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A True North Hero #3
Coming Home to You
She wants a temporary fake romance
Can he make it real…and forever?
Driving across the country in an RV with her terminally ill godmother was not Daphne Merlotte’s idea. Nor was crashing the RV into a small-town coffee shop, nearly hitting local good guy Mel Greene. Now Daphne will do anything to keep her godmother from continuing the trip—even asking Mel to be her fake boyfriend. But there’s nothing fake about Mel’s intentions—he wants a real romance!
Now a Harlequin Movie, LOVE BY ACCIDENT!
Can he make it real…and forever?
Driving across the country in an RV with her terminally ill godmother was not Daphne Merlotte’s idea. Nor was crashing the RV into a small-town coffee shop, nearly hitting local good guy Mel Greene. Now Daphne will do anything to keep her godmother from continuing the trip—even asking Mel to be her fake boyfriend. But there’s nothing fake about Mel’s intentions—he wants a real romance!
Now a Harlequin Movie, LOVE BY ACCIDENT!
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published October 2, 2018
5 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
About the author
M.K. Stelmack
27 books192 followersM. K. Stelmack writes historical and contemporary romance. She is the author of Heartwarming's A True North Hero series, the third of which, Coming Home to You was made into a movie called Love by Accident. She also wrote The Montgomery Sisters trilogy and A Ranch to Call Home trilogy.
Her most recent work is The Tsar's Angel.
Contact the author through her website and become a member of The M. K. Stelmack Library where you can read her free stories, articles and other readables.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 1, 2018
I honestly wasn't quite sure what to think when I first started this book. I'm used to reading romances where the characters are younger. Mel is 50 years old and quite the romantic at heart, but he almost tries too hard to find his perfect match. He's almost too meticulous, but I quickly became endeared to him, quirks and all. His literal run-in with Daphne was hilarious, and she's just as eccentric as he is and lovable just the same!
The overall feeling of the story is slightly old-fashioned, as that's how the characters are, but it also made me feel a longer for the simpler times gone by. They each have one foot in the past and with the entire cast of zany characters, I fell deeply into the story, especially as they stumble into a relationship of convenience. I just had to know how it would turn out.
There are moments of nostalgia, mixed with bitter, deep-rooted pain that emotionally twisted my heart, but there are also plenty of sweet and slightly humorous moments that balanced everything nicely. The romance is gentle and progresses at a nice pace, even though it is on the fast side.
For me, it was a character driven story and this cast is unusual and unpredictable, which made this a fun escape.
Content: mild romance; mild violence (mainly car accidents and talk of death)
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
The overall feeling of the story is slightly old-fashioned, as that's how the characters are, but it also made me feel a longer for the simpler times gone by. They each have one foot in the past and with the entire cast of zany characters, I fell deeply into the story, especially as they stumble into a relationship of convenience. I just had to know how it would turn out.
There are moments of nostalgia, mixed with bitter, deep-rooted pain that emotionally twisted my heart, but there are also plenty of sweet and slightly humorous moments that balanced everything nicely. The romance is gentle and progresses at a nice pace, even though it is on the fast side.
For me, it was a character driven story and this cast is unusual and unpredictable, which made this a fun escape.
Content: mild romance; mild violence (mainly car accidents and talk of death)
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
October 2, 2018
What a delightful story! Quirky characters, witty banter, and sweet underlying themes of belonging and being comfortable with who you are.
The protagonists are middle-aged, which I am really starting to love in books – the older I myself get. ahem. – and so are most of the supporting characters. Mel and Daphne are both a little old-fashioned as well, so the story has a rather eccentric overlay that makes it even more delightful to settle in and read with a mug of hot chocolate and a cozy blanket. Daphne is a bookish, quirky, and lovable heroine who often has her head a little bit in the clouds, lingering with the latest story world she’s been in, and a personality that wavers between spunky and insecure. (Which makes her endearingly relatable) Mel is steady and more grounded in reality, an all-around good guy with a big heart just waiting for the right woman to claim it. For all his manly tendencies, he’s still a romantic at heart and I loved watching him fall in love and pursue Daphne. They both have inner regrets and fears that are rooted in deep hurt from their pasts, and it was so touching to journey with them as they helped each other work through those issues.
