Her Unlikely Homecoming

Home to Harmony #2

by Rachelle Paige Campbell

Following a tragic accident over a decade ago, Zoey Wright vowed to never move home to Harmony, Illinois. When her career stalls, however, she’s back in town and working with her high school sweetheart, Noah Kidwell, on his company's special collaboration. Dealing with her ex is the last thing she wants to do, but she has to take the opportunity to snag a much-needed promotion. Besides, she a professional—she can handle Noah for a few days, right?.

Determined to prove he’s not the same irresponsible guy she left behind, Noah works one on one with Zoey to launch his new clothing line. Learning her true motives, he realizes she’s not the same person anymore, either, and when he confronts her, she resorts to doing what she does best—she runs. This time, though, he’s not letting her get away. Will they be able to forgive the past and forge a new future? Or is it time to move on for good?

Genres: Christian Fiction

216 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 5, 2022

About the author

Rachelle Paige Campbell writes contemporary romance filled with heart and hope. No matter the location—big city, small town, or European kingdom—her feel-good stories always end with a happily ever after. She’s grateful for the support of her family, her robot floor cleaner, and her reluctant writing partner (her dog).

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, all I can say is, HER UNLIKELY HOMECOMING gave me the feels all over! Keep the tissues close by as you are reading HER UNLIKELY HOMECOMING by Rachelle Paige Campbell. She will have your emotions all over the place. Once I started reading, it was very hard to stop! The twists and turns made it impossible to put down, as I had to know what was going to happen to Noah after so much heartache! What an awesome story. All of Rachelle’s characters feel genuine and relatable and put your emotions on one heck of a roller coaster ride. As you are reading, you will find yourself cheering for all of them, praying they can work out their problems and be happy once again. You will also wonder how much heartache a person can stand before they completely break down and shatter.

HER UNLIKELY HOMECOMING is all about the past and the secrets that come out are heart tugging. I had to know what was going to happen to Zoey and Noah and all the secondary characters. Zoey Wright returns to her hometown of Harmony for one month to work on a huge project, even though she swore she would never return. There is just too much heartache there and she has no desire to see Noah, her ex. Noah has never gotten over her and he just can’t seem to move on. His family and friends are very worried that this is not healthy. When he sees her at the train station he thinks his mind is playing tricks on him. Maybe he is dreaming? Once you start reading, it will be very hard to put down!

HER UNLIKELY HOMECOMING is such a heart warming story. I was instantly emotionally invested in all of the characters. Rachelle Paige Campbell really knows how to write about family drama. Noah really didn’t know how he was going to win Zoey back, but he was determined to try. When they see each other after many years, the tension level is high. I really hope there is another few books coming! I have to know what happens to all the secondary characters! Harmony is such a cool little town. It is the small town everyone dreams about when they think “small town America”. I can not wait to read more by this wonderful and heart tugging author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from JustRead Publicity Tours. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her Unlikely Homecoming was an enjoyable second chance story. I liked the two main characters, although, admittedly, I connected more with Noah’s character than with Zoey’s. I was impressed with the way Noah had turned his life around after tragedy and his focus on others rather than himself. Zoey was very self focused and had some growing to do. She had definitely been treated unfairly in her job for years and I was happy that she was working to turn that around in this story.

It was nice to see Zoey begin to come back to life once she allowed herself to enjoy being back in her hometown. She and Noah actually worked well together to problem solve as issues with the event came up. I believe that Zoey especially needs to work on her communication skills and willingness to open herself up to Noah in the future if they are ever to have a chance together.

The characters and setting was nicely developed and I felt as if I was experiencing the town along with Zoey as she returned. The ending was very abrupt to me and I felt as if these two had just barely scraped the edge up a happily ever after possibility when the book ended and I would have enjoyed more happiness for these two.

I read this book through Kindle Unlimited and was also provided a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...

[Kendra Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was introduced to author Rachelle Paige Campbell about a month ago when I read the first book in this series, Her Hometown Dream. Her Unlikely Homecoming is the second book in the series and reads great as a Standalone book.

