Falling for Violet

by Katie Reus

It was supposed to be a simple favor…

Plan the perfect wedding for her best friend. Then enjoy margaritas by the pool once her bestie is off on her honeymoon. Easy, right? Wrong. Violet has planned hundreds of weddings, but something weird is going on with her best friend’s wedding. Plus her best friend’s younger brother is back home from his deployment overseas, and she’s seeing him in a whole new light. To her surprise, he’s looking at her in a whole new way too—like she’s cake and he wants seconds…and maybe thirds. Worse than that, she wants him too.

She never expected to fall for her best friend’s brother…

Tripp has wanted his older sister’s best friend for longer than he wants to think about. Now that they’re working closely together on his sister’s wedding—and he’s permanently back in the country—he’s making his move. Or that’s the plan, but then a flock of flamingos are released at the rehearsal dinner, and the bride disappears with an apparent case of cold feet. Now they’re all on damage control. If he’s ever going to claim the woman of his dreams, he’s got to help her salvage this wedding and prove that he’s not her best friend’s annoying younger brother anymore. He’s all grown up and ready to stake his claim.

SHORT NOVELLA

Genres: Romance, Novella, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

65 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 21, 2025

About the author

Katie Reus® is the USA Today bestselling author of the Endgame trilogy, the MacArthur Family series and the Deadly Ops series. She fell in love with romance at a young age thanks to books she pilfered from her mom's stash. Years later she loves reading romance almost as much as she loves writing it. However, she didn't always know she wanted to be a writer. After changing majors many times, she finally graduated with a degree in psychology. Not long after that she discovered a new love. Writing. She now spends her days writing paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense.

Reviews

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Falling for Violet by Katie Reus
Part of the Redemption Harbor series. Romance novella. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Violet Morgan is more than happy to help manage all the little details of her friend Sarah’s wedding even while she’s also standing up in it. Picking up Tripp at the airport is just another task. Or so she keeps trying to tell herself. She hasn’t seen Sarah’s little brother in years. Seeing all the muscles now on the mouth watering man after six years in the military has Violet’s pulse racing.
Tripp fell for Violet when he was still in school but she thought of him only as a pesky kid. Now that he’s out of military, he’s ready to try to win her heart. And from the looks she’s giving him, he’s got a pretty good shot. When problems pop up with the wedding arrangements, he’s ready to help which just may get him to hero status.

Riveting and steamy novella. Tripp and Violet are combustible.

[Carvanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet, flirty, feel good romance! Violet and Tripp had the perfect mix of chemistry and history. The kind that made me grin and sigh at the same time. I loved how protective Tripp was without ever crossing the line, and how surprised Violet was to realize the teenage boy she once knew had grown into the man who completely stole her heart.





This is a quick read but full of heart, with just enough chaos (wedding sabotage, anyone?) to keep things interesting. Katie Reus always nails the balance between tender and fun, and this story left me smiling the whole way through.

Dual POV
Safe no ow/om drama; h not a virgin; H not a player
Triggers alcohol abuse by other character
Steam 5 /5; explicit; birth control discussed

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

a short story from kate reus that has it all covered one of the best novellas i have read in a long time

violet is helping her best friend get married and one of those duties end with her picking up sarahs younger brother tripp...

tripp when he was younger had the biggest crush on violet but for several years he has been away with the military...

with the wedding taking up a lot of violets time when things start to go wrong its not long before tripp and violet are working together to find out who was doing it all

its as great fun read with some hilarious moments and some very hot spicy

she can certainly write some very good short stories this author

looking forward to more

[Shelley C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Falling for Violet🥰

Falling for Violet is the next book in the “Falling for” series by this author and is a very quick read, which I love about this author’s writing style. The pages fly by…

Anywho, Violet’s bestie Sarah is getting married and her little brother is coming to the wedding. Violet gets roped into picking him up and he’s nothing like she remembers. He’s now muscular, handsome and sexy as sin….and she can’t stop thinking about him😊

Tripp has always wanted Violet, but accepted that the age gap when he was younger was too much of an obstacle. Now returning home, he’s determined to show her, he’s the man for her - especially when some odd incidents start occurring in the lead up to the wedding😳

Really enjoyed it and can’t wait for more books by this author❣️ I received an advanced copy and voluntarily leave my honest review❤️

[Nikki Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's time for the Redemption Harbor Security staff to let down their hair and enjoy the wedding of one of their own. With Violet planning her besties wedding and acting as Maid of Honour, there is no way anything will go wrong! Meeting her besties younger brother at the airport is supposed to be the least stressful thing she has to do but the man is making her blood pressure rocket! When did he fill out and grow up! The man is lickable.

