Thirty-eight-year-old set designer Amelia Parker is on a mission to get pregnant—soon. That’s why she’s researching sperm banks and procedures. It’s also why her best friend hires a matchmaker for her. She insists Amelia deserves—needs—a romance reset before she embarks on single parenthood.
Widower Lincoln Hayes is about to be an empty nester with his twins going off to college. He’s ready to have some fun, but he doesn’t want to do it alone. Dating, though.... Staying offline and hiring a matchmaker who vets his dates makes sense.
Imagine Lincoln’s surprise when his first date in twenty years is actually his first love, the one who broke his heart and got away. Amelia is shocked to see Lincoln, and the chemistry between them is as strong as ever. Amelia can easily imagine having Lincoln’s baby— but is her biological clock and desire for a child more than Lincoln can handle?
Kay Lyons always wanted to be a writer, ever since the age of seven or eight when she copied the pictures out of a Charlie Brown book and rewrote the story because she didn’t like the plot.
Through the years her stories have changed but one characteristic stayed true— they were all romances. Each and every one of her manuscripts included a love story. Published in 2005 with Harlequin Enterprises, Kay’s first release was a #7 bestseller. Kay has also been a HOLT Medallion, Book Buyers Best and RITA Award nominee.
Kay's books are known for their heartfelt and emotional storytelling, focusing on themes of love, redemption, and personal growth. Her novels feature well-developed characters who navigate through life's challenges, finding love and new beginnings along the way. Set in charming small-town environments from mountains to beaches, her stories are filled with warmth, friendships, family dynamics, and a strong sense of community. Kay's writing is appreciated for its depth, relatable characters, and the emotional journeys her protagonists undergo. Her books are a blend of sweet and swoony romance that resonate with readers.
If you like slightly sexier books, check out Kay's alter-ego Ivy James. Kay currently focuses on sweet, small town contemporary romance while Ivy James' titles contain love scenes and mild language. Several of Kay's series have alternative versions by Ivy James, and you can find the list below. Just remember Kay Lyons' books are sweet/clean and wholesome, and Ivy James' are sexy. Stone Gap Mountain Series (Ivy James) = Stone River Series (Kay Lyons) Tennessee Tulanes Series (Ivy James) = Taming The Tulanes Series (Kay Lyons) Montana Skies Series (Ivy James) = Montana Secrets Series (Kay Lyons) Redeeming Love Series (Ivy James) = Small Town Scandals Series (Kay Lyons) The Crash Before Christmas (Ivy James) = Secret Santa 1 (Kay Lyons)
A sweet single dad / second chance romance. Amelia is desperate for a baby and her biological clock is ticking. She has an appointment set to attend a sperm clinic but her best friend talks her into not forsaking love and giving a matchmaker a chance. She is set up with Lincoln who is widowed with 18 year old twins. He also happens to be the one who got away. Chemistry is still there but Amelia doesn’t Know how to broach the subject of kids. When she eventually does Linc is a bit freaked out but it all ends happily ever after. I would have liked more about the pregnancy and after the birth but that might be included in the 2nd book in the series
Lovely story with a quirky plot. Finished it in one go. There's humor and plenty of family drama in this second chance romance. The two main characters have depth and the chemistry between them was great.
I liked both Lincoln and Amelia. However, I think the progression of their relationship was a bit fast paced considering that it had been 20 years since they saw each other and Lincoln was still getting over his deceased wife. The pregnancy situation should’ve been explored more, I think Lincoln agreed to have a baby really quickly for someone who was opposed to it at first. I would’ve liked to see more of Amelia’s actual pregnancy since that was the main point of the book. That being said, it was an okay read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This story was so realistic and will make you want to believe true love is real. I love how the love never died, but grew in their hearts. I found that even knowing the nasty break up they had, both found the forgiveness in their heart and minds for a second chance. Well written and very clean yet the story moves you into keep turning the page to find wht happens next. Highly recommended for anyone to read.
Romance Reset follows the story of Amelia and Lincoln, two former high school sweethearts who reconnect decades later. At 18, Lincoln proposed, but Amelia turned him down, and they went their separate ways. Fast forward to their late thirties: Amelia is anxious about starting a family before time runs out. Her best friend Izzy hires a matchmaker, only for fate to pair Amelia with none other than Lincoln—now a widower raising twins.
The premise sets up the perfect “second chance romance.” Amelia and Lincoln rekindle their relationship, but complications quickly surface. Lincoln isn’t ready to dive back into fatherhood so soon; his dream is to travel once his twins leave for college. When his teenage daughter has a pregnancy scare, Amelia realizes their priorities may never align. She walks away, unwilling to settle for less than what she wants: a family of her own.
Of course, this is romance—so Lincoln eventually comes around. He proposes again, embraces Amelia’s dream, and together they end up with their own set of twins.
While the story has its sweet moments, it doesn’t stray far from the familiar beats of a Hallmark movie. The biggest conflict is relatively tame, and outside of the pregnancy scare subplot, there isn’t much tension to keep the pages turning. It’s a wholesome story about love, timing, and second chances, but it leans heavily on predictability.
For readers who enjoy gentle, feel-good romance without heavy drama, this book delivers. But if you’re looking for something layered, complex, or emotionally gripping, you may find it too plain. Personally, I’d give it three stars: warm and comforting, but lacking the spark to make it unforgettable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
**Romance Reset** by Kay Lyons is a tender, deeply evocative exploration of love’s enduring complexities and its power to heal even the most fractured hearts. With prose that flows like a gentle stream and dialogue that resonates with authenticity, Lyons crafts a narrative that feels both intimate and universal—a tale that whispers to the soul while capturing the nuanced rhythms of human connection.
The story unravels with grace, weaving themes of second chances, resilience, and rediscovery. Lyons’ characters are painted with vivid emotional depth, their flaws and strengths merging to create individuals who linger in the reader's mind long after the final page. Through their journey, the narrative dances between heartache and hope, crafting a delicate balance that mirrors the intricacies of real relationships.
Lyons' settings are more than mere backdrops; they pulse with life, grounding the story in a world that feels tangible and vibrant. Whether it’s the quiet solitude of reflective moments or the electric spark of rekindled passion, the author’s attention to detail immerses the reader in every scene.
Ultimately, *Romance Reset* is not just a romance—it is a celebration of the human spirit's capacity to rebuild, forgive, and love anew. It invites readers to reflect on their own lives, to reconsider what it means to truly connect, and to embrace the beauty of vulnerability. Kay Lyons has delivered a work that is as much a balm for the heart as it is a testament to the timeless power of love.
There are a number of problematic issues with this book. Creatively, the names of the fictional characters are not good. Meli as a nickname for Amelia was odd and too close to the similarly strange name choice, Marsali. Izzy/Eliza made it seem like the author couldn’t choose between the names and decided to use both.
Speaking of Izzy, the character was not nearly as funny as the author might have presumed in the writing process. In fact, the character and her attitude toward infertility treatments was cringe-worthy.
As it was, Izzy and the matchmaking contrivance was just filler to pad the book beyond a short-story or novella. It took fully 60% of the book before the author had Amelia get around to admitting to Lincoln that she wanted to settle down, get married, and have a baby. If anything, it seemed very weird that two people who are a thisclose to forty, wouldn’t discuss such important topics on a first date - before any emotions come into play. Without getting into fertility or whatnot, surely they have the maturity to be honest about whether or not they are using the matchmaking service because they’re interested in casually dating or a serious relationship. In fact, why wouldn’t they have told their matchmaker about their relationship goals prior to the set-up? Marriage and kids are a massive deal/dealbreaker.
