Makenna’s Books

The Rancher's Love Song by Makenna Lee

NEW RELEASE!
12.24.24

A secret that bound them together…

And split them apart!

Decades earlier, Sage Dalton gave a family their greatest gift: their daughter, Loren. But when an unwanted connection sparked between the surrogate and the father-to-be, they immediately cut contact. Years later, when widowed Grayson DeLuca reappears in small-town Channing to start over, something still sizzles between them. Grayson had made a sacred promise to his wife: to stay away from Sage—and to never disclose to their daughter the secret of her birth. But the bond between Sage and troubled Loren is as palpable as the day the teenager was born…even if Loren has no idea who Sage is. Are some secrets meant to be told?

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

The Women of Dalton Ranch

Book 1: The Rancher’s Love Song
Book 2: 
Her Secret to Keep
Book 3: 
Her New Year’s Wish List

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The Rancher's Love Song by Makenna Lee

NEW RELEASE!
06.25.24

All this Fortune ever wanted: to carry on his name!

Wealthy rancher Barrington “Bear” Fortune wants only one thing: an heir to continue his legacy. And when unlikely sparks ignite between him and housekeeper Morgana Wells, he’s consumed by a wild idea: the feisty beauty’s the perfect candidate to be the mother to his baby! But Morgana’s got reasons of her own for her insatiable curiosity about all things Fortune, and despite the undeniable attraction between her and Bear, being part of their family line sure isn’t one of them… Or is it?

From Harlequin Fortunes of Texas:

Book 1: Fortune’s Baby Claim by Michelle Major
Book 2: 
Fortune in Name Only by Tara Taylor Quinn
Book 3: 
Expecting a Fortune by Nina Crespo
Book 4: 
Fortune’s Lone Star Twins by Teri Wilson
Book 5: 
Worth a Fortune by Nancy Robards Thompson
Book 6: 
Fortune’s Convenient Cinderella by Makenna Lee

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The Rancher's Love Song by Makenna Lee

NEW RELEASE!
05.21.24

A secret that bound them together…

And split them apart!

Decades earlier, Sage Dalton gave a family their greatest gift: their daughter, Loren. But when an unwanted connection sparked between the surrogate and the father-to-be, they immediately cut contact. Years later, when widowed Grayson DeLuca reappears in small-town Channing to start over, something still sizzles between them. Grayson had made a sacred promise to his wife: to stay away from Sage—and to never disclose to their daughter the secret of her birth. But the bond between Sage and troubled Loren is as palpable as the day the teenager was born…even if Loren has no idea who Sage is. Are some secrets meant to be told?

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

The Women of Dalton Ranch

Book 1: The Rancher’s Love Song
Book 2: 
Her Secret to Keep

Purchase Options:

The Rancher's Love Song by Makenna Lee

NEW RELEASE!
01.23.24

He’s been there. Done that.

So why does his heart hope this time will be different?

Ranch foreman Travis Taylor doesn’t have time for opera singers on vacation. Especially bubbly beautiful ones like Lizzy Dalton. His heart was once broken by a country music diva—ignoring the warning signs this time around is a no-go. And the baby with special needs Lizzy is fostering only evokes the lingering trauma of losing Travis’s own baby brother. But Lizzy’s kisses, and the infant’s sweet smile, make him dream of a family and happily-ever-after. Unless Travis’s emotional armor—perfectly designed to protect him from heartbreak—sabotages it first.

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

The Women of Dalton Ranch

Book 1: The Rancher’s Love Song
Book 2: 
Her Secret To Keep

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A Marriage of Benefits: Available February, 2022!

Available Now!

Just another bad boy…or a hero in disguise?

Bartender Damon Fortune Maloney doesn’t sweat the small stuff; he has always gotten by on his charm. When he boasts that he can handle any kid, adorable single mom Sari Keeling dares him to watch her two rambunctious boys for just one day. It’s game on, but Damon soon discovers that parenthood is tougher than he thought—and so is resisting Sari.

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

The Fortunes of Texas: Hitting the Jackpot

Book 1: A Fortune’s Windfall by Michelle Major
Book 2: Fortune’s Dream House by Nina Crespo
Book 3: Winning Her Fortune by Heatherly Bell
Book 4: Fortune’s Fatherhood Dare by Makenna Lee
Book 6: Fortune’s Runaway Bride by Allison Leigh
Book 7: Self-Made Fortune by Judy Duarte

Purchase Options:

A Marriage of Benefits: Available February, 2022!