Tripp has crushed on Violet for forever and he's determined that the wedding is the perfect time to show her that he's all grown up and ready for a relationship...if only she can see him as something other than Sarah's little brother!

Tripp and Violet have flaming hot chemistry but they both worry that the other is only in it for the length of the wedding festivities and that Sarah will NOT take it well if she finds out what they are up to! They just have to navigate a few wedding mishaps, find out who is trying to sabotage the wedding and make sure that Sarah has the day of her dreams!

I really enjoyed watching these two work together to unmask who has been causing all the problems. My fave wedding mishap was the flamingos! Watching these two work so well together, you wonder why they were ever worried and Sarah has the best reaction when they finally come clean.

Looking forward to the next outing with the RHS guys!

[Woodatsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was super excited when Katie decided to write another super sweet novella in the Falling for series.

Violet is the wedding planner for her best friend Sarah's wedding. She's got a million and one things to do and on top of that she's charged with picking up Tripp, Sarah's younger brother who's back from a mission oversees. Violet and Tripp go way back, having known each other for years.

Tripp has always had a crush on Violet that has only deepened over the years. He's never made a move however because he always thought of their age difference, but now he's all grown up, has made a career for himself in the Army and feels it's time to show her that they can be good together.

When Violet meets Tripp again she most definitely notices him and feels an immediate attraction. And when strange things start to happen with stuff regarding the wedding, she realises he's just the man she needs.

Falling for Violet kept me intrigued from start to finish, a bit of intrigue and lots of romance in true Katie Reus style.

*ARC kindly received from the author via Bookfunnel. I'm leaving an honest review.*

[Lea Bookjoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

🇫🇷French & English reviews🇬🇧

📖Genre & Tropes📖 : romance suspense x novella x he falls first x brother’s best friend x ex military x spicy

Une romance dans l’univers de Redemption Harbor Security que j’ai lu avec plaisir !!

Bon j’avoue j’aurais préféré avoir un gros tome de 300 pages mais j’ai quand même lu avec plaisir cette nouvelle sexy et amusante pleine de rebondissements avec Violet découvre lors du mariage de sa meilleure amie que Tripp, le frère de sa meilleure amie, a bien grandi … =D

Bref, une petite romance légère et sexy parfaite pour se distraire !


⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐~⭐


A romance set in the Redemption Harbor Security universe that I thoroughly enjoyed !!

Okay, I admit I would have preferred a longer 300-page book, but I still thoroughly enjoyed this sexy and fun novella full of twists and turns where Violet discovers at her best friend's wedding that Tripp, her best friend's brother, has grown up quite a bit … =D

In short, a light and sexy little romance, perfect for a nice read !

[Sharon Grow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violet Morgan, wedding planner, has planned the wedding for her best friend Sarah and her fiancé Ian. She is asked to pick up Sarah’s brother Tripp, from the airport, and is in for a shock. This is not the Tripp she saw several years ago, but a much more everything Tripp. He is looking forward to, well not the wedding as much as spending time with Violet. This is his time to try to convince Violet, who he has been attracted to for years, to see him as a man, a man who wants her. She is finding it difficult to stay away from him as he seems to be everywhere, offering his assistance. She is grateful for his help when they realize that someone is trying to ruin the wedding. Who would want to sabotage the wedding and why, maybe Sarah’s ex? Things heat up between them quickly as he shows her how much he cares and wants to be with her, has wanted her for years. A shorter novella, but funny and hot as Violet fights a losing battle with him…and herself! Loved it!! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

[NICUnurse Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Falling for Violet is set in Katie Reus’s Redemption Harbor series, and as a fan of all the Redemption Harbor tales, I’m one hundred percent here for this one. It is a stand-alone novella set within the world of an interconnected series, chock-full of action, romance, and suspense, all wrapped up in this entertaining and engaging little package. The characters are believable, engaging, and easy to like, and, as usual, the mystery/suspense was well-plotted.

