He thought he was done with the darkness. But the past isn’t done with him.

Just released from prison, McKenna McKeegan wants nothing more than a quiet life and a second chance. But ghosts don’t go quietly—and someone from his past is determined to drag him back into the shadows.

Emma Sinclair has secrets of her own. Fierce and guarded, she’s sworn off trust—but when danger starts circling, it’s McKenna she turns to. Together, they uncover a web of lies tied to a criminal empire that never really let go.

As bullets fly and betrayals cut deep, McKenna and Emma must decide—will they risk everything for love, or let fear steal the future they’ve only just begun to hope for?

A riveting tale of redemption, danger, and the unstoppable power of love.

Titles in The McKeegans: A New Generation series include: Stewart ~ Reilly ~ Katie ~ McKenna ~

This is a clean, sweet romance with either closed doors or fade to black, or only kissing… and some hints of violence.

Title:  McKenna
Series:  The McKeegans A New Generation #4
Author:  Kathleen Ball
Published:  July 31, 2025
My Rating:  4.5 stars

McKenna is the fourth title in The McKeegans: A New Generation series, and finally tells McKenna’s story and his slowly building romance with Emma, a close neighbor and Katie’s friend.  Of course, Tabitha is back, just as (if not more) devious than before, with a hidden agenda that will put lives in danger.

I, frankly, hesitated to pick up McKenna’s story, and if you’ve followed the series to this point, well, I think you’ll understand why.  That McKenna was not a nice guy, and because of the things he did, the danger he put his family in, I couldn’t see how he could possibly become a hero worthy of his happily ever after.  I was wrong.  I had to remind myself that everyone is worthy of redemption, forgiveness, and a second chance, whether in fiction or in real life.  Kathleen Ball showed us that even with the most horrendous mistakes, something truly good can emerge.

For unknown reasons, and lots of suspicion, McKenna has been released early from his prison sentence.  He’s heading home a changed man, humble, knowing the mistakes he made, praying for forgiveness from his family.  He knows he’s done too much to be welcomed with open arms, but he’s also hoping that they’ll give him a chance to prove that he isn’t that same arrogant, self-centered man any longer.

I enjoyed McKenna very much; it’s a well-written, compassionate, slow-burning romance with touches of danger and emotional wounds.  Both McKenna and Emma have issues that they are dealing with from their pasts, not the same, but close enough that you cannot help but root for their happiness together.  The danger and suspense of this story are well-played, keeping me on my toes throughout.  I loved being back in this world and would highly recommend this story.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author’s team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This title is available at Amazon (affiliate link)