"I am always ready for a return trip to Whisper Lake. I love the small town and the friendly people who live there. Barbara Freethy is a master of suspense and romance. She makes her characters come to life on the page." NJ - Goodreads

After three years of being a single mom, café owner Chloe Morgan is finally ready to take another chance on love. She's found the perfect man in Joel Bradshaw. He checks all her boxes when it comes to stability, commitment, and accountability.

And then Joel's best friend, Decker Hayes, comes to town...

Decker is attractive, sexy, and great with her kid, but Decker is a self-avowed wanderer. He doesn't make plans. He doesn't think long-term. He's not someone a woman should count on. Decker is exactly the kind of man Chloe doesn't want.

And Chloe is exactly the kind of woman Decker doesn't want. Decker is not a family man. He isn't even sure what family really means. Chloe is also dating his friend, which makes her off-limits.

But as Chloe and Decker are thrown together during a house remodel and the unraveling of an old family mystery, they find themselves falling for the absolutely wrong person.

Neither one wants to risk another broken heart, but when love shows up, anything can happen...

Readers who enjoy books by Robyn Carr, Jill Shalvis, and Susan Mallery willl love this charming small-town romance filled with family secrets! Another irresistibly heartwarming and fun contemporary romance by #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Barbara Freethy!

Also available in the Whisper Lake Series:

Always With Me #1

My Wildest Dream #2

Can't Fight The Moonlight #3

Just One Kiss #4

If We Never Met #5

Tangled Up In You #6

Next Time I Fall #7

What the readers are saying about NEXT TIME I FALL

"Chloe and Decker's story was beautiful! Love, love, love this book! Chloe is a single mom who is strong and loving and willing to help anyone no matter how much she already has on her plate. She tells her son that his daddy's a hero, but she is also a hero in my eyes. And she deserves a love as amazing as she is. I just couldn't put this book down." Tammy - Goodreads

"Barbara Freethy is a master storyteller who pulls out all the feelings! Chloe and Decker are an enchanting couple with plenty of chemistry, some hesitation about getting involved, secrets and a bit of mystery. There are lots of good friends, some laughs, lots of feel-good moments, and touching love. I loved their story!" Kristen - Goodreads

"Whisper Lake is the kind of town you'd love to live in and Barbara Freethy's characters are people you'd want to call friends." Mary - Goodreads

"A wonderful story about finding love after a long road of heartbreak

. There's a bit of a mystery in the rental home Chloe is renovating for her family to sell - and her contractor, Decker discovers he is connected. While the two follow the clues left behind by the previous tenant, Chloe and Decker discover that love can come in ways that they never thought could happen." Karen - Goodreads

"I've enjoyed all the Whisper Lake stories and this one was perfection. I couldn't put it down." Peggy - Goodreads