WOW, all the twists and turns in this book make it a definite Page Turner, can't put the book down until finished book. I LOVE books based in small towns and this book is based in Harmony, IL. Zoey Wright is a wonderful character and she is strong willed. She reluctantly returns to Harmony, IL and ends up working with her High School sweetheart, Noah Kidwell, on a special project for his company. Noah would really like to have a second chance with Zoey, but when he finds out she is here to help on this project to get a promotion at her job, he isn't so sure about pursing a relationship. I feel the author does a great job at showing how people can change either for good or bad, as the case with Noah and Zoey. Noah seemed to have changed for the good and Zoey now has alterior motives. I think my favorite part of the book is when Noah is determined not to let Zoey get away. I really enjoyed this book and how the author really has a good flow to the storyline.The book is one of Second Chance Romance. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian Romance. GREAT BOOK!

[Connie Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Her Hometown Dream last month, I was excited to read another book by Rachelle Paige Campbell. This story allowed me to return to Harmony, Illinois to catch up with some of the characters from book one and also meet some new ones. After a decade of living elsewhere, Zoey Wright has returned back to a place where "warm nights smelled honeysuckle soaked". Harmony is also the place where she and Noah Kidwell were once a couple, so what will happen when she sees her ex-boyfriend again? How will Noah react to learning that he and Zoey will be working closely together professionally?

Campbell kept me wondering if Zoey and Noah could ever reconcile their differences. Zoey seemed cool, aloof, and "always Wright" while vowing to never forgive Noah. He was much more likable, so it was easy for me to prefer him over Zoey. I quickly became a part of Team Noah!

A happy ending seems unlikely with the many twists and turns but second chances, forgiveness, and an 'enemies to friends' trope make this a story worth reading. I recommend Her Unlikely Homecoming to all who enjoy contemporary Christian romance.

I received a copy of this book through JustRead Tours. These thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet contemporary romance that would easily match the Hallmark vibe.

Read full review in the 2022 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second chance romance finds Zoey Wright returning to her hometown to spearhead the launch of her company's new brand partnership-a partnership with her ex-boyfriend Noah. I really liked that this book had a very unique premise (I haven't read much about the corporate side of department stores!), as well as the clear Christian themes throughout. The characters all felt like normal people I could meet on the street or at the young adult's church group of my own hometown. I would recommend reading the first book in the series first-I did not and think that some parts of the story would have been more clear if I knew more of the backstory. Her Unlikely Homecoming features two characters determined to work through their past struggles to forge a new friendship-and perhaps something more. If you like small-town Americana stories featuring relatable characters, this is for you!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book provided to me by the author. The opinions expressed above are my own.

[Becca Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with the first book in this series, this one definitely had a Hallmark-y feel to it. (Admittedly not my genre). Although I think the author improved with some of the character depth, I still think they had a ways to go in order to feel more REAL instead of overly moldable to fit the storyline. While in the first book I felt the pace and mood of the novel was a bit all over the place, I have to say this one I couldn't even seem to get into. Maybe it's because it was about fashion, or maybe it's because the backstory and characterization didn't seem strong enough, but for the life of me I couldn't get invested in this one. I highly recommend checking out other reviews before forming your opinions on if you want to read or not, especially as I admit this isn't my preferred genre. I love my depth and I'm not much into cheesy romance. And not every book is for every reader. So please don't take my review as your only source.
*I received a copy of this book through JustRead Tours. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

[Kimmie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What caught my eye was the synopsis of Her Unlikely Homecoming. It screamed second chance romance with a dash of forgiveness thrown in; plus, who doesn’t like a bit of forced proximity/frenemies to lovers?

Rachelle Paige Campbell is not a new to me author, I read the previous book in this series, Her Hometown Dream, last month. While they are not listed as a series, some of the characters do cross over so I tend to think of them as such though they can be read as stand-alone books.

In this book I liked how Zoey was trying to do the right thing and that she goes after what she wants. I would call her a tenacious character. Noah, hmm... Now he is a bit harder to define. I really enjoyed him in the first book and in this one he was sweet and caring to those around him and seemed to be a real servant leader.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. At the end though it did feel a bit rushed, and I felt like the ARC wasn’t really communicated very well, like one minute there was a reason not to do something and then the next page it was brushed aside like it was never there in the first place (what I call a lack of communication). But it was still enjoyable. 4 Stars.