I’ve been a Katie Reus fan for years, and as a long-time fan, I can honestly say I’ve yet to find a book of hers I didn’t like or love. That's saying a lot since I’ve read almost all of her backlist. She’s a go-to of mine when I’m ready to devour a terrific romantic suspense. And devour this one, I did. It hooked me from page one, leaving me loath to put it down until I finished the conclusion, yet it left me wishing for more—a much longer story with more mystery, more suspense…more everything! I’ve had difficulty focusing on stories lately, so that feeling was very welcome.

NICUnurse’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Yvonne Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella takes us to New Orleans , where wedding planner extraordinaire Violet, is helping with the wedding of her best friend, Sarah.
When entrusted to pick up at the airport her younger brother Tripp, Violet remembers him as the lanky 20 year old that tried to kiss her years ago. She is shocked and attracted to the muscular Marine that Tripp has become. But he’s younger and she has wedding planning responsibilities.
This doesn’t deter Tripp as he seduces Violet and aims to show her they are meant to be together.
In the midst of it all, someone is trying to jeopardize the wedding. Who is it and why?
With a little intrigue, this sweet story will entertain the readers from beginning to end. We also get a chance to “visit” with Brandon and Hope , from Fighting for Hope.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Michelle the Romance Witch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love with Katie slips one of these little teasers to us to fill in the gaps until we get another Redemption Harbor story because we get teasers of the characters and sometimes crossovers. In this story we get to see Bradford and his wife as well as hearing a few other familiar names, but the main characters are two childhood friends that finally have their time as adults. Violet is a Wedding Planner extraordinaire whose best friend is getting married so she’s the maid of honor instead of working, but she kind of is anyway. Tripp is the brother of the bride, and he has changed a lot in the six years since she saw him last, and Violet is feeling all kinds of feelings she shouldn’t be feeling for her best friend’s little brother. Tripp has grown up into a warrior, but he never stopped wanting Violet and he is determined to seduce her into a relationship at his sister’s wedding. When weird occurrences start happening with wedding events which could cause mayhem, Violet and Tripp team up to make sure the bride and groom never realize someone is trying to sabotage their big day and the more time they spend together the more they both realize the desire is mutual and hard to resist. Once the wedding is over will they stick together or will Violet run from Tripp faster than an ice sculpture melts in the Louisiana heat? I loved every minute of this cute story of two long-time acquaintances finally opening their eyes to one another and getting their chance at love. Tripp and Violet were both great characters, funny, smart, and dedicated to their shared goal of making the wedding happen, but when they were together you could see the sparks flying. I would have loved to see their story be a full-length novel, but alas, I will make do and just hope to see move of them in future stories. If you enjoy a sweet, spicy, and funny read that will keep you entertained for a few hours, you can’t go wrong Falling for Violet right alongside Tripp in this novella release by Katie Reus.

[Rosalynn Hilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violet is Tripp’s sister Sarah’s best friend. He has been away in the military for many years, however he is back for Sarah’s wedding. The last time Violet saw Tripp he was drunk and kissed her, she hoped he had matured. When she picks him up at the airport, she is stunned by how he has changed and how hot he is. As they spend time together on errands for the wedding and work together to solve who is trying to create chaos for Sarah and Ian, their attraction grows. Violet does not feel she right acting on this spark and Tripp has been attracted to Violet for years. Once they give in to the attraction all bets are off and feelings grow. This is a great short story with all the feels!!!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violet is planning her best friend’s wedding, while also standing up in it. One of her last-minute to-dos is to pick up her bestie’s brother, Tripp, from the airport, who’s home from his deployment. Now, Violet has checked everything off her list, so nothing can go wrong, right? As Violet and Tripp reconnect, together they work to figure out why strange little things have suddenly started happening that could ruin the wedding.

Falling for Violet is a novella set in the Redemption Harbor Security world but can be read as a standalone. This fun, quick friends-to-lovers romance has spice and a bit of suspense. A complete page-turner. Recommended!

*ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wedding shenanigans are a plenty in this fun read connected to the Redemption Harbor series.
Violet is happy to be the unofficial wedding planner for her best friend. Happy to go to the airport & pick up her best friends little brother. Except that little brother isn't so little anymore and has turned into someone very appealing and someone Violet knows should be shoved firmly into the friend zone. If only her libido and her heart would let her do that.
Tripp has always only seen Violet one way...His. And his sister's wedding is the perfect place to show the skittish woman just how he feels. But that friend zone may be a spot he can't get himself out of.
Falling for Violet is a short, sweet read that has all the feels and all the fun we've come to expect from this author.

