Second Time Around (Kathleen Y'Barbo) Books in Order

Kathleen Y'Barbo's Second Time Around books stay close to everyday life. These are contemporary romances about adults who are not starting from a blank page. Some are widowed. Some are carrying grief, family baggage, or the exhaustion that comes from trying to hold everything together. The love stories work because the characters have already been bruised a little by life.

Children are often part of the equation.

That changes the tone in a good way. In books like Daddy's Little Matchmakers, Her Holiday Fireman, and Their Unexpected Love, romance is not just about chemistry. It has to fit around jobs, kids, schedules, and the fear of hurting people you love. Y'Barbo keeps the settings grounded, the conflicts recognizable, and the emotional stakes personal rather than flashy.

The series also leans into the comfort of category romance. Each book gives you a clear central couple, a handful of complications, and the promise that there is a hopeful ending ahead. Firefighters, contractors, veterinarians, and other ordinary working people fill these stories, which helps the books feel close to home.

If you like gentle contemporary romance with faith, family, and believable second chances, this series is easy to sink into. The pace is quick, the emotion is sincere, and Y'Barbo never loses sight of how much courage it takes to love again when life has already taught you caution.