A heartwarming duo of tales about unexpected love and family, from the bonds of sisterhood to the magic of friends to lovers, and the joys of infants and fur babies, plus all the surprises romance has to offer, even amid life’s missteps . . .
THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE * LORI FOSTER
Compared to her smart, responsible twin, Laylee has always been labeled the party girl sister. Now she’s really screwed up by finding herself possibly accidentally pregnant, and definitely not in love. With her sister away on her honeymoon, Laylee’s only confidant is her guy friend, Knox. There’s mutual attraction there, yet they’ve been tiptoeing around it. But telling Knox everything may change . . . well, everything. Especially amid a comedy of pregnancy test errors, a robbery, a cat rescue mission—and the realization that Knox sees her as so much more than a pretty face . . . .
THE RANCHER’S UNEXPECTED FAMILY * MAISEY YATES
Ellie Jones helplessly watched her beloved sister, Sarah, spiral into addiction in high school, thanks to her toxic relationship with Ty Porter. Ellie, now a teacher, hasn’t seen Sarah in over a year when she gets a call from Child Protective Services that Sarah has a baby—and she’s surrendered her parental rights. Ellie races to the hospital, but someone’s beat her to rodeo champion Clark Porter, the baby’s uncle. Clark’s a good man and he’ll be damned if his niece grows up without him. Until they find a custody solution, Ellie will just have to move into his ranch house. Temporarily. Obviously. Except that they’re attracted to each other. Risking the unconventional family they’re creating is the last thing they need. Then again, if what they feel is deeper than attraction, it may be what they need most . . .
Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin, Silhouette, Samhain, and Berkley/Jove. She is currently published with HQN.
Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author” event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.
First of all, I love that the authors are supporting animal shelters with part of the proceeds of this book. As an animal lover, I’d buy this book just for that reason, but you get so much more. You’re getting two heartfelt stories from two separate authors. I’m a huge fan of Lori Foster and she was the draw for me to read this book. I’m so glad I did. I hadn’t realized I was getting Laylee and Knox’s story. I met them last year in The Two of Us. I really enjoyed reading about this friend group again and I love that Laylee grew and matured just in time to find her own happiness.
While it was Lori Foster who drew me to this book, I feel like I got a bonus with Maisey Yates story. I loved the storyline of Ellie and Clark adopting Ellie’s sister’s and Clark’s brother’s baby. To find out they were drawn to each other for years but never did anything about their attraction because they were taking care of their siblings who struggled with addiction was heartbreaking but having the baby be the one to bring them together was the perfect ending.
Both stories are worth picking up this book. Great read!
I enjoyed this book. It was such a sweet anthology by both Lori Foster and Macy Yates. I loved both of the storylines and the characters. I would definitely recommend this book.
Love Comes in Small Packages is a two-fer, 2 short novellas/stories to benefit an animal rescue, and important issue for this reviewer, and my rating is an averaged score since I liked the second story a lot more than the first, so my rating is 4, primarily because I liked the second story so much more than the first.
The first story, That Special Someone, by Lori Foster, was just a 2-star read for this reviewer, the main reason being the appearance of a number of characters from Ms. Foster's previous books, which I've not yet read, although I have enjoyed quite a few of her books in the past. The main characters, Knox and Laylee, are pet-sitting for his brother and her sister, who are on their honeymoon. Frankly, I liked the pets more than the main characters. Laylee thinks she's pregnant from a one-night stand (something that is simply a turn-off for this reader), and Knox offers to help her by being present during her pregnancy test. .Knox is gorgeous, so is Laylee, and these one-dimensional characters just didn't grab me at all.
The second story, by Maisey Yates, The Rancher's Unexpected Family, was, like many of Ms. Yates novels, a 5-star read. Ellie Parks, an English teacher (my first profession--I liked her immediately) has a drug-addicted sister, Melanie, who has just given birth. The sister's significant other is Ty Parks, who got Melanie addicted back in high school, and who is the father to this newborn. Melanie and Ty have signed away their parental rights, and recommended their siblings as parents for their baby.
A call from Child Protective Services has Ellie racing to the hospital--her sister and Ty are gone, but there, holding the newborn is Clark Porter, Ty's brother, a prize-winning rodeo bull rider.. They've known each other since high school, but not well, and they're about to learn a lot more about each other when they agree to mutually adopt this sweet baby girl and cohabit at Clark's recently completed 5-bedroom ranch home. These characters have real depth, real issues, and slowly begin to realize that they've been attracted to one another since their high school days. What starts out as a convenient way to keep their siblings' baby safely out of foster care, and provide her with a good home, turns into much more, and this slow-burn romance, with all the "feels" was a short but excellent read, and I absolutely loved, and recommend it.
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance reader copy of this book. The opinions stated are my own.
Love comes in small packages features two short stories by two very talented authors. Lori Foster is first with her story titled, That Special Someone. This story features characters we have met previously in The Two of Us. That Best Friends series friend group was a lot of fun to read and I am glad we got to touch base with them again. The stories do overlap previous characters, but each does stand on its own if you read them out of order.