Available Now!

A temporary pit stop…or a forever homecoming?

Aspiring pastry chef Nicole Evans is just waiting to hear about her dream job, and in the meantime, she goes to work in the café at the local bookstore. But that’s before the recently widowed Nicole meets her temporary boss: her first crush, Liam Mendez! Single dad Liam has always kept his life—and his heart—closely guarded from Oak Hollow gossip. Will his simmering attraction to Nicole be just one more thing to hide…or the stuff of his bookstore’s romance novels?

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

Home to Oak Hollow

Book 1: A Sheriff’s Star
Book 2: In the Key of Family
Book 3: A Child’s Christmas Wish
Book 4: A Marriage of Benefits
Book 5: Lessons in Fatherhood
Book 6: The Bookstore’s Secret

 

“Makenna delivers the perfect balance of sugar and spice in the latest in her Home to Oak Hollow series, a small-town contemporary romance that fully embraces the rewarding additions family and friends can bring to one’s life while also delivering plenty of sexy sparks between the protagonists.” 
—Booklist

Purchase Options:

A Marriage of Benefits: Available February, 2022!

Available Now!

More surprising than being a father

Is what it takes to be a dad

Nicholas Weller is stunned to discover the adorable baby abandoned in the middle of his art gallery is his son. Asking teacher Emma Blake for help is a plea of desperation—he barely knows her, after all—and clearly, she has her own misgivings. But under Emma’s tutelage, Nicholas is soon juggling diapers, formula…and unexpected feelings for her. He’s passing the lessons on fatherhood, but is he ready to graduate to family man?

A Marriage of Benefits: Available February, 2022!

ALSO AVAILABLE!

She’s buying a husband.

And he’s buying a…dog?

Veterinarian Jessica Talbot wants to build a clinic and wildlife rescue. She could access her trust fund, but there’s a caveat—to get the money, Jessica needs a husband. When she learns Officer Jake Carter needs funding to buy and train his own K-9 partner, Jessica proposes. Jake is shocked, but he agrees—only for the money. It’s the perfect plan—if only Jessica can avoid falling for her husband…and vice-versa!

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

Home to Oak Hollow

Book 1: A Sheriff’s Star
Book 2: In the Key of Family
Book 3: A Child’s Christmas Wish
Book 4: A Marriage of Benefits

Click to Pre-Order!

ALSO AVAILABLE!

Finally, a home for the holidays…

Eric McKnight’s only priority is his disabled daughter’s happiness. Her temporary nanny, Jenny Winslet, is eager to help make Lilly’s Christmas wishes come true. She’ll even teach grinchy Eric how to do the season right—surrounded by garland, glitter and Lilly’s giggles! It isn’t long before visions of family dance in Eric’s head. But when Jenny leaves them for New York City…there’s still one Christmas wish he has yet to fulfill.

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

Home to Oak Hollow

Book 1: A Sheriff’s Star
Book 2: In the Key of Family
Book 3: A Child’s Christmas Wish

In the Key of Family by Makenna Lee

ALSO AVAILABLE!

Big-city free spirit meets small-town cop. And a symphony begins…

Oak Hollow police officer, Luke Walker, is adjusting to his role change from fun uncle to full-time guardian of his five-year-old autistic nephew, Cody. In the chaos after his sister’s funeral and learning to single parent a special needs child, Luke has forgotten about renting a room in his house. And the person who shows up on his doorstep is far from the young man he thought he’d corresponded with over email. Alex Roth is a strikingly beautiful woman with a guitar, art supplies, and a free spirit that doesn’t fit with the stable home he’s creating for his nephew.

Musician and artist, Alexandra Roth has left her home in Manhattan to spend time in Oak Hollow, Texas. She’s giving herself one last excursion to paint the Texas Hill Country scenery before taming her wanderlust and settling down to use her music therapy degree. When she arrives at the house on Cherry Tree Lane, a young boy peers out the front window and lets her in but won’t speak. She’s surprised to discover the handsome cowboy she saw on the town square is her landlord, and he’s not the welcoming small-town guy she expected.

