When Love Knocks Again

Linder Family Series #3

by Mari Hernan

LOREN A celebration unfolded against the backdrop of my profound loss.

I was the maid of honor at my sister’s wedding.

He was the blissfully married best man.

When the procession began, I slipped my arm through his, and he put his hand over mine.

“I’m sorry for your loss” were the first words he ever said to me.

Little did we know that our paths would cross again four years later when fate reunited us as neighbors.

He’s now a widower, shouldering the weight of parenthood alone.

The connection blossoming between us is both sweet and unexpected.

He pursues me, but I resist, bound by the memory of my late fiance.

Will I ever have the courage to love again and embrace my second chance at a happily ever after?



AARON

I made a promise I never thought I could keep.

Finding love and a mother for my little girl was a comforting lie to my dying wife, never part of my plans.

But then I saw her again. The young girl I met four years ago is now a woman.

Her emerald green gaze reaches deep into my heart.

Witnessing how she loves my daughter ignites hope that love is possible again.

I never anticipated that the promise I made in the shadows of grief would lead me to a second chance at a happily ever after.

233 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 13, 2024

About the author

Mari has always been told she has a way with words, and she decided to put that talent to the test by penning her first book. Her stories delve into the unique journeys couples take to find their happily ever after, capturing the romance, magic and difficult challenges along the way.

Living in the US with her husband, two children, and two dogs, Mari finds joy in cooking, baking, thrift-shopping, crafting, and watercolor painting. An avid reader, she draws inspiration from her favorite authors: Mary Higgins Clark, James Patterson, and Nora Roberts.

Reviews

[Mora · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not romance.
It’s about the MCs’ love for their exes, nothing happened between them until the end.


Spoiler ahead:

— The H was married for 14 years (she was the love of his life).

— The h was engaged to her childhood sweetheart / she is a virgin (she is old-fashioned).

So the H lost the love of his life and the h was second best (he definitely loved his wife more than the h).
The h loved her ex but I didn't feel the H was second best! (what she felt with the H was different from what she felt with her ex 🙄). Anyway, she pushed him until the end because of her guilt.

— They both lost their exes 3-4 years ago and they still mourn them and remember them every moment throughout the entire book.

— Nothing happened between the MCs. There were only two moments between them, they didn’t stay together in the same room for long, they didn’t know each other at all and in the second half all they did was avoid each other then suddenly they were in love!!! When did this happen?

— A lot of flashback with their exes, especially the H and his late wife.

— A lot of “push and pull” until the last chapter 😒. I’m sick of the h she was hung up on her ex and didn’t want to move on. Unlike the H he was ready to move on with her but he didn't really fight for her (they were really the worst couple).

— I wouldn't call this a HFN!! When they are finally together they ended up with long distance relationship and the book ends here!!
_______

Some scenes that bothered me…

- The H and his late wife :

“I can never love another woman,” I said, “You know that. How am I going to find someone as beautiful and wonderful as you? You’re everything I’ve ever wanted and more. You’re my partner, my best friend. The mother of my children.” We always included the children we’d lost before having Holly. A single tear rolled down my cheek, and I quickly wiped it away. 
********
“What I had with my wife only happens once in a lifetime.”
********
“She made him feel loved. An unconditional, giving, understanding, and never-ending love. That’s when I knew she was the one for him.”
*******
“ I recognize it because I’ve experienced it; true, unconditional love”


- He was an as*hole with the h because she did something to his daughter that his wife used to do with her