Laylee and Knox are pet-sitting for his brother and her sister. I wasn’t a fan of Laylee previously and while she did grow on me during this story, I am still not totally sold on her personality, but I do admit she is a good counter to Knox. Her fun, flighty fake personality is a contrast to his serious hardworking straightlaced one.
Knox is a very loyal friend. He is uplifting to those around him and that is true for Laylee as well. He gets her to see who she truly is and to stop listening to those people around her that make her feel bad about herself.
When Laylee suspects she might be pregnant from a one-night stand, she goes to Knox for help (only because Skye is out of town). All the friends quickly find out and join in on the chaos while waiting for the test results. Once that calms down, they find out they are equally attracted to each other and then spend more time together while caring for the dogs and even a rescue kitten. The HEA that follows is heartwarming and fitting of their personalities.
The second story is from Maisey Yates called The Rancher’s Unexpected Family. This featured Ellie and Clark who have been in each other’s lives intermittently since their siblings started dating. When that relationship turns troubled and dark, they see each other more often when their siblings are in trouble due to their drug addictions.
When they receive a call from Child Protective Services, they are both thrown for a loop. Ty and Melanie had a baby unbeknownst to them and signed over rights to Ellie and Clark. Neither Ellie nor Clark are interested in a co parent scenario at the moment, but both are committed to their new niece and what is best for her. They work out the logistics and soon find themselves under one roof and that they might actually be a good fit.
The problem with short stories is that they are too short for us readers that crave the page. But these two award winning authors will always get my attention, long or short, and this latest release, which benefits animal shelters, is no exception.
I was so happy to read this book. I was looking forward to Lori Fosters fourth book in the Best Friends series. I find that she's a good short story author. He stories never feel lacking. For me Yates is a hit or miss author. Happily, I really enjoyed her story too. As a whole this book is a fun afternoon read.
That Special Someone: Lori Foster
As I mentioned I was looking forward to this one. When you meet Laylee Iin the prior story) you aren't sure about it her. She has a few issues, but I knew that when it came time to get to know her there would be more than meets the eye about her. The opening scene between Knox and Laylee on the phone is a funny one. I knew I shouldn't have laughed but couldn't help myself. I liked how no matter what Knox stood with her. He made her look at herself and see the real person, not the one her family tells her she is. Laylee is also good for Knox. She puts the fun in their relationship. This was a great group of guys and their partners. I would pick up each story and read them in order because they work the best that way, but each story does stand on its own.
The Rancher's Unexpected Family: Maisey Yates
This one turned out so good. I really enjoyed how these two people who didn't really care for each other (she didn't like him) came together to take care of one little girl. Ellie is a wonderful person but at times she was very much like her parents. I'm so glad that she was able to see that about herself and deal with it. Her attitude was based much of fear of those she loves then just being an uptight person. Ty is such a wonderful man. He opens his home not only to his niece but to Ellie too. He didn't think twice about it, and he did all he could to make both of them comfortable. It took them a bit, but they were able to come together and have the life they all deserved. I'm glad we got to see how their niece turned out to be. A very good story.
I love when these two authors put out their charity book! The stories are always fun and interesting with great characters and enjoyable storylines. This year's Love Comes In Small Packages is as good as expected.
Foster's That Someone Special brings us back to characters we've enjoyed previously. Knox and Laylee's friends have found their HEAs in previous fun reads. Laylee has been labeled the flighty twin while Skye is the serious, smart twin. Of course, these difference are more perceived than real but a lifetime of pigeon holing takes a toll on one's psyche. Laylee is enjoying her new house, the one she bought from Skye when Skye married Ford. She loves the whole gang of new friends she and her twin have made. She especially likes Knox, the hardworking, sexy roofer. She's not convinced Knox will see anything but the fluff-brained model everyone else sees. When she realizes she might be pregnant, Knox is the first one she thinks of (since Skye is on vacation). Knox is so attracted to Laylee for her brain as well as her looks. He's glad she's called even though there is no way he's the father. The evening turns crazy and soon all the friends are there, know what's going on, and are involved in Laylee's drama. Once the test finally is done and comes back negative, Knox and Laylee are able to start dating. They share the care of Skye and Ford's dogs and even rescue a kitten, all while falling harder for each other. These two's HEA is perfect; heartwarming and deserved!
I think I loved The Rancher's Unexpected Family even more though there wasn't much room to beat out the other story. Ellie Parks and Clark Porter have had loosely intertwined lives since their siblings started dating ages before. Sadly, they only see each other when their siblings are in trouble with their shared drug addictions. Tonight's call from Child Protective Services is a shock though. Ty and Melanie (the siblings) have just had a baby. They've signed their parental rights to Ellie and Clark. The two, of course, have no desire to be partners raising their precious new niece but neither can even perceive of a situation where they aren't actively raising the child. Reluctantly, they decide to raise the child together. Soon it's obvious that doing so at Clark's brand new home is the best solution. Forced close proximity is a classic trope for good reason and these two find they actually really like each other. Even love one another. The story is so touching, the characters great and the HEA was perfect.