This was a charming and sweet clean romance! I fell in love with the characters right away. They were realistic and touched your heart. The book was fast-paced, interesting, and easy to read. Thirty-eight-year-old Amelia Parker is worried her window for getting pregnant is getting shorter. She has given up on finding love and is looking into sperm banks when her best friend convinces her to let a matchmaker set her up with some men. Amelia reluctantly agrees to go out on three dates and if that doesn’t work, she will continue with her plan. She never expects to be matched with her high school boyfriend. Widower Lincoln Hayes is about to have an empty house after his twins go off to college. He decides to let a matchmaker set him up on a few dates hoping to find someone to help with the loneliness he is experiencing. He was very surprised when his first love who had refused his wedding proposal showed up to his date. He eventually decided to go out again with Amelia and as they continue to date, he realizes he still loves her. Will Amelia’s decision to have a child ruin their second chance at love or will Lincoln figure out having more children could be a good thing? I received an ARC and am willingly leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this book until about 65% in. The last 35% ruined it for me, though.
***Spoilers***
The whole setup of the book is that the MFC is 37 and really wants children. Dating hasn't worked out, so she's made an appointment to be inseminated with donor sperm.
Her BFF strongly disapproves and ambushes her with a matchmaker. MFC agrees to go on some dates but keeps her appointment at the fertility clinic. The matchmaker is told many times by MFC and BFF that having a child is the highest priority for MFC.
It is said many, many times that the matchmaker has a 92% success rate. Yet somehow, !!!TWIST!!! MFC's match doesn't want children because they already have 18yo twins. How would such an amazing matchmaker match MFC with a guy who doesn't want kids!?!? An online dating algorithm wouldn't match her with a guy who doesn't want kids.
The twist was telegraphed for a couple chapters before the reveal, and once I saw it, it completely took me out of the story. The resolution was equally dumb, and even though I finished the book, it wasn't satisfying.
What is not to love about a Kay Lyons book. In the seventh series of her amazing series, Amelia Parker and Lincoln Hayes were old friends. Can they find their way back to each other.
I want to share parts of the book:
"Man, do you have it bad!"
"Come on, Dad. She seemed nice enough or you wouldn't have introduced her to me and Bree."
later on... "You weren't serious about wanting kids, right?" "That was... I don't know, a joke?"
Amelia wasn't joking. She wanted a be a mother. And seeing as how she waited so long, the sooner the better. But Lincoln was about to have a empty nest for the first time in his life. He was a guardian at eighteen ...and he's about to find out he's going to be a grandfather in a matter of minutes.
"You expect me to add a kid to that?" (Chapter 13)
I am moving on to the to the next book in this series, looking forward to finding out what single dad Carter Hayes and wedding planner Eliza Bellefonte have on the bargaining table.
Marzali is a matchmaker and Amelia's bestfriend Lizzy is determined that she use her before going to a sperm bank! Amelia finally agrees, but doesn't want to put all her hopes on finding a match as quickly as she needs to so agrees to only three dates since her job is really crazy at the moment. On her second date she gets the surprise of her life when who should be waiting at the table, but none other than the man she ran away from at 18 when he asked her to marry him. Lincoln is just as shocked when he sees Amelia! He had gone on to marry a lovely woman named Jill and has 18 year old twins who are getting ready to leave for college. Jill had died three years ago in a traffic accident. Will they be able to overcome their past? Is Lincoln really up to finally dating again? Will Amelia get her dream? Only one way to find out, read this great story by Kay Lyons.
ROMANCE RESET -Kay Lyons Thirty-eight-year-old set designer Amelia Parker is on a mission to get pregnant before her biological clock runs out. She’s made an appointment with a sperm bank to move forward with her plan. Her best friend convinces her that a sperm bank is not the way to go and sets her up with a matchmaker. Amelia is set up with her first love Lincoln Hayes, a widower with two grown children. They seem like a perfect match but will Lincoln want to go along with Amelia’s plan for a baby when he is so looking forward to the “empty nest” and the plans to travel he made with his late wife? I received this ARC book from the author with the request that I leave an honest review.
“Romance Reset” begins the Make Me a Match series by Kay Lyons.
