{A Sweet Cruise RomCom Release} Roped into Paradise by Shanna Hatfield

Roped into Paradise by Shanna Hatfield
on January 29th, 2026
Genres: Comedy, Fiction, Adult, Romance, Contemporary
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A cowboy, a cruise, and a meddling grandma—what could go wrong?
JJ McKade expected to spend two weeks with his grandmother at her condo in sunny Florida, celebrating her birthday. Instead, he got shanghaied by his mischievous grandma on a Caribbean cruise—complete with hot pink luggage, a gaggle of giggling octogenarians, and a humiliating childhood nickname haunting his every move.

Between meddling matchmakers, unexpected friendships, and the endless chaos of cruise life, JJ can’t help being drawn to Kinsley Kline, the ship’s enchanting horticulturist. There’s just one catch: crew fraternizing with passengers is strictly forbidden.

With only a few months left in her contract aboard The Affinity, Kinsley can’t let anything rock her boat or derail her plans. Then the arrival of a hunky cowboy on the ship makes her question if some rules are meant to be broken, and a little boat rocking is a good thing.

From sun-drenched beaches to moonlit strolls, JJ and Kinsley must decide if an onboard romance can last on land, and if love is worth risking their hearts.

Packed with laughter, longing, and a grandmother who refuses to play by the rules, Roped Into Paradise is a heartwarming romantic comedy about family, hope, and finding love where you least expect it. Perfect for fans of witty banter, slow-burn romance, and cruise ship escapades that sweep you off your feet.

Exclusive excerpt from Roped into Paradise

“JJ! Move it, move it!” She smacked a hand on her thigh, like she was encouraging a misbehaving dog to obey orders. She took a menacing step toward the bed, and he had no doubt she’d yank off his covers and force him to dress if he didn’t immediately get on board with her plans.

“I’m up, Grams. Awake. Something.” A wide yawn made his jaw pop. “Will you please turn off that screeching alarm? Where did you get that thing?”

She smiled and held up her hand. “It’s a phone app Trudy’s granddaughter set up for me.”

“Good old Trudy,” JJ muttered. Of course, the helpful app would have come from one of his grandmother’s three cohorts in crime.

The four old women were fine on their own, but together they tended to create trouble. Last year, when he’d come to Eustis, they’d been intent on setting him up on a date with Trudy’s hairdresser’s cousin’s somebody or other. Thankfully, he’d left town before they could make any arrangements for a date.

JJ swung his feet out of the bed, but his eyes drifted shut.

“Get dressed in something nicer than shorts and a T-shirt,” Grams instructed, smacking him on the shoulder before she breezed out of his room and shut the door.

JJ rubbed sleep from his eyes and yawned again, pondering what she’d do if he pulled the covers back over his head and slept for another two or three hours. At home, it was the middle of the night. Perhaps she’d been in Florida so long, she’d forgotten there were other time zones. Or maybe she was getting older and having trouble remembering things. The thought of dementia clouding Grams’s sharp mind tied a knot of dread in his stomach and brought him wide awake.

He’d have to keep a close eye on her and report back to his mother if he noticed any issues.

JJ tugged on the only pair of clean jeans he’d packed in his bag and unrolled a green plaid western shirt, fastening the snaps with one hand while using the other to finger-comb his hair. In the adjoining bathroom, he splashed his face with cold water and brushed his teeth, then he moseyed into the kitchen, lured by the scent of coffee.

“Here,” Grams said, shoving a travel mug into his hand. “You can drink that on the way.”

“On the way to where?” he asked, taking a long, bracing sip of coffee so strong and black, he could feel it peeling away layers of tissue as it traveled down his throat.

“The store, JJ. Do try to keep up,” Grams said, snagging her car keys off a hook by the door that led into her garage. She gave him a look that clearly conveyed her thoughts that he was hopeless as he stumbled over the step into the garage. “I’ll drive.”

He thought about arguing, but refrained. Until the caffeine kicked in, he wasn’t sure he could find his way out to the end of the driveway.

Ten minutes later, Grams pulled into the nearly empty parking lot of a superstore that sold everything from fried chicken to pontoon boats. Hungry as he was, the fried chicken didn’t sound all that bad, even if it was a grease-soaked remnant from yesterday’s offerings.

Confused as to why they were at the store before most of the population was even awake, JJ took another long drink of coffee and then set the mug in the cupholder of the SUV.

“Why on earth are we here?” he asked as he got out of the vehicle and walked with his grandmother to the door.

“We can’t go on the boat ride until you are properly outfitted.”

“Boat ride? Outfitted?” JJ thought maybe he’d dreamed the part about Grams mentioning a boat ride last night. Did he really need new attire for a ride around the lake? Usually, they took a fishing charter cruise around the lake at some point during his visit. Cargo shorts, a T-shirt, and an old pair of sneakers would work just fine for that. “What are you talking about, Grams?”

“I told you I booked a boat ride, JJ. Aren’t you listening?” Grams asked as though he were five and incapable of paying attention.

He watched as his grandmother snagged a shopping cart from the row of them outside the door, set her purse inside, and grabbed his arm in one seemingly smooth motion as she marched inside the store.

“What kind of boat ride requires getting up this early in the morning to come shopping here, of all places, so I can be properly outfitted? Last I checked, you and Mom would both develop acute hives if you had to purchase your wardrobe here.”

Grams smiled at the greeter standing near the door and made a beeline for the men’s clothing. JJ hoped he could still move with as much agility as his grandmother had when he was her age. Then again, she attended a yoga class three times a week and took pride in walking at least a mile every day.

“It means, JJ, that we are boarding a cruise ship at half past ten this morning and setting sail for the Caribbean. You need clothes for an eleven-day trip. From the pathetic contents of your duffel bag, you’ll be forced to wash your undies in the bathroom sink every other day. You should have listened when your mother suggested you pack a suitcase with plenty of clothes, baby. Now, stop dawdling and get to shopping.”

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