The only negative, and it's not really a negative, is that the stories were too short! I wanted more of all the characters!!! Good job, ladies.
I love it when a double book (2-in-1) comes out showcasing two of my favorite authors! This time it’s Love Comes in Small Packages featuring That Special Someone by Lori Foster and The Rancher’s Unexpected Family by Maisey Yates. The fact that some of the proceeds of this book are donated to a very worthy cause is just an additional blessing.
Laylee and Knox certainly have a comedy of errors on their way to a happy ending in That Special Someone by Lori Foster. If you’ve read Lori Foster’s work before, then you’ll see that we’ve met this couple before as secondary characters in The Two of Us. You certainly don’t have to have read that one to enjoy this novella, but you might run into some familiar faces from that world if you have. I loved the humor and banter in their story, and was so glad to see Laylee’s personal growth as she and Knox discovered a connection and a happy-ever-after ending for themselves.
In The Rancher’s Unexpected Family, Ellie and Clark have dealt with their respective sibling’s addiction for a long time now. Ellie loves her sister, Melanie, even though her choices break her heart. Clark loves his brother Ty, but he’s never been able to break him away from an addiction that’s taken his brother from him. When both Melanie and Ty sign away their parental rights, both Ellie and Clark are determined to care for this adorable baby girl… but which one? That question will lead to a new life, new challenges, and a future neither Ellie nor Clark had seen coming.
I loved both of these stories. They are each well-written (which I expect from both authors), engaging, emotional, with situations that will tug at your heart and give you a very satisfying reading experience. If you enjoy romances with likable, relatable characters facing real-life situations, and helping some amazing dogs get the life they deserve as well, then you’d love Love Comes in Small Packages.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
Love Comes in Small Packages by Lori Foster; Maisey Yates
This book features two short novellas, both exploring heartwarming themes of unexpected love.
THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE BY LORI FOSTER
In this story, Laylee is the charming twin, often seen as the life of the party and a model. When she suspects that she might be pregnant, she reaches out to her friend Knox, as her twin is away with her husband. Knox is busy working on a roof when he receives Laylee's call, leaving the reader unsure of where the story is headed. However, it’s clear that there has been a mutual attraction brewing between them. As Knox helps Laylee by dog-sitting, he seizes the opportunity to express his feelings, adding a lovely layer to their friendship.
THE RANCHER’S UNEXPECTED FAMILY BY MAISEY YATES
Ellie and Clark share a long history together, though they are not exactly friends. They have crossed paths many times while dealing with their siblings—Melanie and Ty—who are grappling with drug addiction. Then, they both receive a phone call that will change everything as they take on the responsibility of raising their niece, Marjorie. I found the storyline surrounding Ellie and Clark's journey to adopt Marjorie to be heartfelt and compelling. However, considering the emotional challenges both characters face, a longer format might have allowed for a more thorough exploration of their experiences and growth.
Overall, both novellas present touching narratives that engage with the complexities of love and family, and I appreciate the authors’ efforts in crafting these stories, while also taking on the responsibility of raising their niece, Marjorie. I found the storyline surrounding Ellie and Clark's journey to adopt Marjorie to be heartfelt and compelling. However, considering the depth of the emotional challenges both characters face, I believe that a longer format might have allowed for a more thorough exploration of their experiences and growth.
Overall, both novellas present touching narratives that engage with the complexities of love and family, and I appreciate the authors’ efforts in crafting these stories.is a story.
Love Comes In Small Packages by Lori Foster and Macy Yates, Lorelei Foster is used to telling her twin Laura everything but when she realizes she may be pregnant Laurie is on her honeymoon with Ford and her only option is Knox he is from a group of friends she inherited through the marriage and the one who’s not only single but who she feels the closest to. when she calls Knox he is at work putting up a roof and this is why all of his coworkers here Lorelei saying she may be pregnant. This is when he swiftly falls off the roof. He is OK and tells her he will be there later to help walk Laura and Ford’s dogs. he doesn’t care if his coworkers think it’s his baby because he would love to have a serious relationship with Loreley Baby or not. This is just the beginning of the chaos. Her pregnancy test is a did and so on their walk they decide to get another and this is the time an incident happens that brings all the friends together well except for Laura and Ford because no one wants to tell them Laura lie was in the middle of a hold up. this book is full of craziness and heartwarming swooney romance and that’s the first book the second book involves a long lost sister a baby and the baby‘s uncle; who just so happens to be a hot sexy bronco rider. they both want to be in Baby Marjorie‘s life so they make a deal that’s supposed to be temporary but he’s never been happier and more content and she can’t stop staring at her niece’s hot uncle. I really love these books it’s what you come to expect for Macy Yates and I’m down for all of it I do think this time the first story was my favorite but both are so worth reading. In the first one we get too cute dogs Maybelline is a big old cuddle muffin and tank is it itty-bitty hot pepper and they sounded so adorable and then the second book we get baby Marjorie in the arms of a honk so yeah two pretty good reads definite recommendation for those who love quick looney clean romance you’ll definitely enjoy these books I absolutely did. #NetGalley, #BlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
That Special Someone by Lori Foster (I am a longtime fan of Ms. Foster's. I have all of her books in one form or another and in both her names.) Laylee and Knox are both independent, smart and beautiful people. The friendships they have, which just happen to be within the same group, is strong and supportive. Their chemistry is off the charts and took them a minute to admit to each other. Also, in this book we get to see Tank and Maybelline again. Both amazing dogs who brought their parents together in a previous book in the series. The four of them make an amazing family dynamic as nephew pups with their Aunt Laylee and future Uncle Knox with lots of love, laughs. Then when you think things are perfect as it is....nope. I won't give the surprise away. This fantastic story needs to be experienced by the reader for themselves. I highly recommend this book. Oh! We also get to see some characters we grew to love in previous books make appearances. A favorite of mine to have happen.