Amelia Parker wants a baby and has a plan to make that happen without having to be in a relationship. But her friend, Izzy, not happy that Amelia has given up on love, convinces Amelia to use a matchmaker. Widower Lincoln Hayes, a soon-to-be empty nester, decides it’s time for him to find love again and hires the same matchmaker. He is surprised his first match is with Amelia, the one who broke his heart years ago.
“Romance Reset” shows two people, who were once deeply in love, face their past hurts to find a happy future. Ms. Lyons writes a sweet second chance romance that I think you will enjoy.
Sweet little story. Charming and unusual premise. Enjoyable enough to recommend.
Has an extra word that should have been proofed out. And two inconsistency issues. The biggest is a confusion in arithmetic. The MCs are each 38 years old. They broke up at 18, and as the h says, she's been dating for 23 years since then, making her 41.
The other is a case where a character references 'your party' to the H, but it was not the H's party, rather a friend's party.
While these are annoying, and dull the luster of a lovely book, there are sweet and genius moments contained herein, as well.
Really nice romance novel. Amelia is desperate to have a child and is all set to use a sperm donor when she agrees to use her friends Matchmaker. Her first date didn't work burger second date is no strange to her. She used to date Lincoln when they were younger but she broke his heart by up and leaving town after declining his marriage proposal. So will things be different the second time round and will Lincoln be willing to have more children since his children are all grown up.
When Lincoln and Amelia find themselves on a date set up by a matchmaking agency, they are shocked as they had once been near engaged when Amelia broke off the relationship. Amelia is planning to have a baby on her own when her friend Izzy sets her up with the matchmaker. Lincoln lost his wife in an accident 3 years ago and is about to send his twins off to college. They have resumed their romance but having a baby together gets in the way of each other’s planned futures.
It is a well written story, kept my interest and I read it in 2 days. Light reading, happy ending. There were enough plot twists to keep it from being boring - some nice tender scenes - and some fun ones. I liked the book and am seriously thinking I will get the next in the series. All the characters were nice and believable. No graphic sex.
The story seemed fast but was really good. The "problem" that arose was easily figured out, so I was a little disappointed in that. Definitely no mystery or surprises in the book. But it was nice to read about someone closer to 40 instead of 20, as I'm over 60 & still like to read romances.
This intriguing story drew me in and had me caught up in it. It is a well written story that had me connecting with the heroine who is in for a surprise when she reconnects with Lincoln a man from her past. Will they rekindle the love once had and will this time around have them finding their happily ever after?
Great read. It’s not often that a book captures my attention like this one did. Amelia was a bit wonky in the very beginning of the story, but as soon as she met Lincoln, she came to life. If Mr Right ever entered my atmosphere, he would be Lincoln. Not to mention, the supporting characters were pretty awesome. Couldn’t put it down.
It was hard to get to know the protagonists when the side characters were so obnoxious and pushy. I seriously wanted to punch both Izzy and Carter at various times. Added to that is a second chance romance with twenty years gone by, and I was done. Not a fan of that trope in the first place, and adding in the annoying interactions with the other characters, I just had to bail at 39% in.
[1 star] book was pretty bland, there wasn't enough development and character background. also, i think the book need to edit as ".... she died in a car accident like this parents." - i presume it should be "his parents"?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
With a few surprises Lincoln and Amelia get a second chance at first love. The went on separate paths but through a matchmaker they find each other again. Kept my attention
Very interesting book and all the odds that they would meet again. The story line was easy to follow and you felt like you were there trying to help them decide if they could try again.
You can't get a romance any better than this. Two wonderful characters, a storyline that flows, and a feel-good ending. It's a keeper for me to be re-read again and again. No sex or foul language with a happily ever after ending.
How does a matchmaker wind up setting you up with the person you dated and loved way back in high school? It just means that Amelia and Lincoln were meant to be. I enjoyed ever bit of their story.
This was a very good book! It wasn’t hot & steamy but, it showed the love in the characters, Amelia & Lincoln & they getting together 20 years after they were high school sweethearts! Izzy & Carter we’re also very good characters as well as Lincoln’s twins!I would recommend reading this book!