“As soon as she enters, Holly meets her with a hug. Loren picks up my daughter and kisses her on the cheek. Then I watch a little moment between them as they gently rub their noses together. 
I’m immediately taken back in time and replay the hundreds of times I observed Julie doing the exact same thing with Holly. Holly was too young when Julie died, so there’s no way she would remember the gesture.
I pick up the dinner dishes and put them in the sink with much more force than appropriate. How did Loren know about the nose kisses? That was something special between Julie and Holly. I don’t see how Loren found out about it, but I don’t like it.
I wash the dishes, dry them off, and put them away. The house is spotless, but for some reason, I find myself cleaning every surface in the kitchen, trying to wipe out the image of another woman sharing a special moment that was sacred and shared only between my wife and my daughter.
********
I take a step forward and wrap my hand around her arm. She looks up at me, her eyes wide and confused.
“Loren, I need you to be perfectly clear on one thing. You are not my daughter’s mother.”
********
“My daughter doesn’t need you. You understand me? She has me. It’s just the two of us now. She doesn’t need a mother figure. No one asked you to take on that role, so please stop with the motherly performance.
“Performance?!” She snaps back.
“Yes, performance. You’re acting like you love my daughter. You don’t even know her.”


The h and her ex-fiance :

“I’ve been sleeping in the guestroom by myself for a month,” he began, his lips smiling and his eyes dancing with mischief. “Stay with me tonight.” 
I wanted to stay. I wanted to be with him more than anything, but something inside me told me to wait. I’ve been questioning that something ever since.
“You’ve been making excuses for five years, Loren,” his voice was accusatory. “When we were sixteen, you said we were too young. When we were eighteen, you said we weren’t ready for the responsibility or possible consequences. When we were twenty, you said no because we were in college and living in different cities. It’s always been something.”

[Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why does the fmc always has to a virgin while the guy can have sex with others even after meeting fmc?? Such a backward trope. If she also had an active sex life just like the mmc, it would've been better imo

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loren is still grieving the loss of her fiancée Justin, but her whole life seems to just keep bringing back memories she doesn't want or need to forget. Even her paint studio is named after him, but he was her life and she lost him just days before they married. Aaron moves to Cold Springs to help his Foster brother with his reality business, he feels it's a fresh start for him and his daughter. Hopefully she'll have new friends and a new nursery to make life a little easier for him. Although they talk about her mom and she has pictures of her knowing she's an angel, she has no real memories of her. Maybe when they've build a new life she'll be happy just the two of them. When Loren meets her new neighbour she's annoyed her family never told her who was moving in. Neither Loren or Aaron are ready to move on but sometimes life has other ideas. The characters are well written and even though the subject of loss is never easy to understand. However I found I was sympathising with both characters stories when you've only ever known one partner it's never easy to move on. Although I must say there are quite a few funny moments throughout the book and many of the other characters in the book really draw the story to be more relatable. I'm hoping we may get a story about Leila she's certainly a character with a story of her own. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[My_every_day_chilling · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this one. The blurb was so good. It is a clean romance, I didn't need more to convince me. I was expecting an emotional and angsty story. But it was so flat and disappointing.
The 1st chapter, which I almost DNFed, was an information dump. But I fought to read along because it was a clean romance.
The whole book was 80% telling and not showing, so when there was an emotional scene, I had to guess how the MCs were feeling because it wasn't shown. This story should have had so many occasions to cry and feel for the MCs, but because we are told most of the things and now shown, it fell flat.
There was an excessive amount of assumptions from both MCs. FMC would see MMC in a scene and assume the worst. MMC would see the FMC in a scene and assume the worst. And it would happen again and again and again.
At least the chemistry between the MCs had chemistry. Their kisses were really good. But they never lead to anywhere in their relationship - FMC would act up and I was left wondering why she went to him in the first place or why she told him to kiss him. It was very frustrating.
I know the FMC was grieving. I was always reminded of her grief, but I couldn't feel her grief (this is the problem with telling and not showing).

[Analiza · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I love about this story is that even though I did not personally experience such loss, I felt it in my heart. In fact, I felt all their emotions, too. The conflicting emotions and the longing, ugh! Though I almost unlike Loren for being so stubborn, almost 😁 and I want an Aaron in my life 🩷

Anyway, congrats to the author and thank you because your story moved me. I loved it very much! Can't wait for Laila's story! I hope it would be with Sam.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5* - Rounded up to 5...

