Taylor’s Father
Penelope Ward
Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Age Gap (17 Years), Best Guy Friend’s Father
Single Dad, Forbidden, Second Chance
Protective Hero, Sassy Heroine
Release Date: February 22, 2026 Goodreads Amazon | Special Edition Paperback

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new, STANDALONE contemporary romance…

When my best friend Taylor gifted me a vacation at a resort owned by his grandparents, the last thing I expected was to bond with a man seventeen years older.

Tate was also vacationing alone.

He’d come to Midnight Key to clear his head and reevaluate his life.

I’d come to get over my high school sweetheart who’d dumped me.

I’d spotted the brawny, tattooed Adonis in the lobby on the first day and thought he had to be someone’s hot dad.

But then we matched on an app that paired single men and women by proximity. 

The problem was? At nineteen—almost twenty—I’d lied and said I was twenty-nine.

Tate outed me on our first date, and I fessed up to my real age.

But we continued to run into each other.

And eventually we found our connection was too magnetic to deny. 

While we agreed to only use first names and to part ways at the end of the trip, I’d really fallen for Tate.

I never forgot him and knew he was the one who got away.

Remember that guy friend who gifted me the trip?

Well, four years later, Taylor got married. 

He’d been estranged from his dad for years, though recently they’d reconnected.

What I didn’t know was that the man I’d had that torrid affair with at the resort would be standing next to Taylor in the receiving line.

My dream man Tate? Was Taylor’s father. 

Age gap romances are hit or miss for me, but I really enjoyed this one. I don't want to say too much about the plot or their journey to avoid spoilers, but I honestly really liked these two together. She's a good girl trying to be bad and he's an older, broken, man with a lot of baggage. A vacation, a hook-up app, and an undeniable connection leave them with lasting memories and act as a catalyst for change. Blair seemed mature enough for her age, and I enjoyed her spunk, sense of humor, and how she was pushing herself out of her own usually cautious comfort zone. And Tate did not feel too old, even though he had his issues. He tried to be respectful, cautious, and protective, but eventually was unable to resist. I loved how they connected, and even though I hated knowing it was going to be complicated. And it is messier than either of them could even imagine. I just adored Tate. He loved hard, even if he was afraid of the consequences, and I liked seeing him own his mistakes and try to be the best man he could be. And I also really liked Blair's sassiness, tenacity, and resilience. This is an age gap, second chance, vacation fling, single dad, best friend's father, forbidden romance with complex family dynamics. It's unexpected and challenging, but it also feels destined. I was rooting for these two to find their own lasting happiness in the midst of drama and secrets. It's witty, spicy, emotional, and turbulent, and I enjoyed the ride.

Taylor’s Father
Penelope Ward
Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Age Gap (17 Years), Best Guy Friend’s Father
Single Dad, Forbidden, Second Chance
Protective Hero, Sassy Heroine
Release Date: February 22, 2026 Goodreads Amazon | Special Edition Paperback

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new, STANDALONE contemporary romance…

When my best friend Taylor gifted me a vacation at a resort owned by his grandparents, the last thing I expected was to bond with a man seventeen years older.

Tate was also vacationing alone.

He’d come to Midnight Key to clear his head and reevaluate his life.

I’d come to get over my high school sweetheart who’d dumped me.

I’d spotted the brawny, tattooed Adonis in the lobby on the first day and thought he had to be someone’s hot dad.

But then we matched on an app that paired single men and women by proximity. 

The problem was? At nineteen—almost twenty—I’d lied and said I was twenty-nine.

Tate outed me on our first date, and I fessed up to my real age.

But we continued to run into each other.

And eventually we found our connection was too magnetic to deny. 

While we agreed to only use first names and to part ways at the end of the trip, I’d really fallen for Tate.

I never forgot him and knew he was the one who got away.

Remember that guy friend who gifted me the trip?

Well, four years later, Taylor got married. 

He’d been estranged from his dad for years, though recently they’d reconnected.

What I didn’t know was that the man I’d had that torrid affair with at the resort would be standing next to Taylor in the receiving line.

My dream man Tate? Was Taylor’s father.