*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her Unlikely Homecoming is a sweet contemporary romance with Hallmark movie vibes. It has one of my favorite tropes; second chance romance.

Zoey returns home to Harmony, Illinois to work closely with her ex boyfriend, Noah. She’s seeking a promotion, and he’s seeking a second chance with her.

Harmony is the type of town I’d love to visit! I really enjoyed Noah and Zoey’s story, though I did struggle to connect with Zoey at times. I felt like she took her family for granted, but I will say she did have some growth throughout the book that did warm me up to her by the end.

I wasn’t aware this was part of a series, I will definitely read the others! It would be able to be read as a stand-alone.

I received a complimentary digital copy from the publisher. A positive review was not required. All views and opinions are my own.

[Lisa's Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was interested in reading this book because it sounded like a sweet Hallmark movie and the cover looked like the train station I used to catch my train to the east coast.

I don’t believe that I’ve read any books from this author before, but I enjoy the way she describes everything so vividly. She takes a lot of time to describe the setting of each scene so that you can picture it in your mind.

The main characters are Zoey and Noah, who were once high-school sweethearts. But, things have changed and Zoey moved away. Now, she’s returning and has vowed never to see his face again. That may be very hard to do.

Creating a setting in a small town makes the story more quaint, charming, and romantic. The characters are believable because second change love happens every day!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Randi Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her Unlikely Homecoming is the second book in this series, following Her Hometown Dream. While I feel like it would read just fine as a standalone, I do feel like readers might get more out of the story by reading in order. The characters are introduced in book one, and you get a bit more feel for the family dynamic and history there. I personally felt like the first book really set up this history between Zoey and Noah, and had left me wondering what had happened between them and why Zoey refused to return home. That mystery behind them drew me into this story much faster, and had me excited to learn more about their relationship.

I must admit that Zoey wasn't always my favorite character, particularly in the beginning of the story. That might have carried over a bit from book one, but I did find her perhaps a bit standoffish or just hard for me to relate to personally. Still, I began to appreciate her character more as the story progressed. The author did a great job of giving us just enough information to keep you wanting to read to find the answers as to what happened in the past.

Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable second chance romance. I look forward to seeing more in the series and from the author in general.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Gretchen Garrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Wasn't that the whole purpose of leaning into the Lord? Fallible, proud humans messed up their paths with overcomplications. By trusting in His will, Noah found guidance toward more than he deserved."

Noah made one wrong choice that defined his life forever. His girlfriend, Zoe, at the time, left town, so her life has been changed as well. She never wanted to come back, but she finds herself forced into returning for her job. A lot of the book is about Noah and Zoe finding their way back to friendship.

This book does have overlapping characters from the first one in the series. "Her Homecoming Dream" (book 1) featured Amy and Jake who both are important characters in this one. Zoe's parents are in both books. I liked the small-town portion of these books.

Indirectly this book was about how to be in business properly - how to take care of your employees and be generous. There were examples of both positive and negative practices. That was fascinating. The end was a bit bumpy for me as Zoe jumped from what was obvious. That part was a bit confusing to me.

"She wanted to build something different, but that couldn't happen without honest words." I really liked this quote, but then the author did not build on this. By the end, the main characters had not talked through their issues. Yet they were willing to jump back into a relationship. That frustrated me. I wanted a few more chapters for resolution.

There were many things I liked about this book, but there were some things that I would change. Parts were great, but overall, the book was simply a good one for me. This book is 2nd in a series of four books. I will probably read the others. 4 stars.

[Christi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoey said she would never return back to Harmony if she could help it. There are too many painful memories, and one person in particular that she doesn’t care to see again, but as luck would have it she is back home, and planning to keep things professional with her ex-boyfriend, Noah. For Noah, Zoey is “the one that got away” and he is shocked and excited to get to work with her, but with them both carrying around their fair share of emotional baggage it makes for an interesting working relationship, and an entertaining read.

