Their Surprise Reunion by Shelley Shepard Gray
Series: A Matchmaker Knows Best Romance – Book 1
Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming
Publication Date: April 29, 2025
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 355
Format: ebook – NetGalley
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Friendship can turn to more…

When you least expect it!

Kayla Harding knew she’d reached rock bottom when she forced herself to walk through the front doors of Loaves of Love, the food bank in Medina, Ohio, one Saturday morning. Happily, what she finds there is a loving community of people who offer her not just food, but friendship and hope. She also finds Sean Copeland, a former crush, father to six-year-old Jackson and small-town football coach, who volunteers at the food bank. But Kayla is still reeling from her divorce, and Sean is a recent widower. Can they find it in their hearts to fall in love again?

My Review and Reflections

Kayla Harding is down on her luck after a divorce—so down that her cupboards are bare. When she walks into Loaves of Love, a community food bank, she finds more than she had hoped for. The owner asks if she would like to volunteer to make bread, and she soon finds herself standing face-to-face with her high school crush, Sean Copeland. Sean remembers Kayla’s sweet nature from school, and the more he gets to know her, the more he sees that she’s still that same caring individual. But Sean isn’t sure he’ll ever be able to move on from the loss of his wife.

Once I pick up this book, I don’t want to put it down!

This story takes me back to a time and place that—while some might like to forget—I treasure because it made me stronger. Asking for assistance with daily needs is not easy, and Gray manages to capture the raw emotion of doing so through Kayla. Kayla’s vulnerability and fear feel all too real—you can feel it in your bones. Sean is a compassionate person who loves his job as a coach and enjoys volunteering at Loaves of Love. Sometimes, however, he sticks his foot in his mouth. He has no idea what Kayla is going through, so a few of his comments make her wince. But Sean quickly realizes when his words or thoughts miss the mark and works hard to be even more compassionate than he already is.

I really enjoyed the side story of Edna, the director of Loaves of Love. It’s always wonderful to see different seasons and types of love in a romance, and Edna’s straightforward but loving character is amazing.

Their Surprise Reunion is touching, heartfelt, and full of real emotion. It’s the kind of story that makes you dream of better things.