[Pamela Lilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully sweet and enjoyable novella set in the world of Redemption Harbour (Fighting For../Falling For..). This is a best friend/younger brother romance. Tripp has returned home for his older sister’s wedding only to discover he’s helping her best friend, Violet, his forever crush, in finding out who is out to sabotage the wedding. Super cute, super quick, a little bit sexy, and highly enjoyable watching their friendship turn into ‘more’. I received an advanced copy of this book. This is my honest review.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Violet and Tripp’s Short Novella. Violet is a popular wedding planner and at the moment she is planning her best friends wedding but for some reason things seem to constantly going wrong and she doesn’t know why but determined to find out before it ruins everything. Tripp is now home from the military and helping Violet plan his sisters wedding which he is enjoying as it gives him time to spend with Violet who he has wanted for such a long time and now he is ready to make his move but things keep happening and he is determined that nothing will spoil his sisters wedding. As the wedding progressed so does the incidents but with Violet and Tripp spending more time together the attraction and chemistry just gets stronger and when they eventually get together it is totally explosive and intense but where does that leave them in the long run. Violet and Tripp are so perfect together and for each other and definitely deserve a lot of happiness and also a future . I absolutely loved this short novella and it certainly pack a beautiful punch. You can read this book in one sitting and I thoroughly enjoy it and it is definitely worth reading.

[Donita Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

FALLING FOR VIOLET by Katie Reus
This is fun short little novella about Violet and her best friend’s brother Trip. Trip has long had a crush on his older sister’s best friend Violet. Violet is a wedding planner who is planning the wedding for her bestie and gets asked to go to the airport to pick up Trip for the wedding weekend and she is stunned when she sees how the years in the military have changed Trip. He is still very interested in Violet and she is interested too. This has lots of humor and spice to make for a thoroughly enjoyable read. This is 5 stars.

[Carolyn R Swickard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reverse age love story

Tripp is a young veteran, just home for his older sister's wedding. Violet is the sister's best friend, maid of honor and a wedding planner. Tripp has always wanted Violet, but younger men, especially younger brothers, have a hard time getting recognized and respected. But Tripp has grown up (boy howdy, has he grown!) and, during the craziest wedding ever, Violet comes to 'see' him and respect him. Fun short story.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent short story romance. Tripp is back in town for his older sister’s wedding. He’s looking forward to seeing her best friend, Violet. He’s had a crush on her since he was young. Now that he’s leaving the military he wants to make his move. Entertaining and enjoyable story. I look forward to reading more books by Ms Reus.

[Felice Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, flirtatious, fun, and minimal drama novella. Falling for Violet is a nice afternoon break from the rat race.

Violet and Tripp are too cute. Not a lot of angst, which is perfect to start this fall season.
I won't give much away except, watch out for the flamingos.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Mg Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Falling For Violet is a feel-good storyline that has heat humor drama quirky colorful characters and just a touch of a mystery to help keep thing's enjoyable and entertaining.
I received an advance reader's copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review

[Linda Calizo · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute

Sweetness overload, with a side of spice and suspense. I never understood why people get bent out of shape over best friends and brothers or sisters. We just want the people we love to be happy. Now if it is one sided and someone isn’t all in that can be concerning.

[Christy Warthen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Endearing!

So sweet, fun, and humorous! A quick read that brings a smile to your day.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

[Karen Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story! Short and full of heat it's such a happy read. The flamingos are a unique twist!

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a cute, fun book. I loved it. Great characters, quick hot romance. It's a good, quick read.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little read

Loved the storyline. Characters were good just needed more development. I'm currently waiting on A Hit Man for Christmas. But nice addition.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read!
Looking forward to enjoying more great reads! So glad I found another new favorite author.

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

✔️dual pov
✔️spice
✔️novella
✔️he falls first and harder

[M · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf, cringeee writing

[T.M. Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Falling for Violet
by Katie Reus
My Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by: Tammy - Book Nook Nuts

REVIEW
Short but a mighty good story!

Violet is the wedding planner for her best friend. She is tasked with picking up said friends brother at the airport. There is history between these two and it wasn't bad at all.

Tripp is all grown up, a marine with muscles and a body to die for.
Can she keep her lips and her body from him this time? hmmmm
and just who is trying to wreck the wedding?

This is sexy, hilarious with family shenanigans galore.