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Meet Me in Marco
Maggie Bentley never expected to be single at fifty. Three years after losing her husband, she's finally letting her wine-loving, pom-pom-shaking, table-dancing tribe of hockey moms nudge her back into the dating world. But what starts out as innocent support turns quickly to disastrous encounters, mismatched set-ups, and enough comic relief to fill a group chat for years.
Maggie isn't convinced that she'll get a second chance at happily ever after—she's already had hers, and every misstep proves her right. Still, somewhere between the laughter and all the chaos, an unexpected encounter leaves her wondering if her story isn't quite finished after all.
Enter Kevin Mitchell. Confident, infuriatingly good-looking, and nothing like Maggie's friends have lined up. A fourth-generation heir to the Mitchell legacy, he's a man who's already learned how messy love can be--and how easy it can be to lose yourself in it. But from the moment he meets Maggie, he knows his world will never be the same. What he doesn't realize is how deeply she'll alter the course of his life.
Kevin is the kind of man who makes Maggie think twice about every rule she's set for herself. But Maggie doesn't have time for tall, hot, and tempting. Not when she's fighting to save her quirky, hockey-loving hometown of Hattrick Harbor, a lakeside gem in North Carolina, all while surrounded by a cast of unforgettable citizens and her hockey mom posse.
Can Maggie protect the only place she's ever called home, build a new chapter for herself, and maybe--just maybe--open her heart to love again?
Maggie isn't convinced that she'll get a second chance at happily ever after—she's already had hers, and every misstep proves her right. Still, somewhere between the laughter and all the chaos, an unexpected encounter leaves her wondering if her story isn't quite finished after all.
Enter Kevin Mitchell. Confident, infuriatingly good-looking, and nothing like Maggie's friends have lined up. A fourth-generation heir to the Mitchell legacy, he's a man who's already learned how messy love can be--and how easy it can be to lose yourself in it. But from the moment he meets Maggie, he knows his world will never be the same. What he doesn't realize is how deeply she'll alter the course of his life.
Kevin is the kind of man who makes Maggie think twice about every rule she's set for herself. But Maggie doesn't have time for tall, hot, and tempting. Not when she's fighting to save her quirky, hockey-loving hometown of Hattrick Harbor, a lakeside gem in North Carolina, all while surrounded by a cast of unforgettable citizens and her hockey mom posse.
Can Maggie protect the only place she's ever called home, build a new chapter for herself, and maybe--just maybe--open her heart to love again?
405 pages, Paperback
Published January 8, 2026
11 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Anita Calleri
1 book9 followersAnita Calleri is a first-time author with a passion for a good book, cozy Hallmark movies, and the beautiful shores of Marco Island. She’s a proud mom of three young men and is happily married to her college sweetheart, who can’t understand why she buys so many books and has so many shoes. For Anita, Marco Island is paradise—days revolve around watching the sunset, reading her favorite authors on the beach, and her early morning six-mile walk. Her debut novel brings together everything she loves most: romance, second chances, everything Marco Island, and the friendships of Hockey Moms!
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 15, 2026
I love a book that teaches you something you knew nothing about! Kudos to brining the gap in foster care and adulthood to my awareness. What a cruel world and broken system for these abandoned children. Maggie is a such a kind soul and whose quest for a real solution is remarkable. Love and loss are key players throughout this book but inspiration and hope keep you turning the pages.
January 20, 2026
If you’re looking for a book to lose yourself in, this is it. The author does a fantastic job with Maggie’s journey; I felt so invested in her story and was cheering for her throughout. It’s a great 'breather' from the real world. I haven't been this excited to get back to a book in a long time. Highly recommend for anyone needing a sweet, engaging escape
February 5, 2026
Loved this book! I am normally not a romance genre fan but this book was the exception! Plus, I had no idea that hockey romance was its own genre!!! You could not help but fall in love with the main characters. And who doesn’t want a Kevin in their life!!! There were many twists that I did not see coming and I loved the character development. Which is refreshing and rare in a romance novel. I normally would not write a review about a romance novel but I was so drawn to this book that I needed to! If you love hockey, romance and hallmark vibes then do yourself a favor and read this book.