********************************** The Rancher's Unexpected Family by Maisey Yates
This is the second book I have read of Ms. Yates. It will not be the last. I enjoyed this book very much. The angst, fear, love, support and heat level was great. Ellie and Clark have known each other for many years and are connected now through their new niece Marjorie. Marjorie is a doll. She brought her aunt and uncle together just by being born and needing a family. The decision Clark and Ellie made was not difficult to make. They loved Marjorie as soon as they set eyes on her. Their love, though not acknowledged for a long time was strong and undeniable. I loved how they chose together to raise Marjorie, adopt her and show what love should be. Everything about this story was so good. Through rough patches and good. I highly recommend this book. I will be watching for more books by this author.
This is such a sweet story collection. I am always excited when I enjoy both novellas in a book and this book does not disappoint. Not only do these well-written stories hit you right in the feels, this anthology supports animal shelters so that is a huge bonus.
That Special Someone by Lori Foster
This is connected to the Best Friends Series and after watching all his best friends fall in love and get married, Knox finally gets his happily ever after. Knox is firmly in the friend zone with Laylee but wants much more of a relationship with her. Laylee is new to their friend group, because her twin sister, Skye, married best friend Ford. Laylee is working on rebuilding her image because everyone sees her as the silly, fun twin while her sister is the serious and mature twin. When they are pet sitting for Ford and Skye, Knox finally has the opportunity to show Laylee, he sees her for the amazing person she is. This is such a sweet story to add to this series. It brings back a lot of great characters and lots of fun pets to the mix. Lori Foster writes families and friendships so well, you feel like you are part of the crowd.
The Rancher’s Unexpected Family Maisey Yates
Ellie Parks has spent her life cleaning up her sister, Melanie’s messes. When Melanie gets into trouble, Ellie always comes to the rescue. When she gets there, she always faces Melanie’s boyfriend Ty and his brother Clark. Just like Ellie, Clark is always getting his sibling out of trouble. Now, Ellie and Clark have been awarded joint custody of a new born baby and they have to decide how they are going to raise their niece. This is such a sweet story. I love how Clark has always had feelings for Ellie but was afraid to act on them and now has a chance for the family he always wanted. Ellie demonstrates the stress of dealing with a difficult family and learns to trust and learn on Clark for support. I love how their relationship develops and the story unfolds.
It seems this novella may be part of a series since there were characters / couples mentioned that I wasn't familiar with. This can still be read as a standalone though, although I think it would have helped had I read the previous book to get a little more of their backstory. It went from 0 to 100 very quickly, and I think getting to know their dynamic before this book would have helped make the transition from friends to lovers to 'I'm never letting you go' a bit more believable. The reason why I gave this 3 stars and not 4 though is because of the whole pregnancy scare thing. It was honestly a bit cringy how all the 'just met that day' acquaintances were so invested in finding out if the pregnancy test was positive or not. Completely unbelievable and very awkward IMO. But they all acted like it was completely normal for perfect strangers to go out and buy you a test and then all wait around to see the results. The book was pretty funny though and I did like the characters in general. Would I go back and read the series and keep reading? Yes. I'm a Lori Foster fan and it's been a while since I read one of her books, so not it just makes me want to pick up a book of hers again.
THE RANCHER’S UNEXPECTED FAMILY by MAISEY YATES ️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
I really enjoyed this one. I was fully invested in Ellie & Clark as both a couple and as parents to little Marjorie (hated the name lol...would have been better as a middle name). Was it believable that they'd adopt her in just 2 months time? Nope. As someone who is familiar with the family court system and adoption, I know that nothing is quick there, especially when it comes to the adoption process. This book was one with a lot of heart, some heartbreak (when it comes to their siblings), but a lot of love for each other.
It's been a hot minute since I last read anything by Maisey Yates and now I'm wondering why I waited so long to read another book by her.
