Their surprising connection could be the key to a second chance.

Jace Moore has been afraid to love since losing his parents as a teen. But when he meets equine therapist Meredith Lewis and her horse Bella, something shifts inside him.

Soon, constructing her indoor riding arena turns into volunteering with her therapy program just to spend more time with them.

Initially wary of Jace’s charming ways, Meredith can’t deny her attraction to the off-limits builder, especially when he shows such kindness to one of her young clients.

But as sessions with the animals—and Meredith—begin to heal Jace’s closed-off heart, can he convince her that love is worth the risk?

~Standalone~

This is a no-spice romance, perhaps with closed-door or fade-to-black scenes. Tension and kisses might be involved.

Title:  Rebuilding His Trust
Series:  Standalone
Author:  Jenna Mindel
Published:  January 27, 2026
Publisher:  Harlequin Love Inspired
My Rating:  4.5 stars

Rebuilding His Trust is a delightfully engaging standalone title (though I hope this turns into a series) that introduces us to Meredith, Jace, and her very intelligent and perceptive therapy horse, Bella.  After a family situation when she was younger, Meredith has closed herself off from romantic encounters; the guilt she unnecessarily carries over the breakup of her parents’ marriage has convinced her that life is better when one guards one’s heart closely.  After his parents’ deaths, Jace went a bit off the rails, engaging in a dating spree that was quite unlike him.  Spiraling from the loss of his parents, he made choices that he regrets and deeply wants to address his past and change his future.  We have two deeply wounded souls who will force themselves to keep a professional distance between them when it’s obvious that there is something precious, something deeper developing between them.

I enjoyed Rebuilding His Trust so much.  Although they are rebuilding her trust just as much as their story reveals.  I admire a man who realizes he needs help, especially when he never thought that he could heal from his past… but Bella is proving that forgiveness (even self-forgiveness) is possible for anyone.  Frankly, I adored Bella.  Yes, she’s a horse, but a vital part of this story and both Meredith’s and Jace’s recovery from their pasts.  Their story is somewhat of a slow burn as they move through the cycles of professionals, friends, and perhaps something more if they both can trust and take a few risks with their hearts.  This romance is well-written, faith-based, emotional, and engaging on so many levels.  Watching this couple work through the things in their pasts that kept them from finding happiness was an emotional journey.  If this sounds like your kind of romance, then you’d enjoy Meredith and Jace’s (and Bella’s) story.  I know I certainly did.

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

This title is available at Amazon