January 25, 2026
The Joys of Found Family
If you love Hallmark movies, if you watched Michael J. Fox's “Doc Hollywood” with delight, if you grew up in a small town and miss knowing everyone, then “Meet Me in Marco” should be your next read.
“We made our way past the cornhole boards, and the Lakeside Grill glowed under a canopy of string lights, nestled right up against the edge of Lake Hattrick. The scent of pine trees drifted in on the breeze, blended with the grill's signature fried pickles and the famous Lakeside BBQ Chicken Sandwich. It was a perfect fall evening—cool, clear—and the whole town was buzzing with excitement.”
Maggie is a woman at the midpoint of her life who has lost her reason for being, thanks to the tragic death of her one true love, but she has turned into a powerful community leader and empathetic human -- who just happens to be gorgeous. Kevin is someone who has been numbed to love thanks to a horrific divorce -- but he hasn't lost his hotness.
You might think you've read this tale before... but Calleri puts her own spin on a familiar story.
Since this is an HEA romance, I knew before I started that the story would end well—that the evil ex-wife would be sent scurrying away, that her gal-pack of hockey moms would help her fight off the casino developers threatening their small town, and that the new (hot) man in town would win the love of the good-hearted (and beautiful) central character who has a hole in her heart just the size of his own.
But you can get that story in any HEA romance on Amazon. That's not the reason you read this book. Neither should you read it because the author is my loyal friend.
No, the reason you should read the book is because it has an engaging plot (it pulled me along at warp speed), an entrancing world, and well-built characters. You’ll enjoy the people you meet. Calleri presents characters you've known and met if you've ever tried to re-enter the dating scene: the way-too-old guy who misrepresents himself in an attempt to capture the heart of a much younger heroine; the caring, polite hero who takes the time to help those around him as he recovers from an abusive marriage; and the gal-pack ready to kill to defend Maggie—all of them happily married except for her, due to the tragedy of having lost her mate.
As I read the book, I recognized in her portrayal of Lake Hattrick the spirit of every wonderful small community in which I've lived, especially the town of North Canton, where I was Calleri’s teaching colleague for seven years. As I swallowed the book whole—because it's a quick and delightful read—I slowly began to recognize its truthful capture of the beauty of small towns and the unique individuals who populate them. The island of Marco only shows up briefly at the end, but it’s a nice culmination to the story.
In other words, if you love a well-constructed, well-written novel with a clean, cozy romance at the center, you'll love this book.
Here’s the link to purchase the book: https://a.co/d/5rXQZFP
If you love Hallmark movies, if you watched Michael J. Fox's “Doc Hollywood” with delight, if you grew up in a small town and miss knowing everyone, then “Meet Me in Marco” should be your next read.
“We made our way past the cornhole boards, and the Lakeside Grill glowed under a canopy of string lights, nestled right up against the edge of Lake Hattrick. The scent of pine trees drifted in on the breeze, blended with the grill's signature fried pickles and the famous Lakeside BBQ Chicken Sandwich. It was a perfect fall evening—cool, clear—and the whole town was buzzing with excitement.”
Maggie is a woman at the midpoint of her life who has lost her reason for being, thanks to the tragic death of her one true love, but she has turned into a powerful community leader and empathetic human -- who just happens to be gorgeous. Kevin is someone who has been numbed to love thanks to a horrific divorce -- but he hasn't lost his hotness.
You might think you've read this tale before... but Calleri puts her own spin on a familiar story.
Since this is an HEA romance, I knew before I started that the story would end well—that the evil ex-wife would be sent scurrying away, that her gal-pack of hockey moms would help her fight off the casino developers threatening their small town, and that the new (hot) man in town would win the love of the good-hearted (and beautiful) central character who has a hole in her heart just the size of his own.
But you can get that story in any HEA romance on Amazon. That's not the reason you read this book. Neither should you read it because the author is my loyal friend.
No, the reason you should read the book is because it has an engaging plot (it pulled me along at warp speed), an entrancing world, and well-built characters. You’ll enjoy the people you meet. Calleri presents characters you've known and met if you've ever tried to re-enter the dating scene: the way-too-old guy who misrepresents himself in an attempt to capture the heart of a much younger heroine; the caring, polite hero who takes the time to help those around him as he recovers from an abusive marriage; and the gal-pack ready to kill to defend Maggie—all of them happily married except for her, due to the tragedy of having lost her mate.