Bottom Line: Coming Home to You hums with a mix of nostalgia and humor, with a healthy dose of sweet romance and layered characters. You will smile and laugh, as well as shed a few tears, along the way as Mel and Daphne’s pretend relationship starts to blur into reality more and more. Daphne’s godmother Fran is a hoot – and also the source of a few tears on my part – and I could easily see her scenes playing out in a movie. A lovely read with a range of emotions – all done well.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
The protagonists are middle-aged, which I am really starting to love in books – the older I myself get. ahem. – and so are most of the supporting characters. Mel and Daphne are both a little old-fashioned as well, so the story has a rather eccentric overlay that makes it even more delightful to settle in and read with a mug of hot chocolate and a cozy blanket. Daphne is a bookish, quirky, and lovable heroine who often has her head a little bit in the clouds, lingering with the latest story world she’s been in, and a personality that wavers between spunky and insecure. (Which makes her endearingly relatable) Mel is steady and more grounded in reality, an all-around good guy with a big heart just waiting for the right woman to claim it. For all his manly tendencies, he’s still a romantic at heart and I loved watching him fall in love and pursue Daphne. They both have inner regrets and fears that are rooted in deep hurt from their pasts, and it was so touching to journey with them as they helped each other work through those issues.
Bottom Line: Coming Home to You hums with a mix of nostalgia and humor, with a healthy dose of sweet romance and layered characters. You will smile and laugh, as well as shed a few tears, along the way as Mel and Daphne’s pretend relationship starts to blur into reality more and more. Daphne’s godmother Fran is a hoot – and also the source of a few tears on my part – and I could easily see her scenes playing out in a movie. A lovely read with a range of emotions – all done well.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
October 3, 2018
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated in any way and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
First of all, this is a completely clean book. There is nothing inappropriate in language or content. And after reading this book, you will feel uplifted and filled with the sweetness that comes from reading a heartwarming romance like this.
I definitely appreciated the ages of the characters. I am only slightly younger than our two lovebirds in the book, and in my opinion, there are not enough romances out there with mature couples. So thanks to the author for reminding us that just because you turn fifty does not mean you can no longer find love. Your life is far from over, and that was depicted very well in this tale. Age did not slow down any of the characters. They were still pursuing their dreams.
Honestly, my only complaint is that I found my interest waning at certain times throughout the story. While I understand that romances are not going to be filled to the brim with action, but I did find some of the happenings within the story defying the limits of reality, even for me. I'm not saying this ruined the entire story for me, but I would have preferred a little more humor in situations and dialogue as opposed to some of the instances that seemed a bit too unrealistic. But that is just a personal preference of mine. Regardless, I feel that this book is still worth the read, and this minor criticism is no deal breaker in any shape or form.
First of all, this is a completely clean book. There is nothing inappropriate in language or content. And after reading this book, you will feel uplifted and filled with the sweetness that comes from reading a heartwarming romance like this.
I definitely appreciated the ages of the characters. I am only slightly younger than our two lovebirds in the book, and in my opinion, there are not enough romances out there with mature couples. So thanks to the author for reminding us that just because you turn fifty does not mean you can no longer find love. Your life is far from over, and that was depicted very well in this tale. Age did not slow down any of the characters. They were still pursuing their dreams.
Honestly, my only complaint is that I found my interest waning at certain times throughout the story. While I understand that romances are not going to be filled to the brim with action, but I did find some of the happenings within the story defying the limits of reality, even for me. I'm not saying this ruined the entire story for me, but I would have preferred a little more humor in situations and dialogue as opposed to some of the instances that seemed a bit too unrealistic. But that is just a personal preference of mine. Regardless, I feel that this book is still worth the read, and this minor criticism is no deal breaker in any shape or form.
September 30, 2018
First and foremost, I have to say, I loved reading a romance where the main characters are finding love (for the first time) at an age I am approaching (fifty). As someone who is still single in her mid-forties, books like Coming Home to You resonate well with me.
Mel and Daphne meet in a memorable way, and their romance starts with a falsehood, but as these two spend time together—and share their lives—the fake relationship begins to change. Both of these characters have dealt with traumatic events in their pasts that shape who there are now and cast a shadow over all of their relationships decades later.
M. K. Stelmack delivers a story of healing and hope for those of us closer to AARP than student IDs. And I, for one, found it refreshing and uplifting.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Mel and Daphne meet in a memorable way, and their romance starts with a falsehood, but as these two spend time together—and share their lives—the fake relationship begins to change. Both of these characters have dealt with traumatic events in their pasts that shape who there are now and cast a shadow over all of their relationships decades later.
M. K. Stelmack delivers a story of healing and hope for those of us closer to AARP than student IDs. And I, for one, found it refreshing and uplifting.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
November 2, 2018
Take one English professor, one nice guy hoarder, and a crazy aunt ferrying her husband's ashes to the Pacific West Coast and mix them together to get a light-hearted take on romance for people who think love has passed them by. Set in Alberta, Canada, this sweet romance starts when a travel trailer smashes in a Tim Horton's and ends with two people more comfortable within themselves and willing to take the risk need to fall in love. M. K. Stelmack has done a terrific job creating two lonely people who deserve to find happiness with plenty of humor thrown in.
February 28, 2019
Not my usual genre, but I know the author. While this is not my usual fare, I enjoyed the writing style and the characters.
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October 6, 2018Miniseries: A True North Hero
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews