Coming Home: A Sweet Fake Dating Single Mom Romance

by Maggie Ann Mae

I accidentally told my parents that the wealthy stranger who drove me to their house from the airport is my boyfriend.
Oops.
My life was literally falling apart on the terminal floor.
Crushed goldfish crackers.
A screaming five-year-old.
And a broken suitcase that was a metaphor for my entire existence.
Then there was Ethan Caldwell.
He is everything I'm not.
Rich. Organized. And devastatingly handsome in a charcoal suit.
He should have walked away from the mess.
Instead, he helped me up.
So when my judgmental parents arrived to inspect my "failure" of a life, I panicked.
I grabbed Ethan's arm.
I told them we were in love.
I expected him to run.
He didn't.
He pulled me close, charmed my mother, and drove us home.
Now I'm living in his massive, silent house because my childhood bedroom is now a craft store.
We have a deal.
I pretend to be his girlfriend to survive the family reunion.
He gets a break from the silence of his grief.
But he's taking the role too seriously.
He's fixing my daughter's toys.
He's defending my art.
He's looking at me like I'm the only woman in the room.

541 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 12, 2026

About the author

Maggie Ann Mae is the Sweet Contemporary Romance novel Pen Name of Grace Ann Hansen.

Grace writes typically about identity, resilience, and personal transformation. But romance is fun, so why not?

Even though she writes romance novels for straight girls, her work is informed by her journey as a queer woman, and her direct, personal style gives a voice to marginalized and love-sick characters navigating societal challenges and their own demons.

She draws on a diverse background in IT and healthcare, as well as 34 years in a regional rock band. A mother and grandmother, Grace is a passionate advocate for the transgender community. She uses her platform as an author and public speaker to craft narratives of hope that foster understanding. Grace works in Healthcare IT and lives in the Midwest with her wife of 30 years, in a red state, because that's where all their family lives.

Reviews

[Ptiteaurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parfois on tombe par hasard sur un livre en librairie, on le prend, on le regarde et on craque. Cette romance, je suis tombée dessus par hasard, j'ai démandé le ARC (SP¨anglais) et je l'ai eu. Je l'ai dévoré une journée alors qu'il fait 500 pages. Un coup de coeur. Des personnages écorchés qui vont se reconstruire ensemble. Une petite fille adorable ! Dees émotions formidables.

Claire Bennett est une jeune héroïne qui survit mais juste pour sa fille Maddie. Elle n'a plus que $42.18 en poche. Elle retourne chez ses parents mais en sachant qu'ils vont l'accabler de reproches. C'est une mère courage, pleine de résiliences qui se bat pour joindre les deux bouts. Une rencontre dans un avion qui va tout changer. Une ancienne connaissance, une fausse relation et un homme protecteur. Claire va s'enfoncer dans le mensonge mais je peux vous dire que j'ai détesté ces gens qui n'ont jamais un mot pour l'encourager, l'épauler. Rien n'est assez bien pour eux. J'ai eu le coeur brisé pour elle, les larmes sont souvent montées et j'ai adorer la voir déployer ses ailes, abattre les obstacles un par un.

Ethan Caldwell a 30 ans. Depuis 2 ans, il survit. Il a fait de sa maison un mausolée où ne reigne que le silence. Il a perdu sa femme Sarah il y a deux ans mais pourtant rien ne pourra effacer la peine. Il est très carré, tout est organisé mais Claire va venir chambouler ce silence et y introduire un peu de vie, un peu de chaos. J'ai adoré cette homme qui verra Claire telle qu'elle est vraiment. Elle n'est pas une femme abattue, elle a vaincu. Elle n'est pas une mauvaise mère, elle se sacrifie pour le bonheur de sa fille. Ethan va lui ouvrir les yeux mais il devra lui aussi lutter contre ses démons, contre cette solitude qu'il ne supporte plus au final.

Bref cette romance slow burn a été parfaite à mes yeux. On prend son temps, on panse ses blesssures, on aborde des sujets forts sans enjoliver. Une merveilleuse découverte que je vous recommande chaudemen.

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful story of a frazzled mom and her adorable daughter leaving their old life in defeat and heading to the judgemental haven of her parents home. In the airport she's seen by a successful businessman and he goes out of his way to help her. The story continues as his life of grief and loneliness is explained and her life of never being good enough in her parent's eyes is exposed. When her parents reject her and her young daughter, he takes them into his home temporarily.
The book is full of vulnerability, uncertainty, and mutual respect. Moments of humor, stretches of sadness, and emotional growth that makes it all feel possible.
Aside from some places of inconsistency that would benefit from more critical editing, it was lovely, and a sweet story.

