A dental hygienist determined to never fall in love. A detective who keeps dating casual. One life-changing bucket list that will test both of their resolutions…
If there’s one thing Lucy Bradley is sure of, it’s that she doesn’t even like Detective What’s-His-First-Name-Stafford. Oh, and that all of the chance run-ins she’s been having with the man lately are anything but serendipitous. She also definitely knows that.
So when, during one such non-serendipitous encounter, Stafford discovers the bucket list contained in her late mother’s journal, the last thing she expects is to hear herself accepting his offer to help her complete it. Especially given list item number ten, which may or may not include a very specific type of kiss.
It’s fine, though. Working together doesn’t change the cold hard Lucy doesn’t like him, she’s definitely not attracted to him, and, most importantly, she will not be kissing him—bucket list or not.
Only as they make their way through the list, Lucy discovers things about Stafford that challenge every preconception she’s ever held about him, things that maybe even make her want to call him her friend. But as they near the end of the list, the line between friendship and love starts to blur and Lucy realizes that there might be more than just one kiss on a bucket list to think about. In fact, lately all she can think about is every kiss for the rest of her life…and how there’s only one man she wants those kisses to be with.
While reading Along For The Ride, I knew Stafford and Lucy’s story was going to be a good one, and it absolutely was! I loved it!
Once again, Heather’s written a story that is so funny, witty, entertaining, and romantic. The chemistry and banter between Lucy and Stafford was fabulous, and I loved seeing them get together as they both grew and overcame some parental issues.
There are several side characters, like Stafford’s elderly neighbor Bert, who added so much fun to the story!
What I loved: 🩵 Lucy guessing Stafford’s first name 💚 Banana cooling system 🩵 Bert and Ernie 💚 Camping 🩵 Cop trivia night 💚 Checking off Lucy’s mom’s list 🩵 Characters that are fun but have depth 💚 Pop culture references 🩵 “I’m not my dad” 💚 Clean read 🩵 HEA
This is the second book in this wonderful series and I can’t wait for book three!
"Along Came You" by Heather Miekstyn was one of my favorite books of the year so far! I started smiling and laughing while reading the first chapter and didn't stop until the very last page. Lucy and Stafford each had good reason to be scared of commitment, but the natural chemistry pulling them together was too powerful to ignore. I adored their witty banter and playful bickering, as well as the book's secondary characters, particularly Lucy's brothers. I really hope the author plans to give them stories of their own in the future.
I highly recommend this funny, sweet, and heartwarming story for all sweet/closed-door contemporary romance and rom-com fans. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book of the series!
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
3.8⭐️ the last 15% of the book made me like this book so much more. it was a cute story but i was expecting something else mystery related like the first one. it was a cute romance story and i really liked the bucket list aspect of the whole book and nate was so so amazing 🤭
The story is soft and fluffy, and not at all gut wrenching. Very sticky sweet, cheesy and goofy.
The pacing is good.
The characters aren't complex enough for my taste.
The writing is entirely tell, tell, tell. The jokes, once landed, and the pop culture references are explained to make sure the reader has no doubt as to what is being spoken about.
Overall not my cup of tea. Furthermore maybe this isn't the genre for me? I keep trying though.
Book 2 in the Rom-Comstery series and it was 💋 PERFECTION! Heather is so talented at creating unique characters with HILARIOUS 😂 internal monologues and banter.
