Tropes: Grumpy/Sunshine, One Night Stand, Small Town Sports Romance, Widower, Single Mom, Second Chance
Release Date: October 6, 2026
BLURB
The first time Courtland Navarro saw Charleigh Lynn Kensington, she was yelling at her old boss about a yeast infection.
Court didn’t know that his heart could even beat after the loss of his late wife, but in that moment, when she was yelling about a bladder infection from hell, he realized that maybe he hadn’t died inside after all.
The second time he saw her, he was protecting her from herself.
The big—actually quite small—bad—more like a pissed-off Chihuahua—Marine thought she could handle herself. And honestly, she might have been able to. But she was five-foot-nothing, had crazy blonde hair, and looked like one hell of an easy target.
To say that they got off on the wrong foot would be an understatement.
Then, searching for something to do with his life after getting out of prison, he finds a mechanic shop for sale. So he buys it.
Little did he know that Charleigh had wanted that shop.
And now she had even more reason to hate him.
She tries her hardest to hold on to the anger, the utter dislike of all things Court Navarro. But Charleigh doesn’t stand a chance.
Court has set his sights on her, and there’s nothing that she can do but surrender.
Lani Lynn Vale is an American author of humorous romantic suspense novels. Born in the Great State of Texas, she has lived the majority of her adult life in East Texas where most of her novels are based. She’s married to her high school sweetheart whom her readers refer to as “LLV’s Bearded Half.” She published her first novel, Boomtown. in the summer of 2013 after the birth of her third child. She’s gone on to publish over 100 novels, with most of them going on to become USA Today Bestsellers.
Court has a tragic past and instead of being able to grieve his loss he was found guilty of a crime he wasn’t responsible for and was ostracized by those who should have supported him. Now that his charges have been overturned he moved to Montana and has taken a control position in a woman’s soccer team and a men’s football team to help out Beau, a friend, by ensuring that his toxic sister doesn’t destroy them.
Charleigh has a tragic past of her own and wants revenge against the woman who was responsible for the death of her best friend. She is willing to ensure that happens even if it means working with Court despite the grudge she holds against him. As she spends time with him she soon realizes that a grudge is not what she feels for him despite all the challenges they are facing.
Although the situations from their pasts are different it also gives them a great understanding of each other. The interactions between them are humorous, the twists keep coming and the back story of these characters will draw you in and the love and support they have for each will touch your heart.
