Falling Again

by Paula M. Kay

My high school crush and my brother’s best friend rejected me.

Now he’s back as a self-made billionaire.

My bakery is being threatened by an unscrupulous developer wanting to buy my business.

Rick is tall, dark, and handsome and could be the antihero in a teenage drama from the CW.

He promises that he won’t rest until I’m safe and my business is secure.

Rick confesses he’s guilty of having feelings for me, and he’s always cared for me.

I don’t know if I can trust him to not run away again.

Now he needs to decide if he wants to cross the line and have his best friend’s sister all to himself.

Genres: Romance, Clean Romance

65 pages, Paperback

Published January 17, 2024

Reviews

[Maven_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Falling Again by Paula Kay is a tender second‑chance romance about Janet, who quietly loved her brother’s best friend Rick since she was fifteen, and what happens when their paths cross again years later under very different circumstances.

From the start this story felt soft and full of longing: Janet told Rick she loved him as a teenager and was turned away. Years later, her bakery is threatened by a development deal, and her brother calls Rick, now a successful security‑business owner to protect her and her store. When Rick returns, old feelings resurface, and they begin to wonder if what was once a crush could become something real.

Reading it made me feel hopeful and a little nostalgic. I connected with Janet’s vulnerability, the way her feelings linger after so many years, and how despite the hurt she still carries a quiet strength. The danger to her bakery added a layer of tension that made their reunion more meaningful, not just as lovers but as two adults confronting more than teenage dreams. Rick’s protective instincts, and the possibility of redemption and trust, gave their relationship weight. The writing is light and direct, pacing is quick (the book is quite short), and while the romance moves fast, it still carries enough emotion to make me root for them.

I know this is not a sweeping epic with deeply layered themes, but as a quick, warm romance it hit the right notes for me. If you want a comforting, easy read about second chances and quiet longing, this one delivers.

Rating: 4 out of 5. I’m giving it this because while it is simple and brief, it captures the ache of unrequited love turned hopeful across time, and left me with a gentle smile.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second chance, brother's best friend book is about Janet, a bakery owner who always had a crush on her brother's best friend, Rick. She declares her love for him at fifteen when he and he brother are set to leave for the Navy. At nineteen, he hurt her terribly with his words and she's never forgiven him.
Fast forward ten years and Janet is being threatened by a property development company who wishes to take over her bakery premises for other development projects. Her brother, Owen decides to enlist Rick's help as he is now a very successful owner of his own security business.
When these two meet again, the attraction between them is stronger than ever and they are both adults now. They even have Owen's blessings and Rick cannot overcome his feelings of possessiveness and protection for Janet.
This is a sweet, clean short read with likeable characters with charming HEA.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story! Janet was just 15 when she told Rick Masters she loved him. Rick was 19 and her brother’s best friend. The guys were having a deployment party and were being shipped out in the morning. Rick was stunned when she told me she loved him. He tells her she’s too young and he doesn’t feel that way toward her.

Ten years later, her brother Evan calls Rick for help in dealing with a pushy real estate developer who wants Janet’s store. She’s told them no but they are getting dangerous. Rick handles it and the company is no longer a threat.

Janet and Rick finally talk. She still loves him. He says he loves her but didn’t want it to be an issue with Evan. Months later, he wants to make a future with Janet and she’s all for it.

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

More a best friends little sister than a second chance romance. Janet was so young when Rick left to join the military - she was more the little sister always hanging around. 10 years later she is not a kid anymore - he runs a protection service and she has an angry developer harassing her.

This is a short, quick read that pretty much goes exactly as you expect it too. A little forced proximity, a little danger, instant attraction, but a bit to admit to it - it is a feel good read with very little angst - other than the teenage crush kind.

[Priscilla King · Rating 3 out of 5]

She threw herself at her brother's best friend when she was fifteen and the nineteen-year-olds were heading off into military service. He pushed back. Ten years later, upon entering a business relationship, she throws herself at him again. Because this is a sweet romance novel, this time it works.

I've not seen a lot of men learning to appreciate women who didn't wait for the men to pursue them, in real life. Anything can happen but this is definitely a "romance" in the classical sense of a fanciful tale, as distinct from a "novel" that might have been a real news item from the real world.

[Terri Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Falling Again is a cute story. A few curse words and at least one or two heated kisses, but never crossing any lines into questionable territory. Because it was a short, the pacing was quick, but still enjoyable. Janet’s loved Rick since she was a teen, but he pushed her away as being too young and his best friend's sister. Fast-forward 10 years and Janet’s business is being threatened and Rick is the only one who can help. Rick has to decide if he’s allowed to love her or keep her at arms length.

[Korkoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Love Destined To Be -
This was a slow burn second chance romance story, filled with enough angst, suspense and drama, to keep you captivated and entertained for a few hours. The storyline was realistic and the characters were lively, which made it difficult to stop reading once I started. Grab a copy of this book and you won’t be disappointed.

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

[Jean Katchmar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Janet was 15 when she told Rick, her brother's BFF that she loved him. He pushed her away and went into the service with her brother, Evan. Now she owns her own bakery and is fighting off selling it to Harold representing Carlisle Development Co. He starts to cause damage to her bakery and Evan calls Rick to come with his Detective Agency to help Janet. Rick shows up to protect Janet and the fireworks start!

[BP34 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Janet had a crush on rick, her brother’s best friend but he broke her heart when he rejected her and joined the army along with her brother. Years later her bakery is being threatened by an unscrupulous developer and her brother hires Rick to investigate. A slow burn, second chance romance that is sweet and will grab your heart. A cute read that is heartwarming and fun to read. I received a copy of this book free from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Konrie Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes: Brother’s best friend, second chance, protective, anger baking, small time vs big corporation

I liked the tropes. there was a moment I was pleasantly surprised that they talked out the problem vs withholding important information. There was also a moment where the MMC contradicted himself that i wasnt a fan of, but this was a fairly good novella about a security ex-navy seal and a baker.

[Dali Castillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Story

This is such a wonderful and sweet story of love and second chances with a touch of intrigue. Although it's a quick read, the story's pacing was just right. I loved the interactions between Janet and Rick and how they impacted their relationship. It is a sweet and endearing story and one that I greatly enjoyed.

[Summan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and sweet. More of a best friends sister love story than a second chance romance. Very little plot, more relationship based, miscommunication and it wasn’t said how the security risk was resolved but it was a nice sweet story and the way things wrapped up in the end was cute. I liked it as a whole.

[Book Addict · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, sweet romances with familiar tropes: the protective billionaire, the small-town heroine, and the tension of rekindled love. While its brevity means the plot moves quickly, Paula Kay manages to deliver a satisfying emotional arc. If you’re looking for a quick, cozy read with plenty of heart, this novella is worth picking up.

[Mary Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short novel- less than 60 pages--so if someone wants a quick read with a happy ending, this is the book to try. I did, however, think the both the plot and the characters needed more attention. I will still try another book by Paula Kay and, hopefully, she will pay more attention to developing her story and characters.

[Deborah Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun story a brother's friend rejected her when she was younger so when he returns into her life she is hesitant to let him back in. This was a cute meet cute where she knew him in the past and they get a second chance. Loved it.

[Jennifer Rosenberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful second chance story.

[Serret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute 2nd chance at love story.

[Mitzi Neiderhiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great second chance romance story. A short quick read, but a fun jump from best friend's sister to admission of his real feelings.

[Marilyn Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love sometimes need growth and more experiences. She thought he hated her but he didn’t. It took 10 years of growing up and letting live mature. Even her brother agreed

[Sarah Lewin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story! Strong emotions, great plot and characters.

[D. Anderson-AHearn · Rating 5 out of 5]

romance is still alive!

For a short story this was very good. Suspense, love, conflicts were very well written. Hoping there are more books by Paula Kay. I’ll read them all.

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short story with little plot development. But a HEA.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

FALLING AGAIN was a very sweet, short love story but it was just too much, too fast. I think I would have enjoyed it more if everything was a bit slower with more happening between the high points.

[Peggy Mangum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and Sweet. Love Second Chances. Enjoyable Book 😄

[Zyria 🩷 · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you need a quick pallet cleanser between reading series this book would be perfect for you. Falling again follows Janet who told Rick how she felt before he left for the navy 10 years later Rick is her bodyguard. This was a quick simple read though I do wish it was a tad bit longer.

[Rick Farlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The biggest part of the story was left out: how, exactly, was the security risk resolved? We know that it happened, and everything turned out OK, but exactly how did the threat end?

[Korkoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Love Destined To Be -
This was a slow burn second chance romance story, filled with enough angst, suspense and drama, to keep you captivated and entertained for a few hours. The storyline was realistic and the characters were lively, which made it difficult to stop reading once I started. Grab a copy of this book and you won’t be disappointed.

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

[Serret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Janet has her heart broken at 15 by Rick her brother's best friend. But 10 years later he comes to protect her and her business. And a 2nd chance for them.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute read. A lot of build up and then a short touch on romance before the end. The story was good though.