Lucy. Also known as Red, and occasionally Bonnie 🥹 I ADORE Lucy. She is hilarious 😂 so random 🍌 bookish 📚 and most importantly caring 💗. Despite her aversion, (and fear) of love ❤️ she loves deeply and completely to anyone who is able to sneak their way into her heart 🥹
Stafford. Also known as Nate or any unisex name (according to Lucy 🤣). He has an addiction to LaCroix 🥤 🎀 and a certain redhead who hates his guts 😉 Stafford is LEGENDARY! This man thought of so many “Mr. Darcy” ways to show Lucy his love for her- I was SWOONING 🥵 Not to mention, mans can dance🕺🏼
This book had so many scenes that had me weak from laughing 🤣 or kissing 🫠. And trust me when I say, the kiss scene is worth 👏🏻 the 👏🏻 wait 👏🏻 (AH! Perfection) other notable mentions: dancing 🌲🕺🏼🌲 post-skinny dipping 🔥 literally every scene with Lucy’s family 🍀🤪
This book is SO GOOD 🤩 I cannot praise this series 📚 enough! Review for book three soon (I binge read it last night)
⚠️CW: loss, grief, abandonment, post-part depression, on screen panic attack by side character, he’s a homicide detective (no murder, but mentions), mild innuendo⚠️
Along Came You is a sweet contemporary romance that intertwines the lives of Lucy Bradley, a dental hygienist with a steadfast commitment to avoiding love, and Detective Stafford, a flirtatious casual dater and homicide detective. As they work together to complete a bucket list will their friendship evolve into more?
The female main character is Lucy, an endearingly quirky Swiftie bookstagrammer who loves her family and is uninterested in dating Detective What’s-His-First-Name Stafford. Detective Stafford is a playboy by reputation but really embodies a modern-day Mr. Darcy, who is determined to not fall for Lucy. Together, they embark on a journey to fulfill Lucy’s mom’s bucket list which tests the boundaries of their friendship.
Miekstyn skillfully combines out-of-the-box moments, romantic tension, quirky humor, and flirtatious banter, to create a contemporary romance that is almost impossible to put down. The heart-melting romance is palpable throughout, making Along Came You a page-turner for lovers of clean romance.
The ensemble of side characters is reminiscent of the warmth and abundance found in the Weasley family from the Harry Potter series, with each character contributing to the overall charm of the story. Their lovable personalities add depth and dimension to Lucy’s story making readers fall in love with her even more.
The most memorable moment in the book is the kissing scene, a perfect blend of bookstagram aesthetics and classic rom-com scenes that together make the scene romcom book gold. This scene adds a touch of magic to the story, that is an example of Miekstyn’s ability to use tension and emotions to create romantic scenes that make you wish you were the main character.
I was really looking forward to this book and am happy to report that this book far exceeded my expectations.
along came you by heather miekstyn stars/ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
‘ i’m sorry I couldn’t make it rain for you tonight, but I promise I’ll be ready when the next rainstorm comes. nothing is going to get in the way of me helping you finish your mom’s bucket list.’
what a funny, heartfelt, amazing book. i was instantly captivated by the characters and storyline of this book. every chapter i found myself giggling or smiling about what lucy or stafford was saying, they were SO funny.
lucy finds a journal left to her by her mother who sadly passed away and decides to complete a bucket list of things she wanted to complete before she got married. stafford decides he wants to help lucy do this, their biggest rule is to not fall for eachother…
you know how sometimes you read books where you keep checking the pages to see how many you have left? this was not one of those books at ALL. heather just has this way of writing so you feel totally immersed in the pages and forget that you’re reading a book because you’re rooting for the characters so hard!!
lucy is a bookstagrammer which gave such a personal feel to the book and felt relatable🤭🤭stafford is a big softie and the references to classic movies really brought a fun aspect to the read.
also can we have a moment to talk about how dedicated stafford was to helping lucy complete the bucket list, i mean he fully spent his weekend planning ways to help lucy find her hobby and went above and beyond for her without expectations. love him.
tropes- friends boyfriends friend, sworn off relationships, lovers in denial & frenemies to lovers.
thank you to heather miekstyn for giving me the opportunity to read this beautiful book ˙✧˖
From the very beginning, the chemistry between Lucy and Stafford is palpable, even though they both insisted on keeping things strictly platonic. But as they tick off items from Lucy's mother's bucket list, their walls slowly start to come down and they learn more about each other than they ever expected.
I particularly enjoyed how the author portrayed the growing relationship between Lucy and Stafford. It was not a typical love-at-first-sight scenario, but rather a realistic and gradual progression of getting to know someone and discovering their quirks and flaws. And as they got closer, it was heartwarming to see how they both helped each other confront their fears and insecurities, leading to personal growth for both characters.
I also loved the inclusion of the bucket list, which added a unique and intriguing aspect to the story. Each item on the list was meaningful and allowed the characters to have new experiences and create unforgettable memories together. And of course, the build-up to the final item on the list, the kiss, had me eagerly turning the pages.
This book is a sweet and heartwarming romance with lovable characters, a well-paced plot, and just the right amount of humor and swoon-worthy moments. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good love story with a touch of adventure. Heather Miekstyn has crafted a beautiful and unforgettable story that will leave you with a smile on your face and butterflies in your stomach.
𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Frenemies to lovers, detective mmc/dental hygienist fmc
Along Came You is the second book in the Detectives in Love series. While we do meet these characters in the first book and I would still highly recommend reading it because it's fantastic, this could definitely be enjoyed just fine as standalone as well.
I am absolutely LOVING this series. This book is quite different than book one--- that one was a murder mystery/romcom whereas this one was just a romcom without the mystery. While I definitely loved that aspect of the previous story, I didn't find that I missed it here. In this book, we get to know Detective Stafford and Lucy better. I enjoyed their interactions during the last book, so I was definitely looking forward to their story... and it absolutely did not disappoint. Both have their reasons for not wanting to get involved, but when he offers to help her finish off a bucket list from her late mother, they find that they might not actually be able to keep their deal of not falling in love with one another... and I absolutely loved every single second of it! The banter between them was just as great as the chemistry... they were just so fun together. We also got to see more from Stafford's fellow detectives and friends, and honestly, they are just such a fun group. Their brainstorming session had me laughing out loud. I am so looking forward to the next story in this series and cannot wait to see all of these guys get their happily ever after. And oh, the epilogue, I just adored it!
Along Came You is a closed-door romance with kisses only. There is a handful of minor language throughout the story.
**I received an ARC for consideration. All opinions are my own.
Oh, how I loved this book. This is book 2 of The Detectives In Love Series. We officially meet Stanford & Lucy in book 1 of the series and I instantly knew I was going to love their story. Although the story is book 2 up it can still be read as a standalone. Lucy & Stafford have a kind of frenemies relationship they don’t hate each other but they know just what to say to push each other’s buttons. Their fun banter is one of my favorite things. Lucy dates casually and has sworn to never fall in love. Stafford isn’t the type for a commitment and also causal dater. When Stafford encounters Lucy’s mother’s journals and learns Lucy is trying to finish her mother’s bucket list, he offers to help her complete the list. This begins the journey of their friendship but the more time they spend together the more the lines between friendship and to more begins to blur. But both Lucy & Stafford have reasons for not embarking on a long term relationship. Can they work through their issues enough to give Love a chance?
Things I love ❤️ all Lucy & Stafford interactions ❤️ Lucy’s family ( I secretly hope her brothers can get their own love stories) ❤️Lucy guessing Stafford’s Name ❤️cop trivia night ❤️ Lucy a bookstagrammer ❤️Stafford & detective buddies scenes
This is a clean romance with a happily ever after & dual point-of-view. CW: loss of a parent, parent abandonment, & one minor character with postpartum depression
Thank You, Heather Miekstyn for the ARC. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Your Next Read Along Came You: A Romcomystery (Detective in Love #2)
My thoughts: #We are frenemies dipping our toes into the friend zone. That’s all.”
Two people vowing never, ever to fall in love are thrown together through circumstance beyond their control. I LOVED this book! I was laughing, smiling and got a bit teary eyed throughout the book. Along Came You was a perfect story to help me forget all that life is throwing at me right now.
“When I finally move away Stafford is smirking at me as if he knows exactly how much I enjoyed my stay at casa de his pectorals.”
“Stafford accelerates and I fly forward into him, clutching him around the torso with an intensity usually reserved for toddlers with separation anxiety.”