Fast paced and endearing with a Maybelline and Tank cameo! Lori Foster's yearly benefit book to bring funds and awareness to her favorite animal charity is sure to please her regular readers because it brings us back into the world of friends Knox, Marcus, Bray and Ford for a quick catch up on their lives and a romance for Knox. It's always fun to visit old friends and feel like we're having a family reunion of sorts with these characters that steal our hearts over time. This was novella length, so not a great depth of development to Knox and Laylee's relationship or past, but their friendship and secret attraction to each other spoke to me from the very first page and I delighted in watching them develop into a relationship. I loved them together!
* THE RANCHER'S UNEXPECTED FAMILY by Maisey Yates *
4 1/2 STARS!
Really sweet and emotional! Ellie and Clark each love their sibling and have tried for years to support their addiction and toxic relationship before having to distance themselves from the destruction. The last thing either of them expect is a call stating there is a newborn who needs them. I liked both characters a lot. They each have loved and supported their sibling through a lot, and still are willing to step up when their niece needs them. The connection they forge over the love of this baby is really sweet. I admired their ability to have an open dialogue and forgive each other for their part in previous conflict. This was a novella, so not a lot of time for huge development of the past or their relationship, but I left feeling fulfilled with their love and loved getting to see a glimpse into how the future worked out.
Love comes in small packages, by two of my favorite authors, Lori Foster and Maisey Yates. Both are stories of friends to love. Both involve discovering yourself and believing in the power of love, which can be healing. This is the book that supports animal shelters. That Someone Special: Final installment of the second generation from Lori’s Ultimate fighters, we finally get the story for the “normal one,” Knox. And of course, his opposite: Laylee (Skye’s sister and Knox’s best friend). Over the course of this mishap of one embarrassing phone call and a few other mishaps, the two fall in love. This is a classic adventure. He knows what he wants, and he’s willing to wait and convince Laylee, who is confused and often misunderstood. The lovable mutts from Ford and Skye’s adventure again are the stars of this book, in addition to a scene-stealing cat named River. Overall, the book is a wonderful feel-good story of second chances, standing up for what you believe in, and choosing love and making it a priority. With Maisey Yates: The Rancher’s Unexpected Family: A boy from the wrong side of town falls for the good girl from the better side of town, yet they dislike each other due to “protecting” their respective siblings and their addiction habits until fate throws them together. I have newfound respect for families dealing with the addition of children and their siblings. Truly taught me not to take advantage of someone who will always believe, show up, and be there because they love without thought for themselves first. On the flip side, the courage it takes to stand firm and support their respective siblings, while facing the pain and agony of their own pasts, makes this story impactful and insightful.
A cozy reminder that love shows up when you least expect it Love Comes in Small Packages feels like sitting on a porch swing with a glass of sweet tea—comforting, a little emotional, and quietly hopeful. This duet-style book delivers two separate stories, but both revolve around the same core idea: love isn’t always grand or perfectly timed—it’s often messy, surprising, and deeply human.
Story 1: Messy beginnings, real connection Lori Foster’s “That Special Someone” leans into a classic friends-to-lovers setup—but adds chaos in the best way. Between pregnancy scares, awkward timing, and everyday mishaps, the romance builds naturally rather than magically. What stands out most is how imperfect the characters are. Laylee isn’t the typical polished heroine—she’s impulsive, emotional, and figuring life out. Knox, meanwhile, is steady but not over-the-top perfect. Their relationship grows in small, believable steps, which makes it feel authentic rather than overly dramatic.
The charm here is in the little moments—quiet support, inside jokes, and emotional vulnerability.
Story 2: Found family and second chances Maisey Yates’ “The Rancher’s Unexpected Family” shifts tone slightly into something more emotional and grounded. This story dives into heavier themes like addiction, responsibility, and stepping up when life falls apart.
Ellie and Clark’s connection builds through shared responsibility for a child, creating a “forced family” dynamic that feels heartfelt rather than cliché. Their romance is slower, rooted in trust and mutual respect.
This one hits deeper emotionally—it’s less playful, more about healing and building something stable from broken pieces.
I received an electronic ARC from Kensington Publishing through NetGalley. Two short stories. A lovely light read for relaxing time. That Someone Special by Lori Foster We return to familiar characters and follow Laylee and KNox as their romance develops amidst humorous situations. Both have had feeling for the other but have stayed in the friend arena. All Laylee wanted was to know if she was pregnant but this turned into a keystone cops type adventure when the first test malfunctioned and she was caught in a difficult situation while buying another one. Knox stepped in both times to offer support and rescue. Their friends' group surrounds and protects them as needed too. When he finally makes his move, he finds Kaylee more than willing to share her feelings too.
The Rancher's Unexpected Family by Maisey Yates So much history has been part of Ellie and Clark's past that they struggle to be in the same place. When their siblings sign away their parental rights, and give their newborn daughter to Ellie and Clark, they must work together for her sake. We see chapters from each POV and the real reasons for the relationship struggles becomes obvious early on. Yates weaves this tension through the rest of the story. I love the tender tone the author uses and the way she shows her characters working through their own dysfunctional families to make the best one for their daughter. I also appreciate how she portrays the birth parents. Too often, blame is placed without understanding addiction. Kudos to Yates for showing how much they loved their daughter to help her escape the spiral. The Epilogue works well to share how life worked out for all of them.
This book contains two stories. Both about creating families when either couple least expected . Each of the couples having known each other for a while and never expecting that fate would bring them together to find their family as well as their HEA. THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE by Lori Foster belongs to model Laylee and Knox, owner of a roofing company. Laylee is considered the pretty twin and the life of the party. Few know she’s more than that. When she believes she’s pregnant, she calls her friend, Knox. The one person that truly “gets her” and unbeknown to Laylee, the one who secretly has a thing for her. In the midst of it all, we have two adorable dogs, and a newborn whose mother has given her up. This all brings Laylee and Know together. Will their united front lead to an unexpected family and true love? THE RANCHER”S UNEXPECTED FAMILY by Maisey Yates, belongs to English teacher Ellie Jones and ranch owner and former rodeo star, Clark Porter. These two have known each other forever, but it’s their drug addicted siblings who constantly have them meeting time after time as they attempt to help their siblings. But this last call for help changes everything. A newborn has been left in their care and they are forced to join forces as they create a family for the baby. Will close quarters, secret HS crushes and a baby make them realize that they are meant to truly find their HEA? Both were sweet stories with happy endings. Perfect for an afternoon of leisure. I was entrusted a copy of these stories by Netgalley and Kensington Publishing. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
~ Two love stories that made me question the actions and decisions of parents and applaud the way their children came through well in spite of the ‘rents ~
THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE by Lori Foster Twins should be treated equally by their parents. Identical twins should realize that if one is pretty then so the other. That can be harder to do if their parents keep telling one she is “pretty” and the other one is told she is “smart” – I really wanted to sit the parents down and give them a talking to. Knox was able to “see” Laylee for more than her model looks and told her why he admired her thus allowing her to see herself in a new light and realize she was more than a pretty face. Who knew that sharing dog sitting for their friends would lead to so much more. This was an easy relaxing, fun, friend filled, friends to lovers romance that had a New Adult feel to it.
THE RANCHER’S UNEXPECTED FAMILY by Maisey Yates Surprise baby genre with a twist since the baby adopted is that of the main characters addicted siblings. Ellie Parks and Clark Porter are more than willing to take on the responsibility for baby Marjorie whose parents gave up parental rights to her at birth. They have had a turbulent time but with the baby their priority…they begin to see one another in a new light, get to know one another, and wonder if perhaps their parenting bond might become more. This story had a lot of emotional depth and maturity and was a nice way to end my afternoon today.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review 4-5 Stars
Love Comes in Small Packages is another novella from Lori Foster and Maisey Yates.
Lori Foster - That Special Someone Lori's last novella, The Two of Us, was about Skye and Ford. This novella, That Special Someone, is a story of Laylee, Skye's identical twin sister, and Knox, one of Ford's friends.
While Ford and Skye are on their honeymoon, Laylee is babysitting their two dogs, Maybelline and Tank. Knox, who lives next door to Laylee, stops by to see if she needs help with the dogs. Both are attracted to one another, but neither acknowledges it. A series of mishaps occur that brings them closer together. Laylee always felt like she was the wild twin and her sister was the beautiful, smart twin. Together Knox and Laylee discover that they were meant for each other.
A beautiful heart-warming story! I was glad to see that Laylee got her own story.
Maisey Yates - The Rancher's Unexpected Family Ellie and Clark have a long history of dealing with Melanie, Ellie's sister, and Ty, Clark's brother. They were always being called together to rescue their siblings, both drug addicts. When a baby was introduced into this mix, Ellie and Clark were called to be co-parents. Ellie and Clark were not fond of each other, or so they thought. Clark never felt like he was good enough for Ellie, and Ellie was angry because Ty introduced drugs to her sister. They now had to discover how they could ever co-parent a baby.
This is a heart-warming story between Ellie and Clark. Loved this story!
This book, which supports animal shelters, is such a sweet collection of stories.
That Someone Special by Lori Foster
In the first story we get Laylee and Knox’s story. Laylee is a model, who feels insecure about being the pretty one, without the brains. Her sister leaves her dogs with her while she travels, and so she is co-dog sitting with her brother in laws friend Knox. Knox is a roofer, good friend of Laylee’s brother in law and he has been an admirer of Laylee’s for a while. A few incidents happen that lead to Laylee and Knox growing close. Can Laylee accept that Knox liked her for more than her pretty face and what they have might be the real deal? This book was heartwarming, had sweet animals, and wonderful side characters!
The Rancher’s Unexpected family by Maisey Yates
This was a sweet story about found family. Ellie is a teacher, trying to get her life together and save up for a home of her own. Cue a call from a social worker that her sister has given up her baby and Ellie is listed as guardian to take over. However when Ellie gets there she sees Tyler’s brother was also called to step up. Ellie and Clark have been thrown together over the years to clean up their siblings messes, but leaving a baby for them to joint care for is huge even for them. As they care for the baby, feelings they have been trying to suppress for years come up. Can they reach for happily ever after, or is it not meant for people like them?
