Matchmaker and The Marine, The

She vowed never to love again. His time in the Marines cost him more than he had expected. Can a seaside town, undeniable chemistry, and a leap of faith give them a second chance? Widowed matchmaker Melinda Phillips helps others find lasting love in her charming New England seaside town. Creating happy endings for her clients gives her purpose—and keeps her own lonely heart safely guarded. After losing her husband, she vowed never to risk her heart again. But when she literally falls into the arms of a handsome Marine at a client’s wedding, sparks fly and her carefully ordered world begins to shift. Marine Veteran Adam Bell has always lived by honor, duty, and sacrifice. But his military service left scars—both visible and unseen—and the painful end of a past relationship convinced him that love isn’t meant for him. Still, an unexpected encounter with the warm, compassionate matchmaker makes him wonder whether he gave up on love too soon. Determined to move forward, Adam hires Melinda to help him find the perfect woman. But as their slow-burn friendship deepens in this heartfelt small-town military romance, Melinda realizes the woman she’s been searching for on his behalf might be herself—and she’s rarely wrong about matters of the heart. Still, fear holds her back, so she keeps searching for someone else to give him the happiness she believes he deserves. As past wounds resurface and fears threaten to pull them apart, Melinda and Adam must decide if they’re brave enough to trust again. In this emotional New England seaside romance, two guarded hearts discover that love may be the greatest leap of faith of all.