edwina Sinclair, last surviving heir to her family's baronetcy, leads a double life as a modern-day Robin Hood. When she robs the wrong man—a dangerously intriguing earl—her carefully spun world begins to unravel. Forced to London by her formidable grandmother to make a respectable match, Winnie must keep her identity hidden from both the ton and the ever-watchful Mrs. Dove-Lyon.
 
In a city of glittering salons and whispered scandal, fate draws two adversaries into a perilous dance. Reputation, revenge, and forbidden desire collide in The Lyon's Nemesis—where even the most cunning hearts may be undone by love.
 
Fun story. Lex Capel, Earl of Essex, inherited a nearly bankrupt earldom. He needs to marry a wealthy woman quickly if he wants to save his lands and his people. His best option is to engage the assistance of Mrs. Dove-Lyon. However, on his trip to London, he encounters the notorious Lace Bandit, a female robber who relieves him of the small amount of money he has. Though furious at the robbery, a brief meeting of their eyes leaves him intrigued.
 
Lady Edwina is the lone heir to her family's baronetcy after the rest of her family died. Her grandmother is her guardian. Edwina will inherit a large fortune when she marries or reaches her majority. Her grandmother drags her to London and hires Mrs. Dove-Lyon to help find Edwina a husband. But Edwina has a secret that could get her hanged if revealed. She is the Lace Bandit, who robs from the rich and uses the ill-gotten gains to improve the lives of the poor.
 
When they cross paths at the Lyon's Den, Lex is immediately taken with Edwina. He doesn't recognize her as the Lace Bandit, though she recognizes him as her latest victim. Lex is confused as to why he feels strongly about two women. Though Mrs. Dove-Lyon initially doesn't see them as a good match, there is no denying their connection. I enjoyed their banter and seeing them get to know each other. But as her feelings for Lex grow, Edwina worries about what would happen if he learned her secret.
 
There are some interesting twists in this story, between secrets kept, misplaced pride, and a scorned suitor, ending with a confrontation that could end with Edwina in custody. The confrontation was a nail-biter, and I was glued to the pages until it was resolved. The ending was sweet and emotional, with an epilogue that neatly wrapped up the story. 

The Duke's Meddlesome Matchmaker - Emily E.K. Murdoch (HH #1901 - Feb 2026)

Series: The Unconventional Oliver Sisters (Book 1)
 
All's fair in love…
And matchmaking!
 
Proposal planner Aphrodite "Ditty" Oliver believes romance should be planned and executed to perfection. That's what keeps her in business. In attempting another successful engagement, she instantly comes to blows with her client's brother, dashing duke Henry Paisley! Henry believes meddling in matters of the heart is counter to a true connection. While Ditty has learned that true love only exists in fairy tales, she'll show him that it must be engineered in real life!
 
Entertaining book. Aphrodite "Ditty" Oliver is a proposal planner in London. She believes that love can be orchestrated if properly planned. But her reputation takes a hit when one of the proposals goes wrong, and she decides to take a job out of town while things cool off. That job is in a small town, where she is to help a young lawyer find a way to propose to his lady. When she arrives in town, her client's brother picks her up, and they immediately come to verbal blows.
 
Henry Paisley, a doctor and newly named Duke of Glanyrafon, believes that matters of the heart don't need outside help. He makes his opinion known to Ditty, who is determined to prove him wrong.
 
I enjoyed seeing Ditty make her plans, and could feel her frustration when her client wasn't always cooperative. She also has a fair amount of time when she isn't occupied with her planning, and finds herself drawn into village life. Her organizational abilities find an outlet in helping various townspeople improve their lives or businesses.
 
At the same time, Henry struggles with maintaining his medical practice while dealing with a nearly bankrupt dukedom. Henry is a man with a big heart, but lousy organizational skills. He turned the ducal mansion into a senior living home for the local elderly population who can no longer live on their own, but paying the bills remains a problem.
 
I enjoyed the developing relationship between Ditty and Henry. Their debates over their differing views were amusing, and their developing friendship was easy to believe. Both have some baggage that impacts their willingness to risk their hearts, but eventually their hearts win out. I liked seeing Ditty take Henry's disorganization in hand, with an interesting twist that affected the dukedom's financial future. I liked seeing them finally trust their hearts and find their way together, thanks to some interfering elderly ladies. The ending was great, and I loved the epilogue. 

 

Crime Scene K-9 - Julie Miller (HI #2303 - Aug 2025)

Series: Protectors at K-9 Ranch (Book 5)
 
His faithful K-9 companion
reunited him with his fate.
 
Master Sergeant Levi Callahan thought Zoe Stockman was the perfect lover…until she ghosted him. Figuring the only reliable companion was his loyal K-9 partner, Sky, Levi tried to forget Zoe, even after his medical discharge brought him back home. Yet home was now a place from which Zoe had practically disappeared, cutting all contact with everyone, not just him. Levi knew he would find answers only after he and Sky tracked Zoe down. The Marine just hadn't imagined the terror Zoe had endured while he was away, or the surprise she'd been attempting to keep safe.
 
Good blend of romance and suspense. Marine and K-9 handler Levi met Zoe while home on leave. They hit it off right away and spent as much time together as they could. When he returned to the Middle East for the rest of his deployment, they promised to keep in touch. And for a while, they did. But then Zoe stopped responding to his emails and changed her phone number,  ghosting him with no explanation. At first, he was hurt, then he got angry. To complicate matters, he was injured, and during his time in the hospital, he had little to do but stew over her abandonment. With the end of his deployment, Levi also retired. He and his K-9, Sky, moved back home as Levi pondered what came next. Try as he might, Levi could not forget Zoe. It didn't take him long to discover that she had cut off contact with almost everyone.
 
Zoe withdrew from almost everything outside of her job with the crime scene unit. Someone is stalking her, threatening to harm anyone she cares about. The only way she can see to keep Levi safe is to stay completely away from him. Her fear for herself, for Levi, and for the secret she's keeping leaps off the page.
 
Levi and Zoe's reunion is not easy. Levi's anger takes center stage until he learns the truth. His protective instincts kick in, and he's determined to find and stop the stalker. He also needs to find a way to let go of the anger, now that he knows why she ghosted him. It takes a little while to rebuild the trust between them, but a happy future for them looks promising, as long as they survive that long.
 
The suspense of the story was very good and kept me guessing until the end. The similarities to a serial killer in a previous book added extra tension to the search, especially since that killer is in jail. The tension continued to increase with every threat, with the final confrontation keeping me glued to the pages until it was over. The occasional glimpse of the action from the killer's point of view added another layer of tension to the story.
 
I loved the partnership between Levi and his K-9, Sky. I liked how Sky took to Zoe and clearly made her one of his people. The only thing that frustrated me was that Levi missed Sky's pretty clear reaction to the person who turned out to be the killer. It was the second time he'd blown off a warning - I hope he learned his lesson. 

A Secret to Shock to Shock the Earl - Laura Martin (HH #1905 - Mar 2026)

Long-lost love…
Newfound heir!
 
Richard, the Earl of Farnleigh, believed he had lost his sweetheart, Hetty, forever. Amid the carnage of the Peninsular War, she was torn from his arms, thought dead. But now she's back on his doorstep -- with their two-year-old child!
 
Thinking Richard had abandoned her, pregnant Hetty became trapped in a joyless marriage to a cruel man. Now a widow, she's finally free -- but alone, vulnerable and penniless. Richard is her only hope for refuge. They're bound by their son, and an undeniable connection, but when they both bear the scars of the past, is a rekindled romance more than she can promise?
 
Good story about two survivors of the Peninsular War. Hetty is an Englishwoman, married to a soldier. Six months earlier, her husband disappeared in battle and is presumed dead. Left with no way to return to England, she has been serving as a nurse for one of the doctors in a small town in Portugal to earn enough money to go home. As the story opens, she has been tasked with triaging the wounded - deciding whose wounds can wait, who needs to be seen quickly, and who is beyond saving. She comes across a colonel with a leg wound that will almost certainly result in amputation. His determination to avoid that fate impresses her.
 
Richard is the fourth son of an earl and has made a career of his time in the Army. As the story opens, he has achieved the rank of colonel. He is also among the wounded of the latest battle, suffering from a sword slash to his leg. Though in great pain, he refuses laudanum, determined to remain in control and prevent amputation. He senses a sympathetic soul in the nurse.
 
The book's prologue shows the growing friendship between Richard and Hetty as she supervises his recovery. I liked how they shared their pasts. Over the weeks of his recovery, Richard realizes he loves her. As the fourth son of an earl, marriage to her is easily possible. A kiss cements their attraction. The next thing we see is Richard waiting for Hetty to get off work so he can propose to her. Word comes that the village is under attack, and Richard races off to lead his men.
 
It is then three years later. Hetty and her two-and-a-half-year-old son travel to Northumberland and Richard's family. The past three years have been miserable. Her husband wasn't dead, but deserted, and returned to claim her. Abusive, especially after he found her pregnant with Richard's child, he made her life with him difficult. When he died, she was once again alone with no resources. She planned to ask Richard's brother for help, despite believing that Richard had abandoned her in Portugal.
 
Imagine both their shock when Hetty arrived to discover that Richard is now the earl. Richard thought she was dead, and her appearance on his doorstep sent shockwaves through him, matched only by his shock at the little boy with her. He immediately accepts that the child is his and takes both into his home. His joy in little Noah's presence made me smile. There are some sweet scenes with them together. But there is no immediate joyful reunion between Hetty and Richard. She feels bitterness and resentment over what she saw as his abandonment. Richard doesn't understand why she never tried to contact him. There is no "Thank God, you're alive. Let's get married as we planned." Instead, a cautious partnership develops.
 
Hetty has no intention of marrying again. Still traumatized by her marriage, allowing another man that close isn't an option. With Richard now being an earl, her insecurities also make it impossible for her to see marriage as a possibility. Richard, having already lost so many people, can't picture himself risking his heart again. However, as the story progresses and they work together on his project, each finds themselves healing, accepting that their past experiences changed them, and opening themselves up to the possibility of a future together.
 
The epilogue was a good wrap-up for the story and showed how Richard and Hetty's life together had progressed.