Author Heather Miekstyn’s writing is solid, the pacing is perfect and the humor factor is off the chart.
I would like to thank heathermiekstyn for the opportunity to read the ARC of Along Came You. This is my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I was so excited to read this book because I fell in love with Heather Miekstyn’s writing when I read her book Along for the Ride. But oh my gosh, I loved this book even more 🥹. You meet Lucy and Stafford in Along for the Ride and I knew I’d love them. Lucy is a firecracker and Stafford is Funny and Charming! The two of them together is perfection. Then add in all the references that made my heart so happy (The Office, Schitts Creek, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Guns N’Roses, & Grease) and how could you just not love it? The depth of the characters, the romance, the friendship, the Kisses, and oh man did I say the Kisses? It made me laugh out loud multiple times and gave me all the feels. It was an amazing book period!
Ok! My heart can’t take all of these swoony moments in this book! Oh who am I kidding, yes it can! lol 😂
This story felt like a warm swoon hug! Like honestly! I loved the witty banter between Lucy and Detective Stafford! ( you have to read the story to find out his name!) It was the absolute sweetest to see Stafford go above and beyond to complete her late mother’s bucket list!
Seeing how both Lucy and Stafford realized that commitment & marriage can be a great thing and not a terrifying experience was so heart-warming! I loved this book!
This is actually book 2 in the Detectives in Love series! You have to give this book a read!🥰🫶
Friends, I love a good list. Plus, add that to this resisting attraction banter. Chefs kiss all over the place. Stafford was just the swooniest, flirtiest, most entertaining main character and I totally loved him. He was massively entertaining in the first book and I loved getting to know him more in this book. Lucy was a perfect match for him and I love how well they played off each other.
If you like banter, lists, flirting, camping, grocery shopping, and solid chemistry, read this one!
This is the perfect example of a rom-com done brilliantly. Nate and Lucy both agree that long term relationships aren’t in their future. Their reasons may differ but they definitely don’t want love and marriage. And this is where the fun starts. Lucy found a journal belonging to her late mom which has a bucket list in it. She’s determined to complete this and Nate volunteers to help. This is a hilarious, often moving, tale of two people who are blind to what’s right in front of them. And please can we have a moment of appreciation for Lucy’s family, especially her brothers. I’m really hoping they all get a book of their own in the future. All in all, an excellent read and a definite series to start reading today!
I think I liked this one better than the first book. I loved the banter between these two. Loved her large family who kept innocently getting in the way of that first kiss. Loved it that for the first 30 percent of the book she didn't know his first name and made her guess. She only guessed when she was given a clue that his name begins with the letter N. By the way Stafford's first name is Nate.
Page 294 about Mr. Darcy and motivating Nate to make a gesture like him... sigh of happiness 💖
Although the book was cute and fun as a whole, and I appreciated how the dots connected and pieces fell into place, the novel was slow at points, along with full of distracting grammatical and punctuational errors.
Enjoyed Lucy and Nate’s story! The bucket list was different and it was so cute they fell in love even when they both said they wouldn’t. Excited to continue the series!
I absolutely adored this story! Lucy and Stafford’s story had me just giddy and grinning with their banter and how they just adored each other. I giggled my way through this book at they hilarious awkwardness of the characters and zingers!
This is such a SWEET READ and I could not get enough!
I’m new to Heather’s books and I’m now a fan! Her books draw you in with witty banter and amazing plot lines that have you reading late at night! This is a great clean romance!
Amazing writing, love the way the book was painted, and it was something so different I’ve read in a while, can’t wait to read other books by the author
There were a couple parts that had me cracking up. The banana cooling system and the motorcycle ride were hilarious and the way she kept guessing his name wrong and the Google search was adorable!
Stafford and Lucy were so cute together. I did miss the actual detective work that we got in the first book though!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I really wish we had more POV from Nate. I also wish there was more detective work like investigating a case and other stuff like that (like the first book)