[Sara]

Is it my death knock
dare to take landlord to my machin
if the wolve nt got y i will do
cross that line
paint yr life as noise as i dance
y calm as sea
me was wave
tow face to same kiss
open many road
win what we want
fire our dream
many clown near us
we step to our road
light our heart and soul
revelution at love
y have at my heart all the place
no game was more
just phill parphan our dream
joy was our paradis love
beuty in yr eyes was shadow of love
y decorat as calm as silint bird
i was yr wing cant stop wave
cant hid any more sun from our down
clear
in love

[Tami Willard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of an interconnected series. Written in a way that it could be read as a standalone. Since this author is new to me I don't know if the characters overlap with other books. It is a clean romance that ends with a HEA.
Easy read that had multiple emotions involved
Toxic family relationships with signs of reconciliation
There were a several plot holes that didn't necessarily detract from the flow but left me with questions.
Second chance
Friends to more
Single mom.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[The Book Ssirren]

This was such a sweet and fun romance. Both the main characters were great. Grabbing his seen at the airport and taking his family there in love lol. That ooor woman was so frazzled. And the MMC being an absolute doll and playing along. I thought it was cute the agreement that they struck. But seeing him with her daughter was the absolute best. He was such a sweetheart to both of them. I thought this was just cute and fun. I really enjoyed reading it.

[Beth Durbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet romance that started out as a fake romance, but ended with a real romance. The MFC was going home with her daughter to her parent’s home feeling like a failure. She met an old college mate on the plane, asks him to be her fake boyfriend. Ends up staying with him, looking for a job, an apartment and daycare. Falling in love, MMC feeling alive again after wives death. Cushion forts, fixing things, leaving and coming back.

[Jeany Noij · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the story. In the beginning it felt a bit long, but once you're in the book it's a heartwarming story.
I found a deeper meaning in the book, just like a life lesson. Even though everything is going wrong, you can find your luck back in the most unexpectedly place.
Definitely recommend this book if you love a slow burn romance with a meaning.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a nice read. The characters were great. Everyone should have an Ethan in their life! Claire is haunted by her past and the pressures of her parents and, quite frankly, makes some bad decisions. Her young daughter, Maddie, is hilarious and I love her relationship with the Giant. Like all good love stories Claire figures out what she really needs to have a happy healthy life.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sasha English · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful story! Struggling mom runs into an old college classmate who is very successful. What starts as a fake relationship blossoms. Ethan Caldwell is #goals. And I can so relate to Claire.

Will definitely be keeping this on my list of rereads. Love this story.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Misty Salazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Cute fun read that started off as a fake relationship and turned into something amazing. Grab a drink and cuddle in your favorite chair cause you won't want to put the book down.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Arabella Santana · Rating 4 out of 5]

When your life is falling apart and you have parents that are supposed to be there for you, not judge and criticize you, and the person that is there to help you us an old classmate. One little lie that can turn to more.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Arabella Santana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire comes home after her life falls apart with her daughter; she runs into Ethan. Ethan the one that was fascinated by her, and now is the one to help her. Maddie has an old soul for a 5-year-old, I just love her.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book! I loved the pacing and the characters in this book! The chemistry was great and the way the relationship developed was very well done!

[Brooke Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

slow burn with fake relationship. it has a great story line.
only thing negative was when the POV changed it sometimes changed the details from the previous chapter. great read

[Sailable_crayon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet slow burn romance. Claire's character is feeling so broken and a failure, returning home with her tail between her legs, she finds her knight in shining armour at the airport. Ethan has had his own trauma, but he doesnt see Claire like she sees herself. A fake romance so she doesnt havto feel the disappointment of her parents puts her in a less than ideal position. Both healing and Claire and her daughter become the music that breaks the silence that Ethan needs. That relationship between the 'giant' and his 'dragon' is more than any mother could ever ask for. I enjoy this book it was very sweet and you really wanted to me them both not broken and having a happily ever after!

[Anne-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this story.
Great characters and the story was well thought out.
One thing I did find that it was too long. It could have been
shortened in some places and it wouldn't have effected the story one bit.
I still loved it.