She’s exactly the kind of woman Luke is attracted to, but he’s vowed to change his ways and focus on Cody. When he starts dating again, it must be with a woman who is ready to settle down in a small town and be a mother. A free-spirited, traveling, big-city hippie like Alex is not what they need. But Cody adores Alexandra and believes she’s his very own Mary Poppins, and her music gets him interacting with his surroundings again.

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

Praise for In the Key of Family

What Readers Are Saying!

“In the Key of Family was extraordinary. It was by far the best book I read this year.

Makenna Lee sure knows how to write one heck of a story. She truly has a talent for understanding Special Needs children and putting that to paper. It’s not often you find an author who can do such a thing. I loved how she didn’t just make Cody an afterthought. Quite often the children suddenly become invisible when the romance between the Hero and Heroine start to heat up. She does such a spectacular job of blending the romance and family all together.”

Jen,

5-Star GoodReads Review

In the Key of Family is a sweet romance that will warm your heart and make you smile. Set in the Texas Hill Country, this lovely story features characters who are real, people who are struggling with challenges, but whose hearts are open to let love in.

The author has a wonderful knack for writing special needs children, realistically but with great care and understanding.”

Susan,

5-Star GoodReads Review

In the Key of Family by Makenna Lee is a wonderful heartwarming romance centered around family and love. I adored the authors previous release in the Harlequin Special Edition line and I enjoyed this one just as much.”

Amanda,

5-Star GoodReads Review

“If you are looking for a book series that really shows light on special needs kids then this is the book series for you.”

Tina,

5-Star GoodReads Review

Also Available!

It was only supposed to be a temporary home…

He interrupts her plans…

When police chief Anson Curry returns a lost little girl to her frantic mother, his only goal is to ease the single mom’s anxiety. But it doesn’t take long for Tess Harper’s amazing child to have Anson wrapped around her little finger—and for Tess to have him thinking about a possible relationship. As for Tess, she’s tempted—even though she had planned to be in Oak Hollow, Texas, only temporarily. But after losing her father and brother in the line of duty, Tess thinks Anson’s job poses too much of a risk to her heart. And Anson has no plans to get involved with someone who’s planning on leaving.

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

Home to Oak Hollow

A Sheriff’s Star Featured in Library Journal!
Choosing Love: 54 Romances for Our Times Promise Escape and Hope

Praise for A Sheriff’s Star

What Readers Are Saying!

A Sheriff’s Star has the lovely cozy and comfortable elements of a good holiday story, but it was the added nuances to the individual characters, their situations, and the relationships going on that pushed this into a superb story.”

Sophia R.,

5-Star Amazon Review

“I wish there was a place for ten stars.”

Dorothy S.,

5-Star Amazon Review

“I loved absolutely everything about A Sheriff’s Star. This is one that will stay with me for a long time.”

T.,

5-Star Amazon Review

“I was drawn to this story by the cover. It didn’t disappoint! I loved this book!”

Evelyn,

GoodReads

“I absolutely loved A Sheriff’s Star. Both Anson and Tess are moving away from their demons in the past, and little Hannah along with Nan is making it easy for them to trust and fall in love. The only bad thing about the story is that it ended.”

Alexia,

5-Star Amazon Review

A Sheriff’s Star is a treasure—a joy to read and become completely captivated!”

Susan P.,

5-Star Amazon Review

Also Now Available!

Wealthy cowboy, James MacLachlan, is content running his massive family ranch and starting an equine therapy program for special needs children. After his mother died in childbirth, and witnessing his father’s destruction at the loss of true love, James sticks to casual affairs. Marriage and children are risks he won’t take.


Reese Turner visits Cypress Creek, Texas, to complete a photo assignment for National Geographic and buy back her grandparents’ cottage. After disastrous romances, she’s sworn off men to focus on her career. Marriage and the babies she longs for can wait. When she runs into an old flame, she decides she can live out a fantasy, then leave town to pursue her dreams.


But love doesn’t play by the rules…

Awards

Her Second Chance Cowboy

Finalist – 2019 Golden Heart Awards

1st Place & Grand Prize Winner – 2018 Golden Rose Awards, Single Title Romance

2nd Place – 2016 Indiana Golden Opportunity Contest, Contemporary Romance

3rd Place – 2016 Hot Prospects Contest, Contemporary Single Title Hot Prospects


Hearts on Hold

1st Place – 2017 Pages From The Heart Award, Contemporary Short

3rd Place – 2018 Golden Rose Awards, Single Title Romance 

Award-Winning Author Makenna Lee

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