The Mostly Real McCoy

Apple Valley Love Stories, Book 1

De: Julie Christianson

Narrado por: Reagan West, Rock Engle

Not everyone is destined to live happily ever after, right? I’d be fine with averagely ever after. Lower expectations mean less heartbreak. But then I meet Mac and Daisy.

Single dad Mac needs a temporary nanny for his daughter, Daisy. I need a second job until my promotion kicks in. It’s the perfect arrangement…until it isn’t.

Because who can resist a dad buying ballerina tights after a day spent in a hard hat? Not me, that’s for sure.

Now, Mac’s green eyes and Daisy’s crooked pigtails have me dreaming about a future I can’t give them. I need to mend my own heart before I can focus on anyone else’s.

At least our arrangement is only for one month, so I won’t have time to get attached to this man and his little girl—I’m absolutely positive.

Well...I’m medium positive.

Okay, I’m negative.

This is a terrible idea.

Because Mac is a fixer, and me? I’m a fixer-upper. So as I start to find healing in his little family, I’m forced to ask myself: What does this mean for my heart?

This heartwarming, hilarious romantic comedy has all the sizzle and swoon, but no explicit content. The entire Apple Valley series can be listened to in any order.

©2021 Julie Christianson (P)2022 Podium Audio

Single dad, hidden identity, fake marriage, sweet RomCom

I reread this book via audio and it was so much fun revisiting Brooke and Mac’s story with such great narrators! I discovered Julie and her books pre-bookstagram and I realized I didn’t even write a review, just rated it, but this book was one of my top reads of 2021. Let’s revisit why this is such a great single dad, hidden identity, fake marriage, forced proximity story!

Things I Loved:
-Little Tikes self-defense
-“Be that as it may.”
-Mrs. Sprat
-Water fight
-Mrs. Dodd
-Car toes
-Daisy
-“Don’t be sad, Book Wallace.”
-Iced tea
-Almost kiss!
-“But you sure are stubborn enough to be Elizabeth Bennet.”
-K-I-S-S-I-N-G
-“‘This is some big news. You not only married my daughter, you’ve accomplished the impossible.’ He nods at Mrs. Wallace whose jaw is unhinged now. ‘My wife is speechless.’”
-“I just want her.”
-MeeMaw and PeePaw
-“Book, why did the cook go swimming?”
-“That’s pretty much what I’ve been doing my whole life. Until I met you. Everything before that was just practice. But this is real now.”
-The whole ending ♥️

This is a fast paced Sweet RomCom, but it is so precious and full of chemistry.
So, if you haven’t visited Apple Valley yet, let this be your nudge to do so. If you have, I recommend revisiting, the audiobook was a great way to do so!



Trigger Warning: FMC dealing with possible infertility, past relationship that ended in abandonment

A Nice Start to the Series

This was such a sweet and fun story that also touched on some serious topics. These serious topics influenced the actions of both the male and female main characters, leading them to lie to each other throughout the book. I'm not a big fan of lying, however, it really actually worked for this plot.

I felt so bad for Brooke and the turmoil and heartache she was trying to rise above due to some medical news she received earlier in the year. She was so amazing with Mac's daughter, Daisy, though, and couldn't help falling for her and her dad.

Mac was a great character, too. I've seen him appear in the Abieville Love Stories series that I have read by this author, so it was fun to finally read his story. I continue to be impressed by the way he cares for the people in his life.

I really enjoyed Mac and Brooke's story and listened to the audiobook version, which was nicely narrated. I'm looking forward to reading the other Apple Valley books sometime, too.

(4.5 stars)

Sweet rom-com

Lots of plot twist and witty dialogue in this delightful contemporary romance. I loved the dual perspective voices and am looking forward to more Apple Valley adventures.

Worth the credit

Cute story with lots of lols. First book I’ve read by this author, will def be getting the next in the series 💜

Amazing Must Listen!

Oh my word! What an absolutely delightful romcom! From the first sentence I knew I was going to love this book, and love it I did!
Brooke is such a wonderful and relatable heroine, and Mac is an amazing and swoon-worthy hero. And then we have the ADORABLE Daisy, this sweet little girl is such a joy, and she never failed to put a smile on my face!
I love me a clean romcom and this one is fantastic, I LOL’ed more times than I can count!
I listened to this book on audio and the narration was amazing as well!
I seriously loved every minute of this story!
I most highly recommend The Mostly Real McCoy!
Julie Christianson has become a new favorite author for me, and I cannot wait to read the rest of her books! 😍😍😍

closed door romance perfection

This was a reread for me as I read and majorly loved this book originally as an ebook. It was even better as an audiobook!!

I love a good single dad trope and then you add in a little fake dating, a little boss/employee, and a little hidden identity and you have the makings of a perfect romantic comedy.

I love single dad trope books because they remind me so much of my husband and how much I love watching him be a dad. But this might be the first time that it was actually the female and her mothering instincts/abilities that stole my heart. Mac is a great dad and a swoony MMC but Brooke was so dang cute with Daisy. Her ability to connect with Daisy was beautiful.

The narration was really well done and I enjoyed both the male and female narrators.

Julie Christianson is a must read author for sweet and swoony closed door romance. I've read this entire series and every book is amazing in its own way. You won't regret listening to this one.

McCoy

I’m a brand new fan of Julie Christianson! Good characters , good narration. I will definitely be listening to more by this author!

enjoyable

This was a very cute story. I enjoyed the narrators and went on to read the second. It was an easy listen and fun. I can fall asleep and wake up and listen to again without worrying that my brain will be filled with smut. It was engaging and entertaining.

Great story and characters

I was totally sucked in by this family and town. I did have a hard time thinking Brooke could survive on 20 hours a week at the library but the way she met Mac was hilarious. I liked Brooke's parents after they loosened up a little. I can't wait to start the next book.

Clean Contemporary Romcom

This is the first book in thr Apple Valley Love Stories series by Julie Christianson. I thought it was a cute story. I did make the mistake of reading this at the same time I was reading another contemporary romcom with similar tropes. I try very hard not to do that because I don't want to be comparing the books to each other. But I'd gone in blind to both books and was hooked before realizing what I'd done.

I'd been wanting to read this series for quite awhile and had actually purchased the audiobooks for the series about 9 months ago. I finally got a spot in my schedule to listen!

The book is a clean contemporary romcom. There is heart and growth in the plot as well. I enjoyed it and look forward to continuing the series.

As for the narrators, they were okay. I wasn't personally crazy about how the male narrator sounded when doing female voices, especially the daughter.