Both of these stories were very sweet! I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.
This book contains two stories that perfectly illustrate the theme suggested by the title—how a “small package” can change lives and open the door to love.
That Special Someone by Lori Foster This story features characters connected to others from Lori Foster’s previous books, which adds a nice sense of continuity for longtime readers. Laylee, a twin whose sister is married to one of Knox’s friends, finds herself dog-sitting alongside Knox. As they care for the dogs together, their undeniable attraction grows. The discovery of a small package helps push their relationship forward in unexpected ways. I really enjoyed how their romance was woven into the larger world of familiar characters and how naturally Laylee and Knox fit together as a couple.
The Rancher’s Unexpected Family by Maisey Yates This story also explores how a small package can bring two people together. Ellie and Clark share a long history shaped by the struggles of her sister Sarah and his brother Ty with addiction. Now, they are brought back into each other’s lives when they become caretakers for Sarah and Ty’s baby daughter. Forced into close quarters as they work toward adopting the child they both already love, Ellie and Clark must confront feelings they’ve tried to ignore. I enjoyed watching how much they had both grown over the years and how, despite resisting their attraction, they come to realize their happily ever after may be with each other.
A truly enjoyable duo of stories by two of my favorite authors. That Special Someone by Lori Foster: Laylee Fairchild has always counted Knox Nial as her best friend. He was always ready to help her with whatever she needed, but this was a request that never occurred to him. She believes that she might be pregnant, but doesn’t want to face the news alone. It seems as if fate is against him being there as there is an issue at the home where he was working, a lost cat and issues at the local pharmacy. Will she find out if raising a child alone will be her future or will the man who has always been on her side, be by her side no matter what the results may be? The Rancher’s Unexpected Family by Maisey Yates: Ellie Parks has tried to be there for her sister, Melanie, over the years, but her involvement with Ty Porter has led them both down a road to bad decisions and separation from their families. Ty’s older brother Clark has made a life for himself, first with his rodeo success and now with his ranch. There has been friction between Clark and Ellie, in the past, but now they will need to work together when they receive a call that they have been asked to raise their newborn niece. Of course, they both agree and want to be a part of her life. Will they be able to come together to raise the baby and put aside the issues that they both dealt with in their parent’s homes? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)
Finally a book for Knox and Laylee—and it was absolutely worth the wait. Ever since Ford and Skye’s story, we’ve known there was something simmering between Knox and Laylee, but these two took their sweet time getting there. Their chemistry has always been undeniable, but this book gives them the space, the heart, and the perfect circumstances to finally step into the spotlight.
While her sister is off enjoying her honeymoon, Laylee faces a pregnancy scare, and in that moment of fear and vulnerability, she turns to the one person she instinctively trusts: Knox. That single choice becomes the spark that kickstarts their forever. What follows is a blend of heartfelt moments and charming chaos—dog‑sitting for Maybeline and Tank, a robbery, and even a cat rescue that introduces River to the mix. Through it all, Knox begins to see Laylee for who she truly is: not just a pretty face or the life of the party, but someone strong, caring, and deeply rooted in loyalty.
Life settles into something real and beautiful for them, surrounded by friends and family who cheer them on every step of the way. Knox, who has always longed for a family of his own, finally finds that dream coming to life with Laylee. Their journey feels earned, tender, and full of the kind of love that grows from trust and genuine connection.
This story is a perfect feel‑good read, full of warmth and love.
Knox and Laylee are sharing dog sitting duties and have been getting to know each other better. A possible pregnancy scare leads to Knox falling off a roof, a trip to the pharmacy for a pregnancy test, becoming part of a holdup, misunderstandings among the close group of friends, and feelings Knox and Laylee can no longer deny.
This was such a fun story! I wish it had been longer.
The Rancher’s Unexpected Family by Maisey Yates
Ellie and Clark watched as their siblings, Sarah and Ty, battled addiction for years, starting in high school. When Ellie and Clark both receive calls to go to the hospital, they find that Sarah has given birth to a little girl and that Sarah and Ty have signed over their parental rights and asked that Ellie and Clark become the baby’s parents, and both Sarah and Ty have disappeared again. Ellie and Clark have both felt an attraction to each other but never let on. Ellie was often downright mean to Clark. As the two share coparenting responsibilities, they get to learn more about each other and see where some of their beliefs from the past were unfounded. Will they ever admit to their true feelings for each other?
I loved this story and wish it had been much longer!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Love Comes in Small Packages by Lori Foster and Maisey Yates is a “twofer”. THe book consists of two novellas. The two novellas do not share any information so they each can be read in any order depending on time. What they do share is how to make an unexpected family.
Lori Foster’s “That Someone Special” is about Laylee and Knox. Laylee lives next door to her twin and is taking care of their dogs while they are on their honeymoon. Since her twin is her best friend, she is missing her, luckily Knox is her brother-in-law’s friend and he is helping. Between the both of them they deal with a locked door, a robbery and a couple of other situations which allow them to bond.
Maisey Yates’s novella is called “The Ranchers Unexpected Family”. A surprise baby along with her uncle (father’s brother) and aunt (mother’s sister) make a family in order to help raise the baby. Only with all the time together they begin to realize that maybe they could make the family a little more ‘family’. Ellie Jones and Clark Porter have so much to work through with their families and each other.
I loved each of the novellas. They were well written and allowed for character development along with a positive story line. The stories were each different in many respects but they were all about families. Love Comes in Small Packages was a good read.
Love Comes In Small Packages is two animal shelter benefit novellas in one.
That Special Someone by Lori Foster: Knox and Laylee's story. This novella picks up where the last benefit book The Odd Couple left off. Knox is one of Ford's friends, and Laylee is Skye's twin sister. While Ford and Skye are on their honeymoon, Laylee, who lives next door, is dog sitting with Knox's help. Laylee has a scare and Knox is there too support her through it. The two of them have had feelings for each other for a while, and Knox's unwavering support during a few crises has Laylee realizing just how great they would be together. With a little help from the friend group, can Knox and Laylee find there way to a happily ever after? This is another great novella by Lori Foster.
The Rancher's Unexpected Family by Maisey Yates: Clark and Ellie's story. Clark's younger brother and Ellie's younger sister have been together for around 15 years. The problem is they are addicts and Clark and Ellie are always bailing them out of trouble. This causes tension between Clark and Ellie. The two of them are called upon to take care of their new born baby niece, can they find a way to get along and co-parent? This is a cute novella with a happy ending for all.
I received an ARC from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
In That Someone Special by Lori Foster, Laylee and Knox finally admit their feelings for each other after a possible pregnancy scare while dog sitting, Maybelline and Tank, for Laylee's twin sister and her husband who are away on their honeymoon. This new relationship is sewn together by a kitten, River, who was saved by Laylee and Knox after being tied in a bag and thrown in a stream. Who doesn't love adults in love with each other and love the animals in their lives just as much? Lori Foster never disappoints. In The Rancher's Unexpected Family by Maisey Yates, Ellie and Clark have been on an emotional roller coaster ride as they have dealt with their sibling's toxic relationship and their spiral into addiction. Ellie and Clark have had to clean up their sibling's destruction over the years, but nothing had prepared them for a newborn baby girl, Marjorie, to raise. Ellie and Clark want to give Marjorie the love and life they didn't have growing up. As Ellie and Clark work together for Marjorie's sake, they grow closer and finally give into the attraction they had for each other for years. I love that Ellie and Clark don't let the past get in the way of their future together. Great story by Maisey Yates! I received an ARC copy of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
Thank you to Lori Foster, Maisey Yates, Kensington Publishers and Between the Chapters Book Club for a copy of Love Comes in Small Packages. I don't give away spoilers in my reviews. This book contains two stories (and two previews of new books Lori Foster's the Lake House and Maisey Yates' Christmas Valley). The first story is "That Special Someone" by Lori Foster and is about Laylee - the "party girl" twin to Skye. Laylee has always been the twin who is pretty irresponsible and has her guy friend Knox always there to rescue her. Laylee is dogsitting Skye and Ford's two dogs (who are characters in their own right) along with Ford's brother, Knox. Know has always been crazy about Laylee and Laylee has always been crazy about Knox...but neither knows. I loved all the dog antics and the mishaps in this book. The second story is "The Rancher's Unexpected Family" by Maisey Yates. Ellie is the responsible sister to Melanie - a woman who has an addiction. Clark is from the wrong side of the tracks and is the responsible brother to Ty - a man with an addiction. Ellie and Clark have often been called on to rescue their siblings but this time - it involves a baby. Melanie and Ty give custody of their daughter to Ellie and Clark. The only solution - Ellie moves into Clark's spectacular rancher home and they raise the baby as friends. This leads to love in the sweetest way.
LOVE COMES IN SMALL PACKAGES by Lori Foster & Maisey Yates Release Date March 31, 2026
Two great authors one great book!
THAT SOMEONE SPECIAL by Lori Foster The stars of the story 2 dogs Maybelline and Tank and a cat named River. This is Lori’s benefit book. So all proceeds go to an animal shelter.
This story is one of my favorite tropes. Friends to lovers. Laylee and Knox are great friends. But they are in the same group of friends so that makes it sticky. They are very attracted to each other. But the friendship takes a turn when Laylee finds herself possibly pregnant. Her twin sister in on her honeymoon so of course she turns to Knox! He comes through for her in anyway she needs.
Thank you Lori for another great read 💙
THE RANCHER’S UNEXPECTED FAMILY by Maisey Yates
What a great story of how the love of family can come together. When Child Protective Service calls to tell Ellie her Sarah who she hasn’t seen in over a year has had a baby. Sarah is an addict and has surrendered her parental rights. But when she get to the hospital someone beat her there. The baby’s Uncle Clark! So now they need to figure out a custody solution. Can you guess what that is?
These are both 5 star reads. A addition to your TBR list.