Zoey’s whole motivation is to get a promotion and move even further away from Harmony, and her family, which makes you wonder the whole time you’re reading, “Why is she running? What is she so terrified of?” Her drive is admirable, but the mystery surrounding her "why" brings a much-needed tension to this story. Pair that with Noah’s inner struggles, as he wrestles with the warring emotions of working with the woman he clearly still loves, plus the pressure of this high stakes partnership between Zoey’s company and his own.

I struggled to connect to Zoey the entire time I read. I didn’t care for how she treated her cousin and parents in the first book, and that feeling carried over as I read this novel. She’s so “corporate” which is something I don't particularly care for, and how she is with Noah rubs me the wrong way. I loved Noah from the first book, and was so excited to see his happily ever after, but it was a struggle to get into this installment until about halfway through, as the layers began to peel back, and I was finally able to see who Zoey really is, as well as the motivations behind why both Zoey and Noah let their separation continue for as long as they did.

Her Unlikely Homecoming took me a bit longer to get into but overall I enjoyed it. I especially liked the ending, though it felt rushed to me, most likely because the will they/won't they struggle went on a lot longer than I had expected. Still, it was a clean, sweet novel that helped me escape, and fall more in love with Harmony and its inhabitants.

*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through JustRead Tours. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.

[Valerie HappiestWhileReading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her Unlikely Homecoming is the second novel written by Rachelle Paige Campbell set in the idyllic small town of Harmony, Illinois. Readers reconnect with some of the characters featured in Her Hometown Dream and focus on Zoey and Noah, high school sweethearts whose relationship was abruptly severed after a tragic accident 10 years ago. Zoey fled to Chicago to build a new life, and Noah remained in Harmony, basing his successful clothing business and generous philanthropy there.

To avoid Noah and painful memories, Zoey rarely comes home, even to see her parents. Her life in Chicago focuses solely on her job with a major department store chain. Despite dedicated service, she's been passed over for promotions and her supervisor takes credit for Zoey's hard work. When a special collaboration is planned between Under Covers, Noah's company, and Zoey's employer, she volunteers for the opportunity to showcase her talents and visit her family, even if it means working closely with Noah.

In the years following his brother's death, Noah 'accidentally' founded a men's clothing company, created a foundation in Patrick's memory, and revitalized Harmony through his generosity. He's excited to expand his product offerings to women and children, and negotiated hard to premiere the new line in his hometown. At the train station to meet the department store representative assigned to lead the collaboration, Noah is shocked to see Zoey for the first time in a decade. Did she choose this project or was she forced to lead it? Can they put their personal history aside to work together? Could a positive business relationship grow into a personal friendship ... or more?

I enjoyed this novel more than the first book in her series. I liked Noah and Zoey as characters, I was interested in the partnership between Noah's business and Zoey's employer, and was entertained by the horrible behavior of Zoey's supervisor. The ending was a bit rushed and open-ended so I presume more will be flushed out in a sequel.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel and voluntarily wrote this review; all opinions are my own.

[Emily Flynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this second chance romance. This was a different kind of angle than I usually see and the resolution was refreshing.

Zoey is looking to be seen by her boss's boss and Noah wants to be seen by Zoey. Their shared past makes for an interesting story as they have to work together for their individual successes.

This story truly is a story of change and it is handled well. Like I said the resolution of the story was refreshing. The original options were either/or, stay or go solutions that would not have been true to the story. What happened was a resolution based in the growth of the characters and the idea of forgiveness both of self and of others.

I loved the growth of the characters and the story. I received an early copy and this is my honest review.

[Hayley Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read, I liked both main characters and the supporting characters were well written too, small town stories are one of my favourite tropes and the author does this well. I hope there will be more books to this series.

[Rach3l · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. I enjoyed learning more about the characters that were introduced in the first book. This book can be read as a standalone but I think it is better if the first book is read prior to reading this one.

Side note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review

[Patricia Baxes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredible read! The storyline is terrific; the characters are well developed; plot twists and turns were well done; and the HEA was worth the wait. Grab this one for yourself today! (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and loved it!) ❤️❤️

[Deb Raker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really enjoying this book. And then it ended kind of abruptly. Either I missed something completely or the issue between Noah and Zoey was never explained. I have not read the first book in the series so that may be part of the problem. I was really disappointed.