There were SO many emotions in this book. So raw, and so real. You could feel all of the pain that the characters were experiencing.

Loren and Aaron know of each other through their various familial connections, but they've each been dealing with their own loss and grief over the last 4 years.

Now, they become next door neighbours, and Aaron's daughter, Holly, falls in love with Loren and they develop a super special bond. They also develop an attraction for each other, but this attraction forces them to deal with the next step of their grief, and for Loren this is almost too much to bear!

I loved the way that Aaron was sensitive to Loren's grief, and the way she was dealing with it. I can appreciate how he didn't want to push her past a point in her grief, but was willing to wait for her to catch up to where he is.

The way that the story and characters developed was so heart-warming.

A really great book, but people will need to watch for triggers around grief and loss.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Char (1RadReader59) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loren Linder (Katie), 26, is still in mourning. Where she lived since she lost her fiance Justin, five years ago, three days before their wedding. Is she in a bad way? Yes! Are there healthier ways to handle her grief, of course? Is it a healthier way to handle it mentally, especially after so long? Yes! Should there be an an intervention when no progress in healing is being made, there are sleep issues, and lack of hunger, too. Probably, for sure. Justin had been driving back late from Phili to Cold Spring in a rain storm, and either lost control of the car or fell asleep. She is now stuck in the past, she can not seem to let him go.

No one can put a time limit on your grief, nor should they expect you to start dating again by their schedule. However, after the length of time Justin had been gone, her going out with friends should be a part of her growth. Grief meetings could help with venting if individual sessions don’t help.

Meeting Aaron Baldwin, 40, is a shock to her system. She had stopped feeling anything for the opposite sex when Justin passed away. Even Justin’s parents had started to tell her that if she met, someone she liked, she should not feel like she, was obligated to continue the once-a-month dinners with them. It had to be hard for them not to be able to move on. To have the constant monthly reminder that their child was dead.

Aaron had also suffered losses. His wife had passed almost two years ago from aggressive lung cancer. Before that, they had suffered through a couple of miscarriages and a stillbirth, a son. They had chosen not to have any children. They went on the pill, and Julie got pregnant with sweet little Holly, now 4. Who by the way asked repeatedly, if Loren could be her mommy. Talk about a tailspin, Aaron was reeling out of control.

But, somehow these two were finding their way to each other. But don't expect a smooth easy ride. Emotional rollercoaster of course. Nothing less. All the cast is back with a new added member, Sam. Who adds a fun yet witty calm to the fam. He is Laila’s new love interest and an employee of Lorna.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sweet love after loss romance. I enjoyed it. The story involved a lot of emotional work for both main characters as they faced the possibility of love for a second time. There is also an age gap element to the story. Loren’s fiancé had died days before their wedding. Aaron was left to raise his daughter Holly after the death of his wife. A few years later, the two, already connected by Aaron being foster brother and best friend to Loren’s brother-in-law, found themselves neighbours. Loren and Holly bonded quickly. As attraction flared and affection grew, Aaron and Loren both had to navigate their respective grief and emotional baggage. “‘Well, maybe [God] answered your prayers by sending you a man who understands your pain.’” Made even more difficult when one of them was less prepared to take the leap than the other. “‘You’re caught in a cycle of grief that only you have the power to stop. It’s time for you to start living again.’” There are some beautiful sweet moments in the story, and also some heartbreaking ones. I liked the characters. The emotional up and down of the relationship was a bit of a roller coaster but it wasn’t as frustrating because the emotions and grief were clearly conveyed. The sensitive subject matter was thoughtfully addressed. I did wish that there had been a little more substance to the ending. It’s still happy, of course, but I felt that it was screaming for an epilogue to provide more resolution. My hope is that there is a book coming focused on the third sister, which will give more of that resolution. This story includes significant elements of the death of romantic partners and grief. There are light faith and church details in the book. This book has carryover from the previous book, but reads well as a standalone. This is a closed door romance with mild innuendo and a handful of very mild harsh words.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[whatnolareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I tell you that I had so many emotions going through me reading this book, It was so real I felt that it was happening to me. I cried so much. You could feel all of the pain that the characters were experiencing.

Loren and Aaron are both dealing with grief of their own when they meet through mutual acquaintances. They end up becoming next-door neighbors and Aaron's daughter falls for Loren and they develop an unbreakable bond.
But with the newfound love they have found, they have also found that it's not all happy moments as they are forced to deal with grief differently.

I love how Aaron took his time with Loern and let her open up when she was ready not pushing her past her breaking points. He was so gentle with her, so loving and affectionate towards her.

The author did an amazing job of building the story and developing the characters. I will say that if you have dealt with grief or loss please read the trigger warning.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jo|Ruth Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, this book had me in tears, A LOT! It was perfect! I read romance novels all the time and my goodness they always just building to an end. But this one was just so much back and forth, you are definitely on this emotional rollercoaster the whole time, and it is SO worth it! So much love, so many feelings, family, kissing.... oh the kissing, perfect! To have a clean, God-honoring romance that also somehow managed to have so much passion and love in it, the balance was spot on!

This story is about Aaron and Loren who met years prior at a family member's wedding. But at the time they were both not really in a place to see each other as anything but acquaintances. But then fast forward 4 years later and they are not only neighbors, but both grieving. Watching their relationship grow against the backdrop of grief, was so powerful. This book will keep you engaged the whole time. I sense a follow-up story with Sam and Laila... and I can not wait!

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aaron moves to help his foster brother with his realtor business with his daughter. He hopes it’s a new start in a new nursery for her after the loss of her mother who she doesn’t really remember. Loren is full of grief from her loss of Justin , her fiancé after losing him two days before the wedding , her paint studio is named after him, everything around her is a reminder. Aaron ends up being Loren’s neighbour . They knew each other loosely through family connections. Holly is smitten with Loren and she doesn’t mind the attention but when her Aaron gets close , Loren’s walls go up . Does he melt the frozen guard around her heart or are they destined to live apart? Not telling ! It’s a great book , worthy of a binge read and aww cute Holly.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness.... I am speechless

I have never..... never read a 400 and something page book this fast. The level of sweetness in this book is mmmmmm just overload. I love age gap romances but this is certainly the sweetest age gap I have ever ever read..... like I couldn't believe when I checked my page count the 1st time I was more than 1/2 through the book and the 2nd time I checked the page count I had 6 more pages. I was overly invested. That ending just grapped my tears..... I wanted maybe more but then I still somehow feel the ending felt enough. A 100% a must read even if your a smut girl.... 100% must read. This is my new favorite author..... and you know what that means.... time to read more books by her!

[Margaret Hejmanowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read anything by Mari Hernan before, OMG this was fantastic!! Loren lost her fiance Justin four years ago in a car accident, days before their wedding. She just goes through the motions day after day, never moving ahead. Aaron moves to town to help his foster brother with his business; but also so his daughter Holly is closer to family. Aaron's wife Julie died two years ago. Aaron ends up moving in next door to Loren. Holly is attracted to Loren and wants her to be her Mommy. How does that work out? Love the plot, great setting, and strong intense interesting characters. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Hernan!!

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was hard for me to read at times because of the grief, grief hits us all differently and we will react to it differently. The connection between these two was good and I was willing them to find a way to move on and to be together, I enjoyed seeing their lives entwined and how things progressed between them, and for them individually. If ever a story deserves an epilogue then it is this one as I felt there was more to be told.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the connection and chemistry between the two main characters, Loren and Aaron. Their story evolves slowly and just draws you in. They both have lost loved ones. Are they ready to heal and go forward in their life?
I was hooked from the first page to the last page.
A perfect second chance romance!

Thank you Mari Hernan for the ARC of When Love Knocks Again. This is my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mari Hernan packs a lot in one quick read book. We get Loren who is still mourning the death of her Fiancé and life-long friend, four years previous, Aaron who lost his wife and mother of Holly, two years ago, and Holly, Aaron’s loveable daughter who just wants a mom. We’re given lost loves, unhealthy living in the past, a budding romance, an age difference, humor and families who want them both to be happy again. I really enjoyed this book.

[Doreen Farrar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Lovely Tale

This is a sequel to My Sweet Adversary, which is available, at this time, either inexpensively from Amazon or for free by signing up for Mari Hernan's newsletter. I'd recommend reading that first, as it, while short, introduces most of the characters of When Love Knocks Again and sets up the story. I definitely recommend reading both books, as they combine to make an excellent pair of clean love stories. Highly recommended!

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so emotional and real. It showed how we can jump to conclusions based on our own fears, how we act out of love and out of fear and how sometimes we let those fears get in our own way. Aaron and Loren are so real and hold the loves of their past so dear, they both find it hard to let go and move on. This book will 100% stir your emotions.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She was there for her sister wedding when the best man offered his sympathy for her loss. Now years later he is her neighbor and she is still grieving. She bonds with his child and he hopes she will take a chance on him. Will she accept a new life with him? Can her life get better? See how it all goes

[Annette Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Linder Family Series by Mari Hernan!


I love the Linder Family Series by Mari Hernan! Aaron and Korea's love story was truly special. Little Holly was the icing on the cake. A definite must read for anyone suffering the loss of a loved one and looking for the ability to move forward. I am looking forward to reading Laila and Sam's love story next!

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

They both have lost their soulmate and this book is a grief-filled love story to each of their exes. And then they settle for each other cause the other person is probably the only person on the planet who would accept/understand only getting half a heart.

Pretty tragic, actually.

[Jennifer Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm…I love the idea of this book but I don’t love the book and because I love the idea of it is why I gave it 3 stars. Something about it felt so rushed and lacked something that I can’t put my finger on. Loren almost felt fake to me like was she really the main character.

[John Saxon · Rating 2 out of 5]

For the first time in a while I actually dnf a book I read about 40 pages and new that I wasn’t going to enjoy it sorry

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Aaron and Loren’s book. It was an interesting read. And am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Jean Katchmar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real page turner! This is the first book I read by this author and I cannot wait to read more of her books!

[Eliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was both hurtfullly heartbreaking and healing, the grief parts made me want to cry and identify with as i know how it's like but not romantically.
" I reach for the chain around my neck and slip Justin’s ring onto my index finger before the tears start to flow again. Mom walks to the front door and locks it before returning to me and wrapping her arms around me.
We walk to the kitchen and sit at the table. She doesn’t say anything. She just puts her hands over mine and lets me weep.
After I feel like I’ve run out of tears, she pulls some tissues out of her purse and hands me a couple before asking me if I feel better.
“I will never feel better, Mom.”
“Sweetheart, you have to allow healing to take root.”
“How, Mom? How am I supposed to just, what, move on?” I ask as more tears start to flow."

[Atleastreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa gave me this vibe (especially after that one scene at his house):

[Britt Galbraith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really spoke to me - as someone who has experienced loss. Both Loren and Aaron experienced heart-rending, life-changing grief. It was hard to see Loren so stuck in her grief - but ultimately watching her choose to move through it was powerful.

Aaron had his own journey through his grief and parenthood. The scenes with Aaron interacting with children (his daughter, his niece, or his nephew) were tender and beautiful. They showed his sensitivity, patience, and strength.

Between rescuing Loren from a mouse in her bathroom and a flood in her garage, Aaron did other swoon-worthy things - like frankly apologize when he messed up or ask for consent before kissing Loren.

Loren's and Aaron's story was beautiful and inspiring. Sometimes the most courageous thing you can do - is open your heart up to love.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.