Loving someone is something you never forget how to do . . . 

Zoe Hornsby has enough on her plate. Her pet grooming business tucked inside her friends’ veterinarian clinic is busy, and all her free time outside of work is dedicated to caring for her mother’s ailing mind. Dating is certainly not on her agenda. For all she cares, the town gossips of Redwood Ridge, Oregon, can set their matchmaking sights on someone else. Because no way would she consider sexy veterinarian Drake O’Grady her perfect guy. Once upon a time, she may have harbored a little crush, but he’d only had eyes for her best friend. And the crazy attraction building between her and Drake now? Down boy, down.

After Drake lost his wife to cancer, he’s finally clawed his way out of grief and beginning to feel more like a part of the human race. But he’s appalled to learn his prying family thinks he’s ready to jump in the dating pool. And the woman they thrust at him couldn’t be more inappropriate. As his dead wife’s best friend, Zoe is off limits. Even if they seem to share a common sadness, she is too potent a personality to get romantically tangled with. Yet she’s making his heart beat and blood roar like he never thought it could again. And he doesn’t want to just exist anymore . . .

Titles in the Redwood Ridge series include:  Puppy Love – Tracking You – New Tricks –

Title:  New Tricks
Series:  Redwood Ridge #3
Author:  Kelly Moran
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  September 26, 2017
Publisher:  Kensington Books – Lyrical Shine
My Rating:  4.5 stars

There is no story line more poignant or more touching for me than when a person loses their loved one to death and finds the courage to love again.  It’s difficult to believe that you’ll ever find happiness or love again when your world has been turned upside down.  Drake knows that feeling well.  And while the local matchmakers of his small town might believe they have just the right woman in mind… he isn’t so sure about that at all.  Zoe is a lovely woman, someone that any man would be proud to have at his side.  Yet, she was also his deceased wife’s best friend.  There would always be another woman’s memory there with them.  It wasn’t his intention to get caught up in Zoe’s charms.  But… wasn’t the heart big enough to hold two loves?  His attraction is saying yes.  Now it’s time to see if Zoe is ready to say yes as well.

Zoe has so much going on in  her life.  Sure, she’s attracted to Drake, she’d crushed on him long before he married her best friend.  But now wasn’t a time that she could take a chance on losing the friendship that she counted on to a possible romance that might lead them nowhere.  Her mother’s needs must come first.  If only she could convince her heart that taking the risk was worth what she might lose.

I enjoyed New Tricks.  I understood both sides, especially Zoe’s hesitation.  Yes, I wish she’d had more faith in them both, but I “got” her.  Drake I adored.  His bravery in moving forward, overcoming Zoe’s hesitation showed his own inner strengths.  I’d recommend New Tricks to any Romance reader.  Likable couple, some issues to overcome, quirky bits and pieces and secondary characters that make the whole thing work so well.  I’m definitely looking forward to more from this series.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Available in paperback and for the Kindle