As I read the book, I recognized in her portrayal of Lake Hattrick the spirit of every wonderful small community in which I've lived, especially the town of North Canton, where I was Calleri’s teaching colleague for seven years. As I swallowed the book whole—because it's a quick and delightful read—I slowly began to recognize its truthful capture of the beauty of small towns and the unique individuals who populate them. The island of Marco only shows up briefly at the end, but it’s a nice culmination to the story.
In other words, if you love a well-constructed, well-written novel with a clean, cozy romance at the center, you'll love this book.
Here’s the link to purchase the book: https://a.co/d/5rXQZFP
February 7, 2026
If you’re looking for a book to get lost in and will have you hooked from the beginning to the end, look no further. Great story, paced well and a cast of characters you’ll love and some you’ll love to hate. Author did such a wonderful job describing the feelings of love, loss, hope etc. that you couldn’t help but to stop and take a moment to reflect on the moments in your own life you have felt the same. Kind of book that has you wondering what will be happening next long after you put it down.
February 13, 2026
Maggie’s story of courage, strength, and resiliency will make you love this story! Meet Me in Marco will have you laughing, routing for these characters and at times shedding a tear. An entertaining hockey-mom romance of 2nd love has a cast of characters that are sure to keep you reading! This story isn’t just about 2nd love- it’s also about the bonds of friendship and the importance and gift of having that great group of girls who support you, root for you, and have your back! I couldn’t put it down.
February 7, 2026
Excellent read! This book was enjoyable to read. It grabs your attention right away by setting the plot and introducing you to the characters. I’m always skeptical reading the first book of an author’s, but this one was very well written. I finished the book in three days. I highly recommend reading Meet Me in Marco to anyone who wants to get lost in a book.
February 23, 2026
This was a fantastic read. It brought together the element of found family with a strong and funny heroine and her hockey mom friends. The banter between Maggie and Kevin was great and the story of their love after loss was refreshing. The characters in the story are worth getting to know.. I would recommend 100%
January 11, 2026
This is such a good story. I love the characters and the locations are places I would love to visit for extended periods of time. The friendship between the women is heartwarming. Definitely something to aspire to.
Meet me in Marco is a story you won’t soon forget!
Meet me in Marco is a story you won’t soon forget!
January 26, 2026
For a first-time author, Anita Calleri wrote a lovely story. It kept me turning pages because I needed to know what was happening with the characters, but also with the characters' dreams. A sweet, satisfying book!
February 1, 2026
Totally engaging from the start! Anita has you rooting for Maggie and the wonderful hometown she comes from until the end! As a hockey mom myself, Anita nails the deep friendships and camaraderie that comes from those relationships we develop through the years.
Definitely worth a read!
Definitely worth a read!
February 18, 2026
Great read! Beautiful, warm story of Maggie and Kevin. I loved seeing how their love story would evolve. Creative writing. I finished in 2 days, wanting to see how it ended! Lovely job, Anita! Write another!!
February 25, 2026
Omg. I LOVED your book!!! Enchanting and sooo satisfying! Batshittery may be my new favorite word. And clearly I need to find some hockey mom friends 🤩 everyone needs unhinged and wonderfully loyal friends! A MUST read.
Batshittery, unhinged friends and love for the win!
Batshittery, unhinged friends and love for the win!
January 27, 2026
Found myself wanting to do nothing but read this book! It’s a great mix of humor and lasting takeaways.
Read
February 5, 2026Keeps you hooked from the very beginning! Slow burn and he falls first! Absolutely love that they were both able to find love again. I love how dedicated Maggie is to her people and that she’s able to show Kevin what it looks like to be apart of such a tight knit community.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2026
Meet Me in Marco is the kind of romance you just can’t put down!! I love how strong and independent Maggie is and how the story shows a great love adds even more to her full life! The words come alive on the page and leave you smiling!
February 23, 2026
This second chance romance is heartwarming and hilarious. Maggie’s funny, fabulous friends steal scenes with sharp banter, fierce loyalty and just the right amount of chaos. They provide laugh out loud moments during much needed girls’ nights after Maggie’s dating disasters. Kevin and Maggie’s journey is a feel good romance that proves love deserves another try.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews